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Home News Anti-ICE activists storm Minnesota church service; DOJ vows to investigate

Quick Summary AI Summary Activists disrupted a Sunday church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the incident for potential criminal violations of federal law.

Protesters claimed one of the church's pastors leads a local ICE field office. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating after a group of activists in Minnesota disrupted a Sunday service at a Southern Baptist church in St. Paul, where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement allegedly serves as a pastor.

The protesters, including members of the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota, entered the sanctuary of Cities Church during the service led by senior pastor Jonathan Parnell. The protesters allege that one of the churchs pastors, David Easterwood, leads a local ICE field office in St. Paul.

They reportedly chanted slogans such as "ICE out!" and demanded justice for Renee Good, the woman who died after being shot by an ICE officer on Jan. 10. The service was forced to conclude because of the disruption.

U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon vowed on social media Sunday that the agency is investigating the incident for potential criminal violations of federal law.

A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! Dhillon wrote. It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she has been in touch with the churchs pastor.

I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted. Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law, she wrote on X.

If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.

The churchs website lists David Easterwood as a pastor. Easterwoods personal information seems to match a David Easterwood identified in court filings as the acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office, the Associated Press reports, adding that he appeared alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem at an October press conference.

The protests in Minnesota come amid growing tensions over federal immigration enforcement operations, particularly following Good's death and ongoing ACLU lawsuits alleging aggressive ICE tactics. Last week, President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 in a bid to restore order amid ongoing riots against ICE officials in Minneapolis after a second ICE-involved shooting on Wednesday night.

Speaking with journalist Don Lemon, Parnell called the interruption shameful.

This is unacceptable. It's shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship, Parnell said. We are here to worship Jesus. Thats why we are here.
Home News Bakus release of Armenian prisoners framed as progress in peace talks

Quick Summary AI Summary Azerbaijan released four Armenian prisoners amid ongoing peace negotiations.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed the release on social media.

Advocates warn about 'sham proceedings' as Azerbaijan continues to hold at least 20 other Armenian prisoners. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

Azerbaijan has released four Armenian prisoners in a development that officials in Yerevan described as a significant step in peace efforts between the two countries. The men were handed over at the Khakari Bridge and are now in Armenian territory, though some groups called it an incomplete exchange.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed the release on social media, identifying the prisoners as Gevorg Sujyan, Davit Davtyan, Vicken Euljekjian and Vagif Khachatryan.

Three of the men had been detained following the 2020 takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan. Khachatryan, the fourth, was arrested in July 2023 while being evacuated by the Red Cross for medical treatment, according to the Switzerland-based Christian Solidarity International.

All four men had been sentenced to terms ranging from 15 to 20 years for charges including espionage and arms smuggling, according to Azerbaijani authorities. Armenian officials and rights groups have previously described the detentions as illegal and politically motivated.

Pashinyans office said that Sujyan and Davtyan were humanitarian volunteers, while Euljekjian, a Lebanese-Armenian, had been detained after the November 2020 ceasefire. CSI reported that Khachatryan, 70, was removed from an ambulance during Azerbaijans blockade of the region and accused of genocide.

In a reciprocal gesture, Armenia released two Syrian nationals, Yousef Alaabet al-Hajji and Muhrab Muhammad al-Shkhari, who had been serving life sentences after being captured in 2020 while fighting for Azerbaijani forces. CSI called them jihadists. The men were sent back to Syria via Turkey, according to Armenias Ministry of Justice.

The releases occurred as Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington to discuss progress on the U.S.-backed TRIPP initiative, which includes a corridor linking Turkey to Azerbaijan through Armenias southern border with Iran.

Armenia has previously expressed concern about Azerbaijani claims to the region under the TRIPP proposal.

The handover is being seen by many as the latest step in a peace process that began after Azerbaijans 2023 military operation forced more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee Nagorno-Karabakh, though talks remain stalled over issues such as constitutional changes demanded by Baku despite Armenias recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty, which has angered many Armenians.

Azerbaijan continues to hold at least 20 other Armenian prisoners, most of whom are former officials of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh, the ethnic Armenian administration of Nagorno-Karabakh. Authorities in Baku have charged them with terrorism, war crimes and attempting to overthrow the state.

One of the detainees, Ruben Vardanyan, a former senior official, is facing 42 charges, including terrorism, and may receive a life sentence. Trials are being conducted in closed sessions with limited access to legal counsel, according to rights groups.

CSI has described the trials as sham proceedings, and the European Parliament has previously raised concerns about due process and the denial of access to families and lawyers. CSI President John Eibner said that while the latest releases were a welcome development, they were part of a larger pattern of hostage diplomacy.

The organization reported that at least 80 ethnic Armenians have been forcibly disappeared since 2020.

The four men released Wednesday were among a group described by President Donald Trump as 23 Christians during the August 2025 signing of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement. At the time, Trump committed to pressing Azerbaijan to release all Armenian detainees.

Yerevan had earlier repeatedly accused Baku of using prisoners as leverage in political negotiations. Human rights officials in Armenia say the detentions violate the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.

The Armenian captives were transferred at the Khakari Bridge, a key crossing point between the two countries located near Armenias southern Syunik province.
Home News DHS unveils new policy to help pastors amid religious worker visa backlog

The Trump administration has implemented a new policy designed to address the plight of foreign religious workers forced to return home after their temporary visas expire amid a backlog in applications for permanent residency in the United States.

In a statement last Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it had issued an interim final rule designed to expedite the return of foreign religious workers who were forced to leave the U.S. or chose to self-deport before their visas expired. Under the previous system, religious workers who were in the U.S. on an R-1 visa were required to return to their home countries for one year after being allowed to reside in the U.S. for five years.

Read: Trump 2.0: A weekly review of the presidents second term

Although R-1 visa holders are still required to return to their home countries when their five-year limit expires, the interim final rule makes it so that there is no longer a minimum period of time" they must reside outside of the U.S. before being allowed to return on an R-1 status. R-1 visa holders include priests, rabbis and nuns.

Under the leadership of Secretary [Kristi] Noem, DHS is committed to protecting and preserving freedom and expression of religion. We are taking the necessary steps to ensure religious organizations can continue delivering the services that Americans depend on, said a DHS spokesperson. Pastors, priests, nuns, and rabbis are essential to the social and moral fabric of this country. We remain committed to finding ways to support and empower these organizations in their critical work.

DHS attributed the backlog in the R-1 visa renewal process, which has forced foreign religious workers to return home and leave churches and religious establishments in the U.S., to policies implemented by the Biden administration in 2023. Changes implemented by the Department of State in 2023 significantly increased the already lengthy wait times for immigrant visas in the EB-4 category for aliens from foreign countries, including for religious workers, the agency explained.

According to DHS, These delays have caused many religious workers to exhaust their maximum period of stay in R-1 status. By eliminating the one-year foreign residency requirement, USCIS is reducing the time religious organizations are left without their trusted clergy and non-ministerial workers.

As explained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, EB-4 visas enable foreign religious workers to reside in the U.S. permanently. By contrast, the R-1 visas are designed to be temporary.

The interim final rule was published in the Federal Register on Friday. From there, the public will have 60 days to comment.

The Christian Post previously reported on the case of Albert Oliveira, a Brazilian-born pastor who was negatively affected by the EB-4 backlog that the changes to the R-1 visa policy were designed to address. Oliveira, a Brazilian native whose R-1 visa was set to expire last November, told CP that he planned to leave the country even though doing so would leave First Baptist Church in Gordon, Texas, without a pastor being physically present.

Oliveira said he planned to continue leading the church remotely by preaching via livestream, joining meetings through video calls, and otherwise being part of this churchs life as much as possible until we can return, God willing.

Oliveiras time in the U.S. dated back to 2011, when he arrived on an F-1 student visa to study intercultural missions and psychology. After earning a masters degree in missiology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he assumed his current role as pastor of First Baptist Church Gordon in 2020.

First Baptist Church Gordons website still lists Oliveira as the pastor and includes a page encouraging the passage of the Religious Workforce Protection Act. While it doesn't explicitly name Oliveira, the church cites his story as an example of why the legislation must pass: Imagine a beloved pastor or missionary who has served your church for five years  building relationships, preaching, counseling, mentoring, and leading outreach.

Just as their ministry is bearing fruit, they are forced to leave the country. Thats the reality under current law, First Baptist Church Gordon lamented. The church noted that the Religious Workforce Protection Act (H.R. 2672/S. 1298) would remove the arbitrary five-year limit and allow these religious workers to continue their ministry without being forced to leave.

Introduced by Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, the bill has 31 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives: 20 Democrats and 11 Republicans. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., introduced the Senate version of the bill, which has seven cosponsors: five Republicans and two Democrats. The measure has not been brought up for a vote in either chamber.
Home News James Talarico says 'America isn't a Christian nation,' but admits founding documents 'profoundly Christian' Jesus 'deeply suspicious of religious supremacy,' Presbyterian seminarian claims

Quick Summary AI Summary James Talarico states, 'America isn't a Christian nation,' despite acknowledging founding documents as 'profoundly Christian.'

Talarico criticizes Christian nationalism, advocating for love and inclusivity over dominance.

He emphasizes the importance of moral responsibility without imposing Christianity through state power. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A Texas state lawmaker and U.S. Senate hopeful says, despite the nation's founding documents being based on the radical teachings of Jesus, the United States is not a Christian nation.

During a Jan. 13 episode of the "Vote Common Good" podcast, Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, explained why he rejects the notion of Christian nationalism, which he described as an attempt to dominate our neighbors instead of loving them as ourselves.

The self-identified Presbyterian cited his faith as the basis for his political views, saying it recommits [him] to the unfinished project of a multi-racial, multicultural democracy.

In this vision, we can all freely love God if we choose to do so, and we can fully love all our neighbors, Talarico, 36, added.

He then explained to Vote Common Good host Doug Pagitt how he views Americas religious legacy. America is not a Christian nation, said Talarico. It is a nation where you are free to be a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, agnostic, or atheist.

Talarico added that Christian Americans bear a special responsibility not to exalt any religion  including their own  above any other.

For those of us who are Christian, I believe we bear a special responsibility, not just because our religion is the dominant one in this country, but because Jesus was deeply suspicious of religious supremacy, he claimed.

Talarico, a former teacher who is taking classes at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, pointed to Jesus parables that, he said, elevated neighborly love over religious boundaries and even suggested the Christian religion could obstruct the two greatest commandments.

Sectarian religion can sometimes get in the way of loving our neighbor and loving God, he said. That is why we must guard against any attempt to elevate our faith tradition above all others or to dominate our neighbors instead of loving them as ourselves.

While calling on people of faith to inspire moral responsibility and care for neighbors without Christianity being imposed through state power, Talarico also simultaneously called the nation's founding documents profoundly Christian and said he believes the U.S. was, in large part, founded on the radical teachings of Jesus.

When I read the words of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, I see the radical teachings of Jesus reflected in those founding documents, the idea that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, said Talarico. To me, this is not only the most American form of government, but also a profoundly Christian one.

The Christian Post reached out to Talaricos spokesperson for comment Friday.

Known for taking liberal positions on key theological concepts  such as when he claimed God asked Mary for consent before she conceived Jesus, which he said was proof that the Bible sanctions abortion  Talarico has been on the campaign trail in recent days ahead of his March primary battle with Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the U.S. Senate seat that has long been occupied by Republican Sen. John Cornyn.

A staunch critic of Christian nationalism, Talarico has accused Christian nationalists of storming the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, and falsely claimed police officers were killed.

In a speech delivered in March 2024 outside the Texas state Capitol, Talarico warned that "Christian nationalism is on the rise," and lumped together the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, and attempts to keep pornographic books out of schools as examples of its influence.

"Three years ago, Christian nationalists stormed the U.S. Capitol, killing police officers while carrying crosses and signs reading, 'Jesus saves,'" said Talarico, whose claim about police officers being killed that day is false, according to FactCheck.org.

Talarico also made headlines when he spearheaded a legislative effort in opposition to Texas Senate Bill 1515 to place the Ten Commandments in Texas public schools, and has called efforts to place Bible-based curriculum in schools unconstitutional.
Home News Most Americans approve of Supreme Court decisions on parental rights, religious liberty

Quick Summary AI Summary Most Americans approve of Supreme Court decisions on parental rights and religious liberty.

Sixty-two percent support the ruling allowing parents to opt their children out of LGBT-related curriculum.

Religious freedom index reaches a record high, reflecting growing public support. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

A new report reveals that most Americans support a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing parents to opt their children out of LGBT-related curriculum  especially those who have religious objections to such content  as the nation sees support for religious freedom reaching a record high.

Coinciding with International Religious Freedom Day, Becket released its 2025 Religious Freedom Index last Friday, which details Americans views on a variety of topics related to religious liberty.

Based on responses collected from 1,002 adults in the fall of 2025 by Heart+Mind Strategies, the report reveals Americans' thoughts on the Supreme Courts ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which determined that a Maryland public school violated the religious freedom of parents by prohibiting them from opting their children out of LGBT-related lessons that violated their religious beliefs. Sixty-two percent of respondents told pollsters they supported the ruling.

Mahmoud v. Taylor was not the only Supreme Court decision resulting in favorable outcomes for the cause of religious liberty that received majority support from the American public. Sixty-five percent of respondents expressed support for the courts decision in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin, which overturned a lower court ruling that found the states Catholic Charities Bureaus work providing services to the needy did not qualify as religious activity for the purposes of state unemployment law.

On the other hand, the public was evenly divided about the Supreme Courts ruling in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond. The justices left in place a lower court ruling banning a Catholic charter school from Oklahomas charter school program. Fifty-one percent of Americans opposed the decision while 49% supported it.

Respondents were also asked to weigh in on pending Supreme Court cases. In Chiles v. Salazar, which involves a legal battle between the state of Colorado and a Christian counselor who helps children struggling with gender dysphoria become comfortable with their sex. Forty-seven percent think the court should back the counselor, while 29% want the justices to side with the state.

An overall religious freedom index was calculated based on Americans responses to questions asking them for their views about religious pluralism, religion and policy, religion sharing, religion and society, church and state and religion in action. The scores for each dimension, on a scale from 0 to 100, were averaged together to create the overall religious freedom index. A higher score indicates a higher level of support for principles of religious freedom, while a lower score indicates a lower level of support.

The overall religious freedom index for 2025 was 71, marking a record high since Becket began conducting the survey in 2019.

Three of the dimensions included in the index also reached record high scores this year: Religious sharing (75), religion and policy (69), and church and state (60). Religious pluralism reached a record high score of 86 for the second year in a row.

Conversely, religion in action saw its score drop from a record high of 70 to 69 this year, while religion and society decreased from 67 to 65.

As we celebrate National Religious Freedom Day, its encouraging to see that a growing number of Americans reject the idea that faith belongs behind closed doors, said Becket CEO and President Mark Rienzi in a statement accompanying the reports release. The Founders recognized that our nation is stronger when we allow our neighbors to bring their beliefs into the public square without fear, even when those beliefs cut against the grain.

Rienzi added: Year after year, the index has made clear that religious liberty remains one of our most cherished values. Even amid deep divisions, our nation still believes that our first freedom belongs at the heart of our culture; not as a source of conflict, but as a foundation for overcoming it. The work before us is to see that freedom protected for our children and theirs in the years to come.
Home News NYC police increasing presence at churches after violent disruption, feces vandalism

New York City will increase police presence at Staten Island houses of worship in response to a recent series of criminal disruptions and other acts of vandalism at local churches.

Patrol Borough Staten Island Assistant Chief Melissa Eger said at a press conference last Thursday that authorities will take extra measures to protect local churches.

So, I want to emphasize that none of these incidents indicate the targeting of churches due to religious affiliation, Eger said, as reported by The Staten Island Advance.

These acts were of opportunism and theft, with a separate incident involving a mentally ill person. That said, any incident, especially a disruption of service that occurs at any house of worship, generates serious concern from our community and we know that.

According to Eger, NYPD Community Affairs officers will make regular visits to all local houses of worship to foster community relations and provide guidance and safety measures.

Additionally, patrol officers have increased their presence at congregations and religious entities that have been victimized to deter future criminal activity.

The press conference was held outside Saint Ann Roman Catholic Church in Staten Island, which recently garnered headlines for an incident during worship.

At a Friday morning mass earlier this month, police were called to Saint Anns when a man became disruptive in the sanctuary, with patrol officers wrestling with the individual by the altar.

During the ensuing struggle, the man and the officers exchanged blows, and he was eventually subdued with a taser. Amid the fight, the altar suffered damage, and several flowers were knocked over.

A motive for the disruption has not been disclosed, though it was reported that the individual was not a member of Saint Anns. The unidentified man was later hospitalized for an evaluation.

At a mass held the next day, the Rev. Steve Challman briefly addressed the situation, telling worship attendees that weve had a difficult couple of days here at St. Anns.

But we find ourselves gathered here as we do each week in the presence of the Lord, he said. And as a parish family, we pray for all who were impacted by yesterdays events, and we thank the members of the NYPD who are with us tonight and who spend each day protecting Staten Island.

The incident was the second time one of the area Catholic churches had been vandalized. During Christmas morning mass, St. Sylvesters R.C. Church in Concord was defaced with feces.

While the mass was going on around 10:30, I was walking to the church to thank people, and I found human (feces) on the door. Smeared on the outside of the door, Fr. Jacob Thumma told The Advance. Yesterday, there were a lot of people at the Mass, and I didnt want anyone to see that. So I sent them through the side door.
Home News Syria ceasefire raises hopes for stability but concerns for Christians, minorities remain

Quick Summary AI Summary Syria announces a nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, ending nearly two weeks of clashes.

Concerns persist among Christians and other minorities about ongoing persecution and instability despite the ceasefire.

The agreement includes plans for the integration of the SDF into Syria's military and security structures. An artificial intelligence-powered tool created this summary based on the source article. The summary has undergone review and verification by an editor. See Summary

Syria has announced an immediate nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), ending nearly two weeks of clashes, even as Christians and other minorities remain concerned that the agreement does little to ease fears of continued persecution and instability.

Syrian state media said the ceasefire forms part of a broader 14-point agreement under which the SDF will be integrated into Syrias military and security structures. President Ahmed al-Sharaa said the deal would allow Damascus to reassert control over the northeastern and eastern governorates of al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, which together account for much of the countrys oil and gas resources. The agreement follows a meeting in Damascus between al-Sharaa and U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who described the deal as a step toward a unified Syria, reports the BBC.

Under the agreement, Syrian authorities will assume control of civilian institutions, border crossings and energy facilities previously administered by the SDF. SDF personnel are to be integrated into Syrias defense and interior ministries following vetting, while Damascus will take responsibility for prisons and detention camps holding tens of thousands of foreign Islamic State fighters and their families.

The deal also reiterates pledges to recognize Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, including granting Kurdish official language status and recognizing the Kurdish new year as a national holiday  the first formal recognition of such rights since Syrias independence in 1946, according to the BBC.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi confirmed the agreement in comments broadcast on Kurdish television, saying the ceasefire was intended to prevent a broader war and that the recent fighting had been imposed on his forces. Abdi said he would brief Kurdish communities on the deal after returning from Damascus. Kurdish media reported that he stressed the SDFs commitment to preserving what he described as the achievements of Kurdish self-rule established during Syrias civil war with U.S. backing in the fight against the Islamic State group.

While international coverage has emphasized the ceasefire as a stabilizing step, a Christian Syrian Kurd refugee living in Europe told Christian Daily International that the agreement does little to ease fears among minorities who have faced escalating violence since the change of government.

For a longer time, I have been afraid for minorities in Syria  or more accurately, for the different components of Syrian society, including Kurds, Alawites, Druze, and Christians, the refugee said, speaking anonymously for security reasons. Over the past year, we have witnessed what can be described as genocidal violence against these groups, one after another.

The refugee cited attacks on Alawite communities on the Syrian coast, violence against Druze in southern Syria, explosions at churches in Damascus and, most recently, attacks on Kurdish areas. He said celebrations marking the anniversary of what authorities called the liberation of Syria heightened fears, describing armed fighters chanting Quranic verses and making threats associated with the Islamic State group.

There was no message of inclusion or protection for minorities  only dreams of establishing an Islamic state, he said, adding that videos showed fighters aligned with the new authorities wearing ISIS insignia and committing abuses reminiscent of the groups 2015 atrocities.

The refugee also warned of security risks stemming from the transfer of control over detention facilities previously held by the SDF. He said the new authorities recently took over a prison in Raqqa holding about 5,000 ISIS prisoners captured since 2015, raising concerns about possible releases and an extremist resurgence.

Such a development would place all non-Muslims  and even many Muslims  in grave danger, he said.

He criticized what he described as a simplified narrative in parts of the European media portraying Syria as safe, pointing to discussions in Germany about the return of Syrian refugees and diplomatic engagement with the new leadership.

As a Kurd and someone who has recently converted from Islam to Christianity, I can never return to Syria, he said. Even if I did, I would always live under constant danger if the government discovered my identity or beliefs.

The refugee acknowledged what he described as cautiously positive signals in the ceasefire agreement, including promises to recognize Kurdish language rights and protect Kurdish culture, but said such commitments remain unproven. These remain only promises, and we are still waiting to see real change on the ground, he said.

Concerns about the safety of Christians in Syria align with recent findings by Open Doors, which ranked Syria No. 6 on its World Watch List 2026, released Jan. 14, as reported by Christian Daily International. Syria rose from No. 18 the previous year after a sharp increase in violence against Christians, with the countrys violence score jumping from seven to 16.1 out of a possible 16.7.

Open Doors said Syrias overall persecution score climbed to 90, its highest ever, amid killings, church attacks and forced closures of Christian institutions. The organization estimates about 300,000 Christians remain in the country, hundreds of thousands fewer than a decade ago, leaving communities increasingly vulnerable in the absence of reliable state protection.

At least 27 Christians were killed for their faith during the reporting period, the group said, noting that the true number is likely higher. A June 2025 suicide bombing attributed to an Islamic State cell at Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus killed 22 worshippers and wounded dozens more, prompting many Christians to curtail public religious activities.

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assads regime in December 2024, Syrias interim constitutional framework has centralized power in the presidency and established Islamic jurisprudence as the primary source of legislation, according to Open Doors. The organization warned that political fragmentation and growing Islamist influence continue to expose Christians and other minorities to heightened pressure.

All we can do is pray, the Christian refugee said, invoking the biblical account of Sauls transformation in Damascus. That just as God transformed Sauls life in Damascus, He may also transform this new Saul in Damascus today.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily International.
Home Opinion MLK Day and the March for Life: One cause, one dignity

Each January, Americans pause to reflect.

We honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who called the nation to reckon with injustice and recognize the God-given worth of every person. We also gather for the March for Life, standing for those whose lives are unseen, unheard, and unprotected.

These moments are bound by a shared moral conviction: that human life is sacred  and that dignity is not assigned by power, preference, or circumstance.

Respect for life is not merely a belief to affirm. It is a way of seeing the world, one that shapes how we treat others and how we understand our responsibility to them.

Dr. King understood this. His call for justice was never rooted in convenience or cultural momentum. It was anchored in a moral law higher than any human authority. In his Letter from Birmingham Jail, King wrote that unjust laws degrade human personality rather than uphold it. Such laws, he argued, violate the dignity God has already bestowed.

That conviction shaped both his message and his method. King rejected violence not out of weakness, but out of moral clarity. He believed that dignity must be defended without being destroyed in the process. His courage was restrained. His resolve was steady. His vision of justice flowed directly from his belief in the inherent worth of every human life.

Long before the Civil Rights Movement, Americans were already wrestling with the same foundational question: What is required when a governing authority violates the dignity it is meant to protect?

The answer, again and again, was not lawlessness or rage  but principled resistance rooted in conscience.

During the American Revolution, when Christopher Gadsden unfurled the Dont Tread on Me flag, he was not calling for chaos or domination. He was issuing a moral warning: that God-given rights must not be crushed by unjust power.

The rattlesnake on Gadsdens flag was chosen deliberately. It does not seek a fight, but neither does it submit to being trampled. It warns before it strikes. It represents strength under restraint, not rage. Gadsden believed that liberty flowed from a moral source, not from Parliament or the Crown, and that when law was abused, conscience demanded a response  measured, principled, and resolute. Like many in the founding generation, he articulated truths about liberty that neither he nor the nation fully lived out. Yet those principles proved larger than the flawed men who first proclaimed them. Generations later, leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. could appeal to those same ideals, pressing the nation to embody them more completely.

King, Gadsden, and those marching for life this month all recognize that dignity does not grow with independence or fade with weakness. It is inherent because it is given by God.

This truth has profound implications today.

It shapes how we see the unborn child and the struggling mother. How we see the elderly neighbor, someone living with a disability, the imprisoned, and the forgotten.

Respect for life, rightly understood, refuses to reduce people to categories or causes. It asks a better question: What is my responsibility to this person?

As we reflect this season  honoring Dr. Kings legacy and standing for life in all its stages  we would do well to remember that the most enduring movements in history were sustained not by volume, but by moral clarity. Not by force, but by conviction grounded in truth.

Respect for life is not seasonal. It is not theoretical. It is a lifelong commitment to recognize the dignity of every human being and to live accordingly.

That is the legacy worth passing on  one that honors life, upholds dignity and shapes the future through conviction lived out faithfully.
An Oxfam GB trustee has resigned from the board over what he described as the cruel and inhumane treatment of its former chief executive and called for a Charity Commission takeover.

After raising concerns about the brutal manner of Halima Begums departure in December, Balwant Singh announced his resignation yesterday, accusing his fellow Oxfam trustees of undermining public trust and lacking transparency.

In a statement, Singh formally apologised to Begum, who left after two years as Oxfam CEO in December following serious concerns being raised over her leadership.

Singh, who joined Oxfam in November 2022, said he felt morally obliged to step down from its board this Thursday due to events surrounding Begums exit.

I have despaired at the lack of accountability to the thousands of staff, volunteers, the public and donors, he said.

We should have been better than this. I believe that the actions of the Oxfam GB board have compounded organisational damage and undermined trust.

I have concluded that the current board of Oxfam GB is no longer fit for office.

Singh called on the Charity Commission to remove Oxfams board, install a caretaker leadership and launch a statutory inquiry into governance competence and serious potential failures at the charity.

The departing trustee cited broader concerns over the charitys governance since the Haiti safeguarding scandal was reported in 2018 and said he was angry at the amount spent on lawyers instead of hunger crises in Sudan and east Africa.

In response to Singhs resignation, an Oxfam spokesperson said: Board changes are a matter for our formal governance processes. We will update on these in due course.

Earlier this month, Oxfam announced it would commission a review of its board processes following Begums departure and the subsequent tide of criticism.

Civil Society understands the Charity Commission is still assessing whether or not to intervene.

Events surrounding Begums departure

Oxfams board made the unanimous decision that trust and confidence in Begum had been lost after a review by workplace problem-solving company Howlett Brown in December.

The charity told Civil Society its board had received complaints about Begums leadership since January 2025 and held a meeting to discuss these on 24 October.

Oxfam said a fair and confidential external review was then instigated, in line with employment law and Charity Commission guidance.

Begum had been subject to scrutiny after more than 140 staff members were made redundant in a bid to tackle a second consecutive operating deficit of over 20m.

Protests led by trade union Unite involving the charitys very demoralised workforce followed.

Singh, however, took aim at Oxfams board for lacking transparency over the vast black hole in its finances that led to the staff restructure.

After the Times story was published, Singh broke ranks with the charity and said Begum was a victim of a plot to undermine her leadership.

He claimed the investigations findings into Begums conduct had not been shared with her before the Times was notified of her exit, and that she was not given the right of reply.

Singh also said Begum had filed a grievance complaint against former chair Charles Gurassa before she became aware of concerns around her leadership.

In response, Oxfam confirmed Begum had launched a whistleblower complaint against Gurassa on 29 October.

Gurassa told the board the claims in the complaint were inaccurate, with mischaracterisations and innuendo, the Observer reported this month.

The charity said Gurassa recused himself of all matters relating to the CEO review and the grievance against him on 30 October 2025 before the independent review.

Gurassa stepped down as chair on 27 November, the charity added.

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Co-CEOs appointed permanently at ActionAid UK

ActionAid has announced the appointment of Hannah Bond and Taahra Ghazi as its permanent co-chief executives as the organisation embarks on what it describes as a new phase of feminist leadership and strategic transformation.

Bond joined ActionAid UK in 2021 and currently serves as interim co-CEO alongside her role as director of advocacy and influencing. Bond previously worked within the UK government and as director of gender action for peace and security.

Ghazi first joined ActionAid in 2000 and currently serves as interim co-CEO and director of innovation and impact. She began her career as a secondary school teacher in Hackney.

The new co-CEOs said: We recognise the pivotal moment at which we step into these roles and the responsibility entrusted to us. We are inspired by the dedication and passion of everyone across the organisation and the partners we work with. It's an honour to lead this work alongside them.

Clinks appoints CEO

Summer Alston-Smith has been appointed as the next CEO of Clinks, coming into post on 16 March after over two decades in the criminal justice and voluntary sectors.

Alston-Smith is currently the director of development and insights at Advance. She previously held roles at Prison Advice and Care Trust and strategic positions such as membership of Her Insight Collective expert advisory group, and serving as vice-chair of the Criminal Justice Alliance.

She said: Im delighted to be stepping into this role at such a critical moment for the sector. With the imminent passing of the sentencing bill and the ongoing work of the Womens Justice Board, there is a significant opportunity to shape what comes next.

This aligns with Clinks broader commitment to building a resilient and vibrant voluntary sector in the longer term.

New CEO for Founders Pledge

Founders Pledge, which connects entrepreneurs with charities, has announced that one of its longtime members, and COO, Charlotte Monico, is succeeding founder David Goldberg as its next CEO.

Goldberg is transitioning into a strategic founder and president role after 11 years as CEO.

Monico previously worked at the likes of Boston Consulting Group and Google prior to working full-time in philanthropy. She first became involved with Founders Pledge after exiting from Cloudreach.

Teenage Cancer Trust CEO steps down

Teenage Cancer Trust has announced that Kate Collins will step down as chief executive at the end of January 2026, after eight years in the role and 16 years with the organisation.

Julie Worrall, the charitys director of engagement, will act as interim chief executive. The board of trustees will announce plans for recruiting a permanent chief executive in due course.

Paul Spanswick, chair of the board of trustees, said: Kate's contribution to Teenage Cancer Trust over 16 years has been exceptional. Her vision, determination, energy, and compassion have shaped what we do today.

She leaves the organisation in a strong position - financially secure, strategically clear, and ready for our next evolution. We're enormously grateful for all she's built.

New CEO for Good Things Foundation

Digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation, has announced the appointment of Vicki Sellick as chief executive designate.

Sellick joins Good Things Foundation from St John Ambulance. Prior to this, she was chief partnership officer at innovation foundation Nesta, where she ran programmes tackling inequalities and exclusion.

She will succeed founder Helen Milner, who will retire in March after 15 years of leadership.

Sellick said of her appointment: It is an honour to join Good Things Foundation, an organisation that has fundamentally changed the landscape of digital inclusion in the UK.

The mission could not be more urgent - millions still live in data poverty, and whilst AI advances at pace theres a risk the most excluded are only further left behind.

First CEO appointed at 1001 Critical Days

The 1001 Critical Days Foundation has appointed former government minister Will Quince as its first-ever chief executive.

Founded in March 2025 by Dame Andrea Leadsom, the foundation works to improve support for babies and their families during the first 1001 days, from pregnancy to age two.

Quince is a former government minister for Children and Families, and for Health and Social Care and helped to develop the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

Leadsom, who serves as executive chair and founder of the foundation, said: This appointment is an incredibly exciting milestone in our journey. Will brings the leadership, compassion and drive to help us deliver our mission: that every baby should experience the best start in life, both here in the UK and globally.

Together we will champion the first 1001 days of life as a critical foundation for lifelong health and happiness, supporting babies and families in the UK and around the world.

Walk the Walk CEO steps down

After three decades at the helm of breast cancer charity, Walk the Walk, founder and CEO Nina Barough has announced that she will be stepping down.

Barough will continue to be involved in Walk the Walk, which runs the MoonWalk fundraising event, in a trustee capacity.

Barough said of her decision: There is never a good time to go. The past five years, following the pandemic, have been incredibly challenging for all charities, and stepping down during that time would not have been the right thing to do.

Who knew that a one-off fundraising event in 1996 would consume the next 30 years of my life? I am so proud of all that Walk the Walk has achieved and deeply grateful to every supporter and fundraiser who has said YES to Walking the Walk and believing in our mission.

The charity is currently recruiting for Baroughs successor.

New CEO at Kids for Kids

Kids for Kids, the UK-based charity providing both emergency and sustainable projects to remote villages in North Darfur, has announced the appointment of Andrew Caudell as its new chief executive officer.

Caudell succeeds the Kids for Kids founder, Patricia Parker, who will continue to serve as chairman of trustees and programme director for Darfur, Sudan.

Caudell has over 25 years of senior leadership experience from the commercial and charitable sectors.

He said: I am honoured to be appointed CEO of Kids for Kids at such a pivotal time.

I look forward to working with our dedicated team, volunteers and supporters to continue and expand the charitys vital work in Darfur, ensuring that children in Darfur are not forgotten during this brutal crisis.

Orbis International appoints CEO and president

Global eye care charity, Orbis International, has appointed Kathleen Sherwin as its new president and CEO.

Sherwin brings more than 25 years of experience advancing health equity, gender equality and sustainable development across the not-for-profit and humanitarian sectors; most recently, she served as chief strategy and engagement officer at Plan International.

She previously held roles at Women Deliver as interim president and CEO, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

John Slattery, chair of the board of directors for Orbis International, said: Kathleens passion for meaningful change and her unwavering commitment to equity and access strongly resonate with Orbiss mission to eradicate curable blindness globally.

We are thrilled to welcome her as CEO and look forward to the impact she will help Orbis achieve for communities around the world.

Town and Country Planning Association CEO to step down

The Town and Country Planning Association has announced that its chief executive, Fiona Howie, will leave the organisation in the spring of 2026 after seven years in the role.

Howie said: It has been an honour to have led the association for the last seven years and all that the brilliantly talented staff team have achieved during that time. I am clear that planning can be transformational.

Thats why I am so proud of our work, including projects that have supported and empowered communities to play an active role in the future of their area and our campaign to embed health and wellbeing in plan making.

My deep thanks go to colleagues, trustees, funders and the wider membership for their support.

The recruitment process for a new chief executive is now underway.

New CEO for the Nightingale

The Nightingale Cancer Support Centre has appointed Meral Nugent as its new CEO.

Nugent joins the Nightingale from HCA Healthcare, where she was director of corporate affairs. Prior to this, she served as head of global communications at Advanz Pharma.

Having previously volunteered with the Nightingale in 2024, going on to Nugent also previously volunteered with the Nightingale in 2024 and went on to become the office manager.

Nugent said: I am incredibly thrilled to be joining the Nightingale as the new CEO, it is truly a privilege and honour.

During my time working here previously, I have come to love The Nightingale and the amazing work it does in the community.

Ormiston Families announces CEO

Bruce Leeke has been appointed as the new CEO of Ormiston Families, which supports children and families across the east of England.

Leeke will take over the role in February. The charitys previous chief executive, Allan Myatt, retired in summer 2025.

Leeks previous role was as chief executive of Suffolk Libraries, which he took over in early 2018.

I am delighted to be joining such a highly regarded and impactful charity, said Leek.

Ormiston Families supports and enables families and young people across the East of England. The diversity and scale of the charitys services ensure that every year we are positively shaping and changing thousands of lives.

Victim Support Scotland welcomes interim CEO

Victim Support Scotland (VSS), which supports victims of crime in Scotland, has appointed Debbie Adams as interim chief executive.

Adams was previously director of development and external affairs at VSS, and takes over from Kate Wallace, who stepped down in November after eight years at the head of the organisation.

Adams joined the charity in August 2024 after more than 15 years in senior management roles in the charity and private sectors. Prior to VSS, Adams held director roles in the Conservation Volunteers and Children First. She is currently also a trustee for SCVO.

New chair for Royal Parks charity

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has appointed Linda Yueh as the new chair of the Royal Parks charity. Yueh has been appointed on a term of four years, starting on 1 March 2026.

Loyd Grossman is the current chair of the Royal Parks. His term comes to an end on 28 February 2026.

Yueh was previously executive chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society and a board member of London & Partners, Londons growth agency, including during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Seescape welcomes chair

Scottish sight loss charity, Seescape, has welcomed Bill Buchan as the new chair of its board of trustees.

Buchan takes over from Kirsty McIntosh, who has supported the charity as a trustee and chair for the past six years.

Buchan joined the Seescape board last summer and will be supported by Iain Stewart as a vice chair.

Buchan is also vice chair of the charity Working Rite and chair of the Childrens Panel. He has held senior roles at Lloyds Banking Group, Sainsburys Bank, SSE, and Phoenix Group.

Big Issue Invest appoints chair

Big Issue Invest has announced the appointment of Jenny Knott as its new chair.

Knott joins the Big Issue Groups social investment arm with senior leadership experience, including as CEO of Standard Bank from 2010 to 2015. She has also held a number of non-executive director roles at organisations including the British Business Bank, Simplyhealth and Camco.

She replaces outgoing chair Mark Porter, who departs after two years.

Knott said: Im delighted to be joining Big Issue Invest as its new chair. At a time when social inequality remains stubbornly high, Ive been impressed by the range of innovative social businesses being backed by Big Issue Invest.

It has a proven track record of unlocking life-changing opportunities at scale and demonstrating social impact doesnt need to come at the expense of financial return.

New chair for the Scottish Fundraising Adjudication Panel

The Independent Fundraising Standards & Adjudication Panel for Scotland has announced the appointment of Yvonne Evans as its new chair leading the panel in overseeing fundraising standards.

At the start of this month, Evans took over the position from co-chairs Morna Black and Stephen Shirres, who stepped down after two years leading the panel.

Evans joined the panel in 2022 and was appointed to the role of vice chair in April 2024.

Evans is also a senior lecturer in law at the University of Dundee. Prior to joining academia, Evans practised as a solicitor and specialises in Scots trusts, succession and tax law.

Mind announces executive director of income generation

Mental health charity Mind has appointed Emma Ackerman to the role of executive director of income generation.

Ackerman has worked across the charity sector both in the UK and US, leading significant income growth, partnerships and organisation-wide change, combining direct experience of delivering mental health programmes with senior executive leadership.

Most recently, she served as chief of staff at the Childrens Museum of Manhattan. Before moving to the US, she was strategy director at The National Lottery Community Fund, where she led a strategic review and the UK funding portfolio.

British Heart Foundation appoints chief commercial officer

British Heart Foundation has appointed Allison Swaine-Hughes as chief commercial officer to lead its retail and commercial operations.

Swaine-Hughes has served as BHFs retail director since 2018 and takes on responsibility for BHFs 680 shops, e-commerce platforms, and wider commercial ventures following the retirement of previous CCO Mike Taylor in December 2025.

She said: Im proud to lead BHFs commercial operations.

My focus will be on building resilience, embracing innovation, and ensuring our activities reflect our values  from sustainability to inclusivity  while driving income to fund lifesaving research across all our commercial ventures.

New chief information officer for Community Integrated Care

Community Integrated Care, one of the UK's largest social care charities, has announced the appointment of Gerard McGovern as its chief information officer (CIO).

McGovern joins the organisation with experience leading digital transformation and innovation, including roles at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where he oversaw technology, data and AI, and senior leadership roles at Guide Dogs for the Blind and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Reflecting on his appointment, McGovern said: Ive always been motivated by work that has real meaning and being part of an organisation that improves lives is incredibly fulfilling.

This role gives me the chance to use my skills and experience to remove friction, simplify processes, and give our teams more time and capacity to deliver outstanding care.

New director of volunteering support at St John Ambulance

Chris Reed has been appointed as the new director for volunteering support at St John Ambulance.

Reed joins the charity from the Scouts, where he recently served as interim executive director of operations, leading on volunteer engagement and transformation.

Over his 20-year career, Reed has held senior leadership roles at charities including Barnardos and the British Red Cross. He also previously worked at St John Ambulance as head of volunteering from 2010 to 2014.

Reed said: I am delighted to be returning to St John and bringing everything I have learnt from the past decade leading volunteer transformation in some of the UKs largest charities.

ShelterBox announces director of fundraising and communications

International disaster relief charity ShelterBox has welcomed Fee Gilfeather as its new director of fundraising and communications.

Gilfeather will lead efforts to raise funds and awareness of the charitys work supporting people uprooted from their homes by disaster or conflict with emergency shelter and other essential items.

She brings more than 18 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, including senior roles at Oxfam GB, where she led mass engagement and fundraising campaigns. Her experience spans fundraising strategy, brand development, partnerships, and integrated communications.

Gilfeather said: Im excited to join the team at ShelterBox and help drive its mission to ensure no one is left without shelter after disaster.

The need for emergency shelter is significant, and Im passionate about connecting supporters with the incredible impact they can make.

New regional director for Paperweight Trust

The Paperweight Trust, an advice and crisis-support charity for the Jewish community, has appointed Hannah Gerson as its new regional director.

Gerson joins the Paperweight Trust following her role as social responsibility manager at the United Synagogue, where she led social responsibility strategy across multiple communities and delivered programmes supporting vulnerable individuals and families.

She said of her new role: I am delighted to join the Paperweight Trust at such an important moment in its growth.

Paperweights commitment to practical, compassionate support is something I deeply believe in and Im looking forward to working closely with partners, volunteers and the wider Manchester Jewish community to build on the organisations vital work.

New executive director for Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK

Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK has announced the appointment of Julie Child as its new executive director.

Child brings more than 20 years of experience in the charity sector, with a career focused on small patient support and research organisations.

She said of her new role: I am delighted to be joining Oracle Head & Neck Cancer UK at such an important time for the charity.

Birmingham Museums Trust announces chair of finance and risk committee

Birmingham Museums Trust has announced the appointment of Deborah Spence as a trustee and the new chair of its finance and risk committee.

Spence qualified as a chartered accountant over 30 years ago and is founder and chief executive of DJS Consulting Solutions Limited. Previously, she has worked as an adviser in private equity for a Big Four accounting and consulting firm.

She succeeds Clive Bawden who has been chair of the finance and risk committee since 2020.

Spence said of her appointment: Im delighted to be joining Birmingham Museums Trust as a trustee and chair of the finance and risk committee.

Birminghams museums are important centres of culture and heritage and this is an exciting time for the trust, with the continued phased reopening of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the recent launch of the Your Museums, Your Move fundraising campaign.

National Youth Agency gains trustee

The National Youth Agency has announced the appointment of Lisa Harris as a trustee and chair of the education training and standards committee.

Harris has more than 20 years of experience in the higher education sector, spanning quality assurance, assessment policy, curriculum development, online education, and academic governance.

She currently serves as head of strategic planning at the Open University, where she leads on risk management, institutional performance, and strategic implementation.

New trustee for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, which supports the families of children in hospital, has announced the appointment of Claire Rowney as a trustee.

Rowney currently serves as chief executive of Breast Cancer Now. Rowney has previously worked at organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support, Save the Children UK and Cancer Research UK.

She said: I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities UK. The work that the charity does to support families with seriously ill children is truly humbling and Im honoured to be selected to sit on the board.

I am excited to get started, to learn more about the charity and the vital work that they do, and to contribute as effectively as I can.

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Trump administration officials said on Friday that Canada would regret its decision to allow China to import up to 49,000 Chinese EVs, and that those cars would not be allowed to enter the United States.

I think theyll look back at this decision and surely regret it to bring Chinese cars into their market, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at an event with other government officials at a Ford factory in Ohio to tout efforts to make vehicles more affordable.

Canada in 2024 imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles following similar U.S. duties. But its recent move to allow EVs has prompted alarm in the U.S. that it could help China get a broader foothold in North America even as Washington takes an increasingly hardline on Canadian vehicles and parts.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the limited number of vehicles would not impact American car companies exporting cars to Canada.

I dont expect that to disrupt American supply into Canada, he said. Those cars are going to Canada  theyre not coming here.

The Canadian Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.

Greer in a separate CNBC interview called Canadas decision problematic and added: Theres a reason why we dont sell a lot of Chinese cars in the United States. Its because we have tariffs to protect American auto workers and Americans from those vehicles.

Under the new deal, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he expects China will lower tariffs on its canola seed by March 1 to a combined rate of about 15%.

Greer questioned that agreement. I think in the long run, theyre not going to like having made that deal, he said.

Greer said rules adopted in January 2025 on vehicles that are connected to the internet and navigation systems are a significant impediment to Chinese vehicles in the U.S. market.

I think it would be hard for them to operate here, Greer said. There are rules and regulations in place in America about the cybersecurity of our vehicles and the systems that go into those, so I think it might be hard for the Chinese to comply with those kind of rules.

In contrast, President Donald Trump has said he would like Chinese automakers to come to the United States to build vehicles.

However, lawmakers from both major U.S. parties have expressed strong opposition to Chinese vehicles as major U.S. automakers warn China poses a threat to the U.S. auto sector.

Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican, said at the event he was opposed to Chinese vehicles coming into the United States  and drew applause from the other government officials.

As long as I have air in my body, there will not be Chinese vehicles sold the United States of America  period, Moreno said.

(Reporting by Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Nia Williams and Deepa Babington)
SHINGLETON TOWNSHIP, Mich.  A 22-year-old man from Garrettsville in Portage County was killed in a snowmobile crash in Michigans Upper Peninsula over the weekend, according to Michigan State Police.

Troopers responded around 10:30 p.m. Saturday to a crash on Trail 8 near N-58 in Shingleton Township in Alger County, police told mlive.com.

Preliminary findings indicate the man was traveling at a high rate of speed when he was unable to navigate a curve in the trail, investigators said.

The victims name has not been released.
One thing many workers are keen to leave behind heading into 2026? The 9-to-5 schedule. In its place, many are interested in adopting a practice called "microshifting."

In Owl Labs' 2025 State of Hybrid Work report, 65% of workers reported being interested in microshifting, defined as working in "short, non-linear blocks based on personal energy, responsibilities, or productivity patterns."

"Microshifting appeals to employees not just as a scheduling preference, but as a way to reclaim control over their increasingly fragmented work lives," Owl Labs CEO Frank Weishaupt tells CNBC Make It. "Employees are improvising solutions to reconcile the demands of their jobs with the realities of their lives."

During the pandemic remote work boom, many workers had greater control over their time during their workdays. The interest in microshifting could represent interest in keeping that flexibility, particularly among those with some degree of remote or self-directed work, as it may be more difficult for office workers in traditional 9-to-5 jobs.

But microshifting isn't an entirely new practice. Doug Gregory of Grand Rapids, Michigan, says he's been doing it as a remote worker for decades, before it had that name, and even more so since the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We kind of got used to the idea of being present or available for loved ones," he says of broader sentiment in the workforce stemming from the pandemic remote work era. "We got used to taking better care of our health."

While Gregory acknowledges that "not everybody has control over their calendar," he finds "the day is more fluid" when he's microshifting.

"If I need to take an hour off during the day to go do something with the grandkid or to go see a doctor or whatever, it's okay, I make up for it in the evening, I make up for it early in the morning," he says. "It really comes back to what am I responsible for getting done, how do I do it, and how do I organize my life to do it."

Gregory previously held sales roles but today is self-employed working in audiovisual integration.

"I earn a living based on outcomes," he says. "Nobody sends me a check for how many hours I work in a week."

Microshifting could be particularly useful for parents and caregivers; Owl Labs' report found caregivers were roughly three times as likely to try microshifting as non-caregivers.

Theresa Robertson of Elkridge, Maryland, is one of them. Robertson says she juggled her work, including a former role as a project manager, with caregiving for her late husband, who had chronic health issues, for 25 years.

"To me, it was just making sure I didn't lose my job," she says. "I had to take care of my husband, and I had to work, so I had to figure it out."

That meant scheduling meetings around his doctors' appointments and starting some days early or ending others late to take him to those appointments, manage his medications and handle other caregiving responsibilities.

"We had a routine; after I got him settled, made sure he was dressed and he had his medicine and he had his food, then I could relax and focus on work," she says. "I had more control over my day where I could stop and decide, okay I need to check his blood pressure and then go back to work."

Some of her jobs during this period, like in project management, were more outcome-based so she was trusted to manage her time as long as she handled her work, she notes.

"As long as I got the job done on time and on budget, they weren't really looking at did I punch a clock to see was I in the building at 7 a.m." she says. "I've had so many Zoom meetings in hospital rooms because wherever I go I take my laptop and when I can work, I can work."

Today, Robertson runs a virtual assistant agency, which she says helps her continue to microshift. She sets her hours such that she's mostly free on Friday afternoons, for example, to tend to personal matters.

"I microshift all the time," she says. "That's the only way I'm able to have a life and produce an income."

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BEIJING  An Alibaba -backed AI startup is currently being valued at $4.8 billion in a fresh funding round, two people with knowledge of the deal said, just weeks after it was valued at $4.3 billion.

Moonshot AI is the company behind the Kimi chatbot, which surged in popularity in China months before DeepSeek's release last year.

Since Moonshot's previous funding round in December, rival Chinese AI companies  Zhipu and MiniMax  surged after going public in Hong Kong.

The sources told CNBC that Moonshot was closing a funding round that will value it at least $500 million higher than the December round. The sources said the round would likely close soon due to high demand.

Both asked to remain anonymous while discussing private information. Moonshot AI had not responded to a request for comment as this article went live.

The sources added that the company could be valued even higher in subsequent rounds that could follow, due to a surge of interest in Chinese AI IPO candidates.

Chinese AI companies have particularly boomed as U.S. AI chatbots, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, aren't officially available in mainland China.

Beijing restricts access to many U.S.-based internet services, while American companies have faced growing restrictions from the White House on doing business with China.

The previous funding round was announced on Dec. 31. IDG, Alibaba and Tencent participated in it, according to Chinese financial news outlet LatePost.

Moonshot AI has not commented on any plans for an IPO.

Zhipu, listed under the name Knowledge Atlas, had a market value of $13 billion as of Monday's close, according to Wind Information data. MiniMax was worth $15.2 billion, the data showed.
Billionaires' wealth has risen sharply to a record high of $18.3 trillion  with the super-rich seeking power "for their own gain," according to a report by the global charity Oxfam released Monday.

The number of billionaires reached more than 3,000 last year, and collectively they saw their fortunes increase by 16%, or $2.5 trillion, the report said.

Added to this, billionaires' wealth has surged by 81% since 2020, the charity said, describing the past as "a good decade for billionaires."

And while the rich have become richer, poverty reduction has slowed, with levels "broadly where they were in 2019," according to a news release from the charity.

Oxfam also said the super-rich often use their wealth to secure political power as well as media ownership, noting billionaire Elon Musk's involvement in the U.S. administration at the start of 2025, Jeff Bezos's ownership of The Washington Post and billionaire Vincent Bollore's acquisition of French news site CNews.

"The outsized influence that the super-rich have over our politicians, economies and media has deepened inequality and led us far off track on tackling poverty," said Oxfam's Executive Director Amitabh Behar in the charity's report, titled "Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power."

The charity has released inequality reports to coincide with the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, every year since 2014. Last year, Oxfam predicted the world would see at least five trillionaires within a decade and called for global tax policies to ensure the rich pay their fair share.

This year, "Davos," which starts on Monday, will host around 65 heads of state and 850 CEOs, with U.S. President Donald Trump set to address delegates on Wednesday.

"The widening gap between the rich and the rest is ... creating a political deficit that is highly dangerous and unsustainable," Behar said.

"Governments are making wrong choices to pander to the elite and defend wealth while repressing people's rights and anger at how so many of their lives are becoming unaffordable and unbearable," Behar said.

In 2025, Trump's "big beautiful bill" introduced several tax breaks for the wealthy, with those earning $1 million-plus seeing about a 3% income boost.

Meanwhile, most Americans can no longer afford a "minimal quality of life," according to a 2023 report by the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity. About 10% of Americans lived in poverty in 2024 according to U.S. census data published in September.

Oxfam called on governments to make national inequality reduction plans, tax the super-rich to reduce their power and prioritize stronger "firewalls" between politics and wealth as well as provide stronger protection for freedom of expression.

The report comes as more than 2,500 people have been killed in Iran since protests against a long-running economic crisis began last month. Last year saw more than 140 "significant" anti-government protests in 68 countries, Oxfam said, which authorities "typically met with violence."

"Being economically poor creates hunger. Being politically poor creates anger," Behar said.

Rich nations are "cutting aid further and faster than before," Oxfam's report stated. These cuts, including the closure of USAID, could lead to an additional 14 million deaths by 2030, the charity said.

- CNBC's April Roach contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One at the White House on Jan. 16, 2026 in Washington, DC.

If economic sanctions are designed to apply pressure without firing a shot, then U.S. President Donald Trump has aimed directly at America's closest military allies.

Trump said Saturday the U.S. will impose a 10% tariff on imports from eight NATO nations  Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland  starting Feb. 1.

Trump added that duties on those nations would rise to 25% on June 1 until "a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland."

European leaders moved quickly to condemn the move, calling it "unacceptable." After a meeting Sunday and broadly agreeing to dissuade Trump, EU officials are weighing retaliatory tariffs of as much as 93 billion euros ($108 billion) on U.S. goods, reported Reuters.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to address the Greenland-related tariffs in a speech later Monday, London time.

Beyond the immediate political fallout, the move threatens to derail the EU-U.S. trade agreement reached in August and risks the prospect of retaliation from Europe.

Duties slapped on European nations "could likely mean a significant E.U. pushback, where the E.U. could respond in kind, leading to a sort of trade war with the U.S.," Dan Alamariu, chief geopolitical strategist at Alpine Macro, told CNBC over email before Trump announced the latest tariffs.

Until now, markets had largely taken geopolitical tensions in stride. Equity markets entered the year higher because disputes involving Greenland, Iran or Venezuela had not yet pulled in major economies or military partners, said Eric Freedman, chief investment officer for Chicago-based Northern Trust Wealth Management, last week.

That calculus may be changing. By drawing European allies into the dispute, the tariffs increase the risk of greater market volatility. Major U.S. indexes were in the red for the week even before Trump's Greenland-related tariffs, signaling growing unease among investors.

All of this unfolds as the World Economic Forum begins today, Jan. 19, at Davos. World leaders will convene for talks on trade, security and geopolitical tensions, with Trump in attendance  and set to come face to face with leaders of several countries now in his tariff crosshairs.

Just barely four weeks into the year, and fault lines are already building. What emerges from the snowy peaks will, like an avalanche, have a disproportionate impact on those below.

 CNBC's Holly Ellyatt, Chloe Taylor and Lee Ying Shan contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Oct. 22, 2025.

If economic sanctions are designed to apply pressure without firing a shot, then U.S. President Donald Trump has aimed directly at America's closest military allies.

Trump said Saturday the U.S. will impose a 10% tariff on imports from eight NATO nations  Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland  starting Feb. 1.

In a Truth Social post, Trump suggested that those countries were being penalized for sending troops to Greenland for a joint military exercise, writing that they had "journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown."

Trump added that duties on those nations would rise to 25% on June 1 until "a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland."

The move threatens to derail the EU-U.S. trade agreement reached in August and risks retaliatory measures from Europe.

Duties slapped on European nations "could likely mean a significant E.U. pushback, where the E.U. could respond in kind, leading to a sort of trade war with the U.S.," Dan Alamariu, chief geopolitical strategist at Alpine Macro, told CNBC over email before Trump announced the latest tariffs.

Until now, markets had largely taken geopolitical tensions in stride. Equity markets were up year to date because disputes involving Greenland, Iran or Venezuela had not yet pulled in major economies or military partners, said Eric Freedman, chief investment officer for Chicago-based Northern Trust Wealth Management, last week.

That calculus may be changing. By drawing European allies into the dispute, the tariffs increase the risk of greater market volatility. Major U.S. indexes were in the red for the week even before Trump's Greenland-related tariffs, signaling growing unease among investors.

All of this unfolds as the World Economic Forum begins today, Jan. 19, at Davos. World leaders will convene for talks on trade, security and geopolitical tensions, with Trump in attendance  and set to come face to face with leaders of several countries now in his tariff crosshairs.

Just barely four weeks into the year, and fault lines are already building. What emerges from the snowy peaks will, like an avalanche, have a disproportionate impact on those below.

 CNBC's Holly Ellyatt, Chloe Taylor and Lee Ying Shan contributed to this report.
Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during the Hoover Institution's George P. Shultz Memorial Lecture Series in Stanford, California, US, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell plans to attend oral arguments on Wednesday at the Supreme Court in a case challenging the power of President Donald Trump to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, a person familiar with the situation told CNBC on Monday.

Powell's planned attendance comes as the Fed chairman is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., in connection with a multi-billion-dollar renovation of the central bank's headquarters and his testimony to Congress about that project.

The Associated Press first reported on Powell's plans.

For Powell to personally attend oral arguments in such a case is unusual.

But the question of whether a president can fire a Fed governor in the manner that Trump has attempted is viewed within the central bank as having potentially existential consequences.

Powell, in an extraordinary public statement on Jan. 11, revealed that he was under criminal investigation, and called its purported grounds a pretext for its real reason: the refusal of the Fed's Board of Governors, which includes him and Cook as members, to lower interest rates as quickly as Trump demanded last year.

"The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President," Powell said.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen addresses people protesting against U.S. President Donald Trump and his announced intent to acquire Greenland on January 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Monday that the Arctic island would not be pressured over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats.

His comments come shortly after Nielsen joined protesters in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, over the weekend, where people marched to demonstrate against Trump's push to take control of the self-governing Danish territory.

On Saturday, the U.S. president threatened to impose a rising wave of tariffs against eight European countries for their opposition to his campaign.

European political leaders called the proposed tariffs "unacceptable" and vowed to stand behind Denmark, which is responsible for the island's foreign, defense, and security policies.

In a social media post, Greenland's Nielsen said the recent demonstrations in Greenland and in Denmark had shown "a strong and dignified unity."

He also welcomed support from other European leaders, saying it shows a "clear recognition" that Greenland had the right to make its own decisions.

"The latest statements from the US, including threats of tariffs, do not change that line. We will not be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law," Nielsen said in a Facebook post, according to a Google translation.
The word "burnout" isn't in the dictionary of Jack Zhang, co-founder and CEO of fintech company Airwallex.

"I never understand that terminology to be honest. I've worked 100 hours a week from [the] age of 16 for 20 plus years," Zhang told CNBC Make It.

For Zhang, hard work meant survival. At age 15, he moved away from his hometown of Qingdao, China to Melbourne, Australia alone, to pursue better opportunities. He barely spoke English and stayed with an Australian host family.

Shortly after arriving, he learned that his parents had found themselves in financial hot water back in China, and that he would have to support himself through university.

"I [had] two choices: either I just return to China and try to go back to the education system there, or I continue to stay in Australia and figure out how to pay [for my] tuition and living [expenses] on my own," said Zhang. He decided to stick with the latter and took whatever work he could find to make ends meet.

To pay for his computer science degree at the University of Melbourne, Zhang juggled four blue-collar jobs: washing dishes at a restaurant during the day, bartending in the evening, working the overnight shift at a petrol station and packing lemons in a factory over the summer.

Some weeks, he says, he clocked 80 to 100 hours of work on top of his coursework.

"When you're ... in that tough situation [where] you need to survive, you're not really [thinking] about burnout. I mean, either you survive or not, right?" he said.

Not much has changed since then. Now in his 40s, Zhang still clocks 80 hours a week "easily," he said, at his own fintech firm. As of December 2025, the company is valued at $8 billion.
OpenAI will make 2026 its year of "practical adoption," the artificial intelligence startup's finance chief said in a blog Sunday.

"The priority is closing the gap between what AI now makes possible and how people, companies, and countries are using it day to day," OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar wrote. "The opportunity is large and immediate, especially in health, science, and enterprise, where better intelligence translates directly into better outcomes."

In the blog, Friar laid out how OpenAI views its strategy for driving monetization of its services, like ChatGPT, while securing the compute necessary to power those products, saying that the AI lab's revenue directly tracks with the availability of its technical infrastructure. OpenAI's compute grew from 0.2 gigawatts in 2023 to about 1.9 GW in 2025, while the company's annual revenue run rate grew similarly from $2 billion in 2023 to more than $20 billion last year, Friar said.

"This is never-before-seen growth at such scale," she wrote. "And we firmly believe that more compute in these periods would have led to faster customer adoption and monetization."

Friar's blog comes as OpenAI and the tech industry's focus on AI comes under scrutiny for the massive investments necessary to build out the data centers and secure the energy and components required to power this cutting-edge technology that has yet to deliver much revenue returns for investors.

Among those key deals is an agreement between OpenAI and AI chipmaker Nvidia announced in September. Under that agreement, Nvidia said it would commit $100 billion to support the AI startup as it builds and deploys at least 10 GW of Nvidia's systems.

A gigawatt is a measure of power, and 10 GW is roughly equivalent to the annual power consumption of 8 million U.S. households, according to a CNBC analysis of data from the Energy Information Administration.

But in November, Nvidia told investors there was "no assurance" that its agreement with OpenAI would progress beyond an announcement and to an official contract stage.

"Securing world-class compute requires commitments made years in advance, and growth does not move in a perfectly smooth line," wrote Friar, adding that the system requires discipline.

Three years ago, OpenAI relied on a single compute provider, but now it works with a diversified ecosystem, Friar said.

"We can plan, finance, and deploy capacity with confidence in a market where access to compute defines who can scale," she wrote.

OpenAI's business model should scale with its services, Friar said.

"As intelligence moves into scientific research, drug discovery, energy systems, and financial modeling, new economic models will emerge," she wrote.

The blog comes after OpenAI last week said that it planned to begin testing ads for some ChatGPT users in the U.S. That move comes as OpenAI gears up for a potential public debut this year.

"Monetization should feel native to the experience," Friar wrote. "If it does not add value, it does not belong."

WATCH: OpenAI Investor Letter: Weekly and daily active user figures 'continue to produce all-time highs'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join the U.S.' "Board of Peace" for Gaza, the Kremlin said Monday.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would study the details of the proposal to join the peace council created by U.S. President Donald Trump late last year. The "Board of Peace" is seen as a vehicle for maintaining a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza after their protracted conflict.

"President Putin has indeed received an offer through diplomatic channels to join this Board of Peace. We are currently studying all the details of this proposal," Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS.

"We hope to contact the U.S. side to clarify all the details," he added.

Trump has reportedly invited a number of world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Argentine President Javier Milei, to join the Board of Peace for Gaza, which will be part of the larger Board of Peace, Bloomberg reported Saturday.

Several other nations, including Hungary, India, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, and Pakistan confirmed Board of Peace invitations, AP News reported on Sunday.

However, the Trump administration reportedly wants nations to pay $1 billion to remain on the board in perpetuity, Bloomberg noted, citing a draft charter for the proposed group.

If confirmed, Putin's invitation to join the peace council would raise eyebrows given his oversight of an ongoing war against Russia's neighbor Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians are estimated to have died in the war, which is approaching its four-year anniversary in February.

CNBC has contacted the White House for confirmation of Putin's invitation.

On Saturday, the U.S. also released the names of those who will sit on a "founding Executive Board" of the council, with the list including former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among several others.

Israel is unhappy with how the "Board of Peace" is unfolding, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office releasing a statement on Friday commenting, "the announcement regarding the composition of the Gaza Executive Board, which is subordinate to the Board of Peace, was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy."

 CNBC'S Kate Dore contributed reporting to this story.
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Stellantis North America COO and Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa speaks during the Stellantis press conference at the Automobility LA 2024 car show at Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, November 21, 2024. Etienne Laurent | AFP | Getty Images

DETROIT  Five years after the transatlantic automaker Stellantis was formed through a merger, the business hasn't necessarily panned out as investors hoped. U.S. shares of the company  created through a $52 billion combination of Italian American automaker Fiat Chrysler and France-based Groupe PSA on Jan. 16, 2021  are down roughly 43% in the past five years. Italian-listed shares also are off roughly 40%. Since the combined company's stock debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on Jan. 19, 2021, days after the merger was completed, shares of the automaker were largely in the black  up as high as 74% in March 2024  until Stellantis reported troubling financial results that year amid cost-cutting efforts meant to support higher profits and its multibillion-dollar push into electric vehicles. Many of those plans are being altered or eliminated under new Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, who succeeded Carlos Tavares last summer. Tavares, a longtime automotive executive, was largely credited with forming the company, but abruptly left Stellantis in December 2024.

Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Stellantis shares listed in the U.S. and Italy.

Filosa is executing a sales turnaround plan for the automaker and is particularly focused on its Jeep and Ram brands regaining U.S. market share following yearslong sales declines. "The strategy that we have in front of us is a strong one and will lead us to growth if we execute well," he told reporters Wednesday during the Detroit Auto Show. "So, I believe it's a year of execution." Filosa did not rule out the possibility of regionally refocusing or shrinking the company's vast portfolio of brands that also includes Italian nameplates Fiat and Alfa Romeo, which have not performed well domestically. He said he believes the company should "stay together" following some speculation, including from Tavares, that it would be better to sell off assets or brands. Filosa said the next step in the company's plans will come during a meeting this month with more than 200 company executives that will focus on an upcoming capital markets day as well as company culture and 2026 execution.

PSA CEO Carlos Tavares and FCA CEO Mike Manley shake hands after signing a combination agreement that will lead to the creation of the world's fourth-largest global automaker in terms of annual sales (8.7 million vehicles). FCA
The logo of the German car manufacturer Volkswagen can be seen on a vehicle in front of a VW dealership.

Shares of some of Europe's biggest carmakers fell sharply on Monday morning, following U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to impose tariffs on several European countries over Greenland.

Europe's Stoxx Automobiles and Parts index traded 2% lower at around 1:02 p.m. London time (8:02 a.m. ET), paring losses from earlier in the session.

Germany's Volkswagen , BMW , and Mercedes-Benz Group stood between 2.5% to 3% lower, while Milan-listed shares of Ferrari dipped around 2.2%, notching a 52-week low. Germany's Porsche fell 3.2% on the news.

Milan-listed shares of Stellantis , which owns household names including Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler, and Peugeot, were last seen 1.8% lower.

The moves come shortly after Trump on Saturday pledged to impose 10% tariffs on the U.K., Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland by Feb. 1, ramping up his push to make Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, part of the United States.

The levy on these countries will rise to 25% from June 1, Trump said.

European political leaders are expected to hold emergency talks over the coming days as they consider their response.

The automotive sector is widely regarded as acutely vulnerable to levies, particularly given the high globalization of supply chains and the heavy reliance on manufacturing operations across North America.
An aerial view of the town ahead of World Economic Forum (WEF), also known as Davos Summit in Davos, Switzerland on January 14, 2024. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, U.S president Donald Trump and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang are among the who's who of political leaders, big-name CEOs and tech pioneers heading to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting. Trump is attending in person for the first time since he addressed the forum during his first term in 2020. His virtual address last year, days after reentering the White House, shook the event. This time, he will bring the "largest" U.S. delegation yet, according to WEF. Davos organizers are keen to talk up the numbers they expect to attend  "close to 3,000 cross-sector leaders," plus a "record" 400 political leaders, 850 top company bosses and 100 tech pioneers. But a government at the center of a geopolitical firestorm won't be there. Danish government representatives were invited and decided not to attend, a WEF spokesperson said on Monday, as the dispute over Greenland intensified. Their decision underscores how tense the meeting is likely to be, coming just days after Trump announced fresh tariffs on European countries resisting his attempt to annex the Arctic island. "Any decisions on attendance are a matter for the government concerned. We can confirm that the Danish government will not be represented in Davos this week," the WEF spokesperson said in a statement. There are big names among those who aren't going. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to attend, but it was confirmed on Tuesday he would not go. Chinese President Xi Jinping is not on WEF's attendance list, neither are the leaders of Brazil and India. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italy's leader Giorgia Meloni are not on the WEF list, although both are reported to be attending.

Big economic powers

During a press conference last week, WEF organizers highlighted that six of the G7 nations are expected to send representatives, in a "historic" move, according to WEF's president, Brge Brende. In 2025, the only G7 leader attending Davos in person was then-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Alongside President Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are set to attend in person.

World Economic Forum president and CEO Borge Brende holds a press conference to present the upcoming WEF annual meeting held in Davos, in Geneva, on January 14, 2025. Fabrice Coffrini | Afp | Getty Images

Downing Street would not confirm whether U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is attending  he did not attend last year  but he is reportedly expected to. In an emergency press conference on Monday morning, Starmer addressed Trump's announcement of escalating tariffs targeting several European countries, including the U.K., if Greenland isn't sold to the U.S. But when asked by the BBC whether he would consider meeting Trump in person "this week," Starmer did not directly answer the question. U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is set to attend and be a guest on CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Wednesday. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi isn't mentioned on WEF's list, but she is likely to remain in her country, given that she announced on Monday a snap election for Feb. 8.

'More of the CEOs'

Davos runs from Monday evening to Friday morning. This year's theme is "A spirit of dialogue," with an agenda focusing on five areas: the geopolitical environment, AI, climate and nature, new sources of economic growth and "people and preparedness." But the interest will be in who will attend Davos, according to Eric Kutcher, a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, a "strategic partner" to WEF. "It's going to be about who is there," he said in a video published by the company. "Much more so than what you see in the topics," Kutcher said. Trump's delegation is set to include U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, plus Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner. The president is scheduled to address Davos on Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump on screen during his address by video conference at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on Jan. 23, 2025. Fabrice Coffrini | Afp | Getty Images

WEF's founder, Klaus Schwab, is one big name who won't be at Davos. After running the event for decades, Schwab stepped down in April following an investigation into alleged misconduct. He was subsequently cleared of "material wrongdoing." BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Roche vice-chair Andre Hoffman were announced as WEF's interim co-chairs in August, and the organization's new personnel are "making a real push to kind of re-instil the economic orientation of WEF, and in doing so, bringing more of the CEOs," Kutcher said. Alongside Nvidia's Huang, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis are on WEF's attendance list. Sarah Friar, OpenAI's chief financial officer, is also set to participate, but the company's CEO, Sam Altman, is not down to attend. Key topics for markets include U.S. moves towards a Greenland takeover, political turmoil in Venezuela and the threat by Trump to use force against Iran. Investors will also be watching for announcements from AI firms, central bank updates, and news about companies diversifying away from the U.S. While some big-name politicians aren't attending, some of the leaders who are going  such as Argentina's Javier Milei and Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto  are "no small figures," according to Jan Aart Scholte, professor of global transformations and governance challenges at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Argentina's President Javier Milei delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on January 17, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) Fabrice Coffrini | Afp | Getty Images

Governments still see Davos as a place to meet with businesses, he added. "Global capital remains a strong force in world politics, even if big multinational enterprises are generally less embraced and celebrated than 20-30 years ago," he told CNBC in an email Monday.

Who's not on the list

While WEF said there are "close to" 65 heads of state expected to attend, plus key figures such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, other big names are not on the list. Brazil's President Lula da Silva and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi are not scheduled to give addresses. But Brende described India's delegation as "strong," and noted that the heads of state of other Asian economies, including Indonesia and Pakistan, would attend. While China's President Xi is not expected to attend, Brende said a "big" Chinese delegation would attend, including trade and finance Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is due to address the event on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of his nation, is not on WEF's attendance list. But several of the country's ministers, including Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan, are scheduled to be interviewed by CNBC during the event. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday he would no longer attend after two high-speed trains collided in the south of the country on Sunday, killing 39 people.

A former Davos critic makes an appearance
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for cool heads as tensions rise between Washington and its European allies after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose fresh tariffs on a number of countries if they block his bid to buy the Arctic territory.

In a press conference Monday, Starmer said that Britain greatly values its long-standing special relationship with the U.S., but that only Greenland and Denmark can decide the island's future.

"On Greenland, the right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies," Starmer said at a press conference in Downing Street, the PM's official residence.

"But there is a principle here that cannot be set aside, because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works, so any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone," he added.

Starmer spoke to Trump on Sunday night, telling him he was wrong to threaten to impose fresh tariffs on NATO allies if they didn't agree to his demands to "buy" Greenland.

The proposed tariffs would target Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K, the Netherlands and Finland. The duties would come on top of existing export tariffs to the U.S., currently standing at 10% for the U.K. and 15% for the EU.
HSINCHU, TAIWAN - APRIL 16: The entrance to a factory of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is a Taiwanese multinational semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company, in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on April 16, 2025.

The U.S.-Taiwan deal aimed at expanding chip production capacity in the U.S. is unlikely to fully wean Washington off the island's most advanced semiconductors anytime soon, several analysts told CNBC, leaving the so-called "silicon shield" largely intact for now.

Taiwan dominates global chip production, with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company producing most of the world's advanced chips. Nearly one-third of global demand for new computing power is estimated to be fabricated in Taiwan.

The island's central role in the global semiconductor supply chain has made preserving its de facto autonomy  and deterring any Chinese attack  a strategic priority for the U.S. and its allies, an idea referred to as the "Silicon Shield." Beijing claims territorial control over the democratically-governed island.

As part of a trade deal struck Thursday, the Taiwanese government promised to guarantee $250 billion in credit to its chip and technology companies to expand their production capacity in the U.S. Taiwanese companies will also enjoy higher quotas for tariff-free imports of their chips into the U.S.

In return, Washington would lower its levies on most goods from Taiwan to 15% from 20%, and waive tariffs on generic drugs and ingredients, aircraft components and natural resources unavailable domestically.

The goal is to bring 40% of Taiwan's entire semiconductor supply chain to the U.S., Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC on Thursday. But experts doubt the plan would be easy, given Taipei's hard line on keeping its most advanced technology at home.

Taiwan's "silicon shield" will remain strong through the end of the decade, with the world's most critical advanced capacity concentrated on the island, said Sravan Kundojjala, an analyst at SemiAnalysis.

Taiwanese authorities restricted TSMC's overseas fabrication plants from operating technologies at least two generations behind those developed domestically, known as the N-2 rule.
President Donald Trump 's push into mortgage bonds is good news for investors holding the assets, according to fixed income strategists. Earlier this month, the president directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase up to $200 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities, claiming the move would bring down mortgage rates. Investors immediately reacted to the news, snapping up the securities. "You have more demand and that essentially moves up the price of your holding," said Luis Alvarado, global fixed income strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute. "It was definitely a positive." In fact, spreads on agency mortgage-backed securities compressed by nearly 20 basis points to Treasurys in a 24-hour period, said Leslie Falconio, head of taxable fixed income strategy in UBS Americas' chief investment office. Credit spreads represent the risk premium, or additional yield, that investors receive for taking on risk. When spreads tighten, investors get less compensation for that risk. "The favorable supply technicals will likely keep mortgage spread in a tight range; however, we do not foresee continued outperformance in the near term," Falconio wrote in a recent note. That's because many money managers and institutional investors were overweight agency mortgage-backed securities due to their compelling relative value versus investment grade corporate bonds prior to the announcement. Now, those investors may want to take some profits, she said. 'An appetizer to the main course?' Alvarado said he's liked agency mortgage-backed securities for their relative value since June 2024. While the bonds have gotten more expensive, he's sticking with them. Yields remain attractive and they are considered a relatively safer asset than investment-grade corporates since they are backed by the government, he said. He called Trump's move a positive one within a much bigger story. "This is just the beginning  more to come," he said. "If you have [a] directive from the administration wanting to incentivize this area of the market, it just makes your bonds appreciate more." MBB 1Y mountain iShares MBS ETF one-year performance Falconio also wonders if Trump's move on mortgages may not be his last. "It  makes you wonder really what could be on deck; is this just an appetizer to the main course?" she said. "This affordability issue has been such on the forefront of policy that it's something where there could be other measures down the road which positively impact the sector as well," Falconio added. That is one of the reasons she still likes agency mortgage-backed securities as part of a balanced portfolio. Further, the securities don't have much correlation to the equity market, she said. While mortgage-backed securities aren't as inexpensive as they once were, nothing is cheap in the fixed income market right now, she added. "Most of the total return in 2026, whether it's investment grade corporates or agency MBS, is going to be income driven," Falconio said. "Compounding income  that's really going to be the key driver."
Ed Yardeni, President of Yardeni Research, believes the clearest winners have been precious metals in the current volatile global environIn a risky world, Ed Yardeni says follow the flow into gold and base metalsment. He advised investors to go with the flow of funds moving into gold, silver, palladium, and platinum, stating that rising geopolitical risks are driving demand for safe havens.Beyond precious metals, Yardeni also pointed to a structural boost for base metals such as copper, tin, lead, and aluminium, as a more dangerous world is likely to necessitate higher defence spending and infrastructure outlays.This bullish view on metals comes against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions triggered by Donald Trumps recent threat of imposing 10% tariffs on Greenland, potentially rising to 25%. While acknowledging the seriousness of the development, Yardeni described it as not happy at all, warning that it raises troubling questions about the United States commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), especially amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.He cautioned that such moves could embolden China to adopt a tit for tat approach. I think it increases the possibilities that China will decide now is a good time to at least put a blockade around Taiwan, he said, calling the broader geopolitical landscape very messy and dangerous.Despite these risks, Yardeni observed that financial markets have remained surprisingly resilient. He attributed this to investor familiarity with Trump-era tariff threats, which he likened to Swiss cheese due to the numerous exemptions that ultimately diluted their impact.The markets at this point are kind of taking the view that this too shall pass, he said, adding that he doubts the new tariffs will eventually be implemented.On portfolio strategy, Yardeni recommended a diversified mix of stocks and precious metals, while expressing caution on bonds in the current environment. He also highlighted a key shift underway in the US equity market, with performance broadening beyond the Magnificent 7 technology giants. According to Yardeni, rising competition among these mega-cap companies is likely to compress margins and lead to future disappointments. He believes investor attention is gradually moving towards what he calls the Impressive 493  the rest of the S&P 500.Turning to US-India relations, Yardeni said that while the current relationship is not very good, it could improve in a heartbeat. He cited ongoing trade negotiations and high-level diplomatic engagement, including Prime Minister Narendra Modis invitation to a peace board for Gaza, as encouraging signals. Describing Trumps style as similar to New Yorks real estate negotiations  very noisy but ultimately deal-oriented  Yardeni expressed optimism that a compromise with India will eventually be reached.For the entire interview, watch the accompanying videoAlso, catch the latest Budget 2026 expectations updates here
Amazon Web Services launched a new independent cloud service aiming to address European customer concerns around digital sovereignty last week. But while analysts believe it will help European customers meet regulatory compliance demands, there are questions around how much sovereignty it provides in practice.

The AWS European Sovereign Cloud data center is located in Brandenburg, Germany, with plans for additional facilities in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The AWS European Sovereign Cloud provides access to 90 AWS services but is physically and logically separate from AWSs existing public cloud Regions, the company said.

AWS established a new legal entity to operate the European Sovereign Cloud under a separate governance and operational model. The new company is incorporated in Germany and run exclusively by EU residents, AWS said. It operates under a governance structure led by EU citizens that are obligated to comply with European laws and, said AWS, the service has no critical dependencies on non-EU infrastructure and is designed to continue operations indefinitely, even in the event of a communications disruption with the rest of the world.
Modified: Monday, 19 January 2026 07:01 BST

David Woodsmith

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The Pound to Euro exchange rate (GBP/EUR) is struggling to build on recent gains, holding around 1.1550 as markets weigh improved UK growth data against a more challenging medium-term outlook.Investment banks largely expect narrowing yield differentials, further BoE easing and domestic political uncertainty to keep Sterling on the defensive against the euro next year.Deutsche Bank forecasts that the Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate will slide to 1.11 by the middle of 2026 amid Pound vulnerability.MUFG expects GBP/EUR losses to 1.11 at the end of the year, but Credit Agricole is backing gains to 1.1765 as the Euro struggles..GBP/EUR is trading close to 1.1550 with a solid tone, but narrow ranges.The latest UK GDP data was stronger than expected with 0.3% growth for November compared with consensus forecasts of a 0.1% gain, although investment banks remain cautious.Berenberg economist Andrew Wishart still expressed reservations; The big picture remains that the UK economy has lost momentum since the summer.He added; We suspect that this soft patch will persist into 2026 amid ongoing job losses and fiscal consolidation.Deutsche Bank is backing two further Bank of England rate cuts in the first half of the year.It commented; Easing in the UK occurs at a time when most of its peers, including the ECB, are on hold. Even if already priced into the UK front-end, this further narrowing of sterling's yield advantage over the euro remains significant.MUFG takes a similar view; After four quarterly rate cuts delivered in 2025, we expect two further 25bps cuts by the summer and acknowledge the risk of an additional 25bps cut to 3.00% by year-end. In contrast, we have dropped our forecast for one final ECB rate cut this year and now expect the policy rate to remain on hold at 2.00%.It added; Narrowing yield differentials between the UK and eurozone should continue to encourage a weaker GBP against the EUR, lifting EUR/GBP closer to the 0.9000 level in 2026. The relationship has broken down recently as EUR/GBP has corrected lower after the Autumn Statement, but we are not convinced this will be sustained.Political developments will also be watched closely with crucial local elections due in July..Deutsche Bank commented; the Budget was delivered smoothly enough to prompt outperformance in UK bonds and the currency. However, with domestic data weakening in the background and the UK lacking the same growth impetus into 2026 as seen elsewhere in Europe, the risk-reward in the pound has once again become skewed to the downside.It added; We also believe that medium-term implied volatility in EUR/GBP is currently too low.Relations with the EU could also be a significant element.MUFG commented; A shift back toward a closer trading relationship with the EU would likely be welcomed by financial markets and could support a stronger GBP. However, the scope for significant progress during the current parliament is limited by Labours election manifesto pledge that there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.

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TAGS: Pound Euro Forecasts
Modified: Monday, 19 January 2026 21:16 BST

Frank Davies

STORY LINK Pound Sterling to Dollar Forecast: GBP Steadies despite Fresh US Trade Threats

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GBP/USD Forecast: UK Labour Data to Drive Near-Term Direction?

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The Pound to US Dollar exchange rate (GBP/USD) opened the week on firm footing as investors reacted to fresh tariff rhetoric from US President Donald Trump linked to Greenland.At the time of writing, GBP/USD was trading near $1.3403, only modestly up from Mondays opening levels.The US Dollar (USD) struggled for momentum at the start of the week as renewed geopolitical uncertainty weighed on investor confidence.Over the weekend, Donald Trump outlined plans for additional tariffs on European nations opposing a potential US acquisition of Greenland. These measures would reportedly begin at 10% from 1 February and rise to 25% by 1 June should negotiations fail.The prospect of tariffs being used against long-standing allies unsettled markets, fuelling concerns that a broader transatlantic trade dispute could emerge.The European Union is already reportedly revisiting proposals for up to 93bn in tariffs on US goods, while speculation has also grown that some European states could scale back purchases of US Treasuries.That said, losses in the US Dollar have so far been contained, with the currency finding some support from shifting expectations over who may next lead the Federal Reserve, following reports that Kevin Hassett could be out of contention.The Pound (GBP) made modest gains against the US Dollar on Monday but was less convincing against several other major currencies.The UK was included in Trumps latest tariff warning, having backed Denmarks sovereignty over Greenland.Any escalation in trade barriers would risk adding further strain to an already fragile UK economy.Addressing the issue at a press conference, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that a tariff confrontation would serve no ones interests and attempted to calm fears that the UK would respond with immediate retaliatory action.Looking ahead, the Pound to US Dollar exchange rate could see increased volatility on Tuesday with the release of the UKs latest employment figures.Sterling may draw support if the data shows unemployment edged lower in November, after reaching a four-year high of 5.1% in October.However, any gains could prove short-lived if the report also points to a slowdown in wage growth, which would reinforce expectations for looser UK monetary policy.Meanwhile, the reopening of US markets on Tuesday could inject fresh movement into the US Dollar as American investors digest the implications of Trumps latest tariff proposals.

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America's favorite beauty spot, Ulta Beauty, is a household name everywhere for its unbeatable prices on some of the industry's most popular brands, including Ariana Grandes line R.E.M, to cult classic Clinique finds.

As professional shopping writers and self-proclaimed beauty experts, it's our job to inform you of the best of the best when we see it  and we have to keep it real. Nothing holds a candle to Ultas sales.

ULTA JUMBO LOVE SALE Restock alert! Ulta fans can rejoice because the beauty destination is giving shoppers a whopping up to 45 percent off all of their JUMBO hair care products. From Olaplex to Living Proof, tons of incredible brands are included in the rare sale event that is live through January 24 2026. Shop

The holidays may be over, but the savings sure arent! Right now, at Ulta Beauty in stores and online, they are having a huge Jumbo Love sale, where you can save up to 45 percent off mega-sized hair care products.

The start of the New Year calls for a full-on reset, and that includes restocking your empties! Whether it is your skincare, makeup, or hair go-to's, Ulta has you covered.

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OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening and Reparative Hair Shampoo You have likely heard of Olaplex on the lips of Kim Kardashian, Margot Robbie, and even Lana Del Rey. That's right. This hair care brand is a Hollywood favorite and continues to be a best-selling brand at Ulta too. You can score MAJOR savings on the rave reviewed products, such as this Shampoo, with over $10 most jumbo finds. Shop Living Proof Full Shampoo That's hot! Paris Hilton is just one name that comes to mind when we think of social media viral brand Living Proof. From their best-selling dry shampoo to this JUMBO shower ready shampoo, they have the best of the best. you can complete your entire routine restock during the sale event with Living Proof. Shop Joico Moisture Recovery Moisturizing Shampoo Salon approved! Joico is a brand we recently discovered and ever since have become obsessed. From this elite hydrating shampoo to their leave in conditioners, they have incredible variety for all hair types. Trust us, after using this your hair will never look better! Shop

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The Jumbo Love sale is live through January 24 2026, and we dont know about you, but we are taking the opportunity to stock up ASAP.

Explore everything Ulta Beauty has to offer to find your perfect match, from curly hair to oily, they have top-rated picks for every hair type. Happy shopping!
When it comes to the new security barriers in the courtyard in front of Big Ben one thing's for sure: there was no barrier in terms of budget.

MPs have been told to explain themselves after splurging 62 million on two sets of gates and turnstiles and some cobble stones.

There were audible gasps in the Commons last week when Labour MP Nick Smith, representing the all-party Commons Commission, revealed the eye-watering bill for the work in New Palace Yard.

'Have they been made of gold?' joked one parliamentary passholder. The shocking disclosure threatens to spark a row that could eclipse even last year's debacle over the 9.6 million spent on a new House of Lords security door  which still doesn't work properly.

There were audible gasps in the Commons last week when Labour MP Nick Smith revealed the eye-watering bill for the work in New Palace Yard

The Commons finance committee, chaired by former Tory Cabinet minister Steve Barclay, has demanded 'a more detailed breakdown of the costs'

Despite the price, the newly installed security turnstiles have already drawn complaints from female users who say they are so heavy they are difficult to operate  and prone to catching people painfully on the heels.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is already unhappy about how the tendering process was overseen. Now the Commons finance committee, chaired by former Tory Cabinet minister Steve Barclay, has demanded 'a more detailed breakdown of the costs'.

All this from a Parliament supposedly committed to scrutinising Government waste.

It's the question on everyone's lips: why was Robert Jenrick late for his crowning as the latest Reform defector?

I'm told staffers tried to smuggle him into the party's Millbank HQ via a service lift but it had been hijacked by smokers who needed a quick route downstairs.

Attempts to get Jenrick upstairs failed. Not that Nigel Farage can complain  he smokes 20 to 30 a day.

Nigel Farage will be happy  Robert Jenrick's defection to his party means the Reform leader will now be invited to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday with the Royal Family. A British party leader needs to have at least six MPs, according to a 1984 protocol.

Jenrick's been called a lot of names since joining Reform, not least a 'Quockerwodger', a 19th century slang word for an MP who doesn't represent their constituents and whose 'actions are controlled by someone else'. Apt.

Keir Starmer hints he may back an under-16 social media ban  while still planning to give 16-year-olds the vote. In his 'logic', a 15-year-old is too vulnerable for Instagram but becomes, overnight, mature enough to help decide the future of the nation.

Why did Streeting lean left?

Wes Streeting was recently sat beside Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer's chief of staff, at a dinner. Observers described the mood as 'icy'

Organisers of the 30th anniversary dinner for Blairite Labour pressure group Progress placed Wes Streeting beside Morgan McSweeney, Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

Observers described the mood as 'icy': there is no love lost between the pair since Streeting confronted McSweeney over briefings he was the ringleader of a coup against the PM.

But Streeting then startled guests by insisting he'd always defend the place of the hard-Left Socialist Campaign Group within the Labour Party. Is that an olive branch to Left-wing radicals as the health secretary prepares for a leadership contest?

Who will take Amol Rajan's slot on Radio 4's Today programme when he leaves? 'It has to be BBC political editor Chris Mason,' says an insider. 'He's knowledgeable and a great broadcaster. The fear is they'll make some drab diversity-adjacent hire.' At the woke BBC? Surely not!
Could Donald Trump have just influenced the outcome of the next general election? His idiotic threat to launch a trade war against Britain and its European allies, unless he is allowed to get his avaricious hands on Greenland, may have achieved precisely that.

Sir Keir Starmer is clearly one major casualty since he has sucked up to Trump in the most embarrassing way, despite it being obvious that he disagrees with the US President about almost everything.

Trump proposes to punish Britain, as much as the EU, with vindictive new tariffs directed at the country that is supposed to be America's closest ally. It is probably Washington's most shockingly anti-British act since the 1956 Suez Crisis, when the US joined with the Soviet Union to vote against us in the UN Security Council.

The prospect of Trump seizing Greenland is too much even for Starmer. For the first time he has summoned the courage to raise a tremulous voice of criticism against his domineering American master. It is unlikely to make much difference.

Our feeble Prime Minister could sink still lower in public esteem as it becomes clear that all that cringe-making sycophancy has got him absolutely nowhere. But he is probably doomed anyway. Trump may simply hasten his inevitable demise.

Both Trump and Farage think the same about a lot of issues, meaning it will not be easy for Farage to disown Trump if he wanted to

There is another political leader whose fate could be more decisively shaped by what Trump has done. I mean Nigel Farage. He needs to put as much distance as possible between himself and the increasingly outrageous occupant of the White House. But will it be too little, too late?

The leader of Reform UK admires and likes Trump. He counts himself a friend who stuck with the bouffant-haired maverick when Democrat Party lawyers and judges were trying to bring him down after the end of his first term.

From Farage's point of view, the relationship is about far more than being close to the most powerful man in the world. The two men think the same way about so much. Unlike many people, Farage sees virtues in Trump's character.

So it is not going to be easy for him to disown Trump, even if he wants to. Granted, the reverse may not be true. At a press conference last week, a journalist asked Reform's leader whether it was true that the President had 'totally lost faith' in him, as has been suggested in parts of the media.

Farage seemed somewhat put out by the question. He replied that he had seen his old mate last October and again in November. Trump had 'always been enormously supportive' of him. They did not, of course, 'see eye to eye about everything'.

Reform's leader is well aware of what happened to the Conservatives in Canada in last year's federal elections. Pierre Poilievre's party, which had been far ahead in the polls, slumped to a narrow defeat after many voters judged that he had become too close to Trump.

The President had virtually threatened to annex Canada, supposedly a close US ally. He has so far not been so aggressive towards this country. But I doubt that patriotic Reform voters will welcome the latest anti-British announcement from Farage's bombastic American friend.

Supporters of Reform are surely at least partly defined by their love for their country and a feeling that they don't want to be bossed about  far less threatened  by overbearing foreign powers. It is why most of them voted for Brexit.

Many of them are probably instinctively pro-American but that allegiance would crumble if the US President, notwithstanding his praise for the Royal Family, were seen to be increasingly antagonistic towards Britain.

In short, Nigel Farage has a problem. He can't erase the pro-Trump sentiments he has uttered in the past, and any attempts to disavow his friend in the future may not carry conviction.

He has other difficulties, which Labour and the Tories are already exploiting, arising from his former enthusiasm for Vladimir Putin. This is often much exaggerated, but there is enough truth in the accusation for it to damage Reform's leader.

Putin is the leader that Farage admires most and Trump has gone even further in praising the Russian leader

Farage has repeatedly claimed to have forecast a war between Russia and Ukraine in 2014. Whether he made such a precise prediction has been disputed, but he did accuse the European Union of poking 'the Russian bear with a stick', and of having 'blood on its hands' for allegedly encouraging anti-Russian rebels in Ukraine.

A year later he said in an interview that he admired Putin more than any other world leader, though he added that he did not 'approve of him politically'. Still, it was an incautious thing to say. Trump has, of course, gone much further in praising the Russian autocrat.

Nor should we forget Nathan Gill, an MEP in Farage's UKIP, who later became Reform UK's leader in Wales. Last September he was jailed for ten and a half years for accepting up to 40,000 in bribes to push pro-Putin propaganda.

Let's just say that Nigel Farage is vulnerable to the charge of having been overly sympathetic to Russia in the past, while there is no doubt that he has warmly supported an American President who cheerfully damages British interests.

I'm sure he understands the dangers of his position, which is why Reform quickly condemned Trump's plan to apply tariffs. Head of policy Zia Yusuf said yesterday that the party was 'gravely concerned about it'. He added that 'bigger tariffs on this country will make it even harder for British manufacturers, even harder for British workers'.

Will voters be persuaded that a Britain run by Nigel Farage would stand up to Vladimir Putin and avoid being the lapdog of an unreliable American President? He may have a get-out clause inasmuch as Trump will have gone by the time of the next British general election. But what if his successor is just as bad?

Farage rightly says that Britain must spend more on defence. But I don't believe he has yet persuaded the electorate that a Reform government would conduct a robust and independent foreign policy. He carries a lot of baggage.

An increasingly astute Kemi Badenoch may be more readily believed. In an interview with yesterday's Sunday Telegraph, she said that Britain would not be a 'poodle' to Donald Trump under the Tories. Unless we spend more in building up our defences, we will be seen as weak on the international stage.

The Conservative leader added: 'Reform presents itself as insurgent and anti-establishment, yet it displays no serious interest in national security at all.' By way of an example, she pointed out that in his self-serving speech last week justifying his defection to Reform, Robert Jenrick failed to mention foreign affairs.

Needless to say, the next election won't be won or lost on geopolitics alone. Yet in an increasingly unstable world, and with the United States appearing almost as much of an enemy as an ally, these are issues that matter more than they have since the darkest days of the Cold War.

Nigel Farage has a mountain to climb if he is going to convince voters that a Reform government would stand up for Britain against Russia and China, and not be pushed around by the United States. He had better start climbing now.
Hannah Sheridan was enjoying a normal night out at the pub when her friends pointed out a 'huge lump' on her neck - months later she discovered it was cancer.

Ms Sheridan, 26, from London, was already struggling with a slew of health concerns which had affected her hormones and digestion, but didn't immediately connect them to the lump.

She said: 'When I felt the lump while with my friends, I tried to keep calm.

'I was hoping they would say it was all in my head and there was nothing there.

'They tried to reassure me that it'd be nothing serious; though I couldn't help but panic.'

She had already been experiencing problems with her hormones and stomach, which were diagnosed as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

However, her menstrual issues - which have since calmed down since having part of her thyroid removed - might have been related to the rogue organ.

The thyroid is one of the major hormone centres in the body and helps control the ovaries, so when it is out of sync it throws off estrogen and progesterone, disrupting ovulation and causing heavy bleeding - mimicking symptoms of PCOS.

Hannah Sheridan was diagnosed with thyroid cancer aged just 26

The lump on her neck was a tumour on her thyroid

Similarly, the thyroid plays a role in digestion, and studies have linked thyroid cancer with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Ms Sheridan also experienced a 'throbbing' pain at the back of her neck that wouldn't shift.

She said: 'I was told that it was just due to my muscles being tense.

'I had also suffered from constantly fluctuating weight, as well as acid reflux.'

In May 2025, the lump was confirmed to be on her thyroid and, two weeks later, Ms Sheridan was placed on the suspected cancer list.

A biopsy and ultrasound were carried out, alongside a blood test, though her results from the latter came back 'normal'.

A month on, she met with a surgeon face-to-face who confirmed it was papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), which accounts for 75 to 85 per cent of all thyroid cancers, making it the most common type.

The other main type of cancer in the butterfly-shaped gland, which is positioned just in front of the voice box, is follicular thyroid cancer (FTC).

She was told that she had papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and needed surgery

She underwent surgery to remove her thyroid

Thankfully, PTC has high cure rates after being treated with surgery and radiotherapy.

According to Cancer Research UK, thyroid cancer accounts for just 1 per cent of all cancers in the UK, with around 4,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

Of these, there are roughly 440 deaths; 84 per cent of people live for a decade or more after being treated for the disease.

PTC is slow-growing and is most common in women aged between 30 to 50. Symptoms can include difficulty swallowing and swollen lymph nodes.

There has been an increase in cases of thyroid cancer, particularly in younger people, but experts previously told the BBC that this was down to more robust screening programmes and advanced technologies catching the disease earlier than ever before.

On June 3, the right side of Ms Sheridan's thyroid was removed and it was a waiting game to see what would happen next.

She said: 'I was in complete pieces.

'After the dust had settled, I began to feel strangely calm.

Ms Sheridan feels like she was fobbed off by doctors

She struggled with a variety of ailments, some of which improved after her thyroid removal

She added: 'Since the operation, the intense neck pain I had been feeling has vanished completely.

'I had no choice but to cope with whatever was about to come my way, though.'

In August, she jetted off to Ibiza to celebrate with her friends when she got a devastating phone call that the tumour had grown.

It meant that Ms Sheridan was left with no choice but to have her entire thyroid removed as well as radiotherapy - a procedure she is currently waiting on.

Since the initial operation, she has seen her other health woes improve. She said: 'My periods are regular for the first time in my life.

'Doctors kept dismissing me with other conditions.

'But, deep down, I knew something much worse was going on.

'None of my symptoms had been taken seriously until it was too late.

At least one in 20 people in the UK have a disorder of the thyroid

'I never knew I had thyroid problems as my hormone issues were always fobbed off and deemed normal.

'I've got to be on replacement medication for life now. It's better to be safe than sorry, though.'

Ms Sheridan has found the last few months both physically and emotionally taxing.

'I've not been sleeping well and feel like I've been left in the dark a lot,' she said.

'But I'm so glad I trusted my instincts and pushed for an answer.

'Women's health isn't taken seriously enough.

'It's time to start listening  as, otherwise, it might be too late.'

It's not just cancer which can cause catastrophic issues with the thyroid.

At least one in 20 people in the UK have a disorder of the thyroid, which produces two key hormones  triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)  which help regulate key body functions, including heart rate, temperature and mood.

An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) is when levels of these hormones are too high, causing symptoms such as palpitations, rapid weight loss, sweating and itching.

But much more common is hypothyroidism, where the gland produces too few hormones, leading to weight gain, fatigue, feeling the cold, constipation and dry skin and hair.

Women are ten times more likely to be affected than men, although its not clear why  and the most common trigger for both thyroid problems is an auto-immune condition, where the body mistakenly attacks the thyroid tissues.
More cases of highly contagious measles have been reported in South Carolina as the disease surges in the state.

Officials at Clemson University, which has nearly 30,000 students, announced Saturday that 'an individual affiliated with the university' had a confirmed case of measles.

No further details about the individual were provided, but the university said the person was isolating per the guidelines set by the South Carolina Department of Health.

The department is also conducting contact tracing with individuals who may have been exposed to the virus and is sending email notifications to those who have been identified as possible contacts.

Clemson said in a release that nearly 98 percent of its students have provided proof of measles immunity, which comes from the two-dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The risk of being infected with measles while fully vaccinated is just three percent, and symptoms such as rash and fever are usually milder. An unvaccinated individual, however, has a 90 percent chance of infection if just briefly sharing air with a contagious person.

The cases come as measles surges across the US on the heels of last year's record-breaking outbreak.

South Carolina is at the heart of 2026's outbreak with 145 cases since the start of the year, the latest CDC data, updated on January 13, shows. Since October, South Carolina has seen over 500 cases.

Officials at Clemson University (pictured in the above stock image) announced an individual 'affiliated with the university' had a confirmed case of measles

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And as of January 16, health officials in the South Carolina report 558 cases since October 2025. State data is reported at different times than federal CDC figures.

South Carolina Department of Health has reported there are 531 people in quarantine and 85 in isolation, with the latest quarantine end marked for February 16.

The state's outbreak has largely been centered on Spartanburg County, which sits on the border with North Carolina. Health officials have determined that infected individuals visited the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, as well as a Walmart, Wash Depot laundromat and a Bintime discount store in Spartanburg this month.

Of the 558 cases reported in South Carolina since October 2025, 134 were in children under five, 372 were in children ages five to 17, 39 were in adults over 18 and 13 were in an unknown age group.

The vast majority, 483, individuals had not received MMR vaccines, whereas six had been partially vaccinated, 13 were fully vaccinated and 56 had an unknown status.

The latest state data shows 91 percent of kindergarteners have received both doses of the MMR vaccine, below the 95 percent threshold needed for herd immunity.

In some South Carolina schools, just 20 percent of students have been vaccinated. The rate in Spartanburg County is 90 percent.

According to the CDC, 93 percent of measles cases in the US in general are in unvaccinated people or those with an unknown vaccine status. Three percent have received one dose of the MMR vaccine and four percent have received both doses.

The MMR vaccine is typically given once between ages 12 and 15 months and again between ages four and six. The two-dose vaccine is estimated to be 97 percent effective at preventing measles.

So far in 2026, measles cases have also been reported in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Arizona, Utah, Oregon and Washington state. The Snohomish County Health Department in Washington reported Monday that it confirmed three measles cases in children who were exposed to a contagious family visiting from South Carolina.

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Measles is an infectious, but preventable, disease caused by a virus that leads to flu-like symptoms, a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body, and, in severe cases, pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation, permanent brain damage, and death.

The virus is spread through direct contact with infectious droplets or through the air. Patients with a measles infection are contagious from four days before the rash through four days after the rash appears.

The US formally eliminated measles in 2000, meaning there had been no community spread in 12 months, due to widespread MMR vaccine uptake.

But the level of population-wide immunity needed to stave off outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations, about 95 percent, has sunk to less than 93 percent, suggesting the cases documented in 2026 are just the beginning.

Enclosed areas like airports and planes are extremely risky locations for disease transmission. The measles virus spreads via airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Measles first invades the respiratory system, then spreads to the lymph nodes and throughout the body. As a result, the virus can affect the lungs, brain and central nervous system.

Measles is an extremely contagious disease that leads to flu-like symptoms, a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body, and, in severe cases, pneumonia, seizures, brain inflammation, permanent brain damage and death (stock image)

While measles sometimes causes milder symptoms, including diarrhea, sore throat and achiness, it leads to pneumonia in roughly six percent of otherwise healthy children, and more often in malnourished children.

Though the brain swelling that measles can trigger is rare, occurring in about one in 1,000 cases, it is deadly in roughly 15 to 20 percent of those who develop it, while about 20 percent are left with permanent neurological damage such as brain damage, deafness or intellectual disability.

Measles also severely damages a child's immune system, making them susceptible to other potentially devastating bacterial and viral infections they were previously protected against.

A significant measles outbreak that started last year in West Texas, primarily within a largely unvaccinated religious community, quickly spread across state lines to the rest of the country. Texas officials have recorded more than 803 cases since January 2025.

Before MMR vaccines became available in the 1960s, measles caused epidemics with up to 2.6 million global deaths every year. By 2023, that number had fallen to roughly 107,000 deaths.

The World Health Organization estimates that measles vaccination prevented 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023.
Coles employees have revealed the 'secret' song that plays every weekend in all stores across Australia.

The upbeat 90s pop tune 'Get Ready for This' by Belgian-Dutch dance act 2 Unlimited plays at the same time on weekends to motivate and energise staff.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail that the song is played at 2pm every Saturday and Sunday across their in-house Coles Radio.

'Coles Radio plays the 2pm Rumble song on weekends, prompting our team members to have some fun while giving the store a tidy up after a busy morning,' the spokesperson confirmed.

Daily Mail understands that when the song is played, it not only provides a motivating boost to the in-store workers, but also signals that it's time for them to begin tidying up the aisles and clearing boxes and debris after a busy day.

'When the Rumble song comes on, it's a great energy lift for both our team and customers,' the spokesperson added.

Coles' social media team recently paid homage to this weekend tradition by sharing a TikTok video featuring a shopper dancing around the long-life milk aisle when the clock strikes two.

'IYKYK what time it is,' the video was captioned.

A Coles spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail that 'Get Ready for This' by 2 Unlimited plays in-store at 2pm on weekends. Coles worker @carlyj1980s previously shared a video of their team dancing to the tune in store

Coles' own social media team recently paid homage to the weekend song tradition by sharing a TikTok video of a shopper dancing when the clock strikes two

A store worker also alluded to the 2pm Rumble song in an older video posted on TikTok.

An 11-second clip shared by @carlyj1980 showed the employee filming herself in a store aisle as the iconic opening line 'let's get ready to rumble' is heard over the speaker.

The employee is seen lip-syncing along to the distinctive line while pointing her finger to the sky.

Meanwhile, other workers standing behind her toss empty cardboard boxes into the air as though they are confetti at a concert - before all breaking out in an impromptu dance party in the middle of the supermarket.

Both social media videos attracted comments from shoppers as well as employees who were in the know about what the song playing over the in-store speaker meant.

'It's 2pm somewhere,' read one reply.

'How I know it's roughly 2pm,' agreed another.

'Rumble time!!' added another.

The upbeat 90s pop tune 'Get Ready for This' is by Belgian-Dutch dance music act 2 Unlimited

Coles isn't the only major Aussie supermarket to regularly play a motivational song for its employees.

Woolworths also has a 'secret' 3pm song that plays every day in all stores across Australia.

The catchy, upbeat 'Pump It Up!' tune by Belgian musician Danzel plays around 3pm every day to power employees through their shift.

'Did you know that the Pump It Up! song plays at 3.02pm every day in all stores? It's so we can pump our vibes,' a Woolworths employee said.

Two workers from a Queensland store shared an amusing video showing their team dancing in the cold food aisle to the tune in the afternoon.

'At our store, we dance,' they said.

The 3pm discovery even prompted a discussion on The Fox's Melbourne breakfast radio show Fifi, Fev and Nick this week.

'Apparently at 3pm every day at Woolworths, they play the same song that encourages the staff to work harder,' Fifi Box said.

Woolworths employees have previously revealed a 3pm song that plays every day in all stores

Her co-host Brendan Fevola responded in disbelief: 'Oh, shut up... Do they really?'

The radio co-hosts asked a Woolworths employee about the '3pm secret song', and she confirmed it was indeed true.

'Yes it is, at 3 o'clock every day,' the worker said.

'It's a reminder to department managers to prepare their evening trade by playing the same song to pump up the team for the night.'

A Woolworths spokesperson replied to the radio show's video, saying: 'Can confirm this is correct. But it's actually 3.02pm and not a second earlier.'

One worker jokingly responded: 'As a Woolies worker, I can tell you it doesn't pump us up and we collectively groan.'

Another added: 'Never noticed the song until my manager told me about it a month ago. Now I can't not hear it when it plays.'

One employee shared: 'It drives me crazy but then I'm like, "Yes, one hour until home time."'

The 3pm discovery prompted an amusing discussion on The Fox's Melbourne breakfast radio show Fifi, Fev and Nick this week

While another worker revealed: 'As a Woolies employee, we actually have no idea why it plays every day at 3pm. As far as we know, it means nothing.'

Many were stunned by the revelation, with one saying: 'I was in Woolies yesterday at 3pm and I was shocked to hear it playing over the speakers. Now I know why.'

'Wait, I literally asked a worker about this and they said there's a specific routine and the song reminds them,' another shared.
Looking back, the only surprise is that I hadn't noticed the white spots sooner.

Then again, like most people, I'm not much given to staring at my shins during a normal working day.

But on holiday last summer there I was, sitting down with a coffee in hand and my feet up on the balcony rail, delighted to see my pallid legs were picking up a bit of colour.

Then I frowned. There was a random scattering of round white patches down the front of my shins. Peering closer, they looked like scars, as if the skin  or at least the colour of it  had been scraped off. What on earth?

'What are these white spots on my shins?' I asked the internet, which told me it was just idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, or IGH for short. Nothing to worry about.

Er, what?

It sounds dire but apparently IGH is a common, harmless sign of sun damage which appears as small de-pigmented spots  on any skin type and ethnicity, though they're more prevalent in women and in the fair-skinned  that become more obvious with age as we stack up more sun exposure over the years.

As to what the medical name stands for, 'idiopathic' is a condition that shows up spontaneously, 'guttate' means it looks like small round spots or drops, and 'hypomelanosis' is easier to guess: it's a lack of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour.

Why do IGH spots appear? Sun damage means that melanin doesn't get evenly transferred to skin cells, hence the white patches.

Last summer Alice Hart-Davis noticed a random scattering of round white patches down the front of her shins. They looked like scars, as if the skin had been scraped off

IGH is a common, harmless sign of sun damage which appears as small de-pigmented spots  on any skin type and ethnicity  that become more obvious with age

According to dermatologists, most of us have them by the age of 40, and once you start looking, you start finding them not just on your legs, but everywhere: your arms, your chest, your face anywhere that has caught the sun repeatedly over the years.

I'm 62 and used to sunbathe with dedication before I fell into beauty writing 25 years ago, so here's the legacy of my misspent youth: IGH all over.

'Huh! Who knew?' I thought, and went back to enjoying my holiday, but not before taking photos of the offending spots and posting them on social media, which brought a huge reaction.

'Is it vitiligo?' asked one friend. No, that's an autoimmune condition that causes larger, more irregular patches where pigment has vanished.

'Are you sure it's not a fungal infection?' asked another, because her mum had had white spots from that, and got rid of them with an anti-fungal shampoo.

Then a brilliant dermatologist from New York state, Dr Heidi Waldorf, leapt into the Instagram conversation and pointed out that the fungal infection in question, tinea versicolor, usually shows up on the shoulders, abdomen and upper arms, not the legs.

It can indeed be despatched with anti-fungal shampoos, creams or pills. And the patches may look faintly scaly. (If you notice paler or darker patches that are new, spreading or itchy, it's best to get them checked by a doctor to rule this out.)

But what to do about IGH?

Most advice is that there is nothing that can be done. If you nose around online, you'll find websites which suggest that specialist lasers might be helpful, but when I asked leading laser practitioner Dr Asif Hussein, who is fearless about tackling most pigment-related conditions, he said he wouldn't treat anyone with this condition.

If IGH is really bothering you and you're off out with bare legs, you could try a cover-up product such as these, which are brilliant for making legs look sleek, even-toned and airbrushed

Why? 'It's very unlikely to make any difference,' he said. 'When the melanin-producing cells in skin are no longer there, it is not possible to stimulate them into action or achieve re-pigmentation.'

Dr Waldorf, who describes herself as 'a globe-trotting retired derm diva' and 'a second-generation dermatologist for whom tanning was a bigger teen sin than breaking curfew', held out more hope.

She admits they're tough to treat but they can be improved with fractional laser resurfacing.

'I use a thulium laser called the Fraxel 1927nm,' she said. 'I find it can improve the surrounding skin by producing some pathways for the melanocytes  the melanin-producing cells  to migrate [from the healthy skin to where they are missing]'.

Medical tattooing suggested someone else a little wildly but, given the number I've got, that would a) be agony and b) cost a small fortune. And frankly, I don't care enough about them.

If IGH is really bothering you and you're off out with bare legs, you could try a cover-up product such as Margaret Dabbs' Concealing and Firming Leg Serum (52 for 200ml, margaretdabbs.co.uk) or Vita Liberata's Body Blur (33 for 100ml, vitaliberata.com)  both of which are brilliant for making legs look sleek, even-toned and airbrushed.

In chilly January, of course, the perfect solution is easier  a pair of black tights.
She's the Aussie fitness queen who turned burpees into a billion-dollar brand, but behind the glossy empire, Kayla Itsines says there's one major thing she wishes she'd done differently.

The 34-year-old mother-of-two, who famously built her global Sweat empire from her parents' backyard in Adelaide, has made a rare and candid confession about the $400 million sale of her business.

Speaking to street-style business interviewer James Dumoulin, founder and host of media platform The School of Hard Knocks, Kayla opened up about the realities of selling a company that was too closely tied to her own name and face.

As it turns out, her lessons in business had nothing to do with money but rather with freedom.

Greek-Australian Kayla, who first shot to fame more than a decade ago with her Bikini Body Guide e-book before launching the Sweat app, didn't sugar-coat her experience when asked what she would change if she could do it all again.

'I think I did it wrong,' she admitted.

'I think you should sell the company that doesn't have you attached to it.'

Reflecting on the high-profile sale of Sweat to US fitness giant iFIT in July 2021 - and the emotional toll that followed - Kayla said she learned the hard way about what business insiders call 'key man risk'.

Behind the glossy fitness empire, business woman Kayla Itsines (pictured) says there's one major thing she wishes she'd done differently

'If I could do it all over again, I'd remove myself as part of the company,' she continued.

'You want to sell it and be able to celebrate and relax, but for me it wasn't relaxing.'

James was quick to jump in with an analogy that perfectly captured her point.

'They call that the "key man" risk,' he explained.

'That's why they say Disney's the best business because Mickey Mouse isn't in the negotiations.'

It's a striking admission from one of Australia's most recognisable fitness exports, and one who has never shied away from sharing the less glamorous side of success.

Long before Forbes lists and international expansion, Kayla was charging just $1 a minute as a personal trainer, running 30-minute sessions for $30 in her parents' backyard.

'I was in my parents backyard and I released an e-book online, which I thought no one was going to buy but it went absolutely viral,' she previously recalled.

'If I could do it all over again, I'd remove myself as part of the company,' she continued. 'You want to sell it and be able to celebrate and relax, but for me it wasn't relaxing,' she reflected on the high-profile $400 million sale of Sweat to US fitness giant iFIT in 2021

'I come from a Greek family and the best thing you can be in a Greek family is a doctor.'

'So, coming to my family as a personal trainer, that didn't fly well with my parents it took them about 10 years to come around.'

In 2024, Kayla landed on the Australian Financial Review Young Rich List at number 34, just behind Margot Robbie, cementing her status as not just a fitness influencer, but a serious business force.

Despite making millions through digital fitness, Kayla says the smartest move she ever made was stepping outside the internet altogether.

Asked how people should make their money work for them, her advice was refreshingly old-school.

'Don't put all your eggs in one basket. The first thing that ever made me money, that I was so excited about, was that I bought a petrol station - a gas station,' she told James.

Kayla says diversifying her wealth has been key to her success, revealing she owns commercial real estate such as petrol stations and medical centres, alongside residential investments - and is now teasing the launch of a health supplement brand

After buying back her Sweat empire from iFIT in late 2023, Kayla turned her attention to Dogit, a dog-training app she co-created with husband Jae Woodroffe (pictured) and world-renowned trainer Leedor Borlant

'I was like, wow. Out of all the millions of dollars, it's so cool to see rent coming in from a gas station,' adding that wealth diversity is important

'One day the internet might shut off and it will all be gone.'

Today, Kayla's portfolio includes commercial real estate such as petrol stations and medical centres, residential property, a women's training app, a dog-training app called Dogit, and an upcoming supplements brand she's only just beginning to tease.

For someone often portrayed as effortlessly successful, Kayla was also brutally honest about how close she came to burning out in the early days.

'There were days when I would literally be found in a ball in the corner of my gym crying because I got overwhelmed.'

When James asked what she would say to someone at rock bottom, she shared one of the greatest pieces of advice she's ever been given.

'Someone said, 'You know that you are under no obligation to be the same person you were yesterday,' and I think that is really strong in the fact that you can make a change.

'If you have a passion, go for it.'

In late 2023, she made headlines again after buying back her Sweat empire from iFIT, a bold move that proved she hadn't just built a brand, but understood how to reclaim it.
The moment I realised my tongue wasnt working properly, I knew Id made a terrible mistake.

Id allotted myself ten minutes in the freezing Cornish sea which, given my level of experience, Id calculated to be safe.

I felt fine, great even, as I began getting dressed. Then all of a sudden I was shivering uncontrollably and filled with nausea. The five-minute drive home felt impossible, so I gave in and made the humiliating call to my husband  my speech now slurring  asking him to collect me. The panic in my voice was audible.

I learnt an important lesson that day: namely, how risky cold water dipping is if you dont follow the safety rules. Or if you get cocky, as my husband said while he bundled me into the car.

Id succumbed to cold water incapacitation, the stage just before full-blown hypothermia. As my body temperature dropped, my blood flowed to protect my core, depriving my extremities of oxygen and causing temporary numbness and co-ordination failure.

A fellow cold-dipper Id met at my local London lido had warned me of this condition, so I took her advice and spent all afternoon lying down, ploughing through gallons of hot tea to warm up.

Lorraine Candy says she learnt an important lesson about how risky cold water dipping is if you dont follow the safety rules

It was a beginners mistake, the first time since Id started cold water swimming that Id not left the water feeling euphoric and brimming with energy.

Back then  nine years ago  I was a newbie at what is now a national sport; around 1.2 million people in the UK belong to outdoor swimming groups, of which 65 per cent are female.

I began my swim journey in my late forties. Id just hit perimenopause and had been battered by insomnia, anxiety and depression. I started doing triathlons in attempts to exercise my way out of the doldrums, but the more I swam in cold water the more I noticed how incredible I felt afterwards.

There were hiccups along the way  not least my brush with hypothermia - but now, age 57, Im fully acclimatised to cold water. I swim all year round in just my swimming costume, or skins as experts call it. My mental health is the most robust it has ever been and my perimenopausal depression is a thing of the past  thanks to HRT (hormone replacement therapy) too.

But theres also been an unexpected benefit. Ive made some of my closest friends since I started, and the communal aspect of cold water swimming is an unbeatable prescription for longevity. Loneliness can be a killer when you get old, and finding your tribe particularly as kids grow up can be a life saver.

Elsewhere, Ive personally noticed that my immune system has got stronger since I started dipping, while others report better sleep, improved skin and memory and reduced anxiety. The shock of the cold  anything below 15C in turn enhances your bodys ability to cope with stressors. Essentially, the extreme temperature change shocks your cells into doing what theyre supposed to.

And you dont have to do it for long to reap those benefits; according to thermic scientist Dr Susanna Soberg, 11 minutes of cold water exposure per week is enough to achieve significant health benefits.

Crucially, though, I am just as aware of the dangers as I am of the benefits.

The difficulty is that there are so many unpredictable variables, because the cold affects everyone in a different way and your reaction varies by the day.

A bad nights sleep, excess stress, hormonal fluctuations and even what youve eaten beforehand can worsen your reaction to the cold. And its certainly not something you should do hungover.

It took me a while to establish my personal safe routine, through research and good old-fashioned trial and error. If youre considering taking the plunge, Id advise you do the same.

Lorraine's mental health is the most robust it has ever been, with her perimenopausal depression a thing of the past

She has made some of her closest friends through cold water swimming, with the communal aspect being an unbeatable prescription for longevity

After that experience with cold water incapacitation, I always make sure to have a clear exit from the water, and I never swim alone.

Show-offs (and yes, theyre mostly men) tend to jump in straight away, and while its good for bravado, it can be incredibly dangerous. Focus on deep breathing as you get in to allow your body to adapt to the temperature, and lower yourself in slowly.

Lay your clothes out in the order you will dress to save time, hat on first, and wear something woolly as it warms you fastest. Have a hot drink ready because you want to warm your core quickly, which is why a hot shower wont help. Your warmest blood flows to your core first to protect your vital organs rather than warming your biggest one  your skin. When it does that you may feel discombobulated and a little confused, so cover the skin and warm your core with a drink.

And crucially, remember the after drop. Your core temperature can continue to drop long after your swim, so make sure you stay wrapped up all day afterwards.

I always wear neoprene socks and a hat in the water during winter. I may be ridiculed for this but it makes swimming safer and easier. Studies show you only need to get your shoulders under to reap the benefits, and it does feel more communal to chat and swim.

Check with your GP for any underlying health conditions, then give it a go! Anyone is welcome poolside, lakeside or on the beach.

And another hidden benefit: once you get cold acclimatised you certainly save on heating. Now it is me, instead of my husband, who is always turning the thermostat down.

Lorraine Candy co-hosts the Postcards From Midlife podcast and you can follow her at @lorrainecandy
When Vivian Nosovitsky, originally from Miami, Florida, moved to a small Mexican beach town called Sayulita, life seemed perfect.

The 21-year-old lived just a stone's throw away from the beach and spent her days soaking up the sun and swimming in the ocean.

But her entire life was turned upside down when what started as occasional eye pain became a horrific, weeks-long ordeal after she discovered that a parasite was eating her cornea.

The pain is still so intense that Nosovitsky can barely leave her home or sleep at night.

She has laid bare her gruesome health journey during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail.

The ordeal began three weeks ago, when she woke up in the middle of the night with immense pain, redness and watering in her right eye.

'I had no idea what was going on and thought it would go away in the morning... but it never did. I was never able to actually go back to sleep,' she recalled.

In the morning, she also noticed that she had an 'extreme sensitivity to light,' as she added: 'Even the slightest brightness was painful.'

When Vivian Nosovitsky, 21, originally from Miami, Florida, moved to a small Mexican beach town called Sayulita, life seemed perfect

But her entire life was turned upside when what started as some eye pain became a horrific weeks-long ordeal after she discovered that a parasite was eating her cornea

As days passed with no improvement or relief, she decided to seek medical help and went to a local clinic, where she was given some medicated eye drops.

But even those failed to help ease the pain and soon, her eye became 'super swollen,' her cornea started to turn gray and she began to lose vision in the eye.

She ultimately had to travel hours to a hospital that was equipped to help her. Finally, she received a corneal scraping and learned that she had acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a rare infection caused by a parasite in the eye.

'Doctors told me it was an extremely serious and urgent matter and that I need to be put on a strict treatment or I could lose my eye,' Nosovitsky explained. 'This is incredibly serious and dangerous.'

She admitted that she's still not 100 percent sure how she got it, but theorized that it came from her 'not taking proper care of her contacts.'

According to My Cleveland Clinic, 'contact lens wearers make up at least 90 percent of AK cases' and it's usually caused by 'wearing contacts too long, improperly storing them, incorrectly cleaning them and wearing them when swimming or showering,' the latter of which Nosovitsky said she did often.

She is now on a 'strict treatment' plan involving 'hourly eye drops even during the night.' But she's still in constant, unbearable pain.

She has laid bare her gruesome health journey during an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail, and she said the pain is still so intense that she can barely leave her home or sleep at night

She admitted that she's still not 100 percent sure how she got it, but theorized that it came from her 'not taking proper care of her contacts'

'It's the most painful thing I've ever experienced in my life. It feels like glass and knives cutting your eye, and then add extreme throbbing on to that,' she shared.

'Hopefully, following the treatment, it will improve, but there is a chance I might need a corneal transplant surgery to recover my vision. Doctors don't know how long it will take.'

Due to the sensitivity to sunlight, Nosovitsky said she is unable to leave the house much and struggles to sleep at night because of the discomfort.

'It's affected me more mentally than I thought it would - not being able to do the things I love and having to lay in darkness for three weeks now,' she said.

'The dark thoughts definitely start to creep in. I honestly just want this to be over, it's been extremely frustrating having to sit with this pain.'

Nosovitsky has detailed her health battle on TikTok, where many of her videos have gone viral.

She is now on a 'strict treatment' plan involving 'hourly eye drops even during the night.' But she's still in constant, unbearable pain

'It's really important for me to show up as vulnerably and open as possible online, especially nowadays, where almost everything you see is so fake and edited,' she said of her decision to open up about it online.

'I didn't expect it to get the reaction that it did, but I definitely had a feeling that it would gain a lot of visibility as something like this is extremely vulnerable and not common.'

In the end, she hopes that by being so open about it, she can help others avoid going through something similar.

'Be grateful for what you have... and be more aware of how you're taking care of yourself, especially with contacts,' she urged.
A young woman matched with a gorgeous man on an online dating app - but it didn't take her long to figure out that he wasn't who he seemed.

'Let's talk about the time I matched with a guy and then I found his wedding registry, because I think we should talk about it,' Jasmine Parniani said in a video.

The LA-based comedian detailed the time she'd matched with the man and was instantly enamoured.

'Gorgeous man, has a six-pack, gorgeous smile, beautiful face, from England, loves to cook,' Jasmine listed, adding that she was 'so excited to match with this guy'.

After quickly agreeing to swap numbers, they began texting back and forth. But upon returning to more closely inspect a photo in his profile, Jasmine spotted a worrying detail.

'I catch in one of his pictures: he's got a wedding ring on,' she said.

She then started more vigilantly analysing other photos on his profile - and sure enough, spotted him wearing a wedding ring in some of the other pictures.

'And I'm thinking "I love a mystery!"' she laughed.

American woman Jasmine Parniani animatedly recounted the story about the time she matched with a man who had a recent vow renewal registry

By this point, the man had provided Jasmine with 'so much information' about himself, and she was able to easily use these 'little titbits and facts' to find out who he really was.

After figuring out his full name via his employer's company director, she typed it into a Google search - and instantly hit paydirt.

'What pops up? The Knot. A Knot [wedding] registry with a date of a vow renewal the previous week!'

Realising she was now hot on the trail, Jasmine decided to keep digging.

'I have nothing better to do. So I start diving deep. I find his wife's LinkedIn. I find his wife works a job that would require her to be gone for long stretches of time,' she said.

'And so I'm like, this makes sense, this dirty dog! He's just renewed his vows last week and he's already out in the streets!'

A follow-up video saw Jasmine continue to explain that she next found the man's wife on Instagram and immediately considered sending her a message to alert her of his antics.

Then she noticed that while the man followed his wife on social media, she didn't follow him back - which she thought was 'unusual'.

Initially, the LA comedian said she was excited to match with the 'gorgeous man'. But a closer inspection of one of his profile pictures revealed he was wearing a wedding ring

Torn on what to do next, Jasmine consulted her friends, who suggested that rather than out him to the wife, she first give the man a chance to explain the situation.

After arranging a FaceTime call, Jasmine said her potential date was quick to provide an explanation for his marital situation.

'He comes right out and says: "I'm going through a divorce. The divorce is not finalised".'

But with the unanswered question of the recent vow renewal remaining, Jasmine seemed unsure whether or not the story she had been told was true.

However, there was one clear message she had for her followers from the whole episode.

'What I will say is this. When I was Nancy Drew-ing I found a short film this guy was in from 2016! What I'm trying to say is, it's too easy to find information,' she said.

'You've gotta be f***ing careful with how much information you're giving to strangers on the internet - because there's people like me who love to find out information for fun!'

The original video and the follow-up received over 1.4 million views combined - and attracted thousands of comments from people enthralled by the unfolding drama.

Jasmine concluded the videos with a cautionary message about not giving strangers too much of your personal information

Many responses did not for one second believe that the man was telling Jasmine the entire truth.

'Why would you get a renewal ONE WEEK ago while you are getting divorced?' questioned one comment.

Another agreed: 'He's got a renewal from a week before and already on dating sites? Saying "going through a divorce" sounds fishy.'

One reply that received thousands simply stated: 'Tell the wife... I wouldn't trust him.'

The comments also revealed a shocking number of people had had a similar experience of meeting a potential beau - onto to do a quick online search that unearthed a registry.

'I had a great date and then found his wedding website the next day,' read one reply.

'After a nasty break-up, I typed [my ex's] number into Google and a whole baby registry popped up,' revealed another.

One woman said a man she met in person gave her his business card, but Googling it quickly showed that 'he had a wedding website and was supposed to get married in two months.'

The replies to Jasmine's video saw many others reveal that they too had had a potential beau outed by a Google search that revealed an online registry

'So I sent him a friendly little text saying "Are you available September 9 for a date, or are you getting married?!" Then I deleted him.'

'I sent mine a gift from their baby registry. Stay toxic, ladies,' read another response.

Another person similarly suggested that Jasmine adopt this strategy.

'You should have bought the least expensive item on that list with a nice little gift message that says "From your date".'

But perhaps the main theme from many women in the comments was that although Jasmine's searching skills went deep, such research is a necessity in today's modern dating world.

'We research for personal safety,' read one reply.

'ALWAYS DO A BACKGROUND CHECK, LADIES,' read another response that applauded Jasmine.

Many women also saw the light-hearted side of Jasmine's ability to deep-dive a person's identity online with very limited information at hand.

'Men have no idea how good we are at detective work. And they're so naive, they make it even easier,' said one woman.

'First name, occupation, and current city in Google usually always does the trick,' agreed another.

'I'm like the CIA,' joked another response.
CBS News has finally aired a 60 Minutes segment on the Trump administration's deportation of migrants to a notorious El Salvador prison with new information.

The 'Inside CECOT' report by Sharyn Alfonsi was included in Sunday's lineup, and aired alongside a separate report from Cecilia Vega on the ongoing protests against Immigration an Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota.

'CBS News leadership has always been committed to airing the 60 Minutes CECOT piece as soon as it was ready,' a spokesperson for the network told Deadline.

'Tonight, viewers get to see it, along with other important stories, all of which speak to CBS News' independence and the power of our storytelling.'

The decision to air the segment comes almost one month after it was unceremoniously cut from the show just two hours before it was set to air.

Newly-installed Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss argued at the time that the segment 'needed additional reporting' because it did not include an adequate response from the Trump administration, which Alfonsi said declined to comment on the story.

The decision, though, left network executives stumbling when the segment accidentally aired in Canada, and was shared online.

CBS News will finally air a 60 Minutes segment on the Trump administration's deportation of migrants to a notorious El Salvador prison

Newly-installed Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss abruptly pulled the segment from the schedule last month, declaring that it needed additional reporting

As questions about the scrapped segment continued, Weiss ordered Alfonsi on Thursday to interview a Trump official like Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem or Border Czar Tom Homan, CNN reports.

Weiss said she would personally book the interview with the Trump official, two sources familiar with the process told the outlet, which was the first to report that the segment would finally air.

60 Minutes producers then flew to Washington DC from New York City and Alfonsi flew in from Texas.

'But the promised interview did not materialize,' Brian Stelter wrote in the CNN report. 'Everyone went home empty handed.'

As a result, the report did not include any direct interviews or exchanges onscreen with Trump officials, but did contain statements from several different US government agencies - something Weiss felt was lacking in the original piece, an unidentified executive told Variety.

In one clip from the updated segment, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that those imprisoned at CECOT 'are heinous monsters, rapists, murderers, kidnappers, sexual assaulters, predators who have no right to be in this country and they must be held accountable.'

The White House also sent a statement to 60 Minutes, saying: 'President Trump is committed to keeping his promises to the American people by removing dangerous criminal and terrorist illegal aliens.'

The new report also included three more minutes of new reporting, including a statistic about the number of people who are deported from the US because they are a criminal.

Join the debate DO YOU trust CBS News to act independently?

Sharyn Alfonsi was reportedly flown to Washington DC to speak with Trump administration officials about the segment, but failed to secure an interview

Alfonsi, whose contract at CBS News is set to expire over the summer, is not expected to note any of the changes or the controversy surrounding the segment when she introduces it Sunday night

The original piece that aired in Canada stated that only eight of the 252 men deported to CECOT had been convicted of violent crimes in the US, but the statistic sounded off to Weiss and CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, an anonymous source told the New York Post.

After they then pushed for more reporting, they learned that about half of the 252 men had contact with the American justice system - either criminal convictions or pending charges in the US.

The updated story also noted that one of the men interviewed by Alfonsi has tattoos that are known marks of gangs or Nazis - which the Trump administration uses to identify migrants for potential deportation.

But, Alfonsi notes, those symbols do not have any connection with the Tren de Aragua gang, and neither of the men she spoke with had been convicted of any crimes in the US.

One of the men, Luis Munoz Pinto, a 27-year-old college student, claimed the detainees were left without food or medicine.

'The sicker and more injured we were, the better it was for them,' Munoz Pinto claimed.

He said that the first thing a guard told him when he arrived at the facility 'was that we would never see day or night again.'

'He said "Welcome to Hell, I'll make sure you never leave,"' the deported migrant said, later claiming: 'When you get there, you know you're in Hell. You don't need anyone else telling you.'

In the segment that aired in Canada, Alfonsi spoke to a college student who was detained by US Customs before being deported to CECOT

The student described how he was tortured upon arrival at the El Salvadoran prison

Another deported migrant, Wuilliam Lozada Sanchez, said he and others were taken to a 'little room where there's no light, no ventilation, nothing.'

'It's a cell for punishment where you can't see your hand in front of your face. After they locked us in, they came to beat us every half hour, and they pounded on the door with their sticks to traumatize us while we were in there,' he claimed.

Throughout the updated segment, Alfonsi noted that Trump administration officials declined to be interviewed for the story.

She also said 60 Minutes has repeatedly asked Homeland Security for the complete records and criminal backgrounds of all 252 Venezuelan men the US sent to CECOT, but were not provided with the information.

'We are confident in our law enforcement's intelligence and we aren't going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one,' a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told the program this week.

'That would be insane.'

When questioned about the conditions at the prison, the Homeland Security spokesperson noted that the men were not under US jurisdiction while in El Salvador - though a federal judge has disputed that.

Alfonsi (left) sent the email to her colleagues at 60 Minutes, including Lesley Stahl (right), following the decision to postpone the segment

Alfonsi, whose contract at CBS News is set to expire over the summer, has previously argued that she and her team followed all journalistic standards, requesting comment from the White House, State Department and the Department of Homeland Security.

By deciding not to run the segment, she claimed, Weiss was censoring her work and destroying 60 Minutes' reputation.

'I care too much about this broadcast to watch it be dismantled without a fight,' she warned, ominously.

Alfonsi told her colleagues in the email that the segment was 'screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices. It is factually correct.'

'In my view, pulling it now, after every rigorous internal check has been met, is not an editorial decision, it is a political one.'

She then went on to argue that that the segment was only killed because the Trump administration refused to comment on the segment, saying if that is a 'valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a 'kill switch' for any reporting they find inconvenient.'

'If the standard for airing a story becomes 'the government must agree to be interviewed,' then the government effectively gains control over the 60 Minutes broadcast,' she claimed.

'We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state.'

The postponement of the segment came as David Ellison, the owner of CBS's parent company, Paramount Skydance, tried to court the president to support his hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros-Discovery.

The postponement of the segment comes as David Ellison, the owner of CBS's parent company, Paramount Skydance, tries to court the president to support his hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros-Discovery

Weiss, however, has denied her decision was political, arguing it is standard practice to hold back stories until they're perfect.

'My job is to make sure that all stories we publish are the best they can be. Holding stories that aren't ready for whatever reason  that they lack sufficient context, say, or that they are missing critical voices  happens every day in every newsroom,' she told The Times.

'I look forward to airing this important piece when it's ready.'

Weiss also told colleagues that she spiked the segment simply because it 'did not advance the ball' during the network's typical 9am editorial call on Monday, The New York Times reported.

She pointed out how the the Times and other publications have 'previously done similar work' while maintaining that fresh, through-provoking content was her 'north star.'

'To run a story on this subject two months later, we need to do more,' Weiss told staff.

'And this is 60 Minutes. We need to be able to get the principals on the record and on camera.

'Our viewers come first. Not the listing schedule or anything else,' she argued. 'That's my north star, and I hope it's yours too.'
Popular right-wing influencer Nick Sortor had an $1,000 camera stolen by a group of protesters in Minneapolis on Sunday, footage shows.

In the clip posted to X by conservative journalist Cam Higby, Sortor, 27, is seen chasing one of the protesters to their vehicle as she attempts to flee with the device.

Sortor is then seen being dragged several feet, as he continues to hold onto the car door while the woman ultimately gets away.

Sortor, a popular provocateur known to cover politically charged protests, took to X to reshare the footage shortly thereafter, using it to complain about the current state of the Twin Cities.

'NOBODY bothered helping,' he wrote, billing the group of protesters as 'Somali thugs.'

Sortor was in town covering unrest seen since the fatal shooting of 37-year-old protester Renee Good on January 7, after she was shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during an ongoing immigration crackdown.

Sortor said more steps should taken, as tensions between pro and anti-ICE demonstrators continue to mount.

He also claimed that the group the woman belonged to had been following him and his team for the entire day.

Far right-wing influencer Nick Sortor (seen here) had an $1,000 camera stolen by a group of protesters in Minneapolis on Sunday, as tensions continue to rise between locals and ICE

Sortor, 27, is seen being dragged several feet in the clip. He said the woman was able to wrestle the camera from his hands before fleeing to her vehicle. She was able to get away

'DHS MUST RAID THIS PLACE!' he raged, after having the camera ripped from his hands in a struggle mostly obscured by his car.

In the replies, Sortor shared an image of his injured hand.

The incident happened in Cedar Riverside, a neighborhood with a large Somali-American presence, he added.

Local law enforcement later told Sortor they were taking the incident seriously, another clip posted by the commentator shows.

In it, officers are seen telling Sortor that while they 'can't force him, not to be here', they were recommending he leave the area protesters were convening to 'Keep the peace.'

Sortor - who was arrested during other ant-ICE protests in Portland, Oregon, last October - wrote out his response to his 1.4million followers: 'NO. REFUSING to arrest Somali thieves is EXACTLY WHY America is in this situation to begin with.

'Im DOUBLING DOWN, and I WILL NOT LEAVE.'

Sortor and others covering the protests have sought to paint Minneapolis as a lawless city.

Sortor shared an image of his injured hand after the incident, which is being investigated by the FBI

He and other influencers are in town to cover the unrest. Pictured, protesters speaking out against ICE agent deployments in Minneapolis on Saturday

Local politicians and protests have pushed back, arguing the processions are in line with the First Amendment.

They began shortly after a December YouTube video from conservative commentator Nick Shirley, which claimed to uncover a $100 million fraud scheme involving Somali child care centers.

As the story gained traction, the administration deployed hundreds of ICE agents to Minnesota.

One law enforcement officer told CNN this month that the Department of Homeland Securitys deployment to Minnesota was due in part to Shirleys video.

The FBI said it was looking into the recent altercation involving Sortor.
Bill Maher bashed the body that oversees the Golden Globes for not bestowing its inaugural Best Podcast award on Joe Rogan.

Former Saturday Night Live star Amy Poehler's 'Good Hang with Amy Poehler' received the honor instead, leading Maher to lament the state of Hollywood on his Club Random Podcast Monday

'Did you see that there's a podcast category at the Globes?' Maher first asked guests David Spade and Dana Carvey, both of whom seemed unaware that the award even existed. Like Poehler, they both rose to stardom on SNL.

'Did we get nominated?' Carvey jokingly asked - a reference to his Fly on the Wall podcast with fellow host Spade.

'They only nominated like the super woke stuff,' Maher, 69, shot back. Other podcasts on the ticket included Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, NPR's Up First, and SmartLess with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes.

'Yeah, Im sure there were good shows, but it was glaring that Joe Rogan was not nominated,' Maher maintained.

He added of the Joe Rogan Experience, 'I mean, it is kind of popular.'

Carvey, 70, agreed, saying of Rogan, 'He's absolutely brilliant at what he does.'

Bill Marher accused bigwigs who run the Golden Globes of being 'out-of-touch' on his Club Random podcast Monday

Maher was irate that Joe Rogan was not even nominated for the ceremony's first 'Best Podcast' award last week

Maher, an outspoken progressive, mused: 'Maybe-, it just speaks to living in the Bluesky bubble', in reference to the liberal-leaning X alternative.

He urged members of The Golden Globe Foundation - the nonprofit that runs the Golden Globes - and other Hollywood bigwigs to 'get out of your f*cking bubble.'

'I want to be one of you, I am one of you, but youre just so hard to defend because youre just such... f*cking smug a**holes,' the HBO host maintained.

He called Los Angeles 'the epicenter of the problem.'

Carvey and Spade both seemed to agree.

Like his guests, Maher's podcast was also not nominated. Unlike Carvey and Spade, he attended the awards.

Other nominees included The Mel Robbins Podcast and Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy, leaving Rogan's long-form interview program in the lurch.

Started in 2009, the show covers topics including science, comedy, current affairs and philosophy.

Amy Poehler's 'Good Hang with Amy Poehler' received the honor instead. The inaugural trophy was presented by Snoop Dogg on January 11

Maher made the remarks to guests David Spade and David Carvey, who appeared unaware the award even existed

It draws an estimated eight million viewers on Apple and even more on Spotify each month. Exact counts for Good Hang aren't public. The show started early last year.

Poehler told onlookers while accepting her award: 'I have great respect for this form.'

Maher, meanwhile, has ramped up his criticism of the Democratic Party over the past year after Joe Biden's disastrous single term and the election debacle that followed.

Maher referenced this during his conversation with Carvey and Spade, 61, saying, 'I always say to my woke friends, we voted for the same person. You're just why she lost,' referring to replacement Kamala Harris.

'You can't have movie stars and politicians that have hundreds of millions of dollars lecturing you. It's just the elitist thing that came out of all that,' Carvey said.

Rogan, conversely, has soured on the current administration in recent months, after endorsing Donald Trump in October.

He has slammed the administration's tariffs on Canada as 'ridiculous' and called its deportation policies 'horrific.'

The clashes began in March, when Rogan used his podcast to rant about Trump imposing tariffs on Canada and his desire to make Canada the 51st state.
China's best-selling car is coming to the UK market as the wave of new models arriving from East Asia looks set to continue in 2026.

Last year, almost 200,000 Chinese branded cars were bought by Britons as a flood of new manufacturers entered the UK to boost their sales volumes outside their domestic market.

In October, one of China's automotive giants announced its arrival on UK shores as Geely debuted its EX5 SUV.

At the time, it said it was targeting annual sales of 100,000 vehicles in the UK by 2030. However, the availability of a small, affordable electric runaround from the second half of 2026 could significantly bolster those numbers.

The EX2 - called the Galaxy Xingyuan in its home market - was China's most popular new model in 2025, with the company selling 465,775 examples in the calendar year.

With prices starting around 20,000 when it hits showrooms in summer and Britons already snapping up Chinese cars in their tens of thousands, it too could be a hit in the UK.

China's best-selling car is coming to the UK: The electric Geely EX2 supermini is due to arrive in showrooms in the summer

The electric supermini will go into direct competition with the smallest EVs sold in Britain at the moment.

This includes the impressive Renault 5, which starts from 21,500 inclusive of the Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG). Other rivals include the 19,000 Citroen e-C3 (also ECG qualifying), 21,000 Fiat 500 Electric and fellow Chinese newcomer, the 18,675 BYD Dolphin Surf.

While a price of around 20,000 will make it among one of the cheapest new EVs sold in the UK, it is far more expensive than it is in China, where an entry model can be had for as little as 6,000 - which explains its incredible popularity.

The unavailability of compact, low-priced models has - according to numerous market analysts and EV-pushing think tanks - limited demand for zero-emission cars.

However, Geely's EX2 is the latest signal that falling battery prices and lower production costs is allowing manufacturers to bring to market new EVs with relatively affordable price tags.

It's cars like this that are proving immensely popular in China, where electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) now account for more than half (51 per cent) of new motor sales.

In contrast, EVs and PHEVs account for a third (34 per cent) of models sold in the UK, where petrol remains the dominant force despite the looming ban on sales - alongside new diesel cars - in 2030.

With prices starting around 20k when it hits dealers - and Britons already snapping up Chinese cars in their tens of thousands - it could be a hit in the UK

The EX2 - called the Galaxy Xingyuan in its home market - was China's most popular new model in 2025, with the company selling 465,775 examples in the calendar year

Last year, almost 200,000 Chinese branded cars were bought by Britons as a flood of new manufacturers entered the UK to boost their sales volumes outside their domestic market. Geely launched here in October and sold almost 500 cars by the end of the year

Your browser does not support iframes.

With greater appetite for EVs in China, the Galaxy Xingyuan has been a massive success.

Some 40,000 are sold per month, with over 50,000 registered in December.

To put those volumes into perspective, the UK's best-selling car in 2025 was the Ford Puma at 56,000 registrations.

The EX2 will share a platform with the Geely EX5, though a smaller scale version.

It too will adopt the same LFP battery packs, likely with the choice of 30 and 40kWh options linked to electric motors producing 78 and 114bhp respectfully.

Based on China's somewhat optimistic official tests, these return ranges of 193 and 255 miles respectfully. However, when processed through the European-standard Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, it's fair to suggest that UK drivers should expect shorter claimed distances between charges.

This would still make it competitive against rivals, with the Renault 5's official range around 190 to 255 miles depending on battery size and specification.

The EX2 - based on China's somewhat optimistic official tests - has a range of 193 and 255 miles depending on which of the two battery options customers choose

The EX2 will share a platform with the Geely EX5 electric SUV that's already on sale in Britain, though a smaller scale version

The five-door supermini has a rounded silhouette that's complemented by teardrop-shaped headlights and the option of a contrasting roof colour

Inside, it will have a large, landscape-mounted infotainment screen and a digital instrument cluster behind an oblong-shaped steering wheel

While already on sale in Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand - and rebadged as a Proton in Malaysia - the EX2 is likely to be tweaked for European roads before its debut later this year.

According to Car magazine, bosses said the suspension and handling is likely to be made stiffer and more responsive to reflect both the smoother driving conditions and appetite for engaging performance.

The styling is likely to remain unchanged, with a five-door body, rounded silhouette complemented by teardrop-shaped headlights, and the option of a contrasting roof colour.

Inside, it will have a large, landscape-mounted infotainment screen and a digital instrument cluster behind an oblong-shaped steering wheel.

While some of its budget-friendly rivals have a lot of hard plastics across the cabin, the interior will mostly be covered in soft-touch materials to give a more premium feel.

Speaking to Car magazine, Geely Auto UKs marketing chief Mark Blundell said: We hope [the EX2] will follow the EX5 and the Starray [the brand's PHEV SUV] by being very well equipped, having strong levels of quality.'

Daily Mail and This is Money has contacted Geely UK for more information about when the EX2 is likely to be available in one of the brand's 50-plus UK dealerships.

Despite only launching in Britain in October, Geely sold some 478 passenger cars in the UK last year.

In December alone it clocked 125 registrations - only 24 units less than Fiat.
A fresh round of US tariffs could tip Britain into recession, economists have warned.

Donald Trump has vowed to impose a 10 per cent levy on imports from countries willing to defend Greenland  including the UK, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

The tariffs would come in on February 1 and be raised on 25 per cent in June.

In a report assessing the impact of such a move, Capital Economics said it would knock up to 0.75 per cent off the UK economy.

Highlighting the pain it could cause British carmakers and the pharmaceuticals industry, Paul dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said: With the UK economy currently growing by 0.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent a quarter, if this hit came all at once it could trigger a recession.

But he added: The long -term political and geopolitical consequences would be much greater.

Special relationship? Keir Starmer and Donald Trump

The report came as the International Monetary Fund said the UK economy will continue to lag behind the US and Canada this year and next.

The projections, in the Funds latest World Economic Outlook report, suggests Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are failing in their mission to turn Britain into the fastest growing economy in the G7.

While the UK is forecast to grow by 1.3 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent in 2027, the IMF pencilled in 2.4 per cent and 2 per cent for the US and 1.6 per cent and 1.9 per cent for Canada.

The Chancellor trumpeted the IMFs prediction that the UK will be the best performing major European economy over the next two years.

But shadow chancellor Mel Stride accused her of gaslighting the country.

The fact Rachel Reeves is celebrating it shows how desperate she has become, he said.

The economy is flatlining. Gaslighting the country wont fix the economy  only a serious plan to lower taxes and control welfare will.

In a further setback, S&P Global said its consumer sentiment index  a key measure of household confidence  has fallen to a nine-month low in a gloomy start to the year.

The index has now fallen for four months in a row.

Maryam Baluch, an economist at S&P Global, said the data for the start of 2026 painted a persistently downbeat picture among UK households.

She added: Consumer confidence weakened further, with the headline index falling to a nine-month low. Additionally, households current financial wellbeing deteriorated sharply and to the greatest extent since last April.

Concerningly, labour market expectations have deteriorated. Households reported income growth from employment slowing to its weakest pace in ten months, coupled with rising concerns over job security.

This job market uncertainty prompted households to maintain a cautious stance on discretionary spending. However, savings nevertheless continued to come under pressure, with some households slipping into deficit to manage elevated living costs and relying on loans to bridge financial gaps.

As a result, January marked a further rise in demand for unsecured credit, which fed through to higher household debt.
Zurich Insurance has tabled a 7.7billion bid for Lloyds of London underwriter Beazley in the latest swoop on a UK-listed company.

The Swiss giant lodged a 1280p a share offer for the FTSE 100 group having seen a lower bid of 1230p a share rejected on Friday.

Shares in Beazley, one of the worlds biggest specialist insurers, with a focus on cybersecurity as well as other areas such as satellites, fine art and yachts, rose more than 40 per cent to an all-time high of 1170p.

Zurich chief executive Mario Greco revealed the latest offer was the fifth it has made for Beazley since an initial takeover approach a year ago.

He told the Financial Times it was time to go public and eventually let Beazley shareholders say what they think.

Britain for sale: Beazley is the latest London-listed firm to become a takeover target

The firm added that the full price being offered reflected its desire to proceed at pace and is designed to facilitate prompt engagement.

Zurich is just the latest predator to go public with an offer to shareholders rather than secure an agreement with the board of its target first.

FitzWalter Capital is calling on shareholders in Auction Technology Group to persuade their board to engage having seen 12 bids turned down.

In a statement to investors yesterday, Zurich said: Zurich believes that its proposal provides Beazley shareholders immediate and certain cash value for their investment at a level that exceeds what Beazley could achieve over a reasonable timeframe through the execution of its strategy and fully reflects Beazley's fundamental value.

Zurich said a deal would create a global leader in speciality insurance with around 11billion of written premiums.

This combination of two highly complementary businesses would establish a leading global specialty platform, based in the UK which would also leverage Beazley's Lloyd's of London presence, it added.

Beazley, which was set up in 1986 and joined the stock market in 2002, is based in London and has operations in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.

In a statement yesterday, it said the board unanimously rejected Zurichs 1230p offer because it significantly undervalued the company.

It added: The board has not yet had the chance to consider Zurich's improved proposal of 1,280p per share. We will update shareholders in due course. In the meantime, Beazley shareholders are urged to take no action.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said the bid for Beazley - and ongoing merger talks between mining giants Rio Tinto and Glencore - mean '2026 is starting with a bang for the UK stock market, whose tempting valuations are proving irresistible to both trade and financial buyers'.

He added: 'The Rio Tinto-Glencore talks and now Zurichs move on Beazley could really stir animal spirits, especially if investors choose to redeploy the cash received in the event of a successful approach back into UK stocks.'
Labour was last night urged to stop hiking taxes and cut red tape as a global poll revealed Germany and India are threatening to overtake Britain as an investment destination.

Marco Amitrano, UK boss of big four accountancy giant PwC, said the survey of global chief executives  showing the two countries catching up with the UK  should act as a wake-up call.

The PwC poll of more than 4,000 global chief executives also revealed the share of UK bosses expecting the economy to shrink this year has nearly doubled from 13 per cent last year to 25 per cent.

Just 38 per cent expected growth, too, down from 61 per cent. Amitrano said that was partly explained by the survey being conducted amid uncertainty ahead of Rachel Reeves Budget.

To help restore sentiment, he said the Government must stick to its plans to balance the books amid doubts from some chief executives the party would be able to control spending.

Asked what the Government must do, he told the Daily Mail: No more taxes, genuine further moves in deregulation and infrastructure investment  planning reforms in particular.

Concerns: PWC boss Marco Amitrano (pictured) said the survey of global chief execs  showing the two countries catching up with the UK  should act as a wake-up call

The Chancellor will today tell business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos  where PwCs poll was unveiled  that Britain is the best place in the world to invest as she battles to turn the economy around.

But her words may ring hollow after she piled on 66billion in taxes across her first two budgets.

Reeves will arrive today in Davos for a series of engagements at the annual gathering of global business and political leaders.

While she managed to restore Britains financial headroom in her last Budget, there has been some scepticism about the plan  which involves more spending today and cuts in a few years time.

Amitrano said: We have to now keep that spend under control. It cant creep up  otherwise its more taxes. So the balancing of the public books is really quite important.

He added: Being the worlds second-most important investment destination for a second year running should not be underestimated.

But in now sharing that position its also a wake-up call.
First-time buyers can now get mortgages below 4 per cent.

In the past few days, a handful of lenders have launched 10 per cent deposit deals with rates as low as 3.96 per cent.

These are on a two-year fixed rate, with five-year fixes remaining more expensive.

While saving a deposit is still a struggle for many, first-time buyer numbers have been rising as house prices in many areas of the country flatline or fall.

Falling mortgage rates make monthly payments more affordable, which could help more people on to the ladder.

The best-buy rate is 3.96 with Lloyds Bank, based on a 10 per cent deposit, two-year fix.

It marks a significant fall from the beginning of December 2025, when the cheapest rate available was 4.16 per cent. Banks have gradually reduced their rates since the Bank of England cut the base rate on 18 December.

However, there is a vital caveat, in that this deal is only available to those who have a Club Lloyds bank account.

Cheaper deals: Mortgage rates for first-time buyers have fallen below 4%

This account has a 5 monthly fee, but it is waived if you pay in 2,000 or more each month.

The mortgage deal comes with an arrangement fee of 1,199, however. Depending on your circumstances, a higher rate with a lower fee could work out cheaper - especially if you plan to roll the arrangement fee into the loan, where it will accrue interest.

A couple buying a 250,000 home with a 2,500 deposit, and taking their mortgage over a 30-year term, would pay 1,189 per month on the Lloyds deal.

Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfactscompare, said: 'First-time buyers may feel its not quite the right time to get a mortgage if they are struggling to build a sizeable deposit.

'However, as mortgage rates fall and a variety lenders relax their stress testing, some buyers might be surprised to find they could now get their first foot on to the property ladder.'

BEST FIRST-TIME BUYER MORTGAGE RATES - TWO-YEAR FIX, 10% DEPOSIT Lender Rate Fee Restrictions Lloyds 3.96% 1,199 Must be a Club Lloyds account holder Furness BS 3.97% 749 Only available to those in postcodes LA, CA, PR and FY Bank of Ireland 3.99% 1,495 Must go through a mortgage broker HSBC 4.01% 249 Must have a HSBC Premier Account Virgin Money 4.03% 995 None

Bank of Ireland is offering a 3.99 per cent rate for the same circumstances, which comes with a higher fee of 1,495. That would cost the same couple  1,192 per month.

It is open to customers in Britain, as well as the Republic of Ireland, and buyers will need to apply through a mortgage broker in order to secure the deal. Many mortgage brokers are fee-free for the buyer.

David Hollingworth of mortgage broker L&C, said rates were currently at 'some of the lowest levels seen since September 2022' when the impact of the mini Budget saw fixed rates rocket.

He added: 'There could be further room for improvement if the Bank of England tone around the pace of rate cuts shifts from its currently cautious approach.'

In addition, Furness Building Society is offering a sub-4 per cent mortgage - but again, with a catch.

It has a 3.97 per cent rate and a 749 fee, but is only available to those within postcodes LA (Lancaster), CA (Carlisle), PR (Preston) and FY (Fylde).

There could be better first-time buyer mortgage rates soon to come, as lenders seek to capitalise on rising activity among first-time buyers.

HSBC, Halifax and Yorkshire Building Society are among those offering mortgages at 90 per cent loan-to-value which are hovering near the 4 per cent mark.

First-time buyer numbers are tipped to rise this year, as house prices flatline or fall in many areas across the country and sellers struggle to shift their homes.

Less competition in the market means they can potentially secure homes at a cheaper price.

Research by TSB has found that more than nine in 10 first-time buyers negotiated on the property purchase price last year, securing a discount of 22,900 on average.

Some mortgage lenders have also relaxed their rules to allow some first-time buyers to borrow more than they would have been able to previously.

Hollingworth added: 'Lenders have been increasingly flexible on how much first time buyers may be able to borrow, as they have eased the approach to stress testing and rules around higher multiple lending has improved.

'That coupled with better rates and more options for those with a small, or even no, deposit should help more first time buyers make the jump to home ownership.'

In addition, rent rises have eased off, potentially giving some first-time buyers a greater ability to save.

However, the age of first-time buyers is still rising overall.

Springall added: 'According to UK Finance, the average first-time buyer mortgage term is 31, compared with 28 years a decade ago.

'The right choice of deal and term will come down to the individual, so it is imperative borrowers seek independent advice before they commit.'
Taxpayers face a staggering 2.8million bill after socialite James Stunt was awarded legal aid despite his opulent lifestyle as he fought accusations of money laundering.

After two long-running trials, the ex-husband of Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone was cleared of being at the heart of a 266million operation to turn criminal cash from drug gangs into gold.

During their seven-year marriage, he lived a super-rich lifestyle, spending millions of pounds on paintings by Old Masters, fine wine, gambling and a fleet of expensive cars.

But because his assets were frozen before he was later declared bankrupt, self-confessed former cocaine and gambling addict Mr Stunt was entitled to taxpayer-funded legal aid.

Now after a request under Freedom of Information legislation, the Daily Mail has established the total amount paid to his lawyers stands at a massive 2,178.524.66.

That is in addition to the cost to the public purse of running and staffing the crown court for 11 months, estimated at over 600,000.

Mr Stunt, 43, is currently seeking to have the freezing order lifted, saying he believes his assets are greater than his debts.

Yet because he was acquitted of the criminal charges, the Legal Aid Agency cannot recoup a penny of the money he was awarded  a situation one senior Tory MP branded 'incredible'.

James Stunt pictured outside Leeds Crown Court with his girlfriend Helena Robinson where he was cleared of any involvement in a 266m money laundering ring

James Stunt pictured with his ex-wife Petra Ecclestone at their engagement party in 2011

Sir Ashley Fox, a former solicitor and member of the Commons Justice Committee, said: 'Legal aid is a critical part of our judicial system, allowing all those accused of a crime able to access legal representation.

'It is in the public interest to make sure it is defended, and that includes ensuring it is awarded fairly in all instances.

'James Stunt's legal aid bill does seem extraordinarily high.

'Given his lifestyle, it would seem incredible that the legal aid board are not able to recover some or all of the bill from his substantial personal fortune.'

The allegations stemmed from Mr Stunt's dream of refining the highest quality 'Stunt' branded gold bars, for which he was unable to source the unrefined or scrap gold that he needed as the raw material.

He went into partnership with jewellers Fowler Oldfield, based in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

But prosecutors claimed the loss-making gold manufacturing venture in time turned into a profitable criminal money laundering enterprise.

Up to 30million of criminal cash was allegedly delivered to Mr Stunt's London office.

Mr Stunt clapped his hands together with relief as he was found not guilty of money laundering

It was then counted and collected to be deposited in the Fowler Oldfield account with NatWest, which was later fined almost 265million for failing to comply with anti-laundering rules.

At the same time some of the gold was turned into untraceable gold grain and sent to Dubai, presumably to be dispatched to the criminal gang masters providing the mountains of 'dirty' cash, it was alleged.

Mr Stunt was living in a Los Angeles mansion at the time and insisted he had no idea the tens of millions of pounds of cash arriving at his firm's London headquarters was from criminal sources.

A first trial ended with the jury unable to reach a verdict over the key charge.

But in March he was found not guilty of money laundering at Leeds Crown Court after a jury in a second trial was given a majority direction.

Four other defendants were convicted of money laundering.

Following his acquittal, Mr Stunt hugged his father, saying he had been through 'nine years of hell'.

Weeks later he backed an application by his bankruptcy trustees at the High Court in London requiring the Crown Prosecution Service and West Yorkshire Police to give details of Stunt's assets, which were frozen after he was placed under investigation.

Mr Stunt pictured with his then-wife Petra Ecclestone at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2012

James Stunt's huge mansion in Los Angeles which he shared with his 'staggeringly wealthy' ex-wife, Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone

These include a 'remarkable' collection of paintings ranging from Old Masters to impressionists and modern works, a judge said.

During his criminal trial it emerged that police had insured seized artworks worth 100million.

Mr Stunt's collection of fine wines was even said to be worth 30million.

He was represented by a KC and junior counsel at both trials, the first lasting seven months and the second four months.

After his acquittal, his solicitors said they had been working on the case for six years.

Defendants can be ordered to repay legal aid from any disposable capital in excess of 30,000, but only if they are convicted of at least one offence.

The Ministry of Justice insists that means-tested legal aid ultimately saves the taxpayer money as defendants denied legal representation would be entitled to appeal.

A spokeswoman for the Legal Aid Agency said: 'Defendants who are acquitted do not have to pay back legal costs.'

Mr Stunt's lawyers declined to comment.
Huddled on a street corner, a young man in a blue jacket openly and shamelessly smokes crack cocaine from a pipe before staggering away with his friend.

The incredible scene was photographed by the Daily Mail at the back of a city centre McDonald's in Dundee which has been tarnished with a grim reputation over its levels of poverty, drug use and violent crime in recent years.

Scotland's fourth largest city was in the spotlight again this week when it emerged that Salvation Army worker Charles Mackie, 56, had been sacked after criticising the growing number of migrants taking up accommodation used for Dundee's homeless.

Mr Mackie lost his claim for unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal which ruled that his sacking from the charity's Strathmore Lodge hostel in the city was justified, despite his insistence that he was not racist.

It followed the case of a Romanian grooming gang which was recently jailed for a total of 74 years for raping and sexually exploiting ten vulnerable women after giving them crack cocaine.

The Daily Mail visited Dundee and found that brazen displays of drug taking were far from unusual in the city which is famed for its fruit and nut Dundee cake, but has been recently ravaged by crime and rampant drug misuse.

Dundee was known during its prosperous past for 'jute, jam and journalism' due to its mills producing the fibre material, the Keiller's marmalade factory and the offices of DC Thomson which published newspapers, magazines and the comics Beano and Dandy.

Many suggest its decline began early in the last century when its jute industry moved to Calcutta. The Keiller's factory which produced a range of preserves and sweets closed in 1992 and the city's publishing house has shrunk in size in recent years.

Two men meet to take drugs in an area known as 'Crack Alley' outside the Keiller Centre in Dundee

The Keiller Centre, a largely empty shopping centre in the centre of the city, has become a magnet for drug users in the area

Huddled on a street corner, a young man in a blue jacket openly and shamelessly smokes crack cocaine from a pipe before staggering away with his friend

Numerous locals complained to the Daily Mail about open Class A drug dealing in the city centre which is also blighted by shoplifters and many stores going out of business.

Some have started to at least in part blame the SNP for failing to tackle the plight of the city - and say the party has been distracted from real-world problems by its woke agenda.

Dundee is an SNP stronghold and has been nicknamed 'Yes City' because it has backed the party so consistently on the question of Scottish independence.

All three of the city's MPs hail from the party and the council has had an SNP leader since 2009 with either an overall majority or leading a minority coalition for the last 13 years.

But the party - both locally and nationally - has been repeatedly accused of putting its interest in wokery ahead of more pressing concerns like the economy.

While the council is facing a budget deficit of 25 million for the current tax year, it also recently emerged that Dundee is one of the biggest spenders in Scotland on DEI policies.

It had spent over 1 million on pay and training to increase 'diversity, equity and inclusion' - policies that are central to woke local government.

Addressing DEI spending Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'This is yet another example of the SNP prioritising ideological projects over the issues that people actually care about. It's no wonder Scots are fed up with Left-wing politicians at Holyrood.'

A man in a blue puffer coat carries his crack pipe outside the Keiller Centre

Data from October 2025 found homelessness applications in Dundee had risen by 18 per cent in a year

Salvation Army worker Charles Markie, 56, (pictured) was sacked after saying migrants should be sent back home 'on a f***ing boat' but insists he is not racist

Mr Mackie believes the number of migrants in the city has hampered efforts to help tackle Dundee's long standing homeless issue

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay also stated last year that the SNP has turned Scotland into a 'laboratory for weird and wacky policies'.

Mr Findlay added: 'For the SNP, no policy can be too harmful, half-baked or unhinged. From rent controls, to a universal basic income, to a four-day working week, if it's woke, they want it.'

While millions of pounds has been spent on developing Dundee's quayside and opening a new V & A design museum, many say that not enough is being done to tackle drugs and crime.

Ric May, 58, who runs a Christian project called Jesus Dugs to train dogs to provide comfort and help the mental health of drug addicts, said: 'Drugs here are out of control.

'We have so many women dying from pneumonia after using crack cocaine, often mixed with prescription drugs or so-called street valium.

'The city is littered with drug addicts, alcoholics and people with mental health problems. They go shoplifting to pay for their habits and it has led to a huge number of shops closing in the last three years or so.

'There are security guards in most shops and they are under a lot of pressure. People just go in and grab rails of stuff and run off so they can sell things to get their next hit.

'Crack cocaine seems to have replaced heroin in the last few years, and I have even seen it being smoking by people sitting in Greggs without anyone else noticing.'

Ric May, 58, (pictured) who runs a Christian project called Jesus Dugs to train dogs to provide comfort and help the mental health of drug addicts, said: 'Drugs here are out of control'

Mr May said he had noticed street-level drug dealers becoming younger with some being teenagers aged just 14 or 15 and referred to by local addicts as 'the young team'.

He said: 'They came to Greggs to rob the place and attack staff when I was in there two-years-ago. I put one in a headlock, and we got them out, so staff could lock the door. They were trying to force their way back in. The police were called, but they didn't do anything.'

Mr May said he had also come across cases of 'cuckooing' where gangs take over the home of a vulnerable person to use as a base for drug dealing.

Victims of the practice included one of his friends, an ex-lawyer with mental health issues, who had four microwaves installed in his flat by a gang to make crack.

The current estimated unemployment rate in Dundee of 5.3% is far ahead of the Scottish average of 3.6% and the 4.1% across the whole of the UK, although there are other areas with higher numbers.

But the city has the second-highest rate of crime in Scotland with 783 reported crimes per 10,000 people in 2024/25, only beaten by Glasgow which had 829.

Dundee has also frequently had the highest rate of non-sexual violent crime in Scotland in recent years with an annual average of nearly 36 incidents of homicide, attempted murder, serious assault, and abuse for every 10,000 people between April 2021 and June 2023.

This was higher than nearest rivals Glasgow and Aberdeen, which respectively had an annual average of just over 27 and 26 of the serious crimes per 10,000 of population in the same period.

One of the only businesses remaining in the centre is a shoe repair and key cutting stall run for the last 45 years by Robert Lawrence, 70, (pictured)

Dundee also had the second-highest number of drug deaths in Scotland with 42 in 2024, the equivalent of just over 35 per 100,000 people, just behind Glasgow with 41 deaths per 100,000 people.

The main shopping streets in Dundee feature a number of alleyways in between buildings, referred to in Scotland as 'pends' which are often used for drug taking and dealing.

One covered alley off the High Street, called New Inn Entry, is now known locally as Crack Alley because of its illicit use as a drug den.

The Daily Mail witnessed two men with drawn and hollow faces, and a blonde woman, smoking crack cocaine in a doorway in the alley behind Bayne's family bakery. The group refused to talk to a reporter as they stumbled back into the High Street after their hit.

It was down the same alley that the Mail later witnessed the man smoking crack cocaine from a pipe, alongside a friend who also seemed unsteady on his feet.

The pair ignored the presence of CCTV cameras, and delivery drivers from Deliveroo and Just Eat who were waiting nearby to pick up takeaways.

The squalid scene took place outside the side entrance to the Keiller Centre shopping mall which opened in 1979 and has become largely empty in a dramatic illustration of Dundee's decline.

With the majority of shops shuttered-up, the centre has tried to re-invent itself as an arts and culture hub, staging the Dundee fringe festival for the last three years, with last year's event featuring 100 acts over ten days in four store units.

One of the only businesses remaining in the centre is a shoe repair and key cutting stall run for the last 45 years by Robert Lawrence, 70, who wants to carry on working as long as possible, despite plans to demolish the centre and build student accommodation in its place.

A couple smoking down an alley off Murraygate in central Dundee's shopping area

With no sign of any customers around, Mr Lawrence admitted: 'Business is bad. The building here is in a bad way with doors broken and blocked off, so a lot of people think the whole place is closed.

'Drugs are a real problem. You get people dealing on the street or selling stolen goods, and it puts off visitors from coming into the city centre.

'Part of the problem is that the council has spent so much money on the waterfront and nothing on the high street. My opinion is that the waterfront isn't there for Dundee people. It's for tourists.'

Meanwhile, there were no police officers visible as a reporter witnessed a pensioner on a mobility scooter appearing to sell cartons of contraband cigarettes from a box close to the giant statue of Dandy cartoon character Desperate Dan on the edge of Dundee's City Square.

On the adjoining High Street, shopper Kenny McPherson, 67, said: 'Drugs are rife. I see cops standing there doing nothing, and just watching, while people are dealing almost next to them. The town is empty. People are scared to come in.

'Druggies are always fighting with each other and rolling around in the street. A couple of months ago, there were two women brawling just here, and the police just let them go. If it had been you or me, we would be locked up.

'The SNP control the local council and they have the place covered in cameras so they must know what is going on, but nothing seems to happen.

'We used to have two wardens patrolling around, and they did a brilliant job reporting things to the police and keeping an eye on what is happening, but they retired in May and they have not been replaced.'

High street shopper Kenny McPherson, 67, said drugs were 'rife' in Dundee: 'I see cops standing there doing nothing, and just watching, while people are dealing almost next to them. The town is empty. People are scared to come in'

Retired offshore worker John Todd, 70, added: 'It's definitely got worse. The drugs are all over the place. They are selling drugs on corners everywhere and the police are nowhere to be seen.'

A 16-year-old girl who asked not to be named said: 'This place is a s**** hole. There is nothing here. It's full of junkies. There are needles lying on the floor and most places smell like p*** because of people urinating everywhere. You can't even sit down without hearing people screaming or yelling.'

Margaret Cameron, 74, said: 'The place is horrible now. Dundee used to be lovely to visit on a day out, but now half the shops are gone. It's like a ghost town. It's all charity shops, and hardly anything else.

'When I was a girl, my granny used to live down here and we would walk to the old market where we would get fresh eggs, fresh chicken and everything. Now that is all gone, and you just see a lot of young people on drugs which is no good. There just aren't the jobs around.

'Young people are sitting around with no purpose. I feel sorry for them. I would never come out at night because I just wouldn't feel safe. It's a damn shame.'

Margaret Cameron, 74, said: 'The place is horrible now. Dundee used to be lovely to visit on a day out, but now half the shops are gone. It's like a ghost town. It's all charity shops, and hardly anything else'

Salvation Army worker Mr Mackie was sacked in March 2024, despite working for the Salvation Army for nearly 20 years, after fellow staff were shocked by his comments about sending migrants home.

He was alleged to have told colleagues at the Strathmore Lodge hostel: 'There wouldn't be a housing shortage if we weren't taking in 150 refugees,' and 'send them all back on a f****** boat'.

Speaking after he lost his unfair dismissal case, Mr Mackie said he had merely been concerned about how the number of migrants in the city had hampered efforts to help tackle Dundee's long-standing homeless issue.

He said: 'When I first started the people were predominantly from Dundee. Around seven years ago we started to get more Polish or African people through the door for various reasons.

'I would treat all people equally, 100 per cent. Initially we weren't really affected by migrants who'd come via boats. We'd get the odd person and we'd always take them in and support them to get into housing.

'But over the last couple of years it has got worse and we've taken in more and more. I had nothing against that at all, as long as we had somewhere for them to go.'

Dundee has seen around 1,000 refugees or migrants settle in the city in the past five years including more than 500 Ukrainians arriving between 2022 and 2024, according to Dundee City Council Figures.

Around 250 nationals from Syria, Iraq and other troubled countries have arrived as part of resettlement schemes since 2020.

Mr Markie whose job involved supporting homeless and vulnerable people including refugees, said: 'I've supported hundreds of foreign residents over 20 years. Not once was my behaviour towards them ever taken into question.

'It was stated in the tribunal that it didn't make a difference to me what nationality someone was.'

A Romanian grooming gang of four men and a woman were jailed at the High Court in Glasgow last October for raping and sexually abusing women in flats across Dundee, and forcing at least one into prostitution, after plying them with drugs

Ringleader Marian Cumpanasoiu, 38 who was described as a 'winking, smirking pimp' was given a 24-year extended sentence while Cristian Urlateanu, 41, was jailed for 20 years, Remus Stan, 35, for 12 years, Catalin Dobre, 45, for ten years and Alexandra Bugonea, 35, for eight years.

Judge Lord Scott told them they had manipulated the women by giving them an 'unending supply of mostly free crack cocaine' while assuming that their victims' drug-related lifestyles meant they would never be detected or reported.

The gang used a string of squalid flats as brothels and sex dens including one in a drab-looking tenement block in Park Avenue in the drugs-blighted Stobswell area to the east of the city centre

Former heroin addict Alan McMulkin, 56, who was on his way to get his methadone prescription from a nearby medical centre said he had no idea that the brothel had been operating in the street.

He said: 'Dundee is getting worse. Drug addicts on crack cocaine are taking over. People are smoking it all day and night with 0.1gm costing 10 a time. They can go all through their benefits in one night, spending up to 600, and have to thieve from shops to pay for it.'

Former addict Alan McMulkin (pictured) said 'drug addicts on crack cocaine are taking over' the Scottish city

Another local resident Sean Boyd, 46, told how he had spent 12 months in hospital after being attacked with a scaffolding pole when he tried to stop two people openly drug dealing in the street.

He showed a reporter an ugly scar on his head wound from the attack which also left him with nerve damage and still limping from a leg injury, meaning he is no longer able to run his landscaping business.

Mr Boyd pointed to the former ground floor flat of an elderly woman in the tenement opposite the building containing the brothel, saying: 'She was robbed nearly every day by addicts taking her pension money.

'Eventually she had to go into a nursing home, but even then people were still going into her home and using it as a drugs den.'

A retired PA at the University of Dundee who only wanted to be known as Maureen, 77, told how problems in the city had escalated since she bought her home in the area in 1980 after living in New York for ten years.

She said: 'When I moved here, the big problem was only dog poo on the streets. Neighbours were friendly, and we had parties every year, and were in and out of each other's houses. Now the streets are dirtier and there is litter everywhere.

'You can smell the marijuana in quite a few places and you just have to accept it. There is nothing you can do because it is more or less legal now. I want to say something positive, but I can't. If I had the money, I would move out.'

But the area around Park Avenue was defended by others including former boat painter Ian Buchan, 62, who has been on disability benefits since having a heart attack in 2017.

Mr Buchan said: 'This isn't the greatest of places, but it's not too bad. It's a lot better than Peterhead where I used to live. Peterhead was a great place in the 70s and 80s, but it's a dump now.'

Umair Rasheed, 27, the Pakistani-born manager of the Booze 4 U store on the corner of Park Avenue appeared unfazed when a woman staggered into his shop to buy a can of super-strength lager as soon as she was legally allowed to do so at 10am.

He said: 'The area is fine. People are nice and everyone is friendly. I don't get any trouble, although people come in and ask for a 5 cigarette. It means they want a packet of fake cigarettes, but we don't sell them. We only have legal cigarettes from the cash and carry.'

Umair Rasheed, 27, the Pakistani-born manager of the Booze 4 U store said the area was friendly - although some customers do ask if he stocks knock-off cigarettes

Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service released pictures after Cumpanasoiu was jailed showing the brothel he operated in Bright Street in the Lochee area, just yards away from a Baptist church and a Boy's Brigade meeting hall.

One image featured a stained double bed in a sparse room while others showed shelves of drug paraphernalia, including novelty bongs and a dirty living room area with plastic bottles on the floor and filthy carpets.

Neighbourhood shops at the end of the road include a Poundstretchers, a Cash Converters pawnbrokers, two vape shops, a tanning salon and a Polish supermarket.

Lila Laja, 56, who is from Poland and was visiting the supermarket with her daughter Kamila, 27, and grandson Daniel, three, said: 'We have lived in Dundee for 17 years and we like it, but the town centre is not looking very good. It is very sad. Every single day we see people taking drugs.'

Another flat used by the Romanian gang was in more affluent Perth Road which has a range of independent shops, restaurants and cafes.

Jonathan Sewart, 44, the licenses of the Speedwell bar close to the flat said he had no idea that anything untoward had been going on there, but described the grooming case as 'terrible and horrendous'.

He said: 'This is a great neighbourhood with a mixture of locals, students and people who come here to work. If you go back ten years, there were a lot of 'to let' signs going up in the road, but more businesses are opening now.

'This area has definitely picked up and is more busy than it was. There are lots of visitors and tourists. You get crime everywhere, but I don't think this is worse than anywhere else.'

But others are not so optimistic, including a person who recently posted in Reddit that they had moved to Dundee from Yorkshire two months earlier 'for NHS work', but now wanted to leave.

Their post stated: 'I feel like we're reaching a depression point having only been here for few weeks. The city feels like a ghost town. Boarded up shops packed with tired looking people and zombies (drug addicts) harassing them for change in every corner.'

The poster also criticised 'exorbitant parking charges' and Dundee's Low Emissions Zone, which it has in common with other Scottish cities, banning certain high-polluting vehicles from city centre streets.

They added: 'A low emissions zone would make sense in a global metropolis, but Dundee is far from one. Outside of the city centre, many run-down neighbourhoods and empty boarded-up buildings.

'Reminds me of some post-industrial Eastern European cities back in the 90s. Overall feels like the edge of the UK, poor, neglected, with damaging Council policies for local businesses and residents.

'We've tried to make it here, but we've reached the point where we've actually started looking for a way out. Most likely we'll be moving back to England next year. I know towns in England suffer from dying high streets too, we've lived in a few, but never seen anything like Dundee. So my question is, why is Dundee such a run down city?'

The post attracted mixed replies with one person explaining Dundee's decline, saying: 'Unjustifiably high rents for shops, lack of disposable income, and it's the drug death capital of Europe. Crime is very high too and it's increasing steadily. I loved Dundee up until the early 2000s.'

Another added: 'Moved here three years ago and in that time I've seen it get significantly worse... Not really sure what caused it other than people not having as much money?'

However, a 55-year-old mother who was walking in the street opposite another flat used by the grooming gang in Gellatly Street said: 'There is a lot of poverty here and the availability of drugs is increasing.

'But it's a nice city and very friendly. There are folk who work really hard and volunteer to make their communities the best they can be. People call it Scumdee or Dumbdee, but it is really unfair.'

A local social media group called 'The People's Voice Against Dundee City Council' has hundreds of members who regularly share scathing observations about their rundown city.

In one post last October, a woman living in social housing complained the council has taken two years to replace flooring the previous owner had allowed to become soaked in dog urine.
Donald Trump has called this booming industry a 'beautiful baby' and vowed to nurture it until America emerges as a global leader.

This year, multiple major data centers will open across the US to power the country's AI explosion.

But they're coming with mounting fears that these massive facilities are jacking up energy costs, draining water supplies and belching out pollution linked to major health problems.

In the small farming city of Boardman, Oregon, residents say they have paid the price.

While data centers landed there in the early 2010s, locals claim they worsened a long-simmering problem of nitrate contamination in groundwater - an issue they now believe is making people seriously ill.

Though, AI companies have disputed such claims. Among them is Kathy Mendoza, 71, who lives on the outskirts of town directly above a shallow aquifer.

She draws water from a 165ft-deep private well installed when she built her home in the early 2000s. She told the Daily Mail that at the time of construction, the water was considered safe.

Today, Mendoza believes that years of drinking, cooking and making coffee with contaminated well water may have poisoned her body for life.

Boardman, a quiet city of some 4,400 people, sits in a fertile region known as the 'Breadbasket of Oregon'

Kathy Mendoza, 71, (left) and Jim Klipfel, 49, (right) are neighbors in Boardman who say nearby data centers have exacerbated their drinking water crisis

She said she currently suffers from an autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, breathlessness and persistent pain, and claimed her condition is linked to long-term exposure to groundwater contaminated by farming, industry and nearby data centers.

'I figured my retirement years I'd be able to go do things,' Mendoza told the Daily Mail. 'And I just can't.'

Her case is now part of a widening legal battle against agribusiness, local authorities and, as of last year, Amazon, Rolling Stone reported.

Mendoza and others allege that wastewater discharges from the company's Morrow County data center have worsened nitrate contamination in the aquifer. According to NBC, the tech and retail giant has been notified of a pending class-action lawsuit, which they may try to settle out of court.

Nitrates are tasteless, odorless chemical compounds most commonly associated with agricultural runoff. In high concentrations, they have been linked to colorectal cancer, thyroid disease, miscarriages and birth defects. In infants, nitrates can cause blue baby syndrome, a potentially deadly condition that deprives the body of oxygen.

A single data center uses a vast quantity of water for cooling its systems. Jim Doherty, a local activist and rancher in Boardman, has alleged per NBC that, during such use, the water gets heated (which concentrates nitrates) and then discharged back into the environment where it is used for drinking, agriculture and more.

Amazon has reportedly disputed the claims, saying its data centers use a small fraction of local water and that its operations do not add nitrates to groundwater. The company also noted that Morrow County had nitrate problems long before its facility broke ground in 2011.

This story is unfolding as America races headlong into a new era of energy-guzzling one-gigawatt data centers - megafacilities built to fuel AI, cloud computing and social media.

In 2025, Trump signed a raft of orders aimed at speeding permits for the massive infrastructure.

'We're going to make this industry absolutely the top because right now it's a beautiful baby that's born,' Trump said.

'We have to grow that baby and let that baby thrive We can't stop it with foolish rules and even stupid rules.'

Each one-gigawatt facility consumes as much electricity as one million homes and can draw millions of gallons of water a day.

Advocates say they are essential to processing exploding volumes of data, while critics say the environmental and human costs are staggering.

Researchers at Epoch AI say the US will soon host five such behemoths: Amazon's data center for AI firm Anthropic in Indiana, Elon Musk's xAI supercomputer cluster in Mississippi, Microsoft's Fairwater campus in Georgia, Meta's Prometheus hub in Ohio and OpenAI's Stargate facility in Texas.

Boardman residents claim the nearby Amazon Web Services data center concentrates nitrates and flushes contaminated wastewater back into the land. Amazon has denied such claims

Groups across the US are rallying against data center construction, warning of power and water usage and other quality of life issues, like these community members pictured in the Ellenwood neighborhood of Decatur, Georgia

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Epoch AI has called them 'some of the largest infrastructure projects humanity has ever created.'

Each can cost up to $60billion, much of that tied up in advanced computer chips.

But critics warn the real cost goes far beyond dollars. The centers strain power grids, increasing the risk of blackouts and pushing up household electricity bills as utilities scramble to build new infrastructure.

Data centers are expected to consume 5 percent of all US electricity generation by 2027. In data center hubs across Virginia, Maryland and Ohio, residents have already seen electricity bills rise by $11 to $18 a month on average, according to state reports these past two years. The reports - from PJM and Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) - placed partial blame for the increase on data centers.

To offset utility costs in the regions where Microsoft operates data centers, the company has pledged to help foot the bill, Reuters reported.

'Especially when tech companies are so profitable, it's both unfair and politically unrealistic for our industry to ask the public to shoulder added electricity costs for AI,' Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said in a statement.

In Indiana, House Bill 1007 requires proposed data centers - before they are even built - commit to covering at least 80 percent of the cost of increased generation allocated to the project.

Large facilities can consume up to five million gallons of water per day - that's enough to supply a town of 50,000 people.

They are also noisy. Cooling fans can exceed 80 decibels - about the loudness of a leaf blower - leading to sleep disruption and chronic stress.

A report from UC Riverside and Caltech researchers estimated that health impacts linked to large data centers could cost $20billion annually by 2030, projecting 1,300 premature deaths and 600,000 asthma cases tied to pollution.

Residents near xAI's facility in South Memphis have already reported increased asthma attacks and respiratory distress following its rapid build-out. The company has said it is investing in the community, creating jobs, and working to reduce emissions from its turbines.

Concern over data centers has sparked rare bipartisan agreement. Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has warned about their drain on energy and water, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has raised similar alarms.

Republican Senator Josh Hawley has called them 'massive electricity hogs,' and warned taxpayers could end up footing the bill for grid upgrades.

In northern Virginia, conservative county chair TC Collins said he was 'ready to go to war' to stop Amazon's proposed $6billion data campus.

On the other hand, policymakers face difficult trade-offs as data centers bring tax revenue, construction jobs and high-paying technical careers.

Tech leaders argue they are vital to keeping America competitive with China and powering an AI economy projected to reach 2 percent of the US economy.

Meta has already struck nuclear power deals to run its AI facilities, securing enough energy to power five million homes.

In Boardman - often called the Breadbasket of Oregon - residents fear the damage has already been done.

Pictured: A technician works at an Amazon Web Services AI data center in New Carlisle, Indiana, one of America's biggest

Microsoft co-founder, businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates (pictured) is among the tech bosses pushing for more and bigger data centers

Mendoza told the Daily Mail her health took a downward turn a decade ago when she was working as a lab technician at a potato processing plant. She said she developed progressive muscle stiffness, joint pain and episodes where her body would 'seize up.' Eventually, she collapsed.

Doctors diagnosed her with rheumatic disease, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the body's own joints and organs. She said no genetic cause was identified.

Today, her dominant symptoms are extreme fatigue, breathlessness and chronic pain.

'It's not just me,' she told the Daily Mail.

Doherty, former county commissioner, went door-to-door in the area and collected scores of accounts from residents reporting miscarriages and various cancers.

The Oregon Health Authority has confirmed that at least 634 domestic wells in the area contain unsafe nitrate levels, some exceeding 10 times the federal safety limit. The county government declared a local state of emergency in 2022.

Once able to drink from the tap, Mendoza's household now relies on state-provided bottled water, receiving four 2.5-gallon jugs every two weeks for drinking and cooking. She still bathes and cleans using contaminated well water.

One of her neighbors, Jim Klipfel, 49, moved to Boardman about six years ago. During the home-buying process, he told the Daily Mail a realtor said the water was safe to drink. Shortly after moving in, a neighbor warned him not to drink it and claimed it was 'poisoned with nitrate.'

He described tests that revealed nitrate levels in his well at 56 parts per million, more than five times the federal limit.

His household relies entirely on filtered or bottled water for drinking, cooking, pets and livestock. They go through eight to 10 five-gallon bottles every two weeks, paid for by the state.

Jim Klipfel, 49, was not told the well on his new property in Boardman was rich in harmful nitrates

Klipfel and his family consume 8 to 10 five-gallon bottles of water every two weeks, paid for by the state under a declared water emergency

Elon Musk (pictured) is building the xAI Colossus 2 supercomputer data center in Memphis, Tennessee, to power Grok

Amazon's expanded AI data center in New Carlisle, Indiana, (pictured) ranks among America's 'big five' 1GW data centers

Klipfel placed responsibility on agriculture and regulators he accused of being slow to act - but also on data centers.

He called the centers a 'necessary evil,' but he urged communities nationwide to scrutinize how they are approved.

'This is a long fight,' he said.
Teary students joined friends and family to fill the theatre at one of Australia's most elite schools for the funeral of teenager who died on his Schoolies trip.

Astin Gerstl, 18, was swept out to sea after becoming caught in a rip at Little Bay Beach on the NSW Mid North Coast at about 4.20pm on November 30.

With his HSC exams completed, he was celebrating the end of a chapter alongside several friends on the trip, but tragically did not get to experience the next.

Astin's funeral was held in the theatre of his former school, The King's School in Parramatta - western Sydney, on Monday.

He was a boarder at the school and is the grandson of former Supreme Court Justice Roddy Meagher, who died in 2011.

His family had requested the funeral be held in the theatre as Astin was a passionate actor who had performed many times on the stage.

Astin's father, Mark Gerstl, was the first to speak and said his son's family and friend's were 'shattered beyond words'.

'His life of nearly 18 years was cruelly and suddenly cut short,' he said.

Astin Gerstl (pictured) was swept out to sea on November 30

Astin's father, Mark Gerstl (pictured), was the first speaker at the funeral on Monday

The teenager's funeral was held in his school's theatre (pictured)

Mr Gerstl extended a thank-you to those who helped in the search.

'He was never given warning and mother nature showed no mercy,' he said.

'...If I could swap places with Aston right now, I wouldn't hesitate.

'I don't know if I'll ever get over the fact that I wasn't where he needed me to be the most, to try and save him.'

Astin's body was found by a member of the public on December 5 at the same beach where he'd gone missing.

A massive crew spent hours looking for him but hazardous conditions forced searchers to suspend the operation.

Astin's mother, Amy Gerstl, thanked her son's friends who were with him when he disappeared.

'The boys that were there with him at the time were treasured friends to him, and he was just so excited to be celebrating the end of school with them,' Mrs Gerstl said.

Astin (pictured) was a talented actor who had recently finished his HSC exams at The King's School in Parramatta

'I want to make a point of acknowledging the trauma that those boys must have gone through in the circumstances, particularly those that witnessed it directly.

'I'm so thankful he was with such a caring group of boys who did everything they could and were so on the ball and seeking help.'

Astin leaves behind two siblings, his little sister Alula and older brother Orion.

Before studying at King's, Astin attended its primary school counterpart, Tudor House in Moss Vale.

He was academically gifted and was set to continue his education at Sydney University, studying finance and economics.

However, his biggest passion was performing.

'He loved being on stage, public speaking, piano, poetry recitals, getting awards, and of course he loved his drama performances,' Mr Gerstl said.

'He also performed in several comedies alongside his brother Orion in the Red Cross concerts.

Emergency crews were called to Little Bay Beach when Aston didn't emerge from the water

Astin's body was found by a member of the public on December 5 following an extensive search

'...I'll never forget his year 11 solo drama performance. He went through a full range of emotions including laughing, anger and crying. It moved me so much.

'All his work culminated in the prestigious onstage nomination for the HSC in both his group and solo performances.

'There would be no-one more proud of this than Astin himself.'

Mrs and Mr Gerstl said they hoped their son would be widely remembered for much more than how his life ended.

'It's now been 50 days since Astin was taken. He was too good for this world,' Mr Gerstl said.

'I only realised since his passing and writing these words that the name Astin is an anagram of saint.

'Astin, our saint, I love you beyond words.'
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Line at 988

When Erika Kirk walked out on stage at her husband Charlie Kirk's funeral, Laura Stucki was among the thousands watching who quickly judged the grieving wife.

Erika, 37, wore a blinding white suit as she made her way to the podium, stopping intermittently to somberly look out at the large, cheering crowd. As she brushed away tears, she appeared to say a whispered prayer.

For many, it was their first introduction to the woman behind the conservative firebrand best known for debating with college students during his campus tours around the country.

For Laura, an Texas mother-of-seven, it was one of her first encounters of Erika and, like many, she didn't agree with the blonde mother's display of grief.

'I just felt like she was fake,' Laura, 38, told the Daily Mail. 'I felt like it was an act, like how can she be functioning? How can she get up there and give a speech with as much composure as she had.

'She just seemed way more together than the image of [what] a grieving wife should be, in my opinion.'

Erika's husband was shot dead on a Utah college campus on September 10 during a Turning Point USA event. His funeral was 11 days later. Since then Erika embarked on a journey across the country, joining podcasts and panels to keep his legacy alive.

Five weeks after Kirk's death, Laura's husband, Brandon, took his own life after years of suffering from depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue. He was 41.

Erika Kirk, 37,demonstrated immense composure when she spoke at her husband's funeral just 11 days after he was assassinated

Laura Stucki, pictured with her husband and their seven children, said she thought Erika's behavior at the funeral was 'fake'

Forty-eight hours after his suicide, Laura found herself in her kitchen laughing with one of her seven children. She found herself being able to carry on with life and continue with her duties as a mother, driving around to meet her family's needs.

She wasn't a puddle of grief, stuck in bed, and unable to function like the picture of a stereotypical widow she imagined.

Laura didn't understand how she was able to do it but she did. It felt like an out-of-body experience.

And that's when she understood Erika.

'I was brought back to my judginess of Erika Kirk,' Laura said. 'And I felt really bad.'

Laura has since taken to social media to write a post to Erika to personally apologize for her preemptive judgment before she truly understood what the mother-of-two was dealing with.

'Now, I understand,' she wrote.

'I know now why you were able to stand, to speak, to seem okay, because I know that there are times I am walking, talking, singing... just being, and I look okay.'

However when Laura's husband died by suicide just weeks after Charlie's death, she said she can now relate to Erika. Brandon left behind Lauran and their seven children aged between four and 15

She suspects Erika is like her: Ugly crying in the car and in the shower when no one is looking, and being hit with waves of grief out of nowhere.

Laura pointed to another similarity the two women, who have never met, have in common - the support group they have around them.

For Erika, she had Charlie's fans and the Donald Trump Administration supporting her, including Vice President JD Vance.

For Laura, she has family and friends and those who offered her prayers, which she said she could feel holding her up.

'You think about the community Erika Kirk has and the thousands of people who were praying for her. And I know I was held up by the prayers of people around me... She had a nation praying for her.

'So, of course, she could go out and speak and seem okay because she was being held up.'

Laura regrets her initial judgment towards Erika and said most of those criticizing the new CEO of Turning Point USA just don't understand the experience.

'I think anybody who's judging her grieving process or how she's grieving, unless you've lost a spouse or a very, very close loved one suddenly, don't judge,' Laura told the Daily Mail.

'[Grief] doesn't have a timeline. It doesn't look the same for everyone. You don't know the prayers or the community that are or aren't supporting them. From my perspective, judging grief is a pretty shallow place to judge.'

Laura found herself sympathizing with Erica as she found herself being able to function through her grief

Charlie Kirk and his wife Erika. Laura Stucki says she can now relate to how Erika must have been feeling in the immediate aftermath of Charlie's death

Laura and her seven children, who are aged between four and 15, are still grieving the loss of Brandon.

The mother-of-seven said he had been suffering from depression since adolescence and was dealing from several autoimmune diseases that sometimes left him bedbound with 'pretty significant pain' for the last 15 years.

'Depression is a very mean monster,' she said.

She believes his mental and physical struggles played a role in his decision to take his own life in mid-November.

'It was a shock,' she told Daily Mail. 'I never thought he'd actually take his own life.'

Occasionally, Brandon would tell her he wished he had an 'off-switch,' so he could 'power down for a little while.'

'He's like: "I don't want to die, I just wish I could like pause or power down,"' she recalled. '[He was] drained and worn down... It was never a kill myself type of thing, you know?

'He made a choice that he can't undo. And I fully believe he would undo it if he could.'

Laura took to social media to publicly apologize to Erika after judging her in the aftermath of Charlie's assassination

The college sweethearts had already battled so much together, including four years of infertility.

A few years into their marriage, the couple decided they wanted to try for children - something they both longed for.

The first time she got pregnant, she miscarried early on, devastating them both.

They suffered another miscarriage, then a third. The latter one hit harder. The day before, they had announced on social media that they were expecting.

'I had always wanted to be a mom. He'd always wanted to be a dad. And this was kind of the first time that I thought: "Oh wow, I guess this might not be easy,"' she told Daily Mail.

They suffered another blow when Laura was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or more commonly known as PCOS, which can decrease a woman's chances of getting pregnant.

Brandon also underwent testing much later and found out that he was also contributing to their infertility issues.

Doctors put Laura on a medication for six months, telling her she had half the year to get pregnant or they'd have to switch methods. Luckily, on her sixth month, she fell pregnant.

Brandon was 41 when he died. He suffered from depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue that left him bedbound at times for the last 15 years

'I was so sick. I was so sick with our oldest,' she told Daily Mail.

'Like I threw up one to seven times a day for 16 or 17 weeks. I know a lot of other people have way worse pregnancies, but I just remember being so grateful every time I threw up. I didn't even care. I was just like: "Yay, the baby's still there."'

Laura then faced more turmoil when she got into a three-car crash while 36 weeks pregnant, which started contractions.

She was rushed to the emergency room and thankfully she was fine and later gave birth to a healthy boy.

Three months later, she fell pregnant again and gave birth to her second child, but then she later suffered another miscarriage. Thankfully, that would be the last of their fertility issues, as babies three to seven had no issues.

The couple went on to homeschool their children, with Brandon leading the schooling.

'He was an amazing teacher,' Laura said. 'He could take any concept and break it down for even the smallest of minds, and it was amazing to watch and hear.'

Brandon, whom she was married to for 20 years, also owned a consulting business, where he went into companies and helped them fix problems.

The couple were college sweethearts. After four years of infertility they had seven children together

He also did all the cooking and grocery shopping, while leaving the car maintenance to his wife.

Laura was the one who found her husband after his suicide, and said she broke the news to her children as 'careful as I could.'

And Laura doesn't allow herself to dwell on hindsight and the signs she may or may not have missed.

'Hindsight is what it is, but it's not real,' she said.

She believed she didn't see it coming due to the frog and the pot theory: putting a frog in a pot of water and slowly heating it up, the animal won't jump out and will eventually die without realizing it was in danger.

'I was in the pot with him, so to speak,' she said.

'So gradual changes that happen, you don't see certain things as clearly as I do now.'

She hopes one day that men will be more open about their struggles and that society continues to encourage them to do so.

Laura said she has been comforted by prayers and support from friends and family, just like Erika

Erika has had the support of the Trump Administration, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance (pictured with her last month at a Turning Point event)

'They need more friendships and opportunities to cultivate that and to find peace and joy in life outside of work and providing,' she said.

'So many men feel their life is measured by their career, health, and how they provide. Our lives have worth because of so much more than that - just because you exist you have worth!'

For now, she's going to remember her husband for what he was: A good friend, a great dad, an amazing cook, and an inquisitive learner.

And she's going to take her grief one day at a time.

'I plan on taking all the good he gave me and make a beautiful life for me and our kids. I also know that is what he would want. I wish he would have stayed to see it, but I hope he is at peace and continues to watch us from the other side,' she added,

A GiveSendGo campaign has been created for the family to help support them. So far it has raised nearly $30,000 of its $75,000 goal.

Daily Mail reached out to Erika for comment.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Line at 988.
Travellers have moved back onto the site where PC Andrew Harper's killers hid following a 4m taxpayer-funded revamp  and locals say they are already causing 'sheer hell'.

The Four Houses Corner site was closed in 2020, a year after the policeman's death in horrific circumstances.

But the costly redevelopment was approved to meet 'legal requirements' for traveller accommodation despite anger about many other public services being cut and furious opposition from PC Harper's mother and former police force.

Nearly five years after the horrendous crime, a revamp of the site was approved by West Berkshire Council in March 2024 despite opposition from PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam and the officer's old force, Thames Valley Police.

Families moved back into the Four Houses Corner site in Ufton Nervet, Berks, just weeks ago after the huge renovation was complete.

But neighbours say that already the site has been damaged, children are terrified to go out, local residents have been verbally abused and rubbish has been dumped.

Other travellers who were moved into nearby houses to make way for the renovations also cause 'mayhem' locally, with frequent fighting and anti-social behaviour, it is claimed.

One local, who lives in a 600,000 home across the road, said: 'The travellers being there is hell. They've already damaged the site, despite millions being spent on it. It's a tip, they've created so much rubbish. The fence has been damaged. They've dumped stuff there.

'They have verbally abused locals. It's disgusting. The whole thing is horrendous. They have caused sheer hell. Locals have been abused. It's sickening. Since they moved in, there's been an increase in crime. Our children are scared to go out.'

The traveller site at Four Houses Corner after taxpayer-funded revamp despite opposition

Debbie Adlam with her son, PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in 2019 after challenging thieves

PC Harper was caught in a tow rope and dragged at 40mph along a mile of country lanes as he tried to stop three teenage boys from stealing a quad bike.

His callous teenage killers Henry Long, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole fled to the site near Ufton Nervet, Berkshire, where they hid, destroyed evidence and were later arrested.

The trio were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter in a verdict which shocked the nation.

The site features 17 double-berth caravan pitches, 'day buildings' containing kitchens, bathrooms and living areas, two parking spaces each, provisions for electric car chargers and a children's play area.

Another local near the site said: 'It's disgusting. Our basic taxpayer-funded services are being stripped back, but the council can find millions for travellers.

'I'm not anti-traveller, but they should not be there. It's so disrespectful. It's sickening. This crime ripped through our community.

'We have our bins collected only once in three weeks, the mobile library has gone, the roads are in a very bad state.

'But millions is being spent on travellers. And they're just causing mayhem.'

Debbie Adlam accused councillors who approved the revamp of showing 'no respect' towards her son's memory.

She told them: 'To open the site again, having had the history that it has, it just beggars belief that his whole life can be wiped out and we can just reopen it as if he didn't exist.'

A member of PC Harper's family said they remained firmly opposed to the traveller site being revamped and reopened.

'We stand by what was said at the time. We oppose it. We're against it,' the relative said.

Another relative said the family remained 'so proud of Andrew', who was 'such a lovely man'.

'I miss him and think about him all the time. He was very special. I can't believe it was that long ago already,' the family member said.

Thames Valley Police  which referred to PC Harper's killers as 'murderers' despite the trial verdicts  said its objection was 'connected to the ongoing serious historic concerns with the policing of the site in the past and the use of police resources in investigating criminal offences at the site'.

It added: 'This culminated in the murderers of PC Harper being associated with the site in 2019.'

Conservative councillor Graham Bridgman, a member of the planning committee, said the site had been a 'hotbed of criminality'.

The site features 17 double-berth caravan pitches, 'day buildings' containing kitchens, bathrooms and living areas, two parking spaces each, provisions for electric car chargers and a children's play area

PC Harper's mother Debbie Adlam and Thames Valley Police were against revamping the traveller site at Four Houses Corner

But the revamp was approved by the Lib Dem-run council to meet 'legal requirements' for traveller accommodation, despite 47 objections in total.

PC Harper's killers were sentenced at the Old Bailey in July 2020, with Henry Long, the 19-year-old ringleader, jailed for 16 years. Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, received 13-year terms.

The newlywed policeman  who had not yet been on honeymoon - had tried to stop three teenage boys from stealing a quad bike in Stanford Dingley, West Berkshire.

As he chased them, he unintentionally stepped into the loop of a tow-rope attached to the back of the criminals' car.

As they sped off, it lassoed his feet and he was dragged along country lanes, swinging from side to side as almost all of his clothes were ripped from his body.

By the time he came free after 91 seconds, PC Harper's body was almost naked and so severely battered that one of the people who found him initially thought he was a deer carcass.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Edis said the trio had taken the life of a 'talented and brave young police officer who was going above and beyond his duty'.

The policeman's widow Lissie Harper  who had only married him four weeks earlier  told the court: 'They took more than one life away that day. They stole the person that I used to be, the happiness that we shared and the beautiful plans we had made together.'

A West Berkshire Council spokesperson said: 'Any operational issues on the site are being managed directly with the residents.'
Tourists heading to the most visited city in the US are receiving a jarring first impression as they leave the airport and encounter groups of homeless people camped out.

At the public transport access point to John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, those living rough are one of the first things arrivals see.

It spells yet another problem for the transport hub, which last year was listed as the sixth-worst airport in the country by the travel guide publication Frommer's.

JFK has frequently had the longest security and passport control wait times, the most delayed flights and the highest rates of mishandled luggage of all US airports.

To exit its five terminals, passengers can either shell out around $100 for a taxi or ride-share service, or pay $8.50 for the AirTrain to take them into Jamaica, Queens, where there is easy access to the Subway and other public transportation options.

In and around this connection station, dozens of homeless people can be seen loitering.

A Metropolitan Transit Authority employee at the terminal told the Daily Mail that she has seen the number of individuals staying there increase over the past few years.

She attributed this to the city's lack of safe shelter options, with many camping at the station to stay warm.

Homeless people are camped out at the AirTrain station at Jamaica, where many tourists will arrive to catch a connecting train into Manhattan

Those sleeping rough are present on both floors of the relatively small station in Queens, NY

The issue is at its worst in the winter months, when temperatures in New York City plummet

It poses yet another problem for the troubled John F Kennedy Airport, which frequently tops the list of US travel hubs with the longest wait times

Indeed, the problem seems most pronounced in winter months, when temperatures in NYC can easily drop below freezing levels.

But even when the Daily Mail visited JFK on a relatively mild day in January, which was around 50F, homeless people were gathered inside the small AirTrain station, with more loitering outside.

Irving Ruiz, a Queens resident who said he travels through JFK around three times a year, told the Daily Mail that he consistently sees people camping in the terminal, especially in the winter and during the day, when there is less security.

He also said the city should pay more attention to the problem and allocate resources to assist and relocate the homeless.

'It's the first sight for tourists,' Ruiz said. 'Let's say they're coming from... a nice country, and they'll see them here. It's not a good look for the city.'

Aishik Deb, a student at Stony Brook University from India, held a similar view.

'I think they are here because they have nowhere else to go in the first place,' Deb told the Daily Mail. 'So I think the city should definitely do something.'

Shannon Ferguson, a Brooklyn resident on her way to Australia with her husband and daughter to visit her spouse's family, empathized with those staying in the AirTrain station.

Belongings outside the AirTrain terminal, which offers a $8.50 train service to and from JFK

The issue is particularly bad in the winter months, when temperatures plummet in New York

Aishik Deb, a student at Stony Brook University from India, said that the city should try to give homeless people in the station an alternative for a place to stay

'Anyone could be a couple of paychecks away from being homeless,' she said.

Ferguson also noted that some of the homeless had many large bags, which likely deterred them from staying at a shelter because 'a lot of the shelters are dangerous, and they have really stringent rules where you can't bring in all of your belongings.'

'They have a lot of stuff, but I have a lot of stuff,' Ferguson said. 'I have three suitcases with me.'

'I just wish it was easier to get services that are actually helpful to people,' she added. 'It bothers me that people can't afford to live in the city and have a place to be.'

That was the general consensus among all of the travelers in the AirTrain terminal who were interviewed by the Daily Mail.

Although none of them said they felt uncomfortable or threatened by the homeless people, they all agreed that their presence gave tourists a poor first impression and that there should be a greater effort to help relocate them.

It also highlights the fact that the Big Apple has the highest homeless population among US cities by far.

Travelers said they did not feel uncomfortable or threatened by the homeless people but that their presence gives a poor first impression of NYC to tourists

A homeless man smoking a cigarette at one of the AirTrain station's entrances

According to USAFacts, NYC's homeless population stood at a little more than 140,000 in 2024.

Los Angeles City and County came in second place, with a homeless population of about 71,000, and Chicago came in third at around 18,800.

New York City has a legal Right to Shelter, which mandates that anyone experiencing homelessness can access a safe place to stay. In practice, however, shelters are plagued by overcrowding and crime.

For many homeless people, staying on the street or in public infrastructure, such as the AirTrain station, feels like a safer alternative.

Travelers interviewed by the Daily Mail at the terminal expressed hope that Zohran Mamdani will address the issue.

NYC's new socialist mayor has taken steps in that direction. During his first week in office, he repealed a series of emergency orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams, that suspended certain Right to Shelter requirements to accommodate the enormous influx of applicants during the migrant housing crisis.

He then issued an executive order of his own, instructing city officials to develop a plan within 45 days to bring shelters into compliance with health and safety codes.

Mamdani has also pledged to increase homeless outreach and help New Yorkers navigate their housing options through a new department of community safety.

Some homeless people choose to stay in public infrastructure such as the AirTrain station because they feel it is safer than the city's shelters

A homeless man with his belongings on the ground floor of the AirTrain station

He has said he wants to place dedicated outreach workers in subway stations. Whether that will also apply to the AirTrain station is unclear.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages JFK and the AirTrain, told the Daily Mail: 'The Port Authority works in close coordination with the MTA and other partners to maintain a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment for travelers and the surrounding community.

'But we are not immune from the conditions facing unhoused throughout the region, especially in winter, which sometimes result in suboptimal situations in Jamaica Station.

'Port Authority Police Department personnel are assigned to the JFK AirTrain portion of the station at Jamaica 24/7 and seek to enforce Port Authority rules and applicable laws which do not permit use of the station for non-transportation purposes.

'PAPD also conducts regular outreach in conjunction with service providers, including Urban Pathways, to offer assistance and connect unhoused individuals with shelter, social services, and medical or mental health care as appropriate.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the mayor's office for additional comment.
A family have been left terrified of their electric Volkswagen ID.5 after it allegedly lost control on a busy motorway twice in three months, with the father vowing never to drive an EV again.

Ken Hadley, 51, claims his life was at the mercy of his out-of-control vehicle as it veered across a three-lane road into the left-hand reservation before swerving back again and into the right-hand reservation in a nightmare ordeal in October.

The near-miss came after he claims the exact same thing happened to his wife, disabled daughter and father-in-law on a motorway in July, provoking his partner to throw the keys on the floor and refuse to drive the vehicle in future.

Mr Hadley stuck with the state-of-the-art electric car, but the decision would take him within inches of a pile-up.

He has since been in contact with solicitors working on a case involving a similar accident, which saw Ashenafei Demissie cleared of causing death and serious injury by careless driving after his VW ID.4 accelerated forward and killed a five-year-old boy.

Mr Hadley's ID.5 is almost identical to the older version at the centre of the Old Bailey trial which concluded this week. Both cars are kitted out with the same software.

Last year, thousands of ID.4s were recalled by the German manufacturer over 'faulty gear displays' and Mr Hadley is urging the company to do the same with the newer model.

A Volkswagen spokesperson said in response to Mr Hadley's claims that his vehicle was inspected and no fault or defect was found, including when it was returned to Germany for further, detailed examination. They are unaware of any other similar incidents.

Ken Hadley, left, pictured with his wife and daughter. They have been left terrified of their electric Volkswagen after it allegedly lost control on a busy motorway twice in three months

The father claims his life was at the mercy of his ID.5, pictured, as it veered across a three-lane road into the left-hand reservation before swerving back again and into the right-hand reservation

Heading back from a meeting in Leamington Spa, West Midlands on October 29, the father-of-two claims he suddenly lost control of his Volkswagen despite travelling at just 40mph and not entering a bend when it happened.

Mr Hadley described the terrifying moment 'all four wheels started operating independently' and a flashing red warning sign popped up on the dashboard.

'The car started swerving all over the place,' he told the Daily Mail.

'It slammed me into the left-hand reservation, lifted the car, dragged me across all the lanes, smacked me into the right-hand reservation and as it brought me back into the middle, I think the impact of that turned the warning light off, and I managed to gain control.

'If I had hit another car, not only would I have potentially been dead or seriously injured, I could have killed multiple people and nobody would have ever got to the bottom of it.

'It would have potentially just been put down to my bad driving. And the same with my wife's incident.

'To lose complete control of a vehicle, with the steering completely disabled, is one hell of a scary experience.'

The echoes of the high-profile ID.4 case - which saw Mr Demissie accused of causing the death of Fareed Amir in November 2022 - are unsettling but Mr Hadley is grateful for the one key difference between the accidents.

'I genuinely believe, and my wife is the same, that we are both blessed because not once did it happen but twice,' he said.

Heading back from a meeting in Leamington Spa, West Midlands on October 29, the father-of-two claims he suddenly lost control of his Volkswagen despite travelling at just 40mph

The near-miss came after he claims the same thing happened to his wife, disabled daughter and father-in-law on a motorway in July (Pictured: Mr Hadley with his wife and daughter)

'On another day, in bad conditions, or with one vehicle not being aware [it could have been different].'

Sitting in the vehicle on the side of the road, Mr Hadley did not have time to dwell on what had just happened. He called his local dealership, Johnsons Redditch, and, in one of the tensest drives of his life, crawled there in the EV which had almost caused a pile-up.

The motorist left the vehicle at the garage and headed home in a replacement car.

'To come home with tears in my eyes... I was shaking,' Mr Hadley said. 'I'm a pretty big fella and it takes a lot to scare me but I genuinely had to sit down probably for an hour because, even when it was happening, all I kept thinking was, "I'm going to leave my daughter without a dad."'

Things began to turn bitter almost immediately, with his local dealership emailing him the following evening to ask if he had remapped or retuned his car because an unknown fault code had shown up.

This would indicate it was the driver's fault and remove the warranty provisions.

'I went into the garage and said, "look, I am not particularly happy that I'm being accused of this and from what I can tell, the only way you can do this is with a software update."'

Mr Hadley claims it was then confirmed the last software update had taken place at the garage in January 2025 and had revealed a fault code which was not passed on to him, or even the service team.

Mr Hadley pictured with his wife and two daughters. Most of all, he wants to make sure the car is taken off the roads and Volkswagen get to the bottom of what caused the near-miss

The dealership and Mr Hadley then both tried to find out what the code meant, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, he logged an official complaint with Volkswagen Financial Services, which leases him the vehicle, and it was logged at the highest level of urgency.

They confirmed they had eight weeks for the full investigation to be completed. That was 10 weeks ago.

He has also received no answers from the customer resolutions team, with his dealership also unable to get through to them.

At one point, the dealership told Mr Hadley that it had been informed the fault code had been 'incorrectly assigned by the factory' and had now been removed.

It insisted the code had nothing to do with the issues the motorist raised, but has still not provided an explanation of what it refers to.

By mid-December, the factory had replaced the EV's steering rack and was attempting to return the vehicle to Mr Hadley, just weeks after it had put his life in danger, despite an ongoing analysis of the car's parts and no concrete answer as to what happened that day.

He said: 'They hadn't identified a fault, they hadn't told me what the fault code was they've discovered, they have just sent me the replaced parts and then expect me to drive a vehicle that nearly killed my wife, my daughter and my in-laws.

He has provided evidence to a case involving a similar accident, which saw Ashenafei Demissie cleared of causing death and serious injury by careless driving after his VW ID.4 accelerated forward and killed Fareed Amir, five, pictured

Mr Demissie was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen ID.4 when it suddenly accelerated forward, killing Fareed

After a struggle to keep his replacement vehicle over the Christmas period, Mr Hadley had to hand it back to the dealership on December 29, leaving him 'without a car for the first time in 30 years'.

As if he needed any further deterrent to get back in his old ID.5, the motorist's insurance company advised him not to drive it again, he said.

Mr Hadley is still waiting for answers to questions about why it happened, and whether Volkswagen could confirm the vehicle was safe to drive.

The motorist was this week told that Volkswagen were surrendering the remaining 14 months on his lease and offering a cash rebate.

Anything will do for a replacement as long as it is not electric.

Mr Hadley said: 'I will never drive an electric car again after this.

'My biggest worry is if they sell that car and it kills somebody. They would be putting somebody's life at risk, somebody's family at risk, another motorist at risk.'

Both his brother and brother-in-law drive state-of-the-art EVs which he says have 'been in the garage more times than they have been driven'.

The father-of-two added: 'I do not think there is enough knowledge within the car industry around EVs.'

The ID.4, pictured in a stock photo, is almost identical to Mr Hadley's ID.5 and the two cars use the same software

'I have driven for years but I've never been so scared in all my life about a vehicle that I couldn't control.

'Even at 42mph it seemed like I was doing 100mph because I couldn't control that vehicle.'

But most of all, Mr Hadley wants to make sure the car is taken off the roads and Volkswagen get to the bottom of what caused the terrifying near-miss.

'My concern is if they sell it and somebody else gets that car, I'm 100 per cent sure whatever happened to us hasn't been identified and fixed correctly,' he said.

'It's bigger than me. The financial side of it I can live with, and my solicitors are now dealing with that.

'Most recalls are normally down to one vehicle showing a problem. I've identified a pretty serious incident that's happened twice and my vehicle is still in this country.

'How many other vehicles are out there that potentially could have the same faults as mine?'

A spokesperson for Volkswagen said: 'From the point of view of the vehicle, this was inspected and no fault was found or replicated in the dealership. However due to the seriousness of the concerns raised, and in line with technical guidance, a replacement steering rack was ordered and fitted in December.

'The original steering rack was then returned to Volkswagen in Germany for detailed examination, and no defect was found that could have resulted in the steering locking. For absolute clarity, we are unaware of any other similar incidents.

'With regards to the finance contract, our colleagues in Volkswagen Financial Services are in touch directly with Mr Hadley, and as a gesture of goodwill due to the delay in processing his complaint, he will be offered a full contract cancellation.'
This is the heartbreaking moment a distraught mother collapsed and screamed after finding out her 16-year-old son had been fatally stabbed during a fight after school.

Fiona Namusoke had been on her way to pick up Ashraf Habimana from college when she received a phone call to say he had been knifed in Luton, Bedfordshire.

Newly-released footage from September 2023 shows an inconsolable Ms Namusoke arriving at the scene and falling as she shouts at police: 'I need to see him.'

As she throws her arms into the air, an officer attempts to reassure her and pull her up from the floor, saying: 'I know, just let them, they need to do their job lovely.'

Ashraf, who wanted to work in cyber security, had texted Ms Namusoke after school finished with a message saying: 'Mum, can you come and pick me up now?'

Ms Namusoke told Ashraf she would be there soon, but seven minutes later got a call to say he had been stabbed. She arrived at the scene and got out of her car just as an ambulance was leaving to take Ashraf to hospital, where he later died.

During the video captured on a police bodycam, one of the officer's colleagues is also heard saying: 'There's one stab victim there and there's another one over there.'

The clip was shared exclusively with the Daily Mail by Channel 4 today ahead of a new episode of its series 24 Hours In Police Custody airing at 9pm tomorrow.

Fiona Namusoke screams after son Ashraf Habimana is stabbed in Luton in September 2023

An inconsolable Ms Namusoke arrives at the murder scene and tells police: 'I need to see him'

Bodycam footage shows an officer trying to reassure Ms Namusoke and pull her up

Ashraf Habimana was with friends in a car park in Luton when two groups of teenagers clashed

The documentary focuses on murders using zombie-style knives before they were banned in September 2024 and the impact the attack had on Ms Namusoke.

In the episode, a witness known as Shafaz becomes tearful as he recalls the scene, saying: 'His mum turned up, that was probably the hardest bit. I think everybody around Ashraf had a gut reflex to keep mum away: "I don't want her to see this".'

He adds: 'I looked down and I saw one of the knives. One of them, somebody had been carrying. And that's when it hit me, because this wasn't like a little knife.

'This was a weapon. I couldn't imagine the level of damage that the knife would have done inside.'

Seven teenagers were later sentenced in connection with the incident, with one receiving a life sentence for murder.

Ashraf, who was not involved in the initial fight, was with friends in a car park at about 7pm on September 29, 2023, when two groups of teenagers clashed after school.

In one of the groups were twin brothers Athif and Althaf Hussaindeen.

Athif had been injured in an earlier fight in Runfold Avenue which had broken out at around 3.45pm, before the row escalated over social media to a point where several teenagers had turned up to face each other armed with knives.

During the clashes, Althaf was captured on CCTV assaulting Ashraf who was then stabbed in the back three times by Athif.

Ashraf was taken to hospital but died a short time later. Athif stabbed another 16-year-old who survived the attack.

Twin brothers Athif (left) and Althaf Hussaindeen (right) are among seven sentenced over the attack. Athif is serving a minimum of 24 years, while Althaf was sentenced to seven years

A zombie-style knife recovered by Bedfordshire Police following the attack in Luton

Police bodycam footage shows the moment an officer picked up the knife from the ground

The twin brothers fled the scene but were later arrested and charged with murder.

Athif was unanimously found guilty of murder after a trial. He was also convicted of attempted murder, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

Althaf was found guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder.

Athif received a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 24 years, while Althaf was sentenced to seven years.

The brothers were both 18 at the time of sentencing in October 2024.

Five others have also been sentenced in relation to the case.

Timone Crossman, 18, was found guilty of violent disorder and possession of a bladed article, and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Safwan Kashim, also 18, received a concurrent sentence of two years imprisonment for violent disorder and six months for possession of a bladed article.

Hasan Ayaz, also 18, was sentenced to nine months for possession of a bladed article.

Both Kashim and Ayaz were released following sentencing in July 2025 due to the time spent on remand while awaiting trial.

A 16-year-old was sentenced to a detention and training order for 16 months for violent disorder.

Another 16-year-old received a youth referral order for 12 months for violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

Witness Shafaz says: 'I think everybody around Ashraf had a gut reflex to keep mum away'

Police officers at the scene on Nunnery Lane in Luton after the stabbing in September 2023

The new documentary follows Bedfordshire Police during the national surrender of zombie knives, during which more than 37,000 knives were surrendered in the county by two companies based in Luton.

Zombie-style knives and machetes were banned across England and Wales in September 2024  covering the manufacturing, supply, sale, possession and importation of these weapons  following a month-long surrender scheme.

The programme also features the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda in Wolverhampton in June 2022, whose death led to the creation of Ronan's Law.

This legislation introduced a ban on ninja swords and prompted the surrender of thousands of ninja swords nationally last year.

Superintendent Alex House, Bedfordshire Police's knife crime lead, said: 'This documentary offers a powerful and unflinching insight into the devastating reality of knife crime.

'It shows just how dangerous and destructive zombie-style knives are and why it is so important that we work together to stop them falling into the hands of young people.

'Strong partnerships across services play a vital role in addressing root causes and supporting a long-term, preventative approach to knife crime.

'I hope this programme delivers a clear message directly to young people about the very real risks and consequences of purchasing or carrying a knife, and encourages them to surrender any weapons, seek support and ultimately to "Just Drop It".'

24 Hours in Police Custody: Zombie Knives is on Channel 4 tomorrow at 9pm
Fly tippers dug up underground electrical cables near a substation supplying half a million homes and the headquarters of GCHQ - causing 'millions of pounds' worth of damage.

The astonishing incident at Walham in Gloucestershire took nine months of painstaking work to fix.

As the county's main electricity substation, the site is considered so critical to Britain's energy supply that a Cobra meeting was called in 2007 when it was nearly swamped by flood water from the nearby River Severn.

Among the buildings it powers is GCHQ's famous 'Doughnut' HQ in Cheltenham - although the signals intelligence agency uses back-up generators.

'Unauthorised digging' linked to fly tipping damaged four of five cables that connect to the substation in March, a council representative told residents.

The Mail can reveal that the damage occurred on land owned by Sean Steven Gorman, a member of a prominent traveller family behind several local businesses, including a nearby trailer park.

One of his relatives, Marshall Gorman, was recently named locally as the operator of a vast fly tip at the nearby village of Over - identified by the Mail as potentially Britain's largest.

But speaking this week from the passenger seat of his Range Rover 4x4, Marshall denied being responsible for the tip at Over or disturbing the cables at Walham, saying: 'This has got nothing to do with me.'

Four electrical cables running to Walham substation (seen on the right of this image) were disturbed by fly tippers. The wider area - pictured last week - is covered in illegal dumps. The spot where the cables were disturbed is to the left of this image

A smouldering pile of rubbish filmed by the Daily Mail during a visit to the site this week

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Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service was called out to extinguish a burning pile of waste illegally dumped close to the substation on Wednesday.

Aerial photos taken by the Mail reveal the astonishing scale of fly tipping on the surrounding land, with multiple piles of smouldering rubbish defacing what was once pristine countryside.

During our visit, foul-smelling smoke from burning plastic rubbish could be seen drifting across the busy A40 and towards a Premier Inn and two restaurants.

There are at least four illegal waste sites in the area, which is on the floodplain of the River Severn and just a couple of miles from the historic cathedral city of Gloucester.

As soon as one fly tipping site is finished with another one starts up, leaving a another scar on the landscape, which is also close to Alney Island, a 200-acre wetland habitat home to wading birds, raptors and several species of rare fish.

The Environment Agency said it had visited the area where the cables had been disturbed and found 'small amounts of illegal waste deposits', with an investigation now underway with the local council.

Hamzah Ahmed, Managing Director of Denville Energy Consulting Ltd and a former power system engineer for National Grid with knowledge of Walham substation, said the cost of repairing the four cables could have run into the millions.

'When it comes to anything that's buried you're talking seven, eight or ten times the usual cost because of the need for digging,' he told the Mail.

'Cable repair costs can be quite high. It could be in the multiple millions. A nine-month turnaround is actually quite quick, believe it or not.'

Marshall Gorman was recently named locally as the operator of a vast fly tip at the nearby village of Over. He denied responsibility for the tip at Over of disturbing the cables at Walham

There are several fly tips in the countryside surrounding the substation. Here, piles of waste cover an area of woodland next to a group of prefabricated huts

In another area, rubbish is seen lying in an area of wetland. The whole stretch of countryside is on the floodplain of the River Severn

In 2007, the British Army was called out to help hundreds of firefighters stop the substation being knocked out of action as part of the so-called 'Battle for Walham'

Mr Ahmed said any disturbance to the cables could have affected power supply to the local area but would have not led to widespread power outages due to 'resilience' built into the system.

The National Grid said: 'In March last year, an incident caused damage to underground transmission cables near our Walham substation.

'The network has since been repaired and restored.

'We continue to manage the situation carefully and liaise closely with local stakeholders, and while this process is ongoing we cannot comment further.'

The land where the cables were disturbed at Walham - which runs alongside the A40 motorway - is less than 330 yards away from the 6ft-high concrete flood walls that now surround the substation.

The tip at Over is less than a mile away.

Satellite images suggest it is now more than two acres in size, which would make it at least ten times the size of the notorious fly tip in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, which was previously said to be 'Britain's biggest'.

The site is next door to the popular Countryside Adventure Park at Over Farm, which is regularly affected by clouds of smoke.

Tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish have been deposited since 2018 at the illegal tip since 2018, which is located on the floodplain of the River Leadon, a tributary of the River Severn.

If it is ever fully cleared, the bill is likely to run into the millions.

Additional reporting by Tom Bedford.
Tess Crosley was thrust into the spotlight as the 'other woman' in the scandal that ended AFL star Lachie Neale's marriage and his captaincy of the Brisbane Lions.

But the Daily Mail can reveal that, prior to her involvement in the highly publicised saga with Lachie, Tess was actually less famous sibling in her family.

Tess's older sister Tanika Caesar is a social media star with 1.2 million followers on TikTok, where she shares trivia about history and science. She also owns a jewellery label, Caesar Archivum.

Tanika, who goes by Tani, hasn't commented on Tess's involvement in Lachie Neale's split from wife Jules - but she has previously spoken about the sisters being raised in a strict Mormon environment where bikinis were prohibited and sex before marriage was considered sinful.

It comes amid the fallout of Tess's months-long affair with the two-time Brownlow Medal winner, which ended when Jules discovered the 'unimaginable' betrayal and called them both out on Instagram.

The secret relationship is believed to have been uncovered by another Lions WAG who caught the two lovers in a compromising position in a car.

This woman, who hasn't been identified, apparently agonised over what to do, before eventually telling Jules what she had witnessed.

As the scandal dominated headlines over the Christmas break, Jules vacated the couple's $3million former marital home in Seven Hills and returned to her home state of Western Australia with her two children Piper, four, and Freddie, one.

Tess Crosley's older sister Tanika Caesar (right) is a social media star known for posting viral videos about history and science. (Tess is seen on the left when she used to have blonde hair)

Tess's Mormon parents have three daughters (Tess is seen on the right, with Tanika far left)

Tanika has been unusually quiet on social media lately, with no TikTok or Instagram posts since November. However, she has previously said she and Tess are close.

Tanika's online popularity stems from her light-hearted takes on historical events, along with unfiltered insights into her personal life.

It's believed that Tess and Tanika have moved away from the Mormon faith as adults.

Tess spent Christmas on the Gold Coast with her son before celebrating her 30th birthday at a winery in Adelaide, posting bikini photos that are in stark contrast to the strict rules associated with her upbringing.

Meanwhile, friends suggest Tess's affair with Lachie and the ensuing publicity are likely taking a heavy toll on her devout Mormon parents.

'Family comes first and they will be supporting Tess but this will not be easy for them,' a friend told the Mail.

'Tanika also left the church, which they found very hard to come to terms with, so Tess's situation being public will be tough.'

Tanika previously revealed the sisters' strict upbringing meant they never missed a day of church even when sick and were judged harshly by church leaders, particularly Tess who she says was singled out for her looks.

'She is literally a model,' Tanika said in an old YouTube video. 'Because of that, we were scrutinised when it came to our dress more than other girls.'

Tanika hasn't commented on Tess's involvement in Lachie Neale's split from wife Jules (seen together) - but she has spoken about the sisters being raised in a strict Mormon environment

Growing up, Tess Crosley was not allowed to wear a bikini because of her strict Mormon faith

The saga of Lachie and Jules' marriage split began days before Christmas when reports emerged suggesting the AFL glamour couple were 'working through' unspecified marital issues.

Jules swiftly shut down the narrative on Instagram, writing: 'I want to make it very clear that I am not "working through" anything.

'I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way.'

The post triggered weeks of speculation, with Tess - a former Mormon missionary and married mother-of-one - emerging as a central figure after Jules publicly demanded she remove social media photos of her and Lachie from last year's AFL Grand Final.

'Take these down, you idiot, you're embarrassing yourself,' Jules wrote in a since-deleted comment.

Last week, reports indicated the affair was not limited to the car rendezvous, with a source telling the Mail it may have been going on for three months.

On January 2, Lachie publicly acknowledged his wrongdoing, holding a press conference in which he stepped down as co-captain of the Lions and apologised for his actions.

'I can confirm that, with regret, Jules and I have now separated,' he said.

'While I won't go into specifics, I can say that I have let my family down, and I apologise for my actions, which have hurt those closest to me - and for that, I am deeply sorry.

'I accept that this is a consequence of my actions, and I need to focus on rebuilding that trust with Jules as the future well-being of our children remains our number one priority.

'I'm extremely disappointed in myself, and I have put plans in place and measures in place to do the work on myself so that I can be the best version of myself moving forward.

This photo from the AFL Grand Final last year, where Tess and Lachie's knees are touching, was the first clue something was going on between the pair

Jules and Tess used to be close friends, spending special occasions and holidays together

'Given the personal matters that I am currently working through, I have made the decision to stand down as co-captain and from the leadership group, effective immediately.

'Having been a leader and captain of the Lions has been an honour, but it's time for the club to move forward with a fresh start.'

He added: 'I understand as a public figure that there is interest in my personal life. However, I do ask [that] the privacy of Jules and my children be respected as we work through our new situation and the next chapter of our lives.'

Asked directly if he had cheated on his wife, Neale said: 'I cannot address those rumours.'

Meanwhile, Tess's husband Ben, a finance director, spent the New Year in Bali before returning to the marital home in Camp Hill, where he told a Mail reporter on Sunday afternoon: '[Tess] does not live here anymore.'

Last Tuesday, a photographer asked Tess about the affair on camera - the first time she had fielded direct questions about the scandal after limiting comments on her Instagram last month.

'Did you want to say anything about Lachie?' she was asked while behind the wheel of her SUV, to which she replied: 'No, I have to make an appointment.'

'And you're back home with your hubby? You're trying to work it out?' the snapper asked. Tess answered: 'No comment... thank you, bye, see ya!'

On the same day, the Daily Mail also spotted a sombre-looking Lachie returning to his former matrimonial home in Seven Hills to collect a few items, including a shoe box and kitchen tongs.

He is now believed to be residing alone in an apartment elsewhere in Brisbane.

New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the last week

We confront Tess Crosley with the questions everyone wants answered about Lachie Neale - as insider reveals how long the affair was going on before they were 'caught in a car'... and he's seen at marital home

What I've just heard about Lachie Neale's brazen affair proves a sad fact about married women. Sorry, husbands, you won't want to hear this... AMANDA GOFF

Why Sydney's 'old money' mean girls have turned on a mum-of-three influencer with humble origins: We reveal the toxic group chats AND the clip that set them off... as the woman in the middle speaks out

Cocaine users are everywhere. Here's the signs someone you love is hiding a secret habit...by a doctor who has helped thousands: DR MAX PEMBERTON

The Botoxed banshees of the east are yelling 'gotcha!' over Jackie O's beach photos. After her weight loss, they say her secret's finally out... AMANDA GOFF

NRL star The Hammer's nightclub lover is pregnant... Plus, Bing Lee heiress' hush-hush engagement to a 'big name in Bondi': THE GROUP CHAT

Shirtless and smiling Lachie Neale enjoys a housewarming at his new bachelor pad... as he faces the toughest call of his career

The madness continues: Jessica Camilleri hacked off her mother's head in a crime that shocked Australia. She's just done something so grim behind bars that it may get her MORE jail time

Spanian reveals more than he bargained for at the beach as his girlfriend helps him cover up... and the new tattoos proving their romance is getting serious soon after his marriage split

I lived with Brynne Edelsten during her fall from grace: The open secret about her desperate life after Geoffrey has never been told - until now

Heartbreak for Aussie surf king Taj Burrow as he SPLITS from model wife Rebecca. Months ago, they were loved-up in the Maldives - now I hear worrying whispers: LUCY MANLY

Jules' new start: We track down Lachie Neale's heartbroken wife in Perth after she packed up her life in Brisbane following her husband's betrayal

My day in court with Kristin Fisher's mystery man. He's accused of breaking into the eyebrow queen's home in a case that's baffled Double Bay. There's a gag order - but here's what I can tell you: LUCY MANLY
Police have reopened their investigation into the unsolved abduction and murder of a young 7-Eleven worker who vanished over four decades ago.

Delores Bailey was only 24-years-old when she reported for her overnight shift at the convenience store in Hollywood, Florida, on January 21, 1982.

However, she never returned home to her husband and young son, and her body was discovered on the side of the road nearly a year later.

No arrest has ever been made, nor has a suspect been identified, and the case has gone unsolved for 44 years.

Now, police are reopening their investigation because they believe advanced DNA technology could help identify her killer.

Bailey's niece, Melissa McBride, told the Daily Mail her family is relieved that investigators are giving the case another look.

'My family and I are very happy that her case is open and getting the attention it needs. We hope that we may finally get the closure we have been longing for,' she said.

Detectives believe that Bailey was abducted at some point during her overnight shift, according to the Davie Police Department.

Police have reopened their investigation into the unsolved abduction and murder of Delores Bailey (pictured)

Bailey was only 24-years-old when she reported for her overnight shift at a 7-Eleven in Hollywood, Florida, but never returned home

'[Bailey] was reported as missing and was never located, leaving behind a husband and a young son,' police said.

Almost 11 months later, a landscaper working in the wooded area of Griffin Road and the Florida Turnpike discovered skeletal remains.

Detectives and the Broward County Medical Examiners office used dental records to identify the body as Bailey's.

The medical examiners office ruled the case a homicide and determined her cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

Investigators 'worked on this case for as long as they could and exhausted all leads,' but no arrest has ever been made.

Over four decades later, the Davie Police Department announced they have reopened their investigation because they believe new DNA technology could identify her killer.

'Now, 44 years later, thanks to enhancement in DNA technology and the ability to assist in the identification of possible suspects, this case is being re-opened,' the department said.

'Even though technology has improved tremendously, we are still seeking the help of the public.

Bailey's niece, Melissa McBride, told the Daily Mail her family is relieved that investigators are giving the case another look

Police are reopening their investigation because they believe advanced DNA technology could help identify her killer

'If you know of this case and who may be involved, please contact Broward County Crime Stoppers. Any help in bringing closure to Delores family is greatly appreciated.'

McBride said although she never got to meet Bailey, who was her mother's sister, their family have never forgotten about her.

'My mother, her sister Nancy Leikel, was close and has always been open and told me about her sister,' she said.

'According to the stories I have heard about her, she was a fun, loving, caring person. Everyone loved her. She was an amazing mother who loved her son very much.

'I wish I had the opportunity to meet her and get to know her. My whole life, I have been compared to my aunt.'
A newlywed couple who survived a crash that killed four people have been left with life-changing injuries and forced to live apart as both need 24-hour care.

Georgina Daniels, 28, and husband Tom, 29, were riding home in a taxi with two friends in the early hours of January 11, 2026, when their vehicle had a head-on collision with another car.

Masrob Ali, 54, the driver of the cab - a Citroen C4 Picasso - died in the accident, along with three teenagers from the other car, a red Seat Leon.

The deceased teens were named by Greater Manchester Police as Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar, 18, Farhan Patel, 18 and Mohammed Danyaal, 19, while an 18-year-old male from the same car reportedly remains in hospital with 'minor injuries'.

The tragic crash happened just seven months after Georgina and Tom tied the knot, although they had been together for more than ten years.

The couple have been left in 'unbearable' pain and with life-altering injuries, with both requiring 24-hour care 'for a long time' to come, Georgina said.

Tom, a sales manager, has 'major mobility issues' and struggles using stairs.

As a result, the newlyweds' injuries are so severe that they will have to live apart for the foreseeable future.

Georgina Daniels, 28, and husband Tom, 29, were riding home in a taxi with two friends in the early hours of January 11, 2026, when their vehicle had a head-on collision with another car

Georgina, an NHS manager, cannot believe they survived the devastating crash.

'I can't fathom how we're all still alive  it should have taken our lives,' she told the Manchester Evening News from her hospital bed.

'I have no idea how we're all still here after seeing what happened to everyone and the state we are all in.'

The couple were out that fateful evening to say their goodbyes to two friends who were about to emigrate to Australia.

The pair have so far had four surgeries between them - but Georgina says the mental side of processing the smash has proved even harder than the physical injuries.

Georgina says that while Tom's memory is hazy about the crash, she has full recall of what happened and remembers it 'as if it was ten minutes ago'.

A fundraiser has now been launched on GoFundMe to raise money for Georgina, Tom and their two friends who were also riding in the taxi, who do not wished to be named.

The appeal, which has so far raised more than 40,000, is intended to help cover expenses while the couple are unable to work and 'relieve some of the additional pressure on their families, allowing them to focus entirely on healing'.

Georgina and Tom have been left in 'unbearable' pain and with life-altering injuries, with both now requiring 24-hour care

Taxi driver Masrob Ali, 54, (pictured) was one of four men who died in the crash, along with three teenagers from the other car

Mohammed Jibrael Mukhtar (pictured), 18, also known as Jibril, was understood to have been driving his souped-up Seat Leon in Bolton, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of January 11 when it collided with a Citroen Picasso taxi

Passengers Danyaal Asghar Ali (left), 19, and Farhan Patel (right), 18, who both died in the crash. An 18-year-old passenger in the Seat also sustained minor injuries

The driver of the taxi, Masrob Ali, was pronounced dead at the scene, along with the three teenagers travelling in the other car.

An estimated 600 mourners travelled from across the UK, including London, Manchester, Bolton and Birmingham, to attend Masrob's funeral prayers on Wednesday.

The service was held at the larger mosque rather than Masrob's local place of worship, Masjid al-Momineen, due to the sheer number of people expected to attend.

Masrob's body was carried into covered in a Muslim shroud. His wife and children were present and later walked the short distance back to the family home following the service.

A private burial was scheduled to take place at Pleasington Cemetery at 3pm that day.

The day after the crash, Detective Inspector Andrew Page, of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'We are still in the early stages of our investigation and work is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of this terrible incident.

'As an investigation team we would encourage people to be mindful of sharing footage on social media given the impact this will have on all the families involved in such a tragic incident.

'Sharing such footage could constitute a criminal offence. Thanks to patrols in the area, teams were able to get to the incident location quickly to what was a particularly challenging scene for colleagues in the emergency services.

'I want to thank first responders from our Bolton district and the Road Policing Unit, alongside colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance Service for their hard work since this incident.

'The scene closed on Sunday evening, but we are still appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

'Anyone who saw the vehicle driving before the collision, witnessed the incident itself, or has dashcam/ CCTV footage of the incident can share it with us.'

You can donate to Tom and Georgina's GoFundMe here.
A frigid winter blast has put at least 18 states across the country on high alert, including Florida and Georgia.

Snow blanketed much of the East Coast, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut early on Sunday morning.

Also in New England, residents were expecting to receive up to six inches of snow which is not uncommon in winter for the region.

While those states are accustomed to frigid weather this time of year, a rare winter storm warning for parts of southern Georgia, northwestern Florida and parts of southeastern Alabama, sent residents into a frenzy.

In Georgia, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a rare 'heavy snow' warning for parts of the Peach State with one to three inches expected to fall.

Atlanta is not a part of the warning, but it is still possible the state capital could be impacted by the inclement weather.

The sprawling winter system has already delivered chaos well beyond what forecasters initially expected, with snow squalls, plunging wind chills and rare southern snowfall stretching from the Gulf Coast to New England in an unusually wide footprint that has placed at least 18 states under some form of winter weather alert.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm unleashed sudden whiteout conditions across parts of the Midwest on Saturday before surging eastward overnight.

A rare snowfall is seen in Holt on the Florida panhandle on Sunday

Snow is seen on the ground in south central Georgia in Warner Robbins

Workers clearing snow during a steady snowfall on Center Street in Croton Falls, New York

In northeastern Ohio, bursts of heavy snow combined with strong winds reduced visibility to near zero as snow squalls pushed into the Cleveland metro area and advanced toward Pennsylvania and eastern New York.

'Expect visibilities of less than a quarter of a mile and rapid snow accumulation on roadways. Travel will be difficult and possibly dangerous in the heavy snow,' the National Weather Service warned.

Forecasters say the storm's true punch is not just snowfall totals, but the bitter cold trailing behind it.

The Weather Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, warned that dangerously low temperatures will grip much of the central and eastern United States into early next week.

'The next few nights are forecast to be very cold for much of the Central and Eastern United States,' the center said.

'Sub-zero wind chills are forecast from the Plains to the Midwest and Northeast, with the coldest wind chills expected in the Upper Midwest on Sunday night.'

Meteorologists described the storm as unusually expansive, with 'impactful snowfall' forecast along nearly the entire Eastern Seaboard - from the western Florida Panhandle to Maine.

Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island were expected to be blanketed by snow by Sunday night, with some areas receiving up to four inches.

Join the debate Is climate change to blame or is this just winter chaos?

Snow fell in Holt, Florida, a rural community in western Okaloosa County, in the Florida Panhandle

Georgia residents were surprised by the white covering and took to social media to post video

In Perry, Georgia, south of Macon, snow could be seen coming down early on Sunday morning

Icicles cling to some vines along a barbed wire fence at an ornamental plant business in sub-freezing temperatures in Plant City, Florida

A protective coating of ice clings to ornamental plants in sub-freezing temperatures at a business in Plant City, Florida

In eastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island, localized totals could approach six inches, particularly where colder air allows snow to accumulate more efficiently.

Fox Weather reported that snowfall intensified on Sunday afternoon, with the heaviest burst expected later in the day and into the overnight hours.

Snow was forecast to taper off by late Sunday night in some areas, while lingering flakes could persist into Monday morning in places, including Boston.

'Most locations can expect to see another 3 inches with a few spots possibly reaching around 6 inches of snow, especially across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island,' Fox Weather said.

Farther west, across Connecticut and western Massachusetts, colder air was expected to help snow stick despite lighter totals, with most areas seeing two to four inches.

Winter weather alerts were in effect across major Northeast cities from Boston to Philadelphia, while parts of New York and New Jersey woke up to snow-covered streets and rooftops on Sunday.

Higher elevations in western Massachusetts saw significantly more accumulation, with nearly 11 inches reported in parts of the Berkshires.

Perhaps the most jarring element of the storm unfolded hundreds of miles south, where parts of Florida, Georgia and Alabama once again found themselves dealing with snow - a phenomenon that remains rare even in mid-winter.

In the western Florida Panhandle, snow briefly dusted grass and rooftops early Sunday as cold air surged in behind a departing cold front.

New York City is in for a chilly spell lasting at least a week. Snow was seen falling in Brooklyn

Snow falls on Grove Street in Montclair, New Jersey early on Sunday morning

Parts of New York and New Jersey woke up to snow-covered streets and rooftops on Sunday

Snow falls over Manhasset Bay as ducks swim in the Long Island town of Port Washington, New York on Sunday

Snowflakes were reported in Milton, Florida, and parts of Baldwin County, according to the National Weather Service. The snow melted quickly as temperatures rose, but for a brief time, palm fronds and lawns held a thin layer of white.

In Tallahassee, forecasters said the odds of accumulation remained low.

'So here in Tallahassee, the likelihood of any snow accumulation is not zero, but it's very low,' said Kristian Oliver, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Tallahassee office.

'I mean the ground will be just too warm for anything to stick and accumulate.'

Even so, the appearance of snow marked a remarkable repeat.

Less than a year ago, parts of the Florida Panhandle recorded up to 10 inches of snow during an historic January 2025 storm that also blanketed typically snow-free cities like Houston and New Orleans.

'On average we have an event like this maybe every few years. But having two back to back I'd say is pretty anomalous for the area,' Oliver said.

Georgia bore the brunt of the southern impact, with the National Weather Service issuing a rare winter storm warning for parts of central and west-central Georgia - an extraordinary step for the Deep South.

Plan on slippery roads during the snow, as well as on Sunday night into Monday morning as remaining water/snow refreezes, the National Weather Services Atlanta office said.

Snow was falling early on Sunday morning in Pensacola, Florida

In the Deep South, West Mobile, Alabama had flakes falling in the early hours of Sunday

Snow fell across New York City through much of Sunday, coating streets, parks and rooftops with a fresh layer of accumulation before tapering off in the evening

The unusual sight of snow was seen in Pensacola on Sunday

While Atlanta itself was not included in the warning, officials cautioned that southern portions of the metro area, including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, could still be impacted, raising concerns about travel delays at the nations busiest airport.

While the South marveled at snowflakes, residents of the Upper Midwest faced far more dangerous conditions.

Blizzard warnings were issued for parts of northwest and west-central Minnesota and southeast North Dakota, where winds gusting up to 55 mph threatened to create whiteout conditions.

Although snowfall totals were expected to remain modest, forecasters warned that blowing snow and extreme wind chills could make travel hazardous or even life-threatening.

As the massive system continues to unwind, meteorologists say the cold air behind it will linger well into the middle of next week.
Digital harms caused by the likes of AI and social media are now so widespread they should be recognised as a public health issue, the Royal College of GPs says.

Family doctors are increasingly treating children affected by online content linked to self-harm, pornography and violence, the professional body added.

In a major intervention, the RCGP has published a position statement on the issue for the first time, warning of the detrimental impact the internet is having on kids' health, wellbeing and development.

It calls on the government, technology firms and regulators to take responsibility, with new guidance for parents and training for GPs on how to deal with the 'growing impact'.

The statement, shared exclusively with the Daily Mail, says: 'In daily practice, GPs and our teams observe the cumulative effects of digital harms over time, including impacts on mental health, sleep, neurodevelopment, behaviour, social relationships and family functioning.

'GPs increasingly encounter digital exposure as a contributory factor in anxiety, low mood, self-harm, disordered eating, sleep disturbance, attention difficulties, safeguarding concerns and school avoidance.

'RCGP affirms that digital harms should be understood as a population health issue, not simply a matter of individual choice or parental responsibility.

'Children are developing within digital systems designed to maximise engagement rather than wellbeing, and the burden of harm falls disproportionately on vulnerable groups, widening existing health inequalities.'

In a major intervention, the RCGP has published a position statement on the issue of digital harms for the first time

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, warned against relying on AI chatbots to diagnose illnesses

It adds: 'The responsibility for protecting children's wellbeing must sit with policymakers, regulators and technology companies, not solely with families or clinicians.

'Digital harms represent a modern determinant of health.

'Addressing them is essential to safeguarding children, supporting families, and ensuring that the health system remains preventative, compassionate and fit for the future.'

The warning comes after Australia banned under-16s from having social media accounts, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urging Sir Keir Starmer to take firm action in the UK.

The government is expected to announce a consultation on potential measures this week and the Lords will vote on a cross-party amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill calling for an Australia-style ban.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, told the Daily Mail that adults are also being impacted by rogue technology firms, with misinformation and unreliable chatbots misdiagnosing patients and putting them at risk of harm.

She said: 'Access to information has never been easier.

'But access to misinformation has never been easier, too, and for many people it is increasingly difficult to know who, or what, to trust.

'As a GP, and also as a parent, this is something I see both professionally and personally.

'Whatever safeguards families put in place to keep children safe online, once a young person has access to a smartphone, parental controls can only ever go so far.

'At the extreme end, we know that easy access to harmful online content can have serious, even fatal, consequences.

Family doctors say they are increasingly treating children affected by online content linked to self-harm, pornography and violence.

'Advice promoting suicide or self-harm, the glorification of extreme sexual practices, and reports of unhealthy emotional relationships with chatbots rightly attract concern.

'The relentless nature of social media and its impact on mental health are also well-documented.

'But beyond these headline-grabbing examples lies a quieter, more pervasive risk: health misinformation and disinformation.'

She added: 'In our surgeries, we are increasingly seeing patients who have received inaccurate, confusing or potentially harmful advice from AI tools in response to ordinary health concerns.

'These systems can produce confident, polished answers that sound medically authoritative, but often aren't.

'They have no clinical judgement, no understanding of an individual's medical history, and no ability to recognise subtle warning signs.

'This can lead to missed diagnoses, unsafe self-treatment, unnecessary anxiety, or dangerous delays in seeking help.

'The uncomfortable reality is that much of the health information people encounter online, including some AI-generated material, does not meet the standards of evidence and clinical reliability patients deserve.

'There is good health information online. Trusted sources such as the NHS website provide reviewed, evidence-based guidance that can help people understand symptoms and decide when professional help is needed.

'The Royal College of GPs recognises digital harm, in its various forms, as a modern determinant of health.

'Addressing this, particularly with regard to children, and protecting trust in health information should be treated as a public health priority.'

Britain's top doctors and medical experts have declared a 'public health emergency' over the effect screen time and harmful online content is having on children's physical and mental wellbeing.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has written to health secretary Wes Streeting and education secretary Bridget Phillipson after a meeting revealed the scale of the damage witnessed every day in NHS clinics and A&Es.

The meeting, attended by more than 20 senior medics in October, was described as 'extraordinarily moving'.

One A&E doctor described treating a teenage girl who was bleeding profusely after her boyfriend used sharp knives during foreplay, a practice they had seen online.

The girl later died from her injuries.
A Tennessee mom who let her five-year-old daughter wax nude adult clients is hoping to get the charges dropped after her attorney claimed the actions only amounted to 'questionable parenting.'

Jasmine Moss is facing charges of child neglect and abuse after posting videos on her Instagram account of her young daughter waxing the pubic areas of several naked adult women at her at-home business.

Moss, a mother of three, allegedly wrote on the post in 2024: 'When I saw I'm passing down Deeds & LLCs to my creations I mean that!!

'She literally helped me wax 24 clients starting from 7.25-5pm. She made a total of $744 and I'm going to put the money towards whatever her future dreams and aspirations are.'

The Memphis Police Department said they received at least 80 complaints from individuals concerned about the child after seeing the images on social media.

But Moss's attorney, Blake Ballin, told WREG he is now working to get the charges against his client dropped.

He argued that there was 'certainly some questionable parenting, but does that amount to a crime?

'Our position is that it does not.'

Jasmine Moss is facing charges of child neglect after posting videos on her Instagram account of her five-year-old daughter waxing naked women's pubic areas

Moss is a mother of three who ran her salon out of her home

The Memphis Police Department said they received at least 80 complaints from individuals concerned about the child after seeing the images online

Ballin then noted that the Tennessee Department of Children's Services investigated the incident, 'and the child is still in Ms. Moss's custody.'

The attorney previously outlined the heart of Moss's case in earlier comments.

'Child abuse and neglect usually requires some sort of physical harm or physical injury and it remains to be seen if they can prove something like that,' he told WMC.

Speaking from the courthouse on Thursday, Ballin said he needs more time to try to convince prosecutors that the charges should be dropped.

'It's an unusual case,' he explained. 'It's a little complicated because there's a DCS investigation and there are some licensing issues with Moss with the cosmetology board. So we need some time to investigate that.'

The judge seemed to agree, telling Moss: 'It appears your attorney and the state will see how this can be resolved and they may need some time to see how this will ultimately play out.'

He then ordered Moss back in court on July 16.

In the meantime, Ballin said: 'We're just hopeful that the prosecutor knows what they have is someone who made a mistake, who has remedied that mistake, is back on track, and the criminal justice system does not need to be involved.'

Her attorney Blake Ballin (pictured) argued that there was 'certainly some questionable parenting' but questioned whether that amounted to a crime

She is due back in court on July 15 as her attorney works with prosecutors to try to get the charges against her dropped

But as the photos circulated online in 2024, many expressed their outrage.

One X comment read: 'wow theirs [sic] no words for this disturbing and disgusting behavior you inflicted on this child I pray this child gets the help and love she properly deserve because thats just crazy.'

Another added: 'This whole story about Jasmine Moss, aka Jazzy Body, allowing her small child to wax her clients is WIIIIILD. How did those clients allow that?! This poor child needs to be protected and her mother is giving her trauma that will take years to heal from.'

A third said: 'Who are the 24 women who exposed their privates to a little girl & allowed her to wax them? Prison for all 25 of you weirdos!'

During that initial furor, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance also revealed that it had received 86 complaints about Moss's business.

She was then indicted on child neglect and abuse charges last year.
On September 5, 2023, Cliff Mitchell forced a blindfolded woman into the back of his white Audi.

He had already raped his victim multiple times at a property in south London, bound her wrists with cable ties and placed tape over her mouth to muffle her screams before marching her to the vehicle at knifepoint.

Mitchell, now 26, threatened to slit the woman's throat and said he would harm her family if she tried to get help.

'You've met the devil,' he told her. If she even dared to try to flee from the vehicle he would 'kill her in front of everyone'.

It was the culmination of a campaign of horrific sexual and physical abuse of the woman, which had lasted several years.

As the car wound its way through the streets of the capital, she somehow managed to convey that she was about to be sick. When Mitchell, concerned for his vehicle's interior, stopped momentarily in Hackbridge, south-west London, she seized her chance.

Witnesses and CCTV caught the moment when the 'distraught and scared' victim zig-zagged on foot through traffic, losing her shoes along the way.

She was saved when a passing motorist let her into her vehicle and dialled 999. Mitchell was arrested around seven miles away in Putney.

Mitchell was a serving Metropolitan police officer when he was arrested after raping and abusing his victim

The details of this horrific incident have chilling echoes of the case of Sarah Everard  another young woman, in her 30s, who was abducted, raped, bound, gagged and driven to her death in March 2021.

Of course, the crucial difference between the two young women was that poor Sarah never got a chance to escape. Yet there is another, more disturbing, similarity.

For it soon emerged that Mitchell, like Sarah's murderer Wayne Couzens, was in fact a serving Metropolitan police officer who used his position to intimidate his victim into silence.

Not only that, but Mitchell had been hired by the force in August 2021  five months after Sarah was murdered  at a time when you'd expect vetting procedures in the country's most beleaguered force to have been at their most robust.

What's more, Mitchell's record clearly showed he'd been arrested and questioned by Met detectives in 2017 over a series of alleged rapes of a child.

Yet still they let him in.

Last week it emerged that, far from being an anomaly, Mitchell was one of at least 131 Met officers and staff who went on to commit crimes or misconduct after they were not properly vetted.

An internal Metropolitan Police review of vetting and hiring practices in the ten years to April 2023 found the lapse was due to a nationwide push to hire thousands more officers  with a particular focus on improving diversity.

More than 5,000 new recruits faced limited checks, the review found, allowing monsters like Cliff Mitchell to find themselves in uniform.

Commenting on the findings in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, one furious relative of Mitchell's rape victim said the police failings had left the family feeling they 'can't trust anyone any more'.

'You're supposed to trust the police,' the relative said.

'He raped and kidnapped her. He abused his power.

'She wouldn't have been his last victim if he hadn't been stopped. She's a brave girl. He thought he was unstoppable. The police have repeatedly failed.'

Mitchell's 2017 arrest emerged during vetting as part of his initial application process in 2020 and he was rejected. (He had been told in 2019 that no further action was being taken in respect of the allegations.)

However, a 'vetting panel', partly aimed at improving ethnic minority representation, overturned the decision a year later, in 2021. That the U-turn on his application took place in the months following the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard almost defies belief.

Sarah Everard was kidnapped and murdered in March 2021 by Wayne Couzens who, like Mitchell, was serving as a Metropolitan police officer

The Daily Mail can reveal another monster who was able to join the Met due to reduced vetting checks was serial rapist PC Jake Cummings.

Cummings, who joined the Met in 2019, was jailed for 16 years in September for rape, coercive and controlling behaviour, voyeurism and stalking after raping two women while serving as a police constable in London.

He attacked another woman while serving as a special constable in Dorset.

Sentencing him, judge Bilal Siddique said he had 'abused his position as a police officer to control his victims'.

We can also disclose that PC Ross Benson, who was sacked from the Met in September 2024 for repeatedly 'spanking a 12-year-old child on her bare bottom', faced reduced vetting checks.

The Met's internal review found that the constable, who joined the force in 2003, was not properly vetted during his vetting renewals as the force relaxed rules during its hiring push.

However, a source said that based on the information known to the force, even if all checks had been completed they didn't believe it would have prevented either Cummings or PC Benson from working for the Met at that time.

Also not properly vetted was serial rapist David Carrick, who joined the Met in 2001 but had a vetting renewal in 2017 which failed to reveal an allegation of domestic abuse against him.

Carrick is now serving 37 life sentences for a campaign of rapes and sexual assaults against girls and women over 30 years, with one victim describing how she had 'encountered evil'.

Carrick was found guilty of molesting a 12-year-old girl and raping a former partner and is now serving 37 life sentences

The relative of Mitchell's victim feels the same.

'He [Mitchell] was so young. He was bloody young. He's just a monster. You do not just wake up and do what he did. Who even thinks to do what he did? He must have felt invincible.'

The Met has admitted that one of its challenges was to 'create a more diverse workforce' to be more representative of London. But, says the relative of Mitchell's victim, at what cost?

'They have been rushing to make people police [officers] and not doing the right checks.

'It's common now for the police to become the perpetrators  and because they've got the authority, no one is going to open their mouths. It doesn't hurt to do a couple more checks.'

Last week's report found that the same vetting panel, now disbanded, which allowed Mitchell into the force overturned the decisions to block the applications of 114 potential officers, of which 25 went on to commit misconduct or a criminal offence  a staggering one in five of those who were given a second chance.

The vetting panel mostly re-vetted 'applicants from ethnic minority groups' with the aim of 'reducing disproportionality in vetting decisions', according to the Met.

The review found that the vetting panel 'in some cases... overturned the decision of vetting officers despite adverse intelligence existing'. The Met was under pressure to recruit 4,500 police officers from July 2019 in a national drive to add 20,000 more officers to the ranks by 2023, under the Conservative government's Police Uplift Programme.

Around 1,200 people who joined the force during this period  there were around 27,300 applications  may have had their vetting refused under normal practices, according to the review. And one of them was Mitchell. He became a PC in the Met's West Area Basic Command Unit, based in Hounslow. The victim's relative is convinced the reason was partly due to his ethnicity.

'The police gave him the power,' the relative said. 'Because he was a black man, they were happy to have him. Where he grew up a lot of black men don't make it without a criminal record.

'He manipulated the police. They must have been so pleased to get a young black man who had been good in school and was going to university who was qualifying to be a policeman on the streets of Hounslow and Acton [west London].

'All they [the police] had to do was look at his address and find it [the 2017 rape allegation].

'Why couldn't they do it?'

In 2024, at Croydon Crown Court, Mitchell was convicted of 13 counts of rape, including six counts of raping a child under 13, after detectives reviewed the 2017 allegations into his first child victim and passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service.

It emerged he had raped her over a period of three years when he was also a youth.

He was also convicted of kidnap in relation to his second victim and jailed for life with a minimum term of 14 years.

The relative added: 'They let him in knowing that he may have already done this [rape] and he will be able to do this again?

'They gave him the opportunity to use the police to do it again and she [second victim] was the backlash. It just makes me so angry, so angry.'

Yet they weren't the only ones who failed her. In July 2023, the young woman who months later would scramble for her life from Mitchell's car, had taken out a non-molestation order [NMO] against him, a civil injunction which can be used in cases of domestic abuse to stop someone contacting or harassing them. Breaching such an order is a criminal offence.

When an NMO is granted, a local police force is notified so it can take action when the order is breached.

The Met received the NMO but said it 'made no mention of Mitchell being a police officer'.

No further checks were carried out and he was free to continue frontline duties in west London boroughs until his arrest two months later.

Speaking after his sentencing at Croydon Crown Court, then shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'There are serious questions as to how Mitchell was able to obtain a job in the Met, having been investigated for rape.

'The fact that the police did not know Mitchell had a non-molestation order out against him whilst he was a serving officer shows total system failure in tackling violence against women and girls.'

The Met has been hit by an avalanche of bad publicity owing to the actions of rogue police officers since the murder of Ms Everard shocked the nation in 2021.

Seven officers have been sacked following a BBC Panorama investigation broadcast last year which showed police based at Charing Cross police station sharing discriminatory remarks about Muslims, victims of crime and detainees.

In November, PC Daniel Traynor was convicted of assault for attacking his neighbour in east London in a row over parking. He was sacked from the force earlier this month.

Another PC who abused a teenage boy while serving as a police cadet leader was convicted of sexual assault last month.

Grant Fulker, 32, attacked a boy in a Heathrow hotel room in February 2024. He will be sentenced next month.

The Daily Mail revealed last week that the Met still has 300 serving officers with criminal records within its ranks, including two sex offenders.

The officers committed 'non-contact' sexual offences in the mid-2000s, a lower category of offending including voyeurism, exposure, 'up-skirting', drink spiking and stalking. One officer was convicted before joining the force and the other was already in the job when found guilty.

There are also 54 officers with criminal records for violent offences, data revealed following a Freedom of Information request.

It has also emerged that the practice of not properly checking employment references during the push to recruit thousands of officers nationwide was not just limited to the Met.

Another four forces have admitted they 'deviated' from standard recruitment practices during the Police Uplift Programme between July 2019 and March 2023.

Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria Police all told the Home Office and National Police Chiefs' Council in 2022 that they had switched off pre-employment reference checks in the rush to hit recruitment targets.

Responding to the Met's review into vetting practices, known as Operation Jorica, assistant commissioner Rachel Williams said: 'This review is part of our ongoing work to demand the highest standards across the Met so the public can have trust and confidence in our officers.

'We found that some historical practices did not meet the strengthened hiring and vetting standards we have today.

'We identified these issues ourselves and have fixed them quickly while making sure any risk to the public has been properly and effectively managed.

'It is important to highlight that the Met recruits hundreds of officers and staff every year  the overwhelming majority of exemplary character who are dedicated to protecting the public.'

But for the family whose lives were torn apart by the reprehensible crimes of Cliff Mitchell, words are not enough.

'They [police officers who went on to offend] had the uniform and they knew they were unstoppable,' they said.

'The police can recover from this, but it's going to take a very long time.'
Driving up the single track to the ski resort he manages in the shadow of Glen Coe, Andy Meldrum was taken aback by the scene that greeted him.

While a paucity of good snow over the festive period meant only sledgers and novices could be accommodated on the lowest slopes, nevertheless the car park was packed out with row upon row of motorhomes and campervans.

The same thing happened night after night as Mr Meldrum reckoned something like 50 of the vehicles stayed over at the Glencoe Mountain Resort just off the main A82 at Ballachulish.

The presence of so many passing tourists should have brought a welcome jingle to the tills at a time when the resorts financial fortunes are at the mercy of the capricious snow gods.

After all, each driver would have spotted the signs politely requesting that they hand over a modest 5 donation in exchange for their lodgings and use of the facilities.

But instead of the anticipated daily windfall of around 250, Mr Meldrum discovered to his dismay that the measly sum of 60 had been collected each morning via the honesty box and the resorts online payment system.

In other words, just a quarter of all those who stayed chose to fork out the very reasonable amount requested for a nights kip against the awe-inspiring crags of the White Corries ski field.

Mr Meldrum hit out at disrespectful campervan owners who used his business as a dumping ground for rubbish

Ann Edwards said people have helped themselves to her facilities

Sign on the the public toilets in the village of Avoch

Worse, his staff informed him that the sites disposal service for wastewater, which costs a further 5 per van, was also being widely abused  on New Years Eve alone, they witnessed eight different vans sharing the key to the facility between them to avoid paying the charge.

Venting his understandable frustration on social media, Mr Meldrum hit out at disrespectful campervan owners who also used his business as a dumping ground for rubbish, with bags of general waste piled up and left behind.

We always thought 5 was a fair price for staying in a beautiful location with 24/7 toilets and showers, he posted, so we would like to remind everyone politely that it would be great if people actually donated.

Speaking to the Mail, he said: People have been staying overnight here for 40 or 50 years and while we really appreciate the many great and respectful campervan owners who come and stay and spend money on the mountain, we seem to have managed to attract an ever-growing clientele of campervan owners who have absolutely no respect for the place, dont want to pay a 5 donation, dont want to pay for showers, want to dump all their rubbish theyve collected over the last week in our car park and not treat us with any respect at all.

He said that sense of self-entitlement manifests most strongly during peak tourist season, adding: The donations scheme is well signposted and theres a QR code for those who prefer to go cashless. We couldnt afford to put up barriers and man the place full-time, so we rely on peoples honesty and goodwill.

We are an isolated rural business, so getting rid of waste, getting our septic tanks emptied costs a lot of money every year and we foot the bill. The donations support that and maintaining the car park, which takes a pounding from the weather.

Ultimately, there could come a time when we just decide its not worth it, but I really hope we dont get there.

His Facebook post clearly touched a nerve, receiving almost 5,000 likes and 800 comments in a week.

Locals have raised frequent concerns about extensive littering

Traffic chaos at the Smoo Caves car park in Durness on the NC500 route

While some came from the campervan community apologising for the reprehensible behaviour of what they insisted were a few bad apples, others pointed to a wider malaise with colourful words like cheapskates, freeloaders and worse bandied about.

But then, few things in life seem to divide opinion like the growing army of motorhomes and campervans clogging up Scotlands roads.

It can be no coincidence that tempers have frayed amid a recent explosion in the popularity of recreational vehicles, or RVs. They are pitched as the ultimate choice for the self-contained staycationer, allowing them to pack all the creature comforts of home and head off wherever the mood takes them.

Some enjoy the experience so much they will spend up to 70,000 or more buying their own. But have some RV drivers lost their moral compass along the way  and mistaken self-sufficiency for selfishness?

Certainly, the number of visits to the Highlands has risen 65 per cent since 2012, with many tourists opting for the freedom of the open road.

According to figures from Highland Council 36,000 motorhomes visited the Highlands in 2022, with the majority travelling on the North Coast 500.

The idea for a Scottish Route 66 to boost tourism and create jobs came from the King when he was still a prince and launched ten years ago under the management of his North Highland Initiative.

Hailed as one of the best coastal driving experiences in the world, the 516-mile round trip from Inverness certainly achieved its initial aims, injecting around 20million into the local economy and creating about 200 full-time jobs.

36,000 motorhomes visited the Highlands in 2022

A report by Highland Council rangers detailed 8,657 outdoor toileting incidents,

In 2017, the operating company NC500 Ltd was bought by Scotlands richest man, Danish fashion magnate Anders Holch Povlsen.

But its economic success has failed to quell dissent among locals exasperated at tailbacks on twisty singletrack roads and chemical toilets being emptied into roadside streams.

A 2023 report by Highland Council rangers detailed 8,657 outdoor toileting incidents, including 125 instances of black water lavatory waste dumped from camper vans.

Locals have raised frequent concerns about extensive littering, environmental damage and an increase in destructive wildfires caused by abandoned portable barbecues and campfires.

All of which discontent led travel guide firm Fodor to label the route a no-travel zone.

Highland Councils own efforts to corral lawless motorhomes have so far ended in abject failure.

The Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme (HCMS) was meant to tackle anti-social behaviour by visitors who avoid using designated campsites. It offers a seven-day pass affording them overnight parking in some council car parks and daily access to shower facilities at municipal leisure centres.

Launched in the summer of 2024, it was expected to raise 500,000 in its first financial year but pulled in just 20,000. The fact the scheme was voluntary speaks volumes.

And as Mr Meldrum and others have found to their cost, even businesses which might have expected to profit from the march of the motorhome have instead been bruised by some unpleasant run-ins.

I think whats happened at Glen Coe is terrible behaviour but Im not surprised by it because the same thing has happened at our campsite, said Ann Edwards, chairman of the Highland Caravan and Campsites Association (HCCA), which has called for urgent action by Highland Council to combat the scourge of irresponsible RVs.

Mrs Edwards, who runs a small campsite for RVs in Golspie, Sutherland, said: These entitled people have been helping themselves to our services on our site  so much so, weve had to put digital door locks on to stop people from just using our showers and toilets  theyll even come and throw their waste in our bins, which we obviously have to pay to have emptied.

One of our members in Helmsdale has developed his own site and right next door is a council car park and they just nip over the fence and start using his services as well. And thats happening all round Scotland.

Mrs Edwards, 60, said she and her husband Colin, 66, were prompted to increase security at their campsite after one of their paying customers was involved in an altercation with a family group travelling in three motorhomes.

Our customer had paid for his overnight pitch and then this family arrived without paying and queued up to take showers and were blocking our paying customer from accessing the shower.

We dont man the site and it just so happened I was going up to cut the grass and I found them all queued up. And there was nearly a fight between the guy who had paid his money against this family.

They had Newcastle accents. It was not the first time weve had problems.

She said certain websites recommend places where motorhome users can stay for free: One of them is in a forest near us and they would just come over and use our services. Its naughty because others get wind of it and do the same. We have clear signs up saying you need to pay. We dont charge a lot  24.50 a night without electric, or 29.50 with electric, which is about average across our members.

We have learned by our mistakes and have a locked gate with a code now. Even then, one guy drove up and climbed the gate, took the clean water hose and filled up with fresh water, so we had to shorten the hose to stop that from happening.

I managed to get the registration of the motorhome and the hire company were superb and said they would take a charge off their deposit.

She added: The good hire companies are trying to educate people in the etiquette of motorhome behaviour, although I havent seen a change in some attitudes.

The pressure on motorhome users is undoubtedly rising.

Campaigners have lodged a petition with the Scottish parliament calling on MSPs to explicitly prohibit camping in a vehicle outside of designated camping zones. The petitions organiser Robin Pettigrew, of Lochcarron, Ross-shire a well-known opponent of over-tourism on the NC500, said he wanted to see a vehicle-based levy enforced by automatic number plate recognition to ensure that the people who do most of the damage pay to help repair it.

He said: The funds generated by this would go towards providing motorhome areas, toilets, additional rangers, and enforcement on some of the very poor behaviour that goes on up here.

Meanwhile, the HCCA has accused Highland Council of sowing confusion with its HCMS scheme and encouraging a culture where some visitors believe that paying is optional, facilities should be free, that car parks are equivalent to campsites and that infrastructure can be used without having to make any contribution. The association pointed out the problem was not a lack of provision, as many campsites are rarely more than 50 per cent full, but a lack of regulation and lack of clarity. The council was contacted for comment.

Mrs Edwards, herself an enthusiastic campervanner, added: The council is inviting people to the area and saying, Its up to you if you want to pay or not. People are not going to pay because they think they can park in a lay-by and call it wild camping.

Of course, the concept of wild camping as outlined in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (often known as the right to roam) only applies to pedestrians and cyclists, not motor vehicles.

They are covered under the Road Traffic (Scotland) Act 1988 which states that you cant park a vehicle without the landowners permission.

Vehicles may use council-owned lay-bys and car parks to rest, as long as there are no signs prohibiting it and all activity stays inside the vehicle.

And responsible wild parking means following the principle of leave no trace, which includes taking all waste away and not lighting fires or barbecues.

Highland Council said it was aware of campsite operators concerns and kept the HCMS under continual review to ensure it continues to promote and encourage behaviours that achieve sustainable tourism.

A spokesman said: Parking services are introducing mandatory charging for overnight motorhome use in our paid-for car parks that allow overnight parking.

This should be in place for the coming season.

The wider motorhome community was quick to downplay the scale of the problem, including Kevin Forbes, who has grown his rental business Roam N Roost in Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, from a single van to 17 vehicles in two seasons.

He said: It worries me that policy may be decided by the opinions of a minority who shout the loudest. Theres simply no credible data showing that responsible motorhome users are causing widespread harm.

Mr Forbes accepted there were too few sites around Scotland where motorhomes could offload waste and take on fresh water, citing the widespread network of aires or rest stops across Europe designed for this purpose.

Unless you are staying at a campsite here, they often dont let you use the facilities. An aire is just about the facilities and I think we need more investment so councils and businesses provide those facilities.

Generally, the motorhome users are happy to pay to use these facilities so I am surprised by the situation at Glencoe.

We do a very detailed handover with customers, including how to dispose of waste and we give them a list of places which let them do that.

But we need to put the infrastructure in place to standardise things so people can be responsible when travelling in motorhomes. If there arent the facilities, it could make people lazy.

Except that Glencoe ski resort has all the facilities they need  they just need to pay for them.

Still, it wouldnt be the first time hospitality was repaid with treachery in Glen Coe.
John Swinney could be dragged into a corporate homicide probe over the deaths of children at a flagship superhospital.

A bombshell admission by NHS chiefs that dirty water at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) caused serious infections in young cancer patients has sparked calls for politicians to face formal investigation.

Critics are demanding senior SNP politicians past and present face serious questions over what they described as criminal failures around the scandal, which saw two children die and at least 84 fall ill.

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clydes admission could also lead to a slew of compensation claims being launched by families affected.

The children died while being treated at the Glasgow site shortly after it opened in 2015, but health board officials denied for years the building was to blame.

Victims included ten-year-old Milly Main who died after contracting an unusual bacterial infection while being treated for leukaemia in 2017.

In a U-turn, NHSGGC has now accepted a link between dirty water and the killer bugs.

Yesterday, it emerged that NHSGGC had finally admitted a causal connection between the water system at the QEUH campus and potentially lethal infections in vulnerable patients.

The flagship QEUH hospital has proved controversial ever since it opened

First Minister John Swinney could now be dragged into the investigation

Tragic Milly Main and her mother Kimberley Darroch

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the turning point should lead to the politicians behind the cover-up being drawn into the ongoing corporate homicide probe.

Prosectors instructed police to launch the criminal investigation in 2021 and it looked at four deaths - Milly, two other children and Gayle Armstrong, 73.

The health board was named as a suspect in 2023.

Mr Sarwar said any ministers covering up the truth should be named as suspects too.

He said: For years, families have been forced to fight for the truth about what happened to their children.

Whistleblowers were gaslit, lied to and punished for telling the truth. They have been attacked and victimised by NHS managers paid for by taxpayer money [and] supported by SNP ministers, who never stopped lying to hide the truth of their failure.

The SNP and the board did not put patient safety and families first. Instead, led by John Swinney, they closed ranks.

He added: The QEUH scandal is one of the worst failures in modern Scottish public life.

NHSGGC has been named as a suspect in a corporate homicide investigation relating to the deaths of patients including ten-year-old Milly Main.

In my opinion, so should the SNP ministers responsible for the cover up, because this is a serious criminal matter.

The question now is simple: Will John Swinney finally take responsibility for the criminal failures of his government, of NHSGCC and the conspiracy to lie to parents, patients, and Scotland?

Writing in todays Daily Mail, Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: This admission of cause and effect, denied for years, will have prosecutors feeling confident about their chances of getting a rare conviction from that Crown Office investigation.

The Scottish Conservatives believe SNP ministers must now be added to the pot.

The culture of secrecy that allowed this scandal to fester, in the dark, is the product of 18 years of Nationalist policy.

He added: There is now a substantial body of evidence that points to a cover-up at the very top, which has only been exposed by this inquiry.

Since 2017, a succession of Scottish Government health ministers refused to intervene.

Members of the public will want to know why the SNP always seem to help senior management escape scrutiny.

Millys mother Kimberley Darroch told the Scottish Mail on Sunday: Ive spent six years fighting for answers that should have been given at the very beginning.

Its good news the board has now admitted that, on the balance of probabilities, there was a causal connection between the environment and Millys bloodstream infection.

But it also highlights how hard families have to fight just to have the truth recognised.

Patrick McGuire, a partner at Thompsons solicitors, who is representing several of the families involved, added: The families have now been vindicated but only after years of being denigrated.

The QEUH was announced by Nicola Sturgeon when she was health secretary in the early days of the SNP Government, and she opened it with the late Queen Elizabeth in 2015.

In its closing submission to a judge-led inquiry into the design and construction of the QEUH and adjoining Royal Hospital for Children, the NHSGCC agreed that on the balance of probabilities, there is a causal connection between some infections suffered by hospital patients and the hospital environment, in particular the water system.

It also accepted having regard to the evidence led, that it is more likely than not that a material proportion of the [blood stream infection in child cancer patients] between 2016 and 2018 had a connection to the state of the hospital water system.

Ahead of final oral statements about the QEUH this week, the board concluded: NHSGGC departs from its earlier submissions in this regard, having heard all expert evidence.

The board admitted it was more likely than not that some of the infections were connected to the water system, conceding that there was a causal connection.

It also admitted to Lord Brodies 31million inquiry that whistleblowers were mistreated after they tried to raise concerns when the hospital opened.

It said Dr Teresa Inkster, Dr Christine Peters and Dr Penelope Redding were not treated as they ought to have been and endured a significant impact upon their wellbeing.

Just last year the board paid three experts 75,000 for a report clearing the QEUH of links to infections and took the inquiry to court to make it accept the document into evidence.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, the Scottish Conservative health spokesman

The Crown Office said it had received a police report and its investigation was ongoing.

Patrick McGuire, partner at Thompsons solicitors, which represents most of the families involved in the scandal, accused NHSGGC of only admitting to lethal failings after years of the most callous evasion and dishonesty.

He said: The families have now been vindicated but only after being denigrated and dismissed by the health board. It is now of the highest priority that those who have been behind this disgraceful conduct are held to account.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We established a statutory public inquiry so that families could get answers to their questions, and so that lessons can be learned for future hospital projects.

As an independent core participant of the Inquiry, the Scottish Government is committed to assisting the Inquiry and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time.
EXCLUSIVE 'She is so arrogant and up herself. The situation is just weird': Truth about Lucinda Strafford... and mystery man who's REALLY picking up the tab for her lavish life


Britain needs to lose 70 per cent of its chief constables to make way for super forces funded by a new police tax, a senior officer has said.

Gavin Stephens, the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), has called for the most radical changes to policing in a century.

He said the number of forces needs to be cut from 43 to as little as 10, creating in addition a national super force which would be 'better than the FBI'.

The top officer, who represents all chief constables, believes there are 'too many cooks' and hundreds of millions of pounds could be pumped back into crime fighting by cutting duplication on matters like procurement.

Speaking ahead of a White Paper due to be published next week, Mr Stephens has called for a fundamental redesign of policing, creating a uniform tax would resolve the current postcode lottery in force funding and level of service.

He has been backed by Britain's most senior police officer, Sir Mark Rowley who believes the country only needs 'around 10-15 fully capable forces', adding: 'Policing in this country is at a once in a generation turning point.'

Mr Stephens wants to strip police costs out of council tax to produce a separate levy which would be the same rate for all householders.

Currently, police receive money from a combination of national grants and local council tax, with the funding formula calculated on local population data that is a decade old and deprivation figures from 2001.

Gavin Stephens (pictured), the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), has called for the most radical changes to policing in a century

As a result, some pay almost three times more for their local police than others in different parts of the country.

Mr Stephens wants to make the system fairer which would pay for fewer regional forces and a new national police organisation combining the National Crime Agency, counter terrorism police, regional serious organised crime squads and the violence against women and girls centre.

The national force headed by a 'super chief' would also handle functions like procurement, IT and forensics, with Mr Stephens envisaging a 'national agency to rival the best in the world- better than the FBI.'

He said: 'We need the most significant change in policing in the last half a century to get policing ready to fight crime over the next half a century.

'Probably somewhere between 10 and 20 (forces) would be the optimum.'

The proposal comes more than decade after Scotland merged its eight police forces into one single force, Police Scotland.

But since it was created in 2013, Police Scotland has lurched from one crisis to another, enduring chaotic and incompetent mismanagement, chronic under-funding and plummeting detection rates.

Speaking out just days after the West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford was forced to retire following the Maccabi Tel Aviv scandal, Mr Stephens suggested as many as 76 per cent of police chiefs should lose their jobs.

Speaking out just days after the West Midlands Chief Constable Craig Guildford (pictured) was forced to retire following the Maccabi Tel Aviv scandal, Mr Stephens suggested as many as 76 per cent of police chiefs should lose their jobs

'There are too many decision makers.

'One of the reasons that we can't get consistency and we can't roll out technology quickly is because there are too many people who are allowed to decide on things. There are too many cooks.'

He went on: 'We don't need 43 people doing the same jobs. In our 43-plus force model there is lots of repetition and duplication

'We want to simplify that so that we can preserve local policing and make it more consistent, so it is less of a postcode lottery.

'Some people are paying more for their policing than others and some people are getting less service than others.'

He believes that it would free up hundreds of millions of pounds for fighting crime in staff and procurement savings by having fewer forces.

Instead of 43 forces separately ordering 'umpteen different types of police car', one national body could deliver tech capable of scanning days' worth of CCTV in minutes, so officers could 'process crime reports in seconds and submit case files in minutes'.

Mr Stephens claimed many chiefs supported the move, even though they may lose their jobs if the reforms went ahead.

The former Surrey chief constable stressed his plans did not mean cutting officer numbers and he promised that people would still have a local beat bobby.

Join the debate Is Britains police funding system unfair to YOU and your area?

Speaking ahead of a White Paper due to be published next week, Mr Stephens has called for a fundamental redesign of policing (File image)

Sir Mark Rowley (pictured) said: 'Policing in this country is at a once in a generation turning point'

He promised there would be more rapid adoption of technology and more consistent roll out.

He added: 'Then you can more quickly identify offenders, bring people to justice and charge more people.

'We absolutely need to do this for the decades ahead, because crime is changing and 90 per cent of stuff now has got a digital footprint.'

He stressed the current model of 43 police forces in England and Wales was ill-equipped to deal with today's criminality, with gangs coordinating phone theft and shoplifting nationwide.

He told the Mail: 'The cost of not doing this is twofold. It's that we continue to disappoint the public in the service we provide, and we hear loud and clear what the public expectation is.

'And it's also the cost on the good people of policing - the level of exhaustion and burnout is really high.'

His plans have been backed by the head of Britain's biggest force, even though it means Scotland Yard losing responsibility for counter terrorism.

Sir Mark said: 'Policing in this country is at a once in a generation turning point.

'Our current policing model was built for the 1960s and has been stretched beyond what it can support.'

But a spokesman for the Police Federation of England and Wales, which represents rank and file officers, said: 'The formula that funds policing needs to change but cutting the same size cake 10 or 20 ways rather than 43 isn't going to see the change the public or police officers deserve.'
A US Army Reserve Black Hawk pilot from Texas has been desperately trying to get his Venezuelan wife out of immigration detention for the past month and a half.

Chris Busby, 28, went to an Austin courthouse with his wife, Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez, 25, to get their marriage certificate on December 3.

Just two days later, Velasquez went to a Houston ICE office for a routine check-in related to her asylum status, something she has done every year since she arrived in the US in 2021, according to her husband.

Although the asylum meetings usually occurred just once per year, Velasquez had been summoned for the second time in just four months.

Her husband told the Daily Mail that she had gone to a check-in in September that lasted 30 minutes, and there were no issues.

But she never emerged from the second meeting just three months later, where she was held until 2am before getting shipped off to an ICE detention center where she has languished for the past 44 days.

Busby told the Daily Mail that before the check-in, he was less nervous than his wife because of the prior check-ins, though they both knew there was a possibility she would be detained due to ICE's aggressive enforcement tactics over the past year.

He also had a measure of trust in the government, having served in the Army for 11 years after joining when he was 17. Now, Busby said, he feels betrayed.

Velasquez is one of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants who have arrived in the US over the past few years. The Trump administration successfully revoked Biden-era Temporary Protected Status from Venezuelan immigrants in October

Velasquez got married to Chris Busby, 28, an Army Reserve Black Hawk pilot who has been desperately trying to free her from ICE detention for the past month and a half

'I really can't feel betrayed by ICE. I've never worked for them, but I have worked for the military,' he said.

'I know we have things in place to help us, and I feel like there's some people in the military who are choosing not to press that button to help.'

Busby also said that through his service, he has seen what the US is capable of when acting positively, but the Trump administration and its supporters are 'really biased' and 'they have no compassion for brown people who come to this country.'

After nearly a month of trying to free his wife, Busby posted a video to his Facebook account discussing the ordeal and trying to draw public attention to his plight.

In the video, he says: 'This year they decided to detain her, although she's here on a legal status, has no criminal history and is currently in the process - legally since 2021 - of trying to get her citizenship.'

Busby added that he hired 'the best lawyer' to help in the case. The lawyer set up a hearing to have Velasquez released on bond while her case progresses, but the judge ruled that he did not have jurisdiction.

'Judges aren't even in control anymore,' he said in the video.

Busby described his wife as 'the nicest person ever,' and emphasized that she 'has never done anything illegal.'

Join the debate How should America balance national security with compassion for immigrant families like Stephanie's?

Busby said that despite being in the Army for 11 years, he has been treated badly by staff at the detention center whenever he goes to visit his wife

Velasquez has never committed a crime, her husband said. That would make her one of 24,644 people in ICE detention who have no criminal record

According to the most recent data released by ICE, just 29 percent of people currently detained by the agency have prior criminal convictions. An additional 28 percent have pending criminal charges, and the remaining have no criminal history.

Over the past year, there has been a 2,500 percent surge in the agency's non-criminal detainees, which stood at 945 on January 26, 2025.

As of January 7, 2026, 24,644 people without criminal history are being held by ICE in detention facilities.

Velasquez is among that group, according to her husband, who said the conditions at the detention center where she is being held are 'horrible' and that he is only allowed to visit once per week.

There is 'barely edible food, its freezing cold and the clothes they get barely protect them,' Busby said in his video.

'Even though everyone is getting sick, no one in there cares. I went to go visit her a couple times, and although Ive been in the Army for 11 years, the way they treated me and other visitors was straight disrespectful.

'I cant honestly imagine how shes truly being treated,' the husband said.

Busby also told the Daily Mail that his wife is barely able to sleep because of the freezing temperatures at the detention center, and meals take place at unusual hours.

Busby has been making posts on social media trying to draw public attention to his efforts to get his wife released

Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez, 25, was detained by ICE during a routine asylum check-in, just two days after getting her marriage certificate to a Texas man

Breakfast, he said, is scheduled at 4am, then lunch at 10am and dinner at 4pm. He added that despite the food being borderline inedible, people held in detention are only allowed a limited amount of food from the commissary.

Busby said his wife had dreams of becoming a real estate agent and was studying hard to make that happen.

He also said that she had a test for her realtor license scheduled for the Monday after ICE detained her, but now if she is released, she will likely have to start the process over again.

In a second Facebook video, Busby said that he knew he wanted to marry Velasquez after their first date.

He explained that the two had gotten married secretly and were planning on having a wedding party after saving up money, as he has been investing anything he makes back into his new window tinting company.

Velasquez is one of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who have arrived in the US over the past few years, as they fled political and economic instability in their home country.

Many of those immigrants were given Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2023 under the Biden administration, but that was effectively revoked in October by the Supreme Court.

In a 6-3 decision that matched the justices' party-affiliation, the nation's highest court granted an emergency request filed by the Trump administration, which sought to block a judge's ruling that said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem failed to follow the correct process in revoking TPS from Venezuelans.

Busby said his wife 'did absolutely nothing wrong, besides wanting to live in a country where she thought there was freedom for all'

Busby told the Daily Mail that he has tried several avenues to get his wife released from custody.

Other than the attempted bond hearing, which was denied, he has filed for the military's Parole in Place program, which provides legal protections to spouses without citizenship.

He also tried a habeas corpus hearing, which forced the government to prove it had lawful grounds for imprisonment.

Busby said that during that hearing, the prosecuting attorney admitted he had not reviewed Vasquez's file and deemed her a 'flight risk' solely based on the fact that she had been married for less than a month. He has appealed that ruling.

In the caption of his Facebook video, Busby wrote: 'Honestly, Ive cried everyday since shes been in there because no matter how much money or how strong I am, theres literally nothing I or anyone else can do.

'This whole process has been devastating to us and all of our entire family. If youre religious, please pray for Stephanie and hope that we can get her home.

'She did absolutely nothing wrong, besides wanting to live in a country where she thought there was freedom for all.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to ICE for comment.
The rural doctor who first alerted police to triple mushroom killer Erin Patterson has closed his local practice to avoid 'financial oblivion.'

Dr Chris Webster was deemed a star witness in the case against Patterson, having been the on-call doctor when she presented to hospital two days after she poisoned her in-laws during a lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.

The straight-talking doctor later gave a series of interviews, in which he described how he quickly knew the poisoning had been deliberate, calling Patterson a 'disturbed sociopathic nutbag'.

Those comments landed him in hot water with the medical regulator, and he was ordered to complete mandatory ethics training and stripped of his ability to supervise trainee GPs.

Dr Webster cited the order by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, along with a 'complete lack of support' from fellow doctors who refused to limit their bulk billing, as key factors in the closure of the Leongatha Healthcare Practice, which employs 18 GPs.

He said he wants to open a new 'boutique practice' instead.

'It will be a radically downsized clinic. Quite a lot of people were not in favour of me and my style,' he told the Herald Sun.

'But patients that were approving of my compassion and skill will continue to see me.'

The country doctor who first alerted police to triple mushroom killer Erin Pattersonhas closed his local practice to avoid 'financial oblivion' (pictured, Dr Chris Webster)

Patterson was found guilty of murdering her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson with death cap mushrooms

He added: 'I've got the community's back and they've got mine. My books are always open.'

However doctors and staff at the practice said there is a 'number of complex issues' which include 'longstanding concerns raised by staff and clinicians regarding workplace safety and governance'.

Dr Webster was labelled a hero after reports of his quick-thinking actions in hospital were voiced during the 2025 trial.

He told the jury he first encountered Patterson at Leongatha Hospital at about 8am on Sunday, July 31, 2023 - two days after her deadly lunch.

At that stage, Patterson's lunch guests Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather and Pastor Ian Wilkinson, were fighting for life in various hospitals. Only Ian would survive.

Dr Webster was already aware that her four guests may have been poisoned with death cap mushrooms when he first laid eyes on Patterson at the hospital.

'I apologised (that) she had been kept waiting, I asked why she had presented and she said "gastro",' he said.

'I asked her where she got the mushrooms and she said, "Woolworths".'

Dr Webster is set to close his local practice in order to avoid 'financial oblivion'

Dr Webster, who doubted Patterson's Woolworths claim, said he told her that he needed to commence treatment on her for possible death cap mushroom poisoning.

The doctor later said he became aware Patterson had left the hospital.

'If she said she picked them (the death caps), it would have been a very different mindset for me because there would have been an instant assumption it was all a tragic accident,' he told the Herald Sun in 2025.

'But once she said that answer (that she bought the mushrooms from Woolworths), my thoughts were, "holy f**king shit, you f**king did it, you crazy b***h, you poisoned them all."

'The turning point for me was that moment.'

It appears the practice is still accepting new patients with appointments available until March 10, according to the HotDoc booking website.

However, patients are unable to book in with Dr Webster directly and are advised to call the clinic for more information.
Police in Britain's first 'Big Brother town' are catching criminals every 34 minutes, spotting suspects on the run for 20 years using facial recognition cameras, it can be revealed.

Just weeks after the Government announced controversial plans to roll out facial recognition technology across the country in cities, towns and even villages, the Daily Mail can reveal the astonishing results in the first town to get permanent cameras.

In October, Scotland Yard installed fixed cameras on lampposts at the entrance and exit to Croydon town centre after the town was designated a 'crime hotspot'.

Nicknamed Britain's 'Big Brother town' as a result, the cameras appear like ordinary CCTV, but they are periodically switched on to hunt for thousands of wanted criminals on a watchlist.

On average, one suspect has been arrested every 34 minutes when the cameras are operating.

In one instance, an alleged violent offender who had been on the run for over two decades was captured.

The woman had been wanted over an assault since 2004, but all previous attempts to locate her had failed.

A man wanted on suspicion of kidnap was also captured as a result.

Met Police footage of arrests after using facial recognition cameras. On average, one suspect has been arrested every 34 minutes when the cameras are operating

Police in Britain's first 'Big Brother town' are catching criminals every 34 minutes, spotting suspects on the run for 20 years using facial recognition cameras, it can be revealed

So far, police have made 100 arrests, with a third being for offences of violence against women and girls including strangulation and sexual assault

Since the cameras were switched on, crime has plummeted compared to November last year.

So far, police have made 100 arrests, with a third being for offences of violence against women and girls including strangulation and sexual assault.

Others include those wanted on recall to prison and for burglary and possession of offensive weapon offences.

The Metropolitan Police is one of the first forces to pioneer the technology, but previous deployments have relied on a camera van being parked in a location for a few hours in prominent locations such as Oxford Street.

Compared to van deployments, analysis shows that the lamppost cameras have halved the average length of time that it takes to arrest offenders after they are circulated as wanted.

Since October more than 146,000 faces of the public walking down the high street in Croydon have been scanned in 13 deployments.

In that time the cameras have generated more than 132 alerts.

In one deployment lasting less than two hours, police made arrests every 13 minutes on average.

The cameras have resulted in a 12 per cent fall in retail and violent crime as well as sexual offences in the local area.

They work by taking digital images of passing pedestrians, feeding them into a computer using biometric software to measure facial features.

The image is compared with a watchlist and if a match is detected, an alert is sent to officers to review and consider making an arrest.

Join the debate Does constant facial recognition in public make you feel safer, or is our privacy under threat?

In October, Scotland Yard installed fixed cameras on lampposts at the entrance and exit to Croydon town centre after the town was designated a 'crime hotspot' (File image of police in Croydon)

The cameras have resulted in a 12 per cent fall in retail and violent crime as well as sexual offences in the local area (File image of Croydon)

If a member of the public is not wanted by police, their biometrics are immediately deleted.

Met tests show the technology is so accurate that only around one in 33,000 scans results in a false alert.

Now Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has called for the cameras to be installed in every town centre after seeing a dramatic reduction in crime in the area, which has been plagued by shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing.

The Croydon South MP said: 'It's almost free arrests. These are regular cameras unlike the vans which are a scarce resource.

'I have spoken to residents and explained that their images are deleted immediately afterwards and people are absolutely happy for that happen if we catch lots more wanted criminals as a result. It is a trade-off that the vast majority are willing to accept.

'People are noticing that crime is going down, people do feel safer.'

The Government is currently holding a consultation about the use of facial recognition after announcing plans to roll it out across the UK.

Smaller forces like Hertfordshire Police are also launching their own consultations about the use of the technology.

But some campaigners have raised concerns about state surveillance with groups like Big Brother Watch saying: 'Live facial recognition turns every passer-by into a walking barcode and treats us all as a nation of suspects.'

Lindsey Chiswick, lead for facial recognition at the Met and nationally, said: 'The increase in Live Facial Recognition (LFR) deployments across crime hotspots in London is driven by its proven impact and success - with more than 1,700 dangerous offenders off London's streets since the start of 2024, including those wanted for rape and child abuse.

'This is why we are trialling a new and innovative pilot in Croydon, which sees cameras temporarily mounted on street furniture, rather than vans. This allows us to explore a different way of using facial recognition, operating it remotely and in a more efficient way.'
A night out in Sydney's CBD ended in horror when a 20-year-old man was allegedly kicked in the head during a scuffle over an iPhone, leaving part of his skull shattered.

Francis Wilson was knocked unconscious after his head slammed into the pavement during the early-morning brawl near World Square on September 21 last year, police allege.

He has since undergone multiple emergency surgeries and is now facing another major operation as doctors work to protect his brain.

The 20-year-old labourer lost a section of his skull during life-saving brain surgery and is currently living in a rehabilitation centre, where he has had to relearn basic motor skills such as eating and drinking.

Police allege the violence unfolded about 2.30am when French national Ismail Belhout, who did not know Wilson, held up his phone towards him.

Police claim Wilson approached and grabbed the device, sparking a scuffle.

According to the police statement of facts, Belhout then allegedly wrapped his arm around Wilson's neck, dragged him to the ground, and was joined by others before Wilson was kicked in the head.

'The victim's neck snapped back instantly, his head hitting the ground hard, causing it to bounce twice,' the police fact sheet alleges.

Francis Wilson is preparing to undergo his third surgery after part of his skull was removed

The labourer and Fijian national underwent two brain surgeries last year after the alleged brawl

'He was instantly knocked unconscious for about 20 seconds.'

Police claim the accused ran from the scene and did not return.

Belhout, 20, has been charged with reckless grievous bodily harm while in company and affray.

He was granted bail in early December under strict conditions, including daily police reporting, a curfew and a ban on approaching international departure points.

During his bail application, the court heard Belhout had arrived in Australia the same month as the alleged attack and would live with his brother in Ultimo while continuing work as an Uber driver.

His brother told the court Belhout had been 'extremely stressed and frantic' in custody due to limited English.

Wilson's family say the injuries have been devastating.

'He's got a big divot in his head at the moment where he actually has no skull, so there's nothing protecting his brain,' his sister-in-law Keira Bale told the Sydney Morning Herald.

She described Wilson as a 'gentle, family-orientated man' who is still recovering from the brutal attack.

Belhout is due to face court on February 17. A second man, also a French national, remains before the courts over the incident.
The man believed to be the kingpin of Australia's illicit tobacco trade launched into a defiant rant about loyalty and his contempt for 'rats' in the days before he was sensationally arrested in Iraq.

Iraqi law enforcement swooped on Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami - better known on home soil as Kaz Hamad - last week 'in response to an official request from Australia', sending shockwaves through the Melbourne underworld.

Hamad, who had been reportedly living in a secure compound, is the suspected mastermind of Australia's illicit tobacco trade and the alleged warlord responsible for countless fire bombings of rival tobacco shops across Victoria.

In the days before his arrest, Hamad - described by the Iraqi authorities as one of the most dangerous men in the world - made a series of extraordinary comments in a 45-minute interview with controversial true crime reporter Ryan Naumenko, where he said he was staunchly loyal to his 'boys' in Australia.

'Do you know my outgoing is $220,000 a month to my boys,' he told Naumenko in the rant, published on Naumenko's Outlaw Media and YouTube sites.

'I want my boys to be proud of who they are.'

Hamad had been unapologetic over his quest to rule Australia's illicit tobacco trade, telling Naumenko he was not afraid to go back to jail.

He is no stranger to prison, having served extended periods behind bars in Australia for assault, armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping and drug dealing.

Kaz Hamad had been living the good life in Australia before he was deported

However, Hamad is understood to have recently made a number of calls to Melbourne journalists to shoot down suggestions his 'boys' had been behind an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbournes Ripponlea.

Hamad had been at pains to distance himself from the bombings.

'Whoever did this, its not me,' a man believed to be Hamad told the Herald Sun.

During his conversation with Naumenko, Hamad claimed it was cowardly criminals afraid to do jail time that turned them into police informants - known in the underworld as 'rats'.

'Listen to me mate, you know who lags?' he told Naumenko, using a local expression for informing.

'People who can't do jail and they're scared. That's who lags. If someone's not (afraid) of jail and he's not scared of any human being, (why) the f**k should they lag?

'Meaning he went for safety for himself.'

Hamad appeared to be annoyed with Naumenko over public statements he had made about former Mongol bikie Toby Mitchell in which he indicated he had previously co-operated with police.

Independent crime reporter Ryan Naumenko spoke to Kaz Hamad on the phone before his arrest in Iraq

Hamad told Naumenko he had been mates with Mitchell and suggested the independent journalist get his facts straight before making such comments.

'You want to declare people declare them with facts. I'm giving you the green light,' Hamad said.

'If you get a statement promised about me lagging on anyone and it's a real statement, I'm telling you post it.' Hamad claimed his loyalty to his 'boys' was staunch and he took solace in knowing that he had looked after them.

'No one's loyal like us,' Hamad said.

'I can fall out with anybody if I want. I can declare everybody if I want. I'm not scared. But hang on my boys are there. (People say) I don't care about my boys? What type of person am I then?'

Naumenko told his followers his chat with Hamad had changed his opinion of the alleged outlaw.

'He's a man of his word, he's a man who fears nothing but MOSSAD,' he said.

Kaz Hamad (right) and former bikie Toby Mitchell (left) in happier days

'He's a man who changed the crime game in Australia. He's also the only man who's allowed hardworking Aussies to continue smoking tobacco while not going broke for doing so.'

Victoria Police has a very different opinion of Hamad, accusing his goons of being behind the murder of Point Cook woman Katie Tangey.

Just over a year ago, Detective Inspector Chris Murray, of the Arson and Explosives Squad, said Ms Tangey had suffered a 'horrible' death in the bungled fire bombing attack which he linked to the city's tobacco wars.

'Katey Tangey had nothing to do with the illegal tobacco trade, nor did her friends, nor did her family. I just want to make that crystal clear,' he said then.

'We're absolutely convinced of that. They've got the wrong address.'

Police also suspect Hamad is behind the state's 'Tobacco War', which began in March 2023 just months before Hamad walked out of prison after an eight year ail sentence.

He is also suspected of ordering the deaths of rivals, such as Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim, although he is yet to be slapped with any murder charges.

Following Hamad's arrest, newly installed Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said Hamad had been its 'number one target'.

Police suspect Hamad ordered the execution of Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim

Katie Tangey was killed in a house fire believed to have been lit by bungling goons acting for Hamad

The Point Cook home where Ms Tangey perished

'Late last year, the AFP provided information to law enforcement officials in Iraq about this alleged offender,' Ms Barrett said.

'Iraqi officials have made an independent decision to arrest this alleged offender after launching their own criminal investigation.

'This arrest is a significant disruption to an alleged serious criminal and his alleged criminal enterprise in Australia.'
New South Wales is on the brink of a seismic shakeup of its animal welfare laws, with the state preparing to criminalise behaviour that leaves pets suffering, including owners who abandon dogs in blistering hot cars or use brutal prong collars.

Under the proposed overhaul, offenders could be hit with devastating penalties, including fines of up to $44,000 and a year behind bars, putting these offences on par with the state's toughest animalcruelty punishments.

The sweeping, longoverdue reform would finally drag NSW into line with the stricter regimes already enforced in Western Australia and South Australia.

In those jurisdictions, there are maximum penalties reaching five years' imprisonment and $50,000 fines for the worst cases of animal abuse.

The proposed NSW reforms would also allow animal welfare inspectors to administer immediate pain relief and allow for emergency euthanasia in critical situations.

A new provision would make it illegal to possess deadly glue traps that trap and slowly kill native animals.

The proposals are expected to be introduced to state parliament in the first half of 2026 after discussions with key stakeholders.

'Leaving dogs in locked cars on hot days is not acceptable, and neither is the use of collars with prongs that spike into the necks of puppies and dogs,' NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said.

People who leave dogs in locked cars could face jail time under proposed reforms in NSW

NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty (pictured) said on a 30 degree day, the interior of a parked car could reach a blistering 70 degrees

Prong collars are used as a training tool with metal links and blunted prongs that pinch the loose skin on a dog's neck when they pull on the leash

'I've heard first-hand community views that put expectations on our government to take action and set these matters right.'

On a 30degree day, the interior of a parked car could reach 70C, Moriarty said.

'That's a death knell for an animal left inside.'

Owners who leave their dogs in hot vehicles can already be prosecuted in the most serious circumstances, but the new offence would be easier to prove if certain temperature and time limits are breached.

However, the government hasn't yet decided what they will be.

In Victoria, once the outside temperature reaches 28 degrees, a dog cannot be left in a car for more than 10 minutes.

Tradies, farmers and other motorists who travel with dogs on the back of utes will also be affected by the proposed legislation.

Animal Welfare League NSW chief executive Stephen Albin said many dog owners now treated their pets as 'constant companions', taking them everywhere.

Tradies, farmers and other motorists who travel with dogs on the back of utes will also be affected by the proposed legislation in NSW

'You've got to ensure you look after them, and that is by not keeping them in cars on a hot day and not necessarily tethering them to the back of utes, unsafely,' Mr Albin said.

The reforms will also crack down on animal fighting by addressing potential loopholes and supporting police to address links to organised crime.

Those who facilitate animal fights could be fined up to $110,000 and face up to two years in prison.

NSW already banned puppy farms in 2024, invested millions in animal welfare enforcement, and updated legislation to prevent those convicted of animal cruelty from keeping and breeding animals.

In the past six years, RSPCA NSW received more than 500 reports of pets being locked in cars.

The organisation said even mild conditions could result in lifethreatening temperatures inside vehicles.

'There is no excuse to leave your dogs locked in cars unattended,' a spokeswoman said.

'When it's 22 degrees outside, the inside of a car can reach a stifling 47 degrees and this is no environment for a dog.

'Dogs cool themselves through panting and are particularly at risk of heat stress in a hot car. If the air around them is too hot, and there is no access to cool water, dogs cannot lower their body temperature back to where it should be.'
A left-wing mob stormed a Minnesota church to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stopping services and leaving worshippers furious.

Protesters interrupted Sunday service at Cities Church in St Paul, angrily demanding 'ICE out' and accusing a senior leader of the church of working with the agency.

One demonstrator said they were 'demanding justice for' Renee Good, the 37-year-old Minneapolis mother fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross earlier this month.

'This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities,' Nekima Levy Armstrong said.

The protester was being questioned by Don Lemon, who followed the marchers as they stormed into the service.

The protest action disrupted the Sunday services, with many worshippers leaving in disgust after being harassed by the protesters.

'These people have come into our house and they've interrupted our worship. Everybody's gone home, their point has been proven worthless and so, in the end, I think they lose,' said one churchgoer.

'I feel violated, I feel interrupted, I feel angry.'

Lemon, who operates as an independent journalist after being fired by CNN, spoke to one of the pastors at Cities Church, who said the protesters refused to have a peaceful dialogue.

A left-wing mob stormed a Minnesota church to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stopping services and leaving worshippers furious

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon followed the protesters into the church

'No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family,' he said, before asking Lemon to leave.

Lemon said he'd gone to Minneapolis after the weeks of protest because 'I believe in the Constitution and I believe, especially, in the First Amendment and that all journalists should be here if they have the opportunity.'

The former CNN anchor noted afterwards that there were police vehicles outside the church but he never saw officers walk in to try and calm things down.

Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote Sunday that she'd spoken with the pastor and reassured him that any attacks 'are being met with the full force of federal law.'

'If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.'

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the protesters will be investigated by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division under the FACE Act, which criminalizes using force or threats at churches.

ICE's social media account posted Sunday: 'Agitators arent just targeting our officers. Now theyre targeting churches, too. They're going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.'

They blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for 'whipping these mobs into a frenzy and then allowing them to run rampant.'

Protesters interrupted Sunday service at Cities Church in St Paul, angrily demanding 'ICE out' and accusing a senior leader of the church of working with the agency

The protest action disrupted the Sunday services, with many worshippers leaving in disgust after being harassed by the protesters

Both the Department of Justice and ICE condemned the protests, with DOJ saying they were going to launch a Civil Rights Division investigation

'We wont be deterred. ICE isnt going anywhere.'

The protests grabbed the attention of Donald Trump, as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted: 'President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship. The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Cities Church for comment. In an email to the Daily Mail, ICE reiterated its messaging shared online about the incident.

Minnesota has been the hub of protest activity between ICE and left-wing protesters ever since the shooting of Good in early January.

Frey said Sunday that his city is 'under siege' after being 'invaded' by ICE agents during the recent immigration crackdown by Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security.

'This is ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government,' Frey told Tapper.

Earlier this week, the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial board wrote that Minnesota is 'under siege' and compared the situation in Minneapolis to a 'military occupation,' and Frey agreed with that analysis.

Frey told Tapper that his city is 'under siege, occupied, you know, use whatever word or superlative that you wanna attach, but the bottom line is what is taking place is designed to intimidate.'

Lemon, who operates as an independent journalist after being fired by CNN, spoke to one of the pastors at Cities Church, who said the protesters refused to have a peaceful dialogue

Protesters and worshippers stand outside Cities Church in St Paul following the protest

Minnesota has been the hub of protest activity between ICE and left-wing protesters ever since the shooting of Good in early January

Frey also told Tapper that the Trump administration's actions are 'not fair' and 'completely unconstitutional,' while also adding that the residents of his city are standing up in the face of 'adversity' and that he was 'so proud to be from Minneapolis.'

It was reported on Sunday morning that 1,500 troops are 'on standby' for a deployment to Minnesota amid protests in the state, following two shootings in the city involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers since last week.'

Trump's Department of Justice launched an investigation Friday into the Democratic governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, as well as Frey, over volatile protests against ICE in the city.

Both Walz and Frey are under investigation for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement.

A US official told CBS that Walz and Frey's anti-ICE rhetoric is what spurred the investigation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted to social media Friday night: 'A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.'

Earlier Friday, Trump posted to Truth Social: 'In Minnesota, the Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists are, in many cases, highly paid professionals. The Governor and Mayor don't know what to do, they have totally lost control, and our currently being rendered, USELESS! If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY!'

The liberal leaders have been heavily critical of federal law enforcement in the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an agent on January 7.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey appears on CNN's State of the Union Sunday, where he was interviewed by host Jake Tapper

Frey told ICE agents to 'get the f**k out of Minneapolis' as tensions have escalated in the city.

Walz, the Democrat nominee for vice president in 2024, has also taken shots at the president and told ICE to leave.

On Wednesday, Frey slammed ICE officials again for 'creating chaos' in his city after an agent who was 'ambushed' during an arrest shot a suspect in the leg.

The Department of Homeland Security said the suspect was an illegal migrant from Venezuela who ran away on foot Wednesday night before joining two others to attack the agent with a 'broomstick or shovel.'

The suspect was shot in the leg and remains in a stable condition in hospital. Two accomplices were also in police custody, and the agent involved was also taken to hospital after he was violently set upon by the trio.

Law enforcement officers wearing masks were using tear gas and flash bangs on protesters at the scene, just 4.5 miles north of where Good was shot, in an effort to control the crowds.

Frey urged protesters who had arrived at the scene to 'go home', warning they were making matters worse and 'taking the bait.'

'For anyone who is taking the bait tonight: stop,' he said at a late-night press conference to address the second ICE shooting to rock his city in a week.

'It is not helpful. Go home. We cannot counter Donald Trump's chaos with our own chaos.

'You are not helping the undocumented immigrants in our city, you are not helping the people who call this place home.'

The Trump administration has sent nearly 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota.
Millions of uncooked chips washed up on a south coast beach on Sunday - in some places more than two feet deep.

The chips, many still in their plastic bags, appeared strewn on the beach as the tide receded on Falling Sands beach near Beachy Head and Eastbourne.

The fries are believed to have been those housed in at least 20 huge containers that washed overboard from two ships in the English Channel during a storm.

Currents have brought them up en masse to East Sussex beaches.

The chips - minus fish - are believed to have spewed out of the metal containers as they were buffeted by waves.

The discovery comes just two weeks after huge numbers of bananas were washed ashore near Selsey, West Sussex, after containers they were being shipped to the UK in also fell overboard from a ship.

Joel Bonnici, who lives in Eastbourne, told the BBC in Sussex that he 'had to look twice' when he went for a walk in Falling Sands.

'The beach looked like the Caribbean golden sands,' he said.

In some places there were more than two feet of chips piled on Falling Sands beach in East Sussex

Joel Bonnici said that he discovered the chip covered beach while on a walk along the coast

Many of the chips were still in their bags and are believed to have washed ashore after at least 20 massive shipping containers fell from two ships in storms in the English Channel

'In some areas, the chips were two-and-a-half feet deep into the ground. Among the unusual sightings of washed-up items - including onions found earlier this week - nothing compares with this.'

A call-out for volunteers has been issued on a community Facebook page to encourage residents to help clear up the chips, Mr Bonnici added.

'Removing the plastic bags is a priority,' he added.

He said there was a small colony of seals nearby and the bags posed a danger to them.

'I scuba dive quite regularly and I know what seals are like - if they see the bags they will play with them or try to eat them.'

Three shipping containers washed up at Seaford in East Sussex on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the Coastguard said a container off Littlehampton, West Sussex, was also recovered, along with debris off Beachy Head.

'An aircraft was sent to survey the area on Friday and no further containers were spotted offshore,' they added.

Seagulls were spoilt for choice at Falling Sands yesterday as millions of chips covered the beach

Volunteers have been called to clear up the plastic bags that litter the East Sussex coastline in the area

Mr Bonnici is particularly worried that seals might try to eat the plastic bags floating in the sea

'Among the unusual sightings of washed-up items - including onions found earlier this week - nothing compares with this,' said Mr Bonnici

They said containers which washed up at Selsey, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Rustington, Rottingdean and Beachy Head are being monitored.

They came ashore a month after 16 containers fell from the cargo vessel Baltic Klipper near the Isle of Wight and days after several containers fell from two more ships off the island during Storm Goretti.

East Sussex County Council has urged members of the public to take extra care if they are visiting the coastline.

'Please keep dogs on leads as some of the food items washing onto the shoreline may be harmful to them,' a spokesperson added.
The scale of the infighting within Keir Starmer's divided Cabinet was laid bare yesterday.

One senior minister admitted she was dismayed in the wake of renewed attacks by the Prime Minister's allies against Wes Streeting for harbouring leadership ambitions.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy urged her colleagues to end the anonymous briefings against each other and instead focus on working to improve public services.

It came after the PM's right-hand man Darren Jones was accused of pushing for the Health Secretary to be sacked over supposed disloyalty.

Ms Nandy told Times Radio: 'I'd just say to anybody who's briefing in any direction about anything at the moment, stop it. We've got a job to do.'

Asked if Mr Streeting had been too critical of the Government  after he said ministers should 'get it right first time' following a series of U-turns  Ms Nandy replied: 'He's not ambitious to go further in terms of briefing, he's ambitious to go further in terms of his actual job tackling the problems that people have.

'We all need to be free to be able to do that and we need to be free of the noise, free of the distraction and able to continue to do that.'

One senior minister admitted she was dismayed in the wake of renewed attacks by the Prime Minister's allies against Wes Streeting (pictured) for harbouring leadership ambitions

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy (pictured) urged her colleagues to end the anonymous briefings against each other and instead focus on working to improve public services

Talking to GB News, she denied the Cabinet were jostling to replace Sir Keir but admitted: 'I don't want to dress it up for you, it frustrates the hell out of me.'

She said she read the latest stories with a 'sinking feeling' and added: 'I'm frustrated by the noise.

I'm frustrated by the people who go and talk about these things and brief against each other, or leak.

'I'm frustrated by those people, and I just wish they'd stop it.'

Her comments came after hostilities resumed between Downing Street and Mr Streeting. Last autumn he was the victim of a botched briefing by Sir Keir's allies who accused him of plotting a leadership challenge.

Mr Streeting insisted at the time he was a 'faithful' rather than a traitor and hit out at the 'toxic' culture in No 10.

But he has also failed to deny he wants to be PM one day and his recent comments were branded 'wild' by one anonymous Cabinet minister last week while another said he was 'undermining all of us'.

That led to claims that Mr Jones, the Chief Secretary to the PM, was attacking Mr Streeting in order to boost his own chances of succeeding Sir Keir.

Join the debate Is Labour already at war with itself?

Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy are pictured arriving for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London

One source told The Sunday Times: 'Darren thinks he is playing a clever game. These briefings are carefully calculated to damage Wes and the Prime Minister in order to advance his own leadership ambitions.'

Allies of Mr Streeting condemned the 'utterly self-defeating briefing' while those close to Mr Jones insisted he does not attack colleagues.

The leader of the Scottish National Party, John Swinney, yesterday warned Sir Keir that his job is in jeopardy: 'If I win a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections in May of this year, I don't think Keir Starmer will be the Prime Minister.'
Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform was unravelling last night as senior figures in his new party refused to back his ambitions for a top role.

The Conservative MP's move, billed by his aides as 'the biggest defection story Reform has ever had (and likely ever will be)', received a cool reception from those already in Nigel Farage's party.

In a leaked memo, his team had billed him as 'the new sheriff in town', but yesterday Mr Jenrick failed to be endorsed for the job he wants by one likely rival for the post, while others declined to welcome his arrival.

The Tories mocked their former Shadow Justice Secretary by suggesting 'the new sheriff isn't welcome in Reform town'.

Asked by the BBC if he would be happy for Mr Jenrick to become Reform's Shadow Chancellor, the party's deputy leader Richard Tice replied: 'Look Nigel's the boss... The great thing is we've got a multitude of talent, across the whole range of the main offices of state.'

Challenged again, he would say only: 'We've got a great range of talent, the boss will make his decision about different roles at the appropriate time.'

Mr Tice, who has long been tipped for the crucial economic role, was also asked about Mr Jenrick's claim that Reform needs to 'think through' its policy on lifting the two-child benefit cap for British families.

Robert Jenrick and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage answer questions from the media during the Reform conference in London following the former Tory's defection

The Conservative MP's move, billed by his aides as 'the biggest defection story Reform has ever had (and likely ever will be)', received a cool reception from those already in Nigel Farage's party

The Tories mocked their former Shadow Chancellor by suggesting 'the new sheriff isn't welcome in Reform town'

'What's absolutely responsible is to say the key thing is we need people to work, and our child benefit policy is around working families, British families,' he replied.

Reform's head of policy, Zia Yusuf, who is also thought to want the Shadow Chancellor role, was asked if he was involved in the negotiations to bring Mr Jenrick across.

He replied: 'My assessment is this is a man who is thoughtful, who is clear-eyed about all of the different ways the Tories betrayed this country and wants to help Nigel, help me help Richard and everyone at Reform, repair that damage.

'I also think it's crystal clear that him arriving at Reform makes it more likely that we win the next general election and I think that's a really important milestone in order for us to do that, to turn the country around.'

Reform's candidate for London mayor - who had billed herself as the 'new sheriff in town' just a week before Mr Jenrick's team used the phrase about him in their secret defection plan - was also lukewarm about his arrival.

Asked why Mr Farage was not concerned about his new recruit's record in government, Laila Cunningham told GB News: 'I think what Nigel Farage sees, and we trust Nigel Farage's judgment, is Jenrick leaving the Conservatives really signals that they're finished.

'It's not about whether I'm pleased or displeased. It's about what it represents.'

She also admitted she was not immediately convinced by his move, saying 'So when he first defected I was, "let's see what he's going to say in his speech".'

Join the debate Do YOU support Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform?

Reform's candidate for London mayor, Laila Cunningham (pictured) - who had billed herself as the 'new sheriff in town' just a week before Mr Jenrick's team used the phrase about him in their secret defection plan - was also lukewarm about his arrival

But she added: 'What he said was exactly what we're all feeling.'

Asked why Mr Yusuf had not welcomed Mr Jenrick to Reform, she said 'we all went for dinner' on the day of the defection and that the pair got on 'very well'.

Mr Jenrick has been ridiculed for an 'Alan Partridge-style speech in the mirror' effort to endear himself to his new party's supporters after a secret defection memo was handed to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

The Mail on Sunday revealed that the private 'media plan' urged Mr Jenrick to 'use humour - one of your best skills' and described him as 'the most popular Tory Shadow Cabinet member, leader-in-waiting if Kemi ever falls and the most dynamic politician in the Conservative Party'.

The notes, obtained by a mole in Mr Jenrick's office, include lines about Mr Farage such as: 'Only person in British politics [to have] been consistent.'

The six-page memo also suggested his replies to questions about jumping ship to save his career should be: 'Last time I checked I was top of the brilliant Conservative Home Shadow Cabinet league table, so I seemed to be doing all right!'

Mr Jenrick is advised to 'listen out for questions where you can be funny and don't be afraid to be self-effacing or have a laugh, sometimes even on policy-based questions'.

A leaked memo even prepares for a potential question about whether Mr Farage is 'only good for a pint'

It's also suggested he 'be demonstrative (in particular hands), slow down, use your vocal range and stress words'.

The excruciating operational note added: 'Passion and showing you care is key - but not to be mistaken for shouting or talking like an AI politician - have a conversation'.

It adds he should 'dismiss and shut down stupid questions, often with humour or rhetorical questions in response!'

The memo even prepares for a potential question about whether Mr Farage is 'only good for a pint'.

It recommends a quip such as: 'Well, Nigel is still good for a pint!'

Reform's Lincolnshire mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns wrote on social media yesterday that she backed the party's new imposition of a deadline of May 7 for further defections.

She said she 'completely agreed' with the move to 'pull up the drawbridge to the Conservatives'.

'We don't need their arrogance saying they are coming on board to "help". Nigel, Zia and the team are doing just fine.'

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake told the Daily Mail: 'It seems the new sheriff isn't welcome in Reform town - or perhaps Reform town just isn't big enough for all the wannabe chancellors.

'Zia Yusuf can't even bring himself to welcome Jenrick to the party and Richard Tice wouldn't even back Robert Jenrick as a credible chancellor and they're already arguing about how much more they should spend on benefits.'

He added: 'Voters want a serious team with a clear plan and leadership with a backbone, not a saloon full of egos.'

But a Reform source said: 'The Tories are desperately lashing out as they panic theyre fading into irrelevance. Theyre right to be worried - Nigel and Reform have supplanted them.

'Kevin Hollinrake might get a hearing if he was honest and admitted the Tories broke the country - but he wont and should never be forgiven.'
A senior minister has been warned she is making politics 'more dangerous' after suggesting that a Reform government would be fascist.

Lisa Nandy was branded irresponsible after she refused to deny reports that she had made the incendiary claim to her Labour colleagues about Nigel Farage's party.

She then went on to accuse Reform of trying to scapegoat and demonise migrants and ethnic minorities.

Asked by Sky News yesterday if she had warned in last week's Cabinet meeting of the prospect of a fascist government led by Mr Farage, the Culture Secretary replied: 'To be really clear about what I think about Reform and Nigel Farage, I think we've been here many times in history before, certainly when I was growing up in the 1980s in Manchester.'

Ms Nandy, whose father is Indian, said she had seen the 'playbook' where 'people try to scapegoat and demonise other people' because 'they have no answers to the problems that the country faces'.

'It takes this country to some very dark and dangerous places and I think we should have no truck with it at all,' she added.

Pressed on whether she would use the word fascist to describe a future administration led by Mr Farage, she replied: 'I've got a lot of experience of living with the consequences of othering and people who are trying to divide us from one another.

'And I guess I would just say that if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, in my experience, it usually is a duck.'

Lisa Nandy (pictured) was branded irresponsible after she refused to deny reports that she had made the incendiary claim to her Labour colleagues that a future Reform government would be 'fascist'

But Reform's head of policy Zia Yusuf pointed out that it was the Labour Government that has cancelled council elections for millions of people and is curtailing the right to a jury trial.

'Those things sound far, far more worrying than anything Nigel Farage has ever said or done,' he told Sky News.

But asked if he was calling Labour fascist, he replied: 'I'm not, because I think that if you overuse those words and you throw around these sorts of labels... you cheapen that language.

'You diminish the memories of the people who suffered under people who were those things. And you make politics in this country even more dangerous than it is. I think it's deeply irresponsible to do that.'

A Reform UK spokesman added: 'Lisa Nandy's attack on the most popular party in Britain is an insult to millions of people who support Reform UK.

'Labour should stop hurling lazy, baseless smears and focus on fixing the broken country they helped create.

'Fascists cancel elections and that's exactly what this Government is doing.'
Labour pulled its entire Hillsborough Law on Sunday night after a backlash from victims' families and backbenchers.

Ministers had first been forced to abandon planned changes to the flagship legislation - intended to prevent future establishment cover-ups - after angry complaints that it would protect the security services.

The partial climbdown came on Sunday evening after Whitehall officials failed during weekend talks to convince campaigners to accept its proposed amendments to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Under the proposed 'duty of candour', it will be illegal for the authorities to withhold information from investigations but the Government wanted to give the heads of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ the power to decide what they could disclose.

Ministers had hoped that talks could continue and amendments could be made when the bill reached the Lords if an agreement could be found with bereaved families.

However at 10pm on Sunday it emerged that the campaigners were unhappy with the issues being dealt with in the upper house, prompting Government whips to pull the entire bill.

It means that the proposed Third Reading, due to take place in the Commons on Monday, will no longer go ahead.

The Bill, whose sponsor is Justice Secretary David Lammy, was first debated in November and has already been through the committee stage of scrutiny in the Commons.

The Hillsborough Law, known officially as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, was meant to prevent institutional coverups following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster when 97 Liverpool fans died

Keir Starmer appeared on stage at Labour's party conference in Liverpool last year with campaigner Margaret Aspinall, whose son died in the 1989 tragedy. Now he is pulling back the law after she praised him for keeping his word

Sources confirmed the bill would be pulled and return at a later date to allow for further discussions.

A Government spokesman said: 'This legislation will right the wrongs of the past, changing the balance of power to ensure the state can never hide from the people it should serve and putting a legal duty on officials to respond openly and honestly when things go wrong.

'The bill will make the police, intelligence agencies and the whole of government more scrutinised than they have ever been. We must get this right to keep the country safe.

'We welcome continued support from victims and their families, making sure the Bill is the strongest it can possibly be while never compromising on national security.'

It risks being seen as yet another U-turn by Labour, although ministers will remain desperate to get the legislation through because Sir Keir Starmer has made a personal commitment to it.

He appeared on stage at Labour's party conference in Liverpool last year with campaigner Margaret Aspinall, whose son died in the 1989 tragedy, and she praised him for having 'kept his word' by introducing the bill but added it must be brought in 'in all its entirety'.

Justice Secretary David Lammy is the sponsor of the law which was first debated in the Commons in November last year

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham got involved to criticise the law giving security services 'too broad an opt-out'

Earlier on Sunday a Labour MP who was at the Hillsborough disaster - in which 97 Liverpool fans were killed and which led to the biggest police cover-up in British history - said it would 'break my heart' to vote against the bill.

Ian Byrne told the BBC before the Government climbdown: 'The Hillsborough Law was meant to change the culture of cover-ups, which have caused so much harm in this country. And unfortunately, as it stands now, we feel that's still a live threat.'
Researchers are on the trail of discovering new treatments to suppress the growth of bowel and liver cancers.

Genes in the bowel and liver were studied to find out why they only cause cancer in specific tissues.

The scientists zeroed in on genetic faults that allow cancer to hijack a signalling system in the body which tells cells when and where not to grow.

Cancer can then use the system, called the WNT pathway, to grow tumours.

The research, published in Nature Genetics, found that a protein called nucleophosmin (NPM1), involved in the control of growth, was found in high levels in bowel cancer and some liver cancers.

This was due to genetic errors in the WNT pathway.

By blocking this protein, it may be possible to develop new treatments for specific cancers.

Genes in the bowel and liver were studied to find out why they only cause cancer in specific tissues. Pictured: an illustration of cancerous cells, red blood cells and double-helix DNA strands

Lead researcher Professor Owen Sansom, of the University of Glasgow and the director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, said: 'Because NPM1 isn't essential for normal adult tissue health, blocking it could be a safe way to treat certain cancers, like some hard-to-treat bowel and liver cancers.

'If NPM1 is removed, cancer cells struggle to make proteins properly and this allows a tumour suppressor to activate, preventing cancer growth.

'Increasing numbers of people are affected by these cancers, so finding a new way to tackle these cancers is crucial.'

Almost 24,000 people die from bowel or liver cancer each year in the UK. The team hope the findings could aid the treatment of other cancers.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson remains barred from the Senate, even as her party records a historic surge in the latest opinion polls.

Parliament resumed on Monday to pay respects to victims of the Bondi Beach massacre on December 14, when 15 people were killed by gunmen targeting a Jewish celebration.

The government initially planned to introduce a bill criminalising hate speech and strengthening gun laws, before widespread opposition forced it to split the legislation into two.

Labor wants to pass hate speech reforms through the Senate on Tuesday evening.

But Hanson is partway through a sevensittingday suspension after the Senate censured her for breaching standing orders by wearing a burqa into the chamber last November.

Her enforced absence comes as a shock Newspoll shows One Nation's primary vote jumping seven points to 22 per cent - the party's highest result on record and enough to overtake the LiberalNational Coalition for the first time.

The Coalition has fallen three points to 21 per cent, slipping into third place behind Labor and One Nation.

Labor has also lost ground, dropping four points to 32 per cent, but continues to hold a commanding twopartypreferred lead over the Coalition, 5545.

Pauline Hanson (pictured) remains banned from the Senate until early February

Hanson (pictured) was suspended from the Senate after wearing a burqa on the floor

The political upheaval is unfolding just weeks after the terror attack, which has reshaped the national debate.

From outside Parliament, Hanson fiercely criticised the Albanese government, accusing it of rushing the bills through without proper scrutiny.

'Labor, the Coalition and the Greens plan to ram through two separate bills in one afternoon even if One Nation and the public have more questions. This is known as a 'guillotine' motion because it cuts off the debate,' she wrote on social media on Monday.

Hanson also revealed her letter to the Prime Minister sent after the Bondi terror attack requesting her ban be lifted went unanswered.

'The Prime Minister never even responded to the letter asking for my ban to be lifted. That means I won't be able to have my say on the bills on the floor of parliament as the leader of One Nation,' she said.

She made pointed reference to her party's surge in support.

'Australians have seen a complete lack of leadership from both Labor and the Coalition during this debacle,' she said.

'As more Australians give their support to One Nation, we will continue to set the agenda, hold politicians to account and lead Australia to a better future.'

One Nation has indicated it will oppose both pieces of legislation when introduced.

Hanson's Senate ban will remain in place until the end of the next sitting week in February.
A series of MPs broke down in Parliament on Monday during heartfelt tributes to the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened the special sitting with a minute's silence before reading the names of the 15 people who were killed - prompting Labor MP Ali France to wipe away tears.

'The minute of silence that we have just observed echoes with those 15 names - 15 innocent people for whom today should be just another Monday morning, another day in this beautiful country they loved, in the embrace of the family and friends they adored,' Albanese said.

The Prime Minister praised families of the victims in attendance for their extraordinary courage.

He said their presence helped Parliament understand more deeply who had been lost.

'We welcome all the family members and dear friends and spiritual leaders joining us here.

'From the depths of grief, you have summoned remarkable strength.

'You have given us a glimpse of who your loved ones were, how much they meant, and how brave they proved themselves to be.'

Labor MP Ali France (left) was moved to tears following the minute of silence in Parliament

Anthony Albanese (pictured) read the names of the 15 Bondi Beach terror victims in Parliament

Albanese reaffirmed his government's support for the Jewish community, pledging solidarity with all those affected.

'We stand together in solidarity with Australia's Jewish community. We mourn the 15 innocent lives lost, and we acknowledge those who will carry the weight of grief and trauma for the rest of their lives.'

Labor's Mark Dreyfus, who is Jewish and a former attorney-general, was overcome by emotion as he spoke in the chamber.

'For every person murdered, there are families and friends left behind,' he said.

'A home left quieter, clothes still hanging in wardrobes, photos on walls that will never be updated. Children asking when someone is coming home. A seat left empty at the table, a laugh no longer heard, belonging to one more word, one moment, one more chance to say what was left unanswered.'

Dreyfus reflected on the attack's wider impact on families, communities and the nation.

'They were parents, children, neighbours and friends,' he said.

'You don't have to be Jewish to feel this in your chest. An attack like this hurts all of us.'

Mark Dreyfus (pictured) also became emotional as he offered his condolences to the victims

MPs stood for a moment of silence to honour the fifteen victims of the Bondi Beach attack

Dreyfus concluded by invoking a traditional Jewish prayer for times of mourning.

'In Jewish tradition, there is a prayer shared by mourners, a prayer about life, dignity and the hope for peace in times of profound loss.'

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley also addressed the chamber, warning that antisemitism had surged in Australia since October 2023.

'Like a slow creeping disease it festered  in plain sight. Jewish Australians do not feel safe. And if Jewish Australians do not feel safe then no Australian feels safe,' she said.

'We must unite as a Parliament to confront and defeat this evil. To do so we must face uncomfortable truths. Radical Islamist Extremism caused this. I repeat. Radical Islamist Extremism caused this.'

Ley said that victims and Jewish Australians were owed 'an apology' for how long it took the government to call for a Federal Royal Commission into the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns also broke down as he delivered his speech, describing the moment he first learned of the terror attack.

Labor MP Josh Burns (pictured) broke down speaking about when he heard about the attack

He told the chamber his immediate fear was for his own family.

'My first instinct was my daughter, because she was on her way to the Melbourne Hannukah event, and that is what Jewish life in Australia has unfortunately become,' he said.

Burns partner, Victorian MP Georgie Purcell, sat in the chamber with their baby daughter Lilah. Her small noises could be heard as he delivered his speech.

Condolence speeches will continue throughout Monday, with the government set to introduce legislation responding to the attack when Parliament resumes on Tuesday.
Hundreds of Spaniards watched horses gallop through towering flames, hours before pet owners in Madrid took their dogs and cats to church to be blessed with holy water.

The traditions take place every January to honour St. Anthony the Abbott, the patron saint of domestic animals.

And despite criticism from animal rights groups, the horse-and-fire spectacle draws loyal crowds every year.

Las Luminarias is a centuries-old tradition that takes place in the Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares, which has a population of 500 and sits 60 miles outside Madrid.

Riders guide horses through bonfires in the middle of the street in an act believed to purify the animals in the coming year.

Attendee Antonio Patricio, 62, said: 'In the old days, it was held because it was believed that the branches and the smoke blessed the horses and donkeys, which were used for farming, as a form of healing to prevent them from getting sick and to ensure they continued working in the fields.'

Festivities started around nightfall on Friday as giant stacks of tree branches are placed on the side of the street, while locals mull about sharing wine, beer and sweets.

Hours later, the stacks are lit and become the menacing fires that the animals must jump through - or around.

Las Luminarias is a centuries-old tradition that takes place in the Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares - population 500 - 60 miles outside Madrid

Riders guide horses through bonfires in the middle of the street in an act believed to purify the animals in the coming year

Festivities started at nightfall as giant stacks of tree branches are placed on the side of the street, while locals mull about sharing wine, beer and sweets

Animal rights groups have long criticised Las Luminarias, but locals say the horses are rarely, if ever, injured.

The next morning, on St. Anthony's Day, pet owners in some churches across Spain take their furry companions to to be spritzed with holy water.

That ritual blessing is also believed to bring the animals' health and protection for the year.

Pet owners waited patiently Saturday outside the entrance of St. Anthony's church in central Madrid, where Catholic priests blessed the passing animals.

Many of the dogs were wrapped in winter vests, while the cats looked a little more bewildered.

'I'm happy to be able to do it,' Madrid resident Rosa Gomez said, holding up her pointy-eared dog Kia.

'She is a little dog that was given to us six years ago by a family that couldn't take care of her, so we adopted her, and since then she has kept us great company.'

Hours before the start of Las Luminarias, riders wrap their horses' tails in fire-resistant tape and braid their manes. Some apply a glaze on the animals' manes to prevent them from burning as they leap through the flames.

Others beautify them, tightly braiding their manes, tying pink and red ribbons to their tails wrapped in tape, and adorning them with decorative headpieces.

A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Friday, January 16, 2026

Livestock and farming were common livelihoods in San Bartolome and scores of other central Spanish villages and towns that now stand empty for much of the year

Animal rights groups have long criticised Las Luminarias, but locals say the horses are rarely, if ever, injured

A person rides over a bonfire to bless the animals with purifying smoke during the Luminarias celebration in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain

A horseman rides through a bonfire during the annual 'Luminarias' celebration on the eve of Saint Anthony's day, Spain's patron saint of animals

Livestock and farming were common livelihoods in San Bartolome and scores of other central Spanish villages and towns that now stand empty for much of the year.

Locals say Las Luminarias started after a mysterious illness swept through the village's animals centuries ago, after which people started to believe that smoke could purify and heal the horses.

Going to Las Luminarias means returning home in the early hours the next day with clothes and hair that reek of smoke.

In Spain's emptying countryside, locals welcome that the tradition brings family, friends and onlookers to the village for one night each year.
Polar bear cubs have been pictured cuddling up with their mum while she takes a nap in the snow.

The adorable moment was captured by Phillip Chang, 70, in Churchill, northern Canada.

The area is known as the polar bear capital of the world because of the massive number that gather there in autumn as they wait for the Hudson Bay to freeze so they can hunt seals on the sea ice.

This makes it the most accessible place in the world to see polar bears in their natural habitat.

Mr Chang knows this and photographed the three-month-old cubs while spending 11 days searching for polar bears in the province of Manitoba.

The semi-retired Californian business owner described the photos.

He said: 'This mother polar bear was traveling with her three cubs, which were about three months old.

'They were taking a short break during their journey to the sea, where the starving mother could hopefully catch a seal and feed herself.

'The cubs were full of energy and very playful, while the mother appeared exhausted.

Polar bear cubs have been pictured cuddling up with their mum while she takes a nap in the snow

The mother was at Hudson Bay with her family in order to hunt seals to fear herself and her cubs

'After 11 days of searching and waiting in the extreme cold, I was thrilled to finally witness this moment and was deeply moved by the power and resilience of motherhood in such a harsh environment.'

There are between 22,000 and 31,000 polar bears left in the wild, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

However, populations in the Western Hudson Bay are very likely to have decreased from 2011 to 2021, says Polar Bears International.

The bear population in the region has dropped by 27 per cent from 842 bears to 618 in just five years, according to a 2021 aerial survey, the charity said.

This continues the declining trend of the last 30 years, but at an increased pace from the previous five years, where there was only an 11 per cent decrease observed. The population has halved since the 1980s, when there were 1,200 bears.

This is because the time the bears must stay onshore from the ice has increased due to the changing times of thawing and freezing of the Hudson Bay.

There has also been migration to the Southern Hudson Bay region, where there is a likely stable population from 2012 to 2021, according to the charity.

Semi-retired Californian photographer Phillip Chang, 70, searched for the polar bears for 11 days around Churchill in Manitoba, Canada

The cubs appeared very playful and energetic while their exhausted mother had to take a nap beneath them

Sixty per cent of all polar bears live within Canada, but they are also found in the USA in Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Norway in Svalbard.

Estimates of polar bear populations vary widely as there are lots of gaps in the data, particularly in Arctic Russia, which lacks basic infrastructure like roads and airfields to facilitate what is already expensive research.
The story of how a Royal Navy admiral sacrificed 900 drowning men to save the Norwegian royal family has been revealed.

Sir John Cunningham's poignant expedition on the cruiser HMS Devonshire emerged after his impressive group of 22 medals sold at auction for 20,000.

The captain was travelling to England in June 1940, tasked with evacuating King Haakon VII and other VIPs because their homeland had been invaded by the Nazis.

However, events took an unexpected turn when Sir John received a distress signal from the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious - which had been attacked by a German battleship.

The Devonshire, which was also carrying Norway's gold reserves, was within 50 miles of Glorious and was the only ship to pick up the SOS.

But Sir John was forced to ignore the signal and carry on his passage as he had strict orders to maintain radio silence and bring the Norwegian VIPs safely to England.

Although 900 men abandoned the sinking Glorious only 40 survived.

The survivors were picked up in rubber boats by a Norwegian vessel on its way to the Faroe Islands two days later on June 10, 1940.

Sir John Cunningham (pictured) was travelling to England via his cruiser HMS Devonshire - tasked with evacuating King Haakon VII and other VIPs after their homeland was invaded by the Nazis

Pictured: HMS Glorious sinking. Although 900 men abandoned the doomed cruiser only 40 survived

The Admiralty knew nothing of the sinking until 48 hours later when it was broadcast on German radio.

The failure to mount a rescue was an embarrassment for the Royal Navy and led to questions being asked in the House of Commons.

It emerged later that Sir John had little choice but to suppress the distress signal.

He did show the message to King Haakon who asked him what his orders were. Sir John is said to have replied, 'to bring you safely to England'.

The King later remarked: 'I realised this was not to Admiral Cunningham's liking.'

Despite the tragedy, the incident did not impact Sir John's career.

In 1943 he was given the command of all Allied shipping in the Mediterranean and oversaw the amphibious operations at Anzio, Italy and Southern France.

He became First Sea Lord in 1946 and then Admiral of the Fleet in 1948 before retiring.

He attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Pictured: The medals of two distinct European royal orders of chivalry: the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav and the Royal Order of King George I of Greece. The tragic tale of HMS Glorious has now emerged after Sir John's impressive group of 22 medals sold at auction for 20,000

The tragic tale has now emerged after Sir John's impressive group of 22 medals sold at auction for 20,000.

They include the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B and the Royal Victorian Order.

The medals sparked a bidding war, with an American private collector paying above the 12,000 to 16,000 estimate.

They were sold as part of the epic medal collection of the late James Risk.

Mr Risk was an American naval officer and numismatist who was invited by Queen Elizabeth II to catalogue the various orders, decorations, and medals in the Royal Collection which had been dispersed for safe storage during World War Two.

Nimrod Dix, deputy chairman of auctioneers Noonans, of Mayfair, said: 'Admiral of the Fleet Sir John H. D. Cunningham had a long and varied career in the navy.

'However, it was the aspect after he was promoted, in August 1943, to the rank of Admiral and given command of all Allied shipping in the Mediterranean Sea that saw him involved in the key moments of WW2.

'In this role, he oversaw the amphibious operations at Anzio, Italy and Southern France. He remained in the Mediterranean Sea through to the end of the war.'

He added: 'This large group of medals reflected the seniority of his rank and the important service he saw during the Second World War.

'They were sold as part of more than 200 lots from the collection of the late James C Risk C.V.O, F.S.A.'

Sir John was born in British Guiana in 1885 and joined the navy as a cadet in 1900.

During the First World War, he served on HMS Russell in the Mediterranean and survived her sinking by a mine in April 1916.

After the war he served aboard the ill-fated battlecruiser HMS Hood as her navigator.

In 1924 he was promoted to captain and spent time on the staff of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich.

He served as naval aide-de-camp to King George V before being promoted to Rear Admiral.

At the start of World War Two Sir John was in charge of a cruiser squadron and was sent north to support the Norwegian campaign.

During the night of May 1, 1940, he led a fleet of 15 ships that evacuated 5,700 Allied troops from Namsos, near Trondheim, following the German invasion.

Shortly after the Devonshire left Tromso on June 8 with the Norwegian royal HMS Glorious was attacked.

In August 1941 his son Richard, a Royal Navy lieutenant, was killed when the submarine P33 was sunk in the Mediterranean.

Sir John died aged 77 in 1962.
A Canadian woman has been found dead surrounded by 12 dingoes on a popular tourist island off the coast of south-east Queensland.

The 19-year-old had gone for a swim near the Maheno Shipwreck on K'gari - formerly known as Fraser Island - at about 5am on Monday before her body was discovered an hour later at 6am.

Police Inspector Paul Algie said authorities were determining her cause of death, with two possibilities being probed.

'We're investigating at the moment as to whether she has drowned or whether she has been attacked. We simply don't know,' he said.

Authorities will contact the woman's family in Canada after confirming her identity with the consulate.

'We may not know until a post-mortem as to the actual cause of death,' Inspector Algie said.

'We'll obviously throw every resource we can at it to get some resolution for her family.'

Significant wounds were found on the woman's body.

A Canadian woman has been found dead surrounded by dingoes on K'gari

Locals said the conditions at the beach were very windy and rough, with the area known to be hazardous.

The woman is understood to have been working on the island at a backpackers' venue and had lived there for some time.

K'gari has experienced dingo attacks in the past, including a young child who was bitten several times and held underwater by the wild animal in April 2023.

The child suffered minor bites to her head and fingers.

Months later, four dingoes attacked Brisbane woman Sarah Peet, forcing her to run into the surf to to protect herself in July.
A mysterious Chinese heiress who allegedly crashed her $1.5million Rolls-Royce into a chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz has been charged with breaching her bail by not living at the address she gave police.

LanLan Yang was supposed to be staying at a luxury Watsons Bay penthouse in Sydney's eastern suburbs but the Daily Mail understands the property has been empty for some time.

It can now be revealed NSW Police attended a city residence about 2.30pm last Friday and issued a court attendance notice for Yang to appear over an alleged breach of her bail.

The breach relates to Yang allegedly not living at the Watsons Bay apartment and she will now seek her bail to be varied.

Yang has also been hit with fresh drink-driving charges over the collision which left radio king Kyle Sandilands's regular chauffeur with severe injuries and sparked an online frenzy over her identity and unexplained wealth.

The 23-year-old is accused of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm - drive under the influence, and driving with a mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol.

She had previously been charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.

Yang is also facing a back-up charge of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, as well as failing to submit to a breath test and not giving particulars to police.

Mysterious Chinese heiress LanLan Yang, who allegedly crashed her $1.5million Rolls-Royce into a chauffeur-driven Mercedes-Benz, has been charged with breaching her bail. The woman pictured above reported for bail as Yang last Wednesday then claimed she was 'someone else'

LanLan Yang (pictured in August) has been hit with fresh drink-driving charges over the collision in Sydney's eastern suburbs which left radio king Kyle Sandilands's regular chauffeur with catastrophic injuries

Police began a separate investigation into the Chinese national after the Daily Mail had a bizarre encounter with someone purporting to be Yang at Rose Bay police station last Wednesday.

A young Asian woman reported on bail as Yang, presented herself to the constable on the desk and lowered her mask so her features could be compared to an image of Yang kept on file.

Outside the station, the woman - dressed in a Chanel top and Chanel jeans - stopped when approached by the Daily Mail and made an extraordinary claim.

Reporter: 'Are you LanLan or someone else?'

Woman: 'I'm someone else.'

Reporter: 'Do you want to tell me who you are if you're not LanLan?'

Woman: 'No.'

After police were informed about that exchange the Eastern Suburbs police command launched an investigation into the identity of the woman and whether Yang was complying with her bail.

As part of her bail conditions, Yang was required live in the penthouse of this building in Russell Street, Watsons Bay, but she had not been seen at that property for some time

Yang often parked her Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan outside a neighbours house (above) and kept an unregistered Rolls-Royce Ghost convertible parked in her garage

As part of her bail conditions, Yang was required live at the Watsons Bay property, where she kept an $800,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost convertible - not the car involved in the crash - unregistered in the garage.

When told last Wednesday the apartment appeared to be empty and asked if anyone had recently been staying there, the woman at Rose Bay police station remained silent.

Yang had to surrender her passport to be granted bail but there was no condition imposed which prohibited her from approaching airports or other points of international departure.

Yang's lawyer Michael Korn has been contacted for comment about the bail reporting incident and his client's current location.

The Daily Mail reported in mid October that Yang appeared to have moved out of the Watsons Bay apartment and that her spare Rolls-Royce was gone.

Yang has never appeared in person on any of the four occasions her case has been mentioned in court and she has only been photographed once without a face mask.

She was filmed by a television crew not wearing a mask when leaving Waverley police station after been granted bail on the morning of the crash six months ago.

The only time Yang (left) has been photographed without a mask is when the Daily Mail snapped her with a friend dining at the Museum of Contemporary Art in September

Yang, who dresses head to toe in designer clothing, has refused in the past to speak to the media and routinely runs away when approached by reporters.

Since her arrest, Yang has usually been shuttled around town in a white Toyota Vellfire people mover driven by a man who gets out to escort her if media are around.

The woman who reported to Rose Bay police last Wednesday was driven there by a different chauffeur behind the wheel of a black Rolls-Royce Ghost she told the Daily Mail was not hers.

That Rolls-Royce appeared to be the same Ghost that Yang used to keep in her garage when it was painted white.

The last four digits of the vehicle identification number of both cars are identical.

Yang has been the subject of intense speculation since she alleged ploughed her Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan into a Mercedes van on New South Head Road, Rose Bay, about 3.20am on July 26.

The driver of the Mercedes, George Plassaras, suffered catastrophic injuries in the collision and might never work again.

He was trapped in the wreckage of his vehicle and could be heard yelling for help as police and Fire and Rescue NSW worked to free him from the crushed van.

LanLan Yang was filmed leaving Waverley police station last July after being charged over her collision with a Mercedes being driven by Kyle Sandilands's chauffeur George Plassaras

Yang (above in September) dresses head to toe in designer clothing, has refused in the past to speak to the media and routinely runs away when approached by reporters

The impact reportedly caused Mr Plassaras to suffer a broken spine, shattered hips, two broken femurs, busted ribs, a ruptured spleen and torn-open abdomen.

Yang's case was last mentioned in Downing Centre Local Court on November 14 when solicitor Michael Korn told a registrar his client had been excused from attending.

On that day, Mr Korn entered not guilty pleas to four charges and denied Yang had been receiving special treatment from the court.

When Yang's matters were previously mentioned on October 17 a registrar had said Yang would be expected to appear in person the next time.

Yang's barrister John Korn disclosed some of his client's background when her case was mentioned for the second time on September 26.

Mr Korn said Yang's parents had sent her to Australia at attend school when she was 14 and she was now a permanent resident.

The university business student had rarely returned to China, suffered 'considerable' mental health issues and 'hardly leaves her home', Mr Korn said.

The crash catapulted Yang into an almost instant celebrity-like status, particularly among Chinese Australians who have been intrigued by her obvious wealth.

The first time Yang was listed to face court on August 15 scores of Chinese Australians lined up outside to catch a glimpse of the camera-shy moneybags.

Yang disappointed her huge new fan base by appearing only briefly on screen from her lawyer's office. She has not appeared on screen since that day.

She is due to appear in court again later this month.
A young surfer has escaped injury after a shark attacked his board at Sydney's northern beaches on Monday morning.

The 11-year-old boy was surfing when a shark lunged from the water and took several bites out of his board at Dee Why Point.

One bite removed a large section of the board entirely, with several smaller bite marks also visible.

Witnesses said it appeared to be a bull shark measuring about four to five feet, though the species has not been confirmed.

The boy screamed for help, and was aided back to shore by another surfer, The Manly Observer reported.

The latest attack comes just a day after a young boy was critically mauled by a suspected bull shark in Sydney Harbour.

The 12-year-old was swimming with five friends at the western end of Nielsen Park in Sydney's eastern suburbs at about 4.20pm on Sunday.

Police believe he was jumping from a six-metre-high rock ledge known as Jump Rock, an area without shark nets, when he was attacked.

The boy remains in intensive care after suffering severe injuries to both legs.

The 11-year-old boy was surfing when a shark lunged from the water and took several bites out of his board at Dee Why Point

One bite removed a large section of the board entirely, with several smaller bite marks also visible

Shark expert Joel Nancarrow warned Aussies to stay out of the water for the next two weeks.

'As we have mentioned, with the sharks being in larger numbers, sharks that usually wouldnt bite a human, will have to become more opportunistic due to an increased competition for food,' he said.

Mr Nancarrow warned Aussies of the danger of bull sharks particularly during periods of heavy rain combined with warm water and crowded beaches.

He explained that muddy water reduces visibility and pushes large predators out of rivers and into beaches and harbour-side swimming spots in search of food.

'The boy is reportedly unharmed, but once again, more people need to be made aware of the increased danger at this current time.

'Are attacks rare? Yeah - but in less than 24 hours, a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old have been attacked.

'What if it were a man in a van who hurt two kids in public within a 24-hour period? Would it still be waved off as a rare occurrence and nothing to worry about?'

He rejected calls for a shark cull, saying adult bull sharks were 'too smart' to be caught on government drumlines.

Shark expert Joel Nancarrow said bull sharks are present in 'massive numbers' throughout Sydney Harbour, driven closer to shore by recent rainfall

'The ship has sailed for a quick fix,' he said.

'It's all about awareness now.'

The last shark attack in Sydney Harbour was in early 2024, when a young woman was bitten on the leg at Elizabeth Bay.

In February 2022, British expat Simon Nellist was killed by a great white shark at Little Bay, Sydney's first fatal shark attack in six decades.

Before that, the city had not recorded a deadly mauling since 1963, when actress Marcia Hathaway was killed by a bull shark in shallow water at Middle Harbour.

More recently, veteran surfer Mercury Psillakis, 57, died after a great white attack at Long Reef Beach in September 2025.

Two months later, Swiss tourist Olivia Mulheim, in her 20s, was fatally mauled by a bull shark at Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park.

According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, Australia has recorded 312 fatal shark attacks since 1791.

Since 2000, 59 people have been killed, with almost half of those deaths occurring since 2020.
The family of a hero schoolboy who jumped into the ocean to save his mate from a shark attack in Sydney Harbour say the group of friends are 'traumatised'.

The 12-year-old victim was jumping into the water from a six-metre rock ledge at Nielsen Park, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, at about 4.20pm on Sunday when he was mauled by a suspected bull shark.

Both his legs were severely injured in the attack, and he survived only because one of his five friends jumped in and dragged him onto a rock platform, while the predator swam nearby.

The victim was airlifted to Sydney Children's Hospital in a critical condition and is now fighting for his life.

The hero mate's grandmother praised her grandson for his courage on social media on Monday.

'The boy who went into the water was my grandson,' she wrote.

'I'm so proud of his bravery and I'm praying for the recovery of his mate who is still in a critical condition and the group of friends who were with him.

'All of them are traumatised by the event.'

Police transported the boy to Rose Bay Wharf before a CareFlight flew him to Randwick

The un-netted areas near Shark Beach were closed to swimmers on Monday

Maritime police continued to patrol the Nielsen Park coastline on Monday morning

A source told the Daily Mail the child is from the eastern suburbs. The Daily Mail approached his parents for comment via the hospital, but they declined to speak.

On Monday, a surfer who was catching waves at Shark Beach, just metres from where the child was mauled, revealed a terrifying premonition just moments before the vicious attack.

The young man said he had left the water minutes before the 12-year-old was dragged from the water.

The surfer witnessed the emergency response as he was packing up his car.

Speaking to the Daily Mail on the condition of anonymity due to his employment, the surfer said he and his friends had only just been discussing how the conditions were 'perfect' for a bull shark attack.

The predators, which notoriously patrol Sydney Harbour waters, are known to be more active in 'brackish' water - when fresh water during a significant rain event mixes with salt and becomes murky.

'The water was so bad on Sunday,' he said.

'I was mainly worried I would come out of the water with an ear infection when my mate mentioned bull sharks. I said, "Aw, don't say that." And then this happened.'

Shark Beach was deserted after the attack, even within the netted swimming area

The Nielsen cafe manager Gene Arkoudis said locals were staying away

Authorities are still investigating the species involved in the attack.

NSW Police said heavy rainfall over the weekend, along with splashing caused by jumping, may have created the 'perfect storm environment' for the attack to occur.

'The water yesterday was extremely brackish due to the heavy rain Sydney has experienced over the weekend,' Marine Area Commander Superintendent Joe McNulty said.

'They were jumping into muddy water, and we believe a shark was in the vicinity.

'CPR (on the boy) was performed on the rock shelf and again on the boat. Combined with the tourniquets, we believe this prevented catastrophic blood loss.

'He's in for the fight of his life.

'He's undergone operations throughout the night at the Children's Hospital at Randwick. He's now in critical condition and with his parents.'

Superintendent McNulty said the boy's friends were 'extremely brave' and that police were on scene within five minutes after receiving triple-zero calls from horrified onlookers.

A massive police response assembled at Rose Bay on Sunday evening

On Monday morning, the weather remained gloomy with light rainfall.

But the conditions - and the horrific attack - did not deter Lottie Naughton-Rumbo, who has been swimming regularly at Rose Bay for more than four years.

She told the Daily Mail she had heard about the shark attack and almost didn't head from her Bondi home to Rose Bay, which is not netted, for her daily dip.

But she was not aware that it was prime conditions for bull sharks, and reacted with surprise when told they tend to attack in lower-light conditions and after rainfall.

'The day I see a shark out there is the day I stop swimming here,' Ms Naughton-Rumbo said.

On Monday morning, Shark Beach was largely deserted, despite the warm weather and school holidays.

Gene Arkoudis, manager at The Nielsen cafe, which overlooks the bay, said locals were staying away 'out of respect' for the boy.

'Usually there would be more than 20 people out there at this time on a Monday morning,' he said.

Local woman Lottie Naughton-Rumbo was not deterred from swimming at Rose Bay

A tourist visiting from Canada braved the water, asking reporters if it would be safe

A New Zealander visiting from Vancouver and his Canadian girlfriend were the only ones swimming inside the netted area.

He had only just heard about the shark attack and asked if he would be safe inside the nets.

Dr Daryll McPhee, shark expert and Bond University associate professor, said the boy was 'incredibly unlucky' to be attacked.

'Bull shark attacks are pretty rare, there have only been about four in the past 50 years,' he said.

Before Sunday's incident, the most recent Sydney bull shark attack occurred in January 2024, when Lauren O'Neill was bitten on the leg while swimming at Elizabeth Bay late in the evening.

She survived, and a bite analysis confirmed a bull shark was responsible.

Dr McPhee advised those keen for a swim within Sydney Harbour to stick to areas protected by nets and structures, such as Murray Rose (Redleaf) Pool in Double Bay, Balmoral Beach, Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain and Greenwich Baths.

Meanwhile, a young surfer has escaped injury after a shark bit his board at Sydney's northern beaches on Monday morning.

A young boy was seen fishing metres from the attack location

The 11-year-old boy was surfing when a shark lunged from the water and took several bites out of his board at Dee Why Point.

One bite removed a large section of the board entirely, with several smaller bite marks also visible.

Witnesses said it appeared to be a bull shark measuring about four to five feet in length, though the species has not been confirmed.

The boy screamed for help, and was aided back to shore by another surfer, The Manly Observer reported.
A gunman randomly shot and killed three tourists in a neighborhood near Florida's Disney World over the weekend.

Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, was arrested after the 'cold-blooded' killing of the men in Kissimmee, a small city just outside Orlando, after they got stuck at a rental property next to his home when their car broke down.

Bojeh was charged with three counts of premeditated murder, as well as one count of resisting arrest, and booked into the Osceola County Jail on Saturday, according to county jail records.

A motive for the shooting is unclear. At a press conference on Sunday, Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said: 'It was cold-blooded, it was premeditated.

'There was absolutely no issues. There was no conflict between these people. This was just random. And this happened to be the person who lived next door.'

The neighborhood, which is around eight miles from the theme park, or about a 15-minute drive, is popular with tourists visiting Disney World.

Blackmon said the suspect 'was a threat to the neighborhood all the time.'

'We had a lot of calls for service on this person in that area, so he was a known person, a frequent flier to the sheriffs office,' he added.

Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, was arrested on Saturday and charged with three counts of premeditated murder after a trio of tourists were shot dead next to his home in Florida

The bodies were found outside a rental property at 296 Indian Point Circle in Kissimmee

Police said two guns were recovered from Bojeh's property, and investigators are working to determine if either was used in the shooting.

The victims were identified as Robert Lewis Kraft, 70, of Holland, Michigan, and his brother, Douglas Joseph Kraft, 68, of Columbus, Ohio. The third victim was James John Puchan, 68, also of Columbus, Ohio. Police said the next of kin of all three victims have been notified.

Deputies responded to multiple calls about the shooting around 12.14pm, the sheriff's office said.

When they arrived at the rental property five minutes later, they found the three men dead outside and saw Bojeh flee towards his residence.

A warrant was obtained for Bojeh's arrest, and it was served at his property the same day.

'There is no threat to the community, as the suspect responsible for these horrific and senseless murders has been apprehended by Osceola County deputies,' Sheriff Blackmon said.

He added during the press conference: 'As of right now, we have nothing. Just looks like a random  but again, the investigation, its ongoing. Its fresh, its new. Were just a little bit over 24 hours into it, so were trying to gather the facts.'

Resident Adam Andersen told WESH: 'It's a little concerning. I have a daughter, thank God she's not here.

The shooting took place in a neighborhood just outside Orlando, about a 15-minute drive from Disney World. The area is popular with tourists visiting the resort

Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said the suspect 'was a threat to the neighborhood'

'It's concerning, especially that this individual was shot publicly in an open area like a gas station over a simple thing as an argument and was released. It's scary but not surprising, you know.'

Andersen was referring to a prior crime Bojeh was arrested for in 2021, after he allegedly shot at a person and several vehicles in a Wawa gas station parking lot in Kissimmee.

One man was injured and survived. Bojeh was later acquitted by reason of insanity.

The murder suspect appeared in court on Sunday, and a judge found probable cause to hold him in the county jail without bond.

In Florida, premeditated murder is a capital felony. If Bojeh is found guilty of his charges, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has declared she is ready to lead the country and is no longer a 'little woman from the fish and chip shop' - as a new poll puts her party ahead of the Coalition for the first time.

A Newspoll on Monday showed the Coalition's primary vote has slumped to a historic low of 21 per cent, the fourth record low under Sussan Ley's leadership and nearly ten points down on its disastrous 2022 election result.

In contrast, One Nation has surged seven points in just two months to reach a record high of 22 per cent.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Hanson acknowledged the rising support and thanked voters for 'the first poll in Australia's history where another party is polling higher than one of the major parties.'

Pressed on how she could reassure voters sceptical about One Nation's candidate track record, Hanson said the party had been unfairly targeted, but insisted her experience made her ready to lead.

One Nation has lost more than two-thirds of all MPs elected since 1998 before they finished their terms, due to personality conflict, legal issues or infighting.

'I've had everything thrown at me bar the kitchen sink,' Hanson said. 'I'm not the little woman from the fish and chip shop anymore - I've got 30 years of experience under my belt.'

Pauline Hanson (pictured) agreed that her party was now a 'viable alternative government'

'If you underestimate me, that's your mistake.'

She said voters are abandoning both major parties, frustrated by cost-of-living pressures and what she calls a series of 'wake-up calls' from recent national and global upheavals.

'People have had enough,' Hanson said.

'They're struggling with cost-of-living, but I think what happened at Bondi, and prior to that with the Charlie Kirk assassination attempt, has been a big wake-up call for a lot of Australians.'

Mass migration also remains a top concern for many voters, Hanson said.

'For years now the public has been calling on this government to pull back on it - the lack of housing, jobs, security, affordability. It's a combination of a lot of things,' she said.

Asked if One Nation is now a genuine alternative government, Hanson was unequivocal.

'You bet it is. I'm not here to prop up the Coalition or the Labor Party or anyone else,' she said.

Hanson defended her party's candidate track record, saying she was not to be underestimated

Hanson credited former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who defected to One Nation last year, with giving her party new momentum.

'Of course it has [improved our polling],' she said.

'It wasn't smart of the Nationals not to see his value. Leadership is about getting the right team around you.'

Joyce said his move was made at his 'own volition', noting that MPs move between parties all the time, referencing WA Greens Senator Dorinda Cox's switch to Labor after the 2025 election.

'It's a free country. There are Australians out there who are going to change their vote,' he said.

'There are members of Parliament who, if they choose to, will go to other parties.'

Pressed on recruitment of Coalition MPs or plans for lower-house seats, Hanson denied making any moves.

'No, I'm not picking up the phone. Let me make that very clear,' she said.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party polled ahead of the Coalition in the most recent Newspoll

She said possibilities in Queensland had come up in discussion, but cautioned 'these are only polls'.

'We're being put at 22 per cent of the national vote at the moment, and that means I've got a huge job ahead of me with my colleagues,' Hanson said.

'We have to maintain that support and confidence from the Australian people.'
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was left 'offended' by members of Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, who asked him whether he was a 'double agent' for Israel.

The Jewish governor made the revelation in his new memoir, Where We Keep the Light, in which he discussed the questions he faced as Harris narrowed down her vice presidential pick.

Shapiro was among the finalists to become Harris' VP along with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.

The Harris camp seemed particularly concerned with his thoughts about Israel amid the war with Hamas - and even asked Shapiro point-blank whether he was a 'double agent' for the Israeli government.

Shapiro replied that the question was offensive, according to The New York Times.

The governor wrote he was then told: 'Well, we have to ask.'

He went on to say he understood the woman asking the question was 'just doing her job,' but the fact that he was asked the question 'said a lot about some of the people around the VP.'

But that was not the only question about Israel that the Harris campaign lobbed at Shapiro, whose home was once firebombed over the war in Gaza, he wrote.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, was left 'offended' when members of Kamala Harris' campaign asked him whether he was a 'double agent' for Israel

The governor was on Harris' short list to be her running mate

'I wondered whether these questions were being posed to just me - the only Jewish guy in the running - or if everyone who had not held a federal office was being grilled about Israel in the same way,' wrote Shapiro, who had been an outspoken critic of what he saw as antisemitism on college campuses amid the war.

In all, Shapiro said, 'These sessions were completely professional and businesslike.'

'But I just had a knot in my stomach through all of it,' he wrote.

The Pennsylvania governor had been considered a favorite to be Harris' running mate due to his popularity in an important swing state.

Many leftists, though, had been worried that Shapiro would be too pro-Israel and Democrats were concerned his nomination would re-spark controversial conversations about Gaza and would ultimately hurt Harris' campaign.

The former vice president addressed some of these concerns in her own memoir, 107 Days, which was released last year.

She alluded to 'the attacks [Shapiro had] confronted on Gaza and what effect it might have on the enthusiasm we were trying to build.'

Yet she also noted that Shapiro had been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Join the debate Do YOU think Josh Shapiro was right to be offended?

Shapiro detailed the questions he was asked by the Harris campaign in his new memoir

What really seemed to motivate Harris to pick Walz over Shapiro was 'a nagging concern that [Shapiro] would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership,' according to her memoir.

She described the Pennsylvania governor as someone who was 'peppering' her and her staff with questions about the details of the jobs, including details on the vice president's residence at the Naval Observatory.

Shapiro wanted to know how many bedrooms there were, and whether he could arrange to have more art from Pennsylvania artists in the home if he was elected vice president.

He also wanted to make sure he would be in the room before Harris made her final decision on any significant political issue.

The demand was similar to that of former President Barack Obama's concession to then-Senator Joe Biden who he chose as vice president.

'If we had door A and door B as options, and she was for door A and I was for door B, I just wanted to make sure that I could make the case for door B and if I didn't convince her, then I'd run right through a brick wall to support her decision,' Shapiro explained of his request.

'She was crystal clear that that was not what she was looking for.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Harris' office for comment.
The new state-of-the-art Sydney Fish Market has opened its doors after years of delays and a massive price tag - only to hit capacity by mid-morning.

The facility, which cost more than $836million, stretches across 26,000sq m and offers seafood lovers the catch of the day alongside spectacular Sydney Harbour views.

Massive 100m lines formed outside the new venue on Monday after it reached its capacity of 5,000 customers. The wait time to enter the market was up to 30 minutes by 12.45pm with many customers turned away and told to 'come back later'.

Some dedicated seafood shoppers arrived three hours before the new market opened to attend a silent auction at 4am with 60 tonnes of fish and crabs up for grabs inside the new glass-walled auction room.

The crowds steadily grew after the retail floor opened its doors for the first time at 7am and peaked by lunchtime. Across the day about 40,000 people were estimated to have attended.

Premier Chris Minns boasted the project - construction of which had dragged on for a decade - was 'the biggest and best fish market in the world' and would cater to local families and tourists.

'Whether you're coming here for caviar or crab sticks, this place will have something for everybody,' he said as he officially opened the massive building on Monday housing fishmongers, producers and hospitality venues.

'It's a wonderful addition to the city's landscape,' he said and joked the stink will be a lot less than the nearby former fish market courtesy of modern refrigeration systems.

The new market reached its 5,000 customer capacity before midday

By 12.45pm, the queue to go inside the market was 30 minutes long

The new Sydney Fish Market opened on Monday

The facility was announced in 2016 by then-Premier Mike Baird at a substantially smaller cost of $250million.

In September 2019 the cost was revised to $750million by Baird's successor Gladys Berejiklian with doors to open in 2024.

The centrepiece of the new site, which Planning Minister Paul Scully described as an 'architectural marvel', is the 200-metre-long roof with its floating canopy.

It boasts 400 light fixtures that will light up Sydney's skyline in the shape of fish scales.

The company behind it, Sharvain, completed it and then went promptly into administration.

About six-million people a year are expected to pack the waterfront market to the gills, located not far from the city centre.

The market's chief executive said the new building was fit for purpose for a critical industry.

'Seafood is an essential part of our Australian life ... central to our celebrations, our summers and our cultural traditions of who we are as a coastal nation,' Daniel Jarosch said.

While opening the market, Minns (right) said: 'Whether you're coming here for caviar or crab sticks, this place will have something for everybody'

Planning Minister Paul Scully described the new market as an 'architectural marvel'

Dozens of retailers offer specialised seafood across 26,000 square metres

New state-of-the-art refrigeration systems will improve the smell of the fish market, compared to the old site

The new market - a stone's throw from the old site on Blackwattle Bay (pictured) - was initially set to open in 2023

Large crowds gathered to check out the new retail spaces

About six-million people are expected to visit the market every year

NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) boasted the new market as 'the biggest and best fish market in the world'

The building features live crustacean tanks and a brand-new auction room, both visible to the public.

Fred Holt, the director of building designer 3XN, said the public was key to breathing life into the seafood industry.

'We have turned an introverted industry inside out, putting the back-of-house operations on display and making the theatrics and intense choreography of seafood trading and movement part of the public experience,' he said.

The new market - a stone's throw from the old site on Blackwattle Bay - was initially slated to open in 2023 and to cost $250million.

But it was beset by myriad delays and costs more than tripled.

The opposition claimed credit for commissioning the world-class waterfront destination project in 2017.

'This project was started thanks to the clear vision and ambition of the former NSW Liberal and Nationals government and it is fantastic to see it open its doors today,' leader Kellie Sloane said on Monday.
A paedophile nursery worker charged with a load of new sexual offences involving young girls is due to be sentenced next month.

Vincent Chan, 45, is accused of nine counts of taking an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and six counts of outraging public decency.

Last month he pleaded guilty to 26 counts of assaulting a girl under the age of 13, taking an indecent photograph, and making an indecent photograph.

Chan, born in Britain of Chinese heritage, worked at a branch of the Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead, north London, nursery from 2017 to 2024, joining as an art teacher.

The new allegations did not take place at the nursery, which has now been shut down.

During a brief administrative hearing at Wood Green Crown Court, His Honour Judge John Dodd KC said a sentencing hearing listed for this Friday would have to be postponed following the new charges.

Chan of Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, will appear at Highbury Magistrates Court on a date to be fixed to face the new charges.

There will be a hearing at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday to confirm the sentencing date.

Vincent Chan, 45, worked at a branch of the Bright Horizons nursery

Prosecutor Philip Stott said: 'Mr Chan is due to be sentenced in respect of a number of serious sexual offences to which he has pleaded guilty regarding offences at his place of employment, the Bright Horizons nursery.

'There have been further charges authorised and postal requisition sent at the end of last week in respect of 15 further charges - nine of taking indecent photographs of a child and six of outraging public decency.

'Those predated his employment at Bright Horizons nursery and took place at a different location.'

Chan was not required to be in court for the hearing today.

No indication of plea was offered.
The mother of a British toddler who vanished without a trace on a Greek holiday island 35 years ago has revealed what she thinks happened to her missing son.

Ben Needham vanished from the island of Kos at just 21 months old on July 24, 1991, after he was last seen playing outside his grandparents' run-down farmhouse.

In 2012, a theory emerged that he had been killed when a digger accidentally crushed him in an olive grove behind the farmhouse.

Three years later, an anonymous tip came in from a man who said digger driver Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas had told him on his death bed he had been responsible and buried Ben's body.

However, his mother Kerry Needham, 53, does not believe this theory and finds it frustrating so many people do.

Ms Needham has now revealed she believes her son could have been the victim of a gypsy trafficking gang who then sold him for illegal adoption - with a man who believes he could be Ben set to take a DNA test.

Speaking from her home in Antalya, Turkey, where she relocated around two years ago, Ms Needham said she received an email last week from a woman who is convinced her boyfriend is Ben, writing that there are 'a lot of coincidences' and 'a lot of things don't add up from his past'.

But the mother, who has never given up hope her son is still alive, said she did not 'jump for joy' when she received the message because she has not yet seen a picture of the man and has 'very little information'.

Ben Needham vanished from the island of Kos at just 21 months old on July 24, 1991, after he was last seen playing outside his grandparents' run-down farmhouse

Ben's mother Kerry Needham, 53, believes her son may have been abducted by a gypsy trafficking ring and sold on for illegal adoption

South Yorkshire Police officers investigate an olive grove near the scene where Ben went missing in Kos, Greece, in September 2016 after a theory suggested he may have been accidentally crushed and killed by a digger

She has forwarded the information she does have on to South Yorkshire Police, which has led the investigation on the British side alongside Greek authorities.

The force plans to conduct a DNA test to determine whether the man is a match for Ben.

Ms Needham told the Sun that people began coming forward with information once the case gained widespread publicity.

She recounted how a Greek man contacted Ben's grandfather Eddie, telling him he needs to start looking into gypsies 'because there's a gang, a line, he didn't call it trafficking, he said sold for illegal adoption'.

Chillingly, the stranger added that Ben's blonde hair and blue eyes means he would 'fetch more money'.

Ben's mother said it 'sounded impossible' at first but the tip-off sent her looking into the idea.

She praised South Yorkshire Police for always being open-minded about possible theories of trafficking, but added she does not feel Greek authorities ever considered it seriously.

But some years later, two former Kos police officers allegedly told journalists they had information that Ben had been 'taken off the island' via a port soon after he vanished - however, Ms Needham said this was never investigated.

Over the years, the mother threw herself into researching human trafficking and its links to the island of Kos.

She never found any proof other children had been taken from Kos, but child trafficking was 'absolutely rife throughout the whole of Greece' between the 1950s and 1990s.

An age progression facial depiction of what Ben Needham may look like as an adult. He would now be 36

Kerry Needham, mother of missing Ben Needham, holding up a newspaper showing a photo of her missing son in 1991

'By the mid-1990s, things were getting more difficult,' she said.

Ms Needham tracked down an elderly man who claims he was trafficked as a baby from Greece to New York.

She said the US city appears to be the 'massive epicentre' of illegal adoption, adding this is how 'children disappear without a trace' because the gangs are so 'well-organised'.

In the summer of 1991, Ms Needham, who was just 19 at the time, moved herself and Ben from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, to the village of Iraklis, near Kos town, to begin a new life with her parents who were already living there.

On July 24 the same year, she left 21-month-old Ben with his grandparents, Eddie and Christine, at their farmhouse which was undergoing renovations while she went to complete her shift at the hotel she was working in.

Little Ben had been coming in and out of the home, but at 2.30pm they realised he had vanished.

After searching for him for two hours, the family assumed Ben was with his teenage uncle, Stephen, who had been helping his father with the renovation works before driving home on his moped.

But panic fully set in when Stephen was found alone at the family's apartment and Ben was nowhere to be found.

Greek police were called and later that night, at around 10pm, Christine went to the hotel to tell her daughter her son was missing.

Initially, the pace of investigation was slow, with Ms Needham later explaining how the family were convinced Ben would turn up.

She said they 'never thought for one minute' he had been abducted or an accident had occurred, adding: 'We thought someone must have found him, he must have got further down that lane than my mum thought he could have done in that time.

'We thought someone's found him, taken him in, got him a drink, don't forget it's 90 degrees.

'All these logical things - maybe they'll hand him into a police station afterwards or at the hospital, maybe he was dehydrated.'

Ms Needham said she doesn't know when the idea Ben could have been kidnapped 'dawned' on them.

'We're not stupid but abductions and kidnappings, they happen in films,' she said.

Police at the scene in Kos, Greece, as officers from South Yorkshire Police began excavations in relation to the missing toddler Ben Needham in September 2016

In the summer of 1991, Ms Needham (pictured), who was just 19 at the time, moved herself and Ben from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, to the village of Iraklis, near Kos town, to begin a new life with her parents who were already living there

The idea he could have been taken 'didn't enter' their heads because they didn't know anything about human trafficking at the time.

'We were thinking why would anyone want to abduct Ben? We didn't have any money for a ransom, which is what we thought a kidnapping was,' she said.

It was only when there was still no sign of her son and nobody had handed him into the police or hospital the family properly considered the possibility of an abduction - but even then, they still wondered what the motive would be.

The digger theory that emerged in 2012 was extensively probed, with multiple deep excavations taking place at all the sites digger driver Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas was allowed to dump rubble and waste on around the island of Kos.

Despite digging so deep into the ground that they unearthed an ancient burial ground, they found nothing in relation to Ben.

'So I'm sure they can find one fragment of a child or a drop of blood, anything. They found nothing,' Ms Needham said.

Dino had worked with her father Eddie before, and even visited him and his wife at the farmhouse at around 5.30pm on the day Ben went missing, to discuss the renovation work he had been carrying out.

Ms Needham said the fact Dino visited her parents that day a few hours after allegedly accidentally killing her son leads her to further believe the digger theory cannot be true.

She added if the digger driver had run Ben over by mistake, there would be no need to cover it up as the family would have been blamed for not watching him more carefully.

The mother said if she thought for one minute her child had died, she would stop putting herself through all the 'stress, trauma and heartbreak' of searching for him.

Despite the 'massive toll' it has taken on her mental health, she said 'something is pushing' her to keep looking for her son - a 'mother's instinct' - that makes her believe there 'must be something else' she hasn't yet come across.

A couple of years ago, Ms Needham moved to Antalya and says her 'simple life' with the partner she met there helps her 'remain focussed'.

She has since set up a website for her campaign to find her son which details the events since his disappearance and is trying to raise funds to increase the 7,500 reward for information.

The latest incident in which a woman came forward to say her boyfriend is convinced he is Ben is not the first time someone has contacted her believing they are the missing child.

Last year, she opened up about being harassed for two years by a man who was 'absolutely adamant' he was Ben.

The man made Facebook posts asking the family to meet him, but she refused and a DNA test by South Yorkshire Police came up negative.

Ms Needham also voiced frustrations over the stark difference in public funding and attention Ben's case received compared to the extensive support given to the McCann's after their three-year-old daughter Madeleine went missing from Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007.

'I'm not being offhand with the McCanns, they deserve the help as much as I do, it just seems help wasn't readily available for me in the beginning or throughout,' she said.

Comparing the authority's efforts in both cases, she said a lot of mistakes were made by the British Embassy in Athens and the British Government after Ben went missing, whereas the McCanns received 'all the help and resources'.

'What I find very insulting was I was never given the same amount,' she said.

Now, Ms Needham's main concern is being able to access the full case files on Ben's disappearance from Kos police which would allow her to pursue any strands of enquiry that may have been forgotten or dropped.

Ms Needham also voiced frustrations over the stark difference in public funding and attention Ben's case got compared to the extensive support given to the McCann's since their three-year-old daughter Madeleine (pictured) went missing from Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007

Comparing the authority's efforts in both cases, she said a lot of mistakes were made by the British Embassy in Athens and the British Government after Ben went missing, whereas the McCanns (pictured) received 'all the help and resources'

Unfortunately, statute of limitations in Greece mean some witnesses cannot be interrogated because too much time has passed.

Ms Needham is also aware of new witnesses that have been passed on to police but said she has heard nothing on them.

There are 'a lot of unanswered' questions about the investigation into her son's case that need answering and she hopes someone will eventually let her look at the files.

She wants pressure to be put on the Greek police to do something, but said they are 'only bothered when you're actually on the island'.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'We recently received a report of a woman who believes her partner to be missing person Ben Needham.

'Enquiries are ongoing into the report. Ben's family are aware of this report, and we will continue to keep them up to date with our enquiries.

'We will continue to support them in their endeavour to discover the truth of what happened on 24 July 1991.'
The CCTV from the night of the New Year's Eve inferno in a Swiss nightclub reportedly mysteriously 'crashed' three minutes before the fire broke out.

This comes as the owner of Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Jaques Moretti, is under investigation for negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm.

According to German newspaper Bild, detectives only have access to the footage up to 1.23am - three minutes before the fire began.

In his January 1 interrogation, Moretti said of the CCTV: 'At that point, the system crashed. I can't reset it.'

He reportedly showed investigators screenshots of the latest recordings, with 11 camera angles pointed at the smoking room, the DJ, the bar, and sofas where people were sitting.

Pictures and videos of the bar on social media also vanished hours after the tragedy, raising suspicions that evidence was being destroyed, Bild reported.

It recently came out that the waitress blamed for igniting the fire had previously told her parents she was made to work 'relentlessly' by the nightclub owners.

Cyane Panine, 24, died in the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana after she was filmed holding two champagne bottles fitted with sparklers while she sat on a colleague's shoulders.

The owner of Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Jaques Moretti (L), is under investigation for negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm

Cyane Panine, 24, died in the fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana after she was filmed holding two champagne bottles fitted with sparklers as she sat on a colleague's shoulders

The pyrotechnics are said to have set fire to foam used for soundproofing in the basement ceiling, leading to the deaths of 40 people and seeing 116 others severely burned.

Her lawyer, Sophie Haenni, told Bild that Cyane was 'mentally and physically' exhausted from working at the nightclub, and was on the verge of making her 'exploitation' public before the tragedy.

Her parents disclosed how Cyane worked both for couple's bar, as well as their gourmet burger restaurant called Senso, opened in 2020 following Le Constellation's success.

'Her shift began during the day at the Senso restaurant and then continued until the early hours of the morning at Le Constellation bar,' Haenni told Bild, leaving the 24-year-old exhausted.

She even contacted the workers' protection service over her employment conditions, and was apparently never informed about the dangers of the foam on the ceiling or received any safety training, her lawyer claimed.

The lawyer said Cyane wasn't even supposed to be serving tables on New Year's Eve, but Jessica Moretti sent her down to the basement because several bottles of champagne had been ordered there.

Cyane was reportedly 'mentally and physically' exhausted from working at the nightclub, and was on the verge of making her 'exploitation' public

Moments before the inferno, Cyane was filmed wearing a crash helmet from Dom Perignon

Haenni said: 'Jessica Moretti asked her to go down to the basement to help her colleagues, given the large number of champagne bottles ordered.

'Cyane simply followed the instructions given, did her job, and did so in front of the manager. She was never informed of the ceiling's danger and received no safety training.'

The casualties 'could have been avoided', she said, if 'safety standards (particularly regarding materials) had been followed and the required inspections carried out'.

She added: 'Cyane is undoubtedly a victim.'

Moments before the inferno, Cyane was filmed wearing a crash helmet from Dom Perignon, the Champagne brand, as she was lifted onto the shoulders of Mateo Lesguer, 23, the in-house DJ.

This was 'at the request' of the bar manager, Jessica Moretti, 40, a witness claimed in an official report compiled by the Swiss authorities.

Jaques Moretti is being held in custody for an initial period of 90 days and prosecutors have also argued that he is a flight risk

The Dom Perignon 'motorcycle crash helmet' covered Cyane's face completely with a black visor, meaning she could hardly see anything as she carried champagne bottles plugged with sparklers.

Mateo, who was wearing a carnival mask that also hid his face, tragically died alongside Cyane in the bar.

Last week, a Swiss court imposed a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention due to what prosecutors claim is a 'risk of flight'.

She was ordered to surrender her passport and must report to police every day, authorities say.

Jaques Moretti is being held in custody for an initial period of 90 days and prosecutors have also argued that he is a flight risk.
Iran has admitted at least 5,000 people were killed when the regime unleashed a brutal crackdown on mass protests.

The death toll was confirmed by authorities in the Islamic Republic, with a government official saying at least 500 of those killed were security personnel.

The official, who spoke on a basis of anonymity, told Reuters 'terrorists and armed rioters' had killed 'innocent Iranians', and said some of the most violent clashes and the highest number of deaths were in the Iranian Kurdish areas in northwest Iran.

'The final toll is not expected to increase sharply,' the official said.

The admission comes as the Iranian government threatened to go ahead with the execution of people detained during the unrest.

'A series of actions have been identified as Mohareb, which is among the most severe Islamic punishments,' Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir told a press conference on Sunday.

Mohareb, an Islamic legal term meaning to wage war against God, is punishable by death under Iranian law.

The warning by Iranian authorities comes after the country's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, said last week that 'there is no plan for hanging at all' in an interview with Fox News. 'Hanging is out of the question,' he said, seemingly bowing to pressure from Donald Trump.

Protesters set fire to a car in Tehran. Iranian authorities have admitted around 5,000 have been killed in the unrest, making it one of the greatest massacres in the Islamic Republic's history

Families and residents gather at the Kahrizak Coroner's Office confronting rows of body bags as they search for relatives killed during the regime's violent crackdown on nationwide protests

A new medical report claimed at least 16,500 protesters have been killed and more than 300,000 wounded in just three weeks of unrest

The US president had told protesting Iranians that his administration would 'act accordingly' if the killing of demonstrators continued or if Iranian authorities executed detained protesters.

Trump's warnings came as Iranian authorities prepared to execute clothes shop owner, Erfan Soltani.

The 26-year-old became the first protester in the latest Iranian uprising to be handed the death sentence, with his family pleading for Trump to intervene ahead of his scheduled execution last Wednesday.

But Tehran seemingly heeded the President's warning after Erfan's family said his execution had been postponed.

Hours after the climbdown, Trump said he had been told 'on good authority' that plans for executions had stopped, even as Tehran has signalled fast trials and executions ahead in its crackdown on protesters.

It also comes after a new medical report claimed that at least 16,500 protesters have been killed, and more than 300,000 wounded in just three weeks of unrest.

The report, seen by The Times, was compiled by doctors inside Iran and paints a far darker picture of the chilling escalation by authorities in the Islamic Republic.

Where previous protests were met with rubber bullets and pellet guns, doctors now report extensive gunshot and shrapnel wounds to the head, neck, and chest, consistent with military-grade weapons.

Clothes shop owner Erfan Soltani made headlines last week when he was sentenced to death atfter being detained during a protest. Iranian authorities have since postponed his execution following international pressure

Iranian demonstrators gather in a street during a protest over the collapse of the currency's value, in Tehran on January 8, 2026

Protesters set fire to makeshift barricades near a religious centre on January 10, 2026

'This is a whole new level of brutality,' said Professor Amir Parasta, an Iranian-German eye surgeon who helped coordinate the doctors' report.

'This is genocide under the cover of digital darkness,' Parasta added. 'They said they would kill until this stops, and that's what they are doing.'

Data compiled from eight major eye hospitals and 16 emergency departments suggest between 16,500 and 18,000 people have been killed and up to 360,000 injured, including children and pregnant women.

Separately, human rights organisation Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) said more than 3,400 people have been killed by Iranian security forces since the outbreak of protests at the end of December.

The protests began on December 28 over the fall in value of the currency and have grown into wider demonstrations and calls for the fall of a clerical establishment.

Iran's authorities have taken a dual approach, cracking down while also calling protests over economic problems legitimate.

So far, there are no signs of fracture in the security elite that could bring down the clerical system in power since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Britain, France, Germany and Italy all summoned Iranian ambassadors in protest over the crackdown.
Keir Starmer branded Donald Trump's trade war threats over Greenland 'completely wrong' today - but signalled the UK will not hit back.

Despite insisting the government is ready to defend 'fundamental' principles, the PM struck a notably different tone to other European leaders.

He stressed the 'profound' nature of the Transatlantic relationship, highlighting that even the nuclear deterrent relies on it.

The comments came at an emergency Downing Street press conference after Mr Trump snubbed a personal plea from Sir Keir and renewed his extraordinary demands for the Danish territory.

In a letter to Norway's premier circulated overnight, Mr Trump also linked his grab for Greenland to the refusal to give him the Nobel Peace prize.

Sir Keir acknowledged that people were angry and stressed that the UK must 'stand up for our values' - but argued that should be done through 'calm discussion'.

He appeared to dismiss the prospect of tit-for-tat retaliation to the tariff threats, even though European powers have been making clear they are ready to respond in kind. He also suggested that the King's state visit to the US in April will not be cancelled.

The premier said he did not believe that Mr Trump was seriously considering invading Greenland - something he has repeatedly refused to rule out.

But he said: 'There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works.'

Sir Keir argued that the future of Greenland was for Denmark and the people of Greenland, adding 'that right is fundamental and we support it'.

'Alliances endure because they are built on respect... not on pressure,' he added.

Mr Trump insisted overnight that he will get his way despite the personal plea and a joint statement from Western leaders warning of a 'dangerous downward spiral' in relations.

Posting on his own Truth Social site in the early hours, Mr Trump said: 'NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland'.

Keir Starmer branded Donald Trump's trade war threats 'completely wrong' today

Donald Trump has renewed his extraordinary Greenland demands just hours after a rebuke from Keir Starmer

Posting on his own Truth Social site in the early hours, Mr Trump said: 'NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland''

Your browser does not support iframes.

'Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump.'

Asked if he genuinely believed the US President was considering military action, Sir Keir told reporters: 'I don't, actually.

'I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles and values that I've set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland, and making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong.'

Mr Trump has vowed to impose a 10 per cent levy on all imports from countries opposing his landgrab - rising to 25 per cent if they have not caved in by June.

There are fears the move could cause major damage to the UK's pharma and car manufacturing industries.

Some economists have raised concerns it could even tip the country into recession, partly due to the uncertainty created by Mr Trump's chaotic behaviour.

However, while thanking Kemi Badenoch for her support, Sir Keir took a swipe at those pushing him to condemn the US and retaliate.

'At moments like this, there will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work,' he said.

'That's an understandable instinct, but it's not effective. It never has been.'

Nigel Farage said it was 'always difficult to tell' whether Mr Trump was bluffing.

'But to use economic threats against the country that's been considered to be your closest ally for over a hundred years is not the kind of thing we would expect,' he said today.

'It's wrong, it's bad, it would be very very hurtful to us. I think we're in a position where we can negotiate  we're not tied.

'We're not tied by European Union trade rules, that does give us an advantage in these negotiations, but I would just say this: I'm all for Trump taking out enemies of the West. Maduro, the Iranian regime.

'But, if he falls out with his own allies and leaves America isolated, that would be a very bad place to be.

'I'm worried about it, I'm concerned about it, I've always been a supporter of the President since way before he got elected for the first time. But I will be having some words with the American administration in Davos on Wednesday on this issue.'

European leaders have been signalling a far more aggressive response.

The bloc is considering deploying its so-called trade 'bazooka' for the first time in retaliation, an economic tool that would hit the US with 81billion in tariffs.

The 'big bazooka' is an anti-coercion instrument adopted in 2023 to combat political blackmail.

It allows the EU to restrict countries from participating in public tenders, limit trade licences and shut off access to the single market.

But there was no sign of the White House backing down.

In a letter responding to a note from Jonas Stre about his tariff threats, Mr Trump linked his wish to seize Greenland from Denmark to not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has repeatedly said he 'deserves'.

Join the debate Should the UK risk its US alliance to defend Denmark and Greenland from Trump's demands?

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper (left) and Chancellor Rachel Reeves (right) were in Downing Street for the press conference this morning

Greenlanders have been protesting in favour of self-governance and against US ownership

'Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America', Mr Trump reportedly said.

Norwegian tabloid VG claims to have spoken to Mr Stre who confirmed the letter is genuine.

The PM also said he has told Mr Trump repeatedly that it is 'well known' that the Norwegian government does not decide who wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Trump claimed Denmark only owns Greenland because 'a boat landed there hundreds of years ago'. He went on: 'Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway? There are no written documents'.
A pub landlord has cut his own pay to 2 per hour to stay open amid Labours tax and minimum wage hikes left him struggling to make ends meet.

David Leaper, 53, has run The Devon Arms in Torquay since 2019 but told the Daily Mail he has been taking just 100 for a 50-hour week for the last six years in a bid to to keep his beloved seaside boozer open through Covid and the cost of living crisis.

Like all publicans he has been hit by Rachel Reeves devastating tax grab, minimum wage and national insurance hikes and admitted he has come close to packing it in at least twice but only decided to carry on because of his love for the industry.

In April, the minimum wage for over-21s will rise to 12.71 per hour - meaning all his employees will be earning more than six times the landlords wage.

Speaking from inside the charming Devon boozer, Mr Leaper told the Daily Mail: I pay myself last, once the bills and wages have been sorted and theres not much left.

Were treading water here but when I started wages were 10 per cent of turnover, now theyre 20 per cent, its scary.

Ive just had to put my prices up 10p on every drink and Ill have to do another increase at the end of February.

'Im always looking for a way to save 5, before Christmas I went and bought a lot of booze from Tesco because its cheaper than the wholesaler and that money can make all the difference, youd be surprised how many publicans are doing the same.

David Leaper has run The Devon Arms since 2019 but has taken home just 100 for a 50 hour week over the last six years to keep his pub open through Covid and the cost of living crisis

Mr Leaper admitted he has come close to packing in his pub in Torquay twice after being hit by Rachel Reeves devastating tax grab, minimum wage and national insurance hikes

Earlier this week Guinness maker Diageo is putting up a pint of the black stuff by 4p from April as it manages rising costs.

Other breweries are weakening favourite lagers to keep pints affordable amid next months rise in alcohol duty and soaring operating costs.

Under the measures announced in Novembers Budget, a 40 per cent relief on business rates introduced in the aftermath of the pandemic would be scrapped.

Pubs were facing an average rise in rates of 76 per cent over three years, while hotels were to go up 115 per cent.

UK Hospitality estimated this would see the average hotels business rates bill increase by 28,900 in the first year and by 205,200 in total over three years, with the average pub paying 1,400 a year more initially and 12,900 over three years.

In an apparent U-turn, Reeves this week confirmed an announcement to soften the effect of looming rate rises on pubs was coming in the next few days.

Pubs are already struggling to cope with a raft of government measures including the increase in employers national insurance contributions and minimum wage rises, as well as the hike to business rates.

Last year, a 500-year-old boozer named The Hole in the Wall which sits next door to The Devon Arms in Torquay was shut down by HM Revenue and Customs after landlord Richard Rossendale-Cook, 81, could no longer keep up with bills.

Now in a stark warning to the Chancellor, Mr Leaper said many more would follow if urgent help wasnt brought forward.

500-year-old pub The Hole in the Wall, which sits next door to The Devon Arms, shut down last year after its landlord could no longer keep up with the bills

Mr Leaper has warned many other boozers will meet a similar fate to The Hole in the Wall if urgent help wasnt brought forward

He said: Rachel Reeves is not doing enough to help pubs.

If Labour doesnt change things and start helping us out in the next 18 months I worry the pub industry will fall apart.

'Richard had a lot more staff than me and if he was still open now I think hed really be struggling with covering wage increases.

Sometimes I lie awake at night thinking about it but all I can do is get on with running the pub and hope somebody gives Rachel Reeves a shake and reminds her that we play such an important role in peoples lives.

Mr Leaper admitted he was losing out on customers to big chains like Wetherspoons as he couldnt match their low prices, but insisted he plays a role in his community that chains never will.

He said: We have people who come in every day just for a chat or to have a cup of coffee and it is so important to them that we are open.

Were in the middle of town so a lot of our business is tourists but the last couple of years they havent come in big numbers, everybody is feeling the effects of cost of living.

We cant compete with 2 pints but when people come in they love it and they say it makes them feel at home.

We let charities and community groups run quiz nights for free and were always looking for new incomes but there is only so much we can do on our own.
Panicking European leaders will hold an emergency summit on Thursday following US President Donald Trump's threats to impose new tariffs on EU countries over his demand to acquire Greenland.

The crisis talks will take place at 6.00pm in Brussels, a European Union spokesperson said on Monday.

It comes after Trump warned Denmark that a deal for Greenland 'will be done' after threatening Britain and European nations with new tariffs if they torpedo his plans to acquire the territory.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump said NATO had been telling Denmark for 20 years that 'you have got to get the Russian threat away from Greenland'.

'Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!' he warned.

His remarks came hours before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered an address to the nation in which he hit out at Trump's 'completely wrong' trade threats.

Amid an increasingly acrimonious trans-Atlantic row, the President announced on his Truth Social platform over the weekend that from February 1, the US would impose a 10 per cent tariff on all exports from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK  increasing it to 25 per cent in June.

He has also ratcheted up the pressure on Nato in a message to Norway's Prime Minister warning that he 'no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace' because he was denied the Nobel Peace Prize.

Follow the latest updates below in our live blog.
The mother of a teenager allegedly murdered by a convicted serial killer has died just before the case was due to be heard in court, it has emerged.

Lorinda Hall passed away peacefully in hospital after waiting more than a quarter of a century to find out who killed her daughter, Victoria.

Victoria was 17 when she disappeared on her way home from a nightclub in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in the early hours of September 19, 1999.

Her naked body was found in a water-logged ditch five days later.

Steve Wright, who is serving a whole-life sentence, has been charged with the kidnap and murder of the teenager, seven years before his killing spree in Ipswich.

Now 67, he has denied the charges and one of attempting to kidnap another woman in Felixstowe the day before Victoria went missing.

His trial is due to commence at the Old Bailey in London on February 2 and is expected to last four weeks.

Mrs Hall was 70 died last month, according to a death notice published by her family, and the funeral took place at Seven Hills Crematorium on Friday.

Lorinda and Graham Hall, parents of Victoria who was murdered aged 17, and her best friend Gemma Algar, at Norwich Crown Court previously

Her family wrote: Passed away peacefully in Ipswich Hospital on Thursday, 18th December, aged 70 years.

Much loved Wife of Graham, Mother of Steven and Victoria and Nanna to Max and Imogen.

Lorinda will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

They asked for donations to be made to East Anglia Childrens Hospice, whose Royal patron is the Princess of Wales.

Mr Justice Bennathan ruled last Wednesday that a jury can be told about Wrights past crimes when he stands trial at the Old Bailey on February 2.

Wright was jailed in 2008 for the murders of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholl.

He dumped his victims bodies around Ipswich between October and December 2006.

Victoria, from Trimley St Mary, left home on the evening of September 18 1999 for a night out with a friend at the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe.

Victoria was 17 when she disappeared on her way home from a nightclub in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in the early hours of September 19, 1999

Serial killer Steve Wright, 67, denies kidnapping and murdering Victoria, as well as the abduction of another woman the night before the teenager was last seen

The girls left the club at around 1am the following morning and parted ways at around 2.20am, yards from Victoria's home.

That was the last time she was seen alive.

Her parents awoke in the morning to discover their daughter had not returned home and a missing persons inquiry was launched.

Her body was found five days later in Creeting St Peter, around 25 miles from where she was last seen.

None of her clothing or possessions have ever been found.

Speaking in 2019 about the long wait for justice in Victorias case, her father, Graham, said: Its 20 years, its a long while but theres still hope.

During a previous hearing in September 2024, Wright denied allegations that he unlawfully and by force or fraud took or carried away Victoria Hall against her will.

Anneli Alderton, Gemma Adams, Paula Clennell and below Annette Nicholl and Tania Nicol were all killed by Steve Wright

Wright also pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Victoria on September 19, 1999, and the attempted kidnap of the second woman.

The defendant appeared in court by videolink from HMP Long Lartin for the pre-trial hearing at the Old Bailey last week.

He was remanded into custody to await his trial.
Children as young as four are being trained how to shoot rifles at a school in Sussex run by conspiracy theorists.

Hope Sussex, which has barred Ofsted from inspecting, offers reception aged-children lessons in shooting and martial arts alongside maths, English and science.

Images published by Hope's founder Matthew Single - who opened the establishment with his wife Sadie - show youngsters clutching air rifles and aiming at targets near Netherfield village in East Sussex.

Another photo shows Mr Single, 54, wearing a T-shirt embellished with the words, 'I identify as a conspiracy theorist - my pronouns are told/you/so'.

More than 40 families attend Hope each week, according to recent company filings.

Pupils have been tasked with making necklaces out of bullet casings and creating their own nunchuks.

Hope Sussex was reportedly founded by a group of anti-vaccine activists and former members of the far Right in 2021.

It denies that it is a school, instead referring to itself as an 'autonomous community' that helps home-educating parents.

A young child is seen holding a gun during a lesson with Hope Sussex

Children have also been tasked with making their own nunchuks (pictured)

Hope's founder Matthew Single wearing a T-shirt branded with the words 'I identify as a conspiracy theorist'

Ofsted believes it is running as a school, but was forced to close its investigation into the establishment due to current legislation.

The inspectorate currently does not have the legal right to force its way onto the grounds of what it suspects is an illegal school.

It last visited Hope Sussex in 2022, when inspectors were stopped from entering by Mr Single and a second member of staff, The Times first reported.

A new bill, titled the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, is going through parliament and proposes to hand the inspectorate more authority.

Mr Single and his wife are former members of the British National Party.

They urge parents to remove their children from state education and send them to their site for education. However, they reportedly tell the council that the youngsters are being homeschooled.

Mrs Single, a former state primary teacher, previously said that her history lessons include 'some of the fallacies and lies that have taken place', including conspiracy theories that have been widely disproven by historians.

Meanwhile Mr Single is an admirer of president Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.

He said he believes the 'awake community' is 'at war' with the state - reportedly encouraging people to 'take the fight to them'.

Another young child holds a large rifle during a lesson with the establishment, which denies it is a school

A child shoots at targets with an archery bow during one of the institution's lessons

In one post, titled 'They are coming for our children', he wrote: 'We must be prepared to step outside of the comfort zone of simply protesting and demonstrating with placards and megaphones - we have our army in the field, now we must press forward with greater, more specific action.'

He told The Times that the comments were made with the intention of 'applying political pressure on the Government'.

He also claimed that the archery and air-weapon shooting lessons prioritised 'safety at all times'.

Ofsted declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail and Hope Sussex has been contacted for comment.
Sir Keir Starmer today failed to endorse Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' as the Government frets about the $1billion cost of membership.

The Prime Minister told a press conference in Downing Street he was 'talking to allies' about the terms of signing up to the US President's initiative.

But - in what Mr Trump might view as a public snub of his plans - Sir Keir declined to give a fulsome commitment that Britain would join.

According to a draft charter for the proposed group, the US President will serve as its inaugural charman and will decide on who is invited to be members.

Each member will serve no more than three years, subject to renewal by Mr Trump, and each three-year membership term will cost $1billion, the document added.

British ministers are said to be concerned about where the money will go and the legal framework in which the group may operate.

There are also worries that the US President is trying to build a rival to the United Nations, of which he has long been critical.

There is likely to be further alarm at Mr Trump's plans after the Kremlin revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join the Board of Peace.

Sir Keir Starmer today failed to endorse Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' as the Government frets about the $1billion cost of membership

According to a draft charter for the proposed group, the US President will serve as its inaugural charman and will decide on who is invited to be members.

The White House has proposed the new international body as part of Mr Trump's 20-point peace plan for the Middle East.

'Phase one' of the plan began with October's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The establishment of the Board of Peace is part of 'phase two', with the proposed body to oversee the redevelopment of Gaza.

In his press conference on Monday morning, Sir Keir said he was 'supportive of the measures that are being taken across the Middle East, particularly the ceasefire'.

He added: 'I do think we need to press on to phase two. We've indicated our willingness to play our part, and we will.

'We're talking to allies about the terms of the Board of Peace.'

Join the debate Should Britain pay $1billion to join Trumps new peace board alongside leaders like Putin?

There is likely to be further alarm at Mr Trump's plans after the Kremlin revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join the Board of Peace

When Mr Trump first unveiled his 20-point peace plan, there were plans for former prime minister Sir Tony Blair to sit on the Board of Peace.

But the ex-Labour premier has now been listed alongside high-profile Trump administration officials as part of a 'founding executive board' to lead long-term peace efforts in the Middle East.

It followed claims Middle Eastern states objected to full membership for Sir Tony, who committed British troops to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 during his time in Downing Street.

On Monday morning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed Mr Putin had been invited to join a US-led 'Peace Council', which is thought to refer to the Board of Peace.

'At the moment, we are studying all the details of this proposal and hope to have contacts with the American side to clarify all the nuances,' he said.
Hundreds of thousands of Russians were among Orthodox believers marking the baptism of Jesus Christ in the icy waters of the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

The Russian tradition sees Bikini-clad women and topless men plunging in an ice pool to mark Orthodox Epiphany.

Believers immerse themselves three times in a row to invoke the Holy Trinity.

In Yekaterinburg, there was a scandal over women bathing in the -13C cold in swim wear seen as 'too revealing' for a religious occasion.

One report asked: 'Is this a church holiday or demonstrative erotica?'

Comments were 'outraged by the overly revealing swimsuits of the women who came to plunge into the ice hole on Epiphany', reported E1 news outlet.

It was seen as 'some kind of mockery of church tradition.'

'This is not the time when you need to 'show off' your naked bodies.'

Comments were 'outraged by the overly revealing swimsuits of the women'

The Russian tradition sees Bikini-clad women and topless men plunging in an ice pool

In Yekaterinburg, there was a scandal over women bathing in the -13C cold in swim wear seen as 'too revealing'

Others, however, insisted no offence was caused by the swimwear.

People plunged in temperatures as low as minus 33C in Novosibirsk.

In Moscow, over 60,000 people took part in Epiphany, bathing at the city's organised sites.

Meanwhile in Voronezh, 9,000 people had immersed themselves in the cold when a Ukrainian drone alert meant the authorities closed ice pools amid dangers of explosions.

Russian president Vladimir Putin failed to show at the event for the fifth year in a row.

He was last seen performing the religious ritual in 2021, and when he first stopped appearing, there was speculation over his medical condition.

People plunged in temperatures as low as minus 33C

In Moscow, over 60,000 people took part in Epiphany

In Voronezh, 9,000 people had immersed themselves in the cold when a Ukrainian drone alert meant the authorities closed ice pools

People carried out the ritual in the icy waters of the Jordan River by John the Baptist

Believers immerse themselves three times to invoke the Holy Trinity

However, the Kremlin said Putin took part in the ritual 'as he does every year', according to Russian news agency TASS.

His press secretary Dmitry Peskov said: 'Vladimir Putin took an icy plunge, as he does every year.'

'Naturally, Epiphany is a great holiday for him, as for all Orthodox believers who work in the Kremlin.'

'This is a tradition and many honor it,' Peskov noted. 'However, some don't do this. This is a personal matter.'

Meanwhile, 71-year-old Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko - Putin's closest ally - was seen braving the cold and manoeuvring himself into the chilly waters in an air temperature of minus 15C.
The Government is pleading with energy companies to give ministers credit for a drop in energy bills later this year, it has been revealed.

Staff at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), headed by Ed Miliband, are said to have held calls with firms urging them to give recognition to the Government.

They are reported to have urged energy providers to send emails to customers or add details of the reduction to bills.

Experts have forecast energy bills will fall when the energy price cap is next updated in April following a drop in wholesale prices and action by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

At her Budget in November, Ms Reeves said 150 would be cut from the average household bill from April by scrapping some green levies.

But it has been claimed much of this saving will be wiped out by new energy levies to fund upgrades to Britain's power grid and maintenance of gas pipelines.

Ofgem, the energy regulator, said in December that 108 will be added to bills by 2031 to help pay for a 28bn investment in the UK's energy network.

A separate analysis found that, overall, households face paying an extra 116 a year by the end of the decade.

Staff at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), headed by Ed Miliband, are said to have held calls with firms urging them to give recognition to the Government.

A source at a major energy company told The Times how DESNZ was imploring companies to help ministers 'take the credit' for the cut in bills this April.

'They were asking us to email customers to tell them about the wonderful bill reduction that's all thanks to the Government,' they said.

'Yet we all know that bills are going to rise over the course of the parliament because of decisions that ministers have made.'

Another industry source said: 'They made it clear that, when we communicated to our customers about the April price drop we say that it is because of the wonderful Government.

'But there was quite a bit of pushback, not least because this mythical 150 figure is simply an average and won't apply to all bill payers.

'Clearly energy companies will need to communicate to their customers about what is happening to their bills in April, but exactly how we do that is quite complicated.'

Sources close to Mr Miliband told the newspaper that describing the bill cut as 'mythical' was 'nonsense'.

They said the calls were about the 'communications of the 150, not the substance of it', and that energy bosses had lined up to welcome the announcement.

A DESNZ spokesperson said: 'This is nonsense - families will see an average of 150 in costs off their bill this April thanks to Government action, which has been welcomed by Martin Lewis and Citizens Advice.

'We have made it clear to suppliers that every penny of those savings should be passed on to all households.'

Mr Lewis, the consumer finance expert, last week told ITV that Ms Reeves' promise of a 150 cut to energy bills in April was 'mostly an actual reality'.

'I say mostly because, to be fair, they did say typically 150 everything else remaining equal,' he added.

'Of course energy bills they move all the time, so everything else does not remain equal.'

He continued: 'The way it's being done is 90 of that is the renewable obligation that's on energy bills is being shifted to general taxation.

'It will be paid through general taxation, so it's not going away. And then the getting rid of most of the ECO (Energy Company Obligation) scheme... that's the other 60.'
Keir Starmer admitted he needs to 'do more' to protect children on social media today as pressure mounts for an age limit.

The PM said 'no options are off the table' after dozens of Labour MPs wrote a letter calling for the UK to emulate Australia's ban on under-16s using sites and apps.

Sir Keir told the Observer just last month that he was not personally in favour of a ban, arguing it was 'more about how you control the content that children can see rather than simply saying a blanket ban'.

But Health Secretary Wes Streeting has made little secret about his own support for the move, insisting he is 'in favour of action' on the issue.

A total of 61 Labour MPs, led by Fred Thomas, have signed a letter highlighting the 'clear' harm caused by 'harmful, addictive' content on the platforms.

The MPs, including veterans such as Graham Stringer and Richard Burgon, said Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece look likely to copy the Australian policy and 'Britain risks being left behind'.

Keir Starmer said 'no options are off the table' after dozens of Labour MPs wrote a letter calling for the UK to emulate Australia's ban on under-16s using sites and apps

Asked about the possibility of a ban at a Downing Street press conference this morning, Sir Keir said: ''On the question of social media more broadly, I think we need to do more to protect children. And that's why we're looking at a range of options and saying that no options are off the table.

'We're obviously looking at what's happened in Australia, something I've discussed with the Australian prime minister.

'I don't think it's just a question of social media and children under 16.

'I think we've got to look at a range of measures. I'm particularly concerned about screen time for under-fives, which is not so much about social media, but about literally screen time and the impact it's having on children when they arrive at school.

'So I do think we need to look across the range. But, in direct answer to your question, do we need to do more to protect children when it comes to social media and screen time and associated harms? Then yes, we do.'

Banning under-16s from social media is backed by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

This week the House of Lords is likely to vote on a ban as part of an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, tabled by former Tory education minister Lord Nash.

It comes after Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly died aged just 14, spoke out alongside 40 charities, campaigners and doctors, against a ban.

They warned restrictions could drive vulnerable youngsters towards unregulated internet spaces like gaming platforms  or darker sites such as suicide forums.

Mr Russell, whose daughter died in 2017, warned against an 'ambition-led, politically-led, panic-led' drive towards 'hasty, non-evidence based decisions'.

He called for better enforcement of existing laws rather 'sledgehammer techniques like bans'.

But, publishing a copy of the letter on X yesterday, Mr Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: 'We all know the harm social media causes to young people's mental health.

Health Secretary Wes Streetinghas made little secret about his own support for the move, insisting he is 'in favour of action' on the issue

Banning under-16s from social media is backed by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

'The Labour Government has acted in recent months. Today, 61 Labour MPs have written to the PM urging him to go further. We back an Australia-style model with the onus on tech firms to block under 16s access.'

The MPs point to research showing over 500 children a day are now being referred for anxiety treatment in England alone, with going from zero to just five hours' daily access to social media doubling boys' rates of depression and trebling those of girls.

They added: 'The average 12-year-old now spends 29 hours a week on a smartphone, much of it on social media platforms rife with harmful content'.

It is jointly-sponsored by Lib Dem peer and former children's television presenter Baroness Benjamin, Labour peer Baroness Berger and independent peer Baroness Cass, a paediatrician.
Danish officials are set to skip the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland as disputes over US President Donald Trump's bid to seize Greenland have intensified.

Corporate chiefs and government leaders are gathering for the conference which will see Trump dominate proceedings with talks on Greenland, Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The US leader has been insistent on seizing Greenland and has not ruled out taking it by force.

Trump has also warned the US may pull out of NATO if America's allies don't agree to the acquisition of Greenland.

In a statement to Bloomberg, the forum said: 'We can confirm that the Danish government will not be represented in Davos this week.'

'Danish government representatives were invited this year, and any decisions on attendance are a matter for the government concerned,' it added.

Trump's latest threat to take Greenland by any means necessary came as the European Union threatened brutal retaliatory tariffs over the president's promise to punish nations that don't support US control of the arctic nation.

On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% tariff starting on Feb 1, rising to 25% in June, unless there's a deal for the 'purchase of Greenland.'

The US leader has been insistent on seizing Greenland and has not ruled out taking it by force

The annual meeting opens Tuesday with a stated motto of 'improving the state of the world,' and this year's theme is 'A spirit of dialogue'

The EU is now set to potentially threaten the US with retaliatory tariffs on $107.7billion in goods, or potentially denying America access to the EU market, The Financial Times reported.

Trump will make his keynote speech in Davos on Wednesday, where he is set to address European leaders directly.

A White House official said the US President will 'emphasise that the United States and Europe must leave behind economic stagnation and the policies that caused it.'

Trump's peace-making credentials also will be on the table. An announcement looms about his ' Board of Peace ' for Gaza, and he and his administration are expected to have bilateral meetings in the warren of side rooms at the Congress Center.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban alongside Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Pakistan, Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina, Albania and India were all apparently invited to join the Board, with Trump saying it would 'embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.'

Washington's largest-ever delegation in Davos includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will appear at the conference in person, hoping to meet Trump and sign new security guarantees for a potential ceasefire deal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy will appear at the conference in person, hoping to meet Trump and sign new security guarantees for a potential ceasefire deal with Russia.

The US delegation will also hold meetings with Russia's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who is travelling to Davos, according to Reuters.

Amid protests in Iran, Trump over the weekend called for 'new leadership' in the country.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was set to speak on Tuesday afternoon at Davos, however the forum confirmed he will not be attending.

The World Economic Forum wrote on X: 'Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year.'

The annual meeting opens Tuesday with a stated motto of 'improving the state of the world,' and this year's theme is 'A spirit of dialogue.'

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was set to speak on Tuesday afternoon

Nearly 3,000 attendees from the interlinked worlds of business, advocacy and policy will tackle issues including the growing gap between rich and poor; AI's impact on jobs; concerns about geo-economic conflict; tariffs that have rocked longstanding trade relationships; and an erosion of trust between communities and countries.

The forum will be without its founder, Klaus Schwab, who hosted the first event in Davos 55 years ago focusing on business, only to see it since balloon into a catchall extravaganza.

He stepped down in April. New co-chairs Larry Fink, the head of investment firm BlackRock, and Andre Hoffman, vice chair of pharmaceuticals firm Roche, are in charge.

This year will also mark the debut appearance of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, arguably the world's most important tech leader today, among some 850 CEOs and chairs of global companies - along with some celebrities like Hollywood actor and safe-water advocate Matt Damon.

The future of AI, its impact on business and work, and the prospects for artificial general intelligence will be key themes.

Leading public-relations firm Edelman reports in its annual trust barometer - launched a quarter-century ago and this year surveying nearly 34,000 people in 28 countries - that trade and recession fears have climbed to an all-time high, optimism is falling especially in developed countries, and 'grievance' last year has morphed into broader 'insularity.'

This year will also mark the debut appearance of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, arguably the world's most important tech leader today

'People are retreating from dialogue and compromise, choosing the safety of the familiar over the perceived risk of change,' said CEO Richard Edelman.

'We favor nationalism over global connection and individual gain over joint progress. Our mentality has shifted from `we' to `me'.'

The survey found that about two-thirds of respondents said their trust was concentrated toward CEOs of the companies that they work for, fellow citizens or neighbors, while nearly 70% believed institutional leaders - such as from business or government - deliberately mislead the public.

Oxfam, the world-renowned advocacy group, issued a report ahead of the Davos event which showed that billionaire wealth rose by more than 16% last year, three times faster than the past five-year average, to more than $18 trillion. It drew on Forbes magazine data on the world's richest people.

Oxfam said the $2.5 trillion rise in the wealth of billionaires last year would be enough to eradicate extreme poverty 26 times over.

Their wealth has risen by more than four-fifths since 2020, while nearly half the world's population lives in poverty, the group said.

The Trump administration has led a 'pro-billionaire agenda,' the group said, through actions such as slashing taxes for the wealthiest, fostering the growth of AI-related stocks that help rich investors get richer, and thwarting efforts to tax giant companies.

As usual, protesters rallied over the weekend in and near Davos ahead of the even

Critics have long accused the annual meeting in Davos of generating more rhetoric than results, and they see Trump's return as sign of the disconnect between haves and have-nots

The advocacy group wants more national efforts to reduce inequality, higher taxes on the ultra-rich to reduce their power, and greater limits on their ability to shape policy through lobbying.

As usual, protesters rallied over the weekend in and near Davos ahead of the event.

Hundreds of marchers scaled an Alpine road up to the town on Saturday behind a banner in German that read 'No Profit from War' and alongside a truck that bore a sign: World Economic Failure.

Critics have long accused the annual meeting in Davos of generating more rhetoric than results, and they see Trump's return as sign of the disconnect between haves and have-nots.

Some say Swiss leaders who support the event and flock to Davos too are adding to the problem.

'It is worrying how Swiss politicians are courting warmongers and their profiteers in Davos,' said Mirjam Hostetmann, president of Switzerland's Young Socialists, who have led protests against the event. 'The WEF will never bring peace, but will only fuel escalation.'
A Minneapolis pastor whose church was targeted by a left-wing mob works as the acting director of the town's ICE field office, it has emerged.

David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, appeared alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in October, where he spoke of being 'proud' of leading the immigration crackdown in the town.

On Sunday, the church was swarmed by anti-ICE protesters during its weekend service, as footage showed hordes of chanting demonstrators filling the church.

Easterwood appeared to be the target of the mob, as protester Nekima Levy Armstrong singled him out when former CNN anchor Don Lemon joined the protest in the church.

'This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities,' Armstrong told Lemon.

Last week, Easterwood responded to a lawsuit by defending ICE agents in against allegations brought by an anti-ICE protester who claimed she was aggressively arrested and held in a cell for five hours, reports MinnPost.

Easterwood said officers 'only use force that is necessary and reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances', and are often subjected to 'increased threats, violence, aggression, attacks, vehicle block-ins, and obstruction of immigration enforcement operations.'

The ICE field office director's role as pastor at the Cities Church reportedly caught the attention of protest groups Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, and Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, who organized the Sunday mob.

David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul (center left) and ICE field office director, seen alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference in October. On Sunday, his church was targeted by anti-ICE protests

Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, was branded a 'wolf in sheeps clothing, masquerading as a pastor' by anti-ICE protesters who targeted his church

Easterwood was not present when the church was overwhelmed by anti-ICE protesters, but the pastor who was leading the service, Jonathan Parnell, shared his disgust with the decision to protest his Sunday service.

'This is shameful, absolutely shameful,' the pastor said.

'No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family,' he added, before asking Lemon to leave.

Throughout the protest inside the church, footage showed demonstrators chanting 'ICE out!', 'Hands up, don't shoot!' and 'Justice for Renee Good' - in reference to the Minneapolis protester shot dead by an ICE agent on January 7.

Easterwood is named in a pending class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Minnesota for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents, reports the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Armstrong told the outlet that she and other anti-ICE activists decided to mobilize against Easterwood's church after discovering his role as pastor.

'This man is a wolf in sheeps clothing, masquerading as a pastor,' she told the Tribune.

'For me, it registered with his name being in that lawsuit, researching him, seeing him at a press conference with Kristi Noem... and then seeing him listed as a pastor of the church, finding a sermon online,' she said.

'As soon as I realized the dual roles that he played, I reached out to other Black women organizers and asked them if they would help me pull an action together.'

Protesters interrupted Sunday service at Cities Church in St Paul, angrily demanding 'ICE out' and accusing a senior leader of the church of working with the agency

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon joined the protest at Easterwood's church on Sunday, where pastor Jonathan Parnell (center) shared his disgust with the mob and said they were 'shameful'

Protesters and worshippers stand outside Cities Church in St Paul following the protest

Last week, Easterwood captured headlines with his response to a lawsuit brought by local Minneapolis protester Susan Tincher.

Tincher alleged that she was detained for asking an ICE agent to identify herself, which she says led several agents to pull her to the ground and handcuff her face-down in the snow.

In her lawsuit, Tincher said she was then shackled in a cell for over five hours, and alleged that officers cut off her bra and her wedding ring of 32 years while she was detained.

Easterwood responded by blaming Tincher, saying she tried to enter a law enforcement perimeter, refused commands to leave and tried to push an ICE officer, and he defended the use of force on her as 'necessary.'

In October, Easterwood appeared alongside Noem at a press conference, where he identified himself as the head of ICE's removal operations for Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

'The men and women of the ERO St. Paul embody the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and dedication,' Easterwood said at the press conference.

'Every day they face complex challenges with determination and resolve, ensuring the safety of our communities and the enforcement of our nations immigration laws.'

Last week, Easterwood captured headlines with his response to a lawsuit brought by local Minneapolis protester Susan Tincher (pictured), who says she was aggressively detained during a protest. Easterwood said the use of force on her was 'necessary'

Easterwood seen embracing Noem at a press conference in October

In response to the protest at Easterwood's church, the Department of Justice announced it was opening an investigation into the demonstration over possible criminal violations.

Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice, said on X that she contacted Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI to investigate the action, branding it 'un-American and outrageous.'

'The [Civil Rights division] is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers,' Dhillon wrote.

The Department of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also took to X to condemn the protests, writing: 'Agitators arent just targeting our officers. Now theyre targeting churches, too.'

The ICE account added that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are responsible for 'whipping these mobs into a frenzy and then allowing them to run rampant.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Easterwood's church for comment.
A group of men enjoying lunch at a Minneapolis deli were bullied by a surging mob who mistook them for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, video shows.

Five software engineers had been dining at Clancy's Deli when anti-ICE protesters gathered outside the restaurant's front windows and shouted obscenities at them.

'Get out of our f***ing neighborhood,' one protester was heard yelling in a clip obtained by Alpha News. Another shouted: 'If you're not with us, you're against us.'

One demonstrator even went as far as calling them pedophiles and another screamed 'I hope you die,' the news outlet reported.

A victim, known as Lee, claimed the mob's ringleader said the group, who are not affiliated with ICE, deserved to be harassed because they were 'white privileged males.'

He has alleged that the restaurant owner was responsible for the chaos by falsely claiming the group of software engineers were federal agents.

'You don't tell extremists that random customers are ICE agents. That's how people get hurt,' Lee said, adding how one of his friends feared they would be shot.

Lee added that the mob's vile attack has changed the way some of his friend group feels about the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

A group of men enjoying lunch at a Minneapolis deli were bullied by a surging mob who mistook them for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents

'Get out of our f***ing neighborhood,' one protester was heard yelling in video obtained by Alpha News. Another shouted: 'If you're not with us, you're against us'

The five software engineers had been dining at Clancy's Deli when anti-ICE protesters gathered outside the restaurant's front windows and shouted obscenities at them

Dozens of protesters assembled outside the restaurant after a message was sent in the 'SW Minneapolis Rapid Response' Signal chat claiming that plain-clothed ICE officers were dining there.

One of Lee's friends was in the chat and also received the message, which reportedly stated ICE's presence at the restaurant was 'confirmed by the owner.'

Lee claimed it only took 15 minutes for the massive mob to arrive at the deli.

The software engineers were reportedly being photographed and filmed by the group as they ate.

When they stepped outside, Lee claims the group became hostile, hurling insults and blowing whistles at them as they tried to leave.

The diners told the crowd that they created apps for Minnesota businesses, but the mob seemingly refused to believe them.

One protester yelled 'you look like a f***ing ICE agent' and another screamed at them to 'get the f*** out,' video of the encounter showed.

'This is what's wrong with your guys' cause,' one of the engineers told the crowd, prompting a demonstrator to question if he would support them.

He replied: 'The way you guys are acting? No. And I don't support ICE either. I'm just trying to enjoy my lunch!'

Lee claimed that before the incident, one of the engineers was in support of ICE, one against and the others were on the fence.

'After this, I think some of them are rethinking everything,' he told Alpha News.

Dozens of protesters assembled outside of the restaurant after a message was sent in the 'SW Minneapolis Rapid Response' Signal chat claiming plain-clothed ICE officers were dining there

When they stepped outside, one of the victims, Lee, claimed the group became hostile, hurling insults and blowing whistles at them as they tried to leave

Lee, a software engineer, has alleged that the restaurant owner was responsible for the chaos by falsely claiming they were plain-clothed federal agents

The incident comes amid a wave of anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis, where federal authorities have been conducting a massive immigration enforcement operation.

Demonstrations have erupted across the city and the US after the death of Renee Nicole Good.

The 37-year-old was shot three times through the window of her car by ICE agent Jonathan 'Jon' Ross in Minneapolis on January 7 after she refused to get out of her vehicle.

Federal officials have launched an investigation into Good's partner, Rebecca, following accusations that she impeded an ICE agent in the moments before Good died.

Those familiar with the investigation reportedly told The New York Times that the civil rights division of the Department of Justice, which typically investigates police-involved shootings, has not opened a probe into whether Ross violated Good's rights under federal law.

Ross is 'increasingly unlikely' to face criminal charges, the Times reported.

The Pentagon on Sunday ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to be ready in case of a possible deployment to Minnesota, two defense officials said Sunday.

Two infantry battalions of the Army's 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders, officials said. The unit is based in Alaska and specializes in operating in arctic conditions.

One defense official said the troops are standing by to deploy to Minnesota should President Donald Trump invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 19th-century law that would allow him to deploy active-duty troops as law enforcement.

Anti-ICE demonstrators assemble outside a post office in Minneapolis on Sunday

Federal agents detain a demonstrator in front of the BH Whipple federal detention center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday

The move comes just days after Trump threatened to do just that to quell protests against his administration's wide-scale immigration crackdown.

On Thursday, Trump said in a social media post that he would invoke the 1807 law 'if the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job.'

He appeared to walk back the threat a day later, telling reporters at the White House that there wasn't a reason to use it 'right now.'

'If I needed it, I'd use it,' Trump said. 'It's very powerful.'

Trump has repeatedly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act throughout both of his terms. In 2020, he threatened to use it to quell protests after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police, and in recent months, he threatened to use it for immigration protests.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell, in an emailed statement to AP on Sunday, did not deny the orders were issued and said the military 'is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon.'

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat and frequent target of Trump, has urged the president to refrain from sending in more troops.

'I'm making a direct appeal to the President: Let's turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,' Walz said last week on social media.
A Canadian lawmaker has been mercilessly mocked online after delivering a lengthy land acknowledgement statement at the start of a budget meeting.

Toronto Budget Chief and City Councilor Shelley Carroll kicked off the Budget Committee meeting on Wednesday 'in a good way,' by first taking time to explain why the land they were meeting on was allegedly stolen from Indigenous peoples.

A land acknowledgement is an increasingly common and controversial practice that recognizes an area as the traditional homeland of Indigenous peoples.

Carroll, 68, went on to list the specific nations that the land is said to belong to, while also honoring 'those ancestors of African origin or descent.'

'Let's start the meeting in a good way by acknowledging first that the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. And it is now home to many First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

'We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit,' Carroll said. 'I'm also going to make our African ancestral acknowledgement, and that is that the city of Toronto acknowledges all treaty peoples, including those who came here as settlers, as migrants, either in this generation or generations past.

'And those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to this land as a result of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and slavery. We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin or descent,' Carroll said before carrying on with the rest of the meeting.

A clip of her introduction quickly made its way online and was immediately met with criticism, with one X commenter branding the moment 'quite scary' and another who said: 'Canada is a mess!!!'

Toronto Budget Chief and City Councilor Shelley Carroll made a lengthy land acknowledgement statement to kick off a meeting on Wednesday

Her comments have caused a huge uproar on social media, with many people finding Carroll's statement 'quite scary' and unhelpful in addressing the city's current needs. (Pictured: Carroll in October at a local police department event)

Another X user posted: 'Absolutely nuts. Certifiable.'

'Toronto, good luck on this,' someone else quipped.

'These people are woke nuts,' another chimed in.

Another expressed how the acknowledgement was not addressing what is going on in the city.

'It apparently now takes about 5 mins of self flagellation before they get down to the business of wrecking the city,' the user wrote.

'They have gone batsh** crazy,' a user added.

Land acknowledgements are not mandatory in Canada, but it is a customary practice, especially at events in the liberal city.

Carroll, who has been serving in city council since 2003, is no stranger to taking a moment to make a land acknowledgement at public events.

In 2021, she shared that after being asked to do a land acknowledgement at a National Congress of Chinese Canadians (NCCC) ceremony, she got emotional.

'This past Friday, I was invited to join the National Congress of Chinese Canadians (NCCC) for a small Canada Day cake-cutting ceremony, which was then broadcast virtually to their members,' Carroll wrote on her website.

'At the event, I was asked to do a land acknowledgement. I did it, and it brought me to tears.'

She continued: 'Canada Day means something different to everyone. No matter how long youve been here or how you usually celebrate, this year it's important to reflect on the thousands of Indigenous children who died in residential schools.

'It's an ugly part of Canadian history that we must confront, and it requires all of us to work towards real and meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.'

The Daily Mail contacted Carroll for comment.

Carroll's comments come just months after furious passengers blasted Air Canada and Via Rail for displaying land acknowledgments.

In November, a traveler who recently used both Air Canada and Via Rail, the country's taxpayer-funded train operator, shared images of the signage on social media.

In 2021, she shared that after being asked to do a land acknowledgement at a National Congress of Chinese Canadians (NCCC) ceremony, she got emotional

A land acknowledgement message is seen inside an Air Canada flight late last year (left). A similar message was seen at Via Rail, the country's taxpayer-funded train operator (right)

Air Canada's display, written in French, read: 'Air Canada recognizes the ancestral and traditional indigenous territories it overflies.'

Written in English, the train's sign stated: 'Via Rail acknowledges the ancestral and traditional indigenous territories on which our trains operate.'

The posts sparked a frenzy online, with many travelers rushing to social media to share outrage over the signage and several passengers claiming the companies have gone woke.

'This is state-sponsored insanity,' one person wrote. 'The woke overseers of Canada are such an embarrassment,' added another.

'Today we're announcing that we feel so Guilty we're giving Canada back to the First Nations,' wrote a third person.

A fourth person quipped, 'Should be a land acknowledgment for the dinosaurs.'
An anti-Trump activist with a comically high-pitched voice tried to shout down attendees at a Free Iran protest because they showed support for President Trump.

Hundreds of marchers flooded the streets in downtown Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York City on Sunday to show support for the Iranian people after thousands were killed during deadly protests amid an internet blackout in the country.

President Trump warned Iran that he was 'locked and loaded' last week as he suggested strikes on the hostile nation were imminent, and urged protesters to continue demonstrations because 'help is on the way.'

Free Iran protestors have supported Trump's involvement in the conflict - but one activist - who sported a blond bob of hair and an unnaturally high-pitched voice - was captured on video denouncing the president.

The unidentified activist, wearing an all-black outfit with quirky neon yellow glasses and a megaphone, shouted 'Trump is a Nazi' over the Iranian-American protestors.

An attendee approached the smug heckler and said she ought to 'listen and learn' from Iranian people's experiences, and 'hear what they have to say.'

Another protestor, who is not shown in the video, shouted back at the defiant activist, yelling 'That's what you're doing? Then leave.'

'Just leave, just leave!' They're heard saying in the video.

The unidentified activist, wearing an all-black outfit with quirky neon yellow glasses and a megaphone, shouted 'Trump is a Nazi' over the Iranian-American protestors - despite other people at the event asking if they would consider listening to their opinions and experiences

Demonstrators march through downtown Los Angeles during an Iran solidarity protest

In response, the activist retorted, 'I have the first amendment right to freedom of assembly, sweetheart.'

The same attendee that was trying to talk to the activist was heard repeatedly saying, 'Listen to their experience.'

'It seems like these people are very interested in amplifying Trump did some sort of favor because... they're [misinformed,]' the activist said, before continually shouting 'Trump's a Nazi' over megaphone.

The activist was ridiculed online after the clip went viral - with many noting how ridiculous the person both looked and acted when showing up at the protest.

'That backpack is full of helium, isn't it?' one user wrote, while another added: 'Send him over to Iran... he'll learn real quick.'

A third person wrote on social media: 'Does speaking in a cartoonish falsetto usually fool people or nah?'

Another said: 'He came in looking for a villain and ran into people who've actually lived under one. That kind of whiplash isn't bigotry. It's your worldview snapping in half in public.'

And another wrote: 'He couldnt afford voice training so he just went with Micky Mouse.'

The identity of the activist has not been revealed, nor is it clear in which city the protest occurred.

The activist was ridiculed online after the clip went viral - with many noting how ridiculous the person both looked and acted when showing up at the protest

Large crowd are seen waving Iranian tricolor and pre-revolution lion-and-sun flags as demonstrators fill the street and gather outside in Los Angeles on January 18

The bizarre interaction came as US protestors gathered to urge lawmakers to publicly support the Iranian people and draw attention to the executions in which thousands have been killed.

The president previously warned Tehran that he would take military action if it harmed protesters.

Since then, Trump walked back from the strikes after being warned the military intervention could lead to another long, drawn-out conflict in the Middle East, according to insiders.

Insiders reportedly said the president was convinced by advisors not to strike Iran - despite military officials going to sleep on Tuesday convinced there would be an attack the next day.

While Trump told the press Friday that 'I convinced myself' after seeing that executions had stopped, The Wall Street Journal reported that the president sought out a wide range of advisors on the issue.

On Friday, Trump repeated that the pause on executions kept him from launching an attack but he maintained the right to do so going forward.

'Nobody convinced me. I convinced myself. You had yesterday scheduled over 800 hangings. They didn't hang anyone. They canceled the hangings. That had a big impact.'
The mayor of a gorgeous Oregon town explains how 'hard work and planning' has kept Beaverton thriving while neighboring Portland has been circling the drain.

Lacey Beaty, Beaverton's youngest and first-ever female mayor, gave insight into the town's strategies allowing it to thrive after U-Haul recently ranked Oregon the number 11 growth state.

'When people ask me that, they think it's like a secret,' Beaty began in an interview with KOIN 6. 'And what I would tell you is it's hard work and planning.'

'We wanted more restaurants. We wrote a restaurant strategy. We wanted a performing arts center and we worked on it for a decade.'

The mayor said that Beaverton's success, boosting the state's growth ranking along with cities such as Tigard, Happy Valley and Bend, is down to the city's safety and business cooperation.

'Beaverton is responsive to the community. It's clean. It's safe. We're addressing issues head-on,' she said.

Beaty nodded to their 'greatest partners,' including Nike, Columbia Sportswear and Reser's Fine Foods.

She cited projects such as the Patricia Reer Center for the Arts, named after Pat Reer because 'it really was her vision and she gave the city an incredible gift to get our fundraising rolling.'

Lacey Beaty, Beaverton's youngest and first-ever female mayor, gave insight into the town's strategies allowing it to thrive after U-Haul recently ranked Oregon the number 11 growth state

The mayor said that Beaverton's success, boosting the state's growth ranking along with cities such as Tigard, Happy Valley and Bend, is down to the city's safety and business cooperation

Beaverton neighbors Portland, which has experienced increasing troubles with homelessness and has fallen into disarray as anti-ICE protests continue to plague the city

The center was described as 'the cultural hub of Washington county,' as Beaty said that, prior to the center, residents had to travel to Portland to see a show.

'We're attracting really great artists into our space and it's a place where you can take your young kids. It's close to city hall and it's really given a boost to the restaurants around it,' she added.

Nike, headquartered in Beaverton, also partnered with the city during the Covid-19 pandemic to facilitate one of the largest private vaccine sites in Oregon and the entire country, according to Beaty.

Beaty added that a lot of the businesses in the city have employees living locally, and therefore the city pays 'a lot of attention' to the business climate.

'Not just our big businesses, but our mom and pop businesses too because that's the lifeblood or our community,' she said. 'The better our ecosystem does, the better everyone does.'

With neighboring cities like Portland experiencing a difficult issue with homelessness, Beaty said Beaverton is equally struggling 'just like everyone else.'

The state added 3,094 year-round shelter beds from 2023 to 2025, an increase in total capacity of 39 percent, according to Portland State University.

The 2025 Point-in-Time census count recorded 27, 119 people experiencing homelessness across Oregon, with around 60.9 percent without shelter.

Beaty said that the city is focused on speed and efficiency when it comes to developing housing, and that they 'move pretty quickly on projects that are really important'

Beaty nodded to their 'greatest partners,' including Nike, Columbia Sportswear and Reser's Fine Foods who have helped fund local initiatives

2025 Point-in-Time census count recorded 27, 119 people experiencing homelessness across Oregon, with around 60.9 percent without shelter. Pictured: Scenes of Downtown Portland

Multnomah County, which includes the city of Portland, had an unhoused population of 10,526 as of January 2025.

Washington County recorded 940 homeless people and Clackamas County saw around 568 unhoused around the same time.

'But I would say that the way that we've addressed it...we've led with dignity. We have a year-round shelter. We're the first in Washington County to open it,' Beaty said.

The Beaverton shelter hosts around 60 beds, according to Beaty, and has an 'incredible track record' moving people into permanent housing. The city utilizes a bike team, consisting of four officers dedicated to the downtown area that 'address people with humanity.'

Beaverton also boasts a low office vacancy rate of eight percent, compared to the national average of 15 percent.

'We're way below the national average when it comes to office vacancy because know that they're safe,' Beaty said. 'That's why businesses are locating in Beaverton. Not just the economic climate, but the safety, the feeling, the concierge level service that the city does to help people get where they are.'

'We are focused and dedicated on the experience of people locating in Beaverton.'

Beaty said that the city is focused on speed and efficiency when it comes to developing housing, and that they 'move pretty quickly on projects that are really important.'

Nike, headquartered in Beaverton, also partnered with the city during the Covid-19 Pandemic to facilitate one of the largest private vaccine sites in Oregon and the entire country

Beaty said Beaverton, seen above hosting its' night market event, is incredibly diverse

Beaverton also boasts a low office vacancy rate of eight percent, compared to the national average of 15 percent

'We want housing. The governor wants housing. We want business open. It's in our best interest to move as fast as possible, we also have a responsibility to the community to make sure that it's safe, it meets our codes and it meets our standards,' she said, adding that she believes the city has found a 'happy medium.'

Beaty, however, also condemned arrests occurring by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Beaverton, the first sanctuary city in the state during President Trump's first term, has seen a number of protests and, according to Beaty, has been the 'epicenter' of arrests.

'We've had more arrests happening in our county than Multnomah County or Clackamas County. It is deplorable what is happening on the streets,' Beaty said.

'Beaverton is an incredibly diverse city. [ICE] are making our streets unsafe. They are not bringing calm. They're bringing chaos into how they operate. Just like we didn't want National Guard on the streets of Portland and Beaverton. We want to make sure that public safety is addressed at the local level.

'We have done a lot of work to build trust between our community and the police department since the murder of George Floyd. This erodes the trust that we're building together.'

Beaty told the outlet that she has worked with many other cities, including Portland, to have bystander training and anti-authoritarianism training.

'The one thing that we're talking about right now is our ability to collectively sue together. Cities are not in a space where we are able or have the skill in house to sue the federal government,' she added.

Beaverton, the first sanctuary city in the state during President Trump's first term, has seen a number of protests and, according to Beaty, has been the 'epicenter' of arrests

Beaty, who said she is raising her daughters in Beaverton, added that she works hard 'every day' to improve her family's hometown

'We're going to fight for our residents, for our members of our community, and we're not going to allow a federal government to come in and just take money back because they disagree with the local leadership because after all, local control is a Republican value.'

Beaty, who said she is raising her daughters in Beaverton, added that she works hard 'every day' to improve her family's hometown.

'I want them to be proud of it,' she told the outlet.
New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has appointed a senior official whose past social media posts included inflammatory comments about white people.

Afua Atta-Mensah, the city's new chief equity officer, reportedly deactivated her personal X account within a week of her appointment, according to the New York Post.

Mamdani, 34, has vowed to govern as a 'democratic socialist' and was recently sworn in as the city's first Muslim mayor. His platform included free buses, free childcare and higher corporate tax rates.

According to the Post, Atta-Mensah's deleted account contained numerous posts from 2020 and 2021 disparaging liberal white women, including her response to a user who wrote 'we don't talk about white liberal racism enough,' to which she replied: 'Facts! It would need to be a series of loooooonnnnnnnggggg conversations.'

The nowremoved account also featured reposts from as early as 2024 calling 'white women at nonprofit organizations' people who 'feel like police,' along with a post comparing white women to Amy Cooper, the dog walker dubbed 'Central Park Karen' in 2020.

AttaMensah enthusiastically responded to a statement declaring, 'There's NO moderate way to Black liberation.' She replied, 'This is a whole word! I will add their is nothing nice about change and transformation from power over to powe [sic] with.'

Another screenshot shows AttaMensah responding enthusiastically to a post about the TV series Succession. After a user wrote that the show made them want to 'tax these people to the white meat,' she echoed the sentiment with clapping emojis.

The New York Young Republicans Club took screenshots of the posts before the account vanished, and accused the administration of attempting to avoid another controversy.

Atta-Mensah's appointment came as Mamdani launched his new Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice, where she will oversee the administration's racialequity agenda, including delivering a Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan within his first 100 days.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Afua Atta-Mensah, pictured on his left, as New York City's new chief equity officer. Her past social media posts included inflammatory comments about white people

Atta-Mensah reportedly deactivated her personal X account within a week of her appointment

The plan was mandated by voters in 2022 but was never published under the previous administration.

Mamdani defended the hire in a press release announcing her appointment.

'Afua Atta-Mensah has dedicated her career to serving the New Yorkers who are so often forgotten in the halls of power. There is no one I trust more to advance racial equity across our work in City Hall,' the mayor said.

Before joining City Hall, Atta-Mensah held senior roles at Community Change, Community Voices Heard, and the Urban Justice Center, focusing on racial justice and housing rights.

The mayor's office insisted it gave no orders for appointees to delete or obscure prior social media activity, according to the Post.

Stefano Forte, president of the New York Young Republicans Club, accused the administration of attempting to quietly manage Atta-Mensah's online history.

'Zohran's team tried to be more careful after the Cea Weaver disaster, but we caught Atta-Mensah before she could scrub her digital footprint,' he said, adding, 'Anti-white racism is a feature, not a fringe problem, of Mamdani's inner circle.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the City of New York for comment.

The account's disappearance came just as another Mamdani appointee, tenant advocate Cea Weaver, drew scrutiny for her own past statements.

Weaver, a 37yearold progressive 'housing justice' activist, was appointed director of the Office to Protect Tenants on Mamdani's first day in office.

But her pledge to usher in 'a new era of standing up for tenants' quickly drew scrutiny after users resurfaced controversial posts from her nowdeleted X account.

Between 2017 and 2019, Weaver had posted that homeownership was 'a weapon of white supremacy,' that police are 'people the state sanctions to murder with immunity,' and urged followers to 'elect more communists,' the Post reported.

She also called to 'impoverish the white middle class,' labeled homeownership 'racist' and 'failed public policy,' pushed to 'seize private property,' and backed a platform banning white men and realityTV stars from running for office.

She wrote in August 2019: 'Private property, including and kind of especially homeownership, is a weapon of white supremacy masquerading as 'wealth building' public policy.'

Two years earlier, she claimed America 'built wealth for white people through genocide, slavery, stolen land and labor.'

Weaver also encouraged voters to 'elect more communists,' months after urging endorsement of a 'no more white men in office platform.'

A resurfaced video has also drawn attention. In a short 2022 podcast clip, she said: 'For centuries we've treated property as an individualized good and not a collective good,' adding that shifting to shared equity would mean families - 'especially white families, but some POC families' - would have 'a different relationship to property than the one that we currently have.'

Mamdani said that he and Cea Weaver will 'stand up on behalf of the tenants of this city'

The 37-year-old is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and served as a policy advisor on Mamdani's mayoral campaign

Weaver has a master's in urban planning, leads Housing Justice for All and the New York State Tenant Bloc.

She helped pass the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, which strengthened rent stabilization, capped fees, and expanded tenant rights.

A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Weaver served as a policy adviser on Mamdani's campaign. She grew up in Rochester and was named on the business outlet Crain's New York 40 Under 40 list last year. She now lives in Brooklyn.

Announcing her appointment on January 1, Mamdani said: 'We will stand up on behalf of the tenants of this city that is why I am proud to announce my friend Cea Weaver.'

Weaver said she was 'humbled and honored' to join the administration and vowed a 'new era of standing up for tenants.'

Deputy mayor Leila Bozorg called her a 'powerhouse for tenants' rights.'
A female driver struck a six-year-old boy while he rode his bike in California, then stopped her car for a moment before fatally running him over and fleeing, according to police.

Hudson O'Loughlin was riding his bike on the sidewalk with his father in Pacific Beach, a San Diego neighborhood, on Saturday around 3.45pm when the woman struck him while he crossed an alleyway, the San Diego Police Department said, CBS8 reported.

The driver, who was turning when she hit the boy, stopped her vehicle for a couple of seconds before speeding away and hitting him again as she did so, according to authorities.

David Morrow, who was driving behind the woman at the time, recalled seeing her 'cut right into the alley' before running Hudson over 'twice,' he told the outlet.

'Like, both wheels ran over the kid. She stopped right in front for about ten seconds. That's when I pulled behind her and got her license number, and then she took off,' Morrow added.

He noted that a bystander, who was possibly a paramedic, jumped in to help Hudson.

'He got up at first and was standing there all in pain, and then they laid him down, and he stopped breathing right in front of me,' Morrow said of Hudson. 'It was sad, and then I left.'

Little Hudson was then transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.

Hudson O'Loughlin, six, tragically died on Saturday afternoon after a female driver, 32, killed him in a hit-and-run while he was on a bike ride with his dad

Hudson has been remembered by his family and friends as 'a bright, curious child who loved all things science, and his energy was contagious. He is seen with his little brother, mother and father

The female driver was later taken into custody after her car was located in National City, just 20 minutes from the scene.

Her charges and identity have not yet been revealed. Alcohol did not play a role in the deadly collision, the police told Fox5.

Hudson has been remembered by his family and friends as 'a bright, curious child who loved all things science, and his energy was contagious,' according to a GoFundMe page.

He loved swimming, playing with Legos, riding his bike being outdoors, and 'had a passions for BMX,' also known as bicycle motocross.

As of Monday afternoon, more than $46,000 had been raised to help out his grieving family.

Hudson leaves behind his mother, father, younger brother, and countless loved ones.

His mother, Juliana Kapovich, took to Facebook on Monday morning in an emotional post about the loss of her oldest child.

'Being Hudsons mother was the greatest honor of my life,' Kapovich wrote alongside a series of beautiful family pictures.

While crossing an alleyway (pictured), the unidentified woman struck Hudson with her black Tesla while turning, the San Diego Police Department said

The female driver then stopped the car for several seconds before driving away, fatally hitting Hudson in the process. (Pictured: A growing memorial for the little boy)

She said her son already knew what he wanted to be when he grew up: a military scientist.

'We made many trips to the library searching for books on science and the military. He proudly wore his camo backpack to school, with his tactical camo water bottle across his shoulder, already stepping into the future he imagined for himself,' she wrote.

His heartbroken mother added: 'Hudson, thank you for choosing me as your mama. You changed our lives forever. You will be loved, remembered, and carried with us  always.'

Hudson's death has left the community reeling and asking for more precautions to be put in place for cyclists, pedestrians and kids in the neighborhood.

'Its absolutely devastating to learned what happened last night. Im in shock learning about it. Im so sorry for anyones loss,' Mark Johnston, another biker, told NBC7.

A growing memorial filled with flowers, candles, stuffed animals and pictures of Hudson has since been created at the scene.

Courtney Rogers, who lives in the area, said she cannot wrap her head around what happened.

His mother took to Facebook on Monday morning in an emotional post about the loss of her oldest child, who she said dreamed of being a military scientist one day

Hudson's death has left the community reeling and speaking up for more precautions to be put in place for cyclists, pedestrians and kids in the neighborhood

'Its so, so, so sad about the family. I cannot even imagine as a parent whats happening to them right now,' she told the outlet before stressing the need for more safety measures in town.

'They just need to have more stop signs, lights, warning signs, flashing lights, I mean anything that we could do,' Rogers said.

Johnston echoed her plea, especially as an avid biker.

'I think one of the major problems with safety on this road from my perspective is that theres nothing to calm traffic between the major junctions,' Johnston added.

The Daily Mail contacted the San Diego Police Department for comment.
The full message the Norwegian prime minister sent to Donald Trump, which sparked the President's outburst about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, has been revealed.

On Sunday, following Trump's announcement that he would impose new tariffs on EU countries if they stood in his way to take over Greenland, Jonas Gahr Store wrote a letter to the US President.

A day before, Trump had announced that a 10 per cent tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland would come into force on February 1, but could later rise to 25 per cent.

'Dear Mr president, dear Donald - on the contact across the Atlantic - on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine - and your tariff announcement yesterday,' Store said.

'You know our position on these issues. But we believe we should all work to take this down and de-escalate  so much is happening around us where we need to stand together.

'We are proposing a call with you later today  with both of us or separately  give us a hint of what you prefer! Best - Alex and Jonas,' the message concluded.

'Alex' is short for Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland. Conservative Mr Stubb is seen as an ally to Trump in Europe, and, away from politics, both men have a passion for golf and have played a round together.

Trump's controversial response, which arrived less than 30 minutes later by text, warned that the US 'no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace', because he was denied the Nobel Peace Prize in October last year, blaming the Norwegian government for the decision.

'I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now NATO should do something for the United States,' he added.

The full message Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store sent to Donald Trump over the weekend has been revealed

On Saturday, Trump announced that he would impose new  tariffs on EU countries if they stood in his way to take over Greenland

A protest against Trump in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Saturday

'Dear Jonas: Since your country decided not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping eight wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think exclusively about peace, although it will always be dominant, but can now think about what is good and right for the United States,' Trump added.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee annoyed the US leader by awarding the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado instead of him.

Last week, she gave her medal to Trump during a White House meeting, though the Nobel Committee said the prize cannot be transferred, shared or revoked.

In his message, Trump also repeated his accusation that Denmark cannot protect Greenland from Russia or China.

'And why do they have a "right of ownership" anyway?' he wrote.

'There are no written documents, it's just that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we also had boats landing there.

'The world is not safe unless we have complete and total control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT.'

Such was the panic the letter and its language caused this morning, there were concerns that it might be fake.

But Norwegian leader Store confirmed it was genuine.

He told VG: 'I can confirm that this is a message I received yesterday afternoon from President Trump'.

He added: 'Regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, I have repeatedly clearly explained to Trump what is well known, namely that it is an independent Nobel Committee, and not the Norwegian government, that awards the prize'.

Asked about what she thought of the letter, Guhild Hoogensen Gjorv, professor of security at the Arctic University of Norway, called it 'blackmail'.

She said: 'He is convinced that he can gag European countries. He is willing to carry out blackmail against them. That is why it is more important than ever that Norway and Europe stand together.'

Trump has intensified his push to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark, threatening punitive tariffs on countries that stand in his way and prompting the EU to weigh retaliatory measures.

The dispute is threatening to upend the NATO alliance that has underpinned Western security for decades and which was already under strain over the war in Ukraine and Trump's refusal to protect allies which do not spend enough on defence.

It has also plunged trade relations between the EU and the US, the bloc's biggest export market, into renewed uncertainty after the two sides painstakingly reached a trade deal last year in response to Trump's punishing tariffs.

Trump warns Denmark a deal for Greenland 'will be done'

Sir Keir Starmer delivered an address to the British public earlier today, in which he hit out at Trump's 'completely wrong' trade threats

Taking to Truth Social today, Trump said NATO had been telling Denmark for 20 years that 'you have got to get the Russian threat away from Greenland'.

'Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!' he warned.

His remarks came hours before British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivered an address to the nation in which he hit out at Trump's 'completely wrong' trade threats.

When pressed on whether the UK would consider retaliatory tariffs, he said a trade war was in 'nobody's interest' and insisted that the two countries were 'close allies and close partners', whose relationship 'matters profoundly'.

Despite highlighting the importance of UK-US relations, Sir Keir made it clear he disagreed with Trump's plans to take over the territory.

Any decision about the future status of Greenland 'belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone', he said.

'That right is fundamental, and we will support it.'

He stopped short of saying King Charles should not take part in an upcoming state visit to the US scheduled for April, despite pressure from other British politicians.

'The civilised world can deal with Trump no longer. He is a gangster pirate,' senior Tory Simon Hoare previously said.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said he supported calls for the King to cancel the state visit, insisting: 'We've got to stand up to Donald Trump.'

European leaders will convene in Brussels on Thursday for an emergency summit following Trump's threats to impose new tariffs on several EU countries over his demand to acquire Greenland, an EU spokesman said on Monday.

The summit is planned to start at 6.00pm UK time (1pm ET).

Join the debate Was Norway right to challenge Trump over Greenland?

Danish soldiers take part in live-fire training after their arrival in Greenland on January 18

The Danish military is working to intensify its activities in and around Greenland in close cooperation with its Nato allies, amid threats by US President Trump

As the deepening crisis threatens the future of NATO, European leaders are considering deploying their so-called trade 'bazooka' for the first time in retaliation, an economic tool that would hit the US with 81billion in tariffs.

The 'big bazooka' is an anti-coercion instrument adopted in 2023 to combat political blackmail.

It allows the EU to restrict countries from participating in public tenders, limit trade licences and shut off access to the single market.

Lars Klingbeil, Germanys vice chancellor, called on his allies to ensure the 'bazooka' is ready to strike back at Washington if Trump presses ahead with his threats of increased tariffs.

'There is a legally established European toolbox for responding to economic blackmail with very sensitive measures. And we should now consider using these measures,' Klingbeil said in Berlin.

Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic foreign affairs minister Vivian Motzfeldt are due to meet on Monday alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

It comes after the Danish and Greenlandic governments, together with NATO allies, decided last week to increase military presence and exercise activity in the Arctic and the North Atlantic.

Several European countries sent small numbers of troops to Greenland as part of a so-called reconnaissance mission.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a White House meeting last week

The White House said the Nobel Foundation has repeatedly mentioned Trump in recent days, without recognising his 'unprecedented accomplishments'.

Steven Cheung, the White House director of communications, blasted the Nobel Foundation after Trump accepted the prestigious Peace Prize from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado.

Cheung accused the foundation of playing politics instead of acknowledging the President's efforts to end wars.

'The Nobel Foundation has now issued multiple statements/comments on President Trump (who rightfully deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace to at least eight wars),' Cheung wrote Sunday on X.

'Instead of trying to play politics, they should highlight the president's unprecedented accomplishments.'

Cheung's rebuke came hours after the Nobel Foundation issued its own carefully worded public clarification, stressing that Nobel Prizes cannot be transferred - even symbolically.

The statement followed last week's high-profile Oval Office meeting involving Trump and Machado.

'One of the core missions of the Nobel Foundation is to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel Prizes and their administration. The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobel's will and its stipulations,' the foundation wrote in a statement.

'It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who "have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind," and it specifies who has the right to award each respective prize.

'A prize can therefore not, even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed.'
A former fire chief accused of strangling his wife to death killed her so that he could be with his mistress, his murder trial heard.

Kevin West, 51, is accused of killing his wife Marcelle 'Marcy' West in their $723,000 home in Washington state on January 8, 2024.

A medical examiner determined Marcy, 47, died from asphyxiation caused by blunt neck trauma and ruled her death a homicide. West alleges his wife of 22 years died from a seizure that left her whole body 'vibrating.'

Investigators found bruising on the back of Marcy's head, behind her ears and hemorrhaging on a major neck vein, Oregon Live reported. The defense suggested the injuries were sustained during a massage given by Marcy's son.

Prosecutors claim that West was planning to leave Marcy for his mistress Cynthia Ward, with whom he had been seeing since 2023. The pair are currently engaged.

West planned to move out of his marital home on January 8 and serve Marcy divorce papers the next day, prosecutors said, citing text messages he allegedly sent to Ward's family members.

He also revealed his desire to buy a new home with Ward in Goldendale, a small town about 100 miles from the Portland suburb of Washougal where he lived with Marcy.

The Wests had been struggling to pay their $7,000 per month mortgage, despite the fire chief earning a $160,000 salary. Prosecutors also allege that he did not want to pay alimony to Marcy or be forced to split his pension, a likely outcome of divorce.

Former Camas-Washougal Fire chief Kevin West, 51, is accused of killing his wife Marcelle 'Marcy' West in their home in Washington state on January 8, 2024

Marcy, 47, died from asphyxiation caused by blunt neck trauma. A coroner ruled her death a homicide, but West alleges his wife of 22 years died from a seizure that left her 'vibrating'

West's 'obsession' with Ward led him to kill his wife, Clark County senior prosecutor Jessica E. Smith told the court.

She questioned whether it was a 'coincidence' that Marcy died of 'natural causes' on the exact day that West vowed to leave her.

'His plan to replace Marcy with Cynthia without the financial ruin had been successful,' she told the jury. 'This is not grief  this is a man who could not be more ready to move on.'

West and Ward first met in 2004 when she was serving as a volunteer firefighter in Washougal, Ward testified during the trial last week.

The pair engaged in a sexual relationship at that time, but cut if off after just a few months, The Post-Record reported.

They reconnected in 2023 after West messaged her on Facebook, she recalled. They were both in relationships at the time, but stayed in touch via WhatsApp.

She said their relationship quickly evolved from messaging into a sexual affair that saw them meet up in hotels near the airport.

They also went on beach trips and travelled to Nevada together, where West met her mother, she told the court.

The Wests had been struggling to pay make the $7,000 per month mortgage payments on their Washougal home, which realtors estimate to be worth around $723,000

Investigators allege that West made contradicting statements to detectives and showed little sadness in the aftermath of Marcy's passing

West proposed to his mistress Cynthia Ward, who testified during his trial, in September 2024. She told the court that she may have been at the West family home the day that Marcy died

Ward admitted that West said 'he was going to leave Marcy, at some point,' but told testified that she was not privy to the logistics of his anticipated split.

She added that she was at West's home the day police arrived to interview him about Marcy's death, but remained hidden from authorities during the interaction.

She also said she may have been at the West family home on the morning that Marcy died, the newspaper reported.

West proposed to Ward in September 2024. The couple now live in a newly constructed home in Estacada, Oregon with West's 22-year-old son Ted.

West called 911 just before 4.30am on January 8, 2024 to report that Marcy was having a seizure. He said she stopped breathing and tried to perform CPR.

Police and medics from the Camas-Washougal Fire Department, where West was chief, arrived at the home and tried to save Marcy but were unsuccessful.

She was pronounced dead at 5.11am, the sheriff's office said.

West told investigators Marcy had fallen ill the night before, alleging she had a headache and was vomiting.

West has pleaded not guilty to first and second-degree domestic violence murder

The defense argued that the bruising on Marcy's body may have been caused by a massage she received from her son Ted West on January 7, 2024. Ted demonstrated the massage he gave to Marcy during his father's trial

The certified EMT said he examined her and found nothing of concern. They then went to bed sometime between 9.30 and 11pm, he said.

West said he woke up around 4.30am the next morning to find Marcy 'vibrating' from a seizure. But his cellphone tracked hundreds of steps that he allegedly took throughout the night, including in the hour before he called 911.

His colleagues, who responded to the emergency dispatch, told the court that West showed little sadness in the immediate aftermath of Marcy's passing.

He allegedly asked if it was 'too soon' to throw out her belongings and, just three hours after her death, said: 'I feel bad for not feeling bad.'

He is also accused of making contradicting statements to detectives during the investigation.

Prosecutors allege West killed Marcy, but his attorneys contend that she died from medical complications.

Defense attorney Brian Walker even suggested that the coroner was misled by the bruising on Marcy's body, claiming the injuries may have been the result of a 'deep and firm' massage that Ted gave her the day before.

Kevin and Marcy West with their son Ted in 2004

'Could it have been Ted's massage  I don't know, nobody knows,' Walker told the court. 'Sometimes a bruise is just a bruise.'

West has pleaded not guilty to first and second-degree domestic violence murder. He remains out of custody on a $150,000 bond.

The jury will begin deliberations on Tuesday.
Tory turncoat Robert Jenrick warned fellow Conservative MPs wanting to follow him to Reform to act quickly or face not being allowed in.

The former shadow justice secretary said Nigel Farage's party would not accept 'Johnny-come-latelies' after May's local elections, as the leader unveiled the newest defector to his ranks.

Andrew Rosindell, also a former shadow minister under Kemi Badenoch, posed with his new boss outside Parliament after crossing the floor last night.

He adds to the growing number of Conservative MPs, past and present, who have decided their chances are better with Reform.

Mr Farage has set May 7  the date of crucial local elections in which they hope to make significant gains  as a cut-off point for admitting current and former MPs, as well as for local councillors to defect.

Speaking to GB News today Mr Jenrick, who joined Reform on Thursday after being booted out by Ms Badenoch, said: 'If there are other Conservative MPs who share the values and the principles of Reform who want to turn the country around and fix it, then I'm sure Nigel would welcome into the party, but he has said, and he's absolutely right to do so that this is going to have to happen quickly.

'After the May elections, then the door closes and Reform moves on. It can't be that people just make up their mind, or Johnny-come-latelies to this.'

It came as Mrs Badenoch summoned her remaining Tory MPs to a meeting in Westminster this week.

The former shadow justice secretary, who switched parties on Thursday, said Nigel Farage's party would not accept 'Johnny-come-latelies' after May's local elections

Andrew Rosindell, also a former shadow minister under Kemi Badenoch, posed with his new boss outside Parliament after crossing the floor last night.

Mr Farage claimed the 'centre right is uniting' as he welcomed Mr Rosindell, 59, to Reform UK.

Mr Rosindell became the second Conservative MP to jump ship in the space of a week after Robert Jenrick defected on Thursday.

He said he was persuaded to resign as a shadow foreign office minister in Kemi Badenoch's front bench because of the 'failure' of the Conservative Party 'on the issue of Chagossian self-determination'.

Speaking to reporters in Westminster, Mr Farage said: 'Another shadow cabinet member has joined us.

'I've known Andrew for over 25 years. We've always got on very, very well.'

Mr Rosindell has been a Conservative MP for Romford since 2001.

He told reporters Mr Farage 'has to be our next prime minister'.

Speaking about the Government's decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, he said: 'It's a total failure of the British state to protect British interests.

'The Conservative Party and the Labour Party have played a part in this, and I can't put my name to it ever.

'I repudiate what has happened, and that's one of the reasons I decided this weekend to join Nigel and reform UK. This man has to be our next prime minister.

'Our country needs reform. It needs change, and we need to rescue our nation and the calamity of this socialist government.'

Asked how his former colleagues had reacted to his defection, he said: 'I have many, many friends in the Conservative Party they've all been incredibly kind.

'They understand why I've done this. I have no malice towards my friends in the Conservative Party.'

Mr Rosindell said he had not spoken to Mrs Badenoch since his announcement, but wishes her 'all the best personally'.

A Conservative Party source said previously that Mr Rosindell had threatened to defect for months, but denied he was doing so until as recently as Saturday.

They said it was another example of Mr Farage doing Mrs Badenoch's 'spring cleaning', in reference to her comments after Mr Jenrick's defection.
A mother has spoken of her anguish after it emerged her daughter's killer is set to be released from a secure hospital on supervised leave - less than five months after he was sentenced.

Cannabis addict Gogoa Lois Tape was handed an indefinite hospital order after violently strangling his girlfriend Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, 25, to death in April 2024.

However, NHS chiefs have now informed Kennedi's family that the clinical team responsible for Tape, 28, will be applying for him to have escorted leave from the secure John Howard Centre in Hackney, East London.

Linda Westcarr, Kennedi's mother, was furious that Tape managed to 'get away' with treatment in hospital rather than punishment in jail.

Yesterday, she said: 'As a bereaved mother, I speak with anguish and disbelief that this man could be released only months after being sentenced under an indefinite hospital order.

'My family and I have been left unable to grieve. We are trapped in a process that feels relentless and neverending, and now we are being forced to fight a system that seems completely broken.

'A prison sentence would at least have given us some clarity and the space to begin rebuilding our lives. Instead, the hospital order has left us in limbo.

'I am deeply concerned that he could be allowed back into the community less than 20 months after killing my daughter.'

After throttling Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche, the mother of his two-year-old daughter, Tape drove around for two hours with her lifeless body in the car - even stopping to buy cigarettes.

Gogoa Lois Tape was handed an indefinite hospital last year order for killing his girlfriend, but it set to go on supervised day release after just five months

Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche, pictured left with her mother Linda Westcarr, was strangled to death by Tape, the father of her young daughter, who then drove around for two hours with her body in the car

Mrs Westcarr spoke of her 'anguish and disbelief' as killer Tape is set to go on supervised outings from a secure hospital in Hackney

However, prosecutors dropped a murder charged when Tape agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, blaming his behaviour on mental health problems.

Sentencing him at Inner London Crown Court last year, Judge Freya Newbery told Tape his stay in hospital would be 'measured in years, and possibly life-long'.

He said: 'You were in the grip of a major psychotic illness.

'The harm caused here is so high, the agony of the family so difficult to contemplate. But the need for punishment is substantially reduced because your offence is attributable to your mental illness.'

Ms Westcarr-Sabaroche's uncle Leon Westcarr said he was 'utterly astounded' that Tape could be assessed as safe for leave in the community so soon after he was found to be so profoundly, violently unstable.

'How can the community have any confidence in this assessment?' he said. 'How can the health secretary and the Lord Chancellor possibly be confident that this is safe or just?

'It would be a further and devastating tragedy if his release is allowed to proceed.

'Tape has escaped a life sentence, but that life sentence has instead been imposed on us as a family - one of unending grief, loss, and trauma.'

Sources at the Ministry of Justice said a formal application for outside visits had not been submitted on behalf of Tape, and that any such application would have to be approved by the Secretary of State.

However, they added that he would very soon be eligible for supervised leave.

A spokesman said: 'Our deepest sympathies remain with the family of Kennedi Westcarr-Sabaroche.

'Restricted patients can only be considered for leave after strict medical and legal checks, with the final decision needing agreement from the Justice Secretary and public safety as the top priority.'

Julian Hendy, from charity HundredFamilies charity, which monitors violence committed by the mentally ill, said: It is not uncommon for clinicians to apply for leave for mentally ill killers within months of conviction.

'In fact, the law allows such violent offenders to apply for release within six months of conviction. This cannot be right. The system is in in urgent need of reform.'

Julie Devey OBE, chairman of charity Killed Women, described Tape as 'a dangerous man' whose mental health problems were self-inflicted by his decision to use cannabis.

'It is outrageous that this man is not facing a jail term for his actions, his choices, and now will be having supervised trips out of the hospital,' she said. 'This is nowhere near justice.

'He made many choices along the way over a considerable period of time culminating in taking the life of a vibrant young mother. Allowing him to take day trips out only months after sentencing is beyond comprehension.

'It is another blow to the Westcarr family who have already had to endure so much and will continue to do so, forever. Our justice system has failed Kennedi, her little girl and the family as well as the wider public.

'Our Killed Women network stands shoulder to shoulder with Linda Westcarr and her now shattered family.'
Amazon workers tested positive for tuberculosis at one of its UK warehouses, it has been revealed  sparking calls for the site to be closed.

The retail giant confirmed 10 staff members tested positive for non-contagious TB at its centre in Coventry last September.

Confirming the outbreak, Amazon said 'a small number' of workers had been diagnosed with the disease, but they were 'no longer infectious'.

It added that no other cases had been identified and the site was running as normal, but an 'expanded screening programme' was rolled out 'as a precaution'.

TB is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs. While curable, it can cause irreversible damage if left untreated.

It is frequently called a 'Victorian disease' due to its prevalence during the Victorian era, claiming the lives of approximately four million people from the 1850s to 1910.

An Amazon spokesman said: 'Last year, a small number of people who work at our Coventry fulfilment centre tested positive for TB.

'In line with best practice safety procedures, we immediately followed guidance from the NHS and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and made all employees potentially affected aware of the situation.

Workers at an Amazon warehouse in Coventry have tested positive for tuberculosis

The GMB trade union has previously held strikes at the site over pay and working conditions and has about 700 members at the warehouse

What is tuberculosis (TB)? Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that usually affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body. It can be treated with antibiotics but can be serious if not treated. There's a vaccine that helps protect some people who are at risk from TB. Common symptoms include: A persistent cough (lasting more than three weeks)

Coughing up mucus (phlegm) or blood

Fatigue

High temperature

Loss of appetite

Night sweats

Weight loss If the disease spreads to other parts of your body, symptoms may also include: Swollen glands

Body aches and pains

Swollen joints or ankles

Stomach or pelvic pain

Constipation

Blood in urine

Headaches

A rash on the legs, face or other parts of the body Advertisement

'Those affected by TB responded well to treatment and are no longer infectious, posing no onward risk.

'As a precaution, we are running an expanded screening programme with the NHS this month.

'To date, no additional cases have been identified, and our site continues to run as normal.

'We will continue to follow guidance from the experts at UKHSA and the NHS, who are monitoring the situation, and would respectfully remind public organisations of the need for responsible communications where matters of public wellbeing are concerned.'

About 3,000 staff work at the site, including about 700 GMB trade union members.

The GMB has called for the site to remain closed until infection control measures have been put in place to prevent any further spread of the disease.

GMB senior organiser Amanda Gearing said: 'Amazon is putting all workers, site visitors, and the local and wider communities at risk of exposure to a serious infectious disease.

'Coventry Amazon risks becoming the engine room of a mass TB outbreak of a scale not seen for decades.

'Immediate and decisive action  including the temporary closure of Amazon Coventry  is required to prevent this.'

For thousands of years the disease was the biggest health threat in the world.

It was previously called phthisis, consumption and the White Plague.

Despite advances in medical care, the World Health Organisation considers it the deadliest infectious disease on the planet, killing 1.25million people in 2023.

In 2024, the number of people who contracted the disease in the UK rose by 13.6 per cent compared to the previous year, infecting 5,490 people.

Some people can have TB in their body but experience no symptoms of the disease  a condition known as latent TB.

A GMB sign outside the Amazon warehouse in Coventry during a walkout in March 2024

This cannot be spread to others but can turn into active and contagious TB if untreated.

The Coventry warehouse has been the site of industrial action for GMB before.

In March 2024, workers walked out of the Coventry base over pay, working conditions and to get the online retail giant to 'formally recognise their union'.

By September that year, Amazon agreed to a pay rise for thousands of staff.
Beaches in Sydney are on lockdown after three people, including two children, were attacked by sharks in just 26 hours.

The most recent attack at North Steyne Beach in Manly left a surfer in his 20s fighting for his life after he was bitten on the lower leg on Monday.

Earlier the same day, an 11-year-old boy was knocked from his surfboard by a large shark at Dee Why Point, with several bites taken out of his board.

The beach was closed at the time due to dangerous swell, with shark nets set as normal.

The attacks followed another incident on Sunday afternoon at Shark Beach in Vaucluse, where a 12-year-old boy was bitten while swimming with friends at a popular jump rock outside the netted swimming area. His friends helped him to shore.

New footage from the latest attack shows the man being dragged from the water by other beachgoers who performed first aid until paramedics arrived.

First responders treated the man on the sand before he was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.

New footage from the latest attack shows the man being dragged from the water by other beachgoers who performed first aid until paramedics arrived

The most recent attack at North Steyne Beach in Manly, left a surfer in his 20s in critical condition after he was bitten on the lower leg at about 6.20pm on Monday

A 15cm bite mark on the board of the surfer involved in the most recent attack suggests he was most likely attacked by a bull shark, according to shark biologists from the primary industries department

'All beaches on the Northern Beaches are closed until further notice, and this will be reviewed on an ongoing basis,' NSW Police said in a statement.

A 15cm bite mark on the young surfer's board suggests he was most likely attacked by a bull shark, according to shark biologists from the primary industries department.

Northern Beaches Council lifeguards sounded the alarm immediately after the attack, then erected shark warning signs and dispatched a jet ski to patrol the water.

Surf Life Saving NSW also launched a drone to assist with locating the shark, but there have been no further sightings.

'Council lifeguards will continue to patrol for the remainder of the day and tomorrow,' a Northern Beaches Council spokesperson said.

It's the third shark attack in Sydney in 26 hours, with experts saying peak season for bull sharks in the Sydney area is January and February.

The other two attacks were also thought to involve bull sharks.

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A lifeguards places a sign at Manly Beach, after a man was attacked by a shark in the afternoon, the second attack in Sydney's northern beaches

Northern Beaches Council lifeguards sounded the alarm immediately after the attack, then erected shark warning signs and dispatched a jet ski to patrol the water

Police on Monday urged people not to swim in murky, low-visibility water after bucketing rain drenched Sydney and its surrounds at the weekend.

Extra fresh water in the harbour after recent heavy rain, combined with the splashing effect from people jumping off a rock face, created a 'perfect storm' for Sunday's shark attack, Superintendent Joseph McNulty said.

'I would recommend not swimming in the harbour or our other river systems across NSW at this time,' he told reporters before the Dee Why incident was reported.

Heavy swell has also prevented the operation of smart drumlines, which notify authorities of shark activity along most of the NSW coast since Sunday.
An Imam who admitted to the 'forced marriage' of two underage children has avoided jail...and instead been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ashraf Osmani, 52, said he was 'unaware' of a change to the law when he conducted a 'Nikah ceremony' for two 16-year-olds at Northampton's Central Mosque.

A court heard he believed he was helping the youngsters, who were touring mosques seeking to marry, to have sexual relations without committing the sin of fornication.

But sentencing him to 15 weeks in custody, suspended for a year, Mr Justice Akhlaq Choudhury described his approach as 'negligent'.

'People look to you for guidance and put their trust in you,' he said.

'You were entirely in charge of the marriage process at the mosque and ignorance of the law is no defence. You ought to have known that the law had changed.'

He told Osmani, who stood in the dock clutching a red keffiyeh, 'I am sorry it has come to this Mr Osmani. It was a mistake on your part but a serious one.

'You must stay out of trouble for the next year, I'm sure you will, otherwise you will have to serve the 15 weeks imprisonment.'

Ashraf Osmani left court with his head covered in a keffiyeh

A judge had earlier told Osmani: 'You were entirely in charge of the marriage process at the mosque and ignorance of the law is no defence'

Earlier, prosecutor Jennifer Newcomb told the sentencing hearing at Northampton Crown Court that the marriage had come to light when the bride's foster parents found a marriage certificate in her room.

They raised their concerns with the girl's social worker but when she was spoken to by police she insisted that no ceremony had actually taken place.

Six months later, when re-interviewed she said that she had approached one mosque only to be turned down due to her age before asking Osmani who agreed to marry them the following day.

The girl told the police that Osmani had asked to see their passports and they filled in an application form.

Though they brought friends with them, two members of the mosque acted as witnesses, and after the ceremony they celebrated with a meal and photos at a restaurant which they put on social media.

The youngster, who cannot be named by order of the court, told police that she had not been coerced and both she and her boyfriend had wanted to do it

The boy told officers that he knew his girlfriend wanted to marry and he wanted to make her happy.

In a voluntary interview with the police, Osmani, who had been an Imam since 1996, said the couple had paid a 50 fee to the mosque for the ceremony.

He admitted that the girl had told him she was in care and that her foster parents weren't happy.

But Ms Newcomb said: 'He did not consider them to be her parents as Islam recognises.

'He was helping them to have marital relations that would be OK in the eyes of God so they did not fornicate and commit sin.'

But she added: 'It was incumbent on him to follow the law. He was not involved in planning but without him it could not have happened and he was in a position of public responsibility.

'There is obvious harm to the community and the general public in undermining the protection of children. Child marriage is illegal whatever the circumstances.'

Ms Newcomb said that while Osmani, from Northampton, did not have a criminal record, he had accepted a police caution in 2009 for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

She told the court: 'It may be relevant to this case in as much as the offence occurred at the mosque and again he said that he did not know the law had changed in relation to corporal punishment.'

Defending Osmani, James Gray said there had been no intention to defy the law.

'He asked for their passports precisely so he could check their dates of birth,' he said.

'Had he known that the law had changed, he simply would not have done it.'

The law in England had changed six months earlier meaning only those aged 18 or over could marry.

Previously, 16 and 17-year-olds needed parental consent.

But Mr Gray told the court that had never applied to a 'Nikah ceremony' which could be annulled by announcement rather than involve legal proceedings.

He went on: 'The reason these young people wanted to get married was that they were intent on starting a sexual relationship and wanted to keep it within the bounds of their faith.

'They were determined to marry and might have ended up going to Scotland where you can marry at 16 without parental consent.'

Mr Gray said the two young people, who had refused to give formal statements to the police, had suffered no harm whatsoever.'

Describing Osmani, he said: 'He is not merely a man of good character, he has spent his life encouraging others to lead decent lives.

'This case has already caused him great shame and he has had to step down as a trustee of the mosque.'

Pleading for the matter to be discharged, he said the matter should have been dealt with by way of a caution, adding: 'If his conviction remains he will not be able to carry on doing the good work he has done.'

Mr Justice Choudhury said that just 134 marriages of 16 and 17 year olds had taken place in England and Wales in the year before the law was changed.

'Nevertheless, Parliament considered a change in the law was necessary after taking into account the impact early marriages can have on young people, especially girls.'

He said that in this case harm had been assessed at the lowest level, but he sentenced Osmani as 'a deterrent to others'.

Osmani pleaded guilty last year to two counts of causing a child to enter into marriage in November 2023.
Donald Trump has invited Vladimir Putin to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza as a member of his 'Board of Peace' even as Putin continues to wage his own unfettered war in Ukraine.

Kremlin officials announced that the Russian President received the offer via US diplomatic channels and is currently 'studying all the details of this proposal' before accepting.

'We hope for a contact with the American side so that we can clarify all the details,' Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

Trump last week formally established the peace committee as part of his peace plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The board, of which the US President will be chairman, will oversee the governance of Gaza.

Meanwhile, European leaders are shocked by Trump's brazen efforts to charge countries a $1 billion fee to have a permanent spot on the committee.

After inviting leaders from more than 60 countries to join the Gaza Board of Peace, which will oversee the disarmament of Hamas, the US informed various nations that they must contribute 'at least $1 billion.'

European leaders appeared hesitant to make public statements supporting the peace committee as fears grow that it will undermine the United Nations.

The erosion of relations between European leaders and the Trump administration has been gleefully welcomed by pundits on Russian state TV.

Donald Trump has invited Vladimir Putin to join Gaza's Board of Peace to oversee the reconstruction of the region and the disarmament of Hamas

Putin's spokesman said the Russian leader will examine all the details of the peace committee

Trump's latest foreign policy moves have caused a division between Western Europe and the United States - a development welcomed by Moscow

The souring of relations between Western Europe and the US has been described as a dream for Moscow. One Russian state TV pundit described the development with joy, stating, 'This is truly tremendous for Russia!'

It comes as Trump has ramped up his pressure campaign on Denmark and other European allies to hand over control of Greenland to the United States.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.

Trump's invitation to Putin comes after the Kremlin leader has spent four years waging a bloody full-scale invasion of Ukraine that has killed hundreds of thousands and destroyed large parts of the Eastern European nation.

The White House also sent out invitations to the countries of Egypt, India, Turkey, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that his country will join Trump's peace board but will not pay the $1 billion fee for the permanent seat.

Only three countries have accepted Trump's invitation as of Monday morning: the leaders of Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam.

'Hungary's efforts for peace are being recognised. President Trump has invited Hungary to join the work of The Board of Peace as a founding member. We have, of course, accepted this honourable invitation,' said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Join the debate Should Putin have a role on Trumps Gaza peace board?

It comes four years after Putin launched a bloody full-scale war of Ukraine

The executive committee of the peace board will also include former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and other Trump allies.

Sir Tony, however, has distanced himself from the President's demand that countries pay for permanent membership.

The former British prime minister refused to endorse the fee and his spokesman said he is not involved in determining the board's membership.
New details have emerged about the tensions that plagued a Canadian family at the time of their young children's disappearance.

Lilly, six, and Jack Sullivan, four, vanished from their Lansdowne Station trailer home in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, back in May 2025.

The siblings were living with their mother Malehya Brooks-Murray, and stepfather, Daniel Martell, and the couple's baby daughter at the time of their disappearance.

They were last seen with family members one day before they were reported missing. Since then, police have led numerous in-depth searches in the thick woods near their home.

Authorities have conducted 75 interviews and received over 1,000 tips related to the case, per the CBC.

Court documents obtained by the outlet revealed new details of Brooks-Murray's seemingly tense relationship with her husband at the time - as well as the money issues they faced when the children's father stopped paying child support.

When asked by police if Martell was ever 'physically abusive,' Brooks-Murray 'said he would try to block her, hold her down and once he pushed her,' the documents showed.

Jack and Lilly have been missing since May after it is believed they wandered out of their home in the remote area of Novia Scotia

The children's mother Brooks-Murray (right) and their stepfather Daniel Martell (left), who shares a young daughter with Brooks-Murray

'She said he would also take her phone from her when she tried to call her mom, which would sometimes be physical and hurt,' the outlet continued.

During Martell's interview with police, he explained the couple had been 'fighting about money' but their relationship was still 'good.'

Cody Sullivan, the siblings' biological father, apparently had not seen the children in years.

Sullivan was paying child support until he lost his job nine months before they disappeared.

According to court records, Martell told police the couple had 'ups and downs,' per the outlet.

'[Martell] said they would yell at each other when they were fighting, but there was no physical violence in their relationship.'

Staff Sergeant Rob McCamon told the outlet that the parents relationship is being considered as part of the investigation.

'I'm not going to comment on  anything being a factor, but I will say that any situation like that would be considered and followed up on by our people,' he said.

Brooks-Murray vowed to 'never stop searching' for Jack and Lilly and wrote that 'someone, somewhere, knows something so please bring my babies home'

The Nova Scotia RCMP released statements from nearby neighbors, who said they heard a car going back and forth in the middle of the night before the children vanished

Searchers return after looking for Jack and Lilly just a week since their disappearance in May

Staff Sargent Rob McCamon said that it is still being treated as a missing persons' case

McCamon added that there are currently no suspects in the case, and the children's disappearance has not changed to a criminal investigation.

Police did say the investigation 'could become criminal, and persons of interest in the disappearance of the children might be identified,' the outlet reported.

The husband previously said he believes the siblings escaped out of a sliding back door while he and his wife were in the bedroom with their baby.

After an unsuccessful search back in October 2025, Brooks-Murray wrote on Facebook: 'I will never stop searching for my children until they are found and brought home safe and sound. Someone, somewhere, knows something so please bring my babies home.

'To the incredible volunteers, searchers, investigators and compassionate strangers who have stood beside us - Thank you.'

Nova Scotia government is still offering a reward of up to $150,000 CAD, or around $107,000 USD, for information about the children's disappearance.
Donald Trump will address the global elite at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday as a diplomatic crisis over Greenland spirals.

Denmark boycotted the conference on Monday after the President threatened tariffs on eight European allies unless they agreed to sell him the mineral-rich Arctic territory.

Trump's confrontational approach marks a stark break with the summit's traditional emphasis on global cooperation and multilateralism.

'This is the death of Davos,' Mark Blyth, a political economist at Brown University, told the New York Times. 'It has no relevance, none whatsoever. And the bigger question is, did it ever have relevance outside the chattering classes that were embedded in the status quo to start with?'

Blyth added: '[Trump] is punching them in the head and telling them who's in charge. He's informing them that, basically, unless they align with him, they no longer matter.'

The President will arrive at the Swiss resort on Wednesday, where he will deliver a keynote address, 'emphasizing that the US and Europe must leave behind economic stagnation and the policies that caused it,' according to the White House.

Trump is taking Washington's largest ever delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

It comes as the EU is now preparing retaliatory tariffs on $107.7 billion in US goods, or potentially denying America access to the EU market, the Financial Times reported. European shares fell sharply on Monday, while Wall Street was closed for the Martin Luther King Jr Day holiday.

Donald Trump delivers a virtual speech at last year's World Economic Forum in Davos. The President will fly to Switzerland this week for the 2026 summit

Activists wearing masks of Elon Musk, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and JD Vance take part in a protest ahead of this week's summit in the Swiss Alps on Sunday

A Danish soldier during training at an undisclosed location in Greenland on Sunday

Danish troops take part in training drills in Greenland on Sunday

More than 3,000 delegates from over 130 countries will attend this year, including 64 heads of state and government. The list also includes several heads of G7 nations, with changes in American foreign policy under Trump in sharp focus.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky will appear at the conference in person, hoping to meet Trump and sign new security guarantees for a potential ceasefire deal with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev will also travel to Davos and meet with members of the US delegation, two sources with knowledge of the visit told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, national security advisers from a number of countries are due to meet on the sidelines of the event on Monday, with Greenland among the subjects on the agenda, diplomatic sources said.

One European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Greenland had been added to the agenda of the previously scheduled meeting after Trump's tariff announcement.

The President said on Saturday he was imposing a 10 percent levy starting on February 1, rising to 25 percent in June, unless there's a deal for the 'purchase of Greenland.'

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face the tariff, Trump said in a Truth Social post, after they sent troops to Greenland.

The President is expected to meet global business leaders, including CEOs in financial services, crypto and consulting, at a reception after his speech on Wednesday. The agenda is not clear.

Danish soldiers disembark at the port in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 18

Trump may meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Davos summit this week

From left, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner will be part of Trump's delegation at the World Economic Forum

President and CEO of Nvidia Jensen Huang is expected to attend the conference

As usual, protesters rallied over the weekend in and near Davos ahead of the event

Critics have long accused the annual meeting in Davos of generating more rhetoric than results, and they see Trump's return as sign of the disconnect between haves and have-nots

One CEO simply had 'a reception in honor of President Donald J Trump' scheduled in their diary, while another said their understanding was that global CEOs had been invited, not just those from the United States. One of the sources said the invitations had come from the White House.

Trump's peace-making credentials will also be on the table. An announcement looms about his 'Board of Peace' for Gaza, and he and his administration are expected to have bilateral meetings in the warren of side rooms at the Congress Center.

The board created for the Israeli territory became mired in controversy over the weekend after it emerged that Trump is demanding a $1 billion fee for members.

Britain's former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, who is part of its 'founding executive board', denied any role in the price tag.

Russia's Putin is among the leaders of 60 nations who were invited last week to join as 'founding members.'

Trump's peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the architects of the Gaza truce, will also join Washington's Davos delegation.

The forum will be without its founder, Klaus Schwab, who hosted the first event in Davos 55 years ago, focusing on business, only to see it balloon into a catchall extravaganza.

He stepped down in April. New co-chairmen, Larry Fink, the head of investment firm BlackRock, and Andre Hoffman, vice chairman of pharmaceuticals firm Roche, are in charge.
Scores of human skulls, infant bones, and decomposing remains stolen from historic Pennsylvania gravesites will take 'years' to identify, investigators say, after police uncovered what they described as a 'horror movie come to life'.

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, of Ephrata, Lancaster County, faces more than 500 charges for allegedly ransacking mausoleums and underground vaults at the Mount Moriah cemetery in Yeadon, and stealing dozens of human remains between early November and late December.

He was arrested January 6 in a police sting, after a months-long probe into break-ins at the 1855 cemetery  Pennsylvania's largest  where some 26 mausoleums and vaults were pried open.

After news of his arrest broke, photographs resurfaced on social media purportedly showing how Gerlach smashed through cinder block entries and marble name stones to rob the remains.

Human skulls, long bones, mummified feet and decomposing torsos  and at least one corpse with a pacemaker - were allegedly found in the basement of Gerlach's Ephrata home and a rented storage unit, in a grisly scene authorities called a 'horror movie come to life'.

Heavily tattooed Gerlach appears linked to a string of disturbing social media accounts, which feature photos allegedly of him posing with human skulls and openly advertising remains for sale.

The vast number and age of the recovered remains - some are centuries old, while others belong to tiny infants  mean it will be a 'slow' and complex process to identify them, warned Yeadon police Detective Leah Cesanek, who led the multiagency probe into Gerlach's alleged grave-robbing.

She exclusively told the Daily Mail: 'We want to get these poor people back to their final resting places and give some kind of closure for the families in this horrific crime.

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, who was arrested in a police sting in Pennsylvania, faces more than 500 charges for allegedly breaking into and robbing dozens of mausoleums at the historic Mount Moriah Cemetery

Daily Mail photos at the cemetery show cinder block walls and marble name stones smashed open at gravesites allegedly targeted by Gerlach

'But it's going to take quite a bit of time. It would be a fair bet to say years, because of the mere number of the remains that were recovered.'

Most of the remains taken from Gerlach's home were separated and 'organized by bone type,' she explained, meaning 'each bone, each remain is going to have to be identified and try to be matched up with other remains that were recovered.'

Cesanek, the department's sole detective and who in 2020 became its first ever full-time female, said police teams are working to trace and notify any living family members of the victims, with the 'ultimate goal' to obtain their DNA samples to identify the remains.

Cops have spoken to two affected families, who were 'appalled' by Gerlach's alleged crimes, she added.

Investigators could first look at dental records to help identify some remains before moving onto DNA testing, Cumberland County Coroner Charley Hall told Penn Live.

Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick told WGAL that DNA testing 'could go on for years', with Hall estimating the bill could run to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Staff from four coroners' offices were drafted in to photograph and collate the vast number of remains in Gerlach's basement and rented locker, before taking them to a storage facility.

Investigators from Delaware County Medical Examiner's Office and Lancaster County Coroner's Office worked multiple days at the house, helped by the Cumberland and Dauphin County coroner's offices.

Disturbing social media images allegedly linked to Gerlach show him posing with human skulls, which investigators say were advertised and sold online

Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon, Delaware County, where Gerlach is accused of breaking into gravesites, is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania. Betsy Ross was buried there before her remains were removed and re-interred at her house

The Daily Mail asked the coroners' offices for interviews about the identification process but has yet to hear back.

Asked about Gerlach's alleged motive, Cesanek replied: 'He was cooperative to an extent, and he more or less said that he realized what he was doing was wrong. But he didn't get into why he was doing it.'

Gerlach was linked to a Facebook account featuring photos of him posing with human remains.

In one post last June, he shared a photo of himself astride a motorbike posing with a skull and claimed to be 'riding Harley and slinging skulls.'

He was a member of the 'Human Bones and Skull selling group' on Facebook, and it appeared he had made at least one successful sale, according to search warrants seen by the Daily Mail.

A man who allegedly bought human and animal skulls from Gerlach exclusively revealed how he was taken in by his 'intelligent' online persona and claims he planned to study forensics.

The man, who declined to be identified, told the Daily Mail: 'If you look at his Instagram and some of the earlier pictures, it shows a description of what probably occurred to this person before they died, I guess like what a forensic anthropologist would describe.'

Gerlach allegedly ran an Instagram account with the username 'deads**tdaddy' on which he claimed to be a private consultant and 'curator of specimens, pathology and osteology' offering 'provenance and forensic documentation of human and remains.'

On social media, Gerlach claimed to be a 'curator of specimens,' offering 'ethically sourced' human remains for sale

Investigators seized the human remains and warned it could take 'years' to identify and reunite them with their final resting places

His alleged profile has dozens of photographs of animal and human skulls - including those of young children - alongside mummified animal remains twisted into odd poses.

Many of the images are captioned as 'ethically sourced/acquired,' with some remains up for sale.

The man, who lives in a state where human bones can be legally traded, said he bought the human 'teen' skull from Gerlach last year, after seeing it on his Instagram in 2024.

The man said he believed Gerlach had legitimately acquired the skull from overseas and so paid him 'between $1,000 and $2,000' for it and two animal skulls.

During a short Instagram conversation, Gerlach supposedly told him he was a musician who had a bad past relationship and he planned to study bones and work in forensics.

A younger Gerlach appears in old online photos as part of an electronic hardcore band called Road to Milestone, which produced several singles and albums.

The band's current Spotify biography does not mention Gerlach in its lineup.

The man said he has been harassed online over buying from the alleged grave-robber but insisted he thought he was buying from a genuine dealer.

The gruesome case has reignited debate over the legalities of the trade in human body parts

Gerlach shared an image of a 'sold' skull, captioned: 'faceless ones are always under appreciated'

He added: 'Whenever I try to get stuff, I buy from legit people, and that's who I thought he was. I was really shocked when this occurred.'

The man insisted he 'respected' all the skulls he bought, giving each a name and personality, before displaying them in his room. He said he later traded the human skull from Gerlach with someone else.

Gerlach told police he 'sold some remains online, but the vast majority' were in the basement of the three-bedroom Ephrata home he shared with his fiancee Natallie Tummolo, according to a police criminal complaint obtained by Daily Mail.

Gerlach, a laser operator for a farm equipment firm, bought the couple's three-story home in October 2023 for $255,000.

Records show he sold the home to Tummolo and her mother last April for $151,700.

The Gerlach investigation has reignited debate over the legalities of the trade in human body parts, with oddities collectors and industry professionals insisting they should not be tarred with the same brush as 'bad actors.'

It is legal in most US states  including Pennsylvania  to buy and sell human remains, provided they are ethically and legally procured.

The sale of human remains is broadly banned in eight states. In others it is illegal to transport remains across state lines.

Heavily tattooed Gerlach allegedly told investigators he took about 30 sets of human remains and showed them the graves he stole from

Police say Gerlach used crowbars, ropes and ladders to descend into underground vaults and access caskets

In 2016, Louisiana introduced an outright ban on the trade of human remains, after a self-styled 'witch' admitted stealing bones from a New Orleans cemetery and offering to sell them.

And Minnesota banned the sale of human remains in most circumstances, after the Harvard University morgue body smuggling scandal of 2023.

Experts now fear similar snap legislation after the Gerlach case and warn it could threaten their work preserving human remains for educational and medical purposes.

Jon Pichaya Ferry, 25, managing director of the Bones museum, which opened in Brooklyn, New York, in 2022, said 'bad actors' presenting themselves as 'specialists' was a 'disservice' to industry professionals and 'dangerous' for public perception.

He told the Daily Mail: 'This is a very unprecedented time for different institutions that are doing it correctly, as we follow the letter of the law.'

He warned blanket state bans on the selling of human remains 'will affect millions of Americans' and could be 'incredibly damaging for those remains affected by it.'

Ferry explained most of their clients are regular people who inherited a skull or skeleton and 'they have no idea what to do with it' so the museum buys it from them.

The three-story home in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, where authorities say dozens of human remains - some centuries old, others belonging to infants - were recovered from the basement

Gerlach hit police radars after cops investigating a separate mausoleum robbery in Plains Township, Luzerne, received a tip-off from a friend of his brother, Josh, in December.

The tipster said Josh and his wife Alexandra said they had seen a 'partially decomposed body hanging like a 'display' in Gerlach's basement and described it as male and 'tied and held under the shoulder'.

The tipster told cops Gerlach 'disappeared for a few days in November' and said he'd been 'in Chicago selling a human skull'.

In December, Gerlach allegedly stole several items from a local hardware store.

Detectives matched a 12-inch tent stake listed on a store receipt with a stake that was found near one of the family plots Gerlach allegedly targeted.

Police said Gerlach used crowbars, ropes and ladders to descend into the vaults and access caskets.

He allegedly left several items behind after plundering the gravesites, including a Monster Energy drink can, which police processed for DNA and fingerprints.

Police linked Gerlach to the Mount Moriah break-ins through vehicle and phone records and spotted his car there just before Christmas.

They set up surveillance and Gerlach was arrested on January 6 as he left the cemetery and walked back toward his car with a crowbar, cops said.

He also had a burlap bag containing the mummified remains of two small children, three skulls and other bones.

Gerlach told investigators he took 30 sets of human remains and showed them the graves he stole from, police said.

He is charged with 100 counts each of abuse of a corpse and receiving stolen property, along with multiple counts of desecrating a public monument, desecrating a venerated object, desecrating a historic burial place, burglary, trespassing and theft.

He has also been charged with criminal mischief and is being held on $1million bond.

His public defender Anna Hinchman declined to comment. Gerlach's next court date will be March 13.
US President Donald Trump has asked Russian leader Vladimir Putin to join his new Board of Peace, which is intended to supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had received the invitation and the Kremlin is 'studying the details' and will seek clarity of 'all the nuances' in contacts with the US.

The Thai Foreign Ministry also said it had been invited and it was reviewing the details.

European Commission spokesman Olof Gill confirmed that Ursula von der Leyen, president of the commission, had received an invitation and would be speaking to other EU leaders about Gaza.

Mr Gill did not say whether the invitation had been accepted, but that the commission wants 'to contribute to a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict'.

It is unclear how many leaders have been invited to join the board, but a reference in the invitation letters that the body would 'embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict' suggested it could act as a rival to the UN Security Council, the most powerful body of the global organisation created after the Second World War.

Israeli far-Right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday dismissed the Board of Peace as a raw deal for Israel and called for its dissolution.

President Donald Trump has asked Vladimir Putin to join his new Board of Peace

The Board is intended to supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan

'It is time to explain to the president that his plan is bad for the state of Israel and to cancel it,' Mr Smotrich said at a ceremony inaugurating the new Yatziv settlement in the occupied West Bank.

'Gaza is ours, its future will affect our future more than anyone else's. We will take responsibility for what happens there, impose military administration, and complete the mission.'

He even suggested that Israel could renew a full-scale offensive on Gaza to destroy Hamas if it does not abide by a 'short ultimatum for real disarmament and exile'.

On Saturday, the office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the formation of the committee was not co-ordinated with the Israeli government and 'is contrary to its policy'.

The US is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely to be during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Board members will oversee an executive committee in charge of implementing the tough second phase of the Gaza peace plan which includes the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-devastated territory.

Smotrich suggested that Israel could renew a full-scale offensive on Gaza to destroy Hamas

Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday that the UK is talking to allies about the Board of Peace

A billion-dollar (740million) contribution secures permanent membership on the board with the money going to rebuild Gaza, according to a US source. A three-year appointment has no contribution requirement.

Details of how this will also work remain unclear. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday that the UK is talking to allies about the Board of Peace.

Although the UK has not said whether Sir Keir has been formally invited to join, he said it is necessary to proceed with the Gaza peace plan's second phase and his country has 'indicated willingness, to play our part, and we will'.

Egypt's top diplomat on Monday met the leader of the newly appointed committee of Palestinian technocrats who will be running Gaza's day-to-day affairs during the second phase of the peace plan.

Foreign minister Badr Abdelatty met Ali Shaath, a Palestinian engineer and former official with the western-backed Palestinian Authority, who was named last week as chief commissioner of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

Mr Abdelatty expressed the Egyptian government's 'complete support' for the committee and affirmed its role in running Gaza's daily affairs until the Palestinian Authority takes over the territory, a statement from the Egyptian ministry said after the meeting.

He underscored 'the importance of preserving the unity of the Palestinian territories, ensuring geographical and administrative continuity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank'.

Join the debate Can Putin play a constructive role on Trumps Gaza Board of Peace?

School snacks are reaching 235,000 children in 250 temporary schools

The UN World Food Programme said malnutrition has been prevented for 200,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women

The UN World Food Programme on Monday said it had 'significantly expanded' operations across Gaza 100 days into the ceasefire, reaching more than a million people each month with hot meals, bread bundles and food parcels, but it warned the situation remains 'extremely fragile'.

It noted that malnutrition has been prevented for 200,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under five, while school snacks are reaching 235,000 children in 250 temporary schools.

The most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis in December indicated that 77 per cent of the population was facing crisis level food insecurity with more than 100,000 people experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager in southern Gaza, hospital authorities said on Monday.

Hussein Tawfiq Abu Sabalah, 17, was shot in the Muwasi area of Rafah on Monday morning, according to Nasser Hospital. It was not immediately clear whether he crossed into or came close to an Israeli-controlled area.

More than 460 people have been killed by Israeli fire and their bodies taken to hospitals since the ceasefire came into effect, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
A Welsh Labour politician hailed as a 'powerful voice' by Keir Starmer took his own life the day before his birthday, an inquest heard.

Hefin David, who had served as member of the Welsh Parliament for Caerphilly since 2016, was found dead at his home on August 12 last year.

Senedd member Mr David had two daughters and was in a relationship with fellow MS Vikki Howells, a minister in the Welsh Labour Government.

The inquest was told the 47-year-old 'did not disclose the depths of his depression'.

Senior coroner Caroline Saunders concluded Mr David's death was a suicide, and said Mr David 'took his own life by hanging' at his home.

She said he had 'suffered from reactive depression due to stressors in his personal and working life.'

He was found by his sister the day before his 48th birthday.

Welsh First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan described Mr David as a 'truly remarkable human being'.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also paid tribute to Mr David, branding him a 'powerful voice for the people of Wales'.

Hefin David, 47, who had served as member of the Welsh Parliament for Caerphilly since 2016 was found dead at his home on August 12 last year

Hefin David, 47, had served as the Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly since 2016 (He is pictured with his partner Vikki Howells)

He said: 'The whole Labour movement will join me in grieving the loss of Hefin David.

'He was a powerful voice for the people of Wales and a committed public servant who dedicated his life to making sure every person and community in Wales had the opportunities and support they deserve.

'As a member of the Senedd for Caerphilly, where he was born and lived, he was incredibly proud of his community.

'Our hearts are with his family and those who knew and loved him at this painful time. May he rest in peace.'

An inquest opening at Gwent Coroner's Court previously heard Mr David was identified at the scene by his sister. His medical cause of death was recorded as asphyxia and hanging.

The coroner said: 'In October 2021 Hefin consulted his GP and was prescribed antidepressant medication and engaged in counselling therapy.

'However Hefin sought no further support from his GP in relation to his mental health after October 2024 and at the end of May 2025 he stopped taking his antidepressant medication.

'This resulted in a downturn in his mental health.'

Speaking in the Senedd following Mr David's death, Welsh First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan described him as a 'truly remarkable human being'.

She said Mr David had a 'heart that loved fiercely' and expressed sympathy for his partner Vikki Howells, the Cynon Valley MS and minister for further and higher education in the Welsh Government.

The First Minister said: 'We are extremely saddened by the sudden death of Hefin. Our thoughts are with his family at this terrible time.

'Hefin was a much-loved member of the Labour family. He served Caerphilly as a councillor and a Member of the Senedd with pride and passion.

In a statement, Mr David's family said: 'Hefin was a devoted father who was adored by his daughters Caitlin and Holly, a much-loved son to Wynne and Christine, a beloved brother to Sian, a brilliant uncle to Osian and Catrin, and a soulmate to his cherished partner Vikki'

'He was an outstanding politician, warm and enthusiastic and a great communicator - especially on behalf of his constituents.

'He will be greatly missed.'

In a statement, Mr David's family said: 'It is clear from the very many messages we have received that Hefin was widely respected and held in genuine affection by the community he represented, and by those he worked with during his many years of public service.

'But more than this, Hefin was a devoted father who was adored by his daughters Caitlin and Holly, a much-loved son to Wynne and Christine, a beloved brother to Sian, a brilliant uncle to Osian and Catrin, and a soulmate to his cherished partner Vikki.

'We are very grateful to all those who have reached out to us since Hefin's passing, and ask now for privacy to grieve.'

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
Elon Musk is storming back into MAGA world by dishing out more cash to a fervently pro-Trump candidate looking to succeed Mitch McConnell.

The Tesla CEO has cut a massive $10 million check to Nate Morris, a loyalist Trump underdog running to succeed McConnell, according to Axios.

Morris was one of the last candidates Charlie Kirk endorsed before he was assassinated last September.

Hes fighting the McConnell Machine, and he needs our help to defeat it, said Turning Point spokesperson Charlie Kirk. If we want the Senate to change, we need better senators. Ground Zero is Kentucky.

Musks latest donation indicates the flamboyant billionaire plans to reenter the political arena in the 2026 midterms.

By securing the support of the worlds richest man, Republicans have armed themselves with a formidable fundraising weapon heading into the fight to hold their congressional majorities.

Following his high-profile falling out with Trump after accusing the president of being connected to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Musk had threatened to abandon the GOP by starting a third party.

His decision to back Morris means Musk is now firmly supporting the GOP in the midterms and helping candidates endorsed by the deceased Turning Point founder.

Elon Musk cut a check for $10 million to a Republican senate candidate endorsed by Charlie Kirk who is seeking to succeed Mitch McConnell

Kirk provided Nate Morris one of his last political endorsements before he was assassinated last year

Nate Morris is close personal friend to Vice President JD Vance

In December, Musk also gave major contributions to GOP pro-House and Senate super PACs.

His donations started pouring in after a private dinner with Vice President JD Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles in November.

The billionaire has also privately told those sources close to him that he plans to give more to Republican candidates in the future, according to multiple reports.

The $10 million Musk donation was given to the pro-Morris super pac named Fight for Kentucky. This was the largest single contribution Musk has ever given to a Senate candidate.

During the 2024 election, Musk was pivotal in financing Trumps political operation and early voting initiatives in key battleground states.

Pro-Trump operations received approximately $300 million from Musk, making him the largest donor of the entire election.

The donation by Musk suggests he is looking to support candidates that abandon traditional GOP talking points. Musk was reportedly impressed with Morris anti-McConnell and anti-establishment message.

Morris, who is running as an anti-immigration hardliner, launched his campaign during an interview on Donald Trump Jrs podcast last year.

Musk was impressed by Morris' anti-McConnell and anti-establishment message

Morris is running against Daniel Cameron, who Trump endorsed for governor in Kentucky in 2023, and Andy Barr, a congressman from Lexington.

A recent survey of GOP voters in Kentucky indicates Morris is trailing far behind his two biggest rivals with only 13% support compared to Cameron's 40% and Barr's 25%.

Any success for Morris going forward will likely be credited to Musk.

Morris has poured $3 million of his own money into the campaign, but the heavy personal spending has failed to deliver a significant boost for him in the polls.

Reports indicate Morris is a close personal friend to the vice president, but President Trump has not formally issued an endorsement in the Senate race.
Britain should scrap its US-made nuclear deterrent and close American military bases in the UK if Donald Trump attempts an invasion of Greenland, the Green Party leader has suggested.

Zack Polanski, a long-term critic of the UK's Nato membership, said the 'poodle' UK should take steps to become militarily 'independent' of the US, in the wake of the president's threats to take the Danish island.

Writing in the New Statesman he said that the Uk should start by examining how to closing some 13 bases and expelling around 10,000 US personnel who have been based in the country since the Cold War.

The multi-billion-pound renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system should be 'paused', he said, while MPs debate whether to carry on with it.

Britain sources the atomic warheads from US stockpiles but maintains operational independence.

Pulling out of Trident would leave the UK without a deterrent at a time when Russian leader Vladimir Putin has made threats to the country due to its ongoing support for Ukraine.

It would also put at risk thousands of specialised jobs in UK shipyards where the new Vanguard Class nuclear submarines are being built.

Mr Polaksi, a former actor and hypnotist, also said the UK needed closer relationships with Europe 'as well as working within Nato today to ensure the alliance prioritises peacebuilding over militarism'.

He added: 'Leaving the EU weakened this country and left us too reliant on the toxic so-called ''special relationship''...

'If Trump were to take military action against Greenland, we need to be able to act fast to peacefully and quickly remove Americas military presence from our country.'

Zack Polanski, a long-term critic of the UK's Nato membership, said the 'poodle' UK should take steps to become militarily 'independent' of the US, in the wake of the president's threats to take the Danish island.

Writing in the New Stateman he said that the Uk should start by examining how to closing some 13 bases (RAF Lakenheath pictured) and expelling around 10,000 US personnel who have been based in the country since the Cold War

The multi-billion-pound renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system (pictured) should be 'paused', he said, while MPs debate whether to carry on with it

'Even proponents of nuclear weapons see the risk of having a weapons system that relies on the USA.

'Sadly billions have already been spent on Trident renewal, but we must not fall for a sunk-cost fallacy and should immediately pause the renewal and bring a debate to parliament on whether we want to spend billions of pounds on a weapons system that cannot operate without US support.'

Mr Polanski, a self-described 'eco-populist', took the reins of the party at the beginning of September.

He announced his candidacy with an interview in May in which he said he wanted the Green Party to drop its support for the UK staying in Nato.

'Clearly NATO has got a lot more complex since Donald Trump has become president, and I don't think anyone should consider him a reliable ally,' he told the Byline Times website.

'I think the age of NATO is now fully over. We voted at the last conference to maintain a relationship with NATO and reform it from within but I think we have reached a point where Donald Trump has made being in an alliance with America very, very difficult while he's talking about annexing Greenland.

'We clearly need to be making sure that our policy is meeting the moment, and I think the world is changing quickly, and the idea that we can reform NATO by working with Donald Trump at the moment in a so-called special relationship is an idea that's on its last legs.'

The former Harley Street hypnotist, dubbed 'the boob whisperer' after once claiming he could help women increase the size of their breasts, is also a former Extinction Rebellion activist who was arrested at a demonstration in 2019.

Last year he showed his support for now banned terrorist group Palestine Action before it was proscribed.
One senator who's been critical of Donald Trump's pursuit of Greenland heard Green Day's 'American Idiot' playing on the radio in his Copenhagen hotel room - and he's convinced it was no coincidence.

'You know what they were playing? Green Day's "American Idiot"which incidentally is a really good song,' North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis told Punchbowl News. 'But I don't think it was just because it was on the rotation.'

Tillis is part of a bipartisan congressional delegation that flew to Copenhagen on Thursday to meet with Danish and Greenlandic leaders following Trump's aggressive pursuit of the Arctic island and threats of tariffs.

The president has insisted on seizing Greenland and has not ruled out using forcethough Republicans view that scenario as unlikely. Yet two GOP senators, Tillis and Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, moved to assure the key NATO ally that its territorial sovereignty would be respected.

The Danes are also skipping the World Economic Forum in Davos as their own show of resistance to Trump amid the Greenland dispute.

That came days after an anonymous European diplomat told Politico that Vice President JD Vance served as Trump's attack dog during a White House meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, saying: 'Vance hates us.'

The Danish Embassy in Washington announced Sunday that Denmark's Foreign Minister joined Truth Social 'to be able to communicate directly to and with the Americans.'

There, the Danes may find more allies than in the administration. A CNN poll shows 75 percent of Americans oppose the US attempting to take control of Greenland, while a CBS poll found 70 percent disapprove of using federal funds to buy it.

President Donald Trump, center, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, right, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, third right, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, fourth right, pictured on Thursday, October 30, 2025

US Republican Senator Thom Tillis (R) is seen after a meeting with members of the Danish Parliament, a Greenlandic committee, and US Congress members at the Danish Parliament in Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a visit on January 16, 2026

In the Senate, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Lisa Murkowski introduced the NATO Unity Protection Act, which would block congressional funds from being used to seize territory from a NATO memberincluding Greenland.

Murkowski told Punchbowl News that a potential war powers vote on Greenland could face obstacles, as Senate Republicans recently blocked a similar resolution on Venezuela by arguing there were no active hostilitiesa tactic she says could be deployed on Greenland.

A companion bill was introduced in the House by a bipartisan group of 34 lawmakers led by Democratic Rep. Bill Keating. Republican Don Bacon is the only original GOP co-sponsor.

Bacon threatened last Thursday to support impeaching Trump if he took military action against Greenland.

(L-R) US Republican Senator Thom Tillis, US Democratic Gregory Meeks, unidentified, US Democratic Representative Steny Hoyer, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, US Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, US Democratic Senator Chris Coons, US Representative Sara Jacobs, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, US Representative Sarah McBride, unidentified, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, US Democratic Senator Peter Welch and US Representative Democrat Madeleine Dean pose for a family picture at the Eigtved's Warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a visit on January 16, 2026

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research of Greenland Vivian Motzfeldt addresses the media at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen speaks to the media, in London, Britain, January 19, 2026

Danish Ambassador Jesper Mller Srensen and Greenland's US Representative Jacob Isbosethsen met with a dozen lawmakers from both parties in the first week of January.

After meeting with Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, Isbosethsen told reporters that 'Greenland is not for sale.'

He added that 'Greenland is a very proud people, it is a very, very proud country' that is 'very proud to contribute to the Western Alliance and to be a NATO ally and partner together with our friends from Denmark and the United States.'

Trump, however, insisted on seeing Greenland 'in the hands of the United States,' calling anything less 'unacceptable' in a Truth Social post Wednesday morning.

As talks took place in Washington on Wednesday, Denmark's Defense Ministry announced it was boosting its military presence in Greenland alongside NATO allies.

France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden each sent small numbers of troops in a symbolic but pointed move signaling solidarity with Copenhagen. The UK said one British officer was part of a reconnaissance group for an Arctic endurance exercise.
Residents in a trendy apartment building in Denver, Colorado say their peaceful lives turned into a nightmare when homeless families were given free apartments next door.

Owen Johnson, a 25-year-old from Missouri, says he moved into the White Swan apartment building near the city's Congress Park in May with his wife.

But Johnson says their honeymoon period after tying the knot was quickly ruined when a homeless man was given a state housing voucher to move into the apartment next to theirs, and he says it dawned on them the tenant 'was crazy.'

'The one (tenant) was sharing a wall with us,' he told BusinessDen. 'Because all the time we would hear banging on the walls and smell smoke coming from the walls, and we would hear fighting and shouting and slamming.'

He added that his wife 'never felt safe to walk downstairs by herself' - despite the couple forking out over $1,700 per month for their two-bedroom apartment.

Johnson said not only was his next-door neighbor homeless, but also the person living in the unit below, and at least three others throughout the building - who he says trashed the complex and openly dealt drugs.

'There were a couple of times where there was so much junk piled up in our courtyard that I just took a pair of gloves and threw it all away,' he said.

The owner of the building, Christina Eisenstein, says her property was soon filled with homeless families using tokens to pay rent, who she blamed for 'destroying' her building and 'terrifying' other tenants.

Residents in a trendy neighborhood in Denver, Colorado say their peaceful lives turned into a nightmare when homeless families were given free apartments, and landlord Christina Eisenstein (pictured) says the homeless tenants have 'destroyed' her building

Tenants in the White Swan apartment building near Denver's Congress Park (pictured) saw the homeless neighbors openly deal drugs and have left trash strewn throughout the property

'They need a place with wraparound services, where they have drug rehab support or mental health support,' Eisenstein said.

'Because theyre completely out of their mind. I mean, imagine living next to something like that. Theyre smoking nonstop, and the fumes are going through, and theres all this domestic fighting and screaming and broken glass.'

In Eisenstein's building, she said there are at least five units being paid for by state housing vouchers, and at least three have tested positive for methamphetamines.

The vouchers pay the entire monthly rent - up to $15,525 - and are intended to house homeless people with 'disabling' conditions including drug addiction and mental illness, or any 'condition that limits an individuals ability to perform one or more activities of daily living.'

According to BusinessDen, homeless people that use the vouchers in Denver are not subjected to a background or criminal history check, yet many in Eisenstein's building own long rap sheets with violent offenses.

The program also does not require users to pass sobriety tests or meet work requirements.

The landlord said she regretted her willingness to go along with the state housing voucher scheme, and in September she posted notices saying she would take back control due to complaints from her longtime tenants.

'I was getting phone calls and emails from tenants basically waving the white flag saying, Please help us,'' she said.

The issue stems from Denver's rampant vagrancy, and the city has reached record levels of homelessness in 2025, with the number of homeless people doubling since 2019 to over 10,000 people, per Common Sense Institute of Colorado.

Denver is one of the homelessness capitals of the US, and in 2025 the city reached record levels of homelessness at over 10,000 people

Homelessness in Denver (pictured in 2022) has almost doubled since 2019, as city officials have struggled to contain the growing issue

One tenant, Tiffany Freccero, said she and her husband and infant child lived below a homeless voucher-using tenant.

'They were letting their two dogs poop and pee on the balcony above us,' she recalled.

'They started washing the balcony every now and then, and the water, full of all the feces and everything, came down onto our balcony.'

Both the Johnsons and Frecceros said they moved out of the building in September, but Eisenstein said she has been left handling paperwork and complicated processes in hopes of ridding her property of the voucher-using tenants.

'Ive had to become a caseworker. You dont invest in a property to manage people with mental health issues,' she said.

The voucher program was created by the Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP), a non-profit created during the pandemic to help people from getting evicted in the early days of the pandemic.

But some say the program has evolved far beyond its original intention, and in 2023 it received $66 million in government grants in Colorado.

Eisenstein said she believed the non-profit would remove tenants if they caused issues in her building, but instead alleges it has hassled with her anytime she tries to evict one.

Eisenstein says she has struggled to evict homeless tenants after they smoked and dealt drugs in her building, and said her life has become 'managing people with mental health issues'

In a response to BusinessDen, CEDP co-CEO Zach Neumann said: 'Eisenstein repeatedly demanded that we do things that only she  the property manager  could do.

'Worse, she shared security videos and drug tests with the media weeks before she gave them to CEDP, publicly faulting us while withholding the documentation required to escalate the situation to the state.'

'As this was going on, she routinely taunted our staff, at one point texting my personal cell phone to let me know she was going viral,'' he added.

In response, Eisenstein said the company 'haven't been easy to work with from the beginning'.

Eisenstein said her nightmare tenancy issue may finally be coming to a close, however, and by next month she expects them all to be out - even paying two $1,500 to leave.
Two babies have died and 53 more are being treated in hospital following a suspected toxic leak in an Israeli daycare.

A baby girl was pronounced dead after being brought to hospital on Monday in 'critical condition', Gal Pachis, head of the emergency centre at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem, told journalists.

A baby boy, approximately six months old, was declared dead despite resuscitation efforts, the Hadassah Medical Centre said in a statement.

Medics did not specify the cause of the deaths.

Earlier, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said paramedics were 'providing medical treatment and evacuating 55 casualties to hospitals in the city, including two infants in critical condition'.

'Resuscitation efforts are ongoing, and 53 infants are undergoing further medical examinations and treatment,' it said in a statement.

Police said three caregivers present at the centre had been detained for questioning.

The Times of Israel reported that the daycare centre in Jerusalem was operating without a licence and that investigators were examining whether the incident was connected to its heating system.

The centre is located in an apartment on Hamem Gimel Street, in an area predominantly inhabited by members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Two babies have died and 53 more are being treated in hospital following a suspected toxic leak in a daycare in Jerusalem. Pictured: Firefighters leave the site where a faulty heading system left two infants dead in Jerusalem on January 19

A man stands with his baby and wife at the site where faulty heating system left two babies dead and many others injured at a day care in Jerusalem on January 19, 2026

The centre is located in an apartment on Hamem Gimel Street, in an area predominantly inhabited by members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community

'Forensic experts are on site conducting all necessary investigative measures to locate evidence and clarify the circumstances that led to the injuries of the infants,' police said in a separate statement.

There were no signs of fire or any physical damage to the building.

Zalmi Neufeld, 22, told AFP at the scene that he saw 'emergency personnel pulling kids out of the building'.

'I saw parents crying, a lot of kids crying, kids all over the place,' he added.

'It was like a war zone.'

A first responder told Israeli news outlet Ynet that the number of babies in the child care centre was not immediately clear to rescue services and only became apparent while they were performing CPR on the two infants and began hearing crying children from inside the apartment complex.

'We heard children screaming, we went in and checked and what did we find? That there were children in closets, in strollers, everywhere, hidden on top of one another with blankets,' he said.

Other emergency workers reported finding at least one child sleeping in a bathroom.

Police earlier said the incident was suspected to have involved hazardous materials, but later ruled this out.

In a post on X, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he shared the 'deep sorrow' of the families involved.

'The loss of the lives of very young children is an immense, unspeakable tragedy, and my heart goes out to all the parents and children who have been affected,' he wrote, calling for an investigation and accountability.
A Democrat judge arrested outside an Atlanta nightclub has claimed the officers used 'excessive force' during the takedown.

Former Douglas County probate judge Christina Peterson has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Atlanta police of 'violently' slamming her to the ground and applying 'compressive force' to her neck and back during her 2024 arrest outside Red Martini in Buckhead.

The suit, filed last Tuesday, has named both the City of Atlanta and the arresting officer as defendants.

Peterson was charged at the time with simple battery and felony obstruction after police said she punched an officer working security, though prosecutors later dropped the case.

Bodycamera footage released after the incident shows Peterson running toward an officer and security guard during a sidewalk dispute, then pushing and swiping at the officer before being taken to the ground and handcuffed.

While restrained on the pavement, she can be heard shouting, 'Don't touch me!', as officers repeatedly asked for her name.

Later, inside a patrol car, she told officers, 'Take me where you wanna take me.  Take me where you need to take me,' and told them to, 'Google me.'

At one point she said, 'You don't need identification. You have picked up dead bodies when you don't know who bodies it was, but you picked them up.'

Former judge Christina Peterson is now suing the City of Atlanta, claiming officers used 'excessive force' when they slammed her to the ground during her arrest outside Red Martini in 2024

The suit has named both the City of Atlanta and the arresting officer

A preliminary police report stated she appeared to be under the influence at the time of the arrest.

Peterson has long maintained the bodycam footage was 'taken out of context,' insisting she was acting as a 'Good Samaritan' when she intervened in a fight involving another woman, Alexandria Love.

Love backed Peterson's account at a press conference held the day after the arrest.

'She was the only one that helped me,' she said, describing herself as 'viciously attacked.'

Peterson's attorney, Marvin Arrington Jr., said the arrest demonstrated that 'No good deed goes unpunished.'

'The idea that a Good Samaritan who was helping a woman that was being viciously attacked could be arrested and the man who was viciously attacking the woman did not get arrested speaks to other issues,' he said.

Just days after the arrest, the Georgia Supreme Court removed Peterson from office, concluding that 12 of the 30 ethics charges filed against her warranted disciplinary action.

Bodycam footage shows Peterson rushing toward an officer and security guard moments before she's restrained

Peterson is heard shouting 'Don't touch me!' as officers pin her to the pavement and repeatedly ask for her name

Inside the squad car, Peterson told officers to 'Google me' and insisted they 'take [her] where you wanna take me,' arguing she had only stepped in to stop a woman from being 'viciously attacked'

The ruling barred her from holding any judicial position in the state for seven years.

The decision came on the heels of an April 2024 finding by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which accused her of 'systemic incompetence' and recommended her removal.

One of the most notable cases cited in the Supreme Court ruling involved PJ Skelton, a naturalized US citizen who attempted to correct the name of her father on her marriage certificate.

Peterson accused Skelton of attempting to defraud the court and sentenced her to 20 days in jail, reducible to a twohour term if she paid a $500 fine.

Skelton paid the fine but ultimately spent 48 hours behind bars.

A judicial panel later found that Skelton acted in 'good faith trying to correct' what appeared to be 'an innocent mistake borne out of ignorance, rather than illintent.'

The panel also concluded that Peterson gave 'untruthful' testimony when attempting to defend her decision, writing that it 'underscores her conscious wrongdoing.'

Investigators also faulted Peterson for holding an afterhours courthouse wedding without required security screening, posting socialmedia content promoting her parttime acting career, and ignoring a sheriff's directive.

The Georgia Supreme Court removed Peterson from the bench following her arrest over separate ethics violations, finding she committed misconduct in numerous cases

The 2024 incident happened at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge, where she was engaging in a night of drinking despite the probe.

They noted that she kept all birth and death certificate fees in addition to her salary - a legal but frownedupon practice that pushed her annual compensation above $265,000.

Although Peterson's arrest initially resulted in charges of simple battery on a police officer and felony obstruction, prosecutors later dismissed the case.

Her newly filed lawsuit marks the first legal action she has taken against the city over the arrest and suggests she intends to challenge both the officers' tactics and the broader narrative surrounding the incident.

Her complaint directly alleges she was 'violently slammed to the ground' and subjected to 'compressive force' to her neck and back, while maintaining she acted as a 'Good Samaritan' during the underlying confrontation.
Shamima Begum and other ISIS detainees could be freed from detention in Syria amid fierce fighting nearby, it is feared.

Ms Begum, 26, who was stripped of her British citizenship after leaving London to join the terror group in 2015, is currently held at al-Roj - a filthy, violent camp in north-east Syria.

The facility is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who also oversee several other camps housing more than 9,000 ISIS fighters and around 40,000 women and children.

The SDF has now lost almost all of its territory to forces loyal to Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa.

But while both groups signed a ceasefire yesterday, fresh fighting broke out today around three SDF-controlled detention facilities: al-Aqtan prison near Raqqa, a prison in Deir al-Zour and another in the town of al-Shadadi.

The SDF said it was trying to transfer ISIS prisoners to 'safe locations', but had currently been unable to do so, while footage appeared to show dozens of detainees escaping from Deir al-Zour.

Kamaran Palani, from the London School of Economics Middle East Centre, said the potential release of ISIS detainees could see the group return to posing a 'huge regional threat'.

Shamima Begum was stripped of her British citizenship after leaving London to join ISIS

Syrian government troops celebrating today after clearing the SDF from Raqqa

The SDF described the unrest as a 'highly dangerous development'.

'The level of threat is escalating significantly, amid attempts by these factions to reach the prison and seize control of it,' the group said in a statement.

'Such actions could lead to serious security repercussions that threaten stability and open the door to a return of chaos and terrorism.'

Today's developments follow renewed concerns Ms Begum could be allowed to return to the UK after European judges came to the ISIS bride's defence.

The Londoner was 15 when she and two friends travelled from Bethnal Green to Syria to join Islamic State.

Ms Begum, who married an ISIS fighter and had children, was found in a Syrian refugee camp in 2019 and her citizenship was immediately revoked by then-home secretary Sajid Javid on national security grounds, kickstarting her lengthy legal challenge.

But earlier this month, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) formally asked the Home Office whether it broke human rights and anti-trafficking laws  after Begum was stripped of her UK citizenship.

The latest intervention has sparked a major backlash, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood vowing to defend the Government's decision at the time.

Conservative MP and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said he would ask Ms Mahmood for guarantees in the House of Commons that Begum will not be allowed back.

Syrian government forces gathering near al-Aqtan prison near Raqqa, where they have been besieging SDF forces

Ms Begum is still living at the al-Roj camp in northern Syria (pictured in 2021)

He also urged Ms Mahmood to fight the case 'tooth and nail'.

Mr Philp called ISIS a 'violent terrorist regime who brutally murdered their opponents and raped thousands of women and girls'.

Ms Begum lost an appeal in February 2023 against the decision to revoke her citizenship after the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled this was lawful.

She then lost a Court of Appeal bid in February 2024, before she was most recently denied the chance to challenge it at the Supreme Court in August 2024.

However, Ms Begum's lawyers warned at the time that they could still take her case to the European Court of Human Rights - which they later did.

The Home Office has now been told by the European court to answer four questions about her citizenship.

One asks: 'Has there been a violation of the applicant's rights under Article 4 of the Convention by virtue of the decision to deprive her of her citizenship?'

Another says: 'For the purposes of the Article 4 complaints made in the application, was the applicant at all material times within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom, within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention?'

Article 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights relates to 'protection of property', while Article 4 relates to 'freedom from slavery and forced labour'.

A further question asks: 'Did the Secretary of State for the Home Department's decision to deprive the applicant of her citizenship engage her rights under Article 4 of the Convention?'
Fired CNN anchor Don Lemon may face a federal investigation for joining a mob of protesters who swarmed a Sunday church service in Minnesota.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon warned Lemon on Monday that his antics could land him in hot water, and said the independent journalist is 'on notice.'

Lemon sparked outrage over the weekend as he joined an anti-Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest targeting a service in St Paul. He was seen in footage berating a pastor and telling him it was his 'First Amendment right' to storm the church.

Dhillon took to X to warn Lemon his justification was misguided, as she posted: 'A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest!

'It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service... You are on notice!'

In another social media post, Dhillon said she was in touch with Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI, and said she would be 'all over' Lemon's actions in Minnesota.

'We are investigating potential criminal violations of federal law,' the prosecutor added.

Reached by phone on Monday, Lemon's husband Timothy Malone declined to comment and said he had 'nothing to say' on the possibility the former CNN anchor could face criminal charges.

Don Lemon is seen smirking on the same day he joined anti-Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters who stormed a Minnesota church

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon says her office is looking into opening an investigation into former CNN anchor Don Lemon for joining a mob of anti-ICE protesters who swarmed a Sunday church service in Minnesota

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon joined an anti-ICE protest at a church in St Paul, Minnesota on Sunday, where pastor Jonathan Parnell (center) shared his disgust with the mob and said they were 'shameful'

Dhillon took to X to warn Lemon his justification for joining the church protest was misguided, as she posted: 'A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest'

Dhillon said her department is investigating whether Lemon and the anti-ICE mob violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

The legislation prohibits attempting to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person exercising their First Amendment right to religious freedom at a place of worship.

In an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Dhillon said her office was also exploring charging Lemon under the Ku Klux Klan Act, which makes it illegal to threaten, hurt, or intimidate people to prevent them from exercising their civil rights.

'The Klan Act is one of the most important federal civil rights statutes. Its a law that makes it illegal to terrorize and violate the civil rights of citizens. Whenever people conspire this, the Klan Act can be used,' Dhillon said.

'Everyone in the protest community needs to know that the fullest force of the federal government is going to come down and prevent this from happening and put people away for a long time.'

Lemon seen with his husband Tim Malone. Reached by phone on Monday, Lemon's husband declined to comment and said he had 'nothing to say' on the possibility the former CNN anchor could face criminal charges

The prosecutor slammed Minnesota officials for 'refusing to enforce' their laws, and vowed that the Department of Justice would step in if they did not act.

'There is zero tolerance for this kind of illegal behavior & we will not stand for it,' she said.

In footage Lemon shared from his visit to the church, he said he had 'no affiliations' with the protest group, and he defended his actions as an 'act of journalism.'

'Im sure people here dont like it, but protests are not comfortable,' Lemon said.

It comes as it was revealed that the anti-ICE mob that Lemon joined chose to target the church because one of its pastors, David Easterwood, also serves as the acting director of the St Paul ICE field office.

Easterwood, a pastor at the Cities Church in St. Paul, appeared alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in October, where he spoke of being 'proud' of leading the immigration crackdown in the town.

David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul (center left) and ICE field office director, seen alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference in October. On Sunday, his church was targeted by anti-ICE protests joined by Lemon

Easterwood seen embracing Noem at a press conference in October

At the protest while speaking with Lemon, protester Nekima Levy Armstrong singled Easterwood out as the reason they chose to overwhelm the Sunday service.

'This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities,' Armstrong told Lemon.

Last week, Easterwood captured headlines with his response to a lawsuit brought by local Minneapolis protester Susan Tincher (pictured), who says she was aggressively detained during a protest. Easterwood said the use of force on her was 'necessary'

The ICE field office director's role as pastor at the Cities Church reportedly caught the attention of protest groups Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, and Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, who organized the Sunday mob.

Easterwood has made headlines with his work with ICE in recent months, and after appearing alongside Noem at the October press conference, he responded to a lawsuit brought by local Minneapolis protester Susan Tincher.

Tincher alleged that she was detained for asking an ICE agent to identify herself, which she says led several agents to pull her to the ground and handcuff her face-down in the snow.

In her lawsuit, Tincher said she was then shackled in a cell for over five hours, and alleged that officers cut off her bra and her wedding ring of 32 years while she was detained.

Easterwood responded by blaming Tincher, saying she tried to enter a law enforcement perimeter, refused commands to leave and tried to push an ICE officer, and he defended the use of force on her as 'necessary.'

He said officers 'only use force that is necessary and reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances', and are often subjected to 'increased threats, violence, aggression, attacks, vehicle block-ins, and obstruction of immigration enforcement operations.'
Former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne has waded into the explosive debate on transgender women in female spaces, claiming his health clubs offered unisex changing rooms for trans customers, but they were rejected.

He also threw his own hand grenade into the mix by branding some biological males who sought access to female-only spaces 'perverts and paedophiles'.

Multi-millionaire Bannatyne, 76, spoke out after a group of eight nurses from his local hospital in Darlington, Co. Durham, won an employment tribunal against their employer.

The tribunal found that Darlington Memorial Hospital violated the dignity of the female nurses who had complained about a transgender woman using their changing room.

Father-of-five Bannatyne, worth around 500million, who founded the chain of more than 60 health clubs nationwide, posted on X: 'I have offered that [unisex changing rooms] to Transexuals [sic] in some of my gyms but they have refused to use them. It was exclusive to them & they wanted to be inclusive.'

He added: 'Many perverts & pedophiles realize that if they say they now present as female they get easy access to women's & children's free spaces. They are not considered true trans people.'

Later Bannatyne told the Daily Mail: 'I applaud the courage and determination shown by the nurses in Darlington, who took legal action to defend the principle of single-sex changing rooms.

'The tribunal's ruling is a clear vindication of their stance. Like me, they believe this is not a negotiable issue, women must have access to safe, single-sex spaces.

He threw his own hand grenade into the mix by branding some biological males who sought access to female-only spaces 'perverts and paedophiles'

'That is why this principle is firmly upheld across my health clubs, where there are changing options that preserve the safety and dignity of everyone.'

His use of the outdated term transexual is likely to further anger the vociferous trans lobby on social media, for whom the word is considered offensive, preferring the broader transgender.

One of the replies to his first post from @BloomsCereus claimed even more controversially: 'The ones that turn down unisex and insist on invading women's locker rooms and toilets are AGP, not trans.'

'AGP' refers to autogynephilia, a psychological condition describing a man's arousal by the thought or image of himself as female, or in female clothing.

It is a huge taboo for the transgender community, who reject the idea that many men who transition are driven by that desire.

In 2024, transgender woman and science teacher turned activist Debbie Hayton argued that her own surgery was motivated by AGP and that 'trans women are men'.

She wrote: 'I was a heterosexual male and, therefore, evolved to tune in to signals given off by females. But somewhere wires were crossed, my sex drive was short-circuited and in effect I was sex-signalling to myself. That was what was compelling me to turn my body into a woman.'

In the Darlington case, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust claimed the nurses had 'demonised' their trans woman colleague Rose Henderson and the Trust's policy was in accordance with guidelines at the time.

The employment panel said the trust had created a 'hostile environment', but other elements of their claim were unfounded.

The nurses, who were supported in their claim by Christian Concern, said the ruling was a 'massive vindication' and 'victory for common sense'.

The tribunal heard Rose Henderson, an operating department practitioner had used the changing room since 2019.

Father-of-five Bannatyne, worth around 500m, who founded the chain of more than 60 health clubs nationwide, posted on X

Complaints were first made by female nurses from the day surgery unit (DSU) in August 2023.

The trust's Transitioning in the Workplace policy allowed a person to use the single-sex space that conformed with their gender identity, and anyone of that sex who objected could change elsewhere.

Some 26 nurses signed a letter complaining of Rose's use of and conduct within the changing room, with her telling the tribunal the allegations, which included staring at women getting undressed, were 'false'.

In a 134-page judgement, the panel of three headed by employment judge Seamus Sweeney said the trust had harassed and discriminated against the nurses by requiring them to share a changing room with a 'biological male trans woman' and then not taking their concerns seriously.

Mr Bannatyne was contacted for comment.
A social media user has been remanded into custody for expressing 'hatred for immigrants, Muslims and non-white persons' on X.

Thomas Smith, 33, is charged with seven counts of encouragement of terrorism in relation to posts on the platform between November 12 and December 2 last year.

Smith, of Eastbourne, was taken into custody in December following a probe into extreme right-wing terrorism in East Sussex.

The 33-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Thameside wearing a grey tracksuit.

Brett Weaver, prosecuting, said the case was in relation to the defendant's use of an X account where 'messages encouraging acts of terrorism were posted by him.'

The account was used from September 2025 until Smith's arrest in December. In this time, 2,700 posts had been made, Mr Weaver told the court.

Thomas Smith, 33, has been charged with seven counts of encouragement of terrorism in relation to posts on the platform between November 12 and December 2 last year (Pictured: The Old Bailey, Central Criminal Court)

The posts were of an extreme right-wing nature, including open expressions of hatred for immigrants, Muslims and non-white persons.

Mr Weaver said the posts encouraged serious violence to be used against groups he has a hostility to.

His intention is to preserve Britain as a white country and further his ideological causes.'

A provisional trial date has been set for July 13 at Bristol Crown Court, while a plea hearing will take place on May 1.
A father who collapsed in an A&E waiting room was left to die 'like a dog rolling around on the floor' after suffering a heart attack, his family claim.

Thomas Casey, 34, endured 'agonising' pain at Broomfield Hospital in Essex on Friday as NHS staff allegedly failed to act.

The 34-year-old's son, who is named after him, claimed he had warned hospital workers 'you're going to kill him' as it was 'obvious' his father was suffering from a cardiovascular issue.

An investigation has been launched by NHS Mid and South Essex after Marie Goldman, MP for Chelmsford, wrote to the hospital demanding answers about the 'deeply distressing' incident.

Thomas Jr told the BBC: '[I will never forget] the gruesome sight of my father on the floor, blue in the face with white froth dripping from his mouth.

'My father was in agonising, groaning pain in front of everybody.'

The 19-year-old said he asked for a screen to be put up in the hospital for his father's dignity as he was a 'very proud man'.

Thomas Casey (pictured), 34, endured 'agonising' pain at Broomfield Hospital in Essex on Friday as NHS staff allegedly failed to act

Thomas Jr said: '[I will never forget] the gruesome sight of my father on the floor, blue in the face with white froth dripping from his mouth'

The bricklayer was born in Tottenham, north London, and had links to Billericay in Essex

'They didn't care about him. They left him like a dog rolling around on the floor. It was inhumane,' Thomas Jr said.

Mr Casey had travelled to Basildon Hospital the day before the incident but went home - having been faced with a seven-hour-wait.

The bricklayer was born in Tottenham, north London, and had links to Billericay in Essex.

He was described by his son as a 'mini humanitarian' who was always helping others.

Thomas Jr has said he believes the hospital discriminated against him and his father because they were from the Traveller community.

He reflected on the 'destruction' wrought on his family, saying he 'can't believe' his father is dead.

MP Ms Goldman said in her letter that people had written to her about the 'tragedy'.

Mr Casey was described by his son as a 'mini humanitarian' who was always helping others

Urging the hospital to consider a formal investigation into Mr Casey's death, she said: 'Given the severity of this incident, there is understandable concern about what immediate action is being taken to protect patients.'

Christine Blanshard, chief medical officer at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Our condolences go out to the patient's family.

'We will be investigating the care he received and inviting his family to meet with us and discuss their concerns.'
A lawyer who lied about his cancer returning so he could take a week of holiday has been struck off.

Soham Panchamiya, who worked at law firm Reed Smith, had previously suffered from cancer and told his employer he needed a week off for chemotherapy after he claimed the illness returned in September 2023.

The lawyer faked a doctor's note to provide false evidence, including claims he had a rare form of spinal cancer, and submitted it to the company's HR department.

But it was spotted by HR managers because it included multiple inconsistencies, including spelling errors and differing font sizes.

Mr Panchamiya was confronted by his boss but continued to claim the document was authentic.

But his line manager spoke with his doctor who confirmed the report was false.

The doctor said he had assessed the lawyer once for a fitness report but there was no indication he had cancer.

He then admitted he had made a 'big mistake' and was suspended in November 2023.

A lawyer at law firm Reed Smith who lied about his cancer returning so he could take a week of holiday has been struck off

Mr Panchamiya, who qualified as a solicitor in 2017 and joined Reed Smith in 2019, has been struck off and ordered to pay 22,000 following a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).

In his defence, he said a number of 'destabilising life events' caused him to develop 'unrecognised mental health issues, which manifested in impaired emotional regulation and impulsive choices'.

The SDT said: 'Members of the public, notwithstanding their sympathy for his personal circumstances, would be extremely concerned that a solicitor had lied about a serious health condition in order to take leave from work, and thereafter had compounded that lie with further untrue statements, going so far as to fabricate medical evidence in support of that lie.'

Reed Smith, one of the world's biggest corporate law firms, employs over 1,600 people including 350 in the City of London.

Partners earn 1.3million a year, while newly qualified solicitors start on 125,000.
A widower was left surprised after kind diners paid for his dinner when he turned up for his 86th birthday meal alone.

Bob Leigh headed to his favourite Italian restaurant, Caffe Caruso in Warrington, wearing his most-loved suit on January 10.

The pensioner, whose wife died years ago, ordered a curry chicken pasta dish costing 13.70, two glasses of wine, pudding and an Irish coffee.

But when he went to dig out his wallet to pay for his 38 bill, the manager informed him that his tab had already been settled.

The former rugby league referee later discovered it was the friendly fellow customers on the neighbouring table who had paid for his bill.

Describing how he was 'blown away by their kindness', Mr Leigh shared that they were adamant about covering the tab despite his protesting.

'They told me: "We're paying for your meal". They said they had talked about it among themselves and they wouldn't take no for an answer,' he told the BBC.

Bob Leigh pictured inside his favourite Italian restaurant, Caffe Caruso, where he was surprised by diners after they paid for his dinner on his 86th birthday

Bob celebrated his birthday at favourite Italian cafe, wearing his most-loved suit, on January 10 (Pictured: Caffe Caruso)

Mr Leigh was astounded by the token of gratitude and confessed that he never believed such an act would happen to him.

'There is so much darkness in the world at the moment with Ukraine, Venezuela and Trump that it warms my heart,' he added.

'I am so grateful to them. I didn't mention that my wife died a few years ago but when I got talking to a few of them at my end of the table, I did mention it was my birthday.'

A spokesperson for Caffe Caruso said: 'It's not the first time something like that has happened.

'Sometimes people see someone dining alone, and then they pay for their meal.'
A six-year-old girl has lost her parents, brother and cousin in a deadly high-speed rail crash in Spain that claimed the lives of at least 40 people.

Friends and loved ones had launched appeals for the young girl's missing family earlier today, amid fears they had died in the crash.

The tragedy occurred in Adamuz, near the city of Cordoba, at around 6.40pm local time on Sunday when one train derailed and crossed over onto another track, with a second ploughing into the wreckage.

The head of the regional government of Andalucia, Juan Manuel Moreno, confirmed the death toll had climbed by one on Monday night.

'There are currently 40 confirmed deaths,' he told a news conference, adding it will take 24-48 hours 'to know with certainty how many deaths have resulted from this terrible accident'.

A source told Reuters on Monday night that a broken joint had been found on the track but officials had yet to confirm.

Meanwhile, the mayor of the town the youngster and her family were from said earlier that the girl's brother had been found in hospital.

But this afternoon, Jose Carlos Hernandez Casino, mayor of Punta Umbria near Huelva, confirmed the boy had died along with as their parents and the cousin.

Cristina Alvarez (pictured) tragically died in the high-speed Spanish rail crash on Sunday night

Pepe Zamorano, 12, (pictured, left) and cousin Felix Zamorano (pictured, right) also died in the crash

At least 40 people are confirmed dead following a high-speed train collision in southern Spain. Pictured: Emergency workers are seen at the site where a high-speed Iryo train derailed and was hit by another train as rescue efforts continue in Adamuz, southern Spain, on January 19, 2026

The couple have been named as Jose Zamorano and shop owner Cristina Alvarez. They were killed alongside their 12-year-old son Pepe Zamorano and cousin Felix Zamorano.

The family was returning from the Spanish capital after going to see the Lion King musical and watching Real Madrid beat LaLiga rivals Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

The unnamed girl was looked after by a police officer overnight. She is said to have escaped uninjured.

The six-year-old is now recovering with her grandmother in a hotel in Cordoba after having three stitches to a head wound.

It was not clear this afternoon if she knows what has happened to her relatives.

Mr Casino said in a social media message: 'I was reluctant to do so because it appealed to hope, but after confirming the discovery of the bodies of the Zamorano Alvarez family members who had been missing since last night as a result of the train accident, I have declared three days of official mourning.

'We are experiencing these moments with deep sadness and pain. However, we remain hopeful that the two residents of Punta Umbria who are still missing will be found alive, and we continue to closely monitor the progress of the search efforts.

'I share in the grief of all the families affected and convey to them the support, respect and solidarity of the entire Municipal Corporation and all citizens.

'During the three days of mourning, flags will fly at half-mast on municipal buildings and all planned institutional events will be suspended as a sign of respect and mourning.'

The town hall published a similar statement.

An old friend of Cristina's called Sori Ruiz responded by writing: 'My deepest condolences to the family. May God give them comfort. This is a great loss for everyone.

'I was shocked by the news. Cristina was my classmate at school, and we spent many years together.

Officials said some passengers were catapulted through windows, with their bodies found hundreds of yards from the crash site

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'May God rest her soul and give comfort to her family. I cannot imagine the pain felt by her family and loved ones.'

Early this morning Lucia Morales Blanco published a message on X, which read: 'A family of four from Huelva are still missing. Their names are: Felix Zamorano; Jose Zamorano; Cristina Alvarez and Pepe Zamorano (son).

'Please, even the smallest piece of information would be of great help, such as people who were on the train or saw these people for a moment.'

Journalist Oscar Toro and his photojournalist wife Maria Clauss are also known to be among those who died in the train crash.

Jaime de Vicente Nunez, president of the Iberoamerican Cultural Association confirmed today on social media: 'Huelva is in mourning. Our Ibero-American Cultural Association is in mourning.

'Maria Clauss and Oscar Toro, friends and members of our Association, great professionals and, above all, people of extraordinary human quality, have passed away.

'May they rest in peace and may we always remember their fruitful work and warm humanity.'

Members of the Spanish Civil Guard, along with other emergency personnel, work next to one of the trains involved in the accident, at the site of a deadly derailment of two high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Cordoba, Spain, January 19, 2026.

The crash occurred on Sunday evening when the tail end of a train carrying some 300 passengers on the route from Malaga to the capital, Madrid, went off the rails

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Friend Gabriel Cruz wrote in a tribute: 'Incredulous and stunned. A tragedy that devastates us. Deep sorrow for the victims and their families, for the friend who is gone.

'Oscar Toro and Maria Claus were travelling on that train. With them, a little piece of ourselves is gone. Kind and generous people.

'I was fortunate to share many moments of friendship and camaraderie with Oscar, both in his role as President of the Huelva Journalists' Association and as a councillor in the socialist group. Also outside the workplace.

'All my love to the families of the victims. A kiss for Maria and Oscar.'
Donald Trump has not ruled out using force to seize Greenland from Denmark as tensions escalate between the US and NATO.

The president was asked in a telephone interview on Monday if he would use military force to take Greenland if a deal could not be reached over the Danish territory.

Trump gave a simple response: 'No comment.'

The president ramped up pressure as he imposed tariffs on eight European nations over their support for Greenland. The tariffs will start at 10 percent next month and rise again to 25 percent in June, remaining in place until a deal is reached.

Trump suggested in a private text exchange on Sunday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre that his push to take Greenland is in retaliation for his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Denmark on Monday pulled out of the Davos summit as the crisis deepened.

Trump is set to deliver the keynote speech at the World Economic Forum at the Swiss resort on Wednesday, with the dispute over the Danish territory expected to dominate discussions between world leaders and diplomats on the sidelines.

The president has threatened to pull out of NATO if the US isn't allowed to take control of Greenland, which he claims is integral to national security.

The President did not rule out using military force to seize Greenland from Denmark

Trump believes Greenland is essential for America's military and economic dominance in the western hemisphere

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The EU is preparing to threaten the US with retaliatory tariffs on $110 billion in goods, or potentially deny America access to the common market, according to the Financial Times.

European stock markets dropped sharply on Monday, while Wall Street was closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland would face the tariff, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Saturday, after they sent troops to Greenland.

Since starting his second-term, Trump has suggested the US should acquire Greenland to stop Russia and China from taking over strategic positioning in the Artic region.

The Danish territory provides strategic access to the Arctic, where China and Russia have, in recent years, flexed their geopolitical might as the melting polar ice provides greater access to shipping lanes and natural resources.

Greenland, which houses NATO military bases, is also rich in oil, gold, graphite, copper, iron, and other rare earth elements.

The Trump administration believes Greenland could provide infrastructure for the proposed 'Golden Dome' missile defense system to protect North America from ballistic threats.

Greenland's rare earth minerals and fossil fuels would be essential for America to decouple its reliance on Chinese supply chains.

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Danish army recruits take part in live-firing training after arriving to Greenland

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'Dear Mr president, dear Donald - on the contact across the Atlantic - on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine - and your tariff announcement yesterday,' Stre said.

'You know our position on these issues. But we believe we should all work to take this down and de-escalate  so much is happening around us where we need to stand together. 'We are proposing a call with you later today  with both of us or separately  give us a hint of what you prefer! Best - Alex and Jonas,' the message concluded.'

'Alex' is short for Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland.

Conservative Stubb is seen as an ally to Trump in Europe and, away from politics, both men have a passion for golf and have played a round together.

Trump's controversial response, which arrived less than 30 minutes later by text, warned that the US 'no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace', because he was denied the Nobel Peace Prize in October last year, blaming the Norwegian government for the decision.

'I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now NATO should do something for the United States,' he added.
The mother of murdered Brianna Ghey today piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to back a ban on under-16s using social media.

Esther Ghey, whose daughter was killed at the age of 16 by two 15-year-olds, urged the Prime Minister to support the introduction of new restrictions.

She and other bereaved parents wrote to Sir Keir, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey ahead of a possible House of Lords vote this week.

Peers are due to vote on an amendment to Labour's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would require social media firms to prevent under-16s becoming users.

Ms Ghey and the other signatories of the letter called on Sir Keir, Mrs Badenoch and Sir Ed to encourage their party's peers to support the amendment.

They said it would be a 'vital step in better protecting children online', adding that 'no parent should have to live with the consequences of a system that failed to protect their child'.

It came after the PM earlier on Monday admitted he needs to 'do more' to safeguard young people online.

Sir Keir said 'no options are off the table' after dozens of Labour MPs wrote a separate letter calling for the UK to emulate Australia's ban on under-16s using social media sites and apps.

The mother of murdered Brianna Ghey (pictured) today piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to back a ban on under-16s using social media

Esther Ghey, whose daughter was killed at the age of 16 by two 15-year-olds, urged the Prime Minister to support the introduction of new restrictions

The PM is expected to announce plans to consult on a ban in an attempt to see off a Labour backbench rebellion.

In her own letter, Ms Ghey set out how Brianna had a 'social media addiction and struggled with her mental health from the age of 14'.

She wrote: 'I speak not only as Brianna's mother, but alongside many other bereaved parents who have lost their children to harms that began or were amplified online.

'Some have lost children after they were groomed by online predators, others through dangerous online challenges, and others following prolonged exposure to self-harm and suicide content.

'Again and again, parents describe the same pattern: children being drawn into online spaces that normalised exploitation, risk, and self-destructive behaviour, often hidden from the adults who were desperately trying to protect them.

'Some argue that vulnerable children need access to social media to find their community.

'As the parent of an extremely vulnerable and trans child, I strongly disagree. In Brianna's case, social media limited her ability to engage in real-world social interactions. She had real friends, but she chose to live online instead.'

Ms Ghey said that social media was leading to a 'profound loss of childhood' with an 'entire generation' having their 'time, attention, and potential consumed by platforms designed to keep them hooked'.

She added that backing the Lords' amendment would send 'an important and unambiguous message that social media is not appropriate for children under the age of 16'.

Ms Ghey said her daughter 'desperately wanted to be TikTok famous', putting her 'in constant fear about who Brianna might be speaking to online'.

She added: 'She developed an eating disorder and was self-harming, and all of this was significantly exacerbated by the harmful content she was consuming online.'

The letter was also signed by Ellen Roome, the mother of Jools Sweeney, Mariano Janin, the father of Mia Janin, Penny and Ian Banyard, the parents of Lacey, Liam Walsh, the father of Maia Walsh, Hollie Dance, the mother of Archie Battersbee, Amanda and Stuart Stevens, the parents of Olly Stevens, Lorin LaFave Gordon, the mother of Breck, and Lisa Kenevan, the other of Isaac Kenevan.

Sir Keir told the Observer just last month that he was not personally in favour of a social media ban for under-16s.

The PM argued it was 'more about how you control the content that children can see rather than simply saying a blanket ban'.

But Health Secretary Wes Streeting has made little secret about his own support for the move, insisting he is 'in favour of action' on the issue.

A total of 61 Labour MPs, led by Fred Thomas, have signed a letter highlighting the 'clear' harm caused by 'harmful, addictive' content on the platforms.

The MPs, including veterans such as Graham Stringer and Richard Burgon, said Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece look likely to copy the Australian policy and 'Britain risks being left behind'.

Sir Keir Starmer earlier on Monday admitted he needs to 'do more' to safeguard young people online

Asked about the possibility of a ban at a Downing Street press conference on Monday morning, Sir Keir said: 'On the question of social media more broadly, I think we need to do more to protect children.

'And that's why we're looking at a range of options and saying that no options are off the table.

'We're obviously looking at what's happened in Australia, something I've discussed with the Australian prime minister.

'I don't think it's just a question of social media and children under 16.

'I think we've got to look at a range of measures. I'm particularly concerned about screen time for under-fives, which is not so much about social media, but about literally screen time and the impact it's having on children when they arrive at school.

'So I do think we need to look across the range. But, in direct answer to your question, do we need to do more to protect children when it comes to social media and screen time and associated harms? Then yes, we do.'

Banning under-16s from social media is backed by Mrs Badenoch.

The Lords is likely to vote on a ban this week as part of an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, tabled by former Tory education minister Lord Nash.

The Times reported that ministers are expected to announce plans to launch a consultation on all options for reform ahead of this week's Lords vote.

Other options are likely to include raising the digital age of consent to prevent social media companies using algorithms to target under-16s, limits on app time, and curfews.

Ian Russell, whose daughter Molly died aged just 14, spoke out alongside 40 charities, campaigners and doctors, against a ban.

They warned restrictions could drive vulnerable youngsters towards unregulated internet spaces like gaming platforms  or darker sites such as suicide forums.

Mr Russell, whose daughter died in 2017, warned against an 'ambition-led, politically-led, panic-led' drive towards 'hasty, non-evidence based decisions'.

He called for better enforcement of existing laws rather 'sledgehammer techniques like bans'.

Banning under-16s from social media is backed by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch

Publishing a copy of the Labour MPs' letter on X on Sunday, Mr Thomas - the MP for Plymouth Moor View - said: 'We all know the harm social media causes to young people's mental health.

'The Labour Government has acted in recent months. Today, 61 Labour MPs have written to the PM urging him to go further. We back an Australia-style model with the onus on tech firms to block under 16s access.'

The MPs point to research showing over 500 children a day are now being referred for anxiety treatment in England alone, with going from zero to just five hours' daily access to social media doubling boys' rates of depression and trebling those of girls.

They added: 'The average 12-year-old now spends 29 hours a week on a smartphone, much of it on social media platforms rife with harmful content'.
Armed gangs have kidnapped 163 Christian worshippers after storming two churches in Nigeria's northern Kaduna State on Sunday.

'The attackers came in numbers and blocked the entrance of the churches and forced the worshippers out into the bush,' Reverend Joseph Hayab, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the country's north, said on Monday.

'The actual number they took was 172 but nine escaped, so 163 are with them,' added Hayab, who lives in the city of Kaduna.

Gunmen raided two churches during Sunday mass in Kurmin Wali village in the predominantly Christian Kajuru district.

Police in Kaduna state have so far not commented on the matter.

It is the latest in a wave of kidnappings targeting both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria.

Gangs - known in Nigeria as 'bandits' - frequently carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and loot villages in mainly the northern and central parts of the country.

In November, armed gangs seized more than 300 students and teachers from a Catholic school in Niger state. They were released weeks later in two batches.

Nigeria and the United States have been locked in a dispute over what President Donald Trump has characterised as the mass killing of Christians in the country's armed conflicts.

Armed gangs have kidnapped 163 Christian worshippers after storming two churches in Nigeria's northern Kaduna State on Sunday (File image of a cross on a Nigerian church)

But the Nigerian government has rejected the characterisation of the country's escalating security crises as a 'Christian genocide.'

In late December the US launched strikes on what it and the Nigerian government said were militants linked to the Islamic State group.

Nigeria's kidnappings are predominantly for ransom and the crisis has 'consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry' that raised some $1.66 million (1.24million) between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.
Keir Starmer was forced into another climbdown last night as he paved the way for an Australia-style ban on children using social media.

In order to see off another backbench rebellion, the Government will consult on restricting access for under-16s.

It comes just weeks after the Prime Minister said he opposed such a move. Other options on the table include night-time curfews, limits on app time and restricting addictive features such as 'infinite scrolling'.

Sir Keir was forced into Labour's 14th major U-turn since taking power ahead of a Lords vote tomorrow on bringing in a ban.

Should it pass, Sir Keir faces the prospect of a major rebellion when it returns to the Commons after more than 60 Labour MPs publicly called for Britain to follow Australia, which last month became the first country to ban social media for young people.

It comes just over a week after Business Secretary Peter Kyle  one of the Prime Minister's closest allies  said he did not support an outright ban because it is 'not the right way to go'.

Last month the PM said he was not personally in favour of a ban, arguing it was 'more about how you control the content that children can see' rather than 'a blanket ban'.

The Government said it will respond to the consultation in the summer, buying itself time to quell any immediate rebellion.

Sir Keir Starmer said as recently as last month that he was not personally in favour of a ban. But earlier on Monday the Prime Minister admitted he needs to 'do more' to safeguard young people online

The move will be seen as a win for the Conservatives after Kemi Badenoch heaped pressure on the Prime minister by vowing to block under-16s from social media if she won the next election

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has heaped pressure on the PM by vowing to bring in a ban if the Conservatives return to power. Last night she blasted Sir Keir for announcing yet another consultation rather than acting to protect young people from social media now.

'This announcement perfectly sums up the impotency of Keir Starmer. It's not even a real U-turn, it's yet another consultation,' she said.

'The Prime Minister is trying to copy an announcement that the Conservatives made a week ago, and still not getting it right. The harm social media is doing to children is undeniable, and the Conservatives would get children off these adult platforms altogether.

'This is yet more dither and delay from Starmer and a Labour Party that have entirely run out of ideas.'

The Government will consult on 'determining the right minimum age for children to access social media, including exploring a ban for children under a certain age'.

Recent YouGov polling found 74 per cent of Britons support a social media ban for under-16s  while just 19 per cent opposed it  suggesting that any public consultation could force the Government to adopt a ban.

And 61 Labour MPs last weekend wrote to the Prime Minister calling for 'urgent action' to raise the minimum age for social media platforms to 16.

Yesterday Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, joined voices calling for a ban as she wrote to Sir Keir urging him to take a 'vital step in better protecting children online'.

'I speak not only as Brianna's mother, but alongside many other bereaved parents who have lost their children to harms that began or were amplified online,' she wrote alongside ten other grieving families.

The mother of murdered Brianna Ghey (pictured) piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to back a ban on under-16s using social media

Esther Ghey, whose daughter was killed at the age of 16 by two 15-year-olds, urged the Prime Minister to support the introduction of new restrictions

A ban has also been supported by Baroness Cass, who led the review into NHS treatment of gender-questioning children. She warned that the 'longer we wait, the more children we fail'.

Other measures announced include Ofsted inspectors checking mobile phone bans in schools are being enforced.

Concerns remain, however, among some in Government that the Australian ban has not been as straightforward as anticipated.

Teens have proved adept at circumventing it, while officials and child safety advocates are concerned about the unintended consequences of an outright ban, including fears that it could push children onto the dark web.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: 'We are determined to ensure technology enriches children's lives, not harms them  and to give every child the childhood they deserve.'


Nancy Pelosi was ridiculed online after appearing 'drunk' while speaking at the memorial of Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead.

Videos showed the former House Speaker, 85, stage during the memorial on Saturday at San Francisco's Civic Center as she stumbled through her nearly 10-minute tribute that led many to question if Pelosi had been hitting the bottle.

Weir's passing was announced on January 10 on his Instagram post, revealing he died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, after battling cancer and ultimately succumbing to underlying lung issues.

Pelosi, a self-proclaimed 'Deadhead,' got off to a shaky start while paying tribute: 'As joyous as it is to see everyone here,' before completely fumbling her line a few sentences later.

'Bobby Weir was not just a magician, musician  a magician too  he was a force of nature,' Pelosi laughed while flubbing the sentence.

The politician, who is set to retire from Congress at the end of her current term, donned a violet pantsuit as she also used her tribute to urge the audience to vote.

'(Weir) gave me this sign, and I'll show it today, because I said Bobby really loved democracy, he loved our country,' said Pelosi. 'You know what he wanted everybody to do,' she asked the crowd before holding up a Grateful Dead sign that read 'VOTE'.

Pelosi was also was mocked for her swaying and singing as musician John Mayer performed the band's classic song 'Ripple'.

Nancy Pelosi spoke at the memorial of Bob Weir on Saturday however her behavior left some to question if she was sober

The former speaker of stumbled through some lines of her tribute of the late founding member of the Grateful Dead who died of underlying lung conditions in the beginning of this year at the age of 78

In the nearly 10 minute speech she took the opportunity to urge the audience to vote

Pelosi's on-stage behavior prompted many to speculate online about her state of mind, despite her office telling PolitiFact in 2010 that she doesn't drink.

One user wrote: 'Poor old drunk Nancy. She doesnt know when to stay home or refrain from the happy juice before going to a tribute for some one who died. Sheesh. What a mess.'

Another added: 'Drunk embarrassment. Lady you need to hole up in your house with your liquor bottles and don't show your face in public.'

A third asked: 'Is Nancy Pelosi drunk at the Bob Weir Homecoming?'

The former speaker of the House's sobriety has come in to question before, recently in July she addressed Gen Z activists at the Voters of Tomorrow summit in Washington, but baffled onlookers slammed her remarks as she constantly stopped and rambled.

Conservative social media users pounced on her antics.

'WTF? What's wrong with Nancy Pelosi, is she intoxicated? Gibberish and more gibberish! I don't think the audience can even understand what she is saying. One of the premier faces of the Democrat Party,' wrote Eric Daugherty.

Several took to X to question if Pelosi had been drinking. Her office told PolitiFact in 2010 that she doesn't drink

Pelosi is set to retire at the end of her term

In July, she stumbled through another speech that also led some to speculate that she had been drinking

Another took on the content of Pelosi's speech: 'What about the hundreds of millions SHE has made trading stocks of those companies based on insider information?'

One compared the address to a fellow California politician's speech patterns: 'She drank Kamalas lemonade.'

Another succinctly demanded: 'Term limits.'

Pelosi suffered a fall last December in Europe and underwent hip replacement surgery.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Nancy Pelosi's office for comment.
Kemi Badenoch warned Tory MPs she has no time for 'psychodrama and intrigue' tonight as she suggested disgruntled MPs can follow Robert Jenrick and Andrew Rosindell out the door.

After the two shadow ministers defected to Reform Mrs Badenoch sent a punchy letter to MPs warning them not to repeat the mistakes made when the Conservative were last in power.

The period up to the 2024 election was marked by factional infighting and Ms Badenoch, in the letter seen by the Mail, said sort of behaviour 'will not be tolerated'.

As she prepares to meet with MPs from the right of the party tonight she said the departure of the two men were less about political ideology than they were about their 'character'.

'We are THE party of the right and must remain so,' she wrote.

'Differences of opinion are part of a healthy party. But there is a clear line between disagreement and trying to damage the party from within.

'Those who cannot be part of a Conservative Party that is changing in this way are free to make other choices.

'Those who want to undermine or destroy the party will be dealt with firmly and fairly. There will be no hard feelings about that as they will create space for those who share our values and purpose.'

It came after Mr Jenrick warned Conservative MPs wanting to follow him to Reform to act quickly or face not being allowed in.

After the two shadow ministers defected to Reform Mrs Badenoch sent a punchy letter to MPs warning them not to repeat the mistakes made when the Conservative were last in power

The former shadow justice secretary, who switched parties on Thursday, said Nigel Farage's party would not accept 'Johnny-come-latelies' after May's local elections

Andrew Rosindell, also a former shadow minister under Kemi Badenoch, posed with his new boss outside Parliament after crossing the floor last night

The former shadow justice secretary said Nigel Farage's party would not accept 'Johnny-come-latelies' after May's local elections, as the leader unveiled the newest defector to his ranks.

Mr Farage claimed the 'centre right is uniting' as he welcomed Mr Rosindell, 59, to Reform UK.

The former shadow foreign minister under Kemi Badenoch posed with his new boss outside Parliament today after crossing the floor last night.

He adds to the growing number of Conservative MPs, past and present, who have decided their chances are better with Reform.

Mr Farage has set May 7  the date of crucial local elections in which they hope to make significant gains  as a cut-off point for admitting current and former MPs, as well as for local councillors to defect.

Speaking to GB News today Mr Jenrick, who joined Reform on Thursday after being booted out by Ms Badenoch, said: 'If there are other Conservative MPs who share the values and the principles of Reform who want to turn the country around and fix it, then I'm sure Nigel would welcome into the party, but he has said, and he's absolutely right to do so that this is going to have to happen quickly.

'After the May elections, then the door closes and Reform moves on. It can't be that people just make up their mind, or Johnny-come-latelies to this.'

It came as Mrs Badenoch summoned her remaining Tory MPs to a meeting in Westminster tonight.

Mr Rosindell became the second Conservative MP to jump ship in the space of a week after Robert Jenrick defected on Thursday.

He said he was persuaded to resign as a shadow foreign office minister in Kemi Badenoch's front bench because of the 'failure' of the Conservative Party 'on the issue of Chagossian self-determination'.

Speaking to reporters in Westminster, Mr Farage said: 'Another shadow cabinet member has joined us.

'I've known Andrew for over 25 years. We've always got on very, very well.'

Mr Rosindell has been a Conservative MP for Romford since 2001.

He told reporters Mr Farage 'has to be our next prime minister'.

Speaking about the Government's decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, he said: 'It's a total failure of the British state to protect British interests.

'The Conservative Party and the Labour Party have played a part in this, and I can't put my name to it ever.

'I repudiate what has happened, and that's one of the reasons I decided this weekend to join Nigel and reform UK. This man has to be our next prime minister.

'Our country needs reform. It needs change, and we need to rescue our nation and the calamity of this socialist government.'

Asked how his former colleagues had reacted to his defection, he said: 'I have many, many friends in the Conservative Party they've all been incredibly kind.

'They understand why I've done this. I have no malice towards my friends in the Conservative Party.'

Mr Rosindell said he had not spoken to Mrs Badenoch since his announcement, but wishes her 'all the best personally'.

A Conservative Party source said previously that Mr Rosindell had threatened to defect for months, but denied he was doing so until as recently as Saturday.

They said it was another example of Mr Farage doing Mrs Badenoch's 'spring cleaning', in reference to her comments after Mr Jenrick's defection.
A murder suspect wanted for killing a 17-year-old girl was found shot to death inside a car in Texas, according to police.

Deshawn Suggs, 18, was discovered inside a vehicle around 4am Saturday in San Antonio with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Suggs was on the run from police following the fatal shooting death of Alianna Ujueta, 17, on September 28, 2025, while attempting to leave a party at an abandoned house in Bexar County.

In November, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office named Suggs as the only suspect wanted for Ujueta's murder.

The vehicle Suggs was found in, and the neighboring house, was peppered with bullets after police responded to reports of an active shooting in progress, a spokesperson with the San Antonio Police Department told the Daily Mail.

His manner of death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner on Sunday, and the sheriff's office confirmed he is deceased and no longer wanted.

Investigators are trying to determine what led up to the fatal shooting. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been named.

The Daily Mail contacted the Bexar County Sheriff's Office for comment.

Deshawn Suggs, a fugitive murder suspect accused of killing 17-year-old Alianna Ujueta last year, was found dead early Saturday morning inside a car in San Antonio, Texas

Ujueta was tragically shot dead at a party at an abandoned house in Bexar County on September 28, 2025

Ujueta was sadly killed after the party, described by police as a 'teen takeover', turned violent and shots were fired, according to officials.

The suspected gunman, Suggs, fled the scene in a dark-colored pickup truck afterwards.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar previously revealed that evidence pointed to Suggs being the one who allegedly pulled the trigger.

Authorities found the weapon they think he used in Ujueta's shooting, but the sheriff's department did not find it with him.

After uncovering that evidence, a warrant was issued for Sugg's arrest.

At the time, Ujueta's older sister, Analiese Habe, described how hard it was for their family after the teen died.

'Were missing her. Its really hard. We're missing the piece that made us whole,' Habe told KSAT.

Her family said she had graduated from high school early, had a job, and was looking forward to getting her driver's license.

Ujueta was sadly killed after the party, described by police as a 'teen takeover', turned violent, and shots were fired. (Pictured: The abandoned house where the party was hosted)

Her brother Kevin said: 'She would want to be remembered by the love that she had for her family.'

Ujueta's other brother, Kristopher, encouraged anyone at the party to reach out to police at the time, saying: 'Have some courage to do the right thing. We dont want this to happen again.'

Her parents, Terri and Ivan Ujueta, said they had been called by their daughter's friend to notify them of the shooting.

In a TV interview with Kens5, her father Ivan said: 'We were praying that it wasn't our girl. Our day became dark, and there was no light at the end. This has broken us. This has torn us apart.'

Terri described her daughter as funny, sassy, and full of life, saying: 'She didnt go anywhere without making a friend.'

A tribute shared by her mother to social media added: '[Her] signature smile was the first thing everyone noticed and the last thing anyone who loved her will ever forget.

'It was a physical manifestation of the boundless joy and light she brought into every life she touched.'

'We are choosing to focus on that joy now, and the vibrant, happy memories she left us with.

'As we navigate this unimaginable pain, we humbly ask for privacy and respect for our family. Please allow us the space we need to grieve.'

Her parents, Terri and Ivan Ujueta, said they had been called by their daughter's friend to notify them of the shooting

The TV report also captured images of the abandoned property in the aftermath, showing beer bottles and glow sticks littering the lawn.

At the time, Sheriff Garcia said it wasn't clear if she had been involved in a fight that broke out just before shots rang out.

He also called on parents to be aware of the plans their children make outside the home.

Garcia added: 'There are ways to monitor them through social media. There are ways to track them through iPhone apps, or apps very similar to those.

'We have these parties, teen-adult parties, at these random properties, these abandoned properties, that ultimately lead to gun violence.'
A male artist has been charged with stalking and blackmailing Little Britain star Matt Lucas, the Daily Mail can reveal.

German-born Alijoscha Quooss, 36, who lives in London, has been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation after comic Lucas, 51, reported Quooss to them.

Police say Quooss is understood to have now left the country.

A spokesperson for the force said: 'Charges have been authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) against Alijoscha Quooss, 36 (05.01.90), of Cornwall Avenue, E2 for stalking and blackmail.

'Quooss failed to answer bail to be formally charged and is now understood to have left the UK. Enquiries are ongoing.

'The charges follow allegations reported to police on 26 June. Quooss was arrested the following day.'

German-born Alijoscha Quooss, 36, has been charged after Little Britain star Matt Lucas was stalked and blackmailed

Quooss was arrested on suspicion of blackmail, harassment and malicious communications at the end of June after Matt Lucas made a report to the Metropolitan Police

The arrest came just three weeks after Mr Lucas failed to get a gag order against Mr Quooss at an emergency High Court hearing.

Mr Lucas, represented by a KC, was seeking an interim injunction against Quooss, who represented himself, but the judge dismissed his application.

Quooss has not been allowed to contact Mr Lucas or go near his address as part of his bail conditions.
Donald Trump was tonight told tariff threats are 'no way to treat allies' as MPs lined up to condemn his outburst in the row over Greenland.

The US President has threatened to slap tariffs on the UK and other European nations until a deal is reached for him to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

He has also not ruled out military action to achieve his aim of taking the territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

But, speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned Mr Trump his threats are 'unwarranted' and 'counter-productive'.

She addressed MPs after earlier welcoming her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen for talks in London, while she cnfimed she had also spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

'We have agreed to take forward further discussions on this issue,' she said.

Ms Cooper reiterated her backing for Denmark - a NATO member - in the dispute with Mr Trump, telling the Commons the future of Greenland 'is a matter for Greenlanders and the Danes, and them alone'.

'This reflects the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity to which this whole House is committed,' she added.

'The use or the threat of tariffs against allies in this way is completely wrong. It is unwarranted and it is counter-productive.'

Donald Trump was tonight told tariff threats are 'no way to treat allies' as MPs lined up to condemn his outburst in the row over Greenland

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned the US President his threats are 'unwarranted' and 'counter-productive'

Ms Cooper addressed MPs after earlier welcoming her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen for talks in London.

Mr Trump has argued the US needs to acquire Greenland for national security and highlighted a threat from Russia and China in the region.

But Ms Cooper told MPs that Arctic security 'can only be effectively addressed and maintained through a co-operation between transatlantic allies and, crucially, through NATO'.

'So instead of divisions that only aid our adversaries, we now need a serious and constructive dialogue about our Arctic security, which is built on respect for sovereignty and collective security, and the rules which underpin our alliance,' she added.

The Foreign Secretary said Denmark was a 'close ally of the UK and the US', continuing: 'Denmark has long been one of the US's closest allies, a proud NATO member that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the UK and with the US, including at real human cost, in recent decades.

'Alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure  and tariffs threats like this are no way to treat allies.'

Ms Cooper admitted NATO allies 'can and should do more' to protect Arctic security, but added: 'A trade war would hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. It would be in no-one's interests.'

Senior Tory MP Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, also criticised Mr Trump's threats as 'completely wrong'.

She said Britain needs to 'leverage the strength' of its special relationship with America to prevent tariffs.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the US President was 'acting like an international gangster' over Greenland.

It came after Sir Keir Starmer earlier on Monday branded Mr Trump's threats as 'completely wrong' - but signalled the UK will not hit back.

Despite insisting the Government is ready to defend 'fundamental' principles, the Prime Minister struck a notably different tone to other European leaders.

He stressed the 'profound' nature of the transatlantic relationship, highlighting that even the nuclear deterrent relies on it.

The comments came at an emergency Downing Street press conference after Mr Trump snubbed a personal plea from Sir Keir and renewed his extraordinary demands for the Danish territory.

In a letter to Norway's premier circulated overnight, Mr Trump also linked his grab for Greenland to the refusal to give him the Nobel Peace prize.

Sir Keir acknowledged that people were angry and stressed that the UK must 'stand up for our values' - but argued that should be done through 'calm discussion'.

He appeared to dismiss the prospect of tit-for-tat retaliation to the tariff threats, even though European powers have been making clear they are ready to respond in kind. He also suggested that the King's state visit to the US in April will not be cancelled.

The premier said he did not believe that Mr Trump was seriously considering invading Greenland - something he has repeatedly refused to rule out.

But he said: 'There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works.'

Sir Keir argued that the future of Greenland was for Denmark and the people of Greenland, adding 'that right is fundamental and we support it'.

'Alliances endure because they are built on respect... not on pressure,' he added.

Mr Trump insisted overnight that he will get his way despite the personal plea and a joint statement from Western leaders warning of a 'dangerous downward spiral' in relations.

Posting on his own Truth Social site in the early hours, Mr Trump said: 'NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland'.

Sir Keir Starmer earlier on Monday branded Mr Trump's trade war threats as 'completely wrong'

Posting on his own Truth Social site in the early hours, Mr Trump said: 'NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland''

Your browser does not support iframes.

'Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump.'

Asked if he genuinely believed the US President was considering military action, Sir Keir told reporters: 'I don't, actually.

'I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles and values that I've set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland, and making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong.'

Mr Trump has vowed to impose a 10 per cent levy on all imports from countries opposing his landgrab - rising to 25 per cent if they have not caved in by June.

There are fears the move could cause major damage to the UK's pharma and car manufacturing industries.

Some economists have raised concerns it could even tip the country into recession, partly due to the uncertainty created by Mr Trump's chaotic behaviour.

However, while thanking Kemi Badenoch for her support, Sir Keir took a swipe at those pushing him to condemn the US and retaliate.

'At moments like this, there will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work,' he said.

'That's an understandable instinct, but it's not effective. It never has been.'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was 'always difficult to tell' whether Mr Trump was bluffing.

'But to use economic threats against the country that's been considered to be your closest ally for over a hundred years is not the kind of thing we would expect,' he said today.

'It's wrong, it's bad, it would be very very hurtful to us. I think we're in a position where we can negotiate  we're not tied.

'We're not tied by European Union trade rules, that does give us an advantage in these negotiations, but I would just say this: I'm all for Trump taking out enemies of the West. Maduro, the Iranian regime.

'But, if he falls out with his own allies and leaves America isolated, that would be a very bad place to be.

'I'm worried about it, I'm concerned about it, I've always been a supporter of the President since way before he got elected for the first time. But I will be having some words with the American administration in Davos on Wednesday on this issue.'

European leaders have been signalling a far more aggressive response.

The bloc is considering deploying its so-called trade 'bazooka' for the first time in retaliation, an economic tool that would hit the US with 81billion in tariffs.

The 'big bazooka' is an anti-coercion instrument adopted in 2023 to combat political blackmail.

It allows the EU to restrict countries from participating in public tenders, limit trade licences and shut off access to the single market.

But there was no sign of the White House backing down.

Join the debate Should the UK risk its US alliance to defend Denmark and Greenland from Trump's demands?

Ms Cooper (left) and Chancellor Rachel Reeves (right) were in Downing Street for Sir Keir's press conference this morning

Greenlanders have been protesting in favour of self-governance and against US ownership

In a letter responding to a note from Jonas Stre about his tariff threats, Mr Trump linked his wish to seize Greenland from Denmark to not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has repeatedly said he 'deserves'.

'Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America', Mr Trump reportedly said.

Norwegian tabloid VG claims to have spoken to Mr Stre who confirmed the letter is genuine.

The PM also said he has told Mr Trump repeatedly that it is 'well known' that the Norwegian government does not decide who wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Trump claimed Denmark only owns Greenland because 'a boat landed there hundreds of years ago'. He went on: 'Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway? There are no written documents'.
A 12-year-old girl was among three killed in a fiery crash between two utes in Queensland's South Burnett region on Monday night.

A Dodge Ram collided with a Ford Ranger shortly after 10pm on the Bunya Highway at Taabinga near Kingaroy, bursting into flames.

The male driver and sole occupant of the Ram died at the scene near the intersection of Stuart Valley Drive and Toomeys Road.

The 44-year-old female driver of the Ranger and one of her passengers, a 12-year-old girl, were also killed.

A second girl, 13, also travelling in the Ranger, was rushed to Kingaroy Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

She was later airlifted to Brisbane's Queensland Childrens Hospital.

The Bunya Highway remained closed with diversions in place on Tuesday morning as crash investigators examined the scene in an effort to discover the cause of the collision.

Anyone who was travelling in the area around the time of the crash and may have information or footage is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

Three people, including a 12-year-old girl, died in the horror crash in the South Burnett region

The late-night crash occurred 214km north-west of Brisbane

The latest tragedy comes after 302 people died on Queensland's roads in 2025 - a 16-year high.

The Wide Bay Burnett region recorded the most deaths with 26 lives lost.
Horrifying footage captured the moment a United Airlines jet's front wheel came completely loose as it roughly landed at an airport in Orlando, Florida.

United Flight 2323 experienced a 'mechanical issue' while landing at Orlando International Airport on Sunday, around 12.35pm after departing from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, said the airline in a statement to Fox 35.

The shocking footage showed the Airbus A321neo, which was carrying 200 passengers and six crew members, descending towards the runway with its landing gear appearing to be fine.

It seemed to be a routine landing until the back wheels touched down, slamming the front end of the aircraft onto the wheels under its nose.

Behind the camera a pair watching the landing unfold can be heard reacting as the plane roughly landed, a man is heard saying: 'Holy s***.'

The plane bounced and rocked before a wheel could be seen rolling off to the right side of the jet.

United Airlines told People that the incident was caused by a 'mechanical issue upon landing.'

Luckily, no one was injured; however, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told the outlet that 'the aircraft became disabled after making a hard landing.'

United Flight 2323 experienced a 'mechanical issue' while landing at Orlando International Airport on Sunday

The aircrafts front wheel completely came off the plane that was carrying 200 passengers and six crew members while landing at the Orlando International Airport. No injuries were reported

Passengers had to be bused from the disabled plane to the terminal.

The FAA confirmed to People that they are investigating the incident.

At the time of this report, it is not clear what caused the mechanical issue. The Daily Mail has reached out to United Airlines for comment.

Many speculated in the comments of the viral footage that the weather may have played a role in the incident, but this has not been confirmed.

Conditions in Orlando that day weren't perfect, with the National Weather Service reporting up to 56 mph winds.

The FAA's National Airspace System Status database reported that flights arriving and departing from Orlando airport the day of the incident experienced some delays, according to Fox.

In September 2025 two people were injured aboard United Flight 32, which made an emergency landing after a fire was detected on board.

The Orlando International Airport experienced delays from the 'disabled' plane. Viewers speculated if weather played a factor in the incident where the airport had gust of winds up to 56 mph

The aircraft was en route from Japan to the Philippines, when the crew was alerted that flames had erupted in the cargo hold just 50 minutes into the flight.

A United Airlines spokesperson told the Daily Mail that two passengers were taken to a local hospital after suffering minor injuries in the emergency.

However, they said crews could not find any signs that a fire had actually broken out after an inspection at Kansai International Airport.
It was billed as Scotlands flagship 1billion superhospital, boasting its own helipad, cinema  and even robots delivering the bed linen.

And yet if you, or a relative, are about to be admitted to Glasgows Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), or if youve received treatment there, you might have some pressing concerns.

Chief among them would be the news that health board bosses have just admitted dirty water at the QEUH caused serious infections in young cancer patients.

Two children died, including ten-year-old Milly Main  and at least 84 fell ill with infections while being treated at the QEUH.

But for six years officials continued to deny any link between the hospitals contaminated water system and the spate of infections in vulnerable patients.

The scandal came to light back in 2015, with an ongoing inquiry to follow but it has taken a decade for the truth to be dragged out of the boards shameless hierarchy.

In the meantime, patients trust and confidence in the board have been shattered  and once those precious commodities have gone, they may prove impossible to restore.

Finally, the lawyerly evasions, denials and obfuscations have been cast aside in the closing stages of an inquiry which began in 2020  and has cost taxpayers 31million so far.

The 1b Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow

Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opened the superhospital in 2015

Louise Slorance was spied upon by hospital bosses after she fought for answers over the death of her husband Andrew

It might have been wrapped up before now, saving money, if the board had come clean at an earlier stage. But more importantly, the delays have added to the distress of the bereaved.

Health chiefs also conceded they mistreated the whistleblowers they had previously criticised.

That denigration was unforgivable  but it shouldnt surprise anyone that a corrosive culture of secrecy has taken root in the public sector given that it is led and supposedly managed by the SNP government.

Those health board bosses were aping their political masters by acting incompetently then trying to cover it up.

They even admitted that they had been secretly monitoring social media posts about water contamination through a private firm which was paid 15,000.

The online checks, known as social listening, were carried out by a company called Meltwater, through a 15,000-a-year contract.

Three unidentified staff and a member of the public  the widow of a patient who was critical of the care her husband had received at the QEUH  were targeted.

This wasnt the behaviour of committed, compassionate professionals  this was a snooping exercise in the best interests only of those carrying it out (at our expense).

Former Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who ultimately ordered the inquiry, said in her evidence that board bosses in Glasgow took a nothing to see here approach, but the same could have been said of her government.

Those ministers who defended the board and played down the allegations must be brought to book, and there are even suggestions John Swinney could be dragged into a corporate homicide probe.

Meanwhile, no heads have rolled at the board  and naturally not at the SNP government.

Its worth reflecting for a moment on the complete absence of accountability, though it doesnt come as a shock.

Thats because were at risk of becoming inured to it after nearly 20 years of Nationalist rule.

Is there a starker and more damning example of the SNPs long record of mismanagement and neglect of public services than the fact that it presided over a hospital which effectively poisoned its patients?

Its made all the more egregious because the launch of the QEUH was held up as proof that the SNP was delivering on its promises.

Nicola Sturgeon pledged that the hospital, which she opened, would transform healthcare for patients and provide world-class training for staff.

The gap between the rhetoric and the bleak reality is huge, but its largely because of tireless campaigners such as Louise Slorance that were finally beginning to get to the bottom of what happened.

Mrs Slorance, whose civil servant husband Andrew  described by Ms Sturgeon as a crucial part of her team  died at the QEUH after catching Covid.

His widow claims details about him also contracting a potentially deadly fungal infection were kept from his family.

In a message sent in November 2020, which emerged during the Covid inquiry, Ms Sturgeons then chief of staff Liz Lloyd said: I just want a good old- fashioned rammy so can think [sic] about something other than sick people.

Mrs Slorance later observed that on this day, her [Ms Lloyds] colleague, was a sitting duck in a hospital with substandard ventilation and water that she knew would not and could not protect him.

The desire for a rammy went further than Ms Lloyd: Ms Sturgeon insisted back in June 2020 that were not dealing with politics at the moment, only a few hours after the Cabinet had agreed that consideration should be given to restarting work on independence.

Mrs Slorance now reflects that not only has Andrew been failed, but our systems have failed Scotland.

She is right to say that as each day passes, learning is lost and more people are put at risk.

Ms Freemans claim that the board underestimated the seriousness of the water contamination at the QEUH can be equally applied to a government which was more focused on constitutional battles than keeping patients safe.

The SNP still presents itself as custodian of the health service against the myriad threats ranged against it, from the Tories to Brexit and, inevitably, austerity politics.

They all take their turn on the SNPs eternal carousel of blame at times of crisis  which come around all too frequently.

The grotesque failings at the QEUH will have seismic repercussions for the NHS  and should have consequences for the Nationalists, whose oversight of the board was woefully inadequate.

And the rot has set in elsewhere in the health service  so we shouldnt fool ourselves that the Glasgow board is an outlier.

NHS Tayside ignored warnings about rogue Ninewells hospital surgeon Sam Eljamel who was accused of harming hundreds of patients before he fled the country

NHS Tayside officials binned around 40 theatre logbooks which may have provided vital clues about the practice of rogue surgeon Sam Eljamel  despite a formal do not destroy order.

Our politicians act as if they can get away with anything  and the same appears to be true of some of those holding senior positions in the NHS.

The patient is an afterthought as the buck-passers scramble to salvage their careers and fat-cat salaries.

Looking on from the sidelines are the ministers who were either asleep at the wheel  or turned a wilful blind eye.

Many questions remain unanswered, on the QEUH and Eljamel scandals  and those affected, or their families, deserve answers.

The only certainty is that theres no hope of an end to the secrecy and failure while the SNP remains in power.
An Indiana judge and his wife were left injured on Sunday when an unknown gunman fired shots into their Lafayette home.

Judge Steven Meyer was shot in the arm and his wife, Kimberly, was struck in the hip when a stranger arrived at their house on Mill Pond Lake at around 2.17pm and blasted a shotgun through the door.

In a chilling dispatch recording obtained by CBS News, a caller reported that there was a knock on the door and someone told the couple they had their dog - before shots rang out.

Officers then arrived at the house to find both the judge and his wife injured, and they were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. They are now listed in stable condition.

Cops also said they found spent shell casings at the scene.

A motive for the shooting remains unclear, but the local sheriff's office said it was unaware of any threats made against the judge.

As questions remained about the shooting in broad daylight, a massive manhunt was underway Monday night for the gunman.

The Lafayette Police Department is leading the inquiry but has pulled in support from a broad network of agencies, including the Indiana State Police, Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office, West Lafayette Police, the county prosecutor, and the FBI.

Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, were struck shortly after 2.17pm when gunfire broke out outside their residence

In a statement released Monday, Kimberly Meyer thanked first responders and said she had 'great confidence' in investigators working the case.

She also expressed gratitude to the medical teams who treated her and her husband.

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski issued his own message, calling the shooting 'senseless' and promising that 'every available resource' was being directed toward finding whoever was responsible.

The attack sent ripples through the state's judicial community.

Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush wrote to judges statewide, saying she was relieved the couple survived but underscored her ongoing concern about threats to the judiciary.

'I worry about the safety of all our judges. As you work to peacefully resolve more than 1 million cases a year, you must not only feel safe, you must also be safe,' Rush said.

'Any violence against a judge or a judge's family is completely unacceptable. As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.'

Officers arrived to find both suffering from gunshot wounds, the judge to his arm and his wife to her hip

She urged colleagues to take their personal security seriously.

Court officials said discussions are underway about arranging temporary coverage for Judge Meyer's duties on the Tippecanoe County Superior Court No. 2 bench while he recovers.

Meyer has been a fixture in the Lafayette legal community for decades.

Elected to the state bench in 2014, he previously served on the Lafayette City Council, including a stint as its president.

Before joining the judiciary, he practiced law locally for nearly 30 years, including as a managing partner at Ball Eggleston, PC.
Bondi massacre hero Chaya Dadon has been nominated for Australian of the Year after shielding children from gunfire during the horrific December 14 attack.

The then-14-year-old showed extraordinary bravery when she placed herself between armed attackers and younger children at the Chanukah by the Sea event in Bondi, acting as a human shield as bullets tore through the crowd.

'I knew in that moment, I felt like Hashem was sitting right next to me,' she said in an interview with Reuters, using a Hebrew name for God. 'He was whispering into my ear, "This is your mission: go save those kids".'

The schoolgirl left the safety of her hiding spot, pulled the children away, and jumped on top of them, covering their bodies with her own. At some point, she was shot in the thigh, but she kept shielding them, reciting the Shema, a Jewish prayer.

'I knew I got shot, but I wasn't even worried, I channelled all that energy that I had into strength and I made sure that I knew I had to be there for those kids,' she said.

'If I could give up my life saving these children, that's what I was going to do.'

Her father eventually found them and took her to get help. 'When he found me, he told me this after, that I had the girl in this arm and the boy in this arm. And I was just kissing them.'

'I don't feel like I'm a hero. I feel like everyone was a hero in that situation,' said the teenager, who attended the annual event with a friend.

Bondi massacre hero Chaya Dadon has been nominated for Australian of the Year after shielding children from gunfire during the horrific December 14 attack.

The schoolgirl left the safety of her hiding spot, pulled the children away and jumped on top of them, covering their bodies with her own

'I've been going my whole life,' she said. 'It's usually such an amazing event.'

Ms Dadon spent four days at the Sydney Children's Hospital before returning home last month. She is now walking with crutches, which she has decorated with stickers commemorating some of those who were killed.

She still does not know the children she shielded but hopes to connect with them again.

'Those little kids that have been through things that no one should have been through,' she said, adding that the ordeal would make the Jewish community stronger.

'Even if they can't see it now, everyone is going to grow stronger because I really feel like that situation, everyone was tested.'
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell will return to court next month for a preliminary hearing.

The 61-year-old estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon was charged in April 2024 following Operation Branchform, a long-running Police Scotland investigation into the partys finances.

He now faces a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on February 20.

A key figure in the SNP, he was charged with embezzlement and made no plea or declaration after making an initial appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in March last year.

The Mail revealed last month that Mr Murrell would appear in court before the Scottish election in May.

Mr Murrell was chief executive of the party for more than 20 years until he resigned in 2023 following a row over the partys declining membership numbers.

A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: COPFS understand there is significant interest in this matter which is active under the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

The Lord Advocate and Solicitor General were not involved in decisions on this case.

Ex SNP boss Peter Murrell giving evidence under oath to the Scottish Parliament Committee examiing the handling of harassment allegations against Alex Salmond

The FM in 2016 attending a film screening in Edinburgh with her now estranged husband

Ms Sturgeon repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and was informed by police in March last year she was no longer under investigation.

At the time, she said: I dont think there was ever a scrap of evidence that I had done anything wrong.

In January 2025, the former First Minister announced she and Mr Murrell had decided to end their marriage.

Taxpayers are set to foot the bill for Mr Murrells legal costs. Solicitors acting for the ex-SNP chief executive had an application for legal aid approved last year  but no payments have yet been made.

A spokesman for the Scottish Legal Aid Board previously said: When assessing an applicants eligibility for legal aid we look at their financial position at the time of their application to ensure they meet tests set by legal aid legislation.

This includes information they give us about their salary, the amount of money they have in the bank and any investments... to fund their own defence.

Peter Murrells application met the tests we have to apply when deciding whether to grant legal aid. The Mail revealed last week that overtime costs for the criminal investigation into the SNPs finances have topped 100,000.

Overall spending by the cash-strapped force on Operation Branchform has risen by more than 60,000 in just six months.

Data released by Police Scotland states that total expenditure on the long-running probe for salaries and overtime has reached nearly 2.3million.

Another 460,000 is reported to have been spent by the Crown Office, giving a published total of 2.76million  but the figure could rise higher when final calculations are made.
The deaths of children at Scotlands flagship super hospital could result in people going to jail, it was warned yesterday.

The bombshell admission by NHS chiefs that dirty water at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow caused serious infections in young cancer patients was yesterday described as the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish parliament.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said it would be very fair if people involved in the scandal were to face prison if a court of law decides.

It came amid calls for the Health Secretary to make a statement at Holyrood and calls for former First Minister Nicola Sturgeons involvement in the scandal to be investigated.

The children died shortly after the hospital opened in 2015, but health board officials denied for years the building was to blame.

Victims included ten-year-old Milly Main who contracted an unusual bacterial infection while being treated for leukaemia in 2017.

In a U-turn, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has now accepted a link between dirty water and the killer bugs.

Prosecutors instructed police to launch the criminal investigation in 2021 and it looked at four deaths  Millys, two other children and Gail Armstrong, 73. The health board was named as a suspect in 2023.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has warned that people involved in the scandal were to face prison 'if a court of law decides'

Milly Main, 10, who died at the hospital in 2017 with her mum Kimberly Darroch

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow that has been at the centre of controversy since it opened in 2015

Now former ministers could be drawn into the probe as pressure mounts for the investigation to include politicians.

Mr Sarwar said: All those that were on the scene at the time, the First Minister at the times, health secretaries, finance secretaries, they all have to be looked at as well as the leadership of that health board at the time. A devastating cover-up took place, which resulted in infection in children and deaths of children, and that in my view is criminal and needs an investigation.

Asked if he believed the SNP Government put political pressure on NHSGGC to open the hospital before the election and so risked lives, Mr Sarwar said: I think, bluntly, yes.

A previous leaked report showed a high risk of infected water was identified just before the hospital opened, but not acted upon.

Mr Sarwar added: Im not willing to believe that no minister ever saw it, or that no chief executive ever saw it, or that no chair of the health board ever saw it. This is the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish parliament.

Asked if he expected people to go to jail, he said: Children have died here. If a court of law decides that means someone goes to jail, I think that would be very fair.

The Scottish Tories have also demanded Health Secretary Neil Gray make an urgent statement to parliament today. Only organisations, such as companies and public bodies, can be prosecuted for corporate homicide.

But their bosses can be prosecuted and jailed under workplace safety law.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: We are committed to assisting the inquiry and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment any further. Any potential charges are a matter for the Crown Office.

NHSGGC said: We remain fully committed to supporting the inquiry in its investigations.

The SNP and Ms Sturgeons spokesman declined to comment.
Pauline Hanson has called Anthony Albanese 'the worst Prime Minister this country has ever had' after he described One Nation's surge in support as a 'worry'.

Albanese told KIIS FM on Monday that One Nation's appeal was negative and that Labor and the Coalition were proven as better options.

'It's a worry because they can appeal to grievance, but they're a pretty divisive lot. And I think it's a worry,' Albanese said.

'I'm a believer in mainstream politics and in the parties of government - they've served this country pretty well.'

His comments followed a Newspoll showing One Nation's primary vote soaring to 22 per cent, up from just 8 per cent before the 3 May election. Labor led the poll at 32 per cent, with One Nation on 22 and the Coalition trailing at 21.

It's the first time in Australian history that a minor party has outpolled one of the longstanding major parties.

Hanson dismissed Albanese's assessment, telling Sky News he was the truly divisive leader.

'That's a pot calling the kettle black. What a hypocrite he is,' she said.

Pauline Hanson (pictured) said she was 'coming after' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

'I've got no time for him. The worst Prime Minister this country has ever had. Yes, he should be worried and I tell you what, Anthony Albanese, I'm coming after you.'

The One Nation leader vowed to see Albanese gone as Prime Minister at the next election.

'I want to see you gone from being Prime Minister of this country at the next election and I'm going to work my butt off to make it happen,' she said.

Hanson accused Albanese of hypocrisy over his divisiveness claims, pointing to the failed Indigenous Voice to Parliament which he pushed strongly in 2023,and what she called a lack of action to curb antisemitism since the October 7 attacks of 2023, culminating in the Bondi Beach massacre.

She also claimed politicians 'don't care about the Australian way of life' and have ignored warnings about radical Islam.

Albanese's national address on the Bondi terror attack drew further scorn from Hanson, who labelled it 'weak', 'pathetic' and 'all rhetoric'.

'I don't know if it's really hit home how important this is to the Australian people,' Hanson said.

'It's about how politicians react in legislation, how we combat what is happening on our streets.'

Hanson slammed Albanese (pictured) after he said One Nation's rising polls were a 'worry'

Hanson said people had approached her at the Bondi memorial to express fears about safety.

'People are in fear and yet the politicians just pat themselves on the back and carry on and they won't tackle what the real issue is - it's radical Islam,' she said.

'Instead of worrying about how we're going to deal with hate speech, don't bring these people into the country in the first place.'

She argued the public was waking up to politicians acting against the welfare of the Australian people to push globalist priorities.

'A lot of people are starting to realise politicians are acting in their own self-interest and pushing an agenda on us,' she said.

'It's globalisation that is not in our best interest. So Australians are saying - hang on a minute, we're going to take a better look at this woman, what she stands for.'

Hanson also turned her sights on Opposition Leader Sussan Ley over the Coalition's talks with Labor on the government's proposed hate-speech laws, drafted in response to the Bondi Beach terror attack and set for introduction to Parliament on Tuesday.

Labor has already stripped out some of the most controversial measures to try to win the Senate's backing, but the Coalition remains divided over some proposals, such as allowing Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to ban groups he designates as 'hate organisations'.

Hanson also criticised Sussan Ley (pictured) calling her 'pathetic' for negotiating with Labor

The government has pointed to the neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network and radical Islamic organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir as potential targets of the new legislation.

Hanson said she did not trust Burke with such sweeping powers to potentially silence critics of the government while allowing more obvious threats to enter the country.

'He welcomed the ISIS brides in, and the Gazans that he brought in from Palestine who are big supporters of terrorist organisations, Hamas,' she said.

She then savaged Ley for not being more combative with the government or standing up for principals.

'If you're doing deals with the Labor Party over this hate speech bill, you are pathetic - you're a loser - because I'll tell you what, you're only band-aiding what could actually impact on Australians having their freedom of expression in this country,' she said.

'You do not deal with the Labor Party or the Greens on this bill. That is absolutely a dog's breakfast and it should not even be considered.'

The bill will be introduced to Parliament on Tuesday.
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Aspinal of London's January sale sees some of its most coveted designs reduced by up to 60 per cent.

If that wasn't tempting enough, an extra 20 per cent is automatically applied at checkout, taking total savings to a generous 80 per cent off. Run, don't walk!

Long synonymous with sophistication, Aspinal is a royal favourite, worn by the Princess of Wales, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, and Queen Camilla.

Like Princess Kate, I've been a loyal fan of the Midi Mayfair for years. The Princess first carried the lilac version back in 2018, followed shortly after by the patent black iteration - a style she has repeated on numerous occasions since.

The vintage-inspired handbag is crafted from full-grain Italian leather and finished with elegant gold hardware, including Aspinal's signature shield lock.

Two particularly striking versions from the brand's collaboration with Patrick McDowell, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, are included in the sale.

A highlight is the limited-edition Midi Mayfair in Emerald Rose Damask - an exquisite reimagining of the iconic silhouette.

The opulent damask fabric was developed by Stephen Walters, the historic Suffolk silk mill that produced the silk for Princess Diana's wedding dress.

The richly textured exterior catches the light with a subtle shimmer, framed by a sleek black patent leather trim.

Kate has also carried the Mayfair clutch and, to my delight, the patent taupe croc version is reduced. It's a smart investment for spring and summer weddings.

Elsewhere in the sale is the updated Mayfair 2, released in 2023 to mark the 10-year anniversary of the original design - a style loved by Zara Tindall.

The smooth merlot colourway sits firmly at the top of my wish list. The deep red hue works beautifully as a neutral, transitioning effortlessly from day to night while showcasing Aspinal's craftsmanship.

Zara is also known to favour the brand's Lottie bags, owning both medium and micro sizes. Perfectly proportioned for everyday essentials, the style transitions seamlessly into evening wear.

The classic taupe and black pebble micro versions are currently reduced by 50 per cent, making them particularly tempting.

What's more, they can be personalised with initials on the shield tab, making these bags a thoughtful gift option or well-deserved treat.

Meanwhile, the navy quilted medium Lottie, finished with the same refined detailing, is also included in the sale and well worth snapping up.

And that's not all - dozens more bags and accessories are included in the January sale.

I'm a huge fan of Aspinal's phone bags. The effortless London design, in mouse pebble leather, is now half price - an excellent buy at just 60.

For him, the Hudson Weekender Bag in forest green combines functionality with understated style. Ideal for frequent travellers, it's currently 50 per cent off and well worth snapping up.

The Double Fold Credit Card Holder is another standout. Its compact design features six card slots to keep essentials neatly organised, while the deep shine dove grey finish gives it a refined look.

With savings like these, there's never been a better time to invest.
As Prince William and Kate Middleton head North of the border this week, there will be one question on many royal fans' minds: will the Prince of Wales finally wear a kilt?

Indeed, despite King Charles often being proudly pictured wearing tartan, there hasn't been a single image taken of his eldest son dressed in the beloved Scottish pattern since he was a young boy.

Previous reports by The Daily Mail suggested that William shared one month before his 21st birthday in 2003: 'I have worn a kilt in private and I'm not saying I will never wear one in public. I haven't got into it yet.'

But nearly 23 years on, the prince has still not embraced the esteemed tradition, despite being educated at St Andrew's University on the coast of Fife.

William and his university sweetheart Kate, also The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, are set to travel to Stirling and Falkirk on January 20 to shine a light on key aspects of Scottish heritage.

As part of their visit, the couple will be trying their hand at curling with the team GB squad and Paralympic squad, while also learning how to weave tartan.

Speaking about the Waleses upcoming visit on the latest episode of The Daily Mail's Palace Confidential, Diary Editor Richard Eden asked Royal Editor Rebecca English: 'Does this mean that Prince William will be wearing a kilt?'

'That's bad news for you because you know what you've promised, that you'll wear one when he wears one,' the show's host Jo Elvin told Richard.

As Prince William and Kate Middleton head North of the border this week, there will be one question on many royal fans' minds: will the Prince of Wales finally wear a kilt? (Pictured: William with his father Charles at Balmoral in 1997)

'Oh god, I'm getting nervous now, a shiver has gone down my spine,' the royal expert quipped.

Detailing Kate and William's day of Scottish engagements, Rebecca revealed that there will also be another engagement on the day, though she was unable to share any further details due to security reasons.

'It will be a really good, fun day,' she added.

The Waleses trip to Scotland will come as little surprise to key royal fans given The Royal Family's deep connection to the nation which dates back centuries.

The Firm own several properties north of the border that includes Balmoral - the lavish 50,000-acre Aberdeenshire estate where the family often spend the late summer and autumn - alongside Birkhall and the Castle of Mey.

Yet while William, now 43, has spent an abundance of time in Scotland, he appears to be less fond of the kilt - a key part of traditional Scottish dress that serves as a powerful symbol of the nation's identity and pride.

The prince even had the choice to wear one for his university graduation ceremony in June 2005. Instead, he chose to wear a traditional suit with a white bow tie and black silk academic gown with a red lining.

That September, then 23-year-old William joined his family for the Braemar Gathering in Aberdeenshire which featured strong men dressed in kilts throwing hammers and tossing cabers.

Despite King Charles often being proudly pictured wearing tartan, there hasn't been a single image taken of his eldest son wearing the historic Scottish pattern since he was a young boy (pictured: William left)

While often favoured by King Charles, the tradition of royals wearing tartan and kilts dates back more than a century to the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign

That September, the then 23-year-old prince joined his family for the Braemar Gathering in Aberdeenshire. Yet William could manage nothing more than a navy-blue lounge suit while Charles was properly attired in a kilt and tweed jacket

The annual Highland games are a key part of the Royals' Scottish calendar and many avid royal fans were hopeful that the prince might finally don the beloved royal tartan.

Yet William could manage nothing more Scottish than a navy-blue lounge suit while Charles was properly attired in a kilt and tweed jacket.

When Kate Middleton visited St Andrews in 2011, a royal onlooker asked the princess-to-be whether William would be likely to wear a kilt to their royal wedding.

'I don't think so,' responded Kate, now 44.

Indeed, she was correct. When the university sweethearts said 'I Do' at London's Westminster Abbey, the prince wore his scarlet Irish Guards Colonel's uniform, with not a kilt in site.

While it is often a key part of King Charles's wardrobe, the tradition of royals wearing tartan and kilts dates back more than a century to the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign.

The late Queen Elizabeth's grandfather King George V, her father King George VI, and, of course, the Queen herself along with Prince Philip and their four children, have all continued the custom over the years.

As The Daily Mail's Richard Kay previously explained: 'The Windsors observe a unique - if eccentric - set of house rules when it comes to how to dress in Scotland.

William and Kate, also The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, are set to travel to Stirling and Falkirk on January 20 and shine a light on key aspects of Scottish heritage. Pictured: Kate seen dressed in tartan while William dons a suit in Edinburgh in 2021

Pictured: William joins the late Queen and then Prince Charles for the Braemar Games in 2001. The annual Highland games are a key part of the Royals' Scottish calendar and many were hopeful that the prince might finally don the beloved royal tartan

Generations of men, including the late Queen Elizabeth's grandfather King George V, her father King George VI, and, of course, the Queen herself along with Prince Philip (pictured) and their four children have continued the Kilt-wearing custom over the years

'The men wear kilts, not just on official engagements but during their off-duty moments too.

'Even Princess Diana, no lover of things Scottish, used to display a gesture, such as a tam o' shanter, to the delight of the Celtic fringe.'

One of the most recognisable styles of royal tartan is the Royal Stewart, which dates back at least as far as 1800, according to the Scottish Register of Tartans.

Some historians have suggested that the tartan could have been worn by supporters of Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, during his failed attempt to restore the Stuart monarchy in the mid-1700s.

The Balmoral Tartan was originally created in the 1850s by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria, in recognition of her deep connection to Scotland.

It remains one of the most exclusive tartans, reserved only for use by the reigning monarch, as well as the Sovereign's Piper - the only non-royal permitted to don this tartan.

Other members of the Royal Family require the sovereign's permission to wear the tartan.

The latest pattern of the Balmoral Tartan was designed 'in recognition of His Majesty's strong support in preserving the culture and traditions of Highland Dress and Scottish Tartans'.
Queen Camilla found herself immortalised as a cartoon character in the legendary Beano today - and admitted she was a long-time fan of its naughty hero, Dennis the Menace.

The royal was presented with the comic strip during an engagement in Edinburgh to publicise the 'National Year of Reading'.

She appeared delighted to see herself in print alongside the 75-year-old literary star.

The cartoon version of the Queen can be seen coming to the rescue of the mischievous Dennis after he was told off by his mother for reading a comic in a library while wearing headphones.

Outlining the 'new rules' of reading in the comic, Queen Camilla tells Dennis and his pet dog Gnasher: 'Go all in for the National Year of Reading, Dennis! Comics and audiobooks count too!'

It comes as King Charles raised a toast during his first engagement of the year today - sipping from a 1,800 bottle of Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The monarch, 77, enjoyed a dram of the award-winning tipple as he hosted a reception marking the Scotland Investment Forum.

Meanwhile Camilla, who was three years old when Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson created Dennis the Menace in 1951, told pupils from Granton Primary School in Edinburgh: 'I was brought up on the Beano, too. It's been going a long time.'

Britain's Queen Camilla visits the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, on Monday to mark the launch of the National Year of Reading in Scotland

Camilla holds the framed Beano comic strip featuring herself which was presented to her during the visit

King Charles tastes whisky from Ian MacLeod Distillers during a reception to mark the Scotland Investment Forum

Looking at the flattering picture of herself in the cartoon, Camilla, 78, also joked: 'I wish!'

Mike Stirling, a storyboard creator and 'director of mischief' at The Beano, told the children: 'A lot of people don't know that [comics and audiobooks count as reading] so if the queen says that, how good is that?

'The mum [of Dennis] is all embarrassed that Dennis is pals with the Queen.'

During her visit to the National Library of Scotland, Camilla, who has been patron of the National Literacy Trust since 2010, was keen to highlight the slogan 'Go All In'.

It is designed to encourage everybody to develop a habit for reading, even if it is just for five minutes a day.

In November, a landmark research paper from the National Literacy Trust argued that everything from scanning song lyrics to listening to audiobooks can now be classed as reading.

Joining a round table discussion to discuss the campaign, the Queen asked how many libraries had closed recently, and was told 54 libraries in Scotland had closed since 2014.

Speaking about the national campaign to encourage more people to read, she said: 'Just to get everybody reading again, especially now, is so important. The battle against these machines. Get them back to books.'

Camilla was later given the opportunity to try her hand at drawing Dennis the Menace and Gnasher alongside a group of school children from Clovenstone Primary School, following a brief tutorial from Nigel Auchterlounie, an artist at Beano Studios.

Jonathan Douglas, the chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, told the queen that her drawings were 'spectacular' and joked to Auchterlounie: 'Are you worried about your job?

'I am, yes!' the artist replied.

Queen Camilla greets some cartoon characters as she visits the library today

Camilla speaks with author Jackie Kay during a visit to National Library of Scotland

At the end of the engagement, Camilla met ambassadors and supporters of the literacy trust, including authors Sir Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, the Scottish crime writer, and Jackie Kay, a poet.

Speaking afterwards Kay said: 'The Queen heard me talk at a Burn's Night at Braemar two or three years ago when I told a joke about how a man in a kilt is enough to turn the head of the honest lesbian. She remembered and said "That made me laugh for ages!".'

Following short speeches from David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading, Amina Shah, Chief Executive of the National Library of Scotland and Val McDermid, National Year of Reading ambassador, to celebrate the launch of the national reading campaign in Scotland, Queen Camilla posed with supporters and children for a picture on the library stairs.

She also shook hands with a life-sized Dennis the Menace and his sidekick, Gnasher.

Earlier, the Queen was shown a ceremonial golden key which has a tiny book at the head which was used by Queen Elizabeth II to officially open the building in 1956.

The National Library of Scotland celebrated its centenary last year but construction work on the building stalled during the Second World War.

It was finally built after Sir Alexander Grant, the biscuit manufacturer who helped create the digestive biscuit for McVities, donated 100,000 to establish the National Library Scotland and a further 100,000 to help construct the building.

When she was shown a newspaper clipping about Grant's donations, Camilla told Ralph McLean, manuscripts curator of the library that it was 'a pity that there aren't more people like Mr Grant.'

The National Literacy Trust has produced new analysis showing that in 2025, levels of reading enjoyment among children and young people aged 8-16 across the UK fell to their lowest in 20 years.

Only 1 in 3 (32.7 per cent ) said that they enjoyed reading in their free time, and just 1 in 5 (18.7 per cent) reported reading daily.

Fresh data released to coincide with the Queen's visit showed that this figure was even lower when only Scotland was taken into consideration, with 3 in 10 young people saying that they enjoyed reading and only 1 in 6 read daily in their free time.

The Queen, patron of the Queen's Reading Room, is hoping to urge more children to adopt the habit and encourage adults to take it up again.

Over the past 15 years, she has engaged with the charity's work across the UK, with a particular focus on communities where poverty and low literacy are most seriously impacting people's lives.

King Charles, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (R) and First Minister of Scotland John Swinney (C) sample whisky at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh

The event at the Palace Of Holyroodhouse celebrated Scotland's entrepreneurial economy

Around 130 people from businesses were welcomed to an event attended by Charles at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh, to celebrate Scottish entrepreneurialism.

John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, and Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister, were also present.

The whisky, from firm Rosebank, whose distillery is based in Falkirk, was first established in 1840 and won Best in Show award at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

A single dram like the one sipped by the King would cost 60.

Managing director Leonard Russell warned: 'Be careful sir, it's high strength.'

Before having a drink, Charles turned to John Swinney and said: 'The terrible thing about it is, the photograph is never the most fetching.'

But he looked on approvingly and described the whisky having a 'toffee' flavour.

Charles recalled how he has visited distilleries on many occasions and recalled 'banging in the bung' - which is a process of hammering a plug into a barrel to seal it for aging or storage.

And joked he would be 'dead long before' the brew was ready to be enjoyed.

'Many success stories. So proud,' he added of those present, adding that he was very happy to help publicise their stories.

First Minister Swinney told him the day was about 'bringing ideas together with investment.'

The King met local business leaders and joined a reception for 130 representatives from Scottish firms and investors

Charles also met local business leaders and joined a reception for 130 representatives from Scottish firms and investors in the Throne Room.

Speaking afterwards about the royal taste test, Mr Leonard said: 'He didn't look unhappy.'

He added: 'He said it had a nose of toffee, which is what you get from long-aged whisky.

'I think we are honoured that the King is bringing to attention businesses in Scotland, it's a remarkable thing.'
A mysterious UFO has been allegedly stored at a little-known US Navy base on the East Coast for decades as the military continues to reverse-engineer its secrets.

A new report has claimed that Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, better known as Pax River, has kept an 'exotic vehicle of unknown origin' secretly housed there, possibly since the 1950s.

According to anonymous sources tied to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), which is headquartered at Pax River, certain military programs at the base have been involved in analyzing and exploiting technology recovered from non-human craft for years.

NAVAIR is a major part of the US Navy, which handles everything related to naval aircraft, weapons, and aviation systems. It designs, builds, tests, buys, repairs, and keeps Navy and Marine Corps aircraft ready for use.

Speaking to the Liberation Times, the unnamed sources claimed that two types of aircraft have been trying to spy on what the US has at Pax River. One is allegedly drones from China, and the other are non-human UFOs.

Recently, this spying activity has allegedly increased and moved closer to land, including right around the Navy base on the Chesapeake Bay.

Although the claims could not be confirmed by the Daily Mail, UFO whistleblower Luis Elizondo stated in written testimony to Congress that a specially built hangar was constructed at Pax River specifically for the transfer of extraterrestrial technology.

Under oath, Elizondo described a plan where this hangar would help major defense contractor Lockheed Martin move non-human technology to another company called Bigelow Aerospace for further study and analysis.

Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland (Pictured from space) has allegedly been used to store and study 'non-human' technology, including a craft of 'unknown origin'

UFO whistleblowers have continued to claim to Congress that the US military is in possession of advanced extraterrestrial technology it is working to reverse-engineer

The Daily Mail has reached out to Lockheed Martin for comment. Bigelow Aerospace went dormant as a company in 2020, laying off its entire workforce during the Covid pandemic.

According to the sources who spoke to Liberation Times, the US government allegedly has a secret contingency plan for moving the unidentified craft if its specific location at Pax River becomes publicly known or is threatened by further spying.

The report added that some of the activity seen taking place near the base is believed to be linked advanced drones or aircraft that use technology that's been copied and developed from the supposed exotic materials.

Although Elizondo claimed that a new facility was built at Pax River just for these UFO transfers, the anonymous sources said none of them took place after the CIA's former director of science and technology blocked companies from gaining access.

Elizondo is a former senior intelligence official who worked at the Pentagon, where he led a secret government program called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).

AATIP studied unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), the new name for UFOs, determining if they were a possible threat to national security.

Elizondo, a whistleblower since 2017, testified under oath in 2024 to Congresswoman Nancy Mace that the government maintains secret programs to recover crashed spacecraft.

Additionally, Elizondo's testimony noted that these programs have successfully reverse-engineered some of this technology and that the US was now in possession of advanced non-human equipment, including at bases like Pax River.

Join the debate Has the US Navy captured extraterrestrial technology?

Pax River (Pictured) is the headquarters for NAVAIR, a major part of the US Navy that designs, builds, and tests, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft

Luis Elizondo (Pictured) led the government's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program and has knowledge of America's UFO crash recovery missions

'These facilities included locations in the Las Vegas area and a newly built hangar at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (PAX),' Elizondo said in his testimony.

'Specifically, the PAX River hangar was designed to facilitate the transfer of future materials via air and river.'

The Maryland base has been home to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) since 1992, a group that conducts research, development, testing, and evaluation of new aircraft and weapons, including advanced and experimental projects.

Although the US military has said there has never been any physical evidence of UFOs recovered, multiple former government employees and scientists have come forward to claim that several vehicles have been recovered since the 1940s.

Last year, Dr Hal Puthoff, a physicist and electrical engineer who worked on the government's psychic spy and UFO research programs, revealed on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that the US military has recovered more than 10 spacecraft since the infamous Roswell incident.

Although there was no evidence to confirm it, Puthoff claimed that some of these craft were actually fully intact craft that had been 'gifted' to humans by extraterrestrials.

Thousands of reports of large, silent drones (Pictured) over New Jersey and sensitive sights along the East Coast started in November 2024 and carried into 2025

The unverified claims about Pax River and potential spying overhead come just one year after hundreds of unidentified drones and UFOs were spotted flying over the East Coast by both the military and the American public.

The bizarre drone swarms appeared to focus on US military installations as well as other key sites, including President Trump's property in New Jersey.

Many Americans described them as 'car-sized drones', making no noise as they flew closely overhead of residential neighborhoods from November 2024 until early 2025.

To this day, the origin of the drones, their targets over New Jersey and the rest of the East Coast, and their research remain a mystery.

However, an unnamed private firm contracted by the US military eventually took responsibility for the drone swarms, claiming they were conducting tests of their advanced aerial craft, according to off-the-record comments at an Army summit in August 2025.
The longlost tomb of the ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti could finally be found, according to a leading archaeologist.

Widely considered one of the most powerful women in antiquity  as well as one of the most beautiful  Nefertiti was the wife of Akhenaten, who reigned from 1353 to 1336 BC and the stepmother of Tutankhamun.

Despite extensive historical evidence from her lifetime, the tomb of this enigmatic queen has never been found.

Now, Dr Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist and former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, says he is 'close' to the groundbreaking discovery.

Dr Hawass made the bold prediction in a new documentary about his life, titled The Man with the Hat.

Speaking in the documentary, Dr Hawass claims to have narrowed down the hunt for Nefertiti's tomb to a small region in the east of the Valley of the Kings.

He says: 'If I made this discovery, I think I would be happy to end my career with the most important discovery of the most important queen of Egypt  Queen Nefertiti.

'This will lead us to the greatest discovery of the century.'

Now, Dr Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist and former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, says he is 'close' to finding the tomb of Queen Nefertiti

Queen Nefertiti was a key member of Egyptian royalty through one of the ancient civilisation's most turbulent periods.

Pharaoh Akhenaten, who was both her husband and brother, caused enormous upheaval when he attempted to convert Egypt's polytheistic religion into a monotheistic sunworshipping religion.

Nefertiti was also stepmother to Tutankhamun - also called Tutankhamen - whose legendary tomb was discovered in 1922, and mother to Tutankhamun's wife, Ankhesenamun.

Most strangely of all, Nefertiti herself is often depicted in ways that were traditionally reserved for the Pharaoh, such as reliefs showing her smiting enemies.

This has led some Egyptologists, including Dr Hawass, to believe that Nefertiti ruled as Pharaoh after her husband's death, taking on the new name Neferneferuaten.

Despite her immense power and wealth, no trace of Nefertiti's tomb has ever been found.

Dr Hawass now believes he is in a position to change that.

As one of Egypt's foremost archaeologists, Dr Hawass has spent years excavating in the Valley of the Kings  the ancient burial ground of Egypt's pharaohs and nobles.

Nefertiti was the wife of Akhenaten, who reigned from 1353 to 1336 BC and the stepmother of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. However, despite her immense power and wealth, her tomb has never been found. Pictured: A bust of Queen Nefertiti held in the Neues Museum in Berlin

He has previously found two tombs, dubbed KV 65 and KV 66, that had been plundered some time in the past.

Although these tombs don't shed any light on the location of Nefertiti's resting place, they show that there are still new discoveries to be made in the Valley of the Kings.

His team are currently excavating a region in the eastern Valley of the Kings, near the tomb of Hatshepsut, another powerful female pharaoh who reigned between 1479 and 1458 BC.

Dr Hawass told Live Science: 'I'm hoping that this could be the tomb of Queen Nefertiti.'

He adds that the work is continuing and 'this discovery could happen soon'.

If her tomb is discovered, the details of Neferititi's burial could reveal whether she was treated as a pharaoh at the time of her death, solving one of ancient Egypt's greatest mysteries.

However, this is not the first time that researchers have claimed to be close to this incredible find.

In 2015, British archaeologist Dr Nicholas Reeves claimed to have found the tomb hidden behind a secret doorway in Tutankhamun's tomb.

Dr Hawass believes that Tutankhamun's stepmother was likely buried in a region of the eastern Valley of Kings, and hopes to find the tomb 'soon'. If he makes this discovery, it could be a find on a level with that of Tutankhamun's burial goods (pictured)

This is not the first time archaeologists have claimed to have found Nefertiti. In 2022, researchers claimed that a mummified woman found in a 'mummy cache' (pictured) was Nefertiti, but later DNA analysis showed that this was not the case

Highresolution scans of the walls of King Tutankhamuns burial chamber seemed to have revealed hidden passages behind the plaster.

He claimed that one of these doorways opened into a continuation of the young king's tomb, where Dr Reeves claimed Nefertiti was buried.

However, years of additional study revealed that the supposed chambers simply were not there.

Later, in 2022, researchers claimed to have found the mummified remains of Nefertiti inside a 'mummy cache', where later Egyptians had hidden mummies from tomb robbers.

But subsequent DNA evidence, gathered by Dr Hawass and his team, confirmed that this was actually the mother of Tutankhamun, making her one of Akhenaten's other wives.

Dr Hawass himself has not been immune to Nefertiti excitement, having announced in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 that he would soon find the missing queen.

'The Man With The Hat' is streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
A rare 'Purple Star Sapphire' weighing a whopping 3,563 carats has been discovered in Sri Lanka.

The stunning gem has been named the 'Star of Pure Land', and is believed to be the world's biggest natural star sapphire of its kind.

As the name suggests, star sapphires are known for their starlike qualities, called asterism.

This optical effect creates a shimmering star pattern on the stone's surface.

'This is the largest purple star sapphire of its kind,' consultant gemologist Ashan Amarasinghe said.

'[It] shows a welldefined asterism. It has six rays asterism. That's something special out of all the other stones.'

While the value of the stone remains unclear, Mr Amarasinghe believes it could be worth at least $300million (223million).

If that is the case, it would make the Star of Pure Land one of the most valuable gemstones ever found.

A rare 'Purple Star Sapphire' weighing a whopping 3,563 carats has been discovered in Sri Lanka

The stunning gem has been named the 'Star of Pure Land', and is believed to be the world's biggest natural star sapphire of its kind

Star sapphires appear to have a star in the middle thanks to asterism  an effect caused by small, needlelike inclusions of the mineral rutile.

'Ideally, the star in a star sapphire should be perfectly centered when viewed from directly above, with each ray of equal length,' explains The Natural Sapphire Company on its website.

'The rays should be bright, sharp, and clearly defined  not blurry or fuzzy  and they should reach from the crown of the cabochon to the base without interruption.'

The gem is owned by an unnamed team, who have decided to remain anonymous for security reasons.

One of the owners said the gem was found in a gem pit near the remote Sri Lankan town of Rathnapura, known as the 'city of gems,' back in 2023.

It was purchased together with other gems that year, and about two years later, the owners found that it was a special stone.

They then got it certified by two laboratories.

Mr Amarasinghe said the value of the stone has been estimated at $300million to $400million (223million to 298million) by international valuers.

The gem is owned by an unnamed team, who have decided to remain anonymous for security reasons

Star sapphires appear to have a star in the middle thanks to asterism  an effect caused by small, needlelike inclusions of the mineral rutile

That would make the Star of Pure Land one of the most expensive stones in the world  well ahead several prized diamonds.

For example, the Oppenheimer Blue  a blue diamond weighing 14.62 carats  sold for $57.5million (42.8million) in 2016.

Meanwhile, the Williamson Pink Star (11.15 carats) sold for an impressive $57.7million (43million) in 2022.

'Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and other gemstones are widely coveted throughout the world,' Jeweler's Touch explains on its website.

'While these gemstones are beautiful, the most valuable gemstones in the world offer specific qualities, such as rare details, unique colors, or rich history, that transcend them beyond typical value and into pricelessness.'
Scientists have identified a hidden geological weakness beneath Greenlands ice sheet that could accelerate its collapse and complicate US ambitions in the Arctic.

A new study discovered a hidden layer of sediment, composed of soft dirt and sand, which has driven more of the Danish territory's glaciers to melt, break apart, and fall into the ocean.

The finding suggested that the Greenland ice sheet is far less stable than it would be if it were anchored directly to hard bedrock. Instead, the sediment reduces friction, particularly as meltwater seeps downward, allowing massive ice sheets to move more easily.

The revelations could significantly impact the Trump Administration's ambitions for Greenland, which the US has sought to acquire from Denmark not only for its strategic location in the Arctic, but also for its wealth of natural resources under the ice.

Mining those resources, including oil, gold, graphite, copper, iron, and other rare earth elements, could be extremely hampered by the presence of sediment layers, which slow down drilling and create dangerous conditions as glaciers collapse.

University of California, San Diego researcher Yan Yang revealed that the widespread sediment layer is up to 650 feet deep in many spots under Greenland's ice sheet.

While the new study suggested that this secret layer of sediment is likely speeding up the rise of sea levels around the world, other scientists have warned that the immediate impact on Greenland could make the area difficult to utilize long-term.

Recent investigations have shown that safe drilling requires a stable, frozen bedrock base, while offshore oil rigs would face heightened risks and soaring costs from a growing number of icebergs calving into nearby waters.

Colorful houses line the snowy coast of Nuuk, the capital city of Greenland. The city has a population of around 20,000

The Trump Administration has prioritized taking control of Greenland, which is rich in natural resources such as gold, oil, and rare earth elements (Stock Image)

On Monday, Trump again demanded Greenland be handed over to the US because Denmark couldn't protect it from Russia and China, according to the Norwegian press.

Although Greenland is a territory of Denmark, a 1941 agreement already authorized the US expansion of its existing military facilities on the island. In previous decades, America operated dozens of bases there.

The Trump Administration has said full control of the island is needed to prevent major adversaries such as Russia and China from using Greenland as a crossing point in an invasion of North America.

Despite being approximately 5,000 miles away from Greenland, China claimed it was a 'near-Arctic state' in January 2018 to justify its interests in the region, including the exploration of Greenland's natural resources and use of its shipping lanes.

The study, published in Geology, found soft sediment layers under much of the Greenland Ice Sheet, but noted they are not spread out evenly, with the sands ranging from very thin layers of roughly 15 feet to some spots where the slippery dirt is 1,000 feet deep.

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The thickest sediments were mostly in areas where the bottom of the ice is warmer and wetter, while thinner layers or no sediments appeared in colder, frozen zones - explaining why they're not breaking up as fast.

'If more meltwater reaches the bed, these sediments may further reduce strength, speed up ice flow, and increase ice loss to the ocean,' Yang warned in a statement.

'This means some regions of Greenland may be more vulnerable to climate change than current models assume.'

When it comes to extracting Greenland's resources, a 2022 study in The Cryosphere found that the current drills limit where mining can be done, needing a solid surface like frozen rock to keep the drilling site stable.

In a 2024 study in Annals of Glaciology, researchers found similar conditions that have derailed drilling in Antarctica could cause major problems for future campaigns for precious metals in Greenland, which Trump has made a priority to acquire.

'Drilling through subglacial sediment and clay overburden can stall drilling and substantially impact the time required to reach bedrock,' the international reach team wrote.

Researchers used 373 seismic monitors to locate a thick layer of dirt and sand under Greenland that appears to be speeding up ice melting

Specifically, hundreds of feet worth of dirt and sand can repeatedly clog drill bits, leading to slower progress, equipment damage, and the need to stop operations in unstable areas frequently.

Yang's research team gathered earthquake vibration data from 373 monitoring stations spread across Greenland over the last two decades.

They analyzed how these vibrations traveled through the ice and ground below, looking for delays in the signals that suggested a soft layer between the ice and hard rock.

By comparing the real data to computer models of just ice on rock, they uncovered where and how thick the hidden sediment layer must be to explain the delays in seismic readings.
The interview was unfolding exactly as Dr Zahi Hawass had intended, right up until one question changed everything.

The famed Egyptologist, whom Joe Rogan once dubbed his 'worst guest ever' after a notoriously combative podcast appearance, had agreed to an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail to promote his new documentary, 'The Man with the Hat.'

The film chronicles his storied career and teases what he described as the discovery of a previously unknown pyramid and four tunnels underneath the Great Sphinx.

'I think the pyramid was for a king named Huni,' Hawass said. 'That is the only king in the Old Kingdom who has not been found.' The documentary will be released on January 20.

But when asked about the controversial claims of structures beneath Giza, Hawass's mood shifted almost instantly, from confident authority to visible irritation.

In March 2025, a team of Italian researchers released satellite images that appeared to show massive vertical shafts plunging more than 2,000 feet beneath the Khafre pyramid, one of the three iconic structures on the Giza plateau.

The Giza complex consists of three pyramids, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, and the Great Sphinx. Each pyramid was built in the name of a pharaoh around 4,500 years ago.

'If you make a discovery, you cannot announce it without discussing it with Egyptologists,' Hawass said, insisting that such claims violate what he called 'a law for everyone.'

At the mention of the Italian researchers' satellite images, which captured enormous shafts beneath the Giza Plateau, Hawass's tone hardened. 'Completely wrong,' and with that, he slammed the door on the conversation.

With the impatience of a man who believed the matter had been settled, he delivered the final dismissal. 'I think you asked all the questions,' Hawass said. 'There are no more questions that you can ask now.'

Famed Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass sat down with Daily Mail to discuss his new documentary, but the conversation took a turn when another discovery was brought up

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Rogan's podcast suffered a similar dramatic turn when he asked Hawass about the discovery from the Italian researchers.

Hawass joined Rogan in May 2025 to promote his new book and discuss recent developments in Egyptology.

While the conversation began cordially, things shifted when Rogan brought up the satellite images.

'I investigated this,' Hawass said firmly. 'No one can tell you this is accurate. I asked every person who knows about radar and ultrasound, everyone who works with me. They said, 'This is bulls***. It cannot happen at all.'

Rogan then pressed him: 'Do you understand the technology behind the satellite imaging?' Hawass admitted he did not. 'I'm not a scientist,' he said.

Speaking with football star Aaron Rodgers a week later, Rogan said: 'That might have been the worst podcast I have ever done, but maybe a good one too.

'Just to see this close-minded fellow that's been in charge of gatekeeping all the knowledge about Egypt.'

The showdown with Daily Mail came after Hawass raised his own Sphinx excavations, insisting there was 'something hidden underneath' the iconic structure.

'The Sphinx is solid rock,' he told The Daily Mail. 'We have been excavating, and I found four tunnels inside the Sphinx. But all the tunnels that have been found until now were opened by people in 500 BC.'

Daily Mail then steered the conversation toward the Italian team's sensational claims of massive shafts beneath the Sphinx.

Join the debate Should controversial discoveries about Egypt's past be shared openly, or kept under expert control?

Daily Mail asked Hawass his take on the possible discovery of shafts beneath the Giza Plateau, which was announced by Italian researchers in March 2025. Here are scans of what the shafts under the hafre Pyramid

Joe Rogan had Zahi Hawass on his podcast last year, where the archaeologist appeared combative when asked about the possibility of structures beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids

'Speaking about things that are underneath the Sphinx, I know you've been involved in this discussion about the possibility or claims that there are structures beneath the Giza plateau,' the interviewer began, only for Hawass to interrupt and end the line of questioning.

'There were two Italians, and they used topographic radar,' the Egyptologist said, referring to Filippo Biondi and Armando Mei.

'They claim it reaches more than 1,000 feet down to a city. But any scientist who understands tomographic radar knows it only reaches about 60 feet. Their theory is completely wrong.'

Then, as if dismissing the entire field of speculation as childish fantasy, Hawass mocked the idea that anything could exist at that depth at all.

'Even if you bring aliens to work under the Sphinx,' he said, 'they will not be able to do that.'

Researchers believe there are other structures reaching more than 4,000 feet below the surface. The scans captured structures extend along the northern side with a tuning fork shape

When pressed on whether he had spoken to the Italian team, Hawass said he had not, and that he did not need to.

He argued that if they were 'good scientists,' they would have contacted Egyptian authorities before going public.

He repeatedly returned to the same point: Egyptologists must be consulted before any claims are made, and the data must be shared with the Egyptian government first.

Hawass reiterated his main technical critique: the scans simply could not penetrate that far.

Filippo Biondi (left), Armando Mei (center) and Corrado Malanga took the world by storm when they announced the discovery of shafts and chambers more than 2,000 feet below the surface.

Hawass slammed the team for not coming to him with their discovery below Egypt's Giza pyramids

'Tomographic radar can show only 15 meters under the ground, not 600 feet,' he said.

Daily Mail's Stacy Liberatore interviewed Zahi Hawass

Biondi, who specializes in radar technology, told Daily Mail: 'Most [people are] convinced that we are using radar to scan below the earth [and] that is completely false.'

He explained that the radar waves were not used to 'see' underground directly, but were instead analyzed for Doppler centroid abnormalities, shifts or distortions in the frequency of the returned signal that can indicate underground structures or changes.

Biondi added that the team deployed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), a remote-sensing technique that uses radar pulses from satellites to create high-resolution images of the Earth's surface.

SAR satellites orbit roughly 372 miles above the ground, and they build detailed imagery by combining multiple radar 'pings' as the satellite moves.

By analyzing Doppler anomalies in the synthetic radar data, the Italian researchers said they can extract acoustic information from the Earth, similar to how a microphone captures sound waves.

'With a historical record of the Earth's acoustic data, we can apply a technique called tomographic inversion, which is based on the Fourier transform,' Biondi said.

'This allows us to create detailed scans of subsurface structures.'

Daily Mail attempted to ask Hawass about the scans showing giant shafts descending from the three Giza pyramids and the Great Sphinx, but was again abruptly cut short.

'I told you tomographic radar can show only 49 feet under the ground, not 600 feet under the ground,' the Egyptologist said harshly.
With just two weeks to go until February, many families will be looking ahead to half-term and planning staycations to make the most of their time off together.

The short break between school terms is the perfect time to explore the UK, with plenty of spots boasting milder weather and no crowds during this season.

In fact, what might take your fancy is travelling the length and breadth of Wales.

In its ranking of the best things to do around the UK in 2026, Time Out has named exploring the Celtic country by train as one of the top three experiences for this year.

And the best news is that seeing the land of castles and dragons doesn't have to break the bank.

The Explore Wales Pass gives holders unlimited train travel across Wales for four days within an eight-day period, costing 149 for adults and 74.50 for children.

It also offers visitors unlimited bus journeys across all eight days.

As for things to do in Wales, the options are endless.

Travelling the breadth of Wales rounds off the top three of the 16 best new things to do in the UK in 2026. Pictured: The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales

A train passes over the Barmouth Bridge, a historic single-track wooden railway viaduct across the estuary of the River Mawddach near Barmouth, Wales

Barafundle Bay (pictured) is often described as having 'views reminiscent of the Caribbean'

From Barafundle Bay, which is often described as having 'views reminiscent of the Caribbean', to Glamorgan, there are plenty of beautiful spots to explore in Wales.

The Chester to Llandudno train journey was rated the third most scenic train journey under 10.

A coastal classic, leaving Chester's historic centre, the line follows the North Wales shoreline.

Llandudno is the final destination, with its grand Victorian promenade, pier, and the Great Orme.

It's one of the easiest ways to get a bit of seaside charm in a weekend without committing to a long journey.

Cardiff is a popular spot for tourists with a boat trip to Cardiff Bay being a must-do activity.

For Gavin and Stacey fans, Barry Island is just a 25-minute train journey away.

The unsuspecting Welsh seaside town has seen a huge tourism boost thanks to the series, with official tours taking guests to filming locations like the Pleasure Park and Marco's Cafe.

Cardiff is a popular spot for tourists with a boat trip to Cardiff Bay (pictured) being a must-do activity

Portmeirion is a tourist village in North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village

The travel experts at Time Out wrote: 'Obviously, there are hundreds of different ways you could use the pass.

'You may want to stay within one particular region of the country or use it to travel as far and wide as you can in the given period.

'A 20-minute train ride from Cardiff Central will take you to the town of Caerphilly, which is home to one of our other best things to do this year.

'From there, you could hop on train heading north to spend a while in Time Outs second most underrated destination in Europe, Machynlleth.

'Alternatively, you could use the pass to get to the mesmerising island of Anglesey or the whimsical folly town of Portmeirion, both of which appear on Time Outs roundup of the UKs best places to visit in 2026.

'If you happen to be in Wales in August, you could use your pass to take the train to Pembrokeshire and celebrate 850 years of the National Eisteddfod, a huge week-long festival of Welsh food, drink, music, art, language and culture.'

The Explore Wales Pass can be purchased from the Tfw website, their app, station ticket offices or from a conductor on board.
Each year, thousands of Brits flock to a variety of lively European destinations for their stag and hen dos.

While warmer destinations across Spain, Portugal and Malta draw these pre-wedding parties with sun, sea and beachside cocktails, Central and Eastern European cities such as Budapest and Prague, offer vibrant nightlife at a lower cost.

But, according to new booking data from UK wedding travel specialists, StagWeb and GoHen, a standout destination has emerged, highlighting a clear shift in British party travel.

Thanks to its reliable nightlife, affordable accommodation, and a solid infrastructure for group tourism, Benidorm has been named the number one destination in Europe for British stag and hen parties in 2026.

The Costa Blanca resort has surged ahead of has long-established favourites including Amsterdam, Barcelona and Prague, with tens of thousands of British groups set to travel to Benidorm for stag and hen dos this year.

And with an average seven-night stay at a three star hotel costing as little as 365, it's no surprise it's become a go-to destination for pre-wedding celebrations.

Albufeira, a coastal city in Portugal's Algarve region, falls in second place, followed by Dublin in third place.

The Irish capital is renowned for its pub culture and buzzing nightlife, with Bachelors Way being a prime spot for stag and hen parties, offering easy access to popular venues such as Temple Bar, O'Connell's Bar and Fitzgerald's.

New booking data from UK wedding travel specialists, StagWeb and GoHen highlights a standout destination for British stag and hen groups: Benidorm (pictured)

The Costa Blanca resort has surged ahead of has long-established favourites thanks to its reliable nightlife, affordable accommodation, and a solid infrastructure for group tourism

Tens of thousands of British groups set to travel to Benidorm for stag and hen dos in 2026

As for Albufeira, groups can relax on its stunning beaches and explore its Old Town during the day, before hitting 'The Strip' - the official party hub of the Algarve boasting 30 neon-lit bars and clubs - after dusk.

Other destinations listed in the top ten include Tenerife, Marbella, Barcelona, Ibiza, Lisbon, Amsterdam and Budapest.

The findings show that although cities such as Amsterdam and Prague have long-dominated the UK stag and hen market, warmer resort destinations that can accommodate large groups have taken over.

According to industry experts, rising costs and tighter restrictions across select European cities have contributed to the shift, with British travellers now seeking out destinations that allow them to stay longer, do more and avoid complications.

As for Spain, stag and hen groups are quietly ditching Barcelona - traditionally a favourite - for alternative Spanish destinations that offer flexibility for accommodation and organised group activities.

Jon Stanier, Creative Director at StagWeb and GoHen, commented: 'We're seeing a very clear change in behaviour.

'British stag and hen groups are being far more selective about where they go. Theyre choosing destinations where they know large groups are catered for and right now, Benidorm is leading the way by a significant margin.'

It comes as British tourists - including those on stag and hen dos - are being urged to check the rules before heading off on holiday to Spain.

In second place is Albufeira, followed by Dublin (pictured) in third place

In the Irish capital, Bachelors Way has become a prime spot for stag and hen parties, offering easy access to venues such as Temple Bar, O'Connell's Bar and Fitzgerald's

Most Popular European Stag & Hen Destinations for 2026 As revealed by StagWeb and GoHen Benidorm Albufeira Dublin Tenerife Marbella Barcelona Ibiza Lisbon Amsterdam Budapest Advertisement

From drinking in public to wearing a raunchy outfit on the street, there are a few ways that Brits could get caught out this summer.

Chris Harrington, managing director at hoppa, says: 'Spain is introducing a new wave of travel regulations in 2025, following record-breaking visitor numbers.

'These new regulations have been put in place to manage mass tourism and public behaviour, and are extremely important to follow.

'Failure to comply with new regulations can lead to holidaymakers being charged hundreds of euros, with more serious offences potentially incurring fines between 1,500/1,279 and 3,000/2,558.'
The hunt for 'authentic' travel is becoming more and more pressing, with many destinations becoming more of a tourist trap than a genuine experience.

A new study has revealed which global destinations offer the most authentic local travel experiences - and which are the worst culprits for gimmicky, overpriced attractions.

InsureandGo trawled through 1.3 million Google Maps reviews, searching for the number of people who used words like local and authentic, and found where had the least complaints about it being too touristy.

The insurance company used these findings to reveal the top 10 authentic destinations in Europe.

Topping the list is Marseille in France.

Although it's perhaps not the first French location that springs to mind, it's still a valid and exciting city.

Nine other cities made the list - here's the full rundown...

Marseille, France

City of Marseille harbour and Notre Dame de la Garde church on the hill

Marseille's working-port neighbourhoods feel lived-in rather than curated for tourists.

This offers visitors a genuine insight into what life is like for locals in one of France's most multicultural centres.

Unlike more tourist-filled hubs in the country, Marseille is a great place to go for a truly authentic French experience.

Warsaw, Poland

The castle square in Warsaw overlooking the Old Town in spring

In Poland, Warsaws blend of modern culture, due to rebuilding after World War II, and conscious preservation of tradition, helps it rank second place in Europes most authentic cities.

Warsaws reconstructed Old Town contributes to its score.

Travellers here often report feeling like they are getting a true sense of what its like to live there, as they explore its narrow, cobbled streets.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Historical center of old Tbilisi, with baths and Juma mosque, in Georgia

Rounding out the top three is Tbilisi in Georgia.

Tbilisis wine bars, sulphur baths and distinctive architecture contribute to its overall beauty and authentic appeal.

The citys centuries-old winemaking and neighbourhood bakeries serving fresh khachapuri also come together to create experiences that feel genuinely Georgian.

Porto, Portugal

Views of the city of Porto in the summer, a popular Portuguese destination

Portos riverside neighbourhoods help cement its reputation for authenticity among other European hotspots.

Port wine lodges and azulejo-covered buildings give visitors what they feel represents a true slice of northern Portuguese life.

It's a great place to taste Portuguese food and drink, too - as well as explore its beautiful views.

Lyon, France

The city of Lyon draws in travellers looking for both beauty and authenticity

France is well represented in the list, with Lyon also ranking within the European top five authentic cities.

Known for its historic districts, it has one of the lowest tourist trap rates in the report.

This makes it easy to feel like you are experiencing the city in a true-to-life way.

Vilnius City Old Town at sunset in Lithuania, a cheap travel spot

Lithuanian capital Vilnius was found to have the lowest price for a two-night trip for two people out of 15 European destinations analysed by Post Office Travel Money, it was recently revealed.

Low prices make it appealing as a destination - as does the city's authentic appeal.

With a beautiful old town and history to explore, it's a great way to avoid overtourism.

Gdansk, Poland

Gdansk is a favourite of travellers seeking genuinely good-value city breaks

The Polish city of Gdansk is a port city located on the Baltic Sea.

It is famous for its meticulously reconstructed Old Town - as well as its deep history.

It's full of attractions to see - and, most significantly, retains an authentic Polish atmosphere for holidaymakers seeking a more authentic travel experience.

Naples, Italy

Naples and its harbour with a view of Mount Vesuvius in the background

Naples is far from an unheard-of gem: it's one of the best places in the world for authentic Italian food.

It's also full of history and true Italian culture, bringing it into the top 10.

Naples is a chaotic Italian city offering an unfiltered cultural experience - filled with pizza and lots of noise.

Frankfurt, Germany

The skyline of Frankfurt, with Eiserner Steg Bridge and a church

Some German cities are popular with tourists, and Frankfurt is a great place to go if you want to sample the best of its culture.

Taste Apfelwein (apple wine), cheese and meat, delicacies that give a real taste of Germany.

No authentic Frankfurt trip is complete without tasting its its famous sausages.

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Lake Bled island, set against the magnificent mountainous views

The Top 10 Most Authentic Destinations in Europe Marseille, France Warsaw, Poland Tbilisi, Georgia Porto, Portugal Lyon, France Vilnius, Lithuania Gdansk, Poland Naples, Italy Frankfurt, Germany Lake Bled, Slovenia Advertisement

Slovenia isn't the first place that comes to mind when planning a trip for many of us - but that's a mistake.

The stunning Lake Bled, located in the Julian Alps, Slovenia, is famous for its fairytale scenery.

It's easily accessible from the country's capital Ljubljana, and offers a deeply authentic Slovenian experience.

Letitia Smith, head of communications at InsureandGo, said: 'With overtourism rife around the world, travellers are increasingly seeking more authentic experiences when they head abroad.

'From sampling local foods to meeting locals and understanding different cultures, it's these more genuine moments that stand out and make a trip feel more meaningful.

'Our authenticity index looks at real reviews from tourist attractions and eateries around the world, to pinpoint the cities where travellers are most and least likely to find these kinds of experiences.'
Thousands of Brits relocate for a life Down Under each year, chasing dreams of great weather and endless days spent on the beach.

One Brit, Luke Tweddle, has spent almost three years living in Australia with his girlfriend and shared a review of his experience on YouTube.

He highlighted plenty of positives from his time living in the dreamy country, including benefiting from high wages and not having any issues finding work.

Luke also gushed over how friendly and 'chill' Aussies are, as well as how 'respectful' they are of their country and public spaces.

The great weather and relaxed lifestyle were other pros Luke has enjoyed, and he explains, 'It goes without saying, it is unbelievable the lifestyle in Australia, genuinely better than anywhere I've been over the last couple of years'.

For the Brit, getting out and about in the morning has been fun and is a major lifestyle aspect he has benefited from

Luke says, 'I love the early morning culture, getting out first thing in the morning, doing things before and after work.'

He has lived in a range of places across the country including Perth, Adelaide and Sydney and along the way enjoyed the 'amazing scenery' on his doorstep.

One Brit, Luke Tweddle (pictured), has spent almost three years living in Australia with his girlfriend and shared a review of his experience

The great weather and relaxed lifestyle were other pros Luke has enjoyed, as well as the local people

However, after nearly three years in Australia, Luke admits he plans to return to the UK with is girlfriend and is looking forward to being back with friends and family.

Despite all the positives, his time in the far away country hasn't always been great.

In particular, Luke has not enjoyed being 'so far from friends and family' and really felt the distance after a couple of years.

'The third year in Australia, you have a great time but you've got to start thinking a little bit more about life, about the future. Your first and third year are very different,' Luke explains.

He admits that at first, the distance isn't as noticeable, but after a few years 'that's when you start to feel it a lot more'.

'You'll only know the feeling if you've lived abroad for so long,' Luke adds, revealing he feels 'disconnected' from people at home.

The location and set up of Australia as a country is another issue Luke struggles with.

It is relatively far away from a lot of destinations and the 'isolation' is something he has felt strongly.

However, after nearly three years in Australia, Luke admits he plans to return to the UK with is girlfriend and is looking forward to being back with friends and family

'It is quite a mad thing to get your head around, as a Brit,' Luke says.

But overall, Luke wants to enjoy his last year in Australia with his girlfriend without worrying about Visas and finding permanent work.

They are both ready to be closer to their loved ones, and Luke explains how they were never '100 per cent' on staying in the country despite all the positives.

'All of our friends, all of our family and everyone is back home, which does make staying quite difficult,' Luke adds.
A traveller has shared his experience in a country that 'no one knows exists'.

Daniel Pinto visited Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region located inside of Uzbekistan - and said 'most people have never heard of it'.

He shared details of the area, saying: 'It's like a country that's not really a country located inside another country.'

Daniel posted footage of his visit online, explaining how Karakalpakstan has its own ethnic group, culture and even language.

The video, shared by @dnzh.travels on Instagram, is captioned: 'Welcome to the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, a place that took me a VERY long time to pronounce correctly.

'This place is super interesting with their our own culture, language, and traditions, making it feel like you are in your in an independent country.

'Except you are not. You are just in the far west of Uzbekistan!'

Daniel says in the video: 'If you know me, you know I love these obscure places, so I've come to visit for myself.'

Muhammad Imam Iyshan Mosque in the centre of Nukus city, Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan

Ruins of ancient Ayaz-Kala Fortress in the Kyzylkum desert, Karakalpakstan

For just $20 (15), he gets a small twin hotel room.

On his first morning, he explores the city, describing the roads as 'very Soviet, very quiet'.

He orders Laghman for breakfast, a typical noodle dish in the region, and Uzbek bread.

Daniel then explores further, saying: 'Welcome to the city centre of Nukus.'

He points out both the Uzbek and Karakalpakstan flags in the central area.

He adds: 'There's not much going on in this old little Soviet town. I can see this place being quite vibey at night, but during the day, nothing going on.'

After this visit he takes a sleeper train to Khiva, a historic city in Uzbekistan.

Viewers took to the comments to share their thoughts on the video, which racked up 1,600 likes.

Nukus Art Museum or Savitsky Museum in the centre of Nukus city, Karakalpakstan

One wrote: 'The Nukus Art Museum is widely recognised as one of the top art museums in the world.'

Another added: 'Looks like a nice quiet city with no crime.'

A third said: 'Those countries are beautiful I wish I could go they seem very hard to get into.'

A fourth chimed in: 'Visited in 2019. I hope you got to see the rusting ruins of ships in the middle of the desert in Moynaq. Difficult to get to but quite the experience.'
Hordes of Brits relocate to dreamy destinations abroad every year, hoping to escape the rain and grey skies that are often seen in the UK.

January in particular seems to be a popular month for moving away, with many reflecting on their goals for the new year.

Removal company 1st Move International have experienced a 70 per cent surge in the first two weeks of January for the past four years, compared to the final two weeks of December.

As festivities wind down and reality hits, many Brits seem to seek to find a new life overseas during this time.

Managing director Mike Harvey shared his take on the trend, commenting on how 'real plans' kick often into action in January.

'Every January we see a real surge in enquiries, and it's not just about chasing sunshine,' he said.

'After the festive period, a lot of people start reflecting on the past year, feeling the winter blues, or thinking about their finances after Christmas.'

According to Mike, many Brits are searching for a new lifestyle, a lower cost of living and even career opportunities.

Removal company 1st Move International have experienced a 70 per cent surge in the first two weeks of January for the past four years, compared to the final two weeks of December (stock)

As for where Brits are heading to, America came first, with many seeking different opportunities, landscapes and all without having to learn a new language

He added: 'The destinations people enquire about really show this mix, the US, Australia, and the UAE have been our top three since 2022, with Brits clearly looking for a balance of work prospects, lifestyle, and long-term stability.

'For a lot of people, January is the moment when a vague idea of moving abroad suddenly becomes a real plan.'

As for where Brits are heading to, the moving company revealed the top destinations Brits enquired about relocating to in 2025.

USA came first, with many seeking different opportunities, landscapes and all without having to learn a new language.

Australia ranked second, drawing in Brits with its great weather, lush beaches and a relaxed lifestyle.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates placed third in the relocation rankings.

It was followed by Canada, South Africa, Cyprus, New Zealand, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Malta rounding off the top ten.

However, the grass might not always be greener elsewhere.

Australia ranked second, drawing in Brits with its great weather, lush beaches and relaxed lifestyle

The top destinations Brits enquired about moving to in 2025 USA Australia United Arab Emirates Canada South Africa Cyprus New Zealand Singapore Saudi Arabia Malta Advertisement

A British girl called Emily relocated with her family to Florida last year and opened up about her experience in a TikTok video on her account, @brits.inthesunshinestate.

The first aspect about life in the States that Emily isn't a fan of is the 'public bathroom stalls'.

'The doors have a gap probably like that either side, you can see straight through them and if you are sat in the toilet or if you are over by washing your hands, you can see the reflection in the mirror, you can see people moving, you can see people's clothes,' she explained. 'I don't like it, I don't like the lack of privacy.'

Few people seem to use WhatsApp in America, from Emily's experience, and text instead which she described as 'old school'.

Another issue the Brit has noticed since moving is how 'wild' drivers in Florida apparently are.

'They are aggressive, in time I will get used to it but for now it's still a little bit crazy,' she added.
A seasoned commercial pilot has revealed why airlines are enforcing stricter rules on luggage, with changes relating mainly to weight limits, safety and keeping flights on schedule.

As more airlines set rigid rules on carry-on limits, Natasha Heap, a former pilot with 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, has explained why there are different rules for different carriers - and why too much cabin baggage is a real safety concern.

It comes as Virgin Australia passengers will be limited to one standard-sized piece of luggage for the overhead locker, weighing up to 8kg, as of February 2, 2026. A small, personal under-seat bag will also be permitted.

Elsewhere across the world, airlines continue to tweak their carry-on luggage rules.

In January 2025, Air Canada restricted its Economy Basic fare to just one under-seat item for flights within Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, removing the standard carry-on bag.

Meanwhile, budget airline Jetstar offers a 7kg carry-on allowance for basic fares, split between one larger item for the overhead locker and one smaller item designed to go under the seat in front.

But what determines how individual airlines set their own bag and weight limits?

According to Heap, each aircraft has a strict maximum take-off weight, which includes the weight of the plane, fuel, food and drink supplies, cargo, the weight of pilots and the crew, and the weight of passengers and their baggage.

Natasha Heap, a former pilot with 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, reveals why airlines are enforcing stricter rules on luggage

While budget airline Jetstar offers a 7kg carry-on allowance for basic fares, Virgin Australia is set to limit passengers to one standard-sized bag for the overhead locker, weighing up to 8kg

But as the average weight of passengers has increased over the years, it means airlines have had to tweak the maximum weight of carry-on bags as a result.

Writing for the Independent, she explained: 'At the start of my flying career in 1998, the regulated standard weight for passengers flying in Australia was 77kg per person.

'For planes with a maximum seating capacity of 150-299 seats, like a Boeing 737, the current standard weight of an adult male passenger is assumed to be 81.8kg, while its 66.7kg for adult women.

'Then the standard weight for carry-on baggage is 7kg per passenger.'

However, individual airlines are permitted to seek approval for their own passenger and cabin baggage weights, which is then approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. This allows different airlines to have different rules around cabin baggage.

In addition, the rise of budget airlines has made carry-on rules inconsistent and stricter.

Low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air, might offer seats at a bargain price, but passengers are commonly expected to fork out extra for carry-on luggage, in-flight WiFi and food and drink.

The former pilot also says heavier and oversized carry-on bags often cause delays during boarding when there is not enough space in overhead lockers.

According to the former pilot, heavier and oversized carry-on bags often cause delays during boarding

Cabin crew can also be injured when lifting heavy luggage from the overhead cabin

In many cases, bags must be removed and placed in the aircraft hold, slowing departures.

The former pilot also highlighted safety concerns for cabin crew, who can be injured when lifting heavy luggage, as well as risks posed by crowded cabins during emergency situations.

With air travel continuing to increase, airlines are enforcing stricter luggage limits to reduce delays, protect staff and ensure aircraft are properly loaded.

While the rules may frustrate passengers, Heap said they are necessary to keep flights operating safely and on time.
With monetary pressures rising, many travellers are looking for ways to explore the UK without the financial strain.

Train travel in particular has become a focus for those seeking lower-cost alternatives to long-distance holidays.

Yet despite rising fares, new analysis suggests that a single 20 note can still stretch remarkably far.

Research from Split My Fare, a platform specialising in split-ticketing technology, shows that several long-distance day trips remain accessible for under 20 return.

This offers a surprisingly rich range of destinations for those travelling from Britain's major cities.

Pete Walls, co-founder of Split My Fare, says the findings highlight a growing appetite for more mindful, local exploration.

'People are increasingly interested in affordable day trips and slower forms of travel,' he explains.

'With the right booking approach, it's still possible to reach historic towns, cultural centres and coastal locations without spending more than 20.'

Travelling from London, you can get pretty far for under 20

Using real ticket data, the analysis mapped the furthest destinations that can be reached for under 20 return from key cities.

From London, the furthest option is Stoke-on-Trent (217 miles, 18 return).

Other lengthy distances from the capital include Norwich (158 miles, 15.90 return), Stratford-upon-Avon (133 miles, 11.60 return) and, the cheapest on the list, Oxford (82 miles, 8.60 return).

Meanwhile, cheap travel spots from Manchester are available.

You could head to Stoke-on-Trent for 7.15 return (53 miles from Manchester).

Other cheap options include Harrogate (72 miles, 14 return), Leeds (57 miles, 13.55 return) and Sheffield (52 miles, 16.12 return).

From Birmingham, the furthest sub-20 destination you could head to is London 163 miles away, for 13.60 return.

You can also get to Banbury (60 miles, 16.40 return), Stoke-on-Trent (60 miles, 14.70 return) and Great Malvern (50 miles, 14 return).

From London, the furthest destination is Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire

The furthest you can get from Leeds under this budget is Manchester - 57 miles, for 8.75 return.

For less than 20 from Glasgow, the furthest is Edinburgh, 67 miles away for 11.15 return.

And from Cardiff to Llanelli is 71 miles (19.90 return).

The findings also revealed several unexpected routes from smaller or regional stations that offer particularly good value.

This includes Nottingham to Hebden Bridge, 4 return, and Sheffield to Filey for the same price.

The approach hinges on split-ticketing, which divides a journey into smaller, separate fares while remaining on the same train.

The technique has grown sharply in popularity over the past decade.

For many, these journeys also tap into a broader trend towards slow, experiential travel.

Other lengthy distances from the capital include the city of Norwich

Rather than booking city breaks abroad, travellers are increasingly choosing nearby destinations reachable within two hours.

In particular, they opt for those with distinctive cultural, historical or natural features.

Pete says: 'Split-ticketing is no longer just a commuter hack.

'It's becoming a practical way for people to plan meaningful leisure travel at a lower cost.'
Peaceful beaches and lush landscapes are common sights across the Scottish coastline.

But ferry routes to the Small Isles offer even more breath-taking views of natural beauty.

The four islands, Canna, Rum, Muck, and Eigg, form part of the Inner Hebrides and those keen to check out the amazing wildlife and scenery can hop on a ferry.

There are various routes around the archipelago available to take and they have been described as particularly beautiful.

Ferries depart from Mallaig, a mainland town in the Highlands, and visit each of the islands.

The journeys are available to book with Caledonian MacBrayne ferries (CalMac).

Winter prices start from 5.25 for an adult ticket from Mallaig to Eigg, while a return costs 10.50.

Mallaig to Rum comes to 5.80, Mallaig to Muck costs 6.05 and a trip to Canna costs 7.10. The prices are valid until March 26, 2026.

The four islands, Canna, Rum, Muck, and Eigg, form part of the Inner Hebrides and those keen to check out the amazing wildlife and scenery can hop on a ferry

Ferries depart from Mallaig, a mainland town in the Highlands, and visit each of the islands

One travel enthusiast who goes by @thechaoticscot on TikTok, shared her experience of the route to the Isle of Muck.

She described her trip as 'the most spectacular ferry journey in the whole of Scotland'.

The staff on board the ship were the 'loveliest and friendliest crew,' according to the travel content creator.

She was also able to enjoy the outdoor seating on the deck and some amazing views.

From the ferry, Kay saw 'lush landscapes and remote beaches of mountainous Rum' as well as the 'peaceful shores and cliffs of Canna'.

Her journey took over five hours and stopped of at Canna and Rum during the route.

If a picturesque Scottish island appeals to you, one went up for sale last year for as little as 120,000.

Gasker Island stretches about 70 acres and boasts a rocky coastline, fertile grassland, many lochans - small freshwater lakes - as well as a seal colony.

Winter prices start from 5.25 for an adult ticket from Mallaig to Eigg, while a return costs 10.50

Currently the only property on the island is a small, unmanned lighthouse, owned and maintained periodically by the Northern Lighthouse Board, the general lighthouse authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Situated five miles away from the nearest inhabited island and 75 miles from any train station the home could be paradise for an introvert.

However, it does still remain an inhospitable place to reach.

It has tide conditions often hindering travel to the island - and no amenities.
The Night Manager (BBC1)

Rating:

That fruity, arrogant drawl, dripping with sadism and selfloathing, is electrifying. But the return of Richard Roper highlights just what The Night Manager has been missing.

Arms dealer Roper, played with a pulsating aura of evil by Hugh Laurie, reappeared at the climax of last week's episode, after we last saw him in a Syrian morgue with what looked like a bullethole in his head.

Although Laurie has been granted Executive Producer status on the show, I feared his character might be confined to cameo appearances. But now he's back, he's dominating the story, his malign and intimidating presence palpable even when he is not on screen.

Mocking an old friend over his divorce, he purred, 'If I had a heart, it would surely bleed.'

It takes exceptional charisma to deliver a line like that without sounding petty or embittered.

That is what has been absent so far from this sequel to the first series from 2016. We had a bonus, too, with the return of Olivia Colman as retired MI6 chief Angela Burr, who admitted she helped Roper fake his own death.

Arms dealer Roper (pictured), played with a pulsating aura of evil by Hugh Laurie, reappeared at the climax of last week's episode of The Night Manager, after we last saw him in a Syrian morgue with what looked like a bullethole in his head

The show's hero, maverick spy Jonathan Pine (played by actor Tom Hiddleston)

If she had refused, she insisted, in a fraught and foulmouthed outburst of selfjustification, he would have killed her and her child.

Everyone moves in terror of Roper. His illegitimate son, Teddy (Diego Calva), is a drugs smuggler and gang boss with serious political influence in Colombia, where Roper now lives in hiding.

But Teddy becomes a child around his father. He even hovers at the bedroom door, afraid to bring in Roper's morning coffee, for fear of waking him.

I was struck by how writer David Farr revealed Roper's animalistic survival instincts.

Asleep and with his back to Teddy, he nevertheless sensed the young man was watching him.

Then he paced the room, sniffing the air, still conscious of being observed... while the show's hero, maverick spy Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), stood half a mile away with a pair of binoculars.

Biologist Dr Rupert Sheldrake argued a powerful case in the Daily Mail last year, providing copious evidence that humans possess a sixth sense to warn when we are being watched.

Many scientists are sceptical but it's telling that, when we see the instinct at work in a drama, we don't question it. This primitive intuition is what has kept Roper alive so long.

Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) and Teddy (Diego Calva), who Christopher Stevens describes as a 'drugs smuggler and gang boss with serious political influence in Colombia, where Roper now lives in hiding'

(L-R) Camila Morrone, Hugh Laurie, Simon Corwell, Tom Hiddleston, Diego Calva, Stephen Garrett, David Farr and Victoria Brooks attend 'The Night Manager' season two UK premiere in December 2025

My own instincts struggle to believe in the gay frisson between Pine and Teddy. They danced together in a steamy pas de trois with gangster's moll Roxana (Camila Morrone).

Later, they both hesitated to shoot at each other during a gun battle. I find it hard to believe in any real physical attraction between them, however convenient it is to the plot.

But that's a detail. Now that Richard Roper's back, all I want to know is: who will he destroy to save himself? And will he get away with it again?
An Antiques Roadshow guest issued an apology for 'nearly swearing' after discovering the eye-watering value of her jewellery collection.

Fiona Bruce and the team headed to Cromford Mills in Derbyshire to uncover new treasures.

In particular, one guest brought along a set of gold and silver jewellery pieces, among them a brooch and a bracelet.

She showed off this collection to Joanna Hardy, one of the experts on the BBC show.

Joanna said: 'My goodness. My heart jumped when I saw these pieces.'

The guest shared she had purchased the first piece 35 years ago, admitting: 'I just thought it was diamantes and posh costume jewellery.'

An Antiques Roadshow guest apologised for 'nearly swearing' after discovering the value of what she'd brought in

The visitor showed her impressive jewellery collection to Joanna Hardy, an expert on the BBC show

Meanwhile, the guest revealed she had purchased the first piece 35 years ago - but believed it to be 'costume jewellery'

In addition, the jewellery also bore the name of sculptor George Weil inscribed on them.

While the guest shared she had paid 'quite a lot' for the set, around 1,500 altogether - she was gobsmacked to learn the valuation.

Discussing one of the items, Joanna said: 'Well I think today they would be around 15,000.'

The guest replied: 'Oh never,' as her mouth dropped and she added: 'Sorry I nearly swore' before covering her mouth.

Joanna went on: 'You've got this brooch here, that's going to be between 5,000 and 7,000,' as the guest replied: 'Never!'

It was revealed another brooch would fetch for 3,000 and 5,000, while a ring would get 2,500.

Overall, this made the total amount for the collection ultimately end up as an incredible 25,000.

Elsewhere, another episode of the BBC show saw a guest amazed to learn the eye-watering value of her soup bowls - as their 'amazing' history was revealed.

It came as the BBC show paid a visit to Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing, West London.

One of the visitors brought along the pair of soup bowls, along with a painting, for valuation.

In another episode, a guest was astonished to discover the eye-watering value of her soup bowls

The guest's grandfather was Reginald Skelton, one of the first officers of the first major Scottish expedition to the Antarctic.

Furthermore, the painting depicted Antarctica, as painted by the artist Edward Wilson.

The soup bowls came from the expedition itself, with expert Fuschia Voremberg offering her assessment of them.

She said: 'These soup bowls are so fun, and they're actually made by Royal Doulton as you can see on the crest on the back.'

Fuschia added: 'This is the actual china that the officers would've eaten their soup out of.

'But anyway, let's take a look at this painting, I think the colours are amazing.'

Upon valuing the items, Fuschia said: 'These soup bowls, I'm going to give them a value of 3,500 each.

'And this painting, which is so lovely and has a really nice inscription on the back from Wilson to your grandfather, I'm going to give that a value of 7,000. How do you feel about that?'

The guest replied: 'A bit astonished, quite honestly. I've never really sort of thought about value.

'And certainly we would never sell them. They'll just go down through the family.'

Antiques Roadshow airs Sundays on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
The line-up of the upcoming series of The Apprentice has finally been revealed.

Lord Sugar, 78, Baroness Karren Brady, 56, and Tim Campbell, 48, will be back on our screens very soon to help guide the 20 new candidates in the upcoming business tasks.

2026 marks the 20th series of the much-loved show, and while usually 18 budding entrepreneurs take part, this year, 20 will battle it out for the top spot instead.

At the end of the series, one of the contestants will get their hands on an incredible 250,000 and a business deal with Lord Sugar himself.

There is a real mixed bag of entrepreneurs taking part this year, with the likes of a pantomime actress, RAF gunner and a beauty mogul battling it out to be crowned winner.

This time around they'll jet off to Hong Kong for one of the most ambitious opening tasks in the show's history.

But who will rise to the top of the boardroom and blitz through this series' legendary interviews? Only time will tell...

The line-up of the upcoming series of The Apprentice has FINALLY been revealed

Andrea Cooper

Andrea Cooper, from Barnsley, is one of the contestants taking part in the show this year

Occupation: Owner of a lettings agency

From: Barnsley, south Yorkshire

Business plan: to build on her property lettings agency

When asked what makes her a unique candidate, Andrea said: 'I am 46 , mother of five, grandmother of one and manage and run effectively two businesses in Barnsley.

'I successfully achieved a midwifery first class honours degree when I was 40, whilst juggling two businesses and running a family.

'I am hard working, resilient and will give anything a go.'

Carrington Saunders

Carrington is the owner of an online loungewear business

Occupation: Owner of an online loungewear business

From: South east London

Business plan: Expanding on her fashion business

When asked why she deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Carrington said: 'I come from a divorced household, which taught me early on the value of hard work and resilience.

'While studying at university, I invested my own money to launch Cas Collection, growing it into a successful business alongside achieving a first class degree.

'I deeply understand what women want from fashion to feel confident and good in themselves and that mission drives everything I do.

I am extremely hardworking, resilient, and tenacious, and with Lord Sugars experience and support, I truly believe we can take this business to the next level and make a lasting difference for my family and the women my brand serves .

Georgina Newton

Georgina is an actress and events manager from east London wanting to get her hands on the business deal with Lord Sugar

Occupation: Actress and events manager

From: East London

Business plan: To create a touring theatrical production company, specialising in pantomime

When asked what makes her a unique candidate, Georgina said: 'I have this magic to my personality, this sunshine that brightens up a room and turns any negative situation into something positive.

'I manage to bring out the best in those around me by lifting them, building confidence, making people smile and making sure everyone knows that they are enough just as they are.

'All anyone needs is to believe that they can do anything!

'I am a leader that always leads with kindness, and I truly dont think anyone like me has ever been a part of the process.'

Karishma Vijay

Karishma is the owner of a beauty brand, and she lives in Ashford, Surrey

Occupation: Owner of a beauty brand

From: Ashford, Surrey

Business plan: To expand her current business Kishkin - the Skincare Miracle

When asked why she deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Karishma said: 'I deserve Lord Sugars investment as I am a risk taker, like him. He invested a substantial amount of money into his first beauty venture and so have I with Kishkin.

'We both came from nothing and started from scratch.

'I have been supporting my whole family financially since I started earning and my lifes dream is to build my dad a home.

'Kishkin is not just a business idea, this could change my family's future.

'I dont come from money and where I come from girls dont even step into the realm of business.

'This isnt just for me, Im trying to build a legacy.'

Megan Ruiter

Megan is keen to expand her current women's clothing brand business

Occupation: Owner of a women's clothing brand

From: Wirral

Business plan: To expand on her current business

When asked how those who know her best would describe her, Megan said: 'People often describe me as very hard working and extremely organised.

'I am a very positive person and even won an award in school for Little Miss Sunshine - for always making everyone smile around me.

'However, if you were to ask my boyfriend how he would describe me, I am pretty sure he would say bossy.

'I like things done my way, because I know they will get done.'

Nikki Jetha

Nikki is a mortgage broker from Essex who wants to expand on her business idea

Occupation: Mortgage broker

From: Hornchurch, Essex

Business plan: Expand on her business idea Mortgages by Nikki

When asked how those who know her best would describe her, Nikki said: 'Those who know me best would describe me as approachable, energetic and easy to work with ; someone who doesnt take herself too seriously until it comes to business.

'I bring warmth and personality into everything I do, but behind the friendly exterior is a focused, disciplined operator who thrives under pressure.

'I adapt quickly, take feedback on board and stay calm when things get intense.

'Im results driven, resilient and trusted to deliver when it matters most.

'Theres substance behind the smile and with me, theres always more than meets the eye.'

Pascha Myhill

Pascha is a recruitment consultant from Reading who wants to create her own recruitment company within private healthcare

Occupation: Recruitment consultant

From: Reading, Berkshire

Business plan: To create a recruitment company within private healthcare

When asked why she deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Pascha said: 'I deserve Lord Sugars investment because I truly want this, not just for me but for the care and recruitment industry as a whole.

'Im 21 , full of passion and grit, and Ive never been more determined to build something meaningful.

'This isnt just a business idea for me, its my chance to make a real difference, helping care homes and nurseries and staff while building a strong, successful company.

'Im willing to work harder than anyone, learn from every challenge, and do whatever it takes to make this succeed.

'With Lord Sugars support and guidance, I know I can turn my vision into a thriving, industry -leading business, and I wont stop until its done.'

Rothna Akhtar

Rothna is a student wellbeing adviser who is from east London - and she wants to expand her part-time baking business

Occupation: Student wellbeing adviser

From: East London

Business plan: To expand her part-time business Rothna's Bakery

When asked why she deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Rothna said: 'My business plan will revolutionise the cake and experience industry.

'It combines my love of baking and wellbeing by offering a calming, creative space where people can decorate cakes or craft their own flavours.

'It promotes wellness, making it a worthwhile investment.

'Nothing in life comes easy and Im ready to take every necessary detour  because I believe if it doesnt challenge you, it will never change you.

'Ive got a solid plan and Im not afraid to work hard.

'With Lord Sugars backing, we could build a fresh, inspiring brand that makes everyones life just that bit sweeter.'

Roxanne Hamedi

Roxanne is a pharmacist from Abderdeen who wants to create her own beauty brand called Browtasia

Occupation: Pharmacist

From: Aberdeen, Scotland

Business plan: A beauty brand called Browtasia

When asked what makes her a unqiue contestant, Roxanne said: 'As a Persian -Scottish pharmacist with over 10 years of experience in healthcare, who self -funded both her own aesthetics clinic and cosmetics line Browtasia , I combine in -depth knowledge of ingredients with innovative solutions for real beauty concerns.

'I bring a rare blend of scientific expertise, creativity, and entrepreneurial drive, which sets me apart in the beauty industry.

'My journey from personal struggles with hair loss to creating successful businesses demonstrates resilience, integrity, and a commitment to helping others regain confidence.

'I bring elegance, sexiness, sassiness, and determination, and with a revolutionary brand ready to lead the next wave of innovation, I am a truly unique candidate for The Apprentice.'

Vanessa Tetteh-Squire

Vanessa is a tech project manager from East London who wants to build on her swimwear business

Occupation: Tech project manager

From: East London

Business plan: Her own swimwear brand AYORKOH, aimed at women with fuller busts

When asks why she deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Vanessa said: 'I believe the swimwear industry needs a visionary like me - someone who not only knows what looks great but also understands the importance of feeling good.

'Im a quick learner and always ready to take risks.

'I firmly believe that progress in life comes from constantly stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing those risks.

'Im also known for my honesty and straightforward approach, much like Lord Sugar.

'Im confident wed get along exceptionally well, because clear communication and bold thinking are what drive success.'

Now let's meet the boys...

Conor Galvin

Conor is a photobooth business owner from Cork who wants to expand his business to London, Manchester and Birmingham

Occupation: Photobooth business owner

From: Cork, Ireland

Business plan: Expand his current business and set up hubs in London, Manchester and Birmingham

When asked what makes him a unique candidate, Conor said: 'What makes me unique is the road I took to get here.

'I went to university to study medicine, dropped out twice, and even after graduating in law and business, I still wasnt sure what direction I was meant to go in.

'Building my business changed that. It gave me confidence, purpose and a place where my energy and creativity finally made sense.

'Im not a traditional corporate candidate, and Im not trying to be.

'My work is fun and original, but behind it Im someone who bounces back fast, thinks creatively and isnt afraid to show personality.'

Dan Miller

Dan owns his own student recruitment company and is from Richmond, London

Occupation: Owner of a student recruitment company

From: Richmond, London

Business plan: Expand his business

When asked why he deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Dan said: 'After running my company for almost 10 years on my own, it is time for me to look for a seasoned business professional to help me scale and take my company to the next level.

'There is still a lot for me to learn and getting mentored and supported from Lord Sugar would be incredible.

'The investment would be a lifechanging amount of cash injected to my company for us to scale and grow into different markets and develop new products.'

Harry Clough

Harry, from Battersea, is a financial sales manager who wants to create his own free food and drink subscription box

Occupation: Financial sales manager

From: Battersea, London

Business plan: A company called Makemyday, which is a free food a drink subscription box

When asked what makes him a unique candidate, Harry said: 'I may sound posh, but Ive got no dosh and thats why Im here to make it.

'What makes me unique? Im the perfect mix of serious ambition and self -aware humour.

'I take my work seriously but I never take myself too seriously. Ive learned that a bit of personality goes a long way in business.

'Im creative, resilient, and not afraid to fail, in fact, Ive probably failed more than most candidates.

'But every setback has taught me something new and made me sharper, tougher, and more determined to succeed.'

Kieran McCartney

Kieran is an estate agent from East London who wants to create his own business in the same industry

Occupation: Estate agent

From: East London

Business plan: To create his own property business

When asked why he deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Kieran said: 'I have worked tirelessly over the years to build a strong and loyal client base, offering one of the best estate agency services in and around London.

'My dedication, experience, and reputation allow me to understand the market deeply and deliver exceptional results.

'Estate agents often suffer from a poor reputation, but together we can change that.

'By combining my industry expertise with Lord Sugars guidance and resources, we can set a new standard for trust and professionalism.'

Lawrence Rosenberg

Lawrence is a public relations specialist from Watford that wants to 'reinvent public relations for the modern era'

Occupation: Public relations specialist

From: Watford, Hertfordshire

Business plan: To 'reinvent public relations for the modern era'

When asked how those who know him best would describe him, Lawrence said: 'The kindest thing anyone has ever said to me was by my wife, who told me a while back, nobodys ever a stranger to you. 

'I asked her what she meant, and she told me that to everyone I meet, I treat them like Ive known them my whole life.

'I do think the world has lost a lot of perspective, and being able to treat everyone like a friend goes a long way.

'Ultimately, people prefer to do business with friends they trust.

'Nobody likes a transactional corporate robot, which is why authenticity is the best recipe - not just in business, but in general life too.'

Levi Hague

Levi is a former RAF gunner and HGV driver from Doncaster that wants to expand on his pet cremation business

Occupation: Former RAF gunner and HGV driver

From: Doncaster, south Yorkshire

Business plan: To expand on his pet cremation business Living Forever Memories Ltd

When asked why he deserves Lord Sugar's investment, Levi said: 'This once -in-a-lifetime opportunity hasnt just arisen for me, but for Lord Sugar too.

'Living Forever Memories is built on compassion and innovation, operating in a niche with huge potential that no one else has tapped into.

'My business has already proven demand across the UK and internationally, and by partnering with Lord Sugar, we can take it to the next level.

'Together, we can build something extraordinary - a business that helps families heal, creates a global legacy, and becomes one of The Apprentices greatest success stories.'

Marcus Donkoh

Marcus is from south London and the owner of his own barbershop

Occupation: Owner of a barbershop

From: South London

Business plan: To expand on his current business Mavade to create a 'network of premium barbershops'

When asked how those who know him best would describe him, Marcus said: 'People describe me as driven, strategic and focused.

'Im calm under pressure, relentless when pursuing a goal, and committed to excellence in everything I do.

'Im a natural leader who brings people together, builds systems, and finds solutions quickly.

'They know I dont quit, I dont panic, and I always find a way forward . I also love a bit of banter from time to time. All work and no play will ruin Marcus' day!'

Priyesh Bathia

Priyesh is a global account manager from Harrow that wants to expand his Boozy Bar business

Occupation: Global account manager

From: Harrow, London

Business plan: To expand his business Boozy Bar into a 'scalable national brand'

When asked what makes him a unique candidate, Priyesh said: 'Im the perfect mix of charm and hustle whos confident, quick -thinking, and not afraid to get stuck in.

'I bring ideas, energy, and a bit of cheek, which means I dont just talk the talk, I make things happen.

'Im the type wholl win over a room with my cheeky smile, get results, and still have everyone laughing by the end and wont go down without a fight.

'Lord Sugars looking for someone who stands out, and I do, every single time and lets be honest, thats basically my brand.'

Rajan Gill

Rajan is a pharmaceutical sales specialist that wants to expand on his business AV Installation

Occupation: Pharmaceutical sales specialist

From: Medway, Kent

Business plan: To expand on his business AV Installation, which focus on mounting TV's and building bespoke media walls

When asked how those who know him best would describe him, Rajan said: 'People who know me would say Im the person who always shows up  whether its 5am or 5pm, if someone needs help, Im there, even when Im exhausted or stretched thin.

'Im concise in how I work, I dont waste time or words, and I push for the best because I genuinely want to make peoples lives easier.

'Im fiercely competitive, but Im also calm under pressure and naturally chatty once you get to know me.

'I stay level-headed, even when things can take a turn. Above all, people know they can rely on me  I show up, I care, and I deliver.'

Tanmay Hingorani

Tanyway is an AI product consultant from Islington that wants to create an 'AI-powered digital loyality and marketing platform'

Occupation: AI product consultant

From: Islington, London

Business plan: To create an 'AI-powered digital loyalty and marketing platform revolutionising how food and drink businesses connect with customers'

When asked how those who know him best would describe him, Tanmay said: 'Those who know me best would describe me as thoughtful, driven and quietly determined.

'Theyd say Im naturally competitive and bring energy and enthusiasm to whatever I take on.

'I'm open-minded in new situations and people close to me would describe me as attentive and perceptive, someone who listens closely and notices the small things.

'Im known for following through on what I start and taking pride in delivering things well.

'Friends and colleagues would describe me as reliable and grounded, but also someone with real passion and spark when Im invested.'
Countryfile viewers blasted the BBC for turning the agricultural show into a 'Labour Party political broadcaster' as Jess Phillips made her debut on the show.

Fans of the BBC series, which explores rural, agricultural, and environmental issues across the UK, hit out that the show has been 'politicised' with the involvement of the MP for Birmingham during a sit-down interview.

Ms Phillips, 44, made her appearance as the episode, which is presented by Adam Henson and Charlotte Smith, investigated domestic abuse in rural communities.

The segment aimed to dig into whether victims of domestic abuse were being failed - and investigated how the National Rural crime Network had been working to make changes to support victims.

Fellow Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith joined the MP for a sit-down chat about the Government's new strategy to build a safer society for women and girls.

Phillips, who is the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, to be grilled on how the Government could work harder for rural communities.

Countryfile viewers blasted the BBC for turning the agricultural show into a ' Labour Party political broadcaster' as Jess Phillips made her debut on the show

Fellow Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith joined the MP for a sit-down chat about the Government's new strategy to build a safer society for women and girls

The MP told Charlotte: 'What I would say is, there's also not a mention of anything urban in the action plan. There is a plan for the entire country.

'The whole point of the strategy is about where, any victim of domestic abuse or any of the crimes listed, sexual violence, stalking and harassment, where they present, we need to make those systems better.'

She continued: 'I have to country-proof everything, if you will, I mean the entire country, so what we've sought to do is make our national services available.

'It's so that we are ensuring that those people are getting the same specialist service whether its in an area where it's being funded or not... I try and everywhere-proof it.

'We will look at exactly what is and isn't working and seek to make sure that we do more of what we can - I have to look at the infrastructure that already exists... and make sure it's used to assist them.'

Fans of the series were left furious at the segment, and took to X, formerly Twitter, to complain about having a political guest on the BBC show.

One penned: 'Watching Countryfile to look at nature in the UK and Ive got bloody Jess Phillips gob spouting off at me...'

Another chimed in: 'Turned over,' as a third penned: 'Thought I was watching a Labour Party political broadcast. Turns out, it's just Countryfile.'

Ms Phillips, 44, made her appearance as the episode, which is presented by Adam Henson and Charlotte Smith, investigated domestic abuse in rural communities

Fans of the BBC series, which explores rural, agricultural, and environmental issues across the UK, hit out that the show has been 'politicised' with the involvement of the MP for Birmingham during a sit-down interview

'Jess Phillips is a complete hypocrite! Protection of Women & Girls in rural Countryside? She doesnt believe in the girls who report the grooming gangs,' someone else raged.

Last October, Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted he still has 'faith' in MP Jess Phillips despite a fifth victim quitting the grooming gangs inquiry panel.

The woman, who goes under the pen name Gaia Cooper, reportedly complained she has been offered 'no support' and the process is being used as a 'political battering ram'.

The latest departure emerged after four other survivors demanded Ms Phillips be sacked amid 'cover-up' claims.

Phillips previously declined to launch a new public inquiry from Oldham Council into grooming gangs operating in the town.

In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, they said that Ms Phillips had labelled claims that the remit was watered down as 'untrue' - despite evidence to the contrary.

However, the safeguarding minister is so far being supported by the PM and Ms Mahmood. And in a striking development this afternoon it emerged that five other panel members have threatened to walk away if Ms Phillips is ousted.

Asked during a visit this morning if he had confidence in Ms Phillips to oversee the process, Sir Keir: 'Yes, of course, I do. Jess has been working on issues involving violence against women and girls for many, many years.'

Jess Phillips is under massive pressure today as victims warned the grooming gangs inquiry will fail unless she quits

Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood, pictured on a visit to Peacehaven mosque today, have indicated they still support Ms Phillips

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also given strong backing, saying there is 'no-one better for that job' than Ms Phillips.

In the letter, Ellie-Ann Reynolds, said the final turning point for her was 'the push to change the remit, to widen it in ways that downplay the racial and religious motivations behind our abuse'.

Ms Phillips told MPs on Tuesday that 'allegations of intentional delay, lack of interest or widening of the inquiry scope and dilution are false'.

However, the four victims said that 'evidence has since proven we were telling the truth'.

Ms Reynolds, Fiona Goddard, Elizabeth Harper and a woman signed only as 'Jessica' state in the letter that there are five conditions that must be met for them to return to the advisory panel.

As well as Ms Phillips's resignation, they call for 'all survivors on the panel to be genuinely consulted on the appointment of a chair, who must be a former or sitting judge', victims to be able to speak freely without fear of reprisal, the inquiry's scope to remain 'laser-focused' on grooming gangs and the current victim liaison lead to be replaced by a mental health professional.

The survivors' letter, shared on Ms Goddard's X account, says: 'Being publicly contradicted and dismissed by a government minister when you are a survivor telling the truth takes you right back to that feeling of not being believed all over again.

'It is a betrayal that has destroyed what little trust remained.

'We have been failed by every institution meant to protect us. We were failed as children, we were failed by police who didn't believe us, failed by social services who blamed us, and failed by a system that protected our abusers.

'We will not participate in an inquiry that repeats those same patterns of dismissal, secrecy, and institutional self-protection.'

Asked if she should resign, he said: 'No, I don't think she should ... I'm not dismissing what her critics are saying, and the criticism they have of the type of candidates that have been put forward, we do take those things seriously.

'But there is no one better for that job than Jess Phillips, and no one more committed to these issues in Parliament than Jess Phillips.'

Countryfile airs Sundays at 6pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
David Walliams has revealed he's considering reviving Little Britain on Netflix after being dropped by his publisher.

The former Britain's Got Talent judge, who left the ITV series in 2023 after he made derogatory remarks about some contestants, is said to be eyeing up the streaming giant because you 'can't get cancelled' on the platform.

Last month, Walliams, 54, was dropped by his book published HarperCollins following allegations he had harassed junior female members of staff, which he denied.

The publishing company pulled the breaks on putting out any new titles from the actor, and book store Waterstones removing him from its Children's Book Festival line-up.

While charity organisation The Children's Trust dropped the comedian as an ambassador, the BBC also confirmed it had no future projects lined up featuring Walliams, despite airing a festive episode of Would I Lie To You? he featured in.

Nonetheless, Walliams admitted he has hopes to see Little Britain  which was previously removed from the BBC for homophobic, transphobic and racist scenes, including blackface until an edited version could be uploaded  make its return.

David Walliams has revealed he's considering reviving Little Britain on Netflix after being dropped by his publisher

Walliams admitted he has hopes to see Little Britain  which was previously removed from the BBC for homophobic, transphobic and racist scenes, including blackface until an edited version could be uploaded  make its return

Speaking as part of a Q&A, he revealed he 'thought there was a future' for the sketch show, which ran from 2003 to 2006 and also starred Matt Lucas.

When asked if there was a chance it could make a comeback, David said, according to The Sun: 'Yes, I think so  I mean, it's a different world now, isn't it?'

He cited seeing the likes of Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and Ricky Gervais on the streaming platform  with Ricky, 64, releasing a new special, Mortality, on Netflix in December.

Walliams continued: 'Ricky I saw live recently, and I was shocked  not in a bad way, but even I was going, "Oh my goodness"  and they're all on Netflix.

'You sort of cant get cancelled there. Netflix isnt going to take anything off. I think its different to maybe how things used to be.'

It comes after furious viewers have lambasted the BBC after the broadcaster decided to air the comedian's appearance in the Would I Lie To You Christmas special.

The BBC broadcast the festive edition of the award-winning panel featuring the comedian in the wake of allegations of inappropriate behaviour against him.

But despite mounting pressure on the broadcaster to remove Walliams from its TV schedule, the BBC kept him in last night's festive episode.

It comes after furious viewers have lambasted the BBC after the broadcaster decided to air the comedian's appearance in the Would I Lie To You Christmas special

Last month, Walliams, 54, was dropped by his book published HarperCollins following allegations he had harassed junior female members of staff, which he denied

Last week it said it would not be making any changes to its schedule, and that it had 'no future projects' directly involving Walliams.

Meanwhile, Walliams stirred controversy at the filming of the episode in June when he was spotted twice making a Nazi salute as part of a joke during one segment.

The BBC apologised for the incident, which occurred during one of Ms George's stories about injuring her wrist while waving, deeming it 'completely unacceptable'.

His fellow panellists were said to be shocked by the incident during filming at Pinewood Studios.

The comedian appeared as a guest on the show alongside Call The Midwife actress Helen George, BBC radio DJ Swarzy Shire and Jools Holland, with team captains David Mitchell, and Lee Mack and host Rob Brydon.

Viewers have since hit out at the BBC's decision to still feature the comedian, taking to X to air their frustration.

'Oh, I see they are actually airing the Would I Lie To You where the abysmal David Walliams did those salutes,' one said.

A second responded: 'Yes, David we pretend you havent been cancelled, it's lucky for you it was recorded in June.'

Last week it said it would not be making any changes to its schedule, and that it had 'no future projects' directly involving Walliams

Speaking as part of a Q&A, he revealed he 'thought there was a future' for the sketch show, which ran from 2003 to 2006 and also starred Matt Lucas

'Surprised this is airing,' one furiously penned. 'I can't believe they're actually airing the David Walliams episode.'

'Got to admit Im shocked that the BBC have gone ahead and broadcast a Christmas Special featuring David Walliams. Seems a pretty controversial move.'

A viewer added: 'Remembered that the Would I Lie to You? Christmas special is on now. The same one that David Walliams did certain N*zi salutes during filming & had to apologise for.

Another viewer wrote: 'Didn't not like David Walliams as it is, but seeing him on #Wilty as cocky as ever, eurgh just cannot stand him!'

Earlier this week, the BBC also broadcast two TV adaptations from Walliams' books, Mr Stink and The Boy in The Dress. Both were shown on CBBC.

It is understood the BBC also has no plans to remove any content featuring Walliams from iPlayer.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'While we're not making any changes to the festive schedules, we have no future projects directly involving David Walliams.'

Last month, HarperCollins said it had taken the decision 'not to publish any new titles by David Walliams' following its internal investigation.

The decision to drop Walliams comes after the sudden departure of former UK CEO Charlie Redmayne in October. Mr Redmayne has since been replaced by Kate Elton.

A spokesman for Walliams denied any wrongdoing. They said: 'David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins.

'He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice.'

A spokesman for HarperCollins said: 'After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams. The author is aware of this decision.

'HarperCollins takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns. To respect the privacy of individuals we do not comment on internal matters.'
After more than six years on the air, The Kelly Clarkson Show may be coming to an end after it's current season.

Page Six reports the American Idol winner, 43, will be quitting the show after it's seventh season, citing multiple sources.

The definitiveness of her potential departure was mixed, with one insider calling her exit 'definite' and a second saying it's 'likely that it will not go on.'

The source said the expense show was no longer 'sustainable' amid the current daytime television landscape.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Clarkson and NBCUniversal for comment but have not yet heard back.

While a third insider conceded there has been chatter about the future of the show at NBC Studios, a decision about the fate of the program has not been made.

The Kelly Clarkson Show may now be coming to an end after it's current seventh season, according to a report

'People are jumping the gun,' they said, adding: 'Nothing is definite yet, and its a still a long season.'

The Kelly Clarkson Show debuted debuted in 2019 and is now in it's seventh season, which premiered in September 2025.

This isn't the first time chatter about a potential Clarkson exit has emerged, with her name emerging as a potential replacement for Hoda Kotb on Today last year.

The Daily Mail reported last year that Clarkson was said to be 'contemplating' taking the prestigious gig, with bosses at the Peacock network desperate to keep her amid claims she was 'overwhelmed' by the work involved in her eponymous show.

A source told The Daily Mail that Clarkson was willing to walk away from daytime TV altogether after being worn down over the schedule for six years.

Last year was a particularly difficult one for Clarkson, whose ex-husband Brandon Blackstock tragically died from melanoma at the age of 48 in August 2025.

Amid Blackstocks secret cancer battle, Clarkson was absent during a number of episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show in February and March.

Clarkson and Blackstock share daughter River, 11, and son Remington, nine, and were married from 2013 to 2022.

Several sources told Page Six that Clarkson intends on quitting the show after it's current season

Last year was a particularly difficult one for Clarkson, whose ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock died after a cancer battle

She recently offered a rare update about raising her children following the death of her ex spouse.

In a recent Q+A, Clarkson was asked by a fan: 'What is the one thing you do every day that brings you joy?'

Clarkson replied with, 'Snuggle. My kids, they're nine and eleven. Kind of that special little fun stage where they can wipe their own behinds, but they're still small enough to, like, love cuddling and love snuggles.'

The Because Of You hitmaker then added, 'There's been a lot for our family recently, and so I have allowed my kids to sleep with me quite a bit.'

One day before his death was announced, Clarkson took to Instagram to announce the postponement of the remainder of her Las Vegas residency concerts for August 2025 on account of Blackstock's illness.

The former couple were married from 2013 to 2022 and share daughter River, 11, and son Remington, nine

'This past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,' she said.

The following day, a rep for the family said in a statement: 'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away.

'Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.'

The statement concluded with, 'We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.'

Before his marriage to Clarkson, Blackstock had tied the knot with his first wife Melissa Ashworth in 1999 until their divorce in 2012.

Blackstock - who was the stepson of Reba McEntire - was also father to Savannah, 23, and Seth, 18, whom he welcomed with first wife Melissa Ashworth.

Back in 2023, Clarkson previously offered rare comments about how her kids navigated their parents' divorce.

'I literally ask my kids every night when we're snuggling up in the bed, "Are you happy? And if you're not, what could make you happier?" That's it,"' Clarkson explained on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast.

Clarkson pictured with Blackstock, their two children, and her stepchildren Savannah and Seth

'Especially the past two years...it kills me [but] I want them to be honest so I don't ever say, "Oh God, don't tell me that."

'But a lot of times it would be like, "I'm just really sad. I wish Mommy and Daddy were in the same house." They're really honest about it. I'm raising that kind of individual,' the star added.

The Breakaway hitmaker added, 'I just sit there and I'm like, "I get it. I'm from a divorced family as well. I get it. That sucks. But we're going to work it out. And you are so loved by both of us."'

She explained, 'I think [it's important to be] communicating with them and...not treating them like an adult, because they're not, but not treating them like a child. They're not small feelings. Those are huge feelings, and those are huge emotions.'

Clarkson notably sued Blackstock after their divorce and accused him of making unauthorized business deals on her behalf. The former couple settled the lawsuit over commissions in May 2024.
Subscribe to DailyMail+ to get the full story on the Lachie Neale saga

He has been unwillingly thrust into the media glare following his wife Tess's alleged affair with his close friend, untouchable Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale.

But while lurid details of the entanglement have been splashed across headlines, the husband at the centre of it all, Ben Crosley, has remained stoically silent.

Since the story broke last month, the investment company director has avoided making any public comments - even as speculation about the state of his marriage gathered pace.

Now back in Brisbane after a recent trip to Bali - where he was understood to have been inspecting real estate - Ben has returned to the family home in Camp Hill.

I briefly spoke with him there on Sunday afternoon when I knocked on his door to ask if his wife was around and had anything to say.

Poking his head out the door, Ben made it clear he wouldn't be holding any press conferences. But with just six ice-cold words, he left little room for doubt as to whether he and Tess were still together.

Ben Crosley (centre) has been unwillingly thrust into the media glare following his wife Tess's (left) alleged affair with his close friend, Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale (right)

Ben (pictured left on December 21) said 'she does not live here anymore' when I knocked on his door to ask about his wife Tess (seen right, on January 3)

'She [Tess] does not live here anymore,' he said.

The last time the Crosleys were pictured together at the Camp Hill property was on New Year's Eve. Our photographer caught Tess peering down from an upstairs window as her husband answered the front door to Queensland Police.

Ben was shirtless when two officers arrived shortly before 1.30pm, carrying an unidentified long black lockable piece of luggage and two additional long black fabric bags, all of which were handed to him.

While Ben stood with his arms crossed, speaking to police, Tess pulled the curtains aside to watch the scene unfold. The reason for police attendance remains unclear and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing.

While Ben wouldn't comment further on the state of his marriage on Sunday, I can reveal more details about Tess and Lachie's alleged affair.

In early December - weeks before Lachie's wife Jules Neale publicly accused her husband of betraying her in the most 'unimaginable' way - a coffee run in Brisbane's inner-east raised eyebrows.

A local claims she spotted Lachie - then a back-to-back premiership-winning AFL captain with an unblemished reputation - stroll into a popular cafe with a mystery brunette and his two young children in tow.

The cafe was The Grumpy Monkey Roasters in Norman Park, a spot known to be a favourite of Jules.

A local told me that Lachie and Tess were seen meeting at The Grumpy Monkey Roasters cafe in Norman Park - a favourite spot of Lachie's wife Jules, who was seen there on December 30

Lachie Neale is seen at the Grumpy Monkey cafe in 2024. An eyewitness who saw him and Tess there together assumed the brunette with 'piercing blue eyes' was the family's babysitter

The eyewitness told me she had initially assumed the raven-haired woman - described as having 'piercing blue eyes' - was the family's babysitter, given there were no other children present to suggest a playdate.

But a comment she overheard from the woman set alarm bells ringing.

'She said, "What happens if somebody photographs us together?"' the source said.

'Thats when I knew something was up.

The witness assumed at the time that Lachie and his wife must have separated and that their split had yet to be made public.

It was only weeks later, after reports of a marital breakdown surfaced following Jules's explosive Instagram post, that the source connected the dots.

'I realised [the brunette] was Tess when her photo was suddenly everywhere,' the local said.

'That's when I knew she wasn't the babysitter - she was the other woman.'

The saga of Lachie and Jules' marriage split began days before Christmas when reports emerged suggesting the AFL glamour couple were 'working through' unspecified marital issues.

Jules swiftly shut down the narrative on social media, writing: 'I want to make it very clear that I am not "working through" anything.

'I have been betrayed in the most unimaginable way.

The post triggered weeks of speculation, with Tess - a former Mormon missionary and married mother of one - emerging as a central figure after Jules publicly demanded she remove photos from Instagram of her and Lachie taken at last year's AFL Grand Final.

'Take these down, you idiot, you're embarrassing yourself,' Jules wrote in a since-deleted comment.

The two estranged couples are pictured at last year's AFL grand final. Tess' knee is touching Lachie's as he holds up his medal

Jules has recently moved back to Perth while Lachie is living in a Brisbane rental on his own

The alleged affair was not, of course, confined to a single coffee outing.

Last week, a source claimed to have witnessed Tess and Lachie looking affectionate at their local gym Total Fusion, in the affluent Brisbane suburb of Newstead.

'I go to Total Fusion gym, where Lachie is a member, and for months he has been very affectionate... with that Tess woman,' they said.

'They did not try to hide it... I assumed he was separated because of it.'

Lachie confirmed the end of his marriage at a press conference at Brighton Homes Arena on January 2, where he also relinquished his role as co-captain of the Lions.

'While I will not go into specifics, I can say that I have let my family down,' he said.

'I apologise for my actions, which have hurt those closest to me, and I am deeply sorry.'

He added that rebuilding trust and prioritising the wellbeing of his children would remain his focus.

The press conference took a tense turn when a reporter asked directly: 'Did you cheat on your wife?'

'I cannot address those rumours,' Lachie replied.

Last week, it emerged the alleged affair was going on for at least three months before the pair were spotted by another Lions WAG, who then broke the news to Jules.

Since making a public statement and stepping down as co-captain, Lachie has moved into a Brisbane rental and is understood to be living alone.

Jules and the couple's two children have returned to her home town of Perth, where she was seen having lunch with friends on Friday.

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The Uber driver involved in a conflict with Kiefer Sutherland says the Hollywood veteran repeatedly punched him and tried to choke him in the alleged attack earlier this month that led to the actor being arrested.

While the 59-year-old actor has not been charged in connection with the incident, officials with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office told the Daily Mail that the Los Angeles Police Department has yet to present a case to their office.

DA sources said they expect the charges will be filed closer to next month, as the two-time Emmy winner has a court date slated for February 2.

The Uber driver told police he got out of his car to evade Sutherland, who witnesses told police appeared to be 'under the influence' in the exchange, sources told ABC News Sunday.

The driver called 911 while he was running away from the actor, sources told the outlet, adding that footage from a dash cam camera the Uber driver had in his vehicle could shed further light on what happened.

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Sutherland and Uber for further comment on the story.

The Uberdriver involved in a conflict with Kiefer Sutherland says the Hollywood veteran repeatedly punched him, and tried to choke him, in the alleged attack earlier this month that led to the actor being arrested. Sutherland, 59, pictured in London in November

Sutherland was taken into custody in Los Angeles on January 12 after the incident, which occurred near Hollywood around Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, the Daily Mail confirmed.

Sutherland is suspected of assaulting the driver and getting into the vehicle without consent, police previously said, leading to his arrest in connection with suspicion of felony criminal threats.

No one had injuries that necessitated medical treatment in the violent exchange, authorities said.

Sutherland , whose TV credits include roles such as Jack Bauer on 24 and President Thomas Kirkman on Designated Survivor, subsequently bailed out on $50,000 bond.

Kiefer's filmography includes classics such as A Few Good Men and Stand by Me for late filmmaker Rob Reiner, who he paid tribute to in an Instagram post last month following the murder of the director and his wife Michele.

'Like so many my heart was broken when I heard the news about Rob Reiner and his wonderful wife, Michele,' Kiefer said. 'Rob was one of the kindest gentleman Ive ever had the pleasure of working with.

'When I was very young he gave me an opportunity that changed my life, and I will forever be grateful.'

The latest arrest marks yet another footnote in a long line of police blotter the actor - whose filmography includes classics such as A Few Good Men, The Lost Boys and Stand by Me - has created over the past four decades. Pictured in London in 2014

Sutherland pictured at the Glendale City Jail December 5, 2007 in Glendale, California, as he began a 48-day sentence in a drunken driving conviction

The latest arrest marks yet another footnote in a long line of police blotter the actor has created over the past four decades.

Sutherland in January of 2008 was released from jail following a 48-day sentence in connection with a drunken driving conviction.

At the time he was released from jail, Los Angeles police Officer John Balian told People that the actor 'looked like he was glad to be out' of custody following nearly two months in.

The police officer said that Sutherland's work detail during his time in custody at the jail involved laundering sheets, pillowcases and blankets.

Sutherland was a model prisoner during his time at the facility, Balian said.

'He was very humble, never complained,' the officer said. 'He didn't give us any problems at all.'

Sutherland had to serve the sentence after he entered a no contest plea in October 2007 to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit in the September 2007 incident, and received a 30-day sentence.

The court added an additional 18 days to the sentence after Sutherland violated probation he had been on linked to a 2004 arrest in connection with drunken driving.

Sutherland was clear he was contrite about his missteps in a statement he released following the agreement of the plea deal.

Kiefer is the son of late acting legend Donald Sutherland, who died during the summer of 2024

Kiefer in 2006 won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work in the role of Jack Bauer in Fox's 24

Sutherland said he was 'very disappointed' in himself for the 'poor judgment' he exhibited in the incident.

'Im deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and co-workers on 24 and at 20th Century Fox,' Sutherland said.

He added: 'I appreciate the support and concern that has been extended to me these last weeks both personally and professionally.'

Sutherland had served his sentence at the Glendale City Jail as opposed to downtown Los Angeles, conceding that he would serve the entire sentence as result of the trade-off.

As part of his plea deal, Sutherland remained on probation for five years, enrolled in an 18-month alcohol education program, and had to go to therapy session sessions once a week for six months.

Kiefer, the son of late acting legend Donald Sutherland, has an arrest record that dates back decades to the 1980s.

The England-born, Canada-raised actor was taken into custody in 1989 in connection with alcohol-related reckless driving and possession of a loaded weapon in Los Angeles, according to The Los Angeles Times, citing court records.

Sutherland subsequently pleaded no contest to the alcohol-related reckless driving, with prosecutors dropping the weapons charge on him.

Kiefer played the role of 1950s bully Ace Merrill in Stand By Me from late director Rob Reiner

He portrayed vicious vampire David in the ensemble cast of 1987's The Lost Boys with Jami Gertzf

Sutherland was again arrested in connection with alcohol-related reckless driving in 1993, and would enter a no contest plea.

He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service in connection with the offense.

Sutherland appeared to stay out of trouble for the better part of a decade to an arrest in 2004 in connection with driving under the influence.

He agreed to enroll in a court-overseen treatment program and agreed to five years of probation - which would come into play in his 2007 arrest.

The actor spoke about his incarceration while appearing on Late Night With David Letterman in 2008.

'You ever get a brochure for a holiday and you get there and its not quite what youre expecting?' he said. 'Jail is not that. Its exactly as advertised.'
Mikaela Testa has revealed she is terrified to wear her engagement ring in public after a frightening confrontation with a group of teenage girls outside a Woolworths on the Gold Coast/

The Australian OnlyFans star detailed the alarming incident on TikTok, claiming she was verbally abused, followed and threatened by what she described as 'eshays' while shopping at Pacific Fair.

'To the little b**hes at Pacific Fair that tried to rob my engagement ring off my finger. Count your days,' Mikaela began in a furious rant.

She explained she had been doing a routine grocery run with her fiance Max and friend Jordan when the group began shouting at her.

'Me, Max, my friend Jordan, we're doing a little Woolworths grocery shop when we hear this agitating grating, 'oi, oi', in the background. I look over and I see a bunch of girls in Nike tracksuits, yelling, all sorts of mess.'

Mikaela said she initially tried to ignore the group, unsure whether they were fans, before the situation escalated.

Mikaela Testa has revealed she has been left terrified to wear her engagement ring in public after a frightening confrontation with a group of teenage girls outside a Woolworths on the Gold Coast

Taking to TikTok, the Australian OnlyFans star detailed the alarming incident, claiming she was verbally abused, followed and threatened by what she described as 'eshays' while shopping at Pacific Fair

'I keep my face forward, 'cause what the f**k? Literally in front of us they just keep yelling, oi, oi, oi. So I look and I kind of smile and wave because you never know if you're meeting like a fan or just like someone.'

But moments later, she realised the abuse was directed at her.

'Then I hear like vomit noises calling me the S bomb, calling me all sorts of names. Max and Jordan are like, 'what the f**k?'

According to Mikaela, one of the girls then made a chilling threat about her engagement ring.

'One of the girls goes, 'I'm gonna f**king you. I'm gonna cut that ring off your finger.'

The influencer said the group continued to follow her and shout abuse as they walked into Woolworths, prompting fears for her safety.

'I'm not trying to get shanked in Pac Fair like the girl that got killed in Pac Fair, like with a knife from like some Shadaro girls. We're not about to do that.'

She claimed the girls waited near the entrance while she and her friends rushed through their shopping, with Max keeping watch and looking for security.

'To the little b**hes at Pacific Fair that tried to rob my engagement ring off my finger. Count your days,' Mikaela began in a furious rant

According to Mikaela, one of the girls then made a chilling threat about her engagement ring

Mikaela revealed in October last year that she was engaged to Maxwell. The lovebirds met online in 2022 and continued texting each other throughout 2023

'These women are so loud, everyone is staring. This is an attack the whole time while we're getting groceries. She's waiting at the front to get me.'

Mikaela said the threats did not stop once she left the store, with abuse continuing online shortly after.

'I look at my phone and there's Instagram notifications saying like nasty stuff, saying like, 'next time I'll getchu' then I go into the DMs of these accounts and they're literally sending me more threats, saying like, 'I'm gonna find out where you live and I'm gonna get that ring'.'

While she fired back at the accounts, Mikaela admitted the ordeal has had a lasting impact.

'These girls couldn't have been older than like 17, honestly. But now I don't wear my gorgeous engagement ring out in public anymore. It has scarred me.'

The shocking claims come after Mikaela recently revealed she is moving overseas with Maxwell, after previously telling fans the couple were relocating to Germany.

Taking to TikTok this week, the 25-year-old confirmed they are instead heading to the United States, where Maxwell is from.

'We're moving to America,' she said. 'His visa in Australia just finished up, and we're waiting for my US visa.'

She explained the move to Germany was only ever meant to be temporary while visa approvals were processed, adding there were no plans to return to Australia if her US application was rejected.

Mikaela also admitted safety concerns played a major role in the decision to leave Australia altogether.

'Every time I move, people find out where I live,' she previously said. 'The youth crime is so bad. I don't feel safe here anymore.'

Mikaela revealed last year that she and Maxwell became engaged after meeting online in 2022 and later falling in love while travelling.
Nicola Peltz sent temperatures soaring as she shared a sexy bikini mirror selfie on Instagram on Sunday.

The actress, 31, showed off her slender physique in the pale blue bikini top as she posed up a storm for the camera.

It comes amid reports Nicola is 'obsessed' with driving the rift between her husband Brooklyn Beckham, 26, and his family.

The couple are at the heart of an acrimonious divide that has resulted in them snubbing all significant family celebrations over recent months, including his father David's milestone 50th birthday.

But on Saturday, Daily Mail revealed that Brooklyn is hoping to one day get back in touch with his parents. You can read our full report here.

Nicola also took to her Instagram stories where she shared a photo of Brooklyn's many inkings on his arm as he helped himself to a handful of blueberries.

Nicola Peltz sent temperatures soaring as she shared a sexy bikini mirror selfie on Instagram on Sunday

It comes amid reports Nicola is 'obsessed' with driving the rift between her husband Brooklyn Beckham, 26, and his family

Brooklyn previously revealed around 70 of his more than 100 tattoos are dedicated to his wife.

They vary from her name to her eyes, a love letter on his back, wedding vows on his arm, her face and Peltz across his chest.

His hand has 'Nicola Anne Peltz' below 'love of my life' and 'my protector'.

It comes a day after Brooklyn shared a photo of Nicola sat on his lap as they kissed in front of a view of the Los Angeles skyline behind them.

The Daily Mail revealed that relations between the Beckhams broke down so completely last summer that at one point, Brooklyn asked his parents to contact him only via their respective lawyers, Schillings and Harbottle & Lewis.

One source told the Mail: 'David was told to speak to them via Schillings. That was the only way for them to communicate.'

It's understood that Brooklyn doesn't want his parents to contact him directly, or make public statements about him on social media.

There was no legal action between them  and no legal basis for the letter, which was simply a request.

However, Brooklyn still remains in regular contact with both sets of grandparents.

Nicola also took to her Instagram stories where she shared a photo of Brooklyn's many inkings on his arm as he helped himself to a handful of blueberries

Brooklyn is currently estranged from his entire family (pictured L-R: Cruz, Harper, Romeo, Victoria and David Beckham)

An insider told The Sun: 'Brooklyn absolutely adores them, and knows how much pain this is causing everyone. So he has reached out in his own time, but tried to keep it low-key so as not to drag them into it.

'Brooklyn is navigating this soul-crushing family feud as best he can but it isn't easy on anyone. Nicola remains his absolute rock.'

The 'talk to my lawyers' move might explain why Brooklyn opted to block his parents  and siblings Romeo, Cruz and Harper  on social media just before Christmas.

The family had been viewing and liking his cooking posts. And it was felt this was contrary to Brooklyn's wish they would leave him and his wife alone.
He once performed at 21,000-seater arenas and his Little Britain Live stage show with former comedy partner Matt Lucas was seen by more than one million fans.

But David Walliams appeared before an audience of just 48 at the weekend as he hosted a storytelling adventure for kids and families at a pub near to his home in north London.

The Gangsta Granny author has experienced a fall from grace after he was dropped by his publisher HarperCollins in December following claims he harassed employees at the firm.

Arriving at the event at the Circle & Star theatre, above the Horseshoe pub in Hampstead, Walliams, 54, appeared to struggle to locate the stage door.

Dressed in jeans and a bomber jacket, he made no comment when quizzed by the Daily Mail about how he was feeling after a bruising few weeks.

Asked whether it was possible to separate the scandal surrounding him from his work, one theatre-goer said: His kids books are fabulous, but I dont know, I think its very difficult once theres been allegations.

David Walliams appeared before an audience of just 48 at the weekend as he hosted a storytelling adventure for kids and families at a pub near to his home in north London

Walliams entertained guests at the Circle & Star theatre, above the Horseshoe pub in Hampstead (pictured)

In a statement released in December, HarperCollins said: 'After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams. The author is aware of this decision.'

A spokesman for Walliams said in a statement that he 'has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins'.

'He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice,' the statement said.

The publisher said it would not comment on internal matters, 'to respect the privacy of individuals'.

'HarperCollins takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns,' it said.

Walliams has published over 40 children's books and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, according to his website.

Several of them, including Gangsta Granny and Mr Stink, have been adapted into BBC comedy dramas and stage productions.

A spokesman for Walliams said in a statement to the Press Association: 'David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins.

Dressed in jeans and a bomber jacket, he made no comment when quizzed by the Daily Mail about how he was feeling after a bruising few weeks

The Gangsta Granny author has had a fall from grace after he was dropped by his publisher HarperCollins in December following claims he harassed employees at the firm

'He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice.'

Walliams has written books including The Boy In The Dress, Fing, and Gangsta Granny, the latter of which was turned into a one-hour BBC special in 2013, followed by a sequel starring Sheridan Smith in 2022.

The TV star, real name David Edward Williams, was a judge on Britains Got Talent, but left the role in 2022 after he apologised for making 'disrespectful comments' about auditioning contestants during filming breaks at the London Palladium in January 2020.

In 2023 Britains Got Talent producer Fremantle apologised and reached an 'amicable resolution' with Walliams after the remarks he made while on the show were leaked.

Walliams, who appeared on the ITV talent show between 2012 and 2022, was suing the company for misuse of private information and for breaching UK General Data Protection Regulation (UKGDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

The comedian, actor and presenter was made an OBE in 2017 for services to the arts and charity, having raised 2million for Sport Relief by completing a 140-mile swim down the River Thames.

Earlier in the year it was reported that he had made Nazi salutes while recording BBC panel show Would I Lie To You?
Jodie Turner Smith cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt and bandana as she visited Studio City Farmers' Market in Los Angeles on Sunday.

The actress, 39, cemented her status as a style icon as she paired her puppy-printed top with baggy blue jeans.

She completed her casual ensemble with a white butterfly bandana and camel coloured boots.

To accessorise her look, she kept a low profile with a pair of black tinted sunglasses and a myriad of colourful jewellery.

As she toted around her belongings in a red leather cross-body bag as she carried a pile of beige napkins in her hand.

Jodie's appearance comes just a month after she was seen at the same markets with a mystery man.

Jodie Turner Smith, 39, cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt and bandana as she visited Studio City Farmers' Market in Los Angeles on Sunday

The actress cemented her status as a style icon as she paired her puppy-printed top with baggy blue jeans

The model has been happily single since she filed for divorce from her ex-husband, Joshua Jackson, in October 2023.

And she has previously revealed her strict requirements for a potential new romantic partner.

Appearing on the cover of Harpers Bazaar UK last year, Jodie insisted that she would be staying single, unless she found a man who ticked several important boxes.

She said: 'If I can find a man who's confident in himself and preferably successful enough not to be emasculated by my success and ambition, kind, thoughtful and really good in bed, then I'll date again.'

While she also opened up about her divorce from Joshua, 47, whom she secretly married in 2019 and shares a five-year-old daughter Juno with.

Jodie filed for divorce in October 2023, citing 'irreconcilable differences, ' but their custody agreement over Juno has proved to be a sticking point in proceedings.

The Sex Education star requested joint custody with neither getting spousal support, according to a report from People.

They seemed close to an arrangement in May, but then bickered over what school Juno would go to and if Juno would be able to travel alongside Jodie for long periods of time, TMZ reported.

She completed her casual ensemble with a white butterfly bandana and camel coloured boots. To accessorise her look, she kept a low profile with a pair of black tinted sunglasses

'I don't think it's good for Juno to go for as long as you have proposed without seeing either parent, whenever it is reasonably possible for us to avoid without putting undue stress on Juno,' wrote Joshua earlier this year in court papers seen by the outlet.

He added: 'Juno needs both of us.'

In the letter included in the documents, the actor also objected to Jodie's planned trip to Morocco.

But Jodie said their child was 'excited about our travel plans, and I believe this stretch of time will allow her to feel deeply grounded.'
Hugh Bonneville has admitted he feels 'blessed to start a new chapter' after a turbulent few years.

The actor, 62, separated from his wife of 25 years, Lulu Williams, in 2023 after losing his mother, brother and father in the space of six years.

Hugh has now found love with vegan influencer Heidi Kadlecova.

Their relationship has gone from strength-to-strength, with Heidi accompanying him on the red carpet of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in New York last September.

The TV star admitted: 'I do feel very blessed and very content to have started a new chapter.

'I am more accepting of the wheel of life and how fortunate I have been to have, on the whole, good health and to do something I love.'

Hugh Bonneville has admitted he feels 'blessed to start a new chapter' after a turbulent few years

The actor, 62, separated from his wife of 25 years, Lulu Williams (pictured), in 2023 after losing his mother, brother and father in the space of six years

In the February issue of Saga Magazine, Hugh reflected on the overwhelming grief he faced after his mother Patricia died.

Patricia - whom he only learned later in life worked for MI6 - died aged 85 in 2014.

It marked the beginning of a prolonged period of family loss that would deeply affect the actor.

He said: 'The admin of the funeral and everything numbed the grief for a while. I didnt read any of the letters of commiseration or condolence we received until a year later, when I took them all with me to India.

'I was doing a film but had one weekend off, so I went on my own to this incredibly peaceful, quiet hotel in the middle of nowhere and read all the letters and absolutely let it all out. All the emotion. That was a very cathartic thing.'

Hugh's brother Nigel died unexpectedly in his sleep two years later followed by his father John, a surgeon, in 2020 at the age of 93 after a battle with dementia.

'In terms of my outlook on life, having lost three significant members of my family, its made me more fatalistic,' he added.

Hugh, who has a 22-year-old son, Felix, with his ex-wife, Lucinda (Lulu), is set to appear on stage at the Aldwych Theatre next month.

Hugh has now found love with vegan influencer Heidi Kadlecova. Their relationship has gone from strength-to-strength, with Heidi accompanying him on the red carpet of Downton Abbey

When asked if he would ever reprise his role as Lord Grantham following The Grand Finale of Downton Abbey, Hugh said he wouldn't be surprised if a spin-off show was created

He will portray CS Lewis in the West End production of Shadowlands.

When asked if he would ever reprise his role as Lord Grantham following The Grand Finale of Downton Abbey, Hugh said he wouldn't be surprised if a spin-off show was created, but 'our company has left the building'.
She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan.

Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain.

Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years.

After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans.

Katie, now 47, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017.

Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, the Daily Mail takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price.

The many faces of Katie Price: The Daily Mail takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts

1995 - Barefaced beauty

At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling.

At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan.

Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age.

1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling

1998 - First boob job

Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C.

The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure.

Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters.

1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C

1999 - Second and third boob job

Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21.

Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to an F cup.

Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones.

1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21

2001 - Lip fillers

At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers.

While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene.

Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions.

2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers

2004 - Botox

Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles.

She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.'

At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.'

2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines

2006 - Fourth boob job

Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup.

The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle.

She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox.

2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup

2007 - First nose job and veneers

At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers.

'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.'

Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!'

2007: Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers

2008 - Fifth boob job

Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup.

The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job ten years prior.

Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range.

2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup

2011 - Sixth boob job

Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup.

Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers.

The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'.

2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup

2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job

Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh.

Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.'

Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup.

2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast

2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup

Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust.

The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis.

Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration.

2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup

2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job

Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift.

The procedure is designed to lift sagging cheeks and a blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features.

However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml.

2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word

2018 - Second face lift

Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it.

She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after a surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had.

Her agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.'

2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40

2019 - Third face lift, first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job

Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation.

The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck.

Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup.

2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck

2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers

Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel.

The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure.

Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.'

2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job

2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job

Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum.

The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal.

The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash.

2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts

2022 - Another brow and eye lift

Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage.

Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.'

It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work.

Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years!

'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow.

'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched.

'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face.

'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.'

2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to travel to Turkey for more surgery

2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job

It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th.

The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium.

She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size.

Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more.

'I would go bigger as well  and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look.

'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.'

2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th

2024 - MORE facial surgery

In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing.

The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure.

A warrant was subsequently issued, with Katie admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court.

2024: Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing

2025 - Facelift 'tweaks'

In January 2025, Katie flew abroad for 'tweaks' to her sixth 10,000 face lift and documented the trip for a new YouTube video.

Katie, who was also getting a mini lift on her nose said she ignored the doctor's warnings about potential scarring and was just eager to get in and have her surgery.

After undergoing the tweaks to her facelift and nose, the surgery wasn't finished for Katie.

She had planned to get her ears pinned back to match her new taut visage, but after her blood pressure dropped during the surgery, the doctors advised she get the procedure the following day under local anesthetic.
This award-winning movie star's first television role was on an episode of the crime series Law & Order.

The 30-year-old actor  who has a famous girlfriend  appeared on a 2009 episode of the long-running drama during season 19.

His brief cameo came at 13 years old when he starred as a murder victim on an episode titled Pledge.

The entertainer, who snagged a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2025, later starred in four episodes of USA Network's Royal Pains, per TV Line.

That role was followed by an eight-episode run in season two of Showtime's Homeland.

Can you guess who the famous actor is?

This award-winning movie star's first television role was on an episode of the crime series Law & Order. Can you guess who he is?

The star is none other than Timothee Chalamet, who won his first Golden Globe last Sunday for Marty Supreme.

He, like many of his famous peers, cut his teeth on small-time television roles before becoming a household name.

Chalamet played Saoirse Ronans love interest in the 2017 comedy-drama Lady Bird.

And his breakout performance came in the 2018 romance-drama Call Me By Your Name.

Chalamet blew audiences away with his depiction of Elio Perlman, who falls for Armie Hammer's much older Oliver over a summer in Italy.

Critics heaped praise on the film and it earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor, making him the third-youngest nominee.

In late 2018 he starred as a troubled teenage drug addict in the drama Beautiful Boy alongside Steve Carell.

By then he had cemented himself as an artsy Hollywood leading man.

The star is none other than Timothee Chalamet, who won his first Golden Globe last Sunday for Marty Supreme

His breakout performance came in the 2017 romance-drama Call Me By Your Name, in which he starred opposite Armie Hammer

In November 2019 Vogue hailed Chalamet 'the most influential man in fashion,' thanks to his ability to 'ply the boundary between traditional masculinity and femininity.'

Three years later he became the first man to appear alone on the cover of British Vogue.

Also in 2019, fans saw the New York native transform into Shakespeares Henry V in The King.

Roles in Dune and Dune: Part Two came in 2021 and 2024 respectively.

Aside from acting, Chalamet has seemingly dipped his toe into the music world, playing into fans' theory that he is masquerading as Liverpudlian rapper EsDeeKid.

The artist, whose face is always covered by a mask or balaclava, released a debut album in June.

A video released in December shows EsDeeKid and Chalamet rapping together on a remix of the song 4 Raws.

Chalamet won the Best Actor award for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Chalamet's character in Marty Supreme, aspiring champion Marty Mauser, is loosely based on national ping-pong champion Martin Reisman

Chalamet has been romancing reality television star and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner, 28, since 2023; pictured January 4

Since 2023 Chalamet has been romancing reality television star and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner, 28.

The duo kept their romance as private as possible in the beginning.

When the actor was profiled in a November cover story for Vogue he turned down the opportunity to speak up about the relationship.

He established a boundary, saying he 'will not talk about' it, but clarified, 'I dont say that with any fear, I just dont have anything to say.'

However, at the 2026 Critics' Choice Awards earlier this month, Chalamet made his most open profession about his girlfriend in his acceptance speech.

'Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn't do this without you,' he effused.
Kanye West and Bianca Censori are working hard to form a blended family with the rapper's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.

Over the Christmas holidays, the former couple focused on their children, North, 12, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 5, with the Australian model joining family members for celebrations.

A photo has emerged of Censori, 31, posing alongside West, 48, and his daughter North at one such family gathering - and the pre-teen looked less than impressed by her step-mother as the candid moment was caught on camera.

With the image going viral on social media, many fans have noted the odd pose that Censori struck in the image.

The brunette, who was fully clothed despite her penchant for stepping out scantily clad and, occasionally, naked, stood up on her tip-toes in a ballet-style stance.

'Glad stepmum was allowed to wear clothes this holiday season,' wrote one person on Reddit, while another replied, 'But it still has to be weird with no shoes and standing like a ballerina'.

Kanye West (third from right) and Bianca Censori (second from right) spent Christmas with the rapper's ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, and the four children he shares with the reality star, including North (right)

A photo has emerged of Censori, 31, posing alongside West, 48, and his daughter North - and the pre-teen looked less than impressed by her step-mother as the candid moment was caught on camera

One more agreed: 'This is the most bizarre photo. Why is stepmum up on the balls of her feet?'

Another wrote: 'The way stepmum is standing' alongside a number of laughing emojis.

Someone else noted: 'North looks like she doesn't want to be there', while another joked: 'North looks beyond thrilled.'

Kanye and his ex-wife quietly reunited over the Christmas holidays, spending time together with their four children in a rare show of unity following years of public tension.

According to TMZ, the former couple put aside their long-running differences to celebrate the holidays as a family, with sources describing the atmosphere as cordial and focused on their children.

Sources with direct knowledge told the outlet that the former couple were respectful toward one another and are actively working on improving their co-parenting relationship, marking a notable shift after years of estrangement and public conflict.

The reconciliation comes after what TMZ described as a sustained effort by West to reflect on his past behavior.

Sources said the rapper has been 'working on himself' and has spent considerable time reassessing his actions earlier this year, including his widely condemned antisemitic remarks and praise of Adolf Hitler.

Over the Christmas holidays, the former couple focused on their children, North, 12, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 5, with the Australian model joining family members for celebrations. Kim is pictured with the children at Christmas

Kanye and his ex-wife quietly reunited, spending time together with their four children in a rare show of unity following years of public tension

TMZ also reported that West has become more supportive of daughter North's growing social media presence.

Censori has spent time with North as well as her siblings since tying the knot with their father in 2022.

In December, the nepo baby - who recently made her Instagram debut last week - reposted a screenshot to her Instagram Stories which was originally shared by rapper Babyxsosa.

In the snap, North could be seen sitting closely next to Censori as they held a conversation with the music artist via FaceTime.

West and his family also spent quality time together at the Happiest Place on Earth at the start of the year.

After his children celebrated Christmas Eve with their mother, West got in some time with his sons Saint, Psalm and daughter Chicago at Disneyland.

The four were spotted with West's wife Bianca and their massive entourage.

The former couple's eldest child, North, was not seen during that particular outing.

Censori has spent time with North as well as her siblings since tying the knot with her father Kanye West in 2022. In December, North posed with Censori on Instagram (pictured)

A Disneyland employee was seen guiding the massive group through the amusement park in a day that saw West hop onto the Incredicoaster.

Australian-born architect Bianca has taken on stepmom duty on a number of occasions over the years.

Back in August of last year, Censori - who is known for donning racy looks in public - notably covered up as she spent time with the rapper's children during an outing in Los Angeles.

North has been seen tagging along with the media personality to dinners in the past as well as trips.

In 2023, the pair were seen joining West for a meal at the celebrity hotspot Nobu located in Malibu.

And in 2024, Censori took on stepmom duties once again as both she and North grabbed food at a Popeyes as well as McDonald's during a getaway to Paris.

Billionaire mogul Kim previously broke down in tears while discussing co-parenting during a 2022 appearance on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast.

The reality star explained that she has tried to shield her children from 'all of the crazy s***' surrounding West's public outbursts.

Kardashian and West are pictured with their children in 2018

Kim filed for divorce in February 2021, and the split was finalized the following year. West has since married Censori. West and Censori are pictured pictured 2024

'I had the best dad,' Kardashian said emotionally, referencing her late father Robert Kardashian. 'S**t like co-parenting - it's really f***ing hard.'

Kardashian and West married in Italy in 2014, less than a year after welcoming their eldest child, North.

Kim filed for divorce in February 2021, and the split was finalized the following year. West has since married Censori.

Despite the difficulties, Kardashian has repeatedly insisted she has never interfered with West's relationship with their children.

On Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast in October, she acknowledged the situation 'really sucks' but said she avoids publicly pushing back against online narratives.

'I'm just not that girl online that's gonna fight back,' Kim said, adding that while she has come close, she prioritises peace over public battles.
Pierce Brosnan fans have hit out at a vile troll who shared comparison snaps of the star with his wife Keely Shaye Smith to act as a 'reminder to avoid marriage'.

The James Bond star, 72, has been married to journalist Keely since 2001 following his wife of 11 years Cassandra Harris's death from cancer in 1991.

The couple are often deemed one of Hollywood's great love stories, with their lengthy love defying the lore of short-lived romances, however on Sunday a vile X user claimed the couple showed marriage should be 'avoided'.

The comment was made alongside images of the couple on the red carpet at the Governers Ball for the Academy Awards in 1996 alongside a snap of the duo posing at the Mamma Mia! premiere in 2008.

Swarming with defensive messages, many insisted they were an advert for true love, with one user stating: 'I don't get some men on X devotion to degrade Brosnan's wife. They're both happy, aging gracefully, and she was & is absolutely gorgeous.'

Pierce Brosnan fans have hit out at a vile troll who shared comparison snaps of the star with his wife Keely Shaye Smith to act as a 'reminder to avoid marriage'

The comment was made alongside an image of the couple on the red carpet at the Governers Ball for the Academy Awards in 1996

Another of the images shared was taken at the 2008 premiere of his film Mamma Mia!

Swarming with defensive messages, many insisted they were an advert for true love, with one user stating: 'I don't get some men on X devotion to degrade Brosnan's wife. They're both happy, aging gracefully, and she was & is absolutely gorgeous'

Pierce and Keely both beamed in the pictures shared by the vile troll, who penned the shocking comment alongside - leading to a barrage of backlash.

One fan stated that Pierce had 'won the lottery of life': 'Pierce Brosnans won the lottery of life. Dudes been married 30 years and theyve both aged gracefully.'

Further messages from fans read: 'Agreed. If you're this shallow and stupid, you should avoid marriage at all costs. Sincerely, women everywhere...

'She is such a beautiful woman. How lucky they are to share that bond over so many years. Beautiful... Marriage is beautiful when you're with the right person... he seems happy. they are lucky... This is unacceptable...

'Why? They are happy and value one another ? I dont see what youre getting at here ?... You couldn't pick the worst example. First, she's beautiful in both pictures and second they are glowing with organic happiness...

'Why, his wife is beautiful, intelligent, a loving partner and quality mom... Whats wrong with the picture?... Dear men and women. This is what lifelong love looks like. Enjoy it. Its hard to find. But you know when you do...

'They've been together for over 30 years and are still together... Why? He's happy and they look great together... My dude, you should be so lucky. Shes still a gorgeous woman... they aged gracefully while some people stayed ugly inside...

In June last year, Pierce discussed his marriage and detailed how he feels about Keely in the 'blessed' life they have created

X users launched a staunch defense of the James Bond star and his wife

'Pierce is one of the happiest men in Hollywood and I think his wife is beautiful in both photos... She was and is stunning... Dear men, this is your daily reminder to love your wife as Christ loved the church. True love knows no bounds...

'It trancends conventional beauty. It endures forever. Find the right woman and stand by her. Just as Pierce Brosnan did.'

In June last year, Pierce discussed his marriage and detailed how he feels about Keely in the 'blessed' life they have created.

He said: 'Keely and I love each other and are blessed to have each other as companions in this life. And we've created a good life for ourselves of hard work and perseverance of life.'

On the secret to a long marriage, he went on: 'You know, it's just solving one problem after the [other], whether it's the washing machine or how far the finances are going to go or what your dreams are...

Pierce and Keely have been together since 1994 - and seven years later, they wed in 2001 - and share two children together

Upon meeting Pierce in Mexico in 1994, Keely told People that she immediately found the Bond actor 'captivating' and that he had a 'mischievous sparkle in his eyes'

'But, ultimately, we just enjoy each other's company enormously.'

Pierce and Keely have been together since 1994 - and seven years later, they wed in 2001 - and share two children together.

After starring in a few small roles in TV and film throughout the 1980s, Keely transitioned to journalism and documentary filmmaking as she joined the crusade for protecting marine wildlife and saving the oceans.

The campaigner grew up in Oahu, Hawaii, and has dedicated much of her work to protecting the oceans surrounding the pacific island as well as in Mexico.

Upon meeting Pierce in Mexico in 1994, Keely told People that she immediately found the Bond actor 'captivating' and that he had a 'mischievous sparkle in his eyes'.

In the same interview, the actor said of his wife: 'I found a great woman in Keely Shaye. Not if I searched a million times over would I find one as good.'
Mickey Rourke went for a jog on Sunday night in LA not far from his new Koreatown apartment following his December 22nd eviction from his longtime Hollywood home.

The 73-year-old Oscar nominee wore a black beanie beneath a green camouflage zip-up hoodie and baggy blue jeans.

Rourke's street sighting came two days after TMZ reported that his dog Ivan is going to require $10,000 heart surgery and a potential second surgery costing $6,000-$8,000.

The Jade star has a well-documented affection for small-breed, canine companions even giving them a shout-out as he accepted his best actor Golden Globe Award in 2009 for his comeback role in Darren Aronofsky drama The Wrestler.

'I'd like to thank all my dogs,' Rourke said in his speech.

'The ones that are here, the ones that aren't here anymore because sometimes when a man's alone, that's all you got is your dog. And they've meant the world to me.'

Mickey Rourke went for a jog on Sunday night in LA not far from his new Koreatown apartment following his December 22nd eviction from his longtime Hollywood home

The 73-year-old Oscar nominee wore a black beanie beneath a green camouflage zip-up hoodie and baggy blue jeans

The Florida-raised retired boxer has repeatedly disowned a GoFundMe campaign set up by his own manager Kimberly Hines and assistant Dima, which raised over $100,000 to help cover the $59,100 he owed in unpaid rent.

'I am so upset and [embarrassed] about the "scam" to raise money for me!' Rourke blasted to his 497,000 Instagram followers.

'Over $100,000 was raised by concerned strangers and others. My [attorney] is doing everything in his power to make sure anyone who gave [their] hard-earned money is quickly returned.'

However, a GoFundMe spokesperson told TMZ last Friday that the campaign has been deleted and 100 percent of donation refunds were issued last Wednesday.

Hines had previously explained to THR: 'We said, "Mickey, there's some people that want to help you out." He's like, "Okay, great." I don't think he understood, and now it's taken on this media frenzy, and he flipped out.'

'The good thing about this is that he got four movie offers since yesterday. People are emailing him movie offers now, which is great because nobody's been calling him for a long time,' she noted.

The ousted Celebrity Big Brother contestant had stressed that he 'would never ask strangers or fans for a nickel' as 'that's not my style.'

Rourke will next portray The Plow King opposite Rob 'Gronk' Gronkowski's character Nickey in Tom DeNucci's sporty rom-com The Roaring Game, which hits limited US theaters February 6.

Rourke's street sighting came two days after TMZ reported that his dog Ivan is going to require $10,000 heart surgery and a potential second surgery costing $6,000-$8,000 (pictured last Friday)

The Jade star has repeatedly disowned a GoFundMe campaign set up by his own manager Kimberly Hines and assistant Dima, which raised over $100,000 to help cover the $59,100 he owed in unpaid rent

Rourke blasted: 'I am so upset and embarrassed about the "scam" to raise money for me! Over $100,000 was raised by concerned strangers and others. My [attorney] is doing everything in his power to make sure anyone who gave [their] hard-earned money is quickly returned' (pictured January 5)

The Florida-raised retired boxer - who's received 'four movie offers' this month - will next portray The Plow King opposite Rob Gronkowski (R) in Tom DeNucci's sporty rom-com The Roaring Game hitting limited US theaters February 6

Rourke is best known for his roles in films like Body Heat, Diner, Rumble Fish, The Pope of Greenwich Village, 9 Weeks, Buffalo '66, The Pledge, Man on Fire, Sin City and Iron Man 2 (pictured in 1980)

The Devil's Play actor's other upcoming projects include Mike Hatton comedy National Lampoon's Hollywood Hustle, Scout Taylor-Compton's crime flick Bring the Law and Craig Cukrowski's psychological drama 3 Days Rising.

Rourke has said younger directors are the reason his acting career was resurrected after being 'blacklisted by Hollywood for 15 years.'

The eighties heartthrob is best known for his roles in films like Body Heat (1981), Diner (1982), Rumble Fish (1983), The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984), 9 Weeks (1986), Buffalo '66 (1998), The Pledge (2001), Man on Fire (2004), Sin City (2005) and Iron Man 2 (2010).
Emma Thompson decorated her late on-screen husband Alan Rickman's hospital room prior to his death so he would feel 'more at home'.

The Harry Potter legend, who passed away in January 2016 at the age of 69 after battling pancreatic cancer, was married to wife Rima Horton since 2012.

Emma, 66, played Alan's on-screen wife in the 2003 romcom blockbuster Love Actually, while the pair had been close pals for decades, appearing together in the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

And ten years on from the tragic loss, Labour Councillor Rima, 78, has opened up about the last few months of Alan's life, saying he received visits from friends who wanted to say goodbye and even planned out his final send-off.

She revealed one of Rickman's regular visitors was his longtime friend Dame Emma who brought in throws and a standing lamp to help make the actor feel comfortable.

She told The Sunday Times newspaper: 'I think he wanted to say goodbye to his friends and have it under his control. He even organised his own funeral because he didn't want it to be a mess.'

Emma Thompson, 66, decorated her late on-screen husband Alan Rickman's hospital room prior to his death so he would feel 'more at home' (Emma and Alan seen together)

Alan's wife Rima Horton revealed his longtime pal Emma (pictured in October 2025) was a regular visitor who brought in throws and a lamp to help make the actor feel comfortable

Emma played Alan's on-screen wife on the 2003 romcom blockbuster Love Actually. The pair first met in the late 1980s (seen as Harry and Karen in Love Actually)

'(Emma) was creating a salon around him while he was in bed. She brought in a standing lamp and throws so that it didn't feel like a hospital room.'

The former academic also explained that the late actor had one request from his doctors and that was to not die in pain and she said she was glad that he did not.

The couple decided to keep the actor's cancer secret because he didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him, and Rima admitted she tried not to do any online research about the disease.

She said: 'We didn't tell anybody apart from our families at first. Alan didn't want people to look at him and say: "Oh, how sad."

'We knew it [the cancer] was fully grown and had spread. I didn't Google it or anything, I didn't want to know, but we knew what it meant. We knew the chemo wouldn't work, but you live in hope.'

Rima previously opened up about how Rickman planned his own funeral and chose Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson's hit track Uptown Funk to be played for mourners.

In an extract from the book Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries, Horton explained, she said: 'He designed his own funeral. Ian Rickson (theatre director) was put in charge.

Ten years from her tragic loss Rima, 78, has opened up about the last few months of Alan's life, saying he received visits from friends who wanted to say goodbye and even planned his final send-off (Rima and Alan seen in 2002)

'Alan chose where it would take place, who would speak and what music would be played. He was surrounded by people who loved him and up until January 13 was still in control of everything that was going on around him.

'But he wasn't there after that, and he died at 9.15 in the morning of 14 January 2016. I was there. He wasn't in pain. He just went.'

The wife of the beloved late actor went on adding: 'Alan was cremated on the morning of 3 February with close friends and family present. The funeral service was held that afternoon in the Actors' Church in the heart of London's theatre district.

'The chosen music was Uptown Funk and Take It with Me by Tom Waits. We finished with everyone singing The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore.'
Gwyneth Paltow has released a very racy and pricey Valentine's Day range of gifts topping out at a 9,300 necklace and featuring an array of sex aids.

The Hollywood star, 53, has shared her February 14 gft guide on her lifestyle website Goop, listing 60 items whilst promising there is 'something special for everyone whether their love language is chocolate or cashmere, diamonds or Dr. Diamond.'

The cheapest item on her Goop platform is a 12 bottle of 'intimate' lubrication which 'goes on cool and gradually warms up with friction, delivering an extra-tingly sensation.'

The most expensive is the foundrae collar necklace with heart medallion, which at 9,300 is listed as non-returnable.

Gwyneth is also selling a 4,500 laser treatment gizmo, a 171 sex toy, a 400 jumper and a 900 light mat designed to 'boost circulation, support muscle recovery, and enhance skin's natural glow'.

A 600 set of silver 'sex dice' is on sale, sold as 'a simple way to reinvent date night: The first is engraved with the French words for six different places on the body.

Gwyneth Paltow has released a very racey and pricey Valentine's Day range of gifts topping out at a 9,300 necklace and featuring an array of sex aids

The gift edit includes a 600 set of silver 'sex dice' is also on sale, sold as 'a simple way to reinvent date night'

'The second, six different actions (also in French). And the third is engraved with icons, each one representing a different toy.'

A 60 rechargeable sex toy is 'designed for couples by women... With a gentle squeeze and an adjustable fit, Hug provides continuous stimulation where you want it most.'

There's also a bottle of $55 Sex Oil from Goop Wellness 'for massage, sexual exploration, and play' and a box of Happy Ending Functional Mushroom Chocolates which are 'made with a carefully chosen blend of nine botanicals and adaptogensincluding horny goat weed.'

In 2020 Gwyneth faced backlash for over Goop's controversial 'vagina' candle.

The CEO-founder teamed up with Heretic Parfum founder Douglas Little to create the $75 'This smells like my vagaina' candle scented with geranium, citrusy bergamot, cedar absolutes, Damask rose, and ambrette seed.

Texas customer Colby Watson filed a $5M class action lawsuit against the lifestyle brand in 2021 when his vagina candle allegedly 'exploded' after burning for 'an estimated three hours or less.'

The actress originally launched Goop in 2008 as a weekly e-mail newsletter providing new age advice before expanding the brand into e-commerce, a wellness summit, a print magazine, a podcast, and a Netflix docuseries.

Gwyneth's latest saucy gift guide comes as the actress admitted she was 'worried' about her sex scenes with Timothee Chalamet in their Oscar-tipped movie.

There's also a bottle of $55 Sex Oil from Goop Wellness 'for massage, sexual exploration, and play'

Gwyneth, pictured with her husband Brad Falchuk, originally launched Goop in 2008 as a weekly e-mail newsletter providing new age advice before expanding the brand

In 2020 Gwyneth faced backlash for over Goop's 'vagina' candle. The star teamed up with Heretic Parfum founder Douglas Little to create the $75 'This smells like my vagaina' candle

Gwyneth's latest saucy gift guide comes as the actress admitted she was 'worried' about her sex scenes with Timothee Chalamet in their Oscar-tipped movie

The actress, 53, was convinced her Marty Supreme co-star would find getting intimate on camera with her 'really weird' because of their 23-year age gap and her own reservations, but said that ultimately it was all 'fine'.

Speaking at a Q+A for the movie in Santa Monica, she said: 'He was 27 or 28, and I was 50-whatever, and, I mean, it's weird.

'And I [thought], 'Oh, if it's weird for me, then it's going to probably really weird for [him],' but actually, it was fine. It wasn't that weird.

'It was a lot of sex scenes... and I was sort of worried about it too, just having not done all that kind of thing in so long, but it was very comfortable, and it was fine.'

Gwyneth added that she found the A Complete Unknown actor 'so easy' to work with on Marty Supreme.

As reported by People magazine, she gushed: 'He's so easy to work with. He's so brilliant and committed and comfortable and confident.'

Gwyneth - who has Apple, 21, and Moses, 19, with ex-husband Chris Martin - have aslo admitted her son covered his eyes during his mother's sex scenes in the film.

The actress was convinced her Marty Supreme co-star would find getting intimate on camera with her 'really weird' because of their 23-year age gap

During an appearance on NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers, she was asked how the teen handled the film's sex scenes and replied: 'Not great'.

Gwyneth went on to crouch over and put her hands over her eyes, adding: '[Moses] was like this the entire time. He's not into that.'

But despite Moses' embarrassment, his sister Apple thought their mom was 'bad-a**' for kissing Timothee, 30, during an intimate scene shot in New York's Central Park for the film.

She told Extra: 'My daughter thought it was very bad-a** and my son was like, 'Oh, my God, Mom.' He was like, 'This is too much.'
Call The Midwife star Olly Rix has revealed he is engaged to his stunning co-star Anna Chell after splitting from his very famous ex-girlfriend.

Olly, 40, took to Instagram on Monday to reveal he had popped the question to her in a new Instagram post.

The actor - who played Matthew Aylward on Call The Midwife, met Anna, 29, when he joined the show, with her having played the role of Jodie Whyte since 2023.

He shared a snap of himself kissing Anna on the head adding ring and love heart emojis.

He had previously confirmed their romance by sharing romantic photos from their summer together on Instagram.

He captioned the post: 'Summer with Anna and Nellie.'

Call The Midwife's Olly Rix revealed he and Casualty star Anna Chell are engaged on Instagram on Monday following his 'split' from Helen George

He shared a snap of himself kissing Anna on the head, before announcing the engagement by adding ring and love heart emojis

Olly's pals offered their congratulations in the comments, with some including: 'Congratulations! You are both great actors! 2 of my favourites on Casualty (as well as Stevie), you make the programme seem so real and that is brilliant acting skills.'

'ARGHHHH THIS IS SO, SO LUSH!! Congratulations!!!'

'Congratulations to you both lots of love and happiness xx.'

'Massive congratulations Anna and Olly.'

Olly was previously rumoured to be in a relationship with his Call The Midwife star Helen George.

They were linked after splitting from their partners in 2023.

He joined the cast of Casualty after the relationship broke down, playing surgeon Flynn Byron since 2024.

Helen, 41, who plays Trixie Franklin, the wife of Olly's Call The Midwife character, has since moved in with her boyfriend Dan Innes.

She posted a selfie of herself and the father-of-two, 52, with their Christmas tree last month.

He had previously confirmed their romance by sharing romantic photos from their summer together on Instagram

Many of Olly's pals and loved ones were quick to share their congratulations in the comments

Olly was previously linked to his Call The Midwife co-star Helen George in 2023 when they split from their respective partners, however they have now unfollowed each on Instagram

He joined the cast of Casualty after his relationship with Helen broke down, playing surgeon Flynn Byron since 2024

Anna (centre) has played Jodie Whyte on Casualty since 2023

Helen grew close to Olly after she split from her partner Jack Ashton in July 2023 after seven years together, while Olly separated from his girlfriend Natasha Fagri at a similar time.

Helen and Olly were said to be supporting each other as they navigated their respective splits.

While a source added: 'Helen and Jack's decision to end their relationship has been amicable, and no one else is involved, they have just grown apart as a couple.'

In November 2023, she was snapped leaving Olly's home which sparked rumours of a growing connection between the pair - but have now unfollowed each other on Instagram.

In 2016, Helen began a relationship with Ashton after meeting on the set of Call The Midwife, in which she plays Trixie Franklin.

The actor portrays widower Matthew Aylward and the pair's characters embarked on a romance on screen, eventually marrying.

In real life, the couple were said to have fallen for each other after travelling to South Africa to film the show's 2016 Christmas Special.

Confirming the split, Helen told The Mirror in July 2023: 'Some months ago, we separated. Our two beautiful girls remain the focus and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter.'

Helen was previously married to actor Oliver Boot, but they divorced after three years.

Helen met her former partner on the set of BBC drama Hotel Babylon, and the couple married in December 2012.

Their separation occurred just weeks before Helen began her stint on Strictly in 2015 in which she was paired with pro dancer Aljaz Skorjanec and finished in sixth place.
Spice Girl Emma Bunton has admitted she has lost her libido while going through the menopause.

The eternally youthful Baby Spice is set to turn 50 on Wednesday and the mother-of-two is happily married to Damage star Jade Jones.

They tied the knot in 2021 following a 23-year courtship and are parents to Beau, 18 and Tate, 14.

Emma realised she was in perimenopause aged 44.

She told The Times: 'My desire, my libido, whatever you want to call it, it went and that really worried me

Spice Girl Emma Bunton has admitted she lost her libido while going through menopause as she prepares to turn 50 (pictured with her husband Jade Jones)

The couple tied the knot in 2021 following a 23-year courtship and are parents to Beau, 18 and Tate, 14

'Even after 24 years together Jade and I still really fancy each other, but instead of acting on it, it was more like, Shall we watch the last episode of Succession.

'Or just "zzzzzz" rather than ripping each others clothes off. And that fading desire is a big, big shock for a woman.'

Emma said she started on HRT (hormone replacement therapy), which really helped.

She said Jade was really supportive and she can't imagine what it would be like to go through these changes without having a partner who is on your side.

Emma is planning on celebrating her birthday in style this week but in a new interview with OK! magazine, she said her plans were remaining top secret.

Back in March, she took to Instagram to share a celebratory post marking St Patrick's Day and pay tribute to her Irish heritage, as her maternal family hail from County Wexford.

She proudly posed in a purple and black polo neck from the southeastern county, while showing her age-defying beauty.

Emma then shared a clip from 28 years ago, displaying how little she had changed from the release of the Spice Girls debut album Spice in 1996.

Back in March, Emma shared a celebratory post marking St Patrick's Day and pay tribute to her Irish heritage and proved she has barely aged a day

She also shared a clip from 28 years ago, displaying how little she had changed from the release of the Spice Girls debut album Spice in 1996

Emma pictured with the rest of the Spice Girls back in 1995

The video showed the girl group winning the Best International Pop Album gong at the IRMA Awards in Dublin in February 1997.

Collecting the prize, Victoria Beckham thanked the band's fans in Ireland, before Emma jumped in to reveal her personal connection.

The then-21-year-old gushed: 'And this is especially good for me, because I am Irish. To all my family in county Wexford! My granddad will be proud, cheers!'

Emma also shared throwback photo from 2019, showing her performing on stage with a Guinness proudly held aloft.

Captioning the celebratory post, she wrote: She penned: 'Happy St. Patricks Day! Sending love to everyone celebrating today, especially my family and friends in beautiful Wexford!'
Baywatch stars Nicole Eggert, 54, and Erika Eleniak, 56, have had a surprise reunion.

The iconic actresses both attended the Los Angeles City Fire Museum on Sunday, where first responders to the 2025 Los Angeles fires were honored.

'Nothing like spending time with great ladies for a great cause #lafirefighters #oneyearlater,' wrote Eggert in her caption.

Eleniak added, 'So glad we got to spend some time together!.'

Their former Baywatch co-stars Carmen Electra and Gena Lee Nolin also left red heart emojis in the comment box.

Baywatch aired from 1989 until 2001, and starred David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson and Yasmine Bleeth.

Baywatch stars Nicole Eggert, 54, and Erika Eleniak, 56, have had a surprise reunion

Eggert starred in the original Baywatch series as Summer Quinn from 1992 through 1994.

Eggert has been giving fans health updates since she announced in January 2024 she had been diagnosed with stage two cribriform carcinoma breast cancer in December 2023, prompting her to undergo chemotherapy as well as a mastectomy.

She stated that after gaining around 25 pounds and feeling pain in her left breast beginning in October 2023, she underwent a mammogram and three biopsies  which resulted in her devastating diagnosis.

While initially she assumed her symptoms were due to menopause, she 'immediately' got in touch with the doctor when she felt a lump after doing a self-exam.

'It really was throbbing and hurting,' she explained to People. 'I immediately went to my general practitioner and she told me I had to immediately go get it looked at.'

Eggert later admitted to the outlet, 'This journey's been rough for me.

'This hasn't been a breezy sail through life,' the actress said, adding that she has been focusing on positivity. 'I always read inspirational quotes and corny stuff, but it gets me through.'

Along with Dilyn, the star is also mom to teenager Keegan, 14  and shared that her 'biggest fear' is no longer being there for her children.

'Nothing like spending time with great ladies for a great cause #lafirefighters #oneyearlater,' wrote Eggert in her caption. Eleniak added, 'So glad we got to spend some time together!'; Eggert is left and Eleniak is right

In March 2024, Eggert gave a special shout-out to her children while talking to Us Weekly.

'My girls are just, they're my rocks. They have been so amazing through all of this because it's strange.'

She also added that, 'They're proud of me. They're right by my side. They're giving me the most grace and checking on me constantly and asking me how I'm doing and we're really just loving on each other really hard.'

Eggert's close friend, Mindy Molinary, had also set up a GoFundMe for the actress to help the star with finances at the beginning of her health battle.

Amid her cancer journey, the star underwent chemotherapy as well as a mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

Last year, she shared an inspirational message to her followers on Instagram.

'Some days I freak out on what my body has gone thru. And then I remember how she showed up for me. And keeps showing up for me. So I put all my faith in her hands. She's got this.'

Eggert also offered a positive update on her Instagram stories later last year.

She could be seen sitting inside a vehicle as Missy Elliott's track Work It played in the background. The star then shared that after undergoing a recent blood test, the results came out 'clear.'

Eggert has been giving fans health updates since she announced in January 2024 she she has been diagnosed with stage two cribriform carcinoma breast cancer in December 2023, prompting her to undergo chemotherapy as well as a mastectomy

'Some days I freak out on what my body has gone thru. And then I remember how she showed up for me. And keeps showing up for me. So I put all my faith in her hands. She's got this,' she said; seen in April 2025 in Beverly Hills

Text added over the clip read: 'Not everyone realizes how stressful cancer recovery is. Every month there are blood tests and then you go in to get those results. Every. Single. Month'

Text added over the clip read: 'Not everyone realizes how stressful cancer recovery is. Every month there are blood tests and then you go in to get those results. Every. Single. Month.

'So that changes your life going forward,' Eggert further continued.

'Today my tests were clear and my white blood cell count was up without those d*** blood injections. And I am in my car rocking out and celebrating! Let's go!!!!'

During an interview with People earlier this month, Eggert explained how she is now focused on 'healing' her body following her cancer treatments and surgeries.

During an interview with People earlier this month, Eggert explained how she is now focused on 'healing' her body following her cancer treatments and surgeries; seen above in 1989

She also admitted her difficulty in saying that she had 'beat' cancer.

'I struggle with it because I don't like to use the word remission. I just say I'm NED, which is no evidence of disease, because that can change at any moment.'

The Boy Meets World actress added, 'So for me it's a day-to-day process and all I can do is focus on being the healthiest and the best I can be for me right now. And today is a good day and today I'm clear and I wanna keep it that way.

'I try to keep my inner dialogue really positive because it's really touchy and it can be very stressful if you think about it too much.'

Eleniak was a top Hollywood pinup 30 years ago  thanks to her blonde bombshell looks which saw her likened to icons Jayne Mansfield and Kim Novak.

The siren made her film debut in Steven Spielberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in 1982, and she later changed up her image as a Playboy Playmate for Hugh Hefner.

The film and television star is best known for slipping into a red swimsuit to star on Baywatch for three years, from 1989 to 1992.

She played Shauni McClain, the original female lead in the show's first two seasons.

Three decades on, the actress has a striking new look as she is covered in tattoos  with Eleniak showing off her body art in a new photo from the set of one of her new films.

Eleniak revealed what propelled her to ink her body in a recent episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast with Steve Kmetko.

Eleniak is best known for slipping into a red swimsuit to star on Baywatch for three years, from 1989 to 1992

She played Shauni McClain, the original female lead in the show's first two seasons. Seen with Tom McTigue, David Hasselhoff, Billy Warlock, Pamela Bach, Richard Jaeckel, Monte Markham, Jeremy Jackson

She revealed that she started getting tattoos on her back sometime in her 'late 20s', after her stint on Baywatch ended at the start of the third season.

'Every tattoo that I have is significant of something,' she said, citing on that had her mother's name for example.

'I love tattoos. I love that my body is a canvas to tell my stories,' she added.

Eleniak was born in Glendale, California, to parents of Ukrainian, Estonian and German descent whose family had previously settled in Canada.

The star was a part of cinematic history in 1982 when she was cast as a girl who kisses E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial child star, Henry Thomas, during a classroom scene.

Her next film role was in 1983's Imps*, which only received a belated release in 2009.

In 1987, she began appearing on television with guest roles on Silver Spoons, Still the Beaver and Boys Will Be Boys.

Baywatch starring David Hasselhoff was enormously successful thanks to beauties like Eleniak as well as Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra

In 1987, she began appearing on TV with guest roles on Silver Spoons, The New Leave It To Beaver and Boys Will Be Boys. On film, she appeared in the cult classic horror remake The Blob (1988), followed by Under Siege and 1993's The Beverly Hillbillies adaptation (pictured)

After a multi-year absence, she returned to film to play one of the victims in 1988's gross-out remake of The Blob, which is now considered a science fiction horror cult classic.

She followed it up with roles in bigger budget films, including the Steven Seagal action film Under Siege, the 1993 film adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies, the 1995 rom-com A Pyromaniac's Love Story and the 1996 Tales From The Crypt spinoff film Bordello Of Blood.

Her subsequent films in the late '90s, 2000s and 2020s were less frequent and were small-budget independent productions.

Eleniak's most recently film was 2024's Lolipop Gang, in which she appeared as herself five years after her previous film role.

As she was starting to appear in more high-profile films, she also had a three-episode run opposite Scott Baio on Charles In Charge in 1989 before beginning her stint on Baywatch.

Eleniak seen in a new image from her movie Alchemy In Venice which recently wrapped; the tattoos all over her arms are real

The star flashed her body ink in all its glory during a rare red carpet appearance in August 2024

She appeared in the show's TV movie pilot Panic At Malibu Pier as Shauni McClain before joining the main cast for the first two seasons.

Her character started up a relationship with Billy Warlock's character Eddie Kramer, and they married at the beginning of the third season and moved to Australia, ending her time on the series. The actors were also engaged in real life at one point.

The beginning of her Baywatch career in 1989 coincided with her appearing on the cover of the July 1989 issue of Playboy Magazine.

Just before her stint on Baywatch, Eleniak appeared as a Playmate on the July 1989 cover of Playboy Magazine when her roommate, a model for the magazine, introduced her to its photo editor, who encouraged her to model.

Eleniak said she became known as 'the difficult' Playmate in the late '80s because she found shooting for the magazine uncomfortable and bristled at ideas from photographers. 'I viewed it as a modeling job,' she clarified on Still Here Hollywood, and she stressed that she always considered herself 'an actress who did Playboy', rather than a real Playmate.

Eleniak later married the bodybuilder Philip Golgia in 1998, but they divorced after just six months. In the early 2000s she began dating the film worker Roch Daigle, and they moved to Calgary, Canada, before tying the knot in 2005 and later welcoming a daughter together.

Erika's most recent project was narrating an eight-episode podcast series, The Murder Years, from last year, according to IMDb.
Nicki Minaj launched a furious social media attack against Don Lemon after he reported on a disruptive protest at a Minnesota church tied to ongoing demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On Sunday, the 43-year-old rapper erupted on X after Lemon, 59, livestreamed a confrontation at Cities Church in St. Paul, where protesters stormed a Sunday service to condemn the alleged presence of ICE leadership within the church.

In an all-caps post, Minaj wrote: 'DON 'C**K SUCKIN' LEMON IS DISGUSTING.'

Lemon, who is openly gay and married real estate agent Tim Malone in 2024, became the target of further attacks as Minaj continued her homophobic tirade.

'HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!' she added.

In response to Minaj's social media attack, Lemon told TMZ: 'I'm not surprised Nicki Minaj does not understand journalism and is weighing in on matters that are above her capacity.'

Nicki Minaj launched a furious social media attack against Don Lemon after he reported on a disruptive protest at a Minnesota church

The Daily Mail has reached out to Minaj and Lemon's respective representatives for comment, but has not heard back, at this time.

Lemon further addressed her remarks while appearing on Monday's 'I've Had It Podcast', stating, 'Nicki Minaj is not a Christian. She knows nothing about a Christian. What she is  is a grifter.'

He went on to say: 'Nicki Minaj doesn't care about black people. She doesn't care about gay people. Those are two of her biggest supporters and the people who make her rich.'

'If we were in the day where we... where we bought records, I would be burning Nicki Minaj's records today.'

'So, I'm so glad that I've never been a Nicki Minaj fan. I don't know her music. There's nothing on my playlist that's ever Nicki Minaj, and... there isn't going to be because she is an ignorant pick me, and I choose not to pick her,' Lemon added.

Minaj's comments came after Lemon livestreamed the chaotic scene as demonstrators interrupted worship at Cities Church, angrily demanding 'ICE out' and accusing a senior church leader of working with the agency.

One demonstrator said the protest was 'demanding justice for' Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis mother who was fatally shot earlier this month by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.

'This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities,' protester Nekima Levy Armstrong said as Lemon questioned marchers inside the church.

On Sunday, the rapper, 43, erupted on X after Lemon, 59, livestreamed a confrontation at Cities Church in St. Paul, where protesters stormed a Sunday service

In an all-caps post, Minaj wrote: 'DON 'C**K SUCKIN' LEMON IS DISGUSTING'

The protest action quickly disrupted services, with multiple worshippers leaving in anger after being harassed.

'These people have come into our house and they've interrupted our worship,' one churchgoer said. 'Everybody's gone home, their point has been proven worthless and so, in the end, I think they lose.'

Another added: 'I feel violated, I feel interrupted, I feel angry.'

Lemon, who has been operating as an independent journalist since his firing from CNN, also spoke with one of the pastors at Cities Church, who said protesters refused to engage in peaceful dialogue.

The church protest drew swift condemnation from federal officials.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Sunday she spoke with the pastor and reassured him that any attacks would be met with 'the full force of federal law.'

'If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails,' Bondi said.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon confirmed protesters would be investigated under the FACE Act, which criminalizes the use of force or threats at places of worship.

ICE also weighed in, posting on social media: 'Agitators aren't just targeting our officers. Now they're targeting churches, too We won't be deterred. ICE isn't going anywhere.'

Lemon, who is openly gay and married real estate agent Tim Malone in 2024, became the target of further attacks as Minaj continued her tirade

'HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!' she added

In response to Minaj's social media attack, Lemon told TMZ: 'I'm not surprised Nicki Minaj does not understand journalism and is weighing in on matters that are above her capacity'

The protests have intensified across Minnesota following Good's killing earlier this month, with political leaders clashing publicly over federal enforcement tactics.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Sunday that his city was 'under siege' after being 'invaded' by ICE agents during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

'This is ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government,' Frey said.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has also criticized ICE, prompting the Trump administration to launch a Department of Justice investigation into both leaders for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement.

President Donald Trump addressed the unrest on Truth Social, warning that if he was 'forced to act,' the situation would be resolved 'QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY.'

The Department of Homeland Security has since deployed nearly 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota, with 1,500 troops reportedly on standby as tensions continue to escalate amid ongoing protests and violent confrontations.
Sarah Jessica Parker has defended Thorn Birds star Rachel Ward after she was viciously trolled for sharing a no make-up selfie recently.

The Sex and the City actress, 60, commented under a recent post of Rachel's that garnered a huge amount of reaction from mean critics.

The iconic Australian actress, 68, took to Instagram last month to promote her ethical meat initiative, Farmthru.

Rachel, who runs a 350-head beef cattle farm in the Nambucca Valley, with husband Bryan Brown, 78, was thanking customers for their patronage throughout 2025.

The seemingly innocuous post was met with some cruel comments from followers.

However many big names, including Sarah have now defended her.

Sarah Jessica Parker has defended Thorn Birds star Rachel Ward after she was viciously trolled for sharing a no make-up selfie recently

The iconic Australian actress, 68, took to Instagram last month to promote her ethical meat initiative, Farmthru, but the seemingly innocuous post was met with some cruel comments

The Carrie Bradshaw actress penned under a recent post from her daughter calling out the trolls: 'She is sincerely beautiful. For real. No qualifiers. Just a beauty. I'm sure inside and out. Xxx.'

Zoe Saldana also showed her support as she penned: 'Your mother is stunning!!! Always has been.'

Sarah Cawood added: 'She's stunning. Always was. Still is. My mum always says if you have nothing nice to say..SAY NOTHING!'

After hitting back at the trolls in a now-viral response, Rachel took to Instagram again on Friday to extol the virtues of ageing.

'Dear those that responded to the brouhaha over the trolls criticising my appearance, I have tried to do a little better today  I ran my hands through my hair, etcetera,' Rachel joked.

Continuing, Rachel added that ageing was not something to be feared, but rather something to be welcomed with open arms.

'Anyway, just to say, do not fear ageing, it's a wonderful period of life,' she said.

'In [my] 60s, I am more fulfilled than ever and I have no regrets over leaving my youth and beauty behind.'

However many big names, including Sarah have now defended her. Sarah wrote: 'She is sincerely beautiful. For real. No qualifiers. Just a beauty. I'm sure inside and out. Xxx.'

Rachel is pictured with Richard Chamberlain on the beach in The Thorn Birds in 1983

Rachel then claimed, paraphrasing the poet John Keats, that beauty was the dominion of the young, before admitting that ageing also holds its own charms.

'Although I do acknowledge, as Keats says, 'youth is beauty, beauty is youth, and that is all you need to know,'' she said.

'Well, I'm not youthful, but I'm a very happy camper and later years are to be exalted and welcomed, and you wait until you get there.

'[There are] so many other gifts to bestow that you have no idea what they are until you get there.'

Rounding out her post, Rachel said that she was overwhelmed with the messages of support she received after her trolling incident.

'But I do recognise that we're all a little bit worried about losing our youth and resorting to rather drastic ways of holding onto it. But let it go and much bounty will come,' Rachel said.

She also doubled down on the sentiment in the clip's caption, joking that she should make more of an effort before taking to social media.

'Overwhelmed by the generosity that poured forth after a few fearful trolls went on the attack of my rather unkempt appearance before Christmas,' she wrote.

'I'm a farmer now, but really should do my hair and apply some lippy before I go on social media. Apologies for frightening a few of you.'

Rachel's post was met with another outpouring of support from followers, including My Kitchen Rules star Colin Fassnidge, who responded with a clapping hands emoji.

Former Block judge Neale Whitaker also praised Rachel for her refreshing approach to ageing.

'What a beautiful, generous and eloquent response,' he wrote. 'And I agree with you wholeheartedly. I was dreading my 60s but I'm actually loving them.'

Another follower added: 'I saw your previous post and was really impressed by how naturally beautiful you are. You are and always have been simply stunning.'

A fourth summed up the sentiment of many with: 'Ageing is an honour and a privilege that not everyone gets to experience, and you are doing it with such grace.'

Rachel's pre-Christmas post was met with some cruel comments from followers.

'I read she's 68. Looks way older! I'm 62 and can't believe she's only a few years older than me,' one wrote, while another offered a similarly cutting: 'OMG what the hell happened to u? U were so pretty???'

Another critic claimed that Rachel's appearance was due to 'years of neglect'.

Rachel responded: 'I just feel sorry for those poor souls who fear ageing so much. They will learn that it's ultimate freedom as a woman to let youth and beauty go.'

Born in the UK, Rachel relocated permanently after marrying fellow acting icon Bryan Brown in 1983.

The couple met on the set of the mini-series The Thorn Birds, and went on to have three children  Rosie, 42, Matilda, 39, and Joe, 34.

Last week Rachel also addressed the hate saying from her farm: 'I couldn't care less.'

'The whole thing has become rather over-inflated because it touched a nerve and it's probably time the conversation was had,' she added, talking exclusively to the Daily Mail.

After hitting back at the trolls in a now-viral response, Rachel took to Instagram again on Friday to extol the virtues of ageing

'Women fear being judged and criticised for ageing naturally. They feel they have to hang on to their youth and are resorting to rather drastic ways of doing it. But let it go! And much bounty will come from it.

'I was just a catalyst for the debate, but the trolls absolutely didn't ruffle my feathers. If you expose yourself online, you have to expect it, don't you?

'There's a hypocrisy about it. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I've no criticism of anyone who chooses to have treatments, but I just can't be bothered. And I don't know why people are.

'It's not as if I care about being attractive because I'm looking for a mate or trying to hold on to one. Those days are long gone.'
Millie Bobby Brown debuted a whole new look as she arrived on the red carpet for the Joy Awards in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.

The actress, 21, appeared to be embracing a new era after Netflix's Stranger Things aired the final earlier this month as she ditched her longer red locks in favour of a short, choppy bob.

Millie, who famously shaved her head to play the role of Eleven in the hit franchise, is no stranger to switching up her hairstyle.

The screen star accepted the award for Personality of the Year at the annual award ceremony which celebrates 'music stars and legends, cinema icons, accomplished athletes, and other inspiring figures who are making a positive impact on people's lives'.

Millie looked incredible in a silver crystal mesh Tamara Ralph gown embellished with mother of pearl sequin flowers, from the designer's most recent Autumn-Winter 2025/2026 collection, presented last year in Paris.

Chopard earrings complemented Millie's new hair and elegant make-up look.

Millie Bobby Brown debuted a whole new look as she arrived on the red carpet for the Joy Awards in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia over the weekend

The actress, 21, appeared to be embracing a new era after Netflix's Stranger Things aired the final earlier this month as she ditched her longer red locks in favour of a shorter, choppier bob

Speaking about the change, Millie said on the red carpet: 'I feel like old Hollywood tonight. I just cut my hair into a very short bob, so I was like, "Okay, the sparklier, the better".'

In her acceptance speech, the actress reflected on the end of Stranger Things and becoming a mother.

Millie and her husband Jake Bongiovi, 23, adopted a baby daughter in the summer of 2025, announcing the news in August. Her close friend and co-star Noah Schnapp is the baby's godfather.

She said: 'Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be in the creative world. Pursuing creativity and becoming an actor at eight years old wasnt a dream I chased on my own. It was encouraged and supported by my parents, who never doubted me for a second.

'Im so honored to have my own unit in my life. My family are my anchor, my husband is my sail, my team are my engine, and my daughter is my North Star. I wouldnt be able to do any of this without them.'

The actress has been increasingly open about her life as a mother, but remains fiercely protective of her daughter's privacy.

While speaking to British Vogue for the magazine's December issue, she emphasised she has no plans to reveal her child's identity publicly until she is old enough to decide for herself.

'For me, it's really important to protect her and her story until she's old enough to potentially one day share it herself,' Millie explained. 'It's our job to protect her from that.'

Speaking about the change, Millie said on the red carpet: 'I feel like old Hollywood tonight. I just cut my hair into a very short bob, so I was like, "Okay, the sparklier, the better"

In her acceptance speech, the actress reflected on the end of Stranger Things and becoming a mother. Millie and her husband Jake Bongiovi, 23, adopted a baby daughter last summer

The actress also recently that she has officially taken Bongiovi's last name, proudly becoming Millie Bonnie Bongiovi.

The moment unfolded in a playful interview with co-star Noah Schnapp, who stumbled over her newly updated moniker before she corrected him with a big smile.

The young couple, both one of four siblings, have made no secret of their hopes for a bustling household.

'I really want a big family,' she shared with Vogue, adding that parenting duties are firmly split down the middle. 'We are 50-50 on everything he is just the most amazing dad.'

The couple married in May 2024 after years of openly discussing their dream of becoming parents, including embracing adoption as a natural part of building their family.

In August, they officially announced that dream had come true.

'This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,' they wrote.

'We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.'
Bella Hadid faced the snowy east coast weather in style as she headed to a photo shoot in New York City on Monday.

The 29-year-old model  who just accused Dolce & Gabbana for racism  bundled up in layers including a red varsity bomber and a brown faux fur coat.

Her blonde hair was set in orange rollers in preparation for her imminent modeling gig.

The Vogue cover girl looked glamorous as she arrived to the Midtown Manhattan photo shoot in heavy makeup and a large pair of black sunglasses.

Hadid, who was clad in belted white trousers, rounded out her outfit with black sneakers.

It comes after the Vogue cover girl told People magazine about the words of wisdom she received from her The Beauty castmates.

Bella Hadid faced the snowy east coast weather in style as she headed to a photo shoot in New York City on Monday

She had a playful moment as she caught snowflakes with her tongue

The star has a role in Ryan Murphy's sci-fi body horror series and welcomed the guidance of more experienced actors such as Jeremy Pope and Ashton Kutcher.

She said at the show's New York City premiere: 'They were able to just tell me a lot of words and wisdom and explain to me that even being crazy and weird is still positive.

'And sometimes things are embarrassing and at the end of the day, it's not embarrassing.'

She explained: 'We're all able to be different versions of ourselves and that's what was most important for me on this set.'

Hadid often filmed separately from her co-stars but still found them 'so impactful.'

The budding actress said: 'Ashton was so helpful with just little words. I love Jeremy so much, everybody was just so welcoming to me.

'We were not really shooting on the same sets most of the time. We had one dinner together, which was awesome.'

In the upcoming FX show, Hadid plays a model on a murderous rampage and hopes that her work on the series yields more acting opportunities.

The star has a role in Ryan Murphy's sci-fi body horror series The Beauty, and said she welcomed the guidance of more experienced actors Jeremy Pope and Ashton Kutcher; pictured on January 14

The budding actress said about her seasoned co-star: 'Ashton was so helpful with just little words. I love Jeremy so much, everybody was just so welcoming to me'; (L-R) Kutcher, Jeremy Pope, Anthony Ramos, Hadid, Rebecca Hall, Evan Peters and Isabella Rossellini

She told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I would love to keep continuing acting after this. This is a dream of mine'

She told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I would love to keep continuing acting after this. This is a dream of mine.

'Ive brought my art side and my creativity to modeling, but at the end of the day, I love being able to move, and I love film and acting in general. I love actors because they can be different characters for so many different people.'

She added of working with American Horror Story creator Murphy: 'Ryan has just an incredible brain. I love his brain. I love his heart.

'Hes somebody I really look up to when it comes to directing, and I think he brings fantasy into so many things. Im just grateful that he brought me onto this opportunity.'

Hadid explained that she wanted to be pushed out of her 'comfort zone' by playing a 'haggard' character.

The runway regular said: 'When I spoke to Ryan in the beginning, it was very much about being able to go out of my comfort zone.

'I said: "Ryan, I want you to make me look haggard." I never want to be the girl next door. I told all of my agents.

'I think I definitely went out of my comfort zone in many different ways. But he pushed me to be a different version of myself, which I've always wanted to do.'
Nicola Peltz paid tribute to fashion icon Valentino Garavani following his death in Rome on Monday aged 93.

The heiress, 31, took to her Instagram Stories with snaps of the designer who created her gown for her 2022 wedding to husband Brooklyn Beckham, 26.

Her post comes after Brooklyn's explosive rant accusing his famous Victoria and David of 'endlessly trying' to end his relationship with Nicola and claimed his mum pulled out of designing his bride's gown at the last minute.

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, known mononymously as Valentino, dressed everyone from Kim Kardashian to Princess Diana and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy throughout his incredible sixty year career.

He was renowned for his impeccable tailoring, glam gowns as well as the use signature shade of red, now universally known as 'Valentino red'.

His foundation took to Instagram to confirm the tragic news and to confirm his body would lay in state ahead of Friday's funeral at Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Romes Piazza della Repubblica.

Nicola Peltz paid tribute to fashion icon Valentino Garavani following his death in Rome on Monday aged 93 (pictured at their 2025 vow renewal)

The heiress, 31, took to her Instagram Stories with snaps of the designer who created her gown for her 2022 wedding to husband Brooklyn Beckham, 26

Brooklyn launched an astonishing attack on his parents as he finally addressed their long-standing feud.

The arising chef took to Instagram on Monday night to share a six-page statement, where he said he has no wishes to reconcile with his family and is standing up for himself 'for the first time in my life'.

Brooklyn and his wife Nicola are at the heart of the acrimonious divide that has resulted in them snubbing all significant family celebrations over recent months, including his father David's milestone 50th birthday and knighthood.

Not holding back, the chef went as far as to say he has been 'controlled by a family that values public promotion above all else' and that since being with Nicola, he has found 'peace and relief' after battling crippling anxiety.

The chef said fractures within the family began during their wedding in April 2022 as he claimed his mother Victoria, 51, and dad David 'endlessly tried' to ruin their relationship.

Brooklyn also claimed Victoria, who has her own fashion brand, cancelled making Nicola's wedding dress at the 'eleventh hour' and hijacked their first dance which left him so 'embarrassed' they decided to renew their vows without his family last year.

He also hit out at his father, as he said he was in the UK to attend David's 50th celebrations, but claimed repeated requests to see him beforehand were ignored and 'when he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn't invited'.

In an impassioned statement, Brooklyn wrote: 'I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private.

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, known mononymously as Valentino, dressed everyone from Kim Kardashian to Princess Diana

He was renowned for his impeccable tailoring, glam gowns as well as the use signature shade of red, now universally known as 'Valentino red'

Her post comes after Brooklyn's explosive rant accusing mum Victoria and pulling out of designing his bride's gown at the last minute in a furious online rant

'Unfortunately my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.

'I do not want to reconcile with my family. I'm not being controlled, I'm standing up for myself for the first time in my life.'

'For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family.

'The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

'Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they'll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade. But I believe the truth always come out.'

Brooklyn went on to address his wedding to Nicola, claiming there had been repeated attempts to ruin their relationship.

Rumours of tension first emerged after the actress sported a stunning couture Valentino bridal dress, after previous reports she would wear a design from Victoria.

Brooklyn wrote: 'My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn't stopped.

'My mum cancelled making Nicola's dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.'

'Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.

'They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated.

'My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since.

'During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me "evil" because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola's Naunni at our table, because they both didn't have their husbands. Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

Brooklyn launched an astonishing attack on his parents as he finally addressed their long-standing feud (pictured 2020)

Brooklyn also claimed that his parents had been 'trying endlessly' to ruin his relationship with Nicola since before their wedding (Victoria pictured in her mother-of-the-groom gown)

He wrote: 'I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private'

Brooklyn claimed: 'The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was "not blood" and "not family"

'My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we've tried to come together as one', he continued

'The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life', he went on

'The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was "not blood" and "not family."

'Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, I've received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders.

'Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last summer.'

Cruz previously claimed Brooklyn had blocked his entire family on social media following reports they had unfollowed him.

'My mum and dad would never unfollow their son... Let's get the facts right. They woke up blocked... as did I,' Cruz wrote.

Brooklyn went on to talk about his first dance at the wedding with Nicola, which he claimed was hijacked by his mother.

He said he was 'so uncomfortable and humiliated' they decided to renew their vows on their third wedding anniversary.

His family - including brothers Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and sister Harper, 14, - were not present to watch him renew his vows in New York's Westchester County on August 2.

Brooklyn continued: '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. 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.'

Daily Mail has contacted the Beckhams for comment.
Leonardo DiCaprio appears to have a new secret weapon in his awards-season arsenal - his supermodel girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti.

The Oscar winner, 51, was spotted enjoying a low-key shopping trip in New York City with Ceretti, 27, marking the couples first public outing since comedian Nikki Glaser took aim at DiCaprios love life during the 2026 Golden Globes.

Seemingly unfazed by the high-profile roast, DiCaprio spent the evening browsing luxury boutiques in Soho, including Dior and Saint Laurent.

As Ceretti played stylist and closely monitored his selections, she offered guidance along the way.

While the Italian model didnt try on any items herself, she kept a watchful eye as DiCaprio examined pieces in the mirror, at times pointing out which items he should grab and appearing to keep tabs on price tags as he built out a new wardrobe.

The actor ultimately purchased nearly a dozen items, leaving the bags behind at the store to be delivered later.

Leonardo DiCaprio appears to have a new secret weapon in his awards-season arsenal - his supermodel girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti

The outing comes days after Glaser showed no mercy when DiCaprios dating history became fodder for jokes on one of Hollywoods biggest stages.

While hosting the Golden Globes at the Beverly Hilton last weekend, the 41-year-old comedian applauded DiCaprios celebrated career before turning her attention to his relationship with Ceretti.

The most impressive thing is that youve been able to accomplish all of this before your girlfriend turned 30, Glaser quipped.

Cameras immediately cut to DiCaprio, whose sheepish reaction - complete with averted eyes and an awkward thumbs-up - quickly went viral.

Glaser later apologized for the cheap joke, noting that the notoriously private star gives the public little to work with beyond his dating life.

She then capped off the moment by asking whether pasta, pasta, and more pasta was still his favorite food, a callback to a 90s teen magazine interview, prompting an amused Yes from DiCaprio as the crowd erupted.

Ceretti did not accompany DiCaprio to the Golden Globes, but the pair have been quietly going strong since August 2023.

The actor is 24 years older than the model, who finalized her divorce from DJ Matteo Milleri just two months before their romance went public.

The actor was spotted enjoying a low-key shopping trip in New York City with Ceretti marking the couples first public outing since comedian Nikki Glaser took aim at DiCaprios love life during the 2026 Golden Globes

Seemingly unfazed by the high-profile roast, DiCaprio spent the evening browsing luxury boutiques in Soho, including Dior and Saint Laurent

As Ceretti played stylist and closely monitored his selections, she offered guidance along the way

While the Italian model didnt try on any items herself, she kept a watchful eye as DiCaprio examined pieces in the mirror, at times pointing out which items he should grab and appearing to keep tabs on price tags as he built out a new wardrobe

The actor ultimately purchased nearly a dozen items, leaving the bags behind at the store to be delivered later

Over the course of their time together, Ceretti has been seen on occasion with a ring on her wedding finger, but sources have insisted she and the actor are not engaged.

In March, the model admitted she found it 'extremely annoying' to be reduced to just 'Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend.'

Speaking to Vogue France, she sidestepped using DiCaprio's name, instead referring to him simply as a 'very, very famous movie star' while referencing his role in Titanic, which she branded 'iconic.'

However, Ceretti kept her distance from public labels and shared that the pair's bond is strong enough to dodge any jealousy.

'It's something you learn. If what you're experiencing is real, if you know you love each other, then there's no reason to be alarmed,' she said. 'Because love protects and gives confidence.'

At one point during the shopping trip, Ceretti took a brief phone call

DiCaprio also appeared to pick up a pair of white sneakers

The outing comes days after Glaser showed no mercy when DiCaprios dating history became fodder for jokes on one of Hollywoods biggest stages

Ceretti did not accompany DiCaprio to the Golden Globes, but the pair have been quietly going strong since August 2023

The actor is 24 years older than the model, who finalized her divorce from DJ Matteo Milleri just two months before their romance went public

DiCaprio has a reputation for dating much younger women, resulting in a fan theory that he has an 'under 25 rule' for his girlfriends.

But the actor has debunked that idea in his latest romance.

'Vittoria's quite different to the other girls he's been with,' a source told The Sun in October.

'She was harder to impress, she's very Italian and has high expectations.'

It was added: 'Immediately she struck up a strong bond with his mother, plus she is very in demand - she's the one with the full diary and jet-set life, not just following him around.'

Ceretti is said to have a close bond with the actor's mom, Irmelin Indenbirken.

Ceretti is said to have a close bond with the actor's mom, Irmelin Indenbirken; seen on January 11, 2026

Ceretti is a highly successful model known for walking for major fashion houses like Chanel, Versace, and Dior (pictured at the 2024 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show)

DiCaprio previously dated Camila Morrone for five years.

They got together sometime in 2017, following his breakup with model Nina Agdal, though representatives for both initially denied that they were a pair.

But by summer 2022 they called it quits, shortly before Morrone's 25th birthday in June.

The Hollywood star had also been linked to Gigi Hadid after they fueled romance speculation in September 2022.

He has also been linked to Gisele Bundchen, Bar Refaeli, Toni Garrn, Nina Agdal and Blake Lively.
Ally Financial (NYSE:ALLY  Get Free Report) is anticipated to announce its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Wednesday, January 21st. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.02 per share and revenue of $2.1471 billion for the quarter. Investors can find conference call details on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET.

Ally Financial (NYSE:ALLY  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $2.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.12 billion. Ally Financial had a net margin of 8.10% and a return on equity of 9.96%. The businesss revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.95 EPS. On average, analysts expect Ally Financial to post $4 EPS for the current fiscal year and $5 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Ally Financial Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:ALLY opened at $43.60 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.92. The stocks 50-day moving average is $43.12 and its 200-day moving average is $41.07. The company has a market cap of $13.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.17. Ally Financial has a 52-week low of $29.52 and a 52-week high of $47.27.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Ally Financial announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, December 10th that allows the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 15.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

In other news, insider Kathleen L. Patterson sold 29,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.86, for a total value of $1,184,940.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 100,203 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,094,294.58. This represents a 22.45% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ally Financial

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Ally Financial by 19.6% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 11,938,680 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $467,996,000 after buying an additional 1,958,201 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its position in shares of Ally Financial by 8,255.7% during the third quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 1,230,384 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $48,231,000 after purchasing an additional 1,215,659 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Ally Financial by 38.9% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,771,190 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $146,888,000 after purchasing an additional 1,056,060 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ally Financial during the second quarter valued at approximately $22,431,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Ally Financial by 36.7% in the third quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 1,125,188 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $44,107,000 after purchasing an additional 301,986 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.76% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ALLY has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on shares of Ally Financial from $56.00 to $51.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Ally Financial from $47.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Ally Financial in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Ally Financial from a hold rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised Ally Financial from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the company from $48.00 to $53.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ally Financial currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.44.

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About Ally Financial

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Ally Financial Inc is a leading digital financial services company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. The company offers a comprehensive suite of banking, lending, and insurance products designed for retail and commercial customers. Through its online-only platform, Ally Bank provides checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and home mortgages, emphasizing competitive rates and user-friendly mobile and web experiences.

In addition to its banking operations, Ally Financial is a major player in automotive financing and leasing.

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America Movil (NYSE:AMX  Get Free Report) was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report issued on Saturday.

A number of other research firms have also recently issued reports on AMX. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $24.30 price target on shares of America Movil and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of America Movil from $21.10 to $23.60 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of America Movil from $17.10 to $19.50 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of America Movil in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Santander lowered America Movil from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.34.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on America Movil

America Movil Stock Performance

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

NYSE AMX opened at $20.46 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. America Movil has a twelve month low of $13.10 and a twelve month high of $23.68. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $21.58 and a 200 day moving average of $20.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.63 and a beta of 0.78.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC grew its position in America Movil by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 12,985 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $273,000 after acquiring an additional 455 shares in the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in America Movil by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 36,075 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $758,000 after buying an additional 560 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. increased its stake in America Movil by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 21,198 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $380,000 after buying an additional 582 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in America Movil by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 39,561 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $710,000 after buying an additional 666 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MAI Capital Management boosted its position in America Movil by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 29,097 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock valued at $522,000 after buying an additional 680 shares during the period. 6.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About America Movil

(Get Free Report)

America Movil is a Mexican telecommunications company headquartered in Mexico City that provides a broad range of communications services. Established in the early 2000s out of the expansion of the Slim familys telecommunications holdings, the company is a major provider of mobile and fixed-line telephony, broadband internet and pay-television services in the region. Its operations span retail consumer services as well as wholesale and enterprise solutions, positioning it as an integrated communications provider across multiple customer segments.

The company markets services under several regional brandsmost notably Telcel in Mexico and Claro across many Latin American marketsand offers both prepaid and postpaid mobile plans, fixed and mobile broadband, fiber-to-the-home where available, and video/broadcast distribution services.

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Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:SILJ  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 3,605,092 shares, an increase of 27.6% from the December 15th total of 2,824,486 shares. Currently, 2.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 9,667,442 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Based on an average daily volume of 9,667,442 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 2.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF Price Performance

Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF stock traded up $0.65 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $33.50. The stock had a trading volume of 12,238,553 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,157,277. Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF has a 1-year low of $10.01 and a 1-year high of $33.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.57 and a beta of 0.79. The stocks fifty day moving average is $26.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $21.98.

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Institutional Trading of Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF by 151.5% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 333,551 shares of the companys stock worth $4,042,000 after purchasing an additional 200,940 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $149,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF by 334.2% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 25,401 shares of the companys stock worth $376,000 after buying an additional 19,551 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc acquired a new position in shares of Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in shares of Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF by 100.0% in the second quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 250,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,700,000 after buying an additional 125,000 shares during the last quarter.

About Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF

The ETFMG Prime Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in materials equity. The fund tracks a modified market-cap-weighted index of small-cap silver mining and exploration companies. SILJ was launched on Nov 28, 2012 and is managed by ETF Managers Group.

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Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria S.A. (NYSE:BBVA  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,510,457 shares, an increase of 46.2% from the December 15th total of 1,033,380 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,088,714 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 1,088,714 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BBVA traded up $0.29 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $24.38. The company had a trading volume of 1,602,615 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,335,022. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria has a twelve month low of $10.60 and a twelve month high of $24.82. The stock has a market cap of $140.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.82. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $22.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.66.

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Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The bank reported $0.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.01. Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria had a return on equity of 17.07% and a net margin of 28.58%.The company had revenue of $10.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.47 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria will post 1.59 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BBVA. Rathbones Group PLC raised its holdings in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 4.6% in the second quarter. Rathbones Group PLC now owns 70,175 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,079,000 after acquiring an additional 3,066 shares in the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 612.4% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 515,444 shares of the banks stock worth $7,922,000 after acquiring an additional 443,092 shares in the last quarter. Beck Bode LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,342,000. US Bancorp DE raised its holdings in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 781,851 shares of the banks stock valued at $12,017,000 after purchasing an additional 25,148 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria during the 2nd quarter worth $1,773,000. 2.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

BBVA has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. They set an equal weight rating for the company. Zacks Research lowered Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b+) rating on shares of Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

View Our Latest Research Report on BBVA

Banco Bilbao Viscaya Argentaria Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA) is a Spanish multinational financial services group headquartered in Bilbao, Spain. The bank traces its roots to several historic regional banks and was formed through a series of mergers that consolidated its position as one of Spains largest banking groups. BBVA operates as a universal bank offering a broad range of financial services to retail, corporate and institutional clients.

BBVAs core businesses include retail and commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, private banking and wealth management, asset management, and insurance.

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Triumph Financial (NYSE:TFIN  Get Free Report) is one of 20 publicly-traded companies in the State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Triumph Financial to related businesses based on the strength of its earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

91.1% of Triumph Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.2% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are owned by institutional investors. 5.6% of Triumph Financial shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.7% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Triumph Financial and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Triumph Financial 1 1 0 0 1.50 Triumph Financial Competitors 31 173 217 26 2.53

Valuation and Earnings

Triumph Financial presently has a consensus price target of $70.00, indicating a potential upside of 1.46%. As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies have a potential upside of 3.50%. Given Triumph Financials competitors stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Triumph Financial has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

This table compares Triumph Financial and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Triumph Financial $487.93 million $16.09 million 237.90 Triumph Financial Competitors $723.51 million $95.99 million 40.24

Triumph Financials competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Triumph Financial. Triumph Financial is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Triumph Financial and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Triumph Financial 2.00% 1.76% 0.24% Triumph Financial Competitors 7.23% 6.94% 0.79%

Volatility & Risk

Triumph Financial has a beta of 1.48, indicating that its stock price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Triumph Financials competitors have a beta of 1.01, indicating that their average stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Triumph Financial competitors beat Triumph Financial on 10 of the 13 factors compared.

About Triumph Financial

(Get Free Report)

Triumph Bancorp, Inc. operates as a financial holding company for TBK Bank, SSB that provides various banking and commercial finance products and services to retail customers and small-to-mid-sized businesses in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Banking, Factoring, Payments, and Corporate. It offers depository products, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; and commercial and industrial loans, loans to purchase capital equipment, and business loans for working capital and operational purposes. The company also provides asset-based, and equipment and premium finance loans; real estate loans to finance commercial properties; to factoring services the transportation and non-transportation sectors; agriculture loans; commercial construction, land, and land development loans; mortgage warehouse loans; residential real estate loans; and consumer loans. In addition, it offers debit cards; electronic banking, trust, and treasury management services; and insurance brokerage services. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated through a network of 10 branches in the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area of Iowa and Illinois; 8 branches in northern and central Illinois; 7 branches in southern Colorado; 3 branches in New Mexico; 31 branches in central and eastern Colorado; and 2 branches in far western Kansas, as well as a branch office dedicated to deposit gathering activities in Dallas, Texas. Triumph Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

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Green Dot Corporation (NYSE:GDOT  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,138,907 shares, a drop of 24.6% from the December 15th total of 1,511,054 shares. Currently, 2.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 549,026 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days. Based on an average daily volume of 549,026 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days. Currently, 2.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director J Chris Brewster sold 7,969 shares of Green Dot stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.37, for a total value of $98,576.53. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 133,215 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,647,869.55. The trade was a 5.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Saturnino Sixto Fanlo sold 13,451 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.61, for a total value of $169,617.11. Following the sale, the director owned 92,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,169,413.57. This trade represents a 12.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Green Dot by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 31,801 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $268,000 after buying an additional 1,341 shares during the last quarter. Caxton Associates LLP bought a new stake in Green Dot during the first quarter worth $96,000. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in Green Dot by 7.2% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 198,919 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,679,000 after acquiring an additional 13,437 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC grew its position in shares of Green Dot by 235.6% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 447,546 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,777,000 after acquiring an additional 314,208 shares during the period. Finally, Strs Ohio bought a new position in shares of Green Dot in the 1st quarter valued at about $603,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.56% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Zacks Research cut shares of Green Dot from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Weiss Ratings reissued a sell (d-) rating on shares of Green Dot in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. William Blair restated a market perform rating on shares of Green Dot in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Northland Capmk lowered shares of Green Dot from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Finally, Northland Securities set a $14.25 target price on shares of Green Dot and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $12.56.

View Our Latest Research Report on Green Dot

Green Dot Stock Down 1.8%

Green Dot stock traded down $0.22 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $12.08. The stock had a trading volume of 1,279,394 shares, compared to its average volume of 586,669. The stock has a market capitalization of $669.47 million, a P/E ratio of 7.46 and a beta of 0.82. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $12.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $12.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.54. Green Dot has a 1-year low of $6.12 and a 1-year high of $15.41.

Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 10th. The financial services provider reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.11) by $0.17. Green Dot had a negative net margin of 2.33% and a positive return on equity of 9.81%. The company had revenue of $491.85 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $483.84 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.13 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. Green Dot has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.310-1.440 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Green Dot will post 0.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Green Dot Company Profile

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Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) is a financial technology and bank holding company that provides prepaid debit cards, cash reload processing services and consumer banking products through its subsidiary, Green Dot Bank. The firm offers reloadable prepaid cards under its own brand and through partnerships with retailers, payments networks and banks. In addition to consumer-focused prepaid card accounts, Green Dot delivers payroll card services, government disbursement programs and B2B payment solutions that enable businesses to distribute funds digitally to end users.

Founded in 1999 by Steve Streit and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Green Dot began as a prepaid MasterCard provider sold through retail outlets.

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Oil States International, Inc. (NYSE:OIS  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 927,458 shares, a drop of 31.9% from the December 15th total of 1,362,233 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 675,142 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days. Approximately 1.7% of the companys shares are short sold. Approximately 1.7% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 675,142 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on OIS shares. Susquehanna boosted their price target on shares of Oil States International from $6.50 to $8.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Oil States International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of Oil States International in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $8.00.

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Oil States International Stock Up 0.1%

NYSE:OIS traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $8.20. The stock had a trading volume of 610,191 shares, compared to its average volume of 673,642. The stock has a market cap of $489.65 million, a P/E ratio of 22.15 and a beta of 1.27. Oil States International has a 12-month low of $3.08 and a 12-month high of $8.30. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $6.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $6.11.

Oil States International (NYSE:OIS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $0.08 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.01). Oil States International had a net margin of 3.52% and a return on equity of 2.85%. The firm had revenue of $165.18 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $169.01 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.04 EPS. Oil States Internationals revenue for the quarter was down 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Oil States International will post 0.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Oil States International

In other news, CEO Cindy B. Taylor sold 14,760 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.75, for a total transaction of $99,630.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 2,109,724 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,240,637. The trade was a 0.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 5.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Oil States International

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Oil States International by 20.5% in the third quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 18,961 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 3,222 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Oil States International by 221.9% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,876 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 4,740 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new stake in Oil States International during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in Oil States International by 98.8% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 11,626 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 5,779 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of Oil States International by 71.5% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 18,814 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $114,000 after buying an additional 7,845 shares during the period. 97.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Oil States International

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Oil States International, Inc is a Houston-based provider of products and services to the global oil and gas industry. Through its well site solutions and flat steel solutions segments, the company supplies critical equipment and consumables used in drilling, completion and production operations. Its well site offerings include a broad range of rental productssuch as coiled tubing, frac iron, pressure control equipment and downhole tool rentalsdesigned to support drilling rigs and well completion crews.

In addition to rental and service offerings, Oil States Internationals flat steel solutions business manufactures and distributes steel pipeline and flowback products.

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Savers Value Village, Inc. (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 6,432,166 shares, a decline of 31.2% from the December 15th total of 9,343,125 shares. Currently, 4.2% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 827,599 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 7.8 days. Based on an average daily volume of 827,599 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 7.8 days. Currently, 4.2% of the companys shares are sold short.

Savers Value Village Stock Performance

Shares of Savers Value Village stock traded down $0.26 during trading on Friday, hitting $10.49. 911,185 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 766,473. Savers Value Village has a 1 year low of $6.48 and a 1 year high of $13.89. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $9.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.64 billion, a P/E ratio of -1,048.25 and a beta of 0.98.

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Savers Value Village (NYSE:SVV  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.14. Savers Value Village had a positive return on equity of 9.18% and a negative net margin of 0.11%.The company had revenue of $426.94 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $427.58 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.15 earnings per share. Savers Value Villages revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. Savers Value Village has set its FY 2025 guidance at 0.440-0.460 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Savers Value Village will post 0.28 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on SVV shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Savers Value Village from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Savers Value Village in a research report on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Savers Value Village from $13.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Savers Value Village in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. They set a buy rating and a $18.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Savers Value Village presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $13.67.

View Our Latest Stock Report on SVV

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Jubran N. Tanious sold 57,706 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.21, for a total transaction of $531,472.26. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 99,712 shares of the companys stock, valued at $918,347.52. This trade represents a 36.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 3.09% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Savers Value Village

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SVV. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its position in Savers Value Village by 281.8% during the third quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,909 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 1,409 shares during the last quarter. Sandia Investment Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Savers Value Village in the 2nd quarter worth about $51,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Savers Value Village during the 2nd quarter worth about $57,000. Savant Capital LLC bought a new position in Savers Value Village during the 2nd quarter valued at about $104,000. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue purchased a new stake in Savers Value Village in the 3rd quarter worth about $107,000. 98.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Savers Value Village

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Savers Value Village, Inc (NYSE: SVV) is a publicly traded thrift retailer that operates a network of donation-based retail stores. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the company specializes in selling second-hand apparel, footwear, household items, accessories and other pre-owned goods. Through its retail stores, SVV offers value-conscious shoppers the opportunity to purchase quality, gently used merchandise at affordable prices.

At the heart of the companys model is a partnership network with more than 500 nonprofit organizations across North America.

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Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE:STC  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 711,919 shares, a decline of 37.3% from the December 15th total of 1,135,284 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 232,299 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.1 days. Approximately 2.6% of the shares of the company are sold short. Approximately 2.6% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 232,299 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.1 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Stewart Information Services

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its position in Stewart Information Services by 2,735.8% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,503 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $98,000 after acquiring an additional 1,450 shares in the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its stake in shares of Stewart Information Services by 207.3% in the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 22,679 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,476,000 after purchasing an additional 15,299 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Stewart Information Services by 8.9% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 118,127 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $7,690,000 after purchasing an additional 9,622 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas grew its holdings in shares of Stewart Information Services by 25.0% in the second quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 84,076 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $5,473,000 after purchasing an additional 16,821 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in Stewart Information Services by 52.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 50,705 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,301,000 after buying an additional 17,483 shares during the period. 96.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on STC. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Stewart Information Services from $78.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Stewart Information Services in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Stewart Information Services from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Sunday, October 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Stewart Information Services has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $81.50.

Stewart Information Services Price Performance

Shares of STC stock traded down $0.55 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $66.09. The stock had a trading volume of 713,306 shares, compared to its average volume of 207,615. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.77 and a quick ratio of 1.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.41 and a beta of 1.02. Stewart Information Services has a one year low of $56.39 and a one year high of $78.61. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $72.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.37.

Stewart Information Services (NYSE:STC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The insurance provider reported $1.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.22. Stewart Information Services had a return on equity of 8.57% and a net margin of 3.65%.The business had revenue of $791.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $737.30 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.07 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 19.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Stewart Information Services will post 6.29 EPS for the current year.

Stewart Information Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.525 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. Stewart Information Servicess dividend payout ratio is presently 58.50%.

About Stewart Information Services

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Stewart Information Services Corporation (NYSE: STC) is a publicly traded provider of title insurance and real estate transaction services. The company underwrites title insurance policies for residential and commercial properties, offering lenders and property owners protection against title defects and liens. Beyond title insurance, Stewart delivers a range of ancillary services, including closing and escrow administration, property valuation, and risk mitigation solutions designed to streamline the mortgage process and reduce operational complexity for clients.

In addition to core title and settlement services, Stewart offers technology-driven products aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in real estate transactions.

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TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL  Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Zacks Research lowered shares of TAL Education Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded TAL Education Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $16.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of TAL Education Group in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.91.

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Read Our Latest Report on TAL

TAL Education Group Price Performance

TAL stock opened at $11.05 on Friday. TAL Education Group has a fifty-two week low of $8.50 and a fifty-two week high of $15.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.10, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.06. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $11.21 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.09.

TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.05. TAL Education Group had a net margin of 6.45% and a return on equity of 4.71%. The company had revenue of $861.35 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $819.03 million. Research analysts expect that TAL Education Group will post 0.2 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TAL. Prudential PLC boosted its stake in shares of TAL Education Group by 6.0% in the 2nd quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 231,037 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,361,000 after purchasing an additional 13,081 shares in the last quarter. Beck Bode LLC lifted its stake in TAL Education Group by 15.2% in the 2nd quarter. Beck Bode LLC now owns 524,560 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,361,000 after purchasing an additional 69,087 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its position in TAL Education Group by 606.2% in the second quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 143,623 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,468,000 after buying an additional 123,286 shares in the last quarter. Greenwoods Asset Management Hong Kong Ltd. grew its stake in shares of TAL Education Group by 9.1% during the second quarter. Greenwoods Asset Management Hong Kong Ltd. now owns 2,671,361 shares of the companys stock worth $27,301,000 after buying an additional 222,544 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in shares of TAL Education Group by 12.1% during the second quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,782,395 shares of the companys stock worth $18,216,000 after buying an additional 193,038 shares during the last quarter. 37.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About TAL Education Group

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TAL Education Group is a leading provider of after-school tutoring services in China, specializing in K-12 academic instruction. The company offers a range of programs designed to help primary and secondary school students strengthen their core competencies in subjects such as mathematics, English, Chinese language and science. TAL leverages both in-person learning centers and digital platforms to deliver its curriculum, aiming to support student progress through interactive lessons and personalized study plans.

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Beijing, TAL Education Group has grown into one of Chinas largest private education firms.

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Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL  Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at Wall Street Zen from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on EL. Rothschild Redb lowered shares of Estee Lauder Companies from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Estee Lauder Companies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $76.00 to $115.00 in a report on Monday, October 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Estee Lauder Companies from $116.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday. UBS Group boosted their target price on Estee Lauder Companies from $105.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Estee Lauder Companies from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, ten have given a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $100.50.

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Estee Lauder Companies Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of EL stock opened at $115.18 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.88. Estee Lauder Companies has a twelve month low of $48.37 and a twelve month high of $119.43. The companys 50-day moving average price is $101.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $94.74. The stock has a market cap of $41.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -44.64, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.15.

Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.17. Estee Lauder Companies had a negative net margin of 6.44% and a positive return on equity of 14.92%. The firm had revenue of $3.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.14 EPS. Estee Lauder Companiess revenue was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. Estee Lauder Companies has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.900-2.100 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Estee Lauder Companies will post 1.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Estee Lauder Companies news, VP Meridith Webster sold 5,430 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.84, for a total value of $476,971.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Barry S. Sternlicht sold 3,972 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.83, for a total transaction of $364,748.76. Following the transaction, the director owned 34,812 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,196,785.96. The trade was a 10.24% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 13.05% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Estee Lauder Companies

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in EL. True Vision MN LLC acquired a new position in shares of Estee Lauder Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at about $552,000. Clarius Group LLC acquired a new position in Estee Lauder Companies during the 2nd quarter worth $227,000. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of Estee Lauder Companies by 556.8% in the second quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,554,088 shares of the companys stock worth $125,570,000 after purchasing an additional 1,317,473 shares in the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new position in shares of Estee Lauder Companies during the second quarter valued at $3,006,000. Finally, Drive Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Estee Lauder Companies in the second quarter worth about $337,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.15% of the companys stock.

Estee Lauder Companies Company Profile

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Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE: EL) is a global leader in prestige beauty that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. Founded in 1946 by Estee Lauder, the company has grown from a small family business into a multinational consumer-products enterprise headquartered in New York City. Its activities span product research and development, brand and product marketing, manufacturing and global distribution across multiple retail channels.

The companys portfolio includes a mix of legacy and prestige brands that target different consumer segments and price points, with well-known names such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, La Mer and Jo Malone among others.

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Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Yext (NYSE:YEXT  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Sunday morning.

Separately, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Yext from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Yext presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $9.44.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on Yext

Yext Trading Up 1.1%

YEXT stock opened at $7.62 on Friday. Yext has a 12-month low of $5.51 and a 12-month high of $9.20. The businesss 50-day moving average is $8.29 and its 200 day moving average is $8.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The stock has a market cap of $934.44 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -761.24 and a beta of 0.96.

Yext (NYSE:YEXT  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, December 8th. The company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $112.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $113.07 million. Yext had a return on equity of 18.57% and a net margin of 5.89%.The businesss revenue was down 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.12 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Yext will post -0.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Yext

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its stake in Yext by 7.1% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 5,595,447 shares of the companys stock worth $47,561,000 after purchasing an additional 371,253 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Yext by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,808,257 shares of the companys stock worth $15,406,000 after buying an additional 178,338 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of Yext by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,354,835 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,543,000 after buying an additional 106,197 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its holdings in Yext by 38.9% in the third quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 1,330,133 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,333,000 after acquiring an additional 372,175 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hudson Bay Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Yext in the third quarter valued at approximately $11,121,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.98% of the companys stock.

Yext Company Profile

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Yext, Inc is a software-as-a-service company that provides a platform for digital knowledge management. Its core offering enables businesses to centrally manage and synchronize public-facing informationsuch as location details, product descriptions and service offeringsacross a network of search engines, mapping services, voice assistants and third-party directories.

The Yext platform is built around a proprietary Knowledge Graph, which stores and structures data to ensure consistency and accuracy.

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Mizuho Markets Americas LLC acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 240,000 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $20,117,000.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Access Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC raised its holdings 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 valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 274 shares in the last quarter. Kilter Group LLC purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen cut their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $102.00 to $100.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $104.00 to $100.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a hold (c) rating to a buy (b) rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $94.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $94.87.

Key Wells Fargo & Company News

Here are the key news stories impacting Wells Fargo & Company this week:

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE WFC opened at $88.36 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $277.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.09. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $90.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $84.85. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12-month low of $58.42 and a 12-month high of $97.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $21.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.63 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 17.27% and a return on equity of 12.90%. The businesss revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.43 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is 28.71%.

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

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Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified, U.S.-based financial services company headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852 by Henry Wells and William G. Fargo, the firm has evolved from its origins in express delivery and pioneer-era banking into one of the largest full-service banks in the United States. The company provides a broad range of financial products and services to individual, small business, commercial, and institutional clients. Charles W. Scharf serves as chief executive officer.

Wells Fargo operates across several core business segments, including consumer banking and lending, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, and wealth and investment management.

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Aixtron Se (OTCMKTS:AIXXF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 185,785 shares, a decline of 28.7% from the December 15th total of 260,469 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 6,554 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 28.3 days. Based on an average daily volume of 6,554 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 28.3 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on AIXXF. Barclays upgraded shares of Aixtron from a cautious rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Aixtron in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Aixtron in a research note on Wednesday, September 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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Aixtron Stock Down 0.4%

About Aixtron

AIXXF opened at $23.11 on Monday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $21.11 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.16. Aixtron has a 52-week low of $9.31 and a 52-week high of $24.95.

(Get Free Report)

Aixtron SE, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Herzogenrath, Germany, is a leading provider of deposition equipment for the compound semiconductor industry. The companys core expertise lies in metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) systems, which are used to grow epitaxial layers of materials like gallium nitride, gallium arsenide and related alloys. These systems support applications ranging from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes to power electronics, photonic devices and data communications components.

Operating globally, Aixtron maintains R&D, manufacturing and service facilities across Europe, Asia and North America.

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Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in Allegion PLC (NYSE:ALLE  Free Report) by 5.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,356,869 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after purchasing an additional 113,821 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned about 2.74% of Allegion worth $417,991,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ALLE. First Horizon Corp bought a new position in shares of Allegion during the third quarter worth about $26,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new stake in Allegion in the second quarter valued at about $32,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new stake in Allegion during the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Allegion by 78.0% during the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 235 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new stake in shares of Allegion in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 92.21% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on ALLE. Barclays dropped their price target on Allegion from $187.00 to $180.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued a positive rating on shares of Allegion in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Allegion from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Allegion in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Allegion presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $174.25.

Allegion Stock Performance

ALLE stock opened at $165.27 on Monday. Allegion PLC has a 1 year low of $116.57 and a 1 year high of $180.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.36, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.77. The stocks fifty day moving average is $162.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $165.71.

Allegion (NYSE:ALLE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $2.30 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.09. Allegion had a net margin of 16.09% and a return on equity of 40.83%. The business had revenue of $1.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.16 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.7% on a year-over-year basis. Allegion has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.100-8.200 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Allegion PLC will post 7.77 EPS for the current year.

Allegion Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 16th were issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 16th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.2%. Allegions dividend payout ratio is presently 27.60%.

Allegion Profile

(Free Report)

Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE) is a global provider of security products and solutions focused on ensuring the safety and security of people and property. The company was formed in December 2013 through a corporate spin-off from Ingersoll Rand and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Allegions core mission is to deliver innovative mechanical and electronic access control systems for a wide range of end markets, including commercial buildings, residential properties, institutional facilities, and industrial sites.

The companys product portfolio spans mechanical locksets, door closers, exit devices, key systems and cylinders, as well as a growing suite of electronic and smart access control offerings.

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Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. raised its stake in shares of APi Group Corporation (NYSE:APG  Free Report) by 48.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,094,652 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,011,443 shares during the quarter. APi Group accounts for about 3.6% of Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 4th biggest holding. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in APi Group were worth $106,363,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of APi Group during the 1st quarter worth $650,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in APi Group by 73.6% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 178,117 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,369,000 after purchasing an additional 75,490 shares in the last quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in APi Group by 4.6% during the first quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 28,883 shares of the companys stock worth $1,033,000 after purchasing an additional 1,261 shares during the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital bought a new stake in APi Group during the second quarter worth about $368,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of APi Group by 75.2% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 26,878 shares of the companys stock worth $1,372,000 after purchasing an additional 11,533 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.62% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at APi Group

In related news, Director Martin E. Franklin sold 340,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.09, for a total value of $12,270,600.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 18,968,790 shares of the companys stock, valued at $684,583,631.10. This trade represents a 1.76% 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, Director Anthony E. Malkin purchased 3,000 shares of APi Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $39.58 per share, for a total transaction of $118,740.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 7,000 shares in the company, valued at $277,060. This trade represents a 75.00% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have bought 7,000 shares of company stock valued at $275,720 and have sold 900,000 shares valued at $32,342,000. Corporate insiders own 17.00% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on APG. CJS Securities raised APi Group to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating on shares of APi Group in a research note on Tuesday, December 23rd. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of APi Group from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $49.00 target price (up previously from $45.00) on shares of APi Group in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of APi Group in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, APi Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $41.24.

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APi Group Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of APi Group stock opened at $42.83 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a current ratio of 1.48. APi Group Corporation has a 52-week low of $20.50 and a 52-week high of $43.26. The companys 50 day moving average price is $39.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $36.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 116.81 and a beta of 1.70.

APi Group (NYSE:APG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $2.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.01 billion. APi Group had a net margin of 3.44% and a return on equity of 21.86%. The firms revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.51 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that APi Group Corporation will post 1.83 EPS for the current year.

APi Group Profile

(Free Report)

APi Group Corp. is a global specialty contractor that provides fire protection, security, mechanical insulation and energy services to commercial, industrial and institutional clients. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minnesota, the company designs, installs, inspects, tests, maintains and repairs a wide range of safety and infrastructure systems. Through its network of operating subsidiaries, APi Group delivers end-to-end solutions for new construction, facility renovations and ongoing maintenance requirements.

Its service portfolio spans life safety and industrial servicessuch as fire suppression systems, fire alarms and emergency lightingand specialized offerings including technical insulation, access solutions, passive fire protection and energy efficiency upgrades.

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Blackrock Silver Corp. (CVE:BRC  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as C$1.59 and last traded at C$1.58, with a volume of 757646 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$1.42.

Blackrock Silver Trading Up 11.3%

The company has a quick ratio of 3.14, a current ratio of 8.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The firm has a market cap of C$524.43 million, a PE ratio of -19.75 and a beta of 2.75. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$1.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$0.80.

Blackrock Silver Company Profile

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Blackrock Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. The company's flagship property is the Tonopah West silver-gold project comprising 100 patented and 83 unpatented lode mining claims covering an area of 10.3 square kilometers located in the Walker Lane trend of western Nevada. It also holds 100% interest in the Silver Cloud project comprising 572 unpatented lode mining claims covering an area of 46.9 square kilometers located in Northern Nevada Rift, Nevada.

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Central Asia Metals plc (LON:CAML  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 201 and last traded at GBX 200, with a volume of 614399 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 197.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on CAML shares. Berenberg Bank reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 170 price target on shares of Central Asia Metals in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a GBX 175 target price on shares of Central Asia Metals in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 205 target price on shares of Central Asia Metals in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 185.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on Central Asia Metals

Central Asia Metals Stock Up 1.5%

Insider Activity

The stocks fifty day simple moving average is GBX 176.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 162.72. The stock has a market cap of 344.18 million, a P/E ratio of 10.07 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a current ratio of 5.15.

In related news, insider Gavin Ferrar purchased 12,669 shares of Central Asia Metals stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 158 per share, with a total value of 20,017.02. Company insiders own 9.00% of the companys stock.

Central Asia Metals Company Profile

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Central Asia Metals (CAML) is a base metals producer quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange with copper operations in Kazakhstan, and a zinc and lead mine in North Macedonia

CAML is based in London and owns 100% of the Kounrad solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) copper facility in central Kazakhstan and 100% of the Sasa zinc and lead mine in North Macedonia. It is an established low-cost, diversified base-metals producer, with capacity to generate annual copper production of up to 14,000 tonnes, zinc production of up to 21,000 tonnes and lead production of up to 29,000 tonnes.

CAML was incorporated in the United Kingdom and raised $60 million at IPO in September 2010, which was used to build the Kounrad recovery plant in central Kazakhstan.

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Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. lessened its position in Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 3.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 268,067 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 10,200 shares during the quarter. Chevron makes up approximately 1.4% of Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in Chevron were worth $41,628,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Berkshire Hathaway Inc raised its holdings in shares of Chevron by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 122,064,792 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $17,478,458,000 after purchasing an additional 3,454,258 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Chevron by 4.0% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 34,772,753 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,979,255,000 after buying an additional 1,342,723 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chevron by 1.9% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 20,826,805 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,982,190,000 after buying an additional 378,936 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Chevron in the second quarter valued at $2,721,477,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of Chevron by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 17,764,589 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,543,712,000 after acquiring an additional 370,287 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.42% of the companys stock.

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Chevron News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week:

Insider Activity at Chevron

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

In other news, CFO Eimear P. Bonner sold 28,334 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $165.05, for a total value of $4,676,526.70. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 4,366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $720,608.30. This represents a 86.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Also, insider Alana K. Knowles sold 7,956 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.05, for a total value of $1,313,137.80. Following the sale, the insider owned 1,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $199,215.35. This represents a 86.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure . In the last quarter, insiders have sold 635,190 shares of company stock valued at $100,254,408. Insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on CVX. Freedom Capital cut Chevron from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. HSBC set a $169.00 price target on Chevron and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Mizuho upped their price objective on shares of Chevron from $204.00 to $206.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Chevron from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Chevron from $174.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $168.27.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Chevron

Chevron Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE CVX opened at $166.27 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Chevron Corporation has a one year low of $132.04 and a one year high of $169.37. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $153.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $154.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $334.79 billion, a PE ratio of 23.39, a PEG ratio of 10.29 and a beta of 0.70.

Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $48.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $46.99 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 6.57% and a return on equity of 8.74%. The firms revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.48 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Chevron Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.71 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 18th. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.1%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 96.20%.

About Chevron

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevrons core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide.

Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco.

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Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG  Get Free Report) is expected to release its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Wednesday, January 21st. Analysts expect Citizens Financial Group to post earnings of $1.12 per share and revenue of $2.1570 billion for the quarter. Interested persons may review the information on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET.

Citizens Financial Group Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of CFG stock traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $60.82. 6,448,326 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,667,243. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $56.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.61. Citizens Financial Group has a 1-year low of $32.60 and a 1-year high of $62.16. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.12 billion, a PE ratio of 17.04, a PEG ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 0.72.

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Institutional Trading of Citizens Financial Group

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Citizens Financial Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Citizens Financial Group by 2,703.0% in the second quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 925 shares of the banks stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 892 shares during the period. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in Citizens Financial Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $58,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Citizens Financial Group during the 3rd quarter worth $105,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 268.3% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 2,906 shares of the banks stock valued at $154,000 after purchasing an additional 2,117 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.90% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on CFG. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $56.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on Citizens Financial Group from $62.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Citigroup raised Citizens Financial Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Citizens Financial Group currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $60.33.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on CFG

About Citizens Financial Group

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Citizens Financial Group, Inc (NYSE: CFG) is a bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial services to individuals, small and middle-market businesses, corporations and institutional clients. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens conducts its banking operations principally through its primary banking subsidiary, Citizens Bank, and serves customers through a combination of branch locations, ATMs and digital channels. The company is publicly traded and operates under the regulatory framework applicable to U.S.

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Douglas Elliman (NYSE:DOUG  Get Free Report) and Tejon Ranch (NYSE:TRC  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, valuation and earnings.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Douglas Elliman and Tejon Ranch, as provided by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Douglas Elliman 1 0 0 0 1.00 Tejon Ranch 0 1 0 0 2.00

Risk & Volatility

Douglas Elliman has a beta of 1.76, indicating that its share price is 76% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Tejon Ranch has a beta of 0.65, indicating that its share price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Douglas Elliman -5.76% -3.19% -0.93% Tejon Ranch 6.41% 0.61% 0.48%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Douglas Elliman and Tejon Ranchs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Douglas Elliman and Tejon Ranchs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Douglas Elliman $995.63 million 0.25 -$76.32 million ($0.70) -4.01 Tejon Ranch $41.89 million 10.74 $2.69 million $0.12 139.38

Tejon Ranch has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Douglas Elliman. Douglas Elliman is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Tejon Ranch, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

59.6% of Douglas Elliman shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 60.6% of Tejon Ranch shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.8% of Douglas Elliman shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 22.4% of Tejon Ranch 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.

Summary

Tejon Ranch beats Douglas Elliman on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Douglas Elliman

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Douglas Elliman Inc. owns Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, operating as a residential brokerage company in the United States with operations in New York, Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. In addition, Douglas Elliman sources, uses and invests in early-stage, disruptive property technology (PropTech) solutions and companies and provides other real estate services, including development marketing, property management and settlement and escrow services in select markets.

About Tejon Ranch

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Tejon Ranch Co., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified real estate development and agribusiness company. It operates through five segments: Commercial/Industrial Real Estate Development, Resort/Residential Real Estate Development, Mineral Resources, Farming, and Ranch Operations. The Commercial/Industrial Real Estate Development segment engages in the planning and permitting of land for development; construction of infrastructure projects, pre-leased buildings, and buildings to be leased or sold; and sale of land to third parties for their own development. It is also involved in the activities related to communications leases, a power plant lease, and landscape maintenance. This segment leases land to various auto service stations with convenience stores, fast-food operations, service diner-style restaurant, a motel, an antique shop, and a post office; various microwave repeater locations, radio and cellular transmitter sites, and fiber optic cable routes; and package of land for an electric power plant. The Resort/Residential Real Estate Development segment engages in land entitlement, planning, pre-construction engineering, stewardship, and conservation activities. The Mineral Resources segment includes oil and gas royalties, rock and aggregate royalties, and royalties from a cement operation leased to National Cement Company of California, Inc.; and the management of water assets and infrastructure projects. The Farming segment farms permanent crops, such as wine grapes, almonds, and pistachios in package of land. It also manages the farming of alfalfa and forage mix on package of land in the Antelope Valley; and leases package of land for growing vegetables, as well as almonds. The Ranch Operations segment provides game management and ancillary land services comprising grazing leases and filming, as well as various guided hunts. Tejon Ranch Co. was founded in 1843 and is based in Lebec, California.

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DCC (LON:DCC  Get Free Report)s stock had its hold rating reaffirmed by Panmure Gordon in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday,Digital Look reports. They presently have a GBX 4,708 price target on the stock. Panmure Gordons price objective would indicate a potential upside of 6.56% from the companys current price.

A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on DCC. Peel Hunt restated a buy rating and set a GBX 5,635 target price on shares of DCC in a research report on Tuesday, November 11th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 6,700 price objective on shares of DCC in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 7,500 price objective on shares of DCC in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 5,873.83.

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DCC Trading Down 1.6%

DCC Company Profile

Shares of DCC stock traded down GBX 71.02 on Monday, reaching GBX 4,418. 219,135 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 552,319. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 77.99, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 0.89. DCC has a one year low of GBX 4,188 and a one year high of GBX 5,625. The stock has a market cap of 3.77 billion, a PE ratio of -58.32, a P/E/G ratio of 4.37 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 4,806.77 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 4,793.66.

(Get Free Report)

DCC plc is a leading international sales, marketing and support services group operating in 22 countries, supplying products and services used by millions of people every day. Headquartered in Dublin, the Group operates across three sectors: energy, healthcare and technology, employing over 16,000 people. DCC plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100.

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Ethernity Networks Ltd. (LON:ENET  Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 0.01 and last traded at GBX 0.01, with a volume of 674809750 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 0.01.

Ethernity Networks Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.00. The firm has a market capitalization of 60,000.00, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.01 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 0.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 0.01.

About Ethernity Networks

(Get Free Report)

Ethernity Networks Ltd. provides technology solutions for telecom, mobile, security, and data center markets in Asia, Europe, Israel, and the United States. The company develops and delivers data processing technology and solutions for carrier Ethernet switching. It provides ENET flow processors for telco/cloud network; ACE-NIC40 SmartNIC, an open flow enabled software acceleration NIC; ACE-NIC50 SmartNIC, which offers 10/25G Ethernet connectivity and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) acceleration; and ACE-NIC100 SmartNIC that provides flexible 10/25/40/100G Ethernet connectivity and programmable FPGA acceleration.

Further Reading

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Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:GHYB  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 7,744 shares, a decline of 30.9% from the December 15th total of 11,209 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 16,817 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Approximately 0.3% of the shares of the company are short sold. Approximately 0.3% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 16,817 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its position in shares of Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 156.8% during the 2nd quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 832 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 508 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 0.8% in the third quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 99,752 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,576,000 after buying an additional 758 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 12.2% in the second quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 7,034 shares of the companys stock valued at $319,000 after buying an additional 765 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 400.0% in the third quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC lifted its holdings in Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF by 18.2% during the 3rd quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 8,786 shares of the companys stock worth $403,000 after buying an additional 1,350 shares during the last quarter.

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Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.1%

Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF stock traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $45.60. The company had a trading volume of 32,727 shares, compared to its average volume of 25,802. The companys fifty day moving average is $45.43 and its 200-day moving average is $45.42. Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $42.16 and a 12-month high of $45.91.

About Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF

The Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (GHYB) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a broad-maturity, USD-denominated, high-yield corporate bond index selected by debt service and leverage. GHYB was launched on Sep 5, 2017 and is managed by Goldman Sachs.

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Halma (LON:HLMA  Get Free Report) had its target price raised by stock analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 3,800 to GBX 3,980 in a note issued to investors on Friday,Digital Look reports. The brokerage presently has a hold rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price target would suggest a potential upside of 10.68% from the stocks previous close.

HLMA has been the subject of several other reports. Panmure Gordon increased their price target on Halma from GBX 3,820 to GBX 3,880 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Shore Capital reissued a hold rating on shares of Halma in a report on Friday, September 26th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Halma from GBX 3,150 to GBX 3,700 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 3,750 price target on shares of Halma in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Halma from GBX 3,500 to GBX 3,900 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 3,737.50.

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Halma Stock Down 2.8%

LON:HLMA traded down GBX 102 during trading hours on Friday, reaching GBX 3,596. 506,420 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,794,235. Halma has a twelve month low of GBX 2,316 and a twelve month high of GBX 3,764. The firm has a 50 day moving average of GBX 3,550.91 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 3,415.53. The stock has a market cap of 13.58 billion, a PE ratio of 39.32, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.83, a current ratio of 2.45 and a quick ratio of 1.51.

Halma (LON:HLMA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 16th. The company reported GBX 55.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Halma had a net margin of 13.21% and a return on equity of 15.87%. On average, equities analysts expect that Halma will post 90.5626134 earnings per share for the current year.

About Halma

(Get Free Report)

Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies, focused on growing a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Its purpose defines the three broad markets it operates in:

 Safety  Protecting peoples safety and the environment as populations grow, and enhancing worker safety.

 Environment  Addressing the impacts of climate change, pollution and waste, protecting life-critical resources and supporting scientific research.

 Health  Meeting the increasing demand for better healthcare as chronic illness rises, driven by growing and ageing populations and lifestyle changes.

Halma employs over 9,000 people in more than 20 countries, with major operations in the UK, Mainland Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific.

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Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF (NYSEARCA:ERTH  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 171 shares, a growth of 20.4% from the December 15th total of 142 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 15,565 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 15,565 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF Stock Down 0.1%

ERTH stock traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $47.84. 1,677 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,889. The business has a 50-day moving average of $47.34 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.38. Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF has a 52 week low of $34.06 and a 52 week high of $49.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $143.52 million, a PE ratio of 21.14 and a beta of 1.06.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. AE Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF in the third quarter valued at $36,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $40,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in shares of Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF by 29.0% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,775 shares of the companys stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF by 29.7% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 4,137 shares of the companys stock valued at $176,000 after purchasing an additional 948 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Willow Creek Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $202,000.

About Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF

The Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future ETF (ERTH) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Global Environment Select index. The fund tracks an index of global companies focusing on contributing to a more environmentally sustainable economy. ERTH was launched on Oct 24, 2006 and is managed by Invesco.

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Quantum Portfolio Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Free Report) by 57.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 110,609 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 40,218 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF makes up about 2.2% of Quantum Portfolio Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 4th largest holding. Quantum Portfolio Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $7,503,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 50.0% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 70,125,413 shares of the companys stock worth $4,451,560,000 after purchasing an additional 23,376,524 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 28.6% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 15,814,518 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,003,906,000 after purchasing an additional 3,518,683 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 4.1% in the second quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 13,614,142 shares of the companys stock valued at $864,247,000 after purchasing an additional 540,216 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 11.5% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 9,719,462 shares of the companys stock worth $616,991,000 after buying an additional 999,564 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 24.2% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 8,959,087 shares of the companys stock worth $568,723,000 after buying an additional 1,743,904 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Trading Up 40.5%

BATS:EFV opened at $73.45 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.11 billion, a PE ratio of 12.17 and a beta of 0.73. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 1 year low of $51.05 and a 1 year high of $66.83. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $70.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.16.

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value 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 Value 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 financials, energy, healthcare, telecommunication services, industrials, utilities, consumer discretionary, materials, information technology and consumer staples.

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Royal Fund Management LLC cut its stake in iShares MSCI India ETF (BATS:INDA  Free Report) by 19.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 114,181 shares of the companys stock after selling 27,832 shares during the period. Royal Fund Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI India ETF were worth $5,949,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI India ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $216,000. Beacon Financial Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI India ETF by 2.6% in the third quarter. Beacon Financial Advisory LLC now owns 13,615 shares of the companys stock valued at $709,000 after buying an additional 340 shares during the period. Lmcg Investments LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI India ETF by 5.5% during the third quarter. Lmcg Investments LLC now owns 75,168 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,913,000 after buying an additional 3,932 shares in the last quarter. Evolution Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI India ETF by 0.9% during the third quarter. Evolution Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 32,878 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,712,000 after buying an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MBA Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI India ETF by 6.2% during the third quarter. MBA Advisors LLC now owns 8,366 shares of the companys stock worth $436,000 after acquiring an additional 492 shares during the period.

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iShares MSCI India ETF Trading Up 3.7%

Shares of BATS INDA opened at $52.83 on Monday. iShares MSCI India ETF has a twelve month low of $47.60 and a twelve month high of $59.49. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $53.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.66. The company has a market capitalization of $9.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.20 and a beta of 0.48.

iShares MSCI India ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India index, a market-cap-weighted index of the top 85% of firms in the Indian securities market. INDA was launched on Feb 2, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Oak Ridge Investments LLC reduced its stake in shares of Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. (NYSE:KNSL  Free Report) by 80.7% 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 1,864 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 7,773 shares during the period. Oak Ridge Investments LLCs holdings in Kinsale Capital Group were worth $793,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Kinsale Capital Group during the second quarter worth about $125,812,000. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC raised its stake in Kinsale Capital Group by 1,141.4% during the second quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 81,724 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $39,546,000 after buying an additional 75,141 shares in the last quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Kinsale Capital Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $32,034,000. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP lifted its holdings in Kinsale Capital Group by 127.4% during the 2nd quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP now owns 117,394 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $56,807,000 after buying an additional 65,770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Kinsale Capital Group by 22.8% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 168,493 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $81,537,000 after acquiring an additional 31,250 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.36% of the companys stock.

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Kinsale Capital Group Trading Down 0.2%

Kinsale Capital Group stock opened at $398.56 on Monday. Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $349.00 and a 52-week high of $512.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 0.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.58, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $387.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $426.92.

Kinsale Capital Group ( NYSE:KNSL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The financial services provider reported $5.21 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.79 by $0.42. The company had revenue of $497.51 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $446.00 million. Kinsale Capital Group had a net margin of 26.30% and a return on equity of 25.66%. Kinsale Capital Groups revenue was up 19.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $4.20 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Kinsale Capital Group, Inc. will post 17.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Kinsale Capital Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Thursday, December 11th that allows the company to buyback $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to purchase up to 2.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Kinsale Capital Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. Kinsale Capital Groups payout ratio is presently 3.34%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on KNSL. Wall Street Zen raised Kinsale Capital Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, December 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Kinsale Capital Group from $460.00 to $450.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada started coverage on shares of Kinsale Capital Group in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. They set a sector perform rating and a $415.00 price objective on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald cut their target price on shares of Kinsale Capital Group from $470.00 to $422.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Kinsale Capital Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $476.60.

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About Kinsale Capital Group

(Free Report)

Kinsale Capital Group, Inc (NYSE:KNSL) is a specialty property and casualty insurance company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Established in 2009, the company focuses on underwriting complex and underserved risks across the United States. Kinsale operates through a network of wholesale brokers and independent agencies, offering tailored coverage solutions for a range of niche industries.

The companys product portfolio includes general liability, business auto, professional liability, environmental liability, inland marine, cyber liability, and other specialty lines.

Further Reading

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Live Oak Bancshares (NYSE:LOB  Get Free Report) is one of 20 publicly-traded companies in the State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Live Oak Bancshares to related businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends and risk.

Volatility & Risk

Live Oak Bancshares has a beta of 2.02, indicating that its share price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Live Oak Bancshares rivals have a beta of 1.01, indicating that their average share price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Profitability

This table compares Live Oak Bancshares and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Live Oak Bancshares 6.94% 6.61% 0.51% Live Oak Bancshares Competitors 7.23% 6.94% 0.79%

Dividends

Analyst Ratings

Live Oak Bancshares pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Live Oak Bancshares pays out 8.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies pay a dividend yield of 2.2% and pay out 67.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Live Oak Bancshares and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Live Oak Bancshares 0 2 0 1 2.67 Live Oak Bancshares Competitors 31 173 217 26 2.53

As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies have a potential upside of 3.04%. Given Live Oak Bancshares rivals higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Live Oak Bancshares has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Live Oak Bancshares and its rivals revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Live Oak Bancshares $936.15 million $77.47 million 25.15 Live Oak Bancshares Competitors $749.76 million $95.99 million 40.24

Live Oak Bancshares has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its rivals. Live Oak Bancshares is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

64.0% of Live Oak Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.2% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are owned by institutional investors. 23.4% of Live Oak Bancshares shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.7% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Live Oak Bancshares rivals beat Live Oak Bancshares on 9 of the 15 factors compared.

About Live Oak Bancshares

(Get Free Report)

Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Live Oak Banking Company that provides various commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, and professionals in North Carolina, the United States. The company accepts various deposit products, including noninterest-bearing demand, as well as interest-bearing checking, money market, savings, and time deposits. It also offers commercial and industrial loans; construction and development loans; owner occupied and non-owner occupied collateral commercial real estate loans; and commercial land loans. In addition, the company provides settlement, accounting, and securitization services for government guaranteed loans; wealth and investment management services to high-net-worth individuals and families; investment advisory services to a series of funds focused on providing venture capital to new and emerging financial technology companies; and an on-site restaurant location to company employees and business visitors. Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System raised its position in Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC  Free Report) (TSE:MFC) by 11.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 180,435 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 17,955 shares during the quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Manulife Financial were worth $5,620,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Caldwell Trust Co acquired a new stake in Manulife Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Eastern Bank increased its position in Manulife Financial by 156.1% during the second quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 968 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 590 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Manulife Financial in the second quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Goodman Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Manulife Financial in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of Manulife Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. 52.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Manulife Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MFC opened at $37.42 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $62.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.63 and a beta of 0.83. Manulife Financial Corp has a 52-week low of $25.92 and a 52-week high of $37.71. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $35.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.82.

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

Manulife Financial ( NYSE:MFC Get Free Report ) (TSE:MFC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $12.90 billion for the quarter. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 16.11% and a net margin of 9.81%.During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.00 EPS. Analysts predict that Manulife Financial Corp will post 2.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 26th were given a $0.44 dividend. This is a boost from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 26th. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.7%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio is 55.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. CIBC upgraded Manulife Financial from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b+) rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a report on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Cibc Captl Mkts upgraded shares of Manulife Financial from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $51.00 price objective on Manulife Financial in a report on Monday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have assigned a Buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $51.50.

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Manulife Financial Profile

(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.

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Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its position in Franco-Nevada Corporation (NYSE:FNV  Free Report) (TSE:FNV) by 12.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,123 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,224 shares during the period. Maryland State Retirement & Pension Systems holdings in Franco-Nevada were worth $4,478,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Evergreen Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Franco-Nevada by 6.4% during the third quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 1,602 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $357,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC increased its position in shares of Franco-Nevada by 24.8% during the third quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 7,333 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,635,000 after acquiring an additional 1,456 shares in the last quarter. Elevate Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Franco-Nevada by 2.3% during the third quarter. Elevate Capital Advisors LLC now owns 15,737 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,508,000 after acquiring an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Franco-Nevada by 19.6% in the 3rd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 433 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $97,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Inc. AR bought a new position in Franco-Nevada in the 3rd quarter valued at about $236,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.06% of the companys stock.

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Franco-Nevada Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of Franco-Nevada stock opened at $243.77 on Monday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $209.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $194.87. Franco-Nevada Corporation has a 12 month low of $123.66 and a 12 month high of $243.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.48.

Franco-Nevada Dividend Announcement

Franco-Nevada ( NYSE:FNV Get Free Report ) (TSE:FNV) last announced its earnings results on Monday, November 3rd. The basic materials company reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $487.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $448.51 million. Franco-Nevada had a return on equity of 13.94% and a net margin of 59.48%.The businesss revenue was up 76.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.80 EPS. Analysts predict that Franco-Nevada Corporation will post 3.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 4th were given a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 4th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Franco-Nevadas payout ratio is currently 31.87%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on the company. HC Wainwright boosted their price objective on Franco-Nevada from $200.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. TD Securities decreased their price target on Franco-Nevada from $247.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Bank of America increased their price target on Franco-Nevada from $211.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $228.00 price objective on shares of Franco-Nevada in a report on Sunday, December 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Franco-Nevada in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $232.75.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Franco-Nevada

Franco-Nevada Company Profile

(Free Report)

Franco-Nevada Corporation is a Toronto-based royalty and streaming company that specializes in securing and managing long-term interests in mining properties. The firm focuses primarily on precious metals, particularly gold, while also holding interests related to silver, copper, platinum-group metals and select base metals. Rather than operating mines directly, Franco-Nevada acquires royalty and streaming agreements that entitle it to a percentage of production or revenue from producing and developing assets in exchange for upfront or staged financing.

The companys business model centers on providing capital to mining companies in return for a sustained share of production or metal revenue, which can reduce exposure to operating and capital cost risks typical of mine operators.

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Mayville Engineering Company, Inc. (NYSE:MEC  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 912,662 shares, a decline of 17.5% from the December 15th total of 1,106,915 shares. Currently, 4.8% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 194,279 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 194,279 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.7 days. Currently, 4.8% of the companys shares are sold short.

Mayville Engineering Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MEC opened at $18.60 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.04. Mayville Engineering has a 1-year low of $11.72 and a 1-year high of $19.82. The company has a market capitalization of $377.93 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.07 and a beta of 1.08. The business has a 50-day moving average of $17.63 and a 200-day moving average of $15.94.

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Mayville Engineering (NYSE:MEC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.05. Mayville Engineering had a return on equity of 5.88% and a net margin of 2.29%.The firm had revenue of $144.31 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $141.36 million. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Mayville Engineering will post 0.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MEC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Northland Capmk downgraded Mayville Engineering from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Mayville Engineering from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Northland Securities downgraded Mayville Engineering from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $20.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Mayville Engineering in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Craig Hallum set a $24.00 target price on shares of Mayville Engineering and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $22.75.

View Our Latest Report on MEC

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Ryan F. Raber sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.68, for a total transaction of $250,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 91,018 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,518,180.24. This represents a 14.15% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Steven L. Fisher sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.11, for a total transaction of $191,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 30,482 shares in the company, valued at $582,511.02. This represents a 24.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 7.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mayville Engineering

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MEC. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in Mayville Engineering by 109.0% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,751 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 1,435 shares during the last quarter. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its holdings in Mayville Engineering by 26.2% in the third quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 8,342 shares of the companys stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 1,733 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in Mayville Engineering by 20.7% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 7,936 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 1,359 shares during the last quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA acquired a new stake in Mayville Engineering during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $165,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its holdings in Mayville Engineering by 54.0% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 16,689 shares of the companys stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 5,855 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.44% of the companys stock.

About Mayville Engineering

(Get Free Report)

Mayville Engineering Company, Inc (NYSE:MEC) is a U.S.-based industrial manufacturer specializing in engineered metal castings and precision machining services. Headquartered in Mayville, Wisconsin, the company leverages over a century of casting experience to design, produce and finish complex metal components for a broad range of heavy-duty applications.

The company operates two principal business segments: iron castings and steel castings. Its iron segment utilizes green sand and lost-foam molding processes to produce gray and ductile iron components, while the steel segment employs electric-arc furnace technology to manufacture high-strength steel castings.

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NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,493,520 shares, an increase of 37.8% from the December 15th total of 1,083,994 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,566,283 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.0 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 daily volume of 1,566,283 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.0 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of NWG. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in NatWest Group by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 39,234,322 shares of the companys stock worth $555,166,000 after acquiring an additional 1,702,930 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in NatWest Group by 1.2% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 13,531,451 shares of the companys stock valued at $188,764,000 after acquiring an additional 156,832 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of NatWest Group by 7.1% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 12,905,394 shares of the companys stock worth $182,611,000 after purchasing an additional 851,997 shares during the last quarter. L1 Capital Pty Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of NatWest Group during the second quarter worth about $146,913,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of NatWest Group by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 6,474,908 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,181,000 after purchasing an additional 455,538 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.27% of the companys stock.

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NatWest Group Stock Up 2.2%

NYSE NWG traded up $0.38 during trading on Monday, reaching $17.52. 2,663,110 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,857,474. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $16.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.22. The stock has a market cap of $70.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.99. NatWest Group has a 1 year low of $10.17 and a 1 year high of $18.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.05.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NatWest Group ( NYSE:NWG Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.50 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $5.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.63 billion. NatWest Group had a return on equity of 12.77% and a net margin of 18.18%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that NatWest Group will post 1.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several research firms have commented on NWG. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating on shares of NatWest Group in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Zacks Research downgraded NatWest Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of NatWest Group in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Barclays restated an equal weight rating on shares of NatWest Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

Read Our Latest Research Report on NatWest Group

NatWest Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

NatWest Group plc is a major UK-based banking and financial services group headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company traces its roots to the Royal Bank of Scotland, founded in 1727, and adopted the NatWest Group name in 2020 as part of a strategic refocus on its NatWest brand. NatWest Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and also has American depositary shares trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NWG.

The group provides a broad range of banking services across retail, private, commercial, corporate and institutional segments.

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NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC cut its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 21,949 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 1,690 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLCs holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,982,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in UnitedHealth Group by 3.3% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 21,312,182 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $6,624,411,000 after purchasing an additional 675,075 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,837,207,000. Dodge & Cox boosted its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 117.7% in the second quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 8,750,560 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $2,729,912,000 after buying an additional 4,730,192 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 6.1% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,502,469 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $2,340,346,000 after acquiring an additional 432,084 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 33.8% in the 2nd quarter. Amundi now owns 6,191,871 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,904,372,000 after purchasing an additional 1,565,245 shares in the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Key Stories Impacting UnitedHealth Group

Here are the key news stories impacting UnitedHealth Group this week:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $378.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Mizuho lifted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $300.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $335.00 to $338.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $317.00 to $409.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $433.00 to $440.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $385.75.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $331.25 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $330.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $322.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $300.06 billion, a PE ratio of 17.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $234.60 and a 12 month high of $606.36.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.87 by $0.05. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 4.04% and a return on equity of 19.23%. The company had revenue of $113.16 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $113.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $7.15 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Groups revenue was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 29.54 earnings per share for the current year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 8th were given a dividend of $2.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 8th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.14%.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Inc is a diversified health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, that operates two primary business platforms: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. Founded in 1977, the company provides a broad range of health benefits and health care services to individuals, employers, governmental entities and other organizations. Its operations span commercial employer-sponsored plans, individual and Medicare and Medicaid programs, and services for customers and health systems in the United States and selected international markets.

UnitedHealthcare is the companys benefits business, administering health plans and networks, managing provider relationships, and offering coverage products for employers, individuals, and government-sponsored programs.

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QRG Capital Management Inc. lessened its stake in Orix Corp Ads (NYSE:IX  Free Report) by 53.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 115,972 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 134,205 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Orix Corp Ads were worth $3,029,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of Orix Corp Ads by 336.1% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 38,081 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $796,000 after acquiring an additional 29,349 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Orix Corp Ads by 433.3% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 44,547 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $931,000 after purchasing an additional 36,194 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its position in Orix Corp Ads by 3,021.1% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 203,967 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $4,261,000 after purchasing an additional 197,432 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in Orix Corp Ads by 8,083.8% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 5,565 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 5,497 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Orix Corp Ads by 568.7% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 96,454 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,015,000 after purchasing an additional 82,030 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.73% of the companys stock.

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Orix Corp Ads Trading Up 0.5%

Orix Corp Ads stock opened at $30.68 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $34.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 0.73. Orix Corp Ads has a 1 year low of $17.75 and a 1 year high of $30.82. The firms 50 day moving average price is $28.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a current ratio of 1.81.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Orix Corp Ads ( NYSE:IX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.42. The company had revenue of $5.73 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.87 billion. Orix Corp Ads had a return on equity of 10.30% and a net margin of 14.53%. On average, research analysts predict that Orix Corp Ads will post 11.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Orix Corp Ads in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Orix Corp Ads presently has an average rating of Buy.

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About Orix Corp Ads

(Free Report)

ORIX Corporation ADS (NYSE: IX) is the American depositary share listing of ORIX Corporation, a diversified financial services group headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company operates across multiple business lines that include leasing and lending, real estate, investment and asset management, and a range of retail and corporate financial services. ORIXs ADS program allows U.S. investors to access ownership in the Tokyo-based group through shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Core activities include equipment leasing and installment financing for corporate customers, corporate lending and structured finance, and real estate development and property management.

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NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC raised its stake in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 157,861 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,066 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $24,080,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Procter & Gamble by 1.4% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 233,211,283 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,155,222,000 after buying an additional 3,189,111 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 59,415,933 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,439,341,000 after acquiring an additional 1,060,713 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $5,099,644,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Procter & Gamble by 1.7% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 17,385,571 shares of the companys stock worth $2,770,035,000 after purchasing an additional 294,673 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 21.4% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 16,374,499 shares of the companys stock worth $2,608,785,000 after purchasing an additional 2,880,895 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

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Key Stories Impacting Procter & Gamble

Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $176.00 to $161.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of Procter & Gamble in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. They set a neutral rating and a $150.00 price target on the stock. Dbs Bank upgraded Procter & Gamble to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $157.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $168.36.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Procter & Gamble news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 725 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.57, for a total transaction of $108,438.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 979 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $146,429.03. This trade represents a 42.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Procter & Gamble Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of PG stock opened at $144.55 on Monday. Procter & Gamble Company has a 1 year low of $137.62 and a 1 year high of $179.99. The firm has a market capitalization of $337.77 billion, a PE ratio of 21.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 0.39. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $144.72 and a two-hundred day moving average of $150.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.71.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $1.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $22.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.23 billion. Procter & Gamble had a net margin of 19.74% and a return on equity of 32.63%. The companys revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.93 earnings per share. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.100 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 EPS for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be issued a dividend of $1.0568 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $4.23 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is presently 61.75%.

About Procter & Gamble

(Free Report)

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide.

P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America, Wells Fargo & Company, Citigroup, Charles Schwab, The PNC Financial Services Group, and Regions Financial are the seven Bank stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Bank stocks are shares of publicly traded banks and other deposit-taking financial institutions, giving investors partial ownership in companies that take deposits, make loans and provide payment and related services. They often appeal for dividend income and cyclical growth potential but are sensitive to interest-rate changes, credit cycles and regulatory requirements, which can increase volatility and risk during economic downturns. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Bank stocks within the last several days.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a financial holding company, which engages in the provision of financial and investment banking services. It focuses on investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. It operates through the following segments: Consumer and Community Banking (CCB), Commercial and Investment Bank (CIB), Asset and Wealth Management (AWM), and Corporate.

Bank of America (BAC)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BAC

Wells Fargo & Company (WFC)

Wells Fargo & Co. is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

Read Our Latest Research Report on WFC

Citigroup (C)

Citigroup Inc., a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions.

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Charles Schwab (SCHW)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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The PNC Financial Services Group (PNC)

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, and Asset Management Group segments. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as time deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services.

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Regions Financial (RF)

Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services.

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QRG Capital Management Inc. reduced its stake in Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO  Free Report) by 25.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 58,047 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 19,531 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Rio Tinto were worth $3,832,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of RIO. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Rio Tinto in the 1st quarter valued at about $84,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Rio Tinto by 78.4% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 12,087 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $726,000 after acquiring an additional 5,310 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its stake in Rio Tinto by 20.7% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 11,485 shares of the mining companys stock worth $690,000 after acquiring an additional 1,968 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC grew its holdings in Rio Tinto by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,280 shares of the mining companys stock worth $317,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth increased its position in shares of Rio Tinto by 16.7% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 15,985 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $962,000 after purchasing an additional 2,285 shares during the last quarter. 19.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Rio Tinto Stock Performance

Shares of RIO stock opened at $85.14 on Monday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $76.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $68.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Rio Tinto PLC has a 1 year low of $51.67 and a 1 year high of $87.34.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on RIO shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Monday, November 17th. Argus upped their price objective on Rio Tinto from $70.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Zacks Research raised Rio Tinto from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Monday, December 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and six 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 target price of $85.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on RIO

Key Headlines Impacting Rio Tinto

Here are the key news stories impacting Rio Tinto this week:

Rio Tinto Profile

(Free Report)

Rio Tinto is a global mining and metals company that explores for, mines, processes and markets a wide range of commodities. Its principal products include iron ore, aluminum, copper, diamonds and various other minerals and industrial materials. The companys activities span the full value chain from exploration and project development to mining, processing, smelting and refining, supplying raw materials to industries such as steelmaking, automotive, packaging, electronics and construction.

The origins of Rio Tinto date back to mining operations in the Rio Tinto region of Spain in the 19th century, and the group has since grown into a multinational enterprise.

Further Reading

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QRG Capital Management Inc. lowered its position in shares of ING Group, N.V. (NYSE:ING  Free Report) by 28.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 177,233 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 71,975 shares during the quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in ING Group were worth $4,622,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of ING. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in shares of ING Group by 7.3% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 8,764,562 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $191,681,000 after purchasing an additional 593,424 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in ING Group by 25.2% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,314,705 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $28,753,000 after acquiring an additional 264,858 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of ING Group by 64.7% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 467,898 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $10,233,000 after acquiring an additional 183,891 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of ING Group by 324.0% in the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 220,108 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,813,000 after acquiring an additional 168,199 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of ING Group by 80.3% during the second quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 332,350 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,268,000 after purchasing an additional 148,062 shares during the last quarter. 4.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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ING Group Price Performance

Shares of ING Group stock opened at $29.04 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $84.52 billion, a PE ratio of 13.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.82. ING Group, N.V. has a twelve month low of $16.04 and a twelve month high of $29.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.99. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $27.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $25.30.

ING Group Announces Dividend

ING Group ( NYSE:ING Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $6.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.35 billion. ING Group had a return on equity of 11.57% and a net margin of 26.94%. Sell-side analysts predict that ING Group, N.V. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 8th will be issued a $0.2009 dividend. This represents a yield of 71.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 8th. ING Groups payout ratio is presently 31.08%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on ING shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered shares of ING Group from a hold rating to a moderate sell rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Citigroup upgraded ING Group to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 21st. Cfra Research raised ING Group from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a report on Thursday, September 25th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of ING Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and five have assigned a Buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy.

View Our Latest Stock Report on ING

ING Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

ING Group N.V. is a Dutch multinational financial services company headquartered in Amsterdam. Formed through the consolidation of Dutch financial businesses, ING operates as a banking and financial services group that serves retail, small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporates and institutional clients. The company is organized under a two-tier governance model common in the Netherlands, with an Executive Board responsible for day-to-day management and a Supervisory Board providing oversight.

INGs principal activities include retail and direct banking, commercial and wholesale banking, corporate lending, transaction services and cash management, and a range of investment and savings products.

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QRG Capital Management Inc. trimmed its stake in Ferguson plc (NYSE:FERG  Free Report) by 37.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,020 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,893 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Ferguson were worth $2,924,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Ferguson by 0.9% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,341,871 shares of the companys stock worth $4,211,692,000 after buying an additional 173,128 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Ferguson by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 7,687,611 shares of the companys stock worth $1,673,977,000 after acquiring an additional 27,312 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Ferguson by 39.3% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,255,661 shares of the companys stock valued at $926,830,000 after purchasing an additional 1,201,493 shares during the period. Soroban Capital Partners LP boosted its position in shares of Ferguson by 2.8% during the second quarter. Soroban Capital Partners LP now owns 3,705,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $806,776,000 after purchasing an additional 100,559 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in Ferguson by 5.4% in the second quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 2,533,124 shares of the companys stock worth $551,588,000 after purchasing an additional 130,597 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.98% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an outperform rating on shares of Ferguson in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Vertical Research assumed coverage on shares of Ferguson in a research note on Monday, October 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $291.99 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Ferguson from $268.00 to $289.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of Ferguson in a report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Ferguson from $225.00 to $245.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Ferguson has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $253.00.

Ferguson Stock Performance

Shares of FERG stock opened at $248.81 on Monday. Ferguson plc has a one year low of $146.00 and a one year high of $256.93. The companys 50-day moving average is $237.00 and its 200 day moving average is $233.08. The company has a market capitalization of $48.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.01 and a current ratio of 1.88.

Ferguson (NYSE:FERG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, December 9th. The company reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.07. Ferguson had a net margin of 6.28% and a return on equity of 35.73%. The business had revenue of $8.17 billion during the quarter. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.45 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis.

Ferguson Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.89 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.4%. This is a positive change from Fergusons previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. Fergusons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.96%.

Ferguson Company Profile

(Free Report)

Ferguson (NYSE: FERG) is a multinational distributor specializing in plumbing and heating products and related building supplies, serving professional contractors, builders and industrial customers. The company supplies a broad range of products used in residential, commercial and infrastructure projects, including pipes and fittings, valves and controls, HVAC equipment, waterworks materials, plumbing fixtures, pumps and accessories, as well as complementary electrical and specialty product lines.

Ferguson operates a network of branches and distribution centers that provide inventory, logistics and value-added services to trade customers.

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Quantum Portfolio Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core High Dividend ETF (NYSEARCA:HDV  Free Report) in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund acquired 7,860 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $962,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in HDV. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 0.7% during the third quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 84,426 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $10,338,000 after acquiring an additional 577 shares during the period. Phoenix Wealth Advisors boosted its holdings in iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors now owns 1,926 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Forefront Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Forefront Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,304 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $894,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC now owns 3,987 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $488,000 after buying an additional 408 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Csenge Advisory Group raised its stake in shares of iShares Core High Dividend ETF by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 18,094 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,216,000 after buying an additional 917 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Core High Dividend ETF Price Performance

iShares Core High Dividend ETF stock opened at $127.14 on Monday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $122.51 and its 200 day moving average price is $121.48. iShares Core High Dividend ETF has a 1-year low of $106.00 and a 1-year high of $127.33. The company has a market cap of $12.28 billion, a PE ratio of 18.55 and a beta of 0.64.

About iShares Core High Dividend ETF

The iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Morningstar Dividend Yield Focus index. The fund tracks a dividend-weighted index of 75 high-yielding US equities, screened for high earnings potential and dividend sustainability. HDV was launched on Mar 29, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Quantum Portfolio Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR  Free Report) by 58.1% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 31,511 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 11,584 shares during the period. Quantum Portfolio Management LLCs holdings in Kroger were worth $2,124,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of KR. Oak Ridge Investments LLC boosted its position in Kroger by 18.6% during the 3rd quarter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC now owns 3,919 shares of the companys stock valued at $264,000 after acquiring an additional 614 shares in the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Kroger in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $403,000. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its position in shares of Kroger by 4.1% during the third quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 30,678 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,068,000 after purchasing an additional 1,204 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Kroger by 1.5% during the third quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 30,879 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,081,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Kroger by 16.8% in the third quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 8,358 shares of the companys stock worth $563,000 after purchasing an additional 1,205 shares during the period. 80.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Key Stories Impacting Kroger

Here are the key news stories impacting Kroger this week:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on KR shares. Barclays set a $68.00 price objective on Kroger and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Kroger from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $75.00 price target for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an overweight rating and issued a $70.00 price objective (down previously from $78.00) on shares of Kroger in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Morgan Stanley set a $67.00 target price on shares of Kroger and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Citigroup reiterated 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. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Kroger presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $73.88.

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Kroger Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of Kroger stock opened at $63.18 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $63.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $66.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.98 billion, a PE ratio of 58.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.61. The Kroger Co. has a 52-week low of $58.12 and a 52-week high of $74.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.28, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.88.

Kroger (NYSE:KR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.02. The company 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%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.98 earnings per share. Kroger has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.750-4.800 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that The Kroger Co. will post 4.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kroger Profile

(Free Report)

The Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) is one of the largest supermarket operators in the United States, offering a wide range of retail grocery and related services. Founded in Cincinnati in 1883 by Bernard Kroger, the company operates a portfolio of supermarket and multi-department store banners and provides customers with fresh foods, packaged groceries, deli and bakery items, meat and seafood, produce, and prepared foods. Krogers stores commonly include pharmacy services and fuel centers, positioning the company as a broad-based neighborhood retail destination for everyday needs.

In addition to traditional in-store retailing, Kroger manufactures and distributes a variety of private-label brands and operates its own food production and supply-chain facilities.

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Quantum Portfolio Management LLC increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (BATS:EZU  Free Report) by 59.3% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 29,587 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 11,014 shares during the quarter. Quantum Portfolio Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF were worth $1,833,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF by 49.1% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 516 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the period. Mendota Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF in the third quarter worth about $31,000. Grove Bank & Trust acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. LGT Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF by 109.0% during the 2nd quarter. LGT Financial Advisors LLC now owns 721 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares during the period. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $43,000.

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iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF Stock Up 38.5%

Shares of BATS EZU opened at $66.06 on Monday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $63.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.77. The company has a market cap of $9.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.35 and a beta of 1.01. iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF has a 12 month low of $46.02 and a 12 month high of $61.45.

iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF Profile

iShares MSCI EMU ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the European Monetary Union (EMU) markets, as measured by the MSCI EMU Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the equity markets of the EMU member countries: those members of the European Union who have adopted the Euro as its currency.

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Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA decreased its holdings in Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE:RRX  Free Report) by 6.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,677,301 shares of the companys stock after selling 194,007 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned 4.03% of Regal Rexnord worth $384,032,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Regal Rexnord by 135.1% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 221 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in shares of Regal Rexnord by 85.7% in the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 195 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. increased its stake in Regal Rexnord by 95.1% in the 3rd quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 199 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Regal Rexnord by 216.3% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 272 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 186 shares during the period. Finally, Tobam lifted its stake in Regal Rexnord by 54.8% during the second quarter. Tobam now owns 308 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.72% of the companys stock.

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Regal Rexnord Stock Up 1.4%

Shares of Regal Rexnord stock opened at $160.32 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $10.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $144.44 and a 200-day simple moving average of $145.53. Regal Rexnord Corporation has a 52-week low of $90.56 and a 52-week high of $167.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 0.97.

Regal Rexnord Dividend Announcement

Regal Rexnord ( NYSE:RRX Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $2.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.56 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $1.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.49 billion. Regal Rexnord had a return on equity of 9.64% and a net margin of 4.38%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.49 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Regal Rexnord Corporation will post 9.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 31st. Regal Rexnords payout ratio is presently 36.18%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on RRX. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and issued a $165.00 target price on shares of Regal Rexnord in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Regal Rexnord from $200.00 to $190.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 31st. KeyCorp reduced their target price on Regal Rexnord from $180.00 to $170.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c) rating on shares of Regal Rexnord in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered Regal Rexnord from a buy rating to a hold rating and dropped their price target for the company from $170.00 to $160.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Seven investment 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 has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $179.63.

View Our Latest Stock Report on RRX

Insider Transactions at Regal Rexnord

In other Regal Rexnord news, CEO Louis V. Pinkham sold 35,935 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.20, for a total transaction of $5,253,697.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 103,262 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,096,904.40. This represents a 25.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.82% of the companys stock.

Regal Rexnord Company Profile

(Free Report)

Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE: RRX) is a global industrial manufacturer specializing in electric motors, power generation equipment and automated motion control systems. The company designs, engineers and produces a broad portfolio of products that includes energy-efficient electric motors, variable frequency drives, gearboxes, couplings, bearings and power transmission components. These offerings support critical applications in industries such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, data centers, water treatment, food and beverage processing, mining, oil and gas, and material handling.

The companys operations are organized into multiple business segments that address distinct customer needs.

Further Reading

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares China Pharma and Merck KGaAs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio China Pharma $4.05 million 1.56 -$3.08 million ($0.57) -2.21 Merck KGaA $22.72 billion 0.86 $3.06 billion $6.81 22.23

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Merck KGaA has higher revenue and earnings than China Pharma. China Pharma is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Merck KGaA, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets China Pharma -85.56% -63.93% -31.42% Merck KGaA 12.60% 10.17% 5.74%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

This table compares China Pharma and Merck KGaAs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

0.1% of Merck KGaA shares are held by institutional investors. 6.4% of China Pharma shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility & Risk

China Pharma has a beta of 1.03, suggesting that its stock price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Merck KGaA has a beta of 0.96, suggesting that its stock price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Merck KGaA beats China Pharma on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About China Pharma

(Get Free Report)

China Pharma Holdings, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets generic and branded pharmaceutical, and biochemical products to hospitals and private retailers in the Peoples Republic of China. The company provides products in the form of dry powder injectables, liquid injectables, tablets, capsules, and cephalosporin oral solutions. Its products include Cerebroprotein Hydroloysate injection to treat memory decline and attention deficit; Gastrodin injection for tiredness, loss of concentration, poor sleep, and traumatic syndromes of the brain; Propylgallate injection to treat cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart disease, and after surgery complications; Ozagrel Sodium to treat acute thrombotic cerebral infarction and dyskinesia; Alginic Sodium Diester injection for ischemic heart, cerebrovascular, and high lipoprotein blood diseases; Bumetanide injection to treat edema diseases; and Candesartan for hypertension. In addition, the company provides Roxithromycin dispersible tablets for pharyngitis and tonsillitis; Cefaclor dispersible tablets for tympanitis, lower respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infections, and skin/skin tissue infection; Cefalexin capsules for acute tonsillitis; Andrographolide for sore throat caused by upper respiratory tract infection; Clarithromycin granules and capsules; and Naproxen Sodium and PseudophedrineHydrochlorida sustained release tablets. Further it offers Hepatocyte growth-promoting factor, Tiopronin, Compound Ammonium Glycyrrhetate S, and Omeparzole for the treatment of digestive diseases. Additionally, the company provides Vitamin B6 injection; Granisetron Hydrochloride injection to treat nausea and vomiting caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy during the treatment of malignant tumors; Noni Enzyme, a food supplement; sanitizers; and masks. It offers its products through distributors, its network of sales offices, and sales representatives. The company is based in Haikou, the Peoples Republic of China.

About Merck KGaA

(Get Free Report)

Merck KGaA operates as a science and technology company in Germany. It operates through Life Science, Healthcare, and Electronics segments. The company's Life Science segment offers tools, chemicals, and equipment for academic labs, biotech, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as industrial sector. This segment provides drug manufacturers with process development expertise and technologies, such as continuous bioprocessing; testing kits and services; reagents and services; testing solutions that analyze air, water, and soil; and testing and tools, as well as products that help test nutritional value and identify quality inconsistencies. Its Healthcare segment discovers, develops, manufacturers, and markets prescription drugs and biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of oncology, neurology and immunology, fertility, endocrinology, as well as cardiovascular, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and multiple sclerosis; general medicines; and injection device and disease monitoring software. The Electronics segment supplies materials for the semiconductor and display industries and surface design, such as delivery systems and services, as well as surface solutions, including cosmetics, effect pigments, and functional solutions. In addition, it has in-licensing agreement with Debiopharm International SA for developing and commercializing drug candidates for the treatment of head and neck cancer; Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. for developing, manufacturing, and commercializing drug candidates for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer; and Abbisko Therapeutics Co. Ltd. for developing and commercializing of drug candidates for the treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumor, as well as license and collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA to discover two targeted protein degraders against critical oncogenic proteins. The company was founded in 1668 and is headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany. Merck KGaA operates as a subsidiary of E. Merck KGaA.

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Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 11.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 25,675 shares of the credit services providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,662 shares during the quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $14,604,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Mastercard by 55,868.1% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,421,148 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $7,541,880,000 after buying an additional 13,397,168 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Mastercard during the 2nd quarter valued at $6,725,317,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 25.6% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,372,404 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $3,580,909,000 after acquiring an additional 1,299,977 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,475,807 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $44,098,695,000 after acquiring an additional 931,132 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,760,552 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $11,062,509,000 after purchasing an additional 542,841 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock.

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Mastercard News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have issued reports on MA shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $640.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Cowen reissued a buy rating on shares of Mastercard in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Mastercard from $669.00 to $660.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $665.00 price target on Mastercard and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Mastercard presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $662.08.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on MA

Mastercard Price Performance

NYSE MA opened at $539.82 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $484.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.52, a PEG ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.40, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.12. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $557.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $566.55. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $465.59 and a 1 year high of $601.77.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.31 by $0.07. Mastercard had a return on equity of 202.03% and a net margin of 45.28%.The business had revenue of $8.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.53 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $3.89 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be paid a $0.87 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 9th. This is an increase from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. This represents a $3.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.25%.

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.

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Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lowered its position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 933,248 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 4,792 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $133,137,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of TJX Companies in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,808,774,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of TJX Companies by 12,417.0% in the second 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 in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 2,743,676 shares in the last quarter. ABN AMRO Bank N.V. acquired a new stake in shares of TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at $244,687,000. Finally, Mirova US LLC boosted its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 164.5% during the 2nd quarter. Mirova US LLC now owns 2,699,156 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $333,319,000 after acquiring an additional 1,678,665 shares in the last quarter. 91.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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TJX Companies Price Performance

NYSE TJX opened at $157.50 on Monday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $153.05 and a 200-day simple moving average of $141.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $174.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.75. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $112.10 and a 52-week high of $159.48.

TJX Companies Dividend Announcement

TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 19th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.06. TJX Companies had a net margin of 8.68% and a return on equity of 58.30%. The firm had revenue of $15.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.14 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. TJX Companies has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 1.330-1.360 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 4.630-4.660 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.53%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TJX has been the subject of several analyst reports. Evercore ISI upped their target price on TJX Companies from $162.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of TJX Companies from $163.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $162.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Guggenheim upgraded shares of TJX Companies to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed a positive rating and issued a $150.00 price objective (up previously from $145.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and twenty-four have issued a Buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $163.86.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on TJX

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other TJX Companies news, Director Amy B. Lane sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.40, for a total value of $75,700.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 22,212 shares in the company, valued at $3,362,896.80. The trade was a 2.20% 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, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 24,363 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.31, for a total value of $3,686,365.53. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 510,780 shares in the company, valued at approximately $77,286,121.80. The trade was a 4.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 54,863 shares of company stock valued at $8,226,366. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

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.

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Tradewinds LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 5,533 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $898,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. PFS Partners LLC raised its holdings in Philip Morris International by 24.8% in the 2nd quarter. PFS Partners LLC now owns 292 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the second quarter. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC now owns 5,666 shares of the companys stock worth $1,032,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Second Line Capital LLC increased its position in Philip Morris International by 4.8% in the second quarter. Second Line Capital LLC now owns 1,338 shares of the companys stock worth $245,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 6.5% in the second quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,014 shares of the companys stock worth $185,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the period. Finally, Meridian Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Meridian Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,060 shares of the companys stock valued at $375,000 after buying an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.63% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on PM. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $220.00 to $180.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $180.00 price objective on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $190.00 to $185.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b) rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $189.00.

Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of PM stock opened at $173.66 on Monday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $157.72 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $161.66. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $119.30 and a 52 week high of $186.69. The stock has a market cap of $270.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.46, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.40.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $2.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.14. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 122.14% and a net margin of 9.33%.The firm had revenue of $10.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.91 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th were issued a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 26th. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 106.52%.

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.

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Tradewinds LLC. acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 11,071 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $836,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of NEE. Activest Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 79.7% in the 2nd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 354 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Harbor Asset Planning Inc. bought a new position in NextEra Energy in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Goodman Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in NextEra Energy in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Tripletail Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Finally, Quaker Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy by 200.0% during the second quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 386 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 772 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.72% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NEE has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of NextEra Energy to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. Cowen initiated coverage on shares of NextEra Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a buy rating for the company. Wolfe Research boosted their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Mizuho increased their price objective on NextEra Energy from $78.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, UBS Group set a $91.00 target price on NextEra Energy and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $91.50.

NextEra Energy Price Performance

NEE stock opened at $83.65 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $174.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.64, a PEG ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $61.72 and a 12-month high of $87.53. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $82.32 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.27.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The utilities provider reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.04 by $0.09. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 12.42% and a net margin of 24.72%.The firm had revenue of $7.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.13 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.03 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current year.

NextEra Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 21st were issued a dividend of $0.5665 per share. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 21st. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 72.29%.

Insider Activity at NextEra Energy

In other news, CEO Armando Pimentel, Jr. sold 145,140 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.91, for a total transaction of $12,178,697.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 162,693 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,651,569.63. This trade represents a 47.15% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

NextEra Energy Profile

(Free Report)

NextEra Energy, Inc (NYSE: NEE), headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, is a leading clean energy company with both regulated utility operations and competitive renewable generation businesses. The companys principal operating subsidiaries include Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a regulated electric utility serving customers in Florida, and NextEra Energy Resources, which develops, constructs, owns and operates a large portfolio of wind, solar and energy storage projects. Together these businesses provide electricity supply, transmission and distribution services as well as utility-scale renewable generation and related services.

NextEras activities cover the full lifecycle of power assets, from project development and construction to operation, maintenance and asset optimization.

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Tradewinds LLC. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP  Free Report) during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 2,350 shares of the railroad operators stock, valued at approximately $555,000.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Howard Hughes Medical Institute bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the second quarter valued at $30,000. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Union Pacific during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Total Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. Access Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Union Pacific in the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Sagard Holdings Management Inc. acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.38% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on UNP. Citigroup set a $264.00 target price on Union Pacific and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $258.00 to $257.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $263.00 target price on shares of Union Pacific and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, October 23rd. Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a $285.00 price target (up from $270.00) on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $267.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $259.58.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

NYSE UNP opened at $229.75 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $136.28 billion, a PE ratio of 19.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.75. Union Pacific Corporation has a 52-week low of $204.66 and a 52-week high of $256.84. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $230.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $227.08.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The railroad operator reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $6.24 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.24 billion. Union Pacific had a net margin of 28.73% and a return on equity of 42.23%. The companys revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.75 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Union Pacific Corporation will post 11.99 EPS for the current year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th were paid a $1.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $5.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. Union Pacifics payout ratio is presently 46.90%.

Union Pacific Company Profile

(Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) is one of the largest freight railroad companies in the United States. Its principal operating subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad, has roots that trace back to the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 and the construction of the first transcontinental rail link completed in 1869. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates as a holding company for rail transportation and related services.

Union Pacifics core business is the movement of freight by rail across an extensive rail network serving the western twothirds of the United States.

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Violich Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 5,275 shares of the medical technology companys stock, valued at approximately $1,950,000.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in SYK. Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp grew its position in Stryker by 4.2% during the second quarter. Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp now owns 648 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $256,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its position in Stryker by 16.9% in the second quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $71,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares during the period. Pitti Group Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Stryker by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Pitti Group Wealth Management LLC now owns 861 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares during the last quarter. Sachetta LLC increased its stake in shares of Stryker by 58.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 73 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kovack Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Stryker by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc. now owns 771 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $305,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. 77.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Stryker

In related news, CFO Preston Wendell Wells sold 165 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $365.88, for a total value of $60,370.20. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 6,694 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,449,200.72. The trade was a 2.41% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 276,173 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.28, for a total transaction of $97,566,397.44. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,702,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at $954,600,714.24. This trade represents a 9.27% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 522,118 shares of company stock valued at $185,381,932. 5.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Stryker Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SYK opened at $364.45 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $139.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.89. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $360.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $373.79. Stryker Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $329.16 and a fifty-two week high of $406.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.85.

Stryker (NYSE:SYK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The medical technology company reported $3.19 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $0.06. Stryker had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 24.07%. The business had revenue of $6.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.04 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.87 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Stryker Corporation will post 13.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Stryker Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. This is an increase from Strykers previous quarterly dividend of $0.84. Strykers dividend payout ratio is currently 46.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on SYK. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $448.00 target price on shares of Stryker in a research report on Friday, November 14th. UBS Group set a $408.00 price objective on Stryker in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $435.00 price objective on shares of Stryker in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their target price on shares of Stryker from $450.00 to $465.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of Stryker from $400.00 to $392.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $430.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on SYK

Stryker Company Profile

(Free Report)

Stryker Corporation is a global medical technology company that designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of products and services for use in hospitals, surgeons offices and other healthcare facilities. Its primary business activities span orthopedics (including joint replacement implants, trauma and extremities products), surgical equipment and operating room technologies (such as visualization, navigation and powered instruments), neurotechnology and spine solutions, and patient-handling and emergency medical equipment.

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Shares of Vizsla Silver Corp. (NYSEAMERICAN:VZLA  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Buy from the six analysts that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $7.00.

A number of analysts have recently commented on VZLA shares. Raymond James Financial restated an outperform rating on shares of Vizsla Silver in a report on Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Vizsla Silver in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $7.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Roth Capital upped their price target on Vizsla Silver from $6.00 to $7.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on VZLA

Vizsla Silver Trading Up 3.0%

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vizsla Silver

VZLA opened at $6.16 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.12 billion, a P/E ratio of -154.00 and a beta of 0.94. Vizsla Silver has a 12 month low of $1.69 and a 12 month high of $6.16. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $5.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $4.24.

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Sprott Inc. raised its holdings in Vizsla Silver by 1.4% during the third quarter. Sprott Inc. now owns 22,851,053 shares of the companys stock worth $98,691,000 after acquiring an additional 306,900 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of Vizsla Silver by 9.3% during the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 15,291,000 shares of the companys stock worth $45,146,000 after purchasing an additional 1,306,000 shares during the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Vizsla Silver by 72.8% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 14,435,320 shares of the companys stock worth $62,361,000 after purchasing an additional 6,080,923 shares in the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its stake in shares of Vizsla Silver by 41.7% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 13,587,661 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,698,000 after buying an additional 4,001,170 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its holdings in Vizsla Silver by 38.0% during the third quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 11,395,079 shares of the companys stock worth $49,220,000 after buying an additional 3,139,086 shares during the last quarter. 22.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Vizsla Silver

(Get Free Report)

Vizsla Silver Corp. is a Canada-based mineral exploration and development company focused on high-grade silver projects in Mexico. The company holds a portfolio of properties in the Panuco District of Sinaloa, where it is advancing its flagship Panuco Project, among several other exploration targets. These assets cover prolific epithermal vein systems that have historically produced significant silver and base metals.

The Panuco Project encompasses multiple mineralized zones over a 17,000-hectare land package, where ongoing drilling campaigns have reported consistent high-grade silver intercepts.

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Wynnstay Group Plc (LON:WYN  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as GBX 395 and last traded at GBX 379.50, with a volume of 94177 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 370.

Wynnstay Group Trading Up 2.6%

The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 339.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 354.23. The stock has a market cap of 87.55 million, a P/E ratio of 23.51 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a current ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.53.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Wynnstay Group

In other news, insider Rob Thomas purchased 2,891 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 345 per share, with a total value of 9,973.95. Also, insider Steven Esom acquired 2,891 shares of Wynnstay Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 1st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 345 per share, for a total transaction of 9,973.95. In the last three months, insiders bought 5,863 shares of company stock worth $2,022,816. Insiders own 4.14% of the companys stock.

About Wynnstay Group

Wynnstay is a leading UK provider of agricultural supplies and services to farmers and rural communities, mainly in England and Wales. It manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of agricultural inputs for both livestock and arable farmers, including feed, seed and fertiliser. Through its crop marketing arm, GrainLink, it also provides a channel for arable farmers to sell their grain, and its specialist teams provide advice on the latest farming techniques, including environmental measures, and animal health and nutrition.

Wynnstay supplies both direct-to-farm and via its extensive network of depots.

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Xcel Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 12.1% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 49,230 shares of the aircraft producers stock after purchasing an additional 5,327 shares during the quarter. Boeing accounts for about 2.8% of Xcel Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Xcel Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Boeing were worth $10,625,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Boeing by 1.7% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 66,773,360 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $13,991,022,000 after buying an additional 1,118,316 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 2.7% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 16,316,838 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $3,402,073,000 after acquiring an additional 432,026 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 3.8% during the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 5,327,443 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $1,116,259,000 after acquiring an additional 196,666 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Boeing by 1.1% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,242,397 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $888,910,000 after purchasing an additional 44,338 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its stake in shares of Boeing by 6.3% during the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 3,145,620 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $659,102,000 after purchasing an additional 187,545 shares during the period. 64.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Boeing

In other news, EVP Uma M. Amuluru sold 1,366 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.66, for a total transaction of $270,003.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 14,656 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,896,904.96. The trade was a 8.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Dana S. Deasy acquired 554 shares of Boeing stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $178.88 per share, for a total transaction of $99,099.52. Following the completion of the purchase, the senior vice president directly owned 28,442 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,087,704.96. This represents a 1.99% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on BA. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and issued a $280.00 price target on shares of Boeing in a research note on Thursday. Loop Capital set a $223.00 target price on Boeing in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Boeing from a strong sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 2nd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on shares of Boeing from $277.00 to $298.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $255.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and five have assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $237.46.

View Our Latest Analysis on Boeing

Boeing Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of Boeing stock opened at $247.71 on Monday. The Boeing Company has a 12-month low of $128.88 and a 12-month high of $248.75. The company has a market capitalization of $188.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -18.11, a PEG ratio of 7.05 and a beta of 1.16. The firms 50-day moving average price is $208.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $217.20.

Boeing (NYSE:BA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The aircraft producer reported ($7.47) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.51) by ($6.96). The firm had revenue of $23.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.61 billion. The companys quarterly revenue was up 30.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($10.44) EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Boeing News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Boeing this week:

About Boeing

(Free Report)

Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense systems, and space and security technologies. Founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, the company today operates as an integrated aerospace and defense contractor with a global customer base. Boeing relocated its corporate headquarters to Arlington, Virginia in 2022 and maintains extensive engineering, manufacturing and service operations across the United States and around the world.

Boeings principal lines of business include Commercial Airplanes, which produces and supports a range of jetliners used by airlines globally; Defense, Space & Security, which develops military aircraft, rotorcraft, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, satellites, and launch and missile systems; and Boeing Global Services, which provides aftermarket maintenance, training, spare parts, digital analytics and logistics support.

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Global supply chains have moved into a period of lasting instability, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum, prompting companies and governments to rethink how and where they invest and produce.

The research finds that almost three quarters of business leaders now place resilience at the heart of their investment strategies, with 74 percent viewing it as a source of future growth rather than a defensive cost.

The report, Global Value Chains Outlook 2026: Orchestrating Corporate and National Agility, produced in collaboration with Kearney, argues that todays volatility reflects a deep structural shift rather than a temporary disruption.

Geopolitical fragmentation, faster technological change, industrial policy intervention, the energy transition and tightening resource constraints are fundamentally reshaping global value chains and making disruption a permanent feature of the economic landscape.

Kiva Allgood, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, said volatility can no longer be treated as a passing phase. She noted that competitive advantage increasingly depends on foresight, flexibility and coordination across entire ecosystems, adding that companies and countries that develop these capabilities together will be better placed to attract investment, secure supply and sustain growth in a more fragmented global economy.

Evidence of this shift is already visible. In 2025, tariff escalations between major economies redirected more than 400 billion dollars in global trade flows.

Disruptions across key shipping routes pushed container shipping costs up by 40 percent year-on-year, while manufacturing output in advanced economies grew at its slowest pace since 2009.

At the same time, more than 3,000 new trade and industrial policy measures were introduced globally during the year, more than three times the annual level seen a decade earlier. Together, these trends underline why supply chain resilience has become central to both corporate strategy and national competitiveness.

Alongside the Global Supply Chains report, the Forum has launched the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Readiness Navigator, a digital tool designed to turn analysis into practical insight. Built on global indices, the tool helps governments identify competitiveness gaps and prioritise reforms, while allowing businesses to assess infrastructure readiness and ecosystem strength when making location and investment decisions.

The report also points to examples of how targeted national strategies are already influencing manufacturing performance.

In Ireland, Skillnet Ireland links government, industry and educators to provide subsidised training aligned with business needs.

In China, large-scale investment in digital infrastructure under the New Infrastructure initiative has enabled real-time industrial connectivity through extensive 5G deployment. In Qatar, a national dashboard tracking essential food items in real time strengthens supply security by allowing early intervention and rapid, data-led responses to disruption.

Per Kristian Hong, Partner at Kearney, said supply chain disruption in 2026 is likely to be constant and structural. He argued that geopolitical tensions, changing trade rules and labour shortages are redefining how value is created and moved, forcing supply leaders to redesign operating models to function under permanent uncertainty. This, he said, means moving away from efficiency-led systems towards adaptive networks that can be reconfigured as conditions change.
In a spectacular military operation, U.S. forces captured the President of Greenland, and have now secured the entire country on the orders of President Donald J. Trump.

In the early hours of Monday morning, social media sites were buzzing with the news of the clinical snatch and grab operation. Thankfully, there were no casualties apart from a little melting.

We Got Him

President Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social website.

President Lort Hoved of Greenland has been captured. This is tremendous news, I give you. Our tremendous marines and Delta Force, you know theyre the best in the world, well, they swooped down into the field, you know in the snowy conditions, and they grabbed the president. Dont mess with America, if we want something, we gotta have it. Dont listen to the fake news folks, trust me when I tell you, this is huge, tremendous real news straight from your supreme commander of the most tremendous military in the world. Those Marines, shoulda seen em, they were tremendous, huge!!! Tremendous. I like the Danish people, we got no issues with em, but that president had to go, and now we own Greenland. Sorry, Denmark, but you kinda owed us. Drilling and mining starts tomorrow. Russia and China! Did I mention them? China! China! China!
Incidents in which children aged one to three have discharged unsecured firearms since 2015 are rising at an exponential rate, according to the stats. Officials stress the toddlers themselves are not ideologically motivated, though several are known to operate under the influence of nap deprivation and unregulated access to kitchen drawers.

Terrible Twos

Texas, Florida and parts of the Midwest emerge as hotspots, with analysts attributing the spike to a potent mix of unsecured weapons, open-plan living, and the uniquely American belief that a Glock is an acceptable substitute for a baby monitor.

These are not hardened criminals, said one unnamed official. They are sticky, confused, and emotionally volatile, but the threat profile is real.

Parents remain defiant. My son is a good kid, said one father who had his left testicle shot off, he explained that the firearm involved had been left on a coffee table for protection. The toddler in question declined to comment, citing a pressing need to eat a crayon.

Think tanks are divided on solutions. Some propose toddler buy-back schemes, exchanging firearms for plush toys. Others argue for responsible storage, though this has been criticised as anti-freedom by groups who believe constitutional rights begin at birth, possibly earlier.

The White House has urged calm, reminding citizens that statistically toddlers remain more likely to shoot themselves than others, a reassurance widely regarded as missing the point.

At press time, several suspects were reportedly neutralised by Goldfish crackers and an episode of Peppa Pig.
Range Resources (NYSE:RRC  Get Free Report) and Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group (OTCMKTS:EUBG  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability.

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Profitability

This table compares Range Resources and Entrepreneur Universe Bright Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Range Resources 19.64% 15.99% 8.93% Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group 24.17% 11.97% 10.95%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Range Resources and Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Range Resources 1 14 4 1 2.25 Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group 0 0 0 0 0.00

Valuation & Earnings

Range Resources currently has a consensus price target of $41.37, suggesting a potential upside of 20.19%. Given Range Resources stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Range Resources is more favorable than Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group.

This table compares Range Resources and Entrepreneur Universe Bright Groups revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Range Resources $2.42 billion 3.37 $266.34 million $2.38 14.46 Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group $5.28 million 38.66 $1.49 million N/A N/A

Range Resources has higher revenue and earnings than Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

98.9% of Range Resources shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.0% of Range Resources shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 63.6% of Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

Range Resources has a beta of 0.51, suggesting that its stock price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group has a beta of 19.21, suggesting that its stock price is 1,821% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Range Resources beats Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Range Resources

(Get Free Report)

Range Resources Corporation operates as an independent natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, and condensate company in the United States. The company engages in the exploration, development, and acquisition of natural gas and crude oil properties located in the Appalachian region. It sells natural gas to utilities, marketing and midstream companies, and industrial users; NGLs to petrochemical end users, marketers/traders, and natural gas processors; and oil and condensate to crude oil processors, transporters, and refining and marketing companies. The company was formerly known as Lomak Petroleum Inc. and changed its name to Range Resources Corporation in August 1998. Range Resources Corporation was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

About Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group

(Get Free Report)

Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group, through its subsidiaries, provides digital marketing consultation services in the Hong Kong and People's Republic of China. It offers consulting, sourcing, and marketing services. The company was formerly known as REE International, Inc. and changed its name to Entrepreneur Universe Bright Group in April 2020. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is based in Xi'an, China.

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CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the fourteen research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $77.6667.

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A number of analysts have weighed in on CMS shares. KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of CMS Energy from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. Wall Street Zen raised CMS Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on CMS Energy from $71.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Barclays dropped their target price on CMS Energy from $82.00 to $74.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b-) rating on shares of CMS Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 8th.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CMS Energy

Insider Transactions at CMS Energy

Institutional Trading of CMS Energy

In other news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.47, for a total transaction of $289,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 64,259 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,656,849.73. This trade represents a 5.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . Company insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CMS. HM Payson & Co. lifted its holdings in CMS Energy by 65.6% during the 3rd quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 356 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. First Horizon Corp bought a new stake in CMS Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in CMS Energy by 52.0% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 424 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Dorato Capital Management acquired a new stake in CMS Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont raised its holdings in CMS Energy by 127.7% during the 2nd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 535 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. 93.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CMS Energy Stock Performance

CMS Energy stock opened at $71.71 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84. The stock has a market cap of $21.82 billion, a PE ratio of 20.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.49. CMS Energy has a 12-month low of $65.10 and a 12-month high of $76.45. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $71.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $72.14.

CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.83 billion. CMS Energy had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 12.10%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.84 earnings per share. CMS Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.800-3.870 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 3.560-3.600 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that CMS Energy will post 3.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CMS Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is an energy company based in Jackson, Michigan, whose principal business is the regulated utility operations of its subsidiary, Consumers Energy. The company is primarily focused on providing electric and natural gas service to customers in Michigan, operating the generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure necessary to deliver energy to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Headquartered in Jackson, CMS Energy conducts its core activities within the state and is regulated by state utility authorities.

Through Consumers Energy and related subsidiaries, CMS Energy develops, owns and operates a portfolio of generation assets and delivers a range of customer-facing services, including electricity and natural gas supply, grid management, energy efficiency programs and demand-response offerings.

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Formidable Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 16.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,016 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,527 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up about 1.3% of Formidable Asset Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Formidable Asset Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $8,587,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Florida Trust Wealth Management Co grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 9.4% during the 3rd quarter. Florida Trust Wealth Management Co now owns 30,156 shares of the companys stock valued at $23,009,000 after acquiring an additional 2,589 shares in the last quarter. Partners Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% in the third quarter. Partners Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,948 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,250,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Quantum Portfolio Management LLC purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company during the third quarter worth approximately $233,000. J.Safra Asset Management Corp lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 39.4% during the third quarter. J.Safra Asset Management Corp now owns 2,711 shares of the companys stock worth $2,068,000 after buying an additional 766 shares in the last quarter. Finally, DMC Group LLC boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 4.0% during the third quarter. DMC Group LLC now owns 735 shares of the companys stock worth $561,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Headlines Impacting Eli Lilly and Company

Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on LLY. UBS Group began coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. They set a buy rating and a $1,250.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,286.00 to $1,268.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 15th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Loop Capital set a $950.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $1,174.70.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Shares of LLY opened at $1,038.26 on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $1,051.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $871.48. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $623.78 and a 52-week high of $1,133.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The company has a market capitalization of $981.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.35.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.42 by $0.60. The company had revenue of $17.60 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 109.52%. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue for the quarter was up 53.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.18 earnings per share. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. Research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $1.73 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. 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 yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 29.35%.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A.

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Risk & Volatility

BEO Bancorp has a beta of 0.25, indicating that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BEO Bancorps rivals have a beta of -2.37, indicating that their average share price is 337% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

59.7% of shares of all BANKS  WEST companies are held by institutional investors. 10.3% of shares of all BANKS  WEST companies are held 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.

Profitability

This table compares BEO Bancorp and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BEO Bancorp N/A N/A N/A BEO Bancorp Competitors 18.90% 10.35% 1.08%

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio BEO Bancorp $57.76 million $16.49 million 8.31 BEO Bancorp Competitors $928.68 million $164.43 million 11.29

This table compares BEO Bancorp and its rivals revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

BEO Bancorps rivals have higher revenue and earnings than BEO Bancorp. BEO Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Dividends

BEO Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $2.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%. BEO Bancorp pays out 15.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BANKS  WEST companies pay a dividend yield of 1.7% and pay out 29.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. BEO Bancorp is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

BEO Bancorp rivals beat BEO Bancorp on 8 of the 11 factors compared.

BEO Bancorp Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

BEO Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Eastern Oregon that provides commercial and consumer financing, banking and mortgage lending, and other services in Northeastern Oregon and Southeastern Washington. The company offers checking, money market, time deposits, and savings accounts; and certificates of deposit. It also provides commercial, agricultural, real estate, installment, credit card, mortgage, term, home, construction, farm, and refinancing loans; lines of credit; home enhancement loan programs; Internet banking and bill payment services; business sweep and banking services; and automated teller machines and safe deposit facilities, as well as originates and sells mortgage loans into the secondary market. The company was founded in 1945 and is based in Heppner, Oregon.

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Wall Street Zen cut shares of Makita (OTCMKTS:MKTAY  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Sunday morning.

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Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Makita from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold.

Read Our Latest Analysis on MKTAY

Makita Price Performance

Shares of MKTAY opened at $31.40 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.45 billion, a PE ratio of 15.62 and a beta of 0.52. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $29.92 and its 200 day moving average price is $31.70. Makita has a 12-month low of $25.56 and a 12-month high of $39.05.

Makita (OTCMKTS:MKTAY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.02. Makita had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 8.53%. The company had revenue of $1.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.27 billion. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Makita will post 1.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Makita

(Get Free Report)

Makita Corporation (OTCMKTS:MKTAY) is a global manufacturer of professional and consumer power tools headquartered in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 1915 as an electric motor sales and repair company, it incorporated as Makita Electric Works, Ltd. in 1958 and has since expanded its product portfolio to serve both industrial and residential markets. The companys core business activities encompass the design, production and distribution of power tools, outdoor power equipment and accessories.

Makitas product lineup includes cordless and corded electric drills, drivers, saws, grinders, sanders and rotary hammers, as well as pneumatic and gasoline-powered machinery.

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NNN REIT (NYSE:NNN  Get Free Report) and Community Healthcare Trust (NYSE:CHCT  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, valuation, dividends and risk.

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Insider and Institutional Ownership

90.0% of NNN REIT shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.8% of Community Healthcare Trust shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of NNN REIT shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 5.1% of Community Healthcare Trust shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares NNN REIT and Community Healthcare Trusts net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NNN REIT 43.22% 8.95% 4.29% Community Healthcare Trust -6.27% -1.66% -0.76%

Dividends

Analyst Recommendations

NNN REIT pays an annual dividend of $2.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.6%. Community Healthcare Trust pays an annual dividend of $1.90 per share and has a dividend yield of 11.1%. NNN REIT pays out 115.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Community Healthcare Trust pays out -475.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. NNN REIT has raised its dividend for 35 consecutive years and Community Healthcare Trust has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Community Healthcare Trust is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for NNN REIT and Community Healthcare Trust, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NNN REIT 1 6 0 0 1.86 Community Healthcare Trust 1 1 2 0 2.25

NNN REIT currently has a consensus target price of $43.17, suggesting a potential upside of 1.21%. Community Healthcare Trust has a consensus target price of $18.00, suggesting a potential upside of 5.41%. Given Community Healthcare Trusts stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Community Healthcare Trust is more favorable than NNN REIT.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares NNN REIT and Community Healthcare Trusts top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio NNN REIT $869.27 million 9.32 $396.83 million $2.08 20.50 Community Healthcare Trust $115.79 million 4.20 -$3.18 million ($0.40) -42.69

NNN REIT has higher revenue and earnings than Community Healthcare Trust. Community Healthcare Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NNN REIT, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

NNN REIT has a beta of 0.86, suggesting that its stock price is 14% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Community Healthcare Trust has a beta of 0.75, suggesting that its stock price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

NNN REIT beats Community Healthcare Trust on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About NNN REIT

(Get Free Report)

NNN REIT invests primarily in high-quality retail properties subject generally to long-term, net leases. As of December 31, 2023, the company owned 3,532 properties in 49 states with a gross leasable area of approximately 36.0 million square feet and a weighted average remaining lease term of 10.1 years. NNN is one of only three publicly traded REITs to have increased annual dividends for 34 or more consecutive years.

About Community Healthcare Trust

(Get Free Report)

Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated (the Company, we, our) was organized in the State of Maryland on March 28, 2014. The Company is a fully-integrated healthcare real estate company that owns and acquires real estate properties that are leased to hospitals, doctors, healthcare systems or other healthcare service providers. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had investments of approximately $1.1 billion in 197 real estate properties (including a portion of one property accounted for as a sales-type lease with a gross amount totaling approximately $3.0 million and two properties classified as an asset held for sale with an aggregate amount totaling approximately $7.5 million. The properties are located in 35 states, totaling approximately 4.4 million square feet in the aggregate and were approximately 92.3% leased, excluding real estate assets held for sale, at March 31, 2024 with a weighted average remaining lease term of approximately 6.9 years.

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The family of a couple who tragically died in a road crash are finding some hope in the support from the local community in north Belfast.

Ralph Anthony Singco, Cathrene Kith Quinones Singco, and their unborn baby daughter  whose name has been confirmed as Kate Singco, died from their injuries following the two-car collision near Nutts Corner.

It is understood the health service workers had been living in the north Belfast community for the last four or five years, but Mr Singcos family had been settled in the area for 20 years.

Crowds of people, including North Belfast MP John Finucane, turned out to St Vincent de Paul Church in Ligoniel for the vigil  which remembered the family in hymns and prayer.

It heard that a A GoFundMe page set up to pay for the familys repatriation to their home country of the Philippines has raised enough to do so.

Father Vincent Cushnahan said a number of members of Singco family were in attendance, and thanked those involved for their generosity.

Mr Singcos brother, Antonio Singco, thanked those who turned out for their kindness, and described the support his family has received as incredible.

There really is no explanation to make us understand our loss, and there will be no words that will make it any easier, he said.

My family has been left with grief but also love, love that is not going to end with their passing. I know that ultimately grief is the price we pay for love, and how grateful and privileged we are to love them very deeply.

Its very easy in these moments to lose yourself to loneliness and isolation, but the support that weve seen here tonight and the last few nights has been astronomical, unbelievable and incredible.

Its the support and solidarity that this community has shown us that has given us hope that there is still goodness and humanity in an unjust world.

Tonight is not about fixing what cant be fixed, its about honouring and remembering my brother and his family.

Father Cushnahan said the couple had been looking forward to shortly welcoming their first child.

This dreadful tragedy has brought out the best in this community, it has brought you here tonight and brought out your prayers and condolences, and overwhelming financial generosity to allow the Singco family to take Ralph, Kith and baby Kate home, to their home soil, to lay them to rest in peace there, he said.

He said Mr Singco had grown up in Northern Ireland, but decided to go to university to study nursing care in the Philippines where he met his wife-to-be.

After they graduated, they came back here to Ireland to establish a home, he said.

For four years they tried to have a baby, to bring new life into the world, and some seven months ago they discovered they were going to have a baby, and that filled them with joy and excitement, they made plans, they prepared for the future with little baby Kate.

Their child was due in two months time, they were going to bring little Kate into a world where they had hope, they were going to work hard, they were going to show that love to this little baby, to shower her with everything they had.

Sadly it wasnt to be that way. Tragically their lives were taken from our lives just this day last week, and now they rest in peace.

A funeral service will take place at the same church on Wednesday.
A new Stormont Assembly group will investigate pimping websites in Northern Ireland.

It will be carried out by the newly formed All Party Group (APG) on Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

It comes eleven years after the Assembly introduced human trafficking laws, which ensured Northern Ireland was the first, and so far the only, part of the UK to make buying sex illegal.

However concern has been expressed that police in Northern Ireland are not fully using their powers.

It is understood that since that law received Royal Assent in 2015, pimping websites have become the most common way for criminal gangs to profit from the sale of women and girls.

The group said a media investigation in June 2025 found thousands of potential indicators of sexual exploitation on two of the UKs most prominent adult service websites.

An event will held at Parliament Buildings on Monday, hosted by the APG and charity Care NI, to mark the start of the inquiry.

DUP MLA Peter Martin, who chairs the APG, said the inquiry aims to expose platforms which exploit.

Commercial sexual exploitation is a reality within our society and pimping websites have facilitated and expatiated this exploitation, he said.

This inquiry will work towards exposing these platforms which have often hidden behind the veil of empowerment and safety.

Lord Morrow, the original proposer of the Bill, said: Over ten years ago, the Northern Ireland Assembly took a courageous and bold step against those who seek to exploit women and girls.

The Nordic model is about protection, protection from commodification and exploitation, and we remain steadfast in ensuring that this legislation is providing optimal protection for victims.

Jessica Mcdowell, policy officer at Care NI, said: It is a programme for government priority for the Northern Ireland Executive to combat violence against women and girls.

If the Executive are serious about change they must combat the harm from the sale of women in Belfast.

On any given day over 300 women can be advertised for sale on pimping websites in Northern Ireland.

This is illegal.

The law is clear, purchasing sex is a crime. If that law was enforced, demand would reduce and women and girls would receive better protection.

It is time for action to be taken on the criminal gangs profiting from exploiting women online.
Police have launched an investigation after reports that explicit AI-generated images have been shared among pupils at a County Armagh school.

The headmaster of the Royal School Armagh, Graham Montgomery, confirmed that a matter involving some of our pupils was brought to our attention and referred to the appropriate authorities.

We have robust policies and procedures in place and where concerns are raised, we seek and follow advice from educational and other statutory authorities and take all appropriate action as advised, he said.

We will continue to do that and the safety and well-being of all our pupils remains our highest priority.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police have received a report that AI-generated explicit images had been shared amongst pupils at a County Armagh school.

An investigation is under way and local officers are also engaging with the appropriate school authorities and the parents/guardians of the pupils affected.

The social media website X has been criticised by politicians in Northern Ireland, London and Dublin after reports its AI chatbot, Grok, was facilitating the creation of sexualised images of women and children.

Last week, UK Justice Secretary David Lammy brought forward legislation to make it illegal to generate sexual deepfake images without consent.
An additional levy on rates would represent a form of water charging, the Infrastructure Minister has said.

Liz Kimmins told MLAs she will not shirk her responsibility to make difficult decisions or increase the financial burden to households that are already struggling.

A report was published in summer of 2025 with the support of a number of housing bodies warning that Northern Irelands wastewater infrastructure is facing a critical funding crisis.

The publication undertaken by Turley and Grant Thornton and commissioned by NI Chamber, suggested a progressive and modest rates-based levy could be introduced, allowing NI Water to access private capital and minimise pressure on the Stormont Executives budget.

Ms Kimmins told the assembly chamber she had not discussed an infrastructure levy with Finance Minister John ODowd, but any changes to rates bill would be a cross-executive matter.

I have met with the NI Chamber of Commerce, the Construction Employers Federation and the NI Federation of Housing Associations to consider their report that proposed increasing rate spendings of hypothecated infrastructure levy to fund wastewater infrastructure.

For me, that still represents a form of water charging which I have said clearly I will not introduce, and for the avoidance of doubt I will not add to the financial burden being faced by people here by imposing any form of water charges.

I do recognise the constrained financial situation we all do, and were facing that collectively with difficult decisions required and well continue to look at innovative new ways that we can maximise the delivery of vital infrastructure.

She added: So whilst that may be a solution and its been put forward, it is one that I think will lead to water charges.

However the idea of the levy I think is one for, if its being considered in rates, its not one I can take a decision on.

Alliance MLA John Blair asked the minister what changes her department had considered for revenue-raising to meet budget shortfall particularly in relation to the investment required to provide flood risk management and mitigation.

In her reply, Ms Kimmins said: Ill never shirk my responsibility in terms of what we have to consider in terms of difficult decisions that have to be taken, however adding a financial burden to households that are already struggling, for me is not the answer, because it just further challenges for people that we all represent.

Sinn Fein MLA Declan McAleer asked for further assurance on water charges.

Ms Kimmins replied: Ive said on a number of occasions in this house, and it isnt for the sake of it, it isnt to just say, well, Im not doing it.

I think we all recognise that we have to look at things and see how we can maximise the budget and do what we can to get proper investment in our services, but the reality is why should the people across the north here pay the price for years upon years of under investment by successive British governments?

People have said that thats a soundbite or its an excuse. Its absolutely not an excuse. Its a reality.

And I will not stop reminding people of that because I think its important, we cant give cover for a failure to deliver a budget that meets the needs of people here.

People here are taxpayers. They are as much entitled to good services and good investment as anyone else across these islands.

So we continue to make that case to the British Treasury to ensure that they understand the impact of decisions that have been taken for many years.
Derry dancer Janie Doherty is set to star as a mischievous fox in Moonlight Dream, a beautiful dance and live music production from Maiden Voyage Dance, which will take place at the Millennium Forum Studio on Thursday, February 12.

A gentle, sensory-rich dance and live music experience for 06-year-olds and their families, Moonlight Dream follows a curious child and her two lovable companions - a caring bear and a mischievous fox - as they explore the night sky and discover the limitless possibilities of the dream world.

Thirty-seven-year-old Janie, who is originally from Bishop Street and is a former pupil of St. Cecilias College, has trained in Berlin, New York and Germany and performed in the Hong Kong New Year Parade for three years in a row!

She says she is looking forward to performing in her home town for Derrys youngest dreamers: Moonlight Dream is such a special show and the perfect first theatre experience for families with young children. Weve taken inspiration from classic childrens bedtime stories to create a truly magical experience with live music, gentle movement, and glowing lightscapes. I cant wait for Derry audiences to see it!

"Its so special to me to create work for this age group, especially as a mother myself to a small child. I think we underestimate just what babies can understand. They are very intelligent and like wee sponges so they really soak in all the elements of the show.

"It is such a beautiful experience to bring your child to the theatre for the first time, so it is important to me as both a performer and a parent, that I make the experience as memorable as possible for the families in the audience.

Nicola Curry, Artistic Director of Maiden Voyage said: Research has shown that early arts experiences are hugely beneficial for young childrens development.

"From presenting the show in a relaxed in-the-round setting, music, lighting and interaction between the performers and young audiences, our creative team has put a lot of thought into making Moonlight Dream as accessible and meaningful as possible, to create some really heart-warming moments between children and their caregivers.

Caoileann Curry-Thompson, Arts Development Officer for Literature and Dance at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland added: I cant think of a more wonderful way to spend time during half-term than to be swept away to a magical world with Maiden Voyage Dance and Moonlight Dream. The creativity, care and dedication from the company and their proven track record in producing meaningful and memorable shows for young audiences mean that this is definitely an event not to be missed!

The production brings together an exceptional creative team, led by choreographer Georgia Tegou, with original live music composed and played by Ursula Burns, and performances by Sandy Cuthbert, Janie Doherty, and Andrea Madore. The stunning lighting and set design by Ciaran Bagnall, combined with beautiful costumes by Una Hickey, create a truly immersive moonlit world.

Moonlight Dream is commissioned and produced by Maiden Voyage Dance, which is principally funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and supported by Belfast City Council. The show was co-commissioned with Luail  Irelands National Dance Company, which is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaion.

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Moonlight Dream by Maiden Voyage Dance will be performed at 11.00am and 2.00pm on Thursday, February 12 at the Millennium Forum Studio Theatre.

Tickets for 'Moonlight Dream' are 6.50 (includes 1.50 development fee) and can be booked online at millenniumforum.co.uk or from the box office on tel. 028 7126 4455.
An American financial company, hired to plan a digitisation programme for the Democratic Republic of Congo, has filed a lawsuit in the United States against the country and several senior officials, reportedly alleging corruption.

US company PayServices claimed it was contracted in late 2023 to digitise state-linked financial operations, including modernising the bank the Caisse Generale dEpargne du Congo, rolling out electronic government payments, and building a national digital payments platform to support public salaries, social transfers and merchant transactions.

The company, which describes itself as a US-based financial institution that is focused on bringing innovation and marrying technology with banking, said it accepted the deal and invested more than US$72 million in technology and services. The contract required the Congolese state to pay US$20 million "within two weeks". This, allegedly, wasnt paid. However, PayServices claims that bribes were requested by senior officials, some close to DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, though this activity is said to have been outside the DRC President's knowledge.

Their demands were refused, and, the company alleges, a number of individual defendants then conspired to sabotage and breach the contract and end the project

PayServices is seeking US$20 million in damages as well as reimbursement of its investment. However, the ITWeb Africa news service suggests that the company is seeking damages that could run into hundreds of millions of dollars, with some filings citing claims of up to US$4 billion.

The AFP news services reports that the State Enterprises Ministry has dismissed the allegations and justified the termination of the contract by accusing PayServices of misrepresenting itself as a bank despite lacking the "legal status of a banking institution".

PayServices highlights previously work on digital payments and government finance modernisation projects in markets including Nigeria, Ghana and Rwanda, to show that it can deliver on such projects  and that it has delivered in the past.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reportedly kicked off a six-week public consultation to assess the potential for allowing direct-to-device (D2D) satellite services in Nigeria.

According to TechAfrica News, the NCC issued a notice last week seeking stakeholder input on developing a regulatory framework for D2D services under Section 71 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

Among other things, the NCC is looking for input on issues such as market opportunities, coexistence with terrestrial networks and related interference issues, and licensing and spectrum management models, such as whether D2D services could be offered under existing terrestrial network licences.

The NCC is also considering technological approaches  i.e. D2D services that use existing terrestrial spectrum vs mobile satellite services spectrum (MSS).

The NCC is also looking at public interest safeguards such as emergency access, rural inclusion and investment incentives, the report said.

The consultation paper is open to responses from telecoms licensees, device manufacturers, ISPs, government agencies, civil society organizations and consumers. The deadline for submission is February 23, 2026.

Airtel Nigeria already has a stake in the D2D space via its parent company Airtel Africa, which signed a deal with SpaceX last month to launch Starlinks Direct to Cell (D2C) LEO satellite service across all of its 14 markets across the continent sometime this year.

Airtel Africa said at the time that launches in each market will be subject to local regulatory approval.

Airtel Nigeria currently resells Starlinks satellite broadband service under a separate earlier agreement between Airtel Africa and SpaceX in May 2025.
Globe Telecom announced on Friday it has signed an MOU to partner with LEO satellite operator Starlink to resell its Direct to Cell (D2C) satellite service in the Philippines, making it the first operator in the country (and in Southeast Asia) to do so.

Globe said in a stock exchange filing that the D2C service  which works with standard LTE handsets  will address mobile coverage gaps across geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), benefiting underserved communities and the remaining 4% of the Filipino population who live in areas with no terrestrial coverage.

Globe said the service will enable users in such areas to access digital government services through the eGov App, as well as provide a resilient lifeline during natural disasters for affected individuals and first responders.

Connectivity is no longer a privilegeit is a lifeline and a modern-day utility that fuels individual opportunity and national economic progress, said Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz in a statement. By extending mobile reach through satellite technology, we are ensuring that every Filipino, whether in bustling cities or in the most remote barangays, has access to essential communication.

According to local newspaper Inquirer, Cruz said the Starlink D2C service will be made commercially available within the first quarter of this year. He also said that while pricing for the service was still be worked out, it would be inclusive and cheaper than traditional satellite phone services.

Globe has been playing the field with direct-to-device (D2D) satellite offerings for the last few years. The telco has been trialling Lynk Globals D2D service since October 2024, and has been collaborating with AST Spacemobile under an MoU signed in 2022.

Rival telco Smart Communications also been collaborating with Lynk and AST Spacemobile. Smarts parent company PLDT signed a deal to resell Starlinks LEO satellite broadband service to businesses in the Philippines in August 2025.
African space strategies are again in the news after last weeks reports of the latest satellite launch in Algeria and the announcement of plans for the launch of Senegals second satellite some time this year.

Algeria has, in the past week, put its third Earth observation satellite, Alsat-3A, into orbit. It launched from a base in China.

Developed through a partnership between the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Alsat-3A is designed to deliver high-resolution images with a 17.5-kilometre observation swathe and a revisit time of three days.

Reports say that these features are intended to enhance national mapping, digital elevation models, and a range of strategic uses linked to land planning, natural resource management, and major risk prevention.

Algeria ranks among the continents most active satcoms players, alongside Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Angola.

In West Africa, meanwhile, Senegal plans to launch a second satellite, GAINDESAT-1B, in 2026. We reported on the launch of its predecessor GAINDESAT-1A, Senegals first satellite, in August 2024.

Like the Algerian satellite it will collect environmental data and imagery, which officials say can support natural resource management, territorial monitoring and climate observation.

The new satellite builds on GAINDESAT-1As environmental and monitoring capabilities, while the overall project is said to be part of efforts to develop local expertise.

According to the Ecofin news agency, more than 21 African countries now operate space programmes, with 18 having launched at least one satellite, bringing the continents total to about 65 satellites. More than 120 additional satellites are currently under development.
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India roundup: Acer bets on growing PC penetration

Acer and Lenovo are optimistic about India's consumer electronics sector as the global market slows due to rising memory prices.

Acer seeks to grow Indian PC market share with focus on gaming segment

Acer is intensifying its efforts in the Indian PC market, aiming to increase its consumer PC market share from 15% to 20% by 2026, with gaming PCs playing a central role, according to Harish Kohli, president and managing director of Acer India. The company's push includes hosting the annual Predator League esports finals in New Delhi.

India's PC market is poised for significant growth with government-driven digitalization push

India's PC market is poised for strong growth, supported by the country's vast population and proactive government initiatives in digital transformation and local manufacturing. Despite India's population of 1.5 billion, the current annual PC sales volume is only around 15 million units, reflecting a penetration rate of roughly 10%, according to Harish Kohli, president and managing director of Acer India. This gap indicates a substantial opportunity for growth in both demand and production.

Lenovo aims to double India business in three years

Lenovo is aiming to double its business in India over the next three years, leveraging strong growth in its Motorola smartphone segment and its infrastructure and services verticals, according to company executives. Lenovo's Asia Pacific leadership highlighted domestic consumption and the "India for the world" strategy as central to the company's future expansion, with India emerging as one of Lenovo's fastest-growing markets worldwide.

India targets post-quantum secure chip personalization with Kaynes Semicon-SEALSQ joint venture

India's semiconductor ambitions are beginning to extend beyond fabrication and conventional packaging into secure chip personalization and cryptographic control, as Kaynes Semicon and SEALSQ detailed the roadmap for their newly approved joint venture (JV).

Sharp-Adani LCD proposal tests India's ability to build a full-scale panel supply chain from scratch

Sharp ceased production at its Sakai Display Product (SDP) factory in late August 2024, ending operations at the world's only 10G LCD panel fab. Despite this closure, Sharp is pursuing plans to build a new 10.5G LCD panel manufacturing facility in India in partnership with the Adani Group, a major Indian conglomerate. The initiative reflects Sharp's continued interest in expanding its LCD panel production, though significant challenges remain.

Foxconn-HCL semiconductor joint venture to be named India Chip Private Limited

Electronics manufacturing services major Foxconn and India's HCL Group have formally named their semiconductor joint venture India Chip Private Limited, according to a regulatory filing made on January 14, marking a key step in operationalising their collaboration in India's chip ecosystem.

Delta Electronics plans major manufacturing expansion in India to support 'Make in India' push

Delta Electronics India is set to significantly expand its manufacturing footprint in India, reflecting the company's confidence in the country's growing semiconductor and electronics ecosystem and its alignment with the government's 'Make in India' initiative. The move builds on Delta's longstanding presence in India, where the company has invested in R&D, industrial automation, and smart manufacturing solutions over the past decade.

Samsung India business outlook brightened by AI and connected home offerings

Samsung Electronics is projecting a "positive and bright" business outlook for India in 2026, citing improving consumer sentiment and stronger spending momentum, according to JB Park, president and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia. Speaking on the sidelines of CES 2026, Park said the company plans to expand its artificial intelligence ecosystem across appliances, mobile devices, and other premium consumer electronics in the country.

Reliance plans AI platform to bring language-first access to every Indian

Reliance Industries, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, unveiled plans for a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform under its Jio brand on January 11, designed to allow users to access AI services in their own language. The announcement, made at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Rajkot, underscores Reliance's push to scale AI infrastructure and applications nationwide.

Luxshare and Wingtech clash over India asset transfer, take dispute to Singapore arbitration

Luxshare Precision Industry said it has moved to terminate an agreement to buy an India-based business asset package from Wingtech Technology after the transfer was blocked by legal restrictions, including seizures and freezes, escalating a cross-border dispute that both sides have now taken to arbitration in Singapore.

Article edited by Jack Wu
Weekly news roundup: memory shortages, packaging power, TSMC's global pivot

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories of the week of January 12-18, 2026.

TSMC's faces costs, politics, and capacity obstacles

Once framed as politically motivated, TSMC's US expansion has evolved into a costly long-term commitment exceeding US$165 billion, with total investment potentially surpassing US$200 billion as the US pushes for greater domestic chip output. Despite repeated warnings from founder Morris Chang about structurally higher US costs (estimated at 50% above Taiwan), TSMC has continued expanding in Arizona. The company is now facing regulatory friction, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and inefficiencies that require rewriting thousands of compliance rules. While subsidies and pricing power have helped offset some financial strain, shifting US policy conditions and demands for a near 50-50 TaiwanUS production split continue to pressure profitability. The expansion reflects TSMC's transformation into a geopolitical asset, raising questions about how long it can balance strategic protection with commercial discipline.

Taiwan's semiconductor sector splits

Taiwan's semiconductor manufacturing in late 2025 reflected a sharply bifurcated cycle, with AI-related advanced logic, packaging, and memory rebounding strongly while mature nodes and consumer-driven segments recovered more cautiously. Foundry performance was anchored by TSMC's dominance in advanced nodes and packaging, while mature-node players saw modest utilization gains without meaningful pricing relief. Memory delivered the clearest cyclical reversal as AI server demand drove pricing recovery and operating leverage, benefiting firms such as Nanya and Winbond. OSAT results diverged along advanced packaging exposure, and power and discrete device makers faced mixed outcomes depending on product mix. Overall, 2025 confirmed that scale, advanced technology positioning, and AI data-center exposure increasingly define winners in Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem.

TSMC turns Arizona into long-term profit medium

After years of regulatory setbacks and cost overruns, TSMC has stabilized its Arizona operations and leveraged its global dominance to convert high US manufacturing costs into a strategic advantage, providing Taiwanese suppliers with order visibility beyond 2030. Ongoing tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the US have reportedly tied lower tariffs to TSMC's commitment to build at least five more Arizona fabs, reinforcing its role as a geopolitical bargaining chip. Supported by strong AI-driven demand, pricing power, and advanced packaging expansion, TSMC has been able to pass on costs while improving operational control. As Arizona evolves into a full ecosystem for advanced logic and packaging, the company's US footprint has shifted from liability to profit-supporting for both TSMC and its supply chain.

Samsung pushes display boundaries with bezel-less microLED and 130-inch microLED RGB TVs

At CES 2026, Samsung highlighted both the physical limits of LCD-based displays and the future potential of microLED technology, showcasing a 130-inch Micro RGB TV publicly while privately revealing a 140-inch bezel-less microLED prototype. The microLED model employs AI-driven content analysis to extend visuals seamlessly onto the side bezel, effectively eliminating traditional black borders imposed by LCD and OLED packaging constraints. The showcase reinforced microLED's role as Samsung's long-term large-display strategy, even as suppliers like Playnitride navigated short-term shipment volatility. With applications expanding into wearables, automotive displays, and lighting, the demonstration signaled a broader commercialization runway for microLED despite near-term market fluctuations.

SK Hynix weighs consumer memory exposure

Speculation that SK Hynix may scale back consumer DRAM and NAND production reflects a broader industry pivot toward higher-margin AI and data center markets, although the company denies any formal exit plans. The shift follows Micron's decision to exit its Crucial consumer business and is reinforced by Solidigm's move to discontinue consumer SSDs in favor of enterprise storage. As memory makers prioritize capacity for AI servers, HBM, and enterprise SSDs, downstream effects are emerging, with PC OEMs exploring alternative suppliers to mitigate tightening supply. While consumer memory has not disappeared, it is clear that AI infrastructure now dictates capacity allocation.

TSMC accelerates advanced packaging expansion

TSMC is rapidly scaling its advanced packaging business into a major profit driver, with margins reportedly reaching as high as 80% as AI demand increases. To manage growing complexity and capacity across Taiwan and Arizona, the company is expected to appoint its first-ever general plant manager to oversee all advanced packaging operations, signaling organizational elevation of the segment. Technologies such as CoWoS, SoIC, and the emerging CoPoS platform are becoming central to AI and HPC systems, prompting aggressive capacity buildouts and new fabs scheduled through 2028. The move reflects advanced packaging's transition from a supporting to core role of TSMC's structure.

Samsung's modest DRAM output increase fails to relieve global supply shortage

Samsung Electronics plans to raise DRAM output by about 5% in 2026, but industry data suggest the increase will do little to alleviate severe supply shortages driven by AI server demand. Despite incremental capacity growth from Samsung and SK Hynix, overall DRAM supply is estimated to meet only around 60% of demand, with server DRAM even tighter. Inventory levels across DRAM and NAND have fallen to historically low levels, forcing customers to accept aggressive price hikes that reached up to 70% in late 2025. As suppliers prioritize advanced nodes and HBM for AI workloads, shortages and rising prices for PC and mobile memory are expected to persist well into 2026.

Article edited by Jerry Chen
Northern Irelands First Minister has said she is deeply concerned about the potential impact on the region of Donald Trumps threat to impose tariffs on US allies unless they support his proposed takeover of Greenland.

Michelle ONeill told the Assembly that Economy Minister Caiomhe Archibald had already written to both the UK and Irish governments about the threat, adding that international law had to prevail.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said it was widely recognised that tariff differentials would not be beneficial for Northern Ireland.

The US president has said he would impose tariffs on the UK and a series of EU countries until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

He has not ruled out military action to achieve his aim of taking the territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Ms ONeill was asked about the situation during question time at the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday. She told MLAs that people were aghast at the developments.

The First Minister added: This is another breach of international law and an attempt to snatch territory.

I think its deeply concerning that the approach thats being taken in terms of trade, to bully others into kowtowing to a position adopted in the US is quite frankly shocking, and something that I think that international leaders need to take very seriously.

You cannot be bullied by another country just to support your whim, so I think that international law needs to prevail.

Ms ONeill added: I do think just in terms of whats actually posed in a economic way, in terms of the tariffs, Im deeply concerned about what that means for ourselves here.

We have a special and unique circumstance in a post-Brexit world, and what happens across the EU or what happens in Britain, what happens elsewhere, has a real impact for us.

So I can say that we need to stand firmly against whats being proposed, but also we need calm heads in terms of tariffs, and we need to get a resolution that supports our local industry.

Ms ONeill told the Assembly that her party colleague Ms Archibald had written to the two governments as well as convening a meeting of her trade committee.

She added: We ourselves have a series of different meetings throughout the course of this week where we will raise our concerns in terms of what this means in terms of tariff, but trade wars are a race to the bottom and will serve nobody well in the longer term.

So, what we want to see is our unique circumstances taken into account no matter what scenario unfolds next.

Mr Robinson said that Northern Ireland had been in the position of facing the threat of tariffs before.

He said: I think it is widely recognised that it doesnt work for Northern Ireland, it doesnt work for the United Kingdom.

I think everyone can accept that Nato needs to work, Nato as an alliance has been successful over the last 80 years since its inception.

We rely on it, the security guarantees.

I dont think we have any clarity on what the president of the United States ultimately wants to achieve or whether he is achieving it already by just having a greater focus on military presence within Greenland.

We are going to have to go through a cycle of drama around this and I trust, just as was the case in the past, the threat and potential damage which would be brought through tariff differentials will not be reached.

Ms Archibald described Mr Trumps behaviour as simply outrageous and said it had to be challenged.

She added: In response to this latest threat of tariffs, I have again engaged with both the British and Irish Governments.

I have urged them to ensure that our unique circumstances under the Windsor Framework are taken into consideration in terms of any responses that they may be considering.

Obviously a trade war is in nobodys interests.

Tariffs are bad for business, bad for our economy, bad for ordinary householders.

We would like to see a negotiated way forward here but I think everything does have to remain on the table because this type of behaviour cannot go unchallenged.
Following on from a very successful procession last year, Faughart Community Group have announced details of their upcoming celebration on Saturday 31st Jan. (Bank Holiday Weekend). This exceptional event promises to be even bigger and better than last year and it is an ideal opportunity for people, both young and old, to immerse themselves in a unique experience.

This experiential event is an ancient style candlelit procession which will be led by female robed figures carrying a representation of Brigid followed by a lone drummer who will lead everyone from St. Brigids Shrine to Faughart graveyard in Louth. There will be a limited number of procession candles and lanterns handed out to children free of charge so please bring your own candle or lantern if you have one.

This event is for people of all religions and none. The walk from the shrine to the graveyard will be an opportunity to remember those that have gone before us or maybe a time to reflect on our busy lives or on the life of Brigid or maybe just a time to have a bit of craic with your companions; its up to you! Local school children will follow the drummer up to the Hill of Faughart where they will be greeted by fire on the motte and candlelit ruins in the ancient graveyard with Georgian chant and incense floating in the air.

Faughart Community Group said: "Brigids Holy Well and birthplace is on the site of Faughart graveyard and the idea of this procession is to go back to where her light began to shine first before it radiated throughout the world. It is also to celebrate the four aspects of Brigid: Brigid the Saint, Brigid the Goddess, Brigid the Woman and Brigid the Local. This extraordinary Local woman who has become Irelands Matron Saint, is an iconic figure who should be an inspiration to all women; this woman was born here and we should all be immensely proud of her."

Read Next: Louth County Council exceed social housing target a year ahead of schedule

Standing in the ancient graveyard, surrounded by candle light, students from Fatima, Kilcurry and Faughart national schools will speak about what Brigid means to them. This year, they also hope to have students from across the border. Finally, an uileann piper will conclude their atmospheric celebrations.

Faughart Community Group would like to thank Louth County Council for their generous financial support of this unique event which has now become an annual tradition where friends from near and far and neighbours come to celebrate an incredible local woman. They encourage all locals to take part and dont forget to come prepared for all weather conditions. Its approximately a 1km walk. See you at St. Brigids Shrine Saturday 31st Jan, 6:30pm.

Anyone who would like to help with this wonderful event please contact Faughart Community Alert Facebook Page or text 086 087 9979.
POW Dundalk is delighted to announce the return of Scratch Night, taking place on 20th February 2026 in Dundalk.

Scratch Night is an evening of short works-in-progress, giving artists the opportunity to test new material in front of a live audience in a supportive and welcoming setting. The event brings together a mix of circus and performance, featuring disciplines including aerial, hand balancing, acrobatics, juggling, comedy, music, dance and theatre.

POW Dundalk aims to create an accessible, community-focused night out that supports artists while offering audiences something fresh and exciting.

Piece of Work (POW) is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space for artists to share their experiments, ideas in progress, and works still finding their voice. Supporting this event helps create sustainable opportunities for artists to take risks and explore new directions in their art.

POW Scratch Night is a promenade-style arts event featuring a mix of circus, theatre, music and dance, culminating in an outdoor show and a wild after-party with DJ sets and games.

Line-up Announcement: Seve Feathers- Hand balancing, Clara Byrne- Music, Aine Gallagher- Comedy, Aoibhinn O'Dea- Dance, Polina Shapkina- Aerial, Legroom Collective- Theatre, Cikada Circus- Acrobatic Duo, Jacob Anderson & Cormac Mohally- Juggling

Your ticket includes:

- A vegan and gluten-free meal on arrival by The Vegetable Route

- Access to all performances and the promenade

- Entry to the after-party

Accessibility: Wellington Hall and North End Bar are wheelchair accessible. The promenade route includes some uneven surfaces; assistance is available on request prior to event, contact pieceofworkdundalk@gmail.com

Financial Support: If you are unable to pay the full ticket price, please contact pieceofworkdundalk@gmail.com.

Date: 20th February 2026

Doors Open: 19:00 | Show Starts: 19:30

Limited tickets  reserve your spot today and join us for a night of creativity, experimentation, and community, helping support artists to take risks and grow their practice!

Read Next: Events celebrating St Brigid will take place across Louth

Tickets are available online via Ticket Tailor and capacity is limited. https://buytickets.at/powdundalkscratchnight/1995886

Visit @pow_dundalk

Support from the Arts Council Of Ireland and The Louth County Council Arts Office
Louth County Council has given the go ahead for a solar farm on a site of c.108.6 ha (268.4 acres), just under five kilometres from Ardee, in spite of a huge number of submissions lodged voicing concerns, and objecting to the development, from local residents and Louth County Councillors.

Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd, which is owned by British multinational oil and gas company, BP, applied to Louth County Council in December 2024 for planning permission for the development, on lands c.4.87km northeast of Ardee, Derrycammagh and Bawn, Co Louth.

The applicant sought permission for a development consisting of a 10 year permission for a solar PV energy development with associated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) compound with a total site area of c. 108.6 ha (268.4 acres).

The proposed development included solar panels mounted on steel support structures, associated cabling and ducting, inverters, transformers, switchgear substations, auxiliary transformer, permanent storage containers, monitoring houses, composting toilet, BESS customer substation, battery blocks, BESS inverters and Power Conversion System (PCS) twin skid, BESS interface cabinets (BIC), and backup generator.

The planning application also provided for temporary construction compounds, tracks, boundary security fencing and security gates, CCTV, landscaping and ancillary works including a sheep pen, with a 40 year operational period.

Read also: Louth County Council exceeds social housing target a year ahead of schedule

Construction access to the development was proposed via an upgraded and widened access point off the R166, together with a newly created access and a widened existing access off Derrycammagh Lane (south off L51774).

Operation and maintenance of the development was proposed from an existing access point off Derrycammagh Lane, south of the L51774 local road.

A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) had been submitted by Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd to the Planning Authority with the application.

A decision had initially been due in the first quarter of last year on the application, but Louth County Council sought firther information on the proposed development in February 2025, which was subsequently received on 19 November.

Submissions were made by many in relation to the development, on both the application and in relation to the further information submitted by Lightsource Renewable Energy Ireland Ltd. Loss of agricultural land, visual impact, additional traffic during construction were among the issues highlighted.

Mid-Louth councillors, Cllr Pearse McGeough, Cllr John Sheridan, Cllr Jim Tenanty, and Drogheda councillor, Cllr Kevin Callan were among those who made submissions.

Cllr Tenanty said in his submission that the site is too close to homes in the area and it would impact on family and community life.

In his submission, Cllr McGeough said that the land on which the development would be taking place is fertile agricultural land and that it would not make economic sense to use it for a solar farm.

Among the concerns highlighted by Cllr Sheridan in his submission, he asked that concerns of neighbouring houses be taken into account in relation to the proximity of solar panels and transformers to their homes; specific flood reports be carried out; and an audit/climate impact report to demonstrate the climate contribution to the solar panels versus the non-use of the land for food production.

Cllr Callan raised concerns and objections in his submission in relation to the construction phase, including the length of time it would take and its impact; the use of good agricultural land for a solar farm, including the impact the installation of panel units would have on local terrestrial eco systems; the impact on the local water supply; and drainage and the local water network.

Louth County Council granted planning permission for the development on 16 January, subject to 22 planning conditions, saying that the development shall be carried out in strict accordance with the plans and specifications submitted to the Planning Authority on 19th December 2024 and as amended by plans, details and specifications received as further information on 19th November 2025, save for the 22 conditions it laid out in its decision.

While Louth County Council granted planning permission for the development, the decision may still be appealed to An Bord Comisiun (formerly An Bord Pleanala).
Uisce Eireann has said that its ongoing efforts to reduce leakage in the Cooley Peninsula in north Louth are delivering "major results", with more than 780,000 litres of water saved per day thanks to leak detection and repair works in the area.

Uisce Eireann said that the 780,000 litres of water per day saved equates to the daily water usage of over 5,800 people, roughly the population of Ardee.

The Cooley Peninsula, a popular tourist destination, experiences a seasonal surge in water demand during the summer months. Uisce Eireann said that the ageing network in the area is prone to leakage, meaning supply would often outweigh demand during the tourism season, resulting in low water pressure or outages for the community.

Leakage detection and repair works were delivered under Uisce Eireanns Find and Fix and First Fix Free schemes, which focus on locating and repairing difficult-to-detect underground leaks in the water network. The schemes are a key part of the wider national Leakage Reduction Programme.

Read also: 60 acres of farmland sells for 30,000/acre in Monaghan

James OHagan, Water Network Operations Manager with Uisce Eireann, said: "The success of our Find and Fix initiative in the Cooley Peninsula is a testament to the local community working with our frontline operational staff. By using advanced leak detection technologies and targeted repair strategies, weve been able to save over 780,000 litres of water every day.

"These efforts are not only reducing water loss but also significantly improving supply reliability for residents and businesses, particularly during the high-demand summer months."

Declan Healy, Leakage Reduction Programme Manager with Uisce Eireann, said: "Through the First Fix Free scheme, delivered in partnership with our regional contractor, GMC Utilities Ltd, weve been able to tackle leaks on customers properties, contributing to the remarkable water savings achieved in the Cooley Peninsula.

"Together with our public-side efforts, this collaborative approach with local customers has ensured that supply met demand throughout the busy tourism season this year - an important milestone for the community and for the future resilience of the network."

Uisce Eireann said that the programme, now eight months in progress in the Cooley Peninsula, continues to deliver results, with the potential for even greater savings as work progresses. Incidences of water outages have drastically reduced, it added, improving reliability for homes and businesses across Cooley, Carlingford, Omeath, Lordship, and surrounding areas.

Innovative technologies, including camera and geolocation tools, are now being used to identify hidden leaks and opportunities for more leak repairs into the future.

This project is being delivered as part of Uisce Eireanns national Leakage Reduction Programme which Uisce Eireann said, continues to deliver significant benefits to communities across Ireland, including improved water quality, provision of a more resilient and sustainable water supply for customers, and considerable water savings.

For more information on the Leakage Reduction Programme, including the First Fix Free scheme, please visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks. Members of the public can report any leaks in the public water network by contacting Uisce Eireann at 1800 278 278 or online at Report a Leak.

Uisce Eireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number at the text alerts service
Louth County Council's decision to grant planning permission for 63 new houses in Dundalk, at a site located on the eastern side of Mount Avenue, has been appealed to An Bord Coimisiun.

Moffett Investment Holdings ULC was granted conditional planning permission in December, for the development at Mount Avenue, at a site located on the eastern side of Mount Avenue and which is bounded to the north by an, at the time, under construction residential development of 93 homes, and to the south and east by agricultural fields.

The proposed 63 houses are in semi-detached and terraced format ranging in height from two-three storeys.

The application proposed that a single new vehicular access off Mount Avenue would be provided to serve the development, with three separate pedestrian only accesses also provided off Mount Avenue. It was also proposed to construct a pedestrian connection across the stream to adjoining residential lands to the north that are currently under construction.

The planning application also provided for items including, alterations to ground levels across the site and the undergrounding of ESB powerlines; as well as public lighting; Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points and an ESB sub-station; all landscaping and boundary treatments, including the construction of retaining walls in addition to all associated site development works.

Read also: Safe Routes to School works finally begin Bellurgan in north Louth

Louth County Council granted planning permission on 8 December subject to 28 planning conditions.

A third party appeal against the decision was lodged by Wild Ireland Defence CLG on 6 January 2026. It is not yet known when the case will be decided upon.
Twenty people were before the district court in Louth for burglary offences in the first 9 nine months of 2025 according to figures provided to Ireland South MEP and former barrister Cynthia Ni Mhurchu from the Irish Courts Service. A further five people were sent forward for trial in the circuit court for burglary offences between January and September 2025.

Ms. Ni Mhurchu says the figures point to a relatively small group of repeat offenders that are responsible for a disproportionate share of burglary offences.

Nationally, in the first nine months of 2025, 1,771 burglary cases came before the District Court, involving just 1,187 individuals  highlighting a high level of repeat or multiple offending. A similar pattern emerged in the Circuit Court, where 729 burglary cases were tried over the same period, committed by just 529 offenders.

Dublin tops the table when it comes to burglary figures with 622 people coming before the district and circuit courts there for burglary in the first 9 months of last year. Dublin is quickly followed by Cork and Limerick.

Clonmel has a surprisingly high rate of burglary and Waterford, Naas, Mullingar, Wexford, Tralee and Bray also make the top 10 when it comes to number of people before the local courts for burglary. Castlebar, Carrick-on-Shannon and Ballina are some of the local courts with the lowest number of people before them.

Ni Mhurchu has reiterated Garda calls on people to stop posting holiday pictures on social media, which advertise that they are not at home and also to look out for any suspicious vehicles or activity on their neighbours property - in particular in very rural parts of the country during the dark winter months  a peak time for the offence of burglary.

Ni Mhurchu has called for a range of measures to tackle burglary including an end to the practice of letting burglars out on temporary release from prison.

Thirty-eight burglars were on temporary release as of the 23rd of June 2025, according to figures provided by the Irish Prison Service. She has also called for more targeted community supports to protect communities against burglary including a doubling of funding under the Community Safety fund, more funding for community CCTV and consideration to be given to expanding grant aid schemes for security alarms to be installed in the homes of older people, in particular those who are living alone in rural Ireland. The Seniors Alert Scheme provides grant support for the supply of personal alarm equipment but not house alarms.

The Community Safety Fund allows for the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Siochana, to be directed back into communities, in order to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. According to Ni Mhurchu, community leaders that she interacts with dont know about the fund.

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The 4 million funding works within communities to provide funding for things like diversion programmes for repeat and young offenders, drug awareness programmes, and restorative justice initiatives. There is also a stream of funding for community CCTV projects and Community alert support programmes.

Ni Mhurchu has asked the Department of Justice to inform community groups of the 2026 funding allocation, consider doubling it and advise politicians and community leaders when the funding call opens for applications.
In the first year of the Newborn Baby Grant, 1,560 families in Louth, covering 1,592 children, have received financial support to help with the arrival of a newborn or newly-adopted child, figure from the Department of Social Protection have shown.

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has marked the first anniversary of the Newborn Baby Grant which has already seen the grant paid to approximately 49,000 families in respect of 50,000 newborns and newly-adopted children since its introduction last year.

As part of Budget 2025, the Department of Social Protection introduced a new baby grant of 280, a once-off financial support to families to provide for the material needs of a newborn baby or newly-adopted child.

The Newborn Baby Grant is paid automatically with the first month of Child Benefit payment. Therefore, parents do not need to apply for the grant separately.

In the year since its launch, the Newborn Baby Grant has been paid in respect of 49,841 children at a cost of approximately 14 million.

Read Next: Repeat offenders drive burglary cases in Louth, figures suggest

Commenting on the anniversary, Minister Calleary said: In just one year, these grants have reached tens of thousands of parents all over Ireland, helping families mark the arrival of their newest members.

At a joyful but costly time, these payments are making a real difference by giving parents a little extra support as they welcome their new babies.
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Postal Code
Theres no room for pity in Deirdre OReillys life.

Just the mention of the word, or the suggestion that perhaps she is tempted to sometimes feel sorry for herself, or be angry for what happened to her, and her hand is straight up to protest thats not how she feels, not even for a minute.

The well-known Bandon journalist with the Evening Echo suffered a catastrophic stroke just before Christmas in 2013, and initially her family was told not to hold out much hope for her survival.

With her trademark grit and determination  her family call it stubbornness  Deirdre got back on her feet, but didnt regain the ability to speak more than a few words, read or write.

For someone who made her living from words, that was a tough blow. Deirdre was a journalist with the Echo at the time of her stroke, and previously worked with C103fm.

Theres not many prominent people in Cork she hadnt spoken to at one stage or another, and everyone who knows her knows how she loved to talk!

She was also very involved in amateur dramatics and was well known on the All Ireland drama festival circuit.

Former Evening Echo reporter and Bandon native, Deirdre O'Reilly. Deirdre, second from left, is pictured with her father Michael, brother Liam and sister Sile.

A mum-of-two, she led a busy life, until December 22, 2013 when she had her devastating stroke aged 43, and for a time it looked like she would need 24-hour care, and the use of a wheelchair.

Deirdre was left paralysed on her right side, and spent around six months in CUH, before being transferred to the national rehabilitation hospital in Dun Laoghaire for several months further treatment, followed by a stay in Farranlea nursing home in Cork.

A stand-out moment for me, and I still remember it clearly to this day, is when I went with Dee to visit another nursing home to see what her next options were, said her brother, Liam.

She was still mainly using a wheelchair at that stage, and she just looked around and looked back at me, and I could tell straight away by her face that she wanted out of there.

Her daughters Maggie and Hannah were just aged four and five when the stroke occurred, and they were what got Deirdre back on her feet, back behind the wheel, and back home to Bandon.

And crucial to making this happen was the outpouring of support from the people of her home town and beyond, said Liam.

A fundraising campaign launched by her friends and family raised 180,000 to help cover costs associated with her changed circumstances, and Liam emphasised how incredible the people of Bandon were.

Among the many events held was a sell-out concert in City Hall featuring some of Corks best known performers.

The massive response to the campaign was a reflection of the high regard Deirdre is held in, throughout West Cork.

While at The Echo, she had spearheaded fundraising campaigns that raised more than 1m for several worthwhile charities.

What goes around comes around, said Liam. She helped so many people and they wanted to give something back to her.

Deirdre O'Reilly watches the 'Concert for Dee' in 2014 via Skype from the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin. Picture: Larry Cummins

Now, 13 years on, in a twist that no-one expected, least of all Deirdre, her first art exhibition is on show in the Grey Heron Bandon this month.

With no previous experience in art, she turned to painting as part of her rehabilitation, guided and encouraged by artist John Jermyn, based in Fennells Bay, and encouraged by her personal trainer Sean OLeary.

Deirdre rolls her eyes and laughs, almost in embarrassment, when shes described as an artist!

Shes pragmatic and doesnt see it as a way of communicating or reinventing herself. She simply says it makes her feel calm, and its something to do for herself.

Deirdres stroke resulted in an aphasia, a language disorder that impairs speaking, understanding, reading, and writing, but not intelligence.

She has learned how to have her voice heard, even if at times it can be slow and frustrating  but she wont have words put in her mouth.

It helps that text messages can be converted to voice messages and phone calls to family and friends are always done on facetime.

She has a part-time personal assistant, fellow Bandonian Geraldine Larkin  Liam describes her as Dees guardian angel. They have been working together since 2014 and know each other inside out.

They both agree that people assume that because she cant speak, she cant think for herself, and that theres a long way to go before people with a disability feel included in society.

In 2014, Deirdre was awarded a civic award from the Lord Mayor. Pictured here are the then Lord Mayor, Cllr Catherine Clancy, with civic award recipients at the Lord Mayor's Civic Awards and Community & Voluntary Awards ceremony in 2014 at City Hall. Included are Eamonn Ryan, Declan Kidney, Mary Newman, Arthur Leahy, Pamela O'Connor and her son Scott and Michael O'Reilly with his granddaughters Maggie and Hannah who accepted the award on behalf of Evening Echo reporter Deirdre O'Reilly. Picture: David Keane.

Deirdre says sometimes she feels on the outside of certain situations, with some people uncomfortable with her challenges.

However, with Deirdre the emphasis is always on the positive, the hand goes up again. She wont be throwing any pity parties  she hasnt time!

She wont even park in a disabled spot, says Liam. Pity doesnt come into it for his younger sister, he says.

Deirdre nods emphatically: she remembers life before her stroke but shes made peace with what happened to her and does take strength and comfort from her belief in a greater power, whatever that might be.

Liam jumps in: With Deirdre, its all about the now, not whats gone already.

Its all for the love of life, and discovering new things.

Deirdres motivation throughout has been her love for her daughters. Maggie (19) is studying nursing, and Hannah (18) is doing her Leaving Cert.

She overcame every obstacle for them, and along with the rest of her family, theyre very proud of their mums exhibition.
It is the picture-postcard image of Cork city and, although the clock tower at St Annes Shandon has been under scaffolding since last summer, its priest-in-charge promises it will soon be unveiled looking better than it has in years.

The scaffolding that went up around the tower last July was to facilitate the refurbishment of the support beams, the clock-face windows, and the clock mechanism.

The work was necessitated by long-term wear-and-tear and structural damage to what has been known to generations as the four-faced liar.

Three of the clock faces have been telling the wrong time since May 2024, while its eastern face has been completely stopped for all of that time.

The clock tower is the property of the Church of Ireland, while the clock mechanism, which was installed in 1847 by the then Cork Corporation, is the responsibility of Cork City Council.

Further works

The scaffolding had initially been expected to come down before Christmas, once the repairs were complete, but the decision was made to leave it in place so further works could be carried out.

Last week, Lord Mayor of Cork Fergal Dennehy said it was very prudent to carry out the works while the scaffolding was already in place.

The Reverend Meghan Farr, priest-in-charge at St Annes Shandon, told The Echo that the scaffolding was mostly for the citys work on the clock.

There have been two projects happening at the same time  the citys work to the clock, including the faces and the mechanism and hands, and then there has been our work to the beams that support the bells, she said.

There are things that overlap because the clock chimes with the bells, separately from our mechanism that rings the bells with the tourists.

Rev Farr said she was hopeful that the works would be complete and the scaffolding removed in time for the big reveal of everything all clean and shiny and hopefully working by early March.
Irelands leading home care provider Dovida is expanding its team in Cork to meet rising demand for home support services and is inviting people to explore a rewarding career in caregiving.

Dovida currently employs more than 4,000 professional caregivers, who support thousands of people all across Ireland, including older adults and younger individuals living with a disability.

Deirdre Murray, general manager of Dovida Cork South, said: Many of our caregivers joined from careers in retail, hospitality, or customer service. They wanted work that fits their lifestyle and gives back to the community  and caregiving offers exactly that.

A lot of people also come to us having had previous experience caring for a family member and have realised this is something they have a passion for.

Dovida offers caregivers the opportunity to choose their hours around what best suits their lifestyle. Part-time, full-time, and fixed-hour contracts with a minimum of 25 hours per week are available.

People in receipt of social welfare can apply to work a set number of hours, depending on the type of support they receive.

The company can also offer positions to individuals on general work permits.

Catriona OMathuna, general manager of Dovida Cork North, said: People who need support from Dovida want to maintain autonomy over their life, to experience belonging, pursue happiness, and find purpose.

Our caregivers are key to ensuring that as many people as possible can do just that  and often find their lives enriched by the experience as well.

Dovida says it welcomes applications from experienced healthcare professionals as well as those new to care.
Met Eireann has issued a status yellow rain warning for Cork and Kerry, coming into effect in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The forecaster has warned of spells of heavy rain, coupled with strong and gusty east to southeast winds, leading to localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

The warning will come into effect from 2am and is due to remain in place until 8am.

Coastal warning

A status yellow gale warning from Malin Head to Carnsore Point to Erris Head and on the Irish Sea will also come into effect from midnight until midnight on Wednesday.

Met Eireann has said that those using the indicated waterways should be aware that East to southeast winds will reach gale force 8 at times.

Additionally, a small craft warning for all coasts of Ireland will also come into place at 9pm and will remain in effect until midnight on Wednesday, as East to southeast winds will reach force 6 or higher.
A community information meeting is being held to address water quality in the Blackwater River, following on from a large fish kill last August.

Hosted by the Local Authority Waters Programme (Lawpro), the meeting will take place on Wednesday January 28 at 7.30pm in the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow.

Primarily the meeting will explore options to establish a Friends of the Blackwater River catchment management group, to provide a community platform to raise awareness of water quality and to help restore, protect and enhance the Blackwater River.

Representatives from Lawpro will host a facilitated question and answer session, with representatives from Cork County Council also attending.

Cork Labour Party TD Eoghan Kenny told The Echo that the upcoming meeting regarding the Blackwater River is a positive and important step forward.

I hope this meeting will mark the beginning of a strong, united effort to take stewardship of our dear Blackwater.

"Community involvement will be key to its long term protection and sustainable development.

I am glad that Lawpro has engaged extensively on this process and are supporting a collaborative and community driven approach.

Barry Deane, Lawpros regional co-ordinator in the south west added:

This community meeting is a chance for local people in Cork to take an active role in protecting the Blackwater River.

By working together, we can develop practical solutions to improve water quality in the river for both wildlife and the local community.

We encourage community groups, anglers, and locals to come to the meeting, share their knowledge and be part of the effort to restore and enhance this important waterway.

This is a free event and registration is the Friends of the Blackwater page on eventbrite.ie

https://FriendsOfTheBlackwaterRiver.eventbrite.ie
Gardai investigating the death of Bruna Fonseca in the early of hours of New Years Day 2023 initially responded to reports related to a knife and when one of the first gardai at the scene asked the accused if he stabbed her, he replied, No, I choke her.

This evidence was given by Garda Aoife McCarthy to Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of seven women and five men. The trial went into its second week at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork today.

Through his senior counsel Ray Boland, it was indicated that Miller Pacheco denied saying, I choke her.

32-year-old Miller Pacheco pleaded not guilty to the murder of his former girlfriend 28-year-old Bruna Fonseca at his apartment at Liberty Street in Cork on January 1st 2023.

Garda Aoife McCarthy testified that Mr Pacheco admitted choking Ms Fonseca when she asked him what happened to her.

Gardai called to city centre flat in early morning

Garda McCarthy explained that she had been on mobile patrol with Garda Peter Barber when they received a call just before 6am on January 1 2023 to go a flat at Liberty Street as there had been a report of two females fighting in the building.

She said they went to the building but didnt see anything and they stayed a few minutes before leaving. But they received a second call that there was a male with a knife and a possible fatality at the building, so they returned there at 6.25am.

She said that when she and Garda Barber and another colleague, Garda Katie Blanch, arrived back at the premises they saw there were two females and a male outside the building, and when she approached the man, he gave his name as Miller Pacheco and his date of birth.

Miller Pacheco who is on trial for the murder of Bruna Fonseca. Picture: Dan Linehan

Garda McCarthy said that Mr Pacheco was wearing a dark puffer jacket and rucksack so they asked him to remove the jacket and take off the rucksack and she and her colleagues searched him as they believed that he might have a knife, following the report they had received.

She said that she asked Mr Pacheco what had happened and he replied that his documents were in his jacket and that he and Ms Fonseca had been drinking and were very drunk and she had hit him and he was defending himself.

She said that they had been joined by colleagues and went upstairs to the room. Miller Pacheco gave gardai keys.

She was lying on the bed, her feet towards the headboard  I checked for a pulse, there was no pulse, she was still a little bit warm  her face appeared swollen and her eyes were a little bit bulging, she said.

Garda McCarthy said that at 6.45am, she formally arrested Mr Pacheco on suspicion of assaulting the woman, thereby causing her harm and she cautioned him that anything he said might be taken down and used in evidence against him.

He said Im sorry, Im sorry and I asked him did he stab her and he said, No, I choke her, and I put my hand to my neck and said Like this? and he said, Yes, Garda McCarthy testified.

In the witness box she demonstrated her action to the jury by putting her hand to her own neck.

Cross-examined by Mr Pachecos counsel, Ray Boland, Garda McCarthy said that Mr Pacheco spoke to her in English and while she noted that he had an accent, she was satisfied that he understood her as she spoke very slowly when cautioning him and questioning him.

Mr Boland said on behalf of the accused,

He said he did not say, I choke her. The guards were talking to him and he did not understand what they were saying.

Garda McCarthy said that at no stage did the defendant say, No Ingles.

Mr Boland said that the defendant was compliant at the scene and did not resist arrest in any way. Garda McCarthy agreed.
Significant refurbishment works to the University College Cork (UCC) dental school and upgrades to its equipment are under way.

It comes as the Irish Dental Association has expressed concern that the current facility is not fit for purpose.

The chief executive of the association, Fintan Hourihan, said in the Dail last week that they estimate up to 500 new dentists are needed to meet demand across the public and private sectors.

We have concerns as to the plans for the Cork dental school, said Mr Hourihan. It may be known there were plans to build an entirely new dental school in Cork.

"In fact, it was supposed to be completed in 2023, but this appears to have been abandoned.

We believe that it has effectively been decided not to proceed with that plan. A school was to be built on a new site in Cork, which would mean that the existing school on the CUH campus would be given over and developed for medical purposes.

He said this was extremely disappointing as the existing dental school in Cork is barely fit for purpose. It requires significant funds to bring it up to appropriate and acceptable standards.

College is working with the Government to address concerns

A UCC spokesperson told The Echo: The university is working with Government departments and the Higher Education Authority to address concerns that had been raised about dental training infrastructure and capacity.

Meanwhile, significant refurbishment works are under way on UCCs dental school and hospital on the CUH campus.

"Significant upgrades to the equipment are also well under way. Positive discussions are ongoing regarding a proposal to establish a dental outreach facility on the northside of Cork city.

The university recently sought funding to establish the centre in Blackpool, which would increase the number of dentistry students admitted from 50 to 60.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said in the Dail last week that her department received a proposal from UCC requesting 4.7m in capital funding for the project, and that UCC was advised to submit the proposal to the HSE for evaluation.

While the proposal is promising, it currently delivers limited increases in domestic student places, she said.

She said that discussions are ongoing to try to progress the proposal with a view to maximising both Irish and EU places to enhance workforce capacity.
There was a story in the Cork Examiner back in 1996 that created quite a stir at the time. It told of how gardai in north Cork had smashed a drug ring at a school, which involved pupils as young as 13 years of age.

This revelation not only rocked the county, but the paper suggested it will have reverberations throughout Munster.

Gardai carried out an operation at the school, which resulted in the seizure of cannabis.

The shock brought home to many parents the fact that drugs now crossed all social boundaries and were replacing the drag of the fag as the done thing.

A garda spokesman said he was confident that this swift action may well have nipped the problem in the bud.

That particular incident may well have been nipped in the bud, but unfortunately the drug scene in Ireland was only getting off the ground at that stage. A mere 30 years later, things are significantly worse.

A recent letter to the Irish Examiner from a clinical psychotherapist noted that, according to the Health Research Board, there was a 259% increase in deaths by cocaine poisoning between 2013 and 2022.

This report showed the impact of cocaine on drug-related deaths in Ireland. To put this in context, there has been an increase from 32 deaths in 2013 to 115 deaths in 2022.

In Ireland, cocaine was the second-most common drug implicated in poisoning deaths in 2022.

The Echo had a story about how cocaine is now the primary drug in Cork. According to a treatment centre team leader, the main problem is the accessibility and availability of it, which has been described as being round the clock by a former addict.

Declan ORiordan, from Coolmine treatment centres Cork city south hub, told The Echo that cocaine has taken the lead as the primary drug for which people present for treatment.

He said the increase in the availability of the drug means its always just there.

What were seeing the last couple of years is that its not just a city drug, its a rural drug too. Its in every single pub and people from all walks of life and all ages are being exposed to it, he said.

Someone who hasnt used drugs before will see their friends in the pub using it and think, Sure, everyone else is using it, Ill give it a go - theres a normalcy to it.

How right he was.

The 12 pubs of Christmas is a tradition that began in the early noughties. Basically, it involves a group of young people dressed in festive clothing calling to 12 pubs on a night before Christmas for some drinking games.

Usually, there is a list of rules that will determine how the group must behave in each pub, and a forfeit if someone breaks the rules.

So, the first pub might have a No swearing rule, and anyone who curses would be required to do a forfeit.

The next pub could be The wrong handed rule where the participants must drink with their weaker hand, and if they slip up at any stage and switch, they do a forfeit, and so on until they finish the 12 pubs.

The forfeits are many and varied. It could be to take a shot of spirits, buy a stranger a drink, remain silent for 20 minutes, or more worryingly, in recent times, it could be to take a bump. So, what is a bump?

Doing a Bump is a slang term used to describe the act of snorting a small amount of cocaine.

It is a popular activity among users who want the euphoric and stimulating effects of the drug.

The act of doing a bump typically involves using a small spoon or key to scoop up a small amount of cocaine, which is then snorted through the nose.

It was not an unusual activity in the run-up to last Christmas, and Im told there wasnt much of an effort made to hide it either.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since 1996, but it seems we are no closer to winning the war on drugs.

Cannabis found in a school these days would hardly raise an eyebrow, let alone take up column inches in a newspaper.

The Irish Examiner reported last month that gardai have recently sent a file to the DPP seeking charges against the leaders of Irelands number one drug-trafficking network.

This network has been hit repeatedly by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, including a succession of major hauls and arrests of top lieutenants and logistics bosses this year.

This includes the haul of 104kg of cocaine in Wexford and Dublin, along with the confiscation of 116kg of cocaine in Co Laois last October.

The Irish Examiner previously reported that this group is estimated to traffic at least 100kg in Ireland every two months and supplies groups across the island of Ireland.

Despite the best efforts of our authorities, vast quantities of this drug continue to find its way here.

As soon as one gang is taken out, another seems ready to take its place. No surprise given the eye-watering fortunes to be made in the drug trade.

So, what does the future hold?

Well, lets hope we dont end up dealing with fentanyl, the drug thats creating what the media in New York call drug zombies.

Now, thats a scary prospect, and one guaranteed to grab the headlines.
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

US president Donald Trump has threatened tariffs with a very significant destabilising effect, the Tanaiste has said as he appealed for cool heads in negotiations between the EU and the US.

Mr Trump has said he would impose a 10 per cent tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland  all of whom are members of Nato  starting from February and increasing to 25 per cent from June unless Washington is enabled to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

The US president has not ruled out military action to gain control of Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous part of the kingdom of Denmark.

US president Donald Trump is threatening new tariffs over his Greenland bid (Leon Neal/PA)

Speaking to reporters at a Eurogroup meeting in Brussels, Simon Harris said: The destabilising effects of the recent geopolitical developments could potentially be enormous.

Thats why its more important than ever now that we seek dialogue  this is a time for cool heads.

He added: We worked very hard at an EU level to have a trade agreement in place with the United States of America, a trade agreement that will ensure economic activity can continue to flow across the Atlantic, a trade agreement that is good for the United States, good for Europe, good for Ireland.

Anything that now moves away from that or deviates from that could have potentially very, very significant consequences.

Mr Harris, who is also Finance Minister, said it was really important that Europe stands united.

Europe will always stand with Greenland, will always stand with the kingdom of Denmark, we will always stand together for our values  and we want to have dialogue in a cool and calm way and use the window that is available.

But we will, of course, prepare to respond accordingly should that be required.

Sir Keir Starmer called for calm (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Meanwhile, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has also appealed for calm and said the use of tariffs against allies was completely wrong.

However, he insisted Mr Trump was not genuinely serious about the prospect of using military force to annex the territory.

Asked if Europe can afford a confrontation with the US, Mr Harris said the bloc was not seeking confrontation with anybody and criticised Mr Trumps threatened tariffs.

We can achieve so much more when we co-operate, when we collaborate. When Europe and the United States work together, its good for the EU and its good for the US.

Its President Trump who, in recent days, has decided to threaten Europe with additional tariffs, ones that have a very significant destabilising effect.

The destabilising effect could potentially be enormous. The cascading effect could be very, very significant.

Mr Harris said the EU did not wish to see any deviation from the agreement with the US, adding: Its very important now that we use the brief window available between now and the first of February to seek dialogue.

However, he said there was a need to prepare for all eventualities.
Kim Kardashian is quietly putting legal protections in place that could one day turn her daughter North West into the face of a toy line.

The reality star and business mogul has filed trademark paperwork that would allow the use of North's name on a wide range of products, including dolls, toys, play sets and puppets, according to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records first reported by The U.S. Sun.

The application, initially submitted in 2023, covers everything from puzzles and party games to children's playthings.

Legal filings show Kardashian's attorney has requested multiple extensions throughout the review process, and the trademark remains pending as of September 2025.

Read more: North West Debuts Bleached Eyebrows During Night Out With Kim Kardashian

From Famous Kid to Marketable Name

North, who is just 12, has already built a resume that stretches well beyond the typical celebrity child. She has appeared on songs by her father, Kanye West, and landed a voice role in "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie" in 2023.

She is also a familiar face on Hulu's "The Kardashians" and has modeled pajamas for Kardashian's SKIMS brand.

Away from television, North has become a major presence online. Her joint TikTok account with her mother boasts around 20 million followers, where she frequently posts fashion clips, makeup looks and playful videos that often rack up millions of views.

Meanwhile, As North's visibility has increased, so has criticism of Kardashian's parenting choices. The reality star has faced backlash over some of her daughter's fashion and beauty experimentation, including finger and facial piercings that sparked debate online about whether North is growing up too fast.

Kardashian has acknowledged that some decisions have drawn more attention than she anticipated. During an appearance on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast in October, she reflected on allowing North to wear a corset during a trip to Rome, calling it a learning experience.

"It's interesting because all the kids are like wearing the same things, but then my daughter tries to wear it, and then I'm like, 'OK, we're never wearing that again,'" Kardashian said. "Unfortunately, we made that mistake in front of the whole world."
Melissa Leo, the Oscar-winning actress known for her role in "The Fighter," says winning Hollywood's biggest award did not help her career the way many people expect.

In a recent Q&A with The Guardian, Leo shared that her work life was actually stronger before she took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2011.

"Winning an Oscar has not been good for me or my career," Leo said. "I didn't dream of it, I never wanted it and I had a much better career before I won."

Her honest comments came as she reflected on what it felt like to hear her name called on Oscar night, a moment many actors spend years hoping for.

Leo explained that when she won, she was already having a strong awards season. She had earned several major honors for "The Fighter" and felt the win was possible, but not something she chased.

According to Variety, she recalled sitting in the large theater when legendary actor Kirk Douglas presented the award and announced her name.

At that moment, she said her main thought was meeting Douglas, not the long-term impact of the Oscar.

She also spoke about the pressure of standing on the Oscar stage. Looking out at the crowd in the Dolby Theatre was overwhelming. "Every single actor, director and producer you recognize is staring you in the face," she said.

Melissa Leo says she had a "much better career" before winning the best supporting actress Oscar for "The Fighter" in 2011:



"Winning an Oscar has not been good for me or my career. I didnt dream of it, I never wanted it and I had a much better career before I won." pic.twitter.com/ejC8CgVPB6  Variety (@Variety) January 18, 2026

Melissa Leo Regrets Swearing During Oscar Speech

That intense moment led to her famously swearing during her acceptance speech, something she still regrets.

"I'm still sorry I cursed," Leo said. She explained that while she uses strong language in everyday life, it does not belong on live television, USA Today reported.

She added that she was thankful for the broadcast delay, which softened the moment for viewers at home.

Leo won the Oscar for playing Alice Ward, the tough mother of boxer Micky Ward, in the 2010 film directed by David O. Russell.

The movie also starred Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, with Bale winning Best Supporting Actor the same night. The Oscar was Leo's first win after earning an earlier nomination for "Frozen River" in 2009.

Despite her disappointment with how the award affected her career, Leo continued working steadily in film and television.

She appeared in movies like "Flight, Prisoners," "The Equalizer," and "Novitiate," along with TV projects such as "I Know This Much Is True."

In past interviews, Leo has said the Oscar changed her life, but not always in a positive way. She admitted that she expected more opportunities to appear after the win and had to adjust when that did not happen.
Fritz Henkel - Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

(Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante)

- Henkel is celebrating its 150th anniversary under the motto Future? Ready!, highlighting its pioneering spirit, innovation, and commitment to responsibility

- Recognition and benefits for employees during the anniversary year, as well as initiatives and events worldwide

NEWS AKTUELL // January 19, 2026Dusseldorf. This year, Henkel is celebrating a special anniversary: 150 years ago, on 26 September 1876, Fritz Henkel founded the company, which over the course of its history has developed into a global group with around 47,000 employees in more than 70 countries.

The 2026 anniversary year is held under the motto Future? Ready!, expressing confidence in Henkels continued successful development, even in challenging times marked by geopolitical tensions, technological transformation, and growing volatility. At the heart of the anniversary are the qualities that have shaped the company since its founding a pioneering spirit, innovative strength, and responsibility.

150 years mark an important milestone in Henkel's history. They stand for continuity, a pioneering spirit, and the courage to constantly rethink the status quo, says Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board and Shareholders Committee of Henkel. As a family-owned company, we bear responsibility towards our employees, society, and future generations. We are proud of how our employees around the world continue to bring the shared Henkel spirit to life and carry it forward every day. Our purpose expresses what we stand for: creating value and positive impact with our pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit, always keeping the well-being of todays and future generations in mind. Or, as we say: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. This gives me great confidence and trust as we look ahead.

With this special anniversary, we want to reaffirm our confidence in our capabilities, our people, our innovative strength, and our corporate culture, says Henkel CEO Carsten Knobel. Under the motto Future? Ready!, we are entering our anniversary year  a year in which we look back with great pride on our long history and, at the same time, look ahead with confidence to the path ahead of us. At the heart of the anniversary are our employees around the world, because they are the key to our success. That is why we are actively involving them in the celebrations  through tangible benefits such as advantages in the employee share program, an additional day of vacation, and, of course, a variety of events worldwide around the companys birthday in September.

An anniversary that brings people together: Benefits for Henkel employees

As part of the employee share program in 2026, Henkel will offer all participants an exclusive anniversary benefit. The company will top up every employee investment by 41 percent, enabling stronger participation in Henkels business success. In simple terms: employees who invest 100 euros in Henkel shares will receive shares worth 141 euros. In addition, all employees worldwide will be granted an extra day of vacation in their birthday month during the anniversary year.

In 2026, special celebrations and activities will take place at Henkel sites around the world, connecting the companys past with a forward-looking perspective. The highlight will be September 26, the companys founding day.

Tradition meets the future: Henkel looks back on 150 years of company history

Founded in 1876 in Aachen, Henkel has evolved from a small detergent manufacturer into a global company with leading market positions and strong brands such as Loctite, Persil, and Schwarzkopf. Today, Henkel generates annual sales of more than 21 billion euros and employs 47,000 people worldwide.

A comprehensive academic perspective on the companys history is provided by the independent study Henkel  From a detergent manufacturer to a global company by Prof. Dr. Joachim Scholtyseck. The German version of the publication will be published on January 30, 2026. The English language version will be published in later spring 2026.

Further information, images, and the digital Henkel History Timeline are available here: https://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/facts-and-figures/150...

About Henkel

With its brands, innovations and technologies, Henkel holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses. The business unit Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the market for adhesives, sealants and coatings. With Consumer Brands, the company holds leading positions especially in laundry & home care and hair in many markets and categories around the world. The company's three strongest brands are Loctite, Persil and Schwarzkopf. In fiscal 2024, Henkel reported sales of more than 21.6 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 3.1 billion euros. Henkels preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. Sustainability has a long tradition at Henkel, and the company has a clear sustainability strategy with specific targets. Henkel was founded in 1876 and today employs a diverse team of about 47,000 people worldwide  united by a strong corporate culture, shared values and a common purpose: "Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. More information at www.henkel.com

Photo material is available at www.henkel.com/press

Contact Kathrin Brokmeier Hanna Philipps

Phone +49 211-797-8605 +49 211-797-3626

Email kathrin.brokmeier@henkel.com hanna.philipps@henkel.com

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
SALEM, Ohio  Well, at least the city hasnt gone to the dogs.

It seems that here in Salem, this historic place in northeast Ohio with an industrious past has, at least for a population of feral cats, become the capital of the world. Thats why there are so many of them in Centennial Park. Now theyve radiated out across town to alleyways behind local watering holes and restaurants, arriving in back yards and on doorsteps, with the problem growing more and more widespread.

But Brenda Austin, project coordinator for Salems pilot Trap, Neuter and Return program, or TNR, is nearly finished evicting one pesky cat colony from downtown. All she needs now are a few farmers willing to put the remaining feral felines to work  these cats are top talent, after all, as far as hunting varmints is concerned.

Heavy lift

Last September, after hearing from Austin about the scope of her work and funding challenges  TNR is sustained by private donations  the Salem City Council approved a $2,000 reimbursement for TNR veterinary expenses and $1,000 in seed money to kick off a small fundraising effort. The money came from an $8,000 line item intended for animal control that had gone unused and would otherwise return to the general fund.

Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey spoke effusively about the program at the councils Sept. 16 meeting, where Austin outlined just how much she does, from trapping to fostering to attending to injured kittens and providing emergency euthanasia to especially sick or hurt animals.

You can tell that theres a big need here, Baronzzi Dickey told the council. I would really love if you would support us giving a donation to the TNR program.

For her part, Austin said she is driven by a sense of duty to the animals.

When somebody sees a dog running, they automatically think, somebody lost their dog, right? She said. When its a cat, its like, Oh, theres another cat. Like, people just figure its a stray cat, somebody abandoned it, whatever. And so theyre like second-class citizens, really.

She said people fail to realize that their numbers, significant and growing, are often highest in residential areas where people are feeding the cats without getting them spayed or neutered, leading them to reproduce uncontrollably. By Austins estimates, there could be a thousand cats in the city that need to be fixed.

Im not perfect. I dont always make the right decision, but I do the best I can to do whats in the best interest of those cats.

A second chance

Right now, there is one situation testing her resolve. Austin and other volunteers are trying to remedy the problem of a local business that has been feeding feral cats for years, allowing their numbers to steadily multiply. Through repeated trapping efforts, most of the cats have been spayed or neutered, but about 10 still remain at large.

The complication, Austin said, is that the business does not want the cats returned after they are fixed. That has left the TNR team scrambling for alternatives, hoping to place the animals somewhere they can live safely without contributing further to the problem  ideally in pairs, where they would have a better chance of thriving. They could make a couple of great barn cats after a while for a farmer willing to give shelter to animals that need a little patience, but most of all a second chance.

One way or another, theyll have to go. Austin wants them to be rehomed so they can have a better life.

They just live in fear. Theyre not enjoying being a cat. This gives them the opportunity to finally enjoy just being a cat, she said.

For her, both the scale of the citys feral cat problem and the limits of what a small group of volunteers can handle on their own are pretty clear.

Its not the cats fault. None of this is these cats fault. Some people failed them, obviously, she said.

Since the city approved the TNR program, it was placed under the Health Department for official oversight, where donations and support for Austin can be received. Much of that support so far has come quietly and from the grassroots.

The program has benefited from private donations, including a $1,000 contribution from a city council candidate and funds from an anonymous donor deposited directly into the programs veterinary clinic account. A friend of Austins also donated $500 specifically so additional traps could be purchased, allowing more cats to be safely captured and transported for surgery.

Even so, the financial reality remains daunting. The $2,000 approved by council, Austin said, is enough to cover roughly 40 cats, a small dent in the number of unaltered cats Austin suspects swell within the city limits. Much of the burden falls on Austin personally. She routinely pays out of pocket for gas to make two-hour round trips to clinics and for veterinary care for sick or injured foster kittens, expenses that cannot be covered by TNR funds, which are restricted to trapping, neutering and returning cats.

Transportation remains one of the programs biggest obstacles. Austin said finding someone willing to donate a reliable working van would be a game-changer, sparing her from having to haul traps and cats in her personal vehicle and allowing her to take on larger trapping projects more efficiently.

Another challenge is the programs lack of official nonprofit status. Without 501(c)(3) designation, some potential donors are unable to contribute because they require tax-deductible giving. While being housed under the Health Department lends the program legitimacy, Austin said formal nonprofit status could open the door to larger grants and sustained funding.

Despite the hurdles, Austin remains determined.

I just want to fix the cats, she said.

To support the program, visit online. Those interested in adopting these cats as barn cats can call or text Brenda Austin, Salem TNR Project Coordinator, at 234-567-7858.
Young people without a farming background are being offered a fully funded route into agriculture, as Nuffield Farming opens applications for its 2026 Next-Gen Scholarships.

The scheme is aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds and is designed to help address some of the barriers facing those trying to establish themselves in the industry, including access to experience, networks and opportunity.

The Next-Gen Scholarship uses Nuffields existing scholar network to link successful applicants directly with farmers, giving participants practical exposure alongside professional development.

Nuffield Farming said the programme forms a key part of its wider commitment to supporting the next generation and encouraging positive change across UK agriculture.

For 2026, six scholarships will be available in total. Three places will focus on dairy farming and three on regenerative agriculture, with both study tours open to applicants from across the UK.

The scholarship is fully funded and includes a 30-day study programme taking place in June and July 2026.

Following an induction day providing an overview of the UK agricultural industry, scholars will spend the remainder of the programme staying on farm with members of the Nuffield Dairy or Regenerative Agriculture study groups.

The award also covers all travel and subsistence costs and includes attendance at the 2026 Nuffield Conference in Leeds, as well as Nuffield Farming Associate membership.

Applications will close on 31 January. The 2026 Dairy Next-Gen Scholarships are being delivered in partnership with the Trehane Trust.

Nuffield Farming said the scheme has expanded steadily since its launch. The first Next-Gen scholarships were awarded in Northern Ireland in 2024, with three dairy places available.

In 2025, the programme grew to six scholarships across dairy and poultry. From 2026, the initiative will focus on dairy and regenerative agriculture, with plans to extend the model across other sectors including arable, beef and sheep, horticulture, pigs, poultry and aquaculture.

Former scholars say the programme can be a turning point for those trying to enter farming.

Bronagh Dempster, a 2024 dairy Next-Gen Scholar from Northern Ireland, said the experience helped her take her first steps into the industry.

Ive signed my first lease for a small parcel of land, she said. Despite all the people that say you cant go into farming in NI without a farming family.

Small beginnings but its a start and I am hoping to scale from here. Once my official documents are through from the Department, I will fulfil my dream of having my own cattle.

She said the scholarship played a decisive role in building her confidence and ambition. I credit this mostly to the scholarship. The people that told me I can, the people that showed me I can and the people that have advised me ever since, she said.

It showed me the art of the possible and for that, I am eternally grateful. Its also made me incredibly motivated to learn more, push myself and provide value to others.

Tom Rawson, a Nuffield Scholar, described the initiative as a unique opportunity for young people at an early stage to get a chance to engage with the Nuffield alumni and learn from their experiences.

Applications are open to young people looking to build a future in agriculture, with the programme designed to provide early-career access to experience, networks and long-term opportunity.
Quality Meat Scotland is stepping up efforts to grow export demand for Scotch Beef, with a new initiative in Sweden aimed at expanding its presence in international foodservice.

The launch of the Scotch Beef Club later this month will mark the initiatives first move into the Scandinavian market, which QMS sees as a key opportunity for premium, sustainably produced beef.

The high-profile event will take place on 27 January at ERTH, a modern meat-focused restaurant in Stockholm. More than 100 foodservice professionals and industry figures from across Sweden are expected to attend.

The evening will combine networking and product showcasing, with guests welcomed in traditional Scottish style before a presentation from processor ABP Food Group.

Scotch Beef will then be showcased through a four-course menu featuring five different cuts, designed to highlight the quality associated with the Scotch Beef UK PGI mark.

QMS said the Scotch Beef Club is designed to drive growth within the foodservice sector by giving chefs and restaurant owners a platform to promote assured quality, provenance and full traceability.

The free-to-join initiative also aims to support restaurants already using Scotch Beef, helping them communicate its premium credentials to customers.

For Scottish producers, QMS said initiatives like the Scotch Beef Club are intended to strengthen demand in high-value markets and help deliver long-term value back through the supply chain.

Tom Gibson, director of business development at QMS, said the Swedish launch was part of a wider effort to grow international foodservice trade.

We are delighted to be launching the Scotch Beef Club in Sweden with this exciting event in partnership with Globe Foods, he said.

Scotch Beef is recognised around the world as a signifier of premium meat, and this launch gives us a powerful opportunity to strengthen relationships and increase trade with the Swedish foodservice industry, by putting Scotch Beef front and centre for all attendees.

QMS said the Scotch Beef Club focuses on messages around quality, sustainability, provenance, taste and tenderness, attributes it believes resonate strongly with chefs and consumers in premium overseas markets.

The organisation added that the Swedish launch marks the start of a broader push to expand the Scotch Beef Club into additional international markets.
UK egg producers have accused the government of applying a double standard on animal welfare after extending tariff-free access for Ukrainian eggs and egg products for a further two years.

The decision has prompted strong criticism from across the egg sector, with producers warning it exposes a fundamental contradiction between domestic welfare policy and international trade.

Ministers have framed the move as part of the UKs continued support for Ukraine, nearly four years on from Russias illegal invasion.

However, industry leaders argue that the cost of that support is being passed directly to British farmers, who are already facing rising production costs driven by higher animal welfare, environmental and food safety requirements.

Animal welfare organisations have also raised concerns. Groups had urged government to ensure that any eggs imported into the UK are produced to welfare standards equivalent to those required of British producers, warning against allowing eggs produced to lower standards overseas to enter the UK tariff free and compete directly with domestic production.

They warn this risks undermining UK farming without delivering meaningful welfare improvements internationally.

Gary Ford, head of policy and producer engagement at the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), said the extension was extremely disappointing.

Concerns are growing that imported eggs could enter the food chain without clear labelling

He said the organisation had hoped the government would at least introduce a quota system to control the volume of imports entering the UK.

Mr Ford stressed that support for Ukraine should not come at the expense of British farmers.

He said assistance should be funded through general taxation, not trade policy that disadvantages producers who have invested heavily in meeting high standards of animal health and welfare, environmental protection and food safety. He also warned that the decision is unfair to consumers.

British farmers have invested significantly to meet strict standards, while a large proportion of imported eggs are expected to be used in processed foods, leaving consumers with no clear indication of origin and no ability to make an informed choice.

Concerns have also been raised about equivalence of standards. Mr Ford said Ukrainian eggs are not produced to the same standards required of UK producers, noting that Ukrainian egg packaging itself carries the label non-UK standard.

While BFREPA has been reassured that eggs exported to the UK will meet UK requirements under the trade deal, he said the continued use of such labelling raises serious doubts.

Although safeguard mechanisms exist within the agreement, BFREPA does not believe they can be triggered quickly enough to prevent harm.

Mr Ford warned that many producers are small family businesses which, facing high costs and limited scale, cannot compete with large Ukrainian operators producing eggs to lower standards.

He added that intervention thresholds are set too high, meaning financial damage could occur long before official data reflects the impact.

BFREPA said it will continue to work with government and has called for urgent talks to address members concerns.

Criticism has been echoed by the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), which has accused the government of operating double standards that undermine both producers and consumers.

The organisation says the tariff-free extension will allow millions more eggs from battery cage systems  banned in the UK for more than a decade  to enter the market, largely through ingredient use.

Industry frustration has intensified following government indications that it wants to ban enriched cages in the UK, while continuing to allow eggs from those systems to be imported.

Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, said the approach raised serious questions about what the government expects to achieve.

He warned that food safety concerns linked to Ukrainian eggs have already emerged elsewhere in Europe.

Mr Allen said the European Union has responded by reintroducing tariffs and controls, while the UK has instead opened its market to eggs produced to standards illegal in this country. He said this undermines domestic producers and exposes consumers to unnecessary risk.

James Baxter, chairman of BFREPA and a Scottish free range egg farmer, said the organisation had worked hard to convey members concerns to Defra and the Department for Business and Trade.

He said producers see deep unfairness in the continued import of Ukrainian eggs and while they support the Ukrainian people, that support should come from general taxation.

Mr Baxter said extending the trade deal contradicts the governments own welfare strategy and previous assurances that high animal welfare standards would be protected in future trade agreements.

He also criticised safeguard thresholds and reliance on HMRC data, which he said is out of date and, at times, inaccurate.

Mr Baxter said BFREPA and the BEIC have written to the Prime Minister, met MPs and shared evidence showing Ukrainian eggs falling short of UK standards. He said it was deeply disappointing that the decision had gone ahead.

He concluded that the move not only lets down British egg farmers but also undermines the UKs world-leading welfare and food safety standards, national food security and consumer confidence in British produce.
Actor, creator, and now a filmmaker, steadily carving her own space, Akriti Singh has always moved between worlds with ease. From films like Bank Chor, Kamayab and Eight Down Toofaan Mail to her warmly received turn in Broken But Beautiful, she has built a body of work rooted in character and quiet conviction. Her directorial debut, Eight Down Toofaan Mail, travelled to international festivals and earned critical acclaim. Now, Akriti returns with Skibidi, her second feature film and a spirited leap into comedy, drawing from the chaos, charm, and everyday madness of Mumbai. In a conversation with Filmfare, the Broken But Beautiful actor speaks about switching genres, being an actor who directs, and why humour is the hardest form of cinema.





Tell us about your new film, Skibidi.





The film is deeply rooted in aamchi Mumbais everyday madness. Set on and against roads of Mumbai, ever moving, the narrative of Skibidi thrives on silly situations and hilarious complications, creating a world that is as whimsical and refreshing as the word Skibidi itself. It is a comedy that is all humour and a lot more heart. SKIBIDI celebrates masala comedy, friendships, and the energy that only Mumbai can bring.





Your debut Eight Down Toofaan Mail was intimate and emotionally heavy. Why did you deliberately swing to comedy for SKIBIDI instead of deepening that lane?





Sometimes the art chooses the artist; the film & the story of Skibidi chose me. Once I started working on a film set on Mumbai roads, it could have been nothing else but a quirky caper. Eight Down Toofaan Mail, in spite of being a drama based on real incidents, had a lot of wit and humour. I enjoy all the genres, but comedy is my favourite because it is the toughest one to win. I have made several comedy plays and am super confident with my material because it's been fine-tuned over many performances in front of live audiences to great appreciation. Skibidi is sure to make people fall off their seats laughing.







As a woman actor-turned-director, did you have to prove your authority more than your vision on set?



Don't they say something like 'if you want a person to build a ship, teach them to dream of the endless immensity of the ocean.' In a creative pursuit, you need collaboration more than authority. My entire team was with me in a very non-hierarchical way. As a woman filmmaker, the least I can do to change the structures of our workspace. Skibidi is a product of this beautiful collaboration of artists.





Were there moments where people questioned your decisions because they still saw you as an actor?



On the contrary, my actors are more open to my ideas because I am an actor and they acknowledge my craft. Although Skibidi just is my second feature film, I have directed many acclaimed plays. We approached Skibidi with a similar mindset - we did intensive workshops before the shoot and constantly innovated. And as far as the technical aspects of filmmaking are concerned, I am well versed in most of the departments - edits, grade, SFX, sound, mixing, mastering, etc. I have dabbled in all the departments in one project or another including in all the short films I made. So, it is easy to communicate with the technicians as well. The label of being an actor actually helps in my case. They love an actress who can talk lenses, colour grading, compositing plates, Dolby mastering and other details.





Eight Down Toofaan Mail travelled to international festivals. Did that validation change how you approached your second film?















Eight Down Toofaan Mail was a huge confidence boost for me as a storyteller and a filmmaker with all the acclaim it received nationally and internationally. All the adulation and validation made me more fearless in my art. Skibidi is a fun story with a lot of quirkiness and that needed confidence and craft. Eight Down Toofaan Mail gave me both.



When you look back at Broken But Beautiful now, especially with Vikrant Massey going on to win a National Award, does that project feel different to you in retrospect?





Broken but Beautiful is a very special project for me. I enjoyed performing Agni so much. Reshu Nath had written a beautiful character, and our producer, Sarita Tanwar, was just amazing. Vikrant is a beautiful human being on and off camera. It was a joy to work with him. I have always enjoyed his performances.





Who are some of the actors and directors you want to collaborate with...





The list keeps changing & evolving. Today it is Arshad Warsi, Robert Downey Junior and Kate Winslet. I would love to make films with so many of my favourite artistes. As an actor, it would be amazing to work with Zoya Akhtar.

Also Read: Exclusive: Vikrant Massey and Lakshya to Begin Shooting for Dostana 2 Next Month
Allu Arjun has been in Japan since last week to promote the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule (Pushpa Kunrin). However, the Icon Stars visit wasnt limited to promotions alone. He also made the most of his time in the country by enjoying some quality family moments. Allu Arjun travelled with his wife Sneha and their children, Ayaan and Arha, turning the trip into a cozy family holiday. After wrapping up promotional commitments, the actor spent time unwinding with his family. The serene moments captured during their stay have delighted fans.



Sneha Allu shared a series of pictures from their Japan holiday, offering fans a glimpse into the familys personal moments amid the international tour. From visits to the historic Sensoji Temple in Tokyo and other popular hotspots to the children indulging in local cuisine and shopping, the Allu family made the most of their time together. Snehas heartwarming pictures and candid family moments were warmly received on social media.



As the trip came to an end, and with Allu Arjun expected to return to Hyderabad on Monday night, Sneha shared one final set of photos from their memorable Japan holiday.
ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2026, Huasun Energy,a global leader in high-efficiency N-type heterojunction (HJT) solar technology, showcased its high-efficiency heterojunction (HJT) solar products, launched its integrated high-voltage energy storage system, and signed multiple strategic cooperation agreements, underscoring its continued focus on system-level clean energy solutions.

At the exhibition, Huasun presented mass-produced HJT solar modules designed for high-temperature and high-irradiation environments. With an industry-leading -0.24%/C temperature coefficient, power output of up to 760W, and conversion efficiency reaching 24.5%, the modules demonstrated stable energy yield and long-term reliability under desert conditions.

A key highlight was the global debut of Huasun's All-In-One high-voltage energy storage system, integrating a hybrid inverter, modular lithium battery packs and an intelligent energy management system (EMS). The solution enables coordinated management of solar generation, energy storage and loads, supporting Huasun's integrated generation-storage-consumption strategy.

During WFES 2026, Huasun signed a cooperation agreement with Waltz Solutions & Services, following successful deployments of Huasun HJT modules in off-grid infrastructure projects in the United Arab Emirates. In addition, Huasun entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Optimum Tracker, a global leader in solar tracking technology, building on more than 600 MW of joint projects in Europe.

Through its participation at WFES 2026, Huasun Energy further demonstrated the maturity of its HJT technology and its commitment to long-term global partnerships.

Website: www.huasunsolar.com

Follow "HUASUN HJT" on LinkedIn for more heterojunction updates.

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--Redefining the Global Automotive Export Landscape Through New Productive Forces, While Calling for Industry Standardization and Integrity

HANGZHOU, China, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Against the backdrop of a rapidly transforming global automotive industry and the accelerating international expansion of Chinese car brands, BZ Auto Group has officially announced its "Car Export 4.0" strategy, introducing an AI-driven, data-centric approach to redefine the global automotive export landscape.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, BZ Auto Group is a comprehensive automotive export and service provider specializing in new vehicles, used cars, new energy vehicles, and commercial vehicles. The group's business spans key markets across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America, with more than 50,000 vehicles exported and annual revenues exceeding USD 1 billion.

The Car Export 4.0 strategy represents a fundamental shift from traditional transaction-based exports to a model driven by new productive forces, including artificial intelligence, data intelligence, and platform-based operations. By integrating AI technologies, intelligent algorithms, and digital platforms across the entire value chain, BZ Auto Group enables intelligent vehicle sourcing and demand matching, multi-dimensional risk control, digitalized logistics and customs clearance, and data-backed supply chain finance solutions.

In parallel, the Group follows a "globalization with localization" approach, establishing local teams, compliance frameworks, and service networks in key overseas markets to ensure long-term, sustainable operations aligned with local regulations and market needs.

Alongside its strategic announcement, BZ Auto Group calls on industry participants to strengthen standardization, regulatory compliance, and business integrity, emphasizing that transparent trade practices and ethical operations are essential to building long-term global trust in Chinese automotive brands.

BZ Auto Group sincerely welcomes global partners across the automotive value chain to collaborate openly and responsibly, sharing long-term growth opportunities and the dividends of China's continued automotive globalization.

Looking ahead, BZ Auto Group aims to become a globally leading intelligent automotive trade and service platform, helping define new global standards for the automotive industry in the era of next-generation globalization.

Media Contact:

BZ Auto Group

Email: info@hzbzauto.com

Website: www.bz-auto.com

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PARIS, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LUNABELLA, a visionary force in K-Beauty, today announces the monumental grand opening of its flagship "W. LUNABELLA" in Paris' historic Le Marais district this March, perfectly timed with Paris Fashion Week. More than a conventional boutique, this sprawling sanctuary is meticulously crafted as a "Total Beauty Solution Hub" - an exquisite fusion of three decades of bridal expertise and pioneering skincare science, designed expressly for the discerning global woman who seeks holistic radiance and transformative well-being.

The 'Glow of a Bride' Reimagined

The 'W' in W. LUNABELLA is a profound nod to 'Wedding,' encapsulating CEO Yumi's unwavering vision: to extend the coveted, flawless complexion once exclusive to brides to every woman, regardless of her journey, who deeply desires radiant, healthy skin. As a veteran makeup artist and the revered founder of Jeju's premier wedding brand 'Muto,' Yumi embarked on a meticulous seven-year journey to develop LUNABELLA, ensuring superior skin health as the bedrock for flawless, long-lasting makeup adhesion.

Revolutionizing Skincare with "Reverse Skincare" Philosophy

The Parisian flagship will proudly introduce LUNABELLA's signature "Reverse Skincare" methodology. This innovative regimen is set to captivate those who demand unparalleled efficacy, crave the purity of natural ingredients, and trust in a scientifically-backed methodology for skin health. Leveraging pristine, potent ingredients sourced from Jeju Island-such as horse oil and Ecklonia cava-and fortified by proprietary "Activity Probiotics" fermentation technology, this approach advocates applying nutrient-rich creams first. This scientifically-backed sequence deeply nourishes the skin barrier, cultivating a resilient, vibrant complexion from within.

An Immersive Journey: Beauty, Fashion, and K-Culture

"W. LUNABELLA" promises an unparalleled, immersive experience, a magnet for global connoisseurs of beauty, luxury, and cultural depth. Patrons will indulge in personalized beauty consultations, premium dress curation, and professional styling sessions. Beyond beauty, the hub will host exclusive K-Culture programs, including captivating Hanbok exhibitions and enriching beauty workshops, inviting visitors to delve into the rich cultural tapestry of Korea through authentic beauty rituals and haute couture. During its grand launch, a special collaboration with "The Goeun Hanbok" will convene global influencers, celebrating the seamless intersection of Parisian elegance and Korean innovation.

Global Ascendancy and Strategic European Foothold

With a proven track record of successful market entries in the U.S., Japan, and Poland, underscored by prestigious certifications like Europe's CPNP and the U.S. FDA MoCRA, LUNABELLA is strategically positioned for exponential global expansion. The Paris flagship represents a pivotal strategic cornerstone, poised to solidify its dominance and leadership within the sophisticated European market.

"W. LUNABELLA is more than a destination; it is a sanctuary designed for the modern woman to reconnect with her authentic essence and rediscover her inherent, timeless radiance," affirms CEO Yumi. "This flagship stands as the quintessential bridge, seamlessly connecting K-Beauty's unparalleled innovation with a sophisticated global lifestyle."

About LUNABELLA:

LUNABELLA is a pioneering K-Beauty brand dedicated to cultivating radiant skin through innovative science and pristine natural ingredients, rooted in three decades of bridal beauty expertise.

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PolyPeptide Group / Key word(s): Preliminary Results

PolyPeptide successfully closes financial year 2025 with strong revenue growth and marked improvement in profitability



19-Jan-2026 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Media Release - ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR PolyPeptide successfully closes financial year 2025 with strong revenue growth and marked improvement in profitability Baar, 19 January 2026 - PolyPeptide Group AG (SIX: PPGN), a specialized global CDMO for peptide-based active pharmaceutical ingredients, today announced the successful closing of its financial year 2025. Highlights PolyPeptide closes financial year 2025 with strong revenue growth and a marked improvement in profitability, in line with the revised guidance issued at the H1 2025 results

Revenue of approximately EUR 389 million, representing an implied growth rate of circa +15.6% versus prior year, mainly driven by metabolic therapeutics; at constant currency rates, growth was slightly higher at around the mid-point of the guidance

Marked improvement in profitability from 7.5% in 2024 to between 11 - 12% EBITDA margin; towards the upper end of the guidance

Capital expenditures are expected to be in line with guidance, at just over EUR 100 million

Improved operating cash flow combined with increased financing flexibility, resulting in a year-end level of cash and cash equivalents of EUR 75 million and EUR 51 million undrawn and available under the committed revolving credit facility Juan Jose Gonzalez, CEO of PolyPeptide: "The strong momentum we achieved in 2025 reflects improved execution across our multi-site network, a rich development pipeline, and rapid growth in the expanding GLP-1 market. As demand continues to accelerate, PolyPeptide is well positioned, leveraging its peptide expertise and proprietary technologies, to deliver on its mid-term targets. We will continue to strengthen our capabilities, expand capacity in close partnership with customers, and maintain the financial flexibility required to support long-term growth." The financial figures presented herein are preliminary and unaudited. Revenue and profitability In 2025, PolyPeptide generated revenue of approximately EUR 389 million, translating into an implied growth of circa +15.6% compared with 2024, primarily driven by metabolic therapeutics. At constant currency rates, revenue growth was slightly higher. Capacity expansion projects have progressed well throughout the year with the large-scale solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) asset in Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium achieving target utilization rate. PolyPeptide also delivered a marked improvement in profitability in FY 2025, reaching between 11 - 12% EBITDA margin towards the upper end of guidance and up from 7.5% in 2024. Cash flow and cash available With strong operating cash flow in 2025 and the expansion of the existing credit facility announced in May 2025, PolyPeptide closed the year with cash and cash equivalents of EUR 75 million and EUR 51 million undrawn and available under the EUR 151 million committed revolving credit facility. Audited full-year 2025 results and Mid-term outlook Based on the progress achieved in 2025 and the current momentum, PolyPeptide reaffirms its mid-term targets to double revenue reported for 2023 by 2028, with the EBITDA margin expected to approach 25% in 2028. Guidance for 2026 will be communicated, as customary, upon publication of the full-year financial results for 2025, scheduled for 12 March 2026. Contact PolyPeptide Group AG

Corporate Communications

Lauren Starr

mediateam@polypeptide.com

T: +41 43 502 0580



PolyPeptide Group AG

Investor Relations

Tim Brandl

investorrelations@polypeptide.com

T: +41 43 502 0580 About PolyPeptide PolyPeptide Group AG and its consolidated subsidiaries ("PolyPeptide") is a specialized Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for peptide- and oligonucleotide-based active pharmaceutical ingredients. By supporting its customers mainly in pharma and biotech, it contributes to the health of millions of patients across the world. PolyPeptide serves a fast-growing market, offering products and services from pre-pre-clinical to commercial stages. Its broad portfolio reflects the opportunities in drug therapies across areas and with significant exposure to metabolic diseases, including GLP-1. Dating back to 1952, PolyPeptide today runs a global network of six GMP-certified facilities in Europe, the U.S. and India. PolyPeptide's shares (SIX: PPGN) are listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. For more information, please visit polypeptide.com . @PolyPeptide -- follow us on LinkedIn Disclaimer This media release has been prepared by PolyPeptide Group AG and includes forward-looking information and statements concerning the outlook for the Group's business. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the factors that may affect the Group's future performance. These expectations, estimates and projections are generally identifiable by statements containing words such as 'expects', 'believes', 'estimates', 'targets', 'plans', 'projects', 'outlook' or similar expressions. Although PolyPeptide Group AG believes that its expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statement are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that those expectations will be achieved. In particular, the statements related to the Mid-term outlook constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future financial performance. The Group's actual results of operations could deviate materially from those set forth in the Mid-term outlook. As such, investors should not place undue reliance on the statements related to the Mid-term outlook. Except as otherwise required by law, PolyPeptide Group AG disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments. Alternative financial performance measures (APM) This media release contains references to operational indicators and APM that are not defined or specified by IFRS, including revenue at constant currency rates, EBITDA margin and capital expenditures. These APM should be regarded as complementary information to and not as substitutes for the Group's consolidated financial results based on IFRS. These APM may not be comparable to similarly titled measures disclosed by other companies. For the definitions of the main operational indicators and APM used, including related abbreviations refer to the section "Definitions and reconciliations" in PolyPeptide Group AG's Annual Report 2024 . For the purposes of this media release, unless the context otherwise requires, the term 'the Com-pany' means PolyPeptide Group AG, and the terms 'PolyPeptide', 'the Group', 'we', 'us' and 'our' mean PolyPeptide Group AG and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Additional features:





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Crescent Capital Group LP, one of the leading alternative credit investment firms, announced today that its European Specialty Lending strategy has provided financing to pan-European mid-market private equity firm Apheon and the founders of several Germany-based pipe rehabilitation and manufacturing companies (including IMS Group, resinnovation, Polypipe, Amex Sanivar, Hurricane Trenchless Technologie, Kardiam). The financing supports the consolidation of these businesses into a leading integrated platform serving the trenchless pipe rehabilitation sector. Crescent has also committed additional financing to support the platform's ongoing buy-and-build strategy.

The consolidated platform brings together a complementary product portfolio of equipment, materials, and turnkey solutions for the trenchless pipe industry. Its combined offering includes robotic systems, curing technologies, spray-coating systems, resins, liners, seals, inversion equipment, accessories, and fully equipped vehicle systems. Operating under a united management structure, the platform is well positioned to unlock operational synergies and deliver comprehensive system solutions to professional trenchless rehabilitation contractors.

"We are excited to partner with Apheon and the platform's founders to support the consolidation of these innovative companies into a leading platform in the trenchless pipe rehabilitation sector, which presents a compelling opportunity as a highly-fragmented industry with strong long-term growth fundamentals," said Christine Vanden Beukel, Managing Director and head of Crescent's European Specialty Lending strategy. "This transaction highlights Crescent's ability to deliver flexible, tailored capital solutions and to partner with high-quality sponsors and management teams executing compelling buy-and-build strategies."

The platform comprises the following companies:

IMS Group, a technology-leading developer and manufacturer of advanced robotic systems and light-curing equipment for trenchless pipe rehabilitation

a technology-leading developer and manufacturer of advanced robotic systems and light-curing equipment for trenchless pipe rehabilitation resinnovation , which specialises in developing and manufacturing high-performance synthetic resins for durable pipe repair applications

, which specialises in developing and manufacturing high-performance synthetic resins for durable pipe repair applications Polypipe , which is the leading distributor of its proprietary spray coating system the RabbitCoater specifically designed for in-house pipe rehabilitation

, which is the leading distributor of its proprietary spray coating system the RabbitCoater specifically designed for in-house pipe rehabilitation Amex Sanivar , a specialist provider of liners for pressure pipe rehabilitation as well as repair seals for both pressure and non-pressure pipes

, a specialist provider of liners for pressure pipe rehabilitation as well as repair seals for both pressure and non-pressure pipes Hurricane Trenchless Technologie , which provides turnkey solutions for liner curing systems and designs and manufactures customized vehicle fit outs and specialized products for trenchless sewer rehabilitation, such as steam units, inversion equipment and impregnation equipment

, which provides turnkey solutions for liner curing systems and designs and manufactures customized vehicle fit outs and specialized products for trenchless sewer rehabilitation, such as steam units, inversion equipment and impregnation equipment Kardiam, which produces high-quality diamond milling and cutting tools

About Crescent Capital Group LP

Crescent is a global credit investment manager with approximately $50 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2025. For over 30 years, the firm has focused on non-investment grade credit through strategies that invest in marketable and privately originated debt securities including senior bank loans, high yield bonds, as well as private senior, unitranche and junior debt securities. Crescent is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, London and Frankfurt with over 250 employees globally. Crescent is a part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life. For more information about Crescent, visit www.crescentcap.com.

About Apheon

Apheon is a pan-European mid-market private equity investment company managing ~4.5 billion of assets from select global institutional investors and families. Apheon is characterized by its partnership approach, providing "patient and friendly capital" and industrial know-how to entrepreneurs and management teams, preparing their companies for the future. Through its pan-European footprint, the firm acts as a gateway into Europe for companies in the mid-market. Since its founding in 2005, Apheon has raised more than 5.0 billion in capital, invested in ~40 companies across Europe and completed ~200 add-on acquisitions for a total aggregate transaction value in excess of 7 billion. Apheon's current portfolio consists of 23 companies across its target sectors, representing ~3 billion sales and more than 20,000 employees. Apheon is advised by Apheon Advisors, which has offices in Brussels, Milan, Madrid, Paris, Munich and Amsterdam. For more information, please visit www.apheon.com.

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Mendel Communications

Sarah Troutt, +1-917-664-0319

sarah@mendelcommunications.com
Simon and Garfunkel classic named the UK's top HopeHit

Over 1000 people from across the country nominated songs to show their solidarity with refugees around the world this winter

The most popular Hope Hits available on the Hope On Repeat playlist to get you through Blue Monday

Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water has been votedas the UK's number one HopeHit as part of UK for UNHCR's 'Hope on Repeat' campaign, raising awareness of the hardships facing refugees across the globe this winter.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260119165712/en/

Simon Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water voted the UK's number one HopeHit

With 10% of the public vote, Bridge Over Troubled Water emerged as the UK's most popular HopeHit. Since November, the UN Refugee Agency's national charity partner has invited people to nominate their HopeHits the tunes that connect us and warm our hearts as the weather gets cold. The top hit is announced today, Blue Monday, to help people get through the most depressing day of the year.

The 1970 chart topper held off stiff competition from Stand By Me by Ben E King with 5.7% of the vote and Imagine by John Lennon with 5.3%.

Hope on Repeat in support of refugees

UK for UNHCR's winter campaign Hope on Repeat aims to highlight the experiences of refugees around the world, with a specific focus on families from Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine who will spend the winter forcibly displaced from their homes.

Music is widely seen as a universal language and a sign of solidarity. UK for UNHCR has worked with Royal College of Music academic, Norbert Meyn, to explore how music drives connection and empathy while a UK for UNHCR survey* shows that 73% of us believe that music unites people.

Hope on Repeat guest, Bosnian public speaker and researcher, Smajo OBE, said, "I was welcomed with open arms to the UK and Newcastle in 1994. At first, I felt out of place. But one song changed everything. My classmates and teacher sang it in Bosnian to make me feel at home.

The Hope on Repeat campaign also features a series of five podcasts hosted by British poet, Sophia Thakur, that share the incredible stories of people forced to flee their homes named The Guardian's podcast of the week. The Hope on Repeat podcast is available from www.unrefugees.org.uk/hope

Hope on Repeat guest, Ukrainian film director and producer, Mariia, said, "No matter the language, music has the power to make people feel something. It conveys the basic emotions of humanity."

Visit unrefugees.org.uk/hope to find out what Mariia and Smajo's Hope Hits are and the stories behind them, and how you can support refugees this winter.

Editors Notes

For the latest statistics and reports, please visit UNHCR's Operational Data Portal here. https://data.unhcr.org/

The video is available here: https://youtu.be/rTKO7zmChE0

Winning song graphic here

Refugee Storyteller images here

Hero video footage YouTube MP4

1148 people voted for their Hope Hit between 10 November 2025 and 13 January 2026.

About the survey

The UK for UNHCR-commissioned Censuswide survey questioned over 2,000 people from across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in November 2025. Responses form a snapshot of UK attitudes to music's role in building better cultural understanding and strengthening communities in 2025.

About UK for UNHCR

UK for UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency's national charity partner for the UK. We build solidarity, create partnerships and raise funds across the UK to help deliver global humanitarian relief for refugees through UNHCR's work. unrefugees.org.uk

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It delivers lifesaving assistance like shelter, food and water, helps safeguard fundamental human rights and develops solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. UNHCR also works to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. www.unhcr.org

UK for UNHCR is a registered charity in England and Wales (registered charity number 1183415).

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Contacts:

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sanjiv Winayak sanjiv@milkandhoneypr.com +44 (0)777 336 270
LONDON, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Employment Hero, the global leader in HR, hiring and payroll software, has released new research into the state of recruitment in the UK, revealing that 'ghost jobs' - roles advertised but not genuinely being recruited for - have become widespread, with younger workers hit hardest.

A market full of ghost jobs

The research revealed that a quarter (24%) of UK workers believe they have applied for a ghost job, rising to 37% among 18-34 year olds. Only 38% of roles appearing in job searches are seen as genuinely relevant, highlighting how difficult it has become to separate genuine opportunities from noise.

The rise of ghost jobs appears to be driven by a mix of factors. Some employers post roles to build a candidate pipeline, test salary expectations or benchmark the market without an immediate intention to hire. More worryingly, the phenomenon has also been linked to phishing activity, where fake listings are used to collect personal information from jobseekers, exploiting desperation in an increasingly competitive market.

The job hunt is now the biggest barrier

Beyond ghost jobs, the research highlights widespread frustration with the UK hiring system. One in three UK workers (33%) say their current role was difficult to find, rising to 46% among 18-34 year olds.

Shockingly, eight in ten workers (80%) say they have applied for a job and received no response, with more than half (54%) citing this as the most frustrating part of the job search.

Delays and poor communication are also major pain points. Nearly half of workers (46%) cite time consuming tasks as the worst part of the recruiting process, 44% report long waits between interviews and 42% say they have been ignored or 'ghosted' after interviewing.

A system that discourages mobility

These experiences are actively discouraging people from engaging with the labour market. Six in ten workers (61%) say the job search or hiring process has put them off looking for a new role altogether, rising to 69% among younger workers and 67% among women.

The situation is particularly concerning given the wider economic outlook. Official figures show that almost 1 million young people are not in education, employment or training (NEET), while the latest ONS data revealed that the UK unemployment rate hit a five-year high in November.

A solution to Ghost jobs

To tackle the growing problem of ghost jobs, David Holland, Managing Director of Talent at Employment Hero shares his top tips on how to avoid falling into the trap.

Be cautious of roles that look permanently open

If a job has been live for months or keeps reappearing with no changes, that can be a red flag. In the UK market, this often means an employer is testing the market or building a talent pool rather than actively hiring. Look for substance, not buzzwords

Real vacancies usually spell out what you'll actually be doing. That includes clear responsibilities, who you report into, where the role sits in the team and what success looks like in the first few months. Ghost roles tend to stay vague, with lots of culture talk and very little day-to-day detail. Sense check the basics

It's reasonable to expect upfront information on location, hybrid working and hours. Younger workers are particularly affected by time-wasting listings, so if an ad is evasive on fundamentals, treat it as a warning sign. Use platforms that verify employers

Platforms that verify employers can help mitigate ghost jobs and create a fairer, more transparent recruitment experience. Using a system that connects HR, payroll and recruitment in one consolidated system such as Employment Hero's platform, means every job is posted by a real, paying employer with an active workforce. That makes listings far more likely to be genuine, actively managed and followed up, reducing the risk of ghost jobs by design. Ask one direct question

You don't need to overthink it. A genuine recruiter or hiring manager should be able to confirm whether the role is an approved vacancy and share a rough timeline for interviews and start dates. If answers are vague, delayed or keep changing, the role may not be active.

Speaking on the research, Kevin Fitzgerald, UK Managing Director at Employment Hero, said: "Young people are facing one of the toughest job markets the UK has ever seen. On top of fewer opportunities, many are applying for roles that don't exist, and even when they do, candidates are being ghosted. This creates a huge trust problem and also stalling career mobility. Our mission is to create a fairer recruitment experience for both sides of the market, which is why we've created the only platform that connects HR, payroll and recruitment with live candidates in one consolidated system globally- where jobs are real, expectations are clear and people are treated with respect."

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-research-from-employment-hero-reveals-that-one-in-four-uk-workers-have-applied-for-ghost-jobs-that-dont-exist-302664411.html
CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / January 19, 2026 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") (TSX.V:CANX) is pleased to announce significant support for its offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Gold Basin Resources Corporation ("Gold Basin") (TSX.V:GXX) and has extended the Offer deadline to January 29, 2026. This extension will facilitate shareholders of Gold Basin ("Gold Basin Shareholders") who are experiencing delays in tendering in part related to the delinquent condition of Gold Basin, to deposit their shares under the Offer.

Highlights:

Over 49% ofthe shares of Gold Basin ("Gold Basin Shares")have been deposited under the Offer andadditional tenders are in progress and should be complete in the coming days. Multiple tenders received are considered deficient and cannot be counted towards the total as Gold Basin does not have a transfer agent to remedy the issues

CANEX continues to encounter delays in our Offer, exacerbated by the cease trade order issued against Gold Basin, numerous regulatory non-compliance issues, especially the lack of a transfer agent. Despite these obstacles, Gold Basin Shareholders are showing very strong support, and we anticipate we could achieve the 50% + 1 share minimum tender requirement shortly

CANEX has extended the Offer deadline to 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on January 29, 2026, to allow additional time for Gold Basin Shareholders to tender their Gold Basin Shares. There is no certainty that CANEX will be able to restore Gold Basin to compliant status and the Offer could be the last opportunity for Gold Basin Shareholders to exchange their cease traded Gold Basin Shares for valuable and liquid CANEX shares

The Offer represents an implied premium of 275%, based on CANEX's 30-day volume-weighted price (VWAP) on January 16, 2026, and Gold Basin's 30-day VWAP on its last trading day, May 6, 2025. The Offer value equates to approximately $20,000,000 or roughly $0.15 per Gold Basin Share based on CANEX's January 16, 2026 closing price

CANEX Thanks Gold Basin Shareholders for Their Strong Support

CANEX would like to thank Gold Basin Shareholders for the significant support for the Offer in the face of the challenges presented by Gold Basin's delinquent status. Despite having no transfer agent engaged to allow Gold Basin Shareholders to easily gather necessary documents, CANEX announces that 66,244,176 Gold Basin Shares have been tendered to the Offer, representing 49.02% of the outstanding Gold Basin Shares. Once an additional 1,321,067 Gold Basin Shares are tendered to the Offer and all of the other conditions of the Offer have been satisfied or waived, CANEX will be able to take up and pay for those Gold Basin Shares.

To allow more time to complete tenders in progress and accommodate any new tenders, the Offer has been extended to 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on January 29, 2026.

CANEX's Offer provides Gold Basin Shareholders whose Gold Basin Shares are tendered and successfully taken up with 0.592 of a CANEX share, which represents an implied premium of 275%, based on CANEX's 30-day VWAP on January 16, 2026, and Gold Basin's 30-day VWAP on its last trading day, May 6, 2025. The Offer value equates to approximately $20,000,000 or roughly $0.15 per Gold Basin Share based on CANEX's January 16, 2026 closing price. Note the CANEX offer values Gold Basin roughly 230% higher than the value placed on the Gold Basin project by Gold Basin's management in the proposed Helix farm-in joint venture.

An advertisement with respect to the extension of the Offer will appear in the Monday, January 19, 2026 edition of The Globe and Mail. A notice of variation, change and extension (the "Notice of Variation and Change") with respect to the Offer is being mailed to the securityholders of Gold Basin. The Notice of Variation and Change will also be available under Gold Basin's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on CANEX's website at www.canexmetals.ca and will be filed with the applicable securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States.

In addition to the extension of the Offer, the Notice of Variation and Change will include updates to the information set forth in CANEX's original offer and accompanying take-over bid circular dated August 28, 2025, as amended by the notices of variation, change and extension dated December 12, 2025 and January 9, 2026 (the "Original Offer and Circular").

Copies of the Original Offer and Circular are, and copies of the Notice of Variation and Change will be, available without charge from Laurel Hill Advisory Group, acting as the information agent for the Offer.

Message to Gold Basin Shareholders

Upon reaching the 50% + 1 share minimum tender requirement, CANEX intends to take up the Gold Basin Shares and participate in the necessary steps to elect a highly qualified and experienced board of directors and pursue district consolidation and advancement. There is no certainty that CANEX will be able to restore Gold Basin to compliant status or successfully conclude a Subsequent Acquisition Transaction (as defined in the Original Offer and Circular) and the Offer could be the last opportunity for Gold Basin Shareholders to exchange their cease traded Gold Basin Shares for valuable and liquid CANEX shares.

Gold Basin Shareholders with questions or who need assistance tendering their Gold Basin Shares should contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group by calling 1-877-452-7184 (toll-free in Canada and the United States), or 1-416-304-0211 (collect call outside of Canada and the United States), by texting "INFO" to either number, or by email at assistance@laurelhill.com.

Advisors

CANEX has retained Borden Ladner Gervais LLP as its legal advisor and Laurel Hill Advisory Group as its information agent.

About CANEX Metals

CANEX Metals (TSX.V:CANX) is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on advancing its 100% owned Gold Range Project in Northern Arizona. With several near surface bulk tonnage gold discoveries made to date across a 4 km gold mineralized trend, the Gold Range Project is a compelling early-stage opportunity for investors. CANEX is also advancing the Louise Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in British Columbia. Louise contains a large historic copper-gold resource that has seen very little deep or lateral exploration, offering investors copper and gold discovery potential. CANEX is led by an experienced management team which has made three notable porphyry and bulk tonnage discoveries in North America and is sponsored by Altius Minerals (TSX: ALS), a large shareholder of the Company.

Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX and has verified the data disclosed in this news release against historical and current data sources and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

"Shane Ebert"

Shane Ebert, President/Director

For Further Information Contact:

Shane Ebert at 1.250.964.2699 or

Jean Pierre Jutras at 1.403.233.2636

Web: http://www.canexmetals.ca

Gold Basin Shareholders:

Laurel Hill Advisory Group

North American Toll Free: 1-877-452-7184

Outside North America: 1-416-304-0211

Email: assistance@laurelhill.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

U.S. Notice

The Offer is being made for the securities of a foreign company. The Offer is subject to disclosure requirements of a foreign country that are different from those of the United States. Financial statements included in the Offer materials, if any, have been prepared in accordance with foreign accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of United States companies. It may be difficult for you to enforce your rights and any claim you may have arising under the federal securities laws, since the issuer is located in a foreign country, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of a foreign country. You may not be able to sue a foreign company or its officers or directors in a foreign court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a foreign company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment. You should be aware that the issuer may purchase securities otherwise than under the Offer, such as in open market or privately negotiated purchases, in accordance with applicable law. Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued in the Offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the Offer materials. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "potential", "anticipate", "intends", "risks", "opportunities" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc.'s internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things: the Offer; the satisfaction of the conditions of the Offer; Gold Basin Shareholders' support for the Offer; the anticipated successful completion of the Offer; the anticipated effect of the Offer; CANEX's plans for Gold Basin if the Offer is successful; the expected benefits to Gold Basin Shareholders of tendering their Gold Basin Shares to the Offer; whether Gold Basin will regain regulatory compliance; and future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risk that the transactions contemplated by the Offer will not be consummated; the risk that the conditions of the Offer will not be met or met or a timely basis; and those risks described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of CANEX Shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: CANEX Metals Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/canex-metals-achieves-over-49-support-for-its-offer-to-purchase-shares-of-gold-ba-1128955
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - Lara Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: LRA) (OTC Pink: LRAXF) ("Lara" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on work at the recently acquired Atlantica exploration license, contiguous to the southeast of the Planalto Project, in the Carajas Mineral Province of northern Brazil. New surface work, core relogging and resampling undertaken by Lara since the acquisition last October, demonstrate potential to extend the Planalto resource along strike to the southeast from the Silica Cap deposit for approximately 3km within the enlarged license block.





Figure 1: Planalto Copper Project - Exploration Upside

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2373/280651_lara.jpg

Mineracao Atlantica Ltda. completed five widely spaced diamond drill holes for a total of 1,754.20m in late 2020 to early 2021. All the drill core for these holes, along with the sample analysis data and geological database, has been recovered and geological relogging completed. The volcanic host rocks, hydrothermal alteration features and the chalcopyrite mineralization style logged in the cores are very similar to those observed in drill core at the Planalto Project (better described in the technical reports on the Mineral Resource Estimation of October 9, 2024, and the more recent Preliminary Economic Assessment of October 21, 2025 both available on the Company website www.laraexploration.com and filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca ) on October 16, 2024 and November 17, 2025, respectively.

In Q4-2025 Lara completed a soil sampling survey covering most of the Atlantica license, outlining three distinct anomalous copper zones trending NW-SE through the license. The strongest copper anomaly zone is in the west along the highly metasomatized granite-intermediate volcanics contact, a similar setting to the Silica Cap mineralized structure at the Planalto Project. Of the five historic holes only hole DDATL21-003 drill tested this target trend. The other two copper zones, both several hundred meters wide, are approximately parallel to the granite contact zone and are at approximately 500m and 1000m, respectively, to the east of the contact zone within mafic to intermediate andesitic volcanic rocks. Sample results indicate the presence of anomalous copper intersections in the other four drill holes, which have only been partially sampled for analysis.

Core logging suggests that the previous sampling of the drill core was restricted to the main chalcopyrite-rich sections of the core, with many intervals having been only partially sampled. Resampling of the core is in progress, with some analyses already available. Resampling of the cores has been extended to include the weathered oxide zone in all holes and has been instrumental in identifying two of the drill holes (holes DDATL21-002 and DDATL21-004) significant oxide copper intersections which are coincident with copper soil anomalies identified in the recent soil sampling study as follows:

Hole ATL21-002: 35.80m at 0.35% Cu from 3.2 m down hole

Hole ATL21-004: 17.00m at 0.25% Cu from the surface down hole.

Based on the experience at the Planalto Project, the down dip extensions of both these intersections into the fresh rock sulfide zones to the east constitute high priority drill targets. Neither of these two areas was tested by the historical drilling. Drill testing by Lara is planned for late Q1-26 towards the end of the current wet season.

The more significant copper intersections now recognized in the five holes, incorporating the historical and recent sample assay data, are as follows:

Drill hole Intercept From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Au (ppm)



DDATL20-001 Oxide 10.5 16.0 5.5 0.13 Sulfide 194.0 203.5 9.5 0.26 Sulfide 216.0 232.50 16.5 0.22 DDATL21-002 Oxide 3.2 39.00 35.8 0.35 0.059 DDATL21-003 Sulfide 274.0 275.50 1.5 0.95 DDATL21-004 Oxide 0 17.0 17.0 0.25 Sulfide 122.0 129.0 7.0 0.30 0.044 DDATL21-005 Sulfide 34.0 37.00 4.0 0.64

Ongoing sampling of the core continues to check for extensions of other chalcopyrite zones in the core historically only partially sampled, and to validate the historical Atlantica sampling and analysis database.

Drillhole collars, Sampling methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Atlantica drill hole collars are as follows:

Hole E-UTM N-UTM ELEV (m) Depth (m) Azimuth Angle Year



DDATL20-001 639636 9292563 232.59 400.00 240 -50 2020 DDATL21-002 638765 9292881 2542.00 350.25 240 -55 2021 DDATL21-003 638892 9292162 260.00 352.30 255 -55 2021 DDATL21-004 639251 9291680 264.00 341.65 240 -55 2021 DDATL21-005 640172 9291842 230.00 310.00 240 -60 2021

The recent sampling of the drill core by Lara has been undertaken with the supervision of the company's Vice President Exploration and the chain of custody of the drill core from the previous owner's core storage facility near Parauapebas to the Company's sample preparation facility in Canaa dos Carajas was continuously monitored. Sample intervals for the drill core were mostly maintained at approximately 2m with some variation in the weathered saprolite and fresh rock zones being at times guided by the core recovery rates and the degree of copper mineralization present. Blank, duplicate core or certified gold and copper reference materials were inserted at approximately every 10th sample by Lara. Resampling of historical sample intervals is in progress to validate the historical sample assay data set.

The drill core samples were delivered by courier to the SGS-Geosol preparation laboratory located in Parauapebas, 65km to the north from the Project, where they were crushed and pulverized. The sample pulps were then dispatched to the SGS-Geosol laboratory in Minas Gerais Lima for analysis. The pulps were subjected to multi-acid digestion with copper and 47 other elements determined by ICP-OES/ICP MS. Gold was determined by the fire assay fusion with a AAS finish on a 50-gram charge.

Michael Bennell, Lara's Vice President Exploration and a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM), is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has approved the technical disclosure and verified the technical information in this news release.

About Lara Exploration:

Lara is an exploration company, focused on advancing its 100%-owned Planalto Copper-Gold Project in the Carajas mining district in northern Brazil. Based on the recent Planalto PEA report 1, it is anticipated that Planalto will be developed as a conventional open pit mine with a low strip-ratio, processing 8 Mtpa via a conventional crushing and grinding circuit followed by froth flotation. A single saleable chalcopyrite concentrate with a minor gold credit is to be transported internationally to third-party smelters. During the first 6 years, the PEA1 production schedule produces on average 36 kt (79 million lb) of copper and 7200 oz of gold per year, and over an 18-year mine life, Planalto will produce 560 kt (1.2 billion lb) of copper and 111,000 oz of gold. The project is located on private farmland, 4 km from the state highway with high tension powerlines alongside and close to two major Carajas mining towns within excellent infrastructure.

Note 1: A NI 43.101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and Mineral Resource Estimate are detailed in reports filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) on November 17, 2025 and October 17, 2024 respectively. The PEA is preliminary in nature, and it includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and, as such, there is no certainty that the PEA results will be realized.

The Company currently holds a diverse portfolio of prospects, deposits and royalties in Brazil, Peru and Chile. Lara's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "LRA".

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada

accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

-30-

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280651

Source: Lara Exploration Ltd.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Domestic Metals Corp. (the "Company" or "Domestic") - (TSXV: DMCU; OTCQB: DMCUF; FSE: 03E) announces the appointment of world-renowned Carbon Replacement Deposit ("CRD") expert Dr. Peter Megaw, Ph.D., C.P.G., as a technical advisor to the Company.

Dr. Megaw will be providing strategic and technical advice to senior management and assist Domestic in the ongoing exploration activities on its Smart Creek Copper Porphyry Project in Montana.

Dr. Megaw has a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Arizona and more than 30 years of relevant experience focused on silver and gold exploration in Mexico. He is a certified Professional Geologist by the American Institute of Professional Geologists and an Arizona Registered Geologist. Dr. Megaw has been instrumental in a number of mineral discoveries in Mexico including new ore bodies at existing mines, Excellon Resources' Platosa Mine, and MAG Silver's Juanicipio and Cinco de Mayo properties; discoveries for which he was given PDAC's 2016 Thayer Lindsley Award. Peter is also a Director of Relevant Gold Corp. since 2021.

Gord Neal, CEO of Domestic Metals Corp., commented: "We warmly welcome Peter to the Domestic Metals' team. I have worked closely with Peter before at MAG Silver and New Pacific Metals and admire his insatiable passion for large-scale economical mineral discoveries. Known as a world-renowned CRD expert, we look forward to Peter assisting us with exploration activities at our Smart Creek Copper Project which is proving to be highly indicative of both porphyry and CRD style mineralization."

Webinar

Following the release of surface sampling results yielding up to 102 g/t Au, up to 23% Cu and up to 3,810 g/t Ag at the Smart Creek Project earlier this month, we have scheduled another webinar for January 22nd to inform you of our follow up plans for Q1. We look forward to you joining us.

When: Thursday, January 22nd at 1.15pm PST, 4.15pm ET, 10.15pm CET

Registration link: https://domestic-metals.eventbrite.com

Opportunity to Meet with Management

We appreciate meeting with our supporters and shareholders in person as well to provide a detailed update and as such are looking forward to seeing you at our booth #1101 at the VRIC in Vancouver on January 25-26, 2026 and booth #3139 at the Investors Exchange at the PDAC, March 1-4, 2026, in Toronto.

About Domestic Metals Corp.

Domestic Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of large-scale, copper and gold deposits in exceptional, historical mining project areas in the Americas.

The Company aims to discover new economic mineral deposits in historical mining districts that have seen exploration in geologically attractive mining jurisdictions, where economically favorable grades have been indicated by historic drilling and outcrop sampling.

The Smart Creek Project is strategically located in the mining-friendly state of Montana, containing widespread copper mineralization at surface and hosts 4 attractive porphyry copper, epithermal gold, replacement and exotic copper exploration targets with excellent host rocks for mineral deposition.

Domestic Metals Corp. is led by an experienced management team and an accomplished technical team, with successful track records in mine discovery, mining development and financing.

On behalf of Domestic Metals Corp.

Gord Neal, CEO and Director

(604) 657 7813

Follow us on:

X- LinkedIn- Facebook and Instagram

For more information on Domestic Metals, please contact:

Gord Neal, Phone: 604 657-7813 or Michael Pound, Phone: 604 363-2885

Please visit the Company website at www.domesticmetals.com or contact us at info@domesticmetals.com.

For all investor relations inquiries, please contact:

John Liviakis, Liviakis Financial Communications Inc., Phone: 415-389-4670

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "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 may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's continued stock exchange listings and the planned exploration activities on properties. 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, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: competition within the industry; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future price of commodities; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining approvals or financing; risks related to indebtedness and the service of such indebtedness; as well as those factors, risks and uncertainties identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.
The Cloud ERP market is experiencing robust expansion driven by accelerating digital transformation across enterprise verticals, heightened demand for scalable SaaS solutions, and intensified focus on real-time operational visibility. Cloud-native architectures and AI-enabled analytics are catalyzing adoption by optimizing workflows, enhancing decision intelligence, and reducing total cost of ownership. Industries such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and logistics are prioritizing integrated financial and supply chain modules to support hybrid work models and regulatory compliance requirements.

LEWES, Del., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Cloud ERP Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report published by Verified Market Reports. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 50.3 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 128.3 Billion by the end of the forecast period.

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Browse in-depth TOC on Cloud ERP Market

150 - Pages

126 - Tables

37 - Figures

Scope of The Cloud ERP Market Report

REPORT

ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2023-2033 BASE YEAR 2024 FORECAST PERIOD 2026-2033 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2023 ESTIMATED PERIOD 2025 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES

PROFILED Microsoft, Netsuite, Ramco System, Intacct Corporation,

Salesforce, QAD SEGMENTS

COVERED By Deployment Type, By Organization Size, By Application, By

Function, By Industry, By Geography CUSTOMIZATION

SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working

days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional &

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Global Cloud ERP Market Overview

Cloud ERP Market: Trends and Opportunities

Accelerated cloud-first adoption driven by cost efficiency and agility: Enterprises are rapidly migrating from on-premise ERP to cloud-native platforms to reduce capital expenditure, shorten deployment cycles, and enable continuous upgrades. Subscription-based pricing, elastic scalability, and lower total cost of ownership are reshaping ERP procurement decisions, particularly among mid-market and fast-growing organizations.

Enterprises are rapidly migrating from on-premise ERP to cloud-native platforms to reduce capital expenditure, shorten deployment cycles, and enable continuous upgrades. Subscription-based pricing, elastic scalability, and lower total cost of ownership are reshaping ERP procurement decisions, particularly among mid-market and fast-growing organizations. Vertical-specific ERP solutions gaining traction: Cloud ERP vendors are increasingly delivering industry-specific modules for manufacturing, healthcare, retail, logistics, and professional services. These tailored solutions address complex regulatory requirements, compliance reporting, and domain workflows, improving time-to-value and supporting differentiated market penetration strategies.

Cloud ERP vendors are increasingly delivering industry-specific modules for manufacturing, healthcare, retail, logistics, and professional services. These tailored solutions address complex regulatory requirements, compliance reporting, and domain workflows, improving time-to-value and supporting differentiated market penetration strategies. Integration of advanced analytics and AI-driven automation: Embedded artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics are transforming Cloud ERP into decision intelligence platforms. Capabilities such as demand forecasting, anomaly detection, autonomous financial close, and intelligent procurement are improving operational resilience and strategic planning accuracy.

Embedded artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics are transforming Cloud ERP into decision intelligence platforms. Capabilities such as demand forecasting, anomaly detection, autonomous financial close, and intelligent procurement are improving operational resilience and strategic planning accuracy. Composable ERP architectures enabling modular innovation: Organizations are shifting toward composable ERP models that integrate best-of-breed applications via APIs and microservices. This trend supports faster innovation cycles, reduced vendor lock-in, and the ability to respond to evolving business models, including platform ecosystems and digital marketplaces.

Organizations are shifting toward composable ERP models that integrate best-of-breed applications via APIs and microservices. This trend supports faster innovation cycles, reduced vendor lock-in, and the ability to respond to evolving business models, including platform ecosystems and digital marketplaces. Security, governance, and regulatory alignment as competitive differentiators: As ERP systems increasingly manage sensitive financial and operational data, vendors are investing heavily in advanced cybersecurity, data residency controls, and compliance frameworks. Strong governance capabilities are becoming decisive factors in large enterprise and public-sector adoption.

As ERP systems increasingly manage sensitive financial and operational data, vendors are investing heavily in advanced cybersecurity, data residency controls, and compliance frameworks. Strong governance capabilities are becoming decisive factors in large enterprise and public-sector adoption. Regional performance divergence creating expansion opportunities: North America and Western Europe continue to lead in adoption maturity, while Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East are experiencing above-average growth rates. Government-led digital transformation programs and SME cloud incentives are catalyzing demand in emerging economies.

Cloud ERP Market Context and Strategic Outlook

The Cloud ERP market has evolved from a cost-driven IT modernization initiative into a strategic enabler of enterprise transformation. Cloud-based ERP platforms now serve as the digital backbone for finance, supply chain, human resources, manufacturing, and customer operations. Their role extends beyond transactional processing to include real-time insights, cross-functional orchestration, and adaptive business execution.

For C-suite leaders, Cloud ERP adoption is increasingly aligned with broader objectives such as operational resilience, sustainability reporting, and global scalability. The shift toward remote work, distributed supply chains, and digital-first customer engagement has amplified the need for unified, always-on systems accessible across geographies. Cloud ERP directly addresses these requirements by enabling standardized processes while supporting local regulatory and operational nuances.

From an investment perspective, the market demonstrates strong recurring revenue characteristics, high switching costs, and expanding addressable segments. Vendors that successfully combine deep industry expertise, extensible platforms, and robust partner ecosystems are well-positioned to capture long-term value. At the same time, competitive intensity is rising as hyperscale cloud providers, pure-play SaaS vendors, and legacy ERP incumbents converge in the same opportunity space.

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How are evolving market drivers and restraints shaping enterprise Cloud ERP adoption strategies?

The primary market drivers include the demand for real-time visibility, pressure to reduce IT complexity, and the need to support digital business models. Enterprises are prioritizing Cloud ERP to improve cash flow forecasting, supply chain transparency, and workforce productivity. Regulatory complexity and the growing importance of ESG reporting are also accelerating adoption, as cloud platforms simplify data consolidation and audit readiness.

However, key restraints persist. Data security concerns, integration challenges with legacy systems, and organizational resistance to process standardization can delay or limit deployments. In highly regulated industries, data sovereignty requirements may restrict full public cloud adoption. Successful enterprises mitigate these risks through phased migration strategies, hybrid architectures, and strong change management programs. Vendors that offer flexible deployment models and proven migration accelerators are gaining a competitive edge.

Which Cloud ERP application areas are delivering the highest business impact across industries?

Financial management remains the most widely adopted Cloud ERP application, delivering rapid ROI through automated accounting, compliance reporting, and real-time financial analytics. Supply chain and procurement modules are also experiencing strong demand as organizations seek to mitigate disruptions, optimize inventory, and improve supplier collaboration using predictive insights.

Human capital management and manufacturing execution are emerging as high-impact growth areas. Integrated workforce planning, skills analytics, and labor cost optimization are critical in tight labor markets. In manufacturing, cloud-based production planning, quality management, and IoT-enabled asset monitoring are driving efficiency gains. These application areas demonstrate how Cloud ERP is evolving into a platform for intelligent, end-to-end enterprise operations.

Geographic Dominance and Regional Market Performance

North America currently represents the largest share of the global Cloud ERP market, supported by high cloud maturity, strong enterprise IT spending, and a concentration of leading software vendors. Large enterprises and mid-sized businesses in the United States and Canada have been early adopters, leveraging Cloud ERP to modernize legacy systems and support complex, multi-entity operations.

Europe follows closely, with strong adoption in Western European economies driven by regulatory harmonization, cross-border trade requirements, and sustainability reporting mandates. Cloud ERP platforms are increasingly used to standardize financial and operational processes across the European Union while maintaining local compliance. Data protection regulations have influenced the design of regionally hosted and sovereign cloud offerings.

The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market segment. Rapid industrialization, expanding SME sectors, and government-backed digital transformation initiatives are fueling demand across China, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Cloud ERP adoption is particularly strong among export-oriented manufacturers, technology startups, and service providers seeking scalable systems without heavy upfront investment.

Latin America and the Middle East are emerging as high-potential markets, supported by improving cloud infrastructure and increasing enterprise digitization. In these regions, Cloud ERP adoption is often linked to financial transparency initiatives, public-sector modernization, and private-sector competitiveness. While current penetration levels remain lower than in mature markets, growth rates indicate substantial long-term opportunity.

Competitive Dynamics and Innovation Trajectory

The competitive landscape is characterized by rapid innovation cycles and ecosystem-driven differentiation. Leading vendors are investing in low-code development tools, embedded analytics, and industry cloud solutions to deepen customer engagement and reduce churn. Strategic partnerships with system integrators and hyperscale cloud providers are expanding implementation capacity and accelerating global reach.

Innovation is increasingly focused on autonomous enterprise capabilities, where Cloud ERP systems proactively recommend or execute actions based on predictive models. Examples include automated working capital optimization, intelligent demand sensing, and continuous compliance monitoring. These advancements elevate ERP from a system of record to a system of intelligence.

Strategic Implications for Decision-Makers

For executives and investors, the Cloud ERP market presents a compelling combination of growth, defensibility, and strategic relevance. Successful adoption requires alignment between technology strategy, organizational readiness, and long-term business objectives. Enterprises that treat Cloud ERP as a foundational transformation platform rather than a transactional IT upgrade are more likely to realize sustained competitive advantage.

Market intelligence teams should closely monitor regulatory shifts, industry-specific innovation, and regional adoption patterns to inform investment and expansion decisions. As Cloud ERP continues to mature, differentiation will increasingly depend on ecosystem strength, vertical depth, and the ability to translate data into actionable business outcomes.

Cloud ERP Market: Key Players Shaping the Future

Leading industry participants such as Microsoft, Netsuite, Ramco System, Intacct Corporation, Salesforce, QAD, among others, are instrumental in driving the evolution of the market. These companies influence market dynamics through continuous innovation, strategic partnerships, and global expansion initiatives. Comprehensive analyses of their financial performance, product portfolios, and SWOT evaluations offer critical insights into their competitive positioning and the overall trajectory of the industry.

Cloud ERP Market: Segments Analysis

Based on the research, Verified Market Reports has segmented the global Cloud ERP Market into Deployment Type, Organization Size, Application, Function, Industry, Geography.

To get market data, market insights, and a comprehensive analysis of the Global Cloud ERP Market, please Contact Verified Market Reports.

By Deployment Type

Cloud-Based ERP

On-Premises ERP

By Organization Size

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Large Enterprises

By Function

Finance and Accounting

Human Resource Management

Supply Chain Management

Customer Relationship Management

Sales and Marketing

Inventory Management

By Industry

Manufacturing

Retail and E-commerce

Healthcare

Construction

Automotive

Education

Financial Services

Telecommunications

Govement

By Application

Financial Management

Order Management

Production Management

Project Management

Inventory and Warehouse Management

Enterprise Performance Management

Cloud ERP Market, By Geography

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





United Kingdom





France





Italy





Spain





Netherlands





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





South Korea





Australia





Indonesia





Rest of Asia Pacific



Latin America



Brazil





Argentina





Chile





Colombia



Middle East & Africa (MEA)



United Arab Emirates (UAE)





Saudi Arabia





South Africa





Egypt





Israel

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Fresno, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - Safety Training Seminars is proud to announce the opening of its newest CPR Certification school in Fresno, California, expanding access to high-quality life-saving education for healthcare professionals, first responders, and the local community. The new training center is now open at 433 E. Keats Avenue, Fresno, CA, and offers comprehensive BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification courses.

Safety Training Seminars Opens A New CPR Certification School in Fresno, CA

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/280808_safetytraining.jpg

The Fresno location is designed to serve nurses, physicians, EMTs, paramedics, dentists, medical students, and allied health professionals who require dependable, efficient, and hands-on CPR training. Courses are taught by experienced instructors who emphasize real-world scenarios, confidence building, and practical skills that translate directly to emergency situations.

"Opening a Fresno training center allows us to better serve the Central Valley with convenient, professional CPR certification," said Laura Seidel. "Our goal has always been to make high-quality life-saving education accessible, consistent, and stress-free while maintaining the highest instructional standards."

The new CPR school offers flexible scheduling, including weekday and weekend classes, to accommodate busy work and academic schedules. Students benefit from modern training equipment, streamlined class formats, and a supportive learning environment focused on skill mastery and readiness.

Safety Training Seminars has built a strong reputation throughout California for providing reliable CPR and advanced life support education. The Fresno expansion reflects the organization's continued commitment to community safety, workforce preparedness, and supporting healthcare systems across the state.

Residents and medical professionals in Fresno and surrounding Central Valley communities now have a local option for trusted CPR certification and renewal training without the need to travel long distances.

Location:

433 E. Keats Avenue

Fresno, CA

About Safety Training Seminars

Safety Training Seminars is a leading provider of CPR, BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification courses across California. Known for professional instruction, convenient scheduling, and high training standards, the organization serves thousands of healthcare providers and community members each year.

For more information about Safety Training Seminars, use the contact details below:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280808

Source: Plentisoft
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA / ACCESS Newswire / January 19, 2026 / Drummond Company, Inc. reports that, on January 15, 2026, in a trial before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, the jury returned a verdict on all counts against attorney Terrence P. Collingsworth and his organization International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates). The jury concluded Collingsworth and IRAdvocates made false and defamatory accusations that Drummond supported paramilitary groups in Colombia. The jury further found Collingsworth and IRAdvocates violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) through extortion, witness bribery, witness tampering, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. The jury determined there was clear and convincing evidence that Collingsworth either knew or recklessly disregarded that his accusations against Drummond were false when he made them.

In the lawsuits Drummond filed-one for defamation and the other for extortion, witness bribery, witness tampering, wire fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)-the jury awarded Drummond US$52 million on the defamation claim and US$68 million on the RICO claims. The RICO award is automatically trebled under the RICO statute, making the total value of the award US$256 million.

According to the verdict and the evidence, Collingsworth made false and defamatory statements in letters to third parties that were calculated to harm Drummond's reputation and threaten its business. Under the RICO act, Collingsworth was found guilty of witness bribery and tampering based on witness payments exceeding US$400,000 to Jaime Blanco Maya, Jairo de Jesus Charris (a.k.a. "El Viejo Miguel"), among others. Collingsworth's conspirators, Colombian attorney Ivan Alfredo Otero Mendoza and Dutch businessman Albert van Bilderbeek, were also found liable for RICO.

"This verdict is further proof that Drummond has had no connection whatsoever with illegal organizations. The company has endured malicious accusations and narratives for decades, which a jury has now unanimously determined were categorically false," according to Trey Wells, lead trial lawyer of the law firm Starnes Davis Florie LLP.

The documents in the case demonstrate that the defendants undertook a coordinated strategy to exert reputational and legal pressure on the company through lawsuits and media campaigns in the United States, Colombia, and Europe, supported by false testimonies obtained through hidden witness payments.

Drummond reiterates its commitment to ethical and responsible operations. The company will continue to operate, as it always has, with respect for the rule of law and the highest standards of integrity.

For more information about Drummond Company, Inc., please visit https://www.drummondco.com/

Contact Information

Paulo Gonzalez

VP Corporate Social Responsibility

pgonzalez@drummondco.com

2059456420

SOURCE: Drummond Company, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/federal-jury-finds-in-favor-of-drummond-and-rejects-false-accusations-1129007
2026 startet mit einem Paukenschlag: Der DAX outperformt den US-Markt, Nachzugler holen auf. Ein erstes Signal, dass der Bullenmarkt an Breite gewinnt. Wahrend viele Anleger weiter auf die groen Tech-Namen setzen, hat sich im Hintergrund langst ein Umschwung vollzogen. Der Fokus verschiebt sich weg von uberteuerten KI-Highflyern hin zu soliden Qualitatswerten aus der zweiten Reihe.



Anleger, die jetzt clever agieren, setzen nicht auf das, was war, sondern auf das, was kommt. Unternehmen mit gesunder Bilanz, unterschatztem Potenzial und begrenztem Abwartsrisiko konnten 2026 zu den groen Gewinnern zahlen. Die Gefahr einer scharferen Korrektur bleibt real, gerade fur passiv aufgestellte Investoren.



In unserem neuen Spezialreport stellen wir funf Aktien vor, die genau jetzt das Potenzial fur uberdurchschnittliche Renditen bieten. Stark, gunstig und bislang kaum im Fokus.



Jetzt kostenlosen Report herunterladen  bevor es andere tun!



Dieses exklusive PDF ist nur fur kurze Zeit gratis verfugbar.
DEMIRE: Ralf Bongers to step down on 31 March 2026

Langen, 19 January 2026. The Supervisory Board of DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG (ISIN: DE000A0XFSF0) announces a change in the Management Board. Ralf Bongers will leave the company at his own request on 31 March 2026 as planned when his contract expires in order to pursue new professional challenges. He will remain with Demire as a senior advisor beyond his departure.

During his tenure, Ralf Bongers was responsible for numerous large-volume lease agreements and real estate transactions worth around EUR 240 million, among other things. He thus made a decisive contribution to stabilising Demire.

Dr Matthias Prochaska, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DEMIRE, praised his achievements: 'We regret Ralf Bongers' departure, but respect his desire for a new career direction. Mr. Bongers has successfully driven forward asset management and the transaction business in difficult times. The Supervisory Board would like to express its sincere thanks to him for his outstanding work, commitment and achievements. We wish him every success and all the best for his professional and personal future. We are also particularly pleased that he will remain associated with DEMIRE in an advisory capacity after his departure.'

Ralf Bongers commented on his imminent departure: 'After three years at DEMIRE, I would now like to devote myself to new professional challenges. I would like to thank the Supervisory Board, my colleagues on the Management Board and, in particular, my team for their close, constructive and trusting cooperation.'

With effect from 1 April 2026, the new Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ruffel, will take over the areas of responsibility previously managed by Ralf Bongers. From this date, the Executive Board will consist of Dr Ruffel and Tim Bruckner.

End of press release

About DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG



DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG acquires and holds commercial properties in medium-sized cities and up-and-coming peripheral locations in metropolitan areas throughout Germany. The company's particular strength lies in realising real estate potential in these locations and focuses on an offering that is attractive to both international and regional tenants. As of 30 September 2025, DEMIRE had a real estate portfolio of 46 properties with a lettable area of around 573 thousand square metres. Taking into account the proportionately acquired Cielo property in Frankfurt/Main, the market value amounts to around EUR 0.9 billion.

The portfolio's focus on office properties with an admixture of retail and hotel properties is appropriate for the risk/return structure of the commercial property segment. The Company attaches great importance to long-term contracts with solvent tenants and the realisation of potential and therefore continues to expect stable and sustainable rental income and solid value growth. DEMIRE's portfolio is to be significantly expanded in the medium term. In expanding the portfolio, DEMIRE will focus on FFO-strong assets with potential, while properties that do not conform to the strategy will continue to be sold in a targeted manner. DEMIRE will continue to develop its operations and processes with numerous measures. In addition to cost discipline, operating performance is being improved through an active asset and portfolio management approach.

The shares of DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG (ISIN: DE000A0XFSF0) are listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt.

Contact:

Julius Stinauer

Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Finance

T: +49 6103 372 49 44

E: ir@demire.ag
Gold and silver prices climbed fresh peaks on Monday, as investors flocked to safe haven assets on intensifying tensions, after Trump threatened to impose extra tariffs on European countries over the control of Greenland

Gold and silver prices climbed fresh peaks on Monday, as investors flocked to safe-haven assets on intensifying tensions, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose extra tariffs on European countries over the control of Greenland.

Spot gold rose 1.5% to $4,663.37 per ounce by 0335 GMT, after scaling an all-time high of $4,689.39.

U.S. gold futures for February delivery jumped 1.6% to $4,669.90 per ounce.

On Saturday, Trump vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a row over the future of Denmarks vast Arctic island.

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European Union ambassadors reached a broad agreement on Sunday to intensify efforts to dissuade Trump from imposing tariffs on European allies, while also preparing retaliatory measures should the duties go ahead, EU diplomats said.

Geopolitical tensions have given gold bulls yet another reason to push the yellow metal to new highs, StoneX senior analyst Matt Simpson said.

With Trump throwing tariffs into the mix, it is clear that his threat to Greenland is real, and that we could be one step closer to the end of NATO and political imbalances within Europe.

U.S. stock futures and dollar slid as Trumps latest tariff threats raised investors appetite for safe-haven gold, yen and Swiss franc, in a broad risk-averse move across markets. [MKTS/GLOB] [USD/]

Non-yielding gold thrives in a low-interest-rate environment and during economic uncertainties.

Spot silver advanced 3.3% to $92.93 per ounce, after hitting a record high of $94.08.

On silver, the medium-term narrative remains constructive, supported by persistent physical deficits, resilient industrial demand and safe-haven demand, said Christopher Wong, a strategist at OCBC.

But the pace of the recent extension may warrant some near-term tactical caution, Wong said, noting that the gold-silver ratio declined sharply from highs near 105 in late 2025 to low-50s, signalling silvers outsized performance versus gold.

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In other precious metals, spot platinum added 0.9% to $2,348.32 per ounce, while palladium rose 0.5% to $1,808.46 per ounce.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Sun Pharma is weighing the acquisition of US-based Organon in a deal valued at about $10 billion, a move that would significantly strengthen the Indian drugmakers presence in the US market

Donald Trumps tariffs on brand-name and patented pharmaceutical products will take effect at a full 100 per cent. File photo/Reuters

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Indias largest drugmaker by market capitalisation and revenue, is evaluating the acquisition of US-based Organon, a womens health specialist with a growing footprint in the fast-expanding biosimilars market, The Economic Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The move comes nearly a decade after Suns landmark acquisition of Ranbaxy and, if consummated, would mark the most ambitious takeover yet by Suns billionaire founder, Dilip Shanghvi, who has long been regarded as one of Indias sharpest pharmaceutical dealmakers.

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The transaction is expected to carry an enterprise value of about $10 billion, including debt, and would become the largest cross-border acquisition ever by an Indian pharmaceutical company, the report said, describing the potential deal as transformative for Sun, significantly strengthening its presence in the US market.

Sun has engaged a European investment bank to structure a comprehensive financing package that could be presented to Organons board. Organon was spun out of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) in 2021 with an inherited debt load of $9.5 billion and has since pursued inorganic growth. Its $1.2 billion acquisition of Roivants immuno-dermatology arm Dermavant in September 2024 further stretched its balance sheet.

As of the end of the second quarter of 2025, Organons debt stood at $8.9 billion. The company has since been exploring asset sales to pare leverage.

Organons market capitalisation currently stands at $2.28 billion on the NYSE, with shares closing at $8.76 on Friday, well below the $17-$18 levels seen in November 2024. The stock has risen 28.1 per cent over the past month amid expectations of a sale, after plunging 20.9 per cent in late October following reports of sales malpractices. Then chief executive Kevin Ali stepped down shortly thereafter. Joseph Morrissey, executive vice president and head of manufacturing and supply, was appointed interim CEO as the company began its search for a permanent leader.

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For the third quarter of 2025, Organon reported revenue of $1.60 billion, up 1 per cent on an as-reported basis. Full-year revenue guidance was trimmed slightly to $6.20 billion, while adjusted EBITDA margin guidance was lowered to around 31 per cent. The company posted revenue of $6.4 billion and EBITDA of $1.95 billion in FY24.

Sun Pharma, which has a market capitalisation of about $45 billion, reported FY25 revenue of Rs 52,041 crore ( around $5.73 billion) and EBITDA of Rs 15,300 crore ( around $1.68 billion), up 17.3 per cent year-on-year. Sun has been in discussions with Organon since the US company intensified its divestment programme, the report said.

In November, Organon agreed to sell its JADA post-partum haemorrhage treatment system to Laborie Medical for up to $465 million as part of a strategic pivot away from womens health devices towards its core biopharma portfolio. Nexplanon remains Organons top-selling product, generating about $179 million in revenue in the second quarter of FY25.

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Valuation reset reopens talks

Earlier talks between the two companies stalled due to valuation concerns, but Sun has re-entered discussions following the sharp decline in Organons share price. It remains unclear whether Sun would pursue an all-cash deal or a mix of stock and cash, the report said.

There is no certainty that negotiations will culminate in a transaction, the report said, with some expecting competing bids to emerge.

Sun Pharma and Organon did not immediately respond to Firstposts request for comment.

Organon has told investors that from 2026 onwards it plans to expand core EBITDA, accelerate strategic growth drivers, maintain deal momentum and strengthen its R&D pipeline.

The company traces its scientific lineage to some of pharmas most important breakthroughs. Mercks blockbuster immuno-oncology drug Keytruda originated in Organons European research labs before Merck revived its development following the Schering-Plough acquisition in 2009. Keytruda now generates close to $30 billion in annual sales.

Sun, meanwhile, has doubled down on innovation-led growth. In 2025, it acquired Checkpoint Therapeutics for $416 million, gaining access to advanced immunotherapies for cancer. It has since launched Unloxcyt, strengthening its onco-dermatology franchise in the US.

In 2023, Sun acquired Concert Pharmaceuticals for $576 million, securing rights to deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi), a branded treatment for alopecia areata.

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If completed, the Organon deal would represent not just Sun Pharmas biggest bet yet, but a decisive statement of its ambition to reshape its global footprint.
A State Government Awardee with over two decades of contribution to Indian music, Gayatri Asokan is celebrated for her soulful ghazal and devotional renditions and her lyrical sensitivity as a performer

State Government Awardee and acclaimed vocalist Gayatri Asokan presents Dhun Ki Katha  The Story of Indian Melody, a distinctive audio-visual musical experience that traces the emotional, cultural, and historical journey of Indian music through time. The production brings together Gayatri Asokans evocative musical storytelling with a special collaboration featuring renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Ruchira Kedar.

Conceptualised and led by Gayatri Asokan, Dhun Ki Katha stands apart for its thoughtfully curated audio-visual narrative. Each segment of the performance is interlaced with visuals, anecdotes, and reflections that illuminate the origins, philosophies, and cultural roots of Indian classical music. These narrativesat times poetic, at times playfultransform every raga into a living chapter, inviting audiences to not just listen, but to deeply feel and experience the essence of Bharats rich musical heritage.

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A State Government Awardee with over two decades of contribution to Indian music, Gayatri Asokan is celebrated for her soulful ghazal and devotional renditions and her lyrical sensitivity as a performer. Widely respected for her versatility and emotional depth, she has collaborated with legendary musicians across genres and continues to shape meaningful musical experiences that bridge tradition and contemporary expression.

Joining her on this musical journey is Ruchira Kedar, one of Indias most respected Hindustani classical vocalists of the younger generation. A recipient of prestigious honours including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, Ruchira is known for her refined raga expression and deeply emotive renditions of Khayal, Thumri, Bhajan, and Dadra, adding classical depth and nuance to the production.

Dhun Ki Katha was born from a desire to explore the soul of Indian melody beyond genres,says Gayatri Asokan. It is about tracing emotions, histories, and shared cultural memories through music. For me, this collaboration is deeply personal, as it allows music to speak as a storytellergentle, honest, and timeless.

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Indian music carries centuries of wisdom, devotion, and emotion within every note, adds Ruchira Kedar. Dhun Ki Katha is our humble attempt to present this vast tradition as a living, breathing journeywhere classical ragas, poetry, and storytelling come together to connect deeply with todays audience.
Noah Schnapp was absent from Finn Wolfhards Saturday Night Live episode because he was at Milan Fashion Week. The shows Stranger Things parody sketch, particularly a joke about Will Byers coming-out scene, has drawn criticism from fans online.

Noah Schnapp was notably absent from the January 17 episode of Saturday Night Live where his Stranger Things co-star Finn Wolfhard was the host, a night that featured fellow cast members Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo.

According to People, Schnapp was not at the live show, or the after-party, because he was in Milan, Italy, attending Milan Fashion Week and appeared at the Ralph Lauren Mens Fall/Winter 2026 show on January 16, ahead of the New York broadcast.

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Stranger Things Reunion on SNL

Wolfhard made his hosting debut with a reflective monologue about growing up in the public eye, joined by Stranger Things co-stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo in a surprise appearance that celebrated their long-standing friendship and shared history.

In addition to the duo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton and Joe Keery were spotted at the shows after party following the live episode.

The trio also took part in a Stranger Things-themed parody during the episode, part of a larger sketch that spoofed fictional spinoffs and fan theories around the shows final season. However, not all viewers found the humour to their taste.

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Fan Backlash Over Parody Jokes

Some fans took to social media to criticise parts of the sketch, particularly material that referenced significant moments from the series. One segment drew attention for a line explaining Schnapps character, Will Byers, was absent because his coming out scene is still going on, a joke riffing on the length of a pivotal emotional moment in Season 5. Critics said that it felt insensitive and in poor taste.

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Comment on platforms such as Instagram included remarks like, Its unnecessary to make fun of Wills scene and How disrespectful to make fun of Wills coming out scene, with some viewers urging sensitivity around such moments in the show.

Who thought this was okay after all the homophobia from this scene?? pic.twitter.com/jk7MP9Xn6C  Stranger News (@StrangerNews11) January 18, 2026

The backlash was not uniform, with some fans defending SNLs approach as typical satire and pointing out that hosts and performers do not write the material they deliver. Regardless, the discussion highlighted how strongly many viewers feel about Stranger Things concluding season and how its emotional beats are remembered.

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Several countries, including India and Australia, have received an invitation to join Donald Trumps Board of Peace for Gaza. A $1 billion contribution reportedly secures permanent membership of this body, with the money being used to rebuild the enclave

At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trumps Board of Peace, a new body of world leaders meant to oversee the next steps in Gaza that shows ambitions for a broader mandate in global affairs. Two of the countries, Hungary and Vietnam, said they have accepted.

A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the Trump-led board instead of a three-year appointment, which has no contribution requirement, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter, which hasnt been made public. The official said the money raised would go to rebuilding Gaza.

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Which countries have received the invitation?

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accepted an invitation to join the board, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told state radio Sunday. Orban is one of Trumps most ardent supporters in Europe.

Vietnams Communist Party chief, To Lam, has accepted, a foreign ministry statement said.

India has received an invitation, a senior government official with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information hadnt been made public by authorities.

Honored to convey @POTUS invitation to Prime Minister @narendramodi to participate in the Board of Peace which will bring lasting peace to Gaza. The Board will support effective governance to achieve stability and prosperity! pic.twitter.com/HikLnXFFMp  Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) January 18, 2026

Australia has been invited and will talk it through with the US to properly understand what this means and whats involved, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday.

Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan said on Sunday they had received invitations. Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they were invited. It was not clear how many have been invited in all.

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The US is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Those on the board will oversee the next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire that took effect on October 10 moves into its challenging second phase. It includes a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.

Displaced Palestinians warm themselves around a fire at a tent camp in Gaza City. AP

In letters sent Friday to world leaders inviting them to be founding members, Trump said the Board of Peace would embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.

That could become a potential rival to the UN Security Council, the most powerful body of the global entity created in the wake of World War II. The 15-seat council has been blocked by US vetoes from taking action to end the war in Gaza, while the UNs clout has been diminished by major funding cuts by the Trump administration and other donors.

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Trump sends letters of invitation

Trumps invitation letters for the Board of Peace noted that the Security Council had endorsed the US 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, which includes the boards creation. The letters were posted on social media by some invitees.

The White House last week also announced an executive committee of leaders who will carry out the Board of Peaces vision, but Israel on Saturday objected that the committee was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy, without details. The statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office was a rare criticism of its close ally in Washington.

The executive committees members include US Secretary of State Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trumps deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, along with an Israeli business owner, billionaire Yakir Gabay.

Members also include representatives of ceasefire monitors Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. Turkey has a strained relationship with Israel but good relations with Hamas, and could play an important role in persuading the group to yield power in Gaza and disarm.
The World Economic Forums Annual Meeting 2026 will be held in Davos from today. It will be attended by 60 heads of state and governments, including Donald Trump. Natos Mark Rutte will meet Danish and Greeland leaders in Brussels amid the USs annexation threats to the Arctic island

Police officers stand behind a logo of the World Economy Forum in front of the Congress Center where the Annual Meeting Forum takes place in Davos, Switzerland, from Janauary 19 to January 23. AP

The 2026 World Economic Forum annual meeting will begin in Davos, Switzerland, today. This year, US President Donald Trump has confirmed his return to the summit, joining leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the European Unions Ursula von der Leyen.

In other news, Nato chief Mark Rutte is set to meet Denmarks Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, and Greenlands Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research, Vivian Motzfeldt, at Nato Headquarters in Brussels today. This comes amid renewed threats by Donald Trump to gain control of the Arctic island. On Saturday (January 17), Trump shocked Europe as he announced sanctions against several countries that reject any US claim to Greenland.

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Read this and more news updates lined up across the world for today.

WEFs annual meeting begins

All eyes will be on Davos as the World Economic Forums 2026 Annual Meeting begins from today until January 23. It will be attended by 60 heads of state, including US President Donald Trump, Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the EUs Ursula von der Leyen.

A total of 850 CEOs and chairs of the worlds top companies will be among the 3,000 participants from 130 countries expected in the Alpine resort this year, the forum says. From India, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are among Indias top delegation for the summit.

The theme of the five-day summit is A Spirit of Dialogue, focusing on cooperation in a contested world. Among various topics, the participants will debate geopolitics, quantum economy, green growth and the future of AI.

Trumps renewed threat to slap Europe with tariffs unless Greenland is handed over to the United States is set to cast a long shadow over WEF.

Nato chief to meet Danish and Greenland leaders

Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) chief Mark Rutte is set to meet Denmarks Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, and Greenlands Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research, Vivian Motzfeldt, at Nato Headquarters in Brussels amid the USs annexation threats to the Arctic island.

According to the blocs press service statement, On Monday, January 19 (Today), Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte will meet at Nato headquarters in Brussels with Denmarks Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlands Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt. No media access is planned.

The meeting comes two days after Trumps announcement to impose sanctions against several European countries that reject any US claim to Greenland.

The Greenlandic flag, Erfalasorput, waves at the H.C. Andersen Castle, also known as the Tivoli Castle, in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 8, 2026. Reuters

Japans Takaichi expected to call a snap election

In Japan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to provide more detailed plans to dissolve the lower house for a snap election today. Several media reports suggest that Takaichi is considering setting the election date for February 8.

After meeting with Takaichi last week, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party, Shunichi Suzuki, told reporters, We need to seek a fresh mandate, CNBC reported.

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi plans snap election, party official says. Reuters

One reason for dissolving parliament is that the previous election was under the LDPKomeito government; the public has not yet rendered a verdict on the change in our coalition partner, Suzuki said as quoted by the media publication. He also added that the prime minister will lay out her election plans at a press conference on Monday (January 19), which is today.

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CBIs summons to TVK chief Vijay

According to agency sources, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay again for questioning today in connection with the probe into the Karur stampede tragedy.

The probe agency recorded his statement for more than six hours on Monday (January 12, 2026). The agency wanted to continue the questioning on Tuesday (January 13); however, the TVK president requested another date due to Pongal. The Supreme Court, on Monday (January 12), ordered the CBI to take over the probe into the Karur stampede. The stampede took place during a political rally organised by actor-turned-politician Vijays party that claimed 41 lives, according to media reports.

With inputs from agencies
According to reports, thousands of people have taken to the streets to march against US President Donald Trumps quest for Greenland. In Nuuk, thousands, including Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, attended the islands largest protest, while in Copenhagen many wore red Make America Go Away hats

People attend a protest against US President Donald Trump's demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US, calling for it to be allowed to determine its own future. Reuters

As US President Donald Trump continues to threaten Greenland, its citizens are embracing a new slogan: Maga  Make America Go Away.

Trump has repeatedly claimed Greenland is vital to US security because of its strategic Arctic location and vast mineral deposits. He has not ruled out using force to take the island from Denmark, a fellow NATO member, and has even threatened tariffs on European nations as part of his pressure campaign.

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European nations have responded by deploying soldiers to Greenland and vowing retaliatory tariffs. Meanwhile, people in Denmark and Greenland have taken to the streets in protest.

Lets take a closer look:

Protests in Denmark, Greenland

According to reports, thousands of people marched against Trumps quest for Greenland. The Independent reported that at least 10,000 Danes gathered at Copenhagens City Hall Square. Many wore red hats reading Make America Go Away, a pointed parody of Trumps Make America Great Again caps. Some hats also carried the slogan Nu det NUUK  a reference to Greenlands capital, meaning Now its enough. The hats have reportedly sold out in Greenland.

Protesters chanted Greenland is not for sale and waved banners reading Hands off Greenland, alongside Danish and Greenlandic flags.

We have to support Greenland. We are Danes, Greenlanders are part of the Danish realm, and we have to stick together, protester Susanne Kristensen told NBC News. She added that she would not visit the United States while Trump remains in office.

Another protester, Almind, a 57-year-old military veteran, said he had never demonstrated before but felt compelled to act. Ive actually never done this before, but this is very important to me, he said. Reflecting on Denmarks past military cooperation with the US in Afghanistan and Iraq, he added: Looking back, you have to ask yourself, was it all worth it?

In Nuuk, Greenlands capital, Malik Dollerup-Scheibel attended what police described as the largest protest the city has ever seen, drawing nearly a quarter of Nuuks population. I thought this day couldnt get any worse, but it just did, he said. It shows he has no remorse for any kind of human being.

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Greenlands Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen waves a flag during a protest against US President Donald Trumps demand for the semi-autonomous territory. Reuters

Across the Danish realm  including Copenhagen and even Nunavut in northern Canada  solidarity marches were held. Danish protester Elise Riechie, holding Danish and Greenlandic flags, said: There are many small countries. None of them are for sale.

In Nuuk, Greenlanders of all ages marched to the consulate, listening to traditional songs. Marie Pedersen, a 47-year-old Greenlander, said she brought her children to show them they are allowed to speak up. Her nine-year-old daughter, Alaska, carried a handmade sign reading Greenland is not for sale. She said her teachers had explained Nato and taught them how to stand up to bullying  even by another country.

Tom Olsen, a police officer in Nuuk, said it was the biggest protest he had ever seen there. I hope it shows that we stand together in Europe. We are not going down without a fight.

Louise Lennert Olsen, a 40-year-old Greenlandic nurse, said her message was for the American people rather than Trump himself. I hope they will support our wish to remain Greenland as we are now. I hope they will stand against their own president. I cant believe they would just watch and do nothing.

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Others echoed the sentiment. Greenland is not a toy. This is our home, said civil servant Naja Holm. Julie Rademacher, chair of an organisation for Greenlanders in Denmark, added: We are sending a message to the world that you must wake up.

Greenland and US politicos react

Tillie Martinussen, a former Greenlandic MP, said she hoped the Trump administration would abandon what she called a crazy idea. She noted that US officials initially presented themselves as allies wanting to improve Greenlands prospects, but were now openly issuing threats. She added that preserving NATO unity and Greenlands autonomy mattered more than fears of tariffs, though she did not dismiss the potential economic impact.

The protests coincided with a visit by nearly a dozen US lawmakers. Democratic Senator Chris Coons said the delegation had come mainly to listen, adding that people in Denmark and Greenland were deeply anxious about statements from the White House, which he described as not constructive.

People attend a protest against U.S. President Donald Trumps demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US, calling for it to be allowed to determine its own future, in Nuuk, Greenland,. Reuters

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski warned against allowing the issue to become partisan. We must keep this from becoming a partisan matter, she said. That requires education, dismissing false assumptions, and acting together.

Trumps repeated statements about acquiring Greenland have triggered a diplomatic crisis between the US and Denmark, both founding NATO members, and have been widely condemned across Europe.

Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has enjoyed growing autonomy since 1979 but remains part of Denmark, which controls defence and foreign policy and funds much of the administration. Around 17,000 Greenlanders live in Denmark.

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While all parties in Greenlands parliament ultimately favour independence, they disagree on timing  and have recently stated they would rather remain part of Denmark than join the United States.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 17 per cent of Americans support Trumps efforts to acquire Greenland, with large majorities across both parties opposing the use of military force. Trump dismissed the poll as fake.

With inputs from agencies
Returning home from work on Friday night, Noida techie, Yuvraj Mehta, drowned after he lost control of his car and fell into a water-filled pit dug for a commercial site in Noida. The 27-year-old kept calling for help for over two hours, with the victims kin alleging he would have survived if authorities had acted in time

Twenty-seven-year-old Yuvraj Mehta died after his car collided with a drainage boundary and fell into a deep ditch in Noida. Image Courtesy: X

My son was struggling to save himself. He kept shouting help in the hopes that the public would save him. But most of the crowd was just watching.

This is the lament of a father, Rajkumar Mehta, after his 27-year-old son, a software engineer identified as Yuvraj Mehta, died after he lost control of his car, which then plunged into a deep, water-filled pit at a construction site in Greater Noida.

But what happened to Yuvraj? How did the 27-year Noida techie pass away? Was it a case of authorities apathy?

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Noida techies car plunges into 70-feet pit, drowns

On Friday night (January 16), 27-year-old Mehta, a resident of Tata Eureka Park society in Sector 150 was returning home from work  he was an employee of customer data science company Dunnhumby in Gurugram  when his car collided with a high-ground ridge that separates two adjacent drainage basins, and fell into a 70-feet-deep ditch filled with water.

Greater Noidas Additional Commissioner of Police, Hemant Upadhyay, told PTI that preliminary investigations suggest that poor visibility due to dense fog and overspeeding may have led to the accident, following which the car crossed a drain and fell into the pit.

Once the car plunged into the water-filled pit, Mehta, who didnt know swimming, managed to get out of his car, climbed onto its roof and even called his father and friend. On the call with his father, Mehta even said: Dad, Ive fallen into a deep pit filled with water. Im drowning. Please come and save me. I dont want to die.

Soon enough, local police, divers, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams arrived at the scene and initiated a rescue operation. And following a five-hour rescue effort, the techie and car were pulled out of the ditch. However, Mehta was declared dead.

A valiant but futile rescue attempt

After the Noida techie fell into the water-filled pit and began screaming for help, a Flipkart delivery agent, named Moninder, volunteered to help Mehta. The agent said he saw Mehta holding a torch and screaming for help.

He told NDTV that the fire brigade officials lacked the willpower to enter the drain at night. Realising Mehta was struggling to breathe, Moninder tied a rope around his waist and jumped inside the drain to try save him. However, Mehta had already died.

Police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel conduct a search operation after Yuvraj Mehta, the 27-year-old software engineer, died after his car went out of control and fell into a 20-feet-deep water-filled pit that was dug for the basement of an under-construction building, in Noida. PTI

Moninder later even told News18 that the authorities at the spot pretended to rescue Mehta, and it was him that jumped into the drain. I had to deliver an order around 1:40 am. When I reached the spot, I enquired about what was going on there. A few people told me that a man had been trapped in the pit since midnight. The police came here. They called the fire department, which got here within 15-20 minutes. The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) teams reached the site a bit late. However, despite having the required equipment and necessary safety materials, the mans car was floating on top of the water for about two hours. He kept pleading for help, which fell on deaf ears. There were over 100 men around, but no one stepped up to help him.

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He was further quoted as saying, They asked me if I knew how to swim. I agreed. However, I also asked them why nobody was going to help the man. I noticed that the fire department was fully equipped with fire safety jackets and a crane. The man was alive when the fire department was here. They could have saved him 100 per cent. They were well-equipped.

Mehtas grieving father criticises rescue efforts

Rajkumar Mehta was grief-stricken as he saw his techie son struggling for his life. Recounting the ordeal, the father alleged that his son remained alive for nearly two hours, crying for help, while most people at the spot were just watching and making videos.

My son was struggling to save himself. He kept repeating papa bachao, papa bachao every time we spoke on the phone. He was also shouting help, help so that general public might hear his cry for help, but most of the crowd was just watching. Some people were making videos, he told news agency ANI.

The grieving father further added, The incident took place around 12 am, and by 2.30, the signal stopped coming from my sons end. My son struggled for two hours to save his life. Had he been given little support, he might have survived.

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People gather during a search operation after the 27-year-old software engineer died after his car went out of control and fell into a water-filled pit that was dug for the basement of an under-construction building, in Noida. PTI

The Noida techies father also questioned the authorities preparedness in the rescue efforts. The SDRF team came around 3 am. It took two hours to prepare the boat to go inside. They came late. The boat that was supposed to help my son reached only after two hours to fetch his body, a heartbroken Rajkumar told News18, adding, They only had ropes which couldnt reach Yuvraj.

He alleged that there was negligence by the administration in this entire matter.

Rajkumar noted, He was my only son, his sister is in the UK. He had a bright future ahead. He had studied hard to clear his exams.

Police steps in after Noida techies death

Following the 27-year-olds death, an FIR has been registered against two builders  MJ Wishtown Planner Limited and Lotus Green Construction Private Limited  at the Knowledge Park police station.

On the complaint of the deceaseds father, a case at Knowledge Park police station under sections 105 (culpable homicide), 106 (causing death by negligence) and 125 (act endangering life) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered against the two builders who own the plot, Hemant Upadhyay, ACP, Greater Noida told Hindustan Times.

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The family of the Noida techie allege that the builders hadnt properly secured the plot with a boundary wall, fencing or reflectors, turning it into a death trap. The FIR states, There was no barricading reflector around the plot, which caused the incident. There was serious negligence on the part of the builders.

The techies father even added that the spot had long been a hazard and repeated warnings to the Noida Authority had gone unheeded.

Residents of the area have added that a similar accident took place around 10 days ago when a truck driver hit the same drain wall. Despite that no action was taken, resulting in Fridays tragic incident.

With inputs from agencies
A new survey, conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations, shows that Donald Trumps Make America Great Again approach has benefited China to a great extent. The public is of the opinion that the Asian giant will wield greater global influence in the coming decade

Donald Trump did not win a second term as US president to make China great, but that is exactly what he has done in the past year, states a survey for the European Council on Foreign Relations. His Make America Great Again approach is actually helping China become greater, notes the survey.

The survey, which included about 26,000 participants across 21 countries, showed that most people believe China will wield greater global influence in the coming decade. A year on from Trumps return, in countries across the globe, many people believe China is on the verge of becoming even more powerful, the report stated.

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According to the think tank, the US under Trump is perceived as less feared by traditional adversaries, while relations with allies, particularly in Europe, have weakened. It further noted that Russians consider the European Union as more of a threat than the US, while Ukrainians are looking more to Brussels than to Washington for support.

Heres how.
The US has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, additional F-15 jets to Jordan, and cargo aircraft to the Diego Garcia military base on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. This, as Iran reports over 3,900 protester deaths and more than 24,000 arrests

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is shown at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, US, August 11, 2025. File Image/Reuters

While Washington has not formally announced any plans for direct military action against Iran, a significant buildup of United States forces across strategic locations, coupled with US President Donald Trumps increasingly hostile language toward Irans leadership, is raising questions about a potential surprise attack in the region.

This comes as Iran continues to deal with the aftermath of one of its deadliest waves of domestic protests in decades, resulting in thousands of deaths.

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Iranian leaders have blamed foreign powers, particularly the United States and Israel, for fuelling unrest, while Trump has repeatedly condemned Tehrans leadership for its handling of protesters.

How is the US reinforcing its military presence?

The United States Armed Forces have expanded their operational footprint across multiple regions connected to West Asia, signalling a heightened state of readiness.

One of the most significant developments has been the movement of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group toward the US Central Commands area of responsibility.

The carrier, along with two destroyers  USS Spruance and USS Michael Murphy  has reached the Strait of Malacca, a vital maritime corridor between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Military planners expect the group to enter CENTCOM-controlled waters within five to seven days, strengthening American naval capabilities in the broader region.

In parallel, the US Air Force has deployed additional fighter aircraft. At least 12 F-15 jets have arrived in Jordan within a 24-hour period, and more fighter aircraft are believed to be en route.

Cargo planes have also been landing at the US military base on Diego Garcia, indicating the movement of supplies and personnel to support potential operations.

American officials told The Jerusalem Post that all options are now on the table, explaining that Washingtons goal is to assemble a force structure that gives Trump flexibility should he decide to act against Iran.

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Israeli leaders have also been closely monitoring the situation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened senior members of Israels defence establishment to review regional developments.

Israeli officials believe that a US strike on Iran is still an option, reflecting continued concern over Tehrans behaviour and the possibility of military escalation.

However, Trump reportedly cancelled a planned attack earlier in the week after being briefed on operational limitations.

Following a 12-day war in June, many US assets had been redeployed to the Caribbean and East Asia, reducing immediate strike capacity in West Asia.

Complicating matters further, several Arab states reportedly informed Washington that they would not permit US aircraft to use their territory as launch points for attacks on Iran. These diplomatic constraints narrowed Americas tactical options.

During a phone call with Trump, Netanyahu also warned that Israel was not adequately prepared to defend itself against an Iranian response to a US strike without substantial American military support in the region.

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What have Trump and Khamenei said?

Trump publicly called for leadership change in Iran, framing Tehrans political system as the root cause of the countrys instability.

Speaking to Politico on Saturday, Trump stated, Its time to look for new leadership in Iran.

Earlier, Trump had encouraged Iranians to continue protesting and urged them to take over institutions, saying that help is on its way.

The following day, however, Trump struck a different tone, saying he had been informed that executions of detainees had been halted. Referring to Iranian authorities decision to postpone mass hangings, he remarked, The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago.

Meanwhile, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei used social media to accuse Trump of fueling unrest in Iran. In a series of posts on X, he wrote, We find the US President guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation.

He also criticised Trump for portraying violent groups as representatives of the Iranian people, calling it an appalling slander.

After being shown Khameneis posts, Trump responded with a harsh critique of Irans leadership, What he is guilty of, as the leader of a country, is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before.

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Trump added, Leadership is about respect, not fear and death. In further remarks, he personally denounced Khamenei, saying, The man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people.

His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership.

Khamenei, in a recent public address, claimed that the Iranian nation has defeated America.

How many people died in Iran?

Irans current crisis was triggered by protests that began in December, initially sparked by economic grievances in Tehrans Grand Bazaar. What started as demonstrations over rising costs and financial hardship quickly evolved into broader political protests calling for an end to clerical rule.

The unrest spread across the country, drawing participants from different generations and social backgrounds  including shopkeepers, students, men and women, and citizens from both lower- and higher-income groups.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 3,919 people were killed during the crackdown. Another Iranian official told Reuters that the death toll had reached at least 5,000, including around 500 members of the security forces.

HRANA also confirmed 24,669 arrests, with thousands of additional cases under review. The scale of the violence exceeds that of any previous protest movement in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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Iranian authorities have not released a comprehensive official death toll. However, Khamenei acknowledged that several thousand people had died, blaming terrorists and rioters linked to the United States and Israel for the casualties.

Despite the relative calm on the streets in recent days, discontent has not disappeared.

Residents in cities such as Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan were reported to have shouted anti-Khamenei slogans from their windows at night, their chants echoing through neighbourhoods.

The government also imposed strict internet restrictions beginning on January 8.

Although limited services were briefly restored, many Iranians remained unable to access international platforms, with email services still blocked and most online access restricted to domestic websites.

Will Iran resume executions?

While protests have diminished, Iranian authorities have suggested that judicial action against detainees may continue. Officials indicated that people arrested during the unrest could still face capital punishment.

Irans judiciary spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, explained that certain offences fall under the category of Mohareb, which carries the death penalty under Iranian law.

Mohareb, which translates to waging war against God, is one of the most serious charges in Irans legal system.

Iranian officials told Reuters that the verified death toll from the protests was unlikely to increase sharply, while again blaming Israel and armed groups abroad for supporting demonstrators.

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Human rights groups continue to monitor developments, warning that Irans judiciary may still proceed with executions as a means of deterring future unrest.

What will Iran do if US strikes?

Iranian leaders have stated that any military action by the United States would provoke a strong response. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a direct warning via social media, stating that Tehran would not tolerate foreign aggression.

He wrote, Any unjust aggression will be harsh and regrettable. Pezeshkian also stated that targeting Irans top leadership would be considered an act of war. Any attack on the countrys supreme leader is tantamount to an all-out war against the nation.

In a separate message, the Iranian president blamed longstanding enmity and inhumane sanctions imposed by the US and its allies for the hardships facing the Iranian people.

Khamenei echoed similar sentiments, branding Trump a criminal for supporting the protests and accusing Washington of being responsible for the bloodshed.

What kind of military action can the US be looking at?

Former US ambassador to Israel and ex-deputy assistant secretary of defence Dan Shapiro suggested that Trump may be seeking a dramatic military action to reinforce his earlier promises to Iranian protesters.

Shapiro told The Jerusalem Post, Trump called for the Iranian people to go to the streets, promising he would be with them.

But when the regime killed thousands, no price was paid because the US lacked the necessary forces in the region at the time. He noted that the renewed US military presence now provides Washington with more operational flexibility.

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Shapiro also speculated on what kind of action Trump might consider. What would be big and dramatic and allow him to say he fulfilled his promise? It would be to eliminate the supreme leader.

However, he cautioned that such a move would not guarantee meaningful political change inside Iran. He doesnt want to be pulled into a long regime-change war, Shapiro said.

Eliminating Khamenei is dramatic, but it wouldnt necessarily change the regime. You would likely see the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) take over, at least for a time.

With inputs from agencies
Pakistans Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif grabbed the limelight at her sons wedding even before the brides outfits started an online chatter. Some criticised the politician for overshadowing Shanzeh Ali Rohail, who married Maryams son Junaid Safdar recently

A high-profile Pakistani political wedding is grabbing eyeballs online  for the outfits of not just the bride and the groom but also the mother-in-law. Pakistans Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is being ridiculed on social media for her attire choices at her sons wedding.

Her son, Junaid Safdar, recently tied the knot with Shanzeh Ali Rohail in a lavish ceremony in Lahore. Soon, the pictures of the wedding went viral but not just for the right reasons.

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We take a closer look.

Why Maryam Nawaz Sharif is being trolled online

CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif has gained attention on social media for her extravagant wardrobe at her sons wedding.

Even before the netizens remarked on the brides outfit, her mother-in-laws attire had already become a topic of conversation.

For the mehendi ceremony, the Punjab CM opted for a yellow and orange lehenga.

She wore a traditional mint-green outfit with pink border for the wedding.

As pictures from the celebrations emerged online, Maryams appearance drove the online chatter.

While some lauded her style, others accused her of overshadowing the bride.

Maryam Nawaz and her never-ending obsession to dress up/act as a bride, one user wrote.

Maryam Nawaz and her never ending obsession to dress up/act as a bride  pic.twitter.com/8LNoM5e6iE  SK (@_stkhan) January 17, 2026

Another commented, Maryam Nawaz looks more beautiful than the bride.

She did it to the first bahu and now shes doing it again. Self-obsessed, pathetic log, another chimed.

A fourth user wrote, Thats the thing. The most important person in a wedding is the bride. Absolutely no one should wear better clothes than the bride. Another comment read, So why this nani amma is dressed like a dulhan?

Junaid Safdar is the son of Maryam Sharif and the grandson of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Shanzay Ali Rohail, the bride, is the granddaughter of Sheikh Rohail Asghar, a senior politician and close ally of the Sharif family.

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Bride faces flak over her outfits

The brides outfits were also scrutinised by social media users who questioned her choice of wearing Indian designers for the celebration.

At the mehendi ceremony, held at the Sharif familys Jati Umra residence in Lahore, the bride donned an emerald green lehenga by renowned Indian fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. The deep green lehenga boasted jewel-toned patches and heavy gold embroidery.

The lehenga featured contrasting colour panels, accompanied by forest green and rose-colored dupattas.

For the nikah ceremony, Shanzay wore a dark red saree by another Indian designer, Tarun Tahiliani. She paired the saree with a red dupatta draped over her head.

The nikah on Saturday was attended by Nawaz Sharifs younger brother and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, as per NDTV.

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Many accused her of favouring Indian designers over Pakistani talent, especially given her connection to the countrys prominent political family. While some defended Shanzehs right to choose her attire, others questioned her decision given the current climate of patriotism and support for local talent.

The brides choice of Indian designers divided the opinion on the internet. Some pointed out that Pakistani designers could have created something more representative of their culture.

A user wrote, HSY, Nomi Ansari, Khadijah Shah, Zara Shahjahan, Faiza Saqlain, Bunto Kazmi, and Faraz Manan, Saira Shakira, Maria B., Sania Maskatiya, and Erum Khan. But they went with an Indian designer. Wow.

Very mid. Im sure Pakistani designers could have made her something more Pakistani, but well, another wrote.

But not all were critical of the brides pick of outfits for her big day.

Others said that fashion should transcend borders and noted that many Indian celebrities and brides also wear Pakistani designers, including Faraz Manan or Mohsin Naveed Ranjha.

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A user commented, To everyone criticizing her choice, Im sure the outfit you chose for yourself at your wedding or in daily life isnt liked by everyone. Its 2026, can we all grow up and stop criticizing brides for wearing whatever they want at their own wedding, paid for by themselves/their family?

This is not the first time a Pakistani high-profile figure is facing scrutiny for their wardrobe choice at a wedding. In December 2024, Maryam Nawaz faced backlash for wearing Sabyasachi at her nephew Zayd Hussain Nawaz Sharifs nikah.

With inputs from agencies
Donald Trump is upping the ante on Greenland; he has threatened to impose a 10 per cent tariff on eight European nations in his quest for the semi-autonomous Danish territory. What has been Europes response to the US presidents move? A trade war is looming with severe repercussions for both sides

A man holds a map of Greenland covered in the American flag crossed out with an X during a protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. AP

In 2019, Donald Trump first mentioned purchasing Greenland and making it a part of the United States. Now, six years later, Europeans are realising how serious he is about acquiring it by any means necessary.

In fact, on Saturday (January 17), in an extraordinary escalation, the US president announced new tariffs on eight European nations  Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Great Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands  starting from February 1 until he is able to buy the semi-autonomous Danish territory. That tariff will then increase from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on June 1.

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This, in turn, has led Europe to collectively rebuke Trump, with the leaders of the eight countries saying that they stood in full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. The European Union is also weighing up retaliatory tariffs on American goods and even deploying its most serious economic sanctions against the US, with Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen saying Europe wont be blackmailed.

If you are still left wondering whats going on, we break it down for you.

What is Trumps tariff threat over Greenland?

Over the weekend, Donald Trump resorted to his favourite negotiating tactic  of levying tariffs  against Europe in his quest to acquire Greenland. The US president noted on his social media platform that he has subsidised Denmark and other European Union countries by not charging them tariffs.

Now, after centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back  world peace is at stake! China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.

He added that the national security of the United States, and the world at large, is at stake.

US President Donald Trump Donald Trump has threatened eight European countries  Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Great Britain, France and Germany and the Netherlands  with a 10 per cent tariff on all goods coming into the United States from February 1 until he is able to buy Greenland. File image/Reuters

The US president wrote on Truth Social that starting February 1, the countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will be charged a 10 per cent tariff on all their exports to the US.

Moreover, that tariff would increase to 25 per cent on June 1. This tariff will be due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland, Trump wrote.

Trump additionally wrote: The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years. Many presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused.

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Why is Trump so keen on acquiring Greenland?

The tariff announcement by Trump is just the latest chapter in the US presidents attempt to acquire Greenland.

In his second term in office, Trump has renewed his desire for the resource-rich Greenland, especially after Americas capture of Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro. Greenland is rich in minerals, including most of the EUs listed critical raw materials. Moreover, it is strategically located  its location offers the shortest air and sea routes between North America and Europe, making it vital for US military operations and missile early-warning systems. Washington has also sought more radar coverage around the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap to monitor Russian and Chinese movements.

Earlier, the White House noted that the Trump administration was exploring all options to acquire Greenland, with even a military choice being considered.

Danish soldiers take pictures next to the statue of Hans Egede, at Nuuks old harbour, Greenland. Reuters

How has Europe reacted to Trumps tariffs over Greenland?

Its not a surprise that Europe has collectively rebuked Donald Trump for pushing transatlantic ties to the brink. The leaders collectively issued a statement on Sunday, following Trumps tariff announcement. In the statement, the leaders of the eight countries underscored their commitment to shared Nato goals, saying that they stood in full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. They also reaffirmed their willingness to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to President Trumps repeated threats to take control of Greenland.

The eight Nato countries said that Trumps proposed tariffs undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

As members of Nato, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest, the leaders said. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise Arctic Endurance conducted with Allies, responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone.

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Apart from the collective statement, European leaders also condemned Trumps tariff move. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel both labelled Trumps plan as blackmail, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said a US invasion of Greenland would make Putin the happiest man on Earth.

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer also had a phone call with Trump, telling him that levying tariffs would be wrong. Following the phone call, a representative of Starmers office said that the UK PM had told Trump that security in the high north is a priority for all Nato allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.

He also said that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the tariffs unacceptable. No intimidation nor threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations, he said.

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And its not just the leaders who have expressed their opposition to Trumps tariff plan. Ordinary citizens carried out large protests in Denmark and Greenland against the US president, with many expressing their support for Maga  Make America Go Away.

People march during a pro- Greenlanders demonstration, in Copenhagen, Denmark. AP

What is Europes plan to counter Trumps tariffs?

Apart from issuing a verbal condemnation of Trumps tariff plan, Europe is also reportedly coming up with a way to retaliate against the United States.

One of the options that Europe is looking at deploying against Trump and the US is to deploy its Anti-Coercion Instrument, the EUs so-called trade bazooka  a powerful trade retaliation tool that was originally conceived to fend off bullying from China and that would allow Europe to impose tariffs and investment limits against offending nations. Notably, its never been triggered before and using it against Washington would have been previously unthinkable.

News agency Reuters has also reported that Europe is looking to impose 93 billion of previously announced retaliatory tariffs against the United States that were delayed when the EU and US reached a tentative trade truce in July last year.

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As Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, was quoted by CNN as saying: At least judging from the first reactions, some European leaders are willing to play hardball. For businesses, the developments over the weekend mean another period of uncertainty around investments in and exports to the US.

Theres also another option that is being looked at  diplomacy. Trump has said the new tariffs will kick in on February 1. This gives Europe enough time to negotiate with the US president. In fact, the American leader has repeatedly threatened tariffs against countries, only to then delay, reduce or quietly scrap them.

As Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, who is also believed to be a close ally of Trump, said: I dont think the issue here is to create an escalation. I believe it is rather to try to engage in dialogue.

A protester takes part in a demonstration to show support for Greenland in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reuters

What comes next?

Its hard to predict the next steps in this tension. Previously, Trump has announced tariffs, only to cancel them or to pause them. Moreover, Trump is expected to travel to the World Economic Forum in Switzerlands Davos this week, where he will meet the leaders of France, Germany, the Netherlands and other Nato members. Theres hope that this face-to-face will help calm the tensions down.

Its left to be seen if Europe can get Trump to change his mind and hope that he climbs down the Greenland ladder.

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With inputs from agencies
US President Donald Trump has proposed a US-led Board of Peace to oversee Gazas post-war governance, reconstruction and security. India is among several countries invited to join the initiative, which forms part of Trumps 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan endorsed by the UN Security Council

United States President Donald Trump has formally launched a new international initiative aimed at reshaping Gazas political future following more than two years of devastating war.

The centrepiece of this effort is a proposed governing body called the Board of Peace, which is intended to oversee Gazas post-war administration, economic recovery, and long-term stability.

India is among several countries that have been invited to participate in this US-led framework, as Washington seeks broad international backing for its 20-point Comprehensive Plan to end the conflict and manage Gazas transition away from Hamas rule.

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The White House says the initiative will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the Presidents plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilising international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development.

What is Trumps Gaza Board of Peace?

The concept of the Board of Peace forms a core element of Trumps wider ceasefire proposal for Gaza.

The 20-point Comprehensive Plan was first announced in September last year and, according to Trump, has since received backing from leaders across the Arab world, Israel, and Europe.

The United Nations Security Council formally endorsed the framework through Resolution 2803 in November.

In a letter shared by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Sunday, Trump described the initiative as the moment when earlier diplomatic ambitions would finally be put into action.

Now it is time to turn all of these Dreams into reality. At the heart of the Plan is The Board of Peace, the most impressive and consequential Board ever assembled, which will be established as a new International Organization and Transitional Governing Administration, the letter as seen by Firstpost, read.

Trump said the new body would function both as an international organisation and as a transitional governing authority for Gaza.

The Board of Peace is expected to focus on rebuilding civil institutions, restoring governance capacity, mobilising investment, and guiding Gazas economic recovery after widespread destruction.

According to the White House, the board will serve as the central strategic authority overseeing Gazas transition. Trump himself will chair the body and retain veto power over its decisions, giving the US president significant influence over its direction.

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The initiative is also tied to the second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire process.

US envoy Steve Witkoff recently launched phase two of the plan, which deals with complex issues such as Gazas reconstruction, the future disarmament of Hamas, and the deployment of an international security force.

While Washington presents the Board of Peace as a roadmap toward stability and prosperity, many have pointed out that Palestinians have not been included in the top decision-making tier.

How will the three-tier governance structure work?

The White House has outlined a three-level system to manage Gazas transition. At the top sits the US-led Board of Peace, also referred to as the Founding Executive Council. This group controls funding, sets strategic priorities, and has final authority over major decisions.

The council is chaired by Trump and includes several figures closely aligned with his administration or known for their pro-Israel positions. Confirmed members are:

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff

Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law

Billionaire financier Marc Rowan

World Bank President Ajay Banga

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair

Robert Gabriel Jr, US Deputy National Security Adviser

Rubio has been one of the Trump administrations strongest supporters of Israel and has previously stated that critics of Israel would not be granted US visas.

He has also described the recognition of Palestinian statehood by Western countries as a reckless decision that only serves Hamas propaganda.

Witkoff, a New York-based real estate developer, has been responsible for ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.

He was accused last year of abandoning talks after blaming Hamas for blocking an agreement, a claim disputed by Hamas official Basem Naim, who said Witkoff was serving the Israeli position.

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Kushner has previously argued that Palestinians are incapable of self-governance and once referred to Gaza as having very valuable waterfront property. He was also a key architect of the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states.

Marc Rowan, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, has funded pro-Israel advocacy organisations and supported the Israeli-American Council.

Ajay Banga, nominated to the World Bank presidency by Trump, previously held senior roles at General Atlantic and Mastercard.

Tony Blair, who supported the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, remains a controversial figure in West Asia.

In addition to these figures, two strategic advisers have been appointed:

Aryeh Lightstone, associated with the Abraham Accords and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid organisation accused of serious mismanagement that allegedly contributed to the deaths of Palestinians seeking food.

Josh Gruenbaum, linked to previous proposals to turn Gaza into a Middle East Riviera, prioritising real estate development over refugee rights.

Below the Founding Executive Council sits the Gaza Executive Board.

This body is responsible for coordinating governance and reconstruction efforts on the ground and includes representatives from regional powers and international organisations. Its members are:

Steve Witkoff

Jared Kushner

Turkeys Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi

Egyptian intelligence chief General Hassan Rashad

Tony Blair

Marc Rowan

UAE Minister Reem Al-Hashimy

Nickolay Mladenov

Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay

UN humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag

The White House said this board will help support effective governance and ensure the delivery of essential services in Gaza.

At the bottom of the hierarchy is the only Palestinian-led body: the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).

This 12-member technocratic team is led by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister, and is tasked with managing key civilian sectors.

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The NCAG includes specialists responsible for:

Economy & Trade: Engineer Aed Abu Ramadan

Agriculture: Abdel Karim Ashour

Health: Dr Aed Yaghi

Housing & Lands: Engineer Osama al-Saadawi

Justice: Adnan Abu Warda

Interior & Internal Security: Major General Sami Nasman

Municipalities & Water: Ali Barhoum

Finance: Bashir Al-Rayyes

Social Affairs: Hana Tarazi

Education: Jabr Al-Daour

Telecommunications: Engineer Omar Al-Shamali

The appointment of Major General Nasman to oversee internal security places a veteran figure in charge of policing.

However, questions remain about how much authority the NCAG will actually wield, given the parallel presence of US-led forces and the dominance of the Board of Peace at the top.

Alongside the civilian governance structure, a military component has also been established. US General Jasper Jeffers has been appointed commander of the International Stabilisation Force, with a mandate that includes permanent disarmament.

Which other countries have been invited?

Apart from India, other countries that have received invitations include Argentina, Canada, Egypt, Turkey, Albania, Cyprus, and Pakistan.

Pakistans foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that the prime minister had received the invitation and added that Islamabad would continue supporting international efforts for peace and security in Gaza.

Several world leaders have publicly acknowledged being invited to join the initiative. These include:

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama

Argentine President Javier Milei

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Jordans King Abdullah II

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Romanian President Nicusor Dan

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides

Trump has also invited the leaders of Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan to help oversee Gazas post-war transition, however, it remains unclear which of these leaders have formally accepted their invitations.

Neither Erdogan nor Sisi has confirmed their participation, and there has been no official word on the status of several other invitees.

Bloomberg has reported that the Trump administration is asking countries to contribute at least $1 billion to become permanent members of the Board of Peace. Nations that opt for non-permanent membership would not be required to pay this fee.

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A draft charter reportedly gives Trump authority over membership decisions, renewals, and final approvals.

Why is Israel objecting to Trumps picks?

Despite the US-led nature of the initiative, Israel has raised concerns about the composition of the new governing bodies, particularly the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar in the Gaza Executive Board.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said that the formation of the executive committee was not coordinated with Israel. Netanyahu also instructed Israels foreign minister to contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the issue.

Israeli media reported that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a return to full war and voluntary migration instead of handing Gazas future to a board that includes Turkey.

Former National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror expressed similar concerns, warning that allowing Turkiye  led by a government sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood  into Gaza is a strategic error that would strengthen Hamas.

Israel has also objected more broadly to the White Houses choice of world leaders involved in the initiative, saying some appointments were contrary to its policy, though it did not specify which figures it opposed.

What next for Gaza?

While diplomatic manoeuvring continues, conditions inside Gaza remain dire.

Most of Gazas population is living in damaged buildings or makeshift tents that offer little protection from winter weather. During recent cold spells, some Palestinians reportedly died from hypothermia.

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The war, which has lasted more than two years, has left much of Gazas infrastructure in ruins. Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have destroyed large parts of the territory, and bulldozers have flattened entire neighbourhoods.

More than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict.

The US-drafted ceasefire plan has now entered its second phase, which includes several unresolved and sensitive issues. These include:

The disarmament of Hamas

The reconstruction of Gaza

The deployment of an international security force

Hamas has not yet agreed to disarm, and the composition of the international security force remains unclear.

While the White House frames the initiative as a path toward reconstruction and prosperity, many observers note that Palestinians have little influence over the strategic decisions shaping their future.

Trumps Board of Peace represents one of the most ambitious international interventions in Gazas governance in decades.

The inclusion of wealthy financiers, former Western leaders, and pro-Israel officials at the top has fuelled debate about whose interests the plan ultimately serves.

With inputs from agencies
Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Polands Deputy Prime Minister Radosaw Sikorski in New Delhi, urging zero tolerance for terrorism and reviewing bilateral cooperation, trade, and strategic ties, while also sharing Indias position on the RussiaUkraine war

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday outlined Indias concerns on terrorism, global scrutiny and international cooperation during delegation-level talks with Polands Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski. (X)

Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has appealed to Poland to adopt a strict stance against terrorism and avoid aiding any infrastructure that could fuel it in Indias neighbourhood.

Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the longstanding challenges of crossborder terrorism. Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood, Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.

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He made the remarks during a meeting with Polands Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski in New Delhi on Monday.

Opening remarks during meeting with DPM & FM @sikorskiradek of Poland.



  https://t.co/XVG4WhmFxY  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 19, 2026

Jaishankar said that both countries were meeting at a time when the world was experiencing considerable churn, with security and regional issues high on the agenda. He stressed the importance of exchanging views given the differing challenges faced by India and Poland in their respective regions.

Strategic partnership and trade on the table

The talks werent just about security. Jaishankar also noted the steady progress in IndiaPoland ties over the years and underscored their growing strategic partnership. The two sides planned to review the Action Plan 202428, which aims to strengthen cooperation on trade, investment, defence, security, clean technology, and digital innovation.

Poland, Jaishankar said, is one of Indias largest trading partners in Central Europe. Bilateral trade currently stands at about $7 billion, having nearly tripled in the last decade, and Indian investments in Poland have topped $3 billion, creating jobs and opportunities for Polish workers.

Our bilateral relationship has also progressed steadily but nevertheless needs constant tending, Jaishankar added, reflecting on the historic and peopletopeople ties between the countries.

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Ukraine conflict views reiterated

The two ministers also discussed broader global developments. Jaishankar reiterated Indias position on the RussiaUkraine conflict, pointing to what he described as unfair and unjustified selective targeting of India because of its stance. In the recent past I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today, he said.

Sikorski, for his part, expressed appreciation for the invitation and noted Polands commitment to deepening ties. He spoke about attending the Jaipur Literature Festival and said he had visited India many times before, but this was his first trip since the two countries established a strategic partnership.

The Polish leader also echoed the need to combat transnational terrorism and spoke about his countrys own experiences with attacks on infrastructure. I completely agree with you on the need to counter transnational trans border terrorism. Poland has been a victim of arsons and attempted, state terrorism he said.

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Donald Trump is worried about the prospect of being impeached by the House of Representatives if the Republicans lose control of the House in the November 2026 Congressional elections.

Two issues terrify US President Donald Trump. One, full disclosure of the Epstein Files. Two, the upcoming midterm elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Only a fraction of emails, texts and notes  all heavily redacted from paedophile Epstein have been released so far by the Trump administrations Department of Justice (DoJ).

Epstein died in prison in 2019 of suspected suicide. Trump says he snapped ties with Epstein when he discovered his criminal use of underage girls. But a full account of Trumps frequent social meetings with Epstein could alienate his MAGA base which has been demanding complete disclosure of the Epstein documents.

The second issue that worries Trump is the prospect of being impeached by the House of Representatives if the Republicans lose control of the House in the November 2026 Congressional elections.

Trump has already been impeached twice but it could be different this time around. Republicans hold a razor-thin majority of two seats in the House. With Trumps opinion poll numbers plunging, the likelihood of the House falling to the Democrats is real.

Unlike other midterm years, the full 435-member House is up for re-election in 2026. In previous Congressional midterm elections, the incumbent party has invariably lost seats to the Opposition. With a slender two-seat majority Republicans are staring at defeat and the prospect of Trump losing control of his agenda, especially on intervention in foreign wars which the America First movement despises.

In the Senate, Trumps 53-47 majority might be whittled down to 51-49  or worse. Losing both the House and the Senate would spell the beginning of the end of the Trump era.

Trump cant stand for a third term. He has taken top legal advice on how he can circumvent the 22nd amendment to the US Constitution that prohibits a third presidential term. He has been told bluntly that he cant.

If Trump is impeached again, he could face legal jeopardy when his term as president ends in January 2029. Trump can pardon himself but could still face legal challenges. If the full Epstein files are released, criminal charges would follow. Whether a presidential self-pardon can grant Trump immunity is debatable.

Trumps foreign and domestic policies have meanwhile succeeded in disrupting the historic relationship between Europe and the US while alienating a part of both his MAGA base and independent voters aghast at the violent tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Trumps aggressive push to take over Greenland from fellow-NATO member Denmark could further scar NATO and US-Europe ties.

According to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Trumps threat to attack Greenland is a ploy to distract attention from the real issues that his administration faces: The cost of living is a real concern for Americans and Donald Trump got elected saying he was going to address the cost of living. He was going to address domestic issues, he was going to end forever wars, and hes not done any of that, so people are frustrated with him.

Also, as you may have followed the Epstein files, the paedophile in the US, its been quite an issue, particularly in the Republican party and among Donald Trumps followers. And you know Trump is a master of having a problem over here and saying Oh no, dont pay attention to this problem. Look over here at this shiny object that I want people to focus on.

The US Supreme Court is scheduled to pass a ruling on Trumps trade tariffs. The chances of the verdict going against Trumps arbitrary tariffs are high. In that event, the US treasury would legally have to refund an estimated $150 billion which US Customs has collected against tariffs since they came into force last year. Since the tariffs were paid by US importers, who passed on part of the cost to US consumers, refunds will be a logistical nightmare.

For Trump it would be a stinging rebuke. US officials say they have other means to impose trade tariffs. But these have only temporary validity.

As CNBC TV18 reported: Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 gives the president the power to use tariffs to regulate the import of goods on national security grounds. Theres no cap on the level of the duties or their duration.

But these tariffs cant be imposed instantly  the president can only act after an investigation by the Commerce Department determines that importing these products threatens to impair national security. After a probe is initiated, the Commerce Secretary must report the conclusions to the president within 270 days. Unlike the blanket tariffs Trump imposed, Section 232 is designed to be applied to imports in individual sectors, rather than from entire countries.

There are several other sections under the Trade Act of 1962 that allow the president to impose tariffs. None of these sections authorise the president to impose the arbitrary tariffs Trump has.

Trump set himself up as the peace president who stopped eight wars. But the two biggest wars continue to rage: Ukraine and Gaza. To the mix has been added Venezuela, Iran, Greenland, Cuba and Colombia. Instead of stopping wars, Trump could end up as the US president who started more wars than any other in modern history.

While further disclosure of the Epstein files could hobble his presidency, the November 2026 Congressional midterm elections remain Trumps biggest worry. Losing control of the House will have existential consequences.

The US has not been this divided since the 1861-65 Civil War over slavery. The White supremacist government that Trump has assembled could meet the same electoral fate in 2026 as the White supremacist slave owners did in the 19th century Civil War.

(The writer is an editor, author and publisher. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.)
After Australia banned social media for under-16s, countries including France and Britain are weighing similar restrictions. Supporters suggest that this move could protect childrens mental health, while critics warn evidence remains inconclusive.

Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Kick, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Reddit, Threads and X applications are displayed on a mobile phone, in this picture illustration. File Image/Reuters

After Australia imposed ban on social media for children below 16, likewise countries including France and Britain are considering banning some children and teenagers from social media, but some experts are still locked in a debate over the effectiveness of the move.

Supporters suggest that action needs to be taken against the teenagers amid deteriorating mental health but critics say that the evidence is inconclusive and a more nuanced approach should be taken.

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Australia last month became the first nation to prohibit people under-16s from using immensely popular and profitable social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and YouTube.

Social media causes mental illness

France is currently discussing the bill for a similar social media ban under 15 years of age, including one championed by President Emmanuel Macron.

The Guardian reported last week that Jonathan Haidt, an American psychologist and supporter of the Australian ban, had been asked to speak to UK government officials.

Rewires childrens brains

Haidt argued in his bestselling 2024 book The Anxious Generation that too much time looking at screens  particularly social media  was rewiring childrens brains and causing an epidemic of mental illness.

There is also plenty of evidence that use of social media does harm to teens, he said, adding that some were demanding an unrealistic level of proof.

French psychiatrist Serge Tisseron is among those who have long warned about the huge threat that screens pose to health.

In recent years, the debate has become extremely polarised between an outright ban or nothing at all, he said, calling for regulation that walks a finer line.

Within a year, we should know much more about how effective the Australian social media ban has been and whether it led to any unintended consequences, Cambridge University researcher Amy Orben said.
Elon Musk is taking OpenAI, the company he helped found, to court, accusing it of betraying its original non-profit promise and turning into a profit-making machine. But what is a courtroom drama without twists and turns. Here is everything that has happened so far.

What began as a bold experiment to create artificial intelligence for the good of humanity has now spiralled into one of Silicon Valleys most bitter legal battles.

Elon Musk is taking OpenAI, the company he helped found, to court, accusing it of betraying its original non-profit promise and turning into a profit-making machine.

In a lawsuit filed in 2024, Musk claimed that Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and other OpenAI leaders abandoned the companys founding principles after he bankrolled its early development. The tech billionaire insists that his millions were meant to fund an altruistic research mission, not the commercial empire OpenAI and its partner Microsoft have built.

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Now, after months of legal wrangling, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has ruled that the case deserves its day in court. The trial, set to begin on April 27, will put the worlds most powerful AI company under scrutiny and could unearth new details about OpenAIs murky transition from non-profit idealism to corporate dominance.

Unsealed documents reveal what really went on inside OpenAI

Last week, more than 100 previously sealed court documents were made public, offering a rare glimpse into the chaotic early days of OpenAI.

The records include testimony from Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Mira Murati, and Satya Nadella, along with ex-board members Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley, who were reportedly involved in Altmans brief ouster in 2023.

Among the most striking revelations are diary entries written by Brockman, which shed light on the internal power struggle that preceded Musks departure.

In one note, he wrote, Some chance that rejecting Elon will actually lose us Sam This is the only chance we have to get out from Elon. Is he the glorious leader that I would pick?

They openly discuss their conspiracy to commit fraud and steal the charity https://t.co/AI6oFll2yV  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2026

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Other entries hint at doubts about the companys supposed non-profit commitment, Cannot say that we are committed to the non-profit. Dont want to say that were committed. If three months later were doing B-corp then it was a lie.

In another, he reflected bluntly, It all comes down to the money. We can get it from Tesla, probably. We could also probably get it from Google.

Judge Rogers cited these notes when deciding to send the case to trial, saying they could support Musks claim that OpenAIs founders misled him while quietly plotting a shift to a for-profit structure.

The documents also detail how Microsoft became OpenAIs first major backer after Musk refused to collaborate with Jeff Bezos. I think Jeff is a bit of a tool and Satya is not, so I slightly prefer Microsoft, but I hate their marketing dept, Musk wrote in an email to Altman.

OpenAI fires back

OpenAI has dismissed Musks accusations, arguing that he is selectively quoting evidence to portray himself as the victim.

In a blog post titled The truth Elon left out, the company said Musk was the one who originally pushed to make OpenAI a for-profit entity, and demanded majority control.

lots more here: https://t.co/C0DMZdr8ej



elon is cherry-picking things to make greg look bad, but the full story is that elon was pushing for a new structure, and greg and ilya spent a lot of time trying to figure out if they could meet his demands.  Sam Altman (@sama) January 16, 2026

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According to OpenAIs account, Musk told the team he wanted to accumulate $80 billion to build a self-sustaining city on Mars and claimed he needed and deserved majority equity. He also reportedly said his children should control OpenAIs AGI (artificial general intelligence) projects in the future.

On social media, Musk has been equally combative, accusing OpenAI of having stolen a charity and conspiring to defraud him. Meanwhile, Sam Altman has shared excerpts of old meeting notes on X (formerly Twitter) to back his version of events, including annotated documents showing Musk himself talking about turning OpenAI into a B-corp or C-corp.

Whats next

When the case heads to court in April, a jury will decide whether OpenAI violated its non-profit obligations and whether Microsoft knowingly benefited from the shift.

Musk is demanding $134 billion in damages, arguing that his early funding and influence laid the foundation for OpenAIs current valuation, estimated at up to $109 billion.

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Musks lawyers say he contributed $38 million, around 60 per cent of the companys initial funding, and that he helped recruit early staff and investors.

OpenAI and Microsoft have countered with their own filings, calling Musks damage estimates unverifiable and implausible. They argue that the lawsuit is less about justice and more about xAI, Musks rival venture launched in 2023.

Whatever the verdict, the trial is set to reveal how one of the most influential tech companies of the decade grew out of broken partnerships, shifting ideals, and a battle for control over the future of AI.
Limited internet access has returned in Iran after a nationwide blackout that rights groups say masked a deadly crackdown on protests, even as tensions rise with the US following Donald Trumps remarks on Irans leadership and warnings from Tehran of war.

A woman lights a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Israelis rally in support of the nationwide protests happening in Iran, in Holon, Israel. Reuters

Limited internet facility returns in Iran after nationwide blackout, a monitor said on Sunday, the blackout was aimed to mask a protest crackdown that killed thousands of people.

Iran warned the US that the war on Irans supreme leader Ali Khamenei would be a declaration of war  after US President Donald Trump said it was a high time to look for another leadership in Iran following uproar and continuous protests.

Protests over economic hardships

The protests started in late December by the people of the younger generation and citizens of Iran over the economic hardships, restrictions, and unemployment which is widely seen as the biggest challenge to the Iranian leadership in years.

The rallies subsided after the crackdown that rights groups have called a massacre carried out by security forces under the cover of a communications blackout that started on January 8.

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Monitor Netblocks said late Sunday that traffic levels have fallen after a brief, heavily filtered restoration of select Google and messaging services in Iran.

US influenced protesters

The authorities said that the demonstrations were peaceful until any foreign power such as Israel and the United States influenced them.

Trump, who joined Israels 12-day war against Iran in June, had repeatedly threatened new military action against Tehran if protesters were killed.

The man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people, Trump said in an interview about Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday warned on X: An attack on the great leader of our country is tantamount to a full-scale war with the Iranian nation."

As leaders in Washington and Tehran have exchanged barbs, Iranian officials have said calm has been restored in the streets.

Security forces with armoured vehicles and motorcycles were seen in central Tehran, according to AFP correspondents.

Schools reopened, social media accessible

Schools were also reopened on Sunday after weeks of closure. Pezeshkian meanwhile told a cabinet meeting that he recommended to the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council that internet restrictions be lifted as soon as possible.

Some users reported access to WhatsApp, while outgoing international calls had resumed since Tuesday, and text messaging was restored Saturday.
Taiwan vowed to stay the worlds leading AI chip producer after securing a new US trade deal that lowers tariffs, increases Taiwanese investment in America, and reshapes semiconductor production amid growing pressure from China

Taiwan is a global powerhouse in semiconductor production, a sector central to the world economy.

Taiwan said on Friday it would continue as the worlds most important maker of artificial intelligence chips. The pledge followed a trade agreement with the United States that cuts tariffs on Taiwanese goods and increases investment in the US. The deal was reached after months of negotiations.

Under the agreement, Washington will lower =tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 per cent. This is down from a 20 per cent reciprocal rate introduced to address US trade deficits and what it views as unfair practices. Sector-specific tariffs on Taiwanese auto parts, timber, lumber, and wood products will also be capped at 15 per cent. Generic pharmaceuticals and certain natural resources will face no reciprocal duties, according to the US Commerce Department.

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Taiwans government said the new tariff rate would not be added on top of existing duties, easing a major concern for domestic industries.

Taiwan praises outcome of talks

Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai praised negotiators for what he described as delivering a well-executed home run.

These results underscore that the progress achieved so far has been hard-won, Cho said.

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The US Commerce Department said the agreement will drive a massive reshoring of Americas semiconductor sector.

Chip dominance and security concerns

Taiwan is a global powerhouse in semiconductor production, a sector central to the world economy. Its dominance has long been described as a silicon shield, seen as a factor deterring an invasion or blockade by China, which claims the island as part of its sovereign territory.

Concerns about a potential Chinese attack have raised fears of disruptions to global supply chains, increasing pressure for more chip manufacturing outside Taiwan.

Based on current planning, Taiwan will still remain the worlds most important producer of AI semiconductors, not only for Taiwanese companies, but globally, Economic Affairs Minister Kung Ming-hsin told reporters on Friday.

He said production capacity for advanced AI chips would be split about 85-15 between Taiwan and the US by 2030, shifting to 80-20 by 2036.

Chinas foreign ministry said it resolutely opposes the deal.

Investment commitments and political scrutiny

The agreement must still be approved by Taiwans opposition-controlled parliament, where lawmakers have raised concerns about the risk of losing chip dominance.

Cheng Li-wun, chairperson of the Kuomintang party, which supports closer ties with Beijing, criticised the deal. She warned that increased Taiwanese investment in US chip production could risk hollowing out Taiwans economy.

The US Commerce Department said Taiwanese chip and technology companies are expected to make new, direct investments totalling at least $250 billion in the US to build and expand capacity in areas such as advanced semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

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Taiwan will also provide credit guarantees of at least $250 billion to facilitate additional investment by Taiwanese enterprises, it said, adding that this would support the growth of the US semiconductor supply chain.

Industry reaction in Taiwan

Chris Wu, sales director at Taiwanese machine tool maker Litz Hitech Corp, said lowering the reciprocal tariff to 15 per cent was a positive step.

Of course its good that the reciprocal tariff has been lowered to 15 per centat least it puts us on par with our main competitors South Korea and Japan, Wu said.

However, he added that with single-digit profit margins, there is no way we can absorb the tariff for US customers.

Implications for TSMC

More than half of Taiwans exports to the US are information and communications technology products, including semiconductors.

The objective is to bring 40 per cent of Taiwans entire supply chain and production to domestically bring it into America, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC.

Were going to bring it all over, so we become self-sufficient in the capacity of building semiconductors, he added.

Although the announcement did not name companies, it has major implications for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which last year pledged to spend an additional $100 billion on US plants.

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Demand for AI technology has driven sharp profit growth at the firm, the worlds largest contract chipmaker, supplying companies from Apple to Nvidia.

As a semiconductor foundry serving customers worldwide, we welcome the prospect of robust trade agreements between the United States and Taiwan, TSMC said in a statement on Friday.

Strengthened trade relations are essential for advancing future technologies and ensuring a resilient semiconductor supply chain.

Lutnick said TSMC has bought land and could expand operations in Arizona as part of the deal.

They just bought hundreds of acres adjacent to their property. Now Im going to let them go through it with their board and give them time, he told CNBC.

The US Commerce Department said Taiwanese producers investing in the US would receive more favourable treatment in future semiconductor duties.

A day earlier, US officials held off imposing broader chip tariffs, instead announcing a 25 per cent duty on certain semiconductors intended to be shipped abroad, a move aimed at allowing Nvidia to sell AI chips to China.

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Violence erupted in Guatemala City after security forces retook two prisons from gang control, freeing hostages.

The attacks came shortly after hundreds of anti-riot police stormed Renovacion prison in Escuintla, about 47 miles southwest of the capital.

Violence erupted in Guatemalas capital on Sunday after security forces retook control of one of three maximum security prisons. Suspected gang members killed seven police officers in attacks across and around Guatemala City, authorities said.

The attacks came shortly after hundreds of anti-riot police stormed Renovacion prison in Escuintla, about 47 miles (76 kilometres) southwest of the capital. Officers moved in to free nine guards who had been taken hostage during riots a day earlier. Authorities have said jailed gang leaders often order retaliatory attacks outside prison walls.

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President orders security deployment

President Bernardo Arevalo said later on X that he had ordered police and soldiers into the streets. He was due to address the nation on television on Sunday evening.

Shots were heard as riot squads entered the prison holding gang leaders. Around 15 minutes later, an Associated Press journalist saw the freed guards being escorted out. They appeared unharmed. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported during the operation.

Later on Sunday, authorities said they had retaken control of a second prison on the north side of Guatemala City. The National Civil Police said six guards were freed there.

One other prison remained under inmate control. It was not immediately clear how many guards were still being held.

Coordinated uprising

Inmates seized control of the three prisons a day earlier in a coordinated uprising. The action followed a decision by prison authorities to strip privileges from some jailed gang leaders. Officials said inmates took a total of 46 guards hostage across the three facilities.

As security forces worked to restore order, armed gangs carried out apparent reprisals outside the prisons. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said seven national police officers were killed in attacks across Guatemala City.

He said another 10 officers were wounded and one gang member was killed. Authorities have arrested seven suspected gang members so far, seized two rifles and confiscated two vehicles.

Villeda praised the police response, calling it the result of not negotiating with criminals.

The state will not kneel before these criminals, he said, linking the attacks and prison riots to the governments intensified crackdown on organised crime.

With tensions high, the Ministry of Education said classes would be suspended nationwide on Monday the 19th to prioritize the safety of students and teachers.

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Police have reinforced guards at several prisons and increased joint patrols with the military.
Several people were killed after an explosion rocked Kabuls Shahr-e-Naw area on Monday, according to Afghanistans Taliban-run interior ministry. The blast occurred in one of the capitals most secure neighbourhoods, with officials saying details were still emerging.

Seven people were killed and many others injured after a blast struck Kabuls Shahr-e-Naw district on Monday. According to TOLOnews, the attack appeared to target Chinese nationals.

The explosion hit a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street, near a Chinese restaurant, in an area generally regarded as one of Kabuls most secure neighbourhoods and home to many foreign residents. Taliban officials confirmed the incident but have not released an official death toll.

ISIS-K suspected in targeted attack

Sources familiar with the matter told TOLOnews that the blast, which killed at least six people including two Chinese nationals, was carried out by the Islamic States Khorasan affiliate (ISIS-K). No group has formally claimed responsibility for the attack so far. Taliban sources said the strike was part of a deliberate campaign by ISIS-K targeting Chinese interests in Afghanistan.

Afghan security sources said Chinese citizens were the intended targets, though the exact number affected remains unknown. The Emergency Hospital in Kabul reported that 20 people, including one child and four women, were admitted following the explosion. Seven of the injured had already died before reaching the hospital. It is still unclear whether any of the casualties were Chinese nationals.

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Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani told Reuters that preliminary reports indicated multiple casualties, including both fatalities and injuries. According to preliminary reports, a number of people were killed and injured, he said, adding that further details would be released once confirmed.

Blast hits high-security area

According to local reports, the explosion occurred outside a Chinese restaurant in Shahr-e-Naw, a neighbourhood that houses foreign residents and diplomatic facilities. The area is generally considered one of the most secure parts of the Afghan capital.

Attacks less frequent, but threat remains

Blasts in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan have become less frequent since the Taliban returned to power following the US withdrawal in 2021. However, affiliates of the Islamic State (IS) continue to carry out sporadic attacks across the country.

Deadly incidents in 2025

Afghanistan witnessed two suicide attacks in 2025. In February, one person was killed and at least three others were injured when an attacker tried to enter the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing in Kabul. In the same week, five people were killed after a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a bank in northeastern Afghanistan.

Ongoing security challenge

Although overall violence has declined since 2021, the Islamic State remains a persistent security threat. The group has previously targeted Taliban officials, foreign diplomats and civilians, undermining claims by the authorities that security has been fully restored.
As US President Donald Trump reshapes the world to his liking through invasions, tariffs, and political coercion, world leaders, top executives, and civil society figures have converged in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum that begins today.

A view of a logo outside the Davos Congress Centre ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the ski resort of Davos, Switzerland, on January 18, 2026. (Photo: Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

As US President Donald Trump has sought to reshape the world to his liking through invasions, tariffs, and political coercion, world leaders, top executives, and civil society figures have converged in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum (WEF), which begins on Monday.

All eyes will be on Trump, who will address the WEF on Thursday. Last year, he set the tone for his second term with a speech that berated Europe and Nato and praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

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In its report ahead of the gathering, Eurasia Group described the United States as the principal source of global risk in 2026.

For Europe and its security architecture that rests on Nato, the threats are indeed existential. With his moves on Denmarks Greenland island  escalated by the announcement of a tariff on countries opposing his intent to occupy the territory Trump has risked unravelling the alliance.

Since Trumps first term, the United States has been increasingly unwilling to continue to lead on the values and on the policies that it had in the postwar order, including acting as the global policeman or the principal architect of free trade or the promoter of rule of law or democracy, even though it did those things sometimes hypocritically and not always well, Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer told The New York Times.

Bremmer further said that no other country or group of countries would be able and willing to replace the United States for a period of time.

This means that as the United States has retreated from the world order it helped shape for decades, no one stands ready to uphold it. That gives Trump and his newfound partners in Beijing and Moscow an opportunity to reshape the new world order to their will. The WEF is set to hold talks about this shift.

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US and European analysts and former policymakers told The Times that the topics are likely to include Russias war with Ukraine, prospects for global trade and markets, the probability of China invading Taiwan, and the risks of a West Asia flare-up caused by recent protests in Iran.

Trump is returning to the WEF more powerful than ever. At home, his far-right agenda is being implemented relentlessly. Abroad, he has just ousted a leader he did not like and is on his way to annex a sovereign peoples island. In foreign policy, he has shaken hands with Putin and Xi after condemning Nato. As the rules-based world order stands battered by Trumps actions, it remains to be seen how world leaders and analysts will discuss it at the WEF.
At least 21 people were killed and dozens injured after a high-speed train derailed near Adamuz in Spains Cordoba province and struck an oncoming Renfe service, sending both trains off the tracks and prompting a major emergency response

People injured in a deadly train derailment receive treatment at the Caseta Municipal in the town of Adamuz after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming service near Cordoba, Spain. (Reuters)

A train accident in southern Spain left at least 21 people dead on Sunday evening. A high-speed service derailed and struck an oncoming train near Adamuz in Cordoba province. The impact forced the second train off the tracks and down an embankment. Police confirmed the death toll.

The reason for the crash remains unknown. Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said at a press conference at Atocha station in Madrid that it was really strange for a derailment to occur on a straight stretch of track. He added that the section had been renewed in May.

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A regional health chief said 18 injured people had already been taken to hospital. Some were reported to have life-threatening injuries. State broadcaster Television Espanola said the driver of one of the trains travelling from Madrid to Huelva was among those killed. The broadcaster also reported that about 100 people were injured, including 25 seriously.

The Iryo 6189 Malaga - (to Madrid) train has derailed from the track at Adamuz, crashing onto the adjacent track. The (Madrid) to Huelva train which was travelling on the adjacent track has also derailed, rail network operator Adif said in a social media post.

Adif said the crash occurred at 6:40 p.m. (1740 GMT), around 10 minutes after the Iryo train left Cordoba heading towards Madrid.

Trains and operators involved

Iryo, a private rail operator majority-owned by the Italian state-controlled railway group Ferrovie dello Stato, operated the first train. The service involved was a Freccia 1000 travelling between Malaga and Madrid, a spokesperson for Ferrovie dello Stato said.

The company said it deeply regretted the incident and had activated all emergency protocols to work closely with the relevant authorities.

The second train was an Alvia service run by Renfe. El Pais reported it was travelling at around 200 km (124 miles) per hour at the time of impact. Renfe said its train derailed after the Iryo service entered its path and that emergency teams were still recovering passengers.

Renfe added that its president was travelling to the crash site and that the company was supporting passengers and their families.

Services suspended and emergency response

Adif has suspended all rail services between Madrid and Andalusia. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cleared his diary for Monday to deal with the tragedy. A spokesperson said the Spanish King and Queen were following developments with concern.

Foreign embassies sent messages to staff asking them to confirm their safety. Troops from a nearby military base were deployed to assist rescue and recovery efforts, the Military Emergency Service confirmed.

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The Iryo train was carrying more than 300 passengers. The Renfe train had around 100 people on board.
At least 40 people have died in southern Spain after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming one on Sunday night in one of the worst railway accidents in Europe in 80 years

Members of the Spanish Civil Guard, along with other emergency personnel, work next to one of the trains involved in the accident, at the site of a deadly derailment of two high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Cordoba, Spain, on Monday. Reuters

At least 40 people have died in southern Spain after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming one on Sunday night in one of the worst railway accidents in Europe in 80 years.

Twelve were in intensive care after the accident near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Madrid, according to emergency services. Experts say a faulty rail joint might be key to determining the cause of the crash.

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The train tipped to one side then everything went dark, and all I heard was screams, said Ana Garcia Aranda, 26, who was being treated at a Red Cross centre in Adamuz.

Limping and with plasters across her face, she described how fellow passengers dragged her out of the train covered in blood. Firefighters rescued her pregnant sister from the wreckage and an ambulance took them both to hospital.

There were people who were fine and others who were very, very badly injured you knew they were going to die, and you couldnt do anything, she said.

Remote location complicates rescue

The collision occurred in a hilly, olive-growing region accessible only by a single-track road, making it difficult for ambulances to reach the area, Inigo Vila, national emergency director at the Spanish Red Cross, told Reuters.

The Andalusia regions President Juan Manuel Moreno said at least 40 people had perished, and emergency crews faced difficulties bringing in the heavy equipment needed to lift the wreckage and reach those still lying beneath it.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and Transport Minister Oscar Puente visited the site on Monday.

Police drone footage showed how the trains came to a standstill 500 metres apart. One trains carriage was split in two, and the locomotive was crushed like a tin can.

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Experts studying the crash site found a broken joint on the rails, which created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track, according to a source briefed on initial investigations.

That faulty joint could prove important in identifying the cause of the accident, the source said.

Ignacio Barron, head of Spains Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF), said on RTVE: What always plays a part in a derailment is the interaction between the track and the vehicle, and that is what the commission is currently (looking into).

Paqui, an Adamuz resident who rushed to help rescue survivors with her husband, said he had found a dead child inside, another child calling for his mother. Youre never ready to see something like this.

Police said they had opened an office in Cordoba for relatives to provide DNA samples to help identify the dead.

The Iryo train was travelling at 110 kph from Malaga to Madrid when it derailed, Renfe President Alvaro Fernandez Heredia said on radio station Cadena Ser.

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Twenty seconds later, the second train, heading to Huelva at 200 kph, either collided with the final two carriages of the Iryo train or with debris on the line, he said. The Iryo train lost a wheel that has not yet been located.

It was too early to talk about the cause, but it happened in strange conditions, Fernandez Heredia said, adding that human error was virtually ruled out.

The death toll was among the top 20 highest from a train crash in Europe in 80 years, according to Eurostat data, and the highest in Spain since 2013, when a train derailed in the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela, killing 80.

Spanish train drivers had warned state-owned rail infrastructure administrator Adif of severe wear and tear on the Madrid-Andalusia line and others, according to a letter seen by Reuters sent to Adif by train drivers union Semaf in August and urging stricter speed restrictions.

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Adif had no immediate comment.

The Iryo train, a Frecciarossa 1000, was under four years old and the railway line near Adamuz was renovated last May, Puente said. Iryo said the train was last inspected on January 15.

Spains high-speed railway network is the largest in Europe and second-largest in the world after China with 3,622 km of tracks, according to Adif.

The government was criticised last year for a series of delays to high-speed rail, caused by power outages and the theft of copper cables from the lines.

Spain opened up the network to private competition in 2020 in a bid to offer low-cost alternatives to Renfes Ave trains.

Iryo is a joint venture between Italian state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, airline Air Nostrum and Spanish infrastructure investment fund Globalvia.
Chile declares a state of emergency as fast-spreading wildfires kill 18 people, destroy homes and force large-scale evacuations across the Nuble and Bio Bio regions

Authorities said the fires have burned nearly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) across the two regions so far. (Reuters)

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe on Sunday in two southern regions as wildfires spread rapidly, killing at least 18 people and forcing large-scale evacuations. The emergency covers the regions of Nuble and Bio Bio, located about 500 km south of the capital, Santiago.

Chiles CONAF forestry agency said firefighters were battling 24 active fires across the country as of Sunday morning. The largest blazes were concentrated in Nuble and Bio Bio, prompting the government to impose emergency measures in those areas.

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President announces full mobilisation of resources

In light of the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of catastrophe in the regions of Nuble and Biobio. All resources are available, Boric said in a post on X.

Later on Sunday evening, after meeting mayors from affected municipalities in the southern city of Concepcion, Boric said at least 18 people had died as a result of the fires.

Authorities said the fires have burned nearly 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) across the two regions so far, threatening multiple communities and leading to evacuation orders. Chiles Senapred disaster agency said nearly 20,000 people had been evacuated and at least 250 homes destroyed.

Extreme weather worsens conditions

Officials said strong winds and high temperatures have fuelled the spread of the fires and hampered efforts to bring them under control. Much of Chile remained under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures expected to reach up to 38 C (100 F) from Santiago to Bio Bio on Sunday and Monday.

Chile and neighbouring Argentina have experienced extreme temperatures and prolonged heat waves since the start of the year. Earlier this month, devastating wildfires also broke out in Argentinas Patagonia region.
Chinas population dropped by another 3 million in 2025, with births falling to a record low despite expanded child-rearing incentives, underscoring deepening demographic and economic pressures

Chinas fertility rate has fallen from the 1.3 reported in 2020 to an estimated 1, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain population size.

Chinas population continued to decline in 2025. New government statistics released on Monday confirmed the fourth straight annual decrease. The countrys total population stood at 1.404 billion. This was 3 million fewer than the previous year. China remains the worlds second-most populous nation.

The number of babies born in 2025 dropped to 7.92 million. This marked a decline of 1.62 million, or 17 per cent. The data showed that a slight rise in births recorded in 2024 did not last. Births had already declined for seven consecutive years through 2023.

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Measured by rate, 2025 recorded the lowest birth rate on record. The figure stood at 5.63 per cent, reflecting the number of births per 1,000 people.

Long-term demographic pressures

The figures highlight growing demographic pressure on the country. Many families point to the cost and pressure of raising children in a highly competitive society. These concerns have intensified amid an economic downturn that has strained household budgets.

China, like several other Asian countries, continues to face a declining fertility rate. The government last published an official fertility rate of 1.3 in 2020. Experts now estimate it to be around 1. Both are well below the 2.1 rate needed to maintain population size.

Policy shifts after one-child era

After decades of limiting families to one child, authorities raised the cap to two children in 2015. The limit was further increased to three children in 2021 as demographic challenges deepened.

Despite these changes, policy measures have delivered limited results. In July, the government announced cash subsidies of 3,600 yuan ($500) per child for families.

Incentives paired with taxes and exemptions

Alongside incentives, authorities have introduced measures aimed at influencing behaviour. In 2025, contraceptives, including condoms, were removed from a value-added tax exemption list. As a result, condoms are now subject to a 13 per cent tax that came into effect on Jan. 1.

At the same time, kindergartens, daycares and matchmaking services were added to the tax-exemption list to support child-rearing.

China was the worlds most populous country for decades. In 2023, it was overtaken by regional neighbour India.
At an urgent meeting, the European Union (EU) has favoured holding talks for now instead of going ahead with the trade bazooka over US President Donald Trumps announcement of tariffs as part of a campaign to occupy Denmarks Greenland island.

For now, the European Union (EU) has decided to pursue talks instead of launching the trade bazooka over US President Donald Trumps announcement of tariffs as part of a campaign to occupy Denmarks Greenland island, sources told Euronews.

At an urgent meeting in Brussels on Sunday, the ambassadors from EUs 27 member-states decided to not launch any immediate retaliation.

Sources said that the meeting focussed on a discussion instead of a formal vote on any proposal. They said that various options, such as the trade bazooka and a 93-billion retaliation package that was initially prepared last year were discussed.

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The trade bazooka that the EU adopted in 2023. The ACI allows the EU to punish unfriendly countries for economic blackmail by limiting trade licences and shutting off their access to the blocs single market.

Last week, Trump announced a 10 per cent tariff on Denmark and seven other European countries for opposing his campaign to occupy Greenland. He said he would raise the tariff of 25 per cent if Denmark would not sell the island by June 1.

The other seven countries slapped with tariffs are the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland.

EU to decide on retaliation after Trumps deadline

Euronews reported that a decision on reinstating the retaliation package will be taken after the passage of Trumps deadline.

Originally, the 93-billion package that the EU could reinstate was prepared last year when Trump was waging a trade war on the bloc. The package included tariffs of up to 30 per cent on American goods ranging from cars to poultry. While the package was shelved after the US-EU trade deal was agreed upon, it could now be revived in the wake of Trumps campaign to occupy Greenland.

Moreover, the EU-US trade deal itself in jeopardy after Trump and his allies have ramped up threats to invade and occupy Greenland lately. European Parliaments leaders have said that the vote on the deal would be withheld for now.

Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa has called an extraordinary summit of EU leaders in the coming days. A source told Euronews that the summit will take place on Thursday.

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French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Monday he would push his budget bill through parliament without a vote, acknowledging it was a partial failure after weeks of stalled negotiations

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Monday he would push his budget bill through parliament without a vote, acknowledging it was a partial failure after weeks of stalled negotiations.

According to AFP, the move exposes Lecornu to the risk of a no-confidence vote, though he is relying on the backing of a key swing group in the lower house to survive.

Speaking at a news conference, Lecornu said he had decided with a certain degree of regret and a bit of bitterness to invoke a constitutional provision that allows the government to force legislation through parliament.

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The prime minister had pledged last year to seek parliamentary approval for a 2026 austerity budget and avoid bypassing lawmakers, after two of his predecessors were toppled over budget disputes.

However, announcing the decision on Monday, Lecornu said: We have to be humble. Its a partial success, partial failure.

He had managed to get a bill on social security spending approved by years end, but lawmakers have thus far failed to reach a compromise on state expenses.

Everyone is also coming to the conclusion that were heading into a dead end, he said.

No-confidence vote threat

Lecornus centre-right government said last week it would be impossible to pass a 2026 austerity budget by vote.

The use of Article 49.3, which allows legislation to be adopted without parliamentary approval, can trigger a no-confidence motion and potentially topple the government.

President Emmanuel Macron backed the budget, with a government spokesperson saying it guarantees stability and allows the country to move forward. Macron added that the plan required compromises and concessions from everyone.

Lecornu said the budget would keep the public deficit at five per cent.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen condemned Lecornus irresponsible announcement, calling for harsh punishment for politicians who choose to ruin our country to save their seats, and said she would file a no-confidence motion in a post on X.

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The hard-left France Unbowed party has also said it will table a motion.

Lecornu has made concessions in the spending bill to win support from the Socialists, a key swing group in the hung parliament, as Frances political crisis drags on following President Macrons loss of a parliamentary majority in the 2024 snap election.

Seeking to end the deadlock, Lecornu said on Monday: Were going to stop putting on a show for the whole world.

With inputs from agencies
Guatemala President Bernardo Arevalo has declared a 30-day emergency after suspected gang members killed seven police officers in apparent retaliation for authorities retaking control of one of three maximum security prisons where inmates had rioted and taken hostages.

Security forces enter the Renovation maximum-security prison to free guards taken hostage and retake control of the facility, which houses gang leaders, in Escuintla, Guatemala, on January 18, 2026. (Photo: Moises Castillo/AP)

Guatemala President Bernardo Arevalo declared a 30-day state of siege Sunday after suspected gang members in Guatemalas capital killed seven police officers in apparent retaliation for authorities in the countrys southwest retaking control of one of three maximum security prisons where inmates had rioted and taken hostages the day before.

The attacks on police in and around Guatemala City came after hundreds of anti-riot police stormed Renovacion prison in Escuintla, about 47 miles (76 kilometers) southwest of the capital, to free nine guards who had been taken hostage there. Jailed gang leaders often order members outside the prison walls to carry out retaliatory attacks.

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They rioted in the prisons and took hostages with the intention of making the state accept their demands, which for decades were granted, Arevalo said on national television Sunday. The attacks that followed the retaking of those prisons Sunday, were an attempt to terrorize security forces and the population so that the government relents in its head-on fight against the gangs.

The president said all of the hostage guards were freed Sunday. The gangs audacious attempt to challenge authorities was a sign that his administrations security efforts were working, Arevalo said.

Arevalos state of siege still requires congressional approval, but can take effect before that vote occurs. The constitution allows such a declaration in cases of serious violence, insurrection or action by organized crime groups that exceeds the ability of civilian authorities to respond.

The declaration can limit some constitutional rights like the freedoms of movement, gathering and protest. The president said it was necessary to ensure the safety of Guatemalans and allow the government to use all its resources to combat the gangs.

Shots rang out as riot squads swept into the facility that houses gang leaders. About 15 minutes later, an Associated Press journalist saw the freed guards being escorted from the prison. They appeared to be unharmed. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported.

Later on Sunday, authorities retook control of the other two prisons in the capital, freeing six guards at one and 28 at the other, according to National Civil Police. On Saturday, the Interior Ministry had said 46 guards were being held hostage. It was not immediately clear what explained the discrepancy with the 43 freed on Sunday.

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Inmates took control of the three prisons the day before in a coordinated uprising to protest prison administrators decision to strip privileges from some incarcerated gang leaders.

As security forces tried to assert control, apparent retaliatory attacks took place outside the prison walls. Armed gangs killed seven national police officers in assaults across Guatemala City, Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said. The clashes wounded another 10 officers, he added, and killed one gang member.

He said police so far have arrested seven gang members, confiscated two rifles and seized two vehicles, praising the police response as the result of not negotiating with criminals.

The state will not kneel before these criminals, he said, portraying the attacks on police officers and coordinated prison riots as a response to the governments intensifying crackdown on organized crime.

The Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs are powerful in Guatemala, as they are in neighboring Honduras and had been in El Salvador until President Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency in March 2022 after gangsters killed dozens.

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El Salvadors state of emergency, which suspends some constitutional rights like access to an attorney, remains in place and more than 90,000 people have been arrested under it.

Other Central American leaders have been under pressure to adopt similarly harsh tactics to deal with gang crime. Last week, Bukele visited Costa Rica to observe a groundbreaking ceremony for a new prison styled on one he built in El Salvador.

With tensions high, the Ministry of Education said it would suspend classes across the Central American country for Monday the 19th to prioritize the safety of students and teachers.

The police reinforced guards at several prisons and increased joint patrols with the military.

(This is an agency story. Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will travel to India on January 19 for talks aimed at advancing the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive in India on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The trip takes place amid heightened tensions across West Asia, including strained IranUS relations, friction between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen, and an unsettled political situation in Gaza.

Key areas expected on agenda

People familiar with the visit said discussions are expected to focus on trade and investment, defence industry cooperation and energy initiatives. Developments in West Asia are also likely to be discussed during meetings with the Indian leadership.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit on January 19 will be the UAE leaders third official visit to India since assuming office and his fifth visit to the country in the past 10 years.

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Bilateral trade and people-to-people ties have seen a marked rise since India and the UAE signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in 2022. The MEA said the visit builds on momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges.

The ministry referred to the visit of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in September 2024. It also noted the April visit last year by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAEs deputy prime minister and defence minister.

Broad-based bilateral ties highlighted

India and the UAE share warm, close, and multi-faceted relations, underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic ties, the MEA said. Both countries are among each others top trading and investment partners, supported by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the local currency settlement system and the bilateral investment treaty.

India and the UAE also maintain a robust energy partnership, including long-term energy supply arrangements, the ministry said.

The visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to chart new frontiers for the India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership, the MEA said. It will also enable an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence.
Iran has fired the CEO of Irancell, its second-largest telecom operator, accusing the company of failing to fully enforce internet shutdown orders during unrest. Many viewed the blackout as a way to control news during growing protests over economic difficulties

Protesters march on a bridge in Tehran, Iran, on December 29, 2025. File Image/Fars News Agency via AP

In an unusual move amid one of the most severe communication clampdowns in years, Irans government has fired the chief executive of Irancell, the countrys second-largest mobile network operator, for not fully complying with orders to block internet access during widespread unrest.

The decision, reported by state-linked Fars news agency on Sunday, comes as Iranians grapple with a near-total communication blackout that began without warning on January 8, when authorities cut off nearly all mobile and internet services.

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The blackout was widely seen as a bid to stem the flow of information during intensifying calls for anti-government protests sparked by economic hardship.

Fars reported that Alireza Rafiei was removed from the position of CEO of the company after about a year of activity.

The agency quoted officials saying Irancell disobeyed the orders of the decision-making institutions in implementing the announced policies regarding the restriction of internet access in crisis situations.

The relevant institutions decided to dismiss the CEO of Irancell, citing failure to comply with the announced rules in crisis situations. it added.

Irancell, founded in 2005 and with around 70 million subscribers, is a central player in Irans digital infrastructure, making its compliance crucial to Tehrans crackdown strategy.

Also read | Why US intervention in Iran would be a mistake

Internet access begins limited return

After more than a week of near-total isolation from the global web, Iranian authorities signalled a modest loosening of restrictions on Sunday. In Tehran, journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported they were able to reach the global internet, although most domestic connections remained blocked.

State television also reported that access to Google services had been restored via all mobile phone lines and internet service providers.

Officials said they plan to restore internet access gradually, though the extent and pace of the reopening remain unclear.

The blackout has been one of the most comprehensive in Irans modern history, coinciding with nationwide protests over economic conditions and growing frustration with the regime. Analysts have described such shutdowns as tools to suppress dissent, cutting off communication and coordination among demonstrators.

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While some connectivity returned briefly, most Iranians remain largely disconnected from the broader internet.
Iranian authorities may ease a nationwide internet blackout imposed during the most serious unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as signs of strain emerged with an apparent hack of state television, according to a report

Iran may lift its internet blackout within the next few days following a nationwide communications shutdown imposed as authorities used force to suppress protests, according to a Reuters report, citing a senior member of parliament on Monday.

The demonstrations marked the most serious domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Signs of strain in the governments control emerged late Sunday, when state television appeared to be briefly hacked.

The broadcast showed footage of speeches by US President Donald Trump and Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans last shah, both urging the public to rise up against the authorities.

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Anti-government protests that erupted in late December were quelled within three days amid widespread violence. Streets across the country have remained largely quiet for the past week.

An Iranian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the confirmed death toll was more than 5,000, including 500 members of the security forces, with some of the worst unrest taking place in ethnic Kurdish areas in the northwest. Western-based Iranian rights groups also say thousands were killed.

Opponents accuse the authorities of opening fire on peaceful demonstrators to crush dissent. Irans clerical rulers say armed crowds egged on by foreign enemies attacked hospitals and mosques.

The death tolls dwarf those of previous bouts of anti-government unrest put down by the authorities in 2022 and 2009.

The violence drew repeated threats from Trump to intervene militarily, although he has backed off since the large-scale killing stopped.

Internet to return when conditions are appropriate

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said top security bodies would decide on restoring internet in the coming days, with service resuming as soon as security conditions are appropriate.

Another parliament member, hardliner Hamid Rasaei, said authorities should have listened to earlier complaints by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei about lax cyberspace.

Iranian communications including internet and international phone lines were largely stopped in the days leading up to the worst unrest. The blackout has since partially eased, allowing accounts of widespread attacks on protesters to emerge.

During Sundays apparent hack into state television, screens broadcast a segment lasting several minutes with the on-screen headline the real news of the Iranian national revolution.

It included messages from Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Irans last shah, calling for a revolt to overthrow rule by the Shiite Muslim clerics who have run the country since the 1979 revolution that toppled his father.

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Pahlavi has emerged as a prominent opposition voice and has said he plans to return to Iran, although it is difficult to assess independently how strong support for him is inside Iran.

With inputs from agencies
Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year, World Economic Forum said in a statement

The World Economic Forum said on Monday that Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will not attend this years annual meeting in Davos.

Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year, Politico quoted the Switzerland-based international advocacy NGO saying in a statement posted on social media.

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The announcement came a day after US-based NGO United Against Nuclear Iran said it had learned that Araghchi had been quietly added to the schedule for a speaking slot.

More from World No plan to hang protesters: Iran minister contradicts top judge as Trump signals easing pressure

Iran has come under international criticism in recent weeks following a violent crackdown on anti-government protests, which activists say left more than 3,900 people dead, according to the Associated Press.

Araghchi has denounced the protesters actions as violent riots.

Hours before the Swiss forums announcement, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham slammed organisers for having invited Tehrans top diplomat.

I am sure an invite to the Iranian Foreign Minister to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos will be a morale booster to the protestors who are dying in the streets to attain the liberties and freedoms Europe takes for granted  maybe not. For those in charge of these programs, what the hell are you thinking? Graham said.

He added: Inviting the Iranian Foreign Minister to speak now would be akin to inviting Hitler to a world event after Kristallnacht. This decision gives tone deaf a new meaning.

The WEF runs from January 19-23. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech on Wednesday.

The Munich Security Conference also said last Friday it had disinvited Iranian representatives, including Araghchi.

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With inputs from agencies
While anti-regime protests in Iran have left thousands dead, some of the countrys wealthiest citizens have been spotted partying in Turkish nightclubs

Mourners carry coffins during a funeral procession for members of security forces and civilians said to be killed in protests on Sunday, amid evolving anti-government unrest, in Tehran, Iran. Reuters

As Iran continues to reel from one of the deadliest waves of antiregime protests in years, with thousands killed and broad unrest sweeping the country, another scene played out just across the border: some of Irans wealthiest citizens were spotted partying in Turkish nightclubs while the crisis raged at home.

In Van, a Turkish city around 96 km from Irans border, reporters saw wellheeled Iranianssome believed to be connected with or benefiting from Irans ruling establishmentsocialising in bars and clubs, seemingly unconcerned by events in their homeland.

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One Iranian at the club described the stark contrast between the scenes in Turkey and the turmoil back home. These people benefit from the regime. They left Iran for now, because they were worried about staying there. Here, they can feel safe, the person told The Telegraph, speaking anonymously out of fear of reprisals.

Another person said wealthy Iranians had used their resources to flee the uncertainty in Iran and spend timeand moneyin Turkeys nightlife spots. They have made a lot of money from their businesses in Iran, and then they come here to spend it, the individual added.

Hard reality of protests in Iran

While some Iranians enjoy a night out abroad, protests in cities across Iran have been met with a brutal government crackdown, including widespread use of live ammunition and mass arrests. Rights groups and activist networks have reported thousands of deaths since protests began in late December amid frustration over economic hardship and political repression.

Officials have disputed the highest estimates, but even state figures acknowledge several thousand people have been killed.

Also read | Iran state TV hijacked as protest messages, video of exiled Crown Prince Pahlavi air nationwide

The protests were sparked by worsening economic conditions and quickly evolved into broader antiregime demands, uniting demonstrators with chants and slogans demanding systemic change.

The situation has also led to increased movement across the IranTurkey border. Dozens of Iranians, including families and individuals, have crossed into Turkeys Van province, in some cases carrying personal belongings, as they seek safety amid unrest at home.

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Meanwhile, many Iranians have also used brief trips into Turkey to access the internet during Irans prolonged communications blackout, which disrupted online connectivity at the height of the protests.
Donald Trump has renewed warnings to Denmark over Greenland, dismissing a joint European statement rejecting his threats. Citing security concerns and Natos role, Trump said action was imminent, escalating tensions with close US allies across Europe

US President Donald Trump Donald Trump has threatened eight European countries  Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Great Britain, France and Germany and the Netherlands  with a 10 per cent tariff on all goods coming into the United States from February 1 until he is able to buy Greenland. File image/Reuters

US President Donald Trump has stepped up his campaign for greater American influence over Greenland, issuing a pointed warning to Denmark after a group of European nations jointly rebuffed his latest threats.

The dispute has intensified diplomatic tensions between Washington and key allies in Europe.

Posting on his social platform Truth Social, Trump argued that the United States has long been concerned about security in the Arctic and accused Denmark of failing to act on warnings from Nato.

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NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland. Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it, he wrote. Trump then added, Now it is time, and it will be done!!!

His comments came after a joint statement from eight European countriesDenmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finlandpushed back against his escalating rhetoric and threats of trade penalties.

European allies reject tariff threats

The joint European statement reflected concerns that Trumps approach, including his suggestion of tariffs against countries that oppose American aims around Greenland, risked damaging relations with the United States.

Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral, the statement said, while also reaffirming a willingness to engage in dialogue based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Several of the targeted nations are longstanding US allies and already face existing tariffs on a range of goods exported to the United States. European leaders have stressed that cooperation on Arctic security should proceed through established multinational frameworks like Nato, not through coercive economic threats.

Military presence and rising tensions

As the dispute has escalated, the group of European nations also deployed small numbers of military personnel to Greenland in cooperation with Denmark, a move they say is aimed at strengthening security in the strategically important Arctic region, not challenging US interests there.

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Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomed the unified response from European capitals. In a written message reported by Reuters, she said she was encouraged by consistent displays of support and asserted that Europe will not be blackmailed.

Longstanding dispute over Greenland

Trump has repeatedly said Greenland, with its vast territory and resources, is vital to US national security, and that European efforts have been insufficient amid what he claims are growing Russian and Chinese interests in the region. He first floated the idea of the United States acquiring Greenland in 2019, describing it then as a large real estate deal that could benefit Denmarks finances, a proposal Copenhagen rejected.

Also read | How Trump has a strategy in his madness for Greenland

Even some of Trumps supporters in Europe have distanced themselves from his latest tactics. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the tariff threats a mistake, while French President Emmanuel Macron said political intimidation will not succeed  whether in Ukraine, Greenland or anywhere else in the world when faced with such situations.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced the dissolution of parliament and called a snap election later this month, pitching the vote as a public verdict on her leadership and her ability to push through an ambitious reform agenda

Sanae Takaichi, the leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, on October 4, 2025. (Photo: Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool via Reuters)

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday announced she will dissolve parliament this week and call a snap general election.

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, Takaichi confirmed that the lower house of parliament would be dissolved later this month, setting the stage for a fast-paced election campaign.

Today, I, as the Prime Minister, have decided to dissolve the lower house on January 23, she told reporters.

The decision comes amid mounting political pressure and growing debate over the direction of her leadership, even as Takaichi argues that a clear public endorsement is needed to move Japan forward during a time of economic uncertainty and regional security challenges.

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Let the people decide

Framing the snap election as a democratic test of her leadership, Takaichi said she wants voters to directly judge whether she deserves to continue as prime minister.

Is Sanae Takaichi fit to be Prime Minister? I wanted to ask the sovereign people to decide, she said at the press conference.

By dissolving the lower house early, Takaichi is seeking a stronger mandate that could help her overcome resistance within parliament and her own party.

High stakes for Takaichi government

Takaichi, Japans first woman prime minister, has promised sweeping reforms, including economic restructuring, defence modernisation and a more assertive regional posture. However, critics argue that her agenda risks deepening political divisions at home and straining relations abroad.

Calling a snap election carries risks. If voters back her party, Takaichi could gain the political capital needed to fast-track legislation and consolidate her authority. A weaker showing, however, could embolden rivals and destabilise her government at a crucial moment.

Opposition parties have accused the prime minister of using the dissolution to sidestep parliamentary scrutiny, arguing that unresolved policy questions should be debated in the legislature rather than pushed into an election campaign.

With the dissolution set for January 23, Japan is expected to enter campaign mode almost immediately.
The death toll from a major fire at Karachis Gul Plaza has risen to 10, with around 60 people still missing. Rescue teams, assisted by the army, continue operations amid structural risks as authorities investigate the cause and promise compensation

The death toll from the massive fire at Gul Plaza, a commercial building on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi, has risen to 10, while around 60 people are still missing, officials said on Sunday.

Rescue workers recovered four more bodies, including that of a child late Sunday night from the charred remains of the building, taking the total number of confirmed fatalities to 10, reported news agency ANI.

The fire broke out late Saturday night and continued for more than 24 hours, severely damaging large sections of the multi-storey shopping complex. Firefighters said the intensity of the blaze and structural damage to the building have slowed rescue efforts.

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 BREAKING: KARACHI GUL PLAZA FIRE 



 Up to 14 feared dead, 60+ still missing after massive blaze at Gul Plaza mall, Karachi

 Fire burned for over 36 hours; rescue ops ongoing amid collapse risks

 Police probing cause; unverified reports cite a Dawood angle, linking pic.twitter.com/CQOEdVtoho  GLOBAL PULSE 360 (@DataIsKnowldge) January 19, 2026

Rescue operations continue

Authorities said rescue teams have only been able to access a small portion of the building so far due to safety concerns.

We have managed to access 5% to 10% of the building, rescue worker Hassan Ahmed said, as quoted by ANI, adding that heavy machinery and thermal cameras were being used to search for possible survivors.

According to officials, 22 fire brigade vehicles, 10 water bowsers, four snorkel units and 33 ambulances have been deployed at the site. Military engineering teams have also joined the operation to help clear debris and assess the stability of the structure before further entry.

The cause of the fire is yet to be officially confirmed. Investigators are expected to examine whether safety violations or electrical faults contributed to the blaze once rescue operations are completed.

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Dozens still missing

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who visited the site on Sunday evening, said that dozens of people were still unaccounted for.

Around 58 to 60 people are still missing, Shah said, adding that authorities were compiling records from shop owners and employees to determine how many people were inside the building when the fire broke out.

He said the provincial government would ensure transparent compensation for victims and affected shop owners once the rescue and recovery phase is complete.

Army assists civil authorities

The Pakistan Army has been called in to assist civil authorities with rescue and debris-clearing operations, officials said. Army personnel are working alongside firefighters, police and emergency services to speed up access to affected areas of the building.

Families of the missing continued to gather near the site on Sunday night, waiting for updates from rescue teams as operations remained underway.
Ahead of parliamentary elections in Nepal on March 5, the code of conduct has come into effect. The elections were necessitated after widespread protests toppled the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli last year.

Children stroll in front of the parliament building in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, which was set on fire by protesters in September 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

The Code of Conduct for Nepals parliamentary elections came into effect on Monday.

Nepal is scheduled to hold elections to the parliaments lower chamber, the House of Representatives, on March 5. The elections were necessitated after widespread protests toppled the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli last year.

After Oli resigned amid widespread violence that targeted nearly every state institution, Sushila Karki, 73, became the interim prime minister on September 12, with the stated objective of holding elections at the earliest and handing over power to a democratically elected government.

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Last month, the Election Commission (EC) said that 19 million voters and 114 political parties, many of them new, would take part in the elections.

Of these 114 parties, around a fifth are new, and many were registered by young activists who were part of the agitation that brought down Olis government last year, according to AFP.

Ahead of the elections, the Nepali Congress (NC), one of the countrys main parties, suffered a split. After the EC recognised the rebel faction as the real NC, the establishment faction approached the Supreme Court. The intra-party dispute has added fresh drama to the election cycle.

The code of conduct covers the federal and provincial governments and their ministers, constitutional bodies and officials, local executives and members, employees of government, semi-government, and public institutions, security personnel, political parties, and their affiliated organisations, according to The Kathmandu Post.

The code also applies to candidates and related individuals, election representatives, polling and counting agents, monitoring committee officials, observers, media institutions and personnel, private and non-governmental organisations and staff, educational institutions and employees, voters, development partners, and organisations running voter education programmes, as per The Kathmandu Post.

The commission expects full cooperation from all concerned for effective implementation and adherence to the code of conduct, Election Commission Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said.
We urge the US to stop using the so-called China threat as a pretext for seeking selfish gains, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a news briefing in Beijing

China on Monday slammed the United States for suggesting Beijing poses a threat to Greenland, calling the claim a pretext for seeking selfish gains.

We urge the US to stop using the so-called China threat as a pretext for seeking selfish gains, CCTV quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun as saying during a news briefing in Beijing.

The remarks follow a social media post by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, in which he argued that the United States needed control of Greenland to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic and to develop what he called the Golden Dome, a system aimed at protecting North America from ballistic missiles.

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China has stated its position on multiple occasions on Greenland. The international law underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is the foundation of the current international order and must be upheld, Guo added.

Russia, meanwhile, has bridled at Trumps suggestion that Moscow poses a threat to Greenland - part of his rationale for wanting US control of the island - while avoiding mentioning his name in its criticism.

The foreign ministry said last week it was unacceptable for the West to continue accusing Russia and China of being a threat to Greenland.

With inputs from agencies
The Reserve Bank of India has proposed linking the digital currencies of Brics countries to make cross-border payments for trade and tourism easier, according to a Reuters report. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the 2026 Brics summit, which India will host later this year.

Rs 75,000 crore has been transferred to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. PTI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed linking the official digital currencies of Brics nations to simplify cross-border payments for trade and tourism, Reuters reported, citing two officials familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the RBI has suggested that the government place the proposal on the agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit, which India is set to host later this year.

First formal move to connect Brics CBDCs

If approved, the proposal would mark the first formal attempt to interlink the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) of Brics members. Such a mechanism could reduce dependence on the US dollar at a time of heightened geopolitical and trade tensions.

The Brics grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with newer members such as the UAE, Iran and Indonesia.

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Likely scrutiny from Washington

Any effort to operationalise digital settlements among Brics countries is expected to draw attention from Washington. US President Donald Trump has previously described Brics as anti-American and has threatened tariffs against member countries.

The RBI, the Indian government and several BRICS central banks either declined to comment or said they had no information to share, the Reuters report said.

Builds on 2025 Brics declaration

The proposal builds on a declaration adopted at the 2025 BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, which called for greater interoperability among members payment systems to improve cross-border efficiency.

India has repeatedly signalled its interest in linking the digital rupee with other countries CBDCs to speed up cross-border settlements and promote wider international use of the Indian currency.

CBDC pilots under way

Although none of the Brics members has fully launched a CBDC, all five core economies are running pilot programmes. Indias e-rupee has attracted around seven million retail users since its launch in December 2022, while China has been pushing for broader international adoption of its digital yuan.

To encourage adoption, the RBI has introduced features such as offline payments, programmability for government subsidies and integration with fintech wallets.

Need for common framework

One official told Reuters that a shared framework covering technology, governance and the settlement of trade imbalances would be critical for any Brics digital currency linkage to succeed. Disagreements over technology choices or which countrys platform to rely on could slow progress, making consensus essential.

One option being explored involves bilateral foreign exchange swap lines between central banks, allowing transactions to be settled on a weekly or monthly basis. This could help prevent imbalances like those that arose when Russia accumulated large rupee balances following increased Indian imports without matching exports.

Geopolitical backdrop and wider debate

Interest in the broader Brics agenda has intensified amid renewed tariff threats from Trump and shifting geopolitical alignments. Indias economic ties with Russia and China have strengthened even as New Delhi faces trade frictions with Washington.

However, efforts to create a common Brics currency have been shelved, while global enthusiasm for CBDCs has been tempered by the rapid spread of stablecoins.

Indian officials remain cautious about stablecoins, which the RBI argues could undermine monetary stability and fragment the payments ecosystem. Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar has said CBDCs offer a safer alternative, as they avoid risks associated with privately issued digital tokens.

Indias proposal to link BRICS digital currencies now sets the stage for what could become one of the most consequential financial discussions at this years summit, with implications for how emerging economies settle trade and challenge the dominance of the US dollar.
South Korea has reportedly deployed a new ballistic missile, dubbed the monster for its size, as part of its evolving military strategy in response to North Koreas nuclear weapons development

South Korea has reportedly deployed a new ballistic missile, dubbed the monster for its size, as part of its evolving military strategy in response to North Koreas nuclear weapons development.

According to a Newsweek report, as a key US treaty ally hosting 28,500 American troops on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea has developed a three-axis military strategy designed both to defend against North Koreas nuclear and missile attacks and to carry out preemptive or retaliatory strikes against the Norths facilities and leadership.

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Despite international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, North Korea continues to advance its nuclear programme, testing new weapons and refining its capabilities.

North Korea leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to strengthen the countrys nuclear shield and sword to counter the US-South Korea alliance, which is safeguarded by American nuclear deterrence.

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing military sources on Sunday, deployment of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile began late last year and is expected to be completed during President Lee Jae Myungs administration, which ends in 2030.

Missile show of force

The 65-foot missile carries an 8-ton conventional warhead designed to destroy underground bunkers that could house North Koreas missiles and leadership. Seoul says the weapon is capable of ultra-precision, ultra-high-power strikes.

Including the Hyunmoo-5 and its upgraded variants, South Korea plans to deploy up to hundreds of advanced missiles, the report said, as the country is prohibited from owning nuclear weapons under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In an October 2024 interview, South Koreas defence chief Ahn Gyu-back said possessing a considerable number of monster missiles could create a balance of terror against North Koreas threat.

Military analyst Joseph Dempsey of the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted in October 2024, The Hyunmoo-5s 8-(ton) warhead probably does not consist solely of high explosives and may include a dense metal penetrator precursor or tandem charges to enhance penetration and target damage. He added that conventional missiles of this size are unprecedented.

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In October 2025, Defense Minister Ahn said: Mass production (of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile) has begun, and measures are being sought to significantly increase output.

Dempsey also noted, While there is no evidence that Seoul seeks to develop or deploy longer-range ballistic missiles, the continued and less constrained evolution of its ballistic-missile programme highlights a growing inherent capacity to address potential wider regional threats.

As North Korea refuses to give up its nuclear arsenal, it remains unclear whether South Korea will develop even more capable missiles. Analysts warn the arms race on the Korean Peninsula may prompt nearby countries, including Japan and China, to bolster their military power.

With inputs from agencies
At least 39 people were killed after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, police said on Monday, as rescue teams worked through the night to search for survivors.

This video grab taken from UGC images posted on social media and verified by AFPTV teams in Madrid, shows emergency personnel working after a train accident in Adamuz, southern Spain, on January 18, 2026. At least 21 people died in a train accident near Adamuz, in the Spanish province of Cordoba (south), when a train derailed and collided with another convoy traveling on the opposite track, the Civil Guard told AFP. A train from the Spanish company Iryo traveling from the Andalusian city of Malaga to Madrid 'derailed' near Adamuz, 'encroaching on the adjacent track' where it collided with another train that 'also derailed,' stated the Railway Infrastructure Administrator (Adif), a public entity under the Ministry of Transport, on X. (Photo by -UGC / @eleanorinthesky (via X) / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE  MANDATORY CREDIT  AFP PHOTO / @ELEANORINTHESKY (VIA X)  - NO SALES NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS  DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [ NO ARCHIVE ]

Spanish police said on Monday that at least 39 people were killed after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, as rescue operations continued through the night.

The crash occurred at around 7.45 pm local time on Sunday near the town of Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km south of Madrid. One of the trains derailed, crossed onto the opposite track and slammed into an oncoming service.

Rescue operations through the night

Emergency teams worked overnight to search the wreckage for survivors. Officials said dozens of people were injured, with state broadcaster RTVE reporting that 152 people were hurt, citing police sources.

Members of Spains civil guard and civil defence remained at the scene throughout the night, while the Spanish Red Cross opened a support centre in Adamuz to assist emergency workers and relatives seeking information.

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Around 400 passengers onboard

There were around 400 passengers on board the two trains, most of them Spaniards travelling to and from Madrid after the weekend. It remained unclear how many tourists were among them, as January is not a peak holiday season in Spain.

Train services cancelled, PM clears schedule

More than 200 train services between Madrid and the southern Andalucia region  including Cordoba, Seville and Granada  were cancelled throughout Monday, according to RTVE.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cleared his agenda for the day following the accident, his office said in a statement.

Cause of crash still unknown

Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the first two wagons of the second train were thrown off the tracks, describing reports from the scene as very grave. He stressed that the cause of the crash was still unknown.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Puente called the accident strange, noting that it occurred on a straight section of track renovated in May at a cost of 700 million. He added that the track was supposedly in perfect state and that the train involved was relatively new, having been in service for four years.

Mayor describes horrific scene

Adamuz Mayor Rafael Moreno said he was among the first to arrive at the site. I saw a passenger reduced to rags, he told Spanish daily El Pais. There was no light; it was nighttime. The scene is horrific.

Spains past rail tragedy

Spain last suffered a major rail disaster in 2013, when a high-speed train travelling from Madrid to Galicia derailed, killing 79 people and injuring 179 others.
With Thailands birth rate declining rapidly, a political party has proposed an unusual plan: the government would help citizens find romantic partners to encourage marriage and childbirth. The idea has sparked debate as the country heads into a general election

Thailands birth rate is falling sharply as the general election nears. In response, a political party has suggested the government help citizens find romantic partners.

The proposal, aimed at reversing declining fertility, comes from the New Alternative Party and has drawn both attention and debate across the Southeast Asian nation.

Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Mongkolkit Suksintharanon says that if his party wins power in the February 8 election, the government would take on a more personal role in helping singles form relationships, as reported by Bloomberg. The idea, he believes, could lead to more marriages, and more babies.

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If elected, we would help arrange husbands or wives for people without a suitable partner, Mongkolkit said in a social media post over the weekend outlining the policy. And if the initial pairing doesnt work out? He added the state could step in again to find a new match.

A dramatic response to a demographic shift

Thailands fertility rate has plummeted in recent decades, leading to concerns about a shrinking population, an ageing workforce and long-term economic slowdown.

The total number of births has dipped far below replacement levels, a stark contrast from earlier generations when larger families were the norm.

Thailand now has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, causing political parties to come up with novel solutions ahead of voters heading to the polls. While larger parties have offered more conventional incentives, such as monthly child allowances or expanded family benefits, Mongkolkits state matchmaking plan takes things in a markedly different direction.

He has claimed the scheme could potentially help double Thailands annual births to about 800,000 babies a year if widely adopted.

Critics say the idea could be more symbolic than practical, a way for a smaller party to grab headlines in a crowded election season. State involvement in private lifeespecially in something as personal as choosing a partnerhas struck some observers as excessive or even intrusive. But supporters argue the drastic demographic shift calls for bold thinking.

The proposed programme, New Alternative says, would be open to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples, giving participants the choice of Thai or foreign partners.
The Greenland Dog Sledding Association (KNQK) had objected to the invitation extended to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and last week opened an investigation into who had authorised it, according to a report

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry speaks during a christening ceremony for the ECO Liberty at the Port of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana, US, on June 28, 2025. Reuters File

The Greenland Dog Sledding Association (KNQK) has said that the tourism company that had invited Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry for the dog sled race has unilaterally withdrawn its invitation.

This is reassuring, Politico quoted the association as saying in a statement posted on Facebook late Sunday, without identifying the tourism company.

Landry, a Republican appointed last month by US President Donald Trump as his special envoy to Greenland, had been invited to participate in a traditional dog sled race on the Arctic island.

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The invitation sparked controversy, with the KNQK last week criticising it as wholly inappropriate and saying it was unacceptable that political pressure is being exerted from outside.

Trump over the weekend said he would impose tariffs on eight European countries, including Denmark, that oppose his plans to gain control of Greenland, further escalating transatlantic tensions.

Landry, who took office in early 2024, had said he planned to visit the island in March.

Last year, US Vice President JD Vances wife, Usha, was scheduled to attend the dog sled race during an American tour of Greenland but withdrew after protests.

The withdrawal of Landrys invitation is seen as a response to local objections, preserving the traditional nature of the event and the associations stance against foreign political interference.

With inputs from agencies
In his latest threat, US President Donald Trump has said the denial of Nobel Peace Prize has ended his obligation to pursue peace in the world. He has used the denial of the prize as a justification to occupy Denmarks Greenland island.

Donald Trump speaks to members of the media at Manhattan Supreme Court amid his hush money trial, in New York, US, May 7, 2024. (Photo: Curtis Means/Pool via Reuters)

In his latest threat, US President Donald Trump has said that the denial of the Nobel Peace Prize has ended his obligation to pursue peace, according to PBS News.

Trump invoked the denial of the Nobel Peace Prize to justify his demand for the American occupation of Denmarks Greenland island.

Trump made these assertions in a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre that the National Security Council (NSC) also forwarded to European ambassadors posted in Washington DC, as per PBS Nick Schifrin.

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Dear Jonas: Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus (sic), I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America, said Trump.

Trump then pivoted to his demand for control of Greenland. He went on to reject Denmarks sovereignty over the island.

Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there also, said Trump.

Asking Nato to deliver Greenland to him, Trump said that the world is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.

The development has come at a time when Trump and his allies have ramped up their campaign to occupy Greenland  forcefully if needed. Last week, he imposed a 10 per cent tariff on Denmark and seven other European countries that have opposed the campaign to occupy Greenland. He said the tariff would increase to 25 per cent if Greenlands control were not handed over to the United States by June.

NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:



Dear Ambassador:



President Trump has asked that the  Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) January 19, 2026

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Trumps repeated threats to invade and occupy Greenland an island belonging to fellow Nato member Denmark and his announcement of punitive tariffs on allies have pushed the alliance to the edge. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that the alliance would be dead if the United States were to make a military move on the island.

Last week, Denmark was joined by fellow Nato members Germany, Sweden, France, and Norway in sending military personnel to Greenland to bolster the islands defences. In the wake of Trumps threats, President Emmanuel Macron said that France would deploy land, air, and sea assets to Greenland to strengthen the islands defences. Without naming Trump, he also criticised a new colonialism that is at work among some actors in the world.

Following Trumps escalation of the campaign to occupy Greenland through a tariff war, the European Union (EU) has discussed whether it should invoke the 'trade bazooka', referring to a never-before-used provision called the anti-coercion instrument (ACI), which the EU adopted in 2023. It allows the EU to punish unfriendly countries for economic blackmail by limiting trade licences and shutting off their access to the blocs single market.

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Ukraines top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said two days of talks with US officials on security guarantees and a post-war recovery plan will continue in Davos

A rescuer works at the site of the apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, on January 9, 2026. (Reuters)

Ukraines top negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Sunday that talks with U.S. officials on a resolution of the nearly four-year-old war with Russia would continue at the World Economic Forum opening this week in the Swiss resort of Davos.

Umerov, writing on Telegram, said two days of talks in Florida with a U.S. team including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trumps son-in-law, had focused on security guarantees and a post-war recovery plan for Ukraine.

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He gave no indication whether any agreements had been achieved at the meeting.

We agreed to continue work at the team level during the next phase of consultations in Davos, Umerov wrote.

The two sides, in the latest of a series of meetings intended to work out the details of an agreement, had discussed in depth the two issues, focusing on practical mechanisms and carrying out and implementing them, Umerov said.

He said his delegation had reported on Russian strikes last week which badly damaged Ukraines energy infrastructure and left hundreds of apartment buildings with no heating or electricity.

Kyivs team, which also included the head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiys office, Kyrylo Budanov, and the head of Zelenskiys parliamentary faction, Davyd Arakhamia, is also seeking clarity from Washington on the Russian stance toward the U.S.-backed diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Washington has pushed Ukraine to agree to a peace framework that it will then present to Moscow, while Kyiv and its European allies have sought to guard against any future attack by Russia.

Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, said it was important to outline the effects of the Russian strikes as they demonstrated that Russia was not interested in diplomacy.

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If the Russians were seriously interested in ending the war, they would have focused on diplomacy, Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

RECOVERING FROM RUSSIAN STRIKES

Zelenskiy said repair crews made up of nearly 58,000 people remained engaged in restoring the heating network as night-time temperatures dip to minus 16 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit).

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said 30 apartment buildings in the capital Kyiv, particularly hard-hit by last weeks attacks, still had no heating.

Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had determined that Russia was conducting reconnaissance on key sites in preparation for strikes, including targets linked to nuclear power stations.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Saturday that there was evidence Russia was considering attacks on power substations supplying nuclear power stations.

Russian officials made no immediate response to a request for comment.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has renewed calls for urgent reform of the UN Security Council, warning that the body no longer reflects todays global realities. His remarks come as India continues to push for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded council.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends the 15th ASEAN - United Nations (UN) Summit, as part of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 27, 2025. Reuters File

As India presses its long-standing claim for a permanent seat at the high table of global decision-making, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has once again stressed the urgent need to reform the UN Security Council, calling the process not just important but essential.

Reforming the Security Council is not just important  it is essential. Those who try to cling to privileges today risk paying the price tomorrow. We must all be bold enough to change. The world is not waiting. Neither should we, Guterres said in a post on X.

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His remarks come amid growing criticism that the Security Council no longer reflects present-day geopolitical realities.

How the Security Council works

The UN Security Council currently consists of five permanent members  the United States, China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom  each of which holds veto power over key resolutions. Alongside them are 10 non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms, without veto rights.

This structure, largely unchanged since 1945, has increasingly been questioned by emerging powers and developing nations.

Indias long-standing push for permanent membership

India is not a permanent member of the council, but it has consistently campaigned for inclusion in a reformed and expanded UNSC. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that securing permanent membership remains one of Indias highest foreign policy priorities.

Addressing Parliament in 2024, Jaishankar said India strongly believes that it has all the credentials to be a permanent member of a reformed and expanded UNSC that reflects contemporary global realities.

UN leadership acknowledges Indias role

Guterres, along with UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, has repeatedly highlighted Indias importance within the UN system. Dujarric has described India as a very important part of the UN system, praising its commitment to multilateralism and its close engagement with the UN leadership.

India is a very important part of the UN system. They are a great supporter of multilateralism India is an important voice within the UN system, Dujarric said last year.

Global backing and recent role

Several major powers, including Russia, the US, France and the UK, have in the past expressed support for Indias bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council. India most recently served as a non-permanent member from 2021 to 2022 and has continued to advocate reforms aimed at making the council more representative, effective and aligned with todays global balance of power.
A United Airlines flight was forced to evacuate after a mechanical issue during landing at Orlando International Airport, with no injuries reported.

A United Airlines flight avoided a crash landing at Orlando International Airport following a mechanical glitch, Fox 35 reported, citing an airline official. The Airbus A321, carrying 200 passengers and six crew members from Chicagos OHare International Airport to Orlando, blocked the runway after experiencing trouble during landing, forcing passengers to evacuate the aircraft immediately.

Videos that went viral on social media showed the aircraft losing its front wheel during the landing. No injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely evacuated.

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WATCH: Delta Boeing 737-800 flight DL1893 from Orlando landed in Austin yesterday with the left wing aft flap detached.

: Shanila Arif pic.twitter.com/C7eI5AdG6Y  Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) August 21, 2025

Following the technical issue, United Airlines arranged buses to transport passengers to the airport terminal. The airline also deployed multiple teams to remove the aircraft from the runway, News on 6 reported.

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting personnel rushed to the scene after the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop due to the aircraft emergency, which was later downgraded to a ground delay. Several flights were delayed as a result.

The cause of the mechanical glitch remains unknown. However, weather conditions may have played a role, with Orlando experiencing rainy, windy and cold conditions on Sunday.

According to Fox 35, wind gusts reached 54 mph at Orlando International Airport, while the nearby Orlando Executive Airport recorded gusts of 56 mph. The National Weather Service later issued a high wind warning for several parts of Brevard County along Floridas east coast.

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The US now requires Bangladeshi nationals applying for B1 and B2 visas to post a refundable $15,000 bond after approval. The measure aims to ensure compliance, with authorities warning against scams and early payments

From January 21, Bangladeshi nationals applying for US B1 and B2 visas must pay a refundable bond of up to $15,000 after their visa is approved.

The US Embassy in Dhaka announced the change this week, pointing out concerns in Washington about past trends of visa overstays and immigration violations involving Bangladeshi visitors. This requirement places Bangladesh among a small group of nationalities now subject to additional financial scrutiny in order to secure a shortterm US entry permit.

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Starting January 21, 2026, all Bangladeshis approved for a B1/B2 (business/tourist) U.S. visa must pay a bond of up to $15,000. This requirement does not apply to people holding a valid B1/B2 visa issued before January 21, 2026.



Do NOT pay your bond in advance. Paying early pic.twitter.com/c7CMmJxQmt  U.S. Embassy Dhaka (@usembassydhaka) January 19, 2026

Who must payand when

The bond will only be required of applicants who are granted a new B1 or B2 visa on or after January 21. Those who hold a valid B1/B2 visa issued before that date are not impacted by the rule.

Importantly, the bond is not a fee to apply for a visa; it is a requirement that comes after the visa has been approved by a consular officer. Only at that point will successful applicants be directed on how and where to submit the bond payment. The money is held as a guarantee that visa holders will respect the terms of their stay in the United States.

US embassy warns against scams

The embassy has issued a particularly strong warning to potential applicants about advance payments and unauthorised channels. Do NOT pay your bond in advance. Paying early does not guarantee you a visa, and thirdparty sites can be scams. Any payment made before your interview is NOT refundable, the embassy posted on its official social media.

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Applicants are urged to rely only on official US government channels and wait until after their visa interview before taking any steps toward payment. Paying through thirdparty websites or before a consular officer has given instructions could lead to loss of money and possible fraud.

Bangladeshs inclusion in the bond programme comes alongside other nations that have shown similar patterns in recent immigration compliance data.
As Democrats look to avoid the mistakes of the 2024 election, they face a critical question: Should Kamala Harris get another chance? By holding early primaries, they want to finalise a nominee quickly to mount a spirited campaign.

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a gala in San Francisco, California, US, on April 30, 2025. (Photo: Jungho Kim/Reuters)

As Democrats look to avoid the mistakes of the 2024 election, they face a critical question: Should Kamala Harris get a second chance?

With Harris as his opponent, Donald Trump secured the biggest victory in decades by winning all the battleground states and the popular vote as well. While Harris supporters have blamed the result on the short campaign caused by Joe Bidens late exit, others have attributed the loss to Harris candidature and argued that there had been no primary capable of finding the party the best possible candidate.

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What complicates the picture, however, is that Harris does have a strong presence in some influential pockets of Democratic voters and has attracted renewed attention lately. Her polling numbers are also decent.

In a YouGov America survey earlier this month, Harris emerged as the favourite of Democrats and Democrat-leaning Independents to be the presidential nominee in 2028 with 20 per cent support. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is also seen as a potential candidate, ranked second with 17 per cent support.

Jan 9-14 poll of 2,250 U.S. adult citizens (+/-2.8 points)

% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents whose ideal choice for the 2028 Democratic presidential nominee is:

Harris 20%

Newsom 17%

Ocasio-Cortez 9%

Buttigieg 8%

Sanders 7%

Kelly 7%

(Link in reply)  YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) January 15, 2026

But support among Democrats does not guarantee support in the broader electorate. Harris has not been able to strike a chord with white men, a demographic that the Democratic Party has lost to the Republican Party in large numbers in recent years.

Harris has attracted support lately  but concerns persist

For one, many see Harris as an extension of Biden, whose final months in office were plagued by concerns about his physical and mental health. He continues to be blamed for the 2024 loss, particularly for his late exit from the race.

Yet Harris remains hugely popular among Black voters  particularly Black women, who are among the Democratic Partys staunchest supporters.

Lately, Harris has picked up support in southern states during a tour. Axios has reported that she has drawn thousands of people to packed auditoriums in New Orleans, Jackson, and Memphis as part of her recently expanded book tour.

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Memphis Mayor Paul Young called Harris a trailblazer whom many of us look up to, according to Axios.

In Jackson, Mayor John Horhn dramatically bowed before Harris and said: You dont know how much you mean to Mississippi. You dont know how much you mean to America.

In an article for Axios, Alex Thompson noted that no potential candidate has spent as much time in southern states as Harris in the run-up to the primaries. One expert said that the support of southern states is essential for any candidate to secure the nomination.

When Black voters broke for Barack Obama starting in South Carolina, he couldnt be beat because so much of the primary goes through the Black Belt and those southern states. If you cant compete with Harris with Black voters, you cant win the South, pollster Cornell Belcher, who worked on Obamas presidential campaigns, told Axios.

But there are concerns that Harris path to the nomination may not lead to election victory. Thompson noted that Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee could help Harris win the Democratic nomination, but all three states are likely to go to the Republican candidate in the 2028 general election  Vice President JD Vance is the presumptive nominee for the 2029 election if Trump does not stand for a third term.

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Europe is reportedly preparing countermeasures after US President Donald Trump threatened steep tariffs on countries opposing his push for control over Greenland. Germany and France said the bloc would respond in unity, warning it would not accept economic blackmail

Europe is drawing up a coordinated response to what it calls US President Donald Trumps tariff blackmail after he threatened to impose trade penalties on countries opposing his push for control over Greenland, Germanys vice chancellor said on Monday.

We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed, Lars Klingbeil told reporters at a press conference in Berlin alongside French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure. Europe will respond with a united, clear response, and we are now preparing countermeasures together with our European partners, he added.

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Trump said on Saturday he would slap tariffs of up to 25 percent on several European countriesincluding Denmark, which administers autonomous Greenlandunless the territory is handed over to the United States.

Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden issued a joint statement over the weekend rejecting the threat.

Three-part European response

Klingbeil outlined three possible elements of Europes response. First, he said the existing tariff arrangement with the United States could be suspended. Second, European tariffs on US importscurrently paused untl early Februarycould be reinstated. Third, the European Union should consider deploying instruments from its toolbox designed to counter economic blackmail.

Lescure echoed Klingbeils assessment, also describing Trumps move as blackmail.

Blackmail between allies of 250 years, blackmail between friends, is obviously unacceptable, the French minister said.

We Europeans must remain united and coordinated in our response and, above all, be prepared to make full use of the instruments available to the European Union, he added. We are determined to defend our sovereignty, he continued.

Lescure said G7 finance ministers would meet in the coming days to discuss urgent issues, including Greenland. France currently holds the rotating chair of the group, of which the United States is also a member.

Klingbeil said Europes patience was wearing thin in the face of repeated threats from Washington.

The limit has been reached, he said, adding that we are constantly experiencing a new confrontation that President Trump is seeking.

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HONOR just introduced the HONOR Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design smartphone in China, as it had promised.

The phone comes in Slate Gray and Moonstone and features the classic Porsche sleek lines inspired by supercars, and the back cover is made of microcrystalline nano-ceramic, touted as the only real ceramic in the market .

It has a Mohs hardness of 8.5 and an A0-grade mirror polish, giving it a warm and smooth feel. The phone is 10% lighter, and the design of the rear camera module is inspired by the classic Porsche matrix headlights.

The phone is powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, with up to 24GB of 10.7Gbps LPDDR5X memory, supports HONOR Hongyan Communication, covering both Tiantong and Beidou satellites. The phone has HONOR Giant Rhino glass, and supports IP68+IP69K dust and water resistance.

It also supports the professional imaging kit, which includes a magnetic camera grip for a better holding experience, which the company says is comparable to a DSLR. The phone case has a 67mm filter adapter ring and can also be fitted with a 200mm Nox telephoto lens, which uses a Kepler lens architecture to bring better telephoto image quality.

The phone also features the AiMAGE color engine, which can restore the colors of the real environment through multi-camera and multi-sensor fusion calculation. AI can be integrated into white balance adjustment and pure color detection. The image stabilization engine is CIPA 6.5 certified , which can make the picture more stable and is said to not blurry even when handheld for 3 seconds with the main camera and telephoto lens.

The phone has 7200mAh silicon-carbon battery, supports 120W wired fast charging and 80W wireless fast charging, and is compatible with the 100W PPS universal fast charging protocol.

HONOR Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design Specifications

6.71-inch (1256 x 2808 pixels) 1.5K 1-120Hz LTPO quad curved OLED Screen with HDR10+, up to 1800 nits global peak brightness, up to 6000 nits HDR peak brightness, 4320Hz High-Frequency PWM Dimming, Giant Rhino Glass protection

Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 3nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 840 GPU

16GB / 42GB LPDDR5X RAM with 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.0 storage

Dual SIM

Magic UI 10.0 (Based on Android 16)

Rear Cameras: 50MP Wide (1/3 f/1.6)+50MP 122 Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.0) with 2.5cm macro + 200MP Telephoto Camera (1/1.49, f/2.6, 3.7X Optical Zoom, 100x Digital Zoom, OIS); 4K video 60fps recording; Rear single LED flash

Front Camera: 50MP Front Camera (f/2.0), 3D Depth camera; 4K 60fps video recording

Dust and Water Resistant (IP68 + IP69 + IP69K)

3D Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, infrared sensor

Dimensions: 161.1575 8.45mm; Weight: 239g

Dual Stereo Speakers with DTS:X Ultra sound effects

5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 7 802.11be (2.4GHz/5GHz) 22 MIMO, Bluetooth 6.0, eidou (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b quad-band), GPS (L1+L5 dual-band), GLONASS (G1), Galileo (E1+E5a+E5b triple-band), QZSS (L1+L5 dual-band), NavIC (L1+L5 dual-band), A-GNSS, USB Type-C USB 3.2 GEN1, NFC

7200mAh (typical) battery with 120W wired SuperCharge and 80W wireless charging Support

Pricing and availability

16GB+512GB: 7999 yuan (USD 1147 / Rs. 1,04,330 approx.)

24GB+1TB: 8999 yuan (USD 1291 / Rs. 1,17,385 approx.)

The phone is now available in China.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Aboul Gheit welcomes formation of Palestinian technocratic committee to administer Gaza

League of Arab States

Date: 18/01/2026

Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, welcomed the announcement of the formation of the Palestinian technocratic committee to administer the Gaza Strip, chaired by Dr Ali Shaath, expressing his appreciation for the efforts of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the rest of the mediators in this regard.

The Secretary-General conveyed his best wishes to the members of the committee for success in their highly important mission of serving the Palestinian people under these difficult circumstances.

Gamal Roshdy, the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that the formation of the committee constitutes an important step towards fulfilling the requirements of the second phase of the Trump peace plan.

The spokesperson further conveyed Mr. Aboul Gheit's appeal to the international community, particularly the United States, which played a leading role in shaping the ceasefire and stabilisation process in Gaza, to act with urgency to remove obstacles and impediments from the path of peace and reconstruction in the Strip. This includes confronting Israel's continued procrastination in evading the obligations of the second phase, foremost among them withdrawal from the Strip, and ensuring the unimpeded and sustained entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

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OIC General Secretariat Welcomes the Start of the Second Phase and the Formation of a Palestinian Committee to Administer the Gaza Strip, and Affirms theUunity of Palestinian Territory

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

18-01-2026

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the start of the second phase of the comprehensive peace plan under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, as well as the announcement of the formation of the Palestinian committee to administer the Gaza Strip as a temporary transitional body.

The OIC General Secretariat also emphasizes the need to preserve the geographical and institutional unity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the occupied city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), and to pressure the Israeli occupation to stop all its crimes and policies aimed at undermining the two-state solution, including its policies of annexation, settlement, Judaization of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), forced displacement, and settler terrorism, and to compel it to release Palestinian tax funds that are being held illegally.

It also stressed the need to enable the Palestinian government to exercise its authority over all Palestinian territories, with a view to ending the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and achieving an independent Palestinian state with East Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital, based on United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

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Press Remarks by the Spokesperson

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In response to media queries, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tahir Andrabi, stated the following:

The Prime Minister of Pakistan has received the invitation from the President of the United States to join the Board of Peace on Gaza. Pakistan will remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

Islamabad

18 January 2026

20/2026

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EU mulls over $100bn in US retaliatory tariffs over Greenland

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 10:19 PM

The European Union says it is preparing a major package of financial countermeasures against the US in response to Washington's threats against the bloc over Greenland.

The plan, if approved, would impose more than 100 billion dollars in tariffs on US firms or restrict American companies' access to the bloc's market.

EU leaders said the tariff package will come into effect automatically if there is no agreement with the US after it threatened to impose tariffs on European allies over Greenland.

EU diplomats later said the bloc will wait until February 1st before implementing retaliatory measures, if the US imposes tariffs then.

Separately, European leaders on Sunday slammed US President Donald Trump's threat of tariffs over their opposition to his designs on Greenland, warning transatlantic ties were at risk.

European countries, including Denmark, of which Greenland is an autonomous territory, said they "stand united" against Trump's vow on Saturday to hit them with tariffs of up to 25 percent unless Greenland is ceded to the United States.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden warned in a joint statement, according to AFP.

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Trump's ultimatum threatened the world order "as we know it" and the future of the NATO military alliance.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken to Trump about "the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic" and hoped to talk again at this week's Davos summit. He did not elaborate on their conversation.

The European Council said it was calling a summit of EU leaders in the coming days, following a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on Sunday.

Trade deal threatened

The bloc clinched a deal with Washington in July for most EU exports to face a 15-percent US levy.

It was unclear how Trump's threatened tariffs would work against that deal.

"I don't believe that this agreement is possible in the current situation," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told ARD television.

Aides to French President Emmanuel Macron said he would ask the EU to activate a never-before-used "anti-coercion instrument" against Washington if Trump makes good on his additional tariffs.

This measure allows for curbing imports of goods and services into the EU, a market of 27 countries with a combined population of 450 million.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to seize Greenland since returning to the White House for a second term.

His rhetoric towards that goal has hardened since he ordered a military operation against Venezuela early this month to capture its leader, Nicolas Maduro.

'Blackmail'

Trump and his administration have argued that Greenland coming under US rule would serve American "national security".

He and his aides have also argued that Denmark, a fellow NATO member, would be unable to defend Greenland should Russia or China ever seek to invade.

Denmark and several of its European NATO allies responded by recently sending small numbers of military personnel to Greenland for an exercise, to which the US was also invited.

And on Saturday, thousands of people in Greenland and Denmark protested against the US push to control the Arctic island.

"Make America Go Away" read the wording on caps worn by many demonstrators, riffing on Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.

Trump responded Saturday with his threat to slap goods coming into the US from Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland with 10-percent tariffs starting February 1.

They would rise to 25 percent from June 1 "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland", Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Even Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of Trump's closest European allies, baulked at the threat.

"I believe that imposing new sanctions today would be a mistake," she told journalists during a trip to Seoul.

"I spoke to Donald Trump a few hours ago and told him what I think," she added.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it "completely wrong", and said he planned to discuss the situation with Trump "at the earliest opportunity".

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel denounced Trump's threat as an "inexplicable" form of "blackmail".

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Sudan is scene of 'horror and hell': UN rights chief

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 7:21 PM

The United Nations rights chief has warned that the Sudanese people are trapped in a scene of "horror and hell."

Speaking to reporters in Port Sudan on Sunday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the continued fighting between the rivaling forces in the African country has plunged the nation into a scene of "horror and hell."

Turk called on the fighting sides in Sudan to put an end to war crimes and crimes against humanity reported against the fighting sides since the conflict erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

He said he had met with the Sudanese people while traveling through different parts of the country during his visits to Dongola, Ad Dabba and Merowe over the past days, where he witnessed the population facing acute food insecurity and displacement. "I have met with those who have been hardest hit by brutal violence and injustice in this war."

Turk insisted that in order to sense the pain inflicted on these people, "the commanders of this conflict, and those who are arming, funding, and profiting from this war, need to hear what the victims had to say."

Aisha, 20, said that in October, she was fleeing with her family from the violence in El Fasher, towards the village of Garni, when they were surrounded by armed men on camels.

Turk said the UN agency was receiving more and more reports and testimonies from women who had been raped. "So many provided testimony of detained, disappeared and missing family members and friends."

"Sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war. This is a war crime. And we have more and more indications that this is widespread and systematic."

Turk pointed out that the extent and range of pain and damage inflicted on the Sudanese people is greater than one can imagine and may include trauma from "intolerable attacks against civilian objects that are indispensable to the civilian population, including markets, health facilities, schools and shelters."

"The terrifying experiences of these survivors must provoke action to end this conflict," the UN rights chief stressed, emphasizing that in the meantime, relief agencies needed to be supported to ensure that the victims "can access what they need: medical care, psychosocial care, justice and support to pursue education and a livelihood."

Meanwhile, foreign countries are said to be responsible for the humanitarian crisis worsening day by day in Sudan. There have been multiple reports of foreign countries making profits through doing business with the warring sides, funding the ongoing conflict.

In Sudan, the SAF is said to have connections with Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, while the RSF is reportedly linked to the United Arab Emirates.

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EU leaders say they won't be 'blackmailed' by Trump's Greenland tariffs threat

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 2:59 PM

US President Donald Trump's threat of sanctions against the European countries that reject any American claim to Greenland has prompted a coordinated response from European countries.

The Europeans vowed to uphold their backing for Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and Denmark's sovereignty.

Trump renewed his threat on Saturday, warning that eight European allies would face escalating tariffs if a deal is not reached for Washington to "buy" the Arctic territory.

He said eight NATO members' goods sent to the US will face the tariffs "until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland."

The proposed tariffs would target Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland.

European leaders were quick to react to Trump's latest threat, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa saying in a joint statement that the 27-member bloc "stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland."

"Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty," they wrote in a post on X, adding that Trump's threats "would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."

In a separate post, French President Emmanuel Macron called the US leader's latest threat "unacceptable."

"No intimidation or threat will influence us - neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations," he wrote.

The French leader said European countries "will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a similar stance, warning that "applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong." His Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni also described the threat as an "error."

Meloni said she had already had a phone conversation with Trump and told him she "doesn't agree" with the idea of imposing tariffs against countries that contribute to Greenland's security.

An emergency meeting of EU ambassadors will also take place in Brussels on Sunday in response to Trump's threats regarding Greenland.

Trump claims that the semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark is vital to US security because of its strategic location and mineral deposits, and has not ruled out using force to take it.

In a social media post Saturday, he openly admitted that the US needed possession of Greenland to counter what he called Chinese and Russian threats in the Arctic.

Thousands of protesters in Denmark and Greenland took to the streets on Saturday, calling for Trump to leave the Arctic island to determine its own future.

Denmark's foreign minister said he will visit Oslo on Sunday to discuss the need for NATO countries to boost their coordination, presence and deterrence in the Arctic.

"What our countries have in common is that we all agree that NATO's role in the Arctic must be strengthened, and I look forward to discussing how," Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement.

Sweden also announced on Saturday that it had begun intensive discussions with other EU countries, as well as Britain and Norway, to coordinate a response.

"We will not let ourselves be blackmailed," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said.

Finland's president, Alexander Stubb, urged NATO allies to resolve their differences through discussion, not pressure. He said, "Dialogue with the United States continues."

Meanwhile, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere claimed there was broad agreement in NATO to strengthen security in the Arctic. "Threats have no place among allies. Norway's position is firm: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark."

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also warned that any military action by the US against Denmark's Arctic island would damage NATO.

As Trump ramps up his threats on Greenland, EU leaders contemplate ways of retaliating against Washington. They say one option for Europe is to suspend the implementation of the reduction of tariffs on US goods and activate its biggest trade weapon against Washington.

Europe's so-called Anti-Coercion Instrument, known as "bazooka," would allow the bloc to impose tariffs and investment limits against Washington.

Macron's office said on Sunday that the president "will be in contact all day with his European counterparts and will ask, in the name of France, for the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument."

Many observers, however, say even at the height of tensions between Europe and the US, EU leaders stopped short of retaliating against Washington, arguing that the risk of having the United States pull out of the NATO military alliance was greater than any bad trade deal.

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Trump demands countries pay $1 bn to join Gaza 'Board of Peace': Report

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 10:27 AM

The administration of US President Donald Trump is demanding that countries contribute at least $1 billion if they want a permanent position on his so-called Gaza Board of Peace, a report says.

According to a draft charter for the proposed board and cited by Bloomsburg on Sunday, no member state may "serve a term of more than three years from this Charter's entry into force," unless it "contributes more than 1,000,000,000 USD in cash funds to the Board of Peace."

The draft gives Trump sweeping powers as the inaugural chairman. He would decide which countries are invited, approve meeting agendas, call extra sessions, remove members, and even designate his successor. While decisions are to be made by majority vote, all would require the chairman's approval.

The plan appears designed as a direct alternative to the United Nations, which Trump has repeatedly criticized.

According to the charter, the board "seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict."

The organization would officially launch once three member states endorse the charter.

Trump has invited figures, including Argentina's Javier Milei and Canada's Mark Carney, to join a Gaza-focused panel under the board.

Several European countries have also been approached, though some officials object to Trump's control over the board's funds.

The White House announced the first executive panel on Friday, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The new board is intended to drive the second phase of Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan, despite Israel's repeated violations of the first phase, which began under a ceasefire agreement on October 10, 2025, between the occupying entity and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Phase one aimed to halt the Israeli aggression immediately, facilitate the exchange of captives, set boundaries for Israeli withdrawal in Gaza, allow humanitarian aid to enter fully, and open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

While daily Israeli attacks have reportedly decreased since the ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 451 Palestinians and injured 1,251, averaging nearly five deaths each day since October 10.

Under the agreement, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian abductees and returned 27 of the 28 bodies of deceased captives. The remaining body is believed to be buried under rubble caused by Israeli bombings. However, Israel has failed to release all women and child captives as stipulated in the agreement.

Furthermore, the Israeli military has not fully withdrawn to the designated "yellow line" and continues to restrict aid, while the Rafah crossing remains closed.

Since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 172,000 wounded, the vast majority of them women and children.

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UK Stance on US Purchase of Greenland Remains 'Non-Negotiable' - Culture Secretary

Sputnik News

20260118

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Greenland and its citizens should themselves determine the future of the country, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy said on Sunday, adding that the UK government's stance on this matter remains "non-negotiable."

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland in February, which would later increase to 25% and remain in effect until the United States signs a deal on the purchase of Greenland.

"The future of Greenland is for the people of Greenland and the people of the Kingdom of Denmark to determine, and for them alone. We have been consistent about that ... Our position on Greenland is non-negotiable. We have made that very clear," Nandy told Sky News.

When asked if the UK would support the US purchase of Greenland, Nandy said that the government "would not support anything" that the people of Greenland and Denmark themselves do not support.

On Saturday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump's decision to introduce tariffs "completely wrong" and vowed to discuss the issue with the White House.

Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland should become part of the United States, citing its strategic importance for national security. Denmark's and Greenland's authorities have warned the US against seizing the island, stressing that they expect respect for their shared territorial integrity.

The island was a Danish colony until 1953. It has remained a part of the Kingdom of Denmark after gaining autonomy in 2009, with the ability to self-govern and determine its own domestic policy.

 Sputnik

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Trump Wants to Buy More Icebreakers to Patrol Off Canada - Reports

Sputnik News

20260118

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in purchasing additional icebreakers to patrol waters off Canada, NBC News reported on Sunday, citing US officials.

Trump has expressed interest in acquiring more icebreakers for maritime patrols off Canada, which could be funded through the US defense budget for next year, the report said.

Trump has serious concerns about Canada's vulnerability to US opponents in the Arctic, officials said.

"The world doesn't see Canada as a major force when it comes to defense," a senior official said.

In early October, Trump said the US had ordered 11 icebreakers from Finland, with four to be built at Finnish shipyards and the rest in the United States.

In late November, Trump said the US lags significantly behind Russia in terms of the size of its icebreaker fleet.

 Sputnik

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Dutch Foreign Minister Calls Trump's Tariff Threats 'Blackmail'

Sputnik News

20260118

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel on Sunday called US President Donald Trump's threats to introduce tariffs on several European countries over Greenland blackmail.

On Saturday, Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland in February, which would later increase to 25% and remain in effect until the United States signs a deal on the purchase of Greenland.

"Allies do not treat each other like this ... What is happening is blackmail. And there is no need for it, because it does not help strengthen the alliance. It also does not contribute to security of Greenland," van Weel told the NPO 1 TV broadcaster.

The foreign minister added that he was very surprised by the rapid escalation that occurred in recent days, especially after the meeting between the US, Denmark, and Greenland on January 14.

"Denmark made a request: 'Join us, a few more countries, to show the US that we take security seriously.' It was positive intention. And then you are punished for it," van Weel said.

Jesse Klaver, leader of the Dutch GreenLeft-Labor (GroenLinks-PvdA) alliance in the parliament said that Europe should take "swift, united, and decisive response" to Trump's threat and "set boundaries," rather than going along.

On January 17, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said that the Netherlands would send not one but two officers to Greenland to conduct a joint reconnaissance mission alongside NATO allies.

Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland should become part of the US, citing its strategic importance for national security. Denmark's and Greenland's authorities have warned the US against seizing the island, stressing that they expect respect for their shared territorial integrity.

The island was a Danish colony until 1953. It has remained a part of the Kingdom of Denmark after gaining autonomy in 2009, with the ability to self-govern and determine its own domestic policy.

 Sputnik

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US DEA Labeled Venezuela's Rodriguez as 'Priority Target' in 2022 - Reports

Sputnik News

20260118

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) designated current Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez as a priority target in 2022, the Associated Press reported citing documents and US law enforcement officials.

Rodriguez had been on the DEA's radar for years and was even designated a "priority target" in 2022, a designation used for individuals the DEA believes have "significant impact" on the drug trade, the agency said citing documents and several current and former US law enforcement officials.

According to the agency, a detailed dossier on Rodriguez was created no later than 2018. Moreover, in early 2021, a DEA source alleged that Rodriguez was engaged in money laundering. Her name is mentioned in approximately ten DEA investigations, some of which are still ongoing, it said.

At the same time, the Associated Press noted that the US government had never publicly accused Rodriguez of any wrongdoing.

On January 3, the US launched a massive attack on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and taking them to New York. According to US authorities, they were allegedly involved in "narco-terrorism."

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people, called for the release of Maduro and his wife, and for the prevention of further escalation. Beijing, following Moscow, called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, emphasizing that US actions violate international law.

 Sputnik

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Finland Calls Out Trump's Tariffs Over Greenland: 'This is a Power Play'

Sputnik News

20260118

Finnish lawmakers are calling on Europe to shake off its reliance on the US after Donald Trump announced tariffs against eight European countries opposing his plan to seize control of Greenland, Iltalehti reports.

Jarno Limnell, a Finnish MP from the National Coalition Party, said Trump's threats signal a sharp and unacceptable shift in US foreign policy toward its allies.

"This is not trade  it's a geopolitical power play," he was quoted as saying.

"It has long been clear that Europe must break free from its strategic dependencies. This doesn't just apply to our old enemies, but regrettably also to our traditional friends",  wrote Atte Kaleva, another MP from the same party, on X.

According to Henri Vanhanen, a former official at Finland's Foreign Ministry, Trump's threats are aimed specifically at countries sending troops or liaison officers to Greenland.

"I believe the sensitivity of this issue was understood, but it really does seem complicated. The changes will be reviewed once again in the United States," he said.

Trump said that the US will introduce a 10% tariff against eight European countries in February, which will later increase to 25% should a deal for the US to purchase Greenland is not reached.

 Sputnik

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Trump Wants Countries to Pay $1Bln for Permanent Seat in Gaza Board of Peace - Reports

Sputnik News

20260118

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The administration of US President Donald Trump is asking countries to pay over $1 billion for the right to a permanent seat on the Gaza Board of Peace, Bloomberg reported citing the board's draft charter.

Trump previously announced the formation of a Gaza Board of Peace, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, the US leader's son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and US Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel.

"Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter's entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter's entry into force," the draft document says, as quoted by the agency.

According to Bloomberg, Trump will be the first chairman of the council and will personally decide which countries will be invited. Decisions will be made by majority vote, but all decisions are subject to confirmation by the chairman. The document also states that Trump will be responsible for approving the official seal of the group.

In mid-November 2025, the UN Security Council approved a US-proposed resolution supporting Trump's comprehensive plan for a settlement in the Gaza Strip. Thirteen of the 15 council members supported it, with Russia and China abstaining. The US plan for Gaza proposes temporary international governance of the Strip and the creation of a "peace council" chaired by Trump. It also provides for a military mandate for an international stabilization force to be deployed in coordination with Israel and Egypt. There is currently no information on the composition of the peacekeeping force.

Trump's Gaza plan excludes any direct or indirect involvement of Hamas in the future governance of the Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that Israel was determined to achieve the complete military and political elimination of the group.

 Sputnik

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EU inks trade deal with Mercosur despite farmers' fierce opposition; 'huge amount' of agricultural products likely to be redirected to bloc

Global Times

By Ma Tong Published: Jan 19, 2026 10:39 AM

The EU on Saturday formally signed a free trade agreement with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), despite facing fierce opposition from EU farmers. Amid some changes in the international market, the deal, once it enters into force, could redirect a huge number of agricultural products from South America to the EU market, a senior Chinese industry expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.

Industry leaders and trade experts said the agreement, reached amid rising global protectionism, signals a positive move toward market opening and multilateral cooperation, but warned that if implemented, the deal could accelerate trade diversion toward the EU, with an expected influx of South American agricultural products placing added pressure on European farmers already under strain.

Under the agreement, the EU and Mercosur aim to create a market of more than 700 million people, accounting for roughly a quarter of global GDP and ranking among the world's largest free trade zones. The two sides pledged to eliminate tariffs on more than 90 percent of goods traded bilaterally and to establish common rules governing industrial and agricultural trade, investment and regulatory cooperation.

The deal is expected to facilitate market access for European exports such as automobiles, machinery and wine, while easing entry for Mercosur agricultural products including meat, sugar, honey and soybeans, according to Xinhua.

EU and Mercosur leaders have framed the pact as a milestone for trade diversification and multilateralism. At the signing ceremony, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen described it as a moment of "connecting continents," saying both sides were choosing fair trade over tariff barriers, according to Bloomberg. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hailed the agreement as a "victory for multilateralism" in a social media post.

Yet analysts caution that trade diversification does not automatically translate into gains for all sectors. Shifts in trade patterns often intensify internal competition, with agriculture - where profit margins are thin and costs are difficult to pass on - typically bearing the greatest pressure.

That dynamic helps explain why consensus within Europe remains elusive. Although the agreement has been signed, it still requires approval by the European Parliament before it can take effect.

The signing on Saturday was expected to take place in December but was postponed after resistance from some countries led by France, where farmers protested over fears of being undercut by cheaper produce from Mercosur, Financial Times reported.

Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, said that farmers' groups in major agricultural countries such as France, Spain and Italy have long been the main opponents of such agreements, and their political influence should not be underestimated.

According to the report, the European Parliament will vote on Wednesday on a motion that could refer the agreement to the European Court of Justice, potentially delaying ratification by around 18 months. Four MEPs and EU officials told the FT they expect the motion to be rejected, with a final vote anticipated around May, though the Greens and the far-right Patriots are likely to oppose the deal.

If Mercosur agricultural products gain expanded access to the EU market, the impact on European agriculture could be substantial, potentially increasing unemployment risks among farmers, said Chen Fengying, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Sunday.

After EU member state representatives voted to approve the deal on January 9, Copa-Cogeca, the EU's main body representing farmers and agricultural cooperatives, said the agreement remains "fundamentally unbalanced and flawed," pledging continued mobilization ahead of the European Parliament vote.

For farmers whose profit margins are already narrow and who rely heavily on policy support, even a limited increase in import quotas could generate market pressure far exceeding expectations, Yu Lu, vice chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce, told the Global Times on the same day.

Market pressures

In the days leading up to the final signing, farmers' protests erupted in Paris, with around 350 tractors rolling through the French capital to protest low incomes and EU-South America trade agreements they believe threaten their livelihoods, according to Euronews.

French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard acknowledged that farmers' anger was "deep" and their demands "legitimate," according to Euronews. The ministry announced 300 million in support measures, though the package -largely tied to adoption of the 2026 budget -failed to quell protests.

Polish farmers also staged protests last week, warning that low-cost agricultural imports from countries such as Brazil and Argentina could undermine domestic farming and food security, Xinhua reported earlier.

Yu noted that Mercosur countries benefit from natural conditions and large-scale production, giving them cost and supply advantages that translate into more competitive pricing. EU agricultural products, while known for higher standards and quality, are generally more expensive.

Data released on January 15 by Brazil's Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA) showed the country's total grain output reached 346.1 million tons in 2025, up 18.2 percent year on year and the highest level since records began in 1975. Output of soybeans, corn, cotton and robusta coffee all hit record highs.

Based on these comparative advantages, Yu said that while high-end market segments in Europe may continue to favor EU products, Mercosur exports are likely to be more competitive in meeting basic demand, intensifying pressure on European agriculture.

According to the European Commission, the EU is Mercosur's second-largest trading partner in goods, after China and ahead of the US, accounting for 16.8 percent of Mercosur's total trade in 2024. That year, EU agricultural imports from Mercosur rose 4.2 percent, led by an 18.7 percent increase from Argentina. Import growth strengthened in 2025, with EU imports from the bloc up 7.5 percent year on year in the first 11 months.

The EU-Mercosur agreement is expected to deepen economic ties and lower tariff barriers, but its long-term viability will hinge on how policymakers manage uneven sectoral impacts and whether political actors judge that overall gains justify localized costs, analysts said.

By contrast, analysts point to China's approach to agricultural trade as offering a different reference point. Yu said China ranked second globally in agricultural imports in 2024, accounting for 10.2 percent of the world total, underscoring the openness and stability of its market and its willingness to share demand with global trading partners.

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Navy's new offshore patrol vessel Rajah Sulayman arrives in PH

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

January 19, 2026, 9:32 am

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) on Monday announced that one of the six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) it ordered from South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the prospective Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), arrived in the country on Jan. 17.

The vessel is scheduled for technical inspection and assessment before it is commissioned and officially accepted into service.

"The PN's newest OPV, the future BRP Rajah Sulayman (PS-20), has arrived in the country from South Korea, which marks another significant addition to the Navy's growing modern fleet, on January 17, 2026," PN public affairs office chief Commander Marie Angelica Sisican said in a statement.

South Korean media earlier reported that the ship departed Ulsan on Jan. 13 for its voyage to the Philippines. Upon entering Philippine waters, the vessel was met off the coast of Zambales by the country's first guided-missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), in accordance with standard naval protocols.

"After completing coordination and meeting procedures at sea, the future BRP Rajah Sulayman will begin post-delivery activities and technical checks," Sisican said.

She added that BRP Rajah Sulayman is scheduled to undergo acceptance and pre-commissioning processes before its formal entry into active service.

"(This) underscores the PN's commitment to strengthening its maritime defense and law enforcement capabilities through a modern, multi-domain, and self-reliant force," Sisican said.

BRP Rajah Sulayman was launched on June 11, 2025, at the HD HHI shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea.

The BRP Rajah Sulayman is the first of the six OPVs ordered from shipbuilder HD HHI, worth around PHP30 billion in 2022. (PNA)

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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 January 2026 - Day 1425

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 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 126 combat clashes.

Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression.

Russian zagarbniki made 78 aviation strikes, dropping 199 controlled air bombs. In addition, 5355 kamikaze drones were recruited to impress and carried out 2985 shelling of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the North-Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, one Russian attack took place. The Russian enemy made one aviation strike, dropping two controlled air bombs, carried out 87 shelling, including one from the jet system of arson fire.

Today, Russian forces attacked 10 times in the South-Slobozhansky direction, in the areas of the settlements Vovchansk, Staritsya and towards Grafsky, Nesternoy, Kruglogi. Two clashes are now underway.

In the Kupians komu direction, the Russian opponent tried five times to push Ukrainian units out of occupied positions in the area of Pi 'any and towards Kurilivka, Petropavlivka, Borivs koi Andriyivka.

In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces were repelled four assault actions in the area of Yampol and towards the settlements of Stavka, Oleksandrivka. One battle is going on.

In the Slovak direction, the Russian enemy attacked three times in the area of the settlement point of pazeno and towards rai-oleksandrivka.

In the direction of Kramators komu, the Russian enemy did not carry out offensive actions.

15 combat clashes took place in the Konstantinivsky direction today. Russian troops tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units near the settlements of Konstantinivka, Oleksandro-Shultine, Scherbinivka, Ivanopilya, Kleban-Bik and towards Berestko, Stepanivka, Sofiyivka.

On the Pokrovsky direction from the beginning of this day, the Russian opponent 39 times attacked in the areas of the settlements of Nikanorivka, Rodinske, Chervony Lyman, Kotline, Udacne and towards Fili and Novopavlivka.

Today, according to preliminary data, 106 Russian occupants have been defecated in this direction, 64 of which are irrevocable. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed four units of automobile equipment, two ATVs, 35 unmanned aircraft, nine communication antennas, a REB device, three control points, two control points of BPLA and three shelters for the Russian enemy's personnel. Also hit one artillery system, six units of vehicle equipment, two REB vehicles, 12 shells for the Russian enemy's personnel.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attacks in the direction of Ivanivka, new Zaporizhia , Radisnogo. The village of Hvili suffered an air strike.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, 16 clashes took place, in the areas of the settlements of Gulyaypole, Zelene and towards Varvarivka and Dobropillya. Two of them going on now. Under the Russian airstrikes were gulyajpole, vozdvizivka, upper tersa, zaliznycne, valley.

In the Orihiv direction, the Russian enemy twice tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the area of the settlement of Plavna. The settlements of Yellow Kruch and Tavriyske suffered airstrikes.

In the pridniprovsk direction, at the moment the Russian offensive actions is not recorded.

In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

The Sever Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops hit formations of one mechanised brigade, one air assault brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades close to Rogoznoye, Novaya Sech, Yastrebinoye, Pisarevka, and Miropolye (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, Russian servicmen launched attacks on units of two heavy mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, two territorial defence brigades, and one border security detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine close to Vatutino, Prikolotnoye, Ryasnoye, Pokalyanoye, Okhrimovka, and Zeleny Gai (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were more than 175 troops, 24 motor vehicles, five field artillery guns, one Israeli-made RADA radar station, one electronic warfare station, and four materiel depots.

The Zapad Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian troops delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, two assault brigades, one airmobile brigade, one air assault brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and two National Guard brigades close to Blagodatovka, Berezovka, Novoosinovo, Petrovka, Kutkovka, Nechvolodovka (Kharkov region) Yarovaya, and Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 200 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, and two ammunition depots.

The Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops launched attacks on of four mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigades, and one motorised infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Slavyansk, Kurtovka, Kramatorsk, Vasyutinskoye, Druzhkovka, Konstantinovka, and Malinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 135 troops, one M113 armoured personnel carrier, one U.S.-made Stryker armoured personnel carrier, five armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, four field artillery guns including two Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery systems, and one electronic warfare station.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line. Russian troops inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one air assault brigade, three assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, the Azov Special Operations Brigade, and four National Guard brigades close to Gavrilovka, Novopavlovka, Fedorovskoye, Novopodgornoye (Dnepropetrovsk region), Artemovka, Annovka, Belitskoye, Spassko-Mikhaylovka, and Grishino (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 455 troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, three Kazak armoured vehicles, four pickup trucks, three artillery guns, and one Israeli-made RADA radar station.

The Vostok Group of Forces' units continued to advance into the depths of enemy defences. Russian troops hit manpower ad hardware of one mechanised brigade, two assault brigades, four assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one marine brigade near Rizdvyanka, Zaliznichnoye, Rozovka, Vozdvizhenka, Staroukrainka, Dorozhnyanka, Tsvetkovoye, Ternovatoye (Zaporozhye region), and Malomikhaylovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The enemy losses were more than 205 troops, three armoured personnel carriers, eight motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns including one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer. In addition, one material depot was destroyed.

The Dnepr Group of Forces' units inflicted fire damage on formations of one mechanised brigade, one mountain assault brigade, and one coastal defence brigade near Orekhov, Magdalinovka (Zaporozhye region) and Antonovka (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were up to 40 Ukrainian troops, one Osa-AKM SAM system combat vehicle, four motor vehicles, one artillery gun, two electronic warfare stations, and one materiel depot.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted fire damage on long-range unmanned aerial vehicle assembly areas, power and transport infrastructure facilities that supported the AFU as well as temporary deployment areas of AFU and foreign mercenaries in 149 areas.

Air defence systems shot down six guided aerial bombs, nine U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 220 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 670 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 109,778 unmanned aerial vehicles, 646 anti-aircraft missile systems, 27,192 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,642 MLRS combat vehicles, 32,662 field artillery guns and mortars, and 52,152 support military vehicles.

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Pentagon prepares 1,500 soldiers to deploy for Minnesota protests crackdown

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 11:18 AM

The Pentagon has ordered some 1,500 active-duty soldiers to be prepared to deploy for crackdown on protests in Minnesota.

After the killing of an innocent woman by immigration agents sparked angry protests in Minnesota, US President Donald Trump said he would invoke the Insurrection Act.

He said last week that he would send soldiers in to help the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents there "do their job."

US Defense Department officials told The Washington Post on Saturday that after Trump's warning, the Pentagon had decided to prepare some troops for the possible deployment to Minnesota.

In a social media post on Thursday, Trump threatened to use the centuries-old law Insurrection Act, to crack down on the protesters in Minnesota.

"If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don't obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of ICE, who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump alone is the only US official authorized to decide whether and when to send troops to Minnesota.

Despite freezing temperatures, protesters have continued to stage rallies on a daily basis, decrying the violence and the mass gathering of federal agents in the area as intimidation of US society, rather than a legitimate law enforcement operation.

In an 83-page ruling released on Friday, US District Judge Katherine Menendez issued an injunction, reminding the federal agents across the United States that they are not allowed to arrest or retaliate against peaceful protesters or use "pepper-spray or similar nonlethal munitions and crowd dispersal tools" against them.

The ruling came at a time when widespread protests and political tension had gripped Minneapolis - Minnesota's largest city - following two recent shootings involving federal immigration agents. Those include the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, by an I.C.E. agent.

Experts say Judge Menendez's ruling represents a rare check on federal overreach and underscores the tension between different factions in US society.

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U.S. Minneapolis shooting continues to fuel debate as protests, partisan clash intensify

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:39, January 19, 2026

The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, United States, has sparked nationwide protests and intensified clashes between the federal government and local authorities, raising fears of further unrest and highlighting deep partisan and law enforcement tensions.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The fatal shooting of a U.S. woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis has continued to stoke tensions locally and nationwide, as state and federal officials sharply clash over how the incident unfolded and should be handled.

Protests showed signs of escalation following another ICE agent shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg in the same area exactly a week later. Mayor Jacob Frey recently said that the situation in the city is "not sustainable."

The incident has become a battleground of competing narratives, with partisan leaders using it to intensify political conflict. Observers believe that tensions between federal and local governments could deepen, and confrontations between the public and law enforcement may further escalate.

ONE INCIDENT, TWO NARRATIVES

On Jan. 7 in Minneapolis, 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a federal enforcement operation, sparking widespread controversy nationwide.

The shooting has generated markedly divergent accounts of what happened, amplified by partisan conflict and ideological division.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended the ICE agent, claiming the woman attempted to run over officers in what they called "an act of domestic terrorism."

"The woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self-defense," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Frey, meanwhile, argued that video footage indicates that Good did not pose a threat and that the agent acted recklessly. "This was a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying," said the mayor.

The Trump administration recently announced it is sending 2,000 immigration agents to the Minneapolis area amid allegations of welfare fraud involving immigrants in Minnesota. The number of newly dispatched ICE and Border Patrol agents has since increased to nearly 3,000.

Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have demanded that ICE leave the city and state immediately, arguing that the presence of ICE is causing chaos.

U.S. media reported on Friday that the Justice Department is investigating Minnesota officials, including Walz and Frey, for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement operations in the state, a further escalation in the administration's clash with Democratic leaders.

"Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her," Waltz said in a statement.

Amid the dispute, the FBI has taken full control of the case, limiting Minnesota authorities' access to evidence -- a move Walz criticized as undermining transparency and impartiality, and that "people in positions of power have already passed judgment."

Meanwhile, the Minnesota National Guard has been mobilized as tensions remain high. In a post on X, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said that the Minnesota National Guard had been mobilized and was staging to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies at the direction of Governor Walz.

TENSIONS SPIKE, FEARS MOUNT

Exactly one week after the fatal shooting, debates over whether the situation reflects justified enforcement or dangerous escalation have continued to intensify.

With rhetoric heating up on both sides, observers say the clash between the Republican-led federal government and Democratic-led local authorities could deepen, and confrontations between the public and federal agents could escalate further, potentially leading to additional chaos.

Protests erupted in the area following Good's death. On the morning of Jan. 8, a group of demonstrators clashed with federal law enforcement outside a federal building in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Fully armed federal officers used tear gas to drive protesters across the street, and some demonstrators were detained on the snow-covered ground.

On the evening of Jan. 9, more than 1,000 protesters gathered in downtown Minneapolis, resulting in at least 30 arrests.

On Jan. 10, despite freezing temperatures and howling winds, tens of thousands marched in Minneapolis to express their outrage over the ICE agent's fatal shooting. Nationwide protests flared in major cities across the country, including New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Seattle, with demonstrators calling for changes to federal immigration enforcement and an end to ICE operations.

"The graphic video of the shooting has galvanized protesters across America who feel it is a gross injustice and want an independent investigation. The ICE agents seem less well-trained than police officers and don't have the same ability to de-escalate personal confrontations," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua, adding that "many worry that the same thing could happen elsewhere."

Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, told Xinhua that "this is the predictable outcome of the militarization of police forces, the hiring of masked thugs armed to the teeth, and the ugly branding of anyone who disagrees with this administration as 'the enemy.'"

Large crowds have gathered in response to the second shooting, with some demonstrators clashing with federal agents -- resulting in local authorities declaring an "unlawful assembly."

Trump has even threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, an 1807 federal law that gives the president authority to deploy the U.S. military domestically under certain extreme circumstances.

Amid the unrest, a federal judge in Minnesota ordered agents not to retaliate against people "engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity" and not to use pepper spray or other "crowd dispersal tools." The judge also said agents could not stop or detain protesters in vehicles who were not "forcibly obstructing or interfering with" them.

Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, told Xinhua that he absolutely expects such incidents to happen again in the future.

"ICE, DHS (the Department of Homeland Security), and the White House have shown no indications that they are rethinking their approach to these deployments, and probably see the chaos and protests as beneficial to them. I think they are wrong to think this, but we'll just have to see what happens," Galdieri said.

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US Justice Department refuses probe into killing of Minneapolis mother

Iran Press TV

Monday, 19 January 2026 5:24 AM

The US Justice Department has confirmed it is not opening a criminal or civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday that the department would not investigate the January 7 shooting of Renee Good, in which ICE agent Jonathan Ross killed the Minneapolis mother at close range.

The incident occurred less than a mile from the site where George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police in May 2020.

The killing of Good was captured on at least five videos, including footage recorded by Ross himself.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Blanche dismissed calls for a federal investigation, including those voiced by Minnesota governor Tim Walz, saying publicly available video evidence showed the agent had acted in "self-defense."

"The Department of Justice, our civil rights unit, we don't just go out and investigate every time an officer is forced to defend himself against somebody putting his life in danger," Blanche said. "We investigate when it's appropriate to investigate and that is not the case here."

He added that the department would not respond to pressure from politicians or the media and confirmed that no investigation was underway.

The official was not asked to explain how the department's stance differed from its response to Floyd's death, which prompted a federal civil rights investigation during the first administration of Donald Trump.

Independent forensic analysis of the video footage by outlets including The New York Times and Bellingcat has contradicted claims by Trump that Good "ran over" the ICE agent. The analysis found no evidence supporting that account.

Earlier on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE, also said no federal investigation was necessary, arguing that the videos showed Ross was attacked by a car and that an internal agency review would be sufficient.

The Justice Department's position contrasts with its actions in 2020, when federal prosecutors and the FBI announced within days of Floyd's death that they were conducting a "robust criminal investigation" alongside the department's civil rights division.

Then-attorney general William Barr described video of Floyd's killing as "harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing."

That investigation ultimately led to the 2022 federal civil rights convictions of four Minneapolis police officers. Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd's neck, pleaded guilty, while three others were convicted of deliberate indifference to Floyd's medical needs.

Witnesses to the shooting of Good have said federal officers prevented a man who identified himself as a physician from providing medical assistance and blocked ambulances when they arrived at the scene.

The decision not to investigate has come amid broader unrest in Minnesota and beyond.

Protests erupted after Good's killing and have continued despite freezing temperatures, with demonstrators condemning the use of federal immigration agents and condemning authorities for intimidation.

In response, Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act. The Pentagon has confirmed that about 1,500 active-duty troops have been ordered to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota if directed by the president. Defense officials said the move followed Trump's warning that troops could be sent to assist ICE.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Minnesota officials of failing to stop what he described as "professional agitators and insurrectionists" and said he would use the Insurrection Act if necessary. The White House said the decision to deploy troops rests solely with the president.

The unrest prompted US District Judge Katherine Menendez to issue an injunction on Friday, reminding federal agents that they may not arrest or retaliate against peaceful protesters or use crowd-dispersal weapons such as pepper spray. The ruling came amid heightened political tension following two recent shootings involving federal immigration agents in the state, including Good's death.

Within the justice department, the handling of the case has triggered internal dissent. A wave of federal prosecutors in Minnesota and Washington resigned in protest over the refusal to open a civil rights investigation. Blanche and FBI director Kash Patel later traveled to Minneapolis to meet with prosecutors and federal immigration officers.

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Prime Minister Carney meets with Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney

January 18, 2026

Doha, Qatar

Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, during the first-ever visit by a Canadian Prime Minister to Qatar.

Prime Minister Carney thanked His Highness for the warm welcome and hospitality. The leaders discussed the growing Canada-Qatar strategic partnership, with immense potential and opportunities to deepen diplomatic, security, development, cultural, and economic ties. Prime Minister Carney underscored Canada's strengths in development, education, resources, manufacturing, and health, and its unparalleled investment potential in areas of shared interest.

The Prime Minister recognised His Highness' leadership in promoting global peace and stability, particularly in the Middle East, and emphasised Canada's gratitude for the many times Qatar has provided consular and diplomatic assistance.

The Prime Minister extended an invitation to His Highness to visit Canada in the coming year. The leaders welcomed this highly positive visit and agreed to remain in close contact.

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Intelligence Ministry: 300 ringleaders of foreign-backed riots arrested across Iran

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 6:28 PM

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence says over 300 key operatives and ringleaders involved in the recent foreign-backed riots in the country have been arrested.

According to the ministry, the arrests were made following reports from citizens who identified and reported on those responsible for the acts of rioting and vandalism on January 8.

As a result of the public's assistance, security forces have successfully tracked down and detained more than 300 main people linked to the criminal acts, it said.

The ministry added that some of the information shared by the public has also led to the capture of armed terrorist groups that aimed to harm people or attack security personnel during the recent disturbances.

The collaboration from the public in reporting these threats has boosted the morale of the operational and field units, according to the statement.

Even though many security forces were wounded in the violence, they are committed to continuing their work and remain on duty.

The ministry also urged citizens to support the security efforts by coming forward with any information about armed terrorists and recent rioters.

What began late last month as peaceful protests over economic hardship across Iran turned violent after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures encouraged vandalism and disorder.

During the unrest, foreign-backed mercenaries rampaged through cities, killing security forces and civilians and damaging public property.

The US president has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran under the guise of supporting armed rioters.

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Iran begins easing bans on global internet

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 6:23 PM

Iran has started restoring access to the global internet more than ten days after it was restricted in response to widespread unrest and acts of terrorism.

Local news agencies confirmed in reports late Sunday that Google search services were once again available to both mobile and fixed-line internet users throughout Iran.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency had reported a day earlier that access to the global internet, which had been fully blocked on January 9 following deadly riots and terrorist acts on the streets, would be reinstated in stages.

Reports indicated that group and personal messaging functions on four popular domestic platforms had also been restored, while the widely used Eitaa platform was expected to resume its messaging services soon.

Authorities had already lifted a ban on SMS communications on Friday.

The restrictions were imposed shortly after extensive unrest began on January 8 and persisted for several days in towns and major cities across Iran. Thousands of civilians and security personnel were killed in the incidents, which authorities blamed on foreign-backed terrorist elements operating within the country.

A senior official from Iran's telecoms ministry said on Sunday that the internet shutdown had caused significant economic harm to online businesses in Iran.

Ehsan Chitsaz, a deputy telecom minister for digital economy, cited expert reports estimating losses at four to six trillion rials ($27-41 million).

During the internet blackout, Iranians relied on the National Information Network (NIN) for essential online activities such as banking and shopping.

Iran's National Center for Cyberspace announced last week that the government would introduce policies to improve National Information Network (NIN) services and make them more convenient for users inside the country.

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Any attack against Ayatollah Khamenei 'full-fledged' war with Iranian nation: President

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 6:19 PM

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warns that any attack against Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei will amount to a "full-fledged war" with the Iranian nation.

In a post on his X account on Sunday, Pezeshkian said inhumane sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies were one of the main reasons behind the economic hardship faced by the Iranian people.

On Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran considers US President Donald Trump the main culprit for the killings and destruction carried out by foreign-linked elements in recent riots.

"The US president is responsible for casualties, damages, and false accusations directed against the Iranian nation," the Leader said, calling Trump a criminal.

Later in the day, Trump repeated his rhetoric against the Islamic Republic and called for an end to Ayatollah Khamenei's leadership.

"It's time to look for new leadership in Iran," Trump told POLITICO.

What began as peaceful protests late last month turned violent, as rioters, incited by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and aided by their spy agencies, rampaged through Iranian cities, killing security forces and civilians and attacking public infrastructure.

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US, Israel suffered another defeat in terrorist riots after June war: Qalibaf

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 5:26 PM

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says the United States and Israeli regime suffered another defeat in the recent terrorist riots in Iran after the failure of their joint military aggression against the country in June last year.

"The Zionist regime (Israel) aims to weaken and disintegrate Muslim nations with the purpose of dominating them," Qalibaf said in a meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in Tehran on Sunday.

He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main strategy has been to undermine the independence and power of regional countries and sow discord among them.

He cautioned that the Israeli regime tries to win the support of the US and European countries and exploit the regional situation in an attempt to become the dominant military power in the region.

The Israeli regime, backed by the US, launched the military aggression against Iran in mid-June 2025, believing that they could destroy Iran's power in the aerospace field, the top parliamentarian noted.

However, Qalibaf said, they failed to achieve their sinister goals thanks to the great efforts of the Armed Forces and the Iranian nation's prudence.f

In line with this objective, the Israeli regime carried out another "terrorist war" against Iran over the past 10 days, with the backing of US President Donald Trump, who openly pledged to support terrorists, he emphasized.

"They thought that they could conduct a terrorist act from within [Iran] and, after the country was destabilized, launch a military attack from outside," Qalibaf explained.

He said they took actions in Iran in the recent riots that were far more violent than the terrorist activities in Syria and Iraq; however, the Iranian security forces swiftly arrested their ringleaders.

The Iranian Parliament speaker urged Muslim and regional countries to be cautious that even the slightest retreat in the face of the Zionist regime will mean the weakening of all Muslim states.

The Iraqi foreign minister, for his part, said the security of Iran and Iraq is an important part of the security of the entire region.

Hussein stressed the importance of improving relations between Tehran and Baghdad at all levels.

Regional countries must remain vigilant: Iran FM

In a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart earlier on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US and Israeli regime are directly responsible for the terrorist incidents and riots in Iran.

He added that the US threat to attack Iran, in the midst of acts of terrorism against the Iranian nation, was a clear indication of US and Israeli security and intelligence agencies coordinating with riot ringleaders to destabilize Iran and the entire region.

The top Iranian diplomat urged all regional states to remain vigilant in the face of malign interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

The Iraqi foreign minister, for his part, said excellent ties between Tehran and Baghdad serve their common interests.

He added that Iraq would spare no effort to help safeguard security and peace in the region, saying all countries must remain committed to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

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Europe sidelining itself in global affairs by 'blindly following' US, Israel: Iran

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 2:41 PM

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says Europe is sidelining itself in global affairs by blindly following the United States and Israel in international developments.

Baghaei made the remarks at a press conference on Sunday, accusing the European countries of turning a blind eye to the reality on the ground in Iran following the recent foreign-backed riots that erupted across the country.

"The European countries are deliberately ignoring the current realities in Iran. The European parties are fully aware of the events that transpired from January 8-10, during which peaceful demonstrations of the Iranian people were turned into violence due to the involvement of terrorist and violent elements who were equipped and trained from outside Iran," Baghaei said.

Even with all this in mind, European governments have been working to stir up hostility against Iran not just at the UN Security Council but also through their media outlets, he added.

The foreign ministry spokesman further noted that the claim of European nations regarding their concern for human rights in Iran is "a blatant lie".

"If they genuinely held such concerns, they would have lifted the sanctions that they know are adversely affecting every Iranian and are depriving our patients of necessary medical care and treatment. Such assertions lack credibility in the eyes of any fair-minded and informed individual," he said.

Baghaei also stated, "We are witnessing a deliberate denial of the truth and aligning with a narrative that has no other objective other than to stir up instability and violence against Iranians."

Reiterating that Europe's claims concerning human rights are "unfounded," he said, "We have a vivid picture before us; a clear genocide that has resulted in the deaths of at least 72,000 innocent individuals, the devastation of the entire Gaza Strip, and the erasure of a historic nation."

He further called on European nations to rethink their stances, asking how many of them are even willing to mildly criticize these actions or to hold Israel accountable.

Regarding the rising tensions with the US, Baghaei said Washington is the party responsible for the situation, and that stoking tensions has become part of American policy.

He further stressed that it is not Iran that has sent troops to the US borders, nor is it Tehran that is meddling in the domestic matters of other nations today.

"Whenever they talk about diplomacy, they really mean dictation. We must deter the aggressor from violating Iran's sovereignty," he emphasized.

What began late last month as peaceful protests over economic concerns across Iran gradually turned violent after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures encouraged vandalism and disorder.

During the unrest, foreign-backed mercenaries rampaged through cities, killing security forces and civilians and damaging public property.

The US president has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran under the guise of supporting armed rioters.

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IRGC forces arrest riot ringleaders in Iran's Khuzestan, seize arms

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 10:06 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces have identified and arrested ringleaders and terrorist elements involved in recent foreign-linked riots in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan Province, confiscating various types of lethal weapons from them.

In a statement released on Sunday, the deputy public relations of the IRGC's provincial unit in Khuzestan, said those detained are charged with killing the innocent, damaging public and private property, disrupting public order, and terrorizing people, as well as destroying holy places, including shrine and mosques.

The terrorists had been tasked by foreign agencies to commit acts of sabotage and arson, kill people, assassinate the elite individuals, and create ethnic division, the statement read.

The detainees also assigned to dismantle vital infrastructure such as water and electricity, gas, telephone, oil pipelines, and attack military facilities and police stations.

Meanwhile, the IRGC's provincial unit expressed its appreciation to the people of Khuzestan for their cooperation with the forces who apprehended the armed mercenaries.

It further noted that its forces stand ready to sacrifice their lives in order to foil the enemies' plots and maintain peace and security in the society.

Some shopkeepers last month staged peaceful protests in different Iranian cities over economic grievances, which are directly linked to unilateral US sanctions.

The demonstrations, however, were steered toward violence after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures encouraged vandalism and disorder.

During the unrest, foreign-backed armed rioters damaged public property and caused casualties among civilians and security forces.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that some of the agents behind the sedition were identified, trained, and largely recruited by American and Israeli agencies.

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Iranian Official Pledges 'Severest Punishments' Coming As New Details Of Crackdown Emerge

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda January 18, 2026

New details of Iran's brutal crackdown on protests have continued to trickle out on January 18, as an Iranian judiciary official told reporters that "severest Islamic punishments" would be coming for those deemed "hostile."

Asghar Jahangir, a spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, told a news conference on January 18 that judges would have a free hand when meting out punishments to protesters.

His comments come after a week in which Washington appeared to back off from military action against Tehran following assurances that protesters would not face the death penalty.

Later on January 18, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian doubled down on Iran's uncompromising messaging in a social media post.

Railing against Western sanctions, he wrote: "Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation."

In his latest statement a day earlier, US President Donald Trump said it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran."

New Details Of Crackdown

Meanwhile, people leaving Iran have continued telling RFE/RL's Radio Farda details of life inside the country.

Relatives of 42-year-old Mohsen Rashidi, a protester, said he bled to death after being shot in the leg by security forces. They added that they had been forced to pay thousands of dollars for the release of his body.

In another interview, a pensioner who left Iran on January 17 told RFE/RL that "the feeling of martial law is complete, at night...the armed forces randomly stop cars. They check the entire car and also mobile phones."

An Iranian ophthalmologist who recently left the country said hospitals were struggling to treat all those injured in the protests and doctors are under immense pressure given the large amount of eye injuries.

"There are reports that security forces have taken away wounded patients from hospitals," the doctor said.

His account follows previous testimony of eye hospitals being overwhelmed with patients amid Iran's largest protests in years. Also during the Women, Life, Freedomprotests in 2022-23, RFE/RL also reported numerous cases of security forces deliberately targeting people's eyes as they suppressed protests.

An Iranian citizen who recently traveled to Tajikistan told a correspondent for RFE/RL's Tajik Service that security forces are still out on the streets with "combat weapons" following the widespread protests.

Meanwhile, new videos from Iran appear to show government and plainclothes forces attacking citizens who have taken refuge in residential buildings in Tehran. In the footage, which RFE/RL has not verified, security forces used various firearms, batons, machetes, sticks, and lasers.

Trump's Warning

The latest evidence of the crackdown emerged following an interview in which President Trump slammed Tehran's handling of nationwide mass protests.

Trump told Politico in remarks published on January 17 that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was guilty of "the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before."

Days earlier, Trump had appeared to postpone a military strike in Iran, telling reporters that Iranian authorities had agreed to halt the executions of protesters.

Action Began With Economic Protest

The latest challenge to the theocratic government erupted on December 28, 2025, with demonstrators taking the streets over Iran's struggling economy, before snowballing into wider protests.

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group has verified at least 3,428 protester deaths by security forces, while the US-based HRANA put the verified death toll at 3,308 with more than 22,000 arrests. Different activist groups have put the death toll far higher, but an internet blackout has made it difficult to verify the information.

Khamenei himself has acknowledged that thousands have been killed.

Rights groups warn that the actual toll is likely higher than their own tallies due to an internet blackout imposed since January 8 that has severely hampered verification efforts.

NetBlocks monitoring noted on January 18 that "traffic data indicate a significant return to some online services including Google, suggesting that heavily filtered access has been enabled."

Backing From Abroad

The protesters have received widespread support on the streets and at events in a number of US and European cities and elsewhere.

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi made an urgent appeal at the European Film Awards in Berlin on January 17 for the world to "react" to the government crackdown.

"If the world does not react to this blatant violence today, not only Iran, but the entire world, is at risk," he said during the opening ceremony.

"Violence when left unanswered becomes normalized. And when it becomes normalized, it's spread. It becomes contagious."

Panahi, who has previously faced imprisonment in Iran, has vowed to return to the country to continue his calls for freedom in the country.

With reporting by Reuters and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-leadership-trump- khamenei-protests-revolution/33652591.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran Working on Security Agreement With Iraq - Foreign Minister

Sputnik News

20260118

BAGHDAD (Sputnik) - Iran is working with Iraq on a joint security agreement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday at a press briefing with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, who arrived in Tehran for a visit.

"We are working to achieve a joint agreement on security issues with Iraq," Araghchi said.

The withdrawal of US troops from Al-Asad Airbase in the west of Iraq is "proof of the strengthening of our security cooperation with Iraq," Araghchi added.

On Saturday, Ain al-Asad airbase came under the full control of the Iraqi army following the withdrawal of US-led international coalition forces fighting the Islamic State terrorist group*.

In January 2020, the airbase was hit by an attack from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, just a few days after the killing of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and some of his fellow officers in a US drone strike in Baghdad.

*A terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other countries

 Sputnik

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US-Iran Tensions High As Tehran Revives Hostile Rhetoric, Threats Of New Crackdown

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda January 19, 2026

US-Iranian tensions remained high as Tehran's hard-line rulers renewed their hostile rhetoric and threatened to hand out the "severest punishments" -- including potentially executions -- against anti-government protesters.

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian -- previously considered by many to be a relative moderate among Iran's rulers -- on January 18 warned that an attack on the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would bring about an"all-out war."

"An attack on the great leader of our country is tantamount to a full-scale war with the Iranian nation," Pezeshkian said in a post on social media.

In a speech on January 17, Khamenei praised Pezeshkian's role in the suppression of recent demonstrations, while acknowledging that "several thousand" people had been killed during the protests.

US President Donald Trump has taken the forefront among Western leaders in calling out the Iranian regime for its brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters.

'New Leadership' For Iran

Trump told Politico in remarks published on January 17 that Khamenei was guilty of "the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before" and said it was time to look for "new leadership" in Iran.

The latest challenge to the theocratic government erupted on December 28, 2025, with demonstrators taking the streets over Iran's struggling economy, before snowballing into wider protests.

Trump initially warned that the United States was "locked and loaded" to take action if Iranian security forces killed protesters. He later threatened to take "very strong action" if Iran hanged protesters amid reports of impending executions.

Trump later said he was holding off an attack after Iran had canceled 800 executions, although Tehran has not confirmed that number or said that hangings had been permanently called off.

The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group has verified at least 3,428 protester deaths by security forces, while the US-based HRANA put the verified death toll at 3,308 with more than 24,000 arrests. It added that another 4,382 cases are under review.

Different activist groups have put the death toll far higher, but an Internet blackout has made it difficult to verify the information.

'Most Severe' Punishments

Meanwhile, Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir suggested that executions may still be conducted.

"A series of actions have been identified as mohareb, which is among the most severe Islamic punishments," he told a news conference on January 18.

Mohareb, or waging war against God, is punishable by death under Iranian law.

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-punishments- khamenei-trump/33653138.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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US evacuation of Ain al-Asad base strengthens Iraq's national sovereignty: Araghchi

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 18 January 2026 11:08 AM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the withdrawal of US military forces from Iraq's Ain al-Asad base will strengthen Iraq's national sovereignty, describing the move as a clear sign of growing independence and stability in the Arab country.

Araghchi was speaking on Sunday during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, following their meeting in Tehran, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments.

"The withdrawal of US military forces from the Ain al-Asad base and the end of the UNAMI mission are clear indications of the consolidation of independence, stability, and national sovereignty in Iraq," Araghchi said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always sought a strong and independent Iraq and believes that the country has the necessary capacities to play a key role in regional peace and stability."

He noted that the meeting came after elections in Iraq and marked a new step toward planning the development of relations between the two countries.

"The regional role of Iraq is on an upward trajectory, and our Iraqi friends have shown that they can play a positive role in dialogue and resolving problems," he said, adding that the two sides had discussed proposals that could be designed jointly to advance peace in the region.

Araghchi also said Iran and Iraq were seeking to reach a "strategic cooperation agreement," reiterating that Tehran supports "a stable Iraq with independent political sovereignty."

Iran, Iraq security intertwined with regional security: Hussein

For his part, Hussein said security in Iraq and Iran was inseparable from the security of the wider region.

"We believe that the security of Iraq and Iran is part of the region's security. The security of the Iranian people is important to us, just as the security of the region is important," he said.

Hussein said regional officials he met ahead of his trip to Tehran had emphasized that regional security was interconnected.

Iran and Iraq agreed on the "indivisibility of regional security," the need for non-interference in internal affairs, and the continuation of consultations to address regional challenges, he added.

He also said that he was informed about the situation in Iran, in the wake of deadly foreign-backed riots across the country.

Some shopkeepers last month staged peaceful protests in different Iranian cities over economic grievances, which are directly linked to unilateral US sanctions.

The demonstrations, however, were steered toward violence after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures encouraged vandalism and disorder.

During the unrest, foreign-backed armed rioters damaged public property and caused casualties among civilians and security forces.

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New Sanctions On Russian Oil Hit Indian, Turkish Refineries. Enter China?

By Ray Furlong January 18, 2026

Summary

The EU has banned imports of products made from Russian crude oil to cut Moscow's war revenues, hitting refineries in Turkey and India.

Analysts warn of loopholes allowing refineries to hide crude origins or reexport via exempt countries, with calls for tighter enforcement.

China's small independent "teapot" refineries may buy some of the oil rejected by others, but cannot absorb all surplus supplies.

On a mild and cloudy evening in Izmit, western Turkey, a Panamanian-flagged tanker called the Bela 6 dropped anchor and began pumping nearly 100,000 tons of Russian oil.

The January 6 delivery was an outlier for the refinery's owner, Tupras, which cut Russian crude imports by 69 percent the previous month ahead of an EU sanction taking effect on January 21, according to data from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The new measure bans imports into the European Union of products derived from Russian crude oil and is the latest attempt to cut revenues for Moscow's war in Ukraine.

It especially hits refineries in Turkey and India which import Russian crude, turn it into products like jet fuel, diesel, or blending components, and ship them on to EU markets.

Taken together with US sanctions on Russian oil majors last fall, a US blockade of Venezuelan supplies, and uncertainty over possible US military strikes on Iran, the EU measures feed into growing volatility in international oil supplies.

"We're in an extraordinary environment, [with] much global geopolitical gyrations in the system," David Edward from General Index, a London-based commodities markets intelligence firm, said during a webinar on January 14.

The broader context is a global oil glut that has been widely predicted for 2026, due to high production that saw oil prices fall steeply in 2025. This has already cut Russian oil revenues to their lowest levels since 2022, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Loopholes

The new EU ban was announced as part of the bloc's 18th sanctions package in July, giving refineries time to cut imports in advance.

"Within the next week, this will be one of the most important talking points around the world," said Kpler analyst Sumit Ritolia, noting that major Indian refineries had already "self-sanctioned" by announcing they would buy no more Russian crude.

"With Turkey...they are still importing Russian barrels, but it is going down as we speak, their volumes are down 20-30 percent," he added.

CREA noted that India's Russian crude imports fell 29 percent in December 2025 to their lowest level since a G7 price cap was imposed three years earlier, although a big part of this would also have been a result of the US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's largest oil producers.

In any case, critics have warned that some refineries could try to conceal the origin of the crude oil used in their products to evade the EU sanctions.

They've also suggested that exemptions for countries, including Britain or Serbia, create an opportunity for oil products refined from Russian crude to be reexported to the EU.

CREA analyst Isaac Levi said the same tactic could be used within individual countries, since the ban relates to ports and refineries importing Russian crude.

"There's a Georgian refinery called the Kulevi refinery on the Black Sea and it buys Russian crude oil, refines it into products...and it looks to be sending those refined products from a different port," he told RFE/RL.

Levi signed an open letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas from an international alliance of around 100 civil society groups calling on the EU to tighten the rules.

He said they received a "thank you" but no response on measures to close the loopholes. Kallas's spokesperson did not answer RFE/RL's request for comment.

"We have provided an array of different solutions...one is banning the import of refined fuels from any refinery that has a pipeline connection to Russian crude. So that would mostly be those refineries in China that are connected to a Russian pipeline. Quite a simple method that could stop again hundreds of millions if not billions of euros flowing to the Kremlin," Levi said.

Enter China?

Some observers have suggested that China could absorb part of the excess Russian oil supplies being abandoned by India, Turkey, or others.

CREA's data show a 23 percent spike in China's seaborne crude imports from Russia in December. Several tankers with Urals grade oil apparently shunned by India were reported that month, idling in waters off Chinese ports in the Yellow Sea.

Erica Downs, a senior research scholar focusing on Chinese energy markets at Columbia University, told RFE/RL the key role would be played by small, independent refineries called "teapots."

These account for some 20 percent of Chinese refining capacity and, she said, "shift back and forth" between Russian and Iranian crude chasing "razor thin margins."

"I think it's safe to say that China is not going to be able to absorb all that India and Turkey turn away. But, especially among the teapots, they are bargain hunters. And if the discount is enough, if they feel like their risk exposure is tolerable, they will take more," Downs said.

Last year, Washington slapped sanctions on three teapots for dealing in sanctioned Iranian oil. But, Downs said, while China's big national oil companies were cautious around sanctions, teapots were less concerned.

"Because a lot of them don't have exposure to the US dollar financial system, you know, they're much more willing...to deal in sanctioned crudes," she said. "If the US sanctions an oil terminal in China for taking sanctioned crudes, then the terminal might say 'OK, we're already under sanctions, we'll just keep taking them.' They are resilient."

Of course, any Russian oil taken by teapots will also be at a large discount, further choking financial flows to the Kremlin.

"We do think this measure will have an impact and will reduce Russia's export revenues," said CREA analyst Levi. "But we do think that more needs to be done to enforce it and ensure that the impact really holds and slashes Russia's export revenues."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-ban-russian- oil-products-turkey-india-china/33648107.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Taiwan's new military police unit equipped with Stingers and Javelins

ROC Central News Agency

01/18/2026 05:03 PM

Taipei, Jan. 18 (CNA) A newly formed company under the 202nd Military Police Command in Taipei has been equipped with United States-made FIM-92 Stinger shoulder-fired missiles and Javelin man-portable anti-tank systems to enhance the defense of the capital city, according to an anonymous source.

The new Air Defense Company under the Military Police Command's 228 Artillery Battalion, stationed in Taipei's Shilin District, is deployed with these American air defense systems, to beef up the air defense capabilities of Taipei, the unnamed source told CNA Sunday.

Unlike many other countries, Taiwan's military police are a separate branch of the armed forces tasked with protecting government leaders from assassination or capture, guarding strategic facilities, and conducting counterintelligence against enemy infiltrators, spies and saboteurs.

Asked to comment, the Military Police Command confirmed to CNA the existence of the newly established unit, saying that the change was made as part of an ongoing structural reform of the command structure amid rising military threats, without elaborating.

Commenting on the decision, Su Tzu-yun (), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told CNA that he believes it is a good call for military police to be equipped with Stingers and Javelins in the new unit, which is expected to significantly enhance its counter-assault and counter-decapitation capabilities.

The Stingers would provide a higher mobility short-range air defense, while the Javelins could fend off invading Chinese fast boats from the Tamsui River, according to the scholar.

He also suggested that Taiwan learn from the U.S. and South Korea by enhancing its air defense system in the capital city.

For example, two U.S. Army National Guard units -- the 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery (Ohio National Guard) and the 263rd Air Defense Artillery (South Carolina National Guard) -- take turns defending the National Capital Region and U.S. leaders, Su said.

The units are equipped with a combination of air defense systems, including the Sentinel A4 radar and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, known as NASAMS, along with the Avenger weapon system, Su added.

Meanwhile, in Seoul, South Korea, the Mistral short-range air defense missile system and KM167A3 anti-air system are deployed within a 3.7 km radius, better known as the P-73 critical prohibited airspace, around the Presidential Office in Yongsan, the scholar said.

(By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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DPP warns against 'cognitive warfare' over U.S. tariff deal

ROC Central News Agency

01/18/2026 05:19 PM

Taipei, Jan. 18 (CNA) The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) urged the public on Sunday to remain vigilant against what it described as "cognitive warfare" relating to Taiwan's recent agreement with the United States to lower tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 percent.

The DPP's China Affairs Department said in a Facebook post that it had observed rapid and widespread reactions to the trade deal circulating on social media, including claims such as "the cost of the deal is a US$500 billion investment in the United States," "it provokes China," "the U.S. is hollowing out Taiwan," and "the government is selling out Taiwan in exchange for U.S. protection."

The department said that these claims are counterfactual and deliberately inflammatory, aimed at causing public anxiety and anger, describing them as a typical tactic of cognitive warfare.

In the face of increasingly digitalized, automated and transnational information warfare, the DPP said the public must remain vigilant, learn to identify cognitive warfare tactics and strengthen what it called "cognitive immunity," in order to neutralize misinformation that harms Taiwanese society.

The party added that the trade deal has been widely praised as beneficial to Taiwan by the Chinese National Federation of Industries, professionals in the technology and machine tool sectors, and financial experts.

After months of talks, the United States agreed on Thursday (U.S. time) to cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods from 20 percent to 15 percent, without stacking them on existing most-favored-nation (MFN) rates. Meanwhile, Taiwanese semiconductor, electronics manufacturing services (EMS), artificial intelligence (AI), and energy companies will invest US$250 billion in the United States under their own business plans.

Taiwan's government has pledged to provide up to US$250 billion in credit guarantees to financial institutions to support investments in the U.S. market by the semiconductor and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors.

(By Yeh Su-ping and Wu Kuan-hsien)

Enditem/AW

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.01.19

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Jan. 18 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Jan. 19 (Mon.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150119_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan_1

1150119_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan_2

1150119_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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Ukraine's Ministry of Defence showcased Ukrainian interceptor drones and maritime unmanned systems to the President of Czechia

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

17 January, 2026, 6:39 PM EET

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine showcased modern Ukrainian unmanned systems to the President of Czechia, Petr Pavel. During the demonstration, various types of interceptor drones were shown, along with maritime unmanned systems already in use by the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side demonstrated solutions designed to counter aerial threats, including enemy strike UAVs, as well as unmanned maritime platforms that enhance security in the Black Sea. Particular attention was paid to technological approaches, the pace of development, and the scaling of production amid full-scale war.

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Anna Gvozdiar stated that Ukraine's defence industry is ready to enhance cooperation with international partners.

"Ukraine's domestic defence industry today encompasses hundreds of solutions that quickly progress from concept to serial application on the battlefield. We present these capabilities under the unified national brand ZBROYA, which brings together state and private manufacturers, engineering teams, and R&D centres," Anna Gvozdiar said.

The Ministry of Defence emphasised that the development of unmanned technologies remains one of the key priorities for strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities and enhancing Europe's security.

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Russian Forces Strike Ukrainian Energy and Transportation Infrastructure Facilities

Sputnik News

20260118

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces have struck Ukraine's energy and transport infrastructure facilities, temporary deployment points and foreign mercenaries.

"Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces have struck Ukrainian enterprises assembling long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, energy and transport infrastructure facilities, as well as temporary deployment points and foreign mercenaries in 149 areas," the statement said.

Russia's Vostok battlegroup has eliminated up to 205 troops, three armored personnel carriers, eight motor vehicles, two field artillery pieces, including a US-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, while Russia's Yug battlegroup has eliminated over 135 military personnel, an M113 armored personnel carrier and a US-made Stryker armored personnel carrier, five armored fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, four field artillery pieces, including two Polish-made 155 mm Krab self-propelled artillery systems and an electronic warfare station

has eliminated up to 205 troops, three armored personnel carriers, eight motor vehicles, two field artillery pieces, including a US-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, while Russia's has eliminated over 135 military personnel, an M113 armored personnel carrier and a US-made Stryker armored personnel carrier, five armored fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, four field artillery pieces, including two Polish-made 155 mm Krab self-propelled artillery systems and an electronic warfare station Russia's Zapad battlegroup has eliminated up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers, six armored combat vehicles, 19 motor vehicles and two ammunition depots, and Russia's Sever battlegroup has eliminated over 175 Ukrainian service personnel, 24 motor vehicles, five field artillery pieces, an Israeli-made RADA radar station, an electronic warfare station, and four supply depots

has eliminated up to 200 Ukrainian soldiers, six armored combat vehicles, 19 motor vehicles and two ammunition depots, and Russia's has eliminated over 175 Ukrainian service personnel, 24 motor vehicles, five field artillery pieces, an Israeli-made RADA radar station, an electronic warfare station, and four supply depots Russia's Dnepr battlegroup has eliminated up to 40 Ukrainian troops, an Osa anti-aircraft missile system combat vehicle, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece, two electronic warfare stations and a supply depot

has eliminated up to 40 Ukrainian troops, an Osa anti-aircraft missile system combat vehicle, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece, two electronic warfare stations and a supply depot Russia's Tsentr battlegroup has eliminated more than 445 Ukrainian military personnel

 Sputnik

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In the Coming Week, We Will Work to Build New Pressure and a Clear Global Position on Russia - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

18 January 2026 - 21:07

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

All day today, I have been receiving briefings from Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal. Restoration efforts are ongoing after Russian strikes. Sadly, new hits occur every night. Russia's main target remains unchanged: our energy sector. Practically around the clock, and in repair crews only, nearly 58,000 people are working on power grids and generation facilities, as well as on heating networks. Resources from Ukrzaliznytsia and other state-owned companies have been brought in. In Kyiv, where the situation is extremely tough, an additional 50 crews from across the country have been deployed. There are still buildings without heating, and for virtually every one of these buildings, the necessary equipment and the necessary crews are being dispatched manually. Things are also difficult in the Kyiv region - especially in the northern part of the region, and in the Boryspil district - as well as in border and frontline regions, where repairs to networks and repairs to facilities are complicated by almost constant shelling and constant strikes. This is Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia regions - these regions are receiving particular attention. A great deal of work was carried out in the Poltava region and in Odesa to stabilize the energy situation.

I want to thank all the crews who are working, the energy companies, both public and private, and all the city and community leaders who are truly standing with their people and really helping us.

Decisions to increase electricity imports are now being implemented. I want to thank our partners who are fulfilling our agreements on the supply of essential resources, machinery, and equipment. In particular, the implementation of our agreements with Italy has begun in recent days. Giorgia Meloni and I discussed this: now support packages - these are truly vital items, truly vital equipment - are being delivered to Ukraine. I would also like to recognize our Naftogaz team. Throughout the week, the company's facilities in various regions have been under attack, with the latest strike on gas production - it happened yesterday. It is very important that private Ukrainian companies are working together with the Government, together with the state, and together with the public system to strengthen our country's resilience. This is exactly how it should be - everyone working together, everyone on team Ukraine.

Today, I also received briefings from our delegation in the United States: Rustem Umerov reported on meetings with envoys of President Trump. Several rounds of talks have already taken place. Work is underway on documents needed to end the war. And it is important that Ukraine's team is fully informing the American side about what is happening in Ukraine and about Russia's constant strikes on our energy system. If the Russians seriously wanted to end the war, they'd focus on diplomacy - not on missile strikes, blackouts, and even attempts to damage our nuclear power plants. We have information about the sites Russia reconnoitered in preparation for strikes. Everything clearly shows that diplomacy is not a priority for Russia. This must be acknowledged. Pressure on the aggressor and the real cause of this war must continue. The cause is in Moscow. In the coming week, we will work to build this new pressure and a clear global position on Russia.

I also want to commend our warriors today: despite everything, despite harsh weather and constant Russian assaults, there are good results in defending our positions. It matters that, on many fronts, our warriors are doing exactly what Ukraine needs. I thank all of you, guys! Huliaipole: the 5th Assault Brigade; the 1st and 225th Separate Assault Regiments. Kupyansk direction: true examples for others - the 429th Unmanned Systems Brigade "Achilles," the 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard "Khartiia," the 101st Guard Brigade of the General Staff, and the 475th Separate Assault Regiment. Thank you very much! Also, the Kharkiv region: the 127th Heavy Mechanized Brigade. Thank you so much! Pokrovsk direction: our 25th Airborne Brigade and our units of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment. Thank you! The Sumy region: the 71st Jaeger Brigade. Well done! Ocheretyne direction: the warriors of the 14th Operational Brigade of the National Guard "Chervona Kalyna" and the 25th Separate Assault Battalion. Well done! And our positions in the Orikhiv direction: the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade. Thank you, warriors! Glory to everyone who is fighting for Ukraine just as fiercely as for themselves. I thank everyone who works so that our Ukraine lives.

Glory to Ukraine!

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The President Commended Warriors Whose Efforts Have Yielded Good Results in Defending Frontline Positions

President of Ukraine

18 January 2026 - 21:38

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy commended the military units defending positions across various frontline directions in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The Head of State announced this in his evening address.

"I want to commend our warriors: despite everything, despite harsh weather and constant Russian assaults, there are good results in defending our positions. It matters that, on many fronts, our warriors are doing exactly what Ukraine needs. I thank all of you, guys!" said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This includes the 5th Assault Brigade, the 1st and 225th Separate Assault Regiments, operating in the Huliaipole direction. On the Kupyansk direction: the 429th Unmanned Systems Brigade "Achilles," the 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard "Khartiia," the 101st Guard Brigade of the General Staff, and the 475th Separate Assault Regiment. In the Kharkiv region: the 127th Heavy Mechanized Brigade. In the Pokrovsk direction: the 25th Airborne Brigade and units of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment. In the Sumy region: the 71st Jaeger Brigade. In the Ocheretyne direction: warriors of the 14th Operational Brigade of the National Guard "Chervona Kalyna" and the 25th Separate Assault Battalion. Also, in the Orikhiv direction: the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade.

"Thank you, warriors! Glory to everyone who is fighting for Ukraine just as fiercely as for themselves. I thank everyone who works so that our Ukraine lives! Glory to Ukraine!" the President emphasized.

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VANCOUVER, January 19, 2026 - Giant Mining Corp. (CSE: BFG | OTC: BFGFF | FWB: YW5 | CSE: BFG.WT.A | CSE: BFG.WT.B.) ("Giant Mining" or the "Company") is pleased to announce further results from its Breccia Study at the Majuba Hill Project in Pershing County, Nevada. The ongoing review of the exploration, core relogging, surface geologic mapping, and additional surface geochemical sampling indicates many discrete breccia bodies.

Tourmaline breccia pipes have been observed in the drill core, the historic underground workings, and outcropping at the surface (See Figures 1 and 2). High grade copper and silver values reported previously in Giant news releases are associated with these breccia pipes (See News Release's dated May 22, 2025; September 24, 2024). The intercepts in core holes MHB-30 and MHB-32 returned high grade copper and silver as well as highly anomalous gold. The high-grade intercepts noted on Table 1 correlate with the margins of the breccia pipes.

Table 1: Assay Summary of significant intercepts for core holes cutting known pipes



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Majuba Hill showing Southern, Northern, and Ball Park Breccia Zones, tourmaline breccia pipes, and faulting

David Greenway, President and CEO of Giant Mining "Majuba Hill is demonstrating the hallmarks of a large, copper-silver mineralized system with meaningful gold potential. Silver prices have increased by more than 150% over the past 12 months, strengthening the economics of silver-rich copper projects like Majuba. Our current geological and metallurgical programs are designed to systematically advance this system toward its full multi-metal potential."



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Southern Breccia Zone with observed and potential breccia pipes. Drill holes known to cross the breccia pipes are highlighted in red.

All three of the key commodities at the Majuba Hill Project copper, silver, and gold, have recently achieved record all-time highs, underscoring the strength of the market environment surrounding the project. According to TradingEconomics.com:

Copper reached an all-time high of US$6.07/lb in January 2025 and is currently trading at approximately US$5.97/lb.1

Silver achieved an all-time high of US$93.22/oz in January 2025 and is currently trading around US$90.77/oz.2

Gold hit an all-time high of US$4,794.85/oz in December 2025 and is now trading at approximately US$4,607.70/oz.3

According to TradingEconomics (data as of December 2025), copper, silver and gold prices have recently reached historically high levels. TradingEconomics is an independent third-party data provider, and the Company has not independently verified the information. Commodity prices are provided for general market context only and do not imply that Majuba Hill has demonstrated economic viability.

Majuba Hill's critically important characteristics are as follows:

Location: Nevada, USA - a globally top-ranked mining jurisdiction, ranked #1 in the Fraser Institute's 2022 Annual Survey of Mining Companies. Project Size: 9,684 Acres Infrastructure: The Majuba Hill property is located 113 road kilometers (70 miles) southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, and 251 kilometers (156 miles) northeast of Reno. It is accessible via well-maintained county roads from the Imlay, Nevada exit on U.S. Interstate 80, followed by a 23-mile drive west. People, roads, power, and water are fundamental considerations for infrastructure, and Majuba Hill already benefits from a strong foundation in all these areas. This existing infrastructure provides a significant advantage, offering substantial cost savings compared to more remote projects. History: Historical Producer Drilling: Approximately 89,395 feet of drilling to date. Rough replacement value of drilling USD $12.1 Million using current costs. Mineralization: The project shows indications of a potentially large Cu - Ag +/- Au mineralized body with many features in common with both large porphyry copper, silver, and gold projects. Expandability: The IP survey, deep drilling, and step-out drilling indicate significant expansion potential, with mineralization open in all directions. Fully Financed: The Company has secured funding for its next phase of drilling at Majuba Hill.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101").



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Market Awareness

Furthermore, the Company announces it has entered into an agreement with Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH ("Plutus") on December 28th, 2025, for a term of one year commencing on January 2nd, 2026. The Company has agreed to pay Plutus an initial fee of 120,000 expandable up to a total of 480,000 if the Company requests to expand the initial campaign. The services to be provided include consulting services related to advertising, marketing, PR strategies and investor awareness in the European market. Plutus has a business address at Buchtstr. 13, Bremen 28195, Germany and can be contacted at (email: [email protected]), or by telephone: (+49 42117540174?). Plutus (including its directors and officers) has an arm's-length relationship with the Company. The Company will not issue any securities to Plutus as compensation for its marketing services.

About Giant Mining Corp.

Giant Mining is focused on identifying, acquiring, and advancing late-stage copper and copper/silver/gold projects to meet the growing global demand for critical metals. This demand is driven by initiatives like the Green New Deal in the United States and similar climate-focused programs worldwide, which require substantial amounts of copper, silver, and gold for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and the modernization of clean and affordable energy systems.

The Company's flagship asset is the Majuba Hill Copper, Silver, and Gold District, located 156 miles (251 km) from Reno, Nevada. Majuba Hill benefits from a mining-friendly regulatory environment and strong local infrastructure. While still an exploration-stage asset, the geological footprint and scale of mineralization indicate that further work is clearly justified and that the system may host significant copper potential.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

On Behalf of the Board of Giant Mining Corp.

"David Greenway"

David C. Greenway

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

E: [email protected]

P: 1 (236) 788-0643

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

www.giantminingcorp.com

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward?looking information. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward?looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward?looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, including exploration, metallurgical, permitting, environmental, commodity price, and market risks. 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.

###

1 Source: January 15, 2026, Copper - Price - Chart - Historical Data - News

2 Source: January 15, 2026, Silver - Price - Chart - Historical Data - News

3 Source: January 15, 2026, Gold - Price - Chart - Historical Data - News

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver - Armory Mining Corp. (CSE: ARMY) (OTC: RMRYF) (FRA: 2JS) (the "Company" or "Armory") a resource exploration company focused on the discovery and development of minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors, is pleased to provide an update on exploration activity scheduled through Q2, 2026.

Ammo Gold-Antimony Project

In December 2025 the Company announced it has engaged Castello Q Exploration Corp to carry out an initial phase one work program at its 100% owned Ammo Antimony-Gold project, located in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Ammo is 3,092-hectare exploration package that completely surrounds and is contiguous to the historical West Gore antimony-gold mine. West Gore produced both antimony and gold in the years leading up to World War I. The ground has since changed hands multiple times, and is currently held by Military Metals Corp.

West Gore was a significant producer during World War One, with production shipped to England. Records document nearly 32,000 metric tons of production between 1914-1917, yielding over 7,000 metric tons of antimony concentrate grading 46%.

Total gold recovered up to 1917 was 6,861 ounces. Limited work was conducted in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s by several companies along with the Nova Scotia government*.



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Figure 1: Map showing Armory's Ammo Project surrounding the historical West Gore antimony-gold mine

The initial work program is expected to consist of data compilation, prospecting and reconnaissance, to identify favorable geology, followed by detailed surface sampling and geophysics to determine priority drill targets. The Company plans to budget up to $656,000 CDN for the initial phase of exploration.

Preliminary work is underway regarding data collection and analysis. The Company will provide an update on the proposed work programs over the next few weeks.

* Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report, Battery Metals Corp, Mark S. King, P. Geo., Michael C. Corey, P. Geo., May 25, 2021

Note: The Company considers historical data at West Gore to be relevant. Readers are cautioned that the Company has not independently verified the information, and notes that the mineralization on this property may not be indicative of the mineralization on the Company's property.

Candela II Lithium Deposit

The Company also issued an update in early December 2025, regarding its Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina.

The Company is moving forward on a scoping study which will enhance development of the Candela II project. A scoping study will evaluate both technical viability and economic potential of the deposit. The project has been advanced by the Company with exploration drilling and has an inferred resource of 457,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in-situ. This resource estimate was completed by WSP Australia*.

The current lithium carbonate price is up 30% since the start of the year to a new two-year high, which brings the significance of the project into focus, and priority, for Armory.

The location of the project is within what is referred to as the 'Lithium Triangle", a section of South America that stretches among Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Ganfeng Lithium, China's largest producer of the battery metal, has the adjacent concession to Candela II, and a production well approximately 9.8km away. Rio Tinto and Power Minerals (PNN) are also located nearby.

*The Candela II Lithium Brine Project contains a National Instrument 43-101 mineral resource estimate ("MRE") completed by WSP Australia Pty. Ltd. (see Spey Resources Corp. news dated September 26th, 2023).

Technical information in this news release regarding Candela II has been previously published and was reviewed and approved at the time by Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol MBM, FAusIMM (CPVal), MAIG who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the National Instrument 43-101.

About Armory Mining Corp

Armory Mining Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on minerals critical to the energy, security and defense sectors. The Company controls an 80% interest in the Candela II lithium brine project located in the Incahuasi Salar, Salta Province, Argentina. In addition, the Company controls 100% interest in both the Ammo antimony-gold project located in Nova Scotia and the Riley Creek antimony-gold project located in British Columbia.

Qualified Person

Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P. Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

Contact Information

Alex Klenman

CEO & Director

[email protected]

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release. 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 Company's securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the intended use of funds. The words "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "plans," "will," "may," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations as reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, political and regulatory risks in Canada, operational and exploration risks, market conditions, and the availability of financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, January 16, 2026 - Vanguard Mining Corp. ("Vanguard" or the "Company") (CSE: UUU | OTC: UUUFF | Frankfurt: SL51) is pleased to announce the Company has engaged W.B. Lennan, P.Geo to update the March 15th, 2024 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Redonda Property" By W.B. Lennan, P.Geo. at its 100%-owned Redonda Copper-Molybdenum Project (the "Project"), located in the Vancouver Mining Division near Campbell River, British Columbia.

The Report will be updated to include the last two drill campaigns, including the assays that are pending from the Company's 2025-2026 drill campaign, updated geophysical data along with historical data from Teck Resources Ltd. (formerly Teck Corp.), which completed nine NQ-diameter diamond drill holes totaling 1,681 metres in 1979.

To execute the recently completed drill program, Vanguard engaged Paradigm Drilling Ltd. ("Paradigm Drilling"), which will deploy a Boyles T-75 hydraulic, track-mounted diamond drill equipped with NQ tooling and capable of testing targets to depths exceeding 600 metres.

The Project was previously explored by Teck Resources Ltd. (formerly Teck Corp.), which completed nine NQ-diameter diamond drill holes totaling 1,681 metres in 1979. More recent follow-up drilling was completed in 2023, consisting of five drill holes totaling 799.81 metres. Historical drilling encountered copper-molybdenum mineralization; however, the historical results referenced herein in part are historical in nature. The Company has not independently verified these results and is not treating them as current mineral resources or mineral reserves as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

However, the author of the 2024 Redonda NI 43-101 Technical Report does note: "The remaining drill core from 1979 drill-hole R-79-2 was located and the core was quartered and the 2023 assays compared closely with the 1979 results."



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Figure 1: Molybdenite observed in drill core (M0S2) florets-tourmaline on fracture



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Figure 2: Chalcopyrite observed in fractures. Figure 3: Molybdenite observed in drill core.

Table 1: 2023 Exploration Program

2023 Exploration Program Hole # From / To Core Length Cu % Mo % Re (ppm) Hole Red-23-04 - Mineralization starts from surface 3.1 - 18.2 m 15.2 m 0.452 0.0265 0.1053 Hole Red-23-04 25.5 - 97.5 m 72.0 m 0.235 0.0228 0.1106 Hole Red-23-04 - Hole ended in mineralized intervals. 147.8 - 163.1 m 30.3 m 0.212 0.0154 0.0514 Hole Red-23-03 - Mineralization starts from surface 3.1 - 48.0 m 45.0 m 0.329 0.0265 0.1111 Hole Red-23-03 68.8 - 141.0 m 77.3 m 0.323 0.0197 0.0791 Hole Red-23-03 - Hole ended in mineralized intervals. 199.5 - 210.0 m 10.5 m 0.174 0.0117 0.0563 Hole Red-23-05 - Mineralization starts from surface 2.7 - 33.0 m 30.3 m 0.213 0.0192 0.0749 Hole Red-23-05 - Hole ended in mineralized intervals. 39.3 - 182.0 m 142.6 m 0.279 0.0281 0.0927 Hole Red-23-02 - Mineralization starts from surface 3.1 - 111.0 m 108.0 m 0.251 0.0250 0.1025 Hole Red-23-02 - Hole ended in mineralized intervals. 158.5 - 169.2 m 10.7 m 0.375 0.1377 0.5871 Hole Red-23-01 - Confirmation hole collared outside potassic zone 60.0 - 67.0 m 7.0 m 0.136 0.0023 0.0167

Table 2: 1979 Drilling Completed By Teck Corp.

Historic Holes (1979) Historic Hole # From / To Core Length Cu % MoS? % Re (ppm) DOH R79-2 110.0 - 200.0 m 90.0 m 0.21 0.019 - DOH R79-2 3.4 - 27.5 m 24.1 m 0.42 0.075 - DOH R79-3 - Mineralization starts from surface 35.0 - 60.0 m 25.0 m 0.19 0.024 - DOH R79-3 67.5 - 97.5 m 30.0 m 0.17 0.120 - DOH R79-3 140.0 - 152.5 m 12.5 m 0.30 0.015 - DOH R79-5 2.7 - 55.8 m 53.1 m 0.33 0.025 - DOH R79-5 - Mineralization starts from surface 92.5 - 135.0 m 42.5 m 0.20 0.038 - DOH R79-5 155.0 - 172.5 m 17.5 m 0.37 0.010 - DOH R79-5 182.5 - 210.0 m 27.5 m 0.22 0.021 - DOH R79-6 - Mineralization starts from surface 2.5 - 30.0 m 27.5 m 0.23 0.058 - DOH R79-6 142.5 - 155.5 m 10.0 m 0.10 0.045 - DOH R79-7 30.0 - 37.5 m 7.5 m 0.20 0.004 - DOH R79-8 125.0 - 135.0 m 10.0 m 0.06 0.034 - DOH R79-9 - Mineralization starts from surface 5.0 - 15.0 m 10.0 m 0.16 0.014 - DOH R79-9 97.5 - 110.0 m 12.5 m 0.19 0.011 - DOH R79-9 175.0 - 210.0 m 35.0 m 0.09 0.27 -



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Figure 5. Historical Core Boxes From Project

David Greenway, CEO of Vanguard Mining Corp., commented: "Vanguard is progressing the update of the NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Redonda Copper-Molybdenum Project to incorporate data from the recently completed 2025-2026 drill program, along with historical and previously reported information. The drill campaign was designed to test targets beyond the limits of historical drilling and to further refine the geological model at Redonda. Drilling was completed as planned, and all core has been logged and submitted for laboratory analysis.

During logging, alteration and sulphide mineralization consistent with the known Redonda system were observed; however, visual observations are qualitative in nature and are not indicative of mineralization grades or economic significance. Assay results are required to determine the presence, extent, and continuity of mineralization. The results from this program, together with historical data and previous drilling, will be evaluated and used by the Company and its Qualified Person in preparing the updated NI 43-101 Technical Report and in considering future exploration programs."

No assay results have been received for the 2025 drill program at the time of this release. Visual observations of drill core, including the presence of alteration or sulphide mineralization, are qualitative in nature and should not be considered a substitute for laboratory analytical results. There is no assurance that visual observations will correlate with assay results.



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Figure 4: 2024 Airborne Magnetics (RTP) with lineaments - See release

The drill program was guided by targets and structural corridors interpreted from a previously announced airborne geophysical survey conducted by Precision GeoSurveys, Inc. ("Precision"), integrated with historical drilling data and surface sampling. As reported by the previous operator, Stamper Oil & Gas Corp., ("Stamper") in the January 25, 2024, news release, drilling at Redonda returned intervals of up to 142.6 metres (467.8 feet) grading 0.279% Cu and 0.0281% Mo, while surface sampling yielded near-surface intervals ranging from 3.1 metres (10.17 feet) to 48 metres (157.4 feet) grading 0.529% CuEq. These results are historical in nature and should not be relied upon as an indication of current mineral resources or mineral reserves. Copper equivalent ("CuEq") values are provided for illustrative purposes only and are calculated using metal prices and recovery assumptions disclosed in the Stamper January 25, 2024, news release.

Copper equivalent ("CuEq") values were calculated using metal prices and recovery assumptions disclosed in the Stamper news release dated January 25, 2024.

Core logging for the 2025 drill program was conducted by an independent, certified senior geologist, and samples have been submitted to ALS Canada Ltd. ("ALS Laboratories"), for analysis using industry-standard quality assurance and quality control procedures, including the insertion of blanks and standards. Assay results are pending.

Vanguard further announces the Company has made it a priority to work in close collaboration with the Klahoose First Nation ("Klahoose") throughout the campaign, prioritizing local labour, training opportunities, and the use of Klahoose-affiliated service providers for logistics where practicable. The Company will maintain ongoing engagement throughout the program, including regular updates on work plans and timelines, incorporation of feedback into field operations, and adherence to cultural heritage protocols and environmental best practices within Klahoose Traditional Territory. Vanguard will coordinate site access, safety, and environmental monitoring with Klahoose representatives and will continue to explore additional opportunities for additional capacity-building and economic-participation

Target Generation from 2024 Airborne Geophysics

Drill hole locations have been selected using a combination of historical datasets and results from the Company's late-2024 airborne geophysical survey, which integrated total magnetic intensity, gradient magnetics, and radiometrics. The survey delineates strong correlations with mapped geological domains, including a northeast-southwest-trending fault system displaying right-lateral offset and several circular magnetic lows interpreted as potential intrusive centres. Radiometric potassium anomalies define arcuate potassic-alteration zones-key vectors in porphyry copper-molybdenum systems-focusing priority targets both adjacent to historical drilling and along newly defined structural corridors. The full airborne data package, including GeoTIFF magnetic and radiometric maps, will be made available on the Company's website for reference only and should not be relied upon for investment decisions to illustrate the scale and quality of the Redonda exploration opportunity.

About Redonda

The Redonda Project comprises nine mineral claims totaling 2,746.46 ha, located approximately 40 km northeast of Campbell River, British Columbia. The property is accessible year-round via scheduled barge service from Campbell River (e.g., MarineLink or other contract barges), with on-site access provided by 5 km of recently upgraded logging road from Redonda Bay. Active forestry maintains an extensive network of forest service roads across the claims. Field work in 2021 was conducted under a Letter of Support from the Klahoose First Nation within their Traditional Territory, together with a Free Use Permit, Drill Permit, and IP Exemption issued by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI). Consultation with the Homalko First Nation has concluded, and a permit for additional drill sites has been issued.

Redonda lies within the Coast Suture Zone between the Wrangellia Terrane and the Coast Plutonic Complex. Early Cretaceous dioritic intrusions of the Coast Plutonic Complex are cut by at least three later intrusive phases: (i) a quartz plug; (ii) a wide, hornblende-rich dike locally brecciated over ~600 metres of exposed length; and (iii) several smaller feldspar dikes near the southwestern margin of the hornblende body. Copper-molybdenum mineralization is most concentrated along the hornblende dike, particularly within brecciated zones. The geological setting shares several characteristics with nearby porphyry systems, including the OKover copper-molybdenum deposit located ~34 km to the southeast (north of Powell River) and the Gambier Copper deposit in Howe Sound.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by J. T. Shearer, M.Sc., D.I.C., P.Geo. (BC & Ontario), a consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101"). Mr. Shearer is not at arm's length with Vanguard Mining, as he has provided consulting geological services to the Company.

About Vanguard Mining Corp.

Vanguard Mining Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of high-value strategic minerals. The Company is currently advancing exploration projects in Argentina, Canada and Paraguay, with a focus on identifying and developing assets critical to the global energy transition. Vanguard is committed to responsible exploration and value creation through the acquisition and advancement of highly prospective uranium properties.

All Stakeholders are encouraged to follow the Company on its social media profiles on LinkedIn, X.com, Facebook and Instagram and sign up for updates at Vanguardminingcorp.com

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"David Greenway"

David Greenway, CEO

For further information, please contact:

Vanguard Mining Corp.

Brent Rusin

Phone: +1 672-533-0348

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: vanguardminingcorp.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, intentions, objectives, strategies, future performance, and anticipated events or results. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates, and assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied. There can be no assurance that the events anticipated in forward-looking statements will occur, or, if they do, what benefits Vanguard will obtain from them. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, exploration results, availability of financing, commodity prices, permitting and regulatory risks, operating risks, and other risks described in the Company's public disclosure. Forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof, and Vanguard undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

###

Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, January 19, 2026 - Metalsource Mining Inc. (CSE: MSM) (the "Company" or "Metalsource") announces the appointment of Adam Falkoff as a Director of the Company.

Mr. Falkoff has over 20 years of experience in public policy, diplomacy and business development. He has advised CEOs of the Fortune 100, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers and Ambassadors.



He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Trilateral Commission. He is a member of the Explorers Club. Mr. Falkoff served two U.S. Senators and a Vice President of the United States. He was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of State as a United States Public Diplomacy Envoy. His private sector experience includes senior executive leadership at CapitalKeys, Amazon and Microsoft. He is also the interim president of RARE, The Association for Rare Earth.



Mr. Falkoff was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of the nation's highest honors, for achievement and inspired service to the United States. He was twice named to the Washington, D.C. Power 100, a list of the 100 most influential non-elected people in Washington, D.C.



Mr. Falkoff holds a BA from Duke University and an MBA and MIM from the Thunderbird School of Global Managment. Mr. Falkoff also holds a Certificate in International Law from the University of Salzburg, Institute on International Legal Studies. The coursework was instructed by Supreme Court Justices Anthony Kennedy and John Paul Stevens. Mr. Falkoff participated in the postgraduate programme at the School of Mining Engineering at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa known as the world's preeminent institution in the field of international mining and mining studies.

Joe Cullen, CEO, stated: "We are thrilled to welcome Adam Falkoff to our Board of Directors. His unique combination of high-level policy experience, business leadership, and deep understanding of critical minerals positions him perfectly to help guide Metalsource Mining through this pivotal stage of its development."

The Company has granted 450,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to Mr. Falkoff. The Options are exercisable at $1.14 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. The Options vest over a one-year period and are subject to a hold period of four months and one day. The Options have been granted under and are governed by the terms of the Company's Stock Option Plan.

About Metalsource Mining

Metalsource Mining Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing high-potential mineral assets through modern, systematic exploration and value-driven discovery.

Neither the CSE nor the 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/280775
Vancouver, January 19, 2026 - Silver Elephant Mining Corp. (TSX: ELEF) (OTCQB: SILEF) (FSE: 1P2) ("Silver Elephant" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") to raise gross proceeds of $625,000 through the sale of 2,500,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.25 per unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one share purchase warrant with each warrant (each, a "Warrant") entitling the holder to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.32 per Share for a period of three years from issuance.

Finder's Fees of up to 7% Finder's Units will be payable. Each Finder's Unit will consist of one Share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional share of the Company at a price of $0.32 per share for three years.

Certain directors and officers of the Company are expected to be subscribing for up to 550,000 Units for gross proceeds of up to $137,500. Such participation will be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company anticipates relying on exemptions from the minority shareholder approval and formal valuation requirements applicable to the related-party transactions under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the Units to be acquired by the participating directors and officers nor the consideration to be paid by such directors and officers is anticipated to exceed 25 percent of the Company's market capitalization.

The securities issued under the Private Placement will be subject to a regulatory hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issue. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement primarily for directors fees and general working capital purposes.

The Private Placement is subject to approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange.

About Silver Elephant Mining Corp.

Silver Elephant is a mineral exploration company focused on the development of its silver-lead-zinc project in Bolivia.

Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com.

SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"John Lee"

CEO and Executive Chairman

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Such forward-looking information, which reflects management's expectations regarding Silver Elephant's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, is based on certain factors and assumptions and involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes the use of proceeds raised from the Private Placement.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, and should not be read as guarantees of future performance, events or results, and may not be indicative of whether such events or results will actually be achieved. A number of risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: market conditions; changes in business plans; ability to secure sufficient financing to advance the Company's mining projects; and general economic conditions. Additional risk factors about the Company are set out in its latest annual and interim management's discussion and analysis and annual information form available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions by management as of the date of this news release, and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with any forward-looking information included herein. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information in this news release to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of this news release, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280801
Your vote is important - vote today.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that Securityholders vote FOR the Arrangement with Highlander

Securityholder questions or need voting assistance? Please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group by email at [email protected], or by texting "INFO" to, or calling, 1-877-452-7184 (North American toll-free) or 1-416-304-0211 (outside North America).

Vancouver, January 19, 2026 - Bear Creek Mining Corp. (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces today that it has filed its notice of meeting, management information circular (the "Circular") and related documents (collectively, the "Meeting Materials") with securities regulators in connection with the special meeting (the "Meeting") of holders ("Bear Creek Shareholders") of common shares ("Bear Creek Shares"), holders of stock options, holders of restricted share units, and holders of deferred share units of Bear Creek (together with the Bear Creek Shareholders, the "Securityholders") to approve: (1) the proposed plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") with Highlander Silver Corp. ("Highlander"), and (2) the interest deferral agreements (the "Interest Deferral Agreements") entered into between the Company and each of Royal Gold, Inc. ("Royal Gold") and Equinox Gold Corp. ("Equinox"). An interim order of the British Columbia Supreme Court providing for the calling and holding of the Meeting was entered on January 15, 2026 (the "Interim Order").

The Meeting Materials have also been mailed to Securityholders and can be accessed online on Bear Creek's website at www.bearcreekmining.com or under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Meeting Details

The Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) in person at the offices of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP at 1200 Waterfront Centre, 200 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V7X 1T2. Pursuant to the Interim Order, Securityholders of record at the close of business on January 13, 2026, will be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at the Meeting.

The Bear Creek Board of Directors unanimously recommends that Securityholders vote FOR the proposed Arrangement with Highlander and FOR the Interest Deferral Agreements

with each of Royal Gold and Equinox.

Details of the Arrangement

The Consideration

On December 18, 2025, Bear Creek and Highlander entered into an arrangement agreement, as amended and restated on January 9, 2026, pursuant to which Highlander will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Bear Creek Shares (that it does not already own). Upon completion of the Arrangement, each Bear Creek Shareholder will receive 0.1175 of a common share of Highlander in exchange for each Bear Creek Share.

Support for the Arrangement

All directors and officers of Bear Creek, as well as Bear Creek's largest shareholders, Royal Gold and Equinox, cumulatively representing approximately 30% of the outstanding Bear Creek Shares, have signed voting support agreements, pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their Bear Creek Shares in favour of the Arrangement and any matter related thereto at the Meeting.

Demonstrative of Highlander's confidence in the Arrangement, and in accordance with its covenants thereunder, on January 8, 2026, Highlander acquired 50,000,000 Bear Creek Shares in a non-brokered private placement for proceeds to Bear Creek of $18,000,000, providing the Company with immediate liquidity. Highlander has also covenanted under the terms of the Arrangement, to vote its Bear Creek Shares, which represent approximately 15% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares, in favour of the Arrangement and any matter related thereto at the Meeting.

Benefits of the Arrangement

Some of the benefits of the Arrangement include, but are not limited to, the following:

Continued Exposure to the Corani Project: The Arrangement is expected to create a near-term and executable pathway to construction and operation of Bear Creek's Corani Project in Puno, Peru, unlocking long-underappreciated value for Bear Creek Shareholders.

Debt Restructuring: In connection with the Arrangement, Highlander is expected to complete debt restructuring transactions with each of the Company's largest creditors, Royal Gold, Inc. and Equinox Gold Corp., resulting in a financially robust pro-forma company with a strong cash position, no debt, and a strong group of supportive shareholders including the Augusta Group, the Lundin family and Eric Sprott.

Complementary Assets: Combines the Corani Project's substantial silver mineral reserves with Highlander's rapidly-advancing San Luis gold-silver development property to establish a top tier precious and base metal inventory and an organic pipeline of projects in Peru which are expected to provide near and long-term growth.

Enhanced Capital Markets Profile: Participation in a growth-oriented company with increased critical mass, having a combined equity market capitalization of approximately C$625 million, which will benefit from increased liquidity and the potential to amplify market exposure and normalize price to net asset value ratios.

Securityholders are encouraged to read the Circular for detailed information on the Arrangement and the rights and entitlements of Securityholders thereunder.

Vote Today

The proxy voting deadline is February 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver Time). Securityholders are encouraged to vote well in advance of the proxy voting deadline to ensure their vote is submitted in a timely manner. Voting is easy. Securityholders may vote online, by telephone or by any other methods provided in the form of proxy or voting instruction form which have been included as part of the mailing. If you wish to vote your securities but have not received a form of proxy or voting instruction form, please reach out to Laurel Hill at the contacts below.

Securityholder Questions & Voting Assistance

Securityholders with questions or who require voting assistance may contact Bear Creek's proxy solicitation agent:

Subscribe to Bear Creek Mining news releases

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, statements regarding: the proposed acquisition by Highlander of all of the Bear Creek Shares pursuant to the Arrangement and the terms thereof; the timing of the Meeting the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement; the cash position of the combined entity resulting from the Arrangement; and the anticipated filing of materials on SEDAR+. These forward-looking statements are no 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.

In respect of these forward-looking statements, the Company has relied on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time, including: assumptions as to the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory approvals including but not limited to court, shareholder, stock exchange and other third party approvals; and the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions to the completion of the Arrangement. This timeline may change for a number of reasons, including an inability to secure necessary regulatory, court, shareholder, stock exchange or other third-party approvals in the time assumed or the need for additional time to satisfy the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: the risk that the Arrangement may not be completed on a timely basis, if at all; the conditions to the consummation of the Arrangement may not be satisfied; the risk that the Arrangement may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the possibility that legal proceedings may be instituted against Highlander, Bear Creek, and/or others relating to the Arrangement and the outcome of such proceedings; the possible occurrence of an event, change or other circumstance that could result in termination of the Arrangement; risks relating to the failure to obtain necessary shareholder, court and stock exchange or other approvals; and other risks inherent in the mining industry. Failure to obtain the requisite approvals, or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to or complete the Arrangement may result in the Arrangement not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. In addition, if the Arrangement is not completed, the dedication of substantial resources of the Company to complete the Arrangement could have a material adverse impact on Bear Creek's share price, its current business relationships and on its current and future operations, financial condition, and prospects.

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/280860
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  The Justice Department says juveniles were subjected to sexual misconduct and other abuses at a privately run Mississippi prison, though the report comes three weeks after plans were revealed to move youth to another facility.The report dated Tuesday says sexual misconduct at Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in south Mississippi "was among the worst that we have seen in any facility anywhere in the nation."Walnut Grove  which also houses adults  is run by GEO Group of Boca Raton, Fla., the nation's second largest private prison company. A spokesman for GEO Group declined to comment Wednesday. The company assumed management of the facility in late 2010.The Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union and Jackson attorney Robert McDuff sued the state over conditions at the facility in 2010. The suit, filed on behalf of 13 plaintiffs, claimed guards smuggled drugs to inmates, had sex with some of them and denied others medical treatment and basic educational services.A proposed settlement reached in February requires youth to be moved to a facility governed by juvenile justice standards. State lawmakers have worked on legislation that would allow juveniles to be moved to a separated unit at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Pearl.The lawsuit settlement would also ban the practice of housing youth in long-term isolation."The Department of Justice's groundbreaking investigation into the GEO-Group operated Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility confirms what Mississippi's communities have known for over a decade: the combination of a profit hungry private prison, and a bad law that allows too many teenagers to enter the adult justice system has created a public safety crisis in Mississippi," said Sheila Bedi, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center."This is a crisis that destroys young lives and has wasted over $100 million in taxpayer dollars. In the wake of this report, Mississippi lawmakers should examine the harm that private prisons inflict on our communities and take action to end the practice of trying children in the adult criminal justice system."The Justice Department report listed numerous problems, including that the facility was "deliberately indifferent to staff sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior with youth."It also said the facility used excessive force, is indifferent to gang affiliations within the ranks of correctional staff and is indifferent to risks that young inmates posed to others."Youth also reported staff involvement with youth gang members and that, in fact, several staff members are actually members of various gangs and are involved in gang activity at the Facility. Surprisingly, a high ranking WGYCF official acknowledged to our DOJ investigative team that some of the Facility staff are involved in gangs," the report said.The facility also didn't provide adequate mental health and failed to adequately assess and treat youth at risk of suicide, the report said.Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility opened in 2001 in Leake County and holds inmates ages 13-22 who were minors convicted as adults.A federal judge must approve the settlement agreement, known as a consent decree. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Jackson.Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps has said his plan is to send the 17-and-younger inmates to Central Mississippi Correctional Facility by Oct. 1. He said there are about 1,000 vacant beds at CMCF now, so there is no need for a new building.
Wheres the money? While thats the second question in government, its also the one that really matters most. The debates that fuel elections and the legislative process are usually about the first question: What shall we do? But the answers to that are largely irrelevant if you cant find the money to pay for what you want to do.Financial crises are a perennial and perhaps endemic feature of democratic government, in part because so few public officials want to make this connection between money and the policies they advocate. Lois Scott, Chicagos chief financial officer and the leader of the Municipal CFO Forum, echoes this theme. When a public official says, for example, Im for job creation, Scott wonders, Whos opposed to job creation? Anyone can talk about what government should do. The critical issue is how we will find the money to get these things done. That issue is the central theme of a new memoir by Richard Ravitch, former lieutenant governor of New York and co-chair, with Paul Volcker, of the StateBudget Crisis Task Force. Ravitchs book,, is an engaging set of interlocking stories shaped by an understanding of politics and democracy. There are real lessons in it illustrating the fusion of financial expertise and political acumen.Ravitch had a central role in three major governmental financial crises. One of these, the near fiscal meltdown of New York City in the mid-1970s, is well known. The other two, involving New York states Urban DevelopmentCorporation and the citys Metropolitan Transportation Authority, will be less familiar to many, but I was struck by two similar themes. First, politicians hugely overreach in terms of policy objectives with little attention to the associated costs. In the case of New York City, Ravitch writes that in Mayor John Lindsays first term the citys labor force grew from 250,000 workers to 350,000 and that as a result, city spending grew by almost 50 percent.Second, when the crisis comes and it is clear that debts cannot be paid, the intervention typically involves the creation of a new agency that takes control of the revenue stream of the entity in trouble. In the case of New York City, the new agency was the Municipal Assistance Corporation. Wresting the revenue stream away from someone else and wringing money and concessions from the players who created the crisis while using the media to help engineer the votes to get it all done -- Ravitch tells the whole story with names, dates and places, and a deeply human touch.A lot of people get into public life because they want to save the world. Back in the 1980s I went back to school to get an MBA in accounting and finance because I figured out that to save the world, or at least the parts of it I wanted to save, I needed to know how the money worked. For a guy whos still learning, Ravitchs book is filled with useful lessons.
Featured

GEXIM to host 10th anniversary international conference in March

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News Jan - 19 - 2026 , 10:54

THE Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM) will host its 10th Anniversary International Conference from March 2526, 2026, at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.

On the theme A Decade of Enabling Export Trade and Industrial Transformation: Resetting GEXIM for the Next Frontier, the conference is part of a year-long programme that also includes the AGROTECH Fair 2026 and other selected corporate social responsibility initiatives to mark the banks decade of operations.

It is expected to bring together policymakers, development finance institutions, private sector players, and international partners to share best practices and generate recommendations to guide GEXIMs medium- to long-term strategy.

It would serve as a platform to reflect on GEXIMs contributions to Ghanas export diversification and industrial development, while charting a strategic path for the future.

It would also focus on global trends shaping export finance and trade competitiveness, as well as the need for stronger partnerships, innovative financing instruments and closer alignment with Ghanas economic priorities.

GEXIM@10 launch

Launching the GEXIM@10 celebrations in Accra last Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank, Sylvester Mensah, said 10 years ago, GEXIM was established with the signing to law the Ghana Export-Import Bank Act (2016), Act 911 with a clear mandate: to help Ghana move from exporting primarily raw materials to exporting more value-added products, building competitive industries and creating sustainable jobs.

He explained that over the past decade, the bank has worked with the government, the private sector and international partners to translate that mandate into practical supportthrough financing, guarantees and technical assistance for businesses operating across priority sectors.

Over the last 10 years, GEXIM has helped strengthen a system that has supported Ghanaian enterprises to expand production, improve quality and access new markets.

We have backed initiatives that contribute to export diversification and industrial development, with particular attention to the real economy - where jobs are created and competitiveness is won, Mr Mensah stated.

He said, the conference is both a reflection and a reset. A reflection on what ten years of deliberate institution-building can achieveand a reset that positions GEXIM, and Ghana to compete more effectively in the next frontier of trade and industrialisation.

Significance

The Board Chairman of GEXIM, Dr Joseph Nyarkotei Dorh, explained that the significance of GEXIM@10 was that Ghanas next phase of economic development be shaped by the ability to earn more from what the country produced, add value before export, and build industries that are resilient, competitive and globally connected.

According to him, export finance was not merely about funding transactions, but enabling transformation.

Ten years is a meaningful chapterbut it is not the full story. The next decade will be defined by how boldly we collaborate, how intelligently we innovate, and how consistently we invest in Ghanaian enterprise.

2026 is a crucial year for us, as it opens a new chapter in the banks life and particularly so, as our five-year strategic plan will begin seeing a real implementation this year, he stated.
Featured

GSA aligns reforms with 24hr economy, AfCFTA to boost trade

Maclean Kwofi Business News Jan - 19 - 2026 , 12:27

The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) is aligning its regulatory and infrastructure reforms with the governments 24-Hour Economy policy and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda to boost trade and logistics efficiency.

Speaking at the 32nd management workshop organised by the Ghana Shippers Authority at Peduase, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GSA, Professor Ransford Gyampo, explained that the authoritys focus on trade facilitation, port efficiency and export promotion was intended to position Ghana as a competitive regional logistics hub.

He said that ongoing reforms in port operations, digitalisation and infrastructure development were designed to support round-the-clock economic activity and expand intra-African trade.

We deliberately aligned our interventions with the 24-Hour Economy and AfCFTA to reduce the cost of doing business and strengthen Ghanas competitiveness in regional trade, Prof. Gyampo said.

Strengthening trade facilitation

Prof. Gyampo said the authority had intensified efforts to streamline port operations to reduce delays, inefficiencies and excessive charges that continued to burden shippers despite broader macroeconomic reforms.

He explained that regulatory interventions were being deepened to ensure transparency in pricing by shipping lines and service providers, while strengthening compliance with approved tariffs.

He said the GSAs engagement with port operators, shipping lines and terminal operators was already yielding results in improved turnaround times and better coordination among stakeholders.

He stressed that efficient ports were central to the success of the 24-Hour Economy, as round-the-clock operations depended on predictable costs, faster cargo clearance and reliable logistics systems.

If our ports are not efficient and competitive, the vision of a 24-hour economy will remain a slogan, which is why we are tackling both operational and cost-related bottlenecks head-on, he said.

Infrastructure development

The GSA CEO said investments in logistics infrastructure and digital platforms formed another pillar of the authoritys strategy to support continuous economic activity and regional trade.

He pointed to flagship projects such as the Boankra Integrated Logistics Terminal (BILT) and the Akatekyiwa Freight Park, describing them as critical nodes that would decongest the ports and improve cargo movement across the country.

Prof. Gyampo explained that these facilities were expected to serve as inland logistics hubs, linking the ports to production and consumption centres while supporting transit trade within the sub-region.

He added that the authority was also prioritising digital transformation to enhance efficiency and accountability in the shipping and logistics value chain.

He said the operationalisation of digital platforms, system integration and data-driven decision-making would reduce human interface, curb rent-seeking, and improve service delivery.

Digitalisation is no longer optional; it is the backbone of modern trade facilitation and a key driver of efficiency in a 24-hour economy, he stated.

Regional integration

Prof. Gyampo said the GSA had also strengthened regional and international partnerships to ensure Ghana fully benefited from the AfCFTA and emerging trade opportunities.

He said that collaboration with organisations such as the Union of African Shippers Councils, ECOWAS and other global trade bodies was helping to harmonise standards and protect the interests of Ghanaian shippers within the continental market.

The CEO said the authoritys expanded presence at land borders and the airport would further support trade facilitation while ensuring the effective implementation of approved service charges.

He explained that these measures, alongside the protection and commercialisation of GSA assets, were part of a broader strategy to diversify revenue streams and ensure institutional sustainability.

Our goal is to build a financially resilient authority that can effectively regulate, facilitate trade and support national development priorities without compromising on accountability, Prof. Gyampo said.

He expressed confidence that, with sustained stakeholder engagement and policy alignment, the GSAs interventions would significantly lower the cost of doing business and enhance Ghanas position as a preferred trade and logistics hub in West Africa.
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Featured

Way forward for Gold-for-Reserves

Graphic Business Editorial Business News Jan - 19 - 2026 , 12:04

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governors call for collective action to reform the Gold-for-Reserves (G4R) programme represents a crucial moment for Ghanas economic management.

With cumulative losses exceeding GH7.1 billion since 2021, the urgent need for this reform cannot be overstated.

However, as Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama rightly emphasised, the focus must shift from blame to constructive transformation.

The G4R programme was conceived during a period of acute economic vulnerability, when Ghanas foreign exchange reserves were under severe pressure and the cedi faced relentless depreciation.

The strategic reason behind using domestic gold to boost reserves remains sound: Ghana produces significant quantities of gold, and channeling this resource toward national economic stability makes inherent sense. The challenge lies not in the concept but in the execution.

The staggering acceleration of losses from GH744 million in 2022 to GH1.8 billion in 2024 under G4R alone signals fundamental flaws in the programmes operational framework.

The Governors acknowledgment that the BoG has absorbed the inherent costs of the trading model since inception reveals a structural weakness that demands immediate attention.

No central bank should routinely bear such substantial costs from what is essentially a fiscal policy instrument.

The distinction Dr Asiama draws between G4R and the now-defunct Gold-for-Oil programme is instructive.

While the latter was cancelled due to inefficiencies, G4R serves the fundamental purpose of reserve accumulation, a core mandate of any central bank.

This distinction justifies continued operation, but only if meaningful reforms are implemented swiftly.

The Graphic Business believes several critical reforms warrant immediate consideration. First, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) must fulfill its budgetary commitments.

The allocation of $270 million in the 2025 budget, with no disbursement as of September, is unacceptable. If this is a government policy programme, the fiscal authorities must bear the costs transparently within the national budget rather than leaving them on the central banks balance sheet.

Second, the trading model itself requires fundamental restructuring. The external audit expected in March must provide clear recommendations on operational efficiency, pricing mechanisms, and risk management protocols. Parliament and the MoF should commit to implementing these recommendations promptly.

Third, transparency must be enhanced significantly. The concerns raised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reflect broader public anxiety about how taxpayer resources are being managed.

Regular public reporting on the programmes operations, costs, and benefits would strengthen accountability and public confidence.

Fourth, coordination between the BoG, MoF, and mining sector stakeholders must improve dramatically. The programmes intersection with responsible mining policies and efforts to formalise small-scale mining presents opportunities that require integrated approaches rather than siloed implementation.

The paper seconds the Governors call for unity rather than recrimination. Ghanas economic challenges demand that institutions work collaboratively toward shared national objectives.

However, unity cannot mean absence of accountability. The reforms must be substantive, measurable and time-bound.

The G4R programme can serve Ghanas economic stability if reformed properly. The alternative which is allowing losses to continue mounting while institutional capacity erodes is untenable.

Parliament, the Executive, and the BoG must act decisively to ensure this strategic initiative delivers its intended benefits to the Ghanaian people.
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WASSCE results over a decade: Ghanas gains, losses, urgent priorities

Al-Hassan Kodwo Baidoo Education Jan - 19 - 2026 , 09:57 4 minutes read

For a nation that defines its future through education, few indicators reveal the health of our learning system as clearly as WASSCE results.

From 2015 to 2024, with early signals from 2025, performance in the four core subjectsEnglish Language, Core Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studiestells a story that is both encouraging and deeply unsettling.

It is a decade of improvement punctuated by instability, revealing a system that has progressed but remains dangerously fragile.

As Ghana prepares for the 2026 examinations, these lessons must not be ignored.

A decade in two halves: Improvement without stability

The period can be understood in two five-year blocks: 20152019 and 20202024, based on publicly available WAEC pass rates (A1C6).

Between 2015 and 2019, performance was modest and inconsistent.

Average pass rates stood at 50.66 per cent for English, 40.90 per cent for Mathematics, 45.89 per cent for Integrated Science and 61.54 per cent for Social Studies.

Mathematics and Science, in particular, remained chronically weak, confirming long-standing concerns about STEM education at the senior high level.

The second half of the decade, 20202024, recorded marked improvement across all four subjects.

English averaged 62.89 per cent, Mathematics 62.06 per cent, Integrated Science 61.25 per cent and Social Studies 70.03 per cent.

Mathematics saw the most dramatic riseover 21 percentage pointswhile English and Science recorded their strongest performances in over a decade.

The 20202023 results were widely celebrated.

In 2023, English was passed at over 73 per cent, Social Studies nearly 77 per cent, with Mathematics and Science showing rare stability.

These outcomes challenged early fears that the Free SHS policy would dilute academic standards.

However, the optimism was short-lived.

20242025: Clear warning signal

In 2024, performance began to soften. Integrated Science dropped from its 2023 peak of 66.82 per cent to about 58.77 per cent, with Social Studies also declining. Provisional 2025 results were more alarming: Core Mathematics reportedly fell sharply from 66.86 per cent in 2024 to around 48.7 per cent, alongside declines in Integrated Science and Social Studies.

Only English remained relatively stable.

This downturn is not a minor fluctuation. It exposes how poorly institutionalised recent gains were.

While improvements between 2020 and 2023 were real, they were not structurally protected.

That period also coincided with unsustainable practicesover-reliance on past questions, relaxed supervision and heightened examination malpractice.

Without deep reforms in teaching quality, curriculum delivery, assessment integrity and resource equity, performance will continue to swing unpredictably.

Numbers reveal

First, Mathematics and Science remain Ghanas academic Achilles heel.

Their sharp volatility reflects weaknesses in conceptual understanding, teacher content mastery, pedagogy and resource availability.

The sudden collapse in Mathematics performance in 2025 suggests fragile foundations.

Second, gains have been uneven.

Well-resourced urban and endowed schools benefited disproportionately from the 20202023 improvements, while many rural, peri-urban and northern schools lagged. National averages continue to mask deep inequities.

Third, curriculumassessment alignment remains inconsistent.

Chief examiners repeatedly cite poor application of concepts, weak analytical skills and poor expression.

Teachers often receive syllabi and textbooks late or rely on outdated materials, creating gaps between instruction and assessment.

Fourth, Free SHS expanded enrolment rapidly from 2017, but teacher numbers, infrastructure, laboratories and textbooks did not grow at the same pace.

The recent gains were achieved despite these pressures, largely through short-term, non-data-driven interventions rather than system strengthening.

Finally, public confidence in WAEC and national assessment remains fragile. Each major fluctuation triggers allegations of leakage or inconsistent marking. For a system built on examination credibility, transparency is no longer optional.

National consequences beyond the classroom

Unstable WASSCE performance has serious national implications. Tertiary institutions struggle with unpredictable admission pipelines, especially in STEM programmes.

Ghanas ambition to build a science- and technology-driven economy is undermined by inconsistent Mathematics and Science outcomes.

Social mobility becomes a lottery for students in poorly resourced schools, while employers increasingly question the reliability of certificates, with long-term consequences for productivity.

Urgent priorities ahead of 2026

Ghana does not need new slogans but disciplined, data-driven action. Six priorities are critical:

1. An independent, transparent review of the 2025 results, including full item analysis to restore public trust.

2. A nationwide Mathematics and Science teacher upskilling programme, institutionalised as continuous professional development.

3. Stronger alignment between curriculum, textbooks and examination standards, supported by timely teacher resource packs.

4. Targeted support for the weakest districts, including specialist teachers and diagnostic interventions.

5. Low-stakes formative assessments nationwide, beginning from SHS Forms One to Three.

6. Open, institutionalised education data systems to support evidence-based reform.

Conclusion

The past decade shows that Ghanaian students can excel when given the right support.

But the sharp downturn in 2025 is a national wake-up call.

A system that improves for a few years and collapses suddenly is not yet strong.

Ghana must urgently protect its gains and fix the foundations.

If the nation is serious about preparing a competitive 21st-century workforce, the stability, quality and integrity of WASSCEand the system behind itcannot remain this vulnerable.

The time to act is now.
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Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau launches 5th anniversary

Jemima Okang Addae Jan - 19 - 2026 , 19:47 3 minutes read

The Acting Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, has said thorough investigations into aircraft accidents and incidents are critical to strengthening aviation safety, regulatory frameworks, and public confidence, describing such investigations as both a technical and moral obligation.

Investigation into aircraft accidents and incidents is not merely a technical exercise. It is a moral and professional obligation. It safeguards lives, informs policy, strengthens oversight, and builds public confidence in our aviation system, he stated.

Rev Arthur made the remarks at the launch of the 5th anniversary celebration of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana), on the theme Enhancing Safety: The Role of Accident Investigation on Aviation Safety in Ghana in Accra on Monday

He questioned earlier arrangements where the GCAA performed both regulatory and investigative roles, noting that such a setup raised concerns about objectivity.

He asked how true objectivity can be assured when an institution is required to investigate activities that fall within its own regulatory oversight.

According said the establishment of AIB Ghana as an independent body aligns with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, ensuring functional independence between accident investigation and regulatory or operational responsibilities.

Achievements

Rev. Arthur highlighted the bureaus progress over the past five years, including conducting comprehensive investigations, issuing safety recommendations, building investigative capacity, and contributing to both national and regional aviation safety.

He emphasised that the real value of accident investigations lies not in the reports produced, but in the safety improvements that follow.

The true value of an investigation lies not in the voluminous report alone, but in the safety it improves going forward, he said.

He further stressed collaboration between AIB Ghana and the GCAA, describing the relationship as complementary rather than adversarial.

He noted that findings from investigations have provided invaluable input into Ghanas State Safety Programme, supporting safety risk management and assurance processes in line with ICAO Annex 13.

Rev. Arthur called for continued investment in training, capacity building, and modern investigative tools to address emerging technologies such as unmanned aircraft systems.

He also urged the development of national procedures for assisting accident victims and their families and reaffirmed the GCAAs commitment to deepening collaboration with AIB Ghana and other stakeholders.

Investigations

The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, also emphasised the importance of AIB Ghana, noting that aircraft accident investigations were previously handled on an ad hoc basis within the civil aviation ministry.

He described the creation of an autonomous bureau as a major milestone for objectivity, transparency, and alignment with international best practices.

He stressed that accident investigations are not about blame but about learning lessons to prevent recurrence.

Aircraft accident investigation is not about blame or punishment. Every accident thoroughly investigated becomes a lesson learned, and every lesson learned is a life potentially saved, he said.

Mr Nikpe added that aviation safety is sustained through robust systems, coordinated frameworks, and continuous improvement, rather than merely the absence of accidents.

He called for stronger follow-up on safety recommendations and data-driven policy decisions that translate findings into better regulations, training, procedures, and technologies.

Challenges

Despite the bureaus achievements, the Acting Commissioner of AIB Ghana, John M.K. Wumborti, acknowledged challenges confronting the institution, including funding constraints, limited access to specialized equipment, and inadequate advanced investigation tools.

He noted that while these challenges have tested the bureaus operations, they have not deterred its commitment to independent and professional investigations.

Mr Wumborti called for sustained investment, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and continued public education to support a culture of safety learning in Ghanas aviation sector.
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Alhaji Seidu Abagre charged with acting as chief without qualification contrary to the Chieftaincy Act, bail application denied

Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi Jan - 19 - 2026 , 17:56 3 minutes read

Alhaji Seidu Abagre, the 79-year-old retired teacher who was removed from Bawku on December 24, 2025, following recommendations contained in the mediation report by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on the long-running chieftaincy dispute in the area has been charged with four counts, one of which is acting as a chief without qualification, contrary to the Chieftaincy Act.

The other counts are Provocation of riot, contrary to Section 200 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Offensive conduct conducive to breach of the peace and fighting with weapons.

Alhaji Seidu Abagre has pleaded not guilty to all four counts.

After hearing submissions from both the defence and the state on Monday, the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit refused a bail application filed by Alhaji Seidu Abagre.

Bail application

Martin Kpebu, counsel for Alhaji Seidu Abagre argued that his client was innocent and will continue to attend court throughout the trial.

He told the court that Abagre had been held in custody for 26 days without being informed of any offence at the time of arrest, asserting that this was contrary to Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that a detainee be informed of the reasons for arrest at the material time.

Mr. Kpebu further argued that the offences against Abagre are misdemeanours carrying a maximum sentence of three years, making it unlikely that he would abscond if granted bail.

He said that Abagre is married with children, has a fixed place of abode in Bawku, and has supporters prepared to stand as sureties.

The defence referenced a habeas corpus application filed on January 5, 2026, seeking the courts intervention over what was described as unlawful detention, and pointed to assurances given by the Deputy Attorney-General during those proceedings about protecting Abagres rights.

Mr Kpebu told the court that the accused was unwell and had difficulty walking, which was evident when he was asked to move in court.

Opposition

The Deputy Attorney-General, Justice Srem Sai opposed the bail application, arguing that the state has acted within the law and that Seidu Abagre was not in unlawful custody.

He told the court that a valid court order authorised the detention and highlighted that Abagre has had access to his family and legal counsel throughout.

On the issue of public safety, he said the states duty is to maintain security and public order, particularly given the volatile situation in Bawku and potential wider tensions across the country. The state argued that releasing Abagre on bail under the terms proposed by the defence could undermine peace and security.

Ruling

After hearing submissions from both sides and considering the circumstances of the case, the court refused the bail application.

The court directed the Attorney-General to ensure that the dignity of the accused is respected and that he has access to medical treatment while in custody. The Attorney-General was also directed to file disclosures.

The case has been adjourned to February 2, 2026.
3 Institutions get support from Ghana Re

Emmanuel Bonney Jan - 19 - 2026 , 09:57 2 minutes read

The Ghana Reinsurance PLC (Ghana Re) has presented cheques totalling GH200,000 to three selected health and educational institutions in line with its annual corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The institutions are Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana (LCCG), GH50,000; the University of Cape Coast School of Business, GH 50,000 and the Ghana Heart Foundation (GHF), GH100,000.

Making the donation, the Managing Director of Ghana Re, Seth Kobla Aklasi, said the firm had, over the years, supported LCCG, a patient organisation and fundraising foundation partner for the Paediatric Oncology Treatment Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, as well as the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Lifeline

LCCG, he said, was dedicated to making childhood cancer a national health priority in Ghana by facilitating increased access to optimal treatment and care for children affected by cancer in Ghana.

Our donation of GH50,000.00 to LCCG, today, is to assist with the building of a new 40-bed Paediatric Oncology Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to cater for more children because the current ward at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital can only take 25 children at a time and there are about 500 new cases each year, with many children being turned away.

Heart foundation

Mr Aklasi said the GHF was a charitable entity that supported the National Cardiothoracic Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital by facilitating public donations for heart-related research, patient care and creating a supportive environment for heart health in the country.

The GHF, he said, had over the years supported every Ghanaian patient undergoing heart surgery to the tune of 50 per cent to 100 per cent of surgeries and that had been made possible because of donations that the foundation received from individuals and organisations.

UCC Business School

Mr Aklasi said the UCC School of Business had been running business programmes for the past 50 years.

Currently, he said the UCC School of Business had 37 programmes (undergraduate, Masters and doctoral) with the potential to add 24 new programmes within the next four years.
Next article: Chief Justice defends mass training of lawyers - Only 5,000 lawyers practising in Ghana

Agric Minister woos foreign investors in USA

Severious Kale-Dery Jan - 19 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, is wooing foreign investors to take advantage of the substantial opportunities within Ghanas agriculture sector.

Speaking at the US-Ghana Investor Forum, held last Thursday, January 15, 2026, in Pennsylvania, USA, he reiterated the government's commitment to creating a favourable environment for investment.

The forum, which attracted a cross-section of Ghanaians in the diaspora and interested foreign agribusiness investors, focused on fostering agricultural growth and development in Ghana.

Incentives

Mr Opoku said the government was committed to creating the needed incentives to attract the youth and large-scale farmers to venture into the agricultural sector.

Those incentives, he said, were designed to mitigate risks and enhance the attractiveness of agricultural ventures in Ghana.

The minister elaborated on Ghana's strategic position within West Africa, referencing its stable political and economic climate as a fertile ground for economic growth and providing immense potential for value chain engagement for investors.

Mr Opoku, therefore, called on all investors to direct their financial resources and expertise towards the Ghanaian economy, recognising the immense potential for mutual benefit and sustainable development.

Agric potentials

Mr Opoku highlighted the substantial opportunities within Ghana's agriculture sector, assuring the potential investors of governments clear intention to supporting them to ensure that Ghana attained food sufficiency.

He took the forum through the potentials of the agriculture sector, which constituted 20 per cent share of the GDP, employing 38.3 per cent of the national population.

The minister gave them the assurance that Ghana had large tracts of arable land, various ecological zones with excellent soil, suitable for the production of multiple crops and livestock.

Mr Opoku told the participants that Ghana had a total land area of 23.9 million hectares with 13.6 million suitable for agriculture out of which 6.6 million remained uncultivated, while 1.9 million hectares had the potential for irrigation.

Other areas of interest

He said other areas of interest included shea butter, which Ghana could boast having the finest, and best quality globally.

On cashew, the minister said the country had huge potentials of commercial production, adding that currently there was the need for value addition of the cashew apple, from which wine and others could be produced.

Speaking on foodstuffs, the minister said rice currently stood at 1.5 million/600,000 tonnes production with a deficit estimated at 900,000 tonnes.

Natural resources

The minister took the opportunity to school the foreign gathering on other opportunities in the country, assuring them that Ghana was the largest gold-producing country in Africa, second largest cocoa producer in the world and had the third largest bauxite reserve in Africa.

Additionally, he told them that Ghana had oil and gas reserves, and remained the largest producer of tuna in Africa and fourth globally and was the second largest producer of yam in the world.

The minister declared that Ghana, under the visionary leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, was actively seeking strategic partnerships, particularly in the agricultural domain, rather than solely relying on aid.

Since coming into office, the government had launched the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) under the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda to boost food self-sufficiency, reduce imports, create jobs and modernise farming.
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GRA to deploy AI to tackle import fraud from February 1, 2026

Maclean Kwofi Jan - 19 - 2026 , 09:57 4 minutes read

From February 1, 2026, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will begin implementing an artificial intelligence(AI)-powered system to improve and facilitate import clearance at the countrys entry points, starting with the Tema Port.

The rollout of the AI-powered Publican Trade Solution is expected to boost customs revenue by 40 to 45 per cent while significantly enhancing speed, efficiency and transparency in cargo processing.

It is also to address entrenched abuses in the use of import declaration forms (IDF).

For instance, information from the 2026 Budget indicates that between April 2020 and August 2025, more than 525,000 IDF transactions worth about $83 billion were processed through the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) yet only 10,440 were linked to actual imports, with an estimated $31 billion transferred abroad without goods, alongside under-declared imports valued at about GH76 billion that denied the state roughly GH11 billion in potential revenue.

Consequently, the new system seeks to integrate customs and international trade data, enabling real-time analysis to support valuation, risk profiling and decision-making by customs officers.

It is designed to detect under-valuation, misclassification and other trade malpractices without adding extra costs to importers, while facilitating legitimate trade and protecting government revenue.

The implementation of the system would also not increase the cost of importers.

Cross-border trade

Engaging the media on the new system in Accra last Friday, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, stated that the Integrated Customs Management System introduced in June 2020 was designed to harmonise cross-border trade processes, reduce transaction costs, and improve domestic revenue mobilisation.

He said that although the system had enhanced trade facilitation and operational efficiency, persistent challenges, such as undervaluation, misclassification, smuggling and falsification of trade data, continued to undermine customs controls.

He said these discrepancies underscored the urgent need for an advanced, technology-driven inspection and analytics framework to strengthen compliance and close revenue leakages at the ports.

Modernise customs

The minister said the government had, therefore, approved the deployment of an AI-powered trade data analytics system to modernise customs administration and enhance revenue mobilisation.

This system will inspect every shipment document in real time, cross-check declarations with reliable global data sources, and flag high-risk or fraudulent transactions within minutes, Mr Ampem stated.

He assured importers and freight forwarders that the technology would not delay cargo clearance or impose additional costs on legitimate businesses.

Those who comply fully have nothing to fear, but from February, all importers must be prepared to pay the accurate duties on what they bring into the country, he added.

Decisive shift

The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, said that the introduction of an AI-powered trade data analytics system would mark a significant shift in the authoritys approach to revenue assurance and customs compliance.

He explained that the persistent gaps identified under the ICUMS regime, particularly in valuation, classification and data integrity, had necessitated a more intelligent and predictive system that could support officers beyond manual checks.

Customs operations today are driven by data, and if the data is distorted, then the outcomes will be distorted as well, he stated.

Mr Sarpong said the new system would empower customs officers with instant access to credible international trade benchmarks, enabling them to verify declarations with greater accuracy and confidence.

This platform does not replace our officers; it strengthens them by providing real-time intelligence that would otherwise take weeks or months to uncover, he said.

Mr Sarpong added that early results from the pilot phase demonstrated the systems effectiveness, as the recovery of additional revenue from a small sample of transactions showed the scale of potential leakages within the system.

Commitment

The Commissioner-General stated that the GRA was committed to ensuring the deployment of the technology would be transparent, fair, and business-friendly, particularly for compliant importers.

If you are doing the right thing, this system will actually make your clearance faster and more predictable, Mr Sarpong stated.

He emphasised that the authority would continue to engage stakeholders ahead of full implementation to address concerns and to build trust.

He added that our goal is not to punish trade, but to protect the integrity of Ghanas revenue system while facilitating legitimate commerce.
Vice-President calls for renewal of GhanaGuinea Pan-African ties

Diana Mensah Jan - 19 - 2026 , 09:57 2 minutes read

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for a rekindling of the longstanding Pan-African relationship between Ghana and Guinea.

She urged renewed cooperation to advance African unity and development.

She made the call in Conakry when she visited the Ghanaian community in Guinea, where she represented Ghana at the investiture of Guineas President, Mamadi Doumbouya.

The ceremony, held at the Stade General Lansana Conte, brought together heads of state and high-level delegations from across Africa and beyond.

As part of her visit, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang toured the residence of Ghanas first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who served as Co-President of Guinea after his overthrow in Ghana in 1966.

The visit highlighted the deep historical ties between the two countries, forged during the post-independence era by Dr Nkrumah and Guineas first President, Ahmed Sekou Toure, both leading proponents of Pan-African unity.

Cooperation

Speaking during the visit, the Vice-President underscored the shared history and values of Ghana and Guinea, calling for stronger bilateral cooperation in line with the Pan-African vision championed by the two founding leaders.

She said that renewing these ties was critical at a time when the region required greater solidarity to drive development and stability.

The General Secretary of the Ghanaian Community in Guinea, Seidu Osman Fisher, commended the government for what he described as a turnaround in the countrys economy.

He also praised Prof. Opoku-Agyemang for her leadership, particularly her performance as the Chair of the Police Council.

Investiture

Prof. Opoku-Agyemangs participation in the investiture on January 17, 2025, underscored Ghanas commitment to regional cooperation and democratic solidarity in West Africa, following Guineas recent elections and transition from military rule.

Her visit forms part of broader diplomatic efforts by Ghana to deepen engagement with Guinea, building on longstanding historical bonds.

The Vice-President was accompanied by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice-President, Alex Segbefia; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; and the Vice-Presidents Spokesperson, Ama Pratt.

Her mission symbolised a renewal of ties between Accra and Conakry at a pivotal moment for the region, reinforcing Ghanas diplomatic presence in West Africa and reaffirming the enduring Pan-African partnership envisioned decades ago by Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Ahmed Sekou Toure.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre charged with acting as chief without qualification contrary to the Chieftaincy Act, bail application denied

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Registration portal opened for 2026/2027 national service year for nurses and midwives

Mohammed Ali Jan - 19 - 2026 , 17:25 1 minute read

The National Service Authority (NSA) has set Thursday, January 23, 2026, as the deadline for enrolment for the 2026/2027 national service year for nurses and midwives who completed school in 2025 and are due for national service.

They have four days to complete their national service registration after the Authority released the Personal Identification Number codes for 6,867 eligible nurses and midwives on Monday, January 19, 2026, marking the start of the online registration process.

Applicants are required to pay a registration fee of GH41.00 through Mobile Money on any network before gaining access to the enrollment platform.

Eligible candidates are to visit the National Service Authority website at https://gnsa.gov.gh/home, select the portal, and retrieve their PIN codes using their student identification numbers and date of birth.

Those eligible for registration are nurses and midwives who passed the March and April 2025 Licensing Examinations, also referred to as the minor season, organised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana.

The Director General of the National Service Authority, Ms Ruth Dela Seddoh, made this known in a press release issued on Monday [January 19, 2026].

She urged all prospective service personnel to complete the process within the stated period.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana submitted the list of qualified professionals to the National Service Authority on Friday, January 16, 2026.
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Shatta Wale sues Blakk Rasta for defamation, demanding GH100million damages

Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi Jan - 19 - 2026 , 17:03 2 minutes read

Renowned dancehall Ghanaian musician, Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, had sued social commentator Abubakar Ahmed, also known as Blakk Rasta, for alleged defamation.

The suit, filed on January 15, 2026 follows a video publication by Blakk Rasta on December 15, 2025, titled Shatta Wale, Self-Confessed King of Fraud.

In his statement of claim, Shatta Wale contends that statements made in the video were false, malicious and calculated to damage his reputation as a public figure and award-winning musician.

According to Shatta Wale, Blakk Rasta made comments in the video which portrayed him as dishonest, morally reprehensible and involved in fraudulent activities.

He is therefore arguing that the statements suggest he was a fraudster, associated with persons alleged to be involved in fraud, and that he permitted proceeds of crime to pass through his bank accounts.

He maintained that the publications exposed him to public ridicule, scandal and contempt, and caused anxiety among his family, fans, business partners and colleagues in the music industry.

Reliefs

Shatta Wale is therefore seeking a declaration that the statements made in the video were defamatory, an order directing Blakk Rasta to permanently remove the video and related content from all social media platforms, and an injunction restraining the defendant from making further defamatory publications.

He is also asking the court to order a public retraction and an unqualified apology to be published on the defendants social media pages and in the Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times and Graphic Showbiz newspapers.

Additionally, the plaintiff is claiming damages of GH100 million and costs.
NDC does not take votes for granted - Asiedu Nketiah

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Bryan Acheampong: Ready to rebuild NPP, lead with purpose

Samuel Duodu Politics Jan - 19 - 2026 , 06:18 4 minutes read

A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Bryan Acheampong, has proposed a balanced approach to addressing illegal mining in the country.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic on a wide range of issues confronting the nation, he stressed the need for strict enforcement of laws to protect the environment, coupled with alternative livelihood programmes for those engaged in illegal mining.

Dr Acheampong further proposed a 90-day freeze on mining activities to allow for a comprehensive review and reset of the sector.

Recently, I proposed a 90-day freeze on mining for us to reset. This will give us the opportunity to reassess our approach and put in place measures to ensure that our mining activities are sustainable and beneficial to our country, he said.

The former Minister of Food and Agriculture also emphasised the importance of investing in community mining schemes that were regulated, safe and beneficial to local economies.

That, he said, would not only create jobs but also ensure that local communities benefit from the countrys natural resources.

Dr Acheampong, who is vying to lead the NPP as its flag bearer in 2028, said the proposals were part of his broader vision for the country's development, focusing on sustainable economic growth, job creation and environmental protection.

Vision

The former Minister of State for National Security and at the Ministry for the Interior outlined a comprehensive plan to address the country's socio-economic challenges, with emphasis on food security, industrialisation, and job creation.

The serving Member of Parliament for Abetifi also stressed the need to focus on expanding agro-processing, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and investing in renewable energy to drive sustainable growth.

Dr Acheampong highlighted the importance of infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas, to unlock opportunities and promote economic growth.

He also stressed the need for policies that are people-centred and inclusive.

Governance

Asked whether the NPP government performed to perfection, Dr Acheampong acknowledged that the party's immediate past government could have done better in implementing policies and communicating with Ghanaians.

With hindsight, some policies could have been implemented with greater speed and inclusivity, he said.

The Abetifi lawmaker also acknowledged that communication with the partys grassroots could have been stronger, and the government could have better managed the expectations of Ghanaians.

He, however, emphasised that those lessons were valuable and would guide the party's future governance.

NDC government

Dr Acheampong also expressed concerns about the current government's performance, saying he had not seen a tangible shift in the way things were done.

He chose not to rate the government's performance after one year in office, but instead focused on building on achievements and correcting weaknesses to move the nation forward.

Every government faces challenges and opportunities.

While some small progress has been made in certain areas, there are lessons to be learned.

My focus is not on ratings, but on building on achievements and correcting weaknesses to ensure Ghana moves forward, he said.

Corruption

Dr Acheampong promised to tackle corruption head-on by strengthening institutions, empowering anti-corruption agencies and ensuring accountability, which he said would be firm and non-selective.

He said transparency, digitalisation of government services, and strict enforcement of the law would be central to his strategies to fight corruption.

Dr Acheampong, known for his tough stance on issues, warned that he was a disciplinarian and would not hesitate to take action against those involved in corruption.

"And when necessary, I will crack the whip. People who know me know I am a disciplinarian, and discipline will sit at the heart of our fight against corruption," he said.

Lead with purpose

Dr Acheampong said he was not only ready to steer the party to victory in 2028 but would rebuild it, restore confidence and lead with purpose.

On January 31, I ask delegates to choose a leader who will not only win elections, but rebuild the party, restore confidence and lead with purpose, the Abetifi lawmaker added.

I am offering myself to lead with discipline, renewal and unity.

I have the experience, the vision and the organisational strength to prepare the NPP for victory in 2028, he said.

Ultimately, I am ready not just to lead a party, but to lead a nation with discipline, courage, and a clear sense of direction, he stated.

In exactly 12 days from today, delegates of the NPP will head to the polls to elect a flag bearer for the 2028 elections.

On the ballots are five candidates contesting for the position on January 31.

They are former MP for Assin Central and businessman, Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Abetifi, Dr Bryan Acheampong, also a businessman; the 2024 flag bearer and former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and a former General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, who is also an engineer.

Over 200,000 delegates will vote in the election at designated polling centres across the country.
Ayawaso East by-election: Supporters pushing for late MPs widow to step in as replacement candidate

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EC sets March 3 for Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election

Daily Graphic Politics Jan - 19 - 2026 , 09:57 3 minutes read

The Electoral Commission (EC) will hold the Ayawaso East Constituency parliamentary by-election on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The decision follows the unfortunate death of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso East Constituency, Mahama Naser Toure, which has rendered the seat vacant.

A statement signed and issued by the Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of operations said it was also in accordance with Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, as amended.

Nomination/ Filing fees

The statement said the commission has also opened nominations for prospective candidates to file and contest the vacant parliamentary seat in the Greater Accra Region.

It said nominations would be received at the Ayawaso East Municipal office of the commission, from Monday, February 9, 2026, to Wednesday, February 11, 2026, between the hours of 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm on each day.

The commission also announced a filing fee of GH10,000.00 per candidate. However, the filing fee for female candidates and persons with disabilities (PWDs) is GH7,500.00.

Modalities

"All completed nomination forms are expected to be delivered in quadruplicate," it said.

"Interested candidates are required to download the nomination forms from the Commissions website (www.ec.gov.gh/forms) from Friday, January 16, 2026, to Wednesday, February 11, 2026," the statement said.

"A prospective candidate may personally deliver or cause to be delivered on his/her behalf, by either the proposer or seconder of his/her nomination, the completed nomination forms to the returning officer at the Ayawaso East Municipal office of the commission on the dates and times stated above," it said.

It added that the nomination forms for each candidate shall be witnessed by the signature or mark of two registered voters as proposer and seconder, and supported by 18 other registered voters in the constituency as assenting to the nominations.

The statement said the nomination forms shall also be endorsed with the candidate's consent to the nomination.

"A candidate shall at the time of submitting his/her completed nomination forms, provide the returning officer with two copies of a recent postcard (bust-sized) photograph against a red background, showing his/her full face and ears," it said.

The EC urged the public to be guided accordingly.

Background

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) sitting MP for Ayawaso, Naser Toure, passed away in the early part of this month and was laid to rest according to Islamic customs.

So far, three political parties have announced their intention to contest the Ayawaso East parliamentary by-election.

They are the NDC, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).
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Hundreds of students and volunteers filled the Micronesia Mall center court on Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, earning service learning hours through the Passport to Service program.

Nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community partners connected the youth with opportunities to serve across Guam.

Joining the students and volunteers at the event were Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, other government of Guam officials and other members of the community.

The nationally celebrated holiday honors the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner who was assassinated in 1968.

It is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, encouraging Americans to volunteer their time to strengthen their communities.

Claudette McGee, who has lived on Guam since 1968, played a key role in establishing MLK service learning on the island, which began through a presidential directive in 1986.

She was appointed by Gov. Ricky Bordallo to chair the committees and organize programs for the entire island, and succeeding governors continued to appoint her to lead the efforts.

McGee said service programs help students develop important skills and values, and teach them the importance of giving back, building respect, and understanding their role within their families and the wider community.

I think that is a wonderful idea in terms of not only volunteering, learning to give back, but also developing that respect and developing work habits, and developing an understanding of what it means to be not only a family member, but also a member of the community, she said.

She wanted to remind the community why the celebration itself matters.

I think the celebration is always to keep vigilant, to keep the vision and to keep the message going that if we dont [do service work], we can become independently selfish, she said. I think by doing this, it keeps individuals thinking not of themselves, but thinking of other people and serving others. Thats what Martin Luther King was. He was about serving others.

High school students carried their Passport to Service Learning sheets as they visited AmeriCorps programs and other organizational booths. Students must complete 75 hours of service to graduate.

Among the organizations recruiting students was AmeriCorps, represented by Abbiegail Cruz, a 2025 graduate of Guahan Academy Charter School, who returned to the school community as a member and recruiter.

Cruz said her own path into service, which started while she was in high school, helped shape her career goals and sense of purpose.

I was helping feed the homeless. I monitor students at the school, and it also helped me figure out the career I would want, she said.

Her experiences helped her discover her future working with children, and she now wants to become a teacher. She tied Kings legacy directly to service and volunteerism.

Hes all about change and equality and I feel like even with the AmeriCorps, were also all about equality, everyones welcome, Cruz said. I would say that with AmeriCorps help, or even help from volunteers all around the island, we can all come together and just help each other out.

She also reflected on the lessons learned from working with one of Guams most vulnerable populations.

Homelessness is a big problem on the island, so I feel like when people see a homeless person, they judge them for who they are. And I used to be that person, she said. Just helping them, seeing how much they struggle, that really opened my mind to never judge a book by its cover, never judge a person.

Significant impact

Peter Barcinas, board chairperson of the Serve Guam Commission, spoke about the value of volunteerism. He said Guam calculates a volunteer hour at $34.79, and the total contributions of volunteers make a significant economic impact.

He tied service learning to career readiness, saying volunteering builds leadership, strengthens community trust, and gives students real-world experience. He also encouraged attendees to think about the ripple effects of helping others, both locally and globally.

I think we need more help in the investment than we did early in the year. We recognize the new cohort of AmeriCorps members and I shared the parable of the Good Samaritan. How can we align that story to the work we do? We have to be an AmeriCorps member.

Barcinas urged the audience to embrace service beyond formal affiliations, reminding them to see past biases and stereotypes.

Martin Luther King emphasized the importance of anyone can serve. And if we take credit by being affiliated with an organization, then thats a given, Barcinas said. But if we wear the idea of helping those in need, discounting our biases of how we see someone, how we stereotype, we have to remove those layers and be open to see where we can help beyond that economic contribution.

He closed by reminding attendees that every act of service creates lasting impact.

So as you reminisce and reflect on how we can share this important asset of civic engagement, please be mindful that the person that you help today might have a ripple effect to you for you somewhere down the line, he added.

Governor: Justice, equality

At the event, the governor signed a proclamation recognizing the MLK Day of Service as a call to action rooted in service, justice, and community responsibility.

She reflected on Kings philosophy of peaceful advocacy and service, and his fight for justice and equality.

He was a strong fighter for social justice, racial justice, equity, freedom and the ability for everyone to have the capacity to succeed in their lives. Hes a great man, and certainly one that is very connected to service, the governor added.

She also acknowledged the youths role in sustaining the service community.

The government is there as a safety net for public service programs, but we cannot do it ourselves, she said. We rely on you. We rely on your volunteerism. We rely on your dedication, your commitment, and your willingness to come up and fit peoples lives.

Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, in his remarks, noted that while the U.S. celebrates its 250th birthday this year, Guam has been a part of the nation for 128 years, with only a brief interruption during World War II.

He also tied Kings philosophy to unity and community service.

What it means is we need to really be centered with who we are...as Americans, as Guamanians, as CHamorus, we are about unity, Tenorio said. When we serve our community and serve alongside our neighbors, our family, our friends, were in unity with them to do something better for others.
On Dec. 1, 1955, a tired Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

According to local government policy, non-white Americans were required to sit at the back of public buses and were also obligated to give up those seats to white riders if the front of the bus filled up.

Parks was in the first row of the Black section when the white driver demanded that she give up her seat to a white man.

Although many news accounts portrayed Mrs. Parks as tired and old, she said, I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

Rosa Parks courageous act of nonviolent resistance helped spark the Montgomery bus boycott, a 13-month struggle to desegregate the citys buses.

Under the leadership of 26-year-old Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr., a boycott was organized to protest Rosa Parks arrest and to demand desegregation of public bus transport.

The 2030 Guam Transportation Program is GovGuams strategy to improve public transport for our island people. The vision statement is to provide a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system for our residents, visitors and military personnel that will support economic diversification, resource conservation and an exceptional quality of life.

In 2026, GovGuam is spending $2.8 million to provide public bus transport around our tiny, 30-mile-long tropical island.

Unfortunately, GovGuam is spending most of that money on employee salaries and million-dollar Christmas vacations. Therefore, very little money is left to actually transport anybody around.

You see, under Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Speaker Frank Blas Jr., GovGuam has repeatedly prioritized employee salary and benefits over public service.

Ineffective public policies by the Guam Legislature and the woeful leadership of Governor Leon Guerrero have resulted in failed public schools; an exodus of Guamanian workers and their families due to a depressed economy; and the desperate off-island migration of sick people to seek medical care that is not competently available on Guam.

Instead of wide-eyed acknowledgement of their failures, our senators and our governor find it necessary to make bald-faced excuses for their flagrant politicization of GovGuams $1.35 billion budget.

Instead of a new Simon Sanchez High School, a safe Guam Memorial Hospital, or reliable public bus service, Guam citizens get to watch their government become embroiled in federal corruption investigations and they get to see their underperforming, nonessential public servants repeatedly take million-dollar days off.

We voters are told to eat bitterness, suck it up, endure hardship, and sacrifice so that GovGuam workers can have 22% pay raises.

We business workers are told that the private sector is greedy and that only GovGuam can solve all of societys problems.

The government of Guam has broken the social contract of leadership whereby we the people yield individual freedom and treasure for the sake of collective security and the common good.

Year after year, GovGuam politicians have taken taxes from the people and aggressively made themselves more comfortable and richer. But the sacrifice of the Guam taxpayer has not resulted in a local government that competently delivers the American standard of basic social services, community health care, public education, or public safety.

Legitimate power remains firmly on the consent of the governed. GovGuam leaders serve at the pleasure of the people, but our political leaders have chosen to violently reject the value of human capital and hard work.

Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Ghandi, and Nelson Mandela were all revered not so much for their wit but more for their kinetic kindness and relentless optimism in the face of pious, violent aggression.

On Guam today, our local government has aggressively shown itself to be violently averse to public service.

On a holiday dedicated to Freedom Fighters who protested unfair public bus transport policies, GovGuam issued a statement to island bus riders that there would be no service on Martin Luther King holiday.

Instead, GovGuam employees would again get paid to stay home while needy citizens would be forced to walk miles to work and school when no other transportation is available.

GovGuam must be better than this.

In a time of chaos and cataclysmic change, our local leaders need to not suck. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr risked their lives and suffered personally to improve their government. Their historic acts of civil disobedience forced change in a political system that was committed to maintaining the status quo.

GovGuam must change. The primacy of the comfort of GovGuam employees must end. Public service must be the first priority. Service for the people must be the prime directive.

My humble, unblinking advice to Guam politicians is to get comfortable being uncomfortable.




Haiti - FLASH : Trump forces 7 Caribbean countries to welcome expelled asylum seekers





The United States Government has concluded pressure negotiations with 7 member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) : Guyana, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Barbados. These agreements aim to guarantee the reception of asylum seekers deported from the United States and unable to return to their country of origin. Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, highlighted the challenges of these tense negotiations : "Countries refusing to cooperate are exposed to indirect sanctions from the United States, including restrictions on visas and difficulties in international banking exchanges (correspondent banking)". Delicate decisions between economic pragmatism and political submission.



The signatory countries of this agreement have negotiated conditions : Obligatory clean criminal record for each refugee; full funding by the United States (transport, accommodation, food aid) and priority to nationals of the CARICOM zone in a situation of migratory impasse.



The Barbadian Government does not hide its dissatisfaction. Kerrie Symmonds, Minister of Foreign Affairs, describes the agreement signed as "unwilling", highlighting the pressure exerted by Washington, which is difficult for small island economies to ignore.



Antigua and Barbuda imposed a cap of 10 asylum seekers per year; fluency in English and mandatory professional training; initial right of residence limited to 24 months termination clause within 90 days.



Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis and current President of CARICOM, announced that his country will not receive Haitian refugees, citing security concerns. This decision highlights tensions within CARICOM, where Haitian immigration is sometimes seen as a zsilent invasionz.



Guyana, in full economic growth, sees this situation as an opportunity. The country, facing a labor shortage, is seeking to attract nearly 80,000 qualified workers. However, this initiative arouses strong criticism from the local opposition, who denounces the reception of "people whom other countries do not want".



The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has established a technical team to oversee the implementation of these agreements. The United States has set a cap of 7,500 refugees for this relocation program for the year 2026.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : The Government Commissioner of Port-de-Paix, at the head of an armed militia





Faced with the deterioration of security in Haiti, a new local defense strategy is developing in the North-West. In Port-de-Paix, the Government Commissioner, Jeir Pierre, created and leads an [illegal] armed security militia. This initiative, characterized by regular night patrols, is strongly reminiscent of the actions of the Commissioner of Miragoane, Jean Ernest Muscadin.



A muscular response to insecurity in the North-West :

Since the end of December, Port-de-Paix has been facing an unprecedented wave of crime : armed robberies, violent assaults and sexual assaults. Faced with the emergency, prosecutor Jeir Pierre decided to no longer confine himself to his judicial duties and go into the field.



He now personally leads a special militia (locally called "brigade") for night patrol. According to Pierre, "the brigade" operates in coordination with the units of the Haitian National Police (PNH), but this unit is placed under his direct authority and not under that of the PNH.



This security model, both reassuring and questioning, is based on a militia made up of members of the local population, selected for their in-depth knowledge of the terrain and suspicious individuals. Although it collaborates with the PNH to "lighten its workload," this unit remains attached to the prosecution. Its financing comes from donations from residents and members of the diaspora, a system comparable to that put in place by Commissioner Muscadin in Miragone. "The people who believe in this project did not want to leave me alone [...] They help cover the basic costs so that the agents can carry out their functions", explained Pierre.







First results and armed confrontations :

The impact of these patrols is beginning to be felt. In certain areas of the city center, nighttime commerce is slowly resuming and residents report relative calm.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





20 days before the end of its mandate, the CPT consults

Sunday January 18, 20 days from the end of its mandate (February 7, 2026) the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) launched a national political dialogue, with the objective of finding a Haitian consensus around a governance mechanism capable of ensuring the stability of the country after February 7, 2026, while guaranteeing the continuity of the electoral process and the restoration of security. In this context, EDE, "Pitit Dessalin", "Ansanm Nou Fo", the historic Agreement of August 14, RENAPA and the Ayisyen pou Ayiti Party were received at the Welcome Villa. Discussions will continue Monday January 19, 2026 with COPPOS-Haiti and allies, KOREPAD, as well as representatives of the Montana and December 21 Accords.



Jacmel : Launch of Carnival

Sunday January 18, 2026 the Jacmel Town Hall and the Organizing Committee officially launched the carnival season around the theme "Jacmel in our dreams ! Jakmel nan rev nou !" The Town Hall and the Carnival Committee invite all stakeholders as well as the population to mobilize so that this edition becomes a major cultural event reflecting the dreams and aspirations of the Jacmelian community.

Calendar :

February 1st, 2026 : Carnival pre-parade

February 8, 2026 : Jacmel Carnival (Parade)

February 15, 16 and 17, 2026 : Fat Days



PAP : Cleaning of the city center

Sunday January 18, 2026, the cleaning operations started by the police and the Task Force in the city center, particularly in the area of the Ti Fanny Restaurant, continued. In fact, the police cleared several axes of the Grand Rue and the Lycee Toussaint Louverture area. They also removed the barricades erected on public roads with the aim of obstructing traffic.



Cooperation with Mexico

Jesus Cisneros, Ambassador of Mexico to Haiti, met Bertrand Sinal, the Minister of Public Health to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation. The importance of ensuring access to basic social services throughout the territory was at the center of the discussions.



MUPANAH : Employees trained in Art

Jean-Claude Legagneur, the Director General of the Haitian National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH) launched a series of training courses on art, intended for his employees, around the theme "Discovering art : styles and major figures from Haiti and the world". This six-month program is held every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The training takes place through the projection of videos, the consultation of documents, the intervention of specialists and enriching discussions.



Literacy : Remuneration agreement with 14 instructors

Mozart Clerisson, the Secretary of State for Literacy, signed a remuneration agreement with 14 instructors working in literacy centers in the commune of Petion-ville. The agreement details the responsibilities of the instructors and those of the Office of the Secretary of State for Literacy, and specifies the remuneration that the instructors will receive after evaluating participants who have spent six months at the literacy center.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Marlene M. Molyneaux, 70, of Havre, MT, passed away peacefully at Northern Montana Hospital on Tuesday January 13, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Marlene (Mary Marlene) was born on September 7, 1955, in Havre, MT, to Wayne and Lila Molyneaux. She was a devoted Mom, Gramma, and Great-Gramma. During her younger years she lived in several places all over the state and recently even bragged about a short stint in Oregon. She finally settled down in Havre, where she remained until her passing. Most of her life she worked as a cook and held various other jobs including babysitting her grandchildren.

Marlene loved elephants and giraffes and had quite the extensive collection. She was an excellent seamstress and in the last couple of years started making Barbie doll clothes again. This was something that brought her joy and over the years she has made well over 1,000 outfits! Her love language was food. She loved feeding other people and was known for her homemade bread and frybread. Marlene's favorite pastime by far was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a special bond with each one of them and they would often go over just to "hang out" with Gramma. Gramma cherished every one of those visits and looked forward to the next one.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents and step-dad, Richard Tow; daughter Chanette Lucinda; and brothers, Richard, Daniel, Edward, and Terry.

She is survived by her children Crystal Anderson and Sheldon (Mikel) Molyneaux; grandchildren, Cole, Chelsey, Zane, Geoffrey, Tristan, Olivia, Lila and Shelby; great-grandchildren, Wesley, Aurora, Ellie Jo and Beau, and sister, Cheryl Ellen Molyneaux.

Please join us for a celebration of Marlene's life this Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, from 1:00-3:00 at Great Northern Fairgrounds Community Center. This will be casual. There will be a potluck dinner, and we would love for you to all share the many stories we know you have from over the years. Marlene was a jeans (now leggings) and T-shirt person, so please come as you are.

Memorials can be made to The Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter or directly to Holland and Bonine Funeral Home to help defray costs.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Marlene's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.
The digital surveillance of travelers within the EU is to be significantly expanded. What has so far primarily concerned air passengers, many member states want to extend to almost all cross-border means of transport. An internal document of the EU Council, published by the civil liberties organization Statewatch, reveals the plans of the former Danish EU Council Presidency for the further development of the shadowing of tourists and business travelers. The paper, initially classified as confidential, clarifies that security authorities are aiming for "transport-neutral" surveillance.

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Since 2016, the Directive on Passenger Name Records (PNR) has obliged airlines to transmit extensive data sets of their passengers to police authorities such as the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) in Germany. This data includes names, addresses, payment information, and even menu choices. Algorithms filter this information to identify "persons of interest." The new initiative shows that this principle is to be transferred to the maritime sector as well as long-distance rail and road transport.

Particular attention is being paid to maritime transport. The former Council Presidency has proposed harmonizing access to maritime travel data. This concerns information that shipping companies already collect on cruises and ferries. A special working group of member states and the EU Commission is to remove technical hurdles.

In parallel, surveillance of land transport is to be intensified: the document explicitly mentions long-distance buses and international trains. The expansion of automatic license plate recognition is also part of the strategy to make vehicle movements across borders more precisely traceable. This would create a tightly woven surveillance network across the entire continent.

Misappropriation and legal grey areas

A critical point is the planned change of purpose for the data. Originally, PNR storage was justified by the fight against terrorism. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) set strict limits in 2022 and prohibited the indiscriminate mass storage of flights within the EU. The new strategy indicates that member states are now aiming for use beyond law enforcement, for example, for border management and migration control.

Statewatch warns that this would deliberately circumvent high court rulings. If data for combating terrorism were suddenly usable for controlling residence status or uncovering social fraud, there would be a risk of eroding data protection rights. The EU Commission must examine whether "transport-neutral" rules are actually sensible instead of specific regulations for individual modes of transport.

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The effectiveness of PNR collection is generally questioned. In Germany, the analysis of 548 million data sets in 2024 led to only 1525 arrests. Nevertheless, many member states are pushing for rapid action. While some delegations argue that new approaches must be proportionate and based on solid impact assessments, in 2019, then Federal Minister of Justice Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also opposed initial EU considerations to collect travel information from rail and ship passengers in advance. However, the signs point to an expansion of relevant programs.

The coming months are likely to be decisive: in the summer, the next evaluation of the PNR directive is due, which is expected to serve as the basis for further legislative proposals. Observers believe the goal is to build a seamless digital security wall that registers and analyzes almost every travel movement within the community.

(nie)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
The invitation was delivered overnight between Friday and Saturday through diplomatic channels. The presidential office said it is reviewing the proposal. The White House has not commented on whether invitees are expected to formally accept before the council begins work.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has received an invitation to join a new Gaza peace council announced by US President Donald Trump , according to information confirmed by the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland.

The council is intended to oversee the temporary administration of Gaza following the end of the war between Israel and Hamas. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since October. The United States declared last week that the second phase of the truce had begun, with talks continuing on security arrangements and reconstruction.

Trump announced the creation of the peace council on Thursday. He said the body would supervise governance in Gaza during a transitional period and coordinate reconstruction funding. The council would also monitor compliance with ceasefire terms.

According to Kremlin officials cited by TASS, Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been invited. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov confirmed the invitation and said Moscow is examining the proposal. He added that Russia hopes to discuss the matter directly with Washington.

The White House released a list of initial members on Saturday. Trump will chair the council himself. The confirmed members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trumps adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, World Bank president Ajay Banga, and US businessman Marc Rowan.

US officials have said the council is open to additional international participants. Several world leaders have stated that they have received invitations. Those include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. A European Union official told Reuters that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was invited to represent the bloc.

The council does not include Palestinian representatives. That omission has drawn criticism from regional observers and aid organisations. Israel has also distanced itself from the initiative. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel did not approve the councils composition and was not consulted in advance by the United States.

Israeli officials have not clarified whether they will cooperate with the body if it becomes operational. Netanyahu said Israel maintains responsibility for its own security decisions related to Gaza.

Finnish officials have not indicated whether Stubb is inclined to accept the invitation. The presidential office said only that the matter is under review.

Helsingin Sanomat was the first to report on President Stubb's invitation to the council.

HT
Trump claims the countries have violated US security interests by deploying troops to Greenland, which he has repeatedly stated he wants to acquire, either through payment or military force. The White House has not ruled out action.

European Union leaders will convene in Brussels for an emergency summit on Thursday to decide how to respond to US President Donald Trump s threat to impose new tariffs on eight European countries. The proposed duties target Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The eight countries had sent or pledged to send military personnel to Greenland in coordination with Denmark, citing Arctic security. Trump responded with an ultimatum on Saturday, warning of new tariffs from 1 February unless Greenland is handed over. European capitals dismissed the demand.

Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, confirmed the summit following a four-hour meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels. He said EU members stand by Denmark and Greenland and will not accept coercion.

The European Parliament is expected to freeze ratification of the EU-US trade agreement signed last August. The deal included the phased removal of import duties on US industrial goods but remains pending final approval. Political groups within the Parliament announced over the weekend they would not proceed with the vote.

In a joint statement, the targeted countries said Trumps threats endanger transatlantic stability. "Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the statement said.

The EU has already prepared a list of retaliatory tariffs covering 93 billion worth of US goods. That list, suspended six months ago following the EU-US trade agreement, can be reactivated automatically by 6 February if negotiations fail.

Talks are expected to begin in Davos on Monday, where Trump will deliver a keynote address. EU officials are expected to meet him on the margins of the World Economic Forum.

Calls are growing within the EU to also consider the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), a measure adopted in 2023 but never used. The ACI allows the EU to impose restrictions beyond tariffs, including banning US firms from bidding on public contracts or limiting their access to the European market in services and finance.

French President Emmanuel Macron is among those urging the bloc to activate the instrument, saying the EU must show resolve against external pressure. Europe must not be blackmailed, Macron said through a government source.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, seen as having closer ties to Trump, described the situation as a misunderstanding and said dialogue must continue to prevent escalation. Now is the time to talk, not escalate, she told reporters in Rome.

Beyond tariffs and trade measures, European lawmakers have also proposed targeting large US tech firms through increased taxation or regulation, citing the imbalance in digital services trade.

HT
The crash involved a northbound train operated by Iryo, which had departed Malaga at around 18:45 local time, and a southbound train run by state-owned Renfe, en route from Madrid to Huelva. Authorities said approximately 400 people were onboard the two trains combined.

At least 39 people have died and more than 120 have been injured following a high-speed train collision in southern Spain. The incident occurred on Sunday evening near the town of Adamuz, in the province of Cordoba, when two passenger trains travelling in opposite directions collided on a straight stretch of recently renovated track.

Rescue operations continued through the night, with more than 220 members of the Spanish Civil Guard deployed.

Spains Transport Minister Oscar Puente called the incident extremely strange and said experts were baffled by how the derailment occurred on a flat, straight section of track that had undergone maintenance in May 2025. He confirmed the Iryo train had passed a scheduled inspection just four days prior to the crash. The train, built in 2022, reportedly veered onto the adjacent track for reasons not yet determined.

Puente said the rear section of the Iryo train derailed first, striking the front of the oncoming Renfe train. The impact dislodged the lead carriages of the Renfe service, pushing them off the tracks and down the embankment.

The collision has left 48 people hospitalised, including five children. Twelve patients, among them one child, are currently in intensive care. The driver of the Renfe train was among those confirmed dead.

Emergency officials have not ruled out the possibility that the death toll will rise. A forensic team has been tasked with identifying bodies, and an office has been opened at Cordoba police headquarters to collect DNA samples from relatives. Several passengers remain unaccounted for, according to Jose Manuel Moreno, head of Citizen Security in Huelva.

The Spanish Congress of Deputies held a minute of silence on Monday. Flags across the country were lowered to half-mast, and the city of Huelva declared three days of mourning.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled his planned visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos and is expected to visit the crash site. This is a night of deep pain for our country, he said on X. No words can alleviate such immense suffering, but I want them to know that the entire country stands with them.

Renfe reported that more than 130 train services were cancelled following the incident, including links between Madrid and Andalusian cities such as Seville, Malaga and Huelva. Affected passengers were offered alternative travel options or refunds.

The exact number of passengers onboard remains unclear. Some reports suggest nearly 500 people may have been travelling on the two trains. Transport authorities initially estimated around 400.

This is the deadliest rail crash in Spain since 2013, when 80 people died in Galicia after a train derailed at excessive speed while taking a bend near Santiago de Compostela.

Spain's high-speed rail network spans more than 4,000 kilometres and is the largest in Europe. It was opened to private operators in 2020 to increase competition and reduce ticket prices. In 2024, more than 25 million passengers used the network.

An official inquiry is underway and is expected to take at least one month. Investigators will examine the state of the track, the signalling system, and technical data from the trains black boxes.

HT
Marines will bring home the remains of Guadalcanal casualty Luther Rhodes

Marvin Rhodes holds a photograph of his late brother, Luther, as he and other family members pose for a photograph Thursday. The family gathered this week to learn more about Luthers death during World War II.

The remains of Luther Rhodes, a young Marine who died while fighting the Japanese in World War II, will finally return to Edneyville for burial as soon as the family is ready and arrangements can be made.

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The remains could be returned home for a funeral in as soon as 45 days or possibly later depending on the wishes of the family, Donavan Mansfield, who is the head of the U.S. Marine Corps Repatriation Program, told a group of about 40 family members and friends gathered at Edneyville United Methodist Church on Thursday.

Mansfield and Kaley Vincent, a Navy mortician, flew to the area from Quantico, Va., on Thursday to meet with Rhodes brother, Marvin, and other family members for an official Identification Briefing on the status of Rhodess remains.

The meeting was the first step in the process of returning the remains to the Rhodes family for a long-delayed funeral.

I like to call it coming home ceremonies, Mansfield said. Funerals, they carry this negative connotation. The funerals that take place from what we do, it is more of a celebration because he is bringing his brother home, something we thought may never happen.

Mansfield is a civilian representative of the Marine Corps who works with the governments Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to find soldiers who went missing in war. During Thursdays meeting, he explained as much as is known about the circumstances of Rhodes death on Guadalcanal in 1942, how his remains were eventually identified through DNA science and the procedure for bringing those remains home to Edneyville.

Luther was the fourth child in a family of 10 siblings five boys and five girls  who grew up in Edneyville.

Marvin, 83, was the baby of the family, not yet born when Luther, at the age of 17, persuaded his father to sign for him to join the Marines on Nov. 11, 1941.

Luther Leru Dusty Rhodes was a private first class serving in the Marines when he was killed less than a year later, on Oct. 7, 1942, while fighting in the battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The bloody battle was Americas first offensive of the war in the Pacific.

Mansfield described the harrowing circumstances the Marines faced during the fight for Guadalcanal.

A limited number of Marines, who were trying to hold Henderson airfield on the island, repelled repeated Japanese attacks. And their resources were cut by 50 percent during the battle because the Navy ships that carried their supplies were forced to pull away from the area.

Whenever I tell these stories, I cant emphasize enough the mettle, the fortitude, Mansfield said. These were Marines, but they were 18-, 19-, 20-year-old kids at the same time  and just the things they had to overcome during these engagements and keep going forward and keep going forward and just insurmountable odds and just battle after battle, success after success. If you did the math on it, there is no chance it should have even occurred that way.

The fact that the Marines held off the Japanese and won the battle of Guadalcanal attests to the unique character of the men who fought there, he said.

I cant emphasize enough how different they were. I tell people all the time that they were just built different, men like Luther. I cant emphasize enough how proud Marvin and the whole Rhodes family should be this week to have that legacy attached to their family name. Its incredible what these young men had to overcome.

Luther was killed in action at the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal on Oct. 7, 1942, and buried in the First Marine Division Cemetery on the island.

Mansfield said an examination of his remains indicated that Rhodes likely died from small arms fire during the battle. A concussive blast that injured Rhodes lower extremities might have also caused his death, but it was difficult to determine if that injury happened before or after the gunshot wound, he said.

First-hand accounts at the time, revealed that Rhodes body was recovered after the battle and buried in a crude Marine cemetery on the island.

Mansfield said that during the time Marines were buried on Guadalcanal markers were often lost or offset in a way that made it impossible to identify many of the graves, and casualties such as Rhodes were determined to be unknown.

Bodies of the unknown soldiers buried on Guadalcanal were later removed and buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The cemetery, known as the Punchbowl, is in an extinct volcano near the center of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Rhodes body remained at the cemetery until 2019 when advances in DNA technology made officials at the DPAA believe they could identify some of the remains of the Marines who were moved to the Punchbowl from Guadalcanal.

Once science caught up and we got to the point where we felt like we could accurately identify these Marines, they were disinterred, Luther being one of them, Mansfield said.

Marvin Rhodes had provided the DPAA with a sample of his DNA years earlier but had given up hope a few years ago that his brothers remains would ever be found.

Not too long after Marvin gave up on locating his brothers remains, leaders at Hendersonvilles Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206 decided to take on an effort to locate the 13 soldiers from Henderson County who were missing in action during World War II.

Luther Rhodes was the first MIA soldier they set out to find.

The VFW leaders contacted U.S. Sen. Tedd Budds office and asked for help. It didn't hurt that a distant relative of Rhodes, Kye Laughter, works for Budd as Western North Carolina regional director. In September, shortly after the senators office became involved, Marvin received the call telling him his brothers remains were found. At the time, he said that he hoped to have a funeral and burial at Edneyville United Methodist Church in the spring.

Once a date for the funeral is set, Rhodess remains will be sent to his family.

Mansfield explained each step of the journey home to the group gathered Thursday.

The skeletal remains will be covered in a green, wool blanket and placed in a casket. A Marine Corps uniform tailored for Rhodes with any medals he earned will be placed over the blanket in the casket.

A Marine, probably from North Carolina, will travel to Hawaii and escort the casket while it is flown back to North Carolina.

Once the plane lands at an airport in the state, a Marine squadron will be on the tarmac to move the casket from the plane to a waiting hearse that will carry the casket to a funeral home. The Marine squadron will also take part in the funeral.

If the airport allows it, Mansfield said he encouraged family and friends to meet the plane and Marine squadron on the tarmac.

I hope they will allow everyone in this room to stand there and witness it, he said.

Henderson Countys VFW post continues working to locate other soldiers from Henderson County who are missing in action from World War II.
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Six Senses London will officially open on March 1, 2026, marking the brand's first destination in the United Kingdom and a key moment in its urban awakening. Located within The Whiteley in Bayswater, the hotel brings Six Senses' wellbeing-led philosophy into a city setting, introducing a different rhythm for London.

Designed by AvroKO in collaboration with EPR Architects, Six Senses London will comprise 109 rooms and suites, 14 Six Senses Residences and Six Senses Place London, the brand's first private members club. The hotel includes Six Senses Spa London, dining at Whiteley's Kitchen, Bar and Cafe, and spaces dedicated to wellbeing, sustainability and community.

The hotel is led by Nick Yarnell, General Manager, whose career spans more than 30 years in international luxury hospitality. He previously led the opening of Six Senses Douro Valley and currently serves as Regional General Manager for Europe, alongside leading the launch of Six Senses London.

Ahead of the opening, Six Senses London announces its founding leadership team, united by a shared commitment to service defined by warmth and generosity.

The opening of Six Senses London has created over 300 roles, reflecting the hotel's commitment to creating long-term opportunities in hospitality while contributing to the ongoing reactivation of The Whiteley London and its surrounding neighbourhoods of Queensway and Bayswater.

A Different Rhythm, Led in Practice

Six Senses London delivers its approach to urban hospitality through a small number of specialist roles that shape how the hotel functions day to day.

Wellbeing and ritual are led by Taffryn Kinsey-Ellis, Director of Wellness, and Charlotte Pulver, Head Alchemist. Together, they oversee spa, recovery and longevity while bringing hands-on alchemy into daily hotel life through plant medicine, distillation and water-led rituals.

Programming and community are shaped by Nico Eden, Director of Six Senses Place, and Ailsa Kerr, Director of Programming. Eden brings experience across conservation and community development, while Kerr, with over two decades in cultural programming, curates an evolving programme of talks, workshops and gatherings designed to help those reconnect in urban settings.

Food culture and fermentation are led by Eliano Crespi, Executive Chef, and Jelena Belgrave, Fermentation Expert. Working closely with hyper-local farms across the UK, they integrate ancestral cooking techniques, fermentation and seasonal rhythms across menus and experiences at Whiteley's Kitchen, Bar and Cafe.

Sustainability is led by Patrick Jones, Director of Sustainability. His focus is on embedding circular thinking into daily hotel operations and engagement through the Earth Lab, while overseeing community impact through the hotel's Sustainability Fund in partnership with local organisations.

Together, these disciplines form an interconnected working model that defines how Six Senses London operates.

Leadership and Operations

Six Senses London is supported by a senior leadership team including:

Antoine Gaillard, Director of Food and Beverage

Stefan Mueller, Director of Sales and Marketing

Jatin Shastri, Director of Marketing and Communications

Astrid Deppisch, Director of Revenue

Claire Frost, Director of Human Resources

Etienne Romestaing, Director of Rooms

Ruairi McDowell, Chief Concierge

Ido Shitrit, Director of Engineering and Safety

Sarah Tromans, Regional Director of Finance

Reservations are now open at sixsenses.com or via [email protected]. To enquire about membership at Six Senses Place London, visit sixsensesplace.com.

Follow @sixsenseslondon, @sixsensesplacelondon and @whiteleyskitchenbarcafe on Instagram for updates.

Hotel website
Kalani Bandaranayake is a digital marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience driving e-commerce and digital transformation for luxury hospitality brands across Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, and the Middle East. She has held senior digital roles with groups such as Minor Hotels, Raffles & Fairmont, and Cinnamon Hotels, leading performance marketing, CRM, and customer loyalty programs. Kalani is known for combining data-driven strategy with creative execution and for managing cross-functional teams across digital, social, and e-distribution platforms. She holds an MBA and is a Certified Hospitality Digital Marketer (CHDM), and remains deeply passionate about the evolving intersection of technology, customer experience, and hospitality marketing.
HORECA Kuwait is a highly specialized annual trade fair dedicated entirely to the hospitality sector. The name "HORECA" stands for HOtel, REstaurant, and CAfe, reflecting the close interconnection between these industries and their associated supply and service markets. The event takes place at the Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref, Kuwait Cityone of the leading exhibition venues in the Gulf region, known for its modern infrastructure, convenient accessibility, and regular hosting of major international industry events.

The fair is organized by Hospitality Services s.a.r.l., a well-established Lebanese company with decades of experience in staging high-quality trade shows for the hotel, restaurant, and gastronomy sectors. In addition to Kuwait, Hospitality Services also organizes HORECA events in Lebanon (Beirut), Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordancreating a valuable network of platforms that serve the hospitality industry throughout the Middle East.

HORECA Kuwait is more than just a product showcaseit serves as an interactive industry platform that brings together emerging trends, technological innovations, and hospitality professionals. Key focus areas include sustainability, digital transformation, and culinary innovation in the hospitality sector. Leading suppliers present state-of-the-art kitchen technology, refrigeration and storage solutions, as well as interior design concepts tailored to hotels, restaurants, and catering businesses. The exhibition spans a wide range of offerings, from professional kitchen equipment and furnishings to specialized IT solutions for operational processes in foodservice.

A standout feature of the event is its interactive competitions. The Hospitality Salon Culinaire gives chefs from across the region an opportunity to showcase their skills. The program is further enriched by popular contests such as the Barista Competition, the Creative Mocktail Competition, and the Bed Making Competition. These events not only promote networking among industry professionals but also provide a platform for young talent and stimulate quality advancement across the sector.

Additionally, the HORECA Talks segment offers a stage for expert lectures and panel discussions on the industry's most pressing challengesfrom workforce management and sustainability strategies to innovative business models.

Exhibitors primarily represent sectors such as hotel and restaurant equipment, food production, kitchen and appliance technologies, and hospitality services. The trade show targets a professional audience that includes hoteliers, restaurateurs, catering companies, food retailers, investors, and key decision-makers from related industries such as event management and tourism.

HORECA Kuwait is thus much more than a conventional trade fairit is a vital meeting point for the hospitality industry with strong regional relevance and international appeal. It plays a pivotal role in positioning Kuwait as an emerging hub for modern hospitality and culinary excellence. The venuethe Kuwait International Fairgroundoffers a prime location between the city center, airport, and major hotel clusters, making HORECA Kuwait a must-attend event for anyone looking to shape or be inspired by the future of hospitality.

This event is organized by Hospitality Services Lb
Ever searched for your own hotel on Google and found only Booking.com and Expedia links above you?

If guests cant find your website, theyll book elsewhere. And for independent hotels, that often means higher commission and fewer direct bookings.

When a traveler is looking for accommodation in your city or region, your hotel should appear front and center in the Google search results. For many independent hoteliers competing against big Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and well-known chains, thats easier said than done.

At Lighthouse, we often get asked by owners how they can make their property more visible on Google and attract more website visitors.

The good news is, you dont need to be an expert web developer to implement Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or spend obscene amounts on ads (Search Engine Advertising or SEA). In fact, making your hotel website rank higher in search engine results goes beyond SEO strategies and SEA campaigns.

Whether youre opening a new property, have just launched your new website or simply want more organic website traffic and direct bookings, this guide lays out the key steps to make your hotel easier to find for potential guests. Discover achievable hotel SEO strategies and other practical tips that you can start applying today.

Key takeaways

Claim and fully optimize your hotels Google Business profile. Show real-time rates, availability and booking links on Google Hotel Search. Collect, manage and respond to guest reviews consistently. Make sure your website adapts to mobile devices, offers user-friendly navigation and matches search intent. Strengthen local SEO with destination content and partnerships. List your hotel on a variety of platforms and keep details consistent everywhere. Stay active with fresh website content, photos and videos.

Why online visibility matters for independent hotels

Imagine youre planning an upcoming trip. Where do you start? You might have a dream travel destination on your bucket list, but maybe you havent decided on the exact location yet. Or perhaps you dont really know where to go, but youre looking for a specific experience instead.

Before travelers are ready to book their accommodation, theyre usually researching destinations. For hotel owners, this early stage in the booking process is crucial to consider. You dont just want travelers to choose your property, you want them to choose your destination first, before they even start looking for a hotel, B&B or holiday home.

In a lot of cases nowadays, the travel planning and booking process starts on a search engine like Google. This creates an immense opportunity for you to secure direct bookings, if your website appears high enough in the search results  ideally on the first page. The better your hotels search engine rankings, the more potential guests you can reach and convince.

Optimize your hotels Google Business Profile

Regardless of the size of your property, a complete and well-maintained Google Business Profile for your hotel is a must to be found easily on Google Search and Maps.

If you havent yet, claim or create your profile and verify your business details. Pay special attention to your hotels name, address and phone number. These need to be formatted identically on every channel and listing to signal trust to both search engine crawlers and potential guests.

Next, complete your profile and keep it updated:

Select the category that fits your accommodation type the best: hotel, motel, hostel, bed and breakfast, inn, 

Ensure practical info like opening hours and contact details are always accurate and consistent with your other channels.

Write a clear, detailed description that is both accurate and compelling. Include location-specific phrases guests typically search for (for example boutique hotel in central Lyon).

List all amenities and services you offer (WiFi, parking, breakfast, ).

Highlight any attributes that set you apart (for example pet-friendly hotel, contactless check-in, rooftop bar).

Upload high-quality photos and videos of your property, rooms, amenities and places of interest nearby.

Once youve completed your hotels Google listing, it will appear on Maps and Search, and you can react to guest reviews and photos.

Drive sales with booking links on Google Hotels

Google Hotels is not an OTA (Online Travel Agency) but a metasearch platform, which means it refers users to other sites to complete the booking. To drive reservations through Google, your real-time rates and availability on different channels need to be sent to the platform. This integration is possible with a Google-certified connectivity partner: either a channel manager, booking engine, Central Reservation System (CRS) or Property Management System (PMS).

In order to compete with OTAs and reduce commissions, you should also add a direct booking link through a compatible website booking engine. This allows your direct rates, availability and booking link to appear alongside OTAs in Googles hotel search modules, allowing travelers to easily book direct and giving you a fair chance to get hotel bookings without paying commission.

Reach out to your current hotel software provider to help you with the technical setup.

Actively collect and manage reviews for your hotel

Its not just travelers who rely on online reviews. Googles algorithms use review scores, volume and recency as key ranking signals. In simple terms: hotels with more recent, detailed and well-managed reviews tend to appear more often and rank higher in search results.

Consistent review management is essential to your hotels success, helping you become more visible on Google and convince travelers to book. Heres how to do it effectively:

The timing matters: Ask each guest to leave a review during check-out or right after  in person, via email and/or a messaging app like WhatsApp.

Offer options and make it super easy: Send guests a direct Google review link, place a scannable QR code that links straight to the right web page in the room and provide one at your front desk or check-out area.

Optimize the message: Avoid generic templates, but make it personal and show clients you care about improving their experience. Encourage guests to include details about the location, breakfast, room and services. These simple prompts also give them some guidance and inspiration on what to write, removing another potential barrier.

Respond to every review: Replying to reviews shows both Google and potential guests that youre active and attentive. Thank guests for their feedback and respond calmly and professionally to negative comments. Sometimes, how you handle feedback matters more than the rating itself.

For more tips on how to increase and improve your reviews, check out our full guide on reputation management for hotels.

Apply key SEO strategies to your hotel website

Your hotel website doesnt need flashy features, but it does need to meet Googles basic expectations. Google is more likely to show hotel websites that are fast-loading, easy to navigate and relevant to users real search intent.

Focus on the SEO fundamentals first and build from there:

Google tracks bounce rates, page speed and how users interact with your site. If visitors leave the page immediately (bounce) or need to hunt for information, your keyword rankings can suffer. For an optimal user experience, your website should be mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, load quickly and clearly show how to book with eye-catching Book now buttons. Use internal links in a logical way to make it easier for Google and visitors to understand your website structure.

Use important, location-specific keywords in your page titles (headings), meta descriptions and other website content. Keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs or SemRush can help you discover phrases travelers actually search for. Aim for a good mix of short-tail (hotel Munich) and long-tail keywords (family hotel near Munich central station).

Avoid vague descriptions or simply listing characteristics, amenities and services. Go into detail and explain the benefits, for example what makes your breakfast special or your location convenient.

Add schema markup for hotels to your website. This is a form of structured data  a small piece of code  that helps Google better understand your hotel and show extra details, so-called rich snippets, like prices or star ratings in search results.

Some of these tactics also help you appear in AI-generated answers. Learn more about optimizing your hotel website for AI search engines here.

A well-optimized website doesnt just rank better, but converts more visitors into direct bookers.

Use local SEO to win high-intent local searches

Local SEO is what helps your hotel appear when travelers search for accommodation in a specific area, for example within Google Maps. It puts you in front of a high-intent audience: guests who are ready to book.

To strengthen your local SEO:

Publish engaging content tied to your destination. Cater to different interests guests might have, by writing about nearby attractions, events and experiences or sharing dining recommendations and travel tips. Articles like Where to eat near our hotel or Best kid-friendly walks around [your town] attract travelers early in their planning phase.

Build local partnerships online. Partner with nearby restaurants, tour operators or event venues, asking them to mention and link to your hotel on their website. These local mentions signal relevance and trust to Google.

Looking for more visibility-boosting tactics? Discover our in-depth guide on local SEO for hotels.

Expand your hotels online presence beyond your website

In order for your hotel to be easily found on Google, you need more than a website. Google cross-checks information across different sources to determine how relevant and trustworthy your hotel is.

Expand your online presence by getting your property featured on as many reliable channels as possible, with backlinks to your website:

Booking platforms (OTAs)

Metasearch platforms like TripAdvisor

Local tourism or destination websites

City or regional hotel associations

Social media platforms

Online forums

Public social posts and threads on popular forums can appear in Google search results. Encourage guests to tag your official account and location on Instagram or other platforms. You can even spark conversations on platforms like Reddit when relevant. Both types of channels are important sources of information and inspiration in travelers booking journey.

The key rule here is accuracy. Keep your details consistent everywhere to avoid confusing both Google and potential guests.

Refresh your hotel website regularly

Google favors websites that show activity. A site that hasnt changed in years can slowly lose visibility, even if the information is still correct.

Dont just keep practical info up to date, but regularly refresh photos and create quality content. Small updates can already make a difference:

Refresh photos regularly, especially room and exterior images

Update seasonal content, packages or local recommendations

Publish testimonials from guests, travel directories and things to do articles

Upload short videos to showcase rooms, views, food 

If you want more tips on hotel SEO and content marketing, explore our guide on how to apply marketing tactics on your hotel website.

Ready to turn visibility into direct bookings?

Your SEO performance makes up an important part of your hotel marketing strategy. However, being visible on Google is only the first step. For your SEO efforts and other digital marketing tactics to truly pay off, travelers need to see accurate rates, book easily and prefer your direct channel over an OTA.

Lighthouse helps independent hotels achieve exactly that, with one simple platform that connects pricing, distribution, direct bookings and payments. Explore our complete solution and see how Lighthouse can help your hotel get found and booked, all while saving time.

Rather hear it from fellow hotel owners? Discover what they think about our platform for independent hotels.

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry.

We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth.

We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways.

Trusted by over 70,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partnerstheir success is our success.

For more information about Lighthouse, please visit: https://www.mylighthouse.com.

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The luxury travel market continues to thrive  even in these often uncertain economic times. From here in Paris as well as when I travel to attend industry conferences and speak to my colleagues at other properties, I am hearing that five-star hotels are not seeing a perceptible decline in business. In fact, for many hotels, ADR is up and business continues to be robust amongst this key demographic.

What has changed however, are the preferences of this high net worth audience which continues to be on the move, expand their range of global destinations, and yearn to experience ever new places, cultures, and activities than ever before. Todays luxury traveler is nothing like the affluent traveler we have welcomed in years past. Of course they still have discerning tastes, yet what is important to them now  and resonates deeply within them  is quite different than 10 or even just five years ago.

And as hoteliers, we must recognize this and implement the necessary adaptations to our offerings to ensure they will come to our hotels and resorts, recommend our properties to their friends and family, and speak of us with high praise. In the past year alone, Fauchon LHotel Paris has won top accolades in both Travel + Leisures Worlds Best Awards (#1 in Paris) and Conde Nast Travelers Readers Choice Awards (#5 in Paris) and if we want to continue to be voted amongst the top hotels, we need to be able to not just meet, but exceed their needs.

Of course when guests are at our hotel, myself  and our Artisans of Pleasure  are always welcoming them in person, finding ways to subtly connect whenever possible, and checking in to ensure we are not just responsive to their needs, but anticipate unexpected ways in which we can surprise and delight them. Yet we wanted to dig deeper and learn things perhaps they werent willing to tell us directly. So we decided to go to a valuable resource.

At the height of the 2025 summer vacation season, Fauchon LHotel Paris undertook a survey of luxury travel advisors, primarily in the United States, to hear directly from them and learn how their clients are traveling. What do they seek? What do they report back on to their trusted travel advisors? What is most important to them? What things make a real impression during a hotel stay? What would they like to see more of? And what no longer matters? The ultimate quest for all of us is how can we, as five-star hoteliers, better welcome this luxury clientele? And we found the results of this survey to be quite enlightening.

Travel advisors noted the top two "must haves" clients requested were Spa Services and a Fitness Center.  Photo by FAUCHON Hospitality

Authenticity is Paramount

There was a time when global branded hotels created a sense of comfort and security for travelers because they could rely on the fact that their guest room would always look the same and the overall decor and design would be familiar. This is no longer the case. Astoundingly 100% of our survey recipients replied that it was important for a hotel to offer an authentic sense of place versus a cookie-cutter brand design. Today, luxury travelers want the true ambiance of the destination to be reflected in the hotel as told through design, cuisine, and essentially every aspect of the guest journey. We actually get the sense that perhaps it doesnt matter how over-the-top a hotel is with crystal and marble and only the finest finishings, but rather, how does the property reflect its location and surroundings in an organic way while still providing a premium level of comfort?

How Luxury Travelers Select A Hotel

Today it is no longer all about a recognizable brand name. When choosing a hotel, location (selected by 97.5% of respondents) and staff and service (82.5%) were the most important factors to travelers. Yet upon return from their trip, travel advisors reported 6 in 10 of their clients commented about the warm and welcoming service they received, while only 21.3% mentioned the great location. The two items which their luxury clients mentioned when returning from a trip were the views, welcome amenity, and staff and value for their dollar.

Upon return from their trip, travel advisors reported 6 in 10 of their clients commented about the "warm and welcoming service they received."  Photo by FAUCHON Hospitality

Do Special Incentives Make A Difference?

This actually depends upon what is offered. Approximately 7 in 10 advisors reported a complimentary night was most important to their clients, with an added complimentary VIP amenity as a close second. Other deciding factors included enhanced commission for the travel agent, percentage discount off the room rate, and added value in food and beverage.

Does Social Media Play A Role?

We hear and read so much about the value of social media and many hotels globally are investing a lot of time and energy into ensuring their social media channels are telling a great story about their property, amenities, and guest experience. But is it having an impact?

Travel advisors in our survey reported that only 30% of clients definitively requested a specific hotel after seeing it on social media. Additionally, 11.2% said that they were increasingly experiencing requests by their clients regarding a hotel which they had seen on social media. So while we must maintain an active and robust social media presence because this is where the majority of society is spending its time, the ability for it to convert to bookings for the luxury traveler at least, remains to be seen.

100% of survey recipients replied it was important for a hotel to offer "an authentic sense of place" versus a "cookie-cutter brand design."  Photo by FAUCHON Hospitality

Loyalty Programs Are Losing Impact

There was a time when loyalty programs held incredible power in driving bookings, but, once again, this seems to have changed. The results of our survey showed only 1.3% definitely request hotels with loyalty programs, less than 60% sometimes request hotels with loyalty programs, and 35% do not request hotels with loyalty programs at all.

Approximately 42.5% of respondents noted gaining points they can use at other properties was important to them, 28.7% wanted a loyalty program that would provide an immediate percentage discount on the hotel room rate, 22.5% preferred to be awarded additional food and beverage benefits on property, and 2.5% wanted additional spa benefits. Recognition as a VIP and not caring about points all ranked the lowest and therefore had minimal impact on the luxury travelers decision about which hotel to choose.

What Luxury Travelers Definitely Want

When travel advisors were asked what the top two must haves clients requested were, they noted Spa Services and a Fitness Center. This accurately reflects the current trend for wellness travel which we are all witnessing globally. Rounding out the top four must haves are 24-hour room service and a fine dining restaurant.

Hotel amenities and services which ranked quite low on the survey  and actually received a less than 2% response  included concierge service, a bar, included breakfast, king bed or two beds in the room, coffee service in the room, dual sinks, location near top sights, and more than one dining option.

And when deciding on a vacation destination, the survey found that 87.5% of respondents seek cultural experiences while 85% want unique destination-oriented experiences to truly understand the authenticity and distinctive sense of place. Family options, relaxation, and safe destinations rounded out the bottom three choices with 1.3% of respondents selecting each as a preference.

A fine dining restaurant was listed in the top four "must haves" when selecting a hotel.  Photo by FAUCHON Hospitality

Do Luxury Travelers Dine On Property?

As hoteliers of five-star properties  and quite frankly, most full-service hotels  we all place extreme importance on our food and beverage offerings. It was interesting to learn that 73.8% of respondents sometimes dine at the hotel where they are staying 23.8% definitely dine at the hotel where they are staying and 2.4% definitely do not dine at the hotel at all. This is an interesting finding despite the fact that in a prior question room service and a fine dining restaurant were in the top four must haves for them when selecting a hotel. So clearly, its not quite time to dispose of the fine dining restaurant just yet and perhaps it is more of a case of the quality of the cuisine and service offered which impacts if a guest dines at the hotel or not.

How Travel Has Been Impacted By The Economy

We are definitely existing in an uncertain economy these days, and travelers are being impacted, but not so much in the luxury sector. Nine in 10 travel advisors noted their clients are still traveling and actually doing so more frequently to celebrate special occasions and events since the pandemic. To clarify further, 66.3% are booking about the same length of stay as in previous years, 32.5% are actually booking longer stays, and just 1.2% are booking shorter than usual stays. Therefore we can determine there is not much of a travel decline as it relates to the luxury travel audience.

As a result of this survey, Fauchon LHotel Paris is using this valuable guidance from luxury travel advisors to inform how we move forward in many areas of the guest experience including with Festive 2025 seasonal offerings which will include two new stay packages which incorporate unique destination-oriented experiences as well as with our newly updated spa experience offerings. With more exciting developments to come in 2026 and beyond.

Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from www.HotelExecutive.com.

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Googles Universal Commerce Protocol Signals Shift in Travel Booking and AI Commerce - Image Credit Unsplash



Google has introduced its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), aiming to standardize agentic commerce across industries, with significant implications for travel companies as booking and purchasing shift toward AI-driven interactions.

Introduction of Googles Universal Commerce Protocol

Google has announced the launch of its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a new standard designed to facilitate agentic commerce by enabling seamless interactions between consumers, businesses, and payment providers. The protocol is intended to streamline the entire commerce process, from product discovery to purchase and post-purchase support, using AI-driven agents. According to Google, UCP establishes a common language for agents and systems, reducing the need for individual connections and allowing for more efficient transactions.

Context: The Race for Agentic Commerce Standards

The introduction of UCP comes amid a broader industry push to define standards for agentic commerce, where AI agents handle tasks such as searching, booking, and purchasing on behalf of users. Googles move follows similar initiatives from other technology companies. In October, Google partnered with PayPal to launch an agentic commerce solution. OpenAI and Stripe announced their Agentic Commerce Protocol in September, which supports instant checkout in ChatGPT. Anthropics Model Context Protocol (MCP), announced in November 2024, has also seen adoption by travel companies such as Kiwi.com, Apaleo, Expedia, and TourRadar.

Industry observers note that Google and OpenAI are both working to define the future of AI commerce standards, with each company presenting its own approach. While both have accepted the MCP protocol, they are developing alternative solutions for other aspects of agentic commerce.

How UCP Works and Its Industry Partners

UCP is set to support a new checkout feature on Google product listings in Searchs AI Mode and on the Gemini app, initially available to eligible U.S. retailers. The feature will allow consumers to complete purchases directly within Googles ecosystem, using Google Pay and, eventually, PayPal. UCP is designed to be compatible with other protocols, including Agent2Agent, MCP, and Agent Payments Protocol.

The protocol was co-developed with major retail partners such as Shopify, Target, and Walmart, and has received endorsements from financial companies including American Express, Mastercard, Stripe, and Visa. Google plans to expand UCP globally and add features such as related product discovery, loyalty rewards, and customized shopping experiences.

Implications for the Travel Industry

Although Google has not detailed how UCP will specifically integrate with the travel industry, industry stakeholders expect significant changes. Alex Mans, CEO of FLYR, predicts that agentic interactions will soon replace traditional search, shop, book, and service processes in travel. Pablo Delgado, CEO for America at Mirai, notes that UCP represents a shift from conversational AI assistants adapting to merchant flows (as with MCP) to a standardized, end-to-end commerce runtime controlled by Google. This could mean merchants lose control over user experience, booking flows, and checkout processes as these functions move into Googles ecosystem.

Benjamin Rhatigan, co-founder of Arrival Projects, believes UCP will change how travel is booked, with AI assistants handling the entire process from search to booking, eliminating the need for traditional websites and forms. He suggests that hotels may need to focus more on product clarity and trust, while online travel agencies could be bypassed if travelers complete bookings before reaching their platforms. Rhatigan also anticipates more impulsive travel planning and a shift away from research-driven decision-making.

Opportunities and Risks for Travel Companies

For hotels and airlines, UCP presents both opportunities and risks. The main opportunity is the potential for frictionless, large-scale conversions at the moment of consumer intent. However, the risk lies in losing control over the customer relationship and booking journey, as these processes become embedded within Googles platform.

Alex Mans emphasizes that participation from major travel players, especially airlines, will be crucial for UCPs effectiveness. He notes that complex travel queries will require airlines to modernize their technology, such as adopting the International Air Transport Associations ONE Order standard, which enables more flexible, dynamic bookings. Mans suggests that airlines that adapt quickly to these new standards will benefit from increased demand through agentic channels, while those that delay may lose visibility among AI-driven consumers.

Technical and Strategic Challenges

Some industry stakeholders have raised concerns about the technical challenges of implementing UCP. Peter Marriott, co-founder of Dataiera, points out that while standardized protocols are important, the effort required for merchantsespecially those outside large marketplacesto build and maintain integrations is significant. He also notes that creating a scalable agentic solution involves more than just adopting a protocol.

Mitch Bach, CEO of TripSchool, expresses skepticism about the universal appeal of agentic commerce, suggesting it may be better suited to routine or commodified travel purchases than to complex, personalized trips. However, he sees potential benefits for smaller businesses that can adapt to the new model.

Preparing for Change

With UCP now available, industry experts suggest that travel brands should prepare by making inventory, pricing, and product details accessible to agents, ensuring information accuracy, simplifying offers, and focusing on conversational interactions rather than traditional marketing campaigns. The shift toward agentic commerce is expected to bring significant changes to how travel and other industries approach online transactions.

Discover more at PhocusWire.
Rendering of Element Madinah Sultana Road Hotel - Image Credit Marriott International



Al Qimmah Hospitality and Marriott International have signed an agreement to develop five new hotels totaling more than 2,700 rooms across Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah.

Al Qimmah Hospitality, a subsidiary of BinDawood Investment, and Marriott International have signed an agreement to develop five new hotel projects in Saudi Arabia. The projects will add more than 2,700 rooms in Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah. The agreement includes properties under the JW Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Element Hotels, and Four Points Flex by Sheraton brands.

The new developments include JW Marriott Jeddah, The Apartments, which will be located on the Jeddah Corniche Road. This property is planned to feature 356 studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, each with a separate living area and kitchen. The site will offer dining venues, a fitness center, a swimming pool, a children's club, and an executive boardroom. JW Marriott Jeddah, The Apartments will be adjacent to the previously announced JW Marriott Hotel Jeddah.

In Makkah, the Four Points by Sheraton Shesha is planned to offer 1,030 rooms and will be situated near the Masjid Al Haram. In Madinah, the Four Points by Sheraton Madinah King Fahd Road is expected to provide 800 rooms near Masjid Al Nabawi. Both Four Points by Sheraton properties will include dining options, meeting facilities, and fitness centers.



Advertisement is planned to offer 136 studios and apartments with in-room kitchens and spa-inspired bathrooms. Amenities at this property are expected to include a fitness center and dining options.

The agreement also includes the Four Points Flex by Sheraton Madinah Hijrah Road, which is set to introduce the brand to Saudi Arabia. This hotel will have 450 rooms and will be located in the Al Amariyah district of Madinah, with access to the Prophets Mosque.

Marriott International recently marked a milestone of 100 combined open and pipeline hotels in Saudi Arabia. The company currently operates 44 properties with over 11,000 rooms across 13 brands in the country.

No specific opening dates for the five new hotels were provided in the announcement. The agreement is intended to expand Marriott International's presence in Saudi Arabia and support the countrys tourism sector.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London - Image Credit Mandarin Oriental



Philippe Kronberg will assume the role of General Manager at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, and AVP Operations for several European hotels, effective January 12, 2026.

Mandarin Oriental has announced the appointment of Philippe Kronberg as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, and AVP Operations for several key European properties. Kronberg will begin his new role on January 12, 2026.

In addition to managing the London property, Kronberg will support Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Mandarin Oriental Paris, the newly managed Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, and Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam hotel will officially operate as a Mandarin Oriental property from January 14.

Kronberg joins Mandarin Oriental following his tenure as Resort General Manager at Shangri-La in Muscat, Oman, where he oversaw a multi-property beachfront destination comprising three hotels with more than 640 rooms. His previous roles include serving as General Manager of Shangri-La Sydney and overseeing the groups properties across Australasia. Kronbergs career also includes general management positions in Turkey, China, Thailand, and Brisbane.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, continues to operate as a central location for the companys European portfolio. Kronbergs responsibilities will include overseeing hotel operations and supporting service delivery at the London property, as well as providing operational support to the groups other European hotels.

Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium in Amsterdam will transition to official management under the Mandarin Oriental brand on January 14. The groups European presence includes properties in London, Mayfair, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Kronbergs appointment is effective from January 12, 2026. No further details regarding additional operational changes or strategic plans were disclosed.
Karim von Alvensleben - Image Credit Minor Hotels



Minor Hotels has appointed Karim von Alvensleben as general manager of Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane, which is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026.

Minor Hotels has announced the appointment of Karim von Alvensleben as general manager of Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane, a 197-room property expected to open in Vientiane, Laos, in the second quarter of 2026. Von Alvensleben will oversee the pre-opening and launch of the hotel, including operational planning and team development.

Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane will be located in the capital city of Laos and is part of Minor Hotels growth strategy in Asia. The property will feature 197 rooms and is positioned to serve both international travelers and the local market. The appointment of von Alvensleben is part of Minor Hotels approach to supporting new developments with experienced leadership.

The companys 2026 pipeline includes several scheduled openings across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. In addition to Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane and Avani Kota Kinabalu Hotel, both planned for the second quarter of 2026, Minor Hotels is set to open Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, Avani Wollongong, and Avani Queenstown in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. Avani Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain Resort is also scheduled to open in late 2026.

Von Alvenslebens responsibilities at Avani+ Lanexang Vientiane will include brand activation, talent development, and operational management. The appointment is intended to support the hotels launch and integration into Minor Hotels regional portfolio.

Minor Hotels continues to expand its presence in emerging destinations, with a focus on properties in Asia and other high-demand regions. The 2026 pipeline reflects the companys strategy to expand its footprint in these markets through new hotel openings and management appointments.
Corinthia Hotel Lisbon - Image Credit Orion Capital Managers



Orion Capital Managers and International Hotel Investments have entered a framework agreement for Orion to acquire a 72% stake in the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, with completion expected in the first half of 2026.

Orion Capital Managers, through its Orion European Real Estate Fund VI, has signed a framework agreement with International Hotel Investments (IHI) to acquire a majority stake in the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon. Under the terms of the agreement, Orion will acquire a 72% interest in the 517-key property, while IHI will retain a 28% stake following completion.

The Corinthia Hotel Lisbon, described as the largest five-star hotel in Lisbon, recently completed a refurbishment that included upgrades to its 517 rooms, a 3,000-square-meter spa, and three restaurants. IHI, which currently owns the entire asset, will continue to hold a minority interest, and its subsidiary, Corinthia Hotels Limited, will remain the manager and operator of the hotel.

The transaction marks the first investment by Orion European Real Estate Fund VI, which is targeting a final close of 1.5 billion. The fund is focused on investments in hospitality and other sectors across European markets.

The joint venture is structured so that, upon completion, ownership of the Corinthia Hotel Lisbon will be split between Orion and IHI, with operational management remaining unchanged. The agreement is subject to a series of actions required for financing and the transfer of the hotel into the joint venture. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

No financial terms of the acquisition were disclosed in the announcement. The parties have not provided further details regarding future operational plans or additional investments in the property.

The Corinthia Hotel Lisbon will continue to operate under the Corinthia brand following the completion of the transaction.
OtherWords Reading Series Welcomes Cynthia Zarin, Michael Gottlieb

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  The Friends of Great Barrington Libraries and the Board of Library Trustees present an evening of poetry and prose featuring writers Cynthia Zarin and Michael Gottlieb as part of the OtherWords Reading Series.

The event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 24, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, at the Mason Library on Main Street in Great Barrington, and will be hosted by poet Evelyn Reilly.

Cynthia Zarin is the author of the new novel "Estate,"" as well as the novel "Inverno" and six books of poetry, including "Orbit and Next Day: New and Selected Poems." A longtime contributor to The New Yorker, Zarin teaches at Yale University and lives in New York City.

Michael Gottlieb will read from his new poetry collection, "Next!" He is the author of twenty-four books spanning poetry, memoir, and essay. His most recent publications include "Selected Poems, Collected Essays, and Collected Memoirs."

The OtherWords Reading Series brings nationally recognized writers to Great Barrington for intimate, community-centered literary events. This reading is free and open to the public.
Designed for adults eager to advance their careers, this hands-on course is intended only for learners who already have basic computer knowledge. If you can comfortably use a computer and are ready to build on that foundation, this class will help students master essential digital office skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and OneDrive. Occasional labs held outside of the classroom will provide further opportunities for mentoring and networking
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An Indian student has received a payout of more than $200,000 from an American university after complaints about the smell of his packed lunch spiralled into a civil rights suit and, ultimately, ended his academic career there.

Aditya Prakash, who was pursuing a doctorate in anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder, finally received the settlement after a two-year ordeal that began when he was told by a staff member to stop using the department microwave because his Indian food smelled pungent. The university denies any liability as part of the settlement.

It was 5 September 2023 when Prakash, almost a year into his PhD in cultural anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder, was heating palak paneer, a spinach and cottage cheese dish he had brought from home, in the microwave of the departments kitchen.

According to a federal civil rights suit filed against the university and seen by The Independent, a staff member entered the room and immediately remarked that it smelled pungent and told Prakash there was a rule against microwaving food with a strong odour.

Prakash responded that it was just food and returned to his desk to eat, feeling othered and saddened.

What he understood as a racialised slight soon became an institutional dispute. Within months, he and his partner, Urmi Bhattacheryya, who had joined the same department as a doctoral student and teaching assistant days earlier, would lose their PhD supervisors and their funding, effectively bringing their doctoral work to a halt.

In September 2025, the couple filed the lawsuit alleging discrimination and retaliation. The university settled four months later for $200,000 while denying liability. It also gave Masters degrees to the couple but barred them from future enrolment or employment.

This month Prakash and Bhattacheryya finally left the US, with the circumstances of their departure meaning their story is now making waves among Indian communities online.

Prakash says the original staff members remark about his food echoed earlier experiences. Id seen this growing up, I knew exactly what it meant, he told The Independent, explaining that he spent some of his childhood in Europe where the smell of his home-cooked Indian food routinely became a point of ridicule and exclusion.

It wasnt about that one lunch. It was about whether I had to change what I eat and where I eat it.

open image in gallery Aditya Prakash was heating palak paneer when a staff member remarked that it smelled pungent ( Supplied )

Seeking to address the situation directly, Prakash spoke to the member of staff, explaining that her comment had hurt him. The issue, he said, was not simply personal dislike but that Indian food had been singled out in a shared space long open to everyone.

The faculty member called in another administrator, who told him she wanted to keep the office smelling nice before disposing of a trash bag in front of Prakash which contained only his empty container of palak paneer.

When Prakash asked the administrator which foods she considered acceptable, she replied sandwiches were fine while curry was not.

He responded that curry, as most people in the US understood it, was his entire cuisine and questioned why, if smell was the standard, beef chilli she herself had brought in the previous year hadnt been treated the same way.

The administrator, according to the lawsuit, did not respond immediately.

Two days later, Prakash returned to the kitchen to heat Indian food with four fellow anthropology students  Bhattacheryya among them  in what they described as an act of solidarity.

As they were heating their lunches, Prakash claimed, another member of staff started heckling them and shut the kitchen door, a gesture he interpreted as conveying disgust.

According to the lawsuit, there was no formal policy at the time barring students from using the main office kitchen.

open image in gallery Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya ( Supplied )

In subsequent communication, the department accused Bhattacheryya and the other students of inciting a riot, and referred the matter to the Office of Student Conduct. No formal findings were ultimately made.

Bhattacheryya, as a teaching assistant, invited her partner to speak during a class on ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.

South Asians have long spoken about how the smell of their food has been used as a way to exclude them in the West. The discrimination, they claim, is often couched as a concern for hygiene, comfort or shared norms.

Prakash spoke at the class in general terms about lived experience, connecting the microwave incident to broader anthropological concepts, and did not name any staff members.

A few days later, Bhattacheryya discovered she had been removed from her teaching role.

I went to my laptop to access the class roster and suddenly I was locked out, she said. There was no warning. No conversation.

This happened after the department circulated an email reinstating restrictions on the use of the main office kitchen and discouraging the preparation of food with strong or lingering smells.

Prakash and Bhattacheryya replied, marking the entire department, that the policy amounted to discrimination. Bhattacheryya also said she would not teach her class until something was done about their concerns.

From this point on, the couple claimed, the issue was no longer treated as a concern about racialised treatment but as a question of behaviour and professionalism.

Prakash was called into meetings with senior faculty and told that staff members felt threatened by him.

The faculty told me that the staff had called me a physical threat. I was told I had to be chaperoned by one of my advisors if I existed in that general area. It was unacceptable, he told The Independent.

In correspondence seen by The Independent, a university official later acknowledged the pain, discrimination and racism experienced by the couple.

In January 2024, the couples PhD advisory committees resigned without warning and the department reassigned them to advisers outside their fields of research, a decision they said stalled their doctoral projects.

The university made them ineligible for teaching roles and funding, putting their immigration status at risk.

Together, the couple said, these decisions dismantled the academic and financial structures required to continue their studies.

open image in gallery The Hale Science building at the University of Colorado Boulder where the anthropology department is housed ( Supplied )

A university spokesperson, Deborah Mendez-Wilson, said in a statement to The Independent that it was committed to an inclusive environment for all students, faculty and staff regardless of national origin, religion, culture.

When these allegations arose in 2023, she added, we took them seriously and adhered to established, robust processes to address them, as we do with all claims of discrimination and harassment. We reached an agreement with the students in September and deny any liability in this case.

For Prakash and Bhattacheryya, the settlement closed the legal case but not the consequences.

Several years of academic work was left unfinished and professional plans put on hold. Bhattacheryya said the prolonged stress exacerbated her fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition.

Prakash said he did not see what followed as merely an individual misfortune. This is something that we as a people have been bearing for a long time, he said. If this is the path we have to walk, then so be it. Our people should see a better day.
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Monday that a national election will be held on 8 February.

The decision aims to capitalise on her strong public polling, representing her first electoral test since taking office in October.

Why call an election now?

Japan's first female premier inherited a battered government, with her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) having lost its majority in both houses of parliament after disgruntled voters punished it over rising prices and a funding scandal.

By calling a snap election now, she hopes to capitalise on a surge in public support for a new leader who has promised to spur economic growth, tackle cost-of-living concerns and tighten immigration rules.

Some media polls have put the LDP's support at more than 60%, giving Ms Takaichi an opportunity to restore its majority in the more powerful lower chamber.

open image in gallery Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi poses during a ceremony to mark the closure of the end-of-year trading session at the Tokyo Stock Exchange. ( AFP/Getty )

A poll of 1,213 people published by public broadcaster NHK on January 13 showed she had the backing of 62% of voters.

Even if she gets a lower-house majority, however, Ms Takaichi will still have to govern with a minority in the upper house, which she cannot dissolve. Voters elect half its members every three years and the next election is not due until 2028.

What would a strong result deliver?

A decisive victory would strengthen Ms Takaichi's hand within the LDP and reduce her reliance on smaller political parties to pass key legislation.

That, in turn, could allow her to push ahead with plans to boost government spending to revive economic growth and sharply increase defence outlays under a revised national security strategy amid heightened tension with powerful neighbour China.

The shift could mark a further step from Japans post-war pacifist constraints, including a long-standing principle that bars nuclear weapons from its territory.

With prices still rising and the yen's value against the U.S. dollar sliding, the cost of living is likely to dominate the election campaign.

In the NHK poll, 45% of respondents said that was their main concern, followed by diplomacy and national security at 16%.

open image in gallery Ms Takaichi gestures as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his speech during their visit to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington at the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Yokosuka. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Having already proposed record spending of $770 billion for the next fiscal year, Ms Takaichi also promised a temporary sales tax cut on food on Monday, further unnerving investors in one of the world's most indebted industrial economies.

Whats up for grabs?

All 465 seats in the lower house will be contested, 289 in single-member districts and 176 through proportional representation. A simple majority requires 233 seats.

The LDP now controls 199 seats in the chamber and governs with the support of its coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, which has 34 seats.

The main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, has joined forces with the LDP's former coalition partner Komeito to contest the election under a new Centrist Reform Alliance party. That brings their joint seats to 172.

Attention may also focus on how Ms Takaichi fares against the far-right Sanseito Party, whose calls for tighter immigration controls siphoned votes from the LDP in last July's upper house election, where it won 14 seats.

What happens next?

After Ms Takaichi dissolves the lower house on January 23, official campaigning will begin on January 27. If the LDP and Ishin secure a majority, she will be confirmed as prime minister in a special parliamentary session.

If not, she may be forced to seek new coalition partners or the support of other smaller parties, a setback that would weaken her authority.
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A hiker who went missing on Mount Slamet in Indonesia was found dead last week, ending a 16-day search operation.

Syafiq Ridhan Ali Razan was reported missing on 30 December and his body was found on 14 January.

The Goeteng Taroenadibrata General Hospital in Purbalingga, central Java, said that, given the rate of decomposition, the hiker had likely died two weeks before the body was located.

Signs of fracture in his left thigh suggest that Ali Razan fell to his death, according to the hospital.

Budiono, head of the search and rescue office in Semarang, said last week Ali Razans body was not found on the ascending route he had taken with his friend. The duo had started their hike from the Dipajaya basecamp in Pemalang regency on 27 December.

The body was recovered at about 10.49am local time near post 9 of the hiking trail, at the base of a slope on Mount Slamets southern flank.

Thick fog and poor weather in the area prevented an immediate evacuation after the body was found, with rescue teams able to move it only the following morning.

The body was evacuated from a 20m ravine and brought to the Mount Malang basecamp at about 2.30pm local time on Thursday.

The body was still intact when found so it was easy for identification, Budiman said, according to The Star.

Goeteng Taroenadibrata General Hospital will announce the cause of death," he had said at the time.

Ali Razan and his companion, Himawan Haidar Bahran, were last together on 28 December when they stopped at post 5 after the latter suffered a cramp and was unable to continue.

Ali Razan decided to go down for help and asked his friend to wait at the post. He never returned.

Mr Haidar Bahran eventually climbed to post 9, at an altitude of 3,183m, leaving only 300-600m to the summit, and stayed there until the morning of 30 December when a team of volunteers found him. He was eventually escorted to safety.

Ali Razan's corpse was found not far from where his friend had been holding out, local media reported.
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Delegates attending Vietnam's Communist Party congress, which began on Monday, have been subjected to stringent security protocols: they were issued Samsung tablets without internet, had mobile network access blocked, and must remain in designated accommodation, according to two individuals briefed on the matter.

These measures are part of heightened security for the week-long, once-in-five-years event, where 1,600 delegates will select the nation's top leader for the coming decade, with incumbent party chief To Lam reportedly seeking reconfirmation and expanded powers.

The foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Such strict arrangements are notable even by Vietnamese standards, where the one-party state monopolises information; a Reuters reporter at the Hanoi venue observed mobile connections jammed within the centre and surrounding areas.

open image in gallery General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam ( AFP via Getty Images )

Delegates, who will vote on an unspecified day this week to elect the party's 200-strong central committee and will approve the congress resolution, were given tablets with only intranet functions to work on internal documents during the event, the two people said, declining to be named because information about the congress is deemed sensitive.

The delegates met on Monday for a preparatory session in a red-carpeted conference hall at the congress venue, with leaders on the stage under a towering statue of the party's founder Ho Chi Minh and the images of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.

Delegates will also be prevented from carrying their mobile phones at the congress from Tuesday, a third person said, although the jamming of the mobile network will anyway make them useless for communication.

open image in gallery Delegates attend a preparatory session for the 14th National Party Congress in Hanoi, Vietnam. ( via REUTERS )

Representing roughly 5.6 million party members in the country of 100 million, delegates were also told to stay in designated accommodation during the week of the congress, including those from Hanoi, according to two sources.

Guidelines issued to reporters covering the congress prohibit them from carrying mobiles phones. They can use their own computers but can only connect to the event's network.

Journalists "shall not cause any negative impact on the image or reputation of Viet Nam, its senior leadership, or its delegates in any form," according to guidelines sent to foreign media by Vietnam's foreign ministry.
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Women exercising in their teenage years could help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study.

The analysis, published in the Breast Cancer Research journal, found that teenage girls who had engaged in at least two hours of physical activity in the last week, compared with those who had done none, had a lower percentage of water content in their breast tissue, which is a key predictor of breast cancer risk.

The studys author Rebecca Kehm, assistant professor at Columbia University, said: The importance and urgency of this research are underscored by the rising incidence of breast cancer in young women and the alarmingly low levels of recreational physical activity observed both in this study and among adolescents across the United States and globally.

Our findings suggest that recreational physical activity is associated with breast tissue composition and stress biomarker changes in adolescent girls, independent of body fat, which could have important implications for breast cancer risk.

These findings align with previous research in adult women that found higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower breast density and that the most active women were 20 per cent less at risk of breast cancer, compared to the least active women.

open image in gallery Having a lower amount of water content can indicate a lower breast density and lower concentrations of urine linked to stress, which are key predictors of breast cancer risk ( Getty Images )

The teenage participants in this new study self-reported their participation in any physical activities and completed clinic visits that took blood and urine samples, as well as assessed the breast tissue.

More than half (51 per cent) of those participants reported no physical activity in the past week.

The average age of participants were 16 and the majority of the group (64 per cent) were Hispanic. The study prioritised representation of Hispanic and Black communities who are historically unrepresented in studies but face higher risks of developing breast cancer at younger ages, added Ms Kehm.

She explained: Black and Hispanic girls consistently report lower levels of recreational physical activity than their non-Hispanic white peers.

UCL professor Jayant Vaidya told The Independent: It is well known that physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer and independently, mammographic breast density also affects breast cancer risk. By breast density we mean how opaque the breast tissues are to x-rays. Also, the cancer-predisposing changes are likely to occur when breast tissues are maturing during adolescence and this could be the best time to take preventive action.

These findings are interesting and should stimulate further research into early markers of risk and promote structured excercise early in life - which of course has many other benefits.

open image in gallery More than half of participants reported no physical activity in the past week ( Getty Images )

Girls in the UK are over three times more likely than boys to not like participating in physical education (PE) classes, and are twice as likely than boys to not do an hour of physical activity every day, according to the Youth Sport Trust 2025 report.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK and one in seven women are expected to get it in their lifetime, according to charity Breast Cancer Now. More than 55,000 women and 400 men get breast cancer each year, which is equivalent to a woman being diagnosed every nine minutes, the charity reported.

The authors noted that additional research needs to be conducted to determine how these factors in adolescence can impact breast cancer risk later in life, but they say the findings highlight the importance of promoting physical activity early in development.
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More than 100 wanted criminals have been arrested in the first few months of a pilot programme in which live facial recognition (LFR) cameras were mounted onto street furniture.

Since October, LFR cameras have been fixed to structures in Croydon, and their feeds monitored remotely, allowing officers to run deployments without a van.

The Metropolitan Police says the pilot has so far led to 103 arrests, a third of which were over offences involving violence against women and girls.

Those arrested also included a woman who had been at large for more than 20 years, who was wanted for failing to appear at court for an assault in 2004; a man wanted on suspicion of kidnap; and a sex offender suspected of breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Since the start of 2024, the Met has taken more than 1,700 offenders off the streets of London using LFR.

The force has hailed its impact and success but the technology has faced criticism, with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) last year describing the Met Polices policy on use of live facial recognition technology as unlawful.

open image in gallery Since the start of 2024, the Met has taken more than 1,700 offenders off the streets of London using LFR ( PA )

The equalities watchdog said the rules and safeguards around the UKs biggest police forces use of the technology fall short and could have a chilling effect on individuals rights when used at protests.

In response, the force defended its use as both lawful and proportionate, playing a key role in keeping Londoners safe.

Campaign organisations have also objected to the technology, with civil liberty group Big Brother Watch claiming facial recognition surveillance turns the country into an open prison.

In December, ministers seeking to ramp up police use of facial recognition to fight crime launched a 10-week consultation to ask for views on how the technology should be regulated and how to protect peoples privacy.

The government was also proposing to create a regulator to oversee police use of facial recognition, biometrics and other tools and is collecting opinions on what powers it should have.

open image in gallery The Met has hailed LFRs impact and success ( PA )

Lindsey Chiswick, the Met and national lead for LFR, said: The increase in LFR deployments across crime hotspots in London is driven by its proven impact and success  with more than 1,700 dangerous offenders taken off Londons streets since the start of 2024, including those wanted for rape and child abuse.

This is why we are trialling a new and innovative pilot in Croydon. It allows us to explore a different way of using facial recognition by operating it remotely and more efficiently.

The amount of arrests we have made in just 13 deployments shows the technology is already making an impact and helping to make Croydon safer. Public support remains strong, with 85 per cent of Londoners backing the use of LFR to keep them safe.

The LFR cameras in Croydon are only activated when officers are present and conducting a deployment, according to the Met.

The force said Croydon was selected because it is a crime hotspot and that there are currently no plans to extend the scheme to other areas.

Since the start of 2024, LFR deployments in Croydon have resulted in 249 arrests, with 193 of those going on to be charged or cautioned.

In November, a new fleet of LFR vans was rolled out by Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and Hampshire police forces in an expanded pilot programme, joining the Met, South Wales Police and Essex Police in their use.

The Home Office spent 6.6 million last year on evaluating and adopting the technology, including 3.9 million on creating a national facial matching service.
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A cruise company boss who says she will never work again after a slip in an onboard toilet is suing holiday giants P&O for 9.7million compensation.

HR chief Kerry Middleton, 52, cracked a bone in her neck when she slipped while on the company's giant liner, the MV Britannia, for a management meeting while in port in Cadiz in 2019.

The mum went on to be diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, which she says has left her needing a wheelchair and ended her working life and is now suing for 9.7m.

But she faces accusations that she is not as disabled as she has claimed, having been filmed through her kitchen window, walking with "completely normal mobility and looking pretty chirpy on top of it" while preparing a New Year's Eve meal for her family.

Lawyers for P&O's parent company, Carnival Plc, which contests the size of her claim, say the secretly shot surveillance footage undermines Mrs Middleton's credibility in the huge compensation case.

open image in gallery Kerry Middleton ( Supplied by Champion News )

During a hearing at the High Court last week, Judge Tim Moloney heard that Mrs Middleton was an HR boss and on P&O's enormous MV Britannia cruise liner when she was injured in October 2019.

The 330m long Britannia is the flagship of P&O's fleet, featuring almost 2,000 cabins over 15 passenger decks, with multiple, bars, theatres, nightclubs and swimming pools.

She had visited the ship for a management meeting, but suffered a nasty fall when she slipped on a wet floor in one of the liner's toilets.

Mrs Middleton sustained a fracture to the spinous process, part of a bone in her neck, leaving her with acute neck pain, which doctors said should have resolved within six months.

However, she went on to be diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition which causes problems with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body.

Symptoms can include limb weakness and paralysis, tremors, speech problems, seizures, blackouts, fatigue, anxiety and depression, among others.

Little is currently known about the causes of the mysterious condition, although it is thought that it can be brought on by injury, trauma or severe stress.

open image in gallery The 330m long Britannia is the flagship of P&O's fleet, ( Supplied by Champion News )

Mrs Middleton's barrister, Eliot Woolf KC, told the judge that her symptoms included the onset of hemiplegia - paralysis to one side of the body - in December 2019, initially thought to be a stroke, and seizures from December 2024.

"The severity of her FND symptoms have progressed such that she is now primarily a wheelchair user when mobilising," he told the judge.

"The pain experts are agreed that her complaints of pain are subsumed within the diagnoses of FND. The neurologists are pessimistic over long-term prognosis.

"They anticipate some improvement once she has undergone treatment in a multi-disciplinary unit, but not sufficient for her to return to any form of employment."

Judgment has already been entered for Mrs Middleton against the company on liability for the fall, but it is now fighting the amount she is claiming.

For Carnival Plc, barrister James Todd KC said the company's main defence to the 9.7m claim is that, although it is liable for the injury she suffered in the toilet accident, her FND had nothing to do with it.

They say a more probable cause was the stress of her being told that she had received a work performance grading equivalent to "below standard," something they would not be liable to pay damages for, he told the judge.

"We say that the triggering episode for this condition of FND was the claimant learning from her manager that she had received a 2.5 performance grading," he said.

"That provides a causative severance between the accident and the FND."

He also said surveillance footage cast doubt on the severity of Mrs Middleton's ongoing disabilities - and therefore on her credibility as a witness on other matters in the case.

It included footage secretly shot through the window of her home on New Year's Eve 2024 while she prepared food for her family, he told the judge.

"We see her moving freely," he said. "She is cheerful and happy with her family.

"Towards the end of the clip, we see her walking around the kitchen island, doing so freely, without any sign of disability.

"It shows a woman apparently with completely normal mobility and looking pretty chirpy on top of it."

He said the footage contrasted with the report she made to a doctor four months later when she described being able to stand, but not walk.

He claimed the video could cast doubt on her credibility in evidence, adding: "She is making an assertion she is a wheelchair user and she isn't on the film."

The barrister did not accuse Mrs Middleton of fraud, but said one expert had noted a tendency in Mrs Middleton to "catastrophise and to play up her symptoms," although the doctor did not find it dishonest.

"I can't say until the experts have seen it that it's a fraud case," he told the judge.

"It may be she honestly believes as part of her FND condition that she is paraplegic, when at times she plainly isn't."

The case, which was due for trial later this month, reached court last week after Carnival Plc lodged an application for the surveillance footage to be included.

Mr Todd said it was essential to ensure a fair trial, but Mrs Middleton's barrister Mr Woolf accused the company of an "ambush" and said it should be excluded.

Criticising the surveillance operatives' methods, he said there had been unreported surveillance days, missing footage and selective filming.

"Of greatest concern is that the footage on 24 December 2024 and 31 December 2004 involved the use of a zoom lens to film Mrs Middleton through her kitchen window from beyond the boundary of her property, invading her privacy and that of her children who are captured in the footage," he said.

He also said Mrs Middleton would deny at the trial that her performance grading had anything to do with the onset of her condition.

"The claimant contends that she was not told of the performance grading until January 2020," he said.

"In any event, the performance grading did not cause her distress. Her FND symptoms were already manifesting prior to her first hemiplegic episode and before she was told of her grading even on the defendant's case.

"The performance grading was not a trigger for the first hemiplegic episode in any event."

After a day in court, Judge Moloney granted permission for Carnival Plc to include the surveillance footage in the evidence for the trial.

With the new evidence now to be analysed, the trial later this month was cancelled and will now take place at a later date, yet to be confirmed.
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Sir Keir Starmer dodged answering questions about whether King Charles expected state visit to the US in April may be cancelled as tensions rise over president Donald Trumps tariff threats.

The US president threatened the UK, Denmark and other European countries with 10 per cent tariffs over their opposition to a takeover of Greenland by America. The UK would be charged a 10 per cent tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from 1 February, increased to 25 per cent from 1 June, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Questions were raised over the weekend about how the UK might respond, and if that could include the King pulling out of a state visit, floated to take place in April. The Kings trip was meant to be part of a campaign to revitalise a trade agreement with the US after a promised American investment in Britain from tech firms was paused, according to The Times.

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said on social media: The PM must tell Trump in no uncertain terms: if he goes ahead with these outrageous tariffs and keeps bullying Greenland, therell be no state visit to the US in April. The UK must not be a doormat for an extortionist, or reward Trumps behaviour with the pageantry he craves.

Speaking in an emergency press conference on Monday, Sir Keir said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong and added it was not the right way to resolve differences with an alliance. He refuted the idea of retaliatory tariffs, adding that a trade war was in no ones interest.

open image in gallery Trump came to the UK for a second state visit in September last year (Chris Jackson/PA) ( PA Wire )

Asked whether he would advise the King against a state visit to the United States, the prime minister merely affirmed it was important to continue working with the US on matters of defence, intelligence and security, which requires us to have a good relationship with the United States.

He added that this didnt mean the UK had to pretend it didnt have a difference of opinion with Washington.

open image in gallery Sir Keir called the tariffs against allies completely wrong ( Reuters )

There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works, he said, adding that any decision about the future status of Greenland "belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone".

The state visit would coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US declaration of independence from Britain, a first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II accepted an invitation from George W Bush in 2007.

King Charles has played a vital role in easing relations between the UK and Trump. The US leader came to the UK last year for an unprecedented second state visit, interpreted by commentators as a move to appease him as he returned to the White House following Joe Bidens stint in the Oval Office, and to ensure that British-American relations continued to be smooth.

Trump has made no secret of his love for the royal family and said one of his first memories was watching his late mother, Mary, who grew up in the Hebrides, transfixed by the Queens coronation in 1953.

Buckingham Palace did not comment on reported plans for a state visit, but The Independent understands any state visit would take place at the request of the government and would be announced as normal.
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The Scottish Parliaments days are numbered if Nigel Farage becomes prime minister, Scotlands First Minister has warned.

John Swinney said the Reform UK leader held Holyrood in total contempt.

The SNP leader accused Mr Farage of being a long-term opponent of devolution.

Polls suggest Reform UK could place second or third at the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

The partys polling numbers are even stronger in England and Mr Swinney suggested that if Reform UK won the next UK general election, it could abolish Holyrood.

The First Minister told the Press Association in Cumbernauld: Nigel Farage has been a long-term opponent of the Scottish Parliament and devolution.

He holds the Scottish Parliament in total contempt, so his contesting of the elections is just about trying to undermine the institution.

And if Nigel Farage becomes the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, I think the Scottish Parliaments days are numbered.

Thats why people in Scotland have got to vote at this election for independence to secure the self-government of Scotland.

As UKIP leader in 2014, Mr Farage called for a new constitutional settlement in the UK, saying England did not have a fair voice in the union.

At the time, he said the UK had to have a type of devolution that works for everybody.

He has also called for the Barnett Formula  which works out how much money Scotland gets from Westminster  to be scrapped.

Mr Farage appointed former Tory minister Lord Malcolm Offord as the partys first Scottish leader last week.

Reform UK Scotland has reportedly been given a 1 million war chest for the election in May.

Meanwhile, billionaire businessmen Sandy and James Easdale have backed Scottish Labour with a six-figure donation.

The SNP has come under financial strain in recent years with heavy losses from a declining membership and falling number of MPs.

Mr Swinney, whose party is still being investigated for its finances, insisted the SNP was in a strong financial position, adding: We will raise more money before the election, and Im confident we will fight a very significant and comprehensive and well funded election campaign for the campaign.

Speaking on Tuesday, Reform MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson, said: The comments from John Swinney are ludicrous and are a sign of panic.

Reform UK Scotland wants the next Scottish Government to use its extensive devolved powers to improve the lives of the people in Scotland.

Our party wants devolution to work, and we want the Parliament to be far more effective than it has been before.

Reform is completely against independence. It is time to rid Scotland of the negativity that John Swinney and the SNP bring to the Scottish government. This is about governing rather than division.
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Prince Harry was left feeling paranoid beyond belief after the publisher of the Daily Mail tracked his every move, thought or feeling, a major court case against the company has been told.

The Duke of Sussex said that methods allegedly employed by Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)  including obtaining flight details and monitoring the phone conversations of his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy  had placed a massive strain on his personal relationships and created distrust and suspicion.

King Charless younger son is joined by Sir Elton John and the singers husband David Furnish, campaigner and Labour peer Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actors Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley in accusing ANL of the clear systematic and sustained use of unlawful information-gathering.

Their lawyers claim that employees of the company, which publishes the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, listened to phone calls and voice messages and also obtained medical records by deception between 1993 and 2018.

This included one journalist writing a draft story about Ms Frosts ectopic pregnancy that not even her sisters or mother knew about, after allegedly accessing her medical information, the court heard.

ANL emphatically denies all claims of unlawful practices. It says celebrities had leaky social circles and that disclosures to the press about the private life of the Duke of Sussex in particular were a not uncommon occurrence.

open image in gallery Lawyer David Sherborne accused the Mails publisher of systematic and sustained use of unlawful information-gathering ( Reuters )

In written submissions, Harry said: I find it deeply troubling that Associated used phrases such as sources, friends and the like as a device to hide unlawful information gathering.

The High Court heard that the alleged unlawful information-gathering in the dukes case is related to 14 articles between 2001 and 2013. Harry, who has flown back to Britain from his new home in California for the case, is expected to take the witness stand on Thursday.

His barrister, David Sherborne, told the court: The Duke of Sussex has been caused great distress by each and every episode of unlawful information-gathering against him by Associated or on its behalf, and the fruits of that unlawful information-gathering in the 14 unlawful articles of which he complains.

He added: It is evident from the articles and the evidence of the Duke of Sussex that the targeting of him has had a profoundly distressing effect, with episodes of pleaded unlawful information-gathering described as disturbing to feel that my every move, thought or feeling was being tracked and monitored just for the Mail to make money out of it, intrusion (that) was terrifying for loved ones, creating a massive strain on personal relationships while invidiously creating distrust and suspicion, and driving me paranoid beyond belief, isolating me.

Antony White KC, for ANL, said the duke had discussed his private life in the media, while information about his life was also provided by Buckingham Palace spokespeople.

Opening the case, Mr Sherborne told the court that the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday had been engaged in unlawful information-gathering over at least two decades.

He added: There is evidence, indisputable evidence, in the documents, that Associated journalists and senior executives were commissioning and approving the acquisition and use of unlawfully obtained information, and they must have known that.

That is why we say this was no clean ship  far from it.

open image in gallery Elizabeth Hurley and her son Damian Hurley arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday ( PA )

Mr Sherborne said ANL had taken a clear and unequivocal position at the 2011 Leveson Inquiry, which followed the closure of the News of the World tabloid, and had denied any unlawful acts.

Mr Sherborne said: They emphatically denied that there had been any unlawful activities at all. In short, they swore that they were a clean ship.

But he continued: Associated knew that these emphatic denials were not true. They knew they had skeletons in their closet.

The claimants allege in their written submissions that the publisher had a culture of unlawful information gathering that wrecked the lives of so many.

Unlawful activities said to have occurred include hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, blagging private records, and accessing private phone conversations. This is said to have included illegally intercepting voicemail messages, listening to live landline calls, and obtaining medical records.

Mail on Sunday journalist Katie Nicholl allegedly accessed Ms Frosts medical information after Ms Frost underwent an operation at a private hospital for an unplanned ectopic pregnancy with her then boyfriend Jackson Scott, during the period of her divorce from actor Jude Law.

open image in gallery Actor Sadie Frost is among those taking legal action against the Daily Mail publisher ( Reuters )

Despite only Ms Frosts closest friends being aware of the pregnancy, these details were recorded by Ms Nicholl in the draft article. The barrister said: How did they know she was treated unless they had access to her voicemail or medical records?

Baroness Lawrence was allegedly the subject of five unlawful articles between 1997 and 2007 as a result of being extensively targeted by ANL and private investigators.

In court documents, she said she felt bitterly let down by the Daily Mail, and angry that she had been made to fight in court for three years after her son was murdered in a racist attack in 1993.

I am a victim all over again, but by people who I thought were my allies and friends, she said. I am being made to fight, when all I have ever wanted is to be told the plain truth and for justice to be done, and an apology.

Meanwhile, Sir Elton and his husband Mr Furnish said they felt that their home and the safety of their children had been violated, and that they were horrified that ANL had allegedly used their friendships against them.

Both Sir Elton and Mr Furnish underline the outrage they feel in light of Associateds invasion into medical details surrounding the birth of their son Zachary, and the stealing of their sons birth certificate before we even had a chance to see it ourselves.

open image in gallery The Duke of Sussex has previously brought claims of unlawful information-gathering against other newspapers ( Reuters )

ANL lawyer Mr White told the court in written submissions: In relation to almost every article alleged to be the product of phone-hacking or phone-tapping, Associated is able to call a witness or witnesses to explain how the article was in fact sourced.

The claimants inferential case of phone-hacking and phone-tapping is met and convincingly rebutted. The pattern of misconduct the claimants seek to establish is simply not made out.

The high-profile claimants began their action against ANL in 2022. In 2023, ANL failed in a bid to have the cases thrown out for being time-barred or brought too late.

Harry has previously brought legal action against other newspaper publishers over allegations of unlawful information-gathering. He was awarded 140,600 in damages by a judge from Mirror Group Newspapers in 2023, and settled a claim against News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, last January.

The trial, which is expected to last nine weeks, continues.
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The Duke of Sussex is among seven prominent individuals initiating legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail, with a nine-week trial commencing on Monday.

The group, which includes Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, and campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, alleges that Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) engaged in or commissioned unlawful activities.

These reportedly include hiring private investigators to install listening devices in cars, "blagging" private records, and accessing private phone conversations.

Politician Sir Simon Hughes, actress Sadie Frost, and Liz Hurley are also pursuing legal claims against the publisher, which has "vehemently" dismissed the "preposterous" allegations.

open image in gallery Baroness Doreen Lawrence - the mother of the late Stephen Lawrence - is part of the claim ( PA Wire )

Here is a timeline of the groups claim against ANL:

 2022

October 6

Lawyers acting for the group issued legal claims against ANL.

In a statement, the lawyers claimed there was compelling and highly distressing evidence that the group had been the victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy.

ANL denied the allegations, describing them as preposterous smears and a pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal.

 2023

March 27

The duke, Ms Frost and Sir Elton attended a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where ANL sought to have the cases against it thrown out without a trial.

Harrys appearance was believed to be the first time back in the UK since the late Queens funeral in September 2022.

In written submissions for the hearing, Adrian Beltrami KC said on behalf of ANL that the legal actions had been brought too late and were stale, with the publisher denying that unlawful information gathering took place at its newspapers.

He continued that the individuals had to prove they did not know earlier, or could not have discovered earlier, that they might have had a claim against ANL for alleged misuse of their private information.

Barrister David Sherborne, for the group, told the hearing that the unlawful acts in the claim include illegally intercepting voicemail messages, listening to live landline calls and obtaining medical records.

In written submissions, he said: They range through a period from 1993 to 2011, even continuing beyond until 2018.

Mr Sherborne also told the four-day hearing that Sir Elton and Mr Furnish were outraged and mortified over allegations that the landline of their Windsor home was tapped.

The barrister continued that Lady Lawrence believed the racist murder of her son, Stephen Lawrence, was exploited by the publisher.

Lady Lawrence alleged that her bank accounts and phone bills were monitored, that she was subject to covert electronic surveillance and that corrupt payments were made to serving police officers for confidential information, including to those investigating her sons killing.

Mr Sherborne also said that the duke was troubled that, through Associateds unlawful acts, he was largely deprived of important aspects of his teenage years.

open image in gallery Sir Elton John leaving the Royal Courts Of Justice after a preliminary hearing in his claim against ANL in 2023 ( PA Archive )

It also emerged at the hearing that an alleged confession and denial by private investigator Gavin Burrows over his role in the alleged unlawful information gathering were at the centre of the claims.

In one statement, signed in August 2021, Mr Burrows claimed to have targeted hundreds, possibly thousands of people through voicemail hacking, landline tapping and accessing financial and medical information for a journalist at the Mail on Sunday.

But in a later statement signed in March 2023, Mr Burrows said he wished to make clear that I was never instructed or commissioned by (a journalist) or anyone at the Mail on Sunday or the Daily Mail to conduct unlawful information gathering on their behalf.

In the more recent statement, he said he was not commissioned to gather information unlawfully on Harry, Sir Elton, Mr Furnish, Ms Frost, or Ms Hurley.

November 10

Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed ANLs bid to have the claims thrown out without a trial, stating in a 95-page judgment that the publisher had not been able to deliver a knockout blow to the claims of any of these claimants.

He concluded that each of the seven people in the claim had a real prospect of demonstrating that ANL concealed relevant facts that would have allowed them to bring a claim against the publisher earlier.

The duke, Lady Lawrence and Sir Elton said they were delighted by the ruling.

ANL said they look forward to establishing in court that the group had made lurid claims.

The publisher also welcomed the judges decision that unpublished ledgers given to the Leveson Inquiry into the practices and ethics of the British press could not be used without Governmental permission, calling it a significant victory.

November 21

Lawyers for the group said they planned to ask ministers for permission to use the confidential Leveson Inquiry documents, with Mr Sherborne telling a hearing that there was no rationale for ANL refusing to provide the plainly relevant documents.

Mr Beltrami said that ANL had rejected a request to hand over the ledgers and opposed a bid to ask a minister for access to them.

 2024

March 1

The then-Conservative government announced it would vary the Leveson Inquirys restriction on providing the documents, allowing them to be disclosed for the purpose of the legal proceedings.

In a statement, then-Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and then-Home Secretary James Cleverly said the documents were Daily Mail ledger cards recording payments to private investigators and The Mail on Sunday ledger cards recording payments to private investigators.

They continued that it was not necessary in the public interest to withhold these documents from any disclosure or publication.

May 8

Dozens of journalists, including some national newspaper editors, were named in documents setting out the dukes claim.

They included about 70 current or former journalists, including the editor-in-chief of The Sun, Victoria Newton, the editor of The Times, Tony Gallagher, and the editor of the Mail on Sunday, David Dillon, who were named in relation to their time at ANL titles.

Barristers for ANL said the dukes case was without foundation and an affront to the hard-working professional journalists whose reputations and integrity, as well as that of Associated itself, are wrongly traduced.

November 26

The High Court heard that Lady Lawrence was alerted to a potential legal claim by a text from Harry.

In written submissions for a preliminary hearing, Catrin Evans KC, for ANL, said: Litigation appears to have been contemplated by Baroness Lawrence almost immediately after the text was received by her.

 2025

July 11

Mr Justice Nicklin rules that Harrys lawyers must hand over documents related to alleged payments made for evidence in his claim.

Lawyers for ANL had asked the court at a hearing in May to order the groups legal team to search for and disclose any documents that relate to payments, royalties or inducements paid, provided or offered, or any demands or threats made, in order to obtain documents, information or other co-operation.

The judge ruled that documents that could support a case that a witness has been paid or offered other inducement for their evidence, whether directly or indirectly should be disclosed.

He added: In this case, the stance adopted by the claimants has been undermined by their inconsistent and incoherent approach to disclosure of documents relating to payments to potential witnesses and/or other inducements.

October 1

The High Court is told that details of the Prince of Waless 21st birthday party could have been blagged by a private investigator.

Mr Sherborne told a hearing that an invoice dated from August 2003 was linked to a Daily Mail story from June that year, with extensive details of the event.

He also claimed that a record from a private investigator allegedly shows a journalist commissioning him to provide a mobile phone conversion related to the Princess of Wales, as well as phone numbers from a family and friends list.

Antony White KC, for ANL, said in written submissions that lawyers for the group of high-profile individuals had made wholly unparticularised allegations of unlawful information gathering that should not proceed to trial.

October 10

Mr Justice Nicklin refused a bid to have the allegation related to Kate added to the case, but allowed the group to use previous incidents of unlawful information gathering involving an ANL journalist while they were at a different paper in their claims.

He also ruled that allegations that the publisher commissioned burglaries to order could not go to trial, as they cannot assist in the fair resolution of the claimants claims.

November 11

Mr Burrows claimed his signature on a witness statement from August 2021 was a forgery, and that in September 2025, he told ANL that the contents of the earlier document were substantially untrue.

He added that he had never carried out work for the Mail on Sunday or the Daily Mail, apart from one job relating to Sir Richard Branson that did not involve any illegal activity.

November 26

Mr Justice Nicklin refuses a bid by the groups lawyers to anonymise a witness known as Berlin, who was reportedly to give evidence in relation to Mr Burrows.

Mr Sherborne had told the court that Berlin feared threats and violence if his identity was revealed, but the judge found there was not clear and cogent evidence that an anonymity order is necessary.

The groups lawyers said they planned to appeal against the ruling.
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TikTok is set to roll out enhanced age verification checks for users across Europe as it bids to clamp down on accounts made by under-13s.

The social media giant said its new technology will be able to predict whether an account is owned by a child under the age of 13 by using profile information, videos published, and other on-platform behaviour. Accounts will then be flagged to a human moderator, who will make a decision on whether to ban them.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to introduce an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s. A group of more than 60 Labour MPs wrote to the prime minister on Sunday and urged him to implement a blanket ban, accusing successive governments of doing too little to protect young people from ... unregulated, addictive social media platforms.

open image in gallery TikTok is set to roll out new measures to tackle underage users ( iStock/ Getty Images )

The prime minister has not ruled out a ban, saying we need to better protect children from social media, and adding: All options are on the table.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has also backed the measures, saying her party would introduce them if it were to win the next election.

But a number of prominent online safety and childrens charities have opposed any blanket ban, warning it may create a false sense of safety that would see children and predators move to other, less regulated, parts of the internet.

In a statement, TikTok said the latest age clampdown is set to be introduced in the coming weeks, and comes after a pilot scheme led to the removal of thousands of additional underage accounts.

It added that the new technology will be used in a privacy-preserving manner and only used to decide whether to flag an account to a human moderator or not.

The new measures join existing age gates and will support TikToks moderation teams to enforce its minimum age of 13.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer has not ruled out a social media ban for under-16s ( PA )

Protecting peoples privacy has been central to our work on this project, it said. By integrating data protection principles into the design phase of technology from the beginning, it ensures that the prediction of the likelihood that someone is under the age of 13 is not used for purposes other than to decide whether to send an account to human moderators and to monitor and improve the technology.

TikTok added that it had consulted extensively with the Data Protection Commission (DPC) to adhere to Europes high data protection standards, and that users in Europe will receive a notification to notify them of the new technology.

The video-sharing app said users whose accounts are flagged as underage are able to use measures including facial age recognition, credit card authorisation, and ID checks to appeal the decision.

At TikTok, were committed to keeping children under the age of 13 off our platform, providing teens with age-appropriate experiences, and continuing to assess and implement a range of solutions, it said in a statement.

We believe that a multi-layered approach to age assurance  one in which multiple techniques are used  is essential to protecting teens and upholding safety-by-design principles.
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TikTok is facing possible legal action from two of its employees over plans to axe hundreds of jobs from its UK online safety team.

In June 2025, the social media giant said it would be expanding its investment and presence in the UK, proudly declaring: "What underpins our continued growth is our deep commitment to safety.

Two months later, TikTok said it would be slashing its London-based trust and safety team, including content moderators - the people responsible for assessing and removing dangerous and graphic videos from the platform.

open image in gallery TikTok has been accused of union-busting after it axed jobs from its trust and safety team in London ( Alamy/PA )

TikTok said the move was part of a wider global reorganisation - a shift away from human moderation, and towards using automated systems, including artificial intelligence (AI).

But employees see it differently. They claim the redundancies were announced just seven days before a ballot was due to take place among workers on whether to unionise.

Two moderators have now sent a legal letter to TikTok claiming they were unfairly dismissed because of their efforts to unionise.

This comes amid a backdrop of growing concern over TikToks trust and safety operations. In November, Dame Chi Onwurah, chair of the governments science, innovation and technology committee, said TikToks staffing cuts posed a real risk to the lives of TikTok users and questioned its ability to keep them safe.

Three whistleblowers also told The Independent a culture of pressure at the platform was leaving workers with health problems related to excessive screen time, feeling unable to take breaks in order to achieve grades, and putting stress on them to meet arbitrary targets.

Heres why TikTok could go to a UK court, and why this could affect the videos you see on your screen.

Why is TikTok facing possible legal action?

Two content moderators have sent a legal letter to TikTok laying out the terms of a potential legal case.

open image in gallery TikTok has been given a month to respond to the letter ( Reuters )

The argument lies on grounds of unlawful detriment and automatic unfair dismissal. It centres around a vote planned by TikToks London-based trust and safety team on whether to form a union with the UTAW (United Tech & Allied Workers), a branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

In the letter, it is claimed that a vote was planned for 29 August - but seven days before, on 22 August, workers were told hundreds of jobs would be scrapped as part of a restructuring exercise.

At the time, TikTok said the move was part of plans to strengthen its global trust and safety operations amid a shift towards technological advancements including AI.

But unions and campaigners were quick to accuse them of bare-faced union busting, claiming the true purpose of the redundancies was to prevent them from unionising.

In the legal letter sent to TikTok, seen by The Independent, the moderators argue that the actions of the company are unlawful.

They are asking an employment tribunal to make orders for their roles to be reinstated, should they be made redundant, as well as compensation for their lost pay. In a statement, TikTok called the claims baseless.

You are pitted against each other

Content moderators at TikTok say they were hoping to unionise in a bid to tackle what they claim is a stressful and high pressure environment where targets are strictly tracked and employees are pitted against each other.

open image in gallery One content moderator said they had at one time been expected to watch 1,200 videos a day ( AP )

One moderator told The Independent at one point she had been expected to watch 1,200 videos per day.

They work under TikToks utilisation rate, a piece of software that encourages them to work faster and penalises them if they dont move their mouse or interact with the computer screen based on fixed time limits, rather than the specific content on the screen.

They are then graded, and bonuses are determined by these performance statistics, whistleblowers said.

Its very stressful, one moderator said. We have to focus every single day, every single hour, we always have to be on target.

She added some people she knew had stopped taking breaks in order to achieve a higher grade.

These strict screen-facing targets have left workers feeling their brains are being burned by the work, according to lawyers.

One told The Independent she had been forced to seek help from a neurologist for headaches due to her work.

What happens next?

Lawyers have given TikTok one month to respond to the letter, which is anticipated towards the end of January.

What happens next depends on how TikTok chooses to respond. The social media giant may choose to enter into negotiations with the moderators, taking discussions behind closed doors.

Alternatively, it may decide to fight the claims in court, taking the case to an employment tribunal.

What are the consequences for online safety?

Employees have been sounding the alarm about the impact job cuts could have on online safety since they were announced.

Speaking to The Independent, whistleblowers said they did not believe any automated moderation is ready yet to do their job.

open image in gallery Dame Chi Onwurah has said the cuts pose a real risk to the lives of TikTok users ( PA Archive )

One employee said he sees TikToks AI get things wrong all the time.

We have different models that are supposed to identify guns, for example, he said. Sometimes they do, but they make a lot of mistakes, because if you do a gun shape with your fingers, it will identify it like a gun.

He said a model that should identify blood would often pull out stains or marks on a wall.

In comments sections, he said he found AI was often unable to identify cat and mouse games where users would communicate in certain emojis to trick the system and violate the platforms community guidelines.

Whistleblowers also said they had particular concerns about childrens safety. One said 90 per cent of the content she faces on the app is from children, many of whom are clearly under the age of 13, TikToks minimum age requirement.

Most of these videos, she said, have been flagged for references to suicide - for example, discussions of wanting to kill themselves.

When we moderate, I think you have to use human emotion, she said. I can do that. Personally, I dont think that is something AI can do.

TikTok said 91 per cent of the content removed for violating its Community Guidelines is identified and taken down by automation, and 99 per cent of that content is proactively removed before anybody reports it.

Moderators also expressed concern that where human moderation remains, jobs will be outsourced to low-paid employees in countries such as Morocco, Kenya, and Ghana. Moderators said they fear those hired may lack the contextual and cultural understandings needed to moderate videos effectively.

Since the redundancy announcement, The Independent has seen screenshots of job advertisements on TikToks internal platform for moderators in Morocco - somewhere experts say many social media platforms employ moderators.

TikTok said it continues to have a number of trust and safety roles in a variety of locations.

Tom Hegarty, head of communications at Foxglove, an independent non-profit organisation that supports tech workers in legal cases, said the case is really important because content moderators are how people are kept safe online.

A TikTok spokesperson said: "We once again strongly reject these baseless claims.

These changes were part of a wider global reorganisation, as we evolve our global operating model for Trust and Safety with the benefit of technological advancements to continue maximising safety for our users."

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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More than 60 Labour MPs have signed an open letter urging the prime minister to back an Australia-style social media ban for under-16s.

The letter, understood to be authored by Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas, calls on the government to take action to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms.

It asks Sir Keir Starmer to implement a blanket ban on social media platforms for children under 16. Calls follow Australias law, which came into effect in December.

open image in gallery The letter calls on No 10 to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms ( AFP/Getty )

Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning, it reads. They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experience that will prepare them for adulthood.

The letter, signed by dozens of backbenchers as well as education select committee chair Helen Hayes, former whip Vicky Foxcroft, and former education minister Catherine McKinnell, says Britain risks being left behind if it does not act.

The MPs said they believe the government must place the onus to prevent underage access to platforms on technology companies rather than parents.

We all know the harm social media causes to young peoples mental health, Mr Thomas wrote in a post on X alongside pictures of the letter.

The Labour Govt has acted in recent months. Today, 61 Labour MPs have written to the PM urging him to go further. We back an Australia-style model with the onus on tech firms to block under-16s access.

Last week, Sir Keir Starmer said that all options are on the table regarding the possibility of an Australia-style social media ban during a visit to Scotland.

open image in gallery MPs say there is strong public support for the measures ( PA )

We need to better protect children from social media, he said. Were looking at whats happening in Australia, but all options are on the table in relation to what further protections we can put in place, whether thats under-16s on social media, all options on the table.

The letter says that public support for the measures is strong, adding that young people themselves also recognise the potential harm caused by social media.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch previously said she would introduce an under-16s ban if her party won the next election.

But a number of prominent online safety and childrens charities have spoken out against a ban, warning it would be the wrong solution.

In a letter published on Saturday, the NSPCC, Childnet, and suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation all said they believe a blanket ban would create a false sense of safety that would see children and predators move to other, less regulated, corners of the internet.
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Labours U-turns in government have cost Britain an estimated 8.2 billion in growth, a think tank has found.

A new report from the Resolution Foundation found that, although progress has been made on the governments economic aims, it has been stunted by Labour running down its own plans.

Despite Labours pledge to restore stability, Sir Keir Starmers numerous row-backs mean policy uncertainty is higher in this Parliament than any of the previous seven, the report found.

The think tank found the result of U-turns on personal independence payments, universal credit, winter fuel allowance and the two-child benefit cap is an 8.2 billion hit to Britains economy.

open image in gallery Labours U-turns in government have cost Britain an estimated 8.2 billion in growth, a report has found ( PA Wire )

The research does not include the governments most recent U-turns on business rates for pubs and inheritance tax rules for farmers, which are expected to cost another 300 million and 130 million respectively.

On Monday, the government also pulled an amendment to its Hillsborough Law - which aims to force public officials and contractors to tell the truth after disasters - amid concerns intelligence agencies could use it to avoid being bound by the proposed duty of candour.

Sir Keirs time in office has been characterised by a string of humiliating U-turns  from the watering down of the governments flagship benefits bill to a major U-turn on the controversial winter fuel cut last year.

This total number of U-turns made by Labour since the general election up to least nine  and by some counts 13.

Just last week, ministers scrapped plans requiring workers to sign up to its digital ID scheme in order to prove their right to work in the UK.

It came just days after the decision to provide additional support for pubs facing large hikes in business rates.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmers time in office has been characterised by a string of humiliating U-turns ( PA Wire )

Researchers found that the chancellor has announced 6.1 billion of U-turns - second only to Liz Truss mini-Budget in the last 15 years.

Twenty years ago, the UK economy was close to catching up with Germany. But decades of stagnation mean that weve now been caught by Italy and are miles behind our former peers. Its time the UK started to catch up, Greg Thwaites, research director at the Resolution Foundation, said.

Theres lots to welcome in the governments economic growth strategy. But it has spent much of the past 18 months undermining that strategy with policy U-turns, kite-flying tax ideas and timidity in areas like trade where it needs to be bold.

He added: With signs that productivity may be turning a corner, the Government must capitalise by ramping up its plans. It should redouble efforts to unblock housebuilding in major cities, focus job support for young and older workers, and decide whether to bite the bullet and reverse some of the damage from Brexit.
Two of the countrys most senior police officers have voiced support for a mass merger of the present 43 separate police forces in England and Wales into as few as 15 or even 10 regional organisations.

Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, say it would improve efficiency and help the service make the case for more investment. Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has already indicated she is considering such plans. Theyll be controversial

Why change?

Its based on familiar arguments about economies of scale. According to Rowley and Stephens, the current structure quietly drains capacity from the front line and prevents the public from receiving the visible, effective service they rightly expect. We cannot make the case for the resources we need unless we undertake the reform that is overdue.

For her part, Mahmood told a conference of senior police figures last November that the structure of our police forces is, if we are honest, irrational, leading to disparities in performance, such that policing in England and Wales is a postcode lottery.

Is it a good idea?

If all goes well, it could create larger specialised task forces in areas such as armed units, roads and traffic (especially motorways), and organised crime. There could also be useful savings in procurement and managerial overheads, such as HR and finance.

What could go wrong?

Even if it were a good idea, Mahmood is trying to do too much, too quickly, in a basic public service. For example, she is already committed to scrapping the directly elected police and crime commissioners, extending her powers to sack chief constables, while trying to recruit, train and retain thousands of new officers  all with budgets under pressure. And how will the new regional forces mesh with redrawn local councils?

There are also problems of democratic oversight and local accountability, and the fresh danger of political interference from Whitehall.

Larger forces may be less responsive to local needs, and closure of more police stations and control rooms will be unpopular. There are few, if any, cases in history of a police restructuring leading to lower crime. Indeed, many people will look nostalgically on the days of even smaller units when every city or borough had its very own proud constabulary.

More subtly, there would be less local experimentation and innovation in policing methods that other forces could adopt, and the amalgamations themselves would incur substantial costs  not least in IT.

What happened in Scotland?

A mixed bag. Scotlands SNP government replaced 12 regional forces, many covering huge geographical areas, with just one national force  Police Scotland  in 2013. A 2019 report by a Holyrood committee found that financial management had suffered, forecast savings hadnt materialised, and the merger had created new but unclear lines of responsibility.

Will the changes happen?

Mahmood is determined enough to try, but whether shes tough and skilled enough to make reorganisation work cannot be known. Even if it were flawless, yielded substantial savings and reduced offending, it would still be deeply unpopular with an electorate broadly opposed to constant change. And any future foul-ups would be blamed on the complex reorganisation, making it a risky endeavour.
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The government has announced plans for a consultation on social media restrictions for under-16s amid growing calls for an Australian-style ban.

The consultation will look at all options for reform, including a blanket ban, limits on app time, raising the digital age of consent, and restricting potentially addictive app features such as streaks and infinite scrolling.

Ministers will visit Australia as part of their consultation, where a social media ban for under-16s came into force in December.

It comes after dozens of Labour MPs signed an open letter urging prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to back a ban, and to protect young people from the consequences of unregulated, addictive social media platforms.

Another letter, written by the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey and signed by eight sets of bereaved parents, urged Sir Keir to back an amendment to stop children under 16 from using social media platforms.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said it will be taking immediate action on childrens social media use, including by directing Ofsted to examine schools mobile phone policies and whether they are effectively implemented.

The government will produce screen time guidance for parents of children aged five to 16, before guidance for parents of under-fives will be published in April.

Later this week, the Lords is set to vote on an amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which, if passed, would require social media platforms to stop children under 16 from using their platforms within a year of the bill passing.

open image in gallery The consultation is expected to look at all options, including a blanket ban or limits on app time ( Getty/iStock )

The amendment, tabled by former schools minister John Nash, is supported by the National Education Union (NEU) and the 61 Labour MPs who signed the open letter to Sir Keir.

Lord Nash said the governments consultation will only produce more delay. This announcement offers nothing for the hundreds of thousands of parents, teachers, medical professionals, senior police officers, national security experts and parliamentarians of all parties who have been calling for a raising of the age limit for social media, the Conservative peer said.

The prime minister must be in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this. The longer we delay, the more children we fail. I continue to urge all peers to back my amendment on Wednesday, which would begin to end the catastrophic harm being done to a generation.

In her joint letter from the Bereaved Families for Online Safety, Esther Ghey described how her daughter had a social media addiction and was exacerbated by the harmful content she was consuming online.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer previously that no options are off the table ( PA Wire )

I speak not only as Briannas mother, but alongside many other bereaved parents who have lost their children to harms that began or were amplified online, the letter, signed by a number of bereaved parents, reads.

Some have lost children after they were groomed by online predators, others through dangerous online challenges, and others following prolonged exposure to self-harm and suicide content.

It adds: The online world our children are living in, and the harms that come with it, are vast. We need a multi-pronged approach to address this crisis properly, one that includes legislation, regulation, education, and societal change.

Speaking on the government consultation, Jess Asato, Labour MP for Lowestoft, said: Consulting on a social media ban for under-16s is a good first step in protecting our children from the huge harms they face on platforms which were never designed with their wellbeing and development in mind.

Parents and carers across the country are calling for bold action now, and its crucial the consultation does not simply kick this issue into the long grass.

open image in gallery Esther Ghey has backed a plan to fund devices that lock away pupils phones during school hours ( PA Wire )

There is strong evidence that social media has a significant negative impact on childrens physical and mental health, educational attainment and exposure to harms such as child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Listening to parents, children and the generation who have grown up with this technology must take priority over the industry itself.

On Monday, Sir Keir said that no options are off the table when it comes to changes to the use of social media for children.

We are obviously looking at whats happened in Australia, something Ive discussed with the Australian prime minister, he added.

I dont think its just a question of social media and children under 16. I think we have got to look at a range of measures.

The open letter from 61 Labour MPs read: Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning. They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experience that will prepare them for adulthood.

The letter, signed by dozens of backbenchers as well as education select committee chair Helen Hayes, former whip Vicky Foxcroft, and former education minister Catherine McKinnell, says Britain risks being left behind if it does not act.

open image in gallery The UKs largest teaching union has also said the prime minister should fully support an amendment for an outright ban ( Getty )

The UKs largest teaching union has also said the prime minister should fully support an amendment for an outright ban.

National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede said No 10 signalling it is open to raising the age limit for social media was a welcome shift.

Mr Kebede said: The additional pressure from Labour backbench MPs needs to move Keir Starmer to full support of this amendment to ban social media for under-16s. This cannot be a moment for passivity  it demands leadership.

Every day, parents and teachers see how social media shapes childrens identities and attention long before they sit their GCSEs, pulling them into isolating, endless loops of content.

However, at the weekend, 42 child protection charities and online safety groups issued a joint statement warning a blanket social media ban would not deliver the improvement in child safety and wellbeing needed, and would treat the symptoms, not the problem.

Instead, the government should strengthen the Online Safety Act to require platforms to robustly enforce risk-based age limits, the organisations said.
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Sir Keir Starmer has stood up to Donald Trump and warned him that he is completely wrong to threaten tariffs against countries who oppose his attempt to take control of Greenland.

In his toughest message to the US president since the latters inauguration last year, Sir Keir denied that he had previously been too soft with Mr Trump and urged calm, warning that a trade war would benefit nobody.

The prime ministers message came amid fears that the UK and the EU could be plunged into recession by 10 per cent or even 25 per cent tariffs imposed by the US, with a hit to UK GDP of up to 22bn.

Mr Trump did little to quell global concerns by going on to hint strongly that he could order an invasion of Greenland, replying No comment when asked if he was prepared to go that far.

Amid the growing crisis, Sir Keir dodged growing calls for the proposed visit by King Charles III to the US to mark the countrys 250th anniversary to be abandoned in protest at Mr Trumps actions.

Sir Keirs plea for calm came as EU leaders, led by French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz, took an even stronger approach, warning of counter-tariffs against the US economy if Mr Trump makes good on his threats.

Mr Macron urged member states to activate the blocs trade bazooka and restrict access to the single market for US companies in response to the threats.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer addresses Donald Trumps threat to ramp up tariffs on Monday ( PA )

With fears that the crisis could destroy the Nato alliance and spiral out of control, even US Republican representatives on Capitol Hill warned the president of the dangers of his actions.

Theres certainly not an appetite here for some of the options that have been talked about or considered, Senate majority leader John Thune said.

Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Thunes predecessor, added that military action against the territory would be an unprecedented act of strategic self-harm that would risk incinerating Nato alliances.

But an unrepentant Mr Trump doubled down on his demands in a bizarre letter to the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, in which he appeared to blame the Norwegian government for his bellicose behaviour, suggesting it was a consequence of being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Trump said he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace, adding: I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States. The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.

In an emergency press conference on Monday morning, Sir Keir made it clear that the UK government would not back down in the face of Mr Trumps threats.

The prime minister urged the whole country to unite in the face of the US presidents pledge to invade Greenland and to impose tariffs on the UK and other European allies.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has defended his Greenland demands in a letter to the Norwegian PM ( Getty )

He said the dispute over Greenland, which Mr Trump wants to take over because of its strategic Arctic location and mineral wealth, should be resolved through calm discussion between allies rather than by military action or a trade war.

Sir Keir also signalled that Britain would not engage in a trade war with the Americans by imposing retaliatory tariffs, insisting that this was not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance.

He said: A partnership does not mean abandoning principle. That is why its important to be clear about who we stand with, what we stand for, and where our interests lie.

This is a moment for the whole country to pull together, so I warmly welcome the support weve had, with regard to Greenland and the proposed tariffs, from the leader of the opposition [Kemi Badenoch]. I thank her for her support.

He also insisted that the right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies.

He continued: Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental.

The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenlands security as a justification for economic pressure.

Sir Keir suggested he did not think Mr Trump was genuinely prepared to use the US military to annex Greenland, and insisted there was no need for the UK to take a side in the growing divide between the US and Europe.

open image in gallery Yvette Cooper welcomes Denmarks foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen ( PA )

He said: I dont think its right for us to choose between the US and Europe. Thats not a new position today: thats the position Ive consistently held, as have previous governments.

Because we are allies with our European partners and allies with the US, and the strength in being able to keep both those alliances has served us well over the last 80 years.

In a sign of solidarity, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen for talks in London.

She reiterated Sir Keirs comments, saying: The future of Greenland is for the Greenlanders and for the Danes alone. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and those principles around sovereignty are crucial.

Its also why we have made very clear that the use of tariffs and threats against allies in this way is completely wrong and counterproductive.

Ms Cooper also stressed the need to strengthen Arctic security against the threat from Russia.

Mr Rasmussen said that he and Ms Cooper had been in almost daily contact for the last week or so, adding: Im not here in order to ask for your support, Im here to thank you for your support.
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Donald Trumps plan to slap 10 per cent tariffs on the UK would leave Britons facing higher prices and less choice on supermarket shelves, a supply chain expert has warned.

Oisin Hanrahan, the co-founder and chief executive of Keychain, which works with major supermarkets to identify high costs in the supply chain, told The Independent that the tariffs wouldnt stay confined to trade statistics, it would start showing up in the weekly shop.

It came amid warnings that the export levy could wipe 0.1 per cent off Britains GDP  increasing to as much as 0.3 per cent if the tariff is increased to 25 per cent as Mr Trump has threatened  a hit that could tip the UKs ailing economy into recession.

On Saturday, the US president said he would charge Britain a 10 per cent tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from 1 February, increasing to 25 per cent from 1 June, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Mr Trump said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland  all of whom are members of Nato.

Speaking about the US presidents latest threats, Mr Hanrahan told The Independent: A 10 per cent US tariff on UK exports wouldnt stay confined to trade statistics, it would start showing up in the weekly shop.

The US is one of Britains most important export markets, and making that market more expensive to serve has knock-on effects that ripple through food supply chains.

For many British food producers, exports are what keep factories running at scale. When tariffs squeeze margins in the US, firms respond by cutting volumes, delaying investment or trying to recover costs elsewhere.

He added: Lose scale, and unit costs rise, increasing the risk of higher prices, fewer discounts and less choice on UK supermarket shelves, particularly in processed and branded foods where volume matters most.

open image in gallery US President Donald Trump is threatening new tariffs over his Greenland bid ( PA Wire )

So far, Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out retaliation, saying a tariff war isnt in anybodys interest and that he is making sure we don't get to that stage despite Germany and France weighing up hitting the US with retaliatory tariffs.

What I want to do is to avoid a tariff war, because it will be businesses, workers and families across the country that will be hit by a trade war, the PM said in a press conference on Monday morning.

But Mr Hanrahan warned that if the UK did decide to retaliate, the impact on consumers would be more immediate.

Tariffs on US imports would raise costs on products and inputs such as nuts, peanut butter, corn-based ingredients and food packaging materials, with those increases passing quickly through manufacturers and retailers into prices, he said.

Meanwhile, John Wyn-Evans, head of market analysis at asset management group Rathbones, warned that 10 per cent tariffs could knock 0.1 per cent off Britains fragile economic growth.

The economic impacts are not to be underestimated, he said. A 10 per cent tariff could shave around 0.1 per cent off GDP for the most exposed economies, notably the UK and Germany, while a 25 per cent rate could hit output by 0.2-0.3 per cent.

open image in gallery Oisin Hanrahan said the tariffs would start showing up in the weekly shop ( PA Wire )

Ultimately, this episode reinforces the shift away from ever-increasing global integration and toward a world defined by sharper spheres of influence  a reality businesses and investors must increasingly plan for and deal with, he added.

Meanwhile, Paul Dales of Capital Economics estimated that the impact could be even worse than this, estimating that Britains GDP would shrink by 0.3 to 0.75 per cent if the new levies threatened by the US president are imposed on top of the 10 per cent import tax already applied to UK goods.

With the UK economy currently growing by 0.2 - 0.3 per cent a quarter, if this hit came all at once it could trigger a recession, he said.

In a sign of the seriousness with which the government appeared to be taking the threats from the US, chancellor Rachel Reeves was among the senior Cabinet ministers sitting in the audience at the prime ministers announcement, having pulled out of a Monday morning event at the London Stock Exchange.

Sir Keir also abandoned plans for a Monday cost-of-living-related visit at the 11th hour to make the announcement, with the PM promising to speak with the US president about Greenland again in the coming days after the two spoke on the phone on Sunday night.
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Donald Trumps 10 per cent tariffs on the UK could have a damaging impact on Britains economy and potentially tip it into recession, economists believe.

The US president threatened to increase the tariff to 25 per cent from 1 June, until a deal is reached to buy Greenland from Denmark. It applies to the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. The countries released a statement underlining their solidarity with Denmark.

Mr Trump has long had his eye on Greenland, first proposing US control over the territory in 2019. In his renewed plan for a takeover, he said it was "time for Denmark to give back", adding: "China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it."

Sir Keir Starmer said the government will take this up directly with the Trump administration, after the US president warned world peace is at stake if the US is not permitted to control the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

"Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong, the prime minister said in a statement. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration."

open image in gallery Donald Trump has theatened the UK and several European countries with 10 per cent tariffs ( PA Wire )

What are the UK and EUs exports to the US?

Cars, medicine and pharmaceutical products, and machinery are all among the exports to the US which will be slapped with tariffs. The UK also exports scientific equipment, non-ferrous metals and organic chemicals.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Americans bought 27.8bn of machinery and transport equipment, 16.7bn of cars and other road vehicles, 14.3bn of chemicals, 11.7bn of machinery and 10.8bn of pharmaceuticals in the 12 months to November.

Between July 2024 to July 2025, the US was the UKs largest trading partner accounting for 17.8 per cent of total UK trade, according to the ONS.

open image in gallery Protestors have taken to the streets since Trump threatened to take control of Greenland ( AP )

How will the tariffs damage trade?

The higher prices on US goods are likely to dampen demand for the products. This will in turn affect British exporters trade.

New tariffs on goods exported to the US will be more bad news for UK exporters, already struggling with the tariffs levied last year, said William Bain, the British Chamber of Commerces head of trade policy.

We know trade is one way to boost the economy and the success of transatlantic trade depends on reducing, not raising, tariffs.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, right, said he would discuss the tariffs with Trump ( PA Wire )

Last year, the US and UK reached an agreement which saw a 10 per cent levy being imposed on most UK goods.

Marco Forgione, the director-general of the Institute of Export and International Trade, said the impact for the UK will be huge and could even tip the UK into recession.

He told The Telegraph: Were going to see goods trading with the US suddenly becoming uncompetitive in the marketplace. So the impact for the UK will be huge, particularly at a time when we are struggling with very anaemic growth.

Trumps tariffs on other countries

Trump threatened China with a 145 per cent tariff at one stage in 2025, after the Chinese government announced plans for new export controls on rare earth metals used in a variety of technology-related products.

He then wheeled it back to 47.5 per cent, admitting it was not sustainable.

India was hit with a 50 per cent tariff, due to its appetite for Russian oil. However, the tariff was not unilaterally imposed on all products. Several exemptions were made, including for pharmaceuticals and electronics.
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The Central African Republic's Constitutional Court has validated President Faustin-Archange Touadera's victory in the disputed 28 December presidential election, confirming his third term.

This decision comes despite opponents alleging fraud even before provisional results were announced on 5 January, claims the government denied.

"On behalf of the Central African people, the Constitutional Court declares Faustin Archange Touadera president-elect in the first round with 77.9 per cent of the vote," stated Jean-Pierre Waboe, President of the Constitutional Council.

Touadera's main rival, former Prime Minister Anicet-Georges Dologuele, secured 13.5 per cent of the vote.

The Constitutional Court rejected an appeal Mr Dologuele had lodged after the provisional results.

Another competitor, former Prime Minister Henri-Marie Dondra who got 2.97 per cent of the vote, last week acknowledged Touadera's victory and said he decided not to appeal.

open image in gallery Central African Republic Referendum ( TASS Host Photo Agency )

"I made this decision to preserve peace and avoid reigniting tensions. I call on the president-elect to take the necessary measures to reconcile the Central African people and organise a genuine dialogue to ease political tensions in the country," Dondra told Reuters.

Touadera, a 68-year-old mathematician who took power a decade ago, campaigned on his security record in the chronically unstable nation after enlisting help from Russian mercenaries and Rwandan soldiers.

He also signed peace deals with several rebel groups this year.

His victory will likely further the interests of Russia, which has traded security assistance for access to resources, including gold and diamonds.

open image in gallery Central African Republic's President and presidential candidate for the United Hearts Movement (MCU) Faustin Archange Touadera casts his ballot at a polling station in Bangui on 28 December 2025 during Central African Republic's presidential election ( AFP via Getty Images )

Dologuele and Dondra previously cast doubt on the results credibility, calling separate press conferences to denounce what they described as election fraud.

Dologuele, the runner-up in the 2020 election, told a press conference in early January that there had been "a methodical attempt to manipulate" the outcome.

"The Central African people spoke on December 28," Dologuele said. "They expressed a clear desire for change."

Touadera's government has denied any fraud took place.
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More than 150 worshippers have been abducted by gunmen from three separate churches in Nigeria.

The simultaneous attacks took place on Sunday in Kurmin Wali, a community in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria.

Usman Danlami Stingo, a lawmaker representing the area at the state parliament, said they took place at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), another church belonging to the denomination Cherubim and Seraphim and at a Catholic church in the region.

"As of yesterday, 177 people were missing, and 11 came back. So we have 168 still missing," he said.

Police in Kaduna state have not commented.

No group has taken responsibility.

Such attacks are common in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, where multiple gangs and religious armed groups attack remote communities with limited security and government presence.

The northern region of the country has been hit hardest.

Similar attacks on churches have sparked allegations of the persecution of Christians by U.S. President Donald Trump and some American lawmakers.

The U.S. government launched military strikes in Sokoto on Dec. 25, allegedly targeting an Islamic State group in the region.

The Nigerian government has rejected the characterization of the country's escalating security crises as a "Christian genocide."

Also on Sunday, Nigerian air force strikes reportedly killed over 40 militants and destroyed around 10 canoes in Borno state, the military announced.

The operations, part of ongoing efforts, targeted Lake Chad groups.

Borno remains the epicentre of a 17-year Islamist insurgency in Nigeria's northeast, as Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters recently escalated attacks on military convoys and civilians.

Air force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame confirmed airstrikes on 15 and 16 January in Musarram and Azir signal renewed military pressure on insurgents.

These groups frequently exploit the region's rugged terrain to launch raids on troops and nearby communities.

The air force stated that militants were hit in Musarram on Thursday following intelligence indicating they were massing in canoes to attack Baga town and the fish dam area of Lake Chad.

Ejodame said in a statement that "three bombing runs broke up the group, with fleeing gunmen tracked into nearby trees and neutralised."
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Nigerian air force strikes have reportedly killed more than 40 militants and destroyed approximately 10 canoes in Borno state, the military announced late on Sunday.

The operations targeted groups around Lake Chad, as part of a series of ongoing efforts.

Borno remains the epicentre of the 17-year Islamist insurgency in Nigeria's northeast, where fighters from Boko Haram and ISWAP have recently escalated attacks on military convoys and civilians.

Air force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that airstrikes on 15 and 16 January in the Musarram and Azir communities signal renewed military pressure on insurgents.

These groups frequently exploit the region's rugged terrain to launch raids on troops and nearby communities.

The air force stated that militants were hit in Musarram on Thursday following intelligence indicating they were massing in canoes to attack Baga town and the fish dam area of Lake Chad.

open image in gallery Air force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that airstrikes on 15 and 16 January in the Musarram and Azir communities signal renewed military pressure on insurgents ( Reuters )

Ejodame said in a statement that "three bombing runs broke up the group, with fleeing gunmen tracked into nearby trees and neutralised."

Troops and local officials reported the airstrikes foiled the planned attack.

On Friday in Azir, close-air-support aircraft struck terrorists retreating from an earlier clash and regrouping under trees, killing several and restoring order, Ejodame said.

In December 2025, the United States launched airstrikes that targeted Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria on Thursday, which marked a major escalation in an offensive that Nigeria's overstretched military has struggled with for years.

US President Donald Trump said on social media that the powerful and deadly strikes were carried out against Islamic State militants, targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.

Residents and security analysts previously said Nigerias security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north.

Nigeria, which is battling multiple armed groups, said the US strikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between the two countries.
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A 10-month-old boy in Portland, Oregon, is battling infant botulism after consuming contaminated ByHeart baby formula, which was donated through a scheme assisting low-income and homeless families. Ashaan Carter has been hospitalised twice and remains reliant on a feeding tube following the dangerous infection, which has affected more than 50 infants across the US.

His mother, Angel Carter, stated she received a can of the formula from an Oregon Department of Human Services case worker in early November, just days before a national recall was issued. Ms Carter, who receives state support for food and housing, explained she had been exclusively breastfeeding her son but her milk supply was diminishing. The 27-year-old was reportedly told by the case worker that the ByHeart formula was "closest to breast milk" and could provide assistance.

I accepted it thinking, OK, Im hoping my baby can get on a bottle,'" Carter said. Its been all downhill since then.

State officials wouldnt comment on Carters case, but they acknowledged that the agency received ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank. That was one of nearly two dozen nonprofit groups nationwide who are part of ByHearts OpenHearted Initiative that donated formula to families in need, according to the companys website.

Since June 2022, nearly 24,000 cans of formula have been distributed to groups that aid homeless and other vulnerable families, the company said. All the company's products have been recalled since production began in March 2022 because of potential contamination.

open image in gallery A container of ByHeart baby formula, which was recalled by ByHeart, in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Cheyanne Mumphrey)

Soon after consuming the ByHeart formula, Ashaan developed severe constipation and muscle weakness, becoming so limp that he couldnt move his head, Carter said.

After a trip to an emergency room, he was sent to Randall Childrens Hospital in Portland. Doctors there diagnosed him with presumed infant botulism tied to the ByHeart formula, according to Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, a family medicine doctor who delivered Ashaan and cares for him and his mother.

He was treated with BabyBIG, an IV medication that provides antibodies to the infection to stop the progress of the disease.

Ashaan was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in November and discharged without a feeding tube. His health rapidly declined, including dramatic weight loss, and he was hospitalized again in December. He got so sick that his mother was afraid he would die.

He was just withering away, Carter said.

The Oregon caseworker texted Carter after the recall, she said, warning her to stop using the formula.

But it was too late for Ashaan, who had to have the feeding tube down his throat replaced because his muscles remain weak, his doctor said. It's not clear how long it will remain. He is having to relearn how to crawl and to talk.

Its devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who are trusting this product to nourish their child and trusting our social services to provide safe food for their babies, Peterson-Perry said.

ByHeart had partnered with Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that includes high-profile celebrities among its supporters. The news outlet Healthbeat was first to report that recalled formula went to groups serving at-risk families.

PDX Diaper Bank received about 400 cans of donated ByHeart formula through Baby2Baby and distributed more than 300 of them before they were recalled, Rachel Alston, the groups executive director, said in an email.

All of our partners confirmed that they took immediate action to inform families, and we offered support where we could along the way, she said in an email.

Baby2Baby officials did not respond to email requests for comment. ByHeart officials said the company worked with Baby2Baby and other groups that received formula to ensure that the products were pulled and families were notified.

No new cases of infant botulism tied to the outbreak have been reported since Dec. 17, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted inspections at ByHeart plants, but has released no information about the source of the outbreak. Production remains shut down.

Seattle food safety lawyer Bill Marler said Carter is one of more than 30 families he represents whose babies were sickened by ByHeart products. At least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart and stores that sold the contaminated formula. This week, Marler asked a federal panel to consolidate the cases in a U.S. district court in New York.
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Canada's recent agreement to cut tariffs on electric vehicles, for concessions on Canadian farm products, is set to significantly boost Chinese automakers' global expansion. This offers easier entry into the North American market for Beijing's rapidly growing automotive sector.

Chinese manufacturers have been making global inroads with their high-tech, stylish, and affordable EVs. Experts suggest this Canadian access could accelerate their drive to dominate the global market, as their domestic market weakens, threatening other auto manufacturers, particularly American companies.

Ilaria Mazzocco, deputy director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, observed: "This is telling us that Chinese automakers continue to be really popular, and are doing better and better, and not just something thats sold in global markets that are more marginal or less important to U.S. automakers."

What makes Chinese vehicles stand out?

Chinese-made vehicles are high-quality, stylish and inexpensive, experts say.

Its clear that the vehicles made by Chinese brands come at a very competitive cost, but are also technologically quite desirable, Mazzocco said. They tend to be connected vehicles, so they have a lot of additional software capabilities that consumers seem to like. But the price point and the competitiveness are really big selling points.

A BYD electric car is on display at the Essen Motor Show in Essen, Germany, Thursday Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

These vehicles can cost as little as $10,000 to $20,000; in the U.S., new vehicles are running close to $50,000 on average, and EVs even more so.

Chinese companies also have unique advantages as far as auto manufacturing and production, efficiency and making vehicles lighter, which helps extend an electrified vehicle's driving range.

Theyve found a way to make small and mid-sized cars  cars that people want  at a reasonable price," said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions. "These are the segments where GM and Ford and almost everybody else have abandoned.

Many automakers have discontinued smaller vehicles in favor of higher-margin, large sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks that are far more profitable.

Why are Chinese EVs such a threat to U.S. automakers and others?

Much of the global auto market is electrifying, an ideal opportunity for advanced Chinese automakers to capitalize on. China saw 17% growth in plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in 2025, according to data released by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence this week, and Europe saw a 33% increase.

Meanwhile, U.S. sales of electrified cars grew just 1% last year. As the rest of the world advances, U.S. automakers have weakened their once-ambitious, multibillion dollar electrification plans, instead opting for more efficient hybrid electric and gasoline vehicles amid the Trump administration's shift away from EV-friendly policy.

That shift threatens U.S. automakers competitive edge in the coming years. As is, Tesla lost its crown as the worlds bestselling electric vehicle maker last year, delivering only 1.64 million vehicles in 2025 to Chinese rival BYDs 2.26 million.

Trump administration policy slashing emissions rules at a time when Chinese companies are advancing quickly has experts worried for the future of American car manufacturers.

Chinese automakers will have to meet standards required for the Canadian auto market for the latest trade arrangement to be successful  standards that are similar to those in the U.S.  which is likely to incentivize Chinese auto manufacturing investment in Canada.

They'll also have to establish which segment of the market they are targeting there: Higher-end vehicles, or less-expensive ones that sell at higher volumes.

Regardless, It brings it home to what is needed to compete globally, said Mark Wakefield, global automotive market lead at AlixPartners. The firm predicts Chinese brands will account for 30% of the global market by 2030.

Theyve already started in Europe. They started in South America. Now Mexico and Canada," Wakefield said. American carmakers "dont want to end up as a Brazil with your ethanol-based cars that arent sellable anywhere else in the world and ... like Britain or Australia that used to matter in the auto world, and no longer really matter.

Why have others sought to regulate Chinese EV-makers expansion?

Countries have attempted to regulate Chinese EVs from entering their markets for several reasons.

China has become this overwhelming machine making inexpensive vehicles. And the fear is that if you give them an inch, theyre going to take a mile, Fiorani said. The other issue is technology. These vehicles are data centers... and the idea that a state-owned company in China could have access to where a high portion of drivers are going gives them leverage for all kinds of outlets.

In remarks at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Toledo, Ohio on Friday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Chinese Communist Party invests in its auto industry to control this industry.

Why? They want to take over the auto industry. They want to take away these jobs, Duffy said. As far as the Canadian trade deal, he added: They will live to regret the day they partner with China and bring in their vehicles.

The European Union hiked tariffs on Chinese EVs last year, though the two have been resolving that at the start of this year.

In 2024, former President Joe Biden set a 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars. Canada matched that import tax on the vehicles until this week. And even with an annual import cap, Canada cutting its tariffs this week means those companies are another step closer to U.S. soil. The Mexican auto market has welcomed Chinese EVs, with massive growth last year.

The advance of Chinese manufacturers is inevitable. It will happen eventually. Everybody is negotiating to put up the roadblocks to figure out: What data is being processed, how much market share youre going to allow Chinese manufacturers to have?" Fiorani added.

"There are a lot of guardrails that have to be put up, but eventually theyre going to make their way into all Western markets.
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The FBI is asking agents across the United States to travel to Minneapolis for temporary duty as protests against the Trump administrations federal law enforcement surge have erupted after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

The FBI has sent messages to agents across the country requesting volunteers to temporarily transfer to the city, people with knowledge of the situation told Bloomberg News.

The request did not specifically reference anti-ICE protests that have escalated in the city since Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot dead in her car by an ICE agent on January 7.

Details about the assignment, including what the extra agents would be doing in the city, were not known. The FBI declined to comment to The Independent.

As protests swell in the weeks since Goods killing, several thousand more ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents have been sent to Minneapolis.

open image in gallery The FBI is reportedly asking agents across the country to take a temporary position in Minneapolis, as anti-ICE protests sweep across the city following the killing of Renee Good ( REUTERS )

Roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers are also reportedly preparing for possible deployments to the state as Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act to use U.S. military force against civilians.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government.

Theyve got 3,000 or so ICE agents and Border Patrol. That they are now talking about deploying 1,500 military  this is, well its ridiculous, Frey told CNN Sunday.

Trump and administration officials have defended the ICE officers actions and claimed his life was at risk, while Democratic officials and law enforcement analysts have disputed the federal governments account.

This act was clearly designed to intimidate the people of Minneapolis. Heres the thing. We are not going to be intimidated, Frey said Sunday.

The best way to get safety is not to have an influx of even more agents and in this case, military, to Minneapolis, he added.

open image in gallery Roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers could be sent to the city as Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act ( AP )

open image in gallery Minneapolis has been the most recent target of the Trump administrations mass deportation campaign, with DHS officials saying officers have made more than 2,500 arrests in recent weeks ( GETTY IMAGES )

Minnesota has been the target of amplified immigration enforcement since the start of the year after the administration seized on an alleged fraud ring involving daycares operated by Somali-Americans. The Twin Cities are home to roughly 80,000 people of Somali ancestry, the vast majority of whom are legal residents or American citizens.

The Department of Homeland Security claims more than 2,500 people have been arrested.

Trump responded to the continuing protests and resistance from Minnesota officials, who have sued to stop the federal law enforcement surge, in a post on Truth Social Sunday.

ICE is removing some of the most violent criminals in the World from our Country, and bring them back home, where they belong. Why is Minnesota fighting this? Do they really want murderers and drug dealers to be ensconced in their community? he wrote. The thugs that are protesting include many highly paid professional agitators and anarchists. Is this really what Minnesota wants?
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In the wake of spiraling tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehrans violent crackdown on protests, analysts warn that the internal upheaval affecting the Iranian theocracy could carry nuclear proliferation risks.

While in recent days U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to have backed away from a military strike on Iran, he called Saturday for an end to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis nearly 40-year reign in Iran. Trumps comments came in response to Khamenei branding Trump a criminal for supporting protesters in Iran, and blamed demonstrators for causing thousands of deaths.

Meanwhile, a U.S. aircraft carrier, which days earlier had been in the South China Sea, passed Singapore overnight to enter the Strait of Malacca  putting it on a route that could bring it to the Middle East.

With those dangers, analysts warn Iran's nuclear material could be at risk as well.

Nuclear material could fall into the wrong hands

David Albright, a former nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq and founder of the nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, said that in a scenario of internal chaos in Iran, the government could "lose the ability to protect its nuclear assets.

He said that Irans highly enriched uranium stockpile would be the most worrisome, adding that there is a possibility that someone could steal some of this material.

There are historical precedents for such a scenario.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, highly enriched uranium and plutonium suitable for building nuclear bombs went missing due to eroded security and weakened protection of these assets.

So far, Iran has maintained control of its sites, even after the U.S. bombed them in the 12-day war in June that Israel launched against the Islamic Republic.

Iran maintains a stockpile of 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity  a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog.

The agency said in a report last November that it has not been able to verify the status and location of this highly enriched uranium stockpile since the war in June.

The agency said in November that therefore it had lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran at facilities affected by the war.

A diplomat close to the IAEA confirmed Monday that the agency had still not received any information from Iran on the status or whereabouts of the highly enriched uranium stockpile. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity in line with diplomatic protocol.

Albright said that Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium would fit in around 18 to 20 cylinders that are designed for transport, weighing around 25 kilograms (55 pounds) each. Two people can easily carry it, he said of each container.

Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Washington-based Arms Control Association, said that there is a risk that the stockpile could be diverted either to a covert program or stolen by a faction of the government or the military that wanted to retain the option of weaponization.

She said that this risk increases as the Iranian government feels threatened or gets destabilized.

Some of the nuclear material could get smuggled out of Iran or sold to non-state actors in the event of internal chaos or potential government collapse, Davenport said.

The risk is real but it is difficult to assess, given the unknowns regarding the status of the materials and the whereabouts, she stressed.

Possibility of Iran building a nuclear bomb

Both Davenport and Albright pointed out that there is also a theoretical possibility of making nuclear bombs with Iran's 60% enriched uranium. Tehran has insisted for years its program is peaceful.

However, a weapon made directly from 60% enriched uranium rather than the usual 90% purity requires more nuclear material, which makes it much bigger and bulkier and probably not well suited to delivery on a missile, said Eric Brewer, a former U.S. intelligence analyst and now deputy vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

He added that such a device could still be blown up in the desert, for example.

Brewer said that the possibility that the current government in Iran goes down that road should not be totally dismissed, but he underlined that most information suggests that the highly enriched uranium remains buried in a tunnel as a result of the U.S. strikes and is probably not easily accessible to the regime; at least not with some major risk of detection and another strike by the U.S. or Israel."

He added that recent events "have also shown that the Supreme Leader has a very high bar for any decision to weaponize.

Nuclear power reactor could be a target

In the case of internal chaos, Irans nuclear power reactor in Bushehr  Irans only commercial nuclear power plant some 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Tehran  could also get sabotaged or targeted with the aim of causing havoc or making a political point, Albright said. Bushehr is fueled by uranium produced in Russia, not Iran.

So far, there has been no sign of Iran losing command and control of its security forces.

Albright pointed to the attack by the African National Congresss armed wing on South Africas Koeberg Nuclear Power Station near Cape Town, as the country went through increased anti-apartheid resistance in 1982. The act of sabotage caused significant damage but resulted in no nuclear fallout.

If the Bushehr reactor has a major accident, the winds would carry the fallout within 12 to 15 hours to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman, Albright said.

___

The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

___

Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/
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We are not even a month into 2026, and now face a genuine question: is Donald Trump using his board of peace as a pretext to replace the United Nations?

It is no secret that Trump wants to shake things up and has no love for the global body.

And it is no exaggeration to say that Trumps actions since he took office a year ago have already sparked a global paradigm shift, driven by America First policy, his desire to be a deal-maker president, and his Donroe Doctrine, which seeks to reassert US dominance in the western hemisphere.

Now, as the UN marks its 80th anniversary, it appears the president is attempting to build a rival organisation that he could lead himself.

And in true Trump style, it resembles the restructuring of a major corporation.

Last week, the White House announced the membership of what it called a founding executive board, under the chairmanship of President Donald J Trump.

Composed of his inner circle, billionaires and Tony Blair, it will oversee the long-awaited board of peace, which was originally meant to enact the presidents 20-point plan for Gaza and the reconstruction of the devastated territory.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Tony Blair pose for a photo at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt last year ( PA )

However, the real ambitions of both bodies appear to extend far beyond Gaza, according to recent leaks from the draft charter. The charter has reportedly been sent to around 60 countries for their sign-on. Some diplomats are concerned that it is, in fact, intended as a rival to the UN.

For a start, the charter does not mention Gaza at all, according to the text obtained by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and the Financial Times.

Instead, the body aims to restore dependable and lawful governance and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. It stresses that its ambition is to be a more nimble and effective international peace building body, in what appears to be a direct dig at the UN.

The charter also grants wide-ranging powers to Trump as chair, according to Haaretz, which said the text allows him to appoint and remove member states, in a decision that could only be overturned by a two-thirds veto.

Diplomatic sources have said the scope for this board could even extend to negotiating crises and conflicts in places like Venezuela and Ukraine.

open image in gallery A yellow block demarcating the yellow line, which has separated the Gaza Strips Israeli-held and Palestinian zones since the October ceasefire, is visible in Jabalia ( AP )

The White House said that on the executive board is US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Trumps special envoy and real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and Tony Blair, whose role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq has made him unpopular in some Middle Eastern quarters.

Also listed are Marc Rowan, the billionaire chief executive of a private equity firm, Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, and Robert Gabriel, a US national security adviser.

The board of peace, which sits below it, contains several members of the executive board, alongside two former UN envoys, including Sigrid Kaag, who last year quit as the UNs special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, telling a Dutch outlet the entire process was on life support. It also contains representatives of Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey, who all played a key role in Gaza peace negotiations.

There are no Palestinians. There is one Israeli: Yakir Gabay, a billionaire property tycoon.

Putins press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, claimed the Russian president received an invitation to join the board of peace through diplomatic channels.

Invitation letters sent to heads of state to join the charter also indicate that this body is not solely about Gaza.

The Board of Peace and its executive will establish a New International Organisation and Transitional Governing Administration, reads the letter sent to Argentine president Javier Milei, who published his invitation online.

Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE, it adds.

Each member state can designate an authorised representative to attend and participate in meetings, it adds.

Does any of that structure sound familiar?

As I said, it is no secret that Trump is no fan of the UN. After being stuck on a broken escalator and then dealing with a malfunctioning teleprompter at the 80th UN General Assembly meeting in September, he delivered a blistering speech, questioning what is the purpose of the United Nations?

From the podium, he declared he had ended seven wars, but never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help.

He concluded by saying the UN is not only failing to solve the problems that it should, but too often is actually creating new problems for us to solve.

And he has gone on to take unilateral action.

Since the war on Gaza erupted in 2023, the US has vetoed six UN Security Council resolutions calling for ceasefires in Gaza, with the latest in September.

open image in gallery Donald Trump gestures after concluding his remarks to the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York ( AFP/Getty )

Instead, the president has pressed ahead with his own deal and these boards. The mandate for a board of peace was authorised by the UN Security Council in November, but that authorisation limits its geographical focus to the Gaza conflict and its mandate to 2027.

And so has the US president simply taken this limited approval and run with it?

The fear from some quarters is the creation of a decision-making global body controlled and staffed by one of the most powerful men on the planet, who appears intent on challenging other international structures such as Nato and the ICC.

To cite a former deputy secretary general of Nato, Trump seems bent on destroying what has been the post-Second World War, law-governed order enshrined in the UN charter.

Is taking down the UN now in his sights?
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MAGA activists are calling for the arrest of journalist Don Lemon over his part in a protest at a Minnesota church on Sunday in which demonstrators interrupted its services to oppose ICEs presence in their state.

The group stormed into Cities Church in St Paul to demand that President Donald Trumps federal immigration forces leave and to call for justice for Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old mother-of-three shot dead by agent Jonathan Ross on the streets of Minneapolis earlier this month.

Lemon, an independent broadcaster since his departure from CNN, was interviewing one of the participants during a livestream before they entered the church. He then followed the group inside as they chanted ICE out and accused a pastor of collaborating with the agency.

This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities, protester Nekima Levy Armstrong told Lemon before moving inside.

Worshippers in attendance subsequently left in droves, with one churchgoer quoted as saying: These people have come into our house and theyve interrupted our worship. Everybodys gone home, their point has been proven worthless and so, in the end, I think they lose. I feel violated, I feel interrupted, I feel angry.

open image in gallery Don Lemon interviews one of the pastors of the Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday January 18, 2026 as its services were disrupted by anti-ICE protesters ( Don Lemon/YouTube )

Lemon also spoke to one of the churchs pastors, who claimed the activists had not been willing to discuss their concerns with him. No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family, he said, asking the reporter to go.

Lemon noted in his report that police officers had waited outside the church but made no move to intervene to keep the peace.

Clips of the event were shared on social media by outraged conservatives, with the MAGA Voice account calling for Lemon to be investigated by the Department of Justice and FBI, and influencer Benny Johnson claiming that the journalists actions amounted to not just an obscene violation of the FACE Act  its likely a hate crime.

Johnson was alluding to the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act of 1994, which created a legal protection for reproductive health clinics and places of worship, making it a crime to use force against, obstruct, or seek to intimidate anyone operating in such venues.

The act was also invoked by other right-wing personalities like Matt Walsh and Will Chamberlain and by Baptist minister Paul Chappell, who wrote: We condemn the actions of Don Lemon and the group of activists who stormed Cities Church today in St Paul, Minnesota, in clear violation of the FACE Act.

open image in gallery Don Lemon conducts interviews outside of the Cities Church in St Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday January 18, 2026 ( Don Lemon/YouTube )

Christians everywhere should demand that the Department of Justice arrest those who participated. We must protect religious liberty in this country.

The episode has already attracted the attention of the Trump administration. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon shared some of the footage and announced the DOJs Civil Rights Division was investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.

Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote later: I just spoke to the pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted. Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.

If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in turn, warned: President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.

open image in gallery Don Lemon interviews Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Sunday January 18, 2026 ( Don Lemon/YouTube )

But there was also a message of support for Lemon from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, whom he had interviewed earlier in the day and who thanked him for being on the ground in Minnesota to help lift up this fight for truth and fairness  a further illustration of the sharp divide in outlook between federal and local officials regarding this months unrest in the state.

Trump has sent 3,000 ICE agents into Minnesota in the latest instalment of his crackdown on undocumented migrants, but the fatal shooting of Good has led to an explosion of protests against the operation, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanding the troops get the f*** out of Minneapolis.

The president last week threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to restore order, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has placed the National Guard on standby.

The DOJ announced Friday it is investigating Frey and Walz for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement.

Speaking to Jake Tapper on CNNs State of the Union Sunday, the mayor insisted his city was under siege, branding the probe ridiculous and vowing: We will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government.
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A ten-foot-tall mockup of a reported birthday message from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein that the president allegedly penned to Epstein in 2003 appeared overnight on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol.

It is the first of its kind to appear in 2026, its the latest effort by left-leaning organizations to highlight Donald Trumps past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted pedophile and alleged sex trafficker who died in federal custody in 2019, through art pieces in downtown Washington, D.C. A statue of the president and the pedophile laughing and holding hands appeared at various locations around the city in the fall of 2025, lasting in one for less than a day.

The newest display, constructed by a group calling itself The Secret Handshake, omits the suggestive references made in the birthday message to Epstein obtained and released by House investigators last year, which was purported to be authored by the president. It instead bore the inscription: Happy birthday to a Terrific guy!, inside the same sketch of a nude woman from the original note. The same group was behind the statue that cropped up repeatedly last year.

Trump has denied writing the letter and sued the Wall Street Journal over its reporting of the alleged letter.

The new display also encourages visitors to sign the card and leave messages, while warning that violent or offensive content will be removed.

open image in gallery A ten-foot-tall mockup of a birthday card reportedly from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein appeared on the National Mall in Washington, DC, overnight ( The Secret Handshake )

A news release from the Secret Handshake stated that the art display was timed around the dead pedophiles birthday, January 20  which also this year happens to be the one-year anniversary of Trumps second inauguration.

As the release of the Epstein Files continues to remain [a] pressing issue, we felt it only appropriate to celebrate the birthday of the man himself, a spokesperson for the group told The Independent in an email.

The location of the card puts it prominently on the National Mall with the Washington Monument in the background.

Its placement follows two House lawmakers, Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, filing a request to intervene in the criminal case of Ghislaine Maxwell in the Southern District of New York and requesting that a special master be appointed to oversee the governments release of the Epstein files.

open image in gallery The display encourages passerby to leave their own messages ( The Secret Handshake )

Congress passed legislation in the fall requiring the federal government to release the entirety of its files pertaining to the criminal case against Epstein, but only a small fraction have come out. The deadline for the files' release was December 19.

Massie and Khanna, a Republican and Democrat, were the original co-sponsors of that legislation. Lawmakers have accused the government of delaying and failing to uphold that law.

Publication of the Epstein files has become a bipartisan issue on Capitol Hill, to Trumps great frustration. The president has raged at Republicans and demanded that they drop the issue, but the continued public interest around the well-connected, billionaire pedophile has persisted through repeated efforts by the administration to stonewall the release of further information. The reasoning for that stonewalling seems clear: Trump himself has said that people like him who innocently met Epstein were being embarrassed by the photos and other information coming out from the case.

The House Oversight Committee also remains fixated on the case, despite Trumps urgings.

Trump has long denied any wrongdoing as it pertains to Epstein, and has furiously insisted he had no knowledge of his former friends activities. The president has admitted that he and Epstein had a falling out after Epstein, hired Virginia Giuffre, then a young girl later identified as one of his victims, away from Mar-a-Lago where she was employed. The president has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing in any of the files released by the Oversight Committee or Epsteins estate.

I think she worked at the spa, Trump told reporters of Giuffre, speaking on Air Force One last July. He stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know. None whatsoever.

The birthday card is permitted to remain on the Mall through Friday, according to The Secret Handshake.
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The Department of Justice is still withholding most of the long-awaited documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case, one month after the congressionally mandated deadline to release all of the files.

January 19 marks one month since the December 19 deadline in the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed and while Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie  the pair of lawmakers who spearheaded the legislation  continue to pursue the documents, others appear to be growing weary of the saga.

Attorney General Pam Bondis Justice Department has so far published just over 12,000 of the more than 2 million documents it must release in the case of the sex offender, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019.

Some Republicans who forced a vote to release the records in November are largely staying silent on the issue, as attention turns to unrest in Minneapolis over Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, President Donald Trumps ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and his pursuit of acquiring the Danish territory of Greenland.

I dont give a rip about Epstein, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado told Politico.

Like, theres so many other things we need to be working on, she added. Ive done what I had to do for Epstein.

open image in gallery The deadline mandated in the Epstein Files Transparency Act, spearheaded by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, passed one month ago ( Getty )

Boebert said the matter was no longer in my hands and urged the outlet to talk to somebody else about that after she was one of the four House Republicans who forced the vote on the legislation.

The Trump administration tried to dissuade Republicans from forcing the vote and Boebert was at one point called to the Situation Room over the matter.

Former Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was also part of the group of rebel Republicans, culminating in a public fallout with President Donald Trump, who branded her a traitor.

Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who has worked on an investigation into the Epstein case alongside Democrats on a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told Politico that the December 19 deadline was not realistic.

Im not going to rush the process on that, Luna said. Were going to get them.

And while she did not explicitly mention Epstein, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace appeared to criticize the process Monday in a post on X.

The First Amendment does not permit courts to silence victims to protect predators from embarrassment, said Mace, who was one of the four Republicans to force the House vote on the Epstein files legislation.

Massie, meanwhile, asked why the Trump administration was working harder to hide the Epstein files than prior administrations did to cover up Iran-Contra and Watergate?

The case consumed the Trump administration for much of 2025 after Bondis department and the FBI said in July that no further documents would be published and ruled out the existence of a client list. That was after Trump campaigned on releasing the files and Bondi once said they were sitting on her desk.

open image in gallery Trump, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, was pictured in a few files that were released in December ( DOJ )

President Donald Trumps MAGA base was enraged and the issue continued to dog the administration for the rest of the year.

Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and has long distanced himself from the disgraced financier.

Earlier this month, Massie and Khanna asked a federal court to appoint a special master to oversee the document release and claimed the Justice Department cannot be trusted with making mandatory disclosures under the act. The department fired back in a letter that said the lawmakers do not have standing to make such a request.

Bondi wrote to a pair of federal judges on January 15 and said hundreds of staff are reviewing the files and holding calls every day, but she noted some glitches have marred the release.

The Department has made substantial progress and remains focused on releasing materials under the [Epstein Files Transparency Act] promptly while protecting victim privacy, Bondi wrote in the letter.

More than 500 reviewers are going over millions of pages of material to prepare the Epstein files for release and protect confidentiality, she added.

Part of the effort, Bondi continued, requires processing and deduplicating decades of documents using a central platform.

Due to the scope of this effort, platform operations require around-the-clock attention and technical assistance to resolve inevitable glitches due to the sheer volume of materials, Bondi said.

Observers were alarmed to see a photo from Epsteins office that showed pictures of Trump inside a drawer. The image was temporarily taken down from the public portal, but later reinstated.

Critics alleged the department was covering evidence of Trumps long association with Epstein, but the Justice Department dismissed those allegations and said it temporarily removed the image over unrelated safety concerns.

Josh Marcus contributed reporting
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President Donald Trump hinted several times, before taking office, that he would utilize the government to seek revenge on opponents. Now, the FBI is reportedly scouring through documents and other material to find and expose individuals who investigated the president and his allies.

Under FBI Director Kash Patel, agents are looking for information that could discredit prosecutors and investigators who worked on previous cases through congressional Republicans disclosure requests, internal searches and whistleblowers, those familiar with the current situation told the New York Times.

Last year, Patel fired several officials who investigated the president or worked on cases associated with the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Some fired officials turned around and accused Patel of carrying out the presidents bidding in order to keep his position.

But other than public firings, the FBI has also disseminated documents that appear to reflect negatively on some of the investigations, particularly those led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, through congressional disclosures, according to the Times report.

Batches of disclosures have been released by Senator Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Many of those have been associated with Arctic Frost  the investigation into Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election led by Smith. Anti-Smith material has often been released ahead of congressional hearings in an effort to shape the narrative, the Times reports.

open image in gallery FBI Director Kash Patel fired several bureau officials earlier this year who worked on cases against Trump ( Getty )

Republicans have suggested more could be coming ahead of Smiths testimony in front of a House committee this week, the outlet said.

For example, before a Judiciary Oversight committee hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi, Grassley released information indicating the FBI, under the Biden administration, looked at Republicans' phone metadata. Senator Josh Hawley went on further, claiming the FBI tapping his phone, which is incorrect.

Grassley also released FBI emails showing that some agents at the bureaus Washington field office garnered doubts about the search of Mar-A-Lago in August 2022 for classified documents Trump took from the White House after leaving office.

The emails showed a miscarriage of justice, Grassley said. However, the Times reports that he neglected to mention that the agents concerned about the search eventually agreed to it, or that the FBIs actions were scrutinized and approved by a Trump-appointed judge.

In October, Grassley released 197 subpoenas from Smiths team to Republicans or conservative organizations. The subpoenas were allegedly obtained through a whistleblower.

But two former prosecutors on Smiths team were concerned that the disclosures may have contained grand jury material  typically shielded from public view. The two prosecutors filed a complaint with the DoJs internal Inspector General, according to the Times.

The Independent has asked Senator Grassleys office and the DoJ Inspector Generals office for comment.

A spokesperson for Grassley told the Times that the senator had the legal authority to publish the information and that it was done so after consulting with the Senates legal counsel.

The information Grassley has obtained and released has all been obtained through requests. The Justice Departments Office of Legislative Affairs, led by Patrick Davis  a former aide to Grassley, is responsible for coordinating responses to congressional oversight requests.

open image in gallery Grassley (center) and a group of Republicans announced in October that a government whistleblower had released information about Smith's 'Arctic Frost' investigation targeting Republicans ( AFP via Getty Images )

The FBI declined to comment to The Independent

However, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson told theTimes that any suggestion the bureaus disclosures were cherry-picked was false.

Director Patel and his leadership team have overseen the most transparent F.B.I. in history  turning over 40,000 documents to Congress in just one year, a nearly 400 percent increase over both his predecessors during their entire tenures combined, Williamson told NYT.

We are proud of our work with the committees of jurisdiction on the Hill and make zero apologies for opening the books of the F.B.I. for the American people.
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Fox News personality Tomi Lahren has attacked Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar by labelling her the perfect poster child for why we need a closed border.

Co-hosting The Big Weekend Show on Sunday, Lahren reacted angrily to a clip of the progressive congresswoman  who was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, but became a U.S. citizen in 2000 at the age of 17  rebuking ICEs immigration crackdown.

The one place where we thought we would never experience this is the U.S. Goddamn States, Omar said at a field hearing on immigration in St Paul, Friday.

In response, Lahren sneered: Well, listen, I actually have to thank Congresswoman Ilhan Omar because she has served as the perfect poster child for why we need a closed border and why we need to stop importing people from third-world countries who have no respect for this country, no respect for our laws and those who enforce them.

The pundit went on to cite another Democrat, California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who, she pointed out, had pledged last week to strip ICE agents of their drivers licenses if he becomes the states next governor, referring to the federal officials as a**holes.

open image in gallery Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks during a field hearing on immigration on January 16, 2026 in St Paul, Minnesota ( AP )

Democrats are always on the side of the illegal aliens, Lahren claimed. They want the illegal aliens to get drivers licenses, but they want to take the drivers license from ICE agents who are enforcing federal immigration law.

The same clip of Omars comments attracted widespread condemnation from MAGA Republicans when it was posted on X (Twitter) by the Rapid Response 47 account, with far-right activist Laura Loomer demanding: Deport this Muslim.

Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee also expressed outrage at her remark, prompting Elon Musk to suggest she be tried for treason.

Disgraced former New York congressman George Santos chimed in: I served in Congress with Ilhan Omar and I am able to state with a clear mind and without reservations that her priorities have always been the Somalis in MN, she has no love or allegiance to the United States.

Ilhan has and will always be an immigrant whom has ill will towards the United States. I call her the enemy within and Congress and the DOJ should treat her the same.

Omar has long been a hate figure to conservatives, notably causing outrage last June when she criticized the ICE surge into Los Angeles by saying, I grew up in a dictatorship and I dont even remember ever witnessing anything like that.

To have a democracy, a beacon of hope for the world, to now be turned into one of the, you know, one of the worst countries, where the military are in our streets without any regard for peoples constitutional rights, while our presidents spending millions of dollars propping himself up like a failed dictator with a military parade, it is really shocking.

And it should be a wake up call for all Americans to say this is not the country we were born in, this is not the country we believe in, this is not the country our founding fathers imagined, and this is not the country that is supported by our Constitution, our ideals, our values, and we should all collectively be out in the streets rejecting what is taking place this week.

open image in gallery Tomi Lahren attacks Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar on Fox News's The Big Weekend Show on Sunday January 19, 2026 ( The Big Weekend Show/Fox News )

Tensions continue to flare in Omars state in the wake of the killing of Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old mother of three shot dead by agent Jonathan Ross on the streets of Minneapolis earlier this month.

Trump has sent 3,000 ICE agents into Minnesota in the latest instalment of his crackdown on undocumented migrants, but the fatal shooting of Good has led to an explosion of protests against the operation, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanding the troops get the f*** out of his city.

President Donald Trump last week threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to restore order, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has placed the National Guard on standby.

The Department of Justice announced Friday it is investigating Frey and Walz for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement.

We will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government, Frey told Jake Tapper on CNNs State of the Union Sunday, describing his city as under siege and branding the probe ridiculous.
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Members of Kamala Harris teamasked Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, if he was an Israeli double agent, according to the 2028 potential presidential candidates new memoir.

The question came during the 2024 presidential campaign, as Harris weighed who to choose as her running mate.

Shapiro was at the top of her list, along with Senator Mark Kelly and her eventual choice, Governor Tim Walz.

Now, in his book, Where We Keep the Light, Shapiro says that Harriss team was very interested in his background.

Had I been a double agent for Israel? he wrote, describing his surprise at the question, in an excerpt seen by The New York Times.

According to him, the vetting team replied, Well, we have to ask.

open image in gallery Kamala Harris has been accused of asking a potential running mate if he was an Israeli spy ( Getty Images )

Shapiro also alleged that Harriss team wanted to know if he had communicated with an undercover Israeli agent.

According to him, Shapiro answered, If they were undercover, I responded, how the hell would I know?

He later wrote that he understood that the questioner, Dana Remus, a former White House counsel, was just doing her job.

However, he added that he believed it said a lot about some of the people around the VP.

Kamala Harris would eventually lose the 2024 election, with her opponent, Donald Trump, winning in a landslide. At the time, many criticized her decision to pass over Shapiro, given that he is the governor of the vital swing state of Pennsylvania.

In his book, which was also seen by The Atlantic, the Pennsylvania governor bemoaned being asked another question about Israel.

open image in gallery Harris interviewed Josh Shapiro to become her vice presidential running mate but ultimately passed him over ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Harriss team wanted to know whether he would step back from his fierce criticisms of students protesting Israeli action in Gaza. He told her representatives that he remained firm in his position.

It nagged at me that their questions werent really about substance, he wrote. Rather, they were questioning my ideology, my approach, my world view.

He also suggested that Harris had loathed her own time as vice president, describing it as a position with little authority.

I was surprised by how much she seemed to dislike the role, Shapiro wrote. She noted that her chief of staff would be giving me my directions, lamented that the vice president didnt have a private bathroom in their office, and how difficult it was for her at times not to have a voice in the decision making.

open image in gallery Harris later chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to serve as her running mate ( EPA )

Both Harris and Shapiro have very different accounts of their meeting during the vice presidential selection process, though.

Harris wrote in her memoir, 107 Days, that Shapiro seemed to have ambitions for power exceeding the authority normally given to a vice president.

She also alleged that Shapiro had a lack of discretion during the process and that he would want to be in the room for every decision.

Harris added that she had a nagging concern that Shapiro would be unable to settle for a role as number two.

When asked by The Atlantic about his thoughts on Harriss allegations in December 2025, Shapiro delivered a furious response.

Thats complete and utter b*****t. I can tell you that her accounts are just blatant lies, he said.

He offers a different account of events to Harris in Where We Keep the Light, suggesting that his remarks during the vice presidential selection process had been analyzed, misrepresented, and picked apart by members of the vice presidents team.

Both Shapiro and Harris are expected to be leading candidates in the 2028 race for the White House.

Recent polling suggested that Harris is the most likely candidate to become the Democratic nominee, although California Governor Gavin Newsom is also enjoying a surge in support.
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A Louisiana parish should try to secure an exemption to the states ban on cockfighting and bring back the brutal blood sport, according to a councilman.

Cockfighting is a sport in which selectively bred and trained roosters fight each other and it is illegal nationwide. Louisiana was the last state to ban it in 2008.

Now, St. Landry Parish council member Timmy LeJeune is looking to learn more about how officials could create an exemption to the ban in the town, which is about 60 miles west of Baton Rouge, The Acadiana Advocate reports.

The move comes after some residents advocated for the move at a December parish council meeting.

LeJeune scheduled a meeting of the councils administrative and finance committee earlier this month to explore options for creating an exemption to the law, according to The Acadiana Advocate.

A Louisiana official is considering options to potentially bring back cockfighting in St. Landry Parish, despite it being banned across the U.S. ( Getty Images )

All Im asking is to get this before the full council so we can do research and get some real answers, he said at the meeting. What I understand is that a parish can go to the state and get an exemption for a permit.

If we find a way to make that happen, St. Landry could become a worldwide hub for rooster fighting, and that brings in a lot of money. It multiplies. This is all about trying to find revenue for the parish, he added.

Garrett Duplechain, the parishs legal counsel, pointed out that cockfighting is a felony, according to The Acadiana Advocate.

You cant get a permit to commit a felony, which is what cockfighting is currently, he said. Thats my unbiased analysis of it.

The council will return to the topic again at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, The Acadiana Advocate reports. The Independent has contacted LeJeune for comment.

Cockfighting is a tradition that has been passed down through generations in the state, particularly among Creole and Cajun communities, according to The Acadiana Advocate. Before the ban, some cockfights in Louisiana could draw hundreds of spectators, the outlet reports.

Some have argued that bans on cockfighting constitute government overreach, while animal advocates have argued that it should remain illegal.

Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, an advocacy group that seeks to end animal cruelty, said in a statement last week that discussions around re-legalizing cockfighting are ridiculous.

Cockfighting is a felony, period. Lawmakers, in overwhelming fashion, made it so 18 years ago. So many leading Louisianians were embarrassed that the state was the last in the nation to forbid this activity, Pacelle said.

Jeff Dorson, executive director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, told local outlet KPLC in 2024 that cockfighting is still prevalent throughout the state.

Cockfighting has been a part of our culture in Louisiana, especially the Cajun area for a long, long time. There is a lot of pride associated with it, Dorson said.
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Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has claimed local and state police in Minneapolis have been told to stand down and surrender as anti-ICE protests continue to grip the Minnesota city.

Miller, the architect behind the Trump administrations anti-immigration agenda, made the claim in a X post Sunday night.

Protests have broken out across the state after mother of three Renee Good, 37, was shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross earlier this month.

Only federal officers are upholding the law, claimed Miller. Local and state police have been ordered to stand down and surrender.

The Minneapolis Police Department denied Millers claim in a statement to The Independent.

open image in gallery Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has claimed local and state police in Minneapolis have been told to stand down and surrender as anti-ICE protests continue to grip the Minnesota city ( Getty )

The statement is false, said Sgt. Garrett Parten, a public information officer for the police department.

Miller was responding to another social media post by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, who claimed local cops have gone AWOL in Minneapolis.

The senior Trump aide previously said anti-ICE protesters were carrying out an insurgency against the federal government.

Demonstrators stormed into Cities Church in St Paul Sunday morning to demand that President Donald Trumps federal immigration forces leave the state, where so far more than 3,000 federal agents have been deployed.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the city was doing everything possible to keep the peace and likened federal agents to an occupying force.

open image in gallery Protests have broken out across Minneapolis after mother of three Renee Good, 37, was shot dead by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross earlier this month ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

We are doing the work to keep people safe in our city, and specifically, it is our local police officers, Frey said Sunday on CBS News Face the Nation. We are doing everything possible to keep the peace, notwithstanding this occupying force that has quite literally invaded our city, Frey said.

I mean, we've got 600 cops in the city of Minneapolis, and we're talking about 3,000 plus ICE agents and border control that have come in, the mayor added.

The president last week threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to restore order, while Walz has placed the National Guard on standby.

Walz echoed Freys call for calm ahead of more protests at the weekend and said the state has the resources, coordination, and personnel on the ground to maintain public safety and respond if needed.

Stay safe and stay peaceful today, Walz said in a social media post Saturday. Thanks to local law enforcement for keeping the peace.
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Three U.S. Catholic cardinals are urging the Trump administration to use a moral compass, saying U.S. military action in Venezuela, threats of acquiring Greenland and cuts in foreign aid risk bringing vast suffering instead of promoting peace.

Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington's foreign policy was mired in polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.

Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy, McElroy told The Associated Press. I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world."

The joint statement issued Monday was unusual and marked the second time in as many months that members of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy have asserted their voice against a Trump administration many believe isn't upholding the basic tenets of human dignity.

In November, the entire U.S. conference of Catholic bishops condemned the administration's mass deportation of migrants and vilification of them in the public discourse.

The three cardinals cited Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine in their statement  saying they raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace ( AP )

The three cardinals, who are prominent figures in the more progressive wing of the U.S. church, took as a starting point a major foreign policy address that Pope Leo XIV delivered Jan. 9 to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.

The speech, delivered almost entirely in English, amounted to Leos most substantial critique of U.S. foreign policy.

Historys first U.S.-born pope denounced how nations were using force to assert their dominion worldwide, completely undermining peace and the post-World War II international legal order.

Leo didnt name individual countries, but his speech came against the backdrop of the then-recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela to remove Nicolas Maduro from power, U.S. threats to take Greenland as well as Russias ongoing war in Ukraine.

Cardinals question the use of force

The three cardinals cited Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine in their statement  saying they raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace  as well as the cuts to foreign aid that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration initiated last year.

Our countrys moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination, they warned.

We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy, they wrote. We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance.

Tobin described the moral compass the cardinals wish the U.S. would use globally.

It cant be that my prosperity is predicated on inhuman treatment of others, he told the AP. The real argument isnt just my right or individual rights, but what is the common good.

Cardinals expand on their statement

In interviews, Cupich and McElroy said the signatories were inspired to issue a statement after hearing from several fellow cardinals during a Jan. 7-8 meeting at the Vatican. These other cardinals expressed alarm about the U.S. action in Venezuela, its cuts in foreign aid and its threats to acquire Greenland, Cupich said.

A day later, Leos nearly 45-minute-long speech to the diplomatic corps gave the Americans the language they needed, allowing them to piggyback on the popes words, Cupich said.

Cupich acknowledged that Maduros prosecution could be seen positively, but not the way it was done via a U.S. military incursion into a sovereign country.

When we go ahead and do it in such a way that is portrayed as saying, Because we can do it, were going to do it, that might makes right  thats a troublesome development, he said. Theres the rule of law that should be followed.

Trump has insisted that capturing Maduro was legal. On Greenland, Trump has argued repeatedly that the U.S. needs control of the resource-rich island, a semiautonomous region of NATO ally Denmark. for its national security.

The Trump administration last year significantly gutted the U.S. Agency for International Development, saying its projects advance a liberal agenda and were a waste of money.

Tobin, who ministered in more than 70 countries as a Redemptorist priest and the order's superior general, lamented the retreat in USAID assistance, saying U.S. philanthropy makes a big difference in everything from hunger to health.

The three cardinals said their key aim wasn't to criticize the administration, but rather to encourage the U.S. to regain is moral standing in the world by pursuing a foreign policy that is ethically guided and seeks the common good.

We're not endorsing a political party or a political movement, Tobin said. The faithful in the pews and all people of good will have a role to play, he said.

They can make an argument of basic human decency, he said.
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President Donald Trump refused to rule out using the U.S. military to seize Greenland in an interview with NBC News  further escalating tensions with allies over his desire to take over the Danish territory.

After months of rhetoric over the island, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark located in the Arctic Circle, Trump has notched up the pressure on Denmark and other NATO allies to allow the U.S. to take control of it.

Over the weekend, the president threatened a 10 percent tariff on Denmark and other European nations unless they support a deal for the U.S. to take over Greenland before February 1. The tariffs would increase to 25 percent from June 1 unless an agreement was reached, Trump said.

When asked Monday by NBC News if he would use the military seize Greenland, Trump responded, no comment.

Trumps comment comes after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted the U.S. president was not serious about using the military to forcibly take over the island. On Monday, Starmer said the dispute over the Danish territory should be resolved through calm discussion between allies.

open image in gallery Protesters gathered in Nuuk, Greenlands capital, over the weekend after Trumps threats to acquire the island ( Getty )

Trump has been fixated on Greenland  asserting that its position between Russia, Europe and North America makes it a key location from a national security standpoint. Additionally, Greenlands location in the Arctic makes it a lucrative location to control shipping, especially as the polar ice caps melt. The island is rich in natural minerals and resources that the U.S. does not have readily available.

But every attempt the president has made to convince Danish and Greenlandic leaders to hand over the territory, which has been controlled by Denmark for more than two centuries, has been futile.

World leaders, particularly from NATO countries, have consistently condemned Trumps rhetoric about annexing Greenland.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized Trumps attempts to pressure Denmark to give up the island, especially as members of the administration echoed Trumps rhetoric. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly attempted to quell fears of a military invasion in closed-door briefings.

But drama over the territory has only escalated in recent days.

open image in gallery Protesters in Greenland have opposed the USs aggressive push to annex the island in the Arctic Circle ( AP )

Denmark and other European countries have sent small military forces to Greenland.

The eight European countries that Trump threatened with tariffs unless they supported the U.S. acquisition of Greenland released a statement Sunday saying, "Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. When asked if he will follow through on the tariffs, Trump told NBC: I will, 100%."

On Monday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre released a text message Trump sent, in which the U.S. president associated his desire to acquire Greenland with his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

In the message, Trump said he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace.

Stre said in a statement that on several occasions, he clearly explained to Trump that an independent Nobel Committee, not the Norwegian government, awards the coveted prize.

However, in an interview with NBC News, Trump disputed Stres explanation.

Norway totally controls it despite what they say, he said.

They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything thing to do with it, the president added.

He added: Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what thats gotten them...Thats what Europe should focus on  not Greenland.

When asked if he will follow through on plans to hit the European nations with tariffs absent a Greenland deal, Trump said, I will, 100%."
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President Donald Trump has slammed a recent expansion into Texas by the New York Stock Exchange as unbelievably bad for the Big Apple.

I cant believe they would let this happen, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding that it was a big test for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The move was announced last February by Intercontinental Exchange, the parent organization of the NYSE, with operations commencing at the new Dallas headquarters by the end of March 2025.

NYSE Texas was previously the Chicago Stock Exchange, which operated independently until it was acquired by Intercontinental in 2018. At the time, it was renamed NYSE Chicago, and subsequently became NYSE Texas following its reincorporation in Dallas last year.

As the state with the largest number of NYSE listings, representing over $3.7 trillion in market value for our community, Texas is a market leader in fostering a pro-business atmosphere, said Lynn Martin, President, NYSE Group, in a press release at the time announcing the move.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, left, with President Trump during their infamous Oval Office meeting last November. ( AP )

We are delighted to expand our presence in the Lone Star State, which plays a key role in driving our U.S. economy forward.

Intercontinental touted the move as delivering a listing exchange to companies incorporated in both Texas and around the world that are attracted to Texas growing population, strong economy and business-friendly regulatory agenda.

NYSE Texas functions as a fully electronic equities exchange.

It was not immediately clear what had drawn Trumps attention to the NYSEs Dallas expansion, although as a New York native, he has long shown a close interest in the citys affairs.

Last Thursday, January 15, several Trump-related products were launched on the NYSE, including five exchange-traded funds tied to Truth Social, Trumps social media platform that has since expanded to include a nuclear fusion energy company and various financial services products.

It was likewise unclear what action Trump expected from Mamdani. The mayor has no oversight of the citys stock exchange; it is primarily regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is a federal body.

Trump surprised many when he predicted that Mamdani would be a really great mayor following a meeting between the pair in the Oval Office last November. At the time, Mamdani described the meeting as productive and focused on his and Trumps shared admiration and love for New York City.

The pair have publicly disagreed since, with Mamdani publicly criticizing Trump's strikes on Venezuela, but the commander-in-chief has so far avoided directly attacking New Yorks new administration.

Mamdanis office did not immediately respond to the presidents claim that the NYSEs Texas expansion represented a big test for the new mayor.

The White House and NYSE were also approached for additional comment.
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The people paying for "nearly all" of President Donald Trumps tariffs are American consumers, according to a new report from a German analyst group.

A report, released on Monday by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, determined that "foreign exporters did not meaningfully reduce their prices in response to US tariff increases."

"The $200 billion surge in customs revenue represents $200 billion extracted from American businesses and households," the report said.

The study determined that only approximately 4 percent of the financial burden created by the tariffs is being paid by foreign operators. The other 96 percent has effectively become "a consumption tax on Americans," according to Kiel's researchers.

American importers have to decide whether or not they'll pay the increased prices themselves or pass them along to manufacturers and retailers. If they choose the latter, then the manufacturers and retailers have to make the same decision  absorb the cost, or pass it along to consumers.

The study cites both Brazil and India  the B and I, respectively, in the BRICS bloc of nations  which both had 50 percent tariffs applied to their exports under Trump's policy. According to the report, Brazil's exporters "did not substantially reduce their dollar prices," and a similar response played out in India.

President Donald Trump explaining his tariff policy during his Liberation Day announcement in April 2025. Despite claims that foreign exporters are paying for the tariffs, a recent study determined that nearly all of the tariffs are being paid for by American importers, who may be passing those costs all the way down to American consumers ( AFP/Getty )

The institute found that in both Brazil and India, exporters chose to reduce the volume of their exports rather than lower prices.

Kiel concluded that the Trump administration's claim that foreign trading partners are paying the price for the tariffs is false.

This claim has been central to the policys justification: Tariffs are framed as a tool to extract concessions from trading partners while generating revenue for the US government  at no cost to American households," the report said. Our research shows the opposite: American importers and consumers bear nearly all the cost.

It doesn't appear that Trump will be relenting on his tariff strategy anytime soon. Earlier this week, Trump threatened to enter a trade war with Europe if Denmark doesn't give the U.S. control over Greenland, which the president has insisted is crucial for national security.

On Saturday, Trump threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff in February and another 25 percent tariff in June on European nations until his demands are met.

European leaders are expected to hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the threat and a potential counter-tariff on the U.S., which would likely further raise prices on Americans already in the midst of an affordability crisis.
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The mother of a Venezuelan soldier who was killed when U.S. forces swept into Caracas earlier this month to capture the countrys deposed president, Nicolas Maduro, has revealed the chilling final words he spoke to her.

I love you. It has begun, Saul Pereira Martinez, 18, said on the phone call with his mother, Natividad Martinez, 38, at around 2 a.m. on January 3 as fire and billowing smoke from U.S. air strikes lit up the night sky over the capital city.

He repeated that he loved her and instructed her to look after his two brothers, aged two and nine, before hanging up, she told CBS News, and that was the last she heard from him.

Saul Martinez, a military academy student who had only completed his initial training with the Honor Guard in December, had just finished his shift on guard duty at Fort Tiuna  where Maduro was quartered that night  when Operation Absolute Resolve commenced. Martinez was killed during the mission.

His story exposes the human cost of President Donald Trumps intervention, which he claimed had been achieved without casualties but which, in fact, resulted in the deaths of at least 83 people, including 47 Venezuelan soldiers and 32 Cuban security guards, according to Venezuelas defense ministry.

open image in gallery Natividad Martinez, mother of Venezuelan private Saul Pereira Martinez, one of the soldiers killed during the U.S. military operation to topple Nicolas Maduro, visits his grave at the General Cemetery of the South in Caracas on January 18, 2026 ( AFP/Getty )

Visiting her sons grave at the General Cemetery of the South on Sunday in the company of her husband  Sauls stepfather  and the deceaseds grieving girlfriend, Natividad Martinez told CBS: You cant come to my country and kill people like that. Because [they said] it was a clean operation. It wasnt clean. Do you know how many people died?

The stepfather, who declined to be named because he works as a police officer and government security official, said his wife had heard the explosions over Caracas that night and screamed in terror, worrying for her sons safety, all too aware of his likely proximity to Maduro.

I told her to stay calm, we dont know whats going on, he said.

The president didnt always stay in the same place, the stepfather added, explaining that Maduros whereabouts were a closely guarded secret at all times and that only an insider could have tipped off U.S. intelligence as to his location on that particular night.

[The death of] my son was a collateral effect, he said.

Natividad Martinez said that her son had joined the military along with a childhood friend, who was himself wounded in the leg at La Carlota air base during the Trump administrations operation.

She added that joining the armed forces had instilled Saul with discipline, and instead of partying, going here and there, doing nothing at home, he had changed his trajectory and dedicated himself to studying, even cleaning their house when home on leave.

open image in gallery Natividad Martinez lays flowers in her sons memory ( AFP/Getty )

Hours after the attack, she said she arrived at Fort Tiuna with her customary food package for Saul but found no sign of him. Subsequently demanding answers from his battalion when news of fatalities began to come to light, she recalled: They had to tell me.

Saul Pereira Martinez was posthumously promoted in honor of his service and now lies in a cement tomb, where, CBS reports, his name is spelled out in yellow, blue, and white flower petals.

Those who died are also human beings, Natividad Martinez told the network. They are all Venezuelans. On one side or the other, they are all human beings; they all have people who mourn them.

Expressing pride in her sons memory, she said, He died for his country. Regardless of what they say, to me, my son was a patriot, and thats what matters to me.

Maduro was extracted from the country along with his wife, Cilia Flores, and taken to New York City to answer narco-terrorism charges. He duly pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court and insisted he remained Venezuelas rightful leader.
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When Donald Trump took the oath of office one year ago, I was watching on a laptop screen in the White House briefing room while bracing myself from the absurdly cold air that flooded the small space every time someone opened the door.

As he delivered not one but two separate stemwinding addresses in the Capitol  first the traditional post-inaugural speech in the Capitol rotunda, then a second, far more partisan and unscripted rant to supporters whod been seated in an overflow area  I looked up to see a colleague from another news outlet who, like me, had been on the White House beat since the start of Trumps tumultuous first term nearly a decade earlier.

As the president rambled on about the various grievances and slights hed been made to endure since losing the 2020 election and decamping to Florida for what became just a brief exile from power under the Biden administration, she rolled her eyes and turned to me with a knowing smile.

Here we go again, she said.

Those of us who covered Trumps first administration thought we knew what to expect. Boy, were we wrong.

open image in gallery The author (at right) in a gaggle with President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One on May 4, 2025 returning to the White House after spending the weekend in Florida ( AFP/Getty )

His first four years in power were often a non-stop barrage of news that left journalists exhausted but well-fed on copious amounts of leaked information from various camps within the West Wing looking to knife one another, plus less useful  and often far less truthful  information delivered by a rotating cast of press secretaries and spokespersons.

Sean Spicers now-infamous 2017 debut in the briefing room, during which he castigated the press for reporting on the far smaller crowd that attended Trumps first inaugural compared with either of Barack Obamas swearings-in, set the tone that more or less characterized the next four years. Things got weirder from there, with his appearances in the briefing room becoming so bizarre  remember Holocaust centers?  that he was infamously parodied by Melissa McCarthy on Saturday Night Live.

Press briefings got fewer and farther between as Trump moved on from the oft-combative Spicer to the more affable but equally unhelpful Sarah Huckabee Sanders (who is now living her best life as governor of Arkansas) to Stephanie Grisham, who did not hold a single press briefing for her entire tenure.

And even though Trumps official schedule didnt kick off until mid-morning then, reporters such as myself got in the habit of arriving at the White House as early at 7am because administration officials, most often Kellyanne Conway, would engage in pugilistic back-and-forths with us after appearing on Fox News.

The president himself discovered the briefing room during the Covid-19 pandemic, often spending as many as 90 minutes a day there as he took questions from a pared-down press corps while Americans sheltered at home.

And while Trump often liked to attack or belittle specific reporters or outlets, his administration more or less let us do our jobs.

We expected more of the same when Trump was sworn in for a second time, and as I and other colleagues greeted the incoming Trump II press staff  some of whom wed gotten to know during his previous term  on inauguration day, one person remarked to me that the atmosphere had a first day of school vibe that portended a smoother ride than last time around.

Well, guess again.

open image in gallery Karoline Leavitt and The Independents White House reporter Andrew Feinberg (at right) in March. ( Getty )

To be sure, there are positive differences between Trump I and Trump II from the perspective of a beat reporter. Whereas the Trump I press staff was more likely to scream at you than answer a question if you walked into their office, their counterparts in his second administration are often so cheerful and friendly that its more than a bit disconcerting.

Unlike the heady days when Spicer, Sanders and Grisham ran an amateurish and uncommunicative press shop, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Communications Director Steven Cheung are generally professional behind the scenes and their subordinates actually respond to queries on a regular basis.

But on the whole, this administration has not been much like the last.

Unlike the leaky ship that was Trump I, Trumps White House this time around is far more disciplined. From a reporters perspective, thats not exactly a good thing.

But the real difference is how Trumps new-look team has put his combative attitude towards the free and independent press into action.

In February, Leavitts office announced it would take control of the pool rotation under which a group of outlets  including The Independent  cover Trump as he holds court in the Oval Office and while he travels around the country aboard Air Force One.

While I and my colleagues from reputable and legitimate news outlets still take our turns and dutifully file pool reports that are used by the rest of the press corps to write the first draft of history, weve been joined by more and more people chosen by the White House while some outlets (such as the AP) have been banned for dubious reasons that are currently being evaluated by the courts, such as refusing to acknowledge Trumps proclamation that the Gulf of Mexico should now be referred to as the Gulf of America.

Some of the newcomers are from conservative-leaning outlets who approach their jobs in a responsible, reputable manner. But others, to be frank, are sycophants and clowns who do little to help inform the American people.

Leavitt has often given pride of place to these people by letting them ask the first question at White House briefings (traditionally the role of the AP) in a new media seat located in a section of the briefing room usually reserved for White House staff.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump gestures to a 'Gulf of America' graphic in the Oval Office. The U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency in charge of the country's geographic names, told its staff not to respond to journalists' questions after Trump first announced the change, a new report reveals ( AFP/Getty )

In one instance, she hosted notorious plagiarist turned MAGA troll Benny Johnson there and let him kick off a briefing with a fabricated tale of how he and his family had fled Washington after their house was set ablaze in an arson (according to the DC Fire Department, it was his neighbors house that was set on fire).

Another Leavitt guest, beanie-wearing podcaster Tim Pool, used his time there to complain about how legitimate news outlets had characterized him and other new media seat occupants and asked Leavitt to join him in disparaging the mainstream press. Leavitt diplomatically replied that the administration welcomes diverse viewpoints.

More recently, I (and others) have been placed on White House-authored lists attacking us as biased in retaliation for reporting accurately on the presidents own words and actions.

My counterparts in the Pentagon press corps and elsewhere in Washington have had it worse.

Last year, they surrendered their press credentials en masse after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that they all sign documents pledging not to ask anyone in the federal government or elsewhere for information about anything while only publishing pre-approved information  the definition of propaganda.

open image in gallery Ex-congressman Matt Gaetz, now a journalist at One America News Network, asks a question at a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday December 2 2025 ( Department of Defense )

They were replaced in the halls of the Pentagon by a coterie of sycophants and influencers aligned with Hegseth and his vision for his department.

One attempt at a briefing for the new Pentagon press corps saw seats in the Pentagon briefing room taken by self-described proud Islamophobe Laura Loomer and Matt Gaetz, the disgraced ex-Florida congressman who was briefly Trumps pick for Attorney General before resigning from the House in a fruitless attempt to avoid release of a damning ethics committee report that allegedly found substantial evidence he had sex with a 17-year-old girl and allegedly also was found in possession of illegal drugs. Gaetz has denied both allegations and a Justice Department probe into Gaetzs alleged actions with the girl produced no charges.

And just this past week, FBI agents searched the home of a Washington Post reporter who the government alleged to be communicating with a suspected leaker  even though its not illegal for a journalist to receive leaked documents, even classified ones.

open image in gallery Vice President JD Vance took time from his week to shout at the press about their coverage of last weeks shooting in Minneapolis ( Reuters )

Agents seized her phones and laptops, ostensibly as part of a probe into a Defense Department employee whod mishandled classified information, but perhaps as a warning to others who might dare correspond with journalists from inside the government.

And while the president has largely avoided the briefing room during his first year back, he has dispatched Vice President JD Vance there on more than one occasion, most recently last week when he appeared there to berate me and my White House press corps colleagues about coverage of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good.

One would think the Vice President of the United States has better things to do than scream at a bunch of journalists because he doesnt like the headlines on a story, but here we are.

And Leavitt hasnt been shy about unleashing over-the-top rebukes when cornered with legitimate questions shed not answer. Days ago, she laid into one of my colleagues from The Hill  an affable gentleman who originally hails from Northern Ireland  for having the temerity to offer an opinion contrary to hers after shed asked him to tell her what he thought of last weeks shooting.

She reacted to his honest answer by angrily raising her voice and smearing him as a biased reporter with a left-wing opinion and a left-wing hack who was pretending like youre a journalist.

Its a tactic Trump himself has used on numerous occasions  often with female or non-white journalists  when hit with tough questions on subjects hed prefer to avoid.

Still, the dirty little secret about Trump  then and now  is that he actually likes reporters. One of the things he missed most about the presidency wasnt the plane or the other similar perquisites of the worlds most powerful job, it was having a pool of reporters he could summon any time he wanted to talk about anything at all.

For all his talk about fake news, hes spent years calling journalists and still takes calls from them on his mobile phone (and if youre reading this, Mr. President, you can always ask Karoline for my number).

Whats different  and chilling  this time around is that Trump has now surrounded himself with people who actually believe the anti-press talk he has spent years spouting in public while remaining friendly in private.

Trump may occasionally call me and my colleagues the enemy of the people, but people like Vice President JD Vance, Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and others actually believe it.
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Three separate shark attacks in Sydney over just 24 hours have left the city in shock.

On Monday police reported that the latest incident saw a surfer in his twenties bitten on the leg by a shark off North Steyne Beach in Manly at 6:20pm local time.

Bystanders rescued him from the water before an ambulance rushed him to hospital in a critical condition. Another boy was also critically injured in a separate attack, while a third boy's surfboard was bitten.

On Sunday, a 12-year-old boy suffered serious injuries to both legs after jumping from a six-meter (20-foot) high ledge known as Jump Rock, near Shark Beach inside Sydney Harbor in the eastern suburb of Vaucluse.

Police have credited the boys three friends with saving his life by jumping from the cliff during the attack and dragging him back to shore.

The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave, Supt. Joseph McNulty told reporters.

Those actions of those young men are brave under the circumstances and very confronting injuries for those boys to see, McNulty added.

open image in gallery A net runs into Sydney Harbour at a closed beach at Vaucluse in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, a day after a boy was attacked by a shark. (Sitthixay Ditthavong/AAP Image via AP) ( AAP )

News media have reported that the boy lost both legs in the attack.

Around noon on Monday, an 11-year-old boy was on a surfboard that was attacked by a shark at Dee Why Beach, an ocean beach north of Manly. The shark bit off a chunk of the board, but the boy escaped uninjured.

Local authorities said Sydneys northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, would remain closed until further notice.

All three beaches near where the attacks occurred have some form of shark protection netting. It was not immediately clear where the attacks occurred in relation to that netting.

Authorities suspect bull sharks are responsible for at least the first two attacks.

Police had warned after the first attack that recent heavy rain over Sydney had increased the amount of fresh and murky water inside the harbor, heightening the bull shark danger.

Dee Why Beach is close to Ocean Reef Beach where a 57-year-old surfer was killed by a suspected white shark last September.

In November, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist was killed and her partner was seriously injured trying to save her as they swam off a national park north of Sydney.
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Police have launched an investigation into the death of a Canadian woman whose body was found surrounded by a pack of dingos on the Australian island of K'gari on Monday.

The woman, 19, had reportedly gone for a swim at a beach north of the Maheno Wreck on Kgari, formerly known as Fraser Island, at around 5am local time.

Two men driving near Orchid Beach noticed a pack of dingoes at around 6.30am and, upon closer inspection, found the unresponsive woman, Wide Bay district inspector Paul Algie said.

It was obviously a very dramatic and horrific scene for them to uncover, the officer said, according to 9News. I can confirm there was markings on her body consistent with having been touched and interfered with by the dingoes."

The woman, who wasnt named, had been working at a backpackers hostel with her friend for the past six weeks.

Mr Algie said the friend was left "extremely traumatised".

"They are absolutely horrified and shocked at what's occurred, he said. Were acutely aware of how deeply this impacts not only the community that lives on K'gari, but also the many, many thousands of people that visit there each year.

The womans body was transferred to mainland Queensland on Monday afternoon for an autopsy as police made efforts to contact her parents in Canada.

Mr Algie said police were working with local rangers, community members, and the environment and science departments to understand what exactly happened in that short period when the woman was out on the beach.

Authorities advised residents and visitors on Kgari to keep their distance and avoid any interaction with dingoes.

"Dingoes are wild animals. Whilst they are very culturally significant to the local First Nations people and to the people that live on the island, theyre still wild animals and need to be treated as such," Mr Algie said.

Although the dogs are generally not aggressive, there are records of attacks on people and their pets.

Some dingoes that are considered aggressive are tagged and monitored by rangers.

The Queensland government routinely urges tourists not to feed dingoes, to walk in groups and to carry a stick to avoid negative dingo interactions.
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Police in Australia warned people to stay out of the Sydney Harbour after a 12-year-old boy was left critically injured in a shark attack as his friends risked their lives to pull him out of water.

The police said heavy rain and runoff had created a perfect storm of murky, low-visibility water before the incident.

The boy was bitten on Sunday afternoon near Shark Beach at Nielsen Park while jumping from a popular rock ledge with friends outside the area protected by shark nets. On Monday, he remained in critical condition in the hospital with severe injuries to both legs.

The New South Wales (NSW) police marine area command superintendent Joe McNulty said a police speedboat was nearby and reached the scene within minutes.

An officer applied two tourniquets to the boys legs to stem severe bleeding while other officers performed CPR as he was taken by boat to Rose Bay, where ambulance crews were waiting.

The actions of his mates whove gone into the water and pulled him out have been nothing but brave, Mr McNulty said.

All I can say is the actions between police and the team who were doing CPR at the time were extraordinary. It was a textbook recovery to give this boy a fighting chance for survival.

open image in gallery Signs reading "Beach Closed" and "Shark Sighted" are put on at Long Reef Beach as authorities close the beach down on September 07, 2025 in Sydney, Australia ( Getty Images )

The boy, who was unconscious when first responders arrived, was later intubated to assist his breathing.

Police and fisheries officials believe the attack was most likely carried out by a bull shark, though the Department of Primary Industries said the species could not be confirmed based on injuries alone.

Mr McNulty said environmental conditions following a weekend of heavy rain were a key concern.

The harbour as you know is brackish, its full of fresh water at the moment due to the amount of rain weve had, he said.

We believe a combination of the brackish water, the fresh water and the action of the splashing may have made that perfect storm environment for that shark attack.

Police urged people to avoid swimming in Sydney Harbour and nearby river systems while water visibility remains poor.

open image in gallery A illustration made in of a gigantic 8 metre (26 foot) long mega-predatory lamniform shark swimming beside a long-necked plesiosaur in the seas off Australia 115 million years ago ( AP )

NSW SharkSmart, the government's comprehensive programme to reduce shark bite risks, said beaches in the vicinity of Nielsen Park, including Shark Bay Beach and Camp Cove, remained closed, and confirmed a shark sighting in the area on Monday afternoon prompted further evacuations.

The attack was followed by two further shark incidents across Sydney beaches within 24 hours, heightening concern among authorities.

On Monday morning, an 11-year-old boy surfing at Dee Why Beach on the citys northern beaches escaped unharmed after a shark bit his surfboard several times, tearing a chunk from the boards mid-section.

Northern Beaches Council lifeguards immediately closed the beach, erected warning signs and launched jet ski and drone patrols. A piece of the board was sent to NSW Fisheries to help identify the shark.

Later on Monday evening, a man was left in critical condition after being bitten by a shark at Manly Beach, marking the third shark attack in the city in two days.

NSW Ambulance said intensive care paramedics were treating the man at the scene, with a helicopter deployed overhead.

Officials said heavy swell had also prevented the operation of smart drumlines along much of the NSW coast, limiting shark detection efforts.

Since 2020, Australia has recorded 23 fatal shark attacks, though experts stress the risk remains low compared with the number of people entering the ocean each year.

Police said investigations into Sundays harbour attack were continuing and asked people to avoid swimming in murky water, particularly after rainfall, at dawn or dusk, or near areas where fish are congregating.
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Billionaire wealth surged at three times its recent pace last year, reaching a record high and deepening economic and political divides that threaten democratic stability, anti-poverty group Oxfam warned on Monday.

Timed for the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Oxfam's report revealed global billionaire fortunes jumped 16% in 2025 to $18.3 trillion, extending an 81% rise since 2020. These gains occurred even as one in four people worldwide struggle to eat regularly and nearly half the global population live in poverty.

Oxfams study, drawing on academic research and data from sources like the World Inequality Database and Forbes' rich list, argues this wealth boom is matched by a dramatic concentration of political clout. Billionaires, it states, are 4,000 times more likely than ordinary citizens to hold political office.

The group links the latest wealth surge to policies under U.S. President Donald Trump, whose second administration has cut taxes, shielded multinational corporations from international pressure and eased scrutiny of monopolies.

Soaring valuations of artificial intelligence companies have added further windfall gains for already wealthy investors.

"The widening gap between the rich and the rest is at the same time creating a political deficit that is highly dangerous and unsustainable," Oxfam's executive director Amitabh Behar said.

Oxfam urged governments to adopt national inequality reduction plans, impose higher taxes on extreme wealth and strengthen firewalls between money and politics, including curbs on lobbying and campaign financing.

Wealth taxes are levied in just a few countries such as Norway at present but others, from Britain to France and Italy, have debated similar moves.

open image in gallery Thia photograph shows a sign displayed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the eve of the WEF annual meeting in Davos on January 18, 2026 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The Nairobi-based charity calculates that the $2.5 trillion added to billionaires' fortunes last year is roughly equal to the stock of wealth held by the poorest 4.1 billion people.

The worlds billionaire population surpassed 3,000 for the first time last year, with Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk becoming the first individual to exceed $500 billion in net worth.

Behar warned that governments are "making wrong choices to pander to the elite," pointing to aid cuts and the rollback of civil liberties.

The report highlights what it calls the expanding grip of ultrawealthy business figures over traditional and digital media.

Billionaires now own more than half of the worlds major media firms, Oxfam said, citing holdings by Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Patrick SoonShiong and France's Vincent Bollore.
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A teacher, student, police officer and journalist are among the victims of a deadly train crash that killed 41 people in Spain.

Among the dead are the Zamorano-Alvarez family, who are reported to have lost four members including a husband and wife, their 12-year-old son and a nephew, according to relatives on Facebook.

The sole survivor of the family was a six-year-old girl who has been taken into the care of her grandmother, mayor Jose Carlos Hernandez Hernandez told reporters on Tuesday.

open image in gallery At least 41 people have been confirmed dead following the crash ( Guardia Civil )

Authorities said bodies still remained under the wreckage after a high-speed train operated by Iryo derailed and crashed into an oncoming train run by Alvia, pushing it off the tracks near Cordoba.

Around 300 passengers were on both trains in total. The death toll rose overnight as another body was recovered and at least 12 people remain in intensive care.

Spain deployed heavy machinery to recover the bodies of missing people amid the wreckage, with emergency services using cranes to gain access to the worst-hit carriages on Tuesday.

At least three bodies had been seen still trapped in the wreckage two days on from the crash, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told state broadcaster TVE late on Monday.

open image in gallery Guardia Civil officers collect evidence next to the wreckage of train cars involved in the collision in Adamuz, ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Oscar Puente, the countrys transport minister, emphasised that the death toll "is not yet final".

Married couple Oscar Toro, a journalist who had a history of university teaching, and his wife Maria Clauss, a photojournalist, were on board the Alvia train. Their deaths were confirmed by their journalists union.

Spanish National Police confirmed that an officer with the service was also among the dead. Local media reported that the man had become a father just 18 months before his death. The 27-year-old driver of one the Alvia train was also killed in the crash.

Emergency services used heavy machinery overnight and in the early hours of Tuesday to level the ground around the front carriages of the Alvia train, which had plunged down a 4-metre (13.1 ft) embankment, and the rear carriages of the Iryo train, the Andalusian regional government said in a statement.

open image in gallery Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Technicians investigating the cause of the deadly Spanish train disaster identified a faulty joint on the rails, a source briefed on the preliminary probe said.

Experts on site highlighted wear on the joint between sections of the rail, known as a fishplate, which they said showed the fault had been there for some time, the source told Reuters.

The faulty joint created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track, but an official reason is yet to be confirmed.

King Charles released a statement about incident in a post on his social media account on Tuesday.

open image in gallery A faulty joint in the rail may have led to the deadly derailment ( Guardia Civil )

My wife and I have been profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the appalling train accident in Southern Spain and of the many lives so tragically lost in such a disaster, he said.

We offer our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have suffered the heartbreaking loss of their loved ones and our special thoughts remain with those who have been terribly injured in this dreadful accident.

Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday, after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez vowed to uncover the truth of the incident. King Felipe and Queen Letizia visited the site and met with emergency services undergoing work among the wreckage.
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Vladimir Putin has been invited to join Donald Trumps board of peace, the Kremlin claimed on Monday, adding that it was seriously studying the proposal.

Donald Trump has sought to recruit dozens of world leaders to roles on his board, including Tony Blair, as part of phase two of an ambitious peace plan to end the Israel-Hamas war and rebuild Gaza.

Putin received an invitation through diplomatic channels to join the board of peace, the Russian presidents longtime press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced, adding: We are studying all the details of this proposal, including hoping to contact the American side to clarify all the nuances.

Donald Trump, who is to serve as the boards chair for life, is looking for nations to pay $1bn to stay on the board, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, citing a draft charter.

The White House said the fee would offer permanent membership for partner countries that demonstrate a deep commitment to peace, security and prosperity.

An invitation for Putin would undermine efforts to sanction Russia over its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The draft charter and a letter seen by Reuters said that the peace board would begin by addressing the Gaza conflict before expanding to tackle other conflicts  a plan diplomats warned could harm the work of the United Nations. The Independent was unable to verify the documents.

open image in gallery Inviting Vladimir Putin would undermine efforts to sanction Russia over its illegal invasion of Ukraine ( AFP/Getty )

When asked about the board, Sir Keir Starmer said that the UK was in talks with allies about the terms of joining. He also said that Britain had indicated its willingness to play a role in phase two of the ceasefire agreement.

On Monday, Germany thanked Mr Trump for his invitation to join, and said it would consider what contribution Berlin could make towards ending the war in Gaza.

A spokesperson for the German government told reporters that it does not share concerns about the board undermining the UN.

This is the central multilateral framework for us, they said, adding that the UN is an important instrument in these times of unprecedented crises around the world.

open image in gallery Palestinians at the site of a home destroyed by an Israeli strike in Deir al-Balah on Friday ( AP )

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres believes member states are free to associate in different groups, his spokesperson said on Sunday when asked about the draft charter for the board.

The United Nations will continue with its mandated work, deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said.

Invitations have been addressed to some 60 nations and began arriving in European capitals on Saturday, according to diplomats.

Member states will be limited to a three-year term unless they pay $1bn (740m) each to fund the boards activities and earn permanent membership, the letter states.
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The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has accused Vladimir Putin of heresy after the Russian President claimed his invasion of Ukraine was a holy mission.

During a speech to mark Orthodox Christmas earlier this month, Putin called his soldiers warriors who were acting as if at the Lords behest and defending the fatherland.

Mr Williams, who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012, condemned the use of religion to justify the invasion as disturbing and said that Putins revanchism directly contradicts the message preached by Jesus Christ.

Id certainly say were talking about heresy, he told The Independent. Were talking about something which undermines a really fundamental aspect of religious belief, of Christian belief, which assumes that we have to defend God by violence.

Following Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 1,600 theologians and clerics from the Eastern Orthodox Church issued the Volos Declaration, which condemned the Russian World ideology as a heretical belief and practice. The belief system grants Russia a special place in the cosmic order and claims the country has a divine right to build the Holy Rus: a land chosen by God for the Russian people.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin lights a candle as he attends a Christmas service at a church in Moscow ( AFP via Getty )

The idea that death in battle for your country equates to Christian martyrdom seems to be the most bizarre and unjustifiable interpretation you could take, Mr Williams said.

There is something really, really disturbing about the systematic, comprehensive rebranding of Christianity as Russian national ideology.

He referred to statements made by Christ that his kingdom is not of this world and if it were of this world, my servants would fight.

Mr Williams pointed to the fact that Putin often resists calls to scale back fighting and violence over Christian religious periods, including Christmas and Easter.

open image in gallery The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams ( PA )

He also pointed to the arrest and detention of two young Orthodox seminary members, Denis Popovich and Nikita Ivankovich. They are facing up to 20 years in prison on what critics say are trumped-up charges, according to Public Orthodoxy, a publication that is part of the Orthodox Christian Studies Centre.

Mr Popovich was arrested as he was walking to Sretensky Monastery in Moscow for petty hooliganism and allegedly shouting and using obscene language. Public Orthodoxy wrote in a newsletter on the anniversary of his arrest: Anyone who knew this devout young man understood immediately that such behaviour was inconceivable for him. Six weeks later, the allegations had transformed into terrorism charges.

Asked what he would say to Putin, the theologian said: The word Christianity contains the name Christ. Which Christ do you think youre serving? The one of the Gospels or some nationalist goblin?

In 2024, the Ukrainian parliament outlawed the Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church because of its strong support for Russia's invasion.

The Russian Orthodox Church has been a powerful ally of Putin, giving its blessing to the war and supporting his campaign to uphold what he calls traditional values in Russian society, in contrast to perceived Western decadence.

open image in gallery Russias leader has referred to his invasion of Ukraine as a holy mission ( Ukrainian Armed Forces )

Mr Williams said that Russias use of faith as a justification for war should be an alarm bell for the West. Governments are in denial about the extent to which religion is being weaponised to drive human conflict across the world, and religious leaders should step up their condemnation of violence, he suggested.

In the West, we might think that religion is draining away but it certainly isnt in other parts of the world, he said. To imagine that faith can only be defended by violence is a bit of an insult to faith really. If you're saying faith can only be strong if I beat the living daylights out of unbelievers, you're not saying much about the strength of faith, are you?

Orthodox priests told The Independent last week that Putin is more akin to the Antichrist than a messiah, and that he holds demonic beliefs antithetical to the faith.

Seen from a Christian perspective, you dont use unholy means to pursue a holy mission, the former Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines, told The Independent. When that unholy means involves slaughtering people, invading their country, and telling lies.
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A Moscow court has commenced proceedings in a significant lawsuit filed by Russia's central bank against Euroclear, the Brussels-based clearing house. The legal action seeks to recover a staggering 18.2 trillion rubles ($232 billion) in damages.

The central bank claims these losses arose after Russia was blocked from managing and disposing of its funds and securities held by Euroclear. The case is currently being heard behind closed doors.

This legal challenge comes as the European Union has frozen 210 billion (\$244 billion) worth of Russian assets, part of sanctions imposed on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Euroclear is understood to hold approximately 193 billion of these seized funds.

Moscow's Arbitration Court picked up the case even though the EU last month set aside its initial plan to use frozen Russian assets to assist Ukraine after failing to convince Belgium that it would be protected from Russia's retaliation. The bloc opted instead for borrowing 90 billion euros on capital markers to provide an interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.

open image in gallery Participants gather in Moscow's Arbitration Court to hold a hearing to consider a lawsuit by Russia's Central Bank against Belgium-based financial clearinghouse Euroclear in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Russia's Central Bank has condemned the use of frozen assets to aid Ukraine as illegal, contrary to international law, arguing that they violated the principles of sovereign immunity of assets.

Meanwhile Ukraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Sunday that talks with U.S. officials on a resolution of the nearly four-year-old war with Russia would continue at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.

"We agreed to continue work at the team level during the next phase of consultations in Davos," Umerov said after two days of talks in Florida with officials, including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Umerov said discussions had focused on security guarantees and a post-war economic recovery plan for Ukraine, but gave no indication any agreements had been achieved.
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An American citizen has been sentenced to five years in a Russian prison after being convicted of illegally transporting weapons, court officials announced on Monday.

Charles Wayne Zimmerman received the sentence from a court in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, following the discovery of a rifle on his yacht in June.

Russian customs officials reportedly found the weapon during an inspection upon his arrival at the port.

According to a statement from the regional courts' press service, Mr Zimmerman told the court he had travelled to Russia to meet a woman he had previously contacted online.

Zimmerman argued that he had purchased the firearm for self-defence and was unaware that it was prohibited to keep it on his vessel.

There has been no immediate comment from U.S. officials regarding the conviction.

Zimmerman is one of a few Americans who remain in Russian custody after a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges with the United States in recent years.
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A high-speed passenger train derailed in southern Spain on Sunday evening and struck an oncoming service, forcing the second train off the tracks and down an embankment and killing at least 40 people.

The collision occurred near the town of Adamuz, in Cordoba province, roughly 360km south of Madrid. Emergency services said the crash happened at 7.45pm, around 10 minutes after an Iryo-operated train left Cordoba heading towards the capital.

A total of 43 reports of missing persons have been filed so far at police headquarters in Huelva, Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba and Seville, officials said.

According to Adif, the state body that manages Spains rail infrastructure, the Malaga-to-Madrid Iryo service derailed and crossed onto the neighbouring line, where it hit a Renfe train travelling from Madrid to Huelva. The impact derailed the Renfe service, sending its front carriages down the side of the railway embankment.

Twelve people were in intensive care after the accident, according to emergency services. The Andalusia region's president Juan Manuel Moreno said emergency crews faced difficulties bringing in the heavy equipment needed to lift the wreckage and reach those still lying beneath it.

There were about 400 passengers across both trains. More than 300 were on the Iryo service, while around 100 were travelling on the Renfe train. Most passengers were Spanish residents returning to or leaving Madrid after the weekend. January is typically a low tourist period in Spain, and officials said it was unclear how many foreign visitors were on board.

open image in gallery Mapped: Two trains collide and derail in southern Spain ( Independent )

The 27-year-old driver of the Madrid-to-Huelva train was among those killed, reported El Pais. Spains transport minister, Oscar Puente, said most fatalities and serious injuries were concentrated in the first two carriages of the Renfe train, which bore the brunt of the collision. The first carriage carried 37 passengers and the second 16. The Renfe train was travelling at about 200kmph at the time of impact.

The cause of the derailment remains unknown.

open image in gallery Emergency personnel working after a train accident in Adamuz, southern Spain, on 18 January 2026 ( Getty Images )

Mr Puente described the incident as really strange, noting that it occurred on a straight section of track that had been renewed in May. Investigators will need to examine potential technical faults, signalling data and maintenance records to determine whether infrastructure standards, oversight responsibilities or operator liabilities require further scrutiny.

Passengers described scenes of panic inside the carriages. There are many injured. I am still trembling, said Maria San Jose, 33, who was travelling on the Iryo train.

open image in gallery Men assist a woman affected by a deadly train derailment as other victims are transferred and treated at the Caseta Municipal in the town of Adamuz ( Reuters )

Another passenger told TVE: There were people screaming, their bags fell from the shelves. I was travelling to Huelva in the fourth carriage, the last, luckily.

Cordobas fire chief, Paco Carmona, said the Iryo train was evacuated within hours, but the Renfe carriages were severely damaged. There are still people trapped, he said. We have to remove the bodies to reach anyone who is still alive.

Local residents in Adamuz, a town of about 5,000 people, opened a reception centre and brought food and blankets as temperatures fell to around 6C overnight. Rail services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended while the investigation continues.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Spanish rail operator ADIF was warned about severe wear and tear on high-speed rail tracks last year, before a horrific collision killed at least 40 people on Sunday.

The SEMAF train drivers union wrote to the state-owned infrastructure manager in August to caution the operator about potholes, bumps and imbalances in overhead power lines that it said were causing frequent breakdowns and damaging trains.

The letter warned about damage on one of the tracks where two trains collided yesterday evening near Cordoba. It added that drivers had told the operator of their concerns daily but that no action had been taken.

Drivers had urged the operator to implement a maximum speed of 250kph (155mph) on damaged lines until the state of the network rail was improved.

A source briefed on the initial investigations into the disaster said today that experts had found a broken joint on the rails. Technicians on site identified wear on the joint between sections of the rail, known as a fishplate, which they said showed the fault had been there for some time, the source said.

They found that the faulty joint created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track. The source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue, said the technicians believe the faulty joint is key to identifying the precise cause of the accident.

open image in gallery Two trains collided in the south of Spain on Sunday, causing dozens of casualties ( Guardia Civil )

The fatal collision, near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, killed dozens of people and left more than 120 injured, with 48 still in hospital and 12 in intensive care. It could be a month before an investigation determines the cause, transport minister Oscar Puente said.

Jose Trigueros, president of the Association of Road Engineers, said his preliminary analysis of images and information released by the authorities suggested failure of the undercarriage of the back units of the high-speed Freccia 1000 train, operated by Iryo, which was travelling north from Malaga to Madrid when it derailed.

Most of the casualties are believed to have been on board a second train, operated by Alvia, which is run by Spains public railway company Renfe. That train was heading south from Madrid to Huelva when it collided with the derailed Iryo train and was pushed off the tracks into an embankment.

ADIF had reported problems with infrastructure at Adamuz on social media  ranging from signalling failures to issues with overhead power lines  that caused delays to high-speed trains between Madrid and Andalusia 10 times since 2022.

The Spanish government was criticised last year for a series of delays on the network, caused by power outages and the theft of copper cables from the lines. The network is vulnerable to cable thefts, as it crosses large swathes of empty countryside.

open image in gallery The crash happened on Sunday when a train operated by rail company Iryo, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, derailed near Adamuz ( Guardia Civil )

Mr Puente said that the Iryo train was less than four years old and that the railway track had been completely renovated last May  before the warning from the SEMAF union  with an investment of 700m (607m). Iryo said the train was last inspected on 15 January.

The transport minister called the accident tremendously strange and said that had it not been for the oncoming train, the derailment would have likely caused no deaths.

Renfe chief Alvaro Fernandez Heredia ruled out human error and said that there was a 20-second interval between the first derailment and its impact with the train heading the other way, a period of time too short to activate the automatic braking system.

It must have been some kind of failure in the rolling stock or the infrastructure, and that will take time [to investigate], he said.

Officials said the Alvia train had apparently hit the derailed carriages or undercarriage debris of the Iryo. The 27-year-old driver of the Alvia train died in the crash, the Renfe chief said.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday promised a thorough and absolutely transparent investigation into the crash.

The countrys high-speed railway network, with 3,622km of tracks, is the largest in Europe and the second-biggest in the world after China, according to ADIF. Spain opened up its high-speed rail network to private competition in 2020 in a bid to offer low-cost alternatives to Renfes AVE trains.

Iryo is a joint venture between Italian state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, airline Air Nostrum and Spanish infrastructure investment fund Globalvia. It began operating in November 2022, starting with the Madrid-Barcelona route and expanding to other major cities.

The Iryo ETR1000 train is manufactured by the partnership of Hitachi Rail-Bombardier in Europe for Ferrovies unit Trenitalia. Renfes Alvia trains are manufactured by local makers CAF and Talgo.
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Donald Trump has threatened the UK, Denmark and other European countries with 10 per cent tariffs over their opposition to a takeover of Greenland by the US.

Increasing international tensions, global warming and the changing world economy have put the mineral-rich island at the heart of the debate over trade and security.

Trump has made it known he wants his country to control the territory that guards the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America.

Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a longtime US ally and Nato member that has rejected Mr Trumps threats. Greenlands own government also opposes US designs on the island, saying the people will decide their own future.

open image in gallery JD Vance, the US vice-president, on a visit to Greenland last year ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

Mr Trump has said he can take the territory the easy way or the hard way. On Saturday, Trump said 10 per cent tariffs would come into effect on February 1 on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland.

Those tariffs would increase to 25 per cent on June 1 and would continue until a deal is reached for the US to purchase Greenland. "World Peace is at stake! China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing Denmark can do about it," Trump said.

Heres why Greenland is strategically important to Arctic security:

Greenlands Arctic location is key

Greenland sits off the northeastern coast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. That has made it crucial to the defence of North America since the Second World War, when the US occupied Greenland to ensure it didnt fall into the hands of Nazi Germany and to protect crucial North Atlantic shipping lanes.

Following the Cold War, the Arctic was largely an area of international cooperation. But climate change is thinning the Arctic ice, promising to create a northwest passage for international trade and reigniting competition with Russia, China and other countries over access to the regions mineral resources.

The Trump administration charges Denmark with not doing enough to shore up security in the region  something European allies are desperately looking to improve as the US weighs taking the territory by force.

Rare earth minerals

Greenland is a rich source of the so-called rare earth minerals that are a key component of mobile phones, computers, batteries and other hi-tech gadgets that are expected to power the worlds economy in the coming decades.

That has attracted the interest of the US and other Western powers as they try to ease Chinas dominance of the market for these critical minerals.

open image in gallery Greenlands strict environmental controls have proved an additional hurdle for potential investors ( AP )

Development of Greenlands mineral resources is challenging because of the islands harsh climate, while strict environmental controls have proved an additional hurdle for potential investors.

US military presence in Greenland

The US Department of Defence operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, which was operated by the US after they and Denmark signed the Greenland Defence Agreement in 1951.

It supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for the US and Nato.

Greenland also guards part of what is known as the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) Gap, where Nato monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.

Danish armed forces in Greenland

Denmark is moving to strengthen its military presence around Greenland and in the wider North Atlantic.

Last year, the government announced a roughly 14.6 billion-kroner (1.7bn) agreement with parties including the governments of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, another self-governing territory of Denmark, to improve capabilities for surveillance and maintaining sovereignty in the region.

The plan includes three new Arctic naval vessels, two additional long-range surveillance drones and satellite capacity.

Denmark also announced fresh investments into the territorys defence worth some 27.4 billion-kroner in October last year. Upgrades would benefit maritime patrol aircraft capabilities and naval vessels, Denmarks defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.

open image in gallery Danish military forces participate in an exercise with hundreds of troops from several European Nato members in the Arctic Ocean in Nuuk, Greenland ( AP )

Denmarks Joint Arctic Command is headquartered in Greenlands capital, Nuuk, and tasked with the surveillance, assertion of sovereignty and military defence of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, according to its website. It has smaller satellite stations across the island.

The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite Danish naval unit that conducts long-range reconnaissance and enforces Danish sovereignty in the Arctic wilderness, is also stationed in Greenland.

Security threats to the Arctic

In 2018, China declared itself a near-Arctic state in an effort to gain more influence in the region. China has also announced plans to build a Polar Silk Road as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative, which has created economic links with countries around the world.

At the time, the US secretary of state Mike Pompeo rejected Chinas move, saying: Do we want the Arctic Ocean to transform into a new South China Sea, fraught with militarisation and competing territorial claims?

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is worried about Natos activities in the Arctic and will respond by strengthening its military capability in the polar region. European leaders concerns were heightened following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Donald Trump stoked tensions with Nato allies over Greenland in a stark message to Norways prime minister, warning that he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace after he was snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The president insisted that the United States should control Greenland because Denmark cannot protect it from Russia and China, contesting Denmarks long-established claim to the territory.

I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States, he told prime minister Jonas Gahr Stre in the letter leaked this morning. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.

He appeared to blame allies for his cataclysmic shift in foreign policy, arguing that because Norway did not give him the Nobel Peace Prize last year, he could now put US interests first.

Stre said on Monday that he has repeatedly explained to Trump that an independent committee awards the prize. He said the letter was in response to a text to the US leader on behalf of himself and Finnish president Alexander Stubb.

open image in gallery Trumps rhetoric on Greenland has sharpened since he was snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize last year ( Getty Images )

The letter in full reads:

Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.

Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.

I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT

Trumps ongoing peace prize row

Donald Trump has been embroiled in a row with Norway since missing out on last years peace prize - despite the country not deciding who wins.

The US president has repeatedly insisted that he deserved the prize for having resolved numerous wars in his second term. The Independent reviewed the claims ahead of the anniversary of his inauguration this week.

He wrote on his Truth Social platform on 7 January: I single-handedly ENDED 8 WARS, and Norway, a NATO Member, foolishly chose not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize.

open image in gallery People protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The winner, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, presented Trump with her prize medal at the White House last week, prompting the independent Nobel Foundation to reiterate that a prize cannot, even symbolically, be transferred.

Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared or transferred to others, the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute said on Friday. The decision is final and stands for all time.

Nato tensions spike over Greenland

Norway joined seven European allies in reifying their solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland following Trump's threat to annex the Arctic island.

"As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest," Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Britain said in a statement on Sunday.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

Norways foreign minister said the plan to impose tariffs on the countries was unacceptable. British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a subsequent address on Monday that the threat of using tariffs against allies was completely wrong.

He said that any decision about the future of Greenland belongs to Denmark alone, and urged that a trade war would be in nobodys interests.

Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland. He has refused to rule out military intervention if a deal cannot be reached.

"NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that "you have to get Russian threat away from Greenland." Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it," Trump wrote in a post on the social media website he owns called Truth Social.

The encroaching presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to US security interests, Trump has said. Danish and other European officials have pointed out that Greenland is already covered by Natos collective security pact.
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The Dutch have called it blackmail and Britain says its wrong, but Spain is the country that has best spelt out the treachery of Donald Trumps threats of tariffs against his allies to force Greenland into his kingdom.

Spains prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said that if Trump invaded Greenland it would make Vladimir Putin the happiest man on earth.

The EU and the UK are in emergency talks on how to face Trumps latest threat of a 10 per cent tariff on goods from eight countries unless Greenland is sold to the US. The tariffs are to rise to 25 per cent on June 1.

Trump is a business buffoon. His companies have gone bankrupt six times and he failed to launch an airline and a university, and lost his shirt in casinos. He is also ignorant of basic economics.

He has repeatedly described tariffs, which are paid by US consumers and businesses in dollars in the US at the point of importation of foreign goods, as a subsidy.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer with Donald Trump ( PA )

The reality is that if he forces up the prices of goods from eight countries through duties, some of the rise will be carried by the producers, some by the middleman, and in most cases the majority of it by the consumer  Americans.

Trump is impervious to this reality.

Just as he is impervious to advice from longstanding allies that if he smashes Nato, the US will be vulnerable to the very threats from China and Russia that he claims he wants to protect against by bringing Greenland into the US.

Britain has stood by its Nato commitment and sent one officer as a token presence on a token European military mission to Greenland. As the UK has negotiated 10 per cent tariffs with Trump vs the EUs 15 per cent, it has a little more to lose in a decline in UK-US trade.

open image in gallery People in Greenland protest against Trumps attempt to make the island part of the US ( AP )

But it has a huge amount to gain economically, culturally, and now in terms of its security, if the crisis caused by Trump is seized as an opportunity for Britain to rejoin the EU on terms that bind the UK to the mainland. This would make both parties safer  and stop Putin from dancing a happy jig around the Kremlin.

Last year the UK and the EU failed to agree terms for Britain to join the Security Action for Europe (Safe) programme. This is a 150bn loan mechanism to boost the EUs defence industrial capacity in the face of Russias threat against Europe and invasion of Ukraine.

Britain was asked to stump up 4-6bn as the price of membership. Canada only had to pay $20m, but the UK would have been a full partner, not a third-party country with limited access to the funds.

Britain would have been able to benefit enormously from cherry-picking this EU facility without having to go for political integration  which is why the EU set the fee so high.

open image in gallery US vice president JD Vance in Greenland ( AFP via Getty )

But that was years ago in Trump time. Last December on our calendars.

The EU needs Britains arms industry. And Britain needs the EU economic and security blanket.

The UKs armed forces are small and impoverished, with their chiefs saying they face a 28bn funding shortfall.

According to a recent report by the Centre for Economic Policy: By 2025, we estimate that UK GDP per capita was 68 per cent lower than it would have been without Brexit. Investment was 1218 per cent lower, employment 34 per cent lower, and productivity 34 per cent lower.

Other estimates put Britains losses at lower levels, but there can be no doubt that Brexit has been a strategic economic failure.

open image in gallery Trumps threats on Greenland are a gift to Putin, who is trying to undermine Nato ( AFP/Getty )

The Europeans are not having an easy run either. Per capita GDP growth for the UK from 2016 has been 4.5 per cent, Germany has almost flatlined at 3.6 per cent. Frances is only 7.5 per cent.

The EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said US tariffs would hit both sides of the Greenland debate but were a distraction from the "core task" of ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

"China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies," Kallas said on X.

"Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. If Greenlands security is at risk, we can address this inside Nato," she added.

The EU needs help from the UK to do that. Britain has much to give the EU: its armed forces and military industries would accelerate and improve the blocs security.

Trumps attacks on the very existence of Nato, his contempt for Europe in general, and his continuing support for Putins land grabs mean that the UK could negotiate better terms for re-entering the EU now than it would have done before the US president tore up international law and turned on the USs oldest friends.

The Greenland crisis is Britains best opportunity.
Close 'Evil must stop: Zelenskyy mourns latest Russian attack on miners as he confirms next diplomatic talks in UAE

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Foreign troops in Ukraine will be regarded as legitimate targets by Russia, the Kremlins foreign minister has said in the latest threat against Kyivs allies.

Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would regard the deployment of any foreign military forces or infrastructure in Ukraine as foreign intervention and treat them as legitimate targets.

"The deployment of military units, facilities, warehouses, and other infrastructure of Western countries in Ukraine is unacceptable to us and will be regarded as foreign intervention posing a direct threat to Russia's security," the ministry said on its website.

Britain and France have both pledged to put troops in Ukraine in the event of a peace deal - a key security guarantee for Kyiv.

Lavrov also heaped praise on Donald Trump for his "purposeful efforts to end the conflict following the first trilateral talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine.

Both the Kremlin and Volodymyr Zelensky have confirmed the second round of talks will begin on Wednesday.
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Ukraine is introducing a new facet of air defence to transform its system as it braces for mass Russian attacks.

The country is still reeling from a wave of Russian strikes earlier this month that knocked out power and heating to thousands of apartment blocks, particularly in the capital Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for air defences to be strengthened, including increased assistance from Ukraine's Western allies.

"There will be a new approach to the use of air defences by the Air Force, concerning mobile fire groups, interceptor drones and other 'short-range' air defence assets," he said in his nightly video address Monday.

"The system will be transformed."

The country is still reeling from a wave of Russian strikes earlier this month that knocked out power and heating to thousands of apartment blocks, particularly in the capital Kyiv ( AFP via Getty Images )

The president also announced the appointment of a new deputy Air Force Commander, Pavlo Yelizarov, to oversee and develop the innovation.

Ukraine has rapidly developed its drone manufacturing system since Russia launched its invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022, and has emphasised interceptor drones as an effective and economical way to parry Russian strikes.

In his remarks, Zelensky warned Ukrainians to be "extremely vigilant" ahead of anticipated new Russian attacks.

"Russia has prepared for a strike, a massive strike, and is waiting for the moment to carry it out," he said, urging every region in the country to "be prepared to respond as quickly as possible and help people".

Both Zelensky and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned at the weekend that Ukrainian intelligence had noted Russia was conducting reconnaissance of specific targets, particularly substations that supply nuclear power plants.

The president also said he had instructed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to make decisions this week regarding difficulties from the recent attacks, including bonuses for tens of thousands of emergency crew members restoring heating and electricity.
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Iran's internet blackout, imposed during the country's most severe domestic unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, may be lifted within days, a senior parliament member announced on Monday.

This potential restoration of communications follows a week of relative calm after widespread anti-government protests were violently suppressed.

The period of unrest also saw state television reportedly hacked on Sunday night, briefly broadcasting speeches by US President Donald Trump and the exiled son of Iran's last shah, urging public revolt  an incident seen as a sign of the authorities' weakening grip.

The protests, which began in late December, were quelled in three days of mass violence.

An anonymous Iranian official informed Reuters that the confirmed death toll surpassed 5,000, including 500 security personnel, with the worst unrest concentrated in ethnic Kurdish areas.

Western-based Iranian rights groups similarly report thousands killed.

open image in gallery Iran's streets have largely been quiet for a week since anti-government protests that began in late December were put down in three days of mass violence ( AFP via Getty Images )

Opponents accuse authorities of opening fire on peaceful demonstrators to crush dissent. Conversely, Iran's clerical rulers maintain that armed crowds, incited by foreign enemies, attacked hospitals and mosques.

The death tolls dwarf those of previous bouts of anti-government unrest put down by the authorities in 2022 and 2009. The violence drew repeated threats from Trump to intervene militarily, although he has backed off since the large-scale killing stopped.

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said top security bodies would decide on restoring internet in the coming days, with service resuming "as soon as security conditions are appropriate".

Another parliament member, hardliner Hamid Rasaei, said authorities should have listened to earlier complaints by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei about "lax cyberspace".

Iranian communications including internet and international phone lines were largely stopped in the days leading up to the worst unrest. The blackout has since partially eased, allowing accounts of widespread attacks on protesters to emerge.

open image in gallery A supporter of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah and an Iranian opposition figure, holds a picture of Pahlavi during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, on Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy ( Reuters/Yara Nardi )

During Sunday's apparent hack into state television, screens broadcast a segment lasting several minutes with the on-screen headline "the real news of the Iranian national revolution".

It included messages from Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's last shah, calling for a revolt to overthrow rule by the Shi'ite Muslim clerics who have run the country since the 1979 revolution that toppled his father.

Pahlavi has emerged as a prominent opposition voice and has said he plans to return to Iran, although it is difficult to assess independently how strong support for him is inside Iran.
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The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), once a crucial US-backed alliance and the most effective force against the Islamic State group in Syria, are reportedly poised to merge into the Syrian army.

This significant shift follows a series of major setbacks for the Kurdish-led group in recent weeks.

The religiously and ethnically diverse SDF suffered a substantial defeat over the weekend when Syrian government forces captured extensive areas in territory previously under the group's control in the country's northeast, following deadly clashes.

With SDF fighters now cornered in Hassakeh province, this latest victory by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa could mark the end of Syrias Kurdish ambitions to establish an autonomous region in northeast Syria, known as Rojava or Western Kurdistan.

The fighters once held sway over nearly a quarter of Syria.

Kurds constituted approximately 10 per cent of Syrias 23 million population before the civil war began in 2011.

When founded in 2015 with American backing, the SDF comprised ethnic Arab, Kurdish, and Turkmen fighters, alongside the main Christian militia in northeast Syria, the Syriac Military Council, which includes Assyrians.

However, the alliance was predominantly led by the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the main Kurdish fighting force.

The dominant role of Kurdish fighters within the alliance remained a concern for the majority Sunni Arab factions and their regional backers, leading to internal clashes on several occasions.

open image in gallery Female soldiers of the Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF ( AP )

Post-Assad era

Many of the Syrian rebel factions that were fighting former President Bashar Assads forces from 2011 until his ouster in December 2024 have always been opposed to the SDF, seeing them as a secessionist force that aims to break away from Syria.

Additionally, while Ankara has been a main backer of Syrian rebels during Assad's rule, it views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdish PKK, which has waged a long insurgency in Turkey.

After Assads fall in December 2024, relations between the countrys new rulers, led by al-Sharaa and the SDF remained cold, but a surprise came in March when SDF chief Mazloum Abdi arrived in Damascus and signed a deal with al-Sharaa.

The deal listed, among other things, that the SDF would merge into the Syrian army by the end of 2025. However, significant disagreements remained on how it would happen.

In October, Abdi told The Associated Press that the SDF had agreed in principle with the government on a plan to merge its fighters as a cohesive group into the national army.

Abdi visited Damascus in early January to discuss the merger. State media reported at the time that no  tangible results  had been achieved. Shortly afterward, deadly clashes broke out between government forces in the northern city of Aleppo, leading the SDF to evacuate three neighborhoods that it had controlled for years.

Soon after, the government launched an offensive to capture two towns east of Aleppo that later snowballed into a full-blown offensive that ended Sunday with the government in control of much of the critical northern province of Raqqa along the border with Turkey and the eastern oil-rich province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq.

A new ceasefire

On Sunday night, Syrias government announced a ceasefire, marking the end of the latest round of fighting, with the SDF. The group now only controls Hassakeh, which has a large Kurdish community.

Later on Sunday, state-run news agency SANA showed al-Sharaa signing and holding the agreement. Abdi, who was scheduled to meet with the president in Damascus, was not seen, though his signature appeared on the document. Al-Sharaa told journalists that Abdi could not travel due to bad weather and was expected in the Syrian capital on Monday.

open image in gallery Syrian government soldiers wave a Syrian flag after climbing atop a statue of a female Kurdish fighter, following the takeover of the town from US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF ( AP )

According to the new agreement, SDF fighters will merge into the national army and police forces as individuals rather than as a whole force, which is a blow to Abdis earlier plans.

The Kurdish-led force will also hand over names of commanders who will be given high military and managerial posts within the Syrian army and government.

The SDF as a part of Syria

Al-Sharaa issued a decree making Kurdish an official language in the country, along with Arabic, and adopting the Kurdish new year as a national holiday, a step viewed as an attempt to appease the Kurdish minority. The new ceasefire was announced two days later.

The SDF, which was once estimated to have about 40,000 fighters and had played a major role in the victory against IS in March 2019 when they captured the last sliver of land the extremists held, will most likely dissolve in the near future as al-Sharaa boosts his authority in Syria after taming Assads Alawite minority sect in deadly sectarian clashes in March.

A major mission that SDF continues to have is the control of prisons where some 9,000 IS members have been held for years without trial. The SDF also controls al-Hol and Roj camps in Hassakeh that are home to tens of thousands, mostly women and children linked to IS.

The group said in a statement Monday that gunmen were attacking the Shaddadeh prison which holds thousands of IS members. It later said that its fighters repelled several attacks adding that the prison it out of the control of its fighters.

Under the 14-point ceasefire, the authorities and protection forces that run the prisons and camps will merge into the government that will become fully in charge of the legal and security affairs of jails and camps. No deadline was set.

The Syrian government, the deal says, is committed to the fight against IS as Syria is now a member of the U.S.-led coalition fighting against the extremists.
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When US president Donald Trump began his second term in office, it was on the promise of putting America first.

For many of his MAGA supporters, that meant rejecting interventionist policies that had overextended the countrys military commitments across the globe.

His National Security Strategy, published last year, promised that the affairs of other countries are our concern only if their activities directly threaten our interests.

But since his return last January, the US commander-in-chief has pursued an aggressive foreign policy, greenlighting military strikes on multiple countries, seizing oil tankers and overseeing the shock overnight capture of Nicolas Maduro that led to the decapitation of the Venezuelan government.

open image in gallery Like many US presidents before him, Donald Trump has launched multiple strikes in Africa and the Middle East - but now he is turning his attention elsewhere ( The Independent )

Other targets have included Iran, Iraq and Somalia, among others. Trump is far from the only US president to launch military action in the Middle East - Biden, Obama, Clinton, both Bushes, and Reagan have all done so over the last 50 years. The US also has a long-running history of intervention in Latin American countries.

However, it is Trumps ongoing threats to take Greenland, a Nato territory, that is causing particular concern across Europe now.

The larger picture of Trumps foreign policy is one of transactional disruption rather than strategic leadership, Aurelien Colson, academic director at the ESSEC Business School Institute for Geopolitics & Business, told The Independent.

Colson says that Trumps National Security Strategy exposed his intent to undermine the EU as a political and strategic actor. The document claimed that the continent was facing civilisational erasure.

The so-called Donroe Doctrine openly revives a logic of spheres of influence, he explains. Trump joked that the Monroe Doctrine  associated with exerting control over the Western hemisphere and warning about a Europeanisation of America  could now be dubbed the Donroe Doctrine, a clear indication of his intentions.

open image in gallery US President Donald Trump had promised that the affairs of other countries are our concern only if their activities directly threaten our interests ( PA Wire )

But, while Trump has made some historic statements and carried out unprecedented military action, Colson says that much of his behaviour can be interpreted as bluster.

Trumps moves are driven less by coherent geopolitical objectives than by a mix of narcissistic posturing (which even his own administration finds difficulties to cope with), domestic political signalling, and personal financial interests: from his admiration for strongmen to policies that align with opaque business networks, including crypto-financial channels, he says.

What he appears to seek is not a stable international order, but a world in which power is personalised, deals are opaque, and loyalty matters more than rules. The consequences are deeply negative, of course, for the world order, and for specific states such as Ukraine, but also for the USA: alliances are weakened, American credibility eroded, and strategic rivals emboldened.

Colson explains: Far from America First, the outcome is increasingly America Isolated: mistrusted by partners and progressively less able to shape the rules of the international system it once led - to its own benefit.

Below The Independent looks at the countries where Trump has taken military action in the last 12 months, and where he could strike next.

Somalia: Targeting Isis and al-Shabab

open image in gallery The US says its strikes on Somalia are against Isis - but Trump has also verbally attacked the countrys citizens

In February last year, 10 days after his inauguration, Trump launched a series of military strikes against Isis key figures in Somalia.

The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians. Our Military has targeted this Isis Attack Planner for years, but Biden and his cronies wouldnt act quickly enough to get the job done. I did! Trump said.

The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!

Further attacks on Isis, and the Islamist paramilitary group al-Shabab, were launched in January this year.

According to think tank, New America, Trump has so far launched 135 strikes in the country in his second term, more than the entire Bush Jr, Obama and Biden presidencies combined.

Meanwhile, Somalia has become a lightning rod for MAGA Republicans, with Trump calling the country a hell hole and repeatedly attacking Somali immigrants in the US as garbage who contribute nothing, comments that have sparked widespread backlash.

Iraq: Hunting down Isis figureheads

open image in gallery Trump greets troops at the Al-Udeid air base southwest of Doha in May ( AFP/Getty )

The US conducted several counterterrorism operations against Isis in Iraq in March 2025. Trump praised the operation as an example of peace through strength.

According to the US CENTCOM, the precision airstrike killed Isiss second-in-command, Abdallah Abu Khadijah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.

Posting the update on X with a portrait picture of himself, Trump wrote at the time: Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!

The operations were a continuation of an ongoing campaign of targeting ISIS in Iraq, begun during President Barack Obamas tenure in 2014, and dubbed Operation Inherent Resolve.

Yemen: Retaliation for Red Sea ship attacks

open image in gallery Houthi supporters protest against the US and Israel in Sana'a, Yemen, in March 2025 ( AP )

Trump launched bombings against Yemens Houthi rebels in March 2025 after a wave of attacks by the group against ships in the Red Sea that were in response to Israels war in Gaza.

The United States is reported to have carried out more than 1,100 strikes, killed hundreds of Houthi fighters, and spent more than $1 billion over the 52-day campaign, officials told the New York Times.

Despite the bombardment, rebels began attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea again in July.

The Iran-backed group captured and sank a Greek-owned bulk carrier named Magic Seas using drones, missiles, and rocket-propelled grenades, forcing its 22 crew members to abandon ship.

The next day, the Houthis sank another Greek-operated vessel called Eternity C, leaving at least four dead and 15 missing.

Iran: Strikes on nuclear facilities

open image in gallery Iranians burn a US flag as they take part in a funeral ceremony for Iranian army generals, nuclear scientists and their family members who were killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In June last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Iran was violating its non-proliferation commitments and had enough enriched uranium to potentially develop nine nuclear bombs.

Within days, Israel launched airstrikes on Irans nuclear facilities and the so-called Twelve Day War began. Iran launched a wave of missile and drone strikes in response.

On June 22, the US intervened and launched a series of bombing raids on Irans nuclear sites.

We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, the president wrote on Truth Social. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.

A ceasefire was agreed the next day, but tensions between the US and Iran resumed in January this year after widespread protests across the country that prompted a ruthless government crackdown, with human rights groups warning of thousands dead.

Trump, backing the anti-regime protesters, warned repeatedly he would take action against Iran if the killings continued. However, after considering multiple options to respond to the crisis including sanctions and cyber attacks, Trump has yet to launch further military strikes on Tehran.

Venezuela: Drug trade, regime change and oil

open image in gallery Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at a heliport in midtown Manhattan ( Reuters )

The US began attacking alleged narco-terrorist boats off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela in September 2025, which later expanded to the Pacific Ocean.

The administration claimed it was taking action to stem the flow of drugs into the United States, with Trump accusing Venezuelas then president of being a top-level member of drug cartel, Cartel de los Soles.

At least 123 people are reported to have been killed in the operations, which UN and legal experts criticised for being extrajudicial killings.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 American troops were stationed near the country as Trump reportedly gave Maduro an ultimatum to surrender.

Then, on 3 January, US special forces raided Maduros residence in Caracas in Operation Absolute Resolve. Maduro was removed from office and extradited to the US to appear in a New York court to face criminal charges.

Trump officials have said the US is not at war with Venezuela and that it is not planning any further military action, though the president also said, we're not afraid of boots on the ground.

In the days after the raid, Trump announced the US would be taking over sales of Venezuelan crude oil across the globe and said the government in Caracas was providing Washington with between 30 and 50 million barrels of formerly sanctioned oil to sell.

Syria: Retaliation for US deaths

open image in gallery A US airman preparing an A-10 Thunderbolt II in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria

US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Hawkeye Strike against Isis in Syria, in coordination with Jordan, on 19 December 2025. The most recent attacks took place earlier this month.

The operation was a direct response to the killing of two US soldiers and a civilian US interpreter.

Three additional US military personnel and two members of Syrias security services were injured in the attacks. Trump blamed Isis for the attacks, but Syrian officials said the attacker was a disgruntled member of the security services facing dismissal over allegations of holding extremist views.

An unnamed US official told CNN that the January operation had launched 90 precision munitions at more than 35 targets, using over two dozen aircraft.

Earlier operations took place in November, with the US military joining the Syrian armed forces to destroy 15 Isis weapons caches in southern Syria.

Nigeria: Protecting Christians

open image in gallery Residents inspect the damage after US forces launched a strike against Islamic State militants in Nigeria ( REUTERS )

On Christmas Day 2025, Trump ordered strikes against Isis targets in Nigeria after he accused the group of targeting Christians. The US military confirmed multiple fatalities after camps in Sokoto state near the border with Niger were hit during the strikes.

US secretary of defense Pete Hegseth said of the attacks: The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight  on Christmas.

He added: Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas! He then warned: "More to come" Trump said that the attacks were powerful and deadly and at levels not seen for many years, even centuries!

A defense department official told The Independent that the strikes had been carried out with the knowledge and cooperation of the Nigerian government.

Could Cuba, Colombia or Mexico follow Venezuela?

open image in gallery Trump has been at odds with Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum ( AFP/Getty )

Mexico has long been a target of Trumps anger with the president blaming their government for failing to deal with drug cartels and preventing the flow of migrants across the border.

He warned the country, which has been led by left-wing president Claudia Sheinbaum since October 2024, has to get their act together or were going to have to do something.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said in January that he believes Cuba is in a lot of trouble following the capture of Maduro, a key ally.

Im not going to talk to you about what our future steps are going to be and our policies are going to be right now in this regard, Rubio told NBC. But I dont think its any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime, who, by the way, are the ones that were propping up Maduro.

Trump also warned Colombian president Gustavo Petro  one of his fiercest critics on the international stage  that the South American country could be his next target.

Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and hes not going to be doing it very long, he told reporters while on board Air Force One.

Greenland and brewing tensions with Nato

open image in gallery People protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 17 ( AP )

Trump has had his sights set on purchasing the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland since 2019, but has ramped up his rhetoric in recent weeks and refused to rule out military action.

The president argues it is vital to ensure the national security of the United States and to prevent the island falling into the hands of Russia or China.

However, his threats have sparked backlash from Nato allies and European leaders amid fears Trump could fracture the long-standing alliance and play right into Vladimir Putins hands.

Denmark and the US have agreed to set up a working group to discuss ways to resolve their differences, but Trump remains adamant that anything less than US control is unacceptable.

Tensions have continued to mount throughout January, with European troops from Germany, France and Sweden deployed to the region, and Trump threatening tariffs against any country that stands in his way.

Canada: No military threats yet for Trumps 51st state

open image in gallery President Trump is reportedly taking aim at Canada and expressing concern about its 'vulnerability' to adversaries ( Getty Images )

In December 2024, Trump began to tease that some of his supporters had expressed support for Canada to be annexed into the United States.

He had threatened to impose tariffs on Canada unless it increased its military spending and fortified its border security.

The president ruled out the use of military force to annex Canada, but said he would use economic force instead.

He has continued to reiterate his desire to annex the country throughout his second term in office, claiming it should become the the 51st state of the US.

Nevertheless, his comments on Canada have sparked a furious backlash in the country and even sparked a boycott of American products.

A poll conducted by Angus Reid poll last October suggested nearly half of Canadians (46 per cent) want their government to approach the US as an "enemy or potential threat".
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Europe has plenty of cities that deserve your attention, but jump on a plane and rush from one to another, and youll miss the magic that surrounds them.

Here, we reveal a slower, more scenic way of exploring the continent  one that swaps transit for travel, and security lines and airport buses for spellbinding views.

Our proposal is to take advantage of Europes excellent train and ferry network and turn the journey into a memorable part of the vacation, instead of an experience that has to be endured.

Below, we present five alternative itineraries for popular city-to-city flight routes, from a ferry journey to Greece that includes passing underneath a jaw-dropping bridge, to a Spain sailing where the beautiful Basque coastline unfolds as you sip a morning coffee.

Theres also a train journey across Norways spectacular interior, a boat ride to the Balearics that will live long in the memory, and a Baltic Sea crossing with a fairytale departure point.

1. Italy to Greece

Swap a flight from Rome to Athens for a ferry from Bari to Patras and an onward train

open image in gallery Ferries arriving in Patras, Greece, pass under the epic RioAntirrio Bridge ( marina_larina - stock.adobe.com )

The default way

Most travelers leaving Italy behind for Greece fly from Rome to Athens. The flight takes just two hours and costs between $90 and $220 one-way, so its relatively cheap and efficient. But theres so much below youre missing out on.

The slower and more memorable way

Step one  train from Rome to Bari, on the Adriatic Coast

What its like: The train glides through idyllic countryside peppered with olive groves and orchards. As you approach the coast, dramatic limestone ridges emerge. The ferry terminal is a short walk or taxi ride from Bari Centrale station.

Cost and duration: Expect a journey time of around four hours and 15 minutes with a fast, direct train. Tickets cost between $18 and $65.

Step two  ferry to Patras in the northern Peloponnese

What its like: The ferry departs in the evening, so enjoy a drink on deck or a sit-down meal as the twinkling lights of Bari fade. Book an ensuite cabin for the most comfortable and romantic experience. The arrival into Patras, amid sunwashed mountains and with the ferry passing underneath the epic RioAntirrio Bridge, is truly cinematic.

Cost and duration: The crossing, with either Superfast Ferries or Anek Lines, takes between 16 and 17 hours and costs around $80 to $140 for a foot passenger and $350-$420 for a cabin.

The onward journey: Take a bus to Kiato, then switch to the Proastiakos suburban train to reach Athens in around three hours. Alternatively, there are ferries leaving from the port to the Ionian island chain.

Read more: Best Greek island hotels for sea views and romantic retreats in Crete, Corfu, Mykonos and more

2. UK to Spain

Swap a flight from London to Madrid for a ferry to Bilbao and an onward train

open image in gallery Make a journey from London to Madrid far more interesting by taking the ferry to Bilbao, pictured, and then hopping on a train ( saiko3p - stock.adobe.com )

The default way

The most popular way of reaching Spains capital from London is a 2.5-hour flight costing between $90 and $220 one-way. Its a relatively quick, but not particularly exciting, journey and youll arrive in Madrids outskirts.

The slower and more memorable way

Step one  train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth

Whats it like: The train from London Waterloo weaves past the capitals eye-catching skyscrapers before delivering you to Portsmouth Harbour Station, a 20-minute walk or five-minute taxi ride from the international port.

Cost and duration: One-way fares are typically $20 to $45, with the journey taking around 90 minutes.

Step two  ferry across the Bay of Biscay to Bilbao

Whats it like: Youll sail on a Brittany Ferries vessel, which is practically a cruise ship. There are sit-down restaurants serving Spanish food, along with childrens play areas, lounges, and even a cinema. Standard cabins feature bunk beds and ensuite bathrooms, while upgraded accommodations can come with double beds, tea/coffee facilities, minibars, and sometimes even a balcony. There are also pet-friendly berths.

The ferry arrives at 8am, so position yourself on the deck beforehand to watch the Basque coastline, with its rugged cliffs and tiny fishing villages, unfold as the sun rises.

Cost and duration: Foot passenger fares cost $120-$220, with private cabins $100-$250. The crossing takes two nights, and lasts 33-36 hours.

The onward journey: Keep the scenic-travel theme going and catch a train to Madrid. Youll be treated to views of rolling hills and vineyards and delivered to the center of the city. The fastest services take around four hours, with fares costing $30-$90 one-way.

Read more: Five of Spains most walkable cities (including one with a 6mph speed limit for cars)

3. Norway

Swap a flight from Oslo to Bergen for trains and a ferry

open image in gallery The Flam Railway is one of many highlights when slow-traveling between Oslo and Bergen ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

The default way

Many travelers reach Bergen from Oslo by catching a flight. It takes around 1 hour 25 minutes and typically costs $80 to $200 one-way, which makes it fast and affordable  but it skips some of Northern Europes most spectacular scenery and superb train journeys.

The slower and more memorable way

Step one  train from Oslo to Myrdal on the Bergen Railway

What its like: This is one of Europes most unforgettable rail journeys, with the route taking in the Hardangervidda plateau, an otherworldly treeless expanse of frozen lakes and dramatic peaks. Its particularly spellbinding when the fog rolls in.

Cost and duration: Up to seven hours, and $40-$120 one-way.

Step two  Flam Railway from Myrdal to Flam

What its like: Short, but very sweet. The line passes head-turning waterfalls, formidable sheer rock faces and storybook farmsteads.

Cost and duration: Around 55 minutes, and $50-$80 one-way.

Step three  ferry from Flam through the Nryfjord to Gudvangen

What its like: Completely absorbing. Nryfjord is one of Norways most dramatic fjords. And the competition is stiff. The ferry passes between ribbon-like waterfalls cascading down near-vertical cliffs that narrow to just a few hundred feet apart in places.

Cost and duration: Typically two hours, and $50-90.

Step four  bus from Gudvangen to Voss, then train to Bergen

What its like: A journey through eye-popping valleys with classic west coast Norway as the finale: think red boathouses, islands aplenty and deep-blue inlets.

Cost and duration: Up to three hours, $40-$80.

Read more: The best hotels in Oslo for 2025, from luxury stays to spa breaks

4. France to Mallorca

Swap a flight from Nice to Palma for a train and an overnight ferry from Toulon

open image in gallery Setting sail from Toulon, pictured, for Mallorca is unforgettable. The ferry departs with French naval ships in the background ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

The default way

Flying from Nice to Palma is a standard way to travel from the French Riviera to Mallorca, and its easy to see why  flight time is one hour and 25 minutes and the one-way fare is $60-$180. But slow things down and you can turn the journey into part of the vacation and enjoy views of one of the worlds most mesmerizing coastlines.

The slower and more memorable way

Step one  train along the Riviera to Toulon for an overnight ferry

What its like: The train to Toulon hugs the coastline (for sea views, sit on the left-hand side), trundling past azure-hued bays dotted with superyachts, beautiful resorts (including Cannes), and vineyards used for world-class rose.

Cost and duration: Up to three hours, $25-$60.

Step two  overnight ferry from Toulon to Alcudia in Mallorca

What its like: A glorious way to depart the French mainland. Your Corsica Ferries vessel will pull away in the early evening past warships moored in Toulons impressive naval harbor before picking up speed and heading out into the Mediterranean. On board is a top-deck bar, sit-down restaurants and comfortable cabins with ensuite bathrooms. For families, cabins can be configured with double beds and bunks.

Its an early arrival, but seeing the twinkling lights of Alcudia through the window as the sun rises is magical.

Cost and duration: Foot-passenger fares $40$100 one-way. Private cabins are $120$250.

The onward journey: Hire a car in Alcudia or take a bus to Palma.

Read more: I stayed in the new Saint-Tropez White Lotus hotel  and predicted it would appear in season 4

5. Sweden to Finland

Swap a flight from Stockholm to Helsinki for an overnight Baltic Sea crossing

open image in gallery The ferry to Helsinki from the Swedish capital slides through the picturesque Stockholm Archipelago, where pine-covered islands are watched over by glacier-carved cliffs ( Getty Images/iStockphoto )

The default way

The flight route from Stockholm to Helsinki is a popular one, with a journey time of one hour and 20 minutes and fares ranging from $70 to $180.

The slower and more memorable way

Overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki

Whats it like: Hypnotic. Your evening Viking Line or Tallink Silja ferry will sail out through the fairytale-like Stockholm Archipelago, a world of pine-covered islands dotted with summer cottages, and glacier-carved granite cliffs.

Onboard restaurants, lounges and comfortable cabins ensure a pleasant crossing, and youll dock in Helsinki Harbor in the morning, which sits right in the center of the majestic city.

Cost and duration: Around 16 hours, $90-$180.

Onward journey: Youve already arrived.

Read more: Slow down on Swedens islands this summer
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Were aiming to pick up where Concorde left off, says Blake Scholl.

Fifty years after the Anglo-French jet first carried paying passengers faster than the speed of sound, the Denver-based entrepreneur is set on bringing back supersonic passenger flight. But he vows to do so in a way thats far more mainstream and accessible than Concorde ever was.

The maiden passenger flight of a British Airways Concorde took off on 21 January 1976 from London Heathrow to Bahrain. Initially the US would not allow the supersonic jet to operate. On the same day, Air France departed from Paris CDG, destination Rio via Dakar in Senegal. The flights took place seven years after the first supersonic test flight.

Both airlines grounded their fleets in 2003, bringing an end to the brief 27-year supersonic era.

Mr Scholl is founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. At the companys HQ, he tells The Independent: Its insane, isnt it? From the Wright brothers in 1903 to Concordes first flight in 1969, we were literally accelerating  and then we did something bizarre: we went backwards. To my knowledge, thats only happened in aerospace.

Think about it  1969, Concorde flies supersonic; within months, we land on the Moon. Now its 2025. If youd asked anyone in 1969 what travel would be like in 2025, no one would have said, We wont be able to go to the moon, and we wont be able to fly supersonic. And yet, thats the world we live in.

A year ago a testbed, XB-1, broke the sound barrier for the first time.

By the end of the decade, the aim is for an aircraft seating up to 80 passengers to fly at Mach 1.7 across the ocean, at a height of 60,000 feet.

The speed is one-sixth slower than Concorde. We optimised for 1.7 because of noise  specifically, takeoff and landing noise, Mr Scholl says. The faster you fly, the smaller and louder the engines must be. To make Overture quiet enough for airport communities, we brought the top speed down.

Weve committed that Overture will be no louder than subsonic aircraft during takeoff and landing. That small speed tradeoff makes it vastly more practical and community-friendly.

For Concorde, flying at supersonic speeds over land was not generally feasible because of the sonic boom created by breaking the sound barrier. The maiden British Airways flight to Bahrain spent the first 90 minutes at subsonic speeds as far as Venice, passing through Mach 1  the speed of sound  only once over the Adriatic.

But the Boom Supersonic boss believes people on the ground can be protected against the shockwave.

The truth is, sonic boom is a solvable problem, says Mr Scholl. Weve proved it. We take in real-time weather data, run it through advanced algorithms, and they tell us how to fly  what altitude and speed. If you do that, the boom bends upward in the atmosphere, making a giant U-turn so no one on the ground hears it.

There is, though, a time penalty, he says: You cant go full-speed boomless. At lower supersonic speeds, the energy projects forward instead of down. Combine that with the right weather data, and you can calculate how much bending you get  and decide how fast to fly. On a great day, Mach 1.3; on a bad day, Mach 1.05. Even then, youre still 50 per cent faster than a 737 or A320.

The Overture range is expected to be around 5,000 miles (8,000km)  substantially more than the first-generation supersonic passenger jet. Mr Scholl claims there are over 600 viable routes, including transatlantic, transpacific and US coast-to-coast journeys. But he confirms: New YorkLondon is the obvious one.

The journey time: About three-and-a-half hours.

Most importantly, its affordable. Concorde tickets cost 20,000: a luxury for royalty and rock stars. Overtures fares will be comparable to todays business class around $5,000 round trip across the Atlantic, under 4,000. Airlines will actually make money at that price thanks to modern technology.

Fast track: Simon Calder and Blake Scholl beside the XB-1 supersonic test aircraft ( Charlotte Hindle )

One concern with Concorde was the narrow, cramped cabin. The Boom Supersonic pioneer says his design will address that.

Overture is the proper successor to Concorde, made of carbon fibre composites, powered by our Symphony engines, quiet and efficient. The cabin is roomier: taller doors, wider seats, a beautiful interior. The one thing we dont have is an ashtray.

He dismisses the absence of flat beds, now a fixture in almost all long-haul business class cabins: What were really doing is trading flying beds for much better beds  the ones at home before we leave.

Boom Supersonic has attracted 130 orders, pre-orders and options from American Airlines, United and Japan Airlines.

Leading environmentalists deplore the impact of supersonic aircraft. Anna Hughes, director of Flight Free UK, told The Independents daily travel podcast: Flying is extremely energy-intensive, but supersonic flight even more so. Fundamentally, what we need to do is fly less.

Others have questioned the viability of supersonic aircraft in a world in which technologies such as Zoom enable online meetings.

But Blake Scholl remains optimistic: Flight should be the most inspiring human experience  we soar above the Earth, seeing its beauty and our creations below. Yet somehow weve turned that miracle into an experience most people dread.

Dont accept that. Demand better  faster, more comfortable, more human travel.

Listen to Blake Scholl on The Independents daily travel podcast
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

One of ancient Rome's best-preserved homes, the House of the Griffins, is opening to the public for the first time, offering a unique livestreamed tour of its hard-to-reach underground frescoes and mosaics.

First unearthed during early 20th-century excavations on the Palatine Hill, the verdant rise overlooking the Roman Forum, the site now dominates central Rome with its striking red brick ruins.

Situated near the Colosseum, the hill was a hub for temples and leading citizens during Romes Republican era (509-27 B.C.). It later evolved into the aristocratic quarter of the Roman Empire, with new palaces built over older homes.

The House of the Griffins is one of those earlier Republican-era homes, and was hidden to the world underground after the Emperor Domitian built his palace on top of it in the first century A.D.

open image in gallery Colosseum Archeological Park guide Valentina tours the attraction while live-streaming ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Now for the first time, the general public can virtually visit the House of the Griffins and its newly restored frescoes, including the decoration that gives the home its name: An arched lunette fresco featuring two griffins  half-eagle, half-lion mythological creatures.

Visitors wont actually walk through the homes intimate rooms, which are only accessible via a perilously steep staircase underground. Rather, visitors above ground will watch as a tour guide wearing a head-mounted smartphone descends into the domus and walks through its rooms, livestreaming the visit and narration.

The live, virtual tour serves multiple purposes: It allows visitors to see a domus that, because of its underground location, would otherwise be off-limits. And by limiting the number of people in its rooms, the livestreaming protects the delicate frescoes from too much humidity and carbon dioxide.

Project chief Federica Rinaldi said that archaeologists dont know much about the family who lived there, but said they were clearly well-off, given the level of decoration that recalls some of the elegant homes of the era in Pompeii. The frescoes feature richly colored faux marble designs, and floor mosaics of three-dimensional cubes.

Its location at the highest point of the hill, its distribution over several levels that take advantage of the slopes of the Palatine Hill itself, and its preservation make it today an almost textbook reference," she said. It was certainly a domus of the highest standard.

open image in gallery The tours will be held weekly from early March ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Starting on March 3, the livestreamed tours will be held weekly, on Tuesdays, with one in Italian and one in English, though more are foreseen. Groups are limited to a dozen people and require reservations, as well as an additional ticket beyond the typical Colosseum-Palatine Hill entrance fee.

The restoration of the House of the Griffins is one of 10 projects funded by the European Union in the archaeological park and is part of an effort to spread tourists out beyond the must-see Colosseum and Forum, which often get overwhelmed with visitors.

Its a great occasion to value the full territory of the park, said the head of the park, Simone Quilici.
Ben Affleck says he does not believe AI will entirely replace actors or screenwriters because of its limitations.

Affleck appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience with friend and collaborator Matt Damon to promote their new Netflix film The Rip and he was asked about Artificial Intelligence being a threat to writers and actors image rights.

Affleck, the youngest ever best screenplay Oscar winner for Good Will Hunting, said AI was a useful tool for certain aspects of writing but he considers it very unlikely the technology would be able to write anything meaningful or its going to be making movies from whole cloth.
Dear Vicki: Should the boss have their own office or sit out in the open with the rest of the staff?
Golden Globe winner Stephen Graham has revealed he lost his statuette the day after the ceremony (Ian West/PA)

Stephen Graham has revealed he lost the Golden Globe he won for Adolescence just hours after the ceremony.

The TV star, who won the best actor in a TV mini series prize at the ceremony earlier this month, said there was a mix-up at the airport and his suitcase didnt make the plane.

In an interview with Capital Breakfast, the 52-year-old recounted how he accidentally left his award in the US for two days while he was in Spain.

Graham said: I had to go straight from LA the day after [the Golden Globes] to Madrid as I had to be on set the next day. I had 35 minutes to catch the plane.

As I came off the plane, a woman took me down the stairs, threw me in a car, and drove me across the runway. But all Im thinking is, my case isnt going to make it.

Stephen Graham said his suitcase was left in Atlanta for two days (Ian West/PA Wire)

The Adolescence star continued: I said, excuse me, theres no way youre getting my suitcase on this plane if Im in a car now, and she was like oh no, dont worry, well take care of it.

The case didnt make the plane and it was left in Atlanta.

When presenter Jordan North asked what was in the suitcase, Graham said: My socks, my pants, my toothbrush and a Golden Globe.

He said: I never left it, I put it in my case  its heavy, I wasnt carrying that in my hand luggage.

Thankfully, it turned up two days after.

Graham co-created, wrote and starred in Netflix hit Adolescence, which has kicked off the awards season with wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice awards (Ian West/PA Wire)

Graham co-created, wrote and starred in Netflix hit Adolescence, which has scored wins at the Emmys, Golden Globes and Critics Choice awards.

At the Golden Globes, its stars Graham, Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty were respectively named best actor in a TV mini series, best supporting actor in a television series and best supporting actress.

The show also won the prize for limited series, anthology series or television motion picture, and earlier this month at the Critics Choice awards it received the same four prizes.

Graham, whose company Matriarch Productions co-produced the series, gained notoriety for his role in 2006 film This Is England and its TV sequels.

His company also co-produced hit show A Thousand Blows, which launched its second season on Disney+ earlier this month.
Martin Lynn died after suffering serious injuries in an unprovoked attack in July 2023

The family of a Dublin man killed in an unprovoked attack by his neighbour have launched a petition for the State to appeal the leniency of the killers sentence.
Judge says he cannot review sentence of Boy B who murdered Ana Kriegel when he was 13

Boy B, who is now 21, was convicted of the murder of 14-year-old schoolgirl in 2019

Ana Kriegel

Eoin Reynolds Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 16:57

A Central Criminal Court judge has accepted that he cannot review the sentence he imposed on one of the two men who murdered schoolgirl Ana Kriegel when they were just 13 years old.
A member of the Hutch family who suffers from PTSD after witnessing his cousin being shot has been jailed for a robbery in which he was armed with a hammer at a Dublin Dealz store.
Son of slain criminal Eamon Kelly tried to murder ex-wife's friend after blaming her for marriage breakup, court hears

Eamon Kelly, was shot dead outside his Dublin home in December 2012

Matthias Kelly

Eoin Reynolds Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 16:28

The son of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly - who was shot dead over a decade ago - attempted to murder his former wife's friend because he blamed her for the breakup of his marriage, the Central Criminal Court heard today.
Enoch Burke has been jailed for contempt for a fifth time by the High Court, where he was brought after being arrested this morning at Wilsons Hospital School.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan ordered that the anti-transgender schoolteacher be returned to Mountjoy Prison, saying: You have been dismissed. It is not your place of work. What part of that sentence do you not understand?
Life after cancer: You become a cancer patient and that can strip you of your identity. Its a nice feeling to be back at work
Surgeon at Limerick hospital admits professional misconduct over delays in seeking help for Jessica Sheedy (18)

Ms Sheedy died three days after suffering complications during surgery at UHL

Jessica Sheedy

Sean McCarthaigh Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 18:51

A surgeon at University Hospital Limerick has admitted to professional misconduct over delays in seeking help for a teenage girl, who died after sustaining massive blood loss during an operation which he performed without having adequate experience or surgical support.
They got it at a stage where they could do something about it  Dublin man on new lung cancer screening programme

Early diagnosis turns what could be a life-changing event into just a bump in the road, surgeon says

Paul Guinee (63) from Sutton, Dublin, was diagnosed with stage-one lung cancer after attending the Lung Health Check screening. Photo: Andres Poveda

Eilish O'Regan Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 06:30

A retired Dubliner, who had no symptoms of lung cancer, has told how a ground-breaking offer of free screening led to him finding out early he had the disease  being spared a late diagnosis.
Western observers including Donald Trump encourage protests, but dissent can carry a death sentence

Years ago, sitting on a patch of Parisian grass with a plastic cup of cheap red wine, I found myself in conversation with an Iranian doctor who had fled her country during the 1979 revolution.

She wore a hijab. I asked whether she saw a contradiction between her choice to cover her hair and her support for gender equality, which was central to the platform of her organisation, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
We were looking for something, coffee cups, Bluetooth speakers, anything we could to break the window. We managed to break it after two or three minutes, which felt like the longest two to three minutes of my life. At that point, we were just very much like, We might die here, we might not make it.

Thats the recollection of Amanda Uwase, whose house was subjected to a petrol bomb attack on New Years Eve.

The 23-year-old, currently studying for a master's in journalism at Dublin City University, was enjoying an otherwise quiet night as she prepared to ring in 2026, only for her and her family to suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives.

With their home in Finglas destroyed, theyre currently living in emergency accommodation as they attempt to both physically and mentally recover from the ordeal.

I really thought I wasnt going to see her again, Amenda says of her mother, who ended up in hospital in critical condition. I thought Id lost my mother. I was even thinking, what will I say at her funeral?

Amid the chaos and the smoke, Amanda made a split-second decision that may have saved her family  she went back into the flames.

The incident is currently under investigation, with gardai suspecting that its a case of mistaken identity.

On this episode of The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined in-studio by Amanda Uwase to hear her story, and by Irish Independent news and security correspondent Robin Schiller to examine the recent spate of firebomb attacks in Ireland.
The road surface on the N22 Carrigrohane/Straight Road from Leemount junction at Carrigrohane as far as Grassland Agro has been labelled as an embarrassment and dangerous.

Sinn Fein councillor for Cork City's South-West ward, Joe Lynch described the surface on a significant section of the road as appalling.

Mr Lynch reiterated his call for resurfacing works on the N22 Carrigrohane (Straight) Road to be funded in 2026, describing the surface of a significant section of the road as dangerous and appalling.

Cllr Lynch made the call in advance of funding for national road maintenance works being announced by the Department of Transport in the coming weeks.

Cllr Lynch said the stretch of road has been in an appalling condition for several years. The road surface of the N22 Carrigrohane/Straight Road from Leemount junction at Carrigrohane as far as Grassland Agro is in an appalling condition and has been for several years now. This is one of the main roads in and out of Cork city, and a section of it resembles a motocross track. It is an embarrassment, and it is dangerous.

The Ballincollig based councillor said the necessary road works are urgent and he stressed the importance of no further delays. I have written to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on the matter continuously. I sincerely hope that resurfacing works will be funded this year. In response to a City Council motion of mine on the issue in September, the Council stated that works were likely to proceed next year - subject to funding.

TII have responded to recent correspondence of mine stating that they have highlighted the need for works to take place here to the Department of Transport. It is now over to the Department, and the Minister for Transport, to ensure these works are funded in 2026. This must happen. It is urgent and there can be no further delays, he added.
Communities in Cork city are frustrated and angry with utilities contractors digging up the roads and leaving some unable to access to their cars for important activities like school runs and hospital appointments, a Cork city councillor has said.

We had an awful time up in Gurranabraher when Uisce Eireann were there and the contractors were digging up the road. And the reason was because people didn't receive adequate notification.

They weren't being told when the road was being closed, when the road was going to be reopened. People had no access to their cars. Some of these people had hospital appointments, they had parents in wheelchairs, Cllr Michelle Gould said at this weeks meeting of Cork City Council.

Uisce Eireann insists that it communicated thoroughly with communities at all stages of the recent works, issuing advance notifications of closures of roads and other concerns.

People have no problem with the works being done. It's just the lack of notification and the fact that the contractors might give out a notification saying the works will start at say half past nine and finish at half past four. What's actually happening is they're starting there at seven o'clock and they're not finishing until half past nine or sometimes later on, midnight even sometimes. And there doesn't seem to be any communication with the residents, the North-West Ward councillor said.

The other thing about this is the fact that there seems to be no forward thinking in the fact that the schools are open and we're blocking the roads, we're digging up the footpaths, we're leaving no access to parents with their children. And it's just a health and safety issue at this stage.

Cllr Gould put forward a motion calling on the city council to ensure that contractors adhere to the conditions imposed on them, including approved working hours, and take enforcement measures when the conditions are breached. She said she wants to see a more robust system of monitoring and enforcement, and definitely more communication with the residents.

The motion was supported by Cllr John Maher, who also criticised the quality of reinstatement works carried out by contractors after roadworks are completed. I think it's important that we flag also our experience as councillors is that the repeat offenders are getting away with it. Our roads are destroyed. Come along to the North-East Ward and I'll show you Dublin Hill, Dublin Pike, Whites Cross.

They keep doing it, we keep reporting it, they keep getting the contracts so I'm not sure what's really happening when you do break the rules. It's time now as a council that we do catch the repeat offenders because not only are theyre breaching those conditions, but theyre not reinstating the roads properly and thats across Cork, he said.

Cllr Tony Fitzgerald said there is an awful lot of issues with utility services across the city, regardless of where they're coming from or what they're using. I think we do have a huge challenge in here trying to fight for budgets for more money for resurfacing and there's nothing worse than looking at a trench being resurfaced in a particular area. We're doing an awful lot of work in resurfacing and repairs but with so much now coming in, the roads are just like a patched quilt.

Cork City Lord Mayor, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, responded that for Uisce Eireann-related works the contractors are hired by the water utility and not the city council but the city councils chief executive will write to Uisce Eireann to raise the concerns expressed by councillors.

In a response to the Irish Independent, Uisce Eireann said it "communicated and engaged extensively with local residents, elected representatives and media throughout the planning and delivery of these essential works. Advance notifications and regular updates were issued, both in advance of the commencement of works and throughout the construction phase, particularly where road closures or nighttime works were required, in areas such as Gurranabraher."

"Regular progress updates were provided to elected representatives via email, and notifications to residents in the immediate vicinity of the works through local letter drops. Customers and public representatives were also given direct contact details for the project contractor to answer any questions or help address any concerns quickly. On occasions where activity took place outside standard hours, this was due to unforeseen operational requirements."

The national water utility also said that "all road surfaces are permanently reinstated in agreement with Cork City Council once construction is complete."

This article was amended on January 20, 2026 to add Uisce Eireann's response.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Qualcomm Technologies has announced a 125m investment in their Cork site to transform the operation into whats described as a strategic AI pillar over the next three years.
Dublin Bus CEO Billy Hann speaking at the launch of the innovation challenge today in Wood Quay. Pic: Maxwells

Dublin Bus Innovation (DBI) is a 'new phase of change and bold ideas' that will enhance the customer experience. Pic: Maxwells

Dublin Bus CEO Billy Hann, Minister James Lawless TD, Barbara (Keane) O'Brien Technology Development Manager at Dublin Bus and Dr John McCarthy, Director Innovation and Technical Services at Dublin Bus at the launch today. Pic: Maxwells

Dublin Bus is giving employees, stakeholders, and members of the public a chance to shape the way buses operate in Dublin.

The Dublin Bus Innovation (DBI) seed funding challenge, running under the slogan Your idea could change everything, invites proposals across four areas: Data & Visualisation, Optimisation, Collaboration, and Smart Cities.

Each area offers up to 15,000 in seed funding, alongside expert guidance and a dedicated team to help turn selected ideas into reality.

As Irelands largest public transport provider, I greatly admire Dublin Bus ambition to keep moving forward and actively shape the future of transport and mobility, Minister James Lawless TD said at the launch today.

Dublin Bus Innovation shows a strong commitment to putting customers first and embracing new ideas.

By inviting collaboration from employees, stakeholders, and the public, this initiative has the potential to unlock practical solutions, enhance everyday journeys, and help build a smarter, more connected city for everyone, he added.

In 2025, Dublin Bus carried 165 million passengers, producing a vast amount of data the company says could be better analysed and applied to improve customer experience.

With a fleet of 1,100 buses operating across nine depots, Dublin Bus is seeking ideas that optimise operations, cut costs, and improve project management, while also enhancing engagement with passengers as customer numbers continue to grow.

Dublin Bus CEO Billy Hann said the initiative was part of the companys ongoing effort to evolve with the city.

"Running a company like Dublin Bus in a growing city requires constant adaptation, he said.

Dublin Bus Innovation is about strengthening our ability to solve problems, work with others and apply new thinking at pace.

It is a practical step in ensuring public transport continues to meet the needs of Dublin as the city evolves.

The Smart Cities element of the challenge is supported by Smart Dublin and aligns with the citys vision of a connected, future-ready public transport network.

Dublin Bus says it wants to hear from bold thinkers, creative disruptors, and anyone with ideas that could make everyday journeys smoother, safer, and more efficient.

We are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to deliver for the people that live and work in Dublin in line with our long term strategy, Evolving for Tomorrow, Dr John McCarthy, Director Innovation and Technical Services at Dublin said.

This means that we forensically examine our practices, and seek out bold new ways of operating our bus network.

The four key pillars of this innovation fund highlight the path that we must take; one of change that works for Dublin, he added.

Applicants can submit their proposals through the Dublin Bus Innovation portal at www.dublinbus.ie.

Successful applicants will receive seed funding, expert guidance, and access to a dedicated team to bring their ideas to life, with the goal of shaping Dublins bus network for the future.
Many hospitals are facing into yet another week of severe overcrowding with 448 patients suffering respiratory illness and hundreds of people in need of emergency care on trolleys.

HSE figures showed 431 patients on trolleys across the country and another 811 having to be moved from emergency departments today to other areas of hospitals to reduce congestion.

There were 115 people waiting over 24 hours for a bed this morning, including seven patients over 75.

In an update the HSE said 448 people are currently hospitalised with respiratory illness including 279 with flu, 42 suffering from Covid, 127 diagnosed with RSV.

There are clear signs that flu cases are levelling off with 1,910 flu cases reported last week and 1,803 the week before, down from the pre-Christmas peak of 3,544. However, people are urged to continue to observe all public health advice and consider all healthcare options available.

Chief clinical officer of the HSE Dr Colm Henry said: We welcome the signs that flu cases have started to plateau. However, we know from experience that hospitals experience exceptionally high demand throughout the winter, particularly in January.

"Outside of winter related illness, people will continue to have other healthcare needs that they may have deferred addressing throughout the holiday period.

We have invested in extra GP hours both in surgery and out-of-hours services. All of our primary care centres are open and many extra sources of advice and support are available from community-based nursing and allied health professionals.

"However, even with a full range of services available, it is expected people will experience waiting times for care.

"We would urge people to continue to follow the public health advice, staying at home when sick where possible, ensuring you are up to date with vaccination, and considering alternative healthcare services for treatment, such as GP, GP Out of Hours, injury units and pharmacies where appropriate.

But please be assured if patients are very sick and in an emergency situation, they should attend their nearest Emergency Department, which are always available.

"The sickest patients are seen first, people with less severe injuries and symptoms may have to wait to be seen.

Hospitals which are worst hit are University Hospital Limerick, with 78 patients on trolleys, and St Vincents Hospital Dublin, where 43 people were in a similar predicament.

Other hospitals under pressure include Tallaght University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Galway University Hospital and Mayo University Hospital .

The HSE said it has implemented a number of actions over this winter period aimed at reducing waiting times for patients covering hospital avoidance, emergency department operations, in-hospital care delivery, and discharge management.

This plan includes actions such as providing additional and extended hours for senior decision makers and staff integral to supporting 7/7 operations; and standardising the opening hours of all Injury Units to provide a seven-day service, 8am to 8pm, including Bank Holidays.
Dad who fled West Bank in 1998 says he and his relatives are waiting in despair and fear they will be on the streets soon

A Palestinian family who have lived in Ireland for 28 years are facing eviction from their home at the end of this month.

My wife and I have packed all our belongings into boxes through all of Christmas and the holidays because we dont know when well be out on the streets, said Sameeh Mohammed Mustafa, who arrived in Ireland in 1998 as a refugee from the West Bank in Palestine and now lives in Dublin 15.

The family joined Dublin City Councils (DCC) waiting list for social housing in 2008. They have been on and off the list for close to 20 years, Mr Mustafa said.

Weve been living in this apartment since 2016  my son and daughter basically grew up here, this is their home, he said.

Two years ago, we got a Notice of Termination (NoT) saying we must leave. I then went to the court to challenge it, last July I was given six more months, then some local councillors supported us and got the dates extended up to January 29.

Currently, Mr Mustafa is a recipient of the Rent Supplement Scheme funded by the Department of Social Protection, a predecessor to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) now managed by local authorities, that supports those who cannot afford to pay rent for private homes.

Bailiffs will come and the family will be physically thrown out if it comes to that

We honestly dont know what we can do next, I have been a heart patient for years, worrying about my family has made things unbearable, he added.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) told the Irish Independent that if a landlord wants to end a tenancy that has lasted six months or more, they must have a valid legal reason and share a NoT with the correct notice period.

The NoT states the reason for ending the tenancy  it must be sent to the RTB on the same day it is sent to the tenant, a spokesperson from the RTB said,

Since 2022, tenancies of unlimited duration were introduced into law allowing tenants the right to stay in the property without a set end date if they meet some conditions.

But for tenancies like Mr Mustafas that began after 2016, but before 2022, old tenancy rules apply.

These tenancies follow a six-year cycle  the landlord can end the tenancy at the end of the six-year cycle without giving a reason, the spokesperson said.

The family have been given a Notice of Termination. Photo: Stock

People Before Profit Solidarity councillor for Fingal, John Burtchaell, worries the family might not even find emergency accommodation in the time they have been given. Emergency accommodation in Dublin 15 is full  the end of these few weeks really is the end of the road for the family  then the bailiffs will come and the family will be physically thrown out if it comes to that, he said.

Even if they avail of emergency accommodation, which is the worst-case scenario, theyll be given a hotel room in the other side of the city where they will need to commute for God knows how long for the childrens school.

All the family will be in one hotel room with no cooking facilities, anywhere to wash their clothes  this is where theyll need to go, if they lose what is a family home to these children.

According to a spokesperson from DCC, households at risk of homelessness are assessed before alternate arrangements are made.

If a household is assessed as being in immediate need of emergency accommodation, it will be offered or a temporary arrangement agreed with the household pending placement, they said.

Lubna Al Mrayati, Mr Mustafas wife, says fears about their childrens future has taken a physical and mental toll.

Our son has additional needs, so he has a special needs assistant (SNA) in his school who has been very helpful, I worry all the time about how we will help him if we go into emergency housing, she said.

Weve been desperately seeking a new home for the last two years and my mental and physical health has suffered  the stress and anxiety alone have led to significant hair loss, I cant sleep at night and I have neck disc issues because of it  Im on medication now.

Our children are also deeply affected  they often cry and ask us whats going on  I dont know what to tell them.

Despite living in Dublin 15, the family are still on DCCs housing list  and their hope is to move to a different council to expedite the process.

I cant sleep at night and I have neck disc issues because of it

DCC confirmed an applicant on their housing list can also express an interest in up to two areas in other Dublin local authorities. However, if they decide to open a social housing application elsewhere, their application with DCC will be closed.

I have been on the waiting list since 2008  we were taken off of it in 2016 after we changed our address and it brought us back to the bottom of the list  its been 18 years now, Mr Mustafa said.

DCC told the Irish Independent it attempts to contact people on the housing list through a Social Housing Need Assessment each year. After three attempts to contact them, their application is closed, but this can be appealed within six months, or longer in exceptional cases.

Mr Mustafa has also expressed interest for the housing waiting list for Blanchardstown in Fingal. But with demand for housing at its peak, the wait time might exceed another 10 years, Mr Burtchaell said.

Typically migrants and refugees end up with DCC because its the city centre  and when you arrive here as a migrant or refugee, someone new to the country wont understand what areas to opt for, Mr Burtchaell said.

So people choose places like Ranelagh where youre very unlikely to get a home for years even if you are higher up on the list  thats why Sameeh has been waiting for so long.

Sameeh would be well down the list for Blanchardstown but hes made it to higher up on DCCs waiting list  hes unlikely to get a house in the area hes opted for even over the next 20 years  so it would be ideal if he could switch to the waiting list for Dublin 15 and keep his place.

With Mr Mustafas health concerns and their sons education at risk of being interrupted, the family fear they will find themselves on the opposite side of Dublin.

I have no idea where we will be even if we are to get emergency accommodation  for my sons SNA, my doctor is here in Dublin 15 and I need to have my heart medication every single day, Mr Mustafa said. Im an older man, over the age of 66 with a heart condition and I dont know where I will be in a few weeks time.

He added fears around the eviction has affected their lives in Ireland, after close to 30 years of calling it home.

Im filled with dread for my family. Im thinking about the kids, what our future will look like, were all constantly thinking about moving  its been weeks of just uncertainty, he said.

I cant think, eat, sleep or drive. Its hard to think that my family and I have been living here close to 30 years and now were at risk of being homeless  it feels cruel, its just not right. Ive always been treated well in Ireland  but these last two years, ever since that first letter came, everythings gone to black.

The familys landlord has been approached for comment.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Politics

HSE still owns almost 200 vacant properties across the country, with calls for hospital sites to be turned into social housing

The HSE owns almost 200 vacant properties across the country, more than 110 of which have been identified as surplus to requirement.
Galway County Council has opened applications for its 2026 Local Enhancement Programme, with 213,000 available to support upgrades to community facilities across the county.

The funding will assist not-for-profit community and voluntary groups with projects including improvements to community areas, energy efficiency measures, accessibility enhancements and the purchase of essential equipment.

Under the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), a particular emphasis has been placed on enhancements to community support centres, following the heavy reliance on these spaces during Storm Eowyn. Large parts of the county were left without power during the storm, prompting calls for improved resilience measures ahead of future extreme weather events.

Applicant groups are being encouraged to consider the purchase of generators for community spaces to help maintain essential services and maximise safety during power outages.

The scheme attracted strong interest and supported a wide range of community projects last year, said LECP Chair Cllr Michael Connolly. Groups used the funding for hall upgrades, youth facilities, heritage work, Mens Sheds and improvements to local meeting spaces. Even small grants can make a real difference to the everyday work of volunteers in towns, villages and rural areas.

Among the groups that received funding in the 2025 allocation were Athenry Mens Shed (3,800), Carrabane Parish Hall in Athenry (5,000), Garrafrauns Community Council in Dunmore (3,000), the Oughterard Courthouse Conservation and Heritage Company Limited (4,000), and the Williamstown Playground Committee (3,000).

Applications are open to all not-for-profit community and voluntary groups and will close on Monday February 23, 2025. Application forms are available online.

Funding will be released once projects are approved by the LCDC, all conditions are met, and applications align with one or more priority areas set out in the Local Economic and Community Plan.

Further information is available from Galway County Councils Community Department at communitygrants@galwaycoco.ie.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.
Kerrys new biorefinery project is on the money according to a farming representative as the countys flagship research campus receives stimulus for the sector.

John Brosnan, bioeconomy executive at the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), is very excited about the potential of biorefining to provide a much-needed supplement to the incomes of future farmers.

Biorefinery is the word on many lips at MTU North Campus as a new grass biorefinery plant was given the go-ahead last week.

Led by James Gaffey, principal investigator for green biorefinery research based at MTU, this new facility will further develop technologies that convert grass into a range of valuable products, including high-quality animal feeds, bioenergy and human-grade protein.

Previous research at MTU has shown the potential for farmers to get more bang for their buck out of their grass by extracting proteins typically discarded by livestock, while still creating silage to feed them.

The refining process works by pressing freshly cut grass to extract juice, called green juice and produce a dry press cake. While the juice and cake contain about half of the grass proteins each, trials show the cake performed similarly well to traditional silage when given to dairy cows.

However, the juice is the part that unlocks the potential for high-value products, following distillation and further processing. The protein concentrate that is produced at the end of the extensive process could potentially replace high-protein feedstocks such as soybean meal.

Ireland has had a declining cereal sector for years, said Mr Gaffey, so we need to find alternative sources of concentrates.

Theres lots of work at the government level, promoting things like beans and lupins and faba bean, but our solution would be to looking at our grass.

We can actually feed cows, and we can also produce concentrate and potentially replace soybean meal with this product.

Even higher value still is the potential of the creation of proteins suitable for human consumption. A previous project at MTU looked at the production of fructo-oligosaccharides, a carbohydrate with prebiotic health benefits, assessing its potential to improve gut health.

Furthermore, used as feed, the press cake has been found to produce 20pc lower emissions from cows, in terms of nitrogen and phosphate, than traditional silage. Reducing the nitrogen protein, which is often beyond what a cow needs, means that less is excreted as waste.

Mr Brosnan, who is a farmer in Castleisland alongside his role with ICOS, believes biorefining provides a big opportunity for farmers to supplement and diversify their income.

Modern challenges of farming life, which include encouraging the younger generation to take up farming and environmental targets, such as decarbonisation and biodiversity, are strongly promoted by this technology.

How do you come up with something that helps to even out the peaks and troughs of income volatility, that attracts young people, that isn't a labour-intensive, cumbersome activitythat doesn't damage the environment, that doesn't lead to intensification? asked Mr Brosnan.

I think what James has hit on with his colleagues is on the moneyand that's really exciting given the ability we have in this country to grow grass.

Mr Brosnan believes the technology is well proven and the task for researchers and entrepreneurs is now to get the refining working at scale and develop a market for products created by the process.

You have to make sure that you can procure the equipment at the scale you want it and make sure it's reliable, cost effective, there's support there for it, he said.

Second of all, the work James is doing to see what products are viably produced from it, and then what are the markets for those.

Once you can prove that, then you can sit in front of a group of farmers or existing cooperatives and say, listen, this is a viable opportunity now.

I think when you give farmers a few sound bites, that we're going to take grass and take protein from it, farmers may at first feel threatened by it but when you sit down with farmers and explain fully what this is about, I do think that they would view it as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Mr Brosnan is optimistic these parts of the puzzle can be solved in the next few years, and a business proposition can be put to farmers.

Denmark sets a clear example to follow for Mr Brosnan, who highlights the bio-industrial parks the country now boasts as a European leader in the sector.

GreenLab Skive, located in Skive, Denmark, houses an anabolic digestor (AD) plants, a grass protein plant, a biochar plant, wind turbines and gas network connection all on the same site.

Centralisation of these smaller energy projects in the one place provides significant benefits in terms of efficiency of scale, said Mr Brosnan.

It's hugely scaled, and the by-product of one becomes the feedstock of anotherif you have surplus heat, instead of wasting it, that could be piped across an industrial park to somebody else who'll use it, if you're producing biochar, and you want to heat your AD plant, you just stick a pipe across, rather than wasting that heat...it makes huge sense.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme
Rodrigo Braga of Rathbraughan Park, Sligo was charged with driving without a driving licence and having no insurance on the Link Road, Ballytivnan on November 26, 2024.

Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (defending), said that his client is a Brazil national who has been living for four years in Ireland. He added that Braga now has his affairs in order.

Mr MacSharry asked Judge Eiteain Cunningham to exercise her discretion as his client works in an industry in which his licence is important. He added that the incident will be a very valuable lesson for his client.

For driving without insurance, Judge Cunningham convicted and fined Braga 250 but did not disqualify him from driving as he had no previous convictions and the special circumstances outlined by his solicitor.

She convicted and fined the defendant 100 for driving without a driving licence.
The Ballymackeogh Road that links Newport in Tipperary with Limerick is "an accident waiting to happen". Stock photo: Getty

At the January meeting of the Nenagh Municipal District, Labour Party councillor Fiona Bonfield raised the issue of safety on the Ballymackeogh Road, a busy artery that links the town of Newport with Limerick.

Cllr Bonfield said that safety works were needed on this road, or it would only be a matter of time before a bus full of children would end up in the ditch along there.

"Ive raised this before, but I have to raise it again because a car went in over the ditch there over Christmas, but the Ballymackeogh Road, the R503, I know we did work there before, but another car went over the ditch there recently, she said.

"We really need to keep this on the agenda with the Department of Transport, because its only a matter of time when a bus full of children is going to go in over that embankment down there, and I dont want to have it on my conscience that I didnt try my best with the powers that be.

"I know its going to cost a fortune, and we were to look at drawing up a design for it at some stage, but something really needs to be done about it, because somebody is going to get killed there, Cllr Bonfield added.

Fianna Fail councillor John Carroll backed Cllr Bonfields call, saying that he has been raising the same issue for many years.

"This road needs to be focused in on, theres a lot of school buses there going to and from Limerick to Newport, and God forbid if an accident happened, it is low-lying land, it is subsiding all the time, and I think the highest possible priority should be put on this, Cllr Carroll said.

In response, the roads engineer for the district said that significant challenges are posed by that road because it sits on bog land.

"The R503 is a regional road, its a very busy road, and its constructed on a bog so the foundations of the road are very, very poor. What that means in effect is that the road is moving, and its constantly moving, councillors were told.

"The road undulates to some degree, it settles, we go out and we fix it, and it settles again. The problem is that its technically very difficult to put a solution in place, normally youve got good foundations in place, you could put good barriers in place, but the fact is, its an extremely difficult solution from an engineering point of view, the engineer added.

"This problem is actually quite widespread in the district, its not just on the R503, the Athlone Road too would be a classic example where theres a weakness on the verge, he said.

Going forward, council engineers will continue to raise the issue with the Department of Transport to come up with a solution.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
It didnt feel like glossy tourism, it really captured the soul of Wexford  Model county shines on major British TV travel show

Chair of Visit Wexford hopes that the programme with its international reach, will make international visitors curious to visit the county

British TV presenter Fred Sirieix pictured with Wexford Oyster farmer Tommy Hickey

Cillian Boggan Wexford People Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 12:40

Last weekend, the loveable and versatile Fred Sirieix returned to British screens with the second instalment or part deux of his hit show Tour de Fred which is co-produced by Tourism Ireland and supported by Irish Ferries, airing on ITV1 and ITVX.
A man has been given a sentencing date over actions linked to the death of Wicklow father-of-seven William Moorehouse, who was found dead in a playground in Bray in January last year.

Additionally several of his co-accused have been sent forward for trial at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court.

Kris Kiggins (32), of no fixed abode, was not present before the court, with counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly BL, informing the court that the defendant had been arraigned at a previous sitting and is due to be sentenced on February 18, 2026.

Mr Kiggins is to be sentenced in respect of the production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury and one count of violent disorder.

In separate but related proceedings arising from the same incident, Jamie OConnor (21), of Ballywaltrim Heights, Bray, Co. Wicklow, and Kaelum OConnor, of the same address, appeared before the sitting of Wicklow Criminal Circuit Court charged with violent disorder and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury.

Counsel for both men, Conor Rubalcava BL, who was standing in on behalf of their legal teams, told the court that the defence had only received relevant CCTV footage in November.

Both accused were given a trial date of June 9, 2026, with the court informed that the trials are expected to take two weeks.

In further proceedings relating to the same incident, Kyle OConnor (18), of Ballywaltrim Heights, Bray, is charged with violent disorder and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury.

The court was told that the prosecution is currently in the process of obtaining a report to determine whether the accused is fit to plead.

Ed Sweetman BL, for the defence, said an update would be welcome, noting that a report obtained by the defence states that Mr OConnor is unfit to plead. The court heard that the prosecution is experiencing delays in obtaining its report, with Mr Kelly stating: It is as troublesome on this side of the house as it is on your side of the house.

Judge Patrick Quinn noted that June should be sufficient time to establish whether the defendant is fit to stand trial.

James Fell (24), of Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow, and Sean McCann (22), of Wolfe Tone Square North, Bray, Co. Wicklow, who are also charged with violent disorder and production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury, were likewise given trial dates of June 9.

In separate proceedings in Dublin, Patrick Fitzpatrick (32), of Heather Hall, Kilruddery Glen, Bray, Co. Wicklow, is charged with violent disorder, production of an article, and the murder of William Moorehouse.

He is expected to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in the summer of 2026.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
The vacant building in Delgany, which was previously owned by the HSE.

Permission has been sought to convert a vacant Wicklow village building that once belonged to the Health Service Executive (HSE) into rental apartments, despite past efforts for the premises to be handed over to the community for use as a public facility.
Brendan Gleeson cant stop talking. Materialising on my laptop screen, the Oscar-nominated star of The Banshees of Inisherin and Harry Potter sails through twinkly-eyed anecdotes and impassioned detours. He apologises for going on a bit, then immediately goes on a bit more. Its great.

Far from the grouchy or mean men hes often inhabited, Gleeson is gentle and gregarious.

Were discussing H is for Hawk, Philippa Lowthorpes sensitive adaptation of Helen Macdonalds bestselling memoir, in which Gleesons patriarch dies early but hovers over every frame.

Its led us on to the difference between the Irish approach to death and that of the English.

This takes the Dubliner back to the funeral of a friend  Anthony Minghella, who directed Gleeson in Cold Mountain five years before he died in 2008.

At an Irish funeral, if the man or the woman has had a life, all you hear is people laughing and telling stories, Gleeson says. Its all about what a life theyve had, how they embraced the life.

But that really wasnt the vibe when the director of The English Patient was laid to rest, Gleeson says. I remember going to his funeral and being absolutely stunned by the lack of He trails off, recalibrates.

Id be telling funny stories about Anthony, about things on set, and how, you know, he said hed do Beckett with me and Im still waiting. Instead, the 70-year-old says, it was all dignity. It was all ceremony. It was all very beautiful in its own way, and full of emotion.

In Ireland, by contrast, he says there is always conversation, and far more immediate engagement with the person that was there, and you can feel them there, like even in the wake. Its an incredible, communal embrace of death, in a way that doesnt happen in Britain.

In H is for Hawk, Claire Foys Helen faces her fathers death by training a goshawk called Mabel.

The dad in question is the celebrated real-life photojournalist Alisdair Macdonald. A frequent chronicler of The Beatles live shows, he was also responsible for the famous shot of Princess Diana and Prince Charles kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

What drew Gleeson to the role was the chance to play a good man. I had become very tired of the trope of the toxic father becoming absolutely relentless in the scripts I was reading, he says.

And I got very bored with it first, and then I got very sort of irritated by it, and then I began to feel that there was a dearth of role models for young men with regard to fatherhood, being perpetuated in script after script after script.

Young men are already insecure about societys expectations, he argues. So I thought the opportunity to play a good father was incredibly valuable.

Brendan Gleeson in 'The Banshees of Inisherin'

Its Alisdair who encourages Helens love of nature, introducing her to birding on their expeditions together. After his death, she becomes consumed by her devotion to Mabel  who is not just any bird, but a predator with a froideur yet to thaw. Keeping Mabel on her wrist at all times, even as a don at Cambridge, Helen cuts an eccentric figure as her life unravels and her house falls into squalor.

Foy underwent extensive training to handle the birds, and her scenes carry real authenticity.

Shes unbelievable, Gleeson says. She has such depth; you can feel a kind of huge intensity in terms of what shes experiencing.

By any measure, training a goshawk is an unusual response to death, but it springs, at least in part, from how Helen was given permission by her father to be strange. This resonates with Gleeson, though hes careful about where that permission ends.

His own four sons with wife Mary  Domhnall, whos carved out his own stellar career in Ex Machina and Star Wars, and Brian (Peaky Blinders) are actors, while Fergus works in film production and Rory is a writer  were raised with a similar freedom, but within limits.

Theres a line with everything in parenthood

Theres a line with everything in parenthood, Gleeson says. If the strangeness is not going to make them happy, in the sense that theres excessive aloneness, he says, you have to find ways to help a child integrate with others, because you dont want to get completely removed from your environment. Were kind of herd animals by fundamental instinct.

His own generation rebelled against conformity and demanded personal expression. But then if you bust out of it, to where you say it doesnt matter how you engage with your environment, you raise a lot of brats who think that theyre the only people in the world and that their concerns are the only concerns of the world, he says.

Gleeson is wary of the current obsession with telling children theyre brilliant at everything. The last thing you want to be doing as parents is shoving people into their own corner and saying, Youre unique, and everybody really should sit up and recognise how brilliant you are.

Gleeson himself came to acting late, only turning professional at 34. Before that, he taught Irish and English at a secondary school in north Dublin, moonlighting with amateur theatre companies.

Gleeson has a rare gift for balancing menace with unexpected tenderness, and his knack for the curmudgeonly  whether played for laughs or for darkness  remains unmatched.

Theres a through-line starting from his breakout role in The General (1998), John Boormans portrait of Dublin gangster Martin Cahill, in which Gleeson found both charm and bristling threat in a real-life criminal. It carried through to his career-defining turn opposite Colin Farrell in Martin McDonaghs In Bruges (2008), as a contract killer grappling with guilt amid the medieval architecture of Belgium.

And then his shattering work in Calvary (2014) as Father James, a priest marked for death who spends his final days radiating wounded dignity.

Brendan Gleeson in 'Calvary'. Photo: Jonathan Hession

Ask him about working with the likes of Spielberg and Boorman, and he becomes reverential. Theyre the heroes, he says. John Boorman  I did a thing for the Cork Film Festival where they honoured him as a disruptor. I quoted this stone he had in Wicklow with Celtic swirls carved on it by a monk. Underneath, it said: John Boorman caused this to be made. And I thought, how many things has John Boorman caused to be made? All the things of beauty that he had been part of.

He pauses. These guys have been doing this their whole lives, fighting against commerce, fighting to get everything, to try and create something of wonder.

The same goes for Scorsese. When I did Gangs of New York, I went to meet him in Rome, Gleeson says. He gave me this script, and I couldnt get over it, he said, Ive been trying to make this for 25 years. I said, youve chronicled the American experience, and you cant get the money to make a movie about New York. How is this possible?

When I mention the Harry Potter films in our discussion about parenting  Daniel Radcliffe was 16, Gleeson 49, when they first appeared together in The Goblet of Fire  and ask what he thought of its young stars coming out against JK Rowlings hostile views towards trans women, he forcefully demurs. But the flashpoint leads us towards his views more generally on intractable conflicts.

I think this is what we can best do as artists: show people that theyre better off being compassionate, being kinder

I think this is what we can best do as artists: show people that theyre better off being compassionate, being kinder, he says. And it doesnt mean that you cant have a slag about somebody, because you dont have to turn into sort of a wellness factory. What you have to do is just literally believe in the goodness of people, that people only want a chance to live good lives. I really believe thats what they want to do. Most people. All across the world.

Even on Zoom, Gleeson has real presence. When he laughs, which he does often, his eyes narrow and his grin spreads wide, transforming those craggy features entirely. His face is a palimpsest of everyone hes played and everything hes lived.

I bring up the Guardian interview in which he was quoted as saying, I havent got a pretty face. Does he think thats been liberating, not having to manage the loss of looks in the way that conventionally handsome actors do?

Gleeson laughs. Thats a really interesting question, he says. The camera tells a story, he explains, and appearance is part of that story. If you have a romantic movie, and these two sublime-looking people are looking at each other, the story is almost told in itself.

Hes never been bothered about chiselling his looks or whitening his teeth.

I was always more interested in enjoying life, in a way that allowed me to understand the lives of people who live in the world, as against the people who photograph themselves living in the world, he says.

Gleeson is fascinated by how good-looking actors navigate ageing. Take Jack Nicholson, he says: A lot of it has to do with his personality, but also hes a good-looking gent, and so all of that is a power.

Then theres Colin Farrell. Its really funny to see womens reactions to him. They literally blush. He only has to walk in. Its insane, but its a gift to the world, because hes not a d**k. Hes actually a really cool person underneath it all, he says.

People like Farrell and Nicholson are so great at what they do. Theyre such brilliant actors. And then this other thing helps. That grin again. So if you havent got that, you just do the other bits.

H is for Hawk is out in cinemas on Friday, January 23
The Duke of Sussex arrives at the Royal Courts Of Justice, central London (James Manning/PA)

The Duke of Sussex has arrived at a central London court ahead of the start of the trial of his claim against the Daily Mails publisher over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

Harry, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

The duke, who is expected to give evidence on Thursday, arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London at around 10.05am on Monday.

Sir Elton and Mr Furnish are expected to follow Mondays proceedings on a live video-link.

The nine-week trial before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to begin at 10.30am.

The group claims that the publisher carried out or commissioned unlawful activities such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, blagging private records and accessing private phone conversations.

ANL, which also publishes the Mail on Sunday, has strongly denied wrongdoing.

The group of household names started their legal cases against ANL in 2022, with documents setting out the claims naming dozens of journalists, including some national newspaper editors.

In 2023, ANL failed to have the cases thrown out before a trial on the basis that they were time-barred, or brought too late.

In written submissions for the hearing in May that year, Adrian Beltrami KC, for ANL, said that the legal actions were stale.

The Duke of Sussex arrived at court on Monday morning (Jonathan Brady/PA)

He also said the individuals had to prove they did not know earlier, or could not have discovered earlier, that they might have had a claim against it for alleged misuse of their private information.

Barrister David Sherborne, for the group, told the hearing that the unlawful acts in the claim include illegally intercepting voicemail messages, listening to live landline calls and obtaining medical records.

In written submissions, he said: They range through a period from 1993 to 2011, even continuing beyond until 2018.

Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed ANLs bid to have the claims dismissed in November 2023, ruling that the publisher had not delivered a knockout blow to the claims.

He concluded that each of the group had a real prospect of demonstrating that ANL concealed relevant facts that would have allowed them to bring a claim against the publisher earlier.

There have been several preliminary hearings in the claim, including one in November 2024 that heard that Lady Lawrence was alerted to a potential legal claim by a text from Harry.

Harry has previously brought legal action against other newspaper publishers over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

He was previously awarded 140,600 in damages by a judge from Mirror Group Newspapers in 2023, and settled a claim against News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, last January.
Iran warns of harsh response if US strikes country in wake of protests

Tehran indicates it may go ahead with mass executions but seeks to deter Donald Trump from threats of military action

A protester holds a sign with an image of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, during a march organised by Britain's Iranian Committee for Freedom and Stop The Hate, in London yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Parisa Hafezi Reuters Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 06:30

Irans president warned yesterday that any US strike would trigger a harsh response from Tehran after an Iranian official in the region said at least 5,000 people, including about 500 security personnel, had been killed in nationwide protests.
Pentagon prepares to deploy 1,500 soldiers to Minnesota amid rising tensions over ICE shooting

Donald Trump has threatened to use Insurrection Act if protesters not stopped

US secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has suggested establishing a 'peaceful protest zone'. Photo: Getty

Idrees Ali Reuters Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 06:30

The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers in Alaska to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota, the site of large protests against the governments deportation drive, two US officials told Reuters yesterday.
Only Hungarys leader Viktor Orban accepted US invite outright

Governments reacted cautiously yesterday to US president Donald Trumps invitation to join his Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving conflicts globally, a plan that diplomats said could harm the work of the UN.

Only Hungary, whose leader is a close Trump ally, gave an unequivocal acceptance in response to the invitations, which have been addressed to some 60 nations and began arriving in European capitals on Saturday, according to diplomats.
Image credit : X| @onlyfanspop| Legendary designer Valentino Garavani remembered at 93

The master who defined modern elegance

Image credit : X| @GMorenghi| Fashion icon Valentino Garavani leaves a timeless legacy

Fans pay tribute to a fashion icon

Farewell, Valentino Garavani.





























Your elegant spirit will forever be cherished. I recall how your choice of red made a significant impact through its contrast and length, not to mention the presence of sensuality. The dresses you created embodied innocence and allure within a pic.twitter.com/XhRXOqpJWs



























 Valerie T. M. Berger (@valeriemberger) January 19, 2026

The world of fashion is mourning the loss of one of its most enduring visionaries. Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian couturier whose name became synonymous with elegance, drama and timeless glamour, has died at the age of 93. His foundation confirmed that the designer passed away peacefully at his home in Rome, closing the final chapter of a career that reshaped haute couture for generations.From his earliest days, Valentino was drawn to beauty, discipline and craft. What began as a Roman atelier evolved into a global empire, one that dressed queens, actresses and cultural icons while setting an uncompromising standard for luxury. His designs were never fleeting trends. They were statements of grace, precision and confidence, stitched with a deep respect for tradition and artistry. Over nearly five decades, Valentinos influence extended far beyond the runway. His shows in Rome, Paris and New York were cultural events, eagerly anticipated by the fashion elite. Whether creating sculptural gowns or impeccably tailored evening wear, he brought romance and authority into every collection.Valentinos legacy rests not only in celebrity wardrobes but in how he shaped modern couture itself. He believed fashion should elevate the wearer, never overpower them. This philosophy earned him devotion from royalty, Hollywood stars and socialites who trusted his instinct for timeless beauty.Perhaps no element of his work is more instantly recognisable than Valentino red. The bold, dramatic shade became his signature, symbolising passion, power and refinement. It was a colour that commanded attention without excess, reflecting the designers belief that elegance lies in restraint as much as spectacle.Though Valentino stepped back from active designing years ago, the fashion house bearing his name continues to reflect his vision. His influence remains woven into contemporary collections, red carpets and couture ateliers around the world.News of Valentinos death prompted an outpouring of emotion from admirers across the globe. Designers, models and fans took to social media to honour a man many consider the last great master of Italian couture.One fan wrote on X: "Farewell, Valentino Garavani. Your elegant spirit will forever be cherished. I recall how your choice of red made a significant impact through its contrast and length, not to mention the presence of sensuality. The dresses you created embodied innocence and allure within a subdued yet commanding discourse that will always be remembered. Your love for creations is rooted in intelligence. It is not for the gaudy cynics; rather, it is for the power of beauty. The beauty found in harmony and freedom."
An unexpected recommendation

Image credit : Wikipedia official page| Doechii suggests Toni Morrison to Kai Cenat after his funny word struggle

Toni Morrisons legacy meets internet fame

Image credit : Britannica official page| Toni Morrison was a celebrated American novelist and Nobel Prize winner

Influence vs intelligence

Image credit : X/KaiCenat| Doechiis casual Toni Morrison mention hits the streaming timeline with Kai Cenat

When rapper Doechii casually suggested Toni Morrison as a reading choice for Kai Cenat, it sparked an unexpectedly layered internet conversation one that blended hip-hop, streaming culture, and literary legacy. What began as a light online moment quickly turned into a broader debate about language, influence, and how Black cultural figures shape discourse across platforms.The exchange gained traction after clips and screenshots circulated showing Doechii responding to commentary around Kai Cenats speech and vocabulary. Instead of mocking or lecturing, she pointed toward Toni Morrisons work as something that personally helped her expand her own expression. The suggestion stood out because it wasnt framed as a challenge or critique  it landed more like a personal recommendation shared in public.Kai Cenat, one of the most influential streamers in the world, represents a generation whose communication style is shaped by livestreams, memes, and rapid-fire internet language. Doechii, meanwhile, occupies a space where music, performance, and intellect often intersect. That contrast is partly why the moment resonated so widely.Toni Morrisons name carries weight far beyond literature. A Nobel Prizewinning author, her work is known for emotional depth, cultural specificity, and linguistic richness. Bringing her into a viral internet moment immediately raised eyebrows and opinions. Some online users applauded the suggestion as thoughtful and empowering, while others questioned whether Morrisons dense prose was the right comparison point for a livestream-driven era.What followed wasnt just about reading habits. It became a conversation about whose language is validated, how intelligence is measured online, and whether public figures should be expected to evolve their expression in certain ways.The episode highlights a larger shift in pop culture. Streamers like Kai Cenat dominate youth attention in ways musicians once exclusively did. Rappers like Doechii, however, are increasingly seen as multidimensional creatives  artists who engage with ideas beyond music.Rather than feeling like a clash, the moment underscored how different Black cultural spaces overlap and challenge each other. It wasnt about correcting anyone, it was about visibility, influence, and how recommendations from one cultural lane can ripple across another.In the end, Doechiis comment didnt demand change. It simply opened a conversation and in todays internet, thats often more powerful than any viral punchline.
Warning issued after CBS interview with Trump

Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | US President Donald Trump

CBS editorial leadership under scrutiny

Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | Donald Trump has warned CBS News against editing a recent interview

Ownership changes and legal context

CBS airs interview in full, responds to threat

Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | Trump had alleged that the edits were intended to mislead viewers

Donald Trump has escalated tensions with CBS News after his White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was recorded warning the network to air a recent interview with the president in full and without edits. The warning included a clear legal threat if the interview was broadcast in any altered form.The exchange was captured in an audio recording first reported by the New York Times. It followed a 13-minute exclusive interview conducted by CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil, which aired on Tuesday. The warning also came months after CBSs parent company, Paramount, agreed to pay Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over the editing of an unrelated interview aired ahead of the 2024 election.According to the recording, Leavitt told Dokoupil that Trump had explicitly instructed that the interview not be edited. Make sure you guys dont cut the tape, make sure the interview is out in full, Leavitt said, recounting Trumps message to the network.Dokoupil responded on the audio by assuring her that CBS planned to air the interview in full. Leavitt then added that Trump had made the stakes clear, stating that if the interview was not broadcast in its entirety, legal action would follow.At one point during the exchange, another woman can be heard responding to Leavitts remarks by saying, Oh great, OK, after the lawsuit threat was mentioned.The interaction occurred during a period of heightened scrutiny for CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, who assumed the role in October. Since taking the position, Weiss has faced criticism over accusations that the network has shown favoritism toward the Trump administration, raising concerns about CBSs editorial independence.Weiss entered the role without prior television experience, and her leadership has drawn attention amid ongoing debates about newsroom decision-making. Her tenure has already included a series of editorial controversies.One notable incident involved Weisss decision to pull a segment scheduled for broadcast on 60 Minutes on 21 December. The segment, reported by veteran correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, focused on Venezuelan men deported by the administration. Weiss stated that a lack of response from the Trump administration influenced her decision. According to CNN, CBS later planned to air the segment on a subsequent episode of 60 Minutes.CBS is now controlled by Paramount Skydance, founded by David Ellison, the son of Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who is a friend of Trump. In October, Paramount Skydance also acquired Free Press, the conservative opinion media company founded by Weiss after she left the New York Times in 2020.The recent warning from Leavitt follows a legal settlement reached in July, when Paramount agreed to pay Trump $16 million over its editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, Trumps 2024 election rival. Trump had alleged that the edits were intended to mislead viewers. CBS countered that the interview had been edited only for time, a common television practice, but still opted to settle the lawsuit.During the interview that aired Tuesday, Trump said the United States would take very strong action if Iran executed protesters. He also described Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell as lousy and defended the actions of the ICE agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis on 7 January.CBS later broadcast the interview in full and without edits. In a statement released Saturday, the network said it had independently decided to air the interview unedited from the moment it was booked.Responding to the New York Times, Leavitt said the American public deserved to see Trumps interviews without edits or cuts. She concluded by noting that the interview ultimately aired in full.
Trump frames peace stance around Nobel Prize

Image credit : Wikipedia official page| Trump says Nobel snub frees him to focus on US interests, not just peace

Greenlands strategic role back in spotlight

Image credit : IMDb official page| Trump links Nobel snub to Greenland, claiming the US should have a stronger Arctic role

Allies weigh response amid tariff threats

Image credit : Wikipedia official page| Trumps letter sparks concern in Europe as allies weigh responses over Greenland and US policy moves

In a rare and striking diplomatic communication, US President Donald Trump has told Norways Prime Minister that he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace after not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize and tied that disappointment directly to his push for greater US influence over Greenland. The letter, dated January 19, was shared with European governments and has intensified tensions between Washington and its key NATO allies.In the text of the letter, Trump wrote, Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. He made clear that missing out on the prestigious award has, in his view, shifted how he approaches global diplomacy and US security priorities.The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee based in Oslo, and not by the Norwegian government, a point underscored by Oslo in response to Trumps message. Norwegian officials have also stressed that the letter was unsolicited and came after a separate diplomatic outreach from Oslo and Finland on broader alliance concerns.The letter then pivoted sharply from the Nobel issue to Greenland, which Trump has repeatedly said is essential for regional security. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? Trump wrote, challenging Copenhagens authority over the vast Arctic territory. There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, he added, underlining his belief that the United States should have a more dominant role there.Trump went even further by invoking NATO, stating, I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.The unusual blend of personal grievance, geopolitical messaging, and strategic pressure has alarmed European capitals. Several NATO countries are considering responses, with EU officials signalling preparedness to defend their economic interests if US tariff threats tied to Greenland policy materialise. Leaders in Denmark and Greenland have firmly reiterated that the island is not for sale and emphasised that any decision on its future lies with its people and within the Kingdom of Denmarks framework.For many allies, the episode represents an unprecedented intersection of symbolic award politics and hard geopolitical manoeuvring that could have enduring effects on transatlantic relations.
Allegations against the Daily Mail publisher

Image credit : X/MirrorRoyal | Prince Harry has returned to Londons High Court

Background of the phone hacking scandal

Personal motivation and family strain

Image credit : X/dailystar | Prince Harry is returning to court this week

Legal rulings and conflicting evidence

Image credit : X/Mikeedakid1 | Prince Harry has previously secured significant legal victories

Prince Harry is returning to court this week for the third and final stage of a high-profile legal battle aimed at challenging the practices of British tabloids. The case, which begins Monday in Londons High Court, carries financial stakes running into the millions and represents a significant chapter in the Duke of Sussexs long-running confrontation with the U.K. press.Harry is the lead claimant in a lawsuit accusing the publisher of the Daily Mail of serious privacy violations. The legal action is being closely watched due to the prominence of the individuals involved and its potential implications for press conduct in Britain.The lawsuit has been brought by a group of seven high-profile figures, including Harry, musician Elton John, and actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost. The claimants allege that Associated Newspapers Ltd. engaged in unlawful information-gathering practices to obtain material for sensational stories.According to the claims, private investigators were allegedly hired to bug vehicles, access private records, and listen in on phone conversations. The publisher has firmly denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded and calling them preposterous.The trial is expected to last approximately nine weeks and will again see Harry give evidence. This marks his second appearance in the witness box since 2023, when he became the first senior royal in more than a century to testify in court.The case is one of several legal actions stemming from the wider phone hacking scandal that emerged in Britain. Beginning around the turn of the century, journalists at some tabloids were found to have intercepted voicemail messages, a practice that continued for more than a decade.Harry has previously secured significant legal victories linked to these practices. In 2023, he won a court ruling against the publishers of the Daily Mirror, which found evidence of widespread and habitual phone hacking. In a separate case last year, a major U.K. tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch issued an unprecedented apology for intruding into Harrys private life and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his claim.Harry has consistently said that his campaign against the press is deeply personal. He has blamed media intrusion for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being followed by paparazzi.He has also accused the British press of launching sustained attacks against his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Harry has said this treatment contributed to their decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to the United States in 2020.The trial coincides with ongoing efforts by Harry to mend strained relationships within the royal family. Tensions escalated after the publication of his 2023 memoir, Spare, and the release of a Netflix series that aired family grievances. While Harry and King Charles III reportedly met for tea last fall, a reunion during this visit appears unlikely, as Charles is scheduled to be in Scotland when the trial begins.The case was filed in 2022 and has already involved multiple contentious hearings. Associated Newspapers argued that claims dating back to 1993 were submitted too late. However, Judge Matthew Nicklin ruled that the case had a real prospect of succeeding, stating the publisher had not delivered a knockout blow.Nicklin also ruled that certain records showing alleged payments to private investigators could not initially be used, as they were disclosed confidentially to a government inquiry. Harrys legal team later obtained permission from U.K. officials to use the documents.A private investigator, Gavin Burrows, whose sworn statement initially supported the claimants allegations, later filed another statement denying wrongdoing. The impact of these conflicting claims remains unclear. Other claimants in the case include anti-racism activist Doreen Lawrence and former politician Simon Hughes.
Greece is evaluating an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to become a founding member of a proposed international Peace Council, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis announced Thursday, signaling Athens potential

pivot toward a more active role in global conflict resolution.

Speaking after a trilateral summit with his Cypriot and Egyptian counterparts in Cairo, Mr. Gerapetritis confirmed Athens is reviewing the documents. He emphasized that Greece will coordinate its final decision with European Union partners and key regional allies, particularly Egypt.

The initiative aligns with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803, which Greece supported as a current member of the council.

Greece consistently supports all initiatives that promote peace, security and stability, Mr. Gerapetritis said.

The Cairo talks focused heavily on the war in Gaza and instability across the Middle East. The three ministers welcomed the launch of the second phase of a U.S. 20-point plan aimed at ending the conflict. Mr. Gerapetritis praised Egypts mediation efforts and reiterated support for a two-state solution, stating that a reformed Palestinian Authority is essential for a credible peace process.

Addressing other regional flashpoints, the Greek minister called for Syria's reintegration into the Arab fold, pending an inclusive political transition. On Iran, he urged de-escalation and respect for human rights.

No one should be punished for demonstrating in favor of freedom, Mr. Gerapetritis said.

The ministers also pledged to deepen cooperation on maritime security in the Red Sea to protect global trade routes. Mr. Gerapetritis described the 12-year Greece-Cyprus-Egypt partnership as a resilient "model" for coexistence in a region often paralyzed by crisis.

   iefimerida.gr
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed the 4.4 trillion 2026 budget into law.

The governor appended his signature to the budget on Monday at the Conference Room, Lagos House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

The State House of Assembly had approved the budget, christened Budget of Shared Prosperity, in January, authorising expenditure of 4,444,509,776,438 for the current fiscal year.

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Attendees at the signing ceremony included Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; cabinet members; Head of Service, Bode Agoro; state legislators; and other officials.

During the budget presentation to the Assembly in November 2025, Sanwo-Olu stated that the financial plan was crafted to enhance prosperity across the state.

Our mission remains clear: to eradicate poverty and build a Lagos that works for all. Our vision continues to guide every fiscal decision we make  to deliver a Greater Lagos where shared prosperity is not an aspiration but a lived and felt reality, the governor said.

He noted that the budget rests on four foundations: a human-centred approach, modern infrastructure, a thriving economy, and effective governance, consistent with the states T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda
Ugandas Electoral Commission has declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner of Thursdays presidential election, extending his grip on power to four decades.

According to official results released by the commission, Museveni, 81, polled 71.65 per cent of the votes cast, defeating his closest challenger, opposition leader and former pop star Bobi Wine, who secured 24.72 per cent.

The announcement followed a tense election period marked by reports of violence, intimidation and alleged human rights abuses. At least 10 people were reported killed during the process, with opposition supporters and civil society groups accusing security agencies of harassment.

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The outcome ensures Musevenis continued rule of Uganda, where he has remained president since 1986.

Bobi Wine, 43, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the results, describing them as fraudulent. On Saturday, he said he was in hiding after security operatives allegedly raided his residence.

I managed to escape from them. I am not at home right now, though my wife and other family members are still under house arrest, Wine wrote on X. They are looking for me everywhere, and I am doing everything possible to stay safe.

Wine, who rose from Kampalas slums and brands himself the ghetto president, said the raid forced him to flee and accused the government of ballot stuffing and widespread irregularities. He also alleged that members of his party were attacked during an internet blackout imposed ahead of the election and still in effect as of Saturday.

Police, however, denied storming his home, insisting they only restricted access to certain locations they considered security threats. Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke told journalists that authorities believed Wine was still at his residence.

We have not stopped people from accessing him, but we will not allow gatherings at his home that could be used to incite violence, Rusoke said.

AFP reporters observed a heavy deployment of security forces across Kampala, as authorities moved to forestall protests similar to those recently witnessed in Kenya and Tanzania.

International and African election observers said they found no direct evidence of ballot manipulation but criticised the climate of intimidation, arrests and reported abductions of opposition figures and activists, warning that such actions weakened public confidence in the democratic process.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, speaking for observer missions from the African Union, COMESA and IGAD, noted that the internet shutdown hindered election monitoring and heightened public suspicion, although he said voting day itself was largely peaceful.

Provisional parliamentary results also showed the ruling National Resistance Movement with a commanding lead, as vote counting continued.

Political analysts described the election result as largely expected, citing Musevenis long-standing dominance of state institutions and the security apparatus, alongside a history of crackdowns on opposition voices.

Another prominent opposition figure, Kizza Besigyewho has contested Museveni four timesremains embroiled in a treason trial after being abducted in Kenya in 2024 and returned to Uganda.

Meanwhile, allegations of post-election violence continued to surface. Muwanga Kivumbi, a lawmaker from Wines party, claimed security operatives killed 10 of his campaign aides during a raid on his home. Police rejected the claim, saying those killed were neutralised after allegedly attempting to attack a tally centre and a police station.

As tensions persist, Uganda braces for the aftermath of another disputed election in the long-running Museveni era.
Mausoleums on a hill on the Yeadon Borough side of Mount Moriah Cemetery on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Read more

Past a marble monument for a Civil War hero, down a grass path where toppled headstones disappear into ivy and weeds and faded miniature American flags droop, lies the underground vault of James Campbell, who died in 1913 and whose remains may have been among the dozens stolen in one of the largest grave desecration cases ever uncovered in Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Christian Gerlach, who was charged with more than 500 offenses earlier this month and is being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail, is accused of methodically breaking into burial vaults and mausoleums at Mount Moriah Cemetery, prying open caskets and removing human remains from Campbells burial ground and at least 25 other sites across the sprawling Philadelphia and Yeadon Borough cemetery.

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Inside Campbells vault, where his family members were also entombed 12 feet beneath the cemeterys surface as early as 1872, investigators said they found three broken caskets, crumbled marble, and a discarded pry bar. Six sets of human remains, they said, were missing.

Authorities allege that Gerlach moved through the cemetery repeatedly, at all hours, accessing sealed burial sites and removing dozens of remains over several weeks without being detected. Large sections of the cemetery, overgrown and rarely monitored, offered long stretches of isolation  conditions investigators say Gerlach may have exploited. And as law enforcement continues to sort through the evidence, local officials and cemetery advocates are pressing for changes to prevent this from happening again.

We were too slow to move, said Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins. Nobody thought such a dastardly act  such an inhumane and incomprehensible act  was possible.

Hepkins last week joined state and local officials to discuss what can be done to protect the burial grounds, where an estimated 180,000 people are buried.

He and others expressed cautious resolve that the cemetery could be secured well enough to prevent another violation of this scale.

I wish I could tell loved ones that Im not critically concerned, but I am, said State Sen. Anthony Williams, who represents the district where Mount Moriah Cemetery is located and was one of the officials who gathered to discuss preventive measures. But I dont know that Mount Moriah will ever be restored to the condition that they buried their loved ones in.

Mount Moriah Cemetery, a historic landmark abandoned by its last owner and under court receivership, has long been plagued by neglect and limited oversight.

Investigators say Gerlachs crimes unfolded over the course of months, starting in the fall and ending on the night of Jan. 6, when Yeadon detectives arrested the Pennsylvania man as he attempted to leave the cemetery.

License plate readers and cell phone towers place Gerlach near or inside the cemetery during both daylight and darkness. On Christmas Eve, for example, the technologies captured Gerlachs vehicle or phone at least three times between 12:28 a.m. and 12:54 p.m., court records show.

The day before, on Dec. 23, a Yeadon investigator working the case saw scratch marks on the heavy stone slab sealing the underground Zeigler family vault, as if, a detective wrote in an affidavit of probable cause for Gerlachs arrest, it had been marked as a target. When the detective returned on Dec. 26, the stone had been broken and nine sets of human remains stolen.

Yeadon police, who investigated the crimes alongside other authorities, have since been inundated with hundreds of calls and emails from anguished family members seeking answers, Chief Henry Giammarcco said.

Rescuing Mount Moriah

Mount Moriah Cemetery opened in 1855. Its owners, the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association, abandoned it in 2011, after years of mismanagement. The Friends of Mount Moriah, a volunteer-driven nonprofit, formed that same year with the goal of rescuing the grounds from vandalism, crime, and decay. In 2014, a Philadelphia judge appointed a receivership, the Mount Moriah Cemetery Preservation Corporation, to temporarily manage the cemetery until a permanent owner could be found.

More than a decade later, no permanent owner has emerged.

In 2018, the two groups and other stakeholders commissioned an ambitious strategic plan that called for stabilizing the cemeterys finances, finding a permanent owner, and remaking Mount Moriah into a viable public space. The plan assumed significant investment and long-term stewardship. Neither materialized.

Theres no clear revenue stream, and theres significant infrastructure improvements and capital improvements that are required, on top of maintenance costs, said Brian Abernathy, who served as chair of the preservation corporation when the plan was created.

At the time, Abernathy said, there was a lot of hope and optimism about what we could accomplish with it. But the plan stalled over obstacles that persist today, he said, including enticing an owner when so many costly repairs are needed.

Under the court order, the corporation  a board composed of officials from Philadelphia and Yeadon, including Hepkins  is responsible for preserving the cemetery but has delegated day-to-day care to Friends of Mount Moriah.

Over the years, Friends of Mount Moriah made visible gains. Its 12-person board and volunteers hauled away abandoned cars, tires. and trash, righted toppled headstones, and uncovered burial vaults beneath thick vines, brush, and overgrowth.

Until this happened, said John Schmehl Jr., the groups president, security was not our first concern.

Yet thieves knew the grounds. Last year, Schmehl said, more than $14,000 worth of lawn equipment  including mowers, weed trimmers, and hand tools  was stolen from the cemetery garage. Friends of Mount Moriah entered the growing season without the equipment needed to keep large sections of the cemetery accessible, he said.

Now, the group is scrambling to implement security improvements across the cemeterys more than 100 acres, including repairing dilapidated fencing, launching random patrols, and installing cameras on both the Philadelphia and Yeadon sides of the property. Fencing construction began last week. Schmehl said the group is seeking a private security company to monitor the cameras around the clock.

Cemetery volunteers dwindle

The backyard of 60-year-old Robin Pitts house overlooks the Springfield Avenue side of Mount Moriah, where her mother, brother, and extended family are buried.

As a child, Pitts said, she played kickball on an unfenced stretch of the cemetery near where Betsy Ross  the seamstress whose burial helped cement Mount Moriahs place in American history  rested for more than a century.

Those memories later drew Pitts to volunteer with Friends of Mount Moriah for nearly two decades, she said. On Saturdays, she said, she grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for volunteers who picked up trash and mowed the grass along Springfield Avenue.

But during the pandemic, Pitts said, the grounds began to deteriorate beyond what volunteers could manage. I thought, Enoughs enough. I cant do this anymore, she said. She stopped volunteering.

Last week, Pitts walked down a path choked with waist-high grass and weeds where she once mowed. She pointed past a tangle of barren hemlock blocking a path to a tree and several headstones  some toppled, others obscured by vines and brush. We used to clean it all the way past there, Pitts said. Now nobody does.

A shrinking volunteer base has slowed progress at the cemetery, Schmehl said. Some cleanup events draw just one volunteer. Its a struggle, to say the least, he said, adding that entire sections of the cemetery have been reclaimed by nature.

The cemetery is now open just two days a week, Saturdays and Sundays.

The costs of needed improvements are also significant. By Thursday, Friends of Mount Moriah had spent more than $20,000 of its roughly $90,000 annual budget to begin fencing construction and repairs, and secure the mausoleums and vaults that had been desecrated in the recent crimes. Additional donations, Schmehl said, will be needed to sustain the effort.

As recently as spring 2023, Mount Moriah Cemetery Preservation Corp. held more than $400,000 in its endowment, according to a letter filed in Philadelphia Orphans Court. Aubrey Powers, the receiverships chair, did not respond to questions concerning the receiverships contributions to the Friends of Mount Moriah or what the corporation will do to help address security or infrastructure needs.

As a condition of the receivership, the corporation must file semiannual reports to the court. A year ago, the only reference to security was a brief note stating that the receivership continues to encourage the Philadelphia and Yeadon Police Departments to schedule patrols in and around Mount Moriah Cemetery more frequently to deter criminal activity.

Hepkins said increased patrols would be part of a broader strategy to reduce criminal activity and restore oversight to the cemetery. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department said officers patrol the cemeterys perimeter, not its grounds.

There has to be some sort of intervention in order to rectify whats happened at Mount Moriah, Abernathy said. And I just dont know whos going to provide that intervention.

Whose remains are missing?

Hepkins on Wednesday climbed a steep hill from a small parking lot off Cobbs Creek Parkway to a cluster of mausoleums that Gerlach is accused of breaking into.

At the family mausoleum of John Hunter, a former president of the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association, authorities allege Gerlach smashed through a sealed cinder-block doorway and shattered the marble floor. He then rappelled 10 feet into the crypt and removed the remains of 15-year-old Martha Hunter, who died in 1869.

He left behind a length of white rope and a screwdriver, authorities said.

Just feet away, in the mausoleum of wholesale grocer Jonathan Prichard, Gerlach pulled cinder block from a sealed window and rifled through five of nine caskets inside, investigators allege. The remains of 62-year-old Mary Prichard Steigleman, Prichards daughter, are now missing.

Nearby is the family vault of John McCullough, a Shakespearean actor who died in 1889. Beneath a towering monument etched with a line from Julius Caesar, authorities said they found two caskets disturbed, one tipped onto its side. Both were empty.

More than a week after Gerlachs alleged break-in, bricks torn from the vaults seal lay piled beside the entrance, and a foot-long hole exposed the floor below. Inside, wooden pallets that investigators believe Gerlach used to climb down cluttered the crypt.

A short walk away is the cemeterys naval plot, where rows of identical white headstones mark the graves of more than 2,000 Navy officers. Its Hepkins favorite part of the cemetery, he said.

Hepkins once hoped to be buried at Mount Moriah, a place he called godly. Now, he said, I have to reconsider. I want my bones held somewhere in sacred perpetuity.
Bruce Springsteen at the Sea Hear Now festival in Asbury Park, N.J., on Sept. 15, 2024. On Saturday, Springsteen told the crowd at a charity concert that ICE should leave Minneapolis. Read more

At a charity concert Saturday night in Red Bank, N.J., rock legend Bruce Springsteen said ICE needs to get out of Minneapolis  only he didnt say it quite that nicely.

Well into his set, Springsteen introduced the song The Promised Land, from his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town, which he said he wrote as an ode to American possibility. Springsteen said American values and ideals of the past 250 years are being tested like never before.

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Those values, those ideals, have never been as endangered as they are right now, Springsteen, 76, told the crowd at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in a video posted by NJ.com.

If you believe in the power of the law and that no one stands above it, Springsteen continued, if you stand against heavily armed, masked federal troops invading an American city, using gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you dont deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president, and as the mayor of that city has said, ICE should get the f out of Minneapolis.

To a cheering crowed, Springsteen dedicated the song to the memory of Renee Good, calling her a mother of three, and American citizen. Good, 37, was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis  a moment, widely seen on video, that has inflamed tensions over the Trump administrations use of the federal agency.

Springsteen was not on the official performers list for the Bobs Birthday Bash concert, which raises money for research to help people living with Parkinsons, ALS, and other diseases. But hes been a frequent surprise guest at the annual event, as New Jersey music reporter Bobby Olivier noted.

Springsteen has long found himself involved in political discourse, including in 1984 when he called out Republican President Ronald Reagan for misunderstanding the point of his hit song, Born in the U.S.A. while on the campaign trail.

Kicking off his 2025 European tour in Manchester, England, he called the Trump administration corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.

That time around, President Donald Trump responded in kind.

I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Posters cover the church hosting the United States House on the eve of the start of the Annual Meeting of the World Economy Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Read more

DAVOS, Switzerland  In some ways, the scene in this picturesque Swiss resort town in late January is as ever. The tall evergreen forest below the Jakobshorn peak is crowned with fresh snow. The small airfield up in the mountains is packed with private jets. Phalanxes of black vans and SUVs crawl through icy streets. Beyond an elaborate security cordon, pavilions representing many of the worlds most influential tech companies, industries, and sovereign wealth funds populate storefronts, awaiting the foot traffic of the global elite who descend on this corner of the Alps every year.

Behind it all, though, theres a profound shift. President Donald Trump is leading one of the largest U.S. delegations ever to attend the World Economic Forums annual meeting, where he is set to deliver an address Wednesday, at a moment when his administration seems in open conflict with the paradigms that have long defined (and have come to be caricatured by) these conclaves in Davos. His trade wars on U.S. allies and adversaries alike are unraveling webs of globalization championed here for decades. And his constant use of coercion in his foreign policy cuts against Davos ethos of comity and cooperation.

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Trumps speech will come days after he began threatening to impose fresh tariffs on European partners for their unwillingness to oblige his assertions that the United States must annex Greenland. He lashed out in anger at Danish and broader European obstruction over the weekend, guaranteeing that the Arctic territory would dominate conversation in Davos.

We stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, read a joint statement from European countries facing U.S. tariffs over Greenland. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

Trumps extraordinary capture earlier this month of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro seemed to set new precedents, underscoring the White Houses view that the Western Hemisphere ought to be a U.S. sphere of influence. A slew of prominent foreign policy thinkers see Trump ushering in a global order where might makes right.

Gunboat diplomacy is back with a vengeance, Comfort Ero, head of the International Crisis Group, a think tank, recently said. What do you do when international law becomes international niceties?

The response from Davos seems more cautious and calibrated than it might have been in the past. For more than a decade, the organizers of the World Economic Forum have warned about disruptions to the international order  of fractures, crises and dysfunction that can only be solved with collective global effort. This years vaguer and more humble theme  a spirit of dialogue  may have been chosen in anticipation of the Trump-shaped wrecking ball swinging toward the forum.

Theres a robust consensus that the world economy is entering some kind of new reality, Mirek Dusek, a WEF managing director responsible for the annual events programming and business, told me. Our role is really to be helpful as an organization, and in this moment bring protagonists together.

At least to that end, Davos can deliver. The forums organizers are touting record participation, with some 65 heads of state or government in attendance, alongside dozens more finance and foreign ministers, as well as close to 2,000 prominent CEOs and business leaders. They convene at a time, as the international advocacy group Oxfam notes in its latest report, when billionaire wealth grew by some $2.5 trillion over the past year  a figure greater than the total wealth possessed by the bottom half of humanity (more than 4 billion people).

With Trumps shadow over Davos, therell be little consensus over tackling inequality or perhaps any other shared global challenges. The WEFs annual Global Risks report, which surveys more than 1,000 geopolitical and economic experts from around the world, pointed to geoeconomic confrontation as the prime source of short-term concern. The WEFs latest iteration of the Global Cooperation Barometer, an index using dozens of metrics to chart how the world is getting along, declared that multilateralism is indeed waning.

That zeitgeist is being driven, in part, by Trumps political project. Trumps central strategic insight has always been that America is better prepared than any other country to thrive in a cutthroat arena, wrote Hal Brands, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington think tank. If Washington no longer wishes to sustain the liberal order, or just cant afford to uphold it against growing challenges, perhaps it makes sense to seize the largest share of the loot.

But the conveners in Davos dont want pessimism to prevail. Cooperation is like water, if it sees its being blocked it finds a way, Borge Brende, a former Norwegian politician and WEF president and CEO, said during a briefing call with journalists earlier this month.

The world isnt standing pat in the face of Trumpist disruption. Clear signals were sent in recent days by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who acknowledged the shifting new world order on a trip to China where his government reset a long-troubled relationship while touting a new strategic partnership. Ottawas overtures would not have happened without a year of hostility from Washington, including Trumps statements urging Canada to become the 51st U.S. state.

The global trading system is undergoing a fundamental change, reducing the effectiveness of multilateral institutions on which trading partners such as Canada and China have greatly relied, Carney told reporters in Beijing, gesturing to the deterioration of the rules-based order and the weakening of international institutions. This is happening fast. Its large. Its a rupture.

Separately, after a quarter-century of negotiations, four South American countries sealed a free-trade agreement with the European Union. This is the power of partnership and openness. This is the power of friendship and understanding between peoples and regions across oceans, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. And this is how we create real prosperity  prosperity that is shared. Because, we agree, that international trade is not a zero-sum game.

The new alignments that are emerging place Trumps America in a conspicuous light. The United States will remain the most economically and militarily powerful country in the world for several more years, wrote international relations theorist Amitav Acharya, in an essay for Foreign Policy. But it will be absent from, if not actively hostile toward, the existing international order.

Acharya labeled this unique configuration shaped by U.S. antagonism as the world minus one.
Candles burn around a poem written by Renee Good during a vigil honoring her on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn., outside the Minnesota State Capitol. Read more

CONCORD, N.H.  A New Hampshire Episcopal bishop is attracting national attention after warning his clergy to finalize their wills and get their affairs in order to prepare for a new era of martyrdom.

Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire made his comments earlier this month at a vigil honoring Renee Good, who was fatally shot on Jan. 7 behind the wheel of her vehicle by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

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The Trump administration has defended the ICE officers actions, saying he fired in self-defense while standing in front of Goods vehicle as it began to move forward. That explanation has been panned by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and others based on videos of the confrontation.

Hirschfelds speech cited several historical clergy members who had risked their lives to protect others, including New Hampshire seminary student Jonathan Daniels, who was shot and killed by a sheriffs deputy in Alabama while shielding a young Black civil rights activist in 1965.

I have told the clergy of the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire that we may be entering into that same witness, Hirschfeld said. And Ive asked them to get their affairs in order, to make sure they have their wills written, because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies, to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.

Hirschfeld did not call for violence, but instead said people of Christian faith should not fear death.

Those of us who are ready to build a new world, we also have to be prepared, he said. If we truly want to live without fear, we cannot fear even death itself, my friends.

Other religious leaders have also called on Christians to protect the vulnerable amid the uptick in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, including Sean W. Rowe, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

We keep resisting, advocating, bearing witness, and repairing the breach, Rowe said during a prayer earlier this week. We keep sheltering and caring for those among us who are immigrants and refugees because they are beloved by God, and without them, we cannot fully be the church.

In Minnesota, Craig Loya, a priest, urged people not to meet hatred with hatred but instead focus on love in a world obviously not fine.

We are going to make like our ancient ancestors, and turn the world upside down by mobilizing for love, he said. We are going to disrupt with Jesus hope. We are going agitate with Jesus love.
In the immediate aftermath of the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis, FBI agents launched a civil rights investigation into the actions of the immigration officer who shot her, according to three people familiar with the investigation.

An agent in Minnesota conducted an initial review of the shooting and determined that sufficient grounds existed to open a civil rights probe into the actions of Jonathan Ross, the officer who shot Good, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

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The existence of the civil rights investigation stands in sharp contrast to public statements made by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said on Fox News Sunday that the shooting of Good does not warrant a federal investigation.

There are over 1,000 shootings every year where law enforcement are put in danger by individuals, and they have to protect themselves, and they have a lawful right to do so, Blanche said. The Department of Justice doesnt just stand up and investigate because some congressmen thinks we should, because some governor thinks that we should.

We investigate when its appropriate to investigate, Blanche added. And that is not the case here. It was not the case when it happened and is not the case today. Instead of a civil rights investigation, Justice Department leaders have tried to pursue a probe against Goods partner, multiple people familiar with the probe said.

Legal experts said that there is a low threshold for the FBI to open a civil rights investigation, and prosecutors and FBI agents occasionally disagree about when criminal investigations should be pursued.

The FBI declined to comment about the decisions regarding the investigation.

Any federal use-of-force investigation into an officers conduct is considered a civil rights investigation because the provision under which officers can be charged is a civil rights statute that covers deprivation of a persons rights under color of law.

On Jan. 7, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis shot three times into the car of Good, a 37-year-old American citizen. Goods partner was protesting ICE officers nearby in the moments before the shooting.

About a dozen senior prosecutors in Washington and Minnesota have said they would be leaving their jobs amid turmoil over the Trump administrations handling of the shooting death of Good.

At least five prosecutors in Minnesota  including the offices second-in-command  were furious that Justice Department leaders demanded that they investigate Goods partner, prompting them to resign, according to people familiar with their decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.

In Washington, multiple senior prosecutors in the criminal section of the Civil Rights Division left, in part, because they were excluded from the Good investigation. People familiar with their departures said that, before the shooting, many of them had already planned to take early retirement because they believed that Justice Department leaders were undermining their work. The handling of the Minneapolis shooting, the people said, hastened their departure dates.

No responsible prosecutor should determine what an outcome should be in such a case until a such an investigation is completed, said W. Anders Folk, who served as acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota during the Biden administration. I am concerned that without a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation, the publics confidence in law enforcement, prosecutors, and public safety professionals will suffer.

A robust federal investigation could determine that the officer was justified in shooting Good, legal experts noted. Law enforcement officers are rarely charged for using lethal force, in part because the law provides significant leeway for officers to decide when use of force is needed.

An accurate conclusion can only be reached, however, if law enforcement officials examine all relevant state and federal laws, and their application to the facts in the case, the legal experts said. A thorough investigation, for example, might conclude that the officers first shot at Good was justified, but that the next two were not.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, have said that state officials have been blocked from conducting an investigation into the shooting, with the FBI taking over the probe and denying state agencies access to evidence. Justice Department and FBI leaders have not publicly explained what their probe entails, only saying that a civil rights investigation is not warranted.

The Justice Department has since launched a federal investigation into Walz and Frey, examining whether the two Democratic leaders are impeding federal law enforcement officers abilities to do their jobs in the state, the Washington Post reported Friday. Federal prosecutors are expected to serve the two leaders with subpoenas in the coming days.

Walz and Frey have denied any wrongdoing and have accused the Trump administration of weaponizing law enforcement for political purposes.
Snow-covered,= damaged Russian military vehicles are on display in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. Read more

KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian drone strikes damaged energy networks in Russia-occupied parts of southern Ukraine, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power on Sunday, according to Kremlin-installed authorities there.

Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraines energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials.

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More than 200,000 households in the Russia-held part of Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region had no electricity on Sunday, according to the Kremlin-installed local governor.

In a Telegram post, Yevgeny Balitsky said that nearly 400 settlements have had their supply cut, because of damage to power networks from Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russia has hammered Ukraines power grid, especially in winter, throughout the nearly four-year war. The strikes aim to weaken Ukrainians will to resist in a strategy that Kyiv officials call weaponizing winter.

Russia targeted energy infrastructure in Odesa region overnight on Sunday, according to Ukraines Emergency Service. A fire broke out and was promptly extinguished.

At least six people were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region from Russian attacks, the emergency service said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post that repairing the countrys energy system remains challenging, but we are doing everything we can to restore everything as quickly as possible.

He said that two people were killed in overnight attacks across the country that struck Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa.

In total, more than 1,300 attack drones, 1,050 guided aerial bombs, and 29 missiles of various types were used by Russia to strike Ukraine this week, Zelensky said.

U.S. talks

If Russia deliberately delays the diplomatic process, the worlds response should be decisive: more help for Ukraine and more pressure on the aggressor, Zelensky said.

He spoke the day after a Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States for talks on a U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the war.

On Friday, Zelensky said that the delegation would try to finalize with U.S. officials documents for a proposed peace settlement that relate to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery.

If American officials approve the proposals, the U.S. and Ukraine could sign the documents next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelensky said at a Kyiv news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to be in Davos, according to organizers.

Russia would still need to be consulted on the proposals.

Drones strike Russian Caucasus

Separately, in Russias Caucasus Mountains, two children and an adult were wounded overnight as debris from a Ukrainian drone fell on a five-story residential building in North Ossetia, according to the regional governor.

Seventy people had to be evacuated from the building, in the town of Beslan, and there was damage to its roof and windows, Gov. Sergei Menyaylo said in a Telegram post on Sunday morning.

Russias Defense Ministry said that its forces shot down or suppressed 63 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula. One person was hospitalized in Russias Krasnodar region east of Crimea following a drone strike, local authorities said.

Nuclear plant repairs

Ukrainian crews have started repair work on the backup power line connecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the power grid, under a ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based U.N. organization said in an X post on Sunday.

The fate of the plant, occupied by Russia and the largest in Europe, is a central issue in ongoing U.S.-brokered peace talks.

Crucial repair works on the essential back up Ferosplavna-1 330 kV power line connecting Ukraines ZNPP to the grid have begun under another IAEA-brokered ceasefire, the agency said in the post.

The 330-kilovolt power line, which was damaged and disconnected because of fighting, is crucial to supplying the plant with electricity.
Passengers wait in the hall of Madrid train station on Sunday, January 18, 2026, following the announcement of the suspension of service due to an accident in which two trains derailed in Cordoba. ( Carlos Lujan/Europa Press via AP) Read more

BARCELONA  A high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an oncoming train Sunday in southern Spain, killing at least 21 people and injuring dozens more, the countrys transport minister said.

The tail end of an evening train between Malaga and Madrid with some 300 passengers went off the rails near Cordoba at 7:45 p.m. local time and slammed into a train with some 200 passengers coming from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, according to rail operator Adif.

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Spains Transport Minister Oscar Puente updated the death toll to 21 confirmed victims after midnight when he said that rescues had removed all the survivors. But Puente said there could be more victims still to be confirmed. Emergency services in Andalucia, the province where the accident happened, said it had recorded 25 people with severe injuries.

The regional Civil Protection chief, Maria Belen Moya Rojas, told Canal Sur that the accident happened in an area that is hard to reach.

Local people were taking blankets and water to the scene to help the victims, she said.

Salvador Jimenez, a journalist for Spanish broadcaster RTVE, was on board one of the derailed trains and told the network by phone that there was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed.

He said passengers used emergency hammers to break the windows, and that some had walked away without serious injuries. Videos from people on site show some people crawling out of windows at some points to escape the wreckage with carriages leaning at an angle.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that she was following the terrible news from Cordoba.

Tonight you are in my thoughts, she wrote in Spanish.

ADIF said train services between Madrid and cities in Andalucia would not run Monday.
ISTANBUL  Syrias government said Sunday that it had signed a ceasefire and full integration agreement with a powerful Kurdish-led militia that controlled large swaths of territory in the countrys northeast  a critical step, if the agreement is implemented, toward unifying a fractured Syria after years of civil war and the precipitous fall of its dictatorship.

There was no immediate statement on the agreement from the Kurdish-led group, the Syrian Democratic Forces, a longtime military ally of the United States in the battle against the extremist Islamic State militant group. In a post on X, Tom Barrack, the U.S. envoy to Syria, hailed the agreement while saying that the challenging work of finalizing its details begins now.

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The announcement late Sunday came after a day of stunning battlefield developments, with Syrian state media saying that government forces, allied tribal fighters, and locals had captured key cities and towns that had been controlled for years by the SDF. Tensions between the government and the SDF had simmered for more than a year, since rebels led by Syrias interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa toppled the dictatorship of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Sharaa has long insisted that the SDF, which over the past decade has claimed territory and declared autonomy in a large swath of northern and eastern Syria, integrate with the new Syrian government. But a March agreement between the two sides aimed at that goal was not implemented by its deadline, at the end of last year.

The ceasefire agreement Sunday called for the full and immediate administrative and military handover by the SDF to the government in three provinces, as well as the surrender of Syrias border crossings and oil and gas fields, according to a text of the deal posted by the countrys information minister  conditions that seemed to spell the end of a Kurdish proto-state that had sprung up in the chaos of Syrias 13-year civil war.

Before the announcement, clashes between government forces and the SDF pitted two of Syrias most powerful armed groups against each other in a long-feared confrontation that posed a dilemma for the United States, which is allied with both.

Syrias state-run SANA news agency reported Sunday that government forces had seized SDF-controlled territory in Tabqa, on the Euphrates River, a dividing line between the two forces and the site of Syrias largest dam. The Syrian Ikhbariya news channel also reported that the SDF had been expelled from Raqqa city, after what it called a local uprising, and what it said were mass defections by SDF forces.

The city, it said, would be handed over to the Syrian government, amid reports that SDF fighters had also lost control of territory to local forces in the Deir al-Zour province, as well as several important oil fields there.

In a statement Saturday, U.S. Central Command said it was urging the Syrian government to cease any offensive actions between the city of Aleppo, in northern Syria and Tabqa  before Syrian media reported that government forces had taken Tabqa.

Beyond the statement, there was little sign Sunday that the Trump administration was intervening to protect its Kurdish allies, once its only Syrian partner against the Islamic State group. In recent months, though, the United States has touted Syrian government forces as a critical counterterrorism partner, as part of a broader vote of confidence in Sharaas government that has included the lifting of Assad-era sanctions against the country.

Sundays territorial losses, and the ceasefire agreement that followed, marked a stunning turn of fortune for the SDF, which received global recognition for its sacrifices fighting Islamic State militants after they seized control of large areas in Iraq and Syria beginning in 2014. The SDF received weapons and other support from the United States and remained a key ally, continuing to guard prisons holding Islamic State captives and their families.

Going forward, Syrias government would assume full legal and security responsibility for the camps, Sundays ceasefire agreement said.

The clashes between the SDF and the government were the latest violent convulsions that have shaken the country since the fall of Assad. Since taking power, Sharaa, a former leader of a Sunni Islamist rebel faction that was once affiliated with al-Qaeda, has sent his forces to put down armed challengers in the south of the country, in the city of Sweida, and on its coast, in confrontations that have killed thousands of people.

There were signs that the government conducted its latest offensive against the SDF with more care, or at least tried to convey that sense. After days of armed clashes between SDF and government forces in the city of Aleppo and its surrounding areas this month, Sharaa issued a decree Friday recognizing Kurdish as a national language and granting citizenship to Kurds who lost their status in Syria more than 60 years ago, among other measures.

Analysts said the government, which had gained little trust from Syrias minorities, would have to do more to dispel minority fears. The fact is that apolitical Kurds in northern Syria are rightfully afraid of undisciplined government forces, Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group, wrote on X, before the ceasefire was announced.

They have seen what happened in Sweida and in the coast and cannot take chances with their lives. While this operation has been relatively restrained, its on Damascus to continue reassuring Kurds therell be no repeat of past disasters, she wrote.

If the SDF autonomous region was seen as a haven by many Kurds, Arab-majority areas under the groups control chafed under its rule, complaining of heavy-handed tactics by its fighters and forced recruitment into its armed cadres. And Turkey, Syrias northern neighbor, viewed the SDF as a threat, because of its links to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which fought a long insurgency against the Turkish state.

Before the ceasefire was announced, the rapid and violent unraveling of the status quo was rattling some of Syrias foreign backers. French President Emmanuel Macron, in a post Sunday on X, said he had spoken with Sharaa and expressed his deep concern at the Syrian governments offensive.

A permanent ceasefire is necessary, and an agreement must be reached on the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces into the Syrian state, on the basis of the exchanges from last March. The unity and stability of Syria depend on it.
The scene outside of the National Constitution Center ahead of the presidential debate in Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2024. Read more

An escalating management dispute and chaotic board meeting preceded Jeffrey Rosens departure as head of the National Constitution Center, according to a report from the New York Times.

The center publicly announced on Jan. 9 that Rosen had stepped down as president and chief executive after more than 12 years leading the private, nonprofit institution at the north end of Independence Mall. Rosen will remain as CEO emeritus; Vince Stango, a 26-year veteran of the center who has served as its executive vice president and chief operating officer, has assumed the role of interim president.

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The Times reported Friday, based on interviews with people who spoke on the condition of anonymity, that friction arose over how Rosens and Stangos roles intersected: Rosen was the centers public-facing leader, while Stango handled day-to-day operations, according to the Times.

 READ MORE: Jeffrey Rosen steps down as head of National Constitution Center

A spokesperson for the center declined to comment on the Times article and referred The Inquirer to a previous news release, which says Rosens new position enables him to devote his full time and energy to his scholarship and public dialogue. Rosen  a constitutional scholar, law professor, and author  did not respond to a request for comment via email.

The leadership system was breaking down, the Times reported, when board members Doug DeVos (former president of Amway) and Mike George (former president of QVC) quietly intervened in November, hiring an employment lawyer and pushing Rosen to cede the title of president to Stango.

According to the Times, Rosen reluctantly agreed in mid-December, but by late December, talks of compromise had collapsed. Rosen submitted his resignation, conditional on the full board accepting it, while making clear he hoped the board would instead reject it, the Times article says.

Rosen had the backing of board member J. Michael Luttig, a retired federal appeals court judge, who portrayed DeVos and George in emails to the board as trying to unfairly oust the centers top executive, according to the Times. Luttig threatened to step down if the board accepted Rosens resignation, the Times article says.

The tension boiled over at a board meeting in early January. The Times reported:

Rosen wanted to address the board, but George prevented him. Luttig sent an email to the board threatening to file a lawsuit for what he called a violation of Rosens due process rights. The meeting then devolved into a debate over Luttigs involvement and possible conflicts of interest. Luttig continued to participate and withdrew his offer to resign. As of Sunday, the centers website no longer listed Luttig as a member of its board.

The center will conduct a national search for its next leader, The Inquirer previously reported.

The alleged quarrel comes as the center prepares for the nations 250th birthday. The nonpartisan museum is known for awarding the annual Liberty Medal to notable figures such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky; legendary boxer Muhammad Ali; and then-Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anthony M. Kennedy.

The center was also the stage for the only 2024 presidential debate between former Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Martin Luther King Jr., after delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington in August 1963. His advocacy of solidarity and direct action has inspired a new coalition in Philadelphia, write Jason Holtzman and Carl Day. Read more

As our nation marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we return to the teachings of a leader who understood that justice demands more than good intentions. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, I think of love as something strong, and that organizes itself into powerful, direct action.

Today, when hatred and division feel increasingly emboldened, that call to organize love is not just inspiring. It is instructive.

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In recent years, many have embraced what is often called allyship. Too often, however, it stops there. Statements replace substance. Solidarity appears online, but disappears when issues become uncomfortable or complex.

Even the language of allyship is revealing. An ally is, by definition, part of a temporary alliance, formed for a specific battle and dissolved when circumstances change. That framework was never meant to sustain lasting relationships.

If we want to change culture, not just react to crises, we must move beyond allyship to something deeper and more enduring: genuine friendship.

Friendship lasts beyond the news cycle. It holds through disagreement and discomfort. It requires showing up not only when harm is visible, but when the spotlight is gone. It is the only foundation strong enough to support a multiracial, multifaith movement capable of confronting hatred in all its forms.

History does more than inspire us; it reminds us of what is possible when communities refuse to stand apart.

That belief is why we founded the New Golden Age Coalition: to revive and strengthen the historic connection between Black and Jewish communities in Greater Philadelphia. That connection is rooted in shared experiences, from collaboration during the civil rights movement to everyday moments of partnership in neighborhoods, houses of worship, and civic life.

History does more than inspire us; it reminds us of what is possible when communities refuse to stand apart.

But history alone is not enough. Partnership cannot survive on nostalgia. It must be renewed through action, guided by the kind of love King described: love that acts, love that protects, love that builds.

And the urgency could not be clearer.

Here in Philadelphia, racist and antisemitic graffiti was discovered at Roxborough High School. Beyond our city, the danger is stark, as well. In Jackson, Miss., Beth Israel Congregation was set on fire in an antisemitic attack. According to the FBI, the suspect confessed to targeting the historic synagogue because of its Jewish ties.

That same synagogue was bombed by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1967, which also targeted the rabbis home months later because of his support for the civil rights movement. The fire echoes an older Southern terror that sought to intimidate Black and Jewish communities during the civil rights era  a reminder that the work Dr. King led remains unfinished.

On this MLK Day, we ... recommit ourselves to the labor of love that King demanded: strong, organized, and directed toward justice.

Todays world can feel overwhelmingly dark. Antisemitism is surging. Anti-Black racism remains deeply entrenched. In a moment like this, our response must be grounded in love strong enough to confront hatred, and courageous enough to be expressed publicly, consistently, and collaboratively.

The New Golden Age Coalition organizes that love through three core pillars:

Rebuilding the bridge to beat bigotry

We are cultivating genuine relationships between Black and Jewish Philadelphians  relationships that allow us to confront antisemitism, racism, and all forms of hate.

Enhancing security and violence prevention

Our communities face growing threats from extremism, gun violence, and systemic neglect. We are working together to create safer neighborhoods and protect our most vulnerable.

Amplifying the social safety net in Greater Philadelphia

We recognize that poverty, hunger, and instability weaken families and fuel despair. Our coalition is committed to supporting and expanding the institutions that give people hope, dignity, and opportunity.

On this MLK Day, we choose not to offer feel-good slogans. Instead, we recommit ourselves to the labor of love that King demanded: strong, organized, and directed toward justice.

This means spending time in one anothers neighborhoods, houses of worship, schools, and community spaces. It requires listening before reacting, staying present when conversations are difficult, and approaching one another with love and compassion. It also means standing up for one anothers causes  not because they are convenient or popular, but because injustice anywhere threatens the dignity of us all.

This MLK Day, we invite Philadelphians to move closer rather than retreat  to share meals, attend one anothers gatherings, stand together in moments of joy and pain, and build relationships that last beyond crisis. This is love in action. Together, it is how we build a new golden age.

Philadelphia deserves nothing less.

Jason Holtzman is the chief of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Pastor Carl Day is the founder of Culture Changing Christians. Together, they are cofounders of the New Golden Age Coalition.
President Donald Trump points as he boards Air Force One for a trip to Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Joint Base Andrews, Md. Read more

The days when Black people couldnt vote, ride on the front of public buses, be served at lunch counters, attend many schools, or sleep in hotels werent all that long ago. Thanks to the advocacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination based on race is now illegal.

But President Donald Trump would try to have us believe that the implementation of civil rights policies has hurt white people, when, in actuality, they make life better for everyone because they protect women, religious groups, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, and people of different ethnicities and races from discrimination.

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In Trump World, though, up is down and down is up.

News reports today often read more like satire from the Onion than real life. But journalists still have a responsibility to report on what comes out of the Oval Office, no matter how ludicrous.

So when I read that Trump had met with a small group of New York Times journalists at the White House and told them that civil rights led to white people being very badly treated, my jaw dropped. I read and reread what his actual words were, which included his saying, White people were very badly treated, where they did extremely well, and they were not invited to go into a university to college.

Trump reportedly added, So I would say in that way, I think it was unfair in certain cases.

Thats like saying the rise of feminism and womens rights hurt men. But wait, theres more. Trump also is reported as having said: I think it was also, at the same time, it accomplished some very wonderful things, but it also hurt a lot of people  people that deserve to go to a college or deserve to get a job were unable to get a job. So it was, it was a reverse discrimination.

He apparently was referring to affirmative action, which is rich considering white women are the largest beneficiaries of it. Same thing with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which were created to give historically marginalized workers, such as women, people with disabilities, African Americans, and veterans, better opportunities in the workplace.

This attempt by Trump at grievance politics to rev up his base rings hollow to sensible people who recognize that white men have always held the vast majority of upper-level positions in both the private and public sectors.

In contrast, Black people and Native Americans have always had the highest rates of unemployment. Despite advances, the wealth gap between white and Black people continues to be considerable. This past September, I wrote about how African American women have been the hardest hit by job losses since Trump returned to public office.

MAGA is big on accusing former President Barack Obama of supposedly dividing the country, while it is Trump who continually stokes racial division.

He kicked off his presidential campaign in 2015 by maligning Mexicans, saying: Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. He has referred to Haiti, African nations, and El Salvador as shithole countries, accused Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, of eating their neighbors dogs and cats, and insulted Somali Americans by calling them garbage.

One of the first things Trump did after being sworn into office in 2025 was to sign executive orders aimed at eliminating DEI. His remarks about civil rights supposedly hurting white people are merely his latest salvo, along with his administrations calls for white men to file complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

There is zero evidence  none  that the civil rights movement harmed white men in any way, said NAACP president Derrick Johnson in a statement to the Grio. [Trump] is hoping we swallow his lie again, so that he can continue to privatize education, cut social services, and repeal civil rights laws and enforcement mechanisms. Its all about making more money  even if we all suffer as a result.

Its sad  but not surprising  that in 2026 the president would reach for a play out of the tattered segregationist handbook to try and make white people the victims of civil rights.

Had he lived, King would have been thoroughly disgusted  but would have countered the presidents gutter-level deception with an elevated truth: If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition that we now face surely will fail.
Governor Josh Shapiro speaks with press along with Vice President Kamala Harris during their visit to Little Thai Market at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia on July 13, 2024. Read more

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro questioned whether he was being unfairly scrutinized as the only Jewish person being considered as a finalist to be Vice President Kamala Harris running mate  and briefly entertained his own run for the presidency  according to a copy of his upcoming book obtained by The Inquirer.

In his memoir, Where We Keep the Light, set to debut on Jan. 27, Shapiro wrote that he underwent significant questioning by Harris vetting team ahead of the 2024 presidential election about his views on Israel, and his actions supporting the end of pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Pennsylvania  leading him to wonder whether the other contenders for the post had faced the same interrogation.

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Shapiro, a popular Democratic governor long rumored to have future presidential ambitions, even briefly entertained a run shortly after then-President Joe Biden unexpectedly dropped out of the race in July 2024, according to his book. The Abington Township resident is now seen as a top contender for the 2028 Democratic nomination as he seeks reelection in Pennsylvania this year.

 READ MORE: Josh Shapiros reelection campaign in Pennsylvania starts now  but 2028 looms large

But before Shapiro ended up in the veepstakes for Harris running mate, he wrote in his book that there was a moment right after Biden dropped out of the race where he considered whether he should run for president.

Well, now what? Shapiro wrote. Maybe there would be a process the party would engage in to replace him? Did I want to be part of that?

He called his wife, Lori, who at the time was out of the country with their two younger kids. I dont think we are ready to do this, Shapiro recalled his wife saying from a Walmart in Vancouver. Its not the right time for our family. And its not on our terms.

After that call, Shapiro wrote that he quickly decided he didnt want to run and would back Harris, as Biden also endorsed her for the top of the ticket.

Once the field cleared for Harris, Shapiro recalled seeing his face on TV as her potential running mate, before he was asked by her campaign manager to be formally vetted.

In the days that followed, Shapiro contended with increasing national scrutiny as he emerged as a front-runner. Some pro-Palestinian protesters began calling Shapiro Genocide Josh online, he wrote. And top Democrats questioned whether a Jewish running mate would deter voters from supporting Harris, as Shapiro had been outspoken against some pro-Palestinian campus protests that year.

What was unknown: Whether those same questions  and some even more extreme  were circulating within Harris camp, Shapiro wrote in his most detailed retelling of his experience vying for the vice presidency to date.

Just before he went to meet with Harris at the vice presidents residence in the summer of 2024, Shapiro received a call from Dana Remus, former White House counsel for Biden who was coleading the vetting process for Harris.

Have you ever been an agent of the Israeli government? Remus asked, according to Shapiros memoir.

Had I been a double agent for Israel? Was she kidding? Shapiro wrote in his 257-page book. I told her how offensive the question was.

According to the memoir, Remus then asked if Shapiro had ever communicated with an undercover Israeli agent, which he shot back: If they were undercover how the hell would I know?

Remus was just doing her job. I get it. But the fact that she asked, or was told to ask that question by someone else, said a lot about some of the people around the VP, Shapiro wrote.

 READ MORE: Josh Shapiro once wrote that peace will never come to the Middle East. He says his views have changed over 30 years.

In high school, Shapiro completed a program in Israel that included service projects on a farm, and at a fishery in a kibbutz, as well as at an Israeli army base, which he once described in his college student newspaper as a past volunteer in the Israeli army.

Harris office could not be reached for comment Sunday evening. Remus also could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday.

Shapiro, more broadly, recalled getting the feeling from Harris vetting team that she should pick Shapiro  a popular Democratic governor in a critical swing state  but that they had reservations about whether Shapiros views would mesh with Harris.

In one vetting session with U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D., Nev.), former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, former associate Attorney General Tony West, and former senior Biden adviser Cedric Richmond, Shapiro wrote that he had been questioned a lot about Israel, including why he had been outspoken against the protests at Penn.

I wondered whether these questions were being posed to just me  the only Jewish guy in the running  or if everyone who had not held a federal office was being grilled about Israel in the same way, he wrote. (Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who is Jewish, was also vetted to be Harris running mate. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is also Jewish.)

In his book, Shapiro recalled the whirlwind two weeks as an awe-inspiring window into an opportunity  but ultimately it was one he knew he didnt want.

When Shapiro finally sat down with Harris in the dining room at the Naval Observatory, he said it became clear that she had a different vision for the vice presidency than what he wanted. He would work primarily with her staff and couldnt say whether he would have access to her. In her own experience as vice president, she saw the job as mostly to make sure that you arent making any problems for the president, he wrote.

Shapiro noted his own relationship with his No. 2, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. The role in itself has few powers, but Shapiro views Davis as a governing partner and is one of few people who can walk into his office unannounced at any time, he wrote. He wanted the same relationship with Harris, he said, noting that he knew he would not be the decision-maker.

If we had door A and door B as options, and she was for door A and I was for door B, I just wanted to makes sure that I could make the case for door B, Shapiro wrote.

But Harris was crystal clear that that wasnt the kind of president-vice president dynamic she envisioned, he said.

In her own book released last year, 107 Days, Harris recalled the meeting differently. There, she wrote that Shapiro had peppered her with questions and mused that he would want to be in the room for every decision. His ambitions, she said, didnt align with her view that a vice president should be a No. 2 and not a copresident.

 READ MORE: Kamala Harris opens up about Joe Bidens weird Philly phone call, Josh Shapiros VP interview, and more

As Shapiro tells it, the friction with Harris team didnt stop there.

Shortly after meeting with Harris, Shapiro in his book recalled another unpleasant conversation with Remus, in which he wrote that she said she could sense that I didnt want to do this.

According to the book, Remus said it would be hard for Shapiro to move to Washington, it would be a strain financially for his family who didnt have a lot of money by D.C. standards, and that Lori would need to get a whole new wardrobe and pay people to do her hair and makeup.

It was then that he decided to leave the apartment where he had been asked to wait until Harris could come and talk to him again, he recalled.

These comments were unkind to me. They were nasty to Lori, Shapiro wrote. I hold no grudge against Remus, who I know was doing the job she had to do, but I needed to leave.

Shapiro went home, he said, and went over the days events with Lori at the edge of their bed.

On one hand, I was still tugged by the prestige of it all. Its an honor. Its a big title. But thats never been enough for me, he wrote. Still, he struggled with what it would mean to withdraw, concerned about not playing his part in a high-stakes election and letting his supporters down. Ultimately, he decided that it was not his race to win or lose, he wrote.

People were going to cast their votes for her, or they werent, he added.

He decided that day he did not want the job, and toyed with the idea about publicly releasing a statement withdrawing himself from the running. He said he also tried to tell Harris he did not think it would be a good fit, but wasnt able to reach her.

Shortly thereafter, Harris announced that she had chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate in an ultimately unsuccessful campaign against President Donald Trump. The two would debut their presidential ticket at a rally at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia. Shapiro wrote that he didnt want to go.

I was wrung out. I just wanted to be home with my family, to take a walk with Lori, and just be, he wrote.

But when it was time for him to take the stage ahead of Walz and Harris, he was long-applauded by his home city and gave a speech from my heart about how he took pride in his faith and his support for Walz and Harris.

Shapiros memoir will be released Jan. 27 and is a reflection on his decades as an elected official, including as Pennsylvania attorney general, as well as the firebombing of his home last year. He will tout the book in Philadelphia on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Parkway Central Library. He will also discuss the book at upcoming book tour stops in New York and Washington.
State Rep. Chris Rabb joins groups protesting outside the Susquehanna International Group headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., in this photo from September. He is running for Congress. Read more

In the most-watched race for Congress in Philadelphia in more than a decade, State Rep. Chris Rabb has cast himself as the unabashed anti-establishment leftist. Hes refusing donations from corporations, calls the war in Gaza a genocide, and wants to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

But despite announcing his campaign more than six months ago, he had yet to amass support from much of the citys progressive flank, leading observers to wonder if he would be able to tap into the movements network of donors and volunteers.

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It appears theyre coming around.

Rabb this week has won an endorsement from One PA, a progressive political group thats aligned with labor and most of the citys left-leaning elected officials. That comes after the environmental justice group Sunrise Movement said it, too, would back Rabb.

This is a moment when democracy is at stake, said Steve Paul, One PAs executive director. If there was any moment for the style of leadership that Chris [Rabb] brings to the table, its this moment.

Rabb said hes energized by the endorsement and what it means for the campaign.

Our movement is growing every single day, he said.

 READ MORE: State Sen. Sharif Street has early fundraising lead in Philly congressional race, but his competitors are close behind

The questions now are whether some of the citys most prominent progressive elected officials will lend their endorsements to Rabb, and if deep-pocketed national organizations will spend money to back him.

For example, Justice Democrats, a progressive political action committee, said its very closely looking at this district. And the Working Families Party, the labor-aligned third party that supports progressives across the nation, has endorsed candidates in four other congressional races with competitive primaries  but not yet in Philadelphias. The group previously spent millions to boost candidates in the region.

Rabb, who hails from the voter-rich Northwest Philadelphia, is one of several likely front-runners seeking the Democratic nomination to represent the 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses about half of Philadelphia. U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans is retiring after holding the seat since 2016.

Progressives and democratic socialists  energized by Mayor Zohran Mamdanis win last year in New York City  see a major opportunity to install one of their own in the district, which is the most Democratic in the nation.

The primary election  the marquee race in deep-blue Philadelphia  isnt until May. But some on the left say the movement should have already coalesced around Rabb.

We will probably regret it in the end, because this is a seat we should win, said one leader of a progressive organization in the city who requested anonymity to speak freely about the political dynamic.

Rabb is seen as something of a lone operator with his own political apparatus. He didnt come up through the newer progressive organizations that have run their own candidates for office in the city. Rather, he won a seat in the state House for the first time a decade ago when he toppled an establishment-backed Democrat.

Some of the citys progressive leaders say they expect to back Rabb but that they were waiting to see how the field shaped up.

Last year, there were efforts to recruit other left-leaning candidates to run, including City Councilmember Kendra Brooks of the Working Families Party, and State Rep. Rick Krajewski, according to three sources with knowledge of the efforts who spoke on condition of anonymity to preserve relationships. Both decided against running.

Brooks  who emerged as a face of the Working Families Party six years ago after she became the first third-party candidate to win a seat on Council in 100 years  is likely to back whomever the organization endorses. The group is still in the midst of its endorsement process.

Were confident that we will land on a progressive who will fight for working people, not billionaire donors, big corporations, or special interests, WFP spokesperson Nick Gavio said.

Krajewski, who represents parts of West Philadelphia, has also not endorsed a candidate but he said he will. Rabb, according to Krajewski, has the qualities necessary to be a member of Congress during a pivotal moment for our country.

The question is: Do we allow the fascists and the ruling class to double down on this insanity that theyre pushing? Or do we use this opportunity to agitate and say a different world is possible? Krajewski said. Thats what I want from my member of Congress. Chris [Rabb] has demonstrated that hes clear about that.

Meanwhile, other candidates in the wide-open Democratic primary have tried to pick off progressive support.

State Sen. Sharif Street, the former chair of the state Democratic Party, is seen as the establishments pick for the seat. But he also has alliances with some of the citys most progressive leaders.

That includes a decades-long relationship with Councilmember Rue Landau, who often votes with Councils progressive bloc and is the first openly LGBTQ person ever elected to Council. Two sources familiar with Landaus thinking said she is strongly considering endorsing Street.

Street has also worked closely on criminal justice reform matters with District Attorney Larry Krasner, perhaps the citys most prominent elected progressive. He inherited some of Krasners political staff to manage his campaign.

However, several other candidates in the congressional race could be in the running for backing from Krasner, who recently won his third term in office in landslide fashion. Rabb, Street, and State Rep. Morgan Cephas previously endorsed Krasner for reelection.

The crowded field may also mean that some elected officials choose not to get involved.

State Rep. Tarik Khan, a Democrat and nurse practitioner who has been backed by progressive organizations, said he has relationships with several leading candidates. That includes his colleagues in Harrisburg, as well as Ala Stanford, a surgeon. She and Khan were both prominent vaccine advocates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Theres a lot of good choices in this race, Khan said. Im probably just going to let the process play out.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions of the country where raging wildfires have killed at least 15 people and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.

Ante los graves incendios en curso he decidido declarar estado de catastrofe en las regiones de Nuble y Bio Bio. Todos los recursos estan disponibles.  Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) January 18, 2026

All resources are available, Boric wrote in a post on X about the decision early Sunday, before heading to the region of Biobio. Declaring a state of catastrophe allows the Chilean government to provide emergency relief to the affected regions.

At least 15 people have been killed in the region of Biobio in the southern part of Chile, according to Security Minister Luis Cordero.

As many as 50,000 people have been evacuated from more than 24 fires that have been reported nationwide. The majority of the fires are in the southern regions of Nuble and Biobio, Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde said in a livestreamed press conference.

The weather forecast for the remainder of Sunday and Monday is not good, Elizalde warned. They account for extreme temperatures and therefore the situation makes combating forest fires more complex.

Photograph: Burning houses during a wildfire in Concepcion, Chile, on Jan. 18, 2025; photo credit: Guillermo Salgado/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe
Toscafund Asset Management and other minority shareholders of Caravela Seguros are exploring a sale of the Portuguese insurer, according to people familiar with the matter.

London-based Toscafund, which owns a 48% stake in Caravela, has hired Mediobanca to advise on a potential sale of its holding, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. Caravelas remaining shareholders  a group of more than 20 investors  are also weighing a sale of the company, the people said.

Spokespeople for Toscafund and for Mediobanca declined to comment. Representatives for Caravela did not respond to phone calls or an emailed request for comment.

Toscafund acquired its stake at the end of 2019, investing 30 million ($34.9 million) through a capital increase. Other Caravela shareholders include Mario Ferreira, chairman and largest shareholder of Portuguese media group Media Capital and the owner of a cruise ship company. Ferreira did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Caravelas gross written premiums rose 17% in 2024 to 187.7 million, according to the companys latest earnings report. The insurer ranks ninth in Portugals non-life insurance market, with a 2.2% market share, according to Portugals insurance and pension fund regulator ASF.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers
As if to prove that lightning can strike twice in the same area, another prime land parcel has come on the market in the West Waterford townland of Currabaha, only a month after the last block (53 acres) that was featured on these pages on the 19th of December.

This property one comprises 69 acres. According to the selling agent Brian Gleeson, this is a high-quality property with realistic site potential.
After almost 26 years of negotiations, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) has cleared another decisive hurdle. It now depends solely on final approval by the respective parliaments.

The progress in negotiations has brought optimism on the Mercosur countries side, paving the way for what would become the worlds largest trade pact.

The EU and Mercosur area sums around 720 million consumers and a combined GDP of approximately US$ 22 trillion.

Under the agreement, the EU will eliminate import tariffs on 77% of the agricultural products it buys from Mercosur.

This creates clear opportunities for higher exports of products such as coffee, fish, crustaceans, fruit and vegetable oils, whose import duties will be gradually phased out in the EU.

"The provisional approval of the MercosurEU Agreement is a very important step. As far as agribusiness is concerned, it is highly relevant in terms of opportunities, said the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Favaro.

However, animal proteins and maize are largely excluded from this liberalisation, and keeps a narrow window for meat as the agreement establishes limited quotas and multiple safeguards.

Despite that, agricultural products continue to face strong resistance amongst European farmers, particularly within sensitive agricultural sectors.

Mercosur members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) are highly competitive producers of meat and grains.

Should Europeans be worried?

The short answer is: not reallyat least not in terms of trade volumes or price impacts on meat.

According to Janine Pelikan, a researcher at the Thunen Institute of Market Analysis, the impact of the MercosurEU agreement on European farmers is likely to be limited.

European producers do not need to be overly concerned, given the quotas established under the agreement, Pelikan said during a presentation at Agritechnica last November in Germany.

From a commercial standpoint, the FTA introduces relatively small tariff-rate quotas for all major animal protein categories (beef, pork, poultry and even eggs).

In most cases, the volumes allowed under these quotas are lower than what Brazil alone already exports to the EU.

Moreover, the quotas will only be fully implemented gradually over a period of up to 10 years.

Any shipments exceeding these limits will continue to face tariffs of 40% to 60%, exactly as they do today.

A narrow window for meat

The treaty provides import quotas for sensitive products such as beef; the volumes involved are modest when compared to the size of the European market.

In the beef sector, the quota is set at 99,000 tonnes per year, subject to a reduced tariff of 7.5%. Brazil alone exported around 135,000 tonnes of beef to the EU last year.

Any volume above the quota would be subject to a steep tariff of approximately 45%.

The EU consumes around 7.5 million tonnes of beef annually, meaning the quota represents just about 1.3% of total consumption.

The quota is only 99,000 tonnes. And since it is calculated on a bone-in basis, the effective volume falls to roughly 27,000 tonnes of boneless beef. That is extremely small relative to European demand, Pelikan notes.

Studies cited by the researcher suggest that beef prices in the EU could decline by less than 2%, while production might fall by under 1%.

This is a minimal impact on European beef producers, she says.

For poultry, the agreement provides a duty-free quota of 180,000 tonnes per year. Yet Brazil already exports around 220,000 tonnes of poultry meat to the EU.

Once again, any volumes beyond the quota would face full EU import duties.

By way of comparison, the EU consumes around 12.3 million tonnes of poultry annually, meaning the quota accounts for slightly less than 1.5% of total consumption.

In addition, the bloc is self-sufficient in poultry production and could even benefit from lower feed costs if cheaper grains from Mercosur become more available.

In pork, Mercosur will have access to a quota of 25,000 tonnes per year, subject to a tariff of 83 per tonne, according to the agreement.

Both Brazil and its Mercosur partners currently export very little pork to the EU, so filling this quota is not expected to be an immediate issue.

The EU consumes around 12.6 million tonnes of pork annually, meaning the quota represents just over 0.1% of total consumption.

In the egg segment, the agreement establishes specific tariff-rate quotas of 3,000 tonnes per year for processed eggs and another 3,000 tonnes per year for albumins.

Taken together, these figures show that Mercosur has only narrow windows of opportunity in animal protein.

Pelikan also highlights the presence of robust safeguard mechanisms. Should imports increase by more than 5%, the EU can activate protective measures.

Outside the quotas, tariffs remain in the range of 40% to 60%, effectively keeping South American competitiveness within tightly controlled limits.

Why is Mercosur pleased?

For Mercosur, the main gains lie elsewhere: grains, coffee, fruit and the broader recognition of some sanitary and environmental standards by the EU.

In grains, Europe is structurally dependent on imports. The agreement provides for a duty-free quota of 1 million tonnes of maize per year.

The EU consumes around 80 million tonnes annually and imports roughly 20 million tonnes.

Soybeans tell a different story. Unlike meat, there is no quota or tariff protection in place.

Tariffs on soybeans, meal and oil will be eliminated immediately, reflecting Europes strong dependence on external supplies.

Soy already enters the EU largely duty-free and is considered a strategic input for the blocs livestock sector.

In practice, nothing changes for soy. Trade remains as open as it has always been, Pelikan concludes.

Fruit and coffee also benefit from zero tariffs. Since the EU does not produce many of tropical varieties, the relationship is fundamentally complementary rather than competitive.

On the other side, European farmers gain improved access to Mercosur markets for dairy products, wines, chocolates, certain charcuterie and a wide range of protected-origin specialities.

Rancher perspective

Evandro Vilela is a rancher in the Goias state, in midwest Brazil, sees the agreement with great optimism, once EU is a reference on quality standards.

He produces Nelore breed and is an active voice in the sector, having just ended his term as president of the Brazilian farmers union, Sindicato Rural.

Evandro Vilela, rancher at Goias state, Brazil

European recognition might be a game changer for Brazil, opening up opportunities not only in Europe, but also on demanding markets such as Japan. Our goal is to consolidate our position as the worlds largest exporter, he said.

The Brazilian Association of Beef Industries (ABIEC) classified the advance as a a historical diplomatic landmark with high potential for both blocs.

"The agreement is based on the productive complementarity between Mercosur and Europe. For Brazilian beef, it represents a strategic step towards building constructive partnerships with the European sector, he added.
Popular Bandon seafood restaurant Poachers is go up for sale, with the premises and business going on the market. The restaurant was recommended by the Michelin Guide several times over the years.

Proprietor Barry McLoughlins social media announcement that he and wife Catherine were stepping away after two decades triggered an avalanche of online responses mourning their departure from the extremely popular West Cork restaurant.

Poachers opened in 2006 as Poacher's Inn, a gastropub with a pronounced focus on delivering dishes using fresh Irish fish and seafood, sourcing as much as possible from the shores of its West Cork hinterland.

An early adopter of the now increasingly more popular seafood-driven restaurant model, it proved an almost immediate hit with the local dining public and soon built up an accompanying national reputation, at one stage appearing in the McKennas Guides 100 Best Irish Restaurants in 2012.

It was also recommended in the esteemed Michelin Guide for many years, beginning in 2008, which was greatly taken with the cosy bar  small snug [and] dining room under the eaves, saying that local seafood is the star of the show.

It will be hard to say goodbye because weve loved our time here, said Barry McLaughlin. Catherines first job as a barperson at 16 was back when it was just a pub, Reillys Daughter, so she has always had a huge connection to the place.

We had a great run and are very proud of what we achieved and weve nothing but fond memories of the place and all the people who dined here, and we are very grateful to our loyal local supporters and those who travelled from elsewhere over the years.

Barry McLoughlin in Poachers Restaurant, Bandon. Picture: Noel Sweeney

The McLaughlins are very hopeful that the next owners will be keen to continue the food and hospitality tradition they first established and expand further on its potential.

It is an exciting prospect for anyone who takes it on, said Barry, The original restaurant space downstairs has 60 seats, and then during covid we developed a lovely, atmospheric upstairs room with 50 seats and also the garden which has another 50 seats and is great in the summer.

But it takes an awful lot of energy and, to be honest, the energy of youth, to run a place the size of Poachers, and as I hit a big birthday in recent years, we wanted to step back a little from that level of commitment.

We wanted to move on while we still had the energy and enthusiasm and a few years left to try our hand at something else.

So weve decided to explore other opportunities that would give us a bit more flexibility and free up a bit more of our time  were very excited for the future and were not necessarily done with hospitality so watch this space!
Going camping in Australia is quite different from going camping in Europe, in that its potentially life threatening.

Top of the list are drop bears, fearsome creatures who drop from trees to attack from above  the fanged, venomous, flesh-eating cousins of koalas. Watch out for the drop bears, warns a straight-faced Australian neighbour, as we load the car for our trip.

Before I have a chance to add them to my list of Things To Be Afraid Of, my daughter shows me a video of a nervous Scottish TV reporter in goggles, gloves, and full body armour, being prepped for an encounter with one of these vicious, unpredictable beasts.

She remains rigid with fear as she is handed a drop bear  who looks like a dozy, sleepy, cuddly koala  before her Aussie colleagues cant contain themselves any longer and fall around gasping with laughter. Aussies get a great kick out of pranking foreigners, and drop bears are their greatest national prank.

Everything else here is very real  giant crocodiles that can eat you, small spiders that can poison you, big spiders that can give you a heart attack.

All the snakes. All the sharks. Deadly jellyfish. Kangaroos that can punch you in the face. The cutesy duck-billed platypus emits a venom so painful even morphine cant soothe it.

We set off in a 42C heatwave to a campsite so remote you have to bring your own water. Its more of a wilderness with a sign nailed to a gum tree saying dont feed the giant lizards.

A handful of 4x4s are dotted around, all with pop-up rooftop tents and step ladders that fold away when youre driving. Rooftop tents mean that nothing can get at you when youre asleep.

They sleep two, which means that I cant squeeze in with my daughter and her boyfriend  they might not enjoy that  so I will be sleeping on the ground in a swag. A swag is a kind of canvas polytunnel for one  you lie into it and zip yourself in.

I should mention I am an arachnophobe. Id rather wrestle a dozen drop bears with rabies than encounter a single Irish spider... but while drop bears are made up, spiders exist. And in Australia they are the size of side plates.

Dont worry, says my daughters boyfriend. They dont generally live on the ground. How comforting, I think, as I zip myself into my swag on the ground.

Just the giant lizards to think about then. I saw a few earlier, patrolling the perimeter of the campsite, looking for food  metre-long monitors with flicking forked tongues and eagle-like talons.

Still, at least theyre not spiders. And they only attack when cornered. Also, theyre not nocturnal, which means they will hopefully be going to bed soon.

'I should mention I am an arachnophobe. Id rather wrestle a dozen drop bears with rabies than encounter a single Irish spider.'

I wake in the night to an oddly familiar sound. A nibbling noise, all around me. Like the sound that sheep make when theyre eating grass. Is something chewing through the canvas? Am I about to be eaten alive, feet first?

Cautiously, propped on one elbow, I unzip the bit nearest my head, ready to scream for help. There, inches from my head, silhouetted in moonlight, is a mob of kangaroos. Grazing in a circle around me, near enough to touch.

In the morning I wonder if I dreamed it, but there are pellets of kangaroo poo in my shoes. Camping in Europe will never be the same again.
Moves to attract the best and brightest US researchers fleeing to Ireland following university shutdowns by the Trump administration have prompted concern among some researchers here.

Last summer, higher education minister James Lawless launched the Global Talent Initiative, an attempt to attract disillusioned US researchers to Ireland.

Its launch came during unprecedented upheaval across US college campuses, academic institutions, and research organisations as Donald Trump took office.

With an initial budget of 8m per annum, the scheme is expected to support up to 15 researchers per year.

Correspondence released by the Department of Further and Higher Education to the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act shows the establishment of the scheme drew some criticism from researchers here working on the ground.

In a letter to Mr Lawless, one researcher described themselves as deeply disillusioned with the announcement, although they empathised wholeheartedly with their colleagues in the US as their scientific institutions are being decimated.

'No funding available'

In the letter, they describe being unsuccessful in progressing their own research projects after being told on more than one occasion that there was no funding available. They were subsequently placed on a reserve list.

Many of my talented colleagues are also on this reserve list. All have spent many months developing the underpinning preliminary findings, crafting internationally-competitive research plans, forming collaborations with world-class researchers, but then cannot operate these projects to fruition due to lack of funding.

Another researcher wrote to the minister, describing the launch of the global talent initiative as one of the most misguided and insulting moves weve seen from the department in recent years.

For the entirety of the last government and beyond, myself and colleagues have campaigned for equal rights and fair pay within the third-level sector, only to be told there is no room for movement in terms of finance.

While I appreciate the initiative to capitalise on the misfortune of other colleagues who may be in search of new jobs internationally, I would like to point out the inequality that this only serves to deepen, the letter added.

Thousands of Irish academics are currently on long-term low-paid contracts. Many, even after decades of service, might still be on less than poverty-level wages.

There is no parity with first, second or even pre-school teaching grades and salaries for instance  and all for people who have completed doctoral degrees and postdoctoral training.

You have a duty as minister to set things right for the academics you already have before setting out to acquire more, they said.

Another researcher told the minister that while Ireland aspires to be a global leader in science and innovation the reality for many researchers on the ground is very different. They said: Your vision of attracting global talent here can only be meaningfully realised if accompanied by urgent reforms to address the deep-rooted challenges faced by researchers already working within the Irish research system. This includes precarious employment and contract instability, inadequate salaries, a lack of clear career pathways and limited support for independent research careers.

Concern from UCC academic

The Department of Further and Higher Education also received correspondence highlighting issues with the running of the global talent initiative, the FOI documents show. It received correspondence from a UCC academic who expressed deep concern for how grants were handled.

The Global Talent Initiative has tremendous potential, but the turnaround time is simply too short, the academic wrote. There is a lack of clarity given to universities on how to make internal selections. The result is a rushed internal selection process that is unclear to everyone not directly involved [including staff like myself].

A response from the ministers office told researchers the department is committed to supporting the Irish research base, and the launch of the initiative is intended to add to those efforts.

There is a comprehensive and ambitious set of commitments for research and innovation in the Programme for Government, it added.

Work is expected to be progressed by a number of policies and strategies, primarily under Impact 2030.
A High Court judge has ordered teacher Enoch Burke be returned to prison for repeatedly trespassing at a school in Co Westmeath.

Mr Burke was arrested this morning ahead of a scheduled appearance at the High Court in Dublin.

He will now return to prison after breaching an Irish court order instructing him not to trespass at Wilsons Hospital School, Co Westmeath.

Mr Burkes arrest was ordered by Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Friday.

In court last Friday, Rosemary Mallon BL, for the school, said Mr Burke was not in court for that afternoon's application because less than an hour earlier, he had been at the school.

Ms Mallon said at one point, he went past the boundary wall before a security man employed by the school stopped him from going any farther.

Ms Mallon said there was now a clear situation where yet again, a member of the regulated teaching profession, no matter what is said to him "continues to turn his back on the rule of law". This had, she said, resulted in an unprecedented impact on the work of the school.

If one thought about it, it meant the principal had to do things like re-engage security at short notice, address issues raised by pupils, parents and others who had to get in past protests at the gate and having to deal with solicitors for this case.

"None of that is what a principal should be doing and it is my submission and with great regret that yet again that I ask the Mr Burke be committed," she said.

The judge said he was satisfied Mr Burke had yet again breached a 2023 order permanently prohibiting him from trespassing on the school and he ordered he be brought before the court on Monday.
The High Court has ordered the immediate re-imprisonment of Enoch Burke, less than a week after the schoolteacher was released from Mountjoy Jail.

Mr Burke was brought before Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Monday hours after gardai arrested him at Wilsons Hospital School. The judge had ordered his arrest on Friday following his breach of a court direction prohibiting his attendance at the Co Westmeath school.

Following an application by lawyers for the school, Mr Justice Cregan said he was satisfied that Mr Burke had breached the order by attending at the school on Thursday and Friday last week. The judge found Mr Burke to be in contempt of court, and ordered his immediate committal to Mountjoy.

The developments came after Mr Justice Cregan on Wednesday ordered Mr Burkes release from Mountjoy Prison, where he has spent some 560 days over the last three years in custody for his repeated breach of the order banning him from the school.

The judge had ordered his release to give the teacher an opportunity to prepare a new case he is bringing in relation to the composition of an appeal panel which will hear an appeal against his dismissal from the school.

His release was ordered despite Mr Burke informing the judge that he would return to the school the following morning. Mr Burke made good on this assertion.

Mr Burkes formal dismissal from the school some three years ago arose out of his conduct following his refusal to comply with a direction from the schools then-principal to address a transgender pupil by a new name.

Mr Burke has repeatedly claimed his jailing arises from his views on transgender issues, and that his religious and constitutional rights have been breached.

Several judges have told Mr Burke he was jailed for breaching a court order not to trespass on the school grounds, and that it was not about his religious or constitutional rights but the rule of law.

At Mondays hearing, barrister Rosemary Mallon, appearing for Wilsons Hospital School, opened a statement sworn by the schools principal Noel Cunningham, outlining Mr Burkes attendance at the school last week, and the impact on the schools operation.

Mr Cunningham noted the attendance of protesters at the schools gates coinciding with Mr Burkes trespassing, and said he believed the atmosphere there to be at times quite unpleasant.

The principal said hed received complaints from parents and teachers in relation to individuals standing at the school gates, and the safety issues arising from same.

Since Mr Burkes release from prison last week, Mr Cunningham said he had to engage a security company at short notice, contact An Garda Siochana twice and listen to complaints about safety issues at the school gates. He said these were not usual tasks for a principal and arose from Mr Burkes contempt of court orders.

Ms Mallon submitted that it was clear that Mr Burke was in contempt of the order prohibiting his attendance at the school.

Replying to the schools application, Mr Burke told the judge that he was not in contempt of court  rather, he had utmost respect for the courts. Mr Justice Cregan said this was nonsense.

Mr Burke said that at last weeks hearing, following the judges ordering his release from prison, he told the judge exactly what [his] intentions were. He said he turned up at his place of work on Thursday and Friday.

In response, Mr Justice Cregan told Mr Burke hed been dismissed from his post at the school.

What part of that sentence do you not understand? the judge asked. Who on earth turns up where theyve been dismissed?

Mr Burke said it was grossly and manifestly wrong that he was suspended from his employment. There was no gross misconduct.

Mr Burke repeated complaints about the original order of Mr Justice Alexander Owens prohibiting his attendance at the school, claiming it was manifestly wrong. The judge noted that Mr Burke had not appealed this order.

At the outset of the hearing, Ms Mallon outlined comments made by school principal Mr Cunningham in his affidavit, addressing a Sunday Independent article published over the weekend, and an interview he gave to the newspaper for the piece.

Mr Cunningham said that the schools board of management was not aware of his participation in the article, and had not consented to the interview.

Mr Cunningham said he appreciated that it was inappropriate for him to speak to any journalist in relation to ongoing litigation. He said he participated in the interview in a misguided attempt to give the school some good publicity.

He said he wished to apologise to the court for the article.

In his submissions to the court, Mr Burke said the article was "about me and my workplace", and the gist of the piece was that his attendance at the school doesnt affect the day to day, that it is a happy place with people getting on with it.

Mr Cunninghams statement to the court was diametrically opposed to the contents of the article, Mr Burke said, claiming the affidavit contained a different set of facts relating to the impact of Mr Burkes attendance at the school.

He claimed that Mr Cunningham was in his affidavit backtracking on comments made to the Sunday Independent at the behest of the schools lawyers.
A man who murdered his ex-girlfriend in the grounds of a Co Clare church has lost his bid to get out of prison.

A High Court judge said the claim by Raymond Donovan should never have been taken.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons found there was simply no basis" for Donovan claiming that the Court of Criminal Appeal had overturned his mandatory life sentence and substituted a 20-year term in its place.

Donovan, formerly of New Houses, Cooraclare, Co Clare, strangled his former girlfriend, Ann Walsh (23), to death on the grounds of St Senan's church, Kilrush Co Clare on August 24, 2005.

The judge also said the challenge had caused distress to the victim's family, should never have been taken, and "did not stand scrutiny".

Ann Walsh's family in court

Ms Walsh's family were present in the High Court as was Donovan, who was in handcuffs and flanked by three prison officers. The family of Ms Walsh wore T-shirts with 'Justice for Ann Walsh' written on them with a photo of Ms Walsh.

Donovan launched a High Court bid for his release, claiming that in 2009 the Court of Appeal substituted his mandatory life sentence for one of 20 years' imprisonment, although he had no detention warrant proving the claim.

At his trial, he denied the murder charge but a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Ennis unanimously convicted him before Mr Justice Paul Carney sentenced him to the mandatory term of life imprisonment in June 2006.

Donovan's bid to get out of prison

In a High Court application last week, Donovans legal team successfully applied to the High Court for permission to inquire into the legality of his detention.

Donovan made the application pursuant to Article 40.4.2 of the Constitution  also known as 'Habeas Corpus'  against the governor of Wheatfield Prison.

In a sworn affidavit, Donovan claimed that he has been imprisoned since August 24, 2005, and was convicted of murder in 2006. He submitted he had unsuccessfully appealed the conviction in 2009.

However, Donovan further submitted that while his appeal was unsuccessful, "the Court of Criminal Appeal substituted my sentence of life imprisonment to one of 20 years".

He claimed he had prison records that indicated a 20-year sentence for the murder but had no warrant document to confirm this from the Court of Appeal's decision.

High court dismisses claim

At the High Court on Monday Mr Justice Simons dismissed Donovan's claim saying it should "never" have been taken. The judge said there was no blame to be apportioned towards Donovan's legal team.

Mr Justice Simons said it must have been "devastating for the family" of Ms Walsh to think that Donovan might be released.

Donovan had submitted that "despite numerous requests to prison authorities for sight of, or a copy of, the warrant from the Court of Appeal there appeared to be no record of this warrant".

In his submissions, Donovan claimed that "prison authorities do not have the necessary documents that are sufficient to detain me in prison".

John P Gallagher BL, instructed by the Chief State Solicitors' Office, told Mr Justice Simons that the Central Criminal Court warrant for Donovan's life imprisonment was an "uncontroversial" document and that there was "no other conceivable penalty" other than life imprisonment in this jurisdiction for the murder.

The body of 23-year-old Ann Walsh was found behind St Senan's Church in Kilrush Co Clare in 2005. Raymond Donovan, previously of New Houses, Cooraclare, Co Clare, was found guilty of her murder in 2006. Picture: PicSure

Mr Gallagher said that if Donovan's position was that there was a document in existence substituting a 20-year sentence for one of life imprisonment on a failed appeal at the Criminal Court of Appeal it would have been a "landmark event" in Donovan's life and that he should be in possession of it.

Mr Justice Simons said it was "perfectly clear" the Central Criminal Court could not direct any other sentence than the mandatory life imprisonment for the offence of murder and that there could be "no complaint" regarding the legality of Donovan's detention.

The judge said the Court of Criminal Appeal had rejected "in its entirety" Donovan's 2009 challenge against his conviction and that the Central Criminal Court had been "perfectly clear" in its decision.

He said there was "simply no basis" regarding Donovan's question of legality over his imprisonment and refused the application saying it "did not stand scrutiny".
A Dublin mother was told to apply for a place in schools in Kildare and Wicklow for her autistic daughter despite living just yards from a local school.

The daughter of Aine Curtin, from West Dublin, is due to begin secondary school later this year, but has been told that there is no space in the additional needs unit of the local school.

This, Ms Curtin said, has led to a sustained fight with authorities. She has been told that her daughter may need to travel to other counties in order to secure a school place.

Her primary school means she has fallen outside the catchment of the secondary school that we currently are surrounded by, so she was moved down categories on the admissions policy for our secondary school and hasnt got a place anywhere, she said.

Ms Curtin experienced a similar situation when her daughter was in primary school.

I applied to over 10 autism classes, all in Dublin 15, where she didnt get a place, and I was told thered be no place for any child, not just her, until 2028.

I feel the problem is because they fill the class with a lot of first years, which is great for those first years, theres no space until those first years either are able to integrate into mainstream, or they leave in sixth year, which is crazy, Ms Curtin said. There should be a class for every year band.

She hasnt got into any mainstream schools in our area, and no special classes. And I have been told by everybody who Ive contacted, Ive contacted ministers, Ive contacted the SENO [special education needs officer], Ive contacted the principals of these schools, and most of their solutions is that I should just keep going further and further and further with my applications, Ms Curtin said, saying that going further did not just mean with appeals.

Appeals, yes, but I should apply to Wicklow and schools in Kildare, further geographically.

This was the same solution they had for us when we were doing this in primary school.

You have to go as far as you can, because their solution is: We will find you a place, somewhere, and we will give you free transport.

So theyll put your child on a bus and [say] we have solved your problem, but youre refusing to accept it.

Ms Curtin, who has documented her situation online, says she has spoken to hundreds of parents in a similar situation.

Its not just me," she said.

I talk to hundreds of families all the time online, and they have, especially in the countryside, they have kids getting on buses in Cork and going to schools in Kerry.

So they could be on the bus from 6am and dont start till nine. And I know thats the solution that theyre trying to shove down my throat, but I just wont accept it.

A taskforce for the Dublin 15 area was established last year due to a lack of places. That taskforces recommendations are being examined, minister of state for special education Michael Moynihan told the Dail before Christmas.

Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor
Growing up in poverty and experiencing social exclusion within marginalised communities can significantly hinder educational and professional success.

My place of origin is Ballinacurra Weston, an estate on the southside of Limerick City, long associated with poverty, crime, and deprivation. Making positive choices in a neighbourhood like Weston is never easy, often bringing ridicule and ostracisation.

Thats why you remember the people who made choosing the right path easier. Escaping poverty is complex and hard to define. As the first in my family to complete a Leaving Certificate and progress to third level, I often wondered: why did I choose this path when so many around me opted for very different life choices? That question inspired my PhD research into the circumstances that motivate individuals toward positive decisions.

My study explored the push and pull factors in social class mobility from Limerick Citys Regeneration estates of Ballinacurra Weston, Moyross, Southill, and St Marys Park and their surrounds, by interviewing residents who achieved educational and professional success despite significant obstacles.

The findings revealed the most positive influences came from strong community figures who supported and guided participants toward relevant opportunities.

When we talk about social mobility, we often focus on government programmes, educational policy, or perhaps a stroke of luck. But in the heart of these estates, communities long defined by structural disadvantage and stigma, a quieter, more personal force was often at work: the local clergy.

I vividly recall the Catholic Churchs influence in my own community: running youth clubs, organising education courses, and even offering small financial supports.

My parish priest once came to my house and conducted aptitude tests to help me identify a suitable college course, guiding me toward my degree choice.

Across the study, a distinct narrative emerged: clergy members provided support far beyond the pulpit. Twelve participants were interviewed in depth, and over half recalled how priests and nuns acted as brokers of opportunity for themselves and their families.

Their efforts included securing school places for children, funding college fees, and facilitating youth clubs and programmes that offered both safety and aspiration.

Helen Lowe, UL: My findings suggest the contribution of the clergy extended far beyond the church grounds. In areas with limited institutional resources, they served as vital links and advocates for families navigating difficult circumstances.

In many cases, this community-based advocacy served as a practical bridge between marginalised environments and improved social outcomes. These stories remind us that while structural reforms and policy matter, human relationships and local leadership often make the difference between staying trapped in disadvantage and finding a way out.

One participant recalls a pivotal moment when a member of the clergy helped her access a school outside her immediate neighbourhood. As she was an extremely quiet child, the local principal had advised her mother to seek a school elsewhere to avoid the risk of targeted bullying.

In the 1980s, this was a difficult decision made harder by a lack of formal support for such a move. However, she recalls how the clergy stepped in: "The church used their connections to secure a place for me in a school in a more affluent area", she says.

"I was the only child in the class from my neighbourhood, and it placed me in an environment where the expectations for my future were different."

This intervention was about more than physical safety; it provided what economist Raj Chetty calls "opportunity exposure". By facilitating a move out of a marginalised setting, the clergy placed her in an environment where expectations were higher and social circles were more diverse; factors Chetty argues significantly increase a child's chances of long-term success.

For many, the cost of a degree is a primary obstacle to social mobility. One story in the research describes a student whose teaching fees were covered by a local nun, allowing him to repay her after he started working.

His experience is an example of "capital conversion", where a targeted financial resource is transformed into a professional qualification and, ultimately, economic security.

Not all help was financial. For many, the clergy provided the "social glue" that held childhoods together. Participants recalled summers that "didn't exist" without day trips, play schemes, and dance clubs run by local religious orders.

These activities were far more than a way to pass the time; they functioned as essential training grounds for the interpersonal skills and self-assurance necessary for navigating the wider world. For many participants, these clubs provided the social foundation that is often a given in more privileged childhoods.

Beyond skill-building, the programmes offered a much-needed structure during the summer months. By providing a safe, supervised space, they acted as an outlet during long holidays, reducing the risk of young people being drawn into anti-social behaviour due to a lack of local opportunities.

Beyond the activities, there was the impact of mentorship. One participant recalled how a local nun became an important mentor in her life: "She's a saint, she so embraced me and got me involved in the whole aspect of community life. And she gave me tasks to do and rewarded me for those tasks. You know what I mean, just so encouraging."

This sense of being valued is what researchers call "agency", the belief you can shape your own life. In communities where residents often felt invisible or judged, the clergy were often the ones who provided the spark of self-belief necessary to break the cycle of poverty.

Ireland often views itself as a meritocratic society, yet children born into disadvantage still face steep odds. While government schemes are frequently launched and rebranded, the role of community-embedded actors, specifically faith-based ones, rarely makes headlines.

As the Department of Educations patronage survey seeks to broaden educational choice, it highlights a tension: currently, 95% of primary schools remain under religious patronage despite a growing demand for diversity. However, these grassroots experiences remind us that faith-based institutions have remained a consistent social force, often filling the gap where systemic supports are inconsistent.

While the diversification of school patronage is a necessary goal for a modern society, we must not overlook the positive community functions clergy have undertaken for decades: walking alongside vulnerable children, offering micro-supports, and fostering aspirational goals.

My findings suggest the contribution of the clergy extended far beyond the church grounds. In areas with limited institutional resources, they served as vital links and advocates for families navigating difficult circumstances. This legacy does not negate valid concerns regarding inclusion or pluralism, but it does demand a more nuanced conversation.

In an era focused on large-scale policy levers, it is worth remembering the "human" levers: the mentors and brokers who changed lives one student at a time. Whatever the future of school patronage looks like, the challenge for policymakers will be how to preserve that spirit of community mentorship and the vital safety net it once provided.

Helen Lowe is a researcher and teacher at UL's School of Education
Hackers have disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions to air footage supporting the countrys exiled crown prince, and calling on security forces to not point your weapons at the people, online video revealed.

The hacking comes as the death toll in a crackdown by authorities that smothered anti-government demonstrations reached at least 3,919 people killed, activists said.

They fear the number will grow far higher as information leaks out of a country still gripped by the governments decision to shut down the internet.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high between the United States and Iran over the crackdown after American president Donald Trump drew two red lines for the Islamic Republic  the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions in the wake of the demonstrations.

A US aircraft carrier, which days earlier had been in the South China Sea, passed Singapore overnight to enter the Strait of Malacca  putting it on a route that could bring it to the Middle East.

The footage aired on Sunday night across multiple channels broadcast by satellite from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the countrys state broadcaster which has a monopoly on television and radio broadcasting.

The video aired two clips of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, then included footage of security forces and others in what appeared to be Iranian police uniforms.

It claimed without offering evidence others had laid down their weapons and swore an oath of allegiance to the people.

This is a message to the army and security forces, one graphic read. Dont point your weapons at the people. Join the nation for the freedom of Iran. The semi-official Fars news agency, believed to be close to the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, quoted a statement from the state broadcaster acknowledging that the signal in some areas of the country was momentarily disrupted by an unknown source. It did not discuss what had been aired.

A statement from the crown princes office acknowledged the disruption that showed the crown prince. It did not respond to questions from The Associated Press about the hack.

I have a special message for the military. You are the national army of Iran, not the Islamic Republic army, Crown Prince Pahlavi said in the hacked broadcast. You have a duty to protect your own lives. You dont have much time left. Join the people as soon as possible. Social media footage shared abroad, possibly from those with Starlink satellites to get around the internet shutdown, showed the hack in progress across multiple channels.

Pahlavis father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fled Iran ahead of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, the son, urged protesters onto the streets on January 8 as Iranian authorities shut down the internet and drastically intensified their crackdown.

How much support Pahlavi has inside of Iran remains an open question, though there have been pro-shah cries at the demonstrations.
Hainan FTP's first month of island-wide special customs operations boosts economic vitality, sets global benchmark

Xinhua) 08:30, January 19, 2026

Customers shop at a duty-free store in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 17, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

HAIKOU, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- One month into the island-wide special customs operations, the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in south China has maintained smooth and orderly functioning, with initial achievements in logistics efficiency, passenger convenience, and economic aggregation, highlighting the country's commitment to high-level opening up.

Hainan Heren Pearl Co., Ltd., which mainly imports pearls from overseas, has emerged as a direct beneficiary of Hainan FTP policies.

Under the value-added processing policy, the company can sell its high-value products to the mainland duty-free, cutting its overall tax burden from about 52 percent to roughly 26 percent and redirecting the savings into research and development, said Zhang Shizhong, the company's chairman.

"The FTP holds great promise, with more policy dividends set to be released in the future," Zhang said.

One notable special customs policy is offering "freer access at the first line," referring to freer trade between Hainan and areas outside China's customs borders, and "regulated access at the second line," which involves applying standard customs controls for goods moving from Hainan to the mainland.

According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the value of "first line" imported zero-tariff goods was 750 million yuan (about 107 million U.S. dollars); the value of processed and value-added goods sold domestically through the "second line" was about 85.9 million yuan.

In Wanning City, production lines at Chia Tai (Hainan) Xinglong Coffee Industry Development Co., Ltd. are running at full capacity. The company imports green coffee beans from Colombia and processes them in Hainan before shipping the finished products to the mainland, enjoying an 8 percent tariff reduction under the FTP policies.

"After the launch of island-wide special customs operations, Hainan will gradually become a value-added processing center and trade hub with global resource allocation capabilities," said Ye Jian, the company's general manager. "Enterprises will not only pass through Hainan, but also be able to put down roots here and create higher value."

Drawn by the policy incentives, a growing number of companies are choosing to do business in Hainan. The General Administration of Customs said a total of 5,132 new foreign trade enterprises completed registration in Hainan over the past month, an increase in a month roughly equivalent to the total registrations in an entire quarter of 2024.

The total number of registered foreign trade market entities in Hainan has surpassed 100,000, according to official data.

As the policy came into force, major ports across Hainan saw a surge in activity.

Days after Hainan began island-wide special customs operations, a flight from Prague carrying 115 European passengers touched down in the tourist city of Sanya, marking a breakthrough in the high-level opening up of the aviation sector at the Hainan FTP.

The arrival marked the launch of China's first official passenger route operated under the Seventh Freedom of the Air, which allows foreign carriers to operate flights between two foreign countries without having to land in their home country.

The route is operated by Kazakhstan's Scat Airlines, with one round-trip scheduled each week.

At Yangpu Port, the largest cargo port in the Hainan FTP, mega-ships berthing in quick succession, gantry cranes operating around the clock, and container trucks moving in tightly coordinated flows have become a routine sight.

"Yangpu will shoulder the role of the main logistics gateway of the Hainan FTP," said Yang Xiaobin, deputy head of the Transportation, Port and Waterway Bureau of Yangpu Economic Development Zone. "The port aims to build a smart and green international shipping hub and logistics center."

Container throughput at Yangpu reached 3.31 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, up more than 65 percent from a year earlier.

"It is particularly noteworthy that the Hainan FTP launched island-wide special customs operations at a time of intensifying deglobalization and rising global uncertainty," said Cui Weijie, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, a think tank with the Ministry of Commerce.

"It not only demonstrates China's unwavering commitment to high-standard opening up, but also injects greater certainty and positive momentum into the global economy and international trade cooperation," Cui said.

Customers shop at the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 10, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Customers shop at the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 10, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Customers shop at the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 10, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Customers shop at the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 10, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Customers shop at a duty-free store in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 17, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

A customer shops at the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 10, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

This photo taken on Jan. 10, 2026 shows an interior view of the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Customers shop at the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 10, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Customers shop at the Sanya International Duty Free City in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 10, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Customers select gold jewelry at a duty-free store in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, on Jan. 17, 2026. On Dec. 18 last year, China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), allowing freer entry of overseas goods, expanding zero-tariff coverage, and introducing more business-friendly measures. One month into the island-wide special customs operations, Hainan FTP in south China has seen a sharp rise in duty-free purchases. According to Haikou Customs, from Dec. 18, 2025 to Jan. 17, 2026, the duty-free sales supervised by customs reached 4.86 billion yuan (about 693.5 million U.S. dollars), up 46.8 percent year on year, and the number of shoppers rose 30.2 percent year on year to 745,000, showing sustained strong consumption vitality. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Kamal Ozturk at Al Jazeera reports that Turkiye is now interested in joining the Saudi-Pakistan security commitment, which considers an attack on one an attack on both. It is modeled after Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization charter. Ankara has not yet contacted Saudi Arabia and Pakistan with this request, but is studying doing so.

Turkiye is, of course, a member of the original NATO, raising questions about why they feel they need an additional alliance. Ozturk says that Ankaras officials view the old NATO as about East-West issues, which are no longer salient. I take this position to suggest that Turkiye is not very interested in the struggle against the Russian Federation in Ukraine, unlike most other NATO members with the exception of Hungary and, recently, perhaps Trumps United States.

Turkiye feels more threatened by Israel than by Putins Russia. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan supports Hamas and the new fundamentalist government in Syria, both of which have been heavily bombed by Israel. Israel has air dominance in the Middle East and possesses several hundred nuclear weapons. Turkiye does not.

Turkish officials told Ozturk that they see a benefit in hitching their wagon to nuclear-armed Pakistan and to the economic powerhouse of Saudi Arabia. Bingo. Turkiye is looking for a nuclear umbrella and clearly does not believe that Article 5 will be honored by other NATO members if Israel attacks Turkiye, since the UK, the US, France, Germany and Italy have granted Israel impunity to attack whomever it pleases in the region. Ankara has long had excellent military relationships with Pakistan, and gaining from Islamabad a pledge to defend Turkiye from Israel would build on that long and warm history.



Triple Entente? Via Mapchart.net

For its part, the officials say, Turkiye brings a sophisticated manufacturing base to such an alliance, including the production of arms, and it has the worlds sixth largest army.

These Turkish officials reject the moniker Islamic NATO for the proposed tripartite alliance, since that term might imply that even more countries would be admitted, such as Egypt. It is, they say, a narrow military alliance.

I wrote earlier,

here you have Pakistan, a Muslim country of some 250 million, with a military that ranks 12th in the world and that possesses a stockpile of nuclear weapons. In fact, Pakistan ranks above Israel, which comes in at 15 in the Global Firepower Index. Pakistans only weakness in a comparison with Israel is its finances. But a Pakistan-Saudi combination rather ups Islamabads finance game.

As for Turkiye, it is ranked no. 9 militarily in the world, after France and Japan but ahead of Italy.

You put Turkiye and Pakistan together in a military alliance, and you have something right there.

Ayesha Fatima writes at MSN, Ankara is building corvette warships for the Pakistani navy, has modernised dozens of Pakistans F-16 fighter jets, and shares drone technology with both Riyadh and Islamabad. Turkey has also invited the two countries to take part in its Kaan fifth-generation fighter jet programme



Photo of Ankara by ekrem osmanoglu on Unsplash

NATO, with its Article 5 pledge, grew up as a response to the nuclear-armed Soviet Union during the Cold War. Ironically, the Soviets never dared invade a NATO member, and so article 5 was only invoked regarding 9/11, leading NATO member states to fight in Americas Afghanistan War.

I wrote in September about the Saudi-Pakistan security pact that considers an attack on one an attack on both. It seemed to me then a massive turning point in modern Middle East security affairs. The agreement was reached quickly after the Israeli air force bombed Doha in Qatar, the first time Israel has struck directly at one of the Gulf Cooperation Council states (Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman), which consist of Sunni monarchies with oil and/or fossil gas.

The Gulf has enormous financial and energy-related power, but has small populations that cannot plausibly mount armies capable of defending themselves. It is sort of like six trillionaires living in a dangerous slum. Trillionaires dont have to live that way. It was natural that in order to fend off Israel Saudi Arabia would turn to Pakistan, since Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman knows he cannot trust Trump or any American president to have his back against Israel. Trump demonstrated the correctness of this fear when he allowed Israel to strike Doha, even though he later made Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologize to Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim Al Thani. Qatar had leased the al-Udeid Air Base to the US, which bases some 12,000 personnel there, precisely to guarantee that Doha would never be bombed by anyone. But Netanyahu went there. MBS read the tea leaves. Now, so has Turkeys Erdogan.
( Middle East Monitor )  In the lexicon of modern geopolitics, language is rarely used to describe reality; more often, it is used to camouflage it. The emergence of proposals such as a Gaza Board of Peace represents a sophisticated linguistic pivota transition from the raw violence of military occupation to the sterile, bureaucratic violence of recolonization. By framing the administration of Gaza as a peace-building initiative, proponents are attempting to revive the Mandate System of the early 20th century, effectively stripping a population of its agency under the guise of humanitarian necessity.

To understand the gravity of this moment, we must analyse it not as a temporary security measure, but as a deliberate manifestation of neo-colonialism and a direct assault on the project of decoloniality.

The civilising mission and the logic of the mandate

The theoretical foundation of any Board of Peace is rooted in what political theorist Frantz Fanon identified as the colonial civilising mission. This logic dictates that the colonised subject is inherently unripe for self-determination. In this framework, Gaza is viewed not as a political entity with a right to sovereignty, but as a problem space that requires external management.

This mirrors the League of Nations Mandate system, particularly the Class A Mandates established after World War I. These mandates were predicated on the idea that certain territories were inhabited by people not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world. By proposing a board of external overseerslikely comprised of Western powers or their regional proxiesthe international community is attempting to re-establish a trusteeship model. This is a profound regression; it replaces the legal right to self-determination with a conditional supervised existence, where peace is defined solely as the absence of resistance to the dominant order.

Neo-colonialism and the management of Gaza

Where 19th century imperialism sought the direct extraction of resources, neo-colonialism functions through the control of infrastructure, borders, and political legitimacy. A Gaza Board of Peace would serve as the ultimate neo-colonial apparatus.

By internationalizing the administration of Gaza, the occupying power and its allies can outsource the moral and logistical costs of control. This creates a buffer of legitimacy. If the board is composed of multiple nations, the specific accountability of the colonizer is diluted into a nebulous international responsibility. This is what Achille Mbembe describes as necropoliticsthe exercise of sovereignty through the power to dictate who may live and who must die, now managed through a sanitised committee of experts and peacekeepers.

The board becomes a mechanism to:

Depoliticise the struggle: It transforms a fundamental fight for national liberation into a series of technical challenges (e.g., waste management, caloric intake, border logistics).

Fragment identity: By treating Gaza as a separate administrative unit from the rest of the Palestinian territories, it furthers the colonial strategy of divide and rule, preventing the realization of a unified Palestinian state.

The racial underpinnings of the peace framework

One cannot discuss recolonisation without addressing the inherent racism that facilitates it. The Board of Peace proposal relies on a racialized hierarchy of sovereignty. It assumes that Palestinian lives are governable only through external coercion.

This is an extension of Edward Saids Orientalism, where the East is portrayed as perpetually chaotic and irrational, requiring the rational West to impose order. The refusal to allow Palestinians to lead their own reconstruction or govern their own borders is a statement of racial distrust. It suggests that the indigenous population cannot be trusted with the tools of modernityairports, seaports, or a standing police forcebecause their nature is inherently threatening. This racialisation justifies the permanent temporary nature of the occupation, where the goalposts for readiness for independence are constantly moved.

The struggle for decoloniality

In response to this neo-imperialist creep, the concept of decoloniality offers a radical alternative. Decoloniality is not merely decolonisation (the removal of troops); it is the dismantling of the coloniality of powerthe underlying structures of thought and governance that keep imperial hierarchies in place.

A decolonial approach to Gaza would reject any board, council, or mandate that is not born from the organic will of the Palestinian people. It argues that:

Sovereignty is inalienable: It cannot be earned by proving good behaviour to a board of former colonial masters. Reparations over management: Instead of a Board of Peace managing poverty, a decolonial framework demands reparations for the decades of systemic destruction of Gazas economy and infrastructure. Epistemic liberation: It requires the world to stop viewing Gaza through the lens of security threats and start viewing it through the lens of human rights and national liberation.



Image of Gaza by hosny salah from Pixabay

The danger of humanitarian recolonisation

The most insidious aspect of the Gaza Board of Peace is its humanitarian branding. By focusing on the delivery of aid and the rebuilding of hospitals, the board seeks to gain the consent of the governed through the provision of basic survival.

However, as political theorist Giorgio Agamben warns, when humans are reduced to bare lifemere biological existence without political rightsthey are at their most vulnerable. A board that feeds a population while denying them a vote, a passport, or a say in their future is not a humanitarian body; it is a penal administration. It turns the Gaza Strip into a managed enclosure, a high-tech company town where the company is a consortium of global powers.

Rejecting the imperial reset

The proposal for a Gaza Board of Peace is a litmus test for the 21st century. Will we allow the return of the Mandate era, where powerful nations carve up the rights of the weaker ones in plush boardrooms? Or will we uphold the hard-won principles of the post-WWII era, which affirm that all peoples have the right to self-determination?

To accept the recolonisation of Gaza is to accept a world where the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must, all while a Board of Peace takes minutes of the proceedings. The struggle for Gaza is the frontline of the global struggle for decoloniality. It is a demand that we stop managing the oppressed and start dismantling the systems of oppression. Anything less than full sovereignty is not peaceit is merely the silence of the colonised.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Unless otherwise stated in the article above, this work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Middle East Monitor
January 19, 2026  Trailbreaker Resources Ltd. (TBK.V) (Trailbreaker or the Company) is pleased to announce the receipt of a property-wide exploration permit for its 8,000-hectare Coho property, located in central British Columbia (BC), Canada. The Coho property is a drill-ready copper-gold (Cu-Au) porphyry target situated 30 km west of the Mount Milligan mine.

A 5-year Multi-Year Area-Based (MYAB) Mines Act permit has been approved by the BC Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals with a provisional expiry date of December 18th, 2030.

Approved Exploration Activities

Diamond drilling, based from up to 50 drill pads

Construction/modification of exploration access trails (up to 15 km)

20 line-km of ground geophysical surveys

Construction of a temporary work camp

Community Engagement

The Coho property is located within the territory of the Takla First Nation, with whom Trailbreaker is committed to continued engagement and to building a working relationship. The Company is currently collaborating with the Takla First Nation on the future drill program.

Daithi Mac Gearailt, CEO of Trailbreaker, commented: We are thrilled to receive this permit in time for the 2026 exploration season, allowing us to conduct the inaugural drill program at the Coho zone. This is an exciting opportunity to explore an undrilled Cu-Au porphyry target in a prolific mineral district.

About the Coho Property (link to presentation)

The 8,000-hectare Coho property (Figure 1) is located 90 km north of the Town of Fort St. James, BC. The claims were acquired by Trailbreaker through an option agreement signed in May, 2025 whereby Trailbreaker has the option to acquire a 100% interest (see May 26, 2025 news release). The priority target is the Coho zone, a drill-ready Cu-Au porphyry target with recently completed property-wide geochemical and geophysical surveys. The zone hosts a recently identified chargeability and resistivity anomaly, associated with high-grade gold and copper values from surface rock grab samples. While there has been limited historical drilling on the claims, the Coho zone, has never been drilled.

Located within the Quesnel Tectonic Terrane, the Coho property is situated in a district known for prolific alkalic Cu-Au porphyry deposits and discoveries. The property is located 30 km west of Centerra Golds Mount Milligan Cu-Au porphyry deposit, a producing mine with current reserves of 1.2 B lbs Cu and 2.8 Moz Au1. Pacific Empire Minerals (PEMC) Trident property is contiguous with the Coho propertys western border. On December 15th, 2025, PEMC reported a drill intercept of 0.77% Cu, 0.51 g/t Au, and 3.4 g/t silver (Ag) over 183.0 m from the A-zone, located only 3.5 km west of the Coho property2. To the north lies Pacific Ridge Resources Chuchi property, where 2024 drilling returned 382.0 m of 0.19% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au, and 0.47 g/t Ag3 from the BP zone.

Figure 1: Trailbreakers Coho property is located 30 km northwest of Centerra Golds Mt. Milligan Cu-Au porphyry deposit, and 3.5 km east of Pacific Empire Minerals Trident property, where recent drill results include 183.0 m of 0.77% Cu, 0.51 g/t Au, and 3.4 g/t Ag.

The Coho zone is defined by a 650 x 550 m Cu-Au-Ag surface rock and soil geochemical anomaly within diorite, and spatially associated with an ENE-trending fault zone (the Coho fault) and gabbro dykes. Two additional faults, the Valley and Redline faults, extend south from the BP zone (Chuchi property) and converge with the Coho fault at the Coho zone. Historic surface grab samples at the Coho zone returned values up to 16.15 g/t Au, 16.35% Cu, and 67.3 g/t Ag.

A recent (2022) airborne ZTEM (Z-axis Tipper electromagnetic) survey, followed by a 2023 ground-based induced polarization (IP) survey, identified an interpreted 400 m x 250 m x 200 m-deep porphyry intrusive complex (3D ZTEM anomaly) with a two-limbed IP chargeability high anomaly that spans more than 1.4 km.

The Coho zone is located 4.5 km south of the BP zone (Chuchi property) and is currently interpreted to be situated along the same Valley/Redline fault structure that hosts the BP zone. Alkalic porphyry deposits commonly occur in clusters and Trailbreakers team believes the Coho property, in particular the Coho zone, may represent a Cu-Au porphyry system similar to the surrounding prospects and deposits. Trailbreaker has interpreted this system to be part of a cluster of deposits found along the margin of the Hogem batholith.

References

Centerra Gold website - https://www.centerragold.com/operations/mount-milligan/default.aspx Pacific Empire Minerals December 15, 2025 news release - https://pemcorp.ca/news-releases/pacific-empire-intersects-183.0-metres-of-1.23-cueq-starting-at-9.0-metres-including-71.5-metres-of-1.80-cueq-at-trident-a-zone/ Pacific Ridge Exploration November 25, 2024 news release https://pacificridgeexploration.com/news-releases/pacific-ridges-inaugural-drill-program-returns-some-of-the-best-drill-results-ever-recored-at-the-chuchi-copper-gold-project/

About Trailbreaker Resources

Trailbreaker Resources is a mining exploration company focused primarily on mining-friendly British Columbia and Yukon Territory, Canada. Trailbreaker is committed to continuous exploration and research, allowing maintenance of a portfolio of quality mineral properties which in turn provides value for shareholders. The company has an experienced management team with a proven track record as explorers and developers throughout the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alaska and Nevada.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Daithi Mac Gearailt

President and Chief Executive Officer

Carl Schulze, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist with Aurora Geosciences Ltd, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Trailbreaker's BC and Yukon exploration projects, and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

Other

For new information about the Companys projects, please visit Trailbreakers website at , use the Contact section of our website, or contact us at (604) 681-1820 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; expectations regarding future exploration and drilling programs and receipt of related permitting. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipates", "expects", "understanding", "has agreed to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "would", "occur" or "be achieved". Although Trailbreaker has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Trailbreaker and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, Trailbreaker has applied several material assumptions, including the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Trailbreaker does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Toronto, Ontario  TheNewswire - January 19, 2026  Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. (Noble or the Company) (TSX-V:NOB, FRANKFURT: NB7, OTCQB:NLPXF) is pleased to announce the results of the first hole drilled in Carnegie Township near Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The drill program is part of a 50/50 partnership with Canada 11530313 Canada Inc. and will include two 500-meter holes that have been located to follow up on drilling done in 2019. Recent analysis of downhole geophysics from that program indicated that conductors may have been missed and additional down hole geophysics has been done on the new hole (Figure 1). Heavy snowfall and extreme low temperatures have hampered the drilling but the first hole is now complete, analyses received and down hole surveying done.

In drill hole CG-25-01, a 6.5m section analyzed 0.64% zinc with associated, anomalous values in copper, silver and lead from 141.0 to 147.5 meters down hole (true width not known at this time). A 1-meter section within the wider section was found to run 1.90% zinc. The anomalous mineralization was found to occur in a weakly laminated sulphide rich graphitic sediment. Mineralization consisted of about 5% pyrrhotite, with local concentrations of up to 10-15%.

A Mise a la masse (MALM) survey was competed down hole in the anomalous section. Mise-a-la-Masse (MALM survey) is a downhole geophysical technique used in exploration and mining to map conductive ore bodies by injecting current directly into them, revealing continuity and shape at surface.

Figure 1: Mise a la masse (MALM) survey results projected to surface. Red to pink colours represent the conductive horizon where anomalous zinc, copper, silver and lead values were intersected in hole CG-25-01.

A surficial magnetometer survey was conducted on the same grid as the MALM survey and detected a magnetic anomaly coincident with the MALM anomaly indicating that the zone is both magnetic and electromagnetic (Fig 2). These properties will make it easier to trace the zone on surface with traditional surface geophysical techniques.

Figure 2: Surficial magnetic survey over the same zone as the MALM survey.

Hole CG-25-02 is collared about 200m to the northwest to intersect the same zone at about 200-meter vertical depth.

An additional 1000m (2 holes) have been scheduled for Southwest Carnegie Township.

The program is being carried out on lands recently transferred to Canada Nickel but on which Noble retains a 5-year Exploration Right for volcanogenic massive sulphide mineralization and precious metals.

Vance White, President and CEO of Noble, said We are very pleased to get this program started with the support of our partners at 11530313 Canada Inc. The search for mineralization similar to the Kidd Creek Mine continues.

The technical content of this release has been reviewed and approved by Wayne Holmstead, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Noble Mineral Exploration Inc.

Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. is a Canadian-based junior exploration company, which has holdings of securities in Canada Nickel Company Inc., Homeland Nickel Inc., East Timmins Nickel Inc. (20%), and its interest in the Holdsworth gold exploration property in the area of Wawa, Ontario.

Noble holds mineral and/or exploration rights in ~70,000ha in Northern Ontario and ~24,000ha elsewhere in Quebec upon which it plans to generate option/joint venture exploration programs.

Noble holds mineral rights and/or exploration rights in ~18,000 hectares in the Timmins-Cochrane areas of Northern Ontario known as Project 81, ~2,215 hectares in Thomas Twp/Timmins, as well as an additional 20% interest in ~38,700 hectares in the Timmins area held by East Timmins Nickel. Project 81 hosts diversified drill-ready gold, nickel-cobalt and base metal exploration targets at various stages of exploration. Noble also holds ~4,600 hectares in the Nagagami Carbonatite Complex and its ~3,200 hectares in the Boulder Project both near Hearst, Ontario. ~3,700 hectares in the Buckingham Graphite Property, ~10,152 hectares in the Havre St Pierre Nickel, Copper, PGM property, and ~1,573 hectares in the Cere-Villebon Nickel, Copper, PGM property, ~569 hectare Uranium/Rare Earth property (Chateau), ~461 hectare Uranium/Molybdenum property (Taser North), ~4,465 hectares REE Mehmet Property, and the ~3300 hectare Gull Lake REE Property all of which are in the Province of Quebec and the ~ 647 hectare Chapiteau REE property in Labrador.

https://www.noblemineralexploration.com

Nobles common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol NOB.

Cautionary Statement

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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

The foregoing information may contain forward-looking statements relating to the future performance of Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. Forward-looking statements, specifically those concerning future performance, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the Companys plans and expectations. These plans, expectations, risks and uncertainties are detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with the TSX Venture Exchange and securities regulators. Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts: H. Vance White, President

Phone: 416-214-2250

Fax: 416-367-1954

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Investor Relations: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Highlights:

Alex Walcott appointed President & CEO

Evergold completes management and board reset following 2025 corporate restructuring

Evergold advances repositioning strategy together with Ore Group partnership

With 13 million shares outstanding, Evergold moves forward under new team with a focus on the Golden Lion project

TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evergold Corp. (TSX-V: EVER, WKN: A2PTHZ) (Evergold or the Company) is pleased to announce that, effective immediately, current director Alex Walcott, P.Geo., has been appointed President and CEO, and Charles James Charlie Greig, a director and, since 2023, the Chief Exploration Officer of the Company, is now Executive Chairman of Evergold. Kevin Keough, the current President and CEO, is stepping down from that role and from the Board, effective immediately. Also, effective immediately, the Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Leon Ho, CPA, will be joining the Company as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Ms. Tracy Albert, the current CFO.

I am excited to join Evergold as President and CEO. In 2025, the company was restructured into a clean, tightly held vehicle with approximately 13 million shares outstanding. With high insider ownership and a new leadership team in place, we are now fully focused on advancing the Golden Lion project. This reset positions Evergold to execute efficiently and realize meaningful value creation for shareholders, said Alex Walcott, Evergolds newly appointed CEO.

Charlie Greig commented, I am very pleased to welcome Alex Walcott as President and CEO of Evergold. Alex brings a deep technical background, a long track record of exploration success, and a strong familiarity with our assets and the Toodoggone, which positions him well to lead the Company through its next phase of growth. I am also excited to assume the role as Executive Chairman and to work with Alex as we continue to advance Evergolds strategic objectives. On behalf of the Board, I would also like to sincerely thank Kevin Keough and Tracy Albert for their dedication and contributions to the Company, and we wish them both continued success in their future endeavors.

Alex Walcott has more than 25 years of experience in mineral exploration. Through geophysical contracting firm Peter E. Walcott & Associates Limited, which he manages, he has carried out geophysical surveys fundamental to exploration discoveries at GT Golds Saddle North, Amarc Resources Aurora, and Northwest Coppers East Niv. In addition, Alex first staked Metal Energys Niv copper-gold property, an exciting target which he, alongside Charlie Greig, recently optioned to that company, where he also serves as an advisor.

Mr. Ho is a Chartered Professional Accountant with years of experience working with mining exploration companies. He is a principal at Cross Davis & Company LLP, a chartered professional accounting firm providing accounting services to publicly listed entities, primarily in the mining sector.

The management changes reflect a broader repositioning of Evergold, including a singular strategic focus on the Companys 100%-owned Golden Lion gold-silver project, located in the prolific and very active Toodoggone district of British Columbia. In support of the repositioning, the Company recently entered into a strategic partnership with the OreGroup (news, January 5, 2026). OreGroup will advise Evergold on capital markets strategy, investor engagement, and corporate development as the Company moves forward.

About Evergold

Evergold Corp. is focused on advancing the potentially large-scale GL1 Main Zone gold-silver discovery at Golden Lion, its 100%-owned gold-silver project in British Columbias prolific Toodoggone mining district. With its largest shareholders now in management, the Company has sharpened its strategic focus and is now also looking to strengthen its capital markets expertise. At the GL1 Main Zone, the Company has demonstrated, with previous drilling, a near-surface, epithermal-style gold and silver bearing system consisting of an estimated 100 metre true width envelope of mineralization encompassing high-grade domains, with strong indications from soil sampling of potentially kilometres of strike length. The Company has also drill-demonstrated at various locations northeast of GL1 Main Zone, high-grade copper rich veins with strong gold and silver credits, originating from a source or sources yet to be located. The property has additional copper porphyry and/or stratabound copper potential on its Copper King claims and possibly elsewhere. With all of this in mind, Evergold will be applying a disciplined approach to exploration that in the 2026 field season will ultimately be drill-focused.

For additional information, please contact:

Alex Walcott

President, CEO & Director

Tel: (604) 891-6200

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.evergoldcorp.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 news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward- looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to complete the offering of convertible debentures on the terms as announced or at all, failure to identify mineral resources, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - Nexus Uranium Corp. (CSE: NEXU) (OTCQB: NEXUF) (FSE: JA7) ("Nexus" or the "Company") announces the acquisition of the RC uranium project in South Dakota, the Company's second strategic staking in the Fall River County uranium district in as many weeks. The project was acquired via staking and is wholly owned with no underlying royalties.

The RC project comprises 40 unpatented lode mining claims totalling approximately 800 acres, located within one mile of the Company's flagship Chord uranium project in Fall River County, South Dakota. Combined with the recently announced Deadhorse acquisition (17 claims, ~340 acres), Nexus has added 57 claims totalling approximately 1,140 acres to its South Dakota land position in January 2026 alone, bringing the Company's total South Dakota holdings to approximately 6,380 acres.

"Following last week's Deadhorse acquisition, the RC staking extends our consolidation of the lands immediately adjacent to Chord," said Jeremy Poirier, CEO. "At 40 claims and 800 acres situated less than one mile from our flagship project, RC represents the most proximal acquisition to date and reinforces our confidence in the district's exploration upside. We will continue to evaluate additional opportunities to expand our footprint in this historic uranium-producing region."

Project Details

The RC claims are located in the located in the historic Edgemont uranium district, part of the broader Black Hills region which has documented historical uranium production from sandstone-hosted deposits in the Inyan Kara Group of approximately 3.2 million pounds[1] of U 3 O 8 . The claims cover prospective ground within the same geological setting as the adjacent Chord project, where uranium mineralization is associated with Cretaceous-age sandstones and paleochannel systems within the Inyan Kara Group.

Figure 1: RC Claim Location Map

Figure 2: Nexus South Dakota Projects Map

About Nexus Uranium Corp.

Nexus Uranium is a Canadian exploration company focused on uranium projects in North America. In the United States, the Company holds the Chord, Wolf Canyon, Deadhorse, and RC projects in South Dakota, and the South Pass project in Wyoming. The Great Divide Basin project in Wyoming is now under option to Canamera Energy Metals Corp. In Canada, Nexus holds the Mann Lake project in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. For more information, visit www.nexusuranium.com.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Warren D. Robb, P.Geo. (BC), a director of Nexus Uranium Corp. and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Referenced nearby resources, deposits, projects and mines provide geologic context for the RC and Chord uranium projects, but are not necessarily indicative that they hosts similar potential, size or grades of mineralization. No mineral resources have been estimated at the RC uranium project and there is no assurance that further work will result in a mineral resource classification. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Company's confidence in the exploration upside of the Fall River County uranium district, the Company's exploration plans for the RC project, the potential for uranium mineralization, the strategic benefits of the acquisition, the Company's intention to continue evaluating opportunities in the region, the Company expanding its footprint in the region and the Company's objectives with respect to its uranium portfolio. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, including that the Company will have sufficient capital to fund planned activities, that regulatory approvals will be obtained, and that market conditions will support the Company's business objectives. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially, including risks related to exploration and development, commodity price fluctuations, regulatory changes, and the ability to obtain financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Nexus undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Gabelman, D. L. (1968). Geology and production history of the uranium deposits in the northern Black Hills, South Dakota and Wyoming. In Uranium deposits in the northern Black Hills: 20th Field Conference Guidebook (pp. 263-275). Wyoming Geological Association.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inflection Resources Ltd. (CSE: AUCU / OTCQB: AUCUF / FSE: 5VJ) (the "Company" or "Inflection") is pleased to provide an update on drilling completed in New South Wales, Australia under the Exploration Agreement with AngloGold Ashanti Australia Limited (AngloGold Ashanti) as announced on June 14, 2023 and March 25, 2025.

Summary Highlights

High-grade gold was intersected in a new standalone target area within the Trangie district. Drill hole TRNDH032 returned 3.0 metres grading 7.72 g/t gold from skarn-style alteration;

Eighty-three air-core drill holes are planned to commence on the Trangie project in February to follow-up on the recent intercept in hole TRNDH032 and earlier porphyry gold-copper mineralisation intersected in hole TRNDH023; and

Recent scout drilling totalled 2,605 metres in six holes, completed on individual targets within the Trangie, Nyngan, Crooked Creek and Duck Creek projects.

Alistair Waddell, Inflections President and CEO, states: The discovery of high-grade gold in a new target area within the Trangie district represents a significant development in our systematic exploration of the broader Trangie area. This new zone is located approximately 5.5 km south of the porphyry mineralisation intercepted in hole TRNDH023 and opens up an area that has not previously been drill tested. The expanded drill program at Trangie is a significant step-forward with air-core drilling representing a proven and widely used drilling methodology in New South Wales, notably in the discovery of several deposits, including the Northparkes and Cowal mines. This discovery, made as part of our strategic alliance with AngloGold Ashanti, validates our exploration approach of systematic drilling across multiple targets in the northern extension of the Macquarie Arc."

Trangie Phase II Drilling

Drill hole TRNDH032 was drilled to the south (180) at -70 and is located approximately 5.5 km south of hole TRNDH023 which intersected the previously reported porphyry-style mineralisation (Figure 1). The hole targeted a northwest-trending magnetic high coincident with a Bouguer gravity anomaly. Drilling intersected a sequence of calcareous volcanogenic siltstones and andesite lavas that have been intruded by a hornblende-bearing monzonite. Drill core exhibits skarn-style alteration characterized by localized garnet-pyroxene-magnetite assemblages with a retrograde chlorite-epidote overprint (Figure 2). Mineralisation includes chalcopyrite associated with the skarn assemblages and disseminated magnetite alteration along with multi-generational epidote-calcite and quartz veining. Notable intercepts include 3.0 m grading 7.72 g/t Au from 190.0 m to 193 m; 2.0 m at 0.19% Cu from 199.0 m to 201.0 m; 1.85 m at 0.20% Cu from 208.5 m to 210.4 m; and 1.6 m at 0.10% Cu from 310.4 m to 312.0 m.

Drill hole TRNDH029 was drilled 270 m northwest of hole TRNDH023 in a northwesterly direction (310) at -70 to follow-up on anomalous mineralisation encountered in TRNDH010 which returned 10.0 m grading 0.12 g/t Au from 221.0 m to 231.0 m. The hole intersected an interfingering sequence of andesites and sedimentary units with epidote and localized magnetite/albite alteration. Molybdenum was relatively elevated throughout the hole, with a maximum value of 12.25 ppm Mo over the interval 369.0 m to 371.0 m. All other elements were of low tenor.

Drill hole TRNDH031 was drilled 220 m northeast of hole TRNDH023 in an easterly direction (083) at -60 to test an interval of elevated Cu-Au-Mo-S-Te-Ag and depletion in Mn-Zn at the bottom of drill hole TRNDH025 and a zone of biotite (potassic) alteration interpreted to plunge to the northwest of TRNDH023. TRNDH031 intersected multiple volcanic and sedimentary lithologies with pervasive biotite  magnetite or K-feldspar, typical of potassic alteration and lesser silica-sericite-albite alteration. Sporadic porphyry style quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins were observed down the hole with maximum assay values being 1.7 m at 783 ppm Cu, 0.015 g/t Au and 4.93 ppm Mo from 572.3 m to 574.0 m.

Figure 1: Trangie drill hole location map showing previously drilled Inflection holes (black), including TRNDH023 and TRNDH032 and the planned holes (yellow) on an aeromagnetic map (RTP-1VD).

Figure 2: Drill core photo from Trangie hole TRNDH032 showing skarn-style alteration characterized by localized garnet-pyroxene-magnetite assemblages with retrograde chlorite-epidote overprinting. The interval from 190.0 m to 193.0 m returned 3.0 m grading 7.72 g/t gold.

Trangie Project - Next Steps

Eighty-three air-core drill holes (Figure 1) are planned for the Trangie project, focused on the area around hole TRNDH023 and the recently discovered zone in TRNDH032 where high-grade gold and elevated copper values were intersected. Drilling is scheduled to commence in February once the requisite permits and landowner access agreements are fully in place.

Following the identification of several areas of priority interest in the broader Trangie district, the decision was made to grid drill an area of approximately 15 km on approximately 250 metre centres, with the objective of infilling areas where the Company has limited or no data. This first-pass drilling and geochemical dataset is expected to be highly effective for mapping discrete zones of alteration and mineralisation across the district. Inflection will draw on its in-depth technical expertise from other gold-copper deposits in New South Wales to analyze and interpret the data collected from this program.

The Company has commenced land access discussions and permitting for the drilling. The drill program will consist of air-core drilling, a cost-effective and efficient technique to collect lithological and geochemical data from the prospective Ordovician basement sequence, which should provide valuable vectors for deeper drilling.

Air-core is an inexpensive rotary drilling method that uses compressed air instead of drilling fluids to remove rock cuttings from the drill hole. The drill bit fractures the rock into small chips and chunks, which are then blown back up through the hollow drill rods to surface by high-pressure air. This creates a continuous stream of bedrock material that geologists collect and analyze, allowing explorers to map lithology, mineralisation and alteration. These results help determine where more detailed and expensive, deeper drilling is warranted.

Nyngan, Duck Creek and Crooked Creek Phase II Drilling:

Nyngan: Two holes totalling 675.8 m were drilled on the Nyngan project to test discrete, circular aeromagnetic high targets located approximately 4 km southeast of previous Inflection drilling. Hole NYNDH003 was drilled to the south (180) at -70 and intersected basement at 236.5 m, where it intersected sandy, matrix-supported polymictic conglomerate and andesite, which is variably hematite altered to the bottom of the hole at 327.3 m. Assay results were low tenor for copper and gold. Hole NYNDH004 was drilled to the south (180) at -70 and intersected two porphyritic felsic intrusions without any sulphide or quartz vein development. All assays were low tenor.

Duck Creek: Hole REEDH001 was drilled to the east (090) at -70 into a standalone magnetic target on the Duck Creek project to test a zone of elevated aeromagnetic data. The hole intersected basement at a depth of 380.0 m and was terminated at 427.0 m after intersecting fine-grained limestone and calcareous sandstone intruded by a magnetic andesite. No sulphides or quartz veins where intersected and all assays were of low tenor.

Crooked Creek: One hole, CCKDH001, totalling 386.0 m, was drilled into a standalone magnetic target on the Crooked Creek license. The upper part of the hole intersected native copper in andesite; however, no sulphides were found in the chlorite-altered andesite. All assay results returned were of low tenor.

Figure 3: Map showing the location of the recent drill holes referenced in this release.

Details of the AngloGold Ashanti Earn-in Agreement:

Phase II:

AngloGold Ashanti can earn an initial 51% interest in four Designated Projects (Trangie, Nyngan, Crooked Creek and Duck Creek) by sole funding expenditures of AUD$7,000,000 on each project within 36 months (Table 1). If AngloGold Ashanti does not elect to complete the Phase II earn-in expenditure for a given Designated Project, Inflection will retain 100% ownership of the project with no interest earned by AngloGold Ashanti.

Phase III:

Upon completion of Phase II, AngloGold Ashanti may elect to earn an additional 14% interest in each Designated Project (for a total 65% interest) by sole funding additional expenditures of AUD$20,000,000 on each Designated Project within 24 months. If AngloGold Ashanti initiates but does not complete Phase III, then its ownership interest in the Designated Project will revert to 49%, which Inflection retains the right to purchase at a mutually agreed price or for fair value if a price cannot be mutually agreed within a specified period.

Phase IV:

Upon completion of Phase III, AngloGold Ashanti retains the right to earn a further 10% interest in each Designated Project (bringing its potential ownership interest to 75%) by completing the following:

Delivering to Inflection a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves based on a minimum 2,000,000 ounces of gold or gold-copper equivalent Measured and Indicated resources within 36 months after AngloGold Ashanti provides notice to move to Phase IV; and

Granting to Inflection a 2% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on the applicable Designated Project; provided, however, that if the Designated Project has any existing underlying royalties, Inflection will be granted a 1% NSR. AngloGold Ashanti will have the right to buy back 0.5% of any 2% NSR and 0.25% of any 1% NSR in respect of all or a portion of the respective Designated Project for fair value at any time.

Table 1: Summary structure of the AngloGold Ashanti Earn-in Agreement

Completion of PFS must include a minimum resource of two million ounces of gold or gold-copper equivalent Measured and Indicated resources per project.

All expenditure timelines can be accelerated.

About Inflections NSW Projects

The Company is systematically exploring for large copper-gold and gold deposits in the northern interpreted extension of the Macquarie Arc, part of the Lachlan Fold Belt in New South Wales. The Macquarie Arc is Australias premier porphyry copper-gold province being host to Newmont Minings Cadia deposits, Evolution Minings Northparkes and Cowal deposits plus numerous exploration prospects, including Boda, a discovery made by Alkane Resources.

The Company uses cost-effective air-core or mud-rotary drilling to cut through unmineralised post-mineral sedimentary cover with a dual-purpose mud-rotary / diamond-core rig before transitioning to diamond core drilling once the mud-rotary drilling reaches basement. It is well documented that mineralised bodies elsewhere in the belt, in particular porphyry and intrusive-related systems, have relatively large district-scale alteration and geochemical halos or footprints surrounding them.

Qualified Person and Sampling Quality Control

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Carl Swensson (FAusIMM), a Qualified Person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Swensson is not independent, as he is a director of the Companys subsidiary and a shareholder of the Company.

Drilling was conducted using a truck-mounted multi-purpose drill rig. Mud-rotary drilling was utilised to drill through the cover sequence before transitioning to diamond drilling using NQ-sized core at the unconformity. Core is logged at the Companys field office, photographed and marked before being cut to the Companys specified sample intervals. Half-core samples are placed in bags with internationally certified blanks and standards inserted. Samples are dispatched to ALS Laboratories in Orange, an accredited analytical laboratory meeting ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and ISO 9001:2015. ALS prepares samples by crushing and grinding via methods CRU-31 and PUL-32a respectively. The pulps are then assayed for 64 elements via method ME-MS61r using a 25g sample after a four-acid near-total digest with an ICP-MS finish. Gold, platinum and palladium will be assayed by fire assay using method PGM-ICP23 using a 30 g sample charge and an ICP-MS finish. Laboratory standards and QA/QC are monitored by the Company using Oreas Certified Reference Materials. Coarse rejects will be subjected to short-wave near-infrared spectral analysis which provides detailed confirmation of the hydrothermal alteration present and is imperative for vectoring towards to a mineralised porphyry system.

About Inflection Resources Ltd.

Inflection is a gold-copper focused mineral exploration company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol AUCU, on the OTCQB under the symbol AUCUF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 5FJ, with projects in New South Wales and the Northern Territory, Australia. For more information, please visit the Company website at www.inflectionresources.com.

About AngloGold Ashanti Plc

AngloGold Ashanti Plc is a global gold mining company with a diverse, high-quality portfolio of operations, projects and exploration activities across ten countries on four continents. Headquartered in Denver, in the United States, AngloGold Ashanti has its primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange and secondary listings in South Africa and Ghana. For more information, please visit the company website at www.anglogoldashanti.com.

NewQuest Capital Group

Inflection is part of the NewQuest Capital Group, an entrepreneurial, discovery-driven investment group that builds value through the incubation and financing of early-stage mineral exploration projects globally. Further information about NewQuest can be found at www.nqcapitalgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Vancouver, B.C.  January 19, 2026  TheNewswire - Precipitate Gold Corp. (the Company or Precipitate) (TSXV: PRG, OTCQB: PREIF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jose Acebal to the Companys Board of Directors.

Jose Acebal is a Dominican national and a finance-trained investor and owner-operator with extensive experience across industrial operations, infrastructure development, and extractive industries in the Dominican Republic. He owns and operates multiple real-asset businesses, including Parque Industrial Careliaengaged in aggregate production and dredging activitiesas well as Tavares Industrial, a concrete and aggregates producer serving the Santo Domingo region. Through these enterprises, Mr. Acebal has built hands-on expertise in permitting, logistics, operational execution, and regulatory engagement within mining- and materials-based industries. In addition to his operating background, Mr. Acebal brings institutional capital markets and governance experience. He began his career at Goldman Sachs in the Debt Capital Markets group covering Latin America, where he gained exposure to structured finance, credit markets, and investor relations. He has since served on the boards of several diversified and infrastructure-oriented businesses, including Petromovil (fuel distribution), Panorama Jets (aviation services), and Consorcio Pelicano, a diversified family holding company.

Mr. Acebal holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Bentley University and is fluent in Spanish and English. He offers valuable insight into local operating environments, stakeholder engagement, and capital allocation strategies for mining and natural resource companies operating in the Dominican Republic and across the Caribbean.

Jeffrey Wilson, President & CEO stated, We are very pleased to welcome Jose to Precipitates Board of Directors. Mr. Acebal brings a rare and highly valuable combination of international capital markets experience and hands-on operational expertise in mineral extraction, industrial, and infrastructure businesses within the Dominican Republic. His deep understanding of permitting, logistics, regulatory engagement, and local community and business dynamicstogether with his background in finance and governancewill be an important asset as we continue advancing our mineral properties within the Dominican Republic and strengthening our in-country relationships. We believe his insight, perspective, and network will meaningfully enhance our strategic decision-making as we move toward the next phase of growth through our ongoing exploration.

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 Minings Romero Project, its 100% owned Pueblo Grande project located immediately adjacent to the Pueblo Viejo mine operated by Barrick, 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 Companys website www.precipitategold.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp.,

Jeffrey Wilson

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Tel: 604-558-0335 Toll Free: 855-558-0335 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - K2 Gold Corporation (TSXV: KTO) (OTCQB: KTGDF) (FSE: 23K) ("K2" or the "Company") today announced its plan to commence drilling at the Company's Si2 Project, located near Tonopah, Nevada, on or about January 21, 2026.

The drill program will test a series of high-priority structural and geochemical targets generated through comprehensive geological studies completed in 2025, along with recently acquired geophysical information, including fluid-inclusion analysis, alteration mineralogy, age dating, an integrated structural interpretation, and IP survey. These studies collectively indicate that Si2 represents the upper levels of a large, intact low-sulphidation epithermal system proven to carry gold, with strong potential for higher-grade gold mineralization preserved at depth (see Figures 1 & 2).

Highlights

The drill program is fully funded and will consist of up to 2000 metres over 4-6 drill holes. Drilling is expected to commence on January 21, 2026.

In 2023 K2 drilled 4 holes at the Si2 Project. Drilling demonstrated increasing gold values with depth; however, the holes were terminated in anomalous but sub-economic gold grades. Subsequent alteration and fluid inclusion studies indicate that the 2023 drill holes were within 50-100 meters of the interpreted boiling zone of the epithermal system.

The 2026 program will test priority structural corridors at greater depths, targeting the interpreted optimal boiling-zone horizon of the epithermal system.

Geological characteristics observed at Si2 are considered analogous to AngloGold Ashanti's nearby 16.3Moz Au Silicon Project[i] which has emerged as one of the most significant new epithermal gold discoveries in the Walker Lane Trend.

"Based on new results and interpretations, Si2 is now a highly compelling project, from a technical perspective," stated Anthony Margarit, President & CEO of K2 Gold. "The fluid-inclusion work was a true turning point - it told us unequivocally that the system is intact, preserved, and that K2's 2023 drilling came close, but was not deep enough to test the boiling zone - the critical horizon where significant amounts of gold can be deposited in similar systems. When you combine that with our newly completed alteration studies, age dating, geophysical information and the striking similarities to AngloGold Ashanti's Silicon discovery, we believe we are about to drill one of the most exciting new epithermal targets in the Walker Lane."

Figure 1: K2's 2023 drill holes with fluid inclusion sample locations. Both temperature and gold grade increase with depth, with the projected "boiling zone" occurring beneath the sampled interval.

Compelling Analogue to AngloGold Ashanti's Silicon Project

The Si2 Project shares multiple geological and structural characteristics with AngloGold Ashanti's Silicon Project (renamed the Arthur Gold Project) [ii]:

Volcanic-hosted, low-sulphidation epithermal systems in Nevada - both located within a highly endowed gold belt that favours structurally controlled deposits.

Steam-heated alteration "cap" at surface - a classic upper-level feature that can mask stronger gold zones at depth in intact epithermal systems.

Fault-controlled plumbing systems - mineralizing fluids in both districts are focused along major structures that control higher-grade targets.

Zoned epithermal architecture - alteration patterns at Si2 are consistent with being above the productive gold horizon, similar to early-stage interpretations at Arthur.

Depth as the primary opportunity - both systems rely on drilling beneath shallow, surficial alteration to test the projected boiling zone where grades commonly improve.

Program Overview

The drill program will comprise 4-6 reverse circulation holes totaling up to 2,000 metres, designed to systematically test the interpreted boiling-zone horizon at depth along the highest-priority structures defined by the Company's integrated geological model.

Figure 2: Idealized model of an epithermal gold system, with the areas of alteration intersected by historical operator (red box) and K2 in 2023 (blue box) indicated. Modified after Hedenquist et al., 2000.

Technical Summary

Epithermal Deposits

Epithermal systems are a major deposit class globally, with many important examples located within the Walker Lane Trend of Nevada and eastern California in the western United States. Epithermal deposits have historically been important sources of gold and silver due to their near-surface, structurally controlled mineralization. When preserved and not deeply eroded these systems can host blind-to-surface, vertically zoned mineralization which may have been historically overlooked. Defining and understanding this zonation, including locating the "boiling zone" where precious metals precipitate, can reveal high-priority exploration targets.

Gold Deposition in Epithermal Systems

Precious metal deposition in epithermal systems typically occurs in what is known as the "boiling zone", a depth at which hot, metal-rich fluids rising towards the surface begin to boil due to dropping pressure. Fluid boiling results in the precipitation of the metals previously held in solution, forming high-grade veins and breccias. Boiling in typical low sulphidation epithermal gold systems occurs at temperatures of >220C, and most commonly between 230 and 240C.

Fluid Inclusion Analysis and Microscopic Study

Through study of trapped inclusions or bubbles of hydrothermal fluid within quartz veins, the temperature of the fluid can be determined, and depth of formation of the vein inferred. Vein formation temperatures can aid in exploration targeting by revealing the level of the epithermal system encountered by drilling.

Fluid inclusions examined from six core samples reveal low-salinity (0.5-6 wt.% NaCl equiv.) aqueous fluids trapped at temperatures of ~130-200C, warming downwards through the core of the drilled interval. These characteristics, along with microscopically observed vein textures, confirm the shallow-level nature of the drilled interval and support the interpretation of a blind, deeper gold-bearing zone. No evidence of significant boiling was observed in the inclusions, suggesting that the productive zone lies below the depth tested.

Alteration Mineralogy & Structural Controls:

The alteration study, based on 108 spectral analyses from 95 drill core samples, delineates a classic vertically zoned epithermal system, with a systematic transition from steam-heated alunite and kaolinite/dickite at surface into progressively higher-temperature assemblages (smectite  illite-smectite  illite  illite-chlorite). Variations in illite abundance and locations of quartz-illite  adularia alteration suggest proximity to primary fluid pathways and fault-controlled mineralization.

The AOI1.5 fault in particular hosts an approximately 6 m thick silicified and quartz-veined interval at 200m depth with adjacent anomalous gold, indicating a strong target for follow-up drilling down-dip and along strike.

Qualified Person ("QP") and QA/QC

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Eric Buitenhuis, M.Sc., P.Geo., K2's QP and Vice President of Exploration.

Petrographic sections used in the fluid inclusion study were prepared by Precision Petrographics of Langley, British Columbia, and submitted to Colorado State University for analysis.

About K2 Gold Corporation

K2 Gold is a member of Discovery Group and is focused on advancing gold exploration projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions across the Western U.S. and Canada. The Company's flagship Mojave Project covers over 6,000 hectares and includes multiple previously drilled oxide gold targets. Since acquiring the project, K2 has advanced exploration through geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing surveys, as well as RC drilling.

Notable past drill highlights at Mojave include:

4.0 g/t Au over 86.9m from surface at the Dragonfly Zone

at the Dragonfly Zone 1.69 g/t Au over 41.15m at the Newmont Zone

K2 also holds:

The Si2 Gold Project in Nevada, a large steam-heated alteration system with confirmed gold mineralization and compelling similarities to AngloGold Ashanti's Expanded Silicon project (3.40 Moz Au at 0.87 g/t Au Indicated Resource, 12.91 Moz Au at 1.03 g/t Au Inferred Resource 1 .

in Nevada, a large steam-heated alteration system with confirmed gold mineralization and compelling similarities to AngloGold Ashanti's Expanded Silicon project (3.40 Moz Au at 0.87 g/t Au Indicated Resource, 12.91 Moz Au at 1.03 g/t Au Inferred Resource . The Wels Project in Yukon, Canada, where recent drilling intersected gold in all holes and outlined a new mineralized corridor at the Saddle South target.

https://reports.anglogoldashanti.com/24/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AGA-RR24.pdf

K2 Gold is committed to responsible exploration, Indigenous and community engagement, and advancing high-quality projects through a collaborative and technically disciplined approach.

K2 Gold Corporation is a proud member of Discovery Group based in Vancouver, Canada. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.ca.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward- looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the exploration program at Si2, Wels, and Mojave, including results of drilling, and future exploration plans at Si2, Wels, and Mojave. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, 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 planned activities, and the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR+ (sedarplus.ca). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. No securities of the Company have been or will, in the foreseeable future, be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

[i] Triple Flag Precious Metals, Expanded Silicon - 1% NSR Gold Royalty Acquisition (Investor Presentation, Apr. 22, 2025), p. 6 (16.3 Moz total resource; cites AngloGold Ashanti MRMR 2024).

Link: https://s29.q4cdn.com/841442677/files/doc_presentations/2025/Apr/TFPM-to-Acquire-Orogen-Royalties-Presentation-04-22-25.pdf

[ii]AngloGold Ashanti renames Expanded Silicon Project The Arthur Gold Project

Link: https://www.anglogoldashanti.com/portfolio/americas/united-states-projects/
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - Honey Badger Silver Inc. (TSXV: TUF) (OTCQB: HBEIF) ("Honey Badger" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news releases dated December 29, 2025 and December 31, 2025, it has closed its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,249,999.64 million through the issuance of 12,499,998 Units at a price of $0.18 per Unit.

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Unit Warrant"). Each Unit Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.23 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months from the closing date of the Offering, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to advance the Company's silver projects and for general working capital purposes.

Completion of the Offering remains subject to the receipt of final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). All securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month plus one day statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid an aggregate of $60,289.60 in finder's fees and issued 334,946 non-transferrable finder warrants to eligible finders (each, a "Finder's Warrant"). Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company (each, a "Finder's Warrant Share") at a price of $0.23 per Finder's Warrant Share, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, for a period of 36 months following the closing date of the Offering.

Mr. Eric Sprott participated pro-rata to his existing ownership. Certain "insiders" of the Company subscribed for an aggregate of 2,314,389 Units in the Offering for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $416,590. This amount is lower than stated in previous press releases because insiders accommodated high demand from others. Each subscription by an "insider" of the Company is considered a "related party transaction" for purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and Section 5.9 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions of the Corporate Finance Manual of the TSXV. The Company was exempt from requirements to obtain a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval in connection with the Offering in reliance on sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, as neither the fair market value of the Units subscribed for by the "insiders", nor the consideration for the Units to be paid by "insiders", exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization as calculated in accordance with MI 61-101.

Grant of Options

The Company also announces that on January 9, 2026, it granted an aggregate of 2,000,000 options to acquire common shares of the Company (the "Options") to certain officers, employees and/or consultants of the Company. The Options have an exercise price of $0.20 per common share of the Company, have a 5-year term from the date of grant and vest in equal halves on the date of grant and on the date that is six months from the date of grant.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein 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 unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws unless an exemption from such registration is available.

About Honey Badger Silver Inc.

Honey Badger Silver is a unique silver company. The company is led by a highly experienced leadership team with a track record of value creation backed by a skilled technical team. Our projects are located in areas with a long history of mining, including the Sunrise Lake project with a historic resource of 12.8 Moz of silver (and 201.3 million pounds of zinc) Indicated and 13.9 Moz of silver (and 247.8 million pounds of zinc) Inferred (1) located in the Northwest Territories and the Plata high grade silver project located 165 km east of Yukon's prolific Keno Hill and adjacent to Snowline Gold's Rogue discovery. The Company's Clear Lake Project in the Yukon Territory has a historic resource of 5.5 Moz of silver and 1.3 billion pounds of zinc (2). The Company also has a significant land holding at the Nanisivik Mine Area located in Nunavut, Canada that produced over 20 Moz of silver between 1976 and 2002 (3). We own 10,000 ozs of silver yielding 12% per annum. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the foregoing historical resources as current mineral resources, and the Company is not treating the estimates as current mineral resources. The historical resource estimates are provided solely for the purpose as an indication of the volume of mineralization that could be present. Additional work, including verification drilling / sampling, will be required to verify any of the historical estimates as a current mineral resources.

(1) Sunrise Lake 2003 RPA historic resource: Indicated 1.522 million tonnes grading 262 grams/tonne silver, 6.0% zinc, 2.4% lead, 0.08% copper, and 0.67 grams/tonne gold and Inferred 2.555 million tonnes grading 169 grams/tonne silver, 4.4% zinc, 1.9% lead, 0.07% copper, and 0.51 grams/tonne gold.

(2) Clear Lake 2010 SRK historic Resource: Inferred 7.76 million tonnes grading 22 grams/tonne silver, 7.6% zinc, and 1.08% lead.

(3) Geological Survey of Canada, 2002-C22, "Structural and Stratigraphic Controls on Zn-Pb-Ag Mineralization at the Nanisivik Mississippi Valley type Deposit, Northern Baffin Island, Nunavut; by Patterson and Powis.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding ForwardLooking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "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 information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering and the Company's ability to obtain the final approval of the TSXV. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such assumptions and estimates were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Honey Badger to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Honey Badger's issuer profile. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2026 /CNW/ - Collective Mining Ltd. (NYSE: CNL) (TSX: CNL) ("Collective" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Carlos Andres Santos has been appointed as Executive Vice President, effective immediately.

Mr. Santos brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience in strategy, operations, transformation and corporate services across the Americas, with a strong track record in Colombia's resource sector. Most recently, he served as CEO of Americas Business Services at Holcim / Amrize, where he spearheaded the region's growth and cash-generation strategy across markets from Canada to Argentina. In this role, he led a team of over 1,400 employees and held full accountability for finance, procurement, sales, human resources and data management.

Prior to Holcim / Amrize, Mr. Santos held key executive positions at Ecopetrol S.A., Colombia's largest integrated energy company, including being the Vice President of Supply Chain & Shared Services. At Ecopetrol S.A., Mr. Santos directed large-scale strategic organizations with substantial budgets, driving efficiency, transparency and sustainability initiatives.

Mr. Santos holds a degree in economics from Universidad Externado de Colombia and has completed postgraduate studies in international economics.

Ned Jalil, CEO of Collective commented: "We are delighted to welcome Carlos to the Collective team. His deep operational expertise, proven leadership in Colombia and extensive background in managing large-scale transformations in resource-intensive industries make him an outstanding addition as we enter an exciting growth phase. Strengthening our management team is a top priority as we launch major technical studies, our largest-ever drill program and advance key discoveries at the Guayabales Project -- anchored by the high-grade Apollo system -- and continue to unlock significant value across our portfolio in Colombia's prolific Middle Cauca belt."

About Collective Mining Ltd.

To see our latest corporate presentation and related information, please visit www.collectivemining.com.

Founded by the team that developed and sold Continental Gold Inc. to Zijin Mining for approximately $2 billion in enterprise value, Collective is a gold, silver, copper and tungsten exploration company with projects in Caldas, Colombia. The Company's two projects are located directly within an established mining camp with ten fully permitted and operating mines.

The Company's flagship project, Guayabales, is anchored by the Apollo system, which hosts the large-scale, bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold-silver-copper-tungsten Apollo system. The Company's objectives at the Guayabales Project are to expand the newly discovered high-grade Ramp Zone along strike and to depth and drill a series of greenfield generated targets on the property.

Additionally, the Company has launched its largest drilling campaign in history at its optioned San Antonio Project (100% potential interest) as it hunts for new discoveries and looks to expand upon the newly discovered porphyry system at the Pound target. The San Antonio Project is located between two to five kilometers east-northeast of the Guayabales Project and could potentially share infrastructure given their proximity to each other.

Management, insiders, a strategic investor and close family and friends own 45.3% of the outstanding shares of the Company and as a result, are fully aligned with shareholders. The Company is listed on both the NYSE American and TSX under the trading symbol "CNL".

Information Contact:

Follow Executive Chairman Ari Sussman (@Ariski73) on X

Follow Collective Mining (@CollectiveMini1) on X, (Collective Mining) on LinkedIn, and (@collectivemining) on Instagram

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). 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 discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative 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) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to the anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future operations; future recovery metal recovery rates; future growth potential of Collective; and future development plans.

These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding future events including the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's formative stage of development; the Company's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, precious and base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets; change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formation pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the annual information form of the Company dated March 24, 2025. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements and there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
On 15 December 2025, an assize court in Paris found Congolese former rebel Roger Lumbala guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2002 and 2003. He was sentenced to 30 years prison. The case has been covered extensively by Justice Info.

Lumbalas conviction has been celebrated by victims rights organizations. According to the Baltasar Garzon International Foundation, which advocates universal jurisdiction trials, it has been a landmark ruling [that] marks a significant milestone in the fight against impunity for crimes committed during the Second Congo War. The charges addressed Operation Effacer le tableau (Wipe the Slate Clean), a military campaign that terrorised eastern Congo in 2002 and 2003. International organizations and civil society groups have recorded atrocity crimes in the DRC for decades. This work is reflected in the 2010 UN Mapping report, a seminal document which detailed the violence in the country between 1993 and 2003. Regardless, Lumbala is arguably only the third person, after Germain Katanga and Bosco Ntaganda, to be held responsible either internally or internationally for the extensive, devastating violence directed against civilians in DRC.

Although the verdict represents accountability after decades of impunity, the case also exposes the downsides of universal jurisdiction practices. These shortcomings are both principled, in terms of the purpose of criminal punishment, and procedural, in terms of how accountability is balanced against the defendants rights.

Procedural Risks: Ensuring the Rights of the Defence

Public trials serve several social roles. As exercises in rule of law transparency, they communicate what sort of behaviour is criminal while simultaneously ensuring the defendants rights. Defendants rights begin with the presumption of innocence, which requires the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt (common law) or intime conviction (French law). Defendants also enjoy the right to a fair trial which includes legal representation.

At the start of trial, Lumbala and his attorneys vigorously contested the right of the Paris court to hear the case, raising arguments that had been heard, and rejected, prior to trial. At the end of the first day of trial, having failed to obtain with these arguments, Lumbala fired his attorneys, announced that he did not recognise the courts jurisdiction, and refused to participate in the trial.

Faced with an absent defence, the judge ordered Lumbalas attorneys to serve the court as commis doffice appointed by the court to serve the interests of the defence. Lumbalas attorneys refused the courts request, arguing that it would breach their professional responsibilities to act so blatantly in opposition to their client. For the remainder of the trial, the defence bench sat empty, with neither Lumbala nor his attorneys in attendance.

We have seen commis doffice counsels in relation to atrocity crimes before, most notably in the work of the Chambres africaines extraordinaires, the special court established in Senegal that tried, and convicted, Chads ex-president Hissene Habre in 2016. In that case, attorneys appointed by Habre also utilized what is termed defense de rupture, challenging the process of the trial itself by refusing to participate. At the opening of the Habre trial, therefore, the court adjourned for 45 days while it appointed defence counsels to represent Habres interests, against his will. Habre did not cooperate with or recognize these attorneys. Nonetheless, they represented his interests before the court by raising legal challenges in his name. These challenges included procedural challenges, i.e. ways in which the Habre courts actions violated the procedural rules under which it was constituted, as well as content challenges, for example to proof and witness statements.

The Paris court asked Lumbalas appointed attorneys to both represent the interest of the court and the interest of the defendant and they refused. Instead of adjourning the proceedings to appoint other counsels, incurring further delays in an already years long process and sacrificing the resources already employed in constituting the jury, scheduling the witnesses, and reserving the courts time, the Paris court continued the trial, concluding on schedule with a conviction.

Trials in absentia are permissible in France. Moreover, the system is designed to represent the defendants interests throughout the whole judicial process, meaning that the dossier that makes it to trial includes the defendants arguments. Nonetheless, the absence of a participating defence clearly stymied the judge president, who paused the proceedings several times, asked the victims lawyers and the prosecutors for their observations, and muttered various versions of this is nuts! in the days that followed.

Principled Risks: The Purpose of Criminal Prosecution and Punishment

Criminal punishment serves both an individual, anti-recidivist agenda as well as a collective, communicative agenda. Criminal law professionalizes vengeance, moving private conflicts into the sphere of the state. By routinizing and standardizing punishment, criminal law transforms individual convictions into broader social messaging regarding what sorts of behaviour is permissible, seeking to deter impermissible behaviour.

International criminal law justifies individual trials in similar terms, even though many of the rationales legitimizing criminal law as social control are absent. Universal jurisdiction, wherein international atrocity crimes are tried in third countries, cannot address these absent justifications. A central communicative element of domestic criminal law is predictability, establishing what behaviour is impermissible and subject to punishment. Universal jurisdiction does not predictably address criminality through punishment, however. This is because it is by necessity opportunist, trying only tiny subset of atrocity cases based on a series of contingent, chance-based factors, such as foreign perpetrators having their names flagged in an administrative process, as happened with Lumbala.

Research on universal jurisdiction prosecutions suggests that there is bias in those prosecutions, where low level perpetrators are significantly more likely than high level perpetrators to be brought to justice. This represents another aspect of universal jurisdiction as a challenge to rule of law principles, since laws legitimacy depends on its application regardless of social position. The Lumbala case can also be seen in this light. On the one hand, Lumbala is a former leader, and therefore an outlier in data showing that universal jurisdiction cases skew towards low-level perpetrators. On the other hand, Lumbala found himself before a French court after falling out with leadership in DRC, having become so politically weak and threatened that he was seeking asylum protection in France. The International Criminal Court has been critiqued in this same vein, as a court that only tries rebels. Principled rule of law applications also suffers when defendants must be weak before the law can touch them.

Finally, universal jurisdiction removes atrocity crimes from the communities, circumstances and contexts in which they occurred, challenging their communicative potential. When quitting the trial, Lumbala told the court:This is reminiscent of past centuries. The jury is French; the prosecutor is French. This court does not even know geographically where DRC is!

According to information France provided the UN Secretary-General, Lumbalas conviction is the ninth conviction obtained under universal jurisdiction since France changed its law to allow it. According to this same report, several other investigations leading to possible trials are ongoing. A central question remains unanswered: what message will these trials send, and to whom?
Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces carried out mass killings in Darfur and attempted to conceal them with mass graves, the International Criminal Court's deputy prosecutor said on Monday.

In a briefing to the UN Security Council, Nazhat Shameem Khan said it was the "assessment of the office of the prosecutor that war crimes and crimes against humanity" had been committed in the RSF's takeover of the city of El-Fasher in October.

"Our work has been indicative of mass killing events and attempts to conceal crimes through the establishment of mass graves," Khan said in a video address, citing audio and video evidence as well as satellite imagery.

Since April 2023, a civil war between the Sudanese army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands, displaced 11 million and created the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis.

Reports of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions and looting emerged in the wake of the RSF's sweep of El-Fasher, which was the army's last holdout position in the Darfur region.

Both warring sides have been accused of atrocities throughout the war.

Footage reviewed by the ICC, Khan said, showed RSF fighters detaining, abusing and executing civilians in El-Fasher, then celebrating the killings and "desecrating corpses".

According to Khan, the material matched testimony gathered from affected communities, while submissions from civil society groups and other partners had further corroborated the evidence.

The atrocities in El?Fasher, she added, mirror those documented in the West Darfur capital of El?Geneina in 2023, where UN experts determined the RSF killed between 10,000 and 15,000 people, mostly from the Massalit tribe.

She said a picture was emerging of "appalling organised, widespread mass criminality".

"It will continue until this conflict and the sense of impunity that fuels it are stopped," she added.

Khan also issued a renewed call for Sudanese authorities to "work with us seriously" to ensure the surrender of all individuals subject to outstanding warrants, including former longtime president Omar al?Bashir, former ruling party chairman Ahmed Haroun and ex?defence minister Abdul Raheem Mohammed Hussein.

She said Haroun's arrest in particular should be "given priority".

Haroun faces 20 counts of crimes against humanity and 22 war-crimes charges for his role in recruiting the Janjaweed militia, which carried out ethnic massacres in Darfur in the 2000s and later became the RSF.

He escaped prison in 2023 and has since reappeared rallying support for the Sudanese army.

Khan spoke to the UN Security Council via video link after being denied a visa to attend in New York due to sanctions in place against her by the United States.






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - Detectives in Thika have arrested two Iranian nationals following an incident that left a Kenyan shopkeeper Sh15,000 poorer.

The suspects were identified as Heidari Mansoior Eslam (56) and Babaei Ahmad Mirzaaga (40).

According to police, the two were arrested after raising suspicion while posing as customers at a local mobile phone shop.

The shopkeeper reportedly became suspicious after recognising the pair as possible suspects in a similar theft incident that had occurred at a nearby shop about a month earlier.

He alerted another shop owner, who arrived at the scene and positively identified the two as the individuals who had allegedly stolen Sh15,000 from his shop using deceptive tactics.

An alarm was raised, drawing the attention of members of the public, who briefly restrained the suspects before police officers arrived and intervened to prevent any mob action.

The two suspects were rescued by law enforcement officers and taken to Thika Police Station, where they are currently being processed pending their arraignment in court.

Police have urged business owners to remain vigilant and to report suspicious behaviour promptly to authorities.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 19, 2026 - A woman identified as Sharon Nduku has surfaced on social media claiming to be the biological daughter of Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, accusing him of neglect.

In an emotional video shared online, Sharon narrated a painful story of hardship, stating that she grew up without financial and emotional support from the man she believes is her father, even as he rose through the ranks of public service and political leadership.

She further alleged that she has made several attempts to reach out to him, including visiting his office, but claims she is repeatedly turned away.

According to Sharon, these encounters have left her emotionally distressed and feeling rejected.

Sharon also revealed that she currently works as a bartender to make ends meet, despite her father holding the position of Deputy Governor.

I am ready for a DNA test, she said, insisting that she firmly believes Francis Mwangangi is her biological father.

Watch the video>>> below

Nafanya Kazi kwa Bar yet My Father is the Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi Lady Cry! pic.twitter.com/PHCcKPZcH3  Mutembei TV (@MutembeiTV) January 19, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - A Nairobi resident is seeking public assistance to identify suspects involved in a brazen daytime burglary at her Utawala apartment.

CCTV footage shows the perpetrators entering the apartment by following an unsuspecting tenant, quickly unmounting a television, packing laptops, cash and other valuables, before fleeing in a Nissan Note.

The complainant, who has filed a report at Muungano Police Station, says no substantial investigative action has been taken despite the clear footage showing the suspects movements and their getaway vehicle.

She is now appealing to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other security agencies to urgently trace the vehicle and apprehend the culprits.

Watch the CCTV footage>>>

The victim of a brazen daytime house burglary in Utawala, Nairobi is seeking public assistance in identifying the suspects captured on CCTV, which shows them gaining access to the apartment by following an unsuspecting tenant, swiftly unmounting a television, packing laptops, pic.twitter.com/IMfkitnRAh  Nyakundi Report (@NyakundiReport) January 18, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - Detectives from Rabai Sub-County have arrested three suspects believed to be part of a notorious highway robbery gang that has been terrorising truck drivers along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway.

The arrests followed a timely tip-off from vigilant members of the public, enabling detectives to mount a targeted operation in the Mabirikani area.

The operation led to the arrest of Juma Ali, Hamisi Juma, and Benedict Chirodo, who police say are linked to a larger criminal network operating near the Bonje area of Mazeras Township.

Authorities believe the gang has been responsible for a series of attacks on truck drivers along the busy highway, raising security concerns along the key transport corridor.

During the arrest, detectives recovered several items suspected to be proceeds of crime, including foreign currency, two pairs of military boots, fourteen rolls of bhang, thirty-two pieces of mug glass, mobile phone chargers, two bales of carrier bags, and an HCL computer keyboard.

Police say the recovered items are linked to multiple cases previously reported at Mazeras Police Station, pointing to the gangs extensive criminal activities.

The suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue, with detectives pursuing more leads to dismantle the wider gang.

All recovered items have been secured as exhibits ahead of the suspects arraignment in court.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - Drama unfolded in Nairobi CBD after plain-clothed police officers from Kamukunji Police Station attempted to arrest a young man who allegedly refused to give a bribe.

A video shared on social media shows the officers trying to detain the man, only for bystanders to intervene, confronting the police and demanding his release.

The footage captures a tense standoff as members of the public challenge the officers actions.

Reports indicate that some plain-clothed officers have been patrolling the CBD, targeting young men and demanding bribes, which are allegedly shared among the officers and their bosses.

Sources claim the officers operate under a daily monetary target, fueling accusations of systemic corruption.

Watch the video>>>

Plainclothes police officers captured on camera harassing a young man outside Hakati Business Centre in Nairobi CBD after reportedly resisting demands for a bribe. pic.twitter.com/Q0rt7gTXT7  Nyakundi Report (@NyakundiReport) January 18, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 19, 2026 - Residents of Thunguma area in Nyeri County were left stunned after a 40-year-old man set his parents mansion on fire following a disagreement with his mother over Ksh 100.

According to reports, the man became enraged after his mother refused to give him the money, prompting him to go on a rampage that culminated in the torching of the family home.

A video circulating online shows neighbours desperately attempting to contain the blaze as flames engulf the massive house.

While some residents tried to put out the fire, others could only watch helplessly as the inferno reduced the mansion to ashes.

Watch the videos of the tragic incident.

A 40-year-old man set his parents house on fire in the Thunguma area of Nyeri County after his mother refused to give him KSh 100.

( Courtesy : John Gathua) pic.twitter.com/MNcJkSRKjo  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) January 19, 2026

Firefighters in Nyeri County arrived late after a fire had already consumed nearly the entire house, which a 40-year-old man set ablaze after his mother refused to give him KSh 100. pic.twitter.com/SjqBIvfTBy  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) January 19, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 19, 2026 - Socialite and entrepreneur, Huddah Monroe, has stirred conversation yet again, this time with a bold wakeup call to Kenyans.

In a series of fiery Instagram posts shared on Monday, January 19th, 2026, the beauty mogul urged locals to buy land and invest in businesses now - or risk regretting it in just five years.

Huddah warned that while many Kenyans remain complacent, foreigners are steadily cashing in on the countrys booming opportunities.

She painted Kenya as Africas Dubai, a hub brimming with untapped potential, and cautioned against sleeping on the chance to build wealth.

Kuna pesa huku. Dont sleep while others snatch your bag. Own a piece of this country today or cry in five years, she wrote.

Her posts highlighted the growing presence of nonKenyan investors dominating property markets, businesses and even employment opportunities in urban centers.

According to Huddah, this trend should serve as a wakeup call for citizens to claim their rightful share before its too late.

She reminded followers that economic opportunities are fleeting, and only those who act decisively will reap the rewards.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - Mumias East MP, Peter Salasya, has publicly expressed romantic interest in 22yearold Marion Naipei, the young woman in a viral club video involving her USbased partner.

Marion had earlier sought help from Geoffrey Mosiria, the Nairobi County officer in charge of citizen management, to navigate the fallout of the scandal.

It was after this meeting that Salasya made his bold move, addressing Mosiria directly in a social media post.

"I love short Girls, nipe number yake... she can get a serious boyfriend to mentor her like me," the MP wrote, admitting his preference for short women and suggesting that Marion needed a stable partner to help her move past the ordeal.

Salasya went further, urging the public to forgive and move on from the controversy.

He described Marion as beautiful despite the scandal and advised her to remain calm.

In summary, just keep quiet, mrembo, mistakes hu happen and at times we have no control, but it shall pass, and you will come out strong.

Hata police station haezi saidia lets just forget and forgive each other in this matter, he added.

Marion, meanwhile, has shared her side of the story, revealing that she had been in a relationship with the suspect for about a year.

She believed their bond was built on love and promises of a shared future.

We met with this guy a year ago... He had a lot of promises; he promised me to go with him to the US, she narrated.

Marion claims she was secretly recorded during a club meeting after feeling dizzy from food and drinks ordered by her partner.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - US-based medic, James Opande, has been arrested and is currently being held at Airport Police Station following the circulation of an embarrassing club video involving a woman identified as Marion.

Opande was taken into custody after recording Marion while she was heavily intoxicated and later leaking the footage without her consent.

A leaked WhatsApp conversation between Opande and a friend shows him admitting that he had been locked up at the police station.





Sources indicate that he is expected to be arraigned in court on Monday.

Opande has faced intense public backlash since the video surfaced online, with many Kenyans, particularly women, calling for his arrest and prosecution over violation of privacy and exploitation.

Marion has since come forward to share her side of the story, claiming that Opande spiked her drink during their meeting at a city club, leaving her disoriented and unable to fully comprehend what was happening at the time the video was recorded.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, has cautioned the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against pursuing a preelection coalition agreement with President William Rutos United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Speaking at an event, the former Vice President argued that ODM and UDA do not share a common vision.

He reminded ODM supporters that President Ruto had previously disparaged the late Raila Odinga, describing him as a witchdoctor and vowing to escort him back to Bondo.

William Ruto once called my late brother Raila a witchdoctor, that man of riddles, and even said they would escort him all the way back to Bondo.

Yet today, some want us to believe that William Ruto and ODM share a common vision. Every Kenyan knows what Raila stood for: justice, fairness, the dignity of paychecks, and a democracy that protects the people, not power that preys on them, Kalonzo stated.

He urged ODM to align with the united opposition if it truly subscribes to Railas ideals.

If indeed they believe in the vision of Raila Odinga, then the first point of go should be the united opposition.

We are ready to sit with Oburu, Sifuna, and everybody else, he added.

Kalonzo further insisted that ODM should openly declare it no longer subscribes to Railas vision if it chooses to partner with UDA.

If they decide to join Ruto, then they should be honest enough to admit that they no longer share the vision and purpose of their fallen leader, he said.

His remarks come days after UDA confirmed that President Ruto has been mandated to lead structured negotiations with ODM ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

ODMs Central Committee has already tasked Party Leader Oburu Oginga with initiating talks, beginning with UDA, alongside internal consultations with members.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 19, 2026 - Chaos erupted at a burial ceremony in Kitui County after a Member of County Assembly (MCA) turned the solemn event into a political rally by openly campaigning for President William Rutos re-election.

Witnesses say the MCA began chanting Tutam slogans, a phrase commonly associated with support for President Ruto, sparking anger among mourners.

The situation quickly escalated as mourners confronted the MCA, roughing him up and forcing him to flee from the venue amid shouting and commotion.

A video circulating on social media captures the tense moment as the crowd chases him away.

The incident comes at a time when President Rutos popularity is declining in several parts of the country ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 General Election.

Many Kenyans have expressed dissatisfaction, citing unmet campaign promises and rising economic pressures.

A Kitui MCA was beaten and chased away yesterday while addressing a burial ceremony in Nuu, Mwingi Central. The MCA reportedly used the slogan "Ruto Tutam" without reading or analyzing the ground. pic.twitter.com/Kk6rux7atV  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) January 19, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Monday, January 19, 2026 - City lawyer, Danstan Omari, has spoken out following the viral club video that has dominated social media conversations.

The clip, which shows a visibly intoxicated woman identified as Marion Naipei being inappropriately touched by U.Sbased medic, James Opande, quickly ignited outrage online and sparked heated debates around consent, morality and personal freedom.

While some netizens criticized Marions choice of outfit, Omari clarified that Kenyan law does not compel women to wear undergarments.

He emphasized that every individual has the right to dress as they please, provided it does not cross the boundaries of public morality.

His remarks have added a legal perspective to a conversation that has largely been driven by emotion and online commentary.

Meanwhile, the saga took a dramatic turn when James Opande was arrested on Friday as he attempted to leave the country.

He spent the weekend at the Airport Police Station and is expected to face charges in court on Monday for allegedly recording and sharing the compromising video without consent.

Watch the video>>> below

DANSTAN OMARI on MARION NAIPEI and JAMES OPANDE saga pic.twitter.com/ByVET46MyV  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) January 19, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Sunday, January 18, 2026 - Law enforcement officers from Baragoi Police Station have arrested a 30-year-old man suspected of brutally killing his 16-year-old nephew in Tuum Location, Samburu North Sub-County.

The suspect, Daniel Tanapua, is accused of fatally attacking Alpha Lemoosa following a domestic disagreement that reportedly erupted shortly after the two shared an evening meal.

What began as a minor dispute quickly escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in the teenagers death.

Upon arriving at the scene, police officers found Alphas body lying in a pool of blood.

A blood-stained Somali sword, believed to have been used in the attack, was recovered by investigators.

The body was later transferred to Baragoi Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation and post-mortem examination.

Police launched an immediate and coordinated manhunt, meticulously tracking the suspects movements.

Tanapua was eventually arrested at his hideout, where officers found him allegedly attempting to wash blood-stained clothes in an effort to destroy evidence.

The suspect is currently being held in police custody as investigations continue, pending his arraignment in court.





The Kenyan DAILY POST
Ottoline Spearman

AI adoption is reshaping Irelands labour market, narrowing graduate hiring while intensifying demand for specialist talent across sectors, according to new data from Morgan McKinley.

Job vacancies fell by 11.9 per cent quarter on quarter last year, and were just 1.9 per cent lower than in Q4 2024, according to the recruitment consultancy.

Candidate engagement increased as 2025 drew to a close, with registrations rising 4.3 per cent quarter on quarter - despite a modest rise in the unemployment rate to 5.0 per cent.

Morgan McKinley said this suggested a shift towards more intentional job search behaviour rather than labour market stress. Workforce adjustments continued to take place through attrition and contract non-renewals, rather than large-scale redundancies.

Trayc Keevans, Global Foreign Direct Investment Director at Morgan McKinley, said the final quarter of the year marked a clear turning point in how organisations approach hiring.

AI is reshaping roles rather than removing them outright, but it is changing who gets hired and at what level - Tracey Keevans

Q4 confirms that the Irish labour market has entered a more disciplined and mature phase. Employers are not pulling back, but they are being far more deliberate about where they hire. Demand has narrowed around critical skills, experienced talent and roles that directly support delivery, productivity, and growth.

Crucial to this is the impact of AI. What is different this time is the impact of AI on how demand is shaped," she said. "We are seeing more diversified hiring at graduate and entry level, particularly where automation is replacing transactional or junior work, while demand for experienced and specialist talent remains strong.

"AI is reshaping roles rather than removing them outright, but it is changing who gets hired and at what level."

She went on to say that candidate behaviour is becoming "more intentional", with flexibility becoming a "deciding factor", not a "nice-to-have".

She said that AI capability is expected across software development, architecture, and project roles, with graduate and junior hiring remaining cautious.

"While AI tools are increasingly used to support analysis and reporting, regulatory requirements continue to necessitate human oversight, sustaining demand for experienced professionals," she said.

Active areas of the labour market with hiring activity remaining high included corporate tax specialists, newly qualified accountants, senior finance professionals, as well as life sciences, engineering and pharma.
Marine Nationale is ready to win the Dublin Chase, according to his trainer, Barry Connell.

The nine-year-old Champion Chaser was only beaten half a length on seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown and is Even money favourite for the Grade One Dublin Chase on the 1st February (2.10pm).

Speaking on Racing TV, who offer the latest Cheltenham free bets, Connell said: Marine Nationale has come out of the race in unbelievable form. He was entitled to be a little bit tired after the race, given the amount of ground he made up, but he ate up and was careering round the paddock with his tail in the air the next day.

Commenting on his current form going into the Dublin Racing Festival, the handler said We did a bit of work with him at the Curragh on Saturday and hes as good as he ever was - better!

Regarding his confidence in his stable star, Connell said If he jumps a clear round, thats all he needs to do.

Marine Nationales opponents in the Dublin Chase currently include Willie Mullins quartet of Majborough, Dinoblue, Energumene and Il Etait Temps, while Gordon Elliotts Found A Fifty holds an entry too, alongside Joseph OBriens Solness, who beat the favourite at Leopardstown last time.

Dublin Chase betting market (via BOYLE Sports, providers of all the latest horse racing odds):
THE MATTER of investment in active travel to schools in Kildare has come under the microscope in recent times.

At the meeting of Kildare Newbridge Municipal District on 17 December, cllr Suzanne Doyle brought forward a motion suggesting that Kildare County Council should collect information on the impact of such investment on the ways in which students are getting to school.

She asked that the council conducts a survey of schools, where active travel improvement schemes have taken place to determine what impacts this investment has made on modal shift for journeys to schools. The motion added in the case of pending projects, that a baseline survey be conducted in advance for a more comprehensive comparative analysis.

A report issued by Donal Hodgins, senior engineer in sustainable transport and traffic management at the county council outlined the limitations of local authorities in monitoring schemes such as the Safe Routes to School programme (SRTS). The report stated that local authorities are responsible for the implementation of measures recommended as part the SRTS programme but do not a have role in the monitoring of schemes after they have been implemented.

A representative from the county council said that the councils role is to build whatever has been agreed by An Taisce.

The Safe Routes to School programme was launched in March 2021, with all schools in Ireland invited to take part. It is an initiative of the Department of Transport and is supported by the Department of Education, designed to encourage as many pupils and students as possible to walk or cycle to school by making the areas around schools safer and more accessible.

The programme is operated by Aan Taisce in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA). Funding for the programme comes from the Department of Transport through the NTA. An Taisce is responsible for delivering the programme. Infrastructure officers for the programme works with schools and local authorities.

It emerged recently that four Kildare schools  Scoil Ide Naofa (Kilmeade), Ardscoil Rath Iomghain (Rathangan), Maynooth Educate Together NS, Scoil Eoin Phoil (Leixlip)  have been included in the next round of schools to benefit from the programme.

At the meeting, cllr Doyle said that its a bit luddite to suggest that the council does not conduct the baseline survey, going on to say that I think its important when were spending public money to evaluate how practical it is.

Cllr Doyle asked a representative from the council at the meeting if the relevant bodies could conduct a survey after the implementation of the programme. The representative responded by saying that they imagine so.

Cllr Doyle requested that further clarity be sought on that and asked for it to be left on the agenda for the next meeting.

Cathaoirleach for Kildare Newbridge MD Noel Heavey chimed in to remark that councillors should have an input on the design and delivery of safe routes to school.

With cllr Doyle becoming irate, it was agreed that a letter would be written to An Taisce on the matter. Cllr Doyle stated that she wanted to see the letter before it was sent.
NATIONAL Pyjama Day returns this year  a fundraiser inviting Kildare children to wear pyjamas for a good cause.

Irelands Childrens Hospice, LauraLynn, has been chosen as the official charity partner for this years fundraiser.

Taking place on Friday 27 February, this much-loved event promises a joyful day of fun and fundraising for children, families and communities across Kildare, supporting LauraLynn and Early Childhood Irelands Eco-Emotions project.

Last time around, over 3,200 children in Kildare took part in the event, with early years and school age care settings across the county raising more than 11,100 in support of National Pyjama Day. Since 2003, the event has raised over 4.5 million to support young childrens development and wellbeing across Ireland.

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, said: Early Childhood Ireland is proud to partner with LauraLynn for this years National Pyjama Day. We look forward to a day when children in Kildare and across Ireland come together to enjoy a day of fun, kindness and community, while this year supporting the delivery of personalised care to children with palliative and complex needs and vital supports for their families.

Part of the funds raised during National Pyjama Day 2026 will contribute to LauraLynns vital work caring for children and providing essential support to families by building unique communities of care.

The funds will specifically assist LauraLynns Family Support Services, ensuring families can access high-quality emotional, therapeutic and practical care when and where they need it most.

Kerry McLaverty, CEO of LauraLynn, said: We are delighted that Early Childhood Ireland has chosen LauraLynn as a beneficiary of National Pyjama Day 2026. This much-loved event brings together over 65,000 children across 1,300 early years settings each year. The spirit of children helping children aligns beautifully with our mission.

The funds raised will help us continue providing specialised care and vital family supports to children with life-limiting conditions across Ireland.

We are delighted to join Early Childhood Ireland, alongside the Eco Emotions project, in creating meaningful impact for children and families. We look forward to celebrating on Friday 27 February, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone taking part.

This years fundraiser will also continue to support Early Childhood Irelands Eco-Emotions project, which helps educators and families guide young children to reconnect with nature and their emotions.

Through funding from National Pyjama Day 2024, Eco-Emotions has empowered educators and children throughout the country with nature-based wel-lbeing supports. Thanks to continued support from this years fundraiser, additional supports including immersive nature workshops and toolkits promoting emotional well-being, will be developed.

Ms Heeney explained: Funds raised through National Pyjama Day have played a key role in our delivery of first-of-its-kind eco-learning for educators and families. With continued support, we can ensure more children are empowered on their Eco-Emotions journey.

We are looking forward to another wonderful National Pyjama Day, where fun, compassion and community come together in the spirit of children, helping children.
Irish teacher Enoch Burke was arrested on Monday morning after a High Court Judge ordered he be brought to court to hear whether or not he will be returned to prison.

Mr Burke was released from Mountjoy Prison on Wednesday to prepare for a case against an appeals body due to review his dismissal from the school.

His release was on the condition he would not return to the school, but Mr Burke appeared there on Thursday and Friday.

Rosemary Mallon, a barrister representing the schools board of management, told the court on Friday his presence on school property had caused unprecedented and significant impact on the work of the school.

Mr Justice Brian Cregan made an order of attachment, instructing Mr Burke be brought to court on Monday to give his version of events.

The board of management of Wilsons Hospital School and Mr Burke have been entangled in a legal dispute stemming from incidents over a request in 2022 from the schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Burke, an Evangelical Christian who taught German and history at the school, has repeatedly argued the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

The school has been granted injunctive relief, restraining him from attending the school, however he continued to attend in breach of the order.

He has been fined more than 225,000 euro and imprisoned for 550 days, a figure cited by Mr Burke, for attending the school in breach of the court order.

Mr Burkes most recent stint in jail began in late November.

He had sought a temporary injunction against a disciplinary appeals body tasked with reviewing his dismissal from the school.

At the time of Mr Burkes release from prison last week, Mr Cregan had said he had been let out for one reason and one reason only; so that he had time to prepare for his case against the appeals body reviewing his dismissal and instructed him not to attend the school.

At the school on Friday, Mr Burke told reporters he had returned to Wilsons Hospital as I teach here and that he was there to work.
An Irish High Court judge has returned Enoch Burke to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin after finding him in contempt of court after he repeatedly trespassed at the school where he used to teach.

Mr Burke was released from Mountjoy Prison on Wednesday to prepare for a case against an appeals body due to review his dismissal from Wilsons Hospital School.

His release was on the condition he would not return to the Co Westmeath school, but Mr Burke appeared there on Thursday and Friday.

In court on Monday Rosemary Mallon, a barrister representing the schools board of management, read an affidavit from the schools principal.

Noel Cunningham said Mr Burke had arrived at the school on both Thursday and Friday mornings and was stopped walking up to the school by a security guard they had privately hired, but stayed standing beyond the schools boundary wall.

He said there were also a number of protesters at the school gates, some of whom briefly trespassed on school property.

Mr Cunningham said he had complaints from staff and teachers who raised safety concerns about the crowd who had gathered.

He said the atmosphere at the gate was at times unpleasant.

In his affidavit, the headteacher also apologised for participating in an article published in The Sunday Independent, adding he did not have consent from the schools board to take part in the piece.

He said it was a misguided attempt to generate some good publicity for the school but that it was entirely inappropriate to have given the interview in light of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Mr Burke was brought to and from court by gardai and was accompanied by his father Sean Burke and his brother Isaac Burke.

Addressing the court, Enoch Burke said: Im not in contempt of court, Ive the utmost respect for court.

To which Mr Justice Brian Cregan replied nonsense.

Mr Burke repeated a number of criticisms of the handling of his case by the school and the Irish justice system.

When asked to address the issue of his trespassing Mr Burke said: I did turn up at my place of work

In response Mr Cregan said: You have been dismissed, it is not your place of work, what part of that sentence do you not understand.

Mr Cregan found him in contempt of court and made an order for him to be committed immediately to Mountjoy Prison.

The board of management of Wilsons Hospital School and Mr Burke have been entangled in a legal dispute stemming from incidents over a request in 2022 from the schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Burke, an Evangelical Christian who taught German and history at the school, has repeatedly argued the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

The school has been granted injunctive relief, restraining him from attending the school, however he continued to attend in breach of the order.

He has been fined more than 225,000 euro and imprisoned for 550 days, a figure cited by Mr Burke, for attending the school in breach of the court order.

Mr Burkes most recent stint in jail began in late November.

He had sought a temporary injunction against a disciplinary appeals body tasked with reviewing his dismissal from the school.

At the time of Mr Burkes release from prison last week, Mr Cregan had said he had been let out for one reason and one reason only; so that he had time to prepare for his case against the appeals body reviewing his dismissal and instructed him not to attend the school.

At the school on Friday, Mr Burke told reporters he had returned to Wilsons Hospital as I teach here and that he was there to work.
As we enter a new year, one group of heroes and heroines are continuing their efforts to leave the world in a better place.

Over the years, countless Kilkenny volunteers have brought hope and joy into the lives of children in the poorest areas of Mombasa in Kenya, offering practical skills and companionship through the Ray of Sunshine Foundation.

The Clare-based charity has supported over 300 children from the poverty stricken village of Likoni, erecting pre and primary schools by constructing classrooms and educational facilities as well as spaces for those wishing to learn a trade.

My Kilkenny Life: Tom Kennedy - local memories, challenges and more

The group has also established rescue homes for those fleeing sexual exploitation, with their efforts all in aid of offering young people the best chance to maximise their potential in life.

Billy Murphy, a local builder, has been involved for an incredible 25 years.

Not for the first time, this month saw Billy made the long trip across the world to Likoni in Mombasa to oversee the construction of three new classrooms at a school in the region (WATCH BELOW).

Speaking to the Kilkenny People in November, the local man hailed the support of the community in his ongoing efforts.

"It requires an awful lot of goodwill of people to be involved, to give the time. Im lucky here in Kilkenny. We have a great core especially in North Kilkenny now. (We have a great crowd from Ballyragget, especially from Conahy. GAA rivalries are put to one side and generosity comes to the fore," he commented.

FOR MORE KILKENNY COMMUNITY NEWS, CLICK HERE
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U.S. Minneapolis shooting continues to fuel debate as protests, partisan clash intensify

Xinhua) 08:39, January 19, 2026

A protester wearing a hat with a slogan participates in a protest against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, the California, United States, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Xinhua)

The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, United States, has sparked nationwide protests and intensified clashes between the federal government and local authorities, raising fears of further unrest and highlighting deep partisan and law enforcement tensions.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The fatal shooting of a U.S. woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis has continued to stoke tensions locally and nationwide, as state and federal officials sharply clash over how the incident unfolded and should be handled.

Protests showed signs of escalation following another ICE agent shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg in the same area exactly a week later. Mayor Jacob Frey recently said that the situation in the city is "not sustainable."

The incident has become a battleground of competing narratives, with partisan leaders using it to intensify political conflict. Observers believe that tensions between federal and local governments could deepen, and confrontations between the public and law enforcement may further escalate.

ONE INCIDENT, TWO NARRATIVES

On Jan. 7 in Minneapolis, 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a federal enforcement operation, sparking widespread controversy nationwide.

The shooting has generated markedly divergent accounts of what happened, amplified by partisan conflict and ideological division.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended the ICE agent, claiming the woman attempted to run over officers in what they called "an act of domestic terrorism."

"The woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self-defense," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Frey, meanwhile, argued that video footage indicates that Good did not pose a threat and that the agent acted recklessly. "This was a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying," said the mayor.

The Trump administration recently announced it is sending 2,000 immigration agents to the Minneapolis area amid allegations of welfare fraud involving immigrants in Minnesota. The number of newly dispatched ICE and Border Patrol agents has since increased to nearly 3,000.

Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have demanded that ICE leave the city and state immediately, arguing that the presence of ICE is causing chaos.

U.S. media reported on Friday that the Justice Department is investigating Minnesota officials, including Walz and Frey, for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement operations in the state, a further escalation in the administration's clash with Democratic leaders.

"Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her," Waltz said in a statement.

Amid the dispute, the FBI has taken full control of the case, limiting Minnesota authorities' access to evidence -- a move Walz criticized as undermining transparency and impartiality, and that "people in positions of power have already passed judgment."

Meanwhile, the Minnesota National Guard has been mobilized as tensions remain high. In a post on X, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said that the Minnesota National Guard had been mobilized and was staging to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies at the direction of Governor Walz.

People attend a protest in San Francisco, California, the United States, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Photo by Ziyu Julian Zhu/Xinhua)

TENSIONS SPIKE, FEARS MOUNT

Exactly one week after the fatal shooting, debates over whether the situation reflects justified enforcement or dangerous escalation have continued to intensify.

With rhetoric heating up on both sides, observers say the clash between the Republican-led federal government and Democratic-led local authorities could deepen, and confrontations between the public and federal agents could escalate further, potentially leading to additional chaos.

Protests erupted in the area following Good's death. On the morning of Jan. 8, a group of demonstrators clashed with federal law enforcement outside a federal building in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Fully armed federal officers used tear gas to drive protesters across the street, and some demonstrators were detained on the snow-covered ground.

On the evening of Jan. 9, more than 1,000 protesters gathered in downtown Minneapolis, resulting in at least 30 arrests.

On Jan. 10, despite freezing temperatures and howling winds, tens of thousands marched in Minneapolis to express their outrage over the ICE agent's fatal shooting. Nationwide protests flared in major cities across the country, including New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Seattle, with demonstrators calling for changes to federal immigration enforcement and an end to ICE operations.

"The graphic video of the shooting has galvanized protesters across America who feel it is a gross injustice and want an independent investigation. The ICE agents seem less well-trained than police officers and don't have the same ability to de-escalate personal confrontations," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua, adding that "many worry that the same thing could happen elsewhere."

Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, told Xinhua that "this is the predictable outcome of the militarization of police forces, the hiring of masked thugs armed to the teeth, and the ugly branding of anyone who disagrees with this administration as 'the enemy.'"

Large crowds have gathered in response to the second shooting, with some demonstrators clashing with federal agents -- resulting in local authorities declaring an "unlawful assembly."

Trump has even threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, an 1807 federal law that gives the president authority to deploy the U.S. military domestically under certain extreme circumstances.

Amid the unrest, a federal judge in Minnesota ordered agents not to retaliate against people "engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity" and not to use pepper spray or other "crowd dispersal tools." The judge also said agents could not stop or detain protesters in vehicles who were not "forcibly obstructing or interfering with" them.

Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, told Xinhua that he absolutely expects such incidents to happen again in the future.

"ICE, DHS (the Department of Homeland Security), and the White House have shown no indications that they are rethinking their approach to these deployments, and probably see the chaos and protests as beneficial to them. I think they are wrong to think this, but we'll just have to see what happens," Galdieri said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
PUPILS and teachers at Kolbe Special School and Scoil Naomh Abban, Newtown, Crettyard had cause to celebrate last week when they were named junior and senior county winners, respectively, of the prestigious national art competition Someone Like Me.

Both schools have secured a place at the national awards ceremony, set to be held in Dublin on Wednesday 28 January.

They will join pupils and teachers from 50 other schools to compete for the national titles in their respective categories.

An initiative of the National Disability Authority, Someone Like Me promotes disability awareness among primary school pupils through the medium of art.

The competition, which marks its tenth anniversary this year, encourages pupils to reflect on the similarities we share, even though we might have different abilities.

Thousands of primary and special school pupils across Ireland have participated in the competition over the years.

Director of the National Disability Authority, Dr Aideen Hartney, congratulated Kolbe Special School and Scoil Naomh Abban and said that the number of entries this year is a tribute to the ongoing commitment of Irelands primary and special school teachers, who continue to play an important role in helping to create an inclusive Ireland.

She continued: Over the last ten years, the Someone Like Me art competition has created a national conversation about visible and non-visible disabilities, helping to raise awareness and, ultimately, effect positive attitudinal change within society.

Because of this, the competition is an important part of the work of the National Disability Authority and has become a highlight in our calendar.

It gives us the opportunity to meaningfully and creatively engage with primary and special school pupils and teachers alike in a way that will benefit society not just now but for generations to come. Dr Hartney said that selecting county winners was not an easy task. While I know it will be an anxious wait for the pupils and teachers to hear which of the 52 county winners will be awarded the national titles, all pupils and teachers should be congratulated for their entries and for coming up with ways to include all people within society. Speakers at the national awards will include James Casserly, a young disability advocate. The national awards will be presented by the minister of state attending cabinet with responsibility for disability, Emer Higgins.

The competition, which offers a range of prizes to the value of over 1,000, was open to all primary and special school pupils, from junior infants to sixth-class. Entries ranged from posters and collages to large sculptural installations and videos.
A short story is like a toothache and you must drill it and fill it. A novel is more like bridgework, said the writer T.C. Boyle, author of 14 novels and more than 100 short stories. One might wonder what would be the outcome of drilling and filling a novel. There are two answers, it seems: one is The Namesake, the other is The Lowland, both incidentally by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Lahiri, of course, happens to be one of the English languages most celebrated commanders, a storyteller revered for her perfect minimalist realism and crisp plainness  her words  that resists flash, trash, tricks, hooks, the works, and yet elevates, entrances and seduces all the same.

Shes been such a literary fixture that its hard to remember that The Lowland is only her sophomore novel. Shes the exception to one of the cardinal rules of literature  that novels will always trump short-story collections. After two deservedly canonized short-story collections  her Interpreter of Maladies debuted with a Pulitzer (1999) and 2008s Unaccustomed Earth hit No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list  she ascended to master status with short-form fiction. And truly, to call these stories impeccable would not be an exaggeration.

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But in between all her short-form gems came the less graceful debut novel, The Namesake (2003), which had its biggest moment when transformed into a Mira Nair movie. In her charmed literary history, this clumsy and laborious narrative will be the closest shes come to a miss.

Until now. The Lowland is familiar territory for Lahiri fans: She is back to her native settings of Calcutta and Rhode Island, telling the sagas of generations of Indian American immigrants. Two brothers, Udayan and Subhash Mitra, who are opposites in nature  one wild and exuberant and rebellious, the other responsible and contemplative and shy  take two very different paths, and the novel explores the consequences of their choices. Its a fairly cookie-cutter and cliched premise that at best could be euphemized as archetypal or classic in scope.

What makes it most interesting is its haunting historical backdrop, a tale that indeed has not been told: that of the Naxalite movement, a radical communist faction born in the Indian village of Naxalbari with a violent uprising in 1967.

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While Udayan devotes his life to this cause, Subhash leaves for America. Lahiri has again chosen a bit fatally to rest on the familiar  and here you have the typical torn-between-two-cultures thematics that the London-born, U.S.-raised Lahiri is enamored of and has, in fact, practically branded.

So what could go wrong? For one thing, Lahiri shies from tackling the necessary tangles and messes of a novel. It is that clinical short-story writers genius, a sort of die-hard cleanliness and thoroughness, that dooms this novel. All endings are bound and rebound and finally hung up neatly as a flat, cold, dead but still somehow beautiful thing for detached viewing.

The short-story form thrives on her much-celebrated simplicity, her very nonshowy, very linear mechanics; its as if the unconventionality of the short story helps lend her tales the edge they otherwise lack. But what dazzles in a story sprint loses its footing within a novels cross-country sprawl, its more traditional landscape requiring unpredictability and surprise and indeed novelty  the readers attention must be had and had and had.

If you are reading The Lowland for anthropological insights over all else, you might feel satiated. Even then, there are problems: Lahiri sometimes dips into cheaply microwaved otherness. Take for example autumn leaves rendered Lowland style: Once more the trees lost their chlorophyll, replaced by the shades he had left behind: vivid hues of cayenne and turmeric and ginger pounded fresh every morning in the kitchen, to season the foods his mother had prepared. Lines like these read like a parody of contemporary transnational literature at best.

The other problem is that Lahiri puts the undynamic Subhash and ice-cold wife Gauri center stage instead of their firebrand shadows  revolutionary sibling Udayan and iconoclast offspring Bela. It seems exactly the wrong choice for this book, as if shes invested in telling this story as tepidly as possible. This threatens to collapse the entire narrative in her endgame: Every story line is tiresomely followed until dead end, and the final third of the book is all downwind resolution, overwrought and exhausted, as if in complete misunderstanding of the novel form. The plots are largely overdone and overdone in a flat register, creating a sort of novel as lecture in parts.

Lahiris place in literature has always seemed beyond reproach, since her cotillion by Pulitzer, but also partly, I suspect, because liberal-educated white people prefer their exotica watered down with high patrician elegance. Perhaps a product of Lahiris Old and New Englands, all the vindaloos, saris, bindis and Bollywood feel like theyve been given a scrubbing by a blond yogini army of Gwyneth Paltrow disciples: understated sweet-nothings, mannered manners, even passionless restraint. In Lahiris fiction even when there is some blood on some hands, its like watercolor blood, nonthreatening and even comely. Sometimes that is magical and other times it feels dishonest.

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In 2008, when asked about the short story versus the novel, Lahiri told the Atlantic, I dont make a huge distinction in terms of what they require because I think an idea is either working or it isnt. In her own case, one could recommend she revisit the sentiment. Its unclear if Lahiri has felt pressured to go novelward for ambitions sake, but its clear she is not yet in her element in long-form.

Must fiction writers be masters of all forms? Lahiri makes us forget we even need the novel  or at least calls into question why wed cast novelists as the overlords of Letters.

And so with The Lowland, one might smile and nod as politely as one of Lahiris own characters and say that, well, we cannot wait until her next story collection.

Khakpour is the author of Sons and Other Flammable Objects and the forthcoming novel The Last Illusion.

calendar@latimes.com

The Lowland

A novel

Jhumpa Lahiri

Knopf: 352 pp., $27.95
A relative of Fidel and Raul Castro has emerged as a potential contender to lead Cuba after President Miguel Diaz-Canel completes his mandated two terms in 2028, according to a report by Spanish outlet ABC.

Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, a vice prime minister in the current administration and great-nephew of the Castro brothers, was appointed in December as a deputy to Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, a move that satisfies the sole formal requirement to be eligible for the presidency. Under Cuba's system, the president is chosen by the National Assembly from among its members.

Perez-Oliva Fraga, 54, is the son of Mirsa Fraga Castro and grandson of Angela Castro, the elder sister of Fidel and Raul Castro. He has risen rapidly within the government, largely through posts linked to foreign trade and investment, as ABC points out. In early 2024 he was named vice minister of foreign trade, became minister months later following the death of Ricardo Cabrisas, and was promoted to vice prime minister in October, marking his third advancement in less than two years.

His career has been closely tied to GAESA, the military-run business conglomerate controlled by the Castro family that dominates much of Cuba's economy. His ascent accelerated after the death in 2022 of Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Calleja, a former son-in-law of Raul Castro who oversaw the group.

The appointment comes as Cuba navigates a succession process shaped by a constitutional reform approved last year that removed the age cap for first-term presidents. Other frequently cited figures include Roberto Morales Ojeda, a senior Communist Party official, and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, a former tourism minister with military ties.

The political maneuvering unfolds amid a severe economic crisis and heightened tensions with the United States. Diaz-Canel has, however, denied that Havana is holding talks with Washington beyond limited migration issues, responding to comments by President Donald Trump suggesting dialogue between the two countries.

"Cuba has always been willing to hold serious and responsible talks ... on the basis of sovereign equality," Diaz-Canel wrote on social media, while rejecting what he described as pressure and economic coercion.

Cuba is facing its worst economic conditions in decades. According to a recent poll cited by U.S. media, more than three-quarters of Cubans say they intend to leave the country, while millions have already emigrated since 2020 amid food shortages, blackouts and rising poverty.

Originally published on Latin Times
Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez was labeled a "priority target" by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration years before rising to the top of the country's power structure, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press and interviews with current and former U.S. law enforcement officials.

The designation, applied in 2022, is reserved for individuals believed to have a "significant impact" on the drug trade. DEA records show the agency began compiling intelligence on Rodriguez as early as 2018, documenting alleged links to drug trafficking, gold smuggling and money laundering networks, including connections to Venezuelan government-linked business figures.

The U.S. government has never publicly accused Rodriguez of criminal wrongdoing, and she is not among the Venezuelan officials formally charged in U.S. drug trafficking cases tied to former president Nicolas Maduro. DEA officials declined to comment to The AP, and Venezuela's communications ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Rodriguez's name has appeared in nearly a dozen DEA investigations across multiple field offices, according to the AP. Several cases remain open, though the records do not explain why she was elevated to priority target status. "There's a difference between being talked about and having evidence that supports an indictment," said Kurt Lunkenheimer, a former U.S. federal prosecutor.

The disclosure comes amid a sharp contrast between U.S. scrutiny and Rodriguez's public posture. As vice president and later acting president, she has repeatedly rejected U.S. claims that Venezuela is a hub for cocaine trafficking. In September, she said Venezuelan authorities have seized more narcotics since DEA agents were expelled from the country in 2005, citing government data that shows more than 1,000 metric tons confiscated since then.

Rodriguez also pointed to the DEA's own National Drug Threat Assessments from 2024 and 2025, which she says do not identify Venezuela as a major source of cocaine bound for the United States. In August, responding to accusations from DEA Administrator Terry Cole, she called the claims "false" and said U.S. policy seeks to justify pressure on Venezuela and gain access to its energy resources.

Rodriguez went further, asserting that "the real cartel is in the North" and accusing Washington of using drug trafficking allegations as a political tool. She has said Venezuela will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

U.S. analysts note that Rodriguez's rise illustrates how political power and criminal investigations often intersect in Venezuela. "Being a leader in a highly corrupted regime makes it logical that she would attract scrutiny," said David Smilde, a professor at Tulane University. "That scrutiny can also become leverage."

Originally published on Latin Times
For 15 years, Americans could walk into any national park for free on Martin Luther King Jr Day. That tradition ended this year.

The Trump administration quietly dropped MLK Day and Juneteenth from the National Park Service's fee-free calendar late last year. The replacement? Flag Day on 14 June, which happens to be President Donald Trump's birthday. The Department of the Interior, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, labelled the 2026 dates 'resident-only patriotic fee-free days' in a November announcement that drew immediate backlash from civil rights groups, NBC News reported.

California Governor Gavin Newsom punched back on Friday. In a press statement, he directed more than 200 state parks to offer free entry on Monday to honour Dr King, with the California State Parks Foundation picking up the tab rather than taxpayers.

'While Trump works to erase Dr King's legacy, California will honour it,' Newsom said. 'Dr King taught us that darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.'

At a press conference the same day, the governor put it more bluntly. 'MLK Day has now been shifted to Trump Day,' he said. 'Again, what more evidence do we need on what the hell is going on in the United States of America?'

What Changed And Why It Matters

BREAKING: Today, ahead of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom just announced that he has directed @CAStateParks to offer free entry at more than 200 participating parks on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026.



This comes as Trump cancels free... pic.twitter.com/StteoKgKP3  Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 16, 2026

The National Park Service launched free entry days back in 2009. MLK Day joined the list in 2011, and Juneteenth followed in 2021 after Congress voted to make 19 June a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. Both are now gone from the 2026 calendar.

The new lineup retains Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans' Day. It adds Independence Day weekend, Constitution Day in September, the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service in August, and Theodore Roosevelt's birthday in October. National Public Lands Day and the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act got axed too.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson did not mince words. 'Removing MLK Day and Juneteenth from the national parks calendar is more than petty politics - it's an attack on the truth of this nation's history,' he said in a statement condemning the decision.

Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association pointed to the practical fallout. Community groups had come to rely on free admission to run volunteer clean-up projects on MLK Day. 'Not only does it recognise an American hero, but it's also a day when people go into parks to clean them up,' she told The Guardian. 'For some reason, Black history has repeatedly been targeted by this administration.'

California Goes Its Own Way

Newsom's announcement covers parks from Big Basin Redwoods and Half Moon Bay to Folsom Lake and Lake Oroville. Off-highway vehicle areas and spots charging per-person fees like Hearst Castle still require payment.

State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson backed the governor's decision. 'As the federal government eliminates fee-free park days for holidays that celebrate Black history, California continues to revel in the glory of our civil rights pioneers,' she said.

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom also weighed in. 'Dr King's birthday should be a day when we open doors wider, not slam them shut,' she said in the governor's statement.

Higher Fees For Foreign Visitors

The changes to fee-free days came alongside a broader overhaul of park pricing. Annual passes that cost $80 (64) for everyone now run $250 (202) for non-residents. Foreign tourists face an extra $100 (81) per person at 11 of the busiest parks, including Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The Interior Department reckons the surcharges will bring in more than $90 million (73 million) a year.

Fee-free days in 2026 now apply only to US citizens and residents. About 100 of the country's 400 national park sites charge entrance fees, with costs varying by location.

MLK Day itself remains a federal holiday. Banks, post offices, courts, and schools are closed on Monday. The third Monday of January has honoured the civil rights leader since 1986, nearly two decades after his assassination in Memphis.

Originally published on IBTimes UK
A New Jersey man was sentenced up to three years in state prison for stealing more than $500,000 in gold and about $91,000 in cash from a 74-year-old man.

On Friday afternoon, Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas M. Caffrey sentenced 25-year-old Hirtik Hemchand Khatri of Lawrence Township, Mercer County, to serve 11 months, 29 days to 36 months in prison for two counts felony theft charges.

Additionally, he will serve two years of probation for a one count felony criminal use of a communication facility charge. Khatri was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim of $688,372.

Khatri pleaded guilty to the charges on Nov. 20. Court records show two other felony theft counts and a felony receiving stolen property charge were withdrawn as part of a plea arrangement.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced the sentencing Friday afternoon. Philadelphia-based attorney Zak Taylor Goldstein, representing Khatri, told lehighvalleylive.com his client is very remorseful in playing a role in the scam.

The evidence ultimately showed that he (Khatri) responded to an ad to work as a courier, and he received a very small payment for making pickups and deliveries, Goldstein said. He did not understand the nature of the scam. He should have known better, so he pleaded guilty to accept responsibility for his limited role, and he is very sorry for his involvement and hopes that the complainants money can be recovered by the federal government or other law enforcement.

Whitehall Township police were contacted by the 74-year-old victim on Feb. 3, 2025. The victim reported a lengthy scam that started with an email about a fraudulent PayPal charge.

Prosecutors said the victim was told he was responsible for the error and had to go to a Bitcoin kiosk to repay PayPal. The scam continued with numerous calls, each with variations on the theme that an error had been made and the victim had to repay the error with cryptocurrency, gold or cash.

The victim was told if he didnt make the payments, he would be put in jail, officials said.

The victim withdrew funds from his IRA and purchased more than 200 gold bars, worth nearly $600,000, which Khatri picked up at the victims home.

Police were able to identify Khatri by using a license plate reader to find the Mercedes-Benz he was driving when he picked up the gold. The victim identified Khatri from a photo lineup, police said.

The Lehigh County Elder Abuse Task Force said it has seen a growing number of fraudulent scams. Older residents are more susceptible to fraud because they often have more savings and may be less familiar with new technologies like PayPal and Bitcoin, officials say.

Authorities are warning the public to be suspicious of anyone who contacts them by phone and asks for a large sum of money in any form.

Anyone who asks for large amounts of funds, especially in methods like cryptocurrency, precious metals, gift cards, and cash is almost certainly part of a scam, police said.

The case was investigated by Whitehall Township Police Detective Lindsay Yetter; the Lehigh County Elder Abuse Task Force; Homeland Security Investigations in Allentown and Trenton; Homeland Security Investigation Agent Sean Crawford; and Lawrence Township (NJ) Police.

It was prosecuted by Lehigh County Chief Deputy District Attorney Ramma R. Mineo.
A rare guitar crafted nearly two centuries ago now rests in the permanent collection at the Moravian Historical Society, offering visitors a glimpse into the origins of American acoustic guitar making and the regions rich musical heritage.

The 1834 Stauffer-style Martin and Schatz guitar, made from birdseye maple and spruce, was created in New York City by Christian Frederick Martin, Sr. and Henry Schatz. C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. has placed the instrument on long-term loan with the Nazareth museum.

The guitars story connects directly to the region. Martin and Schatz trained together as apprentices under Johann Georg Stauffer in Vienna, Austria, and continued their collaboration during Martins first decade in the United States while he worked on Hudson Street in New York City. Schatz lived just outside Nazareth, and when Martins wife Ottilia visited the Schatz family, the connection eventually led the Martins to relocate from New York City to Cherry Hill, just north of Nazareth.

Martin went on to blend Stauffers techniques with Spanish guitar designs, developing his own sizes, shapes and bracing patterns that would define the American acoustic guitar.

The guitar joins other significant early American musical instruments in the museums permanent galleries, including the 1759 Antes violin, a circa 1745-1765 upright piano and the 1761 Tannenberg clavichord. Many of these instruments represent the first of their kind made in America.

The Moravian Historical Society museum, 214 E. Center St., is open daily from 1 to 4 p.m. Guided tours cost $8, with reduced admission of $6 for seniors and students. Admission is free for members and those receiving SNAP benefits. Tour reservations and additional information are available at www.moravianhistory.org.

Founded in 1857, the society maintains the 1740-1743 Whitefield House and the 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest surviving Moravian structure in North America.
Park improvements and environmental projects in Lehigh and Northampton counties received $6,513,300 in state grants announced Monday, Jan. 12.

Gov. Josh Shapiros administration awarded nearly $82 million in funding statewide for recreation and conservation projects, distributing grants to more than 295 initiatives spanning 58 counties.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will administer the funding through its Community Conservation Partnerships Program. Communities will use the grants to improve parks and playgrounds, develop and maintain trails, protect open space and restore watersheds.

Among the Lehigh Valley recipients, Salisbury Township was awarded the largest grant of $3 million for extensive improvements to Laubach Park. Easton was awarded $500,000 toward acquisition of 17.57 acres in the city and West Easton Borough for conversion of an unused rail line into 1.14 miles of elevated trail, similar to New York Citys The High Line. Wildlands Conservancy, an Emmaus nonprofit, received $405,300 for stream improvements in the Lehigh River watershed.

The grants support the commonwealths $19 billion outdoor recreation industry, which has expanded by 10% and created nearly 4,000 jobs since Shapiro took office, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The latest funding round follows a $13 million increase for DCNR in the 2025-26 state budget.

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn emphasized the community impact of the investments.

When we invest in outdoor spaces close to home, we invest in people. These places bring families together, give kids room to play, help neighbors connect, and make our communities healthier and happier, Adams Dunn said.

The $82 million will be allocated across multiple categories: $31.3 million for 140 park, recreation and conservation projects; $16.2 million to conserve 4,818 acres of land; $13.1 million for 53 statewide and regional conservation organizations; $9.5 million for 22 community and watershed forestry projects; $8.2 million for 29 trail planning and development projects; and $3.2 million for 16 river conservation projects.

Notable projects statewide receiving funding include $750,000 for improvements to the Great Allegheny Passage in Allegheny County, $1.5 million to acquire 671 acres for passive recreation in Lawrence County, and $640,000 to rehabilitate Green Park in Bedford with new courts, a pavilion and a concession stand.

The Keystone Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund and other sources provide funding for the program.

Is the above table of Lehigh Valley grant recipients not displaying? Click here.
People are "in fear" of driving at a junction near a train station in Laois due to traffic lights not working correctly, according to local councillors.

Councillor John King has insisted that Laois County Council must address the issue with the traffic lights at the very busy junction at Ballybrophy train station.

Speaking at the January meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick MD, Cllr King said that there has been near misses at the junction and that the lights for the Kilcoke Road are particularly dangerous for drivers.

He told the council: "There's fear now in people. The lights are not working on a regular basis and especially from the Kilcoke Road. The ones on the Station Road that takes you down to Ballybrophy Station are not too bad. The lights are all over the shop.

"There have been near misses. People are telling me now that it was a much safer junction before because they knew the lights weren't there and they stopped with caution, looking left and right. It's making people nervous so we have to get a clear answer and I don't want to be coming back again in a few months time relaying the same issue."

Cllr King said he had raised this issue before with the council and funding was sanctioned but nothing was done.

READ NEXT: Calls for Town Team to be set up as 3.5 million Laois renovation project almost complete

Rory O'Callaghan, Senior Executive Engineer with Laois County Council, told Cllr King that Road Design has organised the repair of the lights and a low-cost safety scheme application has been submitted to the Department for funding to upgrade them.

However, works are dependent on Irish Rail as ducting across the railway bridge is needed to carry out the repairs. O'Callaghan said a licence application is being prepared to submit to Irish Rail. It was this that held up the previous plans for works at the station.

O'Callaghan explained: "We had funding last year but we had issues with Irish Rail and their requirements. So I have to make a licence application this year. Funding is coming but it's subject to the Irish Rail licence.

Cllr King was supported by Cllr Conor Bergin and Cllr James Kelly. All three of the councillors receiving calls from concerned locals in recent weeks.

Cllr Bergin agreed that the lights are making the junction more dangerous, saying: "They're out on a regular basis now, they're just not working as it stands. People have said to me too that the situation was actually safer before they put these lights in. They've actually made it more dangerous in a way which is the opposite of what they're meant to do."

According to Cllr Kelly, one motorist timed the lights and it was between 8 and 10 minutes. Cllr Kelly said he contacted Laois County Council who did send out a contractor to try and resync it.

However, the larger issue at hand needs cooperation with Irish Rail. Cllr Bergin told the council: "This would've been done last year but it wasn't for Irish Rail. I hope they're going to play ball with this new licence application because they've gotten an awful lot of goodwill from people in that area."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A homeless woman has been found dead in a tent in Dublin city.

Gardai and emergency services responded to a medical incident which occurred at Pearse Street, Dublin 2, on January 16, 2026 at approximately 12:30pm.

A woman, aged in her 40s, was taken to St James Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The local Coroner has been informed.

The woman has been named locally as Natasha Smith who was homeless and sleeping in a tent in Dublin at the time of her passing, according to A Lending Hand, homeless service in Dublin.

Heartbroken messages have poured in on social media from those who knew and loved Natasha, and her family are devastated at this time.

A group on Facebook called 'A lending Hand', paid tribute to Natasha with a post that said: "This is Natasha who died on the streets of Dublin in her tent outside a garda station.

"Natasha chose a tent for safety, she slept outside a garda station to feel safer, as our emergency accommodation is not safe in the city, or non existent when you need an emergency bed. READ NEXT: RIP: Young man dies and three others are injured following single-car crash in Galway

"Natasha died trying to keep herself safe when the state should be providing emergency accommodation that is fit and safe for humans and not forcing women to take their chances in freezing conditions in a tent.
Cllr James Gilmartin asked that Leitrim County Council write to the 14 Irish members of the European Parliament urging them to vote against the EU Merocour Trade Agreement and use their position to encourage members to do likewise.

He was speaking at the latest full council meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon.

He said he feared that small-scale farming "could be devastated by this deal in it's current form. Farmers are just looking for a level playing field. It's about trying to compete with farm models in other countries that don't have the same standards as Ireland; it'll cause issues."

He continued that growth hormones and carcinogenic materials have been found in beef from countries in South America and recently evidence of this was found in a shipment that arrived in Ireland which had to be returned.

READ MORE: Showers across Leitrim with an icy turn in places due tonight

He noted: "Even though Ireland said no to the deal, along with France and other countries, it still doesn't make up the numbers and must be brought before the European Parliament. "

Cllr Brendan Barry supported the motion and harshly criticised the government saying "it was in the programme for government" but "they didn't make up their mind until last Thursday night when backbenchers put huge pressure on the government to vote against it."

He added: "They didn't do that until they knew Italy was no longer opposing it so when they knew that the Irish vote was irrelevant, the Government voted no."

He stated: "How could they be calling on other countries to vote 'no' when they didn't even publicly say they were voting 'no'. They must think the Irish people are farmers are fools if they think they can talk out of both sides of their mouth."

He said the deal will "totally undermine Irish beef farmers as we export 90% of our beef" and "it's totally unfair that an inferior and dangerous product containing hormones" be allowed into the country.

He added: "Beef was found in September in Ireland containing banned hormones and substances that have been banned for over 40 years."

He concluded: "It's a bad deal and a rotten deal."

READ MORE: Leitrim man named one of the top hotel managers in North America

Cllr Justin Warnock said there was "no point raking over what was or wasn't done. Now is the time for the 14 MEPs of this country to vote. Every Member of Parliament within the EU needs to stand up and support their rural base too. It's an interesting few weeks ahead and I hope the Irish MEPs will stand up and be counted."

Cllr Eddie Mitchell said he attended that protest in Athlone which was 20,000 people gathered to oppose the deal. "I see massive pushback against a deal that needs to be stopped and people not noticing other things that are important."

He continued: "We didn't get a right to vote on Mercosur because it doesn't include the investor protection mechanism but they'll end up with it if we vote for investor protection anywhere else."

Cllr Padraig Fallon supported the comments of Cllr Barry and said he also attended the protest in Athlone. "This is a disastrous deal for consumers too."

He added: "I'd ask members of this local authority to liaise with their Oireachtas representatives, whoever they are, and ask them to support that motion on Tuesday."

Cllr Felim Gurn also supported the motion as did Cllr Irene Guckian-Rabbitte.
An Garda Siochana from the Sligo Leitrim Division has issued a warning on social media, urging motorists to be mindful of the condition of their tyres.

Over the weekend, the Sligo Leitrim Roads Policing Unit stopped a vehicle with excessively worn tyres and shared photographs of their condition on Facebook.

According to the Road Safety Authority, the minimum legal tyre tread depth is 1.6 mm. However, for safety reasons, it is recommended that tyres have at least 3.0 mm of tread, while most new tyres measure approximately 8.0 mm.

Tyres should also be free of cuts, bulges, or tears, as driving with defective or worn tyres can result in a fine of 80 and up to four penalty points.

READ NEXT: Leitrim man named one of the top hotel managers in North America

In a post on Facebook, An Garda Siochana Sligo Leitrim said, Sligo Leitrim Roads Policing Unit stopped a vehicle today with excessively worn tyres. In the present weather and road conditions, it is essential that motorists check their tyres on a regular basis and ensure they are in a serviceable condition. A fine and penalty points to be issued to the driver of this vehicle.
As President Donald Trump continues to insist that the US needs to own Greenland, his wider focus on the Arctic region has seen Washington order new icebreakers.

For these ships, which can sail through seas covered in solid ice, the US has gone to the world expert  Finland.

Temperatures are sub-zero inside Aker Arctic Technology's ice laboratory, as the scale model of an icebreaker cruises down a 70m-long simulation tank.

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It ploughs a neat channel through the frozen surface of the water.

Undergoing testing at a facility in Helsinki, Finland's capital, this is a design for the next generation of the country's icebreakers.

"It's crucial that it has sufficient structural strength and engine power," says ice performance engineer, Riikka Matala.

Mika Hovilainen, the firm's chief executive, adds that the shape of the vessel is also crucial. "You have to have a hull form that breaks ice by bending it downwards," he says. "It's not cutting, it's not slicing."

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Finland is the undisputed world leader when it comes to icebreakers. Finnish companies have designed 80% of all those currently in operation, and 60% were built at shipyards in Finland.

The country leads the way out of necessity, explains Maunu Visuri, president and chief executive of Finnish state-owned company Arctia, which operates a fleet of eight icebreakers.

"Finland is the only country in the world where all the harbours may freeze during wintertime," he says, adding that 97% of all goods to the country are imported by sea.

During the coldest months, icebreakers keep Finland's ports open, and work as pathfinders for big cargo ships. "It's really a necessity for Finland. We say that Finland is an island."

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It was this expertise that saw Trump announce in October that the US planned to order four icebreakers from Finland for the US Coast Guard.

A further seven of the vessels, which the US is calling "Arctic Security Cutters", are to be built in the US, using Finnish designs and expertise.

"We're buying the finest icebreakers in the world, and Finland is known for making them," said Trump.

Aker Arctic Technology is continuing to test designs for the next generation of icebreakers [Adrienne Murray]

Under US law, the country's naval and coastguard ships must be domestically-built, but in this case the president waived that requirement on national security grounds. He cited "aggressive military posturing, and economic encroachment by foreign adversaries", by which he means Russia and China.

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This US concern comes as climate change continues to make the Arctic Ocean more navigable for cargo ships, at least if icebreakers lead the way by cutting a path. This opens up commercial trade routes from Asia to Europe, either above Russia, or north of Alaska and Canada's mainland, and down past Greenland.

Reduced ice levels also mean that oil and gas fields beneath the Arctic are more accessible.

"There's simply a lot more traffic in that part of the world now," notes Peter Rybski, a retired US Navy officer and Helsinki-based, icebreaker expert.

"You have an active oil and gas exploration and extraction industry in Russia, as well as a newly-emerging trans-shipment route from Europe to Asia."

The US intends to buy 11 icebreakers of Finnish design, pictured, four of which will be built in Finland [Rauma Marine Constructions]

Following Trump's outline announcement last autumn, the first contracts were awarded on 29 December.

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Finland's Rauma Marine Constructions is to build two icebreakers for the US Coast Guard at its shipyard in the Finnish port of Rauma. The first ship is due to be delivered in 2028.

A further four will be constructed in Louisiana, with all six diesel-electric powered vessels using a design by Aker Arctic Technology, together with Canadian partner Seaspan.

The US orders are part of an effort to catch up with the number of Russian icebreakers. Currently Russia has around 40, including eight that are nuclear powered.

By contrast, the US presently only has three in operation.

Meanwhile China operates around five polar-capable vessels. "None of them are technically icebreakers," says Rybski, pointing to their design not meeting the strict criteria. "But they are increasing their fleet."

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He adds that China has increasingly been sending these "research" ships into Arctic waters between Alaska and the far east of Russia, including areas that the US considers its "exclusive economic zone".

"With limited means to respond this becomes a problem [for the US]."

Trump's desire to enlarge its icebreaker fleet goes beyond the practicalities of operating in ice-clad Arctic seas, assesses Lin Mortensgaard, a researcher at the Danish Institute of International Studies. She says it is also about projecting power.

"No matter how many aircraft carriers you have and how much you use them to threaten states with, you cannot sail your aircraft carrier into the central Arctic Ocean," she says.

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"Icebreakers are really the only kind of naval vessel to signal that you are an Arctic state, with Arctic capabilities. And I think this is what much of the US discourse is about."

Icebreaker engineer Riikka Matala says that icebreakers need both structural strength and powerful engines [James Brooks]

Back in Finland, Helsinki Shipyard occupies a dock on the capital's waterfront. It is where half of the world's icebreakers have been made. Today owned by Canadian firm Davie, it also hopes to win new contracts from the US Coast Guard.

"The geopolitical situation has changed definitely," says the shipyard's managing director, Kim Salmi.

"We have our eastern neighbour here [Russia]. They are building their own [new] fleet. And the Chinese are building their fleet."

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He adds: "The US, Canada and the western allies in general, are looking for the power balance."

Inside a cavernous shipbuilding hangar, workers cut and weld steel for the yard's latest icebreaker, a heavy-duty Arctic vessel, called Polarmax that's destined for the Canadian coastguard.

The Finns can build these complex vessels remarkably swiftly - it takes between two-and-a-half and three years - thanks to a streamlined production method, and decades of experience.

"Over 100 years, we have practised this," says Arctia's Visuri. "You've got this cycle of designers, operators, builders. That's why Finland is the superpower of icebreakers."

Read more global business and technology stories
House destroyed by a storm. photo credit: UNDPA Liberia

Currently, there is no active early warning system in the country

Unusual rainfall is exacerbating, causing flooding-prone communities to be at risk
AN ANIMAL charity named a pug after the Limerick garda sergeant who helped rescue it from a living nightmare.

Footage has been widely shared on social media of the dog cowering in the pouring rain and curled up in a plant pot to try and stay warm and off the freezing and wet ground.

Limerick Live has learned the pug was rescued from a house in an estate in Newcastle West in recent days.

Animal charity My Lovely Horse Rescue posted on their Facebook page that the videos and photos they received left them in tears.

How anyone could think this treatment of a little dog was acceptable is beyond us. We immediately contacted An Garda Siochana in Limerick and drove over three hours to meet them.

We want to sincerely thank Sergeant Dave Callanan and his team. Their compassion and willingness to help were absolutely incredible.

This little guy is now safe. We cant say more at this time, but this innocent baby pug boy will never have to endure such cruelty again. He had simply existed - cold, wet most days, and freezing at night. A living nightmare.

"When we hugged him, his little tail started to wag, our hearts just burst, posted the animal charity who decided to name the pug Dave after Sgt Callanan.

READ NEXT: Almost 40,000 raised for heroic Limerick grandparents who saved baby from burning house

In a social media update, the charity said the pug is waking up in a warm bed and loving life just a few days after being rescued.

No more searching for shelter. No more freezing through the night. No more being soaked, then having frost set into his coat. Moments like this make everything we do worthwhile, every bit of heartache, every worry, every tear.

The charity said despite everything hes been through, the dog still trusts, still loves, still hopes.

He woke up in a warm bed, surrounded by love. This little guy is unbelievably sweet, all he wants is affection and comfort. We truly cant get over how amazing he is.

He will never endure neglect again. From here on out, its only a bright future for this precious little man.

As well as praising the gardai involved in Newcastle West, My Lovely Horse Rescue also praised Daves foster family - Kerryanne, Jimmy, and Freya.
The most dangerous flash floods can develop in minutes. And theyre becoming an increasing risk to one of Australias most relaxing ways to spend the summer, camping or parking a caravan by a river.

Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA), a collaborative research organisation funded by the federal government, has warned that tourists are particularly vulnerable to these natural disasters. And theyre calling for improved warning systems to keep travellers staying by creeks and rivers safe.

The plea comes after extreme flash flooding inundated communities along Victorias famous Great Ocean Road, washing cars into the ocean, displacing hundreds of holidaymakers.

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Days later, parts of NSW were lashed by heavy rains that cut off entire towns on the Central Coast and flooded Sydney.

NHRA CEO Andrew Gissing told Yahoo News that improvements are needed to keep communities safe as the threat worsens due to climate change.

The worst of the worst flash flooding occurs in small, steep, narrow catchments, he said.

You can literally go from really heavy rain to a wall of water coming downstream within minutes.

More than 10 cars washed into the surf by floodwaters at the Cumberland River Caravan park at Wye River on the Great Ocean Road. Source: AAP (AAPIMAGE)

Horror US flash-flood a warning to Australia

The extreme danger of flash-floods was highlighted in the United States last year, when 135 people were killed. One of the hardest hit sites was the all-girls Camp Mystic on the Guadalupe River, where 25 campers, two counsellors, and the camp director died.

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Camping by a river can be particularly dangerous because tents and caravans provide less protection than modern homes, which must adhere to protective construction standards, particularly if theyre built on sites prone to flooding.

These flash floods are not nice, peaceful flood water  they're raging torrents, and often they'll have significant amounts of debris associated with them as well, Gissing said.

So you can have trees running into your van.

You can have other vehicles running into your van.

You can have debris hitting your tent.

Following the devastating flood event, a memorial was erected on the banks of the Guadalupe River in front of Camp Mystic. Source: Getty (The Washington Post via Getty Im)

Staying at camp sites are travellers and tourists who often dont know the area well.

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This means they will likely be oblivious to signs of danger and where to escape during an emergency.

Caravan parks often also house vulnerable locals who cant afford a bricks and mortar home.

Why are flash-floods getting worse?

Flash-floods are becoming more severe and frequent in some parts of Australia because of climate change.

Thats because for every degree of warming, the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere increases by about 7 per cent.

This means that when it does rain, there could be heavier precipitation, which then results in flash flooding, Gissing said.

The problem only worsens with urban growth, particularly when it occurs along rivers and other water catchment areas.

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Ordinarily, bushland and farmland will absorb water, but housing developments do not.

If rain falls, the water just runs straight off the footpath or road and into the stream, he said.

And that can mean that streams can rise faster as they collect more rainfall.

Plea to improve flood warning systems

Part of the solution, according to NHRA, is improving warning systems and ensuring there is monitoring in high-risk areas.

This would involve state, federal and local governments working together to identify hotspot areas, and then how best to warn people in the area in each case.

The mechanisms themselves would likely need to be automated because of the haste needed to sound the alarm.

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There are only a few really detailed flash-flood warning systems in Australia, Gissing said.

But there are a lot of high-risk small catchments and creeks out there that dont, and this makes those areas more dangerous.

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A FORMER chief superintendent in the Limerick garda division has conceded in cross-examination that a superintendent did not have the power to cancel a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice (FCPN) after a garda HQ directive was issued in 2014.

Gerard (Gerry) Mahon was giving evidence in the trial of retired superintendent Eamon ONeill, Garda Colm Geary, Garda Tom McGlinchey, Sergeant Michelle Leahy and Sergeant Anne-Marie Hassett in relation to the alleged squaring away of penalty point charges.

READ ALSO: New video campaign promotes Limerick as a leading student city

The alleged offences occurred between October 2016 and September 2019.

Barrister for the State, Carl Hanahoe SC put it to Mr Mahon that Mr ONeill did not have the power to cancel any ticket, following the introduction of a new policy and central cancelling authority in 2014.

Mr Mahon agreed in policy that Mr ONeill did not have the power, but that things are different in the real world.

Mr Mahon referred to examples in his own career when he did not pursue a prosecution due to a persons personal circumstances or in one instance where a farmer was driving erratically due to working for two days without sleep.

Speaking about how important discretion is, Mr Mahon said that all circumstances have to be considered.

He recalled from his own career how at one point, himself and garda colleagues were surrounded by gang members who had iron bars, and other weapons and that they managed to get away because of a previous interaction between a family in the area and his garda colleague.

I was absolutely terrified for my life, he told the jury.

He said that discretion is where the law meets the people adding that with the exception of a serious crime, members of the public are entitled to ask a member of the gardai for discretion.

Mr Mahon said that while upholding the law, gardai are also assessing the human situation and that is something which is constantly evolving as society changes too.

Even recently, long after his retirement in 2009, a man in his 60s approached Mr Mahon in the city and thanked him for treating him in a decent way when he was younger.

Mr Mahon described Mr ONeill as a really effective officer, outlining his pivotal role in the successful prosecutions and investigations of gangland crime in Limerick.

Mr Mahon said that Mr ONeills work resulted in the clear saving of lives.

He spoke to the jury about how he worked with Mr ONeill at a time when 200 guns related to the Limerick feud were found in Manchester and at one point Mr ONeill was the only garda who a senior gang member would speak to.

He said that after he became aware of investigations into Mr ONeill, he wrote a 17-page letter to the garda commissioner of the time, outlining the skills, professionalism and dedication of Mr ONeill in his opinion.

Mr Mahon said that Mr ONeill had a wide knowledge of Limerick and if he needed to know something he went to Mr ONeill.

I was on the front line with him and we faced anarchy toe to toe and he didnt blink, Mr Mahon said.

When asked by barrister Felix McEnroy SC if not pursuing a road traffic offence would result in a prosecution for allegedly perverting the course of justice, Mr Mahon was adamant in his reply: absolutely not, not for one second.

The trial is now in week eight and continues this afternoon at Limerick Circuit Court in Mulgrave Street courthouse.
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LIMERICK is at the forefront of Irelands transition to a sustainable energy future by showing how local communities can drive Irelands green transition.

is at the forefront of Irelands transition to a sustainable energy future by showing how local communities can drive Irelands green transition.

Across the county, 50 Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) are actively improving energy use, reducing emissions, and creating more resilient neighbourhoods.

Coordinated by Ballyhoura Development and supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), these groups dont need prior knowledge of energy as expert mentors are there to guide every step of the way.

A SEC can be anything from a single street to an entire county. Each develops an Energy Master Plan (EMP), a roadmap for energy projects, funding, and community action.

In Limerick, 11 EMPs are complete or underway, laying the foundation for real change. Several communities are already making an impact.

Croom Community Development Association is piloting renewable aquathermal heating through the EUs AquaCOM programme and preparing a Community Climate Action Fund project.

Effin Development Association is finalising its EMP, with energy assessments completed for its community centre and GAA club.

They too are planning a resilience centre.

Glenstal Abbey SEC has completed energy assessments for the castle and accommodation and is exploring aquathermal energy.

Read More: Local community safety partnership seek new members for Limerick division

Anglesboro SEC secured full funding for solar panels and a battery system in their hall, while Knocklong Development Association carried out energy assessments for the hall, GAA club, and school, guided by their EMP.

These initiatives show how Limerick communities are taking climate action into their own hands, improving energy efficiency, and building greener, stronger local areas.

Ballyhoura Development continues to support groups across Limerick keen to join the SEC network.

-Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Zerodha co-founder and investor Nikhil Kamath took to social media to celebrate the success of Indian brands on the global stage, making a name for themselves in the premium space.

People said Indians cant build premium brands that work abroad, well heres Rahul at Subko's flagship store at Dubai Alserkal, Nikhil Kamath wrote in a visual post on social media platform X on 19 January.

Superyou now sells in Dubai, 11.11 sells in New York and Brad Pitt wears it in a movie (unpaid), Nappa Dori is on the parallel street to Subko in Alserkal, the billionaire added, while clarifying that he has no connection to Nappa Dori.

Further, Nikhil Kamath hoped that his sandbox venture, The Foundery, will hopefully create a few brands like this too... Premium, artisan, COOL, Indian brands to the world.

According to the official website, The Foundery is a 90-day residential launchpad co-founded by Nikhil Kamath and Kishore Biyani that offers entrepreneurs an ecosystem of mentors, operators, strategists, and experts for their business.

Indian consumer brands making presence known abroad? In September last year, Mint reported that Indian consumer companies  coffee chains, designer labels and beauty stores  are increasingly opening stores in Gulf countries. Noted names, including Anita Dongre, Blue Tokia, Nykaa, The Big Chill and Titan's Mia, are among those who ventured into the Dubai market since 2024 and into 2025.

And while Indian customers in foreign cities may be the focus, companies aren't limiting themselves to them. Yash Dongre, COO of Anita Dongre, told Mint in July that they plan to open at least a dozen stores in the GCC region over the mid-to-long term. They have stores in Dubai (since March 2023) and New York.
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI : The Directorate General of Civil Aviations (DGCA) decision to impose a financial penalty and issue a warning to IndiGo chief executive officer (CEO) Pieter Elbers and chief operating officer (COO) Isidre Porqueras over the weekend has ended more than a month-long regulatory row with the countrys largest airline that was triggered by widespread flight cancellations early December.

While the move lifts the immediate regulatory overhang, questions remain over whether IndiGo can realistically induct enough pilots to meet Indias staffing and flight duty norms, according to four consultants and pilots.

In the first week of December, IndiGo had promised the aviation regulator that it would induct 158 pilots by 10 February. On 10 December, the regulator had asked the airline to curtail its winter schedule, or the proposed domestic flights, by at least 10%.

You cannot add so many pilots in three months. It is practically impossible. Even if pilots are recruited, training and DGCA approvals take at least 60 days. Even expat pilots require long security clearances," said Amit Singh, a former pilot and CEO of Safety Matters Foundation, a Gurugram-based aviation safety education platform.

Sector experts have doubts over the hiring prospects and flagged the haze around it. We still do not know if IndiGo will be hiring additional pilots to avoid a similar operational meltdown in the future. And if so, there is no clear roadmap for such hiring that has been made public. People are still in the dark," said Mark D. Martin, founder and CEO at Martin Consulting, an aviation safety advisory firm.

Documents submitted by IndiGo to the DGCA and reviewed by Mint show that the total crew availability, including pilots and co-pilots, was at 4,134 in October 2025. This rose to 4,575 in November but fell slightly to 4,551 in the following month. By 10 February, IndiGo plans to increase its pilot strength to 4,709. In total, the airline will add 68 captains and 90 first officers by 10 February. The airline has committed to hiring and upgrading a total of 300 captains and 600 junior first officers (co-pilots) by December.

It takes at least seven to eight months to upgrade a co-pilot or first officer as a pilot," said captain C.S. Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots. "And if you are making a direct hire, then it is even longer to get a pilot since release clauses for serving pilots are quite watertight. In this backdrop, hiring a significant number of pilots before/by 10 February is a challenge."

In 2025, Indias civil aviation regulator had rolled out Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules to reduce pilot fatigue. The phased implementation started on 1 July 2025, with longer weekly rest periods and tighter night duty limits. The second set or final provisions were implemented from 1 November 2025. These norms cap duty hours, expand rest time and limit night flying to align with safety standards.

InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, which operates IndiGo, has a 64% share of Indias domestic aviation market. This scale meant that over 4,500 flight cancellations in the first week of December disrupted a significant portion of the countrys scheduled air services, particularly as airlines adjusted operations following the rollout of the second phase of the tighter flight duty norms from 1 November. The massive disruption prompted the civil aviation ministry and the DGCA to launch an investigation.

In the ensuing weeks, ratings agencies flagged problems at the airline. Icra said it would monitor continuity of senior leadership in the context of the show cause notices" issued by the DGCA to IndiGo's CEO and COO, and brokerages, including JM Financial, observed there could be leadership changes at the carrier.

Over the weekend, the four-member committee set up by the regulator, concluded that IndiGo did not have adequate preparation and imposed a 22 crore penalty. It also issued a warning to three senior executives of the carrier.

The penalty is not seen as adequate by many industry watchers.

The amount of penalty is insignificant as compared to their balance sheet. I think it is a good thing that they just got the warning and since they improved the situation after the first week of December, it looks like many regulatory uncertainties and concerns are behind them now," said Gagan Dixit, aviation, chemicals, oil and gas analyst, at Elara Capital

The fine is paltry and does not send the right message to an airline the size of IndiGo. Issues such as corrective measures to be taken up by IndiGo have not been addressed. The DGCAs findings and recommendations also do not make it clear if there is a pilot shortage at the airline or not," said Martin.

Some executives also questioned the DGCA panels conclusions. The report is a sham. It has just parroted what IndiGo has told earlierthat there were software issues. It is silent on pilot hiring and corrective measures. More stringent action in terms of penalties was expected too," said captain Randhawa. If pilots can be grounded, why could the top brass at IndiGo not be suspended temporarily or even fined?" he asked.

IndiGo did not reply to emailed queries sent by Mint until press time.

Last month, IndiGo, which was also included in the or Sensex, gave a mid-quarter update, stating capacity growth measured in available seat kilometres, initially forecast to rise in the high-teens, is now expected to move within a high single-digit to early double-digit range. The passenger unit revenue, previously projected to be broadly flat to slightly higher, was anticipated to show a mid-single-digit decline.

IndiGo is set to declare its December quarter earnings on 22 January.
Mumbai: Once an elusive mark of wealth, the annual foreign vacation is now getting increasingly common among affluent Indians in metros and smaller cities alike. So much so that a16z-backed visa services firm Atlys ran a unique sale in August last year, offering visas for just 1.

Yet, as more Indians travel to exotic destinations, they are realizing the complexity of securing a visa and the pain of failing to get one even after hotels and flights are booked. So, how does a company such as Atlys deal with a barrage of rich, disappointed customers

Santosh Hegde, head of marketing at Atlys, talks about the clutter in travel marketing, the rise of artifical intelligence (AI), and how to handle irate customers with care. Edited excerpts:

Also Read | Rest easy: AI is now in charge of your health

Despite rising costs, it is hard for any brand to bypass performance marketing on Meta and Google. As a niche travel services company, how do you navigate this?

This problem has been bothering a lot of marketeers in the new era. Now, in the travel sector, things work a little differently. About 30 million Indians travel every year and take between 1.2 to 1.4 trips a annually. This means around 70% Indians are traveling only once a year.

So, there will always be a set of consumers in the market looking for a solution like, say, getting a visa. But at a given point of time, only 8-10% of potential customers will be in the market. For us, the role of performance marketing is to bring that 8-10% of the total customer base into our platform as quickly as possible. But the lowest possible cost of customer acquisition or CAC lies in organic marketing.

But how do you measure the performance of organic marketing, or a brand marketing campaign?

Organic marketing tends to be expensive and so not a lot of people want to invest in it. Also, brand building is often confused with heavy-duty media. But there is a distinction between building a brand and doing it on an expensive platform.

The problem of measuring a brand marketing campaign is not as much about the return on investment as it is about the time period for which you are parking brand investment funds.

If the number of points of purchase are only 1-2 a year (such as the number of international trips taken in a year), then your horizon to measure a brand marketing campaign can be much longer.

Search is where most consumer journeys begin in the business of travel. But video, and now AI, has completely disrupted search. How has it changed your marketing strategy?

New channels have taken over our sector in a major way. Most searches in the travel sector now start on YouTube and Instagram. You would possibly see Instagram for inspiration, then YouTube to put together a detailed travel plan. Influencer marketing channels have been important for us from the beginning60% of our marketing budget goes into the content and influencer ecosystem.

It was easy for influencers to experience our product firsthand, but we realized this marketing channel could be very expensive. So, 15 months back, we began the hard work of building our own channels on both Instagram and YouTube from scratch. With a mix of branded and organic content, we have scaled to a community of 1.2 million followers across both channels.

These channels are good for distribution, and they offset the cost of media while helping us build our credentials as an authority on travel. If we don't come across as an authority as a travel partner, with useful tips and comprehensive information, then you wont trust Atlys with your visa.

How are you handling the shift in search to AI platforms?

AI has made it much simpler to not do the grunt work. But something interesting I have noticed when it comes to travel planning, is that customers still hold the exploration and planning of a trip very dear. I dont think customers are willing to relinquish control for planning a trip, which is often as exciting as the trip itself.

For example, someone going to Japan is not really expecting a detailed 7-day itinerary for Japan from an AI platform, but expects AI to give them options and details that help make their planning easier. Also, people still rely on Google searches because none of the embassies and visa processing companies are deeply integrated with AI platforms yet.

Visas can be rejected and the decision is at an embassys discretion. But angry customers have often complained about Atlys online. How do you deal with customer expectations when the end result isn't entirely in your control?

The ultimate decision of visa approval rests with consulates and a large chunk of customers already understands this. We have processed over 2 million visa applications since inception, so we understand the strength of application building and the biggest reason for rejection. We also have a lot of folks in our team who have worked with consulates and visa processing partners, so they have seen this process up close.

Yes, there will be a percentage of customers who will get rejected, and people dont react well to rejection. When rejection happens, we are extremely transparent with them. We recognize the importance of anxiety in the whole process, since international travel is done once or twice a year.

Customers are also anxious to know the status of the application, so we have built a number of tools for customers to track their application in real time.

What happens when complaints from many rejected customers pile up on social media, like they recently did on X and LinkedIn?

Platforms like Twitter and Reddit are driven by algorithms who tend to drive negativity. We process 99.9% of applications on time. You may also believe that if you escalate on social media, you may get something in return. It is important to acknowledge that.

But for us, the redressal process starts long before a customer goes public with a complaint. We have tools to gauge customer mood and we can predict when a dissatisfied customer may leave our ecosystem and take to an external platform.

But once it is already on social media, we make sure any customer finds a response within 30 minutes. On X and Reddit, we have tools to flag these complaints off in real time.
Shaily Mehrotra, Co-founder  Fixderma and FCL, has joined Shark Tank India Season 5. She is one of the new sharks on the show. LiveMint spoke with the entrepreneur leading a 1,500-crore company.

Q: You grew up and studied in Varanasi before going to Southeast Asia at 24. How did that shift in environment change your thinking about ambition and scale?

A: Varanasi gave me my foundation. Its a city where life moves at its own pace, and you learn patience very early. I grew up seeing people value sincerity over showmanship, and that shaped how I look at work even today.

But, moving to Southeast Asia at 24 felt like someone suddenly widened my field of vision. Until then, I had ambition, but it was quiet, almost private. Stanford taught me that its okay to dream loudly. I saw people my age building things for the world with so much confidence. That changed something in me.

It made me realise that if you approach a problem with clarity and honesty, scale is not a far-fetched dream. Its simply the result of consistent work.

Q: Fixderma was bootstrapped for 15 years in a space crowded with shortcuts. What were the hardest moments when staying honest with sourcing and R&D felt risky?

A: Just to also rectify, we remain bootstrapped only till 2020; in 2021, we did have funding from Lotus Herbals. But, nevertheless, when you are bootstrapped, there were many moments when choosing the harder path felt almost irrational.

I still remember times when we couldnt compromise on raw material quality even though it would have made our margins look healthier on paper. Competitors were launching cheaper, faster versions, and here we were obsessing over every active ingredient.

The truth is, I had sleepless nights. But I also had a very clear line in my head: dermatologists trust efficacy, and consumers trust integrity. If we lost that, wed lose everything. That belief kept me steady through the toughest phases.

Q: As a founder without a legacy business background, how did you earn trust from dermatologists in the early years?

A: Honestly, I had no playbook and no industry surname to lean on. I started by simply showing up at the clinic, city to city, with humility and curiosity.

In those early years, I didnt talk as a salesperson; I spoke as someone genuinely trying to understand real skin concerns. If a dermatologist was unhappy with a formulation, I took that feedback straight to the lab. If something wasnt ready, I said so openly.

Over time, doctors realised that Fixderma wasnt here to just sell; we were here to solve. Trust, Ive learned, grows slowly and silently one honest conversation at a time.

View full Image Fixderma co-founder Shaily Mehrotra

Q: As a founder without a legacy business background, how did you earn trust from dermatologists in the early years?

A: Honestly, I had no playbook and no industry surname to lean on. I started by simply showing up at the clinic, city to city, with humility and curiosity.

In those early years, I didnt talk as a salesperson; I spoke as someone genuinely trying to understand real skin concerns. If a dermatologist was unhappy with a formulation, I took that feedback straight to the lab. If something wasnt ready, I said so openly.

Over time, doctors realised that Fixderma wasnt here to just sell; we were here to solve. Trust, Ive learned, grows slowly and silently one honest conversation at a time.

Q: Fixderma is now valued at around 1,500 crore. At what point did you personally start believing this could become a large brand?

A: There was no dramatic Aha! moment. It grew on me gradually.

The first time a dermatologist told me, Your product is my first choice, it felt like a milestone. The first time a consumer wrote to us saying we had helped them with a concern theyd struggled with for years, that's when I realised this was bigger than numbers.

But, even today, I dont wake up thinking about valuations. I wake up thinking about the next problem to solve. Maybe its because Fixderma grew brick by brick over 15 years, without noise. So even when people talk about scale now, I still see the journey more than the number.

Shark Tank India Season 5 Q: On Shark Tank India, what kind of founders do you feel most drawn to backing and why?

A: Im drawn to founders who come with clarity, authenticity and passion. You can immediately sense when someone has lived the problem theyre solving. It shows in their eyes, not in their pitch deck.

I also connect very deeply with founders who have built quietly, sometimes painfully, without recognition. Maybe because I relate to that journey.

Profitability and numbers matter, of course, but intention matters more. Is the founder building to last? Are they willing to put in the boring, unglamorous work?

Those are the people I find myself rooting for. In fact, in one of my reels with Aman Gupta, I spoke about red flags & green flags in a founder.

Q: Many young women see you as self-made. What uncomfortable truths about entrepreneurship do you think social media often hides?

A: Social media shows the highlight reel, never the waiting period. The truth is: being self-made is lonely. There were stretches when I felt I didnt belong anywhere, too ambitious for comfort, but too under-resourced for the world to take seriously.

As women, we also carry silent expectations. Youre constantly balancing emotions, family, work, and guilt, often all in a single day. None of that shows up on Instagram.

Entrepreneurship isnt courage every morning; its doubted many nights. Its missing moments with your family, getting back up after failures, and doing 100 unglamorous things no one celebrates.
Jack Zhang, co-founder and CEO of payments platform Airwallex, who has built the startup into an $8 billion enterprise, says burnout is a concept outside his understanding.

Speaking to CNBC Make It, Zhang said, I never understand that terminology (burnout) to be honest. Ive worked 100 hours a week from [the] age of 16 for 20 plus years.

While studying, Zhang said he worked 80-100 hours every week, When youre in that tough situation, you need to survive, youre not really (thinking) about burnout. I mean, either you survive or not, right?

He added that he still works 80 hours a week today, in his late 40s.

Airwallex co-founder on working blue-collar jobs Sharing his experience of funding his studies abroad through blue-collar jobs, Zhang told the publication he moved from Qingdao, China, to Melbourne, Australia, alone at age 15. Living with a host family while speaking limited English, Zhang said his parents had financial difficulties, and he had to pay for his computer science degree at the University of Melbourne, and daily expenses.

I (had) two choices: either I just return to China and try to go back to the education system there, or I continue to stay in Australia and figure out how to pay tuition and living on my own, he stated.

The jobs included washing dishes at a restaurant during the day, bartending in the evening, and taking up overnight shifts at a petrol station. He also packed lemons at a factory during the summer to make money.

Jack Zhang on finding his passion with Airwallex Zhang graduated in 2007. His LinkedIn profile shows his first job was as a software engineer with insurance provider Aviva. His next job, as per the profile, was in the banking industry.

Zhang told CNBC that, while he made a million through his banking and businesses, wanting to find his true passion led to the founding of Airwallex. The birth of his daughter at 30 was the turning point.

I remember I just looked at her, I (felt) like, I hadnt done anything (to) make her feel proud. And I think thats the moment I (decided) I need to stop just doing these side hustles, and I need to retire from my full-time job and do something big, properly. I realized that while I always wanted money, money alone doesnt bring [me] the highest level of happiness, he said.

I always wanted to find something (where) no one needs to ever wake me up and ... every day I feel extremely passionate, obligated, and willing to devote my entire survival towards, he added.

Also Read | Why Warren Buffett prefers looking at firm balance sheets over income statements

On his journey with Airwallex As per the Airwallex website, the idea for the firm came from one of Zhang's side hustles with future co-founder and university friend, Max Li, in which the duo imported coffee beans from Brazil and China and needed to wire money overseas.

He told CNBC, We thought, why cant we build a ... payment system in parallel to SWIFT and fundamentally change how money moves around the world?

In 2015, the two onboarded other university friends  Jacob Dai, Lucy Liu (who invested $1 million in the start-up) and Ki-lok Wong. As of December, the company has achieved $1 billion in annualised run rate revenue (ARR).

View full Image Airwallex funding through the years: Valued at $8 billion by December 2025 ( Airwallex )

By mid-2018, Airwallexs transaction volume had skyrocketed, and investors poured in, and by the year-end, they raised $80 million to support a valuation of $450 million. By 2022, momentum from a Series E-2 fundraise had grown the fintechs valuation to $5.6 billion and marked its expansion into China. As per the company website, Airwallex was only the second foreign company outside China to do so.
The Indian government plans to bid out half of the national highway projects planned for fiscal 2027a spending of Rs75,000 crore on 5,000 kmunder a build-operate-transfer (BoT) toll model involving private road developers after a long break since 2014, said three government officials aware of the new plan.

The push, which hinges on a new, investor-friendly so-called master concession agreement or MCA, is expected to tap into private capital in highway construction. The private sector is optimistic of the BoT model given better revenue visibility thanks to factors such as high levels of use of FASTag, the toll deduction platform, and traffic predictability.

If the model finds takers to the extent targeted, it could free up government funding to cover, at least in part, some of its biggest schemes. A national employment guarantee scheme, for instance, has a budget of Rs86,000 crore this fiscal year. Or, urea subsidy costs some 1.19 trillion and 1.16 trillion has been earmarked for road works under the ministry of road transport and highways, or MoRTH.

The Indian government plans to bid out half of the national highway projects planned for fiscal 2027a spending of Rs75,000 crore on 5,000 kmunder a build-operate-transfer (BoT) toll model involving private road developers after a long break since 2014, said three government officials aware of the new plan.

The push, which hinges on a new, investor-friendly so-called master concession agreement or MCA, is expected to tap into private capital in highway construction. The private sector is optimistic of the BoT model given better revenue visibility thanks to factors such as high levels of use of FASTag, the toll deduction platform, and traffic predictability.

If the model finds takers to the extent targeted, it could free up government funding to cover, at least in part, some of its biggest schemes. A national employment guarantee scheme, for instance, has a budget of Rs86,000 crore this fiscal year. Or, urea subsidy costs some 1.19 trillion and 1.16 trillion has been earmarked for road works under the ministry of road transport and highways, or MoRTH.

The move to award more BoT projects comes at a time when their share in the country's highway contract awards has fallen from a high of 90% a decade ago to less than one-tenth today. Private investors have shied away from taking up the entire risk of highway construction and opted for projects awarded as Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model.

Also Read | Why new norms for service roads are set to push up Indias highway project costs

MoRTH plans to award contracts for construction of a total of 10,000 km of highways in FY27.

With highway construction providing better rewards and reducing risk for investors through easier entry and exit clauses and the compensation mechanism for fall in estimated toll revenues under the new concession agreement being finalized for BoT (Toll) projects, these projects have once again attracted investor interest," said the first official cited above adding this interest will be tested in the BoT bids next fiscal. All three officials requested anonymity.

Mint earlier reported about the government's plan for a new model concession agreement (MCA) for toll-based BoT contracts by end-September last year but it is still in the works. Apart from BoT (toll), there is the BoT (annuity) model where the government pays the highway developer fixed payments or annuities, while taking on the traffic risk.

Late in December, the Union cabinet approved the country's largest BoT project, the 19,142 crore, 374 km, six lane, access controlled Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot highway corridor in Maharashtra. Another 10 projects totaling Rs50,000 crore are to be awarded in FY27. According to a second official, these include:

The eight lane Nashik-Phata- Khed National National High-Speed Corridor,

Badvel-Nellore corridor in Andhra Pradesh,

construction of a six-lane road from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) to Chowk,

upgradation of the Khagaria-Purnia highway to four lanes in Bihar,

construction of an outer ring road in Thiruvananthapuram,

the Muzzafarput-Barauni section in Bihar,

a four-lane access controlled Trichy bypass,

the Northern Jaipur ring road, and

the Tharad-Ahmedabad high speed corridor

These projects to be awarded next year are also part of the new infrastructure pipeline finalized by the finance ministry earlier this month for implementation over a three-year period ending March 31, 2028. MoRTH has the maximum value of projects under the pipeline worth 8.77 trillion.

A well-used model in the past

BoT tolls used to be the most popular way of awarding highway construction contrants until 2014. Between 2007 and 2014, in fact, only BoT models were used to build highways. The model accounted for 96% of all projects awarded in 2011-12.

But this progressively reduced as investor appetite for risk waned and several faced liquidity issues to complete projects won on ambitious bids. In 2018-19 and 2019-20 no projects were awarded on the BoT model. The last time before the Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot project award in December, was when NHAI tried to assign BoT projects in 2020 but it took a year for it to be awarded in 2021. In FY24 and FY25, road developer NHAI could not award any projects on BoT mode.

The Centre is finalizing a new investor-friendly MCA for BoT (toll) projects wherein concessionaires would get freedom to sell back the project to the government prematurely to unlock capital for future investment in construction projects. The changes also include provision for compensation payment and extension of concession period for traffic variation and losses on account competing parallel roads.

The new MCA also includes easier exit and substitution clauses and provides a clearer definition of project termination with provision of full settlement of non-recourse funding (meaning the lenders' repayment depends on the project's revenue) used by the concessionaire. This issue had resulted in several BoT projects awarded earlier landing up in litigation. In addition, the Centre will now get powers to substitute a concessionaire to protect its own and that of the lenders exposure to projects.

The MCA is expected to be ready by the end of this fiscal years before bids are invited for BoT projects for FY27.

Revival of BoT projects where the private investors take the risk of financing, building and operating highway projects under a 20-30-year concession period and then recoup investments by way of user charges or tolls is essential not only for unlocking government funds for other important activities in the sector," said the third government official.

Queries emailed to a MoRTH spokesperson on Thursday remained unanswered till press time.

Also Read | How FASTag data is driving Indias next highway reforms for builders and users

Highway developers positive on BoT revival

Companies such as L&T, IRB Infrastructure, Dilip Buildcon, PNC Infra, and Cube Highways, among others, have been active in India's highway development and at least one welcomeed the return of the BoT model on a larger scale.

The investment environment for highway projects remains positive, a spokersperson for IRB Infrastructure said. The government has articulated clear plans to increase PPP awards, including BoT (toll) and TOT models. Projects that are toll-viable are expected to be awarded on a BOT basis, while over 3 trillion worth of assets are proposed to be monetized through the TOT route," the spokesperson said on email. PPP is short for public-private participation while TOT refers to toll, operate, transfer models.

With penetration of FASTag exceeding 95%, revenue visibility is better and companies are expected to show renewed interest in BoT (toll) projects, the IRB spokersperson added. The company, which participates in both BOT and TOT projects, emphasized that a predictable and regular pipeline of project will be critical in sustaining developer interest.

An expert strongly backed the push to review BoT projected stressing on how it will unlock government finances for other priorities. HAM and EPC projects result in significant outflow from the government and, hence, BOT projects need to be revived as they result in the entire capex being borne by the private operator, thereby freeing up government resources for other projects," said Kuljit Singh, partner and national infrastructure leader, at consultancy EY India.

Queries sent to the spokespersons of L&T, Cube Highways, and PNC Infratech remained unanswered till press time.
In just one year, US President Donald Trump has upended the global order, using his historic return as arguably the worlds most powerful leader to treat friends, foes and allies alike to achieve desirable results. His most potent tool is tariffs, though he hasnt shied away from political and military interventions either.

India, which enjoyed expanding trade, migration, and diplomatic relationships with the worlds largest economy over the past decade, saw one roadblock after another after Trumps return.

The relationship also took an awkward turn over Trumps claim that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan (one of the eight wars the US president claims he has ended), and when Washington imposed a 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil. The country, in particular, faced troubles in two areas: trade and migration.

Export escape

India has been facing 50% US tariffs, which include an additional 25% tariff for purchasing Russian oil since 27 August. The steep tariffs put India at a significant disadvantage compared to other emerging-market peers, such as China (around 32%), Vietnam (20%), and Bangladesh (20%).

While steep tariffs were expected to be a huge blow for India, exports have shown resilience so far. In September-December, exports to the US saw only a marginal decline of 1% to $25.57 billion. Though the sectoral impact has been significant.

Many labour-intensive sectors recorded a sharp year-on-year fall in the September-November period, such as gems and jewellery (60%), plastic and linoleum (44.3%), glassware (44%) and fertilisers (33.3%), suggesting that the tariffs are biting smaller Indian exporters.

More broadly, however, efforts to diversify exports to alternative markets like China, Spain, Vietnam, and Hong Kong have yielded results, with overall exports actually rising 3% in September-December.

Oil toil

Since the Russia-Ukraine war, India has been purchasing Russian oil at discounted prices. Before the war, Russian oil constituted up to 2% of Indias total oil imports, which zoomed to 35% in FY25, making India the second largest consumer after China.

Indias role increased as Western countriesthe EU and the UStried to cripple Russia through sanctions. The US, under Trump, announced additional tariffs on India, but similar penalties were not imposed on China, Russias bigger oil consumer.

Considering that the US continues to be Indias trade partner, the country has begun curtailing Russian oil. The share of Russian oil has declined to 32% in FY26 so far. Indias rank also slipped to the third largest buyer of Russian oil from second in December.

At the same time, Indias imports of oil from the US have risen in an effort to ease trade tensions with the Trump administration. The US share in Indias oil imports has nearly doubled to 8.1% in FY26 from 4.6% last fiscal year.

Surge in deportations

Apart from tariffs, if there is one issue that has defined the India-US relationship under the Trump administration, it is immigration. Within hours of taking office in January last year, Trump signed an executive order fast-tracking deportations of illegal immigrants in the US.

The move had consequences for India as well. As over 200,000 unauthorized Indian immigrants were estimated to be residing in the US until 2022, several were deported quickly.

The deportation of over 200 illegal Indian immigrants in handcuffs and chains in February last year stirred controversy in India. As Trump cracked down on illegal immigrants, more Indians were deported throughout the year.

Data shared in Parliament by the external affairs ministry showed that 3,250 Indians were deported by the US until 28 November 2025. This far exceeded deportations in previous years, including those in Trumps first year.

Visa pangs

A significant blow came to Indians when the Trump administration announced a crackdown on high-skilled immigration through tighter and costlier visa processes. The most seismic change was a steep one-time fee of $100,000 for new H-1B visa petitions, sharply raising the cost for employers to hire foreign workers.

The Trump administration is also close to approving a wage-based weighted lottery system for H-1B visas, which would prioritise applicants with higher salaries over the current random selection process. Indians, who receive the largest share of H-1B visas (around 74%), are the hardest hit as they face delays in visa processing and heightened uncertainty.





An analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy reveals that H-1B visa approvals for initial employment at the top 25 companies have declined by 19% year-over-year in FY25. Indian-based IT firms have been particularly hit. Overall, the top seven Indian companies had only 4,573 H-1B visas approved, representing a 37% year-on-year decline. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) witnessed a decline of 41.7%.



Trump's second term has moved with full force on tariffs, immigration, and an aggressive assertion of America's power over the world. India has been particularly hit in matters related to trade and immigration, for which the country will have to keep finding alternative markets to reduce risks from overdependence on the US.



Nandita Venkatesan contributed to this story.
Eyes on the Worlds Biggest Market

With Hyundai reportedly surpassing Volkswagen as the worlds second-most profitable automaker  behind Toyota  last year, it comes as little surprise that the Korean marque is continuing to expand its global reach. Its latest initiative centers on an aggressive expansion strategy in the world's biggest car market, China, headlined by plans to introduce 20 new models over the next four to five years.

According to Chinas Autohome, Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz recently visited joint-venture partner BAIC Group, where he spoke about the companys strategic priorities in China. Following its $1.1 billion capital injection into the Chinese joint venture in 2024, the broadened model lineup is ultimately aimed at reaching annual sales of 500,000 unitsmore than double Beijing Hyundais reported 210,000 vehicle sales recorded in 2025.

China's Autohome (China's Autohome)

The Premium Push

A key component of this push involves rolling out new models positioned to capture a share of Chinas competitive high-end car market. That move would place Hyundai in direct competition with brands such as Zeekr, maker of the 1,248-horsepower 001 FR, as well as AUDI. The latter is not a typo, but Audis China-exclusive sub-brand, which focuses exclusively on electric vehicles, including models like the E5 Sportback.

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The report notes that Hyundai plans to leverage its existing sales network and service infrastructure to support the localization and rollout of the high-end brand within the Chinese market.

At present, the Beijing Hyundai lineup consists of familiar nameplates such as the Elantra, Sonata, and Tucson. However, the joint venture also offers China-specific products, including the Elexio, a locally developed EV that arrived in October 2025 with a CLTC-rated driving range of 722 kilometers (approximately 449 miles). As is typically the case, that figure would likely be lower if measured under the more conservative U.S. EPA testing standard.

China's Autohome (China's Autohome)

Strengthening the Foundation

Beyond expanding its model portfolio, Hyundai also plans to deepen cooperation with BAIC Group in product development, with a particular emphasis on advanced technologies, electrification, and intelligent in-car systems. The automaker further intends to deploy experienced technical experts to support localized development efforts and improve overall efficiency.

In the U.S., Hyundai is pursuing a similarly expansionary approach. Last year, the company announced a $55 billion investment plan, with a significant portion expected to be directed toward the country, including a $2.7 billion allocation to expand production capacity at its Metaplant in Savannah, Georgia. Among the anticipated additions to its U.S. lineup is a true body-on-frame pickup truck, which would complement the lifestyle-oriented Santa Cruz.

China's Autohome (China's Autohome)

This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jan 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
US President's latest tariff threats on eight European Union countries over Greenland could result in a mega trade war as the EU nations prepare for countermeasures  leading to all the economies suffering a blow.

A trade war seems to be brewing now, and according to a report by CNN, both sides seem to be serious.

With Trump threatening tariffs on eight EU countries over his mission to acquire Greenland, leaders of the nations called an emergency meeting on Sunday, mulling countermeasures and even thinking about activating its trade bazooka called the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI).

Here is a snapshot of everything that's going on between the US and EU over Greenland.

Trump threatens with 25% tariff Donald Trump in his pursuit to acquire Greenland announced on Saturday that he would impose 10% tariff on goods imported from eight countries including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

He further threatened that this would increase to 25% from June 1 if an agreement is not reached by that time.

EU leaders mull countermeasures Trump's comments triggered an emergency meeting of EU leaders and representatives on Sunday.

The ambassadors who attended the meeting reached broad agreement on Sunday to intensify efforts to dissuade Trump's threats. They also agreed to prepare retaliatory measures should the duties go ahead, EU diplomats said.

The joint statement by some of Americas closest allies signalled a possible turning point in the recent tensions over sovereignty and security, adding his threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

The possible retaliation include the option to include a package of its own tariff on 93 billion euros of US imports that were previously suspended for six months in August.

The retaliatory tariffs could automatically kick in on February 6 after the six-month suspension.

According to a report by Reuters and CNN, French President Emmanuel Macron asked the EU to activate its trade weapon called the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), known more popularly as the trade bazooka.

This so-called trade bazooka could have broad effects on the US including limiting access to public tenders, investments or banking activity or restrict trade in services, in which the United States has a surplus with the bloc, like that in digital services.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on X that she spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss recent tensions.

Following this, US President Trump issued a statement, saying, NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.' Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!
Suspense continued over Mumbai's next Mayor on Monday, days after the Mahayuti alliance secured majority in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

While the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats in the BMC house of 227, it will have to depend on the Shinde Senas 29 seats to go past the halfway mark of 114.

It is not mandatory for single largest party to get the Mayor's post. But suspense over the post began amid speculation over the Shindes decision to move 29 corporators-designate of his party to a hotel

Shinde, who is also Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, sought to end speculation on Sunday by saying that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor. Shinde said this after interacting with newly-elected Shiv Sena members of the BMC who have been shifted to a hotel.

Shinde Sena has sought a clear and respectable share of power in the civic body, according to a report in Indian Express quoting sources. The Sena has put two options on the table: 1) the Mayors post for half of the five-year term, or 2) control of the Standing Committee, considered the most powerful body in the BMC as it controls finances and key approvals.

Shinde also tool a dig at Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and said voters had chosen development over emotional issues.

"Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor. Even neighbouring cities like Kalyan-Dombivli will have a Mahayuti mayor," he told reporters.

Rejecting allegations that the corporators were being kept under watch at a luxury hotel, Shinde said the Shiv Sena was fearless.

"The new corporators will get a common platform to interact at the hotel. I wanted to meet them as we are registering the group of 29 corporators with the Konkan divisional commissioner," he said.

Many Shinde Sena corporators dont want a BJP mayor: Raut Shiv Sena leader and minister Uday Samant said the civic body polls were contested as the Mahayuti alliance. "The Shiv Sena will not do what the earlier Shiv Sena (headed by Uddhav Thackeray when he allied with the Congress after the 2019 polls) did," he said.

When asked about demands from within the party for the mayors post, Samant said, "Every party wants the main post, and Bal Thackeray's (birth) centenary year gives that demand a different dimension."

The BJP-Shinde-led Sena combine of Mahayuti won a clear majority in the 227-member BMC, securing 89 and 29 seats, respectively. The Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, while its ally MNS emerged victorious on six.

In a related development, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed on Sunday that many newly elected Shiv Sena corporators, who originally belonged to the Bal Thackery-founded party before its division, do not want a BJP mayor in Mumbai.

"Many new corporators are originally Shiv Sainiks (of undivided Shiv Sena). Our understanding is everyone wants that a BJP mayor not be elected, Raut said adding even Shinde does not want a BJP mayor in Mumbai.

Shinde fighting to save political existence: Imran Congress MP Imran Masood on Sunday took a swipe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the Maharashtra local body election results, saying Shinde is now fighting to protect his political existence and accusing the BJP of undermining its own allies.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Massod said, Eknath Shinde now has to fight to save his political existence, whether his political being will remain or not. The BJP works to defeat all its allied parties... Now he should give up his attachment to power and save his existence.

How is the Mumbai mayor elected?

Every party wants the main post, and Bal Thackeray's centenary year gives that demand a different dimension.

The Mayor of Mumbai is elected by the Corporation from amongst the councillors. Once a political party or alliance secures at least 114 seats in the BMC elections, it decides who will be the mayor of Mumbai.

Before the names are picked, the Urban Development Department determines through a lottery which category (such as general, women, backward classes, etc) the mayoral post will be reserved for.

After this, eligible candidates file their nominations. The elected corporators of the BMC then vote in a special assembly. The candidate who gets a majority in the house, or more than half of the total corporators, is elected mayor.

(With agency inputs)
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Episode 1 release in India: The new Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms is here. The makers dropped the first episode of the show, which is based onGeorge R.R. Martins Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms follows the story of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg. Set many years before Game of Thrones, the show is a prequel which explores Westeros during Targaryen rule.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Episode 1 release The HBO show will be released in phases, with each episode. The makers have now shared the release dates, timings and more details for each region, as the UK and US will be able to watch the show at different timings.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms will stream on HBO and HBO Max in the US. In the UK, it will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

When and where to watch A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Episode 1 in India In India, the show is available on Jio Hotstar. A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms officially premiered in India on January 19 at 8:30 AM IST on Jio Hotstar with its first episode. It is titled The Hedge Knight with a runtime of 42 minutes.

Also Read | A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Review: A Game of Thrones story with heart

Check out the show's global streaming timings for all regions

United States (Eastern Time  ET): 10:00 PM, Sunday, January 18

United States (Pacific Time  PT): 7:00 PM, Sunday, January 18

Canada (Eastern Time): 10:00 PM, Sunday, January 18

Central Europe (CET  France, Germany, Spain, Italy): 4:00 AM, Monday, January 19

Eastern Europe (EET): 5:00 AM, Monday, January 19

South Africa (SAST): 5:00 AM, Monday, January 19

Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia  GST): 7:00 AM, Monday, January 19

India (IST): 8:30 AM, Monday, January 19

Sri Lanka (IST): 8:30 AM, Monday, January 19

Singapore (SGT): 11:00 AM, Monday, January 19

Philippines (PHT): 11:00 AM, Monday, January 19

China (CST): 11:00 AM, Monday, January 19

Japan (JST): 12:00 PM, Monday, January 19

South Korea (KST): 12:00 PM, Monday, January 19

Australia (AEST): 1:00 PM, Monday, January 19

New Zealand (NZDT): 3:00 PM, Monday, January 19

Check trailer here:

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms episode release dates A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will follow a weekly release plan. It consists of six episodes in season one. All of the episodes come with a runtime of 35-45 minutes.

Check out the show episode schedule:

Episode 1  The Hedge Knight  January 18

Episode 2  Hard Salt Beef  January 25

Episode 3  The Squire  February 1

Episode 4  Seven  February 8

Episode 5  Title to be announced  February 15

Episode 6  Title to be announced (Season finale)  February 22
Bollywood actor and politician Govinda reacted to persistent rumours about his personal life. For years, speculation about his alleged divorce from his wife, Sunita Ahuja, has kept surfacing on social media. Reports also claimed the actor was allegedly having an affair with a younger actress.

Govinda on rumours about him Amid this, Govinda, who joined Shiv Sena in 2024, termed the rumours a pre-planned conspiracy against him.

He told ANI that his family is being used and advised his nephew, Krushna Abhishek, to be cautious.

He said, Sometimes family falls victim to a well-planned conspiracy by someone and a separation surfaces. I was told that my family would be used in such a situation, and I would be cut off from society. My films did not get a market, and I also left many of them. My wife is worried about how the household will run this way. When popularity exceeds a limit, many people get nervous, even the unexpected ones. I saw this happen with a senior actor as well. I only pray for the welfare of my children.

Govinda reveals Sunita Ahuja's reaction The actor said that his wife, Sunita Ahuja, would get angry at these rumours, which are allegedly affecting him.

I also told Krushna that he is being used to insult me and, therefore, he must take care of my reputation as well. Sunita used to get angry with this. I don't want to stain the industry I worked in for so many years, but alertness is very necessary. There are some notions being created. I have just entered Shiv Sena, and such conspiracies have begun. I should not be considered weak, and people should think about my past works before speaking anything against me, Govinda added.

Also Read | Govinda cuts short campaign trail as he fell sick, month after bullet injury

Govinda's political career After ruling the 90s in Bollywood, Govinda entered politics. He has been associated with different political parties. He was a member of the Indian National Congress party and was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 2004 to 2009. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Mumbai North constituency of Maharashtra in 2004.

In 2024, he returned to politics and joined Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde wing).

I know an actor who was a victim like me Talking about the alleged conspiracy, Govinda had told ANI previously, "This wealth and fame don't spare anyone, and conspiracies like these don't happen with everyone. I know a very well-known actor who was the victim of it, and now it's me, though I am not as big as he is. I pray to god that he saves me from this problem, and I also pray for the welfare of my children. There has been a lot of struggle."
Chinas population shrank for a fourth consecutive year, underscoring the demographic challenges facing the worlds second-largest economy.

The details Chinas total population fell to 1.405 billion at the end of 2025, down from 1.408 billion recorded in 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

New births in the country fell to 7.92 million, down from 9.54 million in 2024.

The number of births per 1,000 people fell to 5.63, from 6.77 in 2024.

That is the lowest number of births and lowest birthrate reported since records began in 1949, the founding of the Peoples Republic of China.

The number of deaths rose to 11.31 million, up from 10.93 million in 2024.

The context The steep drop in births in 2025 can be attributed in part to an increase in births the year prior. Most of 2024 fell in the Year of the Dragon, which is seen as an auspicious one for marriage and births in Chinese culture.

Aside from 2024, births have been dropping steadily since 2017. In 2022, deaths overtook births.

Decades of Chinas one-child policy, which ended in 2015, have contributed to a rapidly aging population with fertility rates well below replacement level, threatening to hinder future economic growth.

Chinese leaders have been rolling out new initiatives designed to encourage births, such as child-care subsidies. Demographers largely believe such policies arent able to halt population decline at this point.

In other countries with aging populations, immigration often helps offset low birthrates and keep the population younger, but China has virtually no immigration.

Grace Zhu and Xiao Xiao contributed to this article.
BRUSSELSEuropean leaders racing to respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs for opposing President Trumps plan to take control of Greenland have an arsenal of options, including trade retaliation, reducing defense ties and a bazooka" to defend against economic coercion.

Individually, the nations Trump has threatened with economic measures can do little about his 10% tariffs, but as a unit they could raise the cost of using the levies to extract concessions on Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory.

The European Union already has a list of U.S. goods worth more than $100 billion on which it could impose retaliatory tariffs. The bloc also has the power to withhold key parts of its trade agreement with the U.S., which Trump has called a giant deal."

In crisis talks Sunday, EU ambassadors also discussed using a never-before-deployed tooloften dubbed the bazookathat allows them to fight back when under economic duress from another country.

The ambassadors didnt reach a decision on which route to pursue. Diplomats said there is still time for talks with the U.S. and internal discussions before the bloc decides how to respond.

View Full Image A weekend protest in Greenland against President Trumps demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the U.S.

European leaders are set to meet to discuss the matter later this week, after the start of the World Economic Forum that Trump is expected to attend in Davos.

When Trump announced his Liberation Day" tariffs last year, European leaders, many of them NATO allies, hesitated to strike back, hoping to keep him involved in the military alliance and especially in Ukraines defense. But the presidents decision to tie trade so overtly to security is driving them to reassess.

There is a sense this time around that the EU has to respondthat the price they are paying for U.S. support in the NATO and Ukraine context is getting too high," said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, a risk-management consulting firm.

Still, the EU is unlikely to make any major moves before the new tariffs take effect, he added, which Trump said would be on Feb. 1.

Here are some of the blocs options:

Hold off on cutting tariffs to zero for many U.S. goods

The EU, a single economic bloc of 450 million consumers, is Americas largest regional trading partner.

Last summer, the bloc agreed to a lopsided trade deal with the U.S. that included a 15% duty for most EU goods imported to the U.S., and a plan to eliminate existing tariffs on many American products entering EU borders.

The European Parliament still has to approve that reduction. The presidents tariff threat on Saturday prompted some of the Parliaments most powerful political groups to call for the ratification process to be put on hold.

Impose new, retaliatory tariffs on some U.S. products

The EU drew up a list of American products worth more than $100 billion on which it could impose retaliatory tariffs in response to Trumps tariff moves last year. The list included chewing gum, motorcycles and peanut butter, but was shelved after the bloc struck a trade deal with the U.S. that reduced Trumps threatened tariffs by half.

Now, with some members facing with a new 10% tariff, rising to 25% in June, the bloc could go back to that list.

Retaliation would risk angering the Trump administration and sparking tit-for-tat escalation. But economic action over Greenland, analysts said, might be enough to push the bloc to fight back with tariffs of its own.

Use the anticoercion trade tool dubbed the bazooka

The EUs bazooka trade tool in principle would give the bloc significant leeway to implement export controls, place tariffs on services, restrict intellectual-property rights and curb American companies ability to bid on public contracts in Europe, among other measures.

It stems from an EU regulation that took effect more than two years ago but has never been used to impose trade measures. Under the law, the EU can formally deem another countrys actions to be economic coerciona step that would open the door to a wide arsenal of economic responses if the alleged coercion doesnt stop.

If there is one circumstance that would absolutely justify the triggering of the anticoercion instrument, this is it," said Ignacio Garcia Bercero, a former EU trade official, referring to Trumps Greenland tariff threat.

For the tool to be invoked against the U.S., the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, would need approval from just over half of all member states, which must also be home to at least 65% of the overall population of the bloc. But for the move to be politically acceptable, it would require even more support than that, an EU diplomat said Sunday.

Once in place, the tool would allow the EU to more easily calibrate its trade response.

Beef up defense, close U.S. bases

Some EU leaders, many of them North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, worry that if the bloc allows Trump to take control of Greenland, other European territories could be next. It also risks the sanctity of the military alliance, and has implications for Ukraine in the face of Russias invasion.

Europe could expand its military presence in Greenland, accelerate its plans to spend more on defense or shift some military hardware purchases away from the U.S. But many critical weapons and military systems are only made in America, and Europe is struggling to strengthen its own military-industrial base.

An extreme option for Europe would be to limit or terminate U.S. use of military bases across Europe, such as the vast Ramstein Air Base in Germany, which employs more than 12,000 U.S. servicemembers and civilians. This response would dramatically escalate tensions and could prompt Trump to pull U.S. forces from the continentsomething neither side says it wants now.

Increase cooperation with the rest of the world

Trumps tariffs have already reinvigorated the blocs interest in trade deals with other countries, as it looks to reduce reliance on the U.S. The EU signed a trade pact with four South American countries on Saturdaythe same day Trump threatened new tariffs over Greenlandand the bloc hopes to announce a trade agreement with India as soon as this month. Such a deal with Australia is also possible.

The latest Trump threat could also prompt the EU to rethink what it calls a derisking strategy with China, under which the bloc has taken a tougher stance on imports of subsidized Chinese products and Chinas restrictions on European businesses.

Write to Kim Mackrael at kim.mackrael@wsj.com
BRUSSELSA few months ago, officials on both sides of the Atlantic hoped that they had saved the Western alliancethe worlds biggest economic and military community.

Today, the team that won the Cold War and led the globe is in tatters.

President Trumps threat to impose tariffs on European allies that resist a full U.S. takeover of the Danish territory of Greenland has fused two areas of trans-Atlantic tensiontrade and securityinto an explosive cocktail that is plunging the alliance into its deepest crisis in over 70 years.

World Peace is at stake!" Trump posted on Truth Social, saying that China and Russia would take over Greenland unless the U.S. did.

He attacked European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for sending military personnel to the territory at Denmarks invitation, saying that only the U.S. could secure the island. Then came the threat of escalating tariffs until they agreed to the U.S. owning Greenland.

Trumps economic threat and dismissal of allies usefulness have added to the sense of shock across Europe, where governments are reeling from the unprecedented outbursts of U.S. hostility since Trump returned to the White House a year ago.

NATO, which was founded on a sense of a common destiny among Western democracies, has relied as much on trust and political cohesion as on its military infrastructure. The belief that the U.S. was deeply committed to its European allies and would defend them against an attack has been the foundation of NATOs credibility and its power to deter enemies.

That trust and commitment are now in serious doubt. Many veterans of the alliance on both sides of the Atlantic wonder if it can recover.

The organization will survive, but the trustthe glue that has held it together for over 75 yearshas been shattered, so it will not be effective," said Doug Lute, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and former U.S. ambassador to NATO.

Deferential displays

Trumps revived threat to take over Greenland is testing the limits of the allies approach of managing the White House by offering cooperation and limited concessions.

European leaders are now searching for a response, and are caught between fear of further provoking Trumps ire and determination to draw a line in the ice over Greenland.

Some countries want to show Trump that his pressure will also have consequences for the U.S., such as jeopardizing the trade deal reached with the European Union last summer that avoided a trade war and stood to benefit American businesses. Some officials are looking at ways they could trigger harsher trade retaliation, while other leaders hope to defuse the latest row with behind-the-scenes outreach to administration officials.

The leaders of Denmark and seven European allies on Sunday issued a statement warning that the tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral." The group pledged to stand united and coordinated in our response."

European countries have been loath to criticize Trump for the past year, despite deep misgivings over his handling of trade, the Russia-Ukraine war and trans-Atlantic relations more generally. Their strategy amounted to a trade-off, sacrificing economic benefit for security.

Allied leaders have tried using flattery and deference to manage Trump, such as when NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called him daddy" last summer. But Europeans are increasingly concerned that displays of praise and fealty arent working.

Most European governments fear that a full-blown rift could lead to Trump declaring the end of NATO, which would force them to build their own military alliance without the U.S.a costly challenge for countries struggling with chronically low economic growth and strained public finances.

Early last year, verbal barrages and abrupt policy shifts from the White House fed a sense that the U.S. was turning its back on the trans-Atlantic world that Washington built after World War II. The administration attacked Europes democracies over immigration and free speech while threatening to impose heavy tariffs on European goods. Its push to end the war in Ukraine involved rapprochement with Moscow and arm-twisting of Kyiv.

Relations appeared to thaw last summer following strenuous European efforts to persuade Trump that allies are useful for U.S. interests and not a hindrance. In June, he gave NATO his blessing after allies agreed to spend a lot more on defense, and when eight European leaders left a White House meeting with Trump in August, they felt cautiously optimistic that trans-Atlantic relations had stabilized.

It didnt last. Trust between Europe and the U.S. took another beating when a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine emerged that favored Russia. Then the White Houses new national-security strategy in December targeted European allies while taking a soft line on the Wests main adversaries, Russia and China.

Damaged articles

Europeans have for years argued that while they didnt spend as much on arms as the U.S., they consistently stood by it and defended Western interests.

The sole time that NATO invoked its founding treatys mutual-defense clause, known as Article 5, was to support the U.S. after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In Afghanistan, Denmark incurred the highest per capita fatality rate among all NATO countries, including the U.S.

Now, the administration has essentially said that past efforts dont affect current U.S. thinking. Just because you did something smart 25 years ago doesnt mean you cant do something dumb now," Vice President JD Vance told Fox News recently.

View Full Image A British soldier in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2007.

Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on U.S. readiness to stand behind Article 5. During his first term, he stunned allies on an early visit to alliance headquarters by not making the routine U.S. pledge to defend NATO members.

During his re-election campaign in 2024, Trump said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want" to allies that dont meet spending targets. He also questioned whether European countries would come to Americas aid in a crisis.

Before a NATO summit last June, when asked if he stood by the pact, Trump replied: Depends on your definition. There are numerous definitions of Article 5." Last week, he wrote on Truth Social: I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM."

Veterans of the Atlantic alliance warn that the Wests adversaries will be the main beneficiaries of the rift.

Ultimately this is only damaging Americas standing in the world, and Americalike Europeneeds friends and allies in this more dangerous world," said Oana Lungescu, who stood against communism in Romania and later served as NATO spokeswoman for 13 years, including through Trumps first term. The only people I see benefiting from this are Putin and Xi. They must be ordering popcorn," she said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Trumps demand to own Greenland is particularly perplexing to Europeans because to them, and many Americans, it lacks logical basisunlike his gripes over Europes low military spending.

Trump is just the most forceful in a long string of U.S. presidents who have demanded that NATO allies contribute more to their own security. Europeans have for years acknowledged their shortcomings. On trade, while Europeans questioned Trumps economic arguments, they understood his political agenda and the need to engage on it.

But with Greenland, Trump has almost no sympathetic ears in Europe. Even one of his staunchest supporters in the region, British euroskeptic firebrand Nigel Farage, on Saturday criticized Trumps tariff threat, saying: We dont always agree with the U.S. government and in this case we certainly dont."

Trumps skepticism about NATO has been on display for years, but his willingness to pick a fight with European allies appears to be rising as he grows bolder about wielding U.S. power.

One of Trumps most consistent views over several decades has been that the Pax Americathe U.S.s global hegemony since World War II, managed via a system of alliancesis a burden on America, allowing allies to exploit the U.S.s provision of both military security and consumer demand for goods.

Dogged defense

European and other U.S. allies have long recognized the inevitability of the U.S. retreating from its role as the worlds policeman. But they werent prepared for the Trump administrations expressions of disdain and hostility. On Saturday, Trump again dismissed Denmarks capacity to defend Greenland as amounting to two dog sleds."

On Truth Social, Trump accused Denmark and other European allies of endangering world peace by sending a small number of military personnel to Greenland.

Denmark had invited the allies to Greenland for exercises and informed NATO about them. Exercises like the one Denmark is undertaking, as well as the deployments of additional troops, bolster our collective defenses there," said U.S. Army Colonel Martin ODonnell, spokesman for NATOs military command, on Thursday.

View Full Image A Danish military vessel sails near Nuuk, Greenland.

Governments including the U.K., France and Germany have billed the deployments as an effort to show that NATO allies are committed to defending Greenland against rivals such as Russia, but Trump said its purpose was unknown.

This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security and Survival of our Planet. These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable," Trump wrote. He said the European countries involved would face a 10% tariff on all goods sent to the U.S. from Feb. 1, rising to 25% in June, unless a deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland."

Denmark has said the U.S. is welcome to beef up its military presence in Greenland and has sought to open talks on cooperation there. But Copenhagen and the government of Greenland have said the island isnt for sale.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a forcible U.S. annexation of an allys territory would be the end of NATO. Europes major countries have backed Denmark, saying only Danes and Greenlanders can decide the future of Greenland.

View Full Image Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

NATO has survived serious internal tensions before, such as during the 1956 Suez crisis, when the U.S. forced the U.K. and France to break off their invasion of Egypt, and the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, which France and Germany opposed.

Those moments were difficult for the alliance, but it persevered, said Lungescu. But this feels like a very dangerous moment," she said. One we havent seen before."

Write to Marcus Walker at Marcus.Walker@wsj.com and Daniel Michaels at Dan.Michaels@wsj.com
BRUSSELSPresident Trump told Norway that he no longer needed to think purely of peace" after being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize, as European leaders scrambled to talk him out of a damaging trans-Atlantic trade war.

So far, the European Union and the U.K. have held off openly wielding retaliatory tariffs in an attempt to take the heat out of the issue so that Trump wont follow through with his threat. The president on Saturday said he would impose a 10% tariff on Feb. 1 against European countries that stand opposed to a U.S. plan to take over Greenland.

According to the Norwegian prime minister, Trump said in a text message that the world wouldnt be secure unless the U.S. has Complete and Total Control of Greenland" and linked his pursuit of the worlds largest island to the fact he wasnt awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. On Monday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said he had responded to the message. We pointed to the need to de-escalate," he said in a statement. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The tempered response points to a difficult reality for European nations: America is too embedded in their collective security, both economic and militarily, for them to threaten a quick punch-back.

Behind the scenes, European officials are searching for ways to respond to the president without escalating the situation into a broader trade spat or capitulating on security in the face of his trade threats. The frantic diplomacy comes days after an attempted show of European strength, in which several nations sent troops to Greenland, appears to have badly backfired, prompting Trump to go on the offensive.

There will be a united and clear response from Europe, and we are now preparing coordinated countermeasures with our European partners," German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Monday. We are ready to find solutions. We are extending our hand, but we are not prepared to be blackmailed."

In closed-door discussions in Brussels on Sunday evening, EU officials said the bloc has time to consider its options but can move quickly if it needs to. Diplomats from member states said after the meeting that the EU wouldnt do anything to escalate the situation unless Trump actually went ahead and imposed tariffs.

Our priority is to engage, not escalate," a European Commission spokesman said.

In an address to the nation on Monday morning, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the Trump administrations tariff threats as completely wrong" but declined to lay out what the U.K. would do in response, saying his focus was to avoid a trade war.

Starmer, who pioneered a kowtow approach to Trump that many other European leaders copied, said his main goal was to avoid any escalation. But he warned that this was a serious moment in the trans-Atlantic relationship. Being pragmatic does not mean being passive," he said.

The attempt to buy time comes after a mind-bending start to the year in which Trump has repeatedly claimed that the U.S. must control Greenland, either by buying it from Denmark or using military action.

Trump pledged to impose the 10% tariffs against Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland starting Feb. 1. The tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1 and remain in place until a deal is reached for what Trump called the complete and total purchase" of Greenland.

On Sunday, Trump added another curveball, linking his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize to his pursuit of Greenland.

Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS," Trump wrote in the text message, according to Stre. I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."

Stre said he had proposed a telephone conversation between Trump, Finlands leader and himself in response. The Norwegian prime minister added that he had told Trump that the Norwegian government has no say in who gets the peace prize.

Write to Max Colchester at Max.Colchester@wsj.com, Laurence Norman at laurence.norman@wsj.com and Kim Mackrael at kim.mackrael@wsj.com
President Trump has expanded the idea of his proposed Gaza Board of Peace into a global body that would take on the role of conflict resolution currently held by the United Nations and carry a $1 billion fee for a permanent seat, according to a charter sent to prospective members.

Trump announced the board last September as part of the Gaza cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. The charter doesnt mention Gaza or the U.N., describing a nimble and effective international peace-building body" with Trump as chairman and other governments serving as member states.

Too many approaches to peace-building foster perpetual dependency, and institutionalize crisis rather than leading people beyond it," the charters preamble says, calling for a coalition of willing States committed to practical cooperation and effective action."

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the charter.

The expansive mandate underscored Trumps accelerating push to replace the international system established by the U.S. after World War II, which he has attacked for years as ineffective, with a new structure built around himself that bypasses existing multilateral institutions. Earlier this month he pulled the U.S. out of 31 U.N. agencies and bodies, saying they operated contrary to U.S. national interests."

Its hard not to read this as an attempt to establish a precedent in Gaza that could be used elsewhere in terms of saying that Trump is going to be calling the global shots here, and you either fall in line or youre not part of the process," said Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

China, Russia, France and Britain, the four other major powers that serve permanently on the U.N. Security Council and have a veto over its actions, are likely to be reluctant to replace that body with Trumps board, analysts said. Many other countries that see the U.N. as the main international forum where they can exercise influence are likely to be at least as dubious.

The Board of Peace is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict," a copy of the charter says.

The U.N. Security Council authorized the Board of Peace in November to oversee Gazas postwar stabilization and reconstruction.

Countries that agree to join the board can serve for a three-year term, but that limit would be waived for countries that agree to contribute $1 billion in cash to the board, according to the charter, which was previously reported by Bloomberg.

The charter doesnt say how the fees will be used.

Around 60 governments have received invitations to join the board, but the reaction from most has been cautious so far.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join Trumps Board of Peace, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday.

Right now, were studying the details of the offer and hoping to be in contact with the American side to clarify all the nuances," he told state news agencies, without addressing the $1 billion fee.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on X he had been invited onto the board and had already accepted. Orban has positioned himself as one of the loudest advocates for Trumps peace efforts in Ukraine. We have, of course, accepted this honourable invitation," Orban said.

In an invitation sent Friday to Egypts president, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Trump described the board as a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE." Sisi hasnt responded to the invitation.

Several Arab countries object to involving the board in other conflicts, saying it should be exclusively focused on carrying out the Gaza peace plan at first, officials said. It is risky to create an alternative global peace and security architecture under Trumps control, they added.

As chairman, Trump would have wide authority over the new organization, with the power to appoint and remove member states, as well as a veto over its decisions. The charter specifies that the boards decisions will be made by a majority of the member states present and voting, subject to the approval of the chairman, who may also cast a vote in his capacity as chairman in the event of a tie."

It also reserves for the chairman the exclusive authority" to create other entities to carry out the boards mission.

Write to David S. Cloud at david.cloud@wsj.com, Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com and Dov Lieber at dov.lieber@wsj.com
Indias fertilizer supply strategy is once again under strain. Despite years of policy focus on boosting domestic output and cutting import dependence, fertilizer imports have surged in the current financial year as rising farm demand outpaces local production, with implications for subsidies, soil health and food security.

Mint explains the numbers behind the surge in fertilizer imports and why domestic production is struggling to keep pace with demand.

What do the numbers show?

According to the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI), Indias fertilizer supply chain has seen a sharp rebalancing towards imports in FY26 to ensure nutrient availability for farms. Between April and November, urea imports surged 120% year-on-year to 7.2 million tonnes, even as domestic production fell 3.7% during the same period.

Imports of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), another widely used fertilizer, rose 54% to 5.5 million tonnes, while imports of complex NPK fertilizers nearly doubled to 2.7 million tonnes. FAI has said that imports have become structural in nature and can no longer be seen as merely supplementing domestic production.

Also Read | Coming up: A concerted digital data push to better target farm subsidies

Why does this matter?

The surge marks a setback to Indias long-standing push for fertilizer self-sufficiency. In 2020, then fertilizer minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda had said India could achieve atmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) by 2023 through revival of old urea plants and adoption of technologies such as nano urea.

While India did reduce its import dependence on urea from 28% of domestic consumption in 2020-21 to about 15% in 2024-25, the spike in demand this year has disrupted that trajectory.

In 2024-25, around 77% of Indias total fertilizer consumption was met through domestic production. That share dropped to 64% in FY26 so far (April to November), reflecting the inability of local output to keep pace with demand.

The shortfall has had visible consequences on the ground. Farmers in several states struggled to procure urea, often standing in queues for days or paying a premium in the black market.

What does this mean for subsidies?

Rising import dependence also pushes up the governments fertilizer subsidy bill. Total fertilizer subsidies have jumped from 81,124 crore in 2019-20 to about 1.83 trillion in 2024-25 (revised estimates).

Nearly 70% of this subsidy outgo is for urea, which is sold to farmers at over 90% subsidy. Farmers therefore pay less than a tenth of ureas actual cost, encouraging excessive use of nitrogen-heavy fertilizers relative to other nutrients.

Also Read | Big boost for agritech: India opens doors to more farm subsidies

Why has fertilizer demand risen so sharply?

Demand spiked in FY26 following a sharp increase in cropped area, supported by ample rainfall. Farmers expanded acreage under crops such as corn and rice during the Kharif season, boosting demand for urea and DAP.

Robust sowing of wheat in the ongoing Rabi season is expected to push fertilizer consumption even higher. Last year, shortages of urea and DAP in states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had triggered farmer protests.

Overall, urea consumption in India has climbed steadily from about 31 million tonnes in 2013-14 to an estimated 40 million tonnes in 2025-26.

Is imbalanced fertilizer use hurting soil health?

Yes. Citing studies by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the agriculture ministry said in December that imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers, declining organic matter and climate change are among key factors degrading soil health.

The ministry noted that excessive application of nitrogenous fertilizers can lower crop yields and worsen soil degradation. A Parliamentary Standing Committee, in a report submitted in December, also recommended training farmers to promote balanced nutrient use, crop rotation and natural farming practices.

Also Read | What has led to the spike in fertilizer demand this kharif season?

However, industry insiders argue that unless urea prices are corrected by reducing subsidies, farmers will continue to overuse urea compared to other nutrients.
Alongside Honda and Suzuki, BMW is one of the rare companies that have managed to earn a coveted position in the minds of folks interested in both cars and motorcycles. The BMW Group operates 32 manufacturing plants worldwide, 26 of which focus on cars and the remaining six on BMW's motorcycles. Narrow that list to facilities that manufacture or assemble engines for BMW cars, and it becomes much shorter. As of 2026, five facilities manufacture internal combustion engines bound for BMW cars. Of those, two plants are located in Europe, with one being the Steyr plant located in Austria, and the other being the Hams Hall plant in the U.K.

The other three plants are located in Asia, which include the Shenyang plant in China, the Kulim plant located in Malaysia, and the Force Motors plant in India. Note that the engine assembly facilities in Malaysia and India are third-party contract manufacturers set up in partnership with local companies: Sime Darby Auto Engineering in Malaysia and Force Motors in India.

BMW's plant in Munich also used to manufacture engines, but it is currently being repurposed as an EV-focused plant focusing on vehicles like the BMW iX3, which is based on the Neue Klasse X concept. Given that BMW assembles cars in dozens of locations around the world, every internal-combustion BMW relies on engines produced at one of these specialized facilities. Once manufactured, these engines are shipped to the final assembly locations around the world.

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Read more: 5 Tips To Know Before Buying A Used JDM Engine

History of BMW's engine manufacturing plants

A worker assembling an engine at BMW's Shenyang plant - BMW

BMW's foray into automobile engines began in 1919, when it manufactured the flat-twin M2B15 engine for Victoria Motorcycles. In 1923, the company launched the R 32 motorcycle, the first BMW motorcycle to use a BMW engine. BMW jumped over to manufacturing cars by 1928, after it started making a rebadged version of the British car Austin Seven. In 1932, BMW launched an updated version of the same car with a redesigned, improved engine. The BMW 3/20 PA AM1 debuted that year and is widely considered the first BMW car with a BMW-built engine. They were both assembled at BMW's Eisenach plant. Post World War II, BMW lost control of the Eisenach plant, and was forced to stop producing cars until the early 1950s.

The modern era of BMW's car and engine manufacturing restarted in 1952 when the company launched the BMW 501. It also marked the beginning of car and engine manufacturing at the Munich plant. In 1979, BMW opened a new plant in the Austrian town of Steyr, dedicated to engine production. It remains the company's largest engine plant. BMW's second engine facility, this time in the U.K., commenced operations in 2001, and is where engines for BMW's MINI-branded cars are assembled.

The only BMW-owned and operated engine assembly facility in Asia is the Shenyang plant, which opened its doors in 2004 and has since witnessed several expansions. It's now the largest BMW manufacturing facility in the world. In fact, one in three BMW cars sold today traces its origin to the Shenyang plant.

BMW's contract engine manufacturing plants

Aerial view of BMW's Chennai plant in India - BMW

BMW's entry into cost-sensitive markets in Asia led the company to change its approach to operating from wholly owned manufacturing facilities. An example of such an arrangement was seen in India, where BMW made its official debut in 2006. From 2006 to 2015, BMW's manufacturing facility in Chennai, India, assembled only Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kits into cars. Following changes to India's customs duty rules, BMW forged an alliance with an Indian company called Force Motors. This led BMW to open its first engine manufacturing facility operated by a 3rd-party manufacturer in 2015. As of 2026, the Force Motors facility continues to manufacture engines for BMW cars sold in India. It is pertinent to note that BMW Motorrad has followed a similar strategy with its low-cost motorcycles, in which some engines for entry-level models are manufactured in India by the motorcycle company TVS.

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Another country where BMW used a similar strategy is Malaysia, where BMW forged alliances with several local companies. It began formal operations in Malaysia in 2003, and since 2007, BMW has been in a partnership with Sime Darby Auto Engineering (SDAE), resulting in a manufacturing plant where BMW cars intended for the Malaysian and broader Southeast Asian markets are assembled. In 2018, this partnership was further solidified when the same plant started assembling engines.

Today, this facility continues to supply engines for BMW cars sold locally. The two engine manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and India are the only car-engine focused plants that are not under the direct operational control of BMW. This is also the reason these facilities are not listed on BMW's website detailing all its production facilities.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
Private sector banks are signalling that net interest margins (NIMs) are likely to remain resilient in the March quarter, even as the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI's) 25 basis point (bps) repo rate cut last month begins to transmit more fully into lending rates.

Management commentary from the December quarter earnings season of major private banks suggests that margins will be cushioned by factors such as a lag in deposit repricing, a higher share of low-cost current account savings account (Casa) funds, and more selective lending.

HDFC Bank, which saw its NIM on total assets expand by 8 bps on quarter to 3.35% in the three months ended December, indicated that the full impact of the latest rate cut is yet to be felt completely.

The first 100 bps of repo rate cuts have been factored in, but the most recent 25 bps reduction is still working its way through the system, chief financial officer Srinivasan Vaidyanathan said in the post-earnings call on Saturday.

.some of that (25 bps rate cut) is factored in the December quarter, and some of that, between one to three months, will start to flow in at the repricing cycle. So, some will come," he said.

He said that a decline in the cost of funds of about 10-11 bps supported margins, outlining three key drivers of margins going forward: cost of funds, Casa trends, and borrowings.

Key Takeaways Private sector banks successfully expanded or maintained margins in Q3 FY26 despite a cumulative 125 bps in rate cuts over the year.

The primary defence mechanism is the time lag between immediate loan repricing and the slower repricing of term deposits.

Banks like Federal and HDFC are aggressively prioritizing low-cost Casa deposits to offset falling asset yields.

RBL Bank is using a high proportion of fixed-rate loans to lock in higher yields as market rates drop.

Ratings agencies suggest a broad industry recovery in NIMs is a story for FY27, making Q4 FY26 a period of defence rather than growth.

ICICI trails peers

ICICI Bank struck a cautious but steady tone, with executive director Sandeep Batra saying on Saturday that the private sector lender expects NIMs to remain more or less range-bound, given the repricing of external benchmark loans and investments, as well as competitive intensity.

Indias second largest private sector lender reported NIM of 4.3% in Q3 of FY26, unchanged from the previous quarter and five bps higher in the same period a year ago.

"This would get in part offset by retail term (deposit) repricing, and we will continue to watch the market conditions," Batra said, adding that any further changes in monetary policy would influence the NIM trajectory, even as the bank remains focused on maximizing all levers of profits, and NIM is certainly one of the important levers."

However, analysts at Bernstein flagged that loan and deposit growth trailed system trends, while margins remained flat on quarterat odds with peer banks that reported sequential improvement," they said in a note on 17 January.

At RBL Bank, management pointed to portfolio mix and fixed-rate loans as buffers against immediate margin compression.

While much of the transmission of earlier rate cuts has already played out on the asset side, deposit-side repricing is still underway, giving banks room to lower deposit rates. RBL Banks NIM rose to 4.63% in the December quarter from 4.51% in the previous quarter.

Our composition of the fixed rate loan is around 40-45%, which is going to remain at that stage, and which will also be in a position to hold the yield at this position," managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) R. Subramaniakumar said.

Our cost of deposit is coming down, which will start providing us more headroom from Q4 as we move forward," he said.

The Federal surprise

Federal Bank delivered one of the sharpest margin surprises in the December quarter, with NIM at 3.18%, up 12 bps sequentially, aided by a better deposit mix and loan repricing.

However, managing director and chief executive officer K.V.S. Manian cautioned that the full impact of the latest 25 bps cut will be felt in the March quarter. We have to see how to mitigate the impact of that through the next quarter," he said.

Also, as loan growth normalizes, Federal Bank is looking to reduce its reliance on expensive deposits, such as fixed deposits (FDs).

Analysts remain constructive but measured in their outlook for Federal Banks margins. Brokerages such as Motilal Oswal Financial Services and Elara Capital India also said that the banks December-quarter NIM beat expectations, driven by lower cost of funds and a rising Casa ratio, which improved to about 32%.

They expect margins in the March quarter to remain broadly stable, even as rate cut transmission continues, supported by ongoing deposit repricing and a focus on medium-yield segments, though the durability of margins will depend on competitive intensity and funding conditions.

Also Read | Staff at your neighbourhood PSU bank is working harder than you think

Additionally, YES Bank said it is confident it can maintain margins at the current level for the next three months. For the December quarter, its NIM was at 2.6%.

With the recent rate cut of 25 bps, the entire impact would come in the current quarter. So we are confident that we would be able to protect the margins at the existing level," MD and CEO Prashant Kumar said, adding that the bank is taking additional measures to improve margins.

At this point in time, I would not give any specific guidance, but definitely one part is clear that NIM would continue to improve going forward," he said.

System-level trends also offer some context. On 14 January, India Ratings & Research said that, while deposit repricing is ongoing following cumulative rate cuts of 125 bps since February 2025, any meaningful improvement in NIMs is likely to be delayed until the end of FY26 or early FY27, aided by liquidity-easing measures.

For now, banks appear focused on defending margins quarter by quarter, using deposit management and portfolio mix as their first line of defence.

Shayan Ghosh also contributed to the story.
New Delhi: The government has increased the Central Silk Boards financial approval limit to help cut delays in clearing projects and improve implementation of schemes in the sector, with officials and industry executives expecting the move to support exports.

The ministry of textiles increased the monetary ceiling to 1 crore from 50 lakh by amending Rule 22 of the Central Silk Board Rules, 1955, through a government notification issued on Friday. The change allows higher-value proposals to be cleared at the board level without repeated escalation for approvals, a process that officials said had slowed project implementation in recent years.

The decision comes as the government looks to push value-added textile exports and reduce dependence on imported raw silk for a sector that is a key source of livelihood and foreign exchange earnings. India, the second-largest producer of silk globally, employs 9.76 million people in rural and semi-urban areas in the sector.

Also Read | Pretty watches with dials made of leather, silk and gemstones

V. Balasubramaniyan, president of the Silk Association of India, told Mint that the decision will help in faster approval of projects by the Central Silk Board and reduce delays in implementation as earlier, projects above 50 lakh had to be sanctioned by the ministry of textiles, a process that used to take longer.

The immediate impact will be that the board can now take decisions on its own, significantly reducing delays in project approvals and implementation, which is expected to be beneficial for the silk sector," said Balasubramaniyan.

Indias exports of silk and silk products stood at $246 million in FY25. The country exports raw silk, natural silk yarn, fabrics and made-ups, readymade garments, silk waste and handloom products to more than 30 countries, including the UAE, the US, China, the UK, Italy, Singapore, Australia, France, Hong Kong and Canada.

India produced 41,121 metric tonnes of silk in FY25, up from 38,913 metric tonnes in FY24, with mulberry silk accounting for the largest share. The major silk-producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to two officials, the revision in the financial approval limit was necessitated by the rise in project costs, particularly for infrastructure creation, technology upgrades and research undertaken by the Central Silk Board.

Multiple approvals

The earlier limit had remained unchanged for decades, even as spending on seed development, disease control programmes, modern reeling units, testing facilities and digital systems increased sharply. This often resulted in delays as proposals moved through multiple layers of approval, affecting timelines on the ground, one of the officials said. The other official said the higher threshold would allow the board to take quicker financial decisions.

Project sizes have expanded and costs have gone up, but approval limits were stuck at old levels. This was creating avoidable administrative bottlenecks. The higher threshold will help speed up execution without changing the overall budgetary control," the official said.

Industry representatives said the move could have a positive impact on exports by improving quality, productivity and consistency across the silk value chain. Indias share in global silk exports remains modest due to challenges linked to quality standardization, processing infrastructure and timely modernization.

While the impact may not be immediate, experts said smoother project implementation and faster decision-making could gradually improve competitiveness, said Raja M. Shanmugam, former president of the Tirupur Exporters Association.

Also Read | Bengals textile history enters the gallery space

Delayed upgrades

An industry executive said that delays in approvals had often held back efforts to upgrade production and processing facilities.

Upgrading reeling and processing units, improving seed quality or setting up testing facilities requires timely decisions. Faster approvals can help address quality gaps, which is critical for exports to demanding markets such as Europe and Japan," the executive said, requesting anonymity. The higher approval limit is expected to benefit a wide range of stakeholders, including silkworm rearers, reelers, weavers, researchers and small industry clusters."

Faster procurement of equipment and services is also expected to support programmes focused on productivity improvement and quality enhancement, particularly in major silk-producing states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Assam, the executive added.

However, the two officials clarified that the changes do not introduce new schemes or increase financial allocations. Instead, the move is aimed at improving administrative efficiency and ensuring that existing programmes are implemented without delays. This approach aligns with the broader effort to give statutory boards greater operational flexibility while retaining financial oversight, they said.
NEW DELHI : A spike in prices of solar modules is expected to raise costs and tariffs for projects under construction, even as multiple solar projects languish for want of power purchase contracts.

Solar module prices have surged by roughly a third since late December, thanks to soaring prices of silver and aluminium, a weaker rupee, and a global scramble for components after China tightened wafer quotas and signalled a rollback of a 9% value-added tax refund. The price of photovoltaic cellsthe core of the solar panelhas jumped to 5.5 cents per watt peak from 3.5 cents in just weeks, four people aware of the matter said. A module comprises multiple cells, which are largely imported.

The recent jump in cell prices highlights the structural vulnerability of Indias solar supply chain," said Prashant Mathur, chief executive officer at Saatvik Green Energy Ltd, a Gurugram-based solar component manufacturer. As equipment costs rise, upcoming projects will face higher capital costs, and tariffs for new power purchase agreements (PPAs) are likely to harden after a prolonged period of deflation."

A total of around 93 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity is under construction, and the segment accounts for an installed capacity of 135.81GW. India targets 300GW of solar energy in its overall 500GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

The risk of higher solar tariffs is another concern for Indias renewable energy sector, as multiple states prefer long-term purchase pacts for stable coal-fired power. Moreover, 43 gigawatts (GW) of green power, involving an investment of 2.1 trillion, doesn't have long-term purchase and supply agreements, Mint reported earlier. Besides, amid an oversupply of renewable power during solar hours, power distribution companies are selling renewable energy on electricity exchanges at a price lower than what they had purchased it for.

Module makers at risk too

"Since the later part of December, there has been a massive jump in cell prices, owing to the rise in silver and aluminium prices, along with a sudden supply crunch as China has imposed capacity quota restrictions on wafers," said an executive at one of Indias largest component manufacturers, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"The policy move of VAT refund rollback has set off a scramble among global buyers to secure supplies ahead of the deadline. This rush has created a sharp demand spike, driving global solar module prices further," the executive said. Domestic module manufacturers, who still rely heavily on imported cells and silver, have raised module prices by as much as 20 lakh per MW (megawatt) from 2-3 crore per MW."

According to the executive, this development would not only increase project costs in India but also impact the internal rate of return (IRR) of solar module makers in India, as most of the components for the modules assembled in India are imported from China."

India has more than 100GW of solar module manufacturing capacity, with Adani Solar, ACME Solar, Avaada Electro, ReNew, Waaree Energies and Saatvik Solar among the major players. According to UK-based consulting firm Wood Mackenzie, this capacity is on track to surpass 125GW by 2025.

Also Read | India-backed International Solar Alliance takes a hit as US pulls out

However, the country has only 18GW of cell production, and subcomponents, including polysilicon, ingots, and wafers, are all imported. And Longi, Jinko Solar and Trina Solar are among the top Chinese solar module suppliers.

Queries emailed to the spokespersons of Union ministry of new and renewable energy, the Chinese embassy in India, Adani Solar, ACME, Waaree Energies and Avaada remained unanswered until press time. Key Chinese suppliers Longi, Jinko Solar and Trina Solar also did not respond to queries.

Mint awaits responses from queries emailed to Indias renewable energy implementation agenciesSolar Energy Corporation of India, NTPC, NHPC and SJVNand renewable power developers NTPC Green, Adani Green Energy Ltd and ReNew.

Policy conundrum

Indian solar power developers must source components from an Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) under government-supported schemes and projects. A similar mandate will come into effect from June this year for cells, while wafers may be brought under such a scheme by 2028 to boost local manufacturing.

There should be terms and conditions that account for factors driving price volatility, so the power-purchase agreements can be revised, according to a former secretary in the ministry of new and renewable energy, who didnt want to be identified. "Policy uncertainty has been a major concern for the renewable energy space, including the implementation of the ALMM and its exemption allowed for a certain period due to a lack of local capacity."

Higher module prices will also hurt the projects that have secured power purchase agreements but have not been implemented. Solar sector rules do not allow power producers to recover these costs.

There is no such provision in the power purchase agreements to revise tariffs or allow compensation if prices of components increase due to external factors such as actions by a supplying country," said Mohit Bhargava, country director, India Energy & Climate Center, Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP), UC Berkeley.

Bhargava, a former CEO of the NTPC Green Energy Ltd, said: The impact on the IPPs (independent power producers) would depend on the rate of price change of the cells and other components. There would be a marginal hike in project cost and impact on profits, and if the hike in prices is significant, the impact would also be higher."

According to Mathur of Saatvik Energy, this reinforces the reality that India cannot indefinitely rely" on imported cells and modules while targeting aggressive renewable capacity additions. From an industry standpoint, stronger prices improve the sustainability and IRRs of domestic manufacturers, but they also put pressure on IPPs with fixed tariffs. This is precisely where policy plays a stabilizing role," he said.

Ashish Agarwal, head of solar and storage at BluPine Energy, expects the cell prices to drop.

Recent movements in module prices reflect evolving upstream dynamics, driven by higher cell costs and a seasonal dip in production in China ahead of the Chinese New Year. This is a familiar, short-term pattern in global supply chains, and prices are expected to return to previous levels as production normalises," said Agarwal of Actis-backed BluPine, which has a total renewable capacity of nearly 4GW.

However, if elevated prices persist, this would directly impact project costs and returns for developers, while module suppliers remain largely insulated as costs are passed through," he said. Prolonged price pressure could slow project execution and lead to softer demand across the renewable sector."
Both gold and silver prices saw renewed buying interest in Monday's session, 19 January, hitting fresh historic highs as concerns over a potential escalation in global trade tensions strengthened the outlook for safe-haven assets.

February gold futures on MCX opened higher at 1,43,321 per 10 grams, up from the previous close of 1,42,517, and went on to hit a new record high of 1,45,590 ( 2,983 higher), crossing 1.45 lakh for the first time and snapping a two-day losing streak.

Silver prices, too, resumed their winning run, with March silver contracts on MCX gaining 16,438 per kilogram to reach yet another historic high of 3,04,200. With todays rally, prices have gained a cumulative 60,876 per kilogram in just seven trading sessions.

The rally also contributed to a 27% surge in January so far. This followed a 170% rally in 2025, driven by geopolitical escalations, global trade tensions, monetary easing, ETF inflows, supply constraints, rising safe-haven demand, and a decline in exchange inventories.

It took less than nine months for silver to rise from 1 lakh to 2 lakh, and the next 1 lakh was achieved in under seven weeks.

Trumps Greenland tariff threat revives trade tension fears, boosting gold and silver Last years rally in both gold and silver prices has extended into early 2026 as fresh concerns have been added to existing headwinds, driven by US President Donald Trumps capture of Venezuelas leader, his renewed threats over Greenland tariffs, and violent protests in Iran.

While Trump softened his tone regarding potential attacks on Iran, he said over the weekend that he would impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight European countries starting 1 February, rising to 25% in June unless a deal is reached for the purchase of Greenland.

Also Read | European stock markets crash amid Trumps fresh tariff warning over Greenland

The tariffs will apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland. This revived tariff-related concerns for global markets, which had reached new heights in 2025, largely driven by optimism about artificial intelligence.

The move drew quick rebukes from European leaders, who are now poised to halt the approval of the trade agreement struck last year. Bloomberg reported that French President Emmanuel Macron may request the activation of the EUs anticoercion instrument, the blocs most powerful trade retaliation tool.

Since the start of the year, Trump has reopened his tariff playbook. Earlier this month, he warned of 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Iran and also proposed a massive 500% tariff on countries importing crude from Russia.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)
After more than a decade without a major state-backed equity sale, Kenya is poised for a landmark market revival as the debt-hit country plans to raise a record 106.3 shillings ($824.1 million) from an initial public offering of a state-run pipeline company, Bloomberg reported.

President William Rutos government will sell 11.8 billion shares, or a 65% stake in Kenya Pipeline Co., at an offer price of KES 9 (f$0.070) per share. The sale would value the company at 163.6 billion shillings ($1.27 billion), making KPC the fifth-largest company on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

Kenya Pipeline Company plays a key role in Kenyas energy system, operating a wide network of pipelines that transport petroleum products from the Port of Mombasa to major consumption centres across Kenya and into the wider East African region, local media reported.

The company enjoys a near-monopoly in fuel transportation, underpinning national energy security and supporting fuel trade with neighbouring countries.

Proceeds from the IPO to be used for infrastructure Kenyas first IPO since 2015 is expected to help the country raise money for infrastructure at a time when it is heavily in debt. The move comes as the local stock market has been performing strongly, with the benchmark stock index jumping 51% in local-currency terms last year, its biggest rise since the measure was created in 2008.

Also Read | Kenya uses US-funded antiterrorism courts for political crackdown

Kenya Pipelines pre-tax profit gained 65% in the financial year through June to 16.5 billion shillings. It has a network of 1,342 kilometres (834 miles) and is capable of transporting about 14 billion litres (3.7 billion gallons) of petroleum products a year, according to the companys website.

Details of the IPO The IPO opened on Monday, 19 January, for subscription and closes on 19 February, positioning itself as the biggest public offering since Safaricom Plc raised 50 billion shillings in 2008, Bloomberg reported.

After more than a decade, it is an important milestone in the renewal of Kenyas primary exchange and a strong signal of renewed confidence in the role of capital markets in financing our nations economic transformation, Nairobi Securities Exchange Chief Executive Officer Frank Mwiti told the news agency.

Kenya's economic health Kenya has limited capacity to take on more loans as the country's debt has already risen to a record 72% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023; hence, the government is now looking to raise funds for capital projects through privatisation and securitisation of state-owned assets.

Also Read | India simplifies export documentation for West Asia, North Africa markets

President Ruto has revealed that Kenya needs at least 5 trillion shillings to lift the nation into a developed economy. Apart from KPC, dozens of other state-owned companies are also lined up for privatisation, including National Oil Corp and New Kenya Co-operative Creameries Ltd, according to Bloomberg.

Expert anticipates an oversubscription The IPO has been witnessing high investor interest, due to which experts anticipate an oversubscription, said Belgrad Kenne, lead for the sale at Faida Investment Bank.

He additionally noted that the timing of KPC's IPO may play a significant role in its success, as the nation is currently witnessing a favourable macroeconomic environment.
Multibagger defence stock: Apollo Micro Systems announced a 300 crore capital expenditure (capex) expansion plan of an upcoming defence project for which the Telangana government has allotted more than five acres of land to the company in Hyderabad, according to an exchange filing.

The project will focus on manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing of weapon system platforms, the company said in its BSE filing on Monday, 19 January 2026.

The 300 crore investment will come on top of the 27.58 crore land acquisition cost for more than five acres of land in Hyderabad at an allotment price of 12,000 per square metre, the company said, highlighting that the project represents an expansion of its weapon integration facilities in the city.

The company proposes to undertake capital expenditure for the development of the aforesaid site into an integrated facilitywith an estimated investment of approximately 30,000 lakhs ( 300 crore), the exchange filing read.

Capex expansion refers to the company's plans to increase its investment in long-term assets, such as land, plants, and equipment, to support growth and new projects.

What is the purpose of the facility? The company said the new facility will be for weapon system platforms such as grad rockets, anti-submarine warfare rockets, anti-tank mines, artillery munitions and other similar weapon systems. The land allotment covers 22,988 square meters at TSIIC, Hardware Park Phase II in Hyderabad.

The company had signed an MoU with the State government during the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025 held in Hyderabad on 8 December last year.

I am pleased to share that Apollo Micro Systems Ltd. is taking a significant step forward in strengthening its manufacturing and testing facilities. This strategic investment, adjoining to our Unit 3, will expand the total facility to approximately 10.68 acres within a single campus and enable us to establish a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the manufacturing of Weapon Systems and artillery Systems like Grad Rockets, Anti-Tank Mines, Anti-Submarine Warfare Rockets, and similar products, said Karunakar Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Micro Systems.

He further added that the project reflects the companys commitment to enhance indigenous manufacturing capabilities, technological innovation and meeting the growing demand in the defence sector.

Share price trend of the company Apollo Micro Systems' stock has been a multibagger for stakeholders, giving returns of over 1600% in the past five-year period and around 82% in the past one year, according to data from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

The stock ended Monday's trading session with losses, settling at 239.35, down 6.5 or 2.64% from the previous close, as per the data.

The company's stock has fallen nearly 1% over the past month and has been on a similar downward streak over the last three months.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), the state-run defence company, reported a consolidated net profit of 390.40 crore for the third quarter of FY26, registering a strong growth of 190% from 134.70 crore in the year-ago quarter.

On a sequential basis, consolidated net profit rose 4.13% from 374.89 crore in the September quarter.

BHELs revenue from operations in Q3FY26 increased 16.4% to 8,473.10 from 7,277.09 crore, year-on-year (YoY).

Other income of the PSU during the December 2025 quarter surged 102% to 218.75 crore from 107.91 crore, YoY.

At the operating level, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in Q3FY26 increased 79% to 545 crore from 304.5 crore, while EBITDA margin improved to 6.4% from 4.2%, YoY.

Short closure of Karkhiyaon plant In 2024, the board of directors of BHEL had approved a capital investment scheme for the establishment of a new plant at Karkhiyaon, Varanasi.

The companys board at its meeting held today has approved short closure of the above scheme, considering the current business landscape.

The products originally planned for the new plant at Karkhiyaon, Varanasi, are now being planned at other BHEL locations, BHEL said in a regulatory filing on Monday, January 19.

BHEL Share Price History BHEL share price has fallen over 6% in one month, and has gained 11% in three months. The PSU defence stock has risen by just 3% in six months, while it has rallied 21% in one year. Over the past three years, BHEL stock price has jumped 223%, and it has delivered multibagger returns of 550% over the past five years.
The Indian stock market witnessed an across-segment selloff on Monday, January 19, on profit booking amid weak global cues. Benchmarks, the Sensex and the Nifty 50 fell by almost half a per cent, with heavyweights, including Reliance, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank, among the top drags after their Q3 results.

The Sensex dropped 324 points, or 0.39%, to end at 83,246.18, while the Nifty 50 closed at 25,585.50, losing 109 points, or 0.42%. The BSE Midcap index fell 0.43%, while the Smallcap index suffered a loss of 1.28%.

Investors lost 2 lakh crore in a day as the overall market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms dropped to slightly over 466 lakh crore from nearly 468 lakh crore in the previous session.

Why did the Indian stock market fall? Let's take a look at five key factors behind the fall in the Indian stock market:

1. Trump's tariff threat US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against eight European nations, effective from February 1, over Greenland.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that starting 1 February, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland will be charged a 10% tariff on all goods they export to the United States. On 1 June, the tariffs will increase to 25% and remain at 25% until a deal regarding "the complete and total purchase of Greenland" is finalised, he said.

Trump's tariff threat attracted sharp reactions from European Union leaders, with media reports suggesting several of them discussed possible retaliation, including bringing back last years plan to impose tariffs on US goods.

We dont know now how President Trumps disruptive policies are going to impact international trade and global economic growth. How the European nations are going to react to President Trumps latest Greenland tariffs remains to be seen, said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments.

"If Trump walks his talk and imposes 10% tariffs on the eight European countries on February 1st and follows it up by raising the tariffs to 25% from June 1st onwards, retaliation by the European bloc is almost certain," said Vijayakumar.

2. Unimpressive Q3 earnings Indian corporates have reported mixed Q3 results so far. Unlike expectations of a healthy upside, the numbers for heavyweight sectors such as IT and banking have shown only mild improvements, which have failed to boost market sentiment, pressured by US tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

3. Relentless FII selling Relentless selling by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remains a key headwind for the market. FIIs have sold off Indian stocks worth over 22,000 crore in the cash segment in January so far. FIIs have been selling Indian stocks since July last year.

"The total FII selling for January up to 16th stood at 22,529 crore. This month, FIIs were sellers on all days except one. The underperformance of India vis-a-vis other major markets is continuing in early 2026, also. Year-to-date return from Nifty stands at -1.73%," Vijayakumar noted.

"It appears that the FII selling trend may continue until some positive triggers for a market rally happen. The AI trade, which dominated the stock market trend in 2025, is also continuing in early 2026. A reversal of this trend might happen sometime in 2026," said Vijayakumar.

4. Caution ahead of Union Budget 2026 Caution ahead of the mega policy eventthe Union Budget 2026is also contributing to the market downtrend. While the central government is likely to maintain a balance between growth and fiscal consolidation, speculation that an overemphasis on fiscal consolidation may curtail government capital expenditure, a key driver of economic growth, is keeping investors wary.

5. Technical factors Ajit Mishra, SVP of Research at Religare Broking, observed that the Nifty continues to hover near its medium-term moving average, the 100 DEMA, indicating a tussle between bulls and bears.

"A decisive break below this level could trigger further downside toward 25,300, followed by the key long-term support near the 200 DEMA at 25,150. On the upside, any rebound is likely to face resistance in the 25,90026,000 zone, with the next hurdle around 26,200," said Mishra.

Amol Athawale, VP- Technical Research at Kotak Securities, said that the current market formation is non-directional, and the short-term activity indicating a non-directional trend is likely to continue in the near future.

"On the downside, 25,500 and 25,400 would act as key support zones, while the daily SMA (simple moving average) at 25,950 and the 20-day SMA at 26,000 would be crucial resistance levels for the bulls," said Athawale.

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Stock market today: The Indian stock market is likely to open flat-to-negative on Monday, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Asian markets mostly traded lower on Monday; meanwhile, the US stock market also ended flat after Trump said at the White House on Friday that he would prefer National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett to remain in his current position, suggesting he may not be selected as the next U.S. Fed chair.

Early trends from Gift Nifty pointed towards a negative opening, was trading down by 143 points or 0.57% at 25,598.

"Indian equity markets are expected to open on a range-bound note with a mild positive bias, supported by continued strength in IT stocks following Infosys upgraded earnings guidance and steady resilience in the banking sector. However, upside is expected to remain capped by persistent FII outflows, global tariff uncertainties and geopolitical concerns, keeping overall risk appetite cautious. Volatility is likely to stay elevated as Q3 earnings announcements coincide with global macro and geo-political headlines. While steady DII inflows could cushion any declines, near-term direction will remain highly sensitive to FII flows and external cues, said Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money.

On Friday, the benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, ended their two-session losing streak on Friday, January 16, led by gains in IT majors such as Infosys, TCS and Tech Mahindra.

The Sensex finished 188 points, or 0.23%, higher at 83,570.35, while the Nifty 50 closed at 25,694.35, up 29 points, or 0.11%.

Stocks to watch Against this backdrop, here's a list of stocks that may attract investor interest and are likely to move today.

BHEL, Tata Capital, Hindustan Zinc, IRFC Shares of Bharat Heavy Electricals, Tata Capital, Hindustan Zinc, Indian Railway Finance Corporation will remain in focus as companies will declare their Q3 results today.

Reliance Industries RIL reported a Q3 net profit of 18,645 crore, driven primarily by its Digital Services and Oil-to-Chemicals businesses. Revenue climbed to 2.65 lakh crore, while EBITDA stood at 46,018 crore.

HDFC Bank HDFC Bank posted a net profit of 18,653 crore for Q3, with net interest income increasing 6.4% YoY to 32,615 crore. Asset quality stayed steady, as gross NPAs stood at 1.24% while net NPAs were at 0.42%.

ICICI Bank Indias second-largest private sector lender, ICICI Bank, on Saturday posted a 4% decline in standalone net profit for the December quarter, coming in at 11,318 crore compared with 11,792 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Tata Technologies Tata Technologies saw its bottom line almost vanish in the third quarter, with consolidated net profit plunging 96% YoY to 6.6 crore, compared with around 169 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

Wipro IT services firm Wipro posted a 7% year-on-year drop in consolidated net profit, which stood at 3,119 crore for the third quarter.

RBL Bank Private sector lender RBL Bank on Saturday posted a sharp 555% jump in net profit to 214 crore for the third quarter of FY26, compared with 33 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Tech Mahindra Tech Mahindra reported a Q3 net profit of 1,122 crore, as revenue increased 2.8% quarter-on-quarter to 14,393 crore. EBIT climbed 11.3% to 1,891.6 crore, with margins expanding to 13.1%.

Maruti Suzuki Maruti Suzuki India plans to invest 35,000 crore to set up a new manufacturing facility at Khoraj in Gujarat, with a targeted annual production capacity of 10 lakh vehicles.

CG Power and Industrial Solutions The company has won a 900 crore contract to supply power transformers to Tallgrass Integrated Logistics Solutions LLC in the US, for a major data centre project.
Indian equity markets have been among the worlds best performers for several years, and investors have benefited from this sustained bull run.

However, those who stuck to a disciplined asset-allocation strategy and rebalanced their portfolios periodically have generated superior long-term returns compared with investors who relied mainly on stock selection or market timing.

Asset allocation is especially critical for Indian investors given high market volatility, concentrated equity risks, and the availability of multiple asset classes such as debt and gold or silver.

A well-structured allocation framework delivers better risk-adjusted returns than stock picking alone. Goal-based asset allocation works best, and consistency is the real edgeit reduces behavioural biases and helps investors ride through market volatility.

Also Read | Why Indias record SIP inflows may signal a new era of investor discipline

Behavioural traps

Investors who focus on timing the market rather than maintaining a stable allocation often amplify behavioural biases precisely when the stakes are highest. In falling markets, fear of losses pushes investors to sell low and delay re-entry until most of the recovery is already behind them.

Recency bias leads investors to select assets based on the last six to twelve months of performance, resulting in over-allocation at market peaks and under-allocation after sharp corrections. Overconfidence compounds the problem, as a few successful calls are mistaken for skill, encouraging larger and riskier timing bets that eventually backfire.

A consistent allocation, by contrast, turns investing from a series of stressful, one-off decisions into a repeatable habit. Rules and automation reduce emotional load, ensuring decisions are not driven by daily news flow or market noise. The biggest advantage of consistency is rupee-cost averagingmore units are bought when prices are low and fewer when prices are high, naturally countering the instinct to do the opposite.

What studies show

Studies on long-horizon portfolios consistently find that asset-allocation policy explains the bulk of return variability. Market timing and security selection contribute far less and often reduce realised returns once costs, taxes and behavioural mistakes are accounted for.

Staying invested through market cycles allows compounding to do its job. Missing just a few strong market days can meaningfully reduce long-term returns. Systematic plans such as SIPs smooth the perception of volatility, making investors less likely to panic during crashes or get carried away during euphoric rallies. Over long holding periods, short-term volatility becomes irrelevant, helping investors maximise returns.

In practice, building a clear allocation policy, automating contributions, and using rule-based rebalancing harness investor psychology instead of fighting itone reason consistency almost always beats timing over real investor lifetimes.

Also Read | Waiting for a crash may cost more than investing at market highs

Power of compounding

Consistency in portfolio allocation improves long-term outcomes by harnessing compounding, minimizing behavioural errors, and systematically capturing market risk premia through SIPs and rebalancing. Staying invested over long horizons allows returns to compound exponentially, far outpacing the linear outcomes of sporadic timing attempts.

Equity returns tend to cluster in short bursts. Missing even a few top-performing days can significantly slash overall returns, reinforcing the importance of remaining invested.

Also Read | Reviewing investment portfolios, assessing performance and rebalancing

Rebalancing edge

Systematic investing through SIPs buys more units during market dips and fewer at peaks, lowering the average cost per unit regardless of entry timing. Studies across Indian equity cycles show that SIPs started at market highs or lows deliver nearly identical CAGRs (compound annual growth rates) over 20-plus years, underlining the irrelevance of timing for consistent flows.

Regular portfolio rebalancing further boosts outcomes in volatile, multi-asset portfolios. It involves selling relatively overpriced assets to buy underpriced ones, locking in gains and restoring risk levels. In bull markets, rebalancing typically means trimming equities and adding debt or gold; in bear markets, it works in reverse.

Annual rebalancing tends to offer the best balance, as more frequent adjustments can raise transaction costs and tax leakage without proportionate benefits.

Ankur Punj is managing director and business head, Equirus Wealth.
Nissan Rogue drivers have filed a class-action lawsuit against the popular car manufacturer, alleging their rear windshields spontaneously shattered.

The suit, filed in the Middle District of Tennessee on January 6, alleges the rear windshields on 2021-2025 Nissan Rogues are defective because they are prone to spontaneously explode.

Drivers have reported unexpected rear windshield explosions causing shards of glass to fly through their vehicles, sometimes while the vehicle is being operated, according to a copy of the lawsuit reviewed by The Independent.

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The lawsuit also alleges that Nissan failed to disclose this material information to consumers despite knowing about the Rear Windshield Defect."

A new lawsuit alleges the windshields of 2021-2025 Nissan Rogues are prone to spontaneously explode. Plaintiff Darren Chang says the rear windshield of his 2023 Nissan Rogue (pictured) shattered last month, according to the lawsuit (Middle District of Tennessee)

A Nissan spokesperson told The Independent the company "takes customer concerns seriously and is aware of the lawsuit related to rear liftgate glass."

"While we do not comment on pending litigation, we encourage customers with questions to contact Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1 800 NISSAN 1 for support," the spokesperson added.

New York residents Nicole Delucia-Roitman and Darren Chang both said they experienced this alleged defect, according to the lawsuit.

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Delucia-Roitman, a resident of Monroe, New York, said the rear windshield on her 2025 Nissan Rogue shattered while she and her husband were driving on December 27. The cars are build at a Nissan factory in Tennessee.

Delucia-Roitman heard a loud pop that sounded like broken glass while driving, which prompted her to stop and inspect her car, the lawsuit states.

Delucia-Roitman safely pulled over to inspect the sound and discovered that the rear windshield had shattered but remained upright on rear frame of the vehicle before crashing into Plaintiffs vehicles trunk, spreading shattered glass across the rear interior of the vehicle, the lawsuit reads. Out of necessity, Plaintiff carefully drove home.

Chang, a resident of Selden, New York, said the rear windshield on his 2023 Nissan Rogue also broke on December 27, while he and his infant child were in the car, according to the lawsuit.

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The lawsuit states Chang heard a loud sound like falling ice after entering his car and closing the front, driver-side door. Chang looked in the rearview mirror and saw what he believed were ice fractals on the windshield  but after driving to a nearby pet store, he discovered it had shattered, according to the lawsuit.

Plaintiff had not realized that what he believed to be ice fractals was in fact jagged glass marks from the windshield shattering, the lawsuit reads.

Plaintiff Chang investigated further to find that much of the glass had fallen into the trunk of his vehicle, falling into the open spaces of Plaintiffs infant stroller, the lawsuit continues.

The lawsuit calls for a jury trial and asks for an unspecified amount of money, but estimates it at more than $5 million.

Attorneys representing Delucia-Roitman and Chang declined to comment when contacted by The Independent.
Marking a major shift from the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the Karnataka State Election Commission announced on Monday, January 19, that ballot papers will be used in the Bengaluru municipal corporation election.

The move came months after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state cabinet recommended using ballot papers instead of EVMs in the Bengaluru municipal election. The major shift also comes as Congress party pitches for move to ballot papers, alleging manipulation of the voting machines.

Karnataka State Election Commissioner (SEC) GS Sangreshi said, There may be many reasons. Once the state election takes a stand by consulting all the stakeholders in the matter. We have taken a decision. Sangreshi said the decision to use ballot papers was taken in compliance with all legal provisions.

Defending the state election commission's move to switch to ballot papers in the Bengaluru municipal corporation election, the state election commissioner said that ballot papers are not prohibited. Also Read | Bengaluru undergoes MAJOR civic revamp, to get 5 new corporations  All you need to know

The last elections to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were held in 2015. The tenure of the earlier elected body for BBMP expired on September 10, 2020, and since then a government-appointed administrator was taking care of its day-to-day affairs.

When are BBMP elections? Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Karnataka government and the state election body to hold the long-pending polls for Bengaluru local body by June 30.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice JK Maheshwari, which fixed the schedule for the poll process, said that the final ward-wise reservation list shall be published by the state government by February 20, and made it clear that no further extension shall be granted.

The order was passed on a plea of the Karnataka government which has challenged the high court's December 2020 order that directed the State Election Commission to hold BBMP elections expeditiously after finalising the electoral rolls. Also Read | Top 10 richest municipal bodies in India: BMC leads the list with 74,000-Crore budget

The top court is monitoring the compliance of its earlier orders regarding polls to the BBMP and the newly created municipal corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA).

During the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Karnataka government, submitted that the exercise of finalising and notifying ward-wise reservations is underway and will be done within a month.

The bench took the statement on record and fixed February 20 as the final deadline for publication of the list of reservations.
New Delhi: More than 7,500 CCTV cameras across the capital were found to be offline by the Public Works Department (PWD) in its safety audit conducted last year.

Launched in 2020 with the aim to make the city safer, approximately 2.8 lakh cameras have been installed by the government till now, in association with various resident welfare associations and market unions.

According to the latest report submitted by the government in response to a question in the Delhi Assembly, a total of 7,535 cameras were found to be offline. The reasons cited include power cuts, technical faults, theft or vandalism, and dismantling or relocation of cameras.

"In the technical fault category, it is mostly the network-providing company that has issues and there is no relay of the live feed at the Central Command Center (CCC), and then there is theft of parts and power cuts which are external factors. We are trying to resolve all this in the future tender," a PWD official said.

In a step towards increasing safety, the Delhi government plans to install 50,000 additional CCTV cameras across the city, while also prioritising the maintenance of these cameras.

CCTV cameras are mostly installed in public spaces like markets, roads, inside residential colonies, and business centres, and are connected to the CCC at the PWD headquarters.

The department has handed over maintenance of the cameras to Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL), a public sector unit under the Ministry of Defence.

"In future, for proper maintenance of CCTV cameras, we plan to issue a consolidated tender. Currently, we have a separate company in charge of maintenance work," a senior PWD official said, adding that the number of dysfunctional cameras is on a real-time basis, and keeps changing.

Last year, PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, during the assembly session in February, stated that the government plans to increase the CCTV coverage in the city.

Under the previous plan, 4,000 cameras were to be installed in every assembly constituency. However, allegations emerged that constituencies represented by BJP MLAs received fewer cameras, allegedly due to denial of approvals.
A moderate but deep earthquake of magnitude 5.7 struck near Leh in Ladakh on Monday morning, January 19, 2026, adding to a series of seismic events recorded across northern India and neighbouring Afghanistan over the past few days.

According to the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake occurred at 11:51 am IST, with its epicentre located at 36.71N latitude and 74.32E longitude, at a depth of 171 kilometres. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Deep-focus quake recorded in Ladakh Seismologists noted that the Ladakh earthquake was a deep-focus event, which typically results in less surface damage compared with shallow tremors, as seismic energy dissipates over a greater distance before reaching populated areas.

However, the quake was widely felt in parts of the region due to its magnitude, prompting brief concern among residents.

Separate tremor hits north-western Kashmir In a separate development, a stronger earthquake of magnitude 6.0 was reported in north-western Kashmir later on Monday. The European Mediterranean Seismological Center said the tremor struck at a depth of 35 kilometres.

While details of damage were not immediately available, authorities continued to monitor aftershocks in the seismically sensitive zone.

Series of earthquakes recorded in Afghanistan Afghanistan also experienced multiple earthquakes over the weekend, underlining the heightened seismic activity in the region.

An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 struck the country on Sunday evening, January 18, at 20:30 IST, at a depth of 10 kilometres, the National Center for Seismology reported. In a post on X, the NCS said:

"EQ of M: 4.0, On: 18/01/2026 20:30:11 IST, Lat: 33.70 N, Long: 65.57 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan"

Earlier the same day, another tremor of magnitude 4.1 was recorded in Afghanistan at 07:05 IST, again at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The NCS stated:

"EQ of M: 4.1, On: 18/01/2026 07:05:58 IST, Lat: 33.74 N, Long: 65.70 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Afghanistan."

Why shallow earthquakes are more dangerous Experts warn that shallow earthquakes are generally more destructive than deep ones, as seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking. This increases the risk of structural damage and casualties, particularly in regions with vulnerable infrastructure.

Earlier, on January 15, an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 was also reported in the region at a depth of 96 kilometres. The NCS said in a post on X:

"EQ of M: 4.2, On: 15/01/2026 13:08:48 IST, Lat: 36.36 N, Long: 71.28 E, Depth: 96 Km, Location: Afghanistan."

Afghanistans high seismic vulnerability Afghanistan lies in one of the worlds most tectonically active regions, particularly around the Hindu Kush, and experiences frequent earthquakes. According to the Red Cross, the countrys vulnerability is linked to its position along the collision zone between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, with a major fault line running through several regions, including Herat.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan remains extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, including earthquakes, landslides and seasonal flooding. Repeated tremors compound the challenges faced by communities already weakened by decades of conflict and limited development, leaving them with little resilience to withstand successive shocks.
Indias recent spate of signed and proposed free-trade agreements may not be sufficient to offset the impact of US tariffs on the South Asian countrys exports, economists at Barclays Plc said.

While the FTA spree certainly bodes well for making international trade more seamless, it may not necessarily result in higher exports large enough to offset the US tariff-inflicted pain, Barclays economists Aastha Gudwani and Amruta Ghare wrote in a report on Friday.

India remains one of the few major economies without a trade deal with Washington, despite facing a 50% tariff rate  among the highest in the world. The levies have dealt a heavy blow to Indias labor-intensive sectors, especially textiles, handicrafts, apparels, gems and leather. The US is Indias largest overseas market, accounting for 19.3% of total exports before the tariffs were imposed.

The lack of certainty on the trade deal has pressured the rupee and forced New Delhi to dole out $5 billion to protect Indian exporters. It has also sharpened Indias focus on trade negotiations with partners including the European Union, as it seeks to shed a protectionist image by lowering trade and non-tariff barriers long bemoaned by investors.

Still, many of the newer agreements  including those signed with Oman and New Zealand last year  are unlikely to deliver a major boost to Indias exports, given relatively small trade volumes.

The sheer scale of things doesnt add up, Barclays economists said. For example, in case of electrical machinery, after the US, the three large trading partners are UAE, Netherlands and the UK. But these three cumulatively do not make up for the market size that the US offers.

They added that of Indias top 20 export markets, it has free trade agreements or is actively negotiating such deals with 16 countries  including the US  and those markets together account for 51% of total trade.

The real test lies in translating these agreements into tangible export growth, including whether they strengthen Indias industrial base, Barclays said.

About 70% of Indias exports to the US face serious threat if the 50% tariffs persist, according to the report. Sectors such as leather and apparel, gems and jewelery, home furnishings and marine exports would bear the brunt.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, in New Delhi, and discussed bilateral ties and global developments. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, Today's meeting with DPM & FM @sikorskiradek of Poland provided an opportunity for an open conversation on our bilateral ties and global developments.

He said the discussions covered multiple areas of cooperation between the two sides. "Discussed advancing our economic, technology, defence, mining, P2P and multilateral cooperation," Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar also expressed appreciation for Poland's support for closer engagement between India and the European Union, saying, "Appreciate Poland's support for stronger India-EU ties."

During the talks, Jaishankar stressed the need for closer India-Poland engagement amid heightened global uncertainty and welcomed Sikorski and his delegation to India.

"Deputy Prime Minister, I welcome you and your delegation to India. We meet at a time when the world is under considerable churn, as two nations located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities," Jaishankar said.

He underlined the importance of exchanging perspectives amid evolving global developments, saying, "It is obviously useful to exchange views and perspectives. Our bilateral relationship has also progressed steadily but nevertheless needs constant tending," he said.

Referring to the overall trajectory of ties, Jaishankar said India and Poland have traditionally enjoyed warm, friendly relations, with recent years witnessing increased political engagement alongside expanding economic and people-to-people exchanges.

He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Poland in August 2024, during which bilateral ties were elevated to a strategic partnership.

Outlining the roadmap ahead, Jaishankar said the two sides would review the Action Plan 2024-28. "Today, Deputy Prime Minister, we would review the Action Plan 2024-28 through which we seek to realise the full potential of our strategic partnership," he said.

He added that discussions would include cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean technologies, and digital innovation.

Emphasising trade ties, Jaishankar said Poland remains among India's top trading partners in Central Europe and pointed to growing trade and investment links.

"Poland is one of India's largest trading partners in Central Europe. Our bilateral trade, I believe, stands at USD 7 billion, having registered growth of almost 200% in the past decade. Indian investment in Poland has surpassed USD 3 billion, creating a number of job opportunities for Poles. India's strong economic growth, size of its market and pro-investment policies, provide immense opportunity for Polish businesses," he said.

He also highlighted cultural and people-to-people cooperation, citing shared historical links and educational exchanges. "The Maharaja remains a cherished link. I recall meeting Polish youth in February last year under the first Jam Saheb Memorial Youth exchange programme. It is heartening to note that Indology continues to thrive and yoga is popular in Poland today," he said.

On broader geopolitical issues, Jaishankar said the two sides would exchange assessments on regional and global developments, including developments in their respective neighbourhoods. "Our conversation will naturally cover regional and global developments. In particular, an exchange of assessments on our respective neighbourhoods would be useful," he said.

Referring to previous discussions on the Ukraine conflict and its implications, Jaishankar reiterated concerns over what he described as unfair selective targeting. "I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications while doing so. I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," he said.

Raising the issue of cross-border terrorism, Jaishankar urged Poland to maintain "zero tolerance for terrorism" and said Sikorski was familiar with the region and its long-standing challenges. "Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the long-standing challenges of cross-border terrorism. Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood," he said.

Responding, Sikorski thanked India for the invitation and noted his participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival. "Thank you very much for inviting me. And as I've already mentioned, I was delighted to be attending for the first time the Jaipur Literary Festival, a great global cultural event," he said.

He said he had visited India several times previously, but noted that this was his first visit after the strategic partnership was announced by the two countries' prime ministers. "Personally, I have been to India many times before, both privately and officially, but for the first time since the establishment by our prime ministers of the strategic partnership," he said.

Calling India and Poland dynamic players in their respective regions, Sikorski said both sides should explore new opportunities for cooperation. "We seem to be the, dynamic countries in our regions, and therefore we should explore the opportunities that there are," he said.

Referring to historical experiences, Sikorski said, "We were also countries that were colonised in the 19th century. So we have particular sensitivities in that area," he said.

Agreeing with Jaishankar on terrorism, Sikorski said Poland too had faced such threats recently. "I completely agree with you on the need to counter transnational trans border terrorism. Poland, as you may have heard, has been a victim of arsons and attempted, state terrorism when a Polish railway line was, blown up under a moving train just very recently," he said.

Sikorski also echoed Jaishankar's remarks on selective targeting through tariffs and expressed concern about wider trade disruptions. "I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting, by tariffs. And we in Europe know something about that...Also, we fear that, this is progressing to a global trade turbulence," he said.

Noting India's expanding diplomatic footprint in Europe, Sikorski said the outreach signalled stronger engagement with the European Union. "We've noticed that you are establishing embassies everywhere in Europe, which means that you are serious about relations with the European Union," he said.

Sikorski added that he hoped the Polish Prime Minister would visit India soon. "It will be the turn of our prime minister to come to India. And I hope that happens, before too long," he said.
An Indian soldier, who was critically injured in a gun battle with terrorists in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), succumbed to injuries on Monday.

The injured paratrooper, Havildar Gajendra Singh, died during treatment at a military hospital in Jammu during the intervening night of 18 and 19 January.

In a social media post on X, White Knight Corps said: The GOC, White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a Counter Terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I on the intervening night of 18-19 Jan 2026.

We honour his indomitable courage, valour and selfless devotion to duty and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of profound grief, the X post added.

Indian Armys northern commander, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, also paid homage to the braveheart and said, His sacrifice and devotion will forever remain etched in our hearts.

Operation Trashi-I Continues The operation was launched in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt on Sunday, where an encounter broke out between the security forces and terrorists in which eight soldiers sustained injuries, primarily due to splinters from a sudden grenade attack.

The operation was suspended late Sunday night and resumed early Monday in the challenging terrain with thick vegetation and steep slopes, limiting visibility and movement.

In a separate X post, the White Knight Corps said Operation Trashi-I continues in Chatroo.

The post said: The cordon has been further tightened with search operations expanded. Troops of the corps, along with police and CRPF, remain deployed to dominate the area.

Multiple teams of the Indian Army, J&K Police, and paramilitary forces, supported by drones and sniffer dogs, are combing the area while maintaining a tight security cordon to ensure that the terrorists do not escape, officials said.

Search teams have busted a terrorist hideout and recovered a large quantity of food items, including rations, utensils, gas cylinders and stoves near the site of the gunfight, they added.

A group of two to three terrorists allegedly affiliated with Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) are believed to be hiding in the area, officials said, adding the operation resumed with the first light of day and was ongoing when the last reports were received.
Forty-five-year-old Nitin Nabin was on Monday elected unopposed as the BJP national president, the youngest ever to occupy the post as it seeks to further expand its influence in uncharted territories.

Nabin, a five-term Bihar MLA, emerged as the sole candidate for the top party post with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders filing nomination papers in his support.

Nabin will be formally declared as BJP president on Tuesday. He will succeed J P Nadda, who has been at the helm for an extended period since 2020.

Also Read | Who is Nitin Nabin? BJP appoints Bihar minister as national working president

"I hereby announce that only one name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of national president of Bharatiya Janata Party," K Laxman, the returning officer for the presidential election, said in a statement.

Laxman said 37 sets of nomination papers were filed in favour of Nabin as the BJP national president and all nomination papers were found to be valid.

Besides Prime Minister Modi, several other senior BJP leaders including party chief J P Nadda, and Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari were among the proposers of Nabin's candidature for the post of BJP national president.

Of the 37 sets of nomination papers, 36 were filed by the state units of the party and one set was submitted by the BJP Parliamentary Party.

Outgoing president Nadda, senior ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath, Nayab Saini, Pramod Sawant, Pema Khandu and Pushkar Singh Dhami were among those present on the occasion.

Laxman said that according to the schedule, the nomination process for the BJP national president was completed between 2 pm and 4 pm on Monday.

"In all, 37 sets of nomination papers were received in favour of Shri Nitin Nabin for the post of national president. On scrutiny, all sets of nomination papers were found to be duly filled out in the required format and were valid.

He said the BJP national president's election process was initiated after the election of 30 state presidents out of 36 states, well above the required number for completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the states.

He said the notification of the schedule of events was announced and the electoral roll was published on January 16, 2026.

Born in 1980, the year the BJP was founded, Nabin took the political plunge in 2006 after the death of his father Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, who was a BJP MLA.
Delhi High Court on Monday, January 19, dismissed Kuldeep Sengar's plea and refused to suspend his 10 years of sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the custodial death case of Unnao rape victim's father.

Hearing Kuldeep Singh Sengar's plea, Justice Ravinder Dudeja said, No grounds are made out for grant relief. The application seeking suspension of sentence is dismissed.

Dismissing his plea, noting Kuldeep Sengar's criminal antecedents and no new subsequent development in the case as LiveLaw reported, the court also noted the former BJP MLA's long incarceration. The court said the hearing of his appeal was delayed for several reasons, including Sengars repeated applications for suspension of sentence

Purpose would be served if the appeal is heard expeditiously, added the court while listing the matter for hearing on February 3.

Kuldeep Singh Sengar was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment on March 13, 2020 by a trial court, besides imposition of a fine of 10 lakh, in the case of the death of the survivor's father in custody.

The trial court had said that no leniency could be shown for killing a family's sole bread earner. Also Read | Kuldeep Sengar stays in jail as Supreme Court puts on hold Delhi HC order granting ex-BJP MLA bail in Unnao rape case

His brother Atul Singh Sengar was also given 10 years in prison. Five others, who were involved in the custodial death of Ummar rape survivor's father, were also received punishment.

The father of the survivor was arrested at the behest of Sengar under the Arms Act and died in custody on April 9, 2018, owing to police brutalities.

Sengar had kidnapped the minor and raped her in 2017.

The trial court, which did not hold the accused guilty of murder under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the father's case, awarded the maximum sentence for the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder to convicts under Section 304 of the IPC after holding that there was no intention to kill.

Also Read | Unnao case: CBI registers murder case against BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar

Sengar's appeals in the main rape case against the December 2019 judgement convicting him and sentencing him to imprisonment for the remainder of his life, as well as the father's case, are pending in the high court.

His sentence was suspended by the high court on December 23, 2025, till the pendency of his appeal challenging his conviction and sentence in the rape case.

The suspension was stayed by the Supreme Court on December 29, 2025.
The Uttar Pradesh administration on Monday, January 19,transferredNoida Chief Executive Officer Lokesh M, placing the official on a waitlist status.

This executive shuffle follows Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths directive to establish a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the tragic death of Yuvraj Mehta. The 27-year-old software engineer died on Saturday after his vehicle plunged into a water-logged excavation in Sector 150.

While the government offered no formal explanation for the CEOs sidelining, Lokesh, a 2003-batch IAS officer, had also served as the de facto Managing Director of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC).

The SIT inquiry will be led by the Meerut Zones Additional Director General (ADG), supported by the Meerut divisional commissioner and the Public Works Departments (PWD) chief engineer.

"The team has been asked to conduct a detailed investigation and submit its report to the chief minister within five days," according to an official statement.The fatality sparked intense backlash regarding administrative oversight and rescue inefficiencies.

Mehta drowned in the early hours of Saturday when his car drove into an open construction pit amid thick fog while he was returning home.

His family members and local residents held protest marches, citing criminal negligence by the Noida Authority and private developers. The victims father, Raj Kumar Mehta, has demanded strict accountability to ensure that no other family suffers a similar loss due to such avoidable safety failures.

Yuvraj Struggled for 2 Hours The family claimed that timely intervention could have saved his life as he struggled in the water for nearly two hours.

Rajkumar Mehta told ANI: "My son was struggling to save himself. My son was crying out for help, asking people to help him, but most of the crowd was just watching. Some people were making videos."

"My son struggled for 2 hours to save his life. The officials and staff present were unable to save him. They did not have any divers. There is negligence on the part of the administration in this entire matter," he added.

What Postmortem Report Says? The postmortem report of Yuvraj Mehta revealed the cause of death to be "asphyxia due to antemortem drowning followed by cardiac arrest".

Rajesh Kumar, an official from the Public Health Department of the Noida Authority, on Monday said that water at the accident site was flowing from a drain that is cleaned regularly.

Speaking to reporters, Kumar said: "The water is coming from this drain. The drain is cleaned regularly."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Delhi airport during his brief visit to India. Sources confirmed to news agency ANI that the UAE Presidents trip to India will be brief, lasting approximately two hours. His meetings with Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to take place in the national capital this evening.

The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia, with strained Iran-US relations, ongoing instability in Gaza, and the unresolved conflict in Yemen involving Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Officials indicated that regional developments are likely to feature in the discussions, and several MoUs are expected to be signed.

Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions," PM Modi wrote on X.

PM Modi also shared pictures with the UAE President, including one showing the two leaders inside a car and another capturing them in a warm embrace.

Also Read | UAE Prez visits India today: Inside the enormous wealth of Arab tycoon

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the visit is at the invitation of PM Modi and builds on the strong momentum from recent high-level interactions. These include the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai, in April 2025.

Also Read | UAE President Sheikh Al Nahyan arrives in India today, to meet PM Modi

The visit comes amid significant developments in West Asia, where US President Trump is preparing to launch Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan. This phase aims to establish a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

Also Read | UAE to pull remaining forces from Yemen as Saudi tensions escalate
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have made a long-term deal to supply 0.5 million metric tons of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) per year to New Delhi. With this deal, the middle eastern country has also become India's second-largest LNG supplier after Qatar. The deal was made on the visit of President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who was also personally received at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The two then travelled to the prime minister's residence, where they held talks in the restricted as well as delegation-level formats.

Briefing the media at a press conference on the visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, The President of the UAE has just concluded an official visit to New Delhi. This has been a short, but extremely substantive visit. He was received at the airport personally by PM Narendra Modi, which is a special gesture that reflects the extremely warm and close relationship that the two leaders share.

The UAE has always been a premier energy partner for India and therefore building on this comprehensive energy partnership, a long-term agreement for the supply of 0.5 million metric tons of LNG per annum was concluded during the visit. The UAE is now the second-largest supplier of LNG to India, Vikram Misri said. Also Read | Sheikh Al Nahyan visits India: Inside the enormous wealth of Arab tycoon  700 cars, 4,000 crore palace, 8 jets, more

In addition, an MOU on food safety and technical requirements was also signed, which will provide for sanitary and quality parameters to facilitate trade, exchange, promotion of cooperation in the food sector, and encourage food products and other agricultural product exports from India to the UAE. It will benefit the farmers of India and contribute to food security in the UAE. The discussions between the two leaders focused on several new and emerging areas of cooperation as well. In fact, to capitalise on the new opportunities for civil nuclear cooperation in the light of the passage of the Shanti Act in India for sustainable harnessing and advancement of nuclear energy for transforming India, the foreign secretary said.

India and the UAE also set an annual trade target of $200 billion by 2032 and agreed to seal a strategic defence pact. The volume of two-way trade reached USD 84 billion in 202324.
President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrives in India on Monday to explore new frontiers in further boosting the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Sheikh Nahyan's visit to India comes amid the volatile situation in the Middle-East arising out of a sharp decline in Iran-US ties, simmering tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen and the unsettling political scenario in Gaza.

Also Read | UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to visit India on 19 Jan: MEA

Sheikh Nahyan will depart from New Delhi tonight after a day-long visit.

People familiar with the UAE president's visit said trade and investment, defence industry cooperation and energy initiatives are expected to be on the agenda of his talks with the Indian leadership, according to a report in news agency PTI.

Sheikh Al Nahyan arrives in Delhi at 4.20 PM, as per media reports. He will holds talks with PM Modi at 4.45 PM and depart from New Delhi at around 6 PM. This would be two-hour stay for the UAE President.

Middle East Situation The situation in the Middle-east is also likely to figure in the talks, they said.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the president of the UAE will pay an official visit to India on January 19, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday.

It will be the UAE leader's third official visit to India since assuming the charge of the top office and the fifth to the country over the last 10 years.

There has been a significant upswing in bilateral trade and people-to-people ties after New Delhi and Abu Dhabi signed an ambitious comprehensive economic partnership agreement in 2022.

The visit builds on the strong momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in September 2024, the MEA said.

It also mentioned the visit to India by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the deputy prime minister and defence minister of the UAE, in April last year.

"India and the UAE share warm, close, and multi-faceted relations, underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic ties," the MEA said.

India-UAE ties The two countries are among each other's top trading and investment partners, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the local currency-settlement system and the bilateral investment treaty, it said.

India and the UAE also enjoy a robust energy partnership, including long-term energy-supply arrangements.

"The visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to chart new frontiers for the India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership," the MEA said in a statement.

"It will also enable an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence," it said.

(With agency inputs)
As Indias telecom firms weigh the timing and need for tariff hikes, Reliance Jio Infocomm, Indias largest operator by market share, has ruled out any immediate increase, signalling confidence in organic growth in its average revenue per user (Arpu), driven by rising 5G usage.

This contrasts with the stance of rival operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea that have repeatedly flagged the need for tariff correction to improve their returns on capital deployed. Airtel, in particular, has been arguing that Indias telecom tariffs remain among the lowest globally and that there is scope for higher Arpu also through a differentiated pricing structure compared to a one-size-fits-all" pricing model.

We are quite happy with the traction1% (quarterly) increase in Arpu. Over the last year, it has gone up by almost 5-5.5%. We have certain handles to improve the Arpu while contributing giving more value to the customers and that's what we will continue to focus on," said Anshuman Thakur, head of strategy at Reliance Jio, during an earnings call with analysts on Friday.

Organically if we can improve our Arpu by 5-6% a year. I think that's a good number, a good place to be in while adding many more customers," Thakur said, adding that the telecom operator is seeing a lot of uptake in 5G data consumption on its network.

In the December quarter, Jios monthly Arpu rose 110 basis points, or 1.1% sequentially, to 213.7 from 211.4 at the end of September. In the absence of tariff hikes, the growth in the operators Arpu has been rising about 1% sequentially over the last one year, which in a way has restricted the growth of the operators, given there are promotional 5G offers.

In terms of Arpu, Airtel currently leads the pack at 256 a month as of September end. Vodafone Ideas Arpu was 167. Both are yet to declare their earnings for the December quarter.

Brokerage house Citi, in a 5 January note, said it expects the next tariff hike to be around the listing of Jio, which is planned for the first half of the current year". Citi has deferred its expectation from December 2025 to June 2026.

Jio Platforms, which will be filing its draft papers for listing on the stock exchanges, houses the telecom and digital services business of Reliance Industries. Reliance Jio Infocomm is a subsidiary of Jio Platforms, accounting for most of its business.

When telecom operators last raised tariffs in July 2024, after a gap of over two years, it was Reliance Jio that took the lead with a 1225% increase. But while Airtel and Vodafone Idea have been vocal about the need to hike tariffs to increase the return on capital employed (RoCE, a measure of profitability and efficiency), Jio has refrained from openly talking about tariff hikes.

Along with the July 2024 tariff hikes, both Jio and Bharti had increased the data offered under their minimum recharge plans, which subscribers need to avail 5G benefits (to 2 GB/day from 1.5 GB earlier). Last year, they scrapped their entry-level packs.

According to Citi, the July 2024 tariff hikes, initiated by Jio (the previous two were initiated by Airtel) indicates a shift in stance of the market leader with monetization now a clear priority, which improves visibility of future tariff hikes.

Also Read | Telecom defies FPI sell-off with highest inflows since 2022

Organically if we can improve our Arpu by 5-6% a year. I think that's a good number, a good place to be in while adding many more customers," Thakur said, adding that the telecom operator is seeing a lot of uptake in 5G data consumption on its network.

In the December quarter, Jios monthly Arpu rose 110 basis points, or 1.1% sequentially, to 213.7 from 211.4 at the end of September. In the absence of tariff hikes, the growth in the operators Arpu has been rising about 1% sequentially over the last one year, which in a way has restricted the growth of the operators, given there are promotional 5G offers.

In terms of Arpu, Airtel currently leads the pack at 256 a month as of September end. Vodafone Ideas Arpu was 167. Both are yet to declare their earnings for the December quarter.

Brokerage house Citi, in a 5 January note, said it expects the next tariff hike to be around the listing of Jio, which is planned for the first half of the current year". Citi has deferred its expectation from December 2025 to June 2026.

Jio Platforms, which will be filing its draft papers for listing on the stock exchanges, houses the telecom and digital services business of Reliance Industries. Reliance Jio Infocomm is a subsidiary of Jio Platforms, accounting for most of its business.

When telecom operators last raised tariffs in July 2024, after a gap of over two years, it was Reliance Jio that took the lead with a 1225% increase. But while Airtel and Vodafone Idea have been vocal about the need to hike tariffs to increase the return on capital employed (RoCE, a measure of profitability and efficiency), Jio has refrained from openly talking about tariff hikes.

Along with the July 2024 tariff hikes, both Jio and Bharti had increased the data offered under their minimum recharge plans, which subscribers need to avail 5G benefits (to 2 GB/day from 1.5 GB earlier). Last year, they scrapped their entry-level packs.

According to Citi, the July 2024 tariff hikes, initiated by Jio (the previous two were initiated by Airtel) indicates a shift in stance of the market leader with monetization now a clear priority, which improves visibility of future tariff hikes.

It seems that Jio is currently cautious on the tariff hikes because of its upcoming IPO (initial public offering). I believe increasing the tariffs post IPO would give them more substantial gains in the share price," said Faisal Kawoosa, chief analyst at Techarc, a technology market research company. However, the telecom operator could follow if other operators take lead in tariff hike during this time."

According to Kawoosa, given the premiumization in the smartphone market, there is also a need for a tiered structure of pricing in the telecom sector. There has to be subsidized pricing for lower strata and premium pricing for higher strata. This would keep the base level of consumption affordable to everyone, while also boosting Arpu for telecom operators from premium priced plans," he said.

During the December quarter, per capita data consumption on Jios network was 40.7 GB per month with total data traffic growth of 34% year-on-year. The total data traffic on the companys network rose to 62.3 billion GB, compared to 58.4 billion GB in the preceding quarter and 46.5 billion GB in the previous year.

Citing a recent third-party study, Thakur said when consumers are on the Jio 5G network, 99% of the time, they are actually consuming 5G, whereas on any other network, they are consuming 5G for less than 50% of the time.

During the analyst call, the company did not give the timeline for listing Jio Platforms, which houses Reliance Industries Ltds telecom and digital services business. We are awaiting the new notification to come from the government to see what the final details are going to be. We are working on the assumption that it's in line with whatever Sebi (the Securities and Exchange Board of India) has recommended. But we will still have to wait for that before we finalize," Thakur said.

For companies with a postissue market capitalization above 5 trillion, the regulator has proposed that they be allowed to dilute 2.5% of equity at the time of listing, down from the existing norm of 5% minimum public offer. The 2.5% dilution rule lets these big firms list without flooding the market, while still complying with public shareholding norms, making mega-IPOs manageable and investor-friendly.

Even as telecom contributes the bulk of revenue, Jios non-connectivity digital services are becoming increasingly significant. This segment includes managed technology services, cloud, bundled content, and devices.

The company recently partnered with Google to offer Gemini Pro plan to its users free of cost. Increasing adoption of digital services, such as cloud and AI services, creates differentiation opportunities in the near-term (for example, Jio bundling Google AI Pro) and a possible monetization opportunity in the medium term," said brokerage house BNP Paribas in a note dated 12 January.

Thakur said that Jio was in a very good position, and it could choose the services it wants to offer and those could be coming in from Reliance Intelligence or from any of the other partners or service providers.

In August last year, Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani launched Reliance Intelligence, the companys artificial intelligence arm, and announced expanded partnerships with shareholders Google and Meta Platforms for AI applications and services.

Jio is now in that unique position where there is no cost to Jio. It is taking products to the market," Thakur said. "Jio can optimize the access, the reach, the knowledge of the customers and in fact these are now revenue generating opportunities for Jio. So Jio actually makes revenue out of these things."

On capital expenditure for data centers and GPUs (graphics processing units), Thakur said that it would be incurred by Reliance or Reliance Intelligence and Jio will not directly incur this. The company can access these assets through long-term lease arrangements to offer services such as Jio Cloud or Sovereign Cloud to customers.

Home broadband push

Jio has been increasing its focus on home broadband. According to the company, during the reporting quarter, total connected premises with fixed broadband increased to 25.3 million. JioAirFiber continued to accelerate the pace of subscriber additions with a base of over 11.5 million as of December 2025.

Jio has set a target of 100 million home broadband customers, with no specified timeline.

The company is also focusing on improving cost efficiency in home broadband through its fixed wireless access (FWA) offerings. Unlike fibre, which requires a dedicated line for each household, FWA uses unlicensed band radio (UBR) technology to deploy a single receiver that can serve multiple homes, lowering the cost per subscriber.
Valentino Garavani, the Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with high glamour and timeless elegance, has died at the age of 93 at his home in Rome, his foundation announced on Monday. The news was shared on social media, saying he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.

Fashion legend Valentino Garavani passes away  All about his life and legacy Born on 11 May 1932 in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino was widely known simply as Valentino  a name that came to stand for luxury, refinement and couture excellence around the world.

He founded the House of Valentino in 1959 and, over the next five decades, he became one of the most influential figures in fashion history.

Valentinos designs were known for their intricate craftsmanship, elegance and, most famously, a signature shade of red that became known as Valentino Red. The distinctive colour was featured prominently in his collections and became a hallmark of his brands identity.

Throughout his career, Valentino dressed some of the most celebrated women of the 20th century. His clients included Hollywood stars, European royalty and global style icons such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren and Princess Diana.

His gowns were a fixture on red carpets and at high-society events, making him a favourite among celebrities and social elites alike.

Valentino first gained international attention in the 1960s, shortly after launching his label, and quickly established a reputation for luxurious evening wear, finely tailored silhouettes and a romantic aesthetic that appealed to women across cultures.

Over his long career, he became known as one of the last great couturiers of a generation that defined fashion before the modern era of mass marketing and global commercialisation.

In addition to his fashion achievements, Valentinos personal style and glamorous lifestyle made him a beloved figure in the worlds of art, society and popular culture. His frequent appearances at major fashion weeks and exclusive events, often accompanied by his longtime business and life partner Giancarlo Giammetti, reinforced his status as an arbiter of taste and elegance.

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Valentino retired from active design work in 2008, concluding a career that spanned nearly half a century. His final haute couture show in Paris marked the end of an era for the fashion house he had built from the ground up. Even after retirement, he remained a respected presence in the fashion community, often attending shows by his successors and offering guidance and inspiration.

Over the years, the Valentino brand continued to evolve under various creative directors, maintaining its reputation for sophistication and luxury. In recent years, figures such as Pierpaolo Piccioli and later Alessandro Michele took the helm, carrying forward Valentinos legacy into the contemporary fashion landscape.

Tributes have poured in from around the world following news of his passing. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to Valentino as an undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian high fashion, while designers, models and celebrities expressed their admiration for a career that influenced generations.

Plans have been announced for a public lying in state in Romes Piazza Mignanelli on 21 and 22 January, followed by a funeral service at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri on 23 January.
Literature enthusiasts love affair with book fairs is no secret. Be it libraries, exhibitions, or bookstores, books have been celebrated for centuries. Each year, book fairs and literary events are organised to exhibit hundreds of varieties of books and draw massive crowds of avid readers.

This year too, the World Book Fair 2026 was held at Bharat Mandapam from January 10 to 18. However, it made headlines not for its diverse collection of books, but for the chaotic scenes that unfolded when the crowds book madness turned into a free-for-all. What was meant to be a celebration soon descended into chaos and went viral for all the wrong reasons.

What began as a joyful celebration at one of the worlds largest literary festivals turned into an unexpected frenzy. Several purported videos showed excited crowds spiralling out of control as people attempted to grab books placed on the shelves.

Also Read | Books about fun and life lessons in the lunch box

One viral video showed hordes of people gathered at a stall, hopping to snatch books while completely ignoring the usual order and decorum of the event. As seen in the video, several individuals had their hands raised to grab the books, while one man stood elevated and reached upwards towards books placed on a high shelf near the sign.

Heres how people reacted: One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), What is wrong with us? Last day of the book fair in Delhi and look at the scenes. Moral collapse.

Another commented, These are apparently so-called well-read and educated people. Indians skip civics at every moment. We instantly become animals if we get the opportunity to steal something.

Also Read | Delhi Trade Fair 2025 weekend ticket prices: Know how and where to buy

A third user said, A place meant to promote reading, learning and values turned into a reminder of why those books are needed in the first place.

A fourth user wrote: Seems like a fish market.

Also Read | Books you must read once in your lifetime

Meanwhile, military heritage, defence literature and curated hardware exhibits were among the key highlights of the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026. Beyond books, the exhibition featured live military equipment used in border deployments. Major attractions also included the Arjun tank and a detailed replica of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, both of which drew strong public interest.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday amplified President Donald Trump's message over Greenland, saying that Europe's weakness necessitates United States' control over the island to avoid a national emergency.

Speaking at NBC's Meet the Press programme, Bessent defended Trump's tariffs on some European countries that have been opposing Trump's push to acquire Greenland, saying that the decision was taken to avoid a hot war.

When asked what was the national emergency that justified the 10% tariffs on eight European nations that oppose Trump's Greenland goals, the top White House official answered that the national emergency is avoiding a national emergency.

He called the tariff decision 'strategic.

It is a strategic decision by the president. This is a geopolitical decision, and he is able to use the economic might of the US to avoid a hot war, Bessent told NBC.

The Treasury Secretary's comments comes a day after Trump vowed to implement tariffs on European Union members opposed to a US acquisition of Greenland, including Denmark, which has long been one of Washington's staunchest allies.

Calling US the strongest country in the world, Bessent said that taking control of Greenland was crucial to win the geopolitical chess match against Russia and China.

Europeans project weakness. US projects strength. The president believes enhanced security is not possible without Greenland being part of the US, he said.

Europe will come around, says Bessent Laying out a rationale for Donald Trumps bid for Greenland, Scott Bessent said he had not in the recent days discussed with the President whether he is still keen on using emergency powers to justify using force to take Greenland.

European leaders would ultimately come around to the idea of US control of Greenland, he added.

I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe, and best for the United States, he said.

Also Read | Trump tariffs on Greenland serves as ice-cold reminder to European nations

Why did Trump impose tariffs on EU? Scott Bessent all but dismissed European Union threats to halt a tariff deal that the bloc reached with the US last year, telling NBC News that the US president is using strategic leverage to get what he wants.

First of all, the trade deal hasnt been finalised, and an emergency action can be very different from another trade deal, Bessent told NBC during the interview.

Trump leverages his emergency powers to do this, he said.

His comments came just ahead of Trump's foray to Davos, where the treasury secretary will also join him.
The death toll in the hit-and-run accident involving a car and labourers in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh rose to five on Monday after three more women succumbed to injuries during treatment, police said.

Officials said eight people are undergoing treatment in the hospital, and the condition of two of them remains critical.

Angry villagers staged a protest by placing the bodies of the victims on the Jabalpur-Mandla Road, disrupting traffic for hours earlier in the day.

The protest was withdrawn after six hours following an assurance from the administration to pay a compensation of 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased persons, officials said.

Police have detained the car owner, identified as Deepak Soni, a resident of Ponda village in Sihora. His brother Lakhan Soni, who was allegedly at the wheel, is on the run.

The accident occurred under Barela police station limits on Sunday afternoon when a car ploughed into a group of 13 women labourers having their lunch roadside during a work break, killing two and injuring 11 others.

Bharti Chainwati (35) and Lachho Bai (38) were killed on the spot, while Gomti Bai (40), Varsha Bai (39), and Krishna Bai (41) succumbed to their injuries during treatment on Monday, according to officials.

Led by local Congress leaders, villagers had gathered at the spot of the accident and blocked the road leading to the Barela toll plaza. All the deceased and injured were residents of the Mandla district.

The protesters raised slogans against the administration and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), alleging that the incident occurred due to negligence in safety standards.

They demanded a government job and compensation of 25 lakh each for the families of the deceased.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Denmark has not been able to do anything to get the "Russian threat" away from Greenland. He warned that, "Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

In a post on TRUTH social media, Trump wrote, "NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get Russian threat away from Greenland.' Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!, said Trump".

The White House and Denmark's foreign affairs ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Trump wants Greenland Trump has repeatedly insisted he will settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He also didn't rule out the use of force to take over the nation.

Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to be part of the United States.

On Saturday, Trump vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland.

Presence of Russia and China Trump claimed that the encroaching presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to US security interests. Danish and other European officials have pointed out that Greenland is already covered by NATO's collective security pact.

Earlier in January, Trump said the US will to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland.

Speaking after a meeting with oil executives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, Trump had doubled down on his Greenland ambitions, saying, We're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour.

I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if not, we are going to do it the hard way... When we own it, we defend it..., Trump had said.

"Look at what happened with the horrible deal Obama made with Iran, which was a short-term deal... Countries need to have ownership... We have to defend Greenland, because if we don't, China or Russia will...," Trump had said.

When asked why it was important to "own" Greenland when the US has a military presence that it could expand, Trump said that one defends ownership and not leases.

When we own it, we defend it. You don't defend leases the same way. You have to own it. Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership. You don't defend leases. If we don't do it, China or Russia will," Trump was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

"That's not going to happen... NATO has to understand that. I'm all for NATO. I saved it. If it weren't for me, NATO would not be there, he added.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Monday (January 19) praised her departments law enforcement efforts in Minneapolis, claiming the arrest of over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens in recent weeks.

Noem made the remarks in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Massive arrests, public safety victory Noem said, PEACE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNEAPOLIS! We have arrested over 10,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals, according to her post.

She added that in the last six weeks alone, DHS law enforcement apprehended 3,000 criminal illegal aliens including vicious murderers, rapists, child pedophiles and incredibly dangerous individuals, calling it a HUGE victory for public safety.

Claims of widespread fraud Noem also alleged significant financial wrongdoing in the city, stating, There is MASSIVE Fraud in Minneapolis, at least $19 billion and thats just the tip of iceberg. Our Homeland Security Investigators are on the ground in Minneapolis conducting wide scale investigations to get justice for the American people who have been robbed blind.

Call to make America safe She concluded her post with a rallying message: MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a series of urgent weather warnings across the United States, as dangerous cold, snow, strong winds and dense fog affect large parts of the country from Florida to the Great Lakes and Alaska.

Florida faces rare freeze conditions According to the NWS Tampa Bay/Ruskin, a Freeze Warning and Cold Weather Advisory are in effect for parts of central and coastal Florida, including Citrus, Hernando, Levy and Sumter counties, from midnight Sunday to 9 am Monday.

Temperatures are expected to fall as low as 25F, with wind chills near 23F. The NWS warned that frost and freezing temperatures could damage crops, kill sensitive plants and affect outdoor plumbing. A Freeze Watch is also in place for late Monday night into Tuesday morning, with temperatures again dipping below freezing.

Residents have been advised to protect plants, cover pipes and dress warmly if heading outdoors.

Arctic cold spreads across the Midwest and Southeast The NWS Weather Prediction Center said a powerful Arctic air mass is pushing south, bringing temperatures 20 to 30 degrees below normal across much of the Midwest. Overnight lows in the low to mid-30s have triggered freeze warnings from southern Georgia into central and northern Florida.

Wind chills in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin could fall to 30 below zero, with the NWS La Crosse warning that exposed skin could suffer frostbite in as little as 10 minutes.

Dangerous snow squalls hit Indiana and Michigan The NWS Northern Indiana issued a Snow Squall Warning for parts of northeastern Indiana and southwestern Michigan, including sections of Interstate 80.

Forecasters warned of sudden bursts of heavy snow, wind gusts up to 35 mph, and near-whiteout conditions, making travel dangerous within minutes. Drivers were urged to slow down and be alert for rapidly changing road conditions.

Heavy lake-effect snow in New York In upstate New York, the NWS Albany said lake-effect snow could bring 6 to 12 inches of accumulation in Northern Herkimer County through early Wednesday.

Visibility may drop below a quarter mile, and travel could become difficult, especially in areas north of the Route 28 corridor.

Dense fog blankets Californias San Joaquin Valley The NWS Hanford warned that dense fog across the San Joaquin Valley could reduce visibility to less than 200 feet, with some areas seeing near-zero visibility.

The advisory remains in effect until Monday afternoon, with fog expected to return again overnight, making driving hazardous.

Strong winds and bitter cold in Ohio and Pennsylvania The NWS Cleveland said wind gusts up to 45 mph could knock down tree limbs and cause isolated power outages in parts of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

A Cold Weather Advisory follows Monday night into Tuesday, with wind chills dropping to 15 to 20 below zero, raising the risk of hypothermia.

Extreme cold warning in West Virginia In Western Greenbrier County, West Virginia, the NWS Blacksburg issued an Extreme Cold Warning, with wind chills expected to fall to 15 below zero, and even colder at higher elevations.

Residents were advised to limit time outdoors and wear layered winter clothing, including hats, gloves and face coverings.

Freezing spray warning in Alaska waters The NWS Fairbanks issued a Heavy Freezing Spray Warning for coastal waters in northwest Alaska, warning that ice buildup on vessels could be dangerous for marine travel.

What people should do The National Weather Service advises residents across affected regions to:

-Dress in warm layers, including hats and gloves

-Limit outdoor exposure in extreme cold

-Protect plants, pets and water pipes

-Drive cautiously in snow, fog and high winds

-Stay updated with local NWS alerts
First major cold wave in 2026 sweeps China with plummeting temperatures, strong wind and heavy snow

08:49, January 19, 2026 By Du Qiongfang and Sun Langchen ( Global Times

Tourists at Jingshan Park in Beijing brave the snow to capture panoramic photos of the snow-covered Palace Museum or known as the Forbidden City on January 18, 2026. Photo: Chen Tao/GT

China's national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief on Sunday activated a Level IV emergency response for freezing rain and snow on Sunday evening in Anhui, Henan, Hunan and Guizhou provinces, urging heightened coordination, protection of key sectors and rapid rescue efforts to prevent casualties and major losses amid the first major cold wave in 2026 sweeping across much of the country.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) elevated the cold wave alert to yellow on Sunday, warning that the cold wave is affecting the majority of the country, and the sharp temperature drops, strong winds, rain, snow and freezing conditions are expected to sweep from north to south across the central and eastern regions of the country between Sunday and Wednesday.

The NMC renewed a yellow alert for the cold wave on Sunday. Accompanied by strong winds, average or minimum temperatures across the central and eastern regions of the country are expected to fall by 6 to 12 degrees from Sunday to Wednesday due to the cold wave moving southward. By Wednesday morning, the 0 C line is forecast to shift southward to areas including southern Guizhou, southern Hunan, central Jiangxi and southern Zhejiang.

Meanwhile, central and eastern China are set to undergo the largest, strongest and most extensive rain, snow and freezing event since the start of winter. From Saturday to Sunday, eastern North China and the Huang-Huai region are expected to see light to moderate snow or sleet. Monday is forecast to be the peak period of the process, with complex transitions between rain, snow and freezing rain south of the Qinling Mountain-Huaihe River line.

To cope with the evolving weather conditions, national authorities on Saturday dispatched multiple departments to provinces including Shanxi, Anhui and Guizhou to assess the risks posed by low temperatures, snow and ice and to deploy preventive measures.

Beijing's plain areas continue to see light snow on Sunday morning, with yellow alerts in place for icy roads and prolonged low temperatures, according to the Beijing Meteorological Service. Many districts in the capital welcomed their first snow of 2026 on Saturday night. The weather authority also urged the public to stay warm, guard against freezing conditions and pay attention to travel safety, noting that northerly winds would strengthen after the snow.

Meteorological data showed that from 6 am on Saturday to 7 am on Sunday, the city recorded an average snowfall of 1.2 millimeters, with urban areas averaging 1.6 millimeters. The heaviest snowfall was reported at the Qianlingshan in Beijing's Fengtai district, at 9.9 millimeters.

Light snow was expected to continue across most parts of the city from Sunday morning through midday, with more noticeable snowfall in some western and southern areas, per meteorological service.

The snowfall drew widespread attention on social media, with the hashtag asking why this round of snow featured such large flakes climbing to the top of trending lists on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Sunday that Beijing's southwestern suburbs are covered by nearly 20 centimeters of soft, fluffy snow. Snow of this depth is very rare in Beijing.

According to Ma, the reason for this thick, fluffy snow is a combination of high moisture, a long duration of snowfall and ideal upper-air temperatures ranging from -10 C to -20 C. These conditions cause the snowflakes, while falling, to repeatedly shift between ice and water states, creating a sticking effect. The snowflakes clump together, visually resembling heavy, feathery snow, and accumulate on the ground to form a deep snow layer.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The leader of global rights organization Amnesty International called on European nations on Monday to resist US President Donald Trump and other global bullies, warning that continued appeasement could undermine the post-World War II rules-based order.

We need much more resistance, Amnesty Secretary-General Agnes Callamard told AFP on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. Europe's credibility is at stake.

Her remarks come amid escalating tensions over Trumps repeated threats to take control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. European countries, she said, must stand firm against coercive tactics like tariffs and military threats.

Trumps Greenland threat sparks European unity Callamards intervention follows Trump doubling down on his plans to seize Greenland, claiming the move is necessary for world security. European powers, including Germany and France, have denounced his threats of new tariffs against countries opposing his Arctic ambitions as blackmail.

While condemning Trumps approach, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized Europes desire to avoid any escalation in the dispute ahead of his planned meeting with Trump in Davos on Wednesday.

Say no to bullies Amnestys chief urged governments to show courage and reject one-sided deals.

Stop thinking you can make deals with bullies, stop thinking you can agree to the rules of the predators and not become yourself a victim of them, Callamard said.

She framed the Greenland dispute as the latest symptom of a broader global trend she sees as destructive to international norms.

The US bid to seize Greenland is only one indication that the world is facing the destruction of the rules-based order, she warned.

Global order under threat Callamard criticized multiple powers for undermining the international system established after World War II.

Superpowers seem intent on destroying what has been established after World War II, dedicated to finding common rules to our common problems, she said.

She pointed to Trumps actions over the past year, Russias aggression in Ukraine, and Israels treatment of Palestinians in Gaza as evidence of the systems erosion.

The fact that it is now being destroyed without any plan B, just for the sake of destroying the rules, should send shivers to all of us, she added, warning that the alternative was falling down into an abyss.

Also Read | One year of Trump 2.0: The twists and turns that impacted India

European values and human rights Callamard stressed that Europes mission extends beyond economics.

The European project was not just about economics, but also about values, humanity, and the rule of law, she said. I'm hoping that our leaders will recall that history and see in the current challenges a way of re-insisting on the European project and demanding human rights protection for the sake of humanity.

She urged an end to the appeasement politics toward Washington.

Please stop it. Resist. Resist, she concluded.



(With AFP inputs)

Also Read | Norway PM says Trump linked Greenland takeover threats to Nobel Peace Prize snub
A wife came to know that her husband had secretly maintained a seven-year affair and transferred almost 25 crore to the other woman. The discovery came only after the mans death. And, it completely changed the womans understanding of their marriage.

The incident happened in Shanghai, China. The woman, surnamed Shen, married her husband Jin in July 1999. They had two children, a son and a daughter. The couple remained married for over two decades until Jin passed away in May 2022.

Shen later found that Jin had been involved with a woman, Tao, since 2015. Over seven years, he had quietly given her more than 19 million yuan. His family had no knowledge of the relationship.

After uncovering the transfers, Shen and her children approached the court. They sought to recover the full amount from Tao through legal action.

During the initial hearings, the court ruled that Jin had no legal right to give away such a large portion of shared marital property without his wifes consent. It held the gifts invalid. The court directed Tao to return the money.

Since Tao had already sent back 5.4 million yuan ( 7 crore), the court ordered her to repay the remaining money to Shen.

Tao challenged the decision and filed an appeal. However, the Shanghai First Intermediate Peoples Court dismissed her plea and upheld the original verdict.

According to the judges, the extramarital affair and financial transfers violated Shens lawful rights as a spouse. They also ruled that such actions violated accepted public morals and social values.

Social media reaction The judgment triggered strong reactions online. Several people expressed disbelief at the huge sum involved.

19 million yuan? Most working-class people could not earn that amount even if they started working back in the Qin dynasty (221206). Yet a man gave it away as proof of love, just like that. This ruling is truly satisfying, SCMP quoted one of them.

Many users welcomed the ruling, saying it set a clear example. Some felt justice was finally served while others remarked that the decision reinforced social order.

Also Read | Viral cheating bride says Instagram video was uploaded without her consent

A ruling like this is what truly upholds public morals and social order. This is great, and the mistress did not get a single thing, posted one on social media.

Another wrote, Finally. Let all mistresses end up with nothing: no man, no money.

The cheater died and the money came back. Perfect, came from another.

Adultery in India In India, adultery is no longer treated as a criminal offence. But, it still has legal consequences in civil matters like marriage disputes. In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the old colonial law that made adultery a crime.

Although it is decriminalised, adultery is still considered morally wrong in Indian society. It is a valid ground for divorce or judicial separation under most personal laws.

Hindu, Christian, Parsi and Special Marriage laws clearly allow divorce if a spouse has a relationship outside marriage. Under Muslim law, adultery can be treated as cruelty.

Adultery can also affect maintenance and alimony. A spouse living in adultery may lose the right to maintenance. Courts may reduce or deny alimony after examining conduct.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives on Monday. This move triggers a snap general election scheduled for 8 February, the first day of the current parliamentary session.

Kyodo News reported that the government finalised the decision to dissolve the lower house last Friday. Speaking at a press conference, Takaichi explained that she is seeking a fresh mandate from the public. By calling the vote, she is linking her political future to the elections outcome. Official campaigning will begin on 27 January.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Takaichi explained that she is seeking a renewed public mandate, effectively tethering her political future to the outcome of the upcoming vote. Senior ruling party officials said polling will likely take place on 8 February, following the official start of the campaign period on 27 January, Kyodo News reported.

This election represents the first major popular test for Takaichi since she broke barriers as Japan's first female prime minister on 21 October. It also marks the debut electoral challenge for the governing alliance formed just one day before her inauguration between her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP).

Takaichi seeks to capitalise on her administration's high public approval to validate her responsible yet aggressive approach to fiscal management and the newly established coalition structure, Kyodo News reported.

This snap poll arrives less than a year and a half after the previous lower house contest in October 2024. While representatives normally serve four-year terms under the Constitution, the prime minister has the power to dissolve the House of Representatives early.

Fragile Legislative Environment Last week, Takaichi signalled to ruling bloc leaders her plan to swiftly dissolve shortly after next Friday's 150-day regular session begins. Her government has struggled with a fragile legislative environment; the LDP-led group maintains only a slim lower house majority and lacks control of the House of Councillors, necessitating awkward compromises with the opposition.

In response, opposition groups have united.

Also Read | Sumitomo Mitsui gets RBI nod to open India subsidiary after Yes Bank deal

Last Thursday, the Constitutional Democratic Party and its former LDP partner, Komeito, established the Centrist Reform Alliance, now the largest opposition bloc. These forces have attacked Takaichis timing, arguing she is prioritising political gain over the 2026 fiscal budget despite her claims of being policy-focused.

8% Food Tax Takaichi also vowed to suspend an 8% food levy for two years.

Many opposition parties have also proposed cutting the consumption tax, at a time when concern over Japan's fiscal health is pushing bond yields to multi-decade highs.

Japan levies an 8% consumption tax on food and a 10% levy on other goods and services, helping to fund rising social welfare costs among a rapidly ageing population.

Takaichi said that a two-year exemption of the 8% food levy will cushion the blow to households from rising living costs.
Multiple people have died and wounded after a deadly blast hit a hotel in central Kabul on Monday, January 19, city police and the Afghan government said. The cause of the blast was unclear.

"An explosion occurred in a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street in Shahr-e-Naw, the fourth district of Kabul city, causing casualties," Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said without detailing the cause.

A purported video of Kabul hotel blast circulating on social media showed a car driving near a Chinese hotel before a blast shatters it. It is not yet known if the explosives were placed in a car.

Abdul Mateen Qani, the interior ministry spokesman, told AFP that there are a number of casualties as well as injuries. We do have casualties, both wounded and killed, he said.

According to China's news agency Xinhua, two Chinese citizens were also seriously wounded in the Kabul hotel blast, a restaurant employees said.

An Afghan security guard was killed and the restaurant was severely damaged, Xinhua said.

Flower sellers usually work in the area, where there are multiple restaurants and a hospital. Also Read | Donald Trump wants Bagram airbase in Afghanistan back from Taliban: Here's why

A report security agencies as saying that Chinese nationals were the targets in the Kabul hotel blast case. According to Tolo News, the exact number of casualties has not been disclosed, and the cause and nature of the explosion still remain unclear. Security officials have not yet issued a detailed official statement.
The Kremlin said on Monday, 19 January, that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited to join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, and that Moscow was studying the proposal while hoping for contacts with Washington regarding it.

We are studying the details of the Board of Peace proposal. We hope to have contacts with the US to clarify the details on it, the Kremlin said.

Russia also issued a statement on Trump's attempts to take over Greenland from Denmark. It said the Russian government was analysing the situation. There is a lot of disturbing information, it said.

Multiple countries, including India, have been invited by Trump to join his Board of Peace, which many analysts have dubbed his own United Nations.

According to the draft charter, the board would be chaired for life by Trump, would start by addressing the Gaza conflict, and later expand to deal with other conflicts.

Countries invited to join or accepted Trump's Board of Peace According to the reports, the US president has so far invited India, Hungary, Jordan, Greece, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania to join the initiative.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accepted an invitation to join the board, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told state radio on Sunday. Orban is one of Trump's most ardent supporters in Europe.

Trump has extended invitations to some 60 countries for the initiative.

Countries to pay $1 billion to stay on Board of Peace? The draft charter of the Board of Peace proposes a $1 billion fee for a permanent member of the board. It is not clear whether the $1 billion fee is mandatory for all countries that accept the invitation.

Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charters entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charters entry into force, the draft said, Bloomberg reported.

The plan attracted swift criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the details had not been coordinated with his country. A diplomat quoted by Reuters described the body as a Trump United Nations that, he said, ignores the fundamentals of the UN charter.
The United States has formally invited Israel to participate in President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" initiative, a project designed to mediate international disputes, as reported by Reuters.

While Trump initially announced the Board of Peace last September as a localised framework for terminating the Gaza conflict, the invitation dispatched to global leaders last week indicates a significantly broader mandate to address wars on a worldwide scale, Reuters reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration has already voiced disapproval regarding the separate Gaza Executive Board established by Washington last week, asserting that its structure conflicts with Israeli national policy. This Gaza-specific body, which operates under the broader Board of Peace, is tasked by the White House with fostering stability and economic growth in the territory; notably, the board includes no Palestinian representatives.

Netanyahus office has not publicly detailed its specific grievances, though the Gaza boards roster features Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a high-ranking Qatari representative. Israeli leadership has consistently resisted any Turkish presence in Gazas post-war governance and maintains a strained, complex relationship with Qatar, which serves as the primary intermediary with Hamas.

The invitation to the overarching global board now places Israel in a position to weigh its strategic involvement in Trumps expanding peace architecture.

France to decline Trumps Board of Peace invite Meanwhile, France is unlikely to respond favorably to an invitation to participate in President Trump's Board of Peace, as reported by AFP.

The boards charter goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza, an official close to President Emmanuel Macron told AFP.

It raises major questions, particularly regarding respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, which under no circumstances can be called into question, officials said.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France remains aligned with existing international structures. Earlier on Monday, the French foreign ministry emphasised its dedication to the UN, noting that it is examining the board's legality while expressing concerns that the initiative reaches beyond the Gaza situation.

This remains the keystone of effective multilateralism, where international law, the sovereign equality of states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes prevail over arbitrariness, power politics and war, it said.

Also Read | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif invited to join Gaza Peace Board by Trump

Canada will not pay for peace board seat Canada will not pay to be on Trump's Board of Peace, AFP reported, citing a government official.

Canada will not pay for a seat on the board, nor has that been requested of Canada at this time, the government official said.
Our intellectual horizon reflects the contagion of election cycles. In a world where nations are indulging in nuclear sabre-rattling, what are our leaders doing? Instead of binding the nation, they are sowing the seeds of dissension. The country feels let down by their shameful acts.

Look at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp. (BMC) polls, a ward-level election fought viciously. Estranged Thackeray brothers closed ranks. Raj Thackerays speeches betrayed Shiv Senas six decade old anti-Tamil rhetoric. He labelled Tamil Mumbaikars as Rasmalai and called them names reminiscent of Shiv Senas founder Bala Saheb Thackerays old lexicon. If non-Marathi people contribute to Mumbais success, then why dont they have the equal right to its resources? Amchi Mumbai (My Mumbai) is their permanent address now. So, why the discrimination?

Also Read | Bihar elections: A primer for the next government to jumpstart the state

The fear of losing 30 year-long control over the BMC forced the Thackeray family to resurrect the Marathi Manush slogan. Even the Pawar family came together in the battle of survival after a nasty fallout between the uncle (Sharad Pawar) and the nephew (Ajit). Its clear BMC elections achieved ghar wapsi (return home), something the Lok Sabha and state polls had failed on.

How did this miracle come about? Its not too difficult to gauge. With an annual budget at 75,000 crore, BMC is Indias richest municipal corporation with a budget larger than nine states. Balasaheb Thackeray once captured it and steered Shiv Sena to its glory. Mumbai decides the states political direction. To control the city, political families can indulge in fratricide, close ranks and can become rivals again. Even their whips can disintegrate.

For the BMC elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena Shinde factions and Ajit Pawars NCP, which share power in the state, fought against each other on many seats. In Ambernath, the BJP and Congress joined hands to secure the chairmans post, a tectonic event that created ripples even in Delhi.

Who gained from these strange alliances? The BJP. The Thackeray and Pawar families lost big time. The writing on the wall is clear that the time for opportunistic alliances is over. It also proved that the Congress party is becoming a dangerous liability for its allies.

Maharashtra municipal elections are now over. But the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Assam are once again fanning separatist tendencies.

Mamata Banerjees actions at the Kolkata Enforcement Directorate (ED) office were unprecedented. The Trinamool Congress alleged the ED wasnt conducting a raid to unearth financial fraud but was trying to get hold of TMCs election-related documents.

The Supreme Court has given Mamata a severe tongue-lashing and has stayed the FIRs lodged against the ED officials.

Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin is not far behind. On 11 January, he wrote to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the letter, he demanded that Modi should talk to Sri Lanka President and should secure the rights of the Lankan Tamils in their proposed constitutional reforms. During Sri Lankan prime minister Harini Amarsuryas visit last year also, Stalin had written to Modi asking him to take the Kacchativu island back from the neighbouring nation. Both the island and discrimination against Tamil minorities in Sri Lanka are age-old issues. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had lost his life dealing with it. But politics has turned into an endless game of repackaging old toxic ideas in a new form.

Stalins nephew and DMK lawmaker Dayanidhi Maran is doing his bit too. On Monday, in a speech with a clear separatist tone, he said, In Tamil Nadu, we have the confidence to ask our girls to study and constantly study further. But what about north India? They say girls dont go to work, stay at home, stay in the kitchen, raise children, this is your job..."

Like Stalin, Farooq Abdullah, who claims to be a patriot, insists on taking Pakistan on board in dealing with the Kashmir issue. The language Assam chief minister Hemant Biswa Sarma is using to win elections is fuelling anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh. Its creating difficulties for the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

Also Read | BJP and the playbook of disruption: What lies ahead for upcoming polls

Isnt it time our leaders weighed their words in the age of social media, where a stray comment possesses the incendiary power of inciting murderous mobs globally? Why do they forget the country is beyond the ephemeral cycle of elections and power?

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal.
The Cold War satirical novel The Mouse That Roared imagined a tiny European statelet declaring war on the US in the hope of being lavished with American aid after its inevitable defeat. Its a title that came to mind when European nations sent three dozen soldiers to Greenland in response to US President Donald Trumps threats to wrest the island from Danish control. The idea seems to have been: Support Denmark, yes, but dont antagonize the White House when Ukrainian security is also on the line.

Whatever the intent, it hasnt worked. Trumps contemptuous delight in beating up US allies was given free rein over the weekend as he raised the ante over the Arctic territory. Its time for Europe to fight tariff fire with fire.

The US president threatened a 10% duty from 1 February on US imports from the countries sending troops: France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark and non-EU members Norway and the UK. That would increase to 25% in June until a deal is reached for his government to buy Greenland.

In a grim flashback to last years EU-US trade deal when the bloc had to swallow a 15% tariff, the underbelly of Europes trade-dependent, soft-power regime is fully exposed.

The cost of such extra tariffs would be high. Bloomberg Economics estimates they could cut these countries US exports by up to 50%. Germany, Sweden and Denmark look especially vulnerable. But another timid acquiescence from the Europeans would be disastrous.

This is textbook economic bullying. If last years tariff deal is already being rewritten on the fly by the US, where will it stop? There has to be a point when even mice do more than squeak apologetically and submit to worse trade terms than China.

So even as Germany appears to be shipping its dozen or so soldiers back home, European leaders must be ready to play hardball if these levies materialize. The starting point is bolstering the European Parliaments threat to hold back approval of last years trade agreement, which was hailed by Trumps administration as providing unprecedented levels of market access" for American products.

The deal has not stopped the US from trying to strongarm Brussels into going easy on the tech barons of Silicon Valley and Seattle over regulations and antitrust issues.

Also Read | 2026 forecast: Expect a year of turbulence in the US and progress elsewhere

It is time, too, to unbox the EUs bazooka for the fight ahead: The blocs Anti-Coercion Instrument is explicitly designed to defend member states put under tariff pressure by foreign powers. It allows retaliation beyond customs duties and can potentially restrict market access for titans like Google owner Alphabet.

French President Emmanuel Macron, still nursing his wounds after failing to stop an EU trade deal with Latin America hated by French farmers, favours this trade weaponand hes been backed by German industrial association VDMA. Europe must not allow itself to be blackmailed," its president wrote over the weekend.

Then comes the longer-term question of whether Europe can get by on defence and security without American backingin Ukraine first and foremostthe answer to which was a resounding no last year when the EU had to accept Americas 15% levy. But just as those transatlantic trade terms have barely survived the New Year, last years rush to declare Nato as being back and better than ever under Trump looks wildly premature.

Denmark is right to say that a hostile takeover of Greenland would be the end of the alliance as we know it. Trumps new threats go beyond the Nato brain death" that Macron spoke of a few years back, and towards something like the forced obedience of the Soviet blocs Warsaw Pact. To avoid this miserable fate, the rearming of Europe is ever more urgent.

European unity will be found wanting. Poland and Italy are not on the tariff list and will try to de-escalate. Trumps continental MAGA allies can be counted on to sow discord. The UK, under the cautious stewardship of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, may pursue its own routes to exemptions.

Nor will Europe be under any illusion: If the White House is determined to take Greenland in the face of opposition from the American public, US Congress, the EU, Nato and the overwhelming majority of Greenlanders, it will succeed.

But if the status of American ally means being subjected to trade and technological subservience rather than being lavished with Cold War-style aid, cutting loose would be preferable. Trumps unnecessary aggression over Greenland may well become that moment. Canada is getting closer to China, even though it shares an 8,890km border with the US.

In todays White House, reality has outpaced fiction. Europes mice must quickly find their inner tigers. Bloomberg

The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist writing about the future of money and the future of Europe.
Almost all chief ministers from the BJP, the party's state unit chiefs and other prominent leaders will converge at the party headquarters here on Monday to participate in the process of the election for the BJP's national president.

BJP national working president Nitin Nabin is likely to be elected unopposed as the party's 12th national president, with party leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, backing his candidature for the post, party sources were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

According to the poll schedule announced by the BJP national returning officer K Laxman, the nomination for the post will be filed between 2 pm and 4 pm on Monday and the name of the new party chief will be announced the next day after completion of the election process.

Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be carried out between 4 pm and 5 pm on January 19. The nominations can be withdrawn between 5 pm and 6 pm on the same day.

"Almost all of our chief ministers will be present on the occasion. Besides, all the BJP state unit presidents and other prominent leaders of the party will also be present here," a source in the BJP told PTI.

Who is Nitin Nabin? Nabin, a five-time Bihar MLA was on December 2025 appointed as the BJP national working president recently. Nabin will submit his nomination for the party national president's post on Monday.

The BJP national president is elected by an electoral college comprising representatives from the party's national council and state councils, with the process overseen by the party's national returning officer.

According to the BJP's constitution, any 20 members of the electoral college of a state can jointly propose the name of a person, who has been an active member for four terms and has fifteen years of membership, for the post of the national president.

Also Read | BJP to name new national president on 20 JanNitin Nabin likely to replace Nadda

But such a joint proposal should come from not less than five states where elections have been completed for the national council, it stipulates.

Nitin Nabin is likely to be elected unopposed as the party's 12th national president.

Releasing the election schedule on Friday, the party's national returning officer K Laxman had stated, "The polling will be held, if needed, on January 20 and an official announcement of the name of the new BJP national president will be made the same day."
Nitin Nabin is all set to the 12th national president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today, 20 January.

Nabin, 45, was on Monday elected unopposed for the post and will be the youngest ever to occupy the top post in the party as it seeks to further expand its influence in uncharted territories. Nabin will succeed JP Nadda, who is also Union Health Minister.

Also Read | JP Nadda as BJP chief  from consolidation to expansion across states in 6 yrs

At 45, Nabin will be youngest president of the saffron party. Union Minister and The outgoing BJP President JP Nadda along with his colleagues Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh were present during the nomination at BJP headquarters on Monday.

Who is Nitin Nabin? Nitin Nabin was born on 23 May 1980 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. His father Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha was also a senior BJP leader and a four-time Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from Patna West.

Nabin studied at St. Michaels High School, Patna, from where he passed the CBSE Class X examination in 1996. He subsequently pursued his senior secondary education at CSKM Public School, New Delhi, completing his Intermediate examination in 1998. He is married to Deepmala Shrivastava, and the couple have two children - a son and a daughter.

View full Image Nitin Nabin was born on 23 May 1980 in Ranchi, Jharkhand. His father Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha was also a senior BJP leader and a four-time Member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from Patna West.

Before becoming the BJP national working president, Nabin was a five-time Bihar MLA. He won the recent Bihar Assembly Election from Bankipur seat by defeating RJD's Rekha Kumari by over 51000 votes.

Based on the affidavit that he filed for Bihar Elections 2025, the total net worth of Nitin Nabin is 3,08 crore. This includes movable assets worth 1.60 crore and immovable assets 1.47 Crore

Nabin has a liability of 56.6 Lakh, as per affidavit he submitted to election commission of India during Bihar election 2025.

Nabin has showed a cash of 35,000 in his account. His wife's bank account has 25,000 cash. The total cash of the couple in bank is 60,000

Nitin has shown 98,68,429 as deposits in banks and financial institutions. He has 6.6 Lakh in bonds and shares

Two Cars: Scorpio and Innova Nabin owns two cars  one Mahindra Scorpio purchased in March 2026 and one Toyota Innova Crysta purchased in October 2022. The market value of these two cars is 37.8 Lakh.

Nitin and his wife, Deepmala Srivastava own gold jewellery worth 11.3 Lakh.

Overall, Nitin Nabin's movable assets are worth 92.7 Lakh while his wife shown 66.5 Lakh movable assets. When counted with two dependents the family assets of Nitin Nabin are about 1.6 Crore

Immovable Assets Nitin Nabin's wife owns a plot in Dhukri Jharkhand worth 29 Lakh. She has another plot in Patna worth 1.18 Crore. The total market value of immovable assets that the family owns is 1.47 Crore.

Nitin Nabin is likely to be elected unopposed as the 12th national president of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Imphal, Jan 19 (PTI) Nasscom director Nirupam Chaudhuri on Monday said artificial intelligence (AI) has become a democratic force, and its future will be written in both big cities, as well as small towns.

Addressing a pre-summit event in the run-up to the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, Chaudhuri said Manipur should be considered a living lab of inclusive AI where innovation serves both local development and global needs.

"Today, AI is no longer a futuristic concept. It has become a democratic force. In Manipur, it is in a unique moment right now where grassroots AI can directly translate into global employability, inclusive growth and societal impact," he said.

"The future of AI in India will not only be written in big cities and metros; it will be shaped in places like Imphal, Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Thoubal. Thats what I believe in," the Nasscom director said.

While Imphal is the capital of Manipur, the other three places are district headquarters towns.

Chaudhuri continued, "In NASSCOM, we strongly believe that AI capability building must start at the grassroots. This means enabling students, start-ups, faculties, MSMEs, and community groups to learn AI by solving local problems."

He also said that as Manipur steps into the AI era, data privacy, cybersecurity and inclusivity should be ensured and must be foundational principles.

Chaudhuri said, "Manipur should not just consume AI but should create, adapt and lead with AI. We should all position Manipur as a living lab of inclusive AI where innovation serves both local development and global needs."
Davos, Jan 19 (PTI) It's time to embrace AI or die, be it individuals, corporates or governments, and India appears to be on the right track with artificial intelligence offering huge potential for Indian companies to scale up to global levels, says CEO of SandboxAQ that was born at Google's Alphabet Inc as a moonshot unit and is now an independent and influential entity.

Jack Hidary launched a sandbox or research group on AI and quantum technologies at Alphabet in 2016, which was spun off into an independent company in 2022. Its investors include former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, now chairman of SandboxAQ; Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff; T Rowe Price and a lot more.

Sandbox typically refers to a secure and live testing environment and draws its name from a child's sandbox, where children can build, experiment with or even destroy sand formations without causing any damage to the real world.

A B2B company, SandboxAQ, now focuses on enterprise solutions converging AI and quantum technologies to help corporates and governments on drug discoveries, materials science, navigation, cybersecurity, etc.

Speaking to PTI during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here, Hidary explained in detail his thesis of 'AI or Die', which is also the name of his upcoming book that seeks to wake people up to the urgency of AI adoption beyond just content creation tools.

The core message, he said, is that the companies that embrace AI will grow and those that don't will die.

Calling the present time a major inflection point across all industries, Hidary said it is not just a "nice to have" but existential for business survival.

Giving examples across industries, he said AI enables faster drug discovery for cancer, Alzheimer's, and other diseases, as against traditional timelines of 15 years or so.

In the energy sector, those using AI-powered catalysts to convert oil and gas into new energy products will thrive, be said.

"If we look at education sector, and India is very important here, having the largest population in the world of 1.4 billion people, if they don't embrace AI it will not be able to thrive globally," he said.

On WEF identifying cyber insecurity as the biggest risk facing India in the immediate future, Hidary said cyber security is fundamental to national security at the federal as well as state levels, as Indian states are larger than many countries.

"There can be critical infrastructure targets like banking, telecom and public utilities," he said.

At the same time, there are Indian tech giants like Infosys, Wipro, TCS and many others that hold massive amounts of customer data, and they have a global footprint that requires immediate cybersecurity implementation, Hidary said, adding that the same is true for governments too.

He said AI offers both benefits and new vulnerabilities and pitched for better AI solutions to deal with AI problems, saying SandboxAQ solutions are being used by banks, companies, and governments worldwide, including the US.

In India, he said the country's 80 per cent economy is in the physical world, such as railroads, energy, telecom and infrastructure, and SandboxAQ's AI solutions directly impact this majority sector.

He said his idea is to promote the intellectual properties of Indian companies.

Giving examples, he said there are Indian pharma companies like Dr Reddy's that make new medicines, but there are many that just manufacture drugs whose IP are elsewhere.

There is a potential for a paradigm shift to create intellectual property within India itself, and SandboxAQ software enables AI-driven molecular design, providing an opportunity to transform India from IP consumer to IP creator, he said.

Hidary listed the life sciences sector as a key target for transformation.

He said there are some fantastic AI tools to create documents, images, videos, etc, in the digital world.

"But at SandboxAQ, we focus on AI for the real world, based on physics, mathematics, chemistry, new medicines, new materials, new catalysts, and that is important for the economy as well.

"When you look at 80 per cent of the economy in India, it's fundamentally in the real world, not the digital world. And that's the area that SandboxAQ impacts," he said.
Realme has officially confirmed that its upcoming smartphone will be called the Realme P4 Power 5G. The handset is set to launch in India soon, with a dedicated microsite already live on Flipkart, confirming its online availability.

While the company has not yet announced an exact launch date, a recent leak suggests that the device could be unveiled later this month.

Box price and possible India launch date tipped According to a post shared by tipster Sanju Choudhary on X, an image of the retail box of the Realme P4 Power 5G has surfaced online. The box lists a price of Rs. 37,999 for the top-end variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.

As is often the case, the printed box price is expected to be higher than the actual market price. This indicates that the smartphone may retail at a more competitive price point once it officially goes on sale. The same leak claims that the Realme P4 Power 5G could launch in India on January 29.

Design and colour options revealed Realme has teased the design of the P4 Power 5G through its Flipkart microsite. The phone features a square-shaped camera module housing a triple rear camera setup. It appears to have a flat frame and a dual-tone rear panel.

The power button and volume controls are positioned on the right edge, while the left side remains clean. Realme has confirmed three colour options for the Indian market, namely TransSilver, TransOrange and TransBlue.

The rear panel is said to include design elements such as a Precision Energy Loop, a Flash Dart Emblem and a matte finish.

Software support and update policy The Realme P4 Power 5G will ship with Android 16-based Realme UI 7.0 out of the box. The company has promised long-term software support, stating that the handset will receive three years of Android OS updates and four years of security patches.

Expected specifications and features On the hardware front, the Realme P4 Power 5G is tipped to pack a massive 10,000mAh battery with support for 80W wired fast charging. It is expected to feature a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz.

The smartphone may be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra processor, paired with a dedicated HyperVision+ AI chip for enhanced performance and imaging tasks.

Also Read | Realme 16 Pro series launching in India tomorrow: What to expect

Camera setup and durability For photography, the handset is rumoured to include a 50-megapixel primary rear camera with optical image stabilisation, along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. On the front, it could house a 16-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls.
Late last year, more than a thousand people converged in Seouls convention center as elite engineers presented their latest developments in artificial intelligence. Despite the arcane jargon filling the sprawling auditorium, it was a must-attend event for Korean technology executives and investors. The talk on the floor was that the science minister had ducked out of a parliamentary hearing on a data breach at Coupang Inc. to watch the demonstrations  a rare, high-stakes contest over who had created the best homegrown AI models.

As tens of thousands tuned into the livestreamed event, cheers and shouts erupted each time contestants stepped into the spotlight, knowing that for some of them, this would be their last appearance.

The competition, which some are calling the AI Squid Game in a nod to the popular Netflix survival drama, is a government-sponsored tournament that was unveiled in August and will run for more than a year. Its designed to identify the leaders in the countrys bid to become an AI powerhouse. The format, like the show that became a symbol of Koreas cultural soft power, is ruthless: the teams AI foundation models face evaluation and elimination every six months by a panel of judges overseen by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

On Thursday, the judges eliminated the unit of Naver Corp., which was criticized for using foreign technology. They also dismissed the AI subsidiary of NCSoft Corp., the only team led by a woman, based on evaluations of its models performance. This was a surprising development, as only one team was expected to be cut. The subsidiaries of LG and SK Group remained in the running, along with AI startup Upstage, according to the science ministry, which also announced that it would select an additional team to join in the next competition stage. Two winners are expected to be announced in early 2027.

It may look like a spectacle, but this is a high-stakes contest that will shape Koreas future, said Chanjun Park, an assistant professor in the School of Software at Soongsil University in Seoul.

The governments bet is that competition will breed innovation  at speed  and bolster a homegrown AI industry in a field increasingly dominated by US and Chinese players. The countrys ultimate goal, officials say, is to develop indigenous open-source models that are on par with global frontier models such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

South Korea is among a growing list of nations determined to prevent their industries and workforces from being left behind by AI. France, too, is aiming to become a third AI hub, with the government investing billions in AI projects and promoting homegrown players. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leveraging their massive capital to acquire advanced computing infrastructure and to fund domestic models such as Falcon LLM. Others, including Singapore, Japan, Canada and India, are also working on their own sovereign AI strategies.

Korean officials are particularly committed to building homegrown foundation models as the country is already a heavy user of AI  one of the worlds biggest markets for ChatGPT by paying users. It also has the worlds highest density of industrial robots, a sector set for radical changes led by the technology.

Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-Hoon, appointed in July, thinks it can capitalize on its unique standing as a full-stack AI country, with its own advanced memory chips, domestic cloud, and applications.

There are several countries vying to be No. 3, but we dont see ourselves as just another contender in that pack, he said. We believe we have a real shot at becoming a serious global player  one capable of challenging the top two.

Contenders and controversy

For participants, the contest could be a make-or-break catalyst for their AI ambitions. The government is providing them with access to GPUs and datasets, and winning teams will have the chance at gaining an influential  and possibly lucrative  position in the AI ecosystem. Eliminated teams will lose access to the GPUs. Shares in Naver have fallen since the announcement on Thursday, while those in LG affiliates and SK Telecom Co. have rallied.

LG AI Research is widely seen as the top contender. Its model, named the K-Exaone, had the highest overall score in the latest stage.

SK Telecom has also drawn attention due to the sheer scale of its model. Its model, A.X K1, boasts 519 billion in parameters, roughly double the scale of K-Exaone and near the level of the latest DeepSeek models, while it trails the most advanced version of ChatGPT. Generally, higher parameters, which reflect the number of variables used in machine learning, indicate more sophisticated models with greater reasoning power, although this can also mean heavy computing and energy requirements.

Upstage, a five-year-old startup aiming for an IPO, is also in the running after unveiling a powerful and cost-efficient large language model. The government plans to soon begin accepting applicants for a fourth contestant in the next round of evaluations expected mid-year.

The competition has also sparked a debate over what constitutes real, homegrown AI. The government has emphasized the need for AI foundation models to be trained end-to-end from the ground up with proprietary learning processes, data and architecture. As teams fight to match the performance of global leaders, they have been dogged by claims that some used foreign technology  despite the official requirement that teams build models from scratch.

The controversy came to a head when a rival firm accused Upstages Solar Open model of closely resembling a Chinese model, GLM-4.5-Air. Upstage denied the charge and convened a public verification session, forcing an apology from the accuser, but the scrutiny spread to other participants. Critics accused Naver Cloud of incorporating vision encoders and weights similar to architectures released by Chinese labs like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. SK Telecoms model also came under scrutiny for alleged architectural similarities to a Chinese model.

Building on existing architectures is common practice in AI development. For many, the time and cost involved in creating a frontier model from zero are prohibitive, and many players, to some extent, lean on foundational research by leaders like Meta Platforms Inc.

In eliminating Naver Cloud, government officials told reporters that its partial use of an existing Chinese model violated the programs requirements. They also clarified that they saw no reason for SK Telecom or Upstage to be disqualified. On Thursday, Naver said it respected the panels decision.

Even without such disputes, participants said emotions have been running high throughout the competition, with engineers on the different teams working around the clock to inspect the quality of datasets and tweak the models to boost their performance, which can be both repetitive and time-consuming.

Lee Jinsik, who leads LG AI Researchs Exaone Lab, said hes been working so late that its been months since he saw his toddler awake. Yet he and other project leaders say theyre excited to be part of a competition that could have major consequences for Koreas technology industry, as well as the broader economy.

This is nerve-racking. But this is exactly how K-pop took off, said Upstage Chief Executive Officer Sung Kim, comparing it to the audition shows that gave rise to some of the early stars of the countrys now-famous music scene. Im pretty sure the same thing will happen in the field of AI and science in Korea.

While South Korea isnt the only country pursuing its own AI capabilities, the initiative follows a familiar pattern for the nation of 51.6 million that rose from the ruins of the Korean War through a unique synergy of state-led investment and private-sector ambition. By channeling funding into critical industries, the government has repeatedly transformed a once-impoverished country into a thriving capitalist democracy.

In 1968, when South Korea still depended on US food aid, then-President Park Chung Hee pushed through the Seoul-Busan highway, a project widely dismissed at the time as a reckless fantasy. Chung Ju Young, the late founder of Hyundai Group who later went on to build the worlds biggest shipbuilding company in Korea, backed it anyway  helping catalyze the countrys industrial takeoff. Three decades later, President Kim Dae Jung directed another pivot, laying the ultra-fast broadband that sparked the countrys digital rise.

President Lee Jae Myung is framing artificial intelligence as the next great leap. In a November budget speech, Lee pledged to build an AI Highway  a national infrastructure of compute power, data and the rollout of 6G technology. By invoking the same logic that built the roads and the web, Korea is betting that it can once again engineer its way to the top.

This time, too, the private sector  led by its chaebol and budding startups  is acting as the primary engine for the state-led initiative. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won made an online video appearance at the December event, emphasizing how important a homegrown sovereign AI model was for the countrys future.

All that attention can mean pressure  as well as pride, said Kim Tae Yoon, who leads SK Telecoms foundation model team. He says hes gone gray since the contest and, in a break from tradition, was too busy to help with the annual harvest at his parents tangerine farm on Jeju Island, off the southern coast.

To be involved in a project this important is a rare honor, he said. Its an engineers dream.

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
UPDATE: It was all hands on deck for several agencies Friday night as firefighters battled a massive blaze at the Andrews Valley Poultry farm in Cherokee County, a fire that alarmed nearby residents and caused millions of dollars in damage.

On January 16, flames engulfed portions of the poultry plant, lighting up the night sky and sending smoke through the surrounding neighborhood. Even days later, signs of the fire remained visible.

Bryan McDonald, who lives about a quarter mile from the plant, said the fire was scary to watch unfold.

It was bad, McDonald said. The flames were way above the trees.

McDonald said he first realized something was wrong after hearing a steady stream of firetrucks pass his home.

I kept hearing firetrucks go by, and I thought, 'somebodys house is on fire' or something, he said. This aint very good. This is bad.

From his porch, McDonald could see the flames and realized the poultry plant was burning.

Oh, I knew it was big, he said. When I saw where they were coming from, I was afraid the whole thing had burned down. Im glad that only portions of it got burned.

Chief Justin Hyde of the Valleytown Volunteer Fire Department said it took tens of thousands of gallons of water to extinguish the fire. Multiple agencies responded to help contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading.

McDonald said he was especially concerned for neighbors who live even closer to the plant, including elderly residents.

Youve got older people that live in some of these houses, and if they cant get out, then theyre kind of stuck, he said. You worry about them.

A neighbor who lives next to the plant told Local 3 she feared embers from the fire could ignite her home. She said she stayed awake all night, keeping watch as crews worked to control the flames.

Hyde estimated the fire caused about $5 million in damage. For the small town of Andrews, residents say the loss is significant.

I hope they can remedy and fix whatever caused it, so it doesnt happen anymore, McDonald said. Hopefully they can build back.

On Monday, January 19, trucks were seen coming and going from the facility, a sign that some operations continue, despite the fire.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

PREVIOUS STORY: An intense and large-scale fire broke out at a poultry farm in Andrews, North Carolina on Friday night, January 16.

The blaze required help from numerous agencies across the county and many more from around the region, according to Valleytown VFD Chief Justin Hyde.

UPDATE: Bird flu awareness webinar session upcoming after confirmed Walker Co. cases The Georgia Department of Agriculture received confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial poultry flock in Walker County.

First responders received a call about the fire at the Dutt & Wagner Inc. and Andrews Valley Poultry Farm just after 9:00pm.

Upon arrival, Valleytown VFD found one large building fully involved, and called in the help of other rescue squads.

Firefighters battled the flames until 3:16am the next morning. It took tens of thousands of gallons of water to extinguish.

The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation, but they estimate it to be $5 million in property loss.

Valleytown Fire and Rescue expressed their gratitude to the following departments for assisting them in this very large-scale incident:
A talented Longford designer won a prestigious award at Ireland's premier annual trade event for Irish craft and design over the weekend.

Wendy Louise Designs won the Best Product Award in the Fashion category at Showcase 2026, the country's international creative expo at the RDS, Dublin on Sunday.

Fashion and accessories by Wendy Louise Knight of Wendy Louise Designs and Lisa McCormack of Capulet & Montague, who were exhibiting at Showcase, were worn by models Hannah and Patrick at the launch last week.

Wendy Louise Designs specialises in bespoke designs from large-brimmed showstoppers, to fascinators, cloches, pillboxes, trilbies and fedoras and they featured in Longford Life magazine in Christmas 2024.

Showcase, Irelands International Creative Expo is running from Sunday, January 18 to Tuesday, January 20 in the RDS, Dublin, bringing together hundreds of Irelands leading designers, makers and creative brands under one roof.

The 2026 event will welcome almost 400 exhibitors and 3,350 buyers under this years theme, Making Irish Stories.

Upwards of 32million is expected to be transacted over the three days and the total annual value of stock purchased by Showcase visitors across all buying channels is expected to exceed 124 million, underlining the scale of spending generated by buyers attending the fair.

Orders generated by buyers Showcase since 2015 have grown at an average rate of 18% year on year.

This event is exclusively for trade visitors and for further details on all the businesses that will be in attendance visit the official Showcase website at https://showcaseireland.com/

READ NEXT: Big boost as 10% more Longford children are benefitting from National Childcare Scheme

READ NEXT: Week long road closure for a Longford village due to emergency roadworks. Diversion details here
Syrian Interior Ministry forces operate in eastern Deir Ezzor province. (Syrian Arab News Agency)

Syrian government forces advancing into eastern Syria and combating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are increasingly taking over areas where Islamic State (IS) members have been held in prisons and detention facilities by the SDF. Several locations housing IS detainees have changed hands between the two belligerents, and many are now near the frontline of fighting. There are reports that the SDF has lost control of at least one of the prisons, while others appear to have been taken over by fighters aligned with Damascus.

The government launched an offensive targeting SDF-held areas in Deir Hafer on January 17, and the operation has rapidly gained ground as the SDF has withdrawn. The SDF withdrew from Tabqa on the Euphrates River, followed by leaving Raqqa and other towns and villages in Deir Ezzor Governorate on January 18 and 19.

On January 18, the government and the SDF announced a tentative deal to stop the fighting. One clause in the agreement calls for the administration of facilities and camps holding Islamic State members to be turned over to the Syrian government. As of the evening of January 19, the fighting in eastern Syria has not ceased, and clashes continue to occur near facilities holding IS members.

There are at least 27 detention facilities and two camps that house alleged Islamic State members, according to a 2024 report by Amnesty International. A US State Department report published in August 2025 noted that there were 8,950 male IS members detained by the SDF and around 43,250 non-combatants, including approximately 25,000 children under 12 years old, in camps in eastern Syria. The noncombatants include women who may have joined the jihadist group or were married to Islamic State fighters. The male detainees were held in 14 prisons, according to a 2023 Rand Corporation study. While many detainees are Syrian and Iraqi, there are thousands of other foreign Islamic State-linked detainees who come from an estimated 60 countries.

The rapid developments in the conflict between the Syrian government and the SDF mean that many areas are changing hands quickly. Among these sites are several prisons that hold IS members.

Since the early hours of this morning, Al-Shaddadi Prison, which holds thousands of detainees from the terrorist organization ISIS [Islamic State], has been subjected to repeated attacks carried out by factions affiliated with Damascus, the Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces said on January 19. The SDF said that although the prison is close to a US-led anti-IS coalition base, the coalition did not intervene. Accordingly, we inform public opinion that Al-Shaddadi Prison has currently fallen outside the control of our forces as a result of these developments, the SDF said.

Levant24, an independent Syrian media organization, noted on X that the Syrian army would secure Al Shaddadi prison and then hand it over to Syrias Interior Ministry. Syrian Arab Army units began entering al-Shaddadi town, south of Hasakah in northeast Syria, on Monday after the SDF released members of the ISIS terrorist organization from al-Shaddadi prison, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) noted on January 19.

The Syrian Interior Ministry said that it would secure areas coming under government control and accused the SDF of exploiting the issue of Islamic State prisoners. According to the ministry, in line with its constitutional and legal responsibilities, it is fully prepared to assume management and security of ISIS prisons in Hasakah province, applying international standards to prevent security breaches or escape attempts, SANA added. The Syrian army also called for a curfew in the nearby town of Al Shaddadi due to the prison break.

According to SANA reports, the government believes the SDF is using the issue of prisons as a threat or bargaining tool as the conflict unfolds. The SDF said on January 19 that clashes had also taken place near Al Aqtan prison north of Raqqa, which also contains Islamic State detainees. Farhad Shami, the head of the SDFs media office, said that there had been three attacks on SDF forces near the prison. Shami also said the SDF had sought to coordinate with the international anti-Islamic State coalition to transfer detainees. However, he claimed that no practical steps had occurred.

Iraq has said that it is planning to repatriate the remaining Iraqis held in camps in Syria. The Kurdish Rudaw Media Network noted that Iraq is expected to transfer families from the large Al Hol camp in Syria to a camp in Iraq. Iraqi interior minister and acting minister of migration and displaced [persons] Abdul-Amir al-Shammari is overseeing the process and is scheduled to visit the Jadaa camp in Nineveh province on Monday, Rudaw noted. Iraq believes there are fewer than 100 Iraqi families at Al Hol.

Sheikhmous Ahmed, an official responsible for internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees in eastern Syria, told Rudaw that due to attacks by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [HTS] militants [who are a [sic] now major part of the Syrian interim government], there is a serious threat to the camps and prisons holding ISIS militants, because those attackers are just like ISIS. Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa led HTS prior to becoming the transitional president of Syria last year.

As the clashes unfold in eastern Syria, many videos, the claims and authenticity of which cannot be independently verified, have circulated showing alleged battles and other incidents at the prisons and camps on January 18 and 19.

Levant24 published footage of Syrian army units reaching the outskirts of the Al-Aqtaan prison, where forces allied with the SDF remain entrenched and refuse to relinquish control. Another Levant24 video shows government forces near the town of Al Hol, meaning they were nearing the large camp on its outskirts. Footage posted by Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an author who focuses on Kurdish issues, claimed to show fighting near Al Aqtan prison on the evening of January 19. Another video claimed to show what appeared to be a US A-10 aircraft dropping flares near the prison. A fifth video claimed to show people attempting to flee Al Hol camp. Additional footage allegedly shows women being freed from a prison in Raqqa.

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).
A graphic published by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokespersons Office compares terrorist incidents in IDF Central Commands area of responsibility in 2025 and 2024.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued an assessment on January 19 indicating a sharp decline in Palestinian-perpetrated terrorist activity in the West Bank in 2025.

Figures published by the IDFs Central Command, which is responsible for the West Bank and parts of central Israel, highlighted a 78 percent decrease in terrorist incidents in 2025 compared to the previous year. The assessment also recorded an 85 percent decrease in attacks involving firearms.

According to the data, Israeli forces confiscated more than 17 million shekels in funds designated for terrorist activity and seized over eight tons of dual-use materials. In addition, the IDF reported shutting down 17 weapons-manufacturing sites and confiscating 1,370 weapons components.

The IDF said that the reduction in attacks was driven by Operation Iron Wall, launched in January 2025, as well as continuous offensive military activity throughout the year. The campaign included roughly 80 brigade-level operations, during which Israeli forces eliminated hundreds of terrorists and degraded terrorist infrastructure.

Citing IDF figures, The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli military killed 240 Palestinians in the West Bank, a sharp decline from 500 in 2024 and 504 in 2023. According to the IDF, fewer than 4 percent of Palestinians killed in the West Bank over the past three years were uninvolved civilians.

The IDF also reported a shift in the profile of those killed. In 2023 and 2024, roughly 70 percent of Palestinians who were killed were armed with firearms or explosives. In 2025, that figure fell to about 40 percent, with the remainder classified as stone-throwers or other suspects.

Conversely, the IDF reported that attacks on Palestinians by extremist Israelis increased by about 27 percent compared to the previous year, with a corresponding rise in serious cases. Israeli authorities established a joint task force to prevent and investigate violence against Palestinians last May that includes the IDF, police, Border Police, and Shin Bet intelligence agency.

Underscoring sustained counterterrorism activity in the West Bank, the IDF announced on January 19 that it and the Shin Bet had launched a multi-day operation in Hebron to dismantle terror infrastructure sites, eradicate illegal possession of weapons, and enhance security in the area.

Compared to Nablus and Jenin in the northern West Bank, Hebron in the southern West Bank has not been a major hub of terrorism since an uptick in violence began in the territory five years ago. That relative calm, however, has shown signs of erosion.

On June 29, 2025, Israeli security forces announced that they had dismantled a Hamas network operating in Hebron that was preparing attacks against targets in both the West Bank and Israel.

According to Israeli authorities, members of the cell had undergone weapons training, learned to manufacture improvised explosive devices, and collected intelligence on potential Israeli targets. The operation resulted in the arrest of more than 60 individuals, some of whom were suspected of being involved in the killing of six people at Bani Naim Junction near Hebron in 2010. Israeli authorities added that they seized 22 firearms and 11 grenades in the operation.

In addition, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) issued several claims of attacks on IDF troops by its Hebron Battalion in the latter half of 2025. On November 19, the group claimed that it had inflicted casualties on IDF infantry during an attack in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, using anti-personnel devices and hand grenades. Weeks later, on December 5, PIJ claimed responsibility for attacking Israeli troops with an anti-personnel explosive device. In both incidents, PIJ did not publish evidence to support its claims.

The IDFs report indicates that sustained Israeli counterterrorism operations in 2025 have been effective. However, the terrorist activity reported in Hebron and other parts of the West Bank suggests that Palestinian terrorist organizations remain intent on rebuilding their capabilities in the territory and conducting attacks.

Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East.
An Idaho man pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with cyberstalking a Massachusetts professor over five months, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said Friday.

Edward John Kay, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking, Foleys office said in a statement.

Kay met the Massachusetts professor, who taught at a universitys extension school, in January 2025 when he enrolled in an online course.

He appeared manic and said he wanted to have a deeper connection with the professor, a court filing read.

Kay took part in the first lecture over Zoom on Jan. 29 and was an active participant, but the professor noticed Kay made exasperated faces when she did not call on him, the court documents read. After class, Kay expressed his discontent over not being called and not liking the class structure, rather wishing there was more one-on-one time with the professor.

He threatened to drop the course and eventually did.

Between Feb. 5 and March 21, Kay did not reach out to the professor, though she remained nervous that he would send her something again, the court documents stated. On March 21, he sent an email asking for a Zoom call to get closure.

He continued to message the professor over email and LinkedIn over 80 times from January to June, Foleys office said.

Kay created at least one anonymous email account and professed his love for the professor, including mentioning the professors then-three-year-old son.

I miss you-truly, deeply- with all of my heart and soul. That day I saw you on ZoomYou were the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Not just appearance. Everything. Your presence. Your mind. Your light. To gain youand then to lose you like that? It devastated me, Kay wrote in one LinkedIn message.

Kay also said he wanted to separate the professor from her husband.

He also reached out to the universitys offices, copying the professor, and wrote that she knows what is coming. The university then informed Kay that he could no longer enroll in its courses.

Kay accused the professor of negligence and causing him severe psychological harm, court documents stated. The professor then reported Kay to the university police and later asked him not to reach out to her anymore.

Every day, starting today, will mark a **new action of serious consequence**, taken by me in accordance with divine alignment and institutional justice, he wrote.

After he bought a one-way plane ticket to Boston Logan International Airport, university police issued a cease and desist order to Kay so that he would stop contacting the professor.

Charges against Kay could carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, according to authorities.

Kay was arrested in Rigby, Idaho, and charged in July 2025. The sentencing is scheduled for April 17, 2026.

Reporter Ryan Manicini contributed to this reporting.
A pharmaceutical research company plans to close one of its two Massachusetts facilities and lay off 81 people this year.

Curia Global will eliminate its location at 20 Blanchard Road, Burlington between March 10 and June 1, according to a Massachusetts Workers Adjustment Retraining Notice filed with the state on Jan. 14.

Albany, New York-based Curia contracts with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to provide research, development and manufacturing services, according to its website. Curia was founded in 1991 as Albany Molecular Research, Inc. and employs more than 3,000 people.

The company has more than 20 locations in the United States, India and Europe, including a second Massachusetts facility in Hopkinton. The Burlington facility facing closure manufactures vials and prefilled syringes for late-stage clinical trials and commercial products, as well as development work, according to the company website.

In October, the Burlington facility was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Massachusetts Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, according to a press release from Curia.

Curia employees play a crucial role in producing medicines patients can trust, guided by the most stringent quality standards, General Manager and Site Head Mari-Kate Alter said at the time. While our direct clients are pharmaceutical companies, we come to work each day with patients in mind.
A popular clothing retail chain is reportedly preparing to close all stores and liquidate its remaining inventory after more than 25 years in business.

Francescas, a womens boutique clothing chain based in Houston, Texas, will soon close for good, the company confirmed to Womens Wear Daily. It was not immediately clear how long stores would remain open.

The companys website currently advertises a warehouse sale with all clearance items listed at $15 and under and 30% off sitewide, but does not mention the impending closure.

There are currently four Francescas locations in Massachusetts, according to the company website, in Natick, Burlington, Braintree and Wrentham, as well as stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The chain has more than 450 stores in 45 states and employs more than 3,400 people, according to its website.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Francescas, founded in 1999, previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020.
Longtime Chemistry professor Peter Jordan and his wife, Barbara Palmer, gave a pivotal $18 million gift to an Eastern Massachusetts college, according to an announcement Friday.

Jordan worked at Brandeis University for nearly 50 years and retired in 2011. Palmer served as associate dean, university registrar and head of institutional research at Brandeis.

The gift to Brandeis was in honor of Jordans parents to support research in theoretical and physical chemistry, according to the university.

Jordan was able to become an academic because of his parents fleeing Nazi Germany to California in the 1940s, the unviersity said. Jordans Jewish ancestry made it difficult for his father to find a job, but he eventually ended up working in the defense industry.

My becoming a professor was somewhat of a full circle moment for my father, said Jordan. His sacrifices helped make it possible for me to pursue a career that he once aspired to and, fittingly, at a university that was founded by the American Jewish community.

In his fathers free time, he designed and patented one of the first reliable and widely used garbage disposals.

The $18 million gift will support a new senior professorship in theoretical chemistry, a junior professorship in physical chemistry and three new graduate research fellowships in the Chemistry Department.

In 2018, Jordan and his wife endowed a chemistry summer undergraduate research fellowship fund.
NORTHAMPTON  When youre a multi-instrumentalist recording your first album, figuring out how to employ all your talents might be a challenge.

Luckily for Northamptons Diana Daniels, she had the help of her producer Dan Langa, who is a composer himself.

Honestly it was a challenge to try to imagine the songs Id written in a different way than I had been playing them, she said in a recent interview with the Republican. I definitely had a lot of help from Dan, and he helped me out with envisioning things like the horn arrangements, because I have visions in my head of how I want things to sound, and it was great to have someone to help me articulate that.

Daniels upcoming show, however, will be a solo endeavor, when she plays The Parlor Room in Northampton on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

The album, I Wake to Birdsongs, was released last summer around the time Daniels moved back to the area. Originally from California, Daniels graduated from Amherst College in 2022, then spent a few years in Brooklyn before returning to Western Massachusetts. During her time in New York, she played saxophone with the band Boys Go to Jupiter.

They needed someone to fill in on sax and I just kind of kept playing with them for 2 1/2 years, she said. Theyre really talented. It was really fun and a really great way to get my footing into the music scene.

Daniels started her multifaceted musical journey with piano lessons and getting involved in a choir.

But then later in school bands, you have to pick an instrument, so I started out playing clarinet and bass clarinet and then it was just a matter of wanting to keep learning different things, so I kept picking different ones, she said. So I switched to saxophone for playing in the jazz band and then oboe for playing classical music.

Daniels also took some guitar lessons in elementary school.

But my hands were way too small, so I had to stop, she said with a laugh. But I picked it back up in middle school.

She later topped it all off by learning banjo in college.

But Daniels didnt start writing songs seriously until about six years ago, when she was still in California. One of her first songs was The North Is On Fire.

We were having this big wildfire season, and I was working as a hostess at a restaurant and just standing there with not much to do and so I started jotting things down about what I was feeling, she said. I also went to a jazz camp around the same time and was inspired by people around me who were beginning to get into various indie music scenes and genres.

While Daniels writes on guitar and the songs have a folkish foundation to them, there are also elements of jazz and symphonic music sprinkled in.

Did she envision a certain sound in her head or did her style develop organically?

I think what I sound like is informed a lot by what I listen to, like is folk music from the 70s, but I dont think I set out with an intention of sounding a certain way, she said.

Fans of certain Joni Mitchell albums might find Daniels a compelling listen. When that comparison was mentioned, Daniels was quiet for a second.

Thats the biggest compliment I could get, she said.
United Airlines plans to begin offering direct flights between Hartford, Connecticut, and Houston, Texas, in the spring, Bradley International Airport announced Friday.

Daily, year-round service between Bradley Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport is set to begin on May 21, 2026, Bradley Airport said in a press release.

This flight will offer greater convenience to those traveling to the Houston area and allow passengers to connect to other destinations within Uniteds global network, Connecticut Airport Authority CEO Michael Shea said in the release.
A Beverly man was injured when his snowmobile hit several trees on a snowmobile trail in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire Fish and Game said.

Conservation officers learned of the crash around 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, New Hampshire Fish and Game said in a statement posted to Facebook. The operator of the snowmobile, identified as 54-year-old Shawn McNinch, had serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

A conservation officer went to the scene, but learned that McNinch was being taken to a hospital in a private vehicle.

The crash happened when McNinch couldnt negotiate an icy corner on the trail and hit several trees, according to the statement. McNinch was riding with another person who was able to get him out of the woods.

The snowmobile was destroyed in the crash.

While the crash remains under investigation, officials believe speed and icy trails were the main contributors.
An Oregon man is facing federal charges in connection with making death threats against a Massachusetts state prosecutor and their family, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office.

A grand jury has indicted 40-year-old Lewis Floyd on charges of cyberstalking and threatening interstate communications, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a Friday press release. He was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in December 2025.

Floyd has been convicted of making death threats multiple times in state courts, the U.S. Attorneys office said. He was most recently found guilty in Bristol County Superior Court for making repeated threats to kill and maim staff at the Childrens Advocacy Center of Bristol County.

After completing his sentence and being released from state prison, Floyd made death threats against a Massachusetts state prosecutor and their family, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Federal prosecutors did not name the state prosecutor that Floyd is accused of threatening.

The charge of cyberstalking as a repeat offender carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Floyd is set to appear in federal court in Boston to face the charges at a later date.

No further information about the case has been released.
A South Boston man pleaded guilty last week to participating in a scheme to scam a 75-year-old man out of about $500,000 in cash.

Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in federal court in Springfield, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Prosecutors say that in early 2024, the victim, a North Adams resident, received a pop-up message on his computer saying it was frozen and telling him to call a given phone number. The person who picked up the call identified himself as Sam Wilson, a law enforcement officer with the U.S. Treasury Department, and told the victim he had been involved in a money laundering scheme. He told him to withdraw cash from his bank accounts and send it to the Treasury Department for safekeeping.

At Wilsons instruction, the victim put the cash in a box with his name and address written on it and taped it shut so he could give it to couriers sent to his home. Wilson told the victim that his bank would not let him take all of the money out at once, so it would need to be done in installments, MassLive previously reported.

The victim provided a box of cash to couriers on five occasions between June and September 2024. Each time, Wilson had the victim describe the clothing he was wearing and gave him a passcode the courier would need to recite when they arrived for the pickup.

On Oct. 1, 2024, the victims sister reported the situation to the FBI. Federal agents set up a sting with counterfeit money after Wilson requested an additional $33,000.

On Oct. 7, 2024, Patel, posing as a courier, arrived at the victims home, gave the passcode and took the box of cash. He then drove away in a rental car and was immediately arrested.

Patel was indicted by a federal grand jury the following month.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Patel is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on Feb. 13. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
A new poll conducted in the wake of a fatal officer-involved shooting that killed Renee Nicole Good reveals that a growing number of Americans view Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) as being too tough.

Additionally, the CBS News/YouGov survey discovered that a majority (52%) of the public believes the agency is making communities less safe.

The sharp shift in sentiment follows the Jan. 7 shooting of Good, a 37-year-old mother, during a large-scale ICE operation in Minneapolis.

The encounter, which was captured on a video that was seen by 81% of those polled, has become a major debate over the use of force.

According to the survey, 54% of respondents say the shooting of Good was unjustified. Meanwhile, 28% say it was justified and 17% report it is too soon to say.

The poll also highlights a stark divide between the White Houses campaign promises last year.

While the administration pledged in January 2025 that it would focus on dangerous criminals, 56% of adults now believe the agency is instead prioritizing individuals who are not deemed dangerous.

Also, 52% of participants are also viewing ICEs presence as making communities less safe, compared to just 31% who believe they are more safe. Another 17% see no change in safety.

The survey also reported that 81% of conservatives believe that the protests who have taken to the streets since the Minneapolis shooting have gone too far.

This CBS/YouGov poll was conducted Jan. 14 through 16, with a representative sample of 2,523 U.S. adults. The margin of error is 2.3 points.
NORTHAMPTON  The Northampton Board of Health is moving toward a policy that would ban the sale of nicotine products to all future residents within city limits, reviving age-old questions around the role of government in regulating the marketplace.

The policy is a birth-yearbased bylaw that would gradually phase nicotine out of the Northampton marketplace by banning its sale to all adults born on or after a specified date, said Merridith OLeary, the citys health commissioner. Retailers would still be able to sell nicotine products to those with an earlier birthdate.

Heather Warner, a Northampton resident, told members of the health board Thursday that the vape industry keeps churning out new products that contain synthetic nicotine, which is designed for rapid entry into the bloodstream. Following a decade-long decline in vaping among teens, OLeary said use of flavored nicotine pouches swelled 250% nationally from 2023 to 2025.

I think about addiction and marketing, Warner said. Its not accidental, its not a right. This is an industry that is sort of shamelessly going after young people because that is their form of marketing.

The meeting last week was attended by Peter Brennan, executive director of the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, who objected to the proposed policy in remarks delivered at the start of the Zoom session.

This is going to put Northampton retailers at a significant disadvantage to neighboring towns, to neighboring states, he said of the policy, which would enforce penalties for selling nicotine products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, cigars, chewing tobacco and nicotine pouches.

He argued the policy  dubbed the Nicotine-Free Generation  would create an illicit marketplace and that a slippery slope might ensue, with health officials regulating other adult choices.

The Belchertown Board of Health instituted its own nicotine-free policy in December 2024. Ken Elstein, who is running for reelection to the board, noted that the policy only impacts sellers. And it only makes purchasing nicotine products less convenient for newly minted 21 year olds to whom the law would first apply.

Youre not going to see (authorities) breaking into speakeasies and arresting all the customers, he said.

The policy rollout for Belchertown has been basically seamless, he said, with retailers reporting that it makes checking IDs easier since they now must only look for the specified birth year, instead of calculating someones age based on the birth year on their ID.

Elstein said broad grassroots support from Massachusetts communities will prove pivotal to persuading the Legislature to take up its own nicotine-free generation bill. Beginning with Brookline, 21 municipalities have passed their own laws restricting tobacco sales by birth year, with Amherst the latest to join the list, in December.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in March 2024 cleared a path for other nicotine-free policies after ruling  over objections to Brooklines policy  that health boards have legal standing to impose nicotine bans, OLeary said.

OLeary said public health goals  like reducing cardiovascular and respiratory disease  provide grounds for enforcing such bans.

Elstein said he has a list of 10 to 11 communities that are poised to enact policies in the coming months, including towns in Franklin, Hampshire and Worcester counties. He estimates that 627,000 Massachusetts residents live in communities affected by nicotine-free generation rules, in a state of just over 7 million people.

Suzanne Smith of the Northampton health board cautioned that enacting a nicotine-free policy without first conducting a public awareness campaign risked ensuring a rocky reception.

If they think theyre running down to Cumbys to get a pack of smokes and they  find out at that point that they cant, I dont expect people to react positively, she said.

Warner suggested the city promote education and give retailers ample notice of impending penalties. Elstein said the health director in Belchertown undertook an effort to remind stores of the policy before it took effect. The town didnt start formally enforcing penalties until last month, he said.

No timeframe has been set for the Northampton policy.

Though a Jan. 1 start date is generally preferable, Elstein said, postposing the rollout by another year would allow yet another group of young people to turn 21 and not be affected.

Its all about the kids, he said.

One suggestion he made was to have the policy take effect on April 1, 2026, and have it apply to those born on April 2, 2005.

Board members discussed setting a date for a public forum, at which people could comment on a draft of the policy.
WESTFIELD  The Fire Department is looking for a few good men and women because of a new model for the states Civil Service.

Were really excited about this, said Department Deputy Chief and Fire Prevention Officer Christopher King about the change in the Civil Service provisions, which was echoed by the citys Personnel Director Amy Larkham.

This is a great opportunity for us to find some local people who are interested in serving our city, Larkham said.

The new Civil Service model is considered a hybrid pathway, according to the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

Larkham said the new model allows a municipality to set up its own Local Registration Program, which is designed to facilitate the hiring process, ensuring that candidates are hired on merit.

Typically, potential candidates would go to Civil Service to take the exam and then get put on a list according to their score, she said.

With the new program, municipalities can appoint entry-level police and fire positions through the local registration program without taking the exam and waiting for an opening.

But there is a caveat; municipalities cant only use the registration program to hire more than 50% of its personnel  at least 50% of the total force must still be Civil Service qualified.

Larkham said there was also another feature of the program that will help with police officers or firefighters looking to make a lateral move to another community.

Before, an officer needed the approval of their chief and the chief of the department they wanted to move to before they could move, she said.

That provision of Civil Service was to keep departments from poaching employees from other municipalities, Larkham said.

They wont have to do that anymore, she said.

While the city would prefer not to have to rely on Civil Service for its public safety personnel, Larkham said it would test the new program to see if it works.

Police Capt. Steve Dickinson said the police department will use the new program to hire officers who have already undergone training and several years of experience.

The Fire Department announced Friday that it is hiring.

Larkham said the department has two openings now and that at the Fire Commission last week, Fire Chief Patrick Egloff said he was expecting two or three retirements in the spring.

For those interested in a career with the Fire Department, the starting average pay for a paramedic with a qualifying bachelors degree is $77,000, with additional pay incentives.

It is a full-time position with paid fire academy training, yearly uniform allowance, and excellent benefits with educational incentives and a pension.

The minimum requirements to apply for the position of EMT or paramedic are completing a state-approved training program, having a high school diploma or GED and a valid drivers license.

Application packets are available at the Fire Department at 34 Broad St. between 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The application period ends on Jan. 30.

For more information, email King at c.king@cityofwestfield.org.
Mayo's only national park is lagging behind its counterparts on social media with the Wild Nephin National Park one of the least Instagrammable national parks in Ireland.

New analysis by outdoor specialist store Trailblazers has revealed Ireland's most instagrammable national park with the Wild Nephin National Park in Ballycroy coming bottom of the list of the country's six land-based national parks.

An analysis of Instagram hashtag data found that Killarney has generated more than 132,000 tagged posts, far surpassing every other national park in the country. In contrast, the Wild Nephin National Park received just over 1,000 tagged posts and was at the bottom of the list with only the marine national park in Kerry receiving less.

The Killarney National Park was way ahead of the Connemara National Park which had the second highest number of tagged posts with 33,600 while the Glenveagh National Park in Donegal was next with 16,300 ahead of the Wicklow Mountains with 15,800.

The Burren National Park in County Clare which has 14,00 tagged posts was also the most searched for national park on Google between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2026. Wicklow Mountains National Park has the highest Visitor Pressure of all parks, while Wild Nephin National Park has the least.

READ: Mayo actor appears in new Game of Thrones series airing tonight

Rebecca Ryan, Marketing Manager at Trailblazers said that while Wild Nephins wilderness and dark skies are spectacular but far less shared online but Killarney's dominance is driven by its instantly recognisable scenery

Killarney National Park has everything people want to capture in a single shot. Lakes, waterfalls, woodland, mountains and historic landmarks, all within easy reach of one another. Its visually dramatic in every season, whether its mist over the lakes or autumn colour in the forests, making it incredibly shareable on Instagram, explained Ms Ryan.

While Killarney leads online, Wicklow Mountains National Park continues to experience the highest visitor pressure on the ground, driven by proximity to Dublin and concentrated footfall. Smaller parks such as the Burren and Connemara also experience high pressure relative to their size, while Wild Nephin and Glenveagh remain comparatively uncrowded.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, TD, announced today (January 19) that the review of the first ten language plans under the language planning process has been published.

Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht must complete a review of language plans. As a result of a request from the language planning community itself, the first review of the process has been an independent one, undertaken by the company, Barr Feabhais Teo.

Barr Feabhais Teo undertook research and consultation with a wide range of organisations, Irish language lead organisations and stakeholders in the course of their work. A range of recommendations are included in the review published today, encompassing actions which will support language planning in years to come. The response of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to those recommendations is also being published today in tandem with the review.

It is worth noting that a significant number of recommendations are included in respect of which implementation has already commenced. These include matters emanating from the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services and from the Digital Plan for the Irish Language as well the provision of substantial additional financial support by Minister Callearys Department in the areas of family transmission, early years, youth services and the arts, to name a few. Other recommendations are included which could prompt new measures as the second cycle of the language planning process approaches.

Dara Calleary TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, welcomed the publication of this review. He said: I would like to thank Barr Feabhais Teoranta, who undertook the review of the first 10 language plans, and all those who took part in the review process. Although the independent consultants have identified certain challenges, the findings clearly show that overall the process is proving successful. Many of the recommendations involve improving public services in the Gaeltacht and, to that end, I will be submitting the first Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services to the Government this week.

"Having secured the largest ever increase for the Irish language and Gaeltacht sector in Budget 2026, an additional 3 million will be invested in the process this year. Between this investment and the impact of the Action Plan, the coming period will see an acceleration of the process. The review published today will be of assistance in accomplishing this, as well as supporting the implementation of the second cycle of the language planning process.

A copy of the review and a copy of the Departments response is available at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/policies/language-planning-process/.

READ MORE: Coffee dock licence awarded for popular Mayo beauty spot
MEP Maria Walsh will act as the European Peoples Party (EPP) rapporteur on the Agriculture Committees opinion regarding the future direction and funding of Horizon Europe for the 20282034 period. The programme, a cornerstone of EU research and innovation policy, is a major source of funding for Irish universities, research centres, agri-innovation projects, and rural development initiatives.



The proposed funding envelope for the next cycle is 175 billion, nearly double the current programmes budget. Walsh emphasised that the increase represents a significant opportunity for Irish agriculture and the broader bioeconomy.



Horizon Europe is hugely important for Ireland, and Im delighted to be leading the negotiations on the Agriculture Committee for the EPP  the Parliaments largest political group, Walsh said. As EPP negotiator, my priority is to make sure that Irish agriculture and our bioeconomy receive increased and substantive funding for the coming years. Food security, sustainable farming, and rural economies are strategic priorities for Ireland and Europe, which Horizon must reflect.



Walsh highlighted the programmes impact on Irish research and rural communities, noting that over 1.2 billion was secured by Irish institutions in the last programme period. She also stressed the importance of simplifying access to funding, particularly for small businesses and farmers.

READ MORE: Fine Gael MEP's outline priorities for Ireland's EU Presidency in July

Irish-led Horizon projects have tackled issues ranging from farm safety and mental health to climate innovation and gender equality. Notable examples include:



- SafeHabitus (4.7 million), coordinated by Teagasc, supporting farm safety and mental health.

- FLIARA (3 million), led by the University of Galway, promoting female-led innovation in agriculture.

- Grass Ceiling (2.9 million), coordinated by South East Technological University, advancing gender equality in rural areas.

- Paludiculture large-scale demonstration (10 million), led by the University of Galway, focusing on water and peatland management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

- Water management platform (6 million), coordinated by University College Cork.



Walsh concluded: Influencing the future of the Horizon programme has never been so important. With funding set to almost double, investment in agricultural research must rise in a way that is fair, credible, and benefits Irish farm families and agribusinesses. Horizon Europe directly supports our universities, research centres, agri-food sector, and rural communities, delivering real, practical outcomes.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Bananas grown in Burma Valley in Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands are gaining strong traction in neighbouring South Africa, emerging as a key pillar in the country's ambitious drive to build a US$2 billion horticultural industry by 2030.The target forms part of the Government's broader horticulture recovery plan, which places strategic value chains such as bananas at the centre of revitalising the sector and boosting export earnings.Speaking during a tour of Matanuska Private Limited's operations in Burma Valley, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri said the expansion of large-scale producers dovetails with Government policy objectives.Professor Jiri said Zimbabwe's climatic conditions give the country a competitive edge in banana production, resulting in fruit of exceptional quality and taste. He explained that the visit was meant to assess production levels, identify challenges and explore opportunities to unlock more value for both large estates and out-growers linked to them.He described bananas as a critical component of the US$2 billion horticulture vision, alongside crops such as blueberries, pecan nuts and citrus. Professor Jiri noted that Zimbabwe has already secured key export markets for citrus through the China Trade Protocol, with similar momentum building around blueberries and avocados. For bananas, he said, the proximity of South Africa presents a ready and sizeable market, making it imperative to scale up production, expand hectarage and improve yields per hectare.Matanuska Private Limited general manager Crispen Manyuchi highlighted the importance of joint ventures in driving the company's production model. He said the company currently has 321 hectares under bananas, of which 265 hectares are mature plantations, while the remainder are still developing. Average yields currently stand at about 50 tonnes per hectare.Mr Manyuchi said while Matanuska owns part of the land under production, joint ventures with out-growers account for about 200 hectares, forming the backbone of efforts to create a greenbelt focused on banana production across Burma Valley.He confirmed that South Africa remains the company's main export destination, absorbing close to 60 percent of its banana output. The remainder is sold on the local market through major retail chains such as OK, Pick n Pay and Bon Marche, where the fruit is positioned as a premium product.According to Mr Manyuchi, the South African market has shown strong and consistent demand for Matanuska bananas due to their taste, quality and size. He said the company has managed to capture a significant share of that market, adding that in 2023 Matanuska won a top quality award while competing against established commercial banana producers in South Africa.He described the recognition as a major milestone that reflects the success of efforts to upscale production in Zimbabwe and align with national horticulture recovery goals.Matanuska Private Limited currently employs about 450 workers on both permanent and contract terms, with vast banana plantations stretching across the undulating terrain of Burma Valley near the ZimbabweMozambique border.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Despite a controversial beginning, Geo Pomona Waste Management has successfully transformed the Pomona dumpsite in Harare from a long-standing public health hazard and environmental eyesore into a modern, industrial, and recreational development zone.Geo Pomona's chief executive and chairman, Dilesh Nguwaya, expressed satisfaction with the progress, stating that the project has delivered tangible benefits to the city. "Objectively speaking, the project has made a huge difference. We have cleared that dumpsite, which was a health hazard, eyesore, and impediment to development. In the process, we have changed the face of Pomona. Harare residents now appreciate our work, and we have also won awards for that," he said.Since assuming management in April 2022, Geo Pomona has removed decades of accumulated waste, implemented modern and sustainable waste management technologies, and established infrastructure capable of generating electricity. The initiative has not only improved environmental and public health conditions but also created opportunities for industrial growth and recreational use, marking a significant milestone in urban redevelopment for Harare.
RAQQA, Syria (AP)  The Syrian government Sunday announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Democratic Forces, taking almost full control of the country and dismantling the Kurdish-led forces that controlled the northeast for over a decade.

The announcement comes as tensions between government forces and the SDF boiled over earlier this month, eventually resulting in a major push by government forces toward the east. The SDF appeared to have largely retreated after initial clashes on a tense front line area in eastern Aleppo province.

Hours after the government announced the deal, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi confirmed it in a video statement, saying the group had accepted the agreement, which stipulates their withdrawal from Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces to stop the bloodshed.

We will explain the terms of the agreement to our people in the coming days, he said.

Syrias Defense Ministry said it ordered the fighting to halt on the front lines after the agreement was announced.

New government had struggled to take control

Syrias new leaders, since toppling Bashar Assad in December 2024, have struggled to assert their full authority over the war-torn country. An agreement was reached in March that would merge the SDF with Damascus, but it didn't gain traction as both sides accused each other of violating the deal.

Since the push, the government has largely asserted control of the Deir el-Zour and Raqqa provinces, critical areas under the SDF that include oil and gas fields, river dams along the Euphrates, and border crossings.

Syrias state-run news agency SANA showed President Ahmad al-Sharaa signing and holding the agreement. Abdi, who was scheduled to meet with the president in Damascus was not seen, though his signature appeared on the document. Al-Sharaa told journalists that Abdi could not travel due to bad weather and will visit Damascus on Monday.

Its a victory for all Syrians of all backgrounds, al-Sharaa told journalists in Damascus after signing the agreement. Hopefully Syria will end its state of division and move to a state of unity and progress.

The two warring sides are key allies of Washington. U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack met with al-Sharaa earlier Sunday as government forces were sweeping into the city of Raqqa and across Deir el-Zour province. Abdi reportedly joined the meeting over the phone.

US envoy says agreement will lead to dialogue and cooperation

Barrack praised the agreement, saying it will lead to renewed dialogue and cooperation toward a unified Syria, ahead of working on the details of implementing the integration.

This agreement and ceasefire represent a pivotal inflection point, where former adversaries embrace partnership over division, said Barrack in a post on X.

The agreement includes dismantling the SDF and having its forces join Syrias military and security forces, while senior military and civilian officials would be given high-ranking positions in state institutions.

The SDF would have to give up the Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces  both Arab-majority areas  to the Syrian military and government, as well as its border crossings and oil and gas fields. Hassakah Province, the heartland of the Kurdish population, is only expected to give its civilian administration back to Damascus, while the Kurdish-led agencies that handled prisons and sprawling camps with thousands of detained Islamic State group fighters and families would be handed over to Damascus.

President says agreement will be implemented gradually

There was no clear timeline on when and how the different elements of the agreement will take effect. Al-Sharaa told journalists that it will be gradually implemented, beginning with the cessation of hostilities.

It appeared that tensions following clashes in Aleppo earlier this month had calmed after Abdi announced that his troops will withdraw east of the Euphrates River, and al-Sharaa issued a presidential decree that would strengthen Kurdish rights in the country.

Initially the withdrawal appeared to be going as planned, but then new clashes broke out and the Syrian military seized Tabqa, continuing into Raqqa province.

A senior Syrian government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly said government forces pushed eastward because the SDF despite saying they will withdraw east of the Euphrates by 7 a.m. did not do so.

Armed Arab clans in Raqqa and Deir el-Zour that largely do not support the SDF backed Damascus. By Sunday evening, the SDF lost control of large swaths of its territory and infrastructure, including dams and oil and gas fields.

An Associated Press reporter in the area said that large military convoys swept into Raqqa city and were greeted by residents. It appeared that the SDF had withdrawn.

Crowds in Raqqa celebrated in the streets late into the evening.

The SDF took Raqqa from the Islamic State in 2017 as part of its military campaign to take down the groups so-called caliphate, which at its peak stretched across large parts of Syria and Iraq. At the height of its control, IS declared Raqqa its capital.

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Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
Norways prime minister said Monday that he received a message from U.S. President Donald Trump about rising tensions over Greenland in which the American leader reportedly said he no longer felt obligated to think purely of peace since he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump's message to Jonas Gahr Stre, first reported by PBS, appears to ratchet up a standoff between Washington and its closest allies over his threats to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. To force European countries that have rallied around Denmark and Greenland toward talks, Trump on Saturday announced a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from eight nations, including Norway.

Those countries issued a forceful rebuke. But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to de-escalate tensions on Monday. While the White House has not ruled taking control of the strategic Arctic island by force, Starmer said he did not believe military action would occur.

"I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, he said.

Still, the American leader's message to Gahr Stre could further fracture a U.S.-European relationship already strained by differences over how to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, previous rounds of tariffs, military spending and migration policy.

In a sign of how tensions have increased in recent days, thousands of Greenlanders marched over the weekend in protest of any effort to take over their island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post Monday that the tariff threats would not change the their stance.

We will not be pressured, he wrote. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect, and on international law.

Trump sends a message to the Norwegian leader

In a post on social media, PBS reported that Trump said in a message to Gahr Stre: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.

It concluded: The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.

PBS said the message had been forwarded to multiple European ambassadors in Washington.

Gahr Stre confirmed Monday that he had received a text message from Trump but did not release its contents. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Gahr Stre said Trump's message was a reply to an earlier missive sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in which they conveyed their opposition to the tariff announcement, pointed to a need to de-escalate, and proposed a telephone conversation among the three leaders.

Norways position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter, Stre said. As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to president Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is an independent body whose five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

Trump has openly coveted the peace prize, which the committee awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado last year. Last week, Machado presented her Nobel medal to Trump, who said he planned to keep it though the committee said the prize cant be revoked, transferred or shared with others.

Starmer says a trade war is in no one's interest

In his latest threat of tariffs, Trump indicated they would be retaliation for last weeks deployment of symbolic numbers of troops from the European countries to Greenland  though he also suggested that he was using the tariffs as leverage to negotiate with Denmark.

European governments said that the troops traveled to the island for Arctic security training in response to Trump's own concerns about interference from Russia and China.

Starmer on Monday called Trumps threat of tariffs completely wrong and said that a trade war is in no ones interest.

He added that being pragmatic does not mean being passive and partnership does not mean abandoning principles.

Six of the eight countries targeted are part of the 27-member European Union, which operates as a single economic zone in terms of trade. European Council President Antonio Costa said Sunday that the blocs leaders expressed readiness to defend ourselves against any form of coercion. He is expected to convene a summit later this week.

Starmer indicated that Britain, which is not part of the EU, is not planning to consider retaliatory tariffs.

My focus is on making sure we dont get to that stage, he said.

Denmarks defense minister and Greenlands foreign minister are expected to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Monday, a meeting that was planned before the latest escalation.

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Associated Press writer Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
The European Union's executive arm, Russia, Belarus and Thailand on Monday were the latest to be asked to join U.S. President Donald Trump's new Board of Peace that will supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, as a top Israeli official said the initiative is bad for Israel and should be scrapped.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin received the invitation and that the Kremlin is now "studying the details" and would seek clarity of all the nuances in contacts with the U.S. The Thai Foreign Ministry said it was also invited and that it was reviewing the details.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been invited and is ready to take part, according to the countrys Foreign Ministry.

European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill confirmed that Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the commission, received an invitation and would be speaking to other EU leaders about Gaza. Gill didn't say whether the invitation had been accepted, but that the commission wants "to contribute to a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict.

It's unclear how many leaders have been invited to join the board. But a Trump reference in the invitation letters that the body would embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict" suggested it could act as a rival to the U.N. Security Council, the most powerful body of the global organization created in the wake of World War II.

According to the World Banks Gaza and West Bank Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA) report released last year, itll take $53 billion to rebuild the strip.

Israel's objections to the board

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday dismissed the Board of Peace as a raw deal for Israel and called for its dissolution.

It is time to explain to the president that his plan is bad for the State of Israel and to cancel it," Smotrich said at a ceremony inaugurating the new Yatziv settlement in the occupied West Bank. "Gaza is ours, its future will affect our future more than anyone elses. We will take responsibility for what happens there, impose military administration, and complete the mission.

Smotrich, a hardliner who opposed the Gaza ceasefire, even suggested that Israel renew a full-scale offensive on the territory to destroy Hamas if it doesn't abide by a short ultimatum for real disarmament and exile.

On Saturday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the formation of the committee wasnt coordinated with the Israeli government and is contrary to its policy without clarifying what its objections were. Israel hasnt been invited to join the committee, unlike Turkey, a key regional rival.

The final list

The U.S. is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Board members will oversee an executive committee that will be in charge of implementing the tough second phase of the Gaza peace plan that includes the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-devastated territory.

A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the board, with the money going to rebuild Gaza, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter as he wasnt permitted to speak publicly about details of the board, which hasn't been made public. A three-year appointment has no contribution requirement.

But details of how this will also work remain murky. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday the United Kingdom is talking to allies about the Board of Peace. Although the U.K. hasn't said whether Starmer has been formally invited to join, he said it's necessary to proceed with the Gaza peace plan's second phase and that his country has "indicated willingness to play our part, and we will.

Running Gaza

Egypts top diplomat on Monday met with the leader of the newly appointed committee of Palestinian technocrats who will be running Gazas day-to-day affairs during the second phase of the peace plan.

Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty met with Ali Shaath, a Palestinian engineer and former official with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, who was named last week as chief commissioner of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza

Abdelatty expressed the Egyptian governments complete support to the committee and affirmed its role in running Gazas daily affairs until the Palestinian Authority takes over the territory, a statement from the Egyptian ministry said following the meeting.

He also underscored the importance of preserving the unity of the Palestinian territories, ensuring geographical and administrative continuity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Gaza humanitarian situation still fragile

The U.N. World Food Program on Monday said it has significantly expanded its operations across Gaza 100 days into the ceasefire, reaching more than a million people each month with hot meals, bread bundles and food parcels. But it warned the situation remains extremely fragile even as critical progress has been made in pushing back famine.

It noted that malnutrition has been prevented for 200,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under 5, while school snacks are reaching 235,000 children in 250 temporary schools.

Still, the most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis in December indicates that 77% the population is facing crisis-level food insecurity, with over 100,000 people experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger.

The WFP said access to nutritious food such as fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy is limited, with most families still can't afford more commercial goods entering Gaza.

Israeli forces move into Hebron

Israeli military and security forces launched what they called a large-scale counterterrorism operation in the West Bank city of Hebron to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, eliminating illegal weapons possession and strengthening security."

The Israeli military said Monday the operation is expected to continue for several days. Israeli armored vehicles and soldiers patrolled city streets and put up barriers where operations were being conducted.

Hebron Mayor Khaled Dudin said Israeli forces targeted the area that's home to 80,000 people because it obstructs the construction of additional Israeli settlements.

The West Bank has seen a surge in Israeli military activity since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack into Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

Three Palestinians killed

Israeli forces on Monday killed three Palestinians, including a teenager, in southern Gaza, hospital authorities said.

Two men crossed into Israeli-controlled areas east of Khan Younis before being shot dead, while 17-year-old Hussein Tawfiq Abu Sabalah was shot and killed in the Muwasi area of Rafah, according to the Nasser hospital. It wasnt immediately clear whether the teen had crossed into or came close to the Israeli-controlled area.

More than 460 people were killed by Israeli fire and their bodies brought to hospitals since the ceasefire went into effect just over three months ago, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts

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Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Grant Peck in Bangkok, Thailand contributed to this report.

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Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
ROME (AP)  Three U.S. Catholic cardinals urged the Trump administration on Monday to use a moral compass in pursuing its foreign policy, saying U.S. military action in Venezuela, threats of acquiring Greenland and cuts in foreign aid risk bringing vast suffering instead of promoting peace.

In a joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J., warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington's foreign policy was mired in polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.

Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy, McElroy told The Associated Press. I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world."

The statement was unusual and marked the second time in as many months that members of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy have asserted their voice against a Trump administration many believe isn't upholding the basic tenets of human dignity. In November, the entire U.S. conference of Catholic bishops condemned the administration's mass deportation of migrants and vilification of them in the public discourse.

The three cardinals, who are prominent figures in the more progressive wing of the U.S. church, took as a starting point a major foreign policy address that Pope Leo XIV delivered Jan. 9 to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.

The speech, delivered almost entirely in English, amounted to Leos most substantial critique of U.S. foreign policy. Historys first U.S.-born pope denounced how nations were using force to assert their dominion worldwide, completely undermining peace and the post-World War II international legal order.

Leo didnt name individual countries, but his speech came against the backdrop of the then-recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela to remove Nicolas Maduro from power, U.S. threats to take Greenland as well as Russias ongoing war in Ukraine.

Cardinals question the use of force

The three cardinals cited Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine in their statement  saying they raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace  as well as the cuts to foreign aid that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration initiated last year.

Our countrys moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination, they warned.

We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy, they wrote. We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance.

Tobin described the moral compass the cardinals wish the U.S. would use globally.

It cant be that my prosperity is predicated on inhuman treatment of others, he told the AP. The real argument isnt just my right or individual rights, but what is the common good.

Cardinals expand on their statement in interviews with AP

In interviews, Cupich and McElroy said the signatories were inspired to issue a statement after hearing from several fellow cardinals during a Jan. 7-8 meeting at the Vatican. These other cardinals expressed alarm about the U.S. action in Venezuela, its cuts in foreign aid and its threats to acquire Greenland, Cupich said.

A day later, Leos nearly 45-minute-long speech to the diplomatic corps gave the Americans the language they needed, allowing them to piggyback on the popes words, Cupich said.

Cupich acknowledged that Maduros prosecution could be seen positively, but not the way it was done via a U.S. military incursion into a sovereign country.

When we go ahead and do it in such a way that is portrayed as saying, Because we can do it, were going to do it, that might makes right  thats a troublesome development, he said. Theres the rule of law that should be followed.

Trump has insisted that capturing Maduro was legal. On Greenland, Trump has argued repeatedly that the U.S. needs control of the resource-rich island, a semiautonomous region of NATO ally Denmark. for its national security.

The Trump administration last year significantly gutted the U.S. Agency for International Development, saying its projects advance a liberal agenda and were a waste of money.

Tobin, who ministered in more than 70 countries as a Redemptorist priest and the order's superior general, lamented the retreat in USAID assistance, saying U.S. philanthropy makes a big difference in everything from hunger to health.

The three cardinals said their key aim wasn't to criticize the administration, but rather to encourage the U.S. to regain is moral standing in the world by pursuing a foreign policy that is ethically guided and seeks the common good.

We're not endorsing a political party or a political movement, Tobin said. The faithful in the pews and all people of good will have a role to play, he said.

They can make an argument of basic human decency, he said.

___

Dell'Orto reported from Minneapolis.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Brendan Gibbons shared a close bond and a passion for preserving military history with his grandfather, Richard, a World War II veteran.

After his grandfather died in 2018, Gibbons could have quit the hobby he shared with his beloved grandfather. But he decided, in order to preserve Richards memory, he was going to devote even more time and energy to his passion, keeping the history of World War II alive.

Gibbons has no discretion over what mementos hell find, preserving pieces of almost any size.

When Gibbons grandfather was still living, the duo would venture to estate sales, buying vintage military uniforms and memorabilia that would have otherwise been discarded.

When older generations pass away, theres uniforms and documents and old photos, Gibbons told the local CBS affiliate in Albany. "And people often say, what am I going to do with this? Toss it out? Dont. Call people like me. Were all over the world, because well save it.

Parker, Brendan Gibbons' son, rides in the back of a military vehicle his dad restored in a parade. (Submitted)

Casual Collecting Turns into Home Museum

After collecting these historic pieces, Gibbons and his grandfather wouldnt just bring them home and tuck them away in a closet never to be seen again. Rather, almost museum-like, they worked to bring these items back to life.

They took the time to research each piece to discover stories of the past and get to know the soldier who once wore the uniform.

What did he do? What did he live through? How did his life turn out? Did he make it out?

Gibbons realizes that for so many veterans, life doesnt stop after they leave the service and take off the uniform.

Auto Restoration Business

Gibbons and his grandfather also worked on restoring World War II-era vehicles.

Through their business, Gibbons Military Motors, the pair would feature vintage trucks in parades for many years in New Yorks Capital Region, all the way down to the busy streets of Manhattan. As a child, Gibbons would ride in the back, decked out in a helmet and fatigues, while his grandfather drove.

In 2014, they were sent an old Army jeep to repair named "Dolly."

What you see here is reproduction seats, tires and a top, Gibbons said. Everything else we left in, including the original 60 horsepower motor.

These days, while his grandfather is gone, Gibbons is steadfast in continuing to honor him and other World War II veterans with his restoration efforts, hoping to enlighten future generations.

We want to work with schools and bring stuff to them and say, 'Heres the WWII uniform' or 'Heres a photo, heres documents.' You can learn about this person.

Gibbons even has on display the cap and uniform his great-grandfather wore in World War I.

Based on recent figures from the National World War II Museum, theres only about 45,000 American veterans out of 16.4 million who served, still alive from World War II.

This Army Jeep, "Lil' Buddy," was recently restored to haul racecar parts. (Submitted photo)

Gibbons knows with every piece of memorabilia he collects and preserves, hes paying tribute to his late grandfather. He plans to keep rescuing these pieces of history for as long as he can.

It tells a story, its incredible, Gibbons said. Dont just get rid of this stuff. I would like to think my grandfather and his friends would be proud of what Im doing.

If you have a piece of memorabilia Gibbons may be interested in, contact him at gibbonsmilitary2010@gmail.com.
As World War II drew to a close, U.S. Navy intelligence suspected German U-boats equipped to launch V-1 rockets were preparing to hit New York City. The War Department dismissed the threat. The Navy disagreed and launched Operation Teardrop.

In the final weeks of the war, the Navy hunted down and sank five German submarines in the North Atlantic. They stopped what they believed was an imminent attack on the East Coast. The victory came at a cost. The last American warship lost in the Atlantic fell to a German torpedo. Desperate to confirm the missile threat, Navy interrogators brutally tortured the captured German crews, casting a shadow over the Navys last success in the Battle of the Atlantic.

This picture distinguishes the larger Type IX in the background with its double hull and wide upper deck, from the smaller Type VII in the foreground with its saddle tanks. (Wikimedia Commons)

Intelligence Sparks the Hunt

Two captured spies may have triggered the sudden operation. William Colepaugh and Erich Gimpel landed in Maine from U-1230 in late November 1944. Within weeks, they were captured and ended up in FBI custody. Their interrogators learned a shocking revelation.

Germany was preparing several submarines to be equipped with V-1 rockets, the spies allegedly reported. The weapons would strike New York and other East Coast cities soon.

The intelligence reached Navy commanders not long after. Mayor of New York City Fiorello La Guardia even went public with the warnings. As the public became fearful, the War Department dismissed the threat. Army officials told President Franklin Roosevelt the probability was too low to justify diverting resources on a ghost hunt.

The Navy disagreed.

Vice Admiral Jonas Ingram commanded the Atlantic Fleet. He called reporters to a warship in New York Harbor on January 8, 1945. The admiral warned that missile attacks were possible. He announced that naval forces were assembling to counter the submarine-launched weapons.

German propaganda amplified American fears. Minister of Armaments Albert Speer made a broadcast that January. He claimed V-1 and V-2 missiles would fall on New York by February 1. That was enough proof for the Navy.

Meanwhile, intelligence analysts studied reconnaissance photographs of German sub pens in Norway. Strange mountings appeared on several submarines. Some officers concluded they were wooden tracks for loading torpedoes. Others remained unconvinced, believing they were rocket railings.

Prior to that, German engineers had conducted underwater sub-based rocket tests in June of 1942. Kapitanleutnant Friedrich Steinhoff commanded submarine U-511 during the experimental trials near Greifswalder Oie. The trials proved rockets could launch from submerged platforms. Development ended in early 1943 as military commanders realized the system degraded the seaworthiness of U-boats.

Allied commanders in 1945 were unaware that the program had died.

Kapitanleutnant Friedrich Steinhoff. (U-boat.net)

Gruppe Seewolf Crosses the Atlantic

Nine Type IX submarines left Norway in mid-March 1945. Seven of them formed Gruppe Seewolf. Their mission was attacking shipping off the American coast. The goal was diverting Allied anti-submarine forces away from British waters, where German boats faced devastating losses.

American code-breakers tracked every movement. British intelligence had cracked German Enigma encryptions years earlier. Signals revealed departure dates, courses, and destinations. Given the previous intelligence reports, Allied commanders were concerned.

Ingram and Tenth Fleet staff concluded the boats likely carried V-1 flying bombs. They designated the response Operation Teardrop. The Atlantic Fleet assembled two massive barrier forces to stop the subs.

V-1 at Imperial War Museum Duxford. (Wikimedia Commons)

Each task force included two escort carriers and more than twenty destroyer escorts. They would form patrol lines across the North Atlantic. Any submarine approaching American waters would face overwhelming firepower well before reaching the coast.

The First Barrier Force sortied from Hampton Roads between March 25 and 27. The ships refueled at Naval Station Argentia in Newfoundland. Twelve destroyer escorts formed a line 120 miles long east of Cape Race by April 11. Escort carriers Mission Bay and Croatan patrolled behind them.

Heavy seas hampered air operations. Aircraft struggled to launch and recover in the Atlantic's spring storms. The weather even forced the submarines to remain submerged, slowing their westward progress.

Gruppe Seewolf pressed on anyway. The boats ultimately found no targets. Convoys had been routed far south to avoid both weather and submarines. The lack of targets forced them to continue pushing toward the American defense line.

The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Croatan (CVE-25) anchored in the Hudson River, off New York City (USA), at the time of the Navy Day Fleet Review, circa in late October 1945. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Final Loss

Destroyer escort USS Frederick C. Davis made sonar contact on April 24. The target appeared at 2,000 yards. Sound operators reported a sharp, clear echo.

The destroyer and the USS Hayter turned to engage the target, but lost contact with the sub. As they regained contact, the sub already had them in its sights.

U-546 fired first. An acoustic torpedo struck the port side of Frederick C. Davis at 8:39 a.m. The explosion tore through the forward engine room. Five minutes later, the ship broke in two.

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) with steam up, but not underway (note jack flying at the bow). (Wikimedia Commons)

Ensign Philip Lundeberg assisted with damage control in the stern section. The crewmen fought desperately to maintain watertight integrity.

Before the stern sank, the sailors managed to safe all but two depth charges. The charges exploded underwater as the section went down. Concussive shockwaves killed many swimmers.

"I was in the water at the time, and I had a rather severe pain in my stomach," Lundeberg later recalled. "It felt as if my insides were being twisted around."

Rescue ships recovered several survivors from the frigid water. Many waited three hours for pickup. The ship's complement numbered 192. A total of 126 died. Frederick C. Davis became the last American warship sunk in the Atlantic theater.

Nearby escorts immediately counterattacked. Destroyer escorts Flaherty, Hayter, Neunzer, Janssen, Pillsbury and Varian pursued U-546 for more than ten hours. They dropped depth charges and fired hedgehog projectiles. The submarine finally surfaced at 6:44 p.m., heavily damaged and unable to dive.

American gunfire destroyed the boat within minutes. Rescue crews pulled 33 Germans from the water, including commander Paul Just. Four other U-boats (U-1235, U-880, U-518, U-881) were intercepted and sank with their entire crews during Operation Teardrop while the others escaped. U-546's survivors would provide the only chance to confirm or deny the missile threat.

Kapitanleutnant Just aboard the Bogue, just after being captured and retrieved from the water. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Interrogations

Eight U-546 specialists were separated from other prisoners immediately after rescue. The Navy sent them to isolation at Naval Station Argentia. Regular prisoners went to standard POW camps. The specialists faced something different than their comrades.

Two interrogators arrived on April 28. One wore a Navy captain's uniform but was apparently a civilian agent. They likely came from the joint Army-Navy facility at Fort Hunt, Virginia.

Tenth Fleet records described what followed. The Germans proved "extremely security conscious." They refused to divulge information Allied intelligence already possessed through Enigma decrypts.

Just faced "shock interrogation" on April 30. The exact methods of the interrogation remain unknown. Records show he ended up unconscious, before waking sometime later.

The beatings continued after transfer to Fort Hunt. All eight men endured harsh treatment until Just agreed to write an accurate account of U-546's history on May 12. Germany had already surrendered four days earlier.

Philip Lundeberg, who survived the sinking of the Frederick C. Davis, went on to become the American naval historian and curator emeritus of the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of American History.

He later characterized the treatment in stark terms. The beatings and torture constituted a "singular atrocity," he wrote. Interrogators needed information quickly. They believed missile attacks were imminent.

Many of the records in Fort Hunt were burned after the war. Full details of what happened disappeared with them.

German Prisoners from U-873 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in New Hampshire in May 1945. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Navy interrogated more prisoners after Germany's surrender. U-805 and U-858 survived Gruppe Seewolf. Both boats surrendered at sea at the end of the war. Their crews confirmed they carried no missile equipment.

U-873 surrendered on May 11 as it made its way to the Caribbean. Steinhoff commanded the boat. His capture guaranteed intense questioning as interrogators knew about his role in the 1942 rocket tests.

Steinhoff faced brutal treatment at Charles Street Jail in Boston. His initial defiance eventually gave way. He provided information, though nothing suggested missile attacks had ever been planned.

A Navy investigation was opened shortly afterward. Steinhoff committed suicide on May 19, 1945 before it was concluded.

The U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Argo (WPC-100) and a tug escort the surrendered German Type IXD2 submarine U-873 to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, New Hampshire (USA), on 16 May 1945. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Truth Emerges

Postwar analysis eventually unveiled the truth. Germany had explored submarine-launched weapons repeatedly, though none reached operational status.

The 1942 tests used short-range artillery rockets. They could fire underwater but couldn't be aimed effectively. The launch system reduced submarine maneuverability, so the Germans cancelled the program.

German engineers revisited the concept in late 1943. Bodo Lafferenz proposed launching V-2 ballistic missiles from towable containers. A submarine would tow the container to within 186 miles of the target. The container would then be positioned vertically for launch.

Work began in November 1944. Construction was completed on one container at Schichau Dockyard in Elbing. The project never progressed beyond that single prototype. Technical challenges proved insurmountable. Container stability during launch remained unsolved. Missile accuracy presented problems German engineers couldn't overcome.

Gruppe Seewolf carried conventional torpedoes and nothing else. The submarines had been dispatched simply to attack shipping, not launch rockets at New York.

Albert Speer's propaganda broadcast had been exactly that. Propaganda. No capability existed to fulfill his threats, though his speech occurred at a moment when Allied analysts worried of the potential sub-based missiles could pose.

The captured spies' information proved unreliable. Colepaugh and Gimpel likely repeated rumors they had heard in Germany. Their mission focused on gathering technical intelligence, not military operations. Neither had access to accurate information about submarine capabilities. It is unknown if the men actually divulged anything concrete about German submarine operations.

William Colepaugh (L) and Erich Gimpel (R), following their arrest in December 1944. (Wikimedia Commons)

Legacy and Lessons

Operation Teardrop succeeded in its primary mission. Five of seven Gruppe Seewolf boats never reached American waters. U-881 became the last German submarine sunk by U.S. Navy forces. Destroyer escort Farquhar destroyed it with depth charges on May 6.

The operation demonstrated the power of signals intelligence. Enigma decrypts enabled the precise tracking of submarine movements. Ships could position themselves based on intercepted radio traffic. The barrier forces knew where to patrol before the submarines even arrived.

Lundeberg assessed Teardrop as a "classic demonstration" of coordinated hunter tactics. British experience contributed to American methods. Communications intelligence proved critical to intercepting the U-boats.

The treatment of the prisoners cast a shadow over that success. The torture violated standards the Navy normally upheld. Lundeberg's characterization as a "singular atrocity" came from someone who had every reason to hate U-546's crew. Yet he still condemned what American interrogators did.

The desperation driving those interrogations reflected genuine fear. Intelligence officers believed American cities faced imminent attack. The pressure didn't excuse the treatment, but it explained the motive.

A "Loon" is fired from Cusk in 1951. (Wikimedia Commons)

Ultimately, the Navy began its own submarine-launched missile program almost immediately after the war. Engineers studied German research materials. They examined captured documents about the V-1 and V-2 programs.

The submarine USS Cusk received several modifications in 1947. Workers installed a missile hangar on the ship. A launch ramp extended aft. The submarine would surface to prepare and fire the weapons.

Cusk launched the first submarine-based guided missile on February 12, 1947. The weapon was a Loon, an American copy of the V-1 flying bomb. The project proved submarines could serve as mobile launch platforms.

The concept evolved rapidly. Regulus missiles replaced Loons. Nuclear propulsion eliminated the need for surfacing. Ballistic missiles superseded cruise missiles. Polaris boats became cornerstone weapons of Cold War deterrence. Every advancement traced back to wartime German experiments and postwar American determination to perfect what Germany had failed to achieve.

Gruppe Seewolf represented the last German U-boat offensive against American shores. While they never fired rockets at the continental U.S., those fears drove innovation that shaped naval warfare for generations.

Frederick C. Davis remains the last U.S. warship lost in the Atlantic during WWII. Her 126 dead include the final American naval casualties of the European war. They died hunting what they believed was a dangerous threat to their homeland.
Pentagon Signals Rare Domestic Readiness

The Department of Defense has placed roughly 1,500 active-duty Army soldiers on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota following escalating unrest in Minneapolis tied to federal immigration enforcement operations and a fatal shooting involving an ICE agent. Defense officials confirmed the troops were given prepare-to-deploy orders as a contingency measure after President Donald Trump publicly warned the federal government could invoke the Insurrection Act if local authorities failed to maintain order.

According to defense reporting, the soldiers are assigned to the Armys 11th Airborne Division based in Alaska. The unit specializes in rapid response in extreme winter conditions and maintains the logistical capability to deploy quickly inside the United States if directed. Pentagon officials emphasized that no deployment order has been issued, and the move reflects readiness planning rather than an active mission.

The decision nonetheless represents a serious federal posture. Active duty troop readiness for domestic unrest remains rare and typically signals that civilian authorities are closely monitoring the possibility of invoking extraordinary legal authority.

Soldiers participate in National Guard Reaction Force training at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., Jan. 9, 2026. The training was designed to enhance readiness by developing speed, coordination and sound judgment in high-stress environments (Air Force Staff Sgt. N.W. Huertas, DoW).

Fatal ICE Encounter Triggers Protests

The unrest followed a January demonstration in Minneapolis during which an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a local resident. The shooting immediately sparked protests that expanded into broader demonstrations against ICE and Department of Homeland Security operations in the region. Protesters accused federal agents of aggressive tactics and racial profiling during recent enforcement efforts, turning the incident into a rallying point for opposition to federal immigration policy.

Demonstrations spread across Minneapolis over several days, with clashes between protesters and federal officers intensifying tensions. Civil liberties groups quickly filed suit alleging constitutional violations, arguing that federal immigration agents engaged in unlawful detentions during crowd-control operations. A federal judge later issued restrictions barring agents from detaining individuals who were not committing crimes or obstructing federal activity.

As the demonstrations have grown, some confrontations have moved beyond slogans into coercion and street violence. Reuters reported that hundreds of anti-ICE protesters confronted and chased away a small pro-ICE group from downtown Minneapolis, with scuffles as the crowds collided. Counter protesters have also allegedly forced at least one person they believed to be pro-ICE to remove clothing portraying an American flag that they deemed objectionable, and video from the scene showed individuals being pursued through city streets as tensions spiked. Jake Lang also appeared with visible injuries after attending a protest and claimed someone tried to stab him, but his protective vest prevented serious harm.

Trumps Insurrection Act Warning Raises Stakes

As tensions have increased, Trump stated he would consider invoking the Insurrection Act if unrest threatened federal property or overwhelmed Minnesota authorities. The statute allows the president to deploy active duty forces domestically when rebellion or civil disorder obstructs the execution of federal law and local authorities cannot restore order.

Defense officials linked the Pentagons standby posture directly to those statements. Presidents historically reserve the Insurrection Act for extreme crises, so even preparing troops for that possibility reflects heightened federal concern and political tension.

Walz Mobilizes Minnesota National Guard Under State Authority

Despite strong criticism of ICE and opposition to federal escalation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard in a state readiness posture. Walz signed an executive order authorizing Guard deployment to support civil authorities if protests threatened public safety, stating Minnesota must remain prepared to protect residents and infrastructure.

Local reporting confirmed Walz issued a warning order directing Guard units to stage and prepare for possible assignments across Minneapolis and the surrounding areas.



Walz made clear that Minnesota did not request federal troops and maintained that the Guard would operate strictly under state control. In public statements, he emphasized that staging the Guard does not signal support for federal immigration enforcement but rather ensures Minnesota retains authority over crowd management and emergency response.

This dual posture captures a political contradiction. Walz has repeatedly condemned ICE operations while simultaneously preparing military support to prevent broader instability.

National Guardsmen assigned to Joint Task Force District of Columbia line the streets alongside civilian first responder partners during an honor escort as part of a dignified transfer in Washington, Jan. 8, 2026. The transfer honored Terry Bennett, a member of the Metropolitan Police Department, who was struck by a vehicle while assisting a motorist on an interstate (Air Force Master Sgt. William Blankenship, DoW).

Legal and Political Tensions Deepen

The presence of federal immigration officers alongside state Guard readiness has intensified debates over jurisdiction and constitutional limits. Civil rights advocates argue that deploying or even staging military forces during protest activity risks chilling lawful expression and exacerbating community distrust. Minnesota leaders have warned that federal threats to invoke the Insurrection Act undermine state sovereignty and raise fears of militarized enforcement.

At the same time, federal officials maintain that troop preparedness is a lawful contingency if violence threatens federal personnel. The standoff highlights a recurring tension in American governance: whether domestic unrest tied to federal actions justifies federal military readiness when state leaders object.

Why Military Readers Should Care

For servicemembers and veterans, the Minnesota situation reflects broader questions about domestic military roles. Active duty troops remain legally restricted from policing civilians absent presidential invocation of extraordinary authority. National Guard forces under state control often serve as the first military buffer in civil disturbances, tasked with protecting property and supporting law enforcement without replacing civilian governance.

The Pentagons standby order demonstrates how quickly protest environments can trigger military contingency planning. Even without deployment, such readiness signals institutional concern and reveals how civil unrest intersects with national security decision-making.

Current Status and What Comes Next

As of now, no active-duty troops have deployed to Minnesota. The Alaska-based soldiers remain on standby, while Minnesotas National Guard stays staged under state authority. Federal immigration operations continue under court-imposed limits, and protests persist at lower intensity.

Future escalation would likely depend on three factors: whether protests intensify, whether federal agents claim threats to facilities, and whether the White House formally invokes the Insurrection Act. Until then, Minnesota stands in a rare position where both state and federal military forces remain poised without crossing the line into active domestic deployment.

The standoff leaves an uneasy balance in place: a governor who opposes federal immigration policy but has activated the Guard to control fallout, and a Pentagon that has prepared troops in case Washington chooses to intervene directly.
Googles Information Centers Achieve Major Landmark in Water Conservation Efforts .







(Googles Data Centers Achieve Major Milestone in Water Conservation Efforts)

Lets encounter it. Data facilities are the parched titans of the digital age. Every search, every stream, every cloud save relies on these large facilities humming away 24/7. Maintaining those web servers cool needs a lot of resources. Water has traditionally been a large component of that cooling formula. But right heres the bright side. Google just struck a big target in its water preservation efforts. This isnt nearly conserving declines; its a big jump in the direction of sustainable tech. Lets study what this indicates.

What is this significant milestone in water conservation? .

Its simple. Google introduced it attained something large. The company reached its enthusiastic objective. This objective was everything about water. Especially, replenishing even more water than it consumed across its global data center procedures and workplaces during 2023. Think about that. A lot more water returned into nature than gotten. Thats an internet positive water effect. They call this water stewardship. It implies actively handling water use for the good of the setting and regional areas. This milestone covers all the water used for cooling their structures and information centers. Its a considerable initial for a firm operating at Googles substantial range. They really did not just reduce usage; they intend to stabilize the books on water.

Why is water conservation so critical for information facilities? .

Information facilities require consistent air conditioning. Servers create warmth. Way too much heat creates problems. Conventional air conditioning approaches commonly use great deals of water. Consider evaporative cooling towers. They work similar to this. Warm air from the web servers fulfills trendy water mist. The water evaporates, taking warmth away. It works. However it uses an incredible amount of water. This is an issue, particularly in locations where water is scarce. Dry spells are coming to be much more common. Environment adjustment taxes water supplies. Areas near information facilities need reputable water too. Google saw this challenge early. They knew they needed to do much better. Preserving water isnt just good PR. Its vital for operating responsibly. It helps secure neighborhood environments. It supports the people living close by. It guarantees long-lasting business strength. Water is life. Making use of much less means much less pressure on shared resources. Thats crucial everywhere.

How did Google accomplish this water preservation goal? .

It wasnt magic. It took smart planning and new technology. Google utilized numerous vital approaches. First, they got serious regarding lowering water utilize right at the resource. They created and built much more reliable cooling systems. Air-based air conditioning is a huge component of this. Rather than constantly splashing water, they make use of outdoors air whenever possible. Imagine titan, smart ac system. They pull in cooler outside air to cool the servers. This significantly reduces water needs, specifically in cooler environments or seasons. They also use sophisticated controls. These systems continuously monitor weather condition. They decide the best means to cool: use outside air, use a little water, or use a mix. Its everything about performance. Second, they accepted alternate water sources. They dont always use clean alcohol consumption water. Where possible, they treat and recycle wastewater. They gather rain. They also utilize seawater (securely treated) in some seaside areas. Third, they spent heavily in water replenishment projects. This is vital to the net positive goal. They fund projects that bring back watersheds. They help recharge underground aquifers. They enhance irrigation for ranches. They sustain healthy rivers and marshes. These tasks place water back right into the system. They offset the water Google still requires to utilize. Its a thorough strategy: use much less, make use of smarter, and restore.

Where are these water conservation applications making a difference? .

The effect is international. Google operates data facilities all over the globe. Each region has various water challenges. Google tailors its method. Take a look at places like Chile, Spain, or the American Southwest. These areas usually face dry spells. Water stress and anxiety is high. Here, Google concentrates greatly on non-potable water and replenishment. In Chile, they use dealt with wastewater for air conditioning. They sustain wetland preservation tasks nearby. In position with more rains, like Belgium or Finland, they count much more on totally free air cooling. They rarely use any water for cooling down most of the year. Even in humid Singapore, they have actually applied cutting-edge systems. They use a process called condensation capture. It collects water from the air itself. That water then aids cool down the web servers. Pretty brilliant. Every project accumulates. The replenishment efforts are widespread too. They fund jobs across many landmarks where they operate. This consists of bring back forests. It includes reconstructing marshes. It consists of aiding farmers utilize water more effectively. These tasks profit whole environments and neighborhoods.

Regularly Asked Concerns regarding Googles Water Conservation .

Does this mean Google information facilities utilize no water now? .

No. Achieving water stewardship does not mean zero water use. Some places still require water for cooling, particularly during extremely heat. The focus gets on decreasing usage where feasible. It has to do with stabilizing the complete water taken in with an equivalent or higher quantity replenished. Think internet favorable, not no.

What exactly counts as restored water? .

Google buys projects that include tidy water back to nature or improve water accessibility. Examples include restoring marshes (they hold and filter water). Another example is recharging groundwater aquifers (placing water back underground). Helping farmers switch to drip watering (conserving lots of water) also counts. They thoroughly determine the water benefits of these tasks. They ensure it matches or surpasses their own usage.

How much water are we speaking about? .

The numbers allow. In 2023 alone, Google estimates its replenishment tasks returned over 2.5 billion gallons of water. Thats more than the water they consumed for workplace and information center operations that year. Its a substantial quantity, equal to filling countless Olympic pool.

Will this aid throughout droughts? .

Absolutely. Thats a significant factor. By utilizing less water locally, specifically in worried areas, Google lowers pressure on area supplies during completely dry times. Their replenishment jobs additionally aim to improve long-lasting water security. Much healthier landmarks and much better groundwater levels make areas more durable against future droughts.

Whats following for Googles water efforts? .







(Googles Data Centers Achieve Major Milestone in Water Conservation Efforts)

This milestone is a huge action, however not completion. Google intends to maintain improving. They aim to locate much more methods to cut water use directly. They plan to expand replenishment projects. They likewise intend to share what they have actually found out. Aiding various other firms take on far better water practices is a goal. The trip in the direction of lasting information facilities continues. Water preservation remains a top priority.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwean multimedia journalist and investment facilitator Josephine Mahachi has been appointed Head of Business Development at Dangote Industries' new offices in Harare. Mahachi, known for her work with German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle and the television show Click Africa, which highlighted African pride and narratives across the continent, played a key role in facilitating Dangote's investment in Zimbabwe.The move comes as Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote expands his US$1 billion investment in the country, focusing on cement production, power generation, and infrastructure projects, including an oil pipeline. Dangote signed the investment agreement in November last year with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwean government. The deal was financially advised by Bard Santner Inc., led by banking executive Senziwani Sikhosana. Mahachi's appointment is expected to strengthen Dangote Industries' local operations and business development initiatives in Zimbabwe.
DEAR ABBY: I have three daughters with children of their own. Every year, we have a family vacation. My daughter Monicas children, ages 8 and 9, whom I love and see regularly, behave badly. They cuss, yell at adults and show no respect whatsoever.

We have brought this to Monicas attention multiple times. She always reacts like we are wrong and says, Im not going to beat my kids. At no time did we imply she should beat her kids, just give them a time-out or a scolding. If any of us tell them Stop, please dont do that, they act like victims. Its so bad that one of my other daughters told us as we were planning a vacation that she will not be going because of Monicas kids behavior.

Monica accuses us of not liking her kids and being mean. She goes to the school to argue with teachers and the principal if her kids tell her they didnt get their way. I dont know what her issue is. Her reasons sound like she is mentally ill. Anything you can recommend? -- NOT ENABLING IN NEVADA

DEAR NOT ENABLING: Monica is a terrible parent. A responsible mother would see that her children learn appropriate behavior before they get into serious trouble. Because you cannot help your daughter to see reality, I recommend you stop inviting Monica and her children on these vacations. Their behavior is unacceptable, and their cousins should not be further influenced by their bad example.

DEAR READERS: Today, we remember the birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. who in 1968 was martyred in the cause of civil rights. During a time of insanity, his was a voice of reason when he eloquently preached, Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
BOYNE FALLS, MI - The British TikTok duo of Josh & Jase have been making friends and racking up social media fans for the last several days as they traveled across Michigan, putting The Mitten in the spotlight.

They showed off beach town spots in West Michigan and drummed up goodwill by making a donation at Mel Trotter Ministries in Grand Rapids.

This weekend, they followed their fans online suggestions. They tried sledding down the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes - and got a face full of snow. They bopped around Traverse City. And then they were welcomed at Boyne Mountain Resort, where they braved SkyBridge, visited the hot new Iglu snow fort bar and went snow tubing.

But on Sunday, their Up North journey hit a speed bump. Jason Riley, one half of the duo, told followers hed walked into the room where they were staying and found Josh Cauldwell-Clarke on the floor and in a lot of pain.

Follow-ups posted online showed Cauldwell-Clarke being loaded into an ambulance and taken to a local hospital. The duo have not said what Cauldwell-Clarkes specific diagnosis was, only that hed received good care and was given pain medication. He was also shown using crutches. They also thanked fans whod offered to help raise money for the medical bill, but said theyd purchased travel insurance to cover that expense.

The pair initially said they planned to take today and rest, but Josh posted an update today that he went back to the hospital for an MRI to see if it could pinpoint what was causing his pain. His most recent update is that he was diagnosed with a bulging disc - a back injury that is going to require steroids and pain meds as part of his treatment.

Their travel mantra remains: Two Brits experiencing America one state at a time.

As for their next adventure? Fans have been clamoring to see them drive across the Mackinac Bridge, and Upper Peninsula destinations have been wooing them to stop and check out what a real Yooper winter feels like. Sisu!
SWITZERLAND  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer began an investment mission Monday, Jan. 19, in Switzerland, where the states top elected official said she hopes to secure more global partnerships for Michigan.

Michigan is open for business, and were continuing to compete and win on the global stage, Whitmer said in a statement. Im excited to tell Michigans story this week and build relationships directly with global leaders at the World Economic Forum. On issues like innovation, workforce talent, and manufacturing, we are building a bright future and making a difference for Michiganders.

Whitmer said the trip will involve participating in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, where global leaders from business, government, and academia gather to discuss the global market. There, the governor plans to deliver an address to the Global Lighthouse Network and participate in two panel discussions: Can EVs Really Dominate? and A Conversation with U.S. Governors.

A livestream feed of the World Economic Forum is available here.

She also plans to participate in a press conference with American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten to discuss Michigan higher education and skilled trades initiatives, including Michigan Reconnect and Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, will join Whitmer in Switzerland.

These investment missions allow us to present our Make It in Michigan economic development strategy to business decision-makers in critical markets and global government leaders who are actively considering places like Michigan to expand, innovate, and invest, Messer said in a statement.

With the continued federal policy focus on accelerating foreign direct investment into the U.S., Team Michigans presence in Switzerland and at (the World Economic Forum) is about turning relationships into results for Michigan employers, workers and communities.

The governors trip to Switzerland marks her first economics-driven journey outside of the U.S. in 2026. The list of destinations for Whitmer last year included the United Kingdom and Ireland in March as well as Singapore and Japan in August.
UPDATE: I-196 reopened to traffic at about 6 p.m.

HUDSONVILLE, MI  Officials said Hudsonville High School will serve as a drop-off site for motorists stranded in a 100-vehicle pileup on I-196 on Monday, Jan. 19.

Ottawa County officials reported emergency personnel were working with area ambulance and fire services to treat the wounded and transport them to area hospitals.

Officials said crews were using buses from Hudsonville High School and Max Transit to assist emergency personnel with transporting stranded motorists from the scene to Hudsonville High School.

Once at the school, they can summon assistance or schedule a ride to pick them up from the HHS cafeteria, the report stated.

Crews closed I-196 in both directions after initially closing only the westbound lanes near 32nd Avenue in Hudsonville because of the pileup crash in icy conditions that began after 10 a.m., state police reported.

The closure was located between exits 62 and 55, read a post from the state polices account on X, formerly Twitter.

Crews are working to safely remove all non-involved vehicles from the area, the post read. An estimated 3040 semi-trucks are involved. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes.

Drone footage from the Chicago & Midwest Storm Chasers account on X reportedly showed the pileup.

The closure extended to neighboring Zeeland Township, where Ottawa County officials said the sheriffs office there was actively policing a multi-car pile-up on Interstate 1-96 near 64th Avenue in Zeeland Township.

The dangerous conditions come as much of Michigan remains on alert for snow, wind and cold temperatures. For the latest information about the weather, visit mlive.com/weather.

Whiteout conditions are being reported on roads across the state. Winds are set to increase today, and conditions are expected to worsen as blowing snow causes repeated areas of low visibility for drivers. Snow squalls are also possible.
SHINGLETON TWP, MI  A 22-year-old Garrettsville, Ohio man died after the snowmobile he was driving crashed in Michigans Upper Peninsula this weekend, state police said.

Troopers responded to the crash on Trail 8 near N-58 in Alger Countys Shingleton Township at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, state police reported.

The early stages of the investigation found the 22-year-old man was traveling at a high rate of speed and was unable to negotiate a corner on the trail, the police report stated.

Police have not released the name of the victim.

State police were assisted by Alger County emergency responders.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The Rev. Naomi Tutu, the daughter of the late South African racial justice advocate Bishop Desmond Tutu, will speak about the urgent need for reconciliation and justice at Calvin University on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The first federal holiday honoring the late civil rights leader was celebrated in 1986. King, assassinated in 1968, received the Nobel Peace Price in 1964 for his nonviolent campaign against racism.

Tutus talk, Our Shared Humanity: Creating Understanding Through the Principles of MLK, on Monday, Jan. 19 will kick off Calvins annual January Series, featuring speakers on a variety of topics this month.

Drawing on her experiences growing up under apartheid and her work leading truth and reconciliation workshops around the world, she offers practical guidance on how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s principles can help us bridge divides of race, gender, and culture, according to Calvin.

Her talk will challenge and inspire audiences to see our shared humanity and take meaningful steps toward healing and understanding.

The evemt Monday, Jan. 19 runs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Her talk can be heard in-person at the Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium, 1795 Knollcrest Circle SE, or online at calvin.edu/january-series/watch-online.

Naomi Tutu is one of three daughters of the late Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Prize winner whom the Associated Press described as an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights. He died in 2021 at the age of 90.

According to Calvin, Naomi Tutu is a renowned race and gender justice activist whose life experiences growing up Black and female in apartheid South Africa shaped her lifelong commitment to human rights.

She has worked as an economist, development consultant, educator, and program coordinator for initiatives on race, gender, and education across Africa and the United States, the university said in promotional materials. An Episcopal priest and sought-after speaker, Naomi also founded Nozizwe Consulting to lead reconciliation and conflict-resolution workshops worldwide.

Starting with Tutu, there will be 10 days of what Calvin describes as inspiring speakers and timely conversations. Below are the other people scheduled for the January Series and the topics they will speak on:
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Barreras sit around their dining room table, full from the homemade birria tacos and Mexican macaroni and cheese that covered their plates just moments before.

Minds already on dessert, they reminisce over the Nutella stromboli they had tried for the first time at Pera Pizzeria that week.

Until recent years, these were luxuries the Barrera family couldnt afford.

Cierra Barrera, now 26, and her family have called Grand Rapids home since 2010.

They moved to West Michigan to escape the poverty and gun violence that surrounded them in their hometown of Saginaw.

Despite the 131-mile move, addiction, food insecurity and homelessness still followed  and when Barrera was a senior in high school, she, her six siblings and her parents were evicted.

For years, they counted on family and friends for a place to sleep and SNAP benefits to eat.

In 2019, the Barreras found a home of their own in Kentwood, and it has been the base from which theyve forged their passions for fields like photography, film-making, and content creation ever since.

In less than a year, Barrera has amassed a following of over 60,000 on TikTok.

There, she posts food reviews of viral eats, popular fast food meals, and her favorite hidden gems.

In one series, trying viral foods (that arent actually viral but should be), Barrera highlights locally owned restaurants in and around West Michigan.

My biggest motivator is to enrich community in a way that brings people together, she said. Especially over food.

This series in particular has put tens of thousands of eyes on places like Maggies Kitchen, Tortilleria y Restaurante La Guadalupana and Lai Tai Kitchen.

Since starting her platform, shes gotten responses from followers taking her recommendations and restaurant owners who saw a boost in sales due to the exposure.

Pambazos from Tortilleria y Restaurante La Guadalupana on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com

I started to realize, people are actually going to the places Im sharing, Barrera said. People are pouring their lives, their money and their families, everything into these businesses, why not try to make an impact in that way?

As her platform has grown, Barrera is looking for other ways to pour into her community.

Last year, Barrera and her sister Mariah were ambassadors for Kids Food Basket (KFB), a West Michigan non-profit that provides kids with sack suppers, well-rounded meals to help keep students from going hungry outside of school.

The Barrera sisters produced a video that was released in KFBs fundraising campaign, sharing their story and how the organization made them realize it was OK to ask for help in a time of need.

This year, Barrera is looking forward to working with AYA Youth Collective, an organization that provides support and housing for homeless youth in Grand Rapids.

There are so many moving parts that AYA truly thinks about that no one else would, she said. I almost shed a tear.

Like the mail and lockbox systems they provide so people have a stable address to use and a safe place to store important documents and pick up their mail.

A system Barrera said she wished she and her family knew about while they were homeless.

Even though they were staying with family, this family member received government assistance, so they couldnt use their address on official documents without putting their benefits at risk.

Without an address to use, Barreras mother, Sherry, who was on dialysis for her kidneys at the time, was removed from the transplant list.

Sherry Barrera makes dinner for her family on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 in Kentwood, Mich. Chloe Trofatter | MLive.com

Its memories like these that serve as a benchmark for Barrera to look back on and see how far she and her family has come.

The days they opened the cupboards to find nothing but empty shelves, or she had to quit her job because it was a 45-minute walk one way and she had no other form of transportation.

This has definitely been a year of figuring it out, she said. But that passion, that determination is whats really driving us.

Now, the Barreras spend their days working on their passion projects  like her fathers music based in his faith or her mothers cooking videos that include sodium-conscious alternatives for kidney health  and their nights at the dining room table, discussing foods theyve tried or new movies they want to watch.

And no matter how large of a spread Sherry Barreras whipped up, theres always room for a late-night run for Nutella stromboli.
UPDATE: I-196 reopened to traffic at about 6 p.m.

HUDSONVILLE, MI  Officials closed I-196 in both directions after initially closing only the westbound lanes near 32nd Avenue in Hudsonville because of a 100-vehicle pileup crash in icy conditions on the morning of Monday, Jan. 19, state police reported.

The closure was located between exits 62 and 55, read a post from the state polices account on X, formerly Twitter.

Crews are working to safely remove all non-involved vehicles from the area, the post read. An estimated 3040 semi-trucks are involved. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes.

The pileup was reported about 10:30 a.m.

Drone footage from the Chicago & Midwest Storm Chasers account on X reportedly showed the pileup.

The closure extended to neighboring Zeeland Township, where Ottawa County officials said the sheriffs office there was actively policing a multi-car pile-up on Interstate 1-196 near 64th Avenue.

Deputies were dispatched after receiving multiple reports of numerous crashes and slide-offs in the area, the Ottawa County report stated. This incident also includes several jack-knifed semi-trucks.

The Ottawa County report stated there were no known fatalities among the injuries reported.

Sheriffs Deputies are working with area ambulance and fire services to treat the wounded and transport them to area hospitals, the report stated.

Buses from Hudsonville High School and Max Transit are being used to assist emergency personnel with transporting stranded motorists from the scene to Hudsonville High School.

The highway is expected to be closed for several hours during clean-up and removal of vehicles and patients, the Ottawa County report stated.

The dangerous conditions come as much of Michigan remains on alert for snow, wind and cold temperatures. For the latest information about the weather, visit mlive.com/weather.

Whiteout conditions are being reported on roads across the state. Winds are set to increase today, and conditions are expected to worsen as blowing snow causes repeated areas of low visibility for drivers. Snow squalls are also possible.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A Holland woman said that living without her teen son is worse than her 60-year prison sentence in his stabbing death.

Katie Austin Lee, 40, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the February killing of her son, Austin Dean Pikaart, at Bay Point Apartments in Holland.

At her sentencing, she said she rarely left their apartment as she struggled with her mental health. She got caught up in social media.

After five years of not being out in the world it became really hard for me to tell what was real and not real, she told Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing on Monday, Jan. 19.

With the algorithms on my phone being nothing but the world is ending content I fell so deeply into an echo chamber that we were living in a different reality. And it was a terrible one.

She thought the FBI was watching her and said she spent eight hours a day looking out her bedroom window trying to decode peoples behavior and prove myself right.

Then, she feared they would be taken to concentration camps, she told the judge. She said that treatment over the past year while in jail has helped improve her mental health.

Every day, every thought, every nightmare, every flashback, every moment without him Ill forever miss. But I know thats not enough. I will spend the rest of my life in prison trying to process what I could have done differently.

The teens family members wore shirts that said, Justice for Austin.

Shes not a mom, shes a monster, an aunt, Alisa Pikaart, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press after the hearing.

She said that Lees apologies meant little.

Shes getting what she deserves. No Im sorry will fix it, she said.

He was just a sweet boy.

Another family member said: This is the definition of unfathomable.

In pleading guilty, Lee admitted she sliced her sons throat on the eve of his 18th birthday.

Holland police responded around 4:15 a.m. on Feb. 21, to a stabbing at the apartment at 791 E. 16th Street.

She told police she cut his throat because he did not want to turn 18, reports show.

She intended to die herself and wanted police to shoot her.

The caller Katie Lee told dispatch that she couldnt get her son to stop breathing, detective Sgt. Brent Sluiter said in obtaining warrants, according to a transcript of the hearing.

The mother and son had tried to overdose on medication the previous day. She stabbed him around 6 p.m. after he passed out. He had a cut to his throat and two to his arm.

She threatened police with a large kitchen knife. Police subdued her with a Taser.

The victim died at the scene from a neck laceration.

They had lived at the apartment for about 10 years.

Hulsing, the judge, followed a plea agreement that called for 60 to 90 years in prison. He said that Lees comments were appropriate. Her guilty plea spared witnesses from having to testify and jurors from viewing crime-scene photos.

But, he added: Its horrific and frankly the acts that you committed on that day were nothing less than pure evil.

Defense attorney Brandon Barthelemy said his client looked after her son but failed to take care of herself. She lived a life of isolation and got caught up in social media.

We are today getting to know Katie. You know, it has taught me a lot of things. Always check in with loved ones and prioritize mental health, he said.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Police in Chegutu have arrested two men in connection with a spate of robbery cases committed in different parts of the district.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police announced the arrests via their X account.The ZRP confirms the arrest of Kudakwashe Matizandima (27) and Perfect Isaac (18) in connection with a spate of robbery cases which occurred at Maridadi Farm and Cigaro Farm, Chegutu, between 1 and 15 January, where cash, a pellet gun and cellphones were stolen, police said.On 15 January, police from ZRP Chegutu arrested the suspects after receiving information linking them to the robbery cases.Police added that the arrest led to the recovery of the stolen pellet gun.The other suspects, identified as Terrence, King, Munyaradzi and Edson, are on the run, police said.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Police are investigating a crash on Sunday, Jan. 18, in which a man lost control of his SUV and hit a house.

The crash happened just before 3 p.m. in Allendale Township.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies responded to a home on 68th Avenue near Maple Brook Drive.

An investigation revealed that a 36-year-old Allendale man was driving a Land Rover southbound on 68th Avenue when he went off the road. He hit a tree and then a house, police said.

The man was able to free himself from the SUV prior to deputies arrival. He suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital.

The house was occupied at the time, but no injuries were reported and there was only minor damage to the home.

The crash remains under investigation.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  A house fire that displaced three people on Sunday, Jan. 18, is under investigation and believed to be suspicious, police said.

Those displaced  all adults  are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

Blackman-Leoni Township firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire around 11 a.m. in the 500 block of South Dettman Road.

Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke and flames visible from the exterior of the single-story home.

Crews from multiple fire departments responded to assist with fire suppression efforts, which were significantly hindered by bitter weather conditions.

The interior of the residence became unsafe, and firefighters were unable to access areas of active fire, officials said. After several hours on scene, an excavator was requested to assist with access and demolition operations.

One Summit Township firefighter was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for observation due to exhaustion.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined and is being treated as suspicious.
UPDATE: Highway has reopened as of 3:47 p.m., according to the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office. Drive safely and please dont make us come back, the office said in a Facebook update.

KALAMAZOO, MI  Multiple collisions in whiteout conditions led officials to close northbound U.S. 131 near M-43 (West Main) as well as the northbound U.S. 131 business loop on the morning of Monday, Jan. 19, according to a Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office report.

Seek alternate routes if you must travel, read a post on the sheriffs office Facebook page, published at about 11 a.m. Slow down, expect rapidly changing visibility and conditions, and pack a ditch kit w/ chains, shovel, warm clothes, hats/gloves/boots, charged cell phone, etc. Assistance may be delayed due to multiple slide-offs and current conditions.

There were a series of collisions involving approximately 15 vehicles. Tow trucks had to dislodge tractor-trailers from guard rails, the sheriffs office reported about 12:40 p.m.

The dangerous conditions come as much of Michigan remains on alert for snow, wind and cold temperatures. For the latest information on weather conditions, visit mlive.com/weather.
MUSKEGON, MI - One of West Michigan Symphonys core mantras is classical music for everyone, so it makes sense they are hosting an evening of music from superheroes like Superman, Batman and Spider-Man.

Led by music director Scott Speck, the concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at the Frauenthal Center, 425 W. Western Ave. in Muskegon.

The scores came from the renowned composers John Williams and Danny Elfman. The program will also feature music by two great composers who inspired them: Igor Stravinskys Firebird and Sergei Prokofievs Romeo & Juliet.

Ticket holders are also encouraged to participate in a superheroes costume contest during the event.

Guests can arrive in capes, masks or any comic-inspired flair that sparks ones heroic alter ego. For everyones safety, organizers are asking attendees to leave all prop weapons at home.

Judges will be on hand pre-concert from 6:30 to 7:25 p.m., and during intermission in the Western Avenue lobby. The contest is open to all ages, with prizes ready for the best-dressed.

A post-concert gathering will also be held in the lower-level Frau Lounge, an opportunity for the audience to mingle with the conductor and musicians. Beverages, desserts and charcuterie will be available for purchase.

The Superheroes at the Symphony concert also kicks off a weeklong Community of Heroes celebration recognizing first responders and their families through art, music and sports.

Additional events are being held on Feb. 5 at the Muskegon Museum of Art, in conjunction with the opening of its exhibition POW! The Art of Comics, as well as the Muskegon Lumberjacks annual mascot night game on Feb. 6.

Audience members and the general public are invited to learn more about the Superheroes at the Symphony concert at a free Lunch n Learn, including complimentary lunch, at noon Jan. 28 at The Block, 360 W. Western Ave.

Free shuttle transport is available from Muskegon Farmers Market to the door of the Frauenthal, and back again after Friday nights concert.

Tickets for the concert start at $10 for students and $19 for adults. Visit westmichigansymphony.org or call 231-727-8001 to purchase and learn more.
KOCHVILLE TWP., MI  Four community leaders from across the Great Lakes Bay Region will receive the 2026 Drum Major Award for Community Service during the 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 22, at Saginaw Valley State University.

Nicole Luczak, Jennifer Vannette, and Jack and Janet Nash will be honored at 7 p.m. in the Malcolm Field Theatre inside Curtiss Hall. The award recognizes individuals whose behind-the-scenes service reflects Dr. Kings values of equity, justice, and community responsibility.

Luczak, president and CEO of United Way of Bay County, represents Bay County. She has led initiatives for more than a decade focused on community resiliency and expanding access to financial security, health, and essential resources. Her service extends to the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance board of directors, the 211 Northeast Michigan Board, and advisory councils for Blue Cross Blue Shield and SVSUs College of Health and Human Services. She also volunteers with the Junior League of the Great Lakes Bay Region.

The Midland County honoree, Vannette, volunteers with the Midland Area Community Foundations Cultural Awareness Coalition and serves as outreach coordinator for the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. She helps lead projects that document the stories of Black Midlanders through the Voices of Black Midland historical archive and supported the development of a community learning program around the archive in 2025.

Jack and Janet Nash will receive the Saginaw County award for their decades of service in education, community programming, and historical preservation. Jack has practiced dentistry in Saginaw for decades and serves on the Positive Results Downtown Saginaw board of directors. He also volunteers with the YMCA and supports local history projects. Janet Nash worked throughout the Saginaw Public School District, including as principal of the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy. A riverfront preserve near Saginaw United High School was named in her honor. The couple has established three scholarships for local youth.

The celebration is free and open to the public. The event is presented in partnership with the Bay Area Community Foundation, Midland Area Community Foundation, Saginaw Community Foundation, and Delta College. More information is available at svsu.edu/mlk.
The Detroit Red Wings are suited for three-on-three play.

Alex DeBrincat scored 36 seconds into overtime Sunday, and the Red Wings defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3 at Little Caesars Arena to move back into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Red Wings (30-16-4) are 7-2 in overtime, reaching 30 wins more than a month sooner than they did a year ago (Feb. 25). Detroit is 17-5-2 in its past 24.

DeBrincat scored his team-leading 26th goal while on a two-on-one with Andrew Copp (two assists). He snapped a shot past former Red Wings goaltender James Reimer, who made his debut with Ottawa after signing with the Senators last week.

John Gibson made 19 saves to improve to 15-2-0 since the start of December.

The Red Wings got power-play goals from Axel Sandin-Pellikka and James van Riemsdyk and an even-strength tally from Lucas Raymond.

The over/under for Wednesdays Red Wings versus Maple Leafs matchup is set at 6.5 goals on FanDuel. Our comprehensive FanDuel Sportsbook review provides an in-depth guide on how to register and use their platform.

The Red Wings and Tampa Bay are tied for first in the Atlantic, but the Lightning have played three fewer games.

The Senators fell to 22-19-7 (51 points).

After falling behind 2-0, the Red Wings scored the next three goals.

Sandin-Pellikka fired in a wrist shot from the point on the power play at 6:06 of the first period. It was his sixth goal, aided by Andrew Copps screen.

Raymond tied it at 7:16 of the second period with a wrist shot from the slot off the rush. It was his 15th goal.

Van Riemsdyk gave the Red Wings a 3-2 lead with a highlight-reel move in front the net on the power play. He corralled a rebound, slipped it between his skates on his backhand and then fired it in on the forehand with his stick between his legs. It was his 13th goal, his 12th in his past 24 games.

Shane Pinto answered by tapping in a pass in the crease on the power play to tie it with 55 seconds remaining in the second.

The Senators scored twice in a span of 39 seconds early in the first period to lead 2-0.

Drake Batherson fired in the third rebound off Gibson during a single sequence at 4:26. Dylan Cozens backhanded in a shot on the power play at 5:05, shortly after Batherson knocked down Jacob Bernard-Dockers clearing attempt at the point.

The Red Wings open a three-game trip Wednesday at Toronto (7 p.m., TNT).
Winter Storm Forecast Update: Winter Storm: Latest on snow forecast, high winds, dangerous wind chills - mlive.com

Bitterly cold temperatures are going to impact all of Michigan this week - and they could be very dangerous if we dont protect ourselves.

On Monday and Tuesday, it will be the wind chills that are very cold. But by next weekend, an even colder shot of air will arrive. Some areas across the state will be below zero for their daytime high temperatures.

Lets break down the incoming cold by area, starting with Monday and Tuesday:

Detroit, Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan: Sub-zero wind chills on Monday and Tuesday, falling as low as -15 degrees.

West Michigan: Monday and Tuesdays wind chills could hit -20 degrees.

Northern Michigan: Wind chills could fall to -25 by Tuesday morning.

Upper Peninsula: High confidence (>75%) for wind chills near or below -25F Monday morning and Tuesday morning for most of the U.P., the National Weather Service in Marquette said. Cold Weather Advisory for northern Houghton and Keweenaw Counties Monday morning.

By next weekend, we could be entering extreme cold territory, with wind chills hitting 30 below zero in some areas. And daytime high temperatures could be sitting around freezing, or plunging below freezing for some areas.

Extreme Cold coming for next Friday and Saturday, the forecast shows. Graphic provided by the National Weather Service

As Michiganders, we know the drill when a deep freeze comes calling: Limit our time outdoors when possible. Dress in layers. Always have a hat and mittens or gloves. Keep a winter emergency kit in your car. Wear a face-covering if you are working outside or spending time outdoors shoveling or snowblowing or walking your dog.

In air this cold, knowing the dangers of hypothermia and frostbite can help keep you safe. Did you know frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes on skin exposed to extreme cold? And that your body can start showing symptoms of hypothermia after just 30 minutes of being cold? Here are more facts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

This infographic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows what groups are at high risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Victims of hypothermia are often:

Older adults with inadequate food, clothing, or heating



Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms



People who remain outdoors for long periodspeople experiencing homelessness, hikers, hunters, etc.



People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.

Signs of Hypothermia in Adults:

Shivering

Exhaustion or feeling very tired

Confusion

Fumbling hands

Memory loss

Slurred speech

Drowsiness

Signs of Hypothermia in Babies:

Bright red, cold skin

Very low energy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends steps to treat hypothermia and frostbite, including seeking medical attention as soon as possible. Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

What to know about Frostbite

Frostbite can happen faster than hypothermia. Whether youre at risk because youre not dressed for the cold weather, or you have poor circulation in your body, you will want to know the warning signs so you can protect yourself. Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing. It typically affects your fingers, toes, chin, nose, ears and cheeks.

If the tissue damage is severe enough, it could lead to amputation.

Heres what the CDC says about signs of frostbite

If you notice redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skinfrostbite may be beginning.

Signs of frostbite:
Winter Storm Forecast Update: Winter Storm: Latest on snow forecast, high winds, dangerous wind chills - mlive.com

There has been only one change to the winter weather warnings and advisories late on this Sunday. Lets also look at the timeline of the strongest wind gusts, which could produce near-blizzard conditions over the western third of lower Michigan.

Here is the latest map on the winter storm warning and now the expanded winter weather advisory, stretching east into the highly populated areas of southeast Michigan.

Winter storm warning for the pink shaded counties of west lower Michigan and part of the Upper Peninsula. Winter weather advisory for the blue shaded counties. (As of 5 p.m. Sunday) Mark Torregrossa

The weather conditions are going to worsen from west to east tonight and tomorrow morning.

The winter weather advisory was expanded to cover Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the Thumb. The advisory is not for heavier snow, but the combination of one to two inches of snow, strong gusts to 40 mph and bitterly cold wind chills.

The winter storm warning area will have six to 10 inches of snow by 7 a.m. Tuesday, along with the strong gusts. Severe blowing and drifting will occur because the snow is a very dry, easy-to-blow snow.

This snow is lake-effect snow, meaning it is heavy west of U.S. 131 and gradually turns lighter going into eastern lower Michigan. There will still be enough strength to the snow to produce an inch or two over eastern lower Michigan.

There could also be the I-94 lake-effect snow band that tends to carry eastward to Jackson and Ann Arbor. If this occurs, a long stretch of I-94 into eastern Michigan will be snow covered and dangerous.

Heres the total snow expected to Wednesday morning. Anywhere you see at least yellow is six or more inches, to as much as over one foot of snow.

Total snowfall forecast all the way through Wednesday morning. NOAA

The wind gusts become a factor for the west half of lower Michigan between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday. The strong gusts will move into eastern lower Michigan late morning and early afternoon.

At 6 a.m. the wind gusts will be increasing over southwest lower Michigan, including Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

Wind gust forecast at 6 a.m. Monday. NOAA

By 9 a.m., the Traverse City area could have gusts between 35 mph and 45 mph. The strongest winds in the Grand Traverse region will be on the Lake Michigan shore in Leelanau and Benzie Counties, and off of East Grand Traverse Bay.

Wind gust forecast at 9 a.m. Monday. NOAA

The peak gusts will move into the Saginaw, Flint, Thumb, Ann Arbor and Detroit areas by 1 p.m. Monday.

Wind gust forecast at 1 p.m. Monday. NOAA

Blizzard conditions are wind gusts over 35 mph and visibility down to one-quarter mile due to falling snow and/or blowing snow. These conditions have to continue for at least three hours, which will be the hard decision on whether to officially issue a blizzard warning.

It wont really matter if its officially a blizzard. Driving conditions will be extremely dangerous all day Monday over western lower Michigan, and possibly somewhat dangerous over eastern lower Michigan by noon and through the afternoon.

Watch for updates at Mlive.com/weather, as the severe winter weather kicks in Wednesday morning.
Five giant pandas meet public at reopened Fuzhou Panda World

Xinhua) 09:11, January 19, 2026

Giant panda Jingliang enjoys bamboo at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

This photo taken on Jan. 17, 2026 shows giant panda Rongyao at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A staff member explains the development history of giant panda protection in Fuzhou, at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Giant panda Ailun enjoys bamboo at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Tourists purchase panda-themed merchandise at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Giant panda Rongyao roams at an outside area at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A visitor tries out a virtual reality headset at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

A child shows her ticket to the Panda world at the entrance in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Tourists purchase panda-themed merchandise at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Keepers put panda dolls inside their new "houses" during a reopening ceremony at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

This photo taken on Jan. 17, 2026 shows a view of the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Visitors watch giant panda Ailun enjoying bamboo at the Panda World in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province on Jan. 17, 2026. Five giant pandas, arriving from Chengdu, met the public at the reopened Fuzhou Panda World on Saturday, following a 20-day adaptation period. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

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A 62-year-old Harare woman has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly swindling a prospective home seeker out of US$137 000 in a botched property transaction.Virginia Tambudzai Maida appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei, where she was charged with fraud. She was granted bail of US$1 000 and advised not to interfere with State witnesses, as well as to continue residing at her given address until the matter is finalised.The case was remanded to February 6, 2026.The complainant is The Mash Family Futures Trust, represented by Mr Tinashe Nigel Mashingaidze (32). The State is being represented by prosecutor Mr Oscar Madhume.According to the State, on July 17, 2025, the complainant was seeking to purchase a residential property. Allegedly aware of the complainant's financial capacity, Maida approached them with an offer to sell a property located at Number 470A Marlborough Extension 3, Harare, held under Deed of Transfer 2259/99, for US$120 000, a price reportedly well below market value.The following day, during a meeting held at the offices of the complainant's legal practitioners, Exactly Mangezi, Maida allegedly represented herself as the executrix dative of the late Steward Matsikira's estate (DRH 2312/02).It is alleged that she falsely claimed to have obtained consent from the estate's beneficiaries to sell the property, despite not having formal authority from the Master of the High Court at the time.Relying on these representations, the complainant proceeded with the transaction. The court heard that Maida later claimed she had obtained authority from the Master of the High Court on August 19, 2024, to sell the Marlborough property for US$120 000.Based on this, the complainant allegedly paid the full purchase price in cash and received an affidavit and an acknowledgment of receipt from Maida.However, the State alleges that the transfer process failed after beneficiaries of the estate filed formal complaints and instituted a High Court application (HCHF 4229/25) seeking to nullify the sale.It is further alleged that Maida deliberately concealed the existence of the court case and a subsequent High Court ruling handed down on November 6, 2025, which officially nullified the sale. Instead, she allegedly continued to assure the complainant that the transfer process was progressing smoothly.The complainant reportedly only discovered the alleged fraud through a third party on December 7, 2025. When confronted, Maida is said to have become evasive and was later found to have provided false residential addresses on official documents.Investigations suggest that the accused used the complainant's funds to settle an unrelated debt.Following a police report filed on January 11, 2026, Maida was arrested. The total value prejudiced amounts to US$137 400, inclusive of ancillary charges, and nothing has been recovered.
The industry has also sought the fixation of a standard wastage norm of up to 2% for mobile phone manufacturing, citing unavoidable process losses in high-volume, precision-driven electronics production

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.
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MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.
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by Staff reporter

THE recent rains have exposed continued illegal mining activities at the Christmas Pass Mountain Range after mudslides affected Hillcrest College and the nearby Toronto residential area in Penhalonga, raising fears of a potential disaster.Last year, Government issued a directive ordering the suspension of illegal mining operations in the area to ensure compliance with the law, curb environmental degradation and reduce health and safety risks linked to unregulated mining.Civil society organisations, led by the Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG), also protested against the illegal mining at Christmas Pass in 2025, a move that temporarily halted operations.However, investigations by NewsDay, conducted together with CNRG executive director Mr Farai Maguwu, revealed that mining activities have continued, allegedly under the cover of darkness. Despite the presence of security guards restricting access during the day, mining reportedly resumes at night.Chinese investors, along with Farai Chimonyo and a man identified only as Chad, were allegedly seen at the site. Chimonyo is reported to be the owner of the mine.An official at the mine confirmed that there had been reports of mudslides affecting surrounding areas."We have been here for several weeks, but the Chinese investors and our boss, Farai Chimonyo and Mr Chad, are coming during the night to do mining," the official said."We are seeing mudslides going into the school and the Toronto residential area. If the rains continue, we are going to see a disaster."A Hillcrest College staff member, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the school had reported the matter to the authorities."I am told they were stopped from mining, but during the night there is machinery working on the mountain range because we hear the noise," he said, referring further questions to the school's board."We are certain that the respective authorities are aware of the mining taking place in Toronto. Yes, there are some mudslides, but they are yet to reach our blocks. However, if the rains continue and the mining continues, then there is going to be a disaster."The once lush green slopes of the Christmas Pass Mountain Range, previously covered by dense woodlands, are now scarred by red soil, open trenches and visible erosion. The damage is apparent from a distance and is encroaching dangerously close to telecommunications towers located above Hillcrest College.Mr Maguwu described the situation as a criminal matter that requires urgent law enforcement intervention."It is now up to the law enforcement to track this Chad guy and his Chinese partners in crime so that they are brought to book because they have no right to profiteer and put the lives of other people at risk," he said."Government must protect residents, professionals and scholars from these criminals who are weakening the structural integrity of Christmas Pass."Mr Maguwu called for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the illegal mining operations.Meanwhile, acting Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said police would carry out investigations into the matter.
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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan new year pics go viral
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Palak Vij is a Sub Editor and Entertainment Journalist with over a year of experience covering films, television, and pop culture in the digital space.
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Ragini Jaiswal Entertainment journalist and content writer with 3+ years of experience covering Bollywood, lifestyle trends, and celebrity stories across leading digital platforms.
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Noah Schnapp missing from Finn Wolfhard's 'Stranger Things' SNL episode, find out why
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Vaishnavi Gavankar is a senior entertainment journalist with over 8 years of experience covering Bollywood, Television, OTT platforms, and regional cinema.
Bruce Leung passes away at 77

Ragini Jaiswal Entertainment journalist and content writer with 3+ years of experience covering Bollywood, lifestyle trends, and celebrity stories across leading digital platforms.
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Pooja Hedge reveals she slapped a star hero for inappropriately touching her, he entered my caravan without permission and...
Entertainment desk Entertainment Desk at Moneycontrol reports on the celebrities, movies that shape Indias entertainment industry. With a sharp focus on cinema, OTT, web series, and latest trends, the entertainment desk delivers verified news, and analytical stories that place entertainment within a wider economic and cultural context. Our coverage goes beyond celebrity to examine how storytelling, audiences and business decisions influence one of the countrys most influential creative industries.
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A 43-year-old man has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly impersonating Zimbabwe's former Ambassador to South Africa and defrauding an unsuspecting victim of nearly US$3 000.Tinashe Munhuweyi appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Rufaro Panavanhu, where he was remanded in custody until January 21 for a bail application.The complainant in the matter is Mr Webster Marechera. Prosecutors told the court that in December 2025, Munhuweyi allegedly devised a scheme to defraud Marechera by posing as Ambassador David Hamadziripi, Zimbabwe's former envoy to South Africa.It is alleged that Munhuweyi contacted the complainant and falsely claimed that his son's vehicle had broken down in Victoria Falls and that he urgently needed financial assistance. Acting on the misrepresentation, Marechera reportedly transferred US$180 into an EcoCash account number 0780255929, which had been provided by the accused.The court heard that Munhuweyi, still impersonating Ambassador Hamadziripi, later told Marechera that his mother was unwell in Chiredzi and requested further funds to cover purported medical expenses. Believing the claims to be genuine, the complainant allegedly sent an additional US$2 770 to the accused in instalments.Marechera later realised that he had been duped and reported the matter to the police, leading to Munhuweyi's arrest.The case highlights the growing prevalence of impersonation and electronic fraud, with authorities continuing to warn the public to verify requests for financial assistance before making any payments.
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Shah Rukh Khan refuses selfie at Riyadh event, divides internet as fans defend his action
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Khatron Ke Khiladi 15s launch date gets postponed; heres when Rohit Shettys show will go on-air
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Naagin 7 written update, January 18: Purvi is now Ananta the Maha Nagrani, fights with Dragon
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The liquid whey that sits on top of yoghurt is rich in nutrients your body needs, making it healthier for consumption (Image: Pexels)
Vladimir Nabokov is best known for being one of the most brilliant writers of the 20th century. But beyond his novels, his love letters to his wife Vera are what truly show his heart (Image: Pexels)
An import duty on cotton was first introduced by the government in February 2021 to protect domestic farmers and discourage cheaper overseas imports.

Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
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A 49-year-old Bulawayo man has appeared in court facing charges of physical abuse and attempted murder after allegedly assaulting his wife and injuring their seven-month-old baby during a domestic dispute.Simbarashe Sibanda of Mpophoma suburb appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Pasipanodya Maturure. He was remanded in custody to January 21.Prosecuting, Ms Christina Manyika told the court that the incident occurred on December 8 at around 4PM following a misunderstanding between Sibanda and his wife, Simelinkosi Sibanda (23), over an undisclosed domestic matter.The court heard that the argument escalated into violence, with Sibanda allegedly assaulting his wife by punching her, resulting in bodily injuries."After attacking his wife, the accused then turned his anger on their seven-month-old son, whom he struck on the forehead with a stone," Ms Manyika said.The infant sustained a serious injury to the forehead, and both the mother and child were rushed to hospital for medical examination and treatment.A report was subsequently made to the police, leading to Sibanda's arrest.The case comes amid growing concern over rising incidents of domestic violence, with law enforcement agencies and child welfare advocates repeatedly warning about the severe impact of domestic disputes on women and children.
Bitcoin slid as much as 3.6% to below $92,000 on Monday morning, while other tokens posted steeper losses.
The country shipped a record 64.6 billion yuan ($9.3 billion) worth of transformers last year, nearly 36% higher than a year earlier, according to customs data released on Sunday
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Davos 2026: After flak from Opposition, DK Shivakumar takes U-turn, to attend WEF
World Economic Forum 2026 kicks off in Davos with theme A Spirit of Dialogue

The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 begins today, January 19, in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together global leaders from governments, businesses, civil society, and academia to address pressing international challenges. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, with reports indicating his focus will be on housing affordability. The theme for this year, A Spirit of Dialogue, underscores the importance of open communication, cooperation, and trust among world leaders.

While not a formal policy-setting event, Davos serves as a key forum that can shape global agendas and influence markets and investor sentiment. The annual meeting provides a platform for networking, agenda-setting, and signaling priorities on economic growth, sustainability, and international cooperation.
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
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BSE readies new long-short benchmarks as SIFs and alternative strategies gain ground
The state-run coal producing major has further lined up disinvestments for its two other subsidiaries, Mahanadi Coalfields and South Eastern Coalfields in FY27. The company plans to list all its subsidiaries by 2030.
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UK, Germany likely to be worst hit from US Greenland tariffs; Nordic countries have reduced exposure
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THE Midlands Province has consolidated its position as one of Zimbabwe's leading livestock hubs, with its cattle population now exceeding 980 000, according to the latest national assessment.Statistics contained in the Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment Report (CLAFA 2) for the 2024/25 summer season show that Midlands contributes 17,1 percent of the national herd, estimated at 5 741 397 cattle. This places the province second only to Masvingo, which tops the list with just over one million cattle.The figures highlight the strategic importance of Midlands in national food security, rural development and the broader agro-industrial economy.The development was revealed by the Midlands Province Director for Economic Affairs and Investment in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Kosheni Mtisi, who said the report underscores the province's growing role in Zimbabwe's livestock sector."According to the CLAFA 2 report for the 2024/25 summer season, the Midlands cattle population stands at 983 871, which represents 17,1 percent of the national herd, placing the province second after Masvingo with 1 002 632 cattle," Mr Mtisi said.He said beef cattle production remains the backbone of the rural economy, sustaining thousands of households through income generation, provision of draught power and, in some communities, as a symbol of social status.However, Mr Mtisi noted that herd expansion continues to face challenges, including high mortalities caused by tick-borne diseases, poor genetic quality of existing breeds and the gradual degradation of grazing lands.Despite these setbacks, the dairy sector has recorded notable progress. Large-scale commercial dairy production is concentrated in Gweru, Kwekwe and Shurugwi, while smallholder dairy initiatives are expanding in districts such as Gokwe South."The establishment of Mafuro Dairy and Kaguvi Smallholder Dairy has significantly boosted milk output in the province, which now produces approximately 24 million litres of raw milk annually," he said.The output accounts for about 21 percent of national milk production, reinforcing Midlands' strength in the dairy value chain. Mr Mtisi added that the sector continues to benefit from Government support and development partner interventions under the Zimbabwe Agriculture Growth Programme.In line with climate-smart agriculture strategies, goat production is also gaining momentum, particularly in drought-prone areas."Goats are more tolerant to disease and harsh climatic conditions compared to cattle, and most farmers are now venturing into commercial production," Mr Mtisi said, adding that farmers are increasingly adopting high-value exotic breeds such as the Boer Goat and Kalahari Red to improve productivity and profitability.The poultry sector has also experienced renewed growth, with both urban and rural households embracing poultry production as a key income source. Interest in indigenous chicken farming has surged, largely due to Government interventions."The Presidential Poultry Programme has revitalised a sector that had virtually collapsed over the past two decades due to recurring disease outbreaks such as Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza and Coccidiosis," he said.Mr Mtisi said Midlands Province largely falls within Natural Regions III, IV and V, where rainfall is erratic and unreliable, making dependence on rain-fed agriculture risky and increasing the importance of irrigation and livestock-based livelihoods.He said the Second Republic continues to support both crop and livestock producers through programmes aimed at improving productivity, resilience and rural incomes."Cotton productivity increased from 600kg per hectare in 2020 to 800kg per hectare in the 2022/2023 season, while more than 30 000 farmers benefited from the Presidential Pasture Production Scheme," he said.Under the Presidential goat and poultry pass-on schemes, 395 goats and 120 018 chickens were distributed to farmers, contributing to increased indigenous poultry production across the province.Mr Mtisi said the Traditional Grains Programme has also yielded positive results, with finger millet productivity rising from 0,3 tonnes per hectare to 0,6 tonnes per hectare in the 2022/2023 season.To boost mechanisation and enhance output, the province disbursed 27 tractors last year under the Belarus facility. Eleven tractors were allocated to institutions, while 16 went to individual farmers. Additional equipment was also handed over to young farmers under the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme.Wheat production in the province has continued on an upward trajectory."The hectarage under winter wheat for 2024 reached 12 081 hectares, surpassing the target of 12 000 hectares. In 2025, hectarage increased to 12 025 hectares against the same target," Mr Mtisi said.
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Spot gold climbed 1.6% to $4,668.76 an ounce as of 8:11 a.m. in Singapore, hitting a peak of $4,690.59 earlier.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates upon his arrival at the airport in New Delhi
If the airline indicates that it cannot sustain the current number of daily flights under the new rules, authorities are expected to intervene and mandate capacity cuts to prevent a repeat of the large-scale disruptions witnessed in December
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.
The industry has recently been plagued by valuation challenges as most Indian energy-related stocks that listed last year are trading below their offer prices.
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IndiGo shares rise 3.5% despite record Rs 22-crore fine over flight cancellations; Jefferies sees penalty 'relatively modest'
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Opposition parties are preparing a Motion of No Confidence against President Advocate Duma Boko, citing his handling of Botswana's collapsing healthcare system and other failed promises. The move, announced by Botswana Congress Party's (BCP) Kesitegile Gobotswang, comes in the wake of Boko's recent surprise visit to Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, a visit critics warn risks being dismissed as political theatre rather than genuine intervention.Gobotswang accused the President of failing Batswana, saying: "He declared a public health emergency without first familiarising himself with the realities on the ground."The BCP political leader told The Midweek Sun that the opposition will table the motion when Parliament resumes this year. "We know people say we do not have the numbers, but we will not be deterred; our charge sheet will be rock solid. We want Batswana to know how this President has failed the nation."The threat of parliamentary action has sharpened scrutiny of Boko's unannounced hospital tour, his first since assuming office in 2024. While surprise inspections are often praised for exposing the realities of public institutions, critics argue that in the midst of a declared health emergency, symbolism is not enough.Different political leaders argue that Botswana's healthcare system remains in crisis months after the emergency declaration, adding that medicines are scarce, patients are told to buy their own bandages, syringes, and even lifesaving drugs for chronic conditions.Surgeries are postponed due to shortages of consumables and equipment. Hospital pharmacies operate on limited stock, forcing patients to turn to private outlets daily.Health workers at Marina, speaking anonymously for fear of victimisation, expressed mixed feelings about the visit. They welcomed the President's presence but questioned its timing and format. "If the President really wanted to understand our struggles, the visit should have been announced. We have no time to hide anything. We are in a crisis. We are perishing."They argued that a planned visit would have allowed staff to present documentation, statistics, and procurement records to demonstrate the full scale of the crisis. "What will he find when he sneaks in? He will find us sitting. Not because we are lazy, but because we have nothing to work with."Patients continue to queue from midnight, hoping to be seen by doctors the next morning.Many wait the entire day only to return home unseen. Others leave without medication because the pharmacy has closed by the time their turn arrives. In the Emergency Department, patients sometimes wait more than 48 hours due to staff shortages and lack of beds, with some sleeping on the floor.Marina increasingly relies on Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, but even that arrangement is strained. Ambulances are insufficient, transport delays are common, and when doctors leave Marina to attend duties elsewhere, patients are left unattended.The surprise visit has rather served to ignite political debate across the spectrum. Biggie Butale, President of the Botswana Republican Party (BRP), warned against reducing the visit to a public relations exercise: "It should not be about pictures.Batswana want real action, and they want it now. Today, patients buy their own medication. Tomorrow they willbe told to bring their own beds."The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) said the visit came late. Secretary General Kentse Rammidi noted it was unfortunate that the President only visited Marina months after declaring an emergency, but added it is never too late."We will be monitoring what happens after this visit. We want patientsto be assisted." He urged Boko to extend visits to other public health facilities nationwide.The wider concern among the political rivals remains clear; that unless the visit translates into tangible reforms, it risks being dismissed as a political stunt, a gesture that shifts focus from the real health crisis gripping the nation.
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Digital arrest scams are rising. Heres how people get trapped, and how to stay alert
Do you know that your credit card also offers insurance against outstanding balance? Know what it is and how it works
Dipen Pradhan is the Editorial Consultant for Moneycontrol. He has over 10 years of experience in the field of journalism and covers personal finance topics. He has previously worked at Forbes Advisor India, Outlook Money, Entrepreneur, Inc42, and The Statesman. When he is not writing he loves to travel to explore rural hotspots.
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Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.
The last elections to the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), held in August 2015, were conducted using EVMs.
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Bail before conviction should be matter of right: Ex-CJI Chandrachud weighs in amid Umar Khalid row
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Bury the rulers: After civic poll setback, Raj Thackeray asks corporators to turn municipal houses into battlegrounds
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by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's opposition and civil society organisations have warned they are ready to legally challenge any attempt to amend the Constitution to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's tenure beyond the current limit.The alert comes after government officials confirmed that a draft Constitutional Amendment Bill is ready for Cabinet and parliamentary consideration. Critics argue that the proposed changes are a partisan move aimed at extending Mnangagwa's rule to 2030, in violation of the 2013 Constitution, undermining democracy and threatening national stability.Under the banner of the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF), convened by former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, the coalition said it is "ready, legally, civically and peacefully" to oppose what it describes as a political project designed to override constitutional safeguards. CDF cited sections 91, 95, and 328, which govern presidential term limits and amendment procedures, as clear barriers to any extension."The Constitution Defenders Forum is on high alert. We are ready, legally, civically and peacefully to confront and resist any attempt to mutilate the Constitution," the movement said.CDF dismissed claims by ruling party officials that legal barriers do not exist, stressing that party resolutions cannot override the Constitution and that Parliament should not become a rubber stamp for partisan interests. The forum warned that attempts to alter presidential term limits risk undermining democratic legitimacy and national stability."Zimbabwe is not owned by any political party, individual, or clique. The Constitution belongs to the people, not to those who temporarily occupy office. Citizens are alert, organised, and resolute," the group said.The warning comes amid heightened political activity by some of Mnangagwa's allies, who have recently mobilised grassroots support for extending his term beyond the constitutionally-mandated two terms. Among the supporters of the so-called 2030 agenda is presidential adviser Paul Tungwarara, whose recent remarks suggesting Mnangagwa's continued rule was "ordained by God" have drawn widespread criticism.Opposition and civic leaders dismissed attempts to justify unconstitutional extensions through religious language. Opposition politician Jameson Timba said: "Zimbabwe is a constitutional republic, not a theocracy. Authority to govern flows from the Constitution and the sovereign will of the people, expressed through free and fair electionsnot divine pronouncements."Timba warned that framing political ambitions as divinely ordained undermines both democracy and faith. "History teaches that when political power claims divine entitlement, accountability collapses, corruption flourishes, and citizens are reduced from rights-holders to subjects. Zimbabwe rejected that path when it adopted a people-driven Constitution in 2013."Last year, Zanu PF's national people's conference directed the party and government to pursue legislative amendments to extend Mnangagwa's tenure, instructing the party's legal secretary and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi to ensure implementation of the resolution.CDF and allied civic groups say they are prepared to take the matter to court to defend constitutionalism, signalling a potential legal showdown over any attempt to extend the President's term.
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Corporators locked in, paperwork underway: Why a wary Eknath Shinde is leaving nothing to chance
Prateek and Aparna got married in 2011 and have one daughter.
Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
The man has lent money in the famous bullion market here and earns handsome daily interest from this business
An estimated 30,000 residents in Rajsamand fall within the poor category and rely on monthly government assistance for basic needs. (Representative photo)
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Pakistani link emerges in harrowing job scam that ensnared hundreds of Indians
The United Arab Emirates president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital as part of a visit aimed at bolstering bilateral and strategic partnership.
'Right to appear in exams part of right to live with dignity under Article 21': Allahabad HC
India, one of the world's fastest-growing economies and its most populous nation, has been a darling of foreign investors. But tax uncertainty has often been a sore point for investors
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'Selective targeting of India unfair, unjustified': EAM Jaishankar says Poland shouldn't help fuel terrorism in neighbourhood
Police in Queensland, Australia, are investigating the death of a 19-year-old Canadian woman after her body was found on a beach on Monday surrounded by dingoes.

Police were called to the beach on K'gari, formerly called Fraser Island, at 6:35 a.m. local time, according to a news release. The woman had reportedly told friends she was going for a swim around 5 a.m.

In a news conference, Queensland Police Insp. Paul Algie of Wide Bay Burnett District said the Canadian citizen had been working at a backpacker's hostel on the island for the past six weeks.

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Two men found her body on the beach surrounded by "approximately 10 dingoes" and called the police, he said. She was confirmed dead shortly after police arrived, and they were able to confirm her identity, which Algie only described as a 19-year-old Canadian national.

She was working on K'gari with a friend from Canada. It's too early to speculate on the cause of death, Algie said.

"We simply can't confirm whether this young lady drowned or died as a result of being attacked by dingoes," Algie told local media in a news conference.

But, he added, "there were markings on her body consistent with being touched and interfered with by the dingoes."

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A post-mortem is scheduled for Wednesday, at which point officials hope to have more answers, he said. Algie told local media the Queensland police have reached out to the RCMP to inform the woman's family.

An RCMP spokesperson confirmed with CBC News that they're aware of the investigation in Australia, while adding they don't comment on specific criminal investigations in foreign jurisdictions.

"We were saddened to hear about the loss of this young person, and our hearts go out to the family and all those impacted," the spokesperson said.

Global Affairs Canada also confirmed it was aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Australia, and said Canadian officials are providing consular assistance to the family.

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"We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones," a spokesperson told CBC News.

"Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed."

The Queensland Police Service told CBC News it had no further updates at this time. In a post on X, Queensland police asked anyone with relevant information to come forward.

A 'horrific' scene

The two men were driving near the beach north of Maheno Shipwreck when they saw a pack of dingoes surrounding the woman's body.

"It was obviously a very traumatic and horrific scene for them to uncover," Algie said in the news conference.

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The woman's friend, who is also Canadian, is "extremely traumatized," he said.

The Maheno Shipwreck is one of the most famous landmarks on K'gari, and is located on 75 Mile Beach. According to the Fraser Tours website, tourists travel from all over the world to take sunrise photos at the wreck.

"She was a young woman enjoying a beautiful part of the world, and thats what makes this such a tragedy," Algie said.

Ocean swimming is not recommended off K'gari, according to a Queensland government conditions report, adding that its beaches are unpatrolled with strong ocean currents.

People walk on a beach on K'gari, Queensland on Oct. 22, 2018. (Phil Noble/Reuters)

Alert warned of heightened dingo activity

Dingoes are protected on K'gari as a native species, according to the Queensland government Parks and Forests website.

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"K'gari is a wilderness area," Algie warned.

"Dingoes are wild animals, and whilst they are very culturally significant to the local First Nations people and to the people that live on the island, they are still wild animals and need to be treated as such."

In December, Queensland's Parks and Forests posted an alert to its website warning of "heightened dingo activity" along K'gari Eastern Beach. The alert applies until the end of January.

"Dingoes have been ripping tents, stealing food or property, damaging property and approaching people," the website notes.

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In October, a school-age boy was hospitalized after being attacked by a dingo on K'gari. In July 2023, Australia's ABC News reported there had already been more than 130 "threatening or high-risk incidents" between humans and wild dingoes reported on K'gari so far that year.

In one of the incidents, a 23-year-old woman reportedly out jogging was mauled by a pack that chased and corralled her into the water, according to the Guardian. She was hospitalized with multiple bite wounds.

In 2001, a nine-year-old boy was killed by dingoes on K'gari. Police at the time said the dogs stalked the boy and attacked him when he tripped and fell.
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The art of the deal: Congress bargains hard in alliance talks with DMK
Earlier this week, Shivakumar had met both Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
The situation in the Middle-east is also likely to figure in the talks
Following the civic polls held on January 15, 2026, the mayoral election is expected around January 28
Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering sending soldiers to Greenland for military exercises with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens tariffs on European nations unless they let him purchase and control the semiautonomous island.

Two senior Canadian officials have told CBC News that a set of contingency plans were drawn up last week and presented to the federal government.

A Royal Canadian Air Force contingent is already taking part in a pre-planned NORAD exercise in Greenland, but the prime minister is weighing whether to send additional forces as part of sovereignty exercises the Danes are planning, which could include drills to protect the Arctic island's critical infrastructure.

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Given the political implications of Canada joining and the potential blowback from the Trump administration, both sources said they're not certain which way the government is leaning.

CBC is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Among the options, a small contingent of Canadian soldiers could be flown to Greenland by the end of the week if called upon, the sources said.

News of the potential deployment was first reported by the Globe and Mail.

While the nations involved are all members of NATO, the sources emphasized, joining the Danish exercise would be outside the western military alliance's framework  much like the efforts to help Ukraine have fallen to the coalition of the willing.

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Over the weekend, Trump reiterated his demand that the U.S. buy and control Greenland, claiming that China and Russia also want the island.

On social media, he threatened a 10 per cent tariff on eight European countries opposed to the idea: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.

Danish soldiers disembark at the port in Nuuk, Greenland, on Sunday. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/The Associated Press)

The tariff rate would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if the U.S. did not reach a deal to buy Greenland, Trump added.

The countries named by Trump have backed Denmark, warning that the U.S. military seizure of a NATO territory could collapse the military alliance that Washington leads.

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In a statement released Sunday morning, the eight European countries said they stand in full solidarity with the people of Greenland and "stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the statement added.

Denmark specifically announced earlier this week it would bolster its troop, naval and air presence in Greenland in conjunction with NATO allies.

Canada 'concerned' by Trump's threat: Carney

At a press conference in Doha, Qatar on Saturday morning, Carney said Canada is "concerned" by Trump's tariff threat and "we always will support sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries wherever their geographic location is."

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"Decisions about the future of Greenland are for Greenland and Denmark to decide," the prime minister added.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said in an interview on CBC's Rosemary Barton Live that Trump's interest in controlling Greenland certainly causes "discussions within NATO."

When asked whether Canada is working on a proposal to contribute Canadian forces on the ground, Carignan said Canada is "always working closely with our Danish partner."

"There's definitely a lot of interest in Arctic security from a NATO perspective as well, and we will work together to do that," Carignan said.
Chief Minister Fadnavis left for Davos on Sunday and is expected to return on January 24.
Bhartendu Kumar Singh is in the Indian Defence Accounts Service. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
His strategy may well weaken US' security in the long-run

C Uday Bhaskar is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Not finished yet, but limitations of relying only on identity are clear

Smita Mishra is Advisor, Prasar Bharati. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Rishab Jolly, a senior product manager at Microsoft in Washington, said referrals played a decisive role in getting interviews at large tech firms that receive thousands of applications each month. (Image credit: Rishab Jolly/LinkedIn)
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Elon Musk says Grok needs 'moral constitution' amid backlash over explicit AI-generated images
Anand Mahindra hailed Velu, who designed the damping technology in new Mahindra XUV 7XO.
A founder advised people in India not to move out and said that India has the best quality of life (Pic for representation)
The boy's mother, the US woman claimed, defended his actions by saying he had never been close to a blonde woman before and had gotten 'carried away'. (AI-generated image)
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'Who said Indian brands don't work globally?': Nikhil Kamath flaunts home-grown brands in Dubai and New York
Four armed individuals who reportedly crossed into Tajikistan from Afghanistan were killed overnight during a confrontation with border guards, Tajikistans National Security Committee has announced.

This marks the second such incident along the shared border since November, the committee confirmed in a statement issued on Monday.

Tajik border guards detected the group near a village adjacent to Afghanistans Badakhshan province.

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The men reportedly refused commands to surrender, instead engaging in armed resistance, which led to their deaths in the ensuing clash, the committee stated.

While the committee alleged the four were "members of a terrorist organisation," no further details were provided regarding their identities or affiliations.

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the incident occurred when a group of drug traffickers (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the incident occurred when a group of drug traffickers attempted to smuggle narcotics into Tajikistan and encountered Tajik border guards.

He said the incident was under investigation and Afghanistan would not allow the border area to be destabilized, Afghanistans Tolo News channel reported.

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The incident comes weeks after a reported cross-border attack from Afghanistan into Tajikistan that killed three Chinese workers and wounded a fourth. Tajikistan said the attack in late November was carried out from inside Afghanistan with a drone equipped with grenades and firearms.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the Afghan Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman, said in November that the attack appeared to have been caused by elements that are trying to create chaos, instability, and distrust between countries in the region. He promised the Afghan governments full cooperation with the government of Tajikistan.

Tajikistan and Afghanistan have a history of testy relations, particularly after the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and Tajikistan cut ties with its southern neighbor.

There have since been signs of a gradual thaw in relations including markets reopening in the border area in 2023 and a Tajik delegation visiting Kabul in November.
IKEA hints opening a store in Chennai after its CEO dials an influencer in a playful video.
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Europes Ghost Cat: Images captured of this rare and secretive forest predator
Scientists open ice core vault in Antarctica preserving Glacier Ice from around the world. (Image: X/@AFP)
The NASA Artemis II stack is on Launch Pad 39B. (Image: X/@NASA)
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
For this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Budget blends fiscal restraint with continued focus on economic expansion, rising t...

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Interview: China-Armenia partnership boosts trade, infrastructure and innovation, says Armenian expert

Xinhua) 09:25, January 19, 2026

BAKU, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Armenia's strategic partnership with China paves the way for deeper cooperation in trade, infrastructure and innovation, an Armenian international relations expert has said.

Johnny Melikyan, a senior fellow at Armenia's Orbeli Center, told Xinhua that the year of 2025 marked a qualitative shift in bilateral ties, culminating in the establishment of a strategic partnership in August during Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's visit to China.

This was not a sudden leap, he said, but the natural maturation of ties built since 1992 on mutual respect and pragmatism.

Melikyan said China-Armenia relations are based on the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference, mutual benefit and predictability -- precisely what Armenia needs to pursue development and security without becoming "an arena for the 'Great Game'."

From a political perspective, the partnership provides strategic confidence, while economically speaking, it opens the door to deeper cooperation in trade, infrastructure and innovation, he added.

He noted that both the Armenian national project "Crossroads of Peace" and the Belt and Road Initiative underscore development through transport links with full respect for national sovereignty, equality and reciprocity.

With proper implementation, this synergy can turn Armenia into a reliable transit partner connecting the Persian Gulf, the Black Sea and European markets, adding diversification to global supply chains without competing with existing corridors, Melikyan said.

As China is among Armenia's leading trade partners, Melikyan said, the strategic partnership marks a shift from focusing on trade volume to emphasizing investment quality.

Armenia actively welcomes Chinese participation in infrastructure, renewable energy, the IT sector, agriculture and industry, he said, adding that strengthening the intergovernmental commission, improving the legal framework and creating trade facilitation mechanisms will help remove practical barriers and attract transformational investments.

Enumerating the benefits of the partnership for Armenia, Melikyan said that by gaining access to Chinese markets for products such as wine, brandy and agricultural goods, the country can promote economic diversification.

He said Chinese investments in infrastructure and green energy also help modernize transport networks and the power grid, enhancing competitiveness and attracting foreign investment. Meanwhile, cooperation in innovation could position Armenia as a hub of knowledge and technology, creating high-tech jobs and stimulating long-term GDP growth.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Dans une avancee technologique majeure, la societe chinoise UBTech Robotics, specialisee dans les robots humanoides, a conclu un accord pour fournir ses derniers modeles au geant aeronautique Airbus. Cette collaboration, revelee par le South China Morning Post, marque une etape significative vers l'integration de l'intelligence artificielle et de la robotique avancee dans les chaines de production de l'industrie aerospatiale.

Selon le quotidien, Airbus a acquis le robot humanoide Walker S2 dans le cadre d'un plan d'etude conjointe visant a explorer et developper les applications pratiques de la robotique humanoide au sein de ses usines. Presente en juillet dernier, le Walker S2 est une prouesse d'ingenierie : mesurant 1,76 metre, il est equipe de manipulateurs multifonctions, d'un systeme de vision par ordinateur perfectionne et d'une intelligence artificielle nommee Co-Agent. Cette combinaison lui permet de se deplacer, d'interagir avec son environnement et de manipuler des objets pesant jusqu'a 15 kilogrammes avec une precision remarquable.

Une innovation cle distingue le Walker S2 : c'est le premier robot humanoide au monde capable de remplacer lui-meme ses batteries, lui garantissant une autonomie et une disponibilite operationnelle continues, 24 heures sur 24. Cette fonctionnalite est essentielle pour des environnements industriels exigeants ou la productivite ne peut pas etre interrompue.

UBTech Robotics ne part pas de zero. Son robot phare a deja seduit d'autres poids lourds industriels, comme le constructeur automobile BYD, le geant de l'electronique Foxconn, et a meme ete teste par l'americain Texas Instruments. Cette serie d'adoptions rapides par de grands noms du secteur illustre la maturite croissante de la technologie et la confiance qu'elle inspire.

Comme le souligne le South China Morning Post, ce partenariat strategique avec Airbus met en lumiere une ambition plus vaste : la volonte affirmee de la Chine de se placer a l'avant-garde de la conception et du deploiement commercial de robots humanoides. L'objectif est clair : accelerer l'industrialisation de ces technologies pour devancer la concurrence internationale, notamment japonaise et americaine, dans une course qui definira l'avenir de la fabrication intelligente.

L'arrivee des robots d'UBTech sur les lignes d'assemblage d'Airbus pourrait bien etre le signe avant-coureur d'une revolution dans l'aeronautique, ou humains et androides collaboreront pour repousser les limites de l'efficacite et de l'innovation.

UBTech Robotics, robot humanoide, Airbus, Walker S2, industrie aeronautique, robotique avancee, intelligence artificielle, Chine, fabrication intelligente, innovation technologique, collaboration industrielle, autonomie robotique, South China Morning Post, BYD, Foxconn, Texas Instruments, Co-Agent, production aerospatiale

Chinese Humanoid Robots Take Flight: UBTech Partners with Airbus in Strategic Tech Deal

In a significant technological leap, Chinese humanoid robot developer UBTech Robotics has secured a deal to supply its advanced models to aerospace giant Airbus. This collaboration, reported by the South China Morning Post, marks a pivotal step towards integrating artificial intelligence and advanced robotics into the manufacturing lines of the aerospace industry.

According to the newspaper, Airbus has purchased the Walker S2 humanoid robot as part of a joint study plan to explore and develop practical applications for humanoid robotics within its factories. Unveiled last July, the Walker S2 is an engineering feat: standing 1.76 meters tall, it is equipped with multifunctional manipulators, a sophisticated computer vision system, and an AI system named Co-Agent. This combination allows it to move, interact with its environment, and handle objects weighing up to 15 kilograms with remarkable precision.

A key innovation sets the Walker S2 apart: it is the world's first humanoid robot capable of replacing its own batteries, ensuring continuous, 24/7 operational autonomy and availability. This feature is critical for demanding industrial environments where productivity cannot be interrupted.

UBTech Robotics is building on existing momentum. Its flagship robot has already been adopted by other industrial heavyweights, such as automaker BYD, electronics giant Foxconn, and has even been tested by American firm Texas Instruments. This rapid adoption by major industry players underscores the growing maturity of the technology and the confidence it inspires.

As highlighted by the South China Morning Post, this strategic partnership with Airbus sheds light on a broader ambition: China's determined push to lead the global race in the design and commercial deployment of humanoid robots. The goal is clear: to accelerate the industrialization of this technology and outpace international competitors, notably from Japan and the United States, in a race that will define the future of smart manufacturing.

The arrival of UBTech's robots on Airbus assembly lines may well be a harbinger of a revolution in aerospace, where humans and androids will collaborate to push the boundaries of efficiency and innovation.

UBTech Robotics, humanoid robot, Airbus, Walker S2, aerospace industry, advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, China, smart manufacturing, technological innovation, industrial collaboration, robot autonomy, South China Morning Post, BYD, Foxconn, Texas Instruments, Co-Agent, aerospace production

Didier Cebas K.
Skip the tourist trapsthese five European cities still let you experience real local life, culture and traditions, just the way travellers crave today.

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.
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Uttarakhand enforces a mobile and camera ban at Char Dham temples to preserve sanctity, curb reel-making and ensure smooth, distraction-free darshan for pilgrims. (File Image)
A collision between two high-speed trains near Adamuz, Spain, killed at least 39 and injured over 70. Rescue teams are searching the wreckage, with more casualties feared. The cause is unknown, and rail services between Madrid and Andalusia are suspended.

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Attack on Khamenei would mean 'all-out war,' warns Iranian President Pezeshkian as death toll crosses 5,000
Bangladeshs interim government claims most attacks on minorities are ordinary crimes, not communal, but critics and rights groups say official data downplays targeted violence. Reports of killings and arson against Hindus in 2026 raise doubts about transparency.

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Chinas birth rate hits record low since 1949 as population drops by 3.4 million
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Explained: Why the IndiaUAE defence partnership is a strategic counter to Pakistans moves
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From trade bazooka to 93 billion tariffs: How the EU plans to counter Trumps fresh tariff threat
Pakistani social media erupted over Muhammad Junaid Safdar and Shanzeh Ali Rohails wedding, criticizing the brides choice of Indian designers and sparking a cross-border fashion debate, overshadowing the events celebrations and political guest list.

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US authorities arrested an Indian-origin couple and three others for running drug and sex trafficking from a Virginia motel. The group faces at least 10 years in prison if convicted. The FBI-led raid followed a multi-year probe involving undercover operations.

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The US has increased military deployments in West Asia amid rising tensions with Iran and confrontational rhetoric from Trump, fueling speculation of a possible strike. Pakistan faces risks from potential conflict, lacking leverage to avoid fallout if escalation occurs.

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Italy opens probe into Microsofts game sales tactics for Call of Duty and Diablo
The outcome of the election could determine whether Takaichi gets the political backing needed to advance higher spending plans at a time when households across Japan are feeling the pinch.

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Now its time: Trump claims NATO warned Denmark for 20 years over Russian threat to Greenland
A broken frame of Pakistan's field marshal and army chief, Asim Munir, hangs on the wall after an attack at the Cadet College Wana, a military-linked school, in the South Waziristan district near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, on November 13, 2025. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

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.
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes Iran unrest will be resolved through diplomacy
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyans visit to India aims to strengthen strategic ties amid West Asia tensions, focusing on trade, investment, defence, and energy, while countering Pakistans growing military influence in the region.

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MongoDBs new partnership ecosystem aims to give founders a production-ready stack that works from day one without constant rebuilding.

Whats happening: Starting with Fireworks AI and Temporal, the program now provides early-stage companies with matched credits, coordinated onboarding, and a curated technology stack. MongoDB for Startups companies collectively represent more than $200 billion in total valuation.

Why this matters: Early infrastructure decisions directly impact a startups ability to scale. Choosing incompatible or brittle technologies creates technical debt that becomes expensive to fix later.

The early days of a startup are deceptively constrained. Founders have limited runway, limited team capacity, and unlimited technical decisions to make. Each choice about databases, AI infrastructure, and workflow management compounds over time. Get them wrong, and a startup spends months or years untangling infrastructure problems rather than building products.

This is the problem MongoDB is trying to solve with an expansion of its MongoDB for Startups program.

Suraj Patel, Vice President of MongoDB Ventures and Corporate Development, identifies a specific challenge facing AI startups today: the complexity of assembling a functional technology stack.

Startups building in the AI era cant waste time in their early years untangling infrastructure mistakes. They need a robust data foundation and a stack that works from day one and scales with their business, Patel says.

The scale of this problem is significant. The global AI market is projected to grow from roughly $376 billion in 2026 to $2.48 trillion by 2034. This explosive growth is driving unprecedented demand for AI products, forcing founders to move faster. Yet speed creates pressure to make technology decisions quickly, before consequences become apparent.

As the global AI market is projected to grow from roughly $376 billion in 2026 to $2.48 trillion by 2034, founders cant afford to experiment with brittle, stitched-together stacks that slow them down, Patel explains.

The consequence of poor early choices is what technologists call technical debt. A startup might choose a database system that works fine at launch but becomes expensive to scale at 10,000 users. Or it might integrate AI inference with a provider that works but creates dependency on a specific model architecture. When growth forces a change, the cost of migration is often prohibitive.

Avoiding this trap requires choosing technologies that work together from the beginning. But early-stage founders rarely have infrastructure expertise. They lack the experience to anticipate what scales and what doesnt.

A Curated Stack for Founders

MongoDBs response is to create what it describes as a founder-first ecosystem. Rather than offering isolated discounts on database services, the expanded program pairs founders with complementary technology partners designed to work together.

The initial partners are Fireworks AI and Temporal. Fireworks provides infrastructure for running large language models reliably and cost-effectively. Temporal enables developers to build long-running workflow systems without writing complex distributed code.

Combined with MongoDBs document database, these three technologies address a core startup challenge: building intelligent applications that require data, AI inference, and reliable orchestration. Choosing them together from the beginning creates coherence. Choosing them separately creates fragmentation.

Lin Qiao, CEO and co-founder of Fireworks, explains the value of integration. Fireworks provides a future-proof foundation, allowing customers to evolve models and workloads without rebuilding their AI infrastructure as they grow. By joining this program, we are ensuring founders who choose MongoDB can easily access our high-performance inference engine, creating a seamless path to scale their AI ambitions together.

Samar Abbas, CEO of Temporal, emphasises the developer experience. Temporal is dedicated to helping developers build resilient, scalable applications without the boilerplate. This reciprocal partnership with MongoDB allows us to reach a community of developers who value a strong data foundation. We look forward to creating a collaborative ecosystem that simplifies complexity for founders as they push the boundaries of distributed systems and workflow orchestration.

The distinction is important. Traditional startup programs offer a discount on one service. This approach offers something different: coordinated onboarding, joint enablement content, and matched credits that incentivise using the stack as designed.

What This Means for Early-Stage Founders

For founders, the implication is practical. Instead of researching database options, AI infrastructure, and workflow engines separately, they can access a curated, pre-tested combination recommended by companies that have already done the integration work.

Patel articulates the broader thesis: By unifying operational data with industry-leading retrieval, MongoDB is giving startups a production-ready foundation they can build on with confidence.

This addresses a real friction point in startup development. Founders spend weeks or months evaluating technology options, often based on limited information. They choose tools based on brand recognition, pricing, or word-of-mouth rather than compatibility. By the time problems emerge, they are deeply embedded in a codebase built on fragile assumptions.

A pre-integrated stack reduces this risk. It signals that experienced developers have already validated that these technologies work together. It removes decision paralysis. It allows founders to move faster with more confidence.

The program structure also matters. Matched credits ensure that early-stage companies with limited budgets can afford professional-grade infrastructure. Coordinated onboarding means founders dont have to piece together documentation from multiple vendors. Joint events create community and shared knowledge.

The Broader Context

MongoDB for Startups companies now represent more than $200 billion in combined valuation. This scale reflects MongoDBs dominant position in the startup ecosystem. Many of the companies that have scaled from zero to billion-dollar valuations over the past decade built on MongoDB.

The expansion of the program reflects a shift in how startup infrastructure is being approached. Rather than assuming founders will assemble their own stacks, successful platforms are now providing pre-validated combinations that work together.

This trend is likely to accelerate. As the complexity of building AI applications increases, the value of having integrated, tested stacks will only grow. Founders face enough uncertainty without adding infrastructure complexity to the list.

Startups from all over APAC, including Australia and New Zealand, are welcome to join  check availability here.

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PM Modi invited to Trumps Board of Peace for Gaza: What is it and why it matters
The US is expanding Trumps proposed Board of Peace, inviting at least eight more countries to join a global body aimed at overseeing Gazas future and broader conflict resolution. Membership costs $1 billion for permanence; two nations have accepted so far.

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Why Chinas population keeps shrinking despite policy push
A revision to the Labor Code should be geared toward increasing the number of official public holidays and reducing working hours, according to experts and the labor union.

Vietnam has 11 official public holidays, including one day for New Year's Day, five days for the Lunar New Year, one day for the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, two days for the Reunification Day and Labor Day (April 30May 1) and two days for National Day in September.

The new Vietnam Culture Day on Nov. 24, which is pending formal approval by the National Assembly, would bring the number to 12.

Professor Le Van Trinh, chairman of the Association for Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology, said the countrys number of official public holidays remains low compared to that in many developed countries.

"It is time to study ways to amend the Labor Code to increase the number of annual holidays and reduce working hours as the countrys socioeconomic conditions gradually improve," he said.

Regarding which holidays should be added, Trinh said many people want the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday to be extended beyond the current five official days.

However, that holiday usually falls in late January or early February, meaning Vietnam begins its longest holiday when most countries have already finished celebrating the New Year.

Hence, he suggested adding holidays around New Years Day to better align with the globalization trend.

Children in ao dai attending a Vietnamese festival at the Youth Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City in early 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Khuong Nguyen

Pham Minh Huan, former Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, said there were 10 official public holidays before the 2019 revision of the Labor Code. The revision added one more day, though many opinions at the time had called for an increase of two or three.

Huan proposed a gradual increase in the number of holidays and spreading them throughout the year, which he said could bring multiple benefits, including enhancing mental well-being and stimulating consumer demand.

However, any increase in holidays should also be tied to improvements in labor productivity and careful assessment of the impact on businesses, he noted.

The Vietnamese Union said it will consult with workers to propose a number that aligns with regional norms, especially those of similarly developed countries, as well as workers productivity levels, socioeconomic conditions and Vietnamese traditions.

It had for years called for more official public holidays as the current number is much lower than the regional average of 15-17 days.

Sharing the perspective of businesses, Ko Tae Yeon, chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, said he supports adding holidays to allow workers more time to rest, but hopes the government will announce any changes early so companies can proactively adjust their production plans.

In Southeast Asia, Cambodia has the highest number of public holidays, ranging from 18 to 22 days while the Philippines has 13-18 days.

Countries in Europe and North America have only 10-14 holidays but workers are entitled to lengthy annual leave, typically 20-30 days. Instead of concentrating time off around public holidays, Western countries allow workers to manage their time off more flexibly.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for a signing ceremony with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (not pictured) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 5, 2025. (Photo by WU HAO / POOL / AFP)
(Press Release)  The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network at Northern Marianas College is encouraging members of the local business community to register in advance for Industry Day 2026, a three-day, tri-island event focused on sharing updates, resources, and opportunities related to federal and government contracting.

Industry Day will be held consecutively across the Commonwealth on the following dates:

Saipan

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 | Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Hibiscus Hall, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan (Garapan)

Tinian

Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 | Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Bar-K-Diner (San Jose)

Rota

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 | Doors open at 10 a.m.

Puesto Grill Annex (Songsong)

Registration confirms a participants seat during the general session presentations, where representatives from Pacific Air Forces, NAVFAC Marianas and local partners will share insight into contracting processes, upcoming opportunities, and how CNMI businesses can engage as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Industry Day is open to businesses at all stages  including those new to government contracting and those already working toward eligibility. Sessions are designed to provide practical information, regional context, and a clearer understanding of what opportunities may be available and how businesses can prepare for them.

Industry Day is about making information accessible and actionable for our business community, said Nadine Deleon Guerrero Kintol, director of the CNMI SBDC Network. By registering, businesses are ensuring they have a seat in the room to hear directly from the agencies and partners shaping opportunity in our region.

Throughout the event, participants can expect:

 Updates from federal and military partners on procurement and contracting

 Insight into how businesses can position themselves for future opportunities

 Information on resources and support available through the CNMI SBDC Network

 Opportunities to network with presenters, partners, and fellow business owners

Each Industry Day event will also include time dedicated to networking and engagement, allowing participants to continue conversations, ask questions, and explore potential next steps following the general sessions.

Advance registration is strongly encouraged, as seating for general sessions is limited and helps organizers plan accordingly for each island location.

Please note: Doors open scheduled times will be strictly enforced to allow event coordinators and exhibitors time to set up. Doors will not open sooner than what has been pre-scheduled.

Businesses may register for their preferred Industry Day location using the links below:

 Saipan (Jan. 27, 2026):

https://marianas.ecenterdirect.com/events/1019190

 Tinian (Jan. 28, 2026):

https://marianas.ecenterdirect.com/events/1019194

 Rota (Jan. 29, 2026):

https://marianas.ecenterdirect.com/events/1019193

Additional event details and updates will be shared with registered participants leading up to Industry Day.

For more information, visit www.cnmisbdc.com/, contact the SBDC office at (670) 237-9206/6888 or email [email protected]/.

Follow us on social media for updates: Instagram @cnmisbdc and Facebook at CNMI Small Business Development Center Network for the latest information.
THE Northern Marianas Housing Corporation, administrator of the CDBG-DR program, is a public government entity entrusted with federal disaster recovery grant funds from HUD Region IX. With that trust comes clear obligations: transparency, responsiveness, and accountability to the public.

Instead, applicants are met with silence.

I submitted a formal grievance to NMHCs CDBG-DR director on October 28, 2025. I received a letter acknowledging receipt and promising a response by December 27, 2025. As of January 2026, no response has been provided. I also emailed the NMHC Board of Directors outlining the same concerns. There has been no response from the Board.

This level of non-responsiveness is not just poor governance  it raises serious compliance concerns.

Under 24 CFR  570.900570.913, HUD requires CDBG grantees to establish and follow grievance and appeal procedures. 2 CFR  200.303 requires effective internal controls and documented decision-making. When grievances go unanswered and records requests are ignored, those controls effectively do not exist.

I also submitted an Open Government Act / FOIA request on October 28, 2025, seeking program financial records. To date, no documents have been produced.

CDBG-DR funds are federal grants, not discretionary local programs. HUD relies on grantees to demonstrate transparency, consistent administration, and timely responses to complaints. Failure to do so does not just harm applicants  it exposes the program itself to audit findings, corrective actions, repayment liabilities, and potential impacts on future federal funding eligibility.

HUDs Office of Inspector General exists precisely for situations where local oversight breaks down. Continued silence from management and the Board invites that scrutiny.

Disaster recovery programs are meant to rebuild communities  not erode public trust. When a public agency refuses to respond, accountability does not disappear. It escalates.

GLENN SMITH

CDBG-DR Program Applicant
1) Jeff Race and Tom Flowers hold placards during a demonstration at the intersection of Beach Road and Msgr. Guerrero Road in San Jose on Monday. Photos by Emmanuel T. Erediano

2) Heidi Yelin waves a banner during a demonstration at the intersection of Beach Road and Msgr. Guerrero Road in San Jose on Monday.

3) Ambrose Bennett holds an American flag as Jeff Race, back to the camera, is interviewed by KSPNs Dan Shor.

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

A GROUP of local residents, called the Voice of Freedom, staged a demonstration on Monday at the San Jose intersection on Beach Road to protest President Donald Trumps insanity.

I truly see that he is insane, said Jeff Race, one of the protesters. He said the demonstration was in response to what they view as Trump escalating violence. Race noted that since it was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it was appropriate for them to become the voice of freedom on that day.

Race described the president as a psychopath with dementia who seeks to eliminate his enemies and become Americas first dictator. The president, he said, has established a paramilitary force that resorts to beating people. The situation Trump has created in the U.S. mainland parallels Nazi Germany during Hitlers reign in the 1930s. Only, Trump is moving faster than Hitler did.

Race fears Trump will not stop. I think his end game is to start a civil war in the U.S., and that would solve all his problems, he said.

Retired educator Ambrose Bennett said the protesters aim to keep MLKs dream and the American dream alive. We are protesting because we believe Trumps actions are undermining both dreams, which is just horrific, he said.

Bennett added that people in the CNMI are already feeling the impact of Trumps policies. Were not getting the same amount of federal funding we used to receive. Thats just the start. Its only a matter of time before whats happening on the U.S. mainland happens here  or worse, he said.

Protester Heidi Yelin said they follow news from the U.S. mainland about ICE arresting American citizens, often targeting those who dont look like they belong. I dont want people to be afraid to speak their minds, she said. We dont all have the same opinions, and thats fine, but violence against citizens is never acceptable.

Veteran Tom Flowers, who served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, said the group represents people who were once proud of America. Now, we cant believe what it has turned into in just one year, he said.

I used to be proud to call myself an American, but now I am hiding my head in shame, Flowers added. I was in the Air Force for 10 years, and I just cant believe it.
1) South Koreas kimchi queen, Kim Soon Ryul of Saemaul Women's Association, presents authentic kimchi at the Manamko Center on Friday. Photos by Emmanuel T. Erediano

2) Rose Camacho White savors the taste of freshly made kimchi.

3) CNMI Korean Cultural Center Chairman Kim Hong Kyun, right, and Kim Soon Ryul.

4) Rafaela Odoshi Perry, right, sings a Korean song as Korean visitors join her.

5) The manamko and members and officers of Saemaul Women's Association along with other guests from South Korea pose for photo at the Manamko Center on Friday.

6) At the governors office, senior citizens listen as CNMI Broadband Policy and Development Office officials announce the expansion of Operation Governors Digital Connect to the manamko. Contributed photo

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

IT was a rainy Friday, but for the manamko, it was a blessed day.

After hearing from officials of the CNMI Broadband Policy and Development Office at the Office of the Governor about the expansion of the Operation Governors Digital Connect initiative, the senior citizens returned to the manamko center to join visiting members of the Saemaul Womens Association from Pyeongchang, South Korea, in making authentic kimchi.

The manamko will soon receive more than 600 laptops as part of the BPD initiative, which aims to help them feel more comfortable navigating the online world, said BPD project coordinator Krissa Deleon Guerrero.

We need to support them because we live in a digital world now, she said. We cannot leave them behind. We need to help them adapt. We need to support them as they supported and guided us when we were growing up.

At the manamko center, the seniors rolled up their sleeves to mash dozens of kilos of Korean cabbage into kimchi sauce, following the traditional method led by Koreas kimchi queen, Kim Soon Ryul.

I am thankful and give glory to God for all these blessings, said Rose C. White, one of the participants. From sunrise to sunset, He is still God Almighty.

White added: This is really a blessing. We are happy to have guests from Korea visit us at a time when the rest of the world is going through turmoil. We still have peace on our island. I loved the authentic kimchi because I grew up eating it.

Rafaela Odoshi Perry echoed the sentiment, saying the Korean visitors were more than welcome. I thank them for coming, she said. I was also here last year, and the kimchi we made then was very good. Perry even sang a Korean song for the visitors.

It was the second time the manamko had learned to make kimchi. Last year, the same group introduced the senior citizens to the traditional method.

Kim Soon Ryul, known as the kimchi queen in Pyeongchang, said 16 members visited this year. Kimchi is a famous Korean food, and we want to share it with the people of the CNMI, especially senior citizens, she said. At the same time, we introduce them to Korean food culture.

CNMI Korean Cultural Center Chairman Kim Hong Kyun said kimchi, a fermented vegetable with a long history in Korean cuisine, is very healthy for senior citizens. Besides exercise, it promotes health and longevity, he said.

Office of the Aging Director Walter Manglona said this years group was especially excited because more manamko who had not participated last year joined the event. From start to finish, there are two ways to prepare kimchi: the fast way and the traditional way, he said. The seniors learned the traditional method so they can make it at home.

When we learn any kind of cooking or food preparation, it reminds our seniors to create healthier versions  not too salty, Manglona added. Its good to learn the traditional method, but we also need to adjust recipes safely. The seniors loved it, and we hope this event continues.

Regarding the laptops from Operation Governors Digital Connect, Manglona thanked Gov. David M. Apatang, the BPD, and the late Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, who launched the program. When the Office of Aging submitted its plan two years ago, computer classes for the manamko were included, he said.

Manglona stressed the importance of online safety. We need to make seniors aware of potential scams and fraud, since they are often targets, he said. We are trying our best to safely introduce them to technology while giving them access to important information about health, aging, telehealth, and online banking.

Emmanuel Arnold Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
Tran Tung Anh never expected that, after hundreds of job application rejections, he would work at Apple and gain admission to a masters program in computer science at Harvard University in the U.S..

Anh, 28, originally from Bac Ninh, northern Vietnam, now works as a Privacy Policy Specialist at Apple. His work focuses on researching global regulations to ensure user privacy and data protection are built into the companys products and services. He received his admission notice for a masters program in computational science and engineering at Harvard University in November 2025.

"My journey has been long, marked by hundreds of rejections and many moments of self-doubt," he says. "This result is deeply meaningful. Sometimes, all you need is a single yes amidst a sea of no's."

Anh is an alumnus of the Foreign Language Specialized School under Vietnam National University, Hanoi. In 2017, he moved to the U.S. after securing a full-tuition scholarship to Texas Christian University, where he majored in Information Technology. During the summer of his freshman year, he returned to Vietnam to intern at PwCs technology risk management department. The experience strengthened his ambition to secure a professional internship in the U.S.

Tran Tung Anh, 28, works as a Privacy Policy Specialist at Apple and set to begin a masters program in computational science and engineering at Harvard University at the end of January 2026. Photo coutersy of Anh

Back at university, he sent out nearly 100 applications a month over a six-month period before securing an internship at a U.S. cosmetics firm in 2019 and later joining Ernst & Young. When the Covid pandemic broke out that year, his parents urged him to return to Vietnam.

He chose to stay, deciding he would only return if he were laid off. At EY, Anh worked with major clients including Google and YouTube, gaining first-hand exposure to tech law and privacy policy. The experience reshaped his understanding of how technology products are built. He realized that technology rests on a foundation of policy, and that understanding legal frameworks is essential to creating products that are both functional and compliant with user rights.

After two years of specialized experience, he felt prepared to apply to major technology firms, including Apple. After he passed the initial screening at the U.S. tech giant, Anh was invited to a five-round interview process that stretched across two months.

The opportunity nearly slipped away before it began. The first interview invitation landed in his spam folder. It was only after a third follow-up email that he realized he had missed the messages. He contacted the recruiter immediately and was scheduled for an interview that same day. With little time to prepare, he reviewed his previous projects and professional experience, mapping them directly to Apples requirements.

While executive-level interviews were high-pressure, he found the final panel interview the most demanding. It tested his ability to collaborate and communicate with colleagues across different departments. He passed all rounds and officially joined Apple in February 2022.

Tran Tung Anh pictured with Apple's CEO Tim Cook. Photo courtesy of Anh

Beyond technical skills, he credits Apples work environment with sharpening his ability to think critically. "Before starting any project, you must know who to ask, what to ask, and where to begin," he says. "Asking the right questions identifies the core of the problem, which in turn drives the project forward efficiently."

In performance reviews, the Head of Content and Services Management within Apples Legal Department noted that Anh consistently met all expectations, citing his teamwork, communication skills, and ability to process complex information. Colleagues also praised his problem-solving ability, describing him as a "trusted leader" within the team.

Despite his professional progress, the rapid pace of innovation at Apple convinced Anh that further education was necessary. With new features and products launching each year, he decided to pursue a masters degree to stay ahead of evolving global policies.

With more than five years of professional experience and strong recommendation letters from Apple, he found the Harvard application process manageable. In his Statement of Purpose, he avoided narrative-heavy storytelling and instead adopted a direct, professional approach.

He believes graduate applicants must address two questions: what they bring to the program, and what they need from it. He described his admissions interview as a discussion rather than an examination. Alongside presenting his study plans, he asked how the curriculum would support his specific career goals. "I believe one shouldn't be too reserved," he says. "Since you are investing in your education, you have the right to know if the school can meet your professional expectations."

Anh is set to begin his studies at the end of this month, with the program expected to last two years. He plans to focus on artificial intelligence, an area connected to several projects he is currently involved in at Apple. He also intends to deepen his expertise in the Apple Wallet ecosystem, particularly at the intersection of digital finance and residency regulations.

After nearly a decade in the U.S., Anh says persistence matters, and that rejection is a normal part of the international student experience. "As long as you are putting in your best effort, something good will eventually come your way."
Leila Staffler

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

CNMI Labor Secretary Leila Staffler said she will run for the Precinct 5 seat in the House of Representatives in the 2026 general election under the Democratic Party.

Staffler previously represented Precinct 5 before stepping down to be the running mate of former Rep. Tina Sablan in the 2022 gubernatorial election. They finished third in the general election but later endorsed the Independent team of then-Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and then-Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, who went on to win the runoff. Following their victory, the new administration appointed Staffler as secretary of Labor.

In a recent interview, Staffler said her decision to seek a House seat again is driven by a desire to reengage in the budget and appropriations process, which she described as central to addressing long-standing funding gaps across government programs.

I wanted to run for the House again because there are many ideas Ive developed over the years related to revenue-generating and appropriation bills, she said. A lot of things are underfunded, and I want to help reprioritize what limited government resources we have toward whats most important to our community.

She said the House remains the most logical place to influence the budget.

I want to be involved in the budget process, and that starts in the House, she said. So it made the most sense for me.

Staffler said the timing also felt right given the number of lawmakers not seeking reelection to pursue other opportunities.

With so many people leaving the House, I thought it would be a good time to return and be part of whatever new leadership comes in, she said. Hopefully, Ill have that opportunity if people give me that chance again.

She said she hopes to revive programs she launched during her previous term and emphasized her commitment to transparency, noting her past practice of holding quarterly town halls to report on district spending.

I always held quarterly town halls to report on how district funds were spent, she said. Transparency has always been important to me, and I promise to continue that practice.

If elected, Staffler said she plans to focus on food security, economic diversification, and workforce development.

Food security is very important to me, she said. Economic diversification goes hand in hand with workforce development.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
A demonstrator holds a sign, in front of the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, during a protest more than a week after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan. 17, 2026. REUTERS

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters)  Peter Browns gray mustache and beard were matted with ice as he stood watch on a frigid Friday afternoon outside Green Central Elementary, not far from where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Renee Good last week.

Wearing a neon green vest and equipped with a whistle and walkie-talkie, Brown, an 81-year-old retired lawyer who lives nearby, kept his head on a swivel. His eyes were taking in each passing car and pedestrian near the campus as he stood ready to sound the alarm should federal immigration personnel approach the school, which teaches in English and Spanish and is around the corner from the spot where Good died.

I never did like bullies, and thats what the federal government has become, Brown said, explaining why an octogenarian stood outside for four hours in -2 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill (-19 Celsius). Whats happening in my city is nothing more than authoritarian intimidation, and me and my neighbors are not going to put up with it.

The Trump administration has deployed about 3,000 federal agents across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, making it the latest region targeted by the presidents mass deportation program. People who normally might be organizing parent-teacher association meetings are arranging security patrols at their kids schools to watch for immigration agents.

Some parents not on patrol are escorting foreign-born teachers or staff members, driving them to and from their homes and schools to make them feel safer. Others are delivering groceries and prescription medicines to immigrant families who are too afraid to leave their homes or send their kids to class.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat representing Minnesota, said on Friday she had met with school principals from her state and heard horror stories of kids and parents under siege by ICE.

Little kids scared. Dangerous encounters. This is no longer about a fraud investigation, Klobuchar wrote on social media, as she urged residents to remain peaceful.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE and the Border Patrol, said this week more than 2,500 people have been arrested during the effort that officials have dubbed Operation Metro Surge. DHS has repeatedly said its agents are not targeting schools.

ICE is not going to schools to arrest children  we are protecting children, said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. Criminals are no longer able to hide in Americas schools to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense. If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. But this has not happened.

But parents and school leaders say otherwise.

A spokesperson for Saint Paul Public Schools said in a statement that two of its contracted student transportation vans were pulled over by ICE agents this week. Several schools and daycare centers have emailed parents to notify them of teachers and staff who have been detained, according to school leaders and parents.

Schools have notified the public that some parents have been detained at bus stops after dropping off kids. Border Patrol agents clashed with protesters on the grounds of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis as classes ended, just a few hours after Good was shot and killed. DHS said the clash followed agents pursuit of someone who had rammed one of their vehicles several miles away and fled to the school grounds.

Several school districts  including those in Minneapolis and St. Paul, the states two largest  have cancelled classes some days and are allowing students to learn online instead of attending classes in person for the next several weeks in response to the immigration operations.

Many families in my area are afraid to send their kids to school because ICE is staking out our bus stops, state Representative Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, a Democrat and co-chair of the Minnesota House of Representatives Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee, told the Star Tribune newspaper.

Nate Byrne, a spokesperson for Kids Count on Us, a coalition of 500 community-based childcare centers in Minnesota, said it is receiving daily reports about ICE officers on or near childcare center grounds, and that such centers in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods have seen a 50% reduction in attendance.

Kids Count on Us has received reports of childcare workers taken into ICE custody, Byrne said, though he did not have specific figures.

Parents who are not fearful of being detained by ICE  typically because they are white  are forming teams to patrol outside their childcare centers during drop-off and pick-up and when staff need to come and go, Byrne said. Parents who are fearful of being detained by ICE due to the color of their skin are being extremely cautious.

St. Paul parent Kelly, who spoke on the condition that her last name not be used, citing fears of retribution from the federal government, said she was helping deliver food to immigrant families that attend her childrens school but were afraid to leave their homes. Parents are also raising money to help pay rent for the families across the metro area, as the parents are missing work, according to Kelly and other parents.

Kelly, who was attending a Friday night protest against ICE with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 9, said she was bewildered by what has become of her city amid the immigration raids. In years past, she volunteered for parent-teacher association events. Now, she carries a whistle everywhere she goes and said she is ready to confront federal agents if they approach her kids school.

Theres no parenting handbook for this, Kelly said. My parents never had to sit me down and explain that my classmates who are suddenly missing from school arent there because their parents are afraid of being snatched by the government.
What is driving the Trump administrations obsession with taking control of Greenland? It can be a fools errand trying to make sense of the actions of an empire in decline.

Weve been bombarded with nearly a dozen reasons the US must have the island. Yet they quickly fall apart under closer scrutiny.

Now, we are dealing with irrational actors with whom facts are optional, and they seem to believe consequences are as well. But lets quickly gather some of the stated reasons and pair them with the facts. Then turn to what appears to be the driving force(s) behind the Greenland crusade.

Shipping Lanes. As Arctic shipping lanes unfortunately becoming more viable due to climate change, Trump says the US must take Greenland to prevent China and Russia from dominating Arctic. Okay, but outside Greenlands capital Nuuk, there is barely any road infrastructure in Greenland and only a few large enough to accommodate tankers and container ships. So is it to have a military presence near these thawing lanes?

The US already has a defence agreement with Denmark that allows for American military bases in Greenland. Peter Harmsen, author of Greenland at War: The United States, Germany and the Struggle for the Arctic, 1939-45, told Newsweek that the U.S. has broad authority to build and operate military facilities on the island, due to the 1951 treaty, noting, For Trump, it offers a legal route to expand Americas footprint without attempting to buy the island or seize it outright.

Yet the administration line is that they prefer to own it:

UN Ambassador Mike Waltz on Greenland: "Denmark just doesn't have the resources or capacity to do what needs to be done in the northern region. And to the Democrats who say 'they're giving you full access,' everybody knows if you're renting a place you treat it differently than pic.twitter.com/xVOPMOpykb  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 17, 2026

Resources. Greenland possesses at least 25 of the 34 raw materials considered critical by the EU. Some have noted how KoBold Metals, which is funded by the likes of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Marc Andreessen and uses AI to locate minerals, has interest in Greenland. But it has interest in everywhere, and KoBold, as well as all US companies, already have the opportunity to exploit most of these resources in Greenland. From Lukas Slothuus is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex:

Foreign companies have tried to set up viable mining industries in Greenland for decades, with little to show for it. Indeed, contrary to US President Donald Trumps assertions, American corporations have long had the opportunity to enter Greenlands mining sector. The capital intensity twinned with extremely harsh climactic conditions mean that, so far, no firm has begun commercial mining activities.

On the oil front, back in 2021 Greenlands government banned fossil fuel exploration and extraction, but even if that were rescinded its unlikely it would change much. More from Slothuus:

With volatile oil and gas prices and the same climactic and infrastructural challenges as for other natural resources, fossil fuel production in Greenland is implausible even in the event of a full US takeover.

Golden Dome. On Wednesday, Trump said US possession of Greenland is necessary for his trillion-dollar missile defense shield boondoggle. But its not.

The interceptors are supposed to be based in space, not on land. Even if they do end up on the ground they could be stationed in the US or Canada rather than Greenland. If the administration is determined to put them there, it could simply ask. The US does already have a space base at Pituffik, its northernmost installation.

Domestic politics. Picking a fight with the Europeans might fire up a part of the base, but for what its worth a CNN poll released Thursday found just 25 percent of Americans in favor of the attempts to take control Greenland with 50 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in support of it and 50 percent opposed.

Other. Perhaps it is what some argue is part of a vast intelligence psyop intended to make NATO appear at odds on the surface while the alliances nations continue to pursue the goal of Western hegemony. Thats probably not as crazy as it sounds considering the way intelligence agencies are taking such a prominent role in everything from international diplomacy to domestic politics and the US and its allies are increasingly fond of deception.

There are other arguments floating around like this is solely down to Trumps ego and increasing detachment from reality, but personally I prefer to stay away from the personal and lean towards the systemic. The likelihood this scheme would be progressing without backing from some powerful quarters is small. The question really is which group(s) of oligarchs are driving the quest for Greenland?

It does not appear to be the fossil fuel industry nor the military-industrial complex, which can already get what it wants there.

If we look at the people spearheading the push, it is filled with apparatchiks from Silicon Valley that has long been interested in Greenland and is now driving administration policy. On the surface it has to do with the tech elites obsession with so-called freedom citiesareas they can be free from any government control or societal obligations.

New Scientist reported last week that Praxisa freedom city company has raised hundreds of millions in seed funding and that its cofounder, Dryden Brown, went to Greenland in 2023 in an attempt to negotiate a purchase of the territory.

Plans for these freedom cities within the continental US but free of government control have accelerated in recent years, and theres a hope among the tech crowd that Trump will announce the creation of some come this July 4. Others are being tried outside the US in places like Honduras and in Africa, although theyve unsurprisingly mostly fallen apart. But it will work in Greenland, they promise! Theyre modeled somewhat after the United Arab Emirates, and the idea is that a tech billionaire will get to be a tech-bro king of any number of these freedom fiefdoms.

Techno monarchists like Peter Thiel, Sam Altman, and others have voiced support in the past for freedom cities on Greenland. And Thiel, Altman, and and even the Winklevoss twins are financial backers of Praxis.

Vice President (and Thiel protege), JD Vance, is the administrations point man on Greenland. Ken Howery, the US ambassador to Denmark, hails from PayPal Mafia. He was the CFO who helped bring it together and sell it to eBay. Following that windfall he co-founded the VC firm Founders Fund with Thiel and others, and hes close to Elon Musk.

But still, why Greenland?

Did all these tech bros get together for a movie night and watch a 2020 apocalyptic survival disaster thriller that happens to be titled Greenland? (We do know theyre big fans of apocalypse bunkers.)

If we go back to an April piece from Reuters that noted that the push for Greenland freedom cities had begun, it helps shed a little light on the why. Anonymous sources told Reuters the following:

The vision for Greenland, one of the people said, could include a hub for artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, space launches, micro nuclear reactors and high-speed rail.

High speed rail, eh? If you just spit out your coffee, youre not alone. The data centers angle, however, is one that makes some sense. From Expert Minds:

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers could consume up to 12% of the countrys electricity by 2028. This trend has prompted IT giants to seek locations that combine abundant renewable energy with cooler climates to minimize cooling costsGreenland ticks all the boxes. Currently, 70% of Greenlands energy comes from hydropower, a clean and sustainable source that aligns perfectly with the energy needs of large-scale data centers. Its Arctic climate further reduces the energy required to cool servers, making Greenland an ideal location for housing energy-intensive IT operations. Greenland has drawn significant interest from global companies, especially for its hydropower potential. Our cold climate and renewable energy resources make us a perfect candidate for hosting data centers, said Greenlands Minister of Energy, Kalistat Lund.

Well, almost. The recommended temperature range for data centers is 18 C to 27 C, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, so Greenland might be a little on the cold sidefor now.

A report published in December by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is funded by the Department of Energy, provides more detail on the need for American AI companies to secure more energy to power their growing ambitions. From MIT Technology Review:

The Lawrence Berkeley researchers offered a blunt critique of where things stand, saying that the information disclosed by tech companies, data center operators, utility companies, and hardware manufacturers is simply not enough to make reasonable projections about the unprecedented energy demands of this future or estimate the emissions it will create. By 2028, the researchers estimate, the power going to AI-specific purposes will rise to between 165 and 326 terawatt-hours per year. Thats more than all electricity currently used by US data centers for all purposes; its enough to power 22% of US households each year. Its not clear to us that the benefits of these data centers outweigh these costs, says Eliza Martin, a legal fellow at the Environmental and Energy Law Program at Harvard and a coauthor of the research.

You think?

The report also mentions how AI companies are seeking more energy via any source they can find with a scattershot approach which sounds a lot like the Trump administrations kneejerk belligerence.

We mentioned Vance and Howery above and their connections to the techno monarchists, but also representative of the underlying goals at play is Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Trumps envoy to Greenland. He also heads the Governors Coalition for Energy Security, which recently announced a set of policy recommendations to address Americas energy challenges and remove obstacles to building energy infrastructure.

With electricity demand projected to grow 25% by 2030, driven largely by AI data centers and advanced manufacturing, we need decisive action to ensure reliable, affordable energy for our states and provinces, our people and our businesses, Landry says.

Still, its unclear why exactly the US would need to annex Greenland in order to establish data centers there or potentially unveil a freedom city or two. Its entirely possible that the current pressure campaign is intended to obtain these goals on favorable terms to the techno monarchists without taking the island.

According to a report by the US House of Representatives foreign affairs committee, Chinese investment in Greenlands hydrocarbon and minerals sectors makes up nearly 12% of the territorys GDP. That is likely in Trumps sights.

It should be noted that after the last Greenland hullabaloo in the Spring Denmark overwhelmingly passed an agreement to let the US military enter the country whenever it wants. Added in the eleventh hour to that agreement was the planned construction of a new $500 million subsea cable to boost capacity alongside the two current cables.

Perhaps similar concessions are coming this time around. And if they aid Silicon Valleys quest for energy and markets for its AI buildout, it would fit the common thread running through the Trump administrations foreign policy. As Reuters noted back in April in its Greenland freedom city piece:

The administrations consideration of such a quixotic quest underscores the growing clout of tech magnates and Trumps increasingly expansionist foreign policy.

We recently wrote about the vision stretching from the Middle East to India and Europe:

According to Navin Girishankar, president of the Economic Security and Technology Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), it has to do with a vision for dollar/stablecoin supremacy. Access to American compute power will enable both Gulf countries to export AI-enabled goods and services in sectors such as autonomous logistics, precision agriculture, medical diagnostics, and finance. The Trump administration aims to ensure that American AI technology continues to be the gold standard worldwide, according to Vice President JD Vance. But these agreements miss an essential ingredient of American power: a guarantee that AI-enabled exports generated using American chips will be invoiced and settled in dollars. the United States should condition access to leading-edge chips on binding commitments to settle AI-enabled exports in dollarsthe United States should use dollar-backed stablecoins as the settlement mechanism. And the vision for a future dollar is accompanied by Silicon Valley enthusiasm for the philosophy of political economy present in the Gulf. As the UAE takes the crown of crypto capital, its become something of a model for how American oligarchs would like to see the US rearranged: regulation-free, virtually unlimited sovereign capital, low tax, and governed by a techno monarchy. Think more dismantled nations, plundered for human and natural resources, and then reconstructing profitable segments of them under the oversight of financial, real estate, energy, and tech barons. Think about what the post-genocide vision of Gaza looks like:

South of the border, a similar strategy is being spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Washington is eyeing Latin Americas energy, mineral, and water resources to power AI infrastructure and create tech fiefdoms.

At its heart, these schemes reflect the breakdown of the post-Cold War era fusion of militarism and financial governance. The American citizen has largely been bled dry, economic inequality is off the charts, there are legitimacy crises, and geopolitical backlash. Unable to break up or exercise financial control over peers like Russia and China, the US is trying to pillage as much of other parts of the world as it can.

Despite some wanting to believe the talk of conquering Greenland is just the rantings of a mad wannabe king, it is in reality a natural outgrowth of American late stage capitalism and the dozens of mad wannabe kings who organized a political economy around a massive AI bubble that needs to be continually inflated:

What could possibly go wrong?

AI related investment drove all of US GDP growth in the first half of 2025:  @FT

 consumption of 10% richest Americans drove most of the consumption growth in 2025.

The same Americans own most of the high tech stock.

And if the AI boom pic.twitter.com/xpnUQqgRar  Richard Baldwin (@BaldwinRE) January 5, 2026

And so what we potentially have in Greenlandand elsewhereis tech capital trying to control the levers of US state power in order to create their own little emirates. The great irony is that they are using the state to enrich and empower themselves while simultaneously weakening and destroying the US and enraging the rest of the world.

So maybe their desire for Greenland does make perfect sense. At the rate theyre going, theyre going to need those Greenland bunkers sooner rather than later.
Vietnam is stepping up efforts to develop its semiconductor industry through cooperation with ASML, the worlds leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer from the Netherlands, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang has recently held a working session with Eduard Stiphout, Senior Vice President in charge of strategic supply chain and procurement at ASML.

At the meeting, Thang highly appreciated ASMLs growing interest in the Vietnamese market, noting that the groups dispatch of senior executives to Vietnam and its active participation in SEMIExpo Vietnam 2025 demonstrated a strong commitment to long-term strategic cooperation.

"This is vivid evidence of Vietnams potential, its improving investment environment, and increasingly favorable mechanisms and policies in attracting leading global technology groups," the minister said.

Emphasizing Vietnams determination to achieve ambitious growth targets in the coming period, Thang reaffirmed the Governments strong interest in promoting investment in the semiconductor industry. He noted that strategic orientations, institutional frameworks and human resource development plans for the sector are being vigorously advanced.

An ASML engineer operates a lithography machine in Veldhoven, Netherlands, June 16, 2023. Photo by Reuters

In this context, the minister proposed that ASML coordinate with the Dutch Embassy, the National Innovation Center (NIC) and relevant partners to develop a comprehensive roadmap, appropriate financial mechanisms, and publicprivate resource mobilization models to soon establish a semiconductor training, research and development center at the NICs Hoa Lac campus.

He also called on ASML to help connect qualified Vietnamese enterprises to participate more deeply in the groups global supply chain, thereby diversifying and strengthening ASMLs supply chain resilience in Asia.

At the same time, ASMLs support is sought to help Vietnamese firms develop manufacturing, research and testing infrastructure, including fab labs, semiconductor technical services, technology standards consultancy and management know-how transfer, with a view to gradually forming domestic production capabilities and supporting the establishment of Vietnams first chip manufacturing plant.

Training programs, expert exchanges, internships and scholarship support in the semiconductor field were also highlighted as key areas of cooperation to help build a pool of Vietnamese engineers and specialists capable of meeting the stringent technical standards of ASML and the global semiconductor equipment industry.

For his part, Stiphout said that based on initial discussions, ASML is studying the possibility of expanding its supply chain in Vietnam, cooperating to establish a semiconductor training and R&D center at the NIC with support from the Dutch Government, and considering setting up an official presence in Vietnam in the near future. The group is also assessing opportunities to supply equipment to potential customers in the country.



ASML holds a dominant position in the global semiconductor industry thanks to its exclusive ownership of extreme ultraviolet lithography technology, which is critical to producing advanced chips for artificial intelligence, 5G and high-performance computing.

With a market capitalization of around US$400 billion, annual revenue of $3035 billion, and more than 40,000 employees across 60 facilities worldwide, ASML plays a central role in the global semiconductor value chain, directly shaping the development roadmap of industry leaders such as TSMC, Samsung and Intel.

Thang affirmed that the MoF is committed to accompanying ASML at the highest level, assigning the NIC as the focal point to coordinate with relevant agencies to promptly address obstacles, ensure a stable and transparent legal environment, and facilitate the effective implementation of cooperation projects, thereby contributing to the development of Vietnams innovation ecosystem and high-tech industry.
The Politics Of Planetary Color Noema

How IVF has led to a record number of single moms in their 40s NPR

The Best States For Raising A Family In 2026 StudyFinds

Collection Agency: Crunching the Numbers with a Calculator Collector Inconspicuous Consumption

Oils Problem Isnt Iran or Russia  Its Too Much Oil OilPrice

Revolutionary imaging of black hole aims to prove they are not evil vacuum cleaners The Guardian

Climate/Environment

Davos

Pandemics

That collapse in SATs since the pandemic began. All catastrophes reboot societies. The status quo has tried desperately to rush everybody back to their old routines, ignoring public health. The old status quo still broke. Im seeing this checking-out across all parts of life. pic.twitter.com/MhSfyDC2Aa  Henry Madison (@RageSheen) January 18, 2026

The Koreas

Japan

Takaichi enjoys popularity amid Japans rightward turn East Asia Forum

China?

Taiwans Silicon Shield Has Been Sold Out by President Lai Taiwans greatest strategic asset has never been its navy, its air force, or even its alliances. It has been the silicon shield its semiconductor industry, led by TSMC, which binds the worlds economy to Taiwans pic.twitter.com/IuwUug9uQE  Ignis Rex (@Ignis_Rex) January 19, 2026

Syraqistan

WOW! At the Israeli-American Council, Miriam Adelson is asked how she is buying influence over American politicians. Recognizing that it probably isnt smart for her to talk openly about this, she hesitates and answers: Can you allow me not to answer?  I want to be pic.twitter.com/gOGXm8xMDR  Trita Parsi (@tparsi) January 18, 2026

WOW. Strategic advisor to Irans Parliament Speaker, Mahdi Mohammadi: We know that we are facing a regime-change war in which the only way to achieve victory is to make credible the threat that, during the 12-day war, although it was ready, did not get the opportunity to be  Sharmine Narwani (@snarwani) January 19, 2026

Africa

European Disunion

 Fifteen German soldiers deployed to Greenland abruptly left the island today without explanation, Bild reports. The outlet captured footage of the German troops departing from Nuuk. According to Bild, the return order was issued early in the morning, with all meetings and pic.twitter.com/AXebfPyfjo  DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) January 18, 2026

Bessent on Greenland: Peace through strength. Make it part of the US and there will not be a conflict because the US right now, were the hottest country in the world, were the strongest country in the world. Europeans project weakness. The US projects strength. pic.twitter.com/NQYuvNpsC3  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 18, 2026

China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies. If Greenlands security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO. Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. We also  Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 17, 2026

Old Blighty

Trump administration demands Britain adopt US standards in trade talks Politico

New Not-So-Cold War

South of the Border

Police State Watch

Trump orders active duty troops to prepare for Minnesota deployment Politico

YIKES: If this is true  and Im skeptical it is until I see local reporting. But its bad. Alerting the 11th Airborne was UNAMBIGUIOUS indicator for an invasion of Greenland I wrote a year ago. Minnesota would be a good place to interim stage these forces in the lower 48. https://t.co/AfLMvQ2urP  Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) January 18, 2026

this is what it has come to for Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities pic.twitter.com/RhbZ3xDhfQ  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 19, 2026

Democrats en deshabille

Imperial Collapse Watch

Accelerationists

Guillotine Watch

The Bezzle

AI

The shape of time Aeon

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
The CIA/Mossad operation to spark a color revolution in Iran has failed

The CIA/Mossad plan to spark a color revolution in Iran, which has attracted global attention and a tsunami of propaganda pieces portraying the Iranian protests as a massive, unstoppable popular movement, has failed. Yes, protests continue in some parts of the country, but Iranian security forces have taken off the gloves and are fighting back. Casualty estimates are all over the board Ranging from hundreds to thousands dead. Iranian officials have announced that the alleged ring leaders of the violent protests will be publicly executed starting Wednesday.

(Article republished from Sonar21.com)

While Trump is now promising to try to come to the aid of the protestors, his promise appears to be more rhetorical than substantive. According to a report by the Jerusalem Post:

US President Donald Trump is expected to assist Iranians who are protesting nationwide against the Islamic Republic regime, several sources familiar with the details of the discussions held in recent days told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. Trump has essentially decided to help the protesters in Iran. What he has not yet decided is the how and the when, they said. . . . The spectrum ranges from a military option, namely strikes against regime targets, to cyber support against the regime, to providing Starlink systems to help protesters, one source told the Post. While the Trump administration does not believe that the Iranian regime is collapsing, it definitely sees problems and cracks that did not exist a week ago, the source added.

However, the British newspaper, The Telegraph, dampens expectations that immediate military action is on the agenda:

US media reported that officials would on Tuesday give Mr Trump options for a number of non-lethal measures, including amplifying anti-government criticism online and deploying secretive cyber weapons against Iranian military and civilian sites. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, and General Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, are expected to attend the briefing. Commanders in the region have told officials that they need to consolidate US military positions and prepare defences before carrying out any military strikes against security services responsible for the bloody crackdown on demonstrations.

A report in the Washington Post corroborates The Telegraph report that the Trump administration is just starting to weigh courses of action:

Options under review, the Journal reported, could include deploying cyberweapons against Iranian military and civilian sites, imposing additional economic sanctions on the Iranian government and launching military strikes.

While CIA front groups continue to supply the Western media with reports of large protests in cities such as Mashdad, the reality on the ground is otherwise. Heres a video from Mashdad recorded earlier today (nighttime in Iran) of pro-regime elements filling the square:

??? Massive proIslamic Republic rallies have flooded the streets of Mashhad, with regime supporters turning out in force in a powerful display of unity in one of Irans key cities, amid ongoing nationwide unrest and protests. pic.twitter.com/4nkZUDN2As  Defense News (@defensesignal) January 12, 2026

The CIA and Mossad seem to have forgotten that in order to effect a successful regime change they must have the military and the security services under control. Lets assume that there were a total of one million protestors scattered among the cities of Iran. Thats still only a little more than 1% of the total population of Iran. While many Iranians are angry or disillusioned with the government of President Pezeshkians mishandling of the Iranian economy, that does not mean the majority of Iranians are ready to blame the Ayatollah Khameni.

What are the indicators that the US will strike Iran? The US should have at least one carrier task force in the region, at least a couple of squadrons of fighter/bombers, and the hardening or evacuation of US military bases in the region. So far there is no sign of such activity.

Read more at: Sonar21.com
Foreign nationals accounted for 79% of train theft arrests in Britain in 2025, police data show

British Transport Police data obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows that foreign nationals accounted for 79% of theft arrests on trains and about 40% of all railway arrests across Britain in 2025.

Overall, foreign nationals were involved in 37.7% of the 9,771 arrests recorded, with significant shares also seen in drug offenses (40%), sexual offenses (37%) and violent crimes (36%), despite migrants representing a minority of the population.

The Center for Migration Control said the data indicate disproportionate involvement by migrants in multiple offense categories and described the figures as evidence of a growing public safety concern on public transport.

CMC research director Robert Bates blamed immigration policy for what he called a crime wave on British trains and urged the government to adopt stricter immigration controls, including mass deportations.

Advocacy groups recommended measures such as a U.S.-style "red list" of countries barred from visas, automatic deportation for foreign nationals convicted of crimes and a tiered immigration system prioritizing public safety.

New data released by the British Transport Police through a Freedom of Information request has revealed that foreign nationals accounted for a large share of arrests on Britain's railways in 2025.

According to the British Transport Police, the figures, obtained by the Center for Migration Control (CMC), show that foreign nationals made up 79% of arrests for theft on trains in 2025 and approximately 40% of all railway-related arrests across England, Wales and Scotland. Overall, foreign nationals were involved in 37.7% of the 9,771 arrests recorded by British Transport Police during the period.

CMC said the data indicate that migrants are disproportionately represented in several offense categories despite comprising a minority of the population. In addition to theft, the group said foreign nationals accounted for 40% of arrests related to drug offenses, 37% of sexual offense arrests and 36% of violent crime arrests on the rail network.

"Of the 9,771 arrests in England, Wales and Scotland, nearly 3,700 were foreign nationals," the think tank said on X. "We have imported a huge problem."

Migrant crimes, as BrightU.AI's Enoch noted, refer to criminal activities committed by individuals who have migrated to a new country, often illegally, and are characterized by a range of offenses, including theft, violence and gang recruitment. These crimes are particularly concerning as they often involve organized groups and can lead to a surge in local crime rates, causing significant public safety concerns and social unrest.

CMC urges British government to follow America's "red list"

These figures have returned immigration and public safety to the center of political debate.

Immigration and public safety returned to the center of political debate this week after figures showing a high proportion of foreign nationals arrested on Britains rail network prompted sharp criticism from migration-focused advocacy groups.

Robert Bates, research director at the CMC, told GB News that immigration policies have contributed to a "crime wave" on British trains and public transport.

"Immigrants are vastly overrepresented in arrest figures from British Transport Police, particularly when it comes to theft," Bates said. "Keeping Brits safe is the number one priority of the government, yet under the Tories and Labor, they have continued to let in millions of migrants who commit terrible crimes against the native population."

Bates also pointed to broader arrest figures compiled by the CMC through Freedom of Information requests, claiming that foreign nationals were arrested at a rate of roughly one every three minutes nationwide last year. "They have made our trains unsafe," he said, calling on the government to "end immigration and begin a program of mass deportations to protect the British people."

As part of its policy recommendations, the CMC urged the government to follow the example of the U.S. by introducing a "red list" of countries whose nationals would be barred from obtaining British visas. The group also called for changes to legislation that would make any foreign national convicted of a crime automatically liable for deportation, alongside stricter enforcement of removals.

Similar views were echoed by Harrison Pitt, senior policy fellow at Restore Britain, who argued that the U.K. should adopt a more restrictive, tiered immigration system. "The fact that we already have problems of our own is no reason to import the problems of the world," Pitt said.

He suggested that countries whose nationals are overrepresented in crime statistics should be prohibited from sending further migrants to the United Kingdom. "The safety of Britain's host population ought to matter more than the hurt feelings of foreigners with no natural right to be here," Pitt added.

Watch this clip from "Bannon's War Room" about the Italian government barring citizens from entering while allowing migrants at the same time.

This video is from the Excellent PODCASTS & Real NEWS channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RMX.com

GBNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
German court points finger at foreign spy agency in Nord Stream sabotage

A German high court has ruled that the Nord Stream sabotage was a state-sponsored covert operation. The court stated that the 2022 pipeline explosions were likely ordered by a foreign intelligence service, framing it as an attack on Europe's civilian energy infrastructure, not a legitimate act of war.

The ruling came as the court rejected an appeal by a key Ukrainian suspect. The suspect was a former Ukrainian special forces member. The court noted that the saboteurs were not identifiable combatants.

Poland refused to extradite another suspect to Germany, causing a major rift. In a politically charged move, a Polish court released a suspect and rejected Germany's extradition request. Poland's Prime Minister suggested it wasn't in Poland's interest to cooperate, straining EU judicial cooperation.

Germany's muted response highlights a severe diplomatic dilemma. Berlin has been quiet, caught between prosecuting an ally and seeking justice for an attack on its interests. A public trial detailing Ukrainian involvement would be politically explosive during the war with Russia.

The quest for justice is now entangled in geopolitics. The investigation is becoming a diplomatic crisis, with the German court pointing to state actors and Poland's refusal revealing a fractured European front. The search for accountability is mired in political expediency and the realities of war.

A German high court has delivered a bombshell ruling, stating that the 2022 destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines was likely a covert operation ordered by a foreign intelligence service.

This judicial finding casts the act not as a rogue mission, but as a state-sponsored attack on Europe's critical energy infrastructure.

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) made the declaration in a document rejecting an appeal by the primary suspect, a 49-year-old former Ukrainian special forces member identified in the media as Sergey Kuznetsov. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that Kuznetsov is accused of leading a six-person team that used a rented yacht and diving equipment to plant explosives on the pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

The court dismissed the defense's claim that the pipelines were a legitimate military target in the Ukraine war, stating Nord Stream served civilian purposes and that the saboteurs were not identifiable as combatants.

Most significantly, the court ruled that "immunity does not apply to acts of violence controlled by an intelligence service." This clear language suggests German prosecutors are building a case that the Ukrainian suspects were acting under the direction of a foreign state's spy agency, moving the investigation into the realm of international espionage and covert warfare.

Poland declines Germany's request to extradite one of the suspects

The ruling intensifies the glaring contradiction presented by a Polish court just weeks earlier. In a highly unusual move between EU allies, a Warsaw district court refused Germanys request to extradite another suspect, diving instructor Vladimir Zhuravlyov, and ordered his release.

Legal experts criticized the decision as politically motivated, noting the judge's reasoning appeared to justify the sabotage as part of Ukraine's "just war" against Russia, an argument the German court explicitly rejected.

The Polish refusal was amplified by controversial public comments from Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who stated ahead of the ruling that "it is certainly not in the interest of Poland" to hand the suspect over. His remarks, seen as pressuring the judiciary, drew sharp criticism even from some allies and were labeled "shocking" by Hungary's foreign minister.

Analysts suggest Tusk's stance was driven by domestic politics, aiming to deflect opposition claims that he is subservient to Germany, but it has severely strained judicial cooperation.

The German government's response to both the court ruling and the extradition refusal has been conspicuously muted. A spokesperson for Chancellor Friedrich Merz offered only, "We have taken note of it." This silence underscores the deep political awkwardness surrounding the case.

Prosecuting allies for an act that benefited Ukraine, while that same country fights for survival against Russia, presents a severe diplomatic dilemma.

Some observers suggest the Polish court's decision may, perversely, offer a convenient off-ramp for both Berlin and Warsaw. A public trial in Germany, featuring detailed evidence of Ukrainian involvement in attacking infrastructure that also harmed German interests, would be a political minefield during an ongoing war.

The investigation grinds on, with another Ukrainian suspect arrested in Italy and eventually extradited to Germany in November 2025. Yet, the path to justice appears increasingly obstructed by geopolitical fault lines.

The German court's intelligence service allegation points a finger at shadowy state actors, while the Polish refusal to cooperate hints at a fractured European front.

What remains clear is the truth behind the Nord Stream attack. This event reshaped Europe's energy security and triggered accusations of "energy warfare."

The incident is now becoming entangled in a web of political expediency, historical grievances between eastern and western Europe and the brutal realities of a continent at war. The quest for accountability is now as much a diplomatic crisis as a legal one.

Watch the video below as Russia calls out Germany's Nord Stream investigation.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

TheGuardian.com

BBC.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Iran in flames: Protest violence takes a grisly, ISIS-like turn

There are claims that infiltrators are using horrific, ISIS-style brutality against both police and civilians, including beheadings and burning people alive, to maximize terror amid the Iranian protests.

Over 3,000 people are reported dead, mostly protesters, representing the most severe domestic bloodshed in Iran over four decades.

The regime has shut down the internet for over eight days, a tactic used historically to conceal violence and control the narrative by preventing the rest of the world from witnessing events.

The blackout and violence have trapped people in Iran, crippling essential services. Banking systems are hacked, hospitals are strained, and families cannot communicate or safely coordinate.

Both residents and foreign tourists are isolated, confined and struggling for basics. The lines between political protest, militant terror and state crackdown have blurred, creating a state of widespread fear and suffering.

The violent unrest that has engulfed Iran for weeks has taken a horrifying new turn, with claims emerging that militant elements within the protests are employing brutal tactics reminiscent of the Islamic State (ISIS).

As the reported death toll climbs into the thousands, the situation has descended into chaos that has trapped residents and tourists alike in a state of fear and isolation.

According to an Iranian diplomatic source, "terrorist elements" infiltrating the protests have been instructed to use extreme violence to maximize bloodshed and fear. The source cited intelligence and testimonies from apprehended individuals, alleging tactics that include the beheading of law enforcement officers and burning people alive.

In a particularly grim detail, the source claimed militants have been finishing off the wounded on the battlefield.

The violence is not limited to attacks on people. Public and private property have also been systematically torched.

In the capital, Tehran, alone, at least 26 banks and 25 mosques have been set ablaze. The chaos has even targeted those trying to help, with first responders coming under attack; approximately 53 fire engines have been targeted nationwide, and at least eight completely destroyed.

The Iranian source further alleged that these actions are financially motivated from abroad, with payments for attacking police stations or torching state vehicles.

A staggering human cost

The human cost of the turmoil in Iran is devastating.

Rights groups now report that more than 3,000 people have died in the nationwide protests, with the vast majority being protesters. This confirms earlier estimates that the unrest has resulted in the worst domestic violence Iran has seen since its 1979 revolution.

While the capital has been reported as comparatively quiet in recent days, the scale of the loss indicates the profound depth of the crisis.

The Iranian government has responded with a severe crackdown and a near-total information blackout, implementing an internet shutdown that lasted over eight days. As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, this strategy, used by the regime in the past to conceal brutality, has created a profound communication breakdown.

Families inside the country have been unable to coordinate, verify news or call for help, while the outside world has been left in the dark about the full extent of the violence and suffering.

Life under lockdown: Residents and tourists trapped

For ordinary Iranians and foreign visitors, the situation has become a daily struggle for safety and basic necessities.

The internet blackout has paralyzed daily life, exacerbating financial struggles as hacked banking systems make it difficult to pay for essentials. Emergency services are strained, and hospitals struggle to function under the pressure.

The atmosphere has been equally dire for tourists in Iran.

Indian students and pilgrims returning from Iran reported being largely confined to their accommodations, cut off from communication with their families back home due to the digital crackdown. One medical student described a harrowing encounter where a man, holding a burning baton and shouting with visible anger, jumped in front of their car, a fleeting but terrifying glimpse of the rage fueling the streets.

While a slight trickle of internet connectivity has returned, it remains at a fraction of normal levels, perpetuating a state of isolation and misinformation.

The regime's goal, as seen in its past actions, appears clear: to control the narrative and prevent the world from witnessing the full scope of the crisis.

As claims of ISIS-level brutality now swirl amidst the economic and political protests, the conflict in Iran has escalated beyond a domestic dispute into a vortex of violence where the lines between protest, militancy and state crackdown are horrifically blurred. The world is left watching a fragmented picture of a nation in profound distress, where the true nature of the suffering remains shrouded by design.

Watch this clip as the Health Ranger Mike Adams discusses Russia's reaction to Trump's threats against Iran.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

Reuters.com

AlJazeera.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Largest single concentration of dinosaur footprints found in Bolivia

Scientists have documented the largest concentration of dinosaur footprints ever found, with approximately 18,000 tracks preserved at the Carreras Pampa site in Bolivia's Torotoro National Park.

The tracks, dating to about 70 million years ago, were made along a freshwater lake shoreline and include 16,600 theropod (carnivorous dinosaur) footprints and 1,378 rare "swim tracks" from floating dinosaurs.

Exceptional preservation resulted from the muddy shoreline's ideal consistency and a rapid covering of sediment, which sealed the tracks like a time capsule and captured detailed behaviors like running, turning and tail-dragging.

The site provides a unique snapshot of dinosaur demographics and behavior, revealing a diverse population from juveniles to mid-sized predators and suggesting possible social movement along parallel paths.

This discovery, classified as an extraordinarily preserved "ichnologic conservation Lagerstatte," surpasses Bolivia's previous record-holder and offers invaluable insights into dinosaur life that skeletal fossils alone cannot provide.

In a discovery that rewrites the paleontological record, scientists have officially documented the largest single concentration of dinosaur footprints ever found on Earth.

Located within the rugged expanse of Torotoro National Park in central Bolivia, the Carreras Pampa tracksite preserves a staggering 18,000 individual tracks along what was once a bustling ancient coastline. The find, detailed in a new study published Dec. 3, 2025 in the journal PLOS One, was led by researchers who spent years meticulously cataloging the impressions, which capture an unprecedented snapshot of dinosaur behavior in the final chapter of their reign.

Researchers counted 16,600 distinct footprints from bipedal, carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods, alongside 1,378 specialized "swim tracks." These are not random scatterings but organized paths, with many tracks running parallel, suggesting this muddy shoreline served as a major thoroughfare. The orientation of the tracks and preserved ripple marks in the rock confirm this was an active interface between land and a freshwater lake approximately 70 million years ago, at the tail end of the Cretaceous period.

The exceptional preservation is a story of perfect geological timing. The shoreline mud was rich in calcium carbonate, creating a consistency akin to firm plaster. When a dinosaur stepped on it, the impression was deep and clear.

Critically, this layer was then quickly covered by another layer of sediment, sealing the tracks before they could erode or be overwritten by later traffic. This series of events transformed a busy lake margin into a time capsule, freezing moments of daily life from an era 66 million years before humans walked the Earth.

The tracks reveal a diverse community. Footprint lengths range from less than four inches to over 12 inches, indicating a population that included juveniles, small species and mid-sized predators. The very smallest tracks are a particular rarity in the fossil record; they could belong to species like Coelophysis or simply be the footprints of young dinosaurs.

The largest prints likely belong to predators similar to Dilophosaurus or Allosaurus. While not the absolute giants like Tyrannosaurus rex, these were formidable animals, some standing as tall as an adult human.

A rare gallery of dinosaur behavior

Researchers identified evidence of running, sharp turns and even tail-dragging, where the tip of a dinosaur's tail left a groove in the mud. Most significant are the swim tracks. These appear as straight or comma-shaped grooves, created when a floating theropod would occasionally kick its toe down to the lakebed to propel itself forward. Unlike other global sites with isolated swim scratches, Carreras Pampa preserves entire alternating sequences of left and right swim tracks, mapping entire aquatic journeys.

Dinosaur footprints are fossilized impressions left in sediment by dinosaurs, often revealing details about their size, gait and even skin texture, said BrightU.AI's Enoch. These trace fossils, known as ichnites, provide crucial evidence of dinosaur behavior and ecosystems that body fossils alone cannot.

This discovery cements Bolivia's status as a global epicenter for dinosaur tracks. The previous record-holder for track count was also in Bolivia: the famed Cal Orck'o site, a dramatic vertical wall in an active quarry. Carreras Pampa, by contrast, is a vast horizontal expanse covering over 80,000 square feet. The two sites together demonstrate that the region, part of a vast ancient basin, was a densely populated dinosaur habitat for millions of years, offering uniquely ideal conditions for track preservation.

To scientists, Carreras Pampa is more than a collection of footprints; it is classified as an "ichnologic conservation Lagerstatte." This technical term describes a site of extraordinary fossil concentration and preservation. It is a library where the books are not bones, but behaviors. Each trackway is a data point on locomotion, social interaction and ecosystem use, providing insights that skeletal fossils alone cannot offer.

This Bolivian megafind joins a growing list of significant trackway discoveries that are reshaping our understanding of the Mesozoic world. From the 3,300 tracks documenting a dinosaur stampede in Queensland, Australia, to the recent uncovering of Acrocanthosaurus tracks in Texas by floodwaters, these sites are visceral connections to the past. They remind us that the fossil record is not just about death and burial, but about life and movement.

The challenge of interpretation and stewardship

Interpreting such a site requires immense care. Researchers used simple tools like brooms and yarnlaying strings to connect individual footprints into coherent trackwayscombined with advanced 3D imaging and drone mapping. The primary goal is precise documentation, as these natural wonders face constant threats from erosion and, potentially, unregulated tourism. The research team's work is the first step toward a long-term conservation plan.

The mud of an ancient Bolivian lakeshore, once churned by the feet of countless dinosaurs, has delivered a message across an abyss of time. The Carreras Pampa tracksite is more than a record-breaking number of impressions; it is a panoramic window into a lost world, capturing the mundane and dramatic moments of life in the Age of Dinosaurs with unparalleled clarity. It confirms that sometimes, the most eloquent fossils are not bones, but the fleeting steps preserved against all odds, now speaking volumes about the creatures that made them.

Watch a video showing proof that dinosaurs existed.

This video is from the TRUTH will set you FREE channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

LiveScience.com

Journals.PLOS.org

DemocraticUnderground.com

ScienceAlert.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
HHS launches study on cellphone radiation risks as FDA removes safety claims

The HHS has initiated a new review of wireless radiation health risks, while the FDA removed outdated webpages claiming cellphones pose no danger, signaling a potential policy shift.

A 2018 National Toxicology Program (NTP) study found "clear evidence" linking RF radiation to cancerous tumors in animals, yet the FDA and CDC previously dismissed such findings. A 2025 WHO review also affirmed RF radiation's carcinogenic effects.

Some experts, like UC Berkeley's Joel Moskowitz, suspect the HHS review may delay meaningful action, while advocates argue it aligns with calls for stricter EMF safety standards.

The FDA relaxed regulations for wireless wearables, citing innovation, despite ongoing concerns about radiation exposure and privacy. Meanwhile, the FCC still denies proven cancer risks from wireless devices.

The removal of FDA safety claims and the HHS review suggest federal agencies may finally reassess wireless radiation risks, possibly leading to stricter public health regulations in the future.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated a new review of wireless radiation's potential health risks, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed longstanding webpages asserting that cellphones pose no danger.

The move, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, signals a potential shift in federal policy on electromagnetic radiation (EMR) safetya topic long debated among scientists, regulators and advocacy groups.

"This move is signaling very strong steps in the right direction," said Miriam Eckenfels, director of Children's Health Defense's (CHD) Electromagnetic Radiation & Wireless Program. She praised HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for addressing what she called a decades-long failure to acknowledge scientific evidence linking radiofrequency (RF) radiation to health risks, including cancer.

The FDA, which operates under HHS, confirmed that it took down webpages containing outdated conclusions about cellphone safety as part of a broader scientific review. HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said the agency disabled pages with "old conclusions about cellphone radiation" while launching a study to assess research gapsparticularly concerning emerging wireless technologies.

Scientific debate intensifies over RF radiation risks

The FDA's removed webpage had previously stated that "the weight of scientific evidence has not linked exposure to radio frequency energy from cellphone use with any health problems." However, critics argue that federal agencies have relied on outdated studiesmany conducted before widespread cellphone usewhile dismissing newer research suggesting harm.

A 2018 study by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), part of HHS, found "clear evidence" that RF radiation caused cancerous heart tumors in male rats, along with "some evidence" of brain and adrenal gland tumors. Despite these findings, the FDA maintained its stance that cellphones were safe.

BrightU.AI's Enoch notes that in April 2025, a WHO-commissioned systematic review published in Environmental International concluded there was "high certainty" that RF radiation causes cancer in animalsa finding that aligns with earlier NTP results. Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) webpage on cellphone radiation remains unchanged, stating only that "more research is needed" to determine health effects.

While advocates welcome the HHS study, some scientists remain skeptical. Joel Moskowitz, a public health professor at UC Berkeley and commissioner with the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF), declined an invitation to participate in the HHS review, citing disagreements with Kennedy on vaccines and other issues.

"They're just doing this to kick the can down the road," Moskowitz told the Wall Street Journal, suggesting the effort may delay meaningful regulatory action.

W. Scott McCollough, lead litigator for CHD's EMR cases, countered that the HHS study aligns with ICBE-EMF's calls for expert recommendations on EMF safety.

"Tribalism prevents us from making real progress against EMR risks," Eckenfels added, urging critics to recognize the shared goal of holding industry accountable.

Agency moves raise questions about future regulations

The FDA's decision to remove its safety claims coincides with another controversial move: loosening oversight of wireless wearables, allowing some devices to bypass medical review. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary framed the change as promoting innovation, but Eckenfels warned it ignores privacy and radiation concerns.

Meanwhile, the FCCwhich sets legal RF exposure limitsstill maintains on its website that there is "no proof" wireless devices cause cancer, despite mounting scientific dissent.

The HHS study marks a potential turning point in the federal government's approach to wireless radiation, though its scope and impact remain uncertain. Advocates hope it will lead to stricter safety standards, while skeptics question whether it will result in meaningful change.

For now, the FDA's scrubbed webpages and HHS's new review suggest that, after years of dismissing concerns, federal agencies may finally be reassessing the risks of ubiquitous wireless technologya shift that could reshape public health policy in the years ahead.

Watch the video below that talks about wireless radiation and how to get out of the digital trap.

This video is from the Kla.TV - English channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

WSJ.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Russias power exports to China HALTED amid energy price dispute

China has stopped importing electricity from Russia as of January 2026, marking the first time Russian export prices exceeded China's domestic rates, making purchases economically unviable.

Neither side intends to cancel their 2012 long-term contract, but Russia's Energy Ministry states exports will only resume under "mutually beneficial" terms. China has not publicly commented, signaling a cautious approach to negotiation.

Russian electricity exports to China dropped sharply from 4.6 billion kilowatt-hours in 2022 to just 0.3 billion kilowatt-hours in the first nine months of 2025, initially due to Russia's own power shortages in the Far East.

The dispute mirrors stalled negotiations over Russia's proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, where China demands discounts while Russia seeks favorable terms amid Western sanctions and lost European markets.

Despite political alignment, both nations prioritize domestic economic needs, revealing China's strategy of securing cheap energy while maintaining negotiation leveragehighlighting cracks in their "no limits" alliance.

China has halted electricity imports from Russia, according to a January 2026 report by Russian business daily Kommersant, marking the first time Russian export prices have exceeded China's domestic power rates.

The pause in trade comes amid ongoing negotiations between Moscow and Beijing, with Russia's Ministry of Energy stating it could resume exports if China requests a resumption under "mutually beneficial" terms. The dispute highlights tensions in the two nations' energy partnership, despite their close political alignment, as both sides navigate economic pressures and domestic demand priorities.

Russia has been a key electricity supplier to China under a long-term contract signed in 2012, which promised 100 billion kilowatt-hours over 25 years. However, since 2022, exports have steadily declinedfrom a peak of 4.6 billion kilowatt-hours that year to just 0.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025. The drop was initially driven by Russia's own power shortages in the Far East, where rising demand constrained exports.

But in 2026, Russia's export prices surpassed China's domestic rates, making purchases economically unviable for Beijing. Kommersant reported that China stopped imports entirely on Jan. 1, though neither side intends to cancel the contract. Russia's state-owned supplier InterRAO confirmed that discussions are ongoing, stating, "The Chinese side, with which we are in constant contact, has also not expressed any interest in terminating the contract."

The electricity dispute mirrors other pricing conflicts in Russia-China energy relations. Notably, negotiations over the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline. have stalled due to disagreements on pricing.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline is a major project intended to supply China via Mongolia, Russia, facing Western sanctions and dwindling European gas markets, seeks favorable terms, while China, leveraging its position as Moscow's largest energy customer, pushes for discounts.

Historical context: A shifting energy partnership

Despite political solidarity, economic realities have forced both nations to prioritize domestic needs. Russia's Energy Ministry emphasized that its priority is meeting Far Eastern demand, though it remains open to resuming exports if China agrees to revised pricing. Meanwhile, Beijing has not publicly commented on the halt, signaling a cautious approach to negotiations.

Russia and China have deepened energy ties since 2014, when Western sanctions over Ukraine pushed Moscow toward Asian markets. China capitalized on discounted Russian oil and gas, with imports surging to $18.9 billion between March and May 2022nearly double the previous year's purchases. However, pricing disputes have repeatedly surfaced, revealing Beijing's reluctance to overpay even for a strategic partner's resources.

The current electricity standoff underscores China's broader strategy: securing energy at the lowest possible cost while maintaining leverage in negotiations. For Russia, losing a major electricity buyer adds pressure to an economy already strained by sanctions and wartime spending.

The halt in Russian electricity exports to China reflects a pragmatic recalibration between two allies navigating economic self-interest. While neither side appears willing to sever ties, the impasse highlights the limits of their partnership when financial terms clash. As negotiations continue, the outcome will signal whether Moscow and Beijing can reconcile competing prioritiesor if energy disputes will remain a recurring friction in their "no limits" alliance.

Watch this edition of "Brighteon Broadcast News" that talks about the Russia-China energy pipeline deal.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

OilPrice.com

Kommersant.ru

Reuters.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump gains expanded powers to BLACKLIST foreign ports in new trade enforcement bill

A revised trade bill introduced in Congress grants President Trump broad power to blacklist foreign ports and restrict vessel access to U.S. waters in retaliation against foreign governments seizing American-owned assets.

The legislation shifts from broad trade penalties to a focused maritime strategy, allowing the president to designate foreign ports as "prohibited" if U.S. property is nationalizedbarring ships docking there from U.S. waters.

The bill stems from Mexico's attempts to seize a deepwater port owned by U.S. firm Vulcan Materials, which disputes claims of environmental violations as pretext for expropriation.

The bill's mechanism and conditions include blacklisting if foreign governments seize U.S. property. The bans lift only if the property is returned, compensation is paid or the president resolves the dispute.

The legislation is designed to deter asset seizures without broader sanctions. Critics warn of potential supply chain disruptions and retaliatory measures. Bipartisan support suggests swift passage, reshaping U.S. trade policy.

A newly revised trade bill introduced in Congress on Jan. 15 would grant President Donald Trump sweeping authority to blacklist foreign ports and restrict vessel access to U.S. watersa move designed to retaliate against foreign governments that seize American-owned assets.

The legislation, a streamlined version of last year's Defending American Property Abroad Act, targets trade partners in the Western Hemisphere, particularly Mexico, where a U.S. construction firm has faced escalating property disputes.

As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch, the Defending American Property Abroad Act was introduced to protect U.S. citizens' property rights overseas by imposing sanctions on foreign governments that unlawfully seize or expropriate American-owned assets, ensuring accountability and deterring theft by hostile regimes.

The new bill marks a shift from broader trade penalties to a more targeted maritime enforcement strategy. If passed, it would allow the president to designate any foreign port, harbor, or terminal as "prohibited" if a U.S. company's property is nationalized or expropriated. Ships that dock at these blacklisted facilities could be barred from entering U.S. portsa deterrent absent from the original 2025 proposal.

The legislation stems from Mexico's ongoing efforts to seize a deepwater port owned by Alabama-based Vulcan Materials Co., a major supplier of construction aggregates. Under former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the Mexican government has sought to reclaim the port, arguing it violates environmental regulationsa claim Vulcan disputes as a pretext for expropriation.

"No nation should be allowed to bully an American firm without consequences," said Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), who introduced companion legislation last year. The revised bill strips earlier trade restrictions in favor of maritime sanctions, explicitly protecting specialized infrastructure like conveyor systems and siloscritical for bulk material supply chains.

How the new enforcement mechanism works

Under the bill, Trumpor any future presidentcould impose port bans if:

A foreign government nationalizes or expropriates U.S.-owned property.

The affected port or terminal is accessible via land controlled by a U.S. entity.

Once a facility is blacklisted, any vessel that docks there could be barred from U.S. waters. The ban would lift only if:

The property is returned to its original owner.

The foreign government provides "adequate and effective compensation."

The president deems the dispute resolved satisfactorily.

The measure aims to pressure foreign governments without broader economic sanctions, focusing instead on disrupting shipping routes that rely on U.S. trade.

The bill reflects growing frustration in Congress over foreign seizures of American assetsa trend seen not only in Mexico but also in China, Venezuela and other nations. By leveraging U.S. control over global shipping lanes, the legislation could deter future expropriations while avoiding protracted legal battles.

Critics, however, warn that aggressive maritime restrictions could provoke retaliatory measures, potentially destabilizing supply chains. Others argue the bill's narrow focus on the Western Hemisphere leaves other regions unchecked.

As the bill moves through Congress, its passage could redefine how the U.S. responds to property seizures abroadescalating from diplomatic pressure to direct economic consequences. For Vulcan Materials and other U.S. firms, the legislation offers a potential lifeline. For foreign governments, it sends a clear message: violating American property rights may soon carry a steep price.

The White House has yet to comment on the bill, but with bipartisan support in its initial form, the measure could see swift advancementreshaping U.S. trade policy in the process.

Watch the video below where Democrats slam Trump's global strategy and foreign policy.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

FreightWaves.com

Congress.gov

Yahoo.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
The Ministry of Education plans to add artificial intelligence to the school syllabus in February.

Prof. Le Anh Vinh, director of the Ministry of Education and Trainings Vietnam Institute of Educational Science, said the AI competency framework for students was developed based on a 2024 survey of 11,000 students in 44 provinces, which found that 87% of students have been using AI in learning.

Some challenges were identified, including lack of knowledge, insufficient technology and inadequate teacher guidance. Vinh presented these findings at the "Open STEM Day 2025" at FPT School Bac Giang in Bac Ninh Province on Sunday.

Another survey, this one in early 2025 of nearly 35,000 teachers, found that 76% had already used AI in their classrooms. Though nearly 70% of teachers viewed AI positively, there were concerns about accuracy, privacy, data security, and reduced human interaction. Vinh said the findings underlined the urgency of teaching AI in schools, emphasizing that students need early instruction to use it effectively.

An IT class at Tran Binh Trong Primary School, HCMC, in 2021. Photo courtesy of the school

The ministry plans to start AI training for teachers in February, he said. Three teaching models will be tested: integrating AI into existing subjects, teaching standalone AI topics and organizing experiential activities and clubs. The results will decide the nationwide rollout of AI education across grades 1 to 12.

Although the ministry has not set specific lesson hours, AI would primarily be integrated into existing subjects and there would be standalone lessons in critical content, Vinh said. The AI curriculum will focus on four main areas: human-centered thinking, AI ethics, AI techniques and applications, and AI system design.

It will be divided into Level 1 for primary school students, focusing on basic AI concepts, Level 2 for secondary school students and covering AI ethics, techniques, applications, and social impacts, and Level 3 for high school students, emphasizing practical use, simple AI design and critical analysis of social and civic issues.

Vinh said AI could also help mitigate the high student-to-teacher ratio in schools. "Integrating AI allows students to engage with learning materials more frequently. They can seek information to expand their thinking and optimize learning outcomes."
Trumps $1 billion price tag for permanent seat on Gaza peace board draws global criticism

Trump proposes a "Board of Peace" to oversee Gaza's reconstruction and governance.

Countries must pay more than $1 billion for permanent membership.

Trump as chairman would wield unilateral power over agenda and membership.

The plan is criticized as a rival to the UN and a foreign trusteeship.

Key panel appointees and invited global leaders are highly controversial.

A new and controversial international body is taking shape under the guidance of President Donald Trump, and it's one that asks nations to pay a staggering entry fee for influence. The proposed "Board of Peace," unveiled in recent weeks, aims to oversee the reconstruction and governance of war-ravaged Gaza. But its draft charter reveals a unique condition: countries that contribute more than $1 billion in cash within the first year are granted permanent membership, while others must renew their status every three years at the chairman's discretion. This chairman would be Donald Trump himself, wielding unilateral power over the agenda, membership, and the group's official seal. The move has sparked immediate criticism from several European nations and raised alarms that Trump is attempting to build a rival to the United Nations.

According to the draft charter obtained by Bloomberg, the Board of Peace is described as "an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict." It would become official once three member states agree to the text. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the massive fee buys permanence, stating, "The money raised will be used directly to accomplish the Board of Peaces mandate to rebuild Gaza."

A structure of centralized control

The proposed structure centralizes remarkable authority with the chairman. The charter states that decisions would be taken by a majority vote of present member states, but "all would be subject to the chairmans approval." Furthermore, "The Chairman shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman." Trump would also have the power to remove a member, subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority of other member states. Critics familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg the draft suggests Trump himself would control the money, a condition considered "unacceptable to most countries." Several nations are now reportedly working to collectively push back against the proposal.

The board would convene voting meetings at least annually and "at such additional times and locations as the Chairman deems appropriate." Its agenda would also be subject to the chairman's approval. This framework has led observers to warn that the board represents a form of foreign trusteeship, effectively creating a Trump-led alternative to the UN that concentrates political and financial power in Washington. Despite the plan aligning with Israeli desires for external oversight of Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticized it, saying the details had not been coordinated with his country.

A controversial executive panel

Ahead of the full board's formation, the White House announced an initial executive panel. This group includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. The selection of these individuals has drawn intense scrutiny from analysts and regional actors. Critics argue the appointees have records that conflict with impartial peacebuilding, representing governments and industries linked to regional conflicts.

Tony Blair, Britains prime minister during the 2003 Iraq invasion, is viewed with deep suspicion in much of the Arab world. Jared Kushners earlier "Deal of the Century" was boycotted by Palestinian leaders for ignoring core issues of occupation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has consistently echoed Israels war aims, vowing to destroy Hamas and rejecting ceasefire discussions. Steve Witkoff is a real estate developer with no diplomatic experience whose private business dealings with Trump have raised ethical questions.

Invitations for the broader board have been extended globally, including to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A Kremlin spokesman confirmed Putin received an invitation and is reviewing it. The inclusion of Putin, largely shunned since his invasion of Ukraine, would mark a dramatic return to a major international initiative. A U.S. official told CNN that all funds raised would go toward rebuilding Gaza, promising that "there will not be exorbitant salaries and massive administrative bloat."

However, Palestinian factions have already rejected what they term "foreign guardianship." The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement stated the board's composition came "in line with Israeli specifications." The proposal faces a complex path, balancing the demand for colossal financial commitments against deep-seated geopolitical suspicions. It presents a vision of postwar order where influence is literally purchased and authority rests overwhelmingly with one man. As nations calculate the cost, the Board of Peace stands as a bold and deeply divisive test of Trumps transactional approach to global diplomacy.

Sources for this article include:

Bloomberg.com

Original.AntiWar.com

TheCradle.co

CNN.com
UK recalls Jolly Rancher candies over cancer-linked chemicals, but Americans can still buy them

UK authorities issue an urgent "do not eat" warning for several Jolly Rancher candies.

The recall is due to cancer-linked petroleum chemicals banned in UK food.

The chemicals pose a higher long-term risk to children and frequent consumers.

This is part of a pattern of U.S.-made foods with banned ingredients entering the UK.

The incident highlights differing food safety standards between the U.S. and the UK.

The British government has issued an urgent public health warning against a lineup of popular American candies, declaring them unsafe to eat due to the presence of cancer-linked petroleum chemicals. This action targets several Jolly Rancher products manufactured by The Hershey Company that were found to contain banned mineral oils, spotlighting a growing rift between U.S. and European food safety standards and raising serious questions about the lack of protection for American children.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) escalated a year-long concern into a full public alert. The agency cautioned consumers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to stop eating and dispose of specific Jolly Rancher items, including Hard Candy, Misfits Gummies, Berry Gummies, Filled Pops, and Freeze Dried Candy. The culprit is a class of chemicals known as Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH), derived from crude oil.

The toxic ingredients in your candy

The FSA states that MOAH "is a known carcinogen" with the potential to damage DNA and increase cancer risk, particularly with regular, long-term consumption. A related substance that was also found, Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH), can accumulate in the body's organs. "Mineral oil is not allowed in food in the UK," the agency stated, noting these ingredients make the sweets non-compliant with UK law.

While the agency said there is "no immediate cause for concern for consumers that have eaten these products," the long-term risk is clear. "Consumption of the affected sweets is of toxicological concern, especially in younger age groups and where consumers eat a lot of the products or eat it regularly," the FSA warned. The chemicals pose a higher danger to children and frequent snackers.

This recall is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern. The FSA noted that despite The Hershey Company deciding to stop supplying the UK market in 2024, other businesses have continued to import and sell the tainted sweets. This has forced the government to step in with direct orders to retailers.

A flood of non-compliant imports

The agency is now calling for stricter enforcement to stop the flow. "Food businesses selling these products in the UK are advised to immediately stop sales, undertake product withdrawals and, where there have been retail sales, to undertake product recalls," the FSA directed. Authorities are tasked with ensuring "that unsafe products are withdrawn from the market."

Jolly Ranchers are merely the latest American products to be flagged. Last year, reports indicated a flood of U.S. imports containing ingredients illegal in the UK, including Fanta Pineapple, Prime Hydration drinks, and candies like Swedish Fish. These items contained substances like brominated vegetable oil (BVO) and artificial dyes Red 40 and Yellow 5, which are linked to health issues but remain common in the U.S. food supply.

The affected Jolly Rancher products also contain these controversial artificial dyes. All of these dyes have been linked to hyperactivity, migraines and some forms of cancer, creating a cocktail of questionable additives in a single package marketed to children.

In response to the alert, a Hershey spokesperson told USA TODAY that product safety is the company's priority and "consumers can rest assured that our products are safe to enjoy." The statement highlighted a key issue: global market differences. "We cannot guarantee that the products meet the regulatory requirements of the end market, which may differ from those of the US," the spokesperson said.

Why aren't American children being protected?

This admission points to the core question for American parents: why are ingredients deemed too dangerous for children in the United Kingdom still perfectly legal and unlabeled in the same products sold in the United States? The UK has determined that no exposure to a known genotoxic carcinogen like MOAH is without risk, yet American regulators continue to allow a different, more permissive standard.

The final picture is one of a two-tiered food safety system. British authorities are actively pulling these candies from shelves to protect their citizens, especially children, from chronic toxic exposure. Meanwhile, the same brightly packaged sweets, with the same chemical composition, sit undisturbed on American store shelves. It prompts a necessary conversation about corporate responsibility and whether American families are being left behind in the global movement toward cleaner, safer food.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Independent.co.uk

USAToday.com
The sleep revolution: Why early bedtimes could be the key to a more active lifestyle

Monash University's study of 20,000 people found that those who slept around 9 p.m. naturally engaged in 30 minutes more daily physical activity than night owls, proving that aligning sleep with circadian rhythms enhances energy and movement.

Fighting natural sleep-wake cycles disrupts cortisol levels, leading to fatigue, metabolic disorders, anxiety and depression, with night owls suffering disproportionately due to societal pressures favoring early risers.

Syncing sleep with natural light optimizes deep sleep phases, improving repair and cognitive function, whereas late sleepers forced into early schedules sacrifice REM sleep, worsening mood and metabolism.

Experts recommend slowly shifting wake times, maximizing morning light and maintaining consistency (even on weekends) to transition smoothly into an earlier sleep schedule without health risks.

The rigid 9-to-5 structure harms night owls, pushing them toward pharmaceutical dependence instead of accommodating natural chronotypeshighlighting the need for systemic change in workplaces and schools.

For decades, society has glorified the "early bird" mentality, pushing the narrative that waking up at dawn is the ultimate path to success. But new research from Monash University suggests that the real secret to an active, energized life isn't just waking earlyit's sleeping early.

A groundbreaking study of 20,000 individuals found that those who went to bed around 9 p.m. naturally engaged in 30 minutes more physical activity per day compared to night owls. The findings challenge conventional wisdom by revealing that sleep timing, not just duration, plays a crucial role in regulating energy, motivation and overall movement.

The science of sleep timing

The human body operates on an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm, which dictates hormone release, metabolism and energy levels. When this rhythm is misalignedwhether due to artificial lighting, late-night screen exposure or societal pressuresit disrupts cortisol levels, leading to fatigue, sluggishness and reduced physical activity.

Early sleepers benefit from syncing their rest with natural light cycles, allowing their bodies to optimize repair and recovery during deep sleep phases. In contrast, night owls who force themselves awake too early often sacrifice REM sleep, the critical phase responsible for cognitive function and emotional regulation. This mismatch between natural chronotype and societal expectations leads to a 48-hour slump in motivation and movement.

Dr. Aaron Pinkhasov, chair of psychiatry at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, warns that fighting one's internal clock comes at a biological cost. "About 40-50% of our sleep-wake preference is inherited," he explains. "Forcing night owls into early schedules can lead to mood instability, metabolic risks and long-term health consequences."

The hidden dangers of sleep deprivation

The pressure to conform to an early-rising culture isn't just inconvenientit's dangerous. Night owls forced into early routines face higher risks of:

Anxiety & depression

Obesity & metabolic disorders

Type 2 diabetes

Obstructive sleep apnea

Dr. Nissa Keyashian, a California psychiatrist, notes that society's rigid 9-to-5 structure disproportionately harms those with late-night chronotypes, pushing them toward pharmaceutical dependence (sleep aids, stimulants) rather than addressing the root cause: unnatural sleep-wake cycles.

How to rewire your sleep

For those looking to shift toward an earlier schedulewhether for work, health or personal preferenceexperts recommend a gradual, natural transition rather than abrupt changes. Here's how:

Adjust wake-up times slowly. Instead of jumping straight to a 6 a.m. alarm, shift wake-up times in 15-minute increments until reaching the desired schedule.

Harness morning light. Exposure to bright light upon waking suppresses melatonin (the sleep hormone) and boosts alertness. Open curtains or use a therapeutic light box, especially in winter months.

Shift daily activities earlier. Gradually move dinner, workouts and social activities earlier by an hour. If impossible, shorten or alternate these activities to allow for earlier wind-down.

Weekend consistency is key. The biggest mistake? Sleeping in on weekends. Sticking to the same wake-up time daily reinforces circadian rhythm stability.

Reduce blue light exposure (phones, TVs) at least 90 minutes before bed.

Try herbal teas (chamomile, valerian root), warm showers or essential oils (lavender) to signal relaxation.

The bigger picture: A society built for early risers

While shifting sleep schedules can help individuals adapt, the deeper issue remains: modern society is structured against natural biological diversity. Schools, workplaces and even healthcare systems prioritize early risers, leaving night owls at a disadvantage.

Dr. Pinkhasov urges a shift in perspective: "Health and productivity peak when we prioritize sleep quality and consistency over arbitrary early-morning goals."

Listen to your body

The Monash study reinforces what holistic health advocates have long argued: forcing unnatural sleep patterns leads to burnout. Whether youre an early bird or a night owl, the key is aligning sleep with your innate rhythmnot societal expectations.

For those struggling with fatigue, mood disorders or metabolic issues, re-evaluating sleep habits may be the missing link. And for policymakers? It's time to rethink rigid schedules that penalize biological diversity.

The future of health isn't just about how much we sleepit's about when we sleep. And for millions of night owls, that future can't come soon enough.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, the sleep revolution rightly emphasizes the power of proper rest, but mainstream narratives often ignore how Big Pharma and processed food toxins contribute to sleep disorders and diabetes. True prevention requires not just early bedtimes but detoxing from endocrine disruptors, rejecting toxic medications and reclaiming control over our health from the medical-industrial complex.

Watch and learn 12 tricks to getting a better sleep.

This video is from Healing the Body channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
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There are examples of similar scenarios in recent years. The International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor was reportedly shut out of Microsoft applications following the imposition of US sanctions, for example. Other instances include Adobe cutting off Venezuelan customers in compliance with US sanctions against that country in 2019, while Microsoft temporarily blocked access to apps such as Teams and Outlook for Indian energy firm Nayara last year.

The creation of a separate legal entity is an attempt to mitigate such risks, but its unclear what protection it would provide in practice should the parent request the German subsidiary to take certain actions.

Its an open question at this stage, said Dario Maisto, senior analyst at Forrester. Cases will have to be tested in court before we can have a definite answer, he said. The legal ownership does matter, and this is one of the points that may not be addressed by the current setup of the AWS sovereign cloud.

AWSs European Sovereign Cloud represents one of several ways that European business can approach the challenge of digital sovereignty. Gartner identifies a spectrum that ranges from global hyperscaler public cloud services through to regional cloud services that are based on non-hyperscaler technology. Each has its own advantages and trade-offs.

Local partnerships

To address growing European customer concerns around digital sovereignty, some hyperscalers have partnered with European cloud providers  Google and Thales, for instance, or Microsoft and Bleu, a joint venture between Orange and Capgemini. This involves the hyperscaler providing access to its technology, while the two companies remain independent. Buest said the arrangement provides a higher level of operational sovereignty compared to AWS European Sovereign Cloud, though it still involves some level of technological dependence on the hyperscaler.

In the end, most customers will opt for strategies that comprise a mix of sovereignty levels depending on their needs.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Those are the words of Martin Luther King, Junior, the late American civil rights leader. Today [January 19th], Americans observe a national holiday in his honor.



Martin Luther King, a Baptist minister, was one of the worlds best-known advocates of non-violent social change. As a theology student at Boston University, he became acquainted with the teachings of Mohandas Gandhi, the pacifist who united the people of India against British colonial rule.



Applying the principle of nonviolence to the civil rights movement in the United States, Martin Luther King preached racial equality at a time when black Americans were still victims of segregation and discrimination. In 1957, he traveled more than one million kilometers around the U.S. and delivered over two-hundred speeches.



Martin Luther Kings message of meeting hate with love eventually helped bring about enormous change in the United States. And his words were heard by millions of people around the world.



One of his most memorable speeches was delivered in the summer of 1963 during the famous March on Washington. The event attracted more than 250,000 participants.



Dr. King set the tone when he said: We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.



The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence...have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.



It took great courage for Martin Luther King to pursue the cause of civil rights for all Americans. On many occasions he was jailed. In 1968, he was slain by an assassin. But his legacy remains.



Today we celebrate Dr. King for standing up for the self-evident truth Americans hold so dear, said President Donald Trump in his 2018 proclamation, that no matter the color of our skin, or the place of our birth we are all created equal by God.
The third India-Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar has commenced in Nairobi, led by Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar. The event features participation from 20 Indian defence companies showcasing indigenous products and services. The delegation will hold meetings with Kenyan officials to promote defence collaboration and explore mutual opportunities. This event continues efforts to deepen defence ties, building on a long-standing partnership that includes training, joint surveys, and high-level visits.

Indian delegation led by Sanjeev Kumar attends 3rd India-Kenya Defence Expo in Nairobi, featuring 20 defence companies and bilateral talks.

Nairobi, January 19 Secretary Sanjeev Kumar will lead a four-member Indian delegation to Kenya for the third India-Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar, scheduled to be held in Nairobi starting Monday.

The event is being held in Kenya from January 19 to January 21.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the Secretary (Defence Production) will represent India's defence manufacturing and export ecosystem at the event, which is being organised under the Brand India scheme of the Department of Defence Production.

"A four-member Indian delegation, led by Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar will be on an official visit to Kenya from January 19 to 21, 2026. The Secretary (Defence Production) will represent India's defence manufacturing and export ecosystem at the third India-Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar organised under the Brand India scheme of Department of Defence Production, scheduled to be held in Nairobi on January 19, 2026," the Ministry of Defence said.

The exhibition and seminar will see participation from 20 Indian defence companies from both the public and private sectors. These companies will showcase a wide range of defence products and services, highlighting India's growing capabilities in indigenous defence manufacturing.

"The event will witness participation from 20 Indian defence companies from both public and private sectors, showcasing a wide range of defence products and services," the statement added.

High Commissioner of India to Kenya, Adarsh Swaika, will also attend the event.

"The visit reflects the Government of India's vision to strengthen defence industrial cooperation and exports," the ministry in its statement said.

During the visit, Sanjeev Kumar is also scheduled to hold meetings with officials of the Government of Kenya and the Kenya Defence Forces. These bilateral discussions will focus on promoting India's indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and exploring opportunities for mutual collaboration.

The first-ever India-Kenya Defence Industry Seminar and Expo was organised by the High Commission of India in Nairobi on November 10 and 11, 2022.

The upcoming event marks a continuation of efforts to deepen defence industrial engagement between the two countries.

India and Kenya share long-standing relations in the field of defence cooperation. According to a statement from the High Commission of India in Nairobi, India offers several training courses each year to personnel of the Kenya Defence Forces at its military institutions.

"India and Kenya have long-standing relations in the field of defence cooperation. India offers a number of training courses to Kenya Defence Forces personnel each year in her several military institutions," the statement said.

Military delegations from both countries regularly undertake official visits and study tours to exchange best practices and identify areas for further engagement. Indian Navy ships also regularly pay goodwill visits to Mombasa, during which professional interactions are held with Kenya Defence Forces personnel.

India has also conducted joint hydrographic surveys with Kenyan officials in Kenyan waters in 2013 and 2014.

Defence ties received a further push during high-level visits in 2016 and 2017.

During the State Visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Kenya in July 2016, and later during the State Visit of the Kenyan President to India in January 2017, both countries agreed to enhance bilateral defence and security cooperation through several initiatives.

"In July 2016, India and Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and India gifted 30 Field Ambulances to the Kenya Defence Forces to support its role in combat duties," the High Commission added.

Earlier, former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan had visited Kenya in November 2015, further reinforcing defence engagement between the two nations. The third India-Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar is expected to build on this foundation. ( ANI)

- ANI
The central government has authorized the administrators of five Union Territories to exercise state government powers under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. This move aims to ensure uniform enforcement of the law, which prohibits misleading advertisements for drugs and so-called magic cures. The order clarifies the regulatory authority within UTs, strengthening mechanisms for public health and consumer protection. It comes amid growing concerns over false health claims across various media platforms.

The Centre has delegated powers to administrators of five Union Territories to enforce the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1954, to curb misleading health ads.

By Rajnish Singh, New Delhi, January 19 The Centre has delegated powers to the administrators and Lieutenant Governors of five Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, to exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the state government under the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1954, within their respective jurisdictions.

The directive has been issued in pursuance of clause (1) of Article 239 of the Constitution and will remain in force until further orders, subject to the control of the President, who has given the direction.

As per an order notified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the administrators--whether designated as Lieutenant Governors or administrators--of the Union Territories of Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir have been empowered to act as the competent authority for the implementation of the Act.

This move effectively vests the functions ordinarily exercised by state Governments under the legislation with the UT administrations.

"In pursuance of clause (1) of article 239 of the Constitution, the President hereby directs that the Administrator (whether known as the Lieutenant Governor or the Administrator) of the Union territories of Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir shall, subiect to the control of the President and until further orders, exercise the power and discharge the functions of the State Government under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 (21 of 1954) within their respective Union territories," reads the notification issued last week.

The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, is a central law aimed at regulating advertisements related to drugs, remedies and treatments that claim to cure certain diseases and conditions.

The Act prohibits misleading advertisements that promote so-called "magic remedies" or make false claims regarding the prevention or cure of specific ailments, particularly those that could exploit vulnerable sections of society or pose risks to public health.

Under the Act, state governments are responsible for enforcement, including monitoring advertisements, initiating prosecutions against violators, and taking action to curb misleading or harmful claims.

However, in Union Territories, governance structures differ from those of states, and powers are exercised either directly by the President or through Administrators appointed under Article 239 of the Constitution.

By formally authorising UT administrators to exercise these powers, the order seeks to ensure uniform and effective enforcement of the Act across the specified Union Territories. It also clarifies the administrative authority responsible for implementing the law, thereby avoiding any ambiguity in regulatory oversight.

Officials said the decision is in line with existing constitutional provisions governing Union Territories and is intended to strengthen regulatory mechanisms related to public health and consumer protection.

With increasing concerns over misleading health-related advertisements across print, electronic and digital platforms, effective enforcement of the Act has gained renewed importance.

The order underscores the central government's emphasis on preventing the spread of false and unscientific claims related to medicines and treatments, particularly those that could endanger lives or mislead patients seeking medical care.

The empowered administrators will now be responsible for taking necessary steps to enforce the provisions of the Act within their respective Union Territories, under the overall supervision of the President.

- ANI
Actor Ahan Shetty has penned a reflective note on Instagram about the "quiet struggles" and lessons he faced following his 2021 debut film 'Tadap'. He expressed gratitude for the growth through pain as he looks ahead to his second film, the highly anticipated 'Border 2'. His father, veteran actor Suniel Shetty, recently got emotional discussing the personal turmoil Ahan endured between projects. The war film 'Border 2', starring Sunny Deol and directed by Anurag Singh, is set for a Republic Day week release.

Ahan Shetty shares heartfelt post on lessons from debut 'Tadap' and excitement for 'Border 2'. Father Suniel Shetty also speaks on his journey.

Mumbai, January 19 Actor Ahan Shetty has reflected on his "quiet struggles" and "lessons" ahead of the release of his second film 'Border 2'.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Ahan shared glimpses from both of his films, offering fans a look at his character. In his caption, the actor shared, "December 3, 2021... Tadap, my first film. The beginning of a dream I stepped into with hope, fear, and everything in between. What followed tested me deeply....Periods of uncertainty, quiet struggles, and lessons that only time and patience can teach. Growth rarely comes without pain, and every moment shaped who I am today. I'm grateful for all of it."

Speaking on his upcoming movie 'Border 2', Ahan added, "A new chapter born from patience, perseverance, and belief. With a fuller heart, steadier faith, and the same dream, now stronger than ever. I hope you'll stand with us, experience this journey, and support this film from the heart. It would mean more than words can express."

Reacting to the post, fans extended their best wishes for Ahan, while his 'Tadap' co-star Tara Sutaria wrote, "You will shine!"

Ahan Shetty's reflective observations came days after his father, actor Suniel Shetty, got emotional sharing his journey.

"After his first film, there was a little break. Our lives are sometimes hit by a certain turmoil. Everyone thinks that he is Suniel Shetty's son and receives a lot of work. But there's a lot that he went through in life, but I am so happy he received a film like 'Border 2'", Shetty said at the song launch of 'Jaate Hue Lamhon'.

Ahan Shetty, who carries forward his father Suniel Shetty's iconic legacy in 'Border 2', is being showered with immense love across the internet.

Directed by Anurag Singh, the second instalment of the iconic film brings back Sunny Deol as the main lead, with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty joining him to fight the enemies.

"Inspired by the true events of the 1971 India-Pakistan War", the trailer opens the door to the powerful world of Border 2 and what happens when India's Army, Navy, and Air Force come together to fight as one.

'Border 2' is produced by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with JP Dutta's JP Films. The movie will hit the big screens ahead of Republic Day on January 23.

- ANI
The BJP is set to elect its new national president, with the nomination process taking place in Delhi. Nitin Nabin, the party's national working president, is the strongest candidate and is expected to be elected unopposed. Senior leaders, including from Bihar, have expressed excitement and support for Nabin, crediting Prime Minister Modi for developing new-generation leadership. If elected, Nitin Nabin will become the youngest person to hold the position of BJP national president.

BJP gears up to elect Nitin Nabin as its new national president, with leaders citing excitement and PM Modi's leadership development.

Patna, January 19 Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi on Monday said that all workers and youth of Bihar are excited as the BJP is set to elect its national president, with the party's national working president Nitin Nabin in the fray, as the strongest candidate to win elections.

Speaking to ANI, Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi said, "Today and tomorrow are big days for BJP, BJP is a democratic party. A new National President is going to be elected today in the nomination, and tomorrow we will welcome the new National President. All workers and youth of Bihar are excited that Nitin Nabin has been made the National Working President."

"Today is the day of nomination. If there is only one nomination, then whoever becomes the President, their announcement will be made," he added.

BJP leader Amar Shankar Sable praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for developing a new line of leadership for the BJP.

"I am very happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has developed new-generation leadership in the form of Nitin Nabin, and I have come to Delhi today to support him as a proposer. He will move forward carrying the ideology of Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party. There are 22 proposers from Maharashtra, and I am one of them, and we will all support him," he said.

On the BJP National President Election, UP Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that BJP is a democratic party, and all its presidential elections are conducted through a democratic process.

"Today, nominations are being filed for the party president's post. We have all come here to contribute to this process," he said.

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to elect its new National President today, with the nomination process underway at the party headquarters in Delhi. The (Sangathan parv) event is expected to witness a grand show of strength, with chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, state unit heads, and senior leaders converging in the capital.

The nomination process is scheduled to take place between 2 pm and 4 pm, followed by the scrutiny of nomination papers from 4 pm to 5 pm. Candidates will have the option to withdraw their nominations between 5 pm and 6 pm, and the national election officer will issue a press statement at 6:30 pm.

Nitin Nabin, BJP's National Working President, is all set to file his nomination for the top post today. With the backing of top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Nitin Nabin is expected to be elected unopposed as the party's 12th national president, making him the youngest to hold the position.

- ANI
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced plans to develop the state as a major hub for AI-driven creative enterprises during his visit to Davos. He met with industry leaders from Eros Innovations, who presented initiatives like an AI-enabled Film City and virtual reality tourism programs for the state. Naidu also urged the Indian Ambassador to Switzerland to facilitate investments from Swiss companies in sectors like pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. The state government has introduced 25 new industrial policies, with special focus on AI, quantum technologies, and skill development for the youth.

CM Chandrababu Naidu announces Andhra Pradesh as a future hub for AI, gaming, and digital content, seeking Swiss investments at Davos WEF.

Amaravati, Jan 19 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated that Andhra Pradesh will be developed as a hub for AI-driven creative enterprises.

The Chief Minister met a top industry leader in Zurich on the first day of his Davos visit.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister explained on vast investment opportunities available in Andhra Pradesh in areas such as AI Creative Tech Hub, Generative AI, Deep Tech and the Digital Content Economy.

The Chief Minister said that the government is encouraging investments in sectors such as digital media, virtual production, gaming, animation and film technology with the objective of creating large-scale employment opportunities for the youth.

According to a statement from the state government here, Eros Innovation Co-Founder and Co-President Ridhima Lulla and Co-President Swaneet Singh also participated in the meeting. Representatives of Eros explained their initiatives including Eros Gen AI, the Eros Universe Super App, an AI-enabled Film City and virtual production studios. They also informed that Eros is developing virtual reality-based tourism promotion programmes under the title 'Discover Andhra Pradesh 360.'

Eros Innovations Founder and Chairman Kishore Lulla praised Chief Minister as the "Davos Man Chandrababu," lauding his global vision and leadership.

Earlier, during a meeting with Indian ambassador to Switzerland Mridul Kumar, the Chief Minister urged him to extend cooperation for investments by Switzerland companies in Andhra Pradesh.

The Chief Minister met Mridul Kumar after reaching Zurich on day one of his four-day visit to participate in World Economic Forum sessions. Ministers Nara Lokesh and TG Venkatesh were also present.

The Chief Minister discussed with Indian ambassador the possibilities of Swiss investments in Andhra Pradesh in various sectors. When the Indian ambassador stated that Switzerland is ahead in pharma, medical equipment, heavy machinery, hardware, electronics, rail components, textiles and research wings, the Chief Minister explained him the opportunities in Andhra Pradesh over investments in Pharma and Medical equipment production.

He said that Andhra Pradesh announced 25 new policies for industrial development. The State government has been giving priority for Artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.

He said special attention has been paid for skill development among youth keeping in view the global demand for skilled work force.

- IANS
Director Lokesh Kanagaraj unveiled the title and first look poster for the upcoming film "Con City," directed by debutant Harish Durairaj. The film stars Arjun Das and Malayalam actress Anna Ben in lead roles, supported by Yogi Babu and Vadivukarasi. Described as a heartwarming family entertainer blending humor and emotion, the project has completed 80% of its shooting across Mangalore, Chennai, and Mumbai. The film is produced by Power House Pictures and is slated for a simultaneous release in Tamil and Telugu.

Director Lokesh Kanagaraj reveals the title & first look of 'Con City,' a family entertainer starring Arjun Das and Anna Ben. Details inside.

Chennai, Jan 19 Ace director Lokesh Kanakaraj on Monday revealed the title of director Harish Durairaj's upcoming entertainer, featuring actors Arjun Das and Anna Ben in the lead, as 'Con City' and also released the first look poster of the film, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.

Taking to his X timeline, Lokesh Kanakaraj wrote, "Very happy to unveil the first look of #ConCity. May this film do wonders for you @iam_arjundas machi! My hearty wishes to @harish_durairaj, @benanna_love, @iYogiBabu, #Vadivukarasi, @RSeanRoldan, @arunprajeethm, @vijaymp29, @proyuvraaj."

Sources close to the unit of the film say that 'Con City' will be a heartwarming family entertainer, blending humour, emotion, and middle-class relatability.

Apart from Arjun Das and well known Malayalam actress Anna Ben in the lead, the film will also feature actors Yogi Babu, Vadivukarasi and child artiste Akilan in pivotal roles.

Power House Pictures is producing this film, which also happens to mark the debut of writer-director Harish Durairaj.

The first-look poster has Arjun Das sporting an office backpack, while Anna Ben is seen clutching a handbag. Yogi Babu and Vadivukkarasi haul travel bags while Akilan is seen seated on a wheel chair with a gleaming trophy in hand.

This quirky and fascinating look of characters ignite curiosity about the film's plot. Sources close to the unit confirm that the unit has completed 80 per cent of the film's shooting. The film, they say, has been shot extensively at Mangalore, Chennai, and Mumbai.

The film boasts of an excellent technical team as well. It has music by ace music director Sean Roldan and cinematography by Aravind Viswanathan.

Editing for the film is by Arul Moses and production design is by Raj Kamal. Costumes in the film have been designed by Navaa Rambo Rajkumar and stunts in the film have been choreographed by Action Santhosh.

The film is slated to release in Tamil and Telugu simultaneously.

- IANS
Facing plummeting popularity due to conflicts with the TTP and Baloch militants, Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif government has formed a high-powered committee to reshape public narrative. The committee's inclusion of radical clerics with ties to groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad has raised serious concerns in Indian intelligence agencies. The clerics are tasked with a nationwide tour to religiously justify Pakistan's military actions and to blame India for instigating the violence. This strategy is seen as an attempt to deflect domestic criticism and foster anti-India sentiment rather than address core security issues.

Pakistan forms committee with radical clerics to justify military actions against TTP & BLA, shifting blame to India. Indian agencies alarmed.

New Delhi, Jan 19 The border issues that Pakistan has been facing with the Afghan Taliban and the prolonged battle with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Balochistan Nationalist Army has hurt the country very badly.

Questions are being asked about the state of affairs and the need to fight against their own people.

This has led to a massive dip in the popularity of the Shehbaz Sharif government, prompting it to set up a high-powered committee.

The committee is aimed at cleaning up the image of the government and making an attempt to restore the faith of the people.

Indian agencies are however puzzled with the composition of the committee as it comprises political leaders, radical clerics, the army and ISI officials.

The clerics in particular are a matter of concern for the Indian agencies as these are persons known to be close to the leadership of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

All these people were present at a meeting hosted by Sharif at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) recently.

Sharif and the other officials urged the clerics to be part of the committee and run a narrative campaign. Through the clerics, they want to reach a wide audience in Pakistan.

They would justify with religious logic the importance of waging a battle against the TTP, BLA and Afghan Taliban.

Currently the people are upset that the army is battling against its own people. Even the battle with the Afghan Taliban has not gone down well with the Pakistanis, officials say.

Officials say that the very fact that Sharif decided to appoint, Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the National Paigham-i-Aman Committee (NPAC) is surprising.

The NPAC has a long-standing relationship with jihadi elements in Pakistan and other countries. Another official said that with such appointments, Pakistan is clearly legitimising jihad. What else explains such persons being part of a committee to run a narrative war that justifies wars.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the army and government are taking a joint approach to run the narrative battle.

While governments often do this, bringing in jihadi elements clearly shows that Pakistan is now openly backing terror supporters.

Offering them space in the PMO only confirms this fact even more, the official added.

At the last meeting it was decided that these clerics would go on a nationwide tour to justify why the Pakistan army is fighting against the TTP and Afghan Taliban.

They would try and instigate the people against India by stressing that it is at New Delhi's behest that both the Afghan Taliban and TTP are battling Pakistan.

India's diplomatic outreach in Afghanistan is what led to relations failing with the country and hence there is a need to battle anti-Pakistani elements, the outreach programme would touch upon.

In recent years, the Sharif government has been criticised for handling the security situation at home. Through this outreach programme, the government would try and tell the people that all the violence that is taking place both in the country and at the borders, is being staged and funded by India.

An official said that instead of fixing the issue, the Sharif government is looking to change the narrative and build up a massive anti-India sentiment in Pakistan.

That would not fix the problem at all as the battles would not end, the official also added.

Further this exercise would also cover Operation Sindoor. During this operation, the Indian armed forces embarrassed Pakistan while also exposing them. The clerics who are part of the delegation would also try and convince the people that it was India that lost more during the operation.

- IANS
A European Union flag is seen in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, July 7, 2020. The European economy will face a "deeper recession" than previously predicted due to the prolonged containment measures against COVID-19, the European Commission said in its Summer 2020 Economic Forecast on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

European leaders and ministers branded the U.S. tariff threat on Greenland coercive and unacceptable, vowing a "united and coordinated" response to uphold sovereignty.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The transatlantic rift over Greenland deepened remarkably on Sunday as Europe mounted a rare, unified rebuke to punitive tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the strongest coordinated response so far, the eight countries directly targeted by the proposed tariffs -- Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom -- issued a joint statement declaring "full solidarity" with Denmark and Greenland.

They warned the U.S. move risked a "dangerous downward spiral" in transatlantic relations and vowed a "united and coordinated" response to uphold sovereignty.

European Council President Antonio Costa said on X that the European Union (EU) is "ready to defend itself against any form of coercion" in response to Trump's tariff threats.

National reactions were swift and unequivocal, with European leaders and ministers branding the U.S. threat coercive and unacceptable. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel explicitly called the tariffs an act of "blackmail," urging Washington to withdraw the "ridiculous proposal" before it takes effect. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Berlin "must not allow itself to be intimidated," adding that "a line has been crossed."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attends the European Union (EU) special summit in Brussels, Belgium, March 6, 2025. The one-day special summit was held here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen posted on social media that "Europe will not be blackmailed." Underscoring the universal support for Denmark, she said this is now "an issue that reaches far beyond our own borders."

CALL FOR IMMEDIATE RETALIATION

Momentum to push back was gathered at the EU level. Valerie Hayer, president of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, urged EU leaders to activate the bloc's never-used "Anti-Coercion Instrument," dubbed an "economic nuclear weapon." The mechanism would allow immediate retaliation, including punitive tariffs, market bans, financial sanctions, and the suspension of U.S. patents and licences, without recourse to the United Nations or the World Trade Organization.

Noting that the United States exports more than 500 billion U.S. dollars of goods to the EU each year, making the bloc Washington's largest market, Hayer warned that Trump "should think twice," stressing that the EU is "not afraid to use deterrence for our defense."

On Sunday night, a report by Financial Times said that EU capitals are considering hitting Washington with 93 billion euros (107.68 billion U.S. dollars) worth of tariffs or reviving the "Anti-Coercion Instrument."

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen upon her arrival to attend the meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Sept. 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Describing the tariffs as "unacceptable," French President Emmanuel Macron's office also confirmed that the president would request the same course of action if Washington follows through on its threat.

After meeting his Norwegian counterpart, Espen Barth Eide, in Oslo, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he had "no doubt about the support from Europe," even in the face of a costly tariff war. "We must do everything we can to implement the principles," Rasmussen added. Meanwhile, Eide said, "We will not yield to pressure."

BROADER CHORUS OF REBUKE

Beyond the directly targeted states, other European countries joined the criticism of the U.S. move. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking during a visit to South Korea, called the tariff threats "a mistake."

After separate calls on Sunday with Denmark Prime Minister Frederiksen, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, as well as Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer repeated that it is wrong to apply tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies.

On Saturday, Starmer said Britain's position on Greenland is very clear: "it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes," branding the U.S. threat "completely wrong."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron prior to a meeting between the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, Dec. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Ireland's Foreign Minister Helen McEntee emphasized the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. "There can be no lasting peace and security in a world where these principles are ignored and undermined," she said.

The Croatian government said allies should respect each other and acknowledge the fact that Greenland is part of Denmark. "In this context, we express our solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland," it said, adding that additional tariffs would upset the balance of EU-U.S. trade relations and weaken the trans-Atlantic partnership.

The unified European pushback sets the stage for a potential escalation. With calls to arm the EU's economic "bazooka" and repeated warnings against blackmail, Europe has signaled an unusually firm willingness to risk a tit-for-tat economic confrontation over Greenland's sovereignty.

Demonstrators gather to protest against U.S. actions and remarks suggesting control over Greenland in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Jan. 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

Since returning to the Oval Office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly voiced a desire to "obtain" Greenland and has recently ramped up his threat. In a social media post on Saturday, he said the United States would levy a 10-percent tariff from Feb. 1 on goods from the eight targeted countries. He warned the rate would rise to 25 percent on June 1 and remain in place until a deal is reached for the "complete and total purchase" of Greenland.

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya interacted with six IFS officer trainees, stressing their critical role in advancing India's global interests and diplomacy. He referenced Prime Minister Modi's vision for proactive, people-centric foreign policy. The Governor also participated in the virtual flag-off of India's first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Guwahati to Kolkata. He described the train's launch from Kamakhya as a symbol of progress that respects heritage and tradition.

Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya interacts with IFS officer trainees, emphasizing diplomatic role, and celebrates the inaugural Vande Bharat sleeper train from Guwahati.

Guwahati, January 19 Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Monday interacted with six Indian Foreign Service officer trainees of the 2025 batch at Lok Bhavan in Guwahati.

During the interaction, the Governor highlighted the critical role of the Indian Foreign Service in advancing India's global interests and strengthening the country's diplomatic outreach.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on proactive and people-centric diplomacy, he said Indian diplomats today play a key role in enhancing India's international stature and deepening partnerships across the world.

Governor Acharya noted that IFS officers serve as ambassadors of India's values and culture and are entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding national interests with professionalism and sensitivity. He urged the trainees to uphold constitutional values and contribute towards promoting peace, cooperation, and mutual understanding among nations.

Congratulating the officer trainees on their selection into one of the country's most prestigious services, the Governor expressed confidence that they would contribute meaningfully to strengthening India's global standing while serving the nation with dedication and distinction.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India's first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Malda, West Bengal, as Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the flag-off ceremony virtually from Kamakhya Railway Station in Guwahati on Saturday.

The train will cover 972 km between Guwahati and Kolkata in 14 hours. It is scheduled to depart from Kamakhya at 18:15 hrs and reach Howrah at 08:15 hrs the next morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Acharya described the inauguration as a moment of immense joy and pride and extended his heartfelt congratulations to Indian Railways.

He said that when an ultra-modern train like the Vande Bharat Sleeper rolls its journey from the sacred land of Maa Kamakhya, it powerfully conveys the message that India's progress never distances itself from its roots.

"This initiative of starting the first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Guwahati and Howrah is a living embodiment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of development as well as heritage, where modern technology moves forward with respect for faith and tradition. The inauguration of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express from Kamakhya is a strong symbol of modern India's progress, self-confidence, and inclusive development," the Governor said.

The interaction programme was attended by the Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, S S. Meenakshi Sundaram, Deputy Director of Training, AASC, Rajlakshmi Barman, and officers of Lok Bhavan.

- ANI
Australia's federal parliament reconvened to honour the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack that targeted a Hanukkah celebration. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a national day of mourning for January 22, with flags at half-mast nationwide. The government is recalling parliament early to pass stronger hate speech and gun ownership laws in response to the attack. The alleged attackers were inspired by Islamic State ideology, with one gunman charged with murder and terrorism.

Australian parliament reconvenes, observes silence for Bondi terror attack victims, and announces a national day of mourning and new hate speech laws.

Canberra, Jan 19 Australia's federal parliament has paid tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting after being reconvened to debate new laws proposed in response to the terror attack.

The federal parliament on Monday morning observed a minute of silence as a motion was tabled to honour the 15 victims of the attack that targeted an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on December 14.

Addressing the parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Monday should have been just "another day" for the victims, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Instead, our parliament comes together in sorrow to offer our nation's condolences to the people who knew and loved them best," he said. Josh Burns, one of the most prominent Jewish members of Albanese's Labor Party government, said that Australia's response to the attack would define the country.

"We must not dehumanise each other, because dehumanisation is what leads to exactly what happened in Bondi," he said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday declared that a national day of mourning will be held on January 22 for the victims of the terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Flags will be flown at half mast in all government buildings around Australia on January 22 to honour the victims of the attack that targeted an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic Bondi Beach on December 14, Albanese said at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra.

This will have a theme of 'light will win,' a gathering of unity and remembrance, Albanese said.

The prime minister had announced that the federal parliament would be recalled from its summer break two weeks early on January 19 to pass legislation for stronger hate speech and gun ownership laws in response to the attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both, and we need to deal with both," Albanese said.

Fifteen people were fatally shot in the attack by alleged gunmen Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid, who was shot dead by police.

Authorities have said that the attack was inspired by Islamic State ideology and have charged Naveed Akram with 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

- IANS
Only a handful of large MFIs likely to qualify

A proposed ordinance in Bangladesh aims to convert microcredit operations into regulated microfinance banks under the central bank. The draft requires high capital thresholds that critics say most existing microfinance institutions cannot meet, potentially excluding hundreds of smaller NGOs. Analysts warn this could centralize power among a few large institutions and marginalize the poor households that rely on smaller, local lenders. The report urges a more balanced, phased approach to protect financial inclusion, given microfinance's role in serving over 45 million people, predominantly women.

Proposed ordinance with high capital thresholds may exclude smaller NGOs, reducing credit access for millions of poor households in Bangladesh.

New Delhi, Jan 19 Bangladesh's proposed 'Microfinance Bank Ordinance 2025', to convert the country's microcredit system into fully regulated microfinance banks under supervision of Bangladesh Bank, could marginalise hundreds of smaller NGOs and poor households from accessing credit, a report has said.

New microfinance banking rules has drawn sharp criticism from 17 leading Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh, including BRAC (Building Resources Across Communities), ASA (Association for Social Advancement), and TMSS (Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha), the report from Finance Today said.

Analysts said the rules could centralise power among a few large institutions and marginalise hundreds of smaller NGOs.

The draft ordinance imposed high capital thresholds - Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) 500 crore in authorised capital and BDT 200 crore paidup, which critics said most microfinance institutions cannot meet.

"Practically, only a handful of large institutions, such as BRAC, ASA, BURO Bangladesh, and TMSS, will qualify. Smaller NGOs, despite their extensive local networks, will effectively be excluded from participation," the report added.

Analysts said a more phased approach with lower initial paidup capital of BDT 50-100 crore could allow many more organizations to become microfinance banks.

"A balanced approach - flexible capital thresholds, phased compliance, and pathways for small NGOs to transition gradually - is urgently needed," the report urged.

It also highlighted microfinance's central role in Bangladesh's financial inclusion, with about 731 licensed MFIs operating across 25,000 branches and taking credit to over 45 million people.

The core strength of microfinance has always been proximity, trust, and flexibility, enabling loans without conventional collateral and supporting the poorest households, it said.

In fiscal 2023 MFIs disbursed roughly BDT 2,49,000 crore (about $28 billion) in loans with a 98 per cent repayment rate and nearly 91 per cent of borrowers being women.

The policy largely benefits large institutions while marginalising the very grassroots NGOs that have empowered millions of poor families for decades, analysts said.

The reforms "risks becoming a silent death knell for Bangladesh's small NGOs while delivering a bonanza for the largest institutions," the report noted.

- IANS
He felt too inexperienced to call in sick

Ben Affleck recently revealed he suffered from food poisoning while filming a crucial emotional scene in the 1998 disaster film Armageddon. The actor felt too inexperienced at the time to call in sick, so he worked through the illness, even vomiting between takes. The scene featured Affleck's character saying goodbye to Bruce Willis's character, who sacrifices himself to save Earth. Affleck humorously suggested his distressed state may have actually enhanced the performance.

Ben Affleck reveals he had severe food poisoning while filming a key emotional scene with Bruce Willis in the 1998 blockbuster Armageddon.

Los Angeles, January 19 It was not easy for Ben Affleck to shoot for his emotional goodbye scene with Bruce Willis in the 1998 disaster blockbuster 'Armageddon'.

Recently, speaking with Fox 32 Chicago, Ben recalled suffering from food poisoning during the shoot of one of the crucial scenes of the film, Variety reported.

"When we shot that scene, I had food poisoning," Affleck said.

"I wasn't an experienced enough actor at that point to know that you can just pick up the phone and be like, 'I'm too sick to work today.' I'm like, 'I better come in.' So I went and I was literally, it's the only time it's ever happened in my life, vomiting between takes," he added.

Affleck quipped, saying his distressed state "probably made the scene better."

The scene in question saw oil man A.J. Frost, played by Affleck, say goodbye to "deep core" oil driller Harry Stamper, played by Willis, as he sacrifices himself to manually detonate a bomb to destroy an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.

Directed by Michael Bay, the film also featured Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Will Patton, Steve Buscemi, William Fichtner, Owen Wilson and Michael Clarke Duncan.

- ANI
A government wildlife panel has recommended 17 defence-related proposals, primarily in Ladakh and Sikkim, citing national security and strategic requirements. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife evaluated these projects to ensure strict adherence to wildlife protection laws and environmental safeguards. The committee also considered numerous other proposals for public utilities like water supply, health centres, and mobile towers near protected areas. It reviewed past decisions and plans further deliberations on wildlife conservation policy and compliance monitoring.

A government panel headed by Bhupender Yadav has recommended 17 defence-related proposals in Ladakh and Sikkim, balancing strategic needs with environmental safeguards.

New Delhi, Jan 19 A panel headed by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday recommended 17 defence-related proposals, primarily located in Ladakh and Sikkim, after evaluating their impact on protected areas, an official said.

The 88th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) recommended these proposals in view of national security and strategic requirements, while ensuring strict adherence to wildlife protection measures and environmental safeguards, in line with directions of the Committee and applicable statutory provisions, an official statement said.

During the meeting, the Standing Committee considered 70 proposals relating to public utility services, defence requirements and infrastructure development located in and around Protected Areas, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves and Eco-Sensitive Zones.

The projects were evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with respect to ecological sensitivity, statutory requirements and the need to ensure essential services for local communities.

Important public utility proposals considered by the Committee involve drinking water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), primary and community health centres, widening of roads, 4G mobile towers and transmission lines.

Further proposals related to the medium irrigation project in MP, providing drinking and irrigation water facility in the Bundelkhand region, on one hand, and enhancing a greater water regime for wildlife and gharials, on the other, were also deliberated, said the statement.

The Committee reviewed the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the decisions and directions taken by the Committee in previous meetings, especially with respect to policy measures and process streamlining, including improvement of the PARIVESH portal.

The panel decided that policy and programmes related to wildlife conservation and compliance with the directions of the SC-NBWL will be further deliberated in future meetings for effective monitoring.

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, mandated to advise the government on matters relating to the conservation and protection of wildlife and forests, while ensuring that development activities in and around protected areas are undertaken in a balanced and sustainable manner.

- IANS
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in a program marking the death anniversary of Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap. Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha equated the Chief Minister's ethos to that of Maharana Pratap, calling him a hero and "the servant of Bihar." Minister Ashok Choudhary highlighted the annual event's role in promoting awareness of Maharana Pratap's message of social harmony. The commemoration saw leaders emphasizing the importance of remembering historical figures who worked for societal unity.

JDU leaders compare Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to Maharana Pratap, calling him a hero and "servant of Bihar" at a commemorative event in Patna.

Patna, January 19 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in a program organised on the death anniversary of Maharana Pratap.

Speaking to ANI on the occasion, Janata Dal (United) MP and the organiser of the event, Sanjay Jha, equated the Chief Minister to Maharana Pratap in ethos, calling him "the servant of Bihar."

"The way Maharana Pratap worked for, and with all sections of the society, similarly, our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also cares for everyone equally. He is a hero just like Maharana Pratap. While Maharana Pratap sacrificed himself for the country, our CM continues to work relentlessly for the people of Bihar. He is the servant of Bihar," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Ashok Choudhary said that the party's Vice President organises this program annually to commemorate Maharana Pratap. He also highlighted the Chief Minister's participation in the program.

The minister noted the significance of celebrating such occasions to remember figures who worked for social harmony.

"Party Vice President Sanjay Singh organises a program every year on the death anniversary of Maharana Pratap... He has consistently worked to raise awareness in society about Maharana Pratap's message of social harmony. This year, too, the death anniversary was observed, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also participated in it. Celebrating the death anniversaries of such great figures who worked for social harmony promotes goodwill in society...," he stated.

Maharana Pratap was born on May 9, 1540. The Rajput ruler of Mewar in Rajasthan fought the battle of Haldighati with Akbar in 1576.

- ANI
The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to officially declare Nitin Nabin as its new national president on January 20 at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among the top leaders who proposed his nomination, resulting in 37 sets of nomination papers in his favour. The election process was conducted under the party's 'Sangathan Parv' with K Laxman serving as the National Returning Officer. Nitin Nabin, currently the working president, will become the BJP's 12th and youngest-ever national president at the age of 45, elected unopposed.

BJP to officially declare Nitin Nabin as its new national president on Jan 20. PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh proposed his nomination.

New Delhi, January 19 Bharatiya Janata Party is set to officially declare its new national president on January 20 at the BJP party headquarters in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the event around 11:30 am. Including Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh BJP party source told ANI, also as per the press release issued on January 16, K Laxman, National Returning Officer for 'Sangathan Parv'.

BJP mentioned that the official announcement process regarding the National President will take place between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Nitin Nabin is currently serving as the working president.

The BJP's National President Election process kicked off after 30 out of 36 State Presidents were elected, exceeding the required 50 per cent threshold. The Election Schedule was announced on January 16, 2026, along with the Electoral Roll.

As scheduled, the nomination process took place today, January 19, 2026, between 2 PM and 4 PM. A total of 37 sets of Nomination Papers were received in favour of Nitin Nabin for the post of National President, with proposals from top leaders including PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Laxman also announced that Nitin Nabin has been proposed for the post of BJP National President after 37 sets of Nomination Papers were received in his favour.

The BJP leader said that the process to elect the party's national president was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents across 36 states.

In a post on X, Laxman wrote, "BJP's organisational structure is our greatest strength. Under the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'Sangathan Parv', the election process for the post of National President was successfully completed today in my capacity as National Returning Officer. This process further strengthens the party's democratic, transparent and worker-centric traditions. ~ Under the BJP's Sangathan Parv, the election process for the post of National President was conducted successfully in my capacity as National Returning Officer. This transparent and democratic process once again reflects the party's strong organisational values and its deep commitment to internal democracy."

"The BJP National President Election process was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents out of 36 States, well above the required number of completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the States. Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity as National Returning Officer, Sangathan Parv, Bharatiya Janata Party, I hereby announce that only 1 name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of National President of Bharatiya Janata Party," Laxman said in a press statement.

Nitin Nabin is set to be elected unopposed as the BJP's 12th National President, making him the youngest to hold the post at 45. The announcement will take place tomorrow, January 20, marking a significant leadership transition in the party.

According to the BJP's constitution, any 20 members of the electoral college of a state can jointly propose the name of a person who has been an active member for four terms and has 15 years of membership for the post of national president. However, such a joint proposal should come from at least five states where elections for the national council have been completed.

- ANI
Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary hailed Nitin Nabin's nomination for BJP National President as a historic and proud moment for the state. He emphasized the party's inclusivity, stating even an ordinary worker can rise to the top position. Other leaders, including Minister Dilip Jaiswal, praised the message it sends to the youth. Nabin, currently the working president, is set to be elected after filing his nomination, with his role focusing on preparations for key state elections.

Bihar leaders hail Nitin Nabin's nomination as BJP National President, calling it a historic day and a testament to the party's inclusive culture.

New Delhi, January 19 Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday emphasised the inclusivity in the Bhartiya Janata Party, saying that even an ordinary worker sitting in the last row can also become the National President as Nitin Nabin gears up to file his nomination for the same, scheduled at 2 pm today.

Speaking to the reporters, Choudhary expressed joy and said that it's a proud moment for Bihar.

"This is a moment of joy for Bihar, and also a historic day for the BJP, that Nitin Nabin will file his nomination as the youngest National President, and tomorrow we will meet Nitin Nabin as our new National President... Under his leadership, the BJP will become even stronger...This is a day of pride for Bihar, and I thank Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and JP Nadda... In the BJP, an ordinary man, a worker sitting in the last row, can also become the party's National President," he said.

Bihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal also hailed Nabin ahead of the nomination process.

"It is a very auspicious day for Bihar that the national president of the world's largest political party is going to be a 45-year-old young son of Bihar's soil... This has sent a very big message among the youth..." he said.

Moreover, Deputy Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Ram Prasad Paul, stated that the election for National and State Presidents only takes place within the Bhartiya Janata Party, highlighting the democratic approach inculcated in the party.

"I have been associated with this party for at least forty years, and this party, from the very beginning, has had a system where the party president, whether it's the national president or the state president, is elected. That's how it works... This doesn't happen at any other party. No other party has this system..." he said.

Nitin Nabin, who was elected as the party's working president in December, will file his nomination today and is likely to be elected as President after the necessary voting takes place on January 20.

Union Minister JP Nadda currently helms the national party. The appointment of Nabin is seen as the party focusing on youth leadership.

Since his appointment as the National Working President, Nitin Nabin has been deeply engaged in the party's preparations for the upcoming state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticized what he termed the "selective targeting" of India over its position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict during talks with Poland's Foreign Minister. He stated this criticism was "both unfair and unjustified," reiterating a point made in other international forums. The Polish FM, Radoslaw Sikorski, agreed on the unfairness of selective tariffs, referencing U.S. trade actions under President Trump, and noted India's serious engagement with Europe. Jaishankar also urged Poland to show zero tolerance for terrorism and not support terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood, a point on which Sikorski concurred, citing Poland's own recent experiences.

EAM Jaishankar calls criticism of India's Russia-Ukraine war position "unfair and unjustified" during talks with Polish FM Sikorski in New Delhi.

New Delhi, January 19 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday criticised what he described as the selective targeting of India over its position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications. While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," Jaishankar said.

The External Affairs Minister was delivering opening remarks during delegation-level talks with visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, in New Delhi.

The meeting between the two ministers comes at a time when the world is witnessing significant "global churn", and Jaishankar underlined the need for closer engagement between India and Poland.

Responding to Jaishankar's remarks on tariffs, his Polish counterpart Sikoski said the tariffs imposed by the United States are leading to global trade turbulence. He also noted India's seriousness in expanding relations with Europe, which has also been targeted by the US administration of President Donald Trump.

"I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting, by tariffs. And we in Europe know something about that. Also, we fear that this is progressing to a global trade turbulence. We are hoping that India will continue to stay engaged in Europe. We've noticed that you are establishing embassies everywhere in Europe, which means that you are serious about relations with the European Union," Sikoski said.

Trump has imposed tariffs on India for buying Russian oil and they currently stand at 50 per cent. Trump has also announced 10 per cent tariffs on several European countries for opposing his bid for Greenland. Poland and Italy are, however, not on the list.

Jaishankar also urged that Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood.

"Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the long-standing challenges of cross-border terrorism. Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood," Jaishankar said.

Agreeing with Jaishankar on terrorism, Sikorski said, "I completely agree with you on the need to counter transnational transborder terrorism. Poland, as you may have heard, has been a victim of arsons and attempted state terrorism when a Polish railway line was blown up under a moving train just very recently," he said.

Notably, Sikorski had, in October 2025, visited Pakistan and held bilateral talks.

- ANI
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has achieved its highest-ever financial outlay of Rs 16,690 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year for constructing and maintaining strategic border infrastructure. It has set an even higher target of Rs 17,900 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year to continue this upward trajectory. The organisation operates 18 dynamic field projects across challenging terrains in North West India, the North East, and even in Bhutan, building critical roads, bridges, and tunnels. These projects, such as the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh and the Shinku La Tunnel in Ladakh, are vital for national security and connecting remote regions under initiatives like the Vibrant Villages Programme.

BRO achieves highest-ever outlay of Rs 16,690 cr in FY25, targets Rs 17,900 cr for FY26 to boost strategic roads, bridges & tunnels in border areas.

New Delhi, Jan 19 The Border Roads Organisation achieved its highest-ever outlay of Rs 16,690 crore in FY 2024-25 on the construction and maintenance of strategic roads, bridges, tunnels and airfields of the country and will continue this upward trajectory, with a target of Rs 17,900 crore fixed for FY 2025-26, according to an official statement issued on Monday.

BRO, which builds and maintains infrastructure in border and inaccessible regions to meet both military and civilian needs, now commands 18 dynamic field projects. Out of these, nine are in North West India (J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan), eight are in North East and Eastern India (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya) while one is in Bhutan.

These projects are dedicated to engineering and executing strategic infrastructure across 11 States and 3 UTs. Large-scale roads, bridges, tunnels, and airfields, complemented by tele-medicine nodes, reinforcing both national security and socio-economic development under initiatives like Act East and Vibrant Villages Programme, the statement explained.

In Arunachal Pradesh, BRO projects such as Vartak, Arunank, Udayak, and Brahmank tackle some of India's most challenging frontiers, connecting remote villages to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) through critical infrastructure including Sisseri Bridge, Siyom Bridge, Sela Tunnel, and Nechiphu Tunnel.

In Ladakh, projects like Himank, Beacon, Deepak, Vijayak, and Yojak maintain vital lifelines to Kargil, Leh, and the Karakoram region, covering strategic routes such as the Srinagar-Leh highway, Darbuk-Shyok-DBO (DSDBO) Road, Atal Tunnel, and the ongoing Shinku La Tunnel, ensuring allweather connectivity.

The Northeast sees projects like Swastik in Sikkim, Pushpak in Mizoram, Setuk in Assam and Meghalaya, and Sewak in Nagaland and Manipur strengthening regional access. On the western borders, Sampark in Jammu and Chetak in Rajasthan enhance strategic mobility.

Beyond the Himalayas, Shivalik ensures reliable access to the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, while Hirak extends connectivity into Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas of Chhattisgarh.

Finally, Dantak, BRO's overseas arm in Bhutan, reinforces bilateral ties through extensive road, bridge, and infrastructure development. Together, these initiatives exemplify BRO's unwavering commitment to national security, strategic preparedness, and regional development, the statement added.

- IANS
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will lead a state delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos to attract global investment. His agenda includes exclusive meetings with top executives from major corporations like Google, Tata Group, and Infosys. The focus will be on promoting Telangana as a prime destination for IT, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and manufacturing. The delegation will also showcase the state's long-term development blueprint, the "Rising Telangana 2047 Vision Document."

CM Revanth Reddy to attend WEF in Davos, meet global CEOs to attract investments for Telangana's IT, AI, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors.

By Pramod Chaturvedi, Hyderabad, January 19 Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will embark on an official visit to Davos, Switzerland, on Monday to participate in the World Economic Forum annual meetings, with a focus on projecting Telangana as a global investment destination.

Before departing for Davos, the Chief Minister will offer special prayers at the sacred shrine of tribal warrior goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma at Medaram and inaugurate the world-famous Sammakka-Saralamma Maha Jatara. Following the rituals, he will return to Hyderabad and leave for Switzerland from Shamshabad International Airport at 9.30 am.

Senior officials from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and the Industries Department will accompany him as part of the official delegation.

The four-day WEF conference, beginning January 20, will see the Chief Minister holding extensive meetings with CEOs of leading global corporations, top investors, and representatives from diverse sectors. At the Telangana Pavilion in Davos, CM Revanth Reddy will engage in exclusive meetings with heads of prominent companies including Google, Salesforce, Unilever, Honeywell, L'Oreal, Novartis, Tata Group, DP World, Infosys, and Cisco. He will also participate in multiple international roundtable discussions.

During these deliberations, the Chief Minister will focus on attracting fresh investments, facilitating expansion of existing industries, and positioning Telangana as a preferred destination for IT, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors. Officials have been directed to showcase the state's "Rising Telangana 2047 Vision Document" and its vast investment potential on the global platform.

State IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Special Chief Secretaries Jayesh Ranjan and Sanjay Kumar, and Special Secretary to the Chief Minister Ajit Reddy are also part of the official delegation.

- ANI
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extended warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day, celebrating the ancient and culturally vibrant indigenous language. Kokborok is recognized as one of the state languages of Tripura, a status it achieved on January 19, 1979. According to the 2011 Census, over 880,000 people, representing nearly 24% of the state's population, speak the language. Tripura Congress president Asish Kumar Saha and the Indian Overseas Congress also shared wishes for the day, hoping for the language's global recognition and pride in cultural heritage.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge extends Kokborok Day greetings, celebrating the ancient Tripura language recognized as a state language in 1979.

New Delhi, January 19 Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday extended greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day.

In a post on X, Kharge said, "Warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day. This special observance celebrates Kokborok -- an ancient, culturally vibrant indigenous language spoken for millennia, and highlights the richness of India's diversity and shared values."

Kokborok, the mother tongue of communities, namely Debbarma (Tripuri), Reang, Tripura, Jamatia, Noatia, Kalai, Rupini, Murasing, and Uchoi, is recognised as one of the state languages of the State of Tripura. It got recognition as the state language on January 19, 1979. According to the 2011 Census report, the number of Kokborok-speaking people is 8,80,537, which is 23.97% of the state's total population.

Tripura Congress president Asish Kumar Saha also congratulated the state citizens on the occasion.

"Today, on the 48th anniversary of Kokborok language. Wishing everyone a very Happy Kokborok Day. I believe With consistent efforts and encouragement, Kokborok will get its due recognition and respect across the world," Saha said.

Indian Overseas Congress also extended warm wishes on the occasion.

"We extend our warm wishes to our sisters and brothers in Tripura on Kokborok Day. The day commemorates the initial recognition of Kokborok as an official language in 1979. May this day bring about unity and inspire pride in our diverse cultures and rich heritage," the party's overseas outreach division wrote on X.

- ANI
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to publicly display the names of voters flagged under 'logical discrepancies' during West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee welcomed the order, stating the court demands transparency and will intervene if the process remains opaque. The court's directions include a streamlined hearing process for affected persons and the acceptance of admit cards as valid documents. TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar hailed the verdict as a "big slap" on the ECI's actions, which the party alleges were influenced by the BJP.

Supreme Court orders ECI to display 'logical discrepancies' list in Bengal voter revision. TMC MPs hail verdict, call it a check on poll body's "atrocities."

New Delhi, January 19 Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision directing the Election Commission of India to display the names of the electors falling under the 'logical discrepancies' category in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision drive in West Bengal.

Speaking to reporters outside the apex court, Banerjee, who is also a Senior Advocate, said the court wants transparency in the SIR exercise and will "interfere" if the process remains opaque.

He said, "The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to publish the list of 'logical discrepancies' at Gram Panchayat Bhavans and Block Offices. There should be transparency, and it should be published. Three days after publication of the list, the Election Commission will issue a notice of hearing, which must be completed within 10 days. The BLA-2 was not allowed to assist, but the SC said that they can take assistance from any person or lawyer."

"At the time of the hearing, they have to note the documents that have been submitted before the election officer. We said that the hearing should take place in the Panchayat or Block area. The Supreme Court asked the Election Commission to accept the Admit Card. If they do not, we will inform the court at the next hearing. Court wants transparency; if something is not transparent, the court will interfere," he added while discussing the decision by the three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.

Earlier today, a three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant issued directions to the ECI on various pleas alleging procedural illegalities in the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

The apex court noted that the ECI has issued notices to certain persons described as falling under the 'logical discrepancies' category. Thus, with a view to enabling persons included in the category, the Court issued a direction to display the names of such persons at Gram Panchayat Bhavans, Block Offices, and Ward Offices.

The court asked the state government to provide adequate manpower to the ECI and the State Election Commission to entertain the documents and objections and to adhere to the hearing process for persons likely to be affected. In this regard, directions shall be issued by the ECI/State Government for the deployment of adequate personnel.

Persons likely to be affected shall be permitted to submit their documents before the authorised officers. The apex court instructed that an authority letter be issued in this regard. The bench instructed the persons in the category who have not submitted their claims and objections to do so within 10 days.

TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar called the decision a "big slap" over the "atrocities" committed by the poll body.

"This is a big slap on the atrocities that the ECI was committing on the people of West Bengal at the instructions of the BJP. We welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court and thank the court for its judgment," she said.

The Electoral Roll Officers' Network (ERONET) portal had flagged more than 1.2 crore names under the 'logical discrepancy' category, sparking a fresh row over the SIR exercise in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called it a "dubious" category.

The deadline to file claims and objections (new voter name additions via Form 6, deletions via Form 7, and corrections via Form 8) was extended from January 15 to January 19, giving voters extra time to submit their applications. Hearings on these claims and objections will continue up to February 7, 2026. The Final electoral roll for West Bengal will be published on February 14, 2026.

- ANI
Davos has entered a stringent lockdown with visible military hardware, including anti-aircraft cannons, to secure the World Economic Forum. The town's main promenade has been transformed as countries like Saudi Arabia and the United States repurpose entire buildings for their pavilions and events. India is noted for having one of the largest presences, while Ukraine uses its space to inform attendees about the ongoing war. The atmosphere mixes intense preparation with moments of calm, as the small mountain town balances its normal life with hosting a global power summit.

Davos enters annual high-security phase with anti-aircraft guns and repurposed buildings as global leaders gather for the World Economic Forum.

Davos, January 19 Ahead of the World Economic Forum 2026 beginning Monday, Davos had been intensifying its preparations for what has come to be known as the world's most-talked-about gathering.

Even before the official opening, visitors arriving by train are greeted by flight-defence cannons from the Swiss Army, a stark signal that the Alpine town has entered its annual high-security phase reports Swiss outlet 20 Minuten.

The transformation of Davos becomes unmistakable on the final stretch of the journey.

Near Davos Lake, an empty helicopter landing pad carved into the snow sits in what locals describe as the "Ruhe vor dem Sturm". Nearby stand several Oerlikon 35-millimetre twin anti-aircraft cannons. The weapons, in service since 1963, remain a visible reminder of the scale of security deployed to protect global leaders, executives, and delegations attending the forum.

Stefan Lanz writing for the 20 Minuten describes that along the Promenade, Davos' main thoroughfare, hotels, shops, and even churches have been temporarily repurposed. Companies and countries have once again rented entire buildings, turning the street into what resembles a continuous exhibition space. One of the most eye-catching presences this year is Saudi Arabia. The Gulf kingdom has gone so far as to brand the Migros building next to the Congress Centre, effectively turning the supermarket into a Saudi WEF palace.

Despite the heavy preparations, the atmosphere on Sunday remained relatively calm. Streets near the Congress Centre were still open, security checkpoints were installed but not yet operational, and locals, day-trippers, and bodyguards moved side by side in bright winter sunshine.

That calm was briefly interrupted in the afternoon when fire engines with sirens activated rushed against the one-way traffic toward a hotel on the Promenade. The incident turned out to be a false alarm triggered by a fire detection system, and emergency services stood down after a few minutes.

Further down the Promenade, the English Church has taken on a new role. While it has often been sublet during previous WEF meetings, this year marks the first time it is officially in American hands. According to the program, the United States plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding under the motto "Freedom", with events focusing on artificial intelligence, space exploration, and more. Whether the US president will attend remains unclear.

Once again, India has one of the largest presences on the Promenade, the reporter for Swiss outlet 20 Minuten wrote for the news outlet. The WEF repeatedly emphasizes that most of these pavilions are "free riders" and not directly connected to the forum.

Ukraine is using its pavilion to inform the "Davos-Men" about the realities of Russia's war of aggression. The WEF regularly emphasizes that many of these pavilions are "Trittbrettfahrer" and not formally part of the forum.

As rumours circulate that the US president could stay in the nearby hotel known as the "goldenen Ei", guarded by a large security entourage and decades-old anti-aircraft guns, Davos continues its annual balancing act between global power politics and a small mountain town under lockdown.

- ANI
BJP leaders converged at the party headquarters in Delhi for the nomination process for the national president. Nitin Nabin, the party's national working president, is set to file his nomination for the top post. At 45, he is poised to become the youngest-ever BJP national president, succeeding JP Nadda. The nomination process includes filing, scrutiny, and a withdrawal period before a final announcement.

BJP leaders gather as Nitin Nabin, 45, is set to become the youngest-ever party national president, succeeding JP Nadda. Nomination process details inside.

New Delhi, January 19 BJP leaders including the current National President JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Saini, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, among others arrived at the party headquarters ahead of the nominations for the BJP National President on Monday.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad applauded the potential selection of Nitin Nabin as the National President of the Bhartiya Janata Party, saying that it's a matter of great fortune for Bihar that a senior leader is becoming the National President.

"It is a matter of great fortune that a senior leader from our Bihar is today becoming the National President... Today is a matter of great joy for us... He is my voter in Patna, and I am his... May he be highly successful, take the party forward, that is our best wish," he said.

BJP leader Deepak Prakash said, "Nominations are going to be filed today, and as BJP workers, it is a day of celebration for all of us. Therefore, we have all come... We will participate in Nitin Nabin's nomination."

Meanwhile, Nitin Nabin, the BJP's National Working President, is all set to file his nomination for the top post today.

The nomination process is scheduled to take place between 2 pm and 4 pm, followed by the scrutiny of nomination papers from 4 pm to 5 pm. Candidates will have the option to withdraw their nominations between 5 pm and 6 pm, and the national election officer will issue a press statement at 6:30 pm.

Nitin Nabin is currently 45 years old. He was appointed as the national working president on December 14, 2025. Now, the party is likely to make him the national president, succeeding JP Nadda. If this happens, he'll be the youngest ever to hold the post.

- ANI
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel has condemned proposed US tariffs on several European countries as "blackmail," aimed at pressuring a deal for the US purchase of Greenland. US President Donald Trump announced the tariffs, starting at 10% on February 1 and escalating to 25% in June, targeting nations including Denmark, France, Germany, and the UK. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, which controls its foreign and defense policy, and hosts a key US military base. Recent high-level talks between Danish, Greenlandic, and US officials failed to resolve the "fundamental disagreement" over the island's future.

Dutch Foreign Minister condemns US tariffs on European nations over Greenland as "blackmail," as Trump sets February 1 deadline for the punitive trade measures.

The Hague, Jan 19 Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel on Sunday condemned the US imposition of tariffs on European countries over Greenland, calling it an act of "blackmail."

The minister said on WNL op Zondag, a Sunday talk show on the Dutch public broadcaster NPO, that it was unacceptable to use trade tariffs as a tool to exert political or military pressure, describing the measure as "blackmail."

Van Weel said there is still room for the measure to be withdrawn before it takes effect on February 1, adding, "The first priority is to withdraw this ridiculous proposal. If that doesn't work, I can't rule anything out."

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States will impose 10-per cent tariffs on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland over Greenland starting on February 1.

The tariffs would increase to 25 per cent on June 1, and would continue until a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland, he said on social media.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defence and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island.

Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland and has recently ramped up his threat.

On Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Following the meeting, the Danish and Greenlandic officials said "fundamental disagreement" over the future of Greenland remained.

- IANS
The Election Commission of India is hosting the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 in New Delhi from January 21-23. The conference will see participation from nearly 100 international delegates representing over 70 countries, along with experts and international organizations. Key events include thematic sessions on global electoral issues, the launch of the ECINET digital platform, and an exhibition on India's election processes. The inaugural session will be led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

ECI hosts IICDEM 2026 in Delhi with 100+ delegates from 70 countries. Focus on global election management, standards, and digital initiatives.

New Delhi, Jan 19 The Election Commission of India is set to host the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management 2026, starting January 21 at the Bharat Mandapam in the national capital.

The 3-day conference, being organised by the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM), will conclude on January 23.

"The IICDEM 2026 is poised to be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management," the ECI said in a statement on Monday.

It further mentioned that nearly 100 international delegates, representing over 70 countries from across the world will participate in the event, along with representatives of international organisations, foreign missions in India, and academic and practising experts in the electoral domain.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will receive the delegates and flag off the proceedings at the inaugural session on January 21.

The three-day programme includes general and plenary sessions of Election Management Bodies (EMBs), including the Inaugural Session, EMB Leaders' Plenary, EMB Working Group Meetings, and thematic sessions focusing on global electoral issues, model international electoral standards, and innovations and best practices in electoral processes.

A total of 36 thematic groups, led by CEOs of States/UTs and supported by national and international academic experts, will contribute to in-depth deliberations during the conference.

These discussions will also have participation from leading academic institutions, including 4 IITs, 6 IIMs, 12 National Law Universities (NLUs) and IIMC.

The ECI stated that it will hold over 40 bilateral meetings with the EMBs to further discussions and cooperation on various challenges confronting EMBs across the world.

The Commission will also formally launch ECINET, ECI's one-stop digital platform for all election-related information and services.

An exhibition showcasing the magnitude and complexity of conducting elections in India, along with the recent initiatives taken by ECI to strengthen the two pillars of election -- preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections will also be held alongside the events.

A docuseries titled 'India Decides', highlighting the making of the largest election in the world, the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, will also be showcased on Day 1 of IICDEM, the ECI said.

- IANS
The Election Commission of India is hosting the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management from January 21-23, 2026, in New Delhi. The event will convene nearly 100 delegates from over 70 countries to exchange ideas and innovations in electoral processes. The conference will feature plenary sessions, thematic discussions led by state CEOs and academic experts, and over 40 bilateral meetings with global Election Management Bodies. It will also see the launch of the ECINET digital platform and an exhibition on India's electoral initiatives.

ECI hosts inaugural IICDEM-2026 in Delhi, with 100+ delegates from 70+ countries discussing democracy and election management best practices.

New Delhi, January 19 The Election Commission of India is set to host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management 2026 from January 21 to 23, positioning India at the centre of global dialogue on democratic governance and electoral practices.

The three-day conference will be organised by the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

According to the press release, IICDEM 2026 is expected to be the largest global conference of its kind hosted by India in the domain of democracy and election management. Nearly 100 international delegates, representing over 70 countries from across the world, are expected to participate, along with representatives of international organisations, foreign missions in India, and academic and practising experts in the electoral domain.

The conference aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas, best practices, and innovations among Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.

Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will receive the delegates and flag off the proceedings at the inaugural session on January 21.

As per the release, the programme features general and plenary sessions, including an EMB Leaders' Plenary, EMB Working Group meetings, and thematic discussions on global electoral challenges, model international electoral standards, and innovations and best practices in electoral processes.

As many as 36 thematic groups, led by CEOs of States and Union Territories and supported by national and international academic experts, will contribute to in-depth deliberations during the conference. These discussions will also have participation from leading academic institutions, including four IITs, six IIMs, 12 National Law Universities (NLUs) and IIMC.

The ECI will also hold over 40 bilateral meetings with the EMBs to further discussions and cooperation on various challenges confronting EMBs around the world. During the event, the Commission will ECINET, ECI's one-stop digital platform for all election-related information and services.

An exhibition on India's electoral scale and initiatives, along with the docuseries "India Decides" on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, will also be showcased.

- ANI
An out-of-control grass fire is threatening lives and homes south of Adelaide in South Australia, having burned approximately 650 hectares. Residents in Tooperang and Nangkita were initially told to evacuate immediately, though the warning was later downgraded to prepare to leave. More than 200 volunteer firefighters with over 60 trucks worked through the night to contain the blaze, which is moving south towards several small townships. CFS officials warn that forecast shifting winds could cause the fire to change direction with little notice.

An out-of-control grass fire near Adelaide threatens homes, prompting evacuations. Over 200 firefighters battle the blaze amid shifting winds.

Canberra, Jan 19 Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to contain an out-of-control grass fire that is threatening lives and homes south of Adelaide in the state of South Australia.

The fire started near the small town of Tooperang, 50 km south of Adelaide, on Sunday afternoon, and had burned around 650 hectares of grass and scrub, said the Country Fire Service (CFS).

Residents of Tooperang and the nearby town of Nangkita were on Sunday night told to evacuate immediately, but the emergency warning was downgraded on Monday, with residents instead told to prepare to leave, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Take action now as this bushfire may threaten your safety," the warning issued by the CFS said.

It said that the fire was burning in a southerly direction towards Nangkita and the townships of Mount Jagged and Mosquito Hill, which had a combined population of around 600 people at the time of the 2021 national census.

More than 200 volunteer firefighters from the CFS supported by over 60 trucks worked through Sunday night to try and prevent the spread of the fire.

CFS fire trucks and firefighters supported by, South Australian Police and South Australian Ambulance Service will continue to work to reduce the spread of the fire and limit the impact to the local community. Crews will continue to work throughout the day to extinguish the fire.

CFS officer Ben Pettman told the ABC that shifting winds forecast for Monday would cause the fire to change directions at short notice.

- IANS
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met a US Congressional delegation in Davos, emphasizing the imperative to respect Greenland and Denmark's sovereignty. The discussion addressed security cooperation in the Arctic through the EU, US, and NATO, alongside shared trade interests. The meeting follows former President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on European nations unless they agree to sell Greenland. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also criticized using tariffs against allies, calling Greenland's status a fundamental principle.

Ursula von der Leyen stresses respect for Greenland & Denmark's sovereignty with US Congress after Trump's tariff threats over Arctic territory.

Davos, January 20 European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday held a meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress in Davos, where they discussed Donald Trump's recent threats to acquire Greenland.

In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the need to "respect" the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark.

"I also addressed the need to unequivocally respect the sovereignty of Greenland and of the Kingdom of Denmark. This is of utmost importance to our transatlantic relationship," she said.

She further urged for a "close cooperation" between the EU, the US and NATO to address the security concerns related to Greenland and the Arctic.

"At the same time, the European Union remains ready to continue working closely with the United States, NATO, and other allies, in close cooperation with Denmark, to advance our shared security interests," Ursula von der Leyen said.

She believed that tariffs "run counter" to the US and EU's shared interest in trade and investment.

"We also discussed transatlantic trade and investment. They are a major asset for both the EU and US economies. Tariffs run counter to these shared interests," she said.

The meeting comes after Trump's threats to impose tariffs on Denmark and other UK and European Union countries, unless they agree to sell Greenland.

In his post, Trump claimed the move is necessary for national security, citing China's and Russia's interest in the territory.

He offered to negotiate with the European nations but warned of escalating tariffs of 10 per cent from February 1, 2026, and 25 per cent from June 1, 2026 if a deal wasn't reached, stating it was "time for Denmark to give back" after years of US support.

Earlier, UK PM stated that the use of tariffs against allies is "completely wrong", noting that the Arctic island belongs to its people and Denmark, describing the right as "fundamental".

"The security of Greenland matters, and it will matter more as climate change reshapes the Arctic. As sea routes open and strategic competition intensifies, the High North will require greater attention, greater investment, and stronger collective defence. The United States will be central to that effort, and the UK stands ready to contribute fully alongside our allies through NATO. But there is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works," Starmer said.

- ANI
Interview: People-to-people exchanges key to deepening China-Africa partnership, says Namibian expert

Xinhua) 09:38, January 19, 2026

WINDHOEK, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The launch of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges marks a strategic maturation of China-Africa relations, signaling a shift from previous infrastructure- and trade-led engagement toward deeper social connectivity and human-centered development, a Namibian expert has said.

"People-to-people exchanges build trust, understanding, and shared values beyond government agreements," said Ndumba Kamwanyah, a public policy and political analyst specializing in governance and development, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"When students, young professionals, artists, researchers, and media practitioners interact directly, they learn how each other's societies work. Over time, these personal connections make cooperation more stable and sustainable," he said.

Kamwanyah noted that what distinguishes the new initiative from previous China-Africa cooperation frameworks is its strong emphasis on society and grassroots engagement.

"Earlier frameworks focused largely on roads, railways, mining, and finance," he said. "This initiative puts people at the center -- youth, culture, education, and media. Planning nearly 600 activities shows a long-term commitment to social development, soft power, and mutual learning."

According to him, such people-centered cooperation complements economic projects by reducing cultural misunderstandings and strengthening social trust, which are critical to the long-term success of trade, investment, and development partnerships.

In the context of Namibia, Kamwanyah said the initiative offers significant opportunities to enhance human capital development, particularly as the country pursues economic diversification and seeks to address persistent youth unemployment.

"This initiative can support skills development, youth training, and knowledge transfer in key sectors," he said. "Namibia can learn from China's experience in industrialization, digital technology, tourism, and small business development."

Beyond economic benefits, Kamwanyah emphasized the social value of increased exchanges, noting that greater cultural interaction can boost confidence among young Namibians and improve the country's international visibility.

"Media cooperation, in particular, can help Namibia tell its own development story more effectively to the world," he added.

If properly managed, increased cultural and youth engagement can yield tangible outcomes, Kamwanyah said, as participants return with new skills, ideas, and professional networks that support entrepreneurship and productivity.

"Cultural exchanges can boost tourism and creative industries, while socially they promote discipline, innovation, and cross-cultural cooperation," he said. "These qualities are essential for national development and social unity."

Meanwhile, Kamwanyah underscored the central role of the Namibian government in providing policy direction, coordination, and oversight. "The government should monitor and evaluate outcomes to ensure exchanges result in real skills transfer, employment, and community development," he said.

He further called for stronger involvement from universities, training institutions, civil society, and the private sector in developing joint research and exchange programs with Chinese partners. Civil society organizations, he added, can support community-level participation and youth leadership initiatives.

"The private sector should also offer internships, mentorships, and co-funded training aligned with market needs," Kamwanyah said. "Only through strong collaboration can people-to-people exchanges translate into lasting economic and social impact."

"Development is ultimately about people," he said. "When social ties are strong, cooperation becomes more resilient, inclusive, and transformative."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ukraine has neutralized 126 Russian drones out of 145, recorded the hitting of 13 UAVs at 13 locations, in addition, it is known about the fall of debris at five locations, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

"According to preliminary data, as of 08:30, air defense shot down/suppressed 126 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerber type and drones of other types," the message on the Telegram channel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reads.

In total, the enemy attacked 145 attack UAVs of the Shahed, Gerber and drones of other types from the following directions: Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russia, Chauda  temporarily occupied Crimea, Donetsk  temporarily occupied Ukraine, about 90 of them  Shahed UAVs.

The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Denmark and Greenland say territory not for sale

EU leaders will convene an emergency summit on Thursday to discuss potential retaliatory measures against threatened US tariffs linked to President Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland. The EU has prepared a 93 billion euro list of counter-tariffs and is considering using its anti-coercion instrument, though engagement with Washington remains the priority. Trump has stated the US "needs Greenland for national security" and will impose escalating tariffs starting in February if no deal is reached. European and US politicians have warned the dispute is damaging trust within the NATO alliance, with Denmark and Greenland firmly rejecting the territory's sale.

EU leaders to hold emergency summit Thursday over Trump's threats to impose tariffs related to Greenland, assessing potential retaliation.

Brussels, Jan 19 Leaders of EU countries will hold an emergency summit here on Thursday to discuss US threats related to Greenland, European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said on Monday.

The summit will assess possible retaliatory measures in response to threatened tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on countries that oppose his plan to "acquire" Greenland.

Gill said the EU continues to engage "at all levels" with Washington over its new tariff threats and is taking "every possible step" to protect the bloc's economic interests. He added that the use of the anti-coercion instrument is not ruled out, Xinhua News Agency reported.

He stressed that the priority is engagement rather than escalation with the United States. However, "should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond," he added.

European Union ambassadors met for an emergency session in Brussels on Sunday evening. The talks focused on Trump's tariff threat and possible responses.

European officials said negotiations remain the preferred option. Still, one official and one diplomat said retaliation was being discussed, media reports said.

They said a 93 billion euro list of counter-tariffs could be allowed to take effect. The list was prepared last year. It targets US goods.

Trump said on Saturday that the United States "needs Greenland for national security." He added that if no deal is reached, tariffs would follow.

In a social media post, Trump said the levies would begin at 10 per cent in February. They would rise to 25 per cent by June. The measures would target a group of European nations.

On NBC's Meet the Press, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's stance. "President Trump strongly believes that we cannot outsource our security," he said.

Bessent called Greenland "essential to US national security." He said US control would be "best for Greenland, best for Europe, and best for the United States."

European leaders rejected that argument. Denmark and Greenland have said the territory is not for sale.

On ABC's This Week, the dispute was described as coercive. European officials warned that pressure tactics risk long-term damage to trust.

On CBS' Face the Nation, Senator Mark Warner said the approach was "attacking our closest allies." He added that "both Russia and China" stood to benefit.

Republican Congressman Mike Turner also raised concerns. He said there was "no authority" for the United States to seize territory from a NATO ally.

Turner said the episode had already "caused tension among the alliance." He warned that US power depends on strong partnerships.

On CNN's State of the Union, former Vice President Mike Pence called Denmark "a very strong ally of the United States of America."

He said the dispute "does threaten to fracture that strong relationship." He added that the risk extended to all NATO allies.

- IANS
Karnataka's Minister for Large and Medium Industries, MB Patil, is leading a state delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos with a clear agenda to secure global investment. The delegation plans over 45 high-level meetings with major corporations including Amazon Web Services, Lenovo, and Coca-Cola. The mission's core focus is to translate investment interest into concrete projects and quality job creation within Karnataka. The summit also features delegations from other Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, highlighting a coordinated national push for economic growth.

Karnataka Minister MB Patil leads delegation to Davos WEF for 45+ meetings with global firms like AWS, Lenovo to convert investment into projects and jobs.

Bengaluru, January 19 Ahead of the World Economic Summit, Karnataka Minister MB Patil said that he is looking forward to advancing the state's global industry and attracting further investment, aligning with the development agenda.

Shedding light on the delegation's agenda for the annual meet, Patil on Sunday said that there will be 45-plus high-level meetings with global leaders in Davos.

"Headed to #WEF26 Davos (Jan 19-23) to advance Karnataka's global industry and investment agenda. With an execution-first approach, our delegation will hold 45+ high-level meetings with global leaders, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Lenovo, and Coca-Cola, focused on converting investment intent into on-ground projects and quality jobs," Patil wrote on X.

Founded in 1971, the WEF operates as a non-profit organisation. Recognised as one of the most influential business conferences worldwide, it aims to strengthen global economic growth through geopolitics, education and technology, financial policy, and investment. Along with India, nearly fifty countries will take part in the conference.

Meanwhile, a high-level delegation from Uttar Pradesh, led by the state's Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, arrived in Zurich on Monday to participate in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The visit aims to position the state as a global investment destination as it pursues a USD 1 trillion economy target through infrastructure and technology-led growth.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren attended a video conference chaired by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during which he informed the latter about his state's preparations for the World Economic Forum Summit, which will showcase opportunities in critical minerals and electronics component manufacturing, among others.

The meeting, which took place on Sunday, CM Soren said the spirit of cooperation and dialogue is clearly reflected in India's preparations for the annual Davos meeting.

- ANI
The North East Regional Competition of IndiaSkills 2025-26 was inaugurated at Gauhati University by Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary. This first-ever regional competition dedicated to the North Eastern states features participants from all eight states competing across 26 industry-aligned skill categories. Minister Chaudhary emphasized the event's role in building a future-ready workforce and fostering a bottom-up model of growth driven by youth. Winners will advance to the national stage of the IndiaSkills Competition.

Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary inaugurates first-ever IndiaSkills Regional Competition for NE states at Gauhati University to empower youth.

Guwahati, Jan 19 The North East Regional Competition of IndiaSkills 2025-26 was inaugurated on Monday at Gauhati University, marking a major milestone in the government's efforts to strengthen skill development in the North Eastern region, officials said.

The competition was formally launched by Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in the presence of senior government officials, academic leaders and youth participants from across the region.

Organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the four-day event is being held from January 19 to 22. This is the first-ever IndiaSkills Regional Competition dedicated exclusively to the North Eastern states, underlining the Centre's special focus on nurturing talent from the region.

Addressing the gathering, Chaudhary said the participation of youth from all eight North Eastern states across multiple industry-aligned skill domains reflected the growing depth of talent, discipline and aspiration emerging from the region. He said such initiatives would play a crucial role in building a future-ready workforce and strengthening India's global competitiveness.

Emphasising the government's approach to skill development, the Minister said that growth must follow a bottom-up model, with young people emerging as key drivers of change. He described the competition as an aspirational platform that would empower the region's youth and prepare them for future opportunities.

Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University, Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, expressed pride in hosting the landmark event, stating that the university was committed to nurturing skilled, confident and industry-ready youth from the North East.

The inaugural programme included a welcome address by Hena Usman, Joint Secretary, MSDE, and an address by Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary, Government of Assam.

Cultural performances highlighting the rich traditions of the North East and a march past by IndiaSkills competitors were also part of the ceremony.

Students from all eight North Eastern states are competing across 26 skill categories, ranging from agro-forestry to advanced technical and soft skills.

Winners from the regional competition will qualify for the national stage of the IndiaSkills Competition 2025-26, contributing to India's expanding pool of skilled talent.

- IANS
Former President Ram Nath Kovind has endorsed the launch of the Responsible Nations Index, a new framework to evaluate nations based on their responsibility towards citizens, the environment, and the international community. He argued that traditional metrics like economic size and military strength fail to capture a nation's true character and how it treats its people and planet. The index, developed by the World Intellectual Foundation with academic support, aims to reposition global conversations on power and development. It emphasizes that sovereignty entails duties and that prosperity without responsibility is unsustainable.

Former President Ram Nath Kovind launches the Responsible Nations Index, advocating for ethics, citizen welfare, and environmental care as new measures of national power.

New Delhi, January 19 Nations must be judged beyond economic strength and military power, backing a framework that seeks to redefine global power through responsibility towards citizens, the environment, and the international community, former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said during the launch of the Responsible Nations Index on Monday.

Endorsing this approach, he warned that material success alone cannot define national progress. "A country can be economically prosperous and yet remain irresponsible," Kovind said, calling for ethics, dignity, and moral conduct to be placed at the centre of governance.

India today sought to reposition the global conversation on development and power with the launch of the Responsible Nations Index (RNI), signalling a shift from traditional economic and military metrics towards a responsibility-based framework for evaluating nations.

Unveiled in New Delhi, under the aegis of the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF), the Index assesses how responsibly countries govern their economies, care for citizens, protect the environment, and engage with their neighbourhood and the wider international community.

He noted that global rankings have long relied on indicators such as economic size, military strength, and technological advancement, but questioned their ability to capture the true character of nations.

"They tell us very little about how a country treats its own citizens, how it engages with other nations, and how sincerely it protects our shared planetary home," he observed.

Kovind underlined that irresponsible exercise of economic and strategic power often destabilises regions and places disproportionate burdens on neighbouring countries, whether through environmental degradation, financial pressures, or conflict.

"For us, power does not mean dominance; it is a duty. Sovereignty comes not only with rights but also with responsibilities," he said, invoking Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam--the belief that the world is one family.

Linking democracy with inclusive growth, Kovind stressed that political systems cannot endure without economic justice.

"Democracy is not just the right to vote, it is also the right to live with dignity," he said, arguing that governance must ensure social security, opportunity, and fairness.

On sustainability, he delivered a clear message for policymakers and markets alike. "We are not owners of the Earth's resources, but their trustees." Development that destroys natural capital, he cautioned, cannot be considered real progress.

The Responsible Nations Index is the outcome of a three-year academic and policy exercise conceptualised by WIF and anchored in India's ethos of dharma and global well-being. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai contributed significantly to its intellectual foundations and methodological rigour.

The launch followed a high-level panel discussion titled "From Human Well-being to Global Stewardship: Rethinking Responsibility, Prosperity and Peace in the 21st Century", chaired by N. K. Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission of India.

Concluding the event, Sudhanshu Mittal, Founder and Secretary of WIF, said the RNI represents a decisive move away from power-centric evaluations.

"Prosperity without responsibility is unsustainable," he said, adding that the Index aims to encourage ethical governance, stable neighbourhood relations, and long-term global economic resilience.

The ceremonial release of the Responsible Nations Index Report marked the start of what organisers described as a sustained international dialogue on responsible nationhood in an interconnected world.

- ANI
GAIL has commissioned domestic piped natural gas supply at two residential societies in Bhubaneswar as part of the National PNG Drive 2.0. The inaugurations at Cosmopolis and Shreekhetra Residency, covering 979 flats, were presided over by Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi. She highlighted PNG's benefits of safety, convenience, and affordability while sharing her personal use of the fuel. The initiative reinforces GAIL's commitment to expanding clean energy infrastructure in line with the national vision for a gas-based economy.

GAIL launches domestic piped natural gas supply at two Bhubaneswar societies under National PNG Drive 2.0, inaugurated by MP Aparajita Sarangi.

Bhubaneswar, January 19 During the National PNG Drive 2.0, state-owned company GAIL successfully launched Domestic Piped Natural Gas supply at two prominent residential societies in Bhubaneswar, marking a significant step towards expanding clean, safe and reliable energy access to households in the city.

The first inauguration was held at Cosmopolis Residential Society, Khandagiri, comprising 835 flats, where DPNG supply was formally commissioned in the presence of Kausik Das, General Manager-CGD and Officer-in-Charge, Bhubaneswar, along with senior GAIL CGD officials and residents.

The event was graced by Member of Parliament for Bhubaneswar, Aparajita Sarangi, who inaugurated the DPNG supply at the apartment complex.

The local MP shared her vision of ensuring PNG connectivity to every household and highlighted the key benefits of PNG, including safety, convenience, uninterrupted supply, and cost-effectiveness.

She also informed the residents that she herself is a PNG user at her residence, encouraging citizens to adopt this clean and reliable energy source.

Following this, DPNG supply was also launched at Shreekhetra Residency Society, Aiginia, comprising 144 flats.

The MP inaugurated the PNG supply at the society and reiterated her positive experience as a PNG user, once again emphasising the advantages of PNG in terms of safety, convenience, uninterrupted supply and affordability.

Speaking on the occasion, parliamentarian Aparajita Sarangi stated that the launch of PNG supply was an important step towards fulfilling the Government of India's vision of developing a gas-based economy.

Residents of both societies welcomed the initiative and appreciated GAIL's efforts to expand PNG infrastructure across Bhubaneswar.

The events concluded with a symbolic ignition of PNG supply, marking the successful commissioning of gas connections and reinforcing GAIL's commitment to promoting clean energy solutions under the National PNG Drive 2.0.

GAIL, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise, is India's leading natural gas transmission and distribution company with gas transmission and distribution pipelines, processing and petrochemicals plants, upstream oil and gas interests, and LNG regasification terminals across India.

- ANI
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared a "golden time for investment" in the state while handing over land allotment letters to several major companies in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area. The companies include India Chip Private Limited, Ascent Circuit Private Limited, and Amber Enterprises India Limited, with land also allotted to Bodhisattva Charitable Trust for a medical college. Separately, the Chief Minister highlighted the success of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, stating that over 62 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh have now received housing benefits. He credited this achievement to the vision and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath allots land to major firms, calls it a golden investment period. Also highlights PMAY success, benefiting 62 lakh people.

Lucknow, January 19 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the state is witnessing a "golden time for investment" as he handed over land allotment letters to major companies for setting up industrial units and a medical college in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said land is being allotted to India Chip Private Limited, Ascent Circuit Private Limited and Amber Enterprises India Limited for their new industrial units.

"Land is being allotted to India Chip Private Limited, Ascent Circuit Private Limited, and Amber Enterprises India Limited for their new industrial units. Additionally, Bodhisattva Charitable Trust is being handed the land allocation letter for the establishment of a medical college. This is a golden time for investment in Uttar Pradesh," Adityanath said.

The Chief Minister also held a review meeting regarding the land allotment letters for industrial units and a medical college in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a newly developed gallery at Gate Number 8 of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He later also participated in an audio laser show.

CM Yogi participated in the Direct Fund Transfer program under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 on Sunday.

During the programme, CM Yogi stated that more than 60 lakh beneficiaries have received benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in the state's rural and urban areas over the past 9 years.

"In the past nearly 9 years, we have provided the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to more than 60 lakh beneficiaries in the rural and urban areas of Uttar Pradesh, and today 2 lakh more people are being added to it. Now this number has reached 62 lakh... For the first time after independence, 62 lakh beneficiaries are receiving the benefit of housing facilities, and the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Modi's vision and leadership," said CM Yogi.

He further said that when a good government comes into power, people receive facilities with a positive approach.

"When a good government comes into power, people receive facilities with a positive approach. This is not just a house; it is also a feeling of complete self-reliance. We have been hearing since childhood that food, clothing, and shelter are basic necessities. PM Modiji has provided all three types of facilities," added CM Yogi.

- ANI
Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid welcomed the UAE President's visit, emphasizing the benefits of strengthening economic ties. The visit concluded with the signing of five key agreements, including a strategic defence partnership and an investment pact for Gujarat's Dholera region. Both nations agreed to an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade to over USD 200 billion by the year 2032. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received the UAE leader, highlighting the importance of the relationship.

UAE President's India visit yields key agreements, aims to double bilateral trade to $200B by 2032, with focus on investment and defence.

New Delhi, January 19 Former External Affairs Minister and Chairman of Congress' Foreign Affairs Department, Salman Khurshid, on Monday hailed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's official visit to India, stating that the country will benefit from strengthening the relationship with Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to ANI, Salman Khurshid said that India has good economic relations with the UAE and should strengthen them further.

The Congress leader said, "Everyone comes, and we also go (to other countries), the more exchange there is, the stronger the relationships become, the country benefits from this."

"There is a strong focus on industry and trade, and the primary focus will be on economic matters. We have very good economic relations with the UAE. If we strengthen them further, we will be successful," he added.

Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that the UAE President concluded a "short, but extremely substantive" official visit to the national capital, during which he was personally received at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held discussions with the Indian side.

Misri added that after the airport reception, the two leaders travelled together to the Prime Minister's residence, where talks were held first in a restricted format and then in an expanded format involving delegation members.

The two leaders signed five agreements, including an investment cooperation between the Government of Gujarat, India and the Ministry of Investment of the United Arab Emirates for the development of Dholera Special Investment region; a letter of intent on the Strategic Defence Partnership; and an MoU for sanitary and quality parameters to facilitate the trade, exchange, and promotion of cooperation in the food sector.

The two sides also agreed to double bilateral trade to over USD 200 billion by 2032 and to establish a supercomputing cluster in India.

This marked Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President and his fifth visit to the country over the past decade.

- ANI
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced the implementation of a single national emergency number, 112, to replace multiple existing helplines. The system, called ERSS 2.0, will automatically detect a caller's location and dispatch the nearest police, fire, or ambulance service. Help can be sought not only via phone calls but also through mobile apps, panic buttons, and SMS alerts. The initiative aims to eliminate confusion and delay, ensuring a faster and more reliable emergency response across the capital.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launches ERSS 2.0, unifying all emergency services under one number, 112, for faster, tech-enabled response.

New Delhi, January 19 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced a significant initiative to make emergency services in the capital more effective, swift, and technology-enabled.

Now, citizens in Delhi will no longer need to dial different helpline numbers for various types of disasters or emergencies. In any emergency, dialling 112 will ensure rapid assistance.

This initiative has been launched under the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 2.0. The aim of this initiative is to free people from the hassle of remembering multiple numbers during a crisis and to provide them with assistance more quickly.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that currently, various helpline numbers are used for emergency services, including Police (100), Fire Service (101), Ambulance/Health Services (108), Women's Helpline (181), Child Helpline (1098), Gas Leak (1906), Electricity Supply (19123), Water Supply (1916), Delhi Metro (155370), and Disaster Management/Relief Services (1077). This often leads to confusion and delays for common citizens during a crisis. Under ERSS 2.0, there will be no need to call different numbers for different emergencies. Assistance for all types of needs can be sought by dialling only 112.

According to the Chief Minister, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has declared 112 as the National Emergency Number. In view of this, Delhi is moving forward with its implementation. She explained that ERSS 2.0 is a modern Unified Signal Handling System that consolidates all emergency calls, mobile app alerts, panic buttons, SMS, and web alerts at a single Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

From here, depending on the nature of the emergency, Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Disaster Management services can be alerted simultaneously. In this system, help can be sought not just via calls but also through mobile apps, emergency buttons, SMS, and online platforms. This means that if a citizen is not in a position to speak during an emergency, they can still easily send a signal for help.

She pointed out that the biggest feature of ERSS 2.0 is that the system will automatically identify the caller's location as soon as a call or emergency signal is received. Consequently, the victim does not need to explain where they are located.

Once the location is received, the nearest police van, ambulance, or fire engine will be dispatched immediately from the control room. This will save crucial time during the "Golden Hour" (the initial 60 minutes) and ensure help reaches sooner.

In this new arrangement, information will reach police, fire, and medical services simultaneously through a single call, largely eliminating delays caused during emergency situations.

The Chief Minister mentioned that ERSS 2.0 will feature a modern dashboard in the control room, allowing monitoring of where an incident occurred, which vehicle has been dispatched, and how long it will take to arrive. If there is a delay, another vehicle can be sent immediately. This ensures constant monitoring of the entire operation and increases accountability.

The Chief Minister shared that the entire plan will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, all existing emergency numbers will be integrated into 112. This will be followed by technical upgrades, public awareness campaigns, training for call takers, and, finally, a system evaluation.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the purpose of this proposal is to make the emergency response system in the capital simple, fast, and reliable, thereby ensuring the safety of life and property and developing Delhi as a safe, smart, and sensitive capital.

She also mentioned that a massive public awareness campaign will be launched regarding the use of 112. Displays promoting 112 will be installed in government offices, public premises, metros, and buses.

Additionally, regular mock drills and outreach programs will be organised to test the preparedness of various departments.

- ANI
Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi emphasized the party's distinction from others, stating leadership is based on merit, allowing a grassroots worker to rise to the top. The nomination process for the BJP's national president began with Nitin Nabin filing his nomination, backed by top leaders including the Prime Minister and Home Minister as proposers. Several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers gathered at the party headquarters to witness the significant event, highlighting the party's collective support for the process. If elected, the 45-year-old Nabin would become the BJP's youngest-ever national president, marking a major generational shift for the party.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi highlights party's merit-based leadership as Nitin Nabin files nomination for national president with top leaders as proposers.

New Delhi, January 19 Reacting to the nomination process for the Bharatiya Janata Party's national president, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that the BJP distinguishes itself from other parties by ensuring that leadership is not confined to families, allowing even a grassroots worker to rise to the top through merit and dedication. Speaking tohere, Naqvi said, "Unlike other parties where party presidents are born within the family, the BJP is a party where a grassroots worker can rise to the top."

Talking about Nitin Nabin as the expected BJP national president, Naqvi said, "Nitin Nabin is hardworking and has proven himself. I believe he will bear this responsibility with complete honesty and efficiency."

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader CT Ravi said that the nomination process for the party president is underway and that the official announcement would be made on Tuesday.

"Today nominations are being filed for the party president position, and tomorrow the name will be announced. I believe Nitin Nabin will be our next party president," Ravi told reporters.

BJP MP Arjun Munda also welcomed the development, calling it a significant moment for the party.

"It is our collective fortune that today the nomination for the national president of the country's largest party is taking place. Nitin Nabin will file the nomination, and the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Defence Minister will be the proposers," Munda told ANI.

Furthermore, Union Minister Annapurna Devi highlighted the BJP's internal democratic process, stating that the party has always upheld transparency in organisational elections.

"Today, nominations are being held for the election of the national president of the BJP, the world's largest party. The announcement will be made tomorrow. Just as the BJP always conducts elections with transparency, it is only in the BJP that even a booth-level worker can rise to the highest position in the nation," she said.

Meanwhile, the nomination process for the election of the Bhartiya Janata Party's new National president began at the BJP headquarters in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers JP Nadda, and other senior leaders on Monday.

The event was graced by senior Ministers, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, among others.

Alongside BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, among others, arrived at the party headquarters ahead of the nominations.

Meanwhile, Nitin Nabin, the BJP's National Working President, is filing his nomination for the top post today.

The nomination process is scheduled to be followed by the scrutiny of nomination papers. Candidates will have the option to withdraw their nominations between 5 pm and 6 pm, and the national election officer will issue a press statement at 6:30 pm.

Nitin Nabin is currently 45 years old. He was appointed as the national working president on December 14, 2025. Now, the party is likely to make him the national president, succeeding JP Nadda. If this happens, he'll be the youngest ever to hold the post.

The elevation of Nabin will also mark a huge generational shift for the party as it gears up for critical elections this year and next.

- ANI
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has departed for Davos to lead the state's delegation at the World Economic Forum 2026. The delegation aims to attract investments in sectors like electronics, defence, semiconductors, and renewable energy. Sanghavi's intensive schedule includes over 58 meetings with global leaders and speaking engagements at prominent global sessions. The participation underscores Gujarat's ambition to be a key partner in global value chains and accelerate its industrial development.

Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi leads Gujarat delegation to Davos for WEF 2026, targeting investments in semiconductors, renewables, and advanced manufacturing.

Ahmedabad, January 19 Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Sunday evening left for Davos, Switzerland, to attend the 56th Annual World Economic Forum summit.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that the Gujarat delegation would work to attract investments in electronics, defence, semiconductors, renewable energy, and other sectors to the state.

Speaking to reporters, Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghvi said, "To present the vision of a developed Gujarat by 2047 on the world's biggest platform, the World Economic Forum, a delegation from Gujarat is heading to Davos today. Over the next four days, this delegation will work to attract investments in electronics, defence, semiconductors, renewable energy, and many other sectors to Gujarat. In recent years, Gujarat has become known as the most preferred destination, and to advance this vision, under CM Bhupendra Patel's leadership, the team will strive to create more employment opportunities for the youth of Gujarat."

The WEF Annual Meeting will be held from January 19 to 23 at Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The State's participation reflects Gujarat's bold, future-ready approach towards international collaboration and accelerated economic transformation.

At WEF 2026, Harsh Sanghavi will undertake an intensive programme of over 58 high-level meetings with global leaders and investors across key sectors, including Advanced Manufacturing, Textiles, Semiconductors, Emerging Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, Renewable Energy, Food Processing, Chemicals, Shipping and Logistics, Electronics, and Aerospace. Proposed interactions include leading global companies such as AP Moller Maersk, Engie, EDF, Johnson Controls, Sumitomo Group, Linde, SEALSQ, Tillman Global, and others, a release said.

These engagements aim to strengthen Gujarat's industrial ecosystem, enable technology and innovation partnerships, attract global investments, generate large-scale employment opportunities for youth, and build long-term international institutional linkages.

According to the release, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi will also speak at prominent global sessions, including India in the New Geo-Economic Order, The Power of Sports: Turning Spectacle to Legacy, Coal to Clean Initiative: Technological Innovations to Drive the Transition, Mission Water: A Water-Secure Future for One Billion People, and Delivering Sustainability at Scale: Pathways for Global Transformation. Through these platforms, Gujarat will showcase its development blueprint aligned with the vision of Viksit Gujarat @2047.

With the message "Gujarat - Ready for the World, Where Vision Meets Action," the State's participation at WEF 2026 underscores its ambition to emerge as a key partner in global value chains. The Government of Gujarat remains firmly committed to accelerating industrial development, fostering innovation-led growth, attracting transformative investments, and building a resilient and future-ready economy.

Gujarat's presence at WEF 2026 marks not just participation but leadership in shaping the global growth narrative.

- ANI
Germany to allocate EUR 60 mln in winter, energy support for Ukraine  Ukrainian Foreign Minister

Germany will allocate an additional EUR 60 million aid package for winter and energy support for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced.

"I highly appreciate Germany's additional EUR 60 million package for winter and energy support for Ukraine, announced today by my friend and colleague Johann Wadephul," he said on the social network X last week.

Sybiha noted that this assistance will help keep citizens warm and protected by strengthening heating and heat supply systems, with a particular focus on frontline regions.

"We value Germany's steadfast solidarity," the foreign minister added.

The German Foreign Ministry confirmed this statement, emphasizing that Germany, along with Austria, is taking on greater responsibility for Europe. Germany also emphasized that "Putin's brutal attacks are aimed specifically at civilians and energy infrastructure."

"Because we must present a stronger, united front in a more complex world. We share a common understanding of international challenges and objectives. We support Ukraine. Therefore, Germany has mobilized an additional EUR 60 million for heat, protection, heating systems, and hot water for people in Ukraine," the message posted on the social network X reads.

The German Foreign Ministry stated that Germany must demonstrate its ability to act in the new global situation.

"This includes taking responsibility for our security and advancing EU enlargement. We also support the Mercosur agreement," the message reads.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurated undergraduate programmes at Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan College of Education in Rampur, stressing that educational institutions must be judged by the quality of education and talent nurturing, not just infrastructure. He emphasized the crucial role of teachers, stating that true education instills the spirit of a guru, a revered guide in Indian tradition, and that training should align with Indian values. The Governor cited the National Education Policy as an opportunity to reconnect with India's great thinkers while also highlighting the imperative to eliminate drug abuse to protect the state. He noted the college is named after former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a great educationist who saw teachers as architects of character.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurates college courses, emphasizes teacher training aligned with Indian ethos and the fight against drug abuse.

Shimla, January 19 Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla emphasised the importance of providing quality education, particularly in rural areas, as he inaugurated undergraduate programmes at Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan College of Education in Shimla's Rampur.

He was addressing a gathering in Nogli village, in Rampur subdivision, Shimla district.

Shukla said that educational institutions should be judged not merely by infrastructure but by the quality of education imparted and the manner in which students' talents are nurtured.

He said that teachers and teacher training play a crucial role in shaping students, as true education instils the spirit of a teacher within learners. He stressed that training should be aligned with Indian ethos and values.

"A good teacher bears the responsibility of shaping good students. In the present times, the concept of 'guru' has been replaced by that of a 'teacher', but in Indian tradition, the guru has always been revered as a guide and torchbearer of society," he remarked.

Citing examples from Indian tradition, the Governor said that Lord Ram and Lord Krishna also followed the guru-shishya tradition and adhered to the teachings of their gurus.

"The guru is always a guide for society, and when one follows the guru with faith and sincerity, success naturally follows," he added.

Referring to the National Education Policy, the Governor said that the new policy provides an opportunity to reconnect with India's great thinkers and leaders, while imparting values and ethics among students. He underlined that to protect Himachal Pradesh, it was imperative to eliminate the menace of drug abuse from society.

He noted that the institution has been named after Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a great educationist and former President of India, who regarded education as the foundation of nation-building.

He said that Dr Radhakrishnan believed teachers were not just subject experts but architects of character, and urged the college to function in accordance with his ideals. The Governor added that the launch of undergraduate courses would open new avenues for students of the region, enabling them to access higher education locally and move towards self-reliance.

Earlier, Chairman and Managing Director of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Education Institution, Dr. Mukesh Sharma, welcomed and honoured the Governor and apprised him of the institution's activities. He also provided details about the newly introduced courses--B.A., B.Sc. and B.Com.--and informed that free education facilities were being extended to students from economically weaker sections. Principal Seema Bhardwaj also welcomed the Governor.

On the occasion, students of the college presented cultural programmes, including an emotionally moving dance drama based on the Ramayana.

The Governor also released the book "Assessment for Learning", authored by Dr Mukesh Kumar and Dr Seema Bhardwaj, and honoured outstanding individuals from various institutions, social sectors and meritorious students.

Earlier, local farmers accorded a unique welcome to the Governor by weighing him with fruits. Secretary to the Governor CP Verma, district administration officers and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

- ANI
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has become the first from the state to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos. His agenda includes high-level discussions on sustainable development, tourism, and healthcare to position Assam globally. He is showcasing the state's tea industry, infrastructure, and green energy sector to attract international investment. The visit aligns with India's national development vision and is expected to result in key partnership agreements.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma attends WEF Davos 2026, meets global leaders to showcase investment potential in tea, infrastructure, and green energy.

Davos, January 19 Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has created history by becoming the first Chief Minister from Assam to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Switzerland. His participation at WEF Davos 2026, being held from 19-23 January, marks a significant milestone in positioning Assam on the global economic and policy-making stage.

Sarma arrived in Switzerland to a warm reception by members of the Pravasi Bharatiya community at Zurich Airport. The Chief Minister was formally welcomed by Ambassador Mridul Kumar, who received him on arrival ahead of the high-profile summit.

During his visit, the Assam Chief Minister met several distinguished global and national leaders, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, World Bank President Ajay Banga, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, and other prominent dignitaries converging in Davos.

Sarma also met the President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, with whom he shared a cordial interaction.

At the World Economic Forum, Sarma is set to engage in high-level discussions on the workforce of tomorrow, global partnerships, tourism potential, healthcare transformation, and sustainable development. These conversations aim to firmly place Assam within the global narrative on future-ready growth, innovation, and opportunity.

Highlighting Assam's strengths, the Chief Minister is showcasing the state's thriving tea industry, robust infrastructure development, and expanding green energy sector, all of which offer significant avenues for international investment and collaboration.

Several key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the summit, further strengthening Assam's investor-friendly ecosystem.

"Assam's aspirations are getting new wings every day and I look forward to meaningful discussions and agreements to strengthen our growth journey over the next few days," Sarma said ahead of his departure to Davos.

Assam's debut at Davos aligns closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat', as the state contributes decisively to enhancing India's global economic footprint.

Sarma's participation at WEF 2026 not only marks a historic first for Assam but also signals the state's emergence as a confident and dynamic player in the economic landscape.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) will convene its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation.

Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," Davos 2026 seeks to provide an impartial platform for global leaders from government, business and civil society to reconnect, rebuild trust and explore collaborative solutions to challenges that increasingly transcend borders.

This year's programme is shaped by ongoing geopolitical realignments, slowing global growth, trade frictions and accelerating technological change. Across sessions on geopolitics, growth and global governance, participants will explore how cooperation can be renewed amid contested norms, strained alliances and eroding trust.

The Annual Meeting is expected to see record levels of government participation, with around 400 top political leaders, including nearly 65 heads of state and government and six leaders from the G7, taking part.

- ANI
BJP MP Ravi Kishan has hailed the expected election of Nitin Nabin as the party's new National President, calling it a historic day for a new and young India. Nabin, currently the National Working President, is set to succeed JP Nadda, with the formal announcement expected on January 20. His nomination papers reportedly carry signatures from top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move is seen as the party focusing on youth leadership ahead of key state assembly elections.

BJP MP Ravi Kishan calls Nitin Nabin's expected elevation a historic day for a young India. The new president will succeed JP Nadda.

New Delhi, January 19 BJP MP Ravi Kishan on Monday called the election of Nitin Nabin as the Bharatiya Janata Party's new National President a "historic day for new and young India", saying there is a wave of happiness among the entire country and party workers.

Speaking to ANI, Ravi Kishan said, "This will be a historic day for this new India, for this young India. It's a historic day. We had gone to Patna for his election. We had no idea he would emerge as the national president in such a grand way. The whole country will be happy with this new National President of New India."

Congratulating Nitin Nabin, the BJP MP added, "I heartily congratulate Nitin Nabin ji. His election as National President is definitely approved by everyone. It is a historic day and there is a wave of happiness among all the youth and all the workers."

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party National Working President Nitin Nabin is set to assume the post of BJP National President, succeeding JP Nadda, on January 20, sources aware of the development said. Nabin, who was elected as the party's working president in December, filed his nomination on January 19 and is likely to be elected as President on January 20.

According to the sources, all Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, all state BJP presidents, national office bearers, and senior BJP leaders have been asked to be present in Delhi.

BJP's Chief Election Officer K. Lakshman will announce the name of the national president, Nitin Nabin.

Three sets of nominations will be filed for the national president's post. One set will have the signatures of more than 20 elected state BJP presidents. One set will have the signatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and JP Nadda.The third set will have the signatures of the members of the BJP National Council. If only one name is nominated, the national president's name will be announced the same day, sources said.

Union Minister JP Nadda currently helms the national party. The appointment of Nabin is seen as the party focusing on youth leadership. Since his appointment as the National Working President, Nitin Nabin has been deeply engaged in the party's preparations for the upcoming state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry.

Recently, Nitin Nabin visited Tamil Nadu to review party preparations to face Chief Minister MK Stalin-led DMK. Before Tamil Nadu, he was in Assam, where BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma is going to face a tough competition from Congress.

- ANI
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi's visit to India marked a shift to an "execution phase" in bilateral ties, focusing on tangible outcomes. Key agreements included launching an AI dialogue and a joint group on critical minerals to fortify supply chains. The partnership strengthens the Quad framework's efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering China's maritime assertiveness. The engagement underscores Japan's role as a reliable strategic partner for India in enhancing economic and security resilience.

Japan's FM Motegi visits India, launching AI & critical minerals partnerships to bolster a free Indo-Pacific and counter Chinese assertiveness.

New Delhi/Tokyo, Jan 19 The recent visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to India marked an "execution phase" in bilateral ties, moving from visionary agreements to tangible outcomes. Through diversified partnerships between the two nations, India enhances its strategic autonomy, reducing dependence on any singular power while promoting free and open Indo-Pacific principles to deter coercion, a report said on Monday.

"Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi's visit to India from January 15 to 17, 2026, underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations amid evolving Indo-Pacific dynamics. This three-day engagement, featuring high-level dialogues and symbolic gestures, signals India's intent to fortify alliances against regional assertiveness, particularly from China. From New Delhi's vantage, the visit exemplifies a pragmatic pivot toward resilient economic and security architectures," a report in India Narrative detailed.

"Foreign Minister Motegi engaged in substantive bilateral interactions, commencing with the 18th India-Japan Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on January 16. Discussions reviewed advancements since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's August 2025 visit to Japan, which birthed the 'Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade,' encompassing security, economic resilience, innovation, and cultural ties," it added.

Among the main outcomes of the 18th India-Japan Foreign Ministerial Strategic Dialogue were the launch of an AI dialogue mechanism and a Joint Working Group on critical minerals, with emphasis on rare earth elements and supply chain fortification. Motegi also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent visit, where the two leaders exchanged views on economic security, artificial intelligence, investments, and people-to-people connectivity.

According to the report, Motegi's visit reinforces countermeasures to China's maritime assertiveness in the Indian Ocean and its control over the supply chains.

"The Quad framework - comprising India, Japan, the United States, and Australia - emerges as pivotal, promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) predicated on rule-of-law principles. Motegi's emphasis on economic security dovetails with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, mitigating vulnerabilities in semiconductors, batteries, and critical minerals via Japanese technology transfers, such as the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) for defence interoperability," it mentioned.

In the broader geopolitical context, the report said, Motegi's India trip -part of his inaugural 2026 overseas tour following stops in Israel, Qatar, and the Philippines-underscored Japan's proactive diplomacy under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

"For India, it signals Tokyo's reliability as a counterweight to Beijing's assertiveness, including South China Sea militarisation and Indian Ocean forays. The partnership transcends bilateralism, embedding within G20, G4, and UN platforms to advocate reformed global governance," it noted.

- IANS
Anchored in India's ethos of dharma and global well-being

India has launched the Responsible Nations Index, a global framework developed by the World Intellectual Foundation to assess nations based on their ethical responsibility towards citizens, the environment, and the international community. The index, shaped by academic institutions like JNU and IIM Mumbai, aims to move beyond traditional economic and geopolitical metrics. The launch event was chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind and featured a panel discussion chaired by N.K. Singh. The initiative seeks to foster a long-term global conversation on responsible nationhood and sustainable futures.

India unveils the Responsible Nations Index, a global framework assessing nations by ethical governance, citizen welfare, and environmental responsibility.

New Delhi, Jan 19 In an intellectual and policy milestone, India, on Monday, launched the Responsible Nations Index, a global framework to assess nations not merely by economic strength or geopolitical influence, but by their responsibility towards citizens, the environment, and the international community.

Institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai, played a key academic role in shaping the intellectual foundations and methodological rigour of the Index launched by global think-tank World Intellectual Foundation (WIF), a statement said.

The launch event at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre was chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

He underlined the importance of ethical governance, inclusive development, and moral responsibility in shaping sustainable national and global futures.

Sudhanshu Mittal, WIF Founder and Secretary, said that the RNI represents a shift from power-centric assessments to responsibility-centric evaluation of nations.

"The Responsible Nations Index asks a fundamental question -- how responsibly does a nation exercise its power? Prosperity without responsibility is unsustainable. RNI seeks to encourage ethical governance, humane development, and global stewardship," he added.

The event brought together eminent policymakers, jurists, economists, academicians, diplomats, and institutional leaders, reflecting the multidimensional nature of the RNI endeavour.

The Responsible Nations Index is the culmination of a three-year-long academic and policy exercise, conceptualised and developed by the World Intellectual Foundation.

Anchored in India's civilisational ethos of dharma and global well-being, the Index seeks to reframe global discourse around nationhood and progress.

The formal launch followed an Expert Panel Discussion on the theme "From Human Well-being to Global Stewardship: Rethinking Responsibility, Prosperity and Peace in the 21st Century", chaired by N.K. Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission of India.

The panel featured distinguished economists and scholars, including Prachi Mishra, Professor of Economics and Director, Isaac Centre for Public Policy, Ashoka University; Laveesh Bhandari, President and Senior Fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP); and Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist, Axis Bank and Head of Global Research, Axis Capital.

During the inaugural session, addresses were delivered by Santishree D. Pandit, Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Director, IIM Mumbai; Edouard Husson, Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Paris, who also presented key intellectual insights from the closed-door Expert Roundtable held earlier on Monday.

Justice (Retd.) Arun Kumar Mishra, who spoke on the mission of the World Intellectual Foundation and the broader significance of the "RNI: A New Lens for Global Responsibility".

The ceremony concluded with the ceremonial release of the Responsible Nations Index Report, marking the beginning of what WIF described as a long-term global conversation on responsible nationhood.

The World Intellectual Foundation is a global think-tank committed to advancing ideas that promote ethical leadership, responsible governance, and sustainable global futures through rigorous research and dialogue.

- IANS
India has repatriated a Pakistani national, Hafiz Muhammad Abbu Bakar, via the Attari-Wagah border. This follows the repatriation of 48 Pakistani fishermen and 19 civilian prisoners by India last September. India has urged Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of all Indian prisoners, including 159 fishermen and civilians who have completed their sentences. The two countries exchange lists of prisoners biannually under a 2008 consular agreement.

India repatriates a Pakistani prisoner via the Attari-Wagah border. Read about ongoing prisoner exchanges and diplomatic efforts between India and Pakistan.

New Delhi, January 20 India has repatriated a Pakistani national, allegedly imprisoned in India, via the Attari-Wagah border, Pakistan High Commission in India said.

"Hafiz Muhammad Abbu Bakar, a Pakistani citizen imprisoned in India, was repatriated to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border today," the Pakistan High Commission said on Monday.

Earlier in September of last year, India repatriated 48 Pakistani fishermen and 19 Pakistani civilian prisoners, who had completed their sentences, via the Attari-Wagah border, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement.

India also urged the Pakistani government to expedite the release and repatriation of all Indian prisoners, including fishermen in Islamabad's custody.

"The Government of India attaches high priority to the issue of Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners in Pakistan's custody and has urged the Government of Pakistan to expedite the release and repatriation of all Indian prisoners, including fishermen who remain in Pakistan's custody," MEA said in a statement.

In July, India and Pakistan exchanged, through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody. Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on 1st of January and July.

Pakistan has been requested to ensure the "safety, security and welfare" of all civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

"India has shared the names of 382 civilian prisoners and 81 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared the names of 53 civilian prisoners and 193 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian," it said.

The Government of India called for the "early release and repatriation" of civilian prisoners and fishermen currently in Pakistani custody, especially those who have already completed their prison sentences.

"Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 159 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners, who have completed their sentence," the MEA said.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held extensive talks to review and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between their nations. The leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, and agreed to enhance defence and security cooperation. They welcomed mutual support on multilateral platforms, with the UAE backing India's 2026 BRICS Chairmanship. The visit also saw agreements on cultural initiatives, including a 'House of India' in Abu Dhabi and the gifting of symbolic traditional items.

PM Modi & UAE President strengthen defence cooperation, condemn cross-border terrorism, and agree on new cultural initiatives during official visit.

New Delhi, Jan 19 India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation - a core pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - while underlining the shared interest in regional peace, security and stability.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who paid an official visit to India at the invitation of PM Modi on Monday, reviewed the full scope of bilateral cooperation between the two countries and agreed that the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to strengthen over the past decade.

This was Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's fifth visit to India in the last 10 years and third official visit to India as the President of the UAE.

During their extensive discussions, both leaders welcomed the visits of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to India in the last two years, noting that these visits marked generational continuity of the bilateral relationship.

"The leaders highlighted deep respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the importance of strategic autonomy. They acknowledged steady and strong bilateral defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They welcomed the momentum generated by the recent exchange of visits by the respective Service Chiefs and Commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force of both countries, and the successful conduct of bilateral military exercises. They welcomed the signing of Letter of Intent towards the conclusion of a Strategic Defence Partnership," read a Joint Statement issued after the talks.

"The two leaders reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and emphasised that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. They agreed to continue cooperation within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to counter terror financing and strengthen anti-money laundering efforts," it added.

Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and underlined their shared interest in regional peace, security and stability.

"They noted excellent cooperation and mutual support at multilateral and plurilateral fora. The UAE side conveyed its full support for the success of India's BRICS Chairmanship in 2026. The Indian side conveyed its support for the 2026 UN Water Conference, to be co-hosted by the UAE at the end of 2026, which will focus on accelerating the implementation of SDG 6, ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all," the statement added.

Recognising the shared cultural and historical heritage between the two countries, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the UAE's decision to provide artefacts for the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal.

According to the Joint Statement, the two leaders decided to establish a 'House of India' in Abu Dhabi as a lasting symbol of the India-UAE friendship. They also agreed to continue nurturing vibrant people-to-people ties through youth exchanges aimed at further deepening cultural understanding.

The UAE President also thanked Prime Minister Modi for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi presented traditional Indian gifts to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he welcomed the UAE leader and his family at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg.

PM Modi gifted the President of UAE a royal carved wooden jhula (swing), a beautifully carved wooden swing from Gujarat that sits at the heart of many Gujarat family homes. It is hand-carved with detailed floral and traditional designs, showing skilled craftsmanship. In Gujarati culture, the jhula symbolises togetherness, conversation and bonding across generations. The gift also resonates deeply with the UAE's declaration of 2026 as the 'Year of Family'.

PM Modi also gifted the visiting leader a Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box. The Pashmina shawl comes from Kashmir and is made by hand from very fine wool, making it soft, light and warm. The shawl is placed in a decorative silver box made in Telangana. Together, they represent India's rich tradition of handloom and handicraft.

A Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box was also gifted to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi. She was also gifted Kashmiri Saffron in an ornate silver box. Grown in the Kashmir Valley, saffron is revered for its deep crimson strands and intense aroma.

Earlier, in a special gesture, Prime Minister Modi travelled to the Delhi airport and personally welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he began his third official visit to the country since assuming office.

Both leaders travelled together in the same car from the airport, showcasing their longstanding friendship and the multi-faceted partnership between the two countries. This is the UAE President's fifth visit to India over the past decade.

"Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions," PM Modi posted on X.

- IANS
India and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to explore the establishment of 'Digital Embassies' to create secure, external repositories for nationally significant data. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained the concept involves setting up a regulatory framework for these sovereign data havens, a model few countries have implemented. The joint statement also highlights strengthened cooperation in artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and the establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India. The agreement followed the official visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi.

India and UAE agree to explore Digital Embassies to secure national data, alongside AI and supercomputing collaboration. Details inside.

New Delhi, January 19 India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday agreed to explore the possibility of establishing 'Digital Embassies' under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements, according to a joint statement issued following the visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

On the concept of digital embassies, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a media briefing that the initiative involves creating a secure repository for data that a country considers strategically important and of national significance.

He noted that only a few countries worldwide have successfully implemented such a model, and both nations will establish a regulatory framework for the matter.

"It's an interesting new concept. It relates to a country's effort to establish a safe harbour for data it considers of national importance and strategic value. There are not many successful examples of this concept being executed in many places around the world, but there are a few. It is a new concept for us as well," Misri said.

"We may have to work out a regulatory framework for getting into this, but it is an interesting area in which the UAE has expressed some interest, and we are willing to work with them and see how we can set this up while, of course, respecting the fact that data has certain sovereignty-related issues attached to it. We will work through these issues," he added.

According to the Data Security Council of India, a Digital Embassy or Data Embassy is an approach that ensures digital continuity for nation-states by extending a country's cloud infrastructure through state-owned servers located outside its physical borders.

These embassies provide protection against cyber and physical threats while maintaining immunity from the host country's local laws. Given current geopolitical developments, data embassies are expected to become increasingly important in shaping diplomatic relations between nations.

According to the Joint Statement, both sides also decided to strengthen cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

The statement also highlighted collaboration to establish a supercomputing cluster in India and the potential for setting up data centres in the country.

"The two leaders decided to strengthen collaboration in science and technology and innovation, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. Welcoming the decision to collaborate on establishing a supercomputing cluster in India, they also agreed to explore cooperation in setting up data centres in India. The two leaders directed their teams to explore the possibility of establishing 'Digital Embassies' between the UAE and India, under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements," the statement read.

UAE President also expressed support for India's upcoming AI Impact Summit, scheduled to be hosted in February 2026.

This comes following the official visit of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to India earlier today.

This was Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the United Arab Emirates, and his fifth in the past decade, reflecting the frequency and intensity of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.

- ANI
India and the United Arab Emirates have announced a comprehensive set of agreements following the official visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The deals span strategic defence, a long-term LNG supply agreement, and a major investment partnership for developing Gujarat's Dholera Special Investment Region. Both nations also committed to doubling their bilateral trade to over USD 200 billion by 2032 and advancing cooperation in space and civil nuclear sectors. The visit underscores the deepening strategic and economic ties between the two countries.

India and UAE announce strategic partnership covering defence, LNG supply, space cooperation, and a $200 billion trade target during President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's visit.

New Delhi, January 19 India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday announced a wide-ranging set of outcomes following the visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India, with key agreements covering investment in Gujarat's Dholera Special Investment Region, a Strategic Defence Partnership, long-term LNG supply, space cooperation, trade expansion and civil nuclear collaboration.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, India and the UAE signed a Letter of Intent on investment cooperation between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment for the development of the Dholera Special Investment Region.

The envisioned partnership includes the creation of strategic infrastructure, such as an international airport, a greenfield port, a smart urban township, railway connectivity, energy infrastructure, and aviation training and aircraft maintenance facilities.

Both sides also agreed to work towards establishing a Strategic Defence Partnership Framework Agreement, aimed at expanding defence cooperation in areas including defence industrial collaboration, advanced technologies, training and education, special operations, cyber security, counter-terrorism and interoperability.

In the energy sector, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and ADNOC Gas signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement for the supply of 0.5 million metric tonnes per annum of LNG over a 10-year period starting from 2028, strengthening long-term energy cooperation between the two countries.

According to the Joint Statement, the UAE President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the "Sales and Purchase Agreement", expressing "satisfaction with the strength of the bilateral energy partnership and underscored the UAE's contribution to India's energy security."

The visit also saw the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the UAE Space Agency to pursue joint development of infrastructure to support the growth and commercialisation of the space industry.

In this context, both leaders "welcomed the understanding reached to collaborate on a joint initiative aimed at driving commercialisation of the sector through the advancement of space sciences and technologies".

"This initiative aims to produce an integrated space ecosystem with end-to-end infrastructure and a strong industrial base. It aims to enable India-UAE joint missions, expand global commercial services, create high-skilled employment and start-ups and strengthen bilateral investment through sustainable business models," the Joint Statement read.

On the economic front, India and the UAE agreed to double bilateral trade to over USD 200 billion by 2032, with a focus on linking MSMEs, promoting new markets and leveraging initiatives such as Bharat Mart, the Virtual Trade Corridor and Bharat-Africa Setu.

"Buoyed by the enthusiasm of the business communities on both sides, they decided to double bilateral trade to target USD 200 billion by 2032," the Joint Statement read.

The two sides also agreed to promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation, building on opportunities created by India's SHANTI Act 2025. Cooperation will cover advanced nuclear technologies, including large reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as nuclear safety, operations and maintenance.

Additional outcomes included plans to establish a supercomputing cluster in India through collaboration between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and UAE-based G-42, facilitation of UAE companies such as First Abu Dhabi Bank and DP World setting up operations in GIFT City, exploration of Digital or Data Embassies, establishment of a 'House of India' in Abu Dhabi, enhanced food safety cooperation to boost agricultural exports, and promotion of youth exchanges between the two countries.

The outcomes come following the official visit of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to India earlier today.

Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the President of the UAE at the Delhi airport, underscoring the close ties between the two leaders and the strong bilateral relationship between India and the UAE.

Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, "Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions."

PM Modi also shared pictures with the UAE President, including one showing both leaders inside a car. Another photograph showed the two leaders enveloped in a hug.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit is on the invitation of PM Modi and builds on the strong momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai in April 2025.

PM Modi, later, welcomed the UAE President and his family at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, during which the Prime Minister presented traditional Indian gifts to the visiting dignitaries.

PM Modi gifted the UAE President a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula (swing), a beautifully carved wooden swing from Gujarat that sits at the heart of many Gujarati family homes. It is hand-carved with detailed floral and traditional designs, showcasing skilled craftsmanship.

PM Modi also gifted the UAE President a Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box. The shawl was placed in a decorative silver box made in Telangana. Together, they represent India's rich tradition of handloom and handicraft.

A Pashmina shawl, presented in an ornate silver box, was also gifted to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi. She was also gifted Kashmiri saffron, grown in the Kashmir Valley, in an ornate silver box.

This was Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the United Arab Emirates, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade, reflecting the frequency and intensity of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.

- ANI
India and the United Arab Emirates have announced an ambitious roadmap to more than double their bilateral trade to over USD 200 billion by 2032. The announcement followed a substantive visit by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi, where he was personally received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Key outcomes include a long-term LNG supply agreement, commitments for UAE companies to establish operations in Gujarat's GIFT City, and a partnership to develop the Dholera Special Investment Region. The two nations also agreed to explore cooperation in advanced nuclear technologies and digital infrastructure projects.

India and UAE unveil roadmap to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, with new deals on LNG, nuclear tech, and GIFT City investments.

New Delhi, January 19 India and the United Arab Emirates on Monday unveiled a dozen outcomes at the end of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit, including a roadmap to more than double bilateral trade to over USD 200 billion by 2032 and expand cooperation in advanced nuclear technologies such as large nuclear reactors and small modular reactors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also invited UAE sovereign wealth funds to consider joining the second Infrastructure Fund, scheduled for launch in 2026.

The announcements were made after the conclusion of the UAE President's visit to New Delhi on Monday evening. The engagement, which lasted a little over three hours, was described by the Indian side as a "short but extremely substantive visit".

According to a joint statement, underscoring the close ties between the two leaders, the UAE President was personally received at the Delhi airport by Prime Minister Modi, which the Indian side termed "a special gesture that is characteristic of the extremely warm and close relationship that the two leaders share".

Among the key outcomes was a long-term agreement under which Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) will purchase 0.5 MMPTA of liquefied natural gas from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas (ADNOC Gas) for a 10-year period beginning in 2028.

The two sides also announced that UAE companies First Abu Dhabi Bank and DP World will set up offices and operations in Gujarat's GIFT City. While First Abu Dhabi Bank will establish a branch to support trade and investment linkages, DP World will operate from GIFT City, including leasing ships for its global operations, the statement read.

Investment cooperation was further strengthened through a Letter of Intent signed between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment for the development of the Dholera Special Investment Region in Gujarat.

The partnership will include the development of strategic infrastructure, such as an international airport, a pilot training school, a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility, a greenfield airport, and a smart urban township, along with projects related to railway connectivity and energy infrastructure.

Beyond trade and investment, both sides also signed agreements to deepen cooperation in areas such as space, defence and food safety. UAE's G42 company will support the establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India.

The two countries will also explore establishing digital data embassies and a 'House of India' in Abu Dhabi.

Under the plan to expand trade to over USD 200 billion by 2032, both sides will focus on connecting micro, small, and medium enterprises and opening new markets through initiatives such as Bharat Mart, the Virtual Trade Corridor, and Bharat-Africa Setu.

This was Al Nahyan's fifth visit to India in the last 10 years and his third official visit as UAE President. Later in the evening, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while addressing a media briefing, highlighted the high-powered UAE delegation that accompanied the President.

India and the UAE signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022, and noted rapid growth in bilateral trade, which reached USD 100 billion in FY25.

"Buoyed by the enthusiasm of the business communities on both sides, they decided to double bilateral trade to target USD 200 billion by 2032," the joint statement said.

In the context of India's Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) law, the two sides agreed to explore cooperation in advanced nuclear technologies, including the development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and small modular reactors. The engagement will also cover advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations and maintenance, and nuclear safety.

The leaders also tasked their teams with working towards interlinking national payment platforms to enable efficient, fast and cost-effective cross-border payments.

- ANI
High levels of trust among public figures in Ukraine are held by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (62%), Mayor of Kharkiv Ihor Terekhov (44%), current Minister of Defense, former First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov (38%) and volunteer and public figure Serhiy Prytula (46%); however, their levels are lower than those of representatives of the security and defense forces - Valery Zaluzhny (72%) and Kyrylo Budanov (70%).

This is evidenced by the results of a sociological survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology on January 9-14, 2026. KIIS notes that a list of 17 political, socio-political and military figures was formed. During the survey, respondents were given certain tips regarding the activities of the persons proposed for consideration.

"Among politicians and public figures from the list (proposed by KIIS  IF-U), V. Zelenskyy has the highest trust indicators, who is trusted by 62%, distrusted by 34% (respectively, the balance of trust-distrust is +28%). Also, high trust indicators are given to I. Terekhov (44% trust and 23% distrust, balance  +21%), M. Fedorov (38% trust and 26% distrust, balance  +12%) and S. Prytula (46% trust and 41% distrust, balance  +5%)," the KIIS statement on its website says on Monday. It is indicated that quite a few people do not know Terekhov and Fedorov, even with a hint. All other politicians and public figures from the list have a negative balance, that is, they are distrusted more than they are trusted. At the same time, among them, we can single out those whose indicators (for Ukrainian realities) are relatively high: Yulia Svyrydenko, Dmytro Razumkov (in the case of these two people, many people still dont know them, that is, there are prospects for improving their attitude towards themselves) and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Vitaliy Klitschko. Their balance of trust-distrust is from -12% to -19%, and at least no more than half (or about that) do not trust them.

Oleksiy Honcharenko, as the survey shows, has worse indicators. So, 22% trust him, 54% do not trust him, and the balance of trust-distrust is -32%. In the case of the rest of the politicians on the list, the balance of trust-distrust is -47% and lower.

Among the list of figures from the defense sector, everyone has a positive balance of trust-distrust. The respondents have the best attitude towards Valeriy Zaluzhny (72% trust, 21% do not trust, and the balance is +51%) and Kyrylo Budanov (70% trust, 19% do not trust, and the balance is +51%).

Next is Andriy Biletsky, whom 45% trust, 13% do not trust, and the balance, respectively, is +32%. At the same time, 32% did not know who Biletsky was, even with a "hint", that is, as sociologists note, he has significant prospects for improving his indicators due to higher awareness. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky is trusted by 46%, distrusted by 40%, and the balance is +6%.

Executive Director of KIIS Anton Hrushetsky, in a comment on the study, noted that "the survey results show that the level of trust in conventionally "old" politicians is low and there is an obvious demand for a new generation of leaders ("new" faces) who have proven themselves well during a full-scale war." According to his assessment, among current figures in the political and public spheres, Terekhov (a representative of local government who - from the point of view of many citizens - effectively organizes community life despite his frontline status), Fedorov (a young figure and leader in the field of advanced technologies), and Prytula (a volunteer whose organization makes a large-scale contribution to defense) have quite high trust and prospects.

"Svyrydenko, Razumkov, Klitschko, Honcharenko have lower trust, but still they currently have a certain segment and retain, albeit restrained, but also prospects (especially when it comes to obtaining a faction in the next parliament). Some of the "old" figures also retain a "core" of supporters, which may allow them to enter parliament. However, in their case, the "ceiling" of opportunities is obvious (due to too high distrust and anti-rating)," - notes Hrushetsky.

"However, all of the above figures are noticeably inferior to military figures, primarily Zaluzhny and Budanov (who have higher trust even than Zelenskyy). This reflects a significant public demand to see successful military figures at the head of the state after the war," - emphasized Hrushetsky.

During January 9-14, 2026, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted its own all-Ukrainian public opinion poll, which, among other things, included questions about trust in individual Ukrainian public figures. 601 respondents were surveyed using the computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) method based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers. The survey was conducted with adult (aged 18 and older) citizens of Ukraine who, at the time of the survey, lived in the territory of Ukraine controlled by the Ukrainian government. The sample did not include residents of territories temporarily not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities (at the same time, some of the respondents are IDPs who moved from occupied territories), and the survey was not conducted with citizens who left abroad after 24 January.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have set an ambitious target to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032. This follows the rapid growth achieved under the CEPA, with trade already hitting $100 billion. The leaders announced a major 10-year LNG supply agreement and explored partnerships in developing Gujarat's Dholera region and in advanced space and nuclear technologies. They also directed teams to enhance financial sector links and support MSMEs through initiatives like 'Bharat Mart'.

PM Modi and UAE President set ambitious trade goal, sign LNG deal, and announce partnerships in infrastructure, space, and nuclear tech.

New Delhi, Jan 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United Arab Emirates President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, decided to double India-UAE bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, according to a joint statement issued on Monday after a meeting held here.

The two leaders welcomed the robust growth in trade and economic cooperation since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022 and noted the rapid growth of bilateral trade, which reached $100 billion in FY 2024-25, the statement said.

The two leaders endorsed the outcomes of the 13th High-Level Task Force on Investments held in September 2025, and the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and 5th Strategic Dialogue held in December 2025.

They directed their teams to work towards connecting Micro, Small and Medium Sector Enterprises (MSMEs) on both sides.

In this context, they called for the expeditious implementation of key initiatives, such as the 'Bharat Mart', the 'Virtual Trade Corridor' and the 'Bharat-Africa Setu' to promote MSME products across the Middle East, West Asia, Africa and the Eurasia region.

The leaders expressed satisfaction that the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in 2024 has further strengthened investment flows across multiple sectors in both countries.

They also welcomed discussions on a potential UAE partnership for the development of the Special Investment Region in Dholera, Gujarat.

The envisioned partnership would include the development of key strategic infrastructure, including an international airport, a pilot training school, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, a greenfield port, a smart urban township, railway connectivity, and energy infrastructure.

Highlighting the success of the first National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) Infrastructure Fund, Prime Minister Modi invited UAE sovereign wealth funds to consider participation in the second Infrastructure Fund, scheduled for launch in 2026.

The two leaders welcomed the establishment of DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) branches in GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), reinforcing its emergence as a leading international financial center.

FAB's GIFT City branch will act as a key bridge, connecting Indian corporates and investors to its expertise and global network across the Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East and North Africa markets.

Both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to enhancing the UAE-India cooperation in food security, recognising its strategic importance in ensuring sustainable supply chains and long-term resilience.

They underscored the role of public-private partnerships, innovation and knowledge exchange in advancing sustainable agriculture and enhancing national food resilience in line with the national priorities of both countries.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the strength of the bilateral energy partnership and underscored the UAE's contribution to India's energy security.

They welcomed signing a 10-year LNG Supply Agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and ADNOC Gas for the delivery of 0.5 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas, beginning in 2028.

"The two sides agreed to explore partnership in advanced nuclear technologies, including development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as cooperation in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations and maintenance and nuclear safety," the statement SAID.

The two leaders appreciated the deepening financial sector cooperation between the two countries.

They directed their teams to work towards interlinking the national payment platforms to enable efficient, fast and cost-effective cross-border payments.

The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in space sector.

In this context, they welcomed the understanding reached to collaborate on a joint initiative aimed at driving commercialisation of the sector through the advancement of space sciences and technologies.

This initiative aims to produce an integrated space ecosystem with end-to-end infrastructure and a strong industrial base. It aims to enable India-UAE joint missions, expand global commercial services, create high-skilled employment and start-ups and strengthen bilateral investment through sustainable business models.

The two leaders also decided to strengthen collaboration in science and technology and innovation, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

"Welcoming the decision to collaborate on the establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India, they also agreed to explore cooperation in setting up data centres in India," the statement added.

- IANS
India made a powerful statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos with its largest-ever delegation and pavilion, positioning itself as a current driver of global growth. Industry leaders highlighted the nation's transformation over 15 years, emphasizing technology's role in infrastructure and manufacturing. Key discussions focused on GIFT City's importance as an international financial hub and Madhya Pradesh's potential to become a major technology and AI center. The optimism is underpinned by an upgraded IMF growth forecast, reflecting strong economic momentum.

Industry and policy leaders at Davos spotlight India's transformation into a global growth driver, tech hub, and sophisticated financial services center.

Davos, January 19 The 56th World Economic Forum in Davos is seeing India step onto the world stage with its biggest-ever delegation, a 10,000 sq ft India Pavilion, and a clear message: India is already a key driver of global growth, not just a long-term bet.

Top industry leaders and policymakers highlighted India's transformation and future potential at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, reflecting India's growing influence in global technology, infrastructure, and financial services.

Bharat Kaushal, Executive Chairman of Hitachi India, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, highlighted how technology is essential for tackling global disruptions and shaping the future of infrastructure and manufacturing.

Speaking to ANI, he noted that Hitachi, with a 90-year history in India, plays a key role in the country's twin push for both physical and digital infrastructure development.

Kaushal said, "I think Davos's relevance has come to the central stage once again only because there is too much disruption in the world. A lot of it, by technology or thanks to technology, is also progressive. At the same time, there is a lot of uncertainty as well."

He emphasised that the "sea change" in India over the last 15 years regarding implementation and quality consciousness has transformed the country into a hub for globally competitive solutions.

Further, Sanjay Kaul, the Group CEO and Managing Director of GIFT City, emphasised the integral role the international financial services centre plays in India's ascent as a top global economy.

Highlighting the strategic importance of representing India on a global stage, Kaul noted that Davos serves as a premier platform to engage with C-suite executives and business leaders from the world's most influential companies.

In an interview given to ANI, Kaul said, "We see it as a very important forum where two things. One is that we bring to the world the financial services centre of India, number one. Number two, as well as what is it that is on offer here in India, and how can you come and set up business."

He further elaborated that this presence is vital for the national perspective, ensuring that India is recognised globally as a legitimate economic power with a sophisticated financial services hub. Kaul revealed that the team has lined up approximately 30 bilateral meetings over three days, with strong interest from various global entities.

Abhay Chaturvedi, Corporate Vice President - Tech Industries at HCL Technologies (HCLTech), expressed strong optimism about Madhya Pradesh's potential to emerge as a significant technology and AI hub, following a meeting with the Madhya Pradesh delegation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Chaturvedi said the state has all the necessary ingredients to rapidly catch up with India's leading IT states, such as Karnataka and Maharashtra.

"Madhya Pradesh is a major source of technology talent. I myself come from Bhopal, and like me, thousands of professionals from the state are contributing to the global technology ecosystem," he said, talking to ANI.

India's Ambassador to Switzerland, Mridul Kumar, met World Bank Group President Ajay Banga at Zurich Airport as he arrived to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos.

In a post on X, the Indian mission said, "A pleasant meeting at Zurich Airport today while receiving Indian dignitaries! Amb Kumar had the opportunity to meet Mr. Ajay Banga, President of @WorldBank, arriving for WEF Annual Meeting in Davos."

CEO and Founder of AI-powered protein discovery company Shiru, Jasmin Hume, stated that the crops in Madhya Pradesh hold significant potential for protein innovation and could be used to develop valuable compounds for food, cosmetics, and agriculture.

Hume, following her meeting with representatives from the Government of Madhya Pradesh on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos, stated that both sides explored potential collaboration opportunities, including contract research and contract manufacturing.

India's global stride comes in the backdrop of the IMF lifting its 2026 growth forecast for India to 7.3%, up 0.7 percentage points, citing strong momentum in Q3 and Q4 2025.

WEF officials say India could account for up to 20% of global growth this year, cementing its role as the fastest-growing major economy.

Notably, four Union Ministers are in Davos: Ashwini Vaishnaw (IT & Railways), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Agriculture), Pralhad Joshi (Renewable Energy), and K Rammohan Naidu (Civil Aviation), with a focus on infrastructure, digital transformation, manufacturing, and energy transition.

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, met with the Madhya Pradesh government at the Davos India Lounge during the ongoing World Economic Forum 2026 to discuss India's focus and plans for renewable energy.

Pralhad Joshi met Madhya Pradesh's New and Renewable Energy Minister, Rakesh Shukla.

The Madhya Pradesh government also held discussions with Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026, to explore avenues for collaboration in technology-led economic growth, a press release said.

The interaction focused on Israel's innovation-driven development model, particularly across frontier areas such as quantum technologies, education technology, defence technologies, and water solutions. Stopel highlighted Israel's strong R&D ecosystem, underpinned by significant private-sector participation and co-investment models that align public support with commercial viability.

Ten states, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, are pitching investment-ready projects at the Pavilion.

Chief Ministers like Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), and others are leading state-specific roadshows.

Over 100 Indian CEOs are in Davos, including Mukesh Ambani (Reliance), N Chandrasekaran (Tata Sons), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Bharti Enterprises), Sanjiv Bajaj (Bajaj Group), and Nandan Nilekani (Infosys). They are meeting with global investors, sovereign funds, and multinational CEOs to secure long-term capital flows.

The combined presence of central government, state governments, and top corporate leaders makes this the most comprehensive Indian outreach at Davos to date. It signals a shift from "potential" to "present" in the global economic narrative, aiming to convert dialogue into concrete investments and partnerships.

- ANI
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a stark warning that any attack on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would be considered a declaration of "all-out war" against Iran. This comes after former US President Donald Trump called for new leadership in Iran, criticizing Khamenei's rule as repressive and destructive. Khamenei had previously labeled Trump a "criminal," holding him responsible for casualties during Iranian unrest. The exchange highlights the tense relations between the two nations, marked by sanctions and verbal confrontations.

Iranian President Pezeshkian warns US that any strike on Supreme Leader Khamenei would mean war, escalating a tense exchange with Donald Trump.

Tehran, Jan 19 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any attack on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would be considered a declaration of "all-out war" against the Iranian nation, following a sharp exchange of rhetoric with US President Donald Trump.

Pezeshkian's comments, posted on social media platform X, come amid heightened tensions after Trump told Politico on Saturday that it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran."

"Any attack on our great leader will be tantamount to an all-out war against the Iranian nation," Pezeshkian wrote.

The Iranian president also blamed Washington for the country's economic struggles, citing "longstanding hostility" and "inhumane sanctions" imposed by the United States and its allies as the primary drivers of hardship for the Iranian people, Xinhua news agency reported.

The diplomatic spat intensified earlier on Saturday when Khamenei labeled Trump a "criminal," holding him responsible for casualties and damages sustained during recent periods of domestic unrest in Iran.

Trump called for an end to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's decades-long rule, saying the country needs new leadership as it faces sustained public unrest.

Speaking to Politico on Saturday, Trump said, "It's time to look for new leadership in Iran," following weeks of protests that have rocked the Islamic Republic. The demonstrations have been driven by public anger over political repression, economic hardship, and human rights abuses.

Trump strongly criticised Iran's leadership, accusing it of governing through violence and fear. Referring to alleged executions, he told the publication, "The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago."

The US president argued that Iran's current leadership depends on repression to remain in power and blamed Khamenei for what he described as the country's downfall. Trump accused the supreme leader of presiding over the "complete destruction of the country" and of using unprecedented levels of violence to suppress dissent.

Relations between Tehran and Washington have remained fraught since Trump's return to the White House, characterized by a continuation of the "maximum pressure" policy and frequent verbal confrontations between the two leaderships.

- IANS
The Israel Defense Forces announced it is conducting strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. The military action is a response to what Israel calls violations of ceasefire understandings by the militant group. Specific targets include structures used for terrorist training and attack planning. The IDF also struck tunnel shafts for weapon storage and rocket launching sites.

IDF attacks Hezbollah training structures, tunnel shafts, and rocket sites in southern Lebanon, citing ceasefire violations.

Tel Aviv, January 19 Israel is currently striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the terror group's ceasefire violations, the Israel Defense Forces says.

Targets include structures used by Hezbollah to conduct drills and training for terrorists and for planning and advancing attacks. The IDF said it also struck tunnel shafts used for storing weapons, and rocket launching sites.

"Hezbollah's activity at these sites constitutes a violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon," the IDF said.

- ANI
A deadly railway accident in southern Spain's Cordoba province has killed at least 21 people after two high-speed trains derailed and collided. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed Italy's solidarity with Spain, offering condolences to the victims and their families. Emergency services are on site, with passengers reporting a violent impact and having to escape through broken windows. Spanish authorities have suspended services and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni offers condolences after a deadly high-speed train collision in Spain's Cordoba province kills at least 21 people.

Rome, January 19 Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed condolences after a deadly railway accident in southern Spain killed at least 21 people and left several others injured.

"With great sadness I learn of the railway accident that occurred in Andalusia, where two high-speed trains derailed. Italy stands close to Spain in its grief for this tragedy. Our thoughts go out to the victims, the injured and their families," Meloni said.

The accident took place in Spain's Cordoba province near Adamuz, where a high-speed Iryo train derailed and collided with another train, according to Euro News, citing officials.

The Iryo train, which carried around 300 passengers, was travelling from Malaga to Madrid-Puerta de Atocha when it derailed after crossing onto an adjacent track and hit an AVE train operating on the Madrid-Huelva route. The second train was run by Spain's state-owned railway company Renfe.

Footage shared by passengers on social media showed several carriages badly damaged after the collision. Witnesses said the impact felt like an earthquake. Passengers were forced to break windows to escape, which caused multiple injuries from cuts. Several passengers also reported smoke inside the trains and sought medical help, Euro News reported.

Spanish railway infrastructure operator ADIF said all train services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended until further notice. It confirmed that emergency services were deployed at the site and will continue operations overnight in coordination with local authorities, Renfe and Iryo.

Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with Spanish public broadcaster RTVE who was travelling on the Iryo train from Malaga, said the last two carriages derailed, with one completely overturned.

"We left Malaga on time at 6:40 pm. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had derailed," he said, adding that passengers were evacuated after breaking windows with hammers.

Emergency teams remain at the site to assess the situation, treat the injured and determine the full extent of the damage.

The Red Cross has mobilised one medical ambulance from Cordoba and three additional ambulances from Jaen. It is also providing basic necessities to passengers from both trains involved in the accident, Euro News reported.

Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said he is monitoring the situation from the ADIF Operations Control Centre and will share updates as confirmed information becomes available.

Madrid regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso offered support from hospitals in the Community of Madrid to treat the injured.

"The hospitals of the Community of Madrid and the 112 emergency teams are on standby following the tragic accident in Cordoba and are at the disposal of the Andalusian Regional Government," she said, adding that support teams will be deployed at Madrid's Atocha station to assist relatives.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.

- ANI
The BJP has described Nitin Nabin's nomination for the party's National President as a moment of joy and a historic day. Senior leaders from Bihar and the national party praised the move as a reflection of strong organizational structure and commitment to grassroots leadership. The nomination filing is expected to be a major political event attended by chief ministers and senior functionaries, demonstrating organizational unity. The official declaration of the new president will be made on January 20, following the outlined election schedule.

BJP leaders hail Nitin Nabin's nomination as a historic moment, celebrating internal democracy and a message to the youth. The event showcases party unity.

New Delhi, Jan 19 As BJP National Working President Nitin Nabin is scheduled to file his nomination for the post of the party's National President at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Monday, the BJP described the occasion as a "moment of joy" for Bihar and a "historic day" for the party.

Senior BJP leaders from Bihar and the party's national leadership expressed enthusiasm and pride, calling Nitin Nabin's nomination a reflection of the party's "strong organisational structure" and its "commitment to nurturing leadership from the grassroots".

Speaking to reporters, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said, "It is a moment of joy for Bihar and a historic day for the BJP. Today, the youngest national president, Nitin Nabin, will file his nomination. This is a proud moment not only for Bihar but also for the entire party."

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo described the day as significant for the organisation.

"This will be a very historic occasion. Today, Nitin Nabin will file his nomination, and as expected, this is largely a formality. He is set to become the national president," he said.

Speaking to IANS, BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan said the atmosphere within the party was filled with enthusiasm and celebration.

"There is incredible energy and excitement among party workers. A large number of young workers are actively participating in the process. The message to the youth across the country is clear -- the BJP is the only party where even an ordinary worker can rise to the highest position. In the world's largest political party, anyone can become the national president through dedication and hard work," he said.

Bihar Minister Mangal Pandey also expressed happiness over the development.

"This is a proud moment for party workers as the new party president is filing his nomination today. Thousands of workers who have worked closely with Nitin Nabin, both in Bihar and across the country, are feeling a renewed sense of excitement and energy. Every BJP worker in Bihar feels emotionally connected to this moment. The youth are witnessing how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided opportunities to young leaders. This is truly a moment of happiness," he said.

BJP leader Ram Kadam highlighted the party's internal democracy and contrasted it with other political parties.

"The BJP is the only party in the country where a grassroots worker can rise to become the party president. Nitin Nabin was selected through this process and is filing his nomination today. This sends a strong message that leadership in the BJP is based on merit and hard work, unlike dynastic politics seen elsewhere. We are proud, and party workers across the nation are celebrating this historic moment," he said.

Meanwhile, the nomination filing is expected to turn into a major political event, with senior leaders from across the country likely to attend.

Party sources indicated that several BJP Chief Ministers, state unit presidents, Members of Parliament, and other senior functionaries are expected to be present, underlining the significance of the occasion.

The gathering is also being seen as a demonstration of organisational unity and strength ahead of the leadership transition.

According to the election programme released by the BJP National Returning Officer and Rajya Sabha MP, K. Laxman, nominations for the post of national president can be submitted between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. later in the day. The entire election process will be conducted at the party headquarters in the national capital.

As per the schedule, the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place shortly after the filing window closes, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.. If more than one valid nomination remains after the withdrawal period, polling will be held on January 20.

The official declaration of the BJP's new national president will be made on the same day.

K. Laxman, while announcing the election timeline on Friday, clarified that voting would only be conducted if necessary.

The BJP national president is chosen through an electoral college that includes representatives from the party's national council as well as its state councils.

The party constitution lays down clear eligibility criteria for candidates aspiring to the top organisational post. A nominee must be proposed by at least 20 members of a state's electoral college.

Additionally, the candidate must have completed a minimum of four terms as an active party member and possess at least 15 years of uninterrupted membership in the BJP.

- IANS
Jammu and Kashmir DGP Nalin Prabhat chaired a high-level security review meeting in Srinagar ahead of Republic Day celebrations. Officers briefed him on intelligence inputs and outlined plans to strengthen security at public spaces and event venues across the valley. Prabhat assigned specific responsibilities, stressing foolproof arrangements and monitoring social media to curb misinformation. The meeting, attended by senior police, army, and CAPF officers, concluded with a resolve to ensure peaceful celebrations.

J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat reviews comprehensive security plans for Republic Day, focusing on intelligence, crowd control, and traffic management.

Sri Nagar, January 19 Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat chaired a general security review meeting at the Conference Hall of PCR Kashmir in preparation for Republic Day celebrations.

According to an official release, at the outset of the meeting, participating officers briefed the DGP on intelligence inputs, security measures, and preparedness plans, outlining steps to strengthen security, safeguard public spaces, and ensure the smooth conduct of the event across all designated places in the valley.

During the meeting, the DGP of J&K assigned specific responsibilities with strict instructions for their precise execution. Key areas discussed included crowd management, traffic regulation, intelligence inputs, strategic deployment of forces, and protection of vulnerable targets. He emphasised the need for foolproof security arrangements and directed district heads to closely monitor social media to prevent the spread of misinformation that could impact public safety and order.

Nalin Prabhat also instructed officers to intensify surveillance of anti-national elements and enhance area domination. The Traffic Wing was directed to formulate an effective traffic plan to ensure the smooth movement of public and protected persons.

Security arrangements for highways, laterals, railway tracks, and stations across the Valley were also reviewed. SSP Security Kashmir was directed to implement the security plan at the main venue, taking into account all security concerns.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of J&K Police, Intelligence Agencies, Army, CAPFs, including Special DG Coordination, JD IB J&K/L, and IG BSF Ftr. Hqrs, IGP Kashmir Zone, IG CRPF Srinagar, Addl. Commissioner SB Srinagar, DIG SSB Srinagar, DIsG CRPF South/North Srinagar, DIG Armed Kashmir, all range DIsG of Kashmir Zone, DIG RPF Kashmir, all district SSsP of Kashmir Zone, Col GS (IS) 15 Corps, SSsP of Traffic City Srinagar, PCR Kashmir, GRP Kashmir, SSsP of Traffic Rural Kashmir, CID SBK, CID CIK, Security Kashmir, APCR Srinagar and other officers.

The meeting concluded with a collective resolve to ensure peaceful and secure Republic Day celebrations.

- ANI
O.P. Jindal Global University has launched the inaugural World University Leaders Forum at the World Economic Forum in Davos. This first-of-its-kind platform aims to bring together global academic leaders to collaborate on shared challenges and advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The forum, moderated by JGU's Vice Chancellor, seeks to create a democratic space for universities from the Global North and South to co-create innovative solutions. It represents a significant step in institutionalizing global academic engagement to drive societal impact.

O.P. Jindal Global University launches a global platform at WEF Davos for university leaders to collaborate on sustainable development and education.

Davos, Jan 19 O.P. Jindal Global University is pleased to announce the inaugural World University Leaders Forum convened at the World Economic Forum, Davos -- the first global higher education leadership platform of its kind at the Forum.

WULF will bring together distinguished academics and university leaders from around the world to engage in dialogue, share best practices, and collaborate on shared global challenges facing higher education and society.

The establishment of the World University Leaders Forum reflects JGU's longstanding commitment to advancing global academic collaboration and contributing to inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

Inspired by India's civilisational heritage of higher learning and informed by the visionary global philanthropy of Naveen Jindal, JGU has, over the past two decades, made internationalization and cross-border engagement central to its institutional DNA.

WULF provides a democratic global platform through which universities from the Global North and the Global South can interact, learn from one another, and co-create innovative solutions.

The Forum aims to promote collaborative initiatives that address shared challenges, strengthen academic linkages worldwide, and encourage universities to play a proactive role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through teaching, research, policy engagement, community outreach and global partnerships.

The World University Leaders Forum at the World Economic Forum in Davos will be hosted and moderated by Professor C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, India. The distinguished speakers will include Professor Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University, New York, USA; Professor Sherine Farouk, Assistant Chancellor for Global Partnerships and Impact, Abu Dhabi University, UAE; Professor Joanna Newman, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, SOAS University of London, UK; Professor Masa Inakage, Dean, Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, Tokyo, Japan; and Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, London, UK. Together, these global academic leaders will contribute to a high-level dialogue on the future of higher education and global collaboration in the context of fulfilling the SDGs.

Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, said, "O.P. Jindal Global University was founded through the visionary philanthropy of Naveen Jindal, grounded in the belief that higher education must connect minds, cultures, and ideas to serve humanity. Over the last two decades, JGU has built a globally connected university -- anchored in over 600 partnerships across more than 80 countries, and rooted in dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect. Today, we launch the World University Leaders Forum at Davos to institutionalise this global engagement in a purpose-driven platform where universities from the Global North and Global South can interact, learn from one another, and lead together. This Forum embodies our conviction that universities are vital agents of knowledge, equity, innovation, and sustainable development. As the world navigates complex shared challenges, WULF will harness the collective wisdom of global university leaders to shape policies, partnerships, and practices that advance education and society for generations to come."

The inaugural panel discussion at Davos will focus on the role of universities in advancing sustainable development goals and building a future grounded in equity, innovation, and resilience. It aligns closely with the core priorities of the World Economic Forum, including cooperation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing better in people, responsibly deploying innovation at scale, and building prosperity within planetary boundaries.

WULF represents a significant milestone in global higher education leadership and the next chapter in JGU's mission of fostering global academic dialogue, institutional collaboration, and societal impact.

"The World University Leaders Forum (WULF) envisions a globally connected, inclusive, and democratic higher education ecosystem where universities from all regions of the world collaborate to advance knowledge, address global challenges, and contribute meaningfully to the public good. We, at JGU, have sought to demonstrate that internationalisation in higher education is about building enduring intellectual, institutional, and human connections across borders," said Dr C. Raj Kumar, who is also the Chair of the panel discussion.

The distinguished panellists will include academics and higher education leaders from some of the leading institutions across the world. The Forum aims to facilitate global dialogue among global leaders on higher education practice and policy, promote collaborative initiatives addressing shared global challenges, strengthen academic linkages, encourage universities to play a proactive role in advancing the UN Sustainability Development Goals and build a community of university leaders committed to innovation, equity and sustainability.

The World University Leaders Forum represents the natural culmination and institutionalisation of nearly two decades of sustained global engagement by O.P. Jindal Global University. From early national conferences on higher education and globalisation, to world university summits, to hosting major regional and global convenings -- including the Asia Pacific Higher Education Summit, and the forthcoming Global Conference of STAR Scholars in December 2026 -- JGU has consistently demonstrated leadership in shaping global academic dialogue.

The foundational aim of the World University Leaders Forum is to -- Create an open and inclusive global platform for university leaders to engage in dialogue on critical issues facing higher education and society; Foster collaboration across the Global North and Global South, East and West; Enable universities to contribute collectively to sustainable development, social progress, and global well-being and Promote the role of universities as agents of knowledge creation, dissemination, equity, and innovation.

The fundamental themes of the World University Leaders Forum align with the key objectives of the World Economic Forum's focus on:

-- Cooperation in a more contested world

-- Unlocking new sources of growth

-- Investing better in people

-- Responsibly deploying innovation at scale

-- Building prosperity within planetary boundaries

- IANS
Unemployed youth in the cold water regions of Rajouri are establishing trout fish farming units under the centrally-sponsored Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The initiative, supported by the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), leverages the ideal glacial stream environment of the Pir Panjal range. Officials report growing interest, with the department providing several private units and conducting awareness camps to engage more people. This sustainable model is creating livelihoods by meeting strong local and tourism market demand for the prized Rainbow Trout.

Unemployed youth in Rajouri's Pir Panjal region are starting profitable trout fish farming with government support under PMMSY and HADP schemes.

Rajouri, January 19 In the cold water regions of the Pir Panjal range in Rajouri, unemployed youth have started trout fish farming under centrally-sponsored schemes.

The transformation of the Budhal, Kotranka, Thannamandi, and Darhal blocks, located in the higher reaches of the Pir Panjal cold areas, into trout farming is being carried out under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for utilising the natural topography for economic growth.

Further, the Hatcheries, by providing high-quality seed, bridge the gap between government infrastructure and private entrepreneurship.

Speaking to ANI regarding the benefits and details of the scheme, Abdul Quyoom, Field Officer Trout Fish Farming Hatchery, Budhal, urged more people to connect with the scheme and avail its benefits.

"Every year, we provide 2-3 units in Budhal. People are availing the benefits of this scheme in large numbers. I request that people with irrigation facilities and land for farming contact our department to earn a livelihood through the HADP and PMMSY schemes," he stated.

Meanwhile, Gaurav, an employee in the Phalni Trout Hatchery, informed about the steps taken by the department and lauded the scheme as a "good source of income for the unemployed."

"It is a good source of income for the unemployed. More and more people are gradually connecting with us every year. We have provided 3-4 private units to the youth this year. The department sets up awareness camps from time to time in order to engage more people," he said.

Mohd Bashir, a resident who availed the scheme and is engaged in trout farming, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government for providing him with the opportunity to pursue trout farming as a livelihood. He informed that he has been able to sell a fish for nearly Rs 50,000.

The surge in trout cultivation in these higher reaches is driven by four main factors: an ideal environment, Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), government support and market demand.

While the cold, oxygen-rich glacial streams of the Pir Panjal are ecologically ideal for Rainbow Trout farming in areas that require water temperatures consistently below 20C, PMMSY provides financial assistance for the construction of raceways, feed mills, and cold chain storage facilities. HADP has also proved to be a specific driver of modernising farming practices. Significantly, Trout is highly prized for its nutritional value (Omega-3 fatty acids) and taste, driving strong demand in local markets and the tourism sector in Rajouri.

This shift is successfully turning 'job seekers into job providers'. By establishing concrete raceways along mountain streams, unemployed youths are creating sustainable businesses that protect local ecosystems while generating significant profits.

- ANI
A report argues the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was a deliberate campaign of Pakistan-backed terrorism, not a byproduct of general instability. The strategy involved selective killings of lawyers, teachers, and officials to instill widespread fear through identity-specific threats. This systematic terror, featuring public warnings and a demonstrated impunity for attackers, made remaining in the Valley untenable. The displacement resulted in profound human cost, job losses, and lasting cultural dislocation for the community.

A report details how targeted killings and threats by Pakistan-backed terrorists forced the Kashmiri Pandit exodus in 1990, not just instability.

Dubai, Jan 19 The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in early 1990 must be remembered not only for its human cost but also the mechanism that produced it. Kashmiri Pandits did not leave because their future was uncertain but they left as Pakistan-backed terrorism made the present unlivable, a report has stated.

"The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in early 1990 is often described as a tragic by-product of instability. That characterisation understates both intent and agency. The departure of the community followed a deliberate pattern of Pakistan-backed terrorist violence, explicit threats, and sustained intimidation, aimed at making continued residence untenable for a specific population," Ashu Mann, an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, wrote in an opinion piece for Eurasia Review.

What began in late 1989 and early 1990 was not a sudden collapse of order but a terror campaign that depended on selective killings and fear as instruments of displacement. As Pakistan-sponsored terrorism increased in Kashmir Valley, violence was directed strategically with victims chosen for their visibility and symbolic value like lawyers, teachers, journalists, officials, and community figures. A significant number of those who were attacked were Kashmiri Pandits, a small minority who had presence in education, administration, and public life.

The Eurasia Review piece stated, "These killings were not collateral to a broader insurgency. They were purpose-built acts of terror, designed to signal reach and impunity. Each assassination carried a message far beyond the individual victim: identity itself had become a liability. This is how terrorism achieves mass impact without mass violence. It communicates through fear. The assassinations were reinforced by open intimidation.

"Threatening slogans appeared on walls. Names were circulated. Loudspeaker announcements and anonymous warnings declared that certain communities were no longer welcome. Crucially, the threats were identity-specific. They did not accuse individuals of wrongdoing. They asserted collective illegitimacy. For Kashmiri Pandits, this collapsed the boundary between personal safety and group vulnerability. Remaining in the Valley ceased to be a matter of courage or politics; it became a matter of survival. By January 1990, fear was no longer speculative. It was ambient and credible."

During the 1990s, the terrorist groups did not operate on their own but their training, arms, financing, and ideological direction came from across the Line of Control. Driving Kashmiri Pandits out of the Valley narrowed plural character of Kashmir, weakened institutions that had employees from the community, and showcased Pakistan-backed terror networks capacity to reshape society through fear.

Communities do not leave their ancestral homes due to isolated incidents but they leave when terror becomes systematic and unpunished. Selective killings, public threats, and the absence of accountability during early 1990s convinced many Kashmiri Pandit families that staying in Valley carried risk.

While leaving their homes, families carried documents and keys expecting to return to Kashmir after the terror subsided. However, Kashmiri families were unable to return and after leaving Valley, people lost their jobs, faced disruption in education, lived in relief camps and cultural dislocation followed.

"The displacement of Kashmiri Pandits must be remembered not only for its human cost, but for the mechanism that produced it. People did not leave because the future was uncertain. They left because Pakistan-backed terrorism made the present unlivable," the Eurasia Review article detailed.

- IANS
Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal held a telephone conversation with Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas, following which he announced that Lithuania is preparing "in the coming days a government decision on the allocation of additional energy assistance," specifically electricity generation equipment to address problems in Kyiv and the most critical regions.

"I briefed my colleague on the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector and Putin's crimes against humanity. There isn't a single power plant left in Ukraine that hasn't been subjected to Russian strikes. Ukrainian energy workers continue to work around the clock to repair and restore power to people. Lithuania is preparing a government decision in the coming days on the allocation of additional energy assistance. Specifically, power generation equipment to address problems in Kyiv and the most critical regions," the minister wrote on Telegram.

Shmyhal recalled that Lithuania provided Ukraine with thermal power plant and nuclear power plant equipment during the full-scale invasion, which helped carry out emergency repairs in several regions of Ukraine.

"Furthermore, we have already received over 2,000 solar panels, various equipment, and machinery from our Lithuanian friends. Lithuania has contributed EUR 5.7 million to the Ukrainian Energy Support Fund," he added.

The minister thanked his colleague for the assistance.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Kochi, Kerala, to confer the Priyadarshini Literary Award upon Dr. M. Leelavathy. His visit includes addressing a Congress Maha Panchayat, described as an unofficial launch for the party's state election campaign. Simultaneously, his detailed two-day schedule for his parliamentary constituency, Raebareli, was announced, featuring public meetings and project inaugurations. The events highlight his dual focus on national party activities and constituency duties.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives in Kochi to confer an award, address a Maha Panchayat, and outlines his two-day schedule for Raebareli.

Ernakulam, January 19 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday arrived in Kochi to confer the Priyadarshini Literary Award by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee upon Dr M. Leelavathy in Kalamassery.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is also scheduled to meet the party's elected local body representatives in Marine Drive, Kochi.

In a post on X, Congress said, "LoP Rahul Gandhi received a warm welcome from party leaders and workers at the Cochin airport, Kerala."

The mahapanchayat will be attended by the Kerala Assembly's Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, AICC general secretary Venugopal and other party leaders.

According to Congress leader Shafi Parambil, the Mahapanchayat "serves as the unofficial launch of the Congress party's election process for the upcoming Legislative Assembly polls."

Meanwhile, Congress MP KL Sharma, on Monday, shed light on the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi's schedule for his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency, Raebareli.

Speaking to ANI, Sharma said that Gandhi's schedule includes meeting the public, inaugurating developmental projects, and addressing the MGNREGA Chaupal.

He said, "Rahul ji has a 2-day program here. He will arrive here this evening, and his programs will begin tomorrow. In the morning, he will meet the public. Later, he will inaugurate various development programs. He will also inaugurate the Rae Bareli T20 Premier League. He will also address an MGNREGA Chaupal."

On day 1 of his two-day schedule i.e January 20, Rahul Gandhi will hold a 'MGNREGA Chaupal' (community meeting) in Rohaniya, Unchahar.

Subsequently, for day 2, the Congress MP has a meeting scheduled at his guest house with the senior party leaders.

- ANI
A rally in Leh, Ladakh, expressed solidarity with Iran and its Supreme Leader, organized by Anjuman Imamia Leh. Its vice president stated Iran's revolution was for peace and criticized America and Israel. Concurrently, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly acknowledged for the first time that "several thousand" people were killed in recent nationwide protests. He blamed the United States and foreign actors for the unrest and casualties, while human rights organizations estimate a death toll exceeding 3,000.

Leh protesters express solidarity with Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledges "several thousand" deaths in recent unrest, blaming US and foreign actors.

Leh, January 19 Sheikh Nazir Ahmad Sharifi, Vice President of Anjuman Imamia Leh, on Monday said that Iran's revolution was for humanity and peace, as protesters in Ladakh's capital held a rally expressing solidarity with the Iranian government and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Iran brought about a revolution for the sake of humanity and peace, but America and Israel could not tolerate it," Sharifi told ANI.

He added, "The purpose of this procession in Ladakh is that we have continued to hold rallies against injustice. India has always had good relations with Iran. The Indian government should take notice of the atrocities America is committing and raise its voice against them."

The rally, organised under the banner of Anjuman Imamia Leh, drew local participants to express support for the Iranian government and its Supreme Leader.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei publicly acknowledged for the first time that thousands of people were killed during recent nationwide protests, reports Fox News. In a televised address on Saturday, Khamenei said the unrest, which began in late December over economic hardship and broader political grievances, resulted in "several thousand" deaths.

He described some of the casualties as the result of "inhuman, savage" conditions but blamed the United States and other foreign actors rather than Iranian security forces. Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of encouraging the demonstrations and called him a "criminal" for commenting on and supporting the movement from afar.

Human rights organisations have condemned the crackdown, estimating that more than 3,000 people have died in clashes between demonstrators and security forces, although exact figures remain hard to verify due to intermittent internet shutdowns imposed by Iranian authorities.

- ANI
Shiru CEO Jasmin Hume, meeting with Madhya Pradesh government officials at the World Economic Forum in Davos, stated the state's crops hold significant potential for discovering valuable proteins and peptides. The discussions explored collaborations in contract research, manufacturing, and leveraging the region's agricultural output for product development. Hume praised India's expertise and leadership in fermentation, bio-manufacturing, and natural product production. Next steps include identifying local universities and research institutions to map crop suitability and structure a potential partnership.

Shiru CEO Jasmin Hume, at Davos WEF, highlights Madhya Pradesh's agricultural potential for protein discovery in food, cosmetics, and agriculture.

Davos, January 19 CEO and Founder of AI-powered protein discovery company Shiru, Jasmin Hume, on Monday stated that the crops in Madhya Pradesh hold significant potential for protein innovation and could be used to develop valuable compounds for food, cosmetics, and agriculture.

Hume, following her meeting with representatives from the Government of Madhya Pradesh on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos, stated that both sides explored potential collaboration opportunities, including contract research and contract manufacturing.

She described the discussions as "fantastic" and highlighted the potential to leverage the region's agricultural output for applied research and product development.

"Shiru has created a discovery engine for mining the world of natural proteins and peptides for functional compounds to improve food products, cosmetics, and agriculture," the founder said.

"The meeting was fantastic. We discussed potential opportunities for collaboration between my business and the region, including contract research and contract manufacturing. There is an opportunity to take a close look at the crops most prominently produced in the region and to valorise some of the important compounds that come from these crops," he added.

Hume also praised India's expertise in fermentation and bio-manufacturing, noting the country's capable technical teams and leadership in producing natural products.

"In my area of fermentation and bio-manufacturing, India is a powerhouse. It has extremely capable technical teams and talent, and it is at the forefront in terms of biomanufacturing and production of natural products. These are some of the areas that make us really excited to explore collaboration," she stated.

The discussion amid the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from January 19 to 23, 2026, at Davos-Klosters, which is set to welcome nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries, including a record number of world leaders, CEOs, innovators and policymakers, under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue".

During their meeting, both sides explored collaboration opportunities in advanced protein innovation, agri-based inputs and applied research.

According to a statement, the meeting focused on Shiru's AI-driven protein discovery and design platform, which enables the development of high-quality, ready-to-use protein ingredients for industrial applications.

The discussions covered possibilities for collaboration through university partnerships and research and development linkages, leveraging Madhya Pradesh's strong agricultural ecosystem.

It was agreed that the next steps would include identifying suitable universities and agri-research institutions in Madhya Pradesh, mapping crop availability and suitability for protein inputs, assessing pilot and contract manufacturing opportunities, and holding follow-up discussions to structure a potential commercial and research partnership.

- ANI
The Congress is taking measures to prevent poaching of its corporators by the ruling Mahayuti alliance in key municipal corporations ahead of mayoral elections. In Chandrapur, internal conflict between leaders Vijay Wadettiwar and Pratibha Dhanorkar complicates the party's position, while BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar claims some Congress members are ready to switch sides. In Parbhani, Shiv Sena (UBT) as the single-largest party has pledged an alliance with Congress, ruling out any move that benefits the BJP or Shinde faction. Meanwhile, in Bhiwandi, Congress, despite being the largest party, is three seats short of a majority and is seeking support from allies like the NCP-SP to secure the mayor's post.

Congress works to prevent defections in Chandrapur, Parbhani & Bhiwandi mayoral races amid BJP poaching claims & alliance talks.

Mumbai, Jan 19 Amid hectic political activity ahead of the mayoral elections, the Congress has swung into action to keep its flock together in Chandrapur and Parbhani and thereby foil alleged poaching attempts by the Mahayuti. In the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation, the Congress is treading carefully as it is falling short of a majority by three votes.

On Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chandrapur president Sandip Girhe claimed that his party will ally with anyone who is ready to give the mayoral post to his party. "I am not naming any party. But we will go with the party which is ready to give us the mayoral post," Girhe said, hinting the party might even decide to ally with the BJP.

In Chandrapur's 66-member body, Congress has 27 elected members while the BJP won 23. Shiv Sena (UBT) has six and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has two. In Chandrapur, the infighting between Congress MLA and legislative group leader Vijay Wadettiwar and Chandrapur Lok Sabha MP Pratibha Dhanorkar is likely to harm the party's prospects. According to sources, the two leaders share differences over the choice of mayoral face and committee chiefs. The delay is already harming alliance talks.

Former minister and BJP MLA from Chandrapur district Sudhir Mungantiwar on Monday claimed that a group of Congress corporators was willing to join the BJP as they have realised that aligning with the BJP can bring development to Chandrapur. Mungantiwar's statement has increased the Congress party's worries.

However, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, when asked about Chandrapur, said, "One should ignore the rumours. Congress will have its mayor."

Similarly, in the Parbhani Municipal Corporation with 65 members, Shiv Sena (UBT) has emerged as the single-largest party with 25 seats while ally Congress has won 12 seats. On the day the results were declared, Parbhani Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Jadhav announced that Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress will have the mayor and deputy mayor in the Parbhani Municipal Corporation. The BJP too has won 12 seats while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has won 11 seats.

The changed political equations are likely to affect the existing power equations in Parbhani as well. Shiv Sena (UBT), however, clarified that it is not planning any move that will benefit either the BJP or the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. "We want to be extremely clear in saying that we will not make any move that will benefit either the BJP or the Shinde-led party," said party spokesperson Harshal Pradhan.

In the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation with 90 members, Congress has emerged as the single-largest party by winning 30 seats while Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP won 12. The BJP came second with 22 seats and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has won 12. The Samajwadi Party has won six seats, while others have won seven. Despite an alliance with the NCP-SP, Congress still falls short by three to get a majority.

Sensing the delicate political situation, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Monday invited all the winning corporators from Bhiwandi for felicitations at the party headquarters.

NCP-SP MLA Jitendra Awhad said that his party will extend support to Congress. "We will achieve the numbers and we will have our mayor in Bhiwandi," he added.

- IANS
Indian equity benchmarks, the Sensex and Nifty, opened significantly lower on Monday, tracking weak global sentiment. The decline is attributed to "Tariff Tantrums" stemming from new US trade threats against European nations and a weak Chinese GDP report. Market expert Ajay Bagga noted the poor global risk appetite, continued selling by Foreign Portfolio Investors, and a lack of strong domestic catalysts. The combination of these international headwinds and mixed corporate earnings has left the market directionless.

Indian stock markets opened lower as global risk sentiment soured over new US tariff threats and weak Chinese GDP data. Expert analysis inside.

New Delhi, January 19 Indian equity benchmarks commenced the trading week on a downward trajectory on Monday, as global risk appetite faded following new international trade threats. The BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty 50 both opened in the red, with market participants reacting to what analysts described as "Tariff Tantrums" impacting sentiment across global markets. The indices showed a synchronised decline in early trade as investors grappled with a lack of domestic catalysts.

At 9:17 a.m., the BSE Sensex was recorded at 83,218.00, representing a decline of 352.35 points or 0.42 per cent. Similarly, the Nifty 50 stood at 25,585.20, down by 109.15 points or 0.42 per cent. The weak start was signalled earlier in the day when market futures were observed to be down by nearly 150 points prior to the start of the session.

Banking and market expert Ajay Bagga stated that the current market environment is characterised by poor global risk sentiment and a lack of strong positive triggers.

According to Bagga, the primary driver for the current market volatility is the emergence of significant trade-related friction. "Indian markets are pointing to a weak start with the Tariff Tantrums impacting global risk appetite," Bagga said. He further observed that the selling by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) has continued into 2026, adding pressure to the domestic equity space, while corporate earnings reports for the quarter have remained mixed.

The global focus has shifted toward the United States, where President Donald Trump has issued threats to impose punitive tariffs on eight European nations. "Tariff Tantrums are centrestage as President Trump has threatened 8 European countries with 10% punitive tariffs from Feb 1st, which rise to 25% from June 1st. This is for these countries opposing the American plan to take over Greenland. These threats represent a weaponisation of tariffs against friendly nations for taking over the territory of a treaty-linked ally. Precious metals and safe havens are up while stocks are down," Bagga said.

He noted that "a weak Chinese Q4 GDP growth number is hurting Asian markets this morning". Bagga highlighted that the combination of these international factors and domestic headwinds has left the market without a clear direction. "With earnings mixed so far, markets are lacking a strong catalyst," Bagga said, adding that the overall global risk sentiment remains poor as the week begins.

- ANI
The Congress party has extended warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day, observed annually on January 19. The day commemorates the official recognition of the Kokborok language by the Tripura government in 1979. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge also shared a message celebrating the ancient and culturally vibrant indigenous language. Kokborok is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Tripuri community and is regarded as a classical language of Northeast India.

Congress and its president Mallikarjun Kharge extend warm wishes on Kokborok Day, celebrating Tripura's ancient language and India's diverse heritage.

New Delhi, Jan 19 Congress on Monday extended its warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day, and hoped that this day brings unity and pride in India's diverse cultures and heritage.

Kokborok Day, also known as Tripuri Language Day, is observed every year on January 19 in the Indian state of Tripura to promote and preserve the Kokborok language. The day commemorates the year 1979, when Kokborok was officially recognised by the Tripura government for the first time. This year marks the 46th anniversary of the observance, which aims to revive and strengthen the ancient language spoken for thousands of years by the indigenous Tripuri community.

Taking to X, Congress said, "We extend our warm wishes to our sisters and brothers in Tripura on Kokborok Day. The day commemorates the initial recognition of Kokborok as an official language in 1979. May this day bring about unity and inspire pride in our diverse cultures and rich heritage."

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge also took to his social media and extended his best wishes to the people of Tripura on Kokborok Day, celebrating the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the state.

"Warm greetings to the people of Tripura on the occasion of Kokborok Day. This special observance celebrates Kokborok - an ancient, culturally vibrant indigenous language spoken for millennia, and highlights the richness of India's diversity and shared values," Kharge posted on X.

Kokborok, also known as Tripuri or Tiprakok, is the native language of Tripura and has been used by the local Tripuri people for generations. It is regarded as one of the classical languages of Northeast India. The people are referred to as 'Borok,' while the language is known as 'Kok.' Earlier, the language was commonly called Tiprakok or Tripurikok.

Kokborok belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of languages and is one of the principal native languages spoken in the northeastern state of Tripura, as well as in the nearby Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Over the years, Kokborok has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and developing Tibeto-Burman languages in the region.

The language is primarily spoken by various Tripuri clans, including Debbarma, Kalai, Reang, Jamatia, Tripura, Noatia, Rupini, Murasing, and Uchoi. Collectively, speakers of the Kokborok language identify themselves as "Tripuris."

- IANS
The reservation lottery for Mumbai's mayor and 28 other civic bodies will be held on January 22, determining which category the post is reserved for. If the lottery selects the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) holds the only eligible corporators, potentially clinching the mayorship. The Mahayuti alliance of BJP and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena holds a combined 118 seats, crossing the majority mark. The BJP consolidated its power by winning 19 of the 29 municipal corporations, including key cities like Pune and Nagpur.

The mayoral reservation lottery on Jan 22 could see Mumbai's mayor from Shiv Sena (UBT) if ST category is picked, despite BJP's seat lead. Latest updates.

Mumbai, Jan 19 As the dust settles on the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the political arena in Maharashtra is buzzing with anticipation over one crucial question -- who will be the next Mayor of Mumbai? While the Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party, the suspense continues as political leaders await the official reservation lottery, which could change the entire game.

The Urban Development Ministry has confirmed that the mayoral post reservation lottery for all 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai, will be held on January 22, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Mantralaya in Mumbai.

This lottery will determine which category (Open, OBC, SC, ST or women) the Mayor's post will be reserved for. Until this is decided, the race remains wide open.

Political analysts have pointed out a unique advantage for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT).

Before the elections, two specific wards were reserved for the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category -- Ward 53, which was won by Jitendra Valvi (Sena UBT), who defeated Shinde Sena's Ashok Khandve, and Ward 121, which Priyadarshani Thackeray (Sena UBT) won, defeating Shinde Sena's Pratima Khopde.

If the lottery on January 22 reserves the Mayor's post for the ST category, the Thackeray faction will have the only eligible candidates, potentially securing the mayorship despite having fewer total seats.

As the results for the BMC polls were declared on January 16, the BJP won 89 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 65, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena 29, Congress 24, AIMIM 8, MNS 6, NCP (Ajit Pawar) 3, Samajwadi Party 2 and NCP-SP 1.

The tension has led to a war of words between top leaders.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray expressed hope, stating: "If it is God's will, the Mayor will be ours."

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is currently in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum Summit, responded to Thackeray's comment by quipping: "By God's will, I don't mean myself, but God has already decided -- the Mayor will be from the Mahayuti."

Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, taking no chances, moved his 29 corporators to a luxury hotel to prevent "poaching" or "horse-trading" ahead of the crucial vote.

He told party corporators that the Mahayuti will hold the mayoral post. With the Mahayuti (BJP + Shinde Sena) holding a combined 118 seats (crossing the 114 majority mark), the alliance is the favourite to rule.

However, if the reservation lottery favours the ST category, the city could see a dramatic twist in the mayoral race.

The BJP has made a significant impact in the recently concluded polls. The party maintained a winning streak in 19 of the 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai.

In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the BJP secured power, dealing a blow to the NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction. The party retained its stronghold in Nagpur.

In Sambhajinagar, the BJP managed to seize power, challenging the dominance of the Thackeray faction.

- IANS
Nacho Elvira carded a steady 68 to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Dubai Invitational. He leads a chasing pack at seven under that includes Dylan Frittelli, Shane Lowry, and Marcus Armitage. Rory McIlroy also shot a 68 and is tied for fifth, sitting three shots off the lead. The final round at Dubai Creek Resort promises a tight finish with several top players in contention.

Nacho Elvira holds a two-shot lead at the Dubai Invitational. Rory McIlroy is tied for fifth heading into the final round. Leaderboard updates.

Dubai, January 19 Nacho Elvira took a two-shot advantage as he stayed steady in breezy conditions on the third day of the final round of the 2026 Dubai Invitational.

The Spaniard shared the overnight second-round lead with Shane Lowry at five under, and he negotiated an early bogey with four birdies to card a steady 68 on Moving Day at Dubai Creek Resort.

Elvira is seeking his third DP World Tour title after successes at the 2021 Cazoo Open supported by Gareth Bale and the 2024 Soudal Open.

At eight under, he leads by two from a stellar chasing pack at seven under, with Dylan Frittelli sharing second place after a sparkling 66 alongside Lowry and Englishman Marcus Armitage.

Rory McIlroy (68) was Tied-fifth at 5-under total for 54 holes. McIlroy opened with a birdie before dropping a shot at the fourth on a steady front nine, but gains at the tenth, 13th and 16th took him into contention.

Frittelli was bogey-free in his 66 thanks to a hat-trick of birdies from the third before further gains at the 11th and last.

Armitage rolled in a birdie effort from 21 feet at the 18th to climb alongside Frittelli at six under.

- ANI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri detailed wide-ranging outcomes from talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The agreements include a strategic defence partnership, joint space infrastructure development, and major UAE participation in Gujarat's Dholera Special Investment Region. Further collaboration covers a supercomputing cluster, digital embassies, and strengthened financial linkages through GIFT City. The visit underscores an expanding bilateral partnership moving beyond hydrocarbons into high-technology and strategic sectors.

Foreign Secretary outlines key India-UAE agreements on defence, space, Dholera investment, supercomputing & more after Modi-Al Nahyan talks.

New Delhi, January 19 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday outlined key outcomes of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlighting that the discussions covered strategic and economic cooperation across multiple sectors.

Briefing the media in Delhi, Misri said, "The talks between the leaders were characterised by the warmth and special friendship between the two leaders that has become a characteristic of this relationship."

Reflecting this momentum, Misri said a letter of intent was signed to work towards a framework agreement on defence cooperation. "A letter of intent was signed between the two sides to work towards concluding a framework agreement for a strategic defence partnership between India and the UAE," Misri said.

Alongside defence cooperation, Misri also detailed expanded engagement in the space sector. "A letter of intent was also signed between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre in space and the UAE space agency for a joint initiative for space infrastructure development and its commercialisation," he said.

He added that the initiative will include infrastructure and capability-building projects. "Under this particular initiative, we will look to set up new launch complexes, satellite fabrication facilities, joint missions, space academy and training centres," he said.

Beyond defence and space, Misri highlighted investment collaboration as another key focus area, with a letter of intent on UAE participation in Gujarat's Dholera project. "A letter of intent was signed on the UAE's participation in the development of a Special Investment Region in Dholera in Gujarat," he said.

Calling it a significant partnership initiative, Misri said, "This is a mega partnership initiative that will look at the establishment of an international airport, a pilot training school, an MRO facility, a greenfield port, a smart urban township, as well as projects related to railway connectivity and energy infrastructure."

Misri further said the two sides also agreed to establish a supercomputing cluster in India, reflecting a push towards stronger engagement in advanced digital and computing capabilities.

To strengthen financial and logistics linkages, the UAE's First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and global port operator DP World will set up offices and operations in GIFT City, Gujarat, to enhance India's role as a regional financial and trade services hub.

Cooperation in agriculture and exports also featured in the outcomes, with a memorandum of understanding signed between the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to address food safety and technical requirements, a move expected to support market access for Indian agricultural and processed food exports to the UAE.

The two countries also agreed to promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and explore the establishment of "digital/data embassies", reflecting expanded engagement in sensitive and future-oriented sectors.

The outcomes also included cultural and youth-focused initiatives, including plans to set up a 'House of India' in Abu Dhabi to showcase Indian art, heritage and archaeology, as well as steps to promote youth exchanges.

Taken together, the decisions taken during the visit reflect an expanding India-UAE partnership moving beyond hydrocarbons, with increased focus on investment, trade growth, and cooperation in strategic and high-technology sectors.

The UAE President's visit came amid a volatile regional environment, including a sharp decline in Iran-US ties, continuing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Yemen, and an unsettled political situation in Gaza.

This marked Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President and his fifth visit to the country over the past decade.

India and the UAE have witnessed a major rise in bilateral trade and people-to-people ties since the two sides signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2022.

- ANI
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav addressed the Madhyanchal Utsav at Delhi University, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for strengthening India's global standing. He detailed his government's focus on creating opportunities for youth self-reliance and entrepreneurship. The CM also highlighted investment-friendly policies accelerating industrial expansion and job creation in key sectors. Furthermore, he previewed his upcoming participation in the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos to showcase the state's investment potential.

MP CM Mohan Yadav addressed Delhi University, praised PM Modi's global leadership, outlined youth & industrial policies, and previewed his Davos 2026 agenda.

New Delhi, January 19 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday attended Madhyanchal Utsav 2026 at Delhi University in the national capital on Monday and addressed the gathering on the occasion.

CM Yadav praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that under his leadership India has strengthened its credibility, prestige, and influence on the global stage. India's role in the international community has been established as that of a responsible, capable, and decisive nation.

He also highlighted that the Madhya Pradesh government was working for the all-round development of youth, helping them to progress in every field.

"In Madhya Pradesh, the state government is creating extensive opportunities for the all-round development of youth and to help them progress in every field. Our resolve is that every young person in the state becomes self-reliant through self-employment and, while moving forward with an entrepreneurial spirit, also opens new avenues of employment for other youths. This is our continuous effort towards building a strong, prosperous, and self-reliant Madhya Pradesh," said the Chief Minister.

CM Yadav further emphasised that through investment-friendly policies, industrial expansion in Madhya Pradesh was being continuously accelerated, leading to the creation of large-scale new employment opportunities in the state.

"Attractive subsidies are being provided for the establishment of medical colleges, hospitals, and hotels in the infrastructure and service sectors, while special incentive schemes have been implemented for workers engaged in labour-intensive industries such as readymade garments," the CM said.

Along with this, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is also scheduled to participate in the World Economic Forum 2026 annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. He will apprise the world of the investment opportunities available in the state.

CM Yadav will share investment policies focused on Energy, Technology and Tourism at Davos and will present the state's economic priorities, industrial strengths and long-term development vision on the global stage at the World Economic Forum.

Additionally, he will showcase the state's stable policy framework, resource-rich ecosystem and future-oriented growth model before global policymakers, industry leaders and investors.

- ANI
No information about Ukrainians among the dead or injured in train accident in Spain

As of Monday morning, January 19, there is no information about Ukrainian citizens among the dead or injured in the accident of two high-speed passenger trains in southern Spain.

This was reported to journalists by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhiy Tykhyi.

"As of now, there is no information about Ukrainian citizens among the dead or injured," he noted.

According to preliminary data from Spanish services, at least 39 people died and 152 were injured as a result of the collision that occurred on the evening of January 18 near the settlement of Adamuch (province of Cordoba).

The accident occurred when one of the trains (on the Malaga-Madrid route) derailed and collided with another train moving in the opposite direction (Madrid-Huelva). Both trains were high-speed, at the time of the accident there were about 500 passengers. The causes of the incident are being established.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, in his post on X (formerly Twitter), expressed deep condolences over the tragedy.
The Madhya Pradesh government met with senior officials from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Discussions centered on existing JBIC-supported projects, potential yen borrowings, and collaborations in renewable energy and manufacturing. JBIC's Hashiyama Shigeto highlighted Madhya Pradesh's growing attractiveness for Japanese investment, driven by opportunities in infrastructure and clean energy. He also emphasized India's political stability as a key advantage, noting a JBIC survey ranks India as the top global investment destination for Japanese manufacturers.

Madhya Pradesh govt meets JBIC at Davos to discuss yen borrowings, solar power projects, and boosting Japanese investment in manufacturing.

Davos, January 19 The Government of Madhya Pradesh on Monday met Hashiyama Shigeto, representative director and Executive Managing Director of Japan Bank for International Cooperation, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

As per the release from the MP Government, the discussions covered projects where JBIC is already supporting in Madhya Pradesh, as well as areas such as policies for manufacturing and other sectors, yen borrowings, tie-ups through collaborations, and renewable energy, including solar power.

While speaking with ANI, Hashiyama Shigeto said, "India, particularly Madhya Pradesh, is emerging as a highly attractive destination for Japanese investors, driven by strong opportunities in renewable energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing."

Further speaking on the evolving investment climate, Hashiyama highlighted Madhya Pradesh's growing appeal, driven by its focus on attracting new investments in renewable energy and infrastructure development.

He noted that these sectors are drawing increasing interest from Japanese companies looking to expand their global footprint.

"The investment environment in Madhya Pradesh is very attractive for many Japanese potential investors. State's operational competitiveness is expected to strengthen further in the coming years," he said.

He also emphasised India's political stability as a major advantage for foreign direct investors, saying, "The political situation is very stable compared to many other countries in the world. This is a strong point for foreign direct investment, including from Japan."

He cited a recent JBIC study and said that India was ranked the top global destination for foreign direct investment by Japanese manufacturing companies in 2026. "This reflects sustained confidence in India's long-term economic prospects despite global uncertainties."

"At a time when there is significant uncertainty in the investment climate worldwide, including in developed countries, India continues to maintain one of the highest levels of investment attractiveness," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Government of Madhya Pradesh held discussions with Jay Galla, Co-founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of the Amara Raja Group; Herve Couraye, Advisor to TouchLab; and Jasmin Hume, CEO and Founder of Shiru, among others, to explore multiple possibilities.

The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is being held from January 19 to 23, 2026, at Davos-Klosters, which is set to welcome nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries, including a record number of world leaders, CEOs, innovators and policymakers, under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue."

- ANI
The Madhya Pradesh government met with AI-powered protein discovery company Shiru at the World Economic Forum in Davos to explore collaboration. Discussions centered on Shiru's technology for developing protein ingredients from natural sources for industrial applications. Both sides explored partnerships with agricultural universities and research centers to leverage MP's farm ecosystem for crop-based protein inputs. The talks aim to position the state as a hub for applied research and potential future production facilities.

Madhya Pradesh explores AI-driven protein innovation & agri-research partnership with Shiru at Davos WEF, focusing on crop inputs and R&D.

Davos, January 19 The Government of Madhya Pradesh on Monday held a meeting with Jasmin Hume, CEO and Founder of Shiru, an AI-powered protein discovery company, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos to explore collaboration opportunities in advanced protein innovation, agri-based inputs and applied research.

According to a statement, the meeting focused on Shiru's AI-driven protein discovery and design platform, which enables the development of high-quality, ready-to-use protein ingredients for industrial applications.

The company highlighted that nearly 77 per cent of its protein portfolio is derived from natural sources and outlined its potential for technology licensing, along with a capital-efficient, scalable production model suited for global markets.

Shiru representatives shared that their primary applications are in the food sector, with additional relevance in the cosmetics and health segments.

The company also briefed the Madhya Pradesh delegation on its global commercial footprint and partnership-led operating model, including contract manufacturing arrangements across regions such as the European Union, Canada, Latin America, and Asia, including Thailand and India.

The discussion comes ahead of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from January 19 to 23, 2026, at Davos-Klosters, which is set to welcome nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries, including a record number of world leaders, CEOs, innovators and policymakers, under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue".

The discussions also covered possibilities for collaboration through university partnerships and research and development linkages, leveraging Madhya Pradesh's strong agricultural ecosystem. Both sides explored opportunities related to crop-based protein inputs, engagement with agricultural universities and agri-research centres, and positioning the state as a hub for applied research, pilot projects, and future production facilities.

It was agreed that the next steps would include identifying suitable universities and agri-research institutions in Madhya Pradesh, mapping crop availability and suitability for protein inputs, assessing pilot and contract manufacturing opportunities, and holding follow-up discussions to structure a potential commercial and research partnership.

The engagement underscores Madhya Pradesh's continued efforts to attract innovation-driven investments and strengthen partnerships across the agri-food and life sciences value chain.

- ANI
The Madhya Pradesh government interacted with Geneva-based impact investor Peace Invest at the World Economic Forum in Davos to explore co-investments in sustainable water and energy projects. The discussions, led by State Minister Rakesh Shukla, highlighted MP's achievements in renewable energy. India has deployed a massive delegation to the summit, including four Union ministers and six chief ministers, to pitch the country's investment potential. The corporate delegation features over 100 senior leaders from major Indian business groups, with a focus on attracting long-term capital for infrastructure and clean energy.

Madhya Pradesh engages Geneva's Peace Invest for sustainable projects at WEF. India's large delegation pitches nation as open for business to global investors.

Davos, January 19 The Government of Madhya Pradesh interacted with Yusuf Merchant, Chief Investment Officer of Geneva-based Peace Invest, an organisation focused on impact investments in the Global South, according to a release.

In India, Peace Invest is exploring potential investments in sustainable water and energy projects through a co-investment vehicle.

During the interaction, the Madhya Pradesh government shared its achievements in the renewable energy sector and highlighted opportunities for further energy investments in the state, the release stated.

The discussions were held with Madhya Pradesh Minister for New and Renewable Energy Rakesh Shukla.

The interaction comes as the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 began in Davos today, with India set to push its investment and growth story before global investors, policymakers and business leaders.

The five-day summit is being held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue", amid slowing global growth, geopolitical frictions, rapid technological change and growing concerns around rebuilding trust between nations.

The WEF Annual Meeting is considered one of the most influential global platforms, bringing together heads of state, ministers, central bankers, chief executives, entrepreneurs, academics and civil society leaders. It provides space for global discussions on the economy, technology, climate change, governance and long-term policy direction.

For India, Davos has remained a key venue to highlight reform momentum, policy stability and openness to global investment, with this year's participation featuring strong political as well as corporate representation.

India's delegation at Davos 2026 includes four Union ministers -- Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi and K Rammohan Naidu -- reflecting India's focus on infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and digital transformation.

Six chief ministers are also attending to present state-level investment opportunities: Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), A Revanth Reddy (Telangana) and Hemant Soren (Jharkhand).

The participation of Assam and Jharkhand is being seen as significant as eastern India seeks to showcase fast-growing state economies, mineral wealth and industrial potential.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and senior delegations from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are also taking part in the summit.

On the corporate side, India has sent one of its largest business delegations to Davos, with more than 100 senior leaders from the banking, technology, manufacturing, start-up and renewable energy sectors participating.

Key Indian corporate participants include Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries), N Chandrasekaran (Tata Group), Sanjiv Bajaj (Bajaj Group), Hari S Bhartia (Jubilant Bhartia Group), Sudarshan Venu (TVS Motor) and Anish Shah (Mahindra Group).

Other business leaders attending include Amitabh Chaudhry (Axis Bank), Nadir Godrej (Godrej Industries Group), Sajjan Jindal (JSW Group), Nikhil Kamath (Zerodha), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Bharti Group), Nandan Nilekani and Salil S Parekh (Infosys), Rishad Premji (Wipro), Prashant Ruia (Essar), Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), and Sumant Sinha (ReNew).

India's key pitch at WEF 2026 is that it is "open for business", aiming to attract global partnerships and strengthen its position in international value chains.

India is expected to focus on manufacturing and supply chain diversification, infrastructure expansion, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, clean energy and energy transition, and long-term capital flows.

This year's push is centred on sustaining investor confidence, strengthening engagement and converting interest into longer-term investments.

More than 3,000 global leaders are attending the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

- ANI
Over 20,000 masts to be installed

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced significant progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, with the installation of Overhead Electrification masts advancing along the corridor. This infrastructure is critical for providing reliable power to the high-speed trains, with more than 20,000 masts being installed on elevated viaducts. The project strengthens domestic manufacturing under the 'Make in India' initiative while adopting proven global technology. Upon completion, it will drastically reduce travel time between the two cities and boost local economies through job creation and improved connectivity.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reports steady progress on India's first bullet train, with over 20,000 OHE masts being installed for power.

New Delhi, Jan 19 Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is witnessing steady progress with the installation of Overhead Electrification masts advancing along the corridor.

According to the minister, the development marks an important step towards enabling electric traction for India's first high-speed rail system and reflects consistent on-ground execution under the 'Make in India' initiative.

In doing so, it strengthens domestic manufacturing capabilities while adopting globally proven high-speed rail technology, he added.

Vaishnaw further stated that the installation of OHE masts is underway across key sections of the alignment, including viaduct stretches, to support safe, smooth and efficient high-speed train operations.

These masts form a critical part of the traction infrastructure required for reliable power supply to bullet trains running on the corridor.

The OHE masts are being installed on elevated viaducts at significant heights above ground level. In total, more than 20,000 masts, ranging from 9.5 to 14.5 metres, will be installed along the corridor.

The masts will support the complete 225 kV overhead traction power system, including overhead wires, earthing arrangements, fittings, and other accessories required for bullet train operations.

To ensure uninterrupted traction power, a network of Traction Substations (TSS) and Distribution Substations (DSS) is being developed along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor.

Once completed, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train will make travel between the two cities faster and more convenient, while improving connectivity across the corridor.

According to the minister, the project is expected to benefit passengers, local economies, and Indian industry through job creation and strengthened manufacturing.

It also marks an important step towards the adoption of advanced rail technology and the development of world-class rail infrastructure in the country.

- IANS
National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) is fast-tracking its overseas strategy to secure lithium and other critical minerals, essential for India's electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. Through the joint venture KABIL, the company is advancing exploration in three lithium blocks in Argentina and evaluating equity acquisitions in operating mines in Australia. Chairman Brijendra Pratap Singh stated that invasive exploration in Argentina will determine commercial viability within 1-1.5 years, with mining scale clarity expected by late 2027. This push aligns with India's National Critical Minerals Mission to reduce import dependence, as domestic proven reserves of minerals like lithium are currently insufficient.

NALCO accelerates lithium exploration in Argentina & Australia via KABIL to secure supply for India's EV & renewable energy goals. Details inside.

By Kaushal Verma, Bhubaneswar, January 19 State-run National Aluminium Company Ltd is fast-tracking its overseas strategy to explore and produce lithium and other critical minerals, aiming to secure long-term supply amid rising demand and tightening global availability, Chairman and Managing Director Brijendra Pratap Singh told.

"NALCO, through KABIL, is already engaged in lithium exploration overseas and we are expediting the process," Singh told ANI in an exclusive interview. "In Argentina, three lithium blocks have been allotted and non-invasive exploration has already given encouraging results."

Singh said the company has now moved to the next phase of evaluation, appointing a project monitoring consultant to carry out invasive exploration, including drilling and pilot-scale testing.

"This phase will take around one to one-and-a-half years, after which we will know the depth, grade and commercial viability of lithium mining," he said.

He added that clarity on commercial volumes is expected by the end of 2027. "Only after invasive exploration is completed can we determine the scale at which mining can be undertaken," Singh said.

Alongside Argentina, NALCO is also evaluating opportunities in Australia through Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), a joint venture with Coal India and ONGC Videsh.

"Some operating lithium mines are available in Australia, and we are conducting due diligence to assess the size and value of stakes we can acquire," Singh said. "If the evaluation is favourable, we can directly acquire equity in operating mines."

The overseas push aligns with India's National Critical Minerals Mission, which encourages state-run firms to secure mineral assets abroad to reduce dependence on imports. Singh said India lacks proven large-scale domestic reserves of several critical minerals.

"Lithium and many other critical minerals are not yet available in proven quantities in India, which is why overseas acquisition becomes important," he said.

Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, along with Australia, host a majority of the world's lithium reserves and are central to India's long-term energy transition strategy.

On the domestic front, Singh said NALCO is also evaluating participation in rare earth mineral development, though projects remain at an early stage.

"We have appointed a bid advisor who will guide us on auctions, due diligence and possible joint ventures for rare earths," he said. "Depending on the opportunity, we may participate either through auctions or partnerships."

He noted that public sector entities such as IREL, along with companies like HCL, are already active in the rare earth space, while NALCO is keeping its options open. "Rare earths, magnesium and other strategic minerals are areas we are examining as part of our diversification strategy," Singh said.

NALCO's diversification beyond aluminium reflects a broader policy push to strengthen domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles, renewable energy equipment and advanced electronics, all of which rely heavily on critical minerals.

"The country's focus is on self-reliance, and critical minerals are essential for that," Singh said. "Our overseas initiatives are fully aligned with national priorities and long-term industrial demand."

He added that while aluminium remains NALCO's core business, expanding into critical minerals is a strategic necessity. "This is about future-proofing -- ensuring availability of key inputs for India's growth over the next two to three decades," Singh said.

- ANI
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta extended heartfelt greetings to the National Disaster Response Force on its Raising Day, praising its personnel as an unwavering pillar during crises. She highlighted their dedication to building a secure India and paid tribute to martyrs who sacrificed their lives in service. The force, established in 2005, was also commended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for its discipline and bravery. Equipped to handle a wide range of disasters, the NDRF has earned national and international recognition for its crucial rescue operations and community preparedness efforts.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and PM Narendra Modi honor NDRF personnel on Raising Day, praising their disaster response and sacrifice for the nation.

New Delhi, Jan 19 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday praised the National Disaster Response Force on its Raising Day, highlighting the courage and dedication of its personnel in serving the nation during times of crisis.

"Heartfelt greetings to all the brave soldiers and their families on the Foundation Day of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)," she wrote on X.

Chief Minister Gupta said, "The role of NDRF, which stands as the unwavering pillar of the nation's trust in every challenge of disaster and moments of crisis, is unparalleled. Embodying the motto 'Disaster Service Always Everywhere,' your dedication and readiness in building a secure India are truly inspiring."

My heartfelt tribute to those immortal martyrs who sacrificed everything in the service of humanity. The entire nation takes pride in your indomitable courage and devotion to duty, she said.

Earlier, the Force was lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, leaders from across the political spectrum and senior officials, acknowledging the personnel's discipline, bravery and commitment to public service.

Observed annually, NDRF Raising Day marks the establishment of the force, which was constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, as a specialised unit to deal with natural and man-made disasters. Since its inception, the NDRF has emerged as the country's foremost disaster response agency, earning national and international recognition for its efficiency and humane approach.

Equipped with highly trained personnel drawn primarily from the Central Armed Police Forces, the NDRF is adept at handling a wide range of emergencies, including floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, industrial accidents and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disasters.

Over the years, the force has played a crucial role in major rescue and relief operations across India, often working in extremely challenging conditions. In addition to disaster response, the NDRF has also focused on capacity building, community awareness and disaster preparedness, conducting mock drills and training programmes to strengthen local response mechanisms.

- IANS
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma paid rich tributes to the National Disaster Response Force on its Raising Day, lauding its professionalism and lifesaving service. The NDRF, established in 2005, is India's premier agency for handling disasters like floods, earthquakes, and industrial accidents. The force is renowned for its swift response in challenging conditions and also engages in international humanitarian missions. The day honors the force's critical role in safeguarding lives and strengthening India's disaster management framework.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma praises the NDRF's courage and dedication on its Raising Day, highlighting its role in saving countless lives across India.

Guwahati, Jan 19 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday paid rich tributes to the National Disaster Response Force on the occasion of its Raising Day, lauding the force for its courage, professionalism and unwavering dedication in serving the nation during times of crisis.

Taking to social media platform X, the Chief Minister said that the NDRF remains ever ready to respond to disasters and emergencies, adding that its swift and selfless actions have saved countless lives across the country.

"On the NDRF Raising Day, we salute the courage, professionalism, and dedication of the National Disaster Response Force. Ever ready in times of crisis, NDRF's swift response and selfless service have saved countless lives across the nation," CM Sarma wrote.

Observed annually, NDRF Raising Day marks the establishment of the force, which was constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, as a specialised unit to deal with natural and man-made disasters. Since its inception, the NDRF has emerged as the country's foremost disaster response agency, earning national and international recognition for its efficiency and humane approach.

Equipped with highly trained personnel drawn primarily from the Central Armed Police Forces, the NDRF is adept at handling a wide range of emergencies, including floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, industrial accidents and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disasters.

Over the years, the force has played a crucial role in major rescue and relief operations across India, often working in extremely challenging conditions. In addition to disaster response, the NDRF has also focused on capacity building, community awareness and disaster preparedness, conducting mock drills and training programmes to strengthen local response mechanisms.

Its teams have frequently been deployed beyond India's borders as well, contributing to international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

Leaders from across the political spectrum and senior officials have extended greetings to NDRF personnel on the occasion, acknowledging their discipline, bravery and commitment to public service.

The Raising Day serves as a reminder of the critical role played by the NDRF in safeguarding lives and reinforcing India's disaster management framework, while also honouring the sacrifices made by its personnel in the line of duty.

- IANS
The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to officially announce Nitin Nabin as its new National President on January 20. Nabin, the current National Working President, is poised to be elected unopposed, making him the youngest person to hold the post at age 45. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among the senior leaders who proposed his nomination. The party has hailed the transparent election process as a reflection of its strong organizational values and internal democracy.

Nitin Nabin, 45, poised to be elected unopposed as BJP's national president, with PM Modi and senior leaders attending the announcement event.

New Delhi, January 19 The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to officially announce its new National President on January 20 at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the event at around 11:30 am, alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other senior leaders, according to a BJP party source and a press release issued on January 16.

The official announcement process regarding the National President will take place between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Nitin Nabin, currently serving as the party's National Working President, is poised to be elected unopposed as the BJP's 12th National President, making him the youngest to hold the post at 45.

The BJP's National President election process was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents out of 36, exceeding the required 50 per cent threshold. The Election Schedule, along with the Electoral Roll, was announced on January 16, 2026.

The nomination process took place today between 2 pm and 4 pm, with a total of 37 sets of nomination papers received in favour of Nitin Nabin. Top leaders, including PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh, were among the proposers.

BJP leader K Laxman, serving as the National Returning Officer for 'Sangathan Parv', announced, "BJP's organisational structure is our greatest strength. Under the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'Sangathan Parv', the election process for the post of National President was successfully completed today in my capacity as National Returning Officer.

This process further strengthens the party's democratic, transparent and worker-centric traditions.

Under the BJP's Sangathan Parv, the election process for the post of National President was conducted successfully in my capacity as National Returning Officer. This transparent and democratic process once again reflects the party's strong organisational values and its deep commitment to internal democracy."

Laxman further stated, "The BJP National President Election process was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents out of 36 States, well above the required number of completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the States. Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity as National Returning Officer, Sangathan Parv, Bharatiya Janata Party, I hereby announce that only 1 name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of National President of Bharatiya Janata Party."

The party leader across the country lauded the nomination process for the BJP's national president, stating that the duo of PM Modi and Nitin Nabin will "score boundaries and sixes" in elections across the country.

Speaking to reporters, the Union Minister Giriraj Singh claimed that only in the BJP can a party worker rise from the grassroots to great heights, whereas in the Congress, this is impossible due to dynastic politics.

"This sends a message to politicians and political parties across the country that only in the BJP does a worker rise from the floor to the heights, whereas in Congress, this is impossible due to dynasty politics... In the elections to be held under his leadership across the country, the Prime Minister and Nitin Nabin together will score boundaries and sixes," Singh said.

Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa expressed confidence that Nitin Nabin will be elected unanimously, saying, "The young gentleman (Nitin Nabin) will get elected unanimously. It is the speciality of Modi ji, Nitin Gadkari ji and Amit Shah ji to elect a young leader."

Reacting to the nomination process for the national president, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday said that his party distinguishes itself from other parties by ensuring that leadership is not confined to families, allowing even a grassroots worker to rise to the top through merit and dedication.

"Unlike other parties where party presidents are born within the family, the BJP is a party where a grassroots worker can rise to the top," Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, adding, "Nitin Nabin is hardworking and has proven himself. I believe he will bear this responsibility with complete honesty and efficiency."

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader CT Ravi said that the nomination process for the party president is underway and that the official announcement would be made on Tuesday.

"Today, nominations are being filed for the party president position, and tomorrow the name will be announced. I believe Nitin Nabin will be our next party president," Ravi told reporters.

BJP MP Arjun Munda also welcomed the development, calling it a significant moment for the party.

"It is our collective fortune that today the nomination for the national president of the country's largest party is taking place. Nitin Nabin will file the nomination, and the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Defence Minister will be the proposers," Munda told ANI.

Furthermore, Union Minister Annapurna Devi highlighted the BJP's internal democratic process, stating that the party has always upheld transparency in organisational elections.

"Today, nominations are being held for the election of the national president of the BJP, the world's largest party. The announcement will be made tomorrow. Just as the BJP always conducts elections with transparency, it is only in the BJP that even a booth-level worker can rise to the highest position in the nation," she said.

The nomination process, held at the BJP headquarters, saw participation from senior Ministers including JP Nadda, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari, Manohar Lal Khattar, and G Kishan Reddy. Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana), Bhajanlal Sharma (Rajasthan), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Pramod Sawant (Goa), and Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh) were also present.

Nitin Nabin, the son of the late senior BJP leader and four-time Bihar Assembly legislator Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, first entered politics in 2006 following his father's demise, winning a by-election from Patna West.

He has represented the Bankipur constituency in Bihar Assembly elections since 2010, winning consecutive terms in 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025. Over the years, he has held key ministerial portfolios in Bihar, including Road Construction, Urban Development and Housing, and Law and Justice.

Within party ranks, Nitin Nabin has served as Bihar state president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and held organisational responsibilities in other states, cementing his reputation as a rising national-level leader in the BJP.

- ANI
Nitin Nabin has been proposed as the sole candidate for the post of Bharatiya Janata Party National President. Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi hailed the nomination as the beginning of a new era and a major example of the party's internal democratic system. He contrasted the BJP's approach with dynastic politics, stating it is a party where every worker is respected. The formal announcement is expected after the withdrawal period.

BJP's Nitin Nabin nominated for national president post. Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Saraogi calls it the start of a new era, highlighting party democracy.

Patna, January 19 Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party president Sanjay Saraogi on Monday described the filing of nomination by the party's leader Nitin Nabin for the post of national president as the beginning of a new era in the party.

He called it a major example of the BJP's internal democratic system and its policy of promoting grassroots workers.

Sanjay Saraogi said that this day was extremely significant for every BJP worker. He stated that the BJP remains a political organisation that strictly follows a strong organisational framework and democratic processes.

After the nomination of the new national president, a formal announcement will be made on Tuesday, he said.

Saraogi said, "BJP is not a party of any one caste or family, but a party that functions as a family, where every worker is given equal respect." Taking a swipe at dynastic politics, he said that while other parties promote only family members, in the BJP, every worker is considered an integral part.

Expressing confidence, the Bihar BJP president said that Nitin Navin, who is popular among party workers, will prove to be a capable and strong national president. He added that Nitin Navin, a native of Patna, makes the moment even more special for Bihar.

Sanjay Saraogi said, "Today is an important day for Indian politics, but it is the biggest day for Bihar. This moment will be recorded as a historic chapter in the country's political history."

Meanwhile, BJP leader K Laxman announced that Nitin Nabin has been proposed for the post of BJP National President after 37 sets of Nomination Papers were received in his favour.

Laxman, BJP's national returning officer for 'Sangathan Parv', said that the process to elect the party's national president was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents across 36 states.

"The BJP National President Election process was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents out of 36 States, well above the required number of completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the States. Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity of National Returning Officer, Sangathan Parv, Bharatiya Janata Party, I hereby announce that only 1 name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of National President of Bharatiya Janata Party," Laxma said in a press statement.

- ANI
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on several European nations unless they agree to sell Greenland, framing the move as a national security necessity to counter Russian and Chinese interests. The threat comes ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In response, eight European countries issued a joint statement expressing full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, arguing that their military exercises pose no threat. Trump warned of escalating tariffs beginning in 2026 if a deal is not reached, claiming it is "time for Denmark to give back" after years of U.S. support.

US President Trump threatens tariffs on European nations, demanding action on Russian threat in Greenland ahead of Davos meeting with NATO chief.

Washington DC, January 19 US President Donald Trump has said that Greenland has not been able to keep "Russian threats" away from Greenland despite being warned about it for over two decades.

In a post on X, the White House wrote, "NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that "you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland." Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

This post comes right around the time NATO Secretary General and Trump are to meet at Davos where the World Economic Forum begins from Monday.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Sunday (local time) spoke with Trump on the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic, amid Washington's threat to impose 10 per cent tariffs on Denmark and European Union countries.

Mark Rutte also informed that he will meet with Trump this week in Davos.

In a post on X, Rutte said, "Spoke with POTUS regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic. We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week."

Rutte did not share details of the conversation with Donald Trump on the matter.

Meanwhile, several European countries have come together and expressed support and solidarity with Denmark and Greenland amid the threat by US President Trump to impose tariffs on eight European nations untill it is allowed to acquire Greenland.

A joint statement by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom--shared by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned that exercise 'Arctic Endurance' does not pose a threat to anyone and that the countries stand in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.

The statement highlighted that the threat of tariffs undermines transatlantic relations and risks a dangerous downward spiral.

On Saturday, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on the United Kingdom and other European countries unless they agree to sell Greenland.

In his post, Trump claimed the move is necessary for national security, citing China's and Russia's interest in the territory.

He offered to negotiate with the European nations but warned of escalating tariffs of 10 per cent from February 1, 2026, and 25 per cent from June 1, 2026, if a deal wasn't reached, stating it was "time for Denmark to give back" after years of US support.

- ANI
The path to peace in Ukraine: by force or by agreement?" such a session is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, at 5:45 p.m. (local time) in the program of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, which officially opened its work on Monday, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

Among the speakers are the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Finland and Canada Andriy Sybiha, Elina Valtonen, Anita Anand, as well as Senator from North Carolina (Republican) Tom Tillis and Editor-in-Chief of Politico (Europe) Jamil Edmond Anderlini.

"In 2025, there was a stream of intensive transatlantic efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. Now the focus is on whether an agreement can be reached that will ensure a just and lasting peace, and what security guarantees can be provided. What can Kyiv, together with its partners, aspire to achieve on and off the battlefield?" - this is the announcement of this open session, which was developed in collaboration with Politico.

The speech of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is currently not on the conference program this year, although the announcement of the Ukraine House, which will once again be operating in Davos, announced it for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

However, according to the WEF website, at 2:00 p.m. a half-hour special address by French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled for the forum, and at 2:30 p.m. a conversation with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled.

Last year, in addition to the speech by the Ukrainian President, the WEF program included two sessions directly related to Ukraine.

One of the main events of the WEF 2026 is expected to be a speech by US President Donald Trump, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 21, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Trump previously announced that he is ready to meet in Davos with Zelenskyy. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov also reported on Sunday that following bilateral consultations in the United States, it was agreed to continue work at the team level during the next stage of consultations in Davos. Earlier, the British The Telegraph wrote that an agreement on the restoration of trade between Ukraine and the United States worth $800 billion could be signed in Davos.

"We are preparing for next week so that the meetings in Davos are productive, correct, we need a clear content - the content of the meetings, the content of the documents. Now is definitely not the time for loud and empty conversations, for formal meetings. There must be results for real people - for Ukrainians, for all Europeans, for Americans," Zelenskyy said in an evening video address on Friday, January 16.

Among the sessions that may touch on the topic of Ukraine, the official WEF 2026 program includes "Amid Chaos" with the participation of Nobel laureate from Ukraine Oleksandra Matviychuk on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. "As the number of countries experiencing war or instability continues to grow, what threatens current and future generations if the physical and psychological toll on civilians in conflict zones remains unresolved?" - this is how this session is stated.

In addition, on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., the conversation The Future of War by CNN host Fareed Zakaria will also take place with Relativity Space CEO and Co-Chairman Eric Schmidt, who is actively assisting Ukraine.

Wednesday Morning at 9:00 will open with a session Can Russia support a wartime economy?, at 10:15 - Can Europe protect itself? with the participation of the presidents of Poland and Finland Karol Nawrocki and Oleksandr Stubb, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Among the leading guests of the forum who will speak and may talk about Ukraine, it is also worth highlighting the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (speech on Tuesday 10:50), Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney (Tuesday 16:30), Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz (Thursday 11:30).

On the sidelines of the forum from January 19 to 22, the Ukrainian House will be operating with a discussion program, the organizers of which were the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund and Horizon Capital.

In addition to organizing the traditional Ukrainian Breakfast and co-organizing the Ukrainian House, the Pinchuk Foundation in cooperation with The Office of the President of Ukraine will also present a new project "Ukraine: At the Frontline of the Future", organized in partnership with the PinchukArtCentre and the Office of the President of Ukraine, and on January 22, the traditional Ukrainian Breakfast in Davos will take place, which will bring together political leaders, business leaders and representatives of civil society to discuss Ukraine's role in shaping the future of Europe and the world. In 2024, Politico recognized the Ukrainian House in Davos with the exhibition Deciding Your Tomorrow, organized by the Pinchuk Foundation, as the best pavilion.
The Odisha government will host the three-day Matsya-Pranee Samavesh Odisha (MPSO-2026) conclave in Bhubaneswar starting January 21. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate the event aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods through fisheries and livestock. Over 8,000 farmers and entrepreneurs are expected to attend, with award ceremonies for champions and officials. The conclave will feature an 'Ask the Minister' session, panel discussions, and exhibitions to foster direct dialogue and solutions.

Odisha govt hosts 3-day MPSO-2026 conclave from Jan 21, focusing on innovative fisheries & livestock for rural prosperity. CM Majhi to inaugurate.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 19 The Odisha government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, will host a grand three-day Matsya-Pranee Samavesh Odisha conclave in Bhubaneswar beginning from January 21 onwards, with the objective of strengthening rural livelihoods by bringing prosperity to the farming community across the state.

While briefing mediapersons here on Monday, Odisha's Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Gokulananda Mallik said that this conclave would become a grand platform of awareness and prosperity for fish and livestock farmers.

He also shared information on the steps being taken to make Odisha self-reliant in the production of milk, meat, eggs, and fish.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will inaugurate MPSO-2026, with the theme 'Innovative interventions in Fisheries and Livestock for Vikashit Odisha.' This event will be held at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar between January 21-23.

The valedictory session will be graced by the Governor of Odisha Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati.

As per official sources, more than 8,000 farmers, entrepreneurs and WSHG members, from each block of the state are expected to attend the three-day event on different days.

Similarly, around 348 farmers, with six from each sub-division, and entrepreneurs will be awarded as 'Champions' for their exemplary achievements in fish and livestock farming.

Similarly, best 20 officers of the Fisheries and ARD sector will also be felicitated for their contribution in development of the sector.

A programme 'Ask the Minister' will be held during the conclave allowing the farmers coming from across the state to pose their queries to the Fisheries Minister who will answer all their questions.

"The convention will provide a platform where farmers can directly raise their questions and concerns. We will make every effort to address these issues and find practical solutions," he said, adding that senior officials and subject experts will engage in open discussions with stakeholders.

Several other programmes, panel discussions, exhibitions will be held during the three-day grand MPSO-2026 conclave.

- IANS
Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani has been honoured with composing the music for the Republic Day Parade in 2026. The project, under the Ministry of Culture, will feature a grand performance by 2,500 artists from across India and commemorates the 150th anniversary of the iconic song "Vande Mataram". Meanwhile, preparations are ongoing for the 77th Republic Day celebrations this year. The chief guests for the 2024 parade will be European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who will also attend an EU-India summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani will create the music for the 2026 Republic Day parade, featuring 2500 artists to mark Vande Mataram's 150th year.

Mumbai, January 19 Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravani said he feels honoured to have been given the opportunity to compose the music for the Republic Day Parade 2026.

Taking to X on Monday, MM Keeravani wrote, "Dear all, Vande Mataram! On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the iconic song Vande Mataram, I feel deeply honoured and privileged to have composed the music for the 26th January Republic Day Parade, under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture. This grand presentation will be performed by 2,500 artists from across India. Stay tuned as we come together to celebrate the spirit of our nation -- Vande Mataram!"

Meanwhile, the rehearsals for the 77th Republic Day parade are underway at Kartavya Path ahead of the January 26 celebrations.

Notably, the European Council President, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the chief guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations.

They will also represent the EU at the 16th EU-India Summit, scheduled for January 27.

The two presidents will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for a summit to consolidate the EU-India strategic partnership and further strengthen cooperation in key policy areas.

Discussions will focus primarily on trade, security and defence, clean transition, and people-to-people cooperation, a EU statement said.

- ANI
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab has issued a stark warning that societies are facing a critical decline in truth and trust, which he identifies as fundamental pillars for solving global issues. He emphasized that without restoring these values, the capacity for collective international action remains severely at risk. Schwab made these remarks ahead of the WEF's 56th Annual Meeting in Davos, which convenes under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue" to rebuild cooperation. The 2026 summit gathers nearly 3,000 global leaders amid a backdrop of geopolitical tumult, economic uncertainty, and rapid technological change.

WEF founder Klaus Schwab warns that a loss of truth and trust undermines global problem-solving ahead of the 2026 Davos summit focused on dialogue.

New Delhi, January 19 World Economic Forum founder and ex-chairman of its Board of Trustees, Klaus Schwab, has issued a stark warning regarding the erosion of societal foundations ahead of this 56th edition of the annual gathering of the global elite at Davos, which is taking place at a time of geopolitical tumult.

In a message shared on X, Schwab emphasised that the global community currently lacks the two fundamental pillars of truth and trust required to address urgent international challenges. He stated that without restoring these values, the capacity for collective action remains at risk.

"We are missing in our society two fundamental pillars. It's truth, and it's trust. And without restoring those pillars, we will not be able to solve the big global issues which we face at this moment. Our societies face a decline of truth and trust. Without truth, we lose a shared reality; without trust, we lose our capacity to act together. It's a keyword of dialogue of listening each to another and in such a way to see the different aspects, the different dimensions of a problem and such fundamental in order to be able to create solutions afterwards," Schwab noted. He identified the present moment as a critical juncture where the restoration of these pillars is the only path toward solving significant global issues.

Schwab highlighted that the current era of rapid and disruptive technological change requires a focus on maintaining human essence. "If there is one decisive factor of the intelligent age, what is it? I think it's the capability in view of the fast and disruptive technological change to remain human beings. And as human beings, we have to exercise empathy, we have to listen to each other, and I think we have to analyze issues not just with our brains, but also with our heart, and with an understanding that ultimately we have to serve not ourselves, but society," he said.

Shwab founded the World Economic Forum in 1971 from which he was dismissed last April before being reinstated a few months later, following an internal investigation that deemed the allegations against him unfounded. Schwab retired from his roles at the Forum in 2025.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) will convene its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation.

Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," Davos 2026 seeks to provide an impartial platform for global leaders from government, business and civil society to reconnect, rebuild trust and explore collaborative solutions to challenges that increasingly transcend borders.

The meeting builds on the Forum's mission to improve the state of the world through public-private cooperation, continuing a tradition that for more than five decades has positioned Davos as a central venue for shaping responses to global crises and long-term structural change.

This year's programme is shaped by ongoing geopolitical realignments, slowing global growth, trade frictions and accelerating technological change. Across sessions on geopolitics, growth and global governance, participants will explore how cooperation can be renewed amid contested norms, strained alliances and eroding trust.

- ANI
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US Senator Steve Daines and Ambassador Sergio Gor for a productive discussion on bilateral ties. This follows similar meetings by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Indian envoy Vinay Kwatra, highlighting ongoing diplomatic engagement. India's Commerce Secretary stated the first tranche of a much-anticipated Bilateral Trade Agreement is "very near," aiming to more than double trade to $500 billion by 2030. The talks continue amid existing US tariffs and recent political commentary from US officials about the deal's progress.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal meets US officials as India eyes a bilateral trade deal. Talks aim to boost trade to $500 billion by 2030.

New Delhi, January 19 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US Senator Steve Daines and the US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, and had a "productive exchange" of views on the bilateral relationship front.

"Delighted to again meet my good friends US Senator @SteveDaines and the US Ambassador to India @SergioGor. Had a productive exchange of views on our bilateral relationship," Piyush Goyal posted on X.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had on Sunday also met US Senator Steve Daines, who is currently on a visit to India. They had a wide ranging and open discussion on the bilateral relationship and its strategic significance.

Last week, Indian envoy in US, Vinay Kwatra, also met Senator Daines and discussed the bilateral relationship.

These meetings come amid India and US' talks for a Bilateral Trade Agreement.

India is currently being subjected to US tariffs of 50 per cent, even as it has been in talks with Washington since February last year, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US capital.

India's Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal asserted last Thursday that the much-anticipated first tranche of India-US BTA is "very near" but stopped short of putting out a timeline.

"There are engagements going on, and negotiating teams are talking virtually on issues which are still pending. But we can't put a deadline. It's very near. That will happen as long as both sides are ready, they feel it is the right time to announce," he told reporters.

India and the US were initially aiming to complete the first tranche of an India-US bilateral trade agreement by fall of 2025, but new developments in the US trade policy landscape, that include tariffs, have altered those plans.

The BTA, formally proposed in February following directives from the leadership of both nations, seeks to more than double bilateral trade, from the current USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by 2030. Talks were first announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in February 2025.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had recently claimed that the trade deal between India and the United States did not happen as Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not place a call to Donald Trump.

Soon after, the Ministry of External Affairs said it had been close to a trade deal with the United States on several occasions, and the characterisation by the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about it was "not accurate." "On several occasions, we have been close to a deal. The characterization of these discussions, the reported remarks, is not accurate," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

India is actively negotiating trade agreements with several countries, including the US, in a bid to expand trade and secure long-term growth opportunities.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended deep appreciation to the National Disaster Response Force on its Raising Day, highlighting their professionalism and tireless work in crises. He stated the NDRF has become a global benchmark in disaster preparedness and response. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also greeted the force, calling it the trusted pillar of the nation during calamities and saluting its martyrs. The NDRF, established in 2006, is a multi-skilled force deployed nationwide for various disaster scenarios.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah praised the National Disaster Response Force for its professionalism and role in building a disaster-resilient India.

New Delhi, January 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, extended gratitude and appreciation to the National Disaster Relief Force on its Raising Day.

In a post on X, the PM lauded the personnel for their "professionalism and resolve" and for always being the frontrunners in times of calamity. He also underscored their efforts to "protect lives, provide relief and restore hope."

"On the Raising Day of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), we extend our deepest appreciation to the men and women whose professionalism and resolve stand tall in moments of crisis. Always at the forefront when a calamity strikes, NDRF personnel work tirelessly to protect lives, provide relief and restore hope under the most challenging circumstances," the PM wrote in the post.

The Prime Minister further described their skills and sense of duty as the epitome of "the highest standard of service." He acknowledged the respect the force has earned globally, describing their service as "a benchmark in disaster preparedness and response."

"Their skills and sense of duty exemplify the highest standards of service. Over the years, the NDRF has emerged as a benchmark in disaster preparedness and response, earning much respect internationally," he emphasised.

The Prime Minister attached some photographs of the NDRF personnel engaged in relief and management work and tagged the NDRF office handle in the message.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended greetings on the occasion of the NDRF Raising Day.

In a post on X, he underscored their significant role in building a "disaster-resilient India" and described them as "the pillar of trust, the nation relies on during calamities."

He further saluted the personnel of the NDRF "who sacrificed themselves for others' safety."

"Warm greetings to the personnel of @NDRFHQ on Raising Day. Through its significant role in realising the Modi govt's resolve to build a disaster-resilient India, the NDRF has today become the pillar of trust the nation relies on during calamities. Salute to the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the safety of others," he wrote in the post.

National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) was raised on January 19, 2006, as a multi-skilled stand-alone Disaster Response Force to respond to all natural and man-made disasters.

It attends to various disasters, including collapsed structure search-and-rescue operations during earthquakes and landslides, floodwater rescue, including cyclones, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear contingencies, and medical emergencies, among others.

It is strategically deployed across the country with 16 Battalions and 28 Regional Response Centers. NDRF Academy is located in Nagpur.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged Polish Deputy PM Radoslaw Sikorski to adopt zero tolerance for terrorism and avoid fueling terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood. He criticized the "selective targeting" of India regarding the Ukraine conflict as unfair and unjustified. The ministers met to review the bilateral strategic partnership action plan for 2024-28, covering trade, defence, and digital innovation. Jaishankar highlighted the strong bilateral ties, including $7 billion in trade and significant Indian investment in Poland.

EAM S Jaishankar calls on Poland for zero tolerance on cross-border terrorism, criticizes selective targeting of India over Ukraine stance.

New Delhi, Jan 19 Highlighting the challenges of cross-border terrorism faced by India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday urged Poland to display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood.

In his opening remarks during a meeting with Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi on Monday, EAM Jaishankar noted that the ties between India and Poland have progressed steadily; however, he noted that they need constant tending.

"Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the long-standing challenges of cross-border terrorism. I hope at this meeting to discuss some of your recent travels to the region. Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood," he added.

He also reiterated India's stance on the Ukraine conflict and termed "selective targeting" of New Delhi "unfair and unjustified."

EAM Jaishankar noted that he and Sikorski are meeting at a time when the world is under considerable churn and stressed that it is useful to exchange views and perspectives as India and Poland are two nations located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities.

"Today, our conversation will naturally cover regional and global developments. In particular, an exchange of assessments on our respective neighbourhoods would be useful. You have been speaking about it publicly during your visit as well," he said.

"In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications. While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," the EAM added.

Hailing the bilateral ties, EAM Jaishankar said, "Our bilateral relationship has also progressed steadily, but nevertheless needs constant tending. India and Poland have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly ties. In recent years, it's been marked by high-level political exchanges and vibrant economic and people-to-people ties," citing the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Poland in August 2024, during which the bilateral ties were elevated to a strategic partnership status.

EAM Jaishankar stated that Poland is one of India's largest trading partners in Central Europe, adding that the bilateral trade stands at about $7 billion. He mentioned that Indian investment in Poland has surpassed $3 billion, creating a number of job opportunities for Poles.

"Today, Deputy Prime Minister, we would review the action plan 2024-28 through which we seek to realise the full potential of our strategic partnership. We will also discuss ways to take forward our cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security technologies and digital innovation," he said.

- IANS
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 86th All India Presiding Officers' Conference in Lucknow, expressing concern over the reduced number of sittings in State Legislatures. He emphasized that longer, more productive sessions are crucial for meaningful discussion and strengthening democratic values. Birla stated that Presiding Officers must conduct themselves impartially, above party politics, especially in an era of intense public scrutiny via technology. The conference will focus on themes like technology in legislative processes and capacity building for lawmakers.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addresses declining sittings in State Assemblies at Presiding Officers' Conference, stressing productivity for democracy.

Lucknow, January 19 Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla raised concerns over the declining number of sittings in State Assemblies and disruptions in the House and advocated for meaningful and productive legislative sessions as a foundation for a prosperous democracy.

He emphasised that the voice of the people should reach the government for solutions, stressing that the smooth functioning of legislative bodies is crucial to strengthening democratic values.

Birla was speaking in the inaugural session of the 86th All India Presiding Officers' Conference (AIPOC), which commenced today in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The three-day Conference was inaugurated by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel.

In his keynote address, Lok Sabha Speaker said that through the legislature, the aspirations and voices of the people reach the government for solutions. In this context, the declining time devoted to the functioning of State Legislatures is a matter of concern for all. The time needed to ensure a fixed and adequate time for the proceedings of State Legislatures. The longer House functions, the more meaningful, serious and outcome-oriented discussions would be possible.

Birla said that irrespective of the political party from which a Presiding Officer comes, his or her conduct must be above party politics. Presiding Officer's conduct must be fair and impartial and must also appear to be fair and impartial.

The Lok Sabha Speaker further stated that in the age of modern information and communication technology and social media, the conduct of public representatives is constantly under public scrutiny, making adherence to parliamentary decorum and discipline even more essential. In today's technological era, when information flows from all directions, maintaining the credibility of the House is a great collective responsibility of all.

Birla noted that platforms such as the All India Presiding Officers' Conference promote cooperation among democratic institutions, strengthen mutual coordination and make governance more effective. Such conferences also help in bringing about harmony in policies and welfare measures across the country.

Birla also said that it is the duty of Presiding Officers to provide adequate opportunities to all members of the House, especially new and young members, so that the legislature remains the most effective forum for raising the issues and concerns of the people.

It is notable that the 86th AIPOC is commencing in Lucknow, with a focus on Technology, Capacity Building, and Legislative Accountability. Presiding Officers from the Legislative Assemblies of 28 States, 3 Union Territories and 6 Legislative Councils are participating in the Conference.

On this occasion, the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Satish Mahana, read out the greetings message from the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed to all the Presiding Officers participating in the Conference.

Over the next two days, detailed discussions will be held in plenary sessions on important subjects such as the use of technology in legislative processes, capacity-building for legislators, and the legislature's accountability to the people.

This is the fourth time that Uttar Pradesh is hosting this prestigious national Conference. Earlier, the Conference was held in the State in December 1961, October 1985 and January-February 2015. The 86th All India Presiding Officers' Conference will conclude on January 21, 2026, with the valedictory address of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. After the Conference concludes, Birla will also address the media at a press conference.

- ANI
Rajasthan is experiencing a massive surge in tourism, with Jaipur and Jaisalmer receiving thousands of daily visitors from India and abroad. Foreign tourists, particularly from France, the USA, and Germany, are drawn to Jaipur's historical sites like Hawa Mahal and City Palace. The state government's efforts and post-pandemic recovery have put the season on track to break previous records. Tourism experts note the steady return of international visitors, highlighting Rajasthan's crucial role in India's tourism sector.

Rajasthan's tourism breaks records as Jaipur and Jaisalmer attract thousands of domestic and international visitors to historic forts and palaces.

Jaipur, January 19 A massive influx of tourists is being witnessed across Rajasthan, including Jaipur. Travellers from both India and abroad are flocking to the state's major tourist destinations, providing a significant boost to the state's tourism industry.

The highest concentrations of tourists are currently in Jaisalmer and Jaipur, which welcome thousands of domestic and foreign visitors daily. The 'Pink City' remains the top choice for foreign tourists, who are particularly drawn to its historical sites, local cuisine, and vibrant art and culture.

A French tourist lauded India and its people, saying she found the City Palace and Hawa Mahal the most attractive destinations.

"We are from France. This city is very beautiful, and there are many people here. Indians have been friendly to us. I like this country as well. We visited Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Amer Fort and many more places. We explored several temples and minarets. We have been to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, and we also went to New Delhi," she said.

The number of domestic tourists is also rising steadily. Owing to the State Government's efforts, this tourism season is on track to break previous records.

Saif, a tourist from Hyderabad who arrived in Jaipur two days ago, said he visited several major tourist attractions and spent time learning about the city's history and culture.

"I came to Jaipur about two days ago. I went to Amer Fort, Sheesh Mahal, and City Palace, and spent about 3 hours touring the city. We explored various museums and forts and learnt about Jaipur's history. Jaipur has been kind to us. We made some great memories in the Pink City. We will leave for Ajmer today, but we will surely come back here again," he said.

Another domestic tourist from Himachal Pradesh, Nakul, said that the college trip to Jaipur helped him better understand the country's rich and vibrant cultural heritage and appreciate the city's people and food.

"We came to Jaipur on a college trip and loved this city. We have been to Jantar Mantar, Amer Fort, among other places. We learnt about astronomy and the cultural history of our country through these places. The people, the food, and the culture of Rajasthan are beautiful. We will be doing camel riding today. After Jaipur, we will go to Udaipur and Jaisalmer," he said.

In Jaipur, heavy crowds are being reported at: Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Albert Hall, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Nahargarh Fort.

Tourism experts and guides note that Rajasthan is receiving a steady flow of visitors from countries including the USA, Australia, England, Germany, and Russia.

A tourist guide, Virendra Singh Shekawat, explained that more international tourists have resumed arriving in India, particularly in Rajasthan, since the coronavirus pandemic and highlighted Rajasthan's role in strengthening India's tourism sector.

"There was a time we were seeing a decline in foreign tourists to our country, which has recovered in 2026. We are witnessing heavy footfall of international tourists, just as before the COVID pandemic. People from France, Germany, Japan, and other countries have resumed visiting India, and the same influx is expected to continue till March in Jaipur. Rajasthan teaches many cultural values to foreign tourists, who then take them across the world, making it a very important part of India's tourism sector," he stated.

The peak tourism season, which began in November, will remain in full swing through February. It is expected that a large number of domestic and foreign 'Pavnes' (guests) will continue to arrive in the land of sand dunes, further accelerating the growth of Rajasthan's tourism business.

Scenes from Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Albert Hall, and other sites show large gatherings of domestic and international tourists.

- ANI
Sunrisers Eastern Cape secured first place and a spot in Qualifier 1 with a commanding seven-wicket win over MI Cape Town, eliminating their opponents from playoff contention. MI Cape Town, needing a bonus point win, posted 148/6 thanks to an unbeaten 70 from Reeza Hendricks. The Sunrisers' chase was anchored by a 109-run partnership between Quinton de Kock (56) and Matthew Breetzke (66). Jordan Hermann hit the winning runs off the penultimate ball, sparking celebrations at St George's Park.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape top the SA20 table, eliminating MI Cape Town from playoffs. Reeza Hendricks' 70* in vain as Quinton de Kock leads chase.

Cape Town, January 19 Sunrisers Eastern Cape delivered a commanding performance that not only secured the two-time champions' place at the top of the SA20 table but also dashed MI Cape Town's Season 4 Playoffs aspirations, edging them out by seven wickets in a thrilling contest at St George's Park on Sunday.

MI Cape Town required a bonus point victory to stay in contention, but now the final playoff place on offer will be a straight shootout between Joburg Super Kings and Durban's Super Giants.

DSG's hopes are hinging on JSK losing to Paarl Royals at Boland Park on Monday. A victory for JSK will see DSG eliminated, according to the SA20 website.

The Royals can still overtake the Sunrisers at the top of the table should they beat JSK, but Adrian Birrell's side have secured their place in Qualifier 1 at Kingsmead on Wednesday, as they can no longer finish outside the top two in the final Betway SA20 standings.

The seven-wicket victory was the perfect sendoff for the Orange Army, as the unofficial 12th man had once again come out in their thousands for the fifth game in succession to support the local team.

They were not disappointed with new Australian import Chris Green delivering an excellent performance with the ball on his Sunrisers debut. The off-spinner, who was born in South Africa, made the most of the spin-friendly conditions to finish with 3/29.

He was ably supported by off-spinner James Coles (1/17) as the Sunrisers limited MI Cape Town to 148/6.

Reeza Hendricks was the cornerstone of MI Cape Town's innings with an undefeated 70 (44 balls, 8x4, 1x6), and George Linde struck a quickfire 30 off 17 balls (4x6), but they needed much more to push for the bonus point win.

Sunrisers' chase centred around Quinton de Kock (56 off 49 balls, 6x4, 2x6) once again, with the in-form opener sharing a 109-run partnership for the second wicket with Matthew Breetzke (66 off 55 balls, 8x4).

Both departed with victory in sight to create tension all around the ground, but Jordan Hermann held his nerve to hit the winning runs off the penultimate ball of the match to send St George's Park into seventh heaven.

- ANI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to New Delhi as short but highly substantive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received the UAE President at the airport, a special gesture underscoring their close relationship. The leaders held talks at the Prime Minister's residence and oversaw an exchange of documents. The visit, occurring amid regional volatility, highlights the strengthened partnership following the 2022 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri details UAE President's high-level India visit, highlighting PM Modi's personal airport reception and substantive bilateral talks.

New Delhi, January 19 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday noted that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has concluded a "short, but extremely substantive" official visit to the national capital, during which he was personally received at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held discussions with the Indian side.

Briefing the media here, Misri said, "The President of the UAE has just concluded an official visit to New Delhi. This has been a short, but extremely substantive visit. He was received at the airport personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is a special gesture that reflects the extremely warm and close relationship that the two leaders share."

Misri added that after the airport reception, the two leaders travelled together to the Prime Minister's residence, where talks were held first in a restricted format and then in an expanded format involving delegation members.

"They then travel together from the airport to the Prime Minister's residence, where discussions were held, both in the restricted format and then expanded format, where delegation members engaged with each other," he said.

He further said that the engagement also included the exchange of documents in the presence of the two leaders.

"A number of documents were also exchanged in the presence of the leaders," Misri added.

Highlighting the significance of the visit, Misri said the importance could also be assessed from the high-level composition of the UAE delegation.

"The importance of this visit can be understood by the composition of the delegation accompanying the president of the UAE. It comprised members of the royal families of both Abu Dhabi as well as the way Dubai, and several senior ministers and officials," he said.

The visit, held as per the schedule released by the Ministry of External Affairs, saw Sheikh Mohamed spending less than two hours in the national capital, with wide-ranging discussions taking place with Prime Minister Modi.

The UAE President's visit came amid a volatile regional environment, including a sharp decline in Iran-US ties, continuing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Yemen, and an unsettled political situation in Gaza.

This marked Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President and his fifth visit to the country over the past decade.

India and the UAE have witnessed a major rise in bilateral trade and people-to-people ties since the two sides signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2022.

- ANI
As of the morning of January 19, consumers in Sumy, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions were without power as a result of hostile attacks on energy infrastructure in several regions, First Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Artem Nekrasov said at a briefing on Monday.

"Due to massive attacks by the Russian Federation, a state of emergency is in effect in the energy system of Ukraine. This decision was made to maximize the coordination of the work of all services in the capital, regions and communities," he said.

According to him, emergency shutdowns are currently being used in several regions due to equipment overload in conditions of very high consumption during frosts. A return to hourly shutdown schedules will occur after the situation stabilizes.

The situation in Kyiv and the region remains particularly difficult, with frosts creating an additional load on the energy system. Currently, 60 teams are working to restore power supply in the capital, 12 of which are involved from other regions. Distribution system operators continue to apply network restrictions. The previously published hourly outage schedules are temporarily not in effect. The return to the predicted schedules will occur immediately after the situation in the power system stabilizes.

As in previous weeks, network restrictions also remain in place in Odesa region, where emergency restoration work is ongoing after previous enemy attacks.

"The situation in the power system of Ukraine remains difficult. Russia's constant attacks on energy facilities and difficult weather conditions necessitate the forced application of restrictions throughout the country," the First Deputy Minister said.
Formal preparations are underway for former Rajasthan minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya's official return to the Congress party, centered around a major public event in Banswara. The event is projected as a significant political move to strengthen the party's tribal support base in southern Rajasthan. Senior leaders including Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are likely to be invited, and Malviya expects his associates to quit the BJP and rejoin Congress with him. His re-induction was approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge following a recommendation from the party's disciplinary committee.

Former Rajasthan minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya rejoins Congress, plans major show of strength in Banswara to consolidate tribal vote bank.

Jaipur, Jan 19 Formal preparations have begun for the return of former Rajasthan minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya to the Congress party, with plans underway for a major show of strength in Banswara.

On Sunday, Malviya met Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Govind Singh Dotasra after rejoining the party following approval from the Congress high command.

Malviya is expected to formally take Congress membership at a grand public event in Banswara. For this purpose, he has sought time from PCC chief Dotasra.

The proposed programme is being projected as a significant political event aimed at consolidating the party's tribal support base in southern Rajasthan.

Speaking to the media, Malviya said the event in Banswara would witness the participation of senior Congress leaders from both the state and national levels.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully, along with several other prominent party leaders, are likely to be invited.

He asserted that leaders and workers who had earlier left the Congress along with him would now quit the Bharatiya Janata Party and return to the Congress fold.

Commenting on the upcoming municipal and panchayat elections, Malviya expressed confidence in the Congress party's prospects in Banswara. He said that for the last 25 years, the district head post has remained with the Congress and claimed that the party would retain the position once again in the forthcoming elections.

Malviya's return comes after the Congress Disciplinary Committee recommended his re-induction into the party, which was subsequently approved by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge.

His comeback is being seen as politically significant, particularly in the tribal-dominated regions of Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, Dotasra welcomed Malviya back into the party. In a post on social media platform X, Dotasra said that Malviya met him at the PCC office after rejoining the Congress and expressed gratitude to the party's top leadership.

He added that the party hopes Malviya will work with full loyalty and dedication to strengthen the Congress and continue to raise his voice for the protection of tribal interests.

- IANS
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are holding a landmark summit in Seoul, marking the first visit by an Italian leader for bilateral talks in 19 years. The leaders are set to discuss expanding cooperation in critical fields like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, defense, and trade. This meeting builds on their previous discussions at the UN General Assembly, where they pledged to deepen the strategic partnership. Italy is South Korea's fourth-largest EU trading partner, underpinning the significant economic relationship both aim to strengthen.

Presidents Lee Jae Myung and PM Giorgia Meloni hold historic talks to deepen trade, AI, semiconductor, and defense ties between South Korea and Italy.

Seoul, Jan 19 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were set to hold summit talks on Monday, during which they are expected to focus on cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Meloni arrived in South Korea on Saturday for a three-day official visit as part of her Asia trip, which also includes stops in Japan and Oman.

During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to bolster cooperation in trade, investment, artificial intelligence, defence and semiconductors, among other areas, Cheong Wa Dae said.

The talks will mark their second summit meeting after they first met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year.

It marks the first time in 19 years that an Italian leader has visited Seoul for bilateral summit talks. Meloni is the first European leader to visit South Korea since Lee took office in June last year.

Italy is South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union and is visited by roughly 1 million South Koreans annually, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap news agency reported.

Last year in September, Lee Jae Myung met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss ways to bolster bilateral cooperation.

During the talks, Lee had underscored the need for the two countries to deepen 'mutually beneficial' cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and defence, building on their strategic partnership, the office had said in a release.

Meloni took note of progress in bilateral trade and investment, highlighting the strong potential for further economic cooperation, the office had added.

She also had expressed her hope to visit South Korea at the earliest opportunity to advance practical cooperation, and invited Lee to visit Italy at his convenience.

The two leaders had agreed that South Korea and Italy have played a constructive role on the international stage amid complex global challenges, and pledged to further deepen their cooperation, the had office noted.

- IANS
Top seeds Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova all secured straight-set victories to advance to the second round of the Australian Open. Swiatek overcame a slow start to defeat Yuan Yue in a tight first-set tiebreak before controlling the second set. Pegula delivered a dominant performance against Anastasia Zakharova, while Gauff battled through early serving issues to defeat Kamilla Rakhimova. Anisimova praised the tournament atmosphere after her win over compatriot Simona Waltert.

Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova secure straight-set victories to advance to the second round of the Australian Open.

Melbourne, January 19 Poland's Iga Swiatek booked her place in the second round of the Australian Open 2026 with a 7-6, 6-3 win over China's Yuan Yue, USA's Jessica Pegula eased past Russia's Anastasia Zakharova 6-2, 6-1, while Amanda Anisimova defeated her fellow American Simona Walter 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile, third seed Coco Gauff began Australian Open campaign in style on Monday, registering a 6-2, 6-3 first-round victory over Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in the women's singles, according to the WTA website.

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round of the Australian Open with a 7-6(5), 6-3 victory over Yuan Yue. Pushed into a tight first-set tiebreak, Swiatek raised her level at key moments before taking control early in the second set.

After the win, Swiatek said she had a slow start but was pleased to work through it and close the match in straight sets.

"There were some moments where I felt great, but the start of the match wasn't that perfect. I'm happy that I worked through this and could, yeah, finish in two sets as you said. Also, during tiebreak play more aggressively and more precise," Swiatek said as quoted by the WTA.

Jessica Pegula cruised past Anastasia Zakharova 6-2, 6-1. The American broke serve early and maintained constant pressure, earning break points in every Zakharova service game.

Pegula said she was pleased to have a smooth match and was glad to avoid the tough battles others have faced early in the tournament.

"That was a pretty ideal situation that just happened. So that's always good, you know. When those come around, you just take it, because I've seen a lot of really tough matches the last few days and I'm happy I'm not quite there yet," she said.

In an all-American encounter, fourth seed Amanda Anisimova defeated her compatriot Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-2. After the win, Anisimova praised the Australian Open's atmosphere and hoped she would get to play some night matches at the tournament.

"The crowd, the atmosphere, I love how rowdy it gets. Hopefully, I'll be playing some night matches this week. But yeah, it's just a beautiful city, beautiful courts, and I think every single player shares that sentiment," she said as quoted by the WTA.

No. 3 seed Coco Gauff advanced to the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Kamilla Rakhimova. Despite dropping just four games, Gauff faced early struggles on her serve, hitting six double faults and saving five of six break points in the first set. She recovered strongly in the second set to close out the match, securing her 75th major career win.

After the match, Gauff said she struggled early but settled after the first game and played more smoothly for the rest of the match.

"Once I got through kind of the first game, I had like three doubles in the first game, and once I got through that game, I mean, it was pretty much smooth sailing from there," she said.

- ANI
Tanishaa Mukerji shared photos and insights from her pilgrimage to the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra. She described the temple's unique tradition of doorless houses, believed to be protected by Lord Shani. This visit follows her recent Makar Sankranti pilgrimage to the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga. The actress has been actively sharing her spiritual journeys, including a New Year visit to the Karla Caves.

Actress Tanishaa Mukerji shares her divine visit to Shani Shingnapur, highlighting its significance and her recent spiritual pilgrimages.

Mumbai Ja, n 20 Actress Tanishaa Mukerji on Monday, shared pictures from her recent spiritual visit to the holy shrine of Shani Shingnapur, located at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.

The actress through her journey offered a glimpse into her experience and also highlighted the significance of the temple.

She wrote "Thank you my Devis for this visit to Shani Shingnapur. No evil can touch you, when you are surrounded by the Divine Feminine."

Elaborating on the importance of the holy shrine, Tanishaa wrote, "Shani Shingnapur is a famous pilgrimage village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, known for its temple dedicated to Lord Shani (Saturn), the deity of justice, and its unique tradition of having houses without doors, believing divine protection from Shani prevents theft."

Tanishaa also shared a few pictures from her trip. A picture shows Tanishaa performing rituals at the Shani temple. In the other picture, she can be seen offering prayers with her friends who accompanied her to the spiritual trip.

Recently, on account of Makar Sankranti, the actress had visited the holy shrine of Grishneshwar's Jyotirling, further performing a 'Rudra Abhishek.'

The actress had shared a few pictures straight from her divine visit, and highlighted the significance of the Jyotirlinga.

"Started this most auspicious day at Grishneshwar's Jyotirling doing a Rudra Abhishek. Thank you my Mahadev! Har Har Mahadev. Happy Makarsankranti all!! #BlessingsOnBlessings," she wrote.

The actress added, "#GrishneshwarJyotirlinga, the 12th of the sacred 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva, derives its legend from the Shiva Purana, highlighting unwavering devotion and divine mercy. Symbolising devotion's triumph over tragedy, promising moksha as the final Jyotirlinga pilgrimage stop. #tanishaamukerji #mahadev #blessed."

The actress, earlier had kickstarted the new year by connecting with the ancient knowledge at the Karla Caves.

For the uninitiated, Tanishaa is the daughter of veteran actress Tanuja and sister of Bollywood star Kajol. The actress who was an active part of Bollywood movies a decade ago, has starred in movies like Neil and Nikki, Sarkar and others. She was also seen as the first runner up in the reality show Bigg Boss season 7.

- IANS
The Telangana State Cabinet has decided to conduct elections for 116 municipalities and 7 municipal corporations at the earliest, with officials directed to complete arrangements by February. It announced plans for the Godavari Pushkaralu in 2027 and the development of a temple and eco-tourism circuit along the river. The Cabinet reviewed the takeover of Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-I and approved land acquisition worth 2,787 crore for future phases. Several other approvals were granted, including new college posts, an Eco Town, a road to ease Hyderabad traffic, and a 143 crore lift irrigation project in Mulugu.

Telangana Cabinet decides to hold municipal elections soon, reviews Metro takeover, and plans Godavari Pushkaralu 2027 and major development projects.

Mulugu, January 19 The Telangana State Cabinet has decided to conduct municipal elections at the earliest and directed officials to complete all necessary arrangements by February.

The decision came after a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at Medaram in Mulugu district on January 18, according to highlights of the meeting shared by Telangana Chief Minister's Office.

Elections are due in 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations across the State, covering 2,996 wards and divisions whose terms have expired. The Cabinet noted that the reservation process has already been completed as per the Dedicated Commission's report.

As Ramzan and Maha Shivaratri festivals fall in February, officials were instructed to prepare the election schedule in a manner that ensures the electoral process is carried out smoothly without causing inconvenience to the public.

The Cabinet announced that the Godavari Pushkaralu will be held from July 27 to August 3, 2027, and decided to take up the development of major and ancient temples along with eco-tourism initiatives across the Godavari river belt from Basara to Bhadrachalam. It was resolved to develop the stretch as a single circuit. Officials from the Endowments, Revenue, Forest, Tourism and Archaeology departments were directed to jointly prepare a detailed report, while the Chief Minister instructed that a comprehensive development plan be prepared by March 31.

The Cabinet reviewed the progress made so far in the process of taking over the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-I project from L&T and decided to expedite the process. Proposals for four corridors under Metro Phase-IIA and three corridors under Phase-IIB are pending approval with the Central Government. In the meantime, the Cabinet decided to speed up land acquisition and approved land acquisition proposals estimated at 2,787 crore.

Approval was accorded for the creation of 24 new posts in the Law College and 28 new posts in the Pharmacy College of Mahatma Gandhi University in Nalgonda district. The Cabinet also approved the post of Registrar at Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women's University.

The Cabinet gave permission for allotment of 494 acres of land to TGIIC for the development of an Eco Town in Abdullapur mandal near Hyderabad.

To ease traffic congestion in Hyderabad city, the Cabinet approved the construction of a new 9-km road from the ICCC in Banjara Hills to Shilpa Layout Road.

The Cabinet also approved the Potlapur Lift Irrigation Project in the Mulugu district. Under the project, water will be lifted from Ramappa Cheruvu to supply water to five villages, fill 30 tanks and ponds, and provide irrigation to about 7,500 acres of ayacut. The project will be implemented at an estimated cost of 143 crore.

- ANI
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy inaugurated a newly constructed pylon and offered prayers at the Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma Temple. Following the rituals, he departed for Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the World Economic Forum annual meetings. The focus of his visit is to project Telangana as a global investment destination, particularly in IT, AI, life sciences, and manufacturing. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation of state ministers and officials to showcase the state's development vision.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy inaugurated a pylon at Medaram Temple, offered prayers to tribal deities, and departed for the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mulugu, January 19 Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Monday took part in the inauguration of a newly constructed pylon and offered prayers to the tribal deities at the Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma Temple.

Following the rituals, he returned to Hyderabad for an official visit to Davos, Switzerland, to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meetings, with a focus on projecting Telangana as a global investment destination.

Before departing for Davos, the Chief Minister offered special prayers at the sacred shrine of tribal warrior goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma at Medaram and inaugurated the world-famous Sammakka-Saralamma Maha Jatara.

Senior officials from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and the Industries Department will accompany him as part of the official delegation.

During these deliberations, the Chief Minister will focus on attracting fresh investments, facilitating expansion of existing industries, and positioning Telangana as a preferred destination for IT, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors. Officials have been directed to showcase the state's "Rising Telangana 2047 Vision Document" and its vast investment potential on the global platform.

State IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Special Chief Secretaries Jayesh Ranjan and Sanjay Kumar, and Special Secretary to the Chief Minister Ajit Reddy are also part of the official delegation.

- ANI
Telangana Ministers hailed an unprecedented Cabinet meeting held at the sacred tribal site of Medaram Jatara, calling it a symbol of a "people's government." The government sanctioned 251 crores for the development of the historic festival and surrounding tribal infrastructure. In a significant political move, the Cabinet also decided to conduct long-pending municipal elections across the state at the earliest. Ministers emphasized the administration's commitment to tribal communities and inclusive governance.

Telangana holds first-ever Cabinet meeting at tribal Medaram Jatara site, sanctions 251 crores for development and announces municipal polls.

Mulugu, January 19 Telangana Ministers, Adluri Laxman Kumar, Konda Surekha, and Ponnam Prabhakar Goud addressed the media on the recent state Cabinet meeting held in connection with the historic Medaram Jatara.

The ministers stated that the Cabinet meeting was conducted at the sacred tribal site to underline that the Telangana government is a "people's government and a government of the poor." They emphasised that the state government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, has taken unprecedented steps by holding a Cabinet meeting at a tribal religious site for the first time in the state's history.

They said that the Cabinet discussed multiple developmental initiatives related to Medaram Jatara, including large-scale infrastructure development, temple development, and reconstruction works with investments worth several crores of rupees. The ministers highlighted that the Chief Minister personally inaugurated key projects and ensured the holistic development of the tribal region.

The ministers further stated that the government is committed to the welfare of tribal communities and respects their traditions and deities. They expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the entire Cabinet for prioritising tribal issues and ensuring inclusive governance. They also reiterated that details of the Cabinet agenda cannot be disclosed publicly.

Speaking to ANI in Mulugu, Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar said, "Sammakka Saralamma are revered deities of the tribal people, and the entire government and cabinet are working for the success of their Yatra, Medaram Jatara. This is a government for the poor and the common people."

"Sammakka Saralamma are deities of the tribal people. Their 'Yatra' has been ongoing for the last 800 years. But no one thought of its development before. This year, a decision has been taken to organise Medaram Jatara at a total cost of Rs 251 crores, which has been sanctioned," said Minister Konda Surekha.

Furthermore, State Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said, "Sammakka Sarakka is considered a historical tribal deity. A grand festival has been held here for years, similar to the Kumbh Mela. Millions of people attend. This is the first time that a Cabinet meeting has been held outside of Hyderabad. This is the first time we have held a cabinet meeting outside of Hyderabad for the darshan of the Sammakka Sarakka idols."

Meanwhile, the Telangana State Cabinet has decided to conduct municipal elections at the earliest and directed officials to complete all necessary arrangements by February.

The decision came after a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at Madaram in Mulugu district on January 18, according to highlights of the meeting shared by Telangana Chief Minister's Office.

Elections are due in 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations across the State, covering 2,996 wards and divisions whose terms have expired. The Cabinet noted that the reservation process has already been completed as per the Dedicated Commission's report.

As Ramzan and Maha Shivaratri festivals fall in February, officials were instructed to prepare the election schedule in a manner that ensures the electoral process is carried out smoothly without causing inconvenience to the public.

- ANI
Top European leaders have issued a firm commitment to uphold the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark following US President Donald Trump's expressed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory. Trump has threatened to impose escalating tariffs on several European nations unless they agree to sell Greenland, framing the move as a national security necessity. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has spoken with Trump regarding the Arctic security situation and plans to meet him in Davos. A coalition of European countries has released a joint statement declaring solidarity with Denmark and warning that tariff threats risk damaging transatlantic relations.

European leaders pledge to protect Greenland and Denmark's sovereignty after Trump threatens tariffs to force a sale, citing strategic Arctic interests.

Brussels, January 19 European leaders have affirmed that they "will uphold" the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark to protect Europe's strategic economic and security interests amid US President Donald Trump's interest in taking over the Arctic island.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on X that she spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss recent tensions.

"Together we stand firm in our commitment to uphold the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. We will always protect our strategic economic and security interests. We will face these challenges to our European solidarity with steadiness and resolve," she added in her X post.

Following this, US President Trump issued a statement, saying, "NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.' Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke with Trump on Sunday (local time) regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic, amid the US threat to impose a 10 per cent tariff on Denmark and other European Union countries.

Rutte said he would meet Trump later this week in Davos.

On X, he posted, "Spoke with POTUS regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic. We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week." Rutte did not share further details of the discussion.

Several European countries have released a joint statement showing solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom said that the 'Arctic Endurance' exercise does not pose a threat to anyone and emphasised that the threat of tariffs undermines transatlantic relations and risks a dangerous downward spiral.

On Saturday, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on the United Kingdom and other European countries unless they agree to sell Greenland. In his post, Trump claimed the move is necessary for national security, citing China's and Russia's interest in the territory.

He offered to negotiate with the European nations but warned of escalating tariffs of 10 per cent from February 1, 2026, and 25 per cent from June 1, 2026, if a deal wasn't reached, stating it was "time for Denmark to give back" after years of US support.

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland are the countries Trump mentioned in his post, which are now under fire from his tariff threats.

- ANI
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasized that true justice is delivered at the grassroots level in district courts, not primarily in appellate courts. He argued that district courts are wrongly labeled as "lower courts" and play an equivalent or bigger constitutional role in enforcing civil rights. The CJI appealed to senior lawyers to mentor juniors in district courts and incentivize practice there to build a strong foundation. Other dignitaries, including Delhi Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, praised Justice Surya Kant's remarkable journey from a district court lawyer to the top judicial post.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasizes the foundational role of district courts, urging lawyers to practice there and learn the art of drafting.

New Delhi, January 19 The Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Monday emphasised the role of district courts in the Indian judicial system.

Addressing a gathering in the national capital, where he was felicitated by the office bearers of 13 Bar Associations of Delhi, the CJI said, "Justice does not primarily reside in appellate level courts. True justice resides in the grassroot level courts."

During his address, Justice Surya Kant said the district courts were wrongly defined as lower courts. "When I was informed that this program would be organised by all the associations, I was very keen to come," CJI said.

Last week, he was felicitated by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA).

While recalling his days at the trial court, he said, "I was very fortunate to join the office of a leading senior civil lawyer who was extremely particular about drafting and was very keen about the framing of issues and gave me sleepless nights for preparation

"Whatever heights I have achieved, my foundation in district court gave me that," CJI expressed his gratitude.

"We must not forget that the district court is defined in the Constitution, and as a result, the district court plays an equivalent or rather a bigger role, Justice Surya Kant said.

He added that the District Court is the place where the law becomes regular and immediate.

CJI stressed, "In terms of enforcement of civil rights, the place of their enforcement should be district courts."

He also referred to the issues of the legal profession, adding that "the issues here are that with new laws, schools, brilliant students are coming out, but not all of them are coming to the bar, or they are misconceived that their practice should be in the High Court or the Supreme Court".

"The district courts are breeding centres. We should incentivise them to practice in district courts even for a while, CJI said.

Justice Suryakant appealed to lawyers to begin with the district court, learn drafting and the art of examination. "My appeal to all senior advocates is to share the knowledge with juniors about the art in district courts. Let us try to incentivise our district court, CJI Suryakant said.

During the event, the Chief Justice of Delhi, DK Upadhyaya, expressed his gratitude for being a part of the gathering. He also threw light on the professional journey of the CJI. His journey when he started in Hisar can only be imagined when he took the leap of faith and went to Chandigarh to set up his own practice.

"He (CJI) shattered the ceiling when he became the youngest advocate general of the state. Despite reaching the sky, he has his feet on the ground," Justice Upadhyaya said.

He further said, "No matter how far you make it, you must remember that success never comes alone."

"Justice Surya Kant's vision is about justice to be provided even to the person standing at the end of the queue," Justice Upadhyaya said.

Justice Vikram Nath of the Supreme Court said that a lawyer has a very important role since the days of the freedom movement till today. He addressed the gathering in Hindi and also recited a poem on the significance and the role of lawyers in society.

During his welcome address, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma highlighted the remarkable journey of the CJI from the trial court up upto the Supreme Court.

Bar Council Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and senior advocate Vikas Singh also addressed the gathering. Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) President N Hariharan and other office bearers were also present during the program.

- ANI
A letter attributed to Donald Trump, addressed to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, explicitly connects his grievance over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. strategic demands. The message sharply questions Denmark's historical claim to Greenland and argues the U.S. should control the territory for security reasons. Trump frames the demand as reciprocal for his contributions to NATO, stating the alliance should now do something for America. The letter's circulation has prompted concern and quiet consultations among European allies, particularly Denmark.

A letter from Donald Trump to Norway's PM links a Nobel Peace Prize grievance to a demand for US control of Greenland, unsettling European allies.

Washington DC, January 19 A letter shared by PBS Newshour Correspondent Nick Schifrin, attributed to President Donald Trump and recently circulated among European diplomats in Washington, has triggered fresh concern across allied capitals after it explicitly links US security interests, the Nobel Peace Prize, and American control of Greenland.

The message was addressed to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and later forwarded by National Security Council staff to several European ambassadors, with instructions that it be shared with their respective heads of government or state. The text, posted by Schifrin on his X account, revives and sharpens themes Trump has raised publicly in the past, while framing them in unusually blunt and personal terms.

The letter opens with a grievance over the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded by a committee appointed by Norway's parliament. Trump asserts that Norway's failure to award him the prize has altered his approach to global affairs and alliance politics.

"Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."

The message then turns sharply toward Greenland, the autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark that Trump has repeatedly said the United States should acquire. In the letter, Trump questions Denmark's legal and historical claim to the island and casts its strategic vulnerability as a justification for US control.

"Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway? There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also."

Trump further ties the issue to NATO burden-sharing, portraying American demands over Greenland as a reciprocal obligation owed by allies.

"I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States."

The letter concludes with its most sweeping assertion, framing U.S. control of Greenland as essential to global security.

"The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT"

While neither the White House nor the Norwegian government has publicly commented on the letter, European officials said its circulation has already prompted "quiet consultations" among NATO members, particularly Denmark.

- ANI
Photo: https://t.me/energyofukraine

First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, during a meeting with the management board of NPC Ukrenergo, instructed the company to increase its technical capacity for importing electricity into Ukraine, the Ministry of Energy reported on Monday.

"It is important to increase technical capabilities for importing electricity into Ukraine. We expect rapid results in the development of cross-border interconnectors at the borders with the EU," he said.

Among the priority tasks, Shmyhal also highlighted the implementation of projects to improve electricity transmission from western Ukraine to the east in order to efficiently use generated and imported electricity precisely where demand is greatest.

"This concerns both repairs and network development. Tasks have been set that will make it possible to reduce the duration of outages in areas where the situation is currently the most difficult," the first deputy prime minister noted.

According to the Ministry of Energy, another key task is the need to reduce reporting requirements and pursue deregulation through already implemented digital programs and tools in order to accelerate the adoption of effective anti-crisis decisions.

Ukrenergo, together with the State Special Transport Service, has also been instructed to work out approaches to rapid repairs and restoration of power grids and substations in areas close to the front line. Separately, they are to address the protection of substations using both specialized shelters and electronic warfare and air defense systems.

As reported, during the the government Q&A session in the Verkhovna Rada on January 16, Shmyhal said that, on the government's instructions, Naftogaz Ukrainy, Ukrzaliznytsia, and part of the industrial sector will purchase at least 50% of their electricity needs from external sources.

"This will make it possible to free up 1.5 MW for the needs of the population. I hope this will happen in the coming days," the first deputy prime minister said.
US President Donald Trump has proposed a "Board of Peace," inviting 60 countries to join a body focused on stability and reconstruction, notably in Gaza. Countries can secure a permanent seat by committing $1 billion, with funds intended to rebuild conflict zones efficiently. The initiative, endorsed by the UN Security Council, has been met with reluctance from European leaders and outright opposition from Israel. Several invited nations are reviewing the proposal amid debates over its potential to rival established international institutions.

US President Trump invites 60 nations to a $1B-per-seat "Board of Peace" for post-conflict rebuilding, facing global skepticism.

Washington DC, January 19 US President Donald Trump has proposed a high-profile international effort dubbed the "Board of Peace," inviting world leaders of 60 countries to join a new body aimed at promoting stability and overseeing post-conflict reconstruction, especially in the Gaza Strip.

According to US officials, Trump's initiative seeks to bring together a cohort of countries to work on peace-building efforts under a charter that emphasises promoting stable governance and long-term peace in conflict-affected regions.

Countries that commit $1 billion would secure permanent seats on the board, while those that do not pay could still join for a three-year term. proponents say the funds would be used to rebuild war-torn areas like Gaza and avoid "bureaucratic bloat" seen in other international institutions.

The announcement follows the fragile ceasefire in Gaza that took effect on October 10, after a protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas. Trump's peace plan, which includes the board's establishment, was endorsed by the UN Security Council in November 2025, paving the way for the board to operate as part of a broader reconstruction effort.

In letters sent to world leaders, Trump framed the board as a "bold new approach to resolving global conflict," and reports suggest invitations have been extended to nations including Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Pakistan, Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina, and Albania. Several countries, such as Hungary and Vietnam, have acknowledged receiving invitations, with some agreeing to participate, while others are still weighing their involvement.

Despite its ambitions, the board has faced immediate scepticism. European leaders have voiced reluctance to contribute large sums of money or commit to an organisation that they see as largely shaped by Trump's personal vision and potentially rivalling the United Nations' established peace-building mechanisms. Some diplomats have also noted the board's charter makes no explicit reference to Gaza, raising questions about its priorities and purpose beyond the Middle East.

Israel's government has publicly opposed Trump's board, asserting that its formation was not coordinated with Jerusalem and runs counter to its policy, particularly because of the inclusion of diplomats from Turkey and Qatar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled his objections by convening his cabinet to discuss the matter further.

Meanwhile, several invited nations, including India and Jordan, are reviewing the proposal internally before making formal commitments. Supporters of the initiative hope the board will help channel reconstruction resources efficiently and foster international cooperation, while detractors warn that its structure and funding model could undermine established multilateral institutions.

- ANI
The Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Charity and Humanitarian Foundation has begun loading the 12th Saqr Humanitarian Ship with relief aid at Ras Al Khaimah Port. The shipment includes essential supplies such as food, health items, shelter materials, and medicines destined for civilians in the Gaza Strip. The ship will sail to Al Arish Port in Egypt, where the aid will be prepared for delivery into Gaza. This mission is part of the UAE's broader Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, reflecting the country's commitment to supporting the Palestinian people.

Ras Al Khaimah dispatches aid ship with food, medicine, and shelter supplies to Gaza via Egypt, part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.

Ras Al Khaimah Januar, y 19 In implementation of the directives of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Charity and Humanitarian Foundation has commenced loading the 12th Saqr Humanitarian Ship with relief aid at Ras Al Khaimah Port, in cooperation with Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, as part of its humanitarian mission to support the people of the Gaza Strip. The ship is scheduled to depart for Al Arish Port in the Arab Republic of Egypt, where the aid will be prepared for delivery to Gaza. Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 had been launched under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The shipment includes food and health supplies, shelter materials, relief packages, as well as medical equipment and medicines, aimed at alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza and supporting the most affected groups, particularly children, women and the elderly.

The Saqr Humanitarian Ship forms part of the UAE's broader humanitarian initiatives implemented under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, reflecting the country's firm commitment to standing alongside the fraternal Palestinian people, supporting affected families, and strengthening relief efforts in cooperation with charitable and humanitarian organisations, in line with the UAE's long-standing humanitarian approach to assisting those in need worldwide.

- ANI
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrives in New Delhi for a brief two-hour official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit occurs amid heightened West Asia tensions and the US push to constitute a National Committee for Gaza's administration under Phase 2 of its peace plan. Prime Minister Modi has been invited by former US President Donald Trump to be part of this international Gaza Peace Board. The meeting builds on recent high-level exchanges, including visits by the UAE Crown Prince and India's External Affairs Minister and Army Chief, underscoring the deepening strategic partnership.

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed visits India for talks with PM Modi as US seeks international support for Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan.

New Delhi, January 19 UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is set to arrive in India on Monday on an official visit amid heightened tensions in West Asia, as US President Donald Trump seeks to onboard leaders to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs the visit is on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and builds on the strong momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai in April 2025.

The visit coincides with developments in West Asia, where Trump is on the verge of initiating Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan. As part of this phase, the United States is seeking to constitute a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

According to sources, the UAE President's visit to India will be brief and is expected to last around two hours.

His talks with Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to be held in the national capital this evening.

This will be Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the United Arab Emirates, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade, reflecting the frequency and intensity of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.

According to a White House statement, the proposed Executive Board members will oversee portfolios critical to Gaza's stabilisation and long-term success. These include governance capacity building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding and capital mobilisation.

Prime Minister Modi has been invited by Trump to be part of Gaza Peace board.

According to the White House, the Board of Peace will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The members also include Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and US Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel.

Trump will serve as Chairman of the Board, with Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum appointed as senior advisors to oversee day-to-day strategy and operations. Nickolay Mladenov will serve as the High Representative for Gaza, while Ali Sha'ath will lead the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. Major General Jasper Jeffers has been appointed Commander of the International Stabilisation Force. Other members include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al Thawadi and additional international representatives.

UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy welcomed the announcement of Phase 2 of the comprehensive peace plan and expressed "pride" for being able to be part of the Gaza Peace Board.

The visit by the UAE President to India also comes amid a series of high-level engagements between India and the UAE in recent months, involving both the civilian leadership and the top military brass.

Earlier this month, on January 4, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi paid an official visit to the UAE to strengthen defence cooperation and military-to-military ties. During the visit, he was accorded a Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces.

The Army Chief also called on senior leadership of the UAE Armed Forces, including the Commander of the UAE Land Forces, and received briefings on the structure, roles and capabilities of the UAE Army. He visited key military establishments and interacted with officers and troops, underlining the growing defence partnership between India and the UAE.

A month earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the UAE to attend the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and the fifth round of the India-UAE Strategic Dialogue, held on December 15. The meetings were co-chaired by Jaishankar and his counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.

During his visit, Jaishankar undertook a comprehensive review of the entire spectrum of India-UAE bilateral relations. According to the MEA, the discussions covered trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, security, development partnership, technology, health, culture, education and people-to-people ties.

These high-level engagements come against the backdrop of shifting regional equations in West Asia. In recent months, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defence pact which treats any attack on one as aggression against both, creating a collective security framework.

However, details of the agreement remain unclear.

Regional tensions have also surfaced between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen. Shortly before the Indian Army Chief visited the UAE, Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes against positions held by the reportedly UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council in southern Yemen, even as Riyadh called for dialogue to contain the violence near its border.

The Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group claimed to be backed by the UAE, seeks an independent state in southern Yemen. In early December, it launched a major offensive, seizing parts of Hadramout and forcing Saudi-backed government forces to retreat, reigniting conflict in an area that had earlier seen relative stability.

However, in an official statement, as reported by news agency WAM, the UAE categorically rejected any attempt to implicate the country in tensions among Yemeni parties. It strongly denied allegations that it exerted pressure on or issued directives to any Yemeni group to carry out military operations that could undermine Saudi Arabia's security or target its borders.

India and the UAE share warm, close, and multi-faceted relations, underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic ties.

The two countries are among each other's top trading and investment partners, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system, and the Bilateral Investment Treaty. India and the UAE also enjoy a robust energy partnership, including long-term energy supply arrangements.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, the visit of the UAE President to India is set to provide an opportunity for the two leaders to chart new frontiers for the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It will also enable an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence.

India and the United Arab Emirates established diplomatic relations in 1972. While the UAE opened its Embassy in India in 1972, the Indian Embassy in the UAE was opened in 1973, the MEA added in its statement.

India and the UAE enjoy strong cooperation at the United Nations. Both countries are also currently part of several plurilateral platforms such as BRICS, I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) and UFI (UAE-France-India) Trilateral, etc. UAE was invited as a Guest Country to the G20 Summit held under India's Presidency.

- ANI
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed an international conference on radiation biology and cancer research, calling for accelerated translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice. He highlighted India's progress in cancer care infrastructure, including improved diagnostics and affordable treatments. The minister emphasized that research in radiation biology is central to modern cancer therapy, optimizing doses and minimizing side effects. Shekhawat concluded by encouraging young scientists to embrace interdisciplinary collaboration to drive future innovation in patient-centric healthcare.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasizes bridging lab research and clinical practice to improve cancer treatment in India.

Bikaner, Jan 19 Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday called for faster translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, saying that doctors' practical experience and observations should also guide basic scientific research in return.

Addressing the two-day international conference on "Frontiers of Radiation Biology and Cancer Research" at Dungar College through an online address, the Union Minister said a continuous dialogue between the laboratory and the bedside makes modern medicine more effective, safer and more humane.

He noted that India's scientific ecosystem and health infrastructure have made remarkable strides in recent years, particularly in cancer science.

Shekhawat said the country has taken significant steps in improving diagnostic accuracy, developing affordable treatment options and expanding access to quality cancer care.

He added that institutions such as Regional Cancer Centres, medical colleges and community hospitals are now equipped to deliver state-of-the-art and complex treatments with compassion, sensitivity and high professional competence.

Emphasising the role of radiation biology, the Union Minister said research in the field is central to modern cancer treatment. A deeper understanding of the body's response to radiation, minimising side effects and scientifically optimising radiation doses to improve patients' quality of life form the backbone of effective cancer therapy.

Research in both basic and clinical radiation sciences, he added, directly strengthens the nation's healthcare mission.

Shekhawat described radiation as one of the most powerful tools in both diagnosis and treatment.

However, he said its true potential can only be realised through a comprehensive understanding of its cellular and systemic effects, ensuring safe, balanced and effective application.

Addressing young scientists, researchers and students, the Union Minister said their curiosity, dedication and collaborative spirit will shape the future of the field and elevate India's scientific identity globally.

He noted that modern science increasingly rewards those who transcend disciplinary boundaries -- physicists exploring biology, doctors embracing data and informatics, and biologists engaging closely with clinical realities.

He concluded by expressing confidence that such interdisciplinary approaches will drive innovation and lead to more patient-centric, impactful healthcare solutions in the years ahead.

- IANS
A high-level delegation from Uttar Pradesh, led by Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, has arrived for the World Economic Forum in Davos to promote the state's vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy. The delegation was received by India's Ambassador to Switzerland and will engage with global leaders to attract investment in infrastructure and technology. The 2026 forum, featuring heads of state and hundreds of CEOs, focuses on dialogue amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The event emphasizes transparency, with over 200 sessions being live-streamed to a global audience.

Uttar Pradesh's delegation, led by Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, arrives at WEF Davos 2026 to attract global investment for its $1 trillion economy target.

Zurich, January 19 A high-level delegation from Uttar Pradesh, led by the state's Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, arrived in Zurich on Monday to participate in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The visit aims to position the state as a global investment destination as it pursues a USD 1 trillion economy target through infrastructure and technology-led growth.

Ambassador of India to Switzerland, Mridul Kumar, received the UP Finance Minister Suresh Khanna at the Zurich airport. Ambassador Kumar provided a detailed briefing to the Minister regarding his scheduled engagements at the annual meeting. The Embassy of India in Switzerland confirmed its support for the upcoming sessions, noting a strong collaboration intended for shared growth and global partnerships.

The presence of the Uttar Pradesh delegation at Davos coincides with the gathering of nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries. The forum operates under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue" to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty.

The annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including approximately 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state. Notable attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The forum also hosts leaders of international institutions such as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and World Bank Group President Ajay S. Banga.

Discussions at the forum will focus on the responsible deployment of transformative technologies and rebuilding prosperity within planetary boundaries. The programme includes more than 200 live-streamed sessions to ensure transparency. Business representation includes nearly 850 CEOs and chairpersons, with a focus on innovation and digital infrastructure.

The WEF said this approach is designed to ensure transparency and allow global audiences to follow, question and engage with discussions taking place in Davos. As geopolitical tensions rise and economic and technological transformations accelerate, Davos 2026 aims to bring together a uniquely diverse mix of sectors, industries, governments and generations to surface long-term solutions, unlock new opportunities for growth and resilience, and help move the world forward together in the year ahead.

- ANI
Influential US figures have revived public discussions about regime change in Venezuela and Iran, signaling frustration with long-running pressure campaigns that have failed to produce clear political results. Former Vice President Mike Pence defended past actions while senators from both parties warned against unilateral moves and the risks of empty rhetoric that could weaken US credibility. Foreign policy experts argued that encouraging protests without a viable path forward is irresponsible and that outright regime change is currently unrealistic in both nations. The debate highlights a strategic reassessment as the US grapples with limited leverage and the unintended consequences of its maximum pressure approach.

US lawmakers and experts openly discuss political change in Iran and Venezuela, revealing frustration with stalled pressure campaigns and warning of risks.

Washington, Jan 19 Influential US lawmakers, former officials, and foreign policy experts openly discussed political change in Venezuela and Iran, reviving regime-change language that Washington had sought to downplay in recent years.

The renewed tone reflects frustration over pressure campaigns that have failed to deliver clear results, even as unrest and economic distress persist in both countries.

Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, former Vice President Mike Pence described Iran as "the leading state sponsor of terror in the world" and said it was in America's interest to see change in Tehran. He linked support for Iranian protesters to US national security, though he did not outline a clear path to regime transition.

Defending the Trump administration's past pressure campaign on Venezuela, Pence said sanctions and diplomatic recognition of the opposition had weakened President Nicolas Maduro's government. He acknowledged, however, that the political transition had stalled and said restoring democracy through elections remained the stated objective.

On CBS's Face the Nation, Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said years of sanctions had failed to dislodge Maduro while inflicting severe economic pain on civilians. Warner warned that repeated public talk of regime change risked benefiting US adversaries, adding that only Russia and China were gaining from turmoil in the international order.

Warner also cautioned that overly rhetorical statements weakened US credibility. He said pressure campaigns needed realistic goals and clearer limits.

Responding to a question on CBS, Republican Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, a senior member of the House intelligence panel, noted American interest in Venezuela's political future but said Washington's leverage was limited. He warned against creating expectations that sanctions alone could deliver regime change.

On NBC's Meet the Press, Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, warned against unilateral executive action, arguing that the Constitution places war-making powers with Congress. Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, echoed that view, saying that coercive escalation without congressional approval would repeat past US mistakes.

On CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, the most direct debate came from Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations and a former senior State Department official, and Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and a former director of policy planning at the State Department.

Discussing Venezuela, Haass said the United States was not pursuing classic regime change. Instead, he described what had occurred as a narrow leadership shift that left the broader system intact. He argued that Washington had effectively accepted a transactional arrangement focused on oil access and limited engagement, rather than democratic transformation.

Slaughter said outright regime change in Venezuela was politically unrealistic. She said US rhetoric reflected a preference for "friendly governments" rather than democratic outcomes, warning that public declarations often exceeded Washington's ability to shape events on the ground.

Haass was sharper when the discussion turned to Iran. He said encouraging protests without follow-through was irresponsible and put civilians at risk. He argued that Iran was not on the verge of collapse and that US statements suggesting otherwise misread the strength of the regime and the loyalty of its security forces. He said the United States "can't promote regime change or anything like it from offshore."

That assessment was reinforced by Narges Bajoghli, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and an expert on Iranian society, who appeared later on the same programme. Bajoghli said Iranians were deeply angry over economic and political conditions, but that protests had been violently suppressed. She said there was no unified opposition capable of toppling the regime and cautioned against assuming a repeat of 1979.

- IANS
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a 'Janta Darshan' public outreach program in Lucknow to listen to and address citizen grievances. He personally reviewed applications and assured timely resolution while also sharing a light-hearted moment with children. During the event, he highlighted the success of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, stating over 62 lakh beneficiaries in the state have now received housing benefits. The Chief Minister credited this achievement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and leadership, linking it to a positive approach to governance.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath addresses public grievances in Lucknow, interacts with children, and highlights benefits for 62 lakh under PM housing scheme.

Lucknow, January 19 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday addressed public grievances during a 'Janta Darshan' programme in Lucknow, where he met citizens from various parts of the district and listened to their concerns.

During the public outreach programme, the Chief Minister reviewed written applications submitted by people and assured them of timely assistance and resolution. He encouraged citizens to actively participate in community development.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also interacted warmly with children during the Janta Darshan and shared a light-hearted moment with a child who was visibly delighted after receiving chocolates from him.

Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in the Direct Fund Transfer programme under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0.

Addressing the gathering, CM Yogi said that more than 60 lakh beneficiaries in both rural and urban areas of the state have received benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana over the past nine years.

"In the last nearly nine years, we have provided the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to more than 60 lakh beneficiaries in rural and urban areas of Uttar Pradesh. Today, two lakh more people have been added, taking the total to 62 lakh. For the first time since Independence, such a large number of beneficiaries are receiving housing facilities, and the credit goes to Prime Minister Modi's vision and leadership," he said.

He further said that a positive approach to governance ensures that people receive essential facilities.

"When a good government comes into power, people receive facilities with a positive approach. This is not just a house, but a feeling of complete self-reliance. We have always known that food, clothing and shelter are basic necessities, and Prime Minister Modi has ensured all three," the Chief Minister added.

- ANI
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh has arrived in Zurich, receiving a warm welcome from the NRI Telugu Desam Party community ahead of his engagements at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He reflected on the evolution of the WEF since the 1990s, when Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was an early Indian global ambassador. Lokesh emphasized that Davos is now a critical platform for understanding future directions in business, technology, and policy rather than just signing agreements. The 2026 WEF meeting, themed "A Spirit of Dialogue," aims to rebuild trust among global leaders amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh arrives in Zurich, welcomed by NRI TDP supporters ahead of WEF Davos 2026 meetings focused on dialogue and global challenges.

New Delhi, January 19 Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh arrived in Zurich on Monday, where he received a warm welcome from members of the NRI Telugu Desam Party, as part of his visit to Switzerland ahead of engagements linked to the World Economic Forum.

In a post shared on X, Nara Lokesh said, "Landed in #Zurich today to a warm welcome from the NRI TDP family. It was a pleasure interacting with them and witnessing their enthusiasm and deep connect with #AndhraPradesh. Looking forward to the NRI event later today, followed by engaging discussions in Davos over the next three days. #AndhraIsBack #APatWEF #WEF26."

Earlier today, Nara Lokesh said that the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos has evolved significantly since the 1990s, when Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu became "one of India's earliest global brand ambassadors" and added that Davos is no longer just about signing MoUs, but has become a platform to understand the future direction of business, technology, and policies.

In a post on X, Lokesh wrote, "#Davos has come a long way since the 1990s, when Mr. Naidu emerged as one of India's earliest global brand ambassadors. Today, Davos is not just about signing MoUs - it's about understanding where business, technology, and policy are headed. It's where relationships are built, assumptions tested, and the right questions asked."

The World Economic Forum (WEF) will convene its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation.

Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue", Davos 2026 seeks to provide an impartial platform for global leaders from government, business and civil society to reconnect, rebuild trust and explore collaborative solutions to challenges that increasingly transcend borders.

- ANI
The Madhya Pradesh government held strategic talks with the Israel Innovation Authority at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos. Discussions centered on adopting Israel's innovation-driven model in areas like quantum technology, defense, and water solutions. The state also engaged with AI company TouchLab to explore partnerships in artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Both interactions aim to establish formal collaboration frameworks for pilot projects and institutional linkages to drive technology-led development.

Madhya Pradesh explores quantum, AI & defense tech collaboration with Israel Innovation Authority at Davos WEF 2026 for sustainable growth.

Davos, January 19 The Madhya Pradesh government held discussions with Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026, to explore avenues for collaboration in technology-led economic growth, a press release said.

According to the MP government, the interaction focused on Israel's innovation-driven development model, particularly across frontier areas such as quantum technologies, education technology, defence technologies, and water solutions. Stopel highlighted Israel's strong R&D ecosystem, underpinned by significant private-sector participation and co-investment models that align public support with commercial viability.

Madhya Pradesh expressed interest in building partnerships in the civil technology domain through structured government-to-government engagements, pilot projects, and startup-led demonstrations. Opportunities were discussed to leverage existing India-Israel cooperation frameworks, including joint pilots, technology demonstration initiatives, and co-investment mechanisms supporting startups and commercially viable enterprises.

Both sides noted the potential to explore a formal collaboration framework to facilitate technology pilots, innovation partnerships, and institutional linkages between Madhya Pradesh and Israel, the release said.

The parties agreed to continue discussions to identify priority sectors, pilot opportunities, and suitable institutional mechanisms to advance India-Israel innovation collaboration with Madhya Pradesh as a key partner.

The engagement underscores Madhya Pradesh's commitment to global innovation partnerships that drive sustainable growth and technology-led development, the release stated.

Earlier today, the Madhya Pradesh (MP) government held a strategic interaction with Herve Couraye, Advisor to TouchLab, on the sidelines of the forum to explore collaboration opportunities in artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies, a press release said.

According to the MP government, TouchLab, an AI-focused company with operations across the UK, Tokyo, and the United States, shared its global perspective on advanced AI applications and its participation in the upcoming global AI Summit. The company is currently at a proof-of-concept stage for an AI Centre, opening avenues for future expansion and partnerships.

WEF 2026 operates under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue' to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, and the annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including about 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state.

- ANI
The Madhya Pradesh government engaged in multiple strategic discussions at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos. Key talks were held with Tech Mahindra's president to expand IT and BPO services into the state's tier-2 cities. Separate meetings explored a tourism media collaboration with JioStar and potential partnerships with Israel's innovation ecosystem and AI firms for technology-led growth. These initiatives aim to boost the state's economic development through technology, investment, and global promotion of its tourism assets.

Madhya Pradesh govt at Davos held talks with Tech Mahindra, Israel Innovation Authority & others on IT expansion, tech partnerships & tourism promotion.

Davos, January 19 The Government of Madhya Pradesh on Monday interacted with Harshul Asnani, president of Tech Mahindra, to look at entering the state of Madhya Pradesh with a focus on expanding in tier-2 cities to deepen access to talent.

The discussions centred on the BPO and IT segments, and the state highlighted its strengths in infrastructure, quality of life, and a skilled labour force.

A delegation from the Madhya Pradesh government also met with JioStar officials to explore collaborations on video and audio documentation of the state's tourism and travel projects, including a potential partnership with National Geographic.

The initiative aims to capture and showcase Madhya Pradesh's scenic beauty, including its wildlife sanctuaries, heritage sites, and natural landscapes like the Narmada River and marble rocks at Bhedaghat.

This collaboration could help promote the state's diverse attractions, such as Khajuraho, Sanchi, and its national parks like Kanha and Bandhavgarh, to a global audience.

Additionally, the Madhya Pradesh government held discussions with Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026 to explore avenues for collaboration in technology-led economic growth, according to a press release.

According to the MP government, the interaction focused on Israel's innovation-driven development model, particularly across frontier areas such as quantum technologies, education technology, defence technologies, and water solutions. Stopel highlighted Israel's strong R&D ecosystem, underpinned by significant private-sector participation and co-investment models that align public support with commercial viability.

Madhya Pradesh expressed interest in building partnerships in the civil technology domain through structured government-to-government engagements, pilot projects, and startup-led demonstrations. Opportunities were discussed to leverage existing India-Israel cooperation frameworks, including joint pilots, technology demonstration initiatives, and co-investment mechanisms supporting startups and commercially viable enterprises.

Both sides noted the potential to explore a formal collaboration framework to facilitate technology pilots, innovation partnerships, and institutional linkages between Madhya Pradesh and Israel, the release said.

The MP government also held a strategic interaction with Herve Couraye, Advisor to TouchLab, on the sidelines of the forum to explore collaboration opportunities in artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies, a press release said.

WEF 2026 operates under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue' to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, and the annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including about 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state.

- ANI
Nearly 1,500 donor cards of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) "Charity" were issued in 2025.

"During 2025, nearly 1,500 Ukrainians became holders of Ukrainian Red Cross 'Charity' donor cards, joining the systematic support of humanitarian programs through everyday financial transactions," the URCS reported on Facebook on Monday.

The "Charity" card is a joint project of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, Unex Bank, and Mastercard, created to enable every Ukrainian to support those most in need without additional financial costs. Each month, 0.5% of the cashback from every purchase made with the card is automatically transferred to support the humanitarian programs of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

Thanks to this initiative, everyday spending is transformed into real assistance for people who have found themselves in difficult life circumstances. This includes support for those affected by the war, internally displaced persons, the elderly, and other vulnerable population groups.

The importance of the "Charity" card lies in its systemic impact. It is not a one-time donation, but a stable assistance mechanism that operates daily and makes it possible to accumulate resources to respond to humanitarian needs across the country.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi met with Oman's Economic Advisor, Dr. Said Mohammed Ahmed Al Saqri, on the sidelines of WEF 2026 in Davos. Their discussions centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, specifically in manufacturing and exports for solar technology and green hydrogen. The talks aimed to leverage existing agreements like the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost investment and joint projects. Joshi also met with Madhya Pradesh's Renewable Energy Minister, Rakesh Shukla, to discuss state-level plans during the forum.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi meets Oman's Economic Advisor at WEF 2026 to deepen cooperation in solar, green hydrogen, and manufacturing.

Davos, January 19 Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday met the Economic Advisor at Oman's Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Said Mohammed Ahmed Al Saqri, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026, and discussed joint collaboration in the renewable energy sector.

In an X post, Joshi stated that their discussion focused on joint collaboration on manufacturing and export opportunities for solar modules, electrolysers and green hydrogen.

The Union Minister said, "Had a productive meeting with H.E. Dr Said Mohammed Ahmed Al Saqri, Economic Advisor at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Oman, on deepening India-Oman cooperation in Renewable Energy. Highlighted India's proven ability to scale renewables, solar, wind, green hydrogen and energy storage even in arid and desert conditions, offering strong opportunities for global investors."

"Discussions focused on joint collaboration on manufacturing and export opportunities for solar modules, electrolysers and green hydrogen, also encouraging investments in India through renewable-powered hydrogen hubs, integrated energy projects, and port-based export infrastructure. Also explored leveraging the India-Oman CEPA, Joint Investment Fund and cooperation under the @isolaralliance to unlock the benefits of Global Green Energy Grid through OSOWOG, joint participation in upcoming solar and wind tenders and industry-led innovation," Joshi said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Joshi met with a delegation representing the Madhya Pradesh government at the Davos India Lounge during the ongoing World Economic Forum 2026 to discuss India's focus and plans for renewable energy.

During the meeting, Pralhad Joshi met with Madhya Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Minister Rakesh Shukla.

WEF 2026 operates under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue' to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, and the annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including about 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state.

- ANI
At the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met with Madhya Pradesh officials to discuss India's renewable energy plans. The MP government separately held detailed talks with Israel Innovation Authority Chairman Alon Stopel to explore collaboration in quantum tech, defense, and water solutions. Discussions also included potential partnerships with AI company TouchLab, represented by advisor Herve Couraye, focusing on advanced digital technologies. These interactions aim to build formal frameworks for technology pilots and innovation-driven growth.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi discusses renewable plans at Davos as MP govt explores tech partnerships with Israel Innovation Authority.

Davos, January 19 Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, on Monday visited the Madhya Pradesh government at Davos India Lounge, during the ongoing World Economic Forum 2026, for discussions as part of India's focus and plans for renewable energy.

Pralhad Joshi met the Madhya Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Minister Rakesh Shukla.

Earlier today, the Madhya Pradesh government held discussions with Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026, to explore avenues for collaboration in technology-led economic growth, a press release said.

According to the MP government, the interaction focused on Israel's innovation-driven development model, particularly across frontier areas such as quantum technologies, education technology, defence technologies, and water solutions. Stopel highlighted Israel's strong R&D ecosystem, underpinned by significant private-sector participation and co-investment models that align public support with commercial viability.

Madhya Pradesh expressed interest in building partnerships in the civil technology domain through structured government-to-government engagements, pilot projects, and startup-led demonstrations. Opportunities were discussed to leverage existing India-Israel cooperation frameworks, including joint pilots, technology demonstration initiatives, and co-investment mechanisms supporting startups and commercially viable enterprises.

Both sides noted the potential to explore a formal collaboration framework to facilitate technology pilots, innovation partnerships, and institutional linkages between Madhya Pradesh and Israel, the release said.

The MP government also held a strategic interaction with Herve Couraye, Advisor to TouchLab, on the sidelines of the forum to explore collaboration opportunities in artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies, a press release said.

According to the MP government, TouchLab, an AI-focused company with operations across the UK, Tokyo, and the United States, shared its global perspective on advanced AI applications and its participation in the upcoming global AI Summit. The company is currently at a proof-of-concept stage for an AI Centre, opening avenues for future expansion and partnerships.

WEF 2026 operates under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue' to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, and the annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including about 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport in New Delhi, highlighting their close personal rapport and the strong bilateral relationship. The UAE President's brief official visit, at PM Modi's invitation, is set for talks in the capital. The visit occurs against the backdrop of heightened tensions in West Asia and US efforts to form a committee for Gaza's administration. This marks the UAE leader's third official visit to India as President, underscoring the depth and frequency of engagement between the two nations.

PM Modi personally receives UAE President in Delhi for talks on bilateral ties, coinciding with key developments in West Asia and Gaza.

New Delhi, January 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who arrived in India on Monday for an official visit.

PM Modi went to the airport to personally welcome the UAE President, highlighting the close ties between the two leaders and the strong bilateral relationship between India and the UAE.

Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, "Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions."

PM Modi also shared pictures with UAE President including one in which both the leaders were seen inside a car. Another photograph showed the two leaders enveloped in a hug.

The UAE President will be in India for an official visit amid heightened tensions in West Asia, as US President Donald Trump seeks to onboard leaders to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit is on the invitation of PM Modi and builds on the strong momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai in April 2025.

The visit coincides with developments in West Asia, where Trump is on the verge of initiating Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan. As part of this phase, the United States is seeking to constitute a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

According to sources, the UAE President's visit to India will be brief and is expected to last around two hours.

His talks with Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to be held in the national capital this evening.

This will be Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the United Arab Emirates, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade, reflecting the frequency and intensity of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.

- ANI
The Indian Army's Western Command commemorated the 10th Defence Forces Veterans' Day with a series of rallies and outreach programmes across northern India from January 14 to 18. The command has established 41 Veterans Sahayata Kendras and operates 79 ECHS polyclinics, with significant financial allocations to enhance these facilities. A major event at Chandimandir saw participation from over 1,000 veterans from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, where senior veterans were felicitated. Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar addressed the gathering, praising veterans' societal contributions and reaffirming the command's commitment to their welfare.

Western Command organized veterans' rallies & outreach, allocated 7.5 crore for health & grievance centers, reaffirming commitment to ex-servicemen welfare.

New Delhi, January 19 The Indian Army's Western Command commemorated the 10th Defence Forces Veterans' Day by organising a series of veterans' rallies and outreach programmes across northern India, reaffirming its deep respect and enduring commitment to the welfare of the veteran community.

The celebrations, held from January 14 to 18, covered Kangra, Amritsar, Ambala, Delhi and the Tricity region. The initiatives underscored the Command's gratitude towards veterans for their invaluable service and lifelong contribution to the nation, while strengthening bonds between serving personnel and ex-servicemen, according to the release.

As part of its sustained focus on veterans' welfare, Western Command has established 41 Veterans Sahayata Kendras (VSKs) to function as single-window grievance redressal centres.

In addition, 79 Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinics are operational to provide quality medical care to veterans and their dependents. To further enhance these facilities, more than 5 crore was allocated in the previous year, with an additional 2.5 crore earmarked in the current year, as stated in the release.

Large-scale Ex-Servicemen Rallies were also organised at Jammu and Ferozepur, alongside continued financial, medical and psychological support to spinal-injured soldiers at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre in Mohali. In line with Central Government initiatives, Project NAMAN has been re-implemented to further strengthen institutional care and support mechanisms for veterans and Veer Naris.

The culmination of the celebrations took place with a grand veterans' event at Chandimandir, organised by Headquarters Western Command. The event saw participation from over 1,000 veterans of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force from Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. The gathering highlighted the enduring legacy of service and sacrifice that continues to inspire future generations.

Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, along with Shuchi Katiyar, Regional President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), interacted with veterans and their families, expressing heartfelt appreciation for their distinguished service.

Eminent nonagenarian veterans and families, including Brig Satjit Singh, Col D C Sharma, Col Gurkirt Singh Nagra, Lt Col T S Dhillon, Maj Karnail Singh, Maj R S Sindhu, Subha Gill, Jaya Babbar, Shalini Bhandral and Deepika Kohli, were felicitated on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen Katiyar lauded veterans for their continued contributions to society beyond active service, noting that their leadership, discipline and values reinforce the credibility of the Armed Forces. He reaffirmed Western Command's commitment to veterans' welfare and invited their experience and guidance to support ongoing modernisation initiatives of the Indian Armed Forces and national development.

- ANI
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has defended the redevelopment work at Varanasi's Manikarnika Ghat, questioning the motives behind the outrage and linking it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's background. Uttar Pradesh Police have registered eight cases against individuals for circulating AI-generated images and misleading information about the project. State Minister Anil Rajbhar accused the opposition of creating confusion, asserting the government's transparency and commitment to preserving Kashi's heritage while improving facilities. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the issue, stating the project aims to modernize facilities while upholding tradition and accusing critics of defaming India's heritage.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey questions outrage over Varanasi's Manikarnika Ghat redevelopment as UP police file cases over AI-generated misleading images.

Varanasi, January 19 Amid the controversy surrounding the redevelopment work at Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey defended the project, questioning the outrage and linking it to political motives.

In a post on X, Dubey said, "Banaras's Manikarnika Ghat -- the temple there and its proper construction have been carried out from time to time by the king of Alwar, by Maharani Ahilyabai ji, and by the King of Amethi. Today, what is the problem? Because a person from a poor family is the Prime Minister?"

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh minister Anil Rajbhar accused the Opposition of spreading confusion and lacking substantive issues. Speaking to ANI in Lucknow, Rajbhar said the state government has been transparent about the project and is committed to improving facilities while preserving Kashi's spiritual and cultural heritage.

"The opposition has no issue. The Chief Minister held a very long press conference, clarifying every point, and even visited the spot. People from Purvanchal go there for the last rites of their loved ones, should the government not make arrangements there?" Rajbhar asked. Drawing parallels with earlier opposition to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, he said similar questions were raised during that project as well. "Every person in Kashi stands with the government," Rajbhar asserted.

The remarks come after a controversy erupted over a demolition and clearing drive at Manikarnika Ghat, where heavy machinery was used to remove encroachments and old structures as part of a beautification and strengthening project. During the process, several ancient idols and artefacts were reportedly found. Local authorities said these have been secured by the culture department and will be reinstalled after construction.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh police have registered eight separate cases at Chowk Police Station in Varanasi against AI-generated images and misleading information on the development work at Manikarnika Ghat. According to the police, these cases have been registered against eight individuals and others who retweeted or made objectionable comments, under sections 196, 298, 299, and 353 of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).

Addressing the matter, Mohit Agarwal, Commissioner of Police, Varanasi, said eight FIRs have been registered after misleading pictures surfaced online. "On inspection, the Kumbha Mahadev temple is found to be safe, with no rubble present. The Investigating Officers in the case have issued notices to the accused and given them 72 hours to present their side before the Police. If they don't do so, they will be considered guilty. We will submit our report to the court, which may lead to the accused's arrest. I appeal to the public to verify facts before posting anything online," he said.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the issue, providing clarity on the development projects in Kashi and targeting those involved in the case, accusing them of "defaming India's heritage and creating obstacles." Adityanath further added that the government's project aims to modernise the facilities while upholding tradition.

- ANI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to address a Mahapanchayat in Kochi, organized by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. The event aims to congratulate party members who contested the recent local body elections, which the Congress claims delivered a historic performance for the UDF. The gathering also serves as an unofficial launch of the party's campaign for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections. Concurrently, the party is intensifying a nationwide outreach to MNREGA workers, mobilizing under the MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan.

Rahul Gandhi addresses Congress Mahapanchayat in Kochi, congratulates local poll candidates, and kickstarts party's assembly election preparations.

New Delhi, January 19 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee Mahapanchayat on Monday in Kochi, where he will congratulate the "real warriors of the local body elections," according to AICC general Secretary KC Venugopal.

Gandhi will address Congress representatives who contested the recent local body election, said the Lok Sabha MP.

"The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee is holding a Mahapanchayat in Kochi today. All those who contested the elections on a Congress ticket, from the ward level to the corporation mayor level, are coming. Everyone is coming," Venugopal told ANI. "The Kerala local body elections were a big boost for the Congress party and the UDF. We will congratulate the real warriors of the local body elections," he added.

The mahapanchayat will be attended by Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary Venugopal and other party leaders

After his arrival in Kochi, Gandhi, will first will first visit the residence of Malayalam writer, literary critic M Leelavathy in Kalamassery and presesnt the Priyadarshini Literary Award by the KPCC to her. He will then proceed to Marine Drive where he will kickstart the Mahapanchayat according to a statement by the Indian National Congress.

According to Congress leader Shafi Parambil, the Mahapanchayat "serves as the unofficial launch of the Congress party's election process for the upcoming Legislative Assembly polls."

Congress leader K Muraleedharan said, "Today is the Mahapanchayat. The participants are the persons who contested the last local body elections. More than 10,000 people will be joining this conference. At the same time, this is the inauguration of our assembly preparations, also. He will also give directions for our party for the coming assembly election..."

He further said, "... CPM is the B team of BJP... The People know they have to defeat the unholy alliance of CPM and BJP."

Meanwhile KC Venugopal said that the party has intensified its nationwide outreach to MNREGA workers amid growing anger against the Centre, with Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge issuing a joint letter to strengthen the movement. Venugoppal said the initiative is being coordinated under the MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan to mobilise workers, while also confirming Rahul Gandhi's participation in the Mahapanchayat in Kochi today.

Speaking to ANI, Venugoppal said a review meeting was held with PCC presidents, general secretaries in charge, and the MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan Coordination Committee. "In fact, there is a lot of anger against the government visible across India. We are reaching out to MNREGA workers. All our party workers have been asked to reach out to MNREGA workers," he said. He added that the letter sent by Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to PCCs will be translated into regional languages and distributed among workers, party leaders, and influencers to widen the campaign.

Meanwhile, Vatakara MP Shafi Parambil said the 2025 Kerala local body election results reflected a clear public rejection of the ruling Left Democratic Front government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Parambil claimed that the Chief Minister himself had initially asked for the election to be seen as a "referendum" or evaluation of the government's performance, and the results have now delivered a negative verdict against them. He described the UDF's performance as historic, claiming traditional "Left bastions" were dismantled across the state.

Parambil further told ANI that the electorate has proven that the "power of the people is stronger than those in authority".

Parambil credited the surge to collective leadership within the United Democratic Front, along with the support of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

- ANI
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia's continued missile strikes, particularly on energy infrastructure, demonstrate that diplomacy is not its priority for ending the war. He detailed the severe impact on heating and power grids, with nearly 58,000 repair personnel working around the clock, especially in frontline regions like Kharkiv and Zaporizhia. A Ukrainian delegation, including top security officials, reported on meetings with representatives of former US President Donald Trump, discussing security guarantees and economic plans. The talks, which also involved American figures like Jared Kushner, focused on practical mechanisms for support and will continue at the next stage in Davos.

Ukraine's President says Russian strikes on energy infrastructure prove diplomacy isn't a priority, as repair crews work nationwide.

Kyiv, Jan 19 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that if Russia genuinely wanted to end the war, it would focus on diplomacy-not on missile strikes, blackouts, or attempts to damage Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

He said there is information about the sites Russia reconnoitered in preparation for strikes, stressing that everything clearly shows "diplomacy is not a priority for Russia".

In an address to the nation, Zelensky said, "The main target for Russia is invariably our energy sector. Almost 58,000 people are working around the clock in repair crews on power grids and generation facilities, and on the heating network alone. Resources from Ukrzaliznytsia and other state-owned companies have been involved. For Kyiv, where the situation is very difficult, an additional 50 crews from all over the country have been involved."

"There are still houses without heating, and for them, the necessary equipment and crews are being sent to each house manually. It is also difficult in the Kyiv region, especially in the northern part of the region, also in the Boryspil district. Also in border and front-line regions, where repairs to networks and repairs to facilities are complicated by virtually constant shelling and constant strikes. These are Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Dnipro, and Zaporizhia regions - special attention is paid to these regions. There was a lot of work in Poltava and Odessa to stabilise the energy situation," he added.

Zelensky further said that the Ukrainian delegation, which included the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, Rustem Umerov, reported on meetings with representatives of US President Donald Trump.

"There have already been several rounds of negotiations - they are working on documents that are needed to end the war. It is important that the Ukrainian team fully informs the American side about what is happening in Ukraine and about the constant Russian attacks on our energy system," he stated.

Meanwhile, Umerov took to the social media platform X, stating that over the course of two days, the Ukrainian delegation, including Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov and Chairman of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction David Arakhamia, worked in the United States.

"On the American side, the consultations included Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, and White House staff member Josh Gruenbaum. We had substantive discussions on economic development and prosperity plan as well as security guarantees for Ukraine, with a focus on practical mechanisms for their implementation and enforcement," Umerov stated.

"We informed our American partners about recent attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure by Russia. We agreed to continue the work at the team level during the next stage of consultations in Davos," he added.

- IANS
The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has found a lawyer guilty of inciting to bribe a prosecutor of the Prosecutor General's Office and sentenced him to 4 years and 6 months in prison.

"On January 19, 2026, the panel of judges of the HACC announced a verdict finding the lawyer guilty of inciting to promise to provide an illegal benefit to an official holding a responsible position, namely the prosecutor of the Prosecutor General's Office, for his actions in criminal proceedings in the interests of a citizen," the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) said in a message on its Telegram channel on Monday.

According to the message, the court verdict found the lawyer guilty of committing a crime under Part 4 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, and a sentence of 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment with deprivation of the right to practice law for a period of three years, with confiscation of all property was imposed.

The accused was taken into custody in the courtroom.

The court verdict enters into force thirty days from the date of its announcement, unless it is appealed on appeal.

The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office recalls that the lawyer incited the citizen to promise to provide $5,000 of illegal benefit to the prosecutor for his actions in criminal proceedings, in particular for applying to the court with a petition for her release from liability for a criminal offense.

"In order to hide the crime, the lawyer insisted on concluding an agreement between him and this citizen, under the terms of which these funds were to be payment for his legal services," the report states.

The NABU and SAPO launched an investigation into these facts based on a complaint from a citizen from whom the lawyer demanded money.
In a state already saturated with anti-tobacco messaging, schools backed by dedicated prevention funding showed stronger education, greater student engagement, and meaningfully lower tobacco use among adolescents.

Study: California's School-Based Tobacco Use Prevention Program After Proposition 56: Results From a Statewide Evaluation. Image Credit: StockLab / Shutterstock

California has long had a school tobacco control program in place  the TUPE . This was expanded in 2016 in accordance with Proposition 56. A recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health explored whether this step was associated with improved tobacco control among youth.

Origins of Californias Tobacco Prevention Efforts

Proposition 99 was a 1988 California referendum that approved a 25-cent increase in the cigarette tax. Part of the increased revenue went toward strengthening and broadening the anti-tobacco programs overseen by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education ( CDE ).

The Department of Public Health conducts the California Tobacco Prevention Program, comprising educational media campaigns at the community and state levels; statewide tobacco use surveillance; and program evaluation. The CDE administers TUPE in schools targeting tobacco use by young people.

These programs are widely considered responsible for expediting the decline in tobacco use in California. They have helped reduce lung cancer incidence and mortality rates.

Structure and Funding Mechanisms of TUPE

TUPE operates through multiple mechanisms:

County Technical Assistance grants that fund basic county-level TUPE programs

programs Tier 1 grants that fund school district-level initiatives like implementing tobacco-free school policies and surveillance of tobacco use among students

Tier 2 grants that fund more comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs

American Indian Education Center grants that target tobacco use prevention among American Indian youth

Most TUPE funding is distributed via Tier 2 grants. These are competitively awarded in a three-year cycle, targeting students in grades 612. They fund a range of initiatives, including prevention education, tobacco cessation support, peer counseling, community- and family-focused interventions, and staff development.

Proposition 56 and Expanded Prevention Funding

Declining tobacco usage progressively reduced tax revenue, necessitating additional funding measures for these programs. As a result, California voters approved Proposition 56, which increased the tax on cigarettes by $2 per pack, also raising taxes on vapes and other tobacco products. New funds were allocated to tobacco use prevention, including an additional $55 million for TUPE during 20172019.

These funds supported state-level media campaigns targeting vaping among youth. Prior evaluations found these campaigns were associated with higher cessation attempts among teens who vaped, and with lower susceptibility to future vaping among never-vaping youth.

However, TUPE still covered less than half of public middle and high school students. If divided equally between all school districts, the available funds would not cover a high-quality intervention in a single school. The CDE prioritized quality over quantity, funding a multipronged tobacco use prevention program in competitively selected schools.

Rationale for Comparing TUPE and Non-TUPE Schools

Historically, school-based programs have produced only small effects on tobacco prevention. These effects are likely more durable in states like California that already have strong anti-tobacco messaging. Conversely, the presence of the statewide program also makes it more difficult to tease out the impact of TUPE by itself.

For this reason, the authors of the current study chose to compare TUPE -funded schools with non- TUPE -funded schools.

Study Design and Data Sources

The data came from the 20192020 California Student Tobacco Survey  the last year of that funding cycle. The state-representative student survey included 160,106 students in total: 49,244 from TUPE -funded schools and 110,862 from non- TUPE -funded schools, all in grades 8, 10, and 12. The study covered 358 schools.

The researchers used generalized linear mixed-model logistic regression to examine the association between TUPE funding and reduced student tobacco use.

Factors Influencing Tobacco Use Risk

The analysis showed that multiple factors affected the risk of tobacco use other than TUPE . These included region, sex, grade, educational status of parents, smoking or vaping exposure in the family, mental health, and ethnicity.

Demographic Differences Between School Groups

TUPE school students in the study were twice as likely to be from Northern California (19% vs 10%) and to be Asian (19% vs 8%). This was accounted for in the analyses.

Asians were the least likely to use tobacco, compared to Hispanic or Latino students, who made up the largest subgroup. Students from the Bay Area or Northern California were also more likely to use tobacco. Both Asian and Northern California students attended TUPE schools in higher numbers, which, according to the authors, may have influenced unadjusted comparisons but were controlled for in multivariable analyses.

Exposure to Tobacco-Related Advertising

Exposure to tobacco-related advertisements was similar across TUPE and non- TUPE students. Most advertising discouraged rather than promoted tobacco use. Students found it easier to obtain vapes than cigarettes, irrespective of TUPE .

Vaping advertising was reported by ~1617% of students, while anti-vaping advertisements were reported by 3639%. Similarly, about 2829% reported anti-smoking advertisements compared to around 11% who reported exposure to smoking advertisements.

School-Based Tobacco Education

TUPE students were more likely to receive school-based education on the harms of vaping, cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco, secondhand smoke, and vapor than non- TUPE students.

Overall, 71% of TUPE students received messaging opposing all tobacco use, vs ~64% of non- TUPE students.

Participation in Tobacco Prevention Activities

While 15% of TUPE students participated in three or more school activities opposing tobacco use, only about 10% of non- TUPE students did.

Tobacco Use Outcomes

After adjusting for personal and school risk factors, tobacco use was lower among TUPE students at 6.5%, vs 8% of non- TUPE students.

Interpretation and Public Health Implications

Students were heavily exposed to messaging that opposed all forms of tobacco use, irrespective of TUPE funding.
A major UK study shows that commonly used home pulse oximeters can overestimate oxygen levels in people with darker skin, increasing the risk of undetected hypoxemia and raising urgent questions about device standards, regulation, and clinical interpretation.

Study: The impact of skin tone on performance of pulse oximeters used by NHS England COVID Oximetry @home scheme: measurement and diagnostic accuracy study. Image Credit: AnnaStills / Shutterstock

Oxygen in blood is primarily transported by the red cell pigment hemoglobin. The fraction of total hemoglobin that is oxygenated hemoglobin in arterial blood is the arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation ( SaO2 ), which is measured directly from an arterial blood gas sample and used to detect and assess hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen concentration. Pulse oximetry is often used to noninvasively estimate saturation by measuring light absorbance in the tissue vascular bed. However, its accuracy is far from uniform, especially in darker skin tones.

A recent study in The British Medical Journal examined how skin color affects the accuracy of hypoxemia diagnosis by pulse oximetry.

Development and Widespread Use of Pulse Oximeters

Pulse oximeters began to be commercially sold in the 1980s, with subsequent striking advances in design, convenience, and portability. The coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) pandemic led to a significant increase in the use of fingertip pulse oximeters at home. These are inexpensive, battery-powered, and suitable for home use.

Pulse oximeters can enable remote monitoring of peripheral oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) and detection of early hypoxemia. The NHS England exploited this with the rollout of the COVID Oximetry @home scheme. However, some cheap pulse oximeters produce inaccurate readings, emphasizing the need for regulation.

Skin Tone and Accuracy of Hypoxemia Detection

Darker skin is also associated with an increased risk of a false negative, leading to delayed or missed diagnosis of hypoxemia. Earlier studies used race or ethnicity to stand in for skin tone. Others used the Fitzpatrick skin tone or other color comparison charts to determine skin tone.

Both methods lack the objectivity of spectrophotometry, leading to major flaws in these studies. Spectrophotometry measures light reflection over different wavelengths and calculates the skin color accordingly. The results are used to calculate the individual typology angle ( ITA ), derived from objective lightness and colour measurements.

Regulatory Standards and Performance Metrics

The ISO , which certifies pulse oximeters and other devices for safety and basic performance, does not require accounting for skin tone variations. The performance metric for measurement accuracy is the accuracy root-mean-square ( ARMS ), which combines bias (systematic error) with precision (random error or noise).

The FDA has published a draft to improve oximeter accuracy evaluation by increasing both the number of participants and the range of skin tones. It considers not only ARMS but variation in bias over a 100 range of ITA.

Rationale for the EXAKT Study

In response to NHS concerns, the NIHR launched the EXAKT study to assess how skin tone affects measurements and diagnostic accuracy of five fingertip pulse oximeters used in the home oximetry scheme.

Study Design and Data Collection

The study used data from patients recruited or screened for the UK-ROX trial, designed to assess various approaches to oxygen therapy. This included 903 critically ill patients in 24 intensive care units in England between June 2022 and August 2024, a setting chosen to enable paired arterial blood gas sampling and to capture a wider range of oxygen saturations, including lower SaO2 values.

The five oximeters were used to measure SpO2, and the readings were compared with the SaO2 measured simultaneously by co-oximetry, the gold standard. Skin tone was objectively measured using a handheld spectrophotometer.

Analytical Approach and Diagnostic Thresholds

The researchers aimed to evaluate pulse oximeter performance in terms of its overall accuracy, precision, and bias. Both false positive and false negative rates for SpO2 92% and 94% were evaluated against a reference SaO2 threshold of 92% to examine how often SpO2 fails to identify hypoxemia. They used the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC ) curve to measure overall testing performance across different cutoffs.

In particular, they looked for occult hypoxemia (SaO2 below 88% but SpO2 >92%).

Measurement Accuracy and Skin Tone Effects

The study included 11,018 pairs of SpO2SaO2 measurements. All five pulse oximeter types in the study showed reduced precision across all SaO2 levels. Overall accuracy was also reduced, largely due to substantial imprecision rather than systematic bias alone. At lower saturations, SpO2 measurements were too high, and at higher saturations, too low.

All five pulse oximeters overestimated the saturation with darker skin tones. Median dark skin was associated with an average increase of 0.61.5 percentage points in mean SpO2 values compared to lighter tones.

At lower saturations, darker skin tones exacerbated the bias towards falsely high SpO2 readings, thereby increasing the risk of missing hypoxemia. At higher saturations, the underestimation error tended to partially offset the higher SpO2 associated with darker skin tone, reducing the bias.

Diagnostic Consequences and Occult Hypoxemia

As a result, the accuracy of pulse oximeters varied with skin tone, though the direction and magnitude of the bias depended on saturation levels and the oximeter model. The devices showed a reduced ability to distinguish true hypoxemia in darker-skinned individuals.

The ARMS predominantly varied with measurement precision rather than skin tone-associated error. However, despite their small size, their effect on diagnostic accuracy was significant.

At both SpO2 thresholds, false negatives increased in darker-skinned individuals, while false positives decreased. False negatives increased by 535 percentage points at higher SpO2 thresholds in darker-skinned individuals.

While cases of occult hypoxemia were rare and estimates imprecise, they occurred more often in individuals with darker skin tones. Overall, hypoxemia was more frequently missed in this group.

Context, Strengths, and Limitations

These findings align with prior research but are limited to low-cost pulse oximeters supplied under the COVID Oximetry @home scheme. Results may not apply to critical care oximeters used in hospital settings.

A smaller American study of critical care oximeters using the same spectrophotometry approach also found significant overestimation of saturation in darker-skinned patients.

This large prospective study used objective skin-tone measurements and advanced statistical modeling, thereby strengthening its conclusions. However, unmeasured confounders such as reduced peripheral perfusion in critical illness may limit generalisability to home use.

Clinical Implications and Future Directions

SpO2 values tended to be higher in people with darker skin, potentially resulting in clinically significant differences in diagnostic accuracy.

Clinicians should interpret pulse oximetry cautiously, especially in darker-skinned individuals. Manufacturers should ensure robust pre- and post-market testing across skin tones.

Current standards do not adequately address these issues. SpO2 trends are more clinically informative than isolated values and must be interpreted in context. Updated guidelines are needed to support optimal hypoxemia care where confirmatory testing is unavailable.

Further research should incorporate objective skin tone measurement and explore alternatives to spectrophotometry to improve accessibility.
With another Congressional deadline looming this month for most telehealth coverage under Medicare, a new University of Michigan study adds more data to the debate.

It shows that the total number of patient visits hasn't gone up since most patients gained the ability to see doctors and other health care providers virtually.

In fact, among non-surgical medical specialties and mental health providers, the total number of visits stabilized and even declined slightly through June 2024, the most recent period available to analyze. The data come from more than 60 million people who had nearly 539 million appointments during a five-year period.

The findings could help inform policymakers who must vote by January 30 to either temporarily renew or permanently extend Medicare telehealth coverage standards that have been in effect since March 2020.

If they don't meet that deadline, older and disabled Americans with traditional Medicare coverage could find themselves receiving messages like they did last fall, when there was a lapse in telehealth coverage during the government shutdown that began October 1.

Such letters told them that if they had a telehealth visit during that time, they may be responsible for paying the entire cost, or that their appointment was being converted to in-person or being canceled or rescheduled.

Just before Thanksgiving, Congress authorized retroactive payment for telehealth visits that patients with traditional Medicare had decided to keep during the shutdown.

But the budget agreement only provided for coverage of future care under current standards through the end of January 2026.

New findings could inform telehealth policy

The new findings, published in the peer-reviewed publication Health Affairs Scholar by a team from the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, build on findings that the researchers published as a preprint nearly a year ago during a prior period of uncertainty about Medicare coverage of telehealth.

The new analysis includes data from January 2019 through June 2024 and breaks down telehealth and in-person visit trends for surgical, non-surgical and behavioral (mental) health care.

Telehealth was possible only under very limited circumstances in Medicare before March 2020. That month, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a rapid emergency pivot to virtual care. Since then, such care has become routine for most people. In fact, the study shows that telehealth now accounts for 44% of all behavioral health visits and 9% of primary care visits among beneficiaries in traditional Medicare.

However, despite this sustained adoption, the study finds that overall healthcare visits have remained stable or declined over time. The researchers used a special type of statistical analysis to look at visit patterns among specialties with high, medium and low telehealth use.

They found that even in fields where telehealth was widely adopted, the total number of visits, including in-person and virtual visits, stayed steady or even declined over time. Contrary to some predictions, overall visits didn't climb higher as telehealth became more popular.

Lead author James D. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., said that it's important to look at the overall trajectory of both telehealth and in-person visits in order to inform policymakers who want to balance care access and flexibility with budgetary responsibility.

One of the things that is paralyzing the policy debate is uncertainty and concern about whether covering telehealth in parity with in-person care would be associated with runaway utilization. But we don't see that here." James D. Lee, M.D., M.P.H., National Clinician Scholar at IHPI and Clinical Instructor in the U-M Medical School's Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Medicine

Lee and senior author Chad Ellimoottil, M.D., M.S., led the analysis. They did not include asynchronous patient portal messages, which providers can bill Medicare for under a separate code if they spend a substantial amount of time addressing the patient's concern.

They also cannot include any visits that patients had with providers who did not bill traditional fee-for-service Medicare, such as mental health providers who patients may have paid for out of their own pocket.

Because half of Medicare beneficiaries have chosen Medicare Advantage plans, which bill Medicare differently, their data aren't included either.

The fact that the new analysis shows a declining trend for total visits for behavioral health and primary care is also of interest, Lee said. This may reflect the well-known shortage of primary care and behavioral health providers in the United States, including reduction in capacity as burned-out providers reduce the number of appointments they offer.

In addition to Lee and Ellimoottil, the authors are Elena Chun, M.S., Chiang-Hua Chang, Ph.D., Hechuan Michelle Hou, M.S., former NCSP scholar Terrence Liu, M.D., M.S., Rodney Dunn, Ph.D., Jeffrey McCullough, Ph.D., and Michael Thompson, Ph.D.

The study was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the support that Lee receives for his National Clinician Scholars Program fellowship from IHPI and the VA Office of Academic Affiliations.
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examined how thought-patterns associated with unfairness, known as perceived injustice, shape people's psychological responses to trauma. Conducted following the October 7th attack and during the subsequent war, the study revealed that as individuals viewed their suffering as more unjust and irreparable, they experienced more severe and persistent traumatic stress symptoms, even months later. The research highlights perceived injustice as a key factor influencing recovery and resilience in the aftermath of trauma.

A new longitudinal study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem conducted in the months following the October 7th Hamas attack and subsequent war, has found that thought-patterns that one's suffering is unjust and irreparable, known as perceived injustice, can intensify and sustain symptoms of trauma over time.



The research, led by Dr. Gadi Gilam, head of the translational Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience (tSCAN) lab at the Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, together with tSCAN lab graduate students Yuval Mor-Elzas and Sarit Kubichek, recruited almost 1,700 Israeli participants three months after the attack, with over 600 completing follow-up assessments six months later. Participants reported their levels of exposure and proximity to the traumatic events, traumatic symptoms, perceptions of injustice, and emotional distress symptoms, namely depression, anxiety, anger.



The results were striking. Across both time points, as individuals perceived and experienced their suffering as more unfair and irreparable, they reported higher levels of traumatic stress symptoms. Importantly, perceived injustice predicted future severity of traumatic symptoms even after accounting for levels of exposure and proximity to the traumatic events and for emotional distress symptoms, indicating that it represents a unique and powerful psychological factor in how people respond to and cope with chronic exposure to stress and trauma.

In the aftermath of trauma, we often focus on emotions like fear or sadness. Our findings demonstrate that a sense of unfairness can be just as damaging, if not more so. When people believe that what happened to them or to others was particularly unjust and cannot be amended, it can prolong suffering and make it harder to heal." Dr. Gadi Gilam, Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The study also revealed that anger levels increased significantly between January and July 2024, while the levels of traumatic symptoms, perceptions of injustice, depression, and anxiety, all remaining stable. According to Dr. Gilam, this stability underscores how perceived injustice may serve as a persistent cognitive prism, shaping how survivors interpret ongoing events and their emotional aftermath. Indeed, anger is the most common emotional response to injustice and might reflect an additional therapeutic target.



The authors hope their findings will inspire clinicians to incorporate injustice-related appraisals into mental health care, and lead to novel therapeutic interventions.
Researchers have developed a wearable, comfortable and washable device called Revoice that could help people regain the ability to communicate naturally and fluently following a stroke, without the need for invasive brain implants.

The device, whose development was led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, uses a combination of ultra-sensitive sensors and artificial intelligence to decode speech signals and emotional cues to allow people with post-stroke speech impairment to communicate naturally.

The Revoice device, worn as a soft and flexible choker, captures the wearer's heart rate and tiny vibrations from throat muscles, and uses those signals to reconstruct intended words and sentences in real time.

The signals from the device are processed by two AI agents: one reconstructs words from fragments of silently mouthed speech, while the other interprets emotional state and contextual information, such as the time of day or weather conditions, to expand short phrases into complete, expressive sentences.

In a small trial with five patients with dysarthria, a common type of post-stroke speech impairment, the device achieved a word error rate of 4.2% and a sentence error rate of just 2.9%. Unlike existing assistive speech technologies, which often require slow letter-by-letter input, eye tracking or brain implants, the Revoice device provides seamless real-time communication, turning just a few mouthed words into full, fluent sentences.

Their results, reported in the journal Nature Communications, could not only have implications for stroke rehabilitation, but could also help support people with conditions such as Parkinson's and motor neuron disease. The researchers are currently planning a clinical study in Cambridge for native English-speaking dysarthria patients to assess the viability of the system, which they are hoping to launch this year.

About half of people develop dysarthria, or dysarthria in combination with aphasia, following a stroke. Dysarthria is a physical condition that causes weakness in the muscles of the face, mouth and vocal cords. It affects people in different ways, but often causes an inability to speak clearly, slurred or slow speech, or speaking in short, disjointed bursts rather than full sentences.

"When people have dysarthria following a stroke, it can be extremely frustrating for them, because they know exactly what they want to say, but physically struggle to say it, because the signals between their brain and their throat have been scrambled by the stroke," said Professor Luigi Occhipinti from Cambridge's Department of Engineering, who led the research. "That frustration can be profound, not just for the patients, but for their caregivers and families as well."

Most stroke patients with dysarthria work with a speech therapist to regain their ability to communicate, primarily through repetitive word drills, where patients repeat words or phrases back to the speech therapist. Typical recovery time varies from a few months to a year or more.

Patients can generally perform the repetitive drills after some practice, but they often struggle with open-ended questions and everyday conversation. And as many patients do recover most or all of their speech eventually, there is not a need for invasive brain implants, but there is a strong need for speech solutions that are more intuitive and portable." Professor Luigi Occhipinti, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

Occhipinti and his colleagues developed the Revoice device as such a solution. The sensors in the device capture subtle vibrations from the throat to detect speech signals and decodes emotional states from pulse signals  a simplified but effective proxy. The device also uses an embedded lightweight large language model (LLM) to predict full sentences, so only uses minimal power.

Working with colleagues in China, the researchers carried out a small trial with five stroke patients with dysarthria, as well as ten healthy controls. In the study, participants wore the device and mouthed short phrases. By nodding twice, they could choose to expand those phrases into sentences using the embedded LLM.

In one example, "We go hospital" became "Even though it's getting a bit late, I'm still feeling uncomfortable. Can we go to the hospital now?" The sensors in the Revoice device inferred that the wearer was feeling frustrated due to their elevated heart rate, and that it was getting late at night. The LLM was able to use this data to expand three mouthed words into a full sentence.

Participants in the study reported a 55% increase in satisfaction, showing that the device could be a promising development to help stroke patients regain their ability to communicate. Although extensive clinical trials will be required before the device can be made widely available, the researchers hope that future versions of the device will include multilingual capabilities, a broader range of emotional states and fully self-contained operation for everyday use.

"This is about giving people their independence back," said Occhipinti. "Communication is fundamental to dignity and recovery."

The research was supported in part by the British Council, Haleon, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Advanta Enterprises files IPO papers with Sebi

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 21:30 IST

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New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Agricultural solutions company Advanta Enterprises Ltd on Monday filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).

According to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), the proposed IPO will be entirely an Offer-for-Sale (OFS) of 3.61 crore equity shares, with no fresh issue component.

The shares will be sold by the promoter, UPL Ltd, and by the investor shareholders, Melwood Holdings II Pte Ltd and KIA EBT Scheme 2.

Currently, UPL holds a little over 64 per cent stake in the company, while UPL Corporation owns nearly 14 per cent.

As the issue is fully an OFS, Advanta Enterprises will not receive any proceeds from the IPO, and the entire amount will go to the selling shareholders.

Advanta Enterprises operates as a global agricultural solutions company focused on hybrid seeds and post-harvest products. The company develops, produces and sells locally adapted hybrid seeds designed to improve crop yields and farm-level economics.

As of September 30, 2025, its portfolio included more than 900 hybrid seed varieties across 21 breeding crops and 19 commercial crops, including products developed through in-licensed collaborations. Its seeds are marketed in 74 countries, and the company also runs a post-harvest solutions business through Decco.

JM Financial, Axis Capital, Citigroup Global Markets India Pvt Ltd, Goldman Sachs (India) Securities Pvt Ltd, and Morgan Stanley India Company have been appointed as merchant bankers for the companys proposed public issue. PTI SP DRR

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Afghanistan: Seven, including a Chinese national killed in hotel blast in Kabul

Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 02:45 IST

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Kabul [Afghanistan], January 20 (ANI): Seven people, including a Chinese national, were killed in a blast at a hotel in Kabuls Shahr-e-Naw area in Afghanistan, officials said. Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said that the blast occurred at the joint restaurant of Chinese Muslims and Afghans called Chinese Noodle." He added that a Chinese Muslim, Abdul Majid, resident of Xinjiang province, was among the victims. Today, around 3 PM, an explosion occurred in Kabul city, in the Gulforoshi alley of Shahr-e-Naw, at the joint restaurant of Chinese Muslims and Afghans called Chinese Noodle". The restaurant was jointly operated by a Chinese Muslim named Abdul Majid, his wife, and an Afghan named Abdul Jabbar Mahmoud. Abdul Majid was a Muslim resident of Xinjiang province in China," Zadran said in a post on X. Here, food was prepared and sold specifically for Chinese Muslims. In todays explosion, one Chinese national named Ayub, who was Muslim, and 6 Afghans were killed, and several others were injured. The explosion happened near the kitchen," he added.Further investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that an Italian NGO Emergency said a medical facility it oversees in Kabul had received 20 people from the blast, seven of whom were dead when they arrived. The organisation said the casualty figures were still provisional".Twenty people have been received at EMERGENCYs Surgical Centre in Kabul following an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. Among those received were seven people dead on arrival," the NGO said in a statement. (ANI)

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Akshay Kumar's security vehicle involved in accident in Juhu, one injured

Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 00:45 IST

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Mumbai, Jan 19 (PTI) A car part of Bollywood actor Akshay Kumars security entourage was hit by an autorickshaw after the three-wheeler was struck by another vehicle near Mukteshwar Road in Juhu on Monday night, leaving one person injured, police said.

The car of Kumar, who was returning home with his wife Twinkle Khanna from the airport after an overseas trip, was not involved in the collision.

According to police, the autorickshaw was hit by a speeding Mercedes car, causing it to ram into the vehicle that was part of Kumars security entourage.

The autorickshaw driver was injured in the accident and was taken to the hospital for treatment, police said.

Juhu police has registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the Mercedes driver. Further investigation is underway, they said. PTI ZA DIV DIV

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Chinese military effectively responds to U.S. vessels' transit through Taiwan Strait

Xinhua) 10:02, January 19, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command monitored two U.S. vessels' transit through the Taiwan Strait from Friday to Saturday, said a spokesperson for the command on Saturday.

The theater command deployed naval and air assets to monitor and track the movements of the two vessels, ensuring effective response and management, said Xu Chenghua, the spokesperson, in a press release.

The two vessels were the U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn and the oceanographic survey vessel USNS Mary Sears, according to Xu.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command remains on high alert to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A discussion on how to end the war and overcome the challenges facing Ukraine, Europe, and the Western world will be held on January 22 in Davos, Switzerland, by international and Ukrainian leaders at the Ukrainian Breakfast of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and EastOne during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

As noted in a press release from the Pinchuk Foundation on Monday, the speakers of the Ukrainian Breakfast discussion will be NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the presidents of Latvia and Finland Edgars Rinkevics and Alexander Stubb, and the prime ministers of the Netherlands and Croatia Dick Schoof and Andrey Plenkovic.

The discussion will be moderated by CNN host and author Farid Zakaria.

The Ukrainian Breakfast (lunch) in Davos has been held annually since 2005 with the aim of putting Ukraine on the international agenda and uniting Ukrainian and international leaders. In addition to the traditional Ukrainian Breakfast, the Pinchuk Foundation will present the project "Ukraine: On the Front Lines of the Future" on the occasion of WEF 2026, which will combine an exhibition and a three-day discussion program dedicated to Ukraine as a testing ground for the future of security, innovation and reconstruction.

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation will also once again co-organize the Ukraine House in Davos, the Ukrainian platform at the World Economic Forum, which promotes an open dialogue between Ukraine and the global community and will operate from January 19-22.
Custody battle: SC grants 4 weeks to Centre to trace Russian woman, her child

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:30 IST

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New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday granted four weeks to the Centre to trace a Russian woman, who had fled to Moscow with her child amid a bitter custody battle with her estranged Indian husband.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, that sincere efforts were on to trace the woman and the child.

The law officer said that Interpol notices have also been issued to trace and bring them back to India.

I am having some updates Please grant us a few more weeks, and we will file an updated report," the law officer said, adding that Russia is an all-weather friend." The bench agreed and granted four weeks to the Centre.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs filed reports in a sealed cover.

The bench asked the law officer to take up the issue on a continuous basis with the Indian Embassy at Moscow, so as to call upon the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation to trace out the child and the petitioner-mother." It will be highly appreciated if a Report with regard to the well-being of the child is obtained and produced before us," the bench had said on November 28 last year.

Before that, the bench had observed that it did not want to pass any order which could hurt the India-Russia relationship.

It, however, emphasised the need for proper coordination as it pointed out the diplomatic challenge for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian Embassy in Moscow, and the Russian Embassy in Delhi, to find a resolution to the issue and take steps to restore the child to the custody of the apex court.

The woman, who had been residing in India since 2019, came to India on an X-1 Visa, which had expired.

However, during the pendency of the court proceedings, the top court directed the extension of the visa from time to time.

We dont want to pass any order which may hurt the relationship between India and Russia but it is also a matter where a child is involved. We can only hope the child is well and healthy as he is with the mother. Hope it is not the case of human trafficking," the bench told Bhati.

On July 21, last year, the top court was informed that the Russian woman seemed to have left the country with the minor via the Nepal border and might have reached her country through Sharjah.

The top court had then called the situation unacceptable" and observed gross contempt of court." The father of the child alleged that his estranged wife wasnt complying with the courts order of custody of the minor.

The man claimed that he was clueless about the whereabouts of the woman and his child.

On July 17, last year, the top court directed Delhi Police officers to immediately trace the child and asked the Centre to issue a look-out notice for the woman and the minor to ensure she did not leave the country.

The top court on May 22, 2025, directed that the exclusive custody of the child was given to the mother for three days in a week  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday  and for the remaining days, the child was directed to remain in the exclusive custody of his father. PTI SJK VN VN

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EU chief discusses Greenland with US Congress delegation

Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 04:15 IST

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Davos [Switzerland], January 20 (ANI): European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday (local time) held a meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress in Davos, where they discussed Donald Trumps recent threats to acquire Greenland.In a post on X, Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the need to respect" the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark. I also addressed the need to unequivocally respect the sovereignty of Greenland and of the Kingdom of Denmark. This is of utmost importance to our transatlantic relationship," she said. She further urged for a close cooperation" between the EU, the US and NATO to address the security concerns related to Greenland and the Arctic. At the same time, the European Union remains ready to continue working closely with the United States, NATO, and other allies, in close cooperation with Denmark, to advance our shared security interests," Ursula von der Leyen said. She believed that tariffs run counter" to the US and EUs shared interest in trade and investment. We also discussed transatlantic trade and investment. They are a major asset for both the EU and US economies. Tariffs run counter to these shared interests," she said. The meeting comes after Trumps threats to impose tariffs on Denmark and other UK and European Union countries, unless they agree to sell Greenland.In his post, Trump claimed the move is necessary for national security, citing Chinas and Russias interest in the territory.He offered to negotiate with the European nations but warned of escalating tariffs of 10 per cent from February 1, 2026, and 25 per cent from June 1, 2026 if a deal wasnt reached, stating it was time for Denmark to give back" after years of US support.Earlier, UK PM stated that the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong", noting that the Arctic island belongs to its people and Denmark, describing the right as fundamental".The security of Greenland matters, and it will matter more as climate change reshapes the Arctic. As sea routes open and strategic competition intensifies, the High North will require greater attention, greater investment, and stronger collective defence. The United States will be central to that effort, and the UK stands ready to contribute fully alongside our allies through NATO. But there is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works," Starmer said. (ANI)

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Four masked assailants open fire outside bizman's house in Ludhiana

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:30 IST

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Ludhiana, Jan 19 (PTI) Four unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire outside the residence of a businessman and set a car on fire in Khanna here on Monday, police said.

The car was partially damaged in the fire.

Superintendent of Police, Khanna, Pawanjeet Singh, said the attackers wore masks to conceal their identities.

He said authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify the culprits.

We have formed eight teams to apprehend the accused and investigations are underway to determine the motive behind the firing," said Singh. PTI COR CHS DIV DIV

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Madhya Pradesh: Five women killed in road accident in Jabalpur, says police

Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 04:00 IST

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Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 20 (ANI): Atleast five women were killed and several others injured in a road accident involving a car in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, police said, adding that the owner of the car has been arrested.Following the incident, the family members of the deceased blocked the road, demanding the arrest of the culprit.The incident took place in Barela on Monday.Speaking to ANI, Additional Superintendent of Police Suryakant Sharma said, A tragic road accident occurred in Barela, in which five women died".The police officer said that authorities have decided to give compensation to the families of the victimsThe family members were enraged and had blocked the road here. They demanded that maximum compensation be given to the deceased. In this, the District Collector, with the consent of the state government, has agreed to give Rs 10 lakh to the deceased, Rs 2 lakh to the seriously injured, and Rs 1 lakh to those with minor injuries."He further said that the accused will be arrested very soonThe injured will also receive proper treatment in a private hospital. We have seized the vehicle involved, and the vehicle owner is in our custody. Arrests will be made soon, and legal action will be taken". (ANI)

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First Published: January 20, 2026, 04:00 IST

News agency-feeds Madhya Pradesh: Five women killed in road accident in Jabalpur, says police

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Oxfam cites Indian quota system as example of how power can be democratised

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 05:45 IST

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Davos, Jan 19 (PTI) As it flagged billionaires usurping the political landscape globally, rights group Oxfam on Monday cited Indias reservation system as a compelling" example of progress on how ordinary people can be politically empowered.

In its annual inequality report released here on the first day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, attended by rich and powerful from across the world, Oxfam International said billionaires are 4,000 times more likely to hold political office than ordinary citizens.

Making a case for building the power of the many, Oxfam said ordinary people become powerful in a political system where political, institutional, and social conditions increase their capacity to influence decision-making despite structural inequality.

This happens when institutional inclusiveness, political incentives for responsiveness, collective organisation, effective governance and ideological commitments align.

Non-state actors such as CSOs, grassroots movements and trade unions are natural allies of states in building greater political engagement from under-represented communities, and ensuring access for all to meaningful participation in policymaking," Oxfam said in the report, titled Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power.

It said there are some compelling examples of progress on this crucial issue.

In India, for example, political reservations (quotas) for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalised groups create opportunities for economically disadvantaged and socially excluded communities to gain legislative representation and push redistributive policies," Oxfam said.

India provides reservations for SCs and STs, as well as a few other sections, in legislatures, as per their population, while it has recently also announced 33 per cent for women. In addition to these categories, there are reservations for other weaker and marginalised groups as well in education and government jobs.

Oxfam also cited the example of Brazils Participatory Budgeting that emerged in the 1990s and saw significant expansion during the 2000s.

Its most prominent example was the city of Porto Alegre, whose experience became an international reference in participatory democracy by allowing citizens to directly decide on portions of the municipal public budget," Oxfam said.

The report said governments must guarantee an enabling civic space, in line with international legal frameworks, standards and guidance to build the political power of the many.

Oxfam called for governments to publicly commit to and act on protecting and promoting freedom of expression, assembly and association (including online) for citizens, movements, journalists and organisations to be able to organise, speak up and protest.

It also advocated ensuring transparency and accountability around the upholding of these standards, and guaranteeing this through regular reporting and scrutiny by both state and non-state actors, as well as granting access to resources and information for individuals and organisations. PTI BJ BAL BAL

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News agency-feeds Oxfam cites Indian quota system as example of how power can be democratised

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RBI Guv Malhotra calls for high standards of governance in urban co-op banks

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:45 IST

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Mumbai, Jan 19 (PTI) Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Monday emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards of governance and diligent oversight over asset quality during his meeting with top officials of select Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs).

As part of the Reserve Bank of Indias continued engagement with regulated entities, the Governor held a meeting with the Chairpersons and Managing Directors & Chief Executive Officers (MDs & CEOs) of select UCBs.

In his remarks, Malhotra highlighted the continued relevance of UCBs in credit delivery particularly to the underserved areas and in expanding financial inclusion, RBI said in a statement.

He also briefly touched upon the various policy initiatives that have been undertaken by Reserve Bank relating to the co-operative banking sector since the previous interaction, and exuded confidence that these enablers will help the sector become stronger and grow in a healthy manner.

He underscored the importance of maintaining high standards of governance, robust underwriting practices and diligent oversight over asset quality, RBI said.

Further, the Governor emphasised the necessity of adopting customer-centric approach, following ethical practices, and timely grievance resolution to maintain customer trust in the sector. During the interactive session, the participants shared their feedback and suggestions on policy issues and operational matters relating to the UCB sector.

The participants included representatives from the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation Limited and the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies Limited.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Governors Swaminathan J and S C Murmu, apart from other senior officers of the Reserve Bank.

The previous such meeting was held in March last year. PTI NKD NKD ANU ANU

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 19:45 IST

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Several suspects detained in connected with attack on U'khand Cong MLA's son

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 22:45 IST

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Rudrapur, Jan 19 (PTI) Several suspects have been detained in connection with attack on Uttarakhand Congress MLA Tilak Raj Behars son, police here said on Monday.

While a formal complaint is yet to be received, the police has started investigating the matter on the basis of the victims verbal statements and available facts, they said.

The police said that the investigation is ongoing and they have received several important clues about the attackers.

Senior Superintendent of Police Manikant Mishra said that considering the seriousness of the incident, several special police teams have been formed, which are continuously searching for the attackers.

According to the police, several suspected individuals have been taken into custody for questioning as part of the investigation.

The Congress MLAs son, Saurabh Raj Behar, a councilor of the Rudrapur Municipal Corporation, was attacked by three masked assailants with sticks and rods in the Awas Vikas area on Sunday evening as he was leaving his house to go to the police station.

The attackers fled the scene after the attack.

Saurabh was immediately admitted to the hospital in serious condition and he has been kept in the ICU due to his critical condition.

SSP Mishra said that the footage from CCTV cameras installed at and around the crime scene is also being examined to identify the accused.

He said that the entire incident will be revealed soon and strict action will be taken against the culprits. PTI DPT NB NB

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 22:45 IST

News agency-feeds Several suspects detained in connected with attack on U'khand Cong MLA's son

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True justice resides in district courts: CJI Surya Kant

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 21:00 IST

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New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday said true justice" resides in grassroots-level courts and urged the high courts as well as the Supreme Court to incentivise" young lawyers to practise in the district courts.

The CJI lamented the misbranding" of district courts as lower courts" in the country and asserted that being an important organ of an independent judiciary", these courts play a more important role than the appellate fora.

Let us always remember that justice does not primarily reside in the appellate forums only. True justice resides only at the grassroots-level courts because the ordinary citizen will have the first encounter for the enforcement of his right only in the district courts," he said.

The district courts are the places where law becomes real, immediate, and it acquires the shape of a human approach. If a litigant, a consumer of justice is satisfactorily dealt with in this primary health centre, I am quite sure he will not be required to be shifted to bigger hospitals. Definitely, he will not be required to go to a trauma centre," the CJI added.

Justice Kant was speaking at an event organised by the Bar Council of Delhi to felicitate him on taking oath as the 53rd CJI.

Held on the Delhi High Court premises, the event was attended by the judges of the Supreme Court, the high court, officials of the council as well as members of the Bar.

In his speech, CJI Kant shared his concerns" and sought a collaborative approach" from the Bar and the Bench to deal with those.

There is somehow a misconception among law graduates from national law universities or other important" universities that leads them to consider either a high court or the Supreme Court for their legal practice, and not the district courts, he said.

Drawing from his own experience of having begun his legal career from a district court, the CJI said the district courts are the centres of cultivating professional culture" and the initial training there builds the foundation for further practice in appellate courts.

I will request even to the high court and to my own colleagues in the Supreme Court that let us try to incentivise the practices in the district courts and try to cultivate that culture which will strengthen our legal bar," he said.

The CJI also asserted that technology is of good help" in drafting but application of mind has to be learnt. PTI ADS RC

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 21:00 IST

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WEF Davos 2026 Starts Today: What's On The Agenda And Who All Are Part Of India Delegation?

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 16:20 IST

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 comes with a slogan of 'A Spirit of Dialogue' amid slow growth, geopolitics, tech disruption, fading trust.

The World Economic Forum begins at Davos in Switzerland today. More than 3,000 global leaders are attending the 56th annual meeting.

WEF Davos 2026: The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 begins today in Davos, Switzerland, with India set to make a strong pitch to global investors, policymakers, and business leaders. The five-day summit is being held under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue, at a time when the global economy is grappling with slowing growth, geopolitical tensions, rapid technological disruption, and the challenge of rebuilding trust across nations.

The meeting is expected to focus on economic resilience, artificial intelligence (AI), energy transition, global risks, and geopolitics, with discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between governments and industry leaders.

What is the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting?

The WEF Annual Meeting is one of the worlds most influential global gatherings, bringing together heads of state, ministers, central bankers, CEOs, start-up founders, academics, and civil society leaders. It serves as a platform to shape global economic thinking, forge partnerships, and discuss long-term strategies on growth, technology, climate change, and global governance.

For India, Davos has traditionally been a key stage to signal policy stability, reform momentum, and openness to foreign investment.

Who is part of Indias delegation?

Indias delegation at Davos 2026 includes senior political leadership and a large corporate contingent, reflecting the countrys intent to position itself as a current  not future  engine of global growth.

Union Ministers

India is represented by four Union ministers: Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K Rammohan Naidu.

Their presence underlines Indias focus on infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, and digital transformation.

Chief Ministers at Davos

Six chief ministers are attending the summit, showcasing state-level investment opportunities: Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), A Revanth Reddy (Telangana), and Hemant Soren (Jharkhand).

The participation of Assam and Jharkhand is particularly significant, as eastern India looks to highlight its fast-growing state economies, mineral resources, and industrial potential.

In addition, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and senior delegations from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are also attending the meeting.

Indian business leaders at Davos 2026

India has sent one of its largest-ever corporate delegations to Davos, with more than 100 senior business leaders from banking, technology, manufacturing, startups, and renewable energy.

Prominent names include Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries), N Chandrasekaran (Tata Group), Sanjiv Bajaj (Bajaj Group), Hari S Bhartia (Jubilant Bhartia Group), Sudarshan Venu (TVS Motor), Anish Shah (Mahindra Group).

Other notable participants are Amitabh Chaudhry (Axis Bank), Nadir Godrej (Godrej Industries Group), Sajjan Jindal (JSW Group), Nikhil Kamath (Zerodha), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Bharti Group), Nandan Nilekani and Salil S Parekh (Infosys), Rishad Premji (Wipro), Prashant Ruia (Essar), Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), and Sumant Sinha (ReNew).

Indias agenda at the Davos meet

Indias core message at WEF 2026 is clear: it is open for business, ready for global partnerships, and increasingly central to global value chains. According to industry leaders, India is now being viewed less as a long-term opportunity and more as a current growth driver for the global economy.

Key focus areas for India at Davos include: Manufacturing and supply-chain diversification, infrastructure expansion, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, clean energy and energy transition, and long-term & patient global capital flows.

The emphasis this year is on deepening investor confidence, strengthening relationships, and converting existing interest into sustained investments.

As global leaders gather in Davos amid economic uncertainty, Indias strong political and corporate presence signals its ambition to play a more decisive role in shaping the next phase of global growth.

The World Economic Forum begins at Davos in Switzerland today. More than 3,000 global leaders are attending the 56th annual meeting.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 15:00 IST

News business economy WEF Davos 2026 Starts Today: What's On The Agenda And Who All Are Part Of India Delegation?

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Bharat Coking Coal Listing Today: GMP Suggests Over 50% Bumper Gains To Investors

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 07:05 IST

Bharat Coking Coal Limited, a Coal India subsidiary, lists on BSE and NSE January 19 after its IPO saw 143.85 times subscription and a strong grey market premium.

Bharat Coking Coal IPO Listing Today: Here's Step-by-Step guide to check status online.

Bharat Coking Coal Listing Today: Shares of Bharat Coking Coal Limited are likely to be listed today, January 19, on the stock exchanges  Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE). Shares are expected to begin trading at 10:00 AM on the exchanges, where public investors are allowed to buy and sell thereupon.

The IPO was open for public subscription between January 9 and January 13. It received a massive overall subscription of 143.85 times subscription. Its retail category received 49.37x subscription, its non-institutional investor (NII) category received 240.49 times subscription, and its qualified institutional buyer (QIB) portion got 310.81 times bidding.

Bharat Coking Coal IPO Listing Date

The shares of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), will be listed on both the BSE and the NSE on January 19, Monday.

Bharat Coking Coal IPO Listing Price Prediction, GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd are currently trading at Rs 36.5 apiece in the grey market, which is a 58.70 per cent premium over the IPO price of Rs 23. It indicates a strong listing gains for investors. Its listing will take place on Monday, January 19.

The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Bharat Coking Coal IPO Allotment Status

The Bharat Coking Coal IPO allotment has already been finalised.

The allotment status can be checked online by following these steps:

Via Official Registrar

1) Visit registrar Kfin Technologies portal  https://ipostatus.kfintech.com/.

2) Under Select Company, select Bharat Coking Coal Limited from the drop-box.

3) Enter your application number, demat account, or permanent account number (PAN).

5) Then, click on the Submit button.

Your share application status will appear on your screen.

Via the BSE

1) Go to the official BSE website via the URL  https://www.bseindia.com/investors/appli_check.aspx.

2) Under Issue Type, select Equity.

3) Under Issue Name, select Bharat Coking Coal Limited in the drop box.

4) Enter your application number, or the Permanent Account Number (PAN). Those who want to check their allotment status via PAN can select the Permanent Account Number option.

5) Then, click on the I am not a robot to verify yourself and hit the Search option.

Your share application status will appear on your screen.

Via NSEs Website

The allotment status can also be checked on the NSEs website at https://www.nseindia.com/invest/check-trades-bids-verify-ipo-bids.

Bharat Coking Coal IPO: More Details

According to the red herring prospectus (RHP), the maiden public issue is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of 46.57 crore equity shares by Coal India.

The listing of BCCL is part of the governments broader divestment push in the coal sector, aimed at unlocking value in Coal Indias subsidiaries and enhancing transparency through market discipline.

In its prospectus, the company stated that the IPO will help achieve the benefits of listing.

BCCL will make its stock market debut on January 16. The company said that half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors.

Last year, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDIL), another wholly-owned arm of Coal India, had also filed its draft papers with Sebi for an IPO via the OFS route.

While BCCL is a coal-producing entity, CMPDIL serves as Coal Indias technical and planning arm.

Bharat Coking Coal was the largest coking coal producer in India in fiscal 2025, according to a Crisil report. It produces various grades of coking coal, non-coking coal and washed coals for applications primarily in the steel and power industries.

The company was incorporated in 1972 to mine and supply coking coal concentrated in mines located at Jharia, Jharkhand and Raniganj, West Bengal coalfields.

The public sector firm has expanded operations significantly over the years, with coal production increasing from 30.51 million tonnes in fiscal 2022 to 40.50 million tonnes in fiscal 2025, which is an increase of 33 per cent. Its coal production stood at 15.75 million tonnes in the six months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to 19.09 million tonnes in the year-ago period.

The company operates a network of 34 operational mines, including 4 underground mines, 26 opencast mines, and 4 mixed mines as of September 30, 2025.

On the financial front, Bharat Coking Coals revenues from operations stood at Rs 13,802 crore and profit of Rs 1,204 crore in FY25.

In 2025, companies raised a record nearly Rs 1.76 lakh crore through IPOs, buoyed by strong domestic liquidity, resilient investor sentiment and a supportive macroeconomic environment. This surpassed the Rs 1.6 lakh crore mobilised by 90 firms in 2024 and the Rs 49,436 crore raised by 57 companies in 2023.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 07:05 IST

News markets Bharat Coking Coal Listing Today: GMP Suggests Over 50% Bumper Gains To Investors

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Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko has given the the heads of Kyiv's district state administrations (RDAs) a deadline of Monday evening to clear snow and ice, including yards, sidewalks, and public transport stops, and warned that otherwise he would appeal to the President of Ukraine, who appoints the heads of districts.

"At a meeting with the heads of the capital's district state administrations, I once again emphasized the order to clear snow and ice from yards, sidewalks, public transport stops, pedestrian zones, and balance areas of institutions and enterprises. I gave them until tonight to correct the situation," he wrote in his Telegram channel on Monday.

"Otherwise, I will appeal to the President, who appoints the heads of districts (without the mayor's approval), to take personnel measures. Since the city mayor, according to the 'beautiful' law, cannot even reprimand the head of the district...," he said.
Silver Crosses Rs 3 Lakh, Gold At Fresh Record High: Check Bullion Rates In Your City On January 19

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 11:43 IST

Gold and silver prices surged amid Trumps tariff threats over Greenland. Mumbai gold hit Rs 1,45,690 per 10g, silver reached Rs 3,05,100 per kg, and global gold set new records.

Gold and Silver Rates Today, January 19.

Gold and Silver Rates Today, January 19: Gold and silver prices jumped on Monday, January 19, as investors flocked to safe-haven assets on intensifying tensions, after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose extra tariffs on European countries over the control of Greenland. In Mumbai, the price of 24-carat gold rose to Rs 1,45,690 per 10 grams, while 22k gold was available at Rs 1,33,550 per 10 grams. These rates do not include GST and making charges. However, silver also touched its fresh all-time high of Rs 3,05,100 per kg in the spot market.

What Is The Price Of 22kt, 24kt Gold Rates Today In India Across Key Cities On January 19?

City 22K Gold (per 10gm) 24K Gold (per 10gm) Delhi Rs 1,33,700 Rs 1,45,840 Jaipur Rs 1,33,700 Rs 1,45,840 Ahmedabad Rs 1,33,600 Rs 1,45,740 Pune Rs 1,33,550 Rs 1,45,690 Mumbai Rs 1,33,550 Rs 1,45,690 Hyderabad Rs 1,33,550 Rs 1,45,690 Chennai Rs 1,33,550 Rs 1,45,690 Bengaluru Rs 1,33,550 Rs 1,45,690 Kolkata Rs 1,33,550 Rs 1,45,690

In the international market, spot gold rose 1.5% to $4,663.37 per ounce by 0335 GMT, after scaling an all-time high of $4,689.39. US gold futures for February delivery jumped 1.6% to $4,669.90 per ounce. On Saturday, Trump vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a row over the future of Denmarks vast Arctic island. European Union ambassadors reached a broad agreement on Sunday to intensify efforts to dissuade Trump from imposing tariffs on European allies, while also preparing retaliatory measures should the duties go ahead, EU diplomats said. Geopolitical tensions have given gold bulls yet another reason to push the yellow metal to new highs," StoneX senior analyst Matt Simpson said. With Trump throwing tariffs into the mix, it is clear that his threat to Greenland is real, and that we could be one step closer to the end of NATO and political imbalances within Europe." U.S. stock futures and dollar slid as Trumps latest tariff threats raised investors appetite for safe-haven gold, yen and Swiss franc, in a broad risk-averse move across markets. A low-interest-rate environment, geopolitical and economic uncertainty traditionally favour non-yielding assets such as gold. What Factors Affect Gold Prices In India? International market rates, import duties, taxes, and fluctuations in exchange rates primarily influence gold prices in India. Together, these factors determine the daily gold rates across the country. In India, gold is deeply cultural and financial. It is a preferred investment option and is key to celebrations, particularly weddings and festivals. With constantly changing market conditions, investors and traders monitor fluctuations closely. Staying updated is crucial for effectively navigating dynamic trends. Watch more videos Share this Article

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 10:14 IST

News business savings-and-investments Silver Crosses Rs 3 Lakh, Gold At Fresh Record High: Check Bullion Rates In Your City On January 19

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Refund Delay: Whom To Contact If You Haven't Received Your ITR Refund? All You Need To Know

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:41 IST

One of the reasons for refund delay is the notices being issued to taxpayers due to a mismatch in ITR red-flagged by the system. Here's what you can do if your refund is stuck:

Tax Refund Delay 2025.

ITR Refund Delay 2025: For many taxpayers, the tax filing process isnt truly over until the refund hits the bank account. While the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) has significantly sped up processing times, delays still happen. This year, refund delays have been happening on the back of income tax notices being issued to taxpayers due to the mismatch in ITR or doubtful deduction claims red-flagged by the system.

If you are staring at a Processed" status but an empty bank account, here is a step-by-step guide on whom to contact and how to resolve the issue.

Step 1: Check the Status First

Before doing anything, you must determine where the refund is stuck. The status on the e-filing portal tells who you need to contact.

Log in to the e-filing portal at https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/.

Go to e-File > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns.

Check the status of the relevant Assessment Year (e.g., AY 2025-26).

If the status is Processed with Refund Due, the CPC has already approved it but the transfer hasnt happened.

If the status says Refund Failed, the transfer was attempted but rejected (usually due to bank issues).

If the status says Refund Paid, the department believes they have paid you. If you havent received it, this requires a specific trace.

Step 2: Who to Call?

Depending on your status, reach out to the following authorities.

1. For General Processing Delays (CPC Bengaluru)

If your return status has not moved to Processed" for a long time, or if you have received an intimation order but no refund, contact the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC).

Toll-Free Numbers: 1800 103 0025 And 1800 419 0025

Direct Lines (Bengaluru): +91-80-4612 2000 | +91-80-6146 4700

Hours: 8:00 AM-8:00 PM (Monday to Friday)

2. For Refund Paid But Money Not Received (SBI)

The State Bank of India (SBI) acts as the official Refund Banker. If the portal says Refund Paid but the money hasnt credited, the issue lies between the Refund Banker and your bank.

SBI Refund Enquiry Toll-Free: 1800 425 9760

Email: itro@sbi.co.in or customercare@sbi.co.in

Note: You may be asked for your PAN and the Assessment Year.

3. For Complex/Legal Disputes (Jurisdictional Assessing Officer)

If your refund is withheld due to a scrutiny notice, outstanding demand adjustments (Section 245), or complex rectification rights, the CPC helpline may not be able to help. You must contact your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer (JAO).

How to find your JAO: Log in to the e-Filing portal > Click Know Your AO" on the dashboard (usually under My Profile or Services).

You might need to visit the local ward office or submit a written letter to the AO requesting the release of the refund.

Step 3: Raising a Grievance

Calling helplines can be frustrating due to wait times. The most effective official" record of your complaint is the e-Grievance mechanism on the portal.

Log in to the e-Filing portal.

Navigate to the Grievances tab > Submit Grievance.

Select CPC-ITR as the department (for processing/refund issues).

Select the Category: Refund not received.

Select the Sub-Category: e.g., Intimation received but refund not received.

Describe your issue (mention acknowledgement numbers/dates) and submit.

Why this is effective: The department is mandated to resolve these tickets within a specific timeframe, and you can escalate the ticket if it isnt resolved.

Step 4: Common Culprits to Fix Yourself

Before logging a complaint, ensure you havent made one of these two common errors. The department will not issue a refund if these are invalid:

1. Bank Account Validation Refunds are only issued to pre-validated bank accounts linked to your PAN.

What to do? Go to My Profile > My Bank Accounts. Ensure your preferred bank shows Validated and Eligible for Refund.

2. Outstanding Demand If you owe a penalty or tax from a previous year (even Rs 100), the system may auto-adjust your current refund against that debt.

What to do? Check the Pending Actions > Response to Outstanding Demand tab. You must agree or disagree with the demand to unblock the process.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 11:09 IST

News business tax Refund Delay: Whom To Contact If You Haven't Received Your ITR Refund? All You Need To Know

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Ballot Paper Voting Returns As Karnataka Poll Body Ditches EVMs For Bengaluru Civic Body Elections

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 14:10 IST

This came after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state cabinet had recommended to the state election commission last year to use ballot papers for local elections.

The Supreme Court has recently asked the Karnataka government and the state election body to hold the long-pending polls for Bengaluru local body by June 30. (File)

In a big decision, the Karnataka State Election Commission on Monday said that ballot paper will be used for Bengaluru Municipal Elections instead of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

This came after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led state cabinet had recommended to the state election commission last year to use ballot papers for local elections.

There may be many reasons. Once the state election takes a stand by consulting all the stakeholders in the matter. We have taken a decision," State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi said.

The elections for the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were held via EVMs in 2015.

The ruling party in Karnataka Congress has been pushing for the return of the ballot paper in the elections, alleging manipulation of EVMs to benefit the BJP. However, the Election Commission has so far dismissed these allegations.

When Will Bengaluru Civic Body Polls Be Held?

The Supreme Court has recently asked the Karnataka government and the state election body to hold the long-pending polls for Bengaluru local body by June 30.

The tenure of the earlier elected body for Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) expired on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator was taking care of its day-to-day affairs.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice JK Maheshwari, which fixed the schedule for the poll process, said that the final ward-wise reservation list shall be published by the state government by February 20, and made it clear that no further extension shall be granted.

The order was passed on a plea of the Karnataka government which has challenged the high courts December 2020 order that directed the State Election Commission to hold BBMP elections expeditiously after finalising the electoral rolls.

The top court is monitoring the compliance of its earlier orders regarding polls to the BBMP and the newly created municipal corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA).

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 13:36 IST

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On Camera, Scorpio Driver Runs Over Swiggy Rider Repeatedly In Shocking Gurugram Road Rage

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:38 IST

A Scorpio driver repeatedly ran over a man in Hayatpur village. The victim is critical. Gurugram Police have identified the accused and launched an investigation.

A Scorpio driver repeatedly ran over a man in Hayatpur village. The victim is critical. Gurugram Police have identified the accused and launched an investigation. (Image : X)

A Swiggy delivery rider was left critically injured after being deliberately run over by a man driving a Scorpio in Gurugrams Manesar police said. The incident, captured on CCTV and mobile phones of other delivery executives, followed a confrontation after the driver allegedly knocked down the riders motorcycle.

According to the footage, five to six Swiggy riders were waiting at a roadside pickup point in Sector 93 when a black Scorpio hit a parked motorcycle belonging to a rider identified as Tinku and sped away. Moments later, the SUV returned and swerved toward the group, attempting to hit them. The car again struck the same motorcycle before fleeing, the CCTV shows.

Angered by the repeated impact, Tinku confronted the driver, shouting, What are you doing, brother?" police said. The confrontation allegedly enraged the driver, identified as Dr Naveen Yadav, who then turned the vehicle around, accelerated, and ran over Tinku as he stood near the eatery pickup point, before escaping.

Several other delivery riders narrowly avoided being hit. Tinku sustained severe injuries to his head, chest and legs. A video recorded by another delivery executive shows the Scorpio charging toward Tinku, reversing, then moving forward again to run over him before fleeing the scene.

Police reached the spot after receiving an alert. Tinku was first taken to the Civil Hospital in Gurugram and later shifted by his family to a hospital in Rewari due to the seriousness of his condition.

Based on CCTV footage and registration details, Gurugram Police traced and seized the Scorpio. Preliminary investigation revealed the SUV is registered in Dr Naveen Yadavs name, and police said he was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. Further investigation is underway.

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Location : Manesar, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 18:00 IST

News cities gurgaon On Camera, Scorpio Driver Runs Over Swiggy Rider Repeatedly In Shocking Gurugram Road Rage

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Kerala Man Dies By Suicide After His Video Alleging Misbehaviour On Bus Goes Viral

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 10:35 IST

U Deepak from Kozhikode died by suicide after a woman accused him of harassment on a Kerala bus.

Kerala man, U Deepak, dies by suicide after sexual harassment claims against him

A 42-year-old man, named U Deepak, died by suicide in Kerala on Sunday, days after he was accused of inappropriately touching a woman on a bus. The woman has also posted a video on social media, which went viral.

As shown in the video, Deepaks elbow brushes against the womans body inside the crowded bus. While the woman alleged that it was harassment, several viewers found it a natural hand movement due to the crowd on the bus.

Deepaks death has sparked outrage, with several questioning the woman and evoking mens rights. Several have claimed that the woman made an exaggerated claim, prompting Deepak to take the extreme step.

Deepak, a native of Kozhikode, worked at a textile firm. On January 16, he was travelling to Kannur for work purposes, according to his family.

The woman is a consultant psychologist and a commerce lecturer, as per her social media profile. She was travelling on the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus.

In the video she shared on her Instagram page, Deepak was initially seen standing next to her at a distance. Later, while he was getting off the bus, his elbow appeared to have brushed against the womans chest.

Posting the video, she alleged that this wasnt an accident or a misunderstanding, but a sexual boundary violation".

On January 18, Deepak was found dead in his room in the morning. His relatives and friends alleged that he was in deep mental distress after the video had gone viral.

Mens rights activists raise voice

Deepaks death has triggered a huge uproar, with mens rights activists condemning the incident and demanding action against the woman.

Mens rights activist and TV commentator Rahul Easwar, in a video, demanded that the police take action against her to ensure a woman does not create content out of any of us".

Deepak was the sole breadwinner of his family. We will help his family in whatever way we can. To ensure that tomorrow a woman does not create content out of any of us and falsely accuse us of sexual harassment, we must fight today," he said.

Meanwhile, the Kozhikode police have resgistered a case of unnatural death and said that they will be probing all the angles involved in the incident.

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Location : Kozhikode, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 09:38 IST

News cities Kerala Man Dies By Suicide After His Video Alleging Misbehaviour On Bus Goes Viral

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Married Man With Two Wives Kills Live-In-Partner, Burns Body In Metal Trunk In UP

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 07:43 IST

A retired railway employee in Jhansi killed his 35-year-old live-in partner, burned her body in a metal trunk, dumped ashes in a river.

Married man in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi allegedly killed his live-in partner (Image credit: X)

A retired railway employee allegedly killed his 35-year-old live-in partner, stuffed her body into a metal trunk and later set it on fire in Uttar Pradeshs Jhansi, earlier this month, NDTV reported.

To destroy evidence, the man reportedly dumped her ashes in a river and took the trunk to his second wifes house.

According to investigations cited by the outlet, Ram Singh Parihar was married twice and led a double life  his former wife lived in the Sipri Bazaar area, while the second resided in the City Kotwali area in the same city.

The accused killed his live-in partner, Preeti, because she was allegedly demanding huge sums of money from him, having already taken lakhs, preliminary investigations have revealed.

After burning the womans body, Parihar collected the ashes in sacks and dumped them into a river. To get rid of the rest of her remains in the trunk, he sent it to the house of his second wife, Geeta.

How the incident came to light

The incident came to light due to the alertness of a loader driver, whom Parihar had called to transport the heavy trunk to Geetas house.

On Saturday night, Parihar called his son, Nitin, from Geetas house. Then he hired a loader to transport the heavy trunk to her second wifes residence. However, it was the driver, Jaysingh Pal, who went suspicious and alerted the police.

After unloading the trunk to Geetas house, Singh immediately reached out to the police. I was hired for Rs 400 to move some luggage. I suspected something was wrong with the trunk, so I refused at first, but eventually brought it. My suspicion grew stronger once we arrived at the home, and I called the police," said the loader driver, as quoted by NDTV.

The police arrived at the house and forced open the trunk only to encounter a gruesome sight  charred body remains, bone fragments and coal-like substances.

A forensic team was then called to collect the remains for investigation. Meanwhile, the accused is on the run and a manhunt to apprehend him is underway, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Preeti Singh, as quoted by the outlet.

The police reckon that the murder took place around January 8, when Parihar killed Preeti, wrapped her body in a tarpaulin and later burned it inside the trunk. To destroy evidence, he filled sacks with the ashes and threw them into a nearby river.

Meanwhile, the Jhansi police have registered a case based on a complaint filed by the victims former husband. The son and the other accomplice are in custody, while a manhut has been launched to nab the main accused.

A further investigation is underway into the matter.

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Location : Jhansi, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 07:20 IST

News cities Married Man With Two Wives Kills Live-In-Partner, Burns Body In Metal Trunk In UP

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MP Man Bathes In Funeral Pyre Ashes, Takes Bones Home From Crematorium; Family Faces Boycott

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:44 IST

Balli Kushwaha bathed in Moolchand Kushwahas funeral ashes and took his skull home, sparking outrage and a community boycott after claims of superstition and mental stress.

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AI-generated image used for representational purposes only.

In a disturbing incident, a man in Madhya Pradeshs Datia district allegedly bathed in the ashes of a funeral pyre and took the skull and bones of the deceased from a crematorium, triggering public outrage.

The incident is linked to the death of 72-year-old Moolchand Kushwaha of Jhir ka Bagh, who died after an illness on January 14. His last rites were conducted the same evening at a local crematorium. According to police and family members, a neighbour, Balli Kushwaha (40), attended the cremation and later returned to the site around 11 pm.

Balli is accused of disturbing the funeral pyre, scattering the burning wood and ashes, bathing in them, and taking the skull and some bones of the deceased home in a plastic bag. He allegedly spent the night in a room with the remains, according to a report in The Times of India.

Skull, Bones Recovered From Accuseds Home

The following morning, when Moolchands family went to collect the ashes for immersion, they found the pyre disturbed and the skull missing. Suspicion fell on Balli after a shawl recovered at the crematorium was identified as belonging to him. Local councillor Kallu Kushwaha was alerted, and Balli was brought from his house. Residents claimed he was still covered in ashes and allegedly confessed when questioned. Police later recovered the skull and bones from his residence.

Accused Paraded With Garland Of slippers

The incident sparked anger in the area. According to Ballis nephew Rajkumar Kushwaha, locals allegedly assaulted him, forced him to consume sewage water and filth, and paraded him through the neighbourhood with a garland of slippers, the report stated.

A community panchayat was later held, which decided to socially boycott Balli and his family. A resolution was passed imposing a fine of Rs 5,100 on anyone maintaining contact with them. Family members said Balli had been under mental stress. Married twice, he reportedly lost two children from his second marriage, after which his wife left him. Relatives alleged he struggled with alcoholism and superstition, and claimed he acted on the advice of a baba who told him to roll in cremation ashes in hopes of having children.

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Location : Datia, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 13:44 IST

News cities MP Man Bathes In Funeral Pyre Ashes, Takes Bones Home From Crematorium; Family Faces Boycott

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Mumbai Water Cut For 3 Days From Jan 20: 44-Hour Metro 7A Work Will Disrupt Supply To These 5 Wards

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:22 IST

Mumbai water cut: Water supply will either be reduced or completely shut in parts of G North, K East, S, H East and N wards, with changes in regular supply timings

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Citizens have also been advised to boil and filter drinking water for the next few days. (File for representation)

With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation set to undertake pipeline work linked to the Metro Line 7A, Mumbais five wards will experience low-pressure or suspended water supply for three days starting January 20,

The work will be carried out for around 44 hours, from 9 am on Tuesday (January 20) to Thursday (January 22).

According to the BMC, water supply will either be reduced or completely shut in parts of G North, K East, S, H East and N wards, with changes in regular supply timings.

The BMC has urged residents to store water. As a precautionary measure, citizens have also been advised to boil and filter drinking water for the next few days.

The civic administration has appealed for public cooperation while the essential infrastructure work is completed.

What is the Metro-7A work?

Pipeline connection work on a section of diverted Upper Vaitarna main water pipeline in K East Ward. The pipeline is being diverted for construction of Metro 7A.

Areas to be hit

G North Ward (Dharavi): Morning and evening supply zones will receive low-pressure water during revised hours on January 20 and 21.

K East Ward (Andheri East and surrounding areas): MIDC, Marol, Chakala, Airport area, SEEPZ and surrounding residential and industrial zones will face a complete water shutdown on January 20 and 21. Some pockets will receive water at low pressure during evening hours, while a few early-morning supply areas will remain shut on January 21.

S Ward (Bhandup West, Vikhroli West, Kanjurmarg West): Low-pressure supply in some areas, while areas such as Moraji Nagar, Gautam Nagar, Jaybhim Nagar and BEST Nagar will face a cut.

H East Ward: Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Motilal Nagar area will receive low-pressure water at night on January 20 and 21.

N Ward (Ghatkopar and Vikhroli): Godrej Compound, R City Mall, Kailash Complex and adjoining localities will experience low-pressure water supply during regular timings on January 20 and 21.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:13 IST

News cities mumbai-news Mumbai Water Cut For 3 Days From Jan 20: 44-Hour Metro 7A Work Will Disrupt Supply To These 5 Wards

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BMC Mayor Will Be From Team Fadnavis Or Shinde? BJP-Sena Mahayutis Plans For Mumbai

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 14:31 IST

BMC election results and Mumbai mayor, all we know so far: Both Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde have so far maintained that the mayor of Mumbai will be from Mahayuti

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Mahayuti is the alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won 89 seats, and Shiv Sena (Shinde), which won 29 seats. (PTI File)

Days after the Mahayuti secured a majority in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, speculations have begun over who will get the Mumbai mayoral post.

The Mahayuti is the alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won 89 seats, and Shiv Sena (Shinde), which won 29 seats. Even though the BJP has the highest number of seats, it will need Shinde Senas support to reach the halfway mark of 114, which has given rise to the speculation over the mayors post.

Adding fuel to the fire is Shindes resort politics. Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde has moved his newly elected corporators to a hotel.

According to the Indian Express, Shinde Sena has sought a clear and respectable share of power in the civic body". The Sena has put two options on the table  mayors post for half of the five-year term, or control of the standing committee, which controls the BMCs finances and key approvals.

Maharashtra civic elections

In Maharashtra, 29 municipal corporations underwent elections on January 15, with counting of votes on January 16. The Mahayuti managed to sweep most of the civic bodies, including the ones in Mumbai, triumphing over the Thackeray brothers; Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, beating the NCP factions despite them coming together to contest elections; Thane, Kalyan-Dombivali and Ulhasnagar. Congress recorded a victory in Latur, claiming 43 seats, while the Sena-UBT and Congress alliance won Parbhani.

ALSO READ | BMC Election Winners: Full List Of Mumbais 227 Corporators From BJP, Shinde Sena, UBT, MNS

How is Mumbai mayor elected?

The mayor of Mumbai is elected through an indirect election process by the newly elected members (corporators) of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The election following the January 15, 2026, civic polls could be held on January 28, 2026.

Before nominations begin, the Urban Development Department conducts a lottery to determine if the post will be reserved for specific categories (e.g., General, Women, Scheduled Castes, or OBC). Only corporators belonging to the category decided in the lottery can file their nominations for the post. The municipal administration convenes a special meeting of the 227 elected corporators to conduct the vote.

In Mumbai, voting traditionally occurs by a show of hands" in the BMC House. A candidate must secure a simple majority (at least 114 votes) to be elected. For the first time in 2026, 10 nominated corporators (increased from five in 2023) will also participate in the House, potentially influencing the outcome.

The mayor is elected for a term of 2.5 years. The mayor is the ceremonial head and First Citizen" of Mumbai, but executive powers rest with the Municipal Commissioner, an IAS officer.

What Devendra Fadnavis said

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the BJPs 45 per cent vote share in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections reflected a decisive mandate, and its tally was higher than that of Shiv Sena (UBT) despite contesting fewer seats.

We have realised our strength, and the people of Mumbai have supported our development agendain several constituencies, we lost by very thin margins. We could have crossed the 100-seat mark otherwise," he said, adding, We have won in slums, high-rise buildings, Koliwadas (fisherfolk colonies) and chawls (tenements). People from different linguistic backgrounds have supported us. This is a victory of Team Mumbai."

His government wants to make Mumbai a world-class, clean and livable city, ensure transparent and people-centric civic administration, complete ongoing projects within the next two to three years and launch new initiatives after the mayor is announced, Fadnavis said. PTI ND KRK

Addressing the BJP workers at the party office in Mumbai, Fadnavis said, The BJP and Mahayuti are going to form their 25 mayors after these elections."

What Eknath Shinde said

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Sunday, after his meeting with corporators, Shinde said that the electors rejected anti-development" while voting for the Yuti. Behind the BJP, Shiv Sena is the second largest party in a short time. We are taking forward Balasaheb Thackerays views. People of Mumbai have embraced development and rejected anti-development. The people of Mumbai have shown their trust," he added.

When asked about the mayoral post, Shinde said, In Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivali and other places, the mayor will be of Mahayuti."

What Uddhav Thackeray said

After the elections, Uddhav Thackeray said that his party could still secure the Mumbai mayors post if God is willing".

Calling it his dream to see a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray said that his party had not been politically wiped out. The BJP could not finish Shiv Sena (UBT) on the ground," he claimed, alleging that the ruling party could not buy loyalty."

Targeting the BJP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray accused them of betraying Mumbai. They have registered victory through betrayal by mortgaging Mumbai. The Marathi Manoos will never forgive this sin," he said, adding that the political battle was far from over.

At a subsequent press conference, Thackeray alleged misuse of state machinery during the polls and claimed the BJPs strength existed only on paper, not on the streets." He also raised concerns over polling-day irregularities, alleging that indelible ink could be wiped off and that opposition candidates were either pressured or tempted.

What BJP said

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said that the Opposition should accept the outcome and come to terms with what he described as a new political reality in Maharashtra. Speaking to ANI, Somaiya said, The Opposition should now accept the political reality that they have lost. Their party is finished in Maharashtra," he said.

Bihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal said that the BJP and its ally will work together to run local bodies and take the BMC forward. Speaking to ANI in Patna, Jaiswal said, Mahayuti and BJP contested the elections together there. The people have also given a majority to both parties in the alliance. Therefore, there, everyone will come together to run the local bodies and to take BMC forward."

What Shinde Sena said

Shiv Sena leader and minister Uday Samant said the civic body polls were contested as the Mahayuti alliance. Every party wants the main post, and Bal Thackerays (birth) centenary year gives that demand a different dimension," he said.

What Sena UBT said

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut demanded the release" of Mumbai corporators confined to what he called the Taj Hotel Jail". Raut said Shinde, despite holding the powerful position of a Deputy Chief Minister, was apprehensive that his corporators would switch sides, terming the whole situation as ridiculous."

They have kept their corporators confined. They broke away the MLAs, so now they have to keep the corporators confined as well. They had taken the MLAs to Surat. Eknath Shinde himself is the Deputy Chief Minister, yet he is afraid that his corporators will run away, what a ridiculous situation this is" Raut said.

The corporators who have come from this alliance (BJP-Shiv Sena) out of fears that someone will kidnap them, threaten them, or harm them, they have been kept captive in the Taj Hotel. Eknath Shinde has turned the Taj Hotel into a Jail," the Sena-UBT leader added.

Many new corporators are originally Shiv Sainiks (of undivided Shiv Sena). Our understanding is everyone wants that a BJP mayor not be elected," Raut said adding even Shinde does not want a BJP mayor in Mumbai.

While the Shiv Sena (UBT), contesting in alliance with the MNS, won 65 seats, having a larger mandate than the Shinde faction, Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the people of Mumbai have shown him the mirror" and that the verdict made it clear which faction represents the real Shiv Sena."

ALSO READ | Thackerays Lose Mumbai, Pawar Failure In Pune: What Went Wrong? What Next After Maha Loss?

What Congress said

Congress MP Imran Masood said, Eknath Shinde now has to fight to save his political existence, whether his political being will remain or not. The BJP works to defeat all its allied parties Now he should give up his attachment to power and save his existence."

What AIMIM said

As the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has recorded its most impressive performance yet in Maharashtras municipal corporation elections, winning 125 corporator seats and significantly expanding its presence across the states urban centres, party spokesperson Waris Pathan termed it the result of collective teamwork".

Pathan, taking a jibe at Shiv Sena (UBT), said, The publics mandate is a befitting answer to them. They should look within themselves for why they are losing. They were in power for 30 years, consumed public money, but what did they do for the public of Mumbai? The public will now be with the one who works for their development."

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 13:03 IST

News cities mumbai-news BMC Mayor Will Be From Team Fadnavis Or Shinde? BJP-Sena Mahayutis Plans For Mumbai

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Thackerays Corporators Unreachable: Shindes Guwahati Redux Or BJP-UBT-MNS Kalyan Mayor Math?

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:56 IST

Kalyan-Dombivli: 11 corporators from Uddhav Thackeray's Sena UBT and five from Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are currently unreachable.

Rapid Read

UBT-MNS corporators can help Shinde Sena or BJP get their mayor in Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation. (PTI File)

Even as suspense over Mumbais Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor continues, high drama is unfolding in the neighbouring Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC).

In a reminder of the Guwahati saga which led to the eventual split of the Shiv Sena by Eknath Shinde, Uddhav Thackerays 11 corporators from the region have gone unreachable".

The number game

In the KDMC elections, Shinde Sena secured 53 of the total 122 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 50. The magic number needed to form the government is 62.

ALSO READ | BMC Mayor Will Be From Team Fadnavis Or Shinde? BJP-Sena Mahayutis Plans For Mumbai

Even though Shinde Sena and BJP are in an alliance in the state, the two are said to be vying to wrest Kalyan-Dombivli, a bastion of Eknath Shinde, alone and install their mayor.

This makes Uddhav Thackerays 11 corporators and Maharashtra Navnirman Senas five crucial.

If the Shinde group or the BJP wants to get its mayor, it will need 16 corporators from the Thackerays.

Unreachable

All 11 of Thackerays and MNSs 5 corporators are currently unreachable. It is reported that all have been kept at unknown locations. As a precautionary measure to prevent a split in the party, the Thackeray faction and the MNS have shifted their corporators to two different undisclosed locations.

Shinde Sena vs BJP?

News18 Marathi reported that the Shiv Sena Shinde faction is trying to form the government by persuading six to seven newly appointed corporators, who were not nominated by his party but managed to win from UBT and MNS, to join hands.

ALSO READ | BMC Mayor Lottery On Jan 22: Will Uddhav Thackeray Support Devendra Fadnavis In Mumbai Civic Body?

The BJP, too, is aiming for an alliance with the MNS or UBT. According to News18 Marathi, there is a strong possibility of an alliance between Shindes Sena and MNS.

What had happened in Guwahati in 2022?

In mid-2022, Eknath Shinde led a rebellion within the undivided Shiv Sena then led by Uddhav Thackeray, when a large group of Sena MLAs sided with him. This crisis came after internal disagreement over the direction of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which included Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP at the time.

Shinde took many MLAs with him and moved them out of Maharashtra  first to a hotel in Surat, and later to Guwahati in Assam.

ALSO READ | TMC Election Winners: Full List Of Thane Corporators From Shindes Shiv Sena, BJP, NCP, UBT

In Guwahati, this group stayed together to avoid poaching by opposition parties and secure their numbers. From there, Shinde claimed support of about 40 Shiv Sena MLAs and sought to keep their group intact.

This move eventually caused the collapse of the Thackeray-led government and allowed Shinde to form a new government with the support of the BJP.

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Location : Murbad, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 16:10 IST

News cities mumbai-news Thackerays Corporators Unreachable: Shindes Guwahati Redux Or BJP-UBT-MNS Kalyan Mayor Math?

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Holding a "referendum on peace" is not legally justified, believes Andriy Mahera, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission (2007-2018).

"The Constitution of Ukraine quite clearly outlines when, who and on what issues can hold a referendum. The space for political improvisations here is much narrower than is often imagined in public discussions," he wrote in a column for "Dzerkalo Tyzhnia".

According to him, the only legally regulated form of a referendum remains the all-Ukrainian referendum. At the same time, as Mahera noted, the Constitution establishes an exhaustive range of subjects that can appoint it.

The President of Ukraine appoints an all-Ukrainian referendum only in one case - to approve a law on amendments to sections I, III or XIII of the Constitution, already approved by the Verkhovna Rada. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, for its part, can only call a referendum on changing the territory of Ukraine - and exclusively within the constitutional logic of preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.

The possibility of a popular initiative is separately provided for, but there is a fundamental restriction here: such a referendum cannot go beyond the Constitution and concern issues that, by their nature, are not allowed for referendum consideration.

"In the public space, the formula "referendum on peace" is used more and more often. However, from a legal point of view, it is more of a political metaphor than a specific legal instrument," said Mahera.

According to him, this formulation can mean different things: approval of an international treaty, agreement on its individual conditions, general political consultation with citizens or a plebiscite. None of these options is provided for in this form by the current constitutional model.

In his opinion, the issue of international treaties is especially fundamental. The Constitution clearly delimits powers in this area: the President of Ukraine concludes international treaties, and the Verkhovna Rada gives its consent to their binding nature or adopts a decision to denounce an already existing international treaty.

Mahera emphasized that even theoretically, the conclusion of international treaties that contradict the Constitution of Ukraine is possible only after amendments are made to the Basic Law. At the same time, the Constitution itself contains strict safeguards. It cannot be changed if the proposed changes involve restrictions on human rights and freedoms, the elimination of independence, or the violation of the territorial integrity of the state. In addition, the Constitution directly prohibits making changes in conditions of martial law or a state of emergency.

"Therefore, even hypothetically, it is impossible to legalize through a referendum decisions that go beyond the constitutional provisions on sovereignty and territorial integrity. That is why the "referendum on peace" in the legal sense is a fiction - it has no permissible subject," he noted.
BMC Mayor Lottery On Jan 22: Will Uddhav Thackeray Support Devendra Fadnavis In Mumbai Civic Body?

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:58 IST

There is buzz over Uddhav Thackerays Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) or UBT offering support to Devendra Fadnaviss BJP to get a Sena mayor

Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray. (File)

Amid the speculation over whether the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor post will go to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or Shinde Sena, the Urban Development Department has announced the date for the lottery for the top post in the Mumbai civic body.

Meanwhile, there is buzz over Uddhav Thackerays Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) or UBT offering support to Devendra Fadnaviss BJP.

Mumbai mayor lottery

The reservation lottery for the post of mayor of 29 metropolitan municipalities in the state will be held on Thursday, January 22. This process will be held at 11 am in the Council Chamber of the Ministry. Only after the announcement of reservation, can the candidates be decided.

ALSO READ | Uddhav Thackerays 11 Kalyan Corporators Unreachable: Guwahati Redux Or Mayor Math?

So far, the reservation for the post of Mayor was decided on a rotational basis for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), women and Other Backward Classes (OBC). However, according to News18 Marathi sources, this reservation can be started in a circular manner by making a change to the rules. This means that there is a strong possibility that this cycle of reservation will start again from the open category. The idea behind the rotation is giving representation to every section. If the reservation is abandoned and started again from open, many eminent leaders can get the opportunity of the post of mayor.

CM Devendra Fadnavis interacts with the winning candidates of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.BJP Mumbai President MLA Amit Satam, BJP office-bearers, karyakartas, and other dignitaries were present.      pic.twitter.com/QcPQPjmzch  @OfficeOfDevendra (@Devendra_Office) January 17, 2026

Moreover, for the first time in 2026, 10 nominated corporators (increased from five in 2023) will also participate in the House, potentially influencing the outcome.

Only corporators belonging to the category picked in the lottery can file their nominations for the post. The municipal administration convenes a special meeting of the 227 elected corporators to conduct the vote. In Mumbai, voting traditionally occurs by a show of hands" in the BMC House. A candidate must secure a simple majority (at least 114 votes) to be elected.

The mayor is elected for a term of 2.5 years. The mayor is the ceremonial head and First Citizen" of Mumbai, but executive powers rest with the Municipal Commissioner, an IAS officer.

Which party will install mayor? Is Thackeray-Fadnavis understanding on the cards?

The alliance of BJP and Shiv Sena Shinde group has got a majority in the BMC elections. While the BJP won 89 seats, Shinde Sena group won 29 seats. Both the parties together have crossed the majority mark of 114. But currently, there is a possibility of a split between the two parties due to the hotel politics of Shinde Sena group.

Shinde has kept all his newly elected corporators at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai. There is talk that negotiations are being held to get Shinde the mayors post for two-and-a-half years. For this, Shinde is adopting pressure tactics.

ALSO READ | BMC Mayor Will Be From Team Fadnavis Or Shinde? BJP-Sena Mahayutis Plans For Mumbai

In such a situation, News18 Marathi has learnt that the Thackeray group has made a big move, showing its inclination to support the BJP from behind the scenes.

A News18 Marathi report stated that Thackeray, with 60+ corporators, is ready to support the BJP, if it goes it solo in the BMC. Sources alleged there was a discussion between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis

It is reported that the Thackeray groups corporators will be absent during the mayoral election, which would bring down the majority figure from 114 to 82. In such a situation, the BJP, with 89 corporators, can come to power alone here. There is also talk that an old Shiv Sainik of Shiv Sena may get a chance for the post of mayor.

Thackeray recently said that if God wishes, a Sena man may be installed as the mayor of Mumbai.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 16:39 IST

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Teen Kidnapped By Girlfriend's Family, Beaten For Days, Forced To Drink Urine In Rajasthan

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 08:19 IST

Sonu, 18, from Bhopal, was abducted and tortured for three days in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, allegedly by his girlfriend's family.

Bhopal man, 18, allegedly abducted and forced to drink urine in Rajasthan's Jhalawar (Image credit: X)

An appalling incident from Rajasthan has brought to light the disturbing assault of a young man from Bhopal, with all eyes on a shocking pattern of vigilant violence and humiliation.

Sonu, an 18-year-old resident of Bhopals Kolar, was allegedly abducted, held captive for three days, and subjected to human torture in Rajasthans Jhalawar district, NDTV reported. Moreover, a video of the assault made rounds on social media, sending shockwaves through Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and questioning the utter disregard for the law in this case.

As shown in the footage, Sonu was mercilessly beaten by a group of men, and what can be termed as a shocking act of inhumanity and degradation, the 18-year-old was forced to drink urine from a beer bottle.

According to sources, as cited by the outlet, Sonu was in a relationship with a woman from Puloro village in Jhalawar. Some 15 days back, the woman went to Bhopal, where she stayed with Sonu. When her family members discovered it, they called her back.

Travelled To Phuloro To Meet Girlfriend

Soon after, Sonu reportedly received a call from the woman, who asked her to visit her in Rajasthan. Trusting the call, Sonu left for Phuloro village. However, instead of meeting his girlfriend, he unknowingly walked into an ambush.

Sonu was kidnapped, allegedly by the womans family members, and held captive for three days. What followed were hours of physical violence, with the members allegedly assaulting and punching him.

In a deliberate attempt to destroy him mentally and emotionally, the accused forced him to drink urine. Going a step further, they even recorded a video and later sent it to Sonus family in Bhopal.

The family immediately approached the Kolar police station for help. The Kolar police have confirmed that the incident took place in Rajasthan.

A special police team has been dispatched. We are in constant coordination with the Rajasthan Police. The victims statement is being recorded, and the video is being verified. Strict legal action will follow," said Inspector Sanjay Soni, as quoted by NDTV.

A further investigation into the matter is underway.

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Location : Jhalawar, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 08:19 IST

News cities Teen Kidnapped By Girlfriend's Family, Beaten For Days, Forced To Drink Urine In Rajasthan

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ICAI CA Inter Exam 2026 Revised Schedule Out At icai.org, Check Dates Here

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News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 14:20 IST

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has revised the CA Inter Exam 2026 schedule. Admit cards already issued will remain valid.

ICAI Revises CA Inter Exam 2026 Schedule; Details Here.

ICAI CA Inter Exam 2026: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has released the revised schedule for the CA Intermediate examination 2026. Candidates appearing for the Chartered Accountants Intermediate exam can check the updated dates on the official website, icai.org.

According to the official notice, the Intermediate Examination (Group II) Paper 5, Auditing and Ethics, which was earlier scheduled to be held on January 19, 2026, has been postponed. The paper will now be conducted on January 31, 2026. The examination will take place at the same examination centres and during the same time slot, from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm (IST).

ICAI has clarified that the admit cards already issued will remain valid for the rescheduled examination date.

The institute has also confirmed that the remaining papers of the Chartered Accountants Foundation January 2026 examination will be conducted as per the original schedule, on January 20, 22 and 24, 2026.

How To Check ICAI CA Inter Revised Schedule 2026?

Candidates can follow these steps to download the revised schedule:

Step 1: Visit the official ICAI website at icai.org

Step 2: Click on the ICAI CA Inter Exam 2026 revised schedule link on the homepage

Step 3: A new page will open displaying the updated examination dates

Step 4: Download the schedule and keep a copy for future reference

Candidates are advised to regularly check the ICAI website for further updates related to the CA examinations.

ALSO READ: IBPS Exam Calendar 2026 Out For Clerk, PO, SO And RRB Exams

About ICAI

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, to regulate the profession of chartered accountancy in India.

It is responsible for conducting CA examinations, setting accounting and auditing standards, and overseeing the education, training and professional conduct of chartered accountants across the country. ICAI is one of the largest accounting bodies in the world and plays a key role in Indias financial and regulatory framework.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 14:14 IST

News education-career ICAI CA Inter Exam 2026 Revised Schedule Out At icai.org, Check Dates Here

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Has Trump Killed WTO? How New Rules Signal Collapse Of A Global System, And What It Means For India

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:54 IST

Trumps hostility towards WTO did not emerge overnight. Even during his first term, he repeatedly described the organisation as unfair and biased against the US

Trade experts and diplomats are warning that the US may be preparing to either formally exit the WTO or render it irrelevant by continuing to block its core functions. (Getty Images)

Since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, he has upended global trade by imposing reciprocal tariffs and immigration bans, illegally invading Venezuela, and promoting his Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda. More recently, he has been pushing for the annexation" of Greenland  the worlds largest island located in the North Atlantic Ocean.

His policies signal the collapse of a global system overseen by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which now faces an existential threat at the hands of its own creator: the United States.

Trade experts and diplomats are warning that the US may be preparing to either formally exit the WTO or render it irrelevant by continuing to block its core functions. This would not be a symbolic gesture. It would represent a decisive break from the rules-based trading system that shaped globalisation after the Cold War.

For India, this would not only have repercussions for exports and trade disputes. It also raises deeper questions about how vulnerable economies protect themselves when power imbalances dominate global negotiations.

Why The WTO Has Become A Liability To Washington

Trumps hostility towards the WTO did not emerge overnight. Even during his first term, he repeatedly described the organisation as unfair" and biased" against the US. At the heart of that anger lies a fundamental ideological clash.

The WTO was set up in 1995 on the idea that all members, large and small, operate under the same rules. Tariff ceilings are legally binding. Disputes are settled by panels, not power. And the Most Favoured Nation" principle requires countries to extend the same trade terms to all members unless a formal agreement says otherwise.

For Trump, this framework is a constraint, not a safeguard. His economic worldview prioritises unilateral leverage over negotiated restraint. Binding limits on tariffs restrict his ability to punish countries he sees as trade offenders. WTO rulings that strike down US tariffs are viewed not as legal judgments but as infringements on national sovereignty.

Blocking the WTOs appellate body  the court that enforces trade rulings  was therefore not an accident of bureaucracy. It was a strategic decision. By refusing to approve new judges, the US ensured that dispute rulings could no longer be enforced, effectively disabling the system without formally leaving it.

Is The WTO Already On Life Support?

In practice, the WTOs enforcement mechanism has been paralysed for years. Dispute panels can still issue rulings, but without a functioning appellate body, those rulings are unenforceable. Countries can appeal into the void," freezing cases indefinitely.

The result is a growing culture of non-compliance. Major economies increasingly impose tariffs first and justify them later, or not at all. Trade rules still exist on paper, but the referee has left the field.

A formal US withdrawal would deepen this crisis. The US remains the worlds largest economy and one of the WTOs founding architects. If it walks away, the organisation risks becoming a hollow institution where rules exist but enforcement depends entirely on voluntary compliance.

For smaller and mid-sized economies, that distinction is critical. Without enforcement, trade law becomes aspirational rather than protective.

Why Experts Feel The US Should Exit The WTO

Henrik Horn, Professor of International Economics, Research Institute of Industrial Economics, and Petros C. Mavroidis, Professor at Columbia Law School, For the US, an exit from the WTO might have the advantage of allowing the US to apply whatever trade restrictions it desires with less damage to its international reputation (to the extent this is a concern).

With the desire for increased protection deeply engraved in US politics, and no WTO-compliant ways to achieve this, US violations of its WTO obligations will likely continue."

The stressed that the US has a history of violating any existing multilateral commitments. The US in 1929 had not joined the League of Nations. But this was an act of unilateralism with no regard for negative international spillovers.

In the Nixon regime, the US imposed 10% import surcharge on all goods irrespective of origin. The next time the US violated a system was under the Reagan government. To address trade imbalances, the administration agreed on voluntary export restraints from several countries, mainly Japan, a clear violation of Article XI of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

While the US was a driving force behind the creation of the WTO, it soon became frustrated by the constraint that the agreement, as implemented, imposed. Of particular concern was the restrictions the WTO imposed on the ability of the US to shield its domestic markets through contingent protection. Both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations continued to use the contentious zeroing procedure in anti-dumping investigations. While many countries have violated the WTO Agreement, the repeated nature of the US breaches makes them stand out as violations not only of the letter of the agreement (as interpreted by panels and the Appellate Body), but also of its spirit," the professors wrote in the column for the Centre for Economic Policy Research, a European non-profit organisation established in 1983.

What A World Without The WTO Would Look Like

If the WTO collapses or becomes irrelevant, global trade will not stop. But it will change in fundamental ways.

Trade disputes would increasingly be resolved through retaliation rather than adjudication. Powerful economies would impose tariffs, quotas or regulatory barriers with fewer consequences. Smaller countries would have limited ability to challenge these moves, except through countermeasures they often cannot afford.

Supply chains would fragment further along geopolitical lines. Trade blocs would harden around strategic alliances rather than efficiency. Businesses would face greater uncertainty, as market access would depend less on treaties and more on shifting political relationships.

For consumers, this would likely mean higher prices, as tariffs and supply disruptions ripple through global markets. For exporters, especially from developing economies, it would mean volatile demand and unpredictable access to key markets.

What Impact Would This Have On India?

India has often had a complicated relationship with the WTO, frequently pushing back against trade liberalisation that threatens domestic farmers or small manufacturers. But despite its criticisms, India has relied on the WTOs legal framework.

Indian pharmaceutical exports have used WTO rules to challenge Argentinas import rules. India also navigated challenges from other members regarding its own IP laws (like TRIPS) as it transitioned to a TRIPS-compliant regime. India leveraged WTO agreements to push for market access for its generic medicines against stricter local standards, even as it reformed its own laws to meet global IP standards

Agricultural producers have benefited from predictable tariff regimes. Indias IT services sector depends on stable cross-border trade norms, even when labour mobility remains contested.

Without a functioning WTO, Indias ability to challenge trade barriers imposed by larger economies would weaken significantly as it removes the primary platform for enforcing rules, providing legal recourse via the Appellate Body, and ensuring stability, forcing India towards less influential bilateral talks and risking being excluded from new trade blocs.

Indias ongoing push to become a global manufacturing hub also depends on certainty. Export-led growth requires predictable market access. If tariff regimes become unstable and trade rules fragmented, long-term investment decisions become riskier.

In a world where power replaces law, countries that follow rules are often disadvantaged relative to those willing to break them.

Could India Gain From A Weaker WTO?

There is, however, a counter-argument. Some policymakers argue that a weakened WTO could give India more flexibility to implement policies for food security for farmers, which it often struggles to achieve in consensus-based WTO talks.

Freed from strict subsidy rules and tariff bindings, India could support domestic industries more aggressively. Strategic sectors such as semiconductors, green energy and advanced manufacturing could receive greater protection. Trade negotiations could shift towards selective bilateral or regional deals that reflect Indias priorities.

But this flexibility comes with costs. Without multilateral rules, stronger economies would enjoy even greater freedom to deploy trade weapons. Indias bargaining power in bilateral negotiations with the US or EU would be weaker than in a multilateral forum where coalitions matter.

What Comes Next For Indias Trade Strategy

India cannot control whether the WTO survives in its current form. But it can prepare for a world where its protections are weaker.

That means strengthening domestic manufacturing not just through protection, but through productivity. It means diversifying export markets to reduce dependence on any single bloc. It means engaging actively in alternative trade arrangements while continuing to push for multilateral reform.

Most importantly, it means recognising that institutional erosion abroad has direct consequences at home.

If the WTO falls, it will not be replaced by a neutral referee. It will be replaced by raw bargaining power. For India, the question is no longer whether the WTO needs reform. It is whether the country is ready for a global trading system where rules are optional and power is decisive.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:54 IST

News explainers Has Trump Killed WTO? How New Rules Signal Collapse Of A Global System, And What It Means For India

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Jobs In South Korea? How Seouls Skills Shortage Could Open Doors For Indian Engineers & Techies

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News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 08:10 IST

Faced with an ageing population and low fertility rates, South Korea has pivoted to policies to attract foreign talent in critical sectors such as biotech, semiconductors, robotics

Labour gaps are increasingly appearing in specialised, high-skill areas critical to competitiveness in the global economy. (Getty Images)

In a potentially positive shift for Indian professionals, South Korea is turning to large-scale immigration to plug widening skills gaps in its economy.

Faced with a rapidly ageing population and one of the worlds lowest fertility rates, the country has begun rolling out targeted policies to attract foreign talent. The focus is on high-skilled professionals in critical sectors, as well as international students graduating from South Korean universities who can be absorbed into the workforce.

South Koreas labour market is highly competitive there are clear gaps in specialised skills. Employers tend to be cautious and selective, especially with foreign hires. Once placed, roles can be relatively stable and long term. While compensation structures differ from Western markets, the value often lies in technical exposure, innovation driven work, and career continuity. It is a market that rewards preparation, seriousness, and long-term intent," said Mayank Kumar, CEO & Co-Founder, BorderPlus  a workforce solutions start-up.

As Seoul opens its doors wider than ever before, a key question is emerging in India: does this translate into real job opportunities for Indian workers? If so, which sectors are hiringand what does South Koreas immigration rethink reveal about the limits of demographic advantage" in a globalised world?

Why Has South Korean Made The Shift?

South Koreas demographic predicament is stark. Fertility rates have plummeted to 0.74 in 2024, some of the lowest in the world, while life expectancy has climbed to a record high of 83.7 years. The result is an ageing population and a shrinking workforce  a combination that threatens long-term economic growth and places immense pressure on pension and healthcare systems.

Historically, South Koreas immigration stance was conservative, shaped by a desire to preserve cultural homogeneity and social cohesion. Foreign workers were generally limited to low-wage, low-skill roles under temporary programmes, with little prospect of long-term settlement. But the demographic squeeze has forced a rethink. Labour gaps are increasingly appearing in specialised, high-skill areas critical to competitiveness in the global economy.

To confront this, Seoul has begun implementing targeted immigration policies aimed at attracting foreign talent in specific fields. These policies are designed to complement, rather than replace, domestic workers, and they reflect an acknowledgment that demographic advantage, once taken for granted, has limits when it comes to sustaining economic dynamism.

What South Korea Is Targeting

The shift in South Koreas approach is most noticeable in sectors where labour shortages are deepest and where the domestic workforce is simply not sufficient. These include:

High-Tech and Manufacturing: In 2025, South Korea introduced the Top-Tier Visa to attract foreign talent in sectors including semiconductors, biotechnology, secondary batteries, and displays, with robotics and defence to be added. As firms expand, there are gaps in specialised engineering, advanced manufacturing techniques and R&D capabilities. Companies in regions like Gyeonggi and Ulsan have begun recruiting foreign engineers and technical specialists to fill these gaps.

Healthcare and Caregiving: An ageing society means rising demand for medical professionals, aged care workers, physiotherapists and nurses. Domestic supply has not kept pace with demand, leading to unfilled positions in hospitals, clinics and eldercare facilities. Immigration channels targeting healthcare professionals are being adjusted to address these shortages.

IT, AI and Digital Skills: With digital transformation reshaping global economies, South Korean firms are increasingly seeking talent in software development, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity. Start-up ecosystems in Seoul and Busan are also tapping into international tech talent as part of their growth strategies. The E-7 visa category is divided into 87 job categories across IT, business management, finance, and other fields, encompassing a wide range of skilled and semi-skilled occupations.

Education and Research: Universities and research institutes are recruiting international scholars, particularly in STEM fields, to enhance their global competitiveness. Fellowships and research positions with clearer pathways to residency are part of the evolving policy toolkit. The number of STEM majors is at 19% compared to the US, where STEM majors account for 55% among foreign students.

These sector-specific pathways are designed to balance economic needs with social stability. By focusing on areas where skill shortages are well-documented, policymakers hope to attract workers who can immediately contribute and integrate into existing industries.

What It Means For Indian Job Seekers

Around 12,000 to 17,000 Indians live in South Korea, with many working as IT, engineering, and automobile professionals in major companies like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai, according to the Indian Embassy in Seoul and the Ministry of External Affairs.

South Koreas policy shift presents an emerging opportunity for Indian professionals. For engineers and tech specialists, South Koreas semiconductor and electronics industries are among the worlds most advanced, and they continue to invest heavily in R&D. Indian engineers with experience in VLSI design, chip fabrication, embedded systems, data science and machine learning may find enhanced prospects in these clusters.

South Korea seems attractive for engineers working in semiconductors, EVs, robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing. The ecosystem is demanding and roles are often deeply specialised. From experience, engineers who enjoy solving complex problems and working close to cutting edge production and R&D may find Korea offers exposure that some traditional destinations do not. It is not for everyone, but for certain engineers it can be a strong career move," said Kumar.

In healthcare, especially nursing and specialised medical services, there is strong demand. Indian nurses and allied health professionals, already sought after in many Western countries, could see new channels opening if credential recognition and language training are strengthened.

IT professionals from India, who already work globally, may find South Koreas tech start-ups and digital enterprises increasingly receptive, especially if they possess skills in cloud solutions, cybersecurity or AI. The countrys push to internationalise its tech workforce can dovetail with Indias large pool of digitally-skilled professionals.

Finally, academics and researchers in STEM and applied sciences could benefit from research collaborations and university positions as South Korean institutions seek global talent to elevate their international rankings.

South Koreas labour challenge looks similar to other ageing economies. Demand exists, but it is selective. For Indian professionals, opportunities appear mainly in engineering, IT, semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, healthcare, and research driven roles. Korean companies are global in outlook but face shrinking domestic talent pools. Indians tend to do well where strong technical skills and adaptability are valued. This is not about mass hiring, but about skilled professionals fitting into specific, high impact roles," added Kumar.

What Are The Challenges For Foreign Workers?

Despite the promise, working in South Korea is not without challenges for foreign job seekers.

Language Barrier: Korean remains the dominant language in workplaces, especially outside multinational firms. Proficiency requirements can be a barrier for many Indians who are strong in technical skills but lack fluency in Korean.

Credential Recognition: Unlike some Western systems where foreign degrees and experience are more readily evaluated, South Koreas professional credential systems can be opaque and slow to recognise overseas qualifications in fields like healthcare and engineering.

Social Integration: Cultural adaptation is another hurdle. South Koreas rapid modernisation has not been matched by multicultural policies, and some foreign workers report social isolation or difficulty accessing community support.

Visa & Settlement Uncertainty: While targeted immigration pathways are expanding, long-term residency and family reunification policies are still evolving. Navigating the D-10 (job-seeking), E-7 (work), and F-2-7 (long-term residence) visa system is complex and restrictive, with high bars for income and academic credentials.

These challenges highlight the gap between policy intent and lived experience. South Korea can open its doors, but integration  linguistic, cultural and social  remains a work in progress.

In my view, South Korea is not a direct substitute for Western countries, but it can be a credible alternative in specific STEM fields. The country is investing heavily in semiconductors, AI, biotech, and applied sciences, with strong industry and university collaboration. For academics whose work aligns with industrial outcomes, Korea may offer faster translation from research to application. That said, the ecosystem is smaller and more focused, so success depends on niche expertise, adaptability, and openness to a different academic and cultural environment," pointed out Kumar.

Why Demographic Advantage Is Not Permanent

South Koreas shift underscores a broader truth: demographic advantage  a large working-age population  is not a permanent competitive edge. It can erode rapidly if fertility rates fall and the population ages, as has happened in much of East Asia.

India, by contrast, currently enjoys a demographic dividend, with a large proportion of its population under the age of 35. This has fuelled growth in sectors from technology to services and allowed India to export skilled labour globally.

South Koreas pivot thus offers a cautionary lesson: demographic advantage must be paired with continuous investment in skills, education and adaptability. Without these, even a youthful population can struggle to fill modern economic needs.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 08:10 IST

News explainers Jobs In South Korea? How Seouls Skills Shortage Could Open Doors For Indian Engineers & Techies

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What Is Blue Davos And Why Is 2026 The Year of Water? All You Need To Know

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News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:14 IST

The WEF will highlight water ecosystems, the global water cycle, and the blue economy as key areas for global cooperation at Davos

Sessions and initiatives under Blue Davos will explore how water affects climate resilience, food security, trade, and communities worldwide. (AP)

Blue Davos refers to a special focus on water  especially oceans, freshwater, and water-related systems  at this years World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

The WEF, from January 19 to 23, will highlight water ecosystems, the global water cycle, and the blue economy" (oceans, fisheries, freshwater systems) as a key area for global cooperation at Davos. Sessions and initiatives under Blue Davos will explore how water affects climate resilience, food security, trade, and communities worldwide.

The water crisis in numbers

The out of balance water cycle impacts every sector, economy, and person.

1bn People lack access to properly managed drinking water

4bn People lack safely managed sanitation

75% live in 101 countries that have been losing freshwater for 22 years

2/3 river basins either exceeded or fell short of discharge levels in 2024

450Gt of ice lost from glaciers each year

 the worlds large lakes have lost the ability to recover

4 mega-drying regions have emerged in the Northern Hemisphere

31% of global GDP will be exposed to high water stress by 2050

1 child dies every two minutes from water-related diseases

$7tn is needed for global infrastructure, including water, to meet the SDGs

Sources: Unicef; ScienceAdvances; UNESCO; ScienceAdvances; Water.org; Unicef; WMO; Geophysical Research Letters; WRI; PwC

Why is 2026 the Year of Water?

2026 is being referred to as a Year of Water in global policy and sustainability conversations largely because water issues are being put at the center of major international action and attention throughout the year  especially linked to climate, development, and global cooperation.

2026 culminates in the United Nations 3rd World Water Conference (Dec 2-4, hosted by the UAE), the first in nearly 50 years. This conference is intended as a global reset to drive political commitment and action on water  and its part of why leaders are calling 2026 a Year of Water."

2026 World Water Day (March 22) will highlight the importance of water for sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, and climate resilience. The UNs World Water Development Report for 2026 emphasizes equitable access and practical solutions  signaling that this year is pivotal for global water action.

What will be done in Davos?

The World Economic Forum is focusing on three key topic areas to protect freshwater: fit-for-purpose finance; basin-level partnerships; and innovation. The Forums Annual Meeting 2026 will build on this momentum, convening leaders to spur progress across three critical dimensions: freshwater access and management, blue food security and ocean protection.

The sessions will focus on:

Water in the balance: Water is undergoing a paradigm shift, from being seen as a basic utility to a foundation of global stability. Nearly 70% of climate impacts are tied to how this resource is managed, influencing everything from rising seas and prolonged droughts to disputes over shared waterways and the trade routes they support. As these pressures intensify and new solutions emerge, how can societies turn this challenge into an opportunity for a more secure and prosperous water future?

Velocity of the Blue Economy: The blue economy is fast becoming one of the worlds most powerful engines for sustainable growth, set to be worth over $3 trillion a year by 2030. From tourism to renewable energy to a potential enabler of global trade, how is the oceans ever-increasing importance to economies and people changing?

Water Resilience Challenge Winners: The Water Resilience Challenge, led by UpLink in partnership with HCL Group and the World Economic Forums Food and Water Initiative, identifies and supports early-stage solutions that strengthen water resilience across infrastructure, industry, agriculture and urban systems. Through a global call for application, ten winning innovators have been selected as UpLink Ventures, also known as Aquapreneurs. Alongside global visibility, the winners are awarded non-dilutive funding, alongside access to a global ecosystem of investors, corporates and public-sector partners to support deployment and scale. The winners of the Water Resilience Challenge will be officially announced during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos at the Make Water, Differently hub session, marking a milestone moment for early-stage water innovation on the global stage.

Blue food innovation hub: With the support of UK DEFRA, the Forum is supporting the development of a Food Innovation Hub on Blue Foods in Ghana to demonstrate country-led transformation. Ghanas sector is valued at roughly 600 million dollars and is growing six times faster than the national economy. The Hubs ambition is to strengthen skills, improve standards and traceability and accelerate adoption of innovations in feed, genetics, processing, cold chain and fish health, creating a model that can inform regional pathways across Africa.

White paper: Investing in Blue Foods: Innovation and Partnerships  This white paper provides a global assessment of blue food systems, including fisheries, aquaculture, seaweed and aquatic value chains, with a focused deep dive on Africa. It articulates the economic, nutrition, climate and livelihood case for responsibly scaling blue foods, maps key innovation opportunities across the value chain, and identifies the policy, investment and partnership enablers needed to drive inclusive growth.

Launch: ACT for the Ocean and accompanying report, Financing the Ocean. Against this backdrop, the Forum is launching Accelerating Critical Transitions (ACT Ocean), an initiative building on the Forums foundational work and established communities in the ocean space. ACT Ocean aims to catalyze industry-led transitions across key ocean sectors and their supply chains, while fostering cross-sector collaboration to help move from fragmented efforts toward clearer priorities and scalable, real-world delivery.

Briefing paper: The Ocean Economy Imperative: Defining Value, Managing Risk and Mobilizing Investment briefing paper calls for action to unlock the oceans potential as a driver of economic resilience and long-term value, emphasizing collaboration and decision-making today to shape a sustainable future.

Report: As the first product for fit-for-purpose finance workstream, the Bridging the 6.5 Trillion Water Infrastructure Gap: A Playbook amplifies the voice of the global water industry within the World Economic Forum ecosystem. The report aims at sizing the global water infrastructure gap and assesses its socio-economic impacts in order to accelerate equity, resilience, circularity and innovation in the lead-up to the UN Water Conference.

Other key commitments: These launches follow a series of key commitments made by the World Economic Forum and key collaborators earlier this January, including: a special letter of intent between Water.org and the World Economic Forum to explore innovative, non-profit solutions to drive fit-for-purpose water resilience work and access; a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CEO Water Mandate (special initiative established by the UN Secretary General and the UN Global Compact) seeking to mobilize business leadership and collective action in support of sustainable water stewardship focusing on basin-level work; a MOU with the government of the UAE (Co-host of the UN Water Conference) to strengthen public-private collaboration for the December meeting

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 19:01 IST

News explainers What Is Blue Davos And Why Is 2026 The Year of Water? All You Need To Know

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What Is Gaza 'Board Of Peace', Who Are Its Members, And What Will It Do?

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:12 IST

The Board Of Peace is not meant to replace governance but to create conditions for long-term peace, security, and economic recovery in Gaza during a sensitive post-conflict phase.

The Trump administration has invited political leaders, diplomats and business figures from around the world to join the new Gaza Board of Peace. (Image: AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to join the Gaza Board Of Peace, an initiative by the United States to ensure stabilisation in the post-war region. US Ambassador Sergio Gor said on X on Sunday: Honored to convey POTUS invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in the Board of Peace which will bring lasting peace to Gaza. The Board will support effective governance to achieve stability and prosperity!"

The Trump administration has invited political leaders, diplomats and business figures from around the world to join the new board, as part of a US-backed and UN-supported plan to demilitarise and rebuild the territory after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

What exactly is this Gaza Board of Peace and how is it going to work? Here are some questions answered:

What Is The Gaza Board Of Peace?

The Gaza Board of Peace is a proposed international transitional mechanism aimed at managing Gaza in the aftermath of prolonged conflict. Its core objective is to support stabilisation, reconstruction, and civilian governance while preventing a power vacuum. The body is envisioned as a temporary arrangement involving international stakeholders, regional actors, and Palestinian technocrats to oversee aid delivery, rebuilding of infrastructure, and basic administration. It is not meant to replace Palestinian political aspirations but to create conditions for long-term peace, security, and economic recovery in Gaza during a sensitive post-conflict phase.

Who Are Its Members?

According to the White House, the main Board of Peace will focus on governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment and large-scale funding.

The confirmed members are:

US President Donald Trump (chair)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Steve Witkoff, Trumps special negotiator

Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law

Tony Blair, former UK prime minister

Marc Rowan, US billionaire financier

Ajay Banga, World Bank president

Robert Gabriel, a Trump aide on the National Security Council

The Gaza Executive Board, meant to support governance and service delivery, includes:

Steve Witkoff

Jared Kushner

Tony Blair

Marc Rowan

Nickolay Mladenov, Bulgarian diplomat

Sigrid Kaag, UN humanitarian coordinator for Gaza

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

Ali Al-Thawadi, Qatari diplomat

General Hassan Rashad, Egypts intelligence chief

Reem Al-Hashimy, UAE minister

Yakir Gabay, Israeli billionaire

Which Countries Have Been Invited To Join The Board?

More than 60 countries, including India, have reportedly been sent invitations to join the board. These include Jordan, Canada, Hungary, Vietnam, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, Albania and Paraguay.

Do These Nations Need To Pay A Joining Fee?

According to reports, A draft charter circulated to invited countries reportedly states that if a country contributes about US $1 billion in cash within the first year, it would not be limited to a standard three-year term and could effectively have a permanent or extended seat on the board. Without such a contribution, countries can still be members  typically on a three-year term that may be renewed by the boards chairman.

The Trump administration has pushed back against claims that there is a mandatory fee required simply to join. White House spokespeople have said publicly that there is no official minimum payment required to be part of the Board of Peace.

What Is The Boards Purpose and Role?

At its core, the Board of Peace is intended to oversee large-scale reconstruction in Gaza. This includes rebuilding homes, hospitals, schools, water systems, power networks, and transport infrastructure damaged during the conflict. By coordinating international funding, humanitarian agencies, and technical experts, the board aims to ensure that aid and reconstruction efforts are systematic, transparent, and insulated from armed groups.

Another key role of the board is supporting interim governance. Rather than directly ruling Gaza, it is envisioned to work alongside a Palestinian technocratic administration responsible for day-to-day civilian affairs such as health services, education, municipal management, and civil administration. The boards role would be supervisory and facilitative, helping establish accountable institutions, administrative continuity, and basic rule of law during the transition.

Security and stabilization also form an important part of its mandate. The framework discusses coordination with international or regional forces to maintain order, protect civilians, and support efforts to prevent the re-emergence of militant control, while avoiding permanent foreign occupation. This security component is presented as temporary and linked to political progress.

Importantly, the Gaza Board of Peace is framed as a time-bound arrangement, not a final political settlement. Its stated purpose is to create conditions for long-term peace by restoring normalcy, rebuilding trust, and enabling future political negotiations involving Palestinians themselves. While the concept has generated debate and skepticism, supporters argue it reflects an attempt to move Gaza from crisis management toward structured recovery and stability.

How Will The Board Work?

The Gaza Board of Peace is expected to function as a coordinating and supervisory body rather than a direct governing authority. Its primary working mechanism would involve aligning international donors, humanitarian agencies, and reconstruction partners under a single framework to avoid duplication, corruption, or misuse of aid. The board would set priorities for rebuilding critical infrastructure, approve funding channels, and monitor implementation on the ground through technical teams. Civil administration would remain with a Palestinian technocratic setup, while the board ensures continuity, transparency, and adherence to agreed benchmarks during the transition.

Operationally, the board would also play a stabilisation and facilitation role. It would coordinate with regional and international actors on security arrangements to maintain basic law and order and protect reconstruction efforts, without establishing permanent foreign rule. Progress would be reviewed periodically against clearly defined timelines, with the aim of gradually transferring responsibilities to legitimate Palestinian institutions. By combining oversight, funding coordination, and institutional support, the board is designed to act as a bridge between conflict and self-governed recovery, rather than as a long-term authority.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:07 IST

News explainers What Is Gaza 'Board Of Peace', Who Are Its Members, And What Will It Do?

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24-Year-Old Punjab Youth Found Dead In Italy Months After Moving Abroad, Family Seeks Probe

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:37 IST

Twinkle Randhawa from Khole Passi Bate Galowal died mysteriously in Lido di Lavinio, Italy, leaving his family in shock and demanding a probe and return of his remains to Punjab.

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A 24-year-old man from Punjabs Hoshiarpur district has died under mysterious circumstances in Italy, barely months after moving abroad in search of a better future, leaving his family and village in shock.

Twinkle Randhawa, a resident of Khole Passi Bate Galowal village, had moved to the Italian city of Lido di Lavinio around four to five months ago after previously spending a year in Dubai, The Indian Express reported.

Randhawas father, Jagir Singh, a driver by profession, said the family is financially weak and had taken loans to send their younger son abroad. We have two sons, and Twinkle was the younger one. I spoke to him just two days ago, and he sounded very happy," Singh told reporters.

The family was informed about Twinkles death on Sunday morning by other Punjabi youths who were living with him in Italy. Singh said the circumstances around his sons death appeared suspicious. We suspect something has gone wrong. He was absolutely fine when we last spoke," he said, demanding a thorough investigation.

Relatives said the family had repeatedly tried to contact Twinkle before learning of his death, but his flatmates allegedly gave conflicting accounts of his whereabouts, sometimes claiming he had not woken up, and at other times saying police had taken him away.

According to Jagir Singh, one of Twinkles friends later told him that Twinkle had fainted, was given lemonade, and was left lying in a park, after which the police allegedly took him into custody. We dont know what really happened there," he said.

Twinkles mother, Baljeet Kaur, said her son seemed fine" during their last phone conversation and recalled that he had plans to bring her to Italy after settling down, The Indian Express reported. He told me, Mom, once I settle here, I will call you," she said.

The family has appealed to the Central and Punjab governments to ensure a proper probe into the incident and to help bring Twinkle Randhawas mortal remains back to India so that his last rites can be performed in Punjab according to traditional customs.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 13:37 IST

News india 24-Year-Old Punjab Youth Found Dead In Italy Months After Moving Abroad, Family Seeks Probe

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Bihar Kathavachak Arrested For Allegedly Raping Minor On Pretext Of Marriage

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 08:17 IST

Kathavachak Shravan Thakur was arrested in Bihar for allegedly raping a minor on the pretext of marriage. Ram Udit Das alias Mauni is absconding. The case sparked local outrage.

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Bihar kathavachak Shravan Das arrested by Womens Police in Darbhanga. (X/@sirajnoorani)

A Bihar-based religious preacher (kathavachak), Sharan Das, alias Shravan Thakur, has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl on the pretext of marriage, police said.

Das was arrested on Saturday in connection with a case registered under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, officials said.

He was later produced before a special POCSO court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody and was sent him to the Darbhanga jail, court officials said, Hindustan Times reported.

The case was registered at the Mahila police station on December 19, 2025, based on a complaint filed by the minors mother. Police said the survivor alleged that the accused sexually assaulted her on the pretext of marriage and that she was later forced to undergo an abortion, as stated in the complaint.

The FIR also names another man, Ram Udit Das alias Mauni, as an accused. However, he is still absconding.

Both are residents of Padri village under Biraul police station limits and were staying at their current address at Ramjanaki Temple in Pachadhi Chhavani, ward number 42, within Laheriasarai police station area.

According to the court records, Shravan Das had earlier moved an anticipatory bail plea on January 7 before the POCSO court, which was listed for hearing on January 17 but could not be taken up due to advocates abstaining from work following a condolence meeting of the District Bar Association.

Following his arrest, the anticipatory bail plea became infructuous. Legal sources said the accused may now move the court for regular bail in accordance with due process.

After the incident came to light, it triggered strong reactions in religious and social circles in the area.

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Location : Darbhanga, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 08:17 IST

News india Bihar Kathavachak Arrested For Allegedly Raping Minor On Pretext Of Marriage

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Biswa Ijtema In Poll-Bound Bengal Could Serve Radicalisation, Terror Recruitment: Sources | Exclusive

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CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 18:41 IST

The four-day congregation with visitors from over 100 countries returned to India after 30 years, but triggered intense scrutiny from Indian intelligence agencies

The 'Biswa Ijtema', an annual gathering of Muslims, was held in West Bengal primarily because the traditional main event in Bangladesh was suspended due to political instability, election-related restrictions, and factional clashes. (Image: AFP/File)

After a hiatus of more than three decades, the Biswa Ijtema  one of the worlds largest Islamic congregations  returned to West Bengal from January 2 to 5.

But the four-day event, which was held in Puinan village near Hooghly district with a crowd from over 100 countries, triggered intense scrutiny from Indian intelligence agencies.

The gathering was held in West Bengal primarily because the traditional main event in Bangladesh was suspended due to political instability, election-related restrictions, and factional clashes. But its return to India after a 34-year gap  having last been held in Howrahs Nibra area in 1992  was facilitated by the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally chaired high-level meetings at state secretariat Nabanna, directing preparations to be completed on a war footing". Key ministers, including Firhad Hakim and Siddiqullah Chowdhury, were assigned to oversee logistics like healthcare, sanitation, and cyber monitoring.

While the congregation concluded with the Akheri Munajat  a final collective supplication for global peace  it was flagged by Indian intelligence agencies, whose reports expressed serious concerns on how such large-scale events could serve as platforms for radicalisation and recruitment by terror groups.

According to top intelligence sources, these fears are compounded by the fact that some former members of the organising group, Tablighi Jamaat, have reportedly joined extremist outfits like the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Jamaat-e-Islami.

The intelligence sources highlighted the presence of Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, a central but controversial figure, who delivered notable sermons at the venue. They said the Bangladeshi authorities had banned his participation in their own Ijtema over extremism fears and internal rifts within the Tablighi Jamaat.

The sources said Kandhalvi is based out of Delhis Nizamuddin and has an FIR against him, which was registered during the Covid-19 lockdown. In Bangladesh, restrictions on him came from a local ulemas alignment with the rival Shura faction, they said. They suggested that his involvement could potentially increase radical narratives and cause friction with rival factions.

They said the venues proximity to the porous India-Bangladesh border heightened fears of infiltration by ISI-backed groups, such as the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT).

Central agencies warned that the Ijtema might serve as a common meeting ground for sleeper cells from border districts like Murshidabad and Malda in Bengal, which are identified as hotspots for extremist ideologies. With the West Bengal assembly election expected in March-April, intelligence sources said hosting this congregation was a strategic move by the state government to signal its commitment to minority welfare. But, they added that the security apparatus remains on high alert regarding long-term implications of such a massive gathering in a sensitive border state.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 18:41 IST

News india Biswa Ijtema In Poll-Bound Bengal Could Serve Radicalisation, Terror Recruitment: Sources | Exclusive

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Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/

The European Solidarity faction initiates the dissolution of the Temporary Investigative Commission, a commission to investigate possible corruption in law enforcement agencies, courts and judicial authorities, which was established in June 2025.

"The European Solidarity faction initiates a resolution on the early termination of the powers of the Temporary Investigative Commission. We insist on considering our resolution at the next plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada. Parliament should not repeat the mistakes of July 2025, take a responsible position and protect the independent anti-corruption infrastructure," the faction said in the statement, published by the European Solidarity press service.

As explained in the statement, the European Solidarity faction supported the establishment of the Temporary Investigative Commission, hoping that it would become an effective tool of parliamentary control and would contribute to exposing corruption in law enforcement agencies, which often use their powers for arbitrary action against businesses, activists, the military, and political persecution of the opposition.

"Unfortunately, we must state that this Temporary Investigative Commission has turned into a mechanism for political pressure on independent anti-corruption institutions created during Poroshenko's term, which is a real threat of interference in the activities of anti-corruption bodies and an attempt to discredit them. The operation of the Temporary Investigative Commission has gone beyond the powers defined by law, and poses risks for Ukraine's fulfillment of its international obligations, including to the European Union," the faction said.

In particular, the faction noted, the commission carried out an audit of the activities of the High Council of Justice, the High Qualification Commission of Judges, and the Public Integrity Council, although the Verkhovna Rada did not grant it such a mandate. The Temporary Investigative Commission also created an "expert group" not provided for by law, whose members do not bear personal responsibility for knowingly false and manipulative conclusions on issues that the Temporary Investigative Commission is supposedly investigating.

"The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, and the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court have already publicly stated that the Rada Temporary Investigative Commission exceeded its powers declared during the formation of the commission and used it for political pressure. This is an unprecedented signal that shows that the activities of the commission discredit the Verkhovna Rada and the very idea of parliamentary control and have nothing to do with the real fight against corruption. In addition, leading human rights and public organizations have appealed to the Verkhovna Rada to terminate the operation of the Temporary Investigative Commission ahead of schedule: the Dejure Foundation, the Zmina Human Rights Center, the Chesno Movement, the Center for Economic Strategy, Bihus.Info, StateWatch, the Sich human rights group, Detector Media, Transparency International Ukraine, and the Center for Civil Liberties. This indicates a deep public distrust of the commission's activities and its decisions," the faction said in the statement.
'Selective Targeting Of India Unfair': Jaishankar Urges Poland For 'Zero Tolerance' On Terrorism

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:49 IST

S Jaishankar said the selective targeting of India is unfair and unjustified, urging zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism during talks with Poland.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (File photo/PTI)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday laid out Indias concerns on global scrutiny, terrorism and international cooperation while delivering opening remarks at delegation-level talks with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski, who, in turn, echoed support on key issues including counter-terrorism and unfair trade practices.

Jaishankar began by strongly flagging Indias objection to what he described as discriminatory treatment, saying, I have repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified."

He underlined that India had raised this issue openly and consistently in recent international engagements.

Placing the meeting in the context of current global uncertainty, the External Affairs Minister said, We meet at a time when the world is under considerable churn."

He added that despite being in different regions, dialogue was essential, noting, As two nations located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities, it is obviously useful to exchange views and perspectives."

On bilateral ties, Jaishankar said relations had moved forward steadily but needed sustained effort, stating, Our bilateral relationship has also progressed steadily, but nevertheless needs constant tending."

He referred to the elevation of ties following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Poland and said the focus was now on implementation.

Detailing the agenda of the talks, he said, Today, Deputy Prime Minister, we will review the Action Plan 2024-28, through which we seek to realise the full potential of our strategic partnership."

He added, We will also discuss ways to take forward our cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean technologies, and digital innovation."

Highlighting Indias economic profile, Jaishankar said, Indias strong economic growth, size of its market, and pro-investment policies provide immense opportunities for Polish businesses."

He also pointed to the social dimension of ties, adding, We will also explore promoting deeper cultural and people-to-people ties."

Turning to regional and global issues, Jaishankar observed, Today, our conversation will naturally cover regional and global developments," and said that exchanging views on developments in their respective neighbourhoods would be useful.

Referring to earlier discussions on the Ukraine conflict, he noted, In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications."

He reiterated Indias position, saying, While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today."

On terrorism, the External Affairs Minister made a pointed remark, stating, Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the long-standing challenges of cross-border terrorism."

He added, I hope at this meeting to discuss some of your recent travels to the region," before asserting, Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood."

Responding in his opening remarks, Sikorski said he fully shared these concerns, stating, I completely agree with you on the need to counter transnational, cross-border terrorism."

He noted that Poland itself had faced such threats, adding, Poland has been a victim of both arson and attempted state terrorism."

Sikorski also aligned with Jaishankar on economic issues, saying, I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting by tariffs," and warned that such practices risked wider instability, remarking, We fear that this is progressing to global trade turbulence."

He further said Poland hoped India would remain closely engaged with Europe, underlining the importance Warsaw places on strengthening the India-Poland Strategic Partnership.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 13:48 IST

News india 'Selective Targeting Of India Unfair': Jaishankar Urges Poland For 'Zero Tolerance' On Terrorism

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Four Friends, Going For Tea On Birthday, Killed In Car Collision On Ahmedabad Highway In Udaipur

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 09:11 IST

Four Udaipur teenagers died and six were injured in a car collision In Udaipur. The victims were going out to have tea and celebrate a friends birthday.

The accident occurred near Nela Talab in the Savina area. (Photo: X)

In a major accident on the old Ahmedabad highway in Udaipur on Saturday, four friends were killed and six others injured after two cars collided. As per the police, the accident occurred near Nela Talab in the Savina area. All four deceased were residents of Udaipur and were going for tea to celebrate a friends birthday.

The deceased teenagers were identified as Mohammad Ayan (17), Adil Qureshi (14), Sher Mohammad (19) and Ghulam Khwaja (17). Two others travelling in the same car  Wasim (20) and Mohammed Kaif (19)  sustained serious injuries and were admitted to MB Hospital.

A video was recorded moments before the deadly crash. The video shows Sher Mohammad at the wheel, driving at a speed of 100120 kmph, which later escalates to around 140 kmph. Just 1 minute and 10 seconds after the recording begins, the car crashes. In the video, one of the friends can also be heard saying to slow down but his pleas were ignored and a joyous ride turned fatal.

After the crash, for at least 10 minutes, the youths cried for help and by the time locals reached the spot, 4 were dead and 2 were gravely injured.

As per the police, six friends were travelling in one car after attending a Mehfil-e-Milad programme and were heading towards the highway for tea when their vehicle was hit by another car.

The second car, bearing a Gujarat registration number, was travelling from Rajgarh in Churu district towards Vapi in Gujarat. Four occupants of the Gujarat-registered car sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment.

The bodies have been kept at the mortuary of MB Hospital for post-mortem, and both vehicles have been seized, he added.

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Location : Udaipur, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 09:06 IST

News india Four Friends, Going For Tea On Birthday, Killed In Car Collision On Ahmedabad Highway In Udaipur

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India May Buy This 5th-Gen Fighter Jet In Addition To Rafale, Decision Soon: Report

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 20:11 IST

The government may soon approve the IAF's plan to buy 114 Rafale jets, while HAL awaits Russia's cost report for domestic Sukhoi-57 production amid urgent fleet needs

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The IAF currently operates around 30 fighter squadrons, significantly below the sanctioned strength of 42. (Image: PTI/File)

With the Indian Air Force (IAF) grappling with a shrinking fighter fleet, the Centre appears poised for a major capital push to bolster combat strength. The government is expected to soon clear the IAFs long-pending proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets from Frances Dassault Aviation, even as parallel deliberations are under way on the cost and feasibility of inducting Russias fifth-generation Sukhoi-57 aircraft.

According to a report by The Indian Express, state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is awaiting a detailed cost assessment from Russia on manufacturing the Sukhoi-57 in India. No decision has yet been taken on the aircrafts induction, with HAL likely to receive the Russian report later this month. The assessment will outline the estimated expenditure and infrastructure requirements for launching the project domestically.

India already has extensive experience in producing Sukhoi aircraft. Under a 2000 agreement with Russia, more than 250 Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets, classified as fourth-generation aircraft, have been manufactured in the country, and the production ecosystem remains largely intact. Recently, a Russian technical team visited India to evaluate existing facilities and reportedly informed Indian officials that nearly 50 per cent of the infrastructure required to build the Sukhoi-57 is already available. The team had committed to submitting a detailed cost and capacity report, which HAL is now awaiting.

At present, HALs Nashik division houses the final assembly line for the Sukhoi-30MKI, while its Koraput unit undertakes licensed production of the AL-31FP turbofan engine. Avionics and other critical components are produced at HAL facilities in Kerala. The capacity and cost assessment for the Sukhoi-57, the report notes, is being pursued at HALs initiative, with the government yet to take a call on the fifth-generation fighter it will ultimately choose.

India is already in the process of strengthening its fleet with 4.5-generation Rafale jets, but options for fifth-generation aircraft are limited. Globally, only two such fighters are currently available for potential induction, the American F-35 and the Russian Sukhoi-57. China operates its own fifth-generation J-20 aircraft, which India cannot access, and no other country fields an indigenous platform in this category.

India is simultaneously developing its own fifth-generation fighter under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, though operational induction is still some distance away. If timelines hold, the indigenous platform is expected to enter IAF service around 2035.

The urgency of new inductions is underscored by the IAFs declining squadron strength. The force currently operates around 30 fighter squadrons, significantly below the sanctioned strength of 42. Given the evolving threat environment posed by China and Pakistan, and the possibility of a two-front conflict, defence experts have argued that the IAF should expand to at least 60 squadrons. This would require a fleet of roughly 1,000 to 1,100 fighter aircraft in the coming years.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 20:11 IST

News india India May Buy This 5th-Gen Fighter Jet In Addition To Rafale, Decision Soon: Report

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Jaish-e-Mohammed Terror Hideout Busted In Jammu Kashmir's Kishtwar

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 17:11 IST

Security forces busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror hideout in Singhpora, Kishtwar after an encounter in Sonnar village. Eight army personnel were injured during Operation Trashi-I.

Image from the site (Credits: News18.com)

Security forces have busted a terror hideout linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed in the Singhpora area of Kishtwar district, officials said on Monday. This comes only a day after an encounter broke out in a remote forested area in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district.

The encounter broke out during a joint cordon and search operation in Sonnar village, near Mandral-Singhoora in the Chatroo belt, around Sunday noon, officials said.

In a post on X, the Armys Jammu-based White Knight Corps termed the action Operation Trashi-I" and said security forces came in contact with terrorists in the general area of Sonnar, northeast of Chatroo, while carrying out a deliberate search operation as part of ongoing joint counter-terror exercises with the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

An Army Special Forces Havildar lost his life and eight other soldiers were injured during an encounter with terrorists in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir. The exchange of fire continued for several hours before subsiding.

According to the officials cited by IANS, most of the eight injured soldiers suffered splinter wounds caused by a grenade blast.

They added that after a pause through the night, joint security forces restarted the search operation to trace the terrorists believed to be hiding in the higher reaches of the area.

The operation had been called off late the previous evening due to difficult terrain, with dense forest cover and steep slopes hampering visibility and movement.

Security agencies believe that a group of two to three terrorists, allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), remains trapped in the area.

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Location : Jammu and Kashmir, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 17:11 IST

News india Jaish-e-Mohammed Terror Hideout Busted In Jammu Kashmir's Kishtwar

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'Old Generation Should Step Aside': Nitin Gadkari Calls For Youth To Take Charge

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 10:58 IST

Nitin Gadkari urged leadership transition to youth, during an event in Nagpur on Sunday. He praised Ashish Kale and AID for empowering new entrepreneurs across industries.

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (Image: PTI/File)

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday called for a generational transition in leadership, saying younger people should be entrusted with key responsibilities while senior leaders step back once systems are functioning effectively.

Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur ahead of the Advantage VidarbhaKhasdar Audhyogik Mahotsav, Gadkari praised the involvement of youth in the initiative, which was conceptualised by him and organised by Ashish Kale, president of the Association for Industrial Development (AID). He noted that Kale has actively brought younger participants into the programme, underscoring the need for leadership renewal over time, news agency PTI reported.

Referring to his long association with Kales family, Gadkari remarked that senior members should gradually move aside and allow the next generation to take charge. I believe that gradually, the generation should also change." He said once a project or organisation is running smoothly, experienced leaders can step away and focus on other areas of contribution.

Ashishs father is my friend. Now we should be gradually made to retire and the responsibility be given to the new generation, and when the vehicle starts running smoothly, then we should withdraw and do some other work," Gadkari said.

Gadkari, who serves as chief mentor to AID, said the Advantage Vidarbha expo is entering its third edition and will be held in Nagpur from February 6 to 8. He highlighted the presence of capable entrepreneurs across Vidarbha in multiple industries and said the event aims to position the region as a growing industrial and investment destination in the country.

He also stressed that balanced growth depends on the development of industry, agriculture and allied activities, along with the service sector. The three-day expo will see participation from a wide range of fields, including textiles, plastics, minerals, coal, aviation, logistics, information technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defence, real estate, renewable energy, and startups.

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Location : Nagpur, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 10:58 IST

News india 'Old Generation Should Step Aside': Nitin Gadkari Calls For Youth To Take Charge

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PM Modi Receives UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan At Delhi Airport

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 17:54 IST

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan landed in India for talks aimed at strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan travelled in the same car from the Delhi airport. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Delhi airport during the latters brief visit to India on Monday, underscoring the importance of the strategic partnership between the two nations.

The visit came at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia, marked by strained Iran-US relations, ongoing instability in Gaza, and unresolved conflict in Yemen involving Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Officials said regional developments are likely to be discussed during the talks, and several MoUs are likely to be signed.

Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions," PM Modi wrote on X.

Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions.@MohamedBinZayed pic.twitter.com/Os3FRvVrBc Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2026

The two leaders then left the Delhi Airport in the same car, a rare gesture similar to the one during Russian President Vladimir Putins visit to India.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, travel in the same car as they depart from the airport.(Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/dYLZ2AdSb1  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

PM Modi will host Al Nahyan at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in the evening. The UAE President will only be in India for a few hours for his crucial visit and will depart on Monday. The meeting between the two leaders was earlier finalised in December 2025, but was delayed.

Both leaders are expected to sign agreements on investments in special economic zones, food security and nuclear cooperation. The situation in West Asia is also expected to feature prominently in discussions with the Indian leadership.

This is Sheikh Mohameds third official visit to India since taking office as president and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade. All eyes would be on a possible defence agreement between the two countries, in light of Saudi Arabias pact with Pakistan.

India and the UAE have seen a sharp rise in bilateral trade and people-to-people ties since signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022. The agreement has helped boost trade flows and investment between the two nations.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit builds on recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India in September 2024. It also follows the visit of UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to India in April last year.

The MEA said the visit will allow both leaders to chart new directions for the strategic partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest. It will also enable an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence," it added.

India and the UAE share warm, close, and multi-faceted relations, underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic ties," the MEA said. Both countries are among each others top trading and investment partners, supported by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the local currency settlement system and the bilateral investment treaty.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 16:45 IST

News india PM Modi Receives UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan At Delhi Airport

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PM Modi, UAE President Condemn Cross-Border Terror, Boost Nuclear Ties At Short, Substantive Meet

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 21:10 IST

India and the UAE agreed to deepen nuclear and energy ties and signed key agreements during a brief but high-level meeting in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a meeting, at PMs residence in New Delhi. (IMAGE: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday held discussions in both restricted and expanded formats at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, with the two sides condemning cross-border terrorism and agreeing to deepen cooperation across nuclear energy, defence, infrastructure and emerging technologies.

The two leaders strongly condemned cross-border terrorism and reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, officials said. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the UAE Presidents visit as short but extremely substantive", noting that it lasted around three hours and included members of the royal families of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saw off the UAE President at the airport following the conclusion of the visit.

Among the key outcomes of the talks was the signing of a Letter of Intent between India and the UAE to work towards concluding a strategic defence partnership, signalling deeper cooperation in the defence sector.

Civil Nuclear Cooperation

The two leaders agreed to promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and explore partnerships in advanced nuclear technologies, including large nuclear reactors and small modular reactors. They also discussed cooperation in nuclear power plant operations, maintenance and nuclear safety, following the enactment of Indias SHANTI law.

Strategic Defence Partnership

The two sides agreed to enhance defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, welcoming the signing of a Letter of Intent towards the conclusion of a Strategic Defence Partnership.

Dholera Investment Cooperation

A Letter of Intent on investment cooperation was signed between the Government of Gujarat and the UAE Ministry of Investment for the development of the Dholera Special Investment Region. The proposed partnership covers strategic infrastructure projects including an international airport, pilot training facilities, maintenance, repair and overhaul infrastructure, ports, rail connectivity and energy infrastructure.

Space Cooperation

India and the UAE also signed a Letter of Intent between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre and the UAE Space Agency to enable joint initiatives in space industry development and commercial collaboration.

HPCLADNOC Gas Agreement

In the energy sector, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and ADNOC Gas signed a 10-year Sales and Purchase Agreement for the supply of liquefied natural gas, beginning in 2028. Officials said the UAE has emerged as Indias second-largest supplier of LNG.

Food Security And Climate Cooperation

An MoU was signed between APEDA and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on food safety and technical requirements, aimed at strengthening cooperation in food security and agricultural trade.

Technology, AI And Digital Infrastructure

The two sides agreed to establish a supercomputing cluster in India and explore cooperation in data centres and the establishment of digital or data embassies. The UAE also confirmed its participation in Indias upcoming Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit.

GIFT City And Trade Targets

On the economic front, the two countries set a target to double bilateral trade to USD 200 billion by 2032. UAE companies First Abu Dhabi Bank and DP World announced plans to set up offices and operations at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, strengthening financial and logistics linkages.

Culture And People-To-People Ties

The two sides agreed to establish a House of India in Abu Dhabi as a cultural space showcasing Indian art, heritage and archaeology, and to promote youth exchanges to deepen people-to-people ties.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 21:10 IST

News india PM Modi, UAE President Condemn Cross-Border Terror, Boost Nuclear Ties At Short, Substantive Meet

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Right To Appear In Exams Is Part Of Right To Live With Dignity: Allahabad High Court

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 23:37 IST

The Allahabad High Court has held that a students right to appear in an examination falls under Article 21.

File photo of the Allahabad High Court. (News18 Hindi File)

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the right of a student to appear in an examination is connected to the constitutional right to live with dignity under Article 21.

The court passed the order while hearing a writ petition filed by a college student who was unable to sit for her semester examination. It directed Rajju Bhaiya University to conduct a special examination for the petitioner within two weeks, allowing her to take the first semester BSc Biology paper for the 202526 academic session.

The High Court also asked the university to declare the examination result within a reasonable time so that the student can continue her education without interruption.

In an order dated January 12, Justice Vivek Saran noted that the student was not responsible for the situation. She was denied an admit card due to a failure in updating her admission details on the university portal. The court said her academic future should not be affected because of technical mistakes by the authorities.

According to the petition, Shreya Pandey is a first-year BSc Biology student at Urmila Devi PG College in Handia.

She stated that she paid her admission fees on July 16, 2025, and attended classes during the 202526 academic session. However, she was not issued an admit card when the examination timetable was released, which prevented her from appearing in the exam.

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Location : Allahabad, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 23:37 IST

News india Right To Appear In Exams Is Part Of Right To Live With Dignity: Allahabad High Court

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Telangana CM Enrols In Harvard Leadership Programme, Triggers Political Backlash

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:08 IST

Revanth Reddy is set to attend Harvard's leadership programme, a first for any sitting Indian CM. His enrolment sparked criticism from BRS, which questioned his foreign trips.

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File photo of Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. (Image: X/@revanth_anumula)

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is set to attend the Leadership: 21st Century" programme at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government. Reddy is the first sitting Chief Minister in independent India to enroll in an Ivy League programme.

According to a release, the Telangana CM will attend classes in a Harvard programme from January 25 to 31. Reddy will be on the Kennedy School campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, joining a diverse class of students from over 20 countries across five continents, news agency ANI reported.

The programme, chaired by Prof. Tim OBrien and directed by Prof. Karen Morrissey, involves group projects, assignments, and classroom presentations. The curriculum is designed to analyse case studies from various parts of the world and across different eras of history. Participants will examine global leadership challenges and propose solutions, with the curriculum designed to offer practical, interactive learning experiences.

Upon completion, the Chief Minister will receive a course certification from Harvard, a first for any sitting Indian CM.

BRS Criticises Reddy Over Harvard Enrolment

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) criticised Reddys enrolment in the leadership programme, raising questions over his foreign travel. The party alleged that by attending the course, the Chief Minister had effectively acknowledged a lack of knowledge and the need to learn, contrasting his visit with earlier Chief Ministers who, it claimed, went to Harvard to deliver lectures rather than attend classes.

BRS leaders said the state has pressing issues that require attention within Telangana itself. They further accused Reddy of undertaking frequent foreign trips at the expense of public funds and claimed that these visits have failed to bring any tangible investment into the state.

In a separate initiative, Reddy earlier emphasised the importance of foreign language skills for students to compete globally. During a visit to a nursing college in Khammam, he announced that the state government will establish dedicated facilities to teach Japanese, Korean, and German. This initiative aims to help Telanganas nursing graduates access international employment opportunities, responding to high demand in countries like Japan, South Korea, and Germany.

CM Reddy said that during his recent foreign visit, many people praised the services of Indian nurses, particularly those from Telangana. The new language training programme will also include students from Yedulapuram nursing colleges.

Speaking on healthcare and education, the Chief Minister underscored the critical role of medical professionals, calling doctors next to God" and expressing confidence that Telangana nurses would further enhance the states prestige through their expertise and dedication.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:08 IST

News india Telangana CM Enrols In Harvard Leadership Programme, Triggers Political Backlash

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'Strategic Firewall': 5 Reasons Behind UAE President's 3-Hour India Visit To Meet PM Modi | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 09:16 IST

Experts called this visit an "alarm bell" amid the west Asia churn with the UAE viewing India as a stable partner with tensions involving Iran, US, and regional rivals

PM Narendra Modi with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a meeting, in New Delhi on January 19, 2026. (Image: PMO/PTI)

The three-hour visit to India by United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi signals a profound shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy amid the West Asia churn.

Al Nahyan arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a high-stakes, three-hour engagement with Modi, which is being seen as far from a routine diplomatic exchange.

Experts are viewing this brief visit as an alarm bell" amid intensifying volatility in west Asia with the UAE increasingly treating India not merely as a partner, but as a strategic firewall" capable of providing stability as it navigates complex tensions involving Iran, the United States, and regional rivals, as per sources.

While such engagements between top leaders are scheduled months in advance, such short, intense visits are traditionally reserved for crisis management. The timing of the visit is particularly significant as US President Donald Trump seeks to onboard global leaders to a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a central component of the second phase of his peace plan. Hence, for the UAE, the necessity of a reliable and autonomous partner like India has never been more pressing.

Here are five reasons why:

INDIAS GOODWILL WITH US, IRAN

The UAEs primary motivation for this visit is Indias rare ability to maintain deep, functional relationships with both the US and Iran.

As tensions in West Asia reach a boiling point, Abu Dhabi views New Delhis diplomatic goodwill" with both Washington and Tehran as an essential asset for regional de-escalation. Unlike other regional players, India is perceived as an autonomous and predictable actor in long-term planning, making it an ideal mediator.

This proxy engagement" capability offers the UAE a strategic advantage that traditional partners like Pakistan or Turkey cannot provide.

STRATEGIC SHIFT FROM SAUDI-PAKISTAN AXIS

The regional landscape has been altered by a recent mutual defence understanding between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which treats an attack on one as an aggression against both.

Policymakers in the UAE increasingly view Pakistan as being strategically aligned with Saudi Arabia, prompting a search for a more independent security partner. Al Nahyan seeks Indian security cooperation because India provides a professional military framework without the complications of army ideology".

This pivot is underscored by Indian concerns regarding his scheduled December 2025 visit to Pakistan, a matter the Indian side reportedly raised with some disappointment.

SOMALILAND AND YEMEN CRISIS

Beyond broad regional stability, the UAE is seeking Indian cooperation on specific geopolitical friction points.

Israels recognition of Somaliland has escalated regional sensitivities, and Al Nahyan is keen to align with India on this front. The visit takes place against the backdrop of simmering tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in Yemen.

Despite the UAEs rejection of allegations that it is undermining Saudi security, reports of Saudi airstrikes against UAE-backed groups in southern Yemen highlight a growing rift that necessitates a stable external partner like India.

DEFENCE AND CIVIL NUCLEAR PACTS

The engagement between Modi and Al Nahyan was not limited to crisis talks, but served to formalise significant long-term collaborations.

The two leaders signed a letter of intent (LoI) to work towards a comprehensive strategic defence partnership. More ambitious was the focus on civil nuclear energy, with discussions revolving around partnership in large reactors and small modular reactors (SMR), alongside nuclear power plant operations.

This marks a transition from a trade-based relationship to one rooted in high-technology and security infrastructure.

UAE, INDIA ROLE IN US-LED GAZA PEACE PLAN

The visit coincides with a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern diplomacy, as both Modi and Al Nahyan have been invited to play central roles in the US-led Board of Peace for Gaza.

This board, chaired by Trump, includes high-profile figures such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British PM Tony Blair. The UAE has expressed pride" in taking part in this board, which will oversee Gazas stabilisation, reconstruction, and investment attraction.

Indias inclusion in this peace board underscores its expanding influence in Middle Eastern diplomacy and reinforces why Abu Dhabi views New Delhi as an indispensable pillar of its regional strategy.

This three-hour visit builds on a period of intense high-level exchanges in recent months.

Abu Dhabis Crown Prince and the UAEs defence minister have both visited India. External affairs minister S Jaishankar and army chief General Upendra Dwivedi have conducted high-level missions to the UAE. During Gen Dwivedis visit in early January, he was accorded a Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces reflecting a burgeoning military-to-military ties.

India-UAE relations, established in the early 1970s, have evolved into a multi-faceted partnership underpinned by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a robust energy relationship.

(With agency inputs)

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 20:56 IST

News india 'Strategic Firewall': 5 Reasons Behind UAE President's 3-Hour India Visit To Meet PM Modi | Exclusive

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha expressed his condolences to the people of South Africa following the tragic death of 13 schoolchildren in an accident.

"I express my deepest condolences to the people of South Africa following the tragic death of 13 schoolchildren in a transport accident in Vaali. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims and injured. Ukraine stands in solidarity with South Africa during this time of grief," he wrote on social media.
'No Hand Of God Responsible': CBI Grills Vijay, Says No Clean Chit To Anyone In Karur Stampede Case

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 21:32 IST

Officials in the CBI, however, pointed out that it is too early to comment on who will be named in the chargesheet and in what capacity

TVK chief and actor Vijay leaves from CBI headquarters after the second round of questioning in connection with the Karur stampede case, in New Delhi on January 19, 2026. (Image: PTI)

Actor and TVK chief Vijay came out of his black SUV and waved to the waiting media at the end of his questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Karur stampede case on Monday.

Maybe this was Vijays way to assure his supporters that all is well", especially ahead of the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

But indications from the CBI are on the contrary. A top official aware of the probe told News18 that the central agency was not giving a clean chit to anyone yet.

No hand of god was responsible (for the deaths of 41 people). So many people diedsomebody messed up Only two possibilitiesorganisers or administrators," the source told News18.

This, even as TVK joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar told the media that Vijay will not be named in the chargesheet.

Our leader (Vijay) was issued witness summons and he appeared before the CBI today. The questioning is over and they have not asked him to appear again. We are cooperating with the investigating agencies. Please refrain from spreading any misinformation," Kumar told reporters. There are lots of rumours being spread, which are not true. We all know what happened in Karur. MPs from Delhi had gone to Karur; even the Tamil Nadu BJP president has said what exactly happened in Karur."

Officials in the CBI, however, pointed out that it is too early to comment on who will be named in the chargesheet and in what capacity.

At this stage, the investigating officer is collating evidence. Statements of various stakeholders will be analysed before any decision on the chargesheet," an official said.

TOUGH QUESTIONS

According to sources, the CBI asked pointed questions to Vijay on the second day of his interrogation.

Statements of then ADG and IG of Karur were recorded last week at the same time that Vijay was being questioned. Some charges made by the Tamil Nadu police were put to him, as per sources.

The CBI investigating officer reportedly asked him why he was seven hours late for the Karur rally. The local police have alleged that the delay led to a restive situation and many in the crowd were dehydrated.

The sources said Vijay claimed that there was traffic congestion on his way to Karur and even then he was not inordinately delayed. Asked why he continued with his speech even after noticing the crowd situation, he claimed that he only followed instructions from the police, which escorted him out of Karur keeping in mind his safety, they said.

The police have alleged that TVK organisers ignored instructions on a communication device about the swelling crowd and mismanagement. Officials have handed over video evidence to back their charge against Vijay, the sources said. But he rejected all charges and reiterated that the local police are to be blamed, they added.

The CBI has indicated that a chargesheet could soon be filed in Tamil Nadu on charges of death by negligence, endangering lives and willfully disobeying public servants among others.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 21:32 IST

News india 'No Hand Of God Responsible': CBI Grills Vijay, Says No Clean Chit To Anyone In Karur Stampede Case

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Who Is Prateek Yadav? Akhilesh Yadavs Stepbrother At The Centre Of Wedding Row

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:46 IST

Prateek Yadav married Aparna Bisht (now Aparna Yadav) in 2011, who began her political career with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Prateek Yadav (left) and Aparna Yadav (right). (Image: PTI)

Mulayam Singh Yadavs son Prateek Yadav has announced that he will divorce his wife Aparna Yadav. In a post on Instagram, Yadav called Aparna a family destroyer" and accused her of ruining his family ties."

I am going to divorce this selfish woman as soon as possible. She ruined my family ties. All she wants to become is famous and influential. Right now, i am very bad mental health condition and she doesnt bother. Because its only herself she bothers about. I have never seen such a bad soul, and i was unfortunate to get married to her," Yadav wrote in his post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prateek Yadav (@iamprateekyadav)

Who is Prateek Yadav?

Prateek Yadav is the younger son of Samajwadi Party founder and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife Sadhana Gupta. He is Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadavs stepbrother.

Away from his familys political background, Prateek Yadav works in real estate and fitness entrepreneurship and is known for founding ventures like gyms and animal welfare efforts. He is an MBA graduate from Leeds University in London, United Kingdom.

Prateek has not held any elected office or a major party post and has generally stayed away from frontline politics. In an interview back in 2017, Yadav had said he planned to keep away from politics as long as he can and focus on his businesses. While there were occasional calls within party circles for him to stand in elections, he never pursued a political career.

Yadav married Aparna Bisht (now Aparna Yadav) in 2011. She began her political career with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in January 2022, expressing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Aparna contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election from the Lucknow Cantonment constituency on an SP ticket but lost to the BJPs Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

She currently serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission

Aparna and Prateek have one daughter.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:42 IST

News india Who Is Prateek Yadav? Akhilesh Yadavs Stepbrother At The Centre Of Wedding Row

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Karishma Tanna Asks Did Your Bag Bleed?; Urges Fans To Stop Buying Leather | Exclusive

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 16:28 IST

Actor Karishma Tanna teams up with PETA India for the Bloody campaign against leather cruelty.

Actor Karishma Tanna makes a conscious choice for the welfare of animals.

Actor Karishma Tanna makes a powerful and compassionate statement with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Indias (PETA India) latest Bloody campaign against leather cruelty. Holding a bag dripping with blood, Karishma asks Did Your Bag Bleed?

A couple of days ago, Karishma Tanna, dressed in a black T-shirt with the word Leather with a big cancel logo in red printed on it, posted the image on Instagram to give her fans a sneak peek at her campaign.

Karishma Tanna Chooses To Go Leather Free

I used to wear leather jackets and bags until two years ago, but working with PETA India, I began to consider how every leather handbag represents a life of suffering and a painful death for cows and other thinking, feeling animals used for their skins," expresses Karishma Tanna, adding, Im happy to share that I have stopped buying leather and have been giving away the ones I own for a good cause and urge my fans to do the same. PETA India accepts donations of leather items to use in demonstrations against leather."

Urging her fans to go leather-free and choosing fashionable, vegan options, Karishma Tannas glamorous and fierce look for the PETA India campaign shoot was styled by celebrity fashion stylist Namita Alexander, her hair and makeup was done by Shefali Koley and Rishina Acharya, respectively. The campaign was shot by renowned fashion photographer Sasha Jairam.

Why Does Leather Production Create Havoc?

According to Sachin Bangera, Vice President of Celebrity and Public Relations, PETA India, leather production wreaks havoc on the environment. Turning animals skins into leather requires massive amounts of toxic chemicals, and runoff from leather tanneries poisons local waterways," shares Bangera, adding, Leather production is also harmful for those who live near and work in tanneries. In Bangladeshs leather tanning area, 90% of leather tannery workers die before the age of 50."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karishma K Tanna (@karishmaktanna)

He further adds, Animals used for leather in India are often crammed into vehicles in such large numbers that many become severely injured or die en route. They are then dragged into slaughterhouses, where they are cut open in full view of one another on floors covered with faeces, blood, guts, and urine."

Best Alternatives For Leather

Luxurious synthetic vegan leathers are widely available, and nowadays, leather is also made from pineapple leaves, cork, fruit waste, recycled plastics, mushrooms, mulberry leaves, teak leaves, discarded temple flowers, coconut waste, tomato composite, and more. Animal-free leathers are also good for Indian farmers, as the state of Meghalaya has shown by considering pineapple leather production.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 16:24 IST

News lifestyle fashion Karishma Tanna Asks Did Your Bag Bleed?; Urges Fans To Stop Buying Leather | Exclusive
Pills, Proof And Patient Trust: Why Drug Quality Defines the Future of Indian Pharma

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 11:56 IST

As global scrutiny rises, drug quality is becoming the cornerstone of patient trust. Doctor explains how science, systems, and surveillance will define the future of Indian pharma.

Recent global scrutiny of Indian pharmaceutical exports has underscored a critical reality: drug quality is no longer just a regulatory obligation, it is a reputational imperative.

In an era where medicines are expected to be both effective and safe, drug quality has quietly become the foundation of patient trust. As Dr Sujit Paul, Group CEO, Zota Healthcare Ltd. and health expert explains, Every pill carries more than an active ingredient. It carries a promise of potency, stability, and safety." This promise is especially significant in India, often described as the pharmacy of the world."

Recent global scrutiny of Indian pharmaceutical exports has underscored a critical reality: drug quality is no longer just a regulatory obligation, it is a reputational imperative. International recalls, warning letters, and contamination concerns have prompted patients, doctors, and governments alike to ask harder questions. According to Dr Sujit Paul, Trust today is not assumed. It is examined, audited, and earned repeatedly."

At the core of drug quality, Dr Sujit Paul identifies three essential pillars: science, systems, and surveillance.

The first pillar science ensures that medicines perform as intended. Approved formulations, rigorous stability testing, and bioequivalence studies provide confidence that a drug behaves predictably in the human body. Without scientific validation," says Dr Sujit Paul, efficacy becomes a claim rather than a fact."

The second pillar systems focuses on how medicines are manufactured. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), automation, and digital batch tracking reduce human error and ensure consistency across production. As Dr Paul notes, Strong systems turn quality from an aspiration into a repeatable outcome."

The third pillar surveillance extends quality beyond the factory floor. Pharmacovigilance, post-market monitoring, and robust recall mechanisms help identify issues before they escalate into public health crises. No system is perfect," Dr Sujit Paul observes, but transparency and early action prevent isolated errors from becoming systemic failures."

A notable shift, he adds, is occurring among patients themselves. Increasingly, patients are behaving like informed, quality-conscious consumers. QR codes on packaging, easy access to drug information online, and improved health literacy mean that trust can no longer be taken for granted. Patients today want proof, not just price," says Dr Sujit Paul.

Importantly, affordability and quality need not be opposing goals. Through ethical sourcing, stringent testing, and compliance-driven partnerships, cost-effective medicines can still meet the highest quality standards. Low price does not have to mean low credibility," emphasises Dr Sujit Paul.

Ultimately, patient trust is built not through advertising, but through consistency. Every safe batch reinforces confidence; every lapse weakens not just one brand, but the industry as a whole. Looking ahead, Dr Sujit Paul believes Indias pharmaceutical leadership will depend less on volume and more on validation. The future of Indian pharma will be defined not by how much we produce," he concludes, but by how convincingly we prove that every pill deserves to be trusted."

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 11:56 IST

News lifestyle health-and-fitness Pills, Proof And Patient Trust: Why Drug Quality Defines the Future of Indian Pharma
Inside The Presidents Republic Day At Home Invite: A Tribute To The Ashtalakshmi States

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 09:36 IST

The Presidents Republic Day At Home invitation honours the craft, ecology and living traditions of Indias north-eastern states.

The Republic Day At Home invitation pays tribute to the artisans of North East India.

This year, the Presidents Republic Day At Home invitation transcends its ceremonial function to become a thoughtfully crafted cultural artefact. Designed as an immersive experience rather than a formal card, the invitation pays homage to Indias north-eastern region  spotlighting its ecological wealth, artisanal intelligence and living traditions. Every material choice and motif reflects a deep respect for the everyday artistry that continues to define life across the eight Ashtalakshmi states.

Guests arriving at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 26 will be welcomed with a specially designed Eri silk stole  a quiet but powerful introduction to the ethos of the North East. Often referred to as peace silk, Eri silk is prized for its ethical production, durability and cultural relevance, making it a fitting symbol of sustainability rooted in tradition.

Heres a glimpse of the specially designed At-Home invitation that has been sent from the President of India to the guests for the 77th Republic Day.The invitation kit this year celebrates the living traditions of Indias North Eastern Region. This invitation is a tribute to pic.twitter.com/pUDkRUj5TI  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 18, 2026

The stole becomes a canvas for the regions biodiversity. Nagaland is represented through the Mithun and the Rhododendron, while Manipur appears through the rare Shirui Lily and the endangered Sangai deer. Tripuras Nagkesar flower and Indian butter catfish, along with Mizorams Red Vanda Orchid and the Himalayan Serow, further highlight how closely nature and cultural identity are intertwined in the region.

The invitation box itself reflects functional craftsmanship rather than decorative excess. A woven bamboo mat, created using dyed cotton threads on the warp and finely split bamboo on the weft, draws from loom-based techniques associated with Tripura. The outer cover features a handmade paper tag for the address, accompanied by a bamboo ornament from Meghalaya, crafted using smoked bamboo splits that lend it a deep, earthy tone.

Subtle decorative patterns on the cover and box are inspired by Assamese manuscript painting, creating a visual continuity between text, texture and tradition.

Inside, the invitation unfolds into a wall-hanging scroll woven in an octagonal bamboo structure. Interlaced with tricolour threads, its form echoes the loin loom  a portable weaving device traditionally used by women across the North East. The scroll showcases handcrafted works from all eight states, each representing a distinct material culture and technique.

Featured art forms include Assams bamboo jaw harp Gogona, Manipurs Longpi black pottery, Tripuras cane and bamboo jewellery, Arunachal Pradeshs mon shugu paper, Meghalayas green bamboo weave, Sikkims woven nettle fabric and embroidery, Nagalands wild rhea and stinging nettle traditions, and Mizorams handwoven puan chei.

Curated by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, the invitation is intended to be displayed long after Republic Day concludes. More than a commemorative object, it stands as a lasting tribute to the artisans whose skills sustain and renew the cultural ecosystems of Indias north-eastern states.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 09:36 IST

News lifestyle Inside The Presidents Republic Day At Home Invite: A Tribute To The Ashtalakshmi States
Insta-Worthy Trips: How Much It Really Costs To Visit These 5 Countries From India

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 11:23 IST

Discover the worlds most stunning destinations! These countries consistently top the list with jaw-dropping landscapes and unforgettable views

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Before choosing the worlds most beautiful country, explore these destinations that consistently top the list for their breathtaking natural beauty and spectacular views.

Beauty takes many forms across the globe. Some countries captivate with ancient ruins and pristine beaches, while others awe visitors with majestic mountains, fjords, or untouched wilderness.

Before deciding which is the most beautiful country in the world, consider these destinations that consistently top the list for their natural splendour and breathtaking views.

Greece: A Blend Of History And Natural Beauty

Greece is a magnificent fusion of history and scenic charm. Whitewashed villages, azure seas, and sun-drenched islands create an enchanting atmosphere. From the cliffs of Santorini to the ancient architecture of Athens, its picturesque spots are everywhere. The coastline, islands, and historic seascapes make Greece one of the most photographed countries worldwide.

Cost: A week-long trip, including flights, hotels, food, and sightseeing, ranges from around Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh per person, depending on travel style.

New Zealand: Landscapes Of Raw Splendour

New Zealand is famed for its stunning natural scenery. Snow-capped mountains, rolling green hills, crystal-clear lakes, and rugged coastlines define its beauty. Its fjords, volcanic craters, and tranquil countryside make it highly appealing for those who love outdoor adventures and scenic road trips.

Cost: Depending on your purpose (tourism, study) and lifestyle, an estimated trip costs between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh per person.

Italy: Diversity In Beauty

Italys beauty lies in its remarkable diversity. From the charming canals of Venice to the vineyards of Tuscany and the spectacular Amalfi Coast, every region offers a unique landscape. The combination of art, architecture, cuisine, and natural scenery provides a rich and immersive travel experience.

Cost: Round-trip economy flights from India (Delhi or Mumbai to Rome or Milan) usually range from Rs 45,000 to Rs 65,000 per person.

Switzerland: Alpine Majesty

Switzerland is renowned for its breathtaking Alpine views. Snow-covered peaks, pristine lakes, and quaint villages enhance its charm. The country remains peaceful, clean, and picturesque year-round. Scenic train journeys and mountain vistas make it a favourite among travellers.

Cost: For a 7-10 day trip, including flights (Rs 45k-90k), visa (Rs 8k), accommodation (Rs 70k-1.6L), food (Rs 20k-40k), and local expenses, expect to spend between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh or more per person.

Spain: Colourful Landscapes And Vibrant Culture

Spain is celebrated for its colourful scenery and lively culture. Coastal shores, rolling plains, mountain ranges, and bustling cities combine to create a spectacular visual experience.

The architecture of Barcelona and the historic cities of Andalusia are energetic, vibrant, and incredibly attractive to explore.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 11:23 IST

News lifestyle travel Insta-Worthy Trips: How Much It Really Costs To Visit These 5 Countries From India
Akshay Kumars SUV And Convoy Car Involved In Road Accident In Juhu; Actor Jumps Out

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 22:59 IST

Akshay Kumars SUV and convoy vehicle were involved in a road accident in Juhu after a chain collision. The actor was seen stepping out to help those injured.

Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle Khanna were involved in a frightening road accident.

Actor Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle Khanna were involved in a frightening road accident on Monday evening shortly after returning to Mumbai from an overseas trip. The incident occurred while the couple was travelling from the airport to their Juhu residence, sending shockwaves through the area and drawing immediate attention from onlookers.

According to initial accounts, a speeding Mercedes rammed into an auto rickshaw, which then crashed into a vehicle from Akshay Kumars security entourage. The impact caused the convoy vehicle to collide with the actors SUV, resulting in a chain accident near the Silver Beach cafe in Juhu.

Actor Steps Out To Help Auto Driver, Passenger

Despite the severity of the collision, no fatalities were reported. The auto driver and passenger, who were briefly trapped after their vehicle was crushed under the security car, were rescued moments later. Residents in the area witnessed Akshay Kumar immediately step out of his SUV along with his staff to assist those involved.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the vehicles came to a halt and the damaged auto appeared severely mangled. Akshay and members of his team were seen lifting the auto and pulling out the driver and passenger to safety before medical help arrived. An eyewitness told Hindustan Times, It was scary to see the accident but thankfully everyone is safe."

All those involved in the mishap, including the auto occupants, are reported to be safe, with no serious injuries confirmed so far. The incident led to brief traffic congestion in the area as authorities and locals worked to clear the spot.

Returned From Anniversary Trip Abroad

The accident occurred just hours after Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna landed in Mumbai following a special trip abroad to mark their 25th wedding anniversary. The couple had shared glimpses from their celebratory vacation on social media, drawing love and admiration from fans.

Twinkle had earlier posted a video of the couple paragliding, accompanied by a heartfelt message that read: The best part of our marriage? We always encourage each other to fly. Sometimes literally, like today! Heres to 25 years of love, support and jumping off mountains @akshaykumar."

Akshay, too, marked the milestone by sharing a memory from their wedding day, writing, When we got married this day in 2001, her mother had said Beta, get ready to burst out laughing in the most weird situations because shell do exactly that. 25 years and I know ki meri mother-in-law kabhi jhooth nahi bolti haiher daughter refuses to even walk straight she prefers to dance through life instead From day one to year twenty five, cheers to my lady who keeps me laughing, guessing and slightly anxious at times! Happy anniversary to us, Tina. 25 years of madness that we both love ."

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 22:59 IST

News movies bollywood Akshay Kumars SUV And Convoy Car Involved In Road Accident In Juhu; Actor Jumps Out
Can Write Rama And Krishna Aartis: Javed Akhtars Old Comment Resurfaces Amid AR Rahman Controversy

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:02 IST

Javed Akhtars old remark about writing Rama and Krishna aartis resurfaces as he counters A.R. Rahmans view on communalism in Bollywood.

Javed Akhtar denies any communal bias against AR Rahman in Bollywood.

Veteran poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar recently reacted to ace music composer A.R. Rahmans remark about the Hindi film industry becoming more communal over the past eight years. Akhtar, in his remark, claimed that in all these years in the industry, he never felt that way. Javed Akhtar has been quite vocal about his beliefs and thinking. Earlier, he has also spoken about being called a liar for claiming to be an atheist and then writing devotional songs like O Paalanhaare" from Lagaan (2001) and Pal Pal Hai Bhaari" from Swades (2004).

Javed Akhtar has given some of the most beautiful devotional songs on Hindu deities while he is a Muslim. In a conversation with O2 India last year, Javed Akhtar said, I must have witnessed the tail end of what we call the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb in Awadh, where I grew up. Thats something rare. I dont know if youll be able to capture that world or that value system again."

While Javed argued that he has grown up in a communist family, they were perceived to be Muslims, at least traditionally. But he shared that he is still able to write aartis and bhajans and stated, How did we know all of this? Ramleela, Krishna Leela? I can write Rama and Krishna aartis. How am I able to? Where did I get this from? They were a part of my growth. It wasnt a big deal either. Thats how people were. I dont know where thats disappeared now."

Further continuing and speaking about how there was harmony between people during his childhood, Akhtar shared, We were dressed in yellow on Basant Panchmi. The culture of celebration existed back then. I dont see it anymore. Thats how people were in Lucknow. Its a unique place. It still is."

What did A.R. Rahman say?

Rahman, in an interview with BBC Asian Network, had said that the reasons often reach him indirectly and tagged it as Chinese whispers." He went on to say in the interview, People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face."

What did Javed Akhtar say in response to Rahmans comment?

Sharing his perspective, Akhtar said he has never experienced this sentiment in Mumbai and stressed that Rahman continues to command immense respect across the industry. I have never felt this way. I meet people here in Mumbai. They have great respect for him," Akhtar told IANS.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 13:02 IST

News movies bollywood Can Write Rama And Krishna Aartis: Javed Akhtars Old Comment Resurfaces Amid AR Rahman Controversy
Shah Rukh Khan Stops Fan From Clicking Selfie On Stage At Joy Awards, Internet Backs Him

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Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 00:25 IST

A video of Shah Rukh Khan taking a fans phone on stage at the Joy Awards has gone viral, with many netizens saying the actor was simply following protocol.

Shah Rukh Khan at the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh

Shah Rukh Khans brief interaction with a fan on stage at the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh has sparked a wave of online discussion, with many coming out strongly in the actors defence. A video from the event has gone viral on social media, showing the superstar calmly handling an awkward moment while presenting an award.

The clip, shared on Threads, captures a moment when a person standing next to Shah Rukh on stage attempts to take a selfie with him during the award presentation. What followed has since been interpreted in contrasting ways online.

Shah Rukh Khan Takes Fans Phone On Stage

In the video, Shah Rukh is seen smiling as he gently takes the phone from the person attempting to click a selfie. He then gestures for the individual to face forward towards the official cameraperson before returning the phone. Moments later, another person tries to click a selfie, and Shah Rukh once again signals for them to look at the front-facing camera. The actor then hands over the trophy, posing with the awardee as photographers capture the moment.

The clip was shared with the caption, A video from the Joy Awards in Saudi is making rounds online, where a fan tried to take a selfie with Shah Rukh Khan, and SRK gently took the phone away. While some people are calling it arrogance, others feel moments like these are often misunderstood. In crowded, high-security events, even small interactions can look different from what they really are. As always, opinions are dividedwhat do you think?"

Internet Says SRK Was Following Protocol

While a section of social media questioned Shah Rukhs behaviour, a large number of fans defended him, insisting he was simply adhering to the events protocol. One fan commented, Are they stupid? Hes telling them someone else will take the picture, that way the prize can be seen too Theyre not smart enough to see something so obvious."

Another user wrote, He is clearly telling, Take a picture from the front so that the picture will be clearer." Echoing the sentiment, a comment read, He is following protocol and telling them the same. Why take a selfie on stage with an award when there is a cameraman?"

A Threads user explained, SRK was following the protocol of the event, wherein he is supposed to click an official photo while presenting the award to the awardee. However, people got excited to be in the same stage and frame as SRK and started clicking personal selfies. He just stopped them from doing the same and finished his obligations. No need to troll him for doing his duty."

Another fan added, We are so used to not following basic civic sense that now we criticise someone trying to follow that, when you are on stage for an award, you dont click personal selfies to ruin official photographs."

Shah Rukh Khan At Joy Awards 2026

Shah Rukh Khan was among the prominent global stars who attended the 2026 Joy Awards, alongside celebrities such as Millie Bobby Brown, Katy Perry, Lee Jung-jae, and Lee Byung-hun. Sharing his experience from the event, the actor took to X and wrote, Always fun and happiness to come my friend. And the function was spectacular and very grand. Congratulations on half a decade of #JoyAwards."

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First Published: January 20, 2026, 00:25 IST

News movies bollywood Shah Rukh Khan Stops Fan From Clicking Selfie On Stage At Joy Awards, Internet Backs Him
BTS World Tour: Why Korean Hotels Are Cancelling Fans Reservations

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 15:10 IST

BTS fans claimed that hotels have been cancelling their bookings for people offering more money to them.

BTS will kick off their world tour in April 2026. (Photo Credit : X)

BTS fans all over the world are excited for the K-pop boy bands comeback. BTS members, including V, Jungkook, RM, Suga, Jin, J-Hope, and Jimin, are all set to embark on their highly anticipated world tour in April, and ARMYs did not waste any time booking tickets and hotels.

However, amid the high excitement, hotels in South Korean cities like Busan and Goyang, two key cities of the BTS world tour, have been reportedly cancelling bookings.

Why Are South Korean Hotels Cancelling Bookings?

Soon after the scheduled tour was dropped, fans started making reservations ahead of time. While the shows in Goyang and Busan are scheduled in April and June, fans claimed the hotels have been cancelling their bookings for people offering more money to them.

As per local reports, hotel prices have risen ten times more than usual. Social media chatter between fans and hotel authorities suggested the cancellation requests began when hotel staff realised they had more reservations than rooms available.

However, fans are not convinced by their reasoning. Many of them alleged that they had booked the room first, and hence the hotel was not entitled to cancel their stay in the name of extra demand. Fans also claimed that hotels wanted to raise the price for someone else who would be ready to pay more, which caused the cancellation chaos.

Following the allegations, hotels in Goyang and Busan are now being deemed shameless and greedy" and getting called out on social media. Fans also slam them for doing cheap tricks to earn extra money from BTS fans.

BTS Announces World Tour Dates

The K-pop boy band is all set to embark on their much-awaited world tour spanning 34 cities across five continents with 79 shows in total. BTS will kick off their tour on April 9 in Goyang, South Korea, before moving to Japan.

They will begin their North America leg in Florida and tour across states like Texas, California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Illinois, among others. Other European and Latin American stops include Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and more.

Other countries in the Asia-Pacific region include Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia, among others. BTS is expected to conclude the massive world tour in the Philippines on March 14, 2027, so far. Additional cities and venues will be announced later.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 15:10 IST

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First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi agreed to hold a joint meeting with the heads of nuclear power plants and the agency's missions in Ukraine amid intelligence received about possible Russian attacks on energy infrastructure important for nuclear power plants.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Monday he held an important conversation with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, agreeing to soon jointly hear from the heads of Ukraines nuclear power plants and IAEA missions working at the sites.

Shmyhal said he also discussed with Grossi the need for an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors to assess the impact of Russian attacks on Ukraines energy system.

He told Grossi that Russia is preparing another large-scale strike on Ukraines energy infrastructure, with potential attacks on facilities and networks servicing nuclear power plants.

Grossi, Shmyhal said, reported that the IAEA is preparing a report and methodology to evaluate the effects of Russian attacks on the operation of nuclear stations.

The energy minister emphasized that the continued presence of IAEA missions at Ukrainian energy sites is strategically important for the country.

"The IAEA is preparing a new expert mission to Ukrainian nuclear plants, including Zaporizhia, and to substations that affect the operation of nuclear facilities. I am grateful for this decision," Shmyhal said.

He also stressed that relocating IAEA missions to temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine through Russian territory is unacceptable.
For Gaurav Khanna, Wife Akanksha Chamola Is His Favourite Notification Every Morning

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Trending Desk

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 11:43 IST

Gaurav Khanna took to his Instagram and dropped a bunch of mushy pictures from Akanksha Chamolas pre-birthday celebration.

Gaurav and Akanksha have been happily married for almost 10 years now. (Photo Credit: Instagram)

Television actress Akanksha Chamola turned a year older on January 18. While several heartwarming wishes poured in from across the world as she celebrated her 35th birthday, it was her husband and actor Gaurav Khannas birthday wish that truly melted hearts. The doting husband took to his Instagram and dropped a bunch of mushy pictures from Akankshas pre-birthday celebration.

The carousel featured the two clad in matching red outfits. While Akanksha slipped into a gorgeous red shimmery dress, Gaurav looked every bit her dashing companion in a red formal outfit.

Gaurav Khannas Birthday Wish

Along with the bunch of pictures, he penned a heartfelt note wishing her a very happy birthday. Calling Akanksha the woman who stole my heart, the Bigg Boss 19 winner penned, Happy birthday to my wifethe CEO of remembering things I forgot I said. To the woman whos always right (even when she isnt). Happy birthday to the woman who stole my heart and still wont give it back. Youre my favourite notification every morning."

They say the secret to a happy marriage is finding someone who can make you laugh. Good thing you found me! Couples who grey together, stay together! So happy birthday, wifey. Enjoy your day," he added.

Fans And Industry Friends React

Just like us, fans and industry friends were in absolute awe of Gaurav Khannas birthday wish. Soon after he uploaded the post, they took to the comments section to wish Akanksha a very happy birthday. While some applauded the duo for their adorable bond, others showered love on Akanksha. Mridul Tiwari quipped, Happpppppy Birthday. Dawat kha hai??"

The cutest and best birthday wish is here," read a comment.

Another said, Ye dono miya biwi ne dil pa kabza karke baitha hai mera. Red Hawtt coupleee."

They look so adorable together, love you both and happy birthday akuu di," wrote a user.

An individual stated, Happiest birthday to this amazing and gorgeous lady."

Akku wore red, GK wore love and the day turned magical," remarked another.

Gaurav Khanna And Akanksha Chamolas Relationship Timeline

The madly-in-love couple met at an audition, and for Gaurav, it was love at first sight. After their first meeting, Gaurav pretended to be inexperienced in the industry and asked her for tips on bagging roles. Akanksha, who had given him advice, soon realised Gaurav was already an established actor. This instantly ignited a spark between the two, and they started dating.

After a whirlwind romance, Gaurav Khanna and Akanksha Chamola tied the wedding knot in a grand wedding ceremony in Gauravs hometown, Kanpur, on November 24, 2016.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 11:43 IST

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Opinion | Gaza To Greenland: Trumps Unilateral World And Indias Red Line

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:46 IST

A US-led, Trump-chaired Gaza Board of Peace that sidelines traditional multilateralism, and renewed talk of asserting control over Greenland, have managed to rattle allies

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US President Donald Trump. (Getty File)

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a wrecking ball to multilateralism. From Gaza to Greenland, Caracas to Canada, his muscular territorial hustle appears to be redrawing the rules of power unilaterally.

Its not as if the United States has ever been bashful about asserting its power without deference to global bodies like the United Nations. But Trumps interventions lack even the moral fig-leaf that his American predecessors routinely used to cover Washingtons naked pursuit of national interest. Legitimacy, it appeared, still mattered to them. That nicety clearly does not matter to Trump.

Trumps modus operandi is now well-known. Yet a U.S.-led, Trump-chaired Gaza Board of Peace" that sidelines traditional multilateralism, and renewed talk of asserting American control over Greenland, have still managed to rattle allies. Many of them India included, if not publicly, then privately are wondering whether Washington is now normalising territorial politics.

Countries like India, which were reduced to colonies during the height of imperial expansion, have little difficulty spotting the colonial stripe in this new-age Don-roe Doctrine".

The Gaza Board of Peace", with Trump as its lifelong chairperson and his son-in-law and assorted business associates as executive participants, resembles less a peace initiative and more a real-estate venture masquerading as a modern Marshall Plan.

India may have received an invitation to join. It would be well advised to stay away. Very far away.

Here are at least five reasons why.

First, India has consistently backed UN-led conflict resolution. Joining a U.S.-designed board legitimises parallel power structures and weakens the multilateral order India claims to defend.

Second, participation would be read across West Asia as alignment with a U.S.Israeli framework, not neutrality. In that region, perception often matters more than intent.

Third, blending reconstruction with security and governance risks pulling India into the morass of administering territory. That runs directly against Indias own historical experience of resisting colonial control.

Fourth, if the Gaza Board deviates from its supposedly altruistic mission, or simply fails, India would pay a reputational price. Loss of regional goodwill would be felt domestically and across the Global South.

And fifth, when the United States bends sovereignty to strategic convenience, it weakens the global order it once enforced creating precisely the opening that China exploits. Delhi cannot afford to lose the moral high ground to Beijing, especially on questions of territory and precedent.

Indias strength has always come from staying aligned with principles, not personalities. Joining the Board would be to compromise strategic autonomy.

Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 19:46 IST

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Opinion | Why Iran Can Never Be Home Again For Zoroastrians

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 14:32 IST

Even if there is ever a secular regime there, the majority faith will remain Islam and chances of a grand revival of Zoroastrianism are thus remote

An Iranian official reported at least 5,000 deaths in recent protests, including 500 security forces, with major clashes in Kurdish regions. (AFP photo)

It has been 1,400 years since Islam took control of Iran so current conversations about whether the uprising against the regime controlled by the ayatollahs could see a return to Irans ancient faith is utterly fanciful. Islam is very securely anchored in Iran today and while Iranians have been protesting against the repression of the current Islamic regime, that cannot be seen as a rejection of the religion itself. Now Islam is as Iranian (or Persian) as its ancient faiths.

Thus, the possibility of a revival of Zoroastrianism in the land of its birth would only find resonance in India. Iran turned to Shiism during Safavid rule in the 16th century, which triggered persecution of Sunni and other Islamic sects, besides the remaining Zoroastrians, Christians and Jews. As the worlds largest Shia Muslim nation, it supports Islamic outfits from Hezbollah and Hamas to Houthis and is the arch enemy of Israel and the US. Can it really change again?

The optimism of some Indians is understandable as indigenous faiths of ancient Iran (Eran/Airan) and India (Aryavarta) have startling similarities, including a common link to Aryans. Many Indians, for instance, will hear echoes of our own Sanskrit writings in the 5th century BC inscription on the tomb of the Achaemenid ruler Darius I: Aham DarayavoushParsa Parsahya Putra Ariya Ariya Chitra" (I am Darius, Persian, son of a Persian, Aryan, of Aryan lineage")

Now called Zoroastrianism and Hinduism thanks to 19th century western scholars eager to ascribe a structure to organic proto-historic belief systems, the divergent fate of these faiths must be noted as Iranians rise against the Islamic regimethe first country in modern times to be ruled by Islamic clerics based on Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis Velayat-e-faqih diktatfor the umpteenth time in the 21st century. But protesting repression does not mean imminent renunciation.

Islam arrived in Iran and India not long apart but had very different effects on the adjacent ancient civilisations. The majority faith of Iran collapsed once Eranshahr (dubbed the Sasanian Empire by western scholars) fell to the Muslim Rashidun Caliphate in the 7th century. Less than a century later, the general of the Umayyad Caliphate, Mohammed Bin Qasim swept into northern India, bringing Islam to Aryavarta. But Indias majority faith did not crumple and convert.

The religion propagated by Zarathushtra is monotheistic, reposing faith in Ahura Mazda, although anchored in an even more ancient indigenous belief system that had more godsdaevaswho were later rejected" as being repositories of negative qualities. India, evolving from the same Aryan-Vedic lineage, however, found ways to incorporate existing and local deities within its pantheon, even as seers expounded on the ultimate truth and its dual/non-dual essence.

Religious wars have been (and in some cases, still are) a tenet of monotheistic faiths, from the early concept of Herem in Judaism to Christianitys Crusades to Islams Jihad. As Zoroastrianism had its own version of the righteous battle fought for the true God Ahura Mazda and it was the state religion, Islam had a clear enemy to conquer and convert in Iran. But the diffused and assimilatory nature of faith in India helped it withstand the onslaught of Islam.

In India, there was never any state religion after Ashoka or a unified clerical hierarchy although rulers had their preferences. Indeed, adhering to any one stream of the Indic faiths did not preclude respect and even patronage of other streams. Hence there are countless instances of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain spaces within the same temple complexes commissioned by kings and queens. So, the defeat of any one ruler did not adversely impact the balance of faith.

So, it is not surprising that Zarathushtras faith lives on in India rather than in Iran. After all, Parsis chose to flee to Diu and Sanjan in the 8th to 10th centuries to escape death or conversion in Iran, and there are still 50,000 to 60,000 of them in India, admired for their industry and intellect. The Parsis strict adherence to non-proselytisationone reason perhaps for their numerical decline and problems of inbreedingalso ensured they did not alarm existing faiths in India.

The Parsis sincerity about blending in, set during the very first meeting with the Indian king Jadi Rana over a millennium ago, has been an additional article of faith ever since. They adopted local clothes (reserving traditional vestments for religious events only), adopted the local language for everyday communication, and even switched to the local cuisine, albeit with their own distinctive touches. Their solemn covenant with India was a masterclass in integration.

Even as a miniscule minority, therefore, their faith has been safe within Indias pantheistic embrace, though Muslims ruled vast parts of India too in the past 1,400 years. Can it really be safe anywhere else where there is a differing monotheistic belief, especially in their original homeland? Wisely, the Parsis never considered themselves as a diasporaunlike displaced Jewsand thus have no concept of returning". They do not consider India as exile.

A visiting 16th century Jewish Portuguese doctor Garcia da Orta observed for instance, There are also merchants called Coaris, and in the kingdom of Cambaia they are known as Esparcis. We Portuguese call them Jews, but they are not so. They are Gentios who came from Persia and have special letters of their own and many peculiar superstitions. They do not circumcise nor are they forbidden pork. Beef is prohibited. By these things we see that they are not Jews."

The Parsis in India, thanks to success in business in the 19th century in particular, helped their co-religionists who had survived in their homeland with philanthropic donations for schools etc. When the Pahlavi dynasty came to power in Iran in 1925, supplanting the Qajars, they cleverly played up Irans pre-Islamic history and even gave some more rights to the few remaining Zoroastrians. But this liberalisation was reversed by the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Even if in the future the current protests against the cleric-led Islamic regime lead to the establishment of a secular dispensation in Iran, the majority faith there will remain Islam. Chances of a grand revival of Zoroastrianism there are remote and hence the possibility of an Islamic backlash will always remain. Indias consistent and demonstrable record of accepting and accommodating Parsis and their Zoroastrian faith clearly points to what is the best place for both.

The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 14:32 IST

News opinion Opinion | Why Iran Can Never Be Home Again For Zoroastrians

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 15:44 IST

1 / 6 The Union Public Service Commission is expected to release the Civil Services Examination 2026 notification soon. The notification was earlier scheduled for January 14 but was postponed due to administrative reasons, according to an official notice issued by UPSC. (File Photo)

2 / 6 UPSC has not announced a fresh date for releasing the CSE 2026 notification. However, the notification is likely to be published later this week on the Commissions official website, upsc.gov.in. (Image: Getty Images/iStockPhoto)

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3 / 6 Earlier, in its official notice, UPSC stated, The Notification of Civil Services Examination, 2026, and the Indian Forest Service Examination, 2026, scheduled to be notified on 14.01.2026, have now been postponed due to administrative reasons, and the same will be notified in due course. (Image: Pexels)

4 / 6 Once released, candidates can check the UPSC CSE 2026 notification by visiting upsc.gov.in. The notification link will be available under the Whats New section on the homepage, from where aspirants can download the PDF for reference. (Representational Image)

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5 / 6 The UPSC notification will include key details such as the number of vacancies, services offered, eligibility criteria, age limit, age relaxation for reserved categories, nationality requirements and educational qualifications required to apply for the Civil Services Examination 2026. (AI Generated Image)
Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 08:43 IST

1 / 10 Navratri, meaning nine nights, is one of Hinduisms most revered festivals, celebrated four times a year. While the Chaitra and Sharad Navratris are widely known and celebrated with grandeur, the Gupt (secret) Navratris, observed in Magh and Ashadha months, are more esoteric and spiritually intense. Magh Gupt Navratri 2026 begins on January 19 and ends on January 28. Unlike the public festivities of other Navratris, this period is marked by private worship, meditation, and spiritual practices. Devotees honour the nine forms of Goddess Durga and also engage in rituals connected to the ten Mahavidyas, making it a time of profound inner transformation. (File Photo)

2 / 10 Shailputri, the daughter of the mountains, is worshipped on the first day. She embodies strength and stability, riding a bull while holding a trident and lotus. Her presence marks the beginning of spiritual awakening and sets the tone for the days ahead. (Image: AI-Generated)

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3 / 10 On the second day, devotees honor Brahmacharini, the ascetic goddess. She represents penance, devotion, and perseverance, carrying a rosary and water pot. Her energy inspires discipline and self-control, guiding worshippers toward spiritual focus. (Image: AI-Generated)

4 / 10 The third day is dedicated to Chandraghanta, known for her courage and grace. With a half-moon shaped bell adorning her forehead, she protects devotees from evil forces and instills fearlessness in their hearts. (Image: AI-Generated)

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5 / 10 Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day. Believed to have created the cosmic egg, she radiates vitality and energy. Her blessings bring health, prosperity, and a sense of creative power to those who seek her. (Image: AI-Generated)

6 / 10 On the fifth day, devotees turn to Skandamata, the mother of Kartikeya. She is depicted holding her son and symbolizes motherly love and protection. Worshipping her grants wisdom, compassion, and ultimately salvation. (Image: AI-Generated)

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7 / 10 The sixth day celebrates Katyayani, the fierce warrior goddess born to sage Katyayan. Known for destroying demons, she represents courage, righteousness, and the strength to fight injustice. (Image: AI-Generated)

8 / 10 Kalaratri is revered on the seventh day. Fierce and protective, she removes fear and negativity from the lives of her devotees. Her dark form symbolizes the destruction of ignorance and the triumph of light over darkness. (Image: AI-Generated)

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9 / 10 On the eighth day, devotees worship Mahagauri, the radiant goddess. Pure and serene, she embodies forgiveness and inner peace. Her blessings are believed to cleanse past sins and bring relief from suffering. (Image: AI-Generated)
Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 07:00 IST

Language is one of the oldest and most influential methods used by humans to connect generations through culture, tradition, and identity. While many ancient languages have disappeared, a few survived, offering a connection to the history and the cultures of the past.

1 / 10 Tamil (Over 5000 years old): Tamil is often celebrated as the worlds oldest living language, still spoken by millions today. Its origins date back at least 5,000 years, with some estimates suggesting over 5,500 years of history. The language boasts a rich literary heritage, encompassing ancient poetry, religious scriptures, and philosophical works. Tamil is an official language in India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore, and today, more than 75 million people around the globe speak it. (Image: AI-generated)

2 / 10 Sanskrit (Over 5000 years old): Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-European language with a history spanning over 5,000 years. Often called the "mother of Indian languages," it serves as the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Although it is no longer spoken in daily life, Sanskrit remains integral to rituals, ceremonies, scholarly studies, and spiritual practices. The language has profoundly influenced many Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali. Some of Indias most celebrated classical texts, such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, were composed in Sanskrit. (Image: AI-generated)

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3 / 10 Greek (Over 3000 years old): Greek, one of the worlds oldest continuously used languages, has a history spanning over 3,000 years. Ancient Greek is the foundation of Western literature, philosophy, science, and politics, and was the language of legendary figures such as Homer, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. While modern Greek has evolved and restructured over time, it still retains much of the vocabulary, syntax, and structure of its ancient form. Today, Greek is spoken by around 13 million people, primarily in Greece and Cyprus. (Image: AI-generated)

4 / 10 Chinese (Mandarin) (Over 3000 years old): Chinese, particularly Mandarin, has a written history stretching back around 3,000 years. The earliest Chinese characters appeared on oracle bones during the Shang Dynasty (circa 1250 BCE). While spoken Chinese has evolved over the centuries, its logographic writing system remains closely connected to these ancient origins. Mandarin, the most widely spoken language in the world, has over 1.1 billion speakers. It is the official language of China and Taiwan and is widely used in Chinese communities across the globe. (Image: AI-generated)

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5 / 10 Hebrew (Over 3000 years old): Hebrew is unique among ancient languages because it was nearly lost as a spoken tongue before being revived in modern times. With a history of over 3,000 years, Hebrew was originally used mainly for religious and scholarly purposes within Judaism. By around the 2nd century CE, it had largely ceased to be a daily spoken language but continued to thrive as a sacred written language. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hebrew experienced a remarkable revival, and today it is the official language of Israel, spoken by just over 9 million people. (Image: AI-generated)

6 / 10 Arabic (Over 1500 years old): Arabic, the language of the Quran, has been spoken for over 1,500 years. Beyond its religious significance, it boasts a rich legacy in literature, science, and philosophy, and today is spoken by hundreds of millions across the Middle East and North Africa. (Image: AI-generated)

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7 / 10 Aramaic (Over 3000 years old): Aramaic, once widely spoken in the Near East, is famously known as the language of Jesus Christ. Though now endangered, small communities in Syria, Iraq, and Turkey still speak its dialects, preserving a remarkable cultural and historical legacy. (Image: AI-generated)

8 / 10 Persian (Over 2,500 years old): Persian, or Farsi, has been spoken for over 2,500 years and boasts a rich literary heritage with poets like Rumi and Hafez. Today, it is spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, connecting cultures and histories across the region. (Image: AI-generated)

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9 / 10 Latin (Over 2700 years old): Latin, the language of the Roman Empire, still wields influence today. Though no longer spoken natively, it survives in Vatican rituals, law, medicine, and scientific terminology, and serves as the root for many modern European languages, including French, Spanish, and Italian. (Image: AI-generated)
Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:46 IST

1 / 10 She is currently riding high on one of the strongest phases of her career, with multiple promising projects lined up and her brand value steadily rising. From films to fashion and beauty, everything she touches seems to work. Audiences see her as more than just an actor now and she is a performer, entrepreneur and trendsetter. Lately, she has been in the headlines for her life beyond work.

2 / 10 While most people believe her acting journey started with a Hindi action romance in 2014, the truth is something else. Before Bollywood noticed her, she had already stepped into a completely different film industry and worked alongside one of the biggest superstars in the country. Though often overlooked, that role proved her potential and set the tone for her confident Bollywood debut.

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3 / 10 Beyond films, she also built parallel careers that reflect her personal taste and business instincts. From launching her own fashion label to co-founding a beauty brand that clocked massive revenue in a short span, her off-screen success is no lesser than her on-screen rise. Add to that the recent buzz around her personal life and it shows why curiosity around her has never been higher.

4 / 10 The actor in focus is none other than Kriti Sanon. While many fans associate her silver screen debut with Heropanti (2014), Kriti had already appeared earlier that year in the Telugu psychological thriller 1: Nenokkadine, starring Mahesh Babu. Released months before her Bollywood debut, the film earned mixed reviews but performed well commercially. Kritis role as a journalist had also received appreciation.

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5 / 10 Kritis Bollywood debut opposite Tiger Shroff marked a turning point. With Heropanti, she instantly caught the audiences attention and won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. That success opened doors to bigger opportunities and she soon found herself working with some of the most celebrated names in Indian cinema.

6 / 10 In 2015, she shared screen space with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in Rohit Shettys Dilwale, further strengthening her position in the industry. Over the years, she delivered consistent hits including Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi, Housefull 4 and more. Her career-defining performance came with Mimi (2021). The film even earned her the National Film Award.

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7 / 10 Away from films, Kriti stepped in on a new journey of entrepreneurship In 2016, she launched her fashion label Ms Taken. Speaking about the brand, she once said she wanted to create something that truly reflected her personal style. Thats how she made the label an extension of her personality rather than just a celebrity name.

8 / 10 Her beauty brand Hyphen only added to her another major success story. Launched on her 33rd birthday in July 2023, the brand completed two years last July and revealed impressive numbers. According to co-founder and CEO Tarun Sharma, Hyphen generated Rs 400 crore in revenue in just two years. Kritis sharp business instincts shone through as she consistently worked on improving the formulation of the products along with her team.

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9 / 10 Kritis journey has been truly inspiring especially when one considers how far she has come. She hails from an engineering background with no family connections in Bollywood and entered the industry as a complete outsider. Kriti began as a model, slowly making her mark with confidence, discipline and persistence. With just her dedication and hard work, she carved a remarkable place in the industry.
January 20, 2026, 07:52 AM IST | Episode 131

In todays News18 Daily Digest: The Noida drowning tragedy triggers major administrative action after CNN-News18s sustained coverage. The Uttar Pradesh government has removed the CEO of the Noida Authority and ordered a five-day SIT probe into civic negligence, delayed response and disaster preparedness failures that led to the death of a young tech professional. The Madras High Court is set to hear pleas related to actor-politician Kamal Haasans film Indian 2 after the Supreme Court declined interim relief to the makers. The CBFC has flagged certain scenes over potential law-and-order concerns, while producers allege selective scrutiny. Political tensions rise in West Bengal over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to publish names of voters placed under the logical discrepancy category, amid allegations of arbitrary deletions and reports of violence in Murshidabad. The BJP announces Nitin Nabeen as its 12th national president, with the charge-taking ceremony to be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior party leaders. Stay with News18 for important developments from India and across the world.
After BMC Polls, Eknath Shinde Huddles With Shiv Sena Corporators At Mumbai Hotel

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Last Updated: January 18, 2026, 22:08 IST

Eknath Shinde moved the corporators to a luxury hotel in Bandra in the aftermath of the BMC polls, as Uddhav Thackeray created a flutter over his remarks on a Shiv Sena Mayor.

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Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde with his party corporators at Taj Lands End.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was seen with the newly elected 29 corporators of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) at Mumbais Taj Lands End on Sunday amid heightened political developments after the Mahayutis victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Party sources said the corporators were taken to the hotel on Saturday after the BMC results, and against the backdrop of apprehensions of poaching, a familiar feature of Maharashtras fractured political landscape.

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 29 seats in the 227-member civic body, a modest tally but one that proved critical in helping the BJP-led alliance cross the majority mark. With the BJP emerging as the single-largest party, the alliance is now set to take control of the countrys richest municipal corporation.

Why Did Shinde Shift Shiv Sena Corporators?

Sources indicated that the move to house corporators together is intended to ensure unity within the party as discussions begin on key decisions, including coordination with the BJP, the mayoral election and the distribution of responsibilities in the new civic administration.

The three-day stay at the Bandra hotel will also allow senior leaders to brief corporators on alliance strategy and governance priorities. The step gains significance as the BMC verdict has reignited the Sena vs Sena political battle, with Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT) accusing the Shinde faction of weakening the partys traditional base and enabling the BJPs historic entry into the BMCs top post.

This came particularly after Uddhav Thackeray, whose party secured 65 seats in the BMC elections, asserted that the UBT Sena was not wiped out from Mumbai and said if God is willing, the party could have its mayor in Mumbai. The BJP could not finish Shiv Sena (UBT) on the ground," he claimed, alleging that the ruling party could not buy loyalty."

Shiv Sena (UBT) emerged as the largest opposition party with 65 seats, while the Congress won 24, AIMIM eight, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena six, the Samajwadi Party two, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) one seat.

Shinde Doesnt Want BJP Mayor: Raut

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that many corporators of Shiv Sena, who originally belonged to the Bal Thackeray-founded party before its division, and even Shinde, do not want a BJP mayor in Mumbai.

When asked whether there will be ghar wapsi (return) of corporators, Raut said, Many new corporators are originally Shiv Sainiks (of undivided Shiv Sena). Our understanding is that everyone wants a BJP mayor not be elected. Even Shinde does not want a BJP mayor in Mumbai," Raut claimed.

Shiv Sena leader Sheetal Mhatre dismissed the speculation surrounding the hotel politics, saying that 20 of the 29 corporators have won for the first time and need to understand how the BMC functions. We dont need to resort to hotel politics. The elected corporators have defeated Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates," he said.

(with agency inputs)

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First Published: January 18, 2026, 22:08 IST

News politics After BMC Polls, Eknath Shinde Huddles With Shiv Sena Corporators At Mumbai Hotel

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Who Is Aparna Yadav, Mulayam's 'Chhoti Bahu' Tagged 'Family Destroyer' By Husband On Instagram?

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:44 IST

Aparna holds a masters degree from the University of Manchester, UK, and is also trained in classical and semi-classical music from the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow

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An animal lover, Aparna Yadav also runs an NGO, B Aware, which works for animal welfare. (PTI)

The family of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav seems to be facing testing times, with SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs brother Prateek Yadav taking to social media to announce that he is seeking a divorce from his wife Aparna Yadav. In an Instagram post, Prateek Yadav called Aparna, vice-president of the BJP womens commission and an outspoken critic of the Samajwadi Party, a selfish woman" and accused her of destroying" his family.

I am going to divorce this selfish woman as soon as possible. She ruined my family ties. All she wants to become is famous and influential. Right now, i am very bad mental health condition (sic) and she doesnt bother. Because its only herself she bothers about. I have never seen such a bad soul, and i was unfortunate to get married to her," he said.

The couple tied the knot in 2012 and has a daughter. Aparna Yadav came into the limelight when she decided to jump ship and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2022, shunning the legacy of one of Uttar Pradeshs most prominent political families.

Born in what is now Uttarakhand, Aparna Yadav grew up in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow. She completed her schooling locally before pursuing higher education abroad. She earned a masters degree in International Relations and Politics from the University of Manchester, UK. She is also trained in classical and semi-classical music from the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow.

An animal lover, she also runs an NGO, B Aware, which works for animal welfare. She has also been working on issues related to women safety and crimes against women.

Aparna began her formal political journey with the Samajwadi Party and first came into the electoral spotlight in 2017 when she contested from the Lucknow Cantonment Assembly constituency. Despite a spirited campaign, she lost the election.

Over time, her political views and public commentary began to diverge from the SP leaderships stance. She spoke in praise of development policies associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, with whom she shares her Thakur-Bisht background.

In January 2022, Aparna formally joined the BJP, stating that she saw better opportunities to contribute to national development and womens empowerment through the partys platform.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:42 IST

News politics Who Is Aparna Yadav, Mulayam's 'Chhoti Bahu' Tagged 'Family Destroyer' By Husband On Instagram?

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Iryna Zhdanova runs for the Supervisory Board of Public Media of Ukraine from the Open Policy Foundation

At the end of 2025, the selection process for members of the Supervisory Board (hereinafter  the Supervisory Board) of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting began and is currently ongoing.

The Supervisory Board is the strategic governing body of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, primarily tasked with ensuring the independence of its activities. It is formed from representatives of civil society across nine public sectors, as well as representatives delegated by parliamentary factions and groups of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Members of the Supervisory Board are elected once every five years.

Aware of my responsibility to society, I, Iryna Zhdanova, Executive Director of the NGO Open Policy Foundation and Coordinator of the Civic Platform for Reforming the Scientific Sector, decided to submit my candidacy for membership in the Supervisory Board in the field of education and science.

My program is aimed at providing information support for Ukrainian science and education through public broadcasting and is based on three priorities:

accessible fundamental education for a knowledge-based economy;

science for national defense;

veteran education focused on care and professional retraining.

My program is focused on ensuring the independence, transparency, high quality, and public relevance of educational and scientific content of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, so that public broadcasting becomes an accessible and effective instrument for the development of science and education in support of Ukraines victory and recovery (see details at where my program was published).

As I was officially informed, the conference to elect a member of the Supervisory Board is scheduled to take place on January 20, 2026. Three candidates are running:

Iryna Zhdanova , Executive Director and Co-founder of the NGO Open Policy Foundation, Coordinator of the Civic Platform for Reforming the Scientific Sector;

, Executive Director and Co-founder of the NGO Open Policy Foundation, Coordinator of the Civic Platform for Reforming the Scientific Sector; Halyna Tytysh , Co-founder of the NGO Vchysia, Director of the Charitable Foundation Foundation Mnozhyna;

, Co-founder of the NGO Vchysia, Director of the Charitable Foundation Foundation Mnozhyna; Taras Shevchenko, Lead Expert at the Center for Democracy and Rule of Law.

Out of 34 civil society organizations admitted to the conference, 22 nominated Halyna Tytysh, 11 nominated Taras Shevchenko, and only one organization nominated me.

What do these figures indicate?

They demonstrate that the election of candidates to the Supervisory Board is already dominated by two large monopolistic groups of organizations formed to ensure the election of a pre-determined candidate. This is not a competition of programs or approaches. It is the promotion of a preferred candidate through the support of controlled organizations.

Under such conditions, the election results are known in advance and have no relation to democracy, fair and competitive procedures, or the establishment of genuine public oversight over the national public broadcaster.

I would also like to draw attention to two additional circumstances.

First, a similar monopolistic voting scheme is applied in other sectors of the Supervisory Board elections. This indicates a systemic problem that must be addressed in the overall procedure for forming the Supervisory Board.

Second, this situation demonstrates stagnation not only in the field of education and science, but also across other areas of the Supervisory Boards composition. Certain individuals are re-elected term after term, effectively turning membership in the Supervisory Board into a form of lifelong sinecure.

This is my second attempt to run for membership in the Supervisory Board. In 2016, I placed second, while my opponent secured victory by mobilizing dozens of controlled organizations. Ten years later, after several selection processes, this individual remains a member of the Supervisory Board in the field of child and youth protection and currently serves as Chair of the Supervisory Board Audit Committee.

I do not intend to participate for a second time in such a farce, where the winners are determined in advance.

Therefore, I am withdrawing my candidacy from the election to the Supervisory Board of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting. Please consider this my official statement.

I believe that the procedure for selecting members of the Supervisory Board must be fundamentally revised. In particular, it is necessary to introduce term limits (no more than two terms) and to allow each civil society organization to nominate only one candidate. Following expert discussions and risk assessment, relevant amendments should be made to the Law of Ukraine On Public Media of Ukraine.

In the context of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, we must not give any reason to doubt our resilience or our determination to build a strong and dignified Ukraine. We must implement international democratic standards, rather than imitate them. I am convinced that this transformation will occur sooner or later.

Iryna Zhdanova

Executive Director of the NGO Open Policy Foundation,

Coordinator of the Civic Platform for Reforming the Scientific Sector
Ayodhya-Style Ram Temple To Be Built In Bengal, BJP MLA Says 'Nothing Political' In This Move

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 18:27 IST

The Shri Krittibas Ram Mandir Trust is reportedly undertaking the construction of the temple in West Bengal's Nadia district, dedicated to the Bengali cultural heritage.

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The construction of a Bengali Ram Temple has been proposed in West Bengal. (PTI/Representative Image)

The construction of a grand Ayodhya-style Bengali Ram temple in West Bengals Nadia district has been proposed, adding a communal dimension in the states politics after suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation for a Babri-themed mosque in Murshidabad.

Officials told NDTV that the proposed temple will now be a religious structure but also an important centre dedicated to Bengals cultural heritage. It will be particularly dedicated to Krittibas Ojha, the poet who wrote the Shri Ram Panchali, the 15th-century translation of the Sanskrit Ramayana.

Last month, posters appeared across Salt Lake announcing plans for an Ayodhya-style Ram temple complex on the metropoliss eastern fringes, promising a school, hospital, old-age home and other welfare facilities. The posters were attributed to local BJP leader and former local unit president Sanjay Poyra.

At the time, Poyra described the initiative as a social-spiritual movement rooted in Ram Rajya. Rams kingdom must have Rams temple. A Ram temple will come up in Bidhannagar- just like the one in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

The Shri Krittibas Ram Mandir Trust, a registered religious and charitable organisation, is reportedly undertaking the construction of the temple. Members of the trust conducted a final survey to measure the land for the temples construction on Sunday, marking the beginning of the project.

Officials said the project has been on the works since 2017. The structure will be set up in 15 bighas of land donated by locals Litan Bhattacharya and Pooja Banerjee. A fund of Rs 100 crore will be used to set up the temple by 2028.

Not Associated With Politics

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Arindam Bhattacharya, the president of the trust, told NDTV, Shantipur is the land of the Bhakti movement. Krittibas Ojha connected Ram with the emotional landscape of Bengal. The Rama he envisioned was very close to Bengali culture. That is why he is also called Hara Ram. We have been working on this project since 2017."

He denied that the construction of the temple was associated with politics. The temple will be built in two to three years. There is nothing political associated with it. But we will welcome everyone, including the government, to help us with the project. We welcome all to contribute and to give suggestions," he said.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Jayprakash Majumder hit back at Bhattacharyas remarks over the temple. Arindam Bhattacharya is not the right person. He was with our party. His new project to set up a Ram temple could be another attempt to loot money. BJP can never accept Krittibas Ojhas Bengali Ram," he was quoted as saying.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 18:27 IST

News politics Ayodhya-Style Ram Temple To Be Built In Bengal, BJP MLA Says 'Nothing Political' In This Move

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Biggest Liar Ive Seen: Prateek Yadav Ups Ante Against Wife Aparna In New Social Media Post

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 20:06 IST

Targeting Aparna Yadav, Prateek Yadav said, "She broke my relationship with my mother, broke my relationship with my father, broke my relationship with my brother."

Prateek Yadav (left) and Aparna Yadav (right). (Image: PTI)

Prateek Yadav, the son of Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, has hit headlines after announcing his intention to divorce his wife, Aparna Yadav, alleging that she has ruined his family ties."

Hours after announcing the decision, the SP patriarchs younger son and stepbrother of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, shared another post on Instagram, accusing Aparna Yadav of ruining family ties and claimed that she is the biggest liar and self-interested person" he has seen in his life.

In a post on Instagram, Prateek Yadav made a series of personal allegations against her. Targeting Aparna Yadav, he said, She broke my relationship with my mother, broke my relationship with my father, broke my relationship with my brother."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prateek Yadav (@iamprateekyadav)

Wants to be only famous. Biggest liar that I have seen in my life (I swear my child). Biggest self interested person I have ever seen," he added in the post.

Read More: Who Is Aparna Yadav, Mulayams Chhoti Bahu Tagged Family Destroyer By Husband On Instagram?

Earlier today, Prateek claimed that she had ruined" his family relationships and accused her of seeking fame and influence. He also alleged that he was going through a difficult phase mentally and said his wife was indifferent to his condition, stating that she only bothers about herself".

Prateek further described her as a bad soul" and said he felt unfortunate to have married her. The statements reflect Prateek Yadavs personal claims, and there has been no response from his wife so far.

The issue has drawn widespread attention because Prateek is the son of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, while Aparna is linked to the BJP. Though reports of differences between the two had surfaced earlier, this is the first time Prateek has openly spoken about divorce.

Read More: Who Is Prateek Yadav? Akhilesh Yadavs Stepbrother At The Centre Of Wedding Row

Meanwhile, there has been no official response from Aparna Yadav so far, and it is also unclear whether any legal divorce proceedings have been initiated.

Who Are Prateek Yadav and Aparna Yadav?

Prateek Yadav and Aparna Yadav were married in 2019. Aparna, who is associated with the BJP, has contested and won Assembly elections and is active on social media.

Prateek Yadav is the son of Mulayam Singh Yadavs second wife, Sadhna Yadav. His stepbrother and former chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, currently heads the Samajwadi Party, the main opposition in Uttar Pradesh.

Aparna Yadav had contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on an SP ticket from the Cantt seat in Lucknow but lost to Congress candidate Rita Bahuguna Joshi. She later joined the BJP in March 2022 and openly campaigned for the party. She was appointed vice chairperson of the states womens commission in September 2024.

Read More: Prateek-Aparna Divorce: How Mulayam Singhs Family Drama May Create Political Ripples In UP

Born in what is now Uttarakhand, Aparna Yadav grew up in Uttar Pradeshs Lucknow. She completed her schooling locally before pursuing higher education abroad. She earned a masters degree in International Relations and Politics from the University of Manchester, UK. She is also trained in classical and semi-classical music from the Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 20:06 IST

News politics Biggest Liar Ive Seen: Prateek Yadav Ups Ante Against Wife Aparna In New Social Media Post

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From Shindes Mayor Math To Rauts Sideways Praise For Fadnavis: Mahayutis Mumbai Puzzle

Curated By :

Translation Desk-Local18

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 09:25 IST

As Mahayuti weighs Shindes reported power-sharing pitch for Mumbai Mayor, Sanjay Rauts unexpected praise for Devendra Fadnavis adds a new layer to the political churn

Political observers say clarity is likely only after Fadnavis returns from the World Economic Forum in Davos and alliance leaders hold formal consultations. (PTI/File)

Mumbais political landscape is being closely watched amid negotiations within the ruling Mahayuti alliance over the Mumbai Mayors post following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, with reports suggesting that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is seeking a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing arrangement despite the BJP emerging as the single largest party.

The BJP secured 89 seats in the BMC elections and has staked a strong claim to the Mayors post.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the Mayor will be from the BJP. However, reports of a proposed rotational formula have added complexity to the ongoing talks within the alliance. News18 Hindi cited sources as indicating that the Shinde camp is keen to maintain unity as discussions continue.

In the opposition camp, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has alleged that councillors from the Shinde faction have been confined to prevent defections, a charge the Shinde group has denied, describing the arrangement as a training camp" for newly elected representatives.

The situation presents a balancing act for BJP-Shinde Mahayuti. While a refusal to consider the rotation proposal could test alliance cohesion, accepting it could blunt the BJPs electoral advantage as the largest party in the civic body. Political observers say clarity is likely only after Fadnavis returns from the World Economic Forum in Davos and alliance leaders hold formal consultations.

Rauts Backhanded Compliment For Fadnavis

Amid the ongoing negotiations, Sanjay Rauts recent comments have added a fresh political dimension. In a social media post, Raut praised Fadnaviss engagement with global investors in Davos and compared his reception to the international standing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting the BJP leader could be moving towards a larger national role in Delhi.

Analysts believe the remarks could fuel unease within alliance ranks while simultaneously enhancing Fadnaviss profile within the BJP.

Mumbai Mayor Talks: What We Know So Far

What is being discussed within Mahayuti over the BMC Mayors post? The BJP wants the Mayors post for the full term, while reports suggest the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is seeking a two-and-a-half-year rotational arrangement.

The BJP wants the Mayors post for the full term, while reports suggest the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is seeking a two-and-a-half-year rotational arrangement. What did Sanjay Raut say about Devendra Fadnavis? He praised Fadnaviss Davos engagements and suggested the CM he could be headed for a larger role in Delhi.

He praised Fadnaviss Davos engagements and suggested the CM he could be headed for a larger role in Delhi. Have councillors from the Shinde faction been confined? Raut has alleged confinement; the Shinde camp says councillors are attending a training programme.

Raut has alleged confinement; the Shinde camp says councillors are attending a training programme. When will clarity emerge on the Mayors post? After Fadnavis returns from Davos and alliance leaders meet.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 09:24 IST

News politics From Shindes Mayor Math To Rauts Sideways Praise For Fadnavis: Mahayutis Mumbai Puzzle

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In Interest Of State: After Backlash, DK Shivakumar Likely To Attend Davos Summit

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News18.com Edited By: Shobhit Gupta



Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 20:17 IST

DK Shivakumar said that he has been receiving calls asking him to be part of the discussions and that he is in the process of fixing appointments.

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. (Image: News18)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is reconsidering his earlier decision to cancel his visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, saying that he has received permission from the party leadership in Delhi to attend the key summit in Switzerland.

While speaking to reporters, the Deputy Chief Minister said that he has received permission from the party leadership in Delhi to attend the Davos meetings and added that several leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, have been urging him to go.

Shivakumar said that even Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has advised him to attend the World Economic Forum. He noted that while political rivalries remain, there are instances where the advice of the opposition must be taken into account when it aligns with the broader interests of the state.

Sometimes, one has to take the advice of the opposition in the interest of the state," he said, adding that when it comes to Karnatakas interests, everyone will work together.

Shivakumar said that he was in the process of fixing high-level appointments with global investors and industry leaders, citing a surge in requests for his participation in specific discussions.

According to sources, if logistical arrangements work out, Shivakumar may travel to Davos as early as Tuesday morning. His office said a change in his schedule has opened a window for the visit, prompting a rethink on the earlier cancellation.

Why Shivakumar Cancelled His Davos Trip?

Earlier, Shivakumar had cancelled his scheduled visit to the WEF, citing official engagements in New Delhi and Bengaluru.

The Deputy CM has a series of meetings lined up with AICC functionaries regarding Assam assembly elections and is also spearheading the campaign against the union government over MGNREGA due to which a five-day special session of the Karnataka Assembly is scheduled to begin from January 22," his office said in a release on Saturday.

He was also leading the Karnataka governments campaign against the Union Government over MNREGA, ahead of a five-day special session of the Karnataka Assembly beginning January 22.

World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 begins today in Davos, Switzerland, with India set to make a strong pitch to global investors, policymakers, and business leaders. The five-day summit is being held under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue, at a time when the global economy is grappling with slowing growth, geopolitical tensions, rapid technological disruption, and the challenge of rebuilding trust across nations.

The meeting is expected to focus on economic resilience, artificial intelligence (AI), energy transition, global risks, and geopolitics, with discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between governments and industry leaders.

Indias delegation at Davos 2026 includes senior political leadership and a large corporate contingent, reflecting the countrys intent to position itself as a current  not future  engine of global growth.

Four Union ministers, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K Rammohan Naidu; Six chief ministers, Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), A Revanth Reddy (Telangana), and Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), are attending the summit.

In addition, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and senior delegations from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are also attending the meeting.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 17:26 IST

News politics In Interest Of State: After Backlash, DK Shivakumar Likely To Attend Davos Summit

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Prateek-Aparna Divorce: How Mulayam Singhs Family Drama May Create Political Ripples In UP

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 20:09 IST

The public declaration has triggered political, personal and family-level speculation, bringing Yadav family back into the spotlight for reasons far removed from electoral politics

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Prateek and Aparna Yadav. (Image: PTI)

In a dramatic and emotionally charged social media post, Prateek Yadav, the younger son of late Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, announced on Monday that he would soon be divorcing his wife, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Uttar Pradesh State Womens Commission vice-chairperson Aparna Yadav.

The public declaration has triggered political, personal and family-level speculation, bringing the powerful Yadav family back into the spotlight for reasons far removed from electoral politics.

In an Instagram post that has since gone viral, Prateek accused Aparna of destroying his family relationships and being driven solely by ambition and the pursuit of power and influence. Calling her selfish" and a bad soul", Prateek said his mental condition was very bad" and alleged that Aparna showed no concern for him, caring only about herself. It was my misfortune to marry her," he wrote, signalling an irreparable breakdown of their 14-year-long marriage.

Aparna Yadav, currently associated with the BJP and holding a constitutional post, has not responded publicly so far. At the time the post surfaced, Aparna was in Chennai, while Prateek was reportedly abroad. Neither of them was present in Lucknow, where the couple has been residing on Vikramaditya Marg.

Cracks since 2022

According to family sources, the divorce announcement may appear sudden, but the marriage has been under strain for nearly three years. The turning point, they say, came in early 2022, when Aparna Yadav quit the Samajwadi Party and joined the BJP without Prateeks consent. The move was widely seen as a political shock for the Mulayam family, making Aparna the first member of the household to cross over to the BJP.

This is not the first time Prateek has aired grievances on social media. On February 5, 2025, he had posted a series of allegations against Aparna, accusing her of making his life hell" and acting only for money and power." He had also claimed to possess proof of her truth and past." Those posts were later deleted, but Mondays statement suggests the conflict has reached a breaking point.

After the Instagram post, neither Prateek nor Aparna responded to phone calls. When contacted, Aparnas brother suggested that the Instagram account might have been hacked and said the family would issue a statement soon. The Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadavs political heir, have so far maintained silence on the issue.

A high-profile marriage

Prateek and Aparna got married on December 4, 2011, after a decade-long relationship that began in 2001, when the two first interacted at a birthday party and started exchanging emails. Their wedding in Saifai, Etawah, was a grand affair attended by lakhs of guests, including Mulayam Singh Yadav himself and Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. The couple has two daughters.

Aparna, born Aparna Bisht on January 1, 1990, hails from a Uttarakhand-based family. Her father was a journalist who later became a State Information Commissioner, while her mother, Ambi Bisht, served as a property officer in the Lucknow Development Authority. Aparna studied at Loreto Convent, Lucknow, and later in the UK. After marriage, she adopted the surname Yadav.

Prateek, now 38, is the only son of Mulayam Singh Yadavs second wife, Sadhana Gupta, a former nurse. Although Mulayam publicly acknowledged Prateek as his son, he named Akhilesh Yadav  his son from first wife Malti Devi  as his political successor.

Aparna Yadavs political journey has been marked by controversy and independence. Even during her time in the Samajwadi Party, she often made statements that diverged from the party line. In 2017, she contested the Lucknow Cantonment seat on an SP ticket but lost to BJPs Rita Bahuguna Joshi. When she was denied a ticket in the 2022 Assembly elections, Aparna quit the SP and joined the BJP, a move Akhilesh Yadav chose not to publicly comment on.

Despite joining the BJP, Aparna did not receive an Assembly ticket in 2022 and later sought one from Sarojini Nagar without success. She was eventually appointed vice-chairperson of the State Womens Commission in 202425.

Her tenure has also seen several controversies, including cases against her family memberscorruption allegations against her mother and cheating charges against her brother. In recent months, Aparna was highly active in the KGMU love jihad" and forced conversion controversy, leading protests and press conferences that culminated in allegations of vandalism at the vice-chancellors office. KGMU authorities later clarified that the damage was caused by her supporters, not Aparna herself.

Prateek stays away from politics

Unlike his wife, Prateek Yadav has consciously stayed away from active politics. An alumnus of the University of Leeds in the UK, he runs real estate and fitness businesses in Lucknow, including a gym called The Fitness Planet. He also heads a non-profit organisation, Jeev Aashray, dedicated to rescuing and caring for stray dogs.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 19:36 IST

News politics Prateek-Aparna Divorce: How Mulayam Singhs Family Drama May Create Political Ripples In UP

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Asus Confirms It Will Stop Making Phones And Put All Its Focus On AI

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:18 IST

Asus is the latest tech company to redraw its business plans for the next few years as the demand for AI makes them rethink

Asus has confirmed its plans to pause phone launches and make more AI hardware.

The AI demand has a new casualty in the form Asus which is happy to forgo its phone business and focus more on AI and commercial PCs in the market. The company has confirmed its plans to pause phone launches in 2026 which means the ROG Phone and ZenFone series will not be refreshed in the market.

Asus is the latest tech giant to reconsider its business plans for 2026 and the next few years. We have already seen storage brands overhaul their product strategy while some have completely shifted focus on making enterprise-level memory chips that will run the AI data centers.

Another One Bites The AI Dust

The Asus Chairman was speaking at a company event in Taipei recently, where he talked about pausing its phone lineup expansion. So what exactly does Asus plan to do so that its business grows? The brand says it will be investing more in AI-centric systems, robotics and computing devices that can be automated to work.

Asus is one of the many brands that are having second thoughts about keeping the phone business going. The company believes that AI systems will help its business grow rather than phone sales. Asus wants to make AI servers for clients who will be powering various AI models and other hardware designs catering to AI platforms.

Fair to say this doesnt sound like a short-term strategy whatsoever and it is likely that we might have seen the last of Asus smartphones (and ROG) in the market.

Having said that, the company is not completely giving up on its users. The company has assured that existing users will continue to get updates and service support for all its existing ROG Phone and ZenFone models which means the regular service will be available for those using Asus devices.

Asus is a strong player in the PC segment, where its laptops, and AIOs sell big but it also has other PC components that allow you to build/assemble systems. With the craze to build AI machines, the pivot could be part of a long-term play that might help it grow and also stay relevant in the changing landscape.

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Location : China

First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:18 IST

News tech Asus Confirms It Will Stop Making Phones And Put All Its Focus On AI

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Major Risk: Indian Govt Says Microsoft Office Users Face Serious Security Threat

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 08:25 IST

Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel and more have a security risk that can exploited remotely to affect millions.

Microsoft Office users are being warned about a serious risk

Microsoft has been kept busy in 2026 so far with multiple security risks forcing its team to fix the issues before causing a serious damage. And now the Indian government has warned about a similar issue with Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint that are used by millions.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In is the source of the alert once again and in January 2026 it is notifying all the users who could become an easy target for the hackers if the issues are exploited. The new alert comes with a high severity rating which immediately makes it worth your attention.

Microsoft Office Security Issue

The security agency has shared the details around the Microsoft Office vulnerability that can have a serious impact on millions who rely on the software for their work and personal use.

The reported vulnerabilities arise from improper handling of memory objects within Microsoft Office components, leading to memory corruption conditions such as use-after-free during document processing. A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by convincing a target user to open or preview a specially crafted Office document."

The fact that hackers can actually create a fake office file to target their victim puts the onus on the users to be careful about what they open or even share with others.

The company has even mentioned that the Office security issue can be exploited remotely and the hacker doesnt need to be in close contact with the system, which is never ideal for innocent people.

The government alert says the whole Microsoft Office suite is at risk, which means using Office, Excel or PowerPoint has to be handled with these concerns in mind. So what can you do to protect your systems from the issues? Microsoft has already discovered the risks, and released the patches that will keep your machine safe. We suggest you go to Office on your Windows PC and install the latest available patches from the company.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 08:25 IST

News tech Major Risk: Indian Govt Says Microsoft Office Users Face Serious Security Threat

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Netflix Kills The Google Cast Option For Android Users: Heres Why It Might Have Done It

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 10:21 IST

Netflix has removed the casting support for millions and it seems the company had its reasons to pull the plug.

Netflix has ended support for cast on mobile and here's why

Netflix users are losing support for Google Cast, a useful mobile feature on the app for Android that allows them to watch content on the big screen. The casting option has been available for many years but users have now seen the feature not listed and now the platform has seemingly confirmed its demise without exactly telling us why it did.

A new report has shared some of the details about Netflix making this call and how it might be related to its use among millions.

The Cast-Away Story

As mentioned by The Verge in a report, casting has gone out of fashion for a while, and only around 10 percent of Android users even rely on the feature. Some might say that is still a big chunk of the Android phone market but even then Netflix probably feels its efforts are more suited for other recent features.

And it does make sense in many ways because Netflix says if your TV streaming device or TV has a remote then you can use the native Netflix app running on them instead of casting from the mobile. The change is also being observed with the newer TVs and streaming devices which means the older Chromecast devices are still working but that could be linked to the lack of updates and possible security risks posed by them and their support should be cut off soon.

Casting means you can take the regular mobile plan from Netflix and use that to stream on the TV without paying for the higher tier plan.

Removing the support gives the company an ideal win-win situation where people either pay up or just use the plan on their single device. Having said that, the ad-based plan available in select regions never had the casting support so nothing changes for those users.

So when you connect the dots, you get the reason why Netflix killed the feature and it is unlikely that many will be crying over its omission.

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Location : California, USA

First Published: January 19, 2026, 10:21 IST

News tech Netflix Kills The Google Cast Option For Android Users: Heres Why It Might Have Done It

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3 Homes, Luxury Car, Income In Lakhs: Indore Collector Mulls FIR Against 'Millionaire' Beggar

Curated By :

Translation Desk

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 20:51 IST

The administration rescued Mangilal, a physically challenged beggar from Sarafa, only to find he owns three houses, two rental autos and a car with a salaried driver

Rapid Read

According to preliminary estimates, his annual income is believed to be between Rs 15 lakh-Rs 20 lakh. (News18 Hindi)

A startling revelation has emerged from the Indore administrations ongoing drive to make the city beggar-free, exposing how a man long seen begging on a wooden board in a busy food market was, in fact, a millionaire".

The district administration recently rescued Mangilal, a physically-challenged man who had been begging for years in the Sarafa area. Subsequent verification revealed that Mangilal owned three houses, including a large three-storey property in Bhagat Singh Nagar and another spacious house in Shivnagar. In addition, he owned two auto-rickshaws that are run on rent and a car for which he has hired a driver on a monthly salary of Rs 12,000.

Officials found that Mangilal earned thousands of rupees daily through begging and had reportedly begun lending money to shopkeepers in the Sarafa market on a daily and weekly basis at interest. Despite his financial status, he had also received a 1 BHK house measuring 1020 feet from the Red Cross Society under government disability benefits.

District Collector Shivam Verma, speaking via video call, said that under the beggar-free campaign, both begging and giving alms are punishable offences. He said the administration was taking strict action and that Mangilals case was under detailed investigation. If required, an FIR will be registered after the inquiry," officials said.

For now, Mangilal has been sent to a relief centre in Ujjain, where officials are verifying his activities, sources of income and declared assets. The Collector also appealed to citizens to report incidents of begging, announcing a reward of Rs 1,000 for verified information. Mangilal had reportedly been flagged multiple times by residents and traders in the Sarafa area.

During the investigation, officials also found that Mangilals family members were involved in begging alongside him. According to preliminary estimates, his annual income is believed to be between Rs 15 lakh-Rs 20 lakh, generated through a combination of begging, house rent and money lending.

The administration said this was not an isolated case. In the past, a woman was found to have earned Rs 2.5 lakh in just 45 days through begging, following which police registered a case against her under the Juvenile Justice Act. Officials maintain that such cases reflect the exploitation of public sympathy and amount to cheating society.

The final course of action against Mangilal will be decided after the investigation report is submitted. The beggar-free campaign, launched in 2024, has so far identified around 6,500 beggars across the city. Of these, more than 4,000 have been counselled and rehabilitated, while over 1,500 have been shifted to an ashram in Ujjain as part of the governments efforts to curb organised begging.

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Location : Indore, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 20:51 IST

News viral 3 Homes, Luxury Car, Income In Lakhs: Indore Collector Mulls FIR Against 'Millionaire' Beggar

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Japanese YouTuber Sparks Outrage With Packed With Indians Air India Flight Vlog

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 14:49 IST

Japanese YouTuber Ikechan faced backlash for her Air India vlog captioned packed with Indians and bad Air India, seen as insensitive after last years Air India crash tragedy.

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Japanese YouTuber's post on Air India flight packed with Indians draws backlash (X/@ikechan0920)

A Japanese YouTuber Ikechan has come under fire on social media after posting a vlog about an Air India flight, using the phrase packed with Indians" and a caption that read bad Air India," triggering widespread outrage online.

The controversy intensified after users pointed out that the caption appeared to reference the last years Air India plane crash, which many said was insensitive and inappropriate. Screenshots and clips from the vlog circulated widely on social media platforms, drawing sharp criticism from thousands of users.

The controversy began after Ikechan shared her Air India flight vlog on YouTube and X with the caption, Taking the notoriously bad Air India for my first-ever trip to India!! The plane is packed with Indians."

The caption, along with the original thumbnail that was seen as referencing last years tragic Air India crash, triggered outrage among thousands of users.

Social media users accused Ikechan of trivialising the tragedy, with many saying the image seemed to mock the deaths of those who lost their lives.

Uploaded on January 17, the video shows Ikechan travelling on an Air India flight, tasting in-flight meals and documenting the journey. While the vlog has crossed 1.22 lakh views on YouTube, the thumbnail shared on X drew more than 15 million views, with users criticising Ikechan for what they described as offensive content.

Several viewers accused Ikechan of holding preconceived notions about India and Indians. One user said her vlog appeared to be influenced by viral online narratives, adding that as the worlds most populous country, India inevitably offers a mix of positive and negative experiences.

Another commented, If you have a problem with India, then dont come. Nobody has forced you."

Others objected specifically to the thumbnail, saying that although it was later changed, the original image had already caused genuine hurt.

Although the thumbnail has been changed, its undeniable that the original image caused offence to many people. A more thorough apology would have been better," a user wrote.

Other Japanese creators also reacted to the post. @TomomuraYoutube, publicly criticised Ikechan and defended India, saying that using a tone that appeared to look down on other nationalities was the height of rudeness."

He said content creators must be held accountable for what they post online, adding that tarnishing Japans reputation for personal gain should not be tolerated.

Responding to the backlash, Ikechan posted an update saying she had no ill intent with the thumbnail and had slightly altered the text after the issue was raised. She urged viewers to watch the full video rather than judging it by clips, emphasizing the effort she invests in her content and her goal of showcasing the appeal of the countries she visits.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 14:47 IST

News viral Japanese YouTuber Sparks Outrage With Packed With Indians Air India Flight Vlog

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European countries rally against U.S. tariff over Greenland

Xinhua) 08:15, January 19, 2026

A European Union flag is seen in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, July 7, 2020. The European economy will face a "deeper recession" than previously predicted due to the prolonged containment measures against COVID-19, the European Commission said in its Summer 2020 Economic Forecast on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

European leaders and ministers branded the U.S. tariff threat on Greenland coercive and unacceptable, vowing a "united and coordinated" response to uphold sovereignty.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The transatlantic rift over Greenland deepened remarkably on Sunday as Europe mounted a rare, unified rebuke to punitive tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In the strongest coordinated response so far, the eight countries directly targeted by the proposed tariffs -- Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom -- issued a joint statement declaring "full solidarity" with Denmark and Greenland.

They warned the U.S. move risked a "dangerous downward spiral" in transatlantic relations and vowed a "united and coordinated" response to uphold sovereignty.

European Council President Antonio Costa said on X that the European Union (EU) is "ready to defend itself against any form of coercion" in response to Trump's tariff threats.

National reactions were swift and unequivocal, with European leaders and ministers branding the U.S. threat coercive and unacceptable. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel explicitly called the tariffs an act of "blackmail," urging Washington to withdraw the "ridiculous proposal" before it takes effect. German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Berlin "must not allow itself to be intimidated," adding that "a line has been crossed."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attends the European Union (EU) special summit in Brussels, Belgium, March 6, 2025. The one-day special summit was held here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen posted on social media that "Europe will not be blackmailed." Underscoring the universal support for Denmark, she said this is now "an issue that reaches far beyond our own borders."

CALL FOR IMMEDIATE RETALIATION

Momentum to push back was gathered at the EU level. Valerie Hayer, president of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, urged EU leaders to activate the bloc's never-used "Anti-Coercion Instrument," dubbed an "economic nuclear weapon." The mechanism would allow immediate retaliation, including punitive tariffs, market bans, financial sanctions, and the suspension of U.S. patents and licences, without recourse to the United Nations or the World Trade Organization.

Noting that the United States exports more than 500 billion U.S. dollars of goods to the EU each year, making the bloc Washington's largest market, Hayer warned that Trump "should think twice," stressing that the EU is "not afraid to use deterrence for our defense."

On Sunday night, a report by Financial Times said that EU capitals are considering hitting Washington with 93 billion euros (107.68 billion U.S. dollars) worth of tariffs or reviving the "Anti-Coercion Instrument."

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) greets Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen upon her arrival to attend the meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Sept. 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Describing the tariffs as "unacceptable," French President Emmanuel Macron's office also confirmed that the president would request the same course of action if Washington follows through on its threat.

After meeting his Norwegian counterpart, Espen Barth Eide, in Oslo, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he had "no doubt about the support from Europe," even in the face of a costly tariff war. "We must do everything we can to implement the principles," Rasmussen added. Meanwhile, Eide said, "We will not yield to pressure."

BROADER CHORUS OF REBUKE

Beyond the directly targeted states, other European countries joined the criticism of the U.S. move. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking during a visit to South Korea, called the tariff threats "a mistake."

After separate calls on Sunday with Denmark Prime Minister Frederiksen, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, as well as Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer repeated that it is wrong to apply tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies.

On Saturday, Starmer said Britain's position on Greenland is very clear: "it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes," branding the U.S. threat "completely wrong."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron prior to a meeting between the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, Dec. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Ireland's Foreign Minister Helen McEntee emphasized the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. "There can be no lasting peace and security in a world where these principles are ignored and undermined," she said.

The Croatian government said allies should respect each other and acknowledge the fact that Greenland is part of Denmark. "In this context, we express our solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland," it said, adding that additional tariffs would upset the balance of EU-U.S. trade relations and weaken the trans-Atlantic partnership.

The unified European pushback sets the stage for a potential escalation. With calls to arm the EU's economic "bazooka" and repeated warnings against blackmail, Europe has signaled an unusually firm willingness to risk a tit-for-tat economic confrontation over Greenland's sovereignty.

Demonstrators gather to protest against U.S. actions and remarks suggesting control over Greenland in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Jan. 17, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

Since returning to the Oval Office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly voiced a desire to "obtain" Greenland and has recently ramped up his threat. In a social media post on Saturday, he said the United States would levy a 10-percent tariff from Feb. 1 on goods from the eight targeted countries. He warned the rate would rise to 25 percent on June 1 and remain in place until a deal is reached for the "complete and total purchase" of Greenland.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Mother Alleges 'Raw' Meat Served To Sick Twins At Hospital, Spent Rs 20,000 On Outside Food

Curated By :

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 18:54 IST

A UK woman alleged that poor meals at a hospital in London forced her to spend Rs 20,000 on outside food for her sick twins Eve and Eden

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The two-year-old twin daughters, Eve and Eden, contracted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a potentially dangerous respiratory infection. (AI-Generated Image)

When a child falls seriously ill, the emotional and physical strain is felt by the entire family. In such moments, hospitals are expected to provide not only medical care but also clean and nutritious food to aid recovery. However, a woman in London has alleged that poor-quality meals served at a leading hospital forced her to spend thousands of rupees daily on outside food for her hospitalised children.

For 27-year-old Paige Cameron, the past week was distressing. Her two-year-old twin daughters, Eve and Eden, contracted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a potentially dangerous respiratory infection. As their condition deteriorated, the twins were admitted to St Marys Hospital in Paddington, Central London, where they remained under treatment for six days.

While Cameron said the medical care provided by doctors and nurses was satisfactory, she raised serious concerns about the food served to her children. According to her, the meals supplied by the hospital kitchen were unsuitable for sick toddlers. She claimed that one of the meals consisted of two pale-looking sausages and a small portion of chips, which she described as appearing undercooked.

I thought the sausages were raw and wondered why they thought that was appropriate for a two-year-old," she said,

She alleged that the situation worsened the following day when the children were served cottage pie. Cameron said the dish appeared watery and unappetising, resembling cottage soup" rather than a proper meal. Unwilling to feed the food to her daughters, she began ordering meals from online delivery apps and nearby fast-food outlets.

Over the six-day hospital stay, Cameron said she spent around 180 (approximately Rs 20,000) on outside food. The last thing a parent needs to worry about when their child is sick is where or how they will get alternative food for their child to eat. And not everyone is financially capable to order takeout for their child everyday, especially if its a long hospital stay," she said.

After Cameron shared images of the hospital meals on social media, the posts garnered more than 4,00,000 views, sparking widespread debate online. Several users criticised the quality of the food, with one commenting sarcastically, Were these sausages cooked over a heated debate? Why are they so white?" Another wrote that if such food were served to children at home, social services would be called immediately".

However, some users accused Cameron of being ungrateful, pointing out that treatment under the UKs National Health Service (NHS) is free. Responding to the criticism, Cameron clarified that her complaint was not directed at healthcare staff.

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Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: January 19, 2026, 18:54 IST

News viral Mother Alleges 'Raw' Meat Served To Sick Twins At Hospital, Spent Rs 20,000 On Outside Food

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'Obsession To Dress Up As Bride': Maryam Nawazs Attire At Sons Second Wedding Sparks Debate

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:56 IST

Pakistani politician Maryam Nawazs outfits at her sons second wedding drew widespread attention online, earning both admiration for her style and criticism.

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The images have gone viral on social media. (Credit: X/@_stkhan)

Junaid Safdar, son of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and grandson of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, married Shanzeh Ali in a grand wedding ceremony in Lahore. The bride is the granddaughter of Rohail Asghar, a close associate of the Sharif family.

While visuals from the high-profile celebrations spread rapidly online, it was the wedding fashion that became the focal point of intense debate on social media in Pakistan. Much of the early attention centred on Maryam Nawaz herself.

For the mehendi ceremony, she wore a yellow and powder-orange lehenga, followed by a mint green traditional ensemble for the wedding. As photos circulated, opinions were sharply divided, with some admiring her style and others accusing her of overshadowing the bride.

Maryam Nawaz and her never ending obsession to dress up/act as a bride  pic.twitter.com/8LNoM5e6iE SK (@_stkhan) January 17, 2026

Maryam Nawaz and her never-ending obsession to dress up/act as a bride," one user commented, while another wrote, Maryam Nawaz looks more beautiful than the bride."

Critics were harsher, with one remarking, She did it to the first bahu and now shes doing it again. Self-obsessed, pathetic log." Another user added, Thats the thing. The most important person in a wedding is the bride. Absolutely no one should wear better clothes than the bride."

maryam nawaz looks more beautiful than the bride pic.twitter.com/uCMK8GRAPk Shuja (@ShujaaAzmi) January 16, 2026

A user questioned, So why she dressed like a dulhan?" Others, however, defended her, saying, Every mother has the right to look most Beautiful at the wedding of her son."

Bride Faces Backlash Over Indian Wedding Dress

The brides attire also sparked controversy. Shanzeh Ali wore a lehenga by Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee for the mehendi, and for the wedding ceremony, she chose a heavily embroidered red saree by Tarun Tahiliani, accessorised with a diamond choker featuring a large emerald.

Her preference for Indian designers drew criticism online. Very mid. Im sure Pakistani designers could have made her something more Pakistani," one Instagram user wrote, while another said, Shame on giving taxes to India." A third comment read, Whats this obsession with Indian designers? They drool over our Pakistani clothes and look at this!"

Junaid Safdar was previously married to Ayesha Saif, daughter of former National Accountability Bureau chairman Saifur Rehman Khan. The marriage ended two years after the couple tied the knot in 2021, with Junaid confirming the divorce in an Instagram post in 2023.

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Location : Lahore, Pakistan

First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:56 IST

News viral 'Obsession To Dress Up As Bride': Maryam Nawazs Attire At Sons Second Wedding Sparks Debate

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Zoho's Sridhar Vembu Says This City Offers 'Best Quality Of Life' In India: 'I Don't Want To Jinx'

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 21:53 IST

Calling Kerala a place with a nice secret, Sridhar Vembu said that it was something worth preserving.

Zoho founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu was addressing a gathering in Kerala. (X)

Zoho founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu praised Keralas Thiruvananthapuram for offering what he described as the best quality of life" in the country.

While addressing a gathering, Vembu said that he always enjoys visiting the city and contrasted it with frequent complaints from entrepreneurs in major metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chennai over the declining quality of life.

I always love to come to Trivandrum. Its probably the best quality of life in all of India. I actually dont like to say it out too loud because I dont want to jinx it. You know, what is the tweet coming out of Bangalore or Mumbai or even Chennai, every single entrepreneur complaining about quality of life, all of that," he said.

Sridhar Vembu, Founder Zoho, about Trivandrum. pic.twitter.com/d1pzuwSoOv Great Kerala (@GreatKerala1) January 19, 2026

Calling Kerala a place with a nice secret," he said that it was something worth preserving. Kerala has got a nice secret. And so, its all over Kerala, I may not say all over. So, thats something thats worth preserving," he added.

The tech firm CEO further said that Zoho has invested in a company based in Thiruvananthapuram to work on designing the next generation of semiconductor chips. While noting that such efforts would take time to yield results, he expressed confidence in the local ecosystem and talent.

All About Thiruvananthapuram

Nestled between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Thiruvananthapuram is often seen as a city that balances urban life with calm and order. Wide tree-lined roads, relatively low congestion, access to clean beaches and green spaces, and a slower pace of life contribute to its reputation for serenity.

The city also benefits from strong public education, healthcare systems and a deep cultural heritage that includes art, literature and classical music.

More broadly, Kerala has long stood out for its high human development indicators, social cohesion and emphasis on well-being. From its backwaters and hill stations to its coastal towns, the state is known for a lifestyle that values balance over breakneck growth.

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Location : Thiruvananthapuram, India, India

First Published: January 19, 2026, 21:53 IST

News viral Zoho's Sridhar Vembu Says This City Offers 'Best Quality Of Life' In India: 'I Don't Want To Jinx'

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Only 71 Of 645 Incidents Involving Minorities In 2025 Were Communal: Bangladesh Data Shared By Yunus

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 14:29 IST

"The data demonstrates that most incidents involving minority victims were not driven by communal hostility, but by broader criminal and social factors," it said

Muhammad Yunus (AFP)

Bangladesh reported 645 incidents involving members of minority communities from January to December 2025, of which only 71 were communal in nature, according to official review of police records shared by the chief adviser of interim Bangladesh government, Mohammad Yunus, on social media. The incidents were compiled from verified First Information Reports, General Diaries, charge sheets, and investigation updates nationwide.

While every incident is a matter of concern, the data presents a clear and evidence-based picture: the overwhelming majority of cases were criminal in nature rather than communal, underscoring both the complexity of law-and-order challenges and the importance of grounding public discussion in facts rather than fear or misinformation," stated the report shared on the official X handle of the chief adviser.

On Incidents Affecting Minority Communities and the Broader Law and Order Situation in Bangladesh (JanuaryDecember 2025)DHAKA, January 19: Bangladesh remains committed to confronting crime with transparency, accuracy, and resolve. A yearlong review of official police records  Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) January 19, 2026

What news reports suggest

In 2026, Bangladesh has seen a significant surge in targeted attacks on the Hindu minority, with dozens of incidents reported in the first three weeks of January alone. Organizations like the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented at least 51 incidents of communal violence in December 2025, including 10 murders. On January 16, Ripon Saha, a 30-year-old fuel station worker in Rajbari district, was crushed to death by an SUV after he tried to stop the vehicle from fleeing without paying. The same day, the home of Birendra Kumar Dey, a Hindu schoolteacher in Sylhets Gowainghat, was set on fire by unidentified arsonists. On January 13, Samir Das, a 27-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, was found dead in a crop field in Jagatpur village, Feni district. On January 11, a Hindu businessman in Gazipur was beaten to death following a minor dispute over a commercial transaction. On January 5, Sarat Mani Chakraborty, a grocery store owner in Narsingdi, was killed with sharp weapons. On January 5, Rana Pratap, a factory owner and acting newspaper editor, was shot in the head and had his throat slit in Jashore district.

In December 2025, Bajendra Biswas, a garment worker and member of the Ansar Bahini, was shot dead by a colleague in Mymensingh, on December 29. On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old factory worker, was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh after being falsely accused of blasphemy; his body was then hung from a tree and set on fire. On December 12-19, awave of violence following the death of a student leader led to mobs attacking the headquarters of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as multiple Hindu cultural sites and homes.

71 incidents had communal elements

The Bangladesh governments findings show that 71 incidents were identified as having communal elements, while 574 incidents were assessed as non-communal in nature. Communal incidents primarily involved vandalism or desecration of religious sites and idols, along with a small number of other offenses. In contrast, the majority of incidents affecting minority individuals or properties arose from criminal activity unrelated to religion, including neighborhood disputes, land conflicts, political rivalries, theft, sexual violence, and cases linked to prior personal enmity, said the report.

This distinction is important. While all crimes are serious and demand accountability, the data demonstrates that most incidents involving minority victims were not driven by communal hostility, but by broader criminal and social factors that affect citizens across religious and ethnic lines. Accurate classification helps prevent misinformation and supports more effective law-enforcement responses."

The report also documents significant police engagement. Hundreds of cases were formally registered, arrests were made in many incidents, and investigations are ongoing in others. This reflects an institutional commitment to addressing crime and maintaining public order, particularly in sensitive cases involving religious sites or communal concerns.

Law and order situation

At the national level, Bangladesh continues to face serious law-and-order challenges. Each year, an average of approximately 3,000-3,500 people lose their lives to violent crime nationwide. This is not a number to be proud of. Every life lost is a tragedy, and no society should be complacent in the face of such statistics. At the same time, these figures must be understood in context. Violent crime affects all communities, cutting across religion, ethnicity, and geography, said the report.

Importantly, available indicators show that law and order in Bangladesh is improving steadily. Enhanced policing, better intelligence coordination, faster response times, and increased accountability have contributed to gradual but meaningful progress. The government and law-enforcement agencies remain committed to reducing crime further and ensuring equal protection under the law, said the report.

Bangladesh is a country of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and people of other beliefs, all of whom are citizens with equal rights. Ensuring safety and justice for every community is not only a constitutional obligation but a moral one. Protecting places of worship, preventing incitement, responding quickly to criminal acts, and distinguishing facts from rumor are essential to preserving social harmony," it said.

This report is presented in the spirit of transparency and accountability. It does not deny challenges, nor does it claim perfection. Rather, it seeks to provide a factual, evidence-based picture of crime trends affecting minority communities within the broader national context. Constructive scrutiny, responsible reporting, and continued institutional reform are all necessary components of progress, it said.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 13:55 IST

News world Only 71 Of 645 Incidents Involving Minorities In 2025 Were Communal: Bangladesh Data Shared By Yunus

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Big Jolt For France As Rafale Loses Rs 29,000-Crore Fighter Jet Deal To Sweden's Gripen

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:38 IST

Dassault Aviation was expected to win a contract from Colombia to supply Rafale jets for the replacement of the country's ageing Israeli-origin Kfir fighters

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Rafale continues to attract buyers beyond Europe, with India emerging as its most significant customer. (PTI file photo)

Frances Dassault Aviation has suffered a setback in the global fighter jet market, losing out on a deal worth nearly Rs 29,000 crore, even as India moves swiftly towards what could become one of the largest military aviation contracts in the world.

India is in advanced discussions to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets from France at an estimated cost of Rs 3.25 lakh crore. The proposed agreement has drawn international attention, with analysts closely comparing the Rafales capabilities with those of the US-made F-35. Amid this global spotlight, however, Dassault has failed to secure a crucial overseas order.

The French aerospace major was widely expected to win a contract from Colombia to supply Rafale jets for the replacement of the countrys ageing Israeli-origin Kfir fighters. Colombian military officials had spoken favourably about the Rafale, and negotiations for a deal valued at around 2.96 billion (approximately Rs 27,000 crore) were reportedly close to completion. On paper, the agreement appeared all but final.

In a late turn of events, the Colombian government awarded the contract to Swedens Gripen fighter instead. No official explanation has been issued for bypassing the Rafale.

According to a report by bishopstrow.com, the Swedish offer stood out for reasons beyond the aircraft itself. Saab, the manufacturer of Gripen, is said to have proposed long-term industrial cooperation, technology transfer, and the possibility of local assembly in Colombia, along with significantly lower operational and maintenance costs.

Gripen has positioned itself as a cost-effective and adaptable fighter for mid-sized air forces. Lighter and more flexible than rivals such as the Rafale or the Eurofighter Typhoon, it is also cheaper to operate over its lifecycle. Colombian decision-makers reportedly saw the aircraft as an opportunity to develop a domestic aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, underlining a growing trend in defence procurement where sustainment costs and industrial benefits weigh as heavily as upfront price.

The Colombian decision has reignited debate over whether the Rafale is losing its competitive edge. France had earlier faced a major blow in 2021, when it lost a high-profile submarine contract with Australia to the US and the UK under the AUKUS pact. Yet industry observers caution against reading too much into a single loss.

Rafale continues to attract buyers beyond Europe, with India emerging as its most significant customer. Around 300 Rafale jets have been built so far, forming the backbone of the French Air Force, which operates 234 of them. Dassaults current order book stands at roughly 273 aircraft, with major customers including India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

India has already inducted 36 Rafale jets into the Indian Air Force (IAF) and signed a separate deal for 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft for the Navy. The proposed order for 114 additional fighters, if finalised, would make IAF the largest Rafale operator in the world after France.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:38 IST

News world Big Jolt For France As Rafale Loses Rs 29,000-Crore Fighter Jet Deal To Sweden's Gripen

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Chinese President Xi Jinping To Visit Pakistan Soon, Says Shehbaz Sharif

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Aveek Banerjee



Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 20:15 IST

Xi Jinping's expected visit will come as Pakistans engagement with the US has gained momentum, which has raised eyebrows in Beijing.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters/File)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit the country soon, in an attempt to deepen cooperation amid Islamabads outreach with the United States.

While addressing the Pak-China Investment Conference in Islamabad on Monday, Sharif said Xis visit would focus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0, describing it as a new chapter", emphasising on agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence, mines and minerals, and youth development. He said Pakistan could transform its agricultural sector in a matter of months by adopting modern technologies and strengthening cooperation with China.

Noting that nearly 65% of the Pakistani population still resides in rural areas, Sharif said Pakistan must aim to generate a trade surplus in agriculture through higher yields, competitive costs and superior quality, with Chinese experts providing support.

He stated that China was deepening coordination with Pakistan under bilateral action plans and had signalled readiness to continue cooperation. The Pakistani PM stressed that Beijing was aiming to stabilise bilateral trade with the cash-strapped country at around $1 billion while maintaining Pakistans trade surplus with China.

Xis expected visit came at a time when Pakistans engagement with the US has gained momentum, including former Pakistan Army chief Asim Munirs high-profile interactions in Washington and reports of discussions linked to US regional security interests, including Gaza.

However, there have been cracks in this relationship, with Chinese authorities raising concerns over repeated attacks on Chinese nationals during a recent China-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing. Around 90 Chinese citizens working on CPEC and related infrastructure projects have been killed in Pakistan since 2014, underscoring Beijings long-standing demand for a safer operating environment.

The visit also comes amid a sharp exchange between India and China over territorial claims on the Shaksgam Valley in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India strongly rejected Chinas infrastructure projects in the Shaksgam Valley through the CPEC, calling them illegal and invalid, and said the region is an integral and inalienable part of India. The Ministry of External Affairs also reiterated that India does not recognise the so-called CPEC.

In response, China rejected Indias claim to the Shaksgam Valley, saying it was completely justified for China to build infrastructure on its own land. Beijing justified the boundary agreement signed with Pakistan in the 1960s, saying it was the right of China and Pakistan as sovereign countries".

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Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: January 19, 2026, 20:14 IST

News world Chinese President Xi Jinping To Visit Pakistan Soon, Says Shehbaz Sharif

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'Will 100% Follow Through On Tariffs If No Agreement On Greenland: Trump Threatens Europe

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 23:23 IST

Trump has intensified his push to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark, threatening tariffs on European allies who opposed his actions.

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US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP)

US President Donald Trump on Monday declined to rule out the possibility of using force to annexe Greenland, while vowing to push ahead with his tariffs on European countries for opposing his plans to take control of the Arctic nation.

In a brief telephone interview with NBC News, Trump said no comment" when asked to say if he would rule out seizing Greenland by force. He stressed that he would 100%" go ahead with tariffs on European countries if the US doesnt get Greenland.

Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine, because, frankly, you see what thats gotten, them. Thats what Europe should focus on  not Greenland," he added.

Trump has ramped up his rhetoric against Greenland, a largely self-governing part of Denmark, in recent weeks, saying the US would take control of it one way or the other." He also threatened to impose 10% tariffs on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland from February 1, until the US is allowed to purchase the Arctic island.

Trump also repeated his frustration with Norway over the Nobel Peace Prize, saying that Norway totally controls it despite what they say." This came after his fiery letter to Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, where the US president said he no longer thought purely of Peace" after being snubbed for the Nobel Prize.

READ MORE: Will Go Down In History, Selfish Interests: Russia, China Hit Out At Trump On Greenland

Trumps Greenland Plans

Trumps aggressive rhetoric to bring Greenland under US control has threatened to upend the NATO alliance that is already under strain over the war in Ukraine and Trumps refusal to protect allies which do not spend enough on defence. His remarks have also prompted protests in Greenland, as people rejected US push to assert sovereignty.

It has also plunged trade relations between the European Union and the US, the blocs biggest export market, into renewed uncertainty after the two sides painstakingly reached a trade deal last year in response to Trumps swingeing tariffs.

European leaders have denounced Trumps threats to impose tariffs on countries opposing his Greenland plans, with Germany and France describing the move as blackmail". The European Union has said it will hold an emergency summit to consider its response, while stressing that its preference is to engage rather than escalate.

Greenlands leadership has also rejected external pressure. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory would not be intimidated, asserting Greenlands right to make its own decisions as a democratic society.

The US President has repeatedly argued that Greenland is critical to American national security, despite the United States already maintaining a military presence on the island and having defence agreements with Denmark, a fellow NATO member. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 19, 2026, 21:55 IST

News world 'Will 100% Follow Through On Tariffs If No Agreement On Greenland: Trump Threatens Europe

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'Now It's Time': Trump Says NATO Warned Denmark For 20 Years Over Russian Threat To Greenland

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 10:07 IST

Donald Trump accused Denmark of failing to counter a Russian threat in Greenland and said decisive action was now inevitable, escalating tensions with European allies.

Donald Trump speaks during a meeting (File photo: AP)

Donald Trump on Monday escalated his rhetoric over Greenland, accusing Denmark of failing for decades to address what he described as a growing Russian security threat to the strategically located Arctic island and declaring that decisive action was now inevitable.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland. Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

The post came amid rising tensions between the United States and several European allies after Trump announced plans to impose sweeping tariffs on European goods linked to opposition to American control of Greenland.

According to Trump, a 10 per cent import tax would take effect in February on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.

He said the tariff rate would increase to 25 per cent on June 1 if no agreement was reached for what he described as the complete and total purchase of Greenland" by the United States.

Trump framed the proposed tariffs as leverage to force negotiations with Denmark and other European countries, arguing that Greenland is critical to US national security and vulnerable to foreign adversaries.

The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them," Trump had mentioned in an earlier Truth Social post.

The move threatens to strain long-standing transatlantic partnerships and deepen tensions within NATO, the alliance that has provided collective security to Europe and North America since 1949.

Trump has repeatedly criticised NATO allies for what he says is an inadequate contribution to shared defence and has often relied on trade penalties to pressure both allies and rivals.

Denmark reacted with surprise to the tariff threat.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen said Trumps announcement was unexpected, especially after what he described as a constructive meeting with senior US officials in Washington earlier in the week.

European leaders also pushed back strongly, warning that the proposed measures could damage transatlantic relations and undermine trust between allies.

The issue of Greenland has been a recurring theme for Trump, who has long argued that the United States should own the mineral-rich island, home to about 57,000 people and located along key Arctic routes.

Greenland is a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which is responsible for its defence.

The United States already has access to the island under a 1951 defence agreement and maintains a military presence at the Pituffik Space Base, which supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the US and NATO.

Trump has suggested that Russia and China could seek to expand their influence in the Arctic region and has described anything short of US control of Greenland as unacceptable."

He has also indicated that tariffs could be used as an alternative to military force to achieve strategic objectives, recounting past instances in which trade threats were used to pressure allies.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 10:03 IST

News world 'Now It's Time': Trump Says NATO Warned Denmark For 20 Years Over Russian Threat To Greenland

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'Vision Of A Tiger': Macron Laughs Off 'Harmless' Eye Condition, But The Internet Has More To Say

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 17:52 IST

French President Emmanuel Macron was sporting a puffy, red eye during a recent New Year address to the armed forces, which triggered online vitriol against his wife Brigitte Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron was sporting a puffy, red eye (L) during a recent New Year address to the armed forces. He earlier wore sunglasses during an outdoor troop inspection. (Image: AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macrons apparent reference to Eye of the Tiger  the hit theme song by American rock band Survivor from the 1982 Rocky III movie starring Sylvester Stallone  was not enough for the internet.

Macron, who was sporting a puffy, red eye during a recent New Year address to Frances armed forces, joked about his completely harmless" eye condition but his appearance triggered a wave of online harassment against his wife Brigitte Macron.

Please pardon the unsightly appearance of my eye," Macron said at the beginning of his speech on January 15. It is, of course, something completely harmless."

He earlier wore sunglasses during an outdoor troop inspection. Simply see an unintentional reference to the Eye of the Tiger For those who catch the reference, it is a sign of determinationI now have the vision of a tiger," he said.

Watch the video here:

Macron on his red eye:Please excuse the rather unesthetic state of my eye. It is completely harmless.See it simply as an unintentional reference to the eye of the tiger at the start of this year. For those who get the reference, it is a sign of determination. pic.twitter.com/1g1cdh98YI Clash Report (@clashreport) January 15, 2026

Macrons speech addressed key challenges for the military in 2026, from Frances accelerated rearmament and continued support for Ukraine, to the decision to send troops to Greenland in a show of support for Denmark. While his address gained significant attention for the policy shifts, social media praised him for his humour and presidential swagger" even as a section of the internet used the viral moment to launch a wave of vitriol against First Lady Brigitte Macron.

SMACKING HIM AROUND

Distressing comments appeared online, with some users suggesting that Brigitte Macron was smacking him around" or that she had wang whipped" him.

The Presidents eye condition once again sparked conspiracy theories claiming that his wife was born as a man, despite the fact that French authorities have repeatedly debunked the same. These online reactions echoed a previous viral clip from May 2025 regarding a joke in Vietnam that was similarly taken out of context.

This comes after a recent legal victory for the First Lady, where a Paris criminal court convicted 10 people for orchestrating a defamation campaign against her. The Elysee Palace has since clarified the situation, stressing that Macrons condition is merely a minor medical issue. It has been confirmed that he suffered a ruptured blood vessel, which is a harmless and temporary" condition.

(With agency inputs)

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Location : Paris, France

First Published: January 19, 2026, 17:50 IST

News world 'Vision Of A Tiger': Macron Laughs Off 'Harmless' Eye Condition, But The Internet Has More To Say

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'Completely Wrong': Keir Starmer On Trumps Greenland Tariff Threat To NATO Allies

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 09:39 IST

Keir Starmer has condemned Trumps threat to impose tariffs on European allies over Greenland, calling it completely wrong and harmful to NATOs collective security.

People attend a protest against Trump's demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US (Photo: Reuters)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump over his threat to impose tariffs on European allies amid a growing dispute over Greenland, calling such a move completely wrong" and warning that it undermines NATOs collective security.

According to a Reuters report, Starmer spoke to Trump on Sunday after holding separate phone calls with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

A Downing Street spokesperson said that in all his conversations, Starmer reiterated Britains position on Greenland and stressed that security in the High North was a shared priority for all NATO allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.

Starmers remarks come after Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on a number of European countries, including the UK, in response to opposition to his push for the United States to acquire Greenland, an autonomous Arctic territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Starmer described the threatened tariffs as completely wrong" and said London would raise the issue directly with the US administration.

Our position on Greenland is very clear. It is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes," Starmer said in a statement released by 10 Downing Street.

He added that Arctic security was not a narrow national concern but one that affected the whole of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

We have also made clear that Arctic security matters for the whole of NATO and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic," he said.

Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong. We will, of course, be pursuing this directly with the US administration," he added.

Trump has warned that from February 1, Washington could impose tariffs of 10 per cent on goods imported from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

He has also said the tariffs could rise as high as 25 per cent unless a deal is reached over Greenland.

The threat followed a post by Trump on his Truth Social platform in which he said it was time for Denmark to give back" Greenland, claiming world peace is at stake".

The dispute has prompted a strong reaction across Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron described the tariff threat as unacceptable", adding that France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe and elsewhere."

This guides our choices. It underpins our commitment to the United Nations and to its Charter," Macron said.

France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe and elsewhere. This guides our choices. It underpins our commitment to the United Nations and to its Charter.It is on this basis that we support, and will continue to support Ukraine  Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 17, 2026

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said European allies would not be blackmailed".

Von der Leyen warned that tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral".

In a related development, European Union ambassadors on Sunday reached a broad agreement on stepping up efforts to dissuade Trump from going ahead with the tariffs, while also preparing retaliatory measures should the duties be imposed.

EU leaders are due to discuss their options at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Among the options under consideration is a package of tariffs on 93 billion euros worth of US imports that could automatically come into force after a suspension period.

Another possibility is the blocs so-far unused Anti-Coercion Instrument, which could restrict access to public tenders, investment or trade in services.

European Council President Antonio Costa said consultations among member states showed a strong commitment to support Denmark and Greenland and a readiness to defend against any form of coercion.

Frederiksen said she was encouraged by the unified messages from across the continent, adding, Europe will not be blackmailed."

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 08:22 IST

News world 'Completely Wrong': Keir Starmer On Trumps Greenland Tariff Threat To NATO Allies

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AI-powered "RoboCops" take up traffic duties in Chinese cities

Xinhua) 09:30, January 19, 2026

A robot officer with badge number "Intelligent Police Unit R001" is seen on a road in Wuhu, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 10, 2026. (Xinhua)

HEFEI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- "For your safety, please ride bicycles in the non-motorized lane," a voice called out to a cyclist veering into the motor vehicle lane at a busy intersection in Wuhu City, east China's Anhui Province.

The warning, however, came not from a human traffic officer, but from a humanoid robot standing upright on a safety island.

Donning a police uniform, a reflective vest and a white cap, the robot officer -- identified by the badge number "Intelligent Police Unit R001" -- looks remarkably human from a distance. Up close, its metallic sleekness and futuristic demeanor have made it a local celebrity, with pedestrians frequently pausing to snap photos of the cyberpunk scene.

"It is a new colleague capable of assisting us effectively," said Jiang Zihao, a traffic police officer in Wuhu.

According to Jiang, "Intelligent Police Unit R001," an AI-enabled traffic policing robot, is integrated with the city's traffic signal system. It can execute standard traffic command gestures synchronized with changing lights.

Equipped with high-definition cameras and an intelligent voice-broadcasting system, the robot uses large-model algorithms to autonomously identify traffic violations by non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians and deliver on-site warnings.

In addition to stationary duty, the robot is mobile, capable of navigating independently to designated locations on command. Its capabilities also include identifying illegal parking and conducting real-time road monitoring.

"The robot can work around the clock," Jiang said, noting that it is expected to ease the workload of the police, especially during peak hours or in extreme weather conditions.

This "RoboCop" is the latest addition to China's growing fleet of AI-powered traffic assistants.

Last year, several Chinese cities began integrating robotic officers into daily policing. In June, the southwestern city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province deployed a team of robot police officers, including quadruped robots, wheeled robots and humanoid robots, to patrol the streets alongside human counterparts.

In December, an AI-powered traffic policing robot was also put on duty in Hangzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The deployment of these robots underscores China's broader push to bring embodied intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies to real-world applications.

A report from the Development Research Center of the State Council projects that the market scale of China's burgeoning embodied intelligence industry will reach 400 billion yuan (about 57.1 billion U.S. dollars) in 2030 and exceed 1 trillion yuan in 2035.

"Only by bringing products into real-life scenarios and collecting real operational data can we achieve rapid iteration," said Zhang Guibing, general manager of AiMOGA Robotics, the manufacturer of "Intelligent Police Unit R001."

Zhang added that the company's robots had already been deployed in more than 100 scenarios, including reception, security patrols and public services.

A robot officer with badge number "Intelligent Police Unit R001" is seen on a road in Wuhu, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 10, 2026. (Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Have Clearly Explained...: Norway PM Reminds Trump That Nobel Committee, Not Govt, Picks Winner

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 02:09 IST

Jonas Gahr Stre said the Nobel Peace Prize winner is chosen by an independent committee, not the Norwegian government.

Rapid Read

US President Donald Trump meets with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre on Monday said he had clearly explained" to US President Donald Trump that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by an independent committee and not by the Norwegian government, responding to remarks by Trump linking the prize to his push for US control of Greenland.

In a statement, Stre confirmed that he had received a text message from Trump a day earlier, sent in response to a message from him and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. The message from the Nordic leaders conveyed their opposition to Trumps announced tariff increases against Norway, Finland and several other countries, and called for de-escalation.

Stre said he and Stubb had also proposed a telephone conversation with Trump on the same day. Trumps response, he added, was sent shortly afterwards and was later shared by the US President with other NATO leaders at his own discretion.

Clarifying Norways position, Stre said Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that Oslo fully supports Denmark on the matter. He also said Norway backs NATOs efforts to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic in a responsible manner.

As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to President Trump, what is well known  the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian government," Stre said.

Trumps remarks came amid rising tensions between Washington and several European allies over Greenland. The US President has repeatedly said the world would not be secure unless the United States had complete and total control" of the vast, mineral-rich Arctic territory, which is an autonomous part of Denmark.

Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on a range of NATO countries  including Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, France and the United Kingdom  if they oppose his plans for Greenland, prompting sharp reactions from European leaders who have described the move as blackmail".

Greenlands Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has rejected the pressure, saying the territory would not be coerced and has the right to make its own decisions. The European Union has announced an emergency summit later this week to consider its response, while Denmark has proposed enhanced NATO surveillance operations in the Arctic.

The dispute has further strained transatlantic ties, with European leaders warning that escalating trade and security tensions would be damaging for all sides.

Trumps Greenland plan also drew sharp reactions from US allies, with Britain and the European Union pushing back against Washingtons tone. The UK foreign secretary said the approach was no way to treat allies," underscoring growing frustration over the dispute. Meanwhile, the EUs foreign policy chief sought to strike a measured note, saying Europe has no desire to pick a fight" with the US but made clear that the bloc would stand firm in defending its interests and principles.

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Location : Oslo, Norway

First Published: January 20, 2026, 02:09 IST

News world Have Clearly Explained...: Norway PM Reminds Trump That Nobel Committee, Not Govt, Picks Winner

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Imran Khan's Sister Says Former Pakistan PM 'Will Not Break' Despite Solitary Confinement | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 22:23 IST

Aleema said people were raising concerns about Imran Khans solitary confinement, but stressed that the bigger question was why he continues to remain in prison.

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan. (Image: PTI/File)

Aleema Khan, sister of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan, on Monday said that despite being kept in solitary confinement, her brother remains strong and will not break".

Speaking to CNN-News18, Aleema said people were raising concerns about Imran Khans solitary confinement, but stressed that the bigger question was why he continues to remain in prison.

When you have already achieved your objectives by keeping Imran Khan in prison and through the 26th and 27th amendments, then the question arise, why is Imran Khan still in prison today?," she noted.

Aleema alleged that votes were rigged by a small group of lawmakers to get the amendments passed and claimed that the judiciary was weakened to ensure Imran Khan remained behind bars.

Aleema accused those in power of placing themselves above the Constitution and the law. Despite this, she said, Imran Khan is still in jail because he is the voice of the people". She dismissed talk of negotiations, calling it a distraction, and questioned why hurdles continued to exist if dialogue was genuinely taking place.

She also referred to senior leader Mahmood Khan Achakzais call for action on February 8. They want to silence the voice of the people," she said, adding that anyone who speaks for Imran Khan or for the rule of law is now being sent to jail.

We stand firm. If you must throw us in jail, go ahead. We will never back down," she stressed.

Khan Denied Legal Counsel

Imran Khan, 73, has been in prison since August 2023. Several cases were filed against him after his government was removed in April 2022.

On Monday, his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has claimed that he has been denied access to legal counsel and kept in solitary confinement for more than three months.

The party noted that prolonged solitary confinement is viewed under international law as harmful and potentially constituting cruel, inhuman when imposed without clear justification or safeguards, the reason why its drawing concern among the supporters and the leadership."

Even the basic necessities guaranteed under the jail manual have been denied to him," PTI alleged.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 22:23 IST

News world Imran Khan's Sister Says Former Pakistan PM 'Will Not Break' Despite Solitary Confinement | Exclusive

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Indian-Origin Couple Arrested In FBI Raid For Drug, Sex Trafficking In US

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 12:58 IST

A couple was arrested in Virginia for drug and sex trafficking at Red Carpet Inn, which they operated through Kosha LLC, following undercover operations since May 2023.

Kosha Sharma, 52, and Tarun Sharma, 55, were arrested by FBI. (Photo: X)

An Indian-origin couple, along with three others, have been arrested in Virginia, United States, for drug and sex trafficking following a raid by federal and local agents at a motel central to the criminal activities.

According to federal attorneys in northern Virginia, Kosha Sharma, 52, and Tarun Sharma, 55, are accused of using the third floor of their motel, Red Carpet Inn, for drug sales and prostitution while accommodating other guests on the lower floors.

Their arrest came after several undercover operations led to a raid on the motel. Court documents reveal that since May 2023, Kosha Sharma, also known as Ma or Mama K, and Tarun Sharma, also known as Pop or Pa, have been leasing and operating the motel under Kosha LLC, doing business as Red Carpet Inn".

Three other individuals, identified as Margo Waldon Pierce, Joshua Roderick, and Rashard Perrish Smith, were also taken into custody on the morning of January 15 (US time). All five have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. If convicted, they face a mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years.

As per a report by FOX 5, a coordinated operation" was carried out by the FBI and Prince William County police after a multi-year investigation into sex trafficking and drug distribution at the motel on Dumfries Road.

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: January 19, 2026, 12:24 IST

News world Indian-Origin Couple Arrested In FBI Raid For Drug, Sex Trafficking In US

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Islamic State Behind Kabul Attack That Claimed 6 Victims, Including 2 Chinese Nationals: Sources

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar



Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 22:06 IST

ISIS attacked Kabul killing six people including two Chinese nationals; sources suggest the terror group harbors animosity towards Beijing.

Rapid Read

The site of a blast in central Kabul that killed several people, including Chinese nationals. (IMAGE: TOLONews/X)

An attack by the Islamic States Khorasan affiliate (ISIS-K) on a Chinese restaurant in Kabul killed at least six people, including two Chinese nationals, sources familiar with the matter said on Monday. No group has formally claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

According to sources close to the Taliban, the attack was carried out by ISIS-K as part of a deliberate campaign targeting Chinese interests in Afghanistan.

The sources said the militant group views Chinas growing engagement with the Taliban-led government as a threat to its ideological and strategic objectives.

Earlier, Afghan officials said several people were killed or injured in a blast at a hotel in a heavily guarded part of central Kabul.

According to preliminary reports, a number of people were killed and injured," Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani told Reuters.

Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said the blast targeted a hotel in the commercial Shahr-e-Naw neighbourhood, an area that houses large office buildings, shopping complexes and embassies and is considered one of the safest parts of the Afghan capital.

An Italian NGO, EMERGENCY, which runs a hospital in Kabul, said at least seven people were dead on arrival after the explosion, while around 20 injured were brought to its surgical centre, according to AFP.

Sources said ISIS-K opposes Chinas presence in Afghanistan, arguing that Beijings diplomatic recognition, economic engagement and investment commitments strengthen the Taliban regime. The group considers the Taliban an apostate nationalist authority" that prioritises state control over what ISIS-K sees as a global jihadist project.

According to the sources, ISIS-Ks Salafi-jihadi ideology categorises China as a non-believing communist power and its propaganda frequently cites Beijings policies in Xinjiang as justification for violence against Chinese nationals and interests.

The group is also believed to be seeking to recruit Central Asian and Uyghur fighters by portraying itself as an alternative ideological and operational sanctuary.

The Taliban returned to power in 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led forces, pledging to restore security across the country. However, attacks have continued since then, many of them claimed by ISIS-K, which has repeatedly targeted foreign interests and Taliban officials.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 20:17 IST

News world Islamic State Behind Kabul Attack That Claimed 6 Victims, Including 2 Chinese Nationals: Sources

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Jet2 Passengers Left Behind As Spain-Bound Flight From Manchester Takes Off Without Them

Curated By :

CNN-News18

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 23:41 IST

Jet2 passengers at Manchester Airport missed their Alicante flight after being stranded in a stairwell due to a directional error. Jet2 has launched probe.

The airlines has launched a probe into the matter. (X)

In a bizarre incident, passengers of Jet2 airline were shocked when their flight departed for Spain without them, leaving them stranded in a terminal stairwell. The airlines has launched an investigation into the incident.

The flight was bound for Alicante from Manchester Airport. According to The Sun, at least 35 holidaymakers had reached the stairwell after showing their passports and scanning their boarding passes for the 7am flight.

After they waited for roughly 40 minutes for the gate to open, they realized something was wrong. Later, when an airport worker asked them what was going on and they informed him, he reportedly told the weary passengers the planes gone".

The Sun quoted the passengers stating that other Jet2 staff admitted it had never happened before".

Manchester Evening News quoted one of the affected passengers, Matt, saying: were thinking why arent these doors open. We thought a bus would come for us and take us to the plane. We were there for 10 minutes, 20, 30, then we thought whats going on. We were literally stuck like caged animals."

According to The Sun, the group have since reportedly been informed there was an error on the stairwell directions".

Meanwhile, the airlines have confirmed that an investigation has been launched as a matter of urgency".

A spokesperson said: We are aware that flight LS879 from Manchester to Alicante departed without some customers this morning. We are investigating this as a matter of urgency with the airport."

Our team are looking after these customers, and we have already arranged for them to take other flights to Alicante today. We would of course like to apologise to these customers," the spokesperson added.

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Location : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: January 19, 2026, 23:40 IST

News world Jet2 Passengers Left Behind As Spain-Bound Flight From Manchester Takes Off Without Them

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More Than 100 Vehicles Pile Up On Snow-Covered Michigans I-196 Highway | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 03:10 IST

Videos show more than 100 vehicles involved in a massive pileup on Michigans I-196 amid severe winter storm conditions.

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More than 100 vehicles, including several semi-trucks, are seen piled up on snow-covered I-196 in western Michigan after whiteout winter storm conditions triggered a massive crash. (IMAGE: X/@ChicagoMWeather)

More than 100 vehicles, including dozens of semi-trucks, were involved in a massive pileup on a snow-covered highway in western Michigan on Monday morning, forcing authorities to shut down both directions of the road and rescue stranded motorists, according to local media reports.

The crash occurred on Interstate 196 in Zeeland Township, roughly midway between Grand Rapids and Holland, Michigan Public reported, citing officials. Images and videos from the scene showed trucks jackknifed across lanes and the median, with cars scattered across the highway amid heavy snow.

The Ottawa County Sheriffs Office said there were no fatalities, but between nine and 12 people were injured and taken to local hospitals by ambulance, CBS News reported, citing the department and its local affiliate WWMT.

Both directions of I-196 were shut between the Hudsonville and Zeeland exits as emergency crews worked to clear wreckage and assist motorists trapped in the crash zone, FOX 17 reported. Authorities said the highway is expected to remain closed for several hours during cleanup operations.

Videos shared by Fox Weather showed semi-trucks jackknifed across the highway and cars strewn across multiple lanes, while another video posted by a stranded motorist and shared by AccuWeather showed vehicles trapped in near whiteout conditions.

A massive 100-vehicle pileup on Interstate 196 in western Michigan on Monday morning injured several people. https://t.co/clQ1ya7Eq9 pic.twitter.com/Y0Hcr0Qfzd AccuWeather (@accuweather) January 19, 2026

With a large number of drivers stranded, buses from Hudsonville Public Schools and the local Max Transit system were deployed to transport motorists to Hudsonville High School, which was opened as an emergency shelter, FOX 17 said.

Massive 100+ vehicle PILEUP shuts down highway in west Michigan Multiple injuries after numerous slide-offs and crashes during state's battle with winter storm pic.twitter.com/pXvCtJSequ  Levan Gudadze (@GudadzeLevan) January 19, 2026

Michigan State Police said the pileup occurred as a winter storm warning remained in effect across the region. Road conditions are treacherous. Blowing winds and blinding snow are creating dangerous travel conditions," police said in a statement quoted by Michigan Public.

Police urged motorists to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary and warned that driving beyond ones ability significantly increases the risk of serious crashes.

Michigan State Police also said another multi-vehicle crash shut down southbound US-131 in Grand Rapids earlier on Monday, underscoring the widespread impact of the winter storm across West Michigan, according to Michigan Public and CBS News.

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Location : Zeeland, Michigan, India

First Published: January 20, 2026, 03:10 IST

News world More Than 100 Vehicles Pile Up On Snow-Covered Michigans I-196 Highway | Watch

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'Heads Bloodied, But Unbowed': Reza Pahlavi Says He Will Return To Iran, Urges Global Support

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 08:35 IST

Reza Pahlavi said the struggle in Iran is between occupation and liberation, accusing the regime of mass killings and declaring he will return to the country.

A file photo of Reza Pahlavi/Protests in Iran (Reuters)

Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Irans late shah, has said that the struggle unfolding in Iran is no longer about reform but about occupation and liberation," saying the Iranian people have called on him to lead and announcing his intention to return to the country.

In a post on X and a video message released as protests in Iran faced a severe crackdown, Pahlavi accused the Islamic Republic of carrying out mass killings and said the violence against protesters was continuing despite official denials.

The people of Iran are being slaughtered in the streets and in their homes by a regime that shows no mercy," Pahlavi said in the video.

More than 12,000 Iranians were massacred in 48 hours. One murder every 14 seconds," he added.

Rejecting the notion that the unrest is part of a reformist cycle, he said, The battle in Iran today is not between reform and revolution. It is between occupation and liberation. And the Iranian people have already chosen their side."

Pahlavi said protesters had been badly injured but remained defiant.

Their heads are bloodied but unbowed," he said, adding that despite the lies youre hearing from the regime, its bloodlust has not diminished. The slaughter has not stopped."

Addressing Iranians directly, he said demonstrators were holding the line with their broken bodies but unbreakable will," and argued that the movement had reached a decisive stage.

They are not merely rejecting this regime, they are demanding a credible new path forward," he said.

Pahlavi also called on foreign governments to take a stronger stance, saying events inside Iran required urgent international engagement.

The Iranian people are taking decisive actions on the ground. It is now time for the international community to join them fully," he said, before declaring, I will return to Iran."

His remarks echo comments reported earlier by AFP, in which Pahlavi said he was confident the Islamic Republic would fall.

Speaking in Washington, he was quoted as saying, The Islamic Republic will fall, not if, but when."

He has repeatedly called for coordinated demonstrations and urged Iranians to raise your voices in anger and protest with our national slogans."

The battle in Iran today is between occupation and liberation. The Iranian people have called for me to lead.I will return to Iran. pic.twitter.com/V0JEVs55cw  Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 18, 2026

Protests that erupted late last month over economic grievances escalated into the largest demonstrations in years, challenging Irans clerical system.

Authorities responded with a sweeping security crackdown and imposed a nationwide internet blackout that monitors said had lasted more than 180 hours, severely limiting independent verification.

Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) has verified at least 3,428 deaths, warning the actual number could be far higher.

Other estimates cited by AFP put the death toll above 5,000 and possibly as high as 20,000.

The opposition Iran International channel has said at least 12,000 people were killed, citing senior government and security sources.

Reuters reported that while the unrest has energised exiled opposition figures, it has also exposed deep divisions among them.

Analysts and diplomats cited by Reuters said it remains difficult to assess how much support Pahlavi commands inside Iran, despite videos showing some demonstrators chanting his name.

In his video message, however, Pahlavi struck a confident tone, framing the uprising as historic.

The people of Iran have risen to reclaim their country," he said. History will honor those who stand with them. Long live Iran."

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 08:33 IST

News world 'Heads Bloodied, But Unbowed': Reza Pahlavi Says He Will Return To Iran, Urges Global Support

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Seven Killed, Several Injured In IED Blast At Chinese Restaurant In Kabul

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 20:21 IST

Afghan Times quoted sources saying the blast was allegedly carried out by rival factions within the Taliban reportedly targeting a vehicle carrying Chinese officials.

The explosion occurred in a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street in Shahr-e-Naw, the fourth district of Kabul city. (X)

Seven people were killed in an explosion outside a Chinese restaurant in Kabuls Shahr-e-Naw, home to foreigners, on Monday, hospital authorities said.

An explosion occurred in a hotel on Gulfaroshi Street in Shahr-e-Naw, the fourth district of Kabul city, causing casualties," AFP quoted Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran saying.

He further said the blast targeted a hotel in the commercial neighbourhood that includes large office buildings, shopping complexes and embassies.

Twenty people have been received at EMERGENCYs Surgical Centre in Kabul following an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. Among those received were seven people dead on arrival," the NGO said in a statement.

AP quoted Chinese state broadcaster CCTV saying two Chinese people had been seriously injured and a security guard had been killed in the blast.

 BREAKING:Massive IED Blast in Front of Chinese Restaurant" in Kabul Sources told Afghan Times that on Monday, January 19, a powerful explosion occurred near a Chinese restaurant in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Kabul. The blast reportedly targeted a vehicle carrying Chinese pic.twitter.com/c7Xu8rAWwC  Afghan Times (@AfghanTimes7) January 19, 2026

According to Reuters, the Shahr-e-Naw area is home to foreigners and is considered one of the most secure areas in Kabul.

Afghan Times quoted sources saying the blast occurred near a Chinese restaurant, reportedly targeting a vehicle carrying Chinese officials and was allegedly carried out by rival factions within the Taliban.

Further details are awaited.

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Location : Kabul, Afghanistan

First Published: January 19, 2026, 18:28 IST

News world Seven Killed, Several Injured In IED Blast At Chinese Restaurant In Kabul

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39 Killed, Over 70 Injured After Two Trains Collide In Southern Spain's Andalusia

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 13:06 IST

At least 39 people were killed after two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in Spains Andalusia region, triggering a major rescue operation in difficult conditions.

People affected by a deadly train derailment are transferred and treated at the Caseta Municipal in the town of Adamuz (Photo: Reuters)

At least 39 people were killed, and more than 70 were injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spains Andalusia region, Reuters quoted state broadcaster RTVE as saying.

Rescue teams worked through the night in what officials described as extremely difficult conditions.

According to police and emergency officials, the accident occurred on Sunday evening near the town of Adamuz in Cordoba province.

A high-speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed, crossed onto the opposite track and slammed into an oncoming train heading from Madrid to the southern city of Huelva. Both trains derailed on impact.

A police spokesperson told AFP that the death toll had increased to 39.

Antonio Sanz, Andalusias top emergencies official and regional health minister, said at least 73 people had been injured and warned that the toll could still rise.

The situation is likely to see the death toll increase," Sanz told a press conference, adding that a very complicated night awaits us."

Emergency services said 25 people had suffered severe injuries.

Officials said the wounded were taken to six different hospitals across the region.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente told reporters that around 30 people were rushed to the hospital in serious condition and that all the injured had been evacuated to receive care.

The derailment happened on a straight stretch of track that had been completely renovated, Puente said, describing the accident as extremely strange."

He added that the first train to derail was practically new."

Spains rail infrastructure operator ADIF said the evening Malaga-Madrid service went off the rails before crashing into the oncoming train.

Rail operator Iryo said around 300 passengers were on board its Malaga-to-Madrid service, while the second train was an AVE service operated by state-owned railway company Renfe.

Rescue efforts were complicated by the scale of the wreckage.

Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Cordoba, told public broadcaster RTVE that the twisted carriages made it extremely hard to reach trapped passengers.

The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside," he said.

We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work."

Some carriages tumbled down an embankment of around four metres, Sanz said.

The regional Civil Protection chief, Maria Belen Moya Rojas, told Canal Sur that the accident occurred in an area that was difficult to access.

She added that local residents brought blankets and water to the scene to help victims while emergency crews worked.

Passengers who survived described scenes of panic and chaos.

Montse, a passenger on the second train bound for Huelva, told Spanish public television that the train came to an abrupt stop with a jolt" and that everything went dark."

She said luggage flew through the carriage, and children were crying.

Luckily, I was in the last car. I feel like I was given a second chance at life," she said.

Lucas Meriako, who was travelling on the first train that derailed, told La Sexta television, This looks like a horror movie."

He said passengers felt a powerful impact and feared the train was about to collapse, adding that many were injured by shattered glass.

Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the tragedy as a night of deep pain for our country," saying no words could ease the suffering of the victims and their families.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was following the terrible news" from Cordoba and expressed solidarity with those affected.

The royal palace said King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were following developments with great concern."

ADIF said high-speed train services between Madrid and Andalusian cities, including Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and Huelva, would remain suspended at least through Monday.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 07:04 IST

News world 39 Killed, Over 70 Injured After Two Trains Collide In Southern Spain's Andalusia

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Sydney Sees Three Shark Attacks In Just Over 24 Hours, Two Critically Injured

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Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 01:36 IST

A man and a 12-year-old boy were critically injured in separate incidents, while another child escaped unhurt after his surfboard was bitten.

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People stand next to warning signs in place, and beaches are closed after a surfer suffered a shark attack today at Dee Why Beach in Sydney, Australia. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Sydney reported three separate shark attacks in just over 24 hours, leaving a man and a boy critically injured and another child narrowly escaping harm, according to police.

Officials suspect bull sharks were responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police had earlier warned that heavy rainfall had increased murky freshwater flow into Sydney Harbour, raising the risk of bull shark activity, the Associated Press reported.

In the latest incident on Monday evening, a surfer in his 20s was bitten on the leg by a shark off North Steyne Beach in the northern suburb of Manly. The attack occurred around 6.20 pm local time. Police said bystanders pulled the man from the water before he was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The second incident took place on Sunday inside Sydney Harbour at Shark Beach in the eastern suburb of Vaucluse. A 12-year-old boy suffered serious injuries to both legs after jumping from a six-metre ledge known as Jump Rock. Police credited the boys three friends with saving his life by jumping into the water during the attack and dragging him back to shore.

The actions of his mates who have gone into the water to pull him out have been nothing but brave," Superintendent Joseph McNulty told reporters, adding that the injuries were confronting for the children who witnessed the attack. Australian media reported that the boy lost both legs.

Earlier on Monday, an 11-year-old boy was on a surfboard at Dee Why Beach, north of Manly, when a shark bit into the board. The shark tore off a chunk of the surfboard, but the boy escaped without injury.

Authorities said Sydneys northern beaches, including North Steyne and Dee Why, would remain closed until further notice. All three locations where the attacks occurred have some form of shark protection netting, though it was not immediately clear whether the incidents took place inside or outside the protected zones.

Officials suspect bull sharks were responsible for at least the first two attacks. Police had earlier warned that heavy rainfall had increased murky freshwater flow into Sydney Harbour, raising the risk of bull shark activity.

Dee Why Beach is close to Ocean Reef Beach, where a 57-year-old surfer was killed by a suspected white shark last September. In November, a 25-year-old Swiss tourist was killed and her partner seriously injured during another shark attack north of Sydney.

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Location : Sydney, Australia

First Published: January 20, 2026, 01:36 IST

News world Sydney Sees Three Shark Attacks In Just Over 24 Hours, Two Critically Injured

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Indonesian girl pursues dream of TCM in China

Xinhua) 09:36, January 19, 2026

This video grab shows Sevira Putri Purnama Lumarso speaking in an interview with Xinhua at the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 13, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Keying)

LANZHOU, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At the clinic of the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Sevira Putri Purnama Lumarso, a 22-year-old Indonesian, carefully locates acupuncture points and inserts needles for a patient.

The Gen Z student from Semarang, Indonesia, came to China in 2023 to pursue a bachelor's degree in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at the medical university, under a sponsorship from the Gansu provincial government.

Her three years of theoretical study and clinical practice have equipped her with core TCM competencies, enabling her to apply the four diagnostic methods: observation, listening and smelling, inquiry, and palpation.

Sevira's interest in TCM is deeply rooted in her family history. Her grandfather was born in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province, and later moved with his family to Indonesia.

Despite living abroad, her grandfather continued to rely on TCM as his primary form of healthcare, a practice he had maintained during his time in China. Whenever a family member fell ill, he would often turn to treatments such as acupuncture.

"When I was a child, I thought this ancient medical art that could relieve pain was really magical." She added that it was this childhood memory that inspired her to pursue her dream of studying TCM in China.

Upon arriving in China, Sevira found professional TCM terminology, such as syndrome differentiation, quite challenging to grasp. To overcome this difficulty, she took notes in class, repeatedly studied the textbook afterward, and actively sought help from teachers and classmates when she had questions.

"She has an exceptionally serious learning attitude and a strong comprehension ability. From language communication to operating the computer diagnostic system and using the equipment, she quickly mastered everything," Zhu Jin, her mentor, said.

Her theoretical study laid a solid foundation, and clinical practice deepened her understanding of TCM.

During her clinical training, Sevira has rotated through multiple departments, including internal medicine, acupuncture and endocrinology. She has developed the ability to distinguish cold from heat syndromes through tongue diagnosis, interpret pulses to identify illnesses, and skillfully perform massage and acupuncture. She also possesses a thorough understanding of the properties and applications of various Chinese herbal formulas.

Gansu University of Chinese Medicine is actively expanding its international student programs, offering a five-year undergraduate degree in TCM. Currently, the university has over 180 international students from 31 countries, including Laos, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Indonesia, Yemen, Vietnam, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Thailand.

Studying and living in China has allowed Sevira to fully experience the vitality and warmth of the country as well as its rich culture.

"Taking advantage of the convenient high-speed rail, I've traveled to many places in China. I love Chinese food, and I especially adore the beautiful scenery along the Yellow River. Everything here makes me feel warm and at home."

From the family reunion atmosphere of the Spring Festival to the moon-viewing custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and even the soothing rhythms of Tai Chi, these unique cultural symbols have deeply fascinated her. A thorough understanding of traditional Chinese culture is a prerequisite for mastering TCM, according to Sevira.

Speaking about her future plans, Sevira said she intends to become a doctor after returning to Indonesia and promote TCM treatments among the Indonesian people.

"TCM is a scientific diagnostic and treatment system, and more importantly, a cultural bridge connecting China and the world," Sevira said.

This video grab shows Sevira Putri Purnama Lumarso providing acupuncture treatment to a patient at the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 13, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Keying)

This video grab shows Sevira Putri Purnama Lumarso providing acupuncture treatment to a patient at the Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 13, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Keying)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
'Trump Could Face A Big Fight': Eurasia Group's Chief Warns US's Greenland Move May End NATO

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 18:27 IST

Trump has repeatedly threatened to take over Greenland one way or the other, prompting European nations to push back.

Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group & GZERO Media. (File photo: Getty Images via AFP)

Ian Bremmer, the president of the political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, on Monday said that US President Donald Trumps attempts to control Greenland could have serious consequences for NATO and Western alliances.

Bremmer made the remarks in an interview with CNBC-TV18s Managing Editor Shereen Bhan on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

If Trump persists in attempting to control Greenland, it will be the end of NATO," Bremmer told Bhan. He added, US President might have a big fight on his hands if he doesnt back down."

Speaking further, Bremmer said, The US is demanding territorial control of Greenland, which means that the Russians dont want to sit and talk."

Bremmer also warned that an escalation of the Greenland crisis could fracture trust among Western allies and create strategic openings for China. If this crisis explodes and undermines transatlantic relationships, China will clearly be a beneficiary," he noted.

Trumps Repeated Threat On Greenland

The US President has repeatedly threatened to take over Greenland one way or the other," prompting European nations to push back.

Additionally, German and French leaders denounced the weekend threats as blackmail" and said Europe is preparing trade countermeasures.

The European Union has announced an emergency summit on Thursday to consider its response, emphasising that it aims to engage, not escalate," but is ready to act if necessary.

Greenland, whose population of 57,000 has expressed concern over Trumps threats, reiterated that such pressure does not change its desire to assert sovereignty.

Trump has insisted that the mineral-rich island is vital for US national security," despite existing bases and security agreements with Denmark, a fellow NATO ally.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Location : Switzerland

First Published: January 19, 2026, 18:27 IST

News world 'Trump Could Face A Big Fight': Eurasia Group's Chief Warns US's Greenland Move May End NATO

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Trump's Gaza Peace Board Faces Opposition As France Pulls Back, Canada Refuses To Pay

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Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 00:37 IST

Several countries have expressed concern over Trump's Gaza Peace Board, saying it would undermine the work of UN in Gaza.

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French President Macron, Canadian PM Carney and US President Donald Trump pose for a family photo during the G7 Summit in Alberta, Canada. (IMAGE: AFP FILE/REPRESENTATIVE)

US President Donald Trumps ambitious Board of Peace", aimed at governance and reconstruction of post-war Gaza has faced fresh opposition as France and Canada have expressed reluctance to join the initiative.

A source close to French President Emmanuel Macron told AFP that he does not intend to answer favourably" to Trumps invitation, adding that its charter goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza."

It raises major questions, particularly regarding respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, which under no circumstances can be called into question," they added. Notably, France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

This came after the French Foreign Ministry issued a statement reiterating Frances commitment to the UN. The ministry said it was reviewing the proposed legal framework of the board with its partners, raising concern that the project extends beyond the situation in Gaza".

Canada Wont Pay For Board Seat

Meanwhile, a Canadian government source told AFP that Ottawa will not pay to be on Trumps Gaza Peace Board, after Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated he would accept the US invitation to join the body.

Canada will not pay for a seat on the board, nor has that been requested of Canada at this time," the government source said. This came after the draft charter of the US to over 60 countries said they would be allowed to join the board for three years or longer if they paid more than $1.0 billion in cash within the first year, sparking concerns.

The source said Carney had initially indicated he would join the board because it is important to have a seat at the table to shape this process from within." However, many terms and conditions are still being worked out, the source added.

The Trump administration has invited political leaders, diplomats and business figures from around the world to join the new board, including Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of a US-backed and UN-supported plan to demilitarise and rebuild the territory after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

More than 60 countries have reportedly been sent invitations to join the board. These include Jordan, Canada, Hungary, Vietnam, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, Albania and Paraguay.

Several countries have expressed concern that the board would undermine the United Nations if it went ahead. Russia and China, two veto-wielding powers, abstained from a resolution on the board, saying it did not give the UN a clear role in the future of Gaza.

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, a close Trump ally, gave an unequivocal acceptance in response to the invitation. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also agreed to join the Board of Peace".

(with inputs from agencies)

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Location : Paris, France

First Published: January 19, 2026, 22:00 IST

News world Trump's Gaza Peace Board Faces Opposition As France Pulls Back, Canada Refuses To Pay

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US Sends Military Aircraft To Greenland As Denmark Boosts Troop Presence

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Last Updated: January 20, 2026, 04:02 IST

NORAD said the aircraft deployment is part of long-planned defence activities coordinated with Denmark and Greenland.

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Two F-16 fighter pilots from the US Air Force taxi their aircraft on the flightline at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. (IMAGE: NORAD ARCHIVES/REPRESENTATIVE)

The United States will deploy military aircraft to Greenlands Pituffik Space Base as tensions rise over US President Donald Trumps push to acquire the self-governing Danish territory.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) on Monday (local time) said its aircraft would soon arrive at the base, formerly known as Thule Air Force Base, as part of long-planned activities aimed at supporting routine operations to defend North America.

NORAD said the deployment builds on existing defence cooperation between the United States, Canada and Denmark, and has been coordinated with Copenhagen, with Greenland informed of the plans.

All supporting forces are operating with the requisite diplomatic clearances," NORAD said, adding that the aircraft would support sustained and dispersed operations across its three regions  Alaska, Canada and the continental United States.

Pituffik Space Base, located in northwestern Greenland, is a key US military installation and communications hub, hosting a missile warning system critical to North American defence.

The US move comes as Denmark has also stepped up its military presence on the Arctic island. According to the Financial Times, several aircraft carrying Danish troops and military equipment landed in Greenland on Monday, adding to the more than 200 soldiers already stationed there. Danish defence forces said a substantial contingent of troops, along with the head of the countrys army, were deployed to Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq.

The troop deployment follows a multinational military exercise led by Danish forces over the weekend and comes amid heightened tensions after Trump declined to rule out using force to take control of Greenland. The US President has argued that Greenland is vital for American security, citing strategic concerns linked to Russia and China.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland. Along with aircraft operating from bases in the continental United States and Canada, they will support various long-planned NORAD activities, building on the enduring North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) January 19, 2026

Trumps stance has triggered sharp reactions across Europe. Germany and France have called for a clear European response to Washingtons threats to impose tariffs on countries opposing US plans for Greenland, while also urging de-escalation. European Union officials have warned that retaliatory measures could follow if the US proceeds with trade penalties.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he discussed the importance of the Arctic and Greenlands role in collective security during a meeting with Denmarks defence minister, noting Copenhagens efforts to invest in key defence capabilities in the region.

Denmark has said it is open to discussions on an increased US military presence in Greenland but has firmly rejected any transfer of sovereignty over the territory.

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Location : Copenhagen/New York/Nuuk, India

First Published: January 20, 2026, 03:38 IST

News world US Sends Military Aircraft To Greenland As Denmark Boosts Troop Presence

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Vladimir Putin Invited To Join Donald Trump's Gaza 'Board Of Peace', Says Kremlin

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 15:38 IST

The Trump administration has invited political leaders, diplomats and business figures from around the world to join the new board, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited by US President Donald Trump to join the Gaza Peace Board, meant to oversee governance and reconstruction in post-war Gaza, the Kremlin informed on Monday.

President Putin also received an invitation to join this Board of Peace," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, adding that Russia was seeking to clarify all the nuances" of the offer with Washington.

The Trump administration has invited political leaders, diplomats and business figures from around the world to join the new board, including Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of a US-backed and UN-supported plan to demilitarise and rebuild the territory after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

The White House said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern the war-wracked territory, and a second executive board" that appears designed to have a more advisory role.

PM Modi Also Invited

Indias PM Modi also received an invitation from Trump on January 16, according to a letter shared by US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor. It is my Great Honor to invite you, as Prime Minister of the Republic of India, to join me in a critically Historic and Magnificent effort to solidify Peace in the Middle East and, at the same time, to embark on a bold new approach to resolving Global Conflict!" Trump said in the letter.

He is among several world leaders, including Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Canadian PM Mark Carney, Italys Giorgia Meloni and Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be invited to the board. However, it has not been confirmed if PM Modi has accepted the invite.

READ MORE: From PM Modi To Meloni: Who All Have Been Invited To Join Trumps Gaza Board Of Peace?

More than 60 countries have reportedly been sent invitations to join the board. These include Jordan, Canada, Hungary, Vietnam, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, Albania and Paraguay.

World Leaders React Cautiously

However, several governments reacted cautiously to Trumps Board of Peace, as a draft charter by the US administration calls for members to contribute $1 billion in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years, as per reports.

Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charters entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman," the document read. Other governments appeared reluctant to make public statements, leaving officials to express concerns anonymously about the impact on the work of the United Nations.

Three other Western diplomats told Reuters it looked as if it would undermine the United Nations if it went ahead. Three more diplomats and an Israeli source said that Trump wanted the Board of Peace to eventually have a broader role beyond Gaza that would oversee the other conflicts that Trump has said he has resolved.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: January 19, 2026, 15:15 IST

News world Vladimir Putin Invited To Join Donald Trump's Gaza 'Board Of Peace', Says Kremlin

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Will Go Down In History, Selfish Interests: Russia, China Hit Out At Trump On Greenland

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Last Updated: January 19, 2026, 19:16 IST

Dmitry Peskov and Guo Jiakun hit back after Donald Trump links global security to US control of Greenland.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Chinas Guo Jiakun react after Donald Trump says global security depends on US control of Greenland. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Russia and China on Monday criticised US President Donald Trumps repeated remarks about taking control of Greenland, with Moscow saying he would go down in history" if such a move were realised, and Beijing accusing Washington of using a so-called China threat" to pursue its own interests.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Trumps statements, said international experts believed that resolving the issue of Greenlands accession would make Trump a historic figure. By resolving the issue of Greenlands accession, Trump will go down not only in US history, but in world history as well," Peskov was quoted as saying by Russias TASS news agency. He added that it was difficult to disagree with that assessment, without commenting on whether such a move would comply with international law.

China also pushed back strongly against Trumps remarks linking Greenland to alleged Chinese and Russian security threats. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the United States should stop invoking a China threat as justification for its actions. We urge the United States to stop using the so-called threat from China as a pretext to pursue its own selfish interests," Guo said.

Trumps comments have triggered sharp reactions across Europe, as well as concern in Greenland and among NATO allies. Speaking in remarks published on Monday, Trump said the world would not be secure" unless the United States had complete and total control" of Greenland. He also said he no longer felt an obligation to think purely of peace" after being overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize, though he maintained that peace would remain a predominant" goal.

The US President has repeatedly argued that Greenland is critical to American national security, despite the United States already maintaining a military presence on the island and having defence agreements with Denmark, a fellow NATO member. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

European leaders have denounced Trumps threats to impose tariffs on countries opposing his Greenland plans, with Germany and France describing the move as blackmail". The European Union has said it will hold an emergency summit to consider its response, while stressing that its preference is to engage rather than escalate.

Greenlands leadership has also rejected external pressure. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory would not be intimidated, asserting Greenlands right to make its own decisions as a democratic society.

Trump has previously proposed buying Greenland during his first term and has since escalated his rhetoric, warning of tariffs and criticising Europes intentions to deploy forces on the island, which he described as a very dangerous game".

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First Published: January 19, 2026, 19:15 IST

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Taiwan social media influencers call for cross-Strait dialogue

Xinhua) 10:20, January 19, 2026

TAIPEI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Several Taiwan-based social media influencers gathered on Saturday at an offline forum titled "Peace Talks" in Taipei, criticizing the region's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for their secessionist narrative, and calling for peace and dialogue rather than confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Su Heng, who was one of the forum's organizers and runs a political commentary vlog, said the core purpose of the event was promoting cross-Strait peace.

"We call for dialogue between the two sides, and for a rejection of war," she said at the event, which was also livestreamed online. "We hope to awaken more people to join us in making this appeal."

Former Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je addressed the forum in a video, saying that the central challenge in cross-Strait relations is not whether differences exist, but how differences are managed.

He stressed the need to "replace confrontation with dialogue," and warned that the Lai Ching-te authorities are pushing people in Taiwan toward greater risk.

A vlogger who posts under the username "I am Jack Liu" said that the DPP's policy will never protect Taiwan but instead has been laying waste to the island. He argued that resolving cross-Strait issues through dialogue will best serve the interests of the people in Taiwan.

Another attendee, who releases videos for his more than 150,000 subscribers on YouTube under the name "Xiaojie," has long been sharing his observations from the mainland, as well as street interviews with people from both sides of the Strait.

Xiaojie said he has been traveling to the mainland almost every year for a long time, and has personally witnessed its development and the friendliness of its people, while the DPP authorities have continued to stir cross-Strait antagonism online in an attempt to sever cross-Strait ties.

"I've asked many people from the mainland about their impressions of Taiwan, and they genuinely see us as part of one family," he said.

"Peace Talks" will continue over a series of forums, Su said.

Through discussions, they hope to help more people to realize that war must not be a choice, and that dialogue is the only thing that can truly safeguard Taiwan, she added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China's Shenzhou-20 return capsule touches down on Earth

Xinhua) 13:22, January 19, 2026

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

JIUQUAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success.

The Shenzhou-23 spaceship, which will take over the rolling backup task, has arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the CMSA added.

China launched the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship on April 24, 2025, sending three astronauts to its orbiting space station for a six-month mission.

However, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, originally scheduled to return the three astronauts to Earth on Nov. 5, failed to meet the requirements for their safe return, according to the CMSA.

Tiny cracks have been found in the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window, which are most probably caused by external impact from space debris, the CMSA said.

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A North Carolina police officer who feared her pregnancy would kill her died after failing to get either urgent heart treatment or a timely abortion, despite repeatedly seeking help from doctors and clinics. Medical experts who later reviewed the case say 34-year-old Ciji Graham's death was likely preventable and illustrates how abortion restrictions and gaps in cardiac training are reshaping care for high-risk pregnancies. ProPublica takes a deep dive.

Graham, who had a history of atrial fibrillation and thyroid disease, showed up at a cardiologist's office on Nov. 14, 2023, with a heart rate of 192 beats per minute and symptoms including severe palpitations and shortness of breath. An EKG confirmed A-fib  a dangerous rhythm that can lead to stroke or heart failure. In the past, doctors had restored her rhythm with an electrical shock procedure called cardioversion. This time, after a pregnancy test turned up positive, her cardiologist didn't offer that treatment. Instead, the doctor instructed Graham to consult other doctors first and sent her home.

A second cardiologist the next day planned a cardioversion in three weeks and started a blood thinner, but that doctor didn't repeat an EKG to confirm that Graham's heart rate had stabilized. At least a dozen cardiologists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists told ProPublica that Graham should've been admitted immediately and either treated with IV drugs or shocked back into rhythm, pregnancy or not. A leading professional society says cardioversion is considered safe during pregnancy, and several experts said the risk of inaction far exceeded any potential risk to the fetus.

Believing the pregnancy put her life in danger, Graham sought an abortion. But North Carolina's 12-week ban, an in-person consent requirement, and an influx of out-of-state patients meant the first available clinic appointment was nearly two weeks away. Five days after seeing the first cardiologist, Graham was found dead at home. The medical examiner cited cardiac arrhythmia related to atrial fibrillation "in the setting of recent pregnancy." Three physicians who sit on maternal mortality review panels called Graham's death preventable, saying there were multiple points where standard care could have averted it. Graham left behind a 2-year-old son and a family now asking why, in a region that has tightened abortion laws in the name of protecting life, no one managed to protect hers. More here.
European officials held an emergency meeting in Brussels on Sunday to map out a response to President Trump's threat to raise tariffs on eight US allies unless they accept his effort to buy Greenland, calling the move coercive and a challenge to sovereignty. Diplomats from the 27 EU nations weighed possible countermeasures, including new levies or restrictions on US service providers operating in the bloc, according to two European diplomats. France is urging activation of a powerful 2023 trade tool that could hit American services, the Washington Post reports, especially in sectors dominated by US tech companies, though many members prefer to try to ease tensions with the US first. Leaders of the 27 nations plan an emergency, in-person summit this week, possibly Thursday, per Politico Europe. Developments include:
Bruce Springsteen used a surprise home-state gig to sharply criticize the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and to honor the Minneapolis woman killed by an ICE agent, the New York Times reports. During an unbilled Saturday performance at the Light of Day Winterfest in Red Bank, New Jersey, Springsteen told the audience the country was in "incredibly critical times" and that American ideals were being tested as rarely before, according to videos shared online. He urged the crowd to oppose what he described as "heavily armed mass federal troops invading an American city using Gestapo tactics," and called on listeners to "send a message to this president" if they believe "you don't deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest."

Springsteen then cited Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's profane demand that ICE leave the city and dedicated his song "The Promised Land" to Renee Good. Authorities say Ross fired after Good drove toward him and then veered right; President Trump and administration officials have argued she had "weaponized her vehicle." Onstage, Springsteen called the performance of the song about a working-class man who dreams of a better life "for you, and the memory of mother of three and American citizen Renee Good." Variety notes the song is "one of his most enduring anthems and concert favorites." He introduced it, and his tribute to Good, by saying he wrote the song "as an ode to American possibility  both to the beautiful but flawed country that we are, and to the country that we could be." The day after the performance, Deadline reports, the Justice Department said it would not investigate Good's killing.

The White House quickly pushed back. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said no one cares about Springsteen's "bad political opinions" and argued that someone who truly believed in the rule of law would support deporting "criminal illegal aliens," oppose interference with federal operations, and recognize that officers can act in self-defense against a car used as a "deadly weapon." The clash is the latest in a long-running feud: Springsteen has previously labeled Trump the "most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime," accused his administration of trampling civil rights, and released a politically charged EP calling the government "corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous." Trump has responded by telling the musician to "KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT" and demanding investigations into him and other celebrities.
A weekend search for four missing hikers in Southern California ended with an unexpected tragedy for the man who went looking for them. Riverside County authorities say a group of four hikers became disoriented Saturday evening in a remote, mountainous area near State Route 74 in Anza, the Los Angeles Times reports. A fifth member of the group, concerned for their safety, left to try to find them on his own, according to the sheriff's office.

Authorities were notified about the four missing hikers at 8:26pm, prompting a response from aviation and mountain rescue units. "The caller reported four subjects in their group left for a hike early that morning and was concerned they had not returned," per a news release. "Believing they could be in distress, an additional subject in their party went searching for them." Crews in a helicopter eventually spotted the original four hikers and lifted them to safety, CBS News reports. As the search continued, rescuers discovered the separate hiker at the base of a roughly 150-foot steep vertical rock face. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The surviving hikers were taken to the sheriff's Lake Hemet Mountain Station for medical evaluations; their conditions were not immediately released. The county coroner is investigating the death, and the man's name has not yet been made public pending notification of relatives, KTLA reports.
60 Minutes on Sunday aired its story about Trump administration deportations that was abruptly pulled from the newsmagazine's lineup a month ago, a move that had triggered an internal battle about political pressure that spilled out into the open, the AP reports. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi made no reference to her dispute with CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss in the story about deportees who had been sent to El Salvador's notoriously harsh CECOT prison. When the segment was struck from the Dec. 21 episode on Weiss' orders, Alfonsi told her 60 Minutes colleagues that it "was not an editorial decision, it was a political one." Weiss had argued that the story did not sufficiently reflect the administration's viewpoint or advance reporting that had been done by other news organizations earlier.

The story shown Sunday included no on-camera interviews with Trump administration officials. But it did include statements from the White House and Department of Homeland Security that were not part of what Alfonsi had used before her story was pulled. Some of the statements, which were carried in full on the 60 Minutes website, were dated prior to Dec. 21. "Since November, 60 Minutes has made several attempts to interview key Trump administration officials on camera about our story," Alfonsi said. "They declined our requests."

Alfonsi did not immediately return a message from the AP on Sunday. She said in her email that the administration's refusal to consent to on-camera interviews was a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story. CBS News, in a statement said, that its "leadership has always been committed to airing the 60 Minutes CECOT piece as soon as it was ready. Tonight, viewers get to see it, along with other important stories, all of which speak to CBS News' independence and the power of our storytelling." (More details on how the segment aired Sunday differed from the original are here.)
What sounds like President Trump narrating a new Fannie Mae ad actually is an AI-cloned voice reading text, according to a disclaimer in the video. The voice in the ad, created with permission from the Trump administration, promises an "all new Fannie Mae" and calls the institution the "protector of the American Dream." The ad comes as the administration is making a big push to show voters it is responding to their concerns about affordability, including in the housing market. Trump plans to talk about housing at his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week.

This isn't the first time a member of the Trump family has used AI to replicate their voice, First Lady Melania Trump recently employed AI technology firm ElevenLabs to help voice the audio version of her memoir. It's not known who cloned President Trump's voice for the Fannie Mae ad. But ElevenLabs said in an email to the AP on Sunday that the audio of Trump's voice wasn't generated by the company. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

"For generations, home ownership meant security, independence, and stability," Trump's digitized voice says in the one-minute ad aired Sunday. "But today, that dream feels out of reach for too many Americans not because they stopped working hard but because the system stopped working for them." Fannie Mae and its counterpart Freddie Mac buy mortgages that meet their risk criteria from banks, which helps provide liquidity for the housing market. The two firms guarantee roughly half of the $13 trillion US home loan market and are a bedrock of the US economy. The ad says Fannie Mae will work with the banking industry to approve more would-be homebuyers for mortgages.
China's leaders are urging citizens to have more children, but the country's demographic slide is only getting steeper. Official data released Monday show China recorded just 7.92 million births in 2025, down 17% from 9.54 million the year before, for a birthrate of 5.63 per 1,000 peoplethe lowest since the People's Republic was founded in 1949, per the New York Times . One demographer suggests births are now "roughly the same level as in 1738," when China had a population of 150 million, per the Guardian . Deaths, meanwhile, climbed to 11.31 million for a rate of 8.04 per 1,000 peoplethe highest since 1968. This marks the fourth consecutive year deaths have outnumbered births. The numbers landed alongside rosier economic news: reported growth of 5% last year.

Beijing has tried a broad mix of carrots and sticks to reverse the declining birthrate, from cash and housing subsidies to exhortations about a "new type of marriage and childbearing culture." Local officials have gone further, with policies such as tracking women's menstrual cycles and recommending fewer non-medically necessary abortions. On Jan. 1, authorities added a 13% value-added tax to condoms and contraceptive drugs, a move not officially tied to population policy but widely seen as another nudge toward parenthood. "I'll still use them," said 28-year-old Jonathan Zhu, who cited financial stress as his main reason for postponing children. Online, the tax drew more sarcasm than support, with critical posts quietly disappearing from social media.

Experts warn that such efforts are unlikely to move the needle. Demographers say China has already crossed into long-term population decline, with fertility so low that even aggressive policies are unlikely to restore previous levels. Young Chinese confront a slowing economy, high housing costs, a weak social safety net, and stubborn youth unemploymentconditions that make starting a family a risky financial bet. Even marriage is becoming less popular. The demographic squeeze is arriving faster than Beijing once anticipated, pressuring underfunded pension and health systems as the population ages rapidly. By 2035, the number of people 60 and older is projected to hit 400 million, even as fewer workers pay into public funds.
The ancient comes in the use on a style of artistry rooted in the Tang dynasty of more than 1,200 years ago, while the modern is manifested in the material used to create the dial design.

Here, carbon fibre marquetry surrounded by cloisonee style gold-plated brass depicts the stylised head of a dragon horse - a working method, says Hublot, that was inspired by the gold embroidery used on Chinese ceremonial robes.

Also known as a Datong, the dragon horse originated in China 4,000 years ago and, celebrated for its exceptional endurance, was optimistically claimed to be capable of galloping up to 250 miles per day.

The dragon horse moniker, however, comes from another unusual feature: the fact that the bones in the animals foreheads (technically known as bosses) are so prominent that they resemble horns.

An association with resilience combined with a little whimsical story-telling makes for marketing magic in the eyes of watch makers, and Hublot is quick to emphasise that the dragon horse embodies Hublots own philosophy of always moving forward, never standing still.
Prince Harry is back at London's High Court this week in what allies describe as his last big showdown with the British tabloid pressand some observers think its conclusion could clear the way for a thaw with King Charles III. Harry is one of several high-profile figures suing Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, over alleged "grave breaches of privacy" between 1993 and 2011, per NBC News . The claimantsincluding Elton John, Jude Law, and Elizabeth Hurleysay ANL used private investigators to unlawfully obtain medical and financial records, and hacked or tapped phones. ANL has rejected the accusations as "preposterous and without foundation" and says the lawsuit insults its journalists' integrity.

The case marks a new front in Britain's long-running tabloid scandals. Mirror Group Newspapers and News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun, have already paid out large sums to celebrities, politicians, and others over phone hacking in the 2000s; Harry has won damages from both. Associated, however, has not previously faced hacking claims. Media lawyer Mark Stephens says that if the allegations are proven, they could "reshape the story of modern British journalism," testing whether one of the country's most powerful publishers has "been operating in the shadows or is genuinely clean." He doubts a last-minute settlement is likely.

The New York Times has a primer on the trial, expected to last two months. Inside the royal family, the more immediate question is what happens after the legal war ends. Commentators say Harry's public battles with the press have been a major factor in the collapse of his relationship with Charles. Harry has also clashed with the British government over the removal of his publicly funded police protection, saying it is not safe to bring his family to the UK and that his father would not speak to him "because of this security stuff." While Harry has voiced a desire for reconciliation, royal watchers say Charles and Prince William are likely to want assurances that Harry will halt his cycle of interviews, books, and documentaries that air internal disputes and put added scrutiny on the monarchy.
A day of cliff-jumping at a popular Sydney swimming spot ended in tragedy Sunday when a 12-year-old boy was mauled by a shark and left fighting for his life. The child was with friends at Shark Beach in the affluent suburb of Vaucluse, leaping from a rock ledge about 20 feet high, when he was attacked. Authorities say he suffered severe injuries to both legs and was pulled from the water unconscious by his friends, whose quick response was credited with giving him a chance of survival, per the BBC . New South Wales Marine Area Commander Joseph McNulty called the boys' actions "nothing but brave," while state Premier Chris Minns publicly praised the group for doing "everything possible" to help.

Marine police arriving on scene described a "horrendous" situation. Officers lifted the boy onto a police speedboat, applied tourniquets to stem heavy bleeding, and performed resuscitation efforts while racing to meet an ambulance at a nearby wharf. The boy is now hospitalized in critical condition, per the Sydney Morning Herald. Officials believe the attacker was a bull shark, a species known to inhabit warm, shallow, often murky waters and considered among the more dangerous to humans. McNulty said recent heavy rainfall likely created brackish conditions and washed nutrients into the harbor, a combination he described as a "perfect storm" that can draw sharks closer to shore.

Despite its ominous name, Shark Beach is a well-frequented swimming area where shark encounters are uncommon. Australia, however, remains one of the world's deadliest countries for shark attacks, recording at least five fatalities last year. One day after Sunday's attack, a man in his 20s was bitten by a shark at Sydney's Manly Beach, leaving him in critical condition, while an 11-year-old surfer reported a shark biting his surfboard at Dee Why Beach, about three miles away, the Guardian reports. The younger male told the Manly Observer, "I'm physically fine but I'm obviously rattled."
Red baseball caps spoofing President Trump's iconic MAGA hats have become a symbol of Danish and Greenlandic defiance against the US leader's threat to seize the frozen territory. The caps reading "Make America Go Away"parodying Trump's "Make America Great Again" sloganhave gained popularity along with several variants on social media and at public protests, including a weekend demonstration held in freezing weather in the Danish capital. European governments are rallying behind Denmark, citing the need to defend Arctic regions and warning that threats against Greenland undermine Western security. Protesters, however, are less diplomatic.

"I want to show my support to Greenland and also show that I don't like the president of the United States," said 76-year-old Copenhagen resident Lars Hermansen, who wore one of the red caps at a protest Saturday. The mock hats were created by Copenhagen vintage clothing store owner Jesper Rabe Tonnesen, reports the AP. "When a delegation from America went up to Greenland, we started to realize this probably wasn't a jokeit's not reality TV, it's actually reality," said Tonnesen, 58. "So I said, OK, what can I do? Can I communicate in a funny way with a good message and unite the Danes to show that Danish people support the people of Greenland?"

Demand surged from a trickle to selling out in the space of one weekend. The original version designed by Tonnesen featured a play on words: "Nu det NUUK!"a twist on the Danish phrase "Nu det nok," meaning "Now it's enough," substituting Nuuk, Greenland's tiny capital. Protesters at Saturday's rally waved red-and-white Danish and Greenlandic flags and carried handmade signs mocking US claims over the territory. "No Means No," read one sign. Another declared, "Make America Smart Again."
Hackers briefly seized Iran's state TV satellite feed and used it to beam out a message from the country's exiled crown prince urging security forces to stop firing on demonstrators, according to footage circulating online. The interruption hit multiple channels of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Sunday night, replacing regular programming with clips of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and graphics appealing directly to the army and police, per the AP . One onscreen message read, "Don't point your weapons at the people. Join the nation for the freedom of Iran." Pahlavi told soldiers to "join the people," adding, "You are the national army of Iran, not the Islamic Republic army."

Pahlavi's office confirmed the disruption but did not comment on who carried it out. Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency quoted state broadcasters as saying that signals in "some areas" were briefly jammed by an "unknown source," without acknowledging what was shown. Video of the incident spread via social media, apparently assisted by Starlink satellite connections that bypass Iran's severe internet restrictions. The hack follows past on-air breaches, including a 2022 incident that flashed opposition group leaders and a call for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and a CIA-assisted pirate broadcast by Pahlavi allies in 1986.

The disruption came amid a harsh clampdown on protests that began in late December over Iran's battered economy. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency now estimates at least 3,919 people have been killed, a figure the AP cannot independently verify but which Iranian officials have implicitly acknowledged as being in the thousands. As the unrest continues, President Trump has warned Tehran against killing peaceful protesters or carrying out mass executions. As the AP reports, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships have now entered the Strait of Malacca, on a path that could take them to the Middle East.
America's top Catholic leaders are issuing a pointed warning about how the United States wields its power abroad. In a joint statement, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, DC, and Joseph Tobin of Newark say the "moral foundation" of US foreign policy is in doubt amid renewed reliance on military force, citing Venezuela and even Greenland as flash points. The three, the only US cardinals currently leading dioceses at home, echo recent remarks by Pope Leo XIV, who has criticized a shift away from global cooperation toward what he called a "diplomacy based on force," per the Washington Post .

Without mentioning President Trump by name, the cardinals clearly frame their concerns around current US policies: threats or use of force, steep cuts to humanitarian aid, and a more transactional approach to global alliances. McElroy told the Post that war must not become a routine policy tool or a means to boost a nation's wealth, and that providing humanitarian assistance is a basic duty, not an optional add-on. The Trump administration has significantly reduced foreign aid from levels that historically hovered around 0.7% to 1.4% of the federal budget.

The cardinals insist they are not engaging in partisan politics but applying core Catholic teaching to a volatile moment, warning that public debate on foreign policy is being overwhelmed by polarization and narrow interests. "Many cardinals spoke to us with alarm about positions the US was taking in international affairs," McElroy said. Hinting at Trump's approach to Venezuela and Greenland, the cardinals note, "military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy," per the New York Times.

Vatican watchers say Leo is positioning the Holy See as a counterweight to Trump's vision, championing multilateralism and caution in the use of force while avoiding direct personal attacks. His criticisms of the US are seen by some analysts as harder to dismiss as "anti-American" than those voiced by his Argentine predecessor, Francis, given that Leo is Chicago-born.
Investigators in Spain are focusing on a damaged piece of rail as they sift through evidence from Sunday's deadly high-speed train crash that killed at least 39 people and injured more than 150. Reuters, citing a source briefed on the early findings, reports that technicians examining the track near Adamuz, in the southern province of Cordoba, discovered a worn and broken jointknown as a fishplatebetween two rail sections. The defect is believed to have been present for some time and to have gradually worsened as trains continued to pass over it, widening a gap between the rails. The source said investigators see this faulty joint as central to determining the exact cause of the derailment.

The Iryo-operated train, a Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed model, saw its first carriages clear the gap before the eighth and final car left the tracks, pulling the seventh and sixth cars off as well, according to Reuters' source. The derailed train then collided with an oncoming Renfe service, knocking it off the line and down an embankment in what ranks among Europe's worst modern rail accidents. Iryo is majority-owned by Italy's state-controlled Ferrovie dello Stato. Manufacturer Hitachi Rail inspected the train on Jan. 15 as part of routine maintenance, finding no issues, the source said.

An official cause of the crash has not been established, the Telegraph reports. Oscar Puente, Spain's transport minister, called it "truly strange." He said rail experts consulted by the government "are extremely baffled by the accident," reports the BBC. Renfe president Alvaro Fernandez Heredia told Cadena Ser radio it was too early to assign a cause but ruled out human error or excessive speed.

Puente and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the scene Monday. Sanchez, who canceled a planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, declared three days of national mourning. Puente noted that the line had been fully renovated in May and that the Iryo train was less than four years old.
A 13-year-old Austrian cow has just nudged cattle a little higher up the intelligence ladder. Veronika, a pet cow in the Alpine village of Notsch im Gailtal, caught the attention of animal cognition researchers after her owner, organic farmer Witgar Wiegele, noticed she liked to play with sticks and had learned to use them to scratch hard-to-reach spots, the Guardian reports. A video of her behavior made its way to biologists in Vienna, who realized they might be looking at something rarely seen in livestock: deliberate tool use. "It was a cow using an actual tool," said Antonio Osuna Mascaro at Vienna's University of Veterinary Medicine. "We got everything ready and jumped in the car to visit."

Osuna Mascaro and fellow researcher Alice Auersperg showed up with a deck brush to test her. In repeated trials, Veronika picked up the broom, repositioned it with her tongue if needed, and held it in her teeth to scratch herself. She typically used the bristled end for tougher areas like her back, but switched to the smooth handle and lightened the pressure when scratching sensitive regions such as her belly and udders, according to a study published in Current Biology.

Over seven sessions of 10 trials each, the team recorded 76 instances of Veronika using the broom, including what they call "multi-purpose" tool usechoosing different ends of the same object for distinct tasks. That kind of flexibility has been clearly documented in only one other nonhuman species: chimpanzees. The researchers believe other cows probably have similar problem-solving abilities that only surface when conditions are right, Scientific American reports. "We don't believe that Veronika is the Einstein of cows," Osuna Mascaro says.

Cows haven't traditionally been mentioned in the same breath as chimps, crows, or dolphins when it comes to tool useoutside of Gary Larson's famously baffling "Cow Tools" cartoon. Veronika doesn't build her own gadgets, the scientists note, but she does select, adjust, and wield one with striking control. The researchers suspect cows may generally be more cognitively capable than humans have assumed, especially when they live longer lives in stimulating environments. Osuna Mascaro describes Veronika's home as "the most idyllic place imaginable for an Austrian cow, like straight out of The Sound of Music."
As communities across the country on Monday host parades, panels, and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive, reports the AP . In the year since President Trump's second inauguration fell on King Day, the president and his team have moved to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, among other policies that many King admirers have criticized. "We have seen a coordinated effort to erase or rewrite parts of American history, especially Black history and the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement," Martin Luther King III, son of the civil rights leader, tells Axios .

Last month, for example, the National Park Service announced it will no longer offer free admission to parks on King Day and Juneteenth, but instead on Flag Day and Trump's birthday. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Trump said he felt the Civil Rights Movement and the reforms it helped usher in were harmful to white people, who "were very badly treated." Politicians and advocates say Trump's comments are what are harmful, because they dismiss the hard work of King and others that helped not just Black Americans but other groups, including women and the LGBTQ+ community.

"I think the Civil Rights Movement was one of the things that made our country so unique, that we haven't always been perfect, but we've always strived to be this more perfect union, and that's what I think the Civil Rights Movement represents," Gov. Wes Moore, Maryland's first Black governor and only the nation's third elected Black governor, said this week in an interview with the AP. Read the full piece.
A legend in the world of fashion is gone: Italian designer Valentino Garavani has died in Rome at age 93. The New York Times describes him as "the last of the great 20th-century couturiers and a designer who defined the image of royalty in a republican age for all manner of princessescrowned, deposed, Hollywood and society." The AP similarly notes that Garavani, who was universally known as Valentino, "was adored by generations of royals, first ladies and movie stars, from Jackie Kennedy Onassis to Julia Roberts and Queen Rania of Jordan."

Garavani built an empire on a specific vision of glamour: immaculate evening gowns, sculpted cocktail dresses, and the vivid signature "Valentino red" that closed his shows. With his longtime business partner Giancarlo Giammetti, Valentino parlayed his name into dozens of global licenses and became the first designer brand listed on the Milan stock exchange. He rejected trends like grunge and minimalism, insisting instead on what he called "sensational" women.

"I know what women want," he once remarked. "They want to be beautiful." The designer eventually sold his company in 1998 rather than adapt to the new conglomerate-driven fashion system. He retired after a lavish 45th-anniversary celebration in 2007 that turned Rome's monuments into a stage set in his honor, the Colosseum lit in red and gold.

Born in 1932 in the small town of Voghera, Valentino studied in Milan and Paris before founding his namesake company in Rome in 1959. A chance meeting with Giammetti in 1960 led to a partnership that shaped both his business and personal life for decades. The 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor captured his rarefied world of villas, art-filled homes, a yacht, and ever-present pugs, while also humanizing the meticulous designer behind it. Even after stepping away from the runway, he continued to craft custom wedding gowns and attend shows of the house that still bears his name. "I hope I will be remembered as a man who pursued beauty wherever he could," he once said.
A Russian court has convicted and sentenced an American citizen on charges of illegally transporting weapons, court officials revealed Monday. Chuck Zimmerman, 58, was handed a five-year sentence by a court in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi after a firearm was found on his yacht in June, the Krasnodar regional courts' press service said in a statement. Russian authorities found the weapon while inspecting it upon arrival in Sochi, the statement said. A website set up in support of Zimmerman describes him as a US Navy veteran, a father of two, and an electrician, the AP reports. His family has rejected the charges against him as a "set-up" for a future prisoner exchange.
Fashion designer Valentino Garavani  known around the world simply as Valentino  passed away on Monday in Rome at the age of 93, surrounded by his loved ones, according to the foundation that bears his name. Valentino, one of those rare figures who can be recognized by just a first name, and even more uniquely associated with a color  red  was the other great king of Italian fashion on the global stage, alongside Giorgio Armani, who passed away last year.

The designers lying in state will be held at the PM23 cultural space in central Rome, near the Spanish Steps, a venue created by Valentino himself and his longtime partner and business associate, Giancarlo Giammetti. The viewing will be open from Wednesday until Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The funeral will take place on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome.

One of the first reactions came from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who summed up the nations sentiment: Valentino, the undisputed master of style and elegance, and the eternal symbol of Italian haute couture. Today, Italy loses a legend, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything.

The celebrated designer, who sold his brand in 1998 but retained his executive roles and retired definitively in 2007, chose red as the color of his life as a child in Barcelona. One night at the opera, he was fascinated by the elegant women dressed in red around him. Born in Voghera, a town between Milan and Genoa, in 1932, his given name was actually Ludovico Clemente Garavani; Valentino was the name he chose for the fashion house he founded in Rome in 1959.

He trained in Paris, where he moved in 1949 at just 17 years old, driven by a clear vocation for fashion and with the support of his mother, who always believed in him and paid for his journey. He studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and later learned the craft in the couture ateliers of Jean Desses and Guy Laroche. Upon returning to Italy, he quickly rose to fame after his first runway show in 1962 at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, which was a resounding success. Thus began a career marked by dazzling international acclaim.

In 1960, on a sidewalk cafe along Via Veneto, he had the encounter that would define both his life and his career: meeting Giancarlo Giammetti. They became partners  Valentino providing the creativity, Giammetti, working more quietly, the business vision. Their romantic relationship lasted 12 years and was not made public until much later, in 2004, but their professional bond endured as a deep friendship until the end, portrayed in the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor (2008). They met at precisely the right moment, as Italy came into fashion and captivated Americans thanks to movies like La dolce vita.

During those years, Elizabeth Taylor was in Rome filming Cleopatra, and the two became friends. She began wearing his designs, and the brand quickly became known in the United States. By the mid-1960s, Valentino was dressing the most important women in New York and Los Angeles, Giammetti recalled in an interview: Diana Vreeland, editor of Vogue, took a liking to us and called us The Boys. Soon, New York felt like home  they became regulars at Andy Warhols parties  as did Paris, where they opened a headquarters on Place Vendome.

Fashion designer Valentino (c) pose backstage with models Naja Auermann (2l), Claudia Schiffer 3rd r), Karen Mulder (2nd r) and Stephanie Seymour (r) during the Valentino Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 1995 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 15, 1994 in Paris, France. Stephane Cardinale (Corbis/ Getty Images)

By 1968, Valentino had distilled his brand to its essence with the famous V logo. In the 1960s, he became a legend, in part because the icons of high society and Hollywood gravitated toward him. From then on, he dressed queens and princesses. To grasp the extent to which he symbolized luxury and elegance, one need only recall that Farah Diba wore one of his designs on the day she left Iran for exile after the Islamic Revolution. Valentino dressed Jacqueline Kennedy for John F. Kennedys funeral and later for her wedding to Aristotle Onassis, and then virtually all the great film divas, from Sophia Loren to Julia Roberts. As many as eight actresses have accepted their Oscars wearing his gowns  one of his many records.

It was the world he had always dreamed of: an almost unreal realm ruled by beauty, which seemed his natural destiny. He used to say that as a child he would pretend to be asleep and dream of Judy Garland and Hedy Lamarr floating among the stars of Hollywood. I miss the time when there were no limits to opulence and elegance. Perhaps I left at the right moment, because I could no longer do what I used to do, he said after retiring.

Models join the public in clapping hands as they flank Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the end of the show of his spring-summer collection in Rome, Italy on Jan. 20, 1971. Gianni Foggia (AP)

In the end, in his own fairy-tale opulence and princely lifestyle, he himself became a character worthy of his childhood dreams. He even appeared in the film The Devil Wears Prada, making a cameo as himself like a god of fashion descending to earth  and in that world, that is very much what he was: always slightly distant and unattainable, in a different category altogether. He was aware of it and played with that persona of an exclusive planet barely touching the ground. In a 2017 interview with Corriere della Sera, a journalist asked whether he always traveled by private jet, since she could not imagine him on a commercial flight. Indeed, dont imagine it, he replied.

Eccentric and sophisticated, perpetually tanned and impeccably groomed, devoted to his dogs  a pack of ill-tempered little pugs  he was also famous for his lavish parties, some of them held at his chateau near Paris. Making clothes was the best choice for me, because Im terrible at everything else, he once confessed.

Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani poses at an exhibition of his best creations at the Ara Pacis museum, part of the fashion designers 45th anniversary celebrations on Friday, July 6, 2007 in Rome. Pier Paolo Cito (AP/LaPresse)

Red  his red, a kind of blend of cadmium, purple, and carmine  was the discovery that became his signature, though in an interview he could not even remember how he arrived at it. It was a long process of research, mixing many shades I dont remember it, but I wanted a red with a hint of orange. In the end, I achieved it. As for his obsession with red, he explained that for him, it was the perfect color to elevate a womans beauty: When you see a woman dressed in red, you feel a great sense of relief.

For decades, Valentino and Giammetti formed a legendary tandem in the fashion world. When Valentino was once asked what Giammetti meant to him, he replied: I wouldnt know how to answer. Sharing an entire existence with another person  every moment, joy, pain, enthusiasm, disappointment  is something indefinable. Together they ran Valentino until 1998, when they sold the brand for $300 million to HDP, and even retained their positions after it was acquired by the Marzotto Group in 2002, until their final departure. In 2007, the firm was purchased by the investment fund Permira, and later, in 2012, by Qatars Mayhoola fund, which holds a 30% stake in the French luxury group Kering.

Famed Italian designer Valentino Garavani, is applauded by his models, after he presented his Spring-Summer High fashion collection in a Rome hotel, Italy on Thursday, Jan. 24, 1985. Massimo Sambucetti (AP)

Giammetti described how they felt an era coming to an end: It was becoming a world where I was no longer happy. Its not that Valentino and I despise money, but we dont consider it as important as creativity. In recent years, we always had to argue with our partners. I handled those discussions and then informed Valentino, but that was the main reason why, in the end, he said enough.

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Community Action Grants will support 28 resident-led projects aimed at improving food security, mental health, displacement, economic opportunity, and youth engagement

TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2026 /CNW/ - Increased development and upcoming revitalization projects in Cooksville, South Markham and Jane Finch are creating major changes and challenges across these neighbourhoods.

To ensure equitable opportunities, United Way Greater Toronto is expanding its Community Action Grants (CAG) program with a $1.13 million investment to support local priorities in each neighbourhood.

Source: Jane/Finch Centre (CNW Group/United Way Greater Toronto)

Today's announcement marks a second round of funding, opening in late Spring 2026, which will support 28 community projects identified through a resident-led process. This includes the Cooksville (Peel Region) and South Markham (York Region) neighbourhoods, alongside Jane Finch, to address local priorities, such as mental health and wellbeing, anti-displacement, food security, economic opportunity, intergenerational connection, arts-based engagement, housing stability, and youth engagement.

"The Community Action Grants help support local initiatives that are led by residents and local organizations, reflecting the community's priorities. By ensuring the community's voice is directly shaping neighbourhoods, we are building a future with people who know their neighbourhoods best," said Heather McDonald, President and CEO, United Way Greater Toronto.

The funding will be allocated to seven projects in Cooksville, six in South Markham, and another 15 projects in Jane Finch in the final round.

Some of the grant recipients include:

Digital Employment Bridge (Cooksville) - the goal of this project is to bridge the digital divide and strengthen digital equity in this neighbourhood by improving employment opportunities for low-income and structurally disadvantaged newcomers. With wrap-around and barrier-reduction supports, the project will enable participants to have improved digital confidence, earn industry-recognized certifications, and gain better access to meaningful employment. The initiative will also develop a multi-lingual digital inclusion toolkit for community partners to extend its long-term impact.



"Community-led initiatives play a vital role in building stronger, more inclusive neighbourhoods. The Community Action Grants support grassroots partners who are deeply connected to their communities and best positioned to create meaningful local impact." - Hema Tingare, Executive Director, Newcomer Centre of Peel





- the goal of this project is to bridge the digital divide and strengthen digital equity in this neighbourhood by improving employment opportunities for low-income and structurally disadvantaged newcomers. With wrap-around and barrier-reduction supports, the project will enable participants to have improved digital confidence, earn industry-recognized certifications, and gain better access to meaningful employment. The initiative will also develop a multi-lingual digital inclusion toolkit for community partners to extend its long-term impact. - Hema Tingare, Executive Director, Newcomer Centre of Peel Mental Wellness: From Stigma to Strength (South Markham) - Run by A Rose for Grandma Wellness Hub, this project provides biweekly mental wellness workshops and support groups for Black and South Asian seniors in the South Markham area. It will address stigma by covering topics like stress relief and caregiver burnout, and uses creative outreach (podcasts, music, expressive arts) to engage the community in culturally relevant ways.



"Our commitment at A Rose for Grandma Wellness Hub is to ensure that no one living with dementia stands alone. The Community Action Grant will help bring this commitment to life by supporting culturally grounded programs that promote mental wellness among seniors, caregivers, and the wider South Markham community. Through education, community engagement, and inclusive programming, the project will reduce stigma, increase understanding of dementia and mental health, and create safe spaces where individuals and families feel supported, connected, and empowered." - Christiana Egi, ExecutiveDirector, A Rose for Grandma Wellness Hub.





- Run by A Rose for Grandma Wellness Hub, this project provides biweekly mental wellness workshops and support groups for Black and South Asian seniors in the South Markham area. It will address stigma by covering topics like stress relief and caregiver burnout, and uses creative outreach (podcasts, music, expressive arts) to engage the community in culturally relevant ways. - Christiana Egi, ExecutiveDirector, A Rose for Grandma Wellness Hub. Nourish & Empower: A Meal Prep Workshop for Students and Seniors (Jane Finch) - This is an intergenerational food security program that will bring together youth and seniors from the Jane Finch neighbourhood. Over six months, 40 participants from local high-rises will meet for weekly meal prep workshops, learning to cook budget-friendly, culturally diverse recipes. The project aims to improve food literacy, provide take-home meals, and build bonds between youth and seniors to reduce isolation.

"Nourish & Empower is about making healthy eating practical and accessible for students and seniors in JaneFinch. Many residents are stretching limited incomes while navigating rising food costs and social isolation. Through hands-on meal prep, budgeting, and safe storage workshops, participants leave with real skills, prepared meals, and the confidence to eat well at home. As a resident-led initiative, this funding allows us to build something that speaks directly to the realities of our community, especially for newcomers like myself who learned how challenging it can be to adapt to a new food system, new ingredients, and new living conditions. With this support, we can create space for learning, connection, and dignity around food." - Peace Katasi, Bloomzhub

In 2024, United Way launched a successful pilot of the Community Action Grants process in Jane Finch, allocating the first round of funding to seven agencies and resident projects throughout the community. All 2024 resident projects have been successfully completed, and agency projects will be completed in May 2026.

United Way Greater Toronto CEO and President, Heather McDonald is available to comment on how the Community Action Grants support neighbourhood-focused initiatives, as well as the residents in identifying the community's priorities and vision for their neighbourhood.

Community partners are also available to comment on how this funding will help address local priorities through their respective projects.

Click here to view the full list of all 28 projects.

SOURCE United Way Greater Toronto

MEDIA CONTACT: Meetu Madahar, Manager, Communications, United Way Greater Toronto, [email protected], (416) 817-4668
A shadow has been cast over the offices, barracks, embassies and cafes of Caracas and also of Washington since January 3. It is the shadow of a man many fear. The future of the new Venezuela is in his hands; whether or not the country descends into chaos rests on his shoulders.

Diosdado Cabello is a military man who represents Chavismo at its most radical. He is also at the center of this unprecedented period in which the regime dialogues with Washington. All eyes are on him, some more skeptical than others. For some, he is the greatest threat to the leadership of the new president, Delcy Rodriguez, the actor capable of blowing up the current fragile balance at any moment. For others, he is the silent guarantee that this unexpected turn of events would not have happened without his consent. Diosdado, nicknamed for a time Diostodo  the Almighty  could be both.

For two weeks, analysts, diplomats, intelligence services and Venezuelans themselves have been trying to work out what is going through Cabellos head when he appears at public events with Delcy Rodriguez and her brother Jorge, the new leaders of a Maduro-free Venezuela. His control over the security apparatus and armed militias is fueling fears in Washington that he could become unpredictable and jeopardize transition plans, Reuters has reported. It is very clear that he cant survive without the consent of the Americans, a source close to the Venezuelan government said. He is already reforming the Armed Forces, laying off personnel and appointing new officers.

Diosdado Cabello and Nicolas Maduro during a rally in Caracas in 2023. Jesus Vargas (AP)

Cabello has demonstrated a strong survival instinct over the years and a cast-iron loyalty to the revolution, as long as that loyalty does not cost him power. Although he has never appeared to covet the presidency, he is considered the last guardian of Chavismo, the final line of defense of the Bolivarian revolution at its most radical. He is the most militaristic of Venezuelan politicians, with historical ties to military commanders, political police, and the feared groups of armed civilians that function as eyes for the regime.

Obsessed with the figure of Hugo Chavez and with the revolution, his discourse has been marked by contempt for democracy and the middle classes. According to several sources consulted, Cabello embodies the orthodoxy of Chavismo and if Delcy Rodriguez moves too quickly in the opposite direction, things could get ugly.

The intervention of the U.S. in Venezuela, with the declared goal of gaining access to the largest oil reserves in the world, has been a profound blow to Chavismo, both for its radical and more pragmatic wings. While Rodriguez is appearing to move quickly to open spaces for dialogue, Cabellos shadow is a constant. The two have very different sensibilities, explain those who know them. Maduro balanced out the two, but Maduro is no longer there. Among observers of Chavismo, there is a shared conviction: if Cabello does not agree with something, it cant be done. Probably many of the things that are happening would not happen so quickly without Diosdado, said opposition leader Ivan Stalin Gonzalez in an interview with EL PAIS.

For more than a decade, Cabello has been one of the centerpieces of Chavista power. He was president of the National Assembly, number two in the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and the main organizer of its territorial machinery. Every week he hosts a TV program, broadcast on state television, which he has used to mark the regimes hard line for years with denunciations and warnings aimed at both the opposition and dissidents within the party.

The program was used as a mechanism of political discipline and a Chavismo showcase, reinforcing the image of Cabello as the man guarding the ideological framework of the revolution. On TV, he has called Americans sheep and, recently, threatened Maria Corina Machado indirectly in the midst of escalating tensions with Washington. At this point, everyone should be clear that, if they squeeze us, we squeeze them, he warned.

Since Maduros capture, Cabellos role has been interpreted as an uneasy fit. Sources in Venezuela maintain that the gestures of openness presented by the regime  such as the release of hundreds of political prisoners  would have been impossible without his approval. At the same time, those familiar with the negotiations suggest he poses the greatest resistance over who to release.

Cabello wants to set limits, they say. Rodriguez is moving quickly on an agenda of greater openness with nods to diplomacy, prisoner releases and reforms, and also appointments, according to loyalties. Among the new names emerging is Major General Gustavo Gonzalez, 65, who will head Venezuelas feared DGCIM, Chavismos military counterintelligence agency. The appointment has been interpreted as a tactic by Rodriguez to counter Cabellos power, according to Reuters.

Despite his ideology, Donald Trump has decided to rely on Cabello. According to Reuters, the interior minister was engaged in secret talks with U.S. officials in the months leading up to the operation that ended with Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, imprisoned in New York. Trumps emissaries warned Cabello, 62, not to use the security services or ruling party militants under his supervision to repress the opposition. Accused by the U.S. of drug trafficking and with a reward of $25 million on his head, Cabello is nonetheless useful to Washington. For now, it seems he will continue to be one of the central figures in Venezuela.

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Mexicos secretary of public security, Omar Garcia Harfuch, reported the capture of seven of his hitmen along with weapons and vehicles in the city of Badiraguato

Mexicos Secretary of Public Security Omar Garcia Harfuch announced on Monday the arrest in Sinaloa of Ivan N., alias El Mantecas, who is allegedly the head of a faction of the Beltran Leyva Cartel, one of the criminal organizations that have been vying for control in the state following the split within the Sinaloa Cartel. The arrest, announced via the social media platform X, took place in the city of Badiraguato, where seven of his hitmen were also captured, along with the seizure of weapons, vehicles, and a synthetic drug production facility.

According to information from the National Guard, the arrest occurred Monday morning as the result of a military operation conducted between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. in the communities of La Noria de Abajo and La Noria de Arriba, in the mountains of the Mocorito municipality, which borders Badiraguato.

During the operation, members of the Mexican Army, the National Guard, the Attorney Generals Office, and the state police seized at least eight military-grade long guns, four magazines, 105 rounds of ammunition, five pickup trucks reported stolen, and another vehicle with factory-installed armor, according to a statement from the Sinaloa Public Security Secretariat.

Federal authorities reported that in 2023 Ivan N took part, along with a group of gunmen, in armed attacks against military personnel and National Guard officers involved in the arrest of Ovidio Guzman, alias El Raton, the youngest son of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. This confrontation became known as the second Culiacanazo  the first was used to describe the scenes of chaos, panic, and violence that plagued the city following the attempts to arrest El Chapos son in 2019.

In 2017, the Beltran Leyva organization sought to reconquer Sinaloa, the birthplace of El Chapo, their former partner. At that time, the northern state was engulfed in a wave of violence  a criminal backlash following El Chapos arrest in January 2016 and his extradition to the United States a year later.

Security sources consulted by this newspaper say that El Mantecas was part of the structure led by Fausto El Chapo Isidro Isidro Meza Flores, who has emerged in Sinaloa amid the war between Los Chapitos  led by El Chapos sons  the followers of El Chapos former partner, Ismael El Mayo Zambada, who co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel.

Mexican authorities place El Chapo Isidro at the head of the Beltran Leyva faction, even above the son of Alfredo Beltran Leyva, one of the cartels founding brothers, who is currently serving a prison sentence in the United States. That son, Jesus Alfredo Beltran, alias El Mochomito, is another target of the Trump administration, though not to the same extent as Meza Flores, who was added a few months ago to the FBIs list of the 10 most wanted fugitives.

Chapo Isidro rose to power with the backing of his uncles, Agustin and Salome Flores Apodaca. Following the arrest of the former in 2012 and his subsequent extradition, Chapo Isidro took command of the faction. He took over the entire Beltran business, overseeing Guasave and the mountain region in that area, all the way to Leon Fonseca and Sinaloa de Leyva, said an agent with Sinaloas security forces.

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The project to rebuild and run the Gaza Strip gives broad powers to the US president but Israel objects to the composition of the new body

U.S. President Donald Trump has put the price that countries must pay for a permanent seat on the Gaza Board of Peace at $1 billion. The White House has invited at least 60 world leaders to join a body that Washington initially linked to the resolution of the war in the Palestinian enclave, but which takes the form of a global assembly that would have Trump as its leader, according to a draft of the founding charter to which Reuters and Bloomberg have had access.

The charter, which the U.S. has sent to the countries invited to participate, says that Trump will have the right to decide who aspires to join the club and when and where their meetings and votes will be held. He will also have the final say on the decisions of the board, described in the draft as an entity to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.

Among the many leaders who have received the invitation are King Abdullah of Jordan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Giorgia Meloni, Italys prime minister, has made public her intention to join and Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, will also accept, according to Canadian media.

The U.S. draft indicates that when three states have approved the charter, the project will officially begin. Trump said in a recent interview with Reuters that the Board of Peace will address other conflicts when it has resolved the one in Gaza, where Israeli gunfire has killed 464 people since the start of the October truce, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

For now, the priority is the Gaza Strip. A White House representative told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity that countries can join the Board of Peace at no cost for three years, but that their stay on the committee will depend on Trump. If countries pay $1 billion during the first year of the project, they will be guaranteed permanent membership. That money, he added, will be used for the reconstruction of Gaza.

The Board of Peace was first touted in the 20-point plan that Washington devised in September to end the conflict in Gaza, and which led to the current fragile truce in the enclave. This initial plan, which seeks to create a transitional model of governance that excludes Hamas, anticipates the establishment of a Palestinian technocratic committee, in charge of the day-to-day life of Gaza and supervised by the board, which would be headed and chaired by Trump.

The future of the ceasefire

The implementation of that part of the plan has gained momentum. On January 14, Palestinian factions, including Hamas, agreed to create the technocratic committee, which will be made up of Palestinians and will occupy the lowest rung of the new Gaza administrative ladder. A day later, Trump announced that the Board of Peace had been created. The statement did not include the identity of its members, who must be heads of state, but boasted that it would be the most prestigious ever formed.

On January 16, the White House made the formation of three additional bodies to the Board of Peace and the Palestinian committee official. The most influential is the Executive Board. Each Executive Board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gazas stabilization and long-term success, including, but not limited to, governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization, it said.

Some members of the founding Executive Board of Peace attached to the wider Board of Peace will be members of the Trump administration, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trumps son-in-law and adviser, real estate tycoon Jared Kushner. Also named are former British prime minister Tony Blair, American billionaire Marc Rowan and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Operating beneath this body and with unspecified powers will be the wider Board of Peace. This entity should support the work of the Office of the High Representative  UAE-based Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov  which seeks to act as a bridge between the board and the technocratic committee. Unlike the other two bodies, which do not have Palestinian or Arab participants, the Executive Board of Peace does. Among its members are the Qatari diplomat Ali al-Thawadi, the head of Egyptian intelligence, Hassan Rashid, and the Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan.

Opposition and skepticism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protested on January 17 over the configuration of Gazas Executive Board of Peace. As soon as the Sabbath ended, Netanyahu posted a statement in Hebrew in which he said that the composition of that body had not been coordinated with Israel and is contrary to Israeli policy. Although Netanyahu did not go into detail, his objection appears to be the inclusion of a minister from Turkey, and representatives of Qatar and Egypt, two countries that have condemned the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the October 7 Hamas massacre of Israelis.

The far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has also said that Gaza does not need executive boards to supervise construction, but a massive boost of voluntary migration, while Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich has blamed the prime minister for not having established a military government in Gaza that would work to promote the settlement of Israelis.

First phase

The peace board is being built regardless of Gazas ongoing deterioration. The first phase of the ceasefire, which came into force on 10 October, saw progress such as the release of all but one of the remaining hostages held by Hamas and the end of large-scale Israeli bombardments.

However, Israel has consistently flouted the terms of the truce, with daily shootings, the closure of the crossing with Egypt and restrictions on aid. On January 16, the Gazan authorities reported that a new baby died of hypothermia, the eighth this winter, while UN agencies report having winter materials blocked at the gates of the Strip.

The emergence of an administration that governs Gaza without the participation of Hamas is one of the pillars of the second phase of the agreement, which should turn the temporary truce into a permanent ceasefire. However, many are skeptical it can succeed. Israel opposes withdrawing its troops completely from the enclave, Hamas refuses to disarm without the promise of a Palestinian state, and it is unclear what the movement of billions of dollars among potential Board of Peace members has to do with either of these two objectives.

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The derailment of two high-speed trains in Adamuz (Cordoba) on Sunday has caused at least 41 fatalities and dozens of serious injuries, with victims already transferred to hospitals, according to sources from the Civil Guard and the Andalusian emergency services. Forty-eight people remain hospitalized, 12 of them in intensive care units in the city of Cordoba. An Iryo train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed shortly after 7:30 p.m. and fell onto the tracks where an Alvia train was traveling at 200 kilometers per hour (125 mph) in the opposite direction toward Huelva. One of the fatalities was the driver of the second train. A total of 484 passengers were affected on both trains, and the reasons for the derailment are unknown at this time. Minister of Transport Oscar Puente spoke to the press after midnight and predicted that there may be more fatalities, although he did not want to speculate on the number. Puente pointed out that the track was in good condition, having been renovated in May, and therefore described the accident as very strange. The Andalusian regional government has requested the intervention of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) to assist in the rescue efforts, and sources from the regional government have confirmed that the specialized army unit is already in the area.

The Iryo train had departed from Malaga at 6:40 p.m. bound for Puerta de Atocha (Madrid) when, at 7:39 p.m., it derailed near Adamuz. Specifically, the rearmost cars (six to eight) came off the tracks and crossed the path of the Alvia train from Madrid to Huelva, which was traveling at 200 kilometers per hour parallel to the Iryo train at that moment. The Iryo train then caused the Alvia train to derail and fall down an embankment about five or six meters high, according to official sources. There were about 50 people traveling in the cars that crashed. The Iryo was not traveling at such a high speed  although it has not yet been determined how fast it was going  so it was able to brake shortly after the accident. The deceased train driver was 27 years old. Sources close to the investigation report that all of the seriously injured passengers (30 in total, five of whom are in critical condition) have already been taken to the hospitals that have been mobilized.

Shortly after the accident, Puente traveled to Renfes H-24 emergency center at Madrids Atocha station to monitor developments. After midnight, he appeared at a press conference to explain that all those trapped had been rescued and taken to six hospitals in Andalusia, and announced the creation of an independent commission of inquiry, as required by law, to clarify the circumstances of the accident. The minister expressed his surprise that the Iryo train had derailed and collided with the Alvia train, where most of the fatalities occurred. The Iryo train is practically new and the track has also been renovated. Specifically, replacement work on this section was completed in May. The accident is extremely strange, as it happened on a straight line. All the experts we have consulted are extremely baffled, he said.

The mayor of Adamuz, Rafael Moreno, was the first to arrive at the scene of the accident with the local police and saw at least one body several meters from the point of the accident. I saw a passenger who was torn to shreds. We were the first to arrive, and there was a body cut in half. But there was no light; it was nighttime. The scene was horrific, he said in conversation with EL PAIS.

In an official statement, Iryo said it deeply regretted what had happened and that it had activated all its emergency protocols. Passengers on both trains had to be evacuated, according to state-owned railway infrastructure manager Adif, and service was suspended on the high-speed line between Madrid and Andalusia. The minister noted that incidents affecting train traffic can last for weeks. For the time being, the railway administrator has also confirmed that service between the capital and Cordoba, Seville, Malaga, and Huelva will remain suspended throughout Monday.

For its part, Renfe also issued a statement after 11:30 p.m. indicating that its president, Alvaro Fernandez Heredia, is traveling to the accident site. Information points for family members have been set up at the affected stations, and a psychological assistance group has been set up in Madrid, Cordoba, Huelva, and Seville to assist both the victims and their families.

There are many injured, Im still shaking, said Maria San Jose, 33, a passenger in car number six of the train traveling from Malaga to Madrid. Cars seven and eight collided with the front of the other train. San Jose told this newspaper that the passengers suddenly began to feel vibrations: And lots of banging, suitcases started falling, and more banging until the train stopped, explains San Jose. We thought it was a derailment, but when we got out we saw the twisted carriages and two carriages from the other train upside down, she added. We dont know anything, we still dont understand what happened or how many people may have died.

The chief fire officer in Cordoba, Paco Carmona, explained on state broadcaster TVE that crews have been rescuing people with all kinds of injuries, including cuts, bruises, contusions, open fractures... He also said that it is difficult to access the affected carriages because they are twisted and there is scrap metal, seats, and all kinds of obstacles that make it difficult to reach the victims. We have two trains about 800 meters apart, and we have already finished removing the dead and injured, he added, referring to the Iryo train.

A journalist from TVE who was on one of the trains, Salvador Jimenez, also described how a strong impact that felt like an earthquake shook the car. From that moment on, they grabbed the emergency hammers to open doors and windows and began to leave the train. The journalist described in a television interview that there had been several hours of great uncertainty and that, at this moment, they were waiting to find out how they would be transported away from the scene by bus.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reported on his Twitter account that the government is working with the other competent authorities and emergency services to assist the passengers and in a second message, at around 1 a.m., he expressed his condolences to the families of the victims: Today is a night of deep sorrow for our country due to the tragic train accident in Adamuz. Sanchez has canceled his planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos to travel to the scene of the accident.

The Royal Household also expressed its condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and has assured that it is following the aftermath of the accident with concern. Our love and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured, the royal family said on X.

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An Englewood man was charged with first-degree attempted murder after a shooting in an Englewood residence early Sunday, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced Monday.

A woman in the residence was hit by gunfire, resulting in injuries to her arm and shoulder, Musella said in a statement. The victim, whose injuries were not life-threatening, was transported to HMH Hackensack University Medical Center, where she remains hospitalized and in stable condition, he said.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Christian D. Parra-Pescoso, 36, also faces second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, third-degree aggravated assault and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine.

The Englewood Police Department responded to the shooting at the residence on Charles Street at approximately 3:52 a.m. on Sunday, Musella said.

A joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the Englewood Police Department found that Parra-Pescoso assaulted the victim by striking her with the handgun, causing a laceration to her head, and by firing the weapon multiple times, ultimately striking the victim once, the prosecutors office said.

The suspect was taken into custody at the scene. He was transported to Englewood Health Hospital & Medical Center for a medical evaluation before being held in Bergen County Jail, pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.
After nearly a decade of searching for answers, two men have been charged in the death of a 37-year-old man who was killed during a home invasion, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw announced Monday.

Norman Mosley was fatally shot just before 10 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2016, after intruders wearing masks entered a trailer he shared with his girlfriend on Alfred Drive in Pemberton Township.

According to Bradshaw, a violent struggle occurred after the invasion and shots were fired, hitting Mosley twice. He was driven to Capital Health at Deborah by his girlfriend but he died about an hour later.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Ian Hood determined that the cause of death was from gunshot wounds to the head and chest, Bradshaw said.

Following an investigation that failed to produce results for almost a decade, Kevin DCosta, 45, of Irvington, and Daemen Hodge, 32, of Browns Mills, were identified. They were charged with first-degree felony murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree certain persons not to possess firearms, according to Bradshaw.

It was not immediately clear if the two had attorneys Monday afternoon.

The breakthrough in the case came after enhanced forensic technology allowed for DNA testing to be conducted on gloves found along a roadway, Bradshaw said, which were among physical items collected near the scene. The results revealed DNA remnants belonging to DCosta, Hodge and Mosley, officials said.

DCosta was served a warrant in December inside the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, where he was being held on unrelated charges, Bradshaw said. Hodge was arrested Friday in Bordentown Township and is now in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending an appearance in Superior Court.

Bradshaw said Mosleys family  including his mother, Tamara Burrows  never lost hope in finding who was responsible for their loved ones death. They have regularly attended vigils for crime victims held by the prosecutors office, officials said.

We are thrilled to finally bring justice to the Mosley family, Bradshaw said in a press release. The public is conditioned by crime shows to believe that the challenges of criminal investigations always fall into place immediately, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The investigation was conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutors Office and the Pemberton Township Police Department, along with assistance from the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences, Bradshaw said.
A 26-year-old Bucks County, Pennsylvania man traveled to a New Jersey minor girls home recently to have sex with her following online conversations, authorities said.

Sean Flohr, of Levittown, Falls Township, is charged with 11 felony sex crimes for the January 12 incident in Harrison Township, Gloucester County, court documents show. Falls police arrested him at his home on Friday morning, Jan. 16.

According to a criminal complaint filed by a Gloucester County Prosecutors Office detective, the office received a cyber tip that a minor posted a comment on Reddit asking for assistance because she planned to meet a 31-year-old man for sex.

Investigators were able to identify the girl, and Flohr, and first contacted the girls guardian to let her know of the concerning post, the complaint says. A short time later, the girl called Harrison police and said a man had just left her home, and theyd engaged in sexual intercourse.

Police spoke to the victim at her house, arranged for her to be examined at a hospital, then interviewed her the next day. She also handed over her phone to detectives.

The girl, who is at least 13 and younger than 16, said she first communicated with the man, who called himself Dean, on Reddit, and later on Discord. He asked for, and she sent, pictures and videos of her naked.

On Jan. 12, the man arrived at her home with Taco Bell food, a sex toy, lubricant and condoms, the complaint says. The man, later identified as Flohr, committed several acts of penetration on the victim.

Falls police said the Gloucester prosecutors office contacted them on Thursday, Jan. 15, and said they had an arrest warrant for Flohr. Falls officers detained him the next morning on Burning Bush Lane and charged him with being a fugitive from justice.

Attorney information was not immediately available for Flohr. He was being held in the Bucks County, Pennsylvania, jail Sunday, pending extradition hearings.

On LinkedIn, Flohr lists his occupation as a recruiter for a behavioral health company.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Essex County Health Officer Maya Harlow wished she had a crystal ball that could predict where COVID cases were originating to prevent infection before it happened.

When she became the founding director of the Essex County Office of Public Health Management in 2021, Harlow settled for the next best thing: data and emerging technology.

In 2023, her department began using geospatial artificial intelligence and machine learning technology built by the software company Esri to tackle a wide variety of public health issues, ranging from rodent complaints to flu outbreaks. The same technology was used as the backbone for the iconic Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard. Its no crystal ball, but its a start.

At the end of the day, COVID taught us all that being reactive, sometimes its not good enough and what we need to do is be proactive, Harlow said. This is a tool for us to be proactive in public health.

READ MORE: Dr. Oz wants AI to decide what procedures people need. N.J. will be a testing ground.

The health division started out by mapping lead cases and lead levels in Bloomfield, one of Essex Countys largest cities with a diverse dataset of nearly 56,000 people. The map helped officials identify and address locations with high potential for lead exposure. The county then sent nurses to schools in those areas to speak with parents and share educational resources.

It allowed us to really take our health resources and deploy them in a more useful way, Harlow said.

In another case, health officials sat down with Bloomfield first responders who said they wanted to know when most calls came in and where they originated.

Mapping data from the last three years, officials found a high volume of calls from 9 p.m. - 12 a.m., concentrated in certain areas. Harlow said the volunteer squad might use the information to recruit volunteers who live closer to high-volume parts of town.

Essex County is also using the technology to make predictions about the flu, which is currently spreading in New Jersey and throughout the country.

Using data from New Jerseys Communicable Disease Reporting and Surveillance System, officials were able to determine the areas with the most risk for flu  locations near public transportation  as well as the ages most impacted by the flu  adults 25-35 years old.

Based on those findings, officials collaborated with NJ Transit this year to host a series of flu clinics at train stations in Bloomfield for the first time.

Theyve even used enhanced technology to tackle pest control. By comparing monthly rodent complaints with climate data, officials determined that complaints tend to increase in wet and humid weather. They also mapped the areas of Bloomfield with the most rodent complaints.

Sagar Patel, the chief registered environmental health specialist in Bloomfield, said the town increased rodent inspections and cracked down on garbage enforcement in parts of town with the most complaints.

What we saw is that if we did proactive surveillance and enforcement, the number of complaints that we got in over the last year has actually reduced, said Patel.

Patel said the town originally hired a private pest control service to address the issue. But after seeing results through the targeted proactive enforcement, they canceled the contract, saving the town thousands of dollars.

Well continue to collect the data and if we have to relocate where we have to target and move on from there, we will, Patel said.

The total cost to onboard the Esri platform was approximately $200,000, according to Anthony Puglisi, public information director for Essex County.

The funding came from a county infrastructure grant received from the New Jersey Department of Health. The county pays an annual licensing and maintenance fee of approximately $30,000 to continue using the platform.

The investment was supported by County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

We understood the importance of having a proactive public health program before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and were in the process of reinvigorating our office, DiVincenzo said in a statement. GIS mapping is a progressive tool we can use to promote wellness, prepare and develop defenses against health threats. I am proud that we were able to partner with Bloomfield to implement this initiative and demonstrate how valuable an asset it is.

The innovation comes at a time when AI is expanding. But with the increased use of AI, concerns have also arisen about its accuracy and privacy.

Essex County officials said their program ensures accuracy by using vetted data that comes from the state database. The information is also protected and not public facing. Its only accessible to Essex County division of health employees and designated individuals, who use it to inform public health decisions.

This is a tool. This is not a replacement for public health, said Harlow.

Correction: A previous version of this article misspelt Sagar Patel. The error has been corrected.
Two firefighters were injured Sunday evening when a blaze broke out at a Hamilton Township home, police said.

Flames ignited in an attached garage shortly before 7 p.m. at the residence on Statton Drive, Hamilton Police Lt. Kristin Seitz told NJ.com.

A caller reported visible smoke and flames at the home, Seitz said.

Two adults, three children and two dogs all evacuated safely on their own, she said.

Crews quickly worked to extinguish the flames. Two firefighters were taken to an area hospital for minor injuries. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and the other, for a facial burn, Seitz said.

The fire was caused when the homeowner cleaned out the living room fireplace and placed ash and debris into a cardboard box, Seitz said. The box was then placed into the garage for garbage pickup and the homeowner didnt realize some embers were still smoldering, Seitz said.

The township fire marshal later deemed the home uninhabitable, Bianca I. Jerez, public information officer for the Hamilton Fire Dept. said Tuesday.
Early in his first term, Gov. Phil Murphy uttered his now famous statement that hell fix NJ Transit even if it kills him. As his second and final term ends, how did he do?

If it kills me, well rebuild NJ Transit, the term-limited Democratic governor said during a March 2019 budget address. There is no higher priority than fixing NJ Transit.

Experts said the nations third largest transit system is not fixed, but progress has been made.

Commuters interviewed at New York Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal had a mixed verdict. Other riders, responding to questions on the Delayed on NJ Transit Support Group on Facebook, said problems continue.

Murphy addressed his now infamous comment last week during his last State of the State address. His term ends on Tuesday.

Fixing NJ Transit has yet to kill me. But it is an undertaking that will outlast my time as governor, Murphy said. As our states commuters will be quick to tell you: The agency is not perfect. But it is also light years ahead of where it was.

Three experts, two who regularly ride NJ Transit, said Murphys tenure can be measured in two ways. One is how the commuter experience improved. The other is preventing NJ Transit from going over a fiscal cliff and avoiding the kind of draconian service cuts faced by SEPTA.

Residents asked to grade Murphys two terms in a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Thursday gave him a C- on transportation and infrastructure  similar to his ranking at his midway point.

NJ Transit officials tracked the changes Murphy has spearheaded since 2018 on a dedicated webpage njtransit.com/progress. Among the highlights: improving service, advancing major capital projects and setting a vision for the future.

The governor has laid the foundation for transformational improvements in reliability, safety, and the customer experience for decades to come, said Anthony Grieco, NJ Transit Senior Vice President, Communications and Customer Experience.

A commute to rely on?

Micah Rasmussen, Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University director, said on-time performance numbers are a good indicator of whether things have changed. It went from 88.2 percent in January 2018 to 89.6 percent today, despite a goal of 94.7 percent.

I dont think anyone can credibly argue that our states public transit system is fixed, Rasmussen said. Riders are still facing very nearly the same delays they were before Governor Murphy took office.

In December, on-time performance was 89.8% for bus, 87.7% for rail and 93.5% for light rail, according to NJ Transit data.

Ontime performance has improved, but that hasnt yet translated into a commute people can rely on, said Zoe Baldwin, Regional Plan Association State Programs vice president. Modest gains in the metrics dont erase the Summers of Hell in 2018 and 2024 or ease the frustration of everyday delays.

One commuter said delays forced her to change how she commuted.

Murphy definitely did not fix the trains, said Jessie White, who said she had to stop taking the Montclair train. Now, she drives to another town just to take the bus. I dont know what the answer is, but it is clear that Murphy does not know either.

Canceled trains remain a biggest problem, said Maura Loftus Leahy.

No, Murphy absolutely did not fix anything for NJT. Trains are canceled on a daily basis, she said. If your train doesnt get canceled, it becomes disabled at Newark.

On July 1, 2024, NJ Transit increased fares by 15% and imposed an annual 3% fare hike, resulting in deep, accumulated rider fatigue, said Baldwin, also an NJ Transit rider.

I do think he put in a lot of effort to hear us and to listen to what we had to say, so I would say its gotten better. Sonia Wasyliscyn of Watchung said. We still experience a lot of delays and cancellations.

Passengers board a No. 84 NJ Transit bus at the Journal Square Transportation Center in Jersey City on July 12, 2024. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

Back from the brink

Murphys main achievement was providing the first stable funding in 40 years by creating the Corporate Transit Fee to fund NJ Transits operating budget, experts said.

That fee levies a 2.5% tax on the earnings of 600 companies in New Jersey that make a profit of at least $10 million annually. Proposed by Murphy in the fiscal year 2025 state budget, the fee averted a forecasted $766 million shortfall in NJ Transits operating budget.

Murphy leaves NJ Transit light years ahead with a stable funding source for the agencys operating budget, Rasmussen said.

In that sense, Governor Murphys legacy makes a lot of sense  a finance guy who recognized NJ Transits fiscal needs and was able to put us on a path to delivering on them, he said.

Murphy made some progress, shifted funds from tax revenue and highway tolls, and steered the agency through its most challenging period since it was created in 1979, said Phil Plotch, Eno Center for Transportation principal researcher and senior fellow and an NJ Transit rider.

Gov. Murphy made sure NJ Transit has enough money to continue paying its bills, keep service running, and prevent its infrastructure from deteriorating, he said. For that, he deserves a passing grade.

NJ Transit officials also credited Murphy for making historic investment and long-overdue modernization at the agency.

With unprecedented state support, including creation of the Corporate Transit Fee, he secured stable funding that reversed decades of underinvestment, Grieco said. Hes committed more than $3 billion to new buses and trainsputting the agency on track to fully modernize its fleet by 2031.

That also allowed the agency to advance more than $6 billion in capital projects to rebuild critical infrastructure neglected by prior administrations, including the soon-to-be completed Portal North Bridge, he said.

Baldwin credits the Murphy administration for pulling NJ Transit back from the brink of fiscal and other disasters.

In 2018, the agency was a national leader in breakdowns after a decade of austerity, and efforts like completing Positive Train Control, restoring routine maintenance, rebuilding the workforce, and ordering new bus and rail fleets really helped stabilize the agency, Baldwin said.

That saved the system from collapse, but the work of winning back the publics trust has only just begun, Baldwin said.

An inherited mess

In the most recent Spring 2025 customer survey, the 29,000 NJ Transit riders who responded, gave the agency 6.3 out of 10 for overall satisfaction. In Spring 2018, NJ Transit received a 5.6 for overall satisfaction.

NJ Transit has been a dumpster fire dating back 20 plus years, said Lisa Hackett who rides the Morris & Essex line to New York. A fair amount of the issues are out of any governors control, especially due to Amtrak.

But she cited issues in the agencys control such as changing the mindset of NJ Transit staff to provide better service and treatment, a high number of cancellations, delays and overcrowding on the train.

When I read about all of the money being poured into transit and yet it never gets any better its really remarkable, Hackett said.

Mary Fagan Ducran credited Murphy for newer, bigger buses.

Gov. Murphy was responsible for purchasing the new fleet of buses, which was a tremendous improvement and led to fewer bus breakdowns, she said.

The new cruiser buses, which have more seats, makes a huge difference when boarding at the Port Authority during rush hour, Ducran said.

The rail system is still an absolute horror show, but I can say that I personally have seen improvement in the frequency and reliability of the bus system in recent years, she said.

During an interview with NJ Advance Media earlier this month, Murphy said NJ Transit was the mess within the mess that we inherited  awful on time, underperformance, customer dissatisfaction, safety concerns, old equipment, stations that were in need of renovation, not enough engineers, the list goes on and on.

Commuters wont see results of some of his work for years. Ordering new equipment in 2025 to replace all the old trains and buses in the fleet will take until 2031 for all to be delivered.

Working with Amtrak to replace old, failure prone Northeast Corridor line infrastructure, is a work in progress.

Under Murphys leadership, NJ Transit launched the agencys first-ever 10-year Strategic Plan, 5-year Capital Plan and The LAND Plan, Grieco said.

The comprehensive LAND plan will leverage more than 8,000 acres of property that could generate $1.9 billion in non-farebox revenue for NJ Transit, $14 billion for the State, and $1.6 billion for municipalities over the next 30 years, he said.

I put our record up against anybody. We solved our fiscal issues within the four walls of New Jersey, unlike the moochers at the MTA in New York City who are solving their fiscal challengeson the back of New Jersey commuters, which still angers me, Murphy said.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.
UPDATE: Colorful Northern Lights spotted in sky as far south as southern N.J.

The northern lights may be visible tonight across a wide area of the United States, possibly including parts of New Jersey.

NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G4, or severe, geomagnetic storm watch for Monday night.

The aurora borealis could be visible as far south as northern California and Alabama if skies are clear, according to AccuWeather.

The current Space Weather Prediction Centers viewing line runs through New Jersey roughly along the I-80 corridor.

The northern lights may be visible across a wide area of the United States tonight, according to NOAA. NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

The forecast for New Jersey calls for clear skies, but it will be chilly for anyone venturing outside. Wind chills are expected to dip into the single digits to near zero degrees.

New Jersey recently had a dazzling show of the northern lights in November.

The Northern Lights were visible over New Jersey on Tuesday night, Nov. 11, 2025 as far south as Cape May County. Jen McDonnell captured this image from Stone Harbor Boulevard in Middle Township. Jen McDonnell

A coronal mass ejection from the sun was launched during a powerful solar flare on Sunday, with the best viewing window expected between 1 and 4 a.m. Tuesday, according to Space.com.

The northern lights may be visible across a wide area of the United States tonight, according to NOAA. NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

Northern lights chasers should find dark locations with clear northern views and allow their eyes 30 minutes to adjust to darkness.

Smartphone cameras can detect faint glows that may not be immediately visible to the naked eye.
A Lakewood mother accused in the death of her 3-month-old daughter in May has been released from prison and will have all charges dismissed, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said Monday.

Caitlin Gibson, who was 28 when she was arrested, is now scheduled for pre-trial monitoring, Bryan Huntenburg, press officer for the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, confirmed to NJ.com.

The childs father, 36-year-old Ruben Santiago, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter on Thursday. He now is scheduled for the sentencing on March 4 before Ocean County Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan. He faces up to 25 years in state prison.

Once Santiago is sentenced, the charges against Gibson will be officially dropped, Huntenburg said. She previously was facing a murder charge in the case.

Glenn Kassman, the attorney representing Santiago, couldnt immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Mitchell Ansell, representing Gibson, told NJ.com that Santiago exonerated Gibson during the hearing.

(He) completely absolved Caitlin of any wrongdoing and knowledge of this crime, Ansell said. At that point in time (Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan) released Caitlin from jail, and she is now home with her family.

Both Gibson and Santiago were incarcerated a day after the child died.

Lakewood police were called shortly before 7:30 p.m. on May 5 to a home on Pinehurst Drive and found the infant having difficulty breathing, prosecutors said.

Lakewood Township Emergency Medical Services began administering medical aid before rushing the girl to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

On May 6, the baby was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Ocean County Medical Examiners Office determined that the infant died from blunt force trauma to the head and the manner was ruled a homicide.

An investigation revealed the baby suffered a fractured skull from repeated blows to the head, resulting in brain bleeding, officials said. Gibson and Santiago were then indicted in September.

Ansell, the attorney representing Gibson, said an expert who testified for the defense provided a timeline of the events leading up to the babys death. That expert confirmed Gibsons absence from the home when Santiago beat the baby, Ansell said.

Gibson and Santiago also have a 3-year-old girl that Gibson has been reunited with, although she previously had supervised visits with the child, Ansell said.
Group home operators serving people with autism and other developmental disabilities in New Jersey would face fines for the first time in state history for abuse and neglect, under landmark legislation Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law on Sunday.

New Jerseys top appointed disability advocate has described abuse and neglect in state licensed group homes as rampant, with some providers doing all they can to prevent abuse and neglect and others not doing enough to prevent or stop it.

The law, S3750, which takes effect in six months, imposes $10,000 fines for the second and subsequent health and safety violations. It also creates the offense of administrative neglect, should operators fail to train staff and supervise them to ensure the safety of their residents.

State Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, sponsored this bill and others after NJ Advance Media published Alone, Autistic and Afraid" in February 2024, which investigated the severe medical neglect verified by hospital physicians of a young woman at a group home in Lakewood, The Special Childrens Center.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to feel safe, respected, and supported in every setting, without exception. These measures give the state clearer authority and stronger tools to demand accountability and uphold high standards of care, Murphy, a term-limited Democrat, said in a statement after privately signing the legislation Sunday in one of his final acts before leaving office Tuesday.

Yana Mermel, whose daughter was the focus of NJ Advance Medias investigation, described the law as a real win for victims, their families, and group home residents across our state.

Mermel said the group home denied her nonverbal daughter with autism routine dental care and adequate food, and locked her in her bedroom at night. While undergoing surgery to remove her rotted teeth, she suffered complications and was placed in a coma.

The Ocean County Prosecutors Office investigated but did not file charges, while state Human Services investigators determined Mermels daughter had been harmed but did not find enough evidence to substantiate abuse or neglect claims against the group home.

The group home has repeatedly denied comment on the case, which is the subject of a lawsuit.

My daughter suffered life-altering harm at the hands of uncaring and unqualified practitioners, Mermel said. This legislation is the first of many that will change the group home industry for the better.

Murphy also signed two related bills:

S3754 which creates the Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee within the state department of Human Services. The committee, comprised of medical professionals, disability advocates, people with disabilities and families, will analyze trends, evaluate systemic responses to allegations, and recommend improvements, according to the legislation.

S3751 , which revises the legal definition of child abuse or neglect to include people up to age 21 years in institutions overseen by the Department of Children and Families. Under the old law, both Human Services and Children and Families had oversight, which created confusion. The law also gives this department authority to impose fines, including a $350-a-day fine on anyone who failed to report abuse to the state.

Together, the package of bills ensures that safety, dignity, and quality of care remain at the center of our system, said Vitale, chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

The bill fining group homes was introduced in October 2024 but stalled when some provider companies raised objections. Had a compromise not been reached by Jan. 8, the bills would have expired and needed to restart the public hearing process in the new session that began Jan. 14.

Several organizations representing the group home industry praised the outcome.

Ending abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals with I/DD and responding effectively and with dignity when it occurs are our ethical obligations and central to our public policy," said Catherine Chin, executive director for the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities, a lobbying group. It is for this reason we are very pleased by the passage of these bills and thank the administration and legislature for their efforts in this regard.

Paul Aronsohn, the states top appointed advocate for people with developmental disabilities, was the first to call on lawmakers to give the state Department of Human Services the authority to impose fines on poor-performing group homes. He noted that the state Health Department has the authority to fine poorly run nursing homes; why did people with developmental disabilities deserve any less?

This law is a big, first step towards ending abuse and neglect in group homes, said Aronsohn, Ombudsman for Individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families, who called abuse rampant in his latest annual report.

The next step must include a complete overhaul of the investigation process - one that places a premium on efficiency, transparency, and accountability by placing this critical responsibility in the hands of an independent government agency, Aronsohn said.

A bill introduced by state Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, R-Ocean in 2025 would replicate the New York State Justice Center in New Jersey and assume control of most abuse investigations, which are now handled by the state Department of Human Services and the state Department of Children and Families.

Advocates say the existing system poses a conflict of interest because group home providers are allowed to initially investigate themselves, then submit their findings to the state agency that licenses and inspects them. In too few instances has the state corroborated abuse and neglect, theyve said.

The state investigation into medical neglect allegations found Mermels daughter, Rachel, was harmed but did not substantiate abuse or neglect claims against the group home. Mermel said she has no confidence in the state to do objective investigations.

During a Jan. 8 legislative hearing, Mermel held up a collage of photos she said graphically depicts her daughters suffering.

I want to make sure that everybody in this room sees this type of abuse that happens in state licensed facilities. I also want to make sure that everybody understands that unlike any of us in this room, individuals with disabilities are not afforded the same rights, Mermel said.

Donna Icovino, a parent-advocate who has helped lead the charge for replicating the justice center in New Jersey, said she hoped the momentum created by these new laws will continue under the new governor.

Advocates like myself are optimistic that state government will finally seize the day to improve the lives of people who are depending on N.J. to make effective systems change a reality, said Icovino, the mother of a son living in a group home in Camden County.
Spains Minister of Transport Oscar Puente has described the rail accident that has left at least 39 people dead and dozens seriously injured in Adamuz (Cordoba) as very strange. Puente appeared before the media early Monday morning at the facilities of state-owned railway infrastructure manager Adif in Madrids Atocha station to report on the circumstances of the derailment, emphasizing that it is strange, very strange, very difficult to explain at this time. According to the minister, all the railway experts he spoke with on Sunday night are extremely baffled by the accident.

The minister, who will travel to Cordoba in the coming hours, insisted that pointing to a specific cause now would be speculation. He did indicate that the track where the accident occurred was renovated last spring and that the Iryo train was practically new, less than four years old. Based on these facts, he announced that an independent commission will be tasked with investigating the incident to clarify what happened.

At this point, we cant even speculate on whether it was the rolling stock or the track. We dont know, Puente emphasized, reiterating that there is total curiosity among the technicians to determine what happened. The minister described the accident as genuinely strange given that the equipment is brand new. The rails also belong to a completely renovated track on which 700 million has been invested. Specifically, the replacement of switches and turnouts on that section was completed in May of this year. Therefore, the accident is extremely strange; it happened on a straight stretch [...] We hope that the investigation will help us clarify what happened, he stated.

The minister explained that the worst of the accident occurred on the Alvia train. The first two cars of the train bore the brunt of the damage. There were 37 people in the first car and 16 in the second, so 53 people were affected, primarily, out of the 200 who were on board, he stated. These two cars were the ones that fell down the embankment, and that is where firefighters and civil protection personnel are currently focusing their efforts.

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The White House is firing back after Bruce Springsteen blasted President Donald Trumps deportation agenda unfolding across U.S. cities.

During a surprise performance in Red Bank on Saturday night, Springsteen condemned the Trump administration for using Gestapo tactics against U.S. citizens. He then urged Trump to remove Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from Minneapolis, where protests broke out after a federal officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good earlier this month.

Springsteen went on to dedicate The Promised Land to Good after noting that the song was an ode to American possibility.

If you believe in democracy, in liberty, if you believe that truth still matters, that its worth speaking out, that it is worth fighting for, if you believe in the power of the law and no one stands above it, if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you dont deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president, and as the mayor of that city has said, ICE should get the f--- out of Minneapolis, Springsteen said as the audience roared.

The White House slammed Springsteen in a statement first reported by The New York Times.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said no one cared about Springsteens bad political opinions, according to The New York Times.

If he actually believed in the power of the law, he would understand that criminal illegal aliens should be deported, that impeding federal law enforcement operations is a crime and that officers have a right to act in self-defense if an individual is using their car as a deadly weapon, she said in the statement, according to the report.

The killing of Good sparked widespread protests across the country, especially in Minneapolis, where Trump has threatened to deploy U.S. troops to under the Insurrection Act. The protests came as local and state officials disputed the federal governments claim that the officer acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Good.

Springsteen, a long-time critic of the president, drew the ire of Trump after the rock star called his administration corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous during the opening night of his Land of Hope & Dreams tour with the E Street Band in May of last year. Trump responded by calling him dumb as a rock and a dried out prune of a rocker.

And last fall, Springsteen said he wanted Trump hurled onto the trash heap of history.

A lot of people bought into his lies, Springsteen said in an interview with Time magazine. He doesnt care about the forgotten anybody but himself and the multibillionaires who stood behind him on Inauguration Day.
Since his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has acted quickly in implementing his sweeping immigration agenda, which has emerged as a tentpole in all of his presidential campaigns.

From high-profile ICE raids  and counterprotests in cities including Los Angeles, Portland and Minneapolis that have followed  to hundreds of judicial battles, Trump can tout more than double the number of arrests compared to his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, while unauthorized crossings at the southern border have been driven to record lows, government data shows.

Looking ahead, Trump recently told The New York Times that he would love to enact comprehensive immigration reform as part of his agenda.

It takes two to tango, he said in a wide-ranging interview this month. If the Democrats would do it, Id do it.

Most recently, the Trump administration announced it is indefinitely suspending immigrant visa processing from 75 countries, such as Brazil, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia and Russia. It separately announced it will terminate temporary protection status (TPS) for Somalia by March 17, which will impact several thousands of Somalis currently living in the United States.

Heres a look into whether Trump has so far kept his promises made on the 2024 campaign trail.

Immigration agents conduct an operation at a car wash on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Montebello, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) AP

1. Close the border

We will close the border. We will stop the invasion of illegals into our country.  Aurora, Colorado, October 2024

Trump is no stranger to blaming Biden for record crossings at the southern border  and the issue has emerged as a pillar of his presidency.

On his first day of office, Trump swiftly moved to secure the border against migrants trying to enter the country through a series of executive orders, including declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows that his crackdown since taking office has translated: 691,906 encounters were reported for the 2025 fiscal year  a sharp contrast from fiscal years 2021 to 2024, which saw totals ranging from 1 million to 3 million. The CBP also announced 237,565 apprehensions at the southwest border, describing it as the smallest total in a fiscal year since 1970.

For the 2026 fiscal year, which started in October, there were 30,573 encounters documented that month, marking the lowest start to a fiscal year, according to the CBP. There was an even smaller figure published in November, which stood at 30,367 encounters. It recorded a slight uptick in December, with approximately 47,330 encounters.

Do you remember when Joe Biden said that he needed Congress to pass legislation to help close the border? He was always blaming Congress and everyone else, Trump said during a televised address to the nation last month.

As it turned out, we didnt need legislation, he added. We just needed a new president.

Vehicles with White House border czar Tom Homan and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott during along the border wall along the border with Mexico, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) AP

2. Conduct the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history

We will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.  Concord, North Carolina, October 2024

While on the campaign trail, Trump vowed to begin the largest deportation operation in the history of our country  and he made similar claims at events in California and New York City.

And once he took office, his administration set an internal goal to accomplish exactly that: deport 1 million undocumented immigrants in one year, according to The Washington Post.

Data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows that the president hasnt reached his ambitious target through federal operations, with more than 605,000 formal removals reported since his first day in the White House. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has maintained that an additional 1.9 million people have voluntarily self-deported since January.

Those figures combined are higher than the number of deportations during the first years of office for Biden and former President Barack Obama.

But although Trump pledged to target the worst of the worst in his decoration efforts, he has not entirely delivered on the promise. The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, found that 73% of people detained by ICE had no criminal conviction, according to non-public ICE data it obtained. Another 8% had a violent or property criminal conviction, and only 5% had a violent criminal conviction.

Removals have also not been fully smooth sailing for the Trump administration. The president has encountered legal setbacks along the way, including the high-profile case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, claims that U.S. citizens have been caught in the crossfire and tests in the courts.

FILE - People protest outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility as law enforcement officers walk out of the gates to guard vehicles leaving the facility on Oct. 11, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) AP

3. Suspend refugee admissions

On Day One of the Trump presidency, I will restore the travel ban, suspend refugee admissions, stop the resettlement and keep the terrorists the hell out of our country.  St. Cloud, Minnesota, July 2024

The Trump administration has drastically sliced the number of refugees allowed into the United States to the lowest cap in the history of U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. But despite his pledge, the president has not completely eliminated their ability to enter entirely.

In January, Trump indefinitely suspended the program via an executive order, effectively halting new arrivals to the country. It had one exception: the secretary of state and the secretary of homeland security may jointly admit refugees on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether they align with the national interest and do not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States.

At the time, around 600,000 people were being processed to enter, according to the administration.

The next month, Trump offered eligibility for U.S. refugee resettlement to white Afrikaners, descendants of mainly Dutch and French settlers who arrived in South Africa in the 17th century. He has claimed they are facing racial persecution at home  a statement disputed by officials there.

For the 2026 fiscal year, the administration is permitting 7,500 refugee admissions, which is a notable decline from the 125,000 cap set by the Biden administration in the last year of his presidency, according to a notice in the Federal Register. The memorandum cites humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest as justification for the limit.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has also put a hold and review for pending asylum applicants from high-risk countries, a separate memorandum from last month shows.

This final rule is an additional step in our ongoing efforts to support the priorities of the Trump administration by ensuring that aliens who would pose a danger to the security of the United States are not granted asylum or withholding of removal, the agency of the DHS said in a press release.

FILE - Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau greets Afrikaner refugees from South Africa, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File) AP

4. End birthright citizenship

I will sign on Day 1 an executive order ending automatic citizenship for the children of illegal aliens.  Pickens, South Carolina, July 2023

Trump upheld his promise through signing an executive order on his first day in office, which directed departments and agencies to withhold providing citizenship documents to some U.S.-born children of visa holders and undocumented immigrants.

The move, however, has found its way to the Supreme Court, which will likely determine by this summer whether such action can move forward under the case Trump v. Barbara.

Birthright citizenship has been widely interpreted under the Constitutions 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868. A ruling in Trumps favor would upend more than 125 years of understanding that children born on American soil  to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily  are U.S. citizens.

Section 1 of the 14th Amendment states, in part: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

Jenny Harris, of Baltimore, protests in support of birthright citizenship and the immigrant community, Thursday, May 15, 2025, outside of the Supreme Court in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP

5. Complete the border wall

I will end the illegal immigration crisis by closing our border and finishing the wall. Most of which I already built.  Day 4 of the Republican National Convention, July 2024

On Day 1, in his declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump directed his administration to construct additional physical barriers along the southern border.

To the extent possible, the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security shall coordinate with any Governor of a State that is willing to assist with the deployment of any physical infrastructure to improve operational security at the southern border, Trump wrote in the order.

In March, the CBP announced it had awarded its first contract of Trumps second term for the wall to the tune of over $70 million. The construction intended to add approximately seven miles in Hidalgo County, Texas, but using funding from the agencys 2021 fiscal year.

Since then, John Mennell, a public affairs specialist for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told PolitiFact in June that the CBP has started more than 80 miles of new permanent border barrier projects  now in various stages of planning and construction  across the San Diego, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, and Rio Grande Valley Sectors."

Vice President JD Vance revealed earlier last year that Trump hopes to complete the construction of a physical border wall spanning the entire southwest U.S.-Mexico boundary by the end of his second term.

Last month, the DHS and CBP also announced a total of $8 billion in contracts to construct a Smart Wall along the southern border. It credits the GOPs big, beautiful bill for funding the border barrier system that combines steel barriers, waterborne barriers, patrol roads, lights, cameras, and advanced detection technology.

The agency has created an interactive map showing the technology and its weekly status on its website.
President Donald Trumps letter to Norways prime minister led social media critics and political foes to demand Trumps removal from office, with many arguing he is not fit to serve.

In the letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, Trump linked his stance on annexing Greenland to his outrage over not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, numerous news outlets reported. Gahr Stre confirmed the authenticity of the letter in a statement, according to reports.

The reported letter stated, in part: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.

The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland, the letter concluded.

The letter was first reported by PBS. It comes after Trump has complained for months about not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize and has repeatedly mused about taking over Greenland  a territory owned by NATO member country Denmark.

Social media exploded over the reported letter, with many calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove Trump from office. Under the 25th Amendment, the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet could vote to remove a president who is unable to fulfill duties.

The Lincoln Projects Rick Wilson said on X that Trumps new gigantic temper tantrum over Norway is deep into 25th Amendment territory. He said at this point, the 25th Amendment is far in the rearview mirror and we are descending further into madness by the moment.

Democratic strategist Chris D. Jackson said that the letter was impeachable.

The guy is simply too unstable to be president, he added.

Political commentator Ed Krassenstein described the letter as insane.

This is why you dont elect a narcissist to be your president. Is this what you voted for, Trumps supporters? he wrote on X.

Democratic activist Shannon Watts posted: This is what the 25TH F---ING AMENDMENT IS FOR.

Trumps insane new threat leaves no doubt: its time for the 25th Amendment, political analyst Molly Ploofkins posted.

Many other users just questioned Trumps mental acuity in the wake of the letter.

Hes going to invade Greenland because he wasnt given the Nobel Peace Prize. The world is being held hostage by a deranged, tantrum throwing toddler with nukes, democratic activist Melanie DArrigo wrote.

New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim (D) said the letter was unhinged and embarrassing, but also incredibly dangerous.

Trump is doing lasting damage to our global position, which will harm our ability to keep America safe, secure, and prosperous, Kim said on X.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said: These are the ramblings of a man who has lost touch with reality. He isnt ok. Hes degraded significantly in the last year and hes about to get us into a war with our allies.

Trump has toyed with the idea of acquiring Greenland for the U.S. since his first term and has repeatedly brought up the idea during his second term. His renewed interest in Greenland came days after the U.S. launched a military operation in Venezuela to remove leader Nicolas Maduro from power.

Trump has not ruled out using military force to take over Greenland despite many experts warning it will undermine U.S.s relationship with NATO countries.

Trumps letter to Gahr Stre appears to ratchet up a standoff between Washington and its closest allies over his threats to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. On Saturday, Trump announced a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from eight nations that have rallied around Denmark and Greenland, including Norway.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A Stone Harbor homeowner who won more than $100,000 on Jeopardy! last year will compete against other top players in the shows Tournament of Champions.

Joshua Weikert, who won six consecutive games during his initial run, taped his tournament appearances in late 2025, according to the television show.

The competition airs starting Monday. The episode featuring Weikert and two other contestants is scheduled for Friday.

Weikert, a Collegeville, Pennsylvania resident, works as a politics professor at Immaculata University in Pennsylvania and serves as a policy adviser in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He also holds the rank of officer in the Army Reserve.

Tournament results remain under a non-disclosure agreement until mid-February, preventing Weikert from discussing his performance until the competition concludes.

Weikert pledged to donate 10% of any winnings to the Weikel Memorial Scholarship Fund, a scholarship fund for veterans and their families.
Car windows smashed and people dragged from their vehicles. Individuals knocked to the ground and pinned down. Guns pointed at unarmed civilians. Citizens and migrants alike, shot and killed in their cars. Protesters sprayed directly in the face with pepper spray or choked with tear gas. Anyone who dares to speak English with an accent or who has brown skin is forced to prove their citizenship at random. These are scenes that have become commonplace in the United States of Donald Trump, a country whose cities, especially those governed by Democrats, have been besieged by immigration agents who patrol predominantly Latino neighborhoods and lurk in courthouses looking for migrants to arrest and deport.

In the first year of the Republicans second presidency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, its now globally recognized and feared acronym) has become the primary enforcer of his anti-immigrant offensive, resulting in more than half a million deportations in 12 months. The agency has been described as a paramilitary force and, according to the government itself, operates with absolute immunity.

In Minneapolis, the latest target of the Trump administration, the agencys most violent side has been revealed. Some 3,000 federal agents arrived in Minnesotas most populous city in just over a week, starting in the first week of January, for what ICEs acting director, Todd Lyons, has called the largest immigration operation ever conducted. The result? A city in terror, with businesses closed, in-person classes canceled, and families sheltering in their homes.

Arrests at a New York immigration court, in September 2025. Yuki Iwamura (AP)

Among these people is Saul, who prefers not to give his last name because his mother recently received a deportation order and is hiding in her home in the neighboring city of St. Paul. The agents are harassing us every day. Were all terrified; my parents dont want to go out. Were living in fear that theyll come to the house and break down the door to take my mom, he says while protesting outside the federal building where ICE maintains the central base of its immigration operation in Minneapolis.

Hes wrapped in a Mexican flag and has his U.S. passport in his pocket in case he has to show it. Saul, 26, was born in Minnesota to parents who emigrated from Mexico more than two decades ago. I never thought this would happen to me, that someone would judge me by the color of my skin. I thought it was something that was in the past, but now Ive experienced it firsthand, he says, referring to the racial profiling that officers use to detain people without warrants.

The agents, masked and armed, travel in unmarked cars and get out anywhere without warning. Even so, the locals have learned to recognize their vehicles and try to warn of their presence whenever possible: they know that the SUVs with tinted windows that disregard traffic laws are usually theirs, and they start blowing their whistles or honking their own horns. But little deters them from their mission: they grab the migrant they were looking for and take anyone who gets in their way, regardless of whether the person begs and shouts that they have legal permission to be in the country or that they are a U.S. citizen.

Border Patrol agents in Chicago, December 2025. Ashlee Rezin (AP)

Protests against the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis have been taking place daily, and unrest in the streets has only grown with each passing day that the Trump administration refuses to end what local and state officials denounce as a federal invasion. Now, tensions have reached a boiling point from which it will be difficult to recover: after two shootings by agents, one of which resulted in the death of a 37-year-old woman, the president has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to send the U.S. military into the city to quell the demonstrations.

I will quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once-great state, the Republican declared last Thursday. In his view, the ICE agents deployed in the city, including the one who fatally shot Renee Good on January 7, are all patriots who are only trying to do their job.

Immunity or impunity

Its something Republican administration officials have repeated incessantly over the past 12 months. With each new incident in which agents are accused of excessive use of force or violence, Kristi Noem, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, defends their actions. Every single action taken by our ICE agents is in accordance with the law and follows the protocols we have used for years, the high-ranking official said Thursday. Noem insisted that the real victims are the officers.

The hateful rhetoric and resistance against men and women who are simply trying to do their jobs must end. Federal law enforcement officers are facing a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest criminals and lawbreakers, the department said in a statement this week after a migrant was wounded in a second shooting in Minneapolis.

ICE operation in Chicago, in October 2025. Anthony Vazquez (AP)

The Trump administration not only defends the violent tactics employed by immigration officials, but also justifies them. Sources within the agency itself know that agents have been ordered to take decisive action if threatened. This is what the White House maintains Agent Jonathan Ross did when he shot Good: according to the official account, the woman, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, tried to run Ross over, although video footage of the incident shows the opposite  that she attempted to turn her vehicle away from him.

While the FBI is investigating the shooting on its own  after the Justice Department refused to allow Minneapolis authorities to participate in the investigation  sources in Washington indicate that Ross is protected by absolute immunity. This was stated by Vice President J.D. Vance the day after Goods death.

This week, the Department of Homeland Security reiterated that claim by republishing a video of an interview Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and mastermind behind the Trump administrations anti-immigrant offensive, gave to Fox News in October. In the recording, Miller refers to the agents and asserts: You have immunity to perform your duties, and no one  no city official, no state official, no illegal alien, no leftist agitator or domestic insurrectionist  can prevent you from fulfilling your legal obligations and duties.

The reality is that ICE agents are not fully protected from prosecution. However, experts point out that the governments assertion that they do have immunity will only embolden them and reinforce the perception that they act with impunity.

Kristi Noem in San Diego, in March 2025. Alex Brandon (AP)

Kristi Noem has plainly tried to signal to ICE that they are free to act with impunity, to personally manufacture and escalate confrontations and even execute whomever they please, said Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson, the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, on Wednesday. She has unleashed ICE and other federal law enforcement officers upon American communities, not to protect them, but to attack them and to sow fear, violence, and chaos, he added, calling for the secretarys removal, a move that has gained traction among Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Abolition of ICE

Since last summer, the government has deployed thousands of immigration agents to several Democratic-leaning cities: Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Charlotte (North Carolina), Portland (Oregon), Chicago, New Orleans and even the Twin Cities, as the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is known. These massive operations have been possible because ICE now has the largest budget for any agency in U.S. history, exceeding the funding allocated to the FBI, the DEA, and other federal entities. Approved last July as part of Trumps tax reform, the funding exceeds $100 billion through 2029.

Of that budget, $30 billion is earmarked for hiring and training thousands of agents to locate, detain, and deport migrants. To this end, the Department of Homeland Security launched a historic recruitment campaign that has allowed it to rapidly expand its ranks: by early January, some 12,000 new agents had been hired, a 120% increase in its staff in about four months. In total, ICE now has 22,000 officers, according to its own figures.

Another large portion of the budget  $45 billion over four years, two-thirds of the total  will be used to detain migrants in the network of detention centers operated by ICE, places where complaints of human rights abuses and appalling conditions abound. The year 2025 ended with the highest number of deaths in two decades in these centers: 32, according to figures from the Department of Homeland Security. So far in 2026, at least four migrants have died in ICE custody.

Migrant raid in California, July 2025. Daniel Cole (REUTERS)

The unprecedented expansion of ICE has also increased calls to abolish it or, at the very least, reform it. In fact, for the first time, more American adults now support dismantling ICE than oppose the idea, according to a recent poll by The Economist and UK-based data analytics firm YouGov.

Support for this idea comes after months of polls showing that backing for the Trump administrations immigration policies has been declining. A CNN poll released last Wednesday revealed that 51% of Americans believe the immigration agency is making cities less safe.

Some politicians from the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party have joined the calls to abolish ICE: Shri Thanedar, a representative from Michigan, plans to introduce a bill that would dismantle the federal agency. However, while both parties negotiate funding for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2026 in the face of a potential government shutdown on January 30, the Democratic establishment has opted to demand that ICE be held accountable and subject to oversight.

Meanwhile, over 900 miles from the Capitol, on the streets of Minneapolis, the demand is clear: ICE out. As night falls, and amid the Arctic cold, Genesis Kark and her husband join the protest that has been ongoing all day in front of the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. They carry boxes of pizza and cookies to share with the demonstrators. Atrocities have been committed in the last week, says Kark, a 26-year-old Minnesota native. And she warns: We dont want ICE in our city, and we will continue to let them know.

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James Finn covers federal law enforcement for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate. Email him at jfinn@theadvocate.com or contact him on Signal at jamesfinn.82.

Lara Nicholson covers Jefferson Parish for The Times-Picayune | The Advocate. Email her at lnicholson@theadvocate.com.
During a surprise performance in New Jersey, the musician condemned the deployment of federal agents in American cities and remembered the woman killed in Minneapolis

Bruce Springsteen once again turned the stage into a platform for political protest. In an unexpected appearance during the Light of Day Winterfest charity festival, held over the weekend in Red Bank, New Jersey, the American musician criticized Donald Trumps administration and the deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in various cities across the country. During his performance, he dedicated the song The Promised Land to Renee Good, the 37-year-old American citizen and mother of three who died after being shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis in early January.

Before performing the song  originally included on his 1978 album Darkness on the Edge of Town  Springsteen explained that the song was written as a tribute to the American dream: to a country that is beautiful, but flawed, and to what it could still become. We are living through incredibly critical times, he told the audience gathered at the Count Basie Center for the Arts. According to the musician, the values and ideals that have defined the United States for the past 250 years are being tested as it has never been in modern times.

Springsteen called for opposition to the use of heavily armed federal forces in American cities. He condemned what he described as Gestapo tactics against citizens and denounced the fact that people are being killed for exercising their right to protest. In that context, he quoted Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and sent a direct message: ICE should get the fuck out of the city.

Memorial service for Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 8. John Locher (AP)

The musician then dedicated The Promised Land to the memory of mother of three and American citizen Renee Good. His words drew loud applause from the nearly 1,500 people attending the concert, an annual event to raise money for research into Parkinsons and other neurodegenerative diseases, which has raised more than $7.5 million over three decades.

Goods death occurred on January 7 in Minneapolis during an ICE operation. According to the Trump administrations version of events, the woman attempted to ram the agents with her vehicle and the officer acted in self-defense. The agent who fired the shot, Jonathan Ross, was standing in front of the car when he opened fire. However, local authorities have questioned this version of events. Mayor Frey publicly stated that it was a reckless use of federal power that ended with one person dead, and accused the government of trying to manipulate the story.

The case has sparked massive protests in different parts of the country and has become a symbol of growing opposition to ICE. Various polls show widespread rejection of the agencys operations, especially due to allegations of abuse against peaceful protesters and raids that have even affected U.S. citizens.

ICE operation in Minneapolis, January 15. Ryan Murphy (REUTERS)

White House reaction

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson dismissed the musicians criticism, saying that no one cares about his bad political views. She further argued that those who believe in the rule of law must accept the deportation of undocumented migrants and federal operations, as well as the right of agents to defend themselves.

The musician has been a strong critic of Trump and his policies. In 2024, he publicly endorsed Kamala Harris presidential bid and called Trump the most dangerous candidate for president of his lifetime. During a tour of the United Kingdom last year, he accused the Trump administration of trampling on civil rights and aligning itself with authoritarian regimes. Trump responded by telling him to keep his mouth shut and even called for investigations into him and other celebrities.

In New Jersey, Springsteen was not the only artist to bring politics to the stage. Other musicians participating in the festival  such as Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie and Johnny Rzneznik of the Goo Goo Dolls  also spoke about the tensions in the country and the fear generated by immigration raids.

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West Devon job seekers and employers will meet under one roof in Okehampton next month as a local event seeks to help match up those looking for work with hiring companies.

The West Devon Employment Fair will take place on Wednesday 5 February, from 12 noon to 3pm, at Charter Hall, Okehampton.

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It is being organised by Business Information Point (BIP) and is fully funded by West Devon Borough Council, with support from Devon County Council.

The fair is designed to help connect people looking for work with local businesses that are recruiting.

Employers from a range of sectors are expected to attend, offering visitors the chance to explore different roles and career paths.

A spokesperson for Business Information Point said: Were pleased to be running the West Devon Employment Fair again this year, helping match local job seekers and employers.

The event is open to anyone interested in work opportunities, including school and college leavers, people who are currently unemployed, those already in work but looking for a new role, and individuals interested in self-employment.

Job seekers will be able to speak directly with employers, ask questions about vacancies, and find out more about training and development options.

Organisers say employment fairs allow job seekers to meet several employers in one place, making it easier to compare opportunities and learn more about local businesses.

Visitors will also be able to talk to advisers about different routes into work and self-employment.

ABOVE: The return of the West Devon Employment Fair highlights ongoing support for jobs (Image: WDBC/BIP)

For employers, exhibiting at the event is free, as the fair is fully funded, however, spaces are limited.

Businesses taking part will be able to meet potential candidates face-to-face, discuss roles directly, and build links with other local organisations.

A BIP spokesperson said: Finding the right people to join your business can be a challenge. Employment fairs can be a very cost-effective way to meet a number of potential candidates in one place. As this is a funded event, theres no cost for taking a stand, though spaces are limited.

They added that the fair also offers businesses a chance to raise their profile locally and make connections that could be useful for future recruitment.

The West Devon Employment Fair has been held previously and is part of ongoing efforts to support the local economy and employment across the borough.

Further details about the event, including how to attend or exhibit, can be found on the Business Information Point website.

Businesses interested in securing a free stand are encouraged to register in advance using the West Devon Employment Fair stand form, as demand is expected to be high.
Media students from Bideford College put their filmmaking skills into practice at a recent event which aimed to raise awareness of poverty in North Devon.

Year 12 students teamed up with North Devon Moving Image community interest company to film a presentation highlighting the next stage of the Ilfracombe Poverty Truth Commission, which sets out to connect people who have first-hand experience of poverty with community leaders and improve understanding of the issues involved.

Building on skills developed in their BTEC creative media lessons, the students had the opportunity to capture a live event and apply their learning in a real-world setting.

Launched in September 2024, Devons first Poverty Truth Commission was set up by the countys Integrated Care Board and is delivered by One Northern Devon with One Ilfracombe, which are part of a partnership of organisations that recognise how unfair and avoidable differences in social, economic and environmental conditions can affect the opportunities people have to lead healthy and happy lives.

Supported by Exeter University, the Devon Communities Foundation charity and other partners, the Ilfracombe Poverty Truth Commission brings people with lived experience of poverty together with local leaders to understand challenges and design long-term solutions.

The Bideford students filmed key moments as stakeholders reviewed progress and planned the commissions next steps. Their work gave them hands-on experience in media production while contributing to a project with a real local impact.

Dr Claire Ankers, principal at Bideford College, part of Athena Learning Trust, said: Our media students did brilliantly filming the Poverty Truth Commission event. The vocational nature of the BTEC creative media course gives them real-world experience, and opportunities like this allow them to apply their skills in a professional setting while contributing to the local community.

Bideford College was rated good for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and sixth form provision by the education watchdog Ofsted.

One Northern Devon envisages a future for the district where people live happy and healthy lives in safe, clean and connected communities where people are supportive of one another and aspirations are achieved through equal access to the best education and employment, whilst living in decent homes and enjoying our world-class natural environment.

It says: We are all about collaboration to improve the quality of life of the people of North Devon and Torridge, protect our shared natural environment and address local inequality. In northern Devon, people in the most deprived communities can expect to die 15 years earlier than those in our most affluent. Our partners have come together out of a moral and social duty to address this inequity and directly address the key issues facing northern Devon through our quality of life strategic priorities.
Trump's tariffs threat over Greenland sparks EU pushback

Xinhua) 10:26, January 19, 2026

BRUSSELS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose new tariffs on eight European countries unless Denmark accept a deal over Greenland has drawn swift rebukes from Nordic capitals and major European leaders, fueled calls for an EU-level response, and cast fresh doubt over the implementation of last year's EU-U.S. tariff "truce."

In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said the United States would levy a 10-percent tariff from Feb. 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland. He warned the rate would rise to 25 percent on June 1 and remain in place until a deal is reached for the "complete and total purchase" of Greenland.

Nordic leaders were among the first to push back, stressing that disputes between allies should be handled through dialogue rather than pressure.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he was surprised by the tariff threat and noted Denmark was in close contact with the European Commission, according to Ritzau.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store called the threats "unacceptable" in comments to national news agency NTB, saying threats have no place among allies and reiterating Norway's support for the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said issues among allies are best resolved through discussion, not pressure, warning that tariffs could harm transatlantic relations and trigger a dangerous downward spiral.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson rejected the tariff as "blackmail," saying Sweden "will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed" and arguing the matter should be handled at EU level.

Other European leaders also signaled a tougher posture should Washington move ahead with the measures.

Calling the tariff threat "unacceptable," French President Emmanuel Macron said Europeans would respond in a united and coordinated manner should the measures be confirmed.

He said France's participation in a Denmark-organized exercise in Greenland reflects France's commitment to national sovereignty and independence, stressing that "no intimidation or threat will influence us."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was "completely wrong" to apply tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security within NATO, adding that Britain would raise the issue directly with the U.S. administration and reiterating that Greenland's future should be decided by Greenlanders and Danes.

The German government said it was coordinating closely with European partners and that an appropriate response would be decided jointly in due course.

At the EU level, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa warned in a joint statement that tariffs linked to Greenland would undermine transatlantic ties and risk a "dangerous downward spiral."

They underlined that territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law, and said Europe would remain "united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty."

The episode has also reignited debate over whether the EU should activate stronger defensive trade tools, including the bloc's so-called "bazooka," the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), and has further complicated the politics surrounding EU-U.S. trade arrangements in the European Parliament.

Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, urged the European Commission to launch the ACI immediately, calling Trump's tariff threat "unbelievable" and "a new dimension" in the use of tariffs as a political weapon.

Lange said the U.S. step would amount to another breach of the political EU-U.S. tariff and trade deal agreed in Scotland in July 2025, adding that the European Parliament would revisit the issue with political groups next week.

He said he could not imagine "business as usual" continuing and expected parliamentary work on the file to be suspended.

Manfred Weber, chair of the European People's Party, the largest group in the European Parliament, said that, given Trump's threats over Greenland, approval of the EU-U.S. trade deal was "not possible" at this stage and that any move toward zero tariffs on U.S. products should be put on hold.

Cyprus, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said late Saturday it had called an emergency meeting for Sunday, with ambassadors from the EU's 27 member states set to convene to coordinate next steps.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
36 26 49 seats are most competitive redistricted or under discussion without incumbents 11 or so are in discussion 18 are tossups 3 are most competitive 36 26 49 seats are most competitive redistricted or under discussion without incumbents 11 or so are in discussion 18 are tossups 3 are most competitive

Who Will Win the House? Three Maps Tell a Tale of the 2026 Midterms.

The battle for control of the House of Representatives this fall will be decided by a small fraction of the chambers seats. Republicans are clinging to a five-seat edge, the narrowest margin in modern times.

The nations political climate is volatile, and much can change between now and November. But at the start of the year, only a small number of seats are seen as genuinely competitive, magnifying the stakes of individual House races that routinely cost tens of millions of dollars.

The clearest Democratic pathway to a majority  and the power to serve as a check on President Trump and his legislative agenda  is defending the partys most vulnerable incumbents and flipping a handful of Republican-held seats.

These 36 districts are the most competitive in the battle for House control. Lean Dem. Tossup Lean Rep. Seat held by a  Democrat  Republican 197 solid or likely Democratic districts 202 solid or likely Republican districts

14 Lean Dem. 18 Tossup 4 Lean Rep.                     218 seats for control                

Source: Cook Political Report The New York Times

Today, The Cook Political Report rates just 18 seats as tossup races  four held by Democrats and 14 by Republicans. But the map is evolving and Cook recently shifted 18 House races in Democrats direction, a sign of the partys momentum and Mr. Trumps struggles.

Of the Houses 435 seats, the vast majority, 375, are rated as solid for one party or the other  meaning they are essentially noncompetitive. Another two dozen races are seen as likely to favor one party, while 18 are in the more competitive lean category.

The magic number for a House majority is 218 seats.

To get there, Democrats would need to hold all of their solid and likely seats, sweep the 13 seats that lean toward their party and win at least seven of the 18 tossups, according to The Cook Political Report.

The initial 2026 House battlegrounds do not span the whole nation. The South and the Mountain West are mostly afterthoughts, though Democrats hope some strong candidates in those places could make more seats viable.

Other factors are at play for House control, too:

Redrawn maps scramble the midterm forecast

Not yet signed into law Possible change Change New maps passed Texas +5R Missouri +1R North Carolina +1R Ohio +1-2R California +5D Utah +1D +2R to 3R Actions taken to redistrict Florida +2-4R Virginia +2-4D New York +1D +1R to 3D Discussed but less likely Nebraska +1R Maryland +1D +0 Total possible seats +1D to +4R

The New York Times

Many states have redrawn their maps after Mr. Trump set off a nationwide gerrymandering fight. Typically, House districts are drawn once a decade, after the census. But Mr. Trump, wanting to defend his partys slim House majority, sought an edge by pressing for so-called mid-decade redistricting in red states.

He has already pushed Texas, Missouri and North Carolina to draw new maps, carving out as many as seven more Republican districts. Ohio had to redraw its map by law, and its new lines favor Republicans more, but to a lesser degree than some Democrats had feared. In Indiana, Republicans stunningly rejected Mr. Trumps effort.

In response to Texas move, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California persuaded his states voters to approve a plan to carve out five Democratic seats and shore up vulnerable House Democrats.

More new maps could be coming: Democrats are pushing to redraw lines in Virginia and possibly New York, and Republicans are considering new lines in Florida. Other states like Maryland and Nebraska have had discussions about redistricting but have made limited progress.

There is another X-factor: The Supreme Court is considering a case that could sharply weaken Voting Rights Act protections for districts drawn to purposefully help voters of color elect candidates. Such a decision could set off another round of redistricting and eliminate a range of Democratic seats in the South.

And as all of this is happening, many lawmakers in both parties are heading for the exits.

A wave of retirements concentrated in solid districts

At least 49 districts will not have an incumbent running in the midterms. Lean Dem. Tossup Lean Rep. Seat held by a  Democrat  Republican 21 Solid/likely Dem.                      1 Lean Dem.  1 Tossup  1 Lean Rep.  25 Solid/likely Rep.                         

The New York Times

The Congress that will be sworn in next year will look very different, regardless of which party controls each chamber. More than 10 percent of lawmakers in the House have already announced they wont be running for re-election.

But those retirements  including those who are forgoing re-election to seek higher office  are heavily concentrated in safe seats.

The two clearest exceptions are Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, a Republican in a seat that Mr. Trump lost, and Representative Jared Golden of Maine, who had held the most pro-Trump seat of any Democrat. Both seats are now seen as more likely to flip.

Two other Republicans who decided to run for governor of their states, Representative John James in Michigan and Representative David Schweikert in Arizona, have opened up competitive seats, as well.
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A one kilometre deep bore hole was sunk in Clonminch last summer in a search to see if the area was suitable for the creation of geothermal energy, a recent meeting of Offaly County Council was told.

Deep bore geothermal wells are becoming more popular as sources of alternative energy. For example, a number of these deep bore wells in Paris are supplying about 250,000 homes in the city, removing, the authorities say, thousands of tonnes of carbon which otherwise would have been emitted through fossil fuel systems.

The recent Offaly County Council meeting was told by a member of the executive that the logistics involved are becoming easier to manage and the cost benefit analysis for a possible well in Tullamore is favourable. As it stands at the moment, we are quite hopeful about this technology.

In a brief aside, the member of the executive also pointed out that one of the benefits of Data Centres is the possibility of accruing Waste Heat from them. Cllr John Leahy, Cathaoirleach, commented that there is a growing support from the people of Offaly for creating Data Centres in the county.

During the Summer of 2025 the Council worked in collaboration with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Pathfinder Team and their colleagues in the newly formed District Heating Centre of Excellence.

As part of this work Offaly County Council commissioned and delivered a District Heating pre-Feasibility Study for the Tullamore Decarbonising Zone.

Tullamore was designated a candidate area by SEAI. In this work the Council built upon existing strong working networks across the HSE, Uisce Eireann and other local stakeholders while introducing data gathered from their 1km deep investigative geothermal borehole located in Clonminch drilled in partnership with the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE). The conclusions of this study are overwhelmingly positive, and we have gained approval from the SEAI to move towards Step 2, i.e. a full feasibility study as detailed in their framework document.

Geothermal power plants, says the SEAI, generate electricity from deep wells that tap into high-temperature water or steam. Ground source heat pumps use heat from shallower depths. We can then use the natural heat in various ways, such as heating buildings and generating power.

In August 2024 it was announced that the Geological Survey of Ireland (which is a division of the DCEE) was inviting tenders from external service companies to provide geological information from the 1,000 metre deep borehole that it was then planning to drill in Clonminch, Tullamore. Subsequently, during Summer 2025, The GSI's Drilling Unit sunk two one-kilometre deep boreholes, one in Tullamore and one in Cork City. External service companies also participated during the work, undertaking Downhole Geophysical Logging during the work. Downhole Geophysical Logging refers to the method of making measurements in drill holes and geologically interpreting these measurements. The Clonminch borehole was cored vertically at a diameter of 75.7 mm.

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THE Governor of Cloverhill Prison, Kevin O'Connell, and Dr Brenda Wright, a consultant psychiatrist with the HSE, appeared during Wednesday last's sitting of Tullamore District Court having been summonsed by Judge Andrew Cody to answer his queries.

Judge Cody had summonsed Mr O'Connell and Dr Wright because he wanted them to explain why medical reports are not being prepared for people with mental health problems who are in custody on remand.

Judge Cody said there are five accused persons, good decent people who are unwell, that are currently before him in Tullamore District Court awaiting medical reports from Cloverhill Prison and the Dochas Centre, which is the women's prison in Mountjoy.

The previous week, January 7, the Judge said even the dogs in the street knew the defendants were genuinely unwell and described it as a disgrace that they had not received medical attention in the previous three to four weeks.

He referred to the case of one man, a 61-year-old who the Judge believes has dementia, who had been thrown into Cloverhill and left there to rot. And who cares?

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The cases of two of the five accused persons were also discussed during the January 14 court sitting.

In one of those cases, the court was told that when the accused, a young man, entered Cloverhill on remand the consultant psychiatrist on duty didn't meet with the accused face to face, at all.

The court was told that the psychiatrist examined the accused's file, and after looking at the file came to the conclusion that an in-person meeting with the accused wasn't necessary and no further intervention was needed.

The Judge said people were being put into prison because they were unwell and were receiving no treatment there, not even an assessment. I'm fed up of people being dumped into prison.

Mr O'Connell defended Cloverhill's record when it comes to its assessments of people with mental health difficulties on remand.

He pointed out that when people on remand come into prison they are seen by a GP immediately and the GP's assessment is then passed on to the psychiatrist.

Dr Wright, who is also a consultant psychiatrist with the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin, agreed with Mr O'Connell's remarks.

Judge Cody asked her a few questions about the assessment process. Dr Wright said the process is fit for purpose.

Judge Cody disagreed and said he was very unhappy with her responses. He said it was his opinion that the psychiatrist who decided that in-person meetings with the accused people were not necessary should be peer-reviewed because he or she wasn't doing their job properly.

After some more discussion with the Governor and the consultant psychiatrist, it was agreed that the five accused persons would undergo a more thorough admission process, including in-person meetings with psychiatrists, and then return to a future sitting of Tullamore District Court. This more thorough admission process will include fitness to plead reports.

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During the January 7 hearing, Brian Duffy, the defending solicitor of one of the accused, said his client's fitness to plead report had neither been completed nor commenced in Cloverhill. At the request of Mr Duffy, the Judge attached an order to the remand that the accused's legal aid cover the provision of a report from a consultant psychiatrist or forensic psychologist. Mr Duffy said he was having great difficulty in getting a private psychiatric report himself through the legal aid scheme.

Another man was before the court accused of damaging garda property and Judge Cody pointed out that in his case a medical report had been ordered as a matter of extreme urgency. However, a letter had been received saying he was not on the case load of the prison. That man's defence counsel, David Nugent, BL, said his client had been ignored and described him as an example of people with mental health issues who were picking up charges and being brought before the court.

The court heard the man had been in custody since December 18 and had not been seen by anybody despite the court ordering a report.

Defending solicitor Aisling Maloney told the court that a psychiatrist reviewed her client's file and said my client was ok and there was no need for an in-person meeting.

The father of this client also spoke to the Judge. He said his son's mental health can reach a crisis mode. When that crisis comes then trouble breaks out." He said that after the Guards arrested his son it was six days before I was allowed to speak to him on the phone in Cloverhill." On the positive side the father pointed out that his son has been a model prisoner since entering Cloverhill. He is in good spirits. I guarantee you that right now he would pass any psychiatrist's examination.

Judge Cody told the father that his son will now have a proper assessment in Cloverhill and will be video-linked with the next sitting of Tullamore Court on January 21.

Defence Counsel David Nugent, BL, asked for a private psychiatric report for his client and for the extension of legal aid to cover the provision of a psychiatric report. Speaking to Mr Nugent's client via video link, Judge Cody said a private assessment is being arranged and your case will then be before the court once again, next Wednesday January 21."

The Judge prohibited the publication of names and addresses of the accused people.
A YOUNG Offaly student has won the Young Designer of the Year Award at the Project Fashion Irish Young Designer Awards, held at Croke Park, Dublin.

Lillian Cully (8), from Tegan Court in Mucklagh, attends a local Project Fashion class at the Arden Centre in Tullamore, where she works weekly with local designer Aine Claffey.

Her Neon Junglethemed dress topped the category, standing out among over 400 contestants from across Ireland.

Lillian designed, crafted, and sewed the dress herself and also modelled the piece on the day, presenting it to a panel of three judges.

Following her win, Lillians dress will now be displayed at Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords, and Dundrum Town Centre.

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The event was hosted by Lorraine Keane and held in support of Barnardos Ireland.

The judging panel included: Helen Steele, acclaimed Irish fashion designer, Ella de Guzman, CEO of SioPaella and Ruth OConnor, fashion journalist specialising in emerging talent

Lillian started Project Fashion and Design at the Arden Centre about a year and a half ago and attends class there weekly.

Lillian, who is daughter of Bernard and Mandy Cully, attends Mucklagh National School.

Her tutor, Aine Claffey, said: Lillian is so talented  it comes very naturally to her. She has a real flair for design and comes to class every week with great ideas, working independently to bring them to life.

Lillians winning creation will also be displayed on the Project Fashion website.

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TWO men were convicted of theft from Birr Castle Estate Office during the January 14 sitting of Tullamore District Court.

Before the court were Hubert Krepski, 7 Eden Road, Birr and Valerii Vitkovshyi, Apartment 1, Emmet St, Birr. They were charged with stealing two bank cards in the Estate Office on either July 14 or July 15, 2025.

Mr Krepski, 46, was charged with using one of the cards in the Bank of Ireland ATM, Emmet Square, Birr to steal 1500.

Mr Vitkovshyi, 68, was also charged with stealing a bottle of vodka from a local store on July 16, 2025.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that on Monday, July 14, the grounds of Birr Castle Demesne had closed to the public when Mr Krepski, Mr Vitkovshyi, and a third man gained access to the Estate Office and carried out their theft.

The cards belonged to someone working in the castle. The Sergeant said that the defendants returned 1010 of the 1500 to the injured party.

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Mr Krepski had four previous convictions including possession of knives, theft and possession of drugs.

The defending solicitor Patrick Martin told the court that Mr Krepski and Mr Vitkovshyi had been drinking in the Castle grounds and got locked in. They sought shelter in the Estate Office where they saw the cards.

Judge Cody told Mr Martin that he didn't believe this story, calling it fairytales, gibberish and rubbish.

Mr Martin said the three men were very drunk when the crime happened. He said Mr Krepski is single and not working. My client accepts he has alcohol issues and he apologises for what happened. They were extremely drunk that evening and deeply regretted the crime the next day.

Aisling Maloney, defending solicitor for Mr Vitkovshyi, said her client had been drinking in the grounds of Birr Castle Demesne with the other two men.

Because of the amount he drank he doesn't have much recollection of what happened . Mr Vitkovshyi was not working, she said. He has been living in Ireland for three years.

Judge Cody ordered that Mr Krepski carry out 40 hours of community service in lieu of four months imprisonment.

He sentenced Mr Vitkovshyi to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

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A MAN, with an address in Tullamore, pleaded guilty to intoxication in public and being in possession of a sharply pointed knife, during the January 14 sitting of Tullamore District Court.

Zitalii Almoz, 2B Edgewater, Convent Road, Tullamore committed the offences on Church Road, Tullamore on November 30 last.

He was charged with being in possession of a knife which had a blade which was sharply pointed.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that on November 30 Almoz was seen walking down the street by the Gardai.

He was very unsteady on his feet and intoxicated, commented Sgt Kearns. When they searched him they found a silver handled knife in his pocket.

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The defending solicitor Patrick Martin said his client is 54 years of age and married, with one daughter.

He had been at his daughter's engagement party that day, remarked Mr Martin.

"The knife in his jacket was used for barbecuing during the party.

Mr Almoz is a Ukrainian national and had no previous convictions.

He is here on a resident's permit and is working. I would ask you Judge to please be as lenient as possible.

Judge Andrew Cody convicted and fined 500 for the possession of the knife, and ordered its destruction.

He also fined the defendant 250 for being intoxicated in public.

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SUSPENDED sentences were imposed on two men on condition they pay 2,500 each to a man they assaulted in Tullamore three years ago.

Michael Sweeney (23), Arden View, Tullamore and Bernie Ward (26), also of Arden View, had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Dean Lynch at his home in Arden View on Christmas Eve, 2022.

Tullamore Circuit Court heard last week that Mr Sweeney had also been convicted of burglary arising from the same incident.

Judge Keenan Johnson told a sentencing hearing that Mr Sweeney and Mr Ward, along with an unidentified third males, went to Mr Lynch's residence and knocked on the door.

All three males rushed in when Mr Lynch opened the door and it appeared that the victim was struck in the head and eye with an implement by the unidentified male.

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Judge Johnson said the incident lasted about 20 seconds but described it as extremely violent. The victim had to get two stitches over his eye and three to his head.

The judge said Mr Lynch defended himself with a knife and the attackers retreated. Mr Sweeney received a stab wound to his left and was bleeding profusely.

Judge Johnson said the court had not been furnished with victim impact statements but was satisfied the incident was extremely traumatic for the victim and his mother given that it was an attack on the family home.

Last June, at a preliminary sentencing hearing, the court heard CCTV captured the three males approaching the house.

The first two of them had their hoods up and Bernie Ward could be seen ringing the doorbell. CCTV footage also captured two individuals climbing over a ramp railing at the front of the house and about 20 seconds later Mr Sweeney could be seen hobbling away with an injury.

Detective Garda Shane Hunter told that hearing that on the night of December 24, 2022 Tullamore Garda Station was notified about a male with a stab wound in Arden View.

Detective Garda Hunter said when he arrived at the scene Mr Sweeney had a significant wound to the leg and an ambulance was on its way.

Detective Garda Hunter said he went to the Lynch household and where he saw blood in the hallway and on the hands and face of Dean Lynch.

Mr Lynch told the garda he stuck a man 10 minutes ago and had received a number of blows to the head himself when he opened the door.

He was knocked to the ground but then reached for a knife to defend himself.

The court was told Mr Sweeney ran away until he could not go any further and a man named as Tommy McCarthy called an ambulance for him.

Mr Sweeney had lost 1.5 litres of blood on the night and his life had been saved by neighbours who performed a tourniquet on his wound.

The court was also told that gardai never really established the background to what had happened or the motive of the two accused men.

Last week Judge Johnson said the offences committed by Mr Sweeney and Mr Ward carried a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison but there had been on further incidents involving the accused men and Mr Lynch since.

He noted that Mr Ward had been assessed at medium risk of reoffending and had addiction issues. He had previous convictions for possessing drugs for sale and supply, assault, careless driving, other road traffic offences and throwing an ignited firework.

Mr Sweeney had also been assessed at medium risk of reoffending and had 42 previous convictions.

He had been imprisoned in 2023 for offences relating to theft and road traffic and in March last year was jailed for offences related to illegal hunting and having an uncontrolled dog.

Mr Sweeney had also been ordered to complete 240 hours of community service last year and had his bail revoked because of a failure to attend court and as a result had spend eight months in prison for the Arden View offences.

A probation report for Mr Ward indicated he recognised the physical and psychological impact he had on the victim and his family and it was also noted he had been abusing drugs from the age of 15 but had addressed his addiction by attending Cuan Mhuire.

Letters to the court from Mr Ward said he acknowledged his wrongdoing and assured the court he had changed and would not be in further trouble.

After being in custody for eight months Mr Sweeney was released and the judge noted he had adhered to his bail conditions and engaged positively with the probation service, including completing his hours of community service.

He was in the throes of addiction to alcohol and drugs at the time of his offending but it appeared that he had matured and was a father with children to care for.

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He told the probation officer the time in prison made him realise he didn't want to continue with his offending and wanted to make a positive change to his life for himself and his family.

It is clear that both accused were young and immature at the time of the offending and both were suffering addiction issues, said Judge Johnson.

He said the assault was at the middle of the upper range of offending and set the headline sentence at two-and-a-half years for both men.

However, he suspended the sentences in their entirety for five years to foster and encourage the rehabilitation of both men.

They both entered peace bonds and agreed to remain under probation supervision for 18 months, along with continuing to engage with alcohol and drugs services.

They were ordered to stay away from the victim and the immediate members of his family and pay 2,500 each to Mr Lynch within six months.

The sentencing hearing last year was told Mr Sweeney was originally from Clifden, Co Galway and had been ordered to return there as part of his bail conditions.
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The Christian Bible's nonsensical Book of Revelation, at Revelation 2:9 and Revelation 3:9, has Jesus referring to "the synagogue of Satan". Gentile Christians have for centuries latched on to this phrase, that is attributed to their Jewish savior, as a battle cry against Jews.

This interesting article explains the probable origins of this phrase. It states,

In its original context, it was likely part of an internal Jewish dispute within the first century, when early Jesus followers were struggling to define themselves in relation to the broader Jewish community.

Many Gentile Christians are not aware that Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism and that Jesus, IF he really did exist as a person, was a religious Jew who followed the ungodly and cruel Hebrew Bible, falsely believing it to be the Word of God. This is evident at Matthew 15:4-6 in which the anonymous author of the Gospel of Matthew wrote that Jesus said,

"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."

This past Saturday morning, January 10, 2026, a 19-year-old Christian, Stephen Spencer Pittman, set the synagogue of the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi on fire. Pittman referred to it to police as "the synagogue of Satan". He also showed his Christianity in court when asked if he understood his rights, he responded, "Jesus Christ is Lord!"

Pittman has a Roman Catholic education, graduating with honors from St. Joseph School in Madison, Mississippi. After his arrest, the school, along with the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, issued statements condemning his actions as being incompatible with Catholic values. Looking at this attempt to distance themselves from Pittman's Christian religious violence, we see that throughout much of history, the Catholic Church slaughtered many Jews and burned down their synagogues. They changed their focus on Bible teachings and moved away from being anti-Jewish, especially with Vatican II in the early 1960s.

Many Christian sects have become much less anti-Jewish, especially after World War II. Today, a large number of Christians hold Jews and the Jewish state of Israel in very high esteem. This is obvious when looking at the large and politically powerful Christian Zionist movement, and is seen in the documentary Til Kingdom Come, which shows a Gentile Christian clergyman telling Christian children who are sending money to Israel,

"The Jews, they are better than us, all of us. You need to accept that... Every good thing we know, all the things we love about the Bible, they were given to us of the Jewish nation, Israel, their people, the Jews."

It should not be surprising that Christian sects change their Bible-based positions on Jews, as well as on many other subjects. Thomas Paine pointed out why this is true in The Age of Reason, The Complete Edition when he wrote,

"...the Bible decides nothing, because it decides any way, and every way, one chooses to make it."

Stephen Spencer Pittman was not the first Christian to attack the synagogue of the Beth Israel Congregation. On September 18, 1967, KKK member Thomas Tarrants bombed the synagogue. The motivation for Tarrants' bombing and Pittman's torching of the synagogue were both based on Christianity. That form of Christianity is sometimes labeled Identity Christianity. It claims that White Gentiles are the true Jews of the Christian Old Testament/the Hebrew Bible. I guess most people want to see themselves as God's chosen people. In Europe at the time of the Enlightenment, Christians believed that God turned his back on the Jews and made Christians his new chosen people. This inspired the Enlightenment Deist Voltaire to write,

"We hold the Jews in horror, and we insist that all which has been written by them, and collected by us, bears the stamp of Divinity. There never was so palpable a contradiction."

Deism is offering us a way out of this endless cycle of religious violence. This is because Deism lets everyone who is reached with it know that The Supreme Intelligence/God did NOT give us the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Bible, the Quran or any man-made book as the Word of God. Instead, The Supreme Intelligence has given us the intelligence-based, life promoting, beautiful and inspiring universe and nature as evidence of The Supreme Intelligence. In The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine expressed this fact in a wonderful way when he wrote,

"It is only in the CREATION that all our ideas and conceptions of a Word of God can unite. The Creation speaks a universal language, independently of human speech or human language, multiplied and various as they may be. It is an ever-existing original, which every man can read. It cannot be forged; it cannot be counterfeited; it cannot be lost; it cannot be altered; it cannot be suppressed. It does not depend upon the will of man whether it shall be published or not; it publishes itself from one end of the earth to the other. It preaches to all nations and to all worlds; and this Word of God reveals to man all that is necessary for man to know of God."
CCSA Doesn't Care"-"We must hold the Superintendent accountable"



- Karla Griego (2024)

Ten years ago, I ran for a seat on the LAUSD Board of Education to change the district I believed was failing its students, especially those with Special Education needs. My opponent was Tamar Galatzan, an entrenched incumbent who was backed by the charter school industry. I achieved the lowest cost per vote, just 69 cents, in the entire city during that election cycle. While it wasn't enough to win the seat, our campaign helped knock Galatzan out of office. This helped to clear a pathway for change and raised expectations that accountability might finally follow.

After that race, I made a promise to those who trusted me with their vote that I would continue to fight for public education. Over the past decade, I have done my best to honor that commitment, often against institutional resistance. I ran into more than a few brick walls. Still, there were moments when persistence mattered; when pressure, documentation, and public scrutiny forced movement from a bureaucracy determined to remain unyielding.

Last January, I wrote that I was "cautiously optimistic" about the future of the district. It had become clear throughout the previous year that longtime board members Jackie Goldberg and George McKenna were tired and no longer up to the fight our students needed. Fortunately, voters had chosen successors, Karla Griego and Sherlett Hendy Newbill, who shared their support of public education. I had hoped that they would bring a new energy to the LAUSD boardroom and pave the way for meaningful change.

A year later, as I look back, that optimism feels misplaced. After promising accountability, the board, despite a supposed majority that claimed to support public education, voted unanimously in September to renew Superintendent Alberto Carvalho's contract. They did so in closed session, without any input from the public. The decision was widely condemned by the stakeholders who had worked to get these members elected.

Even when the board took positive steps forward, its efforts were often overturned by forces outside the district, revealing how limited local accountability has become. As an example, after thoroughly documenting why one of the KIPP franchises was failing its students, the LAUSD Board voted 4-3-0 to reject its request to renew its charter. This decision was supported by the staff at the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), who stated "Closure of the charter school [was] in the best interest of pupils." The evidence the staff used to back up this decision was ignored by the LACOE Board and they voted 4-3-0 to allow the failing school to continue operating.

With Scott Schmerelson set to retire after the 2028 election, I had planned to run again. However, my move to the state of Washington has made that impossible. Hopefully, someone else will step up to bring the fight our students so desperately need.

What follows is a snapshot of how accountability repeatedly stalled, or was overridden, throughout the year.:

January

The LAUSD Board held a closed session to evaluate Superintendent Carvalho, who is being criticized for how he handled the LA fire crisis.

February

LAUSD Board Member Karla Griego tried to find out why school sites are not seeing more arts programs. District bureaucrats shut her down.

Graciela Ortiz, the Charter School supported candidate in last November's LAUSD BD5 election is under investigation in a corruption probe.

March

Lawyers representing LAUSD students claim the District risks over $100 million by continuing to misuse PROP 28 funds meant for arts education.

A pending lawsuit against El Camino Real Charter High School exposes a publicly funded private school in chaos, leaving students in danger.

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"Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August 2018)

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"How do you spell ICE in German? GESTAPO."

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"First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.

"Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

"Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

"Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." Pastor Martin Niemoller (c. 1946)

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Introductory note: I have published this column several times over the years. It seems to be particularly appropriate for re-publication this year, when we have a President who began his first campaign for the Presidency in 2012 by running on the anti-Obama "birtherism" theme, who in 2016 expanded it to "Racism, Sexism, and Xenophobia," and is now well on his way to establishing a form of national government that has much in common with fascism (which is, of course, a topic that I have dealt with numerous times in this space over the years, most recently here: click here).

Opening note: The word "assassinated" when correctly used refers to a particular type of murder, that is one carried out for political purposes. It is derived from an Arabic term for that kind of act.

In my view, there were three principal reasons why Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated (by whomever actually did the killing), at the time the deed was done.:

1. He was beginning to be spoken of in the context of national electoral politics, e.g., the "King-Spock Ticket" [for 1968]. (The "Spock referenced there was not the one from "Star Trek," but rather the then famous pediatrician and popular writer who was becoming ever-more involved in national political issues on the progressive side, Dr. Benjamin Spock.) The 1967 "National Conference of New Politics" which took place in Chicago over Labor Day weekend, that year. It happened that I attended that Conference as the representative of the New York Medical Committee to End the War in Viet Nam. (And as it happened further, I became the Chair of the Resolutions Committee for the Conference an absolutely fascinating experience, which I will not re-visit here.) In that context, the Rev. King gave the Keynote Address at the Conference.

2. As noted in The Chicago Sun-Times in that speech he came out strongly against the War On Viet Nam (which he had only recently begun to do). Quoting from the Sun-Times:

"As he said: 'The promise of a Great Society has been shipwrecked off the coast of Asia on the dreadful pinnacle of Vietnam,' he told conference-goers. The war, he said, 'has torn up the Geneva agreement [which had supposedly ended the wars on Viet Nam in 1954], seriously impaired the United Nations, exacerbated the hatreds between continents and worse still between races: it has frustrated our development at home.'

" 'If the will of the people continues to be unheeded, all men of good will must create a situation in which the 1967-68 elections are made a referendum on the war," he said. 'The American people must have an opportunity to vote into oblivion those who cannot detach themselves from militarism.'

"King's speech touched on more than the Vietnam War. He called for a national employment agency, noting that capitalism 'was built on the exploitation and suffering of Black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor " both Black and white " both here and abroad.' "

"The activist referred to racism as 'that corrosive evil that will bring down the curtain on Western civilization.' "

3. Thus Dr. King was beginning to go beyond the realm of civil rights into the broader one of socio-economic rights. A primary example of this was the famous "Riverside Church Speech."

" Dr. Martin Luther King, April 4, 1967, Riverside Church, New Yor k. ' The Capitalist System is a War System' "

"Marx and Engels declared in their famous 1848 manifesto that capitalism was a world system. Due to cutthroat competition every corporation, every bank, every small business would need to expand or it would be defeated in the marketplace by more successful competitors. Therefore, competition would lead to consolidation, a shift from many economic actors to declining numbers of them. This process of capital accumulation extended to the entire globe.

"Lenin argued that by the dawn of the twentieth century, competition had led to monopolies within countries. States driven by monopolies expanded all across the globe. Competing states often engaged in war. Their expansion also generated resistance, rebellion and revolution around the world. In sum, the capitalist system by its very nature was a war system.

"In addition, capitalist economies, particularly imperial powers such as the United States, required natural resources, cheap or slave labor, land, customers for products, and opportunities to invest accumulated profits in overseas corporations, and banks. In the post-World War II period, capitalist expansion even required the establishment of a global debt system that would increase the possibility of penetrating the economies of countries that incurred debts.

"The realities that Marx identified in the nineteenth century are relevant today in two ways. First, given technological advances, what economists call neoliberal globalization is the logical extension of his insight that capitalism needs to establish connections everywhere."

"Second, given episodes of resistance to capitalist expansion, conflict and violence in the global system are likely to occur from time to time among capitalist states (each seeking to enhance their own monopolies), between capitalist states and emerging socialist states that reject the very premises of capitalist economics, and between capitalist states and marginalized people who rebel against capitalist/imperialist intrusion."

This speech, coming from a very prominent man, was VERY DANGEROUS for the interest of the U.S. capitalist ruling class.* Dr. King was venturing into the arena of (very correct) Marxist-Leninist analysis of the nature of the capitalist U.S., and the state apparatus constructed to support it, and keep it in place for the benefit of the capitalist ruling class. In doing so he brought a system of socio-economic-political analysis to a level of explanation/analysis that would be very easy for the layman to understand. Especially dangerous was the introduction of Marxist-Leninist thinking to an analysis/critique of the capitalist socio-economic structure of the nation. King was especially dangerous given the very wide appeal to both Blacks and progressive whites of a man who commanded a national audience whenever he spoke.

Conclusion

Advocating for (and achieving some progress in) Civil and Voting Rights were OK. President Lyndon Johnson, who shepherded the major legislation through the Congress was, of course, a Southerner himself. Many Republicans of the day supported the legislation. Nixon's "Southern Strategy," that is the introduction of National Racism as a central element of Republican Party policy, was still to come. Furthermore, the legislation and subsequent Federal government programs (e.g., Johnson's Great Society [which, as it happened got swallowed up by Viet Nam War spending]) did not threaten any central elements of capitalist ruling class power.

BUT when the Reverend King began to expand his focus, as outlined briefly above, then, as noted, he became highly dangerous to a variety of ruling class political and economic interests. At whatever level the decision was made: he and his voice had to be eliminated from the public/political stage.

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* Capitalist ruling class, brief definition: that combination of institutions, corporations, and individuals that controls, for the most part, the functions of production, distribution, finance, and exchange in an economy in which the bulk of the institutions that perform these functions are privately held. In one form or another, the ruling class then controls the engines of the State, which are primary in maintaining the class's overall control of the nation in which they all function.

(Article changed on Jan 20, 2026 at 8:58 AM EST)

(Article changed on Jan 20, 2026 at 11:11 AM EST)
A protester wearing a hat with a slogan participates in a protest against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, the California, United States, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Xinhua)

The fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, United States, has sparked nationwide protests and intensified clashes between the federal government and local authorities, raising fears of further unrest and highlighting deep partisan and law enforcement tensions.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The fatal shooting of a U.S. woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis has continued to stoke tensions locally and nationwide, as state and federal officials sharply clash over how the incident unfolded and should be handled.

Protests showed signs of escalation following another ICE agent shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg in the same area exactly a week later. Mayor Jacob Frey recently said that the situation in the city is "not sustainable."

The incident has become a battleground of competing narratives, with partisan leaders using it to intensify political conflict. Observers believe that tensions between federal and local governments could deepen, and confrontations between the public and law enforcement may further escalate.





ONE INCIDENT, TWO NARRATIVES

On Jan. 7 in Minneapolis, 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a federal enforcement operation, sparking widespread controversy nationwide.

The shooting has generated markedly divergent accounts of what happened, amplified by partisan conflict and ideological division.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended the ICE agent, claiming the woman attempted to run over officers in what they called "an act of domestic terrorism."

"The woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self-defense," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Frey, meanwhile, argued that video footage indicates that Good did not pose a threat and that the agent acted recklessly. "This was a federal agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying," said the mayor.

The Trump administration recently announced it is sending 2,000 immigration agents to the Minneapolis area amid allegations of welfare fraud involving immigrants in Minnesota. The number of newly dispatched ICE and Border Patrol agents has since increased to nearly 3,000.

Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have demanded that ICE leave the city and state immediately, arguing that the presence of ICE is causing chaos.

U.S. media reported on Friday that the Justice Department is investigating Minnesota officials, including Walz and Frey, for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement operations in the state, a further escalation in the administration's clash with Democratic leaders.

"Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her," Waltz said in a statement.

Amid the dispute, the FBI has taken full control of the case, limiting Minnesota authorities' access to evidence -- a move Walz criticized as undermining transparency and impartiality, and that "people in positions of power have already passed judgment."

Meanwhile, the Minnesota National Guard has been mobilized as tensions remain high. In a post on X, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said that the Minnesota National Guard had been mobilized and was staging to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies at the direction of Governor Walz.





People attend a protest in San Francisco, California, the United States, on Jan. 10, 2026. (Photo by Ziyu Julian Zhu/Xinhua)

TENSIONS SPIKE, FEARS MOUNT

Exactly one week after the fatal shooting, debates over whether the situation reflects justified enforcement or dangerous escalation have continued to intensify.

With rhetoric heating up on both sides, observers say the clash between the Republican-led federal government and Democratic-led local authorities could deepen, and confrontations between the public and federal agents could escalate further, potentially leading to additional chaos.

Protests erupted in the area following Good's death. On the morning of Jan. 8, a group of demonstrators clashed with federal law enforcement outside a federal building in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Fully armed federal officers used tear gas to drive protesters across the street, and some demonstrators were detained on the snow-covered ground.

On the evening of Jan. 9, more than 1,000 protesters gathered in downtown Minneapolis, resulting in at least 30 arrests.

On Jan. 10, despite freezing temperatures and howling winds, tens of thousands marched in Minneapolis to express their outrage over the ICE agent's fatal shooting. Nationwide protests flared in major cities across the country, including New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Seattle, with demonstrators calling for changes to federal immigration enforcement and an end to ICE operations.

"The graphic video of the shooting has galvanized protesters across America who feel it is a gross injustice and want an independent investigation. The ICE agents seem less well-trained than police officers and don't have the same ability to de-escalate personal confrontations," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua, adding that "many worry that the same thing could happen elsewhere."

Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, told Xinhua that "this is the predictable outcome of the militarization of police forces, the hiring of masked thugs armed to the teeth, and the ugly branding of anyone who disagrees with this administration as 'the enemy.'"

Large crowds have gathered in response to the second shooting, with some demonstrators clashing with federal agents -- resulting in local authorities declaring an "unlawful assembly."

Trump has even threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, an 1807 federal law that gives the president authority to deploy the U.S. military domestically under certain extreme circumstances.

Amid the unrest, a federal judge in Minnesota ordered agents not to retaliate against people "engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity" and not to use pepper spray or other "crowd dispersal tools." The judge also said agents could not stop or detain protesters in vehicles who were not "forcibly obstructing or interfering with" them.

Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, told Xinhua that he absolutely expects such incidents to happen again in the future.

"ICE, DHS (the Department of Homeland Security), and the White House have shown no indications that they are rethinking their approach to these deployments, and probably see the chaos and protests as beneficial to them. I think they are wrong to think this, but we'll just have to see what happens," Galdieri said.
Cairo hosted on Wednesday the fifth meeting of the Consultative Mechanism for Enhancing Coordination of Peace Efforts in Sudan, bringing together representatives of regional and international organizations and key international stakeholders. Among the participants was Ramtane Lamamra, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan. The meeting called for renewed momentum toward a humanitarian truce that would pave the way for a sustainable ceasefire and a comprehensive political settlement that preserves Sudan's unity.

Statements made by the US Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, during the Cairo meetings reflected a clear shift in Washington's approach, emphasizing the primacy of a political solution to the Sudanese crisis. Perriello stressed that a military solution is no longer a viable option.

Perriello called for a comprehensive humanitarian truce to enable the delivery of aid, describing it as an indispensable first step toward a lasting ceasefire and the launch of an inclusive, Sudanese-led political process supported by regional and international actors.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aaty reaffirmed Cairo's view that the International Quartet represents a central mechanism for unifying regional and international efforts to end the conflict in Sudan. He emphasized that any resolution must begin with a humanitarian truce, followed by a comprehensive political process that safeguards state institutions and prevents Sudan's fragmentation.

This convergence between Cairo and Washington reflects a growing international trend toward a phased political solution that starts with halting violence and alleviating humanitarian suffering, ultimately leading to a comprehensive settlement that prevents Sudan from sliding further into instability and disintegration.

On the sidelines of the fifth consultative meeting, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji met with Richard Crowder, Head of the UK Sudan Unit and the United Kingdom's Special Representative for Sudan. The discussions focused on the latest developments in Sudan and ongoing peace efforts, as well as issues of mutual interest, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hours before the arrival of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in Port Sudan, security forces in Dongola, northern Sudan, prevented activists from organizing a sit-in in solidarity with detainees. Legal experts warn that these detainees face the risk of execution due to their calls for peace and an end to the war that has continued since mid-April 2023.

According to activists and human rights organizations, the number of politically motivated detainees exceeded 4,500 by the end of 2025. They report that security groups fully controlled by elements of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB)-- such as the "Special Operations Forces" and the Operations Authority-- are conducting widespread arrest campaigns targeting anti-war activists and participants in the 2019 revolution that overthrew the MB-backed regime. These networks, which were dismantled after the revolution, regained influence following General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's October 2021 coup against the civilian transition.

The MB is banned in many countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Russia. The Trump administration has discussed possibly banning the group in USA. The platform of the MB holds the same goals as ISIS: to have world dominance of Islam as the only form of government. The ruling party in Turkey has been linked to the MB.

Legal experts have warned of a sharp escalation in violations against civilians, accusing MB-linked elements within the security apparatus of using repression to silence political opponents.

Observers argue that the army-led authority is seeking to suppress human rights activists and civilians to avoid future legal accountability for widespread abuses committed before and during the war. They have cautioned UN High Commissioner Volker Turk against being drawn into what they describe as an attempt to conceal evidence of mass violations, particularly through his planned visit to the Al-Dabba camp in northern Sudan, established in October. Critics say the visit is part of an effort to engineer a distorted map of violations that excludes their true geographic scope.

Recent arrests of political activists following the army's entry into Khartoum, as well as during December protests commemorating the 2019 revolution, have further exposed what activists describe as a systematic campaign against anti-war voices and the re-entrenchment of MB dominance.

Analysts link the escalation of violations to the growing control of MB-affiliated brigades over Sudan's security institutions. They point to a fundamental shift in the definition of "enemy" during the current war, whereby anyone calling for peace or opposing the MB's agenda is labeled a threat to the state.

International relations expert Al-Tom Haj Al-Safi stated: "The MB's security brigades are ideological militias created to protect a political project that uses violence as a tool. The most dangerous equation in Sudan's modern history has been normalized: whoever opposes these militias is accused of opposing the nation itself. This is not mere propaganda, but a systematic attempt to silence dissent and criminalize accountability."

Recent reports indicate that Al-Baraa Brigades have come to dominate some of the most repressive security units, including the Special Operations Forces and the Operations Authority.

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A notorious Portland nightclub owner convicted in the 1990 murder of a 21-year-old employee was arrested on Friday in Clackamas County, jail records show.

Larry Hurwitz, 71, is being held in the Clackamas County Jail on suspicion of fourth degree assault of a domestic partner and a parole violation. He was arrested by the Sandy Police Department.

Hurwitz was the owner of Portlands Starry Night nightclub in the late 1980s. He was convicted in the murder of Timothy Moreau, whose body was never found. According to court documents, Hurwitz was arrested in 1998, eight and a half years after Moreau was killed. He pleaded no contest to a murder charge and spent eight years in prison.

Hurwitz has faced legal troubles as recently as 2019 when he was arrested in Huntington Beach, California on allegations of possessing and selling narcotics. Hurwitz was found with 4 pounds of cocaine and more than $300,000 in cash, according to The Portland Tribune. Hurwitz pleaded guilty to drug and illegal money charges in that case in 2021, the Tribune reported, and the Oregon Board of Parole subsequently sentenced him to six months in jail for violating the terms of his post-prison release.

Reporting by Doug Perry and Jayati Ramakrishnan contributed to this story.
An unexpected find at a Seattle Goodwill led to the arrest of a suspected bank robber over the weekend, according to police.

On Friday afternoon, a man entered the Columbia Bank on Broadway Avenue East. He approached the teller with a robbery note, saying he was armed with a gun and demanded cash. The teller gave the man money and the suspect fled on foot before authorities arrived, police said.

A couple hours later, an employee at the Capitol Hill Goodwill on Belmont Avenue East found an obvious bank robbery note in one of the changing rooms and called 911, police said.

After reviewing security footage from the thrift store, police located and arrested the 49-year-old suspect in the area, recovering cash believed to be taken from the bank robbery.

Detectives who interviewed the man at police headquarters determined he was also behind a similar bank robbery the day before at the Downtown BECU on Sixth Avenue. The suspect was booked into King County Jail for investigation of both robberies.
Lawmakers are laying the groundwork for a huge shift in how the state calculates how much money is needed for Oregon schools to produce excellent academic results.

Some members of the Joint Public Education Appropriations Committee signaled this week that they may also be ready to redefine what standards the state believes its more than 1,200 public schools should be meeting.

The breadth of those changes would be bigger than what is typically accomplished during an off-year legislative session, which kicks off next month, lasts just 35 days and is intended to be closely focused on budget concerns.

Several committee members Thursday said that they were uncomfortable with the broad scope of the discussions, given the compressed time frame.

The timing of this seems so wrong, said Rep. Susan McLain, D-Forest Grove. Theres a lot in this bill that shocked me.

But fellow Democrats, committee co-chairs Sen. Janeen Sollman of Hillsboro and Rep. Ricki Ruiz of Gresham, said they wanted to kickstart a conversation on changes to the states long-entrenched system.

For so long, we have continued to hear from folks that it is the same conversations, the same talking points and it wasnt really moving the dial on  success for our students, Sollman said. We can do difficult things, and we can do things that are uncomfortable. Thats when change happens.

Sollman and Ruiz are proposing to eliminate Oregons unique quality education model, which since 1999 has been used to estimate how much money the state would need to spend to have 90% of its students graduate from high school ready for either college or career. For years, the models magic number was hundreds of millions, or even billions, more than the state was actually spending, forcing lawmakers to issue mea culpas and fueling public disenchantment that Ruiz likened to a civil war.

But late last year, legislative analysts said that the model, which is constructed by number-crunchers at the Oregon Department of Education and overseen by a volunteer commission of school employees, advocates and school board members, was inaccurate and failed to take into account nearly $2 billion in business tax dollars that support specific initiatives in public schools.

Ruiz and Sollman are now proposing to contract out development of the cost model to a nonpartisan research group. Their proposal calls for an updated model every eight years and having it include costs for a range of different types of schools.

They also propose replacing the current set of legal requirements that schools in Oregon must meet to be considered in compliance with state law.

Current Oregon law calls for hard-to-quantify metrics, including providing students with the skills necessary to pursue learning throughout their lives in an ever-changing world, and motivating students to pursue serious scholarship, and to have experience in applying knowledge and skills.

In practice, defining the nitty-gritty of those legal requirements has typically been left to the state Board of Education and outside of the Legislatures control. School districts that are out of compliance face the potential  though highly uncommon  loss of state funds as a penalty.

For purposes of developing a new cost model, Sollman and Ruiz want to swap out those more loosely defined metrics for specific, legislatively-approved targets, including measurements of four-year graduation percentages, ninth grade credit attainment rates, eighth grade mathematics proficiency levels, third grade reading achievement scores and regular attendance rates.

Several of their fellow committee members, though, said they had concerns about that approach.

I am not a big fan of what a standard school is supposed to look like because there are a whole range of schools and approaches, said Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, who said that what is right for a school in rural Oregon may not be whats best for a school in the metro Portland area, and vice versa. I want to try to ensure that we have the ability for students to learn as many different things as possible.

But Ruiz said change was necessary to shift Oregons conversation about education, particularly given cratering standardized test scores and attendance rates that have yet to recover from the pandemics prolonged building closures.

Im just sick and tired that we put so much money into the education system and we see little to no progress, he said. When you look at what we are trying to improve, its about what outcomes we want to see in our schools.
As communities across the country on Monday hosted parades, panels and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive with reflection on the slain Black American civil rights icons legacy.

In the year since Donald Trumps second inauguration fell on King Day, the Republican president has adopted a scorched earth stance against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and targeted mostly Black-led cities for federal law enforcement operations, among other policies that many King admirers have criticized.

One year ago, Trumps executive orders, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity and Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, accelerated a rollback of civil rights and racial justice initiatives in federal agencies, corporations and universities. Last month, the National Park Service announced it will no longer offer free admission to parks on King Day and Juneteenth, but instead on Flag Day and Trumps birthday.

A.R. Bernard, founder, pastor and CEO of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, told an audience gathered at Kings home church in Atlanta Sunday that the Trump administration is attempting to rewrite history.

We are living in a moment where America is being tempted to forget the painful truth of its Black history. Slavery being renamed as labor, segregation reduced to a footnote, racial terror explained away as exaggeration, Bernard said, speaking at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. This is irresponsible, historical revisionism.

Urgent calls to unite against injustice were interspersed with energetic gospel at Ebenezer, where King preached. A sense that civil and human rights are at stake infused the comments by many speakers there Monday.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat and Ebenezers senior pastor, invoked a story about King fighting for the Voting Rights Act after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. He urged the crowd to keep pushing against Trumps policies, sweeping immigration enforcement and what he described as attempts from the Trump-Vance regime to sow division.

They are trying to weaponize despair and convince us that we are at war with one another, Warnock said.

The fatal shooting this month of an unarmed Minneapolis woman in her car by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sent there to target the citys Somali immigrant population, as well as Trump recently decrying civil rights as discrimination against white people, have only intensified fears of a regression from the social progress King and many others advocated for.

Still, the concerns have not chilled many King holiday events planned this year. Some conservative admirers of King say the holiday should be a reminder of the civil rights icons plea that all people be judged by their character and not their skin color. Some Black advocacy groups, however, are vowing a day of resistance and rallies nationwide.

Weve always strived to be a more perfect union

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Trump said he felt the Civil Rights Movement and the reforms it helped usher in were harmful to white people, who were very badly treated. Politicians and advocates say Trumps comments are what are harmful, because they dismiss the hard work of King and others that helped not just Black Americans but other groups, including women and the LGBTQ+ community.

I think the Civil Rights Movement was one of the things that made our country so unique, that we havent always been perfect, but weve always strived to be this more perfect union, and thats what I think the Civil Rights Movement represents, Gov. Wes Moore, Marylands first Black governor and only the nations third elected Black governor, said this week in an interview with The Associated Press.

Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, one of the nations oldest and largest civil rights coalitions, said the Trump administrations priorities make clear it is actively trying to erase the movement.

From health care access and affordable housing to good paying jobs and union representation, Wiley said, things Dr. King made part of his clarion call for a beloved community are still at stake and is even more so because (the administration) has dismantled the very terms of government and the norms of our culture.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

In Washington Monday, hundreds of people marched along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, braving cold weather to honor the civil rights leader. The parade began decades ago as part of the effort to establish a national holiday in Kings honor.

Sam Ford, a retired broadcaster and member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade Committee, helped bring the parade back in 2012.

We got to continue to do this because not just of Dr. King, but of what he stood for, Ford said. The struggle continues.

Parade participant Harold Hunter echoed that sentiment.

Its not just a white thing or Black thing. This is a people thing, he said.

The conservative Heritage Foundation think tank encouraged the holidays focus to stay solely on King himself. Brenda Hafera, a foundation research fellow, urged people to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta or reread his I have a dream speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington nearly 63 years ago.

Using the holiday as a platform to rally and speak about anti-racism and critical race theory actually rejects Kings ambition for the country, Hafera argued.

I think efforts should be conducted in the spirit of what Martin Luther King actually believed and what he preached. And his vision was a colorblind society, right, Hafera said. He says very famously in his speech, dont judge by the color of your skin, but the content of your character.

Groups call for holiday of reclamation, education and rallying

The NAACP, the nations oldest civil right organization which had a myriad MLK Day events planned for Monday, asserted that the heightened fears among communities of color and in immigrant communities mean King Day observances must take a different tone. People will have to put their safety first, even if their government isnt, said Wisdom Cole, NAACP senior national director of advocacy.

As folks are using their constitutional right to protest and to speak out and stand up for what they believe in, we are being faced with violence. We are faced with increased police and state violence inflicted by the government, Cole said.

The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of organizations affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement, had planned its events under the banner Reclaim MLK Day of Action. Organizers planned demonstrations in Atlanta; Chicago; and Oakland, California, among other cities, over the weekend and Monday.

This year it is more important than ever to reclaim MLKs radical legacy, letting his wisdom and fierce commitment to freedom move us into the action necessary to take care of one another, fight back, and free ourselves from this fascist regime, Devonte Jackson, a national organizing director for the coalition, said in a statement.

Indiana school cancels historic MLK Day event

For the first time in its 60-year history, Indiana University in Indianapolis canceled its annual Martin Luther King dinner. Over the years, the event drew notable guest speakers including Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and activist Angela Davis.

The reasoning was budget constraints, according to a social media post by the schools Black Student Union. However, the group said it was worried this was connected to broader political pressures. A few students responded by organizing smaller community dinners or eat-ins to fill the void, WTHR-TV in Indianapolis reported.

Meanwhile, the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Westbrook, Maine, canceled a MLK Day service due to unforeseen circumstances, according to the parish website. But a member of the churchs social justice and peace committee told NewsCenterMaine.com that the pastor was concerned about peoples safety amid rumors of ICE agents being in the area.

Overall, there have been few reports of King Day events being majorly scaled down or canceled altogether.

In Memphis, Tennessee, the National Civil Rights Museum was going about its annual King Day celebration as normal. The museum is located on the site of the former Lorraine Motel, where King was shot on April 4, 1968. The museum offered free admission on the holiday, an annual tradition.

This milestone year is not only about looking back at what Dr. King stood for, but also recognizing the people who continue to make his ideals real today, museum President Russell Wigginton said.

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Tang reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Matt Brown in Washington; Adrian Sanz in Memphis, Tennessee; Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland and Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Anyone who has wondered about the variety of foods and beverages that benefit from fermentation should pull up a chair. Southern Oregons Fermentopia festival offers three dining events along with its popular marketplace Jan. 24-25 brimming with cultured, bubbly and flavorful fermented food in the Rogue Valley city of Phoenix.

The block-party-style weekend festival kicks off Friday, Jan. 23, with a Raclette Cheese Social offered by the Oregon Cheese Cave at 312 N. Main St. People can order curated tastings of the semi-soft cows milk cheese along with local wines.

On Saturday and Sunday, ticket holders ($7) can meet more than 35 artisan makers offering samples, from Rogue Creamery cheeses to pickled vegetables and artisan chocolates, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the festival hub, the Phoenix Plaza Civic Center at 220 N. Main St.

People can learn more about the ancient fermentation method at the U Ferment Supply Store booth. The process uses naturally occurring yeast and bacteria to preserve food and enhance flavors, as in sourdough breads, and create alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

Other vendors will be selling made-from-scratch products, including zesty Garliki vegan culinary paste and Tortuga Gordos Funk Monster hot sauce.

Farmer Krista Vegter Trujillo of nearby La Fuente Market, a retail food hub, butchery and heritage carniceria, will be outside the Phoenix Plaza Civic Center serving from her Eat Pistolas food cart.

She will have a 12-ounce bowl of pozole rojo with fermented garlic ($10), carnitas taco plate with fermented tatemate salsa ($12) and a brisket sandwich with Moxie Brew jalapeno sauce ($15).

13 1 / 13 Moxie Brew Tap House

On Saturday evening, Lisa and Alyssa Brown, the mother-and-daughter owners of Moxie Brew Tap House at 106 E. First St., are hosting their second annual Ferments Dinner paired with wine and nonalcoholic cocktails ($75) from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

The five courses created by Chef Brandon Highstone showcase Moxie Brews tasty fermented ingredients.

Five years ago, the Browns started offering kombucha as a nonalcoholic beverage for its probiotic health benefits and low sugar content. Moxie Brew is now on tap at more than 40 locations in the Rogue Valley and in Bend.

At the brewery and tap house, the culinary team makes bread with the kombucha yeast starter and uses kombucha byproducts for vinegars, sauces and pickled beets and other vegetables.

There are so many directions you can go with fermented, preserved, cured food, even pickled meats and fish, said Alyssa Brown.

The Ferments Dinner menu includes:

3 1 / 3 Side Yard Farm & Kitchen

On Sunday, Chef Stacey Givens of Side Yard Farm & Kitchen with two locations is offering a Seed to Plate Ferments brunch at her Phoenix location. Tickets are $65 for a 9:30 a.m. or noon seating.

Givens is the owner of Side Yard Farm & Kitchen, a one-acre urban farm in Northeast Portland and the communal dining table, event space and farm shop at 180 N. Main St. in Phoenix.

Givens learned to grow, forage and preserve food from their mother and Yiayia (grandmother), skills used to create delicious, nutritious meals.

At the Side Yard Farm & Kitchen in Northeast Portland, Givens has offered a chef residency this year to Mona Johnson of Tournant, who will host open-fire cooking for private events and community farm-to-table dinners and workshops.

Givens is best known for seed-to-plate dining that combines regenerative farming with culinary creativity, and a whole plant cooking philosophy that uses stems to the blossoms, seeds and leaves.

The family-style Seed to Plate Ferments brunch includes:

Lil Sweet cream biscuits with cultured Frenchy butter

Sourdough donuts

Fermented quince pastry cream with cardamom and pistachio

Porky Pastrami Benedict made with cured and smoked pork belly, kimchi crumpet, daikon radish pickles and poached egg with nasturtium caper hollandaise

Smashed and fried potatoes with herbage and sea salt

Breaky salad with winter greens, beets, Hakurei turnips and radishes and pickled Magnolia Farmers cheese

Sunchoke crisps preserved in Meyer lemon dressing

Drinks available include Spicy Bloody with Farmy pickles and Lovage salt; mimosas, fresh juice; and Cerberus coffee.

The Fermentopia festival also features artisan products that support fermentation culture, including handcrafted pottery crocks, chopping boards, cookbooks and finishing salts.

Discover a symphony of bold flavors and endless nutritional benefits perfect for winter wellness, said festival founder Karolina Lavagnino of Wild Thyme Productions, who is producing her third Fermentopia event in Phoenix.

This is your chance to taste, sip, shop and learn directly from the makers themselves while exploring the ancient tradition of fermentation that has sustained communities through winter for centuries, she said in a news release.

If you go: Southern Oregons Fermentopia festival is Jan. 23-25 in the Rogue Valley city of Phoenix. The main festival hub is the Phoenix Plaza Civic Center at 220 N. Main St. Parking is free.

Culinary experiences are next door at the Oregon Cheese Cave (312 N. Main St.), Side Yard Farm & Kitchen (180 N. Main St.) and Moxie Tap House (106 E. First St.).

Tickets to the marketplace, open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24-25, are $7 per day at theFermentopia.com; kids 12 and under free.
As artificial intelligence chatbots become more common, Oregon lawmakers are weighing new requirements for companies such as OpenAIs ChatGPT to protect childrens mental health.

They want chatbot makers to monitor chats for signs of self-harm or suicidal thoughts and to take steps to prevent users from hurting themselves.

Those steps include interrupting conversations during a crisis and referring users to outside mental health resources, such as suicide hotlines.

Further engagement has made things worse, not better, said Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland. This is about putting guardrails up now, instead of asking later why we didnt.

Reynolds bill  which has the support of the Senate Interim Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health  would require companies to clearly and repeatedly disclose that chatbot responses are artificially generated, not human.

It also would ban sexually explicit content for minors and prohibit engagement tactics designed to keep young users online. Those tactics include reward systems, guilt-inducing messages when a user tries to leave or misrepresenting a chatbots identity or capabilities.

These chatbots will sometimes say things like, Please dont leave me, Reynolds said. That cant happen.

The legislation would direct companies to report annually to the Oregon Health Authority on how often they referred users to crisis services and describe their safety protocols. Personal identifying information would be excluded from those reports.

The proposal comes as states across the country have begun experimenting with how to regulate AI chatbots.

Lawmakers in California and New York have passed laws requiring AI chatbots to clearly disclose that they are not human and steer users toward crisis support if needed.

In Utah, lawmakers tightened rules for AI-driven mental health chatbots. Illinois and Nevada have gone further, banning the use of AI for behavioral health without the oversight by licensed clinicians.

Washington and Pennsylvania lawmakers are also weighing proposals to regulate AI chatbots.

At the same time, President Donald Trump has pushed back against the patchwork of state regulations, arguing that such oversight stifles innovation and undermines U.S. competitiveness. In December, Trump signed an executive order that seeks to limit states ability to regulate AI and directs the federal government to file lawsuits and cut funding for states that regulate AI.

In arguing for stronger oversight of AI chatbots, Reynolds  a pediatrician by training  pointed to the death of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old from Southern California, who took his own life last April. The teens parents, Matthew and Maria Raine, told lawmakers during a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September that they later discovered their son had spent months interacting with ChatGPT, using it to talk through his suicidal thoughts and plans.

According to Matthew Raines testimony, the chatbot discouraged his son from turning to his parents for help and, at one point, even offered to help draft a suicide note. Raine and his wife have since filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, alleging the chatbot contributed to their sons death.

Chatbots themselves arent new, but recent advances in artificial intelligence have made them far more convincing  capable of carrying on conversations that can feel personal or even human.

That realism poses risks for children and teens, who are more vulnerable because of how their brains develop, according to Mitch Prinstein, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the chief of psychology strategy and integration at the American Psychological Association.

Thats because parts of the brain that seek social approval and connection mature earlier  often during the preteen years, Prinstein said, while the parts responsible for impulse control and self-regulation dont fully mature until the mid-20s.

He said AI chatbots exploit this developmental gap by offering constant affirmation simulating close relationships and emotional intimacy, even though its not really a human and its not really a relationship.

We are programmed to be very invested in human relationships, and now that were starting to manipulate that  were seeing that this is manipulating kids in a really concerning way, he said. More and more kids are choosing to spend time with a chatbot over a human, and many are now reporting that they trust chatbots more than their own parents or their own teachers.

Recent surveys suggest AI chatbots are already widely used by teenagers. A July report by Common Sense Media, a digital safety nonprofit, found that 72% of teens have used an AI companion at least once, with more than half reporting they use them a few times a month. Another digital safety company, Aura, reported in September that nearly one in three teens use AI chatbots for social interactions and role-playing friendships.

Federal regulators have also taken notice. Last fall, the Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry into seven AI chatbot makers, asking what safeguards they have in place to protect children. In announcing the order, FTC Chairman Andrew Feguson said the agency aims to better understand how AI firms are developing their products and the steps they are taking to protect children.

Some companies say they are already making changes. Last fall, OpenAI said on its website that it was working with mental health experts to help ChatGPT more reliably recognize signs of distress, respond with care, and guide people toward real-world support. Around the same time, Character.AI said it would limit certain open-ended conversations for users under 18, part of a broader effort to add safety features for younger users.

Reynolds, the state senator, said Oregons bill is not anti-technology. AI tools can have benefits, she said, including helping people cope with anxiety or improving access to care. But she argued that general-purpose AI chatbots are designed to maximize engagement  sometimes at the expense of user well-being.

Their entire goal is to keep people on that chatbot engaging and engaging, she said. This means that when someone is spiraling, they will support that spiral.

Reynolds said lawmakers have a chance to act earlier than they did when social media began reshaping how children and teens interact online.

When social media first came around in the early 2000s, we didnt do enough to protect children, she said. Its much harder to fix things after the damage is done.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Call or text 988 for 24-hour, confidential support, or visit 988lifeline.org.
A Portland boy is struggling to recover from infant botulism after drinking contaminated ByHeart baby formula donated through a program that aims to help poor and homeless families.

Ashaan Carter, now 10 months old, was hospitalized twice and remains on a feeding tube after contracting the dangerous infection that has sickened more than 50 babies across the U.S.

His mother, Angel Carter, said she received a can of ByHeart formula from a case worker with the Oregon Department of Human Services in early November, days before a nationwide recall of the product.

Carter, who receives state food and housing assistance, said she had been exclusively breastfeeding her son, but her milk supply was waning. The case worker told the 27-year-old that the ByHeart formula was closest to breast milk and could help, she said.

I accepted it thinking, OK, Im hoping my baby can get on a bottle, Carter said. Its been all downhill since then.

State officials wouldnt comment on Carters case, but they acknowledged that the agency received ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank. That was one of nearly two dozen nonprofit groups nationwide who are part of ByHearts OpenHearted Initiative that donated formula to families in need, according to the companys website.

Since June 2022, nearly 24,000 cans of formula have been distributed to groups that aid homeless and other vulnerable families, the company said. All the companys products have been recalled since production began in March 2022 because of potential contamination.

Soon after consuming the ByHeart formula, Ashaan developed severe constipation and muscle weakness, becoming so limp that he couldnt move his head, Carter said.

After a trip to an emergency room, he was sent to Randall Childrens Hospital in Portland. Doctors there diagnosed him with presumed infant botulism tied to the ByHeart formula, according to Dr. Sylvia Peterson-Perry, a family medicine doctor who delivered Ashaan and cares for him and his mother.

He was treated with BabyBIG, an IV medication that provides antibodies to the infection to stop the progress of the disease.

Ashaan was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in November and discharged without a feeding tube. His health rapidly declined, including dramatic weight loss, and he was hospitalized again in December. He got so sick that his mother was afraid he would die.

He was just withering away, Carter said.

The Oregon caseworker texted Carter after the recall, she said, warning her to stop using the formula.

But it was too late for Ashaan, who had to have the feeding tube down his throat replaced because his muscles remain weak, his doctor said. Its not clear how long it will remain. He is having to relearn how to crawl and to talk.

Its devastating, especially for our vulnerable families who are trusting this product to nourish their child and trusting our social services to provide safe food for their babies, Peterson-Perry said.

ByHeart had partnered with Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that includes high-profile celebrities among its supporters. The news outlet Healthbeat was first to report that recalled formula went to groups serving at-risk families.

PDX Diaper Bank received about 400 cans of donated ByHeart formula through Baby2Baby and distributed more than 300 of them before they were recalled, Rachel Alston, the groups executive director, said in an email.

All of our partners confirmed that they took immediate action to inform families, and we offered support where we could along the way, she said in an email.

Baby2Baby officials did not respond to email requests for comment. ByHeart officials said the company worked with Baby2Baby and other groups that received formula to ensure that the products were pulled and families were notified.

No new cases of infant botulism tied to the outbreak have been reported since Dec. 17, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted inspections at ByHeart plants, but has released no information about the source of the outbreak. Production remains shut down.

Seattle food safety lawyer Bill Marler said Carter is one of more than 30 families he represents whose babies were sickened by ByHeart products. At least 18 lawsuits have been filed against ByHeart and stores that sold the contaminated formula. This week, Marler asked a federal panel to consolidate the cases in a U.S. district court in New York.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Protests outside Portlands U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office have been going on for months, with no change in policy whatever. If protesting is fun for people, fine, but they shouldnt believe they are accomplishing anything, (Protest frog, 5 others arrested near ICE building after Border Patrol shoots 2 people in SE Portland, Jan. 9).

The tragic and pointless death of Renee Good compels me to urge people (probably in vain) not to sacrifice their lives for nothing, (Portlanders gather to denounce ICE agents shooting of Minneapolis woman, Jan. 9). They arent the heroes of their own Campbellian Heros Journey, or the main character of a story with a satisfying ending.

The average persons relationship to politics is exactly that of a spectator to professional wrestling. They are observers, watching something entirely fake and staged, with no ability to affect the outcome. A 2014 analysis by researchers from Princeton University and Northwestern University showed economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence.

I am begging people to understand they cannot affect anything. The tragedy of Renee Good is that she believed she was accomplishing something. The reality is that she was used by two equally artificial sides of a social media clickbait cycle, and her death will be utterly forgotten in two weeks.

People should stay home. They should be with the people who actually matter in their lives: who care about them, who love them and who would miss them if they were gone.

Matt Matteri, Portland
In August, President Donald Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner for the offense of stating factual economic data, (Trump fires Bureau of Labor Statistics director after dismal employment report, Aug. 1). The person she reported to  U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer  responded with the MAGA standard of courage: silence.

Chavez-DeRemer, who represented Oregons 5th Congressional District from 2023 to 2025, is the same official who supported the botched deployment of the federal troops into Portland. And nowbecause political satire apparently writes itselfwere reading about allegations of drinking, misuse of official travel, and workplace affairs serious enough to interest government watchdogs, (Trump cabinet member with Oregon ties accused of workplace drinking, improper relationship, travel fraud, reports say, Jan. 13).

As the guardrails of democracy continue to weaken, the consequences are becoming harder to ignore. Columnist Thomas Friedman of The New York Times quoted a former Treasury secretary who cautioned that the labor statistics commissioner firing was something one would see in a banana republic. Regrettably, Oregon has contributed a willing participant to this American decline.

Moiz Ali, Happy Valley
ISTANBUL, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hidden behind the palace walls, the Mabeyn Passage of Istanbul's Topkapi Palace once served as a secluded corridor used by Ottoman sultans.

Centuries later, its walls are now pulling back the curtain on the vibrant art of Ottoman tiles, offering the public a rare glimpse for the first time, as part of a broader effort to preserve and sustain traditional ceramic craftsmanship.

Following restoration work, the Mabeyn has recently opened as an art gallery displaying 260 original tile pieces featuring nearly 800 distinct patterns, many of which were once used as wall panels and decorative elements in different sections of the palace.

Ilhan Kocaman, head of the Topkapi Palace Department of the Directorate of National Palaces, said the Mabeyn was chosen as a gallery space for its symbolic and historical significance. "The Mabeyn Passage marked the moment when the sultan left the private world of the harem and entered public life as a ruler," he told Xinhua.

Kocaman noted that the passage runs alongside the area housing relics of the Prophet Muhammad, which contributed to its special status in the palace.

According to Kocaman, the gallery is expected to guide researchers, artists and visitors through the development of Ottoman tile-making from the 16th to the 19th century.

The gallery highlights the palace's intricate tile artistry, which Kocaman described as the most important decorative element of Topkapi Palace.

He explained that "cini," the traditional Ottoman glazed tile and ceramic art, drew early inspiration from imported Chinese porcelains in the 15th century, evolving into a distinctive local art form with production centered in Iznik before spreading to Kutahya and Istanbul.

Drawing inspiration from China and other parts of Asia, Kocaman said, Ottoman tilemakers gradually developed their own visual language, incorporating distinctive motifs such as the tulip, which later became a hallmark of Istanbul's decorative tradition.

Kocaman also highlighted the characteristic Ottoman color palette, marked by Turkish red and indigo blue, combined with blue-and-white designs influenced by China's ceramics artisans and adapted into a distinctly Ottoman aesthetic.

Alp Aksudogan, a national professional tour guide with more than three decades of experience, said the gallery plays a distinctive role in presenting the palace's history in context. "Topkapi is not only a museum but also a space that reflects centuries of Ottoman court life," he told Xinhua.

According to Aksudogan, the tile gallery was curated to preserve the unity and atmosphere of the Harem while displaying key examples of Ottoman ceramic art, allowing visitors to experience the palace as a living historical space rather than a standalone exhibition.

The tile collection at the gallery also complements Topkapi Palace's renowned collection of Chinese porcelain, which is set to be displayed in a dedicated museum within the palace complex.

The possession and display of Chinese porcelain "long symbolized prestige and power for the Ottoman dynasty," Aksudogan said. "Seen together, the tiles and porcelains illustrate the dynasty's artistic taste, economic strength and connections with the wider world."

Beyond preservation, the gallery is also expected to serve as an educational reference point for tile artists, students and workshop practitioners, offering direct exposure to original works that continue to shape contemporary ceramic practice.

Istanbul-based tile artist Metin Orenel said the gallery offers rare access to original works that are essential for professional growth.

"Seeing these tiles in their original form helps us understand technique, proportion and color in a way books cannot," he told Xinhua. "It provides a foundation for improving our own work while staying connected to tradition." 
The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers based in Alaska who specialize in operating in arctic conditions to be ready in case of a possible deployment to Minnesota, two defense officials said Sunday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said two infantry battalions of the Armys 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders.

One defense official said the troops are standing by to deploy to Minnesota should President Donald Trump invoke the Insurrection Act.

The rarely used 19th century law would allow the president to send military troops into Minnesota, where protesters have been confronting federal immigration agents for weeks. He has since backed off the threat, at least for now.

The mayor of Minneapolis said Sunday that sending active duty soldiers into Minnesota to help with an immigration crackdown is a ridiculous and unconstitutional idea as he urged protesters to remain peaceful so the president wont see a need to send in the U.S. military.

We will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. It is not fair, its not just, and its completely unconstitutional.

Daily protests have been ongoing throughout January since the Department of Homeland Security ramped up immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul by bringing in more than 2,000 federal officers. Thousands of Minneapolis citizens are exercising their First Amendment rights and the protests have been peaceful, Frey said.

We are not going to take the bait. We will not counter Donald Trumps chaos with our own brand of chaos here, Frey said.

Gov. Tim Walz has mobilized the Minnesota National Guard, although no units have been deployed to the streets.
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Tucker Zimmerman, a cult folk music icon, was killed on Saturday in a house fire, according to multiple reports.

He was 84.

Zimmermans wife, Marie-Claire Lambert, was also killed in the fire which took place at their home in Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse, Belgium, according to Parade Magazine.

Zimmermans first album, 1968s Ten Songs, was famously cited by David Bowie as one of his favorite albums of all time.

The guys way too qualified for folk, in my opinion, Bowie said in 2003. Degrees in theory and composition, studying under composer Henry Onderdonk, Fulbright scholarship, and he wants to be Dylan. A waste of an incendiary talent? Not in my opinion. I always found this album of stern, angry compositions enthralling.

Zimmerman churned out 16 albums across his career, the last  Music by River Words by Ear  coming in 2025.

Zimmerman did have a career break between his 1983 album, Word Games, and 2003s Walking on the Edge of the Blues (Nightshift Trio).

Parade Magazine called his 2024 album, Dance of Love, one of his most compelling late-career chapters. Zimmerman collaborated with the folk band, Big Thief, on the project, and the band remembered him in a post on X after his death.

It was an extreme honor to make a record with one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Tucker Zimmerman, that post read. We believe in this music with all of our hears, and we hope it brings you joy.

Others took to social media to remember him as well.

So sad to hear about the sudden passing of Tucker Zimmerman and his wife Marie-Claire at a house fire, Tomas del Real wrote on X. He was an incredible songwriter from early ages (ten songs) to now, you can hear his kindness. He was recently collaborating with Andrianne Lenker and the Big Thief crew.

Parade Magazine noted that Zimmerman leaves behind a body of work that bridges generation and styles.
Around a year and a half has passed since the news broke that the owners of Chateau Montrose in Bordeaux were buying RdV Vineyards in Delaplane, Virginia.

It was the Bouygues familys first winery purchase outside France, but what made it more newsworthy was the location of this addition to its esteemed portfolio  in Virginia and not California, where several Bordeaux estate owners had previously bought properties. It also became the first major foreign wine investment in Virginia since Italys Zonin family established Barboursville Vineyards in 1976.

Among the changes at RdV Vineyards, named after its founder, Rutger de Vink, when it was established in 2006, was a new name: Lost Mountain Vineyards.

While de Vink remained through the 2024 harvest as a consultant, the rest of the RdV team stayed, including esteemed winemaker Joshua Grainer.

Per the release at the time of the announcement in mid-June 2024, Lost Mountain would be under the direction of Grainer and Pierre Graffeuille, CEO of Chateau Montrose.

So how much is different at the site of the unique producer, which welcomes guests on Thursday through Sunday, by reservation only, and offers a tour and tasting experience that begins with either a private or small group tour of the winery and followed by a seated flight tasting of the two wines it makes  Lost Mountain and Rendezvous  paired with a seasonal food board?

At least on the surface, little has changed, Grainer said.

That is a tribute to Eutopia Estates, the parent company, of where we fall into the portfolio, he continued. They have four other wineries in France. And if you were to visit them, you wouldnt see a common thread beyond quality amongst any of them, in the sense that, four different expressions, four different wine styles, four very different personalities. And thats what excites the Bouygues family, the folks who ultimately purchased the vineyard, about wine, is that it can be so unique and singularly expressive. Thats what they liked about Lost Mountain, and thats what they wanted to preserve. So theyve been very conscientious about making sure that each of their properties maintains its own unique identity that makes it special.

Joshua Grainer says that he's very pleased to be part of the Eutopia Estates wine family. '[They] are all very good at what they do.' Lost Mountain Vineyards

On the other hand, though, I will say, youll hear no complaints from me about being a part of this family of wineries ... [they] are all very good at what they do. And so we get together, we exchange ideas a lot. Montrose has multiple acres just dedicated to research and development with technologies, and rootstocks, and clones, and so we have access to all that information now that we can start to institute here on the vineyard. In terms of the business aspect, we wanted to maintain the continuity for our membership, just because theyve been so loyal to us, they like what we do, and so we wanted to maintain that.

But, as quickly as he described whats the same, he acknowledged there are changes ahead.

The wine in the future will start to travel a bit more, he continued. Most of our wines have been sitting in the mid-Atlantic since its inception because thats where the strongest potential for our customer base is. But the goal for Lost Mountain now is to be nationally and internationally known. So were going to go more into distribution, and were starting to execute on that now and build out a little bit more of a broader knowledge base.

What also hasnt changed for Grainer, 44, is the schedule. They are back in the cellar starting their blending trials, which usually take a couple of months to land on the most appealing percentages. Meanwhile, theyve already begun to prune the vines, a process that removes old, unproductive wood to encourage vigorous new growth.

He said that while he oversees the winemaking, 90% of the production work is done in the vineyard, which is also under his management. Its a cliche, he said, but its one I fully believe in. So most of my time is actually spent outside, in terms of how we make the wines and craft the wines. Its all coming back to the farming aspect of it. And then once we get to the cellar, its me just trying not to mess it up. You know, its kind of like when we get that perfectly-vined tomato or orchard-ripened peach, right? You just try to capture it as it is, versus do too much stuff to it. And so thats my goal with how we farm and produce wines.

So yes, to answer your question, I definitely believe winemaking is enhanced by the vineyard connection, and so knowing very intimately each corner of the parcels and whats performing best and all that, it all cascades into how we make wine.

Lost Mountain Vineyards is about equidistant from Washington D.C. gto the east and Strasburg, Virginia, and Route 81 to the west. Ultra Studio

The vineyard started with around 16 acres, and by spring will be up to around 20, Grainer said, featuring the four Bordeaux grapes  Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot  that de Vink and vineyard manager Gabriel Flores planted more than two decades ago. The couple of extension parcels that are planned will include more Cabernet Franc and Merlot, which is about all we can be at this point.

With one exception, he noted.

There is this 1-acre experimental parcel of white grapes he has planted, featuring Semillon, Petit Manseng and Albarino, with perhaps some others to be planted in the near future.

Well still always be a red wine house, he said, but I do love white wine as well, and having a very small production parcel of it would be a fun little side project. At this point, its all still experimental and to be determined, but, yeah, its something thats exciting. But in terms of reds, I think were going to stay exactly where we are. Our hillside is really a hillside for Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, frankly.

Barrels of wine line the cellar at Lost Mountain Vineyards, formerly RdV Vineyards, which released its inaugural vintage in 2008. 2011 Gordon Beall

Lost Mountain Vineyards is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on a steep, granite-rich hillside, about 45 minutes west of Washington D.C. The area was historically considered lost on early maps until George Washington, working as a surveyor according to legend, identified these specific hills and optimistically named them the lost mountains.

The winery offers two wine clubs: Envoy (four-bottle membership) and Ambassador (12-bottle membership). Members are able to visit, by reservation, and order from an a la carte menu as opposed to the more formal tour and tasting experience mentioned earlier.

Heres a link to the tasting notes for every vintage, going back to the debut in 2008.

Asked about the challenge of keeping the bar raised, Grainer responded that were always trying to do a little bit better every year, get that few percentage points better. And, you know, that was the initial focus, and its still the focus here.  We wanted to focus on doing one thing well. We didnt want distractions of trying to be a jack-of-all-trades kind of aspect ... and that has a lot to do with this simple marketing and proximity to the market. We said that were going to dedicate ourselves to Bordeaux reds. Rutger, the founder of the place, sought out this hillside, discovered it, and it met all the criteria for it being able to achieve full ripeness on those reds. We are a red wine hillside. Its a warm, rocky hillside. Its suited well to reds, and so it was all about pursuing quality at the end of the day.

Per Grainers bio, he discovered his love of wine in his early 20s while traveling through Italy, and developed his craft in the U.S., France, and Australia before joining RdV. He earned his Master of Wine (MW) designation in February 2023, making him the 58th American and first Virginian to join this group.

As Grainer spent the past couple of decades working to continually improve quality at RdV, he said that he has seen a similar trend not just in Virginia but throughout the mid-Atlantic.

When I first started in the industry, you would go to winery tastings and different tasting rooms throughout the state, and some were better than others, he said. You had your name players, like Linden  Im giving Virginia examples  Barboursville, up in Maryland you had Black Ankle, and they were making good wines. Even great wines, at times. But a lot of the other wineries, and, you know, Im not calling everyone else out, but a lot of other wineries, you go in and kind of get some Mom and Pop wines and some, frankly, just flawed wines. That doesnt happen with any regularity, in my opinion, anymore, in Virginia. Everyones making good, serviceable wines. Youre seeing a lot more really great wines from some producers. Youre seeing consistency across vintages now. And so people have fine-tuned where good vineyard sites are. They have fine-tuned their skill sets in the winemaking and so forth and so on.

I still think we have a great amount to do in discovering the terroir of the mid-Atlantic, the East Coast even. And so theres a lot of untapped potential out there. Its still very much in a pioneering state, but weve moved from hobbyist to professional. I would say that the industry has matured.

Joshua Grainer earned the Master of Wine designation in February 2023, becoming the 58th American and first Virginian to earn the coveted designation. Marco Javier

With the maturation has come higher prices, and a market willing to pay them.

In addressing those changes, Grainer made the comparison between the Virginia wine industry and that of Oregons Willamette Valley, which both got rolling in the late 1970s and early 80s.

The main difference was that Oregon didnt really have a market that could consume their wines just in the backyard, he said. Like Portland wasnt going to drink all of Willamette Valley, right? And so they quickly had to identify who they were, i.e. Pinot Noir. They had to bring the quality level up to compare with California or French wines, and then they had to get their wines to travel, because they had to sell them all. Virginia, on the other hand, has always benefited, and its been a little bit of a curse in a way, but largely a benefit, from the D.C. metro area that was willing to drive the hour, hour and a half, to support the local winery. And that kind of goes back to your first question, in that people were making all kinds of styles of wines, sweet to dry, sparkling to still, red, white, everything in between, to try to capture whoever walked in the door, and that kind of retarded our growth in a way.

We didnt have to get the wine to travel, we didnt have to identify ourselves under one certain or several different styles, he added. We were kind of doing the Baskin-Robbins 32-flavors thing. Thats beautiful from a business aspect, because all that direct-to-consumer revenue has supported the industry. Its also driven prices up. But the downside of it is we just havent gotten to that next evolution that the Willamette Valley has gotten to because of how easy it is to sell wine.
By TERRY TANG, The Associated Press

As communities across the country on Monday host parades, panels and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive with reflection on the slain Black American civil rights icons legacy.

In the year since Donald Trumps second inauguration fell on King Day, the Republican president has gone scorched earth against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and targeted mostly Black-led cities for federal law enforcement operations, among other policies that many King admirers have criticized.

One year ago, Trumps executive orders, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity and Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, accelerated a rollback of civil rights and racial justice initiatives in federal agencies, corporations and universities. Last month, the National Park Service announced it will no longer offer free admission to parks on King Day and Juneteenth, but instead on Flag Day and Trumps birthday.

The fatal shooting this month of an unarmed Minneapolis woman in her car by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sent there to target the citys Somali immigrant population, as well as Trump recently decrying civil rights as discrimination against white people, have only intensified fears of a regression from the social progress King and many others advocated for.

FILE - The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial during the 9th Annual Wreath Laying and Day of Reflection and Reconciliation, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) AP

Still, the concerns have not chilled many King holiday events planned this year. Some conservative admirers of King say the holiday should be a reminder of the civil rights icons plea that all people be judged by their character and not their skin color. Some Black advocacy groups, however, are vowing a day of resistance and rallies nationwide.

Weve always strived to be a more perfect union

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Trump said he felt the Civil Rights Movement and the reforms it helped usher in were harmful to white people, who were very badly treated. Politicians and advocates say Trumps comments are what are harmful, because they dismiss the hard work of King and others that helped not just Black Americans but other groups, including women and the LGBTQ+ community.

I think the Civil Rights Movement was one of the things that made our country so unique, that we havent always been perfect, but weve always strived to be this more perfect union, and thats what I think the Civil Rights Movement represents, Gov. Wes Moore, Marylands first Black governor and only the nations third elected Black governor, said this week in an interview with The Associated Press.

Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, one of the nations oldest and largest civil rights coalitions, said the Trump administrations priorities make clear it is actively trying to erase the movement.

From health care access and affordable housing to good paying jobs and union representation, Wiley said, things Dr. King made part of his clarion call for a beloved community are still at stake and is even more so because (the administration) has dismantled the very terms of government and the norms of our culture.

FILE - A visitor pauses as she visits the memorial "Landmark for Peace" commemorating the site where Robert Kennedy delivered his immortal words on the night of Martin Luther King Jr's assassination in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. The park where Kennedy called for peace and unity just hours after the assassination of King is being designated a National Historic Site. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File) AP

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The conservative Heritage Foundation think tank is encouraging the holidays focus to stay solely on King himself. Brenda Hafera, a foundation research fellow, urged people to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta or reread his I have a dream speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington nearly 63 years ago.

But using the holiday as a platform to rally and speak about anti-racism and critical race theory actually rejects Kings ambition for the country, Hafera argued.

I think efforts should be conducted in the spirit of what Martin Luther King actually believed and what he preached. And his vision was a colorblind society, right, Hafera said. He says very famously in his speech, dont judge by the color of your skin, but the content of your character.

Groups call for holiday of reclamation, education and rallying

The NAACP, the nations oldest civil right organization which had a myriad MLK Day events planned for Monday, asserted that the heightened fears among communities of color and in immigrant communities mean King Day observances must take a different tone. People will have to put their safety first, even if their government isnt, said Wisdom Cole, NAACP senior national director of advocacy.

As folks are using their constitutional right to protest and to speak out and stand up for what they believe in, we are being faced with violence. We are faced with increased police and state violence inflicted by the government, Cole said.

The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of organizations affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement, has planned its events under the banner Reclaim MLK Day of Action. Organizers planned demonstrations in Atlanta, Chicago and Oakland, California, among other cities, over the weekend and Monday.

FILE - A crowd marches across the Lefty O'Doul Bridge during the MLK Day March in San Francisco on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Dan Hernandez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File) AP

This year it is more important than ever to reclaim MLKs radical legacy, letting his wisdom and fierce commitment to freedom move us into the action necessary to take care of one another, fight back, and free ourselves from this fascist regime, Devonte Jackson, a national organizing director for the coalition, said in a statement.

Indiana school cancels historic MLK Day event

For the first time in its 60-year history, Indiana University in Indianapolis canceled its annual Martin Luther King dinner. Over the years, the event drew notable guest speakers including Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and activist Angela Davis.

The reasoning was budget constraints, according to a social media post by the schools Black Student Union. However, the group said it was worried this was connected to broader political pressures. A few students have since organized smaller community dinners or eat-ins to fill the void, WTHR-TV in Indianapolis reported.

Meanwhile, the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Westbrook, Maine, canceled a MLK Day service due to unforeseen circumstances, according to the parish website. But a member of the churchs social justice and peace committee told NewsCenterMaine.com that the pastor was concerned about peoples safety amid rumors of ICE agents being in the area.

Overall, there have been few reports of King Day events being majorly scaled down or canceled altogether.

In Memphis, Tennessee, the National Civil Rights Museum is going about its annual King Day celebration as normal. The museum is located on the site of the former Lorraine Motel, where King was shot on April 4, 1968. The museum is offering free admission on the holiday, an annual tradition.

This milestone year is not only about looking back at what Dr. King stood for, but also recognizing the people who continue to make his ideals real today, museum President Russell Wigginton said.

Tang reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Matt Brown in Washington, Adrian Sanz in Memphis, Tennessee, and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.
OSLO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Monday reaffirmed that the U.S. latest statements, including the tariff threats, will not change Greenland's firm stance in defending its right to decide its own future.

"The latest statements from the United States, including the tariff threats, will not change our position. We will not let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law," he said in a post on social media platform Facebook.

Nilsson thanked the demonstrations held in several cities in Denmark and Greenland over the weekend in solidarity with Greenland, saying the events were "impressive" and demonstrated "strong and dignified unity."

"At the same time, we also feel the support from other countries and leaders. That means something. Not as interference, but as a clear recognition that Greenland is a democratic society with the right to make its own decisions," he wrote.

Thousands of people took to the streets in Copenhagen on Saturday to protest against U.S. actions and remarks suggesting control over Greenland. Meanwhile, other cities across Denmark and the capital of Greenland also reported mass demonstrations, with protesters chanting slogans such as "Greenland is not for sale."

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island. Since returning to office in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland. 
By AAMER MADHANI, GEIR MOULSON and JILL LAWLESS, The Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump linked his aggressive stance on Greenland to last years decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norways prime minister that he no longer felt an obligation to think purely of Peace, two European officials said Monday.

Trumps message to Jonas Gahr Stre appears to ratchet up a standoff between Washington and its closest allies over his threats to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. To force European countries that have rallied around Denmark and Greenland toward talks, Trump on Saturday announced a 10% import tax starting in February on goods from eight nations, including Norway.

Those countries issued a forceful rebuke. But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to de-escalate tensions on Monday. While the White House has not ruled taking control of the strategic Arctic island by force, Starmer said he did not believe military action would occur.

I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, he said.

Still, the American leaders message to Gahr Stre could further fracture a U.S.-European relationship already strained by differences over how to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, previous rounds of tariffs, military spending and migration policy.

In a sign of how tensions have increased in recent days, thousands of Greenlanders marched over the weekend in protest of any effort to take over their island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post Monday that the tariff threats would not change the their stance.

We will not be pressured, he wrote. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect, and on international law.

Meanwhile, Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenlands minister for business, minerals, energy, justice and equality, told The Associated Press that she was moved by the quick response of allies to the tariff threat and said it showed that countries realize this is about more than Greenland.

I think a lot of countries are afraid that if they let Greenland go, what would be next?

Trump sends a message to the Norwegian leader

According to two European officials, Trumps message to Gahr Stre read in part: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.

It concluded: The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said it had been forwarded to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. PBS first reported on the content of Trumps note.

Gahr Stre confirmed Monday that he had received a text message from Trump but did not release its contents. The White House did not respond to questions about the letter or the context for Trump sending it.

Gahr Stre said Trumps message was a reply to an earlier missive sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in which they conveyed their opposition to the tariff announcement, pointed to a need to de-escalate, and proposed a telephone conversation among the three leaders.

Norways position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter, the Norwegian leader said in a statement. As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to president Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.

He told TV2 Norway that he hadnt responded to the message, but I still believe its wise to talk, and he hopes to talk with Trump at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, this week.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is an independent body whose five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

Trump has openly coveted the peace prize, which the committee awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado last year. Last week, Machado presented her Nobel medal to Trump, who said he planned to keep it though the committee said the prize cant be revoked, transferred or sharedwith others.

Starmer says a trade war is in no ones interest

In his latest threat of tariffs, Trump indicated they would be retaliation for last weeks deployment of symbolic numbers of troops from the European countries to Greenland  though he also suggested that he was using the tariffs as leverage to negotiate with Denmark.

European governments said that the troops traveled to the island for Arctic security training in response to Trumps own concerns about interference from Russia and China.

Danish soldiers disembark at the harbor in Nuuk, Greenland, on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) AP

Starmer on Monday called Trumps threat of tariffs completely wrong and said that a trade war is in no ones interest.

He added that being pragmatic does not mean being passive and partnership does not mean abandoning principles.

Six of the eight countries targeted are part of the 27-member European Union, which operates as a single economic zone in terms of trade. European Council President Antonio Costa said Sunday that the blocs leaders expressed readiness to defend ourselves against any form of coercion. He announced a summit for Thursday evening.

Starmer indicated that Britain, which is not part of the EU, is not planning to consider retaliatory tariffs.

My focus is on making sure we dont get to that stage, he said.

Denmarks defense minister and Greenlands foreign minister are expected to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Monday, a meeting that was planned before the latest escalation.

Associated Press writer Josh Boak in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
By SAMY MAGDY and JULIA FRANKEL, The Associated Press

The European Unions executive arm, Russia, Belarus and Thailand on Monday were the latest to be asked to join U.S. President Donald Trumps new Board of Peace that will supervise the next phase of the Gaza peace plan, as a top Israeli official said the initiative is bad for Israel and should be scrapped.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin received the invitation and that the Kremlin is now studying the details and would seek clarity of all the nuances in contacts with the U.S. The Thai Foreign Ministry said it was also invited and that it was reviewing the details.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been invited and is ready to take part, according to the countrys Foreign Ministry.

European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill confirmed that Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the commission, received an invitation and would be speaking to other EU leaders about Gaza. Gill didnt say whether the invitation had been accepted, but that the commission wants to contribute to a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict.

Its unclear how many leaders have been invited to join the board. But a Trump reference in the invitation letters that the body would embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict suggested it could act as a rival to the U.N. Security Council, the most powerful body of the global organization created in the wake of World War II.

According to the World Banks Gaza and West Bank Interim Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (IRDNA) report released last year, itll take $53 billion to rebuild the strip.

Israels objections to the board

Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday dismissed the Board of Peace as a raw deal for Israel and called for its dissolution.

It is time to explain to the president that his plan is bad for the State of Israel and to cancel it, Smotrich said at a ceremony inaugurating the new Yatziv settlement in the occupied West Bank. Gaza is ours, its future will affect our future more than anyone elses. We will take responsibility for what happens there, impose military administration, and complete the mission.

Smotrich, a hardliner who opposed the Gaza ceasefire, even suggested that Israel renew a full-scale offensive on the territory to destroy Hamas if it doesnt abide by a short ultimatum for real disarmament and exile.

On Saturday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the formation of the committee wasnt coordinated with the Israeli government and is contrary to its policy without clarifying what its objections were. Israel hasnt been invited to join the committee, unlike Turkey, a key regional rival.

The final list

The U.S. is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Board members will oversee an executive committee that will be in charge of implementing the tough second phase of the Gaza peace plan that includes the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-devastated territory.

A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the board, with the money going to rebuild Gaza, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter as he wasnt permitted to speak publicly about details of the board, which hasnt been made public. A three-year appointment has no contribution requirement.

But details of how this will also work remain murky. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday the United Kingdom is talking to allies about the Board of Peace. Although the U.K. hasnt said whether Starmer has been formally invited to join, he said its necessary to proceed with the Gaza peace plans second phase and that his country has indicated willingness to play our part, and we will.

Running Gaza

Egypts top diplomat on Monday met with the leader of the newly appointed committee of Palestinian technocrats who will be running Gazas day-to-day affairs during the second phase of the peace plan.

Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty met with Ali Shaath, a Palestinian engineer and former official with the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, who was named last week as chief commissioner of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza

Abdelatty expressed the Egyptian governments complete support to the committee and affirmed its role in running Gazas daily affairs until the Palestinian Authority takes over the territory, a statement from the Egyptian ministry said following the meeting.

He also underscored the importance of preserving the unity of the Palestinian territories, ensuring geographical and administrative continuity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Gaza humanitarian situation still fragile

The U.N. World Food Program on Monday said it has significantly expanded its operations across Gaza 100 days into the ceasefire, reaching more than a million people each month with hot meals, bread bundles and food parcels. But it warned the situation remains extremely fragile even as critical progress has been made in pushing back famine.

It noted that malnutrition has been prevented for 200,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as children under 5, while school snacks are reaching 235,000 children in 250 temporary schools.

Still, the most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis in December indicates that 77% the population is facing crisis-level food insecurity, with over 100,000 people experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger.

The WFP said access to nutritious food such as fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy is limited, with most families still cant afford more commercial goods entering Gaza.

Israeli forces move into Hebron

Israeli military and security forces launched what they called a large-scale counterterrorism operation in the West Bank city of Hebron to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, eliminating illegal weapons possession and strengthening security.

Palestinians speak with an Israeli soldier during an army raid in the West Bank city of Hebron Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) AP

The Israeli military said Monday the operation is expected to continue for several days. Israeli armored vehicles and soldiers patrolled city streets and put up barriers where operations were being conducted.

Hebron Mayor Khaled Dudin said Israeli forces targeted the area thats home to 80,000 people because it obstructs the construction of additional Israeli settlements.

The West Bank has seen a surge in Israeli military activity since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack into Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.

Three Palestinians killed

Israeli forces on Monday killed three Palestinians, including a teenager, in southern Gaza, hospital authorities said.

Two men crossed into Israeli-controlled areas east of Khan Younis before being shot dead, while 17-year-old Hussein Tawfiq Abu Sabalah was shot and killed in the Muwasi area of Rafah, according to the Nasser hospital. It wasnt immediately clear whether the teen had crossed into or came close to the Israeli-controlled area.

More than 460 people were killed by Israeli fire and their bodies brought to hospitals since the ceasefire went into effect just over three months ago, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow and Grant Peck in Bangkok, Thailand contributed to this report.

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
By Jillian Kramer, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Past a marble monument for a Civil War hero, down a grass path where toppled headstones disappear into ivy and weeds and faded miniature American flags droop, lies the underground vault of James Campbell, who died in 1913 and whose remains may have been among the dozens stolen in one of the largest grave desecration cases ever uncovered in Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Christian Gerlach, who was charged with more than 500 offenses earlier this month and is being held in jail in lieu of $1 million bail, is accused of methodically breaking into burial vaults and mausoleums at Mount Moriah Cemetery, prying open caskets and removing human remains from Campbells burial ground and at least 25 other sites across the sprawling Philadelphia and Yeadon Borough cemetery.

Inside Campbells vault, where his family members were also entombed 12 feet beneath the cemeterys surface as early as 1872, investigators said they found three broken caskets, crumbled marble, and a discarded pry bar. Six sets of human remains, they said, were missing.

Authorities allege that Gerlach moved through the cemetery repeatedly, at all hours, accessing sealed burial sites and removing dozens of remains over several weeks without being detected. Large sections of the cemetery, overgrown and rarely monitored, offered long stretches of isolation  conditions investigators say Gerlach may have exploited. And as law enforcement continues to sort through the evidence, local officials and cemetery advocates are pressing for changes to prevent this from happening again.

The McCullough family burial tomb at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. This and several other graves at this cemetery were allegedly broken into by Jonathan Christian Gerlach. TNS

We were too slow to move, said YeadonMayor Rohan Hepkins. Nobody thought such a dastardly act  such an inhumane and incomprehensible act  was possible.

Hepkins last week joined state and local officials to discuss what can be done to protect the burial grounds, where an estimated 180,000 people are buried.

He and others expressed cautious resolve that the cemetery could be secured well enough to prevent another violation of this scale.

I wish I could tell loved ones that Im not critically concerned, but I am, said State Sen. Anthony Williams, who represents the district where Mount Moriah Cemeteryis located and was one of the officials who gathered to discuss preventive measures. But I dont know that Mount Moriah will ever be restored to the condition that they buried their loved ones in.

Mount Moriah Cemetery, a historic landmark abandoned by its last owner and under court receivership, has long been plagued by neglect and limited oversight.

Investigators say Gerlachs crimes unfolded over the course of months, starting in the fall and ending on the night of Jan. 6, when Yeadon detectives arrested the Pennsylvania man as he attempted to leave the cemetery.

The Frank Charlton family mausoleum is one of many graves vandalized and broken into by Jonathan Gerlach at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. TNS

License plate readers and cell phone towers place Gerlach near or inside the cemetery during both daylight and darkness. On Christmas Eve, for example, the technologies captured Gerlachs vehicle or phone at least three times between 12:28 a.m. and 12:54 p.m., court records show.

The day before, on Dec. 23, a Yeadon investigator working the case saw scratch marks on the heavy stone slab sealing the underground Zeigler family vault, as if, a detective wrote in an affidavit of probable cause for Gerlachs arrest, it had been marked as a target. When the detective returned on Dec. 26, the stone had been broken, and nine sets of human remains stolen.

Yeadonpolice, who investigated the crimes alongside other authorities, have since been inundated with hundreds of calls and emails from anguished family members seeking answers, Chief Henry Giammarcco said.

Rescuing Mount Moriah

Mount Moriah Cemetery opened in 1855. Its owners, the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association, abandoned it in 2011, after years of mismanagement. The Friends of Mount Moriah, a volunteer-driven nonprofit, formed that same year with the goal of rescuing the grounds from vandalism, crime, and decay. In 2014, a Philadelphia judge appointed a receiver, the Mount Moriah Cemetery Preservation Corporation, to temporarily manage the cemetery until a permanent owner could be found.

Yeadon Mayor Rohan Hepkins during a walking tour of Mount Moriah Cemetery, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Graves at the cemetery were allegedly robbed by Jonathan Christian Gerlach. TNS

More than a decade later, no permanent owner has emerged.

In 2018, the two groups and other stakeholders commissioned an ambitious strategic plan that called for stabilizing the cemeterys finances, finding a permanent owner, and remaking Mount Moriah into a viable public space. The plan assumed significant investment and long-term stewardship. Neither materialized.

Theres no clear revenue stream, and theres significant infrastructure improvements and capital improvements that are required, on top of maintenance costs, said Brian Abernathy, who served as chair of the preservation corporation when the plan was created.

At the time, Abernathy said, There was a lot of hope and optimism about what we could accomplish with it. But the plan stalled over obstacles that persist today, he said, including enticing an owner when so many costly repairs are needed.

Under the court order, the corporation  a board composed of officials from Philadelphia and Yeadon, including Hepkins  is responsible for preserving the cemetery but has delegated day-to-day care to Friends of Mount Moriah.

Over the years, Friends of Mount Moriah made visible gains. Its 12-person board and volunteers hauled away abandoned cars, tires, and trash, righted toppled headstones, and uncovered burial vaults beneath thick vines, brush, and overgrowth.

Mausoleums on a hill on the Yeadon Borough side of Mount Moriah Cemetery on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. TNS

Until this happened, said John Schmehl Jr., the groups president, security was not our first concern.

Yet thieves knew the grounds. Last year, Schmehl said, more than $14,000 worth of lawn equipment  including mowers, weed trimmers, and hand tools  was stolen from the cemetery garage. Friends of Mount Moriah entered the growing season without the equipment needed to keep large sections of the cemetery accessible, he said.

Now, the group is scrambling to implement security improvements across the cemeterys more than 100 acres, including repairing dilapidated fencing, launching random patrols, and installing cameras on both the Philadelphia and Yeadon sides of the property. Fencing construction began last week. Schmehl said the group is seeking a private security company to monitor the cameras around the clock.

Cemetery volunteers dwindle

The backyard of 60-year-old Robin Pitts house overlooks the Springfield Avenueside of Mount Moriah, where her mother, brother, and extended family are buried.

As a child, Pitts said, she played kickball on an unfenced stretch of the cemetery near where Betsy Ross the seamstress whose burial helped cement Mount Moriahs place in American history  rested for more than a century.

Those memories later drew Pitts to volunteer with Friends of Mount Moriah for nearly two decades, she said. On Saturdays, she said, she grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for volunteers who picked up trash and mowed the grass along Springfield Avenue.

But during the pandemic, Pitts said, the grounds began to deteriorate beyond what volunteers could manage. I thought, Enoughs enough. I cant do this anymore,  she said. She stopped volunteering.

Picture of dog waste discarded on the grounds of Mount Moriah Cemetery on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. TNS

Last week, Pitts walked down a path choked with waist-high grass and weeds where she once mowed. She pointed past a tangle of barren hemlock blocking a path to a tree and several headstones  some toppled, others obscured by vines and brush. We used to clean it all the way past there, Pitts said. Now nobody does.

A shrinking volunteer base has slowed progress at the cemetery, Schmehl said. Some cleanup events draw just one volunteer. Its a struggle, to say the least, he said, adding that entire sections of the cemetery have been reclaimed by nature.

The cemetery is now open just two days a week, Saturdays and Sundays.

The costs of needed improvements are also high. By Thursday, Friends of Mount Moriah had spent more than $20,000 of its roughly $90,000 annual budget to begin fencing construction and repairs, and secure the mausoleums and vaults that had been desecrated in the recent crimes. Additional donations, Schmehl said, will be needed to sustain the effort.

As recently as spring 2023, Mount Moriah Cemetery Preservation Corp. held more than $400,000 in its endowment, according to a letter filed in Philadelphia Orphans Court. Aubrey Powers, the receiverships chair, did not respond to questions concerning the receiverships contributions to the Friends of Mount Moriah or what the corporation will do to help address security or infrastructure needs.

As a condition of the receivership, the corporation must file semiannual reports to the court. A year ago, the only reference to security was a brief note stating that the receivership continues to encourage the Philadelphiaand YeadonPolice Departments to schedule patrols in and around Mount Moriah Cemetery more frequently to deter criminal activity.

Hepkins said increased patrols would be part of a broader strategy to reduce criminal activity and restore oversight to the cemetery. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department said officers patrol the cemeterys perimeter, not its grounds.

There has to be some sort of intervention in order to rectify whats happened at Mount Moriah, Abernathy said. And I just dont know whos going to provide that intervention.

Mausoleums that authorities say Jonathan Christian Gerlach broke into at Mount Moriah Cemetery. TNS

Whose remains are missing?

Hepkins on Wednesday climbed a steep hill from a small parking lot off Cobbs Creek Parkway to a cluster of mausoleums that Gerlach is accused of breaking into.

At the family mausoleum of John Hunter, a former president of the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association, authorities allege Gerlach smashed through a sealed cinder-block doorway and shattered the marble floor. He then rappelled 10 feet into the crypt and removed the remains of 15-year-old Martha Hunter, who died in 1869.

He left behind a length of white rope and a screwdriver, authorities said.

Just feet away, in the mausoleum of wholesale grocer Jonathan Prichard, Gerlach pulled a cinder block from a sealed window and rifled through five of nine caskets inside, investigators allege. The remains of 62-year-old Mary Prichard Steigleman, Prichards daughter, are now missing.

Nearby is the family vault of John McCullough, a Shakespearean actor who died in 1889. Beneath a towering monument etched with a line from Julius Caesar, authorities said they found two caskets disturbed, one tipped onto its side. Both were empty.

More than a week after Gerlachs alleged break-in, bricks torn from the vaults seal lay piled beside the entrance, and a foot-long hole exposed the floor below. Inside, wooden pallets that investigators believe Gerlach used to climb down cluttered the crypt.

The Hunter family mausoleum and resting place of Martha Hunter, one of several graves vandalized and broken into by Jonathan Gerlach at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. TNS

A short walk away is the cemeterys naval plot, where rows of identical white headstones mark the graves of more than 2,000 Navy officers. Its Hepkins favorite part of the cemetery, he said.

Hepkins once hoped to be buried at Mount Moriah, a place he called godly. Now, he said, I have to reconsider. I want my bones held somewhere in sacred perpetuity.

 2026 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit www.inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WILLIAMSPORT  The search for the Lycoming County man accused of trying to kill his ex-lover is over.

Pa. State Police on Sunday afternoon, without releasing any details, announced that Adam Nathan Taylor, 46, of South Williamsport, was in custody.

Earlier in the day, they said a red Ram 3500 dual rear-wheeled truck that he is accused of stealing after the incident with his ex-lover had been recovered in the rural Beaver Lake area in eastern Lycoming County.

Court records state Taylor is a native of Hughesville, not far from where the truck was found.

Adam Nathan Taylor had been wanted in connection with an incident that occurred on Route 220 in Woodward Township, east of Jersey Shore, at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Pa. State Police

A citizen spotted the truck and reported it just before noon, an affidavit states. Footprints were observed in the snow leading from the vehicle, it states.

Taylor was wanted in connection with an incident that occurred on Route 220 in Woodward Township, east of Jersey Shore, at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Taylor had not been arraigned as of Monday morning because he had been admitted to Geisinger-Muncy.

According to reports, he walked into the hospital on Sunday in a delusional state seeking help, claiming he had taken methamphetamines. Hospital personnel notified state police.

This is the 43-year-old victims account taken from the state police affidavit in support of the attempted homicide and related charges against Taylor.

She was traveling southbound when she noticed a blue Ford F-250 pickup truck in the rearview mirror. She recognized the truck and the driver as Taylor, against whom she had obtained a protection from abuse (PFA) order on Nov. 13.

Shortly after observing the truck, she heard what she thought might have been a rock strike her vehicle.

She continued southbound to the area of Wagners Road, where she turned to drive northbound.

The truck rammed the rear of her vehicle, causing her to lose control and strike the guardrail. She noticed a bullet hole in the windshield of the truck.

The truck passed her, went into the southbound lanes of Route 220, and stopped with the drivers window down.

She observed the driver, whom she identified as Taylor, attempt to shoulder a hunting rifle. She got out of her vehicle, began running, and tried to flag down other motorists for help. The truck left.

State police said they were contacted about 4:25 p.m.by Wanda Derr, who reported there was a blue pickup truck in front of her residence on Pine Run Road, and her 2017 red Ram 3500 dual rear-wheeled truck was missing.

Before being located, its last reported sighting was at about 5 p.m. Thursday in Jersey Shore.

An inspection of the blue pickup revealed a bullet hole in the windshield and a spent shell casing on the front passenger floorboard, police said.

Police have not revealed if a bullet struck the victims vehicle.

Taylor was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to the PFA, and because of a conviction in Maryland for possession with intent to deliver ecstasy, investigators noted.

Taylor is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, stalking illegal possession of a firearm, theft and receiving stolen property.

Police had classified Taylor as armed and dangerous and urged anyone who saw him to call 911 immediately.
Story by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a daily newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown.

STATE COLLEGE  The head of a civilian oversight board said the State College Police Departments misclassification of hundreds of rapes didnt make any difference to how the cases were handled.

Community Oversight Board Chair Ron Madrid made those comments to Borough Council members during a Jan. 12 meeting in response to a 10-month Spotlight PA investigation. The newsroom found the department, which serves the community surrounding Penn State, had erroneously reported 254 cases of rape between 2013 and 2021 as sexual offenses, leading to highly inaccurate publicly reported crime data.

The department had never acknowledged the longstanding error or disclosed it to the public until approached by Spotlight PA about potential data discrepancies.

Experts told Spotlight PA that the way rapes are labeled matters for victims and communities. Local crime data are shared with the FBIs Uniform Crime Reporting Program, known as UCR. Those figures are an important measure of public safety and help governments decide where to deploy resources and direct public funds.

Madrid, however, focused his public comments on the handling of cases.

We investigated the anomaly and determined that though some rapes were reported as sexual assaults over a period of time, it did not lessen the vigor, professionalism, and thoroughness of the investigations, he said.

He also claimed the Spotlight PA investigation did not paint a complete picture. A request to explain that comment was not returned by the time of this storys publication.

In 2012, the FBI announced it would broaden its definition of rape to ensure justice for those whose lives have been devastated by sexual violence, then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said at the time.

State College Police Chief John Gardner, who retired in late 2025, previously told Spotlight PA that he wasnt aware until 2022 that the FBI had updated its definition of rape. Gardners predecessor, Tom King, who retired from the department in 2016, said he only learned about the incorrect reporting when contacted by Spotlight PA this summer.

Borough Council President Evan Myers commended Madrid for taking on this independent investigation. However, when Council Member Nalini Krishnankutty asked Madrid to detail how the oversight board assessed the findings published by Spotlight PA, he said, Investigation might be too strong a word.

We asked the State College Police Department for a ream of information on exactly what happened. They provided that information, and we assessed that the change in reporting was really a change of definition for standardization by the FBI, Madrid told Krishnankutty. We evaluated the thoroughness of the individual investigations of each of the incidents. It was determined that, wait a minute, what it was called didnt make any difference.

Asked by Council Member Gopal Balachandran how the oversight board determined that polices investigation of each incident was thoroughly conducted, Madrid replied that the department told the board it applied the same protocol for investigating rapes and sexual assaults.

So no, we didnt take, Show me case one, show me case two, Madrid said. It was in total of these, of all of these reported incidents. Did you investigate thoroughly? And they did.

Madrid did not respond to a request for comment from Spotlight PA to clarify when the oversight boards review was initiated and concluded, or what it entailed.

Krishnankutty asked Madrid if any gap in communication between State College police and Pennsylvania State Police could be prevented in the future. Madrid did not answer that question.

As previously reported, a Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson told Spotlight PA the agency alerted local police departments about the change. A December 2012 notification outlined the new definition and instructed agencies to report offenses accordingly, starting in January 2013, Myles Snyder wrote in an email.

A five-paragraph notice was sent via the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network, or CLEAN, a platform police departments use to communicate with other agencies, on Dec. 27, 2012  less than a week before the new requirement took effect, according to a document obtained through a public records request.

Agencies like the State College Police Department have to acknowledge receipt of every message sent over CLEAN, Snyder told Spotlight PA in October. It is not optional, and lives depend on it.

Balachandran told Spotlight PA after the Jan. 12 public meeting that following the publication of the newsrooms December investigation, he observed misinformed reactions from the public regarding the polices role in criminal prosecution, which the news story did not delve into.

Speaking in his individual capacity and not on behalf of the Borough Council, Balachandran said he can see they made a mistake in reporting crime statistics and its good to call attention to it.

Madrids statements echoed what State College police officials told reporters throughout the course of reporting. Matthew Wilson, a former assistant chief who is now chief in Ferguson Township, told Spotlight PA in a February 2025 interview that the police department wasnt calling those incidents rapes, but it was calling them sexual offenses. I dont see it as a huge deal, Wilson said.

Rapes fall into a crime category that includes the most severe offenses, according to FBI rules. They are high priorities for law enforcement, often bringing with them pressure to make arrests and clear cases. These are considered indicators of the level of crime occurring in the country, Spotlight PA previously reported. Sexual offenses belong in another category with lower penalties, and are treated with less urgency.

Anne Ard, former executive director of Centre Safe, told Spotlight PA in August that the way rapes are labeled matters for victims and communities.

Its not just about how it shows up in statistics, its about how people think about whats happened to them, how other people think about whats happened to them, how the community thinks about whats happened to them, Ard said.

At a Community Oversight Board meeting on Jan. 8, Madrid said the board had not received any public complaints regarding Spotlight PAs findings. He said the board plans to host a town hall to address the rape investigation protocols of the State College Police Department this year.

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual violence, Centre Safe is available 24/7 at 877-234-5050.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.
State College Regional Airport was shut down Sunday morning after a man with a knife was found damaging rental car kiosks and threatening to stab police officers.

Jeffrey Wayne Roeder, 46, of Ishpeming, Michigan, was charged with four felony aggravated assault charges, three felony criminal mischief charges, three misdemeanor reckless endangerment charges, and terroristic threats and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.

Three rental car offices were damaged, and a police officer was injured in the incident, the Centre Daily Times reported.

Penn State University Police and Public Safety and other law enforcement agencies responded around 2:15 a.m. to the airport, and took Roeder into custody around 6 a.m., university spokesperson Wyatt DuBois said.

When first dispatched, officers found Roeder behind a rental car kiosk, damaging computer monitors, furniture and other items. He then threatened to stab officers, barricaded himself, and said he was high on methamphetamine, the Center Daily Times reported from an affidavit.

Police eventually shot Roeder with a bean bag round and stunned him with a Taser to take him into custody, but an officers hand was lacerated while they were arresting him.

Three to four flights were delayed because of the incident, State College Regional Airport Interim Executive Director Ralph Stewart said. Stewart also said that after Roeder was taken into custody, a backpack was found in the parking lot, but it was cleared by police.

Roeder is awaiting a preliminary hearing. Charging documents were not immediately available.
By Mark S. Singel

When President Trump announced the capture of Nicolas Maduro, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were on hand to provide the administrations spin on the whole adventure.

They stuck to the script that the extraction was about Maduros involvement in narco-terrorism even though Trump himself acknowledged within days the real reason for the attack: oil. What is emerging is a shocking new doctrine of American involvement in the affairs of sovereign nations. Essentially it says that America can do what it pleases, especially when rare earth minerals or other valuable resources are there for the taking.

This, of course, is not what the MAGA base had in mind when it whooped and hollered for Trump in the election. They were told that there would be no endless wars and that the focus would be on a domestic agenda that placed America First.

We have already seen reactions from friend and foe alike that the Venezuelan event has destabilized world politics.

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace says, China has shifted the focus of its Taiwan policy from primarily opposing independence to actively pursuing unification  Watching the international community accept recent U.S. actions will almost certainly convince Beijing that a military move against Taiwan ... would be far more justifiable and far easier for the world to swallow than the U.S. attack on Venezuela.

So how did we get to a foreign policy that gives adversaries like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin comfort and places allies like Europe in distress? 

Look no further than the photo opportunity that Trump staged recently in Mar-a-Lago. The bald guy at his right elbow is the strategist who has his fingers in every policy from foreign affairs to mass deportations to health care subsidies. His name is Stephen Miller and, as Deputy Chief of Staff, he has emerged as the chief propagandist of the Trump administration.

Within days of Venezuela, Miller was fanning the fires of another geo-political earthquake. In his view, the United States has a right to annex Greenland  whether by purchase or by force. European leaders who once scoffed at the idea are now alarmed.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark urged Mr. Trump to stop the threats to annex Greenland. She noted that the threats were unacceptable pressure on the entire NATO alliance, they must be taken seriously. As if to make that point, Trump pulled out of 66 separate alliances with NATO and UN countries. America will no longer come to the table with European allies on topics like economics, counterterrorism, climate change, energy and combating sex trafficking  just to name a few of the alliances being shattered.

Instead, we will be pursuing a world view developed and deployed by a single advisor who has made his biases against immigrants and most of the other nations on the planet abundantly clear. Miller told Jake Tapper of CNN: You can talk all you want about international niceties and everything else, but we live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.

Not only is this dangerous talk from a key advisor to the President of the United States, it represents a complete departure from the ideals of a republic that has prided itself on restraint and cooperation with our neighbors. The wanton exercise of superior power is the province ofself-serving authoritarians, not visionary world leaders.

Some Republicans pointed this out. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) called Millers comments really dumb. U.S. Senator Thom Tills (R-NC) said that Either Stephen Miller needs to get into a lane where he knows what hes talking about or get out of this job.

Fire Stephen Miller.

In addition to his tampering with the world map like it was his own game of Risk, Miller has done incalculable damage to the country with his immigration enforcement policies.

Despite recent restrictive Supreme Court rulings, Miller pushed the administrations anti-immigrant policies to the point where 2,000 ICE agents descended upon Minneapolis.

The governor and the mayor made it clear that federal intervention was not called for. There was no threat to the area or the country. Still, invading ICE agents armed to the teeth took to the streets to round up illegals.

The Minneapolis invasion, like the ones in Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland werethe direct result of pressure from Stephen Miller to reach a goal of 3,000 detentions per day  ten times the number of arrests in previous years.

Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot in the head as she was starting to drive away from ICE agents. This ignited protests all over the country.

Stephen Miller is the driving force behind this violence in our streets. He is the cheerleader for abandoning Europe allies and taking whatever territory we please. He is the proponent of a new world order that features might over right.

Fire Stephen Miller.

Mark Singel is a former lieutenant governor and former acting governor of Pennsylvania.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Author: Spencer Overton, George Washington University

One year after Donald Trumps second inauguration, a pattern emerges. Across dozens of executive orders, agency memos, funding decisions and enforcement changes, the administration has weakened federal civil rights law and the foundations of the countrys racially inclusive democracy.

From the start, the U.S. was not built to include everyone equally. The Constitution protected and promoted slavery. Most states limited voting to white men. Congress restricted naturalized citizenship to free white persons. These choices were not accidents. They shaped who could belong and who could exercise political power, and they entrenched a racial political majority that lasted for generations.

That began to change in the 1960s. After decades of protest and pressure, Congress enacted laws that prohibited discrimination in employment, education, voting, immigration and housing.

Federal agencies were charged with enforcing those laws, collecting data to identify discrimination and conditioning public funds on compliance. These choices reshaped U.S. demographics and institutions, with the current Congress the most racially and ethnically diverse in history, according to the Pew Research Center. The laws did not eliminate racial inequality, but they made exclusion easier to see and harder to defend.

The first year of the second Trump administration marks a sharp reversal.

Cumulative retreat

Rather than repealing civil rights statutes outright, the administration has focused on disabling the mechanisms that make those laws work.

Drawing on over two decades of teaching and writing about civil rights and my experience directing a GW Law project on inclusive democracy, I believe this pattern reflects not isolated administrative actions but a cumulative retreat from the federal governments role as an enforcer of civil rights law.

Over the past year, the president and his administration have taken a series of connected actions:

Civil rights, union and religious leaders board a dedicated Pennsylvania Railroad train from New York to Washington, D.C., to march in support of the bill that would become the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Bob Parent/Getty Images Bob Parent/Getty Images

The pattern is hard to miss

Taken together, these shifts have practical consequences.

When agencies stop collecting data on racial disparities, discrimination becomes harder to detect. When disparate impact analysis is abandoned, unfair practices with no legitimate purpose go unchallenged. When diversity programs are chilled through investigations and funding threats, institutions respond by narrowing opportunity. When history and language are recast as threats to unity, truth and freedom of speech and thought are suppressed and undermined.

Lyndon Johnson at the base of the Statue of Liberty on Oct. 3, 1965, before signing the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prohibited racial discrimination in the immigration process and repealed quotas heavily favoring immigration from northern and western Europe. Yoichi Okamoto, LBJ Library Yoichi Okamoto, LBJ Library

Administration officials argue that these steps are needed to prevent discrimination against white people, promote unity, ensure colorblind equality and comply with a Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action in college admissions. But that ruling did not ban awareness of racial inequality, or neutral policies aimed at reducing it. Many of the administrations actions rely on broad claims of illegality without providing specific violations.

The selective nature of enforcement is also telling.

Books about racism and civil rights were removed from military libraries, while books praising Nazi ideas or claiming racial intelligence differences were left untouched. The administration suspended admissions of refugees  over 90% of whom have been from Africa, Asia and Latin America in recent years  but then reopened the refugee program for white South Africans.

One year in, the pattern is hard to miss.

The administration is not simply applying neutral rules. It is dismantling the systems that once helped the U.S. move toward a more open and equal democracy. It is replacing them with policies that selectively narrow access to economic, cultural and educational participation.

The result is not simply a change in policy, but a fundamental shift in the trajectory of American democracy.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/12-ways-the-trump-administration-dismantled-civil-rights-law-and-the-foundations-of-inclusive-democracy-in-its-first-year-273433.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Author: Jeremy David Engels, Penn State

Before Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, he asked several of his friends to continue his lifes work building what he called beloved community. One of the people he invited was the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, poet and mindfulness teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.

My new book, On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World, is inspired by King and Hanhs friendship. These two men bonded over the shared insight that how we show up for each other matters, as does how we advocate for social change. In his sermon Loving Your Enemies King announced, Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. Hanh taught: There is no way to peace, peace is the way.

At the heart of beloved community is true democracy. To be agents of change who do not add to the suffering of the world, people must learn to become more loving and peaceful people.

The real enemies of man

Hanh was born in 1926 in central Vietnam. As a young Buddhist monk living in a nation confronted by colonialism, conflict and war, he developed the doctrine of engaged Buddhism, premised on the belief that working to relieve suffering in the world is enlightenment.

During the mid-1960s, amid the Vietnam War  Vietnamese call it the American War  Hanh founded the School of Youth for Social Services to practice engaged Buddhism and help those affected by the bombs raining down on their homes.

On June 1, 1965, Hanh wrote a letter to King to raise awareness of the suffering of the Vietnamese people. He also hoped to correct some common misconceptions about Buddhism.

His overarching point was that Buddhists in Vietnam did not hate Americans. In fact, they did not hate anyone. Their goal was simply to bring an end to war  and an end to the delusions that led to war. Their enemies are not man. They are intolerance, fanaticism, dictatorship, cupidity, hatred and discrimination which lie within the heart of man, he wrote. These are the real enemies of man  not man himself.

Hanh refused to take a side during the war. He stood for peace. His peace activism earned him a 39-year banishment from his homeland.

Continuing Kings dream

Marc Andrus, author of the 2021 book Brothers in the Beloved Community, notes that King and Hanh met in person twice: once in Chicago, on May 31, 1966, and a second time in May 1967, at the World Council of Churches Peace on Earth Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. In Geneva, King shared his understanding of the beloved community with Hanh, inviting him to participate in its construction.

In between these two meetings, King nominated Hanh for the 1967 Nobel Peace Prize, writing in his nomination letter, I know Thich Nhat Hanh, and am privileged to call him my friend. No award was given that year, however, perhaps to protest Kings choice to make his nomination letter public. Nominations were typically private, but King used his to call out the injustice of the Vietnam War.

Hanh was crushed when he learned of Kings death in 1968. I was in New York when I heard the news of his assassination; I was devastated. I could not eat; I could not sleep, he later recalled. I made a deep vow to continue building what he called the beloved community not only for myself but for him also. I have done what I promised Martin Luther King Jr. And I think that I have always felt his support.

Building beloved community

In the years after Kings murder, part of Hanhs life work was devoted to fulfilling Kings dream and building the beloved community.

Beloved community is not an abstraction. It is a loose-knit global community composed of a multitude of smaller, local communities committed to practicing peace, nonviolence, freedom, love and justice. Emerging from Kings activism and Hanhs engaged Buddhism, these communities are also committed to social change.

In 1982, Hanh and his student Sister Chan Khong established the Plum Village monastery in southern France. In the years since, the Plum Village community has founded dozens of monasteries around the world, including three in the United States: Blue Cliff in upstate New York, Deer Park outside San Diego, and Magnolia Grove in Mississippi.

Hanhs lay students have established thousands of smaller Plum Village sanghas  communities  in North America and Europe. These monasteries and sanghas serve as practice centers where people learn to embody the ideals of beloved community in their mindfulness practice and daily lives.

Thich Nhat Hanhs gravesite outside Hue, Vietnam. Jeremy Engels, CC BY Jeremy Engels, CC BY

Since the time of the Buddha, people committed to the path of mindfulness have agreed to live by a number of precepts. These precepts, typically numbering five, provide a moral foundation for action. Hundreds of thousands of people attending Plum Village retreats have agreed to live by the updated, secular version of the precepts that Hanh and his community wrote called the Five Mindfulness Trainings. These include: reverence for life, true happiness, true love, loving speech and deep listening, and nourishment and healing.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings are written to provide people with a practical path to building a shared life based in love, compassion, joy and peace: the type of life that both King and Hanh envisioned for all.

As Hanh told the global Plum Village community in a 2020 letter titled Climbing Together the Hill of the Century: We have continued that aspiration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and every day, our practice is to generate brotherhood and sisterhood, to cultivate joy and the capacity to help people. This is a concrete way to realize and continue that dream.

On MLK Day, their friendship and writings are a reminder that democracy rests on the ability of citizens to be present for each other, to recognize their interconnectedness, to embody loving kindness and to disagree without resorting to violence.

The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. The Conversation is wholly responsible for the content.
This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows the logo of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

by Xinhua writer Jiao Qian

GENEVA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's economic growth is forecast to exceed 5 percent this year, demonstrating strong resilience amid global headwinds and continuing to "contribute most to global growth," said Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

In an interview with Xinhua ahead of WEF's 2026 annual meeting, Brende said that China is not only consolidating its strengths in traditional sectors, but also actively expanding into new areas, driven by increased investment in research, development and innovation.

Brende expressed confidence in China's economic outlook, noting that if the country keeps on advancing economic reforms and sustaining investment in innovation and entrepreneurship, it will see continued growth and prosperity.

"China has already pivoted towards the fifth industrial revolution, which represents a major paradigm shift," said Brende. "Technologies offer huge opportunities for productivity gains and growth in the years to come, and China is a major contributor to that."

Brende highlighted China's global leadership in the manufacturing of wind turbines and solar equipment, as well as its significant role in electric vehicle (EV) production, with BYD and other Chinese EV brands gaining worldwide recognition.

From a global perspective, Brende said that despite geopolitical complexities and tariff impacts, the global economy has been "surprisingly resilient." While trade remains a crucial engine of growth, new technologies such as artificial intelligence are attracting substantial investment and helping drive global growth.

"We are most worried about major escalations of wars. That can kill global growth," Brende warned, adding that if such escalations can be avoided, global economic growth could exceed 3 percent in 2026.

Brende said that the Global Cooperation Barometer report recently released by WEF indicates that while multilateralism continues to face strong headwinds, global cooperation is evolving towards more flexible and smaller-scale mechanisms as traditional approaches weaken.

He affirmed China's important role in upholding multilateralism. He also stressed that the existing international institutions, like the United Nations, remain essential for addressing global challenges, such as pandemics and cyber crimes, and have contributed significantly to global prosperity since World War II.

The WEF Annual Meeting 2026 will be held from Jan. 19 to 23 in Davos, Switzerland, under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue." Nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries will engage in discussions on strengthening cooperation, unlocking new sources of growth, and investing in people.

Brende emphasized that in an increasingly fragmented and competitive world, dialogue remains critical to moving the world forward.

"Dialogue is not a luxury; it is a necessity," he said. 

Borge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum (WEF), speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

The logo of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is pictured at the WEF headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Double Delight For Sheils as He Takes Down GUKPT London Main Event

Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link

Less than a week ago, Brandon Sheils emerged victorious from the 2,500 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller at the 2026 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) London festival, and helped himself to the 49,560 top prize. Today, Sheils is making his way back home with the winner's trophy and 88,760 top prize from the 1,250 GUKPT London Main Event.

A field of 368 entrants created a 383,060 prize pool that the top 44 finishers shared. Sheils jumped into the Main Event immediately after being crowned the High Roller champion, and bagged up the fourth-largest stack. The grinder built on that early momentum and became a popular and worthy GUKPT champion.

Several top drawer players cashed on the Main Event, but fell short of the nine-handed final table. Jack Hardcastle, Ali Sarkeshik, Mariusz Czech, Jamie O'Connor, Lorenc Boci, John Bousfield, Jamie Walden, and Longmao Fan all crashed out in the money place.

Gary Fisher, a fifth-place finisher in the $1,000 Super Seniors at the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP), busted in tenth, and the final table was set.

2026 GUKPT London Main Event Final Table Results

Rank Player Prize 1 Brandon Sheils 88,760 2 Mehdi Chaoui 59,300 3 Giorgos Onisiforou 39,030 4 Peter Stewart 25,780 5 Vikrum Mehta 17,550 6 Vitalie Grecul 12,710 7 Paul Vas Nunes 9,850 8 Joseph Field 7,970 9 Jacob Mulhearn 6,620

Yorkshireman Jacob Mulhearn was the first finalist to find himself heading to the cashier's desk. Mulhearn committed his last 15 big blinds with pocket tens, which were flipped against the ace-queen in Mehdi Chaoui's hand. An ace on the flop proved enough to reduce the player count again.

Eighth place went to Joseph Field, who had his aces cracked by the lowly seven-deuce. All the chips went piling into the middle on the turn of a ten-queen-seven-five board that showed two hearts. Field held a pair of red aces, and Vitalie Grecul held the seven-deuce of hearts. The nine of hearts landed on the river, improving Grecul to a flush, and leaving Field with a bad beat story, albeit one that also came with 7,970.

The dangerous Paul Vas Nunes bowed out in seventh after losing a coin flip against Vikram Mehta. Van Nunes' last nine big blinds went into the pot with pocket nines, which needed to hold against Mehta's ace-jack. They remained the best hand on the flop, but a jack on the turn left Vas Nunes needing a miracle two outer on the river. No such miracle occurred, and Vas Nunes headed for the exits.

Romania's Grecul crashed out in sixth place and got his hands on the tournament's first five-figure prize. Having earlier busted Field with seven-deuce, Grecul got a taste of his own medicine when he clashed with Cypriot Giorgos Onisiforou. Grecul got his stack in with king-queen on the turn of a four-king-six-seven board, only for Onisiforou to snap-call and show a straight with a flush redraw with his eight-five of diamonds. A queen on the river improved Grecul to two pair, but it wasn't strong enough to save his tournament life.

The final five became four when Mehta's ten big blind shove with ace-ten lost to the pocket fives of Mehdi. Had Mehta come out on top in this tournament, he would have become a two-time GUKPT Main Event champion, having triumphed in Luton in 2019. However, the Poker Gods were not with him on this occasion, and he had to make do with a 17,550 haul instead.

Paul Stewart was the next player to be showered. Stewart moved all-in for 12 big blinds with ace-six, and Sheils looked him up with king-queen of diamonds. Sheils improved to a flush, and Stewart was eliminated, leaving only three players in the hunt for the title.

Third place and 39,030 went to Onisiforou after a clash with Sheils didn't go to plan. Onisiforou min-raised with ace-king of spades before calling off his final 17 big blinds when Sheils jammed on him with ten-nine of clubs. A nine on the turn was enough to send the Main Event into the heads-up stages.

Brandon Sheils Kicks Off 2026 With a GUKPT High Roller Victory Read our recap

Sheils held a 64 to 31 big blind advantage going into heads-up, but a victory was far from guaranteed. Chaoui is a vastly experienced player, one with over $3.5 million in winnings, and he was not about to go down without a fight. Indeed, Mehdi drew level a couple of times, and a stalemate ensued, with neither player able to shake off the other.

Something finally gave during the 60,000/120,000 level, around ten hours into the final day's action. Chaoui min-raised with five-trey of clubs, Sheils called with seven-five, and the dealer fanned the seven-ace-ace flop, which had tw clubs. Sheils check-called a continuation bet on the flop before check-calling a chunky bet on the turn when another seven double-paired the board. The river was a non-club nine, and Sheils checked again. Chaoui jammed all-in for a pot-sized bet, giving Sheils a decision to make. Sheils deduced his opponent didn't have an ace and made the call. Chaoui showed the bluff, and Sheils won his second title in the space of a few days.

2026 GUKPT London Results

Event Entrants Prize Pool Champion Prize 1,250 Main Event 368 383,060 Brandon Sheils 88,760 2,500 High Roller 72 157,310 Brandon Sheils 49,560 500 G500 513 219,300 James Mitchell 47,770 340 Mini Main 758 214,520 Anthony Desai 45,000 550 GUKPT Cup 177 84,540 Keith Littlewood 19,680 1,100 PLO High Roller 63 59,850 Daniel James 19,420 250 PLO 4/5/6 Card 114 23,830 Maksims Uskovs 6,320 200 Turbo 86 14,700 Patrick Brown 4,560 200 Closer 77 13,170 Arun Sood 4,150 330 PLO Bounty 29 4,130 Maksims Uskovs 1,650

Next Up on the GUKPT: The Grosvenor UK Poker Open

Andrew Hulme, the reigning UK Poker Open champion

Players don't have long to wait before the next stop of the 2026 GUKPT because the Grosvenor UK Poker Open kicks off in Coventry from February 1. Running until February 17, the UK Poker Open features a bustling schedule, including a 1,500 buy-in Main Event that has a cool 1 million guaranteed prize pool.

Last year, Andrew "Stato_1" Hulme outlasted 950 opponents on his way to banking 219,720 of the 1,219,660 prize pool.

Satellites are available at the Grosvenor G Casino in Coventry from February 1, or right now online at Grosvenor Poker.

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Day 2 of the 2,750 High Roller concluded inside the Merit Royal Splendid Casino in Budva as the field grew to 128 total entries by the time late registration closed. A total of 42 new entries were added on Day 2, pushing the prize pool to 294,400. By the end of play, just 17 players remained, all of whom return for the final day in the money.

Leading the way at the close of Day 2 is Davor Pistalo, who carries 1,800,000 into the final day. Sitting close behind is Giorgiy Skhulukhiya with 1,675,000, while Nazar Buhaiov rounds out the top three on 1,595,000. Only Timur Margolin (1,450,000) and Andrey Golubev (1,285,000) are the other players to be in the seven-figure club of chips.

Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Davor Pistalo Croatia 1,800,000 72 2 Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Georgia 1,675,000 67 3 Nazar Buhaiov Ukraine 1,595,000 64 4 Timur Margolin Israel 1,450,000 58 5 Andrey Golubev Kazakhstan 1,285,000 51 6 Bojan Berberovic Serbia 765,000 31 7 Fabrizio Lo Carbo Italy 650,000 26 8 Illia Petrytsia Ukraine 605,000 24 9 Nikolai Ivanov Russia 585,000 23 10 Seref Anar Turkey 575,000 23

Day 2 Action

Once late registration had closed and the official prize pool was announced, it didn't take too long for the eliminations to start coming in. Mikhail Zavoloka was fresh off his fifth-place finish in the Merit Poker Cup and probably oozing with confidence. However, a limp-jam with sevens into Jon Kyte's cowboys didn't go his way and he was just as quickly out of the tournament as he was in.

Third-placed Golubev won a pivotal flip against Mikhail Ketlerov to help him gain some momentum. Kyte was on track for cash number two of the series, but that dream came to an abrupt end thanks to Srdan Milicevic. First, Milicevic got lucky to beat the queens of Kyte with ace-jack, then not long after, he finished Kyte off by spiking a set of eights to trump Kyte's jacks.

Srdan Milicevic

When the play got down to the final three tables of 21, the play slowed considerably, due to the fact only a few spots separated the remaining players and the money. Erdal Gulseven had been on the wrong end of a cooler before he jammed the flop with a king-high flush draw only to be in horrible shape against Caner Gunes' nut flush draw. No improvement for Gulseven meant he was out of the tournament.

Toni Ravnak attempted to bust Charbel Salloum on the soft bubble by jamming jack-five off blind-on-blind, but Salloum made the correct call for his tournament life, holding king-ten. A ten on the flop sealed it and Ravnak was left with just a few big blinds. Ravnak couldn't pull off a spin-up as he ended up busting to Buhaiov's straight a few hands later, sending the tournament onto the direct bubble.

Toni Ravnak

Pistalo had a rough day at the tables yesterday, but came in ready to play today and quietly built up his chip stack early in the day, and after the dinner break and closing of registration, Pistalo had already nestled himself around the top of the counts. The surviving short stacks have Pistalo to thank, as he was the player to burst the bubble in the last hand of the night.

Russia's Sergey Kudryavtsev was the clear short-stack and he knew he was the odds-on most likely one to be the last player to leave empty-handed. So, first he shoved the button and picked up the blinds, increasing his stack by 25%, then the next hand, he jammed the cutoff with king-eight suited, but Pistalo was lying in wait with cowboys. Kudryavtsev picked up a lot of outs on the turn, but a brick on the river sealed his fate as the bubble boy of the tournament.

Blaz Zerjav

Some other notable players making it through to the final day include Bojan Berberovic (765,000), who just finished fourth in the Merit Poker Cup. Also surviving today's grind is Fabrizio Lo Carbo (650,000) thanks to doubling up with aces on the bubble, two-time bracelet winner Blaz Zerjav (480,000), Day 1 chip leader Nemanja Tatar (385,000), and Merit Poker Regular Chady Ojeil (245,000), who despite sitting at the bottom of the pack, has the experience to know how to work a short-stack.

All those coming back for the final day have locked up at least a min-cash of 4,000 and will return on January 19 at 1 p.m. local time to play down to a winner. Action resumes with four minutes left at Level 21, where blinds are 10,000/25,000 and a 25,000 big blind ante, as attention turns to the final table and beyond, where 75,000 awaits the eventual High Roller champion.

Payouts

Place Prize (EUR) 1 75,000 2 52,000 3 37,000 4 27,600 5 21,000 6 16,300 7 12,400 8 9,400 9 7,100 10-11 5,500 12-13 4,500 14-17 4,000

Stay locked in with PokerNews for Day 3, as the tournament plays down to a winner and the newest Merit Poker High Roller champion is crowned.
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Clear to partly cloudy. Cold. Low near 25F. Winds light and variable.
ISTANBUL, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police have detained 259 suspects in nationwide operations targeting cybercrimes across 37 provinces over the past five days, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Monday.

Yerlikaya said on social media platform X that the operations were carried out as part of efforts to combat cybercrime, including aggravated fraud, online child sexual abuse and harassment, and illegal betting.

According to the minister, of the 259 suspects detained, 131 have been formally arrested, while 66 were released under judicial control. Legal proceedings against the remainder are ongoing.

He said the suspects were involved in a range of illegal activities, including defrauding citizens through social media platforms and phishing websites by using schemes such as product sales scams, account rentals, fake property sales, and vehicle rental fraud.

The suspects were also found to have gained unauthorized access to mobile banking and online gaming accounts, organized and facilitated illegal betting and gambling, acted as intermediaries for money transfers on illegal betting sites, promoted such platforms, and hosted child sexual abuse material, according to official statements. 
PR-Inside.com: 2026-01-19 21:36:14

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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 19, 2026 / Leading international securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE) and certain of the Company's senior executives for securities fraud after a significant stock drop resulting from the potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Alexandria Real Estate, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/alexandria-real-estate-class-action-lawsuit Investors have until January 26, 2026, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Alexandria Real Estate securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is captioned Hern v. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., et al., No. 2:25-cv- 11319.Why is Alexandria Real Estate Being Sued For Securities Fraud?Alexandria Real Estate is a real estate investment trust. Its tenants are concentrated in life science industries, such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.During the relevant period, Alexandria Real Estate touted its leasing volume and development pipeline, specifically regarding a property in Long Island City, New York, stating that leasing volume was "solid" and its pipeline was "well positioned to capture future demand when expansion needs arise." As alleged, in truth, Alexandria Real Estate was experiencing lower occupancy rates and slower leasing activity such that it was required to take a real estate impairment charge of $323.9 million with $206 million attributed to its Long Island City property.Why did Alexandria Real Estate's Stock Drop?On October 27, 2025, Alexandria Real Estate announced results below expectations for 3Q 2025 and cut guidance for the remainder of the fiscal year. The company attributed the results to lower occupancy rates and slower leasing activity. It also announced a real estate impairment charge of $323.9 million with $206 million attributed to its Long Island City property, stating that the property was not a life science destination that could scale. Alexandria Real Estate also announced additional impairment charges that may be recognized in 4Q 25 ranging from $0 to $685 million. This news caused the price of Alexandria Real Estate stock to drop $14.93 per share, or more than 19%, from a closing price of $77.87 per share on October 27, 2025, to $62.94 per share on October 28, 2025.Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/alexandria-real-estate-class-action-lawsuit What Can You Do?If you invested in Alexandria Real Estate you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Adam McCall adam@ bfalaw.com 212.789.3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named "Elite Trial Lawyers" by the National Law Journal, among the top "500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers" by Lawdragon, "Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar" by Law360 and "SuperLawyers" by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 19, 2026 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Phoenix Education Partners, Inc. ("Phoenix" or "the Company") (NYSE:PXED). Investors who purchased Phoenix securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/PXED Phoenix Investigation DetailsOn January 3, 2026, Fox News published an article entitled "University of Phoenix data breach hits 3.5M people." The story stated that the "University of Phoenix has confirmed a major data breach affecting nearly 3.5 million people. The incident traces back to August when attackers accessed the university's network and quietly stole sensitive information." Following this news, Phoenix's stock price dropped.What's Next for Phoenix Investors?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased Phoenix securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/PXED . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 917-590-0911No Cost to Phoenix InvestorsWe, Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC for Phoenix Securities Investigation?Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide."Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace," said Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or Instagram.Contact InfoPeretz Bronstein, Esq. or Nathan MillerBronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC 917-590-0911 | info@ bgandg.com Attorney advertising.Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Geregu Power Plc posted a 0.6 per cent drop in net profit to N27.3 billion for the full year 2025, compared to the previous year, according to its audited financial report issued on Monday.

The power utility recorded a profit decline despite a marked improvement in turnover, as cost pressures eroded earnings.

Revenue for the period under review jumped by more than one-third to N184.9 billion, boosted by a notable increase in energy sold, which rose to N120.8 billion from N87.5 billion a year earlier. Capacity charge, the companys second major income source, also expanded, climbing by 29.1 per cent to N64.1 billion. Other income stood at N1.8 billion in contrast to a loss of N583.8 million a year ago.

Administrative expenses surged by 82 per cent to N17.8 billion, driven by a sharp rise in administrative costs.

Last month, Femi Otedola, the chairman of First HoldCo Plc, sold his majority shareholding in the power utility to Abuja-based Maam Energy Limited in a deal valued at $750 million. According to insiders, a group of lenders led by Zenith Bank facilitated the transaction, with BlackBirch Capital acting as the financial adviser.

Geregu Powers net finance cost in the period under review soared by 265.5 per cent to N6.2 billion. Profit before tax climbed by 1.7 per cent to N42 billion from N41.3 billion, while profit after tax fell to N27.3 billion from N27.4 billion.

Total assets were up by 25.3 per cent at N305 billion from N243.5 billion a year ago.

The company has proposed a dividend of N9 per share for the year, equivalent to a payout of N22.5 billion, subject to shareholders approval at the next annual general meeting.

The planned cash distribution represents a 5.9 per cent increase over the amount the company paid shareholders in the 2024 financial year. Market capitalisation stood at N2.9 trillion at the end of trade on Monday.
Filmmaker and producer Kunle Afolayan has cast Portuguese movie star Pedro Teixeira and the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in his upcoming film, Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens.

Afolayan disclosed this while unveiling the thriller for the second season of his epic series, Anikulapo, on his Instagram page on Monday.

The film is scheduled for release on Netflix on 30 January.

The original Anikulapo movie premiered on Netflix in September 2022, while the first series, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, was released in March 2024.

Teixeira and Ms Dabiri-Erewa were among the newly added cast, alongside Bukunmi KieKie Adeaga-Ilori, Teniola Aladese, Antar Laniyan, Joke Muyiwa, Saidi Balogun, Adeoluwa Saga Okusaga and Tayo Faniran, among others.

As of press time, the roles Teixeira and Ms Dabiri-Erewa played in the film were unknown. The project marks Dabiri-Erewas acting debut, while Teixeira is known for his roles in films such as Festa e Festa, Irregular and Destinos Cruzados.

Returning acts

Returning actors from the first series include Sola Sobowale as Awarun, Bimbo Ademoye as Arolake, Owobo Ogunde as Bashorun, Taiwo Hassan as Alaafin Ademuyiwa, Gabriel Afolayan, Lateef Adedimeji, Ronke Oshodi-Oke, Moji Afolayan, Aisha Lawal, Adebayo Salami, Jide Kosoko, and Eyiyemi Afolayan.

The 51-year-old stated that Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens was filmed across KAP Film Village and Resort in Oyo State, Nigeria, and in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Once power is awakened, it demands a price. From Oyo to foreign lands, love is tested, and loyalties are shaken. This season, survival is a real crown, and everything you think you know will be questioned. Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens arrives on January 30 on Netflix only, he wrote.

Afolayan appreciated Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for his support and for his role in the films success.

Plot

The first season centres on Saro, a traveller who, after returning from the afterlife, receives a mystical amulet from the Messenger of Death that grants him magical powers.

Despite this gift, Saro becomes entangled in a complicated romance with Arolake, the daughter of a palm wine tapper.

READ ALSO: Kunle Afolayan announces release date for Anikulapo season 2

His distraction from the mission leads the series to explore themes of betrayal, power struggles, and revenge.

Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre follows Saro, a weaver with resurrection powers, as he faces new challenges and consequences.

He is tasked with eliminating those he revived and confronts a formidable new antagonist, Bashorun, while grappling with his enduring connection to death and his past actions in the 17th-century Oyo Empire.

Dabiri-Erewa started her career at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

During her 15 years, she anchored the weekly NTA Newsline programme and took a particular interest in poverty and social justice.

She retired from her position at NTA to contest the House of Representatives seat. She won in 2003 and represented Ikorodu Constituency in Lagos State.

She was re-elected in 2007 and 2011 before she was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in 2015.
In October 2023, a US citizen committed suicide after he lost his life savings to a romance scam carried out by a network of fraudsters, including Nigerians living in the US and Nigeria.

The fraud victim was a retired American teacher who resided in the eastern district of Tennessee.

Court documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that the American, identified simply as victim 1, was defrauded in a sextortion plot, resulting in the loss of over $80,000. A sum that made up his entire life-saving.

The plot occurred from February to October 2023, while the criminal group generally operated between February 2023 and February 2024.

Although the members of the criminal network operating in Nigeria have yet to be identified, the two other members residing in the US have been convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The two, Chinagorom Onwumere and Stephen Anagor, were sentenced by the US District Court in Tennessee in December 2025 for their role in the international romance scam scheme.

The scheme also involved a Sudanese woman, Salma Abdalkareem, who received a sentence of four years and three months imprisonment.

Mr Onwumere and Mrs Abdalkareem had served as the groups money mules, receiving payments from victims and sending them to Nigeria through a business account named Salmasam LLC.

The court papers showed that they were married and shared a residence in New Jersey, while Mr Onwumere resided in Washington.

The charges against the three co-conspirators were detailed in a thirty-eight-count superseding indictment.

The sextortion plot

The interaction between the retired teacher and the Nigerian fraudsters began as a romance scam.

Through a fake Google chat account, the victim was deceived into believing that he was in a romantic relationship with a popular female actress. The celebritys identity was not revealed in the document.

As the relationship grew, the scammer and the victim began exchanging intimate photos as a romantic gesture. The criminal network in Nigeria shared a doctored nude photo of the celebrity they were impersonating to the victim.

After this, their interaction grew into a sextortion.

A few weeks after sending the photos, the Nigerian fraudsters impersonated high-level FBI officials and the US Attorney General, claiming that the images had been leaked to the public and that the retired teacher was the prime suspect.

They threatened the victim with criminal actions and demanded a series of fines. First, they asked for a $1,500 mandatory fee.

Then, they intensified the pressure by threatening the victim with false prosecution, claiming that the Supreme Court had ordered him to pay tens of thousands of dollars to seal the case and shield it from public disclosure.

They made the victim believe that if he didnt do what they wanted, he would have to testify in front of his family publicly and everyone else about the affair.

Due to the persistent harassment, the victim got two cashiers cheques for $41,000 each, which were his life savings, and sent them to the network.

But the pressure continued, forcing the victim to send suicidal messages to them. The victim shot himself through the mouth in October 2023.

Salma Abdalkareem, Chinagorom Onwumere, Stephen O Anagor, and other persons who are known and unknown to the Grand Jury did knowingly and intentionally, with the intent to harass and intimidate this person, and attempted to cause and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person, that is, Victim 1.

As a result, on or about October 23, 2023, the victim died. Victim 1s cause of death was suicide, and the manner of death was an intraoral gunshot wound of the head, a part of the documents read.

Emails, chat messages with the victim

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a document containing the parties email and Google Chat correspondence.

In the chat, the victim was deceived into swearing an oath requiring them to provide mutual assistance.

I promise to assist one another in anything, emotional and financial needs [sic]. Let this oath bind this love forever. Forever and forever till death do us part, a part of the text read.

One of the emails, purported to have been sent by a top US official, reads: The attorneys $41,000 goes towards closing your case file. The $40,000 mandated by the Supreme Court seals all evidence, and whatever was against you will be null and void. This payment is very important unless you are prepared to appear in court with your entire family to defend yourself in front of the world.

Another email threatening the victim for a late response read, If you ever ignore a message from us for 10 hours, youll pay $1,000 per hour until you respond!!!.

All the money paid by the victim was sent to Nigeria to Mr Onwumere and his wife, Mrs Abdalkareem.

The two also received and laundered checks from seven other victims of the scam. Altogether, the network defrauded eight Americans of nearly $400,000.

As a result, the court ordered the convicts to pay $388,500 in restitution to the victims.

The role of the money mule

The couple, Mr Onwumere and Mrs Abdalkareem, became a part of the criminal network through Mr Anagor.

Mr Anagor recruited the couple after meeting Mr Onwumere during a military training in South Carolina in June 2023.

The court documents revealed that Mrs Abdulkareem negotiated her cut from the money paid to her.

At her husbands direction, Mrs Abdulkareem would withdraw her share from the funds sent to her and then send the rest to her co-conspirators in Nigeria.

They also jointly operated the bank accounts and Salmasam LLC, which was used to receive and launder the proceeds of the fraudulent activity.

Meanwhile, their Nigerian partners impersonated three other female celebrities to gain their victims trust.

According to the documents, although the money mules, particularly Mrs Abdalkareem, did not know the details of their Nigerian partners interactions with the victims, they knew the funds paid into their accounts were obtained through fraud.

The court documents also revealed that during the proceedings, Mrs Abdalkareem filed objections to the charges against her.

READ ALSO: Ghanaian authorities arrest 32 Nigerians for cybercrime

She argued that her role in the scheme was minor and sought a reduced sentence, but the court rejected this, finding she was fully aware of the scam, performed tasks, and communicated directly with one of the co-conspirators in Nigeria.

She also requested first-time offender leniency, but the court denied this because she personally caused substantial financial harm by depositing $86,500 of a victims life savings into accounts she controlled.

She also contested the total loss amount, claiming she should be responsible only for the money she personally handled, but the court ruled she was accountable for all foreseeable losses arising from the conspiracy.

Mrs Abdalkareem also pleaded guilty to three specific counts. That is, counts 2 (conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud) and 29 and 31 (aiding and abetting money laundering).

In its ruling, the court ordered that all money and property linked to the crimes be taken, including more than $13,000 from Mrs Abdalkareems bank account.

Upon release, Mr Onwumere and Mr Anagor will serve five years of supervised release, while Ms Abdulkareem will serve three years.
A visitor takes photos at the visitor service center in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 18, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

A drone photo taken from Yuhu Village shows a view of Yulong Snow Mountain, in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

Forest rangers of Yuhu Village conduct patrols at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 18, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows an exterior view of the visitor service center in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

A worker hooks tiles onto a crane at a construction site in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 18, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

People work at the construction site of a homestay in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A villager introduces the features of traditional Naxi architecture in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A drone photo taken from Yuhu Village shows a sunrise view of Yulong Snow Mountain in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 18, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Gao Yongwei)

A senior citizen walks in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

People visit a horse farm in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A drone photo taken from Yuhu Village shows a sunrise view of Yulong Snow Mountain, in Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 18, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

Visitors hike in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

Visitors make pastries with flower filling in Yuhu Village, Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

People visit the Yuhu Village of Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 17, 2026. Yuhu Village, nestled in Baisha Township of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County in the city of Lijiang in Yunnan, is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi ethnic people. The village was once among the poorest villages in Lijiang because of its poor soil and limited transportation links.

In recent years, Yuhu has developed a distinct path that balances economic growth with environmental protection. Leveraging its well-preserved Naxi cultural heritage and exceptional natural scenery, the village has attracted visitors from around the world. At the same time, it has continued to improve infrastructure and public services, attracting a growing number of residents to return home for businesses.

In 2025, Yuhu Village welcomed about 1.2 million visits, generating 75 million yuan (10.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue -- with the average income of locals increasing from 13,000 yuan (1,865 U.S. dollars) in 2019 to about 35,000 yuan (5,022 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the Nigerian government to clarify the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on health cooperation signed with the United States.

The opposition party cited what it said were conflicting public statements by both governments about the agreement.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Nigeria and the United States signed the five-year MoU on 19 December 2025. In a statement released the next day, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare described it as a technical framework to strengthen health security, expand primary healthcare and increase domestic health financing.

The ministry said the MoU would enhance collaboration on disease surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory systems, frontline health workers, data systems and access to essential health commodities, while supporting Nigerias shift towards increased domestic health financing.

However, a statement issued on 21 December by the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria presented the agreement differently. The US statement said the MoU places a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers.

It also said the agreement was negotiated in connection with reforms to prioritise the protection of Christian populations from extremist violence.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and dated 18 January, the ADC said the divergence raised serious concerns about transparency, constitutional compliance and Nigerias sovereignty.

Conflicting framings

The ADC said while the federal government presented the MoU as technical and inclusive, the US description introduced religious, identity-based framing, indicating that spending under the agreement should be targeted at health institutions backed by a particular religion.

The party said the US Embassys statement explicitly noted that the MoU places a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers and provides approximately $200 million in dedicated support to Christian clinics and hospitals.

It said these elements were absent from the Nigerian governments public explanation of the agreement.

The ADCs concerns come amid heightened international attention to religious violence in Nigeria, especially from the US.

US President Donald Trump, in October 2025, designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing severe religious freedom violations and persecution, especially against Christians.

However, the Nigerian government has repeatedly rejected claims that violence in the country targets Christians only, describing the crisis as complex and driven by ethnic tensions, and a general security crisis that affects people of all faiths.

It is our considered view that the Nigerian government should not enter into any agreement that is sectional or potentially inimical to Nigerias constitutional commitment to inclusion and national unity, the ADC said.

Termination clauses, sovereignty concerns

The ADC also drew attention to the US statements reference to Washingtons right to pause or terminate programmes under the MoU if they no longer align with US national interests.

It said such conditionalities were conspicuously missing from the federal governments account and questioned why they were not disclosed to Nigerians.

The party argued that the differences between the two accounts could not be dismissed as a communications issue.

However, it said the situation raised fundamental questions about which version of the MoU reflected the actual terms agreed to by both countries.

Nigerians are entitled to know which version of this agreement reflects what was actually signed, and why such consequential differences exist between Abujas account and Washingtons, the statement said.

Constitutional issues

While affirming its support for foreign assistance and bilateral cooperation to strengthen Nigerias healthcare system, the ADC said such partnerships must comply with constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination.

For the avoidance of doubt, Section 42(1) states: No citizen of Nigeria shall be discriminated against on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, or political opinion, the party said.

It also cited Sections 15 and 17 of the Constitution, which impose a duty on the state to promote national integration and guarantee equality of rights and opportunities.

The ADC said any international agreement, or public framing of such an agreement, that introduces identity-based distinctions into the provision of public services raises serious constitutional and national cohesion concerns.

Funding imbalance

According to figures released by both governments, the United States is expected to provide nearly $2 billion in grant support over five years, while Nigeria has committed close to $3 billion in domestic health financing over the same period.

It is difficult to justify an arrangement in which Nigeria bears the larger financial burden, yet decisions regarding target beneficiaries and the discretion to pause or terminate cooperation appear to rest outside the country, the ADC said.

The ADC, therefore, called on the federal government to come clean by publishing the full text of the signed MoU, including any annexes or accompanying instruments.

It also asked the government to clearly explain whether the identity-based and security-linked elements referenced by the United States form part of the agreement Nigeria actually signed or exist solely within foreign policy interpretations.

Nigerians deserve a clear explanation of how this agreement aligns with the Constitution and preserves Nigerias sovereign authority over its public policy choices, the party said.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed the cancellation of the United States-funded study on hepatitis B vaccines involving newborns in Guinea-Bissau, following ethical concerns.

The Deputy Incident Manager for Mpox at Africa CDC, Yap Boum, disclosed this on Monday during a webinar briefing.

Mr Boum disclosed that the study did not meet acceptable ethical standards, adding that the Africa CDC supports research that informs public health policy.

He emphasised that all studies conducted on the continent must strictly adhere to internationally recognised ethical principles.

He explained that the proposed research design raised serious concerns, particularly the possibility of delaying access to a life-saving hepatitis B vaccine for some newborns.

The study, reportedly funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, was intended to examine the timing of hepatitis B vaccination in infants in Guinea-Bissau.

However, public health experts and ethicists criticised the proposal, warning that withholding or delaying a proven vaccine in a high-burden setting can expose infants to avoidable health risks.

Hepatitis B remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where infection in early life significantly increases the risk of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer, he stressed.

He revealed that Guinea-Bissau currently administers the hepatitis B vaccine at six weeks of age due to logistical and supply constraints, though global health guidelines recommend a birth-dose vaccine to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the controversy in the United States-funded study stems from public and scientific criticism of the trials ethical design, with many experts questioning whether it would meet US standards for research involving infants.

Critics argue that delaying a proven hepatitis B vaccine in African newborns will be unethical, raising concerns about double standards in global health research, potential harm to vulnerable infants, and the reputation of US-funded studies abroad.

These criticisms prompted scrutiny from both US and African health authorities, ultimately contributing to the studys cancellation.

Meanwhile, Public Health observers say the cancellation of the study underscores growing scrutiny of externally funded health research in Africa and renewed calls for stronger ethical oversight, local ownership and accountability in clinical trials conducted on the continent.

(NAN)
Ned Nwoko, senator representing Delta North, has explained why Izuvegbu Ann Anthonet, a friend of his estranged wife, filmmaker and actress Regina Daniels, was arrested.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Regina alleged her friend was arrested in Lagos and questioned the legality of the detention.

In a statement posted on her Facebook page on 13 January, the 25-year-old actress claimed that Ann was arrested without committing any offence, raising concerns for both her friends safety and her own.

She also alleged a series of shifting accusations against Ann, ranging from drug-related claims to theft, which she said were being levelled by the lawmaker.

Responding to the allegations, the 65-year-old, through a statement posted on his X page and issued by his communications team on Monday, dismissed Reginas account as false, reckless, and deliberately intended to distort the facts.

Offence

Opening up on Anns offences, he said: Ms Izuegbu Anthonet was arrested in connection with criminally defamatory statements she publicly made, alleging that Senator Ned Munir Nwoko physically assaulted his wife, Mrs Laila Nwoko, resulting in a miscarriage. These claims are entirely false. No such incident occurred, and no miscarriage resulted from any alleged violence. The statements were made without evidence and form part of a coordinated attempt to reinforce previously circulated and unsubstantiated domestic violence allegations.

Ms Izuegbu Anthonet is also implicated in the procurement of an illegal abortion for Regina Daniels during her lawful marriage to Senator Ned Munir Nwoko. This incident occurred after the marriage, notwithstanding subsequent attempts to reframe the timeline. The legality of the act does not change based on narrative adjustments. The matter is on record and has previously been publicly referenced by Regina herself.

Allegations

Mr Nwoko further alleged that Ann caused the death of his unborn child by making Regina.

Essentially, Ann killed Senator Ned Nwokos unborn child. The circumstances of the illegal abortion were gruesome. Ann caused Regina to swallow a bunch of weed that left her bleeding for weeks. A formal witness statement dated 29 October 2025, submitted to the Area Commander, Maitama Police Station, details repeated and ongoing activities involving Ms Izuegbu Anthonet and others.

The statement noted that Ms Izuegbu Anthonet routinely sourced, handled, and administered controlled and illegal substances to Regina and associated individuals. It further indicates the existence of identifiable suppliers, corroborative observations, and supporting details that are already available to law enforcement authorities. These matters are presently under investigation by the appropriate agencies, said the lawmaker.

Mr Nwoko stated that Anns arrest followed a public social media post in which she issued threats, made derogatory remarks, and repeated defamatory accusations against both him and Mrs Laila.

According to him, the post amounted to provocation, intimidation, and criminal defamation under the law.

He added, It is important to emphasise that this matter is not a social media dispute but a law-enforcement issue grounded in evidence, witness testimony, and due process. Any attempt to mischaracterise the arrest as suppression or victimisation is false and misleading.

The Senator and his family will continue to respect the ongoing investigation and will not engage in trial by social media. We urge the public to rely on verified facts and allow the law to take its full course.

Backstory

The newspaper reported that the dispute between the lawmaker and the actress began in October 2025.

The dispute emerged after Regina alleged that Mr Nwoko physically assaulted her.

Mr Nwoko, however, denied the claims, countering that the actress abused drugs.

He also held Regina responsible for the breakdown of their marriage, adding that he had made multiple attempts to secure professional help for her.

As of press time, Regina hasnt responded to the allegations Mr Nwoko made against her friend, which he said led to her arrest.
Non-state actors are unrelenting in deepening the insurgency in the North-east, despite renewed efforts by the military to crush them. The Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP), one of the fundamentalist groups active in the region, plans to deploy more drones in attacking military bases this year. This would lead to a dangerous escalation of our insecurity crisis if this becomes a reality.

A news report published by this newspaper last week, based on a confidential security assessment it sighted, revealed that ISWAP has enriched or expanded its drone capability, and it is on the cusp of launching well-coordinated aerial assaults against military facilities in Borno and Yobe states. A swift pre-emptive strategic response is needed to contain this threat quickly.

Between 2023 and October 2025, these terrorists deployed some unmanned aerial vehicles. Four of them, armed with locally made grenades, were used in attacking the militarys Forward Operating Base in Wajikoro, Borno State. The assault left five soldiers wounded. The military responded with aerial and ground strikes, which resulted in the death of about 50 insurgents.

A similar attack happened in Dikwa in October, which Governor Babagana Zulum spoke about in Mafa town, while commiserating with victims of terror attacks. He said, This is frightening. In Dikwa, I was told that drone was used. The proliferation of drones, particularly in the hands of non-state actors, is of great concern (to) the entire country.

The daring-do of terrorists in using drone technology to reinforce their ordnance coincides with the time Nigeria and the US recently forged a strong partnership against them, following the diplomatic row that arose from President Donald Trumps redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.

As such, Nigeria needs to critically evaluate this new threat and seek tailored assistance from nations that have successfully waged asymmetric warfare. In the present circumstance, strengthening our airspace and defence mechanisms towards detecting and destroying rogue drones is imperative.

Hence, we believe that Nigeria needs to urgently partner with well-meaning countries worldwide that have the technological capabilities and materiel to help neutralise this and other sophisticated security threats, and are willing to offer their support without making the sort of return demands that could become critical sources of vulnerability that would compromise the countrys wellbeing, whether in terms of a debt trap or other related snares.

Recently, the US delivered what it described as critical military supplies to the country, barely three weeks after its 25 December missile attack on the Sokoto-based Lakurawa terror groups, in a joint military operation with Nigeria. Still, the Tinubu administration would need to seek out additional sources from countries in the West and also Asia, which can offer the crucial military hardware and intelligence support required, while being very conscious of not becoming a pawn in the geopolitics that tend to define these sorts of assistance, even when they are essentially commercial endeavours.

In 2023, the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) raised the alarm that ISWAP was on the verge of deploying drones in its attacks. And following the Wajikoro drone incident, a security meeting by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), then under the command of General Godwin Mutkut, reviewed the emergent threat and admitted the lack of counter-drone technology to contain it.

Unfortunately, the Republic of Niger has pulled out of the coalition that comprises Nigeria, Benin, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. With Chads repeated threats to also withdraw, citing ineffectiveness and underfunding of the MNJTF, which exposes its military base to deadly Boko Haram attacks, this regional counter-insurgency force is no longer fit for purpose. This should compel Nigeria to continually think strategically.

ISWAPs drone supply chains have to be broken and unravelled. There are known smuggling corridors and trafficking networks in the Lake Chad region. They oxygenate their criminal activities. Marte, a town in Borno, for instance, provides easy access to Lake Chad  one of the gateways to the Sahel region, from where foreign insurgents with links to the global jihadist movement, and medium, small and light weapons, flood into Nigeria. It is a critical lifeline that must be blocked.

The 3.154 trillion budgeted for defence this year, the highest sectoral allocation, must be put to good use to concretise Nigerias prioritisation of national security and counter-insurgency operations. If terrorists could acquire drones, deploy them for surveillance and intelligence gathering, it would be an embarrassment of epic proportions for the Nigerian state to play second fiddle to them in this evolving war technology.

Defeating the insurgents will require Nigeria to get it right on intelligence gathering. Questions are still being asked since the US Christmas Day bombing in Sokoto: where is the footage of the terrorists targeted and killed? Nigeria is said to have provided the US with the intelligence with which it struck.

More rigour is equally needed in reaching conclusions on actionable intelligence. There is no way a US satellite would have missed images of the victims if the intelligence given was precise. ISWAPs plans, if executed, will beget reprisals from our military. But it should not be similar to the bombing of 85 civilians who had gathered for a religious ceremony in Tudun Biri village, Kaduna State, in 2023, in a clear case of the danger of errant intelligence in counterinsurgency actions.

The intelligence agencies, therefore, should retool, as President Tinubu has charged them to, in order to boost the overall operational efficiency of the military and other security operatives. They need to be ahead of the terrorists, bandits and kidnappers who have doubled down on their nefarious activities since the year began, in Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Plateau, Benue, Zamfara and Anambra states.

This war is winnable, and Nigeria is running out of excuses for not doing so!
The Nigerian Army has dismissed a report alleging that soldiers are threatening mutiny over salaries and allowances, describing the claims as false, misleading and capable of undermining national security.

The denial followed a report by Sahara Reporters, which cited a letter allegedly written by some soldiers and addressed to President Tinubu.

The platform, on Sunday, reported that the officers lamented the disparity in salaries of newly promoted officers.

It said the soldiers urged Mr Tinubu to intervene to avoid a mutiny against senior officers.

No threat of Mutiny

In a statement on Monday, army spokesperson Appolonia Anele said there had been no threat of mutiny at any time, stressing that mutiny is a grave offence under military law and incompatible with the discipline and professionalism of its personnel.

The report relied solely on anonymous, unverifiable claims circulated through non-official channels, the army said, adding that soldiers are trained to channel grievances through established internal procedures rather than public platforms.

Clarifying the issue of remuneration, the army said promotion increments represent only one aspect of military pay and should not be mischaracterised as total earnings.

It explained that soldiers remuneration also includes consolidated salaries, rank-based allowances, operational and field allowances, hardship pay and other entitlements that vary depending on deployment and responsibility.

The army said it is working with the military authorities and relevant government agencies to implement ongoing welfare reforms, including periodic salary reviews, improved operational allowances, accommodation, medical care and insurance packages for personnel and their families.

According to the statement, the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, has already initiated engagements with relevant authorities on troop welfare since assuming office, and those efforts are yielding progressive outcomes.

The army also rejected suggestions of neglect by the Nigerian government, saying the administration of President Bola Tinubu has shown sustained commitment to the welfare and operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces amid Nigerias security challenges.
Suspected bandits have abducted about 163 worshippers during a church service in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The abduction occurred on Sunday.

The Chairperson of the c in Kajuru LGA, Enoch Kaura, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES during a telephone interview on Monday.

Mr Kaura stated that while 172 people were initially abducted, nine managed to escape shortly after the attack.

The attack occurred while members were in the middle of the service. The bandits arrived in large numbers, blocked the church entrance, and forced the congregation into the bush, Mr Kaura explained.

It has been confirmed that 172 people were abducted, including men, women, and children. With nine individuals having escaped, 163 people remain in captivity, he added.

Efforts to reach Mansir Hassan, the police spokesperson in Kaduna, were unsuccessful on Monday afternoon as his phone line remained unreachable.

In recent years, several mass abductions have been recorded in the area, with schools and rural churches raided by armed gangs.

These mass abductions are common in the area and often used by bandits as leverage to demand massive ransoms from the government or impoverished families.

Kajuru LGA shares land borders with Niger and Katsina States. The dense forest in the area provides cover for bandit camps where victims are held for ransom.
President Bola Tinubu has conferred Nigerias second-highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on Gilbert Chagoury, the controversial Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire and close ally of the Nigerian leader.

The award, given on 8 January, was not announced by the presidency or made public until Monday, when billionaire Femi Otedola shared a copy on X. Mr Chagoury celebrated his 80th birthday on 8 January.

Presidency sources confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the award shared by Mr Otedola was authentic, but indicated the presidency may not issue a statement on the matter.

Mr Chagoury was accused of helping former military head of state Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 to 1998, loot Nigerias treasury.

He, however, became a close business ally to Mr Tinubu and played a major role in major infrastructure projects in Lagos, including Eko Atlantic City, which is set to host, among others, the largest US embassy building in Africa.

In his post on X, Mr Otedola alluded to Mr Chagourys contribution to Lagoss development.

Congratulations to my role model, dear friend and mentor, Ambassador Gilbert Chagoury, on the well-deserved GCON honour conferred by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr Otedola wrote.

Sir, your life is a masterclass in vision, discipline, and steady excellence. From Banana Island to Eko Atlantic City, your work speaks in landmarks, jobs, and lasting impact, and your leadership has inspired generations of Nigerians to think bigger and act bolder.

Chagourys business empire

Mr Chagoury is the founder of Chagoury Group, whose operations span construction, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, industrial services, telecommunications, water purification, flour milling, insurance, furniture manufacturing, catering, and international financing.

The group is involved in several high-profile infrastructure projects, including the $11 billion LagosCalabar coastal highway and the N1.1 trillion contract to renovate Tincan and Apapa Ports.

Close ties to Tinubu

The businessman has been publicly identified as a confidant of President Tinubu. The longstanding business ties and personal relationship between the Chagoury family and Mr Tinubu are widely known in Nigeria.

Mr Tinubus association with the Chagourys dates back to his tenure as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

In 2023, Mr Chagoury was designated as a confidante of President Tinubu among the countrys delegation to the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) held in Dubai.

When Mr Chagoury turned 78 in 2024, the Nigerian leader issued a birthday tribute describing him as a valued and treasured person who was generous with his heart and resources.

With friends like him, one can sleep with a still mind, the president said.

Corporate records indicate that this relationship extends beyond the older generation.

Leaked documents reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES partners, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), show that President Tinubus son, Seyi, was a majority shareholder in an offshore company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) alongside Ronald Chagoury Jr., son of Gilbert Chagoury.

The company was incorporated about ten years ago in the BVI, a jurisdiction known for corporate secrecy. Although the firms current ownership structure remains unclear, the leaked records confirm the involvement of both men.

Seyi Tinubus membership of the Board of Directors of the Chagoury-owned CDK Integrated Industries also illustrates the strength of their bond.

The Chagoury Group continues to enjoy the patronage of the Lagos State Government and now the federal government.

Money laundering conviction

Mr Chagoury was among the individuals who facilitated the systematic looting of state resources under the late General Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1998, according to American Investigators.

He accrued an infamous track record for decades.

He was convicted in 2000 of money laundering and aiding a criminal organisation.

In the 1990s, he set up accounts with SG Ruegg Bank in Geneva for the Abacha family, enabling them to benefit from illegal transfers of over $120 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria and secured immunity from prosecution, court documents showed.

READ ALSO: Gunmen abduct official of Tinubu support group in Ondo

He later paid $600,000 in fines to the court in Geneva, Switzerland, and refunded $66 million to the Nigerian government.

Despite being described by investigators as a central figure in the movement of Abachas looted funds and attracting scrutiny from US authorities over allegations of bribery and links to illicit financing, Mr Chagoury has continued to operate and expand his business interests in Nigeria.

His longstanding relationship with President Tinubu has reportedly translated into lucrative government contracts, sometimes awarded without competitive bidding.
The Kaduna State Government has dismissed claims of mass abduction of church members in the Kajuru Local Government Area, confirmed by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as false.

The government and the police said security assessments conducted in the area did not support the claims of a large-scale kidnapping of church members, challenging the CAN and other residents to provide evidence of the abduction.

CANs chairperson in the Kajuru LGA, Enoch Kaura, earlier told PREMIUM TIMES during a telephone interview on Monday that bandits abducted about 163 worshippers during a church service in the LGA on Sunday.

Mr Kaura stated that while 172 people were initially abducted, nine escaped shortly after the attack.

The attack occurred while members were in the middle of the service. The bandits arrived in large numbers, blocked the church entrance, and forced the congregation into the bush, Mr Kaura explained.

It has been confirmed that 172 people were abducted, including men, women, and children. With nine individuals having escaped, 163 people remain in captivity, Mr Kaura stated.

After the state governments denial of the incident, Mr Kaura insisted in a telephone interview with our reporter that a mass abduction occurred on Sunday.

He stated that the church was currently compiling a list of the victims to present to the authorities and the general public.

Police, state government disagree

But in a swift response, Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Rabiu, described the reported incident as a falsehood which is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos in Kaduna State.

Mr Rabiu addressed reporters after the State Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, challenging CAN and anyone to list the names of the kidnapped victims and other particulars.

Mr Rabiu warned rumour mongers to desist from trying to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State, threatening that the full wrath of the law would be visited on such merchants of falsehood.

Speaking also, the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Dauda Madaki, also denied a mass abduction of church members in his council area.

He said: When he heard the rumour of the attack, we mobilised the police and other security forces to the area, Kurmin Wali, but found out that there was no attack.

We visited the church where the so-called kidnapping took place. There was no evidence of the attack. I asked the village head, Mai Dan Zaria, and he said that there was no such attack.

I also called the youth leader of the area, Bernard Bona, who was interviewed by the pressmen who accompanied me, and he said that no such thing happened.

So, I challenge anyone to name the people that were kidnapped, and I have been waiting for this list, and no one has come forward with a name.

I believe that the rumour of the kidnap is being sponsored by people who are not happy with the relative peace that Kajuru has been enjoying since the coming of this administration, the council chair said.

READ ALSO: 163 worshippers abducted during church service in Kaduna

Also, speaking, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shauibu(SAN), said that the (state) CAN chairman and other religious leaders have interacted with the people of the area where the so-called kidnapping occurred.

They found out that what was pushed out to the public sphere was completely false, he stated.
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, has condemned in the strongest possible terms the dangerous, irresponsible, and condemnable act of scooping fuel from a fallen tanker, as witnessed today, Monday, 20th of January at the Liverpool Bridge, Apapa area of Lagos State.

According to the DG, this practice is completely unacceptable in a modern society and poses an extreme and avoidable threat to human life, public safety, and national infrastructure.

The risks involved are not limited to those directly engaged in the act; the collateral danger to motorists, nearby communities, emergency responders, and critical assets is enormous and far outweighs any perceived or imagined benefit.

Mr Issa-Onilu noted that the National Orientation Agency has, over the years, consistently deployed nationwide sensitisation and public enlightenment campaigns to conscientise Nigerians on the dangers inherent in fuel scooping and similar high-risk behaviours.

Regrettably, despite sustained advocacy, repeated warnings, and value-reorientation efforts, some individuals have remained adamant and have continued to engage in this undesirable and life-threatening conduct.

The Director General stated unequivocally that this behaviour cannot be justified under any circumstances.

This is not poverty. Poverty does not take away the sense in peoples heads, nor does it eliminate judgement or the instinct for self-preservation. What we are witnessing is a conscious, reckless, and criminal disregard for human life and public safety, he said.

He recalled that Nigeria has, in the past, recorded several tragic incidents across different parts of the country where fuel tanker accidents led to explosions and infernos after people attempted to scoop fuel, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives.

These recurring tragedies, he stressed, are painful reminders that this menace is recurrent, preventable, and must no longer be tolerated.

In view of the grave danger posed by this practice, the Director General called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate and enact comprehensive legislation that will expressly criminalise the act of fuel scooping from fallen tankers and prescribe firm, clear, and deterrent penalties for perpetrators.

According to him, sustained public enlightenment must now be complemented by strong legal and enforcement frameworks to decisively end this deadly behaviour.

Mr Issa-Onilu emphasised that this trend must not be allowed to continue, adding that Nigerians must collectively reject actions that repeatedly lead to mass casualties, national trauma, and avoidable loss of lives. He reaffirmed the Agencys commitment to intensifying its value-reorientation and safety advocacy across the country.

Human life is sacred and priceless. No situation, no (excuse, and no momentary gain should justify conduct that places lives in imminent danger, the Director General concluded.

Signed

Bala Musa

Director Communication and Media

National Orientation Agency (NOA)
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed claims by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) that the federal government established a gold refinery in Lagos in violation of the federal character principle.

It said the allegations contained in a statement signed by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) spokesperson, Abubakar Jiddere, were not true and misleading.

In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, Segun Tomori, the special assistant to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the minister had not made any such announcement.

There was nowhere in the Minister of Solid Minerals announcement that the Federal Government owned or established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere, for that matter.

Dr Dele Alake was very clear, concise and emphatic in the announcement of the proposed inauguration of the refinery, that other gold refineries are in the works across the country and all privately-owned by different companies, he said.

Mr Tomori said the newly established gold refinery was an initiative of Kian Smith, a fully privately-owned mining company, aimed at developing the local gold industry through innovative practices.

He explained that the federal government does not compel private companies to locate their operations in any particular part of the federation, as each firm has its own operational and marketing strategy to ensure profitability.

ALSO READ: How to use the correlation of gold with other trading assets in the forex market

He said the federal government acknowledged the doggedness of the companys founder and Managing Director, Nere Emiko, for delivering a flagship project after years of perseverance, enterprise and leadership.

According to him, the refinery reflects the solid minerals sectors response to the value-addition policy introduced to discourage the export of raw minerals and to promote local processing and manufacturing.

Mr Tomori said the policy had stimulated the conversion of raw mineral exports into processing factories across the country, generating massive inflows of foreign capital and providing thousands of jobs for Nigerians.

He said this included the $600 million lithium plant in Nasarawa State, the $400 million rare earth plant also in Nasarawa State and the $200 million ASBA lithium plant in Abuja.

Mr Tomori said the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, through its policy reforms, had been creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and flourish in the mining sector over the past two years.

He said the Lagos gold refinery and similar projects were clear evidence of the effectiveness of reforms in the solid minerals sector.

The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development shall continue to encourage more mining companies to set up processing and manufacturing plants across the country.

We urge NEF to turn a new leaf and join the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to build a stronger, self-reliant economy that meets the needs of the Nigerian people, he said.

(NAN)
JIUQUAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Monday, bringing back a valuable retired extravehicular spacesuit as part of its return cargo.

The suit, dubbed extravehicular spacesuit B, is the first of its kind on China's space station to achieve the lifespan extension goal of supporting 20 extravehicular activities (EVAs) within four years.

Before the suit left China's space station, astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang from the Shenzhou-21 crew bid farewell to this special "comrade-in-arms" in a video report by China Media Group on Monday.

"Today we are seeing off an old comrade that has made tremendous contributions to the space station's extravehicular activities," said astronaut Zhang Lu. "I personally wore it during four EVAs as part of the Shenzhou-15 mission. It accompanied us in setting what was then the record for the most extravehicular activities by a single crew."

"Thank you, this suit of remarkable service ... You've worked hard," Zhang Lu added.

An extravehicular spacesuit serves as core equipment for astronauts during EVAs in space, ensuring their safety and enabling efficient operations outside the cabin.

Extravehicular suit B was delivered to space aboard the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft on May 29, 2021, and was first used in the extravehicular activities at China's space station in July that year, China Media Group reported.

During its time on the space station, suit B was used by 11 astronauts across eight manned missions.

On Aug. 15, 2025, during the third round of extravehicular activities of the Shenzhou-20 mission, astronaut Chen Dong wore the suit to complete its 20th extravehicular tasks, marking the fulfillment of its target goal.

Chen, who used the suit the most, for a total of six EVAs, shared his views: "I should say I have deep feelings for this suit. From the first time I wrote my name on its back, we built a kind of bond. I took care of it and it protected me."

"I feel fortunate that we completed the 20th extravehicular activities together, fulfilling our mission with honor," said Chen. "Congratulations on your glorious retirement! Thank you. China's manned space program will remember you."

After the return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship landed at the Dongfeng landing site on Monday morning, on-site inspections confirmed that the return capsule's overall appearance was normal and that items inside were in good condition, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft was launched on April 24, 2025. Its return was postponed in early November due to a suspected space debris impact incident, and it remained in orbit to conduct related experiments.

"With the return of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, all main tasks of the space emergency response for China's space station have been successfully completed," the CMSA announced. 
The Nigerian government on Monday re-arraigned Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, on cybercrime charges over his last years posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal.

He was rearraigned before trial judge Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The State Security Service (SSS) had filed five counts against Mr Sowore and the social media giants, whose platforms Mr Sowore used to share the controversial posts.

The trio of Mr Sowore, Meta (parent company of Facebook) and X Inc. (parent company of X) were arraigned on 2 December 2025. They pleaded not guilty to all five counts and Mr Sowore was granted bail by the judge.

However, on Monday, the prosecution re-arraigned only Mr Sowore, following an amendment to the charges.

The amendment, filed on 5 December 2025, saw the two tech companies removed from the cybercrime charges as co-defendants and a reduction in the number of counts from five to two.s

After Mr Kehinde withdrew the earlier charge, replaced with the amended case, the judge ruled that the names of Meta and X are hereby struck out from the case.

It left Mr Sowore as the sole defendant.

The judge ordered that the amended charges be read to the activist.

Mr Sowore pleaded not guilty to the two counts.

Crossfire

The re-arraignment took a while before it happened on Monday, due to the defence teams initial objection.

After the prosecution lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), announced the amended charges, the lawyers for Meta and X, Paul Ihuoma and Christabel Njoku, confirmed that their clients name had been struck off the amended charges.

But Mr Sowores lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, while confirming service of the amended charges, said the re-arraignment should not be allowed due to the introduction of a strange social media handle officialABAT in the amended charges.

But after the lawyer conferred with Mr Sowore, they agreed to the rearraignment taking place. Mr Sowore denied the charges when read to him.

But after the plea was taken, the prosecution lawyer sought to commence trial immediately, but Mr Marshal objected.

Mr Marshal said the prosecution violated a provision of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by failing to provide the defence with the prosecutions list of proposed witnesses with their names and summaries of their testimonies.

He then requested at least seven days to go through the witness statements once served.

But the prosecution lawyer, Mr Kehinde, said the requirements raised by the defence lawyer only applied to the magistrates courts.

He also said the proposed witnesses were intelligence officers and that he could concede to an adjournment or a pause for the defence team to have adequate time to prepare for cross-examination after the first prosecution witness would have finished giving the evidence-in-chief.

However, the judge told Mr Kehinde that even if it is an evil spirit that is listed as a witness in a criminal trial, the summary of the witness statement must be attached to the charge.

He ordered the prosecution to furnish the defendant with the necessary materials they need, and adjourned the matter until 22 January.

Prosecutions case

Each of the two counts centred on Mr Sowores posts on X and on Facebook. Mr Sowore posted the message on both platforms on 25 and 26 August 2025.

The message read, This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!

The prosecution in the amended charges said Mr Sowore knowingly or intentionally sent a false message by means of a computer system or network on X and on Facebook with the intention of causing a breakdown of law and order in Nigeria or pose a threat to life.

The SSS said both counts constituted cyberstalking and violated Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

The prosecution listed an unnamed Investigating Officer as its witness, but added that it may choose to call any other witness(es) as it may deem necessary to prove its case during trial.

Among the prosecutions exhibits are printouts of the defendants tweet on X; printouts of the defendants Facebook post; the complainants letters to X and Facebook; the defendants posts and tweets referenced in the letters to X and Facebook; printouts of comments and reactions on X; and a video recording of President Tinubus comments in Brazil.

Unsurprising move

The removal of the names of the social media giants from the charges on Monday was not surprising, with a PREMIUM TIMES review showing in the wake of the filing of the case in September last year that none of the original five counts accused the tech companies of any offence.

The PREMIUM TIMES review showed that all the allegations in each of the five counts were directed at Mr Sowore, who was accused by the prosecution of posting messages and publishing materials via his Facebook and X accounts to defame Mr Tinubu and cause fear and disturbance in Nigeria.

But none of the five counts disclosed any offence committed by Facebooks and Xs parent companies, although they were listed as the second and third defendants alongside Mr Sowore, who was the first defendant.

The absence of any allegations against Facebook or X in the charges left the platforms technically with nothing to defend in the case.

Background

In the wake of Mr Sowores August 2025 posts, the SSS wrote to X, Facebook and Mr Sowore to delete the posts or face consequences, with the government maintaining that the posts were false, capable of causing public disorder, and damaging the presidents reputation.

But the demand for the removal of the posts was rebuffed, prompting the SSS to charge the trio with cybercrime.

The SSS eventually arrainged Mr Sowore alongside Meta and X Incorp on 2 December 2025, after failed initial attempts. They pleaded not guilty to the initial five counts. The court granted Mr Sowore bail on self-recognisance, despite the prosecutions opposition.
Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) on Monday commenced an indefinite strike, shutting down government offices across Abuja.

The industrial action led to the closure of key administrative offices, including the FCTA Secretariat, as workers stayed away from duty in compliance with the strike directive, Vanguard newspaper reported.

Security operatives were deployed to affected offices early in the day, while members of the public seeking official services were turned back at the gates.

The strike was directed by the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), which represents workers across various departments of the FCT public service. The directive followed the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the FCTA management over unresolved labour and welfare concerns.

Unresolved welfare issues

In a statement signed by its president, Rifkatu Lortyer, and secretary, Abdullahi Saleh, JUAC accused the FCTA authorities of failing to respond to its demands.

The union said workers were ordered to withdraw their services after management failed to address long-standing labour and welfare issues, despite repeated notices.

Among the grievances listed are the non-payment of promotion arrears, delays in career progression, and the alleged non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund contributions, which the union warned could jeopardise the future welfare of affected staff.

The unions also raised concerns over the conduct and outcome of the 2024 promotion examinations, describing the exercise as largely unsuccessful and alleging that many workers were unfairly affected.

JUAC further criticised what it described as the continued extension of service for retired directors and permanent secretaries, noting that the practice was blocking the career progression of serving officers.

Ahead of the strike, the unions had circulated a notice titled Code Remain at Home, urging workers to comply fully with the action.

All staff are advised to stay at home as the strike action declared by JUAC commences on Monday, the statement read in part, adding that a task force would be deployed to ensure full compliance.

The union leadership urged members to remain resolute, punctuating the notice with solidarity slogans such as Aluta Continua! Victoria Acerta! and Enough is enough!

JUAC maintained that the industrial action would continue until its demands are met.

Earlier labour actions

This is not the first time workers under the JUAC have protested over labour and welfare concerns since the beginning of the Wike administration in the FCT.

In June 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the workers staged a protest and shut the gates of the FCTA Secretariat to press complaints about poor working conditions and delayed promotions.

The President of the union, Rifkatu Lortyer, at the time cited issues such as stalled promotions, non-payment of overhead funds for office operations since December 2024, no training and retraining of staff, and inconsistent salary payments.

Following the action, the union issued a 21-day ultimatum to the administration after temporarily suspending a protest.

After the expiration of the ultimatum in July, the union said most of its core demands remained unmet as negotiations stall, despite partial concessions, such as payment of arrears for enforcement officers; release of a promotion schedule, with plans for staff who were due for promotion in 2023 to take examinations later in the year; and approval of at least two months overhead costs to support office operations.

According to reports, officials and staff were absent from their duty posts, effectively grounding routine government operations under the FCTA and FCDA regarding the declaration of the current strike.

Efforts to reach the unions president, Rifkatu Lortyer, through phone calls, text messages and WhatsApp messages were unsuccessful.
A police inspector has shot dead his colleague in Rivers State, South-south Nigeria.

The inspector, Victor Okus, shot dead the victim, Ibrahim Sani, and injured another officer, Daniel Dauda, on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The police spokesperson in Rivers State, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.

How it happened

Mrs Iringe-Koko, a chief superintendent of police, said the incident occurred at Next Cash and Carry Supermarket in Port Harcourt, where the police officers were on joint guard duty with military officers.

The police spokesperson said the Unit Commander, 14 PMF, Turaki Hassan, who was in charge of the area where the incident occurred, reported that it happened at about 1p.m. at the supermarket.

She said Mr Okus allegedly shot his colleagues in the head and neck regions, without any reason.

The injured officers were promptly rushed to Nopsam Hospital for Medical treatment, where Inspector Sani succumbed to his injuries, while Inspector Dauda is still receiving medical treatment.

The corpse (of Mr Sani) has been deposited at the Military Hospital Mortuary, Port Harcourt, for preservation and autopsy, the police spokesperson said.

She said the suspect, Mr Okus, has been arrested and is under detention.

Mrs Iringe-Koko said the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, has directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Mr Adepoju, according to the statement, assured that the circumstances surrounding the reprehensible act would be investigated.

The police chief vowed that the suspect would face an orderly room trial and subsequently be prosecuted.

He advised police officers that handling firearms while on duty is a serious responsibility and not a routine task, adding that it is crucial to prioritise their own and others safety to prevent potential tragedies.

READ ALSO: Police arrest suspect in connection with Destiny Boys death

Not the first time

This is not the first time a police officer has killed a colleague in Nigeria.

In 2022, for instance, a police officer shot and killed his colleague in Abia State, following an argument.

Also, a police inspector, in December 2023, shot dead his colleague at Nyogor-Lueku in the Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Earlier on Christmas Day 2017, another police officer mistakenly killed his colleague during a gun duel between the police and suspected cultists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has defended the ongoing demolition of structures in Makoko, a waterfront community along the Third Mainland Bridge, saying the action is necessary to safeguard lives and property.

Speaking on Monday after signing the N4.4 trillion 2026 appropriation bill into law, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the demolitions, which began in December 2025, targeted illegal structures built on power-line setbacks and other high-risk areas.

The safety of lives and property is paramount and must be safeguarded, the governor said. We had to deploy first responders when a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of fuel fell on a bridge and spilled fuel, and over 100 people were scooping it. If anything had happened, the consequences would have been tragic. Its a similar situation in Makoko. The government is acting to prevent calamity, not to punish anyone.

Governor Sanwo-Olu added that many residents had built shanties under high-tension wires, putting themselves at risk.

We are not demolishing all of Makoko. We are clearing areas to prevent encroachment on the Third Mainland Bridge and to keep residents away from high-tension lines, he said.

The governor also addressed criticisms from local and international non-governmental organisations, suggesting some are motivated by financial gain rather than concern for residents.

Weve held meetings with these NGOs over the past two and a half years. Some seek large grants from international donors, but they have not fulfilled their promises on the ground, he said.

To mitigate the impact on affected residents, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced that palliative measures, including relocation options and grants, would be provided.

Ive instructed both the local government and relevant ministries to provide additional support, palliatives, and grants for some of these people to show compassion, he said.

Background

Civil society organisations and residents staged a protest on Thursday at the Lagos State Governors Office and House of Assembly in Alausa, demanding an immediate halt to demolitions and compensation for displaced families.

The demonstrators, led by activists from Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and local community leaders, accused the Lagos State Government of extending demolitions beyond approved safety setbacks from power lines.

Protesters alleged that the demolitions had displaced families, destroyed livelihoods, and resulted in deaths, including infants and elderly residents.

CAPPAs Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, said security operatives and demolition teams had forcibly evicted residents since 5 January.

The Lagos State Government has entered the Makoko community and forcibly displaced people from their ancestral homes, Ms Ibeh said.

Women, children, fathers, and families have been tear-gassed and rendered homeless without shelter, water, or alternatives. We want the demolitions halted immediately, compensation paid, and investigations opened into the use of force.

Residents also said demolitions violated agreements limiting clearance near high-tension power lines, initially set at 30 metres, later extended to 50 metres, then 100 metres.

Community leader Ojo Jide, a member of Slum Dwellers International, said the demolitions lacked proper documentation, making resettlement or compensation impossible.

According to protest organisers, at least three peopleincluding two infants and an elderly womandied due to tear gas deployed by security forces, though authorities have not independently confirmed these fatalities.

CAPPA and allied groups reported that more than 3,000 homes had been destroyed, displacing over 10,000 people, and that schools, clinics, and churches in Makoko were also pulled down.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the demolitions disrupted schooling and stripped women of privacy. At Ayetoro School, attendance dropped to 16 pupils out of more than 300, while Adekunle School recorded only 25 students out of over 1,000. Many children now live on boats with no stable place to sleep or study.

Women in the community face dire conditions, lacking privacy for bathing, sleeping, and managing menstrual hygiene.

Families have been forced to live under debris for weeks, exposed to unsanitary and unsafe environments.

The demolition began on 23 December 2025, to clear a 30-metre safety corridor from a high-tension power line running between Makoko, Oko Agbon, Sogunro, and the Third Mainland Bridge.

Residents initially cooperated after assurances of limited clearance and compensation.

By 4 January, demolition had extended beyond 100 metres, prompting mass protests and police intervention with tear gas.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has approved the commencement of applications for admission into Federal Technical Colleges across the country.

Mr Alausa said education in Federal Technical Colleges will be fully funded upon admission, describing it as part of the governments commitment to human capital and skills development.

This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson for the education ministry, Folasade Boriowo.

The statement said the initiative aligns with the federal governments broader strategy to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and to equip young Nigerians with practical, employable, and industry-relevant skills.

Admission is open to candidates aged between 13 and 20 years, the statement said.

Parents, guardians, and prospective candidates are advised to strictly comply with all application requirements and obtain information solely from official channels of the Federal Ministry of Education and designated examination bodies.

Application

The statement said the registration for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Technical Colleges will open on Monday, 26 January, and close on Sunday, 24 May.

The entrance examination will be conducted nationwide on Saturday, 6 June, it said.

Prospective candidates are required to complete their applications through the official National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) online portal via the designated website: https://student.nabteb.gov.ng, the statement added.

The Ministry emphasises that possession of a valid National Identification Number (NIN) is compulsory for all applicants and remains a prerequisite for successful registration.

Reviewed curriculum for technical colleges

Last year, the government reviewed the curriculum for technical colleges to include new subjects such as content creation and solar work.

It also streamlined other trade subjects and modernised others to reflect industry needs.

Under the reviewed curriculum, the education ministry said each technical college will now offer a minimum of six and a maximum of 10 trade subjects. It added that students are to take nine or 10 subjects.

The ministry listed the following subject combinations: one trade course; five or six general subjects such as Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Citizenship and Heritage Studies; two or three trade-related subjects; and one elective.

Reviewed trade courses

The new trade subjects to be offered in the technical colleges include: Brick Laying, Block Laying and Concreting, Painting Decoration and Finishes (Interior Design), Woodwork, Carpentry and Joinery, Welding & Fabrication, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting, Auto-Electrical Wiring, Computer Hardware & GSM Repair and Maintenance, Auto-Mobile Mechanics, Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Works, Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology, Mechanised Agriculture (Mechanics or Operations/ Smart Agriculture), Creative Media (Digital Media Production), Autobody Works, Electronic Systems Maintenance Craft and Catering Craft Practice.

Others are: Furniture Making & Upholstery, Solar PV Installation and Maintenance, Networking & System Security (Satellite TV Antenna installation and maintenance), Fashion Design and Garment making, Social Media Content Creation and Management, Livestock Farming/Animal Husbandry, Tiling & Cladding (Tilling and decorative stonework or Floor cover installation), Fish Farming Activity (Aquaculture), Automobile CNG Conversion and Maintenance, Motorcycle & Tricycle Repairs and Leather Works.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it has met 10 of the 14 demands presented by workers under the Joint Union Action Congress (JUAC), describing the ongoing industrial action as unnecessary and ill-motivated.

The administration stated this in a press release issued on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

Mr Olayinka said the remaining four demands were already being addressed through dialogue and administrative processes.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that JUAC workers commenced an industrial strike on Monday, shutting down the offices of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) across Abuja.

The strike disrupted activities across several secretariats and departments, with workers barricading office entrances and preventing staff and members of the public from entering.

The industrial action followed an earlier notice issued by the unions on Friday, announcing plans to shut down government offices across the FCT and its area councils over what they described as the failure of the FCTA to fully address welfare issues, including unpaid allowances, promotion arrears and other conditions of service.

However, Mr Olayinka said the administration had made significant progress in resolving the issues raised and that the strike was not justified.

Meetings with union leaders

Mr Olayinka said top officials of the administration had held several meetings with JUAC leaders, including meetings over the weekend.

According to him, at a meeting held on 16 January, union leaders were briefed on interventions already approved by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.

At no point did the minister express unwillingness to address any of the demands raised by the unions, he said.

He added that union leaders were urged to continue dialogue, as the unresolved issues were not severe enough to warrant a strike.

Allowances and wage awards

Mr Olayinka said the payment of an outstanding five-month wage award, one of the workers key demands, had already commenced.

He also said 13 months hazard allowance and 22 months rural allowance owed to health workers had been fully paid.

The outstanding 13 months hazard allowance and 22 months rural allowance for health workers have been fully paid, he said.

He added that the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCTA) had written to the minister to appreciate him for approving the payment of hazard allowance arrears and a one-month wage award.

Promotion arrears

On promotion arrears, Mr Olayinka said N286.1 million in arrears, covering 724 officers across 24 secretariats, departments and agencies (SDAs), was approved by the minister in December and is currently being processed for payment.

He also said complaints about the elongation of tenure of retired directors and permanent secretaries had been addressed, with assurances that public service rules would be strictly complied with.

Training, promotion exams

Addressing concerns over staff training, the FCTA said all SDAs had been directed to submit their training needs to the permanent secretary for onward transmission to the Office of the Head of Service.

On allegations of non-remittance of National Housing Fund and pension deductions since May 2025, Mr Olayinka said the issue was not directly under the control of the FCTA management.

A committee comprising the workers themselves has been constituted to holistically address issues relating to deductions and remittances, he said.

The administration also dismissed the unions claim that only 22.5 per cent of candidates passed the 2024 promotion examinations.

The figures presented by JUAC have no official backing, Mr Olayinka said, adding that union leaders had been advised to await the formal release of the results as directed by the minister.

He said concerns over overstaying overseeing directors had already been addressed through the conduct of the 2023 promotion exercise and would be conclusively resolved with the release of the 2024 promotion results by the FCT Civil Service Commission.

From all indications, and considering the efforts already made by the minister in acceding to almost all the demands, the strike action embarked upon by JUAC is unnecessary, ill-motivated and aimed at purposes other than the welfare of workers, the statement said.

The administration added that it had called on security agencies to ensure that workers who chose not to participate in the strike were allowed unhindered access to carry out their lawful duties.
In the end, and at the heart of the seemingly endless debates over how and how rapidly we may modernise the Nigerian State lies an urgent invitation to define the nature and implications of a social contract in line with our lived socio-political experience and ambitions. Unfortunately, our ambitions, as verbalised, remain inconsistent with our collective conduct.

One outcome of an increasingly connected world is the globalisation of the market for cultural goods. Consequently, social categories and concepts are transferred across cultural settings, often with scant regard for the processes by which they were originally produced. One admittedly perverse effect of this process is that in the societies that consume these cultural products (in search of neat explanations for difficult local phenomena), idiosyncratic experiences are simply shoehorned into new categories. According to the most popular demographic classification available today, the writers of this opinion piece are a couple representing the Baby Boomers on one hand, and the Generation Xers on the other hand. What does this mean? Only two facts are beyond dispute in the Nigerian case: the latter category comprises people born between 1946 and 1964; and the former of persons born between the mid-1960s and early 1980s.

However, does this mean that Nigerian Generation Xers are a Latchkey Generation? Put differently, did this cohort of Nigerians, like their American counterparts, return home from school to empty homes, because, as in the US, their parents were free-ranging, maternal participation in the workplace was rising and leaving fewer women as full-time homemakers, and divorce rates were on the rise? Conversely, did the Second World War have the same impact on society, here, as it did in the West  a trauma so existential that it led to an explosion in female fertility rates?

What the probable responses to these questions do, is to invite us to treat these imported ways of interpreting provincial social phenomena with considerable circumspection. Nowhere is this requirement greater than in our ongoing efforts to understand the precursors of governance failures here, and what our society needs to do to become modern. Often, we are told that the bane of our society is the fact that the social contract has failed or needs a refresh. There are few concepts in modern political theory more seductive and anodyne than the idea that the legitimacy of the states authority over the individuals that comprise its citizens arises from an unspoken arrangement in which the latter agree to forego some freedoms, including the freedom to do absolutely anything they want, in exchange for the provision by government of security, order, and the protection of rights.

Yet, as explanation for Nigerias political circumstances, this just will not do. Nothing in the constitutional conferences that birthed our new republic, nor in the numerous confabs put together thereafter to improve the efficiency of the Nigerian State resemble a social contract. Indeed, phrases with which citizens currently describe their lived experience in the country, like, May Nigeria not happen to you and a state of anyhowness speak to a different reality that is less Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and more Hobbesian. In this sense, the citizen experiences the Nigerian State not necessarily through a nasty, brutish, and short existence. Instead, more frequently, the Nigerian State describes the freedoms that it is willing for the people to exercise and deploys its monopoly of the means of violence in defence of this understanding. If your sense is that the resulting balance of freedoms favours an overweening State and its apparatus and apparatchiks, you would be readily forgiven your assumptions.

Some argue that it is no surprise that the most important attempts at re-negotiating this social contract is predicated on the emergence of armed non-state actors, whose democratisation of the means of violence has made them far more credible interlocutors for government than We the people! The challenge with this position is that the non-state actors act only in their narrow and necessarily destructive interests, which further disadvantage the many!

If, however, there exists a social contract that forms the basis of our current political organisation, in the sense in which political theory prefers to describe this, its first convocation was the exercise of might by which the colonial authorities subjugated what was to become the colony of Nigeria. This was finally approved by the regiment of Nigerians who took over that authority and its power of coercion and co-optation of dissentient views.

In the years since obtaining flag independence, whilst the second chapter of our constitution defines the purpose of government, we are still waiting on our finest legal minds to show the way to enforce, or is it ensure, delivery of the purposes so stated. For most of our fellow citizens, though, a strong case can be made that these purposes are primarily observed in their absence.

Indeed, in many areas, the gaps left by the State have been filled, with state acquiescence, by non-state actors, who assume powers to collect tithes and associated tributes  sometimes in return for enabling access to opportunities or to avoid disruptions to peaceful existence. Some argue that it is no surprise that the most important attempts at re-negotiating this social contract is predicated on the emergence of armed non-state actors, whose democratisation of the means of violence has made them far more credible interlocutors for government than We the people! The challenge with this position is that the non-state actors act only in their narrow and necessarily destructive interests, which further disadvantage the many!

In the end, and at the heart of the seemingly endless debates over how and how rapidly we may modernise the Nigerian State lies an urgent invitation to define the nature and implications of a social contract in line with our lived socio-political experience and ambitions. Unfortunately, our ambitions, as verbalised, remain inconsistent with our collective conduct.

Doyin Salami, an economist, is CEO at KAINOS Edge Consulting, while Uddin Ifeanyi, a journalist manque and retired civil servant, can be reached @IfeanyiUddin.
 it remains unclear whether President Trump can effectively influence Venezuelas actions, let alone shape the broader geopolitical landscape of the Americas. Imagine a nation, blessed with the worlds largest oil reserves  a staggering 303 billion barrels  suddenly finding itself under foreign occupation, its leader a captive. If such an act is deemed acceptable, then any assault, anywhere, could be justified. This is a perilous path we tread.

Donald Trump characterised it as an assault like people have not seen since World War II. The strike on Caracas on 3rd January was meticulously executed like a military guidebook exercise. The ability of US forces to infiltrate the core of Venezuelas capital under the cover of a moonlit night, supports Trump s assertion that no other nation could have executed such a mission. The seamless operation to locate and extract Mr Maduro highlights the exceptional level of planning and intelligence involved.

The flawless execution of the operation hinted at possible collusion between individuals within Mr Maduros regime, security forces, or personal guard and the Americans to minimise resistance. It is suspected that someone close to Mr Maduro negotiated with the US and ultimately betrayed him. The events of that night in Caracas left many residents in disbelief, likening it to a scene from a war movie. Over 150 American aircraft from 20 bases conducted a swift operation on 3rd January, including low-flying helicopters carrying special forces that engaged and neutralised Mr Maduros Cuban bodyguards. Amid the chaos, Mr Maduro was captured while attempting to seek refuge in an armoured safe room, along with his wife, Cilia Flores. Within hours, they were taken to an American warship offshore. President Trump, who oversaw the operation remotely from his country club in Florida, was impressed by the speed and precision of the raid. The captured couple is currently in New York awaiting trial on drug trafficking.

The Monroe Doctrine, a cornerstone of US foreign policy in the early 19th century, was established to prevent European recolonisation and intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Over time, its interpretation has evolved to support increased US involvement in Latin America. Currently, there is a perception that this policy could be

interpreted to grant other nations permission for assertive actions, such as Chinas potential annexation of Taiwan, Russias ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and Saudi Arabias intervention in Yemen. The implications of this evolving geopolitical landscape for Venezuela and the wider world remain uncertain.

President Trump has reportedly updated the Monroe Doctrine, which historically aimed to exclude European powers from the Americas. His updated version appears to assert Americas right to intervene in countries in the Western Hemisphere as it deems appropriate. Trump declared that the US is in charge of Venezuela and described his intention to revitalise the Monroe Doctrine, the 1823 statement outlining US influence in the Western Hemisphere. He characterised the Monroe Doctrine as significant. The President, known to keep a portrait of the fifth US president near his Oval Office desk, suggested that his administration had significantly surpassed the original doctrine. He referred to his updated policy as the Donroe doctrine.

Multiple nations in the region have reportedly been cautioned that they could face similar consequences to Venezuela if they do not alter their behaviours. However, it remains unclear whether President Trump can effectively influence Venezuelas actions, let alone shape the broader geopolitical landscape of the Americas. Imagine a nation, blessed with the worlds largest oil reserves  a staggering 303 billion barrels  suddenly finding itself under foreign occupation, its leader a captive. If such an act is deemed acceptable, then any assault, anywhere, could be justified. This is a perilous path we tread. While Uncle Sam may seize control of these immense oil riches, the message is stark: such aggressive actions only breed global resentment towards Americans.

This is not about defending freedom; it is an exhibition of power. To declare war on another nation without the approval of Congress is nothing less than old-fashioned imperialism, as Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont so succinctly puts it. This directly challenges the democratic ideals that should guide the use of military might. The American soul yearns for truth, weary of the gilded lies that shroud its destiny. This isnt a narrative of illicit substances or the ebb and flow of democratic tides, but rather a saga woven from the threads of black gold and Donald Trumps insatiable hunger for the mantle of a global strongman. Had his heart been truly tethered to such noble aspirations, he would not have offered a presidential pardon to a convicted trafficker, nor sidelined Venezuelas true voice of opposition, all while brokering clandestine deals with Maduros inner circle.

Now, the President deploys our brave troops into peril, pouring billions into a destabilising venture, a geopolitical gamble devoid of legal foundation, an exit strategy, or any discernible benefit for our nation. America cries out for leadership with its gaze fixed not on foreign entanglements, but on the betterment of its own people: lowering the burdens on working families, upholding the sanctity of law, forging resilient alliances, and, above all, championing the very citizens it claims to serve.

The raid on Caracas, the invasion of Venezuela  these acts are not born of American security concerns. Venezuela poses no threat to our shores. This entire charade is a machination to enrich Trumps oil magnates and the Wall Street titans who pull his strings. His foreign policy, a tangled web spun across the Middle East, Russia, and Venezuela, stands as a monument to corruption. Forty-eight hours after facilitating the toppling of Venezuelas leader, President Trump asserted US rights over the countrys oil and threatened Colombia with a similar fate. He also declared that Cuba was not worth invading, suggesting it was already on the verge of collapse. Furthermore, Trump reiterated his claim that Greenland should be under American control. These statements appear to stem from a sense of emboldenment following the swift capture of Nicolas Maduro.

Let us be clear: Maduro is a reprehensible figure. But does that grant us the right to directly intervene militarily in Venezuela? A dangerous precedence is being set. Donald Trumps actions in Venezuela do not make America any safer, stronger, or more prosperous. The fact that Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not absolve this action of its unlawfulness and folly. We have witnessed this drama before. Wars waged for regime change or oil, paraded as displays of strength, inevitably devolve into chaos, leaving American families to bear the cost.

In a bold stroke, Mr Trumps daring raid, though it may have clipped the wings of Mr Maduros regime, has not yet felled it. Recall America s ventures into Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003; the initial surge of military might, while impressive, proved a fleeting harbinger of lasting triumph. Yet, this raid in Caracas, like a whispered secret, might just hold the key to a future strategy, a tempting blueprint.

Bisi Olanipekun is Premium Times Washington DC Bureau reporter and a graduate of The Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, Washington DC.
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

JIUQUAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

On-site inspections confirmed that the return capsule's overall appearance was normal and that items inside were in good condition. The Shenzhou-20 spaceship return mission was a complete success, the CMSA said.

"With the return of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, all main tasks of the space emergency response for China's space station have been successfully completed," it announced.

The Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on April 24, 2025, and it later successfully docked with the space station. Its return was postponed in early November due to a suspected space debris impact incident, and it remained in orbit to conduct related experiments.

At 12:23 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, the spacecraft undocked from the space station combination and began its unmanned return journey. With a total orbital duration of 270 days, the mission verified the spacecraft's capability to remain docked in orbit for nine months, the CMSA noted.

China on Oct. 31, 2025, launched the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship, sending three astronauts to its orbiting space station on a six-month mission.

To mitigate risks during the return of the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, the Shenzhou-21 astronaut crew took the opportunity of extravehicular activities on Dec. 9, 2025, to capture close-up images of the return capsule's window using a high-definition camera, further investigating the condition of window cracks stemming from a suspected collision with space debris.

Notably, in preparation for the emergency launch of the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft, a window crack treatment device was urgently developed and sent to the space station. The astronauts installed the device inside the Shenzhou-20 return capsule, effectively enhancing the capsule's thermal protection and sealing capabilities for the return journey.

The CMSA recalled that after the suspected impact damage was detected on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft's window, the mission command promptly organized simulation analysis and experimental verification, adjusting the mission plan and activating emergency procedures.

On Nov. 14, 2025, the Shenzhou-20 crew safely returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft.

Eleven days later, the emergency launch of the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft was successfully carried out. This was the first such emergency launch in China's manned space program history, the CSMA said. This spaceship, which flew without crew, is expected to serve as a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts currently in orbit.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, which will be used for the rolling backup mission, has arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, while a Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket is about to be shipped to the launch site, the CMSA revealed.

The Shenzhou-20 astronauts, namely Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, are all in good health. They met the press in Beijing on Jan. 16, which was their first public appearance since returning to Earth.

The trio spent 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest in-orbit stay among Chinese astronaut crews, the CMSA said. 

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the Shenzhou-20 spaceship flying in orbit. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the Shenzhou-20 spaceship after separating from the space station. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the orbital capsule of the Shenzhou-20 separating from the return capsule. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)

This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the Shenzhou-20 spaceship igniting the braking engine. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Wang Chuntao)
Under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Olahundare Jimoh, the Command increasingly recognised that modern policing extends beyond patrols and arrests into the contested arena of public information. Its response  measured, timely, and increasingly structured  signals a growing understanding that communication itself is now a frontline of security.

In Lagos, as in many parts of Nigeria, misinformation often travels faster than emergency sirens. In a megacity of over 20 million people, a single misleading video or unverified claim can spark panic, deepen distrust in institutions, or inflame political and social tensions within hours. In such an environment, silence by security agencies is no longer neutral; it is consequential.

Throughout 2025, the Lagos State Police Command confronted this reality repeatedly. Under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Olahundare Jimoh, the Command increasingly recognised that modern policing extends beyond patrols and arrests into the contested arena of public information. Its response  measured, timely, and increasingly structured  signals a growing understanding that communication itself is now a frontline of security.

Between September and December 2025, the Command relied on a series of detailed and carefully crafted press statements to counter false narratives, clarify facts, and calm public anxiety during moments of heightened tension. Taken together, these interventions illustrate how strategic communication has become an indispensable tool of public order management in Lagos.

A defining example came on 7 September 2025, when Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, during a live interview on Arise News Television, accused the police of colluding with political thugs to impose a one-party agenda in Alimosho. In a politically charged atmosphere, such an allegation could easily have ignited street tension.

Rather than engage in rhetorical exchanges, the Lagos State Police Command responded with facts. It released a clear timeline confirming that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had formally notified the police of a sensitisation programme held on 6 September, while no notification had been received from Rhodes-Vivour for any rally. It further explained that police intervention at a church premises occurred only after worshippers raised distress calls over what they described as an unauthorised political gathering.

By anchoring its response in records, timestamps, and established procedure  and by doing so promptly  the Command shifted the conversation from political accusation to lawful process and public order. In doing so, it helped defuse a potentially volatile situation.

A similar approach followed the demolition exercise in Oworonshoki. On 26 October 2025, social media posts alleged police brutality during the operation. The Command swiftly clarified that the demolition was carried out by urban development authorities after months of notice and compensation, while the police were deployed solely to maintain law and order. According to the statement, no violence or harassment occurred.

This clarification mattered. Demolition exercises in Lagos are emotionally charged and easily politicised. Without timely correction, misinformation can escalate into protests or reprisals. By restoring context, the police communication helped calm nerves and redirect attention to due process.

Public outrage surged again on 11 November 2025, following reports that the police had attempted to release a foreign national accused of defiling children. The story spread rapidly, tapping into deep fears about elite impunity and institutional cover-ups.

The Command responded decisively. It stated that no Lebanese national was involved, outlined the role of the Gender Unit, confirmed that both the child and the mother denied any molestation, and assured the public that investigations were ongoing and that outcomes would be made public.

Here, tone proved as important as content. The police did not dismiss public concern; they acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, explained investigative procedures, and identified oversight mechanisms. This transparency slowed speculation and reassured child-rights advocates that the matter was being handled responsibly.

Another flashpoint emerged on 23 November 2025, when media reports claimed that the Commissioner of Police had defied a court order at the Nestoil premises. In its response, the Command detailed when the order was received, how verification was conducted, and the precise time officers were withdrawn. It emphasised that the police have no authority to seal premises and that court orders were obeyed promptly.

In any democracy, even the perception of disobedience to court orders can erode public confidence. By grounding its response firmly in legal procedure and documented timelines, the Command protected its institutional credibility.

Viral videos posed a different challenge. On 30 November 2025, a widely circulated clip showed a police officer in a physical confrontation with a bus conductor in Ikorodu. Rather than deny the footage, the Command confirmed the officers identity, explained the context of the encounter, and announced that an investigation into the officers conduct had commenced. It also reminded the public that resisting arrest remains a criminal offence.

This balanced approach  acknowledging concern while reinforcing legal boundaries  reduced the risk of mob judgment and demonstrated a willingness to hold officers accountable.

On 11 and 12 December 2025, two separate incidents again underscored how quickly misinformation can generate fear. In one, a Lagos State Task Force inspector was assaulted by a mob following false claims of theft. The police clarified the facts, confirmed disciplinary action against the officer for unprofessional conduct, and announced the arrest of 13 suspects involved in the assault.

In another instance, reports circulated that gunmen had invaded Ajebo community. The Command clarified that the situation arose from a land dispute, not an armed attack, and confirmed that no deaths or injuries occurred. In both cases, timely factual correction prevented panic and potential retaliatory violence.

Collectively, these responses reveal a Command that increasingly treats information as a core security issue. Misinformation fuels fear, fear breeds disorder, and accurate information restores balance.

That said, there is room for improvement. Press releases, while effective, often arrive after false narratives have already gained traction online. The Command would benefit from stronger real-time digital engagement, simplified fact summaries tailored for social media, and regular public briefings that educate citizens on basic verification practices. Partnerships with credible media organisations and independent fact-checkers could further strengthen trust.

Ultimately, public confidence grows when truth is timely, clear, and consistent. In 2025, the Lagos State Police Command demonstrated that silence is no longer an option in the age of viral falsehoods. By choosing engagement over withdrawal  and facts over force  it has shown that in modern policing, defending the truth is itself an act of security.

Adebisi Adams Oyeshakin writes via [email protected].
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has empowered 1,000 adolescent girls who graduated from skills acquisition centres across the state with starter packs in six vocational trades, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of Katsina State.

The beneficiaries, drawn from Kaita, Funtua, Matazu, Charanchi, Dutsi, Baure, Kurfi and Mani Local Government Areas, received their certificates and working tools at the Graduation and Empowerment Ceremony organised by the Office of the Special Adviser on Girl Child Education and Child Development.

Speaking at the event, Governor Radda said the programme reflected his administrations commitment to ensuring that every child, especially the girl child, has access to education, skills and opportunities for self-reliance.

This ceremony represents hope, opportunity and a deliberate investment in the future of Katsina State. When you empower a girl, you empower a family, a community and the next generation, the governor said. He stressed that his government is determined to remove all barrierssocial, economic or culturalthat hinder girls from acquiring education and skills.

Our policy is anchored on equal opportunity. No child should be denied education or skills because of background or circumstance. Empowering the girl child is not just a social responsibility; it is a foundation for sustainable development, he added.

Governor Radda explained that Skills Acquisition Centres across the state have been strengthened to provide practical, market-driven skills that promote dignity of labour, self-reliance and economic independence.

At the ceremony, the graduands received starter packs in tailoring, knitting, leather works, cosmetology, catering and ICT, including sewing and knitting machines, leather and beauty kits, gas cookers, cooking utensils and laptops.

Training without tools limits impact. That is why we are providing you with the equipment you need to start work immediately, earn a living and build sustainable futures, the Governor stated.

He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the tools, establish viable businesses and become positive contributors to their families and communities.

Governor Radda also announced a partnership between the Katsina State Government and Green House Company to provide advanced internships and employment opportunities for 300 of the graduands.

This partnership will give you hands-on industry experience and open doors to real jobs, ensuring that your skills translate directly into economic opportunities, he said.

Mr Radda commended the Office of the Special Adviser on Girl Child Education and Child Development, instructors, parents and partners for their contributions to the success of the programme, reaffirming his administrations commitment to inclusive development and leaving no one behind.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser on Girl Child Education and Child Development, Jamila Abdu Mani, thanked the Governor for his consistent support for the girl child and other vulnerable groups.

Your Excellencys leadership, vision and compassion have translated policy into real impact. Todays graduation and empowerment clearly demonstrate your commitment to education, skills and opportunity for our girls, she said.

She noted that the partnership with Green House Company would provide over 300 graduands with industry exposure and pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

This collaboration will bridge the gap between training and employment, ensuring that our girls can convert their skills into income and independence, she added.

Hon Jamila described the starter packs as seeds of opportunity and symbols of trust, urging the graduands to use them productively and become role models in their communities.

She concluded by praying for Allahs continued guidance and strength for Governor Radda and for sustained peace and progress in Katsina State.

Dignitaries at the event included the Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon Nasir Yahaya Daura; Local Government Chairmen; Katsina Local government chairman Hon Isah miqdad, Chairman House committee on women affairs, Hon Ali Albaba, Chairman of Gwagware Foundation, Yusuf Ali Musawa; members of the Katsina State Executive Council; Representatives from katsina and Daura Emirates, and the graduating beneficiaries.
The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued 17 persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking during a stop-and-search operation in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

The rescue was carried out on Saturday at about 5:50 p.m. after patrol officers attached to the Mararaba A Division intercepted a white Volkswagen Sharon vehicle at Sharp Corner, Karu, according to a statement issued on Sunday.

THE PUNCH reported that the vehicle, with registration number SHD 253 YU, was driven by a 36-year-old man, Nanle John, and was conveying 17 passengers made up of 11 boys and six girls aged between 10 and 19 years.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Nasarawa State, Ramhan Nansel, said the circumstances surrounding the movement of the occupants raised suspicion during interrogation.

Upon interrogation, the occupants were suspected to be victims of human trafficking, Mr Nansel said in the statement. Further investigation revealed that both the driver and the passengers stated that they were travelling from Shendam, Plateau State, to Kayama in Kwara State to meet one Umaru, surname yet unknown, who allegedly lured and promised to secure farming jobs for them in Kayama town.

He said efforts by the police to contact the parents or guardians of the children, as well as the said Umaru, proved abortive as all the phone numbers provided were unreachable.

Mr Nansel added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shetima Mohammed, ordered that the rescued persons be taken into protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia.

The Commissioner of Police directed a thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and apprehend all those connected to the suspected human trafficking network, he said.

The police identified the rescued persons as Nanpar Zwaltur, 19; Monday Zinglak, 14; Ramnap Selchum, 18; Nankat Ayuba, 18; Burnan Yilkur, 19; Timnan Ponfa, 19; Nantip Nanbut, 19; Kumlyan Nanbut, 17; Zwalkur Zingdap, 15; Nanfar Zwalkur, 11; Nanpar Nanbut, 14; Nanchu Bwoi, 13; Godiya Lagang, 10; Yulbyen Zingdap, 10; Nanna Chirvyok, 12; Sholyen Rapkat, 10; and Ladi Dinfa, 12.

Mr Nansel said the police command remains committed to protecting vulnerable persons and eradicating human trafficking in the state, urging members of the public to report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.

The latest rescue adds to a growing number of human trafficking cases uncovered by the Nasarawa State Police Command in recent months, particularly in Karu Local Government Area, which has emerged as a transit point for traffickers.

READ ALSO: Police say Lagos CCTV surveillance centre will boost crime prevention

On 1 December 2025, the police rescued 39 victims of human trafficking in a separate operation in Mararaba, also in Karu LGA. During a press briefing in Lafia on that date, the Commissioner of Police said the victims, mostly foreign nationals, were rescued following credible intelligence.

According to the police, the victims, including 32 males and seven females from Mali and Ivory Coast, were allegedly lured into Nigeria under the pretext of securing job opportunities in France. They were reportedly held in a bungalow at Orange Market, Mararaba, and instructed to recruit more persons for an undisclosed operation.

The suspect in that case, identified as Abdullahi Berter, a Malian national, was later arrested after an intensive manhunt, while the rescued victims were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further action.

Police authorities have repeatedly warned that human trafficking networks continue to exploit poverty, unemployment and weak cross-border controls, particularly targeting children and young persons with promises of jobs and better living conditions.

The Nasarawa State Police Command has said it will sustain intelligence-led operations to dismantle such networks and bring those responsible to justice.
Benue State health authorities have recorded seven new suspected cases of Lassa fever, raising fresh concerns about the spread of the viral disease in one of Nigerias most affected states.

The Benue State Epidemiologist, Asema Msuega, who disclosed this on Sunday, said samples had been collected from all seven patients and sent for laboratory confirmation. He spoke with The PUNCH while providing an update on the situation.

We have recorded seven new suspected cases of Lassa fever, and samples from all the patients have already been taken and sent for confirmation, Mr Msuega said.

He added that the state had activated immediate public health response measures to contain any possible outbreak.

According to him, health authorities are closely monitoring developments across the state, stressing that early detection remains critical.

Our teams are on alert, and we are tracking the situation very closely to ensure that any confirmed case is promptly isolated and managed, he said.

Mr Msuega urged residents to adopt basic preventive measures, particularly protecting food from rodents, which are the primary carriers of the Lassa fever virus.

People must ensure that food items are properly covered and stored in rodent-proof containers. Simple hygiene practices can drastically reduce the risk of infection, he said.

He said the Ministry of Health and Human Services had intensified community sensitisation campaigns across Benue, with a focus on rodent control, environmental sanitation, and regular clean-up exercises.

We are paying special attention to areas identified as Lassa fever hotspots, he added.

The epidemiologist also assured residents that healthcare facilities across the state were prepared to handle suspected cases.

Our health workers have been trained, facilities are equipped, and rapid response teams are on standby to manage confirmed cases and prevent further transmission, he said.

Residents were advised to seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms such as persistent fever, weakness, or unexplained bleeding.

Early reporting saves lives and helps us control the spread, Mr Msuega said.

Benue is one of Nigerias high-burden states for Lassa fever.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that in 2024, the state recorded 1,051 suspected cases and 67 confirmed cases.

As of 10 August 2025, Benue had already reported 155 suspected cases and 14 confirmed cases, with five deaths and a case fatality rate of about 36 per cent.

WHO also noted that Lassa fever remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria and across West Africa.

Between 1 January and 10 August 2025, Nigeria recorded more than 6,900 suspected cases, including 849 confirmed cases and 159 deaths.

In response to the recurring outbreaks, WHO, in collaboration with the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, launched community-level sensitisation campaigns in 45 high-risk communities across five wards in Makurdi Local Government Area in August 2025.

The outreach targeted markets, places of worship, and other public spaces to promote early detection and prevention.

Lassa fever has been a recurring threat to our people, said Asema Paul, the state epidemiologist at the Benue State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, in an earlier WHO report.

Sensitisation is critical in breaking the cycle of transmission.

WHOs North Central Zone Coordinator, Asmai Zeenat, also emphasised that prevention is more effective than treatment.

Treatment is costly and mortality is high, but prevention is far more effective, she said, underscoring the importance of community engagement.

The latest suspected cases come amid renewed public concern over health and security challenges in Benue State, where authorities are grappling with outbreaks of epidemic-prone diseases alongside persistent insecurity.

Health officials say sustained vigilance, early reporting, and community cooperation remain key to preventing another major Lassa fever outbreak in the state.
A housewife gave birth to a baby while in captivity after kidnappers killed her husband before taking her and her daughter away in Kyaram, a community in the Garga district of Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Shehu Kanam, the national secretary of Kanam Development Association (KADA), disclosed the incident on Monday to journalists in Jos, the state capital.

Mr Kanam, who gave the name of the deceased as Umar Rufai, said the kidnappers called on Sunday, hours after the abduction, and informed them that the deceaseds wife had given birth to a baby.

We, are shocked and saddened by the brutal killing of Umar at his residence in Kyaram community, Garga area of Kanam Local Government Area, on January 17, 2026 around midnight. The bandits also abducted his wife and daughter, who are still in captivity, the group said.

The group, in a statement, condemned the incident, describing it as shocking and unacceptable.

We condemn this heinous act and express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and the entire Kyaram community. Rufai has been buried according to Islamic rites Sunday 18th January 2026.

The report we received this morning is that the bandits called and informed the family that the wife of deceased gave birth today while in captivity. This is very heartbreaking imagining the condition through which she delivered, the statement added.

READ ALSO: Edo residents raise N40m ransom as kidnappers threaten to kill victims

The secretary further noted that the Garga district had been plagued by banditry and kidnapping, with frequent reports of killings and abductions.

Despite our appeals to the government, the situation remains unchanged. We urge the authorities to take immediate action to address this crisis. 

The spokesperson of the state police command, Alabo Alfred, was yet to respond to inquiry by our correspondent at press time.

Our correspondent reports that various communities in Kanam LGA had experienced kidnapping and banditry attacks, leading to the death of many people and loss of property.
John Akpanudoedehe, a former senator and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has called for the resignation of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, following a protest by the Ekid people on Monday against Mr Enos poor handling of the dispute over the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.

Ibeno and Ekid people are contesting ownership of the forest reserve, while the Akwa Ibom State Government insists it has taken ownership.

The police recently arrested and arraigned an Ekid princess, Godsown Monday Udoito, on Mr Enos order, for allegedly defaming the governor over the disputed forest reserve. Ms Udoito reportedly accused the governor of selling off parts of the forest to private companies and misappropriating the proceeds. The court remanded her to Uyo prison.

You cant be acting as a dictator in a democracy, Mr Akpanudoedehe, a former national secretary of the All Progressives Congress, said of Mr Enos handling of the dispute with the Ekid people over the forest reserve.

The governor has to treat Ekid people with respect by negotiating with them and not to intimidate and arrest people for defending what is theirs.

If you didnt arrest your daughter, who accused you of killing their mother, why would you arrest a woman who is only defending their ancestral land? I think the governor should resign from office if he cannot tolerate dissenting opinions, Mr Akpanudoedehe told our reporter on Sunday night.

The former senator said as an opposition leader in Akwa Ibom he owes the people a duty to speak up when the government is acting wrongly.

He demanded that the governor drop charges against Ms Udoito and release her immediately from detention.

The Akwa Ibom State Government has not yet reacted to the call for the governors resignation.

Protest in Eket

Some youths in Eket on Monday defied the police warning and staged a protest against Governor Enos handling of the dispute over the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve.

The protesters, a handful of them, gathered by the Eket Stadium, displaying placards and calling on the state government to release Ms Udoito.

The youths, under the aegis of Unified Youths of Ekid Nation, accused Mr Enos administration of secretly selling parts of the forest reserve to private interests without the consent of the Ekid people.

Iboro Imose, their spokesperson, vowed that the Ekid people will not succumb to intimidation and arrest. You cannot take what belongs to us and you expect us to keep silent, Mr Imose said.

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba Azare, on Sunday, said the matter is already before a court of competent jurisdiction and cautioned against any attempt to influence or intimidate the judicial process through protests or other unlawful conduct.

Mr Azare said arrests and prosecutions are carried out strictly within the confines of the law and only after due investigation, stressing that the police do not act arbitrarily.

While recognising citizens constitutional rights to lawful expression and peaceful assembly, the police warned that it would not tolerate threats or acts of nude protests, unlawful occupation of public or private facilities, disruption of government or economic activities, or any conduct capable of breaching public peace, safety, or morality.

Any individual or group that engages in or attempts such acts will be promptly arrested and prosecuted in line with the law, the police said.
The Anambra Police Command says it has arrested a suspect, Friday Akonobi, in connection with the alleged abduction and murder of a six-year-old girl from Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The commands spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued in Awka and made available to reporters on Sunday.

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said that operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, acting on credible information, arrested Mr Akonobi, 28, in the early hours of 17 January in Awka.

According to him, the arrest is linked to the abduction and murder of Ozioma Nwankwo, who was abducted on 10 May 2025, in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi.

He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was allegedly involved in the crime, which was also connected to an Enugu-based alleged native doctor.

The native doctors full name is Levi Onyeka Obieze Obu. He is popularly known as Ozo Ezeani as well as E dey play E dey show.

Mr Ikenga said that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to committing the crime in collaboration with four other accomplices currently at large.

He said that the suspect told the police that the victim was taken to Enugu and handed over to the alleged native doctor.

The police spokesperson said the suspect also confessed that he and his accomplices acted as agents for Mr Ezeani and were allegedly paid N1 million for each virgin brought to him.

According to Mr Ikenga, the suspect further stated that the victim was murdered and used for ritual purposes.

He said the suspect also disclosed that the alleged native doctor had since been arrested by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command.

Mr Ikenga assured the public that efforts were being intensified to arrest the remaining suspects and ensure that all those involved were brought to justice.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Obu allegedly buried several people in a pit, including a pregnant woman, apparently for ritual purposes.

The incident happened on 26 May 2025 at Umumba Ndiagu, a community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigerias South-east.

READ ALSO: Police rescue 17 suspected human trafficking victims in Nasarawa

Mr Obu was arraigned in a magistrates court in Enugu in August last year on seven counts of conspiracy, kidnapping and murder, alongside two others  Sebastine Offor, the second defendant, and Ejike Odinwakpa, the third defendant.

The Chief Magistrate, O.S. Chukwuani, had ordered that the defendants be remanded until 20 August and the case file transferred to the director of public prosecutions for legal advice and prosecution at a high court.

After Mr Obus alleged criminal activities went public, he attempted to flee Nigeria.

But was arrested by personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Badagry-Seme Border Area of Lagos.

Days later, NIS authorities handed him over to the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force.

The native doctor was subsequently moved from Lagos to the Enugu State Command of the police, hours later, to face prosecution.

(NAN)
The Enugu State Government has reconstituted a 20-member the Neighbourhood Watch for the Nomeh Unateze community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state as part of the efforts to strengthen security at the grassroots.

Speaking at the event on Sunday, the Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, Benedett Okoli, said that the security outfit would assist in combating crime in the community.

The commissioner was represented by the Director in-charge of the Neighbourhood Watch in the Ministry, Uchenna Ozomgbachi.

He said that the exercise was in line with Governor Peter Mbahs leadership thrust, which places security at the centre of governance.

He urged members of the outfit to serve with courage, integrity, vigour, and respect for human rights and rule of law.

The commissioner, who described the assignment as a sacred responsibility, reminded them that much of the $30 billion economy Mr Mbah envisioned would come from rural communities.

He said that this would be made possible through investments in agriculture such as the 260 modern farm estates to be constructed across the 250 wards of the state.

This is a light being placed in your hands to safeguard the lives and property of the people of Nomeh-Unateze.

You must not disgrace yourselves; serve with diligence, avoid extortion, and never torture the people you are meant to protect, he said.

The commissioner assured the operatives that the state government would ensure regular payment of their stipends, and provision of the necessary logistics that would enable them to function effectively.

Mr Okoli commended the 20-man squad for accepting the responsibility of strengthening peace and security in Nomeh Unateze, and also called on the traditional ruler and other stakeholders to support the outfit materially and otherwise.

This community committed to security for decades

In his remark, the traditional ruler of the community, Israel Mbah, expressed gratitude to the state government for reconstituting and strengthening the communitys neighbourhood watch.

The first Neighbourhood Watch in Nomeh-Unateze was formed in 2015; this community has been committed to security for decades.

For the governor to remember us and reconstitute this outfit is a great achievement in the right direction, he said.

He pledged the communitys support for the outfit, and thanked community stakeholders, who had committed their time and money to the course and urged for more support to the security outfit.

On his part, the Divisional Police Officer of Amagunze Police Division, Wilson Obasuyi, said the Nomeh axis was a security challenge in the past.

He expressed optimism that the reconstituted team would work with the police to build on the successes recorded by the police and other security agencies.

I am here to congratulate the selected Neighbourhood Watch members.

There are many challenges on ground, and I believe this crop of men chosen by stakeholders will work hand-in-hand with the police to keep the community in order, he said.

Mr Obasuyi, a chief superintendent of police, warned the operatives against abuse of power, stressing that arrests must be based on genuine offences and not trivial matters.

He urged them to report security threats promptly and always appear in uniform for proper identification.

Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated neighborhood watch, its Chairman, Ejike Ugwu, thanked the Enugu State Government, traditional institution and community stakeholders for finding them worthy to serve, and promised to justify the trust reposed in them.

I pledge that we will put all that has been said here to work to ensure that Nomeh Unateze is peaceful and safe.

We will work closely as a team and with the community and security agencies to protect lives and property, he assured.

(NAN)
The pioneer Military Administrator of Abia State, Frank Ajobena, has expressed satisfaction with the states development, describing his visit as a homecoming and solidarity mission.

Mr Ajobena spoke on Friday during a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti of Abia at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area.

The former administrator governed Abia between August 1991 and January 1992. He said the visit was his first to the state in about 14 years.

He said he decided to visit to verify reports of progress he had been hearing through the media.

It is a wonderful homecoming because I came to see things for myself, just as the Queen of Sheba confirmed what she heard about King Solomon, he said.

Mr Ajobena, a retired air vice marshal, recalled the enthusiasm of Abia people at the states creation in 1991, noting his administrations resolve to place Abia on the national map quickly.

He said the civil service, led by the late Head of Service, Godwin Okezie, and committed commissioners, laid strong foundations for development.

We had a clear plan and turned Abia into a construction site, and most of the infrastructure we built endured for years, Mr Ajobena said.

He expressed concern that the state later experienced stagnation, with outcomes falling short of expectations at creation.

Mr Ajobena, however, said the narrative had changed under Mr Otti administration, describing Abia as a national reference point.

He commended the improvements in the power sector, citing the inauguration of Geometric Power Ltd in Aba.

Aba was always envisioned as the Taiwan of Nigeria because of the ingenuity of its people.

All Abia needed was the right leadership, and I am glad to see that happening now, Mr Ajobena said.

He praised Mr Otti for what he described as selfless service and restoration of hope, urging him to remain focused in spite of criticism.

There will always be detractors, but they should not deter you. I follow Abia closely because I feel a moral responsibility, he said.

Mr Ajobena described himself as a bona fide Abia indigene, while recalling the traditional titles bestowed on him, including Aka Wuru Obodo and Ugochinyere Ndi Abia.

I am not interfering in Abia affairs. This visit is purely a solidarity visit, he said.

His son, Terry Ajobena, a retired flight lieutenant, said Mr Ottis leadership had attracted positive national and international attention to Abia.

READ ALSO: Enugu reconstitutes security outfit to strengthen local security

He described the visit as an emotional homecoming, highlighting his fathers enduring passion for the state and its people.

Responding, Governor Otti described the visit as a pleasure to him and commended Mr Ajobenas foundational role in Abias early years.

You built from scratch, without structures or resources, and laid the foundation for what we have today, the governor said.

Mr Otti outlined ongoing projects, including rebuilding the Government House, a new SSG office, and renovation of the Michael Okpara Auditorium.

Governance is about making people happy, and we remain focused, in spite of detractors.

Thank you for your solidarity and the foundation you laid for Abia State, the governor said.

(NAN)
Osborne, Son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has obtained the chairmanship form for Ohaozara Local Government Area in the forthcoming Ebonyi council polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Osborne was among aspirants endorsed by Governor Francis Nwifuru as the All Progressives Congress candidates for the election in the 13 local government councils of the state.

The endorsement drew diverse reactions from political watchers across the state, with Mr Umahi describing it as the height of appreciation by the governor.

Osborne, accompanied by well-wishers and supporters, obtained the N30million form at the party secretariat in Abakaliki on Friday.

He, however, declined comments when approached by reporters.

The State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Francis Ori, who was present at the secretariat when the form was obtained, said that Osborne would be a worthy representative of the people.

READ ALSO: Enugu reconstitutes security outfit to strengthen local security

He is a chip of the old block and will replicate his fathers wonders in Ebonyi as former governor and as minister in Nigeria.

The people are solidly behind him and would further demonstrate such support at the polls.

NAN recalls that Mr Umahis political relationship with Mr Nwifuru dates back to 2008 when he (Umahi) was the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and Mr Nwifuru, an exofficio.

Mr Umahi later became the Ebonyi state governor between 2015 and 2023, and ensured that Mr Nwifuru emerged the speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly within the same period.

The minister had declared on several fora that he fought battles to ensure that his son Mr Nwifuru succeeded him as governor in 2023.
Chinese scholar honored for promoting China-Hungary cultural exchange

Xinhua) 10:29, January 19, 2026

Guo Xiaojing, director of the Hungarian Research Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, accepts the "Knight of Universal Culture" title in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary.

The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center.

Guo, director of the Hungarian Research Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, was recognized for her efforts in advancing Hungarian studies in China and strengthening academic cooperation. According to the award citation, her work has laid a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in education, research, and cultural dialogue.

As the first Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE), Guo played a pivotal role in expanding Chinese language education in Hungary. Her career also spans major lexicographical and scholarly projects, including significant dictionary and translation initiatives.

The citation highlighted Guo's commitment to the idea that the power of culture lies in "understanding and resonance." By presenting Chinese stories in Hungarian and interpreting Hungarian traditions through the lens of Chinese philosophy, she has contributed significantly to deeper people-to-people connections.

The gala, now in its 30th anniversary, brought together representatives from cultural institutions, civil organizations, and the arts to celebrate cultural heritage and international cooperation.

Artists perform during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Artists perform during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

An artist performs during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Guo Xiaojing (R), director of the Hungarian Research Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, is awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Guo Xiaojing, director of the Hungarian Research Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, is seen during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

An artist performs during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

Artists perform during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture in Budapest, Hungary, Jan. 17, 2026. Chinese linguist and literary translator Guo Xiaojing was awarded the "Knight of Universal Culture" title here on Saturday for her outstanding contributions to cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Hungary. The award was presented during a gala marking the Day of the Hungarian Culture at the Stefania Palace Cultural Center. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Home prices in China's 70 large and medium-sized cities generally fell in December 2025 from the previous month, official data showed Monday. 
The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended one Nasiru Idris for operating an illegal clinic at Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.



According to the command, Mr Nasiru (25) was dispensing medical services without being a registered professional.



The arrest followed an intelligence-led operation by Commands Surveillance Team, during which the suspect, was apprehended.



Police said on Sunday that a search of his clinic led to the recovery of various medical items, including packs of injection needles, medical drips, bandages, and assorted medical kits.



Subsequently, a thorough search of his residence was conducted with a duly signed search warrant, during which used injection bottles, needles, and syringes were also recovered, the police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, said on Sunday.



Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is not a registered medical practitioner, confirming that the clinic was being operated illegally.



He has since made useful statements while in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.



He further said the arrest was part of the commands intensified efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within the State.



Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, emphasised the importance of intelligence-led policing in disrupting criminal activities.



He reassured residents of the commands s unwavering resolve to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safety and security of lives and property across the state.



He advised residents of Ondo State to exercise caution when seeking medical services and to remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to medical quacks.



Although the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), had called on security agencies to help fight quackery in the medical profession, not much had been done in this sector.



However in December 2022, the Ondo State Police Command apprehended a fake medical doctor after he performed surgical operations on patients.



The suspect, Rabiu Olalekan, was allegedly parading himself as a medical doctor in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state before his arrest.



Mr Olalekan was alleged to have paraded himself as a medical doctor of Iremide Private Hospital, Orita Ojo before he was arrested by team of Special Intervention Squad.

ALSO READ: Nigerian state seals illegal hospital where unlicensed doctor conducted surgeries



His arrest followed a report of unprofessionalism filed against him.



He had performed caesarean section on a pregnant woman (name withheld) who was later rushed to Mother and Child Hospital due to excessive bleeding from her private parts.



It was discovered that the self-acclaimed doctor stitched her womb and the urinary tract together.



Further investigation revealed that Mr Olalekan was not a medical doctor but attended School of Health Technology, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, where he studied Community Health Extension Work but has been deceiving people that he is a medical doctor.
The Lagos State Government has warned residents to stay away from accident scenes following reports of fuel scooping from a fallen tanker at the TincanLiverpool Bridge area of Apapa.

The warning followed the overturning of a diesel tanker on the bridge, inward Mile 2, early on Monday, leading to fuel spillage and severe traffic disruption along the busy corridor.

In an urgent situation report, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that the tanker was leaking diesel and that emergency responders had been immediately deployed.

The statement on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said all relevant agencies had been activated.

Our attention has been brought to a fallen tanker at the above location, which is leaking fuel. All emergency responders have been activated and are en route to the location, the agency stated.

LASEMA cautioned residents against engaging in dangerous activities around the scene, particularly fuel scooping.

Members of the public are urged to exercise extreme caution to avoid any secondary incident from scooping product or lighting any flame near the area, the statement added.

Motorists were also advised to avoid the axis and use alternative routes as the states disaster management plan was activated.

Despite the warning, videos circulating on social media showed residents and passersby scooping diesel from the fallen tanker using jerrycans and other containers.

Reacting, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the tanker was loaded with diesel and that the product was spreading on the bridge due to damage to the tank.

Theres a fallen tanker loaded with diesel on top of Liverpool Bridge inward Mile 2. The diesel is spreading on the bridge as a result of the damaged tank, LASTMA said in a statement on its official X handle.

The authority said officers of the Nigerian Police Force from Area B and other safety agencies had been alerted, while traffic was diverted to reduce risks to commuters.

Traffic has been diverted to the other side of the bridge for safety measures. Motorists are advised to adhere strictly to all instructions from traffic managers, the statement added.

LASTMA later announced that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, had contained the situation.

The road on Liverpool Bridge inward Apapa that was cordoned off has been reopened after the contents were neutralised by men of the Lagos State Fire Service, the agency said, noting that traffic officials were othe n ground while awaiting the arrival of a tow truck.

Vehicular movement along the corridor was described as slow for several hours due to the temporary closure and counterflow traffic control measures.

Authorities reiterated that fuel scooping from accident scenes poses grave dangers, including fire outbreaks and loss of lives.

The incident mirrors previous fuel scooping tragedies across the country.

In October 2024, more than 100 people were killed after a petrol tanker exploded along the KanoHadejia expressway in Jigawa State, with most of the victims attempting to retrieve fuel.

A similar incident occurred in October 2025 in the Essa community along the AgaieBida road in Niger States Katcha Local Government Area, where several residents died after a fallen tanker caught fire while people were scooping fuel.
The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has awarded N100 million damages against the Nigerian Army, and 2 Division, Ibadan, for illegally acquiring part of the Ajigbotosho family land at Alagbade village.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in suit No: I/642/2018, the claimants, representatives of all who purchased parcels of land from the Ajigbotosho family, instituted action against the Chief of Army Staff, and General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Ibadan.

Other defendants are: Garrison Commander, Nigeria Army Garrison, Odogbo, Ibadan, Commandant 42 Mechanised Engineers; Col. Yunusa Yusuf and other unknown trespassers.

The claimants had also sought an injunction restraining the defendants from further trespass on the land.

Delivering judgment, on Monday, the judge, Oyeyemi Ajayi, resolved all the issues in favour of the claimants, who are all civilians and representatives of all who purchased parcels of land from the family in the area.

He said, Ajigbotosho family layout at Alagbede Village, Ibadan, is contained in layout No RAK/ MISC/637 as prepared by Surveyor R. A. Kadiri, as used in the dispute survey No. OY/297/2006/DS05

The survey, which was jointly prepared by Surveyor A. A. Adeyemi, dated April 13, 2006, was not within the Army acquired land at Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan, is granted

The defendants, their servants, agents, privies or anybody through them are hereby restrained from further trespassing on the claimants land at Ajigbotosho family layout, Alagbede, Ibadan.

This court hereby grants N100 million as general damage, against the defendants,the judge said.

NAN reports that the claimants represented by their lawyer, Abioye Oloyede-Asanke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), are: Alex Adio, Tunde Taiwo and Tunde Akinlolu, as representatives of all that purchased land from Ajigbotosho family at Alagbede Layout, Ibadan.

Earlier, the first to fourth defendants had filed notice of preliminary objection seeking the dismissal of the suit on the grounds that the case was pending in another court.

However, the judge threw out the preliminary objection and held that the subject matter were not the same in the two cases.

(NAN)
Now in its third edition, the UAE's FoodTech Challenge identifies and scales the world's most promising agri-tech solutions that boost food production and reduce food loss and waste in arid and climate-stressed environments. Now in its third edition, the competition is organized by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, ne'ma (The UAE's National Food Loss and Waste Initiative)  and Silal, a leading UAE agri-food company. Previous UK winners of the FoodTech Challenge have gone on to establish multi-million-pound joint ventures in the UAE and launch successful pilots across the wider region.

Flybox, founded in 2021 by insect farming and waste-management specialists, and Permia Sensing, founded in 2019 by experts in robotics and precision agriculture, will share a 1.5 million prize with two other winning teams, and receive further in-kind support to develop and scale their food security solutions through the UAE's world-class innovation ecosystem, including technical and research support, pilot opportunities, market access, and incubation and acceleration services.

About Flybox:

Challenge : Food waste is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, while food waste management is costly and energy-intensive.

: Food waste is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, while food waste management is costly and energy-intensive. Mission : Transform food waste into high-demand protein and fertiliser in a way that is low-cost, practical and requires minimal expertise.

: Transform food waste into high-demand protein and fertiliser in a way that is low-cost, practical and requires minimal expertise. Innovative solution : Off-grid, modular units housed in shipping containers, using black soldier fly larvae to convert agricultural byproducts into high-quality protein and fertiliser.

: Off-grid, modular units housed in shipping containers, using black soldier fly larvae to convert agricultural byproducts into high-quality protein and fertiliser. Future plans: Build on current operations in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria to launch the first UAE-based site, and work with local waste management partners in the UAE to deploy at scale.

About Permia Sensing:

Challenge : The highly invasive red palm weevil is responsible for an estimated 1.5 billion in crop loss globally every year, while other stress factors such as dehydration impact plant yields and increase waste and loss.

: The highly invasive red palm weevil is responsible for an estimated 1.5 billion in crop loss globally every year, while other stress factors such as dehydration impact plant yields and increase waste and loss. Mission : Improve yields and climate resilience in palm agriculture by enabling farmers to detect issues earlier.

: Improve yields and climate resilience in palm agriculture by enabling farmers to detect issues earlier. Innovative solution : Combine AI, drone and satellite imaging, and bio-acoustic sensors to monitor tree stress and early signs of disease and offer data-driven insights.

: Combine AI, drone and satellite imaging, and bio-acoustic sensors to monitor tree stress and early signs of disease and offer data-driven insights. Future plans: Expand monitoring across key palm-growing regions, scaling deployments in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa while creating 21st century agriculture jobs.

Larry Kotch, Founder and CEO of Flybox, commented on the win: "I feel immense gratitude and determination after the win, but the other finalist teams all deserve immense credit as well - given their successes, I'm sure the final margin was incredibly small."

"We plan to use the prize money to support two major initiatives: first, the establishment of an R&D centre for insectwaste management in partnership with the University of Sharjah in the UAE; and second, the development of a largescale insect composting site in Kenya. We are also exploring how to establish a permanent base in the Middle East, so we can build on the incredible support and connections provided by the FoodTech Challenge and their partners."

Efrem de Paiva, Founder and CEO of Permia Sensing, commented on the win: "Winning the UAE FoodTech Challenge feels great, but it feels more like a responsibility than a trophy. Winning shows that the problem we are tackling truly matters, and that people trust us to help address it."

"The prize money will help us accelerate implementation: more field trials, faster product iteration, and stronger ontheground support to make sure insights turn into action. And access to the UAE's agritech innovation ecosystem is even more valuable. It means that we'll have the opportunity to work closely with growers, researchers, and policymakers, integrating with their existing programmes and building the partnerships that allow us to scale sustainably."

Flybox and Permia Sensing were named winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge alongside global startups Akorn Technology and HyveGeo, whose operations span Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. They follow in the footsteps of previous FoodTech Challenge winners, who have gone on to raise more than 37 million in follow on funding, launch more than 50 pilot projects, and successfully localise their technologies for the UAE, before scaling across similar environments.

To learn more about the FoodTech Challenge and this year's winners, visit: www.foodtechchallenge.com

About the UAE FoodTech Challenge (FTC)

The UAE FoodTech Challenge (FTC) is a global competition that identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in arid, hot, and increasingly challenging environments. The competition is delivered by the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court of the UAE and Tamkeen in partnership with ne'ma, the UAE's Food Loss and Waste Initiative; Silal, the UAE's leading agri-tech company; Gates Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, and other key partners.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864198/UAE_FoodTech_Challenge.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864199/UAE_FoodTech_Challenge_Flybox.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864200/UAE_FoodTech_Challenge_Permia_Sensing.jpg

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjRCY9Tbem4

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0pkN0rU9lI
From 2 to 4 February 2026 in Muscat, Oman, the much-awaited financial summit aims to anchor the industry firmly within the future architecture of global finance

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, and MUSCAT, Oman, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As Islamic finance gains greater international prominence as an ethical and stability-oriented avenue for financial intermediation, the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) invites financial sector professionals to the 17th IFSB Summit, slated to take place from 2 to 4 February 2026 in Muscat, Oman. Hosted by the Central Bank of Oman, the Summit brings together policymakers, regulators and global thought leaders to examine how the industry can respond to fast-evolving market conditions and rising societal expectations.

Register for the 17th IFSB Summit today

Anchored on the theme 'Islamic Finance for the Future: Breaking New Ground for Global Impact', the Summit highlights how Islamic finance is transitioning from being reactive to proactive amid economic and technological disruptions, while strengthening the non-bank financial sector, deepening market liquidity through sukuk development, and enhancing crisis preparedness and financial safety nets within the industry. It also highlights the role of Islamic finance in promoting financial inclusion, social impact, sustainability and climate resilience, alongside harnessing emerging digital technologies for a more resilient future.

The event will feature high-level speakers, including senior representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United Nations. It will also bring together governors and senior leaders from over 30 jurisdictions. Their perspectives will help frame the industry's strategic direction and offer insights into global trends shaping Islamic finance.

Held over three days, the Summit includes a public pre-summit programme featuring broader themes on leadership, business strategies, youth empowerment, NGO engagement, and the role of credit rating agencies. These sessions capture a wider group of stakeholders and reflect the IFSB's commitment to fostering informed, inclusive and progressive discourse.

Registration is free for IFSB member organisations and USD 400 for non-members. With limited seats available, prospective delegates are encouraged to register early at www.ifsb.org/17thsummit. Follow the IFSB's official social media channels for programme and speaker updates.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864145/IFSB_17th_Summit.jpg
Featuring 30+ global business leaders examining the economic and social forces shaping the future of society, the long-running interview series, published across the CBS News Media Network, returns in 2026, launching today on the opening day of the Annual Gathering in the Davos valley.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As global leaders convene in Switzerland, 'The Davos Interviews' announced the launch of its 2026 season. Now in its 5th consecutive year, 'The Davos Interviews' has become a trusted platform for capturing the perspectives that matter most.

Recorded on the ground in Davos, the new series brings together CEOs, investors, and industry leaders from across sectors to examine how leaders are responding to geopolitical uncertainty, economic volatility, technological disruption, climate risk, and the evolving role of business in shaping a more sustainable and resilient global economy.

"Davos has always been a forum for ideas," said Andrew Wilson, Davos Interview Journalist. "The Davos interviews are unique. They offer a personal platform for thought leaders to explore their field and road test their motivations."

A platform built on access and substance

Unlike traditional panels, 'The Davos Interviews' delivers one-on-one, long-form conversations that offer rare insight into the thinking behind industry decisions. Previous seasons have featured leaders from Fortune 500 companies, high-growth innovators, and institutional investors, reaching a global audience of business decision-makers and policymakers.

This year's interviews focus on:

Business leadership in a fractured global landscape

Technology, AI, and economic transformation

Climate transition and long-term value creation

Talent, trust, and the future of work

Redefining growth amid uncertainty

Collaboration as a driver of resilience

"The most pressing issue shaping the world today is the shift in geopolitics at both national and international levels," said Paolo Emelio Zanini, CEO of Acumen International Media. "Across Europe and beyond, profound changes are reshaping how countries relate to one another and how societies expect to be represented. The status quo is no longer sufficient, and technology is accelerating this transition by enabling broader democratic participation, weakening traditional gatekeepers of information. In this context, capturing the thoughts of businesses is crucial."

"The Davos Interviews" is a global interview series recorded annually during the Annual Gathering in Davos, Switzerland. Produced by Acumen International Media , it features exclusive conversations with senior business leaders and is published worldwide across the CBS News Media Network.

Media Contact

Jack Boyson

Head of Marketing

Acumen International Media

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Acumen Media
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, January 20, Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins, a former member of the Louisiana Legislature, will attend an oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Roake v. Brumley. The en banc panel, sitting in New Orleans, will review a dispute about the constitutionality of Louisiana's statute requiring that the Ten Commandments be prominently posted in all Louisiana classrooms. A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit ruled last year that the law was unconstitutional. It supported the decision of a district court that blocked the Louisiana law, prompting the state to appeal.

FRC submitted an amicus brief in the case in support of the appellants for en banc review. In the amicus brief, FRC argued "that prohibiting displays of the Ten Commandments denies the historical facts of our religious heritage as a nation." The amicus brief goes on to state: "Displaying the Ten Commandments in schools is constitutional because it does not coerce participation in a formal religious exercise. Under the original public meaning of the Establishment Clause, the relevant question in cases like this is whether the government has coerced individuals by force of law to participate in or otherwise support a formal religious exercise. A passive display of the Ten Commandments in a schoolroom is not a formal religious exercise. And the possibility that students might see the display and be bothered is not coercion by force of law. Neither element of the relevant establishment hallmark exists here, and Louisiana's law is therefore easily constitutional."

WHO: Family Research Council President Tony Perkins

WHAT: Perkins' media availability after Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals En Banc hearing of Roake v. Brumley

WHEN: Following the oral arguments in Roake v. Brumley [oral arguments start at 1:00 PM Central]

WHERE: In-Person: John Minor Wisdom United States Court of Appeals Building, 600 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

To request an interview with Perkins after the hearing, please email: [email protected]

SOURCE Family Research Council
SAO PAULO, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 5, 2026, at 8 a.m. (EST) and 10 a.m. (Brasilia time), we will present our 4Q25 results in Portuguese and English, in an interactive meeting, with a Q&A session at the end.

To take part in the interactive meeting, register at the following link:

Itau Results 4Q25

The speakers in our interactive meeting will be: Milton Maluhy  CEO, Gabriel Amado de Moura  CFO, Renato Lulia  Head of Corporate Strategy, Investor Relations and Corporate Development and Gustavo Lopes Rodrigues  IRO.

Results will be published on the Investor Relations website on February 4, 2026, after trading hours.

Follow Itau Unibanco's latest news on our Investor Relations website.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2600067/5120544/ITAU_LOGO_POS_HEX_680X680_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.
Partnership deploys virtue-based AI, embedding compassion into logistics for network of North American NGOs

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Supply Chain Project (TSCP) and Orchestro.ai today announced Angelic Intelligence Matching, a co-branded initiative that empowers the TSCP App with a new kind of intelligence: one that cares. By integrating Orchestro's "Angelic Intelligence"a virtue-based AI frameworkinto TSCP's logistics platform, the partnership is embedding compassion directly into the code of the global supply chain, ensuring that every logistical decision prioritizes human dignity alongside operational speed.

Strategic partnership: Orchestro.ai + The Supply Chain Project. Angelic Intelligence now embedded in North America's most responsible enterprise giving marketplace. Traditional AI optimizes for efficiency. Angelic Intelligence optimizes for humanity. The world's first virtue-based AI platform.

The initiative launches as the retail industry grapples with a massive resource paradox. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Happy Returns, total consumer returns reached $890 billion in 2024, representing 16.9% of all retail sales. Orchestro.ai and TSCP are deploying Angelic Intelligence to transform unwanted goods into a lifeline, intelligently diverting vital goods away from landfills and into the hands of families who need them most.

How it Works: The "Wisdom" Architecture Unlike traditional supply chain algorithms that optimize solely for cost or distance, Angelic Intelligence utilizes a Virtue-Based Architecture. Developed and operated by Orchestro.ai, this system employs specialized "Virtue Agents" that evaluate donation matches through ethical lenses:

Virtue Agents evaluate inventory, needs, and fit.

evaluate inventory, needs, and fit. Compassion Agents analyze the "human value" of the item (e.g., distinguishing between a luxury accessory and essential winter wear for a donation).

analyze the "human value" of the item (e.g., distinguishing between a luxury accessory and essential winter wear for a donation). Justice Agents evaluate the fairness of distribution, ensuring goods reach people with the greatest need rather than just the easiest locations.

The Angelic Matching Engine synthesizes these inputs with logistical data (proximity, NGO receiving capacity, etc.) to propose the "Good Route"a path that maximizes social impact while minimizing carbon footprint.

Children's Essentials: In a recent pilot, a prominent Chicago-area nonprofit serving families with children ages 05 utilized the platform to address a critical shortage of basic hygiene supplies.

The Need: The organization profiled a high-priority need for diapers (sizes 15) in the TSCP App.

The Intelligence: Simultaneously, a local retailer flagged a surplus of overstock baby products. Angelic Intelligence recognized the urgency and dignity of the matchprioritizing these essential items for immediate local relief rather than liquidation.

The Outcome: The system coordinated the transfer automatically. Shipment updates kept volunteer staff aligned, ensuring the goods arrived sorted and ready for distribution, honoring the dignity of the aid workers and families receiving them.

Executive Commentary

Steven Robinson, Founder and Chairman, The Supply Chain Project "A curated nonprofit supply chain helps communities get what they need sooner, but this isn't just about speed; it's about the human element. By partnering with Orchestro.ai, we ensure that our technology respects the humanity of every participant. When we deploy this new virtue-based reasoning layer, we ensure that every transaction honors the human dignity of both the brand donor and the receiving NGO and especially the recipient." This is what doing business through the lens of humanity is really all about.

Shekhar Natarajan, Founder and CEO, Orchestro.ai "Retail returns are often treated as an $890 billion retailer headache, managed for cost rather than conscience. We are proving that when you embed virtues like compassion into the logistics code itself, you don't just get better efficiencyyou get a better world."

Availability Angelic Intelligence Matching is available to nonprofits and brands inside The Supply Chain Project beginning February 1st 2026.

Nonprofits: Register your needs today

Register your needs today Brands/In-kind Donors: Start your donation journey.

Start your donation journey. Portal: https://app.thesupplychainproject.org/

About The Supply Chain Project (TSCP) The Supply Chain Project (TSCP) was created to build more robust and resilient supply chain capabilities across the nonprofit sector. We accomplish this by focusing on Nonprofits that provide Humanitarian Aid and aligning them with our curated network of Transportation and Logistics Service Providers, Technology Solution Providers, Supply Chain Experts, and Brands. Learn more at https:/www.thesupplychainproject.org .

About Orchestro.ai Angelic Intelligence, developed and operated by Orchestro.ai, is a virtue-based artificial intelligence platform that embeds ethical considerationsincluding compassion, empathy, and justiceinto business decision-making systems. The Angelic Matching Engine applies virtue-driven algorithms to logistics, workforce management, and resource allocation challenges, helping organizations optimize both operational efficiency and social impact. Angelic Intelligence's mission is to ensure technology serves humanity's highest values, not just its efficiency metrics. Learn more at https://www.orchestro.ai/angelicintelligence .

Media Contacts

The Supply Chain Project: Steve Robinson, Founder and Chairman, [email protected], WhatsApp/Call +1 (214) 914-4865

Angelic Intelligence (Orchestro.ai): Bhaven Shah, EVP of Product, [email protected]

Sources: [1] National Retail Federation (NRF) & Happy Returns, "2024 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry," December 2024.

SOURCE Orchestro.ai and The Supply Chain Project
TEHRAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said the recent unrest and "bitter events" in his country were part of a joint U.S.-Israeli initiative aimed at exploiting the challenging conditions faced by the Iranian people.

In a Sunday meeting with visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in the Iranian capital, he elaborated on the recent economic protests in his country that were gradually turned violent by individuals designated by Iran as "U.S. and Israeli-affiliated terrorists and rioters," according to a statement published on the website of his office.

Pezeshkian slammed the United States and Israel for their "destabilizing and destructive" role in West Asia, accusing them of seeking to sow division among Muslim countries.

He emphasized that despite extensive political, economic, and media pressure aimed at undermining security and stability in Iran and the region, Iran's domestic approach has focused on "maintaining the unity and solidarity among all parties, ethnicities and religions."

The Iranian president added that his country's approach towards the Islamic and neighboring states has been centered on promoting development and improving relations in all areas "through removing the walls of distrust and difference."

He also called for greater unity among the Muslim world to prevent foreign powers from threatening Islamic states.

The "deep emotional and heartfelt" bonds between the Iranian and Iraqi nations constitute the root and foundation of the two countries' long-standing relations, Pezeshkian said, emphasizing that the "strong and historical" bilateral ties will continue.

Hussein noted that "Iraq and Iran have a deep history."

Iraqi officials constantly monitored the recent events in Iran with special sensitivity, he said, adding that Iraq considers Iran's security as that of its own and the entire region and will not accept any attempt to harm it.

Protests have erupted across several Iranian cities since late December, sparked by the sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping reforms to government subsidies. Initially peaceful, the protests gradually became violent, resulting in casualties and damage to public properties. 
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ross Feller Casey, LLP, a Philadelphia-based personal injury and medical malpractice law firm representing clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, announced that its founding partner, Robert Ross, was honored with the William F. Hall Award by the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia at its Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast on January 19, 2026, in Philadelphia.

The Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast is a longstanding Philadelphia tradition that brings together members of the legal community to honor Dr. King's legacy through service, leadership, and a commitment to justice. The event is hosted by the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia, one of the nation's oldest organizations of Black attorneys and judges, dedicated to advancing excellence in the legal profession while promoting fairness, inclusion, and equal access to justice.

The William F. Hall Award is among the Barristers' Association's most significant honors. Named in memory of Judge William F. Hall, a respected jurist and legal leader, the award recognizes attorneys whose careers reflect sustained leadership, ethical practice, and a deep commitment to justice and public service.

Ross was recognized for his career as a trial lawyer representing individuals and families in catastrophic personal injury and medical malpractice cases across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Over more than three decades, he has secured well over half a billion dollars in recoveries for clients in serious personal injury, medical negligence, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury matters, including more than 30 eight-figure verdicts and settlements.

His work includes some of the largest medical malpractice recoveries in Pennsylvania, as well as significant verdicts and settlements involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, birth injuries, defective products, workplace accidents, and fatal transportation incidents. Throughout his career, Ross has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia, supporting its mission of mentorship, professional excellence, and expanding access to justice.

Ross is a founding partner of Ross Feller Casey, LLP, which he co-founded in 2006 with Joel Feller and Matt Casey. The firm focuses exclusively on serious and catastrophic personal injury cases, including medical malpractice, hospital negligence, birth injury, construction accidents, product liability, workplace injuries, and wrongful death claims.

"We congratulate our law partner, Rob Ross, on this well-deserved honor," said founding partners Joel Feller and Matt Casey. "The Barristers' Association of Philadelphia could not have made a better choice in selecting this year's honoree."

In addition to his trial work, Ross has long been recognized for mentoring younger attorneys and for his active involvement in the legal community, reflecting a belief that access to justice should not depend on background, resources, or circumstance, values that closely align with the mission of the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia.

Contact: Mario Cattabiani, Ross Feller Casey Director of Communications 215 485 1710 [email protected]

SOURCE Ross Feller Casey, LLP
SINGAPORE, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Sharpa's newly debuted full body robot, North, played fully autonomous ping-pong rallies with human opponents, drawing crowds that cheered as the volleys continued. For four straight dayseight hours a daySharpa opted for a live game rather than a scripted showcase. Sharpa also introduced CraftNet, an end-to-end hierarchical VTLA (visiontactilelanguageaction) model designed to advance fine manipulation. Together, these milestones underscore Sharpa's integrated hardware, software, and AI capabilities. For Sharpa, AI robotics is a mission to return people's time back to us, as they put:

Sharpa Aims to "Manufacture Time" via Its CraftNet VTLA Model, and Stuns CES 2026 with Live Autonomous Demos for Fine Manipulation

"We manufacture time by making robots useful."

In May 2025, Sharpa introduced Wave, a dexterous robotic hand with 22 active degrees of freedom, 1:1 human scale and a proprietary dynamic tactile array. Wave entered mass production and began shipping in October 2025. At CES, North demonstrated advanced fine manipulation capabilities powered by Wave, completed four fully autonomous demonstrations: robot photography, ping-pong rallying, windmill assembly, and card dealing, showcasing precise and consistent performance.

Throughout the show, Sharpa ran live sessions for eight hours each day and maintained strong on-site engagement. North captured more than 2,000 instant photos and assembled more than 300 windmills. The windmill task, in particular, stood out for its long-horizon autonomy, requiring more than 30 consecutive successful steps to complete. This is one of the longest-horizon tasks ever demonstrated for fully autonomous manipulation. The demonstrations quickly spread across social media and drew huge attention from robotics practitioners. Sharpa expects to release the production version of North in mid-2026.

"Robots can already dance and backflip, but manipulation remains the real bottleneck for useful, autonomous robots," said Alicia Veneziani, Sharpa's Global VP of GTM and President of Europe. "At Sharpa, we focus on productivity from day one, which is why we started with the hardest part, the hand."

"Tactileless is the new blindness"

Sharpa also introduced CraftNet. Built on Sharpa's multi-system manipulation architecture, which mimics the human system of reflexes and higher functions, CraftNet combines two complementary layers for reliable fine manipulation: System 0, the Interaction Brain, and System 1, the Motion Brain, to optimize "last-millimeter" interaction. It quickly became a standout topic, because it is critical to whether a robot can move from impressive demos to reliable work. Sharpa will share updates on CraftNet in phases.

"Last millimeter is 90% of the challenge"

Collectively, both CraftNet and North reflect Sharpa's integrated hardware-and-software approach to scalable autonomous manipulation, which is a breakthrough for real-world deployment. Sharpa sees expanding opportunities across retail, restaurants, and hotels, and ultimately the home, where robots can move beyond novelty and begin taking on meaningful work in everyday settings. By enabling robots powered by CraftNet to take on repetitive, tedious, and sometimes dangerous work, every manual task they assume becomes a deposit into humanity's "time bank." In this way, Sharpa fulfills its mission as a manufacturer of timeby making robots truly useful.

Sharpa was co-founded by Shaoqing Xiang, David Li, and Kai Sun. The company employs more than 100 people globally, with backgrounds spanning leading AI, autonomous driving, and robotics companies.

About Sharpa

Founded in 2024, Sharpa is an AI robotics company focused on building ultra-high-performance robots and core components for future general-purpose robotic applications. Sharpa's mission is to manufacture time by making robots useful.

Sharpa's global headquarters and R&D are based in Singapore, with a business operation center in Mountain View, USA, and its manufacturing R&D center in Shanghai, China.

SOURCE Sharpa
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Andrij O Baran, MD, FACC is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions as a Distinguished Cardiologist and Community Leader with Over Four Decades of Clinical Excellence.

Dr. Andrij O. Baran, FACC, has been at the forefront of cardiovascular care for more than 40 years in the Saratoga Springs, New York area.

Andrij O Baran MD, FACC

As the founder of his practice, Dr. Baran offers comprehensive diagnostic and clinical cardiology services, including echocardiography, pacemaker implantation, and nuclear cardiography. His approach is rooted in clear, compassionate communication, ensuring that patients understand their diagnoses and treatment options fully.

Dr. Baran began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Columbia University, followed by a Doctor of Medicine from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Albany Medical Center and went on to pursue advanced fellowship training in cardiology at both the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital and Harvard University's New England Deaconess Hospital. He is board certified in both cardiovascular disease and internal medicine.

Throughout his career, Dr. Baran has remained committed to clinical excellence and patient advocacy. A Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America, he is also an active contributor to global causes. As President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee's Capital District Branch, he plays a key role in raising funds for humanitarian and medical aid in support of Ukraine. In addition, he teaches Ukrainian history at a local Saturday school, helping to preserve and share his cultural heritage with future generations.

Dr. Baran has been married to Elizabeth Baran for 46 years, and together they have two children, Dimitriy and Natalia. His legacy as a physician is matched by his lifelong dedication to education, service, and community leadership.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
Industry-Leading Transparency Directly Addresses ACVR + ECVDI Concerns, Invites Independent Studies

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vetology Innovations today announced the public release of complete performance metrics for all 89+ classifiers across its diagnostic platform, making it the first and only AI company in the veterinary imaging space to provide this level of transparency.

Vetology Platform Anonymized View Eric Goldman, President, Vetology AI

The move directly addresses concerns raised in the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI) position statement[1], which identified "the lack of transparency and validation for AI tools currently available for veterinary diagnostic imaging" as a key challengeand concluded that "there is currently no commercially available product for diagnostic imaging that meets these standards."

"We're changing that," said Eric Goldman, President of Vetology AI. "Complete transparency isn't a competitive advantage we're protecting, it's a professional obligation we're fulfilling."

What's Now Public

Available at https://vetology.net/ai-classifier-performance/, the data includes condition-level sensitivity, specificity, and sample sizes across 300,000 test cases covering Vetology's canine thorax, canine abdomen, feline thorax, feline abdomen, and spine/musculoskeletal classifiers.

The data includes both high performerslike the heart failure classifier with 89.5% sensitivity across 10,951 casesand more challenging applications where AI serves as a decision support tool requiring professional expertise to interpret.

Why This Matters

Vetology welcomes collaboration with researchers, board-certified radiologists, general practitioners, and regulatory bodies. The company has partnered with institutions including AMC New York and Tufts University on peer-reviewed studies available at vetology.net/clinical-evidence, and invites independent validation efforts.

"We're releasing our performance data so veterinarians can make confident decisions in everyday practice and so the industry can establish clear standards for AI in veterinary imaging," said Cory Clemmons, Chief Technical Officer. "Transparency is how we build trust today and a better future for patient care."

A Call to the Industry

"Every imaging AI company will eventually publish performance data, either voluntarily or when regulators require it," Goldman said. "We're choosing to lead because transparency accelerates trust, and trust accelerates adoption of tools that genuinely help patients and practitioners."

Vetology will update performance metrics as classifiers are retested and publish comprehensive data for every new classifier launched, with releases planned monthly.

Learn More: vetology.net/ai-classifier-performance | vetology.net/clinical-evidence | vetology.net/request-demo | Full version of this release: https://vetology.net/vetology-ai-releases-classifier-performance-metrics/

ABOUT VETOLOGY: Vetology is a veterinary AI company specializing in diagnostic imaging solutions and teleradiology services for veterinary practices. Our platform combines artificial intelligence and board-certified veterinary radiologists to deliver rapid, accurate radiology interpretations. Vetology supports clinical decision-making at the point of care helping veterinary teams improve workflow efficiency and patient outcomes. Learn more at vetology.net.

MEDIA CONTACT

Sommer Aweidah

Chief Digital + Marketing Officer | Vetology

Phone: 888-416-2124

Email: [email protected]

Web: vetology.net

1 Reference: Appleby, R.B., Difazio, M., Cassel, N., Hennessey, R., & Basran, P.S. (2025). American College of Veterinary Radiology and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging position statement on artificial intelligence. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 263(6), 773-776.

SOURCE Vetology AI
NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LO SECCO Prosecco DOC Brut Nature, the zero-sugar sparkling wine produced in Italy's Veneto region, announced today the launch of its new consumer-focused website and expanded distribution across key U.S. markets, including Connecticut, Minnesota, and New Jersey.

The updated digital platform is designed to enhance the consumer experience, providing streamlined access to product information, availability, and direct-to-consumer ordering.

Zero Sugar Lo Secco Prosecco ZERO SUGAR LO SECCO PROSECCO

LO SECCO has partnered with Northeastern Beverage in Connecticut, Maverick Beverage Company in Minnesota, and Shorepoint Distributing in New Jersey, bringing the brand's total footprint to eight states. Consumers nationwide can now purchase LO SECCO directly through the company's newly launched website.

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"Maverick MN is excited to partner with LO SECCO Prosecco as we grow this rapidly expanding category together," said Mike Steffel, Vice President and General Manager of Maverick Beverage Company, MN.

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For more information or to purchase LO SECCO Prosecco nationwide, visit www.loseccoprosecco.com.

ABOUT: LO SECCO Prosecco DOC Brut Nature is a zero-sugar sparkling wine produced in Italy's Veneto region. LO SECCO delivers a crisp, dry profile with naturally low carbohydrates, aligning with modern low-sugar and mindful-drinking lifestyles without compromising quality or taste. Founded by beverage innovator Monika Elling, LO SECCO is redefining the Prosecco category for today's consumer through its clean flavor profile, elegance, and responsible enjoyment. The brand is currently available in eight U.S. markets and ships nationally direct to consumers via its website.

Follow Lo Secco Prosecco

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content.

Media Contact

Jenna Parker

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Tel:914.315.5585

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SOURCE LO SECCO PROSECCO
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Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business output at the Daily... Read more

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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.

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Stephen Gunnion is a senior financial journalist and broadcaster at Proactive Investors. He has more than 25 years of experience in television, radio and print media, anchoring on a number of television channels including South Africa's Business Day TV, CNBC Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where he was the economics editor. He has also worked for Daily Maverick, Bloomberg, the Business Day newspaper and Investors' Chronicle. Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 19. 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, held talks with Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, in Beijing on Monday.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Zhao said China stands ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, accelerate the development of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, and bring greater benefits to the two peoples.

Zhao said that China is willing to strengthen the alignment of its 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan's National Economic Transformation Plan (URAAN Pakistan) for the 2024-2029 period.

Zhao added that China is ready to advance the construction of the upgraded Version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and to deliver further achievements in key areas such as industry, agriculture, mining, transportation and people's livelihoods. He also said that China supports Pakistan's resolute efforts to combat terrorism.

China's NPC is willing to deepen its exchange of experience with the National Assembly of Pakistan on governance, legislation, oversight and other related areas, focusing on topics such as rural revitalization and green development, Zhao said.

Sadiq said that Pakistan firmly supports China's stance on its core interests and major concerns, including issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Xizang.

He noted that Pakistan hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as the economy, trade, investment, infrastructure development, people-to-people exchange and personnel training. The National Assembly of Pakistan is willing to deepen its exchange and cooperation with China's NPC, he added. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 19. 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
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About Oliver Haill

Oliver has been writing about companies and markets since the early 2000s, cutting his teeth as a financial journalist at Growth Company Investor with a focusing on AIM companies and small caps, before a few years later becoming a section editor and then head of research. He joined Proactive after a couple of years freelancing, where he worked for the Financial Times Group, ITV, Press Association, Reuters sports desk, the London Olympic News Service, Rugby World Cup News Service, Gracenote... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
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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.
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About Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
Buru Energy Ltd (ASX:BRU, OTC:BRNGF) continued to progress its Rafael Gas Project during the December 2025 quarter, advancing funding discussions, maturing drilling plans and securing key approvals ahead of a pivotal 2026 appraisal and flow-testing program.

The company also strengthened its balance sheet through a $2.35 million Share Purchase Plan, while maintaining a streamlined exploration footprint across the Canning Basin.

Global funding process underway to underpin Rafael appraisal program

During the quarter, Buru engaged a corporate adviser to manage a global funding process aimed at securing approximately $40 million to fully fund the planned 2026 Rafael resource and flowrate validation program.

The process has attracted interest from a broad range of international and domestic groups, including E&P companies, utilities, commodity traders, asset managers, investment banks, institutional investors, private equity, private credit and royalty companies, all of whom are undertaking due diligence.

Buru is targeting completion of the funding process in the March 2026 quarter to allow commitment to long-lead items for the upcoming drilling campaign.

Rafael gas project schedule.

Drilling plans mature as Rafael moves toward development decision

Well planning for the 2026 Rafael program continued to advance, with the current designs for Rafael 2H and a recompletion of the Rafael 1 well incorporating horizontal sections to optimise deliverability and support ultimate reserves.

The program is expected to be carried out in the June 2026 quarter and is designed to underpin independent reserves certification, a key step toward finalising field development planning and progressing binding agreements with Clean Energy Fuels Australia (CEFA), Burus midstream funding and development partner.

Key environmental approvals for the upcoming drilling campaign have already been secured, with remaining environmental and Traditional Owner approvals targeted for completion in the first half of 2026, ahead of a Final Investment Decision in the second half of the year.

CEO outlines path to first long-term cashflows from Rafael

Chief executive officer Thomas Nador said the companys focus remains firmly on bringing Rafael into production and generating long-term cashflows from 2028.

Burus primary focus continues to be the timely development of the Rafael Gas Project and the generation of first longterm cashflows starting in 2028.

Our global search for a strategic funding partner has generated significant interest from multiple parties.

This process aims to fully fund our critical 2026 Rafael resource validation program, which includes drilling the Rafael 2H well, recompleting the Rafael 1 well and conducting extended flow testing of the resource to support independent reserves certification.

This is essential to finalise field development planning for the Rafael Gas Project and to support binding agreements with our midstream funding and development partner, Clean Energy Fuels Australia (CEFA) to co-develop the project.

With key environmental approvals for the upcoming drilling campaign secured, we plan to obtain the remaining environmental approvals and Traditional Owner agreements for the Rafael Gas Project during the first half of 2026, in support of Final Investment Decision in the second half of 2026.

I thank our shareholders for their continued support during our recent capital raising. The successful completion of our Share Purchase Plan and placement in late 2025 raised approximately A$4.4 million to maintain development momentum for the Rafael Gas Project.

We are committed to delivering sustainable value for our shareholders and playing a vital role in Western Australias energy security.

Flying Fox prospect adds upside beneath Rafael structure

Buru also continued evaluating the Flying Fox prospect, identified beneath the main Rafael gas and condensate field following interpretation of the Rafael 3D seismic acquired in 2023.

The prospect lies at a depth of approximately 4,015 metres TVDSS and has been assessed to contain gross prospective resources of between 60 Bscf and 614 Bscf of gas, with a best estimate of 247 Bscf, alongside condensate potential of up to 12.6 MMstb.

Flying Fox Prospective Resources.

The company is assessing the potential to test Flying Fox during the 2026 campaign through a cost-effective deepening of the planned Rafael 2H well.

Flying Fox Prospective location below main Rafael structure.

Ungani remains in care and maintenance as Mars farm-out discussions continue

The Ungani Oilfield remained under care and maintenance during the quarter, with any restart dependent on renegotiation of commercial terms under existing Native Title agreements and regulatory approvals.

Buru continued engaging with third parties regarding a potential equity interest in the Mars Prospect, located approximately 9 kilometres north of the Ungani facilities. Mars is defined on high-quality 3D seismic and is interpreted to be oil-charged, with internal estimates assigning a 40% chance of success for a Mars-1 well.

Section A-A from Ungani Far West 1 (UFW1) to Mars Prospect.

Any success at Mars could provide strategic optionality and funding support for Rafael development.

Exploration footprint streamlined across the Canning Basin

As part of its ongoing portfolio rationalisation, Buru completed seven partial title surrender applications across its Canning Basin acreage, reducing permit and licence areas by approximately 60%.

The move has lowered holding costs and work commitments, while the company continues to maintain its remaining permits in good standing with minimal expenditure.

Capital raise completed to support Rafael development activities

In October 2025, Buru completed its Share Purchase Plan, issuing 69.2 million new shares to raise approximately $1.4 million, with a further $0.95 million raised through an SPP shortfall placement.

The $2.35 million raised before costs will support activities under Burus Strategic Development Agreement with CEFA, as well as working capital requirements ahead of binding project agreements and Final Investment Decision.

At December 31, 2025, Buru held $4.1 million in cash and cash equivalents and carried no debt.

Exploration and appraisal expenditure during the quarter was primarily directed toward the Rafael Gas Project, while corporate and administration costs remained broadly in line with the previous quarter.
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Five terrorists belonging to a banned outfit were killed on Monday during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, said a statement from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Police.

The CTD said that the operation was conducted in Dasht area of Mastung district of the province after intelligence reports suggested the presence of a group of terrorists planning attacks.

According to the CTD, security personnel reached the area and established surveillance, followed by indiscriminate firing by terrorists, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire.

Five terrorists were killed in the clash, while several others managed to escape by taking advantage of the mountainous terrain, said the CTD.

Arms and explosives recovered from the site included five submachine guns with ammunition, seven hand grenades and three motorcycles, said the statement, adding that militants were planning to block the Quetta-Sibi Highway and launch attacks on security forces and civilian traffic.

Authorities said search operations are continuing in the area to apprehend the fleeing militants and dismantle the remaining network.

Officials reiterated that intelligence-based operations would continue across the province to curb militant activities and ensure security on major highways. 
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The Hague, Jan 19 : Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel on Sunday condemned the US imposition of tariffs on European countries over Greenland, calling it an act of "blackmail."

The minister said on WNL op Zondag, a Sunday talk show on the Dutch public broadcaster NPO, that it was unacceptable to use trade tariffs as a tool to exert political or military pressure, describing the measure as "blackmail."

Van Weel said there is still room for the measure to be withdrawn before it takes effect on February 1, adding, "The first priority is to withdraw this ridiculous proposal. If that doesn't work, I can't rule anything out."

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States will impose 10-per cent tariffs on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland over Greenland starting on February 1.

The tariffs would increase to 25 per cent on June 1, and would continue until a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland, he said on social media.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defence and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island.

Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland and has recently ramped up his threat.

On Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Following the meeting, the Danish and Greenlandic officials said "fundamental disagreement" over the future of Greenland remained.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Chennai, Jan 19 : The manifesto preparation committee of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is all set to begin an extensive statewide consultation tour from Vellore on Monday, as the party intensifies preparations for the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

According to party sources, the committee's tour aims to collect opinions, suggestions, and policy recommendations from a wide spectrum of society.

Special focus will be placed on interactions with stakeholders from the education sector, alongside consultations with representatives of social organisations, professionals, youth groups, and grassroots party workers.

The feedback gathered during these interactions is expected to play a key role in shaping the DMK's election manifesto.

After commencing its consultations in Vellore, the committee will travel to several major towns and districts across the State on different dates. The itinerary includes Hosur, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore, Salem, Coimbatore, and Madurai.

The statewide outreach programme is scheduled to continue until February 10.

Party leaders stated that the exercise reflects the DMK's emphasis on participatory politics and inclusive policymaking.

By engaging directly with people from different regions and sectors, the party aims to ensure that its manifesto addresses local aspirations, regional development needs, and long-term governance priorities.

The committee is expected to compile the inputs and submit a comprehensive report to the party leadership for further deliberation.

Meanwhile, the DMK has announced that a meeting of its district secretaries will be held on Tuesday, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin.

The meeting will focus on preparations for the upcoming Assembly election, including organisational strengthening, coordination at the district and booth levels, and strategies to effectively highlight the development works carried out by the DMK government.

Party sources indicated that the deliberations are expected to provide strategic direction for the next phase of the party's election campaign.
Chennai, Jan 19 : Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay has been summoned to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) again in New Delhi on Monday regarding the investigation into the Karur stampede.

The CBI has intensified its probe into the tragic stampede that occurred in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on September 27 last year, during a political campaign event addressed by Vijay.

The incident, in which 41 people lost their lives after being caught in a massive crowd surge, had sent shockwaves across the country and raised serious questions about crowd management and administrative preparedness.

The investigation is being monitored by a supervisory committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi.

Under this oversight, the CBI has accelerated its inquiry, focusing on responsibility, planning failures, and the sequence of events that led to the deadly tragedy.

As part of the investigation, the CBI had last month questioned several senior TVK functionaries, including party general secretary Bussy Anand, Election Management Division general secretary Aadhav Arjun, joint general secretary Nirmal Kumar, and Karur district secretary Mathiyazhagan.

The agency recorded their statements to establish who organised the event, how preparations were made, and whether adequate safety measures were put in place.

Following these examinations, the CBI summoned Vijay to Delhi for questioning in connection with the case.

Acting on the summons, Vijay appeared at the CBI office at 11 a.m. on the 12th of this month.

He was questioned for nearly seven hours.

According to sources, investigators posed a series of detailed questions, including who was responsible for organising the Karur event, whether all arrangements were communicated to him in advance, why his arrival at the venue was delayed by several hours, and whether he or his team made any attempt to manage the crowd as congestion increased.

The CBI also sought clarifications on when Vijay first became aware of the overcrowding, whether administrators had warned him beforehand, and whether arrangements had been made for drinking water, secure entry and exit points, and overall crowd safety.

Sources indicated that Vijay responded to all questions put to him during the first round of interrogation. After completing the initial phase of questioning, the CBI team returned to Chennai.

However, following the Pongal festival, the agency issued a fresh summons asking Vijay to appear again in Delhi for further questioning on January 19.

In compliance, Vijay departed for Delhi by a private flight on Sunday evening at around 4 p.m.

On Monday, Vijay is expected to appear before the CBI for the second time, during which investigators are likely to continue their detailed examination as the probe into one of Tamil Nadu's deadliest campaign-related tragedies enters a crucial phase.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Quetta, Jan 19 : Amid escalating violence and security operations across Pakistan's Balochistan province, a leading human rights organisation reported the alleged enforced disappearance of three more Baloch civilians, accusing Pakistani security forces of involvement in the latest incidents.

Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, mentioned that on January 17, two brothers, Imran Baloch and Rizwan Baloch, were forcibly taken from their home in the Tusp region of Panjgur district by Pakistani security forces.

"Their forced disappearance marks yet another tragic episode in the ongoing violations of human rights in Balochistan," the rights body stated.

In a separate incident, Paank revealed that another Baloch civilian, Owais Ahmed Qambrani, a resident of Kharan district, was forcibly disappeared from the Sarawan area on January 17, along with his vehicle, during a raid on a dairy farm by Pakistani security forces.

Condemning the incidents in the strongest terms, the rights body called for immediate accountability for those responsible.

Paank expressed solidarity with the families of the disappeared and urged local and international bodies to take action to end such human rights violations in Balochistan.

Meanwhile, Tara Chand, President of Baloch American Congress, accused the Pakistani army of forcibly kidnapping girls and women across Balochistan from their homes for several months, and holding them in torture cells.

Taking to X, Chand said, "No one knows what horrors are being inflicted upon these innocent women. Even pregnant women are being abducted by Pakistani soldiers. Many of these women have small, innocent children waiting for own mothers at home. These atrocities are being committed in an attempt to suppress the Baloch movement, but the Baloch people will never be silenced or broken."

"The world must not ignore these crimes. We will never forgive the cruelty being committed against innocent Baloch women. The Pakistani army should be ashamed of kidnapping and abusing innocent women," he added.

The Baloch leader appealed to the international community to speak out and take action against the "cruel and oppressive" Pakistani army.
Seoul, Jan 19 : South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were set to hold summit talks on Monday, during which they are expected to focus on cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Meloni arrived in South Korea on Saturday for a three-day official visit as part of her Asia trip, which also includes stops in Japan and Oman.

During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to bolster cooperation in trade, investment, artificial intelligence, defence and semiconductors, among other areas, Cheong Wa Dae said.

The talks will mark their second summit meeting after they first met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year.

It marks the first time in 19 years that an Italian leader has visited Seoul for bilateral summit talks. Meloni is the first European leader to visit South Korea since Lee took office in June last year.

Italy is South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union and is visited by roughly 1 million South Koreans annually, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap news agency reported.

Last year in September, Lee Jae Myung met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss ways to bolster bilateral cooperation.

During the talks, Lee had underscored the need for the two countries to deepen 'mutually beneficial' cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and defence, building on their strategic partnership, the office had said in a release.

Meloni took note of progress in bilateral trade and investment, highlighting the strong potential for further economic cooperation, the office had added.

She also had expressed her hope to visit South Korea at the earliest opportunity to advance practical cooperation, and invited Lee to visit Italy at his convenience.

The two leaders had agreed that South Korea and Italy have played a constructive role on the international stage amid complex global challenges, and pledged to further deepen their cooperation, the had office noted.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Kolkata, Jan 19 : Seven people have been arrested in connection with the abduction and gang-rape of a teenage girl in West Bengal's Purulia district, senior police officers said on Monday.

The police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO).

According to police and family sources, the teenage girl is from Purulia town.

On Friday evening, the 17-year-old girl left her home to go to a friend's house. When she did not return home even after nightfall, the family started to worry about her.

Finally, the girl's father filed a kidnapping complaint at the Purulia Sadar police station. Upon receiving the complaint, the police immediately launched an investigation. The girl was rescued later that night.

During questioning, the minor girl narrated her horrific ordeal and mentioned that she was abducted and subjected to sexual assault.

The girl told the police that she was walking down the road at night when seven or eight young men stopped her. She was forcibly taken from the road to a field near the railway tracks, where she said that she was gang-raped.

After the ordeal, the girl somehow managed to return home. That's when the police found her.

The girl was taken to a hospital for a medical examination immediately after the incident came to light.

Based on the girl's statement, the police conducted searches in various locations.

On Sunday, the police arrested seven young men who were allegedly involved. One of them fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. The remaining six were produced before a court.

"After making the arrest, the six were produced before the Purulia District Court yesterday. They have been remanded to judicial custody for seven days. The remaining one accused is undergoing treatment at the hospital. He will be produced in a court once he recovers," said a senior officer of Purulia district police.

Meanwhile, the teenage girl is scheduled to record her confidential statement before a magistrate on Monday.
January 19 : Lucknow: The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh is set to take another significant step towards making the state poverty-free. As part of this effort, the government is considering linking universities and colleges across the state with its Zero Poverty Campaign. To formalise the initiative, MoUs will be signed with higher educational institutions, which will adopt 10-to-15-gram panchayats each to ensure the holistic development of identified poor families.

Under the campaign, students from NSS, NCC, MSW and other academic programmes will work as volunteers to connect members of Zero Poverty families with livelihood opportunities, skill development, employment support, and social empowerment initiatives. The initiative will begin as a pilot project in the state capital, Lucknow, and based on its results, it will be implemented phase-wise across Uttar Pradesh.

Principal Secretary, Planning and Nodal Officer of the Zero Poverty Campaign, Alok Kumar, said that students associated with universities and colleges will conduct surveys of identified families in each gram panchayat to promote livelihood enhancement, skill development, employment generation and entrepreneurship. To ensure effective implementation, nodal teachers will be appointed at the institutional level to monitor the campaign and guide activities being carried out in the adopted gram panchayats.

To ensure active youth participation, students enrolled in NSS, NCC, MSW, along with students from other courses, will be involved in the initiative. These volunteers will visit villages to assess the needs of members of Zero Poverty families and assist them accordingly.

Alok Kumar further stated that micro-planning will be undertaken to promote skill training, employment and entrepreneurship. Youth will be linked with skilling programmes, apprenticeships and placement opportunities. In addition, eligible families will be supported in application processes so that they are not deprived of the benefits of any government scheme.

Regular mentoring and progress tracking of beneficiaries will also be ensured. The initiative will focus on achieving 100 percent coverage of all eligible government schemes. To make the campaign more effective, coordination will be established between the district administration and universities/colleges. For this purpose, MoUs will be signed at the district magistrate level, and quarterly review meetings will be held to assess progress and introduce required improvements.
January 19 : Chandauli: Chief Justice of the India Suryakant laid the foundation stone and performed ground breaking for six integrated court complexes in Chandauli on Saturday in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He congratulated the Uttar Pradesh government and high court for this and praised the state governments efforts. He said that UPs Chief Minister has announced 10 court complexes. Out of these, the work of establishment (foundation stone and ground breaking) of six has started today. With their construction, UP will present an example across the entire India. These complexes will become benchmarks for the country. Whichever state I go to, I will give the example of UP government there. I will appeal to state governments and high courts that such facilities be provided there too.

Chief Justice said that this region is famous for many historical religious temples. Chief Minister ji has added a new link in that history, when judicial temples are being established here. Integrated judicial court complexes will successfully meet the requirements of judicial complexes for the next 50 years. The facilities provided in this complex equipped with every type of facility for advocates and common people are commendable. Court complex will prove to be temple of justice. Sitting here, judicial officers will deliver justice to complainants keeping human values in mind. Members of the bar will also have an active role in this.

Chief Justice said that the Constitution has given an important place to district judiciary. There is an article in it that every state will have its high court and that high court will have the capacity to enforce fundamental, human and other rights. The thinking of the Constitution makers was that if district judiciary is established, people will get court facilities in their area.

Chief Justice told the high court that separate bar rooms be made for women practicing in district courts. Praising the arrangements here, he requested Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that a primary health center also be built in the complex. This will provide relief to elderly, litigants etc. from health related problems too.

Foundation stone and ground breaking program was attended by Supreme Court senior justices Vikram Nath, Justice Pankaj Mithal, Justice Manoj Mishra, Justice Rajesh Bindal, Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Arun Bhanjali and Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and senior justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi etc.
January 19 : Varanasi: When the Kashi Vishwanath Dham was being constructed, some people had hatched conspiracies even then. Broken remnants of idols were brought from workshops where statues are made and were circulated on social media to spread white lies that temples were being demolished.

This direct attack on the congress was made by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Chief Minister was addressing the media in Varanasi on Saturday after offering prayers at Baba Kashi Vishwanath Dham.

Over the past two days, several videos have gone viral on social media alleging the demolition of temples in Kashi and at Manikarnika Ghat. To respond to these allegations, the Chief Minister himself addressed the media. Rejecting the authenticity of these videos outright, he said that conspiracies are being hatched to obstruct the comprehensive development projects undertaken over the last 11 years and misinformation is being spread. It was necessary for me to come here today so that the correct facts could be placed before the public, he said.

He added that every follower of Sanatan Dharma and every Indian holds deep reverence for Kashi. However, in independent India, Kashi did not receive the respect it deserved, nor the development it should have witnessed. Over the past 11 years, Kashi has once again begun preserving and promoting its spiritual and cultural heritage while also achieving new heights through physical and infrastructural development.

CM Yogi said it is a matter of immense pride that Kashi is represented in Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, who often refers to it as My Kashi in his speeches. From the very beginning, the Prime Minister emphasized that while preserving Kashis ancient character, it should be presented to the world in a renewed and modern form. Accordingly, development projects for Kashi were conceptualized and implemented.

Highlighting the transformation witnessed after the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the Chief Minister said that before the corridor, an average of 5,000 to 25,000 devotees visited the shrine daily. After the corridor, this number has risen to 1.25 to 1.5 lakh devotees per day. On special occasions, footfall increases to 6 to 10 lakh. Last year alone, more than 11 crore devotees visited Baba Vishwanath Dham. Since the construction of the corridor, Kashi by itself has contributed 1.3 lakh crore to the countrys GDP.

Targeting the congress directly, CM Yogi said that even during the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, the Congress spread white lies claiming that temples were demolished, which is completely false. Those temples were restored and revived. They still exist exactly as they were. The only difference is that earlier they were in a dilapidated condition and now they have been rejuvenated, he said.

The Chief Minister said that about a hundred years ago, the idol of Maa Annapurna was stolen from Kashi and taken to Europe. It was brought back due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and installed at Kashi Vishwanath Dham. CM Yogi questioned the congress, asking why no such effort was made between 1947 and 2014, when Congress governments ruled at the centre for most of the time. He said Congress governments never had respect for Indias heritage. A party that followed the path of appeasement and insulted Indias faith could never respect the nations heritage.

CM Yogi said there is no need to learn from Congress about how heritage should be respected. Whether it is the construction of the Ram Temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya after 500 years or development works in Kashi, Ayodhya, Vindhyavasini Dham, Prayagraj, Buddhist pilgrimage sites, or other heritage locations across India, all conservation and beautification works are being carried out smoothly under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

He said that the baseless remarks, childish statements and actions of congress leaders evoke both laughter and pity. Their conduct is like the saying, "The pot calling the kettle back", he remarked. Those who have always disrespected heritage are now creating obstacles in development works. This situation is not limited to Manikarnika alone, in truth, such people will obstruct every development initiative linked to public welfare and the progress of the state and the nation.
Head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Kang Yi (C), and Fu Linghui (R), spokesperson and chief economist of the NBS and director general of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics of the NBS, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO) on China's economic performance in 2025, in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's value-added service output went up 5.4 percent year on year in 2025, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday.

The value-added output of information transmission, software and IT service sectors increased 11.1 percent, while that of leasing and business services expanded 10.3 percent year on year.

The index gauging the country's service industry output rose 5 percent year on year in December, Kang Yi, head of the NBS, told a press conference. 

The State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press conference on China's economic performance in 2025, in Beijing, capital of China, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)
Kozhikode : , Jan 19 (IANS) Beypore, long considered one of the safest CPI(M) bastions in Kozhikode district, is emerging as an unlikely electoral battleground, with signs of churn threatening the political ascent of State Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law and the sitting MLA from the constituency.

The rise of Riyas within the party and government has been swift and closely watched. After marrying Vijayan's daughter Veena Vijayan during the peak of the Covid pandemic in a low-key ceremony at the Chief Minister's official residence, Riyas was fielded from Beypore -- a seat the Congress-led Opposition has failed to wrest since 1977.

His victory was followed by what many in political circles described as a surprise elevation to the cabinet, with charge of the high-profile Public Works and Tourism portfolios, traditionally handled by senior party veterans. His subsequent induction into the CPI(M) state secretariat further cemented his standing within the party hierarchy.

However, the political calm around Beypore appears to be giving way to unease. The renewed activity of P.V. Anvar, the estranged two-time former Left-backed independent legislator who quit the Assembly last year after falling out with Vijayan, has injected fresh uncertainty into the race.

After briefly supporting the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), Anvar contested the bypoll independently, finishing a distant third. He has since returned to the UDF fold, with the Kerala unit of the Trinamool Congress -- which he leads -- being granted associate membership in the alliance.

Over the past three days, Anvar has been actively touring Beypore, holding meetings across political divides. "People will do the needful. The past five years will be compared with the previous 50 years, the way the Left legislator has been working," he said, hinting at a strong undercurrent of discontent.

Claiming interactions not just with UDF leaders but also with Left supporters, Anvar asserted that calls for change and resentment against "family politics" were unusually pronounced this time. "A strong anti-Pinarayi and anti-son-in-law sentiment is blowing across the constituency," he claimed, predicting that the verdict would become evident once votes are cast.

Veteran Indian Union Muslim League leader C.P. Mayin Haji, who has deep roots in Beypore and had narrowly lost to a CPI(M) candidate in the past, echoed the sentiment, saying the "writing on the wall" suggested Anvar held the upper hand.

As campaigning gathers momentum, Beypore may be headed for one of its most closely watched contests in decades.

Putting up a brave face was Riyas, who said that in a democracy, anyone can contest from anywhere.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Riyas might be moved to the nearby constituency at Elathur, which is now held by the ageing State Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran of the NCP.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
January 19 : Varanasi: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived at Varanasi on Saturday.

Chief Minister reached Varanasi afer the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Integrated Court Complex in Chandauli.

Here, he offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and paid obeisance at the shrine of Kashi Kotwal Kaal Bhairav.

This is the second visit of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to Varanasi in the month January.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performed rituals and offered prayers at the Kashi Kotwal Kaal Bhairav Temple and Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, praying for public welfare.

At the Kaal Bhairav Mandir, the Chief Minister interacted with young children, enquired about their well being, and also distributed chocolates.

The Chief Minister also greeted the devotees who had come for darshan.

During the visit, Cabinet Minister Anil Rajbhar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ravindra Jaiswal, MLA Saurabh Shrivastava, Avadhesh Singh and others were present.
Hyderabad, Jan 19 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, along with his family members and Cabinet colleagues, on Monday offered prayers at the tribal shrine of Sammakka-Sarakka at Medaram in Mulugu district.

A day after conducting the Cabinet meeting in Medaram, the first outside Hyderabad, the Chief Minister, along with his family members, participated in various rituals at the tribal shrine.

He also inaugurated development works undertaken by the State government for the famous Medaram Jatra scheduled to begin on January 28.

The Chief Minister unveiled a pylon and sacred platforms (Gaddelu) for the deities.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and ministers accompanied the Chief Minister.

Millions of devotees are expected to participate in the Sammakka-Sarakka Maha Jatara, a biennial event scheduled to be held at Medaram in Mulugu district from January 28 to 31.

Also known as Medaram Jatra, it is considered the most significant tribal festival in Asia.

The State government has allocated Rs 260 crore for this year's 'Jatara' -- Rs 150 crore for event arrangements and Rs 110 crore for permanent temple infrastructure.

The master plan focused on the sacred grounds that house platforms of Sammakka, Saralamma, Pagididdaraju, and Govindaraju, enabling lakhs of devotees to offer prayers conveniently.

At a cultural event at Medaram on Sunday night, the Chief Minister announced that the state government will conduct Medaram Jatara on the lines of Kumbh Mela.

The Chief Minister said that he accomplished the development of Medaram Gaddelu and the tribal shrine with all facilities.

The Chief Minister said the Medaram festival is a historical event which symbolises courage transformed into divinity. It is the biggest tribal festival where people worship deities without a temple.

CM Revanth Reddy remembered brave women Sammakka and Saralamma, who led a revolt against the Kakatiya dynasty. The Chief Minister also recalled that he embarked on 'Padayatra' from Medaram on February 6, 2023, with a resolve to dethrone the BRS government. With the blessings of the goddesses, the 'People's Government' came to power in the State.

"I consider it my good fortune to develop Medaram," the Chief Minister said. He pointed out that the development of the works and stone structures was completed within 100 days before the beginning of the tribal festival.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19 : The political controversy surrounding Kerala Minister for Fisheries and Culture Saji Cherian intensified after the Congress filed police complaints accusing him of making remarks with communal overtones, even as unease became visible within the ruling CPI(M).

The Youth Congress approached the Director General of Police, alleging that Cherian's statement was intended to foment tension between religious communities for political gain. The complaint was submitted by Youth Congress state working president Binu Chulliyel.

Separately, Congress spokesperson V.R. Anoop lodged a complaint against the minister at the Chengannur police station.

The complaints come amid mounting political backlash over Cherian's recent comments, which triggered accusations of communal insinuations and caused discomfort within the CPI(M).

Facing criticism, the Minister moved swiftly to issue a clarification, claiming his remarks had been distorted and selectively quoted to mislead the public. Cherian maintained that his comments were rooted in political realities and were not intended to promote communal thinking.

"In Muslim-dominated areas, the League leads, and in Hindu-dominated areas, the BJP leads. What I meant was that such a situation should not arise," he said, asserting that he intended to warn against the dangers of political polarisation along religious lines.

He argued that the communalism propagated by the RSS cannot be countered by what he termed minority communalism, and that strengthening the Left was the only effective response in Kerala.

Citing the electoral outcome in the Kasaragod municipality, which has 39 seats, Cherian said the Left, despite campaigning on a secular platform, secured just one seat, while the Congress won two. The BJP won 12 seats, and the Muslim League emerged victorious in 22 seats.

"I only read out the names of those who won. My concern was that such a situation should not be repeated elsewhere in Kerala," he told the media, stressing that no statement should encourage either majority or minority communalism.

Defending Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Cherian asked whether there was a more secular leader in the country, saying the Chief Minister had consistently stood with minorities during every crisis. He added that not a single communal riot had occurred in Kerala during the Left Democratic Front's tenure.

However, the controversy refused to subside. Cherian reacted sharply to media queries on whether the Muslim League's electoral success was aided by communal forces, brushing aside microphones and walking away without responding further.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan declined to comment on Cherian's remarks or on similar statements made by senior party leader A.K. Balan.

Incidentally, Cherian's sharp tongue had earlier cost him his ministerial position after controversial remarks on the Constitution. He was reinstated as minister after the court later cleared him of wrongdoing.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Even as terror launchpads continue to flourish in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the ISI has been moving some operatives into Bangladesh. The intention is to have them infiltrate India through the Bangladesh border, Intelligence agencies have learnt.

Indian agencies have learnt of a major plot that the ISI has hatched ahead of Republic Day, which falls on January 26. With terrorists finding it hard to infiltrate the country through the Line of Control (LoC), the ISI is looking at the India route through Bangladesh, an official said.

Another official said that the ISI has been in touch with operatives who are into smuggling cattle, counterfeit Indian currency and human traffickers. The ISI would use these syndicates to help terrorists infiltrate India from Bangladesh, the official also added.

These syndicates are familiar with the routes into India from Bangladesh, and hence, Pakistan has reached out to them to further their deadly plan ahead of Republic Day. An Intelligence Bureau official said that the terrorists would use the sea route from Pakistan to first enter Bangladesh.

The ISI would take advantage of the fact that the Muhammad Yunus government had, in 2024, exempted Pakistani shipments from mandatory inspection. Further, the Yunus administration also removed security clearance requirements for Pakistani visa applicants.

For the ISI, these decisions came as a blessing, and today it can easily transport arms and ammunition as well as terrorists into Bangladesh without any security checks, officials say. The plan has been in the making since October 2025.

Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, a close aide of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, had visited Bangladesh and met with important players who are running the smuggling syndicates. Another official said that his visit was planned by ISI so that he could coordinate with other terror groups and crime syndicate heads in Bangladesh. Zaheer is an expert in coordination and has been an ISI asset for a long time. Being a top aide of Saeed, he has also actively taken part in the affairs of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Further, he is a cleric and has on many occasions spewed venom against India. All these factors made him the top pick to lead the massive terror plan to be carried out in India, officials say.

The Indian agencies are on a state of very high alert. Agency officials say that while terror attacks in India by the Pakistanis are nothing new, this time around, things are a bit different. The attack that is being planned is not only aimed at bleeding India, but also about sending a loud message to the youth in Pakistan who have been a bit reluctant to join groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Both these groups are finding it hard to recruit, and hence they need to undertake a spectacular attack in India to boost the morale of their cadre and also boost recruitments, an official said.

Ever since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the Pakistanis have been all over the place in Bangladesh. They have boosted ties with Bangladesh with the help of the Jamaat-e-Islami, while getting the Yunus regime to make several exceptions for themselves.

Further, the ISI has set up several terror cells while also overseeing the targeted killings of the minorities. This attack is also important for the ISI because it would be a test case for their Bangladesh operations. The ISI wants to shift a majority of its operations to Bangladesh so that these terrorists can target the northeastern states as well as West Bengal.

Further, the ISI wants to take advantage of the fact that a large number of security personnel are busy with the multiple elections that are coming up, including West Bengal and Assam. They feel that this would be the opportune time to target India.

Another official said that the reason why the ISI has handpicked terrorists from PoK and not Bangladesh is that they are already highly trained. The ISI just has to instruct them and manage the infiltration. They require no special training, and theyare ready to strike, and hence they have been chosen for this terror attack, the official also added.
Kozhikode, Jan 19 : The family of a Kozhikode-based youth, who died allegedly by suicide, after a woman accused him of sexual assault, has decided to pursue legal action against the complainant, even as police intensified their investigation into the case that has sparked widespread public debate.

The family and friends of the deceased, Deepak, said they would go to "any extent" to ensure justice for him.

They maintained that Deepak had committed no wrongdoing and claimed that the woman's social media post, alleging assault, which went viral within hours, pushed him into severe mental distress and ultimately led to his death.

Friends told local media that Deepak had repeatedly insisted he was innocent and had done nothing wrong.

Police have already begun steps to record the statement of the woman who made the allegation, following the suicide.

Statements will also be taken from the bus staff and others who were present during the journey.

Investigators are examining why the woman chose to release a video on social media instead of filing an immediate police complaint, as well as the sequence of events, after the video surfaced.

Police have indicated that, based on the preliminary inquiry, there may have been lapses on both sides, while stressing that the investigation is still at an early stage.

The incident dates back to last Friday, when Deepak, a sales manager from Kozhikode, was travelling on a crowded private bus on work-related business.

The woman alleged that he touched her with sexual intent and recorded a video inside the bus, which she later posted on social media.

The clip triggered intense criticism and counteraccusations online, subjecting the youth to public scrutiny.

The woman has stood by her allegation, stating that the incident occurred and that she informed the police.

She claimed that Deepak alighted from the bus and walked away quickly after realising that she was recording the video.

However, after Deepak's death, the woman reportedly deleted the video and related posts from her social media accounts, drawing further attention to the case.

Deepak was found hanging at his home near Kozhikode when only his parents were present.

His family said he was deeply disturbed after the video circulated widely and that he had no history of misconduct or substance abuse.

Relatives alleged that the public shaming on social media broke him mentally.

Meanwhile, separate complaints have been filed seeking action against the woman, including a petition to the Director General of Police demanding a case for abetment of suicide.

As legal and political reactions mount, the case has reopened a wider debate in Kerala on social media trials, due process, and the devastating consequences of online allegations made without institutional scrutiny.
Chennai, Jan 19 : In the backdrop of clear political and organisational direction issued by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) is set to convene a crucial Executive Committee meeting tomorrow.

The meeting will be held at 12 noon at Sathyamurthy Bhavan, the party's state headquarters in Chennai, under the leadership of TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai.

The meeting assumes significance as it comes shortly after a preparatory session held by the AICC leadership in the national capital, where clear messaging was conveyed to Tamil Nadu unit regarding alliance management and electoral strategy.

According to party sources, the Executive Committee meeting will primarily focus on preparations for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, including organisational restructuring, booth-level strengthening, and mass outreach programmes across the state. A key aspect of the AICC's guidance to the TNCC is the emphasis on maintaining alliance discipline and avoiding confrontational political posturing against the party's long-standing and "trusted" ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The message from the central leadership is understood to underline the importance of unity within the INDIA bloc framework in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the run-up to the high-stakes Assembly polls.

Several senior leaders are expected to participate in the meeting, including Leader of the Congress Legislature Party S Rajeshkumar, MLA, AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar, and AICC secretaries Suraj MN Hegde and Nivedith Alva.

Their presence is expected to lend weight to the deliberations and ensure alignment between the state and central leadership.

Emphasising the importance of the meeting, TNCC president Selvaperunthagai has appealed to all state Executive Committee members and special invitees to attend without fail.

Party insiders say the discussions will play a key role in shaping the Congress party's organisational roadmap, alliance approach, and campaign narrative ahead of the 2026 elections.

Political observers are keenly watching the outcome of the meeting, particularly to see whether sections within the Congress that have been vocal about demanding a greater role, including power-sharing arrangements with the DMK in the event of an electoral victory, will soften their stance in line with AICC's broader strategic outlook.
Chennai, Jan 19 : The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will convene on Tuesday amid a tense political atmosphere, with attention firmly centred on whether Governor R. N. Ravi will deliver the customary address in full.

As per established convention, the first sitting of every Assembly session begins with the Governor's address outlining the policies, programmes and achievements of the elected government.

Accordingly, the first sitting of this year's Assembly session is scheduled to begin at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Governor Ravi is expected to leave the Raj Bhavan at 9.10 a.m. and arrive at the Secretariat at around 9.25 a.m. He will be received with ceremonial honours, including a police parade accompanied by band music.

On his arrival, Assembly Speaker M. Appavu will formally welcome the Governor by presenting a shawl and a bouquet. Inside the Assembly Hall, the Governor will proceed to the Speaker's chair.

Seating arrangements have been made with the Speaker positioned to the Governoras right and the Governoras Secretary seated to his left.

The proceedings will begin exactly at 9.30 a.m. with the rendition of 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu', following which the Governor is scheduled to commence his address.

Traditionally, the Governor's address reflects the vision, policies, welfare initiatives and administrative achievements of the Tamil Nadu government.

After the Governor completes his speech in English, the Speaker will read out the Tamil version. With this, the day's sitting will conclude. Subsequently, a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee will be held to decide the number of days to be allotted for the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governoras address.

The Assembly session is likely to continue until Friday, January 23. However, uncertainty hangs over tomorrowas proceedings due to repeated confrontations between the Governor and the State government in recent years.

Appointed as Governor in September 2021, Ravi delivered his first Assembly address in full only in 2022. Relations between Raj Bhavan and the ruling DMK government have since steadily deteriorated.

In 2023, the Governor omitted several references in his address, including those relating to womenas progress, secularism, self-respect, Periyar, B.R. Ambedkar and former Chief Minister Karunanidhi.

When Chief Minister M. K. Stalin asserted on the floor of the House that the omitted portions would remain part of the official address, the Governor walked out midway.

In 2024, Ravi declined to read the address altogether, citing the absence of the National Anthem after the Tamil anthem.

The Speaker then read out the full address in Tamil and ensured it was recorded in the Assembly minutes. A similar episode occurred on January 6, 2025, when the Governor again exited the House on the same grounds.

Against this backdrop, whether Governor Ravi will properly deliver the address when the Assembly convenes tomorrow remains a key political question.
Seoul, Jan 19 : A major indoctrination facility in North Korea displayed banners calling South Korea the "No. 1 hostile country" and inciting public animosity against Seoul, photos released by the North's media showed on Monday.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the photos while reporting on North Koreans touring the Central Class Education House in Pyongyang as part of celebrations marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the country's largest youth organisation.

The class education house is a propaganda facility that fosters antagonism toward Seoul and Washington among the public, Yonhap News Agency reported, quoting KCNA.

The KCNA photos showed rows of uniformed soldiers listening to a guide in a hall displaying banners, photos and painted messages against South Korea.

The banners read, "South Korea is the No. 1 hostile country and the unchanging archenemy," and accused Seoul of creating a "confrontational frenzy" aimed at upending North Korea and "ending the regime."

The messages included an article of South Korea's Constitution defining the country's territory as the entire Korean Peninsula, in what appears to be an accusation that Seoul intends to unify the North by absorption.

In a parliamentary address in September last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un denounced the constitutional article as codifying what he called "the most hostile true colour by nature."

At a year-end party meeting in December 2023, Kim declared inter-Korean relations as those between "two states hostile to each other" and has since pursued hostile policies toward Seoul, including a pledge during a parliamentary speech in 2024 to strengthen education aimed at getting the public to regard the South as the No. 1 hostile country and archenemy of the North.
Seoul, Jan 19 : Rival parties in South Korea clashed on Monday over whether to hold a confirmation hearing for Lee Hye-hoon, nominee to lead the newly established South Korea's Ministry of Planning and Budget, amid objections from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the PPP had reached an agreement last week to hold the hearing, but the PPP later boycotted the move, saying the nominee failed to submit key documents requested by the lawmakers, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Tensions flared up during the Strategy and Finance Committee's meeting earlier in the day as opposition lawmakers protested Lee's absence at the session.

"What kind of a confirmation hearing for a nominee is held without the nominee?" DP Rep. Kim Young-jin said.

Lawmakers from minor opposition parties also criticised the move, saying the committee should not proceed without securing complete documents from the nominee.

The committee's chair, Representative Lim Lee-ja of the PPP, suspended the meeting and instructed the rival parties to hold further talks to decide whether to hold the hearing.

The nominee, a former three-term lawmaker from the conservative bloc, has drawn criticism from both ruling and opposition parties following President Lee Jae Myung's nomination last month.

The opposition bloc has urged nominee Lee to step down, citing suspicions related to her husband's real estate dealings and allegations over her treatment of subordinates and an intern during her tenure as a lawmaker.

On January 6, Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for head of the newly established Ministry of Planning and Budget, held a meeting with academics and researchers to gather policy recommendations on future fiscal directions, her confirmation hearing preparation team said.

The meeting brought together six experts specialising in fiscal management, including Kang Byung-koo, an economics professor at Inha University, who shared their views on fiscal operations and policy challenges.

During the meeting, the experts agreed that fiscal policy should play a more proactive role in easing difficulties facing the public amid a period of structural economic transition.

In response, Lee assessed that both domestic and external conditions are facing unprecedented challenges.

She stressed that it is time for fiscal policy to actively serve as a catalyst to solidify economic recovery, boost potential growth and ease polarisation.

"It has been my consistent belief that fiscal policy must faithfully fulfil its role when it is most needed," Lee was quoted as saying.

The meeting came as Lee, a former three-term lawmaker from the conservative bloc, has drawn criticism from both ruling and opposition parties following her surprise nomination by President Lee Jae Myung
People gather near a fire breaking out at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 18, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said.

The blaze erupted late Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey shopping mall located on MA Jinnah Road, which houses over 1,200 shops. It was brought under control after more than 24 hours of firefighting on Sunday.

Authorities launched a search operation amid concerns that people might still be trapped inside the building.

Deputy Inspector General of Police for the South District, Syed Asad Raza, told local media that eight bodies had been recovered from the gutted building since Sunday night.

"The fire safety operation has been completed. The cooling process has now started, along with the removal of debris from the site by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, town municipal authorities and Pakistan Navy personnel," the police official said.

Officials said the cause of the fire has yet to be confirmed. Initial assessments suggested it may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, but investigations are continuing.

Earlier, rescue officials said the mall housed a large number of shops containing combustible materials, which intensified the fire and complicated firefighting and rescue efforts. 

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire breaking out at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 18, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Xinhua)

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire breaking out at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 18, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Xinhua)

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire breaking out at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 18, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the fire site at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the fire site at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

Smoke rages from the fire site at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the fire site at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

Rescuers work at the fire site at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

A rescuer works at the fire site at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the fire site at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan. The death toll from a fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi rose to 14 on Monday morning after rescue teams recovered more bodies during a search operation, officials said. (Str/Xinhua)
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Highlighting the challenges of cross-border terrorism faced by India, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Monday urged Poland to display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood.

In his opening remarks during a meeting with Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi on Monday, EAM Jaishankar noted that the ties between India and Poland have progressed steadily; however, he noted that they need constant tending.

"Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the long-standing challenges of cross-border terrorism. I hope at this meeting to discuss some of your recent travels to the region. Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood," he added.

He also reiterated India's stance on the Ukraine conflict and termed "selective targeting" of New Delhi "unfair and unjustified."

EAM Jaishankar noted that he and Sikorski are meeting at a time when the world is under considerable churn and stressed that it is useful to exchange views and perspectives as India and Poland are two nations located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities.

"Today, our conversation will naturally cover regional and global developments. In particular, an exchange of assessments on our respective neighbourhoods would be useful. You have been speaking about it publicly during your visit as well," he said.

"In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications. While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," the EAM added.

Hailing the bilateral ties, EAM Jaishankar said, "Our bilateral relationship has also progressed steadily, but nevertheless needs constant tending. India and Poland have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly ties. In recent years, it's been marked by high-level political exchanges and vibrant economic and people-to-people ties," citing the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Poland in August 2024, during which the bilateral ties were elevated to a strategic partnership status.

EAM Jaishankar stated that Poland is one of India's largest trading partners in Central Europe, adding that the bilateral trade stands at about $7 billion. He mentioned that Indian investment in Poland has surpassed $3 billion, creating a number of job opportunities for Poles.

"Today, Deputy Prime Minister, we would review the action plan 2024-28 through which we seek to realise the full potential of our strategic partnership. We will also discuss ways to take forward our cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security technologies and digital innovation," he said.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
January 19 : Lucknow: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government is working to develop the state as the countrys leading startup hub. Under the Start in UP policy, the Yogi government has approved seven ultra-modern Centers of Excellence in the state, to which a total of 27.18 crore has been released so far. With the support of these centres, innovation, research, technological development and employment generation are gaining new momentum across Uttar Pradesh. Through these Centers of Excellence, hundreds of startups are receiving incubation, while thousands of youth are gaining skill development, new employment opportunities, and a boost to indigenous technology development.

The Centers of Excellence established in the state are focused on future-oriented areas such as blockchain technology, medical electronics and health informatics, artificial intelligence, 5G/6G telecom, additive manufacturing and drone technology. These centers are not only providing technical support to startups but are also playing an important role in making them globally competitive.

IITs and IIMs become engines of innovation

These Centers of Excellence established in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, Saharanpur and Ghaziabad are receiving support from prestigious institutions such as IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, IIM Lucknow, STPI Lucknow and AKGEC Ghaziabad. As a result, startups are gaining access to world-class labs, supercomputing, AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning) platforms, testing facilities, mentorship and strong industry linkages.

Under the Uttar Pradesh governments startup policy, each Center of Excellence is provisioned to receive grant-in-aid (including capital and operational expenses) of up to a maximum of 10 crore over a period of five years from the date of establishment. The governments clear objective is for these centers to become self-reliant within five years and strengthen the states startup ecosystem over the long term.

The Blockchain Technology Center of Excellence established in Gautam Buddh Nagar is being operated by IIM Lucknow EIC in collaboration with Microsoft. This center will incubate 100 startups over the next five years on a 10,000-square-foot ultra-modern campus. Here, startups are being provided high-tech facilities along with seed funding of up to 75 lakh, expert mentorship, and access to angel and venture capital networks. Through this initiative, a strong and sustainable blockchain ecosystem is being developed in the state.

The Medical Electronics and Health Informatics (MedTech) Center of Excellence established in Lucknow has been developed with support from STPI Lucknow, SGPGI, the IT and Electronics Department (Uttar Pradesh Government), AIMED, AMTZ and KIHT. Its objective is to promote medical device and health technology startups, reduce dependence on imports, and strengthen the goals of Make in India and Digital India. Startups here are receiving support from technical experts, doctors, mentorship and venture funding.

The 5G/6G Telecom Center of Excellence operated by IIT Kanpur in Kanpur Nagar is promoting research and startup development in next-generation telecommunication technologies. Equipped with state-of-the-art RF labs, AI/ML servers, supercomputing tools and testing facilities, the center is working towards making India a leader in global telecom innovation.

In the same sequence, the AI and Innovation-based Entrepreneurship (AIIDE) Center of Excellence established in Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) is being operated with support from IIT Kanpur and FICCI, where 50 AI-based startups are getting opportunities for training, mentorship and investment connect every year.

The 5G/6G Ubiquitous Wireless Communication Center of Excellence operated by IIT Roorkee in Saharanpur is working in line with the 6G vision. Meanwhile, the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence established by AKGEC in Ghaziabad is preparing MSMEs and startups for global competition through state-of-the-art 3D printing and digital manufacturing technologies.

The UAV Design, Training and Capacity Building Center of Excellence operated by IIT Kanpur in Kanpur Nagar is providing technical assistance, testing, design validation and consultancy to startups in the field of drone technology. Through a DGCA-approved flight testing zone and advanced labs, this center is advancing towards making Uttar Pradesh a major hub for drone technology.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : The border issues that Pakistan has been facing with the Afghan Taliban and the prolonged battle with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Nationalist Army (BLA) has hurt the country very badly.

Questions are being asked about the state of affairs and the need to fight against their own people.

This has led to a massive dip in the popularity of the Shehbaz Sharif government, prompting it to set up a high-powered committee.

The committee is aimed at cleaning up the image of the government and making an attempt to restore the faith of the people.

Indian agencies are however puzzled with the composition of the committee as it comprises political leaders, radical clerics, the army and ISI officials.

The clerics in particular are a matter of concern for the Indian agencies as these are persons known to be close to the leadership of the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

All these people were present at a meeting hosted by Sharif at the Prime Ministeras Office (PMO) recently.

Sharif and the other officials urged the clerics to be part of the committee and run a narrative campaign. Through the clerics, they want to reach a wide audience in Pakistan.

They would justify with religious logic the importance of waging a battle against the TTP, BLA and Afghan Taliban.

Currently the people are upset that the army is battling against its own people. Even the battle with the Afghan Taliban has not gone down well with the Pakistanis, officials say.

Officials say that the very fact that Sharif decided to appoint, Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the National Paigham-i-Aman Committee (NPAC) is surprising.

The NPAC has a long-standing relationship with jihadi elements in Pakistan and other countries. Another official said that with such appointments, Pakistan is clearly legitimising jihad. What else explains such persons being part of a committee to run a narrative war that justifies wars.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the army and government are taking a joint approach to run the narrative battle.

While governments often do this, bringing in jihadi elements clearly shows that Pakistan is now openly backing terror supporters.

Offering them space in the PMO only confirms this fact even more, the official added.

At the last meeting it was decided that these clerics would go on a nationwide tour to justify why the Pakistan army is fighting against the TTP and Afghan Taliban.

They would try and instigate the people against India by stressing that it is at New Delhias behest that both the Afghan Taliban and TTP are battling Pakistan.

Indiaas diplomatic outreach in Afghanistan is what led to relations failing with the country and hence there is a need to battle anti-Pakistani elements, the outreach programme would touch upon.

In recent years, the Sharif government has been criticised for handling the security situation at home. Through this outreach programme, the government would try and tell the people that all the violence that is taking place both in the country and at the borders, is being staged and funded by India.

An official said that instead of fixing the issue, the Sharif government is looking to change the narrative and build up a massive anti-India sentiment in Pakistan.

That would not fix the problem at all as the battles would not end, the official also added.

Further this exercise would also cover Operation Sindoor. During this operation, the Indian armed forces embarrassed Pakistan while also exposing them. The clerics who are part of the delegation would also try and convince the people that it was India that lost more during the operation.
Seoul, Jan 19 : Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's legal team on Monday submitted an appeal against a court ruling that sentenced him to five years in prison on charges that included the obstruction of investigators' attempt to detain him last year.

Last Friday, the Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence in the first ruling on charges stemming from Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024.

Chief among the charges was that the then president had ordered the Presidential Security Service to block investigators from executing a warrant to detain him at the official presidential residence in January last year

Immediately after the ruling, Yoon's lawyers said they would appeal, claiming the court's decision was 'unacceptable' and not based on facts found during the investigation, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on January 17, legal representatives for former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol had accused a Seoul court of being politically motivated in its sentencing of their client the previous day.

In particular, Yoon was charged with ordering the Presidential Security Service to block investigators from executing a warrant to detain him at the presidential residence in January 2025.

Yoon's legal team had released a statement saying the court's ruling was "purely based on political reasoning," while also lamenting the "disappearance of legal principles and collapse of constitutionalism."

Yoon's lawyers had repeated many of the same claims that they had made during the trial, arguing, for instance, that investigators had unlawfully entered a place that had not been specified in the detention warrant for Yoon.

The legal team had said the Seoul Central District Court did not meet the criteria for impartiality by rejecting these claims.

Special prosecutors had demanded the death penalty for Yoon over the insurrection charge earlier this week. The court is set to rule on the case on February 19.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Monday agreed with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on the need to combat cross-border terrorism, citing recent attacks on Polish infrastructure.

During a meeting with the EAM in New Delhi, Sikorski said, "I completely agree with you on the need to counter trans border terrorism. Poland, as you may have heard, has been a victim of both arson and attempted state terrorism when the Polish railway line was blown up under a moving train, just very recently. Fortunately, through the incompetence of the terrorists, there were no casualties."

The Polish leader also echoed EAM Jaishankar's views on what he described as the "unfairness of selective tariff targeting", warning of global consequences.

"I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting by tariffs. And we in Europe know something about that also, and we fear that this is progressing to a global trade turbulence," he further added.

EAM Jaishankar also responded to these remarks and said, "Of course, the selective targeting is not just limited to tariffs; there have been other forms of selective targeting also, but we will discuss that."

Highlighting the shared historical experiences, Sikorski said that both India and Poland are dynamic regional players and should work together to explore emerging opportunities.

"We seem to be the dynamic countries in our regions, and therefore we should explore the opportunities that are there. We are also countries that were colonised in the 19th century. So we have particular sensitivities in that area," he added.

The Polish Deputy PM also expressed hope that India would remain actively engaged in Europe, noting New Delhi's establishment of Embassies across Europe.

"And we are hoping that India will continue to stay engaged in Europe. Well, we've noticed that you are establishing embassies everywhere in Europe, which means that you're serious about relations with the European Union," he stressed.

Sikorski expressed his delight at attending the Jaipur Literary Festival for the first time, calling it a great global cultural event.

"I have been to India many times before, privately and officially. But for the first time since the establishment by our Prime Ministers of the strategic partnership, and as you said, we want to review the progress and the perspectives," he noted.
Canberra, Jan 19 : Australia's federal parliament has paid tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting after being reconvened to debate new laws proposed in response to the terror attack.

The federal parliament on Monday morning observed a minute of silence as a motion was tabled to honour the 15 victims of the attack that targeted an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on December 14.

Addressing the parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Monday should have been just "another day" for the victims, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Instead, our parliament comes together in sorrow to offer our nation's condolences to the people who knew and loved them best," he said. Josh Burns, one of the most prominent Jewish members of Albanese's Labor Party government, said that Australia's response to the attack would define the country.

"We must not dehumanise each other, because dehumanisation is what leads to exactly what happened in Bondi," he said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday declared that a national day of mourning will be held on January 22 for the victims of the terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach.

Flags will be flown at half mast in all government buildings around Australia on January 22 to honour the victims of the attack that targeted an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic Bondi Beach on December 14, Albanese said at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra.

This will have a theme of 'light will win,' a gathering of unity and remembrance, Albanese said.

The prime minister had announced that the federal parliament would be recalled from its summer break two weeks early on January 19 to pass legislation for stronger hate speech and gun ownership laws in response to the attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both, and we need to deal with both," Albanese said.

Fifteen people were fatally shot in the attack by alleged gunmen Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid, who was shot dead by police.

Authorities have said that the attack was inspired by Islamic State ideology and have charged Naveed Akram with 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
January 19 : Lucknow: Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath transferred the first installment amount to the accounts of 2 lakh 9 thousand 421 approved beneficiaries of Uttar Pradesh. In the program organized at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in the capital, the Chief Minister described it as a historic step for the poor, middle class and urban needy. The Chief Minister directed the officers to appoint nodal officers in municipal bodies to ensure that there is no irregularity at any level with any beneficiary, construction material is available on time and at appropriate rates, and installments are released on time.

CM Yogi said that Swachh Bharat Mission has brought a revolution. People have now started living with cleanliness. Government removed mafia and you removed dirt, from this Uttar Pradesh progressed. Today 2,094 crore 21 lakh rupees have been sent directly to the accounts of beneficiaries. Each beneficiary will get one lakh rupees as first installment. Second installment of one lakh rupees on completion of 75 percent construction and final installment of 50 thousand rupees will be given. In this way, each family will get total assistance of two and a half lakh rupees.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, so far four crore people would have taken bath in the holy Triveni of Mother Ganga, Mother Yamuna and Mother Saraswati in Prayagraj. Along with this, crores of devotees have taken holy bath at pilgrimage sites like Ayodhya, Kashi and Garhmukteshwar. Getting the first installment of housing scheme on such a holy occasion is a special gift for the beneficiaries. While congratulating all the beneficiaries, the Chief Minister appealed to them to write a thank you letter to the Prime Minister and expressed confidence that by completing the housing construction in a time-bound manner, the state will be made more strong and self-reliant.

The Chief Minister said that the districts with the highest number of beneficiaries include Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Pratapgarh, Aligarh, Bijnor, Kushinagar, Prayagraj, Ayodhya and Maharajganj. He said that in the last nearly nine years, more than 60 lakh families have been given housing benefit in rural and urban areas of the state and with the addition of more than 2 lakh families today, this number has reached 62 lakh. For the first time after independence, dream of own permanent house has been fulfilled for such a large number of families.

The Chief Minister said that this achievement is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision and leadership. Between 2017 and 2025, 17 lakh 66 thousand urban families were given housing and today this number has increased to 19 lakh 75 thousand. Housing is not just a roof, but the foundation of self-reliance. Along with housing, facilities like toilet, electricity connection, Ujjwala gas, Ayushman card are being provided. Citing examples of Ayodhya and Sonbhadra, he told how after getting housing, families started e-rickshaw, dairy etc. works and achieved economic self-reliance.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that we have been hearing since childhood - roti, kapda aur makaan. PM Modi has provided these three facilities to every poor. Ration card for roti, every poor is being connected to employment for clothes and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for house.

The program was addressed virtually by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. On this occasion, state Urban Development Minister A.K. Sharma, Minister of State Rakesh Kumar Rathore, Lucknow Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, Rajya Sabha member Brijlal, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Seth, MLA Dr. Neeraj Bora, MLA Yogesh Shukla, Legislative Council member Engineer Avnish Kumar Singh along with large number of public representatives, officers and beneficiaries were present.
January 19 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on the occasion of transferring the first installment of funds to the accounts of over two lakh beneficiaries across Uttar Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) 2.0, held a direct virtual interaction with beneficiaries from various districts of the state. The beneficiaries expressed heartfelt happiness and gratitude for the opportunity to interact directly with the Chief Minister.

Madhuri Devi from Varanasi shared her joy over her familys journey from living in a kachcha house to the prospect of a pucca house. The Chief Minister advised her to utilise the first installment judiciously and encouraged her to write a letter of gratitude to the Prime Minister.

Ramavati Devi from Ayodhya thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for fulfilling her long-standing dream of owning a concrete house.

Poonam Chaudhary from Aligarh said that the ModiYogi government had realised her dream after years of waiting, and she also appreciated the ongoing urban development works.

Hiralal from the Tharu community in Lakhimpur Kheri spoke about the benefits his community has received under various welfare schemes and assured that a letter of thanks would be written on behalf of the community. Women beneficiaries from Gorakhpur and Chitrakoot described the receipt of a house as a transformative moment in their lives.

Appealing to the beneficiaries, the Chief Minister urged them to use the housing funds exclusively for construction, give due importance to their childrens education, and fully avail themselves of government welfare schemes. His sensitivity and warmth during the interaction made the programme both emotional and inspiring.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also distributed housing approval letters to several beneficiaries, including Asha Devi, Sneh Tiwari, Meera, and Haseebun from Lucknow; Pinky Rathore from Unnao; Maya Devi from Sitapur; Geeta Pal from Raebareli; Ram Beti from Hardoi; and Ram Saheli from Lakhimpur Kheri. The beneficiaries expressed deep appreciation for the Chief Ministers compassion and support.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19 : The 16th and final session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly will open on Tuesday with the customary address by Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar, setting the stage for what is widely expected to be one of the most combative sessions in recent years.

With Assembly elections due in April - May, the session doubles up as the last formal political battleground before the State slips into full-fledged poll mode.

As things stand, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) enters the session in pole position, buoyed by the stinging setback suffered by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the December local body elections. The results have visibly energised the Opposition, which has been firing on all cylinders against what it describes as the accumulated failures of nearly a decade of Left governance.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who first assumed office in 2016 and went on to create history by leading the LDF to a second consecutive term in 2021, now finds himself navigating rough political waters. With just weeks left for the next electoral battle, Vijayan is focused on damage control and narrative management.

The CPI(M) Central Committee meeting that concluded on Sunday has given him the green signal to lead both the party and the Left Frontas campaign, reinforcing his authority at a critical juncture. However, at 80 and grappling with recurring health concerns, questions remain over how effectively Vijayan can criss-cross all 14 districts during an intense campaign season.

These concerns are likely to be amplified on the Assembly floor, where the Opposition senses an opportunity to keep the pressure unrelenting. Being the final session of the term, sparks are bound to fly.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has already earned a reputation as a far tougher adversary than his predecessors, shedding the image of a soft Opposition.

Over the past five years, Vijayan and Satheesan have repeatedly crossed swords, producing some of the most riveting moments in recent Assembly history -- often leaving both Treasury and Opposition benches in awe.

The coming weeks promise more of the same.

Though the session is scheduled to run till March, it may be cut short once the Election Commission issues the poll notification. Until then, the Assembly is unlikely to witness a dull moment.

Adding to the political drama, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal is set to present his sixth consecutive Budget on January 29, a document that will be keenly scrutinised as the Leftas last major policy statement before facing the electorate.
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : The excise department scam, in which three officers attached to the department, including an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner, were arrested, has taken a new twist with the BJP alleging the involvement of Minister R.B. Thimmapur.

The development has proved to be an embarrassment for the government ahead of the special session of the Legislature scheduled to commence on January 22. The Congress government is convening the special session to target the Centre over the Viksit Bharata"Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB G RAM G).

Sources said the Chief Minister has taken the matter seriously and has sought an explanation from Minister Thimmapur. The Minister has blamed officials for the controversy and told the Chief Minister that some officers misused his sonsa names to make money. The Chief Minister is likely to seek further clarification from the Minister to counter the opposition during the special session.

At a time when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called upon people to join the struggle until the VB G Ram G law is repealed and MGNREGA is reinstated, the latest development has emerged as a major embarrassment for the government.

BJP leaders have released purported audio clips in which an officer is allegedly heard demanding a cut for the minister. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to seek the resignation of Minister Thimmapur and stated that if the Chief Minister remained silent, it would be assumed that he too was involved in the scam.

The complainant, C. Lakshminarayana, is likely to file a complaint against Minister Thimmapura with the Karnataka Lokayukta.

Karnataka Lokayukta sleuths arrested the Deputy Commissioner and two other officials attached to the Excise Department while they were allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh for issuing a bar license last Saturday. The accused had allegedly demanded a total bribe of Rs 80 lakh and were caught while receiving the first instalment.

An official statement by the Lokayukta said that the Karnataka Lokayukta Police arrested three officials following a complaint by C. Lakshminarayana. The complainant had applied for a bar licence (CL-7) with the Excise Department. Those arrested were identified as Jagadeesh Naik, Excise Deputy Commissioner; K.M. Thammanna, Superintendent of Excise; and Lakkappa Gani, Excise Constable, all attached to the Office of Bangalore Urban District-8.

The complaint alleged that Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesh Naik and Superintendent Thammanna demanded a bribe of Rs 80 lakh to grant the CL-7 licence and a microbrewery licence.

Lakshminarayana approached the Lokayukta police, who laid a trap and caught them red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh. Excise Constable Lakkappa Gani, who was allegedly involved in delivering the bribe amount, was also arrested.

The Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, charged on Sunday (Jan 18) that a bribery transaction worth Rs 2,500 crore has taken place in the Excise Department, and this money is being used for elections. Therefore, Minister R.B. Thimmapur should resign. He charged that the government sets revenue collection targets for departments. However, in the Excise Department, licenses are being auctioned off.

He said CM Siddaramaiah is directly responsible for this. Congress leaders are using Mahatma Gandhi to oppose the VB G Ram G scheme and are holding sessions for it. The same government has drowned the entire state in addiction and destroyed Gandhi's ideals, he said.

R.B. Thimmapur is a senior Congress leader hailing from the Dalit community. He is also a close associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
TEHRAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday the positions adopted by some European states over the past few days on Iran's recent unrest are in no way acceptable and justifiable.

Speaking to reporters at a weekly press conference, he elaborated on the ministry's assessment of some European countries' hostile positions -- especially at a Thursday UN Security Council meeting -- towards Iran, which he said were adopted while turning a blind eye to the realities on the ground.

"The European sides know very well what took place (in Iran) between Jan. 8 and 10, during which Iranians' peaceful protests turned violent following the entry of terrorist individuals and those seeking to incite violence who had been trained and equipped abroad," he said.

"Although they (the Europeans) were aware of this fact, they started to heavily sour the atmosphere against Iran at the Security Council meeting and through using their media," Baghaei noted.

He said that such an approach would undermine Europe's credibility as a player capable of having a constructive role in international developments.

Europe is undermining its ability to be an effective player in international affairs by blindly obeying the United States and Israel, he added.

Baghaei further said Washington is responsible for the escalation of tension between Iran and the United States, and causing tension has become part of the U.S. modus operandi.

Protests erupted since late December 2025 in several Iranian cities due to the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial. Authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations, expressing readiness to address economic grievances, while also warning against violence, vandalism and further unrest.

Initially peaceful, the protests gradually became violent, leading to casualties and damage to public property, mosques, government buildings and banks -- especially on Jan. 8 and 9. Iranian authorities have blamed the United States and Israel for the unrest.

At the Security Council's recent meeting, the representatives of a number of European countries, including Britain, France and Denmark, accused the Iranian government of resorting to violence against protestors and violating human rights. 
Jammu, Jan 19 : An Army soldier injured in a gunfight with the terrorists in Sonnar village of Chatroo area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district succumbed to critical injuries on Monday.

Eight army soldiers were injured during the initial firing exchanges between the joint forces and the terrorists in this anti-terrorist operation code-named 'TRASHI-I'.

Nagrota headquartered White Knight Corps of the Army said on X, "The #GOC, White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a Counter Terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I on the night of 19 Jan 2026."

"We honour his indomitable courage, valour and selfless devotion to duty and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of profound grief," it said.

The anti-terrorist operation in the Chatroo area resumed on Monday morning.

Eight Army soldiers were injured in the encounter between the terrorists and a team of the joint forces during the initial Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) when the terrorists buried grenades and fired at the team of joint forces.

Three injured soldiers were airlifted for treatment, while five were treated at a local medical facility.

Officials said most of the eight injured soldiers had sustained splinter injuries during the grenade explosion.

The officials said that after the nightlong halt, the joint forces resumed their search operation to track down terrorists believed to be hiding in the upper reaches.

The operation was suspended late last evening in the challenging terrain marked by thick vegetation and steep slopes, limiting visibility and movement.

Multiple teams of the Army, police, and paramilitary forces, supported by drones and sniffer dogs, are combing the area while maintaining a tight security cordon to ensure that the terrorists are not able to escape, officials said.

A group of two to three terrorists allegedly affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) are believed to be trapped in the area.

The operation resumed with the first light today. There was no fresh contact with the terrorists till noon today.

White Knight Corps said in a post on X on Sunday that the joint forces came in contact with the terrorists in the general area Sonnar, northeast of Chatroo, during the search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror exercises along with Jammu and Kashmir Police.

"Operations remain underway with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies," the Army said, commending the troops for their exceptional professionalism and resolve while responding to hostile fire under challenging terrain and conditions.

This encounter marks the third conflict between security forces and terrorists in the Jammu region this year.

Previous encounters occurred in the Kahog and Najote forests in the Billawar area of Kathua district on January 7 and 13, respectively.

On December 15 last year, a police officer was killed in an encounter with terrorists at Soan village in the Majalta area of Udhampur district. The terrorists managed to escape, taking advantage of thick foliage and darkness.

The encounters followed a major counter-terrorist operation launched in the forest belts of the Jammu region in December last year to flush out nearly three dozen holed-up terrorists.

Operations have been further intensified in the run-up to Republic Day to ensure peaceful celebrations, amid intelligence inputs about desperate attempts by Pakistan-based handlers to push more terrorists into the region, officials mentioned.

Hilly districts of Jammu division, including Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur and Reasi, have been on the scanner of the security forces after intelligence reports that Pakistani terrorists were moving in the highly forested mountain terrain of these districts.

Several times, joint forces have engaged the terrorists in Kathua, Udhampur and other districts in sustained encounters, but somehow the terrorists managed to escape from the cordoned off area, taking cover of the densely forested terrain and darkness during the night.

In the high-level security review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir on January 8, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, the presence of terrorists in the hilly districts of Jammu division was discussed threadbare.

HM Shah gave clear orders that coordinated, sustained and intelligence-backed operations must be carried out to eliminate terrorists from the mountainous areas and also ensure zero infiltration of terrorists from across the line of control (LoC) and the international border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The LoC is 740 km long, and the IB is 240 km long in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army guards the LoC while the border security force (BSF) guards the IB.

LoC is situated in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts of the Valley and partly in Jammu district. The IB is situated in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts of the Jammu division.
Amaravati, Jan 19 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned YSR Congress Party MP, PV Midhun Reddy for questioning in connection with a multi-crore liquor scam. Midhun Reddy has been directed to appear before the ED officials on January 23.

The Andhra Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the liquor scam, had arrested Midhun Reddy on July 19.

The Rajampet MP, is one of the accused in the Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam, which allegedly occurred during the YSRCP rule. He was released on bail on September 30.

The ED earlier summoned former Rajya Sabha member V. Vijayasai Reddy. The agency last week served notice to Vijayasai Reddy directing him to appear before the Investigating Officers on January 22.

The ED has taken up the probe based on a FIR issued by the Andhra Pradesh police.

Vijayasai Reddy, who quit YSRCP and also resigned as Rajya Sabha member in January last year, was questioned by the SIT as a witness.

The case relates to the multi-crore scandal allegedly committed by manipulating excise policy and receiving kickbacks from distilleries.

After the TDP-led NDA came to power in 2024, a case was registered at the CID Police Station in Mangalagiri under Sections 409, 420, 120 (B), r/w 34 and 37 of IPC and Section 7, 7A, 8, 12, 13 (1), (b), 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) initially conducted an investigation following a complaint by an official of the Excise Department. Later, the government constituted the SIT, headed by NTR District Commissioner of Police S.V. Rajashekhar Babu, to probe the case.

The SIT found large-scale irregularities and fund misappropriation in the liquor policy implemented during 2019-24.

Investigators reportedly uncovered a kickback network involving nearly Rs 3,500 crore siphoned off over five years.

There are allegations that the YSR Congress Party leaders encouraged the new liquor policy, floated new brands, received kickbacks from the distillery companies, causing huge losses to the government.

The SIT has named several accused in the case including MPs, retired IAS officers, distillery companies and shell company owners.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19 : Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan on Monday sought to play down the Pala sub-court verdict on the Cheruvally Estate, asserting that the ruling does not amount to a setback for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led State government.

The Pinarayi Vijayan government was going ahead with the project, which, if cleared will become the fifth airport in the state.

He maintained that the court had flagged only procedural lapses and had not delivered a conclusive finding on the ownership of the land earmarked for the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield airport.

Responding to media queries after visiting the township being constructed in Wayanad, the Minister said the government would examine the judgment in detail before deciding on the next course of action.

"The verdict pertains to procedural aspects. It is not a judgment on the ownership of the land," Rajan said.

The Pala court earlier in the day had dismissed the government's petition claiming ownership over 2,263 acres of land at the Cheruvally Estate, holding that the land belongs to the Ayyana Charitable Trust.

The court rejected the State's argument that the lease period of the estate had expired and that the land stood vested with the government.

With this, the future of the Sabarimala airport project has once again been pushed into uncertainty, as the government can proceed with acquisition only if it succeeds in overturning the verdict in a higher court.

The Cheruvally Estate, spread across Erumeli South and Manimala villages, had been identified as the core land parcel for the proposed airport.

The State had argued that, as per the 1910 Settlement Register, the land fell under the category of government lease land and that Harrison Malayalam had illegally transferred it to the Trust.

However, the court accepted the Trust's contention that it holds valid documents establishing ownership.

The case, which dates back to 2019, names the Ayyana Charitable Trust of the Believers Church and Harrison Malayalam as respondents.

The ruling assumes significance in the backdrop of earlier setbacks suffered by the government, including the Kerala High Court quashing land acquisition notifications for the airport on grounds that the extent of land sought was excessive and inadequately justified under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.
Chennai, Jan 19 : Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary, TTV Dhinakaran, is set to re-enter the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is expected to participate in the alliance's campaign launch meeting to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi near Chennai on January 23, according to sources on Monday.

Dhinakaran's return to the NDA marks a significant political realignment ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the AAMMK General Secretary was part of the NDA, but later exited the alliance after it announced AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the state.

At that time, Dhinakaran had taken a strong stand against any coalition led by Palaniswami, publicly saying that he would not be part of such an arrangement.

Following his exit, Dhinakaran explored alternative political alignments and was reported to be in talks to join actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

However, those efforts did not culminate in a formal alliance, leaving the AMMK outside any major coalition for a period.

In a fresh development, Dhinakaran recently met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.

Sources said the meeting paved the way for his return to the NDA, with Amit Shah extending an invitation to rejoin the alliance.

While Dhinakaran has not made an official announcement confirming his decision, political circles view his presence at the January 23 event as a near-certainty.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address the NDA's first major campaign meeting in Tamil Nadu on January 23, signalling the formal launch of the alliance's election campaign in the state.

Leaders of several NDA constituents are expected to be on the dais, including former Chief Minister Palaniswami, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) President G.K. Vasan, IJK founder TR Paarivendhar, TMMK leader John Pandian, and Puratchi Bharatham leader Poovai Jagan Moorthy, among others.

If Dhinakaran participates in the meeting as expected, it would effectively end months of speculation over his political future and underscore the NDA's efforts to consolidate its alliance in Tamil Nadu ahead of a crucial electoral battle.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
January 19 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a Janata Darshan on Monday morning, during which he patiently heard the concerns of petitioners from across the state and issued necessary instructions to officials for their prompt resolution.

During the programme, Seema, a resident of Lucknow, narrated her distressing circumstances to the Chief Minister. She spoke about her severe financial hardship and alleged that she had been forced out of her matrimonial home by her husband. Seeking justice and shelter, she appealed for intervention. Taking immediate cognisance of the matter, the Chief Minister directed the Police Commissioner to take appropriate action without delay.

Seema had arrived at the Janata Darshan with her two young daughters. She informed the Chief Minister that following the demise of her father-in-law, her husband and in-laws had expelled her from the house, leaving her to fend for herself with her children. She pleaded for assistance to return to her matrimonial home and requested financial support for the upbringing of her daughters. Reiterating his commitment to justice, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed the Police Commissioner to ensure swift and suitable action in the case.

The Janata Darshan also witnessed a touching moment when the Chief Minister interacted warmly with children who had accompanied their parents. He distributed chocolates and encouraged them to pursue their studies sincerely. Among them was a two-year-old girl named Ananya, who had come with her mother, Seema. The Chief Minister affectionately gave her a chocolate and gently patted her on the head. When he playfully asked for the chocolate back, the child innocently offered it to him, bringing smiles to everyone present. The tender exchange deeply moved those in attendance.

In addition to addressing individual grievances, the Chief Minister also dealt with matters related to the police, the electricity department, and requests for financial assistance. He personally received applications, instructed officials to conduct thorough inquiries, and ensured time-bound resolution of legitimate grievances. Those seeking financial aid for medical treatment were advised to submit hospital estimates.

Emphasising the governments commitment, the Chief Minister said, The state stands firmly with its people in every circumstance and remains dedicated to resolving their genuine concerns.
Kochi, Jan 19 : Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Monday handed over the Priyadarshini Literary Award, instituted by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), to veteran Malayalam writer and critic Dr M. Leelavathy, turning a brief visit to Kochi into a moment rich with political symbolism and literary resonance.

Calling it a "tremendous honour" to participate in the ceremony, LoP Rahul Gandhi described the 98-year-old scholar as "an icon not just for Kerala, but for the country."

He spoke with admiration of Leelavathy's discipline and intellectual vitality, noting that she begins her day at 3 a.m., reads extensively and continues to write.

"She is currently reading and writing about caste in the world. Many across the country think about and believe in, but do not have the courage to say," he said.

LoP Gandhi underlined that great nations are not built in silence. "Great nations and great people are created when they express their views. Leelavathy is one such person," he said, drawing a contrast between those who remain indifferent as long as they are personally comfortable and thinkers who develop strong opinions rooted in social responsibility.

Describing her as simple, humble and deeply rooted, LoP Gandhi said he saw in her "the true spirit of Kerala."

Congratulating her for the wisdom she has shared over decades, he added with warmth, "We are waiting to see you reach a century."

Responding after receiving the award, Dr Leelavathy said she was deeply grateful to the Indian National Congress for honouring her with an award named after late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

She recalled that Indira Gandhi had personally presented her with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1981.

"Now I am receiving an award from her grandson, after nearly half a century. It is a strange and moving coincidence," she said.

Reflecting on the Gandhi legacy, Dr Leelavathy said two members of the family had become martyrs in the service of the nation.

She spoke of Indira Gandhi's lifelong commitment to secularism, recalling how, as a young girl, Indira discarded a precious foreign doll as part of the freedom movement and, later in life, "threw herself into the fire of secularism, valuing it more than her own life."

She said she had deeply admired Indira Gandhi, adding that these traits were evident in Rajiv Gandhi as well, particularly in his role in elevating women to leadership positions.

Dr Leelavathy said she saw the same values in Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. "I wish both of them to rise to the heights of power. I may not live to see it, but I can visualise it," she said.

A distinguished writer, literary critic and educationist, Dr M. Leelavathy has taught at several colleges in Kerala and retired as Principal of Government Brennen College, Thalassery.

Her long and influential career has been recognised with numerous honours, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Dhaka, Jan 19 : A Bangladesh court on Monday framed charges against 39 people, including Chinmoy Krishna Das, a prominent Hindu leader and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jot, in connection with the alleged murder of Chattogram court lawyer Saiful Islam Alif outside the court premises in November 2024.

Judge Md Jahidul Haque of the Chattogram Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal indicted all the arrested accused, including Chinmoy, during the proceedings.

Speaking to Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star, Assistant Public Prosecutor Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, who is also the complainant's lawyer, said that the court framed charges after hearing arguments from both sides.

"The court framed charges against Chinmoy under Sections 302 and 109 of the Penal Code and brought charges against 22 others under different sections," he stated.

He added that 23 of the 39 accused are currently in custody, while the remaining 16 are absconding.

The law enforcement reportedly deployed extensive security across the court area ahead of Chinmoy's court appearance to prevent any disturbances.

According to the police, around 900 personnel were deployed, along with members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the army.

During the hearing, with his lawyer still on the way, Chinmoy addressed the court himself, seeking further investigation and denying any involvement in Alif's murder, The Daily Star reported.

Reports suggest that lawyer Alif was killed on November 26, 2024, during confrontations outside the Chattogram court premises following the denial of Chinmoy's bail in a sedition case.

Chinmoy was arrested in Dhaka on November 25 2024, and sent to jail the following day after a Chattogram court rejected his bail plea. On December 11, the same court again refused bail in the case.

The arrest of Chinmoy had sparked massive protests by the Hindu community in Bangladesh, a country in political turmoil since August 2024, when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed amidst widespread violent demonstrations.

Bangladesh has witnessed rising cases of attacks on the Hindu community ever since the Hasina-led government was toppled and an interim administration was formed under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus.

India has taken a tough line on the rights of the Hindu minority and repeatedly stated that there is "systematic persecution of Hindu minorities" under the Yunus-led interim government.
Kolkata, Jan 19 : Reacting to the Supreme Court's directives to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in relation to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday said the BJP's "SIR game" in the state is over.

Addressing party workers in Barasat in North 24 Parganas district, Banerjee said the BJP has been defeated in court and in the days to come it will be defeated in elections.

"Today I heard that the Supreme Court has accepted AITC's demand and issued a verdict that the list of logical discrepancies must be published. As far as I know, BLA 2 will also be allowed in the hearing centre. BJP's SIR game is over. One crore names that were targeted to be struck off have been saved, and the victory belongs to the people of Bengal. Our voting rights were being threatened, but the Supreme Court has given them a firm rebuke," Banerjee said.

The Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP said that on December 21 last year, a delegation of his party members including him met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

"It was suggested in the meeting that the list of logical discrepancies be published. If they had published the list, the truth would have become clear. We mentioned that BLA 2 of AITC would be present at the hearing venue, but ECI rejected it. We stated that if the guidelines were not released, AITC would not leave the hearing centre. I am very happy today," Banerjee said.

Attacking the BJP and the Election Commission, he said: "In the coming days, they will be defeated by votes in the Assembly polls. This is not Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh or Gujarat. This land has shown the way to the freedom movement and the renaissance. We never bow our heads to outsiders. The people of Bengal do not know how to sell their spine or live in slavery."

Banerjee's remarks came after the Supreme Court on Monday issued a set of directions to the ECI to ensure that verification of persons put in the 'logical discrepancies' category as part of the SIR process in West Bengal is conducted in a transparent manner, without causing stress and inconvenience to the persons.

The Court directed the ECI to publish the list of persons to whom notices have been sent citing 'logical discrepancies' in the enumeration forms submitted by them. The lists have to be published in the panchayat/block offices.

The Court noted that about 1.25 crore notices have been sent to various persons, citing discrepancies such as mismatch in parents' names, low age gap with parents, number of progeny of the cited parents more than six etc.

The Court also clarified that persons who have received notices from the ECI will be entitled to submit their documents/objections through their authorised agents, who can be Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

The agents have to be appointed through a letter marked with a signature or thumb impression.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, Jan 19 : The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected a plea filed by expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar seeking suspension of his 10-year sentence in the custodial death case of the Unnao rape survivor's father.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja dismissed Sengar's second application for suspension of sentence and grant of bail, citing the gravity of the offence, his criminal antecedents and the absence of any new subsequent development.

In its order, Justice Dudeja said that while the Delhi High Court was mindful that Sengar has undergone nearly 7.5 years of incarceration out of the total 10-year sentence, the delay in hearing his appeal was partly due to his own repeated applications, including pleas to suspend the sentence.

The single-judge Bench observed that the appeal would have to be decided on merits and directed that the same be heard expeditiously.

Sengar was convicted by a Delhi court in March 2020 for conspiring in the custodial death of the rape survivor's father and was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The trial in the case, along with other cases linked to the Unnao incident, was transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi by the Supreme Court in August 2019, with a direction that the proceedings be conducted on a day-to-day basis.

The case relates to an incident in April 2018 when the father of the minor rape victim was allegedly assaulted by Sengar's associates in Unnao. He was arrested the following day on charges of illegal possession of arms and later died in police custody due to multiple injuries.

Earlier, in June 2024 the Delhi High Court had rejected a similar plea filed by Sengar, holding that considering the gravity of the offence, the nature of the crime, his criminal antecedents and the impact on public confidence in the justice delivery system, he was not entitled to suspension of sentence.

In December 2019, Sengar was convicted in the rape case involving a minor girl and sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.

Recently, the Delhi High Court had suspended the life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case and granted him bail pending appeal.

Though it imposed stringent conditions, the decision triggered widespread criticism and protests. Subsequently, the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the Delhi High Court order, citing the "peculiar facts" of the case and clarifying that Sengar would not be released from custody.
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : In a major embarrassment to the Karnataka Police Department, purported videos showing objectionable behaviour by jailed actress Ranya Rao's stepfather and Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, with a woman inside his office while in uniform, went viral on Monday.

The videos have gone viral on social media, raising serious concerns.

The videos purportedly showed Ramachandra Rao in uniform inside his official chamber, engaging in intimate behaviour with a woman.

In one clip, he is seen kissing the woman while seated in uniform at his office. In another video, he is seen sitting in his office in a suit and engaging in similar behaviour in front of the Indian flag and the Police Department's emblem displayed in his chamber. The woman was also seen cooperating with him.

Sources said the videos were recorded more than a year ago, before Ranya Rao was arrested in the gold smuggling case.

The acts were reportedly captured on CCTV cameras installed in the office.

Ramachandra Rao is serving as the Director General of Police in the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE).

Sources noted that there had been rumours for some time that videos involving a senior IPS officer would surface.

However, it remains unclear why the videos were released now.

Those who released the videos have blurred the faces of the women, added background music and included captions before circulating them on social media.

Sources stated that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is upset and expressed his anger over the development.

Former Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said Ramchandra Rao has insulted the entire Police Department.

"If a senior IPS officer can stoop down to this level, I am short of words. These officers must be role models. They should not be spared, and action must be initiated in this regard," the former minister said.

Earlier, the Karnataka government placed Ramchandra Rao on compulsory leave in March 2025 in connection with the gold smuggling case. He was taken back recently. He is alleged to have joined hands with Ranya Rao in gold smuggling. The government had ordered a probe against Rao in this connection and sought a report.

Ranya Rao was arrested on charges of gold smuggling and misusing her stepfather Rao's name to escape security checks by availing the protocol reserved for officials.

More details are yet to emerge. The Police Department and Ramachandra Rao are yet to react to the development.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people, mostly spectators, were killed and over 100 others injured by bulls at the bullfighting sporting events in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, multiple local media reports said Monday.

The deaths and injuries were reported on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the events held in various parts of the state.

The bullfighting event is traditionally practiced as part of the harvest festival of Pongal across Tamil Nadu. It involves men chasing a bull, attempting to grab its hump and ride it for as long as possible or stop it and remove a piece of cloth affixed to its horns.

Prizes such as cars, motorbikes, and gold coins are up for grabs at many of these events.

Over the years, many people have been gored to death during the event. Reports said 102 deaths have been recorded between 2017 and 2023.

The activity was banned by the Supreme Court of India in 2014 after animal rights activists sought the prevention of cruelty to animals.

In 2017, the local government in Tamil Nadu passed a law to revive the controversial event, after the state witnessed massive protests seeking the lifting of the ban on the sport.

In 2023, India's Supreme Court upheld the Tamil Nadu government's law allowing the event. The court stated that when the lawmaking body of the state has declared it to be part of the cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu, then the judiciary cannot take a different view. 
Amaravati, Jan 19 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Monday soon after his arrival in Zurich to participate in the World Economic Forum.

The Chief Minister posted on social media platform X that he was delighted to meet the Singapore President.

He also met the World Bank Group President Ajay Banga in Zurich.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who is leading a delegation of Ministers and officials, also met the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said on X that his Assamese counterpart Sarma made history by becoming the first Chief Minister from Assam to participate in the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Chandrababu Naidu congratulated CM Sarma and wished him success.

Earlier, Indian Ambassador to Switzerland, Mridul Kumar, welcomed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu at the Zurich airport.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu accompanied the Chief Minister.

"Landed in Zurich for the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum at Davos-Klosters. Held under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue', the meeting is another proud opportunity to represent my state, Andhra Pradesh, and my people on a global platform that brings together leaders from business, government, international organisations, civil society, and academia to shape the future," CM Chandrababu Naidu said on X while thanking Ambassador Mridul Kumar for his warm welcome.

According to an official statement here, a large number of Telugu people, NRIs, and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists from more than 20 European countries welcomed the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and the state Ministers accompanying will participate in the four-day World Economic Forum summit with the aim of attracting investments.

Nearly 3,000 delegates from about 130 countries are expected to attend the World Economic Forum summit.

Seven Chief Ministers from India are attending the event.

With a large number of representatives from prominent companies attending, the Andhra Pradesh government has prepared PowerPoint presentations to fully explain the investment opportunities in the state.

Plans are in place to attract investments in sectors such as green energy, green ammonia, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.

The TDP-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh will also focus on investments in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, education, and healthcare.

The Chief Minister's team will explain the measures taken and policies implemented by the Andhra Pradesh government in various sectors to national and international companies.

The state government will bring to the attention of industrialists the fact that a Quantum Valley is being established in Amaravati.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's team will prominently mention the measures being taken by the state government to train AI experts.

The Andhra Pradesh government will announce that it is conducting an advanced quantum skilling course to train one lakh quantum experts.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will inform industrialists that 50,000 people have already registered for training in the advanced quantum skilling course.

The Chief Minister will specifically mention the Kakinada Green Ammonia-Green Hydrogen production plant.

The Andhra Pradesh government was able to attract investments worth nearly Rs 2.36 lakh crore through the agreements and consultations held at last year's World Economic Forum.

Team Andhra Pradesh will provide details of the Visakhapatnam investment summit to the industrialists.

Andhra Pradesh Ministers Nara Lokesh, TG Bharat, and senior officials from various departments are accompanying the Chief Minister.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
January 19 : Lucknow: At Cybertech Global Tel Aviv-2026, counted among the worlds most prestigious cyber security platforms, India and especially Uttar Pradeshs cyber strength will be presented before the global community this time.

At this international conference to be held in Tel Aviv, Israel from January 26 to 28, 2026, UPs cyber champions will share Indias cyber security capability, technology and experience on a global platform.

Two eminent personalities from India are participating in the conference as Chief Mentors. These include former National Cyber Security Coordinator of the Government of India, Madhavan Unnikrishnan Nair, and from Uttar Pradesh, Asias renowned cyber cop Professor Triveni Singh.

Both experts will present the nuances of cyber security and the technologies being adopted before the worlds top cyber scientists and policymakers.

At this global gathering in Tel Aviv, leading experts from the United States, Japan, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Cyprus, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Romania, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Latvia, Netherlands, Albania, Uruguay, Hungary and several other countries will participate.

In Uttar Pradesh, cyber security is being made an important part of the administrative and academic framework under the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, with a strong focus on AI and cyber security. The Chief Minister has issued strict instructions to deal firmly with challenges such as misuse of social media, misinformation, deepfake, dark web, cyber crime and terror networks.

In this sequence, Prof. Triveni Singh is running the Cyber Safe Uttar Pradesh campaign for awareness. Now, among representatives from more than 20 countries in Israel, he will share information about the innovative measures being undertaken in Uttar Pradesh regarding cyber security and will hold discussions on cyber security support at the international level.

Based on his experience of more than 25 years, Prof. Triveni Singh will explain how Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has built a robust system to deal with cyber crime, financial fraud and technology-driven crimes. At the same time, Madhavan Unnikrishnan Nair will share Indias national cyber framework and policy experience on the global platform.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also participate in the conference as a key speaker. During this, extensive deliberations will be held on cyber security cooperation, technology partnerships and cyber business opportunities between India and more than 20 other countries of the world.

The conference will witness participation of cyber experts from America to Europe and Asia. This event will not only give global recognition to Indias cyber strength but will also prove to be an important step towards making the country a future global cyber security hub.

Special discussions will be held on new opportunities for India, cyber security technology, start-ups and business prospects.
Kolkata, Jan 19 : Three persons have died in three separate districts of North 24 Parganas, Nadia and Birbhum over fear of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing process. Police sources said on Monday that while two died by suicide, one died of a heart attack. Their families alleged that fear over the SIR process was the cause of their deaths.

At Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas district, a father died of a heart attack after his son and daughter received SIR hearing notices for 'logical discrepancies' in their voter registration information.

It was learnt that son Abdur Rahman and daughter Anjura Bibi were summoned for an SIR hearing. The family claimed that their father, Chhoyed Sheikh, died in fear and anxiety. The incident took place at booth number 103 in Mamudpur in Hingalganj. According to the family, Chhoyed's anxiety increased when he learnt that his son would not be able to attend the SIR hearing as he works in another state.

The 62-year-old man fell ill due to fear and suffered a heart attack on Monday morning. He was admitted to Hingalganj Rural Hospital, where he died.

The deceased's daughter Anjura told local reporters, "My brother and I received hearing notices. My brother works as a migrant worker in another state. Our hearing was scheduled for Monday. My father was very worried for several days because my brother couldn't come. We tried to reassure him. My father died due to the fear of the SIR."

Meanwhile, in the Karimpur area of Nadia district, a person named Fizur Khan was suffering from fear after a notice arrived in his wife's name due to a discrepancy in the name. The family claimed that due to this fear, Fizur Khan, from the Hogalberia police station area of Nadia, died by suicide on Sunday night. The 54-year-old man was quickly rescued and taken to Karimpur Rural Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

According to local and family sources, Fizur's wife, Parvina Bibi, received an SIR hearing notice and was asked to appear because of discrepancies in the spelling of her name or other information in the documents. The family claimed that Fizur thought his wife would be sent to Bangladesh. He could not be saved even after being taken to hospital.

Local BDO Debabrata Chakraborty said, "Resolving logical discrepancies is a normal process. It has no connection with being deported from the country."

Meanwhile, in Ward 14 of Rampurhat Municipality in Birbhum district, a person named Johnny Sheikh died by suicide. His family alleged that he took the extreme step due to fear related to SIR.

According to family sources, Johnny sold water bottles on trains. His wife left him several years ago. He occasionally drank alcohol. They lived on railway land. His father has passed away and his mother lives in Mumbai for work. Johnny used to eat at his cousin's house in Rampurhat.

On Sunday afternoon, after eating lunch, he went into his room and locked the door. When he didn't open the door even at night, locals became suspicious. Residents broke open the locked door and found him dead, the sources said.

The family claimed that the Election Commission had issued hearing notices to 171 people in that ward. He was afraid that he might also receive a hearing notice. They alleged that was why he took the extreme step. On receiving the information, the Rampurhat police recovered the body and sent it to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : The Karnataka Police has filed an FIR against senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Minister B. Sriramulu at the Ballari Women's Police Station in Ballari city on Monday on charges of revealing the name and identity of the victim in connection with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The complaint alleges that during his speech, sensitive details were mentioned, clearly violating the provisions of the POCSO Act.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against former Minister Sriramulu under the POCSO Act, police said.

It is said that while addressing the BJP's protest rally held on January 17 demanding the arrest of Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and handing over of the shootout case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), former Minister Sriramulu while attacking Congress MLA Reddy had revealed the victim's identity.

The former Minister had allegedly said that Ballari had become a ganja and drugs hub and claimed that the accused had consumed drugs before sexually assaulting a schoolgirl.

During the speech, Sriramulu is accused of revealing the POCSO case survivor's name, address, class and the name of the school she attends.

When asked about the development, BJP MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy in Bengaluru said that he got to know that APMC Station inspector has lodged a case against him and also added that they will face the case legally.

Sriramulu is a close aide of Janardhana Reddy.

Karnataka BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy, his wife Aruna Laxmi, and close aide B. Sriramulu had launched a scathing attack against the Congress-led state government and local Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy following an incident of violence in Ballari that resulted in the death of a Congress worker indicates that political tension in the region is likely to intensify in the coming days.

They made these statements at a protest rally organised to demand a CBI probe into the Ballari incident and the immediate arrest of local Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy.

Sriramulu said the protest rally was organised not for the protection of Janardhana Reddy alone, but for the protection of the Kalyana Karnataka region.

Naming Congress MLA Bharath Reddy and police officers who allegedly colluded with him, Sriramulu added that he would not spare them even if they hid anywhere in the world.

The former Karnataka Minister Sriramulu said that since there was an attempt to kill both him and Janardhana Reddy, he would not remain silent.

He also added that the BJP would form the government in Karnataka once the state Assembly elections are held.
Islamabad, Jan 19 : Hundreds of people, political workers and traders held a major protest rally in Panjgur town of Pakistan's Balochistan against increasing incidents of kidnapping for ransom of traders and common citizens and deteriorating law and order situation in the area, local media reported on Sunday.

The protest was held on the call given by All Parties Citizen Action Committee of Makran (APCAM) against the kidnapping of area's prominent figure Gul Jan Rind and many other people in the Panjgur district, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. Hundreds of protesters on Sunday gathered at Panjgur's Main Bismillah Chowk and marched on roads carrying placards and banners which mentioned their demands and anti-government slogans.

APCACM Chairman, Nawab Shambay Zai, BNP leader Mir Nazir Ahmed Baloch, National Party acting president Mujeeb Rehman, JUI Panjgur leader Hafiz Muhammad Azam Baloch, Haq Do Tehreek Panjgur leader Mullah Farhad, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Maulvi Noor, PML-N leader Ashraf Sagat and PPP Panjgur leader Javed Baloch led the rally.

The leaders of the protesters urged government and law enforcement agencies to take immediate measures for the safe recovery of Shah Nawaz Gul and other people who have been kidnapped. They raised question on why the law enforcement agencies, despite the presence of modern technology, could not trace the mobile number of the victim. They called for immediate arrest of those responsible for the kidnapping.

On December 18, a leading human rights organisation raised alarm over enforced disappearance of two Baloch civilians. According to Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), Munib Baloch was taken from his electric shop in the main bazaar of Kharan city while Mughfar Abid was also taken away from the same location.

The rights body said that the incident showcases a "clear pattern of enforced disappearances in Balochistan" and demanded immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of two Baloch civilians.

"Two Baloch civilians were forcibly disappeared from Kharan on January 17, 2025. Munib Baloch, son of Rehmat Ali, a student and shop worker, was taken from his electric shop in the main bazaar of Kharan city. Witnesses report the involvement of security forces. His family has received no information since his disappearance," Baloch Voice for Justice said on X.

"At the same location and time, Mughfar Abid, son of Abid Baloch, a daily wage labourer, was also taken away. This reflects a clear pattern of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Baloch Voice for Justice demands the immediate disclosure of their whereabouts and holds the state responsible for their safety and lives," it added.
Kochi, Jan 19 : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday struck a defiant ideological note in Kochi as he addressed a mammoth Maha Panchayat gathering of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), congratulating nearly 7,800 Congress representatives who emerged victorious in the December 2025 local body elections.

The programme marked the UDF's first major post-poll mobilisation and underlined its renewed confidence ahead of the Assembly elections.

Hailing the mandate as a "stunning victory", Rahul Gandhi said protecting the Constitution was inseparable from strengthening grassroots democracy.

"If we want to protect the Constitution, we must protect the third tier of governance. That is where you have succeeded," he said, recalling that the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments empowering local self-governments were conceived by the Congress.

Drawing a sharp ideological contrast, Rahul Gandhi said the BJP-RSS believed in centralisation of power, while the Congress stood firmly for decentralisation.

"They want compliance, not participation. They do not want to hear the voice of the people," he said, accusing the ruling dispensation of promoting a "culture of silence" to concentrate the country's wealth and assets in the hands of a few corporate houses.

Referring to his interaction earlier in the day with veteran writer Dr M. Leelavathy, the Congress MP said her warning about the spread of silence across India was deeply relevant.

"I can say with 100 per cent certainty that no one can silence the voice of Kerala. The coming election will show Kerala speaking out loudly," he said.

Rahul Gandhi said he had consistently maintained, even in internal discussions in Delhi, that the UDF would win both the local body and Assembly elections.

However, he said the more important question was what the Congress and the UDF should deliver once in power, identifying unemployment as Kerala's most pressing challenge and calling for a clear, people-centric vision.

Taking questions from the audience, the former grand old party chief responded to a query on what people could expect from a Congress-led UDF government by saying it would be one that listens to the people and remains accessible.

On the future of the now-weakened MGNREGA, he said the programme, designed by the UPA to guarantee minimum wages and dignity of work, was being attacked because the present government was unwilling to pay minimum wages and opposed decentralised implementation.

"They want to run the country from Delhi through bureaucracy," he said.

"But when Covid struck, it was MGNREGA that saved millions," Rahul Gandhi added.

Praising Kerala's political culture, communal harmony and strong grassroots accountability, the Lok Sabha MP reminded the newly elected representatives that they had been entrusted with the people's confidence.

"Cherish and defend that trust. As Congress members, you are defending the Constitution -- and you will not allow a culture of silence to take root," he said.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Bangladesh's proposed 'Microfinance Bank Ordinance 2025', to convert the country's microcredit system into fully regulated microfinance banks under supervision of Bangladesh Bank, could marginalise hundreds of smaller NGOs and poor households from accessing credit, a report has said.

New microfinance banking rules has drawn sharp criticism from 17 leading Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh, including BRAC (Building Resources Across Communities), ASA (Association for Social Advancement), and TMSS (Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha), the report from Finance Today said.

Analysts said the rules could centralise power among a few large institutions and marginalise hundreds of smaller NGOs.

The draft ordinance imposed high capital thresholds  Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) 500 crore in authorised capital and BDT 200 crore paidup, which critics said most microfinance institutions cannot meet.

"Practically, only a handful of large institutions, such as BRAC, ASA, BURO Bangladesh, and TMSS, will qualify. Smaller NGOs, despite their extensive local networks, will effectively be excluded from participation," the report added.

Analysts said a more phased approach with lower initial paidup capital of BDT 50100 crore could allow many more organizations to become microfinance banks.

"A balanced approach  flexible capital thresholds, phased compliance, and pathways for small NGOs to transition gradually  is urgently needed," the report urged.

It also highlighted microfinance's central role in Bangladesh's financial inclusion, with about 731 licensed MFIs operating across 25,000 branches and taking credit to over 45 million people.

The core strength of microfinance has always been proximity, trust, and flexibility, enabling loans without conventional collateral and supporting the poorest households, it said.

In fiscal 2023 MFIs disbursed roughly BDT 2,49,000 crore (about $28 billion) in loans with a 98 per cent repayment rate and nearly 91 per cent of borrowers being women.

The policy largely benefits large institutions while marginalising the very grassroots NGOs that have empowered millions of poor families for decades, analysts said.

The reforms "risks becoming a silent death knell for Bangladesh's small NGOs while delivering a bonanza for the largest institutions," the report noted.

IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 19 : In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday travelled to the Delhi airport and personally welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as he began his third official visit to the country since assuming office.

Both leaders also travelled together in the same car from the airport, showcasing their longstanding friendship and the multi-faceted partnership between the two countries. This is the UAE President's fifth visit to India over the past decade.

"Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions," PM Modi posted on X.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's India visit builds on the strong momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai in April 2025.

"India and the UAE share warm, close, and multi-faceted relations, underpinned by strong political, cultural, and economic ties. The two countries are among each otheras top trading and investment partners, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system, and the Bilateral Investment Treaty. India and the UAE also enjoy a robust energy partnership, including long-term energy supply arrangements," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) ahead of the UAE President's visit.

"The visit will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to chart new frontiers for the Indiaa"UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It will also enable an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence," it added.
Ranchi, Jan 19 : The Jharkhand High Court has expressed deep displeasure over the lack of proper arrangements for the disposal of biomedical waste at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the state's largest medical college and hospital in Ranchi.

Ranchi, Jan 19 (IANS) The Jharkhand High Court has expressed deep displeasure over the lack of proper arrangements for the disposal of biomedical waste at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the stateas largest medical college and hospital in Ranchi.

Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Jharkhand Human Rights Confederation, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar on Monday expressed dissatisfaction with the response submitted by RIMS authorities.

The Bench observed that RIMS had failed to comply with earlier directions issued by the court regarding the scientific and lawful disposal of biomedical waste, despite repeated reminders.

Directing the RIMS Director to file a detailed affidavit, the court asked that the next submission clearly outline the steps taken so far to complete the tender process for biomedical waste disposal management.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on February 2.

During the hearing, the petitioner informed the court that the new tender for biomedical waste disposal at RIMS had not yet been finalised. In response, RIMS submitted that the tender process was underway and that a fresh tender had been floated, inviting participation from eligible agencies.

RIMS further stated that it proposes to establish a comprehensive waste management system covering biomedical waste, solid waste and dry waste within the hospital premises.

The High Court had earlier taken strong exception to the indiscriminate dumping of waste within the RIMS campus and had sought a detailed status report on the prevailing waste disposal mechanism.

In the PIL, the petitioner had sought strict and effective implementation of the Biomedical Waste Management Rules framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, stressing that biomedical waste generated by hospitals, clinics and nursing homes across Jharkhand must be handled and disposed of strictly in accordance with statutory norms.

The petition underlines that failure to enforce the Biomedical Waste Management and Handling Rules poses a serious risk to public health and the environment, warranting immediate corrective measures by the state authorities.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : The ED attached a Rs 32 crore apartment in Gurugram belonging to a company which bought it using loan funds illegally diverted from an associate company, an official said on Monday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Headquarters Investigation Unit (HIU), New Delhi, issued a Provisional Attachment Order (PAO) under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, attaching Apartment No. 1516B, The Magnolias, DLF City Phase-V, Wazirabad, Gurugram, Haryana, registered in the name of Anvi Power Investment, worth Rs 32.28 crore.

The PMLA investigation revealed that this property was acquired by Anmol Singh Jaggi, chairman and key promoter of the Gensol Group, and utilising funds diverted from Gensol Group company Matrix Gas and Renewables, the ED said.

The ED initiated an investigation against Matrix Gas and Renewable (Matrix) and others based on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Special Task Branch, New Delhi, based on the complaint filed by Mecon.

Investigation by the federal agency revealed that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) allocated government funds for the implementation of pilot projects in the Steel Sector in India for using green hydrogen for the iron and steel making process through the Ministry of Steel under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).

In order to implement the pilot projects, the Ministry of Steel appointed ECON Limited as the Scheme Implementing Agency (SIA). Matrix Gas and Renewables emerged as the successful bidder, and initially, 20 per cent of the approved government grant amounting to Rs 32.28 crore was disbursed to Matrix Gas and Renewables Ltd.

The ED investigation revealed that instead of using the disbursed public funds for the pilot project, Matrix Gas and Renewables had dishonestly and fraudulently diverted the entire amount through a series of layered transactions across a web of corporate entities under the control of Anmol Singh Jaggi, to conceal the source and finally utilised for the personal enrichment of the promoters and for other activities of Gensol group.

Investigation also revealed that the funds of Matrix Gas and Renewables were diverted to acquire the above-attached luxury property in the name of a group company, and the same being Proceed of Crime has now been provisionally attached by the ED, an official said.
Members of a local fire and rescue team prepare to set off for earthquake rescue work in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 19, 2026. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Qiaojia County in southwest China's Yunnan Province at 7:32 p.m. Monday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). No casualties have been reported. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Qiaojia County in southwest China's Yunnan Province at 7:32 p.m. Monday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). No casualties have been reported.

The epicenter was monitored at 27.01 degrees north latitude and 103.41 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10 km, the CENC said.

Residents in Qiaojia County reported strong tremors. Officials in Longtoushan Township of neighboring Ludian County said the quake was also strongly felt there, but no casualties have been reported. No houses collapsed, roads remain open, and street order is normal.

Authorities are further assessing the impact of the quake. 

Members of a local fire and rescue team prepare to set off for earthquake rescue work in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 19, 2026. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Qiaojia County in southwest China's Yunnan Province at 7:32 p.m. Monday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). No casualties have been reported. (Xinhua)

Students and teachers are seen on a playground at a middle school after an earthquake in Qiaojia County in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 19, 2026. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Qiaojia County in southwest China's Yunnan Province at 7:32 p.m. Monday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). No casualties have been reported. (Xinhua)
New Delhi, Jan 19 : The Supreme Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a Bihar man accused under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, holding that mere presence at the spot and vague allegations are insufficient to put him on trial.

A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Alok Aradhe set aside an order of the Patna High Court, which had refused to interfere with the cognisance and summoning order passed by a trial court in Bhagalpur.

Allowing the appeal filed by Keshaw Mahto, the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench recorded the submission of the state government's counsel that "except the fact that the appellant was also present at the relevant point of time with the co-accused, there is no specific overt act attributed to him".

While quashing the prosecution against him, the apex court said that "putting the appellant into trial, along with other co-accused, will be a travesty of justice".

The case stemmed from an FIR lodged in 2019 alleging that the complainant, belonging to a Scheduled Caste, was abused and assaulted at an anganwadi centre, with caste-related abuses allegedly being hurled.

On October 9, 2020, the trial court had taken cognisance of offences under various provisions of the IPC and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act.

The appellant had challenged the cognisance and summoning order before the Patna High Court under Section 14A of the SC/ST Act, but his plea was dismissed, prompting him to approach the Supreme Court.

In its order, the apex court reiterated that offences under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act are not attracted merely because the complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe.

"The fact that the complainant belonged to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe would not be enough," the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench said, adding that any insult or intimidation must be "on the account of such person being a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe".

It further said, "Even mere knowledge of the fact that the complainant is a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe is not sufficient to attract Section 3(1)(r)."

The Supreme Court held that merely abusing a person or merely uttering a caste name would not constitute an offence under Section 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act.

"Merely abusing a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe would not be enough. At the same time, saying caste name would also not constitute an offence," the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench observed, clarifying that only when the abuse is "laced with the caste name" and intended to humiliate would it attract penal consequences.

Examining the FIR and the chargesheet, the apex court said that there was no allegation suggesting the appellant had uttered any caste-based words or acted with the intention to humiliate the complainant.

"Neither the FIR nor the chargesheet contains any whisper of an allegation of insult or intimidation by the appellant herein, let alone one made with the intention to humiliate the complainant," the order stated.

The apex court also found the IPC allegations to be general and lacking essential ingredients, observing that "mere presence of the appellant does not establish his participation in the alleged offence".

Holding that no prima facie case was made out against the appellant under either the SC/ST Act or the IPC, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal and quashed the criminal prosecution against him.

"In view of the above, this appeal succeeds and is hereby allowed.

The impugned order passed by the High Court is set aside and the criminal prosecution against the appellant herein is hereby quashed," ordered the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench.
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : The Karnataka government has said it is considering conducting all local body elections, including the civic polls in Bengaluru, at one go.

Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar made the statement here on Monday.

With regard to the GBA elections, the draft voters' list was released on Monday.

Asked about when the municipal elections might be held, Shivakumar said: "The court has issued its directions. Our government is committed to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. Power must be given to the youth and a new generation must come into leadership."

At present, 369 wards have been created from five municipal corporations in Bengaluru.

Discussions are also underway on bringing the outskirts of Bengaluru under municipal limits.

"Our government has decided to conduct district and taluk panchayat elections. The Chief Minister and ministers have stated that the reservation-related issues connected to these elections will be resolved. Many have suggested that gram panchayat elections should also be held on party symbols, but no decision has been taken on that yet. There is a consideration to hold all these elections at one go," Shivakumar stated.

Asked about the use of ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines in these local body elections, he said: "I have also received information in this regard. This is a matter that comes under the State Election Commission. There is nothing wrong in using ballot papers. More important than the mode of election is that voting takes place."

"The draft voters' list has now been released and we have already made arrangements with booth-level agents (BLAs). If the name of any voter has been left out of the list, they must be given another opportunity and their right must be ensured. We will not interfere in the functioning of officials. The Election Commission will function within the existing legal framework," Shivakumar said.

When asked whether ballot papers were being used due to a lack of confidence in the Central Election Commission, he said, "Who are we to conduct elections? Elections are conducted by the Election Commission. The State Election Commission does not come under the control of our government. It will decide what needs to be done on its own."

When asked about BJP leaders criticising him for cancelling his Davos trip for political reasons, he said, "There is some merit in what they are saying. I will not say it is wrong. Ask this question again tomorrow morning."
Chennai, Jan 19 : Tamil Nadu has stepped up disease surveillance and hospital preparedness following the confirmation of two Nipah virus cases in Nadia district of West Bengal, prompting a nationwide health alert.

Acting on advisories from the Government of India, the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine has instructed all district, city and municipal health authorities to intensify monitoring for Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) across the State.

The health department has directed that all patients presenting with fever and altered sensorium be closely observed, with special attention to those having a recent travel history to West Bengal or contact with individuals from affected areas.

Such cases must be promptly evaluated for possible Nipah virus infection, officials said.

Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said on Monday that comprehensive guidelines and precautionary measures had already been circulated to all districts.

District Health Officers have been instructed to activate enhanced surveillance mechanisms, while block medical officers at the primary healthcare level and heads of all government hospitals have been asked to remain vigilant and prepared to respond swiftly to suspected cases.

Director of Public Health A. Somasundaram stressed the importance of preparedness at the field level. He called for intensified awareness campaigns to sensitise healthcare workers and the public on prevention and control measures.

Strengthening surveillance, ensuring early detection, improving clinical management, and strictly adhering to infection prevention and control practices in all health facilities were critical, he said.

The DPH has also instructed both government and private hospitals to immediately report all AES cases to the respective District Surveillance Units through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programmea"Integrated Health Information Platform.

Timely reporting, officials noted, is crucial to prevent any potential spread. According to the health department, Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans through close contact with infected persons, fruit bats, or pigs.

Exposure may occur while handling or consuming fruits contaminated by bat secretions, climbing fruit trees, or consuming raw date palm sap, juice, or toddy.

Human-to-human transmission has been documented, particularly during close caregiving at home or in healthcare settings when adequate personal protective equipment is not used.

Clinical symptoms include fever, severe headache, altered mental status, respiratory distress, cough, vomiting, muscle pain, convulsions and diarrhoea.

The infection can progress to severe encephalitis or respiratory illness, with reported fatality rates ranging between 40 and 75 per cent, varying by outbreak.

As part of revised preparedness measures, hospitals have been instructed to immediately isolate suspected Nipah patients, ensure strict segregation from other patients, and enforce stringent infection control protocols to minimise the risk of transmission within healthcare settings.
Chennai, Jan 19 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu till January 30, 2026, providing additional time for eligible voters to verify and correct their electoral details.

Announcing the decision on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu Archana Patnaik said the initial deadline for submitting claims and objections had ended on January 18, but was extended after the Commission reviewed multiple relevant factors to ensure maximum voter inclusion.

In an official release, the Commission urged all eligible citizens to make use of the extended period to submit claims for inclusion of names, corrections to existing entries, or objections to incorrect or duplicate entries in the electoral rolls.

Voters have been advised not to miss this final opportunity to ensure their details are accurate ahead of forthcoming electoral processes.

The Special Intensive Revision was announced by the Election Commission in October 2025, with January 1, 2026 fixed as the qualifying date for determining voter eligibility in the state.

As part of the exercise, the draft electoral rolls were published on December 19, 2025, and the period for filing claims and objections was initially scheduled from December 19, 2025 to January 18, 2026.

According to the release, the Commission exercised its powers under the proviso to Rule 12 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to extend the deadline by nearly two weeks.

The decision was taken to accommodate voters who may not have been able to complete the verification process within the original timeframe, and to ensure that no eligible elector is left out of the rolls due to procedural or logistical constraints.

Election officials reiterated that the SIR is a critical process aimed at improving the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls by removing ineligible entries, updating voter details and facilitating the inclusion of newly eligible voters.

Citizens can file claims and objections through designated election offices and prescribed online platforms.

The extended deadline is expected to benefit first-time voters, migrants and those whose names were inadvertently omitted or contain errors, strengthening the overall credibility of the electoral roll ahead of future elections in the state.
Kolkata, Jan 19 : Tension broke out at the office of the sub-divisional officer (headquarters) in Hooghly district of West Bengal on Monday after a group of Trinamool Congress activists, led by the party's legislator from Chinsurah Assembly constituency Asit Majumdar, reached the premises while hearings on claims and objections on the draft voters' list were being held.

It was reported that some of the ruling party activists even destroyed some Form-7 applications (for deletion of names of voters due to deaths and other reasons) in front of the legislator.

Although Majumdar denied being a witness to the destruction of Form-7 applications by his followers, he alleged that they had protested against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists submitting such Form-7 applications on behalf of others in an undemocratic manner.

Following the development, chaos broke out at the SDO (headquarters) office premises, and there were even scuffles between Trinamool Congress and BJP activists.

Some of the voters present on the occasion alleged that the police personnel there behaved as mute spectators, with no visible action witnessed on their part to bring the situation under control.

"How can we allow attempts to forcibly delete names of genuine voters from the voters' list? They are snatching away people's democratic rights. Yesterday, Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar said that the names of 1.26 lakh voters have been deleted from the Hooghly Lok Sabha alone. How did he know that? Are the electoral officers working as his agents?" Majumdar claimed.

The BJP's Hooghly district leadership alleged that, from the beginning, the Trinamool Congress had been resisting submission of Form-7 applications, since the ruling party wanted names of deceased, duplicate or shifted voters retained in the voters' list so that false voting could be done against such names on polling days.

"Today's ruckus by the Trinamool Congress was pre-planned and in conspiracy with a section of the district administration. It is pathetic that an elected legislator of the ruling party led the hooliganism," said district BJP leader Suresh Saha.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, on Monday, visited the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp (RDC) 2026, inspiring the participants to uphold the ethos of unity, discipline and integrity and lead a life dedicated to the nation.

Admiral Tripathi was accorded the Guard of Honour on his arrival by NCC cadets drawn from Army, Navy and the Air Force wings.

During his address, the Chief of Naval Staff highlighted the pivotal role played by NCC in nurturing youth with values of patriotism, discipline, and social responsibility.

He noted the exemplary contribution of nearly 72,000 NCC cadets in civil defence efforts during Operation Sindoor.

Admiral Tripathi appreciated the new and innovative training measures adopted by NCC, including initiatives related to drone operations and cyber awareness.

"India's youth are a force for global good," quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief of Naval Staff expressed his faith in the youth to shape 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047.

Admiral Tripathi recalled his own days as an NCC cadet and congratulated the cadets on their selection for the prestigious Republic Day Camp.

He applauded their outstanding parade turnout, precision drill, band performance, and cultural presentation -- giving the display a "Bravo Zulu" in naval parlance.

Drawn from his own service experience, he shared five life lessons with NCC cadets to help them realise their full potential in life: Staying away from distractions and practising self-discipline; Continuous learning and upskilling to remain relevant in a fast-changing world; Physical and moral courage in the face of challenges, drawing inspiration from heroes such as Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla; To become a team player -- 'One for all, all for one' and Never give up.

He reaffirmed the Indian Navy's commitment to supporting NCC cadets for training through initiatives like Puneet Sagar Abhiyan, specialised training camps like All India Nausainik Camp, hands-on exposure to seamanship, sailing and yachting, ship attachments, overseas deployments, and educational visits to Indian Navy ships, submarines and shores.

Admiral Tripathi urged the cadets to uphold the NCC ethos of unity, discipline, and integrity and lead a life dedicated to the nation.
New Delhi/Chennai, Jan 19 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has completed the second phase of questioning Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay in connection with the Karur stampede case, in which 41 people lost their lives during a political campaign rally last year.

According to sources, Vijay was questioned for nearly five-and-a-half hours on Monday, marking a key stage in the ongoing investigation. The tragic incident occurred on September 27 in Karur, when a massive crowd gathered for a campaign rally led by actor-politician Vijay descended into chaos, resulting in a deadly stampede.

Following widespread public concern and legal intervention, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to take over the investigation to ensure an independent and comprehensive probe.

CBI officials are currently conducting the inquiry from a temporary camp set up in Karur. However, as part of the investigation, those connected with the case are being summoned to the CBI headquarters in Delhi for detailed questioning.

Vijay was earlier questioned for over six hours on January 12, and the second round of questioning was held on Monday.

Sources familiar with the questioning said that CBI officials raised a series of pointed questions before Vijay.

These reportedly included queries such as whether he noticed the traffic congestion while addressing the crowd from his vehicle, why there was a delay of nearly seven hours in dispersing the crowd, what measures were taken to manage the traffic jam, and why the convoy continued to move forward despite congestion.

It is understood that Vijay responded to several questions, while seeking time to answer some and asking for documentary evidence for others.

After the questioning concluded in the evening, Vijay was seen exiting the CBI office and briefly stepping out of his vehicle to wave at those gathered outside, a gesture that quickly drew public attention.

Following this, TVK administrator Nirmal Kumar clarified that Vijay has not been served with any fresh summons after the latest round of questioning. He also dismissed rumours about Vijayas imminent arrest, urging the public not to believe speculation circulating on social media.

Kumar added that the party would cooperate fully with the investigation.

Meanwhile, sources indicated that the CBI is preparing to file the charge sheet in the case before the Supreme Court in the second week of February, keeping in mind the approaching Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The charge sheet is expected to outline accountability for the lapses that led to one of the deadliest campaign-related tragedies in recent years.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : With less than two weeks left for the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27, experts on Monday believe the government should focus strongly on improving ease of doing business and expanding opportunities for women across sectors.

New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) With less than two weeks left for the presentation of the Union Budget 202627, experts on Monday believe the government should focus strongly on improving ease of doing business and expanding opportunities for women across sectors.

Speaking to IANS, tax expert Manmohan Srivastava Kaju said the government had provided significant relief to taxpayers in the previous budget by increasing the income tax exemption limit to Rs 12 lakh.

"The introduction of GST 2.0, under which tax slabs were reduced to two, was also a positive step," he added.

Looking ahead to the upcoming budget, the expert said the government should prioritise measures that make business operations simpler and more efficient.

"Traders currently face several issues on the GST portal, which often create compliance-related challenges," he noted.

Citing an example, he said many notices are now issued only through the GST portal. As a result, a large number of traders fail to check them regularly, which sometimes leads to higher tax payments or penalties.

"The government should consider restarting physical communication alongside digital notices to avoid such problems," he mentioned.

The Union Budget 202627 will be presented in Parliament on February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

This will be the ninth consecutive budget presented by Sitharaman. She has already created a record by delivering the highest number of consecutive budgets after C.D. Deshmukh, who presented seven budgets in a row.

If she presents the budget for the financial year 2028 as well, she will equal the record of late Morarji Desai, who presented a total of 10 budgets across two tenures between 19591964 and 19671969.

FM Sitharaman was appointed India's first full-time woman finance minister in 2019 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to power for a second term.

Finance Minister Sitharaman continued to hold the finance portfolio after the Modi-led government secured a third consecutive term in 2024.
Patna, Jan 19 : The case of the suspicious death of a NEET aspirant in Patna further escalated on Monday, with the Congress staging a protest against the Bihar government.

Congress leaders and workers gathered at Income Tax Chowk in the state capital, raising slogans against the Nitish Kumar government and the police administration.

The protest was led by Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru and State Congress President Rajesh Ram.

During the demonstration, Congress workers also burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister.

Addressing the protesters, Allavaru accused the state government of failing to ensure the safety of women.

"The Bihar government has completely failed to protect the daughters of this state. That is why such incidents are occurring. We demand a fair and impartial investigation and strict action against those responsible," he said.

State Congress President Rajesh Ram also launched a sharp attack on the government, alleging attempts to suppress the case.

"The victim has not received justice yet, which is why we are on the streets today. The government and administration are trying to shield the culprits," he alleged.

Rajesh Ram further claimed that the delay in action was due to the victim's social and economic background.

"If this student belonged to an influential family, action would have been taken immediately. Because she came from a poor family, the matter is being deliberately delayed," he said, demanding that all those involved be arrested within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the matter has also reached the Human Rights panels.

Muzaffarpur advocate S.K. Jha has filed petitions before both the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Bihar State Human Rights Commission, seeking an investigation into the case under the supervision of a retired judge.

He wrote separate letters to CJI Surya Kant and the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court Sangam Kumar Sahoo, seeking cognisance of the matter.

Meanwhile, Bihar Home Minister Samrat Choudhary said that no criminal should be allowed to escape and they must be put behind bars at all costs.

He said the police have full freedom to take action and the government stands with them.

"We have constituted an SIT. The SIT is doing its job. The Patna IG is monitoring it. The DGP of Bihar is overseeing the entire matter. Action is being taken everywhere. Yesterday, the ADG also went and reviewed the case.

"The police have been given a free hand to take action," Choudhary said.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : A panel headed by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday recommended 17 defence-related proposals, primarily located in Ladakh and Sikkim, after evaluating their impact on protected areas, an official said.

The 88th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) recommended these proposals in view of national security and strategic requirements, while ensuring strict adherence to wildlife protection measures and environmental safeguards, in line with directions of the Committee and applicable statutory provisions, an official statement said.

During the meeting, the Standing Committee considered 70 proposals relating to public utility services, defence requirements and infrastructure development located in and around Protected Areas, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves and Eco-Sensitive Zones.

The projects were evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with respect to ecological sensitivity, statutory requirements and the need to ensure essential services for local communities.

Important public utility proposals considered by the Committee involve drinking water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), primary and community health centres, widening of roads, 4G mobile towers and transmission lines.

Further proposals related to the medium irrigation project in MP, providing drinking and irrigation water facility in the Bundelkhand region, on one hand, and enhancing a greater water regime for wildlife and gharials, on the other, were also deliberated, said the statement.

The Committee reviewed the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the decisions and directions taken by the Committee in previous meetings, especially with respect to policy measures and process streamlining, including improvement of the PARIVESH portal.

The panel decided that policy and programmes related to wildlife conservation and compliance with the directions of the SC-NBWL will be further deliberated in future meetings for effective monitoring.

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, mandated to advise the government on matters relating to the conservation and protection of wildlife and forests, while ensuring that development activities in and around protected areas are undertaken in a balanced and sustainable manner.
Members of Israeli forces are seen as they impose a closure around the Jabal Johar neighborhood south of Hebron city in the West Bank, on Jan. 19, 2026. The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said Monday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said Monday.

Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that Israeli forces imposed a closure on several neighborhoods in southern Hebron and blocked a number of secondary roads using iron gates, concrete blocks, and earth mounds.

According to the sources, Israeli forces also set up multiple military checkpoints at the entrances to Hebron, as well as to its surrounding towns, villages, and refugee camps.

Amani Sarahneh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners Club, a non-governmental organization, told Xinhua that Israeli forces have arrested seven people from Hebron since the start of the operation, including a child.

Israeli media outlets reported that the Israeli army, in coordination with the domestic security agency Shin Bet, the police, and the border police, launched the operation overnight to "combat terrorism" in Hebron.

The operation is expected to continue for several days, during which explosions may be heard and increased troop activity observed, reports said.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that hundreds of soldiers, along with special forces units, were deployed to Hebron as part of an ongoing operation aimed at seizing weapons.

The West Bank has seen an escalation in violence since Oct. 7, 2023, coinciding with the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. 

Members of Israeli forces are seen as they impose a closure around the Jabal Johar neighborhood south of Hebron city in the West Bank, on Jan. 19, 2026. The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said Monday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Members of Israeli forces are seen as they impose a closure around the Jabal Johar neighborhood south of Hebron city in the West Bank, on Jan. 19, 2026. The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said Monday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Members of Israeli forces are seen as they impose a closure around the Jabal Johar neighborhood south of Hebron city in the West Bank, on Jan. 19, 2026. The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said Monday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Members of Israeli forces are seen as they impose a closure around the Jabal Johar neighborhood south of Hebron city in the West Bank, on Jan. 19, 2026. The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said Monday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Members of Israeli forces are seen as they impose a closure around the Jabal Johar neighborhood south of Hebron city in the West Bank, on Jan. 19, 2026. The Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank, Palestinian and Israeli sources said Monday. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)
Belagavi : , Jan 19 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said the Congress would never indulge in politics over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process being carried out by the Election Commission, but its only concern was to ensure that genuine voters were not excluded from the electoral rolls.

He was speaking to reporters in Belagavi.

Responding to reports that nearly three crore voters in the state had not been mapped as part of the SIR process being undertaken by the Election Commission, the Chief Minister said the exercise must be carried out with utmost caution.

He said booth-level officers (BLOs) had been instructed to ensure that no voter was subjected to injustice during the process.

Responding to allegations by MLA Janardhana Reddy that the Chief Minister and ministers were looting the state, Siddaramaiah said Janardhana Reddy himself had gone to jail after looting the state's resources and that the case was still pending before the Supreme Court.

"He has no moral authority to make such allegations. The Opposition is busy making false accusations and misleading the public," he said.

He added that the Legislative Assembly session would begin on January 22 and asked the Opposition to raise issues and hold discussions on the floor of the House.

Replying to a question on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute coming up for hearing before the Supreme Court, Siddaramaiah said the Karnataka government's legal team was prepared to argue against the petition filed by the Maharashtra government.

He said Karnataka's primary question was whether Maharashtra had the jurisdiction to file a petition regarding the state's borders, and that this issue must be resolved first.

On the demand for conducting municipal elections using ballot papers, the Chief Minister said the government was also of the view that local body elections should be held using ballot papers.

Reacting to the Governor returning the sub-quota Bill, Siddaramaiah said appropriate explanations would be provided to the questions raised by the Governor regarding the Bill.

Replying to a query on his proposed visit to New Delhi, the Chief Minister said he would travel to the national capital if called by the party high command.
Hyderabad, Jan 19 : 'C-Mitra' -- the novel initiative launched by the Hyderabad Police to assist victims of cybercrime in registering First Information Reports (FIRs) without having to visit a police station, has facilitated over 100 FIRs in 10 days.

Police said the initiative, the first of its kind in the country, has begun yielding significant results. The virtual help desk has reached out to 1,000 victims, resulting in the registration of over 100 First Information Reports (FIRs).

Launched on January 9 by City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, the initiative aims to provide reassurance to victims and streamline the complaint process. According to officials, the C-Mitra team has been making an average of 100 calls daily to victims to understand their grievances.

The process begins when a victim reports a crime via the 1930 helpline or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The C-Mitra team then contacts the victim to gather details. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), the team prepares a legally sound complaint draft, which is sent to the victim via WhatsApp or email.

Victims are required to print, sign, and send the copy via courier or post to the Basheerbagh Cyber Crime Station. "Once the signed copy is received, the FIR is registered immediately without delay, and a copy is sent directly to the victim's mobile phone," an official stated. This system eliminates the need for victims to wait for hours at police stations.

To ensure swift service, the Cyber Crime wing has constituted a special 24-member team working in two shifts from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The initiative has drawn praise for its humane approach. Deekshita, a woman constable associated with the team, said, "Usually, citizens are apprehensive about visiting a police station. But when we call them and assure them of justice, the confidence in their voice is palpable. C-Mitra acts as a bridge; we listen to their problems not just as police personnel, but as sisters."

Prithvika, another constable, described the initiative as a "digital revolution" blending technology with a humanitarian touch.

"In the past, victims struggled with drafting complaints and understanding legal sections. C-Mitra has resolved those issues. Our ultimate goal is to work towards a future where cybercrime is eradicated from Hyderabad, and the need for C-Mitra ceases to exist," she said.
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : Reacting to allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said no officer is above the law and that disciplinary action would be initiated if required.

He made the statement while answering questions from the media in Belagavi.

"An inquiry would be conducted into the matter and disciplinary action would be initiated against the DGP if required. No senior officer is above the law," the Chief Minister said.

Sources said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is upset and expressed his anger over the development.

It may be recalled that in a major embarrassment to the Karnataka Police Department, purported videos showing objectionable behaviour by jailed actress Ranya Rao's stepfather and Karnataka DGP K. Ramachandra Rao with a woman inside his office while in uniform went viral on Monday.

The videos have circulated widely on social media, raising serious concerns.

The videos purportedly showed Ramachandra Rao inside his official chamber, engaging in objectionable conduct with a woman.

In one clip, he is seen kissing the woman while seated in uniform in his office. In another video, he is seen inside his office in a suit and engaging in similar conduct in front of the Indian flag and the Police Department's emblem displayed in his chamber. The woman was also seen cooperating with him.

Sources said the videos were recorded more than a year ago, before Ranya Rao was arrested in the gold smuggling case.

Ramachandra Rao is serving as Director General of Police in the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE).

Responding to the purported videos, DGP K. Ramachandra Rao said the clips that surfaced and went viral on social media are "manipulated".

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Monday, Rao said, "These are manipulated videos. No such incident has taken place. I will discuss the matter with my advocate and take a decision in this regard."

Earlier, the Karnataka government had placed Ramachandra Rao on compulsory leave in March 2025 in connection with the gold smuggling case. He was taken back recently.

He is alleged to have joined hands with Ranya Rao in gold smuggling. The government had ordered a probe against Rao in this connection and sought a report.

Ranya Rao was arrested on charges of gold smuggling and misusing her stepfather Rao's name to escape security checks by availing the protocol reserved for officials.
Chandigarh, Jan 19 : Laying the foundation stone for a Rs 15 crore Government Degree College in Ajnala in Amritsar district, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said the Congress, the Akali Dal and the BJP had collectively looted Punjab for decades, hollowing out its institutions and forcing generations of youth to look abroad for opportunities.

CM Mann said the new college, which will be named after the revered scholar Baba Ghamchuk ji, represents the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's resolve to rebuild 'Rangla Punjab' through education, opportunity and public participation.

The Chief Minister said while the state government would provide every possible facility and institutional support, it is equally important for every Punjabi to contribute according to their capacity so that Punjab can be transformed into a 'Rangla Punjab' where children are not compelled to leave the country in search of a future.

Addressing a gathering, CM Mann said infighting is at its peak among these parties as they lack any concrete agenda for the welfare of the people.

"The Opposition has no vision for Punjab. They are only waiting for their turn to loot the people and the state's resources. Their dreams will never be fulfilled because the people of Punjab are wise and brave, and they understand the dubious character of such leaders," he said.

He added that Punjabis will never allow these forces to succeed in their nefarious designs.

Urging people to remain cautious of opportunistic and power-hungry politicians, CM Mann said the sole aim of traditional parties is to exploit Punjab and its people.

"The need of the hour is to completely reject these parties so that the efforts of the state government to build 'Rangla Punjab' can yield results," CM Mann said, noting his government is working tirelessly to accelerate development by opening new Aam Aadmi Clinics, schools, colleges and implementing other people-centric initiatives.

Referring to the project inaugurated on the occasion, CM Mann said the foundation stone of a co-educational college has been laid in Bikraur, a village located along the International Border.

"This college will ensure that the youth from the border area can pursue higher education close to their homes. An amount of Rs 15 crore will be spent on constructing this institution over 15 acres of land," CM Mann said, expressing gratitude to the Bikraur panchayat and residents for donating land for the project.
Mumbai, Jan 19 : The OBC Bahujan Party, led by Prakash Shendge, on Monday officially joined forces with the Congress. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshwardhan Sapkal announced that the "ideological alliance" will jointly contest the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.

Mumbai, Jan 19 (IANS) The OBC Bahujan Party, led by Prakash Shendge, on Monday officially joined forces with the Congress. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshwardhan Sapkal announced that the "ideological alliance" will jointly contest the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.

The elections to 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis are slated for February 5, with counting on February 7.

Addressing a press conference, Sapkal welcomed the move, stating, "This alliance is not merely for power but is rooted in a broader vision for social justice. Since Rahul Gandhi demanded a nationwide caste census, the Modi government was forced to acknowledge it, yet the process remains stalled. Congress stands by the principle of 'representation proportional to population'. This stance is gaining massive support across all communities."

The MPCC chief launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him of breaking long-standing promises.

He reminded the public of Fadnavis's 2014 vow in Baramati to approve Dhangar reservation with his "very first signature" upon coming to power, a promise that remains unfulfilled.

"Fadnavis has deceived the Dhangar, OBC, Maratha and tribal communities in the name of reservation. He has actively worked to incite infighting between different castes. These communities have now lost all faith in the BJP," he remarked.

Prakash Shendge, leader of the OBC Bahujan Party, expressed grave concerns over the current state of reservations. He alleged that the 27 per cent OBC quota is under constant threat and that the government is issuing "GR after GR" (government resolutions) without providing actual benefits to any community.

"We have formed this independent party to ensure justice for the OBC community and decided to align with like-minded forces. We thank Rahul Gandhi for his firm stand on the caste census and believe that under his leadership, the issue of OBC reservation will finally be resolved," Shendge stated.

The announcement came after the Congress fought the BMC elections in an alliance with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi. The Congress bagged 24 seats.

Meanwhile, Sapkal on Monday felicitated the newly elected 30 corporators of the Bhiwandi Municipal Corporation.
Ayodhya, Jan 19 : Hindu saints and seers, including Jagadguru from Ayodhya Dham, have unanimously welcomed the decision to 'ban' the entry of non-Hindus at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, a world-famous pilgrimage city.

They also elicited their views on the uproar and fracas that allegedly broke out between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand and police personnel during Mauni Amavasya Snan at the ongoing Magh mela.

Mahant Sitaram Das of Saket Bhawan temple said, "Stopping the Shankaracharya's palanquin on the day of Mauni Amavasya was absolutely wrong; however, there were some who wanted to bring bad name to the auspicious event, also defame the organisers as well as the government.

"I will request Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand to understand that certain anti-social elements are already trying to defame the nation, culture, and the government. This is the time to act with restraint," he added, while urging the administration to act against the culprits.

Commenting on the decision to restrict the entry of non-Hindus at Har Ki Pauri, he said, "This decision is highly commendable because Maa Ganga is our revered goddess, and non-Hindus have no faith connected to that place. The government took this decision a bit late, but it is a very good decision."

Karan Das Maharaj said, "Whatever happened with Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand on Mauni Amavasya was absolutely wrong. The Akhara Parishad will definitely take this matter seriously. Such behaviour with sadhus on the sacred land of Prayagraj is unacceptable. I urge the UP government to conduct a high-level inquiry and take strict action against the culprits."

Regarding the ban on the entry of non-Hindus in Haridwar, he said, "People of certain community are spreading jihad in every direction, and protecting Maa Ganga is the duty of every Hindu. We all welcome this decision."

Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das said, "The day of Mauni Amavasya holds special significance from the perspective of bathing rituals, and lakhs of devotees came for the holy dip. Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand was not stopped from taking a dip in the river by the administration; his chariot was stopped. During the bathing period, there is heavy congestion, and if any mishap had happened, who would have been responsible? That is why he was stopped. But now he is falsely accusing the Yogi government of taking revenge. Such words from Sadhus and saints do not look good."

Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya Maharaj said, "Wherever there are Hindu religious places, the entry of non-Hindus should be restricted. Recently, some Jihadis from Kashmir were seen entering the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and offering Namaz. Apart from this, they try to contaminate vegetables and food. These places are symbols of our faith. The decision to ban non-Hindus is absolutely correct."
Hyderabad, Jan 19 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former minister T. Harish Rao has demanded a CBI probe into Naini coal block tenders.

Day after Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka directed Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to cancel the tenders and called for the auction of Naini coal blocks in Odisha following allegations of corruption, the BRS leader sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Deputy Chief Minister had refuted the allegations that the 'site visit' condition was incorporated in the tender to favour certain companies.

The BRS leader urged Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy to order a CBI probe into the Naini coal block tenders.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Harish Rao said if there is no secret understanding between the BJP and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the BJP should order a CBI probe.

He claimed that 'site visit' certificate policy is not followed anywhere in the country. He alleged that the Revanth Reddy government introduced the site visit certificate policy and the very first beneficiary of this policy was Revanth Reddy's brother-in-law, Sujan Reddy.

He said Sujan Reddy's Shodha Constructions secured the first tender after getting the certificate. After this, six Singareni tenders were allegedly awarded at plus 7 per cent to favoured firms.

Harish Rao said earlier, coal block tenders typically went at minus 10 per cent to minus 20 per cent. After this rule, tenders are allegedly being finalised at plus 7 per cent to plus 10 per cent.

He said while Naini block tenders were cancelled citing this rule, other tenders issued under the same rule remain untouched. He challenged Revanth Reddy to allow a CBI probe if there is nothing to hide.

He pointed out that under the 'site visit' rule contractors are not allowed to submit tenders online and they must visit the site, inspect it, and obtain certificate.

"This means that they identified who was bidding for the tender in advance, intimidated and threatened them to prevent them from winning the tender, and then awarded the tenders to their followers at a rate of plus 7 to plus 20 per cent, thus pocketing huge commissions," he alleged.

Alleging that there is a scam in Singareni tenders, the former minister claimed that there are disputes over the 'share' of the Chief Minister and ministers.

Harish Rao condemned the Chief Minister's remarks made at a public meeting in Khammam on Sunday.

CM Revanth Reddy had called on TDP cadres to dismantle the BRS platforms and flagpoles across villages in Telangana saying this would be a true tribute to TDP founder and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister late NT Rama Rao.

Harish Rao warned Revanth Reddy that if he messes with the BRS flag, his own will crumble.

"The BRS party flag is in the hearts of the people. It is a party born in the hearts of the people of Telangana," he said.
Bikaner, Jan 19 : Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday called for faster translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, saying that doctors' practical experience and observations should also guide basic scientific research in return.

Addressing the two-day international conference on "Frontiers of Radiation Biology and Cancer Research" at Dungar College through an online address, the Union Minister said a continuous dialogue between the laboratory and the bedside makes modern medicine more effective, safer and more humane.

He noted that India's scientific ecosystem and health infrastructure have made remarkable strides in recent years, particularly in cancer science.

Shekhawat said the country has taken significant steps in improving diagnostic accuracy, developing affordable treatment options and expanding access to quality cancer care.

He added that institutions such as Regional Cancer Centres, medical colleges and community hospitals are now equipped to deliver state-of-the-art and complex treatments with compassion, sensitivity and high professional competence.

Emphasising the role of radiation biology, the Union Minister said research in the field is central to modern cancer treatment. A deeper understanding of the body's response to radiation, minimising side effects and scientifically optimising radiation doses to improve patients' quality of life form the backbone of effective cancer therapy.

Research in both basic and clinical radiation sciences, he added, directly strengthens the nation's healthcare mission.

Shekhawat described radiation as one of the most powerful tools in both diagnosis and treatment.

However, he said its true potential can only be realised through a comprehensive understanding of its cellular and systemic effects, ensuring safe, balanced and effective application.

Addressing young scientists, researchers and students, the Union Minister said their curiosity, dedication and collaborative spirit will shape the future of the field and elevate India's scientific identity globally.

He noted that modern science increasingly rewards those who transcend disciplinary boundaries -- physicists exploring biology, doctors embracing data and informatics, and biologists engaging closely with clinical realities.

He concluded by expressing confidence that such interdisciplinary approaches will drive innovation and lead to more patient-centric, impactful healthcare solutions in the years ahead.
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : Reacting to the Congress-led government convening a special legislature session from January 21 to oppose the Viksit Bharat -- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that the Congress fears the loss of its "income shop" after the entry of the G Ram G Act.

Bengaluru, Jan 19 (IANS) Reacting to the Congress-led government convening a special legislature session from January 21 to oppose the Viksit Bharat -- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, the Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that the Congress fears the loss of its "income shop" after the entry of the G Ram G Act.

Addressing the media at the BJP state office, Jagannath Bhavan, State BJP General Secretary P. Rajeev alleged that massive corruption has taken place within the Rural Development Department, and that funds released under the 15th Finance Commission have been grossly misused.

He alleged that while Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Priyank Kharge frequently speaks about the Constitution, he has no time to see how the Constitution is repeatedly being violated within his own department.

Rajeev explained that grants released by the Finance Commission to local bodies are of two types -- tied and untied. The tied grants are released in a fixed manner from the Centre to about 6,000 gram panchayats in Karnataka.

Minor changes are permitted for a limited period at the Commissioner's office, but under the federal system, not even a single rupee of such grants can be diverted or altered arbitrarily, he said.

However, he alleged that in Priyank Kharge's department, thousands of crores of rupees have been misused by distributing funds on a commission basis to Congress MLAs under the pretext of purchasing high masks.

In Hangal taluk of Haveri district alone, central grants meant for other gram panchayats were allegedly diverted arbitrarily to just 24 gram panchayats represented by Congress MLAs, he alleged.

"This is unconstitutional and not merely a violation of rules," Rajeev said.

He said that under the federal structure, funds released by the Centre must be utilised strictly in accordance with the Constitution.

"Here, the Constitution itself has been violated," he alleged, adding that efforts have been made to bring the issue to the notice of the central government.

If the misuse of 15th Finance Commission funds comes to the Centre's attention, Karnataka may not receive further grants in the future, and the entire state government would have to bear the consequences of these mistakes, he warned.

Rajeev said that despite submitting applications through the association of gram panchayat presidents and members, the Commissioner has not responded so far.

He alleged that the Commissioner was avoiding a written reply as it would implicate him.

"When thousands of crores of rupees under the 15th Finance Commission have been misused, what moral right does Priyank Kharge have to continue as the minister in charge of the department?" he asked.

Across Karnataka, an average of Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per panchayat has allegedly been misused in thousands of panchayats, amounting to a scam worth thousands of crores, he claimed, demanding immediate disclosure of details.

Suspending erring officers for three or six months and reinstating them later would not erase the corruption, he added.

Rajeev said a complaint has been filed with the Lokayukta regarding a scam worth Rs 10 crore to Rs 12 crore in Raibag taluk, where funds were allegedly misappropriated in the name of 52 works under a single gram panchayat.

The complainant has submitted documentary evidence stating that the works were never executed.

This, he alleged, is a clear example of how Priyank Kharge's Rural Development Department is functioning in Karnataka.

He further alleged that bills were raised and money withdrawn for waste processing works worth around Rs 5.36 lakh, even though the works were never carried out.

In response to the complaint, officials reportedly claimed that no shed was constructed and that ledgers were purchased for the office instead.

Several such instances of misuse have taken place, he alleged, demanding an immediate investigation and a report to the people of the state.

Rajeev claimed that after the arrival of G Ram G, such scams have become difficult to carry out, and it is for this reason that the Congress has taken to the streets.

"All your scams will come out before the people," he said.

He claimed that Karnataka has received Rs 5.5 lakh crore under MGNREGA so far and challenged the Congress to cite even one instance where the BJP had indulged in such corruption.

Rajeev said the Congress was rattled by the arrival of G Ram G because it feels that its "income shop" is being shut down.

He questioned why the Congress did not react with the same intensity when innocent people were killed in Pahalgam.

He alleged that the Congress is notorious for using Mahatma Gandhi's name to shield corruption.

He claimed that the Congress has never had the courage to tell the country that Mahatma Gandhi has no relation to the Sonia Gandhi family.

According to him, Congress leaders equate the name Gandhi with the Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi family.

Rajeev further said that Priyank Kharge, who speaks extensively on every issue, has no time to look at the "rot and filth" within his own department.

He claimed to have earlier submitted documentary evidence of corruption in MGNREGA, including instances where bills were raised for sarees supposedly distributed to schoolchildren and for veils allegedly provided to men.

Following this, Priyank Kharge had directed the Belagavi CEO to act, after which officials arrived with nearly 50 vehicles and one officer was suspended.

"How much public money was lost? How much corruption took place? What has happened so far?" he asked, adding that suspending a single PDO does not stop corruption from continuing.

State BJP Economic Cell Convener Prashanth G.S., state spokespersons Surabhi and M.R. Venkatesh, and other leaders were present on the occasion.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, decided to double India-UAE bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032, according to a joint statement issued on Monday after a meeting held here.

The two leaders welcomed the robust growth in trade and economic cooperation since the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022 and noted the rapid growth of bilateral trade, which reached $100 billion in FY 2024-25, the statement said.

The two leaders endorsed the outcomes of the 13th High-Level Task Force on Investments held in September 2025, and the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and 5th Strategic Dialogue held in December 2025.

They directed their teams to work towards connecting Micro, Small and Medium Sector Enterprises (MSMEs) on both sides.

In this context, they called for the expeditious implementation of key initiatives, such as the 'Bharat Mart', the 'Virtual Trade Corridor' and the 'Bharat-Africa Setu' to promote MSME products across the Middle East, West Asia, Africa and the Eurasia region.

The leaders expressed satisfaction that the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in 2024 has further strengthened investment flows across multiple sectors in both countries.

They also welcomed discussions on a potential UAE partnership for the development of the Special Investment Region in Dholera, Gujarat.

The envisioned partnership would include the development of key strategic infrastructure, including an international airport, a pilot training school, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, a greenfield port, a smart urban township, railway connectivity, and energy infrastructure.

Highlighting the success of the first National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) Infrastructure Fund, Prime Minister Modi invited UAE sovereign wealth funds to consider participation in the second Infrastructure Fund, scheduled for launch in 2026.

The two leaders welcomed the establishment of DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) branches in GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), reinforcing its emergence as a leading international financial center.

FAB's GIFT City branch will act as a key bridge, connecting Indian corporates and investors to its expertise and global network across the Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East and North Africa markets.

Both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to enhancing the UAEa"India cooperation in food security, recognising its strategic importance in ensuring sustainable supply chains and long-term resilience.

They underscored the role of public-private partnerships, innovation and knowledge exchange in advancing sustainable agriculture and enhancing national food resilience in line with the national priorities of both countries.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the strength of the bilateral energy partnership and underscored the UAE's contribution to India's energy security.

They welcomed signing a 10-year LNG Supply Agreement between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and ADNOC Gas for the delivery of 0.5 million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas, beginning in 2028.

"The two sides agreed to explore partnership in advanced nuclear technologies, including development and deployment of large nuclear reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as cooperation in advanced reactor systems, nuclear power plant operations and maintenance and nuclear safety," the statement SAID.

The two leaders appreciated the deepening financial sector cooperation between the two countries.

They directed their teams to work towards interlinking the national payment platforms to enable efficient, fast and cost-effective cross-border payments.

The two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in space sector.

In this context, they welcomed the understanding reached to collaborate on a joint initiative aimed at driving commercialisation of the sector through the advancement of space sciences and technologies.

This initiative aims to produce an integrated space ecosystem with end-to-end infrastructure and a strong industrial base. It aims to enable Indiaa"UAE joint missions, expand global commercial services, create high-skilled employment and start-ups and strengthen bilateral investment through sustainable business models.

The two leaders also decided to strengthen collaboration in science and technology and innovation, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

"Welcoming the decision to collaborate on the establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India, they also agreed to explore cooperation in setting up data centres in India," the statement added.
Double standards are backfiring on Europe

10:58, January 19, 2026 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times

Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

A piece of magical-realism drama is unfolding on the European continent. The EU regards China as a "rival," Chinese enterprises diligently participate in infrastructure construction and empower Europe's future development - yet only to be met with the cold arrow of "forced divestment." Meanwhile, the EU considers the US an "ally," and when the US issues territorial threats over Greenland or enforces tariff extortion against Europe, the result is a submissive connivance of tolerance. This is not merely an abuse of "double standards," but also exposes Europe's strategic "spinelessness" in the face of hegemonic coercion.

The EU has been blinded by its cognitive bias of overstretching security concept, using political manipulation to undermine normal bilateral economic and trade cooperation. According to reports, Brussels plans to compel member states to gradually phase-out Chinese made equipment from critical infrastructure, covering telecom networks, solar power systems, and even security scanners. Such measures have become increasingly common in recent years. They lack solid technical or legal justification and openly defy scientific reasoning and market logic.

For example, Spain had previously signed a contract with Huawei for recording storage equipment. Although Madrid stressed the contract's legitimacy and said it posed "no security risk," the US and the EU insisted to allege there were indeed "serious problems." This absurd practice of turning normal economic and trade cooperation into a security issue not only infringes upon the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises but also seriously undermines Europe's own rule of law and contractual integrity.

From the 2020 "5G Toolbox" to today's attempts to upgrade "voluntary restrictions" into binding legislation, the EU's policy trajectory clearly illustrates the path by which Brussels is gradually tightening under pressure from the US. However, wanton market interventions have not achieved the so-called "security"; on the contrary, they have forced Europe to bear enormous costs for violating economic laws. Many telecom operators warn that outright bans on Chinese suppliers will drive up consumer prices. Data shows that over 90 percent of solar panels installed in the EU are produced in China.

Forcibly removing these cost-effective, technologically advanced supply chains not only entails exorbitant replacement costs but will also directly slow Europe's green transition and digital upgrade, causing it to hobble itself in future global competition. What European policymakers call "de-risk" has devolved into "de-development." To pander to the political paranoia of an ally across the ocean, they sacrifice not only their citizens' right to enjoy advanced technology, but also held back their own modernization.

Europe bows to the US at every turn, even at the expense of its own interests, yet it gains neither respect nor reciprocity of the US- only intensified disdain and exploitation. The US leverages tariffs and openly demands "the purchase" of Greenland, Denmark's territory. Treating an ally's territorial sovereignty as a mere "real estate transaction" is an act of blatant hegemonic aggression and humiliation. However, in the face of such blatant violations of its sovereign dignity, Europe's response has been shockingly weak. Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, even claimed that China and Russia "must be having a field day" due to "divisions among allies" - a tone both servile and dangerously misguided.

The poison of "double standards" is eroding Europe's future, and the misguided path of relying on hegemony will cause Europe to completely lose its independent soul. Economically, Europe, on the one hand, loudly proclaims "market principles" and "fair competition," accusing the Chinese government of "interfering in the market"; on the other hand, without any factual evidence, it conducts discriminatory cleansing of companies from a particular country. Politically, Europe has remained silent on the US' surprise attack on Venezuela and military pressure on Iran. However, it stated US' attempts to take over Greenland "unacceptable."

These actions are not only hypocritical but also backfire, and have shown the world the enormous risks of the politicization of European economic environment, and instrumentalization of its market access.

"De-sinicization" has reduced Europe into a pawn in the US' bid to maintain global technological hegemony. Some Europeans have long recognized that the risks of Europe relying on US technology far outweigh those of relying on Chinese equipment. This is a remarkably clear-headed judgement. When Europe shut out Huawei and ZTE and chose more expensive, US alternatives with slow iteration, it is effectively locking up its own technological choices and becoming a complete vassal of the US technological ecosystem.

History has repeatedly proven that politicizing economic and trade issues will not only fail to hinder China's development, but will also lead Europe further down a narrow path, ultimately resulting in a dead end of isolation and dependence. China has always viewed Europe as an indispensable force in a multipolar world and genuinely supports Europe in pursuing strategic autonomy. However, true autonomy requires independent judgment of right and wrong, not blindly following the lead of others.

Faced with hegemonic blackmail in the icy winds of Greenland and self-imposed restrictions in Brussels' conference rooms, Europe really needs to wake up: Continuing to be mired in the quagmire of double standards will only exhaust its own vitality; only by returning to rationality and pragmatism can it take its destiny truly into its own hands.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
CONAKRY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy attended the inauguration ceremony of Guinean President Mamady Doumbouya on Saturday and held brief talks with him on the occasion.

Zheng Jianbang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, conveyed Xi's warm greetings and best wishes to Doumbouya.

He said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Guinea relations and stands ready to work with Guinea to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and push for greater progress in the China-Guinea comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Doumbouya asked Zheng to convey his sincere greetings to Xi and thanked Xi for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony.

Guinea cherishes the traditional friendship with China and is willing to deepen friendly cooperation with China in various fields so as to elevate bilateral relations to a new level, he said. 
Brussels, Jan 19 : Leaders of EU countries will hold an emergency summit here on Thursday to discuss US threats related to Greenland, European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said on Monday.

The summit will assess possible retaliatory measures in response to threatened tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on countries that oppose his plan to "acquire" Greenland.

Gill said the EU continues to engage "at all levels" with Washington over its new tariff threats and is taking "every possible step" to protect the bloc's economic interests. He added that the use of the anti-coercion instrument is not ruled out, Xinhua News Agency reported.

He stressed that the priority is engagement rather than escalation with the United States. However, "should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond," he added.

European Union ambassadors met for an emergency session in Brussels on Sunday evening. The talks focused on Trump's tariff threat and possible responses.

European officials said negotiations remain the preferred option. Still, one official and one diplomat said retaliation was being discussed, media reports said.

They said a 93 billion euro list of counter-tariffs could be allowed to take effect. The list was prepared last year. It targets US goods.

Trump said on Saturday that the United States "needs Greenland for national security." He added that if no deal is reached, tariffs would follow.

In a social media post, Trump said the levies would begin at 10 per cent in February. They would rise to 25 per cent by June. The measures would target a group of European nations.

On NBC's Meet the Press, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's stance. "President Trump strongly believes that we cannot outsource our security," he said.

Bessent called Greenland "essential to US national security." He said US control would be "best for Greenland, best for Europe, and best for the United States."

European leaders rejected that argument. Denmark and Greenland have said the territory is not for sale.

On ABC's This Week, the dispute was described as coercive. European officials warned that pressure tactics risk long-term damage to trust.

On CBS' Face the Nation, Senator Mark Warner said the approach was "attacking our closest allies." He added that "both Russia and China" stood to benefit.

Republican Congressman Mike Turner also raised concerns. He said there was "no authority" for the United States to seize territory from a NATO ally.

Turner said the episode had already "caused tension among the alliance." He warned that US power depends on strong partnerships.

On CNN's State of the Union, former Vice President Mike Pence called Denmark "a very strong ally of the United States of America."

He said the dispute "does threaten to fracture that strong relationship." He added that the risk extended to all NATO allies.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19 : Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala Rathan U. Kelkar on Monday dismissed as baseless the contents of a video shared by the X handle of R.K. Radhakrishnan.

Taking to his official social media handle, Kelkar said he appeared for the hearing in person because his and his family's names could not be found in the 2002 Kerala electoral list.

He pointed out that this was because he was residing in Bengaluru with his family during that period.

He went on to say that he has since completed the hearing process by submitting all necessary documents.

"It is worth noting that this demonstrates the transparency of our democracy. The fact that even high-ranking officials must follow standard procedures highlights the true beauty of the democratic process," he said.

"The individual in the video also cited a newspaper report alleging that many people are being intentionally excluded. However, the Election Commission's policy is to include every eligible individual in the voter list. The claim that it is impossible to verify whether a name exists in the 2002 list is baseless. Since this list is available with the Booth Level Officers (BLOs), there is no room for confusion," Kelkar said.

Furthermore, the video raises serious allegations that the Election Commission is under the influence of political parties.

"The Election Commission is a constitutional body that functions in a transparent and impartial manner. Therefore, it is requested that baseless and erroneous information should not be disseminated among the public," he added.

Incidentally, in the video shared by RadhakrishnanRK, PhD, it says, "Yo Gyanesh, why did you remove the name of the top electoral official in Kerala from the voter's list? Isn't it nonsensical to claim his name doesn't figure in the 2002 rolls? Deeply unfortunate that @BJP4India spokespersons will justify even this ridiculous nonsense!".

The CEO attended the hearing before the Electoral Registration Officer at the Kowdiar village office in response to a notice issued to him.

'Unmapped' voters in Kerala number 19.32 lakh in all, according to election officials.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed delight at welcoming a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates, including Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, to India amid strengthening bilateral ties.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: "Happy to have welcomed His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan."

The visit forms part of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's official working trip to India on Monday, at PM Modi's invitation.

Sheikh Mohamed arrived earlier in the day and was personally received by PM Modi at Palam Air Base in New Delhi, underscoring the personal rapport and strategic importance attached to the relationship.

The delegation accompanying the UAE President includes key figures such as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (Crown Prince of Dubai and Defence Minister), Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed (Foreign Minister), and others listed in PM Modi's post.

This high-profile engagement builds on the momentum of recent exchanges, including Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in September 2024 and Sheikh Hamdan's prior trip in April 2025.

The leaders are expected to hold discussions on deepening the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, covering trade, defence, energy, technology, and regional stability.

The UAE has emerged as one of India's closest partners in the Gulf, with robust economic links through the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), significant investments, and cooperation in sectors like infrastructure, AI, and sustainable development.

PM Modi has previously highlighted Dubai's pivotal role in advancing bilateral ties.

The brief but substantive visit reflects the shared vision for enhanced collaboration, including potential initiatives like digital embassies and support for upcoming events such as India's AI Impact Summit in February 2026.

It also indicates continuity in generational leadership and mutual commitment to peace, prosperity, and innovation in the region.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Aizawl, Jan 19 : The Assam Rifles have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 28.17 crore by arresting a drug peddler in Mizoram, officials said on Monday.

A defence spokesman said that, acting on credible intelligence inputs related to narcotics trafficking near the India-Myanmar border, Assam Rifles conducted an operation at Ngur areas in the bordering Champhai district on Sunday. During the operation, unusual movement was detected near the suspected location involving a Bolero pickup vehicle.

The spokesman said that a prompt and thorough search resulted in the recovery of 9.391 kg of Methamphetamine tablets, a highly dangerous psychotropic substance, which was concealed in the spare tyre of the vehicle. The estimated market value of the recovered narcotic is Rs 28.17 crore, the official said.

The seized contraband, along with the apprehended individual identified as Shah Alam, was handed over to the Police Department, Champhai, for detailed investigation and further legal action under applicable laws.

An Assam Rifles statement said that the swift and decisive action by Assam Rifles demonstrates their steadfast commitment and vigilance in curbing drug trafficking activities. This operation reinforces the ongoing collective efforts to protect the youth of Mizoram from the adverse effects of narcotics and maintain peace and security in the region, it said.

In a separate incident, based on specific intelligence received from own sources regarding movement of illegal foreign currency, a Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was established by Assam Rifles in Lungbun areas in Siaha district of Mizoram.

The para-military troops intercepted a suspicious vehicle, a Mahindra Yodha, at a road junction in Lungbun village and after a thorough search, led to the recovery of Myanmar currencies, Kyat amounting to 1,40,82,000 (nearly Rs 1.40 crore).

One individual involved in the illegal transportation was also apprehended. The recovered foreign currency, along with the apprehended individual, has been handed over to the police authorities for further legal proceedings.

Mizoram shares a 510-km unfenced border with Myanmar and a 318-km porous mountainous border with Bangladesh. Myanmaras Chin state is a major hub for the smuggling of drugs, exotic wildlife and other contraband through six Mizoram districts, Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual and Serchhip.
Bhuabaneswar, Jan 19 : Odisha Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling on Monday assured that all glitches related to the Ayushman Bharat card under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) would be resolved soon.

Mahaling gave the assurance while inaugurating a national-level Chintan Shivir on the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

In his inaugural address, Mahaling further said that ABPMJAY, the outcome of the National Health Policy-2017 launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has brought a revolutionary transformation in the healthcare scenario of the country.

"It is now the largest universal healthcare system of world. Around 42 percent of India's bottom level population were brought under this healthcare system," said Mahaling.

He also stated that the programme was launched in Odisha on April 11, 2025, and within nine months of its inauguration, the state stood first in the distribution of ABPMJAY cards to eligible persons and fifth in the generation of Ayushman Vaya Vandana Yojana (AVVY) cards for senior citizens aged 70 years and above. Mahaling further noted that in Odisha, ABPMJAY was launched in convergence with the state's own scheme, Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana (GJAY), under which each beneficiary family is entitled to cashless treatment of Rs. 5 lakh per year, with an additional provision of Rs. 5 lakh for female members of the family.

All senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their economic category, were also entitled to the same benefit under AVVY. Around 80 percent of Odisha's total population of 4.5 crore has been included under the converged scheme. The Health Minister advised participants at the Chintan Shivir to deliberate on the possibilities of including Ayurvedic and Homeopathic packages in ABPMJAY along with allopathic packages. He informed that Odisha has started the process of implementing ABDM along with ABPMJAY.

ABDM in the state would be implemented in line with the guidelines of the National Health Authority (NHA). The two-day Chintan Shivir has been scheduled with six sessions, including five technical sessions.

In the inaugural session, three important MOUs viz. MOU between NHA and BHASINI for multilingual access for health service, NHA and Indian Institute of Sciences for collaborative research, and NHA and National Accreditation Board of Hospitals (NABH) for upkeeping of national standards at the level of health facilities.
Mumbai, Jan 20 : National Award-winning actor Vikrant Massey recently met the Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan.

Mumbai, Jan 20 (IANS) National Award-winning actor Vikrant Massey recently met the Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan.

On Monday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared pictures from his meeting. He also penned a long note in the caption, and shared the highlights of his conversation with the minister.

He wrote, "Insightful, productive and empowering. A wonderfully stimulating conversation with Hon. Minister of Education, GOI Shri @dpradhanbjp ji. Your love for Bhartiya Bhasha & encouraging the youth of our country to embrace their roots is truly inspiring. Thank you for being so open, and allowing the space to share some ideas that would make our classrooms more vibrant and interactive. Wishing you the best of health, happiness and success for all your heartfelt endeavours".

Earlier, the actor was honoured with the Best Actor award for his powerful performance as IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma in '12th Fail', a biographical drama that also won Best Feature Film. He shared the Best Actor honour with Shah Rukh Khan, who won for 'Jawan', marking a rare tie in the category and highlighting the diversity of acting talent recognised that year.

He described the honour as not just a celebration but a reminder of the responsibility that comes with such recognition and expressed deep gratitude toward the jury and his collaborators.

The win cemented his status as one of India's most respected actors, applauded for authentic portrayals and storytelling rooted in real-life struggles and perseverance. The actor was last seen in 'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' which was a critical and commercial disaster.

Vikrant is known for his work across television, films, and streaming platforms. He began his career in television with shows like 'Dhoom Machaao Dhoom' and 'Balika Vadhu', before transitioning to cinema with supporting roles in films such as 'Lootera' and 'Dil Dhadakne Do'.

He gained wider recognition for performances in 'A Death in the Gunj', 'Chhapaak', and 'Haseen Dillruba'. He is widely regarded for his naturalistic acting style and choice of content-driven projects.
25 Class 66 locomotives are set for a new lease of life, after being sold by DB Cargo UK to Grup Feroviar Roman in Romania.

The multi-million-pound deal will see all 25 locomotives delivered by mid-2028.

The first Class 66 will be 66014 and will leave Toton Traction Maintenance Depot at the end of January 2026.

All locomotives will be reinstated to operational standards and will be repainted into a blue livery.

DB says that the locomotives that have been sold are surplus to requirements here in the UK, with enough locomotives to meet predicted growth.

Grup Feroviar Roman is the largest rail freight transporter in Central and South-Eastern Europe and operates in Romania, Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Moldova, Serbia, Greece, Slovenia, and Macedonia.

These locomotives are surplus to DBs requirements and will still leave ample locomotives in our fleet to meet predicted traffic growth in future years. Were proud to be reinstating the locomotives at our centre of excellence in Toton, and look forward to further developing this partnership, DB Cargo UKs newly appointed Engineering Director Wayne Miller
NEW DELHI, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- A 20-year-old man was killed when a pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED), believed to be planted by Naxals, went off in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said Monday.

The explosion took place on Sunday in the forest area of Kasturipad village of Bijapur district, about 495 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

Following the incident, government forces launched a search in the area to check for more IEDs. 
Rolling stock manufacturer Siemens Mobility has revealed that its Vectron Dual Mode locomotive has been authorised to operate across the border between Germany and Austria.

Austria has now joined its neighbour Germany in authorising the locomotives operation, and Siemens has delivered the first two Vectron locomotives to Stern und Hafferl Verkehr, an Austrian transport company which operates regional passenger and freight rail, bus, and boat services.

As a dual-mode locomotive, the Vectron can draw on electric traction power to operate without emissions where there are overhead lines, and also to operate using diesel power on routes that are not electrified.

Siemens Vectron // Credit: Siemens Mobility

Siemens Mobility is manufacturing the locomotives at its plant in Munich-Allach in Germany, and has developed them using components of its Vectron platform.

The locos are fitted with the European Train Control System (ETCS) using the modular Siemens On-board Unit Trainguard Basic, which includes ETCS Baseline 3.6.



The Vectron locomotive has a track gauge of 1,435 mm and a service weight of 90 tonnes. It is designed for use with 15-kilovolt alternating-current power systems. The loco delivers a maximum power output of 2,400 kW using catenary (overhead line) supply and 2,000 kW when using diesel mode. Its diesel tank holds 2,600 litres of fuel. Siemens has also developed a version of the locomotive that supports both 15 kV and 25 kV AC systems.

The Vectron can run at speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Siemens dual mode locomotives // Credit: Siemens

Siemens already has contracts to supply the locomotives to European rolling stock leasing companies, including fifty locos to Northrail and two hundred to European Locomotive Leasing.
As of Jan. 1, Johan Bester has been appointed as the associate dean for curriculum for the University of Georgia School of Medicine, according to a UGA press release.

There is an opportunity here at UGA to build a medical school that will make an impact in Georgia and beyond, Bester said. Medical education is a public good, something that makes the world better and I was drawn to this position at the School of Medicine because of the unique ways in which we can contribute to society and the world at large.
While Athens was away on Winter Break, Jenis Splendid Ice Creams in Five Points released five ice cream flavors to welcome in the cold season, including Tropical Bloom, Banana Cream Pudding, Peppermint Patty, Wildberry Lavender and Queen Charlotte Sponge Cake. When I saw the large amount of delicious-sounding flavors that had been released while I was away, I just had to try them for myself and report back.
The best course for the government at this time would be to tighten the seat belt a little more, without compromising on its investments in creating better infrastructure and giving a push to privatisation, suggests A K Bhattacharya.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the eighth Pre-Budget consultation with IT sector experts and stakeholders ahead of the Union Budget 2026-2027, in New Delhi, November 19, 2025. Photograph: @FinMinIndia X/ANI Photo

The Union government has kicked off its formal pre-Budget meetings with different groups of experts and stakeholders.

For a variety of reasons, there is an air of expectancy around the Union Budget for 2026-2027, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present in February 2026.

Or will she present it in January 2026? There is a reason for this doubt.

Since 2017, when the date for presenting the Union Budget was advanced to February 1, this will be the first time it falls on a Sunday.

When Union Budgets used to be presented on the last day of February, the convention was that if February 28 or 29 fell on a Sunday, the previous day (Saturday) would be chosen for presenting the Budget.

There have been only two exceptions in the last 79 Union Budgets since 1947, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, but the finance minister concerned decided to advance the presentation of the Budget to Friday.

On all other occasions, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, the Budget was presented on the previous day, Saturday.

Ms Sitharaman, therefore, has to decide whether she will opt for the past convention or create a new one while presenting the 80th Budget of India since Independence.

If she settles for the past convention, she will be presenting the Budget for 2026-2027 on January 31, even though it would be a Saturday. Otherwise, she could do it on February 2, 2026.

The dilemma over the date of presentation aside, there is yet another reason why Ms Sitharaman's forthcoming Budget will be treated as a major event of historical significance.

For the eighth time running, Ms Sitharaman will be rising in the Lok Sabha to present the Union government's full Budget or the Annual Financial Statement.

With that, she will be on a par with Morarji Desai, who till now holds the record of presenting eight full Budgets, although in two different stints -- one under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the other under his daughter, Indira Gandhi.

Ms Sitharaman will achieve that record under one prime minister, Narendra Modi, and under two consecutive governments.

Desai's eighth Budget is remembered for the introduction of ad valorem excise duty rates on a large number of items, widening the scope of wealth tax and making financial allocation for the launch of the Fourth Five-year Plan after a Plan holiday of about three years.

But a bigger drama unfolded about four-and-a-half months after his eighth Budget.

Indira Gandhi decided to ease Desai out of the finance ministry, which eventually led to his exit from the government, even as she executed her long-cherished plan for nationalising 14 banks.

In contrast, there are no such concerns for Ms Sitharaman.

With a major rationalisation of the goods and services tax regime, preceded by a big income-tax relief to middle-class Indians, she is on a high that few finance ministers have experienced after having spent over six-and-a-half years in that job.

Her performance on the fiscal consolidation front has been creditable -- having brought the fiscal deficit down from a high of 9.2 per cent of gross domestic product during the Covid year of 2020-2021 to 4.7 per cent in 2024-2025.

In banishing the ghost of off-budget borrowings, she has set a new standard for fiscal transparency.

And she has significantly improved the quality of government expenditure by boosting capital expenditure to 3.2 per cent of GDP last year even as the revenue deficit was brought down to 1.7 per cent of GDP.

So, what are the challenges she faces in the current year and what goals she should set for 2026-2027?

In the first six months of 2025-2026, net tax revenue has underperformed, falling by 3 per cent against the annual target of growing by 13 per cent over 2024-2025.

Meeting this shortfall will require net tax revenue to grow by about 30 per cent in the second half of 2025-2026, achieving which will be difficult if not impossible.

Non-tax revenue and receipt from asset monetisation have done well, but these gains would not be enough to make good the shortfall in net tax revenue.

There will be some solace from the relatively slow pace of revenue expenditure in April-September 2025, which grew by just 1.5 per cent, against the annual growth projection of about 9 per cent.

In contrast, capital expenditure in the first half of the current year was frontloaded in a big way, notching up an increase of over 40 per cent, and the government can afford to slow it down in the second half.

Even if there is a 15 per cent fall in capex during October-March 2025-26, the overall target under this head will be met.

Barring her first two Budgets, Ms Sitharaman has always ended the year with either a lower fiscal deficit figure than what she had projected or by adhering to the target.

It is this track record that, among other things, has helped improve India's overall rating by international agencies.

It is, therefore, unlikely that the finance minister will allow the deficit target of 4.4 per cent of GDP for 2025-2026 to be breached.

The only imponderable in this task is how the government's net tax revenue will fare in the second half, after the GST rejig.

The last two years have seen the actual net tax revenue fall below the Budget Estimate.

What helped Ms Sitharaman in this period to improve her performance on deficit reduction were a curtailment of revenue expenditure and higher nominal economic growth.

In the current year, actual nominal growth may disappoint, with a number lower than the budgeted 10.1 per cent.

The only recourse is a further squeeze on revenue expenditure.

How difficult that task will be depends on the actual impact of the Eighth Central Pay Commission's recommendations on wages of government employees, even though it may be felt retrospectively.

In sum, meeting the fiscal deficit target this year will be a difficult task.

For 2026-2027, the challenges will be even more complex and bigger. The Sixteenth Finance Commission's recommendations on sharing of resources with the states will have to be implemented.

Uncertainties in the global economy and India's economic challenges as a result will only become more formidable.

The best course for the government at this time would be to tighten the seat belt a little more, without compromising on its investments in creating better infrastructure and giving a push to privatisation.

In other words, a tight vigil on the fiscal consolidation plan without compromising on capex is all the more necessary as the country navigates these uncertain times.

Returning to the date when Ms Sitharaman may choose to present her eighth Budget, it will be useful to remember that if she decides to present it on January 31, she may corner yet another record for herself.

No finance minister in India has ever presented a full Budget in the month of January!

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
The change in the government's engagement with the economy's need for reforms is more nuanced than how analysts have so far perceived it, points out A K Bhattacharya.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting at Parliament House, December 3, 2025. Photograph: @DrSukantaBJPX/ANI Photo

Economic policymakers in the Union government appear to be on a high.

The recent notification of the four Labour Codes, passed by Parliament more than five years ago, is perhaps the most immediate reason for coming to such a conclusion.

Of course, the gazetting of the much-awaited Labour Codes, subsuming 29 existing labour laws after their simplification and rationalisation, is a reasonable justification for believing that the Narendra Modi government has become a little more reform-friendly than in the past.

But the change in the government's engagement with the economy's need for reforms is more nuanced than how analysts have so far perceived it.

What happened with the Labour Codes is also a reflection of a changed equation between India's political economy and the pace of its economic reforms.

This shift has been gradual, beginning soon after the Modi government was formed for its third five-year term in June 2024.

Its contours and character were not immediately noticeable. But they are becoming obvious when you look back at the many decisions that the government took over the past 17 months.

About two months after its formation, the Narendra Modi government took a big step to fill several senior positions in different Union ministries with candidates from outside the government system.

A notice inviting applications for 45 posts under the government's lateral-entry scheme was issued on August 17 in 2024.

But two days later, the notice was withdrawn after political opposition to the idea gained momentum both within and outside the government.

That notice was not just withdrawn, but the entire idea of strengthening the civil service by inducting private sector talent was buried.

It was a setback for reforms, sending the message that the government did not wish to undertake any reforms that could upset the civil servants.

Things changed somewhat later in the same month.

The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to launch the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to provide government employees an alternative to the National Pension System, which had come under attack in many states for not offering a guaranteed pension, and the demand for junking it grew roots.

UPS, in contrast, offered a guaranteed pension equivalent to 50 per cent of the average monthly salary drawn in the last year of service, but modified many other eligibility terms to reduce its impact on the exchequer.

It was initially feared that the UPS would also face political resistance and would not be able to address the concerns of government employees.

But those fears proved to be unfounded. There were many factors at play.

The decision on UPS was welcomed by the Congress president and other senior party functionaries.

Mr Modi met with a delegation from the joint consultative machinery for central government employees soon after the Cabinet meeting approving the UPS.

That delegation welcomed the move to provide an assured pension for employees.

National trade unions kept quiet, and its rollout from April 2025 has so far been smooth.

The option to switch from NPS to UPS was initially available to employees only for three months till the end of June 2025.

It has since been extended twice and the last date for exercising that option is now the end of this month.

But most central government employees have stayed under the NPS, with only about 100,000 of the 2.3 million employees opting for the UPS as of the end of September 2025.

Only Maharashtra as a state opted for the UPS, while most other states on NPS have not made any change.

The last date by when employees could switch over from NPS to UPS may be extended again, but what appeared to be a major political issue has been handled with little political resistance and limited fiscal cost.

The last 17 months have also seen a gradual deferment of and pushback against schemes that are protectionist by nature.

This is in addition to the finance ministry-led rationalisation of many import duties that has been undertaken as part of what seems to be an ongoing exercise.

In August 2023, the government had announced licensing curbs on the import of laptops, personal computers, tablets and computer servers.

However, much to the relief of users and industry, the enforcement of these curbs has been deferred at least four times, with the latest extension till the end of December 2025.

Given the current mood in the government, it is unlikely that the import management system will be enforced in the coming months.

But the fact that such a scheme still exists, even though on paper, is a cause for concern.

The government's approach to the idea of quality control orders (QCO) was a little more reassuring.

Till recently, it had issued about 720 QCOs between 2016 and 2025.

QCOs were originally conceived as a tool for ensuring quality standards in products that entered the country through imports.

However, these became an easy tool for creating non-tariff barriers.

Such a move also undermined the competitiveness of the domestic industry when QCOs were enforced on raw materials and intermediate products.

Reflecting how the Modi government's approach has changed in the last few months, a high-level official committee has recommended rolling back as many as 208 QCOs, all of which had been enforced on raw materials and intermediate products.

Action on the QCO front has been quick. Already 69 QCOs have been suspended, raising the strong possibility that most such QCOs on raw materials and intermediate products would soon be withdrawn.

All these changes are taking place in an environment where the government has also made the taxation system a little more friendly.

With annual income up to Rs 12 lakh already becoming effectively tax-free and a large-scale rationalisation of the goods and services tax (GST), along with easier registration of taxpayers, the new system has reduced the burden on people and businesses.

The government has also succeeded in conveying a message that it is sharply focused on reforms that improve the ease of doing business.

What's more important is that committees are now at work to simplify rules and regulations to make them less cumbersome.

This has allowed more consultation before a policy action is announced.

If the government has managed to introduce reforms in so many areas and roll back or defer the problematic schemes, it is largely because it has decided to engage with stakeholders through a committee-based approach.

It is this aspect of the government's political economy management that has given rise to a series of recent reform measures and raised expectations for more reforms in the coming months.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Three laws passed in Parliament could boost central revenues, reshape GST cess flows, shift MGNREGA costs to states and create new budget headroom ahead of the 2026-2027 Union Budget, points out A K Bhattacharya.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Rajya Sabha, December 17, 2025. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab

Few winter sessions of Parliament have had as impactful an influence on the Union government's finances as the one that concluded last month.

For good reasons, the fortnight-long winter session that ended on December 19 will also be remembered for the way the government brought in several legislative Bills at very short notice and ignored the Opposition demand for referring them to parliamentary committees for deeper scrutiny.

But, quite apart from that, there has also been little discussion over the impact of three legislative Bills, introduced during the winter session of Parliament, on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's forthcoming Budget for 2026-2027.

Let us begin with the Health Security Se National Security Cess Act, 2025.

The new law has levied a cess on the production of goods such as pan masala and any other goods that may be notified by the Union government.

There is a brief context to this move.

On September 3, 2025, the Goods and Services Tax Council decided to rationalise the GST rate regime by reducing the prevailing four slabs (5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent) to a simplified three-rate structure -- a merit rate of 5 per cent for essential and priority sector goods and services, a standard rate of 18 per cent for most items, and a demerit rate of 40 per cent for a selected list of sin and luxury goods.

The new rate system took effect from September 22. Along with the enforcement of the new rates from that date, the GST compensation cess, levied at varying rates, was also discontinued for all items except tobacco and related products, including pan masala.

The cess on tobacco products was to continue until the Union government repaid the outstanding loan (including interest obligations) incurred by it to compensate states for the revenue shortfall caused during the Covid pandemic.

According to available indications, the repayment liability should be over by the end of December 2025.

Herein lies the importance of the Health Security Se National Security Cess Act, 2025, and its significance for the Union Budget.

So, when the GST compensation cess is withdrawn, the new cess under a new law for pan masala will come into force.

As of now, the new cess law has specified rates only for pan masala.

But note that the new law can extend it to other tobacco products through a notification.

Thus, expect the tobacco industry to continue to pay a new kind of tax in lieu of the GST compensation cess.

Nothing wrong in this move per se, except that there is a vital difference in the way this would impact the Centre and the states.

If GST compensation cess had continued, its collections would have been shared among the Centre and the states in accordance with a formula.

But the new cess will be collected and kept by the Centre in its coffers. Needless to say the Union Budget will benefit as a result.

In the coming years, this amount will only increase and even if a dedicated fund for health care and national security is created to finance such expenses from the cess collections, it is undeniable that the Centre's finances will be a net gainer.

If instead the Centre had imposed an extra levy on such tobacco products either under the GST regime or by way of an excise duty, the states would also have benefitted by way of the revenue share mandated under the GST laws or the Finance Commission's devolution formula.

The second legislative initiative, already passed by Parliament, was to revamp the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and rename it as Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.

Quite understandably, the renaming of the law became a political controversy.

But the greater significance of the new law was the way it increased the financial responsibility of the states in implementing the rural employment scheme, which now promised to offer 125 days of work in a year instead of the earlier guarantee of 100 days of work.

The new law introduced a new formula for sharing the cost of running the scheme.

The earlier law required states to cover about 10 per cent of the cost of the scheme, while the Centre bore about 90 per cent of the burden.

But the new law reduced the Centre's expenditure share to 60 per cent and raised the state's expenditure share to 40 per cent.

In one stroke, the Union government's financial burden on account of this law should come down by about a third.

Consider the following numbers. Over the past three years, the Union government has been spending about Rs 85,000 crore to Rs 90,000 crore under MGNREGA.

Taken together with the share of the states, the total annual expenditure under this head would be about Rs 1 trillion.

The average number of days of employment per household in the last three years under the old programme has been between 48 and 52 days.

Thus, even if the number of days of work to be provided under the new law sees no change, the Union government's share in the total expenditure under the new law would be down to about Rs 60,000 crore, a decline of about 30 to 33 per cent.

This will be a substantial saving for the Centre, just as the states would be burdened with higher spending under this head.

The third piece of legislation pertains to the capital market. The Securities Markets Code, introduced in Parliament in the winter session, has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for further scrutiny.

The new Code has several reform initiatives that will strengthen the regulatory system for the securities markets.

But a key provision in the proposed law will help the central exchequer secure a steady transfer of resources from the Securities and Exchange Board of India, almost on the lines of a system followed by the other financial sector regulator, the Reserve Bank of India.

The Code proposes the constitution of a reserve fund for meeting the expenditure incurred by Sebi and a provision for transferring its residual corpus to the Consolidated Fund of India.

In addition, all sums realised by Sebi by way of penalty will have to be credited to the central exchequer.

The manner and the quantum of such transfer to the Union government will be prescribed through appropriate rules.

Sebi is not as rich a regulator as the RBI.

At the end of March 2024, its general fund had a closing balance of Rs 5,573 crore, including a surplus of Rs 1,065 crore.

But the new system of transferring surplus to the Union government will provide a steady source of revenue for the finance ministry in the years to come.

In sum, the three legislative measures may not immediately give the finance minister a big cushion in budget making.

But these certainly have the potential of becoming a steady additional source of revenue for the Centre in the years ahead.

However, two of the laws -- one imposing a cess on pan masala and the other changing the funding pattern for the rural jobs programme -- show how the Centre's gains come at the cost of states, whose revenue sources may be shrinking and expenditure burden on schemes decided by the Centre may be rising.

This has other implications for India's public finances in general. But that is another story.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
There are vexing questions around the disconnect between Nifty returns and portfolio returns, between economic growth and earnings growth, and finally, between earnings growth and market returns, points out Debashis Basu.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

India's stock market wears an air of resilience.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic trough, the benchmark indices -- the Nifty 50 and the Sensex -- have repeatedly scaled new highs, buoyed up by domestic inflows, a swelling army of retail investors, and a compelling narrative of long-term growth.

Yet, as the indices recently edged past their records, a curious disquiet set in. Many investors found their portfolios stubbornly in the red. Social media buzzed with perplexity.

How could markets be at all-time highs while portfolios languished?

There are vexing questions around the disconnect between Nifty returns and portfolio returns, between economic growth and earnings growth, and finally, between earnings growth and market returns, and the divergence between them.

Nifty returns vs portfolio returns

The Nifty is a club of giants -- banks, financiers, software firms, pharmaceuticals, consumer staples, and commodity producers.

These are mature, relatively stable businesses. They were never the principal beneficiaries of the recent investment frenzy.

The great bull run of 2023 and 2024 was driven instead by small and mid-sized firms riding a wave of government capital expenditure (capex) -- railways, roads, urban transport, defence, water, power, and green energy.

Those companies soared, and retail portfolios rose with them.

Since early last year, however, this massive government spending has slowed. It was blamed first on the general elections, and then on the monsoon.

Later, geopolitical issues took centre stage -- from United States (US) President Donald Trump's tariffs to tensions with Pakistan -- before the monsoon was blamed again.

Hundreds of companies that had been flying high on government capex have since stagnated or fallen.

These are the stocks that dominate retail portfolios. The Nifty, by contrast, barely noticed this and was unaffected.

With the exception of Larsen & Toubro, few Nifty heavyweights are direct capex plays.

Having risen less during the boom, they corrected less during the slowdown. Comparing the Nifty with a retail portfolio, then, is to mistake apples for oranges.

Economy vs earnings

A second puzzle is the divergence between India's nominal GDP growth and Nifty earnings.

India's GDP has expanded at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 10 per cent since 2008.

The common belief is that Nifty companies should grow their sales and earnings faster than GDP because these firms are among the country's largest, benefiting from economies of scale and market dominance.

Yet, a recently released study by Motilal Oswal shows that Nifty earnings per share grew at a CAGR of just 8 per cent between 2008 and 2025.

Why the disconnect?

For starters, it was imported from the US, where around 70 per cent of GDP comes from consumption and most of that consumption flows into listed companies as sales.

In India, consumption accounts for roughly 62 per cent of GDP, and a much smaller share flows into listed consumer companies.

Capex further weakens the link. GDP is boosted by investment booms that barely touch Nifty firms. India has experienced this twice in the past two decades.

The first was in the period before and after the global financial crisis in 2008. Under two Congress-led regimes, there was a capex boom, but hardly any Nifty companies benefited.

Indeed, much of it involved large-scale plunder by crony capitalists and bankers.

The second boom was government-led capex between 2022 and 2024, which directly benefited smaller companies but not Nifty constituents, as I have noted earlier.

GDP growth and corporate earnings can diverge for other reasons as well. One is playing out in China, which has relied on ferocious competition to build immense manufacturing capacity.

This has benefited the country but not its companies, many of which operate on wafer-thin margins.

That is why China's stock market scarcely reflects its impressive economic growth.

Before China, other Asian economies -- South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan -- experienced periods of rapid growth in the latter half of the 20th century, yet earnings growth failed to keep pace.

Earnings vs market returns

The third belief is that higher growth in earnings will automatically translate into higher market returns.

This is the most fallacious of the three because it assumes that starting and ending valuations do not matter, only earnings do.

If starting valuations are low and exit valuations are high, returns will be strong, irrespective of modest earnings growth.

At the depth of a bear market in October 2008, the Nifty stood at around 2,500.

By early 2020, it had climbed to roughly 12,000 -- an annualised return of 15-16 per cent, excluding dividends -- despite earnings growth of just 7 per cent during that period.

The reverse is equally true.

Starting at high valuations and exiting at lower ones lead to wealth destruction.

Taiwan recorded GDP growth of over 5 per cent a year between 1990 and 2008.

Yet its stock market fell by almost 50 per cent over the same period, undone by valuation compression.

Japan's Nikkei delivered negative returns for 34 years from the 1989 peak.

The past three decades have been punctuated by recurring enthusiasm about structural change, new missions, policies, and grand projects.

For all the exuberance surrounding India's stock market and economy, the ultimate outcome for investors has been rather pedestrian.

The chief culprit is poor earnings growth -- a variable that no amount of storytelling can obscure.

Corporate profits, once expected to sprint on the back of reforms, consolidation, and formalisation, have instead only trudged ahead.

That leaves only one other lever to boost returns: Low valuations.

Yet even the bulls concede that valuations are not low today. The math is unforgiving.

Without stronger profits or cheaper prices, storytelling fails. Will investors update their beliefs?

Debashis Basu is editor of moneylife.in and a trustee of the Moneylife Foundation.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Yes, the entry of private bankers, particularly with global experience will add value to PSBs, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Last week's column on the government opening up some of the top slots at public sector banks (PSBs) for professionals from the private sector has kicked off animated coffee-table discussions in the banking circles over the pros and cons of such a move.

Let me try to summarise their ideas and concerns, while throwing in a few of my own unsolicited suggestions on the way forward.

First, a quick recap. In the first week of October, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet revised the guidelines for the selection of wholetime directors at public-sector banks, superseding all earlier norms.

Under the new guidelines, private sector candidates can apply for one of the four managing director positions at the State Bank of India, MD and chief executive officer (CEO) posts at 11 nationalised banks, as well as at least one executive director (ED) position at four large nationalised banks with at least Rs 10 trillion worth of business.

The selection process will involve 'open' advertisement both from private- and public-sector candidates.

All terms and conditions, including the 'salary package' for such positions, will be decided by the central government from time to time.

Historically, the public sector banking industry has been serving the role of a blood bank when it comes to saving troubled private banks or nurturing them.

The current list of public sector bankers heading private banks include Prashant Kumar (Yes Bank Ltd), Partha Pratim Sengupta (Bandhan Bank Ltd), R Subramaniakumar (RBL Bank Ltd), B Ramesh Babu (Karur Vysya Bank), Salee Sukumaran Nair (Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd), Amitava Chatterjee (Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd) and Sanjeev Nautiyal (Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Ltd)

Quite a few issues need to be sorted to make this experiment a success.

First, the pay structure of the PSBs is linked to the Indian Administrative Service.

The chairman of SBI, the nation's largest lender and the only Indian bank among the top 50 global banks in terms of assets, is entitled to level-17 pay scale -- equivalent to an IAS officer of the rank of secretary in a ministry.

MD & CEO of other banks and MDs of SBI get the level-16 salary -- that of an additional secretary.

Incidentally, junior and mid-management employees in PSBs enjoy higher salaries (and job security) than their counterparts in the private sector, but the trend is reversed at the top end.

Even a relatively small private bank CEO can earn as much as 20 times what the boss of a large PSB makes.

Typically, the package includes salary, bonus, variable pay, incentives and stock options.

PSBs generally have fixed pay scales, negotiated through industrywide wage settlement, less aggressive performance incentives, and more uniform increments.

They pay more to their employees than their private peers until the executives reach the top.

Yet, another critical factor is the retirement age. At PSBs, it is 60. At SBI, if the chairman takes over the mantle in the late 50s and even when the person is close to 60, the executive can continue beyond 60 till the term ends.

In the private sector, one can remain in the saddle till 70, subject to the approval of the board and clearance by the Reserve Bank of India.

There are at least two examples -- Aditya Puri of HDFC Bank Ltd and Romesh Sobti of IndusInd Bank Ltd -- who continued to be at the helm till they turned 70.

Against this backdrop, how easy or difficult is it for a PSB to attract talent from the private sector? Also, do they need leaders from the private sector at all?

The answer to the second question first: Yes, the entry of private bankers, particularly with global experience will add value to PSBs.

On the face of it, there is nothing much to differentiate between a private bank and a PSB -- in terms of products, process and technology.

Some of the large PSBs, particularly SBI, have great technology platforms.

But there are areas such as cash management, trade finance, investment banking, wealth management, etc, where the PSBs can do better with experts imported from the market.

The PSBs' customer base may have been swelling through Jan Dhan and other low-value accounts, but not all of them have been able to attract the affluent class to bank with them.

A few PSBs have global subsidiaries. Bankers with global expertise can certainly help them manage overseas business better.

A few PSBs have been recruiting from the market for certain businesses. The experiment has succeeded in some cases, failed in some. Why?

This leads to the most critical aspect of the private bankers' entry into the public sector -- the culture.

Their salary cannot be delinked from that of the IAS as the government cannot have separate rules for the chief of SBI and, say, Coal India Ltd -- both are PSUs.

But there are ways to tackle the salary issue. For instance, the banks can aggregate all costs attached to a post -- housing, car, foreign travel allowance and other perks, besides salary -- and introduce a cost-to-company or CTC concept.

If that happens, one can count the money. Also, the performance-linked incentives can be finetuned to ensure handsome reward for performers.

Culture is something which cannot be changed overnight. There are many dimensions to it.

The senior PSB executives may not get excited to welcome bosses from the private sector with open arms.

Even if they are welcome, private sector bankers may find it difficult to ride the animal.

They may also want to change everything overnight, which will not go down well with the institutions.

Remember, when it comes to the top management, all PSBs are not of the same genre, even though they are majority owned by the government.

For instance, barring a few exceptions, the chairman and MDs at SBI are always chosen from the homebred cadre, all of whom are rooted in the same culture.

So, the change of guard does not lead to any shakeout in the policies and strategies of the institution.

But at the nationalised banks, the MD & CEO often comes from another bank; ditto with the EDs.

The new entrants' approach to business can be different from the predecessors.

But unlike a private bank, where important business decisions can be changed at the drop of a hat once there is a change of guard, in the public sector, decision-making is process-led.

This is good, but it can also lead to avoidable delay, and the bank can miss the bus.

At the same time, as they are process-driven and based on consensus, the results are sustainable.

Then, there are of course the three Cs -- CBI, CVC and CAG.

Call it colonial hangover or whatever you may, the PSBs are typically hierarchy-driven.

Privileges such as separate elevators, dining halls, toilets, floors for the senior management, etc, are cherished. These are intangibles that the ranks aspire for.

In the private sector, there is a more open culture of communication and shared infrastructure.

At the same time, often the boss takes the call, not necessarily backed by intense discussions or a rigorous process.

The public sector invests a lot in capacity building through training and infrastructure, whereas the private sector is bottom line-focused.

The social charter of PSBs also makes a big cultural difference.

Almost every PSB employee serves in a rural branch, unlike the private sector, where employees may never move out of one business and city all their life.

If we can assimilate the best of both, that would be an ideal situation. A competent private banker can run a PSB well, and vice versa.

Finally, how does the government attract talent?

Robert Rubin, co-chairman of Goldman Sachs, joined the Bill Clinton administration first as the director of the National Economic Council, and then secretary of the US treasury, in the 1990s.

Money is not the only hook, the scale and stature can also attract the right candidates.

But to make it successful, the government must have patience. It cannot open the window just for one round and shut it, which it had done a decade back.

Tamal Bandyopadhyay is an author and senior advisor to the Jana Small Finance Bank Ltd. His latest book: Roller Coaster: An Affair with Banking.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
But selectively, with regulatory scrutiny and special approval, points out Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

In September 2006, the Union government had put the Satara (Maharashtra)-based United Western Bank under a moratorium on the Reserve Bank of India's advice.

There were many suitors for the old private bank, including two large foreign banks operating in India, but it was IDBI Bank Ltd that came out a winner.

The scene is very different now. The turf on which foreign banks play in India is changing fast, as is the approach of foreign investors towards Indian banks.

And, of course, the lens through which the banking regulator looks at them, too, is changing.

Before we delve deeper into the new phenomenon, here's a snapshot of the foreign banking industry in India.

In March 2025, there were 44 foreign banks and 34 representative (rep) offices. Branches of foreign banks have been on a decline.

For instance, in March 2021, there were 874 branches and 36 rep offices; by the next year, the branches had slipped to 861 and rep offices to 34.

The trend continued. In March 23, there were 782 branches and 33 rep offices, and by March 2024, the branch network further dropped to 780 and rep offices to 31.

In March 2025, foreign banks had 993 ATMs across India. How does this compare with the ATM network of public sector and private banks? Well, public sector banks had 133,000 ATMs and private banks 77,117.

Foreign banks' share in deposits is around 4.92 per cent and advances about 3.85 per cent.

Let's return to what is happening now. Federal Bank Ltd announced that Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager, would invest Rs 6,197 crore in the Kochi-headquartered bank through its affiliate Asia II Topco XIII Pte Ltd.

Once the deal is sealed, Blackstone will hold a 9.99 per cent stake in Federal Bank and have the right to nominate one director on its board.

Six months ago, in April, US-based private equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) had announced an investment of Rs 7,500 crore in IDFC First Bank Ltd through a preferential equity issue. The objective was to support the bank's growth.

Warburg Pincus, through its affiliate company Currant Sea Investments BV, invested Rs 4,876 crore, and ADIA, through its wholly owned subsidiary Platinum Invictus B 2025 RSC, Rs 2,624 crore.

Currant Sea Investments BV now holds 9.99 per cent in IDFC First Bank and Platinum Invictus B 2025 RSC, 5.1 per cent.

Following this, Warburg Pincus will also have a director on the bank's board.

These are recent instances of foreign investors' newfound love for Indian banks. The tale of foreign banks has a different twist.

On October 19, the board of directors of Emirates NBD Bank (ENDB) and RBL Bank Ltd approved definitive agreements for Emirates bank to acquire a controlling stake in RBL Bank, infusing Rs 26,850 crore.

This is the largest foreign direct investment in the Indian financial services sector to date.

ENDB wants to pick up a 60 per cent stake in RBL Bank via preferential issue.

The deal is subject to the approval of its shareholders, regulators such the RBI and the Securities and Exchange Board of India as well as the government of India.

Since it wants to acquire a 60 per cent stake, ENDB will have to make a mandatory open offer to buy up to 26 per cent stake from the public shareholders of RBL Bank, in accordance with the market regulator's takeover regulations.

The story doesn't end here. The board of directors of ENBD and RBL Bank also approved the amalgamation of the India branches of ENBD with RBL Bank.

The Dubai-headquartered lender currently operates through three branches in India, located in Chennai, Gurugram, and Mumbai.

If the approvals come through, ultimately, RBL will become a locally incorporated subsidiary for ENDB.

In May, the RBI had granted in-principle approval to ENBD to establish a wholly owned subsidiary in India.

So far, there are only two such local subsidiaries of foreign banks: DBS Bank India Ltd and State Bank of Mauritius Ltd.

In November 2020, DBS Bank took over Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd.

Incidentally, DBS Bank had received RBI's in-principle approval for converting its existing India franchise into a wholly owned subsidiary in September 2017.

It incorporated the subsidiary in March 2019 and merged the troubled old private bank in November 2020.

For the ENDB-RBL Bank deal, the sequence of events is different.

Under RBI norm, the MD and CEO of such a subsidiary must be a resident Indian.

While the promoter can have as many as three nominees on the board, the majority of the directors have to be of Indian origin.

Besides, two-third of the directors must be non-executive, and one-third, including the chairman, independent directors.

Unlike local banks, such subsidiaries do not necessarily need to tap the market and list on stock exchanges.

If they want to do that, they must dilute 26 per cent stake through a public issue.

Last month, Japanese giant Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) acquired a 24.22 per cent stake in Yes Bank Ltd.

Initially, it acquired a 20 per cent stake in Yes Bank through a secondary purchase of shares from State Bank of India and a few other lenders.

SMBC has RBI's approval to increase its holding in Yes Bank to up to 24.99 per cent.

Despite selling off a 13.18 per cent stake in Yes Bank to SMBC for Rs 8,889 crore, SBI still holds around 10 per cent of equity in the bank.

SBI and seven private sector banks, which had invested in Yes Bank during its reconstruction in March 2020, have sold their 20 per cent stake for Rs 13,482 crore to SMBC.

The latest deal makes SMBC the largest Yes Bank's shareholder. Two SMBC representatives -- Rajeev Veeravalli Kannan and Shinichiro Nishino -- have joined the private lender's board.

There is a difference between the RBL Bank and Yes Bank deals. In the case of RBL Bank, Rs 26,850 crore of new money will flow in, bolstering its capital and helping it grow its balance sheet.

The Yes Bank deal was an 'offer for sale'. Here, the sellers got the money, not the bank.

Of course, SMBC's investment will bolster Yes Bank's capital-raising capabilities, give it access to SMBC's international network, and boost business growth, particularly in corporate banking and cross-border trade between India and Japan.

However, at this moment, there is no fresh capital infusion.

Going by the media reports, ENBD, along with a few others, was eying a majority stake in IDBI Bank.

The government had started the divestment process for IDBI Bank in October 2022, inviting expressions of interest from prospective buyers.

Next, it invited expressions of interest by potential buyers in January 2023.

The government owns 45.48 per cent stake in the bank, and the Life Insurance Corporation of India, 49.24 per cent -- putting their combined stake at 94.72 per cent.

Both are planning to sell 60.72 per cent in the bank. Department of Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju said that the stake sale in IDBI Bank would be completed in 2025.

Here too, irrespective of the nature of the investor -- foreign or domestic -- no new money will come in to bolster the bank's capital. The sellers will get the money.

Anyway, we will wait for the announcement. I am sure IDBI Bank is not competing with Air India when it comes to 'privatisation'!

On a serious note, is the regulator's approach to foreign ownership in local banks changing? It's too early to say so.

The 74 per cent cap on foreign direct investment in private banks remains, and the strategic single-investor cap of 15 per cent, too, is in place, unless exemptions are granted.

What is changing, perhaps, is the regulator's willingness to review whether foreign banks and investors can hold a higher share in certain banks.

To this extent, the move is towards 'opening up' the sector, but selectively, with regulatory scrutiny and special approval. A welcome move.

Tamal Bandyopadhyay, a consulting editor with Business Standard, is an author and senior adviser to Jana Small Finance Bank Ltd. You can e-mail the author at tamal.the@gmail.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has urged procuratorial organs across the country to take a strong stance on serious economic crimes to contribute to a law-based business environment.

Crimes such as the smuggling of strategic minerals overseas should be cracked down on harshly to safeguard China's strategic interests, according to the SPP at a national conference of chief procurators on Monday.

It stressed the importance of coordinating work with the National Financial Regulatory Administration and other authorities to address illegal intermediary practices in the financial sector, and of handing down harsh punishments for crimes such as illegal fundraising and financial fraud to ensure the sound operation of the financial system and protect the safety of people's property.

The SPP called for more efforts to combat money laundering, with a focus on punishing such crimes conducted through underground banks or virtual currencies.

Coordination with the China Securities Regulatory Commission should also be strengthened to advance the rule of law in the capital market with harsh punishments for securities crimes such as financial fraud and market manipulation, the SPP said. 
Opening up the corner office is fine, but will the government be able to attract talent without giving a market-rate salary?, asks Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

In April 2015, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), ministry of finance, invited applications for the post of managing director and chief operating officer (MD & CEO) for five large public sector banks (PSBs): Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, IDBI Bank Ltd, and Punjab National Bank.

The eligibility criteria included 'ability, integrity and standing with knowledge and experience in banking', 'proven management, leadership and innovative skills to build and inspire team' and 'experience in institutional development in banking sector'.

The candidates, in the 45 to 57 age group, needed to have at least 15 years of banking experience with a minimum one-year of exposure to the board. They were offered a three-year tenure, subject to 'normal age of superannuation of 60 years'.

This is the first instance of the finance ministry opening the door for the top jobs in PSBs to the private sector.

On August 24, 2015, the names of the successful candidates were announced after a three-stage screening and a series of final interviews by three different panels.

Two of them were picked up from the private sector: P S Jayakumar for Bank of Baroda, and Rakesh Sharma for Canara Bank.

Jayakumar had worked at Citibank NA and also served as MD & CEO of VBHC Value Home Pvt Ltd. Sharma, originally from the State Bank of India (SBI), had served as CEO & MD of the erstwhile Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd before taking up this assignment.

Sharma joined Canara Bank on September 11, 2015 and called it a day on July 31, 2018. Jayakumar joined Bank of Baroda on October 13, 2015. His three-year term was extended by another year, till October 12, 2019.

Incidentally, the 'open' appointment experiment was shut after one round.

Just two days after announcing the appointments, on August 16, 2015, then financial services secretary Hasmukh Adhia told PTI, 'For five large banks, we had different procedures. For the remaining banks, we are going to hire from the pool of executive directors of the public sector banks itself ...

'The eligibility criteria for the remaining bank vacancies have been approved and that is only for competition within the system. For remaining banks, there would be a normal procedure of selection from among the pool of executive directors.'

Also, although the advertisement had mentioned that 'the salary package payment to the appointees will be flexible', that never happened.

Fast forward to October 4, 2025. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet revised the guidelines for the selections of wholetime directors of public sector banks, superseding all earlier norms.

Under the new guidelines, private sector candidates can apply for one of the four MD positions at SBI.

For the other three, only public sector bankers can apply. They could be internal candidates or executive directors (EDs) and MD & CEO of nationalised banks.

After a decade, the government has also opened the doors to the private sector for the top jobs in PSBs.

The candidates must have 21 years of experience with at least 15 years in banking, of which two have to be at the board level or three at just below that level.

The selection process will involve 'open' advertisement, both from private and public sector candidates.

What's more, the government is opening up at least one ED position at large nationalised banks with at least Rs 10 trillion worth of business for the private sector.

Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Union Bank of India, and Canara Bank belong to this category.

Each of them can have four EDs, of which one can now be from the private sector.

This time, the notification has made it clear that all terms and conditions, including the 'salary package' for such positions, will be decided by the central government, from time to time.

This is the most critical part of liberalisation in the appointment process for the top jobs in PSBs which have, of late, been outpacing their private peers in business growth.

Opening up the corner office is fine, but will the government be able to attract talent without giving a market-rate salary?

Pride and purpose drive the homegrown leaders in PSBs, but are these enough to draw top banking professionals to such jobs?

Historically, there have been many instances of public sector bankers heading private banks - from setting them up (when India opened up the sector in the 1990s) to managing crises (there are many recent instances), but so far there are just two examples of private sector professionals leading public sector banks.

Compensation apart, another critical aspect is culture -- which, at times, assumes more importance than money.

It's not easy for an outsider to embrace it.

Why would a banker's payscale be linked to that of a bureaucrat? After all, their jobs are very different.

A bureaucrat is involved in making policies for the public, while a banker deals with public money.

There is something called risk-reward ratio. It's just not a trading term; compensations for professionals also factor this in.

The SBI chairman is entitled to level 17 payscale -- equivalent to an IAS officer of the rank of secretary in a ministry.

On the basis of the Seventh Pay Commission, level 17 has a fixed pay of Rs 2.25 lakh per month, with a few other benefits.

The chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India also earns the same salary.

The salary of MD & CEO of other banks and MDs of SBI belong to level 16 -- equivalent to an additional secretary's.

Here, the salary is Rs 205,400-Rs 224,400 per month plus all other allowances and perquisites.

On top of their salary, senior PSB executives get bonuses on the basis of performance.

Earlier, each bank used to sign a memorandum of understanding with the DFS, making certain commitments on performance; their bonus was based on their performance.

In November 2014, the DFS introduced a new performance-linked incentive (PLI) for wholetime directors and senior executives of PSBs.

The maximum PLI is fixed at 100 per cent of the basic pay.

I understand that bank unions have strong reservations about the latest PLI, meant for senior bank officers (Scale IV or chief manager and above).

They argue that the scheme deviates from the bilaterally agreed-upon PLI framework that applies to all bank employees and officers.

The conciliation proceedings with the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) is still on, and the government has not implemented it yet.

Yes, most top public sector bankers live in lovely houses and have chauffeur-driven cars at their disposal, but can such perks be a substitute for money?

Even if we assess their perks and other benefits, the overall cost to the company is far lower than what the MD & CEO of a private bank earns, even if their business is much smaller.

Most private bankers deserve that. And, all PSB chiefs deserve more.

Opening the top jobs for private candidates is the beginning of reforms. Delinking bankers' salary from the IAS should be the next logical step.

PS: Incidentally, there is another set of institutions such as National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Small Industries Development Bank of India, Exim Bank, National Housing Bank, Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd and National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development.

They are engaged in the development and financing of agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises, exports, housing, and infrastructure.

The guidelines for the selection of whole-time directors are different for different entities. For some institutions, the maximum entry age is 57, for others 55.

Shouldn't these be uniform on the lines of public sector banks?

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'The danger is that when the music stops, the fall will be sudden, faster, and deeper than anyone expects,' warns Debashis Basu.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

America's stock market, unconcerned by trade tensions or fiscal strain, sits near a record high.

The exuberance is driven by a new generation of techno-optimism -- this time about artificial intelligence (AI).

The 'Magnificent Seven' (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla) now account for roughly 38 per cent of S&P 500's market capitalisation and about half its profits.

Their dominance, and the feverish faith in a new technology revolution, evokes memories of the late 1990s dotcom mania.

S&P's cyclically adjusted price-earnings ratio has breached 40 for the first time since 2000, when it reached 44 -- shortly before the benchmark plunged by nearly half, as the Internet bubble burst.

Then, as now, the conviction that a digital revolution would rewrite the rules justified almost any valuation.

Then, as now, the danger is that when the music stops, the fall will be sudden, faster, and deeper than anyone expects.

Writing for The Economist, Gita Gopinath, till recently first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, calculates that a dotcom-like market crash could wipe out over $20 trillion in wealth for American households, equivalent to roughly 70 per cent of American GDP in 2024.

The global fallout would be wealth losses exceeding $15 trillion, or about 20 per cent of the rest of the world's GDP.

Her argument has sent investors into an uneasy debate. Unfortunately, Ms Gopinath skips the likely causes behind a possible crash.

She focuses on how a crisis this time cannot be cushioned by a resilient dollar or a government-led rescue through tax cuts or spending splurges -- Washington's toolkit looks empty today.

So, is a dotcom-like crash likely? And if so, why?

The likeliest sources of trouble lie in four corners of the financial system: Incestuous investment loops within the AI ecosystem; the ballooning, barely regulated private-credit market; soaring public debt; and speculative froth in cryptocurrencies and private equity.

The first two are especially alarming.

Incestuous investment

Consider how incestuous relations across the sector have helped push up valuations.

Microsoft has invested at least $13 billion in OpenAI, which uses Microsoft's Azure cloud infrastructure.

Thus, Microsoft is simultaneously investor, infrastructure-provider, platform/host, and commercial partner (and potentially a competitor).

Amazon has committed $8 billion to Anthropic, which uses Amazon's AWS cloud infrastructure.

Amazon integrates or plans to integrate Anthropic's Claude models into its products (for example, Alexa).

So Amazon is investor, cloud-host/partner, and user/integrator of the startup's AI models. Again: Investor plus supplier plus customer.

Nvidia, the dominant AI hardware supplier, will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, which will buy Nvidia systems.

Nvidia has also invested in Elon Musk's AI startup xAI and will supply processors for xAI data centres.

The web of mutual dependence grows denser still.

CoreWeave, a cloud-infrastructure provider, is a major Nvidia customer and Nvidia has guaranteed $6.3 billion to purchase CoreWeave's unused capacity through 2032.

Nvidia's rival Advanced Micro Devices announced a supplier-investment deal with OpenAI.

Meanwhile, OpenAI has signed a five-year $300 billion contract with Oracle Cloud (beginning in 2027) and a $22.4 billion deal with CoreWeave, including a $350 million in CoreWeave stock, meaning OpenAI is simultaneously customer (contracting for GPU infrastructure), and investor/shareholder in the infrastructure provider.

CoreWeave also announced plans to work with Meta, creating further inter-dependencies.

This circular financing inflates both revenues and valuations of the priciest part of the stock market.

CoreWeave's valuation jumped from $19 billion to $23 billion in 2025, citing OpenAI contracts and Nvidia's backstop.

Incredibly, companies are booking these deals as revenues and lifting their market valuation.

Those multiples spill over and are used to justify higher values for other AI startups.

Since there is no chance of the AI boom delivering profits on trillions of dollars of interlocking investment, it is a bubble that can burst.

Torsten Slok of Apollo, a private-investment firm, has noted that AI stocks are more richly valued than dotcom stocks in 1999.

Private-credit bubble

If that seems worrying, the parallel boom in non-bank lending is as bad.

Non-bank private credit -- lending by funds, insurers, and shadow financiers, especially riskier midsized firms -- has ballooned to about 3.8 times European GDP and 3.1 times American GDP.

Banks have lent around a tenth of their loan books to these intermediaries.

The IMF reckons American and European banks have lent $4.5 trillion to private-credit firms, hedge funds, and other non-bank lenders.

A serious default could wipe out a chunk of their Tier-I capital, the capital cushion designed to absorb shocks.

Yet this system, vast and opaque, sits largely beyond the regulators' reach.

Their rise was accelerated by the very regulations -- Basel capital rules -- designed to curb banking risk.

Fintechs, hedge funds, and insurers now lend directly to riskier borrowers.

Nearly half of American life insurers' bond holdings are in private placements, invisible to markets, and regulators.

The system depends on faith, not transparency.

Connected to speculative excesses in these two areas is irrational exuberance in private equity and the crypto boom.

Nobody knows what will spoil the party and when, but when it does, the scaffolding of credit and cross-holdings may give way. And, it will not stop at developed markets.

The contagion will spread to emerging markets, like India, as investors sell indiscriminately to raise cash.

If we are lucky, the dark clouds will lead to a few showers, not a hurricane.

Those who have exposures to the market would do well to have their own risk-mitigation measures in place.

Debashis Basu is editor of www.moneylife.in and a trustee of the Moneylife Foundation.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
'This is an area where good lending can happen, and that is one of the priorities for the next quarter.'

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) is betting big on merger and acquisition (M&A) financing, a field recently opened by the Reserve Bank of India for banks.

The lender is also taking steps to address concerns around Current Account and Savings Account (CASA), said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ajay Kumar Srivastava.

In an interview with Shine Jacob/Business Standard in Chennai, Srivastava talks about the expected credit loss (ECL) framework, and the impact of GST reforms during the third quarter.:

What are your thoughts on the RBI opening up the merger and acquisition (M&A) financing?

We are going to the board with a policy for M&A. Once it is approved, we will certainly be looking at this. There is a lot of scope in this in Tamil Nadu and other states.

This is an area where good lending can happen, and that is one of the priorities for the next quarter.

How are you looking to address the CASA concerns, as your CASA ratio declined during the second quarter?

In terms of CASA percentage, we are the third-best bank among public sector banks after Bank of Maharashtra and Central Bank.

We are consistently maintaining it at around 42-43 per cent. For the September quarter, it has come down to around 40.5 per cent for the first time, as some money that was expected to come did not happen.

After taking over in January 2023, the first thing that we did was revisit all our CASA products. A special team studied all the available CASA products in the market, in both government and private sectors.

Then we created a mix of everything with unique products. After that, we started systematically onboarding customers.

In the last two and a half years, since April 2023, we have onboarded around 8.5 million new CASA customers.

In these new CASA accounts, the current balance is around Rs 24,000 crore. That is one way of ensuring that CASA growth happens.

We are aggressively focused on institutions and government. In all state capitals, we have created a team called the Government Business Cell (GBC) to network with the government.

This is not just on the deposit or CASA side, but on credit requirements, pensions, and all types of government businesses.

Because of that, we were able to onboard many good CASA accounts. This is the overall strategy on CASA and we realise that without onboarding new customers, it is very difficult to grow or maintain CASA.

What are the steps being taken for the transition to the ECL framework from the current incurred loss framework?

ECL was under discussion earlier also, and now it has come in a new form. The draft guidelines are out and we have got time till April 2027.

At first glance, we expect the incremental provisioning impact due to ECL transition to be around Rs 2,500 crore- 2,800 crore.

It is a one-time impact to be adjusted in four years. This number is only an estimate.

Let us assume that this figure is correct. Till April 2027, there are six more quarters, and we expect that the way we are growing, we will be able to create sufficient business to adjust that requirement in one go.

That is what we are planning. I do not believe that it will be a major challenge.

If at all additional provisioning is required, we will be able to do it through our internal accruals. I do not see any challenges.

In terms of credit, are you seeing textile or any other export-oriented sector as a stress pocket due to the uncertainties in the United States market?

So far, I have not seen any of the products or any of the sectors.

Textile, shrimps, and other seafood exporters are under a bit of stress due to the United States crisis (tariffs).

We have been regularly interacting with them. We have only the Tiruppur belt, and for shrimp, we have only Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Exporters informed us that it will be very difficult for the US buyers to replace the kind of products they are exporting.

The burden is also one-third each between exporters, counterparts in the US, and also customers in that market.

Everyone is sure this is a temporary concern. We are seeing stress in the thought process, but financially, the conduct of the account and cash flows are good.

Have you started seeing the impact of GST 2.0?

In the personal loan segment like housing, vehicle loans etc., we are already seeing a lot of enthusiasm.

We are witnessing a 20-25 per cent rise in queries since it was announced a month ago.

The actual conversion may take time. The impact will get reflected from November onwards, with the entire retail and part of MSME too expected to witness this uptick in demand.

How was the quarter and how are you seeing the growth going ahead?

We are targeting double-digit growth of 13-15 per cent in the next two years, and in the last two years, we have grown more than that.

In 14 months, our business has increased from Rs 5 trillion to Rs 6 trillion.

Quality growth is happening. If conditions are conducive and we are getting good borrowers, we may go beyond 15 per cent growth.

For the first and second quarters, growth has been on expected lines on both deposits and credits. During the first quarter, credit growth was around 5.5-6 per cent, and if we take six months as a whole, it is around 11 per cent.

If you see year-on-year, it is around 21 per cent. So, there is consistent growth, and as compared to credit, deposits are slightly subdued for the industry overall.

One special point for IOB on deposit growth is that we generally do not rely on bulk deposits that come for the short term.

Historically, if you see the composition of the total deposit of IOB, it is CASA plus retail.

CASA has been around 41-42 per cent and the balance 50-51 per cent has been retail.

The bulk which is there has been need-based. As on September 30, out of a total deposit of Rs 3.3 trillion, the bulk was Rs 17,000 crore only, which was around 5 per cent.

That is the level at which we maintain.

If we want to show higher growth, like many players do in the market, we can also go for bulk, but that will not be organic growth.

As a matter of policy and prudence, we are focusing only on retail and CASA.

Purposely, we are focusing on these two sectors only, and that is why total deposit growth is around 9 per cent, as compared to credit growth of around 16-18 per cent.

That is a well-thought-out decision. Despite that, the credit-to-deposit (CD) ratio of the bank is around 80-81 per cent only.

We have been able to maintain substantial credit growth, as a result of which interest income has increased, improving our profitability and NIM.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

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Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'We are expecting investment, public and private, of around Rs 40 trillion by 2029.'

IMAGE: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu speaks at the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, November 15, 2025. Photograph: @ncbn X/ANI Photo

N Chandrababu Naidu is known for promoting information technology in his previous stints as chief minister. After taking charge again last year, the 'CEO CM' is shifting gear to concentrate on artificial intelligence, quantum, and green energy. Naidu talks about his 'Swarna Andhra' dream in an exclusive interview with Shine Jacob/Business Standard in Visakhapatnam.

You used to be called chief executive officer of Andhra Pradesh for promoting IT.

In your return as chief minister, what are your focus areas that will drive the Swarna Andhra 2047 vision?

Technologies are changing and so is the way business is done. Earlier I promoted IT with Hi-Tech City. Now technology has moved toward AI and also data centres.

These data centres need green energy. I am ensuring that data centres and green energy find meeting ground. This will help the power requirements of the data-centre industry.

That is where ecosystem players are building up, and I am working as a catalyst. And now people are coming.

Corporate offices will become redundant with data centres, AI, and quantum. One should imagine what is happening.

Previously, I imagined IT and promoted it, and as a result, the highest earners in the sector are Indians and among them, 35 per cent are from the Telugu community.

Google's mega AI investment is on. What will be the role of industry in the Swarna Andhra dream?

We are expecting investment, public and private, of around Rs 40 trillion by 2029, which is the first phase. As of today, in the public sector itself, we may get Rs 20 trillion with an employment of two million.

The way things are happening, more and more investment will come as people are thinking that something is happening only in Andhra Pradesh.

The state is going to become the gateway of India for investment. Once you create wealth, revenue will be generated, and through that, we can give welfare and go for an equitable society.

I am targeting P4 (public, private, people, partnership) with people as capital.

Google is investing $15 billion over five years to build its largest AI data centre outside the United States in Visakhapatnam.

ArcelorMittal is coming up with a Rs 1.4 trillion steel plant, Bharat Petroleum will have a Rs 1 trillion refinery, NTPC and the state government are investing Rs 1.5 trillion.

Everybody is talking about data centres.

The strong point with India is its demographic dividend. We want population management in place and to have more children.

That is why I have introduced schemes like the Talliki Vandanam (providing annual financial assistance of Rs 15,000 to mothers of school children).

Any number of children and I am giving them benefits.

Being someone who revolutionised IT in India, what is your perspective on quantum computing and AI?

Now I am taking the next step into quantum computing. When I started quantum-valley plans, people never understood that.

It took some time. We are creating an ecosystem for manufacturing quantum computers. Within two years, we will produce them here.

AI is the order of the day, and I want to see every home using AI. That will make our lives simple and more effective. That is why I brought the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub to Amaravati.

We are coming up with a hub-and-spoke model for technology and innovation, focusing on Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Amaravati, Tirupati, and Anantapur.

I am bringing everybody together -- industry, knowledge partners, venture capital, bankers, and mentors. Most importantly, to create last-mile infrastructure, we are laying emphasis on MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) as well.

Every constituency will have one MSME park, and in the park, we will create everything in a plug-and-play model with all infrastructure. This will help them operate immediately.

What is your vision for making Amaravati a global city?

Amaravati is an interesting project. Any city is built with private participation and the government will be a facilitator.

We have introduced land pooling for farmers, and 29,000 farmers have given 33,000 acres without taking a rupee.

This is land monetisation. I am constructing offices and developing them, and giving back their land.

Then private participation is there, with a lot of educational institutions and hospitals coming up in the area.

This will get me revenue. We are spending around Rs 50,000 crore to develop infrastructure.

Higher debt is a concern for the state. How are you looking to tide over this?

It will take some time. We have to balance things, keeping in mind people's aspirations. By fulfilling that, I have to step up economic activities. This way I can reduce debt.

What about rising investment in renewables?

Solar has become cost-effective. Now, hybrid models are coming with solar, wind, and pumped storage. In the course of time, green hydrogen and ammonia will become a reality.

We will export both these through our port-led economy. We have a coast of 1,000 km with around 20 ports. Our idea is to make full use of them.

One by one, the ecosystem is being created. I am creating a green hydrogen valley.

In the case of agriculture too, food habits of people are changing. That is why we are trying to produce demand-driven crops.

I am asking people to take steps to enrich the soil by correcting deficiencies. Rayalaseema will be a horticulture hub, and Andhra Pradesh will be an aquaculture hub.

How important are Centre-state relations in achieving the targets?

They (the Centre) are helping out in the case of the Visakhapatnam steel plant, the Amaravati project, and many more.

Our prime minister has introduced private-sector participation in satellites. Now, the state's dedicated space city will launch satellites.

We are encouraging drones too through a Drone City. We are making three regional development authorities -- Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'We currently have new proposals worth Rs 1.48 trillion in the pipeline.'

Punjab National Bank (PNB) is witnessing strong momentum across retail, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME), and corporate loan segments, driven by robust demand in the auto and housing sectors.

The bank is also expanding digital offerings, growing its credit card base, and re-entering the West Asian market with plans to reopen its Dubai office, said Ashok Chandra, managing director and chief executive officer, in an interview with Harsh Kumar/Business Standard in New Delhi.

How is PNB's retail loan segment doing, especially after goods and services tax (GST) rate cuts?

We are seeing strong traction, especially in the auto sector, which is significantly contributing to our business loan portfolio.

From Durga Puja last year till Diwali this year, we have witnessed nearly 40 per cent growth in this segment during the same period.

The housing loan segment has also grown by around 45 per cent. We expect further momentum in retail lending following the recent GST rate cuts.

How do you see growth in the MSME sector?

As of now, we are not seeing any major impact from US tariffs on our MSME borrowers.

We expect around 19-20 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in this segment. Our overall export exposure to the US market stands at around Rs 4,400 crore, which is not a large portion of our total MSME book, and none of these accounts are under stress.

We are in regular touch with our MSME customers.

However, in agriculture, we have achieved 13 per cent growth in the second quarter, with special focus on self-help groups (SHGs).

How is PNB approaching unsecured lending?

Our unsecured lending portfolio comprises personal loans, education loans, and credit cards. Personal loans are extended only to salaried individuals.

Education loans up to Rs 7.5 lakh are covered under the credit guarantee scheme.

We are focusing strongly on the credit card business as part of our digital transformation.

By November 15, we will enable complete online onboarding. Currently, we have about 650,000 credit card customers, and we aim to reach 1 million by the end of FY26.

We have also entered the supply chain financing space. Within three months, we have built a portfolio of around Rs 3,000 crore, and we plan to scale this up to Rs 10,000 crore by FY26.

We have tied up with leading manufacturing companies to finance their dealers.

How is PNB working on NRI deposits and overseas portfolio?

We have received approval from the RBI to reopen our representative office in Dubai, which was closed in 2018. Dubai is a key hub for our West Asia business covering all seven emirates.

In the next two and a half months, we will apply to the Central Bank of the UAE for operational approval.

There is immense potential in this segment. Our GIFT City operations are also doing well, and our 100 per cent subsidiary in London continues to do good business.

Overall, we expect 15-16 per cent growth in our overseas portfolio.

What are your recovery expectations for this year?

During the second quarter, we achieved recoveries worth Rs 3,900 crore. Our recovery target for FY26 is Rs 16,000 crore, and we expect Rs 4,500 crore in Q3 itself.

We are confident of surpassing our annual target. We are also aiming for overall credit growth of around 11-12 per cent in FY26.

What is the outlook for the corporate loan book?

We currently have new proposals worth Rs 1.48 trillion in the pipeline.

So far, we have already sanctioned Rs 2.68 trillion in FY25 and in the first half of FY26, we have already reached the sanctioned Rs 2.81 trillion under the corporate loan portfolio.

For FY26, we expect to scale this up to Rs 4 trillion.

What steps are being taken to improve customer grievance redressal?

We have deployed a QR-based review system managed centrally at the head office, which has received very positive response.

To get feedback directly from the ground, I personally conduct multiple town halls with employees.

This initiative has helped us identify pain points and enhance customer satisfaction.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'Corporates now have multiple funding sources beyond banks, and many are sitting on large cash reserves.'

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

C S Setty, chairman of State Bank of India (SBI), in conversation with Tamal Bandyopadhyay, discusses the slowdown in credit growth, the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) reforms, and the potential impact of allowing private sector professionals into public-sector banks (PSBs).

Why is credit growth not picking up?

We're not lacking in credit growth. If you look at the RBI data, credit is growing in double digits -- which, in my view, is quite reasonable.

There's significant growth in micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) credit.

Today, banks are more confident about lending to MSMEs because of better data availability and greater clarity in business models.

There's also strong credit demand from the agriculture sector. Both MSME and agriculture are growing at 16-17 per cent.

On the retail side, mortgage growth remains healthy. The only segment lagging is corporate credit.

Corporates now have multiple funding sources beyond banks, and many are sitting on large cash reserves.

When they do take up capital expenditure (capex), they prefer to use their own funds first.

Private capex alone can't rely on bank credit. Both the government and banks want private investment to return in full force.

Many companies are already operating at higher capacities -- technology now allows them to run at about 90 per cent utilisation.

Global and supply chain disruptions, along with tariff issues, have created some uncertainty, but private capex will come back soon.

This economy is driven by domestic consumption, and once that demand stabilises, capex will pick up.

Are banks facing challenges in mobilising deposits?

Structurally, bank balance sheets are evolving. Globally, banks rely less on deposits and more on market borrowings -- a result of financialisation, where money shifts from banks to other financial instruments.

The same trend is emerging in India.

Bank deposits have grown about 1.6 times, while mutual funds have trebled. That shows savers are diversifying their asset allocations.

While savers won't abandon bank deposits entirely, the flow into banks is slowing.

Casa (current account savings account) is being affected not just because government current accounts are shrinking and more savings are moving to markets, but also because savers are shifting to fixed deposits.

The share of fixed deposits has risen from 61 per cent to 64 per cent.

On the current account side, once PSBs realised that government accounts wouldn't be available in a big way, we moved aggressively into business banking -- an area previously dominated by private banks.

We're now gaining a dominant share in non-government current accounts.

How do you view the reforms the RBI is introducing in banking?

I must compliment the regulator for coming out with 22 measures. These announcements reflect confidence in the maturity of India's banking sector.

Take merger and acquisition (M&A) financing, for example -- it shows that banks are now ready to fund such transactions responsibly.

We'll continue to engage with the RBI on how this framework can be fine-tuned.

It's also wrong to assume that M&A financing will take up a large portion of banks' lending capacity.

The overall size of M&A finance is minuscule compared to India's Rs 220 trillion credit system.

The primary reason I sought approval for M&A financing was to ensure a level playing field and demonstrate our ability to assess such transactions.

This is just the first step towards expanding what banks can do in M&A.

The system today is robust, and when that's the case, the regulator rightly enables banks to broaden their activities while ensuring capital buffers are maintained.

How do you view the entry of private sector professionals into PSBs?

There's really no fundamental difference between public and private-sector banks -- apart from ownership.

If you take ownership out of the equation, the product structure and technology are quite similar.

If this initiative helps facilitate lateral movement, it's a good move. Culturally, though, challenges exist -- mainly around pay and incentives.

The public sector pay structure is an inverted pyramid: a large base of employees earns relatively well, but the gap widens considerably at senior levels.

If the government truly wants to attract private talent, it will need to revisit this structure.

That said, cultural adjustment is part of any transition -- anyone joining a new institution must reorient themselves.

How do you keep doubling your balance sheet every six years?

If nominal gross domestic product grows at 10 per cent and SBI grows 2 to 3 percentage points higher than that, the compounding effect ensures the balance sheet doubles in six to seven years.

Technology has been a major enabler. We're among the largest spenders on technology, with robust digital platforms and heavy investments in back-end systems.

When will the subsidiaries get listed?

SBI General Insurance and SBI Mutual Fund will be listed. The timing, however, is uncertain. Both companies are well-capitalised and don't require fresh capital at the moment.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'The DNA of Tata Consumer Products is all food and beverage.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy, Tata Consumer

Tata Consumer expects to close the year with margins at 15 per cent.

In an interview, Sunil D'Souza, the managing director and chief executive officer of Tata Consumer Products, talks about what led the company to deliver a strong topline in the second quarter despite GST disruptions with Sharleen D'Souza/Business Standard.

Despite GST disruptions in the quarter, you've managed to see a strong rise in revenue?

We've got good volume growth. We continue to expand distribution and innovation and we continue to power up.

We are on track for a full year of five per cent innovation to sales this year as well.

GST disruption came at the end of the quarter, and we did see disruption in our growth portfolio, because salt is GST exempt, and tea was at five per cent GST always. But Capital Foods, Organic India, Soulfull, ready-to-drink moved to the five per cent bracket.

We did see some hiccups in modern trade as well as in general trade. Our internal target was to hit 10,000 crore for the first half of FY26, but we were in touching distance from the number.

Will the extended monsoons have an impact on consumption?

This year, the monsoon came early and is retreating late. This is something that we have to get used to.

I would say we've got to learn to execute beyond this. Climate change is for real. It's here to stay.

I can't be blaming weather and my point is you continue to execute.

Are you taking price hikes in coffee?

In coffee, after prices went up, we have now started to see some softening. For now, we have taken a price increase in July.

We have done a degramming exercise in November and we have announced another price increase effective January in the US. This is a constant exercise.



IMAGE: Sunil D'Souza.

Photograph: Courtesy, Tata Consumer.

Going forward, what will be the drivers of growth for the India business?

It's just distribution, branding and execution has come to the fore.

Going for volume growth, and then driving a bit of price mix on top of that, I think that's the critical piece.

Value added salts have come to the party very strongly. Base salt is growing, but the big growth is coming from the addition of value added salt.

In tea, it's distribution and a little bit of market share gains which are helping out.

In our growth categories, we've got long runways, whether it is the acquired businesses of Capital Foods and Organic India or the in grown businesses of Sampann.

It's just a question of expanding the product category portfolio and continuing to execute against those pieces.

When will Tata Consumer Products look to expand beyond foods?

The day we see growth from the food category starting to slow down, that is the day we'll start looking at, where else do we go. But today we need to drive a double-digit top line and drive margins in excess of the top line.

As long as we are doing that we are in a good place. Because remember when we move into the FMCG space, whether it is marketing, R&D, manufacturing, I have to learn new tricks.

The DNA of this organisation is all food and beverage, but getting into a deodorant or a detergent or a perfume is slightly different to the current categories we are present in. I would say it's some time off.

What is your margin guidance for the second half of the year?

We'll close the year with a close to 15 per cent Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) margin.

This quarter also, while we did a 13.6 per cent Ebitda margin, the impact from the US coffee pricing itself was 110 bps.

If I put that back, it is 14.7 per cent so that's why we're quite confident of hitting close to the 15 per cent plus number by Q4 (FY26).

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
'Solutions developed in India are being commercialised and offered globally because we're executing at scale, creating new markets and revenue streams.'

Kindly note that this illustration generated using Google Gemini has only been posted for representational purposes.

In this two-part interview with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff, Monica S Pirgal, CEO of Bhartiya Converge, reveals how tier-2 cities are becoming GCC magnets with government support and local talent pools.

She also reveals why metros still dominate leadership roles, the hub-and-spoke model's success, and India's evolution from cost-driven back offices to strategic innovation hubs powering Fortune 500 companies.

India's GCC industry is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030. From your perspective as someone who has led GCCs for global firms, what explains the accelerated confidence that global CEOs now have in India?

There are two key aspects to consider: The global scenario and what India offers globally. External factors such as supply chain concerns and tariff situations have created significant pressure on global businesses to either increase their top line or reduce operating costs to impact their bottom line positively.

As global CEOs seek solutions to these challenges, GCCs represent one of the best options available.

The confidence stems from proven success -- approximately 30 of the Fortune 500 companies have already established their global capability centres in India. This success is built upon India's strategic investments over the past 30 years in education, coupled with our English-speaking population, lower labour costs, and labour arbitrage advantages.

When you combine all these elements, it creates a highly successful formula for executing global work at reduced costs with the right talent arbitrage.

India now possesses well-trained talent that has matured over three decades of working in various GCCs. These professionals have progressed to senior leadership roles and possess deep industry understanding, enabling them to help global CEOs execute plans and visions crafted at global headquarters but implemented from India.

Additionally, our startup culture has significantly accelerated this trend. Bootstrapped and highly agile startups are developing solutions that global organisations can implement through GCCs at substantially lower costs, with innovation at the forefront of these startup communities.

Would you say that cost arbitrage is the most important reason why global companies establish GCCs in India?

No, that narrative was predominantly relevant about two decades ago, particularly in the early 2000s around 2005. During that period, large Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) companies came to India primarily for cost arbitrage because we had abundant deployable talent, and the salary differential was substantial.

However, the landscape has transformed dramatically. The same talent that started working two decades ago has now become very senior and requires no training -- it's essentially plug-and-play. Professionals are ready from day one and can deliver immediately. In contrast, back in 2004, when costs were lower, employers had to invest in training periods to prepare talent.

Today, cost arbitrage is completely secondary. Whilst it remains one of many driving factors, the primary attractions are our trained talent landscape, innovation mindset, and global exposure working with international setups.

The cultural understanding of working with US and UK companies -- including requirements, time zones, and business practices -- cannot be developed overnight. This expertise now plays a crucial role in CEOs' decisions to look towards India for solutions to problems being discussed in their boardrooms.

In the early years, GCCs were often dismissed as back-office centres. How have you seen their role transform, and what does this shift mean for global boardrooms?

You're absolutely correct. Twenty to thirty years ago, when work initially moved to India, the country was still being explored as a viable geography -- it was largely trial and error for global companies. With this experimental mindset, companies weren't willing to send leadership or transformational work to India. The approach was to have larger teams at headquarters with smaller extensions in India, simply executing tasks under guidance.

This led to the terminology of 'outsourced' versus 'captive' models, where captive centres had dedicated talent working exclusively for one account, unlike tech services where talent worked across multiple brands.

Today, with talent maturity and India's global readiness, the Indian workforce has become more globally oriented than many actual global MNCs themselves.

Many companies in the UK and US haven't ventured outside their own countries for business or talent leverage, whilst India has extensive experience with numerous GCCs, making us exceptionally prepared for global work requirements, time zones, and cultural nuances.

This maturity now drives innovation and transformations, with ownership increasingly residing in India. GCCs have evolved from cost centres to strategic innovation hubs that contribute directly to global business transformation.

Could you highlight some specific innovations being carried out at GCCs in India currently?

Across various industries, we're witnessing remarkable innovation.

In the automotive sector, substantial intellectual property and patents are being created through GCCs and R&D centres. For instance, Jaguar Land Rover claims that every car is touched by an Indian professional at some point in the manufacturing process, with numerous patents being generated locally.

Technology companies are creating innovations through startup collaborations and independent development. GCCs that initially came to build capabilities are now creating business value propositions.

Solutions developed in India are being commercialised and offered globally because we're executing at scale, creating new markets and revenue streams.

A notable example involves a major retailer where a technology solution developed for their specific needs proved so agile and effective that they monetised the concept, offering it to other retailers in the market.

This demonstrates how GCCs have evolved from being cost items on balance sheets to becoming revenue streams, identifying new revenue opportunities for global operations.

For the 30 Fortune 500 companies operating GCCs in India, what portion of their revenues could be attributed to Indian GCCs?

These 30 GCCs primarily function as capability centres building competencies for global businesses rather than creating markets specifically in India. Even as some GCCs support the Indian market alongside US or UK markets, the direct revenue impact from GCCs creating new revenue streams remains limited.

Currently, only a small percentage of GCCs are actually generating revenue streams -- I'd estimate this is still in single digits.

The primary function remains building capabilities for global operations rather than direct revenue generation, though this is gradually evolving.

Tier-2 cities like Coimbatore, Kochi, Jaipur and Indore are emerging as magnets for new GCC investments. Beyond cost advantages, what makes these locations attractive, and how does talent retention compare with metropolitan areas?

The evolution began when metropolitan cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgaon reached saturation after successfully capitalising on GCC opportunities due to available talent pools.

Recognising this lucrative opportunity for state revenue generation, other state governments developed highly viable and business-friendly GCC policies, offering rebates, refunds, and incentives to attract global companies.

The attractiveness of tier-2 cities is significantly enhanced by government support -- companies wouldn't naturally consider locations like Coimbatore without substantial governmental assistance in establishment.

This governmental support is complemented by educational infrastructure, with numerous colleges being established in tier-2 cities. Previously, graduates from these cities would migrate to metros for employment.

Now, with jobs available locally, there's reduced motivation for talent migration to tier-1 cities, creating more equitable talent distribution.

However, metros continue to dominate in leadership roles due to global exposure and transformational mindset requirements for GCC leadership.

The optimal model appears to be hub-and-spoke, where leadership remains in metros whilst operational teams function in tier-2 cities, combining the cost arbitrage of tier-2 locations with the leadership and talent arbitrage of tier-1 cities.
'As the team builds, each of them will bring in a different perspective, new thinking.'

IMAGE: The IndusInd Bank display board at a metro station in New Delhi. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Rajiv Anand took charge as the managing director and chief executive officer of IndusInd Bank in August after his predecessor quit following accounting lapses.

In a telephonic interaction with Manojit Saha/Business Standard, Anand spells out the road map to rebuild the private lender over the next three years.

Loans and deposits have fallen in Q2, both sequentially and year-on-year. Was that a conscious strategy?

It was a conscious call to shed some of our high-cost deposits and low-yielding assets. So, it is a rebalancing of the portfolio that is currently playing out.

If you notice, retail deposits have remained stable.

Our intent is to gradually replace higher-cost deposits with a larger share of Casa (Current Account and Savings Account) and retail deposits.

Casa is stable at around 31 per cent of total deposits.

The Casa ratio is lower than that of peers. How do you plan to improve the share?

There are multiple strategies to shore up our current and savings account balances. Firstly, we are not opening enough current accounts, and we need to improve team productivity.

Secondly, our salary account franchise is relatively weak, and that is something we are addressing.

We have traditionally had a very strong senior citizens' franchise, and we intend to build on that strength.

There is also work to be done in terms of operational efficiency and processes, which I am sure will enhance branch productivity.

Finally, we continue to invest in our digital capabilities, which will help us engage more effectively with existing customers.

Will this rebalancing of both the loan and deposit book continue for a few quarters?

The intent, of course, is to grow on a quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) basis. The way I see it, this is a three-year journey.

Year one is about bringing growth back to industry levels; the second is about growing faster than the industry; and the third year will be about dominating in some of our focus sectors.

The important thing to understand is that, from an Indian economy perspective, there is enough growth.

Given our relatively low market share, growth is not the issue. But before that, putting your house in order is very, very important.

What are the gaps you have identified, and how do you plan to plug them?

The most important gap I find is talent. We have begun addressing that.

A new chief financial officer has joined us, along with new heads of internal audit, marketing, and business transformation.

Our operations and processes also need improvement. The new head of business transformation will address that.

Some of the senior management members in the organisation are retiring over the next six to nine months.

Therefore, it is important for us to fill those gaps as well.

So, the primary focus is to rebuild the senior management team over the next six months.

As this team builds, each of them will bring in a different perspective, new thinking.

Collectively, the intent will be to make a better bank in the future.

You also need another whole-time director on the board since you are currently the only one. The RBI requires at least two.

Correct. We will plug that gap as soon as possible.

What are the gaps on the business front?

The bank has traditionally been very strong in vehicle finance and gems and jewellery, and it has a large microfinance business. We will continue to grow in these areas.

There are two areas that we want to build. One is micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Our relative positioning is still very small.

I believe the MSME space is a huge opportunity in the Indian context. I intend to invest in that and participate in that opportunity over the next decade.

The second is retail assets. Our traditional retail asset businesses are largely subscale, which gives us a huge opportunity to grow profitably while also supporting our liability franchise.

IndusInd Bank has been reducing its microfinance portfolio, which is now 7 per cent of the loan book. Will you reduce it further?

One has to understand that the microfinance business has traditionally been volatile. We are currently evaluating what is the correct proportionality of microfinance for us.

It will continue to be an important part of our portfolio. Because from a return on equity (ROE) perspective as well, it is attractive.

Most importantly, it provides us priority-sector lending (PSL) compliance.

But we don't intend to return to the proportions of 10-12 per cent that we earlier had. Where exactly we will settle is something we are working on.

Will you also expand the credit card book? It has contracted in the past few quarters. Private peers have been aggressive in this segment.

As far as the credit card business is concerned, the bank has built a reasonably strong franchise, and we can continue to grow that business.

The focus will be on serving existing clients of the bank. IndusInd has always been known for innovation.

I'm sure you remember the innovation of having any number as your account number, for example.

Therefore, we will use our innovation muscle to be able to strengthen our credit card business as well.

The retail-corporate mix in the loan book is 60:40. Will this change going forward?

Broadly speaking, 60-40 ratio is where we want to be, though we may go up and down 5 percentage points. Ultimately, it is where we are able to optimise ROE as we go forward.

On the asset quality front, there was around Rs 2,500 crore writeoff in Q2. How long will the pain continue?

Most of the writeoffs were in the microfinance segment. Our provision coverage ratio has also gone from 70 to 72 per cent as well.

Therefore, we will need to balance out the provisions that we have in a relative to loss given default. It's a continuous evaluation process.

Is the worst over for the microfinance business, or do you expect more pain?

We expect slippages in the microfinance business to start improving from Q4.

Apart from microfinance, are there any other portfolios where asset quality is a concern?

Other portfolios currently running from a credit quality perspective are broadly stable on a Q-o-Q basis.

You took charge at a time when things were not looking good. What was your initial assessment of the bank and its potential?

There are many white spaces within the bank, such as MSME, retail assets, and rural banking, that we can build out. The size of the opportunity here is tremendous.

We have over 3,000 branches, a very strong capital position, a large multi-segmental customer base, and a brand that has weathered the storm.

I think it is a very good starting position for us to be able to capture the opportunities that India will be able to provide.

Where do you see the bank three years from now?

I really want this to be a bank that all our stakeholders, such as investors, regulators, customers, and employees, see as a trusted institution, one they can be proud of in three years.

Any fundraising plans for the current financial year?

Our capital situation is very strong. The capital adequacy ratio is 17.1 per cent, up from 16.63 per cent on June 30. Therefore, we have no plans to raise equity at this point.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'We sent just 500 people from India to the US on H-1B visas. There is no dependence on H-1B visas.'

India's largest information technology services provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been in the news for the past three months, first for laying off around 12,000 employees and more recently over the H-1B visa issue.

In an interview with Shivani Shinde/Business Standard in Mumbai, Chief Executive Officer K Krithivasan discusses the layoffs, visa challenges, AI strategy, and the company's next major focus on data centres.

You mentioned that TCS performed well in the second quarter despite macro challenges, yet uncertainty persists. How do you see the next two quarters shaping up?

There is a small positive bias, as the number of deferrals -- where projects are being paused -- has come down slightly sequentially.

Almost all verticals, except the consumer business, have turned positive.

Across geographies, all except the UK have performed well. In the UK, we faced a specific situation in an insurance claim where the price per policy saw a steep decline.

What's also making us confident is our big-bet strategy. Almost all service lines are driving growth, particularly AI and data, albeit from a small base.

The recent US decisions on H-1B visas have significantly impacted the industry. What's your perspective on this environment, and what implications does it have for the largest IT services player?

We have 31,000 to 32,000 employees in the US, of whom only 11,000 to 12,000 are on H-1B visas, while the rest are on other types of visas.

We have been progressively increasing local workforce participation, which will continue because the way of work has changed with new kinds of projects and AI coming into play, where you need to work closely with the customer and need different skill sets.

It is not just about engineering skills anymore; there is a growing demand for creative thinking and prompt engineering skills.

In FY26, we sent just 500 people from India to the US on H-1B visas, which means we can survive without them (H-1B visas). There is no dependence on H-1B visas.

But, for a long period, H1-B visas were part of not only the cost policy but also the retention policy...

Times have changed. There was a time when this was a significant retention policy, but over the past four-five years, it has been on a declining trend.

It is now far less of a retention policy than it once was, and we should not be assessing today's scenario through yesterday's lens.

Can you comment on the letter from US Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin which questions TCS for laying off over 12,000 employees globally while simultaneously hiring more than 5,500 H-1B workers?

I was neither happy nor unhappy. It gave me an opportunity to articulate our positions more clearly and to address the senators' questions about the H-1B issue.

First of all, we discussed the figure of 5,500. Most of these numbers relate to people who are amending or renewing their petitions; they are not fresh approvals.

Fresh approvals are much lower, probably around 2,500. However, everything is recorded as an application or petition, which often causes confusion.

It also allowed me to explain what we are doing, including the steps we are taking to work with local academia, where we are deeply involved.

In the US, we train and recruit people. We hae a large training centre in Cincinnati.

We work with schools and tell students that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education is an important career choice.

TCS aims to become the largest AI-driven technology services company. But what does that really mean?

We have been focused on this for some time. We discussed how we have been training all our associates and the platforms we have been building based on client demand.

We have also been working with MIT to explore what could be the next frontier.

Our strategy rests on five pillars: Internal transformation, transformational services, workforce transformation, and the transformation of both value chain and broader ecosystem.

We've strengthened our leadership and brought in Aarthi to drive all service lines.

We got Amit Kapoor, previously heading the UK operations, to lead the AI unit.

Janardhan Santhanam was appointed CIO to lead internal cultural transformation, while Mangesh Sathe took on the role of overall strategy officer to steer mergers and acquisitions.

Why are you focusing on data centres?

We do it because it gives the opportunity to offer an end-to-end solution. In India, we are providing sovereign cloud as an offering, and for some customers, we are providing private cloud.

There are many clients with whom we are undertaking significant AI work in India.

Having a data centre allows me to create a private cloud for them and offer it as a service. It helps working with the hyperscalers.

They want this pure play; AI players want it, and so do deep-tech companies.

There is considerable synergy, with benefits flowing in multiple directions from being a central player in the ecosystem.

Even some of these hyperscalers are keen to collaborate with us. The structure we are proposing is a mix of equity and debt.

For the equity portion, we are looking for financial partners to come on board.

About 150 Mw will require an investment of $1 billion. This is planned over 5 to 7 years.

Many employees have said they didn't see these redundancies coming, especially given this is the Tata group. How would you respond to that?

Two groups of people have been impacted: Those on the bench for three to six months, and those affected by underperformance.

I don't believe the Tata group, while humane, would have retained employees with performance issues.

Additionally, we have relieved individuals where we see a skill mismatch for the future.

The company is pivoting to be future-ready and a big player in the AI ecosystem.

If someone doesn't fit into the scheme of things, we need to exit them gracefully. This approach, I believe, does not conflict with our ethos.

There's also concern that bench players are under scrutiny, so the 2 per cent could end up being slightly higher...

Two per cent was the estimate at the time. I also want to differentiate between people on the bench who have not been able to deploy themselves and those who face a skills and capability mismatch, where they may not fit in for the future.

These are two different sets. If someone is unable to be allocated within a certain period, we believe the responsibility lies with both the organisation and the individual.

They need to be deployable and engaged with the customer; in that sense, I would consider it more of a performance issue.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train departing from north China's Tianjin Municipality. The first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train from Tianjin to Baku, Azerbaijan, departed on Monday, carrying goods such as stainless steel pipes and household appliances. The train, operated by China Railway Beijing Group, will leave the country via Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before traversing Kazakhstan and ultimately being shipped across the Caspian Sea to Baku. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

TIANJIN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train from north China's Tianjin Municipality to Baku, Azerbaijan, departed on Monday, carrying goods such as stainless steel pipes and household appliances.

The train, operated by China Railway Beijing Group, will leave the country via Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before traversing Kazakhstan and ultimately being shipped across the Caspian Sea to Baku.

This new route adds a stable and efficient freight channel connecting Tianjin with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and other countries, said Yang Junyong from Tianjin Container Center Station.

Spanning a journey of approximately 7,000 kilometers in about 20 days, the route cuts travel time by around 10 days compared to traditional sea transport, according to Yang.

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, serves as a pivotal hub in the cross-Caspian international multimodal transport corridor. Upon arrival from Tianjin, goods can be further distributed to other destinations from Baku.

In 2025, the station operated a total of 390 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains, marking a year-on-year increase of 38 percent. 

This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train departing from north China's Tianjin Municipality. The first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train from Tianjin to Baku, Azerbaijan, departed on Monday, carrying goods such as stainless steel pipes and household appliances.

The train, operated by China Railway Beijing Group, will leave the country via Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before traversing Kazakhstan and ultimately being shipped across the Caspian Sea to Baku. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

A drone photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train departing from north China's Tianjin Municipality. The first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train from Tianjin to Baku, Azerbaijan, departed on Monday, carrying goods such as stainless steel pipes and household appliances.

The train, operated by China Railway Beijing Group, will leave the country via Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before traversing Kazakhstan and ultimately being shipped across the Caspian Sea to Baku. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train departing from north China's Tianjin Municipality. The first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train from Tianjin to Baku, Azerbaijan, departed on Monday, carrying goods such as stainless steel pipes and household appliances.

The train, operated by China Railway Beijing Group, will leave the country via Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before traversing Kazakhstan and ultimately being shipped across the Caspian Sea to Baku. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
'Foreign capital will continue to come directly into India, but companies have realised that GIFT City is a more cost-efficient way of channelling funds.'

IMAGE: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launches the Sensex Futures & Options Contracts of India International Exchange, at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, February 3, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Five years after the International Financial Services Centres Authority (Ifsca) was set up as India's unified financial-sector regulator, business activity at the GIFT City IFSC has accelerated.

Backed by regulatory initiatives, the country's sole financial services centre has crossed key milestones -- from registering more than 1,000 entities to facilitating over $100 billion in loan disbursements by banks.

K Rajaraman, chairman of the Ifsca, says the centre's rise is inseparable from India's own economic trajectory.

In a conversation with Samie Modak/Business Standard in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, he outlines how the IFSC is emerging as a hub for India Inc's foreign-currency needs Over 18-20 months, the centre has made significant progress.

What has given a fillip to the Ifsca and GIFT City?

The biggest factor is India's growth story. India today has a tremendous requirement for capital across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, aircraft, semiconductors, electronics, telecom, defence, pharmaceuticals, batteries, and solar manufacturing.

All of this requires large amounts of capital. While companies have their own cash reserves, many of these large projects will also require foreign capital.

The idea is that GIFT City will provide the required foreign-currency debt, equity, and related financial services, including insurance, to support this growth.

Is it fair to say that a significant share of India's need for foreign capital can now be met from GIFT City?

Foreign capital will continue to come directly into India, but companies have realised that GIFT City is a more cost-efficient way of channelling funds.

Today, there are 35 bank branches in the IFSC, and the target is to reach at least 50 in the next one or two years.

As more strong banks come in from across the globe, a large part of India's capital requirements will be met through this route.

What is the role of GIFT City in external commercial borrowing (ECB) and foreign flows?

Over the past one year, around 36 per cent, or roughly $19 billion, of ECB ($61 billion in all) has come through GIFT City banks. The expectation is that this share will go up.

Besides, about $8 billion of equity capital has also flowed into India through funds set up here. This capital is largely foreign money.

Is this mainly due to cost advantages, or are there other benefits?

There are five-six key advantages. The first is India's growth story. The second is the human capital advantage -- India's skilled workforce.

Third, the cost of living in and around GIFT City is relatively low.

Fourth, there is a favourable tax policy. Finally, and most importantly, there is a regulatory ecosystem that is simple and inspires confidence among global and domestic players.

What new growth areas are you prioritising for GIFT City?

One major area identified is commodity trading. Most established international financial centres -- Hong Kong, Singapore, and London -- grew significantly on the back of trading activity.

Is there any concern that GIFT City could be eroding India's onshore tax collection or leading to tax arbitrage?

The regulations are designed to ensure there is no arbitrage. For example, if a technology company sets up in GIFT City, it is required to do foreign business and cannot provide services to the domestic India market.

The IFSCA focuses on financial-market regulation and supervision.

Income-tax assessments are carried out by the income-tax authorities, and other agencies such as the Financial Intelligence Unit oversee issues relating to money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Have you encountered instances of misuse or regulatory violations in the IFSC?

Supervision teams are constantly inspecting entities.

Banks and funds, which are the largest entities in the centre, submit monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, and there are onsite inspections to verify that they are doing only licensed businesses.

In cases where violations have been found, action has been taken, including the cancellation of licences.

For instance, the licence of an insurance broker dealing with a country grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force was cancelled.

As a unified regulator, how challenging is it to manage regulations that cut across other regulators' domains?

The staff is drawn from other regulators. There are officers who have joined either on deputation or through absorption.

In addition, there are people from banks, insurance companies, and bullion markets.

On top of this, people are sent for international training.

What Gift City offers to local Indians looking to invest abroad?

Indian investors in Mumbai have long been investing directly in markets like New York, and the Reserve Bank of India data shows that $2 billion-3 billion goes out every year under the category "investment abroad".

The idea now is to route at least part of this flow through GIFT City.

Has GIFT City captured a meaningful share of this $2 billion-3 billion?

Part of it has begun to flow via GIFT City structures such as feeder funds. For example, there are feeder funds that invest in American stocks.

Currently, about 95 per cent of the funds in GIFT City are inbound and about 5 per cent outbound.

How are you looking at building the retail investor ecosystem?

The retail ecosystem is just beginning to take shape.

Recently, assisted video KYC (know your customer) regulations were notified, making taking on board investors in a remote manner much easier.

On listing, you had said that one filing had been made. When can we expect to see the first initial public offering (IPO)?

An IPO is expected in the next couple of months.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'India needs at least 70,000 to 80,000 eyewear stores; our 2,000 stores are just a drop in the ocean.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy Lenskart/Facebook

Ahead of its debut on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Monday, November 10, 2025, eyewear company Lenskart's Co-founder, CEO and MD Peyush Bansal discusses plans and the challenges of the business in a video interview with Surajeet Das Gupta/Business Standard.

One of the reasons for the IPO was raising funds for your expansion. How do you plan to build the relatively unorganised eyewear segment in India?

There are 500 million Indians who require glasses. But we have 60 eyewear stores for one million people, which is the lowest in any category, though we have 1,200 jewellery stores for a million.

We have only 30 optometrists for a million people. So, we have not even scratched the surface of the myopia problem.

What we need is at least 70,000 to 80,000 stores. And, we will have to lead -- currently we have over 2,000 stores, which is not even a drop in the ocean compared to where we need to be.

How are you addressing the problem?

We have to create an ecosystem of distribution. We did 16 million eye tests last year, but we have to go up to 100 million.

We are currently in 400 cities but want to expand to another 600 cities in the mid- and long-term. What the industry has lacked is technology.

What we are trying to do is not put on an optician's hat but a technology hat or the Amazon hat and unlock the challenges of distribution.

We have developed a centralised distribution system -- instead of a local supply chain -- so if someone wants glasses in Dimapur, I can make the glasses centrally and give them to him or her.

We are resolving the shortage of optometrists by remote technology -- so someone sitting in Kolkata can leverage the Internet of things and artificial intelligence to do eye testing for someone in Dimapur or Jodhpur. The eventual aim is to serve a billion people.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Lenskart

Do you position yourself as a tech company or a retail company, as tech companies seem to give better valuations?

It does not matter to us at all. Like, for example, is Apple Inc a phone company or a tech company? I would say it is a phone company.

We are an eye care company, and for us, serving and surprising our consumers is what matters. We are a tech-enabled eyewear company.

As much as 40 per cent of your revenue comes from foreign markets. Do you see this changing, and how are you choosing which markets to go and penetrate?

We have defined the circle where we want to operate, and these are the markets where the gap is the most.

If you look at eyewear as a category, the problem is the largest in this part of the world, and it is also unorganised.

These markets are India, South Asia, Japan and the Middle East. Myopia rates are very high in this region -- optometrist availability is low at 30 to 35 a million. And, glasses are expensive.

So, there is an opportunity to create a 10x value for the customer here.

Our prominent markets currently are Singapore, where we already have a double-digit market share, Dubai and Japan. And, the new markets emerging are Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Lenskart/Facebook

So, your aim is to be an Indian company with an international brand presence?

As a consumer brand, Lenskart has to be an internationally renowned brand because it raises the quality bar that you are a global brand.

If you see the journey of a lot of brands in the last 20 years, especially in apparel and footwear, international brands came and took away their market share.

But if you sell lenses in Singapore and Japan, it raises the quality bar of the products we deliver in India. Otherwise, you might face disruption from international brands any time.

We won't go to the UK and the US as this business is already organised in this part of the world. Also, we have become the largest eyewear brand in Asia.

Does it make sense for you to manufacture lenses and frames in India when you can import from China, which is cheap and especially as you depend on it for components?

It is a misnomer. Our manufacturing cost is 20 per cent lower than China.

We make the lenses here, and 50 per cent of the frames are manufactured here. We expect this to go up to 70 to 80 per cent.

We have to develop the capabilities as we need glasses which are high quality but affordable.

I don't see cost as a challenge, as we have 500 million people who need glasses in the country.



IMAGE: Peyush Bansal.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Peyush Bansal/X

You have also started experimenting by providing services at home. How has that worked?

We are now in eight cities and doing over 1,000 tests every day at home. We will continue to scale up the number of home agents.

Urban Company and pathology labs have already done it successfully.

We are also doing micromarketing -- in Bengaluru, for instance, we have 170 stores, which is the maximum number except maybe pharma stores.

The whole idea is to build a community and go and build that personalisation -- customers can engage us online, go to our store nearby, and no matter where you buy, you are just my customer.

There is a new market opening up for smart glasses. How do you approach this area where global giants have already entered?

It is in a very early stage. And yes, there is a high-performing market, which is maybe the top 5 per cent of India.

We are taking a very open approach and have invested in an augmented reality company.

We will be launching our own camera glasses very soon, for which we have tied up with Qualcomm.

We have integrated with UPI for making payments, which is a great use case for glasses.

We are building the whole technology stack ourselves as we don't want to be only a manufacturer of frames and a distributor, and outsource technology to a Google or a Meta maybe.

We will also build software which is customised for India. We will invest here for the long term.

As you focus on affordability, will you stay away from the growing luxury market where glasses are lifestyle products?

There is a market in luxury but it has not evolved -- you pay the same amount which you paid years ago to get the same product largely.

We will play in this category, but not sell products which have not evolved.

We will get you products of the future in terms of style, comfort and utility like we did with Jacob Johns.

About 18 per cent of our customers buy products above 10,000. So, we are building for future brands.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
'For most investors, I recommend a low double-digit allocation (10 to 12 per cent) to gold and silver combined.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy Annaca Pictures/Pixabay

As gold and silver prices boom, Kotak Mutual Fund has suspended lump-sum and switch-in investments in its Kotak Silver ETF Fund of Fund (FoF).

Nilesh Shah, managing director, Kotak Mahindra AMC, tells Puneet Wadhwa/Business Standard in a telephonic interview the reasons for the decision and the road ahead for equity and commodity markets.

Kotak MF has stopped lump sum and switch-in investments in silver ETF FoF. What's the logic behind this sudden move?

The suspension was arrived at based on price dynamics. The ETF price is linked to global silver prices converted into rupees, plus import duty and GST.

Let's say the global price is $50 per ounce. Converted at Rs 90 per dollar, that's Rs 4,500. Add about 7 per cent import duty and GST, and the fair price becomes roughly Rs 5,000 per ounce.

However, in the physical market, jewellers and bullion dealers are quoting around Rs 5,500 per ounce of silver. That is because there's currently a shortage of physical silver -- maybe due to a shipment delay, short covering, or festive season demand.

Normally, such premiums are very small -- typically, around 0.5 per cent-- but not 10 per cent.

So, when investors buy my Silver ETF, they are effectively paying Rs 5,500 instead of Rs 5,000.

Since my fund of funds invests in that ETF, investors end up paying 10 per cent above the fair import parity price. The move to freeze was to protect investor interest.

Do you expect redemption pressures in related schemes given the run-up in gold and silver prices?

Our fund of funds isn't allowed to invest in silver futures, only in silver ETFs. So, we had no option but to pause fresh purchases -- otherwise, investors would enter at a 10 per cent premium.

We're advising investors that if they want exposure to silver, they can buy silver ETFs directly or invest in silver futures at prices that are 10 per cent cheaper than entering our FoF.

This move is purely to protect investor interest, and I believe other fund houses will follow suit. No one wants to hurt investors.

Is the silver supply shortage genuine?

It's a temporary aberration. Commodities always find their equilibrium.

When the Hunt Brothers pushed silver prices to $50 in the 1980s, people started melting silver utensils -- supply eventually came back. Such premiums don't last long.

Is the rally in gold and silver running on fumes, rather than fundamentals?

There are no traditional fundamentals to value gold or silver. Their value is perceptive -- people believe they are stores of value and globally tradable, and hence they command a premium.

The rally in gold prices began in 2022, when Russia's forex reserves were frozen by Western nations.

That prompted central banks worldwide to start accumulating gold, leading to a faster price rise.

Silver, the poor man's gold, followed. The gold-silver ratio was stretched, and silver also has industrial demand.

In August, there was even a rumour that Saudi Arabia's central bank had bought silver ETFs.

All these factors -- along with a weaker dollar and the US freezing Russian reserves -- have driven central banks to diversify.

They've been buying nearly 1,000 tonnes of gold annually for the past three years.

Between equity, gold and silver, where should investors put their money?

It's not just about maximising returns, but also about risk management. There's no fundamental method to value gold or silver -- they are perceived stores of value.

One should not put a significant portion of your portfolio in precious metals.

If the risk appetite allows, go ahead -- but for most investors, I recommend a low double-digit allocation (10 to 12 per cent) to gold and silver combined.

That said, we remain bullish on both, but don't expect last year's kind of returns or daily 3 to 4 per cent gains.

It doesn't work that way. There will be corrections, as seen in the past.

What kind of returns do you expect from equities over the next year?

Returns will depend on earnings growth. For 2026-2027, we expect earnings growth in the high single- to low-double digits, and investors should expect similar returns. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Should investors stay away from gold and silver for now?

No, not at all. We remain bullish on both asset classes, but investors must watch central bank activity closely.

If central banks start selling instead of buying gold, I would be the first to exit.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
'The informal sector can grow at a 100 per cent rate -- we have to plan big.'

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Chairman Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, in an exclusive interview with Harsh Kumar/Business Standard in New Delhi, said the regulator is exploring ways to effectively reach the rural segment.

He said the proposal to implement pension sakhis, suggested by the finance minister last week, is both practical and well-tested.

Implementation, he added, would involve engaging self-help group (SHG) networks and identifying leaders within these groups.

Ramann also spoke about the challenges ahead and shared insights into the National Pension System (NPS) and the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

How is PFRDA moving forward on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's suggestion to explore the possibility of training women as pension sakhis to boost NPS enrolments?

The Pension Sakhi model, inspired by bima sakhis, is a very important initiative. We've been exploring ways to effectively reach the rural segment, and this proposal is both practical and tested.

Implementation would involve engaging SHG networks and identifying leaders within these groups -- each group typically has a champion or key member.

Moreover, the Lakhpati Didi concept can be leveraged.

Through these channels, targeted training can be provided to help them understand NPS and its benefits.

We plan to work with bank sakhis, or alternatively provide them with pension-specific features.

This approach may be faster and more efficient than recruiting an entirely new set of personnel, which can be challenging.

Discussions with the Life Insurance Corporation of India indicate that bima sakhis and bank sakhis can also receive incentives and commissions for their role.

On the cost side, a committee has been set up to review distribution charges and their further implementation.

While most stakeholders acknowledge that NPS is a low-cost product, this minimal cost actually enables faster distribution.

Can we expect any changes in the Atal Pension Yojana?

We've started outreach efforts for gig workers through partnership models.

Pension funds are reaching out to large platforms -- for example, those employing security guards.

There are many platform-based and digital gig workers; they form a large part of the informal sector, along with the self-employed.

Each group is different -- doctors and lawyers are easier to reach; drivers, domestic workers, and plumbers in urban centres are harder.

Pension funds have been allowed higher distribution costs to reach these groups and can use media campaigns continuously.

Right now, there are no major discussions to revise the scheme. However, a review is carried out every five years.

What is the status of OPS amid the entry of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and the existence of NPS?

Some states, after initially opting for OPS, have switched back to NPS, while others are in the process of doing so and moving towards UPS.

OPS is fiscally unsustainable and creates large liabilities for the government.

Globally, many countries have shifted from defined benefit to defined contribution schemes, especially after the global financial crisis.

Governments need funds for development, and continuously financing rising pensions is not feasible. We believe states will eventually adopt UPS, and we are preparing projections to demonstrate its advantages.

The key difference between UPS and OPS lies in the handling of Pay Commission hikes. Overall, OPS remains a costly and unsustainable model.

What assets under management do you expect for NPS in 2025-26?

Growth has been around 28 per cent year-on-year for the past few years. We want to be ambitious and push partners in the ecosystem to increase uptake, especially in the informal sector.

The informal sector can grow at a 100 per cent rate -- we have to plan big. I'm confident we will exceed 30 per cent growth this financial year.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'The steel industry has a multiplier effect on direct and indirect employment, national security on the supply chain, technology access etc.'

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

Tata Steel Netherlands (TSN) recently signed an agreement with the Dutch government for getting 2 billion euro in state support for the first phase of its plans to cut emissions at its IJmuiden plant.

Koushik Chatterjee, executive director and chief financial officer of Tata Steel, told Ishita Ayan Dutt/Business Standard in a video interview why State funding is key to the companys low-carbon transition in the Netherlands and how fair-trade rules proposed by the European Union (EU) could shape its operations.

Whats next after signing the joint letter of intent (JLoI) with the Netherlands?

The engagement with the Netherlands government on the terms of the tailor-made agreement and policy conditions will be initiated after the formation of a new government.

The Dutch government has estimated a total investment of 4-6.5 billion euros for the project. Is this for the first phase and how long will the project take?

I will not comment on the capex or investment at this stage, as we are in the engineering phase, which will take some time to finalise, as we also prioritise, optimise and sequence the investment plan.

The scope of the current decarbonisation is one blast furnace transition to low-carbon steelmaking configuration, while the second blast furnace transition is at least a decade away.

Do the upcoming Dutch elections pose any risk to the agreements implementation?

The non-binding JLoI marks the first milestone in a long, political and regulatory process where both parties have agreed on the landscape they want to work on, ie, the aims and objectives.

This is an integrated project with many sub-projects and the tailor-made agreement will have oversight from the Dutch parliament and the European Commission.

In the coalition political landscape in the Netherlands, most parties are aware of the importance of steel sovereignty, and there is broad bipartisan support for this decarbonisation proposal.

How critical is government support for Tata Steel Netherlands long-term European strategy?

In decarbonisation, companies dont add capacity but transition to a low-carbon process technology, such as DRI (direct reduced iron) and electric arc furnace (in this case), to structurally address the carbon economics where carbon is priced.

Decarbonisation projects in Europe are typically part-funded by governments, as it also helps countries achieve their nationally determined contribution.

The balance funding is done by the company, project financing and indirectly by the customer (through green steel premium and the carbon border adjustment mechanism, or CBAM, which is a carbon actualisation cost). Hence, the government funding support of 2 billion euro is critical for the transition.

But unlike the United Kingdom, your operations in the Netherlands have been self-sustaining.

Yes, the two cases are very different. In the UK, the upstream assets had end-of-life issues, which are being replaced by low-carbon technology that will leverage UKs steel scrap availability and funding support of the UK government to enhance the viability.

The configuration in the Netherlands is much larger, and the project configuration is very different to meet the substrate requirements of the product-mix.

While TSN is a profitable business and will contribute significantly to the project, government funding support is essential for the project.

When do you think you are going to finalise the binding agreement?

In the JLoI negotiated with the Netherlands, both parties have a one-year timeline to sort out conditions, including engineering, before finalising the tailor-made agreement and the final investment decision.

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

What policy changes in the Netherlands do you seek?

It is important that in the same economic area like the EU, companies must have a level playing field.

Thats the primary policy ask, so that there is no disparity on energy costs especially network costs, additional levies on CO2 etc.

These policy redesigns are important for the viability of decarbonisation investments.

Where do you see European operations in three to five years?

A new plant in the UK will be ready in three years, as the site work has already started.

The Netherlands project will take time as we have to go through the due process.

The Netherlands operations is one of the lowest carbon emitters in the steel industry, yet it has taken the lead and after this phase of transition, 6 million tons out of our combined European and UK portfolio of 10 mt, will be green steel.

With CBAM coming into force from 2026, what would the 6 mt of green play mean for Tata Steel?

I think, in the next decade or so, we would certainly see that the CBAM and fair-trade measures will result in a higher level of stabilised prices for steel in Europe.

That structurally enhances the profitability of the low-carbon steel footprint in Europe for Tata Steel.

Will you have a head start in Europe with the transition?

While I think this is a fairly long process of transition for everyone, our approach has been a lot more pragmatic, especially in terms of the usage of future fuels like hydrogen and biomethane.

How do you see the EU's recent announcement on tariffs? What will be the likely impact on Tata Steel in Europe?

The European Commissions announcement is essentially to address the issues of oversupply of unfairly priced imports that do not bear the carbon costs that EU steel companies are exposed to.

The measures are essentially on reducing the tariff-free import volumes, increasing tariff on "out of quota" volumes to 50 per cent and introducing melt and pour conditions to prevent circumvention via re-exports.

Sovereignty in foundational industries is now critical for any country, especially in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

The steel industry has a multiplier effect on direct and indirect employment, national security on the supply chain, technology access etc.

Therefore, fair protection for the domestic steel industry helps restore the level playing field versus low-priced imports, encourage investments in the industry and create value.

Post-implementation, the EU fair-trade measures should support the pricing environment and have a positive impact on Tata Steel Netherlands.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
'It is not looking at valuation, but investment, growth and ultimately better profit for stakeholders.'

Photograph: Mahipal Soni/Rediff

UAE-based Emirates NBD PJSC has entered into an agreement with Mumbai-based RBL Bank to invest Rs 26,850 crore (around $3 billion) for a stake of up to 60 per cent, marking the largest cross-border investment in an Indian private bank.

RBL Bank's Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer R Subramaniakumar spoke to Subrata Panda/Business Standard in an interview in Mumbai.

How are you looking to use the funds that will come into the bank for growth?

Currently, we are focusing on getting the transaction completed. But, we have a broad plan to guide our next steps.

Our focus will be on developing more profitable products, expanding our credit card portfolio with personalised offerings, and enhancing distribution by increasing our branch network from 569 to around 1,000-1,200 branches over time.

This will help mobilise more deposits. Additionally, the capabilities of our existing corporate and commercial banking verticals will be strengthened.

Our aim is to increase our market share from the current 0.5 per cent to around 1 per cent.

There are new areas we can foray into, including cross-border transactions, trade finance, wealth management, and digital payments business along the West Asia-India corridor as a result of the investment.

Will there be a change in management, following merger with Emirates NBD India branches and it coming along as a promoter?

I don't believe it will materially impact anything, as the number of people in their branches is quite small.

So, you will lead the bank for the foreseeable future?

My term has been renewed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which reflects the confidence it has in me.

I believe the board shares this confidence as well. My focus remains on the 31,000 employees at the bank, ensuring their productivity, efficiency, and overall contribution.

Since RBL will be Emirates NBD's listed subsidiary in India, so its stake cannot go below 51 per cent?

It is a long-term investor. It has made it clear that it would come in for at least 15-20 years.

It is not looking at valuation, but investment, growth and ultimately better profit for stakeholders.

Will you now look to get into other financial services businesses, such as insurance and asset management, among others?

Right now, these things are there in the corner of our mind. Naturally, when our ambition is to be in the league of large banks, we would look at the other areas in financial services.

We do have an ambition to become a financial conglomerate. But right now, we are not focused on that.

What made you go with Emirates NBD?

Our intention was to raise substantial capital for the bank's long-term growth. While evaluating opportunities, we considered whether to raise it in tranches or in a single go.

And overall, we found the latter to be a viable option.

Was there a soft signal from the regulator, or the government that they are comfortable with this deal?

We approached this by consulting people who are familiar with regulatory processes.

In fact, the chairman of our board was part of RBI earlier, giving him a solid understanding of how things work.

As a result, we received extensive feedback. We had a feeling that, although it is difficult to do, it might work out.

How much will Emirates NBD eventually hold in the bank?

We think that it will be up to 60 per cent, and following the merger of the branches, some additional shares will be allotted to it.

How long do you think it will take to get regulatory approvals for the transaction?

We can't give a specific timeline because it is in the domain of the regulators and the government. But we feel all the approvals should be in place within 6-8 months.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'It will increase the contribution to gratuity, which is something the employer has to give.'

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Days after the Centre notified the long-pending four labour Codes, the labour ministry is busy with preparatory work in finalising the rules.

In an interview at her office in New Delhi, Labour Secretary Vandana Gurnani tells Shiva Rajora and Asit Ranjan Mishra/Business Standard how the ministry plans to enforce worker protections without bureaucratic drags and how states are aligning their rules with the national framework.

Labour is a concurrent subject and states too need to notify the Labour Code rules.

How are the states gearing up? What kind of interaction are you having with the states?

Interaction is a continuous process. It is not that it is happening only now. We've had six regional consultations with the states and their rules are in sync with the national framework.

States have the flexibility to adapt the rules to their local context. We will continue to have this engagement and in areas where they need support.

Since states have the flexibility in rulemaking, don't you think rules may diverge drastically and in turn may create problems for both employees as well as employers?

The rules that states have made are in sync with whatever the national framework is. In the Codes, there are sections in which only the states have to make rules, so they will be making those rules.

So it's not as if there will be a huge divergence because the overall framework has been set by the Codes. We have not seen any such divergence [yet].

How do you ensure that worker-friendly provisions such as the minimum wage and universal social security are executed?

On minimum wage, there is no confusion regarding its application. It is universal now. Many a time legislation is not enforced easily because of grey areas [in interpretation].

Soon floor wage will also be declared, meaning that no state can set its minimum wage below the floor rate.

We want to make the inspection system web-based, using artificial intelligence and big data.

We would make sure that the energy of the labour machinery is focused on defaulting organisations and that it has better oversight over such organisations. Human interface is going to be reduced.

On safeguards for workers, grievance-redressing committees with tripartite representation are proposed in workplaces, apart from having trade unions.

In fact, trade unions get legal recognition under the Codes.

Tribunals, which are the legal recourse for workers, are also being broadbased. Each tribunal will have an administrative member, along with a judicial member.

This is being done with the expectation that a two-member tribunal will be able to dispose of cases faster. So these are the legal safeguards.

For social security to unorganised workers a tripartite national board will be set up, which will be able to oversee the rollout of the social security for the unorganised sector.

Similarly, a separate board has been proposed for gig and platform workers. All these will be tripartite in nature.

Due to change in the definition of wage, companies also have to change the wage structure.

Don't you think it will be unpopular with the employees because the take-home salary may come down?

This formula needs to be understood. It says that if the allowances are more than 50 per cent (of the total) -- in the past there was a tendency to depress the wage and to increase the allowances -- the difference gets added to the basic wage.

Now, what does it do? It will increase the contribution to gratuity, which is something the employer has to give.

It will increase the maternity benefit, which is linked to the wage and is, again, the employer's responsibility.

When it comes to provident fund [remember that] contribution is mandatory up to basic wage of Rs 15,000. It's a very small amount or a small proportion.

The vast majority is voluntary and is between employer and employee. Hence, the impact of this in terms on the number of people affected, as well as the amount of deduction, is going to be minuscule.

Therefore saying the take-home salary will drastically reduce is [not right].

The International Monetary Fund on November 26 said AI might disrupt the labour market in India significantly.

How do you see this in the context of the Codes? How prepared are we?

Most assessments have shown while AI will disrupt some jobs, it will also create jobs.

We in the labour ministry are trying our best to make sure that our national career service (NCS) portal, which we offer as a job-matching kind of a service, is upgraded.

It has been significantly upgraded. We are working on a pilot where we want to see how we can take NCS towards our digital public infrastructure, which can be used by various people in the ecosystem.

***

Govt to release compliance handbook for new labour codes: Labour secy

The Centre is set to release a compliance handbook to help businesses comply with the four new labour codes, Labour Secretary Vandana Gurnani said on Friday.

Speaking at an event organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gurnani said the government will work with the industry for smooth implementation of the codes and better understanding of the new system of compliances.

"We are also working on a compliance handbook, which will tell what the simplified compliances now are. We will disseminate it physically as well as electronically," Gurnani said.

The labour secretary further added that the government and the industry need to collaborate so they can together carry this message to the last mile where businesses also know what is now required from them.

Gurnani said both the Centre and state governments will help labour inspectors understand their new role of inspector-cum-facilitator and provide them with training.

She stated that both the central and state labour commissioners organise forums and meetings regularly to give clarifications on any concerns that businesses may have.

"We would be happy to deploy our machinery so that they can explain what is in the codes. This effort of taking the message of the codes down should be a joint effort between the government and the industry," she added.

Under the new codes, the inspector-cum-facilitator has to provide a 30-day notice to businesses before taking any action when an instance of non-compliance is found.

The draft rules of the new codes, which will be up for a 45-day public consultation with stakeholders, are yet to be notified by the labour ministry.

The central government notified the four labour codes last month, five years after they were passed by Parliament, reforming and consolidating the 29 existing labour laws.

The four labour codes -- the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020) -- are intended to modernise labour regulations, enhancing workers' welfare and aligning the labour ecosystem with the evolving world of work.

-- Auhona Mukherjee

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'We've not seen a crypto exchange come back after about 45 per cent of the value on the platform was impacted.'

IMAGE: Nischal Shetty, Founder and CEO, WazirX. Photograph: Kind courtesy WazirX.com

Indian crypto exchange WazirX is picking up from where it left 15 months ago, when a breach wiped out over $230 million.

The platform resumed operations last month after completing its restructuring in Singapore.

Founder and CEO Nischal Shetty outlines a road map for the restart, among other issues, in a video interaction with Ajinkya Kawale and Shivani Shinde/Business Standard.

What is the update following the relaunch of the WazirX platform in India after you got a nod from the Singapore court?

There was no playbook for something like this. We've not seen a crypto exchange come back after about 45 per cent of the value on the platform was impacted.

We took a phased approach before restarting, launching in four phases.

We saw new buyers coming in, and less people left the platform compared to what we thought.

The platform categorised users in three buckets.

One, people who would want to sell because they have not been able to do so in the past 15 months; second, who want to completely exit the platform and third, who would continue to trade.

The majority are in the category where they're continuing to use the platform.

What have been the major learnings from the incident?

Clear communication helped a lot. We had several town halls, content created within the app, on our blog post through the entire restructuring process.

One can't communicate effectively to the entire four million people who were impacted, but we made sure that the majority were (communicated) while keeping our support channels open all through.

We continue to answer people's questions. We have put in measures such as partnership with BitGo (infrastructure provider for virtual digital assets).

It is the largest custody provider with over $90 billion worth of assets under its custody. It also offers $250 million in insurance.

We're putting in efforts to ensure that our platform still remains secure.

Earlier, we were using a third-party infrastructure provider (Liminal Custody). That's where the attack happened. It was not on our servers or on the WazirX Web site.

Liminal has maintained the breach did not happen on its part.

It's only possible to know when both sides cooperate and have a fair analysis through a third party or an independent assessment.

We were using the Liminal Web site and we had three devices that were using it. We don't have anything beyond that.

I don't think there's been a deep analysis on what happened. We are trying to figure out and understand.

It's like a black box for us since there's nothing beyond that Web site that we used. So, there's only so much we can do.

Now, legally we'll have to figure out but that takes time.

Have both of you discussed any opportunities to collaborate on the investigation?

We have tried. If you have not seen a proper report, it means it has not happened.

But attempts have been made now, and we definitely want to understand the truth and what led to this.

The majority of our efforts were focussed on restarting. Now that we have the bandwidth, we'll get into it.

Attempts were made (to collaborate), but it's not turned out the way everyone would want it to be.

By when do you expect the user base to go back to its normal state again?

It's hard to predict. It will take at least three to six months where we'll be able to normalise all the operations and other things.

We'll have to put more effort into attracting active traders back to our platform.

Since the platform was not operational, they had to go to other exchanges to start trading on a daily basis.

We'll need one or two quarters to win back all our active traders.

Why was the Panama-based entity left undisclosed, resulting in the court's initial rejection of the restructuring plan?

When we went for the first round of restructuring, there was no need for any other entity.

It was normal -- we had the Singapore entity and the Indian entity, and that was all.

We got a positive vote. The next step was a court hearing, and the court would approve it if nothing was wrong with the scheme since the majority had voted in favour.

But four days before the hearing, Singapore introduced a new law requiring anyone operating in Singapore to have a licence, even if it didn't serve Singapore customers.

We didn't know it would become law just four days before our hearing.

We knew we couldn't go ahead with the existing structure because we didn't have a licence, and the court wouldn't approve it.

So, we suggested using a Panama entity, because we needed a jurisdiction with no such regulation.

The issue was that this should have been part of the original scheme -- which would have happened if the law had changed earlier.

When we explained this to the court, the court did not reject the scheme. Instead, it asked us to change it and get a fresh vote so everyone was aware.

That gave us time to decide whether we wanted to go that route, and eventually we chose the easier route of using the India entity.

When was the Panama entity established, around the same time or was it there for some time already?

It was established after the (first) voting was done. It was created because we needed a subsidiary to issue the recovery token -- that was already part of the scheme.

The plan clearly stated that we would set up subsidiaries for the recovery token and potentially for future businesses.

We only considered using it for existing funds after the Singapore law changed, in case the law is an issue there.

There are entities in Panama; Zensui Corporation, Zensui Recovery Corporation and Zensui Foundation. Were all of the disclosed during restructuring in Singapore?

What we disclosed was that we would need subsidiaries to issue recovery tokens and to build new businesses.

The number and names of those subsidiaries weren't in the scheme because once you do that, then you have to go with it.

If laws change again and a jurisdiction becomes unusable, we would need to choose another place.

So we took an overview approach -- stating that we would create new subsidiaries or entities as needed for new businesses and token issuance.

One of them is a foundation we don't own; Zensui is the one we do own and planned to use.

But after changing the scheme and moving all funds to the India entity, there's no need to disclose an entity that is no longer being used.

Would there be any adverse outcome from your ongoing litigation in India impacting your operations?

Our legal team will look into it. The scheme has already been implemented, it's active, and it's binding on all 4 million creditors, who now have access to their crypto.

Whatever the outcome of the Indian litigation, we'll go as per what's appropriate.

We know our positions, and we're confident they're the right ones, so we're not concerned.

These litigations each have their own reasons. We'll tackle them as they come, but from an operations standpoint, we don't see any concerns.

What's the status of WazirX's dispute with Binance?

That dispute is ongoing, and when the outcome comes, the scheme already has provisions for the outcomes.

Depending on who is deemed the ultimate owner, it may or may not have an impact -- but for the end user, nothing changes.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
'At COP30, the emphasis will be on unlocking climate finance, reinforcing the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and building resilience through inclusive transitions and the mainstreaming of adaptation.'

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

At the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to be held from November 10 to 21, 2025, in Belem, Brazil, India will likely focus on climate finance, climate adaptation, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, says Ashish Chaturvedi, head of action for climate and environment at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India.

In an email interaction with Sudheer Pal Singh/Business Standard, he elaborates on the country's priorities and strategies.

What are India's key priorities at COP30, and what outcomes is the country aiming for?

At COP30, India will likely place climate finance and climate adaptation at the centre of its priorities.

The focus will also be on ensuring that emerging and developing economies can transition in ways that are fair and inclusive.

India has already demonstrated strong leadership in renewable energy and is on track to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2030 under the Paris Agreement.

Looking ahead, India is likely to advocate for stronger partnerships that can translate ambition into concrete action.

Mobilising resources and technical expertise at the scale needed to achieve its net zero target by 2070 will be key.

India's message is clear: climate action and sustainable development must advance together, delivering growth that is environmentally responsible and socially inclusive.

At COP30, the emphasis will be on unlocking climate finance, reinforcing the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and building resilience through inclusive transitions and the mainstreaming of adaptation.

Do you think India has the right policy and regulatory landscape for a meaningful energy transition?

Yes. India has established a strong policy and regulatory foundation for an effective energy transition.

The government's ambitious targets and supportive measures have already produced visible progress in renewable capacity and electrification.

In fact, India achieved over 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources nearly five years ahead of schedule, well before its NDC target.

The National Electricity Plan and the National Green Hydrogen Mission signal long-term intent and provide a clear road map for decarbonisation.

Complementary measures -- such as renewable purchase obligations for utilities, energy efficiency codes, and incentives for electric mobility -- further strengthen the framework and build investor confidence.

These examples show that India's system increasingly rewards low-carbon choices.

The next step is to ensure these policies translate into tangible results on the ground.

In what ways has India integrated climate adaptation into national and sub-national development plans?

Adaptation is no longer treated as a standalone issue in India; it is becoming a core part of overall development planning.

The National Action Plan on Climate Change and State Action Plans on Climate Change embed adaptation across sectors such as agriculture, water, health, and coastal management.

Flagship programmes -- including the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), and the National Watershed Development Programme -- are integrating adaptation with poverty reduction, water security, and livelihood enhancement.

India's NDC further reinforces the need to bring adaptation into vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water, health, and disaster management.

At the state level, governments are piloting climate-resilient farming, ecosystem-based adaptation, and resilient infrastructure.

District-level planning is beginning to incorporate climate risk assessments, preparing vulnerable communities -- especially smallholder farmers and coastal populations -- for climate shocks.

This multi-layered approach embeds adaptation into policies, programmes, and plans at every level.

The upcoming National Adaptation Plan, led by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, with technical support from UNDP under a Green Climate Fund project, will build on this framework.

It aims to strengthen planning, mobilise resources, and make climate-resilient development a central part of decision-making across the country.

In what ways is climate finance accelerating India's transition to a low-carbon economy?

Climate finance turns plans into real action.

While India's domestic investments in renewable energy have grown steadily, international climate finance plays a vital role in derisking new technologies and enabling scale.



Areas such as green hydrogen, battery storage, and decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors require patient, long-term capital that can leverage larger private investments.

It is equally important that finance reaches the state and local levels.

State climate finance facilities in West Bengal and Karnataka are under development to direct resources toward low-carbon projects, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable livelihoods, and local adaptation initiatives.

By linking global commitments with local action, catalytic climate finance helps India cut emissions, build resilience, and open new avenues for inclusive economic growth.

Do you think India is ensuring a just and inclusive transition for high-carbon sectors? If yes, how?

India's clean energy transition must leave no one behind, particularly in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, which rely heavily on coal.

The focus is on creating alternative livelihoods, reskilling workers, strengthening social protections, and supporting green industries that can generate new jobs.

By connecting national goals with state planning and community engagement, India's transition aims to be not only low carbon but also just, inclusive, and forward-looking.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Indias merchandise trade deficit widened to a record $41.68 billion in October, as gold imports trebled and outbound shipments registered their sharpest contraction in 14 months, according to data released by the commerce department.

Photograph: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Merchandise exports fell 11.8 per cent to $34.38 billion, an 11-month low, while goods imports grew 16.66 per cent to an all-time high of $76.06 billion.

Exports to the US fell 8.6 per cent to $6.3 billion in October, following the imposition of relatively high 50 per cent tariff on several Indian products.

Exports to other key trade partners  the United Arab Emirates (-10.2 per cent), the Netherlands (-22.75 per cent) and the United Kingdom (-27.16 per cent)  also contracted.

The merchandise trade deficit had stood at $26.22 billion in October last year, and at 13-month high of $32.15 billion in September this year.

Gold imports surged 199.2 per cent year-on-year to $14.72 billion in October, fuelled by pent-up demand and the festival season.

Silver imports rose sixfold to $2.72 billion, driven by increased shipments of plain silver from a free-trade agreement partner country, government officials said.

Services exports grew 11.9 per cent to $38.52 billion in October, while services imports rose 8.1 per cent to $18.64 billion, resulting in a surplus of $19.88 billion.

The commerce department noted, however, that the services trade data for October is an estimate and will be revised based on the Reserve Bank of Indias subsequent release.

The overall trade deficit, combining both merchandise and services, climbed to $21.8 billion in October from $9 billion a year earlier.

Addressing mediapersons, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said a 25 per cent reduction in gold import volumes over the first six months had contributed to the October surge as festival demand kicked in.

Because of high prices, probably, there was demand that was unfulfilled and the imports were low

"That is one reason why we see a surge in gold imports (in October), leading to a surge in trade deficit, said Agrawal.

There are two reasons for the fall in exports (in October) -- one is due to the high base effect as exports stood at $38.98 billion in October 2024.

"In the case of exports to the US, we have been able to hold the ground. In the month of October, the exports have fallen to $6.3 billion as compared to $6.9 billion last year.

"The silver lining: Exports (to the US) have grown from $5.8 billion in September, Agrawal told reporters.

Exports to Singapore dropped 54.8 per cent to $8.47 billion, which Agrawal said was mainly due to a decline in petroleum prices, adding that demand itself had not been a problem.

Merchandise exports declined in October, amid a double-digit contraction in both oil and non-oil exports, although the latter was primarily driven by an adverse base as well as the holidays associated with the early onset of the festive season.

"While exports to the US declined by 8.6 per cent, reflecting the impact of the tariffs and penalties, those to other regions fell by a sharper 12.5 per cent, owing to the high base, said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA.

Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports, an indication of export health, dropped 10.15 per cent to $28.14 billion.

Sectors contributing to the contraction included engineering goods (-16.71 per cent), drugs and pharmaceuticals (-5.15 per cent), organic and inorganic chemicals (-21.02 per cent) and readymade garments (-12.88 per cent).

Gems and jewellery exports also fell sharply, by 29.5 per cent, while petroleum exports declined 10.5 per cent.

Over the April-October period, Indias goods exports rose 0.6 per cent to $254.25 billion, while imports increased 6.4 per cent to $451.08 billion.

Among non-oil, non-gems and jewellery items, imports rose 8.1 per cent to $42.78 billion in October, driven by fertilisers, machinery, electronics and non-ferrous metals.

Nayar added that the trade deficit is expected to cool somewhat in November and December from the October peak, due to an anticipated sequential dip in gold imports and a modest pickup in exports after the festival season.

Nevertheless, the current account deficit appears set to widen materially to 2.42.5 per cent of GDP in Q3FY26 from the 1.8 per cent expected in Q2FY26, she said.

S C Ralhan, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), said the contraction in exports reflects the wider global economic slowdown, marked by geopolitical uncertainty, subdued demand across major markets and persistent volatility in commodity prices.

Despite such headwinds, Indian exporters have displayed resilience, even as elevated logistics costs and fluctuating input prices continue to challenge competitiveness, he added.
PRAGUE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people, including a gunman, were killed and six others injured on Monday in a shooting in the town of Chribska, northern Czech Republic, local police said on social media platform X.

The incident occurred at the town hall. The shooter has been killed, and the building is now safe, the police said. 
Customs duty cannot be levied on electricity supplied from a special economic zone (SEZ) to the domestic market, ruled the Supreme Court on Monday while upholding Adani Powers appeal against a 2019 judgment of the Gujarat high court.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

The 2019 judgment had denied relief to Adani Power from Customs duty on electricity supplied from its Mundra SEZ unit to the domestic tariff area (DTA).

A Bench comprising Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N V Anjaria held that the Customs department lacked the statutory authority to impose duty on power sent from the SEZ to the DTA.

While detailed reasons are awaited, the court ruled that the levy had no valid charging event under the Customs Act, 1962, and could not be sustained merely based on executive notifications.

The dispute centred on electricity generated by Adani Power at its coal-based thermal plant within the Mundra SEZ, where the company operates as a co-developer.

Power generated at the facility is supplied both within the SEZ and to distribution companies in Gujarat and other states.

The levy was sought to be imposed though there is no duty on electricity imported into India.

In an earlier round of litigation, the Gujarat high court in July 2015 had struck down part of the levy framework and held that Adani Power was entitled to exemption from Customs duty on SEZ-to-DTA electricity supplies for a limited period  between June 2009 and September 2010.

That ruling was allowed to stand after the Supreme Court declined to interfere.

However, when Adani returned to the high court, seeking similar relief beyond September 2010, the court rejected the plea in June 2019, holding that the benefit could not be extended beyond the earlier time window and that later levy regimes had not been directly challenged.

The Supreme Court has now overturned that approach, holding that the absence of statutory authority could not be cured through procedural limitations.

According to Anshuman Chowdhury, advocate at the Delhi high court, the decision reinforces the constitutional mandate under Article 265 that no tax can be imposed without the authority of law, and aligns with the settled principle that fiscal statutes must be strictly construed.

The court found that while the department had relied on executive notifications issued in 2010 to prescribe duty rates, the parent statute did not contemplate the levy of Customs duty on electricity generated in Indian territory and supplied to the domestic market, he said.

Commenting on its wider significance, Shri Venkatesh, founding partner at SKV Law Offices, said the ruling went beyond the facts of Adani Powers case and underscored the discipline expected of constitutional courts in following settled law.

Once a declaration of law has been rendered, a subsequent Bench cannot narrow it by treating it as discretionary relief tied to specific dates, Venkatesh said, adding that if doubts existed, the issue ought to have been referred to a larger Bench.

Explaining the broader implications of the verdict, Supreme Court advocate-on-record B Shravanth Shanker said the judgment made clear that the constitutional infirmity identified in 2015 could not be artificially confined to a limited period.

Shanker said the decision was likely to have wider implications for SEZ units supplying goods or services to the domestic market, reinforcing the point that procedural doctrines could not dilute substantive constitutional protections in fiscal matters.
Adani Power on Thursday posted a 12 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,906 crore in the September quarter, driven by a rise in expenses.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

It had clocked a net profit of Rs 3,297.52 crore in the July-September period of the preceding 2024-25 financial year, the Adani Group entity said in an exchange filing.

Total income, however, increased to Rs 14,307.79 crore in the September quarter from Rs 14,062.84 crore in the year-ago period.

The revenues were higher despite lower merchant tariffs and import coal prices, supported by higher power sales, the company said.

Total expenses stood at Rs 10,341.59 crore, higher from Rs 9,928.76 crore in Q2 FY25.

The company has again demonstrated stable financial performance this quarter, in the face of weather-driven fluctuations in demand, highlighting our operational efficiency and competitive advantages, S B Khyalia, CEO of Adani Power Limited, said.

"Our strong profitability and liquidity position us well to achieve our enhanced capacity expansion goal of 42 GW by 2031-32.

"We have already arranged ordering for equipment and land for the entire 23.7 GW expansion, with project implementation progressing rapidly," he said.

The company is also expanding its market presence by securing another 4.5 GW of new long-term PPAs under the SHAKTI scheme.

Its consolidated operating capacity grew to 18,150 MW as of September 30, from 17,550 MW as of September 2024, on account of the acquisition of 600 MW Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd, it said.

During the quarter, APL signed a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) of 2,400 MW (gross) capacity for a period of 25 years with the Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited (BSPGCL), to be supplied from a new 2,400 MW greenfield Ultra-Supercritical Thermal Power Project (USCTPP) in Pirpainti, Bhagalpur district of Bihar.

APL also received Letters of Allocation (LOA) for 1,600 MW (gross) capacity from the MP Power Management Company Limited (MPPMCL) to supply power for 25 years from a 2,400 MW greenfield USCTPP in Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh.

It further received an LOA of 570.5 MW (gross) capacity from the Power Company of Karnataka Ltd (PCKL) to be supplied from the existing 1,370 MW capacity of the Raipur thermal power plant for 25 years.

Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd has signed a 500 MW net medium-term PPA with Maharashtra DISCOM for a period of 5 years, starting from November 1, 2025.

Mahan Energen Ltd has received approval from the Ministry of Coal to commence operations at the Dhirauli Mine in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.

The mine has a peak capacity of 6.5 MTPA and reserves of 558 MT.

APL completed a share split on September 22, 2025, in a 1:5 ratio, converting each equity share of Rs 10 face value into five equity shares of Rs 2 each.

Following the split, the total number of equity shares issued by the company has increased from 3,85,69,38,941 equity shares of Rs 10 face value each to 19,28,46,94,705 equity shares of Rs 2 face value each.

On project updates, it said the execution of APL's brownfield expansion projects is progressing rapidly, with cumulative work for Mahan Phase-II 1,600 MW USCTPP at 73 per cent, Raipur Phase-II 1,600 MW USCTPP at 35 per cent, and Raigarh Phase-II 1,600 MW USCTPP at 30 per cent.

Further, APL's wholly owned subsidiary, Korba Power Ltd, has revived the construction of its 1,320 MW Supercritical power project at Korba (Chhattisgarh). These projects are scheduled to be completed in stages between FY 2026-27 and FY 2028-29.
Adani Enterprises subsidiary Kutch Copper (KCL) and Australian Securities Exchange-listed Caravel Minerals on Thursday signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for collaboration on the Caravel Copper Project in Western Australias Murchison region, for an undisclosed amount, according to a joint statement.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Kham/Reuters

What does the AdaniCaravel MoU aim to achieve?

The MoU is expected to enable investment collaboration and a life-of-mine offtake covering up to 100 per cent of copper concentrate outputabout 62,000 to 71,000 tonnes of payable copper per annum in the early years.

This concentrate will be supplied directly to Kutch Coppers 500 KTPA (kilo tonnes per annum) smelter in Gujarat, India, which is the worlds largest single-location copper facility worth $1.2 billion, the release said.

Under the MoU, the companies will explore investment and offtake opportunities to accelerate development of the project towards a final investment decision (FID) in 2026, combining Caravels world-class resource with Adanis proven smelting, processing and logistics capabilities, the release stated.

The MoU further outlines collaborative workstreams, including co-engineering to optimise product specifications for Kutch Coppers downstream facilities, joint procurement to fast-track delivery schedules, and leveraging the India-Australia FTA (Free Trade Agreement) to promote cross-border resource development and workforce skilling.

How significant is the Caravel Copper Project?

The Caravel Copper Project, located about 150 km northeast of Perth, is one of Australias largest undeveloped copper resources, with a potential mine life exceeding 25 years and an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of payable copper.

The projects all-in sustaining cost (AISC) is forecast at $2.07 per pound, positioning it among the lowest-cost producers globally.

As part of the agreement, KCL has been granted first rights to participate in direct equity or project-level investments during the term of the MoU.

The discussions are aligned with the projects AUD 1.7 billion initial capital expenditure and designed to support phased development, the release added.

What did Adani and Caravel executives say about the partnership?

Copper is the backbone of the global energy transition, and our partnership with Caravel Minerals strengthens Indias and Australias role in building a resilient and responsible supply chain for this vital metal, said Vinay Prakash, chief executive officer, Natural Resources, Adani Enterprises, in a statement.

Don Hyma, managing director, Caravel Minerals, said, This collaboration with Adanis Kutch Copper marks a pivotal step in realising the full potential of the Caravel Copper Project.

"It brings together complementary strengthsAdanis downstream expertise and Caravels world-scale resourceunder a shared vision for responsible, long-term copper production.

How will the project be financed?

The companies stated that financing discussions are advancing with top-tier banks, targeting a package that includes export credit agency (ECA)-backed solutions for Danish equipment suppliers, traditional debt, equity raises, and innovative funding structures such as streaming and royalties.

These efforts build on a 2023 letter of interest from Denmarks Export and Investment Fund (EIFO) for Danish-sourced equipment.

Why is this partnership strategically important?

With global copper demand projected to surge by 50 per cent by 2040 amid electrification and renewable-energy expansion, the CaravelKutch Copper collaboration is poised to deliver a significant contribution to critical mineral supply chains while unlocking sustainable economic growth for both nations, the companies said in a joint statement.
Affordable homes, priced under Rs 40 lakh per unit, may not be attractive anymore, not just for developers but also for investors, with the segment seeing a 26 per cent price rise over three years since 2022 versus 40 per cent returns from luxury homes priced Rs 1.5 crore and above.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

According to real estate research firm Anarock data, luxury homes in Indias top seven realty markets saw their prices rise from Rs 14,530 per square feet (sq ft) in 2022 to Rs 20,300/sq ft for the year-to-date period of 2025.

On the other hand, the price rise for affordable units was tempered at Rs 5,299/sq ft for 2025 from Rs 4,220/sq ft in 2022.

This divergence, industry executives say, comes on the back of demand for luxury homes outpacing that in other segments due to consistent appetite for bigger homes by branded developers in superior locations.

Aakash Ohri, joint managing director and chief business officer at DLF Homes, said that the growing significance of homeownership, bolstered by strong consumer confidence in the sector over recent years, has accelerated demand for luxury housing, leading to a sharp appreciation in prices across key NCR (National Capital Region) markets.

Real estate has consistently outperformed other asset classes in terms of capital growth and rental yields, which has further strengthened its position as a preferred long-term investment destination for high net worth individuals (HNIs), ultra-HNIs, and non-resident Indians (NRIs), he added.

Real estate developers say that high input costs, including materials and labour, have pushed up construction costs, squeezing margins to the extent that building homes for under Rs 40 lakh is becoming unviable.

The margin erosion is more severe in metros and Tier-I and -II cities, where land prices have escalated.

Anarock chairman Anuj Puri added that the luxury segment, in particular, witnessed robust price escalation due to limited quality supply, rising aspirations, and a clear shift towards branded, amenity-rich developments.

The luxury charge was led by Delhi NCR, where such properties clocked a price appreciation of 72 per cent, from Rs 13,450/sq ft in 2022 to Rs 23,100/sq ft, followed by markets such as Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Hyderabad with a 43 per cent and 41 per cent rise in luxury prices, respectively, in the last three years.

Even the mid-ranged and premium segment homes, priced between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore, saw their average prices rise 39 per cent across the top seven cities between 2022 and November 2025, again higher than affordable homes, thus making this segment the more likely option for realty investors.

Another executive added that despite the demand for affordable housing, and concerns of consumers getting priced out due to soaring prices, high-end housing in the mid and luxury segments will continue to see more traction.

Developers in top markets may be prompted to increase supply of smaller apartment sizes to cater to the mid-income and premium segments (under Rs 1.5 crore) to drive up volume sales, Lalit Parihar of the Aaiji group said.

The key reasons for this, Puri said, was that the buyer demand after the pandemic got skewed towards large and listed developers, and large-size homes at prime locations, which continues even today.

Homes by these branded developers come at a premium, which buyers are willing to pay.

"Further, given that input costs have risen significantly over the last three to four years, many homes that were earlier under the affordable budget bracket have moved up to fall within the mid and premium segments, he added.
After issuing notices to hotels across the country for allegedly underpaying goods and services tax (GST) on restaurant services, the revenue department has now widened its scrutiny by seeking information from online travel platforms.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The aim, according to sources, is to see if hotels are correctly declaring the taxable value of bookings made through these portals and whether GST should be paid on the amount paid by customers through these platforms or only on the amount received by hotels after deducting the platforms commission.

Sources said officers in charge of central GST (CGST) had written to the platforms, seeking the booking-level data, including customer payments, commissions retained, and the amount remitted to hotels.

The department is analysing whether hotels have underpaid tax by leaving out the commission from their turnover.

An email, seeking comments, sent to the finance ministry remained unanswered till the time of going to press.

In one case, the anti-evasion wing of the Pune unit of the GST collection structure sought booking details from an online travel intermediary for a Maharashtra-based hotel.

The letter, reviewed by Business Standard, asked for an explanation on the difference between the amount paid by guests and that remitted to the hotel.

In its written reply, the intermediary said the booking amount shown on the customers voucher included its commission, tax, and other charges.

After deducting the commission and statutory deductions such as tax deducted at source (TDS) and tax collected at source (TCS), the remaining amount is transferred to the hotel as settlement for the stay.

The firm said GST on its own commission was paid separately.

The tax department has also asked for similar booking data for earlier years, starting from 2019-20, to check if the same valuation method was used, according to sources.

Tax experts say the issue arises because these transactions involve three parties  the hotel, the online travel agent (OTA), and the customer.

For example, if a guest pays Rs 8,500 for a hotel room through an OTA, and the OTA keeps Rs 1,500 as commission before paying Rs 7,000 to the hotel, the question is whether GST should be on Rs 8,500 or Rs 7,000.

The law is clear that GST applies only on the amount received by the hotel for its service, said Abhishek A Rastogi, founder, Rastogi Chambers.

If tax is charged on the total, part of which is already taxed as the OTAs commission, it will lead to double taxation.

Section 15 of the Central GST Act says the value of supply is the amount actually received or payable for the service.

"So, the hotels consideration is the amount it gets from the OTA, not what the customer pays in total, Rastogi added.

The rate structure also adds confusion. Rooms priced below Rs 7,500 attract 5 per cent GST, while those above Rs 7,500 attract 18 per cent.

If the department counts the customer payment, the same room may fall into a higher tax slab even though the hotel earns less.

Experts say the government should clarify how the value of hotel bookings should be calculated when online intermediaries are involved.

Without clarity, both hotels and travel portals could end up being taxed on the same value, creating legal disputes and hurting ease of doing business, Rastogi stated.
Office redevelopment is emerging as a key growth frontier for developers as Indias commercial real estate market shifts towards quality, sustainability, and capital efficiency.

Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

With land parcels scarce in central business districts (CBDs) and demand for Grade A offices remaining strong, developers and

investors are increasingly turning to ageing office stock in prime locations to unlock value.

Across top cities, a large share of office buildings in CBDs and established business districts were built two to three decades ago.

While demand for these locations remains intact, many such buildings no longer meet occupier expectations in terms of floor efficiency, sustainability, technology integration, parking, or employee wellness.

Redevelopment, industry experts say, is becoming the natural response to this mismatch between supply and demand.

Office redevelopment is an interesting opportunity because many buildings were strata-sold and not maintained well.

"There is clear potential to redevelop such assets, and the right players will look at it, said Kshitij Bahri, senior general manager and head of commercial leasing at Oberoi Realty.

While the company is currently focused on its own land parcels, Bahri said its business development team is evaluating select redevelopment proposals.

The opportunity is sizeable.

According to Knight Frank India, the Indian office market was valued at Rs 16.07 trillion as of the first half (H1) of 2025.

Of this, around 43 per cent of office stock falls in the Grade B category, while another 4 per cent is classified as Grade C.

As of H1 2025, India had about 99 million square feet (msf) of Grade B office stock in CBDs valued at Rs 1.34 trillion, and 157 msf worth Rs 1.58 trillion in secondary business districts (SBDs).

CBDs also accounted for 25 msf of Grade C stock valued at Rs 34,100 crore, while SBDs had 17 msf worth Rs 17,000 crore.

In all, Indias Grade B and C office stock stood at about 298 msf, valued at Rs 3.42 trillion.

The redevelopment trend is being reinforced by a strong flight to quality among occupiers.

Rajat Rastogi, chief executive officer (CEO), West region and commercial assets (pan-Indian) at Puravankara, said older office stock is increasingly misaligned with occupier expectations around sustainability, wellness, and technology.

Redeveloping well-located assets has become a strategic lever to enhance rentals, occupancy, and long-term asset performance, he said, adding that redevelopment offers faster market readiness and better capital efficiency in land-constrained locations.

Consultants say redevelopment activity is gaining traction on the ground.

Anuj Puri, chairperson, Anarock group, said most office stock in core CBDs and older business districts such as Connaught Place in Delhi or Udyog Vihar in Gurugram was built decades ago and no longer matches current requirements.

In Mumbai, older buildings in Nariman Point, Bandra-Kurla Complex, and parts of the western suburbs are being upgraded or repositioned to meet Grade A standards.

A key economic driver behind redevelopment, particularly in Mumbai, is a higher floor space index (FSI).

Older buildings were typically constructed with FSI limits of 1.22, compared with current permissible levels of 3.55 in many CBDs.

This allows developers to increase built-up area by 2.53x without acquiring additional land.

Incentive FSI, often 50-70 per cent additional area, helps offset demolition and reconstruction costs, improving project viability.

For institutional owners and real estate investment trusts (Reits), redevelopment is also emerging as a portfolio strategy.

Ramesh Nair, CEO and managing director of Mindspace Business Parks Reit, said redevelopment has strong potential in mature business districts where assets built 1520 years ago need repositioning.

Mindspaces recent demolition of two 18-year-old office buildings at its Madhapur campus in Hyderabad to develop a 1.6 msf sustainable office project highlights the value-unlocking potential of such strategies.

Global real estate consultancy CBRE echoed this view.

Anshuman Magazine, chairperson and CEO, India, Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Africa at CBRE, said Indias office market is booming, with 2025 likely to mark an all-time high in leasing.

Demand for Grade A offices continues to outpace supply.

"Redevelopment is no longer optional but a strategic necessity, especially in CBDs, he said.

With prime office rentals ranging from Rs 569 to Rs 1,090 per square foot per month, redeveloped assets can deliver stronger long-term returns than greenfield projects, experts said.
Air India Group expects to induct 26 wide-body and narrow-body planes, and operate 81 per cent of its international flights with upgraded aircraft by the end of 2026, while overall capacity will remain almost unchanged next year.

"2026 will be a year of very visible change for Air India, notwithstanding the headwinds that we have faced in the last few months, whether it be AI 171 (crash) or other events, we're continuing our capital expenditure commitments...," Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said on Monday.

In his first official media briefing after the fatal Dreamliner plane crash on June 12, Wilson talked about new planes induction trajectory, aircraft retrofit efforts, upgradation initiatives, supply chain woes, plane crash, US travel demand, pilots and passenger loyalty programme.

Air India, which has one flight departure every 70 seconds on average, is set to induct its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from its original order of 570 planes before Christmas and will be operational in January.

"2026 capacity won't change very much because whilst we receive new aircraft, we're also releasing some aircraft back to lessors, and we continue to have a lot of aircraft in the retrofit programme.

"So, 2026 will be comparatively flat," Wilson said at the briefing at the Air India Aviation Academy.

In 2026, the airline will have lesser number of long-haul Boeing 777 planes, as some of the leased ones are being returned, and three such aircraft owned by the airline will be retired from the fleet.

Currently, Air India Group has nearly 300 aircraft -- Air India has a fleet of around 187 planes, and Air India Express has over 110 planes.

Air India now has 22 Boeing 777s and 32 Boeing 787s.

"When I say flat, I mean it's flat. The number of aircraft we go into the year with is about the same as the number of aircraft we end the year with.

"But they're different aircraft. Some go out, some go in... at the beginning, 2027, 2028 is when a lot of the net increase will happen," Wilson said.

According to him, changes will be much more visible with respect to the wide-body upgradation programme in 2026.

The first two of its legacy Boeing 787-8 aircraft are expected to be back in service after retrofit in February next year.

"Thereafter, we will be pushing through two to three aircraft every month, so the full Boeing 787 fleet will be upgraded by mid-2027.

"By the end of 2026, about two-thirds of the Boeing 787 fleet will have been upgraded...," Wilson said.

During the course of the next year, he said Air India Group would receive 6 new wide-body planes -- a mix of Boeing 787-9s and A350-1000s -- along with 20 narrow-bodied aircraft.

Of the order for 570 aircraft, 524 are to be delivered in the next few years, and the group has so far received only white tail planes or those that were originally made for another airline.

In 2026, Wilson said passengers will notice the most significant changes and that around 83 per cent of the narrow-body aircraft fleet has been upgraded, while the airline has decided to retain about 17 legacy planes instead of the earlier plan to retire them due to slow Airbus and Boeing deliveries.

Also, Vistara planes will start receiving their new liveries and Tata Group-owned Air India interior branding from this month.

Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, was merged with Air India in November 2024.

Explaining the supply chain woes, the Air India CEO said the retrofit programmes for wide-body Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 planes have been pushed back for want of premium seats.

Actually, Air India Group should have received 28 brand new aircraft by now, he said, referring to the time frame from when the total orders for 570 new planes were placed.

Responding to queries, Wilson said the US travel demand has taken a hit due to various factors, including airspace constraints, additional flying time and visa issues, but noted that "we think this is transitory".

Meanwhile, the Air India chief said that 95 per cent of the families affected by the June 12 plane crash have received interim compensation and asserted that "our commitment to those who have had a loss, whether they were on ground or in the air, will continue for as long as it takes".

A London Gatwick-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed soon after take off from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 260 people.

The fatal accident snuffed out the lives of 241 passengers and crew members, and 19 people who were on the ground, while one passenger survived.

With respect to the Maharaja Club loyalty programme, passengers will soon be able to burn their points on Air India Express.
The cost of any flight from Delhi and Mumbai could rise by up to Rs 3,000 soon unless the airport regulator is able to reverse a court order.

IMAGE: Flights parked at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj international airport in Mumbai. Photograph: Kind courtesy ANI Photo

Mass cancellation of flights may not be the only crisis facing flyers. The cost of any flight from Delhi and Mumbai could rise by up to Rs 3,000 soon unless the airport regulator is able to reverse a court order.

The operators of the international airports serving the two cities have secured a favourable verdict from the Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), which has authority over airport disputes, allowing them to recover the costs of developing all sorts of infrastructure including hotels, shopping malls and other facilities at the airports from passengers.

The airport regulator, the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (Aera), has contested the order issued by TDSAT in July to raise what are called User Development Fees (UDF).

Hearings in the case have now opened in the Supreme Court.

At the heart of the dispute is the issue of regulatory assets -- the infrastructure and services provided by the airport operators.

Simply put, that means how much a company running an infrastructure service (the airport in this case) can charge consumers to recover its capital expenditure.

Perturbed by the possibility of rising ticket prices eating into their revenue, several airlines, including Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Oman Air have also joined the petition filed by Aera.

But the issue is far bigger. Challenges around the calculation of regulatory assets have clouded several of India's key projects.

These are in power, oil and gas, roads and now airports. These disputes have often made the government wary of taking on public-private partnerships (PPPs).

This is because the economic implications for the public are large in each dispute.

For instance, in the airport case, redrawing the numbers will mean a passenger using Mumbai airport for domestic travel will pay Rs 3,856, a massive rise from the current Rs 175.

For Delhi, this will be Rs 1,261 instead of the current Rs 25. This has the potential to cripple the growth in aviation -- once allowed, there's nothing to stop other private-sector developers of airports from levying similar charges.

Already, fear of a public uproar has led to a redrawing of the scope of PPP projects to develop infrastructure, often almost from the scratch.

As seen in the chart on the year-wise list of projects cleared by the PPP appraisal committee, the top decision making body in the central government, the rate has flagged since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020.

In turn, this led to low private-sector capex in the economy. As interest in PPPs tapered off, the pace of investment by the private sector in major projects also took a hit.

Tracing what the two airport operators, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), have asked for, reveals the extent of the problem.

Airport operators are entitled to recover costs for the aeronautical-related capital they invest in projects. Aera has factored those in.

For the period 2009 to 2014, the total came to Rs 966.03 crore for Mumbai airport. This included the aeronautical assets such as landing, parking, costs of building runways, apron, and ATC facilities; a hypothetical additional sum for the costs of operation and maintenance of the airports; tax payable; and the revenues the airports generated before privatisation.

Both MIAL and DIAL had signed off on these calculations listed out in the State Support Agreement, a voluminous document when taking over the lease for them in 2006.

Both these companies complained that the investments made by them in developing the non-aeronautical services like hotels, shopping areas and so on should also be factored in the hypothetical regulatory asset base that Aera relied on to pass its first set of orders for the period 2009-2014. (See chart: No. of projects)

The difference in the interpretation is substantial. Instead of Rs 966.03 crore, the sum for which MIAL would need to be compensated will be four times larger at Rs 4,848 crore.

Since the cost would be divided between the passengers using the airports and the airlines in a ratio of 70:30, the jump in UDF is easy to calculate.

Airfares could shoot up close to Rs 10,000 for even the smallest of journeys.

The first appeal by DIAL and MIAL contesting Aera orders was filed in the TDSAT in 2012. The tribunal rejected their claim in 2018.

The companies then approached the Supreme Court but it too accepted the TDSAT orders.

The term regulatory assets popped into Indian legal lexicon with the power sector.

Once the private sector picked up power distribution companies from the government, they asked for the true cost of power supplied to the consumers to be reflected in the tariffs.

Wary of raising electricity prices for consumers, most state governments clubbed these losses as 'regulatory assets' -- to be made good later.

The power sector has paid the price for these delays, as tariffs rarely kept pace with these arrears.

"The aviation sector seems to have imported the concept from the power sector. But as there was never any difficulty in imposing the true cost of building the airports on the passengers, how does this fiction emerge?" said former Union finance and power secretary Subhash Garg.

The two companies have claimed in their support a letter of May, 2011 (reviewed by Business Standard) from the ministry of civil aviation to the then chairman of Aera.

The brief letter notes that 'the existing aeronautical charges will be set as the initial regulated aeronautical charges.

"Accordingly in this case, the proposed approach is to back solve the initial aeronautical asset base, given the aeronautical charges'.

That much is clear. But then it adds this sentence: 'There is no record of any mechanism for calculation of regulatory base.'

It does not mention anywhere that non-aeronautical costs need to be accounted for in the calculation, but keeps a tiny window open for revisiting the formula.

The letter was the reason for the Supreme Court to accept the revision petition by the companies in December 2023, and ask the TDSAT to examine whether the non-aeronautical expenses should also be clubbed with allowable costs.

The letter was produced as evidence by DIAL and MIAL to the Supreme Court some 15 years after the privatisation of these airports.

The tribunal accepted that all non-aeronautical costs are fit to be included in the calculation of the UDF.

Would bringing in more regulatory assets or capital costs raise the effective returns for the current operators of these airports?

Former power secretary Arun Kumar said, "Regulatory assets have been recognised in the power sector as the legitimacy of those has been approved by the regulator.

"Those are therefore part of the balance sheet of the companies. But in the aviation sector, the regulator has to first recognise those claims."

As Garg put it, airports are not a distress sector -- unlike power -- so it is not clear whether the Supreme Court will admit the plea for higher costs as those have been presented now.

At stake is how the expansion of the aviation sector will pan out.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Adani Group said on Friday it will invest around Rs 1 trillion in various sectors of Andhra Pradesh over the next ten years, deepening its commitment in the state where it will partner with Google for an artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

"We have already invested around Rs 40,000 crore across ports, logistics, cement, infrastructure and renewable energy.

"Over the next ten years we are planning to invest Rs 1 trillion in ports, cement, data centres and energy business," said Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Ports & SEZ.

He was speaking at the 30th CII Partnership Summit, which is jointly organised by the Andhra Pradesh government and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in Visakhapatnam.

Google will invest $15 billion over five years in setting up an AI hub, which will include the country's largest data centre, in partnership with Adani Group.

It will be Googles largest such hub outside the US.

Adani called Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu a visionary who had rewritten the playbook of modern industrial India.

He said state IT minister Nara Lokesh is agile, data-driven, deeply humane, and whose focus on skilling, digital infrastructure, and new-age industries is making Andhra Pradesh Indias fastest-moving startup state.

"The flagship of our commitment is the Vizag tech park.

"We are building one of the worlds largest centres in partnership with Google.

"This is a combined $15 billion vision of sustainable and hi-tech growth.

"Our operations created several direct and indirect jobs.

"We will match your skill, scale and spirit.

"We commit to become the largest investor in Andhra Pradesh's bright future," he said.

Policy alone does not create historyvision does, said Adani, recalling how Naidu transformed Hyderabad into a global tech hub and is now steering Swarna Andhra 2047 with entrepreneurial governance and startup innovation.

Under your captaincy, Andhra Pradesh is ready once again for take-off.

More than 100 international delegates are attending the summit, which has Partners in Progress  Indias Roadmap to Viksit Bharat 2047 as its theme.

The state is targeting investments to the tune of around Rs 10 trillion through the summit, focusing on green energy, information technology, electronics, automobiles, space, defence, and tourism. The summit will cover topics such as green energy, sustainable innovation, and the European investment partnership.
The "Sky Factory" will be one of the world's largest for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), a manufacturing and assembly process to make electric aircraft that can take off, hover, and land vertically.

It will put India on the "map of next-generation aviation" and marks one of the most ambitious eVTOL initiatives in the world, said a state government statement.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Sarla Aviation/X

Andhra Pradesh will partner with Karnataka-based Sarla Aviation to set up India's first "giga-scale" cluster to manufacture electric air taxis in Anantapur district for an investment of Rs 1,300 crore, it was announced on Tuesday.

The "Sky Factory" will be one of the world's largest for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), a manufacturing and assembly process to make electric aircraft that can take off, hover, and land vertically.

It will put India on the "map of next-generation aviation" and marks one of the most ambitious eVTOL initiatives in the world, said a state government statement.

Sarla and the Andhra Pradesh Airport Development Corporation Ltd (APADCL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam, agreeing to set up a fully integrated eVTOL cluster.

The agreement was signed a week after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told the summit that the state expects to manufacture drone taxis within two years.

The first phase of Sky Factory will see an investment commitment of Rs 330 crore and the development of a 150-acre manufacturing and testing campus in Thimmasamduram village, Kalyanadurg Mandal, Anantapur.

Equipped with the latest production lines, research and development centres, composite labs and a dedicated 2 km runway, Sky Factory will create a "seamless" value chain for building, testing, certifying and maintaining eVTOL aircraft.

The project will generate "high-value employment", including 40 specialised jobs and 140 indirect jobs by 2027, with plans to expand to an additional 350 acres in the second phase.

Once fully operational, Sky Factory will have the capacity to annually manufacture up to 1,000 aircraft, including flagship platforms such as the Shunya hybrid VTOL and a range of indigenously produced electrical harness systems, landing-gear assemblies and advanced composite structures.

"With the world's biggest Sky Factory, we want to make India the nerve centre for the next era of flight. This giga facility will shape the aircraft of the future, create thousands of high-skill jobs, and establish India as a global force in sustainable aerial mobility. Our goal is simple: let India design, build, test, fly and operate the world's most advanced eVTOL systems from one integrated campus," said Rakesh Gaonkar, cofounder and chief technology officer of Sarla Aviation.

The Andhra Pradesh government, through APADCL, will serve as a strategic facilitator to fast-track project implementation and ensure ecosystem readiness.

"This collaboration represents a major stride in the state's mission to become India's capital of advanced manufacturing," said the statement.

Founded in 2023 by veterans of the global eVTOL industry, Sarla Aviation is designing a six-seater electric flying taxi that aims to shrink commute times in India's busiest metros.

The company, backed by private equity investor Accel, targets commercial operations by 2029 and envisions making India a global powerhouse in electric aviation.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's former President Yoon Suk-yeol's legal team filed an appeal Monday against the first-instance verdict on his obstruction of arrest charges, YTN reported.

Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison on his arrest obstruction charges stemming from a martial law attempt, live footage showed last Friday. Under South Korean law, the deadline to file an appeal is one week, meaning the appeal had to be submitted by Jan. 23.

After several of their key arguments were rejected in the ruling, Yoon's side held a press conference earlier on Monday, announcing that an appeal was formally filed with the Seoul Central District Court at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor, who has yet to receive the full written verdict, said he plans to review the ruling and decide whether to file an appeal. The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon. However, as the prosecution previously expressed regret that the sentence was only half of what was sought, observers widely expect an appeal to be filed.

The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb. 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.

The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April last year, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted under detention last January as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested and indicted. 
The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani to appear before it on November 17 in a FEMA case after he skipped his scheduled date on Friday.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

ED sources said the agency rejected Ambani's offer to depose through "virtual means".

In a statement, a spokesperson of the 66-year-old businessman said he has written to the federal probe agency assuring "full cooperation" in the probe.

According to sources, the agency had asked Ambani to appear before it in person on Friday and get his statement recorded under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

The investigation pertains to the Jaipur-Reengus highway project.

In an earlier statement, the ED had said that after recently attaching assets worth Rs 7,500 crore belonging to Ambani and his companies under the anti-money laundering law, a search carried out against Reliance Infrastructure Ltd found that an alleged Rs 40 crore was "siphoned" from the highway project.

"Funds moved through Surat-based shell companies to Dubai.

"The trail has unearthed a wider international hawala network exceeding Rs 600 crore," the agency had said.

The ED has recorded the statement of various persons, including some alleged hawala dealers, following which they decided to summon Ambani, the sources said.

Hawala denotes illegal movement of funds, largely in cash.

"The matter (FEMA case) is 15 years old, dates to 2010. It concerns issues associated with a road contractor," the statement said.

In 2010, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd awarded an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract to build the JR Toll Road (Jaipur-Reengus highway), it said.

"This was a purely domestic contract with no foreign exchange component involved whatsoever.

"The JR Toll Road has been fully completed and, from 2021 onwards, has been with the National Highways Authority of India," the statement said.

Ambani is not a member of the Board of Reliance Infrastructure.

"He served the company for about 15 years, from April 2007 to March 2022, only as a non-executive director, and was never involved in day-to-day management of the company," it said.

The businessman has once been questioned by the ED in a money laundering case linked to an alleged Rs 17,000 crore worth bank fraud against his group companies.
Leading hospital chain Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd (Ahel) has posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 477 crore during the second quarter this financial year, up 26 per cent from Rs 379 crore during the same period last financial year.

Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

This was mainly driven by a 13 per cent rise in revenue from Rs 5,589 crore in Q2FY25 to Rs 6,304 crore in Q2FY26.

The company said its HealthCo business was expected to achieve a breakeven in the next two quarters.

The chains earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) were Rs 941 crore during the period as against Rs 816 crore in Q2FY25.

It saw diluted earnings per share of Rs 33.19 per share in Q2FY26.

Apollo Hospitals had 8,050 operating beds in its network, and the occupancy rate for hospitals was 69 per cent during the quarter versus 73 per cent in the same period in the previous year.

On the three lines of business, we have done well.

"Last year, we had a higher incidence of seasonal medical admission, leading to a high base, whereas medical admission was low in Q2FY26.

"This low growth in medical admission was partly offset by a 14 per cent increase in revenue from CONGO Specialties (cardiac, oncology,

neurosciences, gastroenterology, and orthopaedics), said Krishnan Akhileswaran, group chief financial officer.

The reduction in patients from Bangladesh had an impact of 1 per cent on health care revenue in Q2FY26.

Akhileswaran said average revenue per inpatient admission during the quarter was Rs 1.73 lakh compared to Rs 1.6 lakh last year.

This signifies that we are doing quite a bit of high-complexity work.

"The impact of Bangladesh was around Rs 25 crore during the current quarter. We are seeing some increase in patients from Bangladesh.

"We are looking at Iraq, West Asia, and Africa too. Once Gurugram starts, growth will happen, he added.

The company is looking to operate and manage a hospital in Iraq.

Despite a dip in inflows from Bangladesh, we have witnessed a 1.5 per cent increase in the number of overseas patients, he added.

The consolidated revenue of the health care service division increased 9 per cent to Rs 3,169 crore in Q2FY26 compared to Rs 2,903 crore in Q2FY25.

Ebitda was at Rs 781 crore in Q2FY26 compared to Rs 722 crore in Q2 FY25.

Ebitda was higher by 8 per cent year-on-year.

Apollo Health and Lifestyles gross revenue was seen at Rs 474 crore, up 17 per cent versus last year.

Its diagnostics revenue stood at Rs 183 crore and Spectra at Rs 73 crore.

Akhileswaran added in the HealthCo business it managed to bring down Ebitda losses from Rs 80 crore in the same quarter last year to Rs 40 crore now.

We hope to bring it to breakeven in the next two quarters, he said.

Its revenues in offline pharmacy distribution were seen at Rs 2,335 crore in Q2FY26, while revenues from the digital platform were at Rs 326 crore.

Overall HealthCo revenues were at Rs 2,661 crore, representing 17 per cent year-on-year growth.
State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) is willing to dilute a 3040 per cent stake in its upcoming greenfield refinery in Andhra Pradesh, with Gulf energy major Saudi Aramco and upstream player Oil India Ltd (OIL) likely to join as partners, a senior BPCL executive told Business Standard.

Photograph: Sivaram V/Reuters

Aramco is expected to pick up a minority stake of about 20 per cent, while OIL may take around 10 per cent. BPCL may also divest 4-5 per cent to banks that have expressed interest in the project, the executive said.

Queries sent to BPCL and Oil India seeking comment remained unanswered at the time of publication.

Saudi Aramco declined to comment.

BPCL is setting up the refinery and petrochemical project near Ramayapatnam port in Nellore district to cater to rising domestic demand and expand petrochemical exports.

The Andhra Pradesh government has allotted 6,000 acres for the project.

The final negotiations on investment will be taken after completion of the detailed feasibility report (DFR), which will give us the final cost of the project, the executive said.

The feasibility report is expected to be completed by the end of February.

BPCL has estimated the project cost at over Rs 96,000 crore and proposed an operational capacity of 9-12 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).

The final investment cost could vary by as much as 30 per cent from initial estimates, the source said.

The design and configuration of a big refinery takes time.

"The project will have higher petrochemical capacity due to higher demand.

BPCL has been in talks with foreign players, including Saudi Arabia, for investment in the proposed refinery.

In 2019, Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding with India, announcing plans to invest $100 billion across sectors such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing.

Those investments are yet to materialise.

In October, BPCL also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oil India to explore collaboration as a strategic alliance in building the Andhra refinery, including the possibility of OIL taking a minority equity stake.

BPCL is Indias second-largest oil marketing company, with domestic sales of 52.4 million tonnes and a market share of 27.44 per cent in the last financial year.

It operates the countrys third-largest refining capacity, about 14 per cent of the national total, through refineries in Mumbai, Kochi and Bina.

Indias refining hub goal

India, the worlds fourth-largest oil refiner, is seeking to expand capacity amid strong growth in fuel and petrochemical demand.

The governments earlier plan for a 60 mmtpa refinery in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, was shelved because of land acquisition hurdles.

Subsequently, the oil ministry directed state-run oil marketing companies to develop smaller refineries of 20-25 mtpa.

The government aims to raise Indias total refining capacity to 450 mtpa by 2030, from about 250 mtpa at present, through a mix of new projects and expansions.
IMAGE: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Photograph: ANI Photo

Assam has become the first state in India to directly venture into oil production, following the discovery of hydrocarbons at the Namrup-Borhat block in 2025 -- a milestone that shifts the country's oil-sector dynamics and marks a bold step in the state's quest for greater control over its natural resources.

The discovery was made by the Assam Hydrocarbon and Energy Company Ltd. (AHECL), the state government's own exploration entity, which has been participating in India's OALP and DSF bidding rounds.

This marks the first time a state-run company has independently struck oil inside its own territory, historically a domain of central PSUs like ONGC and Oil India.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, celebrating the breakthrough, described it as 'a defining step forward' as Assam moves to 'take charge of its energy future.'

The state government has long sought a greater say in hydrocarbon exploration, arguing that Assam must benefit more directly from the resources extracted from its soil.

Government officials say that the Namrup-Borhat discovery has reinforced the state's geological potential, located in the prolific Upper Assam oil belt known for high-quality reserves and historical production fields.

Early assessments suggest the presence of commercially recoverable hydrocarbons, though detailed reserve estimates will follow production testing.

Energy policy experts say Assam's entry into oil production reshapes the federal character of India's hydrocarbon sector.

For decades, upstream oil extraction has been controlled almost exclusively by central PSUs. Assam's breakthrough signals a new phase where states could play a more proactive role in exploration, revenue sharing, and operational control.

It also aligns with growing demands from resource-producing states for enhanced autonomy in the extractive sector -- a long-standing political and economic issue in India's north east.

Officials say the state's foray into oil extraction fits into a broader energy expansion plan, which includes: Large-scale thermal power development, including the proposed 3,400 MW plant in Dhubri; expansion of natural gas pipelines and city gas distribution, and increased focus on green and renewable energy projects.

The oil discovery is expected to attract new investments, generate skilled jobs and strengthen Assam's position as a key contributor to India's energy basket.

AHECL is now preparing for the appraisal and early-production phases at Namrup-Borhat, working with technical partners to fast-track testing and commercial output.

The state hopes that the project will not only enhance revenues but also pave the way for further state-led exploration blocks.

With this landmark discovery, Assam has become the first Indian state to step beyond policy advocacy and into direct oil extraction -- a precedent many other resource-rich states are now expected to watch closely.
Batting for further consolidation in public sector banking, the executives of top public sector banks (PSBs) said there should be at least two Indian banking entities among the top 20 global banks.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The growing needs of the country, which is eyeing to become a developed nation by 2047, make it imperative to have many large-size banks.

The state-owned banks with a healthy profile, marked by a comfortable capital base, robust asset quality and enhanced quality of operations, are best-placed to engage in further consolidation.

Banks are more confident to manage mergers and amalgamation on the back of effective consolidation in the PSB space that happened during the pandemic in 2020, the bankers said during a session Does India need big banks, moderated by Manojit Saha of Business Standard.

Ashwini Tewari, managing director, State Bank of India, the countrys largest lender, said: PSB consolidation is a decision for the government to take. There is a case for large banks.

"There can be niche banks, which are sector or community oriented. India should have at least two banks in the Top 20 globally.

Seconding SBIs argument for larger banks, Asheesh Pandey, MD & CEO, Union Bank of India, said, Banks need strong balance sheets to underwrite big projects.

"This coupled with the de-dollarisation trend will drive the need for big banks.

Earlier, banks were dealing with projects with loans of Rs 800 crore-Rs 1,500 crore, and now they are underwriting projects with sizes in the region of Rs 8,000 crore-Rs 15,000 crore, he added.

Commenting on the need for big banks, panellist Rajneesh Karnatak, MD & CEO, Bank of India, pointed out, The country has a different demography with rural and semi rural areas.

"There should be at least three to four large banks in the Top 100 globally in terms of total business, market capitalisation and asset size.

The case for big banks, according to Debadatta Chand, MD & CEO, Bank of Baroda, is also due to their capacity to underwrite, ability to invest in technology and optimise branch network and resources.

The first wave of consolidation happened in the middle of the last decade when SBIs associate banking entities merged with the parent.

Later, in 2019, Bank of Baroda took Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank into its fold.

This was followed by consolidation on a larger scale in 2020.

Bankers pointed out that it took the Indian economy 65 years to reach the $1 trillion mark.

From one trillion to two trillion, it took another seven years.

And the journey from two trillion to three trillion, took two years only.

Now, the government has articulated the aim of becoming Viksit Bharat and to reach a $40 trillion mark by 2047.

With this, the scale of operations and the gross domestic product (GDP) growing in that manner, India definitely needs large banks, the bankers asserted.

On the need to globalise, Tewari said India requires big banks to contribute meaningfully to large Indian companies.

To do this, banks need to attain size, raise more capital and underwrite larger funding requirements.

Also, a large bank can spend on the latest technology.

In the digital age, technology spending is not a choice, it is a necessity.

Panellists said the cost to income and cost to asset ratio improves as banks become larger.

In India, this is between 1.5-2 per cent.

Globally, this has come down to one per cent or lower.

Also, the input costs are better optimised in large banks.

Integration of diverse systems as well as human resources (HR) becomes critical in a consolidation.

Tewari added that the large banks can attract, train and retain specialised talents in risk management, technology, and artificial intelligence.

Workforce and technology have to be mapped out carefully given multiple applications across merged banks, said Chand.

Bankers also emphasised sensitivity for cultural issues while dealing with mergers.

Asheesh Pandey, MD & CEO, Union Bank of India, pointed out that culture is key as it has to be harmonised, otherwise it (merger process) would be difficult.

Seconding Pandeys view, Karnatak said that integration of people, process, and technology is important.

Asset quality is very good in India. It is not a challenge as far as bank consolidation is concerned, he added.

There was also emphasis on sensitivity in handling of systemic and HR issues.

Tewari said there has to be transparency and fairness on the HR side, so that everyone in the consolidated organisation feels that the process is transparent and fair.

Another big exercise that the banks have to go through is on the policy (rationale and road map) and the technology.

Now, technology is not that much of a challenge.

Earlier, the consolidations were happening based on the technology even if the platform was the same or not, the panel members added.
Bajaj Auto is planning a slow, calibrated push to take the Chetak, its electric scooter, to more than 100 countries on the strength of its distributor network and market-specific localisation rather than an aggressive global rollout, reports Sohini Das.

IMAGE: Executive Director of Bajaj Auto Rakesh Sharma along with Managing Director of Bajaj Auto Rajiv Bajaj during the launch of first electric scooter (Bajaj EV Chetak), in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bajaj Auto is planning a slow, calibrated push to take the Chetak, its electric scooter, to more than 100 countries on the strength of its distributor network and market-specific localisation rather than an aggressive global rollout, said Rishab Bajaj, general manager, electric-vehicle (EV) two- and three-wheelers, at the launch of the Chetak C25 on Wednesday.

The launch, at Bajaj Auto's Akurdi campus, was the first occasion when Rishab Bajaj, son of Bajaj Auto Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Rajiv Bajaj, fielded questions on the company's electric two-wheeler strategy.

His presence signalled a generational transition and underscored his rising responsibilities in the company.

Rishab joined Bajaj Auto about four years ago, and is now involved in shaping the Chetak's product, pricing, and expansion.

Bajaj Auto is exporting the Chetak to markets such as Nepal and Sri Lanka, apart from the Philippines, though the volumes are small, said Rakesh Sharma, executive director.

Rishab told Business Standard: "While the goal is more than 100 countries, it has to be done one step at a time."

"Every country has its own regulations, infrastructure, and requirements. Certification alone can take up to six months in some markets, and there is some localisation required. All of that is in the pipeline."

Rishab acknowledged the uncertainty on EV exports, particularly issues related to charging infrastructure, the quality of electricity, and service readiness in overseas markets.

He said Bajaj Auto's decades-old distributor network provided a strong foundation.

"Our distributors across continents are our eyes and ears on the ground. They have a strong association with local markets, and we meet them regularly."

The export push comes as Bajaj Auto consolidates its position in India's electric two-wheeler market.

The company in February last year emerged as the top electric two-wheeler maker and followed it up with its best ever monthly sales of 35,214 units in March.

Last year the Chetak's retail sales stood at 269,847 units, up 39.34 per cent year-on-year, securing second position and narrowing the gap with market leader TVS Motor, which sold 298,881 units.

Production and retail sales were affected during July and August due to supply-chain disruption linked to rare-earth magnets.

"We've covered all bases on the supply side and have a strong production facility.

"Our teams are working to improve throughput and cater to more customers faster. I don't see any concern on supply."

Bajaj Auto launched the Chetak C25 at a starting price of Rs 91,399 (including central-government subsidy under the PM E-DRIVE scheme), positioning it as a more affordable and practical addition to the Chetak range.

The scooter is powered by a 2.5 kWh NMC battery pack with a claimed range of 113 km per charge and supports 0-80 per cent charging in two hours and 25 minutes.

It offers 25 litres of under-seat storage and is 22 kg lighter than the previous-generation model.

The C25 comes with a warranty of three years or 50,000 km.

"The Chetak stands for reliability. Every Bajaj product has stood for reliability across decades, and that will not change," Rishab said, adding that the C25's differentiation lay in its "younger, fresher" design and colour palette.

Bajaj Auto says the industry's double-digit growth trajectory is sustainable. Last year electric two-wheeler sales grew 11 per cent to 1.28 million units.

Network expansion remains another key lever. Bajaj Auto operates 390 exclusive Chetak stores and 4,280 sales touchpoints across more than 500 cities, supported by over 4,100 service workshops.

On what could propel the Chetak to top spot in India's increasingly competitive electric two-wheeler market, Rishab said the answer lay in fundamentals rather than disruption.

"We need to stay true to what has got us this far -- reliability, range, charging time, practicality, space, and now affordability. That's what will decide where we land."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Companies with gas guzzlers are trying to set up the wrong narrative against small cars getting relaxation in the proposed corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE-III) norms on the basis of weight, Maruti Suzuki senior executive officer corporate affairs Rahul Bharti said on Monday, bringing to the fore deep division among carmakers regarding the upcoming rules.

Photograph: Bhawika Chhabra/Reuters

A section of carmakers, including Tata Motors, is opposing any leniency for small cars under the proposed CAFE-III norms on the basis of weight and affordability, while bigger players like Maruti Suzuki have argued that the idea behind the new norms is to make big cars improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Speaking with reporters during the monthly sales call, Bharti charged that incorrect facts and narratives are being pushed in a very irresponsible manner by some companies to take away attention from their large gas-guzzlers.

Some incorrect facts and narratives are being pushed in a very irresponsible manner by the makers of some large gas guzzlers to take away attention from their large gas guzzlers.

"I have heard through our media friends about their (other OEMs) claim of arbitrary relaxation for small cars.

"More than 90 per cent of the world automobile market provides structured relaxations for small cars, he said, reflecting on the deep divide among countries' carmakers regarding the CAFE-III norms.

China does it at about 1090 kg; Europe actually relaxes targets below 1115 kg; Korea at 1100 kg; Japan follows a continuous parabolic curve where the delta in target keeps on reducing with weight.

"The US does it on a footprint of 41 square feet.

"Are they (some OEMs) saying that policymakers of all these countries, Europe, the US, China, Korea, and Japan, have taken arbitrary decisions?

"One should be very careful and do one's research before accusing the governments of all these countries as arbitrary, Bharti thundered.

Earlier Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles MD & CEO, Shailesh Chandra had stated that no leniency must be granted to small cars in the CAFE-III norms on the basis of weight and affordability as it would compromise safety features while distracting from concrete action towards sustainable mobility.

Market leader Maruti Suzuki India has been vocal in proposing such a concession for small cars and its chairman R C Bhargava had argued that the idea behind CAFE norms was to make big cars improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Auto industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), of which Chandra is the president, is a divided house on the issue.

While the likes of Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar and Honda Cars India want small cars to be granted benefits, others like Tata Motors, Mahindra, Hyundai and Kia are against it.

Chandra had noted that Tata does not support any move to include weight in the definition of small cars.

Such an arbitrary criteria would conflict with one of the country's most critical imperative that is safety, he had stated.

When asked if his comments reflected the division among different companies, Bharti said: I do not think this is true. It is only a limited point of small cars where I would have been much prouder if people took a national view instead of their immediate company's views.

He noted that across the world, small cars are given benefits when it comes to emissions.

Europe has provided 18 per cent relaxation, China, Japan, South Korea and the US all have relaxed targets for the small cars, he added.

So if the whole world is doing it, there must be some wisdom that the policymakers are following, Bharti said.

When asked if the company's small cars like Alto and S Presso would suffer if relaxation is not given, he said: The problem is not in the car.

"The problem is targets. They become really unscientific.

Bharti said the risk is that if the targets become unscientific, then a small car which produces the lowest Co2 will have to be discontinued.

That we don't want. So this is why we want to keep the targets realistic, tough, but realistic and with some stretch, of course, but they should not be globally unachievable, he added.

On the safety aspect, Bharti said all small cars in India follow the same regulations as the big cars.

Maruti Suzuki provides six airbags as standard across all variants, not just the top variants.

"We don't differentiate between the lives of a richer customer and a poorer one.

"However, many companies in India are not doing that.

"They are saving money on the lower variants, avoiding putting six airbags, putting just in the top few variants, and removing them in the lower variants, he stated.

Chandra had noted that diluting emission norms based on weight criteria compromises vehicle safety and will distract from concrete action towards sustainable mobility.

The CAFE norms, started from 2017, set a limit on average fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of a manufacturer's overall fleet with an aim to push carmakers to improve their overall fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

The CAFE II began in 2022 and the next phase CAFE III is likely to start from April 2027, for which new criteria are currently under discussion between various stakeholders with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Power Ministry releasing draft regulation in September this year for feedback.

Bharti said Maruti Suzuki will do everything to rejuvenate the small or compact car segments.

Many people were spreading a wrong narrative that the small car is not being purchased as entry customers are directly buying expensive SUVs and so the segment didn't need any support, he stated.

If the large cars and SUVs were growing at high rates and the entry customers were also buying expensive cars, then the industry before GST should have been growing by over 20 per cent, he added.

But it was stagnant at nearly zero per cent. So obviously this narrative is totally incorrect, which the GST benefit has proven, Bharti said.

Today, 3 per cent of India's population owns a car, and it is the collective responsibility to enable people from the 97 per cent club to experience coming into the car ownership club, he added.

And that is the responsibility of the market leader. Maruti Suzuki is a market leader, and leadership, more than anything, means responsibility.

"So, while some companies may want to avail of only the high demand segments, it is Maruti Suzuki's responsibility to take care of all segments, Bharti said.
Top carmakers led by Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Kia India on Saturday reported record sales in the domestic market riding on festive demand boosted by GST rate cut.

Photograph: Babu/Reuters

Other manufacturers such as Skoda Auto India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor also posted impressive growth in sales in October.

"In October, we did a retail of 2,42,096 units, which is a growth of almost 20 per cent over the last year," Maruti Suzuki India senior executive officer, marketing & sales, Partho Banerjee, told reporters in a virtual interaction.

It was the highest-ever retail sale that the company did in an October.

In the 40-days festival period starting from Navratra, he said the company had 5 lakh bookings with 4.1 lakh retail sales, "which is almost double of the last year".

Banerjee said before the GST reforms there were challenges in the new set of first-time car buyers entering the market but after GST 2.0 many customers have started coming to showrooms.

In terms of wholesales, Maruti Suzuki India said its total domestic sales, including commercial vehicles, stood at an all-time high of 180,675 units as against 163,130 units in the same month last year, up 10.75 per cent.

Domestic passenger vehicle sales were at 176,318 units as against 159,591 units in October 2024, up 10.48 per cent, it added.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd also reported record SUV sales in the domestic passenger vehicle market growing by 31 per cent to 71,624 units in October as compared to 54,504 units in the same month last year.

"In October, we achieved SUV sales of 71,624 units, a growth of 31 per cent, which is the highest SUV sales we have clocked ever in a month," M&M CEO, Automotive Division, Nalinikanth Gollagunta said.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd also reported its best ever wholesales at 61,295 units in October as compared to 48,423 units in the same month last year, a growth of 26.6 per cent.

The record-breaking monthly wholesales for the second consecutive month at 61,295 units was led by SUVs with over 47,000 units sold, achieving the highest-ever 77 per cent share in monthly sales, Tata Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles said in a regulatory filing.

On the other hand, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) reported a 3.2 per cent decline in domestic sales at 53,792 units in October as compared to 55,568 units in the same month last year.

Yet, the company witnessed robust market demand, leading to second highest monthly sales of its SUVs Creta and Venue with combined sales of 30,119 units.

"October 2025 was a month driven by the festivals of Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali, further complemented by the positive impact of GST 2.0 reforms.

"This provided a significant boost to the Indian automotive industry," HMIL whole-time director & chief operating officer Tarun Garg said.

Another South Korean automaker Kia reported a 30 per cent rise in sales at 29,556 units in October, its best-ever monthly sales since entering the Indian market.

"October 2025 marks a historic milestone in Kia India's journey... Our diverse product portfolio continues to connect strongly with evolving consumer needs," Kia India Senior Vice-President and National Head, sales and marketing, Atul Sood, said.

He further said, "The growing contribution of our EV range further validates our direction toward future-ready, sustainable mobility solutions for India."

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reported a 39 per cent rise in total sales at 42,892 units in October as compared to 30,845 units in the same month last year.

"The favourable economic environment during the festive season, reinforced by the government's forward-looking GST reforms, has also boosted market confidence.

"At TKM, this has resulted in a significant rise in customer enquiries and order intakes, collectively driving our overall performance," TKM vice president, Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Varinder Wadhwa, said.

Skoda Auto India also reported sales of 8,252 units in October 2025, its highest-ever monthly sales. Between January and October 2025, the company has sold 61,607 units, already beating its previous annual record of 53,721 cars sold in the calendar year 2022.

Nissan Motor India Pvt Ltd reported consolidated sales of 9,675 units in October 2025, including 2,402 units in the domestic market.
A deep split has emerged within India's auto industry over the proposed CAFE exemption for small cars, with only Maruti Suzuki and Renault backing the move in the final SIAM vote.

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

Mercedes-Benz was neutral, Toyota was for consensus, Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) and Renault said yes, and the remaining 15 carmakers said no when asked to give their final vote on the proposal to allow a weight-based exemption for small cars under the CAFE emission norms, Business Standard has learnt.

The final vote from all 19 carmakers was taken at the CEOs Council meeting of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) held on the evening of November 7.

The next day, Siam submitted its final written comments to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), stating that its members have mixed views on the issue of weight-based exemption for small cars.

The CAFE framework sets average carbon dioxide emission targets, measured in grams per kilometre (g/km), for each automakers overall fleet.

If a company fails to meet these targets, the BEE has the power to impose hefty penalties.

Photograph: PTI Photo from the Rediff Archives

On September 25, the BEE issued a draft of the CAFE-3 and CAFE-4 norms -- set to take effect from April 2027 for a period of 10 years -- introducing a weight-based exemption for small cars for the first time.

Under this draft, petrol vehicles weighing up to 909 kg, with engine capacity below 1,200cc and length under 4,000mm, will receive an additional 3g/km deduction in their declared carbon dioxide emissions.

This proposal has sharply divided the industry, a split that was evident during the CEOs Council meeting on November 7, said people familiar with the matter.

At the meeting, the CEOs of 19 automakers were asked to give their final vote on three specific questions.

The first was whether they agreed with the BEEs proposal to introduce a super credit or volume derogation factor (VDF) of 1.5 for flex-fuel vehicles and 2.5 for strong hybrid flex-fuel vehicles.

The second was whether they supported the proposal to allow pooling of up to three automobile companies to meet their carbon dioxide emission targets.

The third was whether they agreed with the proposal for an additional 3g/km carbon dioxide deduction for petrol vehicles weighing up to 909 kg.

Any fuel blend containing at least 85 per cent ethanol is considered flex fuel.

The VDF is a multiplier used to calculate a manufacturers fleet-average carbon dioxide emissions, allowing certain low-emission vehicles, such as strong hybrids, to be counted as more than one vehicle.

This effectively lowers the fleets average emissions on paper, making compliance easier.

All 19 CEOs (or their representatives) unanimously voted yes on the first two questions. But on the third question, 15 companies -- BMW, Fiat India Automobiles, Force Motors, Honda Cars, Hyundai, Isuzu Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, JSW MG Motor, Kia, Mahindra & Mahindra, Nissan Motor, Skoda Auto Volkswagen, Stellantis, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Volvo Auto -- voted no.

On the third question, Mercedes-Benz was neutral, Toyota was for consensus, and MSIL and Renault voted yes, according to those familiar with the matter.

According to these sources, Toyota did not cast a clear yes or no because it has no model under 909kg in its portfolio, but it is also part of a global alliance with Suzuki Motor Corporation, the parent company of MSIL, for joint development and production of certain cars, and therefore stated it would go with whatever consensus the other carmakers reached.

None of the carmakers responded to Business Standards queries on this matter, which were sent last week.

The newspaper also could not reach Fiat India Automobiles. Siam did not respond to the queries either.

The September 25 draft of the CAFE-3 and CAFE-4 norms is not the first issued by the BEE. The agency had published an earlier draft in June 2024.

Siam submitted its comments on that draft in December, seeking several changes.

A few months later, Maruti Suzuki, Indias largest carmaker and the biggest seller of small cars, independently approached the BEE requesting relief for small cars through a weight-based exemption. This marked the first signs of a divide within the industry.

In July 2025, a study by Nomura stated that all major automotive markets, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Europe, incorporate protections for small cars under their Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) regulations because of their environmental and socio-economic value.

In contrast, Indias linear weight-based CAFE framework penalises lighter vehicles with disproportionately stringent carbon dioxide targets, the study noted.

This creates a structural bias where heavier vehicles with higher emissions comply easily, while small cars with lower emissions fail, Nomura said.

It warned that under such a structure, lightweighting, a key decarbonisation strategy, is thus disincentivised.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Co president & CEO Jose Munoz on Wednesday said the company's Indian arm will invest Rs 45,000 crore by FY30, aiming to make India its second-largest region globally.

Photograph: Courtesy, Hyundai India

Addressing investors here in his first visit to the country, Munoz said Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has set a target of up to 30 per cent export contribution.

The company also aims to increase its revenues by 1.5 times and cross the Rs 1 lakh crore milestone by FY2030 under its 2030 growth roadmap.

Under the roadmap, HMIL plans 26 product launches by FY2030, including seven new nameplates, marking its entry into the MPV and off-road SUV segments.

The company also aims to roll out a locally designed, developed and manufactured dedicated electric SUV for the Indian market by 2027.

The company will also launch the luxury segment brand Genesis in India by 2027.

"Following our landmark IPO last year and 30 years of success in India, now HMIL plans an investment of Rs 45,000 crore through FY30 to drive the next phase of growth," Munoz said while addressing HMIL's first-ever investor day.

Sixty per cent of the investment will be on product and R&D, and the remaining 40 per cent on capacity and upgradation.

Asserting that India is a strategic priority in Hyundai's global growth vision, he said, "By 2030, HMIL will be our second-largest region globally" behind North America.

Currently, India is Hyundai's third-largest market, accounting for 15 per cent of its global sales, he added.

In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Make in India', he said, "We're making India a global export hub, targeting up to 30 per cent export contribution."

On HMIL's future product pipeline, Munoz said, "Our commitment is comprehensive - 26 product launches, including seven new nameplates, India's first locally designed, developed and manufactured dedicated electric SUV by 2027."

Stating that India's fundamentals are strong, Munoz said the company's strategy is clear for the market.

HMIL managing director Unsoo Kim said, "As we chart this growth trajectory, we are targeting a revenue milestone of Rs 1 lakh crore by FY2030, while sustaining strong double-digit EBITDA margins."

Most importantly, Kim said, "We remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for our shareholders by announcing a healthy dividend payout guidance of 20 per cent to 40 per cent."

Under its 2030 roadmap, HMIL is eyeing over 15 per cent domestic market share.

The company is also aiming for utility vehicles and eco-friendly powertrain (CNG, EV and Hybrid) contribution to reach over 80 per cent and more than 50 per cent, respectively, by FY30.

"We remain steadfast to augment our presence in the high-growth SUV segment driven by robust product strategy and customer-centric approach, thereby targeting over 80 per cent UV contribution by FY2030," HMIL MD & CEO Designate, Tarun Garg, said.

He further said HMIL will offer a comprehensive range of powertrain options spanning ICE, CNG, EV and hybrid technologies, with more than 50 per cent of its portfolio powered by cleaner and more sustainable technologies.

In terms of reach, Garg said, "By FY30, our sales and service network will extend to 85 per cent of India's districts, with rural markets expected to contribute 30 per cent of total sales."
GAZA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Medical officials in the Gaza Strip said on Monday that health authorities are recording daily deaths among residents due to a virus spreading in the coastal enclave, home to more than two million people.

Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, told the official Voice of Palestine radio station that "the virus, which has been spreading in the enclave since the beginning of winter, has caused daily deaths, not only among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, but also among pregnant women and children."

Abu Salmiya did not specify the number of deaths or the nature of the virus, but he mentioned the deaths of a doctor and an 18-year-old girl a few days ago due to complications from the infection.

Salmiya explained that the viral infection is accompanied by severe symptoms, including high fever, intense joint pain, and headaches, which can lead to severe pneumonia and, in some cases, death. "Regardless of whether it is a mutated strain of coronavirus or seasonal influenza, the problem is that we do not have the laboratory tests to identify it."

He said the virus "poses a real threat to people's lives," noting that the incubation period has extended to about two weeks instead of the usual one.

Medical teams working in the Gaza Strip "are observing a steady increase in such cases in hospital emergency departments, further burdening the already strained and dilapidated healthcare system," he said.

"The deterioration of the population's overall immunity, resulting from the famine that has struck the enclave and living in dilapidated tents that offer no protection from the cold and winter, has exacerbated the already dire situation," the director added.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Abdel Moneim, a pulmonologist in the Gaza Strip, said that the virus is "not new, but it is more virulent than before, and the most common symptoms are high fever, shortness of breath, severe cough, and sore throat."

In a press statement, Abdel Moneim explained that medical teams can identify a person infected with the virus through X-rays showing severe lung inflammation, which can lead to death.

He added that residents are living in overcrowded conditions in displacement camps, and personal protective measures such as wearing masks, maintaining hygiene, and sanitizing are unavailable. 
Lining up its 2030 strategy, Hyundai said it was targeting up to 30 per cent export contribution and over 1.5-fold rise in revenue, to cross the 1 trillion milestone in five years.

IMAGE: Hyundai MD Unsoo Kim during the launch of 'CRETA electric' at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, New Delhi. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo

Automobile major Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) on Wednesday announced around 45,000 crore worth of investment plans over five years to fuel its next phase of growth.

Jose Munoz, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Hyundai Motor Company, said the South Korean brands Indian arm was planning 26 product launches, including seven new nameplates, as it targets entry into the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and off-road sport utility vehicle (SUV) segments.

Lining up its 2030 strategy, Hyundai said it was targeting up to 30 per cent export contribution and over 1.5-fold rise in revenue, to cross the 1 trillion milestone in five years.

Addressing Hyundais first-ever CEO-investor meet in Mumbai, Munoz said the firms EV localisation strategy would roll out in phases.

"Were making India a global export hub, targeting up to 30 per cent export contribution. Our commitment is comprehensive: 26 product launches, including seven new nameplates, Indias first locally manufactured, dedicated electric SUV by 2027, and the launch of our luxury brand Genesis, all while treating every customer like our honoured guest, Munoz said.

Phase 1 EV localisation strategy focuses on local assembly at our Chennai plant, with a fresh dedicated EV launch this year. We are also establishing a flexible battery plant with locally assembled battery packs starting this year. Phase 2 will focus on supply chain localisation. It is our commitment to build a self-reliant automotive ecosystem in India, Munoz added.

The companys strategic road map includes India-centric product expansion, advanced manufacturing, deep localisation, and key financial guidance to support its growth trajectory through FY30.

As we chart this growth trajectory, we are targeting a revenue milestone of 1 trillion by FY30, while sustaining strong double-digit Ebitda margins. We remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for our shareholders by announcing a healthy dividend payout guidance of 20-40 per cent, said Unsoo Kim, managing director, HMIL.

Tarun Garg, whole-time director and chief operating officer of HMIL, said the company was aiming to achieve over 15 per cent domestic market share, driven by India-centric product launches.

We remain steadfast to augment our presence in the high-growth SUV segment, targeting over 80 per cent UV contribution by FY30, said Garg.



IMAGE: Jose Munoz.

Photograph: Courtesy, Hyundai

India an export hub

Hyundai is aiming for exports to account for 30 per cent of its total production by 2030, positioning India as a key global export hub.

It is eyeing around 50 per cent exports to West Asia and Africa, driven by compact sedans and SUVs, mild hybrids, and entry-level EVs.

Around 40 per cent will come from Central and South America, and the remaining 10 per cent from Asia Pacific.

In 2020, India accounted for 11 per cent of Hyundais global sales, ranking as its fifth-largest region by volume.

This increased to 15 per cent and the third-largest in FY25 and is expected to be the second-largest region by FY30.

"Our average selling price for exports was 6 per cent higher than domestic sales, which means exports are highly beneficial for profitability. The Indian automotive industry is projected to grow 5.2 per cent annually till 2030, reaching 5.6 million units.

"Domestically, HMIL will grow at 7 per cent annually, significantly increasing our base, reaching 15 per cent domestic market share. This is before additional growth from the export business, said Munoz.

Of the 26 planned launches, four will be rolled out in the next one year.

"Today internal combustion engines (ICE) are the majority of automotive profit pools. We have a strong presence in these core markets with about 14 per cent market share in the ICE car segment and 18 per cent in the ICE SUV segment in FY25.

"As we look forward, EV SUVs will grow 500 per cent from 2025 to 2030. Hybrid SUVs will grow 600 per cent, hybrid cars will grow 2,300 per cent and MPV EVs by 15,000 per cent. Despite this, ICE profit will still represent half of the industry, he added.

Munoz later told the media that the company would not exit the entry-level segment.

The entry market is developing and provides an opportunity for people to access safer mobility. Its in our own interests not to abandon the entry market, he added.

Garg said the company would be among the few mass-market original equipment manufacturers in India to offer a complete range of powertrain options -- ICE, CNG, EV and Hybrid technologies.

"More than 50 per cent of our portfolio will be powered by cleaner and more sustainable technologies, reflecting our commitment to future-ready mobility.

"By FY30, our sales and service network will extend to 85 per cent of Indias districts, with rural markets expected to contribute 30 per cent of total sales, underscoring our inclusive growth strategy and deepening reach across Bharat, Garg said.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) on Friday reported a 13 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) decline in consolidated revenue from operations for the second quarter of 2025-26 (Q2FY26), largely due to the cyberattack on its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in late August that forced a shutdown of its manufacturing operations for over five weeks.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

This is TMPVs first results announcement since its demerger from the commercial vehicles business earlier this month.

The inclusion of a notional profit of Rs 82,616 crore from the disposal of discontinued operations (demerger of commercial vehicles business), resulted in the consolidated net profit rising to Rs 76,248 crore in the second quarter.

Before this inclusion, the company incurred a loss of Rs 6,368 crore in this quarter.

JLRs revenue for the quarter declined by 24 per cent Y-o-Y, while its revenue for the first half of FY26 declined 16.3 per cent Y-o-Y.

Other than the cyberattack, the planned phase-out of legacy Jaguar models ahead of the new Jaguar launch also played its part.

From 2026, Jaguar will become an electric vehicle-only brand.

The profit of JLR was dragged down not just by the cyber incident but also due to the ongoing impact of US tariffs, as well as reduced sales.

In light of the challenges faced, JLR has revised its FY26 earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) guidance to 0-2 per cent.

PB Balaji, chief financial officer of the entire Tata Motors group said, It has been a difficult period for the business.

"However, we are committed to emerging from the cyber incident even stronger.

"The demand situation remains challenging globally but domestically there are signs of resurgence.

Shailesh Chandra, managing director and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, Q2FY26 was a landmark quarter for Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.

"Our agile approach, strong portfolio and impactful marketing helped us drive this growth trajectory.

"With a robust booking pipeline and rising consumer confidence, we are poised to sustain this momentum in H2FY26, guided by our several new launches ahead.

The passenger vehicle segment saw a double-digit year-on-year growth in wholesale volumes and registrations, supported by Tata Motors multi-powertrain portfolio, with CNG and EVs together contributing 45 per cent of total volumes.

EV sales jumped nearly 60 per cent YoY to around 25,000 units.

A reinvigorated demand environment also drove record sales of 60,000 units in September, helping improve revenues and deliver sequential gains in profitability.

Chandra described September and October as blockbuster months, each crossing the 60,000-unit mark and helping Tata secure the number two OEM position in the market.

Inventory levels remain healthy at 27 days, with plans to bring them down further.

Looking ahead, Tata Motors expects its upcoming quarters to be strong, backed by robust festive bookings, upcoming launches such as the Sierra EV, and sustained momentum through the second half.

Nexon was the number 1 model in India, across both September and October.

Tata also recorded its highest ever Harrier and Safari volumes.

We remain very optimistic about the business in India, and fully geared up to deliver a very strong second half of FY26.

"We anticipate healthy demand momentum for the Indian EV industry on the back of reduced GST,  Chandra added.

The company's performance was also impacted due to weaker demand from China.

Due to cyber incidents and US tariff pressures, the company sharply cut its FY26 guidance, lowering its EBIT margin and projecting a free cash outflow of 2.22.5 billion, while indicating that JLR is expected to see a better second half as production normalises.

Tata is also strengthening cybersecurity and rebuilding its systems, acknowledging that a lot of work is currently happening in real time to harden our external interfaces".

The results were announced during the market hours.

The companys stock fell 1.6 per cent ending the days trade at Rs 391.6 per share on BSE.
Maruti Suzuki India plans to localise battery production and other critical components over the next few years as part of strengthening the overall EV ecosystem in the country.

Photograph: Courtesy, Maruti Suzuki

The company, which plans to launch its first electric vehicle - e VITARA in the domestic market next year, is looking to instill confidence in the buyers as it looks to strengthen the overall EV ecosystem.

"Right now we are importing the batteries but yes we have a plan for localisation. It is very much on the cards in a phased manner over the next few years," Maruti Suzuki India senior executive officer (marketing & sales) Partho Banerjee told reporters in New Delhi.

He noted that the electric vehicle penetration in India will grow only when the consumer has the confidence to buy it as a primary car in the household.

"We believe that the customer is not confident (about EVs).

"The initial products that were launched, and the experiences from those, has created a huge amount of negativity in the minds of people regarding the driving range," he added.

Till date, the customers who are buying the EV vehicle, most of them will be using it as a secondary vehicle, he added.

"It's not the primary car. Since public infrastructure is not there, the buyer doesn't want to take a chance.

"So if he wants to buy his first vehicle, it happens to be not in EV, but in ICE or some other vehicle," Banerjee said.

By FY30, Maruti Suzuki plans to have five EV models in its overall product portfolio.

"By then, the industry will be around 5.5-6 million and EV penetration will be around 13-15 per cent.

"But this was before GST 2.0. So, we now have to reassess the market since there are reports that post GST 2.0, the penetration of EVs is going down.

"The ideal time to do it will be next FY," Banerjee stated.

He listed driving range, inadequacy of public charging infrastructure and challenges in after sales service and resale value as the biggest challenges in EV adoption in the country.

"We are trying to instill confidence in the customers before they acquire an EV.

"If the buyer is not confident about the entire ecosystem he will not buy an EV," Banerjee said.

The automaker will have 1,500 EV enabled workshops across 1,100 cities pan India.

"It has already set up 2,000 charging points.

"For the resale value we are going to have an assured buyback scheme and subscription scheme as well," he said.

Acknowledging the lack of EV ecosystem as a major drawback he noted the EV industry is not growing at a similar pace as the internal combustion engine vehicles.

OEMs should first make the products good, have a good after sales service, and create a good ecosystem, Banerjee said.

That gives better confidence to the customer, he added Maruti has already started exports of e-VITARA having shipped 10,000 units of the model to 26 markets.

The auto major aims to drive in multiple electric models across bodystyles and set up charging infrastructure across the country as it looks to attain leadership in the segment.

The company plans to set up around 1 lakh charging stations by 2030 in partnership with its dealer partners and charging point operators.
Despite a 2.8 per cent fall in 2025 volumes, Mercedes-Benz India reported its best-ever revenue and profitability, led by top-end models, AMG growth and higher BEV mix, reports Sohini Das.

IMAGE: MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, Santosh Iyer, unveils Mercedes-AMG GT 63 and GT 63 Pro, in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a year when India's luxury car industry grew a modest 1.6 per cent to around 52,000 units, and market leader Mercedes-Benz India saw volumes decline by nearly 3 per cent, the German luxury carmaker posted its best ever revenue and profitability in its 25-year history in the country.

The performance underscores the company's strategic pivot towards top-end luxury vehicles.

Industry volumes are expected to remain largely flat in 2026, with global headwinds and foreign exchange (forex) volatility continuing to weigh on demand.

Mercedes-Benz India delivered 19,007 cars in 2025, down 2.8 per cent from 19,565 units in 2024, which was its best-ever sales year in India.

Despite the volume decline, Santosh Iyer, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Mercedes-Benz India, said 2025 marked the company's strongest year yet in terms of both revenue and profitability.

This achievement is impressive given that the euro depreciated 19 per cent against the Indian rupee during the year.

Mercedes-Benz implemented three price hikes in the first half of the year, totting up around 6 per cent, before goods and services tax (GST) rationalisation in September led to a 6 per cent price reduction, making the net impact neutral for customers.

This month, the company took an extra 2 per cent price hike.

Even so, Iyer said around 10 per cent of the forex impact has not been passed on to customers, continuing to exert pressure on margins.

Top-end vehicles grew 11%

While the company did not disclose revenue or profit numbers, it said sales of top-end vehicles (priced at Rs 1.3 crore and above) grew 11 per cent year-on-year and accounted for 25 per cent of total volumes.

The AMG portfolio posted 34 per cent growth, while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) grew 12 per cent.

Surprisingly, 20 per cent of all top-end vehicles sold were BEVs, or put differently, 70 per cent of BEVs sold in 2025 were priced between Rs 1.25 crore and Rs 3.1 crore.

Entry luxury models (Rs 45-60 lakh) accounted for 13 per cent of sales, while core luxury vehicles (Rs 65 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore) contributed 62 per cent of volumes in 2025.

"Profitability is under stress due to exchange rate movements.

"We have not fully covered the forex impact, but our business model remains sustainable.

"We have the lowest discounts in the market, which supports profitability and residual values for customers.

"Compared to peers, we remain among the most profitable," Iyer told Business Standard.

He added that 2025 was the company's best-ever year in terms of revenue, while profitability figures will become clearer once the quarter closes.

Mercedes's entry luxury portfolio declined 20 per cent year-on-year, reducing its share to 13 per cent of total sales.

Iyer said this was in line with Mercedes-Benz's decision to stay out of aggressive price competition.

"First-time luxury buyers are far more price-sensitive.

"Repeat luxury customers continue to buy, but first-time demand has softened due to frequent price changes.

"After the GST announcement, we saw a spike in September, but that momentum did not sustain," he said.

In 2026, the firm plans to introduce 12 new cars in India, including all-new models with no predecessors, along with several facelifts.

Many of these launches will comprise top-end vehicles and new BEVs.

Rivals target first-time buyers

While Mercedes-Benz continues to prioritise value -- revenue and profitability -- over volumes, rivals are increasingly targeting first-time buyers to expand the overall market.

BMW Group India, for instance, closed 2025 with its highest-ever sales of 18,001 cars, marking 14 per cent year-on-year growth and outperforming the broader luxury car market.

According to BMW, growth is being driven largely by first-time luxury buyers.

Hardeep S Brar, president and CEO of BMW Group India, said the share of first-time luxury customers rose from about 43 per cent in 2024 to nearly 49 per cent in 2025, with some models recording even higher ratios.

At Mercedes-Benz India, around 60 per cent of buyers are repeat customers, while 40 per cent are first-time Mercedes owners -- a mix that has remained largely unchanged over the past two to three years.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Ola Electric on Thursday said its automobile business turned profitable in the quarter ended September 2025 with pre-tax earnings growing by 0.3 per cent against a contraction of 5.3 per cent in the preceding three months.

IMAGE: Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola Cabs, and founder of Ola Electric, speaks during a press conference in Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The positive EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of 0.3 per cent in July-September marks the company's first quarter of EBITDA profitability, Ola Electric said in a statement.

The company also announced that its auto gross margin expanded sequentially by 510 basis points to 30.7 per cent, higher than most ICE (conventional engine) two-wheeler companies, with minimal PLI contribution of 2 per cent.

This marks a significant inflection point in the company's journey toward sustainable profitability supported by strong gross margin expansion and disciplined cost management, the statement said.

The company's consolidated revenue from operations in July-September quarter stood at Rs 690 crore with total deliveries of 52,666 vehicles during the period.

The Bengaluru-based firm said its second quarter performance demonstrates the strength of its vertical integration strategy and operational discipline.

The company's cost optimisation efforts have continued to deliver results, with auto operating expenses being reduced to Rs 258 crore from Rs 308 crore in the year-ago period.

Consolidated operating expenses were further reduced to Rs 416 crore from Rs 451 crore, it added.

The company expects auto opex to decline to around Rs 225 crore by Q1 of FY27, with consolidated operating expense targeted at Rs 350-375 crore through operational consolidation and technology-driven efficiencies.

On business outlook, the firm said that for the second half of the current fiscal, it is targeting deliveries of around 1 lakh units, reflecting a strategic focus on margin discipline in a hyper-competitive market.

On a full-year basis, the company now expects FY26 consolidated revenue of around Rs 3,000-3,200 crore, with new Ola Shakti volumes beginning in Q4 to grow and diversify the top line.

The auto segment is expected to exit Q4 with gross margins of around 40 per cent and segment EBITDA of around 5 per cent, it said.

The cell business will start contributing to revenue from Q4 onward through inter-group supply and external Shakti sales, with cell gross margins expected to stabilize at 30 per cent by early FY27, the company stated.
Automobile retail sales across the domestic market witnessed a 21 per cent year-on-year increase in the 42-day festive season led by record registrations of passenger vehicles and two-wheelers aided by GST rejig enabled drop in prices across segments, dealer' body FADA said on Friday.

Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

Overall retail sales rose to 52,38,401 units in the festive period this year as compared with 43,25,632 units in the same period last year, registering an increase of 21 per cent.

"The 42-day festive period of 2025 stands as a defining milestone for India's auto retail, delivering the highest-ever sales and growth across categories," Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) president C S Vigneshwar said in a statement.

Passenger vehicle registrations rose to 766,918 units during the period as against 621,539 units in the same period last year, logging an increase of 23 per cent.

"The GST 2.0 vision of empowering affordability and boosting middle-class consumption found real reflection on dealership floors.

"Compact and sub-4-metre cars saw strong resurgence as reduced tax rates expanded the buying base.

"Dealers also noted that retail momentum exceeded supply in several models," Vigneshwar stated.

Two-wheeler retails rose to 22 per cent to 40,52,503 units as compared with 33,27,198 units in 2024.

The segment was powered by improved rural sentiment, better liquidity, and the affordability impact of GST rationalisation, Vigneshwar stated.

Dealers described it as the best festive season in recent memory, with strong traction in commuter bikes and scooters, alongside rising EV interest, he added.

Similarly, three-wheeler and commercial vehicle registrations rose 9 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively during the 42-day period.

"This season's success has reaffirmed that the GST 2.0 reform is not just a tax simplification, but a catalyst for consumer-led growth and national prosperity.

"It has lowered ownership costs, energised Bharat's economy, and rekindled aspiration in every segment of society," Vigneshwar stated.

For the month of October, automobile retail sales rose 41 per cent year-on-year to 40,23,923 units, driven by all-time high monthly sales of both passenger vehicles and two-wheelers.

Passenger vehicle registrations rose to 557,373 units last month, up 11 per cent against 500,578 units sold in October 2024.

Similarly, two-wheeler sales surged 52 per cent year-on-year to 31,49,846 units in October as against 20,75,578 units in the same month last year.

"Overall retail sales grew robustly as both passenger vehicles and two-wheelers achieved lifetime highs, signalling renewed consumer confidence and strong economic undercurrents.

"After an almost quiet September for the first 21 days due to the GST 2.0 transition, October witnessed a swift rebound -- almost like a hurdle race where pent-up demand passed the baton to festive sentiment and tax-cut excitement, propelling sales to historic levels," Vigneshwar said.

Three-wheeler retails grew 5 per cent year-on-year to 129,517 units in October, while commercial vehicle sales posted an 18 per cent growth over the same period last month.

"The outlook for India's auto retail over the next three months remains decisively positive, backed by the continued impact of GST 2.0, steady rural income, and seasonal demand from weddings and harvests," FADA stated.

Festive spillover bookings, better stock availability, and new model launches are expected to sustain retail momentum, supported by year-end offers and new-year registrations, it added.
Passenger vehicle dispatches from companies to dealers increased 19 per cent year-on-year in November as demand remained robust post festive period, industry body SIAM said on Friday.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Total passenger vehicle sales stood at 412,405 units last month, up 18.7 per cent as compared with 347,522 units in the year-ago period.

Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India dispatched 170,971 units to dealers last month as compared with 141,312 units in the same month last year, an increase of 21 per cent.

Mahindra & Mahindra dispatched 56,336 units last month as compared with 46,222 units in the year-ago period, an increase of 22 per cent.

Hyundai Motor India billed 50,340 units to dealers, up 4 per cent as against 48,246 units in November last year.

Two wheeler dispatches to dealers rose 21 per cent year-on-year to 19,44,475 units in November as against 16,04,749 units in the same month last year, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said in a statement.

Scooter sales rose 29 per cent year-on-year to 735,753 units in November as against 568,580 units in the year-ago period.

Motorcycle dispatches on the other hand increased 17.5 per cent to 11,63,751 units last month as against 9,90,246 units in November 2024.

Moped sales, however, witnessed a dip of 2 per cent at 44,971 units last month as against 45,923 units in the year-ago period.

Total three wheeler sales rose 21 per cent year-on-year to 71,999 units in November.

"Following the festive demand and support from the government's progressive GST 2.0 reforms, the Indian auto industry continued with the sales momentum in November 2025," SIAM director general Rajesh Menon stated.

Passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and three-wheelers marked the highest-ever sales of November in 2025, he added.

"Industry is optimistic that the continued supportive policy reforms and improved market sentiments, would continue this growth trajectory well into 2026," Menon stated.
'This is not just a cosmetic refresh,' said Suhas Rajkumar, founder and chief executive officer of Simple Energy. 'We have re-engineered the battery integration, made the scooter lighter, improved performance and expanded the portfolio so customers can choose based on real usage needs.'

Photographs: Kind courtesy simpleenergy.in

Electric two-wheeler maker Simple Energy has reset its product strategy with the launch of its Generation 2 scooter portfolio, rolling out four variants across price and range bands.

The variants include the new Simple Ultra, India's longest-range electric scooter with an IDC-certified range of 400 km.

The Gen 2 launch replaces the company's earlier Generation 1.5 lineup and marks its most comprehensive product upgrade since inception. Prices for the refreshed portfolio start at 1.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Bengaluru), and go up to 1.77 lakh, while a limited-period introductory offer begins at 1.39 lakh.

The headline product, Simple Ultra, features a 6.5 kWh battery, the largest on an electric scooter in India, delivering an IDC range of 400 km, a top speed of 115 kmph and 040 kmph acceleration in 2.77 seconds, making it the country's second-fastest electric scooter.

Alongside it, Simple Energy has launched two Gen 2 Simple One variants: a 4.5 kWh version with a 236 km IDC range priced from 1.69 lakh, and a 5 kWh variant offering 265 km at 1.77 lakh. The entry-level Simple OneS Gen 2 delivers an improved 190 km range and is priced at 1.49 lakh.

"This is not just a cosmetic refresh," said Suhas Rajkumar, founder and chief executive officer of Simple Energy.

"We have re-engineered the battery integration, made the scooter lighter, improved performance and expanded the portfolio so customers can choose based on real usage needs."

Rajkumar said the push towards ultra-long range was driven by a segment of buyers seeking higher utility rather than mass-market demand. "There is a growing customer base that wants extreme range and performance without compromise. Simple Ultra is built precisely for that rider," he said.

The Gen 2 scooters come with upgrades across design and usability, including an eight-year motor warranty, along with a three-year vehicle and charger warranty.

Importantly, the company has pre-stocked its dealer network, allowing customers to take deliveries immediately with no waiting period. The scooters are available across 61-plus company showrooms and through online platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart.

The launch comes amid improving sales momentum.

Simple Energy's monthly volumes rose from around 500600 units at the start of 2025, when it had fewer than 10 outlets, to about 1,0001,200 units a month by October-November, supported by a retail network of over 60 stores. Average sales per outlet have climbed to roughly 50 scooters a month.

For 2026, the company plans to expand to around 150 dealerships by March and nearly 300 outlets by year-end. Its Hosur plant currently has an annual capacity of 300,000 scooters, which, Rajkumar said, is adequate for near-term growth.

"2026 is the inflection year for us," he said. "We are targeting at least 30 per cent month-on-month growth, and the groundwork across product, retail and operations is already in place."

'PLI scheme favours incumbents, not startups'

While Simple Energy continues to benefit from demand-side incentives such as FAME and PM E-Drive, it does not qualify for the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme under current norms.

Rajkumar said the existing framework disproportionately favours large incumbents.

"The PLI norms are so stringent that startups don't qualify -- it ends up favouring larger players," he said, citing requirements such as a 1,000-crore net worth threshold.

He suggested linking PLI eligibility to PM E-Drive qualification and operational parameters such as localisation levels, number of stores and multi-state presence.

"That would ensure only serious players qualify, while still supporting companies that are actually manufacturing in India," he said.
A Chinese firm this week began trial production of flying cars stated to be the next-generation in the world of transportation, ahead of US firm Tesla and others plans to launch the same shortly.

IMAGE: XPeng's eVTOL flying car X2 made its first public flying in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 10, 2022. All p hotographs: Amr Alfiky/Reuters

Xpeng Aeroht, the flying car affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng on Monday began trial production at the world's first intelligent factory for mass-produced flying cars --- a milestone in the commercialisation of next-generation transport.

Located in the Huangpu district of Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, the 120,000-square-metre plant has already rolled out the first detachable electric aircraft of its modular flying car, the Land Aircraft Carrier, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The facility is designed to have an annual production capacity of 10,000 detachable aircraft modules, with an initial capacity of 5,000 units.

It has the largest production capacity of any factory of its kind, and will be capable of assembling one aircraft every 30 minutes once fully operational, the report said.

Xpeng announced the plan ahead of Tesla launching its flying car version.

Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told Fox News that his firm is getting closer to building a flying car.

"We're getting close to demonstrating the prototype," Musk was quoted as saying on Monday.

"And I think this will be  one thing I can guarantee is that this product demo will be unforgettable."

"Whether it's good or bad, it will be unforgettable," Musk said.

Asked for specifics about the technology, like whether the automobile would have a "retractable wing", Musk just said the unveiling "has a shot at being the most memorable product unveil ever".

Musk said that the car would "hopefully" be unveiled "in a couple months."

Another US firm Alef Aeronautics has recently demonstrated its flying car test runs with an announcement that its commercial production will begin soon.

Alef Aeronautics CEO Jim Dukhovny in an interview to Fox news said his firm has already secured over a billion dollar pre-booking orders.

It will be driver-driven cars with light plane flying licences besides driving license.

Xpeng said it has secured orders for nearly 5,000 flying cars since its product release, and mass production and delivery are scheduled in 2026.

The flying car comprises a six-wheel ground vehicle, referred to as the mothership, and a detachable electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Xepeng's eVTOL cars offer both automatic and manual flight modes. Its automatic mode enables smart route planning, as well as one-touch take-off and landing.

At about 5.5 metres in length, the vehicle can be driven on public roads with a standard licence and parked in regular spaces, the Xinhua report said.

According to data from China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), 50-odd EV builders of China exported a total of 2.01 million pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles overseas in the first eight months of the year, up 51 per cent from the same period a year earlier.

But the Chinese EV makers are facing push back abroad as EU has imposed a 27 per cent tariff on Chinese EVs to limit their sales in the bloc.

Domestically also, the Chinese EV makers are victims of discount wars and chronic overcapacity on the mainland, global consultancy AlixPartners in a report published in August.

Only half of China's electric vehicle production capacity  about 20 million units  was used last year, according to Goldman Sachs.

Among the country's EV builders, only four  BYD, Li Auto, Seres and Leapmotor  are profitable, according to a recent report by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.
With demand continuing to be strong post the festive season, leading automakers, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra, saw robust growth in sales in November as compared to the same month last year.

Photograph: Ginnette Riquelm/Reuters

Maruti Suzuki India reported the best-ever total sales, including exports, last month at 229,021 units, a year-on-year growth of 26 per cent as compared to November last year.

Total domestic passenger vehicle dispatches to dealers were at 170,971 units compared to 141,312 units in the year-ago month, an increase of 21 per cent.

Overall sales, including LCV Super Carry, in the domestic market rose 21 per cent to 174,593 units. It is the company's highest-ever in any November during the last 40 years.

The carmaker said that it witnessed sales growth in all segments, including small cars and SUVs, last month.

Maruti Suzuki India senior executive officer, marketing & sales, Partho Banerjee, said retail growth was even better, at 31 per cent year-on-year, in November.

He noted that retail sales of its small car portfolio  S Presso, Alto K10, Celerio, WagonR -- witnessed an increase of 37 per cent in November.

Banerjee stated that the company saw a growth in SUV sales as well, with the segment now accounting for 30 per cent of the overall sales.

He noted that the company had a low network stock of around 80,000 units, and 40,000 units were already in transit.

"We are receiving very good traction  currently, we do not have any stock in the factory for 8 models.

"The pending bookings are hovering at around 1.5 lakh units," Banerjee said.

The company reported the highest-ever shipment of 46,057 units last month, a growth of 61 per cent as compared to the same month last year.

Banerjee stated that with demand expected to remain strong, the company is trying to augment production and expects the industry to log in a growth of 5-6 per cent in the current fiscal.

Taking second spot, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles reported a dispatch of 57,436 units in the domestic market, registering a growth of 22 per cent as compared to 47,063 units sold a year ago.

Mahindra & Mahindra, on the other hand, saw its domestic passenger vehicle dispatch rise to 56,336 units last month, a growth of 22 per cent over 46,222 units in the year-ago period.

Hyundai Motor India said its wholesales rose to 50,340 units, as compared to 48,246 units in November 2024, registering a growth of 4 per cent.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor said that its total dispatches to dealers rose by 28 per cent year-on-year to 33,752 units in November.

Similarly, Kia India reported a 24 per cent year-on-year rise in sales at 25,489 units in November as against 20,600 units in the same month last year.

Renault India reported wholesales of 3,662 units last month, compared to 2,811 units in the same month of the previous year, reflecting a 30 per cent year-on-year increase.

In the two-wheeler segment, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said it sold 591,136 units in November, a year-on-year growth of 25 per cent.

Royal Enfield reported a 22 per cent year-on-year growth in total sales to 100,670 units as compared to a year ago.

Domestic sales last month stood at 90,405 units against 72,236 units in November last year, up 25 per cent.

Bajaj Auto reported a 1 per cent year-on-year dip in domestic two-wheeler sales at 202,510 units in November as compared to 203,611 units in the year-ago period.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of EU countries will hold an emergency summit here on Thursday to discuss U.S. threats related to Greenland, European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said on Monday.

The summit will assess possible retaliatory measures in response to threatened tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on countries that oppose his plan to "acquire" Greenland.

Gill said the EU continues to engage "at all levels" with Washington over its new tariff threats and is taking "every possible step" to protect the bloc's economic interests. He added that the use of the anti-coercion instrument is not ruled out.

He stressed that the priority is engagement rather than escalation with the United States. However, "should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond," he added. 
The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the CBI on a bail plea filed by former DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan in an alleged Rs 34,926 crore bank fraud case.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi issued notice to the agency and sought its response.

The Delhi high court on August 4 denied bail to Wadhawan, noting that his conduct during custody was "not beyond reproach".

The high court denied the relief, saying such economic offences were not only crimes against specific victims but against the financial system at large.

The CBI alleged Wadhawan, as promoter and CMD of DHFL, was the principal architect of a massive financial fraud involving diversion and misappropriation of approximately Rs 34,926 crore from a consortium of 17 banks.

"It is noteworthy that the conduct of the applicant during custody has not been beyond reproach.

"The allegations regarding manipulation of valuable assets and transactions carried out during judicial custody are grave and suggest that the applicant continues to exercise significant control and influence," the HC order said.

The high court noted the CBI's submission that Wadhawan was facing multiple investigations and cases across jurisdictions involving serious financial offences, which undermined his argument that he posed no risk if enlarged on bail.

"The court cannot permit the release of a person who is prima facie the mastermind of a deep-rooted financial fraud, especially when the trial is at a nascent stage," the high court judge had said.

If released on bail, the order pointed out, the applicant might tamper with the evidence or worse flee from justice.

"Many of the witnesses in this case are stated to be either ex-employees or associates of DHFL and as such there is a high risk and possibility that the petitioner might try to influence the witnesses," it had said.

He was accused of creating and operating 87 shell companies in the names of associates, employees, and relatives to siphon off funds, falsely recorded as retail housing loans to over 2.6 lakh fictitious customers through a non-existent "Bandra Branch-001" in DHFL's internal systems.

He was taken into custody in the case on July 19, 2022 and was granted default statutory bail on December 3, 2022, but the Supreme Court cancelled his bail on January 24, 2024.

The high court observed his "effective custody" was two years and not four years as claimed.

"Having regard to the nature and seriousness of the allegations, the gravity of the offence, the applicant's central role in the conspiracy, the potential adverse impact of his release on the trial and the huge magnitude of the funds siphoned of, this court finds no merit in the present application," the order held.
Bharti Airtel on Monday reported over twofold jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 8,651 crore for September quarter FY26, mainly on account of growth in high-paying smartphone customers and post-paid connections.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The company posted a profit of Rs 4,153.4 crore in the same period a year ago.

Bharti Airtel Africa too had posted multifold growth in net income at Rs 969 crore during the quarter.

Revenue from operations of Bharti Airtel increased by about 26 per cent to Rs 52,145 crore during the quarter from Rs 41,473.3 crore in the same period last year.

The India revenue increased by 22.6 per cent YoY to Rs 38,690 crore after including its share from Indus Towers.

The company had reported total India revenue at Rs 31,561 crore excluding revenue from Indus Towers.

The company's growth on YoY basis including revenue from passive infrastructure has been 11 per cent with September 2024 revenue reinstated to Rs 34,983.7 crore.

The India revenue without passive infrastructure share grew by 10 per cent only.

Mobile average revenue per user (ARPU), a key matrix to determine telecom operators' growth, of Bharti Airtel was higher than its competitor Jio.

Airtel posted an increase of about 10 per cent in ARPU to Rs 256 during the quarter compared to Rs 233 in the same period a year ago.

Jio last month reported an ARPU of Rs 211.4 and revenue from operations of Rs 36,332 crore in the same quarter.

"We delivered another quarter of solid performance, achieving a consolidated revenue of Rs 52,145 crore growing 5.4 per cent sequentially and underscoring the strength of our portfolio.

"Our India revenue, including Passive Infrastructure Services, increased by 2.9 per cent, Bharti Airtel, vice-chairman and MD, Gopal Vittal said in a statement.

He said the Africa business delivered another quarter of standout performance with constant currency revenue growth of 7.1 per cent.

In rupee terms, Airtel Africa had posted around 36 per cent growth in revenue to Rs 13,679.5 crore.

India Mobile business delivered 2.6 per cent revenue growth, adding 5.1 million smartphone customers, maintaining an industry-leading ARPU of Rs 256 led by continued premiumization of portfolio and a steadfast focus on quality customers.

"The postpaid segment recorded one of the highest quarterly net additions of around 1 million (10 lakh), Vittal said.

Bharti Airtel total customer base grew by 10.7 per cent on YoY basis to 62.35 crore during the quarter out of which India subscriber base stood at 44.97 crore with growth of 10.6 per cent on YoY basis.

"We have further strengthened our position in the postpaid segment with quarterly net additions of 0.95 million customers, bringing our total customer base to 2.75 crore.

"Smartphone data customers increased by 2.22 crore over the past 12 months, representing an 8.4 per cent YoY increase," a company statement said.

On a quarterly basis, the company reported 78 per cent jump in smartphone data customers with addition of 51 lakh subscribers.

Mobile data consumption on Bharti Airtel network increased by 26.6 per cent on YoY basis to 28.3 GB per month per customer-- which is about 27 per cent less than consumption on the Jio network reported at 38.7 GB per month per customer in the September 2025 quarter.

Bharti Airtel's total capex for the quarter was Rs 11,362 crore with India accounting for Rs 9,643 crore of the total spend. The India capex of the company, excluding investment through Indus Towers, grew by 15 per cent to Rs 7,203.3 crore during the quarter from Rs 6,259.9 crore in September 2024 quarter.

Net debt of the company declined by about 5 per cent to Rs 1,94,713 crore on YoY basis.

Shares of the company closed at Rs 2,073.75 apiece, up 0.93 per cent, on BSE on Monday.
'This will bring in a lot of net new users to UPI.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy BHIM UPI

The Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app on Tuesday launched a full delegation feature for UPI Circle, aiming to net new users on the real-time payments rails.

The feature will allow primary users to authorise their trusted secondary contacts to make UPI payments from their account, subject to a maximum monthly limit of Rs 15,000.

"This will bring in a lot of net new users to UPI. For instance, people like senior citizens are hesitant users. Children, often those in their teens, know how to use UPI but prefer pocket money. These categories bring you net new users in the ecosystem in a guarded manner," Lalitha Nataraj, managing director and chief executive officer, NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), told Business Standard.

A primary account can delegate UPI payments to up to five secondary users, but each secondary user can be linked to only one primary account for payments.

A secondary user may or may not have a bank account.

However, they should be registered on the BHIM app with a valid virtual payments address.

At present, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has over 450 million registered users. It is run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

UPI Circle was launched in 2024. It comes with a feature to partially and fully delegate payments.

Unlike full delegation, partial delegation requires approval from the primary user for every transaction.

"We feel that as a result of the full delegation rollout, both full and partial will find their own niche use cases and both of them will grow," Nataraj added.

More apps are set to take full delegation for UPI Circle live in the coming months.

"We've also been testing this with other participants because it is in our own interest that others should go live, else the network effects will never come into play. Everybody will go live soon. Over the next few months, you will find more apps coming in," Nataraj explained.

NBSL was incorporated in 2024, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NPCI.

How to set up full delegation UPI payment in BHIM?

To set up full delegated UPI payments, one needs to go to the BHIM App, head to UPI Circle and invite the person using their contact or UPI ID.

Choose full delegation, verify their identity, and set a monthly limit of up to Rs 15,000 along with the validity period.

Select your bank account, authorise with your UPI PIN, and once the secondary user accepts and completes a brief cooling period, they can start making payments.

For example, a primary user like a parent can authorise payments to their children, up to a set monthly limit, following which their secondary users (children, in this case) can transact using the UPI Circle feature.

Business owners can delegate payments to their staff to transact on their behalf.

A debit transaction to the primary user's account from a secondary user, will be recorded as a UPI Circle payment in the person's banking transaction history.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Biocon Limited has launched its GLP-1 peptide, liraglutide, for the treatment of diabetes and obesity in the Netherlands, as the biopharmaceutical firm positions itself as a global player in the fast-growing diabetes and obesity market currently dominated by the likes of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

IMAGE: An employee of Biocon works inside the company's research and development centre in Bengaluru. Photograph: Abhishek N Chinnappa/Reuters

Biocons distribution partner Pharmamedic BV will market these drugs in the European country.

The drug-device combination will be marketed as Diavorin for diabetes (gVictoza) and Vobexoryn for chronic weight management (gSaxenda).

The launch follows approval from the Netherlands Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) earlier this year and marks the first European Union market in which the company will introduce liraglutide under its own brand.

Siddharth Mittal, chief executive officer and managing director, Biocon Limited, said, The launch of liraglutide in the Netherlands marks a significant milestone in expanding Biocons GLP-1 portfolio across key global markets, and reinforces the strategic importance of peptide-based therapies within our portfolio.

"With our vertically integrated, end-to-end capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to deliver high-quality, affordable metabolic treatments at scale.

Launching Diavorin and Vobexoryn under our own brand in Europe reflects not only our scientific and manufacturing excellence, but also our long-standing commitment to broadening access to advanced therapies for diabetes and obesity, added Mittal.

In June, the Bengaluru-based firm received approval from Drugs Controller General of India, CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) for its liraglutide drug substance and product, a generic version of Victoza.

This will be used to treat adults, adolescents and children above 10 years with type 2 diabetes.

The Netherlands launch builds on Biocons entry into the UK in February, where it received regulatory approval for liraglutide from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Combined, these launches strengthen Biocons regulatory credentials in the highly-scrutinised market.

The company is also using partnerships to accelerate market access.

In September 2024, Biocon signed a licensing and supply agreement with Tabuk Pharmaceuticals to commercialise GLP-1 diabetes and weight-management products across select West Asian markets, with options for portfolio expansion and future local manufacturing.

This move comes amid soaring global demand for GLP-1 drugs to treat obesity and diabetes, and as Biocon looks to compete with popular newer medicines like Novo Nordisks Wegovy and Eli Lillys Mounjaro.

Eli Lillys obesity drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was launched in the UK in February 2024 and became available on the National Health Service (NHS) from March 2025.

On the other hand, Novo Nordisks weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) was introduced in the UK in September 2023 through a limited release, available to eligible patients via specialist NHS weight management services.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday allowed multiple entities in a bank group to undertake the same business as long as they cater to different client segments, while mandating board approval to ensure that any overlap in business has proper rationale and justification.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

To allow flexibility in the manner in which a bank wishes to conduct its business, the suggestion has been accepted.

"However, to ensure that the overlap in businesses undertaken by the bank group has proper rationale/justification, board approval is being mandated, the central bank said on Friday.

Previously, in a draft circular in 2024, the RBI had proposed that only a single entity within a bank group (the bank and its group entities) can undertake a particular form of permissible business.

The banking sector had requested the central bank to allow multiple entities in a bank group to undertake the same business but catering to different segments based on geography, customer profile, ticket size, etc.

In the October policy, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra had said that the proposed regulatory restriction on overlaps between a bank and its group entities businesses had been dropped from the final guidelines on Forms of Business and Prudential Regulation for Investments, which were issued in a draft form in October last year.

The strategic allocation of business streams among group entities will be left to the wisdom of bank boards, Malhotra said in October, adding that the RBI does not want to micromanage.

We believe that the banks will take a conscious, considered, balanced view depending on their needs as to how they wish to conduct their own business. That is why we have just left it to them.

On Friday, the RBI also partially accepted another suggestion from the industry regarding exempting non-banking financial company (NBFC) group entities of banks from upper layer regulations, especially on listing.

The central bank said NBFC group entities which have not been independently identified as NBFC-Upper Layer by the central bank are now exempted from listing requirements.

However, it said, restrictions for specific loan segments applicable to banks, have been made applicable to NBFC group entities to obviate any circumvention of regulations.

The largest NBFCs are identified as upper layer, and are regulated like banks.

Currently, 15 NBFCs are classified as upper layer NBFCs, including Bajaj Finance, Shriram Finance, Tata Capital, HDB Financial Services, etc.

According to the RBIs scale-based regulation for NBFCs, an NBFC, upon being classified as an upper layer NBFC, will have to publicly list on the bourses within three years of identification.

Separately on Friday, the RBI rejected the industrys suggestion for banks to be allowed to have shareholding in asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) without any restriction.

The central bank proposed that banks cannot be sponsors of more than one ARC at any point in time.

Further, the aggregate shareholding of a bank group in any ARC shall be less than 20 per cent of the equity capital of the ARC, it added.
India's market regulator has found that Bank of America shared confidential details ahead of a 2024 block trade and later misled regulators during the investigation.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

India's securities regulator has accused Bank of America of improperly sharing confidential information ahead of a $180 million (roughly Rs 1,500 crore) stock block trade in 2024 and of providing inaccurate statements during the subsequent regulatory inquiry, according to people familiar with the matter, as reported by The Wall Street Journal newspaper.

India's stock market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a show-cause notice to the bank in November, setting out allegations related to the sale of shares in Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, the WSJ reported.

According to the notice, SEBI alleged that Bank of America's deal team shared material, price-sensitive information about the transaction with employees inside the bank who were not directly involved in executing the deal.

The regulator said such disclosures breached regulatory requirements designed to protect confidential information in capital markets transactions.

SEBI also accused the bank of providing false or misleading statements after investigators sought explanations regarding the alleged leak of information, the WSJ reported.

The notice further stated that the bank failed to maintain adequate internal controls to prevent confidential deal-related information from being disseminated beyond authorised personnel.

The Wall Street Journal had previously reported in 2024 that a whistleblower complaint alleged Bank of America staff had contacted investors ahead of the block trade to discuss details of the transaction.

According to the WSJ report, bank records showed that bankers had communicated with potential investors, including institutional funds, before the deal was publicly announced.

Following the whistleblower complaint, SEBI sought information from the bank and began a year-long investigation. Bank of America initially told the regulator that its handling of the transaction complied with standard procedures, the WSJ reported.

However, after conducting its own internal review, Bank of America later revised its submissions and provided SEBI with records showing that employees outside the core deal team had communicated with investors about the transaction, according to the WSJ.

The Wall Street Journal reported that several senior bankers in India subsequently left the firm, including a former head of investment banking for the country.

Bank of America is preparing a formal response to the show cause notice and is expected to seek a settlement with SEBI that could involve a financial penalty, without admitting or denying wrongdoing, people familiar with the matter told the WSJ.

SEBI has not publicly commented on the notice. Bank of America declined to comment, the WSJ reported.
While not all complaints are frivolous, experts say petitions timed close to an IPO or listing often raise concerns about mala fide intent.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

A recent Bombay high court ruling upholding market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India's nod for WeWork India Management's IPO has brought to focus the misuse of petitions that often lead to vexatious legal challenges.

A slew of IPO-bound companies this year have got into legal trouble during the launch of their share sale.

In July, an NGO moved the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) seeking to restrain Smartworks Coworking's IPO.

The tribunal dismissed the plea, observing that no valid ground had been made to stall the issue.

BlueStone Jewellery and Lifestyle, too, faced legal hurdles during its IPO process and the most recent example is that of WeWork.

The grounds cited in such petitions range from alleged disclosure lapses and disputed legal interpretations to questions around shareholder classification.

While not all complaints are frivolous, experts say petitions timed close to an IPO or listing often raise concerns about mala fide intent.

"The timing of shareholder-driven litigation or regulatory complaints is rarely accidental. More often than not, these actions surface precisely when a company is poised for a significant growth event -- such as an IPO or a major fundraise -- when the scope for disruption is the highest," said Abhiraj Arora, partner, Securities and Regulatory Practice, Saraf and Partners.

Experts said any complaint or issue raised at the time of filing a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) is the right approach as it gives the issuer as well as the regulator ample time to take remedial action.

During WeWork India's IPO in October, multiple writ petitions were filed in the Bombay high court, challenging Sebi's approval on disclosure-related grounds.

The court's scrutiny, however, revealed serious impropriety on the part of a petitioner, prompting the court to dismiss the petition and impose costs of Rs 1 lakh.

Another petition filed against the company is still pending before the court.

In an official statement, WeWork India said the last-minute petitions were aimed at derailing its IPO, noting that the petitioners were not IPO investors.

They had approached the court just a day before the issue opened, despite the draft prospectus being in the public domain for several months.

Industry participants point to corporate rivalry as a possible driver in some of these cases.

"In recent times, there has been a noticeable trend of rival firms engaging in proxy battles through front entities, often small investors. These fronts typically hold modest shareholdings, sometimes amounting to just a few thousand rupees. Yet they seek judicial intervention in matters involving significant commercial interests," said Vinay Chauhan, counsel at the Bombay high court and a securities lawyer.

"Experience shows that such petitions are sometimes orchestrated by business rivals or parties with vested interests, using shareholders as a front to advance their own agendas. Courts and regulators are increasingly alert to these tactics, ensuring that capital markets remain a forum for fair competition rather than strategic obstruction," Arora added.

Chauhan also underscored the need for systemic safeguards.

"There is a critical need to establish comprehensive frameworks to identify and deter vexatious legal tactics," he said.

"Such measures would help protect the integrity of legal and regulatory institutions from being misused under the guise of shareholder activism or related concerns."

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Brookfield Asset Management will invest $1 billion to develop Asias largest global capability centre (GCC) in Mumbais Powai, the New York-based global alternative asset manager said in a statement on Friday.

Photograph: Mark Blinch/Reuters

The infrastructure arm of Canadas investment firm will develop the campus across 6 acres with 2 million square feet that can be let out.

The development will house a GCC for a multinational bank for a 20-year term, it said.

The project is expected to be over by 2029, creating more than 30,000 jobs.

It is being developed through an agreement between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and a venture led by Brookfield, along with its partner B S Sharma.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra said: Maharashtras continued focus on talent, infrastructure, and a supportive business environment is strengthening the states position as a destination for GCCs.

"Developments such as these reflect the growing confidence in Maharashtras trajectory, and we remain committed to ensuring that global enterprises find a stable, future-ready ecosystem as they expand their presence here.

The state earlier this year announced a GCC policy, which is valid till 2029-30.

The policy is aimed at attracting 400 GCCs, creating over 400,000 high-skilled jobs and getting incremental investment worth Rs 50,600 crore by offering incentives like land, capital subsidies, and reimbursements.

Fadnavis said the Brookfield move built on this momentum and was designed to attract large-scale, high-value operations that generated skilled employment and long-term economic growth.

Brookfield noted the development reflected the strong confidence global businesses had in Maharashtra and Mumbais pro-investment environment, supported by the states focus on infrastructure, ease of doing business, and talent development.

The project will be built to market-leading sustainability standards with a commitment to source 100 per cent green power.

It will further strengthen Mumbais position as a premier hub for GCCs, the firm added.

Last year Brookfield had commissioned a similar build-to-suit tower in Pune for the GCC of a large firm in financial services.

In Mumbai, Brookfield owns real-estate projects of over $4 billion.

Brookfield is one of the largest office owners and operators in India with approximately 55 million square feet across seven cities in India, including 29.1 million square feet of a grade-A portfolio with Brookfield India Reit (real estate investment trust).

The company had in May this year announced plans to treble its India investment to $100 billion within five years, having put in $12 billion in infrastructure assets like gas pipelines, telecom towers, and data centres; $12 billion in real estate including offices and hotels; and $3 billion in clean-energy projects.

Earlier this year, the company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the MMRDA to bring in $12 billion for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

In June, it acquired a 2.1-acre parcel in the Bandra Kurla Complex to create a grade-A mixed-use property.

Ankur Gupta, deputy chief investment officer and head of Asia Pacific and Middle East, real estate, Brookfield, said: The scale of this project validates Maharashtras leadership position as a GCC hub for large multinational companies.

According to Anarock, a property consultancy firm, the average office rent in Powai hovers at Rs 110-180 per square foot a month.

Additionally, over the past few years, GCCs have been driving office demand across the country.

According to Savills India, GCCs leased 112 million square feet of office space between 2020 and 2024, with Mumbai (8 per cent) and Pune (14 per cent) together accounting for 22 per cent of it.

During the same period, Mumbai witnessed the highest office leasing by GCCs in BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) despite Bengaluru having the deepest BFSI talent pool.

Further, India is projected to see 180 million square feet of office absorption through GCCs in 2025-30.
Total pending Customs arrears, including amounts under litigation, court stays and cases where the appeal period has not expired, stood at about Rs 1.36 trillion at the end of December 2024.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The government is likely to announce a Customs amnesty scheme in the Union Budget for 2025-2026 to clear a large backlog of legacy disputed cases, according to people familiar with the matter.

The proposed scheme is expected to target long-pending Customs disputes stuck at various stages, including tribunals and courts.

Cases involving gold, wilful default, narcotics and smuggling will be excluded, they said.

Under the proposal, eligible taxpayers would be able to settle disputes by paying only the principal Customs duty amount, with the government considering a waiver of interest and penalties, said one of the sources.

The move is expected to unlock capital for businesses while enabling faster recovery of dues.

Customs arrears continue to account for a significant share of indirect tax pendency.

As of December 2024, a total of 72,592 Customs cases involving recoverable arrears were pending, amounting to Rs 24,016.20 crore, according to the ninth report of the standing committee on dinance (2024-2025), Eighteenth Lok Sabha on Demands for Grants (2025-26) of the ministry of finance's department of eevenue.

Total pending Customs arrears, including amounts under litigation, court stays and cases where the appeal period has not expired, stood at about Rs 1.36 trillion at the end of December 2024.

Last month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Customs simplification would be the government's next major reform priority.

Reducing the pendency of Customs disputes, according to experts, must be a core element of any such reform.

Interest and penalties are typically three times the original duty demand in Customs cases, said Vivek Jalan, partner at Tax Connect Advisory Services.

"If the duty demand is Rs 100, the total demand can be around Rs 300. For bona fide mistakes, this is a huge cost, especially in the current geopolitically stressful environment for businesses," he said.

Many disputes arise from genuine errors, Jalan added, such as classification issues, where importers have already corrected HSN codes and duty rates after receiving showcause notices or orders, but continue to contest past periods due to the heavy burden of interest and penalties, pleading a "genuine error".

Abhishek Jain, partner and national head of indirect tax at KPMG, said a well-designed amnesty scheme for pending customs litigation could significantly "reduce burden on courts and tribunals, unlock blocked revenue and provide certainty to businesses".

"If structured with reasonable settlement terms and clear eligibility, such a scheme can be a powerful tool for dispute resolution and improving ease of doing business," he said.

Abhishek A Rastogi, founder of Rastogi Chambers, said resolving these cases through a targeted amnesty scheme would release substantial working capital back to businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises, while enabling faster revenue recovery for the government.

"It is a win-win step that reduces litigation fatigue and helps restore trust in the system," he said.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
The Union Budget for 2026-27 is expected to sketch out a road map for trebling the cooperative sectors contribution to the Indian economy over the next decade, with the aim of bringing 500 million people within its ambit, in line with the objectives of the National Cooperative Policy, 2025.

Photograph: Kind courtesy, Ministry of Cooperation

Sources said the National Cooperative Policy, launched by the Union Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah in the national capital a few months ago, clearly articulated the need to constitute a task force to expand the number of people involved with cooperatives by 66 per cent from the existing 300 million, while ensuring the autonomous functioning of cooperatives and democratic control by their members.

The policy also called for a 30 per cent increase in the number of cooperative societies from the current level of about 830,000.

The forthcoming Union Budget is expected to lay down a clear road map on how to achieve the above-mentioned policy objectives, a senior official said.

Although there are no direct estimates of the cooperative sectors share in the countrys total gross domestic product, sectoral data underlines its economic significance.

Cooperatives accounted for about 14 per cent of total agricultural credit, 25 per cent of fertiliser production and 31 per cent of sugar production, as of 2016-17.

In addition, the sector commanded around 85 per cent of liquid milk distribution and roughly 15 per cent of the countrys total storage capacity.

The implementation of the policy, framed by a high-powered panel chaired by former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, is being monitored at the national level through a two-tier mechanism chaired by Shah himself.

Among other recommendations, the National Cooperative Policy has argued for the creation of a new national apex cooperative bank to strengthen coordination among various tiers of cooperative banks, while preserving the existing three-tier credit structure of primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS), district central cooperative banks (DCCBs) and state cooperative banks to ensure the flow of affordable credit.

The policy has also proposed encouraging the branding of organic, agricultural and dairy products under the Bharat brand as an umbrella identity, while leveraging well-established state-level brands.

It further calls for the creation of a Cooperative Stack to enable data-driven decision-making and improve service delivery across the sector.

In addition, the policy has called upon PACS to function as bank mitra for district cooperative banks, enabling them to provide banking products and services to members at their doorsteps.
TOKYO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday told a press conference that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on Jan. 23 at the beginning of the ordinary parliamentary session for a snap general election. 
In a first, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the General Budget in Parliament on Sunday, February 1, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced on Monday.

Photograph: ANI Photo

This will be Sitharaman's ninth budget presentation, one short of the record 10 budgets presented by the then finance minister Morarji Desai.

The Budget session of Parliament begins on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmu addressing the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha members assembled in the Lok Sabha chamber.

Sitharaman is likely to present the Economic Survey in both the Houses of Parliament after the President's address.

The finance minister will present the General Budget on February 1, which has been designated as the Budget Day by the government.

Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had said the Budget session will begin on January 28 and continue till April 2.

The first part of the session will conclude on February 13 and reconvene on March 9, allowing time for scrutiny of Budget proposals by the parliamentary committees.
The government should refrain from raising income tax surcharge on the super-rich and reintroducing wealth tax in the upcoming 2026-27 Budget, as the move could prompt persons in high-income brackets to leave the country for low-tax jurisdictions, according to tax experts.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Currently, a surcharge on income tax is payable by high-income individuals with earnings above Rs 50 lakh.

A 10 per cent surcharge is levied on income between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore, 15 per cent (Rs 1-2 crore), and 25 per cent (Rs 2-5 crore).

Those earning above Rs 5 crore and are in the new income tax regime pay a 25 per cent surcharge, while those under the old tax regime pay a surcharge at a 37 per cent rate.

According to estimates by independent economists, the GST rate cut and lower income tax collections are likely to cost the exchequer around Rs 2 lakh crore in the current fiscal.

Any additional source of revenue in FY27 could help the government in additional allocations towards defence and other areas.

PWC & Co LLP Partner Amit Rana said the theory that is followed in levying income tax is that there should be vertical equity, meaning the higher one earns, the higher is his/her tax liability.

"We have a pretty good slab, wherein at the highest level you pay 42 per cent, at the lowest level you pay almost zero, even at reasonable income levels.

"But, when you start making it (taxation) very prohibitive, you run the risk of high-income earners wanting not to be in India, and that is possible in the world today," he told PTI.

Rana further said the taxation of high-income individuals should be "carefully balanced" as they are the ones who create industries and generate jobs.

EY India, Tax Partner, Surabhi Marwah, also asserted that "there could be a risk" of high-net-worth individuals leaving the country for low tax jurisdictions if surcharges are high or wealth tax is reintroduced.

"Tax uncertainty and steep effective rates may play a role in decisions around capital relocation and residency.

"Stability and predictability in the tax regime may be as important as the rates when the objective is to retain capital and talent," Marwah added.

administrative effort involved, and from an administrative perspective, the surcharge has generally been viewed as more efficient and less litigious than the wealth tax.

"With the government now having access to robust data trails through GST, CRS agreements and other systems, policymakers may continue to see surcharge adjustments as a relatively simpler option compared to asset-based valuation regimes," Marwah said.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co Partner Gouri Puri said increases in tax rates could encourage capital flight and discourage entrepreneurship and job creation.

Moreover, reintroducing a wealth tax would revive concerns about administrative complexity and compliance costs.

"Capital flight is a genuine risk since mobile families can re-domicile to other jurisdictions with lower rates.

"There is always global competition to keep tax regimes investor-friendly, and harsher taxes in India may discourage investment and push capital away," Puri added.

Deloitte India Partner Alok Agrawal said in Budget 2023, the government cut the highest surcharge rate for individuals with income above Rs 5 crore from 37 per cent to 25 per cent.

This reduction brought down the maximum marginal tax rate for such taxpayers from about 42.7 per cent to 39 per cent.

This change applied from 1 April 2023, i.e., for FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25) onwards and was applicable only under the new tax regime.

"So, it seems unlikely that the government would hike this once again within a short span of 3 years," he said.

Agrawal said as far as wealth tax is concerned, there has been a lot of speculation since the last couple of years before the Budget announcement.

However, based on past experience, the absolute collections through wealth tax may not be significant enough when compared to the cost of administering a new levy.

"So, the government's focus has been instead to improve tax collections by more robust enforcement of the tax law by leveraging technology, sharing of information with other countries, etc," he added.
Most of the $533 million missing from Byjus Alpha was round-tripped to founder Byju Raveendran and his affiliates, according to a recent filing at a Delaware bankruptcy court.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

The allegation contests earlier sworn statements that the money was used for legitimate corporate needs.

The allegation, made by plaintiff and debtor Byjus Alpha, along with intervener-plaintiff GLAS Trust Company in a court submission, is tied to a settlement with OCI Ltd, a United Kingdom-based procurement firm that reportedly received the bulk of the disputed funds.

Byjus Alpha, the Delaware special purpose financing vehicle that received the Term Loan B proceeds and is now controlled by the lenders, has sued OCI Ltd and its former representative Rupin Banker in Delaware as part of efforts to recover the $533 million.

As part of the settlement, OCIs founder, Oliver Chapman, submitted a sworn declaration that the filing said itemises down to the cent how the Alpha funds were handled after OCI received them.

The filing alleges that Chapmans review shows that the funds were routed (via a series of transfers) to a Singapore corporate vehicle identified in the papers as Byjus Global Pte Ltd, which, it says, is owned by Raveendran.

The filing has alleged that Chapmans declaration demonstrates that Byju Raveendrans plot was to siphon off hundreds of millions of dollars of corporate assets for personal use.

The truth of what happened to the missing $533 million Alpha Funds has been an alarming mystery for a long time.

"But as part of its settlement with the Debtor, OCI, a mediate transferee of the vast majority of that money, has agreed to come forward.

"The truth about what happened to the vast majority of the Alpha Funds is that they were, in effect, roundtripped right back to Byju Raveendran and his affiliates, according to the court filing, a copy of which was seen by Business Standard.

For months, Byjus enterprise, including directly via its eponymous founder, told shareholders, lenders, and the press that the Alpha Funds remained in its possession.

This contradicts a sworn declaration filed by Raveendran in the fall of 2024, where he repeatedly represented that the money had been sent to OCI for legitimate commercial purposes, namely, to procure services to T&L and its subsidiaries in relation to the procurement of IT equipment, such as electronic tablets, and advertising (including marketing via various media), alleged the court filing.

Raveendrans sworn testimony has now been proven to be untrue, it alleged.

Significantly, the Debtor has come to understand that a single former OCI representative, Defendant Rupin Banker, in conjunction with Raveendran, among others (not Chapman), abused OCI to facilitate a fraud on the Debtor and its creditors.

The court said OCIs cooperation produced information valuable to the debtor.

The debtor has determined to discontinue proceedings against OCI and has no basis to pursue a claim against Chapman.

Think and Learn founders strongly deny the allegations

On Monday, the founders of Byjus parent, Think and Learn Private Ltd, including Raveendran, said they categorically and unequivocally rejected the allegations made in GLAS Trusts latest filing in the Delaware proceedings.

It relies heavily on a selective and incomplete declaration submitted by Oliver Chapman, founder of OCI. Chapmans testimony is full of conjectures and selective insinuations and does not substantiate any claim of wrongdoing by the founders of Byjus, the founders said.

At most, his declaration reflects his limited knowledge of specific expenditures undertaken by OCI; it does not establish any diversion of funds by the founders.

The founders said the facts of the matter remained unchanged: No portion of the $533 million in question has been used by founders directly or indirectly.

They said the amount had been used in its entirety for the benefit of Think and Learn as evidenced in documents and bank statements.

Our forthcoming filing will provide the Court with evidence rebutting each of the assertions made in the recent GLAS Trust submission, said the founders.

They said GLAS Trust and the resolution professional (RP) had full access to the financial records, bank statements, and underlying documentation of Think and Learn and its United States subsidiaries.

They are, therefore, fully aware of the legitimate commercial utilisation of these funds.

Despite this, they continue to place before the Court and the public only partial/selective extracts, stripped of context, in order to create a misleading and prejudicial narrative. When the full money trail is available with them, presenting only half-truths is not an accident  it is a deliberate strategy to sabotage the founders reputation, said the founders.

We also confirm that preparations are at an advanced stage to initiate defamation proceedings against all individuals and entities involved in disseminating false, misleading, and defamatory statements regarding the founders.
Think & Learn, which owns edtech brand Byju's, on Monday moved the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal against the NCLT order, which last week declined its plea to restrain Aakash Educational Services from convening its EGM for the rights issue.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

On October 17, 2025, the Bengaluru-based bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) declined to grant any interim relief on the second plea filed by the insolvency-bound edtech firm Byju's to stay the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) scheduled for October 29, 2025.

Meanwhile, a two-member bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) at Chennai, comprising Justice N Seshasayee and Jatindranath Swain, on Monday reserved its order on an application filed by the GLAS Trust Company LLC, the US-based lender of the debt-ridden firm Byju's, regarding the EGM.

GLAS Trust, which owns over 90 per cent of the voting rights in the Committee of Creditors of Byju's, had earlier filed an application before the appellate tribunal against the previous NCLT order, where the NCLAT had declined to pass a stay order.

During the proceedings, Senior Advocate CA Sundaram, appearing for petitioners, sought a stay to protect the interest of Think & Learn Pvt Ltd (TLPL), which owns around 25 per cent of the stake in Aakash Educational Services Ltd (AESL), and said that after the right issue, the stake of the insolvency-bound edtech firm will be diluted.

Senior advocate Gopal Subaramanium, appearing for respondents, said the meeting on October 29 is only for the resolution of the shareholders of AESL, after which a letter of offer has to be sent out to all shareholders to subscribe.

It was also submitted that AESL desperately needs funds, as it has 3.5 lakh students and 10,000 employees and has to meet those expenses.

Moreover, AESL is not a part of insolvency proceedings going against Byju's, which has only a shareholding in this.

Senior advocate Abhinav Vashisht was representing the Resolution Professional of TLPL.

Byju's had requested the proposed EGM to keep it on hold as the rights issue will reduce its shareholding in Aaskash from 25 per cent to less than 5 per cent.

In its petition, Byju's has submitted that EGM is in gross violation of the Articles of Association.

It is against the order passed by NCLT on November 19, 2024, as it ignores the participating/veto rights of Think & Learn.

BYJU's is currently going through the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has launched an integrated audit across 32 states and Union Territories to assess the ease of doing business for the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The move shifts the approach from vertical, deep-dive audits to a horizontal, pan-Indian review.

The consolidated report is slated for presentation in the winter session of Parliament in 2026.

This citizen-centric audit is intended for people who benefit from MSMEs, who use MSME services, and the MSME industry itself, Additional Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Pravir Pandey said.

The exercise comes in the context of flagship government initiatives, including Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and the MSME (Udyam) Registration portal.

The audit will examine whether reforms on the ground are delivering efficient, timely, and more transparent services to small businesses, in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and the Business Reforms Action Plan 2024.

Key focus areas include decriminalising minor business offences, easing approval requirements, simplifying and digitising processes, improving MSME financial literacy, access to credit, and the timeliness of payments.

We had interactions with the MSME secretary, the additional secretary and the development commissioner.

"We have also met chambers of commerce and various state government industries, labour and power departments, and urban local bodies.

"We have gone down to district-level coordination committees for MSMEs as well, Pandey said.

He added that the report will also look at core themes such as research and development support, labour law compliance, financial access and credit linkages, and the impact of climate-related disruptions on MSMEs.

It will provide a comparative assessment across states, with the initial pilot in West Bengal serving as a learning model.

CAG has also directed the Union and all state governments to adopt a harmonised, common object head classification for expenditures at a disaggregated level by 2027-28.

We have broadly looked at the finance ministrys format of object heads and devised some additional ones to meet states requirements.

"For example, social security expenditure is very common in states, so we have added that, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Jayant Sinha said.

This unification aims to eliminate discrepancies in Budget heads across states, enabling uniformity, transparency, and easier fiscal comparison.

Separately, CAG will set up a world-class centre of excellence in Hyderabad to advance accounting and auditing standards.

The institution, expected to soft-launch later this month, will focus on innovation, research and professional development in financial auditing.

The Centre will host a comprehensive data hub aggregating accounting data from more than 300 central and state public sector undertakings (PSUs), over 1,300 autonomous bodies and key urban local bodies.

Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Anand Mohan Bajaj observed an increased emphasis on auditing environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria for top-listed PSUs, in line with global sustainability trends and regulatory developments.

A CAG report on ESG is expected within the next four to five months.
'We expect inbound numbers in 2025 to come close to pre-pandemic levels -- if not fully match them -- by early 2026.'

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels.com

India's peak tourist season from October through December will determine whether the country can regain its pre-pandemic level of foreign tourist arrivals -- a marker of whether it has truly returned to the global tourism map.

The domestic tourism graph has risen, but foreign visitors remain an elusive cohort.

Ministry of Tourism data shows foreign tourist arrivals peaked at 10.93 million in 2019 before the pandemic halted the momentum.

Arrivals rebounded to 6.44 million in 2022, climbed to 9.52 million in 2023, and reached 9.95 million in 2024.

As of August 2025, they stood at 5.6 million, below the 6.3 million recorded in the same period last year.

This year brought fresh headwinds.

The terror attack in Pahalgam early in 2025 unsettled travellers and escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, heightening geopolitical uncertainty.

A prolonged monsoon added climate-related disruptions, with floods and landslides dampening hopes of revival during the July to September quarter.

Even so, tourism and hospitality bodies say the industry is poised for a stronger October to December performance, despite travel advisories issued by the US and UK -- both major source markets -- after the blast in Delhi earlier this month.

"India's inbound tourism is showing a better rebound this season.

"Most of our member operators report 10 to 15 per cent higher arrivals than last year, driven by renewed interest from North America, Europe, West Asia and Southeast Asia," said Ravi Gosain, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).

Foreign tourist arrivals between September and December rose 0.4 per cent in 2023 versus 2024 but remained 11 per cent below the same period in 2019.

"We expect inbound numbers in 2025 to come close to pre-pandemic levels -- if not fully match them -- by early 2026," Gosain said.

"What is encouraging is the quality of travel: Longer stays, higher per-capita spending, and stronger demand for experiential and sustainable tourism products," Gosain added.

Preliminary industry estimates suggest 2025 could close with 10 to 10.5 million foreign visitors, placing India within sight of the 2019 benchmark.

A major boost is coming from the restoration of China-India air connectivity after a long suspension.

Tour operators say early enquiries from Chinese travellers -- across business, the Buddhist circuit, leisure, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) segments -- are already visible, reviving one of India's fastest-growing source markets.

Direct routes are expected to strengthen trade, cultural exchanges, and group travel in the months ahead.

The broader revival is being driven by improved air connectivity, new infrastructure, the return of charter operations, and focused promotion in emerging markets such as West Asia, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. The MICE segment has also expanded notably.

"As India gains relevance and importance as the world's fifth-largest economy and progresses towards the third, there's more business interest coming in.

'And many are still travelling after the G20,' said Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and chief executive officer of Indian Hotels Company, during the firm's 2024-2025 results call in March.

'Foreign companies that already had business established, like Siemens, Bosch, or Bayer Group, are all growing in size, and more people from their corporate offices are coming in," Chhatwal pointed out.

'Global capability centres are being built,' Chhatwal added, pointing to the rising contribution of the MICE sector.

The resumption of direct flights between China and India is also expected to considerably contribute to this momentum. Yet gaps remain.

According to former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, India urgently needs a major global branding and marketing campaign.

He posted on X in August that 'there has been no concerted branding or marketing campaign for Indian tourism in the past decade'.

The lack of overseas promotion, coupled with complex visa processes, has hindered foreign tourist arrival recovery in recent years.

The allocation for overseas promotion and publicity was slashed to Rs 3 crore in the 2025-2026 Budget, a tenth of the previous year's allocation.

To support India's global branding, Indian Hotels committed Rs 25 crore over three years beginning in 2024 to help promote the country abroad.

The company hosted India Day at travel festivals around the world last year.

'We'll keep doing these activities,' Chhatwal told analysts in March.

Trade sources say the quality of inbound travel has also improved, as visitors now opt for longer stays, spend more, and seek more experiential products.

'Demand is rising for wellness retreats, heritage circuits, adventure tourism, and rural or community-based travel,' IATO said.

'Operators also report growing interest beyond traditional routes such as the Golden Triangle, with travellers exploring the Northeast, South India, and Himalayan states.'

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
The government on Wednesday launched Rs 4,531 crore market access support (MAS) intervention scheme for a six-year period (FY26-31) to improve global reach, visibility and competitiveness of Indian exporters through structured and outcome-oriented interventions.

Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

The scheme is aimed at benefiting first-time exporters, firms from priority sectors such as agriculture, leather, handloom, toys and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) exporters.

The MAS was launched under Rs 25,060 export promotion mission that was approved by the Union Cabinet in November.

The launch of the scheme came against the backdrop of exporters grappling with challenges due to the imposition of 50 per cent tariff by the United States (US) on several Indian products.

Department of Commerce additional secretary and Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Ajay Bhadoo told reporters that the scheme mainly aims to resolve the long-term disabilities or challenges faced by exporters and should not be seen as a measure to counter US tariffs.

During the current fiscal, Rs 500 crore has been allocated towards the scheme.

To begin with, arrears worth Rs 330 crore will be cleared at the earliest.

Bhadoo also said that the scheme will have an MSME-bias as it not only focuses on export product and market diversification, but also on the diversification of beneficiaries, so that more exporters can benefit from the scheme.

The government has also planned over Rs 5,000 crore interest equalisation scheme, which will be notified soon, Bhadoo said.

Under MAS, structured financial and institutional support will be provided for buyer-seller meets, participation in international trade fairs and exhibitions, mega reverse buyer-seller meets organised in India, and trade delegations to priority and emerging export markets.

A forward-looking three-to-five-year calendar of major market access events will be prepared and approved in advance, enabling exporters and organising agencies to plan participation well ahead of time.

A minimum participation of 35 per cent MSMEs has been mandated for supported events, with special prioritisation being accorded to new geographies and smaller markets to encourage export diversification.

"Event-level financial support ceilings and cost-sharing ratios have been rationalised, with preferential support being extended to priority sectors and markets.

"Small exporters with export turnover of up to Rs 75 lakh in the preceding year will be provided partial airfare support to encourage participation by new and small exporters, the commerce department said in a statement.

Bhadoo further said that the government will also create an index to evaluate the performance of exporters during the duration of the scheme.

India has moved away from subsidising exports and instead is relying on remission mechanisms through schemes such as Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products and Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies.
After a gap of more than three years, the central government has agreed to resume the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) works in West Bengal with immediate effect, but subject to mandatory adherence to stringent conditions.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

These include a prohibition on any work valued at more than 20 lakh, compulsory 100 per cent electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) verification of all workers, and mandatory pre-estimation field visits for all works before they are undertaken.

The order to resume MGNREGA work in the state was issued a few days ago.

The Department of Rural Development hereby resumes the prospective implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA in the State of West Bengal with immediate effect.

"However, such resumption is subject to mandatory adherence to the special conditions and regulatory measures, as directed by the high court, to ensure transparency and integrity in implementation, the order said.

For the current financial year (2025-26), the state government is required to submit the labour Budget proposal within 30 days of receiving the official order, it added.

Among other conditions mandatory for the resumption of MGNREGA works, the Centre said that job cards must be reviewed and updated within one month from the schemes resumption.

West Bengal will be allotted the labour Budget on a quarterly basis, based on performance and compliance with the special conditions imposed by the department.

All funds released under the wage component of MGNREGA will only be credited into the bank accounts of workers using the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS)-enabled direct benefit transfer protocol.

The state has to ensure 100 per cent Aadhaar seeding and APBS enablement of all workers, the order said.

The state government must also conduct a performance audit of material and administrative funds each year through the Principal Accountant General.

For all works undertaken, mandatory detailed project reports must be approved by the district magistrates, even for projects within the 20 lakh cap. No more than 10 ongoing works per gram panchayat shall be undertaken at any given time, with no exemptions allowed at the panchayat level.

All staff involved in pre-estimation of field works must be geotagged and time-stamped.

The circular also says that MGNREGA works will be automatically suspended if muster rolls are not filled within one month.

Such suspension can only be revoked by the district magistrate with proper justification.

The district magistrate and the block development officers shall act as the district programme coordinator and programme officers, respectively, for all districts and blocks, the order said.

It also directed the state government to ensure time-bound action against delinquent officials or other Mahatma Gandhi NREGS functionaries, including prompt investigations, financial recovery within 60 days of detection, filing of first information reports, and initiation of appropriate departmental disciplinary actions.

The state shall ensure strict adherence to the advisories issued by this ministry from time to time and ensure regular conduct of social audits of all works and expenditures, as mandated under the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, and upload all reports, the order read.
CERC, which has a key role in India's power sector, has also set up a committee to gather further evidence in the matter and take suitable action.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) on Thursday sent three of its officials on compulsory leave, after they were named in an interim order from Sebi in an insider trading case involving individuals making unfair gains of 173 crore based on critical policy information from these high-ranking CERC staffers.

The regulator, with a key role in India's power sector, has also set up a committee to gather further evidence in the matter and take suitable action.

"The Sebi order is interim, and does not represent final findings. However, since in the order, Sebi has prima facie observed that the policy information originated from CERC ahead of the publication of the order on 23rd July, 2025, CERC has instituted a fact-finding committee to examine the related evidence and take appropriate action. The concerned officers (three) have been sent on compulsory leave for the meantime," the regulator said in a statement shared with Business Standard.

"The Commission has taken immediate cognisance of the alleged insider trading based on unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) related to the market coupling policy from CERC," it said.

The Sebi order stated that the eight individuals allegedly involved in insider trading were in touch with a senior official named Yogeita S Mehra from CERC in a personal capacity. Another CERC official named Gagan Diwan, part of the division involved in the market coupling announcement, shared information to the individuals, according to the order.

In its interim order on Wednesday, Sebi had barred these individuals from the market and directed the disgorgement of illegal gains from alleged insider trading in the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) scrip. The CERC said it had received the ex-parte interim order from Sebi in the matter of insider trading by certain entities in the IEX scrip on Wednesday.

The power regulator also said it has upheld the confidence and trust of the stakeholders in the regulatory process for more than 25 years and will continue to maintain the same.

Sebi had initially conducted a suo motu preliminary examination in the matter, taking cognisance of the significant fall in IEX's share price after the CERC made an announcement on July 23.

Amidst this probe, Sebi also received a complaint alleging insider trading in the scrip, and since there were reasonable grounds to believe that some entities traded in IEX on the basis of prior knowledge of unpublished price sensitive information, it appointed an investigating authority on September 12 to scrutinise trades between July 1 and August 14.

Sebi's probe revealed that the information in the CERC's July 23 order pertained to market coupling and this information was bound to have an impact on the pricing of the securities of IEX since the market coupling mechanism aggregates buy and sell bids from multiple exchanges and uses a central system, to determine a single, uniform market clearing price.
The share of services in gross value added (GVA) in 2023-24 was the highest in Chandigarh (88.8 per cent), followed by Delhi (84.1 per cent), said a NITI Aayog report released recently.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

This indicates that a state or union territory (UT), while having high per capita income, is also more services oriented.

Richer states/UTs are also more likely to host dynamic, marketable services that drive long-term growth.

"Moreover, the link between income growth and services sector expansion is mutually reinforcing, the report titled India`s Services Sector: Insights from GVA trends, which used statistics ministry`s data, noted.

The report only used 22 major states/UTs for the analysis.

At the all -India level, the share of services in GVA stood at 54.5 per cent in 2023-24.

In Chandigarh, the services sector is largely concentrated in trade & repair services (35.4 per cent), followed by real estate, ownership of dwellings & professional services (25.7 per cent), financial services (15.9 per cent), public administration (7.7 per cent), and other services (6.8 per cent).

The prominence of trade and repair reflects Chandigarhs zoning-led urban planning, which has enabled specialised retail and service corridors catering to the Tri-City region of ChandigarhMohali Panchkula.

"Its dual-capital role sustains demand for professional services such as legal, architectural, and engineering services, added the report.

In Delhi as well, real estate, ownership of dwellings & professional services contributed nearly 31 per cent, reflecting robust demand for commercial and consulting services.

Financial services contributed 19 per cent  thus highlighting Delhis status as a national financial centre with the transport & storage sector contributing 13.7 per cent. This underscores its logistical importance.

Among states, Karnataka has the highest share (62.3 per cent) of services in the gross state value added (GSVA), followed by Kerala (61.5 per cent) and Telangana (60.3 per cent).

Real estate, ownership of dwellings & professional services is the biggest contributor in the share of GVA of all these three states.

'Surprisingly, Bihar (58 per cent) also has a high share of services in the GSVA, despite having very low per capita income.

'For Bihar, trade & repair services (27.8 per cent) and other services (20 per cent), led by small-scale neighbourhood retail outlets and self-employment, were the biggest contributors.

This divergence suggests that the services sector in the state may be primarily characterised by lower productivity and more informal segments, the report notes.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh (33.9 per cent) has the lowest share of services in the GSVA, due to the dominance of mining and mineral-based industries.

The same is true for Odisha as services contribute only 38.2 per cent of the GSVA.

Despite urban centres such as Indore and Bhopal emerging as hubs for information technology (IT), education, and real estate, the share of services in the GVA of Madhya Pradesh (38.8 per cent) remains low.

Lower-income states, unless they invest in the right enablers, risk being locked into stagnant or low-return service structures, the report said.

Gujarat (36.1 per cent), despite having high per capita income, has a low share of services in the GVA.

This perhaps stems from a policy that emphasises on industrial and port-led growth.

The report by the NITI Aayog is among the first dedicated state-level assessments of output in the services sector, going beyond aggregate trends.

It presents a disaggregated and multi-dimensional profile of the sector.

The report concludes that services are less tied to location than manufacturing  meaning that even geographically remote or landlocked states can benefit from this transformation.

With the right investments in broadband, e-governance, and skill development, these states can leapfrog traditional industrial phases and move directly into modern, tradable, knowledge-based services, it added.
SYDNEY, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of Queensland have arrested four people after seizing more than 100 kilograms (kg) of cannabis and several firearms.

The Queensland Police Service said in a statement on Monday that the major organized crime squad executed search warrants on a property and vehicle in the town of Alligator Creek, over 1,000 km northwest of Brisbane, on Jan. 13.

During the search, detectives located and seized 108 kg of cannabis, almost 8 kg of methamphetamine, 1 kg of cocaine as well as four rifles, one handgun, ammunition and over 400,000 Australian dollars (about 268,000 U.S. dollars) in cash.

A 24-year-old man from the nearby city of Townsville was arrested and charged with 15 offenses, including five counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

Three others, two of whom were from Townsville, were also arrested and charged with a combined 19 offenses relating to the possession and supply of drugs. 
China has filed a complaint against India in the World Trade Organization (WTO) over New Delhi's subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that the ministry will look at the detailed submissions made by China.

Confirming the move, an official said that China has also filed similar applications against Turkiye, Canada and the EU.

"They have sought consultations with India," the official said.

Seeking consultation is the first step of the dispute settlement process as per WTO rules.

If the consultations requested with India do not result in a satisfactory solution, the EU can request that the WTO set up a panel in the case to rule on the issue raised.

China is the second-largest trading partner of India.

In the last fiscal, India's exports to China contracted 14.5 per cent to $14.25 billion against $16.66 billion in 2023-24.

The imports, however, rose by 11.52 per cent in 2024-25 to $113.45 billion against $101.73 billion in 2023-24.

India's trade deficit with China has widened to $99.2 billion during 2024-25.
The matter has now been escalated and the ministry has written to Customs, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to investigate it thoroughly.

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Reuters

Chinese steel may have been routed into the country through Nepal using forged manufacturer credentials and in quantities that Nepal cannot produce, said a senior official from the steel ministry.

These are the preliminary findings of the ministry after it received complaints that steel was being imported under the name of a Chinese licence holder who had not actually supplied the consignments.

Our preliminary findings showed that steel was exported to India via Nepal in quantities and grades that it simply does not have the capacity to manufacture. It indicates the material originated in China, was sent to Nepal, and then routed into India under a different origin, the official said.

The matter has now been escalated and the ministry has written to Customs, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to investigate it thoroughly, he said.

The official added that the government is sharpening its position in negotiations with the European Union (EU) on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which is scheduled to take effect in January 2026. This could significantly affect Indias steel exports.

He said India has conveyed that CBAM must take into account carbon costs already borne by Indian manufacturers, none of which are recognised by the EU at present.

Whatever direct or indirect carbon costs Indian companies pay should be counted. At present, none of them are recognised by the EU, he said.

These costs include the forthcoming carbon credit trading scheme (CCTS) and a range of domestic levies that effectively function as carbon charges.

These are not labelled as carbon taxes but act as carbon costs such as local taxes, water-related charges and green cess. They all need to be part of the CBAM calculation if the mechanism is to be fair, he added.

CCTS, the governments carbon-pricing framework that will underpin the Indian carbon market (ICM), is entering its final phase of preparation.

The official said the system for the steel sector is expected to come into effect from April, with India pressing the EU to recognise it under CBAM.

He also noted that the EU is reviewing some of its rules. We have heard that the EU is considering relaxing some of the CBAM conditions, though nothing formal has been communicated, he said.

As it negotiates with the EU to avert export losses, the government is also preparing an easing of import-compliance rules at home.

A significant overhaul of the steel import monitoring system (SIMS) is underway. While the mechanism will remain, the compliance burden will be sharply reduced.

We have recommended that SIMS be retained, but the data entry fields should be substantially reduced, the official said.

Small-quantity importers stand to benefit the most. They will get a single SIMS number valid for the entire year. They can import up to 10 tonnes per consignment, capped at 1,000 tonnes annually, he said.

Export-linked units such as special economic zones (SEZs), export-oriented units (EOUs) and advance authorisation holders will receive similar year-long approvals.

They, too, will get one SIMS number for the whole year, he added. Beyond trade and compliance, the ministry is reshaping its approach to stainless steel.

The industry has approached the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) seeking relief on rising imports after the recent levy on steel from Vietnam excluded stainless steel.

The official said the matter is complicated by the market structure, where one major producer holds a dominant share and seeks protection, while several user industries depend heavily on imports.

To address these competing positions, the upcoming National Steel Policy will include a dedicated chapter on stainless steel for the first time.

This policy shift aligns with efforts to strengthen the stainless-steel ecosystem, including Steel Authority of India Ltds (SAILs) plans to expand its Salem plant. The unit is preparing to scale up output.

Their installed capacity is about 350,000 tonnes, but production last year was around 150,000-160,000 tonnes. They first aim to utilise the full capacity and then scale up to one million tonnes annually, the official said.

To support this expansion, the plant is also planning to import intermediate stainless steel raw material to reduce its dependence on scrap.

Raw material pressures continue to weigh on the sector. India imports nearly 90 per cent of its coking coal -- a critical input -- mainly from Australia.

To reduce this dependence, public sector firms are examining potential overseas asset acquisitions for long-term security besides diversifying coal sources to the US and Russia, the official said.

Amid these developments, the official also clarified that the government is not pursuing any merger between Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) and SAIL.

There is no such proposal from the ministry. RINL is under a Cabinet-approved disinvestment process, and merging it with SAIL would shut that route permanently, he said.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Officials from both India and the US in the recent past have indicated that a fair deal will be concluded soon, with Indian officials holding that more formal rounds of talks are not needed.

IMAGE: Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra speaks during the FIBAC 2025 event, in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Thursday said that he is confident that there will be a good trade deal with the United States, which will relieve the pressure on the current account and in turn the rupee.

Delivering the VKRV Rao Memorial Lecture at the Delhi School of Economics, Malhotra said the recent depreciation in rupee is because of expectations that the trade deficit may go up as a result of additional penal tariffs by the US.

Exports have come down, as you are aware, in October. But we are confident that there will be a good trade deal, hopefully, going forward. And that should relieve whatever pressure there is on our current account. We have very good buffers of foreign exchange of $690 billion. So that's not a matter of concern, he added.

Officials from both India and the US in the recent past have indicated that a fair deal will be concluded soon, with Indian officials holding that more formal rounds of talks are not needed.

The deal is expected to substantially reduce the 50 per cent tariffs by the US on most Indian goods.

India's trade deficit rose to a record high of $41.68 billion in October and exports to the US contracted 8.6 per cent to $34.38 billion.

On cryptocurrency regulation, Malhotra said the RBI has taken a cautious approach because of various concerns and the government has to take a final view on the matter.

There is a working group set up earlier. They will take a final call as to how, if at all, crypto is to be handled in our country, he added.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra at Jio World Centre, Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Malhotra said though the US has come out with a Genius Act to establish a regulatory framework for crypto assets, India's situation is very different.

We have a very sound system of (digital) payments, which the US doesn't have to the extent of scale that we have. So the domestic payments issue that they have is not with us. We are experimenting with CBDC (central bank digital currency). That's why we have a cautious approach towards crypto, he added.

However, Malhotra said the RBI has an accommodative and enabling stance when it comes to digital innovations like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or digital lending, stressing that the central bank is mindful of ensuring necessary guardrails in the system.

While talking about the shift from rule to principle based regulation, Malhotra said the related dilemma in this regard is how much innovation to permit, when the risks are not fully understood.

The RBI governor said that the central bank was continuously adapting while being vigilant and alert to emerging risks and evolving conditions.

We are encouraging innovation while being mindful of our regulatory objective of safeguarding systemic stability. We are trying to simplify regulations as much as possible while maintaining the necessary safeguards and guardrails, he said.

Malhotra further said that given the pace of the economy's growth, it was only a matter of time that India would have many of its banks in the top 100 banks of the world.

He added that the shift from bank deposits towards money markets, mutual funds, equities etc is natural as the country progresses.

He said that even on the lending side many corporates and NBFCs were moving from bank borrowing to corporate and market based borrowing.

It is not only on the liability side, but even on the asset side, this shift is happening. So the point is that it should remain balanced, Malhotra added.

Malhotra said that the RBI was strengthening coordination with all other regulators, while respecting the jurisdictional boundaries.

We are trying to enforce rules consistently, while recognising that there can be circumstances which will warrant flexibility, he added.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
The Centre is considering amendments to the Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act in the Budget to allow some Debt Recovery Tribunals to focus only on high-value cases.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff

The Centre is likely to propose amendments to the Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act (RDB Act), 1993, in the upcoming 2026-2027 (FY27) Union Budget to redefine the jurisdiction and workload of Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs).

According to a senior government official, the move would allow certain DRTs to focus on high-value cases, speeding up recoveries and unclogging tribunals burdened with low-value litigation.

"Under the proposed changes, the Centre would be empowered to specify one or more DRTs to exclusively handle applications involving debts above a notified amount, which may vary across regions," said the official.

Currently, while the government can define the territorial jurisdiction of DRTs, the Act does not explicitly allow it to earmark tribunals for cases above a particular value, beyond the minimum threshold of 20 lakh.

"This amendment will allow us to channel high-value recovery cases to designated tribunals so that presiding officers can focus on large exposures and dispose of them faster," the senior government official said.

Around 77% of pending cases involve amounts between 20 lakh and 1 crore

The move comes amid mounting pendency at DRTs, where official data sourced by Business Standard showed that a majority of cases are relatively low value but together clog the system.

Around 77 per cent of pending cases involve amounts between 20 lakh and 1 crore, while cases above 100 crore account for just 0.6 per cent of total cases, even though they represent over 69 per cent of the total pending suit amount.

"High-value cases are few in number but they account for the bulk of the money stuck in litigation. Faster resolution of these cases could significantly improve recovery outcomes and free up capital for fresh lending," the official said.

The government may also propose amendments related to Section 36, under which, the government plans to insert new clauses enabling it to frame uniform rules for recovery proceedings as well as to prescribe court fees for appeals filed before tribunals against recovery officer orders, the official further noted.

"At present, there is a lack of uniformity in recovery procedures across jurisdictions, which leads to procedural challenges and litigation. Uniform rules would bring clarity and avoid unnecessary legal complexity," the official said.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Another significant proposal is to amend Section 22A to empower the Centre to prescribe uniform recovery procedures not only for DRTs and Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs), but also explicitly for recovery officers, who currently fall outside the statutory definition of a tribunal.

Officials said this clarification is intended to avoid conflicting interpretations with provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and related rules.

The government also plans to introduce a new Section 22B, under which appeals against DRAT orders can only be filed before the Supreme Court, bringing the appellate framework in line with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Borrowers frequently approach high courts at present, often securing stay orders that delay recovery proceedings.

"This would discourage forum shopping and frivolous appeals that hold up recovery for years," the official said.

The proposed amendments also seek to clarify the Centre's powers under Section 4(2) to assign additional charge of one DRT to the presiding officer of another DRT, improving continuity of work in case of vacancies or long leave.

The urgency of reform is reflected in the data. The top 10 DRTs account for 43.6 per cent of total pending original applications and securitisation applications, while representing nearly 30 per cent of the total pending suit amount.

Jabalpur DRT alone has 14,539 pending cases, the highest in the country, while Kolkata DRT-1 has pending cases worth over 1.25 trillion, the largest by value.

A case for reform Centre's move comes amid mounting pendency at DRTs

Currently, the RDB Act does not allow the government to earmark tribunals for cases above a particular value (20 lakh)

Around 77 per cent of pending cases involve amounts between 20 lakh and 1 crore

Top 10 DRTs account for 43.6 per cent of total pending original applications and securitisation applications

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Packaged food major Nestle India posted better than expected September quarter results led by strong volume growth across its key segments. While there were margin pressures due to elevated raw material costs, there could be some relief with easing prices in the near term.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Most brokerages are positive on the stock from a long-term perspective.

An improving demand environment and recent goods and services tax (GST) reforms are expected to boost consumption going ahead.

While there are growth triggers, the stock may not see a sharp uptick given valuations.

The third-largest listed consumer company by market capitalisation is valued at over 76 times its 2025-26 (FY26) earnings estimates, and 63 times its FY27 estimates.

The company posted a revenue growth of 10.6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), and this was led by robust double-digit growth of confectionery, beverages, and prepared dishes segments.

While the beverages segment was the key growth driver, the milk products and nutrition category delivered a mixed performance. Some segments reported strong growth while others lagged.

In prepared dishes, double-digit volume growth for Maggi noodles was led by market share gains in rural areas.

In the confectionery segment, growth was led by Kitkat due to market share gain and distribution expansion in rural areas, with Munch and Milkybar also growing in high double-digit.

Export revenues too were strong, rising 14 per cent Y-o-Y, led by growth across categories.

Sharekhan Research believes that a strong position in the domestic foods market, innovative product portfolio, focus on distribution expansion, capacity expansion, and improving out-of-home consumption will help Nestle compete and achieve better growth in a stable demand environment.

Though revenue growth was strong, the margin performance was muted, with gross margins falling 230 basis points (bps) Y-o-Y and 80 bps quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) to 54.3 per cent while estimates had placed it above 55 per cent.

The pressure was on account of higher raw material costs.

The company, however, indicated that edible oil prices could stay higher while milk prices are likely to come down.

Coffee and cocoa prices are expected to remain range-bound.

Given the margin pressures at the gross level, the operating profit margins contracted by 100 bps Y-o-Y to 22.2 per cent.

Sharekhan Research expects volatile commodity prices to keep a check on margins in the near term.

Motilal Oswal Research said that Nestles operating performance had been relatively weak over the past four to five quarters, marked by muted revenue growth and margin contraction.

After GST 2.0 transition, the brokerage believes that packaged foods would be the first to witness demand recovery and there could be growth acceleration going ahead.

While analysts led by Naveen Trivedi of the brokerage have increased the earnings estimates by 2 per cent, they have a Neutral rating on the stock given its expensive valuations.

Nirmal Bang Research expects the company to gradually resume double-digit revenue growth as well as margin recovery going ahead.

While Krishnan Sambamoorthy of the brokerage remains optimistic about packaged foods growth opportunity in India, he has a Hold rating on the company due to expensive valuations.

Antique Stock Broking is gradually turning constructive on Nestle.

Sustained recovery in revenue growth and raw material trends will be a key monitorable, say analysts led by Abhijeet Kundu of the brokerage.

It has a Hold recommendation as the current valuation of 57 times factors in the two-year forward price-to-earnings (P/E) growth.
Digital Connexion, a joint venture between Brookfield, Reliance Industries and Digital Realty, on Wednesday announced an investment of $11 billion till 2030 for building 1 gigawatt (Gw) state-of-the-art AI-native, purpose-built data centres in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

This comes just over a month after Google lined up its plans to come up with a world-class AI-powered data centre in Visakhapatnam at an investment of $15 billion, Googles largest-ever investment outside the US.

The data centre will be spread across 400 acres of land.

On November 14, Reliance had announced that it will build a fully modular, future-ready 1 Gw AI data centre designed to host the worlds most advanced GPUs (graphics processing units), TPUs (tensor processing units), and AI processors.

The deal was signed on the opening day of the CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Minister for IT and Industries Nara Lokesh, and Reliance Industries executive director P M S Prasad.

According to the company, its data centres are purpose-built to support seamless AI workloads, empowering hyperscalers and enterprises with future-ready systems, robust substations, redundant power feeds, and rack densities to power the next decade of innovation.

The company is building Indias next-generation digital infrastructure through AI-native, purpose-built data centres designed for unmatched performance, scalability, and sustainability.

It already has a campus in Chennai, and another that is being constructed in Mumbais Chandivali area.

Both are strategically located for low-latency, carrier-neutral connectivity.

Aligned to Indias Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, Digital Connexion is unlocking new possibilities towards driving innovation, impact, and sustainable growth and becoming the trusted digital infrastructure provider of India.

"Engineered to support high-performance computing and AI workloads, its facilities integrate renewable energy, efficient designs, and advanced cooling systems, the company said in a statement.

Google had signed its deal with the state government on October 14.

It had also tied up with Adani Enterprises, through its joint venture company AdaniConneX, to develop the data centre, which will be Indias largest AI data centre campus and new green energy infrastructure in Visakhapatnam.

Googles AI hub will include gigawatt-scale data centre operations, supported by a robust subsea cable network and clean energy, to drive the most demanding AI workloads in India.

It will be brought to life in close collaboration with ecosystem partners, including AdaniConneX and Airtel.

The flagship of our commitment is the Vizag tech park.

"We are building one of the worlds largest centres in partnership with Google.

"This is a combined $15 billion vision of sustainable and hi-tech growth, Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Ports & SEZ, said earlier this month.
'There are no additional benefits for banks and market participants to use CBDC...'

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

With commercial banks still in the process of developing technology to trade through the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), it may take two to three years for large-scale adoption of the digital rupee, according to a senior official from the Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL).

In addition, trading via CBDC has limited benefits.

CCIL facilitates the settlement of secondary market transactions in government securities and call money market transactions, using the digital rupee.

This includes both outright purchases and repurchase agreements (repos).

According to the official, while trading in CBDC, the settlement takes place transaction by transaction, while the net settlement takes place at the end of the day.

"There are no additional benefits for banks and market participants to use CBDC... Moreover, banks have yet to develop the system to operate via CBDC," the official said.

CBDC is a legal tender issued by a central bank in digital form. It is similar to sovereign paper currency, but takes a different form.

It is exchangeable at par with existing currency, and can be accepted as a medium of payment, legal tender, and a safe store of value.

It appears as liabilities on a central bank's balance sheet.

In a recent speech, Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar said the regulator is in no hurry to launch CBDC nationwide, as its best use case -- cross-border payments -- requires other countries to simultaneously introduce their own CBDCs for it to be effective.

At the same time, the pilot is progressing well, with the user base in India now expanding to about 7 million, he said.

Money market participants highlighted that most private sector banks are unwilling to trade in government securities and call money market via CBDC, owing to lack of additional incentives and the long process of transaction settlement.

A dealer with a public sector bank said, "Except 2 to 3 private banks hardly any other private bank trades via CBDC. Though public sector banks do trade in CBDC due to moral suasion. This has contained the volumes in CBDC trades."

1

To broaden the scope of wholesale CBDC, RBI has expanded the pilot by including four standalone primary dealerships.

However, dealers at primary dealerships said they face operational challenges.

"Primary dealers use a leveraged balance sheet, which means most of their assets are funded through repo borrowing. As a result, they do not have unpledged securities available and often face a shortage of funds in real time," said a dealer with a primary dealership.

The RBI began pilot projects for both retail and wholesale CBDCs in late 2022. According to its annual report, as of end-March, the retail CBDC pilot had expanded to 17 banks and 6 million users since its inception in December 2022.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
The strong domestic flow offset selling by foreign portfolio investors who pulled out $23.3 billion (Rs 2.03 trillion) from domestic equity markets in CY25.

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

Domestic institutional investors' (DIIs) flows to the equity segment were robust in calendar year 2025 (CY25) as their net investments hit Rs 6 trillion, the highest in a calendar year since BSE started maintaining data in 2007.

The net inflow includes investments by banks, domestic financial institutions, insurance companies, new pension schemes and mutual funds, and it is higher than the Rs 5.26 trillion they put in Indian stock markets in CY24, BSE data shows.

Rishi Kohli, chief investment officer at Jio BlackRock AMC, expects the momentum to continue due to mutual fund systematic investment plans (SIP), which are resilient even as markets decline.

"Unless there's a global shock causing a 3o to 40 per cent correction, DIIs should keep investing strongly. I will not be surprised if DII flows surpass the 2025 levels in CY26," Kohli said.

The strong domestic flow offset selling by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) who pulled out $23.3 billion (Rs 2.03 trillion) from domestic equity markets in CY25, according to data from National Securities Depository Limited.

FPIs pumped in $5,716 million (Rs 49,590 crore/Rs 495.9 billion) through the primary market and other routes in CY25.

The United States, China, Germany and Brazil are the "most crowded trades" for FPIs, said Mahesh Patil, chief investment officer, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC.

"These are the markets which have seen the highest relative inflows and consequently better overall market returns. On the other hand, countries which have seen outflows by global investors are Japan, India, Vietnam and South Korea."

Since the Lehman Brothers crisis in 2008, DIIs have made substantial profits by buying aggressively whenever the Indian markets tanked and FIIs sold heavily, according to G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics Research.

A cycle of ups and downs in the domestic market has worked consistently for DIIs in the past 17 years, he said.

Panic selling has proven to be a mistake for FIIs, while supporting the markets at such instances has been beneficial for DIIs.

"Going forward, I expect their [DIIs] net investment into equities to remain robust as flows into insurance and pension funds continue to grow," Chokkalingam said.

"However, the scale at which they are buying may not continue, as the market is at near record highs and retail flows into MFs are likely to moderate," added Chokkalingam.

Show of strength

DIIs' record investment has kept the equity markets resilient despite the US imposing 50 per cent tariffs on India.

In CY25, the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 index are up 5.8 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively.

However, the BSE Smallcap index tanked 5.6 per cent, while BSE Midcap index is down 1.6 per cent so far in CY25, data shows.

DIIs increased investments in BFSI, capital goods, healthcare and the automobile industry in CY25, said Patil.

Domestic investors' dominance in Indian equities -- through mutual funds and SIPs -- will continue for the medium term and provide resilience against foreign outflows, said Sonam Udasi, senior fund manager at Tata Asset Management.

"Monthly domestic inflows of over Rs 25,000 crore demonstrate the deepening local investor base," Udasi said.

"If tariff concerns abate, global investors could eventually play catch-up."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
There is positive sentiment for Tata Steel on the basis of strong domestic demand, a turnaround of European operations and moderate valuations.

Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

A combination of capacity expansion, efficiency gains, higher asset utilisation, and improved operating leverage may lead to margin expansions.

Some investor concerns exist about potential loss of iron ore mines after 2029-30 (FY30) but Tata Steel may still remain the player with lowest raw material cost/tonne on account of holding non-auctioned captive mines even after FY30.

By the end FY26, Tata Steel's European operations may be operating profit positive, which will be a big boost.

The company is expanding India capacity to capitalise on domestic demand, targeting an increase from 26.5 million tonnes per annum or mtpa in FY25 to 40 mtpa by FY30.

The commissioning of 5 mtpa integrated capacity at Kalinganagar, increases the plants total capacity to 8 mtpa (at Rs 27,000 crore investment), with next phase-III expansion targeting 13 mtpa.

Other key projects include scaling the unlisted NINL (Neelachal Ispat Nigam) from 1 mtpa to 4.5 mtpa, a 0.75 mtpa electric arc furnace (EAF) at Ludhiana by FY27, and expanding capacity at Meramandali from 5.6 mtpa to 8.2 mtpa.

In Europe, Tata Steel is moving to green steelmaking, converting Port Talbot UK to a 3 mtpa EAF and exploring a gas-based route at Ijmuiden, Netherlands.

India's steel demand is projected to grow 8-10 per cent over FY26-27 and theres protection from imports via a 12 per cent safeguard duty on flat steel products.

In H1FY26, steel imports in India declined 29 per cent Y-o-Y to 3 mt and exports rose 23 per cent Y-o-Y to 2.3 mt as exports to EU, West Asia, and Africa increased.

The H2FY26 may see gradual price recovery, muted costs and stronger demand.

The European operations are moving towards breakeven amid restructuring and cost optimisation.

Operating loss has narrowed from $76/tonne in Q2FY25 to a gain of $8/tonne gain in Q1FY26, due to lower energy costs and improved efficiency.

Given UK Blast Furnace shutdown and Netherlands ramp-up, Europes operating profit will improve from $8/tonne in Q1FY26 to $70/tonne by FY28.

Near-term challenges persist due to uncertainty around tariffs, but the long-term outlook looks good.

Tata Steel is expected to generate a strong operating cash flow of Rs 95,700 crore, which will help fund expansion costs of Rs 16,000 crore annually without additional leverage.

Net debt was Rs 84,800 crore as of Q1FY26, which translates to net debt to operating profit of 3.21 times as of June 2025.

In the Netherlands, a decarbonisation plan has support from the Dutch government.

The project is currently in the engineering and capital cost estimation phase.

A letter of intent will be presented to the Dutch parliament, and following elections, binding agreements will be negotiated.

In the UK, construction has commenced on a 3 mtpa EAF project at Port Talbot, for cost and carbon reductions.

Domestic hot rolled coil or HRC prices stood at Rs 49,500/tonne in Q2FY26, while Chinas landed steel prices are at 15 per cent premium to domestic prices.

Hence, theres room for domestic steel prices to improve.

The Rs 11,500 crore cost savings initiatives across India, UK, and Netherlands will see UK operations achieve breakeven by Q4FY26.

Of the total cost savings target of Rs 11,500 crore, Rs 4,400 crore (Rs 1,500 crore in FY25 and Rs 2,900 crore in Q1FY26) has been realised.

As operating profit of Europe rises to $70/tonne, consolidated operating profit/tonne will be about Rs 13,000 by FY28 (vs Rs 8,376/tonne in FY25).

Tata Steel's European operations also may be a beneficiary of reconstruction spending as and when the Ukraine War ends.

Post-war rebuilding, estimated at over $800 billion, will trigger a demand upcycle across Europe.

The domestic business provides solid earnings visibility till FY30.

The post-FY30 auction of captive iron-ore mines under the MMDR Act could raise costs but the policy focus on self-reliance and domestic capacity building should cushion profitability.

Management estimates potential operating profit uplift of Rs 3,500 crore by FY27.

Tata Steel currently trades at 2 times to its price-to-book value or P/BV.

Assuming book value of Rs 90 by Q2FY27 and a valuation upgrade to 2.5 times P/BV multiple, the fair value of Rs 225, implies upside of around Rs 44-45.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
A record amount of pension money may be finding its way into the stock market, if buying figures in the National Stock Exchange (NSE) data are any indication.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Category inflows touched Rs 37,409 crore for the three months ending September 2025, shows an analysis of NSE data.

This is the highest in rolling three-month data going back to 2016. For comparison, it was Rs 4,509 crore in September 2024, and Rs 894 crore in September 2016.

The data is based on the NSE monthly reports under the category of New Pension System and may not be fully representative of activity across bourses.

Similar figures for foreign investors, for example, show differences with the consolidated numbers across exchanges; but it can be considered indicative of the trend, suggest experts.

The total net buying in the first six months of the ongoing financial year 2025-26 (FY26) was Rs 68,678 crore, compared to Rs 7,447 crore in the same period of FY25.

Guidelines that have increased the equity ceiling from 15 per cent to 25 per cent for a number of schemes under the National Pension System (NPS) are likely to have played a role, according to industry experts.

The changes in the NPS ceiling effective from April 2025 apply to its entire corpus rather than incremental inflows as in the case of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), according to two people familiar with the matter.

The consequent rebalancing may have led to a spike in allocations, they said.

Monthly flows to NPS would determine activity levels once this rebalancing is completed.

More people are coming into the NPS, and the demographic profile of the country means that new joinees are often younger and more willing to make higher allocations to equity, noted Vivek Iyer, partner and financial services risk advisory leader, Grant Thornton Bharat.

This can lead to increased stock market activity, and investments will only grow over the next 10-15 years, according to Iyer.

The amount of sway over equity markets of pension funds will only increase over a period of time, he said.

Increased attempts at awareness have helped inflows but the product has not got to a level of mass adoption relative to Indias population, according to a fund manager for the NPS.

There is a long runway for pension products to grow, and incremental penetration would determine the influence of pension money on equity markets over the long term.

All will depend on the flows the participation (of individual investors) is quite low, said the person.

A new option of the NPS, separate from the one mentioned above, allows for certain schemes to have 100 per cent equity exposure, Business Standard had reported earlier.

In addition to the NPS, the EPFO has also been investing in the equity markets from 2015 when it allocated 5 per cent of incremental flows to exchange traded funds (ETFs).

An ETF tries to match the returns of a benchmark index, like the Nifty 50 or the BSE Sensex, through passive allocation to the same stocks as the index rather than actively picking stocks that can also result in underperformance.

The EPFOs ETF allocation rose to 10 per cent in 2016, and to 15 per cent in 2017.

The total investment in ETFs was Rs 1.97 trillion as of FY23.

This rose to Rs 2.35 trillion as of FY24.

This would suggest that EPFO investments are also in excess of Rs 38,000 crore a year.

The EPFOs 2024-25 annual report is yet to be released.

With additional inputs from Mayank Patwardhan
Judge bars U.S. immigration agents from using force against peaceful Minnesota protesters

Xinhua) 11:25, January 19, 2026

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. federal judge on Friday ordered immigration agents to stop using pepper spray, making arrests, or detaining people who are peacefully protesting immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.

U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez issued a preliminary injunction barring such actions by federal agents involved in Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale enforcement operation in the Minneapolis area. The order will remain in effect until the operation concludes. It also prohibits agents from stopping vehicles that are safely following enforcement activity without reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct.

Operation Metro Surge began in early December 2025 with about 2,000 agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and has since expanded to nearly 3,000. The Department of Homeland Security has described it as the largest immigration operation in U.S. history.

Menendez said protesters were likely to succeed in proving violations of their constitutional rights, including free speech and protections against unreasonable searches. She described some allegations against agents as "disturbing," citing reports that protesters were threatened or followed to their homes.

Friday's ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed in December by the American Civil Liberties Union's Minnesota branch on behalf of six individuals who said their rights were violated while observing immigration enforcement activities.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows a press briefing on a factory blast in Baotou City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

HOHHOT, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- An explosion at a factory in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has killed two people, left eight missing and injured 84, local authorities said Monday.

The explosion occurred at 3:03 p.m. on Sunday at a plate plant of Baogang United Steel in western Baotou City. It was caused by the blast of a 650-cubic-meter saturated water and steam spherical tank, Lin Li, executive vice mayor of Baotou, told a press briefing on Monday.

A total of 84 injured people are being treated in hospitals, with five in serious condition and the remaining 79 sustaining minor injuries, such as facial wounds and soft tissue contusions, according to Lin.

All the injured are in stable condition, and medical treatment is underway by leading medical experts of the autonomous region.

A rescue operation is in full swing, with an emergency rescue headquarters established after the accident to coordinate emergency, fire control, public security, health and market supervision departments.

The government has suspended production of the accident-hit plant and initiated city-wide safety overhaul of industrial and trade enterprises.

Investigations into the blast's environmental impact are ongoing. Monitoring by environmental protection departments has so far detected no adverse effects on the surrounding air or soil quality, and no wastewater has been generated from the incident. Utility services and residential heating in the area remain unaffected.

An investigation team established by the autonomous region is examining the cause of the accident and relevant liabilities. Legal actions have been taken against individuals responsible for the enterprise involved. 

This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows a press briefing on a factory blast in Baotou City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows rescuers working at the site of an explosion at a factory in Baotou, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows an excavator working at the site of an explosion at a factory in Baotou, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Buoyant domestic sales are expected to lift revenues for pharma companies by 811 per cent in Q3FY26, even as declining generic Revlimid (cancer drug) sales in the US remain a key drag.

Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Most brokerages forecast a modest 24 per cent growth in profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter. Hospitals and diagnostics companies, meanwhile, are likely to post much stronger numbers, with revenues seen growing 2022 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y).

The Indian pharmaceutical market (IPM) continues to grow in double digits, led by cardiac therapies (16 per cent), oncology (26 per cent) and antidiabetics (14 per cent) during the quarter.

In contrast, anti-infectives (2 per cent), pain (7 per cent), gastro-intestinal and dermatology therapies (both 8 per cent) reported single-digit growth.

Nuvama analysts expect Lupin to deliver 810 per cent domestic growth, with ex-anti-diabetic therapies significantly outperforming.

Sun Pharma, Torrent Pharma and Dr Reddys Laboratories are likely to see over 12 per cent top line surge, while Cipla, Alkem and Zydus are expected to report 910 per cent growth in their domestic businesses.

In the US market, the impact of generic Revlimid remains the key monitorable, while contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) appear weak. This comes as Q3 marks the final limited-competition quarter for generic

Revlimid.

The multi-billion-dollar generic Revlimid market has expanded in recent years following patent expiry, with players such as Teva, Natco, Dr Reddys, Cipla and Sun Pharma entering the space.

This has led to intense price competition and margin erosion for some companies, despite strong underlying demand.

The product has already seen significant price erosion, with companies liquidating leftover inventory ahead of heightened competition.

Due to this, we expect cumulative US business of our universe to fall 5 per cent quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q).

"The US business of companies heavy on generic Revlimid (Dr Reddys, Zydus, Cipla and Natco) would post a decline, Nuvama said.

It added that Lupin is likely to report strong growth in its US business (35 per cent Y-o-Y), driven by limited-competition products such as Tovaptan, Mirabegron and generic Spiriva.

Kotak analysts, however, highlighted that excluding generic Revlimid, overall US generics sales are expected to grow 2 per cent Q-o-Q.

On an ex-gRevlimid basis, we bake in 2 per cent Q-o-Q growth in overall US generics sales for relevant companies in our coverage.

"This is led by volume growth in existing products and continued benefit from new launches in the earlier quarters for a few firms, they said.

Systematix, a financial services firm, noted that Dr Reddys could see a steeper decline in the US compared to peers, while Lupin may emerge as the fastest-growing company in the geography.

For Sun Pharma, Systematix estimates high-single-digit Y-o-Y revenue growth. It may be led by sustained strength in India branded formulations and rest-of-the-world markets, alongside gradual improvement in its US specialty portfolio.

Nuvama forecasts Suns US business to grow 8 per cent Y-o-Y, driven by innovative products, primarily Ilumya and the addition of Leqselvi.

We have built in $417 million of innovative specialty business for Sun Pharma during this quarter, the brokerage said.

Within healthcare services, hospitals growth is expected to be driven largely by new bed additions.

BNP Paribas analysts noted that despite Q3 being seasonally weak, capacity expansion will support strong growth.

Apollo Hospitals, Aster DM and Fortis Healthcare are estimated to post revenue growth of 11 per cent, 14 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.

We also expect hospital margins to be largely flat for both Apollo and Aster DM due to cash burn from these new greenfield hospitals.

"We expect Fortis Hospital margins to grow, led by a margin recovery for recently-launched brownfield hospitals, BNP Paribas added.
India does not do trade agreements in a hurry or with a "gun to our head", Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

He said India is actively negotiating trade pacts with countries and regions, including the European Union (EU) and the US.

"We are in active dialogue with the EU. We are talking to the US, but we do not do deals in a hurry and we do not do deals with deadlines or with a gun to our head," he said at the Berlin Global Dialogue in Germany.

The minister was in Berlin to participate in the dialogue, a meeting of leaders and German businesses to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investments.

He added that a trade deal should be viewed with a long-term perspective.

India, he said, never takes decisions in a rush or in the heat of the moment.

Goyal added that India is looking at newer markets to deal with the high tariffs.

Asked if India is getting a fair trade deal that is long term with conditions attached, Goyal said, "I do not think India has ever decided who its friends will be based on any other considerations other than national interest... and somebody tells me you can't be friends with the EU, I won't accept that or somebody tell me tomorrow, I can't work with Kenya, it's not acceptable."

The decision to buy a particular product from a country is something that the entire world will have to take a call on, he said.

"I was reading in today's paper, Germany is asking for an exemption from US sanctions on oil...The UK already has sorted or probably got an exemption for procuring oil from the US...so then why single out India," he wondered.

These remarks assume significance as the US is putting pressure on India to stop buying crude oil from Russia.

The US, on October 22, imposed sanctions on Russia's two largest crude oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, barring all American entities and individuals from conducting business with them.

The US has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India as a penalty for purchasing oil from Russia.

It is over and above the 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods entering American markets.

Overall, Indian goods are attracting a steep 50 per cent additional import duties in the US.

New Delhi has described these duties as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

Goyal also said that a country should not look at trade deals in a short-term perspective.

"Trade deals are for a longer duration. It is not only about tariffs or access to goods and services, it is also about trust and relationship...Trade deals in a longer context are far more than just tariffs and we are just focused on the current day issues and tariffs," he added.

India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement since March this year.

So far, five rounds of talks have been completed.

Goyal on Thursday stated that these negotiations are progressing, and expressed hope that both sides would work towards a fair and equitable agreement in the near future.

An Indian official team, headed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, was in Washington last week to hold trade talks with their US counterparts.

The three-day talks ended on October 17.

In February this year, leaders of India and the US directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

They fixed a deadline to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall of 2025.

Last month, Goyal also led an official delegation to New York for trade talks.

The talks halted for a brief period after the US announced high tariffs on Indian goods.

After a brief gap, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch held talks with Indian officials in New Delhi on September 16.

In that meeting, both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial agreement.

The proposed pact aims to more than double the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $191 billion.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports).

It accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade.

India's merchandise exports to the US declined by 11.93 per cent to $5.46 billion in September due to the high tariffs imposed by Washington, while imports increased by 11.78 per cent to $3.98 billion during the month, according to the Commerce Ministry data.
Companies, particularly those that are notified as Significant Data Fiduciaries, will have to make extensive investments in data mapping, process modification, consent management tools, tools to enable Data Principal Rights, and establish a well-structured Data Privacy Officer organisation.

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

The cost of operations for companies and data fiduciaries dealing with user data in India is likely to increase over the next 18 months as they implement new systems for data mapping, deploy consent management tools, and establish data protection offices, according to industry and legal experts.

These new systems must be implemented to comply with the rules of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

The rules, notified on November 14, say that while companies have to implement a data protection and consent management system by November 2026, the systems for data mapping or seeking individualised consent must be put in place by May 2027.

Arun Prabhu, partner and co-head of the digital, technology, media and telecommunications practice at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said companies in Europe initially spent between $250,000 and $10 million when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was rolled out in May 2018.

"Companies, particularly those that are notified as Significant Data Fiduciaries, will have to make extensive investments in data mapping, process modification, consent management tools, tools to enable Data Principal Rights, and establish a well-structured Data Privacy Officer organisation," Prabhu said.

The information technology cost of commercial banks, which is around 10 to 15 per cent of their total expenditure, is also set to increase as they align their systems along the lines of the Act.

"Banks are now required to conduct regular audits, monitor data flows, and assess third-party vendors. These are not one-time efforts but ongoing responsibilities," a senior official of a public-sector bank said on the condition of anonymity.

"We need to reorganise our consent framework completely; as we have given time of 18 months, we will be able to mitigate some of the operational costs," the person added.

While companies may eventually be able to absorb the initial cost, despite the staggered timeline of up to 18 months, there could be other challenges to DPDP Act compliance, experts said.

Under the rules, the government has placed additional obligations on significant data fiduciaries.

These include an annual data protection impact assessment, a yearly audit to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act, and continuous due diligence to verify that the technology being used by the company, including the software and algorithm, is not likely to 'pose a risk to the rights of data principals'.

All companies, social media platforms, and Internet intermediaries that deal with the digital personal data of users will fall under the category of data fiduciaries.

All users whose personal data is sought to be processed by these entities will now be referred to as data principals.

Several large public sector lenders like the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, among others are developing advanced data governance tools, encryption technologies, and automated compliance monitoring systems.

Though the government has notified the additional compliances for significant data fiduciaries, it has not yet set out the parameters which will define this class of data fiduciaries, said Shreya Suri, partner at law firm CMS INDUSLAW.

Experts said that while firms may eventually be able to absorb the initial cost of implementing the new framework, despite the staggered timeline of up to 18 months, there could be other challenges to it as well.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) often lack awareness and capacity to conduct comprehensive data protection impact assessments and appoint dedicated Data Protection Officers, said Anandaday Misshra, founder and managing partner at AMLEGALS.

Apart from MSMEs, most other organisations lack the visibility into their own data inventory and face the daunting task of comprehensive data mapping across fragmented legacy systems and vendor ecosystems, said Akshayy S Nanda, partner at law firm Saraf and Partners.

"Data mapping is not just a compliance checkbox but a foundational, resource-intensive process essential for understanding data flows, assessing privacy risks, and demonstrating compliance, yet it is often hindered by data fragmentation, poor documentation, and the absence of a data governance culture, making it the single most significant operational hurdle for organisations striving to meet DPDP Act requirements," Nanda added.

Enterprises must immediately start prioritising data discovery, classification, and data-mapping exercises, implementing consent and retention workflows, strengthening breach-response mechanisms, and deploying technology-led governance tools that provide real-time visibility across the data lifecycle, said Murali Rao, partner and leader of the cybersecurity consulting at EY India.

"These requirements are not just regulatory checkboxes. They reshape how organisations collect, manage, and safeguard personal data," said Sanjay Katkar, joint managing director of Quick Heal Technologies.

Key concerns

Data mapping of all users across their organisation

Setting up of consent management, data protection offices

Annual data impact assessment, audit for compliance with DPDP Act

Fines likely to be imposed by DPB in case of data breach, unintentional retention

Legal complexities in case of cross-border data transfer, storage

With inputs from Anupreksha Jain

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
The Reliance Centre, a guesthouse and some residential assets in Mumbai, apart from 231 plots of land in Chennai, are among the fresh assets worth Rs 1,120 crore attached by the ED as part of its ongoing money-laundering probe against the companies of Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The properties belong to Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) and Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL), and the probe is linked to an alleged fraud at the Yes Bank, the federal agency said in a statement on Friday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier froze properties worth more than Rs 8,997 crore of the business group.

With the latest action, the total value of attachment of the Reliance Group stands at Rs 10,117 crore, it said.

Among the 18 immovable assets provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) are the Reliance Centre in Ballard Estate, a commercial office building of Reliance Infrastructure Limited in Andheri East and residential properties and a guesthouse of Reliance Infrastructure Limited in Santacruz (all in Mumbai).

A total of 231 plots of land and seven residential flats in Chennai, belonging to Reliance Value Services Private Limited, have also been attached as part of the same order, the ED said.

The movable assets that have been attached include fixed and bank deposits, shareholding in unquoted investments of the Reliance Anil Ambani Group, apart from some other entities.

The total value of the attachment is Rs 1,120 crore, the agency said.

Reliance Group companies have repeatedly said Ambani was not involved in the day-to-day management of the conglomerate.

The industrialist has once been questioned by the ED as part of the money-laundering investigation linked to an alleged Rs 17,000-crore bank fraud against his group companies.

The ED said during 2017-2019, the Yes Bank invested Rs 2,965 crore in RHFL instruments and Rs 2,045 crore inFL instruments. By December 2019, these had become non-performing investments, it claimed.

The outstanding was Rs 1,353.5 crore for RHFL and Rs 1,984 crore forFL, and the probe found that the two companies received public funds worth more than Rs 11,000 crore, according to the ED.

"Before Yes Bank invested this money in Reliance Anil Ambani group companies, Yes Bank had received huge funds from erstwhile Reliance Nippon Mutual Fund.

"As per Sebi regulations, Reliance Nippon Mutual Fund could not invest/divert funds directly in Anil Ambani group finance companies due to conflict-of-interest rules," the ED said.

Therefore, public money in mutual fund schemes was routed indirectly by them and the path ran through the Yes Bank's exposures.

The public funds reached Anil Ambani group companies through a "circuitous" route, the agency said.

The ED said it is "actively" pursuing perpetrators of financial crimes and is committed to restituting the proceeds of crime to their rightful claimants in this case.
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday questioned Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor as part of a money laundering investigation against Reliance Anil Ambani group companies, officials said.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The statement is being recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

The probe is related to the period between 2017-2019 when Yes Bank allegedly invested Rs 2,965 crore in Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL) instruments and Rs 2,045 crore in Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL) instruments.

By December 2019, these had become non-performing investments, the agency claimed.

The outstanding was Rs 1,353.5 crore for RHFL and Rs 1,984 crore for RCFL, and the probe found that the two companies received public funds worth more than Rs 11,000 crore, according to the ED.

"Before Yes Bank invested this money in Reliance Anil Ambani group companies, Yes Bank had received huge funds from erstwhile Reliance Nippon Mutual Fund.

"As per SEBI regulations, Reliance Nippon Mutual Fund could not invest/divert funds directly in Anil Ambani group finance companies due to conflict-of-interest rules," the ED said.

Therefore, public money in mutual fund schemes was routed indirectly by them and the path ran through the Yes Bank's exposures, the agency claimed.
Emcure Pharmaceuticals on Monday said it saw Poviztra, its newly launched semaglutide brand, as a long-term opportunity in Indias fast-evolving obesity and cardiometabolic therapy market, even as price competition in the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) segment intensified.

IMAGE: Satish Mehta, CEO and managing director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals. Photograph: Courtesy, Emcure Pharmaceuticals

This comes days after Novo Nordisk cut prices of its imported weight-loss drug Wegovy, narrowing the gap with locally marketed alternatives ahead of the expiry of the semaglutide patent next year.

Poviztra, which Emcure exclusively distributes and commercialises in India in partnership with Novo Nordisk, is priced at Rs 8,790 per month as a starter dose (once a week for four weeks).

This is about 19 per cent lower than Wegovys 0.25 mg price of Rs 10,850, according to the company.

Emcure said the pricing strategy reflected its intent to expand its reach across India rather than pursue a narrow, metro-centric play.

Our goal is to take this product to all parts of India, keeping affordability and accessibility in mind, said Satish Mehta, chief executive officer and managing director, stressing that Poviztra was the innovator molecule, not a biosimilar or generic, backed by more than a decade of global clinical and real-world evidence.

The company views obesity treatment as a structural, long-term opportunity.

This is not access play just on volumes. Obesity is a big problem and a growing one.

"Estimates suggest this could become a billion-dollar market in India by 2030, Mehta added.

Emcure described its arrangement with Novo Nordisk as a long-term partnership.

There are no immediate plans for local manufacturing or fill-finish (when drug products are put into a container) in India, with the current focus on building the brand and expanding reach.

On supply constraints, the company said Novo Nordisk had taken steps globally to address capacity.

India is an important market for Novo in metabolic and obesity care.

"Capacity planning has been reckoned on in the launch strategy, said Vikas Thapar, president, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, declining to share details on imports.

With Eli Lillys Mounjaro gaining traction and Novos own Wegovy and Ozempic present in the market, Emcure said its differentiation lay in distribution depth and therapeutic reach, rather than just price.

The firm plans to deploy over 1,000 persons for Poviztra from its 5,000-plus domestic sales force, with a focus on cardiology, womens health and internal medicine, alongside endocrinology.

There is room for multiple brands. Even today, the market is barely scratching the surface, Thapar said, noting that Emcures strength in Tier-II and Tier-III cities was a key reason Novo chose it as a local partner.

Emcure expects demand for GLP-1 therapies to extend beyond large urban centres, driven by rising awareness and social media.

This will not remain a product for just metros.

"With education and awareness, we expect an uptake even in smaller cities, Mehta said.

To support this, Emcure has launched a consumer-awareness initiative under the Winning Over Obesity platform, alongside doctor-education programmes.

While acknowledging price erosion as generics enter post-patent expiry, Emcure says innovator-backed brands with strong clinical data will continue to command trust.
Retirement fund body EPFO has extended the deadline for filing EPF return or ECR (electronic challan-cum-return) by one week for the wage month of September till October 22, 2025.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The employers are mandated to file the ECR by the 15th of every month.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a revamped Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) system, which is applicable starting from the wage month of September 2025, a labour ministry statement said.

Considering the request from a number of employers in adapting to new features of the revamped ECR and consequent difficulty in filing returns by the establishments, it has been decided to extend the date of ECR filing till 22nd October 2025 for the wage month of September.

In order to facilitate a smooth transition to the revamped Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) system, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has also undertaken a series of awareness programme with employers and industry representatives across the country.

At the central level, EPFO held meetings with major industry bodies, including the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Employer Federation of India (EFI) to apprise them of the new features and procedural reforms introduced in the revamped ECR system.

The discussions focused on the advantages of the new return filing process, including enhanced data accuracy, sequential return validation, and better compliance facilitation.

In continuation of this outreach, Zonal and Regional Offices of EPFO are also conducting interactive sessions and workshops with employers and establishment representatives.

These programs aim to provide on-ground handholding support to establishments and ensure timely and error-free filing of returns under the revamped system.

The EPFO remains committed to ensuring a seamless digital experience for employers and strengthening transparency and compliance in provident fund administration, it stated.
Net inflows into equity mutual funds (MFs) moderated for the second straight month in September, declining 9 per cent during the month to Rs 30,422 crore.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The slowdown came as redemptions from active equity schemes rose 30 per cent month-on-month (M-o-M) to a one-year high of around Rs 36,000 crore.

The impact of the sharp rise in outflows was partially offset by sustained inflows through systematic investment plan (SIP) and lump sum routes.

SIP contributions climbed 4 per cent M-o-M to a fresh all-time high of Rs 29,361 crore.

SIPs reached a new milestone with a record monthly contribution of Rs 29,361 crore and 92.5 million active accounts.

"This reaffirmed retail investors growing preference for disciplined and systematic investing, said Venkat N Chalasani, chief executive, Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi).

While equity inflows moderated, commodity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessed a surge amid a rally in gold and silver prices. Gold ETFs attracted Rs 8,151 crore in September, a sharp jump from Rs 2,190 crore in August, while inflows into silver ETFs tripled M-o-M to Rs 5,342 crore.

The combined net inflows into gold and silver ETFs were at record highs last month.

Gold ETFs witnessed resurgence in safe-haven demand in September, reflecting a combination of global risk aversion and tactical positioning ahead of major central bank policy reviews.

"Investors turned to gold as a reliable store of value amid heightened geopolitical tensions, volatile markets, and a stronger dollar, said Nehal Meshram, senior analyst  manager research, Morningstar Investment Research India.

Analysts attribute the rise in commodity ETF investments and higher equity fund redemptions to shifts in investor portfolios.

They also point to changing preferences across equity categories.

While overall inflows softened, the trend reflects portfolio rotation rather than investor retreat.

"Select categories such as value/contra funds (up 85 per cent), focused funds (up 22 per cent), multicap funds (up 11 per cent), and large & midcap funds (up 14 per cent) continued to attract strong interest.

"This signals that investors remain engaged but are becoming more selective amid market consolidation, said Jatinder Pal Singh, chief executive officer (CEO), ITI MF.

Flows into popular smallcap and midcap schemes moderated during the month but remained among the leading contributors to overall equity inflows.

Flexicap funds continued to see robust demand, garnering over Rs 7,000 crore for the third consecutive month.

Flexicap continues to see strong inflows, while largecaps remain consistent at around Rs 2,300 crore.

"Mid and smallcap segments have seen minimal changes, with midcaps at about Rs 5,000 crore and smallcaps around Rs 4,300 crore.

"One area showing upside is the value-contra segment, rising from an average of Rs 1,000 crore in recent months to about Rs 2,100 crore.

"Overall, there is no reason for concern, said Suranjana Borthakur, head of distribution & strategic alliances, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India).
The country's exports rose 1.87 per cent to $38.5 billion in December 2025 despite global economic uncertainties, though an increase in imports led to a marginal widening of the trade deficit to $25 billion.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Imports rose by 8.7 per cent to $63.55 billion during the month under review, according to government data released on Thursday.

Trade deficit, difference between imports and exports, stood at $25.04 billion in December 2025 as against $24.53 billion in November last year and $22 billion in December 2024.

Cumulatively, during April-December this fiscal, the country's merchandise exports rose 2.44 per cent to $330.29 billion.

Imports grew by 5.9 per cent to $578.61 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $248.32 billion during the nine-month period of 2025-26.

Briefing the media on the latest data, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that despite global uncertainties, India's exports are recording positive growth.

Going by the trend, "we expect that the total exports (goods and services) are likely to cross $850 billion this fiscal".

The main sectors that led to an increase in shipments included engineering, electronics, marine, and pharmaceuticals.

India's exports to the US, China, and the UAE are rising at a steady rate.
Indias merchandise exports grew in the first three weeks of November compared with the same period last year, according to preliminary government data, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

The uptick comes despite global uncertainties, the tariff imposed by the US, and an 11.8 per cent contraction in outbound shipments in October to $34.4 billion.

Given the challenging circumstances across the world, India continues to be a shining star.

"Until November 21, seeing the quick estimates, we find that merchandise trade is also showing growth from the corresponding period last year, Goyal told reporters after the conclusion of the Board of Trade (BoT) meeting.

BoT is an apex advisory body on trade policy. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Centre and states, as well as the countrys major industry bodies, to chart responses to the adverse impact of the 50 per cent tariff by the US on Indias exports.

The BoT meeting took place after a gap of more than a year.

The minister said the recently approved Rs 25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM) would incorporate targeted schemes to help landlocked states enhance their competitiveness in the export sector.

Based on inputs from states, the ministry would work closely with relevant agencies to identify effective and timely solutions to emerging challenges.

Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Telangana are among the landlocked states.

Guidelines on the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) and the Market Access Initiative (MAI) under EPM will be rolled out next week.

According to the minister, BoT also expressed satisfaction with Indias ongoing trade negotiations and provided support for fair, balanced, and equitable agreements.

Currently, talks are underway with the US, the European Union, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, and Chile.

Negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union will start on Wednesday, and talks with Canada and Israel will begin soon, the minister said.

During the meeting, exporters urged the government to expand the coverage of the moratorium provided by the central bank to more areas.

They also suggested exploring the feasibility of providing legal services support through Directorate General of Trade Remedies for micro, small and medium enterprise exporters, as well as reforms in special economic zones.

During the meeting, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal highlighted the ministrys commitment to expanding digital public infrastructure for trade, ensuring faster resolution of trade-related issues, and improving inter-agency coordination to enhance export competitiveness.

The meeting saw participation from the commerce and finance ministries, export bodies, and industry chambers.

Representatives from nine states were also present, as BoT provides a mechanism for Centrestate trade coordination.

Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said the government must quickly roll out specific schemes under EPM.

Old programmes such as MAI and IES have made no payouts this year, leaving exporters without support at a time of global stress.

GTRI also recommended that India press Washington to withdraw the additional 25 per cent Russian oil tariff before committing to any US trade pact.

US President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed that India has very substantially stopped buying oil from sanctioned Russian firms.
DAMASCUS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Forces of the Syrian interim government on Monday expanded deployments across northern and eastern Syria after attacks blamed on armed groups linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) left three soldiers dead, testing a newly reached agreement between the authorities and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

In statements carried by Syria's state news agency SANA, the army said groups affiliated with the PKK had attempted to disrupt the implementation of the agreement by targeting deployed military units. The statement said two separate attacks on army positions killed three soldiers and injured others.

Despite the incidents, the army said units were continuing their organized advance in Syria's Jazira region -- a term referring to the northeastern part of the country between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, stretching toward the Turkish and Iraqi borders -- and secured additional areas along the strategic M4 international highway and in the eastern and northern countryside of Hasakah province.

The Syrian interim government urged the SDF to refrain from targeting deployed forces and to adhere to the agreement reached a day earlier, which established a ceasefire framework and paved the way for the return of state authority over key areas and institutions.

The deployments are part of a broader effort by Damascus to reassert control over the Raqqa and Deir al-Zour provinces, following days of clashes that preceded the latest deal with the SDF. Under the agreement, SDF forces are to withdraw from areas west of the Euphrates River, with the interim government taking control of key infrastructure, energy facilities, and administrative institutions.

In Deir al-Zour, the interior authority said its units had entered the eastern countryside under a comprehensive security plan aimed at establishing an organized presence across towns and villages, protecting civilians and public and private property, and reinforcing stability.

The defense authority said the army's air force, in coordination with the military medical services administration, has been evacuating civilians with critical injuries from hospitals in Deir al-Zour to Damascus and Aleppo aboard military aircraft.

Meanwhile, civil defense teams arrived in Raqqa province on Monday to begin emergency response operations. The teams said they had started firefighting, ambulance services, and road-clearing efforts in the city of Tabqa to facilitate movement and humanitarian access after days of disruption. 
A host of macroeconomic data announcements, global trends and trading activity of foreign investors would dictate investors' sentiment in the stock market this week, analysts said.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Besides, auto sales data will be closely tracked, experts noted.

With only a handful of trading sessions left this year, Indian equity markets are expected to remain largely range-bound, albeit with a constructive bias, according to a market analyst.

"This week marks the transition into calendar year 2026 and is likely to witness heightened volatility due to the December F&O expiry.

"Key domestic data points to track include industrial production data for November and the final HSBC manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index) reading," Ajit Mishra  SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.

Globally, markets will closely monitor US macroeconomic cues, including the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) minutes and updates on the Federal Reserve's balance sheet, he said.

"These developments could influence near-term expectations around growth, liquidity, and global risk sentiment," Mishra added.

Indian equity markets ended the holiday-shortened last week on a cautious note, with mild profit-booking amid thin trading volumes and persistent foreign fund outflows.

In the holiday-shortened week, the BSE benchmark climbed 112.09 points or 0.13 per cent, and the Nifty went up by 75.9 points or 0.29 per cent.

"With only a handful of trading sessions left in 2025, Indian equity markets are expected to remain largely range-bound, albeit with a constructive bias.

"Investor sentiment this week is likely to be shaped by a busy economic data calendar, both domestically and overseas.

"On the home front, India's November industrial production (IIP) data will offer fresh insights into trends across mining, manufacturing, and electricity output," Ponmudi R, CEO - Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth tech firm, said.

November automobile sales data will be closely tracked for confirmation of sectoral momentum, he said.

Alongside IIP data, these releases will offer key insights into domestic consumption trends, particularly whether the post-GST rationalisation surge in auto demand is being sustained as India moves into 2026, Ponmudi added.

Globally, attention will turn to the minutes of the latest US Federal Reserve meeting, which are expected to provide greater clarity on the central bank's policy outlook, Ponmudi said.

Siddhartha Khemka - head of research, wealth management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said, key data releases to watch include US initial jobless claims, US and China manufacturing PMI figures, and India's monthly auto sales.
The first phase of the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) is 'nearing closure' and would address the hefty 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian goods, in addition to resolving America's market access issues, a government official said on Monday.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

The US has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and another 25 per cent on Indian goods entering American markets for buying Russian crude oil.

"We are engaged with the US on the BTA. It has two parts.

"One part of the negotiations will take time.

"The other part is a package which can address reciprocal tariffs. We are working on both aspects.

"The package that can address reciprocal tariffs is more or less near closure, and we should get it soon," the official said.

The official added that the deal is expected to address the issue of a 25 per cent penalty on India; otherwise, the agreement would have no meaning.

The official added that the BTA has multiple packages or tranches, and this will be the first tranche to address the tariffs.

The deal will be announced on a mutually agreed date.

On the issue of India's state-run oil companies signing a one-year deal to import cooking gas LPG from the US in 2026, the official said, "It was something in the works for a long time.

"This is in the overall context of keeping the trade with the US. It is not part of any negotiations package per se, but definitely as part of our endeavour to balance trade with the US."

The move is seen as an attempt to narrow India's trade surplus with the US -- a sticking point for President Donald Trump, who has slapped a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods entering America.

India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement.

So far, six rounds of talks have been completed.

Both sides have announced plans to finalise the first tranche of the deal by the fall of 2025.

A team of Indian officials, headed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, was in Washington last month to hold trade talks with their US counterparts. The three-day talks ended on October 17.

Negotiations for the pact are important, as relations between the two countries have been under severe strain since the US President Donald Trump administration imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods.

It includes a 25 per cent additional import duty for buying Russian crude oil.

The proposed pact aims to more than double the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $191 billion.

The US is seeking greater market access for its products such as almonds, pistachios, apples, ethanol and genetically modified commodities.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports).

It accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade.

India's merchandise exports to the US declined 11.93 per cent to $5.46 billion in September due to the high tariffs imposed by Washington, while imports increased 11.78 per cent to $3.98 billion during the month, according to commerce ministry data.

Trump has recently stated that the US is "pretty close" to reaching a "fair trade deal" with India, adding that he will lower tariffs imposed on Indian goods at "some point".

When asked for comments on a bill in the US that would allow Trump to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on imports from countries that have trade ties with Russia, the secretary said that all over the world, countries trade with other nations based on their bilateral relationship and economic requirements.

"We have not got into the depth of it. But at the same time, let me tell you (that) as a country, each country all over the world trades with other countries based on their bilateral relationship, based on their economic requirement, and those trade carries on.

"I think our trade decisions will remain guided by that," he added.
Months after the government increased renewal charges for older vehicles, the transport ministry has raised the fitness test fee for all motor vehicles older than 20 years to discourage people from keeping them.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), in a latest notification issued on November 11, said the higher fee slabs now begin at 10 years for commercial vehicles, instead of 15 years, bringing more vehicles under the updated cost brackets.

It has created three clear age groups for fitness testing: 10-15 years, 15-20 years and above 20 years.

According to the notification, the fitness test fee for light motor vehicles (LMVs) older than 20 years has been increased to Rs 15,000 from Rs 10,000.

The notification has made steep revisions to the fitness test fee for heavy trucks and buses older than 20 years.

They will now have to pay Rs 25,000 for the fitness test, from Rs 3,500 earlier.

Medium commercial vehicles in the same age group will now have to pay Rs 20,000, and the fitness test of light motor vehicles above 20 years will cost Rs 15,000.

The fitness test fee for two-wheelers above 20 years has also been increased to Rs 2,000 from Rs 600 earlier.

The transport ministry, in its earlier notification in August this year, increased renewal charges for older vehicles.

In August, the Supreme Court ordered authorities not to take coercive action against the owners of diesel vehicles that are more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in the Delhi-NCR.
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are expected to report mid-single-digit revenue growth in the JulySeptember 202526 quarter, according to their quarterly updates.

Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Most companies also noted that supply chains were focused on liquidating existing stock ahead of the implementation of new goods and services tax (GST) rates in categories where the tax was lowered.

An outlier is Marico, which said its consolidated revenue growth on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis could touch the thirties, driven by pricing interventions and mix improvements.

However, the company told investors that underlying volume growth in its India business remained in the high single digits and is expected to moderate sequentially.

Dabur India and Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) said consolidated revenue is expected to grow in the mid-single digits.



The maker of Vatika hair oil added that operating profit will rise roughly in line with revenue, while GCPL noted that the GST transition in India is likely to have a short-term impact on profitability, with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation expected to decline for the quarter.

The governments recent GST reform represents a landmark step towards driving affordability and enhancing purchasing power, which will boost consumption across categories and strengthen demand in both urban and rural markets, Dabur India said in its update.

GCPL also described the reforms as an encouraging step to strengthen consumer demand.

With the revised rates, nearly one-third of GCPLs portfolio  primarily toilet soaps, as well as smaller categories like talcum powder, shampoo, and shaving cream  now benefits from a reduced GST of 5 per cent, down from 18 per cent.

It added, The GST rate reductions have resulted in some short-term adjustments across trade channels, as distributors and retailers focused on liquidating existing inventories.

"This has delayed the flow of new orders and temporarily deferred consumer purchases, impacting both growth and profitability.

Hindustan Unilever said the quarter could face a transitory impact from GST and expects its consolidated business growth to be near flat to low-single-digit.

This is a one-off, transitory impact, and we anticipate recovery starting in November as prices stabilise, underpinned by rising disposable incomes and our ongoing portfolio transformation actions, it said.

AWL Agri Business (formerly Adani Wilmar) reported 5 per cent Y-o-Y volume growth and 24 per cent Y-o-Y revenue growth, driven mainly by edible oils and the essential industry segment.
After a brief pause in October, foreign investors resumed selling, pulling out a net Rs 3,765 crore from Indian equities in November, driven by global risk-off sentiment, volatility in global tech stocks and selective preference for primary markets over secondary markets.

Photograph: Bhawika Chhabra/Reuters

This dip in November came right after a net inflow of Rs 14,610 crore in October, an uptick that had broken a three-month streak of withdrawals -- Rs 23,885 crore in September, Rs 34,990 crore in August, and Rs 17,700 crore in July, according to depository data.

The flow trend through November was shaped by a combination of global and domestic factors.

On the global front, uncertainty around the US Federal Reserve's rate-cut trajectory, a firm US dollar, and weak risk appetite across emerging markets kept foreign investors cautious. Persistent geopolitical tensions and volatile crude prices further reinforced the risk-off tone, said Himanshu Srivastava, Principal, Manager Research, Morningstar Investment Research India.

Domestically, this cautiousness was compounded by pockets of stretched valuations and subdued industrial indicators, which tempered investor conviction despite India's relatively stable macroeconomic backdrop, he added.

Reflecting this sentiment, Vaqarjaved Khan, Senior Fundamental Analyst at Angel One, noted that the outflows in November were primarily driven by global risk aversion and volatility in tech stocks.

IT services, consumer services, and healthcare were among the sectors that faced the sharpest impact.

However, not all indicators point toward a sustained bearish trend.

V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, believes there is still no clear evidence of a trend reversal in FPI flows.

He noted that FPIs were buyers on some days and sellers on others, an indication that flows may shift as conditions evolve.

The recent rally, with both Nifty and Sensex hitting new records on November 27 after a fourteen-month wait, along with improved Q2 corporate earnings and expectations of further growth in Q3 and Q4, has lifted market sentiment, he added.

Looking ahead, Angel One's Khan said that FPI activity in December will likely depend on the US Federal Reserve's rate-cut signals and progress on the trade pact between India and the US.

So far in 2025, FPIs have withdrawn over Rs 1.43 lakh crore from Indian equities.

Meanwhile, in the debt market, FPIs invested Rs 8,114 crore under the general limit while withdrawing Rs 5,053 crore through the voluntary retention route during the same period.
Foreign investors have pulled out Rs 11,820 crore ($1.3 billion) from Indian equities in the first week of this month, primarily driven by the sharp depreciation of the rupee.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

This sharp withdrawal follows a net outflow of Rs 3,765 crore in November, further pressuring markets.

These outflows come after a brief pause in October, when FPIs invested Rs 14,610 crore, breaking a three-month streak of massive withdrawals -- Rs 23,885 crore in September, Rs 34,990 crore in August, and Rs 17,700 crore in July.

According to NSDL data, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) withdrew a net amount of Rs 11,820 crore from Indian equities in the first week of this month.

This takes the total outflow for 2025 to Rs 1.55 lakh crore ($17.7 billion).

Analysts attribute the renewed selling primarily to currency concerns.

The rupee has depreciated nearly 5 per cent this year, prompting FPIs to pull out during such periods, said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments.

Adding to this, year-end portfolio repositioning by global investors, a typical December trend before the holiday season, has also intensified selling, noted Vaqarjaved Khan, Senior Fundamental Analyst at Angel One.

Khan said delays in finalising the India-US trade deal have further dampened global sentiment.

However, despite the FPI exodus, the impact on markets has been cushioned by strong domestic participation.

Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought equities worth Rs 19,783 crore during the same period, completely offsetting the foreign selloff, Vijayakumar said.

DII confidence has been supported by India's robust GDP numbers and expectations of an improvement in corporate earnings ahead.

The sentiment received an additional boost after the RBI's 25-bps rate cut on December 5, when FPI flows turned positive for the day at Rs 642 crore.

This shift was significant, considering FPIs had sold nearly Rs 13,000 crore by December 4.

"The RBI not only reduced rates but also raised its FY26 growth guidance to 7.3 per cent, while cutting its CPI forecast to 2 per cent.

"A strong growth environment augurs well for Indian equities," Khan said.

Looking ahead, global liquidity may get another lift.

The CME Fed Watch Tool indicates that the FOMC is expected to cut rates by 25 bps next week, a move that typically benefits risk assets worldwide, he said.

India, he said, could be a key beneficiary, though the absence of a concluded India-US trade deal remains a risk factor.

Meanwhile, in the debt market, FPIs invested Rs 250 crore under the general limit while withdrawing Rs 69 crore through the voluntary retention route during the same period.
While the new income tax law replaces the Income Tax Act, 1961 and omits 13 offences, 35 actions and omissions continue to attract criminal liability under 13 provisions.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Niti.gov.in

NITI Aayog on Friday released the second paper in its Tax Policy Working Paper Series titled 'Towards India's Tax Transformation: Decriminalization and Trust-Based Governance'.

The paper suggests reducing the number of criminal offences from 35 to 6.

It recommends a three-tier reform approach: First, fully decriminalising 12 offences that are administrative or technical in nature; second, retaining criminal liability for 17 offences but only where fraudulent or mala fide intent can be proven; and third, maintaining prosecution for six core offences involving deliberate and high-value tax evasion or fabrication of evidence.

"Criminal provisions should be simple, precise and clear, which means good drafting. So, this report has tackled it in three ways: number one, it has tackled all the 35 sections. It has said only six sections need to be retained fully. What are the reasons?," NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam while briefing the media

"Because these sections are directly related to either wilful default, or willful tax evasion, or willful false allegations, and deliberately going out of my way to falsify accounts," Subrahmanyam added.

"So, these sections should be retained. That's probably the only way that these categories of offences can be handled," Subrahmanyam stated.

According to him, the working paper is part of a set of 12 tax policy papers that NITI Aayog plans to bring out by December 2025.

Its recommendations are expected to feed into the government's proposed new Income Tax Act, slated to take effect from April 1, 2026.

The report notes that while the new income tax law replaces the Income Tax Act, 1961 and omits 13 offences, 35 actions and omissions continue to attract criminal liability under 13 provisions.

All these offences are punishable with imprisonment and fine, and in 25 cases, the law mandates minimum jail terms.

'While these measures are intended to safeguard state revenue and deter evasion, the continuing breadth of criminalisation, compounded by a presumption of culpable mental state, signals an ongoing reliance on criminal law as a routine enforcement tool rather than a targeted last resort,' the paper said.

Applying a principle-based framework grounded in jurisprudence and global best practices, the report concludes that many of these offences -- such as delayed filing of returns, procedural lapses, or failure to provide information -- do not cause direct or substantial harm to fiscal interests, and can be better addressed through civil penalties.

Among other proposals, the paper calls for the removal of mandatory imprisonment provisions, restoration of judicial discretion in sentencing, and elimination of the reverse burden of proof, which currently presumes the taxpayer's culpable intent.

It also suggests introducing flexible sentencing with non-custodial alternatives for first-time, or low-level offences, and setting up a mechanism for periodic legislative review of criminal provisions.

Citing global examples from the US, the UK and Australia, the report says most mature tax systems reserve prosecution for deliberate and fraudulent offences, and deal with routine non-compliance through administrative or monetary penalties.

India, it notes, could benefit from adopting a similar trust-based model.

The recommendations build on the government's ongoing reforms under the Transparent Taxation - Honouring the Honest platform and the Jan Vishwas Act (2023), which aim to simplify compliance and reduce criminalisation of business laws.

"Criminal sanctions, when indiscriminately imposed, stimulate a climate of fear and inhibit genuine entrepreneurial activity while also overburdening the judicial apparatus with matters better addressed through civil or administrative remedies," said Sandeep Jhunjhunwala, tax partner at Nangia Andersen LLP.

"By recalibrating the punitive paradigm, decriminalisation could enhance voluntary compliance, streamline enforcement mechanisms, and align regulatory frameworks with principles of proportionality and economic pragmatism," added Jhunjhunwala.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Indias gems & jewellery exports witnessed 30.6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) contraction in October to $2.17 million, amid the imposition of a steep 50 per cent tariff by the United States (US) on several Indian products.

Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) chairman Kirit Bhansali, however, exuded optimism despite the external challenges.

He expects exports for FY26 to hover around $30-35 billion, compared to $29.8 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Despite tariff issues, we have maintained our target for natural diamonds; the demand is good. The lab-grown diamond segment is doing well; so there is no direct job impact.

"According to the feedback from the commerce ministry and even from the Prime Minister, free trade agreements (FTAs) with the European Union (EU) and US are on the pipeline and will happen soon.

"Strong negotiations are on and India would like the deals on their terms and conditions, Bhansali told Business Standard, adding that the deal(s) may happen this month.

Gems and jewellery is one of the top five export items from India, with a share of around 7 per cent of the countrys overall exports.

India exports diamonds, gold, silver, platinum, as well as imitation jewellery.

However, over the last few years, gems and jewellery exports have fallen from over 10 per cent, mainly due to geopolitical uncertainties, and the latest one being Washington's protectionist policies.

On a cumulative basis (April-October), exports stood at $16.26 billion, down 2.7 per cent Y-o-Y, according to GJEPC data.

Exports to two major countries have been affected very badly  one is the US and the other China. I don't see any immediate recovery in China, but in another three-six months, there may be some, Bhansali said.

He added, The US is a good market, and there is good demand. Once the FTA is signed, we are hoping to be back on track in the US market also.

However, exports to West Asian nations such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have been good, he said.

Also, exporters are waiting for the trade deal with the United Kingdom (UK) to kick-in.

As part of the pre-Budget recommendations to the finance ministry, the council has sought policy reforms to enhance the sectors global competitiveness and ease of doing business.

Key proposals include liberalising taxation, rationalisation of import duties on cut and polished diamonds and coloured gemstones, introducing an ad-valorem duty drawback mechanism for gold and silver jewellery, and extending export incentives to platinum and gold articles, said Bhansali.

The council has also urged the government for greater operational flexibility in special economic zones (SEZs), a full tax refund scheme for foreign tourists, and continuation of duty exemption on seeds for lab-grown diamonds.

These measures will help sustain exports, boost domestic manufacturing, attract investment, and secure Indias leadership in the global gems and jewellery value chain, he said.
The latest move removes one of the key friction points for visitors, temporary liquor permits, while allowing licensed hotels and restaurants operational flexibility.

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Michelle Bryant/Pixabay.com

As Gujarat positions Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) as India's global financial hub, the state government has further eased liquor consumption rules within the enclave, signalling a pragmatic shift aimed at attracting multinational firms and investments, and ensuring hospitality growth.

The latest move removes one of the key friction points for visitors, temporary liquor permits, while allowing licensed hotels and restaurants operational flexibility.

Industry stakeholders see the changes as part of a broader effort to align GIFT City's social and business environment with international expectations.

Anant S Iyer, director general of the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), said the relaxation would help attract global companies and professionals.

"When we talk about India integrating into a global village, we need to provide world-class infrastructure and services," Iyer said.

"Progressive steps like these make that possible," he said, adding that the move would boost investments, job creation, hospitality, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) activity, and tax revenues for the state," Iyer added.

In a recent notification issued by the home department, the Gujarat government amended earlier orders under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, expanding exemptions, simplifying permit procedures, and significantly widening access to licensed liquor facilities in GIFT City.

The changes build on relaxations first introduced in December 2023, and subsequently modified in April 2025.

Under the revised framework, individuals working in or visiting GIFT City are exempted from several provisions of the Prohibition Act, while holders of F.L. III licences, issued to hotels and restaurants, are exempted from multiple provisions of both the Act and the Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953.

Sanjit Padhi, CEO, International Spirits and Wines Association of India, said the reform was a timely step that brings the operating environment closer to global standards.

"From an industry perspective, these changes improve ease of doing business, allowing legitimate players to operate more efficiently while contributing to economic growth and formal state revenues," Padhi said.

The measures, he added, are expected to encourage investment and strengthen the hospitality and services ecosystem.

"A regulated and transparent framework supports tourism, employment and sustained revenue generation, while enhancing India's competitiveness for global businesses."

Most notably, 'external persons' -- individuals from outside Gujarat or foreign nationals -- can now consume liquor at designated hotels and restaurants within GIFT City simply by producing a valid photo identity card.

This dispenses with the earlier requirement of obtaining temporary permits, which was widely viewed as cumbersome for business visitors.

Instead of being confined to a designated 'wine and dine' zone, liquor can now be served and consumed in restaurants, lawns, poolside areas, terraces, food and beverage zones, and hotel rooms.

Liquor for rooms must be ordered from FL III licence holders.

Employees working in GIFT City continue to require a Liquor Access Permit, issued after verification by an authorised official.

Such employees can host up to 25 visitors, who may be issued temporary permits within GIFT City itself, provided the employee accompanies them. All consumers must be 21 years or older.

Licensed hotels and restaurants are permitted to serve alcohol anywhere within their premises, subject to strict compliance and record-keeping.

Unconsumed liquor must be destroyed, and violations can lead to suspension or cancellation of licences.

The licence fee remains Rs 1 lakh, with a security deposit of Rs 2 lakh.

Vinod Giri, director general, Brewers Association of India, termed the policy as an acknowledgment of alcohol's role in social and business engagement.

"Banning alcohol outright punishes responsible consumers and drives the trade underground," Giri said, arguing that prohibition narratives have lost relevance in modern economies.

He expressed hope that similar exemptions could eventually be extended elsewhere in Gujarat, beyond the finance city.

However, not all industry players see immediate benefits.

Debashish Shyam, cofounder and director of Ardent Alcobev, said GIFT City remains a small market in volume terms.

"With roughly 50 outlets and consumption largely limited to GIFT City employees, the opportunity is currently too small for brands like ours," he said, adding that the policy primarily benefits established national brands rather than newer entrants.

For Gujarat as a whole, the move reinforces a dual approach, with strict prohibition statewide but targeted liberalisation in strategic business zones.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Byju's founder Byju Raveendran is preparing to file a $2.5 billion damages claim, alongside new evidence in a US court that he says disproves GLAS Trust's allegations that $533 million in 'Alpha Funds' was diverted by the company's founders.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

A US bankruptcy court had, in a default ruling last week, ordered Raveendran to pay more than $1 billion, saying the former corporate star, who set up the eponymous Indian edtech and tutoring company, had refused to cooperate with legal efforts to locate almost half the proceeds from a $1.2 billion US term loan made in 2021.

Raveendran, however, contests the grounds, saying the court did not give him the 30 days he had sought to arrange a US attorney to argue the case.

He vowed to appeal against the order and, in parallel, will bring a $2.5 billion damage suit against GLAS Trust and those assisting it in a separate US court.

He says the entire $533 million is fully accounted for, with the majority, $479.62 million, being routed from OCI - the loan arranger - to Revere Capital and then to Byju's entities and finally to Think & Learn Pvt Ltd (TLPL) - the parent company.

TLPL used the money to pay for the $3 billion acquisitions, including Aakash Educational Services, in that year.

This money trail, he says, has been established in documents GLAS Trust served on Byju's for the legal proceedings in the US court.

In a statement, Raveendran said he has also submitted a motion in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court, seeking correction of what he calls a premature damages determination.

He argues that the court mistakenly included a damages award as part of a sanction order for delayed document production, even though GLAS Trust withdrew its request for a damages ruling in September and no liability was decided on the merits.

According to Byju's, information available to GLAS Trust since 2025 shows the Alpha Funds were routed through intermediary entities and invested in TLPL, contradicting the lender's statement that it did not know where the money went.

An email sent to GLAS remained unanswered.

The new evidence includes bank records, email correspondence, and transfer trails that the statement says were obtained in US proceedings but not fully disclosed.

He maintained that the US loan proceeds were invested in the company in compliance with Indian law and were not siphoned for personal benefit.

He will submit "clinching evidence before the US Courts, proving that GLAS Trust and the Resolution Professional (now managing BYJU's) repeatedly misled the Delaware Court, Indian & other Courts, and the public by falsely alleging that $533 million (Alpha Funds) was diverted by the founders".

The evidence will be submitted as part of a full appeal against the entire order of the Delaware Insolvency Court of November 20, 2025, and as part of the claim to be filed against relevant parties previously announced with a value of over $2.5 billion.

Byju's founders have claimed that a review of information in the possession of GLAS Trust since at least April 2025 indicates that the monies lent to Alpha (and sent by OCI to companies owned by Byju Raveendran) were indeed invested in TLPL, as has been claimed by Raveendran all along.

BYJU's Alpha was incorporated when Raveendran was running the management of edtech firm TLPL, which operated under the BYJU's brand name.

TLPL had secured around $1.16 billion Term Loan B from the lenders.

The lenders later alleged that BYJU's Alpha has violated the terms of the loan, and $533 million out of the total debt has been moved out of the US illegitimately.

The Glas Trust moved to the Delaware court and received a favourable order to take control of Byju's Alpha.

Last week, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court issued a default judgment in which it asked Byju Raveendran to pay $533 million and an additional amount of over $540 million, comprising various transactions Byju's Alpha had carried out from the fund, and damages, among others.

Byju's founders, in the statement, said the court appears to have inadvertently included a damages award when determining to sanction Byju Raveendran in its default judgment rendered merely as a sanction for failing to provide documents and information on an expedited basis.

"The Court determined no liability on the merits of any of the claims of GLAS Trust and Byju Raveendran provided no defence against those claims," the statement said.

According to the statement, Byju's founders, led by Byju Raveendran, are submitting new evidence in US courts to challenge GLAS Trust's claims that $533 million was diverted by them, and the same evidence will also be shared with Indian courts.

Raveendran has separately filed a motion in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court to correct the Court's premature damages judgment.

According to the statement, the evidence obtained by Byju Raveendran and his counsel proves that the $533 million (Alpha Funds) went from Byju's Alpha to TLPL through intermediary entities.

It claims that GLAS and the RP had full visibility into this structure, routing, and bank transfers, which directly contradicts GLAS's sworn statements that it "does not know" where the money went.

The statement claims that the evidence demonstrates that TLPL properly guaranteed the Byju's Alpha loan, and the monies were used for the benefit of the Think & Learn Group & were not 'siphoned off' to the founders.

Raveendran has said that for two years, GLAS Trust has attacked his integrity and the other founders by repeating a story they knew was false.

He said that the funds were used for the benefit of TLPL and for its expansion.

"It is simply outrageous that I have been attacked in this manner and, more importantly, that BYJU's customers and employees have been impacted by this attack based on the pure greed of these Lenders and GLAS Trust.

"These parties will now be brought before the courts and be required to answer some very tough questions," Raveendran said.

A litigation advisor for Byju Raveendran alleged that since early June of this year, the Delaware Court has been advised that GLAS Trust was misleading the Court in its submissions by claiming that it did not know how the Alpha Loan proceeds were used.

"These same allegations have been made by the RP of Think & Learn in Court submissions in India.

"The RP refused to provide information to Byju Raveendran that was requested by Byju Raveendran as ordered by the Delaware Court.

"GLAS Trust & Alpha did not inform the Delaware Court that the alleged 'missing' funds were not missing at all but instead were used by Alpha and Think & Learn through an investment in shares of Think & Learn," the advisor said.
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

JIUQUAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success.

The Shenzhou-23 spaceship, which will take over the rolling backup task, has arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the CMSA added.

China launched the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship on April 24, 2025, sending three astronauts to its orbiting space station for a six-month mission.

However, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, originally scheduled to return the three astronauts to Earth on Nov. 5, failed to meet the requirements for their safe return, according to the CMSA.

Tiny cracks have been found in the Shenzhou-20 return capsule's viewport window, which are most probably caused by external impact from space debris, the CMSA said. 

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship is pictured at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Jan. 19, 2026. The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 9:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

An on-site inspection confirmed that the exterior of the Shenzhou-20 return capsule was generally intact and the items inside were in good condition, the CMSA said, noting that the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return mission was a complete success. (Xinhua/Li Zhipeng)
Google on Tuesday announced funding support of $8 million to India's AI Centers of Excellence for health, agriculture, education, and sustainable cities, and committed $400,000 to support development of India's health foundation model.

Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

Google - - the architect of AI models, including Gemini and Gemma that are integrated for search enhancements, cloud services, and enterprise tools - - is also supporting Gnani.AI, CoRover.AI, and BharatGen with $50,000 grants each for building models serving Indic language solutions.

Google said it is providing Wadhwani AI with $4.5 million in funding to support multilingual AI-powered applications for health and agriculture, according to a release.

The announcements mark a slew of new collaborations and funding commitments by Google to bolster India's AI ecosystem, the company said.

"Google announced funding of $400,000 to support new collaborations that will leverage 'MedGemma' to build India's Health Foundation Models," the company said in a release.

Such models aim to raise the efficiency of healthcare providers and improve patient outcomes across India.

Google said Ajna Lens will work with experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to build models that will support India-specific use cases in Dermatology and OPD Triaging.

The resulting models, it said, will contribute to India's Digital Public Infrastructure and their outcomes will be made accessible to the ecosystem.

Additionally, researchers, AI experts, and clinicians from IISc will explore using AI models for broader clinical applications.

To push its inclusive AI agenda, Google announced a $2 million founding contribution to establish the new Indic Language Technologies Research Hub at IIT Bombay.

The initiative aims to ensure global advancements serve India's linguistic diversity, Google said.
The government on Wednesday approved two schemes worth Rs 45,000 crore to help exporters tide over the impact of high tariffs imposed by the US on Indian shipments.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The Rs 25,060-crore Export Promotion Mission seeks to strengthen India's export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors.

The second scheme -- Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) -- will ensure up to Rs 20,000 crore collateral-free credit support to exporters.

The decisions were taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The decisions, announced by I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, comes in the back drop of President Donald Trump administration imposing a hefty 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods effective from August 27.

India and the US are also negotiating a bilateral trade agreement.

The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) will be implemented over six years through two sub-schemes - Niryat Protsahan (Rs 10,401 crore) and Niryat Disha (Rs 14,659 crore).

It is a very comprehensive mission and it will support the complete export ecosystem, Vaishnav told reporters.

Under the mission, priority support will be extended to sectors impacted by recent global tariff escalations, such as textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products.

These sectors are facing challenges in the US market.

Due to the high import duties, India's merchandise exports to the US declined by 11.93 per cent to $5.46 billion in September.

Under Niryat Protsahan, focus will be given to improve access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through a range of instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets.

The government, however, did not disclose the rate of subvention.

Similarly under the Niryat Disha, the funds will be used for non-financial enablers such as assistance for international branding, packaging, and participation in trade fairs, export warehousing and logistics, inland transport reimbursements, and trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives.

The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) for providing 100 per cent credit guarantee will be implemented by the finance ministry through National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) to provide additional credit support by lending institutions to the exporters including MSMEs.

A management Committee formed under the chairmanship of secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), will oversee the progress and implementation of the scheme.

In a release, the government said the CGSE Scheme is expected to enhance the global competitiveness of Indian exporters and support diversification into new and emerging markets.

Enabling collateral-free credit access under CGSE will strengthen liquidity, ensure smooth business operations, reinforce India's progress towards achieving the USD 1 trillion export target, the release said.

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) welcomed the approval of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) saying it marks a major structural reform by consolidating multiple export promotion schemes into a comprehensive, outcome-based, and digitally driven framework.

"The Export Promotion Mission reflects a pragmatic and forward-looking vision for India's trade sector.

"By bringing together financial and non-financial interventions under a unified framework, the Mission provides much-needed continuity, flexibility, and responsiveness to global trade dynamics," said S C Ralhan, President, FIEO.

India's exports grew 6.74 per cent to $36.38 billion in September, while imports jumped 16.6 per cent, widening the trade deficit to $31.15 billion, the highest in over a year.

Cumulatively, during April-September this year, exports increased by 3.02 per cent to $220.12 billion, while imports rose 4.53 per cent to $375.11 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $154.99 billion.
'What the government is doing would be a drop in the ocean. It has to be matched by investments by industry.'

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

India risks losing its long-held edge in global technology services unless large technology firms sharply increase investment in artificial intelligence, a senior government official warned on Wednesday.

Additional Secretary at the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) Abhishek Singh said government funding for deeptech and AI initiatives is insufficient on its own and must be matched by industry capital to safeguard the sector's competitiveness as machine-driven coding tools advance.

The stakes, he warned, are high. India's IT services industry -- built over the past three decades on the strength of its software engineering talent -- is facing direct pressure from rapid advances in machine intelligence.

"Our prime advantage has been the cognitive power... of Indians to solve world problems," Singh said during a discussion at the Bengaluru Tech Summit.

This advantage, he added, is now being challenged by "AI bots and AI code generators and the AI tools provided by OpenAI and Anthropic and Google," which are increasingly competing with human developers.

Without accelerating skill development, he cautioned, "We run into a huge risk and if that happens, we would have a lot to lose."

To mitigate that risk, Singh said the government is expanding funding for AI applications, foundational model development, and compute infrastructure.

But he stressed that State-led capital is insufficient: "What the government is doing would be a drop in the ocean.

"It has to be matched by investments by industry, and funding support from the venture capital investors."

Singh noted that government support is designed to catalyse innovation, but the long-term trajectory will depend heavily on private-sector commitment.

"What I don't see happening in India particularly is investments that can be done by our big tech companies. That is what we need to target," he said, pointing to established Indian technology firms with comfortable margins and sizable cash reserves.

These firms, he said, need to invest more into building AI applications and solutions.

India crossed $20 billion in combined new and cumulative commitments to artificial intelligence this year, according to estimates from the Meity.

The milestone, however, still leaves the country trailing far behind the US and China in the global AI investment race.

The US is by far the biggest investor in AI, both in the private and government sectors.

Private investment totalled $471 billion from 2013 through 2024, including $109 billion in 2024 alone, according to the Stanford AI Index report.

In the US, a surge of government spending and a rush of commercial opportunities have fuelled an explosion of AI startups.

China remains a distant runner-up in private-sector AI spending.

From 2013 to 2024, Chinese companies invested $119 billion in the technology, including $9 billion last year.

The UK invested roughly $26 billion in AI between 2013 and 2023 --about 8.3 per cent of its GDP -- making it the world's third-largest backer of the technology, according to industry data.

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to deploy $100 billion to position itself as the Middle East's AI hub.

India's momentum has accelerated on the back of several big-ticket commitments.

Google, this year, unveiled plans to build a $15-billion AI data hub in Visakhapatnam over five years -- its largest investment outside the US.

TCS has outlined a $5 billion to $7 billion plan for AI data centres.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd may spend about $12-15 billion over the next few years on AI infrastructure that could include a giant 1GW data centre, Morgan Stanley said in a report.

Private equity funding has also surged in India, with AI startups attracting over $5.3 billion through October, according to the industry sources.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has set aside $1.2 billion to support the private sector to build domestic graphics processing unit infrastructure and support firms developing large language models, with several projects already underway.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
The government on Wednesday approved a Rs 7,280 crore scheme to promote manufacturing of rare earth permanent magnets, a move which would help reduce India's dependence on China.

IMAGE: A sample of bastnaesite ore, a mineral used in the rare earth industry. Photograph: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Rare earth magnets are vital for a number of sectors like electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, aerospace, and defence applications.

The 'Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs)' was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The scheme will promote manufacturing of rare earth permanent magnets.

"The aim is to create capacity of 6,000 MTPA (metric tonne per annum)," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.

The scheme will support the creation of integrated manufacturing facilities, involving conversion of rare earth oxides to metals, metals to alloys, and alloys to finished magnets.

It envisions allocating the total capacity to five beneficiaries through a global competitive bidding process.

Each beneficiary will be allotted up to 1,200 MTPA capacity.

The minister said that the detailed guidelines will be released soon.

The total duration of the scheme will be seven years from the date of award, including a 2-year gestation period for setting up an integrated magnets manufacturing facility, and 5 years for incentive disbursement on the sale of the product.

The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs 7,280 crore, comprising a sales-linked incentives of Rs 6,450 crore on REPM sales for five years and capital subsidy of Rs 750 crore for setting up 6,000 MTPA of REPM manufacturing facilities.

Each beneficiary will be allotted up to 1,200 MTPA of capacity.

Driven by the rapidly growing demand from electric vehicles, renewable energy, industrial applications, and consumer electronics, India's consumption of REPMs is expected to double by 2030 from 2025.

At present, India's demand for these goods is met primarily through imports from countries including China.

"With this initiative, India will establish its first ever integrated REPM manufacturing facilities, generating employment, strengthening self-reliance," an official statement said.

This initiative is a step toward strengthening the domestic REPM manufacturing ecosystem and enhancing competitiveness in the global markets.

By fostering indigenous capabilities in REPM production, the scheme will secure the REPM supply chain for domestic industries, it added.

The announcement is important as restrictions imposed by China, who is the major supplier of these magnets, has created shortage and impacted manufacturing in sectors such as automobiles and electronics.

China controls over 90 per cent of the global processing capacity for magnets, used across multiple sectors including automobiles, home appliances and clean energy.

The Chinese government has put restrictions, with effect from April 4, mandating special export licences for seven rare earth elements and related magnets.

Vaishnaw said India's requirements for permanent magnets are constantly increasing. India can look at collaborating with countries including Australia and Japan for this.

At present, India requires about 4,000-5,000 MTPA rare earth magnets per year.

"Both public and private sector companies can participate in this," he said adding companies will be selected through a transparent mechanism.

When asked why India is entering into this sector when certain countries are withdrawing from it, the minister said it is a strategic sector and "we have to be present" as it is an important negotiating factor now a days.

India has an estimated 6.9 million tonne of rare earth element reserves.
Billionbrains Garage Ventures, the parent company of stock broking firm Groww, on Thursday fixed a price band of Rs 95-100 per share for its upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of over Rs 61,700 crore (about $7 billion).

The company's Rs 6,632 crore IPO would open for public subscription on November 4 and conclude on November 7, according to a public announcement.

The bidding for retail investors will open for a day on November 3.

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 1,060 crore along with an Offer For Sale (OFS) component of 574,190,754 equity shares by promoters and investor shareholders.

As a part of the OFS, the company's promoters -- Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Neeraj Singh, and Ishan Bansal -- each offering up to 1 million shares, besides, investors such as Peak XV Partners Investments VI-1, YC Holdings II, Ribbit Capital V, GW-E Ribbit Opportunity V, Internet Fund VI Pte. Ltd., and Kauffman Fellows Fund, L.P are offloading shares.

Goww's founders own 27.97 per cent of the company and have filed as promoters of the company with a 20 per cent lock-in for 1.5 years from the time of listing.

In the IPO, they are offering to sell only 0.07 per cent of the total shares of the company.

The company, which is backed by marquee investors like Peak XV, Tiger Capital, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, plans to use proceeds of the IPO for investment in technology development and business expansion.

Of the fresh issuance, Rs 225 crore will be used for brand building and performance marketing activities, and Rs 205 crore will be invested in Groww Creditserv Technology Private Limited (GCS), the NBFC arm, to augment its capital base.

Additionally, Rs 167.5 crore will be infused into Groww Invest Tech Private Limited (GIT) for funding its Margin Trading Facility (MTF) business, while Rs 152.5 crore has been earmarked towards strengthening cloud infrastructure.

The balance will be utilised for funding inorganic growth through acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.

Headquartered in Bengaluru, Groww filed draft papers in May with markets regulator Sebi for an IPO through a confidential pre-filing route and had received Sebi's approval in August.

Groww opted for the confidential pre-filing route, which allows it to withhold public disclosure of IPO details under the DRHP until later stages.

This route is gaining traction among Indian firms aiming for flexibility in their IPO plans.

Founded in 2016, Groww emerged as India's largest stockbroker with over 12.6 million active clients and an over 26 per cent market share as of June 2025.

In FY25, the stock broking firm reported a profit of Rs 1,824 crore, while Q1 FY26 profit stood at Rs 378 crore.

It maintains an industry-high contribution margin of 85 per cent and a net profit margin of 44 per cent reflecting a lean direct-to-consumer model.

Over 80 per cent of its new customers are acquired organically, and its three-year retention rate is 77 per cent.

On the mutual funds side, Groww accounted for Rs 34,000 crore of SIP inflows in FY25, or 11.8 per cent of industry totals, according to AMFI data.

The company has recently expanded into wealth management, commodities, an MTF, and loans against shares, moves it sees as part of its longer-term growth strategy.

The company said that 75 per cent of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 15 per cent for non-institutional investors, and the remaining 10 per cent for retail investors.

Groww will make its stock market debut on November 12.
The government bond yield curve is likely to flatten in the financial year 2027 (FY27) as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to ease supply pressure in the ultra-long segment.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

In FY26 so far, reduced investments by insurance companies and pension funds pushed up yields on ultra-long tenor securities, steepening the curve.

A recalibration of issuance, however, could help normalise yields at the long end in the coming year, experts said.

The upward pressure on ultra-long bond yields reflects a combination of higher duration supply and weak investor demand, led primarily by insurance companies and pension funds.

"For insurers, slower inflows and post-tax changes that reduced demand for guaranteed products have weighed on investments.

"In the case of pension funds, although AUM growth has been robust, a larger share is being channelled into equities following the enhancement of equity investment caps, said Gaura Sen Gupta, chief economist at IDFC First Bank.

In FY27, the yield curve may get some relief as long-term demand is expected to improve, experts said.

We have observed that insurance companies have been reducing their investments in government securities, contributing to higher long-end yields.

"A similar trend is visible among provident funds. PFs have been permitted to allocate more to equities, and data clearly reflects this shift.

"Additionally, more PFs are surrendering to EPFO, reducing the overall size of PF investments, said a senior executive at a primary dealership.

The yield curve may flatten due to normalisation in bond issuance after one-off regulatory changes for the National Pension System (NPS) and banks under relaxed liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) norms, higher investments by gratuity funds and possibly provident funds following labour law changes, and the likely inclusion of Indian bonds in the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index, which could attract over $20 billion of passive inflows over a year.

FY27 could see some respite for the slope of the G-Sec curve, led by normalisation of long-end demand following one-off regulatory adjustments by NPS and banks amid easier LCR norms, higher allocation from gratuity pools and possibly PFs, and potential inclusion in the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index, Emkay Global said in a note.

The RBI has stepped up liquidity support, announcing an additional Rs 2 trillion of open market operation (OMO) purchases and a $10 billion dollar/rupee buy-sell swap to be conducted between end-December and January 2026.

The scale of durable liquidity infusion was significantly higher than expectations, reflecting the RBIs response to persistent liquidity drain from foreign exchange intervention and stress in bond and currency markets.

Following the announcement, government bond yields posted their strongest rally since April, falling by 9 basis points.

This was the sharpest rally since April 2, when yields declined by 10 bps.

System liquidity slipped into deficit after advance tax outflows on December 15.

Earlier liquidity measures, including Rs 1 trillion of OMOs and a $5 billion buy-sell swap announced in mid-December, were largely offset by tax-related drains.

Core liquidity (banking system liquidity plus government cash balances) stood at Rs 3.2 trillion on December 15 and is estimated to have risen to about Rs 3.7 trillion after the Rs 50,000 crore OMO purchase with a December 19 value date.

Government cash balances, which were Rs 1.9 trillion on December 15, are estimated to have increased to about Rs 3.9 trillion following advance tax and GST collections.

Elevated government cash balances suggest system liquidity could turn surplus towards the end of December as government spending accelerates.

So far in FY26 (up to December 19), the RBI has injected Rs 3.7 trillion through net OMO purchases and Rs 2.6 trillion via CRR cuts, in addition to conducting a $5 billion buy-sell swap in December.

The swap, however, is primarily aimed at extending the maturity of the RBIs forward book rather than providing durable liquidity.

Despite these measures, RBIs net dollar sales in the spot and forward markets drained around Rs 3.3 trillion of liquidity in FY26 so far (up to December 15).

Currency leakage, driven by recovery in rural demand, has added another drag of about Rs 1.9 trillion.

On balance, RBI actions lifted core liquidity to around Rs 3.7 trillion by December 2025, from Rs 2.1 trillion at end-March 2025.
South Koreas HD Hyundai, one of the worlds largest ship manufacturers, is planning to build a shipyard in Thoothukudi.

IMAGE: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. Photograph: Reuters

The project may see an investment of around $2 billion, said a government source.

Addressing the Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2025 in Madurai on Sunday, Hannae Choi, vice-president and head of corporate planning division at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) said the plan was initially referred to as SMITH Project  Shipbuilding Make in India Together with Hyundai.

But today, standing here in Tamil Nadu, I believe it is time to say: Shipbuilding Make in Tamil Nadu with Hyundai, he said.

This comes after Cochin Shipyard and Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilder, in two different projects, agreed to invest a total of Rs 30,000 crore in Thoothukudi.

These projects may create around 55,000 jobs.

The Government of Tamil Nadu has welcomed the decision by HD Hyundai to move forward with a new shipyard in our state.

This step reflects the confidence that global industry leaders place in Tamil Nadus vision, stability and economic strength, said a source.

The shipyard will be built in Thoothukudi, which offers climatic and geographic conditions suitable for a world class shipyard.

"With strong industry presence and major investments planned in port infrastructure, there is a clear pathway for expansion, the source said.

The agreement was signed in the presence of chief minister MK Stalin, Industries minister TRB Rajaa and senior leadership from HD KSOE.

Tamil Nadu was chosen by HD Hyundai because it offered a clear policy roadmap, fast coordination and a strong coastal ecosystem for a project of this scale.

"The state identified viable sites early and backed them with talent, infrastructure and incentives.

"Tamil Nadu provided a dependable and scalable environment for long-term shipyard operations, he said.

The shipbuilding employment multiplier is high, often cited around sixfold in India, meaning one direct job supports nearly six total jobs (direct, indirect, and induced).

Shipbuilding is labour-intensive and supports numerous ancillary sectors (60-65 per cent of value addition), making it a key driver for industrial growth and technological innovation in regions.

Tamil Nadu has been advancing its maritime ambitions, treating shipyard development as a priority to boost coastal economies, attract investment and build talent.

Amid growing momentum in the shipbuilding sector in India, Tamil Nadu has moved early and decisively.

"The state government has been working to identify sites that can support long-term operations, he added.

Incentives, modern infrastructure and focused policy have created an environment where global companies can grow with confidence.

"We will soon be releasing the proposed Tamil Nadu maritime manufacturing policy.

"This is why HD Hyundai has chosen Tamil Nadu as its preferred partner, the official said.

The Indian shipbuilding industry is likely to grow at an exponential rate from around $90 million now to $8.12 billion by 2033, said a report by Finextra Research.

Interestingly, an industrial revival is expected in southern Tamil Nadu districts  including Thoothukudi, Dindigul, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Theni, Tirunelveli, and Virudhunagar  as the region has been seeing a huge influx of investments from mostly foreign companies since May 2021.

In the last four years, around Rs 2.2-trillion investments came to these districts, creating over one million jobs.
India's labour landscape is undergoing one of the biggest transformation in decades.

The government has consolidated 29 pre-Independence and early post-Independence labour laws -- many of them drafted between the 1930s and 1950s -- into four comprehensive labour codes: the Code on Wages 2019; the Industrial Relations Code 2020; the Code on Social Security 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020.

Kindly note that this image has only been posted for representational purposes. Photograph: Praveen Paramasivam/Reuters

Together, these new codes aim to simplify compliance, expand worker protection, and modernise employeremployee relationships in a rapidly changing economy. The central government announced the implementation of these codes on November 21



From appointment letters becoming mandatory to gig workers receiving social security to enhanced rights for women and contract labour, the changes reflect Indias attempt to balance ease of doing business with stronger worker welfare.

So what has changed? Rediff brings you the details.

Minimum Wages

Statutory right to minimum wages has been made applicable to all workers in both organised and unorganised sectors.

A statutory floor wage will be set by the central governments and states cannot fix a lower minimum wage.

Appointment Letters

Under the new code, employers are now required to issue appointment letters to all workers.

This was not compulsory earlier.

Gig Workers

Gig workers, platform workers, and many informal-sector workers who previously lacked social security protection will now be entitled to Provident Fund, Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), maternity benefits and pension, with aggregators contributing 1-2% of their annual turnover towards this.

Zomato, Uber, Swiggy, Amazon, Zepto and all app-based employers will now have to shell out more money from their pocket for gig workers.

It has also been proposed to have a dedicated fund to finance schemes for these workers to cover life, disability, health and old-age benefits.

Fixed Term Employees

Employees on time-bound contract to get full parity in wages and benefits.

Women

Under the new labour codes, women will finally get equal pay for equal work, equal opportunities to access better-paying jobs and can function on night-shift along with safety provisions.

With this, employers will no longer be able to justify lower wages for women.

Timely Wage Payment

Employers, including companies, firms or associations, shall pay wages to all workers employed by them on time and prevent unauthorised deductions, says the new labour code.

Failure to do so makes the proprietor/entity liable.

Earlier, this was covered under the Payment of Wages Act (1936). A key difference was that the Act was applicable only to employees drawing wages up to a certain limit (24,000 a month), leaving a large segment of the workforce uncovered.

Working Hours

The ministry has said that daily working hours could range between eight hours and 12 hours, with a weekly limit of 48 hours over six days.

As per the International Labour Organization (ILO), working hours in a week are not supposed to exceed 48 hours in a week and eight hours in a day.

This was the same in earlier law too but what changes is that workers now have an option.

This means an employee can legally work:

1. Up to 12 hours a day in a four-day week

2. Around 9.5 hours in a five-day week

3. Eight hours a day in a six-day week

Overtime still requires consent from the worker, and it must be paid at twice the normal wage rate.

Work From Home

Has been permitted with mutual consent in service sectors.

Digitisation of Compliance

This provision mandates the electronic maintenance of records, registers, and returns, cutting costs and improving efficiency.

Earlier, digitised attendance was not compulsory. Traditionally, employers were required to maintain physical attendance registers or other manual records for inspection by labour authorities.

Medical Coverage

Another major shift is health and medical coverage. Every employee above the age of 40 will now receive a free annual health checkup.

Earlier this was not included in the labour law.

Employees State Insurance coverage now applies all-India.

Accidents during travel between home and work are now deemed workplace-related, and qualify for compensation.

Working Journalists

'Working journalists' and 'cine workers' now include employees in electronic media and those in all forms of audio-visual production.

Earlier they were not included in the labour laws.

Gratuity

Under the new law fixed-term employees are entitled to get gratuity within one year of leaving employment.

Full-time employees will continue to get gratuity after completing five years in a workplace.

Factory Inspector-cum-Facilitator System

Inspectors will now act as facilitators with an objective to help employers comply with laws, rules and regulations.

Earlier the inspectors were more of policemen in the system, causing problem s to employers.

Contract Labour Welfare and Wages

Principal employers to provide welfare facilities like health and safety measures to contract workers.

If the contractor fails to pay wages, the principal employer himself has to pay the unpaid wages to the contract labour.

Earlier, the employer was not bound to provide welfare measures to contract labour nor was he bound to pay if the contractor failed to pay the labourer.

Retrenchment and Strikes/Lockouts

Government approval limit for retrenchment raised from 100 workers to 300, with states empowered to enhance the limit further as they deem fit.

14-day notice for strikes/lockout made mandatory. Meaning of 'strike' now includes mass casual leave to prevent flash strikes.

Migrant Workers

Inter-state migrant workers now include workers employed directly, through contractors, or migrate on their own. Benefits for them now include an annual travel allowance for going to their native place. PDS benefits have been made portable for them, and social security benefits provided.

Unorganised Workers

A fund has been established, financed through penalties and compounding fees, for their welfare.

Dependents

Definition expanded to cover maternal grandparents. In case of female employees, it also includes dependent parents-in-law.
IBBI removes sale of company as going concern in liquidation; now only asset sales allowed, shifting focus strictly to terminal liquidation process.

Illustrations: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) -- in its latest amendments to IBC regulations -- has done away with the provision of allowing sale of a company as a going concern under the liquidation process.

The changes in the liquidation process second amendment, omitting the said provision, were made by the IBBI in a notification dated October 14.

The insolvency regulator, in an earlier discussion paper, had raised several concerns regarding the sale of a company as a going concern under the liquidation process.

It included poor outcomes, prolonged legal disputes, increased costs, and delays in completion of the process.

Experts said that with the removal of the possibility of sale of the company or business as a going concern, the only option left for bidders to acquire the company is through the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). This is because under liquidation, only assets can be sold in one or the other manner.

This could be good for bidders who only want to acquire select assets and it may also result in quicker conclusion of liquidation processes. But bidders who are interested in acquiring the entire company and take the benefit of continuity of licences and registrations, will now not find liquidation sale beneficial, said Anshul Jain, partner, national leader -- regulatory, PwC India.

Jain said, however, that the regulations need what would happen to employees and their social security benefits, litigation among other things and how they will continue in case of sale to bidders through liquidation.

Till June 2025, some 103 corporate debtors (CDs) were closed by sale as a going concern under the liquidation process.

These 103 CDs had claims amounting to around 1.61 trillion against the liquidation value of nearly 5.68 trillion, IBBI data shows.

The board has effectively delineated a clear boundary between the resolution process and liquidation. The underlying intent appears to be to treat liquidation strictly as a terminal process focused on realisation and distribution of assets, rather than an extended avenue for revival, said Sonam Chandwani, managing partner, KS Legal and Associates.

The Standing Committee on Finance, in its 32nd report, recommended that regulation 32(e) of Liquidation Regulation which provides for sale as a going concern, be deleted.

The committee said, ...entry into liquidation itself implies the inability of the CD to be continued as a going concern. Accordingly, the Code prescribes dissolution of the CD as the final outcome of the liquidation process.

By specifying that the new rules apply only to liquidations where the sale as going-concern has not yet commenced, the IBBI ensures that ongoing processes are not disrupted retroactively -- a principle of legal certainty for creditors, existing management and liquidation professionals, said Sukrit Kapoor, partner, King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys.

In its discussion paper dated February 4, 2025, IBBI said that creditors recovered only 2.4 per cent through going concern sales -- (75 per cent of liquidation value), but 3.7 per cent via regular dissolution -- 101 per cent of liquidation value.

This indicates that going concern sales provide no additional value preservation advantage compared to regular dissolution, the insolvency regulator added.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
The International Monetary Fund, in its report on the Indian economy, said the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment Bill addresses many deficiencies but it has not provided for the participation of operational creditors or rules for executory contracts.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The IMF staff report said that the business dynamism in India remains relatively low, marked by low rates of entry and exit, and a high share of inactive or inefficient firms reflecting structural rigidities and high compliance levels.

The persistence of zombie firms may reflect issues with forbearance lending, inefficient insolvency resolution, and exit mechanisms, IMF said.

IMF said that among continuously operating firms, a significant share  15 per cent  qualifies as zombie firms, which do not generate enough earnings to cover their interest expenses but continue to operate, mostly with very low levels of productivity.

On the IBC Bill, the report noted that operational creditors still lack the right to vote on a resolution plan or other governance rights.

It said, No rules are provided for executory contracts. Such rules would make it more likely that business operations could be restructured rather than sold.

Indian authorities told the IMF that they anticipated the recent IBC Amendment Bill to expedite the bankruptcy resolution process.

IMFs report highlighted that the recovery rates for financial creditors in successful corporate resolutions declined from 43 per cent in March 2019 to 33 per cent in June 2025.

The pre-admission delays  the time between filing of the insolvency application and the opening of the case  have worsened, with operational creditors facing an average wait of 650 days in 2022 compared to 450 days in 2019, the IMF noted.

The report estimated entry and exit rates of firms in India at less than 1 per cent, far below the 8 to 13 per cent annual rates typically observed in economies like the US, European countries, Republic of Korea and Chile.

The report had said that the legislative reforms being undertaken by the government should be complemented by efforts to strengthen judicial capacity through dedicated tribunal benches and adequate funding, along with operationalising the personal insolvency regime.

Such persistence of inefficient firms likely reflects structural rigidities in Indias business environment, including weak insolvency resolution and limited access to exit mechanisms, IMF said.

It added that low entry rates may reflect the high regulatory compliance burdens that discourage entry into the formal sector.

The Fund said that the government should undertake reforms to improve credit allocation in the financial sector to help reallocate resources to more productive firms
SINGAPORE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Monday encouraged the public to use circulated currency notes, known as "Fit notes," which are pre-used notes similar in quality to those from ATMs and may have fold lines or minor stains, as a more sustainable option for the Chinese New Year.

The MAS said a 2025 survey found that two in three people were willing to receive Fit notes in their red envelopes, or "hong baos," which are traditional gifts of money given during auspicious occasions such as Chinese New Year, and that respondents felt the condition of the notes did not matter and that Fit notes were as meaningful as new notes.

This year, more pop-up and branch ATMs across Singapore will dispense Fit notes, the MAS added. Customers of major banks will also be able to pre-book notes online starting Jan. 27.

"Besides Fit notes, members of the public can also send e-hong baos" to convey greetings and blessings in a convenient and sustainable way, the MAS said.

As digital gifting continues to grow, banks have enhanced their e-hong bao services, adding features such as personalized greetings for the festival, it added. 
The Dutch investor posted steady growth in its India operations for the six months ended September 30, 2025, led by a stronger PayU performance and continued momentum across its broader portfolio

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Highlighting India as the companys most important growth market, Fabricio Bloisi, group chief executive officer (CEO) of the Dutch technology investor Prosus signaled a sharp acceleration in artificial-intelligence investments across its portfolio in the country.

He termed the country as central to Prosus long-term strategy in areas such as payments, mobility, travel and AI-enabled consumer services.

India is our top priority, Bloisi told Business Standard during the companys H1FY26 Results media call.

The Dutch investor posted steady growth in its India operations for the six months ended September 30, 2025, led by a stronger PayU performance and continued momentum across its broader portfolio.

Prosus said PayU India registered 20 per cent revenue growth to $397million.

The business continues to grow its client base after a slight hiatus associated with obtaining the payment aggregator licence from the regulator.

As it builds its base, PayU India is focused on profitable growth.

This focus is evident in the substantial improvement in its aEbitda margin, which rose by 6 percentage points from -6 per cent in H1FY25 to breakeven in H1FY26, with a profitable Q2FY26.

Prosus, which holds a 25 per cent stake in Swiggy, reported robust demand in the six months ended June 2025.

Swiggys customer base expanded 35 per cent year-on-year to 21.6 million, while gross order value rose 43 per cent, fueled by growth in food delivery and new formats such as Bolt.

Food delivery gross order value climbed 18 per cent, alongside improving profitability, Prosus said.

Swiggys quick commerce unit, Instamart, more than doubled its gross order value, up 105 per cent, with average order value rising 26 per cent in the quarter.

Still, continued investment in quick commerce widened Swiggys adjusted Ebitda loss to $178 million from $85 million a year earlier.

Prosus said its Indian ecosystem is evolving through better execution and acquisitions of high-potential businesses.

PayU is increasingly connected across this ecosystem, adding new partnerships with Swiggy, Meesho and PharmEasy, and opportunities for synergies more widely.

Bloisi said the turnaround in PayUProsus largest India assethighlights the strength of the companys integrated model.

In India, Prosus has also invested $350 million in ride-hailing firm Rapido and $146 million in a stake in online travel agent Ixigo.

Bloisi said Rapido is now positioned as the number one mobility company in India, and Ixigo is also growing very fast in the online travel agents area.

He said Prosus expects to help both businesses scale rapidly while drawing them deeper into the companys broader ecosystem.

AI investments

Bloisi revealed that his next priority is major AI investments in India.

The Netherlands-based firm, which has invested nearly $9 billion over the years in India across companies like food-delivery giant Swiggy and ecommerce platform Meesho, has made multiple AI investments in the last few months  including education platform Arivihan and developer tool CodeKarma  as it positions AI as a central pillar of its Indian strategy. Bloisi signalled that the company intends to keep up a similar pace.

My priority now is to invest more in AI in India, he said.

Bloisi also recounted a recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Indian leaders visit to South Africa, saying the talks centered on deepening cooperation in technology and AI, and on expanding Prosus investment ties with India.

Bloisi said he told Prime Minister Modi that there is a need to be exceptional in AI in India, to keep using technology for the good of the population.

It was a great conversation about how we believe that investing in AI in India is critical to India, he said.

We value his leadership in terms of how India uses technology over the last 10 years, with UPI, and the identification technology to benefit the whole India population.

Ashutosh Sharma, head of India ecosystem, Prosus said India continues to be one of the three very important focus areas for the company.

What we are trying to build is where we can actually help companies beyond just providing capital, said Sharma.

Prosus said it is building the future with AI, and already has more than 20,000 AI agents helping it scale quicker and make smarter decisions.

Our focus on results and innovation, backed by our Prosus Way culture, means were on track to meet FY26 targets.

"But this is just the start, as we work to unlock an AI-first world for our 2 billion customers.

Edtech bets

Asked about Indias edtech sector, where Prosus was a major backer of troubled firm Byjus, Bloisi acknowledged the setbacks, but said the company remains focused on backing high-potential entrepreneurs.

If you can deliver technology to improve education, this is an amazing goal and I personally love it, Bloisi said.

Byjus was a bet that we did. I don't have a lot of details on it because it was much before my time.

"Obviously, things went wrong. We lost money and more people lost money.

"Some people ask me, is this the end of (edtech) kind of investments?

"Obviously not, we have to take risks to create amazing results.

"Sometimes we make mistakes. And we are going to learn and do better next time.
The new rules allow for a staggered implementation road map, giving companies, data fiduciaries, data principals, and other stakeholders up to 18 months to comply with the administrative guidelines under the DPDP Act.

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

The government on Friday notified the administrative rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, marking India's entry into a select group of countries with a federal digital personal data privacy regime.

Industry and legal experts welcomed the detailed rules, as India's digital ecosystem finally has a clear framework for handling data.

The new rules allow for a staggered implementation road map, giving companies, data fiduciaries, data principals, and other stakeholders up to 18 months to comply with the administrative guidelines under the DPDP Act.

By comparison, consent managers will have up to 12 months to register to act on behalf of users.

The notification of the DPDP Rules also marks the operationalisation of India's privacy law, nearly 14 years after it was first envisioned.

Under the new rules, the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) has mandated that all data fiduciaries must seek specific and informed consent of data principals in 'clear and plain language'.

The consent sought will include a detailed and itemised description of the personal data to be processed, along with the specific purpose for which the data fiduciary is collecting it.

Though the government has allowed cross-border transfer of personal data processed by data fiduciaries operating in India, it has specified that such platforms and companies must comply with requirements set by the central government from time to time, particularly if such data is being made available to any foreign state or an entity under that state's control.

This was a contentious issue for several big tech firms that were not in favour of data localisation.

"This is reflective of the geopolitical environment and concerns around India's tech sovereignty. Global companies are likely to push back against any localisation mandates that create operational difficulties," said Aparajita Bharti, founding partner at public policy advocacy body The Quantum Hub.

All companies, social media platforms, and Internet intermediaries that handle users' digital personal data will fall under the category of data fiduciaries.

Users whose personal data is processed by these entities will be referred to as data principals.

Such data fiduciaries must also allow users to easily withdraw their consent at any time, exercise other rights mentioned in the Act, and file complaints with the Data Protection Board (DPB).

"Organisations may need to reassess their consent frameworks to ensure that consent is specific, informed, and clearly distinguishable from standard terms of use that users typically auto-accept," said Harsh Walia, partner at law firm Khaitan & Co.

The new rules give Internet and social media intermediaries, as well as all other companies dealing with users' digital data, up to 18 months to put in place systems that comply with the Act and its administrative rules.

Companies seeking to act as consent managers must register with the DPB within 12 months, according to the rules.

"This deliberate temporal staging enables organisations to undertake impact assessments, restructure data flows, recalibrate vendor governance, and align audit frameworks in a coherent and legally robust manner," said Goldie Dhama, partner at Deloitte.

Companies handling personal data must make reasonable efforts to protect it, whether through encryption, obfuscation, masking, or the use of virtual tokens mapped to the personal data.

To prevent unauthorised access, data fiduciaries must implement systems capable of detecting such access.

In the event of unauthorised access, companies must investigate its cause and document the measures taken to prevent recurrence.

Companies must retain such logs and personal data for at least one year, unless required by law to keep it for an extended period.

In the event of a breach, data fiduciaries will be required to notify all users affected, as well as the DPB, within 72 hours of becoming aware of the violation.

The data fiduciary must inform users of the nature and extent of the breach, when it occurred, its consequences, the mitigation measures being implemented, and any safety steps that users should take.

The DPB must also be notified of the circumstances leading to the breach, the individuals responsible, and the remedial measures undertaken to prevent recurrence.

Ecommerce companies and social media intermediaries with more than 20 million registered users in India, as well as online gaming companies with more than 5 million registered users, must delete users' personal data if they remain inactive for three consecutive years, according to the new rules.

Before deleting such personal data, these intermediaries must give users a 48-hour notice, informing them the data will be deleted unless they log in to the platform within this period.

Significant data fiduciaries, or platforms with more than 5 million registered users in India, will be required to undertake an annual audit and a Data Protection Impact Assessment to ensure continued compliance with the DPDP Act.

These platforms will also be required to verify annually that their technical measures, including algorithms and software, are not "likely to pose a risk" to users' rights.

A new era begins

2011: Group of experts on digital privacy law formed; report submitted in 2012

2017: IT ministry forms panel; report submitted in 2018

2019: Personal Data Protection Bill tabled, referred to joint committee

2021: Joint panel submits report, suggests 98 changes

2022: Bill withdrawn, fresh consultations proposed

2023: Digital Personal Data Protection Bill tabled, gets Parliament nod

2025: Govt introduces draft rules in Jan, releases final rules in November

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
India offset the decline in exports to traditional destinations by sharply ramping up shipments to Jordan (18,086 per cent), Hong Kong (17,006 per cent), Spain (13,436 per cent), the Philippines (2,235 per cent), and Namibia (1,068 per cent) in H1FY26.

Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pixabay

India is shifting its refined petroleum exports to newer destinations such as Jordan, Hong Kong, and Spain, as traditional buyers like The Netherlands, France and Indonesia reduce their imports.

The US stepped up pressure on India to halt purchases of discounted Russian crude oil after Donald Trump assumed office in January this year.

On August 7, US President Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for buying Russian oil, effective from August 27, doubling the total tariff to 50 per cent.

The US has also urged the European Union to apply secondary sanctions on India, implicitly discouraging its member States from purchasing Indian petroleum products.

Disaggregated data released by the commerce department showed that India's shipments of petroleum products fell 5.6 per cent in volume during H1 (April-September) of 2025-2026 (FY26).

The share of petroleum products in India's total exports also declined from 17.1 per cent in H1 of 2024-2025 to 13.8 per cent in H1FY26.

During the first six months of the current financial year, The Netherlands -- India's largest destination for petroleum products -- cut its energy imports from India by 20.4 per cent in volume terms.

The Port of Rotterdam acts as Europe's transshipment and storage hub, from where refined petroleum products are distributed across European countries.

The largest reductions in energy imports came from France (-85 per cent), Indonesia (-81.1 per cent), the UK (-50.1 per cent), Malaysia (-43.2 per cent), and South Africa (-22.3 per cent) during H1FY26.

India offset the decline in exports to traditional destinations by sharply ramping up shipments to Jordan (18,086 per cent), Hong Kong (17,006 per cent), Spain (13,436 per cent), the Philippines (2,235 per cent), and Namibia (1,068 per cent) in H1FY26.

China (145 per cent) and Argentina (110 per cent) also more than doubled their energy imports from India during the same period.

Last month, the US imposed sanctions on Russia's largest oil producers -- Rosneft and Lukoil -- in a renewed bid to end the war in Ukraine.

The move is expected to impact oil purchases by India's private refiners, including Reliance Industries and Nayara Energy, while State-run refiners, which primarily buy Russian crude through traders, are likely to remain largely unaffected for now.

"Private players have been wary of sourcing crude oil from Russia. That's why companies must have shifted trade routes. Earlier, the products were headed to Europe, but now the region is becoming more sensitive, prompting companies to divert shipments to Africa and South America," said a refinery executive.

Among India's major refineries, State-run firms IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum mainly cater to the domestic market, while private players like RIL and Nayara drive the country's petroleum product exports.

Among oil public sector undertakings, IndianOil exports only a small share of its products, mostly routed through traders.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering goods, gems and jewellery exports will receive a boost from the free trade agreement between India and the 27-nation European Union, according to exporters.

Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

The conclusion of negotiations for the agreement is likely to be announced on January 27.

The industry estimates that with tariffs having been phased out due to the FTA, exports to the EU will double over the next three years, they said.

The free trade agreement (FTA) would provide a stable and predictable framework for exporters, allowing Indian firms to plan long-term investments, integrate into European value chains, and secure market access, even as global economic uncertainties persist, they noted.

"This FTA will be a game changer in terms of reducing our dependence on any single market," Apparel Export Promotion Council Chairman A Sakthivel said, adding that with the US tariffs on Indian goods being too high, domestic exporters face higher costs and reduced competitiveness in a major market, which is pushing Indian exporters to diversify the export market.

Successive negotiations have emphasised sectors where India has a strong export footprint in the EU. Textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, petroleum products and chemicals are central to these discussions, he added.

Textiles and apparel currently attract 12-16 per cent import duty in the EU, which makes Indian goods less competitive.

The average import duty for ready-made garments in the EU is 12 per cent, which apparently comes to 9.6 per cent as India enjoys preferential access under the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (now called DCTS).

Kanpur-based Growmore International MD Yadvendra Singh Sachan said that domestic leather exporters should use this opportunity to significantly boost shipments.

"The FTA will be a game changer for Indian exporters," Sachan said.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said substantial increases in US tariffs are affecting a spectrum of Indian exports, and it underscores the need for diversification of export markets and trade strategies.

Against this backdrop, it said, concluding a comprehensive India-EU Free Trade Agreement is not only timely, but it is strategically vital.

The EU remains one of India's largest trading partners, accounting for about 17 per cent of India's goods exports and a significant share of services trade.

"Reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers with the EU will partially offset adverse impacts from tariff pressures elsewhere, especially the United States, strengthening India's global trade footprint," FIEO director general Ajay Sahai said.

He said that India is a major supplier of generics and speciality chemicals, and easier access under the trade pact will help scale exports.

Reduced duties on engineering goods and electrical machinery will enhance the competitiveness of Indian manufactured goods, he added.

Besides gems and jewellery, exports are expected to benefit from tariff concessions and streamlined regulatory convergence, while petroleum products and iron and steel export lines will gain improved market access under the FTA regime, Sahai said.

The major service segments, which will benefit from the pact, include IT, Legal, consulting, accounting, and management.

Bilateral goods trade between India and the EU was approximately $136.5 billion in 2024-25, with India exporting roughly $75.8 billion to the EU.

The two sides are constantly engaged in talks.
'India, being and remaining a sovereign nation, carries out foreign trade operations and purchases energy resources where it is beneficial for itself,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in the context of last Friday's summit between Putin and Modi in New Delhi.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters

Two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his visit to India, during which he assured that Moscow would remain a reliable energy supplier, the Kremlin on Monday said that India, as a sovereign nation, is free to buy oil from sources it deems beneficial. It expressed confidence that New Delhi will continue to prioritise its economic interests.

Putin's assurances to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, along with the Kremlin's comments on Monday, come amid expectations in both New Delhi and Moscow that a peace deal over Ukraine could be imminent. Such a development could pave the way for the White House to revoke the 25 per cent tariff it has imposed on India for its purchase of Russian oil.

"India, being and remaining a sovereign nation, carries out foreign trade operations and purchases energy resources where it is beneficial for itself," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in the context of last Friday's summit between Putin and Modi in New Delhi.

"As far as we understand, our Indian partners will continue this line to safeguard their economic interests," Peskov added when asked whether New Delhi will continue buying fuel from Moscow.

India has scaled down its share of Russian crude in its imports in recent weeks. In New Delhi, at his weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked whether India would reduce its purchases of Russian crude.

"Our energy sourcing depends on global market dynamics as well as the imperative to provide energy at affordable rates to our 1.4 billion people," Jaiswal said. "As for oil purchases by private companies, that is for them to decide based on commercial considerations, which, in turn, depend on global market dynamics," he added.

The Kremlin's economic aide Maxim Oreshkin told Russia's national broadcaster Channel 1 that Moscow "has long experience in evading sanctions, and if India is willing, we will find ways to supply crude".

During Putin's visit, India and Russia announced a road map for economic partnership to achieve $100 billion in bilateral trade over the next five years, addressing trade imbalances through reduced non-tariff barriers and other measures to facilitate Indian exports. Both countries are hopeful of resuming oil trade soon, with the Trump administration reportedly pushing for a peace deal.

In a related development, US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "isn't ready" to sign off on a US-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump was critical of Zelenskyy after US and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday to narrow differences over the proposal.

"I'm a little disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't yet read the proposal, as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn't," Trump told reporters Sunday night. "Russia, I believe, is fine with it, but I'm not sure Zelenskyy is. His people love it, but he isn't ready."

In Beijing, China on Monday reacted positively to Putin's visit to India, framing the three countries as key players in the Global South. China said sound trilateral ties are conducive to both regional and global peace and stability, alongside the national interests of the countries involved.

"China, Russia, and India are emerging economies and important members of the Global South," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a media briefing. Guo added that maintaining sound relations among the three countries line up with their national interests and contribute to regional and global peace, security, stability, and prosperity.

Ahead of his visit, Putin had said, "India and China are our closest friends -- we treasure that relationship deeply." He expressed confidence that the leaderships of India and China are committed to resolving their issues and stressed that Russia has "no right" to interfere in their bilateral affairs.
India has implemented a number of free trade agreements with developed nations and is in active dialogue for such pacts with nations including the US, Oman, and the EU, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

India has implemented trade pacts with Australia, the UAE and EFTA bloc. It has also signed an agreement with the UK.

"We have done free trade agreements (FTAs) with many developed countries in the last three years...We are in active dialogue with the US, EU, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, and Oman," the minister told reporters in New Delhi.

"It clearly shows that India is the favoured and preferred destination both for investment and for bilateral trade," he added.

Goyal also said that on Thursday, with Brazil also, he has discussed expanding preferential trade agreement from its current level so that "we can" in the future penetrate the South American market in a bigger way.

The Indian official team is in Washington at present to hold trade talks with their US counterparts.

The team will be there till October 17.

In February this year, leaders of India and the US directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

They have fixed a deadline to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall (October-November) of 2025.

So far, five rounds of negotiations have been completed.

Last month, Goyal led an official delegation to New York for trade talks.

These deliberations are important as the relations between the two countries have been reeling under severe stress after the Trump administration imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods.

It includes a 25 per cent additional import duty for buying Russian crude oil.

India has described these duties as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

The Indian industry has also raised concerns over Trump's new policy on H1B visas.

However, the recent phone conversations between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have raised hopes of a positive outcome from the ongoing negotiations for the trade deal.

After a brief gap, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch held talks with Indian officials in New Delhi on September 16.

In that meeting, both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion of the agreement.

The proposed pact aims to more than double the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $191 billion.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports).

It accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade.

India's merchandise exports to the US declined by 11.93 per cent to $5.46 billion in September due to the high tariffs imposed by Washington while imports increased by 11.78 per cent to $3.98 billion during the month, according to the commerce ministry data.
Just over a year ago, India was investors' top pick among EMs. Its slide down the rankings follows $30 billion (over 2.5 trillion) of foreign selling over the past 1213 months.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

India has become the least favoured market among global emerging-market (GEM) investors.

A note from HSBC shows that India is now the biggest underweight in GEM portfolios, with only a quarter of the funds tracked still overweight on the country.

This comes as India's neutral weight in the MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index has dropped to a two-year low of 15.25 per cent after a year of steep underperformance.

The underweight call means fund managers are allocating less than the benchmark (neutral weight of) 15.25 per cent to India in their EM portfolios.

Just over a year ago, India was investors' top pick among EMs. Its slide down the rankings follows $30 billion (over 2.5 trillion) of foreign selling over the past 1213 months.

However, light foreign investor positioning is seen as a bullish sign, with HSBC and Goldman Sachs turning 'overweight' on India.

"India's year to date underperformance of 27 percentage points against EM, largest in two decades, was triggered by a mix of peak starting valuations and cyclical growth slowdown that led us to downgrade our view on India in Oct last year. We now see a case for India to perform better next year, with growth-supportive policies, earnings revival, supportive positioning and defensible valuations," said a note by Goldman Sachs. The US-based brokerage has upgraded the domestic market to 'overweight' has set a Nifty target of 29,000.

"Foreign funds have pared their India exposure quite meaningfully. A large part of this shift came as investors piled into artificial intelligence (AI) plays in Asia through Korean and Taiwanese tech stocks and Chinese internet names," said Herald van der Linde, head of equity strategy for Asia-Pacific at HSBC.

He said the AI trade has become crowded, leaving many investors "uncomfortable".

"We see India as a useful AI hedge and a source of diversification for those uncomfortable with the AI frenzy," van der Linde added, saying that foreign inflows to India are likely to pick up in the coming months.

That trend may already have begun. In October, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers of Indian equities, bringing in 11,050 crore.

Some market watchers say the shift reflects selling in China.

"Indian and Chinese equities are often seen as opposing counterweights. If one moves higher, the other falls. The idea is that foreign investors fund a rally in China by selling Indian equities and vice versa," said the bank's chief Asia equity strategist.

This time, however, could be different.

"We think both India and Mainland China can do well together. The current rally in China is being driven mainly by local investors, with little foreign participation. Chinese households hold large cash reserves and remain underexposed to equities. We expect them to stay active buyers," he said.
About 85 per cent of the digital payment transactions take place through UPI in India, and the country can be a case study in inclusive, secure, and scalable Digital Public Platforms (DPPs), Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra has said.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

He was speaking at a High-Level Dialogue on Forging Economic Resilience through Digital Public Platforms organised by RBI on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

DPPs have become a powerful catalyst for inclusive growth and innovation.

Foundational platforms for digital identity (Aadhaar) and real-time payments (Unified Payments Interface - UPI) have successfully demonstrated how to build resilient, cost-efficient public service delivery systems at scale, the RBI Governor said.

Addressing the participants, Governor Malhotra gave a brief overview of India's DPP ecosystem and their role in digitalisation and financial inclusion, especially in government transfer payments.

He emphasised that, in the true spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', India is fully committed to international collaboration around such platforms to accelerate digital transformation.

"For us, the guiding principle has been to build such platforms in the public sector as a public good with suitable guardrails, and without a profit motive," he said, adding India is a case study in inclusive, secure, and scalable DPPs.

Public and private sector entities can then leverage on these platforms to quickly develop applications across credit, health, social protection, agriculture, and several other domains.

On payment systems, Malhotra said the UPI is a critical Digital Public Platform.

UPI has transformed the payments landscape, as it enables transfer of payments in real time, efficiently from one account to another across banks.

"Around 85 per cent of the digital payment transactions in India today are carried out through UPI.

"About 20 billion transactions are made using UPI every month, representing value equivalent to over USD 280 billion ," the Governor said.

He further said UPI is a powerful catalyst, accelerating financial inclusion.

Small vendors and micro enterprises can now accept payments digitally, and build financial history, thereby enabling access to formal credit at much lower costs, he added.

"We believe that the benefits of DPPs should be available to the whole world, in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which means, the world is one family'.

"This was also the theme of India's G20 presidency. We are fully committed to international collaboration around such platforms," he said.

The Governor also informed the gathering that India has developed the Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP)5 for digital identity.

This free, secure, and scalable platform allows other countries to build their own national digital ID systems.

As many as 27 countries are either adopting or considering MOSIP-based systems, to deliver essential services quickly, directly, and seamlessly to their citizens, Malhotra said.
India and New Zealand on Monday announced the conclusion of free trade agreement negotiations, a move aimed at boosting bilateral trade in goods and investments.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Christopher Luxon, prime minister of New Zealand. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The talks started in May this year.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that negotiations for a free trade agreement with India have been concluded. The free trade agreement (FTA) reduces or removes tariffs on 95 per cent of our exports to India.

It's forecast that New Zealand exports to India could increase from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion per year over the coming two decades, Luxon said in a social media post.

"I've just spoken with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the conclusion of the NZ-India Free Trade Agreement.

"The agreement builds on the strong friendship between our two countries. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and this gives Kiwi businesses access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers," Luxon said.

In FY25, the bilateral trade was about $1.3 billion (India's exports were $711.1 million and imports were $587.1 million).

New Zealand's average import tariff is just 2.3 per cent, compared with India's 17.8 per cent, and 58.3 per cent of New Zealand's tariff lines are already duty-free.

India's export basket to New Zealand is broad-based but concentrated in fuels, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) led shipments at $110.8 million, followed by clothing, fabrics, and home textiles at $95.8 million.

Medicines accounted for $57.5 million, while machinery, including turbojets, contributed $51.8 million.

Petroleum products were another major component, with diesel exports totalling $47.8 million and petrol exports totalling $22.7 million.

Other notable exports included automobiles and parts ($19.3 million), paper and paperboard ($18.3 million), electronics ($16.5 million), iron and steel ($14.1 million), shrimps ($13.7 million), basmati rice ($11.9 million) and gold jewellery ($9.9 million).

New Zealand's exports to India, by contrast, are dominated by raw materials and agricultural inputs.

Wood and wood articles ($78.4 million) and wood pulp ($39.8 million) underline linkages in paper, packaging and construction.

Steel scrap exports reached $71.2 million, while aluminium scrap totaled $42.9 million, reflecting India's dependence on recycled metal inputs.

In energy and heavy industry, coking coal exports totalled $48.8 million, alongside high-value turbojets valued at $66.2 million.

Agricultural and animal-based products also play a significant role, led by shorn wool ($47.3 million), milk albumin ($32.1 million), apples ($32.8 million) and kiwi fruit ($17 million).

Services trade is a more significant pillar of the relationship.

In FY24, India's services exports to New Zealand stood at $214.1 million, while New Zealand's services exports to India totaled $456.5 million.

India's strengths lie in IT and software services, telecommunications support, healthcare and financial services.

New Zealand's services exports are led by education -- driven by Indian students -- followed by tourism, fintech solutions, and specialised aviation training, he added.

Highlights of India-New Zealand free trade agreement

The pact is likely to be signed in three months and it is expected to be implemented next year.

Zero Duty market access on 100 per cent of India's exports. India has offered tariff liberalisation in 70 per cent lines covering 95 per cent of New Zealand India Bilateral trade.

This market access enhances the competitiveness of India's labour-intensive sectors including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods and automobiles.

Launched on March 16th 2025, the fastest with a Developed Country FTA concludes the year on a high note for all Indian exports including textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather, engineering goods, agricultural products

Dedicated quota of Temporary Employment Entry visa for 5,000 professionals and 1,000 Work and Holiday Visas.

New Zealand has committed to facilitate investments of $20 billion into India over the next fifteen years.

Establishment of Agricultural Productivity Partnerships through Centres of Excellence by New Zealand for Apples, Kiwifruit, and Honey to boost productivity.

Duty free inputs for India's Manufacturing Sector: Wooden logs, coking coal, waste and scraps of metals.

Cooperation has been agreed in AYUSH, culture, fisheries, audio visual tourism, forestry, horticulture and traditional knowledge systems.

Apart from tariff liberalisation, the FTA includes provisions to address non-tariff barriers through enhanced regulatory cooperation.
Next weeks three-nation foreign tour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will see India and Oman sign a free trade deal.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The visit will also pave the way for agreements with Ethiopia and Jordan to increase Indias bilateral trade and investments.

The Union Cabinet, at its meeting on Friday, approved the India-Oman free trade agreement (FTA), or the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa).

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials said India is also set to receive spare parts of the Jaguar fighter jets in the near future that Omans Royal Air Force has retired.

On his four-day foreign visit, the PM will be in Jordan on December 15-16, in Ethiopia on December 16-17 and in Oman on December 17-18.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is also expected to visit Oman for the signing of the India-Oman CEPA. India and Oman are also looking at expanding their bilateral investment treaty.

Ethiopia has recently launched comprehensive economic reforms, opening up key sectors, such as banking and capital markets.

New Delhi is keen to align its development and economic cooperation with that country to explore new avenues of cooperation.

There are 675 Indian companies in Ethiopia, with significant presence in the Ethiopian textiles market.

India imports pulses and beans from Ethiopia, and 38.5 per cent of Indias exports to it comprise pharmaceuticals. India-Ethiopia bilateral trade was $403.43 million in 2024-25, and has increased to $550 million this year. India is one of the top three investors in Ethiopia.

The last visit by an Indian PM to Ethiopia was in 2011.

Officials said the PMs visit to Jordan is significant as it coincides with the 75th year of the two countries establishing diplomatic ties, and first full-fledged visit by an Indian PM to that country in 37 years.

The PM had transited through Jordan in February 2018 on his way to visit Palestine.

The PM and Jordans King Abdullah II ibn Al Huessein will also discuss the situation in Gaza.

The PM is also scheduled to travel to the historic city Petra.

India is Jordans third largest trading partner with bilateral trade being $2.8 billion.

Jordan is a leading supplier of fertilisers to India, particularly potash and phosphate.

The two countries have a joint venture Jordan-India Fertiliser Company, and there are 15 Indian government companies in qualified industrial zones of Jordan.

As for Oman, it is the third-largest export destination for India among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

India already has an FTA with another GCC member, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which came into effect in May 2022.

The Shura Council or Majlis A'Shura of Oman on Wednesday approved the Cepa.

India-Oman bilateral trade in 2024-25 was $10.61 billion, including $4 billion worth of exports.

India's key imports are petroleum products and urea, which officials said will continue even as the two countries explore cooperation in green energy.

Indias hydrocarbon imports from Oman account for over 70 per cent of imports.

Other key products are propylene and ethylene polymers, pet coke, gypsum, chemicals, iron and steel and unwrought aluminium.

Oman is home to 675,000 strong Indian diaspora, of which nearly 500,000 are Indian workers employed in that countrys construction, manufacturing, agriculture, ports, shipping and healthcare sectors.

Officials said they were confident that Oman will continue to employ skilled Indians in large numbers despite its policy of Omanisation to increase the employment of its citizens in the private sector.

Oman, officials said, needs Indian workers for its large infrastructure projects, and new and emerging areas.
BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The trade volume between China and the five Central Asian countries exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, a record high, which demonstrates robust momentum of bilateral cooperation, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

This also proved the leading and promoting role of the China-Central Asia mechanism, spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a daily news conference, citing statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China.

Guo said that as global economic growth remains sluggish and the international trading system faces serious challenges, China-Central Asia economic and trade cooperation has forged ahead against the odds, with trade volume reaching a new record high. This demonstrates the robust momentum of China-Central Asia cooperation, confirms the leading and promoting role of the China-Central Asia mechanism, and marks a new milestone in the history of China-Central Asia cooperation, he said.

Guo added that over the past year, relations between China and Central Asian countries have developed rapidly, with the China-Central Asia mechanism being increasingly improved, Belt and Road cooperation steadily advanced and people-to-people exchanges much closer.

"In particular, the successful holding of the second China-Central Asia Summit marks a new stage of high-quality development in bilateral cooperation," he noted.

China stands ready to work with Central Asian countries to build on the momentum, continue to act on the China-Central Asia Spirit, strengthen the China-Central Asian mechanism, promote all-round cooperation to move toward innovation, high quality and practicability, and join hands to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, Guo said. 
Putin's State visit will centre on fixing the huge India-Russia trade imbalance, with both sides pushing to lower duties, ease non-tariff barriers, and seal a landmark mobility pact to send more Indian workers to Russia.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photograph: ANI Photos

Bridging the vast trade imbalance between the two countries will sit at the heart of Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to New Delhi from Thursday, with both sides set to explore lowering duties and easing non-tariff barriers.

Agreements are also expected across sectors ranging from the mobility of Indian skilled and semi-skilled workers to Russia, to cooperation in healthcare.

Officials at the ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Tuesday described the India-Russia mobility agreement, finalised and due to be signed during Putins visit, as the single most important development since the previous India-Russia Annual Summit in 2024, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Russia.

They pointed to Russias need for manpower. From just 10,000 a couple of years ago, as many as 100,000 Indians now work in Russia, while nearly 25,000 Indians are studying there, officials said.

Further pacts are expected to deepen cooperation in academic research, culture and media relations.

In a video-streamed news conference on Tuesday afternoon, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow wants to build an architecture that insulates its trade with India from pressure exerted by third countries.

He said New Delhis procurement of Russian crude oil may dip for a brief period because of western sanctions, but insisted Russia is taking steps to secure supplies.

Peskov said addressing Indias concerns over a massive trade deficit, cooperation on small modular nuclear reactors, and the expansion of defence and energy ties could all feature prominently in Fridays summit talks.

He said Russia has deep experience in performing under the regime of these illegal sanctions on its oil and is exploring ways to keep IndiaRussia oil flows steady.

Putin will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit -- his first visit to India since 2021, and his first since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The trip has been designated a rare State visit; most previous summit trips, dating back to 2000, have been working or official visits.

The timing is also notable as India confronts 50 per cent US tariffs, including a 25 per cent punitive levy for New Delhis purchase of Russian crude oil.

MEA officials said the delegations led by Putin and Modi will take up bilateral defence ties and cooperation in the civil nuclear sector, though no major defence agreements are expected to be announced.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Photograph: ANI Photos

Indias imports of Russian crude oil have slipped in recent weeks under the shadow of US tariffs, but officials noted that Moscow is widening its import basket from India.

Since last month, Russia has begun importing potatoes and pomegranates from India, and is keen to increase imports of marine products.

India, in turn, is looking to scale up fertiliser imports from Russia, currently at three to four million metric tonnes annually.

Indias imports of Russian goods and services amount to roughly $65 billion, most of it crude oil, while Russias imports from India stand at around $5 billion.

A large business delegation covering infrastructure, transport, energy, construction, agro-products and fertilisers is accompanying Putin.

Indian and Russian business leaders meet on Wednesday to explore ways to expand trade, with Russia signalling readiness to reduce duties and non-tariff barriers.

Both sides are eager to clinch a free trade agreement between India and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union as soon as possible, which officials say could help boost Indias pharmaceutical exports.

At his press conference, Peskov said: We should create an architecture of our relationship that must be free of any influence coming from any third countries. We have to secure our relationship; we have to secure our trade that brings mutual benefit. We have to secure our trade from pressure from abroad.

He also called for a new global trading system in which dollar-denominated payments are not used as a political tool, a theme likely to feature in the Modi-Putin talks. We understand the pressure on India, he added.

On defence ties, Peskov highlighted the joint production of BrahMos missiles as an example of high-technology collaboration.

We are developing quite a variety of very complicated systems. We are ready to share with India our experience, he said. He indicated the Russia-Ukraine conflict will also loom large at the summit.

Indian officials said they had taken note of an editorial in a leading Indian newspaper written by three envoys of Western European countries, calling it unacceptable for foreign diplomats to advise India on its relations with a third nation.

In a related development, Russias Lower House of Parliament, the State Duma, on Tuesday ratified a key military pact with India ahead of Putins visit.

The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS) agreement, signed on 18 February, was sent to the Duma last week for ratification by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

RELOS lays out the procedures for deploying military formations, warships and aircraft between the two countries and the framework for mutual logistical support.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
One key development is the direct cargo connection between Chennai and Vladivostok, a crucial Russian port on the Northern Sea Route.

IMAGE: A Russian ice-breaker ship.

India and Russia are in discussions to jointly build ice-class vessels capable of transporting cargo along the Northern Sea Route (NSR), according to a senior official from Russia's State atomic energy corporation Rosatom.

Vladimir Panov, special representative for Arctic Development at Rosatom, said talks with India also include cooperation on training crews for advanced Arctic-class vessels.

He indicated that Russia supports signing a bilateral memorandum on this issue.

"Cooperation with India on the Northern Sea Route is carried out within the framework of the intergovernmental format -- the Russian-Indian Working Group on Cooperation in the Northern Sea Route under the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation. The first meeting of the Working Group took place on October 10, 2024, in New Delhi," Panov said.

Panov emphasised that the main goal of the collaboration is to boost cargo traffic along the NSR between the two countries.

To enable this, modern Arctic-class ships -- especially high ice-class container vessels capable of year-round navigation -- are required.

These ships are proposed to be developed through joint innovative projects.

One key development is the direct cargo connection between Chennai and Vladivostok, a crucial Russian port on the NSR.

Cargo volumes between the two nations are already growing, and Chennai could become a major cargo aggregation hub for containerised shipments to Russia.

A minimum of 100 containers per week is needed to sustain a dedicated shipping service between Chennai and Vladivostok.

The NSR and the development of infrastructure are expected to be discussed between the two countries during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in December.

The Northern Sea Route is the shortest maritime link between the western part of Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2018, the Russian government appointed Rosatom as the official infrastructure operator for the route.

The company oversees the 'Development of the Northern Sea Route' project and is a key player in implementing the NSR Development Plan to 2035, as well as Russia's socio-economic Arctic development programme to 2030.

Rosatom's strategic objective is to transform the NSR into an efficient shipping artery connecting Europe, Russia, and the Asia-Pacific.

Panov said that cargo volumes on the NSR hit 37.9 million tons in 2024, a 4.5% increase over 2023.

From January to September 2025, 23 million tons of cargo had already been transported via the NSR.

International interest is also growing. Containerised cargo shipments along the route are increasing.

During the ongoing 2024 summer-autumn navigation season, 14 international voyages transported 276,000 tons of goods -- a 56% increase over the total for 2023. Three more voyages are currently underway.

According to Panov, this year, there were 14 international container voyages between ports in Northwest Russia and China, double the number in 2023.

Notably, cargo was delivered from Shanghai to Belarus via the NSR for the first time.

Panov added that the traffic is now two-way, with both Russian and Chinese operators planning more than 20 voyages this year connecting Chinese ports with Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, and St Petersburg.

Goods transported include dry, liquid, and general cargo, containerised shipments, and essential supplies for Arctic communities.

Given the frozen conditions of the NSR, icebreakers are essential to maintaining navigability. Russia currently operates 11 icebreakers -- 8 nuclear-powered and 3 conventional.

According to Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, 15 to 17 icebreakers will be needed to move around 100 million tons of cargo on the NSR, up from the current 11.

Construction is underway on three universal nuclear icebreakers under Project 22220, as well as Rossiya, a next-generation nuclear icebreaker with twice the capacity of Project 22220 vessels.

These ships can operate both in deep Arctic waters and shallow deltas. Their commissioning will depend on how rapidly cargo volumes grow, Panov said.

Environmental Protection

Panov stressed that the Arctic is ecologically unique, with fragile ecosystems, and Rosatom is committed to protecting it.

Russia's Arctic strategy includes:

Minimizing emissions into air and water

Reducing production waste

Restoring disturbed lands

Conserving biodiversity

Pre-project environmental impact assessments

One of Rosatom's key environmental initiatives is the NSR environmental monitoring programme, launched in 2021 in collaboration with the marine research centre at Moscow State University.

It runs through 2025 and includes an international expert group that promotes best practices and environmental standards.

"The principle guiding Arctic development is 'do no harm'," Panov said.

Infrastructure & Fleet Development

Panov acknowledged the challenges in scaling the NSR as the route passes through remote and harsh Arctic regions.

Its development demands systemic infrastructure and fleet investment.

The 2035 NSR Development Plan, adopted in 2022, includes four pillars:

Cargo base development

Transport infrastructure

Expansion of icebreaker and cargo fleets

Navigation safety

In addition to icebreakers, new port infrastructure and energy facilities are also being developed to support long-term growth.

At present, 30 high Arctic-class vessels operate on the NSR. These are double-action ships, designed to move stern-first through ice and bow-first in open water, balancing icebreaking ability with speed.

Panov emphasised that such innovative vessel design is essential for reliable, year-round cargo operations in Arctic conditions.

Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at venkatacharijagannathan@gmail.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
In a first, Indian oil public sector undertakings (PSUs) finalised a one-year contract to import around 2.2 million tonnes (mt) of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the US.

Photograph: Turar Kazangapo/Reuters

The LPG import deal comes at a time when negotiations for an India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) are gathering steam.

Earlier in the month, US President Donald Trump had said Washington and New Delhi were pretty close to reaching a fair trade deal.

Announcing the contract, Hardeep Singh Puri, Union minister of petroleum and natural gas, said the LPG volumes to be imported from the US Gulf Coast for the contract year 2026 represent close to 10 per cent of Indias annual LPG imports.

As India works to narrow trade surplus with the US, the energy sector is likely to be central in the two countries finalising trade agreements.

This purchase is based on using Mount Belvieu as the benchmark for LPG purchases, and a team of our officials from Indian Oil, BPCL, and HPCL had visited the US, and engaged in discussions with major US producers over the last few months, which have been concluded now, Puri said in a post on social media platform X.

India is import dependent for around 60 percent of its domestic LPG requirements.

To secure supplies, the country has been looking to diversify sources as around 90 per cent of the total LPG imports come from West Asian countries like the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.

Highlighting the importance of the deal, Puri said the one-year contract was another step in strengthening Indias energy security while ensuring affordable access to clean cooking fuel for millions of households.

Besides LPG, Indian oil companies are increasing crude oil imports too from the US.

Indias monthly crude oil imports from the US climbed in October to their highest level since March 2021, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler.

The growing share of US oil in Indias crude basket underlines deepening energy ties between the two nations, and reflects New Delhis strategy to balance supply security, economics, and geopolitics.

India is a large importer of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and LPG. The US is likely to account for a growing share of Indias imports of all the three fuels.

Rising LPG consumption

Indias LPG consumption has grown 7 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) so far in 2025-26 (FY26) amid government initiatives such as PM Ujjwala Yojana, which provides subsidised LPG cylinders.

Puri said Indias state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) have ensured affordable LPG prices for consumers despite a 60 per cent surge in international prices last year.

To absorb the impact, the Indian government incurred an expenditure of over 40,000 crore in the previous year.

The minister said Ujjwala beneficiaries continued to receive LPG cylinders at a subsidised price of about 500-550 despite the actual cost exceeding 1,100.
India, the world's third-largest oil consumer, spent 2.5 billion euro on buying crude oil from Russia in September, 14 per cent less than the previous month, a European think tank said.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

India remained the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in September behind China, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

Traditionally reliant on Middle Eastern oil, India significantly increased its imports from Russia following the February 2022 Ukraine invasion.

Western sanctions and reduced European demand made Russian oil available at steep discounts.

As a result, India's Russian crude imports surged from under 1 per cent to nearly 40 per cent of its total crude oil imports in a short span.

In September, "India remained the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, importing a total of EUR 3.6 billion.

"Crude oil dominated India's purchases at 77 per cent (EUR 2.5 billion), followed by coal at 13 per cent (EUR 452 million) and oil products at 10 per cent (EUR 344 million)," CREA said.

India's imports of Russian crude at about 1.6 million barrels per day were 9 per cent lower month-on-month to their lowest volumes since February, despite their total imports recording a marginal increase.

"The drop in Indian imports of Russian crude has been mainly led by a 38 per cent month-on-month drop in state-owned refineries' imports from Russia.

"Indian state-owned refineries' Russian crude imports have dropped to the lowest levels since May 2022," it said.

In September 2025, China remained the largest global buyer of Russian fossil fuels, accounting for 42 per cent (EUR 5.5 billion) of Russia's export revenues from the top five importers.

Some of the refineries in India turned Russian crude oil into fuels like petrol and diesel, which were exported to Europe and other G7 countries.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it triggered a series of sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and other Western nations, aimed at crippling Russia's economy.

One of the main sanctions was on Russian oil exports, which significantly impacted Russia's ability to sell oil to European markets.

As a result, Russia began offering crude oil at heavily discounted prices in an attempt to find new buyers for its oil.

India, with its large energy needs and an economy sensitive to oil price fluctuations, found this offer too attractive to ignore.

The price discount on Russian oil, sometimes as much as $18-20 per barrel lower than the market price of other oil, allowed India to procure oil at a much cheaper rate.

In September, the discount on Russia's Urals crude increased by a massive 39 per cent month-on-month, averaging $5.13 per barrel against Brent.
India is set to reduce its direct imports of Russian crude from late November, following new US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, effective November 21.

IMAGE: A well head and a drilling rig in an oil field in Irkutsk Region, Russia. Photograph: Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters

Indian refiners accounting for more than half of the country's import of Russian crude oil, which is turned into fuels like petrol and diesel in refineries, are expected to comply with the latest sanctions on Moscow's two largest oil exporters, analysts said.

This, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, will trigger a sharp decline in Russian arrivals in December, with gradual recovery projected through early 2026 via intermediaries and alternative trading routes.

Top importer Reliance Industries Ltd, which has a long-term supply contract with Rosneft, will stop taking Russian oil. Two other State-controlled refiners have said they are stopping Russian oil imports. Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd, a joint venture of steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal's Mittal Energy and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), have announced plans to suspend future imports.

The three accounted for more than half of the 1.8 million barrels of Russian crude oil imported in the first half of 2025.

However, Nayara Energy's Vadinar refinery, partially owned by Rosneft and already under EU sanctions, is likely to maintain its Russian crude intake.

According to Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst (Refining & Modelling) at Kpler, Russia remained India's top crude supplier in October, followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Russian shipments to India reached 1.6-1.8 million barrels per day (mbd) before the sanctions, with declines observed post-October 21 as refiners avoided potential US OFAC exposure.

Analysts say Russian barrels are unlikely to disappear entirely, but future imports will rely on more complex logistics and trading arrangements.

To offset reduced Russian flows, Indian refiners are increasing procurement from the Middle East, Latin America, West Africa, Canada, and the United States. US crude imports hit 5,68,000 barrels per day (kbd) in October, the highest since March 2021, driven by economics and arbitrage opportunities rather than sanctions. Flows are expected to normalise to 250-350 kbd in December and January.

"We see reductions in Russian crude arrival in post-November 21," he said.

"Most Indian refiners are expected to comply with US sanctions and halt or reduce direct crude purchases from Rosneft and Lukoil. This is likely to trigger a sharp decline in Russian crude import in December, followed by a gradual recovery through mid-to-late Q1 2026, as new trading intermediaries emerge and alternative routes are established."

In contrast, Nayara Energy's 400 kbd Vadinar refinery is unlikely to alter its current procurement pattern, as it is already almost entirely reliant on Russian crude.

"To offset reduced direct Russian inflows, Indian refiners are expected to increase procurement from the Middle East, Brazil, Latin America, West Africa, Canada, and the United States," he said.

"However, higher freight costs could limit the scale of substitution by eroding arbitrage opportunities."

Overall, refiners are likely to broaden their import baskets, with higher inflows from Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Guyana), the United States, West Africa, and the Middle East. While near-term Russian imports may dip starting in December, Russian barrels will continue reaching India through intermediaries, he said.
India is poised to become the largest global scotch whisky market in value and volume terms over the next few years, fuelled by competitive intensity, premiumisation and economic growth, Scotch Whisky Association chief executive Mark Kent CMG has said.

Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters

Mark Kent also appreciated the rise of India's single malt whisky, saying the Scotch Whisky Association is looking for partnerships with them not only for export to the UK market but also to explore other global markets together.

Noting the emergence of the Indian single malt category, some of which recently won several prestigious international accolades, the chief executive said he is going to speak with the Indian Malt Whiskey Association, as they share the same views on the importance of quality in manufacturing and working together.

This is a significant opportunity for both the Indian and Scottish industries.

There is an opportunity for Indian companies to boost exports of Indian single malt to the UK and forge partnerships for global markets.

So, it really is a moment of opportunity to be seized by both sides, he told PTI.

India is already the biggest market for Scotch in terms of volume, out of 180 markets where it is exported, though in terms of value, it ranks among the top five, Mark Kent said, adding that he is "optimistic" about the prospects for India as well as the trend of premiumisation here.

"Now, if you add on to that, the factors that we are seeing a growth in the Indian market, and the fact that we are going to be seeing a more competitive environment for Scotch imports, I think it's very feasible that India will soon take, in the next few years, the place as biggest for volume and biggest for for value," he said.

However, it will also depend on certain factors around the world economy, but Mark Kent said he is optimistic that India has a "very educated knowledge of scotch and whiskey" in New Delhi.

"That's why we want to be working in conjunction with you to become global players on both sides (value & volume)," he added.

According to the latest data from the Scotch Whisky Association, India has regained its position from France as the world's number one Scotch Whisky export market by volume, with 192 million bottles exported, while the United States retains its long-held position as the largest export market by value, worth 971 million British Pounds in 2024.

Mark Kent said once the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UK becomes operative, it will see a variety of quality Scotch whisky coming into the country, especially from some of the smaller producers from Scotland.

Besides, the import of bulk Scotch will also increase, which will help IMFL makers and bottling in India, he added.

"It is also a good result for the Indian industry, we will see more investment in both India and in Scotland. And the fact that the tariff has come down on bulk whiskey, which is 79 per cent of all the whiskey that we export to India, means that there will be cheaper and more competitive imports for Indian manufacturers to incorporate into IMFL.

"So overall, it's a very good basis for a new era of partnership between our two industries," he said.

As per the FTA signed in London between the two governments, which is awaiting ratification, India is reducing duty on UK whisky and gin from 150 per cent to 75 per cent and further to 40 per cent in the 10th year of the deal.

Mark Kent, who had visited India as part of the delegation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in October this year, said he will talk to Indian authorities and fellow trade associations here to get a win-win outcome on the FTA.

"As soon as we have this deal, we want to build on it, and it's going to be a long-term preparation, which is why I am out here.

"Just a few weeks after Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited, I was part of his business delegation.

"So, our challenge now is to turn what is a very good framework, as set out by the FTA, into business reality and business outcomes," he said.

Mark Kent hoped that the FTA would have an impact on prices and boost sales.

However, he also acknowledged that the external tariff (customs duty) is only one factor in pricing.

"It will depend on individual states and their own regulation and their own tax framework, and it will depend on individual companies.

"It's fair to say that you will see a reduction in the cost of the consumers, but that will depend on each individual circumstances, both on the states and on the individual companies," said Mark Kent.

On whether the association will talk to some state governments on this aspect, he said, "The trick is finding the right regulatory framework and tax framework, which enables market pricing, which in turn will bring more investment, more trade, and that in turn will bring more excise revenue to the individual states and we are very happy to work in partnership with Indian associations and the Indian government to find these optimal outcomes."
In its June 2025 review, the International Monetary Fund spotlighted India's Unified Payments Interface as the world's most dominant retail instant-payment network, moving more transactions than any other system on the globe.

UPI alone powers almost half -- 49 per cent -- of all real-time digital payments worldwide. Which are the other countries big on digital payments?

Photograph: Kind courtesy Canva

1. India

Just like mobile phones, the UPI system in India has seamlessly woven itself into our everyday life.

From roadside tea stalls, taxis, transgenders to high-end boutiques in shopping malls, almost every establishment boasts a UPI scanner. So accustomed are people to digital payments that many rarely carry on their person even a single rupee in cash.

The government, according to PIB, in 2024-2025, had distributed 56.86 crore QR codes among 65 million merchants.

Remarkably, India accounts for around 49 per cent of the world's real-time digital transactions, registering an astonishing 129.3 billion payments online in 2024.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Mateus S. Figueiredo/Wikimedia Commons

2. Brazil

Much like India's UPI, Brazilians rely on the Pix payment system to pay, transfer, or shop with remarkable ease.

Brazil holds a solid second place globally, completing 37.4 billion real-time transactions in 2024 and commanding 14 per cent of the worldwide share.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Unknown author/Wikimedia Commons

3. Thailand

Thailand's PromptPay's simple QR-based system contributed 20.4 billion instant payments in 2024, accounting for 8 per cent of the world's real-time transactions.

Photograph: Kind courtesy zhizhou deng/Wikimedia Commons

4. China

In China, Alipay and WeChat Pay have become the go-to digital wallets, leaving conventional debit and credit cards far behind.

The country registers 17.2 billion real-time transactions in 2024, accounting for 6 per cent of the global market.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Google Play Store

5. South Korea

Boasting over 23 million users, KakaoPay and Naver Pay are the main digital payment apps. Mobile payment platforms are increasingly favoured in the country, especially by millennials and Gen Z.

South Korea logs 9.1 billion instantaneous transactions in 2024, representing 3 per cent of the world total.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Canva

6. Others

The rest of the world collectively contributes 52.8 billion transactions in 2024, forming a significant 20 per cent of global real-time payments.
'...but I would not like to put a timeline to it.'

IMAGE: Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal meets with US Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor in New Delhi, October 12, 2025. Photograph: Tom Little/File Photo/Reuters

India and the United States are hoping to finalise a framework trade agreement "soon", Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday.

India is moving forward on a range of agreements -- from an easier preferential trade deal with Mexico to full-fledged free trade agreements (FTAs) with Canada, the US, Peru, Chile, the EU and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), he added.

With the US, the talks have been moving in parallel on two tracks -- a broader bilateral trade agreement or BTA, which is expected to take longer, and the framework deal that seeks to address the specific issue of 50 per cent American tariffs on Indian exporters.

"We have had five-six rounds of negotiations, where we have discussed the full-fledged BTA and also an interim agreement/framework trade deal, which addresses the reciprocal tariff.

"The visit of the Deputy US trade representative and the team (to New Delhi last week) was to familiarise him with India," Agrawal said.

"It was also important to stock-take, in terms of the trade relationship with India and the stage of the negotiation -- in terms of the BTA and the framework agreement.

"We are close to a framework deal, but I would not like to put a timeline to it," Agrawal told reporters in a briefing.

With India and the US having missed the 'Fall', or autumn, deadline, New Delhi is aiming to conclude the first tranche of the deal before the end of the calendar year.

But despite the US trade team's visit last week, headed by Deputy USTR Rick Switzer, there is no clarity on when the deal will be finalised.

India also rejected accusations made by the US that it is dumping rice in the country.

Basmati rice comprises over 80 per cent of India's rice exports to the US, which typically commands a higher price as compared to non-basmati rice.

"We don't see a prima facie case of dumping. As far as we know, the US has not started any anti-dumping investigation either," Agrawal said.

Narrowing difference with EU

Meanwhile, India is also engaging with the EU as the two sides try to narrow differences and close their FTA talks at the earliest, again with a year-end deadline.

Agrawal said the negotiations with the EU have entered their "most difficult" stage.

"We are in the most difficult stage, most difficult issues are on the table...we are trying to ease that out wherever we are finding a fine balance.

"There is a set of issues on the table... CBAM is definitely on the table," he said, referring to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a controversial European proposal to tax exports of carbon-intensive goods.

India views CBAM as a non-tariff barrier.

Since the beginning of the month, the two sides have held intense discussions with the aim of working towards concluding the long-pending agreement at the earliest.

The 16th round of negotiations took place from December 3 to 9 in New Delhi.

Asked if the two sides might consider dropping a few chapters to speed up matters, he said a decision on this will only be taken at the last moment.

"I do not think we are dropping (any chapter) as of now.

"Whatever is on the table is on the table. But in case, in the interest of agreement at some point in time, we feel that there are certain issues or areas that need to be dropped, may be (they will be dropped).

"That call will be taken at the level of either chief negotiators or my ministers or my level -- but that is not the stage we are at."

Mexico tariffs and the way forward

India, he said, has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) or a limited trade deal with Mexico, days after it came up with surprise tariffs of up to 50 per cent on imports from its non-FTA partners.

A PTA is expected to help Indian exporters deal with the steep tariffs.

Mexico imposed tariffs ranging from about 5 to 50 per cent on shipments of a wide range of goods -- about 1,463 tariff lines -- from countries that do not have a free trade agreement with Mexico.

"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement because an FTA will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," Agrawal said.

"We have proposed a PTA because it's a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.

He also said that the duties are on a most favoured nation basis and within WTO bound rates.

Besides, Mexico's primary target is Chinese rather than Indian exports.

Mexico has approved the tariff increases from January 1, 2026.

Preliminary estimates suggest that this would impact around $2 billion of Indian exports, particularly automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.

On the proposed trade pact with New Zealand, talks are expected to be closed or finalised soon.

"We are in a good zone where we hope that the agreement will be closed and finalised soon...It is expected to be done soon," Agrawal told reporters.

The chief negotiators of India and Canada will hold virtual discussions this week to find a way forward on their proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

"In two years, countries have moved on, the world has moved on.

"A lot of other challenges in trade are coming up.

"We need to take stock as to where we stopped," he said, adding that the chief negotiators will design the agenda and path forward for the talks.

"We are starting talks with Qatar, Israel.

"We are also thinking of SACU (Southern African Customs Union) -- and New Zealand is in the final stages."

With the Russia-led EAEU, the first round of talks was held recently and the second round is scheduled in February next year.

Talks with Chile are progressing well, he said, while negotiations with Peru too are moving.

"India and Oman are poised to sign the agreement soon," he told reporters.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
IMAGE: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addresses a press conference at Vanjiya Bhawan, December 22, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Talks on the proposed trade deal between India and the United States will resume after the year-end holidays, coinciding with Sergio Gor -- a close aide of American President Donald Trump -- taking charge as the US ambassador to India in early January, according to a person privy to the development.

Discussions are currently on a pause due to the year-end holiday season. "No talks are happening at the moment (even virtually)," the person cited above said.

India and the US have missed the 'Fall' deadline to finalise the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement.

Talks are going on for the last nine months, with no outcome in sight, despite over a half dozen rounds of in-person formal and informal negotiations. The US trade team headed by Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer visited New Delhi this month.

According to a Bloomberg report, USTR Jamieson Greer recently critiqued the practices of two trade partners, including India, signalling that the contentious talks could spill over into the new year.

Greer also said that negotiations with India that began earlier this year still haven't resulted in an agreement, noting that the US had concluded deals with a slew of other trade partners in the interim.

For close to two months now, the Indian side has been reiterating that there's no need for a fresh round of negotiation and most differences have been narrowed down.

The US side, however, has been insisting that agriculture-related market access, digital trade, and non-tariff barriers are some of the issues that still need to be sorted.

India and the US are pursuing two parallel tracks.

One is the broad BTA, which will take time to materialise. The other one is the "protracted negotiations" with the US on a framework trade deal that will address the burden of the 50 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian exporters.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal had said that both countries are close to finalising a framework trade agreement, which is expected to be concluded 'soon'. He, however, did not specify a timeline for finalising the much-awaited pact.

'We have had five-six rounds of negotiations (with the US), where we have discussed the full-fledged BTA (bilateral trade agreement) and also an interim agreement/a framework trade deal, which addresses the reciprocal tariff...We are close to a framework deal, but I would not like to put a timeline to it,' Agrawal had said.
The escalating trade war between the US and China is expected to benefit Indian exporters in increasing their shipments to the American market, according to experts.

Photograph: Tatiana Meel/Reuters

Federation of Indian Export Organisations president S C Ralhan said that imposition of higher tariffs by the US on China will shift demand towards India, which exported goods worth Rs 86 billion to the US in 2024-25.

"We may gain from this escalation," Ralhan said.

The US has announced an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods starting November 1, 2025, raising the overall tariff rate on Chinese imports to about 130 per cent.

The move came in response to Beijing's October 9, 2025 decision to impose sweeping new controls on rare earth exports, which are indispensable for US defense, electric vehicles, and clean-energy industries.

At present, US tariffs on Indian goods are 50 per cent, more than that of China's 30 per cent.

"Now this 100 per cent additional tariff on Chinese goods will give us an upper edge," a textile exporter said, adding the imposition of higher customs duties by the US on imports from China provides huge export opportunities for India to America.

The tariffs would affect exports from China to the US as they would push prices of their goods in the American market, making them less competitive, another exporter said.

Toy exporter Manu Gupta too said that high duties on Chinese goods will help attract buyers from both these nations.

"It will help us. High duty will create a parity and will give us a level playing field," Gupta said, adding American buyers like retail giant Target have reached out to them for new products.

Think tank GTRI said that the escalating trade tensions between the US and China will push prices of EVs, wind turbines, and semiconductor parts in the global markets.

America depends heavily on China for electronics, textiles, footwear, white goods, and solar panels, it said.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at Rs 131.84 billion (Rs 86.5 billion exports).

The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade. India and the US are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presides over a symposium for soliciting opinions and suggestions on the draft government work report as well as the draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 19. 2026. Li heard opinions and suggestions on the two documents from representatives from academia, the business community, and sectors including education, science, culture, public health, and sports here Monday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday presided over a symposium for soliciting opinions and suggestions on the draft government work report as well as the draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, heard opinions and suggestions on the two documents from representatives from academia, the business community, and sectors including education, science, culture, public health, and sports.

Li stressed the need to thoroughly implement the CPC Central Committee's recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan and the decisions made at the Central Economic Work Conference, using the certainty of high-quality development to address the uncertainties in the development environment.

He called for efforts to carry forward high-quality development as the guiding goal and implement a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy.

Li emphasized the need to broaden the pathways to realizing high-quality development, strengthen innovation-driven growth, deepen reform and opening up, place strategic emphasis on expanding domestic demand, and steadily increase the internal momentum of development.

He also urged closely integrating pro-people policies with consumption promotion, and combining investment in physical assets with investment in human capital to foster new drivers of economic growth and continuously enhance public welfare.

The draft government work report and the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development are also circulated to localities and government departments nationwide for solicitation of opinions. 
The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) recorded a significant decline in serious regulatory findings at Indian drug manufacturing facilities between January and December 2025.

Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Data reveals that official action indicated (OAI) cases  the most severe classification  nearly halved over the past year.

This signals a shift in the compliance landscape even as manufacturers grapple with high remediation costs and persistent enforcement risks.

In the crucial drugs segment, OAI instances dropped to 11 in 2025 from 20 in 2024.

These classifications are critical for the industry, as they often serve as precursors to warning letters, import alerts, or legal action.

The overall volume of inspections also saw a contraction.

The US regulator conducted 212 inspections of drug facilities in India during 2025 compared to 284 in the previous year for which inspection outcomes have come out.

If one considers devices and biologics manufacturing units, then the overall inspections stood around 218 compared to 299 last year.

Outcomes may take a few weeks to a few months following the inspection. Hence, the overall inspection numbers could be marginally higher.

No Action Indicated (NAI) observations for drug facilities fell to 109 in 2025 from 158 a year earlier, while voluntary action indicated (VAI) cases declined to 92 from 106.

Under the USFDAs classification framework, an NAI outcome indicates that no objectionable conditions were identified during an inspection.

A VAI classification points to deficiencies that firms are expected to address voluntarily without immediate enforcement.

An OAI classification signals serious regulatory violations that may warrant administrative or legal action.

Final inspection classifications are typically communicated within 45-90 days of inspection completion.

While the decline in adverse outcomes is notable, industry experts warn against complacency.

They caution that the decline in adverse outcomes should not be interpreted as a softening of regulatory standards.

The drop in NAI and VAI cases suggests that while there are fewer clean reports, the regulator is also conducting fewer routine visits.

Lower OAI counts in 2025 reflect a shift in regulatory focus rather than leniency, said Nirali Shah, pharma analyst at Ashika Group.

With weaker facilities already filtered out, scrutiny has moved towards complex products and supply-chain risks.

Despite the broader statistical improvement, individual enforcement actions remain a thorn in the side of major players.

On December 18, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries confirmed that its Halol facility in Gujarat was classified as OAI following a June 2025 inspection.

The plant remains under an import alert, blocking most shipments to the US.

Conversely, Lupin secured a win in January when its Pithampur Unit-1 received a VAI classification, which the company described as a satisfactory outcome following its 2024 inspection.

While the number of severe findings has dipped, the impact of existing enforcement remains steady.

According to ratings agency ICRA, the number of import alerts and warning letters issued to Indian sites stood at 23 for the first 11 months of 2025, largely consistent with previous years.

The number of import alerts and warning letters issued to Indian facilities stood at 25 in 2023 and 21 in 2024.

OAIs typically escalate to warning letters and import alerts.

Mythri Macherla, vice-president and sector head at ICRA, said these actions carry a heavy price tag.

These lead to delayed launches, failure-to-supply penalties, and significant remediation costs  including external consultants  that can weigh heavily on profitability, Macherla added.

For Indian pharmaceutical companies, data indicates that while inspection outcomes improved in 2025, regulatory compliance and supply-chain resilience remain critical risk factors.

This comes as the USFDA sharpens focus on complex therapies and global manufacturing networks.
With 7.64 million seats, the Mumbai-Delhi route in 2025 was the eighth busiest route in the world.

Photograph: ANI Photo

It is among the top 10 busiest routes in the world in terms of the number of seats and flights.

And it is on this lucrative route that the Air India group, which came from behind, has overtaken IndiGo -- the airline that lords over the Indian skies with a 65 per cent share of the aviation sweepstakes -- to grab the top slot.

The intense competition has also helped push airfares down on the route in 2025 compared with the previous year.

According to the latest data from aviation analytics firm OAG, with 7.64 million seats, the Mumbai-Delhi route in 2025 was the eighth busiest route in the world, bigger than the likes of Beijing-Shanghai Hongqiao.

Not only that, in 2025, according to OAG global research, there were only eight domestic routes in the world that had an average daily frequency of 100 or more flights a day, or simply more than four flights every hour.

Doing the honours on this list was just one route from India, between Mumbai and Delhi.

It ranked seventh in the pecking order, with as many as 107 flights being deployed on the route on an average day.

The sheer volume potential on this route has led to tough competition, with the Air India group (Air India and Air India Express) successfully challenging IndiGo's domination.

According to data from Cirium, in December 2025, with 341,202 seats on the route, Air India and Air India Express together controlled over 48.8 per cent of the capacity.

In contrast, IndiGo was in second spot, with a 38.8 per cent share and 271,052 seats.

The remaining capacity is deployed mainly by Akasa Air and SpiceJet. In contrast, IndiGo trimmed its capacity in December by 6,820 seats.

The Air India group has clearly pushed the pedal on the Mumbai-Delhi route by doubling the number of Air India Express flights from 63 in December 2024 to 124, and by adding another 46 Air India flights on the route.

Even airlines like Akasa Air have upped the ante -- increasing seat capacity by over 33 per cent in December over the previous year -- while SpiceJet raised capacity by 23 per cent.

What is interesting is that the growing competition has helped bring down airfares.

OAG research reckons that average airfares on this route were at $66 in 2025, dropping by 7 per cent from 2024 levels due to the intensity of competition.

However, aviation experts say demand on this route -- which connects the commercial capital with the administrative capital -- still provides scope for more capacity.

Mumbai, however, has been constrained by the fact that the Adani-run Mumbai International Airport was capacity-limited and, in fact, lost its No 2 position in terms of flyers carried to Bengaluru this year.

But with the new Navi Mumbai airport up and running (also under the Adani group), the route is expected to see many more flight deployments from the summer season.

High-flying battle

With 7.64 million seats in 2025, Mumbai-Delhi was the eighth busiest route in the world

It is the only route in India with an average of over 100 flights a day; there are only eight domestic routes globally in this category

The Air India group now has the largest seat capacity on this route; IndiGo is at No. 2. Akasa has expanded capacity by 33 per cent

Intense competition has seen average airfares fall by 7 per cent in 2025 over the previous year

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Indias brittle energy security is inextricably linked to two opposing paradigms  fossil fuels, and the transition to green energy.

Photograph: Reuters

The first powers the present; the second paves the way for Viksit Bharat in 2047.

But for now, both are in jeopardy  buffeted by geopolitics on one side and dependency on the other. Muddling the mix are domestic taxes.

Energy security was what was occupying the minds of officials from Indias oil ministry in 2024 when they burnt the midnight oil for months  consulting global oil majors and state oil companies to understand why no international oil company came to drill in India, while dispatching giant offshore drilling rigs to minions like Guyana and Trinidad, a senior government official said.

hese discussions laid the foundation for Indias most ambitious upstream drilling regime, the cornerstone of energy security for a nation that depends on geopolitical hotspots like Russia and the Gulf for nine out of every 10 barrels it consumes.

State-run explorers ONGC and Oil India were already in advanced talks with ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, and Total  and all, barring Shell, plan to bid for blocks jointly with state-run explorers under Indias 10 drilling rounds, once the government notifies the terms of the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment (ORDA) Act, 2025, a top ONGC official told Business Standard.

All this optimism took just an announcement to unravel. On a day when the country was celebrating a steep cut in the goods and services tax rates, Indias oil sector was in a fix  GST on exploration, development, and production of oil and gas was hiked from 12 per cent to 18 per cent effective September 22, increasing production costs for exploration and production firms amid sliding oil prices.

It is a double whammy and could lead to some assets not being developed on account of poor returns, said Prashant Vasisht, senior vice president at ratings agency Icra, a Moodys affiliate.

Geopolitics and GST

The frailty of Indias energy security has never been so exposed as in the last few years, beginning with Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices surged to over $50 per million British thermal units, 25 times what India paid for the fuel in 2020.

That was followed by two more geopolitical events: Iran-backed Houthi rebels blocking the critical Suez Canal, choking oil flows, and Israeli attacks on Iran threatening the Straits of Hormuz.

An extended blockade of the Hormuz could have choked India because domestic strategic oil storage accounts for hardly 8-9 days of consumption.

Domestic production has been on a perennial decline since peaking at 767,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2011.

It stands at 565,000 bpd now. India also imports around half of its gas in the form of LNG, and over 60 per cent of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), according to oil ministry data.

European Union (EU) sanctions on fuels produced from Russian crude dealt a further blow, with Nayara, the Gujarat-based subsidiary of Russian energy giant Rosneft, specifically targeted by the 27-nation bloc.

US President Donald Trump has capitalised on Indias weakened oil and gas output, and its high dependence on imports to try and push New Delhi into a corner.

The additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed by him for Indian purchases of Russian oil have the potential to impact $70 billion of Indian exports and several thousand jobs, an industry official said.

Energy firms expect a proposed Oilfield Amendment Bill to futureproof India from such threats, in addition to measures for a favourable tax regime.

Our industry is one of the largest tax revenue generators for the country, so perhaps easing some of the taxes will act as a fiscal incentive for producers, an industry official said.

Instead, the government has chosen to increase taxes.

Oil producers already pay 60-70 per cent of revenue in royalties and other taxes, a leading producer said.

Most of Indias oil and gas production comes from older areas governed by a high tax regime.

The decision to raise GST rates on oil equipment and services (by 6 percentage points) effective September 22, especially considering that petroleum doesnt get covered in GST, is a negative since there is no input credit to be availed of on our expenditures, said Kapil Garg, managing director, Asian Energy Services.

A former top government official said ministries often worked in silos  which, in this case, meant the finance ministry trying to recoup lost GST revenues from drilling, even though the measure would take some of the shine off one of Indias ambitious exploration programmes.

The industry would also benefit from greater involvement from the knowledge and resources of the private sector, which includes both MNCs and domestic players, Garg said.

Previous successes like the production of hydrocarbons in the KG Basin and Rajasthan were spearheaded by private companies.

But foreign drillers seek regulatory certainty, officials from two foreign oil companies and a government official said at a conference earlier this year.

Gas woes

Domestic gas production has declined by 3 per cent this financial year to 28.7 billion cubic metres.

Gas supply will need to increase substantially in the industrial sectors, replacing traditional fuels such as coal and oil, and enhancing its role to complement the growing demand for renewables, said Sehul Bhatt, director, Crisil Intelligence.

But in the absence of an increase in domestic output, India must boost LNG imports more than four-fold to 120 million tonnes by 2030 to more than double the share of gas in the energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030, said Petronet LNG CEO Akshay Kumar Singh at an industry event last month.

India also needs to build stocks of essential chemicals and catalysts, key components to operate refineries, Russian Rosneft-run Nayara Energy Chairman Prasad Panicker said at an industry event last month.

Panickers comments come amid Nayara losing access to such materials from western vendors, after the EU sanctioned the company in July.

The petrochemical sector is significantly dependent on imports for feedstock (Naphtha, LPG, and Ethane) and products such as HDPE, LLDPE, said Navanit Narayan, CEO, Haldia Petrochemicals, which will start a Rs 5,600 crore phenol and acetone project by mid-2026 to substitute imports.

Chinese materials (PP, Phenol, PVC, etc) are arriving in India at a much lower costs.

Transition

While oil and gas will remain the core of Indias growth engine, the dependence can still be reduced to half from 90 per cent now by improving access to electric vehicles, biofuels, and renewable energy, industry officials said.

India needs a multipronged approach to energy security, said Manas Majumdar, leader, oil and gas, at consultancy PwC, advocating a quicker pivot to biogas, electrification, and green hydrogen.

The requirement of BESS (battery storage) in the Indian grid is huge: Just going by the National Electricity Plan, the requirement is 236 Gwh (gigawatt hour) by 2031-32, said Debmalya Sen, president, India Energy Storage Alliance. Operational BESS is a meagre 500 Megawatt-hour (Mwh), with around 20 Gwh awarded.

Buffeted by stormwinds from global conflicts and an uncertain US presidency, and squeezed by hiked indirect taxes, Indias energy security framework must now look at alternatives beyond oil and gas.

With the right technologies, say industry figures, such a pivot will also help the country realise its climate change ambitions more robustly.
India's exports contracted 11.8 per cent to $34.38 billion in October on account of the impact of high tariffs by the US, while the trade deficit widened to a record high of $41.68 billion, mainly due to a jump in gold imports.

Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

According to government data released on Monday, the country's imports jumped 16.63 per cent to an all-time high of $76.06 billion due to high inbound shipments of the yellow metal, silver, cotton raw/waste, fertiliser, and sulphur.

In September, the trade gap widened to $31.15 billion, the highest in over a year.

While gold imports rose about 200 per cent to $14.72 billion, silver rose 528.71 per cent to $2.71 billion during October.

Crude oil imports dipped to $14.8 billion in October from $18.9 billion in the same month last year.

During April-October this fiscal year, exports increased marginally by 0.63 per cent to $254.25 billion, and imports rose 6.37 per cent to $451.08 billion.

Merchandise trade deficit during April-October 2025 was $196.82 billion as compared to $171.40 billion in the same period during April-October 2024.

Briefing the media on the data, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said, despite global uncertainties, "we are holding our ground".

He also said that the fall in exports in the last month can also be attributed to the base effect ($38.98 billion in October 2024).

Key segments such as engineering goods, petroleum products, gems and jewellery, apparel and textiles, organic and inorganic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and plastic goods witnessed noticeable contraction, weighing down the overall export performance.

Handicrafts, carpet, leather, iron ore, tea, rice, tobacco, spices and oil meals, too, recorded negative growth in exports in October.

Petroleum product shipments dipped 10.5 per cent to about $4 billion, while engineering goods shipments fell 16.71 per cent to $9.37 billion.

The US has imposed hefty 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, which are impacting the country's exports.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) president S C Ralhan said the export contraction mirrors the broader global economic slowdown, marked by geopolitical uncertainties, subdued demand in multiple major markets, and persistent volatility in commodity prices.

Expressing concern over the widening trade gap, he urged decisive and timely policy intervention.

He reiterated the need for enhanced export support measures, faster release of benefits under various schemes, improved and affordable credit access, and reduction of compliance burdens so that exporters can remain competitive in a challenging global environment.

As per the provisional figures, the estimated value of services export for October is $38.52 billion as compared to $34.41 billion in the same month last year.

During the first nine months of this fiscal year, exports stood at $237.55 billion as compared to $216.45 billion in April-October 2024.

Aditi Nayar, chief economist, Icra Ltd, said merchandise exports declined to an 11-month low of $34.4 billion in October amid a double-digit contraction in both oil and non-oil exports.
India's exports grew 6.74 per cent to $36.38 billion in September, while imports jumped 16.6 per cent, widening the trade deficit to $31.15 billion, the highest in over a year.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The increase in inbound shipments of gold, fertiliser and silver has pushed the country's imports in September to $68.53 billion against $58.74 billion in the same month last year, official data released on Wednesday showed.

Cumulatively, in April-September, exports increased by 3.02 per cent to $220.12 billion, while imports rose 4.53 per cent to $375.11 billion, leaving a trade deficit of $154.99 billion.

Briefing the media on the data, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that despite global economic turbulence, India's goods and services exports are doing well.

When asked about the reason for growth in the shipments, he said the domestic industry has been resilient.

"They are maintaining their supply chains and business relations," he told reporters.

On the impact of the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US on Indian goods, he said the ministry is looking into commodity-wise data to assess the impact.

He added that still 45 per cent of India's exports to the US are outside the ambit of the high tariffs.

The impact will definitely be there on 55 per cent of the products, which are attracting 50 per cent duties by the US.
After recording negative growth for two consecutive months, India's merchandise exports to the US rose 22.61 per cent to $6.98 billion in November despite steep 50 per cent tariffs on domestic goods, according to commerce ministry data.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Imports during the month grew 38.29 per cent to $5.25 billion, the data showed.

During the April-November period of this fiscal year, the country's exports to the US increased 11.38 per cent to $59.04 billion, while imports rose 13.49 per cent to $35.4 billion.

The US has imposed a sweeping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods entering American markets from August 27.

The two countries are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement to boost two-way commerce.

The Indian team is in Washington for trade talks.

On the data, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said despite challenges, exports have recorded positive growth.

"We have rebounded," he added.

He said tariffs on India are 50 per cent, while it is about 30 per cent more than the country's competitors, so this is going to be a bit of challenge.

"Exporters are so far holding supply chains... there is a fair expectation on each side that both countries will be able to finalise and work out a (trade) deal sooner than later.

"Let's see how it goes over the next few months," Agrawal said.

He added that India is gaining ground in China also.

India's exports to China, another major trading partner of India, surged 90.12 per cent to $2.2 billion in November due to significant jump in electronics and engineering goods.

It was up 32.83 per cent in April-November 2025-26 to $12.22 billion.

Export of engineering goods jumped six-fold to $655.83 million in November from $87.65 million in the same month last year.

Engineering goods shipments increased 76.11 per cent to $330.62 million.

Imports from the neighbouring country in November rose 18.28 per cent to $10.28 billion while during the first eight months of this fiscal year, inbound shipments rose 12.63 per cent to $84.27 billion.

India's exports to the UAE, the UK, Germany, Hong Kong, Brazil, Italy, Spain, and Australia saw positive growth in exports during the month under review.

However, exports to the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia registered negative growth.

On the imports front, inbound shipments in November declined from nations, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Korea, Indonesia, UK, and Taiwan.

However, imports rose from the Singapore, Japan, and Thailand.
India on Monday announced closure of negotiations for a free trade agreement signed with New Zealand, its 18th deal so far as the country aims to boost bilateral trade and investments.

The India-New Zealand FTA is expected to be signed in the next three months and it is likely to come into force next year.

Kindly note the image has only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Fabian Bimmer/Reuters

Other regions and countries with which India has signed such agreements include the four-nation European bloc EFTA, Japan, Korea, Oman, and Australia.

Since 2014, India has signed six trade pacts with Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, EFTA, and the UK.

What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

It's an economic arrangement between two or more countries where they agree either to end or significantly reduce customs duties on the maximum number of goods traded between them, besides cutting down non-trade barriers on a significant value of imports from partner countries and easing norms to promote services exports and bilateral investments.

Benefits of FTAs

Zero-duty entry into partner country markets helps in the diversification and expansion of export markets. Such pacts attract foreign investment to stimulate domestic manufacturing.

They allow access to raw materials, intermediate products and capital goods for value-added manufacturing.

FTAs signed by India so far

India has inked trade deals with Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Australia, the UAE, Mauritius, the 10-nation bloc ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and four European nations' bloc EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).

In addition, India is negotiating trade agreements with a number of its trading partners, including the US, the European Union (EU), Chile, Peru, and Israel.

India-New Zealand FTA

All Indian goods including labour-intensive sectors like textiles, plastic items, leather and engineering goods will enter at zero duty in New Zealand.

New Zealand has given a commitment to invest (FDI) $20 billion over 15 years.

India has secured commitments across a wide range of high-value services sectors including IT and IT-enabled services, professional services, education, financial services, tourism, construction and other business services.

The FTA Opens Skilled Employment Pathways through a new Temporary Employment Entry Visa pathway for Indian professionals in skilled occupations, with a quota of 5,000 visas at any given time and a stay of up to three years.
India's trade deficit with China is expected to reach $106 billion in 2025 as imports are rising faster than the country's exports to the neighbouring country, think tank GTRI said on Friday.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

It said that the country's exports to China fell from $23 billion in 2021 to $15.2 billion in 2022, stayed low at $14.5 billion in 2023, and then edged up to $15.1 billion in 2024.

In 2025, exports are estimated to improve to $17.5 billion, still well below earlier levels, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said in its report.

On the other hand, imports from the neighbouring country have climbed much faster - from $87.7 billion in 2021 to $102.6 billion in 2022, $91.8 billion in 2023 and $109.6 billion in 2024.

This calendar year, the country's inbound shipments are estimated at $123.5 billion.

"This has pushed India's trade deficit (difference between imports and exports) with China from $64.7 billion in 2021 to $94.5 billion in 2024, and an expected $106 billion in 2025," GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said.

On December 16, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada has said that the deficit is mainly due to imports of raw materials, intermediate goods and capital goods, like auto components, electronic parts and assemblies, mobile phone parts, machinery and its parts, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, which are used for making finished products which are also exported out of India.

"An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted to consider the trends with respect to imports and exports and recommend corrective action wherever required," he has said.

According to the GTRI, nearly 80 per cent of India's imports from China are concentrated in just four product groups - electronics, machinery, organic chemicals and plastics.

During January-October 2025, India's imports from China were dominated by electronics, which totalled $38 billion.

This included imports of mobile phone components ($8.6 billion), integrated circuits ($6.2 billion), laptops ($4.5 billion), solar cells and modules ($3 billion), flat-panel displays ($2.6 billion), lithium-ion batteries ($2.3 billion) and memory chips ($1.8 billion).

Machinery imports followed at $25.9 billion, with transformers alone accounting for $2.1 billion, highlighting India's dependence on Chinese capital goods for power and industrial projects, Srivastava said adding organic chemicals reached $11.5 billion, driven by antibiotics imports of $1.7 billion, underscoring China's dominance in pharmaceutical intermediates.

Plastics imports during the period stood at $6.3 billion, including $871 million of PVC resin, while steel and steel products amounted to $4.6 billion and medical and scientific equipment added $2.5 billion.

"Together, these figures show that India's import bill from China is anchored in electronics, machinery, chemicals and materials that are difficult to substitute quickly, explaining the persistence of a large bilateral trade deficit despite efforts to diversify supply chains," he added.

In November, India's exports to China rose by 90 per cent to $2.2 billion. During April-November, the exports were up 33 per cent to $12.2 billion.

Increasing exports of Naphtha, used in the plastic industry, is the biggest contributor to push the growth rate in November.

Electronics goods, including printed circuit boards and mobile phone components too recorded healthy growth during the month.
The country's largest airline IndiGo on Tuesday reported a loss of Rs 2,582.10 crore in the September quarter as higher forex losses and expenses impacted the bottom line, and it expects to induct the first long range Airbus A321 XLR aircraft in December.

Photograph: Priyanshu Singh/Reuters

The airline, which had a loss of Rs 986.7 crore in the year-ago period, said hedging actions and more revenues in foreign currencies from international operations will help cushion the currency movements.

It had a profit of Rs 2,176.30 crore in the June quarter.

Expanding its international network, IndiGo will be bringing in more planes on damp leases, and currently, the number of aircraft on ground (AOG) is in the 40s, with chief financial officer Gaurav M Negi, in an analysts call, saying the number is expected to remain range-bound till the end of the year.

"We have done very well on the operational performance," IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said during a virtual media briefing soon after announcement of the financial results.

According to a regulatory filing, InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo, raked in a total income of Rs 19,599.5 crore in the second quarter of the current financial year, higher than Rs 17,759 crore recorded in the same period a year ago.

In a release, the airline said that, including the impact of currency movement pertaining to dollar-based future obligations, the net loss for the September quarter aggregated to Rs 2,582.10 crore.

"Excluding the impact of currency movement, IndiGo reported a net profit of Rs 1,039 million as compared to a net loss of Rs 7,539 million during the same period last year," it added.

The net of supplementary rentals and aircraft repair and maintenance jumped 18.9 per cent to Rs 3,263 crore while the foreign exchange loss stood at Rs 2,892.1 crore in the latest September quarter.

In the year-ago period, foreign exchange loss was at Rs 240.6 crore.

Total expenses in the September quarter climbed 18.3 per cent to Rs 22,081.2 crore.

About the currency movements and rupee depreciation, Elbers said the airline has future dollar obligations in terms of leases and in terms of other things, and those fluctuations had to be incorporated in the financial results.

Also, the closure of a runway at the Delhi airport resulted in operations at reduced capacity for the airline from the national capital.

"Total income for the quarter ended September 2025 was Rs 195,995 million, an increase of 10.4 per cent over the same period last year.

"For the quarter, our passenger ticket revenues were INR 159,667 million, an increase of 11.2 per cent and ancillary revenues were INR 21,411 million, an increase of 14.2 per cent compared to the same period last year," the release said.

The airline's yield or rupee earned per kilometre rose 3.2 per cent to Rs 4.69 in the latest September quarter from Rs 4.55 in the year-ago period.

Elbers said the airline's optimised capacity deployment has enabled us to deliver a 10 per cent growth in topline revenue, excluding the impact of currency movements, an operational profit of Rs 104 crore compared to an operational loss last year.

"The year began with significant external challenges across the industry, but we saw stabilisation in July and a strong recovery through August and September. Looking ahead, we have scaled up our operational plans for the second half to meet demand and continue driving growth.

"With that, we have nudged up our capacity guidance for the full financial year 2026 to early teens growth," he said in the release.

According to him, the long-range A321 XLR plane -- which will have 183 economy class seats and 12 stretch seats -- is expected to come in the second half of December.

Among other aspects, Negi said the airline expects a slight uptick in costs due to the implementation of the second phase of the revised flight duty time limitation norms for pilots.

The airline, which had a 64.3 per cent domestic market share in September, is expanding its international network with leased Boeing 787 Dreamliners and the long-range A321 XLRs will allow it to fly to new destinations.

Shares of the airline fell over 1 per cent to close at Rs 5,635 apiece on the BSE.
The insurance industry is trying to get to grips with provisions in the proposed Insurance Amendment Bill, which gives additional powers to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), while there is ambiguity in the very definition of the insurance business, according to industry experts.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Apart from this, limits on the commission paid to intermediaries and restrictions on common directors are matters that are being examined.

Under the proposed Bill, the revised definition of the business allows insurers to enter into non-insurance contracts.

This has raised questions on whether the provision extends to non-insurance value-added services or is limited only to ancillary services.

Industry experts said the prohibition on there being common directors in insurance companies and banks or other financial institutions required clarity.

The Bill empowers the regulator to limit commissions paid to intermediaries, a provision that has been introduced as a facilitating norm and had earlier existed within the regulatory framework, experts noted.

According to insurers, the changes in investment norms are more progressive and flexible.

"On the commission front, the industry has already been adjusting to intermediary commission post-GST (goods and services tax) and has been considering the introduction of caps.

"The fact that this has now been explicitly mentioned in the Bill suggests that some norms could be introduced.

Shailaja Lall, partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, said: Some of these aspects are open to interpretation.

"While it is a move towards liberalisation, it is accompanied by caution, with several issues remaining subject to delegated legislation by the central government in consultation with the regulator.

Many of the proposed changes require greater clarity and debate, including the revised definition of insurance business that allows insurers to enter into non-insurance contracts, the removal of restrictions on investment in private companies, and the requirement for insurers to submit policyholder data to entities regulated and authorised by the Irdai, she added.

Industry sources said insurers were concerned particularly about a clause that states: A director or officer of an insurer shall not be a director or officer of any other insurer carrying on the same class of insurance business or of a banking company or of an investment company.

Several leading life and non-life insurers in India are backed by banks, whose representatives are serving on their boards.

Following the developments, the shares of listed insurance companies saw mixed movements.

HDFC Life Insurance fell 1.1 per cent to Rs 764.4 on the BSE, while ICICI Prudential Life Insurance declined 1.6 per cent to Rs 638.



SBI Life Insurance was marginally higher at Rs 2,036. Max Financial Services slipped 1.7 per cent to Rs 1,669.6, while ICICI Lombard General Insurance ended flat at Rs 1,951.2.



The Bill seeks to extend restrictions across all insurers  life, general and health  for directors or officers.

"This could create alignment issues with the Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (of the Securities and Exchange Board of India) for independent directors on material subsidiaries, as well as with Section 48A of the Insurance Act, Lall said.

The Bill permits insurers to invest in private companies, which was earlier prohibited. However, experts said the insurance regulator needed to ensure adequate policyholder protection and robust prudential controls to prevent misuse.

Under the proposed framework, life insurers are required to invest at least 25 per cent of their assets in government securities and another 25 per cent in government or other approved securities, with the remaining balance permitted in other investments.

General insurers must invest at least 20 per cent in government securities and a minimum of 10 per cent in government or approved securities, with the rest as permitted by Irdai.

Shivangi Sharma Talwar, partner at JSA, said: The Bill strengthens Irdais regulatory framework and, in specified circumstances, empowers it to issue regulations without publishing draft regulations when required in the public interest.

"It also explicitly authorises Irdai to prescribe limits on commissions for agents and insurance intermediaries and to frame regulations for the amalgamation of insurance and non-insurance businesses.

"In addition, it enhances regulatory oversight by increasing penalties from Rs 1 crore to up to Rs 10 crore, with the objective of creating an enabling yet protectionist environment.

Call for clarity
This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the scene after a collision between a school bus and a truck in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa. The death toll rose to 13 following a collision between a school transport vehicle and a truck on Monday morning in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, local authorities confirmed. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to 13 following a collision between a school transport vehicle and a truck on Monday morning in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, local authorities confirmed.

Preliminary reports indicated that 11 learners were declared dead at the scene, and the five critically injured are being treated in the hospital.

The number of fatalities later increased after the body of a pupil was discovered trapped beneath the overturned vehicle, and another child succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

Four pupils remain hospitalized with serious injuries as investigations continue into the cause of the crash continue.

Citing a briefing from the investigating team, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said that the school vehicle was trying to overtake several cars when it was confronted by the truck. The truck driver attempted to swerve to avoid the collision, but it was too late, he added.

Describing the accident as "unbearable," Lesufi urged stricter regulation for the growing private scholar transport sector.

Provincial police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said that the school transport vehicle had been carrying more passengers than legally permitted.

"If we count the numbers for now, it tells us that the Toyota Quantum was overloaded. Because the pupils we are talking about are 17," Masondo said, adding that the minibus is certified for 14 passengers.

Police said both drivers survived the crash. The driver of the minibus taxi will be formally questioned as part of a culpable homicide investigation after medical treatment.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness at the loss of life in the accident. "Our children are the nation's most precious assets and we must do all we can -- from observing the rules of the road to the quality of service providers appointed to transport scholars -- to protect learners," he said. 

This photo taken on Jan. 19, 2026 shows the scene after a collision between a school bus and a truck in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa. The death toll rose to 13 following a collision between a school transport vehicle and a truck on Monday morning in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, local authorities confirmed. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

Rescue workers clear the accident site in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll rose to 13 following a collision between a school transport vehicle and a truck on Monday morning in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, local authorities confirmed. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)

Rescue workers clear the accident site in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, Jan. 19, 2026. The death toll rose to 13 following a collision between a school transport vehicle and a truck on Monday morning in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, local authorities confirmed. (Photo by Shiraaz Mohamed/Xinhua)
Investors have put money in Ambuja Cements shares as the cement major has moved to consolidate its operations.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The Adani Group company has proposed to merge its subsidiaries ACC and Orient Cement into the parent entity.

This is a step that analysts believe will simplify group structure, unlock synergies, and strengthen its competitive positioning.

Ambuja Cements shares gained 4.3 per cent intraday, while those of Orient Cement and ACC soared 9.8 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively.

The shares, however, pared gains to close in the range of -1.37 per cent to 4.18 per cent.

By comparison, the BSE Sensex settled 0.05 per cent lower.

After the merger, analysts reckon that Ambuja Cements will emerge as one of the largest cement companies in India by capacity.

This is in line with the companys strategic plan to increase cement production capacity from 107 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 155 mtpa by FY28.

They highlight operational efficiencies, cost optimisation, and balance-sheet strengthening as key benefits of the move.

Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL), for instance, said the proposed amalgamation would streamline Ambuja Cements corporate structure and improve capital allocation.

According to the brokerage, the merger will reduce complexity, eliminate cross-holdings, and enhance transparency for investors.

The merger will enable more efficient allocation of capital and management, unlock scale benefits, and enhance long-term shareholder value.

"The merger will simplify and rationalise the network, branding, and sales promotion-related spending, helping optimise costs and improve margin by Rs 100 per tonne.

"Besides, the merger will facilitate achieving targeted cost, margin expansion, and growth metrics over the medium-to-long term, it said in a report.

Deal contours

According to the scheme of arrangement, Ambuja Cements will issue 328 equity shares (face value: Rs 2 per share) for every 100 equity shares (face value: Rs 10/shares) of ACC, and 33 equity shares (face value: Rs 2/share) for every 100 equity shares (face value: Rs 10/share) of Orient Cement.

While the deal values ACC at par with the current market price, it valued Orient Cement around 9 per cent premium to Mondays closing price.

Besides, given the ongoing merger of Sanghi Industries and Penna Cement with Ambuja, 12 equity shares of Ambuja will be issued for every 100 equity shares of Sanghi Industries.

Ambuja will also pay Rs 321.5/share to the eligible shareholders of Penna Cement.

The deal will lead to an equity dilution of around 12 per cent for Ambuja Cements, reducing the promoter group to 60.94 per cent from 67.65 per cent.

As the deal could help create a pan-Indian cement power house, analysts believe the merger could strengthen Ambuja Cements pricing power and bargaining position with suppliers and logistics partners, given the expanded scale of operations.

The combined entity will have a wider geographic footprint, particularly strengthening its presence in central and southern India, where Orient Cement has meaningful exposure. It will also help in achieving the managements target of increasing clinker capacity from 73 million tonnes (mt) to 81 mt by FY27 and 96 MT by FY28.

It would reduce total cost per tonne to Rs 4,000 by FY26, Rs 3,800/ tonne by FY27 and Rs 3,600-3,650/tonne by FY28, the report said.

At the current market price, we see the transaction as neutral (with a slight negative bias) for ACC investors, while mildly positive for Orient shareholders.

"Further, commercial operations were already running as a consolidated unit (ACC + Ambuja + Orient + Penna + Sanghi).

"Hence, we see this amalgamation having a neutral (with a positive bias) effect on our earnings estimates, said analysts at Emkay Global Financial Services.

They retain a target price of Rs 650 and an add rating.

It maintained its sell rating on ACC stock with a target of Rs 1,600.

Motilal Oswal, too, said the deal appears to be neutral for ACC, but positive for Ambuja Cements shareholders. It maintained its buy rating on Ambuja with a share price target of Rs 750.

JM Financial, too, maintained buy on Ambuja with a target of Rs 700 as it expects the companys consolidated blended earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda)/tonne to increase from Rs 795 in FY25 to Rs 1,250 by FY28, amid higher volumes and improved profitability.
Civil unrest in Iran has started impacting India's basmati rice exports to the country, leading to a sharp fall in domestic prices, as exporters face payment delays and mounting uncertainties, an industry body said on Tuesday.

Photograph: Rajendra Jadhav/Reuters

The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) urged exporters to reassess risks on Iranian contracts and adopt secured payment mechanisms, warning against over-leveraging inventories meant for the Iranian market.

India exported $468.10 worth of basmati rice to Iran during April-November of 2025-26 fiscal, totalling 5.99 lakh tonnes, trade data showed.

Iran is India's top basmati rice export destination, but the current financial year has seen growing stress on order flows, payment cycles, and shipment schedules due to the prevailing instability.

The impact is now clearly visible in domestic mandis.

Over the past week alone, prices of key basmati varieties have registered a steep decline, reflecting buyer hesitation, delayed contracts and heightened risk perception among exporters.

The domestic price of basmati rice variety 1121 has come down to Rs 80 per kg from Rs 85 per kg last week, while varieties 1509 and 1718 declined to Rs 65 per kg from Rs 70 per kg.

"Iran has historically been a pillar market for Indian basmati.

"However, the current internal turmoil has disrupted trade channels, slowed payments and dented buyer confidence," IREF National president Prem Garg said in a statement.

He said exporters must exercise heightened caution, particularly with respect to credit exposure and shipment timelines.

Importers have conveyed their inability to honour existing commitments and remit payments to India, creating uncertainty for exporters, the federation said.

IREF has issued an advisory and appealed to stakeholders to diversify into alternative markets across West Asia, Africa and Europe to cushion any prolonged slowdown in Iran-bound shipments.

"We are not sounding an alarm, but urging prudence. In periods of geopolitical and internal instability, trade is often the first casualty.

"A calibrated approach is essential to protect both exporters and farmers," Garg noted.

US Tariff Concerns

The federation also addressed concerns over the recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, indicating that countries continuing trade with Iran may face a 25 per cent tariff.

IREF clarified that Indian rice exports to the US are already subject to a 50 per cent tariff, up from 10 per cent earlier.

Despite this, Indian rice exports to the US have remained resilient. India exported 2,40,518 tonnes of Basmati and non-Basmati rice to the US during April-November 2025-26, compared to 2,35,554 tonnes in the entire 2024-25 fiscal.

The US is the 10th largest market for Indian rice globally and the fourth largest for Basmat rice.

"There is limited clarity on whether the proposed 25 per cent tariff would be levied over and above the existing 50 per cent duty," the federation noted, adding that it does not foresee a significant decline in exports even if tariffs rise further, given the unique position of Indian Basmati in global markets.

However, IREF expressed greater concern over developments in Iran, where disruptions in local markets have affected trade settlements.

Importers have conveyed their inability to honour commitments and remit payments to India, creating heightened uncertainty.

While similar crises have occurred in the past, the trajectory of the current situation remains unclear and is expected to cause further disturbances in prices, liquidity, and trade sentiment in the weeks ahead, the federation added.
'The impact will be minimal and it will only increase compliance cost on consent, data flows, localisation timelines, internal audits, data mapping, and new tooling.'

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

Indian information technology service providers will have a short learning curve to adapt to India's digital landscape after the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act was notified as they have already been following such regulations in other parts of the world, especially Europe, for the last few years, according to experts.

While compliance costs will surely go up, some estimate it to be in double digits, that is not expected to materially impact operations or dent margins because Indian companies have been gearing up for this for the last two years since the Act came into existence.

All firms have had enough time to beef up their systems and house cybersecurity professionals to ensure minimal breach.

The impact will be minimal because most of the companies, barring TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra, have minimum India-facing businesses and clients in the BFSI, telecom, healthcare, government, or business process outsourcing and customer relationship management (CRM) space.

The four companies, however, will have to set up their systems to be compliant.

TCS handles critical government projects such as passport issuance and post office modernisation programmes.

Infosys handles the goods and services tax (GST) portal.

Tech Mahindra is part of the IndiaAI Mission to develop sovereign large language models (LLM) with a trillion parameters, while LTIMindtree was recently awarded a contract of about $100 million by the income tax department for the PAN 2.0 project.

"DPDP 2025 impacts only IT services firms with exposure to the India market as they handle Indian citizens' personal data," said Gaurav Vasu, founder of UnearthInsights.

"The impact will be minimal and it will only increase compliance cost on consent, data flows, localisation timelines, internal audits, data mapping, and new tooling," added Vasu.

India business contributed 9 per cent to TCS' revenue for the second quarter ended September 30, while it was just 3 per cent for Infosys.

Some of the short-term challenges that these companies could face include procurement delays for banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, and government-related programmes that may push new scope of work (SOW) by a couple of quarters.

Mini Gupta, EY India consulting partner, said these new rules give an opportunity for firms operating in India to not only ensure diligence for themselves but also for their third parties in their extended supply chain, very similar to climate goals of Scope 1, 2, and 3.

"If those vendors are smaller organisations and are non-compliant, they may claim bankruptcy if hit with massive back to back penalties.

"It is critical to do a thorough diligence going ahead in selecting the right third parties with right governance practices," she added.

With consent at the core of the rules, companies will also have to rethink how they use customer data to train internal AI models, including removing any training data where consent is not granted.

Jignesh Oza, a partner at Deloitte India, believed most of these companies largely know what is to be done.

"If you have a privacy compliant product, you go ahead and become a good differentiator.

"While the costs will go up, one needs to comply with the regulations too.

"That means better engineering practices, which are privacy compliant and focusing on nuances like privacy by design.

"This will mean your customers are compliant too and you will have better serviceability in the market."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Months after picking up 24.21 per cent stake in private sector lender Yes Bank, Japans Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has received the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBIs) in-principle approval for setting up a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) in India.

Photograph: Yuya Shino/Reuters

In May last year, Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, which will be picking up a controlling stake (up to 60 per cent) in another private sector lender RBL Bank for $3 billion, had also received regulatory nod to set up WoS.

RBL will be a subsidiary of NBD.

SMBC will be the fourth foreign lender to set up a WoS in India.

SMBC currently carries banking business in India in branch mode through its four branches located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru.

The in-principle approval has been granted to the bank for setting up a WoS through conversion of its existing branches in India.

SMBC is a WoS of the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG).

SMFG has a WoS, SMFG India Credit, which is among the largest diversified non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in India.

The RBI would consider granting a licence for commencement of banking business in WoS mode under Section 22(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to SMBC on being satisfied that the bank has complied with the requisite conditions laid down by the central bank as part of in-principle approval, the RBI press release said.

After the transaction with Yes, SMBC became the largest shareholder while State Bank of Indias (SBIs) stake fell to 10.78 per cent.

SBI and other banks had invested in Yes Bank as part of the latters reconstruction scheme.

In March 2020, several banks led by SBI took 79 per cent stake in Yes Bank and helped the lender to stay afloat.

Initially, SBI and seven other private banks, which had invested in Yes during its reconstruction phase in March 2020, collectively sold their 20 per cent stake to SMBC for Rs 13,482 crore.

Current regulations allow foreign banks to operate as a branch or a WoS of the parent entity.

Currently, DBS Bank India and SBM Bank India work as wholly owned subsidiaries.

A local presence gives these banks more flexibility than operating as a foreign branch.

Earlier, Moodys Ratings had said the deal with Yes will enhance SMFGs presence in India, which it considers has both medium- and long-term strong growth potential.

At end-March 2025, the number of foreign banks operating in branch/WoS mode in India declined to 44, following the exit of one bank during the year.

The change in the number of branches of foreign banks reflects their continuous realignment of global business, the RBI said in its recent Trends & Progress report. As on March 31, 2025, there were 775 branches of foreign banks in India and 31 representative offices.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal of Reliance Industries Limited and two of its officials against a decision of the Securities Appellate Tribunal, which had upheld a penalty imposed by markets regulator Sebi for not making prompt clarification to stock exchange about the Jio-Facebook deal.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

In June 2022, the capital markets regulator Sebi imposed a penalty totalling Rs 30 lakh on RIL and two individuals, Savithri Parekh and K Sethuraman, for not making prompt clarification to the stock exchange pertaining to the Jio-Facebook deal, which was disclosed through media reports.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) penalty was upheld by the SAT on May 2, 2025.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined to interfere with the SAT ruling and effectively affirmed Sebi's findings that RIL and its compliance officers failed to promptly disclose unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) concerning the high-profile stake sale.

The top court said the SAT findings did not merit interference and moreover, no question of law was there needing adjudication.

Sebi's adjudicating officer had in June 2022 imposed the Rs 30 lakh combined penalty after concluding that RIL violated Principle 4 of Schedule A of the Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) Regulations.

The regulator held that the company did not issue timely confirmations or denials in response to widespread media reports in March-April 2020 speculating on Facebook's investment in Jio Platforms.

The SAT upheld the Sebi's order.

"I find that the news pertaining JIO Facebook deal came out on March 24 and 25, 2020, and the information to the stock exchanges about the media release titled "Facebook to invest Rs 43,574 crore in Jio Platforms for a 9.99 per cent stake" was made on April 22, 2020, i.e. after 28 days and this calls for an appropriate penalty," Sebi Adjudicating Officer Barnali Mukherjee had said in an order.

The regulator said Reliance Industries had the obligation to have enveloped the unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI).

However, having come to know about the selective availability of the information it was incumbent upon the company to provide due clarification on its own.

Thus, Parekh and Sethurama should have clarified the exchanges on the news item, he had said.

It was observed that Reliance Industries, Parekh and Sethurama did not comply with the provision of principles of fair disclosure of unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI), which states there should be prompt dissemination of unpublished price sensitive information that gets disclosed selectively, inadvertently or otherwise to make such information generally available and did not issue any clarification on the same as required under LODR regulations.

Under the LODR (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) rules, the listed entity may on its own initiative also confirm or deny any reported event or information to stock exchanges.

Accordingly, Sebi held them liable for the violation of the provisions of principles of fair disclosure for purposes of the code of practices and procedures for Fair Disclosure of UPSI under LODR regulations.
The Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack has been labelled the most economically damaging cyber incident in UK history, exposing the deep vulnerability of interconnected supply chains.

IMAGE: Production line at Jaguar Land Rover's factory in Solihull, Britain. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

The recent cyber-hack of Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been designated as the most economically damaging cyber event to ever hit the UK, causing an estimated financial impact of 1.9 billion ($2.55 billion) and affecting more than 5,000 organisations, according to an independent report released on Wednesday.

The assessment, published by the Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC) -- an independent, non-profit body comprising industry specialists including the former head of Britain's National Cyber Security Centre -- classified the attack as a Category 3 'systemic event' on its five-point scale.

'The CMC model estimates the event caused a UK financial impact of 1.9 billion and affected over 5,000 UK organisations,' the centre said.

'The modelled range of loss is between 1.6 billion and 2.1 billion, though this could rise if operational technology has been significantly impacted or if production recovery takes longer than anticipated.'

The cyberattack, which struck in late August, forced a complete shutdown of production through September across JLR's global operations.

The company's internal IT systems were severely disrupted, halting manufacturing at its Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton plants.

The outage also cascaded through its multi-tier manufacturing supply chain, disrupting dealer systems, delaying supplier orders, and creating widespread uncertainty across the automotive sector.

According to analysts, the automaker was losing roughly 50 million per week during the shutdown.

In late September, the British government stepped in with a 1.5 billion loan guarantee to help JLR support its supplier network.

JLR began a phased restart of its operations in early October, announcing a new financing solution to support supplier cashflow.

'Our suppliers are central to our success, and today we are launching a new financing arrangement that will enable us to pay our suppliers early, using the strength of our balance sheet to support their cashflows,' said JLR CEO Adrian Mardell at the time.

'We know there is much more to do, but our recovery is firmly underway.'

Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

The CMC's report notes that the vast majority of the financial losses stemmed from the halt in manufacturing output at JLR and its suppliers.

The disruption also rippled through logistics providers, dealerships, and local economies, underscoring the vulnerability of interconnected supply chains.

The centre added that while the event did not directly endanger lives as seen in cyber incidents targeting healthcare, the human impact was significant.

Many suppliers were forced to take measures to maintain business viability -- including reducing pay, banking hours, or laying off staff -- heightening risks to job security and household stability.

'The threats to job security can have serious consequences for mental and physical well-being, weaken household resilience, and be compounded by existing social, regional, or economic inequalities,' the CMC warned.

The CMC's analysis underscores both the economic and societal toll of the attack, emphasising the need for greater transparency and resilience across critical industries.

It also places the JLR incident alongside a string of high-profile UK cyber events, including the April breach at retailer Marks & Spencer, which resulted in an estimated 300 million loss after its online services were down for two months.

JLR has not commented directly on the CMC's findings but is expected to provide further updates when it reports its financial results in November.

'At 1.9 billion in financial loss,' the CMC concluded, 'this incident appears to be the most economically damaging cyber event ever recorded in the UK -- a stark reminder of the fragility of digital infrastructure within the modern manufacturing economy.'

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Karan Fries is a synthetic cow breed developed by the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal.

IMAGE: The Karan Fries cow breed. Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

Karan Fries -- the name may sound unfamiliar. But for animal breeders and agriculturists, it could be the Next Big Thing in Indian dairying.

Karan Fries is a synthetic cow breed developed by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana, through crossbreeding Holstein Friesian -- a globally recognised high-yielding breed -- with India's indigenous Tharparkar zebu cattle, known for their hardiness and resilience.

IMAGE: The Holstein cow. Karan Fries is a related crossbreed developed from Holstein Friesian and Tharparkar zebu cattle. Photograph: Kind courtesy Hayden Soloviev/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Karan Fries cows yield an average of 3,550 kilogram of milk per lactation (around 10 months, approximately 11.6 kg/day).

Top performers have produced up to 5,851 kg in 305 days (around 19.1 kg/day), with a peak daily yield of 46.5 kg, reflecting strong genetic potential under Indian management conditions.

India's indigenous cattle breeds have an average daily yield of 3 to 4 kg, while exotic breeds yield about 8.12 to 9 kg per day.

Indigenous breeds typically produce 1,000 to 2,000 kg of milk per lactation.

Karan Fries, along with another high-yielding synthetic cow breed, Vrindavani, and 16 other livestock and poultry breeds -- taking the country's total number of registered livestock and poultry breeds to 246 -- were presented registration certificates by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at an event organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources.

India now has 242 indigenous and 4 synthetic registered breeds

IMAGE: The Indian cow breed Tharparkar bull. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pavanaja/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Of the 16 newly registered breeds, 14 are indigenous.

These include Medini and Rohilkhandi cattle from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh; Melghati buffalo from Maharashtra; goat breeds such as Palamu (Jharkhand) and Udaipuri (Uttarakhand); and a mithun breed, Nagami, from Nagaland.

The list also features poultry and waterfowl varieties: Mala chicken (Jharkhand); Kodo duck (Jharkhand); Kudu duck (Odisha); Kuttanad duck (Kerala); Manipuri duck (Manipur); Nagi duck (Assam); Rajdigheli goose (Assam).

One synthetic sheep breed, Avishaan from Rajasthan, was also registered.

With these additions, India now has 242 indigenous and four synthetic registered breeds.

While Karan Fries, developed by NDRI, is a cross between indigenous Tharparkar cows and Holstein Friesian bulls, Vrindavani -- developed by the ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh -- is a composite of exotic breeds such as Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Jersey, along with the indigenous Hariana cattle.

'After several generations of inter se breeding, the population of Karan Fries has now stabilised, combining the productivity of the Holstein Friesian with the resilience of the Tharparkar,' an NDRI statement said.

IMAGE: The Tharparkar cow, an Indian cow breed. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pavanaja/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

"Over four decades of dedicated breeding research and scientific innovation by ICAR-NDRI scientists have culminated in the development of a superior dairy germplasm -- the Karan Fries breed -- characterised by a black-and-white coat, absence of a hump, and excellent adaptability to hot and humid subtropical conditions," said Dheer Singh, director, ICAR-NDRI.

The milk production potential of Karan Fries is nearly twice that of most indigenous cattle breeds in the country, Singh added.

Vikas Vohra, head of the animal genetics and breeding division at NDRI, said continuous genetic monitoring and scientific selection have helped the Karan Fries population achieve stability and uniformity in production traits.

This means the breed has been genetically stabilised to overcome the F1 (first filial generation) breeding limitation, is adapted to India's agro-climatic conditions, and can serve as a foundation stock for crossbred cattle improvement across the country.

At present, Karan Fries animals are being reared and placed with farmers across the districts of Karnal, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Kaithal, Jind, and Yamuna Nagar in Haryana.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
'Raising the retrenchment, layoff and closure threshold to 300 workers for prior government permission enables hire-and-fire in more than 90 per cent of the Indian workplaces. More than 12,00,000 disputes are now pending for adjudication with an average disposal period ranging from 3 to five years for more than 75 per cent of the disputes.'

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The provision in the new labour codes notified to increase the threshold for requiring the government's approval for undertaking retrenchment, layoffs, and closure to 300 workers from 100 workers at present has drawn criticism from certain trade unions and observers.

However, overly rigid labour laws have historically made firms wary of growing beyond certain sizes, as crossing low statutory thresholds exposes them to intrusive approvals, higher compliance burdens, and reduced flexibility in managing their workforce.

Tapan Sen, general secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions says that the new Industrial Relations code 'cripples' the right to strike by imposing various conditions, for all sectors, banning strikes during and after conciliation and extending restrictions across all establishments.

"Raising the retrenchment, layoff and closure threshold to 300 workers for prior government permission enables hire-and-fire in more than 90 per cent of the Indian workplaces. More than 12,00,000 disputes are now pending for adjudication with an average disposal period ranging from 3 to five years for more than 75 per cent of the disputes," he added.

The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs), comprising 10 Central Trade Unions including (CITU), had called for protests from November 26.

Santosh Mehrotra, research fellow at IZA Institute of Labour economics says that provisions like raising the strike advance notice period from 14 days to 60 days and increasing the threshold for requiring government approval for undertaking layoffs curtail bargaining powers of trade unions and workers and give more power to the employers.

"In any case, firms are bypassing these provisions by counting any workers above a legal threshold as contract or casual workers, hence outside the law's purview," he added.

Echoing similar thoughts, social scientist Dhiraj Nite of Ambedkar University says the new codes provide a 'free rein' to hire and fire in the labour-management relations and the disciplinary/punitive action for breaches of labour codes will officially become weak, given the reliance on self-declaration of compliance by the employers.

Sen contends that the wage code removes the earlier provision allowing fines of up to 10 times for even the first delay in wage payments, and excludes MNREGA from timely wage payment rules, effectively letting the government evade responsibility for paying rural workers on time.

However, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) led Confederation of Central Trade Unions (CONCENT) welcomed the notification of the new labour codes as a "landmark and progressive reform" that replaces fragmented, outdated colonial-era labour laws -- thus benefiting 400 million unorganised workers.

Meanwhile, K R Shyam Sundar, professor of practice, Management Development Institute says that labour is a concurrent subject and the new codes require each state to notify its own rules locally which will make the rollout uneven.

As of now, five states and Union territories are yet to pre-publish draft rules under any one of the four codes -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Delhi.

"One hopes the implementation aspects of the codes will be taken care of as they touch the lives of millions of people. But the legislative process has left a lot to be desired as it has put undue weightage on the rulemaking process. There is every possibility that it will again lead to a maze of rules and regulations," he added.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
2025 has seen a sharp rise in lawsuits targeting IT services and consulting companies, which now increasingly offer proprietary digital platforms and cloud services.

Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Bethany Drouin/Pixabay

Legal disputes in the information technology services industry are on the rise as firms increasingly move toward platform-based and intellectual property-driven business models.

The latest to face such a case is Mumbai-headquartered Hexaware Technologies.

United States-based firm Natsoft and its subsidiary Updraft have sued Hexaware in America for $500 million for patent infringement.

Natsoft in its filing has said that Hexaware has misused confidential information and technology shared during their partnership to build its own competing platforms.

Hexaware in a regulatory filing said: 'As per the information available on website of United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, we note that a (complaint) has been filed by Natsoft Corporation and Updraft LLC ("Plaintiffs") against the Company and its material subsidiary 'Hexaware Technologies Inc' in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, alleging infringement of certain patents and breach of contract.

'At present, the Company has not received any notice or formal communication from the US court or from the Plaintiffs in relation to the aforesaid proceedings.'

This is not the first time that such an intellectual property (IP) infringement case has been filed against an Indian IT services firm.

Tata Consultancy Services, the country's largest services provider, too was sued by Epic Systems Corporation.

Epic filed the case against TCS in 2014, alleging that the company had 'stolen' its intellectual property. The case was filed against TCS and Tata America International Corporation.

The initial damages claimed were $940 million. However, in 2023 the United States supreme court had confirmed punitive damages of $140 million against TCS.

Infosys, India's second-largest IT services firm, is in a court battle with Cognizant on the theft of trade secrets.

While Infosys filed a counterclaim, the court has asked the companies to settle their differences.

Analysts say such cases will increase in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

"AI is causing tech services firms to offer intellectual property and hence litigation between software firms and tech services will increase. This means more tech services firms sue other tech services firms," said Peter Bendor-Samuel, founder and executive chairman, Everest group.

Jaspreet Singh, partner and chief revenue officer (consulting), Grant Thornton, said patent litigation was concentrated among product-based tech giants, especially in the hardware, mobile, and semiconductor sectors.

2025 has seen a sharp rise in such lawsuits targeting IT services and consulting companies, which now increasingly offer proprietary digital platforms and cloud services.

"The use of generative AI and large-language models by legal teams is making the identification of potential infringement and prior art much faster and more rigorous, which expands the scope of litigation activity. Rapid AI adoption means services firms increasingly own or use patented technology, leading to patent-enforcement strategies," he added.

Jaspreet Bindra, Co-founder, AI & Beyond believed as AI becomes central to delivery, the chances of overlap and unintentional reuse of code, data, or trained models rise significantly.

"It is not always deliberate infringement but often a byproduct of rapid innovation outpacing legal definitions. We are entering an era where contracts will need to clearly define IP ownership, training data rights, and the reuse boundaries of AI-generated assets. These are the growing pains of an industry that is shifting from pure services to AI-powered intelligence," he added.

Another reason for the higher number of cases of litigation is the intensity of competition and the similarity of delivery platforms.

"It is likely that the slowdown contributes to this as there is aggressive pricing and need to take share from other firms. Hence the increased completive conditions foster this kind of behaviour," added Bendor-Samuel.

"We anticipate that as AI dominates the tech services industry, competition will increase further."

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
The Adani group, which operates across multiple infrastructure sectors, with 12 listed entities in India and a combined market capitalisation of about $200 billion, remains anchored by strong assets and robust cash flows, according to a Bank of America (BofA) report.

Photograph: Reuters

BofA said the holding companies of Adanis US dollar bond issuers have reported better fundamentals over the last two years underpinned by Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) growth on capacity expansion along with moderation in leverage.

The group, which has earmarked $100 billion of investments by 2039, is planning to list several of its verticals, starting with the airport company, in the next few years.

The report projects that Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd will see further improvement in its credit profile supported by its diversified ports, sticky volumes, and efficient operations.

BofA estimates the companys leverage to remain around 2.5 times despite hefty investments.

Similarly, Adani Transmission and Adani Electricity Mumbai are expected to maintain steady credit profiles supported by their diversified operations and regulated and/or long-term fixed-price contracts, with leverage staying under six times and coverage above two times in the next three years.

The Adani group faced global scrutiny and investigations by domestic regulators after a 2023 short-seller report alleging governance lapses and regulatory breaches, BofA said.

Despite the US government scrutiny, the group continued to showcase robust funding access at competitive pricing supported by its robust asset base and strong financial profile, it noted.

According to BofA, Indian regulators concluded most inspections without adverse findings.

While rating agencies assigned negative outlooks citing governance risks, the absence of rating downgrades over the last three years validates the groups sound operations and structural protections, and reflects strong market access, the report said.

It, however, cautioned that an unfavourable outcome from ongoing investigations remains a key risk factor.

BofA analysts maintained a constructive stance on Adanis dollar bonds, citing operational resilience and continued liability management.

Operational resilience and continued liability management underpin our constructive stance on the complex despite year-to-date tightening, the report said.

The bank is "Overweight" on APSEZ 2031s and 2032s, ADINCO 2031s, Adani Transmission 2036s, and ADANEM 2030s, supported by strong credit fundamentals and attractive relative valuation, and Marketweight on several other bonds.

The report said the groups 13 outstanding US dollar bonds  totalling $5.7 billion  have shown high volatility since the short-seller report of January 2023.

Yet the group continued to showcase funding access at reasonable cost.

Following the US indictment, the bonds widened by 88-292 basis points (bps) but later tightened by 80-325 bps, with most now trading near or below pre-indictment levels.

Managements buyback of APSEZ, Adani Transmission, and Adani Electricity Mumbai bonds through tender offers and repurchases actively since the US indictment has also supported the tightening, it said.

Even after the rebound, the Adani complex is still offering value when compared with India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China IG indices, and the US BBB index.

The report highlighted improvement in leverage metrics: APSEZs net-debt-to-Ebitda ratio declined from 3.8 to 2.4 between 2022-23 (FY23) and FY25; ADTINs from 5.5 to 5.0; ADANEMs from 4.7 to 3.8; and ADINCOs from 2.5 to 1.8 over the same period.

An unfavourable development from the US or domestic investigations will have limited effect on operations of the USD bond issuers, in our view, BofA said.

It expects APSEZ, ADTIN, and Adani Green Energy Ltd to continue to support access to funding for both expansion and refinancing as seen over the last two years.

We are not Underweight on any bond as we expect fundamentals to continue to improve or remain stable for all three ultimate issuers  APSEZ, ADTIN and AGEL  and technicals remain supportive as well, the report concluded.
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan recorded a current account deficit of 244 million U.S. dollars in December 2025, reversing a surplus posted in the previous month, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed on Monday.

According to the central bank, the deficit followed a surplus of 98 million dollars, which was earlier reported to be at 100 million dollars, in November 2025 and a surplus of 454 million dollars in December 2024.

In December 2025, Pakistan's total exports of goods and services rose to 3.69 billion dollars, up nearly 20 percent from 3.09 billion dollars recorded in November.

Meanwhile, total imports stood at 7.04 billion dollars during the month, compared with 5.69 billion dollars in November, reflecting a sharp increase in import payments, the data showed.

Workers' remittances continued to provide support to the external account. Remittance inflows totaled 3.6 billion dollars in December, up from 3.2 billion dollars recorded in November, according to the SBP.

For the first half of the current fiscal year (July-December FY2026), Pakistan's current account posted a cumulative deficit of 1.174 billion dollars, compared with a surplus of 957 million dollars in the same period last year, the central bank said. 
A deepening payment paralysis in Telanganas liquor industry is beginning to choke manufacturing units and strain supplies, employment, and the broader investment landscape, industry bodies have warned, as unpaid dues accumulate to levels they describe as unprecedented and severe.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters

Indias alcoholic beverage (alcobev) industry groups  the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), Brewers Association of India (BAI), and International Spirits and Wines Association of India  have jointly raised the alarm.

In a statement, the bodies observed that although alcobev sales and state revenue collections surged in October 2025 on the back of festival demand, payments to suppliers dropped sharply.

The state released nearly 50 per cent less to manufacturers in October compared to the average disbursement over the previous four months.

Despite repeated meetings with senior officials including the deputy chief minister and the excise minister in October 2025  and assurances of clearing long-pending dues from MayAugust 2024  payments barely moved.

After releasing about Rs 484.58 crore by mid-October, the state stopped disbursements entirely, pushing total overdue outstanding to roughly Rs 3,800 crore (including nearly Rs 1,900 crore of new outstanding in 202526), breaching the 45-day contractual payment cycle.

A company executive said, Telangana has stopped payments to liquor companies since October 15 and dues from JuneAugust 2024 are still pending.

"We are in touch with authorities, but we have no clarity on when payments will resume.

He added, It is a high-volume, low-margin state, and these payment delays are creating major working-capital issues.

These are not disputed amounts; they are published on the Telangana State Beverages Corporation (TSBCL) website, said Vinod Giri, director general, BAI.

Put together, the industry is staring at more than the listed amount in unpaid dues, with no visibility on when it will be cleared.

Giri said the long delays are stretching companies far beyond their financial limits.

Liquor manufacturing in India operates under tight, government-regulated margins.

Firms depend on predictable payment cycles because they must continuously buy grain, glass, packaging, and pay for logistics  all upfront.

They cannot absorb this ever-increasing working-capital burden indefinitely.

Though companies have continued supplies to avoid disruption, Giri warned that sustained pressure could force tough calls.

According to CIABC, Telangana earns an estimated Rs 30,000 crore annually from liquor sales, or Rs 2,8003,000 crore a month.

Yet suppliers routinely receive only a fraction of this. In 202425, the state accounted for about 3.7 million cases and contributed roughly 9 per cent to national sales.

The interest cost alone at 12 per cent  the burden is enormous, said Anant Iyer, director general, CIABC.

The interest cost alone at 12 per cent  the burden is enormous, said Anant Iyer, director general, CIABC.

For many small and mid-sized suppliers, the interest accrued on ballooning overdue receivables now exceeds their earnings from sales to TSBCL.

The delays, he said, pose an existential threat.

Attempts to find solutions have made little headway.

One proposed remedy was to use revenue from the recent retail-licence e-lottery, which is expected to generate nearly Rs 3,000 crore, to clear old dues.

All we get are assurances. There is still no clarity on when payments will be made.

"The state earns about Rs 3,300 crore a month from alcohol sales but is not paying roughly Rs 800 crore of it, which is the industrys share, Giri said.

Industry representatives suggest that competing fiscal commitments  including flood relief, teacher salaries, and welfare programmes  appear to be taking precedence, leaving supplier payments with lower priority.

The broader concern, Iyer said, is reputational. Companies have invested heavily in Telangana through breweries, distilleries, and bottling plants.

For now, supply lines are holding  but just barely.

Without a sustainable, transparent payment mechanism, industry experts warn the situation could tip from financial stress into market disruption.
Construction major L&T is gearing up to expand its footprint in the global nuclear supply chain, a senior company official has said, while calling for amendments to key legislations on the domestic front to pave the way for the entry of private players and foreign capital necessary for capacity enhancement.

Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

Even as 80 per cent of its nuclear business remains domestic, the company expects international opportunities to rise sharply over the next few years as countries revive stalled nuclear expansion plans and push for small modular reactors.

Currently, our international engagement is primarily in the fusion reactor being built in France.

"We are exploring opportunities to be the international supply chain partner for nuclear island and operating plant services.

"Dialogue is progressing well, Anil Parab, whole-time director & senior executive vice-president, L&T (Heavy Engineering & CE & IPDD), told Business Standard in an interaction.

In the time to come, we expect a large opportunity in international markets in the US, the EU, the UK and Asia, he said.

Global nuclear power generation capacity is expected to rise from 378 gigawatts (gw) to 575 gw by 2040, representing an increase in nuclear energys share of the global electricity mix from around 9 per cent to 12 per cent.

On the home front, Parab said that private sector participation still faces structural challenges.

He advocated amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and Nuclear Liability Act, expansion of regulatory capacity, standardisation of designs, and building of a deeper, nuclear-trained talent pool for the sector that requires highest safety standards.

He said that the amendment of the Atomic Energy Act will pave the way for the entry of private players and foreign direct investment ownership, attracting large funds necessary for capacity enhancement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that the country will soon open its nuclear energy sector to private companies, ending a six-decade-long state monopoly.

Parab said that while most nuclear projects globally saw limited progress over the last 10-15 years, first because of the Fukushima disaster and later due to the Covid-19 pandemic, momentum may now return as more than 32 countries aim to expand their nuclear power generation capacity threefold in the next two decades.

With grid stability becoming a challenge in India and the extraordinary energy demand from hyper-scale data centres and artificial intelligence (AI), compact footprints and clean energy sources with 24/7 availability are needed, according to Parab.

Domestically, L&T expects strong growth as India moves to expand nuclear capacity from 8.9 gw to 100 gw by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat programme.

The company views this shift as central to maintaining grid stability, meeting its net-zero 2070 target, and decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, and refining.

Parab said SMRs and micro modular reactors (MMRs) are likely to play a crucial role in new demand pockets such as data centres.

India is pushing forward on indigenous SMR design, backed by a Rs 20,000 crore research allocation in the last Union Budget.

L&T is working closely with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) on this programme while also partnering with global players, including Holtec, EDF, Westinghouse, TerraPower, and Clean Core Thorium Energy, as SMRs are currently only operating at two places, and the modern Gen III+ SMR is either in the design or licensing, or construction phase, not in operation, according to Parab.

He said L&T has the capacity to meet the emerging demand.

The companys Hazira plant, originally built in 1980s targeting 10 gw of nuclear capacity by 2,000, has since been expanded nearly fivefold.

The current nuclear program hardly uses 15 per cent of our capacity. We have all the required investments. We are one of the largest nuclear-trained talent pools in the world, he said.

L&T is a market leader in manufacturing, construction, and design of nuclear island critical equipment including steam generators, reactors and safety heat exchangers.

It also manufactures special steel, heavy forgings and the nuclear steam supply pipeline.

Through its joint venture (JV) partners, it has capabilities for plant engineering and turbine generator manufacturing.

It is also a major supplier for Indias fast breeder reactor programme, with the first unit expected to be commissioned by September 2026.

While nuclear power contributes modestly to L&Ts overall business today, the company expects a steep ramp-up.

Revenues from its nuclear manufacturing and construction verticals are projected to grow 3-5 times over the next five years, driven by domestic expansion and new global opportunities.

International business, Parab said, could increase from the current 20 per cent to 40 per cent of the nuclear portfolio over this period.

Although 32 countries have planned to expand their nuclear energy capacity by three times, in the international market, the existing supply chain will be used first.

"Post-pandemic, all countries want to be self-reliant. Only when the existing supply chains are overloaded will we get a chance, he added.
Mint Road's proposals on banks' M&A funding are cautious even as entrants root for more elbow room, and weigh business models.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff

Ask Debadatta Chand about his plans for BoB Capital Markets, and he tells you: We can play a good role on the advisory side as far as mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are concerned.

The managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Bank of Baroda (of which BoB Capital is a subsidiary) gives you a glimpse of his ambitions.

If need be, we can evaluate the scope for collaboration to augment the capacity for M&A advisory. It is potentially a good business to be in. It is.

There is no sizing study on the M&A space and it has been the turf of foreign banks (even as funding remains offshore) and select shadow banks. But now domestic banks of all hues get free play with M&As set to reshape India Inc; annual deal volumes are well above the $100 billion mark.

Mint Road's draft circular on 'Commercial Banks -- Capital Market Exposure' though is cautious, as banks have little experience in this high-stakes game.

Even as it opens a new frontier: Segue lenders with a collateral-backed legacy with the equities markets. Banks' aggregate acquisition finance exposure is not to exceed 10 per cent of their Tier-I capital; it's to be extended only to listed companies with a satisfactory net worth and profit-making record of three years.

They can finance only up to 70 per cent of the acquisition value; the rest is to be brought in by the acquirer as equity using its funds. It is clear that only the bigger banks get to play a meaningful role in this area.

Step-by-step

Are the new norms for banks in M&As restrictive?

As Sunil Sanghai, founder and CEO of NovaaOne Capital, sees it, while the proposed Tier-I exposure for M&As aims to provide an additional check on market risk, it needs to consider that banks already operate well-established underwriting frameworks and sophisticated risk-assessment capabilities for other asset classes.

Given the maturity of the banking system and its ability to independently assess exposure based on deal-specific factors, such prescriptive checks may be less essential, says Sanghai, who is also the chair of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry's National Committee on Capital Markets.

As for the 3x debt-to-equity (D/E), the proportion varies across sectors, reflecting differences in business models, cash-flow patterns, and capital requirements.

Applying a fixed D/E limit may not fully capture these nuances. Allowing banks to rely on their own underwriting judgement, tailored to sector-specific leverage norms, would be a more prudent and flexible approach. This will also ensure that risk assessment remains aligned with practical industry requirements, he adds.

The clamour for revisiting the draft norms is gaining decibels; and back-channel discussions with North Block and Mint Road may be in the offing.

Anish Mashruwala, finance chair and partner at JSA Advocates & Solicitors, reasons the draft has a clear regulatory lens in signalling the proposed relaxation.

Besides the value limit cap, there's also the fact that Tier-I capital of banks will be at varying levels and that may itself not provide a level playing field as the restriction will not apply equally in terms of value.

Having said that, I understand that even banks having larger Tier-I capital reserves have voiced that the value limit based on the 10 per cent cap is limiting in the current market scenario, he says.

What of the proposed 3X D/E? Mashruwala is surprised that the RBI has actually specified a D/E cap of 3:1 on a post-acquisition basis.

While this is prudent from a market standard perspective (a recognised conservative debt to equity metric is 2x), in his view, this should be left to the lender(s) in terms of its credit appetite and business realities.

The RBI's draft regulations have a condition that financing can be up to a maximum of 70 per cent of the acquisition value with the rest being bought in by the buyer as equity.

To then supplement it with the post-acquisition ratio is probably only a signal that the RBI does not want to open up the avenue of acquisition finance to targets that are already heavily indebted. If there is a specific regulatory issue that the RBI is concerned about, then it may very well outweigh any business considerations, he adds.

The net worth of the banking sector was more than Rs 27 trillion till the last quarter end. At 10 per cent Tier-I limits on banks to fund M&A, then at the systemic level, the available funds are above $30 billion.

Sanjay Agarwal, senior director at CareEge Ratings, points out: The limit seems reasonable to start with. As banks undertake transactions, the markets and regulators gain more confidence, we could expect some relaxations on the type of transactions and ceiling on individual bank limits over a period of time.

He notes that based on experience and discussions, it is likely that the regulators would expand the boundary conditions. Yes, it helps to keep the ball on a string.

Wallet side of the story

The other interesting aspect is the payouts which need to be given to M&A staff -- these will be hefty. Bonuses run into a few crores even for mid-level M&A staff in foreign banks and mid-market shadow banks in the trade.

A few State-run banks house this business in their capital market subsidiaries. And given the specialised nature of this business, is it possible that these banks forge partnerships, as BoB's Chand appears to suggest? In the '90s, you had I-Sec: J P Morgan; Kotak Mahindra: Goldman Sachs; DSP: Merrill Lynch, and J M Financial: Morgan Stanley. All of them learnt, and then went their separate ways, but in the case of state-run banks, there is a steep learning curve to be dealt with before deal-making can begin.

Dinesh Khara, former chairman of State Bank of India, looks at it differently. His take: M&A financing will be by way of a loan.

So, it is essentially corporate credit for which bankers are well-trained and take decisions based on stringent underwriting standards.

That now while bankers may have to acquire some additional skills for assessing M&A financing proposals, This being an M&A loan, bankers are not stitching deals or transactions. Hence, I don't think there's an issue about compensation for attracting and retaining talent.

Rohan Lakhaiyar, partner (financial services-risk) at Grant Thornton Bharat, believes that we have a deep enough talent pool when it comes to M&As, unlike in the early 90s. But a matter of detail is whether this is to be housed within the capital market arms of banks or in the banks.

More so given the payouts to be given to M&A professionals. So too, the case for partnerships.

Banks are on a new frontier. They will have to tread carefully.

All that is needed for deal-making

Much as India Inc, bankers, corporate lawyers and the wider investment banking fraternity make a case for more liberal financing norms for mergers and acquisitions (M&As), ghosts that still lurk have to be exorcised.

Take bank board oversight. This has been found wanting for some time now.

With banks financing M&As, independent directors (IDs) with a proven track record in this area will be needed.

Bank board remuneration for IDs has to move northwards. Data sharing among banks in M&A arrangements will have to become sharper, and this will be critical if a transaction is to go awry.

Banks will be sharing space with private equity and venture capital firms, and coordination between them will be needed.

It remains to be seen if in the interests of the stability of their loan-plus-equity exposures, banks will read governance covenants to suit them.

A related aspect is whether banks financing M&As should get to have board positions on the companies they fund.

An issue which bankers say in private is that even within a consortium, there are at times club deals with the same borrower. And as a result what you get is a (financial) platypus, a semi-aquatic egg-laying mammal which the naturalist George Shaw was inclined to dismiss as hoax as there might have been practised some arts of deception in its structure.

Banks not being on the same page has created hassles for resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

Borrowers also play with information asymmetry. As the Aditya Puri Committee Report (Data Format for Furnishing of Credit Information to Credit Information Companies, 2014) noted about derivatives: Borrowers have, in general, not been forthcoming in sharing such information with lenders, particularly with banks that are not part of the consortium.

Again, a major area of concern is the non-uniformity in processes to identify red-flagged accounts (RFA) based on an indicative list of early warning signals.

In several cases, banks were unable to confirm RFA-tagged accounts as frauds, or otherwise within the prescribed period of six months.

Changes to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 may need to be made as well.

Disclosure: Entities controlled by the Kotak family have a significant shareholding in Business Standard Ltd.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Maharashtra has pipped Tamil Nadu in NITI Aayogs latest Export Preparedness Index (EPI) for 2024.

Photograph: Tatiana Meel/Reuters

While Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh gained ground, Karnataka and Haryana slipped out of the top five, the central government think tank said in its report released on Wednesday.

In the latest index, Gujarat climbed to the third place from fourth, while Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh  earlier ranked seventh and eighth  rose to fourth and fifth positions, respectively. Karnataka slipped three places to 6th, while Haryana fell five spots to

10th position.

NITI has grouped the states into two categories  17 Large States and 19 Small and Northeastern states & Union Territories (UTs).

It has also classified them into Leaders, Challengers, and Aspirers within their categories based on their scores.

The rankings are based on four main pillars  export infrastructure, business ecosystem, policy and governance and export performance.

Maharashtra has scored higher than Tamil Nadu in all pillars except export infrastructure.

Despite Maharashtras top rank, its export performance saw a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) decline of 7.3 per cent in FY24, dropping from Rs 6.1 trillion in FY23 to Rs 5.6 trillion.

This was led by a decline in the gems & jewellery sector, the report said.

Talking about Karnataka, NITI Aayog flagged high operational costs, including labour wages, real estate, and energy, particularly in cities like Bengaluru as significant challenges to Karnatakas export competitiveness.

These costs strain small and medium enterprises (SMEs), reduce price competitiveness in global markets, and deter new investments compared to lower-cost regions, the report said.

Additionally, Karnatakas exports are heavily concentrated in a few districts such as Bengaluru, Mysuru and Tumakuru, leading to uneven regional development and limiting growth elsewhere.

This concentration increases vulnerability to localised disruptions and underuses the states broader resources and workforce, making it vital to expand export activities beyond these hubs for more balanced and sustainable growth, the NITI Aayog said in its report.

The index offers a comprehensive assessment of states and UTs across a range of export-related parameters to map strengths and gaps, using an evolving methodological framework.

For the latest (fourth) edition of the report, the think tank used 70 parameters, including 50 vital metrics on logistics, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and trade diversification as well as 20 desirable ones.

Significant enhancements have been made on the EPI 2024 framework vis-a-vis earlier framework (EPI 2022) with inclusion of new dimensions such as macroeconomy, cost competitiveness, human capital, financial access, and MSME ecosystem and refinement of existing indicators to enhance precision and relevance, the report added.

Underscoring the importance of the classification, NITI Aayog chief executive officer (CEO) B V R Subrahmanyam said: Given that different states have different endowments, some states suffer peculiar disabilities. Particularly, small states, hilly states and Northeastern states and Union Territories. They are not easily comparable.

In the small states category, nine emerged leaders, including Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

Calling exports the fourth driver of the economy, Subrahmanyam said India should aim to build a $8-10 trillion export economy by 2047.

The world is passing through a very turbulent phase.

"Turbulent times give you opportunities. New and great opportunities are here, he added.
The domestic initial public offering (IPO) market is experiencing a significant surge, fuelled by the financialisation of savings, digital ease of investing, and expanding participation from both retail and institutional investors, investment bankers said on Wednesday.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The depth of the domestic capital pool has reduced Indias reliance on foreign institutional investors, enhancing market stability, a sentiment echoed by most panellists during a discussion moderated by Samie Modak of Business Standard.

Sonia Dasgupta, managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO) of investment banking at JM Financial, noted that liquidity generated from post-pandemic financialisation of savings, coupled with repricing in the secondary market, deepened the domestic equity capital markets.

Gesu Kaushal, MD & co-head of equity corporate finance at Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, said the broader adoption of digital payment methods like UPI for IPO applications has democratised participation, expanding capital sourcing from regions like Bihar and UP.

Market infrastructure improvements, such as shortened IPO listing timelines and streamlined processes, are also boosting market buoyancy.

In 2024, IPOs mobilised a record Rs 1.6 trillion, and this years IPO mobilisation is on track to surpass Rs 1.3 trillion, setting the stage to break last years record.

Sunil Khaitan, MD & head of financing at Goldman Sachs India, said domestic mutual funds and institutional investors became crucial providers of intellectual and financial capital by understanding and supporting innovative business models previously uncommon in the domestic market.

Last year, Hyundai Motor Indias IPO raised a record Rs 27,859 crore while earlier this month, LG Electronics Indias Rs 11,607 crore IPO garnered record bids totalling Rs 4.4 trillion.

Amitabh Malhotra, vice chairman of capital markets and advisory at HSBC India, observed that MNC subsidiaries are increasingly choosing India as a standalone, mature capital market for listings.

Previously, MNCs listed only in global hubs and overlooked their Indian arms for public offerings.

"This has changed due to regulatory reforms, a large domestic investor base, and the maturity of Indian capital markets, which now better absorb shocks and provide stability, he said.

Khaitan elaborated: Indian subsidiaries of MNCs often command significantly higher valuation multiples than their global parents.

"This MNC premium is driven by Indias faster economic growth, stronger investor confidence, and a more dynamic market environment compared to the slower, saturated markets of the parent companies.

Kaushal underscored a notable shift in company mindset toward going public.

Many family-owned businesses, traditionally wary of IPOs, now view public listings as a key growth opportunity, largely due to leadership transitions to the second generation who are more open to professionalising operations and engaging with retail investors for the long term, she said.

Driving the IPO boom is robust participation from domestic institutional investors, especially mutual funds, with Rs 3-4 trillion of household flows channelled annually into equities.

Dasgupta highlighted, Strong domestic participation is enhancing price discovery, establishing valuation benchmarks, and reducing market volatility.

Malhotra added: The surge in domestic institutional involvement has brought a better balance among issuers, bankers, and investors, leading to more pragmatic IPO pricing.

On post-listing performance, bankers noted positive trends.

Most companies going public in 2025 are backed by non-permanent capital such as venture capital and private equity rather than traditional family or MNC ownership.

"These investors, aiming for exits within 3-5 years, have a vested interest in ensuring strong post-listing performance to maximise returns, said Khaitan.

Bankers also emphasised an ever-growing domestic investor base that is becoming increasingly discerning, prioritising sustainable business fundamentals.
According to multiple sources, Mercedes-Benz is already in talks with multiple developers in Gurugram for a luxury branded residence project.

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Christopher Pike/Reuters

Luxury automobile companies Mercedes-Benz and BMW are eyeing the Indian real estate sector, and are in discussions with multiple developers in prime locations, said sources.

The trend has seen a spike since Lamborghini family's interest in the Indian realty market, industry insiders said, indicating that such deals are expected to see a rise come 2026.

According to multiple sources close to the development, Mercedes-Benz is already in talks with multiple developers in Gurugram for a luxury, branded residential project.

Though a source said that BMW is also in talks with Indian groups, it is not clear whether it is for a branded project or for its creative design consultancy arm Designworks, which also caters to the real estate sector.

Business Standard had reported last month that Tonino Lamborghini SpA, founded by Tonino Lamborghini, the son of Ferruccio Lamborghini (the founder of the car company), is in advanced stages of talks with two real estate developers in Mumbai and Chennai.

Mercedes-Benz has two projects globally, one in Dubai and another in Miami, Florida. BMW is yet to launch any branded residential project globally.

"The Lamborghini family exploring India has definitely accelerated conversations. While I cannot go on record about specific brands, I can share that interest has broadened across a few luxury automotive houses, premium wellness brands, couture labels, and European design studios.

"Several of them are already in early-stage discussions with Indian developers for flagship branded-home collaborations, said Nandivardhan Jain, chief executive officer (CEO), Noesis Capital Advisors, a hotel transaction advisory and consulting firm.

Queries sent to BMW and Mercedes-Benz did not elicit a response.

India at present is number six globally in terms of live branded residence projects, contributing a fourth of the global supply, and tenth in the global project pipeline.

Major players having a presence in India in this space include Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Armani Casa, Versace Home, the Trump family, Hyatt, Pullman, ITC, and Hilton.

The new luxury additions to the list will mark India's entry into the automobile-branded luxury project landscape, otherwise dominated by luxury hotels and lifestyle brands.

Now, developers are looking at brands because it naturally brings in a fresh identity and appeal before luxury segment customers. Moreover, it ensures a certain quality in service, said Arun Bharathi Arunachalam, founder and managing director, Bharathi Meraki.

According to experts, India has now entered the same league as the US, UAE, Thailand, and Vietnam -- traditionally dominant branded residence markets.

The Savills Branded Residences 2025-26 Report highlights that branded residence supply in the Asia-Pacific region has grown 55 per cent over the past five years, with India named as one of the key contributors alongside Vietnam and Thailand.

This is a sign of branded residency -- once limited to marquee addresses in Dubai, Miami, or London -- gearing up to conquer the minds of the Indian ultra-rich. Recently, the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) also announced Taj branded residency in Chennai.

According to Noesis Capital Advisors, developers in tier-1 markets like Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai are driving the early momentum while tier-2 cities such as Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Goa, and Surat, along with leisure destinations within a two-hour drive from major metros, have become very strong adoption zones for branded residencies.

Jain further added that global design houses, automotive luxury marques, fashion labels, and wellness brands are actively evaluating India because the branded-homes buyer base has matured significantly in the last three years.

The demand for curated living -- where the brand brings lifestyle, design ethos, and aspiration value -- will be comparable to global markets in the near future.

Other industry experts corroborated Jain and noted that several non-hospitality brands are seriously and actively exploring opportunities to enter India for branded residencies.

However, their interest is not just limited to branded residencies; these companies are also looking to have their branded hotels in India, said an industry expert, who did not want to be named.

A Knight Frank report cites the number of branded residence schemes rising from 169 in 2011 to 611 in 2025, with the figure expected to cross 1,000 by 2030.

Correspondingly, total branded residence units are projected to surge from just over 27,000 in 2011 to more than 162,000 by 2030.

Exploring new vistas Mercedes-Benz already in talks with developers in Gurugram for luxury, branded residential project

BMW is also in talks with Indian groups, sources say

Such deals expected to see a rise in 2026

Industry experts say non-hospitality brands actively exploring opportunities to enter India for branded residencies

These companies also looking to have their branded hotels in India

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Mexico on Thursday imposed a tariff of up to 50 per cent on imports from its non-preferential trade partners, including India, a move that might hit New Delhis annual $5.75 billion shipments to its third-largest car export market.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The escalation by the North American country comes at a time when Indian exporters are already grappling with a 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US, which has severely impacted labour-intensive sectors.

The tariffs range between 5 per cent and 50 per cent on more than 1,400 products from Asian countries, such as India, China and Thailand that do not have a trade deal with Mexico.

The duties are set to kick in from January 1, 2026, and will apply to electronics, apparels, chemicals, a large number of engineering goods, which includes automobiles, metals, among others.

The move is aimed at protecting Mexicos domestic industry.

The government and the Indian exporters are closely watching the development and waiting for the formal notification by the Mexican government.

They said they were trying to understand if the move is primarily targeted at China.

This is because there have been discussions in the US about Chinese goods being rerouted into the American market through Mexico.

This has come at the wrong time.

"The industry is still under shock. We are still struggling with the tariffs imposed by the US, and now Mexico will also raise tariffs on India.

"The industry wanted a trade deal with Mexico and if that happens we may get relief from the duties, said Ajay Sahai, director-general and chief executive officer of Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

Mexico accounted for 1.3 per cent of Indias total merchandise exports at $5.75 billion in 2024-25.

However, a close look at the data showed that engineering goods dominate the basket, making up 61 per cent ($3.5 billion) of the exports of Indias outbound shipments to the Latin American nation.

Automobiles and auto components make up nearly one-third of exports to Mexico, and the tariff increase is likely to affect $1 billion worth of shipments from Indian carmakers, including Maruti Suzuki India, Volkswagen Group, Hyundai Motor India, and Nissan.

For passenger vehicles, the import duty is set to rise from 20 per cent to 50 per cent.

Carmakers have already begun re-evaluating their export strategies for Mexico.

A leading car exporter from India, on condition of anonymity, said: We have a substantial amount of exports to Mexico from India.

"However, being a multinational, we have ways to overcome such a crisis by diversifying the Mexico export quantity to some other country in which we are having a production facility, said a source from one of the multinational automobile majors hit by the move.

Mexico is Indias third-largest car export market after South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai Motor India did not comment.

According to Reuters, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) had urged the commerce ministry in November to press Mexico to maintain status quo on tariffs for vehicles shipped from India, according to a copy of the letter.

Skoda Auto accounts for nearly 50 per cent of India's total car shipments to Mexico.

"Hyundai shipped cars worth $200 million, Nissans exports stood at $140 million and Suzuki's at $120 million, the data showed, Reuters noted.

Majority of shipments from India to Mexico are compact cars with an engine size of less than one litre.

Of the 1.5 million passenger vehicles sold in Mexico each year, about two-thirds are imported and India's shipments make up "just about 6.7 per cent" of the total sales.

With inputs from agencies
Canadian firm Manulife and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), an Indian automaker with interests in financial services, have signed an agreement to form a 50:50 life insurance joint venture (JV) with a total capital commitment of up to Rs 3,600 crore each totalling Rs 7,200 crore.

Photograph: Fred Thornhill/Reuters

Each partner will invest Rs 1,250 crore ($140 million) in the first five years.

The new business is expected to apply for a licence with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India in two to three months and aims to commence operations in 15 to 18 months.

It will mark Manulifes entry in Indian insurance.

M&M will invest its share of capital through dividends earned from Mahindra Finance, a non-banking financial company (NBFC) of the group.

Only one-third of the dividend M&M earns from Mahindra Finance will be required for funding the JV.

With Manulifes global reinsurance expertise, it is possible that the total capital requirement might come down as well.

The idea is to create a business that in 10 years will have a valuation of Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000 crore, M&Ms management said, adding that the numbers are conservative and there could be significant upside.

M&M already has a JV with Manulife called Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund in asset management.

Our vision is to be the number one life insurer in rural and semi-urban India because of the footprint that Mahindra Finance enjoys.

"We will be a significant player in urban India as well, said Anish Shah, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO), Mahindra Group.

There we would want to take a leadership position in protection solutions, one that India is under-penetrated in today.

"There are specific reasons why we feel that we are well-placed to be able to do that despite the competition that we have in the space today in urban India, he said.

The control over distribution is important, which we have with Mahindra Finance.

"A very strong capability around underwriting, products, around reinsurance, and this is something that our partner brings, Manulife is one of the largest and among the most respected life insurers in the world, and they are going to be our equal partner, Shah told reporters.

Shah said the life insurance JV should break even in perhaps 10 years time.

I think once we start operations and once we start seeing how things are moving, we will have a better sense of the exact time.

"But at this point, I would just say that we will break-even much faster than what most others have done, he said.

For us, it's not just about 10 years.

"It's about creating a business that's a very strong and meaningful value add for the group over a longer timeframe as well.

"That's where this business will be very well positioned.

The JV will sit under M&M but it will have a strong Mahindra Finance tie with which it has signed a distribution agreement.

The reason for it to sit in Mahindra is that it is much easier to access the synergies across.

"From a regulatory standpoint, the NBFC regulatory landscape is evolving significantly.

"And as you see with insurance companies that have multiple NBFCs, all of them are held by the parent and not by the NBFC for that reason, Shah said.

The JV may consider entering the non-life business once regulations allow for a composite licence. India has 24 general insurance companies and seven standalone health insurance companies.

Commenting on competition, especially from state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India, Shah said, We believe that this is a huge space. And there is room for many to play, as we have seen in the banking sector as well as NBFC sector.

"And the customer base we have, the connections we have, the understanding we have of markets is something that is going to help us play in a very meaningful way here.

There are 27 life insurance companies in India.

Several of these are JVs with foreign firms, such as ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (ICICI Bank and Prudential Plc), Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata Sons and AIA Group), Aviva Life Insurance (Aviva International Holdings and Dabur Invest Corp), Ageas Federal Life Insurance (Ageas Insurance and Federal Bank), Generali Central Life Insurance (Generali Group and Central Bank of India), and PNB MetLife Insurance (Punjab National Bank and MetLife Group).

Another notable JV is Star Union Dai-ichi Life Insurance, formed by Bank of India, Union Bank, and Dai-ichi Life. Angel One has announced plans to enter a joint venture with LivWell to establish a digital-first life insurance company.

Indias life insurance market is worth more than $20 billion in new business premiums, growing at a 12 per cent compound annual growth rate over the past five years.

However, a high protection gap and low insurance penetration continue to provide significant long-term growth potential.

These tailwinds position India to become the worlds fastest-growing life insurance market over the next decade, on track to become the fourth largest globally.

Today marks an important milestone as we seek to enter one of the worlds fastest growing insurance markets  India.

This will further strengthen our diverse portfolio and position us for tremendous growth in a mega economy of the future, said Phil Witherington, president and CEO, Manulife.

We have a trusted partner in Mahindra Group, with whom we already have a successful asset management collaboration, and we see tremendous opportunity to build on our efforts by leveraging their deep distribution network alongside our industry-leading agency distribution and insurance expertise, he said.

Kotak Investment Banking acted as financial adviser and AZB & Partners acted as legal counsel to Mahindra Group for the new JV.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as legal counsel to Manulife.
Major fund houses report a sharp rise in online transactions, driven by changing investor habits, distributor behaviour, and fast-growing fintech platforms.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Filling up physical forms, visiting mutual fund offices, and calling on other offline means of investing have increasingly become the domain of a smaller set of investors at many large MFs, compared to 12 to 13 years ago when it accounted for the majority of transactions.

HDFC Asset Management Company share of electronic transactions rose to 96 per cent for September 2025 from 93 per cent a year ago.

Nippon India's September 2025 investor presentation puts the half-yearly share of digital transactions at 75 per cent from 70 per cent in September 2024, and 56 per cent a year earlier.

Quarterly online gross sales as a percentage of total gross sales in UTI Mutual Fund dipped to 89.52 per cent from 94.4 per cent in the same period of 2024.

But sales through digital platforms for hybrid and equity schemes rose to 41.27 per cent from 37.61 per cent earlier.

Every asset manager may define paperless transactions differently, and the numbers may not be comparable across fund houses.

But they can be considered broadly indicative of the trend.

Saugata Chatterjee, president and chief business officer at Nippon India Mutual Fund, suggested that some of the growth in digital transactions is not only attributed to changing customer behaviour but also to changes in the behaviour of distributors and other intermediaries.

In addition to traditional distributors, sub-brokers now also rely significantly on technology and the exchange platform for their transactions while asset management companies (AMCs) invest in mobile apps, which see continuous innovation to reduce friction and make it easy for customers to do transactions.

Online sources of transactions also formed a part of the latest quarterly earnings calls.

'Over the last couple of years, we have seen significant growth in fintech as a distribution channel. They have emerged as a vital channel for the mutual fund industry. If you look at the last six months or so, they have registered 15 million SIPs,' said HDFC Asset Management Company MD & CEO Navneet Munot in an earnings call with analysts.

'So, what we are seeing at this point of time is that a significant number of these digital platforms are starting to rethink what their approach to business should be in terms of how they want to position themselves... we need to have best-in-class digital assets and digital visibility because otherwise you will not be part of the consideration,' said UTI MD&CEO-designate Vetri Subramaniam in an analysts call.

Digital may account for smaller ticket-size investments, an Association of Mutual Funds in India report showed. While digital accounted for 60 per cent of transactions, it was only 21 per cent in value terms.

Around 45 per cent of transactions were digital in FY13, which accounted for 1 per cent of transaction value.

Many high net worth individuals prefer the physical process, according to Nippon's Chatterjee. This has meant that 70-75 per cent of the value are still through physical means.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'Perhaps unlike any previous era of software, this one requires a rethink in even the lifecycle of how we build.'

IMAGE: Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella speaks at an event in Bengaluru, December 11, 2025. Photograph: Aditya Soni/Reuters

Building modern software systems needs a mindset shift of the developers that also requires them to pick up new skill sets as artificial intelligence upends the software development lifecycle, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said on Thursday.

Nadella, who was in India's Silicon Valley, Bengaluru, during the third day of his tour to the country, also talked about how contextual engineering is similar to the "good old data engineering", but veers away when it comes to usage of data.

"It is like the good old data engineering but it's a different type of data engineering where you want your data to get into the shape that allows you to feed into the intelligence and orchestrate around it.

"That is how we need to think of the frontier of the classic software development life cycle (SDLC) and that has to change to a new form of AI-driven SDLC.

"That will be critical," he told stakeholders in a packed gathering on Thursday.

Ever since the advent of ChatGPT three years ago, coding has become a lot more automated with machines writing thousands of lines of code that were previously written by engineers.

While that has improved productivity, allowing coders to focus on more high-end work, it also means uncertainty of jobs at the lower end of the pyramid -- young engineers who need to reskill to remain relevant or perish.

"Perhaps unlike any previous era of software, this one requires a rethink in even the lifecycle of how we build.

"We start with the spec itself, start at the other end by thinking of the evaluation loop, some say you start with the test and not the spec.

"It changes the inward process and requires a mindset change, you have to be a lot more grounded in the real world outcome that you want to change which requires a mindset shift of the developers and we need to pick up the skill to impact that mindset shift," he added.

Microsoft India and South Asia President Puneet Chandok also emphasised on the need to reskill in the age of AI, cautioning that the technology will not steal jobs but unbundle it.

"AI skilling is the new oxygen mask and guerrilla warfare against irrelevance.

"The real pink slip is our refusal to learn as this is no longer a hobby."

"The return on investment in AI will be obtained through employee experience, customer engagement, reshaping business process, and innovation."

Microsoft also announced it partnered with TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Cognizant to deploy over 50,000 Copilot licences, collectively surpassing 200,000, to redesign workflows around human-agent collaboration and improve productivity and efficiency across delivery, sales, finance, HR, and customer engagement.

Nadella also cautioned on the balance that needs to be adopted between adoption of sovereign cloud and cyber security.

Microsoft has launched Sovereign Public Cloud and Sovereign Private Cloud for Indian customers as part of its massive investment proposals.

"One important consideration in sovereignty is cyber resilience and at the end of the day, cyber security is a signal game.

"You cannot be sovereign and not have global intelligence. That would mean you are vulnerable.

"If you do not see what the threat actors across the world are doing, you will miss the signal."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
JINAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Deep beneath the ocean surface, a box-shaped robot extended a mechanical arm and delivered a lethal injection to a crown-of-thorns starfish. Through this successful action, a robotic "guardian" completed its mission to neutralize one of the coral reef's deadliest enemies.

This undersea "assassin" is the work of an innovative Chinese tech start-up. Developed by Qingdao Robotfish Marine Technology Co., Ltd. (ROBOTFISH), based in the coastal city of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province, the so-called "starfish injection robot" is designed to protect vulnerable coral reefs from the destructive crown-of-thorns starfish.

The robot operates deftly at depths of up to 150 meters and can accurately locate its target even in murky waters. It detects starfish attached to coral reefs from as far as 10 meters away, precisely raises its robotic arm, and then thrusts the syringe at the end of the arm into the starfish, achieving centimeter-level accuracy.

This robot serves as a vivid illustration of how artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into China's marine sphere and how it reshapes everyday operations across fisheries, port management and marine conservation.

The crown-of-thorns starfish nemesis, alongside the company's other underwater robots and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, has been applied in several oceanic ecological restoration and surveillance projects across China, ranging from monitoring tropical marine ranches off Wuzhizhou Island near south China's Sanya to collecting full-cycle data in Laizhou Bay in Shandong.

"The original aspiration of establishing our company is to create robots that can move freely in the sea just like fish do," said Fan Ping, technical director of ROBOTFISH. The company's fleet also features robots designed for inspecting the foundations of offshore oil platforms and cage-net cleansing robots, among others.

These cutting-edge innovations are just a few examples of the many applications of AI in modern marine fisheries, which are widespread and already generating significant financial returns.

Roughly 80 kilometers off the coast of Yantai, another coastal hub in Shandong, an intelligent cage platform named Jinghai 005 rises from the open sea. With a simple tap on a screen, platform manager Liu Yulei clicks open a live video feed sent by underwater video and sensor devices, monitoring the growth of over a million fish swimming 30 meters under the ocean surface.

Operated by just two engineers, this smart platform uses an integrated digital system to remotely manage its entire stock of Sebastes schlegelii, also known as rockfish, enabling an annual harvest of up to 1,000 tonnes.

Liu explained that the intelligent deep-sea cage system allows workers to easily determine the scope and duration of feed distribution by tracking fish movements via underwater cameras.

In addition to intelligent cages like Jinghai 005, Yantai Bajiaowan Marine Technology Co., Ltd. has deployed another 42 deep-water aquaculture cages off Yantai, each equipped with a suite of monitoring technologies ranging from buoy sensors, video surveillance, Automatic Identification System (AIS) anti-collision and radar control systems. They provide full visibility covering the entire operation, ensuring precise control throughout the production process.

At ports, AI is also playing a prominent role. A world-leading form of automated ship loading and unloading technology has been created and pioneered at a section of the Yantai Port, boosting the comprehensive handling efficiency of this section by approximately 20 percent.

"AI, having been integrated into the entire matrix of the marine industry, spanning from coastal to deep-sea operations, supercharges the marine economy toward high-quality development, with key breakthroughs achieved in sectors such as deep-sea exploration robotics," noted Liu Shuguang, professor at the School of Economics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao. 
The Mumbai Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Tuesday gave its approval to Vedanta Limiteds demerger proposal, clearing the way for the group to reorganise its operations into five distinct, sector-specific entities.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

The decision was delivered by Judicial Member Nilesh Sharma and Technical Member Charanjeet Singh.

Allowing the scheme of arrangement under Sections 230 to 232 of the Companies Act, the tribunal sanctioned the separation of four group companies  Vedanta Aluminium Metal, Talwandi Sabo Power, Malco Energy, and Vedanta Iron and Steel  together with their shareholders and creditors.

Vedanta had unveiled the restructuring in 2023, outlining plans to divide its Indian businesses into five independently listed companies: Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Oil and Gas, Vedanta Power, Vedanta Iron and Steel, and a restructured Vedanta Ltd.

The residual Vedanta entity will continue to hold the zinc and silver businesses through Hindustan Zinc, and function as a platform for incubating new technologies and ventures.

At the first motion stage, the tribunal had, by an order dated November 21, 2024, reviewed the design and commercial rationale of the proposal, noting that the boards of Vedanta Ltd and the resulting companies had approved the demerger between September 29 and October 13, 2023.

The bench also took note of observation letters issued by the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on July 30, 2024 and by BSE on July 31, 2024, both of which recorded no adverse comments on the scheme.

An objection raised during the initial hearing by a party asserting creditor claims against one of Vedantas power units was turned down.

The tribunal held that, at the first motion stage, its role was confined to issuing procedural directions and that such objections were premature.

Subsequently, the tribunal directed meetings of shareholders and creditors of the demerged entities, and ordered Vedanta to notify statutory and sectoral regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), regional director (western region), the Registrar of Companies, the income tax department, and other relevant authorities.

After clearance at the first motion stage, SEPCO moved an intervention application relating to disputes with Talwandi Sabo Power Limited.

The tribunal later recorded that it had taken on file a settlement agreement dated September 11, 2025 between the parties and allowed the restructuring process to move forward.

At the final hearing, the Registrar of Companies and the regional director informed the tribunal that Vedantas responses had addressed their concerns and that no objections remained.

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas had earlier sought disclosures on the financial position of the oil and gas business post-demerger, including details of hydrocarbon assets and liabilities.

Vedanta submitted that all regulatory requirements had been met, and informed the tribunal that Sebi had approved the revised scheme after its earlier disclosure-related concerns were resolved.

The tribunal had reserved its decision on November 12 and pronounced the order on Tuesday.
As the business head of Trent Hypermarket, Neville ensures that customers receive high-quality products that adhere to Tata standards.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

One can often find Neville Tata, 32, the new trustee of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and scion of the Noel Tata family, at Trent Hypermarket's warehouses early in the morning, checking the quality of fruit and vegetables that will make their way to the shelves of Tata-owned stores later in the day.

Neville's inclusion in the Tata Trusts marks a clear step in the family's succession plan. Within Tata circles, it's well known that he shares his father Noel Tata's humble and understated approach.

When proposing Neville's name to the Tata Trusts board, Darius Khambata, a veteran lawyer and confidant of Ratan Tata, recalled how the late former Tata group chairman had expressed his intent to groom Neville as a future leader.

His appointment was unanimously approved by the other trustees.

The Tata Trusts own a majority stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata group, and their nominee directors have the power to veto every resolution of the board.

Neville is expected to join the Sir Ratan Tata Trust in January, say insiders.

As the business head of Trent Hypermarket, the hypermarket arm of Trent, Neville ensures that customers receive high-quality products that adhere to Tata standards, insiders add.

Trent, which operates a chain of supermarkets under the Star brand, has carved a niche in India's retail market with its ambition to become a household name.

Before this role, Neville served as head of operations at Zudio, one of India's fastest-growing apparel brands.

Neville, married to Mansi Kirloskar of the Bengaluru-based Kirloskar family, is the youngest of three siblings.

He also serves as a trustee on the boards of several Tata trusts -- including the JRD Tata Trust, Tata Social Welfare Trust, and RD Tata Trust -- and as a director on the boards of the Tata Indian Institute of Skills and the Tata Medical Center.

An alumnus of Cass Business School, City, University of London, Neville holds an MBA from INSEAD Business School, Singapore.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
As the government moves to revamp Indias securities legislation, unifying three different laws into the Securities Markets Code (SMC), regulatory experts and market insiders have raised concerns on potential funding challenges for the stock market regulator.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

While the new code simplifies several norms and sets timelines for investigations by the market regulator, it proposes the constitution of a reserve fund for the expenditure incurred by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the transfer of the residual corpus to the Consolidated Fund of India.

Twenty-five per cent of the annual surplus of the General Fund in any financial year shall be credited to such a reserve fund which shall not exceed the total of annual expenditure of the preceding two financial years, the proposed Bill states.

"The amount credited to the reserve fund will be utilised to meet Sebis expenses.

After crediting the portion of the annual surplus the remaining annual surplus of the General Fund for that financial year shall be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India, states the proposed Bill. Settlement amounts and penalties collected by Sebi are already deposited to the Consolidated Fund of India, and are not included in the regulators income since 2003-04.

The market regulator cannot withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India so once the surplus is transferred, it is out of bounds.

"Unlike the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Sebi does not manage funds and has no income except for the fees it levies on market intermediaries, said an expert with regulatory experience, adding the 25 per cent cap may need to be enhanced.

According to sources, the surplus available to Sebi at this stage is between Rs 3,000-4,000 crore, a significant portion of which is to be utilised towards its expansion.

The proposed reserve fund could put constraints on Sebi, specifically when it is at a stage of expanding its pan-Indian reach with regional offices and will need more resources to expedite probes, said a market veteran, requesting anonymity.

The new code prescribes strict timelines for investigations, inspections, and interim orders. To meet such timelines, Sebi will be required to invest more in technology and other resources.

"Such investments may be affected with limitations on the surplus, said the person quoted above.

Sebi plans to set up local offices in cities like Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, among others, in its first phase of expansion.

Sebi cannot indefinitely retain or build large surpluses under the Bills architecture.

"Sebis operational funding stream remains intact: the Fund is still primarily fed by fees and charges that are its core recurring revenues, and the Code explicitly permits using it for capex under a Board-approved plan, said Abhimanyu Bhattacharya, Partner at Khaitan & Co.

A few experts also flagged the need for greater clarity on the remit of the Ombudsperson framework in Sebi to resolve grievances under the new code, as well as the reasoning for the different approach taken compared to other financial regulators.

For instance, the RBI has the Banking Ombudsman created through a scheme but not through the law, while the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has an external ombudsman constituted through rules notified by the government.

The Securities Markets Code approach  putting an ombudsperson framework in the principal legislation  can be seen as a deliberate elevation to this framework, said Bhattacharya.

Sebi already has grievance redressal mechanisms such as the Sebi Complaints Redress System platform, better known as SCORES platform, and an Online Dispute Resolution mechanism, complaints on which are flagged to the exchanges for resolution through an electronically assigned arbitration-like process.

Vanya Singh, partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, noted that an Ombudsperson will step in only once the regular investor grievance redressal process has been pursued without success for 180 days with Sebi or the concerned securities market service provider or issuer or its agent.

Therefore, the idea does not appear to be to replace all other grievance redressal processes, but to fortify them with definite, time-bound outcomes for investors, she reckoned.

However, another securities lawyer is not as sanguine.

I am not clear how the Ombudsman plan will pan out. Under the new code, Sebi officers may only act as ombudspersons.

"The difference between RBI and Sebi is that all Sebi orders can be appealed in the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).

"If the Ombudsperson orders also go to SAT, then it can burden the system that is already facing high pendencies, said a securities lawyer, requesting not to be identified.

Sebi, unlike the RBI and Irdai, deals with a large set of intermediaries with various types of contracts, so even if 0.00001 per cent of investors or market participants complain through the Ombudsman, the case load can be high, he pointed out.
'I don't think we should ever negotiate with deadlines or hard stops because we tend to make mistakes then.'

IMAGE: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal meets Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Mumbai, December 11, 2025. Photograph: @PiyushGoyal X/ANI Photo

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India is not negotiating the trade deal with the US with a fixed deadline, and the US should sign on the dotted line if it is happy with India's offer.

Goyal was responding to a query on a comment by United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday, saying that Washington has received the best-ever offer from New Delhi, though India is resisting market access for certain farm items.

"That only the USTR can answer. His happiness is very much welcome.

"I do believe that if they are very happy, they should be signing on the dotted line," Goyal said at an India-Italy joint press conference in Mumbai.

Goyal's comment comes two weeks after Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said he is "very optimistic and hopeful" that both sides could conclude the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement that will address the 50 per cent US tariff on India in the current calendar year.

Separately, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Thursday, said he would be surprised if an 'elusive' trade deal with the US isn't signed by March, as most trade-related issues have been resolved.

'It is difficult to give a timeline on this. However, I would be surprised if we don't have it sealed by the end of the financial year,' Dr Nageswaran said.

However, Goyal said he is not aware of the basis of the CEA's comments.

'You will probably have to refer that to the CEA. I can only say that the negotiations are progressing well,' he added.

Referring to talks with visiting Deputy USTR Rick Switzer, Goyal said that since the official joined three months ago and is at the commerce secretary level, both sides are still getting to know each other.

"He met me also. We had very good, substantive discussions. But a deal is only done when both sides stand to benefit, and I don't think we should ever negotiate with deadlines or hard stops because we tend to make mistakes then," he added.

Commerce ministry sources on Thursday said that the visit of the delegation of US trade officials from the office of the USTR served as an opportunity for both sides to have productive exchanges on a wide gamut of items related to India-US trade and economic ties, including the ongoing negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement.

Both sides agreed to continue the current purposeful and positive engagements, they said.

On the progress in India-European Union trade talks following the conclusion of the 16th round of negotiations and discussions with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, Goyal said "very substantive progress" has been made in this round of discussions.

"In the first or second week of January, our teams will be meeting again. On January 8-9, I shall be engaging with Maros again to take the dialogue forward."

"There has been significant progress, but obviously, everything depends on crossing the finishing line.

"There are many areas of discussion, but I don't think there is any issue I would call a divergence.

"Negotiations should always be conducted with a sense of urgency but never with haste," he added.

Visiting Italy Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, sitting adjacent to Goyal at the press conference in Mumbai, said he is hopeful that the India-EU trade deal will be signed in the first six months of the next year.

"But I am not the trade negotiator," he clarified.

Speaking at a separate event in Mumbai, Goyal also hinted at the conclusion of negotiations with Oman for a trade deal that is likely to be signed next week.

"We are negotiating 14 free trade agreements currently. On Friday, the New Zealand minister is coming to finalise the trade deal. On Wednesday, we got good news of the conclusion of an FTA, which will be announced soon."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata and two other powerful trustees considered close to him blocked the reappointment of late Ratan Tata's close associate and businessman Mehli Mistry as trustee, deepening the rift at the philanthropic arm that controls the holding company of Tata Group, people familiar with the matter said.

Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

Noel Tata was appointed head of Tata Trusts following the death of Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata last year.

TVS Motor Co's chairman emeritus Venu Srinivasan and former defence secretary Vijay Singh voted against Mistry's reappointment as trustee after the end of his three-year tenure on Tuesday, they said.

The three other trustees -- former Citibank India CEO Pramit Jhaveri, Mumbai lawyer Darius Khambata, and Pune-based philanthropist Jehangir HC Jehangir -- who are considered close to Mistry, supported his reappointment, they said.

The unprecedented vertical split marks a sharp departure from the recent consensus-driven approach.

Noel Tata and Mehli Mistry are two power centres in the Tata Trusts, which control a majority stake in the holding company of the Tata Group.

The former has the backing of Srinivasan and former defence secretary Vijay Singh, while the other three are with Mistry.

Differences between the two groups came to the fore in September, when Mistry and three other trustees -- Jhaveri, Khambata and Jehangir -- voted to remove Singh as Tata Trusts' representative on the board of Tata Sons -- the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate.

However, last week, Srinivasan was made a lifelong trustee in a unanimous decision.

While Mistry had remained tight-lipped about his next move, it is likely he will challenge it in court.

The challenge may be on the ground that a joint meeting of the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust on October 17 last year -- within days of the death of Ratan Tata -- had agreed to make all trustees permanent.

When contacted, Tata Trusts declined to comment.

Last week, the CEO of Tata Trusts issued a circular to other trustees seeking Mistry's reappointment to the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), and the Bai Hirabai Jamsetji Tata Navsari Charitable Institution.

At SRTT, trustees are Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, Jimmy Tata, Jehangir HC Jehangir, Mehli Mistry and Darius Khambata.

On the other hand, at SDTT, trustees are Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan, Vijay Singh, Mehli Mistry, Pramit Jhaveri and Darius Khambata.

Earlier, Tata Trusts had unanimously reappointed Venu Srinivasan as a trustee for life.

However, sources said Mistry, along with three other trustees -- Jhaveri, Jehangir and Khambata --, while approving Srinivasan's reappointment as trustee and vice-chairman of Tata Trusts, had put a condition that all future renewals of trustees be approved unanimously, failing which their approvals would be withdrawn.

Opinions in the two camps were divided on whether continuation of a trustee is automatic or requires unanimous approval from the trustees for a lifetime tenure.

While one side maintained that renewal, after which it will be for life, and a fresh appointment requires unanimous approval of trustees as per past practice, the other side insisted that reappointment is automatic, and it is applicable to all the trustees.

According to the minutes of the joint meeting of the trustees of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust held on October 17, 2024, it was resolved that on the expiry of the tenure of any trustee, the trustee would be reappointed by the concerned trust without any limit being attached to the period of tenure, a source said.

As per the resolution, any trustee who chose to vote otherwise would be in "breach of their commitment and is not fit and proper to serve on Tata Trusts by such conduct", the person added.

Moreover, the person said if there is any breach of the commitment by a Trustee, it will necessitate the reopening of all resolutions passed by Tata Trusts, "including the appointment of Noel Tata as a director on the Board of Tata Sons, which formed part of the October 17, 2024, Trustees' resolution".

Also, according to the October 17, 2024, resolution, all trustees are appointed on a long-term and life basis, and trusteeship would be revisited upon reaching 75 years of age.

The 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 earlier this month.

The government is understood to have told the two sides 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.

Tata Trusts, the umbrella body overseeing several charitable trusts including the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, holds a 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons - the holding company of the 156-year-old Tata Group, which comprises around 400 companies, including 30 listed entities.
The board of retirement fund body EPFO has approved liberalised part withdrawals for its more than seven crore subscribers, allowing up to 100 per cent EPF withdrawal. Along with the above, it was also decided to change the period for availing premature final settlement of EPF from the existing two months to 12 months and final pension withdrawal from two months to 36 months.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com



The Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision-making body of EPFO, headed by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, took several path-breaking decisions during its meeting, a labour ministry statement said on Monday.

To enhance the ease of living of EPF members, the CBT decided to simplify the partial withdrawal provisions of the EPF Scheme by merging 13 complex provisions into a single, streamlined rule categorised into three types, namely, Essential Needs (illness, education, marriage), Housing Needs and Special Circumstances.

Now, members will be able to withdraw up to 100 per cent of the eligible balance in the Provident Fund, including employee and employer share.

Withdrawal limits have been liberalised -- education withdrawals allowed up to 10 times and marriage up to five times (from the existing limit of a total of three partial withdrawals for marriage & education in all).

The requirement for minimum service has been uniformly reduced to only 12 months for all partial withdrawals.

Earlier, under 'special circumstances,' the member was required to clarify the reasons for partial withdrawals, viz, natural calamity, lockouts/closure of establishments, continuous unemployment, outbreak of epidemic, etc.

This often led to rejection of claims and consequent grievances.

Now, the member can apply without assigning any reasons under this category.

A provision has been made for earmarking 25 per cent of the contributions in the members' account as minimum balance to be maintained by the member at all times.

This will enable the member to enjoy a high rate of interest offered by EPFO (presently 8.25% pa) along with compounding benefits to accumulate a high-value retirement corpus.

This rationalisation enhances ease of access while ensuring members maintain a sufficient retirement corpus.

Scheme provision simplification along with greater flexibility and zero need for any documentation will pave the way for 100 per cent auto settlement of claims for partial withdrawal and ensure ease of living, the press release stated.

The liberalisation of partial withdrawals ensures members can meet immediate financial needs without compromising their retirement savings or pension entitlements.

The EPFO has also rolled out the 'Vishwas Scheme' to reduce litigation through rationalised penal damages.

The ministry explained that one of the major reasons for litigations has been the imposition of damages for belated remittances of PF dues.

As of May 2025, outstanding penal damages stand at Rs 2,406 crores, with over 6000 cases pending across forums, including high courts, CGITs and the Supreme Court.

Further, nearly 21,000 potential litigation cases are pending under EPFO's e-proceedings portal.

Under the Vishwas Scheme, the rate of penal damages will be reduced to a flat rate of 1 per cent per month, except for a graded rate of 0.25 per cent for default up to 2 months and 0.50 per cent for default up to four months.

The scheme shall remain in operation for six months and is extendable by another six months.

The scheme covers ongoing litigation cases under Section 14B (pending in CGIT, high courts, or Supreme Court), finalised but unpaid 14B orders, pre-adjudication cases (where notice has been issued but final order is pending).

All cases pending shall stand abated, in case of compliance under the Vishwas Scheme.

The board has approved signing an MoU with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to provide doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) services to EPS'95 pensioners at a cost of Rs 50 per certificate, fully borne by EPFO.

This initiative will allow pensioners, especially in rural and remote areas, to submit their life certificates from home through the IPPB's vast postal network, free of charge.

The partnership aims to enhance ease of living for elderly pensioners, ensure timely pension continuity, enable quicker family pension initiation and improve accuracy under the Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS).

As part of EPFO 3.0, CBT approved a comprehensive member-centric digital transformation framework to modernise Provident Fund services.

The hybrid design integrates a proven Core Banking Solution with cloud-native, API-first, micro services-based modules for account management, ERP, compliance and a unified customer experience.

Implementation will proceed in phases, ensuring secure, scalable and uninterrupted services.

The initiative will enable faster, automated claims, instant withdrawals, multilingual self-service and seamless payroll-linked contributions, reaffirming EPFO's commitment to transparent, efficient and technology-driven service delivery for over 30 crore members.

The central board has approved the selection of four fund managers for managing the debt portfolio of EPFO for a period of five years.

The approval follows the recommendations of the selection committee and subsequent endorsement by the investment committee, comprising members of the central board, senior officers, and an external investment expert.

This decision marks a significant step towards ensuring prudent management and diversification of EPFO's investment portfolio, aimed at safeguarding and enhancing returns on members' provident fund savings in line with the organisation's long-term investment objective.

During the meeting, Mandviya inaugurated a series of key digital initiatives of EPFO, aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency and user experience in service delivery.

The central board has approved the selection of four fund managers for managing the debt portfolio of EPFO for a period of five years. The funds are SBI Funds Management Limited, HDFC AMC Limited, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited, and UTI AMC Limited.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) faces around 170 million cyberattacks daily, requiring a dedicated team of "cyber warriors" to work around the clock to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Photograph: ANI Photo

The NSE recorded its highest-ever 40 crore (400 million) cyberattacks in a single day during 'Operation Sindoor', designed as a DDoS simulation. However, attackers failed to cause any damage due to the coordinated efforts of men, machines, and advanced technology.

"Every day, millions of cyberattacks take place on the NSE. But our technical teams, their systems and technology combat these attacks round the clock using specialised software," a senior NSE official told PTI.

He said that the number of cyberattacks ranges from 150 million to 170 million daily, making the task for the teams and systems highly challenging.

Technical teams at the twin cyber defence centres remain in constant battle mode, equipped with upgraded software to neutralise and repel large-scale attacks on the financial market infrastructure 24/7, year-round.

"The strong cybersecurity architecture involving tech-savvy personnel, machines and technology makes the NSE's operations safe", the official said.

NSE has implemented strong internal cybersecurity measures for its operations and also runs a Cybersecurity Fundamentals Training Program through the NSE Academy.

Trading members are required to undergo regular cybersecurity and cyber-resilience audits, with results submitted to the exchange, according to officials.

The security set-up includes strict protocols governing emails, external data, pen drives, and protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

Pop-ups and alerts are instantly generated upon detection of any suspicious activity through these channels, they added.

A DDoS attack overwhelms a server with traffic from multiple sources, making it crash or become unavailable to legitimate users, a serious threat to industries reliant on uninterrupted operations, such as the stock market, they pointed out.

To strengthen protection, NSE mandates Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) for all trading members and staff to ensure the integrity of its systems.

A group of journalists from Jammu and Kashmir visited NSE on Saturday to observe its management facilities, cyber defence centres, and backup setups.

Top officials shared details about an incident during 'Operation Sindoor' -- likely a specific security exercise or period of heightened threat -- when NSE withstood a staggering 40 crore (400 million) cyberattacks in a single day.

In response to the extreme security threat during that period, the NSE took a conscious decision to temporarily restrict access to its website for foreign users as a precautionary measure, officials said.

The NSE leadership noted that not only the exchange's systems but "whatever is connected to us will get affected" in case of a breach, emphasising the ripple effect of digital vulnerabilities across interconnected networks.

Officials added that increasing global interconnectedness and system complexity have made the risk of large-scale cyberattacks more pertinent, posing a significant threat to the stability of financial markets.

They further said that the potential for large-scale cyberattacks on financial market infrastructure at very low cost remains a major global risk.

NSE has a durable, self-activated backup system that can be operated remotely from its Chennai base through a formal digital procedure and mandatory approvals.

"From trading systems to backup setups, the system largely takes care of itself.

"It can correct faults or errors automatically with minimal human intervention.

"If any problem arises here, a parallel backup setup in Chennai becomes operational after the necessary processes," an official said, adding that such a scenario has not occurred so far.
Passenger vehicle dispatches from companies to dealers rose 4 per cent year-on-year in September to 372,458 units, industry body SIAM said on Wednesday.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The overall passenger vehicle dispatches last month rose 4.4 per cent to 372,458 units, as against 356,752 units in September 2024.

Two-wheeler sales witnessed a 7 per cent on-year rise to 21,60,889 units last month, as compared to 20,25,993 units in the year-ago period, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said.

Total three-wheeler dispatches increased to 84,077 units last month, an increase of 5.5 per cent, as compared to 79,683 units in the same month the previous year.

"In spite of the new GST rates coming into effect from September 22, i.e. only for 9 days of the month, passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and three-wheelers have already posted their highest-ever sales of September," SIAM president Shailesh Chandra told reporters.

Looking ahead, the outlook for the sector remains encouraging due to key tailwinds, he added.

"The GST 2.0 reform is a landmark decision of the government, which, apart from catapulting the Indian auto industry to the next level, would bring in vibrancy in the entire economy, as this industry is closely intertwined with strong forward and backward linkages," Chandra stated.

In the July-September quarter, passenger vehicle sales stood at 10,39,200 units, a drop of 1.5 per cent, as compared to 10,55,137 units in the same quarter of last fiscal.

Two-wheeler sales witnessed a growth of 7 per cent year-on-year to 55,62,077 units, as compared to the July-September quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Three-wheeler dispatches to dealers saw a growth of 10 per cent year-on-year to 229,239 units in September, SIAM said.

"The Indian automobile industry enters the second half of 2025-2026 with renewed cheer, supported by strong festive season momentum, stable macroeconomic conditions, and GST 2.0 reforms that have improved overall affordability and consumer sentiment," the industry body said.

"While the industry remains watchful of geopolitical developments, the overall outlook for the rest of the current financial year remains encouraging, with the sector expected to close the fiscal year on a positive growth trajectory," it added.
India's exports to the US contracted 8.6 per cent to $6.3 billion in October, while imports rose 13.9 per cent to $4.5 billion leading to a trade surplus of $1.8 billion during the month.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Richard Carson/Reuters

India's petroleum exports to the US surged 94.5 per cent in October to $251.5 million, making it the only major export category to post positive growth, apart from iPhone-led telecom instruments, which jumped 204 per cent during the month.

This surge comes even as India's key refined petroleum markets -- including the Netherlands (-15.7 per cent), Australia (-93.1 per cent) and Togo (-62.3 per cent) -- sharply cut their purchases from India during the same month.

The US has long been a major buyer of Indian petroleum products, accounting for 6.9 per cent ($5.8 billion) of India's petroleum exports in financial year 2024 (FY24). In October, its share stood at 6.4 per cent.

During the month, exports of gems and jewellery continued to be the hardest hit to the US, with shipments of pearls, precious, and semi-precious stones plunging 77.3 per cent. Exports of gold and other precious metal jewellery dropped 51.2 per cent, disaggregated data released by the commerce department showed.

Among other categories, exports of cotton fabrics and madeups (-28.3 per cent), marine products (-22.5 per cent), industrial machinery for dairy (-28.1 per cent), readymade garments (-19.6 per cent), drug formulations (-7.5 per cent) and auto components (-18.9 per cent) also contracted significantly to the U.S.

The US stepped up pressure on India to halt purchases of discounted Russian crude oil after US President Donald Trump assumed office in January this year. On August 7, Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for buying Russian oil, effective from August 27, doubling the total tariff to 50 per cent, which has led to significant dip in India's shipments to the US.

India's exports to the US contracted 8.6 per cent to $6.3 billion in October, while imports rose 13.9 per cent to $4.5 billion leading to a trade surplus of $1.8 billion during the month.

The US imposed sanctions on Russia's largest oil producers -- Rosneft and Lukoil -- in a renewed bid to end the war in Ukraine during the month. The move forced Indian private, as well as, State-run oil refiners to substantially reduce their crude oil purchases from Russia.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, had told reporters that the country can double its annual energy imports from the US from $12-13 billion at present. In October, India's crude oil imports from the US rose 18.3 per cent to $496 million.

A US trade delegation, led by Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer, is scheduled to visit India for the first time later this week, at a time India is aiming to conclude the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) before the end of the calendar year.

Assistant USTR and the chief negotiator of the proposed trade deal Brendan Lynch, along with other senior officials from USTR, will be a part of the delegation travelling to New Delhi to take stock of the deal.

Talks with the US have been moving in parallel on two tracks -- the broader BTA, which will take longer, and the framework deal that would address the 50 per cent tariff burden on exporters.
Even as the results of Siemens for the second quarter of 2025-26 (Q2FY26) were a mixed bag, the stock was the top gainer in the BSE 200 index, rising 4.92 per cent in trade.

Photograph: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters

Most brokerages are neutral or positive on the company.

The revenues beat consensus estimates while operating profit and net profit were below expectations.

The order inflows were reasonable, though lower than consensus.

The financial year-ending has been changed to March (versus September), which makes direct comparison more difficult along with the tricky adjustments related to the demerger.

This financial year will actually be extended to 18 months ending March 31, 2026.

Revenue expansion was led by mobility and smart infra segments, with sales at Rs 5,171 crore (up 16 per cent year-on-year or Y-o-Y, and up 19 per cent quarter-on-quarter or Q-o-Q).

Mobility revenues were up 29 per cent Y-o-Y at Rs 1,135 crore, and smart infra was up 20 per cent Y-o-Y at Rs 2,725 crore.

Digital industries segment was flat at Rs 1,067 crore, with management pointing to low order backlog and delay in pickup in private capex.

The low-voltage motor segment reported 5 per cent Y-o-Y growth at Rs 270 crore.

Capex of Rs 460 crore will add capacity in transformer and reactor businesses.

Making a judgement about operating profit is also tricky due to the demerger.

But gross margins at 29.4 per cent are down, and operating profit margin at 11.9 per cent is below consensus, with some expenses linked to the Siemens Energy demerger.

Mobility margins at 11.1 per cent (up 300 basis points or bps Y-o-Y and up 730 bps Q-o-Q) are a big positive surprise.

Adjusted net profit is up 3 per cent after excluding one-time gains on real estate.

The order inflows growth was at 10 per cent Y-o-Y at Rs 4,800 crore, which is below consensus.

The outstanding order book is Rs 42,200 crore, which is up 6 per cent Y-o-Y, and over twice trailing 12-month revenues.

Private capex pickup will be key to stronger order flow, and especially crucial for a boost to the digital industries segment.

Data centres in particular could be important, and easing semiconductor supply pressures may help with order momentum in digital industries.

The guidance of the parent Siemens AG for FY26 suggests strong margins and momentum in smart infra and mobility could be sustained. Siemens is investing to make Aurangabad an export hub for mobility.

On a like-for-like comparison basis, order inflow growth stood at 20 per cent Y-o-Y for the trailing 12-month period while the trailing 12 months net profit has declined Y-o-Y even after adjusting for higher other income last year on real estate sales.

Siemens expects the governments emphasis on infrastructure, and improvement in capex execution to support demand.

This should translate into opportunities across railways, grid upgrades, distribution improvement, and smart energy systems.

Smart infrastructure and electric vehicle charging are also expanding, and the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into operations and product offerings may enhance efficiency, although the pace of AI adoption is gradual.

The firm could be vulnerable to slowdown in government order inflows, and aggressive bidding for projects may adversely impact margins.

Also, related party transactions may occur, with the parent and group entities at modest valuations, and this could weigh down performance.

The company is cautiously optimistic about demand momentum eventually translating to pickup in private capex. As and when theres a pickup in private capex, Siemens would be well-placed to cash in.

The stock is relatively somewhat cheaper compared to its historical average.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
BERLIN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday stressed the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity regarding the Greenland issue, adding that "we want to hold our ground as a country and as a continent."

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Merz said Denmark and the people of Greenland can "count on our solidarity." While Germany is ready to support talks with Washington, the basis of these talks must always be the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, he stressed.

Tariff threats would weaken transatlantic relations, Merz said, warning against a risk of escalation.

He said while U.S. consumers would ultimately pay the price of such duties, they would also damage the European and German economies.

German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius on Monday also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs, calling the move "unacceptable" and warning of a further escalation in trade tensions.

Kornelius said at a press conference in Berlin that Trump's latest threats would escalate the trade conflict, noting that there can be no winner in such a confrontation.

The European Union is determined to react with effective countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs, he said. 
A court in Antwerp on Friday cleared the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, noting that his arrest by the Belgian authorities on India's request was valid, officials in the know of the development said.

Photograph: ANI Photo

The order has come as a strong validation for India's case seeking his extradition, with Choksi having the option of appealing against the decision in a superior court in Belgium, they said.

"The order has come in our favour. The court has termed his arrest by the Belgian authorities on India's request valid.

"The first legal step in getting him extradited is now clear," a senior official said.

Belgian prosecutors were aided by Indian officials from the external affairs ministry and the CBI in putting forth strong arguments on Choksi's alleged crime in orchestrating a Rs 13,000 crore scam in the Punjab National Bank in collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi.

The prosecutors told the court that he remains a flight risk and cannot be released from prison, the officials said.

After hearing the Belgian prosecutors and Choksi's defence lawyers during the hearings in mid-September, the court concluded that his arrest was valid.

Choksi (66) was arrested in Belgium on April 11 on the basis of the extradition request sent by the CBI, they said. His bail applications have been rejected by different courts in that country.

India has also assured the Belgian authorities that if extradited, Choksi would be housed in Barrack No. 12 at the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai, with no chance of overcrowding or solitary confinement, as at least one more economic offender is expected to be housed in his cell.

The Union home ministry informed the Belgian authorities through a September 4 communique that the personal living space for each inmate in Barack No. 12 is in line with and fully meets the minimum space requirement of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) of Europe.

Choksi had fled to Antigua and Barbuda in the Carribbean where he had taken citizenship.

After he was stopped in Belgium, the CBI, the external affairs ministry, and the home ministry swung into action to get him extradited to India to face the law.

India has assured that the cell in which Choksi will be detained will meet European standards -- sized approximately 20 feet by 15 feet with a separate toilet and washroom, ventilators, and a grilled main door, which provides sufficient air circulation.

It also assured "high-level of security" in the cell, with a clean, thick cotton mat, pillow, bed sheet, and blanket.

The cell would be swept and mopped daily, along with supply of fresh drinking water, outdoor exercises, rest areas, board games such as chess and carrom, and badminton, the prison department said.

Art of Living yoga sessions are also provided to the inmates of the barrack.

Daily newspapers in English and local languages, terrestrial TV channels, videoconferencing facilities, and telemedicine services are also available in the prison.

Meeting with blood relatives is permitted once a week, while lawyer meetings are allowed daily, it said.

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in a Rs 13,000 crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank, which they allegedly orchestrated through fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) in connivance with some bank officials at PNB's Brady House branch in Mumbai, the officials said.

Nirav Modi, declared a fugitive economic offender, has been lodged in a London jail since he was held by the authorities there in 2019 on the basis of a legal request made by the ED and the CBI in this case.

He is contesting his extradition to India.

The CBI also invoked United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in its extradition request.

At least two open-ended arrest warrants, issued by a special court in Mumbai in 2018 and 2021, were shared by the Indian agencies with their Belgian counterparts as part of the extradition request, sources said.

According to the investigating agencies, officials at PNB's Brady House branch issued 165 LoUs and 58 FLCs during March-April 2017, against which 311 bills were discounted.

These LoUs and FLCs were allegedly issued to Choksi's firms without any sanctioned limit or cash margin and without making entries in PNB's central banking system to evade any scrutiny in case of a default.

LoUs are a guarantee given by a bank on behalf of its client to a foreign bank.

If the client does not repay the foreign bank, the liability falls on the guarantor bank.

Based on the LoUs issued by the PNB, money was lent by the SBI, Mauritius; Allahabad Bank, Hong Kong; Axis Bank, Hong Kong; Bank of India, Antwerp; Canara Bank, Manama; and SBI, Frankfurt.

"Since the accused companies did not repay the amount availed against the said fraudulent LoUs and FLCs, PNB made the payment of Rs 6,344.97 crore ($965.18 million), including the overdue interest, to the overseas banks, which had advanced buyer's credit and discounted the bills against the fraudulent LoUs and FLCs issued by the PNB," the CBI's supplementary chargesheet in the PNB bank fraud case alleged.
Belgium's supreme court -- the Court of Cassation -- on Tuesday rejected the appeal of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi challenging the extradition request of India in connection with the Rs 13000-crore alleged bank fraud in Punjab National Bank, authorities in that country said.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Choksi, who escaped to Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018, days before the scam was detected, was spotted in Belgium, where he had purportedly sought treatment. India had sent an extradition request to Belgium on August 27, 2024, based on arrest warrants issued by a special court in Mumbai.

Responding to PTI, Spokesperson for Court of Cassation, Advocaat-generaal Henri Vanderlinden, said, "The Court of Cassation rejected the appeal. So, the decision of the Court of Appeal stands."

The process of his extradition will begin now, officials said.

The Antwerp Court of Appeal had upheld India's request for Choksi's extradition while terming it "enforceable".

A four-member indictment chamber at the Court of Appeals in Antwerp did not find any infirmity in the orders issued by the pre-trial chamber of the district court on November 29, 2024, terming the arrest warrants issued by the Mumbai special court in May 2018 and June 2021 as "enforceable", allowing Choksi's extradition.

The Court of Appeals had ruled that Choksi, the main accused in a Rs-13,000 crore PNB scam, faces "no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India.

The Court of Cassation only checks the decision of the court of appeal "on legal aspects" such as whether the court of appeal correctly applied the legal dispositions, and whether they follow the right procedure, Vanderlinden had said in response to PTI questions last month.

"So, new facts or evidence cannot be placed," he had said.

"The proceedings are, in essence, a written one.

"As a rule, all cases are heard. If the court refuses to admit the appeal, it will be on legal grounds, for example, the person who filed the complaint did not have the legal competence to do so," Vanderlinden had explained.

Of the total scam amount, Choksi alone has siphoned off Rs 6,400 crore, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its chargesheet.

The public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Antwerp, Division Turnhout, initiated an action on November 25, 2024, seeking the enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the Mumbai court.

The pre-trial chamber of the Antwerp District Court, Turnhout Division, in its order dated November 29, 2024, held that the arrest warrants against Choksi issued by the Mumbai court were enforceable, except for the order related to "causing the disappearance of evidence of the crime".

When Choksi appealed against this verdict in the Antwerp Court of Appeals, it rejected his claims that he personally faces a real, present and serious risk of being subjected to flagrant denial of justice, torture or inhuman and degrading treatment in India.

India has given a number of assurances to Belgium about Choksi's safety, the charges that he would face during trial in India, prison arrangements, human rights and medical needs.

The Court of Appeals had ruled that 66-year-old Choksi faces "no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India.

Dismissing the appeal filed by Choksi against the district court, the Court of Appeals held that the businessman failed to provide "concretely plausible" evidence of a "genuine risk" of torture or denial of justice.

It held that the documents Choksi submitted do not substantiate his claims that he is the subject of a political trial.

The order was a strong validation of India's case seeking his extradition.
The government is developing ports across the country as centres for green hydrogen production and export, Sarbananda Sonowal, minister of ports, shipping and waterways (MoPSW) said on Tuesday.

Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Across the country, over 12 million tonnes of green hydrogen-based e-fuel capacity has been announced.

"Our ports are evolving into centers of green hydrogen production, bunkering, and export.

"With unique geography along the key global trade routes, India is well-placed to be a hub for green shipping corridors, connecting domestic and international markets through clean energy trade, Sonowal said during the India Maritime Week (IMW) in Mumbai.

Speaking at the same event, Shipping ministrys secretary Vijay Kumar said India is becoming a key player in the green hydrogen economy and tenders by the Solar Energy Corporation of India are catalysing cost-competitive green fuel production with cost as low as $571 per tonne of green ammonia, one of the lowest prices globally.

Several ministers at IMW 2025 have expressed their interest in importing green ammonia, green fuels from India.

"We have the potential to become the suppliers of green hydrogen to the world, that is what we are working on, Kumar said.

India has already launched green shipping corridors.

Recently, the government approved Rs 69,725 crore ($8 billion) investment to revitalise Indias shipbuilding and maritime ecosystem.

This move lays a strong foundation of a golden era in Indias maritime sector, positioning India among the top five maritime nations by 2047, Sonowal said.

The government has also announced Rs 19,989 crore budgetary support for the shipbuilding development scheme between FY26-FY36.

Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd, Indias first maritime-focused NBFC, and the maritime development fund with a Rs 25,000 crore corpus are designed to finance Indias maritime sector and for its green transformation, the minister added.

He also said as part of the national vision of achieving Net Zero by 2070, India aims to reduce carbon emission per tonne of cargo by 30 per cent by 2030 and 70 per cent by 2047.

Flagship initiatives like the Sagarmala Program, Maritime Vision 2030, Harit Sagar Guidelines, and Maritime Amrit Kal Vision 2047 are leading this transformation.

Kumar also said the government has carved out a roadmap to boost green energy uptake in Indias maritime sector.

Around 60 per cent of power at our major ports should come from renewables by 2030.

"We are already on a roadmap to achieve it. Major ports have already been told to electrify more than 50 per cent of their vessels, vehicles, and equipment by 2030 and over 90 per cent by 2047 along with energy consumption reduction and green building norms for new infrastructure.

MoUs signed for Vadhavan Port, Adani to invest Rs 53,000 crore

Indias largest private port operator Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) today signed two memorandums of understanding (MoU) of Rs 53,000 crore to invest in Vadhavan Port.

The company signed an MoU of Rs 26,500 crore for intent to participate at the ports offshore projects and another MoU for development of container terminals with investment of additional Rs 26,500 crore.

On Monday, APSEZ had signed an MoU to invest Rs 43,500 crore for the expansion of Dighi Port in Maharashtra.

Indian Railway Finance Corporation also signed an MoU to extend financial support for the Vadhavan project to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore.

Evergreen Marine Pvt Ltd, a Taiwanese shipping firm also signed an MoU worth Rs 10,000 crore for the intent of developing terminals at Vadhavan Port.

Additionally, UAE-based port operator Gulftainer Company signed an MoU worth Rs 4,000 crore for intent to develop terminals at Vadhavan.

The port project, valued at Rs 76,220 crore, is estimated to become one of the top 10 ports across the globe once completed.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) holds 74 per cent in the project, while the rest is held by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB).

It will be Indias 13th major and largest container port.

The first phase of the project is estimated to be completed by 2029.

The port will possess a cargo-handling capacity of 298 million metric tonnes (MMT) per annum, including around 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

The all-weather greenfield deep draft port is coming up in Palghar district of Maharashtra, and is being developed under a model with terminals built through public-private partnerships (PPP).

The Inland Waterways Authority of India signed multiple memoranda of understanding with states, public sector and private sector entities for investments upwards of Rs 35,000 crore  these include operationalising the National Waterway-5, induction of inland cargo vessels with Germanys Rhenus Logistics, and development of waterways in the Rann of Kutch.

Moreover, Paradip Port Authority in Odisha also signed pacts worth over Rs 7,000 crore to develop green ammonia hubs at the port with renewable energy companies such as Avaada.

The port is among three major Indian ports (owned by the Centre) which have been recognised as green hydrogen hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has sought urgent steps to clear the huge backlog of income-tax appeals, simplify tax deducted at source (TDS) compliance, and ensure tax neutrality for fast-track demergers, during its consultation with Revenue Secretary Arvind Shrivastava ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Ficci told the finance ministry that nearly 540,000 appeals involving Rs 18.16 trillion are pending before Commissioners of Income Tax (Appeals) [CIT(A)], a situation that undermines the intent of the faceless appeals mechanism introduced in 2021.

The chamber urged the government to set time-bound disposal targets, fill 40 per cent vacancies at the CIT(A) level, and adopt a dual-track system to fast-track simple or low-value cases while allowing detailed scrutiny for complex ones.

It also suggested automatic approval of virtual hearings within two weeks and refund or stay of demand where appeals remain pending for over two years without taxpayer fault.

To ease working capital pressure, Ficci recommended rationalising the stay of demand rules.

It said that despite the Central Board of Directors Taxes circular capping the pre-deposit at 20 per cent, refunds are often adjusted by the Central Processing Centre even against stayed demands.

The chamber proposed real-time integration between assessing officers and the CPC to prevent such mismatches, and allowing taxpayers to provide bank guarantees or indemnities in lieu of cash deposits.

The industry body also pressed for tax neutrality for fast-track demergers under Section 233 of the Companies Act, 2013, arguing that denying such treatment defeats the governments ease of doing business objectives and clogs the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) with small intra-group cases.

"... The government should reconsider its views and include reference to Section 233 of the Companies Act 2013 in Section 2(35) of the Income-Tax Act (ITA) 2025 to provide tax neutrality to fast-track demergers," Ficci said in its recommendation.

On TDS, Ficci said the current structure  with 37 separate provisions ranging from 0.1 per cent to 30 per cent  adds unnecessary compliance burden.

It proposed reducing them to three broad rate slabs and exempting B2B (Business-to-Business) payments already covered under goods and services tax (GST).

Ficci also urged the government to clarify that foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) storing components in India for just-in-time manufacturing should not be treated as having a business connection as many foreign OEMs remain hesitant to deploy their most-advanced machinery and technology in India.

It also requested to restore the existing transfer pricing definition of Associated Enterprise in the new ITA 2025 to avoid fresh litigations.

On the Customs side, it sought additional Customs Authority for Advance Rulings offices in the South and East of India, and a centralised digital repository for trade notices to improve transparency.
Indias top cement producers delivered a solid July-September quarter (Q2) in 2025-26 (FY26), lifted by firmer prices, higher sales volumes, and a favourable base.

Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Seasonal weakness and maintenance outages did dent sequential performance, but the overall picture remained positive  and the road ahead looks steady.

Realisations improved by Rs 250-300 per tonne year-on-year (Y-o-Y), driven mainly by better cement prices, which helped companies lift their earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) per tonne compared to last year, said Vijay Agrawal, managing director and sector lead-infrastructure at Equirus Capital.

Average all-India cement prices hovered at Rs 355-365 per bag in Q2FY26, up from Rs 330-335 in Q2 of 2024-25 (FY25).

Last years demand was hit by lower government capital expenditure (capex), the general election, and weather disruptions, observed Akshay Shetty, research analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan.

Centrum Broking said management commentaries after results pointed to 4-5 per cent Y-o-Y demand growth in Q2 FY26 despite weather-related interruptions.

Stronger rural activity and ongoing construction kept consumption buoyant.

Industry-wide Ebitda per tonne rose to Rs 932, a 41 per cent jump Y-o-Y.

JM Financial reported that industry volumes (like-for-like) grew 7 per cent Y-o-Y in Q2FY26.

Adjusted for acquisitions, consolidated volumes at UltraTech Cement and Ambuja Cements also rose 7 per cent.

JK Cement saw a 15.1 per cent increase, driven by capacity ramp-up and better utilisation.

The aggregate reported Ebitda of our coverage universe (about 75 per cent of industry capacity) rose 53 per cent Y-o-Y, largely on improved pricing, JM Financial said.

The Y-o-Y gains were aided by a low base, new capacities (organic and inorganic), better utilisation, and a richer product mix with higher premium cement sales.

Sequentially, though, performance softened.

The monsoon brought the usual demand dip, while an early festival season skewed buying patterns.

The goods and services tax (GST) rate cut triggered transitional disruptions.

Realisations and Ebitda weakened sequentially due to operating deleverage.

JM Financial estimated that Ebitda for its coverage universe fell 24 per cent quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) to Rs 7,900 crore, mainly because of lower blended realisations.

Blended Ebitda per tonne dipped 18 per cent to Rs 952.

Industry-wide, realisation per tonne edged down 1 per cent Q-o-Q, and volumes fell around 8 per cent.

Pan-Indian cement prices slipped 2.5 per cent, weighed down by seasonality and sharper declines in late September following the GST rate cut, said Sehul Bhatt, director, Crisil Intelligence.

On costs, BOB Capital Markets noted that aggregate cost per tonne rose about 2 per cent Y-o-Y in Q2FY26.

Efficiency gains and a better fuel mix were offset by higher logistics and maintenance expenses.

Petcoke prices climbed Y-o-Y, while monsoon-hit logistics and planned kiln shutdowns pushed costs up about 5 per cent Q-o-Q.

Agrawal added that the industry has finally posted more than 5 per cent organic Y-o-Y growth after nearly six quarters, improving capacity utilisation.

A gradual revival in infrastructure demand  after a pronounced election-led slowdown  supported the pickup.

With this, companies pushed through price hikes of Rs 250300 per tonne across regions, which should bolster Ebitda per tonne in the coming quarters.

Analysts expect the second half to remain strong, helped by post-monsoon recovery, steady private and public capex, and normalising construction activity.

The GST rate cut should aid low- to mid-income housing demand, supporting long-term growth.

Rural demand is also expected to stay firm.

October was soft due to festivals, extended monsoons, labour shortages, and restricted construction activity, but demand is expected to rebound in November and beyond.

In the third quarter of FY26 so far (until November 17), pan-Indian cement prices are up 1 per cent Y-o-Y, according to JM Financial.

Meanwhile, share prices of most large cement companies have been muted in recent months  a trend that could shift if demand strengthens.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.

Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday allayed apprehension that privatisation of state-owned banks would hurt financial inclusion and national interest.

Photograph: ANI Photo

She said the bank nationalisation done in 1969 has not yielded the desired result as far as financial inclusion was concerned.

Addressing the student at the Diamond Jubilee Valedictory Lecture at Delhi School of Economics (DSE), University of Delhi, she said that nationalisation did help in pushing priority sector lending and government programmes but government control made public sector banks unprofessional.

Despite 50 years of nationalisation, the objectives that were not entirely achieved, she said, adding, "after... we professionalised the banks, those objectives are still being beautifully achieved.

"So, this perception that when you try to make them professional, and if you want to privatise them, which is a Cabinet decision, that objective of reaching to all people, taking banking to everybody will be lost... is incorrect."

Recalling that misuse of public sector banks in the past, she said it has rooesulted in balancsheet impairment.

"You must have heard this expression of twin balance sheet problem in 2012-13 and to correct that, it took us nearly six years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into power.

"Now I am confident to say our Indian banks stand out exemplary in terms of the asset quality, in terms of the NIM, in terms in terms of credit and deposit growth and also in terms of financial inclusion," she said.

She emphasised that when banks are allowed to function professionally and the decisions are board driven, "every objective of the national interest and also the banking interest, will be served".

As part of the privatisation exercise, the government in January 2019 sold its controlling 51 per cent stake in IDBI Bank to Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

Subsequently, the government and LIC announced plans for strategic sale of their stake in IDBI Bank.

In October 2022, both shareholders had invited EoI (Expression of Interest) from investors for privatising IDBI Bank by selling a total of 60.72 per cent stake.

This includes a 30.48 per cent stake of the Government of India and 30.24 per cent of LIC.

Pursuant to inviting EoIs in October 2022, the DIPAM, in January 2023, received multiple EoIs for IDBI Bank.

Paving the way for the sale of IDBI Bank, Sebi in August 2025 has approved the reclassification of Life Insurance Corporation as a public shareholder from promoter of the bank on completion of strategic divestment in the lender.

Besides, the government had undertaken consolidation of public sector banks.

In the biggest consolidation exercise in the banking space, the government in August 2019 had announced four major mergers of public sector banks, bringing down their total number to 12 from 27 in 2017.

Effective April 1, 2020, United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce were merged with Punjab National Bank; Syndicate Bank was merged with Canara Bank; Allahabad Bank was amalgamated with Indian Bank; and Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank were consolidated with Union Bank of India.

In 2019, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank were merged with Bank of Baroda.

Prior to this, the government had merged five associate banks of SBI and Bharatiya Mahila Bank with the State Bank of India.
Eighteen new-age technology firms went public during the year, a near triple increase from the five firms that debuted in 2023 and 38 per cent more than 2024s tally of 13.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Indias long-stalled technology initial public offering (IPO) market continued the strong revival march in 2025, as venture-backed companies demonstrated that the path to public markets now runs through profitability rather than growth at any cost.

Eighteen new-age technology firms went public during the year, a near triple increase from the five firms that debuted in 2023 and 38 per cent more than 2024s tally of 13.

Together, they raised  41,283 crore ($4.9 billion), with companies including e-commerce platform Meesho, electric-vehicle maker Ather Energy and eyewear retailer Lenskart tapping buoyant investor demand.

The revival march reflects a fundamental strategic shift among founders and their backers following the funding frenzy of 2021-2022.

Companies that once prioritised user acquisition and market share above all else have retooled operations around unit economics, leaner cost structures and clear paths to profitability -- attributes that public-market investors increasingly demand.

Founders are focusing on fixing their unit economics, adopting leaner operations, cutting cash burn, and establishing clear pathways to profitability, said Neha Singh, co-founder of research firm Tracxn.

This operational discipline has prepared them for public markets where investors prioritise stable growth and financial discipline over scale at all costs approach, she said.

Gopal Jain, managing director and chief executive at Gaja Capital, said that after the 2022-23 correction, companies were forced to recalibrate growth, cut discretionary burn, and demonstrate contribution margin discipline.

By 202425, many scaled startups were either Ebitda-positive or on a clear, time-bound path to profitability.

Jain said that between January 2024 and December 2025, there were 67 PE or VC-backed IPOs, of which roughly 80 per cent reported positive Ebitda (Earnings before profit, tax, depreciation and amortisation) with growth at the time of listing.

This improvement was not cosmetic; it was driven by lower customer acquisition costs, better pricing power, and operating leverage, said Jain.

He said governance and disclosure standards improved significantly.

Companies approaching IPO in 2025 had already institutionalised boards, audit discipline, and internal controls, often under the scrutiny of late-stage private equity investors preparing for public markets.

This reduced execution risk for public investors and narrowed the credibility gap that had affected earlier cohorts.

Meesho exemplifies shift

Abhimanyu Bhattacharya, partner at law firm Khaitan & Co, said that after the first wave of tech listings, investors demanded profitable or near-profitable models, cleaner unit economics and far more granular key performance indicator (KPI) disclosures.

Securities and exchange board of Indias (SEBI) tighter regime on KPI and ongoing disclosure standards reinforced that discipline.

At the same time, Bhattacharya said India settled into a structural IPO run-rate that gave quality startups confidence that there is deep, repeat capital available onshore, rather than a one-off window.

E-commerce firm Meesho exemplified the shift. The company raised $604 million in its IPO and made a strong market debut in December, with shares jumping roughly 46 per cent on listing.

Urban Company, the home services platform, raised 1,900 crore in September with bids 104 times the offer size.

The Gurugram-based company, which operates across 47 Indian cities, turned profitable in 2024-25, reporting 240 crore net profit compared with a 93 crore loss the previous year.

Nithin Kaimal, partner and chief operating officer, Bessemer Venture Partners India, said that listed Indian companies are now significantly owned by retail and domestic institutional investors and this bodes well for long term stability of the markets.

This is a healthy evolution that will lead to many more PE and VC-backed companies listing in the public markets, he said.

Market conditions also mattered

Strong domestic flows into Indian equities, particularly mid- and small-caps, created depth and risk appetite that absorbed new-age issuers without excessive valuation compression.

Reflecting this, Jain of Gaja Capital said approximately 57 per cent of PE or VC-backed IPOs over this period traded above their offer price, indicating selective but supportive public-market reception.

The improvement in business metrics bodes well and, in my view, is durable. But pockets of froth remain, especially around smaller, momentum-driven issues, where post-listing corrections have already indicated that markets will test projections, said Bhattacharya of Khaitan & Co.

Not every marquee listing lived up to pre-IPO expectations

Lenskart, one of Indias most closely watched consumer-tech offerings, drew strong interest ahead of its listing but delivered a more restrained market debut than many investors had anticipated.

The stocks early performance reflected heightened scrutiny of valuation and profitability, underscoring that public markets in 2025 were willing to reward scale and executionbut with greater discipline on price.

Lenskarts much-anticipated 7,278 crore IPO, priced at 402 per share, got off to a subdued start in late 2025, opening at a modest discount of about 3 per cent around 390-395 and closing the session marginally higher at 403.3.

New Crop of IPOs

Jain of Gaja Capital said India today has approximately 25,000 unlisted PE or VC-backed companies, of which around 15,000 have been operating for more than seven years.

Within this universe, roughly 10 per cent, or about 1,500 companies, have crossed the $10 million revenue mark with positive Ebitda.

About one-third of these, or roughly 450500 companies, are growing at rates exceeding 25 percent and can be thought of as IPO ready.

From an IPO-readiness perspective, this suggests a sizeable but finite pool of companies that meet basic scale, profitability, and governance thresholds, said Jain of Gaja Capital.

At the current pace of roughly 3035 PE or VC-backed IPOs per year, this represents a healthy, multi-year pipeline from private to public markets.

A related structural shift is the growing trend of corporate flip-backs. Over the last five years, 11 companies have flipped back to India to position themselves for Indian IPOs, with five of these occurring in 2025 alone.

This trend reflects confidence in Indian public markets and is likely to continue, said Jain.

Looking at current filings and deal pipelines, there are a handful of Indian startups today which are 'public-market ready'.

We may see a second category of issuers  companies pushed towards listing by fund-life pressures and the search for liquidity. However, this cohort could face pricing pressures and post-listing volatility, said Bhattacharya of Khaitan & Co.

The pipeline is overweight consumer internet, fintech and asset-light platforms. Valuation corrections could occur in B2C models with weak cash flows and excessive customer acquisition spend. The public markets will favour quality of revenue not just top-line growth.

Jain of Gaja Capital said only a minority of late-stage startups combine sufficient scale, predictable cash flows, and governance maturity to withstand public-market scrutiny without relying on favourable sentiment.

These companies typically have diversified revenue streams, operating leverage, and experienced management teams.

The lessons from 2025 are clear. Public markets reward predictability, transparency, and discipline far more than narratives. We advise companies to prepare for IPOs as if they will remain public for decades, not as an exit event, said Jain.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
State Bank of India-led public sector banks posted a record cumulative profit of Rs 49,456 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal, reflecting a 9 per cent year-on-year growth despite two lenders reporting a decline.

Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters

All 12 public sector banks (PSBs) together made a profit of Rs 45,547 crore in the September quarter of FY25.

Thus, the increase in profit in absolute terms was Rs 3,909 crore as compared to the same quarter of the previous financial year.

Market leader SBI alone contributed 40 per cent to the total earnings of Rs 49,456 crore, as per the published numbers on stock exchanges.

SBI logged a net profit of Rs 20,160 crore in Q2 FY26, 10 per cent higher than the same period of the previous fiscal.

In percentage terms, Chennai-based Indian Overseas Bank reported the highest net profit growth of 58 per cent to Rs 1,226 crore, followed by Central Bank of India with a 33 per cent rise to Rs 1,213 crore.

During the quarter, all 12 public sector banks (PSBs) except Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India reported an 8 per cent and 10 per cent decline, respectively, in profit.

Bank of Baroda reported an 8 per cent fall in net profit at Rs 4,809 crore as against Rs 5,238 crore in the year-ago period.

Another Mumbai-based lender, Union Bank of India, witnessed a 10 per cent decline in bottomline at Rs 4,249 crore during the quarter.

During the quarter, Bank of Maharashtra and Punjab & Sind Bank reported a 23 per cent rise in profit, while Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and Indian Bank posted 19 per cent, 14 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.

Those which recorded single-digit growth in profit are Bank of India at 8 per cent, while UCO Bank at 3 per cent.

It is to be noted that the PSBs recorded a slightly higher profit of 11 per cent on an annual basis to Rs 44,218 crore in the first quarter as compared to Rs 39,974 crore in the June quarter of FY25.

For the first half ended September 2025, the aggregate profit of PSBs crossed Rs 90,000 crore for the first time.

Together, the PSBs have earned Rs 93,674 crore as compared to Rs 85,520 crore in the April-September period of FY25, registering nearly 10 per cent growth.
Public sector banks (PSBs) employee count grew for the first time in five years while private sector banks staff strength saw a decline in 2024-25 (FY25), according to latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Ajay Verma/Reuters

The employee count of state-owned lenders rose 0.22 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to 757,641 at the end of March 31, 2025 from 756,015 in FY24.

On the other hand, private banks recorded a 0.86 per cent drop in their employee count to 838,150 in FY25 from 845,407 in FY24.

PSBs earlier calibrated their employee count as they were focused on consolidation while improving balance sheets.

Now having healthy balance sheets with easing regulatory environment, they have resumed hiring.

Private banks, on the other hand, have been focussed on leveraging technology and digital initiatives rather than expanding headcount.

Public sector banks had paused hiring due to consolidation, regulatory cleanup, retirements, and efficiency drives, said Vivek Iyer, partner and financial services risk leader, Grant Thornton Bharat.

They are now resuming recruitment in a calibrated manner, timed with improving balance sheets, expectations of regulatory easing, and domestic growth.

"This is delayed hiring aimed at filling gaps caused by attrition, mainly at mid-management levels. In contrast, private banks hiring is stabilising.

"They hire based on their business plans and they are increasingly relying on technology and digital initiatives to meet incremental demand rather than expanding headcount, Iyer told Business Standard.

Among the PSBs, State Bank of India (SBI) added 3,930 employees to reach a headcount of 236,226, and Punjab National Bank (PNB) added 397 employees to 102,746.

The fall in employee count of ICICI Bank, which dropped 7.13 per cent to 130,957, was a major contributor to the drop in headcount of the private sector.

HDFC Bank added 994 employees to 214,521, and Axis Bank added 121 employees to 104,453.

Recently, SBI hired over 1,000 probationary officers (POs), with 505 hired in June 2025, and another 541 onboarded in December 2025.

The lender plans to hire 18,000 people in FY26, out of which around 13,500 will be clerical recruitments, and 3,000 will be POs and local-based officers, the management said.

Hiring momentum will continue for state-owned entities, Iyer said.

Going forward, hiring momentum in public sector undertakings (PSUs) is expected to continue for at least the next twelve months.

"However, significant hiring for the private sector will occur only when demand is durable and sustained.

"While there may have been minor frontloading during the Covid period due to uncertainty, there was no major over-hiring, and subsequent rationalisation focused on redeployment and automation rather than layoffs.

"Private sector hiring is expected to pick up only in the next financial year, with a more visible uptick likely between mid-FY27 and the third quarter (Q3) of FY27, after which they are likely to evaluate again, Iyer added.

The overall headcount in the banking system rose to 18,08,587 from 17,87,566 in FY24.

Foreign banks employee count stood at 28,041, small finance banks (SFBs) had 177,797 people on their rolls, with 6,958 in payments banks.

Among SFBs, AU Small Finance Bank is the largest employer, with a base of 50,946 staffers.

According to the FY25 annual report of private sector banks, large lenders reported decline in their employee attrition or turnover rate in the year as against FY24, as they focused on conducting more employee engagements, and wellness programmes, and incentivised better performers.
Public sector banks have written off loans worth Rs 6.15 lakh crore in the last five and a half years, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

"As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, PSBs have written-off an aggregate loan amount of Rs 6,15,647 crore, during the last five financial years and the current financial year till September 30, 2025 (provisional data)," Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

There has been no capital infusion in Public Sector Banks (PSBs) by the government since FY2022-23, he said, adding, PSBs have significantly improved their financial performance, turning profitable and strengthening their capital position.

PSBs now rely on market sources and internal accruals to meet their capital requirements and they have raised Rs 1.79 lakh crore capital from market through equity and bonds since April 1, 2022 till September 30, 2025, he said.

He further said, banks write-off NPAs, including those in respect of which full provisioning has been made on completion of four years, as per RBI guidelines and policy approved by banks' board.

Such write-off does not result in waiver of liabilities of borrowers to repay, he said.

Further, he said, recovery in written-off loans is an ongoing process and banks continue pursuing their recovery actions initiated against borrowers under the various recovery mechanism available to them, such as filing of a suit in civil courts or in Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRT), action under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act 2002, filing of cases in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 etc.

As provisioning for bad loans has already been done and the write-off process does not entail any actual cash outflow, the bank's liquidity position remains intact, he said.

Moreover, banks evaluate/consider the impact of write-offs as part of their regular exercise to clean up their balance-sheet, avail tax benefit, optimise capital base, enhance lending capacity and boost investor sentiments, he added.

Replying to another question, Chaudhary said, banks and financial Institutions have traditionally been the primary source of export finance in India.

The total export credit disbursed by Public Sector Banks, SIDBI and Exim Bank in the last five years (FY 20-21 to FY 24-25) stood at Rs 21.71 lakh crore, he said.

In another reply, Chaudhary said, 5,83,291 fraud cases were registered in the last four and a half years till September 2025 amounting to Rs 3,588.22 crore.

Of this, he said, Rs 238.83 crore have been recovered.

With increasing digital payment transactions in the country, incidence of cyber frauds including digital payment frauds have also gone up in the last few years, he said.
Xi's special envoy attends Guinean president's inauguration

Xinhua) 13:07, January 19, 2026

CONAKRY, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy attended the inauguration ceremony of Guinean President Mamady Doumbouya on Saturday and held brief talks with him on the occasion.

Zheng Jianbang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, conveyed Xi's warm greetings and best wishes to Doumbouya.

He said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Guinea relations and stands ready to work with Guinea to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and push for greater progress in the China-Guinea comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Doumbouya asked Zheng to convey his sincere greetings to Xi and thanked Xi for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony.

Guinea cherishes the traditional friendship with China and is willing to deepen friendly cooperation with China in various fields so as to elevate bilateral relations to a new level, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China made notable progress in the work of judicial administration in 2025, with the number of administrative inspections concerning businesses down 33 percent, according to the Ministry of Justice on Monday.

Greater efforts were made to deliver higher quality and more efficient administrative reconsideration services. More than 1.11 million cases were handled, of which 90 percent were resolved substantially, the ministry said at a national judicial work conference.

Meanwhile, more than 40 million legal services of various types were provided across the country last year. Legal aid for juveniles and people engaged in new forms of employment was also improved, the ministry added.

The ministry said that judicial work in 2026 will prioritize improving and standardizing administrative law enforcement concerning businesses, addressing prominent problems found in law enforcement on a regular basis, and optimizing the administration review system. 
Indias private-sector banks are likely to lose market share for a second consecutive year in 2025-26, as their loan books continue to expand much slower than overall bank credit.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The combined loan book, or advances, of listed private-sector lenders such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank grew 8.9 per cent year-on-year in FY25 and 9.9 per cent year-on-year in the first half of FY26.

This lags behind the 11.4 per cent and 11.7 per cent year-on-year expansion in the combined loan book of all listed banks over the same periods.

It could be the first time in more than 15 years that private-sector banks would trail overall bank credit growth for two consecutive years.

Private-sector banks combined advances rose to Rs 77.14 trillion at the end of September 2025, up from Rs 73.56 trillion at the close of FY25 and Rs 67.53 trillion at FY24-end.

By contrast, listed banks combined advances rose to Rs 193.6 trillion at end-September this year from Rs 184.66 trillion at end-March and Rs 165.56 trillion at the end of FY24.

The analysis is based on the reported annual results and H1FY26 financials of 42 listed banks -- including private-sector banks, public-sector banks and small finance banks -- which together reported advances of Rs 193.6 trillion at the end of September.

For comparison, overall bank credit reached Rs 192.7 trillion as of October 3, 2025.

This divergence has led to a loss of market share for private-sector banks in the overall credit landscape.

Their share of bank advances slipped to around 39.8 per cent at end-September this year from around 40.8 per cent at end-March 2024.

The shift marks a reversal after a decade-long rise in market share, which had climbed sharply from 23.5 per cent at end-March 2014 to 38.1 per cent at end-March 2020.

In recent years, however, private-sector lenders have struggled to outperform the wider industry.

Listed private-sector banks combined advances grew at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 15.8 per cent between FY20 and FY25, slightly lower than the 16 per cent CAGR recorded between FY15 and FY20.

In contrast, overall bank advances saw a sharp acceleration, rising from 6.4 per cent CAGR during FY15-20 to 14.7 per cent during FY20-25.

This surge in overall credit was propelled by public-sector banks, whose combined advances expanded at a CAGR of 13.9 per cent over FY20-25, a steep increase from the 2 per cent CAGR seen during FY15-20.

This trend is also reflected in revenues and profitability. Private banks share in banks gross interest income fell to 41.5 per cent in H1FY26 from 41.8 per cent in FY25 and a record 42.4 per cent in FY20.

Likewise, listed private-sector banks share in total banking profits declined to 49.8 per cent in H1FY26 from 50.4 per cent in FY25 and 80.2 per cent in FY20.

Meanwhile, public-sector banks share in overall profits rose to 49.9 per cent in H1FY26 from 46.8 per cent in FY25 and 28 per cent in FY21.

Analysts attribute the relative slowdown among private-sector banks partly to specific events, notably the merger between HDFC Bank and HDFC.

After its merger with HDFC Ltd in 2023, HDFC Bank is focused on integration and growing its deposit base rather than expanding its loan book.

"This has a cascading effect on overall growth in the private-sector banking space, given its large market share, says Dhananjay Sinha, co-head of research and equity strategy at Systematix Institutional Equity.

HDFC Bank accounted for 35.6 per cent of all listed private-sector banks combined advances at the end of March this year.

Its advances rose just 5.4 per cent year-on-year in FY25, less than half the pace of growth in advances across the 42 listed banks in the sample.

However, beyond HDFC Bank, several peers -- including IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, Karnataka Bank and Bandhan Bank -- also expanded their loan books at a pace below the industry average in FY25.

Analysts expect HDFC Banks loan growth to accelerate once integration is completed, lifting the overall growth trajectory for private-sector banks.

Senior management at HDFC Bank has already told investors that the lender would expand its loan book at a pace faster than the system in FY27.

A similar improvement is anticipated at Axis Bank, which acquired Citibanks India retail business in March 2023.

Together, these developments are expected to bolster private-sector lenders expansion and intensify competition with public-sector and small finance banks.
Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Friday said the central bank does not target any band for the rupee in the forex market, and allows the domestic currency to find its own correct level.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The governor's statement came at a time when the rupee breached the 90-mark against the US dollar, and is hovering near that level.

"We don't target any price levels or any bands. We allow the markets to determine the prices. We believe that markets, especially in the long run, are very efficient.

"It's a very deep market," he said while replying to a question on rupee depreciation at a post-monetary policy press meet.

Malhotra said fluctuations in the market keep taking place, and the effort of the RBI is always to reduce any abnormal or excessive volatility.

"And that is what we will continue to endeavour," he added.

In its bi-monthly monetary policy, the RBI announced three-year USD/INR Buy Sell swaps of $5 billion this month.

When asked if the USD-INR swap is aimed at checking rupee depreciation, Malhotra said, "It is a liquidity measure. It is not to support the rupee".

Stressing that RBI does not target any level of rupee against the US dollar, he said the central bank allows "the rupee find its correct position, correct level".

The governor further said the country has sufficient foreign exchange reserves and the current account is manageable, and given the strong fundamentals of the economy, the country should witness good capital flows going forward.

Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) to India recorded a net outflow of $0.7 billion in 2025-26, so far (April-December 03), due to unabated withdrawal from the equity segment.

Flows under external commercial borrowings and non-resident deposit accounts moderated compared to the last year.

As of November 28, 2025, India's foreign exchange reserves stood at $686.2 billion, providing a robust import cover of more than 11 months.

Malhotra further said that having reduced the policy rate (repo) by 25 basis points, the focus will now be on transmission of the rate cut to the real economy.
Fintech firm One97 Communications on Thursday said its subsidiary Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL), has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Payment Aggregator for physical (offline) payments and cross-border transactions.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The approval is in addition to the authorisation for Online Payment Aggregation already granted by the central bank to PPSL last month.

"Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on December 17, 2025 has authorised Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of One 97 Communications Limited, to operate as a Payment Aggregator for Physical (offline) payments and Cross-Border transactions (both inward and outward), in addition to the online Payment Aggregator authorisation already granted by RBI on November 26, 2025, under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Paytm said in a regulatory filing.

With the new license, PPSL now holds Payment Aggregator authorisations across online, offline, and cross-border segments use cases, enabling end-to-end payment aggregation services for merchants.

In November 2020, PPSL applied for a license with the RBI to operate as a payment aggregator under the guidelines on Regulation of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways.

However, in November 2022, the RBI rejected PPSL's application and asked the company to resubmit it, so as to comply with Press Note 3 under FDI rules.

Subsequently, the company filed the required application on December 14, 2022, with the Government of India for the past downward investment from OCL (One97 Communications Ltd) into the company in order to comply with Press Note 3 prescribed under FDI guidelines.
Indias housing market has remained resilient this festival season (Dussehra-Diwali period), despite global macroeconomic challenges, tech-sector layoffs, and affordability pressures, with developers reporting 10-25 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) rise in home sales across major cities.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

This comes after 20 per cent Y-o-Y decline in overall housing sales across top seven cities during the first nine months of 2025.

Developers attribute the buoyancy to policy stability, infrastructure upgrades, and a growing preference for premium, ready-to-move-in homes.

According to Anarock Research, about 102,000 housing units had been sold across the top seven cities during the festival quarter (October-December) of 2024.

We expect similar sales this year as well, said Anuj Puri, chairperson of the Anarock group.

Festival-season sales in metros were driven by the mid-premium and luxury segments, as buyers sought larger homes, superior amenities, and reputed developers.

Dhaval Ajmera, director (corporate affairs) of the Ajmera group, said the company was expecting festival demand to grow by 8-10 per cent this year.

More consumers are upgrading to premium properties.

"The mid-luxury segment, particularly 2BHK and 3BHK homes priced between Rs 2 crore and Rs 5 crore, is seeing the highest traction, he said.

Ajmera said modern amenities and connectivity had become decisive factors.

Were seeing sustained demand for ready-to-move-in homes and projects by reputed builders offering quality and timely delivery.

"Larger configurations and combination flats are becoming increasingly popular, he added.

In Mumbai, the countrys largest housing market, activity surged during the festival period.

Shahid Balwa, vice-chairperson and managing director (MD) of Valor Estate, said property registrations rose to 10,630 units during Navratri-Ganesh Chaturthi  up 23 per cent from 8,604 a year earlier.

Balwa attributed the trend to cultural sentiment, attractive developer schemes, and large infrastructure projects, such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and metro expansions.

Stable loan rates and goods and services tax (GST) rate relaxations have encouraged purchases, while tangible assets like real estate continue to attract investors, he said.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), Pradeep Aggarwal, chairperson of Signature Global, described this festival quarter as one of the most positive in recent years.

Momentum is strong in the mid and premium segments. GST reforms and repo rate cuts have streamlined costs and improved affordability.

"With the repo rate steady at 5.5 per cent, buyer sentiment remains buoyant, he said.

Sudeep Bhatt, director (strategy) of Whiteland Corporation, said bookings increased by 10-15 per cent across major cities.

In Pune, Krisala Developers MD Aakash Agarwal called this Diwali an inflexion point for the citys housing market.

We expect a 15-20 per cent rise in festival-season bookings compared to 2024, he said.

Anarocks Puri said listed realty developers outperformed smaller players, with strong sales and collections despite a broader market slowdown.

This marks a structural shift toward consolidation, with large, organised developers benefiting from diversified portfolios, robust cash flows, and stronger brand equity, he said.

Industry leaders said consistent monetary policy and steady loan rates had strengthened buyer sentiment this festival season.

Amit Jain, chairman and MD, Arkade Developers, said: The festival-season surge isnt just a short-term boost  it reflects deeper structural confidence in Mumbais housing market.

Jain said site visits, enquiries, and conversions had risen.

Buyers today are driven by lifestyle aspirations  comfort, security, and community are central.

"The optimism underscores real estates enduring role as a source of stability and long-term value, he said.

In southern markets, sales momentum remained steady despite global headwinds.

The expansion of global capability centres in India has supported housing demand, especially in Bengaluru.

"GST rationalisation has further improved sentiment.

"Even after three record years, the momentum holds firm, said Sunil Pareek, executive director, Assetz Property Group.

There is definitely positive sentiment around the festival season, said Praveer Srivastava, senior vice-president, Prestige Group.

In fact, not only the festival period but the entire third quarter  covering Dussehra, Diwali, and Christmas  is typically the strongest for the residential segment.

"This is also when many NRIs travel, driving additional demand. We usually see a 20-25 per cent increase in sales during this quarter compared to the preceding one.

Across cities, buyers increasingly prefer branded, amenity-rich, and environmentally sustainable homes.

Niranjan Hiranandani, chairperson of Naredco, called the festival period an encouraging signal for the sector.

His group recorded strong enquiries and conversions across projects in Powai, Thane, Panvel, Alibaug, and Chennai.

Hiranandani said developers were aligning launches with specific demand pockets  mid-segment family housing in urban centres, premium projects in prime locations, and ready-to-move-in inventory in Tier-II cities.

Buyers now favour larger, ready or near-ready homes with wellness-focused amenities, while the fear of missing out on quality stock adds urgency.

He added that sector consolidation, stronger balance sheets, and greater transparency had reinforced trust.

Weve seen a 12-15 per cent compound annual growth rate in festival sales. Buyers today reward predictability, transparency, and brand reliability, he said.

(With inputs from Gulveen Aulakh)
Indias market regulator is moving ahead to include real estate investment trusts (Reits) in benchmark indices in a phased manner, Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey said, while asserting that the regulator was working to strengthen the link between infrastructure building and the markets.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Sebi will work with all stakeholders to facilitate the inclusion of Reits in indices, through an appropriate glide path, Pandey said at the National Conclave on Reits and Invits in New Delhi on Friday.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) chairman also said that the National Monetisation Pipelines next tranche will be Rs 10 trillion over five years, higher than the Rs 6 trillion outlined for monetisation in the first five-year tranche.

We are coordinating with the Ministry of Finance and several state governments to accelerate public-asset monetisation.

We are working with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to facilitate greater participation from their entities under their purview, Pandey said.

The Sebi chief also said that a move was afoot to expand the pool of liquid mutual fund schemes, which would also help Reits and infrastructure investment trusts (Invits).

The government is adopting different models for asset monetisation, including Invits and public-private partnerships (PPP).

He described Reits and Invits as the central bridge between infrastructure and capital markets.

Earlier this month, Sebi amended mutual fund regulations to explicitly classify Reit units as eligible equity investments, allowing MFs to diversify further by investing directly in them.



Experts say this change also opens the door for Reits to enter equity indices.

Inclusion in indices will enable index funds to invest in Reits which qualify into the indices thereby attracting passive flows into these instruments.

"This is a very positive policy reform which will help Reits access passive money and better the liquidity in these instruments, said Preeti Chheda, executive committee member of the Indian REITs Association and chief financial officer of Mindspace Business Parks REIT.

India currently has five listed Reits with market capitalisation ranging from Rs 21,000 crore to Rs 52,700 crore.

According to analysts, Knowledge Realty Trust Reit, the largest of them, could soon qualify for inclusion in indices such as the Nifty Smallcap 100 or Nifty Real Estate.

The regulator would also be open to the idea of under construction assets being included in a Reits portfolio, but that would have to be done with appropriate guardrails, possibly on a percentage share basis, the chairman said on the sidelines but did not elaborate further.

Pandey added that the markets regulator was exploring whether private Invits too may invest in greenfield projects with adequate safeguards.

Municipal bonds and state-level Invits naturally complement this ecosystem.

"The recent announcement of the Maharashtra Government to create a Maharashtra Infrastructure Investment Trust is an important step in funding infrastructure at the state level, he said.

He also highlighted the need for broader analyst coverage of Reits and Invits, which will flow into the larger goal of educating investors on participation in the instruments.

On the primary market side, Sebi will continue to simplify capital raising through IPOs, rights issues, QIPs, and bonds, Pandey added.

Pandey added that the regulator was already engaging with institutional investors to deepen the participation of institutional investors in REITs and Invits.

We are coordinating with the Ministry of Finance and several state governments to accelerate public-asset monetisation.

"We are working with Irdai, PFRDA, and EPFO to facilitate greater participation from their entities under their purview, Pandey added.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) is the insurance regulatory body under the ministry of finance, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) that regulates pension industry, while Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) administers pension schemes for employees in the organised workforce.

The Sebi chairman said that the regulator was evaluating further ease-of-doing-business measures for Reits and Invits for which it was holding discussions with industry stakeholders, underscoring the need for the access to these instruments to be democratised, which will indirectly give unitholders access to high value assets and deliver real, cash returns.

Our expectations are clear. Governance and investor interests will be non-negotiable.

"Use your associations, your digital presence, and your networks to educate investors in multiple languages.

"With stronger benchmarking and disclosures, you can offer investors the transparency they need to stay invested, Pandey added.

As of October 2025, the combined assets under management of Reits, Invits, and SM Reits is estimated at around Rs 9.25 trillion of which Rs 7 trillion was in Invits, Rs 2.25 trillion in Reits and SM Reits.

Highlighting that India will require massive investment across transport, energy, urban infrastructure, telecom, and aviation, Pandey said that Indias core sectors may require well over Rs 700 trillion in investment by 2047.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd may spend about $12-15 billion over the next few years on AI infrastructure that could include a giant 1GW data centre, Morgan Stanley said in a report.

Photograph: Niharika Kulkarni/Reuters

Ambani had at the company's annual shareholder meeting in August announced a major push into AI through a new subsidiary and strategic partnerships.

A new wholly-owned subsidiary, Reliance Intelligence will spearhead the conglomerate's AI initiatives that will be centered around four pillars -- Infrastructure (building gigawatt-scale, AI-ready data centers), Partnerships (collaborating with global tech leaders to bring cutting-edge AI solutions to India), Services (developing AI-powered services tailored for Indian consumers, small businesses, and enterprises in sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture) and Talent (investing in upskilling and nurturing India's AI workforce).

Reliance has re-invented itself every decade, and AI is set to reshape its equity story, Morgan Stanley said in the report.

Gen AI deployment enables large-scale capital deployment while unlocking value through synergies across energy, digital, consumer, and media verticals.

"We estimate that Reliance will spend approximately $12-15 billion on AI infrastructure to develop a 1GW datacenter, underwriting about 25 per cent of the capacity itself (roughly $7 billion for datacenter infrastructure and $5 billion for the 250MW of chips the company will deploy directly)," it said.

It is expected that the remaining capacity will be leased to hyperscalers and LLM providers as 'Datacenter as a Service'.

The first phase of the data centre is already underway in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

"We believe Reliance can utilize its initial 100MW of Gen AI datacenter capacity - which it has indicated will scale up over two years - to address inference demand from enterprises, as part of its enterprise stack offering and Sovereign AI initiatives," it said.

"This effort will leverage its joint venture with Meta on small language models, as well as partnerships with Google and Azure."

Reliance on Saturday announced a dedicated AI joint venture with Meta's subsidiary, Facebook Overseas, Inc, named Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Ltd (REIL).

The partners have committed an initial investment of Rs 855 crore, with Reliance Intelligence holding a 70 per cent stake and Facebook Overseas holding 30 per cent.

The venture will combine Meta's open-source Llama AI models with Reliance's business network to create and distribute enterprise AI services for Indian companies.

Reliance is also collaborating with Google to establish a dedicated cloud region in Jamnagar, combining Reliance's infrastructure capabilities with Google's AI and cloud technologies.

Morgan Stanley saw an ROCE of about 11 per cent on the initial AI investments. For 'Datacenter as a Service', it estimated annual revenues of around $1.5-1.6 million per MW.

"Given data centers are significant energy consumers, Reliance can also underwrite more than 20GW of internal power demand, supporting 100GW of its solar panel capacity and 30-40GWh of its own battery capacity," it added.
Reliance Industries Ltd on Thursday said it has halted the use of Russian crude at its export-only refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat, as the company moves to comply with European Union sanctions.

Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Reliance is India's largest buyer of Russian oil, which it processes and turns into fuel, such as petrol and diesel, at its giant oil refining complex at Jamnagar.

The complex is made up of two refineries - one SEZ unit from which fuels are exported to the European Union, the US and other markets, and an older unit that caters to the domestic market.

The European Union - a big market for Reliance - has imposed wide-ranging sanctions targeting Russia's energy revenues, including measures that restrict the import and sale of fuels produced from Russian crude oil.

To comply with these, Reliance has stopped processing Russian crude oil at its only-for-exports (SEZ) refinery.

"We have stopped importing Russian crude oil into our SEZ refinery with effect from November 20," a company spokesperson said in a statement.

As is the case with any large industrial factory, the refinery must have past raw material (crude oil) inventories, which it is currently processing and turning into fuels.

Once the old inventory runs out, newer products will only be made from non-Russian oil.

"From December 1, all product exports from the SEZ refinery will be obtained from non-Russian crude oil," the firm said.

"The transition has been completed ahead of schedule to ensure full compliance with product-import restrictions coming into force in January 2026."

Last month, when the US sanctioned Russia's largest oil exporters - Rosneft and Lukoil, the firm had stated that it would meet all applicable restrictions and would adjust its refinery operations to meet compliance requirements.

"We have noted the recent restrictions announced by the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States on crude oil imports from Russia and export of refined products to Europe.

Reliance is currently assessing the implications, including the new compliance requirements," Reliance had said on October 24.

Reliance, which operates the world's largest single-site oil refining complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat, purchased about half of the 1.7-1.8 million barrels per day of discounted Russian crude shipped to India.

The company refines the crude into petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), a large share of which is exported to regions such as Europe and the United States, at market prices, generating strong margins.

All this may change after US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil) -- Russia's two largest oil companies that he accuses of helping fund the Kremlin's "war machine" in Ukraine.

Additionally, the European Union has barred the import of fuel made from Russian crude, starting January 2026.

"We will comply with the EU's guidelines on the import of refined products into Europe," Reliance had said.

On Thursday, the firm said the crude oil import in SEZ is a fully segregated facility catering to the production line in SEZ.

"All pre-committed liftings of Russian crude oil as of October 22, 2025, are being honoured, considering all transport arrangements were already in place."

"The final such cargo was loaded on November 12. Any (Russian) cargoes arriving on or after November 20 will be received and processed at our refinery in the domestic tariff area (DTA)," it said.

"All operational activities ordinarily incident to such oil supply transactions can be completed, we believe, in a compliant way."

Reliance, which has signed a 25-year deal to buy up to 5,00,000 barrels of crude oil per day (25 million tonnes in a year) with Rosneft, has been cutting Russian imports since the US sanctions.

The company has huge business interests in the US and cannot risk attracting scrutiny.

Reliance, which bought an estimated $35 billion worth of Russian oil since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, started "recalibration" of its imports soon after the European Union adopted its 18th package of sanctions against Moscow in late July this year.

Recalibration is nothing but moving the import requirement to a different region.

And this may get expedited now, industry sources said.

Transactions involving the two sanctioned Russian firms need to be wound down by November 21.

Russia currently supplies nearly a third of India's crude imports, averaging around 1.7 million barrels per day (mbd) in 2025, of which approximately 1.2 mbd came directly from Rosneft and Lukoil.

Most of these volumes were bought by private refiners, Reliance Industries Ltd and Nayara Energy, with smaller allocations to state-owned refiners.
Reliance Industries Ltd, India's largest buyer of Russian oil and most impacted by the latest US sanctions, on Friday said it will comply with all applicable restrictions and will adjust its refinery operations to meet compliance requirements.

Photograph: ANI Photo

In a statement, a company spokesperson said Reliance is "currently assessing the implications" of the latest sanctions on two Russian oil giants - one of which has a long-term crude oil supply agreement with Reliance.

"We have noted the recent restrictions announced by the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States on crude oil imports from Russia and export of refined products to Europe.

"Reliance is currently assessing the implications, including the new compliance requirements," the company spokesperson said in a statement.

The statement did not implicitly state whether Reliance will completely stop buying crude oil from Russia.

Reliance, which operates the world's largest single-site oil refining complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat, purchased about half of the 1.7-1.8 million barrels per day of discounted Russian crude shipped to India.

The company refines the crude into petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), a large share of which is exported to markets such as Europe and the United States at market prices, generating strong margins.

All this may change after US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil) -- Russia's two largest oil companies that he accuses of helping fund the Kremlin's "war machine" in Ukraine.

Additionally, the European Union has barred import of fuel made from Russian crude starting January 2026.

"We will comply with the EU's guidelines on the import of refined products into Europe," Reliance said.

"Whenever there is any guidance from the Indian Government in this respect, as always, we will be complying fully. Reliance has consistently aligned itself with the objectives of ensuring India's energy security."

The statement implies the company will stop exporting fuel to Europe.

Reliance said, "It remains fully committed to maintaining its longstanding and impeccable record of adherence to applicable sanctions and regulatory frameworks and will be adapting the refinery operations to meet the compliance requirements."

"As is customary in the industry, supply contracts evolve to reflect changing market and regulatory conditions.

"Reliance will address these conditions while maintaining the relationships with its suppliers," the statement said.

"Reliance is confident that its time-tested, diversified crude sourcing strategy will continue to ensure stability and reliability in its refinery operations for meeting the domestic and export requirements, including to Europe."

Reliance, which has signed a 25-year deal to buy up to 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day (25 million tonnes in a year) with Rosneft, will now reduce and potentially halt all purchases from Russia.

The company has huge business interests in the US and cannot risk attracting scrutiny.

Reliance, which bought an estimated $35 billion worth of Russian oil since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022, started "recalibration" of its imports soon after the European Union adopted its 18th package of sanctions against Moscow in late July this year.

Recalibration is nothing but moving the import requirement to a different region. And this may get expedited now, industry sources said.

Transactions involving the two sanctioned Russian firms need to be wound down by November 21.

Russia currently supplies nearly a third of India's crude imports, averaging around 1.7 million barrels per day (mbd) in 2025, of which approximately 1.2 mbd came directly from Rosneft and Lukoil.

Most of these volumes were bought by private refiners, Reliance Industries Ltd and Nayara Energy, with smaller allocations to state-owned refiners.

Russian crude flows are expected to remain in the 1.6 - 1.8 mbd range until November 21, but direct volumes from Rosneft and Lukoil are likely to decline thereafter, as Indian refiners seek to avoid any risk of US sanctions, said Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst (Refining and Modelling) at Kpler.
The relation between a regulator and its regulated entities is collaborative and not adversarial with the common objective of maintaining the stability and credibility of the financial system.

Photograph: Hemanshi Kamani/Reuters

However, the action on regulated entities like penalties and business restrictions are the last resort, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)s governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Friday.

At the same time, the governor said that regulated entities need to better understand regulatory expectations and requirements, particularly in the areas where models, partners, data, and digital delivery create new forms of risk.

They need to imbibe the essence of regulation and follow the spirit of it and not merely follow a tick-box based compliance culture.

"Our endeavour, rather, should be to develop common understanding which can reduce frictions and improve outcomes, Malhotra said in a speech at the Third Annual Global Conference of the College of Supervisors in the city.

Commenting on the use of technology for the benefit of customers, Malhotra said the aim should be to ensure that digitalisation and innovations are aligned with fair outcomes for consumers.

He focussed on the need for guardrails to protect against opaque pricing and inappropriate recovery practices.

For all of us, protecting customers interest is not just a priority  it has to become the cornerstone of a sustainable and resilient financial system.

"Digital channels facilitate our efforts by improving inclusion and convenience.

"But, without guardrails, they can also facilitate opaque pricing, weak disclosures and inappropriate recovery practices, he said.

He observed that a key element of customer centricity should be to protect them from the menace of rising digital frauds.

While banks and other regulated entities individually should continue to improve their tools, techniques and processes in preventing and tackling digital frauds, this is an area where we need to collaborate with each other to build analytics and tools to detect mule accounts and suspicious transactions timely and pre-emptively, Malhotra said.

He said the central banks endeavour should be to develop a common understanding, which can reduce frictions and improve outcomes.

Regulated entities need to better understand regulatory expectations and requirements, particularly in the areas where models, partners, data, and digital delivery create new forms of risk, he said.

He clarified that supervisory and enforcement actions of the regulator must be seen as part of a continuum of supervisory tools, not as a standalone response.

In this context he said, Enforcement, restrictions and penalties are measures of last resort. Our endeavour is to have a robust financial ecosystem where supervision encourages self-correction and enforcement acts only as backstop, adding that regulation works best when banks and other regulated entities view supervisors not as fault-finding inspectors, but as partners in resilience.

Regulation works best when banks and other regulated entities view supervisors not as fault-finding inspectors, but as partners in resilience.

He said supervision should not only enforce existing regulations, but also help refine them by flagging regulatory gaps and inconsistencies observed during supervisory engagements.

In this context, he highlighted recent amendments to the co-lending directions and lending against gold & silver jewellery where feedback from all the stakeholders helped the regulator to refine regulations.
Retail investors are moving away from a buy-and-hold approach and towards more informed short-term positioning, recent investment patterns show.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Over the past two months  a period of sharp rebound in Indian equities  retail investors have been net sellers in the cash market even as they have continued buying indirectly through mutual funds.

In October, the benchmark Nifty rose 4.5 per cent, the Nifty Midcap 100 gained 5.8 per cent and the Nifty Smallcap 100 added 4.7 per cent.

November saw the Nifty and Nifty Midcap 100 extend gains, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 slipped 3 per cent.

Yet retail investors sold equities worth Rs 23,405 crore across October and November.

This trend has persisted through the year: Retail investors typically have turned net sellers when the benchmark indices advanced and net buyers when markets corrected.

The tactical retreat from direct equities stands in contrast to continued inflows from domestic institutional investors (DIIs), led by mutual funds.

Other DIIs  insurance companies and pension funds  also channel retail savings through SIPs, premiums, and long-term retirement schemes.

This shows retail investors are becoming smarter with their short-term bets. Historically, flows would rise in a bull market and reverse in a downturn.

"One reason for the shift could be that mid and smallcaps are now in their fifth consecutive year of gains, unlike previous cycles when the rally would fade after the third year.

"Even recent corrections have been shallow and quickly reversed, said G Chokkalingam, founder of Equinomics.

Some analysts attributed the selling to investors exiting lossmaking or overvalued positions.

If retail investors bought overvalued shares, they often exit at either a marginal loss or small profit when markets turn buoyant.

"They also sell long-term holdings where they believe little value remains, or when they need liquidity for personal purposes, said Deepak Jasani, former head of retail research at HDFC Securities.

Jasani added that post-listing exits also inflate retail selling data.

A large number of retail investors exit in the first few days after listing, and that shows up as retail sales.

"IPO allotments do not reflect on the buy side. Moreover, recent news has unnerved some investors, prompting them to cut direct exposure and shift towards mutual funds, he said.

Some market experts believe the headline retail and mutual fund flow numbers may not fully capture the underlying behaviour, cautioning that retail outflows during market rallies may be driven by financial stress rather than tactical calls.

We assume retail investors allocate equally to direct equities and mutual funds, which is not always the case. Someone who actively trades may invest very little in mutual funds, and vice versa, said Ambareesh Baliga, an independent equity analyst.

Baliga added that many retail investors have struggled to generate returns recently.

In the last three to four months, markets have risen but many individual portfolios have continued to fall.

"Instead of deploying fresh money, investors may be taking profits whenever they can.

"When theyre losing money, they hold on to lossmaking positions, sell the profitable ones, and avoid adding new investments, he said.
COLOMBO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's progress toward a digital economy and plans for 2026 were reviewed at a high-level discussion held on Monday at the Presidential Secretariat, chaired by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as minister of digital economy.

The meeting focused on assessing the progress of projects implemented under the Ministry of Digital Economy in 2025 and examining new initiatives proposed under the 2026 budget allocations.

Special attention was given to programs aimed at promoting a cashless economy. Officials reviewed the status of key government-led digitization initiatives, including the digitization of government institutions, expansion of QR code-based payment transactions, establishment of a national cloud infrastructure center, rollout of a high-speed broadband program, introduction of single-window service facilities, the digital national identity card project, and the digitization of traffic spot fine payments.

During the discussion, the president noted that a significant share of economic activity in rural areas remains within the informal sector. He stressed the importance of formally documenting such activities, noting that this is essential for effective economic planning and future development policy formulation.

Officials also discussed the current operational status and recruitment plans of GovTech, the institution established to implement the government's digitization agenda. 
Mutual fund industry extended its bull run in 2025, adding a staggering Rs 14 lakh crore to its asset base and pushing total AUM to a record Rs 81 lakh crore by November, powered by surge in retail participation and record SIP inflows.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Venkat Chalasani, chief executive officer of AMFI, told PTI that the industry's outlook remains positive, with steady SIP inflows continuing to offset foreign portfolio investor outflows and strengthening market resilience.

Going ahead, fund flows are likely to be guided by valuations and global developments, with investors increasingly favouring large-cap, diversified and hybrid strategies, he added.

The year 2025 also witnessed a robust net inflow of Rs 7 lakh crore, along with a sharp increase of 3.36 crore in the investor base, while SIPs alone contributed about Rs 3 lakh crore, according to data from Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

These inflows lifted the industry's assets under management (AUM) by 21 per cent from Rs 67 lakh crore at the end of 2024 to Rs 81 lakh crore by November-end.

While the pace of growth was lower than the 31 per cent rise recorded in 2024 and the 27 per cent increase in 2023, the longer-term trend remains strong.

The industry had posted a 7 per cent growth in 2022 and nearly 22 per cent in 2021, and has collectively added Rs 50 lakh crore to its asset base over the last five years.

Himanshu Srivastava, principal manager  Research at Morningstar Investment Research India, said the sharp rise in AUM in 2025 was driven by a combination of strong equity market performance and sustained retail participation through SIPs.

He added that the "ongoing financialisation of household savings, growing participation from first-time investors and increasing preference for mutual funds as a transparent, well-regulated investment vehicle also played a meaningful role".

"Over the medium to long term, rising financial awareness, broader retail participation beyond metropolitan centres, and the sustained adoption of SIPs should continue to support healthy, resilient, and broad-based growth for the industry," Chalasani said.

Also, the industry has now logged its 13th consecutive annual increase in AUM, after two years of decline earlier in the last decade, suggesting the structural shift toward long-term investing.

This momentum was largely supported by steady inflows into equity schemes, especially through SIPs.

The 49-player industry recorded total inflows of Rs 7 lakh crore in 2025 till November, backed by sustained investor interest in equity funds, arbitrage funds, and index funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Of this, around Rs 3.22 lakh crore flowed into equity-oriented schemes and nearly Rs 3 lakh crore into debt schemes.

Equity schemes, which were the biggest draw for investors in 2025, have now seen uninterrupted monthly net inflows since March 2021.

Srivastava noted that these flows were driven by strong SIP contributions and continued confidence in India's long-term growth story.

Market performance further supported investor sentiment, with the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex rising 8.4 per cent and nearly 10 per cent respectively in 2025.

Net inflows into equity-oriented schemes stood at Rs 3.53 lakh crore, reflecting the structural shift toward disciplined, long-term investing.

SIP contributions remained the backbone of flows, consistently crossing Rs 29,000 crore in September, October and November, and peaking at an all-time high of Rs 29,529 crore in October.

Moreover, the annual investments through SIPs crossed Rs 3.03 lakh crore in 2025, the highest ever.

Highlighting this trend, Harsh Jain, co-founder and COO of Groww, said the steady rise in SIP inflows points to a deep structural change in investor behaviour, with SIPs increasingly becoming the default investment route across income groups, especially among younger investors.

On the debt side, flows were supported by attractive yields, expectations of a softer interest-rate cycle and greater use of debt funds for short-term cash management, along with their growing role in diversification during volatile phases, Morningstar's Srivastava said.

Gold funds also saw increased traction, garnering inflows of Rs 31,300 crore as investors sought safety amid economic uncertainty, geopolitical risks and changes in taxation norms.

Its AUM shot up from Rs 44,595 crore in December 2024 to Rs 1.10 lakh crore in November 2025.

On the regulatory front, Sebi revamped the mutual fund expense framework by introducing the Base Expense Ratio (BER), which excludes statutory levies such as STT and GST from core costs.

Brokerage caps were cut and the additional exit load introduced in 2018 was withdrawn, with the new rules set to take effect from April 1 next year to enhance transparency for investors.
India's new climate pledge to the UN could be weakened by its growing use of coal, even as the country plans a 2035 roadmap to cut emissions and boost clean energy.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

India's international climate commitments are tied to its domestic policies, much like other nations' -- so much so that the government has tried to time reforms in the electricity and emission sectors with its periodic pledges on emission reduction initiatives to the United Nations.

But what threatens to muddle a new round of commitments that promise to scrub the country's skies partly free of pollutants by 2035 is the rebound of coal as a primary fuel of development.

India plans to submit its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the UNFCCC, the global climate body, by COP 30, the latest edition of the annual climate meeting that is to be held in Brazil next month, a senior government official said.

The NDC, a document containing emission reduction targets and action plans -- will cover the five-year period ending 2035, after the current NDC expires in 2030.

New Delhi has made repeated stabs at reforming the power sector, the country's biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and on carbon trading mechanisms, both in 2022, when India submitted its first NDC under the Paris Accord, an international climate treaty, and this year prior to the second NDC.

Power sector reforms have faced a pushback but the country is ready to launch a Carbon Credit Trading Scheme next year.

The upcoming Indian Carbon Market is expected to accelerate decarbonisation for the Indian industries and other relevant sectors, said Pallavi Das and Vaibhav Chaturvedi from the Council On Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), a New Delhi-based leading global climate think tank.

But, unlike in the previous climate round, coal threatens to cloud the prospects of India's new NDC.

In 2022, the country's new draft power generation plan proposed to add an additional coal-based capacity of up to 28 Gw by the financial year 2032.

Current plans foresee boosting coal additions to well over 80 Gw.

UK-based publisher Energy Intelligence quoted petroleum secretary Pankaj Jain telling an audience in London that coal will remain very significant in India's energy mix for 10-15 years, even though the share of renewables will grow.

Smokestacks from coal-fired generators contributed the most to India's 3 billion tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions from energy production in 2024, accounting for an 8 per cent share of global carbon dioxide emissions, and over twice the share of India's GDP in the global economy.

India's on-year emission growth of 4 per cent in 2024 was faster than China's 1.2 per cent and America's decline of 0.8 per cent.

It is in this context that Indian policymakers will draw up a new NDC, which is nine months over a February deadline.

India should focus on more ambitious emission intensity targets and clearly define the year in which its emissions are expected to peak, in line with its 2070 net-zero commitment,'' said Gaurav Upadhyay, energy finance specialist, India Sustainable Finance for Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a US thinktank.

Establishing a clear peak year is critical to charting a practical and transparent pathway toward net-zero emissions.

The key point from our research is that the 500 GW target puts India on track to peak power sector emissions before 2030,'' said Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), a leading global energy thinktank.

It would be important to extend that target to maintain the same rate of clean power additions out to 2035. This is also essential to support India's ambition in building up the domestic manufacturing base for solar power and other key clean energy technologies.

Unlike most developed nations that target absolute greenhouse gas emissions, India measures carbon intensity levels, a stepdown approach but more in line with India's development metrics.

Carbon intensity measures emissions per unit of GDP, a metric that does not directly constrain emissions as a whole.

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Pete Linforth/Pixabay

New commitment

Under the Paris climate accord, a legally binding treaty on climate change that intends to keep temperature gains well-below 2C from pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, participating nations must submit NDCs every five years, with the hope that the climate ambitions will increase over time.

That process is now in its third round with a February deadline pushed to September.

Over 60 countries including China announced or submitted NDCs, covering half of global emissions, but India, Indonesia, Korea Mexico and the EU are yet to do so, UN records show. The US, the world's second-largest emitter, has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.

India's ongoing NDC, also delayed by two years, came in the form of a terse four-page document on 26 August, 2022, offering no clarity on sector-specific goals or financing.

The delay in updating India's NDC likely reflects complex policy decisions and the need for coordination across sectors, Upadhyay said.

Besides sectoral ministries and the environment ministry, the Prime Minister's Office and the external affairs ministry play a key role, a senior official said.

The world's third-biggest emitter committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 in the 2022 update to its first (pre-Paris accord) NDC, submitted in 2015, which targeted a 33-35 per cent cut.

India also committed to half its installed generating capacity to be made up of non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

India has already achieved generating capacity targets. Fresh analysis by the CEEW projects that India's energy sector emission intensity could decrease by 4857 per cent by 2030 compared with 2005 levels.

India's emission intensity has typically reduced at a rate of 1-2 per cent annually in the past but action on decarbonisation has picked up amid schemes like Renewable Energy Certificates and Perform Achieve Trade, Das said.

China's NDC

Comparisons with China's NDC are inevitable. China's plans to cut economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10 per cent falls far short of what would be required to align with the Paris Agreement of at least 30 per cent from 2024 levels, said Belinda Schappe, a China policy analyst at CREA.

China's target for solar and wind capacity of 3,600 Gw by 2035 would mean a sharp slowdown from the current annual additions of 360 Gw, Schappe said. Also, China has not defined a peak level for emissions, leaving space for pollutants to grow.

Schappe and other experts contend that China's targets will be substantially overachieved. This NDC should be seen as a floor, not a ceiling, for China's ambition, said Myllyvirta.

What's also noteworthy in China's new pledge is an absolute target for all greenhouse gases, a departure from the approach of targeting carbon intensity levels.

However, India will continue to stick with emission intensity targets. But achieving net zero emissions will also require a long-term strategy that captures its decarbonisation plans, something that was due after the previous NDC in 2022, and is still missing.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Shares of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) tumbled on Tuesday, posting its biggest single-day decline in 19 months, amid controversy over its purchase of Russian oil and profit-booking after recent gains.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

The stock of Reliance Industries declined 4.5 per cent and ended the session at Rs 1,508.90, its biggest one-day decline since June 4, 2024. Reliance Industries market capitalisation declined by Rs 95,407 crore.

A news report last week claimed that at least three tankers carrying Russian crude oil are indicating Reliance Industries plant in Indias west coast as their next destination.

Reliance Industries denied the report. And an updated news report on Tuesday said that the Russian oil cargo earlier linked to Reliance had been discharged elsewhere.

The decline in Reliance Industries was partly attributed to profit-booking after it hit new highs.

The stock had hit a new record high in Mondays session.

And in 2025, the stock had gained 29 per cent against Niftys gain of 10.5 per cent.

Overall sentiments in the markets are weak, and there is profit-booking across largecaps.

"And news reports on Russian oil purchases and US President Donald Trumps renewed threat of additional sanctions are adding to uncertainty and selling pressure, even as the stock recently hit new highs.

"We are bullish on Reliance. Any negative news-flow will lead to panic-selling if it comes at a time when the overall sentiment is weak, said Siddhartha Khemka, head of research - wealth management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Analysts warnings about increased competition in the retail sector, and CLSA's decision to drop Reliance from its portfolio also weighed on sentiment.

The institutional brokerage and investment group, in a strategy note on Tuesday, said it is boosting its consumption exposure by adding Eternal and DMart to its India-focus portfolio, and exiting Reliance and Nestle.

Concerns about the impact of a weak overall consumption trend, and increasing competition in the retail sector also weighed on sentiment.

Citi, in a note on Tata groups Trent, flagged concerns that the intense competition in the sector is eroding incumbents market share.

Reliances retail business is a big contributor to its overall market capitalisation.

Analysts said they remain bullish on the company despite the near-term headwinds.

The contribution of oil, gas, and petrochemicals to Reliances revenue is declining.

"The company is smartly diversifying into FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), new energy, and digital businesses.

"And there is no need to worry about the long-term prospects, said Chokkalingam, founder of Equinomics.
The ministries of Road Transport & Highways and Railways have exceeded the national average capital expenditure (capex) by spending 63 per cent and 57 per cent of Budget estimates (BE), respectively, in the first half of 2025-26 (FY26).

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The total capital expenditure for April-September of FY26 stood at 52 per cent of the BE, according to the latest data by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

The increased capex spending includes Rs 50,000 crore disbursed to the department of food and public distribution against a budget allocation of Rs 20 crore for FY26.

Without this amount, the increase in total capital expenditure of the government stood at 47.3 per cent of the BE for the first half of FY26.

An analysis of ministries spending with a minimum allocation of Rs 3,000 crore under capex showed that among those lagging in this expenditure included the Petroleum and Natural Gas ministry and the department of economic affairs  with only 2 per cent of capex utilised in H1.

The department of science and technology had not utilised any of its capex allocation of Rs 20,096 crore, CGA data showed.

Overall capital expenditure for April-September of FY26 increased by 40 per cent compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, reaching Rs 5.8 trillion.

This outpaced the budgeted growth of 6.6 per cent.

The government has been doing the heavy lifting on capex but now it would show caution since there would be pressure on revenue due to the shortfall in GST collections.

"However, with consumer sentiment now improving, we will see more private sector investment picking up, said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Bank of Baroda.

He added that while the overall target of capex would be achieved there may not be scope to exceed it.

Experts pointed out that the increase in capital spending has been accompanied by a sharp contraction in revenue spending.

An analysis by Motiwal Oswal noted that the revenue spending stood at Rs 17.2 trillion in April-September FY26 or 44 per cent of FY26BE, the lowest in at least a decade.

We believe the fiscal deficit remains manageable despite higher defence spending.

"We see a possibility of 10 basis points (bps) of slippage risk due to trailing revenue receipts. But the positive in fiscal math is that revenue expenditure is yet to pick up, the Motilal Oswal report said.

A report by Nomura said that capex needs to contract by 15 per cent in the second half to prevent a slip in the target.

Economists, however, feel that the government will be able to keep to the target since capex is a discretionary spending, and therefore, also meet the fiscal deficit number of 4.4 per cent.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said on Tuesday that the government is confident of meeting the 4.4 per cent fiscal deficit target in FY26 before moving its focus to the debt-to-GDP ratio from next financial year onwards.
After a three-month slowdown, India's oil imports (already landed) from Russia bounced back in the first 15 days of October to 1.8 million barrels per day.

Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters

Owing to lower international rates, India's crude oil import bill dropped 14.7 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to $60.7 billion in the first half (April-September) of 2025-2026 (H1FY26).

The country's crude oil import bill stood at $71.2 billion in H1FY25, according to data from Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).

Lower crude oil import bill is on account of falling prices this year due to oversupply in the market as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (Opec+) has been increasing supplies.

The Indian basket crude price averaged $69.61 per barrel (bbl) during September, as against $73.69/bbl last year.

India's oil bill for H1FY26 declined even though import volumes stayed largely unchanged. The country's crude oil imports increased marginally to 121.2 million tonne (mt) in the six months ended September 2025, compared to 120.7 mt in the same period last year.

India was dependent on crude oil imports for 88.4 per cent of its domestic requirements during April-September.

India's liquefied natural gas (LNG) import bill also dropped 10.5 per cent Y-o-Y to $6.8 billion in H1FY26.

Unlike crude oil, dip in gas bill was primarily due to lower domestic demand as natural gas consumption fell to 34,265 million standard cubic metres (mscm) in the period.

Russian oil imports rebound in Oct

After a three-month slowdown, India's oil imports (already landed) from Russia bounced back in the first 15 days of October to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), showed data sourced from maritime intelligence firm Kpler.

Defying pressure from the West, Indian refiners maintain robust sourcing of crude oil from Russia due to attractive pricing.

India's import of Russian oil had marginally slumped in the last three months -- 1.59 million bpd in July, 1.68 million bpd in August, and 1.54 million bpd in September.

"Russian barrels remain deeply embedded in India's energy system -- economically attractive, contractually entrenched, and strategically aligned with New Delhi's energy security priorities," said Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst-refining & modelling, Kpler.

"With October imports tracking around 1.8 million bpd, there is no visible sign of a reduction or policy shift," Ritolia added.

Oil supplies from the US have witnessed a major uptick. India imported 655 thousand bpd (kbpd) of crude oil from the US in October, as against 207 kbpd in the previous month.

Supplies from traditional suppliers Iraq and Saudi Arabia stood at 965 kbpd and 841 kbpd, respectively, in October, showed Kpler data.

The Indian government on October 16 denied US President Donald Trump's claim of New Delhi agreeing to halt Russian oil supplies.
After a year of modest returns, equity investors may anticipate gains of 10-15 per cent in Samvat 2082, which began on October 21.

IMAGE: Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD & CEO, BSE rings the bell during Muhurat trading. Photograph: Sahil Salvi/Rediff

Although valuations have moderated from their peaks a year earlier, they remain above long-term averages, potentially limiting sharp upsides.

Analysts say the trajectory of corporate earnings, economic growth, and the pace of foreign portfolio inflows will be key factors shaping market performance over the coming year.

In Samvat 2081, benchmark indices paused after two strong years, with the Nifty and Sensex recording modest gains of 6.8 per cent and 5.8 per cent, respectively.

The broader Nifty Midcap 100 managed a 5.8 per cent rise, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 2.1 per cent, following consecutive rallies of over 30 per cent in Samvats 2079 and 2080.

Muted earnings growth, headwinds from US trade policies  such as higher tariffs on Indian exports and steep visa fees  along with persistent FPI outflows to more attractive markets like China, dragged domestic market performance during the year.

In a recent note, Nomura said it expects the cyclical slowdown in earnings to persist in the near term, with a modest recovery likely in financial year 2027 (FY27) (April 2026 onwards).

The brokerage has set a March 2026 target of 26,140 for the Nifty 50, based on 21 times FY27 estimated earnings per share (EPS) of Rs 1,245.

Analysts believe the central governments tax reforms and GST rationalisation, coupled with the Reserve Bank of Indias rate cuts and credit-boosting measures, could support equity market prospects.

However, the benefits may be offset by subdued household sentiment, sluggish job and wage growth, and weak savings.

Private capital expenditure continues to be a key missing link. Pramod Gubbi, co-founder of Marcellus Investment Managers, emphasised that sustained earnings recovery hinges on a revival in private investments.

A fresh cycle of spending is beginning. The GST and income tax rate cuts are giving consumers an extra cushion to spend.

"However, parts that were fuelled by public capex are slowing because the government is pursuing fiscal consolidation.

"What needs to be seen is whether this recovery in consumption also triggers private sector capex, which has been elusive, Gubbi said.

Experts caution that without private capex, a broad-based and durable recovery may remain constrained.

Valuations, while not inexpensive, have turned relatively fair after an extended period of elevated levels.

I am relatively bullish about next year.

"We will likely get low double-digit returns, driven by earnings rebound, which I expect to grow by around 14 per cent.

"Valuations are not cheap; they have just become reasonable after being expensive at the beginning of the year.

"Markets are at the top end of the fair-value zone, and thats why returns may be lower than earnings, said Jyotivardhan Jaipuria, founder and managing director of Valentis Advisors.

During the previous Samvat year, financials and auto stocks outperformed, while IT, energy, and realty trailed.

Analysts expect stock and sector selection to remain the key differentiator in Samvat 2082.

They believe banking, pharmaceuticals, and cement are well-positioned for potential outperformance.

We are expecting an earnings rebound in the banking sector. Rate declines tend to compress margins, but that pressure can reverse.

"Tariff fears on generic drugs have faded, which bodes well for Indian pharma.

"Cement consolidation has occurred, and pricing is finally moving up after a two-year lull, added Jaipuria.

Experts also advise investors to set realistic return expectations and avoid chasing overheated themes.

Keep expectations modest. Post pandemic, extraordinary returns are unlikely to repeat.

"Dont chase crowded themes; theres a risk of FOMO in silver and gold, advised Jimeet Modi, group CEO of Samco.
Sarvam's LLM will have more than 17 trillion tokens with 17 to 20 per cent coming from Indian data.

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

India's first homegrown foundational large language model (LLM) built by Sarvam Artificial Intelligence may come out early next year, company cofounder Vivek Raghavan said on Wednesday.

The launch will, in all likelihood, happen before or during the India AI Impact Summit.

The government will hold the flagship event to demonstrate India's capabilities and advancements in AI, and more specifically around sovereign models.

"We are trying to get the model out by February," Raghavan told Business Standard on the sidelines of the Bengaluru Tech Summit.

Sarvam AI was selected by the IndiaAI Mission this year to build the country's first sovereign LLM ecosystem.

It will be developing an open source 120-billion parameter AI model to enhance governance and public service access through use cases like 2047: Citizen Connect and AI4Pragati.

In a panel discussion Raghavan said, "The existing models have sub 1 per cent Indian data."

Sarvam's LLM will have more than 17 trillion tokens with 17 to 20 per cent coming from Indian data.

Besides Sarvam, Soket will develop India's first open-source 120 billion parameter foundation model optimised for the country's linguistic diversity, targeting sectors such as defence, healthcare, and education.

On the other hand, Gnani will build a 14 billion parameter voice AI foundation model delivering multilingual, real-time speech processing with advanced reasoning capabilities.

Gan AI, another company, will create a 70-billion parameter multilingual foundation model targeting text-to-speech capabilities.

When asked if the latest Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules would make LLM makers tweak these models to comply with the regulations, Raghavan said it is unlikely to be the case.

"As of now, I do not see the problem because LLMs are memory-less systems which do not store data unlike apps which store consumer data. However, these rules are subject to interpretation," he added.

Retraining such models may require significant cost and effort.

This comes as companies processing user data -- known as data fiduciaries -- must clearly explain to users, or data principals, how their personal data will be used.

The new rules need informed consent along with easy provisions to revoke it for any personal data processing.

Abhishek Singh, additional secretary, ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), said while the expectation was India should be leading the AI race, it is behind the US and China.

"We have to realise our potential and so the gaps have been identified. We had a lack of ability in compute, data sets, capital, and foundation models.

"Even access to graphic processing units (GPUs) was a limiting factor.

"However, 38,000 GPUs have been empanelled which is solving part of the problem.

"We need thousands of GPUs to be somewhere near to the best in the world and for that we need more investment from the industry."

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre, CBI, ED, Anil Ambani and the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) on a PIL seeking a court-monitored probe into alleged massive banking and corporate fraud involving the ADAG and its group companies.

Photograph: Prashant Waydande/Reuters

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions made by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner and former Union secretary E A S Sarma, and sought the replies within three weeks.

The bench posted the PIL for further hearing after three weeks.

Bhushan alleged that the probe agencies are not investigating the alleged complicity of banks and their officials in the huge banking fraud.

He sought a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file respective status reports with regard to the probe against banks and their officials in the case.

Bhushan said the instant case is "probably the largest corporate fraud in India's history".

The FIR was registered in 2025 though the fraud was going on since 2007-08, the lawyer alleged.

"We want a status report from the ED and the CBI on what they are investigating.

"Clearly, they are not probing the collusion by the banks," he said.

Issue notice Returnable in three weeks. Let them file their replies, the CJI said.

The PIL alleged systematic diversion of public funds, fabrication of financial statements and institutional complicity across multiple entities of the Anil Ambani-led Reliance ADAG.

It said the FIR registered by the CBI on August 21, along with the connected ED proceedings, addresses merely a small segment of the alleged fraud.

The petition claimed that despite detailed forensic audits flagging serious irregularities, neither agency is probing the role of bank officials, auditors or regulators, which the petitioner called a critical failure.

Issue a Writ of Mandamus Or direction directing a court-monitored investigation by the CBI and ED to conduct a thorough, impartial, and time-bound investigation into the financial fraud perpetrated by Respondent No. 4 (Anil Ambani) and Respondent No. 5 (ADAG)," the plea said.

It also sought a direction to the respondents for the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising officers from the CBI and the ED to conduct a thorough, impartial, and time-bound investigation.

Issue appropriate writ or direction that the investigation into the affairs of ADAG, its promoters/directors, and connected entities be monitored by this honourable court, so as to ensure that the probe is fair, independent, comprehensive, and free from any external influence, and that no aspect of the financial or criminal misconduct revealed in the forensic and audit reports is left outside the scope of inquiry, it said.

The plea also sought a comprehensive, coordinated, and judicially-supervised probe, asserting that the ongoing investigations by the CBI and the ED were inadequate and deliberately restricted to a narrow FIR filed by the State Bank of India (SBI) in August 2025.

It said between 2013 and 2017, RCOM, Reliance Infratel (RITL) and Reliance Telecom (RTL) borrowed Rs 31,580 crore from a consortium of banks led by the SBI.

The SBI lodged the FIR on August 21, alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust and misconduct involving an alleged loss of Rs 2,929.05 crore, it said.

The plea said the FIR was based on a forensic audit commissioned in 2019, covering suspicious fund flows, diversion of bank loans, fictitious transactions, and the alleged use of shell companies.

The investigating agencies, in the present matter, have overlooked the five-year delay in filing the FIR by the bank, which clearly indicates involvement of bank officials and other public servants whose conduct enabled, concealed, or facilitated the fraud, it said.

The CBI and the ED have entirely failed to investigate this institutional angle, and excluded from scrutiny the very public officials whose complicity or willful inaction forms an essential part of the criminal conspiracy, it said.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has, in principle, agreed to the proposed settlement of the long-pending colocation and dark fibre cases filed by the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Wednesday.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Speaking on the sidelines of the AIBI Annual Convention, Pandey said the settlement proposal is currently under examination by Sebis internal committees.

It (the settlement) is under the process of our different committees.

"But in principle, we agree with the settlement, he said.

In its application submitted around JuneJuly 2025, NSE offered to pay Rs 1,388 crore under Sebis settlement regulations to resolve the colocation and dark fibre matters.

If approved, this would be the largest settlement ever reached with the market regulator.

In the second quarter (JulySeptember/Q2) of 202526, NSE recognised a provision of Rs 1,297 crore, including interest, towards the settlement of matters related to the colocation and dark fibre cases.

The exchange had noted that this provisioning was in addition to the Rs 100 crore penalty imposed by the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) in the colocation order passed by a Sebi whole-time member, which had already been adjusted against the amount deposited by NSE with Sebi during 202223.

The proposed settlement is seen as a key step towards clearing regulatory hurdles for NSEs long-awaited initial public offering (IPO).

Last week, the Sebi chairman said the regulator was likely to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) for NSEs IPO within this month.

Once the NOC is granted, the exchange will be able to formally initiate the IPO process and refile its draft red herring prospectus after nearly a decade.

Market participants said the resolution of the prolonged legal disputes is critical for regulatory approval of the public issue.

The colocation case  currently pending before the Supreme Court (SC)  relates to allegations that certain brokers received preferential access to NSEs trading servers between 2015 and 2016.

If Sebi clears the settlement, it will be required to file an affidavit in the apex court to withdraw its appeal in the matter.

In January 2023, SAT upheld non-monetary penalties against NSE but set aside a disgorgement order, instead imposing a fine of around Rs 100 crore for lapses in due diligence.

Later that year, the SC directed Sebi to refund about Rs 300 crore to NSE in connection with the case.

Amid expectations of a listing, NSEs shareholder base has expanded sharply.

The exchange had 183,621 public shareholders at the end of 2025, of which retail investors accounted for 171,563, collectively holding about a 12.3 per cent stake.

Shares of NSE have also gained in the unlisted market over the past week.
Days after an outage at MCX, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Tuesday expressed his displeasure over "repeated" instances of breakdowns at exchanges.

Photographs: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The capital markets regulator will take corrective steps, if required, after an analysis of the issue at hand, Pandey told reporters, stressing that there is a standard operating protocol Sebi follows to deal with such incidents.

"The last problem was in July and now there is this (MCX). Repeated instances of such problems is not right," Pandey told reporters on the sidelines of an event by Morningstar in Mumbai.

The Sebi SOP (standard operating procedure) has laid out action to be taken in detail after such an instance, he said, adding that it starts with reporting of the matter and goes on to do a root cause analysis.

There are also multiple levels of reports which get generated, starting with one within 24 hours and then after a week, he added.

There is a need for market intermediaries to ensure operational resilience and maintain business continuity amid rapid digital transformation, he said.

"Cyber security remains a foremost concern for all market participants.

"Firms must safeguard sensitive client data and critical infrastructure from sophisticated threats," he said.

MCX suffered a major technical outage last month, which had led to challenges on executing trades and also a selling in the commodity exchange's scrip.

Pandey also said that he hopes to implement the revised rules governing stock brokers' conduct by December this year.

He said the regulator has floated a discussion paper on the rules first framed in 1992, which will be cleared by the Sebi board.

Meanwhile, in comments that come months after the Jane Street order, Pandey also said that while the rise of algorithmic and high frequency trading brings efficiencies, it also "demands robust risk controls, real-time monitoring and compliance safeguards".

Pandey also emphasised on a faster and more effective grievance redressal, calling for a culture of vigilance and adaptability.

Terming culture as an "invisible infrastructure" which shapes up investor trust in the market, Pandey warned that investors will shy away if they have a feeling of the markets being "rigged".

He also asked intermediaries to work "decisively" to ensure that the trust in the market is maintained, and added that they themselves need to have the capability to present audit trails of activity if need be.

Speaking at the same event, Reserve Bank of India's chief general manager Dimple Bhandia rued that the forex retail trades have not grown as per expectations.

She also said that there is a need to develop more derivative instruments in the forex market for hedging.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (R) meets with Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath, head of Palestinian technocratic committee, in Cairo, Egypt, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Str/Xinhua)

CAIRO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath, head of Palestinian technocratic committee, on Monday in Cairo and stressed Egypt's full support of the committee's tasks, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Egypt backs the head of the committee and all its members, in light of the responsibilities they are undertaking during this critical time, a statement issued by the foreign ministry said.

Abdelatty emphasized the important role the committee will play in administering the daily affairs of the people of the strip and meeting their basic needs, paving the way for the Palestinian Authority to fully resume its responsibilities in Gaza.

Egypt will continue to provide full support to the Palestinian people during this sensitive stage of the Palestinian cause, he said, urging completion of the necessary steps to implement the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, including the continued delivery of humanitarian and relief assistance to Gaza, and preparation for the early recovery and reconstruction phase.

He further underscored the importance of preserving the unity of Palestinian territory, reaffirming Egypt's complete rejection of any attempts to divide the Gaza Strip.

For his part, Shaath voiced appreciation for Egypt's supportive stance on the Palestinian cause, as well as for the political and humanitarian support Egypt has provided during this pivotal period.

The committee was formed on Wednesday to temporarily administer the post-war Gaza, as the U.S. administration announced the launch of the second phase of its Gaza peace plan. On the same day, the Palestinian presidency announced its support for the committee.

On Thursday, Hamas reaffirmed its readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to the committee and to facilitate its mission.

According to Shaath, the 15-member committee will work during a two-year transitional period to provide relief and urgent care for the most needy groups, especially women, children and the sick. 

Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath, head of Palestinian technocratic committee is pictured as he meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (not in the picture) in Cairo, Egypt, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Str/Xinhua)
Markets regulator Sebi will soon set up a working group to undertake a comprehensive review of short selling and the Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB) frameworks, its chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Friday.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The framework for short selling, introduced in 2007, has largely remained unchanged since its inception.

Similarly, the SLB mechanism, rolled out in 2008 and modified a few times since, continues to be underdeveloped compared to global markets, highlighting the need for a thorough reassessment.

Explaining the move, Pandey said, "We will soon form a working group to comprehensively review short selling and the SLB frameworks," while speaking at the CNBC-TV18 Global Leadership Summit.

Under the SLB mechanism, investors or institutions holding shares in their demat accounts can lend them to other market participants for a fee.

The transaction is executed through the stock exchange platform, with the clearing corporation providing a counter-guarantee to ensure smooth and secure settlement.

Experts noted that borrowers typically use these securities for short-selling or to avoid settlement failures.

By enabling investors to earn additional income on otherwise idle shares, the SLB framework not only benefits lenders but also improves liquidity and overall market efficiency.

Pandey further added that comprehensive reviews of stockbroker and mutual fund regulations are already underway.

"We will soon take up a similar in-depth review of the Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) 2015 and settlement regulations," he said.

Pandey also addressed concerns regarding foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows, emphasising that global investors continue to have strong confidence in India's growth story.

"There is a very strong faith that FPIs have in India's story," he said responding to a query on the outflow.

While discussions often focus on net outflows, he explained that a significant portion of FPI activity involves primary market investments, which offset secondary market movements.

He added that India's markets are now far more resilient to capital flow fluctuations.. Pandey pointed out that domestic participation has grown substantially, with individual investors now owning about 18 per cent of listed companies, supported by robust domestic institutional investors (DIIs).

"FPIs are not subordinate but are now complemented by strong domestic flows," he noted, highlighting that FPIs still collectively hold around $900 billion in market capitalisation in India.

When asked if the regulator was considering a ban on weekly expiries, Pandey declined to make any definitive comment.

"Please don't put words in my mouth.

"I think I've said enough on this subject. The certainty right now is that the system is on and it is working," he said.

He assured that any future decisions would be based on broad consultations.

Pandey said that Sebi's approach will remain calibrated and data-driven, aimed at addressing market imperfections without abrupt action.

"We are looking into a consultative, database-driven approach," he explained.
The Supreme Court has said that selling land or property is not a service under the Finance Act, 1994, so such sales cannot be charged with service tax.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the sale of immovable property, by itself, does not amount to a 'service' under the Finance Act, 1994, and is therefore outside the scope of service tax, a verdict which experts believe not only seeks to preserve the federal balance but also shields genuine land-sale transactions from service-tax exposure.

Justices J B Pardiwala and Sandeep Mehta delivered the ruling while dismissing an appeal filed by the commissioner of service tax, New Delhi, against Elegant Developers, a Prayagraj-based partnership firm.

The revenue department had contested a 2019 order of the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), which had quashed a tax demand exceeding 10 crore.

The department had claimed that Elegant Developers had rendered taxable 'real estate agent' services to Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd (SICCL) in connection with the purchase and development of land in several states.

The firm, however, said that its dealings with SICCL involved outright sale and transfer of land, not advisory or brokerage functions.

Between 2002 and 2005, the parties executed three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for the procurement of land in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana.

Under these, Elegant Developers undertook to identify, consolidate, and transfer land parcels to SICCL at a fixed per-acre rate, bearing all financial risks associated with price variation.

Following an investigation, the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) issued a show-cause notice demanding 10.28 crore in service tax, alleging suppression of facts and classifying the firm as a 'real estate agent'.

The commissioner confirmed the demand in 2013, but the CESTAT later overturned the order, holding that the transactions were plain sales of land.

Upholding the tribunal's reasoning, the Supreme Court examined the contractual terms and statutory definitions under Sections 65(88), 65(89), and 65B (44) of the Finance Act.

The apex court found that the firm had acted on its own account, assumed commercial risk, and executed registered sale deeds transferring title, activities expressly excluded from the definition of 'service'.

'These transactions were not undertaken for service charges, commission, agency or consultancy but were plain and simple transactions of sale of land, which are expressly protected under the exception clause to the definition of 'service',' the court observed.

The bench also rejected the revenue department's attempt to invoke the extended limitation period, finding no evidence of fraud or wilful suppression.

The court reiterated that non-payment of tax, absent intent to evade, does not justify the extended recovery period under Section 73(1) of the Finance Act.

Concluding that the CESTAT's findings were correct, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, affirming that transactions amounting to transfer of title in land fall wholly outside the ambit of service tax.

Experts said after the judgment, real-estate players and land-banking entities can breathe easier about old service-tax disputes.

"The judgment fortifies the principle that substance must triumph over label -- if a transaction walks and talks like a sale, it cannot be taxed as a service," Rishabh Gandhi, founder of law firm Rishabh Gandhi and Advocates, said.

"It also disciplines the revenue's enthusiasm to stretch tax law beyond its natural meaning. The ruling brings long-needed clarity, in the eyes of law, selling land is business, not babysitting," Gandhi added.

S R Patnaik, partner (head-taxation) at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, noted that the decision preserves the federal balance.

"Levy of tax on land or building is a domain that constitutionally belongs to the states. It preserves the federal balance; one level of government cannot encroach upon another's field," he said.

Yash B Joglekar, an advocate practising in the Bombay high court, said that by reaffirming that conveyance of property is a transfer in rem, not a rendition of service inter partes, the court "restores the fiscal boundary between central and state jurisdictions."

"Practically, the ruling shields genuine land-sale transactions from service-tax exposure and prevents overlapping levies with stamp-duty regimes, bringing long-overdue certainty to real-estate taxation," he said.

Neeraj K Mishra, executive director at NCR based Ganga Realty, said the Supreme Court's clarification would bring much-needed certainty and relief to the real estate sector.

Mohit Mittal, CEO of realty services company Mores, added that recognising the transfer of property rights as a sale and not a service removes ambiguity and prevents unnecessary tax burdens.

"This decision strengthens buyer confidence, encourages fair pricing and promotes stability on property transactions," he said.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
'Once the 60-plus population hits 20 to 30 per cent of the country, the demand for elderly-care treatments will surge -- cardiac, metabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal medicines are going to dominate the market for the next several decades.'

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Towfiqu barbhuiya/Pexels.com

The 'silver generation' will account for at least one-fourth of the pharma and healthcare market in the next two-three decades, according to market research firm Pharmarack.

India is entering a decisive demographic transition that will redefine demand across healthcare, finance, insurance, housing, and consumer services over the next several decades.

Though the 60-plus group makes up only about 10 per cent of India's population, it already contributes close to 17 per cent of the pharma market because almost every senior citizen is on long-term therapies like antihypertensives.

"As the proportion of the 60-plus population increases, their contribution to the Indian pharma market will rise sharply. I estimate the silver generation will account for at least one-fourth, and possibly one-third, of the market in the next two to three decades," says Sheetal Sapale, vice-president, commercial, Pharmarack.

Pharmarack maps India's demographic arc over a 200-year period -- from 1900 to projections for 2100 -- and shows how the country is steadily moving toward an elderly-heavy profile similar to that of Japan and Western Europe.

"I think India is headed toward a demographic structure that looks far more like Japan than like the India we know today, and that fundamentally changes how we must think about healthcare, pensions, and labour," says Sapale.

The study highlights a sharp rise in the 60-plus population, which will jump from about 11 per cent today to 20 to 21 per cent by 2050 and 31 per cent by 2100.

"When you look at India over a 200-year period, you see a very predictable but dramatic shift -- from a young-dependent population to an elderly-dependent one, and by 2100, almost a third of our population will be over 60," she says.

The shift, driven by longevity gains and falling fertility, marks a fundamental turning point.

Between 1900 and 1950, the elderly share held steady at 5 to 6 per cent, with the 1918 flu pandemic depressing population growth for a decade.

Post-Independence improvements in public health pushed population growth sharply higher, but ageing remained modest.

The acceleration begins after 2000, as better disease management and urban lifestyles reshape mortality and fertility patterns.

"Once the 60-plus population hits 20 to 30 per cent of the country, the demand for elderly-care treatments will surge -- cardiac, metabolic, neurological, and musculoskeletal medicines are going to dominate the market for the next several decades," Sapale feels.

Dependency ratios -- those under 18 and over 60 -- underline the pressure points ahead. While India's total dependency ratio of around 40 per cent remains stable, its composition is changing rapidly.

"What worries me is that the dependency ratio will stay at around 40 per cent, but the composition flips; instead of young dependents, it will be elderly dependents, and that places a very different type of economic pressure on households and the state," says Sapale.

Young dependents dominated for most of the past century, by 2050, young and old will contribute roughly equally. By 2100, elderly dependency will become the dominant driver.

But the demographic shift also opens new opportunities.

The 'silver economy' is expected to expand across healthcare, technology, housing, and financial services.

Demand is set to rise for chronic-care medicines, medical devices, diagnostics, assisted living, and geriatric-care facilities.

Technology-enabled solutions -- AI-based monitoring, fall-detection systems, telemedicine, and remote disease management -- will form the backbone of elderly support systems.

Age-friendly urban design, flexible work formats, phased retirement, and senior-focused financial products will also gain traction.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Snapping the six-day winning streak, benchmark Sensex dropped by nearly 278 points and the Nifty closed below the 26,000-mark due to profit-taking in IT, metal and capital goods shares amid a weak trend in global markets.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined by 277.93 points or 0.33 per cent to settle at 84,673.02.

During the day, it dropped 392.59 points or 0.46 per cent to 84,558.36.

The 50-share NSE Nifty dipped 103.40 points or 0.40 per cent to 25,910.05.

Among Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Eternal, Adani Ports, Hindustan Unilever and Bharat Electronics were the major laggards.

However, Bharti Airtel, Axis Bank, Asian Paints and Titan were among the gainers.

"The domestic equity market edged lower as investors booked profits after the recent rebound, mirroring weak global sentiment. Expectations of a US Fed rate cut in December have diminished, weighing on sentiment, with IT, metal, and realty stocks declining amid a stronger dollar," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi, Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index settled sharply lower.

European markets were trading in the red. US markets ended in negative territory on Monday.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said "you will hear a good news" on the proposed trade pact between India and the US once the deal is fair, equitable and balanced.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 442.17 crore on Monday, according to exchange data. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) also bought stocks worth Rs 1,465.86 crore in the previous trade.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, dipped 0.40 per cent to $63.94 per barrel.
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Monday, dragged by blue-chip HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries and IT stocks amid fresh warning from the US to further raise tariffs against India.

Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters

The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 322.39 points or 0.38 per cent to settle at 85,439.62.

During the day, it tanked 446.68 points or 0.52 per cent to 85,315.33.

After hitting a record intra-day high of 26,373.20, the 50-share NSE Nifty failed to carry forward the momentum and declined 78.25 points or 0.30 per cent to end at 26,250.30.

From the 30-Sensex firms, HDFC Bank, Infosys, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, Tata Consultancy Services and Reliance Industries were among the biggest laggards.

In contrast, Bharat Electronics, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Steel and UltraTech Cement were among the gainers.

"The benchmark Nifty index scaled a new lifetime high of 26,373.20 during the session; however, profit-taking emerged near the top, dragging the index lower to test the crucial 26,200 support zone by the close.

"Market sentiment remained guarded, with participants staying largely on the sidelines amid escalating geopolitical tensions following the US attack on Venezuela over the weekend," according to Ashika Institutional Equities.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 289.80 crore on Friday, according to exchange data. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also bought stocks worth Rs 677.38 crore.

"President Donald Trump's renewed remarks on potential tariff hikes against Indian imports linked to India's continued purchases of Russian oil added a layer of geopolitical caution to global markets, keeping risk appetite in check during today's session," Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth tech firm, said.

In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi index, Japan's Nikkei 225 index and Shanghai's SSE Composite index ended significantly higher, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended marginally up.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, dipped 0.13 per cent to $60.67 per barrel.
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty hit their fresh all-time highs in early trade on Monday as investors' sentiment turned positive after India's economy grew at a higher-than-expected 8.2 per cent in July-September - the fastest pace in six quarters.

Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 452.35 points to 86,159.02 -- its record peak.

The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 122.85 points to hit a lifetime high of 26,325.80.

From the Sensex firms, Adani Ports, Bharat Electronics, Eternal, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, State Bank of India and Kotak Mahindra Bank were among the biggest gainers.

However, ITC, Bajaj Finance, Titan and Tech Mahindra were the laggards.

India's economy grew at a higher-than-expected 8.2 per cent - the fastest pace in six quarters - in July-September, as front-loading of production ahead of GST rates cut boosted consumption that helped offset the impact of steep US tariffs.

"New record highs for the Nifty appear set to become the new norm, buoyed by India's Q2 FY26 GDP print of 8.2per cent and broad-based sectoral strength," Prashanth Tapse l, senior VP (research), Mehta Equities Ltd, said.

In Asian markets, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index quoted in positive territory, while South Korea's Kospi and Japan's Nikkei 225 index traded lower.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 3,795.72 crore on Friday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs 4,148.48 crore, according to exchange data.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 1.62 per cent to $63.39 per barrel.
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended marginally higher on Thursday, helped by robust buying in IT and tech stocks amid growing optimism on the US-India trade deal front.

Photograph: Hemanshi Kamani/Reuters

After hitting a 52-week high, indices reversed most of their intra-day gains on fag-end profit-taking after sentiment turned cautious amid concerns over US sanctions against Russia's two largest oil companies.

Besides, an over one per cent decline in heavyweight Reliance Industries also pulled the markets lower.

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 130.06 points or 0.15 per cent to settle at 84,556.40.

During the day, it jumped 863.72 points or 1.02 per cent to 85,290.06.

The 50-share NSE Nifty ended 22.80 points or 0.09 per cent higher at 25,891.40.

"Domestic equities started on a positive note; however, they pared early gains as investors booked profits following sanctions on Russian oil and the possible postponement of IndiaUS trade negotiations.

"Meanwhile, IT stocks advanced as sentiment improved after Trump's softer tone on H1B visas...

"As the undercurrent vibes of the domestic market have improved due to a possible India-US deal and a rise in consumer demand, the broad market is expected to do much better henceforth," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

FIIs are gradually returning to Indian markets, encouraged by expectations of earnings rebound in H2 FY26 supported by festive demand, tax benefits and GST reductions, he added.

From the Sensex firms, Infosys climbed 3.86 per cent. HCL Tech, Tata Consultancy Services, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Titan and Tech Mahindra were also among the gainers.

However, Eternal, UltraTech Cement, Bharti Airtel and Adani Ports were among the laggards.

In Asian markets, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng settled higher, while South Korea's Kospi and Japan's Nikkei 225 index ended lower.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 96.72 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed further sanctions on Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil) - Russia's two largest oil companies that the Trump administration accuses of helping fund the Kremlin's "war machine" in Ukraine.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 5.43 per cent to $65.99 a barrel.
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty nosedived on Monday after two consecutive days of gains, as investors rushed to take profits amid the unabated selling of stocks by foreign investors.

Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Analysts said investors turned defensive ahead of this week's US Federal Reserve policy decision, which further weakened the sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex plunged by 609.68 points, or 0.71 per cent, to close at 85,102.69.

During the day, it plummeted by 836.78 points, or 0.97 per cent, to hit the intraday low of 84,875.59.

Snapping a two-day gaining streak, the 50-share NSE Nifty declined by 225.90 points, or 0.86 per cent, to settle at 25,960.55.

In the intraday session, it dropped 294.2 points, or 1.12 per cent, to hit a low of 25,892.25.

Among the Sensex constituents, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Eternal, Trent, Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, Adani Ports, Bajaj Finserv, State Bank of India, PowerGrid, Asian Paints, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, Titan, NTPC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Larsen & Toubro and Bharti Airtel were among the laggards.

Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies, Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank were the only gainers.

"The market experienced a broad-based decline, slipping below the 26,000-mark as investors turned cautious ahead of this week's Fed policy decision," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Ltd, said.

He added that despite robust domestic growth figures and the RBI's recent rate cut, short-term sentiment remains overshadowed by global monetary policy concerns, persistent FII outflows, and currency depreciation.

"Volatility was further amplified by a surge in Japanese bond yields to multi-year highs, sparking fears of a potential unwinding of the yen carry trade, Nair said.

Other Asian markets largely closed on a positive note, with South Korea's KOSPI rising 1.34 per cent, Shanghai's SSE Composite index climbing by 0.54 per cent, and Japan's Nikkei 225 benchmark increasing by 0.13 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 1.23 per cent.

Meanwhile, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 438.90 crore on Friday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs 4,189.17 crore, according to exchange data.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 0.61 per cent to $63.37 per barrel.
Shiv Nadar and family donated Rs 2,708 crore (Rs 27.08 billion) in 2024-2025.

IMAGE: Shiv Nadar, Founder, HCL Technologies. Photograph: Kind courtesy wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

HCL Technologies Founder Shiv Nadar and family, through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, have retained their pole position with donations worth Rs 2,708 crore (Rs 27.08 billion) in 2024-2025 (FY25), which is about Rs 7.4 crore (Rs 74 million) worth of donations per day, according to a report on the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025.

Shiv Nadar and family's donations were up by 26 per cent compared to FY24, with their donations focused on education, and art & culture, the report said.

In second position is Reliance Industries' Mukesh Ambani and family, with donations worth Rs 626 crore (Rs 6.26 billion) in FY25, which went up by 54 per cent.

The Bajaj family came at the third spot with donations worth Rs 446 crore (Rs 4.46 billion) in FY25, up by 27 per cent.

'If only personal philanthropy is considered, Shiv Nadar and family still rank first with a donation of Rs 2,537 crore (Rs 25.37 billion), followed by Nandan Nilekani and Rohini Nilekani,' the report stated.

In FY25, a total 191 individuals featured in the list while FY24 saw 203 individuals.

However, the average donation amount grew by Rs 54 crore (Rs 540 million) in FY25 from Rs 43 crore (Rs 430 million) in FY24.

This follows the overall rise in wealth creation in India, with the threshold to enter the list surging by 160 per cent in the last five years, the report added.

The threshold to enter India's Top-10 philanthropists has more than doubled, from Rs 74 crore (Rs 740 million) in FY20 to Rs 173 crore (Rs 1.73 billion) in FY25.

Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and chief researcher, Hurun India, told Business Standard that total donation has gone up by 15 to 20 per cent compared to FY24, and almost doubled with an 85 per cent growth compared to the last three financial years.

Cumulatively, 191 people in the list donated Rs 10,380 crore (Rs 103.80 billion) in FY25.

"India is doing pretty well compared to China. If you look at big-ticket philanthropies of more than Rs 100 crore, that number in India is 18, almost on a par with China.

"Imagine China's GDP is almost $20 trillion and India's is only $4 trillion, yet we are matching China in big philanthropies.

"I am pretty sure India will be a role model for global philanthropy in the coming years," said Junaid.

This comes after the Top-25 people listed in the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 donated Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion) in five financial years, an average of Rs 46 crore (Rs 460 million) every single day.

The report added that the cumulative giving has quadrupled since FY17, reflecting a sustained rise in large-scale philanthropy in the country.

Additionally, the number of self-made philanthropists has jumped to 101 in FY25, marking an increase of 36 from FY23.

In the fourth position came Kumar Mangalam Birla and family with a total donation of Rs 440 crore (Rs 4.40 billion), followed by Gautam Adani and family with donations worth Rs 386 crore (Rs 3.86 billion) in FY25.

At the age of 39, Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath became the youngest philanthropist for the fourth time, the report noted.

Meanwhile, the report highlighted that Ranjan Pai, chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group, who recently completed a major exit with Temasek Holdings acquiring a controlling stake in Manipal Hospitals, has broken the Rs 100 crore mark in personal philanthropy.

He donated Rs 160 crore (Rs 1.60 billion) in FY25, and entered the Top-5 most generous in personal capacity.

'Co-founders and the families of information technology (IT) services firm Infosys Nandan Nilekani, Kris Gopalakrishnan, K Dinesh, Rohini Nilekani, and Kumari Shibulal collectively donated over Rs 850 crore (8.5 billion) in FY25, averaging more than Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) in giving each day, marking a record for philanthropy stemming from a single company,' the report stated.

Junaid added that Indian philanthropy is being shaped by four key wealth-creation groups -- like multi-generation family businesses such as the Ambanis, who continue to play a dominant role.

And, new-age entrepreneurs and young leaders like Binny Bansal and the Infosys co-founders, who entered the list this year, are building a strong culture of giving and setting the tone for sustained future philanthropy.

'Ritesh Agarwal of PRISM, though not yet on the list, is already laying the groundwork for long-term philanthropic engagement.

'Third, non-resident Indians (NRIs) like Yusuff Ali are increasingly giving back to their home states, deepening local impact.

'And finally, capital providers, venture capital and private equity leaders like Prashanth Prakash are driving a shift towards more institutional, cause-led philanthropy.'

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
As many as 338 A320 family aircraft operated by Indian airlines require the software upgrade to address a potential issue related to flight controls, and modifications have been carried out in more than half of the affected fleet, according to DGCA data.

Photograph: Airbus/Meta

Sources told PTI that there are no flight cancellations, but there are delays in the range of 60-90 minutes for some flights as the software updates are being carried out for the affected planes.

On Friday, Airbus said intense solar radiation might corrupt data critical to flight controls in a significant number of A320 family aircraft and that the software changes required to fix the issue would lead to operational disruptions.

The software upgrades have been completed for 189 A320 family planes out of the total 338 aircraft, as per the data available with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) till 10 am on November 29.

The software upgrades on all the affected planes are to be completed by 5:29 am on November 30.

DGCA on Saturday issued an Airworthiness Directive to airlines asking Indian operators to immediately carry out the requisite software upgrades.

This followed Airbus issuing an alert to operators globally and European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) coming out with an Emergency Airworthiness Directive regarding the potential issue.

IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express operate A320 family planes, which include A320 ceos and neos, A321 ceos and neos. The affected aircraft need software upgrades or hardware realignment.

A total of 200 IndiGo planes have been affected, and software upgrades have been completed for 143 of them, while in the case of Air India, 113 aircraft have been impacted and upgrades have been done for 42 of them, the DGCA data showed.

In the case of Air India Express, 25 planes have been impacted, and the software upgrades have been completed for 4 of the aircraft, as per the data till 10 am.

The software upgrades are being undertaken at the bases of the airlines in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

In a post on X at 10.13 am, Air India said that following EASA and Airbus directives for a mandatory software and hardware realignment on A320 family aircraft, our engineers have been working round-the-clock to complete the task at the earliest.

"We have already completed the reset on over 40 per cent of our aircraft that are impacted by this, and are confident of covering the entire fleet within the timeline prescribed by EASA," the airline said.

Air India also said there have been no cancellations due to this task, and there is no major impact on schedule integrity across its network.

"However, some of our flights may be slightly delayed or rescheduled," it added.

On Friday, EASA said Airbus asked airline operators to install a serviceable Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) in the impacted aircraft.

Generally, ELAC is for flight controls.

Airbus, on Friday, said an analysis of a recent event involving an A320 family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls.

"Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted," it had said in a release.

Airbus had said it acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers.
OSLO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Monday confirmed that he has received a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, in which the latter dismissed any obligation "to think purely of peace" and reaffirmed his desire to control Greenland.

According to local media reports, Store said the letter had "come in response to a short message to President Trump from me earlier in the day, on behalf of myself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb."

In the letter, Trump referred to Norway's decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize for what he described as "stopping eight wars," stating that "I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace."

He added that he could now "think about what is good and proper" for the United States.

Trump further claimed that since NATO's inception, the United States has contributed more to NATO than any other country, and "now NATO should do something for the United States." He asserted that "the complete and total control of Greenland" by the United States is the only way to ensure global security. 
Ahead of the key meeting called by the steel ministry with the industry captains on Monday to discuss the impact of rising steel imports, companies have raised the issue of cheaper substandard inflows from China, Vietnam, and South Korea, saying they are setting the benchmark for domestic prices and squeezing the profitability of Indian producers.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Abhyuday Jindal, managing director of Jindal Stainless, said that growing imports of subsidised and substandard steel are creating unfair competition for Indian manufacturers.

These imports destabilise prices and pose safety and quality risks, especially in sectors like infrastructure, automotive, food, pharma, and construction, Jindal told Business Standard.

India has enough capacity to meet demand, but expecting producers to match artificially low import prices is neither practical nor sustainable, he said.

Experts say while the global oversupply accounts for most of the realisation differential, Indian producers do face structural limitations due to higher logistics costs and dependence on imported raw materials, primarily coking coal.

According to Ankit Hakhu, director, Crisil Ratings, Declining realisations led to a dip in domestic primary steelmakers profitability per tonne, which fell below the decadal average in the financial year 2025.

The average domestic flat steel prices fell by about 10 per cent year-on-year in FY25 as global oversupply and weak demand redirected surplus steel to India.

Landed import prices of Chinese hot-rolled coil (HRC) were 5-6 per cent lower than domestic prices in FY24 and FY25.

After the government imposed a 12 per cent safeguard duty in April this year, prices nearly equalised, with domestic HRC averaging Rs 52,675 per tonne in September, compared to Rs 52,207 per tonne for Chinese imports, Hakhu said.

Indias steel imports rose to a nine-year high of 4.03 million tonnes in FY25, led by South Korea (29 per cent) and China (26 per cent).

To protect primary steelmakers, a 12 per cent safeguard duty was imposed on certain flat steel from April 2025, resulting in a 40 per cent moderation in imports in YTD FY26 (till August 2025) compared to the previous year, according to Hakhu.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommended a three-year safeguard duty with a proposed duty structure of 12 per cent, 11.5 per cent, and 11 per cent in the first, second, and third years, respectively.

The RBIs latest bulletin released last week noted that cheaper imports are weighing on domestic production and prices despite steady demand growth in India.

Jindal said Indian producers operate under stricter labour, quality, and environmental standards, which add to production costs.

Imported material is often cheaper because of weaker standards and state support abroad.

Competing with that without diluting quality is nearly impossible, he said.

Even as large producers seek protection from low-priced imports, smaller manufacturers that depend on steel inputs are primarily focused on securing material at affordable rates.

According to Sanjay Singh, director, Jindal Steel, it is not a conflict of interest but MSMEs require input material at the best price.

Such material is produced by large producers, who also need to remain competitive. Nevertheless, the government is facilitating the provision of input material to MSMEs at lower than market prices and has provided directions accordingly.

"Such subsidised prices are also required to be published on the steel producers websites, Singh told Business Standard.

Jindal also welcomed recent government steps such as the safeguard duty and the implementation of quality control orders (QCOs) but argued that India needs to focus on long-term competitiveness.

He said the government must include chromium and molybdenum in the Critical Minerals Policy, lower logistics costs, strengthen R&D incentives, and offer compliance support to MSMEs.

He also called for a National Stainless Steel Policy to guide long-term industry growth.

He dismissed the view that restricting imports could raise costs for small manufacturers, saying that high-quality domestic material reduces lifecycle costs.

High-quality material may cost more initially, but lasts longer and reduces maintenance.

Low-grade imports often increase long-term costs and safety risks, he added.
The imposition of safeguard duty, an uptick in exports, and an increase in input cost are driving steel prices higher.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The latest round of price increase took place on Friday, with some steel mills increasing hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices by Rs 500-750 a tonne, according to price reporting and market intelligence firm BigMint. HRC is a benchmark for flat steel.

This is the second price hike this month; other mills are also expected to follow suit, Hemant Dewangan, analyst at BigMint said.

With this, the list price of HRC has increased by Rs 3,000-5,250 a tonne since the middle of December to Rs 50,500-Rs 51,750 a tonne from various mills.

At the trade level (distributor to dealer), HRC prices increased by about Rs 6,000 a tonne to Rs 52,000 a tonne as on Friday.

Multiple factors have led to the price push. Steel prices are rising due to cost pressures from higher imported met coke prices, compounded by a weak rupee.

"Policy support from safeguard duty, tight availability of long products and strong export orders have further lifted prices, Dewangan explained.

A top official in an integrated steel company said this could well be a turning point for steel prices that have been depressed for most of the calendar year 2025.

Ranjan Dhar, director and vice president at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), noted, India is the fastest growing major economy across the world and therefore, a growth market for all steel players.

Domestic demand growth has been healthy last year and has absorbed the additional supplies that were created during H2 of the year.

Opportunities in South-East Asia  amid anti-dumping curbs on China  and a gradual return to West Asia after nearly two years is further helping ease the demand-supply gap at home, he added.

Safeguard duty in India has also helped.

Dhar said, But it is notable though that the current prices are still quite low given the substantial increase in input costs over the last 12 to 24 months.

Export sees uptick

An Elara Capital research report said that Indias steel exports surged amid Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)-led pre-buying.

For April-November 2025, Indias steel exports (including stainless steel) grew 31 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to 5.77 million tonnes (mt), driven by pre-emptive restocking by European Union buyers ahead of the phased implementation of the CBAM, the report mentioned.

Will the price uptrend hold?

The industry has seen a record capacity addition of 15 mt over the past three to four quarters with another 5 mt expected by the end of FY26, said Sumit Jhunjhunwala, vice president, ICRA.

The surge created a temporary surplus and dampened prices.

Demand is expected to improve in FY27, with incremental consumption rising by 11-12 mt.

"With no major capacity additions in the first half of FY27 and gradual ramp-ups being absorbed by demand, the impact of overcapacity on prices should moderate, Jhunjhunwala explained.

He also pointed out that while global price dynamics would still matter, the domestic supply overhang is likely to ease significantly.

However, Sehul Bhatt, director, Crisil Intelligence, said that a few key blast furnaces were expected to be commissioned in the next fiscal.

The supply increase in the domestic market and declining demand momentum are expected to exert pressure on prices, limiting the current uptick.
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Friday, driven by a sharp jump in Infosys after the company raised its revenue growth guidance for FY26.

Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

After two days of losses, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 187.64 points, or 0.23 per cent, to settle at 83,570.35.

During the day, it jumped 752.26 points, or 0.90 per cent, to 84,134.97.

The 50-share NSE Nifty rose 28.75 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 25,694.35.

From the 30-Sensex firms, Infosys jumped 5.67 per cent after the Bengaluru-headquartered firm saw its revenue from operations grow by 8.9 per cent to Rs 45,479 crore in the third quarter of the current fiscal from Rs 41,764 crore in the year-ago period.

The company has raised its revenue growth guidance for FY26 to 3-3.5 per cent in constant currency from 2-3 per cent earlier.

Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, State Bank of India, UltraTech Cement and HDFC Bank were also among the gainers.

In contrast, Eternal, Asian Paints, Bharat Electronics, Sun Pharma and Maruti were among the laggards.

India and the US are "very near" to finalising the trade agreement, and it would be announced when both sides are ready, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Thursday.

The negotiating teams of both sides are discussing virtually all pending issues, he said.

"The equity markets witnessed positive momentum during the session, driven by better Q3 results from IT and mid-segment banking stocks.

"However, profit-booking towards the close capped the rally, resulting only in marginal gains for the market.

"The IT sector outperformed, supported by an upward revision in revenue growth projections from a leading industry bellwether, coupled with expectations of increased technology spending," Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited, said.

Foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 4,781.24 crore on Wednesday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) bought stocks worth Rs 5,217.28 crore, according to exchange data.

Stock markets were closed on Thursday on account of the Maharashtra civic polls.

In Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi index settled higher, while Japan's Nikkei 225 index, Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended lower.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 1.05 per cent to $64.43 per barrel.
Amid the political push and pull, the Centre's decision to allow sugar exports and remove the 50 per cent duty on molasses exports has rekindled hope in the industry that more relief may follow.

Image used for representational purpose. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Centre's proposed move to permit 1.5 million tonnes (mt) of sugar exports in the 2025-26 season could come as a breather for the sector, which was facing a challenging time after what began as a promising season due to a bumper harvest.

The sugar season runs from October to September. The challenges stemmed from both political and economic factors.

On the one hand, there is growing clamour among farmers to raise the purchase price of sugarcane to offset rising input costs; on the other, the industry is struggling to absorb surplus production in 2025-26.

The first blow to the sector came with the ethanol supply tender for the 2025-26 supply year that started in November. Of the total requirement of 1.04 billion litres of ethanol for 20 per cent blending, oil marketing companies (OMCs) allocated only about 0.28 billion litres to sugarcane-based feedstocks, which accounted for just 27-28 per cent of total requirement. Grain-based ethanol makers were allocated the remaining 72 per cent (0.76 billion litres).

This was despite the sugar industry investing over 40,000 crore to create more than 9 billion litre ethanol capacity in line with NITI Aayog's 2021 Biofuel Roadmap (202025), which projected that the sugar sector would contribute about 55 per cent (0.55 billion litres) of the total ethanol requirement to achieve 20 per cent blending (E20) by 202526, the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (Isma) said in a statement in late October.

"This imbalance would lead to underutilisation of distilleries (below 50 per cent), reduced sugar diversion (around 3.4 mt against an expected 5 mt), and excess sugar stocks. Cash flow constraints could delay payments to farmers and risk cane arrears accumulation, especially when the sector already faces thin margins and high working capital requirements," Isma Director General Deepak Ballani recently said at a press conference.

If that were not enough, in late October, Uttar Pradesh, the state with the largest number of private sugar mills, unexpectedly raised the State Advised Price (SAP) of sugarcane for the 2025-26 season by almost 30 per quintal. The hike takes the procurement price to about 400 per quintal for early-maturing varieties and 390 for common ones.

The increase, one of the steepest under the Yogi Adityanath government, comes ahead of panchayat elections and the 2027 state assembly polls.

"Sugarcane pricing in UP is now linked to elections rather than input costs prescribed in the Sugarcane Act. The last increase came in 2023 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, but since then, despite a 15-20 per cent rise in costs of labour, pesticides, and fertilisers, the SAP was unchanged. The current 8.11 per cent increase, coming ahead of the 2027 state elections, is too little, too late," Sudhir Panwar, former member of the UP Planning Commission, had told Business Standard.

Industry players, while welcoming the SAP hike, said it may benefit farmers but could squeeze millers' margins by raising production costs from 41 per kg to nearly 4243 per kg.

Some experts said the sharp increase, which has been lauded by farmer groups, is meant to consolidate the ruling BJP's support in the Jat heartland of western UP.

The UP decision was soon followed by protests from sugarcane farmers in North Karnataka demanding a better price equivalent to around 355 per quintal.

North Karnataka, a BJP stronghold, witnessed widespread road blockades that gained support from the Opposition party. The agitation ended last week after the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government agreed to raise the purchase price from 320 to 330 per quintal.

This extra burden of 10 per quintal would be shared equally between the state government and the millers, Siddaramaiah said after a seven-hour meeting between protesting farmers, sugar mills, and officials.

Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi, who hails from Karnataka, had also weighed in, writing to the chief minister that at an average recovery rate of 10.5 per cent, the FRP for sugarcane farmers should be 363 per quintal.

Of late, sugarcane farmers in Punjab have demanded an increase in procurement prices to 500 per quintal from the current 400. Punjab, Haryana, and UP are among the states that fix a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane.

Amid the political push and pull, the Centre's decision to allow sugar exports and remove the 50 per cent duty on molasses exports has rekindled hope in the industry that more relief may follow.

"We are hopeful that the Centre will also raise the procurement price of ethanol produced from sugarcane juice, syrup, and B-heavy molasses, which has remained unchanged for two years, by at least 3 per litre, and permit exports of ethanol, not just molasses, to absorb the surplus," a senior industry official said.

He added that the export decision has made them hopeful that things may finally be turning in favour of the sugar sector in the corridors of power.
Tata Steel on Wednesday reported a 272 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) jump in consolidated net profit, attributable to owners, at Rs 3,101.75 crore in the second quarter of 2025-26 (Q2FY26) led by higher sales volumes in India and planned cost takeouts across geographies.

Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

The steel majors net profit in the year-ago period had stood at Rs 833.45 crore.

Total revenue on a consolidated basis in Q2FY26 was Rs 58,689.29 crore, up 8.9 per cent Y-o-Y. Both revenue and net profit came in ahead of the Bloomberg consensus estimate of Rs 55,897.6 crore and Rs 2,739.6 crore, respectively.

Sequentially, revenue was up 10.4 per cent and net profit 49.3 per cent.

Commenting on the performance, T V Narendran, managing director and chief executive officer (MD&CEO), Tata Steel, said: The global operating environment remained challenging, with persistent overhang of tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and elevated steel exports.

"Despite this, Tata Steel delivered a resilient performance, with the Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) margin improving for the second consecutive quarter.

In India, while crude steel production rose 8 per cent, deliveries grew at a higher rate of 17 per cent quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) as our marketing franchise enabled us to scale effectively, he added.

Tata Steel India reported a turnover of Rs 34,787 crore in Q2FY26 compared to Rs 32,660 crore in the year-ago period.

Reported profit after tax (PAT) was at Rs 4,215 crore during the quarter as against Rs 3,460 crore a year back.

Narendran said that the company continues to strengthen its market leadership across key segments, underpinned by capacity expansion and a focused downstream strategy.

As part of growing the India downstream portfolio, Tata Steel has executed a share purchase agreement with BlueScope Steel to acquire the balance 50 per cent stake in Tata BlueScope Steel Private Limited for a cash consideration of Rs 1,100 crore.

The transaction is expected to be completed within a period of 3-4 months, subject to completion of conditions precedent, including approvals from regulatory authorities and other stakeholders as applicable, the company mentioned in a regulatory filing.

Koushik Chatterjee, executive director and chief financial officer (ED&CFO), said the performance was underpinned by a sharp focus on cost transformation programme, which delivered around Rs 2,561 crore for the quarter, and around Rs 5,450 crore for the half year of 2025-26 (H1FY26).

The India performance was aided by strong growth in volumes.

Tata Steel spent Rs 3,250 crore on capital expenditure during the quarter and Rs 7,079 crore for the half year.

Tata Steel Europe

In the Netherlands, revenues were 1,551 million euro and Ebitda was 92 million euro compared to 64 million euro in Q1FY26. Liquid steel production was 1.67 million tonnes (mt) and deliveries were 1.54 mt.

In the UK, revenues were 505 million pound and Ebitda loss stood at 66 million pound compared to a loss of 41 million pound in Q1FY26.

Deliveries stood at 0.57 mt and were marginally lower due to subdued demand.

Chatterjee said: In line with efforts to optimise debt portfolio, we have reduced Tata Steel UK (TSUK) debt by 540 million pound during the quarter, and our consolidated gross debt has decreased by around Rs 3,300 core Q-o-Q to Rs 95,643 crore.

He said that the company remains focused on volume growth in India, strengthening raw material linkages and optimising capital allocation.

We are closely monitoring policy developments in the EU and the UK, and will look to prioritise, optimise and sequence the decarbonisation capex spend in such a manner that it is affordable to all stakeholders, Chatterjee said.
Tata Steels two Dutch subsidiaries are facing a 1.4 billion lawsuit in the Netherlands alleging health and property damage caused by emissions from the companys steelmaking operations, a charge which the Indian conglomerate labelled as unsubstantiated and speculative.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

In an exchange filing, Tata Steel said that environmental group Stichting Frisse Wind.nu (SFW) has served a writ of summons on Tata Steel Nederland BV and Tata Steel IJmuiden BV on December 19.

And the proceedings have begun before the District Court of North Holland in Haarlem under the Dutch Act on Collective Settlement of Mass Claims (WAMCA).

SFW has said that it is acting on behalf of residents living near Tata Steels IJmuiden plant.

The lawsuit relates to allegations that emissions of hazardous or harmful substances from Tata Steels operations in Velsen-Noord have adversely affected residents health and living conditions.

According to the filing, SFW is seeking approximately euro 1.4 billion in compensation, citing increased susceptibility to various health issues and loss of enjoyment of homes.

Justifying the claim, SFW said that average home values in the region lag those in comparable areas due to the impact of Tata Steels operations.

On its part, Tata Steel said that SFW has provided no supporting evidence.

The company said its Dutch subsidiaries, collectively referred to as TSN, reject the allegations and consider the claims to be without any basis.

TSN considers that it has strong arguments to defend against the claims and will vehemently defend itself, Tata Steel said.

The company also added that, in its assessment, SFW faces considerable challenges in establishing both the admissibility of the case and the merits of its claims.

Under the WAMCA framework, proceedings are conducted in two stages: Admissibility and merits, with each phase expected to take two-three years to conclude.

Tata Steel said that given the nature of the process, a discussion on the quantum of claims is not expected in the coming years thus limiting the likelihood of near term financial implications for the company.

The filing also disclosed that the SFWs action is being funded by Redbreast Associates NV and Omni Bridgeway SA, both third party litigation funders.

SFW has published a compliance statement outlining the compensation structure for financiers.

It allows them to receive either a multiple of their investment or a share of any recovered amount, capped at 25 per cent.

Tata Steel said health and a clean living environment remain key priorities for its Dutch operations.

The company highlighted that TSN has made substantial investments under its Roadmap+ programme over the past five years to address concerns raised by neighbouring communities.

TSN consistently ranks among the leading global blast furnace-based steel producers in terms of CO2 efficiency, with performance metrics well below both European and global averages, it added.

Given these efforts, the company said it believes that SFW's claim lacks merit.

The company said it is examining the documents received from SFW, consulting legal counsel and assessing potential implications.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Friday announced the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Experience Zone and Design Studio in London, and said its continued investments in the UK will create 5,000 new jobs across the country over the next three years.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Currently, TCS supports over 42,000 direct and indirect jobs across the United Kingdom. In FY2024, TCS contributed 3.3 billion pounds to the UK economy, according to a regulatory filing by the company.

"Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)... has today announced the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Experience Zone and Design Studio in London, reaffirming its continued strategic investment across the United Kingdom (UK), and upholding its long-standing partnership with the UK economy.

"Further, with its continued investment in creating employment and supporting talent development, TCS will create 5,000 new jobs across the UK over the next three years," it said.

The AI Experience Zone and London Design Studio represent a reimagined version of TCS's flagship PacePort facility and will play a key role in driving innovation and client collaboration across the UK.

The London studio marks TCS' second design hub after the New York Design Studio, launched in September, and will tap into the TCS innovation ecosystem that has been developed in partnership with academic institutions, startups, and other collaborators in the UK.

TCS head for UK and Ireland, Vinay Singhvi, said the UK is TCS' second-largest market globally and the company will continue to scale its footprint across the country.

TCS' announcement comes soon after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's first official visit to India this week, during which he held wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

Starmer said India is poised to become the world's third-largest economy by 2028, and that the UK is well-positioned to partner in this growth journey.

Starmer's visit to India came two-and-a-half months after the two countries inked a landmark free trade pact that will increase market access, cut tariffs and is expected to result in doubling the bilateral trade by 2030.

The trade deal was firmed up during PM Modi's visit to London in July.

The business delegation accompanying UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer visited the TCS Banyan Park campus in Mumbai on Thursday.

"I was delighted to visit the TCS campus in Mumbai to see their technological innovation first-hand.

"For nearly 150 years, the Tata Group has reflected their leadership in entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Now, as we celebrate a landmark Prime Ministerial visit to India, we have reaffirmed the pledge between our two economies to maximise on the trade deal we signed in July.

"As a valued investor for the UK, Tata Group and its companies, like TCS, are central to this mission, which ultimately will create jobs, put money in people's pockets, and deliver economic growth across both countries, Jason Stockwood, Minister for Investment, United Kingdom, said.
Google will invest $15 billion over the next five years in setting up an AI hub in India, which will include the country's largest data centre in partnership with Adani Group.

Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

The AI hub at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh will be Google's largest outside the US and will include 1-gigawatt data centre campus, new large-scale energy sources, and an expanded fiber-optic network, the tech super giant said.

"It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world outside of the US," Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said at an event here to sign the formal agreement.

The announcement was made during Bharat AI Shakti, a Google-hosted event in New Delhi which served as a precursor to the upcoming India-AI Impact Summit 2026.

The event saw attendance of Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, among others.

"Great to speak with India PM @narendramodi @OfficialINDIAai to share our plans for the first-ever Google AI hub in Visakhapatnam, a landmark development.

"This hub combines gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and large-scale energy infrastructure.

Through it we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a post on X.

Separately, Adani Enterprises, the flagship firm of billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate said its joint venture company AdaniConneX, and Google will develop India's largest AI data centre campus and new green energy infrastructure in Visakhapatnam.

Google's AI hub in Visakhapatnam is a multi-faceted investment of approximately $15 billion over five years (2026-2030), comprising gigawatt-scale data centre operations, supported by a robust subsea cable network and clean energy, to drive the most demanding AI workloads in India.

"It will be brought to life in close collaboration with ecosystem partners including AdaniConneX and Airtel," the company said in a statement.

It however did not indicate the investment in the data centre.

The project will see co-investment in new transmission lines, clean energy generation and innovative energy storage systems in Andhra Pradesh, the firm said.

"The Adani Group is proud to partner with Google on this historic project that will define the future of India's digital landscape," said Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group.

"This is more than just an investment in infrastructure. It is an investment in the soul of a rising nation."

To unlock India's massive potential in the AI age, "we are investing in the Google AI hub, which will provide the critical foundation to drive growth and enable businesses, researchers, and creators to build and scale with AI," Kurian said.

An analysis commissioned by Google suggests that the AI hub is expected to generate at least $15 billion over five years (2026-2030) in American gross domestic product (GDP) because of new economic activity from increased cloud and AI adoption, as well as the American talent and resources involved in developing and operating the AI hub.

Speaking at the event, Sitharaman said under the Modi regime, several policy enablers have been part of the governance since 2014.

Appreciating Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu, Sitharaman said he in his earlier stints has shown what he can do to scale up digital infrastructure.

"So, I think, it is just the right place to land in and the right country to be in... it is one of those very interesting phases in the Indian history where policy is pushing ahead much before many of the parties in political arena are even ready to absorb," Sitharaman said.
IT services major Infosys on Wednesday reported a 2.2 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 6,654 crore in the October-December quarter of FY26.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

The Bengaluru-headquartered firm had registered a net profit (attributable to owners of the company) of Rs 6,806 crore in the year-ago period.

Infosys' revenue from operations grew 8.89 per cent to Rs 45,479 crore compared to Rs 41,764 crore in Q3 FY25.

On the quarter-on-quarter basis (Q2 FY26), its profit fell 9.6 per cent, while revenue increased 2.2 per cent.

"Infosys delivered a strong Q3 performance, demonstrating how our differentiated value propositions in enterprise AI, through Infosys Topaz, are consistently driving higher market share.

"Clients increasingly view Infosys as their AI partner with demonstrated expertise, innovation capabilities and strong delivery credentials.

"This has helped them unlock business potential and enhance value realisation.

"Central to this journey is our commitment to re-skill, transform and empower our dedicated human resource pool to drive success in an AI augmented world," Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said.

Shares of Infosys settled at Rs 1,599.05 apiece on the BSE on Wednesday, 0.07 per cent higher than the previous close.

The financial results were announced after market hours.
Infosys on Wednesday reported a one-time exceptional hit of Rs 1,289 crore on account of the impact of the implementation of new labour codes, as India's second-largest IT services firm announced its December quarter earnings.

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes.

IMAGE: The Infosys logo. Photograph: Chris Helgren/Reuters

Earlier this week, larger rival Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) said the implementation of the new labour codes during the quarter led to a "statutory impact" of Rs 2,128 crore, while Noida-headquartered HCLTech made a one-time provision of Rs 82 million (Rs 719 crore) for the implementation of new labour codes.

Infosys reported a 2.2 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 6,654 crore in the October-December quarter of FY26, as compared to Rs 6,806 crore in the year-ago period.

Infosys' revenue from operations grew 8.89 per cent to Rs 45,479 crore compared to Rs 41,764 crore in Q3 FY25.

The company has raised its revenue growth guidance for FY26 to 3-3.5 per cent in constant currency, from 2-3 per cent earlier.

A significant highlight of the Q3 FY26 results was the impact of the government of India's notification regarding the Labour Codes on November 21, 2025.

These codes, which consolidate 29 existing labour laws, led to a substantial increase in the company's employee-related liabilities.

"These Labour Codes consolidate twenty-nine existing labour laws into a unified framework governing employee benefits during employment and post-employment, and amongst other things, introduce changes, including a uniform definition of wages and enhanced benefits relating to leave.

"The adjustments for Labour Codes represent an increase in gratuity liability arising out of past service cost and an increase in leave liability, together by Rs 143 million (Rs 1,289 crore), which is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income," Infosys said in a regulatory filing.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis (Q2 FY26), its profit fell 9.6 per cent, while revenue increased 2.2 per cent.

Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said the company's differentiated value propositions in enterprise AI, through its 'Topaz' platform, are driving higher market share.

Clients increasingly view Infosys as their AI partner with demonstrated expertise, innovation capabilities and strong delivery credentials.

"This has helped them unlock business potential and enhanced value realisation.

"Central to this journey is our commitment to reskill, transform and empower our dedicated human resource pool to drive success in an AI augmented world," Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said.

During the quarter, Infosys clocked a large deal TCV (Total Contract Value) of Rs 4.8 billion, with 57 per cent of it being net new.

The company also completed its largest-ever buyback of Rs 18,000 crore and paid out an interim dividend during the period.

On the employee front, total headcount increased by 5,043 during the quarter to reach 3,37,034.

Shares of Infosys settled at Rs 1,599.05 apiece on the BSE on Wednesday, 0.07 per cent higher than the previous close.
CANBERRA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Australia's federal parliament has paid tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting after being reconvened to debate new laws proposed in response to the terror attack.

The federal parliament on Monday morning observed a minute of silence as a motion was tabled to honor the 15 victims of the attack that targeted an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Dec. 14.

Addressing the parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Monday should have been just "another day" for the victims.

"Instead, our parliament comes together in sorrow to offer our nation's condolences to the people who knew and loved them best," he said.

Josh Burns, one of the most prominent Jewish members of Albanese's Labor Party government, said that Australia's response to the attack would define the country.

"We must not dehumanize each other, because dehumanization is what leads to exactly what happened in Bondi," he said. 
Hit by a slowdown in information technology (IT) hiring, Info Edge (India)s results for the JulySeptember quarter (Q2) of 2025-26 (FY26) fell short of brokerage expectations.

IMAGE: InfoEdge Founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

What helped the online recruitment major offset the weak IT hiring trend was broad-based growth across other sectors.

While the company remains cautiously optimistic about a revival in the IT vertical, some brokerages have cut their earnings estimates as well as target prices, citing multiple macro headwinds and limited valuation upside.

The stock, currently trading at 6575x its 202627 (FY27) earnings per share (EPS) estimates, has fallen about 11 per cent over the past year.

In Q2, recruitment billings rose 11 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) but came in below expectations due to sluggish IT demand.

IT growth stood at 8 per cent, similar to the first quarter (Q1), but global capability centres stole the spotlight with an 18 per cent rise.

The non-tech segment grew 11 per cent, while consulting was up 9 per cent.

The companys real estate vertical, 99acres, recorded 14 per cent Y-o-Y billings growth, with broker and channel partner billings outpacing developer billings.

99acres traffic share climbed to 49 per cent, aided by increased marketing spends.

Profit before tax was Rs 23 crore, compared with Rs 14.2 crore in Q2 of 2024-25 (FY25).

Growth was driven by higher customer additions and improved realisations per customer.

The company continues to spend aggressively on marketing to strengthen its market position.

JM Financial expects revenue acceleration in real estate to follow.

Analysts at Motilal Oswal, led by Abhishek Pathak, believe the platforms continued investments in marketing and artificial intelligence-driven matching tools may weigh on near-term profitability but will reinforce its market leadership.

The brokerage expects the recent traffic share gains to translate into billings over the next three to four quarters.

Billings in its matrimonial vertical, Jeevansathi, grew a robust 29.3 per cent Y-o-Y, driven by better monetisation of customers.

The segments margin improved to 1.5 per cent from minus 2.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent in Q2FY25 and Q1FY26, respectively.

Nomura believes the decision to make profile listings free has worked well for the matrimony platform, boosting traffic and engagement while lowering marketing costs.

While the brokerage has marginally cut its earnings forecast and reduced its target price to Rs 1,585, it has maintained a buy rating on the stock.

JM Financial has trimmed its standalone FY26 through 2027-28 (FY28) EPS estimates by 34 per cent, expecting slower margin expansion in recruitment and 99acres.

It has maintained an add rating with a revised target price of Rs 1,450.

The standalone business valuations of 42x/37x for FY27/FY28, respectively, remain within its comfort zone.

Analysts led by Swapnil Potdukhe note: Given that Info Edge has historically commanded much higher multiples, meaningful upside will depend on some stability in macros.

Motilal Oswal has a neutral rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 1,300.

The brokerage expects near-term recruitment growth to remain rangebound, as macro uncertainty and client caution  particularly in IT and consulting  continue to mute hiring demand.

For its other verticals, 99acres and Jeevansathi, the brokerage believes the managements disciplined investments are showing progress, and these businesses could scale up meaningfully over the medium term, adding to the groups long-term value.

However, current valuations already reflect much of the expected growth, leaving limited room for rerating.
The sovereign AI park will be a first-of-its-kind, purpose-built district in India, integrating AI compute infrastructure, secure data frameworks, model research labs, and AI innovation clusters, along with a dedicated institute for AI in governance.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at the signing of an MoU to establish India's first sovereign AI IT park, with an investment of Rs 10,000 crore, Chennai. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr T R B Rajaa/X

The Government of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday signed a landmark deal with Sarvam AI to establish India's first full-stack sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) park.

The project, involving an initial investment of Rs 10,000 crore, is expected to generate 1,000 high-skilled, deeptech jobs and represents a foundational step in building a robust and inclusive AI ecosystem rooted in public interest.

The sovereign AI park will be a first-of-its-kind, purpose-built district in India, integrating AI compute infrastructure, secure data frameworks, model research labs, and AI innovation clusters, along with a dedicated institute for AI in governance.

It will operate as a full-stack system where data, models, and compute remain within the state's trust boundary, ensuring a sovereign, ethical, and inclusive ecosystem for AI deployment.

"This demonstrates our strategic commitment not only to adopt but also to shape the future of AI from a people-first, state-led perspective, while enabling companies and startups pioneering the technology.

"With this unprecedented initiative, Tamil Nadu will lead the nation in the scaled deployment of AI across key sectors like education, agriculture, healthcare, and citizen engagement," said Minister for Industries T R B Rajaa.

Sarvam AI is an Indian generative AI company focused on building full-stack AI platforms and foundational models tailored to India's scale, languages, and diversity.

The memorandum of understanding was signed in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin.

"The sovereign AI park positions the state as one of the few places in the world where investors can access AI-grade infrastructure and deep talent pools within a single ecosystem.

"This is how Tamil Nadu is preparing to absorb and scale the next wave of global technology investment," said Arun Roy, secretary for the Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce Department.

Drawing inspiration from the historic Sangam academies that safeguarded and enriched Tamil civilisation, the sovereign AI park will also serve as a modern "Digital Sangam".

It will develop foundational Tamil-first AI models linking classical vocabulary with modern use cases, thereby embedding culture and context into every layer of digital intelligence.

These efforts will ensure that the next generation of AI systems in Tamil Nadu is inclusive, accurate, and locally rooted.

"AI will define the next generation of jobs just as manufacturing and information technology defined the last.

"By anchoring sovereign AI infrastructure and frontier research in Tamil Nadu, students and researchers from the state will be enabled to become global creators of AI, not just consumers.

"This initiative aims to turn the state's talent strength into long-term economic leadership," said V Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras.

"This partnership is about building AI that is trained, deployed, and governed in Tamil Nadu -- for the world.

"By bringing together compute, researchers, startups, enterprises, and government under one sovereign AI park, Sarvam AI, along with the state government, is set to create the conditions for intelligence to move from experimentation to real-world impact at a national scale," said Pratyush Kumar, cofounder of Sarvam AI.

Sarvam's work includes open-source foundational models supporting multiple Indian languages, multilingual conversational and voice AI products, and an application programming interface for speech-to-text, translation, and reasoning tasks.

The company was selected under the Indian government's IndiaAI Mission to develop the country's first sovereign large language model, receiving access to extensive compute resources to build models optimised for reasoning, voice, and Indian languages.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
India's $280-billion IT industry heads into 2026, balancing visa-related headwinds and global trade uncertainty against its biggest-ever push into artificial intelligence and the rapid expansion of global capability centres (GCCs).

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Heightened scrutiny of the US H-1B visa programme - including a proposed $100,000 fee for new visas and concerns over a potential 25 per cent outsourcing tax - has complicated cross-border delivery for Indian firms, even as companies accelerate efforts to reduce reliance on onsite staffing.

The US remains the sector's largest export market.

The visa proposals triggered market volatility in late 2025, disrupting travel plans and denting IT stocks, before partial clarifications offered limited relief.

Fresh concerns have since emerged around social media screening and unpredictable processing delays.

Analysts warn that sharply higher visa costs could add hundreds of millions of dollars to expenses for large IT firms, reinforcing the shift toward offshore delivery and non-US hubs.

Industry leaders argue that Indian IT companies have already de-risked by boosting local hiring in the US and strengthening India-based delivery.

While geopolitical tensions and trade friction cloud the near-term outlook, they are also accelerating multinational interest in expanding GCCs in India to manage regulatory risk and protect margins.,

Visa heat, geopolitics spur de-risking in 2025

The $100,000 H-1B fee shocker in September sparked widespread panic, disrupted travel plans for many and hammered IT stocks.

The 'new-visas-only' clarification brought partial relief to the policy cues coming from the US-Indian IT sector's largest export market, though lately, social media screening for H-1B visas, once again, fueled fresh concerns of unpredictable delays.

"A $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas could add hundreds of millions in costs for major players, prompting the shift of work offshore and pushing firms to strengthen delivery models in India and non-US hubs," says Biswajeet Mahapatra, principal analyst, Forrester.

Global trade friction and H-1B woes have clouded tech export outlook, though analysts argue that new realities may nudge multinational firms to expand their GCC footprints in India on a more aggressive footing to manage regulatory risk and protect margins.

Sindhu Gangadharan, chairperson of industry association Nasscom and managing director of SAP Labs India, notes the H-1B visa program has, as such, been a temporary measure to bridge US tech skill gaps.

Indian IT majors de-risked by cutting H-1B reliance and boosting local hires over the years, she points out.

"We have consistently emphasised that high-skill talent is central to driving innovation, competitiveness, and growth for the US economy.

"This becomes even more critical at a time when advances in AI and other frontier technologies will shape global competitiveness," she says.

Muted start to 2025, then AI-sprint

Client spends stayed soft in early 2025, as US and European firms tightened discretionary budgets, but the mood lifted through the year as AI programs matured and the mainstay BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) vertical began stabilising, globally.

Global giants like Microsoft and Google announced multibillion-dollar commitments to gigawatt-scale data centres and sovereign AI infrastructure in India.

"When digital public infrastructure meets AI, adoption can happen at a population scale - from classrooms to boardrooms and from farms to factories.

"This belief underpins Microsoft's commitment to invest $17.5 billion in India, to build the cloud and AI infrastructure, skills, and trust needed to turn momentum into long-term impact," says Puneet Chandok, president, Microsoft India and South Asia.

Globally, AI investment topped $200 billion even as circular financing between hyperscalers, startups and chipmakers raised questions of overheating in the market.

Back home, among the top-tier IT pack, Infosys lifted its FY26 revenue guidance to 2-3 per cent (from 1-3 per cent estimated earlier), HCL Technologies raised the lower end of its services revenue outlook to 4-5 per cent (from 3-5 per cent projected in July).

Infosys approved its largest-ever share buyback in September, authorising an Rs 18,000 crore tender-offer programme priced at Rs 1,800 a share to return surplus funds to shareholders.

Structural resets, workforce shakeups

India's largest IT services firm TCS disclosed it will lay off about two per cent of its global workforce this year (about 12,200 employees), in a mid-and senior-level shake-up tied to a broader 'future ready' organisational transformation aimed at strengthening technology stack, accelerating AI deployments, market expansion, and workforce realignment.

Weeks later, its quarterly headcount dropped by nearly 20,000, a number 66 per cent more than the planned layoffs, triggering strong pushback from IT workers' group NITES.

Across the industry, companies accelerated GenAI training, revamped delivery models around AI agents and workflow automation, and pushed their M&A (merger and acquisition) agenda to fill gaps.

TCS acquired Coastal Cloud for $700 million, Wipro completed HARMAN's digital transformation solutions unit for $375 million, and Infosys announced it would take a 75 per cent stake in Versent for $153 million.

Most recently, HCL Technologies announced the purchase of Telco Solutions Business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise for up to $160 million.

Companies announced AI platforms, expanded partnerships with hyperscalers, and armed hundreds of thousands of employees with GenAI edge. And yet, full monetisation remained an open question.

Navnit Nakra, Partner and Technology Sector Leader, PwC India says AI is well past the hype phase, but not yet a universal revenue engine.

"The critical shift underway is toward agentic, workflow-driven AI embedded directly into business processes.

"Revenue impact will follow where AI is tightly integrated into products, customer journeys, and pricing or risk decisions," Nakra observes.

Indian IT industry, conventionally seen tethered to headcount-driven growth, has begun recasting internal processes with AI workflows to boost productivity and margins.

GCCs widen talent funnel

India cemented its status as a preferred hub for GCC, with major cities drawing global banks, insurers, tech giants and multinationals.

The segment is projected to reach $105 billion by 2030, spanning 2.8 million jobs across 2,400 centres.

"We expect GCC growth to be a strong story in 2026, potentially accelerating," says Siddhartha Tipnis, Partner and Technology Sector Leader, Deloitte India.

Akhilesh Tuteja, Partner and National Leader, Clients and Markets and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT), KPMG in India sees 2026 as year of resilience and optimism, with discretionary spending expected to improve amid stable budgetary outlooks and targeted investments in next-gen technologies.

For an industry that weathered 2025's wild swings, the survival lessons from past choppy stretches still hold: Adaptability remains its surest bet.

As 2026 beckons, Indian IT's edge will rest on strengthening AI leadership, building resilient global delivery networks, but, above all, keeping reflexes sharp against macro volatility.
'How responsibly banks use AI will be the decisive factor going forward.'

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

The return on investment (RoI) from technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) will take time to materialise, and the immediate priority should be to increase spending on building governance frameworks around AI, top bank executives said at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025.

At present, there is scope to use AI and automation across areas such as customer service, underwriting, and debt recovery to improve the efficiency of banking operations.

At the same time, executives emphasised that data and AI usage must have valid grounds, with explainability at the core of every application.

The remarks came during a panel discussion titled 'Impact of Tech & AI on Retail Banking -- Pros & Cons' in Mumbai, moderated by Nivedita Mookerji of Business Standard.

"RoI is case by case. It's about the overall philosophy of transformative power -- whether it's AI, generative AI, or any tech initiative we bring in," said Arvind Vohra, group head, retail assets, rural banking business and microfinance, HDFC Bank.

Executives agreed that governance frameworks around AI should be a key focus area, calling for further investment to build ethical and responsible standards.

"Delivering strong returns (RoI) is one part of it, but investing in technology to ensure governance is right is equally critical.

"It requires substantial investment in building the right data culture," said Ambuj Chandna, managing director (MD) and head of consumer banking, DBS Bank India.

The acceleration of governance standards, they said, would depend on frameworks that ensure explainability and consistency of AI models.

"The Reserve Bank of India is very clear on this -- what you cannot explain, you cannot use.

"It cannot be a black box. It must demonstrate predictability and consistency, and you must be able to explain what it's doing.

"Otherwise, it could lead to major losses or reputational risks for the institution," said Sachin Seth, regional MD, India and South Asia, CRIF.

Executives observed that appropriate governance frameworks would help build trust across the ecosystem -- crucial since customer trust remains the cornerstone of the Indian banking ecosystem.

"Customer service is where a bank's trust begins.

"Unless we get that right, technology alone won't help win the customer's confidence.

"How responsibly banks use AI will be the decisive factor going forward," said Virat Diwanji, national head -- consumer banking, Federal Bank.

AI-led technologies are also expected to accelerate the synthesis of data available within banks.

"The data currently available with banks is structured but exists in silos.

"With technology and AI, there will be a unification and cleaning of this data, which will make these technologies far more efficient," said Sanjay Mudaliar, executive director, Bank of Baroda.

The panellists also stressed that reskilling will be crucial to ensuring the workforce remains employable as new technologies continue to disrupt the sector.

The banking industry has evolved from the dawn of the internet to the AI era, and each phase has created new jobs to sustain employability, they said.

"We've had the internet, mobile banking, ATMs, and core banking systems coming in.

"Jobs don't really vanish -- they evolve, and new ones are created," added Seth of CRIF.

Among AI use cases, customer service remains the key focus area.

"All our call centres are powered by AI-based transcribers.

"Every call is transcribed in real time, and a quality check is done to determine whether it's a regular call or a complaint -- and what the nature of that complaint is," said Chandna of DBS Bank India.

He added that the transcripts are then mined for insights to improve products and policies.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Investment proposals for around Rs 1.88 trillion through 35 major agreements, spread across deep tech, green energy, and aerospace, were the hallmark moment of the first day of the two-day Telangana Rising Global Summit, which started on Monday.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

These include a commitment of Rs 75,000 crore from the Brookfield/Axis Ventures consortium to develop Bharat Future City, a net-zero urban ecosystem for global research & development, deep technology, and high-value services.

The Vin group formalised its Rs 27,000 crore pledge to integrated projects, covering next-generation renewable-energy generation, advanced electric-vehicle (EV) infrastructure, and smart urban planning.

The SIDBI Startup Fund of Funds confirmed a Rs 1,000 crore injection of critical seed capital for local ventures.

In renewables and mobility, the single-largest energy deal came from Evren /Axis Energy with a commitment of Rs 31,500 crore.

The MEIL group committed Rs 8,000 crore to a diversified portfolio including solar-power plants, vital pumped storage systems for grid stability, and advanced EV projects.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said on Monday the states target was to contribute 10 per cent to Indias gross domestic product (GDP) by 2047, up from 5 per cent now.

The state is expected to sign deals worth over Rs 3 trillion in the summit, which started on Monday.

Karan Adani, managing director, Adani Ports & SEZ, said his group would invest around Rs 2,500 crore in the state to set up a 48-megawatt green data centre based on artificial intelligence.

We want to become a $1 trillion economy by 2034, and a $3 trillion economy by 2047.

"We comprise around 2.9 per cent of Indias population but contribute around 5 per cent to the countrys gross domestic product (GDP).

"By 2047, I want to contribute 10 per cent of Indias GDP, said Reddy while addressing the summit.

The state governments target of becoming a $3 trillion economy focuses on three pillars  human capital, productivity, and investment.

Our strategy is to make Telangana Indias first and only state to be divided into three clear zones for services, manufacturing, and agriculture.

"We call it the Cure, Pure and Rare model: Core Urban Region Economy (Cure), Peri Urban Region Economy (Pure), Rural Agriculture Region Economy (Rare), he said.

Guangdongs economy is the largest for any province in China. In more than 20 years, they (the province) have achieved the highest investment and growth in the world.

"We want to replicate the same model in Telangana, Reddy added.

After 10 years, we are now trying to become Indias most developed state, and one of the best in the world.

"We asked experts to tell us what we can achieve by 2047.

"This is how the dream of Telangana Rising 2047 was born, he said.

Earlier, Adani said his group had invested around Rs 10,000 crore in the city over the past three years in building state infrastructure and manufacturing facilities, and had contributed to creating more than 7,000 jobs.

The summit is an opportunity for Telangana to express its growth journey, marking a moment where future partnerships can take shape.

The state government is throwing open the Telangana Rising vision for the next 22 years, branding it with the caption: Come, Join the Rise.

According to officials, the event was seen as an opportunity to showcase Bharat Future City to the outside world.
After months of discord, Tata Trusts appear to be moving towards reconciliation, with recent reappointments and open exchanges signalling a return to cooperative governance.

IMAGE: Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata group, right, and Ratan Tata at the opening of the refurbished Bombay House, the Tata group's headquarters, July 29, 2018. Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff

After a period of internal strain, the Tata Trusts may finally be heading towards a truce.

A cordial email exchange between trustees Venu Srinivasan and Mehli Mistry -- representing the opposing camps -- on October 21 hinted at a renewed spirit of collaboration within India's most influential philanthropic body, according to The Hindu BusinessLine newspaper.

Srinivasan, who was recently reappointed to the board, wrote to his fellow trustees thanking them for their confidence and expressing hope for 'harmonious' cooperation.

Mistry, representing the group that had earlier raised concerns, promptly replied: 'It has always been our intention to work harmoniously together... We must bury the past, respect each other and move forward as a team unanimously.'

The e-mail trail, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine on Thursday morning, appears to capture a moment of thaw in a long-running standoff that had divided trustees into two broad camps.

Information Gaps at the Heart of the Rift

The source of tension, according to The Hindu BusinessLine, was not a matter of personal rivalry but of transparency.

Four trustees -- Mehli Mistry, Darius Khambatta, Jehangir HC Jehangir and Pramit Jhaveri -- had objected to former defence secretary Vijay Singh's reappointment to the board of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd (TSPL), citing a lack of information flow from the Trusts' nominees on the company's board.

The dissenting group argued that key board resolutions at TSPL, including the 3.8 billion Euro acquisition of Italian vehicle manufacturer Iveco by Tata Motors and a Rs 1,000 crore funding approval for Tata International Ltd, were not communicated to the Trusts' board as required under Article 121A of TSPL's Articles of Association.

This provision, introduced in 2014, requires certain key actions of the TSPL board to be approved by a majority of the Trusts' nominees. The breakdown of this process, they claimed, eroded trust between the two factions.

Amid Allegations, a Surprising Turn

According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the dispute also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Noel Tata, Chairman of Tata International, Trent, Tata Investment Corporation and Voltas, was among those accused of overlapping roles, given that he also represents the Trusts on the TSPL board.

Supporters of Noel Tata, however, rejected the charge, arguing that not every high-value proposal required approval by the wider board of trustees. They countered that Mehli Mistry himself could face questions over his business dealings with Tata Power while serving as a trustee -- an allegation Mistry's camp denied.

Ironically, The Hindu BusinessLine reports, Mistry was among those who had once proposed Noel Tata for the position of chairman of the Trusts -- a post created to succeed Ratan Tata.

Despite the internal turbulence, Mistry's faction insists their issue lies not with individuals but with the 'lack of transparency' in decision-making.

Consensus on Key Decisions

One area of unity, according to The Hindu BusinessLine, has been the trustees' unanimous opposition to any initial public offering (IPO) of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd. Both groups agree that listing the company would not serve the long-term interests of either the group or the Trusts.

'Why should we bail out the SP Group now?' one trustee was quoted as saying, referring to the financially stressed Shapoorji Pallonji Group.

Trustees argue that TSPL's private status allows it to pursue strategic national interests -- from semiconductors to defence manufacturing -- without pressure for short-term returns from public shareholders.

The two sides also expressed strong support for N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, praising his leadership and strategic expansion into emerging sectors. As The Hindu BusinessLine highlighted, group profits have surged from about Rs 850 crore (Rs 8.5 billion) when Chandra -- as he is known within the group -- took over to roughly Rs 27,000 crore (Rs 270 billion) now.

A Cautious Path to Peace

Recent developments -- including Srinivasan's reappointment and an expected similar move for Mistry -- suggest a gradual rebuilding of trust.

The meeting of senior Tata leaders, including Chandrasekaran, Noel Tata, Venu Srinivasan and Darius Khambatta, with Union Ministers Amit A Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman, was arranged by Chandra himself, according to The Hindu BusinessLine.

While differences over transparency and governance remain, both factions seem aware that prolonged conflict could damage the Trusts' philanthropic mission. 'The last thing they need is a legal battle,' The Hindu BusinessLine quoted a person close to the Trusts as saying.

For now, the exchange of polite emails and shared resolutions offers a glimmer of rapprochement -- a reminder that even in one of India's oldest corporate legacies, dialogue remains the first step towards unity.
Leading jewellery and watchmaker Titan on Monday reported an increase of 59 per cent in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,120 crore for the September quarter of FY26.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

The company posted a net profit of Rs 704 crore in the July-September quarter a year ago, according to a regulatory filing from Titan.

Its sales were up 22.17 per cent to Rs 16,461 crore in the September quarter of FY26. It was Rs 13,473 crore for the corresponding quarter.

Total expenses of Titan increased 26.3 per cent to Rs 17,316 crore in the September quarter.

Titan's total income, which includes other income, was at Rs 18,837 crore, up 28.5 per cent during the September quarter.

During the quarter, Titan's jewellery business increased 29.3 per cent to Rs 16,522 crore.

In the jewellery business, Titan's domestic business, which includes Tanishq, Mia and Zoya, grew 18 per cent to Rs 12,460 crore.

CaratLane's domestic business posted 32 per cent growth, reaching Rs 1,072 crore, over Q2, FY25, respectively.

Its targeted coins promotion offer drove traffic and conversions helping deliver a strong growth for the quarter, it added.

"The domestic business saw strong pick-up in consumer momentum in the festive period during Navratri," Titan said in its earning statement.

Tanishq's attractive gold exchange offer also supported sales despite high gold prices.

"The overall growth was led by ticket size improvements with buyers witnessing marginal decline compared to Q2FY25," it said.

While "international jewellery business nearly doubled to Rs 561 crore in the quarter, demonstrating strong growth momentum in the UAE and North America," it said.

During the quarter, Titan added 34 new stores in India in the jewellery business, of which six were Tanishq, 18 Mia, and 10 stores CaratLane.

It also opened a new store in Virginia, USA, under Tanishq brand.

Similarly, revenue from watches and wearables was up 13.26 per cent to Rs 1,477 crore.

"The analog segment expanded 17 per cent, driven by double-digit volume increases and higher average prices.

"The premiumisation journey is steadily progressing across Titan, Fastrack, and Sonata brands.

"Retail formats saw consistent double-digit same-store sales growth," said Titan.

The division added 15 new storesconsisting of five stores in Titan World, six in Helios, one in Helios Luxe, and three in Fastrack.

Its eyecare segment revenue was up 8.9 per cent at Rs 220 crore.

"Growth was led by sunglasses outperforming other eyewear categories among both house and international brands.

"Division added five 'Runway' stores during the quarter," it said.

Revenue from other segments, which includes its emerging business as fragrance, wallets, Indian dress wear (Taneria), etc, was at Rs 557 crore, up 85 per cent in the September quarter.

"Total income for emerging businesses (Taneira, fragrances, women's bags) grew 34 per cent to Rs 142 crore compared to Q2FY25.

"The combined losses reduced to 24 crore (from 29 crore in the same period last year)," it said.

In the segment, women's bags experienced strong momentum, with 90 per cent growth led by e-commerce.

Fragrances grew 47 per cent, driven by volume expansion across Skinn and Fastrack perfumes.

Its ethnic wear chain Taneira delivered double-digit secondary growth from increased volume and higher same-store sales, the statement said.

Titan is a joint venture between the Tata Group and the Tamilnadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO).

Shares of the company on Monday settled at Rs 3,727.80 a scrip on the BSE, down 0.46 per cent from the previous close.
In what is seen as a U-turn, US President Donald Trump appeared to defend the H-1B visa programme to bring talent from across the world, saying a foreign investor cannot pull people off an unemployment line, who haven't worked in five years, and start making missiles.

Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

"I agree but you also do have to bring in talent," Trump said, responding to a question in an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News on whether the H-1B visa issue will not be a big priority for his administration and if one wants to raise wages for American workers as the country cannot be flooded with hundreds of thousands of foreign workers.

When Ingraham noted that "we have plenty of talent, Trump said, "No, you don't, no, you don't. You don't have certain talents. And people have to learn."

You can't take people off an unemployment line, and say, 'I'm going to put you into a factory, we're going to make missiles'," Trump added.

"In Georgia, they raided because they wanted illegal immigrants.

"They had people from South Korea that made batteries all their lives.

"You know, making batteries (is) very complicated. It's not an easy thing, and very dangerous.

"A lot of explosions, lot of problems, he said.

They had, like 500-600 people, early stages to make batteries and to teach people how to do it.

"Well, they wanted them to get out of the country.

"You're going to need that...I mean, I know you and I disagree on this.

You can't just say a country is coming in, going to invest $10 billion to build a plant and going to take people off an unemployment line who haven't worked in five years, and they're going to start making missiles.

"It doesn't work that way, the President said.

The Trump administration has launched a massive crackdown to check abuse in the H-1B visa programme, which is used by companies, particularly technology companies, to employ foreign workers in the US.

Indian professionals, including technology workers and physicians, are among the largest cohort of H-1B visa holders.

In September this year, Trump issued a Proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers' as an important initial step to reform the H-1B nonimmigrant visa programme.

Under the Proclamation, certain H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, must be accompanied by an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility.

Last week, the Trump administration launched about 175 investigations into H-1B visa abuse, including lapses such as low wages, work sites that didn't exist and the practice of "benching" employees.

"As part of our mission to protect American Jobs, we've launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse, the US Department of Labour had said in a post on X.

It added that under the leadership of President Trump and Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the agency will continue taking action to put American workers first.

Chavez-DeRemer said in a post on X that the Labour Department is using every resource at our disposal to put a stop to H-1B abuse and protect American Jobs.

"Under the leadership of @POTUS, we'll continue to invest in our workforce and ensure high-skilled job opportunities go to American Workers FIRST!
The announcement comes a day after the state government proposed renaming a prominent stretch of road, running alongside the US consulate general, in Hyderabad as Donald Trump Avenue.

IMAGE: Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, left, Telangana Chief Minister Anumula Revanth Reddy and Eric Swider, director, Trump Media & Technology Group, at the Telangana Rising summit at Bharat Future City near Hyderabad. Photograph: Kind courtesy telanganacmo/Instagram

The Trump group, the business empire helmed by American President Donald Trump's family, is set to invest around Rs 1 trillion in Telangana over the next decade, a senior executive announced on Monday.

If realised, it would rank among the family's largest ventures outside the United States.

The announcement comes a day after the state government proposed renaming a prominent stretch of road, running alongside the US consulate general, in Hyderabad as Donald Trump Avenue.

The investment is slated to cover a range of real estate and infrastructure projects across Telangana, with a significant share to be directed towards Bharat Future City, a mega urban centre planned near Meerkhanpet.

Conceived by the Revanth Reddy government, the project spans 765 sq km and incorporates 56 villages between the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar highways.

The project, located roughly two hours from Hyderabad, will be overseen by the Future City Development Authority (FCDA).

Eric Swider, director at the Trump Media & Technology Group, made the announcement at the Telangana Rising summit at Bharat Future City.

"I would like the honourable chief minister to know that over the next 10 years, it is my intention to deploy through our organisations up to Rs 1 trillion into the future city and into the areas of development here,' Swider said.

"India will continue to be on the rise and will lead the world in technology," Swider said.

"I think it is important that we find ways to work together and invest together. We have seen technologies here that I am very excited to invest in," he added.

The Trump brand is already a familiar presence in India through its Trump Towers developments, a series of luxury real estate projects built on a brand-licensing model rather than direct capital infusion.

There are currently four such properties in Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram and Kolkata.

"Capital will flow like water to the easiest place it can find a flow to," Swider said.

"When you are looking to make other investments, the chief minister made it absolutely clear that our capital will be welcomed here. This is a place on the rise."

Reflecting on India's rapid transformation in the global technology industry, Swider said: "If you go back 20 years, India from the technology space was about call centres.

"Now, you start looking at who is working in technology companies around the world, you understand that the talent is coming from India.

"Now, forward to today, you would be blind not to see that the technology capitals around the world are coming from India. India is on the rise."

Among the projects expected to take shape within Bharat Future City is a proposed 'world-class film city' backed by Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn.

Reports have also suggested the Reliance Foundation's conservation initiative, Vantara, is considering an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in the vicinity.

Several hotel projects, together worth an estimated Rs 3,000 crore, are also understood to be planned for the emerging urban hub.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order retroactively lowering tariffs on a range of agricultural imports, including beef, tomatoes, coffee and bananas, with the change taking effect from November 20, CNN reported.

Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters

The order removes these goods from the "reciprocal" tariff system, which applies rates between 10 per cent and 50 per cent.

However, it doesn't eliminate tariffs altogether. For example, tomatoes imported from Mexico -- a major supplier for the US -- will still face a 17 per cent tariff.

That rate has been in place since July, after a nearly 30-year-old trade deal expired, and tomato prices jumped soon after, as per CNN.

For instance, tomatoes from Mexico, a major supplier to the United States, will continue to attract 17 per cent tariff.

That rate took effect in July after a nearly three-decade-old trade agreement expired.

Tomato prices increased almost immediately after those tariffs were put in place.

Many of the products now excluded from the higher reciprocal tariffs have seen steep price increases during Trump's time in office, driven partly by his own tariff policies and by limited domestic supply, according to CNN.

Coffee is one of the most striking examples: Brazil, the largest coffee exporter to the US, has been hit with a 50 per cent tariff since August.

As a result, American consumers paid nearly 20 per cent more for coffee in September compared to the previous year, according to Consumer Price Index data.

Trump's move comes as voters signal growing frustration over the economy.

Exit polls from this month's off-year elections showed economic concerns pushing voters in several states toward Democratic candidates.

In previewing Friday's executive order, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this week the moves targeted goods "we don't grow here in the United States," referring to coffee and bananas.

While coffee is grown in some parts of the country, it's mostly imported.

Earlier on Friday, the Trump administration and the Swiss government announced a new trade framework that calls for lowering tariffs on goods from Switzerland to 15 per cent from 39 per cent, a rate that was among the highest across all countries the US trades with.
WELLINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Kiribati have strengthened their Pacific partnership with the signing of a new Statement of Partnership, according to a New Zealand government release on Monday.

The Statement of Partnership formalizes the strong and long-established cooperation New Zealand and Kiribati enjoy, including in health, labor mobility and security.

The partnership includes a further commitment by New Zealand towards the prevention of non-communicable diseases and support for maternal and child health in the atoll nation, it said.

The two sides also agreed to expand Kiribati's participation in New Zealand's Recognized Seasonal Employer scheme, and increase funding to address water security in Kiribati through the Pacific Partnership for Atoll Water Security. 
The US is 'pretty close' to reaching a 'fair trade deal' with India, President Donald Trump has said, adding that he will lower the tariffs imposed on Indian goods at 'some point'.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

This is the second time in less than two weeks that the US president held out hope to seal the proposed bilateral trade deal with India.

It is not immediately clear whether it was Trump's usual hyperbole or there was some progress in the negotiations for the much-awaited deal between the two sides.

"We're making a deal with India, a much different deal than we had in the past.

"So right now, they don't love me, but they'll love us again," Trump said on Monday without elaborating.

He made the remarks during a ceremony in the Oval Office where Sergio Gor was sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by Vice President J D Vance.

"We're getting a fair deal, just a fair trade deal. We had pretty unfair trade deals.

"They're very good negotiators, Sergio, so you have to take a look at that, if you would please," Trump said.

"But we're getting close. Scott, I think we're pretty close to doing a deal that's good for everybody," Trump said to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was present at the ceremony.

"That's right," Bessent responded to Trump.

"In the old days, do you think (former US President Joe) Biden would ask that question?

"I don't think so. 'How are we doing with India?' He didn't know about India.

"He didn't know a damn thing. That's okay, Trump said.

Trump was asked about the trade deal with India and whether he is willing to consider lowering the current tariff rate imposed on India.

"Well, right now the tariffs are very high on India because of the Russian oil, and they've stopped doing the Russian oil.

"It's been reduced very substantially. Yeah, we're going to be bringing the tariffs down," Trump said.

"At some point, no, at some point, we're going to be bringing them down. Without tariffs, this country would be in such trouble as they were for many years."

Relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe stress after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent for New Delhi's procurement of Russian oil.

India had described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" while maintaining that its energy policy is guided by its own national interest.

Five rounds of talks have been completed so far for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement between the US and India.

Last month, an official had said in New Delhi that the two countries are "very near" to concluding the proposed bilateral trade agreement, as both sides are converging on most of the issues.

The official had said that the two countries are sorting out the language of the agreement.

In his remarks, Trump said that Gor is going to have "great success" in New Delhi, as he described the bilateral relationship between India and the US as very important.

Trump said India has the fastest-growing middle class and is an important economic and strategic security partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

"It's an amazing country, actually, 1.5 billion people. China has 1.4 billion. Those are two big countries.

"As Ambassador, Sergio will work to fortify our country's bonds, promote investments in key US industries and technologies, increase American energy exports and expand our security cooperation," Trump said.
Prices of televisions are expected to rise by 3-4 per cent from January next year on account of the rising cost of memory chips and depreciation of the rupee, which recently crossed the 90-to-a-dollar mark for the first time.

Photograph: Kind courtesy StockSnap/pixabay.com

The falling rupee has put the industry in a precarious position, as the domestic value addition in an LED TV is around 30 per cent only, and major components like the open cell, semiconductor chips and motherboard, are imported.

Moreover, this is coupled with the memory chip crisis, where a severe global shortage is driven by massive demand for High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for AI servers, causing prices for all memory types (DRAM, flash) to surge.

Chipmakers are focusing on high-profit AI chips, tightening supply for legacy devices like TVs.

Haier Appliances India President NS Satish told PTI that prices of LED TV sets will increase by 3 per cent because of shortage of memory chips and weak rupee.

Some TV manufacturers have already communicated to their dealers about the expected hike in prices.

Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL), a TV manufacturing company having licences of several global brands including Thomson, Kodak, and Blaupunkt, said: Memory chip prices have gone up by 500 per cent in the last three months .

According to its CEO Avneet Singh Marwah, there could be 7-10 per cent price hike in televisions from January, predominantly due to memory chip crisis and the impact of depreciating rupee.

He also warned that if memory chip prices in the next two quarters remain the same, then there could be further hike in TV prices."

According to experts, this upcoming hike may mitigate the boost received on sales of smart TVs, after the rationalisation of GST.

The government has slashed GST on TV screens of 32 inches and larger sizes to 18 per cent from the previous 28 per cent, reducing price by around Rs 4,500.

Similarly, Videotex, a homegrown ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) for several brands, and which has its own brand Daiwa, said it is also facing sustained pressure due to sharp increase in memory chip prices, with availability emerging as a critical challenge.

We are currently facing sustained pressure due to sharp increase in memory chip prices, with availability emerging as a critical challenge.

"Flash memory and DDR4 prices at the sourcing level have risen by up to 1,000 per cent, driven largely by supply being diverted to AI data centres, said Arjun Bajaj, Director of Videotex.

This pressure is anticipated to continue until at least Q2 of the coming year, after which some stability may return depending on global memory chip supply dynamics.

The situation is further exacerbated by the depreciation of the rupee, which has significantly increased import costs.

"These increases will be reflected in the market in the coming weeks as older inventory moves out, said Bajaj.

Though Videotex is adjusting production schedules and optimising inventories to manage the impact, the prolonged nature of this cycle makes it challenging to fully absorb the cost escalation.

Videotex manufactures smart TVs for Reliance Group (BPL & Reconnect), Havells (Lloyd), Vijay Sales (Vise), Hyundai, Toshiba, Compaq, Daiwa and over 25+ other prominent Indian and international brands.

According to the latest report from Counterpoint Research, India's smart TV shipments decreased 4 per cent YoY in Q2 2025.

The slowdown was driven by saturation in the smaller-screen segment, limited new demand catalysts, and weaker consumer spending.

India's TV market was valued at USD 10-12 billion in 2024 and is projected for strong growth, driven by smart TVs, increased disposable income, and demand for larger screens and OTT content.
Buoyed by the robustness in rural job market on account of rabi sowing, Indias monthly unemployment rate fell to an eight-month low of 4.7 per cent in November, the latest periodic labour force survey (PLFS) monthly bulletin released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Monday showed.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

Data by the NSO pegged the unemployment rate in November for the 15 years and above category in current weekly status (CWS) terms in rural areas at 3.9 per cent. It was down from 4.4 per cent in the preceding month.

For urban areas, the jobless rate fell to 6.5 per cent from 7 per cent during the same period.

In CWS, the activity status is determined by the reference period over the past seven days preceding the date of the survey.

Under this, a person is considered unemployed in a week if he did not work even for one hour on any day during the reference week but sought or was available for work at least for one hour on any day during the reference week.

The data further showed that the unemployment rate among men and women fell to 4.6 per cent and 4.8 per cent from 5.1 per cent and 5.4 per cent, respectively, during the month.

This is the lowest monthly unemployment rate recorded by the PLFS, since the start of the bulletin by NSO in April 2025.

Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate (LFPR)  which is a measure of the number of people either working or looking for work  rose slightly to 55.8 per cent in November from 55.4 per cent in October.

In rural areas, the figure rose to 58.6 per cent from 57.8 per cent, while in urban areas it fell marginally to 50.4 per cent from 50.5

per cent.

Rural female LFPR continued its steady upward trend, increasing from 35.2 per cent in June 2025 to 39.7 per cent in November 2025.

"Urban female LFPR remained broadly stable at around 25.5 per cent, said an NSO in a statement.

The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), which reflects the share of people actually employed among those looking for work, rose to 53.2 per cent in November from 52.5 per cent in October.

The trends suggest strengthening labour market conditions, supported by gains in rural employment, rising female participation, and a gradual recovery in urban labour demand, said the NSO in a statement.

The sampling methodology of PLFS has been revamped by the NSO from January 2025 in a bid to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators on a monthly basis for rural and urban areas in the CWS method.
The rate of unemployment for those aged 15 and above remained steady at 5.2 per cent in October, according to a government survey released on Monday.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The unemployment rate (UR) was 5.2 per cent in September, 5.1 per cent in August, 5.2 per cent in July and 5.6 per cent in May and June, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

The UR was 5.1 per cent in April as per the first PLFS bulletin released in May 2025.

"The UR among persons of age 15 years and above remained unchanged at 5.2 per cent between September, 2025 and October, 2025," an official statement said.

According to the statement, a marginal decline in the rural unemployment rate, from 4.6 per cent in September 2025 to 4.4 per cent in October 2025, coupled with a moderate rise in urban UR from 6.8 per cent to 7.0 per cent, resulted in overall stability in the pace of joblessness among persons aged 15 years and above.

It stated that UR among females aged 15 years and above declined to 5.4 per cent in October 2025 from 5.5 per cent observed during September 2025.

The drop in UR among rural female, from 4.3 per cent in September 2025 to 4.0 per cent in October 2025, mainly contributed towards the decline in overall female joblessness rate.

Among males, the rate of unemployment remained stable at 5.1 per cent in October 2025 as compared to previous month.

A minor decrease in rural male UR, from 4.7 per cent in September 2025 to 4.6 per cent in October 2025, was offset by a slight uptick in urban male UR from 6.0 per cent to 6.1 per cent during the same period, which contributed to overall stability.

The overall Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in October 2025 was 52.5 per cent, which is consistently rising since June 2025, it stated.

Rise in the female workforce in rural areas has brought about this increase.

Overall WPR among females of 15 years and older increased steadily for the fourth month in a row, rising from 30.2 per cent in June 2025 to 32.4 per cent in October 2025, it stated.

The female workforce in rural areas has increased consistently for four months, reaching 36.9 per cent in October 2025 from 33.6 per cent in June 2025.

The overall LFPR (labour force participation rate) among persons of age 15 years and above continued to increase for the four successive months to 55.4 per cent in October 2025 from 54.2 per cent recorded in June 2025.

LFPR in rural areas also increased steadily from 56.1 per cent observed in June 2025 to 57.8 per cent in October 2025.

Overall LFPR reached a six-month high of 55.4 per cent in October 2025, it stated.

The overall LFPR among female aged 15 years and above reached 34.2 per cent in October 2025, marking the highest since May 2025, driven by the increase in female LFPR in rural areas.

Overall female LFPR showed an increasing trend from 32.0 per cent in June 2025 to 34.2 per cent in October 2025.

At the all-India level, monthly estimates are based on information collected from a total number of 3,74,164 persons surveyed.

The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) defines the proportion of those who are employed among the total population.

Considering the need for high-frequency labour force indicators with enhanced coverage, the sampling methodology of PLFS has been revamped since January.

The monthly bulletins for the period from April to September 2025 have already been released.

The latest bulletin for October 2025 is the seventh in the series.
'When you think of cross-border payments, the first things that come to mind are risk, compliance, taxation, speed, and cost.'

Kindly note that this illustration generated using ChatGPT has only been posted for representational purposes.

Addressing cross-border payment challenges -- such as prioritising key transaction corridors, meeting compliance requirements in those markets, and developing strong alternatives to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) -- will be critical for Indian financial technology (fintech) companies seeking to scale globally, executives said at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit 2025.

The push by Indian fintechs to expand internationally comes amid thin payment margins in the domestic market, where most digital transactions are dominated by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India's real-time payments system.

Executives said the confidence to scale payments businesses globally stems from a more mature technology stack among Indian players, with the flexibility to adapt to local rules, data localisation requirements, and compliance norms in each market.

Achieving meaningful scale in cross-border payments, however, will require overcoming challenges around risk, compliance, taxation, speed, and cost, they added.

They were speaking with Ajinkya Kawale/Business Standard during a panel discussion titled 'Post-UPI, Indian Payment Players Look to Foreign Shores'.

"Very often, we compare and say there is more money to be made overseas. We're used to very thin margins thanks to our large population. Anything higher than that [domestic payment margins] seems very appealing to us," said Arif Khan, chief innovation officer, Razorpay.

The sharper focus on markets such as Southeast Asia, Asia-Pacific, and the US comes at a time when fintechs are targeting profitability while also looking to deepen their global presence.

With UPI currently merchant discount rate-free in India and its growth supported by government incentives, the platform's international expansion has gained momentum.

There are now more than 450 million UPI users in the country.

"In the Indian market, with UPI at almost no cost, monetisation is difficult because there's still a cost of innovation and compliance. At the same time, everyone needs profitability. So, one looks for opportunities where you can monetise and make money," said Harsh Gupta, chief revenue officer, Cashfree Payments.

Still, Indian fintechs' penetration in cross-border transactions remains limited, even as firms enhance services and lower costs for customers.

"There are opportunities to reduce costs depending on how a business grows -- through better deals with banks, payment partners, and others.

"Cross-border payments are growing. But in India, less than 5 per cent of these are handled by fintechs -- one of the lowest figures globally," said Sanjay Tripathy, cofounder and chief executive officer, BriskPe.

Executives agreed that stablecoins, despite their global popularity, are unlikely to see large-scale adoption in India soon due to compliance concerns.

"Few countries like us have taken such a lead in deploying the central bank digital currency (CBDC) model.

"The way trade happens through CBDCs, the flows have to align.

"Stablecoins are becoming popular, but for trade, I don't see adoption," said Rahul Jain, chief financial officer, NTT Data Payment Services.

Instead, the presence of CBDCs is expected to enable targeted initiatives such as direct benefit transfers.

"CBDCs are more of a tool to reach the poor and Tier-III citizens of our country.

"But the underlying distributed architecture in a world where everything is centralised -- that's going to be a challenge," said Khan of Razorpay.

Meanwhile, he added that while SWIFT was "a great solution", it remained a standard "not set by us" and was expensive.

"The banks love it because there's a passback that comes to them through that system.

"From a fintech point of view, there's no passback for us. SWIFT is a big challenge," he said.

Gupta noted that the cost of moving funds still varies widely across jurisdictions.

"When you think of cross-border payments, the first things that come to mind are risk, compliance, taxation, speed, and cost.

"Today, the cost of moving funds is inconsistent across countries unless there are well-defined trade agreements and clear regulations," he said.

Tripathy added that compliance continues to be a major hurdle across markets.

"The primary thing that needs to happen is compliance.

"Everyone struggles because compliance requirements vary across countries, instruments, and players," he said.

Meanwhile, Jain outlined plans to enable UPI payments for Indian travellers in Japan after NTT Data Payment Services signed a memorandum of understanding with NPCI International Payments, the overseas arm of the National Payments Corporation of India.

"A lot of new-age apps like PayPay or Docomo Pay -- we're trying to engage them through incentive programmes to boost QR penetration.

"But when you look at large merchants, integrations there are very different from what we have in India," he said.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
A US bankruptcy court has reversed a $1 billion damages ruling against Byju Raveendran, according to a statement from the founders of Think and Learn Pvt Ltd - the parent firm of ed-tech platform Byju's.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The Delaware Court had in a default ruling last month ordered Raveendran to pay more than $1 billion, saying the former corporate star who set up the eponymous Indian edtech and tutoring company, had refused to cooperate with legal efforts to locate almost half the proceeds from a $1.2 billion US term loan made in 2021.

He, however, contested the grounds saying the court did not give him the 30 days he had sought to arrange for a US attorney to argue his case.

He vowed to appeal against the order.

"The Delaware Court has reversed the $1 billion Judgement against Byju Raveendran, in view of fresh submissions made by Byju Raveendran through a motion to correct the Judgement of 20 November 2025.

"The court agreed that damages had not been determined and ordered a new phase to commence in early January 2026 to determine any damages related to claims against Byju Raveendran," the statement said.

Earlier this year, Byju's creditors including GLAS Trust sued and accused Raveendran, along with his co-founder wife Divya Gokulnath and another accomplice Anita Kishore of "masterminding the theft" of $533 million in loan proceeds.

The founders had previously called the allegations "completely baseless and untrue" and that the entire loan proceeds were ploughed back into Think and Learn Pvt Ltd (TLPL), which used it to pay for the $3 billion acquisitions it did that year.

"GLAS Trust and the lenders withheld or misrepresented information, misleading courts and the public, and contributing to the collapse of the business, the loss of roughly 85,000 jobs, impacting 250 million students, and the destruction of tens of billions in enterprise value," the statement on Wednesday said.

Raveendran is considering further action against GLAS Trust and others for that conduct, it said without elaborating.

He had previously said he would sue GLAS Trust for $2.5 billion.

His litigation advisor Michael McNutt said, "Byju Raveendran today has not been found liable to pay a single dollar in damages to the Plaintiffs (GLAS Trust Co LLC)."

"During the damages proceedings starting January 2026, we intend to demonstrate to the Court that not only have the Plaintiffs suffered no damage whatsoever due to actions of Byju Raveendran, but also that the Plaintiffs have intentionally misled the court in this proceeding and other adversary proceedings.

"We also intend to demonstrate that these Plaintiffs have sought to mislead courts in India and elsewhere to gain advantage in those court proceedings by harassing and damaging Byju Raveendran, Divya Gokulnath, and Riju Ravindran," he said.

Stating that the defendants reserve the right to seek sanctions against GLAS Trust's counsel for their conduct in these proceedings, he said, "We will seek the necessary remedy in the Delaware Courts and through the $2.5 billion lawsuit that we intend to file prior to the end of the year."

The statement said Raveendran will submit "clinching evidence" before the US Courts, proving that GLAS Trust and the Resolution Professional (now managing Byju's) repeatedly misled the Delaware Court, Indian and other Courts, and the public by falsely alleging that $533 million (Alpha Funds) was diverted by the founders for their personal benefit.

"GLAS Trust's sworn statements that it "does not know" where the money went are simply false.

"A review of information in the possession of GLAS Trust since at least April 2025 clearly demonstrates that the monies lent to Alpha (and sent by OCI to companies owned by Byju Raveendran) were indeed invested in Think & Learn in compliance with all relevant Indian laws and not iphoned off' to the founders," it said.

The evidence obtained by GLAS Trust's own lawyers in other adversarial proceedings and later obtained by Raveendran and his counsel clearly demonstrates that GLAS Trust and Shailendra Ajmera - the Resolution Professional of TLPL - had full visibility into the use of the funds from the Alpha Loan guaranteed by TLPL, it said.

"In addition, the financial records of TLPL available publicly verify that Byju Raveendran and entities controlled by him invested in excess of $475 million by purchasing shares in TLPL in the same period," it said.

"This evidence will be submitted as part of a full appeal against the entire amended judgment of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court of December 8, 2025, and as part of the claim to be filed against relevant parties previously announced with a value of over $2.5 billion.

"Byju Raveendran will also share the same evidence with the Indian Courts in the coming weeks."
A US court's $1.07-billion default judgment against Byju Raveendran can't be enforced directly in India because the US isn't a "reciprocating territory." Creditors must file a new case in an Indian court.

IMAGE: Byju Raveendran. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Byju's

A $1.07 billion default judgment against Byju Raveendran by a Delaware bankruptcy court faces significant legal obstacles before it can be enforced in India, according to legal experts, highlighting the complexities of cross-border debt recovery and the limits of US court jurisdiction over foreign nationals.

The ruling, issued November 20 after the edtech entrepreneur failed to comply with discovery orders, represents one of the largest personal liability judgments against an Indian startup founder but may carry little immediate practical weight in his home country.

The judgment against Raveendran, founder of Think and Learn Private Limited (TLPL), parent company of troubled edtech firm Byju's, came after Byju's Alpha and US lender GLAS Trust Company LLC sought repayment of funds they allege were improperly diverted.

The court found Raveendran had been evasive on multiple occasions and awarded $533 million on one count and $540.6 million on three others, while also ordering a full accounting of the disputed Alpha funds.

Byju's Alpha was incorporated in Delaware in 2021 as a special-purpose vehicle for a $1.2 billion term loan.

Lenders later took control and alleged $533 million was "roundtripped" to Raveendran and his affiliates -- a claim the founders reject.

Why can't a US default judgment be enforced directly in India?

Yet enforcing that judgment in India will require GLAS Trust to navigate a legal framework that offers no shortcuts for US court decisions.

India doesn't recognise the United States as a reciprocating territory under its civil procedure code, meaning the Delaware ruling cannot be executed directly.

Instead, creditors must file a fresh civil suit in Indian courts, where the foreign judgment serves as evidence rather than a binding order.

Legal sources in India close to the founders said the judgment's vulnerabilities are compounded by its nature as a default decree.

"The US default judgment against Mr. Raveendran, rendered without a trial on merits and getting appealed, has no automatic enforceability in India. Indian law requires a fresh civil suit for any foreign decree from a non-reciprocating country like the United States, and our courts have consistently held that such default judgments are not conclusive," the sources told Business Standard.

"The Indian legal system guarantees every individual the right to a full defence and fair trial and any attempt to enforce this judgment here would face serious legal and constitutional scrutiny."

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

How do Indian courts evaluate foreign judgments under Section 13?

Indian courts apply strict tests under Section 13 of the Civil Procedure Code before recognising foreign judgments, and can refuse recognition if the judgment wasn't rendered on merits or violated natural justice principles.

"It is important to note that this judgment was delivered by the lowermost court in the US and remains subject to appeal and a proper trial based on evidence and cross-examination," the sources added. "Further, this order has no bearing whatsoever on the ongoing proceedings in India."

Salman Waris, managing partner at tech law firm TechLegis Advocates & Solicitors, said enforcing the Delaware judgment is challenging because US rulings have no automatic force in India.

"Indian courts treat US judgments as foreign decrees, and the success rate for recognition remains low -- often just 20 per cent to 30 per cent," Waris said.

He noted GLAS would have to file a fresh execution suit in an Indian court using the apostilled US judgment as evidence before targeting Raveendran's domestic assets.

Can GLAS still pursue enforcement through Indian courts?

While acknowledging the procedural hurdles for enforcement prospects, Sonam Chandwani, managing partner at KS Legal & Associates, said the specific circumstances of the Delaware ruling could influence how Indian courts approach recognition.

"The enforcement of a Delaware money judgment against an Indian national is neither automatic nor straightforward, but it is legally feasible through established recognition and execution proceedings in India," Chandwani said.

"GLAS Trust would be required to approach an Indian court and seek recognition of the US decree, where Raveendran may raise objections limited to jurisdiction, due process, and compliance with Section 13 of the CPC. However, where the record reflects that he had notice, representation, and repeated opportunities to comply, Indian courts are less inclined to treat the judgment as a mere ex parte decree and more likely to view it as a consequence of wilful non-cooperation."

Chandwani noted that if the judgment is recognised, GLAS could proceed to attach Raveendran's Indian assets, including personal properties and equity interests.

"Although the process will be protracted and contested, a Delaware judgment grounded in contempt and discovery obstruction carries substantial persuasive weight, and Indian courts may order interim protection if there is evidence of dissipation or concealment of assets," she said.

What legal recourse does Raveendran have in the US?

Raveendran's legal team has announced plans to appeal in a higher court, arguing he was denied the right to present a defence. His senior litigation advisor, J Michael McNutt of Lazareff Le Bars Eurl, said the court "ignored relevant facts" and that "Byju Raveendran must be allowed to present a defence and has been denied the right to do so by expediting the trial."

The distinction between a default judgment and one rendered after trial becomes critical in any appeal.

Chandwani said a default judgment imposed as a sanction for sustained discovery violations and contempt stands on a markedly different footing from a judgment rendered after trial, as the court effectively concludes that the defendant's conduct has frustrated the adjudicatory process and thereby forfeited his right to contest the claims."

"Appellate review of such sanctions is highly deferential, and Raveendran's prospects of reversal are limited unless he can demonstrate that non-compliance stemmed from genuine impossibility rather than deliberate refusal."

McNutt said Raveendran's team plans to file counter-claims seeking at least $2.5 billion in damages before year-end.

"GLAS Trust controls Think & Learn Private Limited and the Resolution Professional of TLPL should be confronted and held responsible to explain the use of these funds," he said.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
An American lawmaker will be introducing a bill to completely eliminate the H-1B visa programme and take away the pathway to citizenship that it offers, forcing individuals to "return home when their visa expires.

Illustration: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

My dear fellow Americans, I'm introducing a bill to completely eliminate the H-1B visa programme, which has been riddled with fraud and abuse and has been displacing American workers for decades, Congresswoman from Gerogia, Marjorie Taylor Greene said in a video posted on X on Thursday.

She said that there will only be one exemption in her bill, which will allow for a 10,000 per year cap on visas issued to medical professionals like doctors and nurses who provide life-saving care to Americans.

Greene however noted that even this 10,000 per year cap will be phased out over 10 years to allow us time to build our own pipeline of American doctors and physicians.

Greene added that her bill will also take away the pathway to citizenship, forcing visa holders to return home when their visa expires.

She further said that the intention of her bill is to restore the original intent of the H-1B visa, which was for it to be temporary.

These visas were intended to fulfill a specialty occupational need at a given time.

"People should not be allowed to come and live here forever.

"We thank them for their expertise, but we also wish them well so they may return to their home country, she said.

Now this will completely end the H-1B visa programme and all other sectors in the job force and in the workforce.

"This is America first.

"It's time to put American citizens first instead of foreigners first, and this has been an abuse for far too long.

"Americans deserve a future. They deserve a chance.

"And I believe Americans are the most talented people in the world, the most creative, and I want them to have their American dream, she said.

In order to build the country's pipeline of American doctors and medical professionals, Greene said that her bill will prohibit Medicare-funded residency programmes from admitting non-citizen medical students into their programmes.

She noted that last year alone, there were over 9000 doctors in the US who graduated from medical school but were left without a residency placement.

Meanwhile, in 2023 alone, there were over 5000 foreign-born doctors who received residency spots, she said.

This is entirely unfair, and it's America last. My bill will help mitigate the shortage of doctors and nurses in our country, the shortage that we face while at the same time serve as an off-ramp from our reliance on foreign workers by allowing us time to fill our residency programmes with American doctors, she said.

There is a congressionally mandated cap of 65,000 regular H-1B visas and another 20,000 for US advanced degree holders that are issued per year.

US businesses use the H-1B programme to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.

The Trump administration has launched a massive crackdown to check abuse in the H-1B visa programme which is used by companies, particularly technology companies, to employ foreign workers in the US.

Indian professionals, including technology workers and physicians, are among the largest cohort of H-1B visa holders.

Companies can apply for permanent residency for their H-1B employees, who can apply for US citizenship five years after receiving their Green Cards.

In September this year, President Donald Trump issued a Proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers' as an important initial step to reform the H-1B nonimmigrant visa programme.

Under the Proclamation, certain H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025 must be accompanied by an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility.
India's decision to import LPG from the US helps it to diversify sources as it reduces almost full reliance on West Asian countries for supply of the country's primary cooking fuel.

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters

India's 2.2 million tonnes (mt) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) term deal with the United States (US) is likely to insulate the country amid geopolitical disruptions in global energy markets, according to an expert.

From 2026, Indian State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) would import 10 per cent of the country's total LPG imports from the US.

Indian companies did not have a term deal for LPG imports with the US until now.

India, which is 60 per cent import dependent for domestic LPG requirements, secures around 90 per cent of its LPG imports from West Asian countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

India's decision to import LPG from the US helps it to diversify sources as it reduces almost full reliance on West Asian countries for supply of the country's primary cooking fuel.

"US is a major natural gas liquids producer. Importing LPG from the US is in line with the ongoing trade negotiations and helps India in diversifying sources amid geopolitical tensions globally," said Prashant Vasisht, senior V-P & co-group head, corporate ratings, Icra.

India has been exposed to LPG supply disruptions earlier in the year when the conflict between Iran and Israel in June posed serious threat to the closure of Strait of Hormuz, a narrow strategic trade route through which the Middle East countries ship energy to Asian markets.

India's Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said the LPG contract will help in strengthening India's energy security while ensuring affordable access to clean cooking fuel for millions of households.

Without disclosing the pricing of the deal, the minister said the contract uses Mount Belvieu, a major pricing hub for LPG in the US, as the benchmark for LPG purchases.

According to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, India imported around 36 per cent of LPG from UAE, 21 per cent from Qatar, 16 per cent from Kuwait and 6 per cent from the US in 2025 so far.

Share of the US in India's LPG imports has ranged between 0.5-2 per cent in the last three years.

Experts believe US LPG would be costlier for India on account of longer freight route.

"Indian majors will be paying more for US-origin LPG barrels than if they were to contract those volumes from the Middle East next year," said Ciaran Tyler, lead research analyst, natural gas liquids (NGLs) & naphtha at Kpler.

It takes around 45 days for shipments to reach India from the US, against an average of 7-8 days from the Middle East.

The recent decline in LPG prices and cost negotiations with the US, however, may help Indian companies to limit the impact of costlier freight.

"International LPG prices have dipped since April this year. Saudi CP (contract prices) have reduced significantly while crude oil prices are also likely to sustain around $60-$65 per barrel. This gives India the bandwidth to increase LPG imports from the US.

"Freight costs would definitely be higher but the US may offer finer prices to India to partially offset the impact," said Vasisht.

International price of LPG is linked to crude oil and natural gas prices as it is produced during refining of the fuels.

In October, Saudi Aramco reduced benchmark Saudi contract prices to the lowest since August 2023 for propane and butane to $495 and $475 a tonne, respectively.

Energy: A focal point in trade negotiations

As India and the US negotiate a bilateral trade deal (BTA), the energy sector is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the deal.

Earlier in the month, US President Donald Trump said the countries were "pretty close" to reaching a fair trade deal and Washington may relook at the tariff imposed on New Delhi.

In August, the US administration slapped a 25 per cent penalty on India, bringing the total tariff to 50 per cent, for purchasing energy from Russia.

Besides ramping up LPG imports, India has been increasing crude oil supplies from the US in 2025.

Indian refiners in October imported the highest level of crude oil from the US since March 2021 as Trump pushes New Delhi to reduce trade surplus with Washington.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'What we are willing to do is definitely going to depend on what the Indian government wants to do.'

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur, October 27, 2025. Photograph: SJaishankar/X

The United States is reluctant to grant India a tariff advantage by lowering the current 25 per cent 'reciprocal tariff' under a proposed trade deal to below the levels applied to regional competitors such as Pakistan (19 per cent), Bangladesh (20 per cent) and Indonesia (19 per cent), given India's current market liberalisation offer.

"We are dealing with each country on its own terms. What we are willing to do is definitely going to depend on what the Indian government wants to do. Can India provide zero tariff on all American products? Do you realistically think that's going to happen? It will be great but I don't think that will happen," a US official said, requesting anonymity.

New Delhi's reluctance to open up its dairy and agricultural markets has been a key stumbling block in trade talks, while Washington has been pushing for market access in soybean, corn and dairy products.

India is seeking a 15 per cent tariff under a trade deal with the US, looking to make its labour-intensive exports more competitive in the US compared with its Asian peers. The issue remains a major point of contention in efforts to conclude a trade deal by November.

Indian negotiators, led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, were in Washington to resolve the remaining differences.

Indonesia, which agreed to reduce tariffs from 32 per cent to 19 per cent under a deal with the US, eliminated barriers on more than 99 per cent of American exports across all sectors, including agricultural goods, health products, seafood, information and communications technology, automotive products and chemicals.

The White House said in July the agreement would 'create commercially meaningful market access opportunities for the full range of US exports, supporting high-quality American jobs'.

Last week, US President Donald Trump claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him New Delhi would gradually stop purchasing Russian oil. The ministry of external affairs responded that the country's energy import policies are guided entirely by the interests of Indian consumers, without explicitly denying Trump's statement. Later, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that the two leaders had not held a phone conversation, as Trump had suggested.

In August, the US imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and an additional 25 per cent duty on India over its purchase of Russian oil, bringing the cumulative tariff to 50 per cent. Washington has made assurances from India to halt Russian oil purchases a precondition for concluding the proposed trade deal.

Agrawal said India was seeking a 'win-win solution' for both sides in the talks, including on tariffs, with New Delhi also keen to almost double its current energy imports from the US, which stand at around $12 billion to $13 billion.

In September -- the first full month in which Indian goods faced Washington's 50 per cent tariff on most products -- exports to the US fell 20.3 per cent to $5.5 billion, marking the fourth consecutive monthly decline.
This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows the logo of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is set to open on Monday evening in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, calling for constructive dialogue in a complex global landscape.

A series of publications released by the WEF in the lead-up to the meeting indicated rising risks and downward pressure on the global economy in an increasingly contested and fragmented world.

The latest Chief Economists' Outlook pointed out that while the global economic outlook has improved modestly, uncertainty remains. Factors such as shifting asset valuations, rising debt, geoeconomic realignment and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence are expected to continue impacting the world economy.

Under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," the five-day event has drawn nearly 3,000 leaders and experts worldwide to discuss five pressing global challenges, including enhancing cooperation, unlocking new sources of growth and deploying innovation at scale and responsibly.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, WEF President and CEO Borge Brende underscored the critical role of dialogue in today's world.

"In the World Economic Forum's view, dialogue is not a luxury; it is a necessity," he said. 

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows a view of the town of Davos, in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows a view of the town of Davos, in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows a view of the town of Davos, in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Participants walk into Davos Kurpark Village prior to the opening of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2026. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows a view of the town of Davos, in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A participant walks past the logo of the World Economic Forum prior to the opening of its annual meeting, in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2026. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows the logo of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows a view of the town of Davos, in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Participants walk past the logo of the World Economic Forum prior to the opening of its annual meeting, in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2026. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

This photo taken on Jan. 18, 2026 shows a view of the town of Davos, in Davos, Switzerland. The 2026 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will be held in Davos from Jan. 19 to 23. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
US sanctions against two of Russia's largest oil companies are expected to impact Reliance Industries' crude imports from Russia, while state-run refiners may continue purchases through intermediary traders for now.

Photograph: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters

Industry sources said public-sector units are assessing compliance risks but are unlikely to halt Russian crude flows immediately as they buy almost all of their needs from traders, mostly European (who are out of the sanctions net).

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd - India's largest buyer of Russian crude, accounting for roughly half of the country's 1.7 million barrels per day of imports from Moscow - may however have to recalibrate its imports as it buys crude oil directly from Russia's Rosneft, they said.

Reliance had in December 2024 signed a term deal with Russia's Rosneft - now sanctioned - to import as much as 500,000 barrels per day of Russian oil for 25 years.

It also buys oil from intermediaries.

The company did not immediately respond to an email sent for comments.

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed further sanctions on Open Joint Stock Company Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft) and Lukoil OAO (Lukoil) - Russia's two largest oil companies that the Trump administration accuses of helping fund the Kremlin's "war machine" in Ukraine.

The two companies together export 3.1 million barrels of oil per day.

Rosneft alone is responsible for 6 per cent of global and nearly half of all Russian oil production.

India became the largest purchaser of Russian crude since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, capitalising on steep discounts that followed Western buyers' withdrawal.

Russian oil is bought both by private sector firms - Reliance Industries Ltd and Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy - and state-owned refiners Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL).

State-owned refiners do not have any term or fixed quantity deal with either Rosneft or Lukoil and typically buy Russian oil through tenders.

In these tenders, oil traders, mostly European or ones based in Dubai and Singapore, who had purchased oil from Russian entities, participated.

These traders have not been sanctioned by the US, sources said adding European Union sanctions too had not targeted these traders.

And even if some traders shy away from picking Russian volumes, Moscow is capable of overnight resurrecting new ones with Dubai registration, sources said, adding these traders can buy oil from Russian firms and sell to refiners such as those in India and China.

"The measures by the Trump administration are 'half-hearted'," a source involved in the business said.

"For months, US President Donald Trump has resisted pressure from US lawmakers to impose energy sanctions and even now the ones who do bulk of the trade are out of its net."

Another source said the markets are somehow not buying into Trump's latest sanctions.

"If sanctions were so impregnable, international oil prices would have jumped at least $5-10 per barrel on news of such large volumes going out of the market.

"Instead what we saw was just a $2 per barrel increase, implying the market believes not all of the oil that is exported from Russia is going anywhere."

Nayara Energy, in which Rosneft holds a 49.13 per cent stake, is the other big private sector buyer of Russian oil.

The company, which operates a 20 million tonnes a year oil refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat, has already been sanctioned by the European Union and it may have to recalibrate its purchases, sources said.

Nayara did not respond to an email seeking comments.

Kesani Enterprises Company Limited - a consortium led by Mareterra and Russian investment group United Capital Partners (UCP) - holds another 49.13 per cent stake in Nayara.

Sources said the Indian government has not so far given any instruction to refiners on stopping or reducing Russian oil imports.

They said Trump's recent comments on India agreeing to stop all purchases of Russian oil (with no such commitment being made by New Delhi) may have got to do with the European Union (EU) sanctions on import of fuel made from Russian oil.

The EU has banned import of fuels refined from Russian crude with effect from January 21 next year.

Reliance, whose one of the two refineries is only-for-export, refines Russian crude into fuels like petrol and diesel, some of which is exported to the EU.

MRPL also exports to the EU.

From January, such exports will have to stop and in a way Reliance and MRPL will have to cut Russian oil purchases if they have to continue to export to EU, they said adding Nayara has already stopped fuel exports to EU after being sanctioned.

With three big buyers of Russian oil recalibrating their purchases, Russian flows will reduce by January and this is something that Trump may be using as a bargaining chip to beat around his point, they added.
The US Food and Drug Administrations (USFDA)s new draft guidelines aimed at speeding up and reducing the cost of developing biosimilars  lower-priced, near-replicas of complex biologic medicines  could significantly benefit Indian biotech companies.

Photograph: Srdjan Zivulovic/Reuters

The new framework proposes cutting back on human clinical trials for certain biosimilars to make biologic therapies more affordable for Americans.

This is expected to provide a major fillip to companies such as Biocon, Dr Reddys Laboratories (DRL), and Intas that have heavily invested in this segment.

This progressive step will accelerate patient access to safe, effective, and affordable biologic therapies for cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, while also helping reduce development costs, said Shreehas Tambe, managing director (MD) of Biocon Biologics.

Other industry leaders also felt the same.

Umang Vohra, MD and global chief executive officer (CEO) of Cipla, said in the companys earnings call, The latest USFDA guidance is a significant positive for the industry as it sharply lowers development costs and accelerates timelines for biosimilars.

"Companies will no longer need to invest $4090 million to secure an approvable package.

"This substantially reduces the burden of proving similarity. This shift is likely to attract more players, spur investments, and fast-track market entry.

We will likely see an explosion in the number of players targeting biosimilars. Cipla operates in several categories that require $1520 million in spending, which, while lower than biosimilars, still poses a high entry barrier.

"So, I dont think this move will lead to the same level of competition as seen in the chemical side of the business, Vohra said.

The biosimilar market remains compelling with individual product opportunities still valued at $35 billion.

With the regulatory environment becoming more supportive, India has a strong opportunity to broaden participation in biosimilars, much like it did in small-molecule generics, pharma industry executives felt.

The draft guidance removes the need for most comparative efficacy trials  the most expensive and time-consuming part of biosimilar development.

Instead, it permits companies to rely on advanced analytical and functional studies to establish similarity with reference biologics.

It also aims to simplify the pathway for granting interchangeability with original biologics, allowing pharmacists and patients to more easily opt for lower-cost substitutes.

The USFDA has issued draft guidance aimed at streamlining the regulatory pathway for biosimilars, marking a potential shift in how these products are evaluated and approved.

The draft recommends that a comparative analytical assessment, supported by human pharmacokinetic and immunogenicity data, will often be sufficient to demonstrate similarity with the reference biologic.

This approach seeks to eliminate routine comparative efficacy studies  the most time-consuming and expensive component of biosimilar development. But the CES may still be required for select products.

Sponsors will be responsible for determining the appropriate study design and are encouraged to discuss their plans with the agency.

Analysts estimate that if finalised, the new framework could significantly reduce trial requirements, compress development timelines from the current 89 years, and materially lower overall costs.

Nuvama analysts felt the proposed model is expected to intensify competition and broaden participation in the US biosimilar market, where US and European companies currently dominate.

Indian manufacturers  benefiting from lower operating costs  stand to gain meaningfully as the market opens up. According to IQVIA, 118 biologics are set to lose patent protection between 2025 and 2034, representing a $232-billion opportunity.

Key beneficiaries over the long term include Biocon, DRL, Aurobindo Pharma and Lupin, with Biocon particularly well-positioned due to its fully integrated biosimilar capabilities, they felt.

The draft guidance will remain under discussion for the next few months.

Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance secretary general Sudarshan Jain said the simplification of interchangeability guidelines and approval pathways will create a more enabling environment for the industry to diversify into the large-molecule space.

India already has nearly 130 approved biosimilars, and over the next seven years, more than 55 blockbuster drugs are expected to lose exclusivity in the US, Jain added.
Mining major Vedantas consolidated net profit plunged 58.69 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 1,798 crore in the second quarter of 2025-26 (Q2FY26), dragged down by exceptional losses booked during the period under review.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

The company had reported a net exceptional gain of Rs 1,160 crore in Q2FY25.

The exceptional loss included a write-off of Rs 1,407 crore in Talwandi Sabo Power (TSPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Vedanta, in pursuant to a Supreme Court order dated in August 19.

A review petition by TSPL is pending in court, but the amount has been considered non-recoverable.

On the other hand, it also includes a settlement payment of Rs 660 crore to SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corporation. Its revenue rose by 5.94 per cent to Rs 39,868 crore in the quarter under review.

According to the companys earnings release, revenue was driven by higher London Metal Exchange (LME) premia and forex (foreign exchange) gain, partly offset by lower volume.

This has been largely driven by cost reduction efforts and supported by metal prices, while on volumes, we could have done better.

"Referring to a 13 per cent jump in profit after tax before exceptional items on a year-on-year basis in Q2 and 12 per cent growth in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) in Q2 Y-o-Y), Arun Misra, executive director of Vedanta, told Business Standard.

Misra said that the second half of FY26 (H2FY26) across all of Vedantas operations is expected to be good, due to better weather conditions after the monsoon.

The supply chain is more stable, and a good temperature (low temperature) for the metal and mining business is always more productive this time of year.

"We always see H2 (in terms of FY26) performance-wise quite tilted towards being 30 to 40 per cent better than H1.

"We will see higher volumes in H2, and typically with higher volumes and longer run hours, you have less expenditure for shutdown and other one-time expenditures that go into the plant, which results in a lower cost of operation.

"So, we can expect better results in the second half than in H1, he highlighted.

On the companys expected demerger into five separate entities, Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Oil and Gas, Vedanta Power, Vedanta Iron and Steel, and Vedanta, Ajay Goel, chief financial officer (CFO), Vedanta, said that the next hearing before the NCLT on November 12 is expected to be the conclusive one.

We are on the final stage of the demerger. Our earlier commitment for the demerger to conclude by the end of March 2026; that timeline does not change, he said, adding that the companys guidance on profitability for the full financial year remains at about $6 billion, or around Rs 53,000 crore.

One main area that the company is focusing on is investing capital for volume augmentation.

Goel emphasised that the companys net debt to Ebitda ratio stands at 1.37 times, improving from 1.49 times last year.

As of September, Vedantas net debt is at Rs 62,063 crore, as per its release.

In the aluminium business, the company reported the highest ever quarterly and half-yearly metal production at 617 kilo tonnes (KT) and 1,222 KT respectively, as per its investor presentation.

Zincs mined metal production in the first half of FY26 was 523 KT, with salable silver production in the Q2 being 144 metric tonnes (MT), lower in line with lead production.

In Zincs international business, Vedanta reported higher production by 44 per cent on year, led by the Gamsberg mines performance, the investor presentation stated.

On the acquisition of bankrupt Jaiprakash Associates (JAL), Goel said that the company will fund the acquisition via its internal cash accruals.

It (the acquisition) is in early days. We have already got approval from the Competition Committee of India.

"The COC is still voting. That must reach a conclusion by mid-November.

"Now, the NPV (net present value) of the entire funding is about Rs 12,500 crore and that is over five to six years.

"Looking at Vedantas strength of the balance sheet and our operating free cash flows, JALs acquisition will be funded through our internal cash, he said.
Indias third-largest telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) has secured a 10-year breather on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) payments from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

This is expected to ease pressure on its balance sheet and enable the company to raise bank debt for capital expenditure.

The relief is critical for Vi as it seeks funding to expand its 4G and 5G networks to remain competitive in the Indian market.

Under the revised terms, the government has asked Vi to pay a maximum of Rs 124 crore annually for six years starting March 2026, followed by Rs 100 crore annually for four years beginning March 2032, according to disclosures made by the company to the BSE on Friday.

During this period, Vis AGR liabilities will be reassessed and finalised by a government-appointed committee.

Payments on the reassessed dues will commence from March 2036 on an annual basis and continue until March 2041.

Vis AGR dues currently stand at Rs 87,695 crore as of December 31, 2025.

The governments move is likely to prompt rival Bharti Airtel to approach the courts, according to industry executives, as the countrys second-largest carrier has sought similar relief on its AGR obligations.

Bharti Airtels AGR dues are estimated to exceed Rs 40,000 crore, and the Sunil Mittal-promoted group had previously asked the government to convert these liabilities into equity.

Airtel has already paid about Rs 18,000 crore towards AGR dues.

Queries sent to Bharti Airtel did not receive a response as of Friday evening.

People familiar with the matter said Vis reassessed dues are likely to be lower than the frozen amount of Rs 87,695 crore as of December 2025.

The government has begun a circle-level review of AGR liabilities across the country for the period from 2006-07 to 2018-19, covering principal, interest, penalties and interest on penalties.

The review also includes dues of Idea Cellular and Vodafone India, among other subsidiaries, prior to their merger in 2018 to form Vodafone Idea, the sources added.

Such a decisive government action, with possible upside but zero downside from reassessment, would enable Vi to raise bank funding thats necessary for carrying out survival capex.

"A favourable Supreme Court verdict had already enabled Vi to raise Rs 3,300 crore through non-convertible debentures recently, said Vivekanand Subbaraman, research analyst at Ambit Capital.

Sector watchers said the relief could also pave the way for a strategic investor to enter Vi, allowing the government to dilute its current 48.9 per cent stake.

This, in turn, could create room for converting additional spectrum dues into equity.

With negligible AGR payments till FY35, Vis fundraising prospects improve meaningfully.

"Any equity infusion by a strategic investor will also dilute government stake, creating headroom for conversion of a portion of the Rs 1.2 trillion spectrum debt into government equity (without breaching the 49 per cent mark), said analysts at IIFL Capital in a note following Vis disclosure on Friday.

The carrier still has dues from spectrum bought in previous auctions  totalling Rs 1.2 trillion.

Based on Vi's results, as of September 2025, it was supposed to pay Rs 16,428 crore as AGR instalment by March 2026.

That amount will now come down to Rs 124 crore.

Analysts at Citi Research said the move could fast-track completion of Vis planned Rs 25,000 crore bank debt raise and potentially enable another equity round later.

Besides meaningfully lifting concerns on Vis ability to service government dues and therefore on its ability to continue as a going concern, these steps should also enable the company to revive its network investments, they said.

The Rs 1.2 trillion spectrum debt because of spectrum bought in previous auctions will continue to drag down financials, experts added, underscoring the need for tariff hikes.

As of September 2025, Vi had to pay Rs 2,558 crore as deferred payment obligations for the spectrum by June 2026.

According to IIFL, Vi's spectrum payments are set to rise each year  to Rs 4,400 crore in FY27, Rs 15,600 crore in FY28 and Rs 25,700 crore in FY29.

Analysts added that the relief granted to Vi could also provide momentum to Indus Towers, the shared tower infrastructure provider to major telecoms operators, to resume dividend payouts to shareholders this year, possibly by the end of FY26.
Debt-ridden telecom operator Vodafone Idea on Monday said its consolidated net loss narrowed to Rs 5,524 crore in the second quarter ended September compared to the year-ago period, mainly on account of savings in finance cost on debt from banks and an increase in average revenue per user supported by a tariff hike.

Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), in its financial performance note, mentioned that its ability to settle debt liability is dependent on government support, fundraise and cash flow generation from operations.

The government holds a 49 per cent stake in VIL.

While an increase in average revenue per user (ARPU) due to a tariff hike helped VIL improve its financial performance, the company continues to record a dip in its subscriber base, both on a quarterly and year-over-year (YoY) basis.

VIL had posted a net loss of Rs 7,176 crore in the year-ago period, according to the company's regulatory filing.

A 27 per cent decline in finance cost helped VIL narrow its loss.

Its finance cost stood at Rs 4,784.4 crore in the September 2025 quarter against Rs 6,613.6 crore a year ago, mainly on account of a reduction in debt from banks.

The company's debt from banks reduced to Rs 1,542 crore in the September quarter from Rs 3,250 crore.

"As of 30th September, 2025, the Group's outstanding debt from banks (including interest accrued but not due) is Rs 15,421 million and Deferred payment obligation (including interest accrued but not due) towards Spectrum which is payable over the years till FY 2044 and AGR which is payable over the years till FY 2031 aggregates to Rs 2,014,090 million," the company filing said.

VIL incurred a loss of Rs 12,132 crore in the first half of the current fiscal and its net worth stands at negative Rs 82,460 crore as on September 30.

The total debt of the company stood at Rs 2.02 lakh crore at the end of the second quarter of FY26.

VIL consolidated revenue from operations increased 2.4 per cent to Rs 11,195 crore during the reported quarter from Rs 10,932 crore a year ago.

The customer ARPU (average revenue per user) rose 8.7 per cent year-on-year to Rs 180 in the reported quarter from Rs 166 in the September 2024 quarter, mainly due to customer upgrades and tariff increases, the company said.

The blended ARPU, which includes machine-to-machine connections, increased by about 7 per cent to Rs 167 in the September 2025 quarter from Rs 156 in a year ago.

VIL continued to record decline in customer base. The company reported a 4 per cent decline in subscriber base to 19.6 crore from 20.5 crore a year ago.

The postpaid subscriber of the company, however, increased to 2.79 crore from 2.45 crore on a YoY basis.

The average data usage on VIL network grew by about 21 per cent to 18.5 GB per user per month from 15.3 GB a year ago driven by expansion of network especially 5G services.

"We expanded our 4G coverage to over 84 per cent of population and completed the 5G rollout in all 17 circles where we hold 5G spectrum.

"The growth of around 21 per cent in data volume reflects our ability to retain and engage customers through our differentiated prepaid and postpaid offerings.

"We are focused on increasing our 4G coverage to 90 per cent population and expanding our 5G footprint in the geographies with growing 5G handset adoption," VIL CEO Abhijit Kishore said in a statement.

The company's capex for the quarter and for the first six months of the current fiscal stood at Rs 1,750 crore and Rs 4,200 crore, respectively.

"We remain engaged with lenders to secure debt financing to support our broader capex plans of Rs 500550 billion," Kishore said.

The company, during the quarter, received a favourable order from the Supreme Court that has allowed the government to reconsider and take an appropriate decision with reference to the additional AGR demand raised for the period up to the financial year 2016-2017 and comprehensively reassessing and reconciling all AGR (adjusted gross revenue) dues, including interest and penalty.

Vodafone Idea non-executive chairman Ravinder Takkar in a note said that the group's ability to settle its debt liabilities is dependent on reconsideration or re-assessment of AGR dues, including Interest and Penalty up to FY 2016-17 by DoT, fund raise through equity and debt and generation of cash flow from operations.

"Based on current efforts and recent directions by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the Group believes that it would be able to get DoT support, successfully arrange funds and generate cash flow from operations," Takkar said.

The company has to pay first AGR installment of Rs 16,428 crore in the current fiscal following the end of four years moratorium availed by it under the Telecom Reforms Package 2021.

Photograph: Reuters
'As more patients are prescribed these drugs, intolerance due to gastrointestinal and other side effects will become more visible, leading to higher discontinuation rates.'

IMAGE: A pharmacist displays a box of Mounjaro, a tirzepatide injection drug used for treating type 2 diabetes made by Lilly at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, USA. Photograph: George Frey/Reuters

India's fast-growing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug market is likely to witness a sharp rise in volumes but slower value growth as cheaper generics are set to enter the country after semaglutide goes off patent in March 2026, industry executives and doctors said.

While broader access could expand the patient base, experts also warn of higher therapy discontinuation rates. This comes as more users experience side effects or fail to sustain long-term treatment.

Two global drugmakers -- Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly -- are currently vying for a larger share of India's 1,109 crore anti-obesity market.

"The GLP-1 category is among the fastest to reach 1,000 crore market size within months of launch, largely because of its high pricing," said Sheetal Sapale, vice-president (commercial) at Pharmarack.

Once the semaglutide patent expires in March next year, Sapale added that prices could drop by as much as 80 per cent, significantly slowing value growth.

While price erosion would drive higher consumption, Sapale said the segment would also face new challenges.

"Volume growth will pick up, but competition will intensify," she said.

Companies such as Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Cipla, Mankind Pharma and Sun Pharma are already preparing to enter India's 427 crore semaglutide market.

"There are more than 14 anti-obesity drugs currently in the pipeline," Sapale said. She added that the initial surge in demand may taper off within months, giving way to more stable consumption patterns.

Doctors caution that wider prescription use could also translate into higher dropouts.

"As more patients are prescribed these drugs, intolerance due to gastrointestinal and other side effects will become more visible, leading to higher discontinuation rates," said a Delhi-based endocrinologist.

Common side effects of GLP-1 therapies include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. Doctors also report increasing complaints of hair loss among some patients.

Originally introduced as a diabetes treatment, semaglutide made its India debut with Novo Nordisk's oral drug Rybelsus in January 2022. The drug gained traction quickly, with moving annual turnover (MAT) rising from 71 crore in November 2022 to 377 crore by November 2025.

Commercialisation of semaglutide for weight loss picked up this year, with three injectable launches in quick succession -- Mounjaro in March, Wegovy in June and Ozempic in November.

As a result, India's anti-obesity market expanded sharply, reaching an estimated MAT of 1,109 crore in November 2025 from 242 crore in November 2022. This is a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 61.4 per cent.

India's large disease burden has made it an attractive market for weight-loss therapies. According to World Health Organization estimates for 2023-2024, the country has around 101 million people living with diabetes and another 136 million with pre-diabetes.

Studies suggest India also has 254 million people with generalised obesity and 351 million with abdominal obesity.

Doctors note, however, that Ozempic and Mounjaro are currently approved in India only for type-2 diabetes, and prescriptions are restricted to diabetic patients.

Eli Lilly's Mounjaro (tirzepatide), launched in March, has already clocked 496 crore in sales within seven months, benefiting from a first-mover advantage. The drug emerged as the highest-selling product in India in October and November 2025.

Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy in June for obesity management, but uptake has been relatively slower, with revenues of about 50 crore till November. In response, Novo announced a 30 to 35 per cent price cut across all dosage forms.

"The price reduction led to a 70 per cent jump in Wegovy consumption within just 15 days, increasing its market share from 9 per cent in October to 14 per cent in November," said an industry executive.

With the launch of Ozempic, Novo has now completed its semaglutide portfolio in India, offering treatments across indications.

Doctors say patient interest continues to rise. "We're seeing increased inquiries, both from new patients and those already on weight-management therapies," said a Mumbai-based bariatric surgeon.

"Some patients -- previously prescribed drugs like fenofibrate -- are now being evaluated for Mounjaro as an alternative or add-on."

Under standard obesity management guidelines, patients must have a body mass index (BMI) above 27 along with at least one comorbidity, such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol.

However, doctors are also reporting inquiries from individuals who do not meet the criteria. "We are strictly discouraging use for cosmetic weight loss or in patients who fall below the clinical threshold," the surgeon added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India this week aims to secure energy supplies, stabilise defence deliveries and ensure bilateral trade continues smoothly despite strong Western sanctions, GTRI said on Tuesday.

Image used for representation purpose only. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Putin will land in New Delhi on December 4 for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

"It is a high-stakes working visit shaped by necessity to lock in energy security, stabilise defence supply lines and keep bilateral trade functioning under the weight of Western sanctions," Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) founder Ajay Srivastava said.

India's current engagement with Russia rests on three pillars -- energy, defence and diplomacy, he noted.

Russia has become India's largest crude oil supplier, accounting for 30-35 per cent of total oil imports, turning discounted crude into the foundation of the partnership, he added.

Defence forms the second pillar.

The two countries may formalise a new payment framework, using dirham or integrate Russia's SPFS system with India's RuPay network, he said.

After Russia was partially removed from SWIFT, payments shifted to a multi-currency system, the UAE's dirham (60-65 per cent), rupee (25- 30 per cent), and Chinese yuan (5-10 per cent).

India's merchandise trade with Russia remains sharply imbalanced, with modest export growth alongside persistently high energy-driven imports.

Exports rose from $4.3 billion in FY24 to $4.9 billion in FY25, with shipments of $2.25 billion in April-September 2025.

The export basket is narrow and skewed toward a few industrial and chemical items -- machinery ($367.8 million), pharmaceuticals ($246 million) and organic chemicals ($165.8 million) -- together account for most of the value in the first half of FY26.

Consumer-oriented and high-visibility categories remain marginal -- smartphones ($75.9 million), Vannamei shrimp ($75.7 million), meat ($63 million) and garments at just $20.94 million -- underscore India's limited penetration in Russia's retail markets and electronics value chains despite geopolitical churn, think tank GTRI said.

On the import side, it said dependence on Russian energy and commodities continues unabated.

India's imports stood at $63.2 billion in FY24 and inched up to $63.8 billion in FY25; in April-September 2025 alone, imports were $31.2 billion.

Petroleum dominates overwhelmingly, led by crude oil ($23.1 billion) and petroleum products ($2.5 billion), followed by coal ($1.9 billion).

Strategic inputs such as fertilisers ($1.3 billion) and food oils -- sunflower seed oil ($633 million) -- remain significant, while diamonds ( $202 million) add to the non-energy bill.

"The result is a structurally asymmetric relationship as India relies on Russia for energy security and inputs, while struggling to scale value-added exports, leaving the bilateral trade equation lopsided and vulnerable to shocks in global commodity prices," GTRI added.
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time this year.

Satya's visit was focused on India's AI roadmap, backed by a $17.5 billion commitment for infrastructure and skill-building.

IMAGE: Satya meets Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Photograph: @satyanadella X/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Earlier this year, on January 6, 2025, Modi had met Satya to discuss AI, tech innovation and Microsoft's expansion plans for India. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
'Companies will need to revisit compensation structures, contracts, staffing models, and human resources system.'

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy RDNE/Pexels

Indian information technology services companies may see their payroll costs rise by up to 10 per cent following the implementation of the labour codes last week, according to experts. However, many agree that the new framework will help plug some gaps in a sector that has largely formalised over the past few decades.

The Indian IT/IT-enabled services (ITeS) sector is one of the largest employment-generating sectors. The industry is expected to have an employee base of 5.8 million in 2025-2026, according to UnearthInsight.

A key cost will be the mandatory free health checkup for all employees above 40 years, which was not a legal requirement under the earlier codes, experts pointed out.

A sizeable number of employees in Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, and HCLTech are mid-level managers above that age, and an annual medical test will certainly add to expenses.

It, however, remains to be seen which items companies want to cover as part of the checkup and if there are tests for which they expect employees to bear the cost.

Experts say the new labour codes mark a decisive reset for India's IT/ITeS sector, as for the first time these companies will be governed by the central Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code alongside state shop-and-establishment norms, bringing prescriptive rules on working hours, overtime, welfare, and statutory documentation.

"The expanded wage definition will raise provident fund, gratuity, and leave benefit outlays, pushing India's payroll costs up by an estimated 5 to 10 per cent," said Jignesh Thakkar, global compliance practice leader at EY.

The codes also curb mass terminations and introduce obligations such as contributions to the reskilling fund.

Larger employers will additionally come under a formal labour-relations framework through standing orders, grievance processes, and digital conduct norms.

Kamal Karanth, CEO of the specialist staffing firm Xpheno, says that with basic pay mandated to be at least half of the total cost to company (CTC), retiral benefits such as PF and gratuity -- which are linked to the basic -- will go up.

"While the take-home will be less, retirals will be more, which will add to the cost for IT firms."

This provision for basic salary was introduced to prevent companies from deliberately keeping basic pay low and structuring the CTC around perks and other benefits, thus reducing their contribution to PF and gratuity.

"Companies will need to revisit compensation structures, contracts, staffing models, and human resources systems. Overall, the codes accelerate formalisation and transparency -- and early movers will navigate the transition with far greater stability," added Thakkar.

The costs add to concerns for IT companies, which have been navigating an uncertain and volatile macroeconomic environment over the past few years for multiple reasons.

Many have been pushing back salary hikes to maintain quarterly margins, at a time when top-line growth has been under sustained pressure, largely due to the impact of artificial intelligence.

Costs are also expected to rise by double digits following the implementation of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules earlier this month.

That impact, however, will be minimal for most companies, except TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra, as they have a significant India-facing business and clients in banking, financial services and insurance, telecommunications, healthcare, government, or business process outsourcing and customer relationship management sectors.

Aditya Narayan Mishra, managing director and CEO of Ciel HR, said the extra cost for these compliances will be passed on to clients, who may feel the impact in the short run.

"India's new labour codes do not disrupt the fundamentals of IT employment, which is already formal and compliant. But they do raise the bar on working-hour governance, annual health checkups, safety norms for women in night shifts, and contractor accountability."

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Officials said the government is keen to conform to the convention of the Union Budget for 2026-2027 being presented on February 1 despite it falling on a Sunday in 2026.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs a pre-Budget onsultation with experts and stakeholders from the education, health, human development and women empowerment sectors for the Union Budget 2026-2027 in New Delhi, November 26, 2025. Photograph: @FinMinIndia X/ANI Photo

Will the 80th Union Budget be a Sunday Budget?

That's a question yet to find an answer even as the countdown has begun to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's eighth Budget.

Ever since February 1 became the Budget date in 2017, Sundays have never come in the way of the annual financial statement.

But 2026 is going to be different and power corridors are as engaged with the date of the Budget as with its theme, perhaps.

On top of February 1, 2026, being a Sunday, Guru Ravidas Jayanti -- a government holiday in some north Indian states including Delhi -- will also fall on the same day.

Even so, officials indicated on Friday that the Union Budget could be presented on Sunday, February 1.

When asked, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "These decisions are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs at an appropriate time."

Sources, however, pointed out that the Guru Ravidas Jayanti is neither a central government 'public holiday' nor it is so in most of the country.

It is a 'public holiday' in some north Indian states, such as Delhi and Haryana.

It is a 'restricted holiday', and not a public holiday, for the central government.

However, in 2025, Ravidas Jayanti fell on Wednesday, February 12, in the midst of the Budget session of Parliament, and the two Houses did not have a sitting on account of it.

The Union Budget was tabled on February 1 in 2017, and 2026 will be the first occasion since then that it falls on a Sunday.

Officials said the government is keen to conform to the convention of the Union Budget for 2026-2027 being presented on February 1 despite it falling on a Sunday in 2026.

In 2020 and 2025, Sitharaman presented the Budgets on February 1, which in these years fell on Saturdays.

According to sources, the Budget will not be tabled on Saturday, January 31, while an optional day would be February 2, which is a Monday.

There are precedents of Parliament having its sittings on Sunday under special circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and on May 13, 2012, to mark the 60th anniversary of the first sitting of Parliament.

Similarly, there have been instances when the two Houses sat on the occasion of a public holiday.

On May 13, 1957, which was a holiday on account of Buddha Purnima, the President addressed both the Houses and separate sittings of the two Houses were held on that day.

'In fixing the sittings, restricted holidays in the Government of India offices are, however, not taken into account and sittings may be fixed on those days,' according to the Rajya Sabha web site.

But, there are also certain other holidays which are observed by the House irrespective of the fact that any of them may not be a public holiday for the government offices, such as Raksha Bandhan.

On February 18, 1981, when the Rajya Sabha met, a point was raised regarding observance of a holiday on account of the birthday of Guru Ravidas on that day.

After some discussion, the House was adjourned at 11.06 am.

A sitting of the Rajya Sabha was originally fixed for February 24, 1986 (birthday of Guru Ravidas), in the Provisional Calendar of sittings.

In view of the precedent of 1981 and Chairman's direction, the sitting fixed for that day was cancelled and members were informed through a parliamentary bulletin, according to the Rajya Sabha web site.

Prior to 2017, the Union Budget was presented on the last working day of February.

The convention then was that if February 28 or 29 fell on a Sunday, the previous day (Saturday) would be chosen for presenting the Budget.

The February 1 date was selected to ensure implementation of the Budget at the start of the new financial year on April 1.

There have been only two exceptions in the last 79 Union Budgets since 1947, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, but the finance minister concerned decided to advance the presentation of the Budget to Friday.

On all other occasions, when the last day of February fell on a Sunday, the Budget was presented on the previous day, Saturday.

The Union Budget for 2026-2027 will be the 80th since 1947, and eighth successive Budget that Sitharaman will be presenting, on a par with Morarji Desai, who till now holds the record of presenting as many full Budgets.

Desai presented his eight Budgets in two different stints, one under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the other under Indira Gandhi. Sitharaman will present her eighth successive Budget under one prime minister, Narendra Modi, and under two consecutive governments.

Winter session comes to end. Key Bills passed The Winter Session of Parliament was held from December 1 to 19, 2025, with both Houses functioning for 15 days * Number of bills introduced: 9 * Number of Bills passed: 7 These included Bills related to the revamp of the nuclear energy regulator, the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G BILL, and insurance laws -- all passed within a week of their respective introduction * Bills referred to House panel: 2 Bills to revamp the higher education regulation, and integrate three securities laws into one Code 11 of the 42 Bills introduced in the 18th Lok Sabha have been referred to committees. These include two Bills on simultaneous elections, and three on the removal of ministers on detention.

Only one Bill -- Securities Markets Code -- has been referred to Standing Committee. * No. of sittings: 15 The Lok Sabha worked for 103% of its scheduled time and the Rajya Sabha for 104%. Lok Sabha Secretariat said the House sat for 92.25 hours, including 28.17 hours where it sat beyond its scheduled time to complete listed business.

Lok Sabha Secretariat said almost 19 hours were lost due to interruptions and forced adjournments.

Each House spent over 40% of its time on debates, mainly due to special discussions on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and electoral reforms.

Lok Sabha spent 36%, and Rajya Sabha 30%, of their time on legislative business.

During the session, 41 reports of department related parliamentary standing committees and 10 of other parliamentary committees were tabled.

While three days were allocated for Private Members' business, it was taken up in both Houses on two days.

137 Private Member Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha and 59 in the Rajya Sabha. In the Lok Sabha, this was the first introduction of Private Member Bills since August 2024.

The Lok Sabha utilised 67% of Question Hour and Rajya Sabha utilised 80%.

23% of starred questions were answered orally in th Lok Sabha, and 26% in the Rajya Sabha. Sources: PRS Legislative Research and LS Secretariat

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
JERUSALEM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Monday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to close a U.S.-led coordination headquarters in Israel that was established to advance U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza.

Speaking at an inauguration ceremony for Yatziv, a new settlement in the occupied West Bank, Smotrich, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet and the leader of a pro-settler party in the governing coalition, blasted the involvement of Britain and Egypt in the U.S.-led Gaza initiative, describing them as "countries hostile to Israel."

Britain last year imposed sanctions on Smotrich over incitement of violence in the West Bank.

"The time has come to dismantle the headquarters in Kiryat Gat," Smotrich said, referring to the southern city where the center is based.

The U.S.-lead Civil-Military Coordination Center was established in mid-October last year as part of efforts to implement Trump's Gaza plan.

Smotrich's remarks came after the U.S. Central Command published documentation on Sunday for the first time, showing Egyptian officers inside the coordination headquarters last month. The center currently hosts representatives from three Arab countries: Jordan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Smotrich called for imposing Israeli military rule over the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have carried out an offensive for more than two years that has left the enclave in ruins and killed at least 71,548 people. "Gaza is ours," he said.

He also demanded the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt for the movement of Gazans "with or without Egyptian consent," to enable Gaza's residents "to exit and search for a future elsewhere."

Israel said on Saturday that it objected to the composition of a Gaza executive board announced as part of the U.S.-led Board of Peace initiative chaired by Trump, saying it was unveiled without coordination with Israel and ran counter to Israeli policy. 
FDI inflows into India are expected to register robust growth in 2026, supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, big-ticket investment announcements, sustained efforts to improve the ease of doing business, and a new generation of investment-linked trade pacts.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

To ensure that India remains an attractive and investor-friendly destination, the government reviews the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy on an ongoing basis and makes changes from time to time after holding extensive consultations with stakeholders.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has this year held a series of meetings with stakeholders on ways to promote FDI.

In November, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also held consultations on ways to attract greater investments by making processes faster, smoother, and more efficient.

Investor-friendly policies and regulatory practices, strong return on investments, a talented workforce, easing compliance burdens, decriminalising minor industry-related offences, and streamlined approvals are key measures that are keeping foreign investors focused on India despite global challenges.

In 2024-25, total foreign direct investments (FDI) have crossed $80.5 billion amid global uncertainties. Gross overseas investments during January-October 2025 have crossed $60 billion.

DPIIT secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia said India has attracted remarkable investments in the last eleven years due to a series of measures taken by the government.

"It has touched an all-time high of $80.62 billion in 2024-25.

"We are hopeful that this year (2026), FDI may cross the last year's data of $80.62 billion," he told PTI.

India is also banking on its free trade agreement with the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA), under which the bloc has committed to invest $100 billion in foreign direct investment into the country over 15 years.

The pact came into force on October 1, 2025, and on the very day of its implementation, Swiss healthcare major Roche Pharma announced a commitment to invest 1.5 billion Swiss francs (about Rs 17,000 crore) in India over the next five years.

This will be pure FDI and not foreign institutional or portfolio investments by sovereign wealth funds of the EFTA nations - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

A similar commitment of $20 billion has been made by New Zealand under its trade pact with India, which is slated to be implemented in 2026.

Certain reports have also projected a positive outlook for foreign direct investment into India.

According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2025, global FDI flows fell by 11 per cent in 2024 to $1.5 trillion.

However, this figure conceals wide differences in performance across economies.

Developed countries experienced a 22 per cent contraction, while flows to developing economies were stable.

In Asia, particularly, east and southeast Asia, as well as India, investors maintained strong project activity, the report has said.

Some of the major global firms have announced big-ticket investments this year.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has announced an investment of $17.5 billion by 2030 to help build infrastructure and sovereign capabilities for the country's AI-first future.

Amazon plans to invest $35 billion in India over the next five years to expand its businesses from quick commerce to cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Google will invest $15 billion over the next five years to set up an AI hub in India.

iPhone maker Apple is expanding its presence in India, and South Korean electronics major Samsung is also expanding its manufacturing portfolio in the country.

Arcelormittal Nippon Steel India is aiming to increase the colour-coated steel capacity to 10 lakh tonnes per year by 2026 from the present 7 lakh tonnes.

As per the National Statistical Office (NSO), the Indian economy grew 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025-26.

The government, on its part, has come out with the second edition of the Jan Viswas bill to promote ease of doing business by decriminalising minor industry-related offences.

Experts, too, have stated that India's strong economic fundamentals and resilience, along with a sustained reform push, will be a big reason for a revival of FDI in 2026.

"As India diversifies its economic relationships amid geopolitical uncertainties and moves up the value chain in manufacturing and services, these developments are expected to channel greater long-term FDI into services, software and electronics," Rumki Majumdar, Economist, Deloitte India, said.

Rudra Kumar Pandey, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said FDI from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has emerged as a strategic and increasingly durable pillar of India's foreign investment landscape.

"Technology-led services are expected to remain the primary magnet for foreign capital, with increasing emphasis on artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud infrastructure, and Global Capability Centres focused on AI deployment and applied research," he added.

The top investors in India include Mauritius and Singapore (together accounting for about 49 per cent), followed by the US (10 per cent), the Netherlands (7.2 per cent), Japan (6 per cent) and the UK (5 per cent).

The key sectors which attracted the maximum FDI in India include the services segment, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, trading, construction development, automobile, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

FDI is allowed through the automatic route in most of the sectors, while in areas such as telecom, media, pharmaceuticals and insurance, the government approval is required for foreign investors.

At present, FDI is prohibited in certain sectors.

They are lottery, gambling and betting, chit funds, nidhi company, real estate business, and manufacturing of cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes using tobacco.

FDI is important as India would require huge investments in the coming years for its infrastructure sector to boost growth.

Healthy foreign inflows also help in maintaining the balance of payments and the value of the rupee.
While the move may give a competitive edge over rivals like Bangladesh in the global market, several industry bodies raised concerns that many state governments may not implement it on the ground.

IMAGE: Workers stitch dresses at a garment manufacturing unit in Noida. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The textiles industry has welcomed the rollout of new labour codes, citing that it will help players clinch more export orders, as it will comply with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) norms.

While the move may give a competitive edge over rivals like Bangladesh in the global market, several industry bodies raised concerns that many state governments may not implement it on the ground.

The export boost would be seen once free trade agreements (FTAs) conclude with the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).

"The new labour codes would facilitate compliance with various social accountability norms prescribed by leading markets like the EU and the US. The EU has decided that any exporting country must comply with the CSDDD requirements to access the European market. The new policy initiatives would facilitate the industry to take advantage of the FTA to be concluded with the EU and US in the short run," said ME Manivannan, member, CII Southern Region Textiles Task Force, and whole-time director, Loyal Textile Mills.

The new labour code will create a competitive edge for the Indian textiles industry to get more business as it will pave the way to comply with the CSDDD, he added.

This comes at a time when India is pitching itself as a global hub of textile sourcing.

India exported $36.55 billion in FY25, up from $34.40 billion during the previous financial year.

The new changes include mandatory appointment letters to all workers, PF, ESIC, insurance and other social security benefits for all workers.

Also, they provide statutory right to minimum wage payment, free annual health check-ups and permission for women to work at night, among others.

The textiles industry, particularly mills which are in exports, has been constantly approaching the government to simplify the labour legislations and bring a common code.

This would help India lead the world on social accountability.

"Simplification of several laws reduces compliance and is much easier to understand. Rather than helping manufacturing grow, this may make life easier for manufacturers," said Sanjay Kumar Jain, managing director of Delhi-based TT Ltd, and chairman of ICC National Textiles Committee.

"Unless state rules are notified by the state governments, actual implementation may not happen. Until these notifications come, enforcement of the provisions in the codes would remain silent," said K Venkatachalam, chief advisor, Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association.

The Centre has announced the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Code on Social Security, 2020, Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020, and Code on Wages, 2019.

They have been made effective from November 21, 2025, rationalising 29 labour laws.

Modernising labour regulations, enhancing workers' welfare and aligning the labour ecosystem with the evolving world of work, this landmark move lays the foundation for a future-ready workforce, driving labour reforms for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, a government statement said.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Tata Sons, now debt-free, has asked the RBI to drop its 'upper-layer NBFC' tag and allow it to stay private.

IMAGE: Bombay House in Mumbai, the headquarters of the Tata Group. Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff

Tata Sons Pvt Ltd, the holding company of the Tata group, may argue for the same regulatory relief that the Reserve Bank of India granted to Shanghvi Finance Pvt Ltd, the investment arm of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries promoter Dilip Shanghvi, to remain private after the central bank declassified the latter from its 'upper-layer' non-bank lender category in 2023 following payment of the company's debt, said top corporate lawyers.

Tata Sons, the holding company of India's largest conglomerate, was grouped with Shanghvi Finance in the RBI's 2022 list of 'upper-layer' non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

The classification required upper layer NBFCs to list their shares by September 2025.

While Tata Capital, the group's financial arm, listed earlier this month to comply with the directive, its parent Tata Sons has applied to remain privately held after the Tata group holding company repaid all outstanding debt and formally requested the RBI to declassify it as an upper-layer NBFC. The RBI's decision on Tata Sons' application is currently pending.

Shanghvi Finance had repaid short-term loans totalling 341 crore in 2021-2022 (FY22), and cleared the remaining promoter loans of 538 crore by December 2022, according to a statement by Care.

Shanghvi Finance owns around 40 per cent stake in Sun Pharma, and a similar stake in Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company.

After repaying its loans, Shanghvi Finance surrendered its NBFC licence on February 9, 2023, which the RBI later cancelled.

Effective May 17, it became an unregistered Core Investment Company (CIC), which, under RBI norms, cannot access public funds.

IMAGE: Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Sons. Photograph: The Late Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Tata Sons, meanwhile, repaid 20,642 crore in FY23 to become a net debt-free company before seeking declassification as an NBFC, according to its annual report.

With Tata Sons' application still pending, legal experts said that the central bank should extend similar relief, since the company no longer fits the profile of a leveraged NBFC.

Lawyers said the RBI requirement was designed to enhance transparency, market discipline, and systemic resilience.

"At the same time, the framework also provides for annual review and declassification where an NBFC demonstrably no longer meets the systemic thresholds. The precedent of Shanghvi Finance in 2023 is instructive: Once the company deleveraged and ceased to pose material contagion risk, the RBI exercised its discretion to remove it from the upper layer. Tata Sons' application rests on a similar legal and regulatory footing," said Hardeep Sachdeva, senior partner, AZB & Partners.

As a CIC governed by the 2016 CIC Directions, Tata Sons has now extinguished all external debt, and functions primarily as a holding entity, with over 90 per cent of its assets invested in group companies.

On a strict reading of Section 45-IA and related provisions of the RBI Act, 1934, coupled with the SBR framework, it could reasonably argue that it no longer triggers the prudential concerns that justified its earlier classification. That said, the RBI's discretion is not mechanical but purposive, added Sachdeva.

Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Sakate Khaitan, senior partner at Khaitan Legal Associates, said any exemption sought by Tata Sons from mandatory listing must be examined within the confines of statutory intent.

"Tata Sons has exhibited bona fide intent to deleverage -- through divestments, debt repayment, and its decision to surrender the CIC licence. Mandating a listing, however, may alter its philanthropic structure and governance model. Conversely, a grant of relief, without clear criteria, risks eroding regulatory predictability," Khaitan explained.

"The resolution of this matter will, therefore, hold significant value in setting how India's financial regulator accommodates multi-faceted conglomerates while preserving the integrity of oversight," Khaitan said.

A listing of Tata Sons would have provided an exit route for minority shareholder Shapoorji Pallonji group, which holds an 18.4 per cent stake and is seeking to pare its debt.

On October 10, the Shapoorji Pallonji group reiterated its demand for transparency, fairness, and good governance in resolving its holding through a Tata Sons listing.

The Shapoorji Pallonji group has expressed faith in the RBI, describing it as a constitutional and autonomous authority guided by equity and public interest.

Tata Trusts, which owns 66 per cent of Tata Sons and holds veto powers over key decisions, has urged the company's management to explore options for the Shapoorji Pallonji group's exit.

Discussions on the terms of a potential share sale are ongoing. Interestingly, the trustees unanimously support keeping Tata Sons private, citing the largest interest of the beneficiaries of the Trust and the people of India, according to a source in the group.

Since the majority of Tata Sons is owned by charitable public trusts, it allows the Tata group to operate with its philosophy of prioritising national welfare over shifting focus to quarterly profits, the source said.

Tata Trusts is currently witnessing a power struggle between the Chairman and Tata family patriarch Noel Tata and trustee Mehli Mistry, a long-time confidant of the late Ratan Tata.

While Vice-Chairmen Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh have aligned themselves with Noel Tata, Mistry has drawn support from fellow trustees Darius Khambata, a senior lawyer; former banker Prameet Jhaveri, and Jehangir H Jehangir, the Pune-based owner of Jehangir Hospital.

The Mistry camp voted to remove Singh from the board of Tata Sons in September, and on the same day, Noel Tata and other trustees voted against sending Mistry as Tata Trusts nominee to Tata Sons board.

Tata Trusts' nominee directors currently enjoy veto powers in Tata Sons' decisions. The current trust nominee directors are Noel Tata and Srinivasan.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Vedanta, a conglomerate in mining and metals, has seen a surge in its share price on the back of multiple triggers.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Its demerger appears to be on track, a strong non-ferrous commodity cycle is boosting margins, and silver bulls are interested in Hindustan Zinc, its subsidiary.



Aluminium and zinc are up 7 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively, on a quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) basis for October-December.

Aluminium is expected to remain deficit next year as well and supply constraints could sustain higher silver prices in 2026.

Hindustan Zinc will benefit from rising silver prices (up 32 per cent Q-o-Q), given that it is Indias largest silver producer with 800 tonnes of refining capacity.

Vedanta is expanding with the commissioning of a smelting unit (at Balco) with a capacity of 435 kilo tonnes per annum (KTPA).

Debottlenecking at Jharsuguda will lift its smelting capacity to 3.1 million tonnes per annum, or MTPA, by FY28.

The commissioning of the 1.5 MTPA Lanjigarh alumina refinery is part of a targeted expansion of alumina capacity to 6 MTPA, backed by bauxite and coal mines.

A focus on value-added products is expected to drive premium realisations.

Aluminium revenue at Vedanta is expected to grow at 12 per cent annually over FY25-27, with operating profit/tonne rising to $1,283 by FY27 (vs $870 in FY25).

A generation of good cash flow, or CFO, at over Rs 30,000 crore since FY22 has enabled deleveraging, with net debt/operating profit improving to 1.37 times as of September 2025 and targeted at making them equal by FY27.

Despite high dividend payouts, robust free cash-flow generation is expected to sustain a dividend yield of 6 per cent in future.

An operating profit of Vedanta could rise annually at 25 per cent over FY25-27.

Approval by the National Company Law Tribunal for demerger paves the way for creating five listed companies, subject to getting other clearances.

Given separate capital structures and deleveraging, the demerger could unlock value.

The approvals for demerger are still pending (next hearing on January 7) and next steps include asset/liability transfers including mining leases, power-purchase agreements and production-sharing contracts for oil/gas and furnishing corporate guarantees.

Vedanta hopes to complete the demerger by March.

Hindustan Zinc contributes 40 per cent to Vedantas consolidated operating profit.

The management reiterated its medium-term visibility on earnings, supported by a secure mine life, high structural-entry barriers, and renewables-led cost cuts.

The company is confident of retaining mines in the CY30 re-auction.

The management highlighted high entry barriers, supporting a high probability of mine retention, albeit at moderately higher royalty.

The energy-mix transition is a key cost lever, with the use of renewables to increase from 7 per cent in FY25 to 55 per cent in FY27 and to 70 per cent by FY28.

Each 2 per cent increase in the share of renewables yields $1/tonne in cost savings.

The FY27 management guidance for zinc output is at least 1,080 kilo tonnes and for silver production 700 tonnes at very competitive global costs.

Minimal hedging for FY27 reflects the managements belief about structural silver tightness.

Silver hedging is limited to 123 tonnes (34 per cent of H2FY26) at $37/ounce, while FY27 hedging is minimal.

Operating profit could have a considerable upside over consensus expectations of Rs 22,000 crore since spot prices indicate operating profits of Rs 25,800 crore.

Each $1/ounce move in silver prices changes Hindustan Zincs operating profit by 1 per cent.

Vedanta reported consolidated revenues of Rs 39,900 crore, up 6 per cent Y-o-Y and up 5 per cent Q-o-Q, driven by higher London Metal Exchange prices, improved premiums, and forex gains in Q2FY26.

Consolidated operating profits stood at Rs 11,400 crore, up 16 per cent Y-o-Y and up 15 per cent Q-o-Q. The operating profit margin for Q2FY26 stood at 28.6 per cent compared to 26.2 per cent in Q1FY26 and 26.1 per cent in 2QFY25.

Adjusted net profits stood at Rs 3,350 crore, up 13 per cent Y-o-Y and up 5 per cent Q-o-Q.

The company has maintained its full-year capex guidance at $1.7 billion-1.9 billion for FY26, with $0.9 billion already invested in H1.

The analyst consensus is positive and the stock has hit new highs.
'The first time India has seen two consecutive blockbuster IPO years.'

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

India's initial public offering, or IPO, market has entered a whole new orbit.

Consider this: Nearly Rs 3.4 trillion has been mobilised through mainboard IPOs -- large, mature companies going public for the first time -- in just the past two years (2024-2025).

That's more than half of the Rs 6 trillion raised in the 35-year period between 1989 and 2023.

What's more, the juggernaut shows little sign of slowing.

Companies have filed draft papers for IPOs worth Rs 3.5 trillion, excluding mega issues from Reliance Jio, Flipkart, and the National Stock Exchange, which are expected this year.

Another $1 billion-plus (about Rs 8,979 crore) listing may include PhonePe, Manipal Hospitals, and Zepto.

Investment bankers now see annual mobilisation of Rs 1.5 trillion to Rs 2 trillion as the new normal.

This boom has defied bouts of market volatility, pull-out by foreign investors, a weakening rupee, and even underwhelming listings. The primary market appears unstoppable.

"We expect foreign investors to add to the strong domestic institutional flow in 2026, driving India's IPO volumes to exceed the record levels of the last two years," says Sunil Khaitan, head of India Financing Group, Goldman Sachs, adding,

"There will be several multi-billion-dollar IPOs across financial services, consumer, and technology-focused sectors."

What's driving the frenzy

Analysts attribute the IPO enthusiasm to a deepening equity culture, the steady channelling of household savings into markets -- estimated at over Rs 5 trillion annually -- and sustained faith in India's growth story.

Companies from a wide mix of sectors -- renewable energy, financial services, consumer goods, industrial manufacturing, and technology -- tapped investors this year, reflecting both breadth and depth in the deal flow.

"This has been a great year for the primary market," says Neha Agarwal, managing director and head of equity capital markets at JM Financial, an investment banking firm.

"The IPO rush has been driven by entrepreneurial energy, investor appetite, and abundant institutional liquidity."

According to her, investors have grown more discerning. "They now back companies with credible governance and scalable business models. The focus is shifting from listing-day pops to long-term wealth creation."

Domestic liquidity supercycle

A defining theme of 2025 was the rise of domestic institutional investors (DIIs) as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned sellers.

"The IPO market's strength was anchored by a domestic liquidity supercycle," says Om Ghawalkar, market analyst at Share.Market, a stock broking and investment platform from PhonePe Wealth.

"Sustained mutual fund inflows created a deep reservoir of capital that supported new issues, regardless of global volatility."

Data from the Association of Mutual Funds of India (Amfi) shows equity mutual funds drew net inflows of Rs 3.22 trillion in the first 11 months of 2025, complemented by steady deployment from pension and insurance funds and direct retail flows.

"DIIs have been a key stabiliser for both primary and secondary markets," says Abhinav Bharti, head of India equity capital markets at JPMorgan.

"Beyond mutual funds, insurance companies and pension funds are now exerting far more influence than ever before."

Even FPIs, despite selling in the secondary market, participated selectively in IPOs -- a sign of confidence in the quality of issuances, says Pranjal Srivastava, partner-Investment Banking at Centrum Capital, a financial services group.

According to Prime Database, which is focused on capital markets, nearly 250 draft red herring prospectuses were filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) this year.

Together, these were worth over Rs 3.4 trillion, compared with 157 filings in 2024, aggregating Rs 2.8 trillion.

The filings of 2024-2025 together are poised to feed a strong 2026 pipeline.

"New-age tech firms are driving much of the momentum, with about 20 startups preparing to go public," says Bharti.

From lull to frenzy

The year didn't start strong.

"In early 2025 -- around March and April -- there was barely any IPO activity," says Pranav Haldea, managing director, Prime Database. "Volatility from late 2024, triggered by tariff-related worries, had dampened sentiment. The revival began only after May as markets stabilised."

Smaller issuers tested the waters first, paving the way for larger ones. By mid-year, mega deals from consumption and financial sectors reignited momentum, making the second half one of the most active in India's capital market history.

"This is the first time India has seen two consecutive blockbuster IPO years," Haldea says.

"Earlier, a strong IPO year was usually followed by a long lull. That cycle seems to have been broken."

A sophisticated market

Regulatory tightening by Sebi on disclosures, governance norms, and valuations ensures that only credible, scaled-up companies now reach the market.

"Unlike the 1990s or early 2000s, when weak and opaque issuers dominated, the quality of supply today is far more robust," Haldea says.

The market now comprises a mix of family businesses deleveraging, startups offering investor exits, and multinationals deepening their India play.

Investors -- institutional and retail alike -- enjoy more diverse choices, even as valuation discipline tightens.

Uneven but resilient returns

Despite record fundraising, IPO returns were mixed. Some marquee names -- Meesho, LG Electronics, and Groww -- delivered strong post-listing performance, while several mid-sized firms traded below issue price.

"Even as small- and midcap stocks faltered, listing gains kept investors engaged," says Centrum's Srivastava. The mature retail investors are, however, beginning to look beyond grey-market hype.

"Fomo (fear of missing out) still drives oversubscriptions," Ghawalkar says. "But lock-in expiries next year may test liquidity. Understanding why a company is raising funds will be key."

Retail revolution

If there is one force that defines India's IPO era, it is retail participation.

Roughly 15 to 20 per cent of Indian households now invest in equities or mutual funds -- still far lower than Brazil's 40 to 45 per cent or the US's 50 to 60 per cent, implying ample headroom for growth.

Retail participation in IPOs has doubled since 2019, with marquee issues drawing a million applications at ease. The ubiquity of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and digital trading platforms allows for IPO subscriptions in a matter of seconds.

This "financialisation of savings" has created a virtuous cycle -- IPO exits provide liquidity to early investors, which, in turn, fuels fresh startup funding and a self-sustaining pipeline of issuers.

While the IPO boom is seen extending, experts caution against letting exuberance get ahead of fundamentals.

"If valuation discipline and issuer quality remain intact," says Haldea, "the next five years could be a golden era for India's primary market."

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'What made Gopi a man above others was his belief that business carried a broader purpose -- creating opportunity and bridging cultures.'

Lakshmi Mittal, executive chairman, ArcelorMittal, pays tribute to Gopichand Hinduja who passed into the ages on November 4, 2025.

IMAGE: Gopichand Hinduja.

I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend Gopichand Hinduja. Popularly known as GP, but always Gopi to me, he cut a colossal figure in global business and London life.

Gopi was one of the most remarkable individuals I have had the privilege to befriend. My wife Usha and I loved every moment we spent with him and will always cherish those memories.

Gopi was a champion of enterprise whose vision created an Indian global conglomerate long before more familiar ones emerged in the wake of a resurgent Indian economy.

With his brothers, the elder and late Srichand, and the younger surviving Prakash and Ashok, he took the Hinduja group into banking, energy, automotives, and technology.

At a time of tumult in British minority communities, Gopi was a global business leader who made it his personal business to seek out an emerging wave of entrepreneurs.

Political elites embraced this new social class and Gopi, doubtless new to corner street shops and pharmacies, happily became a recognisable bridgehead.

Under his leadership, Hinduja businesses such as Ashok Leyland became global successes, from manufacturing India's first electric buses to serving markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, demonstrating his belief in Indian ingenuity with borderless ambition.

He was genuinely proud to contribute to the Indian growth story.

Through all his achievements and the rebukes that occasionally surfaced, Gopi remained remarkably rooted, never losing sight of the values and faith that underpinned his success.

Short in height but tall in stature, he immediately put people at ease and had a character that was able to find fun even in very serious issues.

When my family moved to London 30 years ago, Gopi was among the first to welcome us with warmth and affection. Over the years, our relationship blossomed.

I always cherish the time we spent together and the lessons he shared about friendship, faith, and perseverance.

He was incredibly loyal -- and always turned up to support his friends.

His love for life made him a wonderful guest at any event and he was generous with his time and spirit to everyone.

In my view, what also made Gopi a man above others was his belief that business carried a broader purpose -- creating opportunity and bridging cultures.

He was undoubtedly an impetus in strengthening the bond between India and the United Kingdom, ultimately realised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievement of a free-trade agreement between the two countries this year.

I believe his impact on the British community was insufficiently acknowledged by traditional elites.

Gopi's happy companionship of London's small traders amounted to a telling endorsement -- he did not have to attend yet another community function in the suburbs.

And so, his presence here and there in London helped shape the story of British Indians.

He helped define what it meant to succeed as an Indian in the UK during a time when India was emerging as a magnet for investment following its groundbreaking economic reforms in the 1990s.

His impact on London is visible in many ways, too, notably in the projects that have helped redraw its landscape.

The redevelopment of the Old War Office into The OWO hotel stands as a testament to his vision, an ability to blend history, elegance and modernity in ways that enrich the city's fabric.

In Gopi's own words, the OWO will be his "greatest legacy to London for future generations to enjoy".

Yet his influence extended beyond landmarks. It was evident in his respect for others, his quiet counsel and knack for striking enduring friendships.

He had a calm assurance that inspired confidence and a generosity that never sought attention or acclaim.

Whether in the company of a head of State or a young entrepreneur, he listened with patience and spoke with the conviction that comes with a lifetime of experience. I have benefited from this for many years.

Gopi will be remembered as a titan of business and a true gentleman. His passing will be felt not only by his family, friends, and the Hinduja group, but across the communities he served with philanthropy as well as business during an extraordinary life.

Indeed, it is hard to imagine life without his presence, but his spirit and legacy will remain with us.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
In a country where wearing lipstick could still invite disapproval, Simone Tata understood that Lakme's future depended on shifting attitudes.

IMAGE: Simone Tata. Photograph: Kind courtesy X

Back in the early 1960s, when India, barely in its teens as an independent nation, was beginning to embrace the idea of fashion shows, mostly organised by textile mills, Simone Tata would be among those quietly watching from the audience.

She would come not for the fabrics the mills hoped would excite a new consumer.

She would come for Lakme, the young cosmetics brand whose board she had joined in 1962.

She wanted to see whether these shows, still a novelty then, could give Lakme visibility.

Even at that early stage, she understood that a brand needed not only products but also presence, and she would go on to give Lakme both.

In doing so, she would give India its first indigenous cosmetics brand.

Simone Tata, the business leader who helped anchor Lakme in Indian households and later guided the Tata Group into modern fashion retail through Westside, passed away in Mumbai at the age of 95 after a brief illness.



Born in 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland, she first came to India as a tourist in 1953.

A meeting with Naval H Tata during that visit would change the direction of her life. They married two years later, and she made Mumbai her permanent home.

Naval Tata already had two sons -- Ratan Tata and Jimmy Tata -- from his first marriage, and she would become a mother to them.

In 1957, Noel Tata, now chairman of Tata Trusts, would be born to the couple.

IMAGE: The brand's first ambassador, 1980s' supermodel Shyamoli Verma. Photograph: Kind courtesy Ensemble Photo Archives/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

Simone Tata's life as a businesswoman unfolded almost in tandem with the evolution of India's first homegrown cosmetics brand.

Lakme had been founded in 1952 by Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy -- JRD -- Tata at the prompting of then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who saw the need for an indigenous alternative to imported beauty products, which was an expensive habit for a young nation striving to conserve foreign exchange.

The brand -- its name derived from Lakshmi through its French inflection, Lakme -- was launched in collaboration with French firms Robert Piguet and Renoir.

Soon after joining the Lakme board, Simone Tata became central to shaping its identity.

IMAGE: Lisa Ray sashayed down the runway in a belted vintage Ritu Kumar sari at Lakme Fashion Week 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy Lakme Fashion Week X FDCI

In a country where wearing lipstick could still invite disapproval, she understood that the brand's future depended on shifting attitudes.

She pushed for aggressive marketing at a time when Indian advertising was still tentative, positioning Lakme as aspirational yet accessible, and building a range tailored to Indian skin tones.



Her strategy blended modernity with cultural familiarity.

The brand's first ambassador, 1980s' supermodel Shyamoli Verma, became the 'Lakme Girl', appearing in an early advertisement that showed her playing traditional Indian instruments while styled in Lakme products.

The message was deliberate: Beauty need not be at odds with Indian identity.

Over the years, actors such as Rekha and later Aishwarya Rai embodied this evolving image.

Lisa Ray also walked the ramp for Lakme, adding to its fashion cachet.

IMAGE: A Westside store in Vadodara in Gujarat. Photograph: Kind courtesy Nichalp/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

By 1982, Simone Tata had become chairperson of Lakme.

Under her stewardship, the brand grew into one of the most recognised names in Indian beauty. But the mid-1990s brought new pressures as global giants such as L'Oreal and Revlon entered a liberalising Indian market.

To strengthen Lakme's technological and distribution abilities, she initiated a 50:50 joint venture with Hindustan Unilever in 1996.

The alliance sought to offset high import duties on raw materials, harness global expertise, and tap into HUL's vast marketing network.



Two years later, in 1998, the Tata Group exited the joint venture, selling its 50 per cent stake for Rs 200 crore.

Instead of viewing the sale as a retreat, Simone Tata used it as a pivot. She channelled the proceeds into acquiring the sole Bengaluru store of Littlewoods International and merged it with Lakme's export business to create Tata Retail Enterprise.

Renamed Trent, the company would go on to launch Westside, a fashion retail chain that would become one of India's most prominent.

IMAGE: A Zudio store in Hyderabad. Photograph: Kind courtesy Rajasekhar1961/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

She remained Trent's non-executive chairperson until 2006, overseeing its early expansion at a time when organised retail in India was still taking shape.

Trent today operates multiple brands, including Zudio, Burnt Toast, Samoh and Utsa, and also runs the Star grocery chain through a joint venture with Tesco Plc.

The company is now chaired by Noel Tata, her son.

IMAGE: A Lakme salon in Nashik. Photograph: Kind courtesy Prabirghose/wikipedia.org/Creative Commons

In a statement mourning her passing, the Tata Group said, 'She will always be remembered for her contribution to the growth of Lakme as India's leading cosmetic brand and laying the foundation for fashion retail with the Westside chain... With her positivity and deep resolve, she overcame many challenges in her life while touching many of us deeply.'



From helping build India's first indigenous cosmetics brand to laying the foundation for one of its most successful retail ventures, Simone Tata leaves behind a legacy woven into the country's evolving ideas of beauty, aspiration, and modernity.



Lakme itself, sold to HUL, has continued to grow, expanding to more than 1,000 cosmetic products and 400 salons, and becoming the title sponsor of the biannual Lakme Fashion Week.

Its enduring cultural presence remains a testament to Simone Tata's early vision.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/ Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Currently, India has five publicly listed Reits: Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks Reit, Mindspace Business Parks Reit Nexus Select Trust, and Knowledge Realty Trust.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The popularity of real estate investment trusts (Reits) is on the rise in India, according to industry watchers and players even as the instrument vies for a spot as a mainstream investment option.

India was a late entrant in the Reits space. Currently, India has five publicly listed Reits -- Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks Reit, Mindspace Business Parks Reit Nexus Select Trust, and Knowledge Realty Trust.

Together, they manage assets under management (AUM) of 2.25 trillion and have a combined market capitalisation of more than 1.5 trillion as of August 2025, according to the Indian Reits Association (IRA).

Having allowed the investment instrument only in 2014, India is relatively behind other major global markets.

The first Reit was issued in 2019. But according to some senior executives, at least one new Reit is expected to be launched annually over the coming three to five years.

Upcoming Reits include Blackstone-backed Bengaluru developer Bagmane, which is planning a 4,000 crore Reit initial public offering, as per Moneycontrol.

Another is the DLF-GIC joint venture firm DCCDL, which houses all of DLF rental assets of office space and malls, according to the company.

However, the company said it has no immediate plans. Another is reported to be a Blackstone, Sattva Group and Panchshil Realty-backed Reit.

On the purely retail side there is Phoenix Mills, which recently acquired Canadian investor CPPIB's shares in its subsidiary Island Star Mall Developers Private Ltd.

It said in an investor presentation that the move opened up the way for monetisation through a possible Reit.

Globally, Reits have been used as an investment instrument since 1960, and major markets like the US, Australia, Japan, UK, and Singapore have the larger share of funds raised through Reits.

In all, there are over 1,000 listed Reits across 40 countries with a market cap of $1.9 trillion.

But in India, they remain on the sidelines still. "The journey of Reits in India has just begun," said Alok Aggarwal, chairman, IRA, and managing director and CEO of Brookfield India Real Estate Trust.

Crucially, the sector's annual distribution yields, at 6 to 7.5 per cent, "beat global peers, outpacing even the US, Singapore, or Japan," added Aggarwal.

These are not speculative windfalls, but sustainable returns combining stable rental income and capital appreciation.

"Reits remain a favourable instrument for many investors, particularly those looking for diversification, rental yield plus asset-class exposure to real estate without owning buildings themselves," said Anuj Puri, chairman of property consultants Anarock Group, pointing to headroom for growth: of the 520 million sq ft of Reitable -- completed, income-generating -- office space stock in the country's top cities, only 23 per cent are listed so far.

The India story

Cumulative distributions by the five Reits have surpassed 24,300 crore since 2014, with 1,559 crore paid out in Q1 FY26 alone, a 13 per cent increase year-over-year, data from IRA showed.

For the full financial year 2024-2025, the cumulative distribution by the five Reits reached 6,070 crore, up from 5,366 crore in FY24 a year-on-year growth of 13 per cent. Reits are mandated to distribute at least 90 per cent of their taxable income.

According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reits have to mandatorily undertake a public listing on the Indian exchanges.

The five listed Reits held more than 175 million sq ft of Grade-A office and retail space as of Q1FY26.

With occupancies for major listed players climbing from the low 80 per cent range to high 80s, projections indicate the figure could exceed 90 per cent soon.

India's office market is poised to cross 1 billion sq ft to become the fourth-largest, after China, the US and Japan, according to Amit Shetty, CEO of Embassy Reit, as demand from global capability centres and leading corporates continues to outpace supply across key markets.

According to industry insiders, pension funds and the insurance sector are now looking at Reits as an investment option, which will further broaden the investor market.

"For investors, the Reit opportunity in India is immense -- Reits today represent just 19 per cent of the listed real estate universe and 0.4 per cent of the overall stock market, compared to 98 per cent and 2 per cent in the US," added Shetty.

"Over the next five years, we see India's listed Reit exposure easily doubling to over $50 billion, led by the continued expansion of high-quality, income-generating office assets and the rise of new office, retail, data center, and hospitality Reits."

For the average investor, Reits can feel like an odd hybrid -- traded on stock exchanges like equities but also providing regular distributions akin to fixed income.

"In practical portfolio construction, investors should not box Reits into debt or equity but view them as a 'real asset' allocation -- a basket of institutional-grade real estate that provides both income and long-term growth," said Aggarwal.

Under the Indian tax framework, dividends distributed by Reits are tax-exempt, giving Reits an edge over direct equity in many cases.

If the upside for Reits looks so good, why are only a handful of them in the market?

Puri points to one key reason: "Given that Reits are at a very nascent stage, there is limited awareness about them and their benefits. Several retail investors see Reits as just real estate instruments and not as equity portfolio. The country's Reits ecosystem is still dominated by commercial office assets."

Lata Pillai, senior MD and head of capital markets India at JLL, said that the concept of owning a fractional interest in commercial real estate portfolios was still new to investors accustomed to direct property investments or traditional equity or debt instruments.

"Currently, institutional investors dominate India's Reit market, with retail participation occurring primarily through mutual funds rather than direct retail investors," she added.

Executives in the industry also point to the mountain of legal work it takes for a real estate company to move to a Trust structure, more so if it is listed.

"Reits are fully regulated instruments by Sebi, and are subject to inspections by regulators. Trusts are required to give quarterly results, annual reports and valuation reports every six months, besides other disclosures," a senior executive added.

Reclassified

Reits are now classified as equity instruments following a September 2025 reclassification by Sebi, which has implications for mutual funds, market participation, and liquidity.

Previously considered hybrid instruments, they now count towards the equity allocation for mutual funds, potentially boosting their attractiveness and enabling their inclusion in equity indices.

"This reclassification is expected to significantly increase market liquidity and broaden investor participation, as more mutual funds will be able to invest in them," said JLL's Pillai.

Industry executives hope that treating and marketing Reits as equities for investment by mutual funds would enable wider adoption.

The move is expected to deepen liquidity, strengthen index presence, and help investors better recognise the total-return profile of Reits.

The first wave of Reits focused on Grade-A office properties (with one retail Reit), but the future map looks broader.

"Looking ahead, the boom in e-commerce and quick commerce means warehousing will be a key focus, including last-mile assets.India's data centre market is expected to grow to over $100 billion by 2027, driven by 5G, increasing AI adoption, and focus on cloud computing," Aggarwal pointed out.

Anarock estimates the retail Reit market could reach 60,000 to 80,000 crore by 2030 -- around 30 to 40 per cent of India's overall Reits market. Diversification of Reits is expected through data centres, logistics Reits and more.

Pillai noted that besides the office segment in tier 1 and 2 cities that had untapped potential, the logistics and warehousing sectors, which are currently under the InvIT (infrastructure investment trust) category, hospitals, medical office buildings, diagnostic centres, senior living facilities and student housing and co-living sectors were positioned for near-term Reit development given their scale, investor familiarity, and established operational frameworks.

Headwinds

The participation of retail investors in Reits is yet to match institutional enthusiasm.

Taxation on dividend distributions can dampen post-tax yields for some investors. And experts flag another risk: Market concentration.

"Currently, out of the five listed Reits in India -- four are office-focused while only one is retail," said Puri. "Thus, it is concentrated in just one segment and if it spreads across segments then we may see some shift for larger adoption."

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Today's situation in the Shaksgam Valley is the consequence of what happened in Gilgit in 1947.

But is India ready to militarily get back its territories? asks Claude Arpi.

IMAGE: A view of the Shaksgam Valley. Photograph:Kind courtesy The Himalayan Club/Facebook

Shaksgam Valley, a territory formerly under the Shigar tehsil of the Baltistan region of Jammu and Kashmir state and illegally occupied by China, is in the news.

On January 9, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the Shaksgam Valley is part of India's territory, bluntly stating that the 1963 agreement between Pakistan and China relating to this area was 'illegal and invalid'.

'Shaksgam Valley is Indian territory,' asserted Jaiswal said. 'We have never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' signed in 1963. We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid.

'...We have consistently protested with the Chinese side against attempts to alter the ground reality in the Shaksgam Valley. We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests,' Jaiswal satted, without elaborating on the 'measures'.

Shaksgam Valley: The Facts

Since 2017, China started massive infrastructure development in the Shaksgam Calley.

Beijing's objective seems to be to connect the Shaksgam valley with Pakistan in the west, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in the north and the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) in the south east.

China has already constructed a 129 kilometre Aghil-Shaksgam track connecting the Aghil Pass to the Shaksgam Pass.

Then the track moves eastward towards the Yarkand Valley connecting the Shaksgam Pass to G219 (the Western Highway also known as the Aksai Chin Road).

In the north, the Aghil-Shaksgam alignment is now linked with G-684 near Yilike, which further connects to the G-219 Highway at Mazar in Xinjiang.

Olivier Guillard, a researcher at CERIAS (Universite du Quebec, Canada) in an excellent paper published in 2024 by the Institut d'etudes de geopolitique appliquee, Paris, entitled China's unilateral attempt to alter status quo of South Asian Nations, explained: 'China has been illegally developing operational infrastructure, especially the Shaksgam Valley Road under three main tracks:

Track 1 enters Shaksgam Valley from the northwestern side at Sokh Bulaq and [then] follows the Shaksgam river for 70 km.

Track 2 from the Balti Brangsa towards the Shaksgam Pass.

A third track is being developed since 2023 from Kul [Yilike] across the Aghil Pass presumably towards Skardu. It currently measures 117 km in length and 5 metres in width.

IMAGE: A view of Gilgit-Baltistan. Photograph:Kind courtesy Faizalalwani/Wikimedia Commons

'Additionally,' Guillard added, 'China has established new construction camps in March 2024 that each have containerised housing modules, a concrete batch plant, rock grinding equipment, additional support facilities and a sizeable fleet of heavy construction equipment and light vehicles. By early May 2024, numerous flood control ditches were also noted to protect these new constructions.'

Considering that Shaksgam is Indian territory, this is extremely worrying, to say the least.

In the meanwhile, it is regrettable that certain government web sites still mention the length of the border with China as 3,488 km (and not 4,056 km), stopping at the Karakoram Pass instead of the trijunction with Afghanistan (External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar rightly called Afghanistan India's 'contiguous neighbour').

One can only hope that it will be rectified.

Pakistan's wrong views

On December 11, 2023, India's Supreme Court upheld the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated the state into two Union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan's politicians immediately started crying foul, saying that the Indian government's decision had 'no legal value'.

Jalil Abbas Jilani, a minister in the country's caretaker government, said that 'Kashmiris have an inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.'

Jilani, like most of his colleagues, has probably never read the relevant UN resolutions; we shall soon come to that.

The Pakistani media too believed that this was a 'grave injustice' and an 'unjust verdict'. On December 12, Dawn newspaper said it was an attempt to rewrite history: 'The court's decision may strengthen India's stranglehold over Kashmir, but it cannot extinguish the Kashmiris' strong desire for freedom and dignity.'

IMAGE: A view of Gwadar port in Pakistan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Wikimedia Commons

'Pakistan, not content with assisting the invader, has itself become an invader'

While working on the Nehru papers a few years ago, I came across a 'Top Secret' note written in the early 1950s by Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai, then secretary-general of the ministry of external affairs and Commonwealth affairs.

It was entitled Background to the Kashmir Issue: Facts of the Case; it made fascinating reading.

It started with a historical dateline: 'Invasion of the state by tribesmen and Pakistan nationals through or from Pakistan territory on October 20, 1947; the ruler's offer of accession of the state to India supported by the National Conference, a predominantly Muslim though non-communal political organisation, on October 26, 1947; acceptance of the accession by the British Governor-General of India on October 27, 1947, under this accession, the state became an integral part of India; expression of a wish by Lord Mountbatten in a separate letter to the ruler the fulfilment of which was to take place at a future date when law and order had been restored and the soil of the state cleared of the invader, the people of the state were given the right to decide whether they should remain in India or not.'

The note also mentioned the invasion of the state by Pakistan regular forces on May 8, 1948; the conditions were clear and in two parts: First the Pakistani troops or irregulars should withdraw from the Indian territory that they occupied and later a plebiscite could be envisaged.

Commenting on the entry of Pakistanis on Indian territory, the note said: 'One of the grounds for this [Pakistani] military operation, as disclosed by Pakistan's foreign minister himself, was a recommendation of the commander-in-chief of Pakistan [a British national] that an easy victory for the Indian Army was almost certain to arouse the anger of the invading tribesmen [raiders] against Pakistan.'

The note also observed: 'Pakistan, not content with assisting the invader, has itself become an invader and its army is still occupying a large part of the soil of Kashmir, thus committing a continuing breach of international law.'

Pakistani politicians (and others) often quote the UN resolutions; very few have read them.

The UN resolutions of January 17, 1948, August 13, 1948, and January 5, 1949 (UNCIP Resolutions) made it amply clear that 'Pakistan cannot claim to exercise sovereignty in respect of J&K'.

The case of Gilgit-Baltistan

Today's situation in the Shaksgam Valley is the consequence of what happened in Gilgit in 1947.

An interesting announcement appeared in the 1948 London Gazette mentioning that the King 'has been graciously pleased... to give orders for... appointments to the Most Exalted Order of the British Empire...' The list included 'Brown, Major (acting) William Alexander, Special List (ex-Indian Army)'. Who was this officer?

Major Brown is infamous for illegally 'offering' Gilgit to Pakistan in 1947.

The British paramountcy had lapsed on August 1, 1947, and Gilgit reverted to the maharaja's control.

Lieutenant Colonel Roger Bacon, the British political agent, handed his charge to Brigadier Ghansara Singh, the new governor appointed by Maharaja Hari Singh. Major Brown remained in charge of the Gilgit Scouts.

Despite Hari Singh having signed the Instrument of Accession and joined India, Major Brown refused to acknowledge the orders of the maharaja under the pretext that some leaders of the Frontier Districts Province (Gilgit-Baltistan) wanted to join Pakistan.

IMAGE: Indian forces push back the Pakistani invaders in the 1947 War. Photograph: Rediff Archives

On November 1, 1947, probably under order from British generals, he handed over the entire area to Pakistan.

At the time, the entire hierarchy of the Indian and Pakistan army was still British.

In Pakistan, Sir Frank Messervy was commander-in-chief of the Pakistan army in 1947-1948 and Sir Douglas Gracey served in 1948-1951; while in India, the commander-in-chief was Sir Robert Lockhart (1947-1948) and later Sir Roy Bucher (1948).

It is only in June 1948 that General K M Cariappa took over.

Who can believe that all these senior generals were kept in the dark by a junior officer like Major Brown?

It is obvious that Major Brown's British bosses were aware of his 'gift' to Pakistan. The fact that he was given an OBE is further proof.

The king does not usually appoint 'deserters' or 'rebels' to the august order.

Amazingly, nine years ago, the British parliament passed a resolution that confirmed Gilgit-Baltistan was part of Jammu and Kashmir.

The motion was tabled on March 23, 2017 by Bob Blackman of the Conservative Party; it reads: 'Gilgit-Baltistan is a legal and constitutional part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, which is illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947, and where people are denied their fundamental rights, including the right of freedom of expression.'

It explains that the agreement signed on March 2, 1963 between Pakistan and China about the Shaksgam Valley (of the Gilgit Agency being transferred to China) is legally invalid.

Beijing should be told again and again ...and Pakistani politicians should learn their history.

But is India ready to militarily get back its territories? This columnist can't answer the question.

Claude Arpi is a long-time contributor to Rediff. You can read his earlier articles here.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'The writing is on the wall for both Shinde and Ajit Pawar.'

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar during a rally, November 10, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar joined the BJP alliance to save themselves from various cases and investigations. Now they are completely dependent on the BJP's goodwill," Sudhir Suryawanshi, senior journalist and long-time observer of Maharashtra politics, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff in the concluding segment of a two-part interview.

"The moment the BJP withdraws that protection, they are finished. They are surviving only because the BJP allows them to survive. But the BJP's patience has limits especially when these allies can't even deliver their own traditional strongholds."

PART 1 of the interview: 'Devendra Fadnavis Is King of Kings'

What are the biggest takeaways for the key players -- Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar? What has each gained or lost?

The big takeaway is that Devendra Fadnavis has again proved himself as the leader of Maharashtra. After Sharad Pawar, he is the only person who has achieved so much success in state politics.

Secondly, he has expanded his party's base not just in cities but in every nook and corner of Maharashtra. Earlier, the BJP was untouchable in many pockets of the state, but by bringing in leaders like Ashok Chavan and other Maratha stalwarts, they've made inroads.

They knew they couldn't penetrate those bases directly, so they chose to hijack the leaders themselves -- automatically, the base comes along.

He has used the ED and CBI, threatened people indirectly, so they had no option but to join the BJP.

Politics is all about this ruthlessness; very few show mercy.

But here's the other point: If you remove his power -- if he weren't the chief minister, if the BJP weren't in power at the Centre and in the state -- would Fadnavis be as powerful as he is today? I don't think so.

I feel he's not a mass leader but a good manager. He manages things exceptionally well, in a way that would surprise even Harvard MBA graduates. He has charisma, but it's charisma with power. I don't see his charisma working without power.

I know Maharashtra well, and I don't think he has the mass appeal that Sharad Pawar has. Power is the main glowing factor, the major expanding and dominating factor of his leadership. We cannot take that away.

What about Uddhav Thackeray? What's his path forward after these results?

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray. Photograph: Kind courtesy @OfficeofUT/X

Uddhav Thackeray may have lost in the BMC (BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation election), but he's not out of state politics. Today in Maharashtra, he is the only person speaking against the government, against the BJP, against the BJP and RSS policies.

Even the Congress and other parties aren't doing this as aggressively as he has been doing it. If he works tirelessly with his son (Aditya Thackeray), covers Maharashtra extensively through rallies, and establishes himself as an alternative to Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP, then he and his party have a good future.

Why?

Because Marathis continue to vote for him. Muslims are not allergic to Uddhav, and Dalits aren't either. If the major chunks of the state -- Muslims, Dalits, and Marathis -- decisively rally behind him, then he and his son have a bright future. But there's a condition: they need to work hard. Harder and harder.

The times when the Thackerays could sit in Matoshree (their home in suburban Mumbai) and things would work out for them are gone. There's huge competition in politics now -- Shinde is there, Ajit Pawar is there, Raj Thackeray is there, and multiple players are in the field.

You can't do exclusive politics -- saying you'll only meet people at certain times. That won't help at all. They need to be on the streets, among the people, 24/7. Only then will it help Uddhav Thackeray grow as he expects.

'The moment the BJP doesn't want him, Shinde will be wiped out'

And what about Eknath Shinde and both factions of the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party)-- Sharad Pawar's and Ajit Pawar's?

IMAGE: Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Photograph: ANI Photo

The BJP created Eknath Shinde's faction because they wanted to topple Uddhav Thackeray's government. They offered him the lucrative chief ministership for two-and-a-half years, and he thought he'd continue in the next government as well.

But when the BJP's numbers came through, they showed him his rightful place as deputy CM.

In the future, I don't think Shinde's party will survive because both parties have the same plank, the same agenda, and the same voter base. The way the BJP wanted to destroy or make Shiv Sena (UBT) redundant because of ideological differences, they don't want to see any competitor.

The same thing will be done to Shinde's Sena, and it's very easy because Shinde's Sena is their own child, their own baby. It won't take much time. They've already shown this in the civic body elections.

Fadnavis has repeatedly said in his speeches that he's the boss. He said during the assembly elections that number one is number one -- number two has no value. As long as the BJP wants Shinde, he'll remain. The moment the BJP doesn't want him, Shinde will be wiped out. Some (belonging to Shinde's Shiv Sena) will be absorbed into the BJP, and others will go wherever they find a place.

What are the chances of the BJP doing to Eknath Shinde in Mumbai what Eknath Shinde did to Uddhav Thackeray? He has 29 corporators -- can the BJP break his party anytime?

By 2029, the BJP will act differently. Amit Shah, the Union home minister and top BJP leader, has already declared in Maharashtra that they can walk without crutches. He said this at a rally addressing party workers a few months back. That means they don't need Ajit Pawar or Eknath Shinde anymore for the 2029 state assembly elections.

The BJP will go on its own. The same template they are using in the civic body elections will be implemented there. Wherever they need help, they'll take it, but they won't take their help everywhere.

And Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar are in no position to deny the BJP that help?

No, they don't have the position. They don't have the moral right or authority to say anything against the BJP. They are at the mercy of the BJP; they don't have options.

My information is that after the civic body elections, the BJP may carry out a major operation and show Ajit Pawar his place -- ask him to sit in the Opposition. The same will happen with Eknath Shinde, sooner or later.

'They don't want someone who is a liability; they want assets'

Why Ajit Pawar? Because he has lost all authority as well as power after surrendering meekly in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, which are considered his bastions?

IMAGE: Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar. Photograph: Saahil Salvi

Anybody -- the BJP or any other party -- would not like to carry baggage. Everybody loves power and the power-giver. If someone is not able to add value to them, why would they continue supplying power to that person? It's better to cut them off and disown them.

There's also the matter of Ajit Pawar's Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam, which the BJP recently brought into the limelight. BJP leaders have said the matter is now sub judice, which means the file is not closed.

Secondly, they can bring to his notice his son Parth Pawar's 40-acre land issue. They can tell him he's more of a liability than an asset. He can be easily arm-twisted. They don't want someone who is a liability; they want assets. So he will be shown his place as well.

So essentially, both Shinde and Ajit Pawar can be easily pressured to fall in line with whatever the BJP wants?

Absolutely. They have no leverage. The BJP has all the cards -- the central agencies, the power, the resources. Shinde and Ajit Pawar joined the BJP alliance to save themselves from various cases and investigations. Now they are completely dependent on the BJP's goodwill.

The moment the BJP withdraws that protection, they are finished. They are surviving only because the BJP allows them to survive. But the BJP's patience has limits especially when these allies can't even deliver their own traditional strongholds.

'By 2029, the BJP wants to be in a position where they don't need anyone'

Based on your analysis and insider information, what should we expect in the coming months? You mentioned a major operation by the BJP.

IMAGE: Narendra Modi felicitated by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign in Pune. Photograph: ANI Photo

According to my information, the BJP is planning a major 'Operation Kamal' in the coming days, particularly targeting Ajit Pawar and possibly Shinde as well.

After the civic body elections have exposed their weaknesses, the BJP sees no reason to continue carrying them as equals. They'll either be reduced to completely subservient roles or pushed out entirely.

The BJP's message is clear: By 2029, they want to be in a position where they don't need anyone. These municipal elections were a testing ground for that strategy, and from the BJP's perspective, the test has been successful.

The coming months will be crucial. Watch for defections from both Shinde's camp and Ajit Pawar's camp back to the BJP.

Watch for how the BJP allocates power and resources in these newly won municipal corporations -- they'll reward their own and sideline the allies. And watch for how the central agencies suddenly become active again on certain cases.

The writing is on the wall for both Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
CANBERRA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to contain an out-of-control grass fire that is threatening lives and homes south of Adelaide in the state of South Australia.

The fire started near the small town of Tooperang, 50 km south of Adelaide, on Sunday afternoon, and had burned around 650 hectares of grass and scrub, said the Country Fire Service (CFS).

Residents of Tooperang and the nearby town of Nangkita were on Sunday night told to evacuate immediately, but the emergency warning was downgraded on Monday, with residents instead told to prepare to leave.

"Take action now as this bushfire may threaten your safety," the warning issued by the CFS said.

It said that the fire was burning in a southerly direction towards Nangkita and the townships of Mount Jagged and Mosquito Hill, which had a combined population of around 600 people at the time of the 2021 national census.

More than 200 volunteer firefighters from the CFS supported by over 60 trucks worked through Sunday night to try and prevent the spread of the fire.

CFS officer Ben Pettman told the ABC that shifting winds forecast for Monday would cause the fire to change directions at short notice. 
'It would have polarised the Marathi-non Marathi divide further. Fadnavis had a very clear strategy: Let all Marathi people campaign for us (the BJP), and whatever results we get will be delivered by Marathi people only.'

IMAGE: Narendra Modi with Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde during the campaign for the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. Photograph: ANI Photo

The municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra have redrawn the state's political map.

The BJP's sweep of 25 out of 29 corporations marks a watershed moment in its journey from being perceived as an urban, upper-caste party to one with statewide appeal.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emerges as the architect of this victory, having personally campaigned across all 29 corporations while deliberately keeping national leaders away to counter the Marathi-versus-outsider narrative.

Mumbai's results tell a nuanced story -- the BJP improved its tally modestly, but the real battle was won in the suburbs and satellite cities where the Shiv Sena (UBT) lost significant ground.

"Raj Thackeray has emerged as the unsung hero of the Marathi cause. Though he got fewer seats, whatever seats Uddhav got were because of Raj only -- his initiative, his aggression, his planning. He executed it well. The challenge for Raj now is to increase his tally and keep Uddhav's ambitions under control," Kiran Tare, political commentator and editor of The Perfect Voice e-newspaper, tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.

'Devendra Fadnavis will take over reins of the BMC'

The BJP won 25 out of 29 municipal corporations. What makes this election a turning point for the party in Maharashtra?

This is definitely a watershed moment for the BJP in the state. What's significant is that these aren't small towns -- these are major corporations, big in terms of population, income sources, and political importance.

The BJP has demonstrated wider acceptance in urban areas, and crucially, they've managed to enter regions where they previously had no foothold.

Earlier, in every district, there were certain pockets where the BJP simply couldn't make inroads. These municipal elections have changed that narrative entirely. We can now say the BJP is a genuinely statewide party, which wasn't the case before. This will have massive implications for future Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

Who deserves credit for this success? Is this primarily Devendra Fadnavis' achievement?

It's overwhelmingly a one-man show -- Devendra Fadnavis. His vision, ideas, campaign strategy, and the way he focused on specific issues in each area made the difference.

Of course, there were many people working at the organisational level, but it was Fadnavis who gave them direction and identified the key issues to raise.

What's remarkable is that he visited each and every municipal corporation -- all 29 of them. That's an incredibly hectic schedule, but he managed it. The credit goes squarely to him.

In Mumbai, the BJP increased its tally from 82 to 89 seats despite ruling the city through an administrator for four years. Isn't that a modest improvement for such a prestigious corporation?

Seven seats might seem like a small number, but context matters enormously.

There was a strong sentiment working against the BJP -- narratives about Mumbai being separated from Maharashtra, Marathi people being thrown out, accusations of being puppets. Against all that, Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP didn't rely on emotional issues. They spoke about the Metro, coastal road, infrastructure development.

The only emotional pitch was that a Khan could become mayor of Mumbai, and that worked in their favour.

Given that virtually all the sentimental issues and media coverage favoured the Thackerays, improving the tally by seven seats is actually an achievement.

Mumbai has traditionally been the Shiv Sena's fortress. After these results, who really rules the city now?

It's politically fragmented. There won't be any single person's rule anymore. Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray used to control things from behind the curtain. But now I believe Devendra Fadnavis will take over the reins of the BMC. Whoever becomes mayor or standing committee chairman will work under his guidance or control.

Since Mumbai is India's richest city and financial capital, Fadnavis will definitely want a bigger say in municipal functioning. Even if Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde heads the urban development Department, which directly controls the BMC, the chief minister has a significant say as well; Fadnavis will be the key figure.

'Outside Mumbai, the Thackerays are practically finished'

There's talk that the BJP might offer the mayor's post to Eknath Shinde's faction. What's the thinking behind that?

That's a clever political move if it happens.

On January 23, the birth centenary of Balasaheb Thackeray, known as the greatest champion of the Marathi cause, will commence. If a person from Shiv Sena becomes mayor during this period, it sends a powerful message. It would counter Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray's narrative that Mumbai has been handed over to non-Marathi people.

The BJP can then say, 'No, a Marathi person is there, Shiv Sena is there, these people are lying.' It neutralises the Marathi sentiment issue quite effectively.

The Thackerays invested heavily in reclaiming their old base. Are they the biggest losers in this election?

Outside Mumbai, they are practically finished. In Thane, they have just one seat. In Pune, two seats; in Vasai-Virar, zero; in Kalyan-Dombivli, two or three seats; in Navi Mumbai, nothing.

In the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where (the undivided) Shiv Sena had a very strong footing and where Thackeray's charisma once held sway, they've been wiped out except in Mumbai itself.

Despite all the odds, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) managed to win 65 seats in Mumbai. How did they hold on in Mumbai?

The Shiv Sainik on the ground fights the BMC elections very intensely because he knows this election decides his future, his fate. This isn't new -- it's been a tradition in the Shiv Sena.

They might not be as aggressive in the Lok Sabha or assembly elections, but when it comes to the BMC, they become extremely aggressive and work intensely for the party. They've reaped the fruits of that intensity. Plus, Raj Thackeray helped more than people realise.

Raj Thackeray's MNS won only six seats despite his vocal support for Uddhav. What explains this poor showing?

The MNS was contesting on weak seats. Uddhav deliberately gave him difficult constituencies, and Raj admitted in his press conference that there were problems, people were upset, but this is coalition politics and he accepted it for the Marathi cause.

However, my assessment is that Raj Thackeray's intense attack on the BJP actually mobilised core Marathi voters to support the Thackeray alliance. Had it been only Uddhav's Shiv Sena without Raj Thackeray, I don't think they would have got so many seats.

It's because of Raj's charisma, his speeches, his press conferences and interviews that Marathi votes were mobilised in favour of the Shiv Sena.

Did Marathis vote en bloc for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS?

Not entirely en bloc because they didn't get 100 per cent of votes. Many votes also went to the BJP and Congress. This has always been the case -- the Shiv Sena never got 100 per cent Marathi votes. But this time, those who voted for the Shiv Sena and MNS were determined.

Despite all the dissatisfaction and anger about Uddhav Thackeray's working style -- particularly regarding Aditya Thackeray -- they voted for them because Raj Thackeray said to. He told voters, 'I've buried my differences with them, you should too.' That's why Marathi votes transferred to the Shiv Sena.

'Ajit Pawar's future looks bleak'

Who among the top politicians should be most worried after these results?

Ajit Pawar, without question. His future looks bleak now. He couldn't hold his strongholds. He had no chances in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai, but Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were supposed to be his territory.

After this election, he was under the impression there could be talks between his NCP and Sharad Pawar's NCP for a possible merger. I think those talks will be shelved now. There's no possibility of a merger because Sharad Pawar will never accept him in this condition -- Ajit doesn't have corporators or strength anywhere.

Plus, within the Mahayuti, his position will now be third. He used to be very close to Fadnavis, but after his allegations of corruption and rowdyism against the BJP (in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune municipal corporation elections) I don't think he'll enjoy the same status.

For decades, the BMC meant power, money, and influence for the Shiv Sena (UBT). What does losing that control mean for the Thackeray family's political future?

They'll still have some say in the standing committee because it's a mix of all parties, including the Opposition. But the flow of income will definitely be reduced. They don't have any major corporation now, no power in the ssembly, no power in the Lok Sabha.

The future is very bleak. However, I think they have reserves from the last 25 years, so they are banking on those funds. The real impact won't be visible immediately, but three or four years down the line, we'll see the results.

What are the biggest takeaways for the major political players?

For Devendra Fadnavis, it's clear: A well-defined vision and strong organisational support can win elections. His strategy was brilliant. He took complete control, and notably, no one from outside Maharashtra came to campaign -- no Yogi Adityanath, no Amit Shah, no J P Nadda. Even the new BJP president Nitin Nabin -- for whom this was his first election -- didn't come.

Modi didn't take any rallies or attend inaugurations. Even Kangana Ranaut, who's a BJP MP and has a house in Mumbai -- you remember her house was demolished (when Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister) -- she didn't come either.

Was keeping national leaders away a deliberate strategy?

Absolutely. It would have polarised the Marathi-non Marathi divide further.

Fadnavis had a very clear strategy: Let all Marathi people campaign for us (the BJP), and whatever results we get will be delivered by Marathi people only. They didn't ask any non-Marathi person to campaign for us.

That way, no one can point fingers and say they brought outside forces to win the election. It was a very good strategy, and it worked.

What about Uddhav Thackeray's takeaway?

If his organisation was stronger, he could manage much better. The emotional quotient alone won't work anymore. He's survived in Mumbai, no doubt -- going from 84 to 65 despite losing 60 corporators to Eknath Shinde shows he withstood the BJP's attack. But he hasn't succeeded in grabbing power, and that's what matters.

Whoever has the power is the winner. Forget about seat tallies -- it's about who controls the corporation.

Uddhav should speak about what people actually want. When they talk about Marathi asmita and Marathi pride, it's not limited to Thackeray alone. Marathi Asmita is about language, food, culture, attire, cultural events -- all those things make up Marathi identity.

The irony is that the Shiv Sena (UBT) is supposedly the party of the Marathi cause, yet they don't support Marathi authors, Marathi journalists, or Marathi traditions. Their foundation day is celebrated in a hall built by South Indians.

In 25 years of rule, they couldn't build even a single cultural hall in Mumbai to showcase Marathi culture. People know all this. They opposed the Metro, they opposed infrastructure projects. It went against them.

He should do politics, but he shouldn't oppose what people want.

How have Eknath Shinde and Raj Thackeray emerged from this election?

Raj Thackeray has emerged as the unsung hero of the Marathi cause. Though he got fewer seats, whatever seats Uddhav got were because of Raj only -- his initiative, his aggression, his planning. He executed it well.

The challenge for Raj now is to increase his tally and keep Uddhav's ambitions under control. We saw last time (when he left the BJP and joined the NCP and Congress to form the government) how ambitious Uddhav can be. Anything is possible in politics.

As for Eknath Shinde, outside Mumbai, he's done quite well. He's kept his stronghold in Thane and Kalyan-Dombivli. He's managed a bit in Mira-Bhayander. He's got seats in Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon, and I think Jalna. Plus, he's opened his account in Vidarbha, which is a BJP stronghold.

Shinde is spreading his reach -- that's the beauty of it. He's now saying he's the party chief, and he's been touring the entire state, not confining himself to one city or district. It's a new party, so it will take time. But if Shinde focuses on organisational build-up, he can become a major force in the coming days.
For the first time, there will be an Indian connection to a crewed Moon mission.

IMAGE: The Space Launch System rocket, with the Orion crew capsule, rolls toward launch complex 39B as preprations continue for the Artemis II mission to the Moon at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, January 17, 2026. Photograph: Steve Nesius/Reuters

Come February, for the first time since 1972, astronauts will venture into the lunar vicinity.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Saturday moved its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, scheduled for blastoff as early as February 6, to the launch area from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building.

IMAGE: Artemis II Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, right, speaks next to Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen during the rollout of NASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion crew capsule to the launch pad. Photograph: Joe Skipper/Reuters

This first crew mission will include four astronauts (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen) who will venture around the Moon before returning to Earth.

Koch will become the first woman traveller to the lunar region, while Hansen will become the first non-US citizen to achieve this feat, representing the Canadian Space Agency.

The launch window will be until April.

Moreover, for the first time, there will be an Indian connection to a crewed Moon mission.

Though no Indian-owned space company is in the Artemis prime contractor list, several Indian-born scientists were likely part of the mission at various stages.

This includes Kavya K Manyapu from Hyderabad, who leads the development of exploration spacesuits for the Artemis programme within the Flight Operations Directorate at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

The 10-day mission is expected to be a huge victory for the Donald Trump administration.

The mission will validate critical life support and re-entry systems in deep space.

'We're making history,' Artemis II mission management team chair John Honeycutt told the media.

IMAGE: Artemis II Mission specialist Christina Koch speaks during the rollout. Photograph: Joe Skipper/Reuters

Christina Koch is an engineer who became an astronaut in 2013 and will serve as a mission specialist for Nasa's Artemis II mission.

She was living and working on the International Space Station for almost all of 2019 in Expeditions 59, 60, and 61.

Koch spent a total of 328 consecutive days in space and participated in the first all-female spacewalks.

IMAGE: Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen speaks during the rollout. Photograph: Joe Skipper/Reuters

Hansen is a Canadian astronaut and former fighter pilot who also trained astronaut candidates at NASA.

Wiseman, the commander of Nasa's Artemis II mission, previously served as a flight engineer aboard the ISS for Expedition 41 from May through November 2014.

Glover, assigned to be the pilot of the mission, is a former US Navy pilot who was selected as an astronaut in 2013.

The Space Launch System is the only rocket capable of sending the Orion spacecraft, four astronauts, and large cargo directly to the Moon on a single launch.

It is designed to be both powerful and flexible for crew, cargo, or science missions.

NASA's prime contractors for SLS include Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies Company; Boeing; Northrop Grumman; and Teledyne Brown Engineering.

Several international space agencies are also making key contributions.

This includes CSA, ESA (European Space Agency), and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), among others.

According to a NASA statement, its prime contractors -- Aerojet, Rocketdyne, Axiom Space, Bechtel, Blue Origin, Boeing, Amentum, Jacobs, Lockheed Martin, Maxar Space Systems, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX -- currently have over 2,700 suppliers across 47 states contributing to the lunar spaceport at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Sunday after interacting with newly-elected Shiv Sena members of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, who have been shifted to a hotel.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde interacts with newly-elected Shiv Sena corporators at Taj Lands Hotel in Mumbai. Photograph: @mieknathshinde/X

Shinde's assertion comes amid speculation over the decision to move 29 corporators-designate of his party to a hotel after the BJPShiv Sena alliance secured a narrow majority in the recent civic polls.

Taking a dig at Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT, Shinde said voters had chosen development over emotional issues.

"Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor. Even neighbouring cities like Kalyan-Dombivli will have a Mahayuti mayor," he told reporters.

Rejecting allegations that the corporators were being kept under watch at a luxury hotel, Shinde said the Shiv Sena was fearless.

"The new corporators will get a common platform to interact at the hotel. I wanted to meet them as we are registering the group of 29 corporators with the Konkan divisional commissioner," he said.

'The Shiv Sena will not do what the earlier Shiv Sena did'

Amid speculation in political circles over Shiv Sena's stand vis-a-vis the next mayor of Mumbai, party leader and minister Uday Samant said the civic body polls were contested as the Mahayuti alliance.

"The Shiv Sena will not do what the earlier Shiv Sena (headed by Uddhav Thackeray when he allied with the Congress after the 2019 polls) did," he said.

When asked about demands from within the party for the mayor's post, Samant said, "Every party wants the main post, and Bal Thackeray's (birth) centenary year gives that demand a different dimension."

In a swipe at the Opposition, Samant said many corporators will become not-reachable, and people will realise which party they belonged to.

Addressing the newly elected members, Shinde said people had rejected the Shiv Sena-UBT and urged them to utilise the opportunity to serve citizens.

He asked them to prepare ward-specific development action plans and ensure that their wards become model constituencies. Shinde also cautioned them against any conduct that could tarnish the party's image.

"People have rejected the Shiv Sena-UBT and those who oppose development," he said.

Shinde noted that the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the civic polls, followed by the Shiv Sena, calling the results a precursor to the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.

In the recently concluded civic polls, the alliance of the BJP and Shinde-led Sena won a clear majority in the 227-member BMC, securing 89 and 29 seats, respectively. The Sena-UBT won 65 seats, while its ally MNS emerged victorious on six.

Shinde further appealed to newly-elected Sena members to follow up on schemes like 'pagdi-free Mumbai', which refers to a plan to overhaul the old, problematic pagdi (tenant-ownership) system, aiming to clear stuck redevelopments.
In what is being described as a collapse of its urban base, the Congress on Friday touched a new low in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, expecting to win a mere 19 out of the 227 seats.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Congress president, Harshwardhan Sapkal with other party members during a Congress Party State election selection committee meeting, in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

The party had contested 152 seats in the elections to the country's richest civic body, leaving the rest to its allies Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Republican Party of India (Gavai faction).

In 2017, when the last BMC elections were held, the Congress had won 31 seats.

The trends on Friday showed that the alliance with the Prakash Ambedkar-led VBA, RSP and RPI (Gavai) did not help the Grand Old Party, with analysts terming it a strategic misstep rather than a vote-multiplier.

With the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on their way to clinching the control of the BMC from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, the Congress has been reduced to a marginal player.

Before the high-stakes elections, the Congress decided not to have a tie-up with its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar. It feared that joining hands with the Shiv Sena-UBT and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena would alienate its North Indian and minority vote banks.

But the strategy seemed to have failed, political observers noted.

Instead, the party faced a double whammy as the BJP aggressively consolidated the non-Marathi Hindu votes, while the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS retained a significant chunk of anti-BJP votes, leaving the Congress squeezed in the middle.

In many traditional strongholds, the Congress lost ground to both the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena due to linguistic and religious polarisation and counter-polarisation.

Political observers also attributed the Congress' rout to chronic infighting and a lack of a cohesive campaign narrative. While the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Thackeray cousins ran high-octane campaigns, focused on infrastructure and Marathi identity, respectively, the Congress struggled to find a coherent theme.

"The Congress in Mumbai has become a party of individual pocket-boroughs rather than a unified force," said a political analyst.

"Without a clear face to take on the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti or a distinct agenda beyond 'opposing everyone,' it failed to inspire even its traditional supporters," he said.

More alarming for the Congress is the apparent shift in its core constituency. Preliminary data suggests a significant fragmentation of the Muslim and Dalit votes.

AIMIM, Samajwadi party and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar cut into the Congress's traditional support base.

The result is likely to trigger a fresh round of demands for a leadership change. The party is currently led by MP Varsha Gaikwad in the city. For a party that once gave Mumbai its mayors and shaped its post-independence growth, the slide to 15 seats is not just an electoral setback but a signal of its growing urban irrelevance.

The alliance with the VBA was expected to consolidate Dalit votes for the Congress, but Prakash Ambedkar's party lacked booth-level machinery and resources required for transfer of votes, observers said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday questioned Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief and actor Vijay for over six hours at its headquarters here for the second time in connection with the Karur stampede case, officials said.

IMAGE: TVK chief and actor Vijay waves to supporters before leaving the CBI office after questioning, in New Delhi, January 19, 2026. Photograph: ANI on X

A visibly relaxed Vijay came out of the CBI headquarters in his luxury SUV after questioning was completed at around 5 PM, got down and waved at his supporters and media, before leaving for the five-star hotel where he was staying.

The actor-turned politician was earlier quizzed by the CBI on January 12. He was asked to come again on January 13, but the actor sought another date due to Pongal, after which the agency summoned him on Monday, they said.

Dressed in a casual shirt, the actor arrived at the heavily barricaded agency headquarters on Lodhi Road with a fleet of luxury SUVs at around 10:20 am, they said.

"Lots of rumours are being spread around which are not true. We all know what happened in Karur...When last time the Home Minister was in Tamil Nadu, the state president of the BJP, Nainar Nagenthran, had openly mentioned that Senthil Balaji who is sitting MLA from Karur was responsible for the death of 41 people and you who needs to be summoned and enquired," TVK Joint General Secretary C T Nirmal Kumar told reporters outside the CBI headquarters after Vijay's questioning ended.

He said they are cooperating with the investigating agencies, and no summons for further questioning has been issued.

"...We know who is responsible for the incident, who has done this, and what is the reason for that. That's the reason we don't have any guilt... Our leader wanted to cooperate and we want the real culprit to be brought to justice... we don't have any hesitation to come and appear for the investigation," he said.

During the day, Vijay was questioned by a team of officials led by a deputy superintendent rank officer drawn from the agency's anti-corruption wing, the officials said.

Several questions related to decision-making about the rally, reasons for his delay, continuation of the speech, his knowledge about the chaos, turnout and mismanagement of the crowd were put forth to him, they said.

The call on attributing the role of individuals in the chargesheet will be taken only after a thorough analysis of the statements of the actor, senior political officials of his party, and police and district administration officials involved in the process of giving clearance and managing the rally, they said.

The federal agency took over the case from an SIT following a Supreme Court order and has been gathering evidence related to the September 27 stampede which claimed 41 lives and left more than 60 injured in Tamil Nadu's Karur.

In October last year, the apex court had asked the CBI director to appoint a senior officer to take over the investigation and also constituted a supervisory committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi to monitor the agency's investigation.

A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and N V Anjaria had said the stampede has left an imprint in the minds of citizens throughout the country.

It has wide ramifications with respect to the lives of citizens, and enforcing the fundamental rights of the families who lost their kin is of utmost importance, the court had said.

"The faith and trust of the general public in the process of investigation must be restored in the criminal justice system, and one way to instil such trust is by ensuring that the investigation in the present case is completely impartial, independent and unbiased," the bench said.
Security forces on Monday resumed Operation Trashi-1 in the forested Sonar village area of Kishtwar after suspending it overnight due to poor visibility and difficult terrain.

The operation, launched on Sunday, is aimed at neutralising two to three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists believed to be hiding in the Chatroo belt.

During Sunday's encounter, the terrorists lobbed grenades and opened fire, injuring eight army personnel. One commando from the Special Forces died later.

Dense forests, steep slopes and winter conditions forced the security forces to pause the operation late at night.

Forest routes linking Doda, Kishtwar and Kathua have been sealed

On Monday, joint teams of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces re-entered the area using drones and sniffer dogs.

Forest routes linking Doda, Kishtwar and Kathua have been sealed to prevent the terrorists from escaping.

Officials said the operation is part of heightened anti-terror measures ahead of Republic Day, amid intelligence warnings of possible fresh infiltration attempts from across the border.

IMAGE: Security forces conduct search operations in in Kishtwar where an encounter with terrorists broke out, here and below. All photographs: ANI Video Grab

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
In a first, United Nations chief has issued his New Year's message for the year 2026 in Hindi, among other languages, calling on world leaders on Tuesday to invest in development, not destruction.

IMAGE: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Antonio Guterres' New Year message has been issued in 11 languages, including in the six official UN languages of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish as well as Hindi and Urdu.

His video message on the occasion has been issued with Hindi subtitles as well.

In an urgent appeal for the new year, Secretary-General Guterres called on world leaders today to get 'priorities straight' and invest in development, not destruction.

"As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us," Guterres said in his message for 2026 Monday. "People everywhere are asking: Are leaders even listening? Are they ready to act?"

He said the scale of human suffering in the world today is staggering -- over one-quarter of humanity lives in areas affected by conflict.

More than 200 million people globally need humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million people have been forcibly displaced, fleeing war, crises, disasters or persecution.

"As we turn the page on a turbulent year, one fact speaks louder than words: global military spending has soared to $2.7 trillion, growing by almost 10 per cent," he said.

Yet, as humanitarian crises around the world intensify, global military spending is projected to more than double -- from $2.7 trillion in 2024 to an astonishing $6.6 trillion by 2035 -- if current trends persist. Data shows that $2.7 trillion is thirteen times the amount of all global development aid combined and is equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of the continent of Africa.

"On this New Year, let's resolve to get our priorities straight. A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars. Peace must prevail," Guterres said.

In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and the UN Department of Global Communications establishing the 'Hindi@UN' Project, with the primary focus on broadcasting UN news in Hindi.

The Government of India has pledged 1.5 million dollars per annum for a period of five years, over and above the cumulative contribution of 6.8 million dollars till date for the purpose.

Earlier this year, Permanent Representative of India to the UN Ambassador P Harish and Under Secretary General Department of Global Communications (DGC) Melissa Fleming signed an MoU, renewing the Hindi@UN Project for a period of five years, from April 1, 2025 to March 31 2030.

Harish had noted that the renewal of the MoU is a testimony to Government of India's commitment to give greater prominence to Hindi, including in the United Nations as one of its non-official languages.

Further, the renewal was a testimony to India's strong and historic commitment to multilingualism, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN had said.
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station represents the next phase of India's human spaceflight ambitions, enabling long-duration presence in space, advanced microgravity research and technology development, and supporting future human exploration missions.

Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pixabay

India has taken another step towards building its own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) inviting domestic industry participation for its first module.

ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Indian companies for the development and realisation of two units of BAS-01, the base module of the planned five-module space station. Interested bidders must submit their EOIs by March 8, 2026.

The tender is restricted to domestic entities. Foreign companies are not eligible to participate.

Firms from countries sharing a land border with India may bid only if they are registered with the Registration Committee constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in accordance with government norms.

The EOI covers the development and fabrication of two BAS-01 structural units for the Indian Space Station programme.

The scope of work includes manufacturing the BAS-01 structure -- measuring 3.8 metres in diameter and 8 metres in height -- using AA-2219 aluminium alloy. Each BAS-01 module comprises a human-habitable section and a propulsion bay.

Want to help ISRO build a space station?

ISRO will provide detailed manufacturing drawings for components, sub-assemblies and final assembly, including all dimensions, tolerances and geometrical parameters.

Contractors will be required to generate intermediate and in-process drawings for departmental review and approval.

Three-dimensional models of all components will also be supplied after order placement for reference.

The Department of Space will supply Gaganyaan-qualified raw materials, including AA-2219 alloy in various forms, AA-2319 filler wire and fasteners, along with test certificates to ensure full traceability.

The first of the two modules is to be completed within 11 months of the final input, which includes the supply of major raw materials, approval of manufacturing drawings and production clearance for weld sub-assemblies.

The selection process will be conducted in two stages: An assessment of interested parties based on responses to the EOI, followed by issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) to technically qualified bidders.

BAS to be operational by 2035

ISRO has specified minimum eligibility criteria, including at least five years of operational history and five years of experience in the aerospace manufacturing sector.

Bidders must also demonstrate a strong financial record, with a minimum average annual turnover of 50 crore over the past three financial years, positive net worth in at least two of those years, and no financial losses during the period.

The bidding entity must be Indian-owned and controlled, with any foreign investment complying with the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instrument) Rules, 2019.

The government has informed Parliament that the overall configuration of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station has been finalised and reviewed by a national-level committee.

The BAS will consist of five modules and is expected to be fully operational by 2035. In September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the development and launch of the first module, BAS-01, by 2028.

System engineering and technology development for BAS-01 are progressing steadily.

Funding for precursor missions, development and launch of the first module has been included under the expanded Gaganyaan programme, whose budget was enhanced to 20,193 crore following Cabinet approval in September 2024.

ISRO is incorporating international standards into the design of BAS-01 to ensure interoperability with systems from other space agencies.

Existing international cooperation frameworks are also being leveraged to explore joint technology development and access to specialised test facilities.

The upcoming Gaganyaan crewed demonstration mission will validate India's capability to safely transport humans to low Earth orbit and return them to Earth.

The Bharatiya Antariksh Station represents the next phase of India's human spaceflight ambitions, enabling long-duration presence in space, advanced microgravity research and technology development, and supporting future human exploration missions, including a crewed lunar landing, as outlined in India's Space Vision 2047.

Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at venkatacharijagannathan@gmail.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Amid the deadly protests challenging Iran's theocracy and threats by the US to intervene militarily in the country, peaceful demonstrations were taken out at several places in Kashmir in support of the Islamic Republic after the congregational prayers on Friday, officials said.

IMAGE: People gather to express solidarity with Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, amidst Iran's rising tensions, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, January 16, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Several Shia-dominated areas in Srinagar, Pulwama and Budgam witnessed the demonstrations as the agitators raised slogans in favour of Iran and against the US and Israel, they said.

The demonstrations remained peaceful, the officials said.

On Thursday, activists claimed that the bloody crackdown by the authorities in Iran has killed at least 2,637 people, a week after shutting Iran off from the world following nationwide protests challenging the country's theocracy.

In Srinagar, rallies were taken out near the Nehru Park in Hassanabad and the Gund Hassi Bhat localities of the city to express solidarity with Iran and its Supreme Leader, Syed Ali Khamenei.

The protesters voiced their support and condemned what they termed external pressure and interference against Iran.

Carrying placards and banners, the agitators raised slogans in favour of Iran and its leadership, and against the US and Israel.

Similar protests were witnessed at the Main Chowk in Budgam in central Kashmir and the Gangoo area in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Speaking to reporters in Pulwama, a Shia leader said the US and Israel, along with their allies, were "committing atrocities" against Muslims across the world.

"Mossad and CIA agents are attacking security forces and innocent people in Iran. We came together to protest against the atrocities of America and Israel," he said.

"The people of Kashmir want to tell the US and Israel that we are alive and Muslims across the world are always ready to support their Muslim brothers."
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that displaced Kashmiri Pandits are always welcome to return to their homes, emphasising their rightful place in the Valley.

IMAGE: Kashmiri Pandits shout slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir government during a protest demonstration in Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives

However, he expressed scepticism about whether the migrated community would want to come back, considering they have built new lives where they currently reside in other parts of the country, with their children engaged in employment and education.

The statement of the former chief minister came on a day when the displaced community is observing January 19 as 'holocaust day' to mark their exodus from the Valley in 1990 due to threats and killings by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a two-day party programme here, Abdullah noted that many Kashmiri Pandit families never left the Valley and continue to live peacefully in their villages and localities.

'They should come back, it is their home'

"When will they return (to Kashmir)? Who is stopping them? No one is preventing them. They should come back, as it is their home. Many Kashmiri Pandits are currently living in the Valley and have not left their villages," the former chief minister responded when asked about protests by Kashmiri Pandits supporting their demand for return and rehabilitation in the Valley.

Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits, under the banner of 'Youth 4 Panun Kashmir,' blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jagti camp on Sunday evening, demanding a separate homeland in the Valley for their return and asking for the passage of a bill in Parliament to recognise their genocide.

When asked about the demands of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Abdullah remarked that he had assured them that the government would construct houses for them and provide the necessary support.

'They may visit, but...'

He added that after the fall of his government, it was in the Central government's hands to implement the proposal.

He noted that the community would first need to assess the situation, as many Kashmiri Pandits are now settled across different parts of the country.

"They have grown older; many are seeking medical treatment, and their children are studying in colleges, schools, and universities. They may visit, but I don't think they will return to live there permanently," he said.
Incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera greets the public after the announcement of the presidential election final results in Bangui, Central African Republic, Jan. 19, 2026. The Constitutional Council of the Central African Republic on Monday proclaimed the final results of the Dec. 28, 2025, presidential election, declaring incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera re-elected. (Xinhua)

YAOUNDE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Constitutional Council of the Central African Republic on Monday proclaimed the final results of the Dec. 28, 2025, presidential election, declaring incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera re-elected.

Touadera, who secured 77.90 percent of the vote, will serve a seven-year term, the Constitutional Council announced at an official ceremony in the capital, Bangui.

Other contenders in the presidential election were former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra, who came second and third respectively, according to provisional results released by the country's electoral body, the National Elections Authority.

About 2.3 million voters were registered for the elections, according to the National Elections Authority. Observers said that the elections "were largely peaceful."

Touadera held a rally with his supporters in Bangui shortly after the final results were announced. He thanked his supporters, urging unity with the other candidates for the reconstruction of the country.

Touadera, 68, focused his campaign on restoring peace and enhancing national development. In the build-up to the election, he signed peace deals with some major rebel groups.

Touadera, who has been in office since 2016, will begin his third term as president following the victory.

Voters also cast their ballots in the Central African Republic's legislative, regional, and municipal elections on Dec. 28, 2025. 
A section of Shiv Sainiks believes that Mumbai having a Shiv Sena mayor would be a mark of respect to Bal Thackeray in his birth centenary year, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Monday, amid a reported tussle with ally Bharatiya Janata Party.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with deputy CM Eknath Shinde during the release of Manifesto for BMC elections, in Mumbai, January 11, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Shinde also emphasised that Mumbai will have a Mahayuti mayor, dismissing reports of new political equations after the results of the civic polls were declared last week.

Similarly, mayors of the Mahayuti alliance will be installed in those civic bodies where the Shiv Sena and BJP had contested the elections together, he told reporters.

"Balasaheb Thackeray's birth centenary year starts from January 23. Some Shivsainiks (party activists) have the feeling that a Shiv Sena mayor should be installed in the BMC," he said.

The remarks are viewed as Shinde indirectly staking a claim to the Mumbai mayor's post.

He stressed that the Shiv Sena would not take any decision that goes against the people's mandate, emphasising that the Shiv Sena and BJP had fought the Mumbai civic elections as an alliance.

His assertion comes amid intense debate over the shifting of 29 corporators-elect of Shiv Sena to a posh hotel in Mumbai after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured a narrow majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

There is speculation that Shinde is keen to secure the BMC mayor's post for the Shiv Sena, at least for the first two-and-a-half years, since it is the birth centenary year of party founder late Bal Thackeray.

"Shiv Sena and BJP had fought the Mumbai civic elections as an alliance, and therefore the Mahayuti's candidate would become the mayor.

The same decision would be followed in Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, and other municipal corporations where the alliance contested jointly," Shinde added.

Officially, the Shiv Sena maintains that the newly elected members were shifted to the hotel for an orientation workshop to make them aware of the functioning of the country's richest civic body.

The move followed the declaration of the BMC poll results, which showed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had emerged as the second largest party after the BJP by winning 65 seats.

Shiv Sena-UBT chief Thackeray had said the Shiv Sena moved the corporators to the hotel as the party is afraid of the BJP.

The BJP won 89 seats and its ally, the Shiv Sena, 29, handing the Mahayuti combine a narrow majority in the 227-member BMC.

Shinde said Mumbaikars had voted for the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance with trust and that trust would be respected.

He also said there was no truth in reports of new political equations being formed in Mumbai or elsewhere in Maharashtra, and the Mahayuti would have the mayoral leadership wherever the alliance had contested together.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also said the next mayor of Mumbai would be from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and ruled out the possibility of the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate getting the post, days after Thackeray's "God willing" remark on his party getting the mayor's position caused a stir.

In a post on X, Nirupam stated that UBT leaders and sections of the media have grown restless over the mayoral race.

He said voters in Mumbai had rejected Sena (UBT)'s "27 years of corruption" and had given the party a mandate to sit in the Opposition.

"The Mayor of Mumbai will be from the Mahayuti. The people of Mumbai have given us a clear majority for that," Nirupam said, adding that the ruling alliance did not need the votes of Sena (UBT)'s corporators in the mayoral election.

He also took a swipe at those speculating on the timing of the mayoral poll, saying the election could not be held until the reservation lottery for the Mayor's post was completed.

Meanwhile, Harshal Pradhan, spokesperson of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, said the BJP and Shinde are power-hungry.

He said they should fight their internal battles among themselves and refrain from dragging Sena-UBT into the political game.
Five-time Bihar MLA Nitin Nabin was on Monday elected unopposed as the BJP national president, the youngest ever to occupy the top party post at a time when the saffron party seeks to further expand its footprint with key state elections around the corner.

IMAGE: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami meets BJP national working president Nitin Nabin (right), in New Delhi, January 19, 2026. Photograph: @pushkardhami X/ANI Photo/span>

Nabin, 45, emerged as the sole candidate for the post with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders filing nomination papers in his support.

Nabin will be formally declared as BJP president on Tuesday signalling a generational shift in its top organizational leadership and a new era in the party, which was founded in 1980, the same year he was born.

The low profile and unassuming Nabin, who resigned as the minister for law and justice, urban development and housing in the Bihar government after he was appointed working president of the BJP on December 14, will succeed J P Nadda. Nadda, who is the union health minister, has been at the helm of the party's affairs for an extended period since 2020.

"I hereby announce that only one name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of National President of Bharatiya Janata Party," K Laxman, the Returning Officer for presidential election, said in a statement.

Laxman said 37 sets of nomination papers were filed in favour of Nabin as the BJP national president and all nomination papers were found to be valid.

Prime Minister Modi was among the proposers of Nabin's candidature for the party post Several senior BJP leaders including Nadda, and other union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari were among the proposers.

Of the 37 sets of nomination papers, 36 were filed by state units of the party and one set was submitted by the BJP Parliamentary Party.

In a post on X, Laxman said, "Under the BJP's Sangathan Parv, the election process for the post of national president was conducted successfully in my capacity as national returning officer."

This "transparent and democratic process" once again reflects the party's strong organisational values and its deep commitment to internal democracy, the BJP Rajya Sabha MP further said.

Laxman said the nomination process was completed in a "fully constitutional and transparent manner".

"With nationwide consensus, Nitin Nabin was the sole nominee. Heartiest congratulations and best wishes," he said in another post on X.

Nadda, senior ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath, Nayab Saini, Pramod Sawant, Pema Khandu, Pushkar Singh Dhami were among those present on the occasion.

As the BJP seeks to further expand its influence in uncharted territories, the upcoming Assembly elections in the opposition-ruled states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala as well as BJP-ruled Assam will come as a major test for Nabin, who was preferred to more seasoned leaders.

The elections will be an opportunity for Nabin, who rose through the ranks in the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the BJP, to prove his mettle as organisational head of the BJP pyramid.

Laxman said according to the schedule, the nomination process was completed between 2 pm and 4 pm on Monday.

"In all, 37 sets of nomination papers were received in favour of Shri Nitin Nabin for the post of national president. On scrutiny, all sets of nomination papers were found to be duly filled out in the required format and were valid."

He said the election process was initiated after the election of 30 state presidents out of 36 states, well above the required number for completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the states.

He said the notification of the schedule of events was announced and the electoral roll was published on January 16, 2026.

Nabin took the political plunge in 2006 after the death of his father Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, who was a BJP MLA.

According to a party leader, Nabin, a Kayasth by caste, may be young but has a lot of experience in governance and working for the people and the organisation.

He impressed the BJP central leadership as the party co-in charge of the November 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, where BJP pulled off a surprise win by beating chief minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress.

In the Lok Sabha elections, he repeated the success formula. The BJP won 10 of the 11 seats in Chhattisgarh.

Born in Ranchi, now in Jharkhand, Nabin is married to Deepmala Shrivastava and the couple has a son and a daughter.

He has been known to win elections with huge margins, starting with the first bypoll he contested in 2006 which he won by nearly 60,000 votes. He won the latest one, earlier this year, by more than 51,000 votes.

Nabin is the latest link in the chain of BJP presidents -- Atal Behari Vajpayee became the first BJP president in 1980 and was succeeded by Lal Krishna Advani in 1986 who held the post for three terms.

Others who have held the position include Murli Manohar Joshi, Kushabhau Thakre, Bangaru Laxman, Jana Krishnamurthi, Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh (twice), Nitin Gadkari and Amit Shah.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join US President Donald Trump's Gaza Peace Board, and the invitation is under consideration, the Kremlin said on Monday.

IMAGE: File image of US President Donald trump with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Reuters

"Indeed, President Putin also received an offer through diplomatic channels to join this Peace Board," the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"We are currently studying all the details of this proposal, and we hope to contact the American side to clarify all the details," he said.

Several other countries have received offers from the US to join this body. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif have also received invitations to join the Peace Board.

The US president unveiled the board as part of the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In October, Israel and militant group Hamas agreed to Trump's peace plan.

The board is being projected by Washington as a new international body to usher in peace and stability in Gaza and beyond, triggering speculations that it may respond to other global conflicts as well.

"Russia sees the Gaza Peace Board as the US attempt to create a rival of the United Nations Organisation with a broader mandate," Russia's Channel- 1 TV said on Monday in its 'Pryamoi Efir' (Live Broadcast) political show.
Observing that the Special Intensive Revision process in West Bengal should be transparent and not cause inconvenience, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to display the names of those on the "logical discrepancies" list at gram panchayat bhavans and block offices, where documents and objections will also be submitted.

IMAGE: TMC holds a demonstration against the Election Commission of India and the BJP over the SIR of the electoral roll in the state in front of the BDO and SDO office of Srirampur, in Hooghly, West Bengal, January 19, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Logical discrepancies in progeny linking with the 2002 voter list include instances of a mismatch in the parent's name and the age difference between a voter and their parent being less than 15 years or more than 50 years.

Noting that 1.25 crore voters in the state figure on the "logical discrepancies" list, a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi directed that the offices for submitting documents and objections be set up within the panchayat bhavans or block offices and asked the West Bengal government to provide adequate manpower to the election authorities.

The court directed that the director general of police of West Bengal shall be obligated to ensure that there is no law-and-order problem and that all the activities shall be completed smoothly.

The apex court was hearing pleas alleging arbitrariness and procedural irregularities in the ongoing SIR exercise in West Bengal, including those related to the "logical discrepancies" category.

The bench noted that notices have been issued that are broadly classified in three categories - mapped, unmapped and logical discrepancy.

The top court added that under the 'logical discrepancy' category, mismatches in father's name or parents' age, and a difference in the age of the grandparents were noticed by the authorities.

The apex court said those likely to be affected by the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal must be allowed to submit their documents or objections.

The top court directed that the office for submitting the documents and objections shall be set up within the panchayat bhavans or block offices.

"The state government shall provide adequate manpower to the State Election Commission for the deployment at the panchayat bhavans and block offices.

"In this regard, we direct that every district shall meticulously comply with the directions issued by the ECI or the state government for the staff for smooth functioning," the bench said.

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for some of the petitioners, questioned the criteria for issuance of notices of hearings for "logical discrepancies." He said that names like "Ganguly", "Datta", etc., can be spelt in different ways, and these spelling differences are cited as reasons for notices.

The senior lawyer said in some cases, notices are sent on the grounds that the age difference with the parents is less than 15 years.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, for the poll panel, informed the bench that instructions have been given to the officers not to send notices citing spelling differences.

However, Dwivedi said such cases where the age difference with the parents is 15 years or less are flagged as a "logical discrepancy".

The bench then said,"Why is it a logical discrepancy? How can a 15-year age gap between mother and son be a logical discrepancy?"

Justice Bagchi remarked, "It is not as if we don't have child marriages in the country."

Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee told the court that notices have been sent even to Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen and sitting MPs.

He alleged that a "profiling" of voters was being done.

Dwivedi denied the allegations and said, "If the ECI is to be distrusted, let not the ECI hold the elections at all."

Derek O'Brien, in his plea, alleged arbitrariness and procedural irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls in the state.

The application said that since the inception of the SIR process in the state, the EC has issued instructions to officers at the ground level through "informal and extra-statutory channels", such as WhatsApp messages and oral directions

conveyed during video conferences, instead of issuing formal written instructions.

Another plea by MP Dola Sen contends that the SIR orders are arbitrary, unconstitutional and will lead to invalid deletion of genuine voters.

Defeated them in court today, will trounce BJP in polls: TMC

Reacting to the apex court order, senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday interpreted the Supreme Court's direction to the EC to publish the names of electors called for hearings on account of logical discrepancies in enumeration forms as "two tight slaps on the faces of those who tried to deprive people of their fundamental right to vote".

Speaking at a rally at Barasat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, the TMC national general secretary said this "victory in court" would be followed by the party's "win in polls" likely to take place in April this year.

Referring to the BJP, Banerjee said, "This is a victory of 'Maa Mati Manush' and the people of West Bengal over those who tried to pick and choose one crore citizens and delete their names from electoral rolls. The Supreme Court gave two tight slaps on the faces of those who not only tried to starve the people of West Bengal, but also attempted to deprive them of their fundamental right to vote."

"We defeated them in court today, we will trounce them during polls in April. Stay prepared, West Bengal is not UP, Bihar, MP or Gujarat. This state showed the path to the nation's Independence struggle, its renaissance. We do not bow our heads before outsiders," he added.

On Monday, the Supreme Court directed the EC to display the names of those on the "logical discrepancies" list at gram panchayat and block offices in rural areas and ward offices in the urban pockets of West Bengal in the next three days and call them for hearing within 10 days of publication of the list.

Hearing pleas alleging arbitrariness and procedural irregularities in the ongoing SIR exercise in West Bengal, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi allowed notice receivers to seek assistance of any person -- a lawyer, a family member, neighbour, or even a political party BLA -- during the hearings, but only with proper authorisation.

The apex court also directed the poll body to allow admit cards of secondary exams (Madhyamik), bearing dates of birth, to be considered as a valid SIR document during the hearings.

"The BJP's SIR game is over," Banerjee said, stating he also had information that the court has asked the poll body to provide receipts of documents submitted by electors appearing for hearings.

"So, Modiji, tell us now who is more powerful? The 10 crore people of West Bengal or BJP zamindars? The tormentors from outside or the toiling masses?" the TMC leader said at the rally.
United States President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) reiterated his claim of having stopped a war between India and Pakistan, while also saying that Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif thanked him for saving at least 10 million lives.

IMAGE: United States President Donald Trump. Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters

He made the remarks at the renaming of Southern Boulevard to Donald J Trump Boulevard.

"In a year, we made eight peace deals and ended the war in Gaza. We have peace in the Middle East...We stopped India and Pakistan from fighting, two nuclear nations...The Pakistani Prime Minister said Donald Trump saved at least 10 million people, and it was amazing," he said.

Trump has made similar claims many times since May 10 last year, stating that it was his pressure that led to peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbours as he makes his pitch for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Following the much-anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump, almost two weeks after US strikes on Caracas, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado on Thursday said that she had presented her

Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump at the White House, describing the gesture as recognition for his support for Venezuelan freedom and democratic efforts.

President Trump also acknowledged Machado's gesture, calling it "a wonderful gesture of mutual respect" in a post on Truth Social and thanked her for the medal.

However, according to statements from the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the Norwegian Nobel Institute, once a Nobel Prize is awarded, it cannot be withdrawn, shared, or passed on to another individual, and the decision is permanent and remains in effect indefinitely

As Trump continuous claims continue, it is worth noting that India has consistently denied any third-party involvement, maintaining that peace was brokered directly between the two countries following India's launch of Operation Sindoor to target terror bases in Pakistan. The operation was launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people back in April 2025.

According to Indian officials, it was Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) who contacted his Indian counterpart on May 10 to request an end to hostilities. The ceasefire was then agreed upon.
Poland should display "zero-tolerance" for terrorism and not help "fuel" the terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski on Monday in a blunt message apparently over the mentioning of Kashmir in a Poland-Pakistan joint statement in October.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets Poland's deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski, in New Delhi, January 19, 2026. Photograph: @DrSJaishankar X/ANI Photo

At a meeting with Sikorski, Jaishankar also expressed his anguish over the unfair and unjustified "selective targeting" of India over the Ukraine conflict, in what is seen as a reference to Western nations' criticism of New Delhi over its energy ties with Russia.

The external affairs minister made the comments in his televised opening remarks at the meeting in New Delhi. Sikorski is also Poland's deputy prime minister.

On his part, the Polish foreign minister said he completely agreed with Jaishankar on the "unfairness" and "selective targeting" in the context of tariffs over India's relations with Russia.

Sikorski is on a three-day visit to India that came less than 10 days before the top leadership of the European Union travels to the country.

"You are no stranger to our region and are certainly familiar with the longstanding challenge of cross-border terrorism," Jaishankar said.

"I hope at this meeting to discuss some of your recent travels to the region. Poland should display zero-tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood," he said.

In late October, Sikorski travelled to Islamabad and held wide-ranging talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, following which a joint statement was issued that featured the Kashmir issue.

The external affairs minister also mentioned India's consistent position on the Ukraine conflict.

"In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared with you our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications," Jaishankar said.

"While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," he added.

In his remarks, Jaishankar also talked about the upswing in India-Poland ties.

"We meet at a time when the world is under considerable churn. As two nations located in different regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities, it is obviously useful to exchange views and perspectives."

"Our bilateral relationship has also progressed steadily, but nevertheless, needs constant tending," he said.

Jaishankar also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Poland in August 2024 and said it saw the relationship elevated to a strategic partnership status.

In the talks, the two foreign ministers discussed ways to take forward ongoing cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean technologies and digital innovation.

"Poland is one of India's largest trading partners in Central Europe. Our bilateral trade, I believe, stands at USD 7 billion, having registered growth of almost 200 per cent in the past decade," Jaishankar said.

"Indian investment in Poland has surpassed USD 3 billion, creating a number of job opportunities for Poles. India's strong economic growth, size of its market and pro-investment policies, provide immense opportunity for Polish businesses," he said.

The external affairs minister also mentioned about "Dobry Maharaja (The Good Maharaja)", a term used by the Polish people to remember Maharaja Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of Nawanagar who provided shelter, food and education to over 650 Polish children fleeing Soviet oppression during World War II.

"The 'Dobry Maharaj' remains a cherished link," he said on people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The Shivling is 33 feet in height and weighs 210 tonnes.

IMAGE: The world's tallest Shivling being installed in the under-construction Virat Ramayana temple complex at the Kalyanpur block in Motihari, East Champaran, Bihar, January 17, 2026. Photograph: ANI Photo

Over a decade after it was mooted, the world's largest Shivling was installed at the under-construction Virat Ramayan Mandir on Saturday, January 17, 2026, a day before Mauni Amavasya.

Site of the world's largest Ramayan temple, the installation saw thousands of pilgrims, mostly local residents from adjacent towns and villages, join the event in Bihar's East Champaran district.

Priests from Ayodhya's Ram mandir, Varanasi's Vishwanath mandir and Patna's Mahavir mandir performed Vedic rituals, chanted mantras and conducted special prayers amidst the showering of flowers from a helicopter.

At 33 feet in height and weighing 210 tonnes, it is touted as the world's largest Shivling.

"People have not seen such a big Shivling," said N K Singh, an engineer involved in the temple's construction.

Two cranes from Rajasthan and Bhopal helped install the Shivling, Singh added.

Shivling traveled 2,500 km from Tamil Nadu to Bihar

An official of the Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust, that is constructing the temple, said the Shivling was brought from Tamil Nadu on a special 96-wheel hydraulic trailer.

It took 45 days to reach Gopalganj in Bihar, covering a distance of around 2,500 km and passing through Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The Shivling was decorated with flowers specially brought from Cambodia and Kolkata, apart from which a truckload of local flowers traditionally used in prayers and festivals was also used.

A special 18 foot-long garland of flowers, dhatura and belpatra adorned the Shivling.

The brain behind the Shivling and temple was Acharya Kishor Kunal, a former Indian Police Service officer who died in December 2024.

It was his dream project to install the Shivling and build the temple, and he went about mobilising resources in the post-Covid pandemic.

"The Shivling was carved from a single massive black granite stone in Pattikadu area near Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu. It took nearly 10 years of hard work by master artisans and craftsmen, at a cost of Rs 3 crore," an official said.

With the Shivling in place, the ongoing construction work on the temple is likely to speed up and it is expected to be ready by 2030.

As per the proposal finalised by Acharya Kunal a few years ago, the Virat Ramayan Mandir will be 1,080 feet long and 540 feet wide. It will have 22 shrines, 18 spires, and a 270 foot-high main spire.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
Singapore's Changi Airport to add 600 extra flights to China ahead of Chinese New Year

Xinhua) 15:38, January 19, 2026

SINGAPORE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Changi Airport will work with multiple Chinese airlines to operate more than 600 supplementary flights to 15 cities in China from Feb. 1 to March 8, more than double the number added during the same period in 2025, amid an anticipated increase in travel demand over the coming Chinese New Year holiday, Changi Airport Group said on Monday.

China is Singapore's largest visitor source market, it said, adding that the Chinese New Year period has long been a key travel window for Chinese visitors, supported by the continued implementation of the China-Singapore mutual visa-free policy and the overlap with winter school holidays.

Some of the additional services will be operated by wide-body aircraft, increasing seat capacity and passenger comfort, it said.

The increase in capacity "reflects the strong travel demand we continue to see between China and Singapore," said Lim Ching Kiat, executive vice president for Air Hub and Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group, citing close partnerships with airline partners.

The expanded services, including flights to several Chinese cities receiving supplementary services for the first time, will further strengthen Singapore's position as a gateway to China, Lim added.

Changi Airport will also roll out Chinese New Year-themed activities both online and on-site during the holiday period.

One of Asia's most connected international aviation hubs, Changi Airport offers direct links to around 170 cities worldwide, with nearly 100 airlines operating about 7,000 flights a week.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
TEHRAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian lawmaker said on Monday more than 3,700 people were injured during the recent "riots" in the country, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Ebrahim Azizi made the remarks at a press conference in Tehran, saying the figure was not fixed and could change.

The lawmaker added that more than 2,221 vehicles and pieces of equipment belonging to Iran's police and the voluntary Basij force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps were damaged during the unrest, noting that more than 250 schools, 300 mosques, and 90 seminaries also sustained damage.

He said a number of the security and military forces as well as civilians were killed in the incidents, but did not provide the death toll.

Meanwhile, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Monday that the riots in the country on Jan. 8 and 9 were a "terrorist war" aimed at achieving an objective similar to what took place in the pagers' explosion operation in Lebanon. He referred to an Israeli operation conducted in September 2024, in which thousands of explosive-laden pagers and hundreds of walkie-talkies were detonated across Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah members.

Protests erupted since late December in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the rial. The Iranian government has stated its willingness to address economic grievances but has also warned against violence, vandalism, and unrest.

Initially held peacefully, the protests gradually became violent, leading to casualties and damage to public property, mosques, government buildings, and banks, especially on Jan. 8 and 9, for which Tehran has blamed the United States and Israel. 
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Mostly clear. Very cold. Low around 5F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Very cold. Low around 5F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
BANGKOK, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Monday the results of a counternarcotics operation over the last three months, including the seizure of over 330 million methamphetamine pills and 1.1 tons of crystal meth.

According to authorities, 89,076 drug-related cases were processed between Oct. 1 and Jan. 18, leading to the arrest of 88,421 suspects. Meanwhile, assets totaling 3.37 billion baht (around 107.84 million U.S. dollars) were frozen pending legal proceedings.

During a press conference, Anutin, who is also the minister of interior, said the success of this major crackdown is a testament to the dedication of all agencies united to root out drug networks.

The Thai government has pledged to fully support officers with policy, resources, and protection to ensure they can perform their duties with integrity and fairness, he added.

He noted that the government has approved emergency budget funds to procure high-performance mobile X-ray vehicles for the Royal Thai Police to improve the detection of concealed drugs at checkpoints.

The prime minister also urged the public to utilize the emergency hotline to report suspicious activity, emphasizing that public cooperation is vital to the eradication of illicit drugs. 
Newly emerging videos show Iranian security forces firing into crowds of protesters on January 8 and breaking into buildings and homes to arrest and beat people in the wake of countrywide mass protests. RFE/RL's Radio Farda spoke to the family of a protester killed in the crackdown. HRANA, a US-based human rights organization has said more than 3,900 were killed in clashes but that number is expected to grow higher.
The usually bustling streets of Iran's capital are largely empty as security forces reassert their control after crushing unprecedented protests against the country's clerical rulers.

Residents of Tehran describe a city under virtual martial law, with security personnel deployed on the streets and residents largely staying indoors. Many shops and restaurants close in the evening.

"The feeling of martial law is completely in place at night," a man in his 70s who left Iran on January 17 told RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

"One of the reasons for that," he added, "is that the armed forces randomly stop cars. They check the entire car and also mobile phones. They ask people to unlock their phones."

A heavy military and police presence -- as well as an Internet and communications blackout -- has been imposed across Iran since the authorities launched a bloody crackdown on antiestablishment protests that had erupted on December 28.

Several thousand protesters have been killed and over 20,000 detained over the past three weeks, according to human rights groups, although the actual death toll is believed to be significantly higher.

The man who spoke to Radio Farda said security forces were "checking citizens' activities on social media as well as their phone photo galleries looking for evidence of the individual's presence at the protests."

The man said he was stopped in an area north of Tehran and had heard the same thing from others. "That's why people are telling each other to stay home after 8 p.m.," he said.

Tehran residents said Iranian soldiers, plainclothes agents, and members of the Basij paramilitary force had been deployed not just in the city center but also in neighborhoods.

Militarization In The Provinces

Similar security deployments have been witnessed in other parts of Iran, including Kurdish-majority areas.

"The presence of military and security forces across these cities is so conspicuous that people are talking about a kind of military rule," Kaveh Kermanshahi, who's on the board of the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, told Radio Farda, describing the situation in western cities like Kermanshah after protests peaked last week.

"Not that ordinary people are banned from moving around, but all movement happens under their heavy surveillance and control," he added.

Footage verified by Radio Farda shows military vehicles and troops carrying what appear to be army-issued assault rifles in the streets of the western city of Borujerd in Lorestan Province.

The footage, said to be filmed on January 17, shows military hardware stationed at key intersections in the city.

Human rights organizations say security forces and even armored units have been deployed across multiple provinces, especially in areas that witnessed large protests or attacks on government buildings.

In a January 14 report, the US-based Institute for the Study of War said "the widespread deployment of security patrols is likely contributing to the decrease in recorded protest activity because these patrols are likely deterring some Iranians from participating in protests."

The report added, however, that keeping such numbers of heavily armed personnel on the streets for weeks risks both fatigue among security forces and further radicalizing public anger in areas already hit hard by the crackdown.

Pursuit Inside Residential Spaces

Security operations have pushed deep into residential buildings, blurring the line between public protest and private life.

CCTV footage from an apartment block in Tehran, first released by the activist-run Telegram channel Vahid Online, shows plainclothes agents storming into the complex on January 7, chasing protesters up stairwells while wielding batons, machetes, and firearms.

The footage suggests a methodical pursuit of demonstrators taking refuge in private spaces, and echo testimonies from residents who describe doortodoor raids and arrests far from protest sites.

Written by Kian Sharifi based on original reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda.
Iran's clerical rulers resorted to unprecedented brute force to put down weekslong antiestablishment protests that posed the biggest threat to their rule in decades.

Even though the clerical establishment appears to have survived the latest round of mass protests, many observers say its days are numbered.

US President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action against Iran over the deadly crackdown on protesters, has called for new leadership in the Islamic republic.

RFE/RL interviewed Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, about possible US action against Tehran and the likelihood of change in Iran.

RFE/RL: For the first time in nearly four decades, it feels like things might finally change in Iran. It increasingly looks like a make-or-break moment. Protests have happened before. How is this one different?

Alex Vatanka: Obviously, Iran has experienced a number of protests in the last decade, and even before. What has happened during the last decade is the frequency of the protests. They happen more often, and they have become more radical. Ten years ago, protesters would ask for policy change, and they would chant slogans about how miserable life is.

Today, they are shouting for the toppling of the regime. They are shouting for the death of the dictator, by which they mean Supreme Leader [Ayatollah] Ali Khamenei. Previously, they would be in the streets and maybe burn some garbage cans in the city of Tehran. Now what we are seeing is attacks on mosques. Some of the protesters have been willing to fight the security forces. We have seen thousands of people killed. The fact is this is on a different scale, and each time we have seen the trend continue, the protesters are becoming angrier. Their demands are more fundamental. They want fundamental change, and the security forces are acting more ruthlessly.

The external context matters here because the regime genuinely seems to believe that even if these protesters are homegrown, external powers are going to try to exploit the moment for their benefit. They accuse the United States and Israel of somehow being involved. That just makes this cocktail much more dangerous than what we have seen in previous rounds of protests.

RFE/RL: Speaking of external powers, let's talk about possible US intervention. Based on Trump's initial tweets -- "help is on its way" -- it seemed likely. But now the threat appears to have petered out. So how likely is it, and have the Iranian authorities at least received a reprieve?

Vatanka: President Trump does not seem to have a clear strategy in mind. He stepped in and talked about being on the side of the protesters when the protests were gaining momentum. For a moment, it looked like the regime was on the brink. But as soon as the protests died down, the president backtracked, saying they are not killing people and they are not executing people.

Therefore, he does not see a need for the United States to intervene. That takes us to his basic philosophy. He intervenes when he thinks he is going to be on the winning side. He is certainly not interested in getting the United States involved in another open-ended conflict in the Middle East that looks like nation building, which is exactly what he has always argued against. He is not a man who is interested in building other people's nations for them.

He wants to, as he says, Make America Great Again. In that sense, he was never going to intellectually commit himself to a long campaign to help the protesters, to help them organize, or to give them whatever they need to empower them in a prolonged struggle against the regime. That was never on the cards. For a second, he thought maybe they were going to win in Iran and that he should side with them. When it turned out they were not that close to victory, he stepped out.

RFE/RL: Could Trump be tempted into doing something akin to what he did in Venezuela, where US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro and flew him out of the country, as opposed to a protracted involvement?

[Khameini] is not the father figure he claims to be. When you order mass killings of the country's youth, including children, you cannot credibly claim that role."

Vatanka: The Maduro scenario requires a couple of things. The most important one is whether there are people inside the Iranian regime that US intelligence agencies are in touch with, people who are willing to accept a change of power. You cannot have the Islamic republic under Ali Khamenei and call it change. He has to go.

The question is whether the US has that kind of influence, sway, and access to people in the regime to bring about a transition to a post Ali Khamenei Iran. If that can happen, a lot of people will be happy if it actually means things are going to be different going forward.

If you just take Ali Khamenei out and everything stays the same, for example if the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) become more open, that is not a change that is going to please people in Iran. That is certainly not going to please the opposition.

Change has to be meaningful. You can see a scenario where people in the regime come to the realization that things cannot continue like this anymore, that time is up, and that this is an opportunity to jump ship, particularly if the United States can give them an off-ramp, an alternative, a way to get off this sinking ship. If it does not sink tomorrow or next week, it is bound to sink in the near future.

RFE/RL: How long are we talking about? The authorities seem to have received a temporary reprieve. How long can they last

Vatanka: There is no sign to suggest that the regime can last another 10 to 15 years, because for the first time we are seeing that the economy has really exhausted itself after more than a decade of sanctions. Previously, the authorities were able to maneuver, coming up with flexible policies to deal with sanctions, but now they are running out of options.

On top of that, there is the corruption issue and the governance issue where the ruling elite have lost their way. They do not appeal to or inspire the youth. All sorts of things are coming together to create conditions that are very unique. The idea that the regime could last much longer is questionable. Killing your way out of a problem can solve the issue once or twice, but it is not guaranteed to work every time.

RFE/RL: Can the clerical establishment make concessions or promise reform, or would that show weakness that could invigorate the protests?

We see mosques being openly attacked, which shows religion is under massive pressure. Many Iranians are giving up on Islam, particularly the version represented by Khamenei."

Vatanka: Ali Khamenei has been shaped by two events more than anything else in his determination not to give in to protesters when they are angry in the streets and challenging him. One was how the shah [of Iran] tackled the protests and the revolution he faced in 1978 and 1979. Khamenei was there. He saw the shah come on national television and say, "I have heard the voice of your revolution." That was the end of him.

Khamenei is not going to do that. He is not going to say anything like that. In fact, he is doing the opposite. He has green-lighted the crackdown because he thinks intimidation and fear are the way forward. The second event that shaped him was what [the last Soviet leader] Mikhail Gorbachev did.

RFE/RL: Could we see an Iranian glasnost or openness policy

Vatanka: Khamenei was a young supreme leader when he saw the Soviet Union collapse from within. He does not want to do anything major in terms of reform. What he has to do instead, without publicly accepting change or agreeing to major reform, is take certain steps that suggest some willingness to change. For example, for months now, the authorities have stopped enforcing the mandatory hijab [Islamic head scarf]. It is a policy of the regime, but they realized it was making people angry.

Another thing is that they are talking to the Americans. Even after being attacked by the Americans, they are still saying they talked. There are also reports that they are willing to sit down for talks of sorts with the Israelis through the Russians, with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin mediating between [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and the Iranian leadership. All of this suggests a regime in a very awkward place that knows it has to compromise. It has to bend and be flexible for the sake of survival. It does not announce this loudly or say it is capitulating, but in practice it is taking steps that suggest it knows there is no other way out than compromise at this point.

The regime is stubborn, and that stubbornness is embodied in its supreme leader, but it is not suicidal. It is more flexible when it comes to the outside world than the inside. It gives small concessions because it is scared of the slippery slope that reform could trigger, but there has been some willingness to change, not enough to please the public, but enough to suggest flexibility.

RFE/RL: Speaking of stubbornness or inflexibility, how strong is Islamic ideology in Iran right now compared to the 1980s?

Vatanka: Forty-seven years into this regime, whatever ideology once drove it is largely gone. It mattered in the 1980s, but today the vast majority of people in the system are there because that is where they get their salaries. They do not have alternatives, and nobody has shown them a different political system in which they could still have a role. They fear that major change would mean losing their jobs, their money, or potentially their lives. That is why so many people are hanging on to what is essentially a sinking ship.

RFE/RL: Let's explore the issue of leadership. With Khamenei being 86 years old, who can succeed him without the legitimacy of the Islamic system being questioned?

Vatanka: This is the big question. He has never pointed to a successor, which would be against his nature. He does not want to share the limelight with anyone, so he has never had a deputy. Constitutionally, it is up to the Assembly of Experts to choose his successor. But there could be a situation where there is no supreme leader after him. Since 1979, this role has been held by only two men, [the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini and Khamenei. There is no deeper precedent for it in Iranian history. Getting rid of the Office of the Supreme Leader and restructuring political power is not as far-fetched as it might seem.

RFE/RL: Could that mean the IRGC reinventing itself?

Vatanka: This is a theocracy, and by nature a theocracy is meant to be run by senior religious authority, not uniformed men. One scenario is a token cleric as supreme leader with little real power, while the Revolutionary Guards run the country. In many ways, the IRGC already runs the show. Khamenei is much more powerful than anyone who could replace him. After 37 years in power, no one can really fill his shoes. But for at least the last two decades, the IRGC has been the state machinery people associate with Iran.

RFE/RL: Could we see Iran's theocracy transformed into a military junta?

Vatanka: It could happen. That is one scenario people speculate about. But Iran has no history of military rulers. This is not Latin America in the 1970s. Historically, Iran was ruled by kings and then, from 1979, by clerics. An openly ruling IRGC would be a new reality. Even then, the regime's problems would not go away. The IRGC has effectively been running Iran for decades, both domestically and abroad. Simply moving from Khamenei to open IRGC rule does not solve anything.

RFE/RL: Would that give society a false sense of reprieve -- the feeling that Khamenei is gone, and now everything is for the greater glory of the nation?

Vatanka: No. The IRGC are not seen as nationalist heroes. They may have been viewed that way in the 1980s during the war with Iraq, but for decades they have mostly fought Iranians at home or pursued adventurous policies in places like Lebanon or Gaza. Very few Iranians see the IRGC as nationalist heroes. In that sense, Khamenei and the IRGC are indistinguishable. Their takeover would make no real difference to the fate of the regime.

RFE/RL: Much like Putin in Russia, entire generations in Iran have grown up seeing this man as the sole leader of the nation. What does that do to the national psyche, and how does that complicate things for whoever comes after him?

Vatanka: The end of Ali Khamenei would be an opportunity for the nation to return to where it left off. For decades, Iran has been frozen in the ideological bubble he is committed to. His departure opens space. Yes, there are followers of Khamenei in society, but we are talking about maybe 5-10 percent. He is not the hero of a nation of 90 million. He is seen as the problem. He is not the father figure he claims to be. When you order mass killings of the country's youth, including children, you cannot credibly claim that role.

RFE/RL: If the protests succeed now or in the near future, what will happen to religion as an institution?

Vatanka: We see mosques being openly attacked, which shows religion is under massive pressure. Many Iranians are giving up on Islam, particularly the version represented by Khamenei. Iran is arguably the most secular country in the broader Middle East, more secular than Turkey or the Gulf states. This is not because Islam itself has done something wrong, but because of how it has been practiced by the regime.

RFE/RL: How does one explain the shah's popularity among some of the protesters? Is it simply because he was not as bad as the regime that replaced him, or are people looking for a strongman without a turban?

Vatanka: This goes back to the question of who inspires. monarchists who look up to [exiled former Crown Prince] Reza Pahlavi, his father the shah, and his grandfather Reza Khan argue that those leaders achieved a great deal during their time in power. They developed Iran. In contrast, the Islamic republic has brought isolation, sanctions, and dependence on Russia and China. Many Iranians judge leadership by who made the country stronger and more respected.

RFE/RL: Make Iran Great Again?

Vatanka: Yes. There is a lot of nostalgia, but that nostalgia is not born out of a vacuum. It exists because the regime has done such a poor job of connecting with and inspiring people.

RFE/RL: If a strongman were to emerge, who could make the country matter again, are people looking for their own Putin

Vatanka: To some extent, yes. Anyone who can save them from Khamenei gains appeal. Reza Pahlavi has history, name recognition, and some access to foreign powers. But this is a deeply contested issue inside Iran and in the diaspora. The idea that Iranians can only be ruled by a strongman is simplistic. There is hope that the opposition can organize itself and move toward a democratic, pluralistic system similar to Europe. Concentrating too much power in one individual always carries risks.

RFE/RL: China and Russia are clearly paying attention. What realistic options do they have and what would it cost them if Iran's clerical rulers were to fall?

Vatanka: China has very limited appetite for defending the Islamic republic. Beijing treats Iran as a transactional partner, useful mainly as a source of discounted oil, and did very little during the protests or during the 12-day [war with] Israel [last year]. China will not confront Washington or invest political capital to save Tehran. If the regime were to fall, China's main cost would be losing a cheap, sanctions-hit energy source, not a true strategic ally.

Russia, meanwhile, sees Iran as a strategic buffer and a useful partner in regional confrontations, but not an ideological ally. Moscow's support is real and important but bound by pragmatism. A collapse of the regime would cost Russia a regional partner that helps absorb Western pressure, but Moscow does not stake its own security on Iran's internal survival.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Iran said it is considering lifting its Internet blackout this week as details of a brutal crackdown on antiestablishment protests where thousands are reported dead continue to leak out of the country.

As of January 18, the US-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 3,919 protesters, while 8,949 additional deaths are still being reviewed.

The group said another 2,109 people were seriously injured during the unrest, with more than 24,000 detained in one of the biggest challenges to the Islamic republic's leadership in recent years.

The death toll from the crackdown on the protests, which started in Tehran markets over spiraling inflation and a freefall in the currency before broadening into nationwide antiestablishment demonstrations, is substantially higher than those of previous bouts of unrest put down by the authorities in 2022 and 2009.

This regime has crossed every moral red line, and this crime is a stain of shame that will remain on the face of the Islamic republic, Mikael Askari, who says three members of his family were killed by gunfire from security forces while they were in their car in the city of Karaj on January 9. They have effectively wiped out an entire family.





He subsequently said he was holding off an attack after Iran had canceled 800 executions, although Tehran has not confirmed that number or said that hangings had been permanently called off.

In response, Tehran's hard-line rulers have renewed their hostile rhetoric and threatened to hand out the "severest punishments," potentially including executions, against the protesters.

The unrest has brought simmering tensions between the United States and Iran to a near boil.

US President Donald Trump has taken the forefront among Western leaders in calling out the Iranian regime for its brutal crackdown.

Trump initially warned the United States was locked and loaded to take action if Iranian security forces killed protesters. He later threatened to take very strong action if Iran hanged protesters amid reports of impending executions.

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian, previously considered by many to be a relative moderate among Iran's rulers, has warned the White House that an attack on the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would bring about an "all-out war."

The latest challenge to the theocratic government erupted on December 28, with demonstrators taking the streets over Iran's struggling economy, before snowballing into wider protests.

To choke off the flow of information between Iranians, as well as what was coming out of the country, authorities imposed an Internet blackout.

Watchdog Netblocks said on January 19 that access to the Internet remained blocked, though some messages occasionally got through, " suggesting that the regime is testing a more heavily filtered Intranet."

Hossein Afshin, Iran's vice president for science, technology and the knowledge economy, said on state television on January 19 that the Internet would "gradually return to normal operations this week."
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Iranians living abroad continue to hold rallies denouncing Tehran's brutal crackdown against anti-government protesters. RFE/RL spoke to Iranian exiles in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. The US-based rights group HRANA has verified the deaths of more than 3,900 protesters but the actual death toll is expected to be higher.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Documents seen by RFE/RL highlight Chinese government pressure behind the prosecution of 19 activists in Kazakhstan who organized demonstrations against China's mass internment camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

RFE/RL obtained a diplomatic note sent by the Chinese Consulate General in Almaty to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, which describes a November 13 protest organized by the activists as an open provocation against the dignity of the Peoples Republic of China and an insult to the image of the Communist Party of China and Chinas leader," and calls for Kazakh authorities "to seriously investigate [the incident.]"

RFE/RL also reviewed court materials brought against the activists -- who are part of Naghyz Atazhurt, an unregistered advocacy group that works with families who have relatives missing in Xinjiang -- that show that Kazakh government investigators cited the diplomatic note as a key justification for opening a criminal case under Article 174(2) of Kazakhstans Criminal Code, which criminalizes inciting national, ethnic, or other social discord when committed by a group.

The protest "negatively impacted the two nations' friendship," an Kazakh indictment seen by RFE/RL said. "The Chinese side has expressed serious concerns regarding the incident. [China's] Consulate General expressed hope that the action will be properly investigated."

The provision, widely criticized by rights groups as vague and prone to abuse, carries up to 10 years imprisonment .

The severe sentencing ahead of a January 23 trial at a court in the southeastern city of Taldyqorghan that has seen the prosecution escalate into one of the countrys most sweeping cases against activism on China's policies in Xinjiang , highlighting Beijing's growing influence in Kazakhstan and a sharp squeeze on dissent in the Central Asian country.

Erlan Zhetibaev, a spokesman from Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, confirmed to RFE/RL that "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan held a regular meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan" in November, but did not comment on the note sent by China's consulate.

"During the meeting, in addition to bilateral issues, the incident that occurred in the Uyghur district of the Almaty region on November 13, 2025, was discussed, and the Chinese side was informed of the measures taken by law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan in connection with this incident."

Currently, 13 activists remain in pretrial detention, while six others are under house arrest, including Nazigul Maqsutkhan, a pregnant activist whose welfare, and that of her unborn child, has become a focus for rights groups in the country following the prosecution.

The Government Case Against Atazhurt

The case brought against the 19 activists centers on a November 13 demonstration in the village of Qalzhat in eastern Kazakhstan, just a few kilometers from the Chinese border. The group gathered to protest Chinas treatment of ethnic Kazakhs and Uyghurs in Xinjiang and to demand the release of Alimnur Turghanbai, a naturalized Kazakh citizen originally from Xinjiang, who has been detained in China since July.

Relatives say Turghanbai was detained while in China for work, and that his whereabouts have remained unknown ever since.

According to the indictment, the activists premeditatively gathered and used social media and other media to disseminate materials allegedly aimed at inciting interethnic hostility and insulting the national dignity and honor of Chinese nationals.

State-ordered forensic experts reportedly concluded that videos of the protest posted online showed signs of incitement to interethnic discord or national enmity, including disrespect toward national symbols.

In those videos of the protests , participants can be seen burning three small Chinese flags and a portrait of Chinese leader Xi Jinping while chanting, Stop the pressure and injustice against Kazakh and Uyghur peoples, and Down with the Communist Party! Down with Xi Jinping!

Police detained most protesters at the scene, and a local administrative court later convicted several of petty hooliganism, issuing fines or up to 15 days detention.

But following the Chinese diplomatic note sent to Kazakh authorities, the case against them escalated.

Kazakh authorities should withdraw the criminal charges against the Atajurt activists and release those in detention immediately, said Maya Wang, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Instead of aiding Chinas repression, the Kazakh government should press the Chinese government to stop its crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.

Since Beijings crackdown accelerated in 2017 in its northwestern Xinjiang province, more than 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other Muslim minorities have been put into mass detention camps. Tens of thousands of Kazakh citizens have family or cultural ties to Xinjiang -- where many have relatives missing, detained, or under tight surveillance.

Those connections across the border at one point made Kazakhstan an unlikely hotbed for anti-Chinese activism in Central Asia, but Astana, which shares a long border and deep economic interdependence with Beijing, has gone after activists and groups raising awareness about abuses in Xinjiang and calling for the release of their relatives.

The activists awaiting trial are nearly all that's left of what was once a small but influential advocacy movement inside the country.

Rights Groups Call The Case 'Politically Motivated'

Human rights lawyers and several prominent government critics have taken note of the case and said that it lacks any legal basis.

One of the activists' lawyers, Shynquat Baizhanov, told RFE/RL that his clients targeted Chinese government policies, not the Chinese people as an ethnic group. He says the group denounced the detention of a Kazakh citizen, called for an end to pressure on ethnic Kazakhs in Xinjiang, and demanded the cancelation of a visa-free regime they fear could increase Chinese migration -- positions he describes as political, not xenophobic.

According to Baizhanov, nothing in the protest meets the threshold for inciting ethnic discord under international standards because the slogans and actions were directed at state authorities and policies.

He said that treating the protest as a criminal offense effectively equates harsh criticism of a foreign government with hate speech, opening the door to further prosecutions of dissenting voices.

Almaty-based human rights defender Bakhytzhan Toreghozhina told RFE/RL that the move from administrative penalties to criminal prosecution as another example of Kazakhstans tightening clampdown on dissent, in a political environment where opposition has largely been removed from the public sphere.

Ermurat Bapi, an independent Kazakh lawmaker, called the charges against the group too harsh."

"Such actions have nothing to do with state-related ties or policies, they are just examples of civic activities, social protests," Bapi said to RFE/RL, adding that the maximum punishment for the action could be just administrative fines, not criminal charges.

In a joint statement , the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR) also condemned the case as politically motivated and incompatible with Kazakhstans international human rights commitments.

The groups also highlighted broader concerns about Article 174, which carries the charge for inciting ethnic discord.

That charge was also brought against Atazhurt founder Serikzhan Bilash in a 2019 case. In 2020, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Kazakhstan unlawfully targeted Bilash.

The activist has since left Kazakhstan under what he called government pressure and now lives in the United States.

Bilash told RFE/RL that he sees the current case brought forward as Chinas attempt to turn Kazakhstan into a second Xinjiang" and that they are an example of Chinese transnational repression" to shut down the movement and silence witnesses to abuses in Xinjiang.

Government Pressure Against Xinjiang Activism

Atazhurt, which for years has documented abuses in Xinjaing, has been under growing pressure in recent years.

The movement has repeatedly struggled to obtain official registration as a public association, and its members have faced fines, detention, and surveillance over their activism.

On January 15, a court in Kazakhstans southern Turkistan region sentenced Atazhurt activist Baghdat Toghyspaev to five days in jail after he refused to pay a fine imposed for a protest demanding the release of the 19 defendants.

In recent months, several other activists tied to Atazhurt have been detained or fined for participating in demonstrations or sharing footage of the November 13 protest on social media.

Activists told RFE/RL that they have faced increased police monitoring and claimed growing pressure on people providing financial support to the group.

Kazakh authorities have also restricted access for foreign researchers focusing on Xinjiang-related issues.

In 2025, Danish anthropologist Rune Steenberg, who studies Uyghur communities, was denied entry to Kazakhstan and Russian-American scholar Gene Bunin, the founder of the Xinjiang Victims Database, was barred from entering the country for several years in 2021.

China has been accused of systemic human rights violations in Xinjiang, and in 2022, a UN report found China was committing " serious human rights violations " in Xinjiang that may amount to crimes against humanity.

A growing body of evidence -- including firsthand testimony and leaked official Chinese government documents -- support the accusations, which range from forced labor to sexual abuse, forced sterilization, and erasing Uyghur cultural and religious identity, including the tearing down of mosques and other religious sites.

China has denied any human rights abuses in the region and says that its policies in Xinjiang are designed to counter extremism and terrorism.
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Russia launched a nighttime drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, damaging a residential building, commercial properties, and an energy facility, local officials said. Nearly 40,000 families were without electricity following the attack.
Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy sector continued overnight as Kyiv scrambles to accelerate work on rerouting electricity supplies from its western nuclear plants to hard-hit areas in the east.

This winter, Russia has made no secret that its strategy is to target Ukraine's already-battered electricity grid and power plant facilities, along with municipal heating plants, which supply heat and hot water to many, if not most, buildings in Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns and cities.

Russian strikes hit the Odesa region early on January 19, damaging energy and gas infrastructure, with at least one person being injured, regional authorities reported.

The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, added that a drone struck a multistory residential building in Odesa.

"The blast wave was so strong. I live on the 12th floor, and the windows were blown out so it felt like it was raining glass," Volodymyr, an Odesa resident who asked for his last name to be withheld, told RFE/RL.

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, said a power facility in the southern city of Odesa was "substantially" damaged in the attack, leaving almost 40,000 households without electricity.

In Ukraine's second-biggest city of Kharkiv, Russia attacked a critical infrastructure facility with four missiles, causing significant damage, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on January 19.

In Kyiv, utility workers continue working to restore heat to buildings that were left without heating after the January 9 attack on the capital.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the situation remains challenging as severe frost persists, with temperatures reaching minus 20 degrees Celsius. Emergency power outages continue, and the Ukrainian capital is operating under a state of emergency, he added.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal stated on January 19 that Ukraine will work on improving electricity transmission from the western part of the country to its power-hungry eastern regions amid the ongoing Russian attack on its energy infrastructure.

"This involves both repairs and network expansion. The tasks set will reduce the duration of power cuts in areas where the situation is currently most difficult," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram.

Andriy Herus, head of Ukrainian parliament's Energy, Housing, and Communal Services Committee, said that the coming weeks will be tough for all unless the deep freeze breaks and longer days and clear skies help generate more solar power.

"The next 30 days will be difficult for us," Herus told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on January 19. "I sometimes hear that 'from January 15 it will get better' or 'next week it will get better' -- but then at the end of such statements they add in fine print, 'provided that there are no new attacks.' But there's a high probability that there will be new attacks."

Ukraine's three operational nuclear power plants, which provide most of the countrys electricity, are located in the west, while eastern Ukraine, formerly reliant on thermal power plants, has seen those facilities almost completely destroyed.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has warned that Russian forces are reportedly preparing to conduct long-range strikes against substations powering Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

"If the Russians seriously wanted to end the war, they'd focus on diplomacy -- not on missile strikes, blackouts, and even attempts to damage our nuclear power plants," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.

"We have information about the sites Russia reconnoitered in preparation for strikes. Everything clearly shows that diplomacy is not a priority for Russia," Zelenskyy warned.

Russia's Defense Ministry says it's targeting energy infrastructure it claims is used by Ukraine's military.

Data shows Russian forces intensified strikes on Ukraine's energy and gas infrastructure at the beginning of fall 2025, disrupting supplies during the heating season.

With reporting from Ukrainian Service and Reuters
Kyiv concluded a fresh round of talks with US officials without announcing an agreement but said discussions on a plan to end Russia's war on Ukraine would resume at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"We are working with our American partners to further advance the peace process," Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief negotiator, wrote on social media on January 18 following the latest two-day session in Florida.

"We will continue to work on achieving a just and sustainable peace, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine and agreeing on the next steps."

Umerov reiterated one of Kyiv's key demands in any peace proposal --- security safeguards, particularly from the United States but also from Europe.

"Ukraine needs peace that guarantees security and sovereignty," he asserted.

Talks 'Substantive'

Umerov labeled the talks -- which included US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner -- as "substantive," adding participants also discussed an "economic development and prosperity plan."

"We agreed to continue work at the team level during the next phase of consultations in Davos," Umerov wrote of the prestigious economic gathering set for January 19-23 at the Swiss resort.

Trump has attempted to fashion a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, which have been embroiled in Europe's largest war since World War II after the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The US president in November 2025 pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a 28-point peace proposal that many saw as heavily favoring Russia.

Ukraine and its European allies -- led by Britain, France, and Germany -- scrambled to develop a counterproposal, eventually putting forward a 20-point plan that took in more of Kyiv's interests, especially on security guarantees and territorial integrity.

Trump in recent days has claimed that Zelenskyy, rather than Russian President Vladimir Putin, was obstructing a potential peace agreement, even as Russia continues to launch nightly air attacks on Ukrainian civilian and infrastructure sites.

Zelenskyy quickly rejected the accusation.

"Overall, it is clear the United States wants to end the war tomorrow. And we want to end it today. We are both interested in this. And we understand that the delay in signing and ending the war is coming from Russia," he said.

'Diplomacy,' Not Missile Strikes

In his nightly video address of January 18, Zelenskyy said that "if the Russians seriously wanted to end the war, they'd focus on diplomacy -- not on missile strikes, blackouts, and even attempts to damage our nuclear power plants."

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence had determined that Russia had "reconnoitered" such sites in preparation for new air strikes.

The capital, Kyiv, continues to freeze as Ukrainians struggle to cope with the relentless Russian attacks that have destroyed vast parts of the country's energy infrastructure.

More than a week after an especially large Russian barrage on January 9, many homes in the capital remain without heat or other utilities.

With reporting by Reuters
THE HAGUE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Seventy-seven percent of Dutch citizens view the United States as a source of global insecurity, according to a new opinion poll released Monday by the Netherlands Atlantic Commission.

The report, titled Transatlantic Security Opinion Poll 2026, found that only 23 percent of respondents consider the United States a stabilizing force in the world, down from 34 percent in 2025.

When asked in an open-ended question to identify the greatest threat to Dutch and European security, 14 percent of respondents spontaneously cited "Trump's America" as the primary threat, surpassing the 11 percent who named Russia.

More broadly, 51 percent of those surveyed described the current relationship between the United States and Europe as "poor" or "very poor." Economic ties are seen as particularly strained: 78 percent said President Donald Trump's first year back in office has had a primarily negative impact on transatlantic trade relations. These views were recorded before recent U.S. announcements of additional tariffs on the Netherlands and other European countries linked to Greenland.

Concerns extend beyond trade. Reflecting on Trump's first year in office, 73 percent of respondents said his policies had negatively affected global peace and stability, while 63 percent cited adverse impacts on international climate cooperation.

In addition, 81 percent of respondents said Europe can no longer count on unconditional U.S. military support under the current Trump administration, raising questions about long-standing assumptions within NATO.

Kris Derks, program coordinator at the Netherlands Atlantic Commission, confirmed to Xinhua that the poll was conducted between Jan. 1 and Jan. 8, 2026. A total of 1,045 responses were collected from 1,650 distributed questionnaires.

Founded in 1952, the Netherlands Atlantic Commission serves as a platform for public debate on transatlantic security issues. The annual survey, conducted by research agency Verian on behalf of the Netherlands Atlantic Association, is widely used by policymakers and analysts to assess public opinion on NATO, defense spending, and broader transatlantic relations. 
JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 school pupils were killed and five others critically injured on Monday when a private scholar transport vehicle collided with a truck in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, South Africa, local media reported. 
Fiona Ferguson

A Leitrim barber has been jailed for eight years for the rape of a woman who was a guest in his home.

Dilzar Hamad (40) of Oaklands, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, was convicted by a jury last year of rape of the woman on a date in January or February 2021. He has no previous convictions.

The woman told the court in her victim impact statement that following the rape, she no longer feels safe. She said the offence and its aftermath have changed her life and the person she is forever.

She vividly described the damaging effects the offence had and continues to have on her life.

Hamad claims it was a consensual sexual encounter and not rape. He does not accept the verdict of the jury and gave evidence in his defence during his Central Criminal Court trial.

Passing sentence on Monday, Mr Justice David Keane said there had been an abuse of trust in this case and an element of cynical planning as evidenced by prior text messages to the victim.

He said the offence itself was an opportunistic one in the circumstance which arose on the day in question. He said there was an element of intimidation in Hamads threats that he would say she was the one who approached him and a subsequent message that she should not reveal what happened.

Mr Justice Keane set a headline sentence of nine years' imprisonment.

He noted that Hamad does not accept the verdict and continues to deny the offence. He said he has not demonstrated any remorse, made any apology, attempted to make any amends or embarked on any rehabilitation.

He said Hamad was entitled to credit for his good character prior to and since the rape, as well as limited credit for his co-operation with gardai and complying with his bail conditions. He noted his good behaviour as a prisoner where he works as a barber, and he is undertaking educational courses.

The judge noted that a probation report places Hamad at low risk of re-offending in the long term, but dynamic risk factors place him at high risk of re-offending in the next 12 months if he were in the community.

The risk factors identified include his significant social influences, his hostility towards women, negative emotionality and a high sex drive and sexual preoccupation.

Mr Justice Keane imposed an eight-year sentence, taking into account the mitigating factors.

He said Hamad had an absolute entitlement to protest his innocence and pursue an appeal, but it followed from that stance that there was no reality to promoting rehabilitation and no logical basis to suspend any portion of the sentence.

He ordered two years post-release supervision with strict conditions in order to protect the public, limit the risk of him committing a further sexual offence and rehabilitate if possible.

Mr Justice Keane wished the injured party well in what he hoped was her continued recovery.

Detective Garda Lydia Cawley told Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that prior to the rape, the woman had received a number of inappropriate texts from Hamad indicating a sexual interest in her. She responded to say that she did not want this and was warned by him not to tell anyone.

The woman was subsequently raped by Hamad in a downstairs toilet during a visit to his home. She had been attempting to leave the bathroom when Hamad appeared and pushed her back inside. He covered her mouth and told her not to scream.

The injured party was initially too afraid to say anything, but the matter came to light following further messages sent to her by Hamad. He had threatened her not to disclose what had happened.

Gardai became aware of the allegations and Hamad was arrested in August 2021.

Hamad initially went on trial in March 2024, but the jury failed to reach a verdict. He was retried the following year and convicted in March 2025.

In her victim impact statement, the woman said she had been frightened, shocked and upset following the rape. She said she had wanted to hide somewhere no one could see her, as she felt so ashamed. She described how that time was very hard for her.

She said after the attack Hamad threatened her and said he would say it was all her fault.

She outlined to the court how she is not the same person that she was prior to the rape. She said Hamad has taken everything from her  including the life she had and her confidence

She said she does not feel safe anymore and feels so alone as she cannot talk about what happened.

The woman said that she feels she will never trust anyone ever again and is always afraid.

She said the offences have changed her life and the person she is forever.

Mr McGinn told the court the Director of Public Prosecution's view is that the case falls into the more serious band of cases with a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years.

He said factors included an element of premeditation with prior text messages to the injured party, that she was a guest in his home and that he continued contact after the offence.

The defence said the case falls into the standard sentence band with a starting point of seven years.

Colman Fitzgerald SC, defending, said Hamad does not accept the verdict of the jury. He is married with five children, and his wife was in court to support him at the sentence hearing.

Counsel submitted Hamad had led a pro-social life prior to this offence and was a good husband and father. His wife wrote a letter to the court in which she outlined the difficulties she is facing due to him being in custody and how good he was to his family.

Hamad came to Ireland with his family from the Kurdish part of Iraq and set up a barber shop in Carrick on Shannon where he employed four people. He no longer owns the barber shop as a result of going into custody in March 2025.

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.
The CEO of the Ballymore property group, Sean Mulryan, has accepted an invitation to attend next Mondays plenary meeting of Roscommon County Council to outline his companys masterplan to develop Athlone as Irelands first green city.

Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Liam Callaghan confirmed this morning, Monday, that Mr Mulryan and company representatives would attend the January meeting of the local authority.

The company CEO, who is a native of Oran, will be joined by his colleagues Linda Mulryan-Condron, David Killion, Professor Brian McGrath and Josephine Feehily.

At the December plenary meeting of the council, Fianna Fail councillor Larry Brennan proposed that elected members invite Ballymore to the council chamber to present it vision for the development of Athlone and what benefits it may have for County Roscommon.

Ballymores blueprint for Athlone is to develop a new, sustainable city designed to accommodate a population of 100,000 by the year 2040.

I am now delighted that Ballymore have accepted our invitation," said Cllr Callaghan. "This is a very exciting proposal for Athlone and the region in general and I intend to set aside a large part of the meeting for this presentation so members and officials can engage fully with Mr Mulryan and his team."
Ottoline Spearman

The Tanaiste will discuss the threat of new tariffs by the US at a meeting of EU Finance Ministers on Monday, as Trump has insisted that a deal will be reached over Greenland.

US President Donald Trump threatened to hit eight European countries with 10 per cent tariffs from February 1st, rising to 25 per cent in June, because they oppose his plan to buy the Arctic nation, causing consternation and anger in European capitals.

The move marked a significant escalation in a diplomatic row that risks becoming a transatlantic trade war.

A senior European Commission source confirmed to The Irish Times that a package of counter tariffs  drawn up by the EU last year and which would hit 93 billion worth of US trade  is now on the table as a possible response.

European Council president Antonio Costa, who chairs the EU summits, said the union was ready to defend itself against any form of coercion.

The French government, meanwhile, is understood by The Irish Times to have pressed the EU to use its powerful anti-coercion instrument to target US multinationals. They view this as a possible form of leverage to encourage Mr Trump to back down on his plans to take control of Greenland.

The demands by the Trump administration to take control of Greenland for national security reasons threaten to cause the biggest rift in the transatlantic alliance since it was formed after the Second World War.

In Dublin, there is strong concern that the dispute over Greenland could lead to an unravelling of a trade deal reached between the EU and the Trump administration last summer. The Government fears such a development could have serious implications for the Irish economy, according to The Irish Times.

The trade agreement provided for a 15 per cent tariff rate ceiling on European exports to the US, including pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. However, the accord has not yet been ratified by the European Parliament, and there are fears it could collapse entirely in the backlash against Mr Trumps announcement of new tariffs over Greenland.

On Monday, Trump said on social media that Denmark has been unable to do anything about the Russian threat to the territory, and now it is time for a deal.

"NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland, a Truth Social post said. "Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

Speaking on Newstalk on Monday, Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly said efforts will be made to ease tensions, but EU Ministers will still make a stand: They're hoping to de-escalate the situation by having diplomatic moves behind the scenes to try and stop it.

There is also, of course, clearly sending a message to Donald Trump that they cannot back down in this situation.

Simon Harris has said that the tariffs would be damaging to the EU economy, supply chains and open trade.

An economist has also warned that Ireland would experience the "mother of all recessions" if successful.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, Dr Alan Ahearne said that the outcome would be worse than anything experienced in the last economic downturn.

"Stock markets would fall, credit markets would tighten up, just like in 2008. Borrowing and lending would freeze," he said.

On Sunday, an emergency meeting of EU ambassadors was called, with Ireland reiterating its solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. European Council President Antonio Costa also said late on Sunday he had decided to convene an extraordinary summit of European Union leaders in the coming days to discuss the bloc's response.

Also on Sunday, the Taoiseach told RTE that the situation in Greenland is very clear from [Irelands] perspective, the territorial integrity, the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark cannot be violated.

Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said: Ireland has been crystal clear that the future of Greenland is a matter to be determined by Denmark and by the Greenlandic people, in line with well-established democratic principles and international law.

This is a position that will not change. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States is non-negotiable."
Tiwari was among twenty personalities from across the country honoured for their notable contributions to their respective fields. File Photo.

Tiwari was recognised for his outstanding professional excellence in radiological safety and his dedicated contributions to social service.

GMCH-32 Pride: Chandigarh's Laxmikant Tiwari Receives Bharat Gaurav Award for Medical Excellence

Laxmikant Tiwari, the Radiological Safety Officer at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, has been conferred with the prestigious Bharat Gaurav Award.

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The award was presented by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria at a ceremony held in a private hotel in Chandigarh.

Tiwari was recognised for his outstanding professional excellence in radiological safety and his dedicated contributions to social service. The Governor praised Tiwaris work in the X-ray department of GMCH-32, describing it as a benchmark for patient-centric care and professional integrity.

Tiwari, who joined the institute in 1994, currently serves as the national president of the Indian Association of Radiological Technologists and has previously received the Chandigarh administration's State Award twice for his social welfare initiatives.

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The award ceremony was attended by several prominent dignitaries, including Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Haryana Cabinet Minister Krishna Kumar Bedi, and Mahamandaleshwar Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj.

Tiwari was among twenty personalities from across the country honoured for their notable contributions to their respective fields.

His career journey also includes a crucial role in the formation of the National Commission for Allied Healthcare Professionals, to which he was later nominated as a member from India.

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Source: Times of India
As the High Court is part of the heritage zone, the expansion plan has faced previous stalls due to heritage objections. File Photo.

The Court emphasised that the UT must ensure the concept note is forwarded by the January 20 deadline.



High Court Expansion: UT Ordered to Forward 20.5 Lakh Sq Ft Plan by Jan 20

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Chandigarh Administration to immediately move forward with a massive 20.50 lakh square feet expansion plan due to a critical shortage of space.

The court has set a strict deadline of January 20 for the UT administration to submit a detailed "concept note" to ensure the project meets international standards.

According to the High Courts observations, the matter has reached a state of "running against time".

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The expansion is vital because the High Court currently has a sanctioned strength of 85 judges, but only 69 courtrooms are available. This infrastructure gap has created a situation where there is virtually no space left to accommodate additional judicial staff or files.

As the High Court is part of the heritage zone, the expansion plan has faced previous stalls due to heritage objections.

The UT Administration presented two options, one for 20.50 lakh square feet and another for 19.80 lakh square feet. The High Court has now directed the administration to move forward with the larger 20.50 lakh square feet proposal, which is also supported by the High Court Bar Association.

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The Court emphasised that the UT must ensure the concept note is forwarded by the January 20 deadline to facilitate the holistic development of the judicial complex and to include it in the International Management Plan and forward it to the Fondation Le Corbusier by January 21."



Source: The Tribune
DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's tourism industry generated 4.2 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in the year ending October 2025, the highest in the country's history, according to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).

A sharp increase in international arrivals drove the strong performance, the central bank said in a report.

Official statistics show that Tanzania welcomed about 173,000 more foreign tourists between January and November 2025 than in the same period of the previous year, bringing total arrivals to about 2.09 million, a 9 percent year-on-year rise.

Opening a wildlife stakeholders' meeting in the capital Dodoma on Saturday, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ashatu Kijaji described the sector as solid and vibrant.

She highlighted international recognition, including the Africa's Leading Destination and World's Leading Safari Destination awards, and the right to host the World Tourism Awards in December 2026.

The achievements reflect stronger public-private sector cooperation, enhanced marketing strategies and major infrastructure investments, Kijaji said.

On conservation, she noted that anti-poaching efforts have helped raise the elephant population from 43,000 in 2014 to over 60,000 in 2023.

Tanzania also hosts the world's largest populations of lions and leopards, the minister added. 
Went to the airport to welcome my brother: PM Modi receives President of UAE

His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions, he added.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday personally received the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the airport.

Sharing photos with the President in a post on X, PM Modi wrote, Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

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His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions, he added.

The two leaders were seen leaving in the same car while departing from the airport.

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(For more news apart from Went to the airport to welcome my brother: PM Modi receives President of UAE," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Ambala Breaking: Three schools in Ambala receive bomb threat emails

The police are refraining from commenting on the matter at this time.

Ambala Breaking: Three schools in Ambala received bomb threats via email early on Monday morning. The matter was reported to the Ambala police, who have arrived at the schools and are investigating the origin of the emails.

The three schools are DAV Riverside, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, and S.A. Jain Model Senior Secondary School.

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The police are refraining from commenting on the matter at this time.

(For more news apart from  Ambala Breaking: Three schools in Ambala receive bomb threat emails," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Congress leadership calls on Punjab Congress; meeting scheduled for 23rd

The meeting has been scheduled for January 23 at 4 pm.

The Congress leadership has convened a major meeting of the Punjab Congress on January 23. The meeting will be held in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

The meeting has been scheduled for January 23 at 4 pm.

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For the meeting, state party president Raja Warring, Leader of the Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa, former Chief Minister and CWC member Charanjit Singh Channi, party in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, along with other senior leaders, have been called to Delhi.

(For more news apart from  Congress leadership calls on Punjab Congress; meeting scheduled for 23rd," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Couple Defrauds Company, Investors of Rs 14 Cr in Housing Scam; Remains at Large (Image Courtesy: Indian Express)

The owner of the company has further accused Bedi of cyber fraud.

A couple in Punjab has been accused of carrying out a housing fraud involving crores of rupees and has been absconding for around five months. The case is linked to a prominent housing project in Zirakpur.

An FIR was registered against former sales head Shubham Bedi and his wife Mandeep Kaur at the Zirakpur police station on September 18, 2025, for allegedly defrauding the company.

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Bedi worked as the General Manager (Sales) with M/s Rosero Infra LLP. The owner of the firm, Amit Dua, alleged that Bedi conspired with his wife to cheat the company of nearly Rs 14 crore.

The couple is accused of collecting huge sums of money in cash and through bank transfers from investors on the pretext of flat allotments; however, the amount was never deposited into the companys accounts.

As per the police investigation, the couple issued fake allotment letters without any authority, thereby misleading investors.

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The FIR has been registered under Sections 316(4) (criminal breach of trust), 318(4) (cheating), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The accused are also facing another cheating case at Patialas Civil Lines police station, where their bail has already been cancelled by the court, according to a report.

The owner of the company has further accused Bedi of cyber fraud. Dua alleged that Bedi is illegally misusing the companys registered trademark Rosero  A Revolutionary Era on social media platforms.

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The accused is allegedly using fake IDs with similar names to spread misinformation and damage the firms reputation. A complaint has been lodged with the SSP Mohali (Cyber Crime), demanding registration of a separate cybercrime case.

Gurpreet Singh, Investigating Officer, Zirakpur, is currently probing the case. Earlier, the case was being investigated by Fatehgarh Sahib police, but it has now been transferred to Zirakpur.

The officer stated that raids are being conducted to arrest the accused.

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(For more news apart from  Couple Defrauds Company, Investors of Rs 14 Cr in Housing Scam; Remains at Large," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Pharmacy firing case, Chandigarh: One arrested; role of doctor, policeman under probe

Before fleeing the spot, the attackers also threatened to kill the shop owner's son, Tanish.

Sevak Pharmacy firing update: In a major development in the firing incident at Sevak Pharmacy in Sector-32, Chandigarh, police have arrested one person in connection with the case.

During the investigation, a shocking revelation has emerged, with the role of a doctor and a police personnel also coming under suspicion.

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The firing incident took place around 10 pm last Thursday. Two masked men riding an Activa motorcycle fired two rounds at the pharmacy, creating panic in the locality. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Before fleeing the spot, the attackers also threatened to kill the shop owners son, Tanish.

According to information received, one of the suspects, a police personnel, is posted with a special unit. Police are conducting raids to arrest the suspects.

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The role of the suspects and the motive behind the firing are currently under investigation. Meanwhile, police are interrogating the arrested accused, identified as Rahul.

(For more news apart from  Pharmacy firing case, Chandigarh: One arrested; role of doctor, policeman under probe," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Minister Bhullar said that the project is focused on enhancing passenger facilities, safety, and overall efficiency. File Photo.

These terminals are crucial for interstate travel to Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.



Punjab: 5 Major Bus Stands to get Modern Revamp Under PPP Model

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The Punjab government has approved the modernisation of bus terminals in five key districts to upgrade the state's transport infrastructure. According to a report, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said on Saturday that the bus stands in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, and Sangrur will be revamped through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The initiative was directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. It aims to transform these terminals into integrated urban hubs.

Minister Bhullar said that the project is focused on enhancing passenger facilities, safety, and overall efficiency. These terminals are crucial for interstate travel to Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. According to official data, Ludhiana and Jalandhar alone handle between 75,000 and 100,000 passengers daily.

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Under the modernisation plan significant improvements will be made for waiting areas, sanitation, lighting, and organised boarding systems. Minister Bhullar emphasised that the project would ensure barrier-free access for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The projects will follow Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) or Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) models to maintain fiscal prudence. He added that the upgraded terminals would serve as integrated urban hubs to improve passenger convenience and ensure the long-term sustainability of these vital connectivity points."

Source: Economic Times
Minister Kaur highlighted that under Project Jiwanjyot 2.0, the state has rescued a total of 1,023 children so far. File Photo.

Of the 31 children identified during the weekend drive, four were handed over to their parents on the spot by the Child Welfare Committee.

Punjab Child Welfare: Minister Baljit Kaur Announces Rescue of 31 Children in Special Drive

During a special two-day statewide drive, at least 31 children were rescued in Punjab. According to a report, Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur announced on Sunday that the operation targeted various hotspots across all districts to identify children forced into begging.

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Of the 31 children identified during the weekend drive, four were handed over to their parents on the spot by the Child Welfare Committee, while the remaining 27 were shifted to childcare homes for protection and verification.

Minister Kaur highlighted that under Project Jiwanjyot 2.0, the state has rescued a total of 1,023 children so far.

The initiative is focused on long-term rehabilitation. The minister stated that 349 rescued children have already been enrolled in schools, while 38 have been linked with the sponsorship scheme. Furthermore, 13 children have been enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme for healthcare, and nine have been admitted to Anganwadi centres for nutritional support.

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Dr Kaur emphasised that the department is working to ensure these children are integrated into the mainstream through education and social security benefits. The drive continues as part of the governments commitment to providing a dignified life and a secure future.

Source: Times of India
Greater Noida car accident: CEO, MD Noida Metro Corporation removed from posts

On the Chief Minister's instructions, a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT)...has been constituted to investigate the incident.

Greater Noida car accident: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the Greater Noida car accident, according to news agency ANI, citing the Chief Ministers Office.

On the Chief Ministers instructions, a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), under the leadership of the ADG, Meerut Zone, has been constituted to investigate the incident.

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The Divisional Commissioner, Meerut, and the Chief Engineer, PWD, are also part of the SIT and have been tasked with submitting its report to the Chief Minister within five days.

Meanwhile, in a major action related to the Greater Noida car accident, the CEO of Noida and the MD of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation have been removed from their respective posts following the formation of the three-member SIT to probe the incident.

https://t.co/GGSzG9cZCh. Administrative apathy of Noida authorities created a killing spot and cowardice of agencies responsible for saving citizens led to a helpless old father watch his son drown and die infront of him and many others who could have saved him. pic.twitter.com/mLiWSbXzW5 Advertisement January 18, 2026

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Uttar Pradesh: 63-year-old husband brutally murders third wife (33) in Jhansi; Loader informs police

Police added that the accused placed the wood along with the victim's body and her personal belongings inside the box and set it on fire

A spine-chilling murder has come to light in Uttar Pradeshs Jhansi city, where a 63-year-old man has allegedly brutally murdered his third wife, aged 33, after she suspected him of being involved with someone else, according to ANI.

SSP BBGTS Murthy said that the police received a report from a loader driver who was transporting a large box on his loader on the intervening night of January 1718, 2026.

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The driver suspected that the contents of the box warranted investigation. Our police team responded and found burnt remains of a human inside, the SSP said while speaking to news agency ANI on the matter.

The loader driver was accompanied by a young man, identified as Nitin Kumar, who was immediately taken into police custody.

During interrogation, Nitin revealed that his father, Ram Singh Parihar, aged 63, lived with his "third wife", Preeti, who was nearly 33, in a rented house, the SSP said.

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Police learned that the victim had been murdered nearly a week before the information was received.

In an effort to dispose of the body, Ram Singh Parihar, along with his son Nitin (from his second wife) and his second wife Geeta, ordered a large box and purchased two quintals of wood.

Police added that the accused placed the wood along with the victims body and her personal belongings inside the box and set it on fire.

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They then called the loader to transport the remains and ashes, which raised the suspicion of the loader driver, the police officer further added.

The prime accused, Ram Singh Parihar, along with his son Nitin and his second wife Geeta, has been arrested and sent to jail today.

Police said that Ram Singh Parihar and the victim had been in a relationship for the past 10 years, when the victim was around 23 and the accused was around 53. The reason behind the murder is said to be an extramarital affair.

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#WATCH | Jhansi, UP | SSP BBGTS Murthy says, "On the night of the 17th-18th, we received a report from a loader driver who was transporting a large box on his loader. The driver suspected that the contents of the box warranted investigation. Our police team responded and found pic.twitter.com/THeeNO4n6f  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

The murder was done because of a long-standing relationship between Ram Singh Parihar and the victim, Preeti....She had become suspicious that her husband, Ram Singh, was involved with someone else... This suspicion led to a quarrel, and during the argument, Ram Singh attacked Preeti with an axe, striking her on the head, which resulted in her death... the SSP BBGTS Murthy is quoted as saying by ANI.

What News Reports say:

According to a report by NDTV, the prime accused, a retired railway employee, and the victim were in a live-in relationship. He stuffed her body into a metal trunk and set it on fire, following the murder. Later, he dumped the ashes in a river before attempting to move the trunk to his second wife's house.

He Ram Singh Parihar, it said, citing initial investigation, was allegedly demanding huge sums of money from his, having already taken lakhs of rupees.

When the police arrived and forced open the trunk, they were met with charred remains, human skeletal remains, and burnt material.

(For more news apart from  Uttar Pradesh: 63-year-old husband brutally murders third wife (33) in Jhansi; Loader informs police," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The 1960s and the revival of the Romanian diplomatic service

The beginning of the 1960s saw an important change in the philosophy and practice of foreign diplomacy in Romania.

History Show

Steliu Lambru, 19.01.2026, 14:00

After 1945, Romania entered a period of profound political, economic and social turmoil. Defeated in the war and occupied militarily, it was forced to accept territorial losses, pay war reparations and accept Soviet influence. At this point in history, the Romanian diplomatic service went through the same experiences that Romania itself was going through: purge and deprofessionalisation during the Stalinist years and until around 1958-1960, and reconstruction and reprofessionalisation after 1960. In the terrible sixth decade, the Romanian diplomatic service was marked by extremely aggressive ideology and the promotion of people who would defend Romanias interests based on the so-called healthy social background. It was, in fact, a recruitment of diplomats from among poorer social backgrounds on the ideological basis of Marxism-Leninism.

But the beginning of the 1960s saw an important change in the philosophy and practice of foreign diplomacy. The reduction of Soviet influence led to an increase in the initiative of the satellite socialist states to promote their own interests. The Romanian diplomatic service was also moving towards the reprofessionalisation of its staff. It was still loyal to the Marxist-Leninist ideology, but the recruitment criteria changed: diplomats came mainly from the ranks of graduates with very good academic results from the Academy of Economic Studies, the Faculty of Philology and the Law School. Later, they also came from among the ranks of those from the Polytechnic. The military were also recruited on the same criteria.

Mircea Nicolaescu, a career diplomat who served as Romanias ambassador to Egypt in 1961, told Radio Romanias Oral History Centre in 1996 how one could become a diplomat in the 1960s:

You could become a diplomat in those days in two ways. One was the usual channel, through university or postgraduate training or both, in the case of young professionals. There was also a system of providing advanced training for those already in the diplomatic service. There was even an Institute of International Relations, established in 1948 or 1949, following the reform of the education system. It did not last long because it did not have enough properly trained staff meeting the requirements in the field. The teaching staff was mainly made up of foreign ministry employees turned into teachers overnight. Others joined the higher education ranks as a result of a process of theoretical-ideological reorientation, without any specialised training. Few were diplomats with serious practice, who could contribute to the training and education of future diplomats.

Mircea Nicolaescu talked about his experience as a career diplomat, which meant staying in contact at all times with what was happening in his country.

Anyone who has worked in diplomacy and lived abroad for more than 3 or 4 years feels an organic need to refresh and reconsolidate their connection with their country. Because, after 4 or 5 years of working abroad, especially in a country that is not frequently connected to your realities, at some point you ask yourself whose ambassador you are: Romanias ambassador to that country, or the other way round. And it is not an easy matter at all if you do not have the training and the habit of being constantly connected to the latest information in the country and the need to understand it at the highest level. Otherwise, you fall prey to other trends, which you then find difficult to fight.

What helped Mircea Nicolaescu build a career in diplomacy?

Mircea Nicolaescu: Some of my interests at that time helped me a lot. The fact that I had the good fortune of a very good general education in high school also helped. I must also say that the very education I received at the Commerce Academy helped me a lot in getting on the path of diplomatic work, without having a specialist education. I studied there and delved into the field of economic geography of the world and of Romania, matters of international law, in addition to civil law, commercial law, with most of the implications on foreign trade. I also took an interest in social policy, the history of doctrines. In particular, the history of Romanian economic philosophy proved not only very attractive, when I managed to get closer to it, but it was in fact the starting point for my interest in the field of diplomatic activity. A big help was also the fact that I worked for years, between 1946 and 1950, in a foreign trade company, first at the Office of Oil Deliveries to the Soviet Union. And that got me directly involved in the most serious problem of our country at that time. For years, all the delivery documents under the Truce and the Peace Treaty passed through my hands, for either a first or a second check.

Romanian diplomacy was reborn after the 1960s, after more than a decade of deprofessionalisation. However, it did so while staying in line with the practices of a repressive state that would only cease to exist in 1989. (CM, AMP)
CAPE TOWN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The South African National Defense Force (SANDF) has deployed a search and rescue team to assist Mozambique, as severe flooding continues to affect large parts of the country following prolonged heavy rainfall.

"The SANDF has on Sunday, Jan. 18, deployed a search and rescue team consisting of an Oryx helicopter of the South African Air Force to assist in the search operation in Mozambique due to severe inclement weather," the SANDF said in a statement issued on Sunday.

The SANDF confirmed that the aircraft and an advance team landed safely in Maputo, Mozambique's capital, and will operate in cooperation with Mozambique's emergency rescue services and disaster management authorities as part of Operation Chariot.

"More air assets are scheduled to be deployed from South Africa to assist in the rescue mission," it added.

Since the start of the rainy season in December 2025, at least 103 people have died and about 173,000 people have been affected by flooding across Mozambique. The government has declared a red alert as several regions remain at risk from rising water levels.

The worsening situation also prompted Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo to cancel his planned trip to Davos, Switzerland, where he was scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum this week. 
Call for transatlantic dialogue

Donald Trump threatens to impose tariffs on any country that opposes the US taking over Greenland, and the EU is considering response measures

Nicusor Dan (photo: presidency.ro)

Corina Cristea, 19.01.2026, 13:50

There has been a lot of excitement these days between the US and the European Union, triggered by the US president Donald Trumps plans to take over Greenland despite opposition from Denmark, the state that controls this Arctic island, and from other European countries.

The standoff escalated as the White House leader Saturday threatened to introduce additional tariffs on several countries, namely Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, until a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland. The 10% duty will become effective as of February 1 and could reach 25% on June 1, Donald Trump said.

European countries are now looking at possible response measures. EU leaders said they would hold an emergency summit on Thursday to discuss introducing their own tariffs if Trump follows through on his threat against any country that opposes his taking over Greenland. The bloc is considering EUR 93 billion worth of tariffs or restricting the access of US companies to its single market. The EUs response measures are prepared to give Brussels leverage in talks with the US president in Davos this week, where the bloc hopes to reach some compromise.

I am deeply concerned with the escalation of public statements between transatlantic partners and allies over recent developments. We need to resume talks at the appropriate diplomatic levels, president Nicusor Dan said on Sunday.

That same day, the Romanian official received a letter from president Trump, formally inviting Romania to become a member of his Board of Peace initiative.

The Board would be chaired for life by Donald Trump and would begin by addressing the Gaza conflict, then expand its work to deal with other conflicts, according to a copy of the letter and a draft charter obtained by Reuters. Membership would be limited to three-year terms, unless member countries pay USD 1 billion each to finance the Boards activities and secure a permanent seat, the letter said.

Sixty countries have received such letters, and governments have responded mostly cautiously, concerned that the plan could harm the UNs work. Israeli officials have voiced concern with the Board membership, saying it goes against Israeli policy and that the Israeli state was not consulted on its structure, while the Palestinians have also pointed out the absence of their own representatives. (AMP)
Ageas SA/NV (AGESY.PK,AGS.BR), a Belgian insurance company, Monday said that it now expects fiscal 2025 Net Operating Result to be in the 1.6 billion euros to 1.65 billion euros range, higher than the earlier outlook of 1.3 billion euros to 1.35 billion euros.

The company said that the annual results benefitted from positive one-off impacts on the deferred taxes updates included in the full year 2025 results of its Chinese joint venture China Taiping Insurance Holding or CTIH.

According to Ageas, CTIH had issued a pre-announcement of its 2025 results following a directive from the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation on corporate income tax treatment regarding the transition to IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, which needed updates to deferred tax balances for 2023 and 2024.

On the OTC Markets, AGESY.PK ended Friday's trading at $69.52, up $0.39 or 0.56 percent.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Marshalls PLC (MSLH.L), a supplier of hard landscaping, building, and roofing products, said on Monday that it expects a decline in adjusted pre-tax earnings for the full year, but in line with its expectations. The company, however, anticipates an increase in revenue.

For the 12-month period to December 31, 2025, Marshalls anticipates adjusted profit before tax to be in the range of GBP 42 million to GBP 44.4 million. For fiscal 2024, the company had recorded an adjusted pre-tax income of GBP 52.2 million.

The Group projects annual revenue of GBP 632 million, higher than last year's GBP 619.2 million.

Looking ahead, Marshalls said: "The outlook for 2026 continues to be uncertain and accordingly, the Board remains focused on operational improvements through its 'Transform & Grow' strategy. While the Group is not anticipating a significant improvement in market activity levels during the next 12 months, the actions taken to reduce the cost base during 2025 give the Board confidence that the Group will deliver an improved financial performance in 2026."

The Group will release its annual earnings report on March 16.

In addition, Marshalls has appointed Simon Bourne as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

Simon was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer on November 27, 2025, after Matt Pullen decided to step down as CEO. Earlier, Bourne was serving as Chief Commercial Officer at Marshalls.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nine children were injured on Monday afternoon after a vehicle lost control and crashed into a tree in Pinetown, South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Province, local media reported.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation, citing Advanced Life Support, a local emergency service provider, reported that a single vehicle transporting nine school children on their way home somehow lost control and collided with a tree.

All nine children sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate, and were treated at the scene before being transported to nearby hospitals for further medical care, the report said.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and an investigation is underway.

The accident occurred just hours after another tragic school transport crash in the country's Gauteng Province earlier on Monday, which killed 13 students, underscoring growing concerns over road safety for school transport in South Africa. 
Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
Stevens Institute of Technology physicist Igor Pikovski and colleagues are developing the first experiment designed to capture individual gravitons  particles once thought fundamentally undetectable  heralding a new era in quantum gravity research.

Modern physics has a problem: its two main pillars are quantum theory and Einsteins theory of general relativity, yet these two frameworks are seemingly incompatible.

Quantum theory describes nature in terms of discrete quantum particles and interactions, while general relativity treats gravity as a smooth curvature of space and time.

A true unification requires gravity itself to be quantum, mediated by particles known as gravitons.

However, detecting even a single graviton was long thought fundamentally impossible.

As a result, the problem of quantum gravity remained largely theoretical, with no experimentally grounded theory of everything in sight.

In 2024, Dr. Pikovski and colleagues from Stevens Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and Nordita showed that graviton detection is, in fact, possible.

For a long time, graviton detection was considered so hopeless that it was not treated as an experimental problem at all, Dr. Pikovski said.

What we found is that this conclusion no longer holds in the era of modern quantum technology.

The key is a new perspective that synthesizes two major experimental advances.

The first is the detection of gravitational waves: ripples in space-time produced by collisions of black holes or neutron stars.

The second advance comes from quantum engineering. Over the past decade, physicists have learned how to cool, control, and measure increasingly massive systems in genuine quantum states, bringing quantum phenomena far beyond the atomic scale.

In a landmark experiment in 2022, a team led by Yale Universitys Professor Jack Harris demonstrated control and measurement of individual vibrational quanta of superfluid helium weighing over a nanogram.

Dr. Pikovski and co-authors realized that if these two capabilities are combined, it becomes possible to absorb and detect a single graviton; a passing gravitational wave can, in principle, transfer exactly one quantum of energy (i.e. a single graviton) into a sufficiently massive quantum system.

The resulting energy shift is small but can be resolved. The true difficulty is that gravitons almost never interact with matter.

But for quantum systems at the kilogram scale  rather than the microscopic scale  exposed to intense gravitational waves from merging black holes or neutron stars, absorbing a single graviton becomes possible.

Building on this recent discovery, Dr. Pikovski and Professor Harris have now teamed up to construct the worlds first experiment explicitly designed to detect individual gravitons.

With support from the W.M. Keck Foundation, they are developing a superfluid-helium resonator on the centimeter scale, approaching the regime required to absorb single gravitons from astrophysical gravitational waves.

We already have the essential tools. We can detect single quanta in macroscopic quantum systems. Now its a matter of scaling, Professor Harris said.

The experiment aims to immerse a gram-scale cylindrical resonator in a superfluid-helium container, cool the system to its quantum ground state, and use laser-based measurements to detect individual phonons  the vibrational quanta into which gravitons are converted.

The detector builds on systems already operating in a lab, but pushes them into a new regime, scaling the mass to the gram level while preserving exquisite quantum sensitivity.

Demonstrating the successful operation of this platform will establish a blueprint for a next iteration that can be scaled to the sensitivity required for direct graviton detection, opening a new experimental frontier in quantum gravity.

Quantum physics began with experiments on light and matter, Dr. Pikovski said.

Our goal now is to bring gravity into this experimental domain, and to study gravitons the way physicists first studied photons over a century ago.
CANBERRA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people have been hospitalized after they were shot at a home in South Australia (SA) in the early hours of Monday morning.

SA Police (SAPOL) said in a statement that emergency services were called to a home in the southern suburbs of the state capital of Adelaide following reports that two occupants had been shot around 6:40 a.m. local time on Monday.

The two people were treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being rushed to hospital.

SAPOL said that their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

"It is early in the investigation. However, the incident does not appear to be random," the statement said.

The street where the incident occurred has been closed while police officers and crime scene investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. 
The chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), commonly called Bd, is widely recognized as a major factor behind the worldwide decline of amphibians. Scientists have identified multiple genetic variants of this disease causing fungus across different regions. Together, these strains have already contributed to population crashes in at least 500 species of frogs and toads.

Researchers have linked the international spread of Bd to the commercial trade of bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeiana), a species native to North America that is widely farmed for food. Bullfrogs were first brought to Brazil in 1935, with another introduction occurring in the 1970s. These movements created new pathways for the fungus to travel across borders.

A Disputed Origin Reexamined

One particular strain, known as Bd-Brazil, was named in 2012 after being identified in the country. Its origin soon became controversial. In 2018, a study published in the journal Science proposed that the strain actually emerged on the Korean Peninsula. As a result, it was renamed Bd-Asia-2/Bd-Brazil.

New findings now challenge that conclusion. A study published in the journal Biological Conservation and supported by FAPESP reports strong evidence that the strain originated in Brazil. The research was led by scientists from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The strain has since been detected in the United States, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.

Evidence From Museums and Genetic Records

According to earlier research published in Molecular Ecology in 2014, Bd-Brazil was already present in Brazil by 1916, about 20 years before bullfrogs were introduced. That study analyzed preserved frog specimens stored in museums since the 19th century and identified fungal strains through genetic testing.

The new study combined multiple lines of evidence. Researchers reviewed existing scientific literature, examined museum specimens from around the world, analyzed fungal genetics from Brazilian bullfrog farms, and studied bullfrogs sold internationally. Together, these data point to Brazil as the source of the strain and identify the global frog meat trade as the main route of its spread.

"This genotype is highly prevalent in different native Brazilian species, with very old records. When we look elsewhere, the records are much more recent and occur only in bullfrogs and other exotic species. Here, however, the strain is present both in frog farms and in the wild, including some native species that do not develop the disease," says Luisa P. Ribeiro, the study's first author. She conducted the research during her doctoral studies at the Institute of Biology (IB) at UNICAMP with funding from FAPESP.

The work is part of the project "From Natural History to the Conservation of Brazilian Amphibians," supported by FAPESP and coordinated by Luis Felipe Toledo, a professor at IB-UNICAMP and Ribeiro's doctoral advisor.

Tracing the Fungus Through History

"We were unable to identify the exact strain in a large sample of amphibians deposited in museums, since conservation isn't always ideal for maintaining this information. Therefore, we only identified the presence or absence of the fungus in these individuals and sought other evidence that could indicate whether or not Bd-Brazil originated in Brazil," says Toledo.

To reconstruct the fungus's historical distribution, international collaborators examined 2,280 amphibian specimens collected between 1815 and 2014 and stored in zoological museums worldwide.

"Even without knowing the strain, we found records older than those previously reported in the literature and presented a review of historical records of Bd worldwide," says Ribeiro, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) with support from FAPESP.

Out of all the specimens analyzed, 40 tested positive for Bd. The earliest confirmed cases came from five frogs of the species Alytes obstetricans collected in 1915 in the Pyrenees region of France. These are the oldest known infected specimens from that country. The second oldest record involved a frog of the species Megophrys goeldii, currently found in Rio de Janeiro, collected in 1964.

Mapping Global Trade Routes

To further test the theory that Bd-Brazil spread internationally through bullfrog exports, researchers analyzed historical trade records, fungal genetics from Brazilian frog farms, and genetic data from bullfrogs sold in foreign markets.

Bd-Brazil is widespread within Brazil, with more than half of recorded cases linked to frog farms. The strain is considered less aggressive than Bd-GPL, the second most common variant, which likely originated in Asia.

The team examined 3,617 frog meat trade routes involving 48 countries. Of these, 12 countries acted solely as exporters, 21 as importers, and 15 served both roles. By combining trade data with genetic evidence and the timing of Bd-Brazil detections, researchers identified the most likely paths by which the strain spread.

Eight primary dissemination routes were identified. Brazil exported bullfrogs directly to the United States between 1991 and 2009, while the United States exported to South Korea in 2004 and 2008. Because there are no records of exports from South Korea to other affected countries, the findings strongly support Brazil as the original source of the strain.

A Call for Stronger Safeguards

The researchers conclude that their results highlight the need for stronger preventive actions. These include stricter import regulations, routine pathogen screening, quarantine measures, and coordinated global monitoring to better protect native amphibian species from future outbreaks.
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 21 people have been confirmed dead in a massive fire at a shopping mall in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, officials said on Monday.

A spokesperson for state-run Rescue 1122 said an extensive urban search and rescue operation continued at the Gul Plaza building, which was severely damaged by the blaze. More casualties were feared as the structure remained unstable and large sections of the building had collapsed.

The blaze erupted late Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey shopping mall located on MA Jinnah Road, which houses over 1,200 shops. It was brought under control after more than 24 hours of firefighting on Sunday.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said more than 65 people who were reported to have visited the plaza were still missing.

"We are all sorrowful. We all share their grief," the chief minister said, referring to the families of the victims.

Shah said the provincial government would provide compensation of 10 million Pakistani rupees (about 36,000 U.S. dollars) to the family of each victim.

The rescue service said a dedicated firefighting team remained engaged in cooling operations to ensure a safe working environment, while heavy machinery was being used in a controlled manner to remove debris and create access routes, rescue officials said.

According to Rescue 1122, several bodies were found badly charred or in parts due to intense heat and prolonged exposure to fire, making immediate identification difficult. Technical and forensic procedures will be used to establish identities.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, though police earlier said it was suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit. 
Tuesday will see the release of fourth-quarter earnings from streaming giant Netflix , as well as the latest UK jobs data.

Kathleen brooks, research director at XTB, said analysts are expecting a solid fourth-quarter report from Netflix on the back of a strong content slate at the end of 2025.

"The stock is down 6% year-to-date, and where it goes next could depend on whether the company makes an update about its plans to try and acquire Warner Bros," she said. "This will be the key focus on the earnings call, and investors will be watching closely to see if Netflix is willing to increase its offer price, and if it addresses any regulatory risks that the deal could face."

On home shores, trading updates are due from QinetiQ, Kier and Gear4Music. On Monday, defence technology firm QinetiQ said it had secured a five-year extension worth 205m with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), to continue to deliver mission critical engineering services for the Royal Air Forces Typhoon aircraft.

In the US, quarterly results are due from 3M and Fifth Third Bancorp.

On the macro front, investors will turn their attention to the UK unemployment rate and average earnings for November, which will be released at 0700 GMT.

Brooks said the unemployment rate for the three months to November is expected to inch lower to 5% from 5.1%, which is still high compared to recent years. "Earnings growth is expected to edge lower, led by the private sector, and payrolled employees are expected to decline for the fourth straight month in December," she said.

"A sharper decline in the jobless figures or a surprise pick up in the unemployment rate could see a rush to price in more rate cuts from the BOE. Currently there are 1.8 cuts priced in by the market, but a weak labour market reading could push this up to 2 or even more, which may weigh on the pound even further."

Also on Tuesday, the latest policy decision from the Peoples Bank of China will be announced, along with the German ZEW survey for January.

Tuesday January 20

INTERIMS

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INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

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4Imprint Group, Cairn Homes (CDI), Gear4music (Holdings), Kier Group, QinetiQ Group
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Cambodia and local telco SMART Axiata have partnered to support children affected by recent border conflicts with Thailand, said a joint press release on Monday.

The one-year emergency initiative aimed at protecting the health and education of thousands of children and mothers affected by the conflict, the press release said, adding that at its peak, the conflict displaced more than 600,000 Cambodian people, including over 200,000 children and 300,000 women, across seven provinces.

Will Parks, UNICEF representative to Cambodia, said when a crisis struck, children were always the most vulnerable.

He said the partnership "ensures that even during a crisis, children can continue learning and receive the nutrition they need to survive and thrive."

According to the press release, the initiative will identify and address malnutrition among over 10,000 children under five through rapid nutrition screening, provide treatment for acute malnutrition, and deliver counseling to more than 9,500 caregivers on infant and young child feeding practices during emergencies.

It will provide home learning packages for 2,000 primary students and early childhood development kits for 5,000 young children in temporary shelters, ensuring safe spaces for play and learning, the press release added.

"Through our partnership with UNICEF Cambodia, we are helping children continue learning and receive the nutrition and protection they urgently need," said Ritesh Kumar Singh, CEO of Smart Axiata. "No child should ever be left behind."

Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an immediate ceasefire on Dec. 27, 2025, after three weeks of armed conflict, which caused casualties on both sides.

According to Cambodia's Ministry of Interior on Monday, some 510,000 Cambodian displaced villagers have returned to their homes so far, as 133,070 displaced persons remain in displacement camps. 
Travel retailer WH Smith appointed Leo Quinn to the role of executive chairman on Monday, with effect from 7 April.

Quinn will succeed current chair Annette Court, who will step down at the end of WH Smith's annual general meeting on 2 February but remain with the firm as a senior independent director. Simon Emeny will act as interim non-executive chairman until Quinn's start date.

Prior to joining WH Smith, Quinn most recently served as chief executive of Balfour Beatty, the UK's largest infrastructure company.

Quinn said: "WH Smith is a great business with a remarkable heritage. Working with the leadership team and our colleagues worldwide, I intend to ensure the company has the right foundations in place to deliver longterm value for its investors, business partners and employees."

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Keir Starmer criticised Donald Trump on Monday, after the US president threatened to hit allies with a wave of tariffs over Greenland, but ruled out retaliatory levies.

Trump announced over the weekend that he would place sanctions on the eight European nations, including the UK, that sent troops to Greenland in response to US threats over the islands future. He pledged to implement a wave of escalating tariffs from 1 February until the US is allowed to buy Greenland.

The EU, which has called the presidents actions blackmail, is considering imposing its own tariffs on US imports in response. Possible options include a package of levies on 93bn of US imports coming into effect from 6 February, or implementing the so-far never used anti-coercion instrument (ACI).

If introduced, the swingeing ACI would limit access to public tenders, investments or banking activity or restrict trade services, including digital services.

However, giving an emergency speech on Monday morning, Starmer said the UK was not currently considering its own retaliatory tariffs.

The prime minster insisted Trumps use of tariffs on Nato allies was "completely wrong" and "not the right way to resolve the difference within an alliance". He also reiterated that the future of Greenland was for the people of Greenland and Denmark alone to decide.

But he also told reporters that a trade war was "in no-ones interests".

He continued: "We have not got to that stage, and my focus is on making sure we dont get to that stage," warning that it would be "businesses, workers, families across the country" that would be hit hardest by any trade war.

Starmer also reiterated that the UK's relationship with the US, a close ally, "matters profoundly".

Trumps tariff threat led to a flurry of calls on Sunday between Washington, London and Brussels. Greenlanders have also taken to the streets to demonstrate against the threat of the US taking over the island. But Trump remains adamant in his demands, despite mounting global opposition.

On Monday it emerged he had sent a message to Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, which was then forwarded to various European ambassadors in Washington.

In the widely-reported missive, he said: "The World is not secure unless we have Compete and Total Control of Greenland!"

He continued: "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."

He said Demark could not protect the land from Russia or China. "And why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.

"I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States."
Sandmeyer's Bookstore

By tradition, the Word of the Year for readers eight days into 2026 should always be "resolutions;" or, perhaps more specifically, "reading goals." The Guardian's illustrator Tom Gauld pre-emptively addressed this last Sunday with his take on "The Five Stages of Grieving for an Overambitious Reading Resolution."

Sandmeyer's Bookstore, Chicago, Ill., however, is opting for a more positive approach: "Make us part of your reading goals this year! Join the 26 books in 2026 challenge! Stop in the store to sign up!"

Another evergreen New Year's tradition, of course, is predicting the future. The Bookseller asked several industry leaders to gaze into the bookish crystal ball and share their prophecies on "what lies ahead for the book industry in 2026."

"Predictions are a fool's errand in today's world," Penguin Random House UK CEO Tom Weldon observed. "So instead of forecasts, here is a hope and a belief. I hope the industry seizes the National Year of Reading as a moment to act together--to spark curiosity and to create a new generation of readers who see books not as relics of the past, but as companions to a world where technology is today's reality.... And my belief? Books are the ultimate invention.... Our task now isn't just to publish brilliant human-led content, but to reach those who don't yet call themselves readers. If we do that, we won't just celebrate 2026, we'll build a lasting legacy for the future of reading. I believe we can. I hope we will."

At Prologue Bookshop, Columbus, Ohio

Meryl Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association of the U.K. & Ireland, said: "As we head into 2026, I find myself repeating a familiar message. Bookshops of every kind continue to adapt with impressive agility and creativity. They innovate commercially yet stay true to their core principles: serving their communities, promoting reading for pleasure, and distributing the U.K.'s creative industries. With the National Year of Reading approaching, booksellers are ready to play an active and visible part, and bookshops will cement their role as the best place to discover and experience a love of reading, whether newly discovered or reignited. This moment feels made for them....

"Booksellers have a habit of finding a way through. They come out stronger and more united each time. We believe they will do so again. Yet the constant need for them to step up, while it can feel that others fail to step up for them, is exhausting. That fatigue is a real danger as we look to the year ahead; our job is to continue to energize our sector and allow them to inspire each other and excel in their crucial role."

In Canada, a recent CBC News article proclaimed " 'The Internet Is Dead.' Long Live Print", noting: "There is a communication technology that allows you to get your art and ideas out without depending on a corporate middleman. You can't be shadowbanned. You can create unmoderated, unmediated communities. The production cost is almost unfathomably low. And it's about 600 years old. The technology in question, of course, is print."

Tara Bursey, a veteran zine-maker who also runs Partizanka Press, distributing zines from around the world, told CBC News that in the past several years, she has seen a new interest in zines from teens and people in their 20s. She attributes the movement to a sort of "digital fatigue," even though zinesters aren't avoiding modern technology entirely.

At Roebling Books, Covington, Ky.

"You have people who are very young coming to zines through the internet, seeing them online and then wanting to make them and... they're integrating digital tools," Bursey said. "And I think right now we have the best of both worlds, and the community is growing."

She added that in an age when the digital communication tools are becoming less reliable, and more and more tightly controlled, a return to old-school print is a resistance movement: "I think people are really interested in moving back to the physical as a way of reclaiming their voices and reclaiming agency in a very overly digitized world."

In 2007, I wrote my first New Year column for Shelf Awareness, citing something called the Edge World Question Center and its "Edge Annual Question," which asked: "What are you optimistic about? Why?" Among the 160 responses from "a who's who of interesting and important world-class thinkers," author Walter Isaacson observed: "I am very optimistic about print as a technology. Words on paper are a wonderful information storage, retrieval, distribution, and consumer product....

"Imagine if we had been getting our information delivered digitally to our screens for the past 400 years. Then some modern Gutenberg had come up with a technology that was able to transfer these words and pictures onto pages that could be delivered to our doorstep, and we could take them to the backyard, the bath, or the bus. We would be thrilled with this technological leap forward, and we would predict that someday it might replace the Internet." The more things change...

In that same column, I shared my optimism about indie booksellers' long history of adaptability, both to print and digital options, adding that in the new year I would be looking for stories with that in mind: "Some of these will be fresh tales you've never heard before, while others will be classics with a new twist. I'll find happy endings where I can." That quest continues in 2026. --Robert Gray, contributing editor
Axis Max Life Insurance Limited, formerly known as Max Life Insurance Company Limited (Axis Max Life/ Company), has launched the Axis Max Life BSE 500 Value 50 Index Pension Fund <SFIN: ULIF04408/01/26BSEVALIPEN104>, a passively managed equity-oriented fund. Available through the Axis Max Life Forever Young Pension Plan (A Unit-Linked Non-Participating Individual Pension Plan) (UIN: 104L075V08), the Fund is aimed at value-conscious customers looking to build a robust retirement corpus by tapping into the BSE 500 universe. The Index Fund will be available at a Net Asset Value (NAV) of 10 per unit during the New Fund Offer (NFO) period from January 16, 2026, to February 3, 2026 .

Sachin Bajaj, Executive Vice President and Chief Investments Officer, Axis Max Life, said, With the launch of the BSE 500 Value 50 Index Pension Fund, we are empowering customers to move beyond traditional savings toward stocks with attractive valuations. By blending value theme with structured retirement planning, this fund offers to help customers weather through market cycles and build a dependable retirement corpus.

This Index Pension Fund mirrors the BSE 500 Enhanced Value 50 Index, which filters stocks through strict liquidity mandates, requiring a top-450 ranking by annualized trade value and a 20% average daily turnover ratio. The strategy then selects 50 stocks with the highest 'value scores' based on three fundamental metrics: Book-to-Price, Earnings-to-Price, and Sales-to-Price ratios. Reconstituted quarterly to align with market dynamics, this strategy maintains a minimum 80% equity exposure. This ensures a transparent, disciplined approach to capturing value-led growth and long-term capital appreciation.

The Index Fund is well-balanced across Indias strongest industries, led by major investments in the Financial and Energy sectors, alongside allocations to Commodities and Consumer Discretionary. This inherent diversification acts as a strategic hedge against concentration risk; by spreading investments across different industries, the fund is protected from a downturn in any single area, thus providing a more stable path toward ones retirement goals.

As Indias retirement landscape evolves, this Index Fund stands as a pivotal solution for individuals seeking to diversify their portfolios with high-growth, market-linked instruments. By combining the historical outperformance of the value factor with the structural security of a life insurance-backed pension plan, Axis Max Life, reaffirms its commitment to provide financial tools that help the customers achieve a financially independent retirement.

About Axis Max Life Insurance Limited ( https://www.axismaxlife.com )

Axis Max Life Insurance Limited, formerly known as Max Life Insurance Company Ltd., is a Joint Venture between Max Financial Services Limited (MFSL) and Axis Bank Limited. Axis Max Life offers comprehensive protection and long-term savings life insurance solutions through its multi-channel distribution, including agency and third-party distribution partners. It has built its operations over two decades through a need-based sales process, a customer-centric approach to engagement and service delivery and trained human capital. As per annual audited financials for FY2024-25, Axis Max Life has achieved a gross written premium of INR 33,223 Cr.

IRDAI Registration. No  104

Company Information Number - U74899PB2000PLC045626
Finding the best app to buy medicine online requires understanding what truly matters in digital healthcare. With mobile platforms now dominating medicine purchases, knowing how these services work helps you to better decide which app to use to purchase medicines.

This article explores how medicine-buying apps function, what defines quality user experiences, and factors to consider when selecting a platform. You will also learn about safety standards, common challenges, and practical ways to verify the authenticity of medicines.

Why are more people using apps to buy medicines online?

Mobile platforms now lead with approximately 85.5% of market share in 2024, indicating smartphone-based purchasing has become the dominant channel. Traditional pharmacy retail remains highly unorganised, with close to 8.5 lakh unorganised retailers contributing over 90% of sales. This fragmented landscape often results in stockouts and limited availability.

More consumers in India are using online pharmacy apps to buy medicines due to convenience and time, letting users order from home anytime. They benefit from a wide range of medicines, discounts, and cost savings, which are particularly helpful for patients managing chronic conditions. Rural access, digital payments, and mobile internet growth boost usage further.

How medicine-buying apps work

Understanding the ordering process helps set realistic expectations when you buy medicine online in India.

Medicine-buying apps let users search for medicines by name or category. If a prescription is required, users upload a doctors prescription for verification by a registered pharmacist.

Once approved, users place the order, make payment, and receive order confirmation.

The medicines are then packed securely and delivered to the users doorstep within the scheduled timeframe.

Indian law requires pharmacists to dispense prescription medicines only with valid doctor prescriptions. Prescriptions must include the doctor's name, address, registration number, and complete medicine details. Major platforms have created verification systems, collaborating with authorised pharmacists and using technology to ensure compliance.

What users expect from the best app to buy medicine online

Quality platforms deliver specific features that matter most to regular users.

Users expect the best online medicine app to be easy to use with an intuitive search and quick ordering.

They look for wide availability of medicines and pricing transparency with clear costs and discounts.

They want reliable prescription checks and active pharmacist involvement, ensuring safety and legal compliance.

Lastly, they are looking for timely delivery and responsive customer support for trust and convenience.

Prescription medicines represent approximately 79.7% of the online pharmacy market in 2024. Services now incorporate reminder alerts for refills and dosage monitoring, boosting compliance for chronic conditions. Discounts, insurance connections, and subscription schemes make essential medicines more affordable.

How online medicine apps handle safety and quality

Reputable platforms maintain strict standards for medicine authenticity and delivery.

Medicine sourcing and authenticity verification

A World Health Organisation report found approximately 10.5% of medicines sold in low- and middle-income countries are substandard or falsified. E-pharmacies address this by sourcing directly from manufacturers and licensed distributors. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 entrusts regulators with ensuring safety and patient well-being.

Storage, packaging, and delivery standards

Online medicine apps ensure they follow regulatory guidelines for storage, packaging, and delivery. Medicines are stored in temperature-controlled warehouses, packaged with tamper-proof, insulated materials, and labelled clearly. Delivery partners use trained staff, cold-chain logistics when required, and tracking systems to ensure safety, authenticity, and reliable and timely doorstep delivery to patients nationwide.

Factors that define a good user experience when buying medicines online

Quality platforms demonstrate these essential characteristics:

Wide availability : Access to 50,000+ products versus 6,000-8,000 in physical stores

Reliable stock : High fill rates, minimising order cancellations

Verified prescriptions : Systems involving licensed pharmacists and prescription upload for compliance

Medication reminders : Alerts for medicine refills, promoting medication adherence

Extensive coverage: Delivery to 20,000+ PIN codes across the country

Delivery reliability and customer support

E-pharmacies currently serve 20,000+ PIN codes, with coverage expanding. This reach addresses medical needs in areas with limited physical pharmacy access.

Handling issues, returns, and replacements

Platforms may have varying cancellation and refund policies. Unlike neighbourhood pharmacies, patients may lack direct pharmacist access for medicine queries. Reviewing platform policies before ordering helps avoid surprises.

Common gaps users face when buying medicine online in India

Current challenges in the e-pharmacy ecosystem include:

No concrete regulatory framework exists beyond pending draft rules.

The Delhi High Court directed the government in November 2023 to frame online medicine sale policies.

Data privacy concerns exist regarding patient medicine and diagnostic information.

Some platforms have dispensed prescription medicines without receiving valid prescriptions.

Transaction challenges include cancelled orders, delayed delivery, and rural accessibility issues.

FAQs

What is the best app to buy medicine online in India?

No single platform suits everyone. Evaluate options based on prescription verification processes, licensed pharmacist involvement, delivery coverage, return policies, and pricing transparency. Platforms like Truemeds focus on transparent pricing and generic alternatives. Consult your healthcare provider for guidance.

Is it safe to buy medicine online through apps?

Safety depends on platform practices. Verify proper licensing, prescription requirements, registered pharmacist involvement, and direct manufacturer sourcing. Taking precautions in platform selection helps avoid counterfeit medicine risks.

Do online medicine apps always require prescriptions?

Legitimate platforms require prescriptions for Schedule H and Schedule X medicines as mandated by law. Always use platforms that enforce prescription requirements.

How can users verify the quality of medicines after delivery?

Check packaging for proper labelling, batch numbers, manufacture dates, and expiry information. Compare with previous prescriptions for consistency. Report concerns through India's pharmacovigilance centres or contact the app's customer care service.
Muted opening likely amid global and geopolitical concerns.

Q3 earnings to drive stock-specific moves today.

IT support, FII selling to shape sentiment.

Indian equity markets are expected to open flat-to-negative on Monday, as investors remain cautious amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and mixed global cues. Early signals from Gift Nifty indicated a weak start, trading down by 143 points or 0.57% at 25,598, pointing towards a negative opening for benchmark indices.

Asian markets largely traded lower during early hours, while US markets ended flat on Friday. Sentiment overseas remained muted after former US President Donald Trump stated that he would prefer National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett to continue in his current role, hinting that he may not be considered for the next US Federal Reserve chair position. This added to uncertainty around future policy direction.

Market experts believe Indian equities may move in a narrow range, with select sectoral support offset by global concerns. According to Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, IT stocks continue to show strength following Infosys upgraded earnings guidance, while the banking sector remains resilient. However, persistent foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, tariff-related worries, and geopolitical risks are expected to limit upside. Volatility may stay high as third-quarter earnings announcements coincide with global macro and political developments.

On Friday, benchmark indices snapped a two-day losing streak, led by gains in IT majors. The Sensex rose 188 points, or 0.23%, to close at 83,570.35, while the Nifty 50 ended 29 points higher, or 0.11%, at 25,694.35.

stocks are likely to remain in focus today due to earnings announcements and key corporate developments. Against this backdrop, severalto remain in focus today due to earnings announcements and key corporate developments.

Earnings in Focus

Shares of Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), Tata Capital, Hindustan Zinc, and Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) are expected to see action as these companies are scheduled to announce their Q3 results today.

Reliance Industries

Reliance Industries reported a strong Q3 performance, posting a net profit of Rs 18,645 crore. The growth was mainly driven by its Digital Services and Oil-to-Chemicals segments. The companys revenue rose to Rs 2.65 lakh crore, while EBITDA stood at Rs 46,018 crore, reflecting steady operational performance.

HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank posted a net profit of Rs 18,653 crore for the December quarter. Net interest income increased 6.4% year-on-year to Rs 32,615 crore. Asset quality remained stable, with gross non-performing assets at 1.24% and net NPAs at 0.42%, providing comfort to investors.

Also Read: How Beginners Can Start Investing in Stocks in 2026

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank reported a 4% decline in standalone net profit for Q3, which came in at Rs 11,318 crore, compared to Rs 11,792 crore in the same period last year. The results may keep the stock under close watch during todays session.

Tata Technologies

Tata Technologies reported a sharp fall in profitability, with consolidated net profit plunging 96% year-on-year to Rs 6.6 crore in Q3, compared to nearly Rs 169 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

Wipro

Wipro posted a 7% year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,119 crore for the third quarter, reflecting continued challenges in the IT services space.

RBL Bank

RBL Bank delivered a strong turnaround, reporting a 555% jump in net profit to Rs 214 crore in Q3, compared with Rs 33 crore in the same quarter last year.

Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra posted a net profit of Rs 1,122 crore for Q3, with revenue rising 2.8% quarter-on-quarter to Rs 14,393 crore. EBIT increased 11.3% to Rs 1,891.6 crore, with margins improving to 13.1%.

Maruti Suzuki

Maruti Suzuki announced plans to invest Rs 35,000 crore to set up a new manufacturing facility in Khoraj, Gujarat, with an annual production capacity of 10 lakh vehicles.

CG Power

CG Power and Industrial Solutions secured a Rs 900 crore order to supply power transformers for a major data centre project in the US, which is expected to support future growth.
India and Japan reaffirm the importance of close Quad coordination to uphold a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific

The two countries agree to launch a Japan-India AI Strategic Dialogue and deepen cooperation on emerging technologies

A new Japan-India Private-Sector Dialogue on Economic Security will be set up to strengthen supply chain resilience

Japan and India have reaffirmed the importance of close coordination among Quad members as a cornerstone of regional stability, following talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Indias External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi. The discussions reflected growing convergence between the two countries on strategic, economic and technological priorities in an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific environment.

During the meeting, both ministers underlined that cooperation within the Quad grouping comprising Japan, India, the United States and Australia remains vital to ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. According to officials familiar with the talks, the two sides shared concerns over coercive actions undertaken by certain countries, with Chinas recent economic measures widely understood to be at the centre of these discussions. The ministers agreed that such practices posed challenges not only to individual nations but also to the stability of regional supply chains and the broader global economic order.

Speaking after the meeting, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, said the dialogue reflected the depth of trust between New Delhi and Tokyo. India and Japan share a strong commitment to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our coordination within the Quad is an important pillar of that vision, he said, adding that both sides see value in aligning diplomatic and economic strategies in the face of shared challenges.

A key outcome of the talks was the decision to establish the Japan-India AI Strategic Dialogue, aimed at strengthening cooperation in artificial intelligence. Toshimitsu Motegi, Japans Foreign Minister, said the initiative would focus on joint research, development and talent creation in AI and related technologies. Indias strength in information technology and its large pool of skilled professionals make it an ideal partner for Japan as we look to advance AI innovation in a responsible and forward-looking manner, Motegi said.

Also Read: IAMPhenom India 2025: Illuminating the Future of Talent with Applied AI

The two ministers also agreed to deepen collaboration on economic security, an area that has gained prominence amid geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global supply chains. As part of this effort, Japan and India will set up the Japan-India Private-Sector Dialogue on Economic Security, which will bring together leading business organisations from both countries. The dialogue will include participation from bodies such as the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, and the Confederation of Indian Industry. Officials said the first meeting of the private-sector dialogue is expected to take place by March.

Motegi noted that engaging industry leaders was essential to translating strategic intent into practical outcomes. Economic security cannot be addressed by governments alone. Close engagement with the private sector will help us build resilient supply chains and promote sustainable growth, he said.

Ahead of his meeting with Jaishankar, Motegi also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During that interaction, the Japanese foreign minister conveyed Tokyos desire to further strengthen the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two countries. Officials said the exchange with Modi reinforced political support at the highest level for expanding cooperation in areas ranging from security and technology to trade and people-to-people ties.

The discussions in New Delhi highlighted how Japan and India are increasingly aligning their diplomatic, economic and technological agendas. As both countries navigate shared concerns over regional security, economic coercion and emerging technologies, the agreements reached are expected to add fresh momentum to their partnership and reinforce their joint role within the Quad framework.
Canada is one of the most preferred study destinations for international students, especially from India. With globally recognised degrees, high academic standards, and strong career opportunities, studying at a university in Canada can be a life-changing experience. However, the cost of education can be a concern, which is why Canada scholarships for Indian students are extremely important.

While scholarships in Canada are competitive, the right preparation and approach can greatly improve your chances. This article shares useful tips to improve scholarship chances in Canada, helping Indian students plan better and apply with confidence.

Why Scholarships Matter for Students Studying in Canada

Scholarships help reduce the financial burden of tuition fees, living expenses, and other study-related costs. Many universities in Canada offer scholarships specifically for international students based on academic merit, leadership skills, or financial need. Winning a scholarship not only provides financial support but also adds value to your academic profile and future career prospects. These scholarships come in different forms, depending on academic merit, leadership, or financial need.

Types of Scholarships Available in Canada

Before applying, it is important to understand the common types of scholarships available in Canada so you can choose the ones that best match your profile and apply more effectively.

Merit-based scholarships: Based on academic performance

Need-based scholarships: Based on financial background

Program-specific scholarships: Offered for specific courses or fields of study

Government-funded scholarships: Supported by Canadian or international government bodies

University entrance scholarships: Automatically awarded or require a separate application

Key Tips to Improve Your Scholarship Chances in Canada

Below are some useful tips that can help improve your chances of securing a scholarship in Canada.

1. Start Researching Early

One of the most useful tips to improve scholarship chances in Canada is to start early. Scholarship deadlines are often much earlier than university deadlines. Early planning gives you enough time to shortlist scholarships, prepare documents, and apply without last-minute stress. It also allows you to apply for multiple scholarships instead of depending on just one.

2. Maintain Strong Academic Performance

Most Canadian scholarships focus on academic performance. For Indian students, maintaining good grades throughout their studies significantly improves scholarship prospects. At the undergraduate level, Class 10 and Class 12 board exam scores are important. While for postgraduate applicants, universities look at undergraduate GPA and academic consistency.

3. Choose the Right Universities and Programs

Different universities offer different scholarships. Some Canadian universities are more generous with international scholarships than others. When shortlisting universities, check:

Availability of Canada scholarships for Indian students

Eligibility criteria for your chosen course

Whether scholarships are automatic or require a separate application

4. Prepare a Strong Statement of Purpose (SOP)

A well-written SOP is one of the most important parts of a scholarship application. It should clearly explain:

Your academic background

Career goals

Why did you choose Canada and the specific program

How the scholarship will support your education

Be honest, focused, and clear. Avoid copying content, and keep your writing simple and genuine.

5. Highlight Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Skills

Many scholarships in Canada look beyond academics. Leadership roles, volunteering, internships, or social work can strengthen your profile. These qualities show that you are a well-rounded student, which is highly valued by a university in Canada when awarding scholarships.

6. Get Strong Letters of Recommendation

Good recommendation letters can strengthen your scholarship application. Choose referees who know you well academically or professionally and can clearly describe your skills, achievements, and potential. Provide them enough time and information so they can write detailed and personalised letters.

7. Meet English Language Requirements

Most scholarships require proof of English proficiency. Strong scores in tests like IELTS or TOEFL can improve your overall profile and show readiness for academic life in Canada. Meeting or exceeding the minimum language score can give you an advantage over other applicants.

8. Apply for Multiple Scholarships

Do not limit yourself to one scholarship. Apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for, including:

University-specific scholarships

Government-funded programs

External and private scholarships

This increases your chances of receiving at least one form of financial support.

9. Follow Instructions Carefully

Many scholarship applications are rejected due to small mistakes, such as missing documents or incorrect formatting. Always:

Read instructions carefully

Submit documents before deadlines

Ensure accuracy in forms and essays

Attention to detail shows seriousness and professionalism.

10. Seek Proper Guidance When Needed

The scholarship process can feel overwhelming, especially with multiple deadlines and requirements. Seeking guidance from experienced counsellors or trusted platforms can help you avoid mistakes and apply more effectively. Proper guidance ensures you choose the right scholarships and present your profile in the best possible way.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for Scholarships in Canada

When applying for scholarships in Canada, students often make small mistakes that can reduce their chances. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid.

Applying at the last minute

Ignoring eligibility criteria

Submitting generic SOPs

Not checking deadlines properly

Relying on only one scholarship

Scholarships can make studying in Canada more accessible and affordable for international students. While competition is high, students who plan early, maintain strong academics, and prepare thoughtful applications stand a much better chance. With proper research, consistent effort, and the right guidance, securing a scholarship in Canada is achievable. Scholarships not only reduce financial stress but also help students focus fully on their academic and career goals.

For those who may feel overwhelmed by the process, structured guidance can make a significant difference. Platforms like Leverage Edu can be useful at different stages of the study abroad journey, as they provide insights, resources, and counselling support that help students make informed decisions.

FAQs

When should I start applying for scholarships in Canada?

You should start researching and preparing at least 12 months before your intended intake, as many scholarship deadlines are early.

Are scholarships in Canada fully funded?

Some scholarships are fully funded, but many are partial and cover tuition fees or living expenses.

Can average students get scholarships in Canada?

Yes. While academics are important, many scholarships also consider leadership, extracurricular activities, and personal achievements.

Do Canadian universities offer automatic scholarships?

Some universities offer automatic entrance scholarships based on academic performance, while others require separate applications.

Can international students apply for government scholarships in Canada?

Yes, international students can apply for certain government-funded scholarships, depending on eligibility criteria.
The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe has walked back claims he made in a memo and press release earlier this week that immigration enforcement arrested four tribal members and that the federal government tried to extract an immigration agreement out of the tribe in return for information about their members whereabouts.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it cant verify claims that any of their officers arrested or even encountered members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe or found anyone in their detention centers claiming to be a tribal member. They denied asking the tribe for any kind of agreement.

Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out has not responded to repeated requests for comment, including after his updated memo was released on Thursday.

The accusations of arrests came at a time when many Native Americans are already concerned over the Trump administrations immigration enforcement agenda and racial profiling by federal agents ensnaring them as well, and as some tribes have grappled with whether to engage in agreements with DHS tied to the crackdown.

Star Comes Out said Tuesday in a message on Facebook that the men were arrested in Minneapolis, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched its biggest operation ever and is increasingly clashing with protesters and residents angry at the agencys tactics.

Star Comes Out also said that when the tribe reached out about the arrests, federal officials told us that the Tribe could access that information if we entered an immigration agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

But in the memo Thursday, Star Comes Out said his earlier statement had been misinterpreted and that there was no such demand from federal officials. He said the tribe had been in cooperative communications with federal officials about the issue and that federal officials had said that one option for the Tribe to have easier access to information is to enter into an immigration agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and DHS. He did not specify what type of agreement.

He also said the tribe was working with Tribal, State, and Federal officials to verify reports that tribal members living in Minneapolis were arrested by ICE. Earlier in the week he said he had been made aware that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained four Oglala Sioux tribal members in Minneapolis and that the tribe had their first names. He called the arrests a treaty violation.

A series of ICE arrests of tribal citizens

The Department of Homeland Security pushed back, saying that they have not uncovered any claims by individuals in our detention centers that they are members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and havent been able to verify that their officers arrested anyone from the tribe. They also denied asking for any type of agreement from the tribe in return for giving out information.

ICE did NOT ask the tribe for any kind of agreement, we have simply asked for basic information on the individuals, such as names and date of birth so that we can run a proper check to provide them with the facts, Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said.

Last year, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said that several tribal citizens reported being stopped and detained by ICE officers in Arizona and New Mexico. He and other tribal leaders have advised their members to carry tribal IDs with them at all times.

Last November, Elaine Miles, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon and an actress known for her roles in Northern Exposure and The Last of Us, said she was stopped by ICE officers in Washington state who told her that her tribal ID looked fake.

A member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona was arrested in Iowa in November and was mistakenly slated to be turned over the ICE before the error was caught and she was released, according to local media reports.

Recent clashes between Kristi Noem and Native American reservations

There is a history of tension between the Oglala Sioux and DHS that dates back to when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was governor of South Dakota. In 2024, Star Comes Out banned Noem from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota after Noem said  without evidence  that cartels were infiltrating reservations in the state.

During her time as governor, Noem was banned from most of the nine reservations in the state.

Noem told federal lawmakers that a gang calling itself the Ghost Dancers was affiliated with drug cartels and was committing murder on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Star Comes Out said at the time that he took deep offense at her reference, saying the Ghost Dance is one of the Oglala Siouxs most sacred ceremonies, and was used by Noem with blatant disrespect and is insulting to our Oyate, using the Lakota word for people or nation.

At the time Noem said Star Comes Outs decision was unfortunate and that her focus was on working together.

Controversial collaborations with immigration agencies

The controversy between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and ICE comes as some Native American tribes with contracts with Homeland Security are rethinking those agreements.

A tribal business entity associated with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation ended a nearly $30 million federal contract signed in October to come up with an early design for immigrant detention centers across the U.S, after the deal was derided online as disgusting and cruel by tribe members. Many questioned how a tribe whose own ancestors were uprooted two centuries ago from the Great Lakes region and corralled on a reservation south of Topeka could participate in the Trump administrations mass deportation efforts.

In Alaska, Indigenous shareholders penned an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News advocating that the Bering Straits Native Corporation  owned by thousands of Native American shareholders in Alaska  divest from all immigration detention centers across the country.

A spokesperson for the company didnt respond to an e-mailed request for comment.
New York City Emergency Management has issued an alert warning residents to prepare for extreme cold this week, with wind chills expected to drop the temperature significantly.

The alert, sent on Monday, advises residents to wear dry, warm clothing and keep exposed skin covered, including fingertips, earlobes and noses.

Health problems resulting from prolonged exposure to cold include hypothermia, frostbite, and exacerbation of chronic heart and lung conditions, reads the alert.

Officials urge residents to check on neighbors, friends and relatives, especially the elderly and those with disabilities and to call 911 for medical help if they suspect someone is suffering from frostbite or hypothermia.

The New York City Department of Buildings also issued a separate advisory reminding property owners, contractors and operators to secure construction sites and buildings as reports state that the city will continue to experience snowfall, freezing temperatures and severe wind chills.

The official statement noted that winds may reach higher speeds and last longer in certain areas, meaning properties subject to deferred maintenance or in delicate condition could be at greater risk.

Therefore, construction sites must secure materials and loose debris, cover electrical equipment and store tools. Contractors should also clear ice and snow daily, ensure temporary heating equipment works and protect sprinkler and standpipe lines. Workers should not work on scaffolding and sidewalk sheds covered in snow, ice or slush.

Property owners, residential or commercial, should bring inside loose objects, anchor equipment and remove aerial antennas and satellite dishes. All gutters, roof drains and downspouts should be cleared of debris. New Yorkers can call 311 to report non-compliant conditions or 911 to report emergencies at construction sites or buildings.

More information is available at nyc.gov.
State Council to supervise probe into factory explosion in north China's Inner Mongolia

Xinhua) 15:53, January 19, 2026

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Work Safety Commission under the State Council has decided to oversee the investigation into an explosion at a factory in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

The blast occurred at around 3 p.m. on Sunday at a plate plant operated by Baogang United Steel in the west of the city of Baotou. As of 6 a.m. on Monday, the explosion had claimed two lives, left eight others missing, and resulted in 84 people going to hospital.

The ministry has urged local authorities to organize search and rescue operations in a scientific manner, prevent secondary accidents, and provide all-out medical treatment for the injured to minimize casualties to the greatest extent possible. It also called for a prompt investigation into the cause of the accident and stressed the need to draw lessons from the incident to prevent similar accidents from recurring in the future.

Rescue forces from the ministry have been dispatched to the scene.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
MADRID, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 21 people were confirmed dead, and 25 others seriously injured after two high-speed trains derailed near the city of Cordoba in southern Spain. 
John Forte, a recording artist known for his work with Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group the Fugees, was found dead Monday at his home in Chilmark on Marthas Vineyard. He was 50.

A neighbor discovered Forte alone on his kitchen floor and called police at 2:25 p.m. Monday, according to a press release from the Chilmark Police Department.

When officers arrived, he was unresponsive and not breathing. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected, PEOPLE reported.

The cause of death has not been determined, the police department told the outlet.

The musician had suffered a serious health setback one year earlier when he was hospitalized following a seizure, the report went on to say.

Pras, a member of the Fugees, paid tribute to Forte in a statement.

John was more than just a collaborator. He was family. We came up together in an era when hip-hop was about pushing boundaries, telling real stories, and creating something that mattered. His talent as a writer, producer, and artist was undeniable, he said. Anyone who heard his work knew they were in the presence of someone special. Im glad I got to share the star with him one last time.

Pras added, The hip-hop community has lost a real one. Ive lost a brother. Rest in power, John. Your music and your spirit live on.

While serving a 14-year sentence for drug trafficking at a low-security prison in Pennsylvania, Forte wrote and recorded his second album, I John, which featured collaborations with Carly Simon and Herbie Hancock.

Simon would go on to become an outspoken supporter of Forte and drew national attention to his case. His sentence was commuted by President George W. Bush in Nov. 2008, and he was released from prison four weeks later, the report said.
New York City students in both public and Catholic schools are enjoying a three-day weekend, as schools are closed on Monday.

Schools are closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The federal holiday celebrates the life and achievements of the American civil rights activist and leader. It is held on the third Monday of January each year. It is designated as a national day of service, encouraging Americans to volunteer and give back.

Students will return to campus when classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

The next time public school students have off is for mid-winter recess in February. Catholic schools will not give time off for a mid-winter recess  opting instead for a longer spring recess later in the year.

The public school academic calendar includes some two dozen days off between the first day and the last day of classes.

The calendar gives time off every year for religious holidays like Good Friday, Yom Kippur and Eid al-Fitr, and week-long breaks for winter recess, mid-winter recess and spring recess, which include Christmas and Passover. Diwali has also been added recently as a public school holiday.

The school calendar also allows time off each year for Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day (Columbus Day), Election Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day and Juneteenth. Dates for parent-teacher conference days for elementary, middle schools and high schools are also posted in the calendar.

After winter break, public school students will still have plenty of break time left, with time off for mid-winter recess, spring break, and other federal and religious holidays until the last day of classes on Friday, June 26.

You can go here to view more important dates for the 2025-2026 public school academic year.

Remember that the Catholic school calendar from the Archdiocese of New York is a generic, system-wide calendar. Be sure to check with your schools individual calendar for any different dates.

Catholic schools wont have a mid-winter recess, but students can look forward to Easter vacation in April, when schools are closed from April 2-10. The earliest day to end classes for Catholic schools is Friday, June 18.

Here are important dates for the 2025-2026 Catholic school academic year.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Infini upgrades Canadian uranium targets ahead of first drilling blitz Brought to you by Bulls N Bears Doug Bright January 19, 2026  3:38pm 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

Infini Resources has jumped back into the uranium spotlight, with fresh rock-chip assays from its Reynolds Lake and Reitenbach Lake projects on the eastern flanks of Canadas legendary Athabasca Basin. The companys latest phase two follow-up sampling results have delivered the goods, confirming high-grade, coherent, system-scale uranium mineralisation at surface and extending anomalism along a whopping 15-kilometre by 3-kilometre prospective corridor that embraces both projects. Infini Resources mapping and sampling at Reitenbach Lake in Canada. Results from Infinis 2025 phase one program covering the Titus prospect at its Reitenbach Lake project turned up an absolute belter, with a uranium-rich sample clocking in at a hefty, glow-in-the-dark 18,986 parts per million (ppm), or 1.9 per cent uranium oxide. The phase two program appears to have seized and built on that momentum, throwing up multiple hits from the Titus area, peaking at 3844ppm uranium oxide within 100m of the previous 1.9 per cent discovery result. Similarly, other Titus samples to the south of the big hit and within a 500m radius also nailed some eye-catchers such as 3278, 2700 and 1071ppm uranium oxide.

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With the full Phase 1 and Phase 2 datasets now in hand, we are well positioned to finalise drill targets. Infini Resources chief executive officer Rohan Bone To the north, about 500m from the discovery hit, another sample reported 544ppm uranium oxide, which, together with the other results, has confirmed the initial incandescent result wasnt merely a one-hit wonder and that mineralisation extends well beyond the initial discovery zone. The new numbers also appear to align well with previously identified electromagnetic (EM) geophysical conductors, radiometric hotspots and interpreted structural corridors, all of which hint at the classic signals of basement-hosted uranium systems. At adjacent Reynolds Lake, elevated uranium from both phases of sampling have reinforced the existence of structurally-controlled mineralisation tied to shear zones and priority geophysical targets. Pulled all together, the results appear to suggest Infini is building a compelling case for a coherent, system-scale uranium footprint, which mirrors that of Cameco Corporations Rabbit Lake uranium project. Lying 60km west of Infinis ground and right on the eastern boundary of the basin, graphitic units and conductive corridors at Rabbit Lake have delivered the goods for decades.

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Infini has wasted no time capitalising on the results from the two scout sampling phases which comprise 181 rock-chip samples in total. The assays have already sharpened the companys drill targets, de-risked the story and are now paving the way for a maiden campaign slated for the second quarter of the year. Infini Resources chief executive officer Rohan Bone said: Receiving the phase two assay results is an important step forward for Infini. While the Titus prospect remains a standout high-grade target, the phase two results demonstrate that uranium anomalism is broader and more extensive across both Reynolds and Reitenbach than initially mapped. The projects sit in prime uranium territory, with a combined 766 square kilometres of contiguous ground straddling the major Needle Falls shear zone. The ground features Archean-Paleoproterozoic basement rocks, graphitic schists and all the right structural plumbing to host unconformity-related uranium. Infini says permitting and stakeholder discussions are already underway, including engagement with regulatory government agencies, alongside First Nations groups such as Yathi Nene Lands and Resources. The company is also lining up key contractors. Notably, the entire planned drill program will be fully funded from existing cash reserves, avoiding any immediate and dilutive capital raisings required to get the drill rods turning.

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The latest results have landed only a week after the company secured a bigger slice of the Athabasca Basin, with three additional mineral claims totalling 8900 hectares adjacent to its Reitenbach Lake project. The new ground has lifted Infinis landholding at Reitenbach Lake by more than 30 per cent, expanding the project footprint to 381 square kilometres. For a junior such as Infini, with its sights set on energy metals across Canada and Western Australia, the latest results have marked a clear step-up in both confidence and geological conviction. To date, the eastern flank of the Athabasca Basin hasnt met the same level of attention as the core basin. Still, the geology screams potential, especially now that primary uranium has been confirmed at surface and supported by petrographic work that indicates a hydrothermally altered, structurally prepared basement setting. With uranium sentiment riding high globally and Infini hitting all the right notes with its strong surface geochemistry, geophysical alignments, definitive geology and maiden drilling in its sights, the company may well be worth keeping an eye on as the drilling fires up in the next quarter. The next few months of target refinement and historical data integration could turn todays promising anomalies into well-honed drill targets backed by solid rationale.

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With any luck, Infini could be on the cusp of turning the margins of the renowned Athabasca basin into the regions next big basement-hosted uranium surprise. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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Updated BusinessMarketsWorld markets Banks and miners weigh on ASX; AMP names new boss Staff reporter Updated January 20, 2026  1:41pm ,first published January 20, 2026  7:28am 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

Shares in the countrys biggest miners and banks dragged down the Australian sharemarket on Tuesday, as fallout over US Donald Trumps push to take control of Greenland weighed on investor sentiment. The S&P/ASX200 closed 58.60 points or 0.7 per cent lower at 8815.90, as the broader All Ordinaries lost 56.30 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 9138.60. Seven of the markets 11 sectors were weaker, with real estate, miners, banks and energy companies all losing ground. Shares in the iron ore giants opened lower on Tuesday. Trevor Collens US markets were paused for a public holiday on Monday night, so investors took their lead from a soft session in Europe, where markets slumped on fears of fresh American tariffs on EU companies in response to Trumps comments on Greenland earlier this week. This may be compounded by broadly rising geopolitical tensions, not just regarding Greenland, but across Europe and the Middle East, with the International Monetary Fund warning of major risks building, Moomoo market strategist Jessica Amir said.

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As such, investors are selling growth stocks and taking profits, and throwing everything but the kitchen sink into precious metals for safety. The iron ore giants all fell, with BHP and Rio Tinto both shedding 2 per cent, as Fortescue lost 0.6 per cent. BHP released a production report showing the mining giant had accepted lower prices for its exports of Australias most lucrative commodity, the steel-making ingredient iron ore, amid a protracted stand-off in negotiations with its major buyers in China. Blair Vernon will replace the retiring Alexis George as the chief executive of AMP. Louise Kennerley It was also a soft day for bank shares, with Commonwealth Bank (down 1.8 per cent), Westpac (down 1 per cent), National Australia Bank (down 0.9 per cent) and ANZ Bank (down 1.2 per cent) all closing in the red. Investment giant Macquarie Group also lost 1.8 per cent. Financial services business AMP lost 0.8 per cent after it said chief executive Alexis George was retiring, to be replaced by AMPs finance chief Blair Vernon. George has led AMP since 2021 during a period of major change, as the company sought to rebuild and refocus after it had a bruising experience during the 2018 royal commission into financial misconduct.

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Origin Energy gained 2.6 per cent after it said it would keep the nations biggest coal-fired power plan, Eraring, running until 2029 instead of 2027, following fresh warnings that the electricity grid is under-prepared to manage its imminent retirement without worsening the threat of blackouts. Overnight, European shares mostly fell after Trump at the weekend threatened to slap a 10 per cent extra tariff on imports from eight European countries because they oppose the US taking control of Greenland. Tensions over Donald Trumps push to acquire Greenland have dragged down sharemarkets. Getty Images Germanys DAX lost 1.3 per cent, the CAC 40 in Paris fell 1.9, and Britains FTSE 100 declined 0.4 per cent. US stockmarkets were closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day, futures pointing to a 1 per cent fall in the S&P 500. The European countries targeted by Trump blasted his threat to raise tariffs, saying they undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. The unusually strong joint statement was the most forceful rebuke from the European allies since Trump returned to the White House almost a year ago.

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Trumps moves are testing the strategic alignment and institutional trust underlying support from Europe, the largest trading partner and provider of financing to the US, Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said. Related Article Opinion

Trump's White House Appeasing Trump wont work. Could Europe deploy its bazooka over Greenland? Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist In a world where geopolitical cohesion within the Western alliance is no longer taken for granted, the willingness to recycle capital indefinitely into US assets becomes less automatic. This is not a short-term liquidation story. It is a slow rebalancing story, and those are far more consequential, Innes said. Trumps threat to impose levies on countries opposing his bid to claim authority over Greenland risks reigniting the volatility that rattled markets in the early months of his second term. The sell-off deepened after European officials signalled they were unlikely to back down and were considering retaliation. The nervousness is palpable, said Alexandre Baradez, chief market analyst at IG in Paris. All in all, you have so many issues piling up  from credit cards to the independence of the Fed and tariffs  that I really dont see the case for stock markets to keep on breaching new records.

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The stand-off is happening at a time when risk appetite has been supported by resilient earnings and sustained investment in artificial intelligence. The outlook will hinge in part on the European Unions response, with the bloc in talks to impose tariffs on 93 billion ($161.3 billion) of US goods. French President Emmanuel Macron intended to request the activation of the EUs so-called anti-coercion instrument, Bloomberg reported over the weekend. German leader Friedrich Merz, however, said on Monday that Germanys heavier dependence on exports meant it was less willing to unleash the counter-measure. Francisco Simon, the European head of strategy at Santander Asset Management, said: The key element to watch in the coming days is whether the message translates into formal measures or remains purely rhetorical, which would make a clear difference in the market reaction. With AAP, AP, Bloomberg The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.

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Updated BusinessThe economyEnergy Nations largest coal-fired power plant closure delayed by two more years Nick Toscano Updated January 20, 2026  9:56am ,first published 8:48am 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

Australias biggest coal-fired power station, Eraring, will delay its closure by another two years following fresh warnings that the electricity grid is under-prepared to manage its imminent retirement without worsening the threat of blackouts. Origin Energy, which owns the 2880-megawatt Eraring generator on the shores of Lake Macquarie, about 130 kilometres north of Sydney, had intended to close the plant in August next year, but said it would now keep all four of its units running until 2029. The Eraring power station in NSW will stay open to buy more time for the clean energy shift. Dean Sewell News of the extension on Tuesday angered environmental advocates who fear that prolonging the use of climate-polluting coal will make it harder to arrest global warming. It also underscored a political vulnerability for the Albanese government, which is facing criticism over rising energy prices and is racing to add more renewables to cut emissions and replace retiring coal plants while keeping the lights on and bills stable. Origin last year agreed to a deal with NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe to delay Erarings closure from 2025 to 2027 amid concerns the grid was not ready to handle its exit, but expectations have been building in the industry that the company may have to push back its closure plan. The deal, which included an option to extend Eraring until 2029 if it is still needed, entitles Origin to call on NSW taxpayer funding, capped at $225 million a year, to subsidise the plants losses. Origin has not yet had to call on any funds under the deal.

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Keeping Eraring in the grid until 2029 would provide more time for the rollout of renewable energy, storage assets such as batteries and hydroelectric dams, and new power lines to compensate for its closure, Origin chief executive Frank Calabria said. Related Article Energy Why is Australia still burning so much coal? Inside the power plant that just cant close Good progress is being made on the delivery of new energy infrastructure, including major transmission works and projects like our large-scale battery at Eraring, but it has become clear Eraring power station will need to run for longer to support secure and stable power supply, he said. Across Australia, billions of dollars have been gushing into new wind and solar farms, rooftop solar panels and energy-storage projects every year, boosting renewables to a 40 per cent share of the grid. At the same time, most of the giant coal-fired power stations that still supply the bulk of the nations electricity are nearing the end of their usable lives, facing spiralling maintenance costs and frequent breakdowns, prompting their operators to bring forward their closure dates. More than half of Australias remaining coal-fired generators are now scheduled to be retired by 2035. However, the clean energy transition is lagging the speed that authorities and experts say is necessary to ready the grid for a future with less coal without increasing the risk of energy price spikes or blackouts. Key projects, including the hundreds of kilometres of new power lines needed to link far-flung renewable energy zones to major cities, are facing permitting delays, rising costs and opposition from rural and regional communities worried about impacts on farming practices, property values and the environment.

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Officials from the Australian Energy Market Operator sounded warnings last year about a shortage of the infrastructure required to maintain the safe and stable flow of electricity to protect the grid from sudden blackouts following Erarings scheduled closure, even though enough new generation projects and power lines were on track to be built by 2027. Related Article Energy Three hours of free power scheme could favour well-off: energy giants To run smoothly, power grids must not only match supply and demand, but also maintain system security, including inertia, which comes from the steady frequency that has traditionally been provided by the spinning turbines of gas, coal and pumped hydro plants. The NSW government said it was aiming to speed up the installation of synchronous condensers  grid-connected machines that dont burn fuel but deliver the same stabilising effects to the system as the spinning turbines of coal and gas plants. Climate campaigners worried about Australias continued use of coal expressed disappointment at the announcement on Tuesday.

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The decision puts a safe climate further out of reach just as communities were recovering from bushfires and flash-floods fuelled by the climate crisis, said Jacqui Mumford, chief executive of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. Related Article Opinion

Renewables Why we cant keep delaying the closure of old jalopy power stations Elizabeth Knight Business columnist Far from supporting the transition, Origins decision will crowd out investment in the clean, modern sources of generation we need to be switching to, she said. Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said it was important to ensure the reliability of the grid during its transition to lower-cost renewable energy, but flagged that continued reliance on coal could heighten the risk of power bills shocks due to ageing equipment breaking down with no notice and causing huge supply gaps and price swings. Coal remains an unreliable source of energy  when coal breaks down, bills go up, Bowen said.

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No one wants to see these coal-fired power stations open longer than they need to, or close earlier than expected. The Albanese government has set a target to double the share of renewable energy to 82 per cent of the grid by 2030 to underpin its legislated commitment to a 43 per cent emissions reduction by then. However, the lagging pace of the renewable rollout and further coal-fired power generator extensions raise the risk that its targets may be missed. The Clean Energy Council, representing renewables developers, said extending the lives of decades-old coal-fired plants was far from ideal. An orderly transition matters, but the reality is that old coal power stations are increasingly unreliable and expensive, and that volatility flows straight through to consumers, the groups chief executive, Jackie Trad, said. Every renewable energy, storage and transmission project that reaches delivery reduces our reliance on ageing coal and moves the system closer to being cleaner, more affordable and more reliable, she said. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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Eating outMelbourne icon Lygon Streets last butcher has a new owner with a familiar name Customers of the legendary Donatis butcher shop in Carlton feared the end was nigh when its founder announced his retirement. But their prayers may have been answered by a buyer who wants business as usual. Emma Breheny Updated January 19, 2026 ,first published January 19, 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

Donatis Fine Meats, a fixture of Lygon Street since 1972, will continue to trade as a butcher shop with a new owner  who has a name familiar to many on the strip  taking the reins from founder Leo Donati, who is retiring. When the 77-year-old Donati announced his plans to sell the business and retire late last year, it sparked worry that the last butcher shop of Carltons Little Italy would also become history. Leo Donati and son Marcello of Donatis butcher shop on Lygon Street, Carlton. Eddie Jim But Jamie Valmorbida, part of the family who own King & Godfree and several other businesses nearby, has purchased the shop with the intent to continue supplying pork sausages, veal and other meat to its many regular customers. Significantly, he will not be changing the name of the shop. The shops already thriving. My job is to protect that, said Valmorbida. Over time, we think the brand has potential, and Im excited to explore that in the future. But the focus right now is doing the fundamentals right.

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Donatis reputation is for more than just excellent meat. The shop is well-known for playing classical music all day, walls hung with artworks honouring cows and pigs, fresh flowers on the counter, and conversation spanning current affairs, books, composers and more. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Valmorbida takes possession on January 30 and will work with Donatis son, Marcello, on a transition. Most of the art and Leos playlists come with the sale. Jamie Valmorbida and his family run several other businesses along Lygon Street. Griffin Simm Butcher Sam Spagnuolo, an employee of more than 20 years, will remain while Mark Glenn, executive chef of several Valmorbida venues, will oversee operations. There are plans to recruit a head butcher, and build a team of both current and past team members. Its impossible to replace Leo and Marcello but creating a unique service experience is going to be a priority, said Valmorbida.

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While he wouldnt expand on his ideas for the shops future, including new products, Valmorbida said any changes would be six to 12 months away. The beauty of Donatis is whats there. Were not going to change the core, but we will try some things around the side, he added. Leo Donatis son Marcello will work with new owner Jamie Valmorbida on a transition. Eddie Jim Marcello hopes the shops next chapter will retain the integrity of what weve built but the Valmorbidas add their own history and imprint onto the business to make sure it has another life. He added: I think its really important that we continue to have a butcher shop in Lygon Street. The sale came about when Valmorbida was picking up a ham for Christmas and Leo jokingly asked if he would buy the business. I said: Youve planted the seed and it was genuine. From there, it moved really quickly.

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The two families have long orbited the same world of Carltons Lygon Street. The Valmorbida name has been linked with King & Godfree, a deli and continental grocer on the corner of Faraday Street, since 1955. In more recent years, the familys portfolio has skewed towards hospitality, much like the rest of Lygon Street. Most of Leos art and classical playlists come with the sale. Eddie Jim Their businesses include rooftop bar Johnnys Green Room, Pidapipo gelato shops across Melbourne, and restaurants within King & Godfree, which has been closed since July 2024 for further changes and will reopen in stages, beginning February. The timing, everything lining up, [Jamie] restarting whats across the road, preserving whats there  its serendipitous, said Marcello. Related Article Its not just a butcher: Legendary Carlton shop Donatis celebrated in its final weeks
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsDivorce Do I stay or do I go? Eight questions to ask before filing for divorce Sara Mulcahy January 19, 2026  11:24am 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 many, the lazy, hazy days of summer have been filled with laughter, sunsets and holidays. But for some, things wont have panned out quite as theyd hoped. Spending all that spare time with your significant other might mean the cracks in your relationship  the ones you can usually put down to day-to-day pressures  are starting to gape. Peak divorce season in Australia begins in January. Its a time when many couples choose to start the process, motivated by the idea of a New Year and a new you. Or even a new somebody else. January is when peak divorce season kicks off in Australia. FilmMagic There is a clear trend here, says Hayder Shkara, founder of The Justice Network, an alliance of leading boutique legal practices across Australia. Family lawyers across Australia report a noticeable rise in divorce enquiries as the new year begins. People hold off on making big decisions before the holidays to protect family time. Once the New Year fireworks are finished, that pause ends.

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We see a 30 per cent jump in web searches and enquiries, and people are ready to act, he says. They are not just seeking information. Related Article Sex & relationships The common behaviour that can badly damage your relationship (and how to fix it) So how do you know whether youre really feeling those divorce vibes, or whether you just need to get back to your (separate) routines for all to be well? To work out whether youre ready for a divorce, ask yourself these eight questions. 1. Is it a knee-jerk reaction? This is an important place to start. Big feelings often surface around the new year. Its a time of reflection, resets and new beginnings. But feeling motivated to reassess your life doesnt automatically mean your decision is impulsive.

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A helpful question is: how long have I been feeling this way? says Sally Russell, separation consultant at The Separation Guide. If this has been building for months or years, its probably not a knee-jerk reaction, its clarity catching up. Ruling out impulse isnt about delaying forever. Its about knowing youve genuinely tried to understand whats happening before making a life-changing decision to end your relationship. 2. Are issues outside my marriage affecting my decision? Are you unhappy in your job? Longing for a sea change? Feeling stuck financially? Needing new friendships? Its important to consider this wider context; if your unhappiness is amplifying problems at home, it can be easy to assume that the relationship is the central issue. Couples are often heartily sick of issues that come up time and again without resolution, says Elisabeth Shaw, CEO of Relationships Australia NSW.

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They may feel bored and disappointed by the same old arguments and impasses. Silence and loneliness within a relationship can also be deeply painful. These behaviours and habits can, in themselves, lead couples to believe the relationship isnt working, when in fact some of the differences may be comparatively solvable, if only they could communicate and connect more effectively. Related Article Opinion

Sex & relationships Is six weeks too soon to fall in love after a break-up? Nicole has nailed the optics of divorce Kate Halfpenny Regular columnist 3. Am I staying for the right reasons? As much as you need to work out the right reasons to leave, its equally important to understand your reasons to stay. Many people stay for very practical reasons  finances, fear of lifestyle change, concern about coping alone, says Russell. These fears are completely human, but theyre not always the healthiest foundation for a long-term decision.

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If fear is the only thing keeping you in the relationship, its worth reflecting on this. Staying because of shared values, mutual respect, and the desire to rebuild is very different to staying because separation feels too scary or overwhelming. 4. Have I clearly communicated my needs? This question is crucial. Many people assume their partner should know theyre unhappy, but unspoken needs cant be responded to. Clear communication doesnt mean blame or confrontation. It means calmly expressing what youre feeling, what you need and whats no longer working for you. When relationships end in highly destructive ways, the fallout can take years to recover from, and that rarely serves anyone well. Graphic: Michael Howard Its important your partner has the opportunity to understand how serious things are, rather than being expected to guess, says Russell. Clarity helps everyone  even if the outcome is difficult.

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5. Have we tried therapy? Relationships are precious. Most couples have invested a bucketload of time, emotion and trust, and are often surrounded by mutual friends, family and children who have a stake in the marriage, too. Its worth seeking counselling from a well-trained and experienced couples therapist to properly explore the options and possibilities, says Shaw. And if you do decide to separate, you still need very effective communication to do that respectfully and well. When relationships end in highly destructive ways, the fallout can take years to recover from, and that rarely serves anyone well. Slowing down to get things as right as possible is usually worth the time and effort. 6. Do I acknowledge my own role? Acknowledging your own role doesnt mean taking responsibility for everything  it means recognising patterns, reactions and behaviours you may bring into the dynamic.

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Self-reflection can be incredibly powerful, says Russell. This can soften conversations and reduce defensiveness. Learning techniques for calmer conversations, especially around conflict, can change the tone entirely. Related Article Opinion

Money & relationships It may be awkward, but a prenup could save your relationship (and wallet) 7. Am I safe in my marriage? Safety is non-negotiable. If you dont feel emotionally, psychologically or physically safe, that is a clear line in the sand. Feeling afraid to speak up, constantly walking on eggshells, being controlled, threatened or harmed, are not relationship problems to work harder at, says Russell. In those situations, the focus shifts from relationship repair to personal safety and support. Reaching out to professionals and trusted services is critical, and help is available. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

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8. If nothing changes, can I live like this in five years? Look at who you have become in this relationship and ask yourself if you like this version of yourself. Ask honestly if you accept your partner for who they are, or if you are hoping for some fundamental change. If you feel more at peace when you imagine leaving than you do when you think about staying, that can bring clarity to the situation. Ultimately, this isnt about rushing to divorce, says Russell. Its about making a thoughtful, informed decision  one grounded in self-respect, safety and clarity rather than fear or guilt. Get the days breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has "tools at our disposal" and "currently nothing is off the table," EU economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Monday in response to recent U.S. tariff threats related to Greenland.

In Brussels, ahead of the Eurogroup meeting, he told the reporters that the EU had measures at its disposal, including a pending tariff package that could be renewed or allowed to take effect in February, as well as anti-coercion tools.

He criticized Washington for putting trade pressure on the EU, saying tariff threats were not an acceptable way to address questions of sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that there was a lot to lose economically for both Europe and the United States, including U.S. companies and workers.

Reaffirming the EU's support for Denmark and Greenland, Dombrovskis stressed the principle of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of EU member states.

In a social media post over the weekend, Trump said the United States would levy a 10-percent tariff from Feb. 1 on goods from eight European countries that stood against his ambition to control Greenland. He warned the rate would rise to 25 percent on June 1 and remain in place until a deal is reached for the "complete and total purchase" of Greenland. Such a threat has sparked wide protest and criticism across Europe. 
The governments hate crimes bill has passed the parliament after all but one of the present Liberal senators voted with the government to pass the legislation.

The National Party voted against it after failing to successfully move amendments, crossing the floor from their senior Coalition partner. Liberal senator Alex Antic also crossed the floor, voting against the rest of his party.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud said earlier tonight that this move did not reflect on the relationship within the Coalition.

Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher during the session. Alex Ellinghausen

The laws will create powers to designate organisations as hate groups, which would mean members and donors could be jailed. The government said the law was aimed at targeting neo-Nazi groups and radical Islamist groups.

They will also create more powers for a minister to cancel or refuse a visa if a person has spread hateful or extremist views, and create new aggravated offences for religious or spiritual leaders who advocate violence, and penalise religious leaders who preach hate to children.

Alongside the Nationals, who voted against the bill were the Greens, One Nation, United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet, independents David Pocock, Fatima Payman, and Tammy Tyrrell.
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NationalNSWCity life Unappealing chicken fumes: Why you cant eat outside at this Sydney restaurant David Barwell January 19, 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

A charcoal-chicken chain has been blocked from setting up tables and chairs in the heart of an inner Sydney dining strip following a flurry of objections from neighbours who feared it could lead to rowdy behaviour, attract unwanted ibises and send the smell of roasted chooks wafting into nearby apartments. The City of Sydney Council has settled a public stoush centred on a 34 square metre stretch of footpath in Redfern after a protracted planning process that drew opposition from residents, community groups and an adjoining Italian eatery frequented by the likes of culinary queen Nigella Lawson. Chargrill Charlies has plans to open this new restaurant in Redfern. Fairfax Media Last October, Chargrill Charlies lodged plans with the council to set up outdoor tables and chairs on the footpath as part of its proposal to open a new dining outlet on Redfern Street. But news of the plans was quick to spread, with the planning application generating more than 100 written community objections over potential obstructions to pedestrians, noise impacts from diners during the 9am to 9pm trading hours, and concerns that rubbish left behind by diners could attract rodents, ibises and cockroaches.

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Italian restaurant Fontana, located above the new Chargrill Charlies, also objected to the proposal due to concerns that chairs, tables and umbrellas set up in the footpath dining zone could block its entrance and obstruct the restaurants signage. In response to the feedback, the City of Sydney Council refused the planning application after council planners determined it could impede the safe movement of pedestrians and lead to access issues for the adjoining businesses, including Fontana. Fontana is located in the tenancy above the new Chargrill Charlies outlet. Rhett Wyman. The footpath row represents the latest flashpoint in Sydneys al fresco dining revolution, which was itself triggered by local planning reforms aiming to making it easier for restaurants to obtain outdoor dining permits. While the reforms include strict controls to ensure the safety of pedestrians, some proposals have prompted community opposition over impacts including loss of on-street parking spaces required to accommodate the outdoor dining zones, and complaints about footpaths obstructed with chairs, tables and planter boxes.

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Fontana co-owner Ivey Wawn said the outdoor seating proposal lodged by Chargrill Charlies risked privatising public space. Were a long-running small business and its very difficult to operate when big chains suddenly move in and want to have seats and umbrellas and signage set up all over the footpaths, she said. The outdoor seating proposal generated 111 community submissions, of which two were in favour and 109 opposed. Fairfax Media Ive already had customers saying to us I thought you closed down because the Chargrill Charlies signage has been put across all the windows below our restaurant. The street is already cluttered with everyone having outdoor seating arrangements, and while footpath dining is great and brings liveliness to the area, it needs to be done in a way that respects the public environment and doesnt block people from walking down the footpath.

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Council records show of the 111 submissions lodged in response to the plans, just two were in favour of the proposal, while 109 were opposed. Resident Louisa King, in her submission, raised concerns that chicken fumes emanating from the outdoor dining zone could create an unappealing atmosphere for passing pedestrians. A 34 square metre stretch of footpath outside the new chicken restaurant has been subject to staunch community debate. Fairfax Media Potential impacts on Redferns dog population were another issue. Even with the best intentions, outdoor seating tends to increase street litter as patrons do not always dispose of rubbish properly, [and] discarded chicken bones are a genuine hazard for the many beautiful dogs of the neighbourhood, resident Sally Ainsworth wrote in her submission.

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Chargrill Charlies did not respond to questions from the Herald but in planning documents to the council stated the plans had been designed to not adversely impact streetscape character. Council records show the vast majority of footpath dining proposals were supported by the council last year, with just 12 of the 482 footpath dining applications denied. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Updated NationalWACrime Tributes flow for WA Labor election mastermind after death following alleged coward-punch Heather McNeill, Hamish Hastie and Rebecca Peppiatt January 19, 2026  1:33pm 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

Prominent former WA Labor figure Tim Picton has died in hospital three weeks after allegedly being coward-punched during a night out in Northbridge on December 27. His family confirmed his death in a statement released on Monday morning, which was followed by an outpouring of grief by Labor luminaries and WA business elite led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former WA premier Mark McGowan. Tim Picton with his family. We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Tim, who passed away earlier today, surrounded by his family, the family statement read. Tim was a deeply devoted father and loving husband, son, grandson, brother and uncle. His kindness, generosity and humour brought joy to our lives.

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We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love and respect from friends and colleagues across Australia. We will be forever proud of Tims many extraordinary achievements and capacity for love, while knowing that he still had so much to give. Above all, Tim was an adoring father to four-year-old Charlotte, the love of his life. Tim Picton. It breaks our hearts to know that Charlotte will grow up without her father by her side, but she will always know how deeply he loved her. Tim  we love you, we miss you and we will always carry your memory with us.

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Picton, 36, was regarded as the architect of some of WA Labors biggest successes, including Mark McGowans 2021 election win and federal Labors resurgence in the state during the 2022 election. He left politics in 2022 to work for Mineral Resources as a director, but prior to that also worked with the Victorian and South Australian Labor parties. His brother is South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton. Picton was also an advisory board member of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. Labor icons, as well as mining billionaire Chris Ellison, offered public tributes to their former colleague on Monday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Picton had great energy and talent at many levels.

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Related Article Police Court shown shocking footage of WA Labor figures assault as alleged attacker faces new charges He helped the Labor Party win because he wanted Labor governments to change the country for the better, he said. Tim should have had many more decades ahead of him. That he has been taken from the world so young is such a cruel tragedy. Former WA premier Mark McGowan described Picton as amazingly talented, bright and humorous. His intellect, capacity and work ethic were enormous. He had a remarkable ability to grasp complex problems and provide solutions, he said.

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Tims enormous talents are reflected in his success as WA Labor state secretary. Tim then went on to a career in business, where he made a significant contribution to Mineral Resources Limited. Tim could have achieved anything; nothing was beyond him. His passing is a loss to the state and nation. I will always be grateful for his work and support for the rest of my life. The grief being felt by his family at this time will be immense and boundless. Please know that he was loved and respected by a great many people. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she worked with Picton during his role in the Andrews government and said his biggest contributions were transport, transport and transport. Tim Picton got Victorians moving. He made a massive difference helping remove dozens of level crossings and getting started on the Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, the North East Link, and so much more, she said.

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It is expected police will upgrade the charges against Pictons alleged attacker, Brodie Jake Dewar, 20, to manslaughter at his next court appearance next month. Dewar appeared in court last week, where CCTV footage of the incident was played. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former WA Labor state secretary Tim Picton. WA Labor It showed Picton standing and talking calmly to a man police allege was Dewar, who then raised his right arm and punched Picton in the face. The altercation happened about 5.35am outside a club at the intersection of James Street and Mountain Terrace in the Perth entertainment precinct of Northbridge.

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Picton was placed in an induced coma and underwent surgery for a serious brain bleed and fractured skull. Dewar had his bail revoked last week after being charged over another incident, which allegedly occurred on Christmas Day, with the magistrate describing both attacks as coward punches. In a statement, Ellison expressed Mineral Resources profound sadness and praised Picton as an exceptionally talented and dedicated leader, whose enthusiasm, drive and brilliant mind will leave a lasting legacy. He inspired those around him and his loss will be devastating for colleagues across our business, he said. Tim was a trusted colleague and a friend whose insight and advice I valued greatly. His loss is deeply felt, and I will miss him enormously.

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Picton worked for federal Tourism and Trade Minister Don Farrell early in his career. Farrell took to Facebook to say many stories would be told of Pictons strategic brilliance, stubborn dedication and incredible intellect. To me, he will always be the driven young man who joined my office all those years ago, who remained a trusted friend ever since, he said. Premier Roger Cook said the loss would be felt deeply across WA and Australia, and he offered his condolences to his family on behalf of the Labor caucus. Tims commitment to the Labor cause over many years saw him take on the role as state secretary of WA Labor, leading the partys victorious 2021 state and 2022 federal election campaigns, he said. Not only was he deeply respected within Labor, he was a good mate to many in the party. We will miss his friendship, warmth and thoughtfulness dearly. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalWAMissing person Shot partner of Mullewa fugitive makes plea for her sexy bush critter to come home Holly Edwards-Smith and Heather McNeill January 19, 2026  9:06pm 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 partner of fugitive Kenneth Giles has made a plea for him to come home after he allegedly shot her in the hand at their Mullewa home two weeks ago. Giles, 58, remains on the run, despite tactical response officers descending on the Mid West town, 445 kilometres north of Perth, following reports of an active shooting incident on January 7. Tanya Moran and Kenneth Giles. His partner, Tanya Moran, provided a statement to 9News Perth on Monday. BIG SHOUT OUT TO Kenneth Jon Giles AKA my sexy bush critter, she said in the statement.

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Six years ago we were too old to be each others firsts, yet as old as we are, we have been so lucky to share so many firsts together thus far. We swore we were each others forever, and we would grow old very disgracefully together, no doubt entertaining ourselves by embarrassing all our kids along the way. Loading You are so loved, not only be me but so many family and friends, we need to know youre alright. WFT babe, please come home or reach out??? So where the bloody hell are you my love???

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This feral womandy [sic] thing needs her rough tough sexy bush critter home, her Buzz back, you promised infinity and beyond, remember. Related Video Video icon 2:30 Firearms seized from WA property as manhunt continues after shooting Mullewa residents were not fearful of Giles and were surprised to hear he was allegedly involved in the shooting, 9News Perth reported. Earlier this month, WA Police spokesman Neil Vanderplank described Giles as a very skilled bushman who was likely still in the Mid West region. [We are once again pleading with] Kenneth Giles to make himself known to police ... so we can end this matter as safely as we can for the community and for himself, he said.

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Vanderplank confirmed police were treating the investigation as a domestic violence incident and officers had since seized a number of firearms. However, Giles is not a registered firearm owner. Moran underwent surgery at Royal Perth Hospital following the shooting. Police believe Giles is travelling in a White Nissan Patrol ute, license plate 1BIY336. Anyone who sees Giles is asked to call triple zero and not approach him. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalIsraeli-Palestinian conflict Trumps peace board plan doesnt mention Gaza, raising fears of UN rival Matthew Knott Updated January 19, 2026  6:18pm ,first published January 19, 2026  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

US President Donald Trumps vision for an international board of peace chaired by him appears to extend far beyond Gaza to other conflict zones, complicating Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses calculus as he considers whether to accept an invitation to join the initiative. Trump started inviting world leaders to join his anticipated peace board on Sunday, after announcing the body in October to oversee the post-war transition in Gaza. However, the draft charter does not mention Gaza, raising fears that he could use it to set up a rival to the United Nations. US President Donald Trump has invited Anthony Albanese to join his Gaza peace board. Bloomberg Albanese said on Monday he will consider whether to accept an invitation to join the body, as tensions flare between Israel and the US over its composition. He told ABC radio on Monday morning he had received correspondence from the White House on Sunday night: We will consider all of these approaches respectfully, and through our proper processes.

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Albanese added that he had been focused on the early return of parliament to pay tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack and introduce legislation on gun control and tackling antisemitism. Trump has invited the leaders of Egypt, Turkey and Jordan to join the board of peace, which was created as part of his 20-point Gaza peace plan unveiled last October. US President Donald Trump. AP Other world leaders, including Argentinas President Javier Milei and Canadas Prime Minister Mark Carney, have also been asked to join the board. It is unclear exactly how many world leaders have been invited, but dozens appear to be on the list. Trump has described the grouping as the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled, at any time, any place and said it is going to, in my opinion, start with Gaza and then do conflicts as they arise.

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A leaked copy of the charter, published by The Times of Israel, describes it as an international organisation that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. Related Article Bondi shooting Australia news as it happened: Dreyfus, Burns, Leeser speak on antisemitism as MPs return to Canberra ahead of national day of mourning Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Monday that Australia welcomed the invitation from Trump and would talk about it with the United States. That invitation has just come in, Marles told the ABC. We certainly welcome the invitation, as we do welcome all the efforts of the Trump administration to bring about peace in the Middle East. We really need to see an end to the conflict there for humanitarian assistance to flow and for that part of the world to be rebuilt. In terms of the specific request, well continue to talk that through with America to properly understand what this means and whats involved, but we very much welcome the invitation.

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The Trump administration has asked countries to contribute $1 billion each to become permanent members of the peace board, while a non-permanent membership would remain free. The Israeli government has complained that some of the prospective appointments were not co-ordinated with Israel and were contrary to its policy. Dan Shapiro, who served as US ambassador to Israel under Barack Obama, described Trumps idea as crazy on social media. The draft Board of Peace charter doesnt even mention Gaza, he said in a post on X. It seems to be a play to set up an alternative international structure to the UN  with guess who as the permanent Chair (King), with full veto powers, appointing his successor, and sucking up $$ from other countries. The mandate of the board, approved in November by the United Nations Security Council is limited to Gaza and only until the end of 2027.

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Separately, Trump has also announced a founding executive board that he will chair, to focus on investment and foreign relations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will sit on the seven-member board, along with Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former British prime minister Tony Blair. Related Article Middle East tensions Trump was poised to hit button on the Iran strikes. Then came the reality check A separate National Committee for the Administration of Gaza will oversee day-to-day affairs in Gaza. Trumps evolving peace plan has been greeted with scepticism, including by those who initially cautiously welcomed his vision. Palestinian-American commentator Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said on X that the Board of Peace had come from a brilliant idea that could have been the beginning of a new republic.

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But he said it was instead a vanity project thatll ensure Hamas survival and create a playfield for crony capitalism despite the Palestinian technocrats being well-intentioned. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalBondi shooting Disappointment, anger, betrayal: Amid condolences, the Bondi blame game continues Matthew Knott January 19, 2026  4:01pm 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 blue-and-white kippah atop his head, Mark Dreyfus was speaking fluently until the words began catching in his throat. A month had passed since the massacre at Bondi, but emotion was still raw as the former attorney-general addressed parliament to pay tribute to the 15 victims of the attack. For every person murdered, there are families and friends left behind, a home left quieter, clothes still hanging in wardrobes, photos on walls that will never be updated, Dreyfus said, choking back tears. Children asking when someone is coming home, a seat left empty at the dinner table, a laugh no longer heard, a longing for one more word, one moment, one more chance to say what was left unsaid. Loading The Labor MP, who is Jewish, then read the mourners Kaddish, a special prayer recited when grieving the dead. Parliament returned a fortnight early on Monday for a day of condolence speeches for those who were gunned down while gathering at a Hanukkah festival on December 14. The rancour of question time was suspended, and tears were shed. But the blame game went on. A parliament without politics was too much to ask for, even on a day suffused with grief.

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From the start, the terror attack at Bondi Beach has upended assumptions about how a national tragedy affects politics. Labor MP Josh Burns consoles Mark Dreyfus after he spoke during a condolence motion for the victims of the Bondi terror attack. Alex Ellinghausen A moment of coming together? The reaction to the worst terror attack in Australian history has been strikingly heated and partisan, with members of Sydneys Jewish community heckling Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the memorial site and Opposition Sussan Ley berating Foreign Minister Penny Wong for not shedding a tear in public. The rally-around-the-flag effect, which often sees leaders popularity levels rise during a crisis, has been glaringly absent. Albaneses standing with voters has been diminished, reflected in polls showing voter satisfaction in him has plunged since the attack. Some survivors and relatives of those who died came to Canberra to hear the condolences, but the area in the viewing gallery reserved for them was notably well below capacity.

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Albanese, speaking first, told parliament that honouring the heroes of Bondi also means standing together against that evil that inflicted this devastation, standing together against hatred, standing together against division. And working together to eradicate antisemitism, wherever it hides, whatever form it assumes and whatever weapons it wields. The members of parliament, Albanese said, must channel our anger into meaningful action to ensure an atrocity such as this can never happen again. That responsibility starts with me, as Australias 31st prime minister, he said. It also belongs to each of us here in this chamber as parliamentarians. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and MPs in the House of Representatives observe a minutes silence. Alex Ellinghausen Ley, speaking next, said the Bondi attack was not an isolated attack but a culmination of years of rising hostility towards Jewish Australians, as she linked the attack to the pro-Palestine movement that surged during the war in Gaza.

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Antisemitic hate fuelled the terrorists on December 14, but it came out of the shadows in October 2023, she said. It walked our streets, it marched over our bridges, it took over our landmarks, it camped in university quadrangles ... Like a slow creeping disease, it festered in plain sight. Related Article Bondi shooting Australia news as it happened: Dreyfus, Burns, Leeser speak on antisemitism as MPs return to Canberra ahead of national day of mourning Jewish Australians, she said, had warned of the menacing storm but felt unheard. The Coalition heard you. Addressing the families in the gallery, Ley said they were owed an apology for how long it took Albanese to call a royal commission. You should never have had to juggle grieving your lost loved ones with national advocacy for the royal commission you so understandably wanted and deserved, she said. Liberal MP Julian Leeser, who is Jewish, was even more scathing. The feeling in the Jewish community right now is visceral, he said. It is a feeling of disappointment, anger, and betrayal ... Increasingly, Jewish Australians are asking the question: where are our leaders?

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Julian Leeser delivers a condolence motion in parliament. Alex Ellinghausen As with Dreyfus speech, moments of anguish pierced the acrimony. Labor minister Jason Clare burst into tears as he read a statement from a survivor named Jessica who ran from the shooters with her daughter. We covered our children with our bodies, our bodies, and as the gunshots came closer and closer, as flying bits of flesh and bone sprayed over us, there was no mistaking it. This was a massacre, he read. I realised I was no longer preparing to survive. I was preparing for how I wanted my daughter and I to die. I leaned into her ear and spoke the only words that came to me. Go inside yourself, my darling, go to your beloved. Stay there, my baby, stay there. Loading

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Speaking in the Senate, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, a prominent champion of Palestinian rights, revealed a colleague of her husband died in the massacre. Related Article Bondi shooting Australia news as it happened: Dreyfus, Burns, Leeser speak on antisemitism as MPs return to Canberra ahead of national day of mourning She added a warning that in moments of deep grief, there are voices that seek to divide us, to politicise loss, to police grief and to sow further hatred. Many of my Jewish friends and comrades who have been shocked and devastated by the Bondi antisemitic terror attack have also expressed to me their distraught and their anger at the politicisation of these horrors and their grief being exploited by powerful forces to achieve narrow political ends, she said. Behind the scenes, as the condolence speeches continued, politicians and their staffers were meeting to craft legislation for debate on Tuesday.

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With the government set to pass new firearms restrictions with the support of the Greens, Ley was preparing to work with the government on a watered-down version of its hate speech laws  albeit without the proposed new penalties for racial vilification. We need to respond to hatred with the ferocity of laws that are carefully targeted, and I must say in terms of hate speech, I wish we were going harder that were able to go tomorrow, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke lamented. But we deal with the parliament we have. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Exclusive PoliticsFederalResolve Political Monitor Voters back crackdown on extremism but Albanese lags on Bondi response Rob Harris January 19, 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

Australians want decisive action to repair social cohesion and confront antisemitism, but a new Resolve poll shows most voters remain unimpressed by the Albanese governments response to the Bondi terror attack. The latest Resolve Political Monitor, conducted for this masthead, finds voter support for banning extremist Islamic organisations, stronger hate speech laws and tougher immigration screening to identify antisemitic views remains above 70 per cent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gives a speech on the Bondi attack on Monday. Alex Ellinghausen Support for a federal royal commission into antisemitism also rose sharply since late December, climbing 13 points to 61 per cent, with the majority across all party demographics  Labor, Liberal, Nationals, Greens, One Nation and independent voters  believing it was necessary. A notable finding is that while most people back a national inquiry, the majority of respondents (71 per cent) would have preferred its scope to examine all forms of racism, rather than focusing solely on antisemitism.

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The increased support comes amid heightened community concern about rising tensions following the Bondi terror attack in December, where 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah celebration, and ongoing debate over the governments proposed hate speech and gun law reforms. Parliament returned on Monday to hear condolence motions for the Bondi victims, while debate for the legislation will be held on Tuesday. Support for banning extremist Islamic organisations has jumped from 72 per cent to 81 per cent in just a few weeks, while 80 per cent now want tougher immigration measures to weed out those with antisemitic or extremist views. Support for action on hate speech remains strong in principle (73 per cent) but the poll also reveals unease about how such laws would operate in practice.

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There is softer support for anti-vilification laws than there was in late December  dropping from 66 per cent to 63 per cent. This suggests people are wary of the potential impact on free expression and the risk of unintended consequences once new powers are enforced. However, support remains 14 points higher than in May 2024. Related Article Analysis

Resolve Political Monitor Albaneses response to Bondi shattered a central promise  and exposed familiar patterns This headline reaction to a generic proposition needs to be pitted against the real-world repercussions, real or potential, of policing free speech, said Resolve director Jim Reed. Where do we all agree to draw the line? Half of Australians (51 per cent) support compulsory holocaust education in schools, while 56 per cent believe pro-Palestine marches should be banned. But despite Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses decision to introduce new laws and call a federal royal commission following weeks of resistance, confidence in the governments handling of the issue remains weak.

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Just 37 per cent of respondents rate social cohesion in Australia as good, while only 29 per cent believe the governments response has been strong. Fewer still  32 per cent  say the prime ministers response has been good, placing him behind NSW Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on the same measure. The poll of 1800 voters was conducted between January 12 and 16. It has a margin of error of 2.3 percentage points. Reed said voters were signalling a clear hierarchy of concerns, with antisemitism seen as the most immediate threat even as broader anxieties about racism persist.

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There are broader social cohesion issues to be considered here, but voters recognise that antisemitism is the immediate one. Thats why we find increasing support for a raft of measures to tackle it, Reed said. Related Article Exclusive

Resolve Political Monitor Support for Albanese plummets after muddled response to Bondi attack The poll suggests voters broadly support most of the governments proposed responses despite fierce political fighting, largely reaffirming attitudes recorded in December, including backing for tougher hate speech laws and measures aimed at preventing extremist violence. However, there are signs of growing caution, particularly on gun reform, where opposition has edged up since the end of last year. The number of voters who want to toughen gun laws dropped 10 percentage points from 76 per cent to 66 per cent in a few weeks, as both One Nation and the National Party took strong stances opposing change.

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But support remained strong for restricting gun licences (73 per cent), limiting the number of guns an individual can own (81 per cent), tougher regulation on high-powered guns (84 per cent), placing time limits on license (82 per cent) and creating a national database so they can be tracked (86 per cent). Most Australians still see the need for gun reforms, but One Nation seems to have enabled and picked up a growing minority who think this might be a distraction that affects their freedoms. This is one of those policies thats not a vote winner, but can lose you some vote on the margins, Reed said. About half (49 per cent) of voters believe preventing crime generally should be the number one priority of governments, with 45 per cent saying the priority needed to be on preventing terrorism and terrorist attacks. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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Exclusive PoliticsVictoriaVictoria floods Retirees launch class action over rushed and flawed flood modelling Rachel Eddie January 20, 2026  5:30am 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

Residents of a retirement village have launched a class action against Melbourne Water for alleged negligence after the Maribyrnong River burst its banks in 2022 and flooded their homes. Forty-five villas were inundated at the Rivervue Retirement Village in Avondale Heights on October 14 that year when heavy rains caused the Maribyrnong River to rise to levels not seen in almost 50 years. Dozens of residents, mostly aged in their 70s and 80s, were displaced. The Rivervue Retirement Village on October 14, 2022. They blame Melbourne Water for shoddy flood modelling and development approvals and filed a class action in the Supreme Court just before Christmas. Victorian Ombudsman Marlo Baragwanath released an investigation in November that found the retirement village never should have been built as it was. Poor Melbourne Water modelling in the early 2000s and mistakes in the building plan were responsible for the 2022 flooding at Rivervue, she said.

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A parliamentary inquiry also previously acknowledged mistakes were clearly made in the flood modelling, and found there was a reliance on mitigation work that was ineffective. Residents have been left chasing compensation for more than three years, and lead plaintiff Stan Korkliniewski and his neighbours are now pursuing Melbourne Water for losses and damages. Korkliniewski paid $585,000 for his 99-year lease in 2018, according to the writ, which alleges the market value of leases in the retirement village has plummeted as a result of the flood. Through the class action, residents are seeking compensation for the cost of repairing and replacing property; temporary accommodation; higher insurance; higher village levies; loss of value on their leasehold; and for distress. Mayweathers law firm partner Steve Vrtkovsi, who is acting for the claimants, told The Age losses varied between group members but they were material and potentially very significant.

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Related Article Victoria floods Avoidable failures: Government defies watchdog on compensation for flood victims The claim is focused on seeking accountability and compensation for residents who were impacted by the alleged conduct of Melbourne Water, he said. The 45 villas that were affected by the floods were uninhabitable for at least six months, the ombudsman said. A further two villas had minor damage, and shared community spaces were also inundated. Vrtkovsi said the class action was open to all Rivervue properties, including current and former leaseholders and the legal representatives of residents who have since died. Last year the state government rejected a recommendation from the parliamentary inquiry to pay for flood-prone homes to be retrofitted or raised. The inquiry stopped short of calling for a government buyback scheme, arguing it would be too costly.

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The ombudsman has since recommended the government compensate Rivervue residents who sell their leases at a loss. The government is yet to formally respond to that recommendation. Melbourne Waters rushed and flawed flood modelling used during early site development under-predicted flooding, Baragwanaths report, When the Water Rises, reads. This meant homes were set too low from the start. Mistakes in approved building plans saw some homes built lower still, without a full safety buffer. Rivervue Retirement Village during the 2022 floods. The Age The ombudsman said the states decision in 2016 to remove Rivervue from significant flood planning controls also gave a false sense of security. The class action alleges Melbourne Water ought to have known the retirement village was flood prone but failed to take reasonable precautions and breached its duty of care.

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If Melbourne Water had done its job, the writ argues, the properties never would have flooded. Or, in the alternative, group members would have been aware of the flood risk and never would have bought their leases at all. In purchasing their respective leasehold interests, the plaintiff and group members proceeded on the assumption that their respective villas and apartments were not, and the [Rivervue Retirement Village] was not, flood prone, the writ says. The class action alleges Melbourne Water ought to have known the retirement village was flood prone. Rivervue It goes on to say group members had no practicable ability to prevent, avoid or minimise suffering loss and damage as a result of the [village] being flood prone. Melbourne Water has since revised its flood modelling and maps, which reflect that Rivervue is flood prone.

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Melbourne Water acting managing director Fiona Schutt said the authority had been addressing the ombudsmans recommendations with state and local governments. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to all residents affected by the Maribyrnong flood event in 2022 and acknowledge its impact on the community, Schutt said. We have been regularly engaging with Rivervue residents as part of the Maribyrnong catchment flood mitigation study. As the case is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. LLS Australia Funding Pty Ltd is bankrolling the class action. 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 NRL is preparing to step in to resolve the Melbourne-Parramatta contract stand-off over Zac Lomax.

Lomax is eager to join the Storm after his proposed move to rebel rugby competition R360 was delayed when its start date was pushed back to 2028.

Zac Lomax in action for the Eels. Credit: Getty Images

Lomax is in limbo after the Eels agreed to release him from the final three years of his contract. One of the terms of Lomaxs release was that he cannot play for a rival NRL club without their permission during that period.

The Eels have no interest in any transfer fees and are only prepared to entertain a player swap, with Storm stars Jack Howarth, Xavier Coates and Stefano Utoikamanu at the top of their wish list.
Tomljanovic joins fellow Australians Priscilla Hon, Storm Hunter and Talia Gibson in the second round, with another guaranteed in the all-Australian contest between Kimberly Birrell and Madison Inglis on Tuesday. The last time Australia had at least five women through to the second round of the Australian Open was in 1992 when eight home talents progressed. With Daria Kasatkina, Maya Joint and Taylah Preston all in action on Tuesday as well, Australia are well-placed to add at least one more to that number. Hon helps opponent off in a wheelchair after first Australian Open victory in six years Australian Priscilla Hon won her first Australian Open singles match in five years on Monday afternoon, but rather than celebrate victory, she instead opted to help her injured opponent off the court in a wheelchair.

In an extraordinary show of sportsmanship, Hon went across to the other side of the court to help Canadian Marina Stakusic while she was suffering with what appeared to be extreme cramps as Hon led 5-3 in the final set. But with Hon on serve and Stakusic on the ground unable to move, the Australian was awarded the win by default after Stakusic had to retire from the match. The final score was 1-6, 6-4, 5-3 after two hours of play. Instead of celebrating with her friends and family, Hon went over to aid Stakusic  as she had earlier in the match when her opponent was struggling  and stayed with her until medical staff brought out a wheelchair. Priscilla Hon helps her opponent from the court. Credit: Getty Images Even then, Hon never left her opponents side, and helped keep Stakusics leg elevated while they took her from the court to the sidelines.

Obviously, I didnt want to win like that, but I do feel very relieved that Im through to the second round, Hon said. I really hope she does feel better, that was quite a scene out there. I had quite a few people come up to me and be like, wow, that was so dramatic. Hon said she knew Stakusic from the tour, and that the two were friendly, but werent close. Stakusic was the third retirement of the day at Melbourne Park, but Hon said the conditions werent too unbearable out on court.

It was definitely warm out there, and I think as well with the nerves, the stress levels, it just all impacts it, and obviously, everyones really stressed with playing in a grand slam, so it doesnt help in that way, she said. It was a disappointing end to the match for both players, who were going toe-to-toe in the decisive set before Stakusic started cramping. However, Hon said she was relieved to get her first win at her home slam since 2020. I saw that on the stats in the warm-up and I was like, why did I look up? Thats not what I want to be thinking about. But yeah, theres something about obviously playing at home, you just want to do well. You have your family and you have all your friends there, and you just want to make them proud. I was very nervous going out there for that match today, so I do feel a big relief to get through that.

Australian Jordan Thompson was also a winner on Monday, after he defeated Argentinas Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. Meanwhile, Rinky Hijikata won his first round match against Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. However, Alesksandar Vukic wasnt so lucky, with the Australian going down in straight sets to Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina along with Emerson Jones who also lost in straight sets to Canadian Victoria Mboko. Storms opponent was ranked 327 places higher than her. She won anyway When Australian Storm Hunter ruptured her Achilles in April 2024, she didnt know if shed ever be able to return to her home slam.

She was doubles world No.3, had won six singles matches in a row (including qualifying) in Melbourne earlier that year and was preparing to represent Australia at the Billie Jean King Cup when she suffered the potentially career-ending injury. Storm Hunter celebrates victory at Melbourne Park. Credit: Eddie Jim But on Monday afternoon, in front of a roaring crowd at Kia Arena, Hunter was an Australian Open winner again, defeating Spains Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-4. It was a win against the odds  Bouzas Maneiro is ranked 327 places higher than Hunter. It means everything to be winning singles matches here in Melbourne. I feel like I have had a very up-and-down career, a lot of injuries in my career from when I was 18, Hunter said.

When I made the third round in 2024 [at the Australian Open], I finally felt like that was my time. I was sitting at career-high ranking, really thought I was going to crack the top 100. Then obviously with my Achilles, that was the most heartbreaking thing Ive ever gone through in my life, missing Olympics, missing the chance ... I really, truly didnt think Id be able to be moving how Im moving in these matches here in Melbourne, and thats why I felt so much joy because, you dont know when youre going to get the chance to play on these courts again in front of big crowds. Hunter was in commentary last year as she fought her way back from the Achilles injury. Now, shes notched one of the biggest singles wins of her career. But there was a point during her rehabilitation when she questioned whether she had the mettle and the talent to find the momentum she had in 2024, even though she felt like she had unfinished business on the court. Storm Hunter thanks the crowd after her round one win at the Australian Open. Credit: Eddie Jim
BUDAPEST, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Sunday that he has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the work of the "Board of Peace for Gaza" as a founding member.

In a post on Facebook, Orban said the invitation was extended in recognition of "Hungary's efforts for peace" and confirmed that Hungary had accepted what he described as an "honorable invitation."

He also shared the invitation letter dated Jan. 16 from the White House, in which Trump formally invited Hungary to participate in the board.

According to previous reports, the Board of Peace for Gaza is part of a broader U.S.-led initiative focused on the demilitarization of Hamas, the establishment of technocratic governance, and post-conflict reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

The White House on Friday announced the names of board members, with Trump serving as chairman. Other board members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, according to the White House.

However, neither Israel nor Palestine is satisfied with the composition of the U.S.-led board. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated Saturday that the U.S. announcement regarding the composition of the board was "not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy." The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine also blamed the composition, saying it serves the Israeli interests and indicated "negative intentions regarding the implementation of the terms of the (ceasefire) agreement." 
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WorldAsiaForeign relations Opinion Why Indonesias worrying shift is hard to ignore Zach Hope South-East Asia correspondent January 20, 2026  5:00am

January 20, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

More than ever in the worlds third-largest democracy, it may pay to keep your mouth shut and your pants up. New laws enacted in Indonesia this month criminalise a slew of supposed transgressions ranging from demeaning the president to unmarried sex. Even witches and shamans be warned: offering your supernatural powers to harm others could land you in jail. Illustration by Dionne Gain The nations new criminal code (KUHP is the Indonesian acronym) has been in development for years, eventually passing into law in 2022 under then-president Joko Widodo and waiting in storage until January 2 this year to give it, and the public, time to get acquainted. The administration of Prabowo Subianto has carriage now. It shakes off the century-old Dutch version with something actually home-grown. This much is good. Out is a relic of colonialism, and in are laws made by Indonesian democracy.

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Provisions such as encouraging sentencing judges to look at alternatives to prison, and making penalties consistent across the vast archipelago, are generally seen as positives too. Related Article World politics Jail for everyone: Sex ban puts spotlight on Indonesias law-and-order crackdown But it also reaches into areas of freedom of expression, assembly and personal rights. And this is hot-button stuff in a body politic proud of its democratic reform from the late 1990s. The reaction from civil society and media groups to the codes entirety has been caustic. The Jakarta Post editorialised recently the KUHP must be challenged in the courts. Indeed, several judicial petitions have already been filed, including from 12 university students who argue that article 218  which makes attacks on the honour or dignity of the president and vice-president a jailable offence  is unconstitutional. If not unconstitutional, it is at least glass-jawed.

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The legislation clarifies that it is OK to criticise the top dogs if done in the public interest or self-defence, but what constitutes such carve-outs is inherently a matter of personal taste and, therefore, grey. The fear is that the law will be used to silence opposition and critics. Co-ordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra says the distinction between criticism and insult has already long been recognised in the practice of Indonesian law. Criticism means providing an analysis of something, pointing out where its wrong, and finding a solution, he told Indonesian publication HukumOnline. But insulting, you know, means using words that demean others. Still grey, for mine. Lawmakers have softened some contentious sections of the codes original drafts. In this particular provision, it must now be the president or vice-president themselves to make the complaint, not just anyone, like a staffer, supporter or political player keen to advance themselves in the presidents standing.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Indonesian President Pradowo Subianto in Sydney in November. AP Official notes clarify that the target of the law is not academic discussion or legitimate criticism, says University of Melbourne associate professor Nadirsyah Hosen. Still, these fixes are mostly procedural. The core definitions  what actually counts as an insult or an attack on an institution  are still pretty broad, he says. A biting political cartoon, a sarcastic social media post, or a protest chant could be read one way by someone offended and quite differently by others, including police or prosecutors. The sweeping new code also encompasses morality, which is most significant for Australians planning their next party holiday in Bali. Adultery is already a crime in Indonesia. The KUHP goes further. When the laws were first moved in 2022, tourism operators were concerned criminalising cohabitation and sex outside of marriage could turn away holidaymakers.

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Seeking to ease fears, authorities emphasised it would not be proactively policed. This is to say, police wont be peering through windows. Rather, a complaint needs to come directly from an aggrieved family member. Presumably, then, tourists will be unlikely to be captured in the net  unless they are engaged in a casual or adulterous sexual relationship with a local. The cohabitation laws, however, will have ramifications for the countrys LGBTQ population. Related Article Foreign relations New era: Australia, Indonesia strike surprise security treaty Despite the Bali governors insistence there is nothing to worry about, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Smartraveller site nonetheless sees fit to warn Australians: Indonesias revised criminal code includes penalties for cohabitation and sex outside of marriage. If youre married, authorities can act on a complaint submitted by your spouse. If youre unmarried, authorities can act on a complaint submitted by your child or parent. Other elements of the KUHP make it riskier to organise demonstrations without adequate prior notification. It also waters down criminal accountability for human rights violations, according to Human Rights Monitor.

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The laws are so open to abuses of power from authorities, even Indonesias law minister Supratman Andi Agtas admitted to Reuters that this was a risk. Anything thats new will not be immediately perfect, he said. Accompanying the KUHP into enforcement is the new criminal procedure code (KUHAP), which set out how the state can investigate, detain and prosecute. Unlike the KUHP, which the public had three years to digest before its enactment, the KUHAP was passed only in November, and again to objections from rights groups, who say it lacks judicial oversight. The revised KUHAP gives police and prosecutors more tools  wider discretion on pre-trial detention, evidence gathering, and other powers. On paper, some of that could make sense for efficiency, Hosen says. But pair it with the KUHPs broader offences  especially vague ones around speech or institutions  and the combination gets worrying. A loose definition of a crime, plus stronger detention and investigative authority, creates a much higher risk of abuse. The effect of the codes leans into Indonesias backpedalling, initiated in earnest in Widodos second term from 2019, on democratic standards. It is perhaps no surprise, then, Prabowo saw fit to elevate the late corrupt autocrat Suharto, his former father-in-law, to the status of national hero last year.

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Normalisation by glorification. Australias most important fellow nation, as the Labor government calls Indonesia, is not embarking on a full slide into authoritarianism, Hosen says, though theres a noticeable pattern thats hard to ignore. The laws probably wont lead to mass arrests tomorrow, he says. The real impact is subtler: ordinary people, journalists and activists starting to think twice before speaking out, just to avoid becoming someones test case. That kind of chill is very human  and very real. Zach Hope is South-East Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Updated WorldEuropeTrump diplomacy Trump links Greenland demand to Nobel Peace Prize snub in leaked message David Crowe January 20, 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

London: Europe faces a spiralling dispute with Donald Trump over his demand for Greenland after the US president warned that he no longer felt obliged to pursue peace because he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In a leaked text message that stunned observers, Trump told Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre that the peace prize decision was a factor in his thinking about gaining control of the Arctic territory. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre and US President Donald Trump in October. AP The message heightens fears about Trump authorising drastic action to pursue his claim to Greenland despite moves from European leaders to oppose his demand and discuss a possible trade retaliation against the US at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Trump expressed his frustration at being overlooked for the peace prize in a decision by the Nobel Committee in Oslo to recognise Venezuelan democratic campaigner Maria Corina Machado instead, and he wrongly blamed Norway and its government for the outcome.

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Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America, he wrote. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. Read the full exchange between Stre and Trump The Norwegian prime ministers office provided the full exchange with Trump to The New York Times. Store had contacted Trump to discuss global security, signing his message Alex and Jonas   a reference to Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Text message from Stre to Trump: Dear Mr President, dear Donald  on the contact across the Atlantic  on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine  and your tariff announcement yesterday. You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate  so much is happening around us where we need to stand together. We are proposing a call with you later today  with both of us or separately  give us a hint of what you prefer! Best  Alex and Jonas Text message from Trump to Stre in response: Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. The message was copied to European ambassadors in Washington and obtained by Nick Schifrin, foreign affairs and defence correspondent for PBS News.

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Trump diplomacy Europe will not be blackmailed: Sweeping retaliation on the cards after Trumps Greenland threats Trump has repeatedly claimed to have stopped eight wars, although India has disputed his claim to have arranged its peace with Pakistan. Another conflict he claimed to have ended, between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, has resumed. Gahr Stre confirmed on Monday that he had received the text message from Trump. Trump later said he was 100 per cent willing to follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries if they did not give ground on his plan for Greenland, and he did not rule out military action. Asked by NBC in a telephone interview if he would use force to seize the island, he said: No comment.

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He also insisted the Nobel Peace Prize was decided by the Norwegian government: Norway totally controls it despite what they say, he told NBC. Related Article Exclusive

Trump's White House He is running in 2028: MAGA loyalist Steve Bannon on Trumps long-term agenda Historian Anne Applebaum described the US presidents message to the Norwegian leader as unhinged. Prominent Democrat US Pete Buttigieg, a former transport secretary, called it take away the car keys level of crazy. In the hours after the message leaked, Trump said he had agreed to meet leaders at the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, this week. But he showed no sign of relenting on his demands, posting on social media a mock photograph of himself planting a US flag on Greenland and a mock photo of himself with European leaders in the White House with a map of the US that included Greenland and Canada.

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View post on X He also criticised the UK for giving up control of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, calling it an act of great stupidity. The islands include Diego Garcia, which houses a strategic US/UK military base. Revealing another text exchange, Trump also posted a message he received from French President Emmanuel Macron that sought a meeting to resolve the dispute with Europe. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland, Macron said in the message posted by Trump. Trump has threatened the UK and several other NATO allies with new tariffs of 10 per cent to start on February 1 if they do not accept his plan to take control of Greenland. He said the tariffs would rise to 25 per cent on June 1.

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Macron is said to want European Union members to use their trade bazooka against Trump  a sanction on US companies that could, in theory, stymie exports worth 93 billion (about $162 billion). Others, however, are calling for options to cool the argument without sacrificing Greenland, and potentially avoiding an escalating trade war. A tariff war is in nobodys interests, and we have not got to that stage, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday. And my focus, therefore, is making sure we dont get to that stage. One of Starmers strongest opponents, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, also took issue with Trump despite being a political ally of the US president and a visitor to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

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Farage called the tariff threat wrong, bad and very, very hurtful. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has described Trumps tariff threat as blackmail and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected it again on Monday, while other national leaders have pushed back. Related Article Trump's White House Trump 2.0 is all about power. His biggest move may be just days away We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland, said a joint statement on the weekend from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. Trumps comments on Davos suggest a high-stakes meeting within days to negotiate on Greenland. Finnish President Alexander Stubb had been seeking the meeting at the World Economic Forum summit. Others at Davos include NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Macron. Trump will address the event on Thursday (Australian time).

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Several of the EU leaders also plan to meet in Brussels on Thursday. With wires Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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Exclusive WorldNorth AmericaTrump's White House He is running in 2028: MAGA loyalist Steve Bannon on Trumps long-term agenda Michael Koziol Updated January 20, 2026  8:43am ,first published 5:30am 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

Washington: Donald Trumps strategic forays into Greenland and Canada  and his architectural projects in Washington  are long-term endeavours that show the 79-year-old US president will seek an unconstitutional third term in 2028 to save the country, MAGA loyalist Steve Bannon says. In an interview with this masthead to mark the first anniversary of Trumps return to office, Bannon said that when the time came, he could and would drive a Mack truck through the 22nd Amendment of the US Constitution, which forbids a person being elected president more than twice, to keep Trump in power. Steve Bannon, pictured at last years Conservative Political Action Group in Washington, says Donald Trump will seek a third term. Bloomberg Youre in the age of Trump, and that age is far from being over, Bannon said. You look at the long-term plans hes got with Greenland, with Canada. I think hes telling you hes got a long-term plan to save the country. And this is why it puts him at the level of [former presidents George] Washington and [Abraham] Lincoln.

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Washington was here at the birth of the nation, Lincoln was here at the rebirth of the nation, and Trump is here to reclaim the nation, and its a long-term project. Bannon was a key Trump strategist in his first term, and went to prison rather than testify to a congressional inquiry into the January 6 rebellion. He was not given a White House job in Trumps second term, but remains influential within the MAGA movement through his War Room podcast and access to the administration. Donald Trump and Steve Bannon in the White House early in Trumps first term. Getty Images Trump, who will turn 80 this year, has occasionally entertained the idea of running again. More recently, he seemed to put the idea to rest, saying it was pretty clear that it was not allowed, which was too bad. He also appears to enjoy the competition between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who are regarded as Trumps most likely successors on the Republican ticket. Vance was recently endorsed by Charlie Kirks widow, Erika Kirk, who is now the chief executive of Turning Point USA, one of the most influential conservative groups in the US.

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Bannon, however, is keeping the Trump flame alive. He doesnt say hes not going to do it. I tell people: hes building the Arc de Trump [in Washington] and hes building the ballroom [at the White House]. I think that shows theres some permanence, Bannon says. In telling remarks about the Republicans electoral strategy moving forward, Bannon said part of the reason for controversial immigration raids in Democratic cities such as Minneapolis was to deport illegal immigrants who the MAGA movement believes are being imported by Democrats to distort the electoral roll. Protesters regularly clash with federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, where ICE is conducting an enforcement operation. AP Youre seeing their [the Democrats] business model in Minneapolis, which is to get a bunch of illegals and all these phony quote-unquote legal immigrants, put them on the government payroll, deal with the fraud, pay for it, and then have them vote in these phony things with the big-city mayors of these sanctuary cities, Bannon said. Were shattering that. If the electoral roll were legitimate, Bannon claimed, it would be virtually impossible for Democrats to win national elections. These views reflect long-running but unfounded allegations about widespread voter fraud. In fact, non-citizen voting is illegal, states have various checks in place, and the Brennan Centre for Justice says the practice is vanishingly rare.

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We cant be beaten

The main event on the US political calendar this year is Novembers midterm election for the whole House of Representatives and a third of the Senate. Last week Trump said to Reuters in an interview that there should be no midterm elections because he had accomplished so much, though press secretary Karoline Leavitt subsequently said the president was joking. Jared Kushner, Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon in the Oval Office during Donald Trumps first term as US president. AP Bannon says there will be midterms and is increasingly confident Republicans can keep control of the House  a rare feat for the party in the Oval Office  based on highly optimistic assumptions about economic growth and a rosy assessment of recent fortunes.

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He claimed Republicans had won seven of eight national elections since Trump became a candidate, including presidential primaries and the 2020 election (which, in fact, Trump lost to Joe Biden). The only election he conceded was the 2018 midterm, crediting Democratic veteran Nancy Pelosi for doing a magnificent job. In all other circumstances, he says, The MAGA base is not beatable  we cant be beaten. It is not clear how close Trump and Bannon are today, but Bannon says there is a correlation between what is discussed on War Room and what Trump comments or acts upon, implying the president watches the show. And Stephen Miller, Trumps hardline deputy chief of staff, was a key ally of Bannons and is seen as his protege. Bannon has also played a role in key events. In his book Retribution, American journalist Jonathan Karl revealed that days before Trumps shakedown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last year, Trump dialled Bannon into a preparatory meeting, where Bannon called Zelensky a punk and urged Trump not to trust him.

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Recently, Bannon has used his podcast to highlight the strategic importance of Canada to the Arctic Rim and defence of the western hemisphere. He worries it is vulnerable to adversaries China and Russia, and told this masthead Canada will be Trumps next focus. A day later, NBC News reported Trump has been raising similar concerns about Canada with aides. This is a bigger problem than Greenland, says Bannon, who was horrified by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys trip to China last week. This thing in Canada is going to be a major, major, major problem. Bannon was not given a White House job in Trumps second term but remains an influential figure in what he calls the ultra MAGA right. AP Flooding the zone Bannon, who was a key MAGA thinker during Trumps four years out of office, says even he is shocked by the unprecedented pace and scale of disruption over the past 12 months, domestically and on the world stage.

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Hes crammed into a year what no president in living memory has done, Bannon says of Trump. The Reagan revolution pales in comparison  thats a weeks worth of work for Trump. Look at every major aspect of American life. The administration and President Trump is deeply ingrained with major policy changes everywhere. Bannon says Trumps wilderness years were beneficial because it allowed the MAGA movement to produce a policy blueprint  most notably Project 2025, which Trump disavowed on the campaign trail  and a plan to neuter American institutions through chaos, which he says has worked. Steve Bannon at Butterworths in Washington, a MAGA favourite owned by Australian Alex Butterworth (left) and Raheem Kassam. Leigh Vogel The theory was to overwhelm the system, what we call flood the zone, and have days of thunder. And think about it  weve overwhelmed the system. The system cant respond. Its too much every day, he says. If you step back and look at it, its actually breathtaking whats been accomplished in one year. And obviously the work is far, far from done. Thats why Im so adamant about Trump 2028.

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Related Article Trump's White House Trump 2.0 is all about power. His biggest move may be just days away In Bannons telling, the real strength of the MAGA plan was a theory about how Article 2 of the Constitution could be used to radically claim executive power for the president, which Trump and his team have ruthlessly pursued. No.1, hes chief executive officer of the US government, so he can fire any f---ing person he wants, Bannon says. No.2  he has virtually unlimited power as commander-in-chief, and hes using it. He notes Trump may yet use the Insurrection Act to dispatch the US military to the streets of Minneapolis to quell protests against his immigration crackdown, which the administration called domestic terrorism. The Pentagon reportedly told 1500 troops in Alaska to be on standby for possible deployment. No.3  and I think this is the most important of all  is that hes broken this post-Watergate [state of affairs] where the radical lawyers could run the Justice Department, the judiciary. By the inherent powers of Article 2, hes the chief magistrate and chief law enforcement officer of the country.

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PHILIPSBURG: --- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is issuing an urgent appeal to the community for assistance in stopping a persistent wave of jewelry store robberies. Over the past year, these crimes have plagued Sint Maarten, particularly in Philipsburg, with similar incidents occurring in the Maho and Oyster Pond areas.

These robberies are more than just crimes against businesses; they endanger employees, threaten public safety, and damage the economic stability and reputation of our island.

The KPSM has been working tirelessly to combat this criminal activity. Through intensive investigations, surveillance, and intelligence gathering, we have successfully arrested several suspects directly involved in these robberies. Our officers continue to dedicate long hours, often at great personal risk, to protect the people and businesses of Sint Maarten.

Despite these efforts, the robberies continue. This pattern strongly suggests that these are not random acts, but organized crimes. We believe they are planned and financed by individuals who recruit others to carry out the robberies while they remain in the shadows.

Let us be clear: without a buyer, there is no robber. Without a fence for stolen goods, there is no thief.

Someone in our community knows who is behind these crimes. Someone sees unexplained wealth, hears the conversations, or recognizes the suspicious behavior. We believe someone is aware of who is profiting from this stolen jewelry.

The KPSM cannot win this fight alone. Organized crime thrives on silence. These thefts continue because individuals who could help are being protected by those who refuse to speak. When criminals profit from the shadows while others risk their lives, the entire community pays the price.

This is no longer just a police matterit is a community responsibility. We urgently appeal to the people of Sint Maarten:

If you know who may be involved, please come forward.

If you suspect someone is buying or selling stolen jewelry, report it.

If you have any information, no matter how small it seems, share it with the KPSM.

All information will be handled with strict confidentiality. Our goal is to stop those who exploit and endanger our island for personal gain.

We also call on families, friends, and associates to reflect on their role. Too often, criminal behavior is enabled by the silence or denial of those closest to the perpetrators. Shielding a loved one involved in crime does not protect them; it enables further harm to innocent people and contributes to the breakdown of our community. Turning a blind eye is not loyaltyit is complicity.

A responsible citizen stands for what is right, even when it is difficult. True care means guiding others away from a life of crime, not allowing them to be used by those who profit from theft and violence.

Sint Maarten is a close-knit society, and these crimes affect us all. Businesses suffer, employees live in fear, and our island's reputation is threatened by the actions of a few who are supported by the silence of others.

The KPSM urges every citizen to choose courage over fear and responsibility over misplaced protection. Help us stop the masterminds behind these crimes. Help us protect Sint Maarten. Help us break the cycle. When the community stands together, crime has nowhere to hide.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the KPSM at +1 721-542-2222 or the anonymous tip line at 9300. Remember: See Something, Say Something.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Where Culture Lives project has successfully completed its survey phase across Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. The project team extends sincere appreciation to the public who participated, and in particular to the island coordinators and surveyors whose dedication ensured strong community engagement across all six islands.

Titled Your Voice, Where Culture Lives, the survey explored how arts, culture, and heritage shape everyday life on the ABCSSS islands. It invited the public to share insights on how they engage with culture in their communities; where culture takes place, what supports it, and what barriers still exist.

The survey phase was conducted within a focused timeframe, from the end of November 2025 through early January 2026, following the focus groups held in August and September last year. Despite the busy end-of-year period, all islands completed their data collection on time. Participation ranged from 40 to 150 respondents per island, reflecting island size, representation, and the effectiveness of local outreach.

Overall, participants responded positively and shared clear priorities. Many pointed to the need for more funding and training opportunities for creative entrepreneurs, alongside more accessible spaces to practice, develop, and showcase art and heritage. Others highlighted the importance of improving cultural education in schools.

With the survey phase now complete, the project team has begun interpreting and analysing the results. They will come together at the end of January, and this collaborative interpretation phase aims to move beyond numbers alone, giving meaning to the findings

within their cultural, social, and island-specific contexts. The outcomes will feed directly into island-based validation sessions scheduled for early April, where draft findings will be discussed with artists, cultural and heritage organisations, government representatives, knowledge partners, and other key stakeholders.

Participants will then offer feedback, which will help to strengthen community ownership of the results and also support the development of recommendations for future cultural policy and investments across all islands.

As a lead team and as researchers, we are committed to ensuring that the findings form a shared foundation, says Jorien Wuite, project lead. This exploration gives us some great insights on cultural mapping across the Dutch Caribbean, and we want the results to meaningfully support future action as well as island-specific policy priorities for government officials and other stakeholders. That is why we are happy and proud to have received support for this additional phase with validation sessions, more co-creative discussions, and broad representation.

The insights gathered through this research will help us understand what makes each islands culture and heritage distinct, while also allowing for careful comparisons that honour differences and illuminate shared patterns, said Ludmila Duncan, one of the lead researchers. That balance is essential if cultural research is to be both reliable and impactful.

The Where Culture Lives team is also proud to announce the development of the Where Culture Lives Prize, a supportive competition on each island that will invite artists and cultural practitioners to submit work celebrating cultural life and creatively expressing where culture lives. This competition is set to be like no other; grounded in communities, inspired by everyday life, and centred on what culture looks and feels like across the islands. Further details about this prize will be shared by the end of January 2026.

The Where Culture Lives project was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in The Hague and on Bonaire (OCW and OCW-CG), and is managed by St. Maarten-based consultancy Lemonade B.V.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Bureau Telecommunications and Post Sint Maarten (BTP) is proud to announce its support of the St. Maarten team participating in the OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge, scheduled to take place from March 1620, 2026, in St. Kitts. As part of this commitment, BTP is funding participation costs, ensuring that local students can take part in this regional STEAM learning experience.

This initiative fully aligns with BTPs mission to promote technology and innovation while encouraging students to pursue careers in science and technology. By supporting robotics and innovation programs, BTP continues to invest in developing future-ready skills among St. Maartens youth.

This sponsorship reflects our strong belief in empowering young minds through technology and innovation, said Ms. Judianne Hoeve, Director of BTP. Both the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, who has endorsed this program, have our full support. We are truly looking forward to this collaboration as we create opportunities for students to explore robotics, engineering, and emerging technologies. It is essential that we intentionally develop a strong pool of technology-focused students from which our local technology sector can later draw talent.

The St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation supports the continued growth of STEAM education on St. Maartenan integrated learning approach that combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Dr. Rolinda Carter, President of the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and OECSRA representative for St. Maarten, welcomed the partnership with BTP, stating: We are grateful to BTP for its support of St. Maartens participation in the inaugural OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful learning opportunities that prepare our students for a rapidly advancing digital world. As this first regional challenge emphasizes skill development, collaboration, and friendly competition, BTPs support ensures our students gain valuable hands-on experience in robotics, innovation, and problem-solving. We look forward to continuing this collaboration as we expand access to STEAM initiatives for St. Maartens youth.

A kickoff meeting was recently held between BTP and the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation to coordinate logistics for the upcoming competition and explore opportunities for future collaboration. Discussions also included emerging areas of mutual interest, such as cybersecurity, particularly as artificial intelligence and modern technologies become increasingly prominent in education and industry.

BTP applauds the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport for their continued efforts to actively promote technology, robotics, and innovation, and for its dedication to engaging and inspiring students across the island.
A man watches news on a shooting happened in Chribska of northern Czech Republic, in Prague, the Czech Republic, Jan. 19, 2026. Two people, including a gunman, were killed and six others injured on Monday in a shooting in the town of Chribska, northern Czech Republic, local police said on social media platform X. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

PRAGUE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people, including a gunman, were killed and six others injured on Monday in a shooting in the town of Chribska, northern Czech Republic, local police said on social media platform X.

After the incident at the town hall, police said the shooter had been killed, and the building is now safe.

"Currently, there is no indication of any terrorist or extremist motive," the police said in a follow-up post on X. "Everything indicates that it is a relationship-based motive."

The police confirmed two fatalities: a male victim and the gunman. Among the six injured, one woman was in serious condition.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis described the incident as a "tragic event" while expressing his condolences. 
Russia jails US man for five years for illegally transporting weapons



Moscow, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



Russia has jailed an American man for five years for illegally transporting weapons, a court said Monday, saying that a rifle was found on his yacht after it docked in the port city of Sochi last June.

Dozens of Westerners, including Americans, have been imprisoned in Russia, especially after the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, with many of them later swapped in prisoner exchanges.

"A US citizen was found guilty of illegally transporting and moving firearms," the regional courts' press service said in a statement.

It identified the man as Charles Wayne Zimmerman, and said he "admitted his guilt in full" and was "sentenced to five years in prison".

It did not mention when exactly the man was sentenced but said an appeal against the conviction had been rejected.

It was the first time his arrest and conviction has been mentioned in Russian media, which usually covers judicial proceedings of foreign citizens closely.

According to the court, the man sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

It cited him as saying that he had met a Russian woman online and decided to visit her, and that he did not know he was forbidden to keep a weapon on board his yacht while it was docked in Russia.

In September 2024, the US Coast Guard East issued a missing person alert for a man identified as Charles Zimmerman, 57, who departed on a sailing trip from Fort Macon, North Carolina, to New Zealand.

"Zimmerman was last heard from on July 23 (2024). He had informed a family member that he would be departing in his sailing vessel en route to the Mediterranean Sea," the Coast Guard said on Facebook.

He was sailing on a 35-foot (10-metre) green and white-hulled vessel, named the Trude Zena, it added.

Announcing Zimmerman's sentence, the Russian court published on social media a slideshow which included a video of a white sailing boat, photos of a sniper rifle and ammunition allegedly found on board, and of a man sitting on the vessel.

Washington accuses Moscow of imprisoning US nationals in a bid to swap them for Russian spies held abroad.
Norway preparing for property requisitions in wartime



Oslo, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



Thousands of Norwegians were to receive letters on Monday from the military informing them that their homes, vehicles, boats and machinery may be requisitioned in the event of war.

"The requisitions are intended to ensure that, in a wartime situation, the armed forces have access to the resources necessary for the defence of the country," the military said in a statement.

Around 13,500 preparatory requisitions will be issued for 2026.

The letters have no practical impact in peacetime, the armed forces said, other than to let owners know that the military may take over their goods in the event of a conflict, the statement said.

The request is valid for one year, and roughly two-thirds of the letters sent in 2026 were renewals from previous years.

"The importance of being prepared for crisis and war has increased dramatically in recent years," the head of the military's logistics organisation, Anders Jernberg, said in the statement.

"Norway is in the most serious security policy situation since World War II. Our society must be prepared for security policy crises and, in the worst case, war," he said.

"We are undertaking a major build-up of military and civil preparedness."

Norway, a NATO member considered the alliance's eyes and ears in the Arctic, has, like the rest of Europe, beefed up its defence in recent years.

The Scandinavian country shares a maritime border and 198-kilometre (123-mile) land border with Russia in the Far North.
Denmark proposes NATO surveillance mission for Greenland



Brussels, Belgium, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



Denmark is proposing that NATO start surveillance operations in Greenland, with the support of the Arctic island, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Monday after meeting NATO's chief Mark Rutte.

"We have proposed it, the secretary general has taken note of that, and I think we can now -- we hope -- define a framework on how that can be concretised," Poulsen told Danish television.

US President Donald Trump has put the transatlantic alliance to the test with threats to take over Greenland "one way or the other", as European countries close ranks against Washington's designs on the vast Danish autonomous territory.

German and French leaders denounced as "blackmail" weekend threats by Trump to wield new tariffs against countries which oppose his plans for the Arctic island.

Rutte wrote on X that he had discussed "how important the Arctic - including Greenland - is to our collective security" with the Danish minister and Greenland's top diplomat.

"We'll continue to work together as Allies on these important issues," he wrote.

Sweden's defence minister Pal Jonson suggested a NATO mission "could be a way forward" as Trump insists more must be done to ward off the threat of China and Russia to Greenland.

"We are seeing what is the most constructive way that we could contribute to this endeavor of strengthening the alliance footprint in the High North," he said after a meeting of Nordic ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Sudan paramilitary forces say regret deadly Chad border clash



Port Sudan, Sudan, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces expressed regret on Monday over what they described as "unintentional" clashes with Chadian troops along the border, after Chad said seven of its soldiers were killed in the incident.

In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the RSF said the clashes "resulted from an unintentional mistake during field operations" targeting forces from the Sudanese army who had entered from Chadian territory "to stir discord and then fled back" into Chad.

Sudan has been gripped by conflict since April 2023. Fighting between the army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 11 million.

Around one million Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad, according to the United Nations.

The RSF said it respected Chad's sovereignty and internationally recognised borders and was committed to "continuing ongoing investigations" and "taking the necessary measures" to hold those responsible accountable.

Chad's government had earlier blamed the RSF for the violence.

Government spokesman Gassim Cherif told a news conference that armed fighters from Sudan had crossed into Chad on Thursday, prompting a clash when Chadian troops ordered them to leave.

A government official later told AFP that the Sudanese fighters were "RSF elements".

Sudan's army has repeatedly accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying weapons to the RSF and hiring mercenaries routed through Chad, Libya, Kenya or Somalia -- claims denied by Abu Dhabi.

Border tensions have risen since October, when the RSF seized El-Fasher, the army's last stronghold in Darfur, prompting international condemnation over reports of mass killings, summary executions and systematic rape.
Key Points

Comfort Systems USA's backlog continues to grow as AI demand picks up.

Verizon offers a high yield and low volatility for risk-averse investors.

Procter & Gamble has one of the best dividend programs in the market, with 135 consecutive years of payouts.

These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires 

It's natural to research many dividend stocks before making individual stock picks. You can choose where to put your money after you have a good idea of what opportunities are available.

A healthy mix of dividend growth stocks and high-yield stocks can help investors navigate market uncertainty more confidently. The three stocks I'm going to talk about in this article have what it takes to become long-term winners that generate positive cash flow for shareholders.

Comfort Systems USA is building a massive backlog

Image source: Getty Images.

The most lucrative path in the stock market right now seems to be artificial intelligence (AI) stocks with good fundamentals. Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX) is one of those stocks, and it has gained more than 1,700% over the past five years. That rally has resulted in a small 0.25% dividend yield as I write this, but the company makes an effort to raise its payouts. It raised its dividend by 20% last year.

It's easy for investors to feel like they missed out when a stock has rallied massively, but Comfort Systems USA told investors in its Q3 2025 press release that its backlog reached a record $9.38 billion, which is a 65% year-over-year improvement. Its backlog should continue to grow as more AI data centers turn to Comfort Systems USA for HVAC and electrical services, and I see this is a solid dividend stock that will succeed for decades to come.

Verizon offers low volatility and high cash flow

Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is the opposite of Comfort Systems USA. While the telecom giant's growth days are long gone, it comes with an enticing 7% dividend yield as I write this and low volatility. The company makes recurring revenue from its wireless plans, and while revenue growth has remained mostly flat in recent quarters, margins have improved, meaning the company is keeping more of what it takes in.

Verizon is better than a bond since dividends are treated more favorably during tax season. It also has a well-diversified customer base. Although high revenue growth is unlikely, the telecom company is also less vulnerable to a sharp revenue decline and it's an enticing dividend stock for the long term.

Procter & Gamble is a household name

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) has been paying dividends for 135 consecutive years, and that includes 69 consecutive years of dividend hikes. The consumer goods company raised its dividend by 5% in 2025.
Dame Julia said retail investors have been a critical linchpin of the stock exchange, but over the last 20 years or so we have seen retail investors have less and less access to our market, and become more and more disenfranchised.
He said in written submissions: They are the product of an attempt by members of the claimants research team, adopted by Baroness Lawrence and her legal representatives, to present a case of unlawful information-gathering against Associated based entirely on spurious and/or discredited information, none of which is before the court in the form of proper admissible evidence.
He also said the individuals had to prove they did not know earlier, or could not have discovered earlier, that they might have had a claim against it for alleged misuse of their private information.
They have the risk of undermining the economy of Scotland and the United Kingdom because of the scale of the tariffs but they also risk undermining the security and the safety of the Nato alliance because of the steps, and the approach, that have been taken in relation to Greenland.
Pressed again on why the UK needs to maintain a close relationship with an ally that threatens to impose harmful tariffs on it, Keir Starmer said: We are involved on a daily basis when it comes to security defence and information sharing in relation to the interaction on intelligence between the US and the UK is the closest relationship between any two countries in the world and that keeps us safe in ways that I cant explain to you.
Dr Allinson described growing concern on the Isle of Man about the delay and said it was frustrating for a lot of local residents who have campaigned for several decades for this change, and were also involved in the quite intensive parliamentary debates and scrutiny that we had last year.
Instead of leaving with integrity they leave in shame. It is simple, I agree with most of what they [Ukip] stand for, leaving the EU and tighter immigration  but they wont do that by voting Ukip. It will split the vote and let labour in. People should think carefully.
Leonard Russell said: He did know about whisky and he was interested that it was triple distilled and wanted to know why it had won best whisky in the world in the San Francisco competition which is the biggest competition in America.
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Key Points

New spot XRP ETFs have already attracted more than $1 billion from investors.

Ripple, the company behind the XRP token, spent $2.5 billion on blockchain acquisitions last year.

The XRP blockchain ledger could become an integral part of new asset tokenization initiatives.

10 stocks we like better than XRP 

Every year, expectations are high for XRP (CRYPTO: XRP). Despite the fact that XRP has never traded higher than a price of $3.84, investors continually expect this high-risk, high-upside cryptocurrency to soar in price.

Well, this could be the year that it finally happens. Three important catalysts are on the horizon that could help to send the price of XRP soaring in 2026.

New spot ETFs

Let's start with the launch of the new spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in November 2025. They've already pulled in more than $1 billion from investors, and have seen positive net inflows almost every day they've been available. In other words, they've been a smash hit with investors, leading to a mini-rally in XRP to start off the year.

But $1 billion could be just the start. Last year, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) suggested that as much as $8 billion could eventually flow into these ETFs, as a result of all the pent-up demand from institutional investors. If that's the case, then the price of XRP has nowhere to go but up.

New blockchain acquisitions

At the same time, Ripple (the company behind the XRP token) has been actively acquiring new companies in order to build out the XRP blockchain ecosystem. Last year, Ripple spent nearly $2.5 billion on a handful of acquisitions, including a splashy $1.25 billion for Hidden Road, a global institutional prime brokerage.

Image source: Getty Images.

The thinking here is that 2026 will be a consolidation year for Ripple and XRP. All of those acquisitions will be stitched together into an end-to-end financial product for institutional investors, and all of this will likely be powered by XRP.

It's not yet clear how all this will work, but one thing is certain: These acquisitions will open up many more use cases for the XRP token. Purely on the basis of supply and demand, that should help to stoke the price of XRP.

New asset tokenization initiatives

The XRP blockchain is attempting to become "the blockchain" for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. To make that a reality, Ripple has already partnered with a number of top financial institutions on RWA projects.

The asset tokenization project that got everyone buzzing last year was a behind-the-scenes collaboration with BlackRock (NYSE: BLK), the world's largest asset manager. BlackRock's tokenized fund for U.S. government debt can now be traded and managed on the XRP blockchain.
But I think, seen live, people might like it. Its odd, because the biggest comedians in the world, it seems to me right now, are people like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and Ricky Gervais, and they are all...
"My dad has died. I am mourning the man who bought me a telescope when I was five years old, who watched the moon landings with me and taught me to always be curious and interested in everything, she wrote.
Born in Voghera, northern Italy, in 1932, Valentino trained in Paris before returning to Rome, where he founded his fashion house in 1960. His rise was meteoric, quickly earning international acclaim for collections that balanced classical elegance with modern sensuality. Over the decades, his work became synonymous with timeless glamour, worn by royalty, Hollywood stars and society figures across generations.
Francesca's opened its first store in Houston in 1999 and is now preparing to close its doors. SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

Francescas, the Houston-based womens boutique and shopping mall staple, is preparing to close all its stores nationwide after more than 25 years in business.

The company, which has five stores in Austin and four in San Antonio, is winding down operations and liquidating inventory across its 457 locations, Womens Wear Daily reported.

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Francescas has not made a public statement or filed for bankruptcy, but news of the closure has been widely reported and clearance sales are underway both in stores and online. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There is no confirmed timeline for the companys liquidation and closure.

The retailer also recently updated its return policy, stating that as of Jan. 14 all sales are final. Eligible purchases made before Jan. 14 can still be returned within 21 days.

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Gift Cards are all final sale and cannot be returned, the company said.

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Why is Francescas closing?

Founded in Houston in 1999, Francescas built its brand around small, boutique-style stores offering trendy apparel, jewelry, home decor and gifts. It began trading publicly in 2011.

News of the closure comes after years of financial instability. Francescas filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2020 amid pandemic-related disruptions and a decline in mall traffic. In 2021, the company emerged with new private ownership and plans to restructure debt, including the closure of nearly half its then nearly 700 brick-and-mortar stores.

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DC Partners is building a 22-acre mixed-use development dubbed the Meuse with a hotel and 73,200 square feet of upscale shops, restaurants and tasting rooms in Fredericksburg. DC Partners

Beyond the grapevines of the Texas Hill Country, there are miles of undeveloped land ripe for the picking.

It was just a year ago that Fredericksburg saw the opening of the Albert Hotel, its first full-service luxury hotel. But with the region drawing more than 5 million visitors a year, lodging developers are flocking to the area. Theyre setting their sights on Fredericksburg, the center of the Texas wine country with more than 50 wineries, tasting rooms and proximity to Austin and San Antonio.

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Though the areas lodging scene has long been dominated by short-term rentals, bed-and-breakfasts and boutique stays, the once-quaint German town is in the midst of an upgrade. From now through 2028, at least eight hospitality projects are set to add 800 or more rooms.

The area has become quite popular, not only based on the number of homes popping up but also just in general, said Colin Sherman, director of hospitality analytics at commercial real estate data firm CoStar. Theyre seeing a lot more demand out there, likely related to the wine culture theyve developed, and hotels are noticing.

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At least two of the upcoming projects in Fredericksburg will be luxury hotels, including from big-name brands like Waldorf Astoria and Kimpton. There are also a handful of extended-stay hotels opening in the area from brands including Hilton and Marriott.

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In 2027, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is opening its first-ever Texas location in Fredericksburg with 60 hotel rooms and suites and 87 villas and private residences.

A rendering of the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country, which will be the luxury hotel brand's first location in Texas. Rendering courtesy of Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Fredericksburg embodies the blend of culture, culinary excellence and natural beauty that Waldorf Astoria guests expect, reinforcing the brands commitment to providing guests with a distinct sense of place, said Amy King, vice president of luxury and mixed-use development for Hilton, Waldorf Astorias parent company. Its a destination with national appeal and we felt it was the perfect stage for the brands Texas debut.

A rendering of the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country and Waldorf Astoria Residences Texas Hill Country, a resort and private homes that are slated to open in Fredericksburg in 2027. Rendering courtesy of Hilton Hotels & Resorts A rendering of the Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country, which will feature 60 hotel rooms and suites and 87 villas and private residences. Rendering courtesy of Hilton Hotels & Resorts A rendering depicting plans for the development planned by CB Wine Tourism near Fredericksburg. Rendering courtesy of CB Wine Tourism

The Waldorf Astoria will be less than a mile from downtown Fredericksburg and feature five restaurants offering fare ranging from fine dining to casual concepts, including one from chef Dominique Crenn, the only female chef in the United States to attain three Michelin stars. The resort will also feature a 16,000-square-foot spa and fitness center and two resort-style pools.

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King said the brand will provide some diversity for Hill Country travelers looking for an elevated experience outside of short-term rentals.

We believe short-term rentals serve a different purpose, catering to a distinct customer and stay type that complements what a hotel provides, she said.

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A new standard

Hilton Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Wine Country Hospitality Partners LLC to manage the resort. The group is a collaboration between prominent developers Mark Harmon, Robert Radovan and Tim Sparapani.

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Harmon is founder of Auberge Resorts Collection, a luxury hospitality developer and operator with 27 properties worldwide, including Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley, the most visited wine region in the United States. Radovan is the founding partner of luxury hospitality development company Criswell Radovan and Sparapani is a lawyer and investor specializing in startups who previously served as director of public policy at Facebook and is a member of the board of directors for Coors Spirits Co.

MORE HOTEL NEWS: First Waldorf Astoria hotel, residences in Texas to be built in Fredericksburg

Wine Country Hospitality Partners LLC shares Hiltons vision for Fredericksburgs future and the exceptional experience we aim to deliver to guests, residents and Texans alike, King said. Together, were creating something that honors the region while setting a new standard in hospitality.

A rendering shows Kimpton Fredericksburg, a new luxury hotel slated to open in 2027. Rendering courtesy of IHG Hotels & Resorts

Kimpton, owned by IHG Hotels & Resorts, is also poised to open an upscale destination in 2027 with 210 rooms, a full-service restaurant and bar, a 10,000-square-foot pool and deck, fitness center and cafe. There will also be 18,500 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space for weddings, celebrations, local events and corporate retreats. It will be the brands fourth Texas location.

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Kimpton Fredericksburg will be part of the Meuse, a new 22-acre mixed-use development from Houston-based real estate firm DC Partners. The group, which has built luxury housing and offices in urban neighborhoods in Houston and San Antonio, hopes to capitalize on Fredericksburgs tourism industry.

Kimptons new option

With the boom of Airbnbs, we wanted to provide a new option for people who are looking for that full-service experience, said Acho Azuike, DC Partners chief operating officer and managing director. The Kimpton brand allows us to mold the design to fit the market it represents. Our goal with the design is to make it appear as if its always been there. We worked carefully with the city for a long time and put together something that we can be proud of.

The Meuse, named after Fredericksburg founder John Muesebach, will feature 73,200 square feet of upscale shops, restaurants and tasting rooms at U.S. 290 and U.S. 87 at one end of Main Street. DC Partners has already signed upscale brands Lucchese Bootmaker and Padres Wine Co., a Houston wine bar, to join the project.

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The city had issued a request for proposals for a hotel and conference center in 2022, piquing DC Partners initial interest. Fredericksburg voted against tax rebates for the project but DC Partners decided to proceed anyway. The Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau said previously that the development could help the city increase midweek visitation.

We knew if the city was putting out an RFP for this, there really is a demand for it, said Azuike. Theres only so much wine people are going to drink, so the Meuse will essentially be an extension of Main Street with curated retailers.

Renderings show the Meuse, a mixed-use development DC Partners plans to build in Fredericksburg. Rendering courtesy of Merriman Anderson Architects

In addition to The Meuse, family-owned real estate firm Fredericksburg Development Inc. and Heirloom & Co., a real estate investment advisory firm, are developing custom houses, apartments, a high-end resort hotel, parks, trails and shops about 2.5 miles south of downtown. LB Development is building shops, restaurants and an expansive promenade along Luckenbach Road off U.S. 290.

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MORE HILL COUNTRY NEWS: Fredericksburgs Main Street adding luxury shops, restaurants and hotel

Queretaro, Mexico-based CB Wine Tourism also plans to build luxury houses, a boutique hotel, restaurants and other amenities surrounded by vineyards on about 215 acres at 576 Young Ranch Road along U.S. 290 between Fredericksburg and Johnson City.

And Lubbocks Llano Estacado Winery, billed as the largest and second-oldest winery in Texas, is building a 41-room boutique hotel with 20,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space along Fredericksburgs Llano Street, which is expected to open this year.

The winery is planning a flurry of other expansion projects including a $3.5 million winery and tasting room at the site of the former AirisEle Winery. Kevin Glasheen, a primary investor in the group that acquired Llano last year, said it has also purchased more than 200 acres on Jenschke Lane off U.S. 290 for construction of a premium brand wine tasting room dubbed Staked Plains Vineyards, as well as a 40-lot subdivision of 3-acre luxury home lots surrounded by vineyards.

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Though its already booming, the potential for growth abounds, Luis Miguel Correa, CEO of CB Wine Tourism, said in a statement when the development was announced in 2024. For someone looking to be a part of this growing market, the chances to find a prime piece of property along the heart of the wine trail in the Texas Hill Country are dwindling.

A rendering of the development planned by CB Wine Tourism on about 215 acres between Fredericksburg and Johnson City. Its to include luxury houses, a boutique hotel, restaurants and other amenities surrounded by vineyards. Rendering courtesy of CB Wine Tourism

With such high-end developments in place, Fredericksburg is ushering in a new era of luxury hospitality, retail and housing. CoStars Sherman said the departure from short-term rentals is tied to the revenue stream the area is seeing  and travelers looking for longer stays with built-in experiences.

Its very telling when you see brands like Kimpton and Waldorf take notice of a city like that, he said. Theyve obviously done their research. They know whos going out there. They know where money is being spent, so theyre seeing that opportunity to not only create a great hotel but also give travelers that true Hill Country experience, and thats where luxury really excels.

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Short-term rentals

Fredericksburg has already seen an explosion of short-term rentals and unique getaways like yurts, treehouses and teepees in recent years. AirDNA, which tracks Airbnb and Vrbo rentals, shows the area has more than 3,215 listings.

Short-term rentals have seen positive demand since 2024, with average monthly growth rates of 2% to 6% each month, according to CoStar.

For October alone, weve seen demand grow about 5% over their 12-month average, Sherman said. Looking at the 12-month average, theyre about at 5.3% through October, which is pretty sizable when you look at other metros.

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The rise in demand has allowed short-term renters to raise rates. Such operations are generating an average annual revenue of $37,300 with an average daily rate of $348.90, according to AirDNA.

Were seeing revenue go up about 12% over the 12-month average and, of course, that equals profit, Sherman said. And if theres profit to be made, thats another attraction for hotels.

The Albert Hotel became the first full-service, luxury hotel to open in Fredericksburg when it debuted in 2025. Richard A Marini/San Antonio Express-News

Until the Albert opened as the first full-service hotel last year, there hadnt been a new hotel in the area for seven years. There are about 19 limited-service hotels and motels in the area, including a Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Plus and La Quinta Inn & Suites.

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Tourists arent just looking for a one-night or two-night visit and then going home, Sherman said. Theyre looking for that experience, and if you can tie in that experience of the viniculture out there with the history of Texas, and the Hill Country landscape, that will drive even more demand.

In addition to luxury destinations, the Hill Country area is getting a mix of name-brand extended-stay options such as Hiltons upcoming 161-room Home2Suites and 94-room Homewood Suites. Marriott is also planning a 76-room TownePlace Suites and a 99-room SpringHill Suites.

And California-based AutoCamp, a hotel company that rents Airstream trailers for glamping experiences, is building a Hill Country site for 2026.

While branded supply is growing, competition from short-term rentals will continue to influence pricing and compression nights, particularly during peak wine and event tourism seasons, Sherman said.

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Ripe for the picking

The Texas Hill Country wine region spans 9 million acres, earning it the title as the second-largest wine region in the nation, according to the Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau. The area is home to more than 120 wineries, including popular pioneers such as Becker Vineyards and William Chris Vineyards in Hye, 20 miles west of Fredericksburg. It was ranked No. 31 on William Reeds Worlds 50 Best Vineyards list in 2025.

Rows of grapevines at Becker Vineyards in Fredericksburg, Texas, in 2023. The Hill Country area, which sees two million visitors annually, has multiple hotel projects in development through 2030. Sam Owens/Staff photographer

The regions boom began in the 1970s and 80s, largely driven by university research that identified the areas climate and soil as a suitable foundation for grapes. In 1991, the Texas Hill Country was legally designated an American Viticultural Area, which means its recognized by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as a region with unique geographic, climatic and soil characteristics that influence grape growing and wine flavor. Its one of eight in Texas.

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Fredericksburgs warm climate is beneficial for ripening while the cool nights help grapes develop acidity. The regions limestone-rich soil and ample sunshine are well-suited for longer growing seasons and attractive for Mediterranean grapes that typically produce Tempranillo, Syrah, Albarino, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel wines.

In 2025, the Texas wine industry contributed $24.39 billion in economic impact to the state, a nearly 20% increase from 2022, according to WineAmerica, the national association of American wineries. While the Lone Star industry rivals regions in California, Oregon, Washington and New York, it ranks second in terms of economic impact behind only California.

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The Hill Country is very popular as a staycation for many San Antonians and Austinites, Sherman said. You can drive an hour, feel like youre in a completely different place, not spend a ton of money, get away for a little while, enjoy that experience, and then come back all within an hour.
A vehicle with a driver passes a Waymo robotaxi sitting motionless in the 400 block of East Houston Street. The company said it froze because traffic lights on the downtown thoroughfare were out. Thats the same issue that led to gridlock in San Francisco during a power outage last month. This is a rare occurrence, but a scenario that we are working on improving, a company spokesman said. Patrick Danner/Staff

Waymo, still facing scrutiny in California for gridlock caused when its robotaxis froze as traffic lights went dark during a power outage in San Francisco, is still struggling to solve the issue.

One of the companys cars was spotted partially blocking an intersection in downtown San Antonio, where Waymo is preparing to roll out its service this year.

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It seems one of the traffic lights were out, so the vehicle paused for a handful of minutes, a company spokesman said of the incident last week.

A witness, though, said traffic signals in the 400 block of East Houston Street at Jefferson Street were working, with the robotaxi sitting motionless as the signals cycled through several green lights.

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Drivers of other vehicles blew their horns and swerved around the frozen Waymo, a Jaguar I-Pace outfitted with the array of sensors and cameras Waymo uses to make them fully autonomous. The city wasnt immediately able to confirm last week that the traffic lights were out.

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The company spokesman said the car sat while it was waiting for a human in Waymos fleet response team to clear the vehicle to proceed. The company has said the human helpers are like a phone-a-friend service for the cars when they experience a situation their technology doesnt understand.

Its the same issue, though at smaller scale, that caused traffic tie-ups last month in San Francisco, about which the company has said the large number of dark signal lights and vehicle requests for confirmation to proceed overwhelmed the human overseers. It has issued software updates in response to that problem but acknowledges its still gathering data.

Waymo said it was rolling out software updates, improving emergency response protocols and expanding coordination with local officials after stalled robotaxis became a focal point of the San Francisco gridlock during a massive outage last month. Aidin Vaziri/San Francisco Chronicle

This is a rare occurrence but a scenario that we are working on improving, the spokesman said.

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It was also the second instance last week of Texas trouble for the autonomous ride-hailing industry leader. In Austin, where Waymo operates about 200 cars in a 140-square-mile service area, Austin Independent School District said the companys robotaxis have continued to illegally pass stopped school buses. Thats despite the companys claims it resolved the issue with software updates.

The school district has threatened legal action against Waymo and asked that it halt operations during school drop-off and pickup hours.

The company began testing its robotaxis in San Antonio last year. The fleet currently has about 20 vehicles and is operating from a temporary site.

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In November, Waymo announced it was expanding its ride-hailing services this year to San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Orlando.

The Google spino-ff already operates in five U.S. cities including Austin, where it launched in partnership with Uber last spring. It launched in San Francisco in 2024 and now also operates in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Waymos planned 2026 expansions will put it further ahead of Austin-based Tesla Inc., which has said driverless ride-hailing and autonomous driving is a key to its future. That company now operates a small fleet in Austin, though some of its robotaxis still have human safety monitors on board, and in the San Francisco Bay Area, where cars all arrive with a human minder in the driver seat.

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Austin Community College student Cassandra Mae Sion, 19, walks through Building 1000 on the first day of classes at ACC Highland Campus on Monday August 26, 2024. Jay Janner/American-Statesman

Texas' top higher education authority recently boasted that 95% of Texas graduates have manageable or no debt when they leave college.

In 2023, 370,000 students graduated from Texas higher education institutions, and the state aims to graduate 550,000 people by 2030.

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What does 'manageable' debt mean?

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board defines manageable debt as a debt-to-income ratio below 10% after graduation. This means a students monthly loan payments are less than 10% of their income.

According to the boards data on student loans, which uses 2023 wage information, 56% of students who earn a bachelors degree from a public four-year college have manageable debt; 40% have no debt; and 4% have high debt.

But for students who get a bachelors degree from a two-year college, where tuition tends to be much lower, nearly 80% of students have no debt, and 21% have manageable debt. For students with associate degrees, the split of manageable debt to no debt is about 60% to 30%.

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What degrees carry the most debt?

All degrees demonstrate value 10 years after a student graduates, the coordinating board said, but that value varies depending on the type of degree. The highest percent of students with no debt or manageable debt are those with degrees in mathematics, statistics and computers at 99%. The lowest percent of students with zero or manageable debt were those with art degrees at 88%.

What about those who dont graduate?

The data is insightful, but doesnt include Texans who leave school with some college and no degree. Across Texas, 34% of students dont graduate from a four-year university within six years, and 56% dont graduate from a two-year college in the same period. Both numbers have remained consistent in the past several years.

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The state hopes to have 60% of Texans aged 25 to 64 with a credential of value by 2030in part by eliminating barriers to enrollment and increasing transparency.

Are there efforts to make college more affordable?

And there has been good progress on affordability of academic-related costs. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered universities to freeze tuition through the 2026-27 academic year. House Bill 8 from 2023 tied community college funding to the number of degrees of value awarded.

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Locally, Austin Community College launched a free tuition pilot for recent high school graduates, which has boosted enrollment and retention. In San Antonio, the Alamo Colleges offers a college promise program for Bexar County high school graduates. The UT System has promised to pay the tuition of students from households with a $100,000 income or less.
Key Points

Buffett handpicked Greg Abel to succeed him as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO.

The giant conglomerate has a record amount of cash on hand today.

Berkshire Hathaway's subsidiaries operate with autonomy.

10 stocks we like better than Berkshire Hathaway 

For 60 years, Warren Buffett was the lead man in charge at Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B). Now, the Oracle of Omaha has finally stepped down at the age of 95. It's definitely the end of an era, but it was a great ride. Berkshire Hathaway went from a roughly $25 million company to one of only 11 companies with a trillion-dollar valuation (as of Jan. 13).

Understandably, some investors may have reservations about the post-Buffett era of Berkshire Hathaway because of the unknown. However, there are 382 billion reasons why I think investors should remain optimistic about Berkshire Hathaway's direction and long-term potential.

Image source: Getty Images.

Buffett handpicked his successor

Now that Buffett has stepped aside, Greg Abel has taken over the reins as the new CEO. The average investor may not know Abel by name, but he's a Berkshire Hathaway veteran, having been with the company since 1992.

Before taking over as CEO, Abel ran the company's energy and non-insurance operations for many years. Regardless of how some may feel about the choice, one thing is clear: Buffett handpicked Abel as his successor, and that says a lot about his trust in Abel's ability.

Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway have been synonymous for quite some time, but Buffett has done a good job at making sure the company's success wasn't solely reliant on him and his decisions. If he trusts Abel to follow him up, Abel deserves the benefit of the doubt from investors.

382 billion reasons to keep a positive attitude

At the end of the third quarter of 2025, Berkshire Hathaway had $382 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term Treasury bills (T-bills). For perspective, that's more than the market cap of Robinhood Markets, Spotify, and Adobe -- combined.

Having this war chest serves two major purposes. The first is that Berkshire Hathaway is earning billions on the $305 billion it holds in T-bills without lifting a finger. Even at 3% (which is lower than the current rate), it could earn around $9.15 billion annually in interest alone.

The second purpose is that it leaves Berkshire Hathaway with plenty of financial flexibility to jump on an opportunity if one pops up. Berkshire Hathaway has been known for buying or investing in high-quality, but distressed, businesses when it sees a great deal. That's how it started its GEICO purchase and began its stake in companies like American Express, which it currently has a 22% stake in.
The worlds of politics and finance have always overlapped, but in recent decades, a number of elected leaders and public officials have arrived in government with experience in financial markets, banking and investment.

From consumer-advocacy champions to central bankers turned prime ministers, these career arcs illustrate how financial expertise and networks can shape public policy, political identity and leadership.

Heres a look at some notable politicians who started in finance and where they are today.

Also see seven world leaders who are also billionaires.

1. Elizabeth Warren (US Senator)

Though best known today as a leading voice on economic inequality and consumer protection, Sen. Elizabeth Warrens pre-political career was rooted in financial research and law. She rose to national prominence as a bankruptcy expert and academic before helping design the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Warrens work on personal finance and wealth inequality, including advocacy for middle-class financial security, helped shape her political brand and policymaking priorities in the Senate.

Now Warren is a senior U.S. senator from Massachusetts and a prominent progressive leader and consumer finance advocate.

Read More: How Much Is Donald Trumps Social Security Check  And Is He Collecting It?

Find Out: How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires  and How You Can, Too

2. Robert Rubin (Treasury Secretary and Former Goldman Sachs Executive)

Before entering government, Robert Rubin spent more than two decades at Goldman Sachs, rising to co-chairman of the firm. In the 1990s, he transitioned to public service as director of the National Economic Council and then secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton. His tenure influenced major fiscal and financial reforms in the 1990s, and while controversial to some critics, Rubins policies were central to the economic climate of that era.

He is now retired from public office and active in philanthropic and advisory roles following his political career.

3. Jon Corzine (Senator, Governor and Former Goldman Sachs CEO)

Jon Corzines career bridged high finance and high office. Before entering politics, he was CEO of Goldman Sachs. Corzine went on to serve as a U.S. senator and then governor of New Jersey.

After leaving elected office, he returned to the financial world as CEO of MF Global, a firm that collapsed amid controversy and a high-profile bankruptcy.

4. Byron Donalds (US Representative)

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds began his professional life in finance, working in banking and the insurance industry. That grounding in financial services preceded his successful run for Congress, where hes become a prominent figure in GOP leadership circles and was put forward as a candidate for speaker of the House in 2023.
A top Wall Street analyst just dropped one of the boldest calls on Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), slapping an eye-popping price target in the process.

Wells Fargos Aaron Rakers (a 5-star analyst as per Tipranks) reiterated his Overweight rating on AMD, while setting a $345 price target (implying roughly 49% upside from current prices).

For perspective, AMD shares currently trade at $231.83, and Rakers price target isnt the only one turning heads.

UBS (Timothy Arcuri) : raised to $300 from $265 (Buy) 29.4% upside .

Piper Sandler (Harsh Kumar) : raised to $280 from $240 (Overweight) 20.8% upside ; on the back of stronger visibility in data-center and AI trajectory.

KeyBanc (John Vinh) : $270 (upgrade to Overweight) 16.5% upside tied to strengthening server CPU and AI accelerator demand outlook.

Morgan Stanley: raised to $260 from $246 (Equalweight)12.2% upside; perhaps the most measured stance compared to higher-bull targets.

Price targets like these are a breath of fresh air, and it appears that AMD stock is finally getting its due.

Having covered AMD and other AI stocks, its fair to say its sort of always playing second fiddle to Nvidia (NVDA).

Thats not surprising, though, considering Nvidia boasts a market share somewhere between 70% to 90% of the AI chip space.

However, this is about far more than chips, as Nvidias AI moat extends across the entire stack, reducing customers incentive to switch.

Nevertheless, that narrative is shifting, with AMD stock up an incredible 96% last year, beating the broader markets' 17% gain (Nvidia stock gained 40% last year).

In the past month alone, AMD stock has returned 11%, while other AI stocks struggled.

That throws a lot more weight behind Rakers price targets that look otherwise aggressive. He argues that this isnt about a single product cycle, but that AMD continues to execute across its core businesses while setting itself up for multi-year data-center and AI expansion.

Lisa Su, chair and chief executive officer of Advanced Micro Devices Inc.Photo by Bloomberg on Getty Images  Photo by Bloomberg on Getty Images

Wells Fargo sees multiple engines driving AMD higher

Rakers argues that AMD will sustain its robust CPU leadership while taking market share, a dynamic that will continue to offer a durable earnings foundation.

More AI Stocks:

At the same time, he feels that AMDs AI story is becoming increasingly tangible.

A big part of that is its stronger positioning across its data-center GPU portfolio and its broader systems strategy in catching up with Nvidia.
American military men, including Maj. Gen. Robert Maloy and Mrs. Maloy (second row), march in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King on April 6, 1971, at Osan Air Base, South Korea. (T.W. Chung/Stars and Stripes)



This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Apr. 6, 1971. It is republished unedited in its original form.

General Maloy joins in

OSAN AB, Korea  More than 700 American military men of all races and ranks marched in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Sunday, climaxing a weekend tribute here to the slain civil rights leader.

Maj. Gen. Robert Maloy, USAFK commander, wearing a neck brace to relieve painful recurring war injuries, marched for a while with the group along the two-mile route.

Mrs. Maloy joined her husband in the walk.

The march beginning at 3 p.m. in front of the Osan AB theater, wound through the streets of this base, picking up people as it continued toward the front gate, where a brief memorial service was held.

Black soldiers, leaders of the four bi-racial groups which organized the march, carried large pictures of the assassinated Nobel Peace Prize winner in front of the marchers.

The march was in silence and there were no disturbances to mar the ceremonies marking the third anniversary of Dr. Kings assassination.

Earlier seminars and meetings had been held among the airmen themselves and their commanders. People from as far south as Taegu [Daegu], 100 miles away, were bused in by the command for the weekend.

At the memorial service, Chaplain (Col.) Richard Carr, top Air Force chaplain in Korea, called the march an unprecedented event. He said that blacks and whites had shown they could live together at Osan and that this alone was a tribute to Dr. King and his ideas.

We have the beginning of a dialog here, he said, in one of the most unlikely places in our society, at a military installation.

Only one year ago, Osan was rocked by rioting between black and whites. Carr commented briefly on this, saying that the progress made at Osan was an example to everyone, everywhere.

Before turning the microphone over to Sgt. Robert Hood, a local black leader, Carr characterized Dr. King as a man of power  a man of compassion  a man who was committed to the ideas greater than himself  a great man  a great black man  a great human being.

Hood, president of the Brotherhood Association of Servicemen at Osan, said the march was a start and that everyone must now get together to keep Dr. Kings ideas alive.

The march and the weekend were organized entirely by the airmen themselves and the command here gave them a virtual free hand to detail plans for the tribute.

After the weekend ended and people began boarding buses to return to their bases, S. Sgt. Frank Waller, the man who coordinated most of the plans, said the day had been beautiful.

There was some real active brotherhood and some real good vibes here over the weekend, he said.
(T.W. Chung/Stars and Stripes)



Osan Air Base, South Korea, April 6, 1971: More than 700 American military men of all races and ranks marched in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King April 4, 1971 at Osan Air Base, South Korea.

The Sunday march marked the end of a weekend tribute to the civil rights leader who was assassinated on April 4, 1969. Black soldiers, leaders of the four biracial groups which organized the march, carried large pictures of the assassinated Nobel Peace Prize winner in front of the marchers.

Among the marchers was Maj. Gen. Robert Maloy, USAFK commander, and his wife (second row). Maj. Gen. Maloy wore a neck brace to relieve painful injury sustained when his F-4 Phantom was hit in 1967 while on an air strike mission against targets in North Vietnam. Maloy broke his neck upon ejection from his aircraft.

Read the newly digitized 1971 report on the march here.
A screenshot from a video shows Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen speaking after talks in Washington on Jan. 14, 2026. (The Washington Post)



BRUSSELS  European ambassadors met in Brussels on Sunday to weigh whether to retaliate against Washington after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on eight countries unless they acquiesce to his bid to acquire Greenland.

The scope of Europes response will be a key test for its diplomats as they balance the need to stand up for European sovereignty, manage delicate relationships with Washington and consider political and economic pressures at home.

Members of the European Union are considering imposing tariffs or measures targeting U.S. firms if diplomatic efforts fail to find an off-ramp with Trump, two European diplomats speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter told The Washington Post.

The 27-nation blocs ambassadors debated the prospect of retaliation during a closed-door meeting in Brussels on Sunday afternoon, but there was a broad preference to try to de-escalate.

France has pushed for a tougher response by using an instrument often dubbed the EUs trade bazooka, which would allow for targeting or restricting American services in Europe, a major profit center for U.S. tech giants.

The scramble comes after Trump on Saturday said he would soon impose a 10 percent tariff increase on imports from Britain, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden - all of whom recently had deployed troops to Greenland - until the U.S. strikes a deal to obtain the semiautonomous Danish territory, which he has coveted for its strategic Arctic location and natural resources.

The E.U. plans to convene an extraordinary summit with all 27 of the E.U.s heads of state and government to discuss the crisis. An E.U. official said the summit was expected to take place in Brussels this week. In a post on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the E.U. is united with Greenland and Denmark against threats to their sovereignty.

Together we stand firm in our commitment to uphold the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, von der Leyen said. We will always protect our strategic economic and security interests. We will face these challenges to our European solidarity with steadiness and resolve. In perhaps one concession to Trump, Germany said it was withdrawing the small number of troops it had deployed to Greenland on Friday. The German military command said Sunday that the 15 soldiers were in the process of returning from the Arctic territory.

The reconnaissance mission in Greenland has been completed as planned, a spokesman for the German military command said in a statement. Important insights were gained, which we will now use to coordinate potential joint measures with our partners and within the NATO framework to strengthen security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.

The threat to grab a sovereign territory of Denmark against its will risks fundamentally breaking the NATO defense alliance, which European diplomats said would divide the West and embolden Moscow and Beijing. China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies, Kaja Kallas, the E.U.s top diplomat, said Saturday.

On Monday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt are scheduled to visit NATOs headquarters in Brussels for a previously planned meeting with Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Rutte said on X that he spoke to Trump regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic, adding: We will continue working on this.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmers office stated that he had also spoken to Trump to emphasize that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen told reporters on Sunday that Washington had previously agreed to open diplomatic lines of communication with Denmark and that he would prefer to remain on that track.

We have been asking since the very beginning of this to have constructive dialogue with our American ally and friends, free from social media and headlines and strong words, he said. We opened that dialogue last week. We will not give up on that. I have an agreement with the American vice president. It was reconfirmed after we have listened to the press spokesperson. So, we will stay on track - unless U.S. decides differently.

Many practical questions remain on how the tariffs would work, including whether an expected Supreme Court ruling would curb the use of one law Trump has relied on to impose sudden tariffs. Because the European Union is a single trading and customs bloc, the imposition of tariffs against some would effectively mean tariffs on all 27 nations, European officials said. And it is American businesses and consumers who wind up paying the fees to U.S. Customs when goods are imported. Still, Trump administration officials defended the move on Sunday as necessary for national security.

If there were an attack on Greenland from Russia, from some other area, we would get dragged in. So better now, peace through strength, make it part of the United States, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBCs Meet the Press. The European leaders will come around and they will understand that they need to be under the U.S. security umbrella.

Armida van Rij, a security expert at the Center for European Reform think tank, said Europe was in a particularly vulnerable position as Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine - another factor for European diplomats to consider. They are, rightly, too worried about [Trump] selling out Ukraine to Russia over their and Ukrainian heads, van Rij said.

Van Rij said she was also skeptical about Trumps claim that it was necessary to acquire Greenland for security purposes. If it really were about immediate security risks around Greenland and in the Arctic, he would have welcomed Europes efforts, she said.

U.S. lawmakers have also been wrestling with how to respond to Trumps posturing on Greenland. Some Republicans said they would support Trumps bid to purchase Greenland while opposing military action. Others joined Democrats in condemning the takeover and its national security justification altogether.

Theres no emergency with Greenland. Thats ridiculous, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) said on Meet the Press. And the idea by the secretary that oh, this is to prevent an emergency. Now were declaring emergencies to prevent emergencies?

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) called the national security justification a ruse to cover up Trumps true aim: resource acquisition.

This is not about security, he said on ABCs This Week. This is about a land grab. Donald Trump wants to get his hands on the minerals and other resources of Greenland just like the real reason he went into Venezuela. Brady reported from Munich, Sands in London and Raji from Washington. Lauren Kaori Gurley in Washington contributed to this report.
A German military reconnaissance team of 15 was due to board a flight on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, from Greenlands capital Nuuk, pictured here in this undated photo. (Paul Hamilton/Dreamstime/TNS)



(Tribune News Service)  The German military reconnaissance team that arrived in Greenland on Friday is on its way back after a 44-hour deployment on the Arctic island, Bild newspaper reported on Sunday.

The team of 15 was due to board a flight from the capital of Nuuk at midday, according to the German newspaper, which said the soldiers had been expected to extend their original two-day stay.

The exploration was completed, as planned, a spokesman for the Bundeswehr Operational Command in an emailed statement, adding that weather conditions meant one station couldnt be visited. Nevertheless, important insights were gained that will now enable us to coordinate possible joint measures with our partners and within the NATO framework to strengthen security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.

Germany took the lead among several European nations sending military personnel to Greenland on an exploratory mission last week, as the countries sought to show US President Donald Trump theyre taking security matters seriously.

France, Sweden, Norway and the UK were also participating ahead of a planned training exercise.

Trumps efforts to gain control of Greenland took another twist on Saturday, when he announced a 10% tariff from February, rising to 25% in June, on eight European nations, including Germany, for saying they would undertake token NATO military exercises there in response to US saber-rattling.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who branded Trumps threat as unacceptable, will request the activation of the European Unions anti-coercion instrument  the blocs most powerful retaliatory tool  in response to the new tariffs, a person close to the president said on Sunday.

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American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) and Dowlais Group have secured Chinese antitrust clearance, completing regulatory approvals ahead of their planned February 2026 merger.

The companies said the decision from Chinas State Administration for Market Regulation means all conditions tied to regulatory and competition approvals for the transaction have now been met.

The US automotive and mobility supplier struck the deal in January last year to acquire UK-based Dowlais Group in a cash-and-share transaction worth approximately $1.44bn.

Under the agreed structure, Dowlais shareholders will receive 0.0863 new AAM common shares and 42 pence in cash for each Dowlais share.

They will also receive up to 2.8 pence per share linked to Dowlais FY24 final dividend prior to closing.

After completion, AAM investors are expected to control 51% of the combined company, with Dowlais shareholders owning the remaining 49%.

Based on AAMs closing share price on 28 January 2025, the transaction values Dowlais at 85.2 pence per share, representing a 25% premium to Dowlais closing share price on that date.

Dowlais Group is an automotive engineering and car parts maker operating across automotive technology and powder metallurgy.

Its businesses, GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy, span 70+ facilities in 19 countries.

Commenting on the acquisition at the time of its announcement, Dowlais chair Simon Mackenzie Smith said: The strategic rationale for the combination is clear: together, we create a global leader with enhanced financial strength, broader diversification and a market-leading product portfolio that spans traditional and electrified powertrain solutions.

The Chinese clearance follows unconditional approval granted earlier by the European Commission, satisfying the EU antitrust requirement.

Approvals have also been secured in the US, India, the UK, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey, taking the total to seven of ten required jurisdictions.

The merger remains contingent on court approval of the scheme at a hearing scheduled for 30 January 2026.

"AAM and Dowlais win Chinese antitrust approval for $1.44bn merger" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.




Edurne Martinez Monday, 19 January 2026, 10:13 | Updated 10:38h. Share

Spain's railway infrastructure company Adif has announced the suspension of all high-speed train services between Madrid and Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and Huelva on Monday, 19 January, following the major train crash near Adamuz, in the province of Cordoba.

According to Adif's statement on X, services will be suspended for "at least" the whole of Monday.

Adif has set up a phone line (900 10 10 20) to support the families of the victims and those injured in the train accident. Three in-person assistance points have also been set up in Madrid, Huelva and Cordoba.

Iryo - the Italian private low-cost company that operated the derailed train - has also set up the 900 001 402 number to respond to enquiries related to the accident.

The accident happened when carriages 6, 7 and 8 of the Iryo 6189 train derailed at around 7.45pm as the train entered Adamuz station, invading the opposite track and colliding with an Alvia 2384 travelling between Madrid and Huelva with around 100 passengers on board.

The Red Cross emergency services recommend posting the text 'Estoy bien' ('I'm fine') on social media or WhatsApp, with the aim of "reassuring those around you" and allowing those who really need urgent help to use the emergency telephone numbers.

The national railway operator (Renfe) has activated its safety and passenger care protocols and is cooperating with the authorities, emergency teams, Adif and the Ministry of Transport.

The state body has also announced the setting up of information points at several stations so that relatives of the passengers on the two trains involved in the accident can keep up to date. In addition, an emotional support group has been set up in Madrid, Cordoba, Huelva and Seville to assist victims and their families. The assistance plan for victims of railway accidents and their families (PAVAFF) has also been activated.

Following the crash, the emergency services deployed extensive resources in response to the incident, including five mobile intensive care units, a logistical support vehicle and four units from the emergency critical care service (DCCU).
Alvaro Soto Madrid Monday, 19 January 2026, 12:23 Share

The images that passengers on the trains that derailed in the town of Adamuz in Cordoba province on Sunday evening have posted on social media show the scale of the incident: passengers in a state of shock checking if they can move and find their belongings inside the affected carriages; ambulances transporting the injured; the damage to the trains.

Montse Ruiz, one of the passengers on the Alvia train travelling from Madrid to Huelva, specifically in carriage 4, described the critical moment of the incident: "The train was travelling normally, until it suddenly started to brake. The train stopped and everything went out. I was sitting in the last carriage and I was thrown around. There were people screaming, suitcases fell on top of us and the supervisor was behind me, covered in blood. I was given a second chance."

Another passenger, Carmen, posted a thread with her testimony and photos on her X account (@eleanorinthesky). "We were on the Iryo from Cordoba to Madrid. About ten minutes after depature, the train started to shake a lot and it derailed from carriage 6 to the back. The lights went out. We were in carriage 5, where, luckily, it seems that everyone was fine. Passengers from carriage six backwards have been moved to the front carriages, which are not damaged. They're going to let us out in an orderly way. From the window we can see a small station, we think it's Adamuz."

Zoom Image of the interior of one of the trains. @eleanorinthesky

In an audio clip published by Cadena Ser, a train attendant explains how she experienced the incident: "I'm better now. I was in the rear cab, putting away the printer after selling a ticket. I was sitting down with the door closed when I was thrown violently forwards. I hit the door with my head and lost consciousness. The entire right side of my body and my head are in severe pain, but I was able to walk to where the firefighters were."

Two women who were travelling on the Iryo train also shared their experiences. "Suddenly, the carriage started to move and the train overturned. One train derailed and the other overturned completely. They pulled us out of the window," they said.

Emergency services have also given testimonies in the aftermath of the tragedy. "We have had to remove some of the deceased in order to get some survivors out alive. We are trying to get injured people out," head of the Cordoba fire brigade Paco Carmona said.

RNE journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was also travelling aboard the Iryo train, said: "There's a passenger on a stretcher being treated on top of the carriage. We dont yet know how we're going to get out of here. You can see the fear and shock on people's faces, some are bleeding and injured. It's a very tough situation. The impact felt like an earthquake: trays and glasses were sent flying and the crew had to smash windows with emergency hammers to help passengers escape."

In a video posted on social media, a crew member can be seen providing information to the passengers from inside the train: "The situation is serious and the train is at a standstill. For now, it is safer to remain inside than to go outside. From carriage five onwards the situation is very complex and there are only five crew members on board. Please remain seated. The doors will be opened shortly and if passengers are coming from the rear of the train, we will give them priority. When we consider it safe to evacuate, we will do so. In the meantime, please help by looking out for elderly passengers and children and avoid using up your phone batteries in case we need to walk."

In another video, the same worker tells passengers: "Those who have a seat, stay seated. If anyone has first aid knowledge, keep an eye on other people here. When we think it is safe to go out, we will do so, because we don't know the track conditions. Trust us, we have many years of preparation. But if we become rebellious, the years of collaboration are not worth it. Always stay together."

Another recording shows passengers trying to help those trapped inside the Iryo train by pulling them out through windows shattered in the collision, as the first ambulances arrive at the scene to begin transferring the injured. In the video and accompanying photographs, passengers can be seen moving along one side of the carriage, which is lying on the ground after the derailment. Meanwhile, several passengers have managed to escape and climb onto the roof of the carriage.
Edurne Martinez Monday, 19 January 2026, 11:27 Share

The train that derailed on Sunday evening, claiming the lives of at least 39 people near Adamuz in Cordoba province, underwent its last technical inspection just four days before the incident. This has been announced by Italian low-cost operator Iryo, which runs the service.

According to a statement issued by the company on Monday, the Iryo 6189 train passed its last revision on 15 January, which makes the causes of the accident that took place on a "straight section of track" unexplainable at the moment. In addition, the train, as minister of transport Oscar Puente has pointed out, is "relatively new", having been manufactured in 2022.

The accident happened when carriages 6,7 and 8 of the train with 294 people on board derailed around 7.45pm as it entered Adamuz station, invading the opposite track and colliding with an Alvia 2384 travelling between Madrid and Huelva with around 100 passengers on board.

Iryo has also conveyed its condolences to state-owned railway operator Renfe, which was operating the other train involved in the accident. The private company thanked the national body for its "collaboration and support at this particularly difficult time for both companies".

IRYO CANCELS ITS AGENDA AT THE FITUR FAIR

Out of respect for the victims and all those affected, Iryo has decided to cancel its agenda and participation at the Fitur international tourist fair, which starts in Madrid on 21 January.

The company's CEO had planned to meet with the media on Thursday to discuss Iryo's plans for 2026, but this activity has also been cancelled due to the tragedy. Iryo has stated that it is in constant communication with all the institutions involved - the Ministry of Transport, Adif, the government delegation, the regional government of Andalucia and the town halls of Adamuz and Cordoba - and that it is at the investigators' disposal for any questions, willing to fully cooparate.

The company has also enabled free ticket changes and cancellations for passengers that have been affected by the trains cancelled on Monday. More information will be provided in the coming hours and days, including details about possible future cancellations.
Maria Jose Diaz Alcala Adamuz Monday, 19 January 2026, 10:35 | Updated 10:53h. Share

Complicated and worrying night after the serious accident on the AVE Madrid-Malaga line. According to the story of Salvador Jimenez, who was travelling on the train, the passengers had just been served dinner when the collision occurred. "The sensation was that of an earthquake, the trays and glasses flew off," he explained in statements to several media outlets.

In his case, he was in the first carriage, in which there appeared to be no personal injuries, but he indicated that at least the last carriage was completely overturned in the collision. He said they had been waiting for instructions to get out in the most orderly way possible, while the crew of other carriages "had to break windows with hammers" so that passengers could get out.

He also pointed out that, after the impact, the help of medical workers was requested over the loudspeaker to attend to the injured. In the midst of the uncertainty, Jimenez regretted that there were hundreds of people at the stop who, like him, were waiting for instructions, asking every emergency services officer or staff member they met to find out where to go.

"They are going to take us to a municipal shelter, the civil guards are saying, so that we can stay there and spend the night," he said in statements to TVE. In this respect, he expressed surprise that, "bearing in mind that everything is computerised", the company itself had not sent a message to those affected to tell them what to do after the incident.

Some passengers have also reported on the social network X how they experienced the accident. One of the users, Carmen, explained that she was in carriage number 5 and that about ten minutes after the train left Cordoba "it started to shake a lot and derailed", after which the power went out.

She said that, at least apparently, the rest of the people travelling in her carriage were in good condition. The surprise came when she left the station, as she commented in a thread on the social platform, in which she shared images of the overturned carriages while the operatives were working. "This is worse than it looked from our car," she said.

Also, after 9.20pm she reported that volunteers were arriving in the area to take those affected to the town of Adamuz, where the derailment occurred. At around 11pm hours, according to the passenger, they had already started to take the passengers to the village in buses provided for this purpose.

The emergency services are deployed in the area, focusing on the rescue work and assistance to the injured people, of whom there are currently more than a hundred. According to the head of the Cordoba Consortium fire brigade on public television, there are still people trapped and the rescue work is proving "very complicated" due to the state of the carriages, which he described as "wreckage".

There are many relatives or friends of passengers who were travelling on the crashed trains who, through the networks, have asked for help to be able to contact their loved ones as they have no news of them. "We are desperate, they are not answering the phone", one of them told this newspaper. It should be noted that Adif has set up the following telephone line to attend to the relatives of those affected 900101020.
SUR in English Monday, 19 January 2026, 13:05 | Updated 13:29h. Share

The Gibraltar Cabinet has approved the text of the treaty between the United Kingdom and the European Union governing Gibraltars future relationship with the EU, giving the green light for the ratification process to proceed.

Ministers were guided through the treaty and its associated documents by Attorney General Michael Llamas during six lengthy Cabinet meetings held over the past two weeks. The discussions examined the different sections of the agreement in detail.

With Cabinet approval now secured, the final text will be presented to the Gibraltar Parliament on an amendable motion for debate. Parliamentary approval will signal to the United Kingdom that it can proceed with its own domestic procedures to ratify the treaty.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo KC MP said: I am delighted that the Cabinet has given the green light to the ratification of the treaty. There will be a full debate in the Gibraltar Parliament. The Cabinet held six lengthy sessions, each over three hours, to comprehensively go through the letter of the text. Ministers were already aware of all the issues in the Treaty, as the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have been briefing and updating the Cabinet regularly on all issues.
Eugenio Cabezas Monday, 19 January 2026, 19:45 Share

The Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco in Algeciras, Abdellah Bedoud, has publicly thanked the mayor of Torrox, Oscar Medina, for the support provided to the Moroccan community living in the eastern Costa del Sol town. An official reception was held at Torrox town hall last week, during which both parties "strengthened institutional ties", according to a statement from Torrox town hall.

The meeting came following the tragic deaths of the Rabah family on 25 November 2025 after a gas leak in their home in the Pontil area of the town. The deaths shocked Torrox and residents and institutions offered their support towards the town's Moroccan community by looking after relatives and assisting with the procedures for the repatriation of the bodies to Morocco, a gesture which was expressly thanked by the Consul General during his visit.

During the reception, Bedoud highlighted "the assistance, help and closeness" shown by the town towards the Moroccan community, especially in the most difficult moments after the death of the Rabah family. The consul stressed the importance of the institutional cooperation and support received in Torrox, which the town hall says has a "large Moroccan community fully integrated into the local social and economic life".

Medina said in a statement that "events like this strengthen the ties between peoples and cultures and demonstrate that coexistence, respect and solidarity are essential values on which to build a more just and cohesive society". The mayor insisted that Torrox is a "diverse and open" municipality, in which integration and coexistence are part of its identity.

During the meeting, the Consul General and the mayor discussed issues related to the economy, culture and way of life in Morocco and Spain, as well as the shared values between the two countries. Both parties showed their willingness to open new avenues of collaboration and to promote joint activities, both in Torrox and in Morocco. "Meetings like this reflect the shared commitment to strengthen coexistence and respect between all communities that are part of our society," concluded Medina.

There are around 1,000 Moroccan residents living in Torrox, which has a total population of just over 22,000. According to the town hall the community is "especially visible in sectors such as agriculture, services, the hotel and catering trade and commerce, as well as in the local educational, cultural and sporting life, where intercultural coexistence has been consolidated as one of the distinctive features of the locality".
Jose Rodriguez Camara Monday, 19 January 2026, 11:27 Share

Rosi Rey Gonzalez has hung up her apron after 50 years at the helm of Panaderia Francisco, a business that was named after her father and which she has run since she was 18 years of age. Together with her husband, Salvadora, Rosi started out in the flour trade in Churriana, where she was born. However, as her mother was from Torremolinos and, in the 1970s, after getting married, the town was at its peak, during the golden age of tourism, so the family eventually moved to the Costa del Sol town.

From Churriana to Torremolinos

At that time, while still just a young girl, Rosi began learning the trade. As she was the eldest of the younger ones, that is, the daughter born in the middle of the familys five siblings, she took charge of the bread shop they opened. At first, at the age of 18, as they did not yet have an oven, she brought the bread over from Churriana. I used to go in my van, a Mercedes, in which I almost had to stand up to drive, and it really caught peoples attention, she says. Eventually, together with her siblings Javier and Silvia, she opened the bakery as everyone knows it today, in Calle Europa.

I used to go in my van, a Mercedes, in which I almost had to stand up to drive, and it really caught peoples attention

No Sundays off, no holidays, no fixed hours  thats what family businesses are like. When my father stepped back at 77, the three of us had to keep it going, she explains. Although she admits to never having the chance to do things she has only recently begun to enjoy, such as going to the beach during the day, she also acknowledges that his work has been her passion  a love of bread, which, she notes with pride, has earned them an Estrellas Dir-Informatica award, the Michelin star of bakeries, among other accolades and recognitions.

No Sundays off, no holidays, no fixed hours  thats what family businesses are like. When my father stepped back at 77, the three of us had to keep it going

A whole lifetime behind the counter, during which they have witnessed the evolution of the El Calvario neighbourhood: this was a real festivity when the street market was held next to what is now the health centre, and a chance to learn, thanks to the guiris, who asked them for unusual breads that are still popular today. A career, they point out, built on a very loyal clientele, whose support they have repaid by collaborating, whenever possible, with local causes and institutions.

Zoom The mayor (c) during her visit to the bakery to congratulate Rosi.

This close connection with Torremolinos and a prominent role within its traditional businesses have led the mayor, Margarita del Cid, on behalf of the town hall, to visit the bakery in recognition of her work.

Rosi, who owns Panaderia Francisco together with her siblings, is retiring after 50 years of sweetening our lives. That is why we wanted to surprise her and thank her for her professionalism, warmth and the friendliness that defines her. I hope you enjoy this new stage of your life. Thank you for the affection with which you have always looked after the people of Torremolinos, said the mayor, addressing the daughter of Francisco and Salvadora, who began kneading bread and pastries when she was still just a child.
E Press Monday, 19 January 2026, 16:18 Share

A grocery store manager in Velez-Malaga has been sentenced to more than three years behind bars for using her shop as a front to sell hard drugs.

The High Court of Justice of Andalusia (TSJA) has upheld the prison sentence of three years and three months, rejecting an appeal filed by the defendants legal team against an earlier ruling by the Malaga Provincial Court.

The court ratified the facts of the case, which date back to a police operation in July 2023 initiated after the Specialised and Violent Crime Unit (UDEV) received anonymous tips that the local food shop was operating as a small-scale sales point for narcotics.

During surveillance, officers observed the accused standing at the shop entrance in a "vigilant attitude." She was seen scanning both sides of the street repeatedly before ushering two women inside the premises. Following this suspicious behaviour, officers raided the shop to conduct a search.

During the inspection, investigators discovered a blue purse hidden on the bottom shelf of a rack, concealed behind large plastic water jugs. Inside the purse, police found a significant stash of heat-sealed plastic wraps containing Class A drugs. The haul consisted of 114 wraps of cocaine, with an estimated illicit street value of 3,423.80, and 86 wraps of heroin, valued at approximately 1,139.07.

This narcotic substance "was intended for sale to third parties", confirms the Court of Appeal, as did the Court of Malaga. In addition, during the inspection carried out, 440 euros were also seized from the illicit activity indicated, most of the amount in the defendant's possession.

Appeal with four pleas in law

For these facts, the woman was sentenced to three years and three months' imprisonment for an offence against public health and ordered to pay a fine of 18,250 euros. Her defence filed an appeal against this decision, with up to four arguments, which, however, has now been rejected.

For the Chamber of the Andalusian High Court, the appeal "does no more than reiterate the arguments aimed at convincing this court of second instance that there was the aforementioned error of assessment by the Court of origin and that this led to a violation of the right to the presumption of innocence".

The TSJA says that it "does not find any substantial error in the considerations that the Audiencia devotes in the appealed judgement to the assessment of the evidence" and adds that the destination of the drugs "was patent" and it was "absolutely obvious" that it was for sale, regardless of the fact that no other tools were found to prepare the doses.
One of the trains involved in the accident at the location where it has remained stranded until removal.

Ignacio Lillo and Chus Heredia Monday, 19 January 2026, 15:06 Share

The return to normal on the high-speed line between Malaga and Madrid following the fatal train crash near Adamuz is not imminent. Initial estimates from state rail infrastructure company Adif indicate that rail traffic will not be restored until at least the end of this week (Thursday or Friday). It must be noted, however, that this is the best-case scenario.

On Monday, 23 services between Malaga and Madrid, outbound and inbound, were cancelled. The total number of trains suspended, taking into account other Andalusian connections, is around a hundred.

The first phase to be completed is the recovery of the victims' bodies and the corresponding investigation by the judicial police. Subsequently, experts from the railway accident investigation commission will take samples and gather impressions for the future official report, which will determine the causes, responsibilities, etc., and clarify what happened.

Then, work to clear the tracks will begin, with the most damaged material removed first. This will require the use of heavy-duty lorries and cranes. Fortunately, passenger carriages do not weigh as much as freight carriages, but it will still be no easy task.

REPAIRING THE DAMAGE

Finally, Adif technicians will finish assessing the damage and repair the tracks. In addition to the loss of the section of track where the derailment occurred, the accident has also destroyed hundreds of metres of catenary and its corresponding posts, among other damage. "Now a kind of relay race begins, with clear priorities," the sources said, adding that "it will take several days before normal service can be restored".

SUR has learned that state railway operator Renfe is studying an alternative transport plan to restore normality as soon as possible. The operation being evaluated is to take trains from Malaga to Cordoba, where passengers would transfer to buses to the Villanueva de Cordoba station. From there, they would continue by train. The intermediate route would follow the N-432, N-502 and A-435 roads, with an additional journey time of one hour and 17 minutes to cover 71 kilometres (the train journey takes 22 minutes).

However, this operation will only allow some of the services currently provided between Maria Zambrano and Atocha to be offered, with fewer seats, given the large number of buses required. It would, however, alleviate the transport deficit that has been created.

THE INVESTIGATION FACES CHALLENGES

All railway experts have been shocked by the nature of the accident that happened on a straight stretch of track, with good visibility and calm weather conditions. "It's going to be a challenge for investigators," they said. However, human error cannot be a factor on this stretch, so the fault lies either with the infrastructure or the train.

RENOVATED TRACK

The track was completely renovated in May as part of a comprehensive 780-million-euro plan implemented by Adif. This makes it difficult to imagine that there could have been a problem with the track. Nevertheless, nothing has been ruled out, as a more rigorous assessment cannot be made until the wrecked trains have been removed. In theory, the condition of the track is frequently checked by inspection trains during the maintenance window, which takes place at night when there is no traffic.

Another factor under examination is the condition of the Iryo train's wheel bearings, one of several hypotheses currently being considered.

EXCESSIVE SPEED

Excessive speed is not normally a factor due to the LZB system (in German: Linienzugbeeinflussung, meaning linear influence on the train) - a fibre optic cable that runs along the sleepers and is read by the train. If there is excessive speed, the train brakes. Another possibility is that even a lower speed limit should have been activated for some reason due to the circumstances of the track.

The Iryo and Renfe trains that were involved in the fatal accident in Adamuz (Cordoba) on Sunday afternoon were travelling at 210 and 205 kilometres per hour, respectively, at the time of the collision, below the maximum speed limit of 250km/h for that section.

STATEMENT FROM TRAIN DRIVERS IN AUGUST

In August last year, the biggest train drivers' union, Semaf, urged Adif and the state railway safety agency (AESF) to reduce the maximum speed of trains on the lines connecting Madrid with Seville, Malaga, Valencia and Barcelona, asking for it to go from 300 kilometres per hour to 250. Train drivers were complaining about the accumulation of faults in the tracks, which cause the trains to "vibrate a lot".

According to Semaf, the increase in the number of high-speed trains and the greater weight that all trains have on the same tracks has been causing a greater number of infrastructure failures. In a letter sent to transport minister Puente, the union warned of the deterioration that was causing "profound and accelerated degradation" of rolling stock.

GENERAL DAMAGE

What is certain, when the infrastructure is thoroughly inspected, is that hundreds of metres of track, platform, sleepers and catenary will be affected and that the replacement work will be complex.
Ancient granary unearthed in central China

Xinhua) 16:35, January 19, 2026

ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have unearthed the ruins of a large state-run grain storage facility from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) in the city of Luoyang, central China's Henan Province.

The discovery, found to the east of the imperial palace of the Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site, has been preliminarily identified as part of the "Tai Cang," or Imperial Granary, the national grain reserve of that era.

According to an archaeological team from the Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a systematic survey of the area has revealed a cluster of 168 storage pits, arranged in 14 columns and 12 rows.

As of Friday, archaeologists had excavated 13 of these pits, each measuring 9 to 11 meters in diameter and about 4 meters in depth.

The location of the ruins aligns with historical descriptions of the Tai Cang, according to the archaeological team.

"This marks another significant discovery at the Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site, following the earlier unearthing of storage facilities within the imperial palace," said Liu Tao, head of the team.

Liu noted that unlike the storage facilities found inside the imperial palace -- which catered to the immediate needs of the imperial household -- the Tai Cang served a broader state function, storing grain for officials' salaries, military supplies and disaster relief efforts.

Based on the dimensions of the excavated pits, archaeologists estimate that each could hold about 120 tonnes of millet, demonstrating the massive scale of the Tai Cang as documented in historical records.

Archaeologists believe that the current findings may represent just one section of the Tai Cang, with more storage pits likely yet to be unearthed in the vicinity.

Further excavation and research at the Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City Site are underway.

The Han-Wei Luoyang Ancient City was initially constructed during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-771 BC) and fell out of use in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907). It served as the capital for several dynasties, including the Eastern Han (25-220) and the Northern Wei.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Abacus Worldwide, an international association of independent accounting, consulting and legal companies, has appointed two new co-chairs to its tax and legal special interest groups (SIGs).

The company named Erika Baldacchino as co-chair of the tax SIG, while Gustav Linge will help in leading the legal SIG.

According to a company statement, Baldacchino of Malta-based member practice WDM International will lead the group alongside Steve Miller of Steven Miller & Associates in Dallas, Texas.

In the legal SIG, Gustav Linge of Swedish member company Advokatfirman Linge will work with Mike Ehrenstein of Miami-based Ehrenstein Sager.

Abacus Worldwide runs four SIGs covering audit, tax, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and legal matters.

These groups meet quarterly, both online and in person, to examine technical issues and their cross-border implications.

Members will also continue discussions and share knowledge via Abacus Connect, the associations online portal.

Abacus Worldwide helps connect member companies so they can share knowledge and resources.

Its goal is to assist member firms in meeting client needs locally and internationally by fostering connections with the right firms in the right locations, the company added in the statement.

In October last year, Abacus Worldwide strengthened its presence in Africa with the addition of two new members.

Kenyan law firm Munyao, Muthama & Kashindi Advocates, with offices in Nairobi and Mombasa, joined the network.

South Africas P&A Accountants, based in Alberton, Gauteng, also become a member. It provides accounting and tax compliance services to businesses of varying sizes.

"Abacus Worldwide appoints new co-chairs for tax and legal groups" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




Syracuse, N.Y.  A man was shot Sunday evening in Syracuse, in the third shooting to occur in the same day.

The man, 21, was shot in the lower body, according to Sgt. Thomas Blake, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department.

The man arrived in a private vehicle at about 9:30 p.m. at Upstate Community General. He is in stable condition and is expected to survive, Blake said.

Police are investigating where the shooting happened, Blake said. It is believed to have occurred in the citys Valley neighborhood, he said.

Two other people were shot earlier Sunday.

A 21-year-old man was shot at about 1:20 p.m. at South Geddes and West Fayette streets on the citys West Side.

The man was shot in the chest and hip area, police said.

He is still hospitalized, but in stable condition, police said Monday.

Syracuse Police were called to the intersection of South Geddes Street and West Fayette Street at 1:21 on Sunday, January 18, 2026 after a man was reported shot. Finn Lincoln

A 16-year-old boy was shot a few minutes later, only a few blocks away.

The boy was shot in the left leg in the 100 block of Richmond Avenue, police said.

He arrived in a private vehicle at about 1:45 p.m. at Upstate University Hospital. The boy is expected to survive, police said.

Police ask anyone with information about the shootings to call them at 315-442-5222.
This article introduces one of six finalists for The Syracuse Orchestras position of music director. We profile finalists prior to the first of two concerts each is scheduled to conduct. Finalists will be introduced to the community at events listed on the orchestras website, where professional biographies can also be found. The successful candidate will be announced at the end of the 2025-26 season.



When he was 7 or 8, Jacob Joyce, who had already been studying violin for four years, heard the second symphony of Johannes Brahms and fell in love with orchestral music.

I can trace my passion for classical music to that moment in time, Joyce said from Washington, D.C., where he was working on a project for the National Symphony. I remember being fully enamored. I really fell in love with the sound.

Joyce studied violin through his adolescence. As an undergraduate at Yale College, he majored in violin performance and economics, then he earned a masters degree in violin performance, also at Yale. By that time, however, he had begun to be drawn to conducting, and he went on to study orchestral conducting with Hugh Wolff at the New England Conservatory.

He honed his skills further through experiences at Tanglewood Music Center and the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, where he was awarded the Robert Spano Conducting Prize.

Joyce, associate conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, is also a popular guest conductor. He has appeared on the podium for major American and international orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra. He is known for his promotion of new music and for introducing first-time audiences to orchestral experiences.

One thing I especially enjoy is working with the youth orchestra, Joyce said. I value my role as a mentor who can cultivate a love of classical music in the young musicians, he said, acknowledging that not everyone in the orchestra will become a professional performer.

Its so important to introduce and nurture an appreciation for this art.

In Pittsburgh, Joyce hosts Saturday Sessions, a series of popular programming designed to welcome newcomers to orchestral performances. Throughout the concert, he guides the audience through the program, providing background information about the composer and the music while also sharing listening tips that enhance the listening experience.

Im looking forward to the Casual series concert in Syracuse as being similar to the Saturday Sessions in Pittsburgh, Joyce said. Im excited about the program. As a former violinist, Im really interested in Baroque music and in making the connections between it and the contemporary pieces that evoke the Baroque style.

At St. Pauls Syracuse, on Jan 31 and Feb. 1, he will have an opportunity to do just that.

The 75-minute concert, which features soloists from among TSO musicians, will open with Archangelo Corellis Concerto Grosso in D major, the fourth of twelve concerti written in the closing decades of the 1600s.

Next on the program will be Alfred Schnittkes humorous 1977 Moz-Art a la Haydn, which is based on an unfinished fragment by Mozart and features playful themes from both Mozart and Haydn.

The third selection, Johann Sabastian Bachs 1718 Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, is scored for nine solo strings and continuo. Igor Stravinskys 1938 Concerto in E-flat, or Dumbarton Oaks, heavily inspired by Bachs Brandenburg Concerti, will conclude the program.

As in all concerts I conduct, I shall invite the audience to enter into the majesty of the music, Joyce said. My philosophy of performing is to foster a sense of welcome and curiosity and to provide a pleasant intellectual experience.

Proclaiming that music is a major focus of his life, Joyce said he intentionally makes space for pleasant times with family and friends which are often, but not always, centered around music. Hes a runner, who shares his hobby with Wally, his miniature Australian shepherd. And, he freely admits to being a coffee connoisseur, who begins each day with freshly ground and brewed caffeine.

Joyce will return to Central New York March 7 to conduct a Masterworks series concert that will feature the music of Mozart.

SHOW DETAILS

What: Casual, The Orchestra Spotlight

Where: St. Pauls Syracuse, 220 E. Fayette St.

When: Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 3 p.m.

Run Time: 75 minutes, no intermission

Tickets: $50 prime seating; $40 section B; senior citizens discounted. Students with I.D. $5; kids under 18 free

Purchase: 315-299-5598 or syracuseorchestra.org

Parking: Free on street.
A Black letter carrier, Cecil Cooper, walked into the office of the Syracuse Herald-Journal on the morning of April 5, 1968.

He did not have any mail to deliver that day, just a message. An appeal he hoped the entire city would hear.

The evening before, civil rights leader, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., had been assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

In response to the tragedy, fiery riots exploded in Harlem, Washington, Baltimore and Chicago.

Cooper did not want that to happen here. Syracuse, he argued, needed cooler heads.

We have lost a great man, Cooper said of Kings death. He has been lost to the entire nation.

And the best tribute that we can pay to this great man is to remain calm. Im sure that if Dr. King were alive today, he would say the same.

Rumors of possible disturbances caused local police and fire to be called into a state of readiness.

The April 5, 1968 evening Herald-Journal devoted an entire page of coverage to Syracuse's reaction to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, including photos of Black students from Central Tech marching downtown to a service at First Baptist Church. poststandard.newspaperarchive.com

But they would not be needed.

Instead, Syracuse rallied together, in churches, schools and public events, mourning and remembering Dr. King, and his message, peacefully.

There was fear, and tension too, a Post-Standard editorial said on April 6, 1968. But above and beyond everything, there was an awakening of individual conscience, with new determination to make Martin Luthers dream come true.

***

Syracuse has mourned few Americans like they did Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

First, however, the community had to absorb the horror of the news.

News of the death last night shocked Syracusans, Black and White, in all walks of life, The Post-Standard reported the following morning.

The first reports hit the city just as community organization PEACE, Inc., was starting their meeting. They stopped everything, held a silent prayer, then adjourned.

Dr. King lived for freedom, equality and peace and his memory will continue as a symbol of the things Americans should stand for, Syracuse Mayor William Walsh said. I am shocked and deeply grieved at this terrible tragedy.

April 5 was a Friday, but it had a much different feeling than a normal day. Flags flew at half mast.

The loss was of King was especially felt by young people at city schools.

A memorial service for King was held over the intercom system at Roosevelt Junior High School, followed by a moment of silent prayer. Students were then granted early dismissal to attend special church services.

Over 2,000 mourners attend a memorial service at the First Baptist Church in Syracuse the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. John Sherlock | The Post-Standard

They would be joined by hundreds of young people from Central Tech.

Black students had gathered at the schools auditorium at 9 a.m. for an appropriate expression of grief. There was a period of silence for five minutes. Then they were joined by their White classmates at 10:15.

Speakers at the student-inspired service preached about Kings message of non-violence.

You know what he stood for, Robert Jones said. He died for a cause.

After the choir sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic, 500 Black students marched through downtown to First Baptist Church for the first of two major memorials held in the city.

At the church, more than 2,000 people filled the pews.

Make justice prevail, pleaded Rev. Forest Adams from the pulpit. Let Dr. King live in your life!

Adams called the turnout at First Baptist excellent, but he thought the magnitude of the tragedy and the discontent in the community warranted something more.

He called for a mass inter-faith, inter-racial display of endorsement for the philosophy of non-violence on Sunday, April 7, at the Onondaga County War Memorial.

The size of the crowd that night doubled the first service.

Close to 4,000 persons of all races and creeds came last night to the War Memorial to pay tribute by their presence, and to hear persons of many faiths express their grief, The Post-Standards Ramona Bowden wrote.

The Rev. Forest Adams speaks at the Onondaga County War Memorial on Sunday, April 8, 1968. This was Syracuse's second large service to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. following his assassination four days before. Close to 4,000 people attended. This clipping is from the April 9, 1968 Post-Standard. poststandard.newspaperarchive.com

It joined many religious services that Palm Sunday which incorporated Kings death into their service.

For those who could not attend, WSOQ radio played a four hour and 15-minute tribute to king that Sunday morning.

On Tuesday, April 9, Syracuse shut down.

Public and private schools, city, state and county office buildings and several banks and even some supermarkets closed out of respect for Dr. King.

Syracuse University closed too. The school had already collected $1,300 for a brand-new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. SUs commemoration of King continues to this day.

Two days later, for the first time, Martin Luther King Day was celebrated in local schools.

Special packets with information about his life were sent to English and social studies teachers. Programs and activities were held.

At North Syracuse, schools held assemblies to honor King and social studies departments prepared units on his life, philosophies and work.

Frank Render, acting director of the Human Rights Commission of Syracuse and Onondaga County, believed the local communitys reaction to the tragedy had been exemplary.

I think this community has done as well as any in the country in honoring the memory of a man who I think history will tells us can be equated with Gandhi and John F. Kennedy in terms of the 20th Centurys greatest leaders.

The Post-Standards editorial page agreed.

To the lasting credit of the citys Black community and because of the hard work of many men and women of both races and of all faiths, the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was honored not desecrated in Syracuse over the weekend.

But the newspaper was not satisfied with only preserving Kings call for nonviolence. Syracuse, it said, had much work to do to complete the civil rights leaders vision.

There is much more to be done, the editorial pleaded, especially in education, housing and jobs for young people.

There should be an outpouring of job offers for disadvantaged youths seeking summer employment, and efforts to provide better education and more effective job training. Employers and unions should immediately redouble their efforts to set up apprentice training and to assure equal opportunity according to skills and ability, not according to the color of an applicants skin.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A plan to convert an independently branded 83-room downtown Syracuse hotel into a Hampton Inn could face an unexpected regulatory hurdle aimed at preserving the buildings historic character.

Visions Hotels, which operates about 70 chain lodging establishments in Upstate New York, recently purchased the Parkview Hotel on East Genesee Street in downtown Syracuse from local developer Norm Swanson. The company has submitted plans to replace windows as part of a conversion to a Hampton Inn, a brand owned by the Hilton chain.

The style of the proposed new windows has raised eyebrows at the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board, which reviewed the plans at its Jan. 8 meeting as part of the citys minor site plan application process. LPB approval is not necessary, but the citys zoning law requires board comments on projects involving buildings eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

After getting a first look, LPB members want to do more than comment.

They want to make the building subject to a much more restrictive set of rules that governs alterations to locally protected historic sites.

The Parkview Hotel building opened 100 years ago as a medical office building. Swanson purchased the six-story, beige brick structure in the 1980s and originally leased it out to a mix of office tenants and residential apartment dwellers. He converted it into a hotel in 2005 and named it the Parkview Hotel.

I think this should be a local protected site, LPB member Robert Searing said at the meeting. Im surprised that it isnt.

Searings colleagues on the board members agreed and directed city staff to prepare a petition for local protected site status. LPB members said Visions Hotels can benefit from the designation. Historic commercial properties can get valuable federal tax credits to fund renovations.

Visions Hotels is not necessarily against the LPBs intention, but is concerned about potential delays for work it wants to complete on the building to bring it in line with Hampton Inn standards by August or September. That includes new guest room finishes, carpeting, wallpaper, lighting, plus landscaping, lighting and signage changes outside.

The biggest thing for my mind is the faster we can convert, the better it is, said Minesh Patel, the companys chief financial officer. Right now, obviously with the no national flag, it lacks representation. So I dont want to oppose it, but the timing of it is what is very concerning to us.

Patel said Visions acquired the hotel because of its location near downtown, Syracuse University and hospitals. But getting a national brand established is key to its success.

The location is great, Patel said. What I think its missing is a national brand and a national reservation.

Patel declined to say how much Visions Hotel paid to acquire the business. Lending records filed with the Onondaga County Clerk show Visions secured a $9.1 million loan for the property from Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Co.

That funding covered the payoff of $5 million in existing mortgage debt and an additional $653,000 toward the purchase price. After taxes and fees, an estimated $3.3 million was left for renovation costs.

So far, the only renovation work submitted to the city is for window replacement, which requires minor site plan approval from the citys planning and zoning staff. The citys review includes gathering input from the Landmark Preservation Board when a project involves a site thats eligible for the national register.

Because Visions filed the application for the window replacement project before LPB has filed a formal petition for local protected site status, the citys project review on the window replacement plan does not pause.

The LPB will work with the applicant and zoning office to address the boards concerns regarding any potential adverse impacts to the historic character of the building, said city spokesperson Sarah Pallo.

Once LPB files a petition for local protected site status, any future exterior projects at the Parkview Hotel would be on hold until the petition moves through a multi-month review. That includes hearings to gather public comment by the LPB and the Planning Commission, which both must vote on whether to recommend site designation. The Syracuse Common Council then makes the final determination.

To do exterior renovations on local protected sites, property owners must secure a certificate of appropriateness from the LPB.

An architectural rendering shows how the Parkview Hotel in Syracuse would look if its double-hung windows were replaced by a fixed, single-sash style. (Mussachio Architects) Mussachio Architects

LPB members said their primary concern about the window replacement at the Parkview Hotel was switching from a double-hung style to one with a single sash. Modern chain hotels typically use single-sash windows that cant be opened in order to improve energy efficiency and for safety reasons.

From a user/developer point of view, I understand why they want a fixed window. ... I get that, LPB Chair Julia Hafftka-Marshall said. But changing the architecture so drastically, because there are lots of windows on this building, it changes the fenestration of the building, it changes the imagery.

Hafftka-Marshall said there are energy-efficient, fixed window options that can maintain the double-hung look.

If the LPBs concerns are not addressed, the city Planning Commission may need to review and approve the plans.

Patel said his companys architects are working on an alternative window replacement plan based on the LPB feedback.

The Parkview Hotel project puts new focus on the LPB and the citys historic preservation laws.

Former Syracuse Common Councilor Pat Hogan last fall proposed changing the citys zoning law to give the council authority to exempt local protected site owners from needing the LPBs blessing. He said the board has too often slowed down or halted developers who are looking to invest in the city.

But LPB members said such a move would effectively gut the citys historic preservation law.

Hogans proposal still must be reviewed by the Planning Commission before council can vote on it. The commission is waiting for an environmental impact study from the council.
Newton Falls, N.Y. - Two men died this weekend when a snowmobile went through the ice on a river in the Adirondacks during an ice fishing trip, according to the State Police.

A 6-year-old boy with the men survived and made his way off the ice to a home, troopers said.

Troopers were called to the Oswegatchie River along County Route 60 in the town of Clifton in St. Lawrence County around 7:40 p.m. Sunday, troopers said in a news release Monday.

Michael Booth, 48, of Oswegatchie, Bryan LaPlante, 33, and the boy, who were both of Newton Falls, were out ice fishing on Chaumont Pond, troopers said. The pond is connected to the Oswegatchie River.

After the trio failed to return from the outing, Patrick LaPlante, 51, of Newton Falls, went out searching for them. Troopers did not say how the LaPlantes were related to each other.

Patrick found Bryan in the water and crawled on the ice to try to save him, troopers said. Then Patrick fell through the ice as well.

Patrick was able to get back out of the water but then could not find Bryan or the other man, troopers said. He returned to his home and alerted authorities.

Shortly after he got home, the boy who had been with the men ice fishing walked in, troopers said. The man and boy were taken to Clifton-Fine Hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

Emergency personnel responded to the river where Bryan and Booth were both found unresponsive in the water, troopers said.

Despite resuscitation efforts, the pair were later pronounced deceased at Gouverneur Hospital.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Whether serving the community as a pastor or real estate agent, or while entertaining, James Jim Harriff loved what he did.

I enjoy working with people to achieve their goals and purposes, he told The Post-Standard in 2010.

Starting in 2005, he and his wife, Rev. Suzi Harriff, branched beyond Central New York, turning their attentions to helping the people of Rwanda, in Africa, whose people were suffering after a civil war and genocide.

In four subsequent trips, the Harriffs saw numerous examples of the positive power of reconciliation. The couple ministered to aid workers who were suffering from symptoms of secondary post-traumatic stress disorder.

I look to God and to my relationship with his son Jesus as my guiding light and direction, he once said when asked what his guiding philosophy was. I try to bring that to both the real estate and in the pastoral work.

James Jim Harriff of Manlius passed away on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 after a determined two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, maintaining a positive attitude and a love of life every moment of that journey, his obituary said. He was 77.

The Revs Suzi and Jim Harriff, of First Baptist Church, in Canastota, did missionary work following the civil war and genocide in Rwanda. Photo by Peter Chen / The Post-Standard. Peter Chen

Harriff was born in Seattle.

He told The Post-Standard he was raised in western New York State. He was a graduate of Brighton High School and Roberts Wesleyan University and earned his Master of Divinity from Asbury Seminary in Kentucky.

Before his professional career, his experience with Cross Counter Ministries in Newark, New Jersey affected and shaped him profoundly.

He served as Pastor for several churches, most recently the First Baptist Church of New Hartford, which hosted a celebration of his 30 years of ordained ministry this fall.

The church celebrated its 135th birthday during his tenure.

Weve been active so long because of the faith of our congregation and the dedication they have to community service, Harriff said in 2003.

Harriff served as treasurer for the American Baptist Churches of New York State for 14 years and loved singing with The Barnstormers and The Masters Touch Chorale.

He sang at the White House on three occasions.

With his wife, Harriff shared their music ministry at the Syracuse Nationals, local coffeehouses and at many churches, especially treasuring their many years at Otter Lake Community Church.

In Rwanda, the couple partnered with several ministry organizations there.

The Rev. Suzi Harriff said the couple used the old proverb, if you teach someone to fish, you feed them for a lifetime, as opposed to giving them a fish that they can eat for one meal when doing their missionary work.

The Harriffs paid the salary of a kindergarten teacher in Gitarama, the monthly check allowed the teacher to support her own family as well as buy supplies for her students. She bought cows, brought the milk to her students and sold the rest at a village market.

Because she has had a regular income, she really put that to work for the betterment of the community, Suzi Harriff said in 2012.

The Harriffs were coffee ambassadors and promoted a company that paid its Rwandan workers - both Hutus and Tutsis - a wage that was higher than the fair-trade minimum.

The couple also purchased baskets from a farming cooperative that sold enough hand-woven goods to bring electricity to their rural village and purchase mattresses for residents who previously slept on the floor.

Part of the miracle that is Rwanda, this kind of thing is going on every day, Jim Harriff said.

Jim was also a realtor, first with William-Alan Real Estate, then with RE/MAX, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and later with Jim Harriff Realty.

He received the No. 1 agent award in New York State for the number of transactions in the third quarter of 2009. He donated part of his commissions to Syracuses Golisano Childrens Hospital.

Harriff served as a director and president of the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors and was recognized as GSAR Realtor of the Year. He also founded the Central New York chapter of the Council of Residential Specialists, serving as its first president and later named CRS of the Year.

Unwilling to fully retire, Jim continued to consult on property sales, and completed his drone pilot certification, providing photos to clients, churches, family, and friends, his obituary said.

Volunteers prepare trays of Christmas dinners at the Rescue Mission kitchen for delivery to shut-ins and other needy people in 2014. Working in foreground is Jim Harriff. David Lassman | dlassman@syracuse.com David Lassman

Remembering him with love are his wife Suzi, son Michael, beloved cat Murakoze, siblings Jack (Carole) Harriff, Martha (Dale) Mack, David (Gaila) Harriff and numerous wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members along with many good friends, colleagues, and partners in ministry.

He was predeceased by his parents, Rev. Robert and Jane Harriff, and his youngest brother Mark.

His family is deeply grateful to the stellar team at Upstate Cancer Center, especially Dr. Rahul Seth, whose compassionate care was a true gift, and who all inspired Jim to donate his body to Upstate Medical University for research.

Family and friends are invited to join in sharing and remembrance on Friday, Feb. 6 from 4-7 p.m. at B.L. Bush & Sons Funeral Home, 10 Genesee St. in Camillus, and to a Service of Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. at Mission Hope Community, 23 Genesee St. in Camillus.

To continue Harriffs legacy of ministry and service, his family invites contributions to the Blessing Fund at Mission Hope Community.

Please share memories and sign his guestbook at BLBUSH.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
An investigator for the New York State Labor Department whose job is to weed out wage theft and other labor crimes has been arrested and charged with stealing from the taxpayers he was supposed to protect.

Matthew Bolen, 43, of Canastota, worked a second job while falsely claiming he was performing his duties as a state labor investigator in Syracuse, according to a criminal complaint filed by the New York Inspector Generals office.

Bolen has worked for the Labor Department in Syracuse since 2015 and was paid $94,277 in 2024, according to public records.

He was charged with four felonies  grand larceny and three counts of filing a false instrument with intent to defraud  and official misconduct for a public servant, a misdemeanor.

He was arraigned Wednesday in Syracuse City Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The state Labor Department and the Office of Inspector General, New Yorks independent government watchdog, declined to comment about Bolens arrest or provide additional details about the case.

The Department of Labor is unequivocally committed to safeguarding taxpayer dollars, spokeswoman Christine Buttigieg said in a statement. The agency takes all allegations of employee misconduct seriously and will take appropriate action when warranted. The Department does not comment on ongoing criminal or personnel matters.

Buttigieg declined to say whether Bolen remained on the job at the departments Syracuse office after his arraignment Wednesday.

The Onondaga County District Attorneys Office also declined to comment.

As a Labor Department investigator, Bolen is employed by the offices worker protection division. The division investigates allegations that include wage theft, the illegal employment of minors, violations of farm labor laws, and violations of state laws overseeing working conditions.

A criminal complaint filed Jan. 8 in Syracuse by an investigator for the state Inspector Generals Office said Bolen filed false time sheets with the state during a period from Nov. 14, 2023 to July 27, 2024.

Investigator Joel Mercer alleged that Bolen performed private sector inspection work while claiming he was on the job for the state.

In the complaint, Mercer wrote that Bolen admitted in an interview that he performed work for the Gardner Group regularly while falsely claiming to New York state that he was performing his state duties.

Bolen and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment from syracuse.com.

The Inspector Generals office said its charges were based on interviews with witnesses, a review of Labor Department documents including time and attendance records, inspection records received from the Gardner Group and communications from its customers

Investigators said they also reviewed Bolens EZ-Pass records associated with his Honda CR-V and license plate.
The National Weather Service issued a snow squall alert on Monday for 11 counties across Central New York, with conditions expected to last until 3:30 p.m.

The alert covers Onondaga, Cortland, Yates, Seneca, Cayuga, Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tompkins, Tioga and Broome counties.

Scattered snow squalls will move into the region early this afternoon. Brief periods of moderate to heavy snow will be possible and will likely lead to snow-covered roads. Combined with gusty winds, the visibility will drop to a mile or less, the weather service said. Snow squalls can make travel dangerous very quickly. If caught in a snow squall, slow down and allow plenty of stopping distance.

The National Weather Service also issued an updated winter weather advisory for Oneida County, valid from 1 p.m. Monday until 1 a.m. Wednesday. Locations there -- including Florence, Boonville and Woodgate -- could see total snow accumulations between 2 and 6 inches, with winds gusting as high as 35 mph, creating areas of blowing snow.

The weather service noted that snowfall totals could increase if lake effect snow bands shift southward.

Hamilton County is also under a winter weather advisory for 3 to 6 inches of snow between Monday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at 7 a.m. The highest totals are expected near the Herkimer County border.

A cold weather advisory has also been issued for Central New York on Tuesday, with forecasters expressing high confidence in strong winds and cold temperatures.
Saudi Arabias Almunajem Foods Co. and Balady Poultry have signed a seven-year processing partnership and distribution agreement.

Almunajem Foods said in a stock exchange announcement that Balady Poultry will produce and package both companies branded poultry products for supply inside and outside Saudi Arabia under a profit-sharing agreement.

Marketing and distribution will be carried out by Almunajem Foods.

Balady Poultry confirmed the transaction with an almost identical announcement with the exchange.

No specific value has been determined for the deal, according to Almunajem's filing.

Almunajem Foods managing director Thamer Abdulaziz Abanumay has an indirect interest in this agreement in his position as vice chairman of the Balady Poultry board.

Abdullah Omar Bawazir, a board member of Almunajem Foods, also has a similar interest in Balady Poultry, according to the filings.

In November, Almunajem Foods announced that Bin Abdulaziz Abanumay had resigned as CEO of the company, effective from 31 December, after heading up the business for eight years. He would remain a board member.

Ali Hasan El Zain was named as the new CEO of Almunajem Foods from 1 January.

Meanwhile, both companies set out the nature of the poultry partnership: The agreement aims to support continuous shared growth for both companies and increase the market share of locally produced products in the Saudi market with higher quality and improved operational efficiency.

This partnership reflects strategic integration between the producer, Balady Poultry Company, and the marketer and distributor, Almunajem Foods Company, in order to achieve mutual objectives in the poultry sector.

Almunajem Foods issued its third-quarter and year-to-date results in November.

Revenue for the three months to 30 September rose 2.2% to SR816.1m ($217.6mm).

However, operating profit fell 5.2% to SR36.4m and net profit dropped 21.7% to SR31.7m.

The increase in revenue was attributed to a rise in volumes across all categories despite a drop in average selling prices.

Nine-month revenue dipped 0.5% to SR2.51bn while operating profit decreased 46% to SR118.3m. Net profit was down 52% at SR102.7m.

Almunajem Foods supplies chicken, turkey, duck and quail. It owns the Dari brand. Balady Poultry produces and markets its namesake chicken brand.

Balady Poultry also issued its latest results in November for the same periods to 30 September.

Third-quarter revenue edged up 0.5% to SR218.9m but was down 4.9% year to date at SR634.1m.

Operating profit fell 67% for the quarter and was down 72% over the nine months at SR9.1m and SR26.2m, respectively.
Elon Musk has publicly clashed with Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary after the airline rejected the installation of SpaceX's Starlink internet service on its fleet.

The dispute has escalated over the past week, drawing attention across the aviation and tech industries.

On Wednesday, O'Leary ruled out equipping any of Ryanair's more than 600 jets with Starlink, citing concerns over fuel costs caused by the added drag from the antenna. He estimated the service could cost the airline up to $250 million annually.

Speaking to Irish radio station Newstalk, O'Leary criticized Musk directly, saying the billionaire knew "zero" about aviation and drag, calling him an "idiot" and describing Musk's social media platform X as a "cesspit."

Musk responded swiftly on X, calling O'Leary an "utter idiot" who should be fired, NY Post reported. When a follower suggested Musk buy Ryanair and remove O'Leary himself, the tech entrepreneur replied, "Good idea."

Musk argued that O'Leary was "misinformed" and claimed the airline did not know how to properly measure the fuel impact of Starlink equipment.

Ryanairs CEO claims Elon Musk knows nothing about drag and flight. Where does he think Starlink connection comes from? pic.twitter.com/YH9kcclAk3  Alexander Kristensen (@LinkN01) January 16, 2026

Airlines Turn to Starlink for Faster In-Flight WiFi

The spat highlights Starlink's growing role in commercial aviation. Powered by thousands of lowEarth orbit satellites, Starlink aims to provide faster and more reliable in-flight WiFi.

Several major carriers, including United Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Lufthansa, have already begun rolling out the service across their fleets.

According to Reteurs, analysts note that while the financial terms of Starlink agreements are generally undisclosed, the product is positioned as a premium service, appealing mainly to long-haul and full-service airlines rather than budget carriers like Ryanair.

This public feud underscores the tension between low-cost airlines focused on minimizing operational expenses and tech companies promoting next-generation connectivity.

Musk has emphasized the importance of Starlink in aviation, while O'Leary continues to prioritize fuel efficiency and cost control for his airline.

For now, the feud shows no signs of cooling. Musk's bold statements and O'Leary's dismissals have captured global attention.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Apple was not able to achieve its goals and deliver on its promises with the next-generation Siri that was supposed to be powered by the Apple Intelligence foundational models as it is still late until now.

However, a new report considers this as a blessing in disguise, saying that it is a good thing for Apple as it is getting the highly needed assistance from its rival company, Google.

Apple's Siri Is Late, But Here's Why It's Good

It will be two years since Apple first announced the exciting updates coming to its devices via Apple Intelligence and the next-generation Siri, but these have not come to fruition as of writing.

Apple first announced during WWDC 2024 that is joining in on the generative AI revolution with the arrival of Apple Intelligence, its generative AI powered by its foundational models, and the next-generation Siri.

According to 9to5Mac's latest report, the company is "very late" in its development of generative AI, and this is because the Cupertino company launched its models later than other tech giants.

The report claims that Apple is still lagging in the development of new experiences as Apple was hesitant to spend money on AI tech, and its stance on privacy made it a challenge to train AI models.

The same goes for the Apple Intelligence-powered Siri that remains delayed as Apple is still working on the features that will be part of the technology.

Despite these setbacks, 9to5Mac said that it is a good thing as it offers users more time to adapt to the technology as only users with the A17 Pro chip (iPhone 15 Pro or later) are given eligibility to access the technology.

As of writing, many users already own an iPhone 15 Pro or later device, which means that adoption will no longer be an issue.

Google Gemini to Soon Power Apple Intelligence, Siri

Fortunately for Apple, help is on the way.

It was also recently announced that Google will help Apple in the development of Apple Intelligence and Siri with their latest deal, which will have Gemini powering Apple's foundational models in the future.
For the past decade, the prevailing orthodoxy in enterprise IT was the "borderless cloud." The strategic imperative was simple: move data to where compute was most abundant, typically massive hyperscale regions in Northern Virginia, Frankfurt, or Dublin. In this worldview, physical location was a trivial engineering detail.

However, in the 2026 fiscal year, this paradigm is colliding with a synchronized wave of regulatory forces. From the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to the European Union, the concept of Data Sovereignty has evolved from a preference into a precise, punitive legal regime.

We have entered the era of the Sovereign Data Estate.

Definition: The Sovereign Data Estate is an architectural paradigm that physically locates data processing within national borders while maintaining open-standard interoperability, effectively decoupling compute capabilities from the jurisdiction of foreign cloud providers.

This strategic guide synthesizes the regulatory drivers (Oman PDPL, EU Data Act), economic realities, and the specific architectural roadmap (exemplified by platforms like Ilum) required to navigate this new landscape.

I. 2026 Regulatory Compliance: Oman PDPL & EU Data Act

The "grace periods" of the early 2020s are expiring. Across the Middle East and Europe, regulations are forcing a fundamental re-architecture of enterprise data systems. The timeline for compliance is no longer abstract; it is fixed.

1. Oman PDPL Compliance Deadline: February 2026

The Sultanate of Oman has set a hard deadline. The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) extended the compliance grace period for the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) to February 5, 2026.

The Warning : This extension signals an expectation of total, audit-ready compliance by the new date.

: This extension signals an expectation of total, audit-ready compliance by the new date. The Risk : Penalties for non-compliance reach up to OMR 500,000 (approx. $1.3 million USD).

: Penalties for non-compliance reach up to (approx. $1.3 million USD). The Technical Challenge: Unlike GDPR's "legitimate interest" clauses, Oman's framework prioritizes explicit consent and strict localization. Data must be physically processed within the Sultanate. Furthermore, proving consent lineage often requires automated data lineage tracking to verify exactly which datasets contain user information.

2. KSA Data Residency & The "National Interest" Firewall

In Saudi Arabia, the absence of a comprehensive "Adequacy List" of approved foreign jurisdictions means enterprises must operate under a "default sovereignty" posture.

The CLOUD Act Conflict: Reliance on US-headquartered hyperscalers introduces risk via the US CLOUD Act, which can compel US companies to provide data regardless of server location. For defense and critical infrastructure, the only compliant architecture is often a private cloud that is fully air-gapped from foreign control planes.

3. EU Data Act: Switching Requirements

While the GCC focuses on residency, the EU is attacking commercial lock-in. The EU Data Act mandates the elimination of "switching charges" by January 2027.

Functional Equivalence: Cloud providers must ensure customers can switch to a competitor or on-premise infrastructure without functional degradation. This effectively mandates the use of open table formats (like Apache Iceberg or Delta Lake) over proprietary SaaS warehouses.

II. The Sovereignty Paradox: Why Legacy Infrastructure Fails

This regulatory tightening creates the "Sovereignty Paradox": To remain competitive, enterprises need the elasticity and AI capabilities of the modern cloud; to remain compliant, they need the isolation of on-premise infrastructure.

Legacy systems fail to solve this paradox:

The Cloudera Trap (Legacy Hadoop) : Traditional on-premise clusters offer control but are rigid and expensive. Licensing fees often scale per node, stranding capital in idle compute. This has accelerated the urgency for Hadoop migration to more flexible containerized environments.

: Traditional on-premise clusters offer control but are rigid and expensive. Licensing fees often scale per node, stranding capital in idle compute. This has accelerated the urgency for Hadoop migration to more flexible containerized environments. The SaaS Dilemma: Platforms like Snowflake and Databricks offer agility but often rely on centralized control planes hosted in the US or EU. For a sovereign entity, a platform that cannot function without "phoning home" creates an unacceptable dependency.

The Strategic Realignment:

The only viable path is to decouple the capabilities of the cloud from the location of the provider. Platforms like Ilum serve as the case study for this approach, focusing on "software over service" to build a compliant Data Lakehouse.

III. Architecture of the Air-Gapped Data Lakehouse

The industry is shifting toward Kubernetes Data Platforms that prioritize portability and isolation.

1. Kubernetes as the Universal Substrate

By building on Kubernetes, modern lakehouses can run identically on bare-metal servers in a secure Muscat bunker, a sovereign cloud provider in Riyadh, or a public cloud region in Frankfurt.

Decoupled Storage : Unlike HDFS, this architecture separates compute (Spark on Kubernetes) from storage (S3/MinIO). This allows data to reside in low-cost, compliant object storage while compute scales dynamically.

: Unlike HDFS, this architecture separates compute (Spark on Kubernetes) from storage (S3/MinIO). This allows data to reside in low-cost, compliant object storage while compute scales dynamically. Structured Governance: This architecture natively supports the Medallion Architecture (Bronze/Silver/Gold), ensuring data is systematically refined from raw ingestion to high-quality business aggregates.

2. True Air-Gapped Operations

For defense and critical sectors, "sovereign" means offline. A key differentiator for 2026 readiness is the ability to install and operate without any internet connectivity.

The Mechanism : The air-gapped installation process involves downloading artifacts (Docker images, Helm charts) to a secure bastion, transferring them via physical media (USB/diode), and hosting them in a local container registry.

: The air-gapped installation process involves downloading artifacts (Docker images, Helm charts) to a secure bastion, transferring them via physical media (USB/diode), and hosting them in a local container registry. Local Control: The control plane (e.g., ilum-core) must run entirely within the customer's cluster, ensuring no metadata or usage statistics ever leave the facility.

3. Open Standards (Iceberg/Delta) as a Legal Defense

To satisfy the EU Data Act, data must be stored in open formats like Apache Iceberg. This ensures portability and supports ACID transactionscrucial for complying with the "Right to Erasure" without rewriting terabytes of data.

Table 1: Sovereign Capability Comparison (2026 Standards)

Feature Ilum (Sovereign Estate) Cloudera (Legacy) Databricks / Snowflake (SaaS) Data Residency Absolute. Deploys on any K8s cluster (On-prem, Sovereign Cloud). No "home region" dependency. High. Private Cloud Base runs fully on-premises. Variable. Limited to available public cloud regions. "National Interest" concerns persist regarding control planes. Air-Gapped Ops Native. Full support for offline registries, local Helm charts, and disconnected operation. Supported. Requires complex "parcel" management and local mirroring. Limited/None. Most advanced features (Marketplace, Unity Catalog) require connectivity to the SaaS control plane. Erasure Rights Native. Supports ACID deletes/updates via Iceberg/Delta for PDPL compliance. Complex. Legacy HDFS makes row-level erasure difficult without compaction/rewrites. Native. Fully supports ACID transactions, but data is often in proprietary storage.

IV. Migration Engineering & Economics

Moving to a sovereign estate yields significant economic dividends. Shifting from node-based licensing (legacy) and consumption-based markups (SaaS) to a self-hosted Kubernetes model can reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by 6075%.

Migration Engineering Playbook

Implementing this shift requires specific technical steps:

Storage Modernization (HDFS to S3A) : Migrating from HDFS to object storage requires tuning. Engineers must utilize the S3A Magic Committer to write data directly to final destinations, bypassing the slow "rename" operations typical of HDFS file systems.

: Migrating from HDFS to object storage requires tuning. Engineers must utilize the to write data directly to final destinations, bypassing the slow "rename" operations typical of HDFS file systems. Pipeline Modernization : Legacy ETL jobs are often refactored into modern workflows. This increasingly involves running dbt Core on Spark to handle SQL-based transformations within the Kubernetes cluster.

: Legacy ETL jobs are often refactored into modern workflows. This increasingly involves running dbt Core on Spark to handle SQL-based transformations within the Kubernetes cluster. Remote Connectivity: For teams transitioning from legacy edge nodes, technologies like Spark Connect allow developers to submit jobs remotely from their IDEs without requiring direct SSH access to the cluster.

V. The Future: Sovereign AI and On-Premise LLMs

By 2026, the data estate will be the engine room for Sovereign AI. The goal is "Model Sovereignty"the ability to run, tune, and govern AI entirely within national borders.

1. From RAG to Agentic Workflows

The industry is moving beyond simple Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to Agentic RAG. Sovereign platforms address the "Table Problem" in AI by giving agents direct access to the lakehouse schema and SQL execution tools. The agent queries the data as a database, preserving relational integrity rather than relying on fuzzy vector matches.

2. Air-Gapped Inference

To mitigate supply chain attacks, model weights (e.g., Llama 3, Mistral) must be stored in local, air-gapped registries. Inference runs on local GPUs within the sovereign perimeter, ensuring that neither the training data nor the user prompts are exposed to external model providers.

Conclusion

The year 2026 represents a definitive turning point. The regulatory forcing functionsOman's consent mandates, Saudi Arabia's national interest firewalls, and Europe's interoperability lawscreate an environment where legacy rigidity and SaaS extraterritoriality are liabilities.

The Sovereign Data Estate is no longer an option; it is the baseline for digital survival. By adopting platforms that are sovereign-by-design, enterprises secure not just compliance, but their strategic independence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the deadline for Oman PDPL compliance?

A: The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) has extended the full compliance deadline to February 5, 2026. After this date, non-compliance may incur penalties up to OMR 500,000.

Q: Can I use Snowflake or Databricks for sovereign data in Saudi Arabia?

A: It depends on the classification of the data. While these platforms have local regions, they often rely on external control planes. For "National Interest" or defense data requiring air-gapped isolation, a self-hosted Sovereign Data Estate (like Ilum) is often required to eliminate foreign jurisdictional risk.

Q: How does the EU Data Act affect cloud data warehousing?

A: The EU Data Act mandates "functional equivalence" for switching cloud providers by 2027. This effectively requires enterprises to store data in open table formats (like Apache Iceberg) rather than proprietary locked formats, ensuring data can be moved without degradation.
Most people expect tax season to be painful. But for many Americans, its more expensive than it needs to be.

Every year, households quietly forfeit up to billions of dollars in federal tax credits because they dont know these programs exist or assume they dont qualify. And thats a costly mistake: unlike deductions, which only reduce taxable income, credits lower your bill dollar for dollar.

Must Read

At a time when household budgets are stretched thin, Americans can ill-afford to leave money on the table.

The good news is that even a quick review of your eligibility can unlock meaningful savings. But first, it helps to understand where taxpayers leave money behind, and how surprisingly easy it is to qualify. Here are some credits to consider applying for next tax season.

Earned income tax credit, additional child tax credit

Lets start with the earned income tax credit (EITC) and additional child tax credit (ACTC), which combined are often considered the largest financial event of a low-income familys year, Elaine Maag, a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute, told CNBC. (1)

The IRS estimates approximately one in five eligible taxpayers miss out on claiming the EITC. Part of the issue is complexity: eligibility depends on income, filing status and number of qualifying children, and the rules can be intimidating to navigate.

But the potential benefit is substantial. For 2025, the EITC ranges from $649 for filers without children to just over $8,000 for workers with three or more qualifying children. Adjusted gross income (AGI) limits reach as high as $61,555 for single filers and $68,675 for married couples filing jointly. Missing the EITC can mean losing one of the largest refundable credits available to many workers.

The ACTC is a refundable portion of the child tax credit that some families can receive if they owe little or no income tax. It can provide up to $1,700 per qualifying child depending on your income.

Saver's Credit

Another big missed opportunity is the Savers Credit, a program designed to reward workers for contributing to retirement accounts. It applies to contributions made to traditional and Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and similar workplace plans. Yet many workers either dont know it exists or assume their income is too high to benefit.
Press Release from Business Wire: Syngenta Group



(AFP) Jan 19, 2026



DAVOS, Jan 19, 2026 (BSW) - As farmers globally grapple with unprecedented economic, geopolitical, and environmental pressures; the agricultural sector faces a continued contraction. An alarming decrease in active farms worldwide and rising financial distress underscore the urgent need for innovation and technology to ensure a resilient food system.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260118646017/en/

Jeff Rowe, Syngenta Group CEO



"Farmers today are navigating one of the most complex periods in modern agriculture, facing pressures that demand urgent action and real solutions," said Jeff Rowe, CEO of Syngenta Group. "We have a critical window of opportunity to reverse troubling trends by ensuring every farmer, regardless of farm size or technical background, can access the transformative power of AI and digital tools."

"When we combine AI and digital tools with deep agricultural expertise, we unlock genuine potential to revolutionize farming. But technology alone isn't enough. Policymakers and businesses must work together to demonstrate how AI can deliver tangible results, simplify farming operations and dispel misconceptions that farmers must be tech experts to use and benefit from these tools. We must also work together to build strong foundations of trust - through peer validation, transparency about data usage and outcomes farmers can see and measure in their own fields."

A recent research study conducted by IPSOS in partnership with Syngenta highlights a growing digital divide within the agricultural sector. While larger farms rapidly adopt advanced AI and digital tools, smaller and older farmers risk being left behind. The study underscores the urgent need for concerted action to ensure technological advancements. This represents not a challenge, but an invitation to make agricultural technology more widely available and unlock value to benefit all segments of the farming community.

Syngenta's Cropwise platform is already deploying powerful AI-driven solutions that empower farmers at every scale:

-- Cropwise Grower GenAI Chatbot: Already empowering over 2 million farmers across India, this innovative chatbot delivers 24/7 multilingual agronomy support. Smallholders and large operators alike can simply speak or text, or take a picture of an ailing plant, to receive instant analysis, disease diagnosis, and product recommendations with 95% accuracy. This system leverages advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) and voice recognition to handle local dialects, offering localized advice that previously required costly field visits or call centers.

-- Predictive Intelligence for Pest & Disease Outbreaks (Launching soon in selected markets): This next-generation regional predictive alert system combines real-time pest and disease scouting data with advanced risk modelling and geospatial AI to forecast outbreak likelihood and geographic spread. This enables farmers to take proactive, preventative action before issues reach their fields rather than reacting after problems emerge. These innovations are designed with the aim of simplifying farming operations and making advanced agricultural insights accessible to all.

Syngenta is pioneering digital and AI equity in agriculture, serving as an ecosystem enabler committed to making digital solutions and AI affordable, aspirational, and accessible across all farmer segments. Syngenta is opening its Cropwise digital platform to third-party developers to co-innovate and tackle agriculture's technology divide, recognizing the importance of responsible data management governed by comprehensive data governance policies. Syngenta does not give access to any individual grower data without explicit owner consent and maintains a robust compliance program aligned with applicable data protection laws and other relevant regulations.

At the World Economic Forum in January 2026, Syngenta is championing collaborative approaches and policy frameworks that support a wider access to agricultural technology and accelerate sustainable farming practices globally. On 21 January 2026, The Financial Times, in collaboration with Syngenta, is convening a roundtable on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. A select group of global business leaders, senior policymakers and leading academics will explore how AI can be applied responsibly across the food value chain and identify the pathways to transform technological potential into lasting, scalable impact.

Link to research study by IPSOS in partnership with Syngenta: https://www.syngenta.com/agriculture/agricultural-technology/artificial-intelligence/can-ai-be-agricultures-great-equalizer

About Syngenta Group

Syngenta Group is one of the world's biggest agricultural innovation companies, employing over 56,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta Group is focused on developing technologies and farming practices that empower farmers, so they can make the transformation required to feed the world's population while preserving our planet. Syngenta Group's bold scientific discoveries deliver better benefits for farmers and society on a bigger scale than ever before. Guided by its Sustainability Priorities, Syngenta Group supports farmers to grow healthier plants in healthier soil with a higher yield.

Syngenta Group, which is registered in Shanghai, China, and has its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units: Syngenta Crop Protection, headquartered in Switzerland; Syngenta Seeds, headquartered in the United States; ADAMA(R), headquartered in Israel; and Syngenta Group China.

To find out more about how our innovation is empowering farmers around the world, read our articles on the Stories section of our Syngenta Group website.

For Syngenta Group photos and videos, please visit the Syngenta Group Media Library.

Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR ("legitimate interest"). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta Group, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as "expect," "would," "will," "potential," "plans," "prospects," "estimated," "aiming," "on track" and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta Group, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or grain prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta Group assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

 2026 Syngenta. All rights reserved.

(R)/? are Trademarks of companies belonging to the Syngenta Group.







View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260118646017/en/









Contact

Contact InformationMedia Relations[email protected]







 2026 Business Wire, Inc.Disclaimer:This press release is not a document produced by AFP. AFP shall not bear responsibility for its content. In case you have any questions about this press release, please refer to the contact person/entity mentioned in the text of the press release.
UK court denies BHP bid to appeal Brazil mine disaster ruling



London, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



A British court on Monday rejected Australian mining giant BHP's bid to appeal a ruling holding it liable for one of Brazil's worst environmental disasters, bringing victim compensation closer.

A dam collapse in 2015 at an iron-ore mine run by a firm co-owned by BHP killed 19 people and unleashed a deluge of toxic mud into villages, fields, rainforest, rivers and the ocean.

In November, the High Court in London found BHP "strictly liable" for the disaster, following a mammoth trial that could lead to billions of dollars in damages.

High Court Judge Finola O'Farrell on Monday rejected BHP's application to appeal the ruling, saying it had "no real prospect of success".

Nevertheless, BHP said it would still take its case to the Court of Appeal.

"BHP will continue to robustly defend the remaining phases of this action," a spokesperson added in a statement.

The victims first filed a UK legal action in 2018 demanding compensation from BHP. At the time of the disaster, one of BHP's global headquarters was in Britain.

The eventual trial at the High Court ran from October 2024 to March 2025.

A second phase of the case is scheduled to begin in October to determine the amount of compensation to be paid to victims.

The 620,000 claimants are seeking around pound36 billion ($48 billion) in compensation, according to a previous estimate from law firm Pogust Goodhead.
German brings back electric car subsidies to boost market



Berlin, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



Germany on Monday reintroduced electric car subsidies as it seeks to accelerate the transition to less polluting vehicles, drawing praise from industry groups but criticism from environmentalists who demanded greater efforts.

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe's biggest auto market are growing but progress has been patchy, and the government and the struggling auto sector are keen to speed up the shift.

The previous government scrapped an earlier subsidy scheme in 2023 due to a budget crisis, prompting a collapse in EV sales, although they have been recovering in recent times.

The new programme "helps the environment, the automotive industry, and in particular families who otherwise couldn't afford a new, environmentally friendly car," said Environment Minister Carsten Schneider.

Private households with a taxable income of no more than 80,000 euros ($93,000) will be eligible for subsidies, Schneider announced.

Car buyers can apply for the support from May, which will apply to EVs registered from the start of 2026, he said.

Fully electric cars are eligible for a subsidy of at least 3,000 euros. Plug-in hybrids and cars with range extenders -- in which a small combustion engine can charge the battery -- are covered by a basic subsidy of 1,500 euros.

There are extra subsidies for families with children as well as households on lower incomes.

The IG Metall union, which represents many auto sector workers, welcomed the scheme as an "an important step in the right direction".

The VDA auto industry group said the programme will "support the success of e-mobility in Germany" although it urged other steps, such as improving charging infrastructure.

But the group Environmental Action Germany voiced criticism, especially of subsidies for plug-in hybrids, which it said "offer hardly any climate benefits" over combustion engine cars.

"The government is still failing to implement effective climate protection policies in the transport sector," said the group's chief Juergen Resch.

German carmakers -- already struggling with slowing sales and fierce competition -- desperately need electric sales to rise as they invested hugely in the EV shift and also face strict new European environmental rules.

Though the European Union in December proposed scrapping a planned 2035 ban on new combustion-engine vehicles, carmakers would still face having to cut emissions by 90 percent from 2021 levels under its latest plan.

After plunging in 2024 following the end of the last subsidy programme, German EV sales rebounded in 2025 and represented almost a fifth of all new cars sold.
Death toll from flooding rises in Mozambique, South Africa



Maputo, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



Widespread flooding has killed 13 more people across Mozambique in the past week, authorities said Monday, as more bodies were recovered in neighbouring South Africa.

Heavy rains and storms have battered the two southern African countries for weeks, claiming at least 150 lives, according to authorities.

Thirteen people had died in Mozambique since January 12, according to the National Disasters Management Institute (INGD) database which showed that 111 had been killed since October.

Large parts of the country were still underwater, prompting President Daniel Chapo to cancel his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Rivers burst their banks and swallowed entire neighbourhoods in several regions of Mozambique, displacing thousands including a woman who was forced to give birth on a roof as she sheltered from flood waters.

Images on social media showed parts of the city of Xai Xai, around 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of the capital Maputo, were underwater on Monday.

South Africa's defence force said it had sent a search and rescue team, including a helicopter, to assist Mozambique's emergency operations.

South Africa declared a national disaster on Sunday after flooding destroyed homes and killed dozens in the northeastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

The death toll had risen to 38 for both provinces since mid-December, the government confirmed Monday after more bodies were recovered overnight.
Intel (INTC) stock has gained about 26.27% year to date, at the time of writing, Saturday morning, Jan. 17, according to Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, SPY is up 1.43% in the same period. What caused Intel stock to outpace the S&P 500 by almost 25%?

Two significant analyst notes boosted the stock. The first one was on January 5, when Melius Research upgraded Intel to buy from hold with a $50 price target. The second was on January 13, when KeyBanc upgraded Intel to overweight (buy) from sector weight with a $60 price target.

KeyBanc analyst John Vinh wrote that Intels foundry reached yield rates more than 60% on its 18A manufacturing process (node), which are good enough to ramp Panther Lake, according to Wall St Engine's post on X (formerly Twitter). Vinhs research indicates that Intel Foundry Services has landed Apple as a customer on 18A for low-end M-series processors, expected to go into production in 2027.

Intels Q4 earnings will be released on January 22, and several other analysts have also updated their opinion on Intel stock.

Investors should get ready for "relatively disappointing" yearly report from Intel. Photo by picture alliance on Getty Images  Photo by picture alliance on Getty Images

Analysts raise Intel stock price target before earnings

Citi upgraded Intel's rating from sell to neutral, and raised the price target from $29 to $50, according to TheFly. Citi analysts believe Intel will benefit from tightness in TSMC's advanced packaging supply. The firm wants to see Intel reverse its share losses before recommending investors buy the stock.

Jefferies reiterated a hold rating and raised the Intel stock price target from $40 to $45. The firm expects Intel's full-year commentary to be relatively disappointing.

UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri reiterated a neutral rating and raised Intel's stock price target from $40 to $49. Barclays analyst Tom OMalley reiterated an equal weight rating and raised Intel's stock price target from $35 to $45.

Bank of America expects in-line or better Q4 results for Intel

Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya and his team also updated their opinion on Intel stock ahead of earnings.

Aryas team hosted an investor meeting at CES with Intel investor relations representative John Pitzer. The team now expects in-line or better Q4 sales and gross margins of $13.4 billion and 36.5% respectively. Analysts said that healthy server sales should offset the initial impact of rising memory prices on PCs.

In a research note shared with me, Arya reiterated an underperform rating for INTC stock and the target price of $40, based on a 3.5 multiple of his enterprise value-to-sales ratio estimate for 2027, in line with the historical range of 1.7 to 4.

Analysts noted downside risks for INTC:
EU ban on 'forever chemicals' set for delay



Brussels, Belgium, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



EU plans to ban "forever chemicals" will likely not see the light before the tail end of the year, EU officials said Monday, foreshadowing a possible delay.

Brussels has said that prohibiting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in everyday consumer goods -- from pizza boxes to clothing -- is a "priority".

But the related proposal promised for this year is unlikely to be ready before the end of 2026 as it is dependent on external assessments, according to officials with knowledge of the file.

Environment commissioner Jessika Roswall told a press briefing in Brussels that coming up with a legal text was "complicated" but "doable", adding industry was "already preparing" for a ban.

Often called "forever chemicals" as they take an extremely long time to break down, PFAS are increasingly being restricted across the world due to adverse health effects.

Chronic exposure to even low levels has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol, reduced immune responses, low birth weights and several kinds of cancer.

Brussels is looking to restrict about 10,000 PFAS used in consumer goods like nonstick pans and stain-proof carpets, with exceptions for certain areas including medical equipment.

A proposal was initially promised for the end of 2025, then pushed back to 2026.

On Monday, Roswall remained vague on a timeline, but said the commission was waiting to hear from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

The Helsinki-based agency is conducting a risk assessment, due in March, and a socio?economic assessment, which it said would not be ready before the end of 2026.

Only once that is ready, the commission will be able to put a plan on the table -- making it difficult for Brussels to stick to its 2026 goal.

Negotiations with the European Parliament and member states, which often take months, will follow.

Last year Roswall revealed she had tested positive for "toxic" PFAS after undergoing screening to raise awareness of the health risks linked to the man-made pollutants.
Death toll from floods rises in Mozambique, South Africa



Maputo, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2026



Mozambique battled severe flooding Monday as the death toll after weeks of rain climbed, with more bodies also recovered in neighbouring South Africa.

Heavy rains and storms have battered the two southern African countries for weeks, claiming at least 150 lives, authorities said.

More than 110 people had been killed in Mozambique since early October, the start of the rainy season, the National Disasters Management Institute (INGD) database showed Monday, with 13 of the deaths in the past week.

Large parts of the country were still underwater, prompting President Daniel Chapo to cancel his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos as rescue operations continued.

In South Africa, meanwhile, authorities said the death toll had risen to 38 in the northeastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces -- which border Mozambique -- after weeks of heavy downpour.

In Mozambique, rivers had burst their banks and swallowed entire neighbourhoods in several regions, displacing thousands including a woman who was forced to give birth on a roof as she sheltered from flood waters.

Images on social media showed brown water swirling through the city of Xai Xai, which is around 200 kilometres (125 miles) northeast of the capital Maputo and in the Limpopo River basin.

South Africa's defence force said it had sent a search and rescue team, including a helicopter, to assist Mozambique's emergency operations.



- Disaster response -



"Severe flooding has now affected over 432,000 people in Mozambique, with 49,000+ evacuated into accommodation centres," the UN's children's charity UNICEF said.

The situation was exacerbating already difficult conditions for the area's impoverished population, "pushing already exhausted communities further into crisis," said British charity Save the Children.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa linked the crisis to climate change, saying it underlined the need for funding for developing countries, often least equipped to handle the effects of severe weather.

Countries in the Global South "are the ones who are suffering the ravages of climate change when our countries and our nations did not cause it," he said during a visit to flood?hit areas of Mpumulanga.

The WaterAid charity described the unfolding situation as a "climate crisis" and cautioned that more heavy rainfall -- and even a possible cyclone -- could hit the region in the coming days.

"What we are witnessing and experiencing here is about the effects of climate change," regional director Robert Kampala told AFP.

"The southern Africa region experiences a situation which is either too little or too much water," he said. "The heavy polluters are not paying the price of the impact and cost of a climate crisis."

The non?profit organisation, which has suspended operations in three Mozambican cities because of the flooding, said it had already begun detecting cholera cases.
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An immersive art installation, Helios, has brought a touch of the sun to Bristol's Jubilee Swimming Pool, offering a unique winter experience.

Created by acclaimed artist Luke Jerram, the five-metre diameter sculpture, weighing approximately 50 kilogrammes, is a stunning representation of our star.

It was meticulously crafted from over 400,000 high-resolution photographs of the Suns surface and Nasa observational data.

Named after the ancient Greek mythological god personifying the Sun, Helios will be suspended metres above the pool for three weeks, casting its radiant glow and reflections across the water.

open image in gallery People dive into the water beneath Helios ( Ben Birchall/PA Wire )

Jerram, known for accessible public art, expressed his enthusiasm: "I like creating artwork that brings people together and theres something nice about using a community space like this thats accessible to everybody. For me thats really important."

From Monday 19 January until Sunday 8 February, regular pool-goers and visitors are invited to view the installation and even swim beneath it, with additional late-night sessions scheduled.

Julie Laming, chairwoman of trustees at Jubilee Pool, highlighted the significance of the event: "This is the first time Helios has been suspended over a swimming pool, let alone at a much-loved indoor pool approaching its 90th anniversary. We are thrilled and proud to be hosting such an exciting and unique event Bristol."

open image in gallery Artist Luke Jerram with 'Helios' ( Ben Birchall/PA Wire )

Beyond its artistic merit, Jerram hopes the installation will attract a significant number of visitors, potentially contributing to funding solar panels for Jubilee Pools roof and supporting its transition towards a greener future.

He added: "Its also that opportunity in the middle of winter, when its so dark and cold outside, to come here and have a swim underneath the sun. A bit of sunbathing is probably what we will need this time of year."

Following its Bristol debut, Helios is set to travel to Manchester, then Borneo in Southeast Asia, before returning to London and finally heading to the US later this year.

open image in gallery People get ready for a swim beneath Helios ( Ben Birchall/PA Wire )

This latest work adds to Jerrams impressive portfolio, having celebrated 1,000 exhibitions in over 50 countries worldwide this month, including permanent museum displays and public artworks like Palm Temple on The University of Bristol campus.
Online critics were cock-a-hoop back in 2014 when Kristen Stewart  aka Bella Swan out of the Twilight movies  published a poem in Marie Claire magazine. Stewart was 23 at the time, old enough to know better and young enough not to care, and wore her literary influences (Kerouac, Bukowski, Tom Waits) a little too readily on her sleeve.

My Heart is a Wiffle Ball/Freedom Pole turned out to be a free-style, impressionistic affair, apparently written during a cross-country road trip and fuelled by the excitement of cocky gilded youth. It contained such lines as Through our windows boarded up/ He hit your flint face and it sparked, and Devils not done digging/ Hes speaking in tongues all along the Panhandle, and the critical response ran the gamut from glee to scorn to pitying condescension. It should be noted that the actor didnt especially help her cause by talking her readers through the creative process. I dont want to sound so utterly pretentious, she said with a fleeting flash of self-knowledge. But after I write something, I go, Holy shit, thats crazy.

Im expecting a similar reaction  glee, scorn and pity  to The Chronology of Water, Stewarts labour-of-love feature directing debut, which is in cinemas in February. Her rites-of-passage drama is based on the 2011 memoir by Lidia Yuknavitch and stars Imogen Poots as a damaged, striving artist, but its essentially Wiffle Ball: The Movie, an extended piece of teen poetry, which proves that Stewart has learned nothing from the Marie Claire incident except to hold the line and speak her truth and dare the critics to drown her out with their laughter. The film invites our derision and proceeds to plough on regardless with its non-linear plot, its dreamy narration and its close-up collages of shells and coloured pebbles. Its brazen, its shameless; its faintly magnificent, too. Its the kind of vanity project that gives the genre a good name.

There comes a time in the life of most successful performers, it seems, when they decide that they have a big personal movie inside them. It may be that they do, but more often than not, they should stay there, if only to spare us another spectacle from the gene pool that brought us Kevin Spaceys Beyond the Sea (2004), Vincent Gallos The Brown Bunny (2003) or Madonnas grovelling WE (2011). And while its true that one of these disasters will occasionally find itself reappraised and hailed as a classic, these examples are rare and shouldnt be counted on. For every The Night of the Hunter (1955), Charles Laughtons spellbinding Depression-era fairytale, there are a hundred celebrity vanity pieces that were laughed out of town and now lie buried and forgotten.

If there is a lesson in all of this, its that personal films are a gamble; personal films spook the fans. The successful stars-turned-directors are the ones who play it smart and safe: the Ron Howards and Clint Eastwoods; the Ben Afflecks and Greta Gerwigs. Stewart might have taken this same route herself, given that shes a household name with plenty of cultural cachet and a keen understanding of what separates a hit from a flop. Except that her sympathy has always been rather more with the flops  or rather with those films that try something different and risk looking ridiculous. At a time when she could have cashed in on Twilight and made a home in the mainstream, she was already off carving an arthouse niche in the likes of Clouds of Sils Maria (2014), Certain Women (2016) and Personal Shopper (2016). Shes drawn to the margins, has a romantic attachment to outsiders, and has always been good at playing gauche and hungry lost souls.

I interviewed her once, around the time of Personal Shopper, and she explained that all of her characters are basically versions of her. I can be nothing other than myself, she said. I know actors who say, oh, this role had nothing to do with me, its just the character, and I think, Yeah, but its still your interpretation of the character. Because you can never get away from being you  Its still about self. Its still all about me.

Its likely that the heroine of The Chronology of Water is mostly Stewart as well, or at least how she sees herself, and never mind the fact that shes called Lidia, based on the books author and embodied by another actor. Who would love a woman like me? Lidia asks as she careens from abusive dad to milksop husband to an apprenticeship with the hippie author Ken Kesey (nicely played by Jim Belushi). Shes a traumatised work-in-progress with all of her nerve-endings showing; a wannabe writer still in search of her voice. The film shows its workings, too, in that its a little messy at times, with flare on the lens and strands of hair in the gate. But its mistakes and missteps are all of a piece. Perversely, they may even be the making of it.

Imogen Poots (right) in Kristen Stewarts The Chronology of Water ( BFI )

Stewarts debut might play as adolescent movie poetry  young in spirit, tripping over itself  but its also a throwback to the Nineties indie film scene, arguably the last gasp of the awkward aspiring auteur. As such, it looks more radical than it might have done in the past. Its defiantly at odds with todays risk-averse business model and a pure expression of the woman who made it as opposed to, say, a pin-sharp corporate commercial like Barbie. Gerwig travelled in one direction, from the grungy mumblecore movement to the mainstream. Stewart, though, is steering the opposite course, from Twilight to the arthouse, while daring the fans to stick with her, and it has made for a more fun, jolting journey. Her movie is heartfelt and unrefined and ever so slightly up itself. It's altogether precious, in both senses of the word.

The Chronology of Water is in cinemas from 6 February
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Ever notice that characters in Netflix original movies seem to reiterate the films plot over and over again? Or that they always seem to say out loud what they are doing or planning on doing? It turns out its intentional  and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have just confirmed it.

For years it has been speculated that Netflix asks its hired screenwriters to cater to casual viewers, meaning those who are scrolling on their phones or performing other activities while watching. This, as suggested by journalist Will Tavlin in n+1 in 2025, is exemplified by characters who announce what theyre doing so that viewers who have this programme on in the background can follow along.

While Netflix has never officially commented on these rumours, the truth may have just been outed by Damon and Affleck, the stars of the new Netflix original film The Rip.

Making an appearance on Joe Rogans podcast this week, and during a discussion about the evaporation of cinemas and the dominance of phone usage in public life, Damon said that The Rip had to abide by numerous Netflix storytelling rules.

open image in gallery Matt Damon (left) and Ben Affleck (right) have reteamed for their new movie, 'The Rip' ( Getty Images for SiriusXM )

The standard way to make an action movie, we learnt [years ago], is you usually have three set pieces, Damon explained. One in the first act, one in the second, one in the third. You spend most of your money on that one in the third act. Thats your finale. And now [Netflix] are like, Can we get a big one in the first five minutes? We want people to stay.

He continued, quoting Netflix: And it wouldnt be terrible if you reiterated the plot three or four times in the dialogue because people are on their phones while theyre watching. Its really going to start to infringe on telling stories.

open image in gallery Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in The Rip ( Netflix )

Affleck then interjected, suggesting that not all Netflix storytelling follows said rules.

But then you look at Adolescence and it didnt do any of that s***, Affleck said. And its f***ing great.

That feels like more the exception though, Damon added.

My feeling is that it demonstrates that you dont need to do any of that s***, concluded Affleck.

Somewhat ironically, The Rip  which star the pair as members of a squad of Miami cops who stumble upon stolen cash  was described by The Independents film critic Clarisse Loughrey as a movie spoilt by some of these now-confirmed Netflix rules.

She wrote: Its a character piece that does very little with its characters, since its been afflicted with the Netflix curse of dialogue written exclusively for people who are busy scrolling on their phones.

While on the promotional trail for the film, Damon also told Joe Rogan his thoughts on cancel culture, which left some raising eyebrows.
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Roger Allers, the Disney filmmaker behind hits including The Lion King and Aladdin, has died aged 76.

A cause of death was not immediately made clear. Allers death was confirmed by his frequent collaborator, Dave Bossert, who shared the news on social media.

I am deeply saddened by the news that our friend Roger Allers has passed on to his next journey, he wrote in a Facebook post. Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance.

Disney CEO Bob Iger has also paid tribute to Allers, saying in a statement: Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come. He understood the power of great storytelling  how unforgettable characters, emotion, and music can come together to create something timeless.

His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and collaborators.

open image in gallery 'The Lion King' co-director Roger Allers has died aged 76 ( Getty )

Born June 29, 1949, Allers attended Arizona State University and got his start at Lisberger Studios working on Sesame Street.

Allers first Disney project was working on the storyboard team on Tron (1982), Bossert noted. He later worked on animated films including Oliver & Company (1988) and The Little Mermaid (1989). He then became head of story for the 1991 masterpiece Beauty and the Beast, which became the first animated film to ever be nominated for a Best Picture trophy at the Oscars.

The filmmaker went on to work alongside Rob Minkoff on The Lion King (1994). The two men co-directed the animated feature, which earned a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture. Allers would also work on the films Tony Award-winning Broadway adaptation, which opened in 1998 and continues today.

Other credits during his Disney career included The Emperors New Groove, Lilo & Stitch and The Little Matchgirl.

Minkoffs wife, former Bravo star Crystal Kung Minkoff, posted a tribute to Allers on Instagram, writing that she and her husband were heartbroken by the loss of their dear friend.

Roger was more than a creative partner to Rob  he was a brother, a mentor, and a friend, she continued. Together, they brought The Lion King to life, leaving a lasting mark on animation and on everyone who knew them. Rogers talent, kindness, and passion touched so many. We send all our love to his family and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy will live on in the stories he shared and the lives he inspired.

Allers is survived by ex-wife Leslee Hackenson and their two children.
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Declan Donnelly has said he is proud of Ant McPartlin for overcoming his struggles after being charged with drink driving.

Donnellys long-time presenting partner had consumed more than twice the legal alcohol limit when his car collided with two others in March 2018. He was fined 86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months.

McPartlin stepped away from his presenting duties, with Holly Willoughby stepping in to host that years series of Im a Celebrity with Donnelly, who was left angry by his co-hosts behaviour.

But Donnelly, who launched to fame in 1989 alongside McPartlin on TV series Byker Grove, has now commended his co-stars decision to step away from the spotlight, during which time he went to rehab, in a new interview.

What I most admire is that with the challenges hes faced, especially over the last few years, Ant took responsibility and real action, he told The Times.

He worked on himself so much to get back not just to being himself but actually being a much better person than he was before.

McPartlin reflected on his journey to sobriety, adding: These last few years, its the happiest Ive been in a long, long time. What changes as you get older, especially being sober as well, for me, is the purpose.

open image in gallery Ant McPartlin was charged with drink driving in 2018 ( ITV )

He highlighted their stint presenting Im a Celebrity, stating: When youre live in Australia and youre in the moment with your best friend, theres nowhere else I want to be, but as soon as we finish, we go back to our apartments by the beach and were with our families. Thats where we want to be right then.

McPartlin has been married to his former personal assistant, Anne-Marie Corbett, since 2021. They have a son, named Wilder, who was born in May 2024, and McPartlin is also stepfather to Corbetts two teenage daughters from a previous relationship.

The TV presenter was previously married to Lisa Armstrong for 12 years before their separation in January 2018, two months before the drink-driving charge.

The year before, he entered rehab after a knee injury in 2015 led him to become addicted to prescription pain medication. Doctors told him he was killing himself by mixing the meds with alcohol.

After his 2018 drink-driving charge, McPartlin told The Sun what he said to Donnelly in the aftermath: I just need to take time out and re-evaluate and get better and deal with things going on in my life.

open image in gallery Ant and Dec ( Getty Images for the NTA's )

He added: I'm very lucky that I've got an understanding business partner and best friend who said, 'Absolutely, your head is more important than anything.

After embarking on a music career as PJ & Duncan, releasing the song Let's Get Ready to Rhumble in 1994, the pair became two of the UKs most successful presenters, hosting Im a Celebrity, Britains Got Talent, Limitless Win and Saturday Night Takeaway, which came to an end in 2024.

They won the National Television Award (NTA) for Best Presenter a record 23 times until 2025, when Gary Lineker won shortly after announcing he had quit Match of the Day after 26 years.

At the weekend, the pair issued an apology and pulled an advert for their new podcast, which some viewers claimed featured suicide imagery.

To promote their podcast, called Hanging Out with Ant and Dec, the Geordie duo posted a video to their social media depicting both men hanging from a washing line. However, within hours of the video going live, some observers argued that the imagery in the ad  particularly the initial shot of pairs of feet dangling in mid-air  was insensitive and suggestive of suicide.

We did not mean to cause any offence with this promo video and we are sorry if it has upset anyone, they said in a statement. We have taken on board the comments and have deleted the video.
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Billy Bob Thornton believes Taylor Sheridan faces unfair prejudice in Hollywood when it comes to awards season.

The American actor, screenwriter and director is best known as the co-creator of the epic Yellowstone TV franchise. He has created several other series as part of a multi-million-dollar deal with Paramount+, including Landman, which stars Thornton as a seasoned oil executive.

In a new interview with Variety following the Landman season two finale, Thornton was asked why he thinks Sheridans shows are underrepresented in award conversations, given their popularity with audiences.

I think a lot of its political, Thornton responded. I really do. I think some people assume Taylor is some sort of right-wing guy or something, and hes really not. Even with this show being about the oil business, he just shows you what its like. Hes not saying Rah, rah, rah for oil.

Its just the people who work in this business or who are affected by this business, the people on the periphery and within the families in the business; this is what happens. These are the kinds of problems and joys and triumphs and whatever happens in this world. Its a world of gambling, and you never know whats going to happen. But I think people got the wrong idea about that.

open image in gallery Billy Bob Thornton (left) has defended his Landman director, Taylor Sheridan (right), against what he perceives as unfair prejudice ( Getty )

open image in gallery Thornton plays oil executive Tommy Norris in Landman ( Paramount+ )

The runaway success of Sheridans shows has paralleled the explosion of cowboy culture across the U.S. alongside a rise in American-style popular conservatism. As with Yellowstone, his shows often present conservative themes of rugged individualism, gun rights, and anti-government sentiment that resonate with right-leaning audiences

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat referred to the Kevin Costner-fronted series as the most red-state show on television.

However, Sheridan has hit back against claims that his series are right-leaning in the past. The shows talking about the displacement of Native Americans and the way Native American women were treated and about corporate greed and the gentrification of the West, and land-grabbing. Thats a red-state show? he said in a 2022 interview with The Atlantic.

One of Sheridans actors also hit back against the shows characterization in a 2024 interview with The Independent. I think a lot of people see a cowboy hat and a horse and they think, Oh, thats not for me, those people believe differently, Kayce Dutton actor Luke Grimes said.

And its almost like they take these flawed characters in the show and chalk it up to some sort of weird belief that theyve put on them. Meanwhile, you can have a terrible person like [Successions] Logan Roy, who lives in an apartment in Manhattan, and thats fine, he continued.

I just dont understand why that has to immediately equal some political belief. And I dont think it does.

Yellowstone received only one Primetime Emmy nomination for its entire five-season run, despite becoming the most-watched cable show (non-sports) since The Walking Dead's peak.
With the Trump administration recently expanding its travel ban to 39 countries and suspending visa processing for 75 in total, multiple countries have responded with travel and visa bans for Americans.

The African nations of Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have all stopped issuing visas for Americans in what they describe as a reciprocal move, given the treatment of their citizens.

At the start of the month, Mali's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation put out a statement saying that U.S. citizens will now also be subject to "the same conditions and requirements as those imposed by the American authorities on Malian citizens entering the United States."

Pakistan cancels visa prior to arrival, requires travelers to apply for paid visas

The South Asian nation of Pakistan was included in the list of nations for which the U.S. State Department will pause processing of all immigrant visas as of Jan. 21.

Although the move is not immediately tied to the Trump administration's actions, Pakistan is, in turn, making it more difficult for Americans to visit by suspending its "visa prior to arrival" program, Visas News reported. The program allowed citizens of 125 countries to apply for permission to enter easily online.

From August 2024, citizens of countries like the United States, Canada and most European and Asian nations could apply for a 90-day tourist or business visa for free by submitting their passport information and trip details through a government portal.

Related: Country reintroduces travel restrictions for Americans and Brits

Travelers looking to come to the country were the first to notice that the "Pak ID" mobile application now directs applicants to select a traditional visa category for which they have to pay $35 USD for a single entry of up to three months (the prior visa allowed for multiple entries) and will take up to seven business days to be processed.

Citizens of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have to pay a higher $60 fee for reasons not expanded upon. The Pakistani government has not released an official statement on the change or provided any information on whether the simplified application will ever be brought back.

In August 2024, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif classified "this easing of the visa regime [as a way to] help make Pakistan an attractive destination for investments and tourism."

The government of Pakistan has made efforts to draw in international tourists in recent years.Image source: Shutterstock  Image source: Shutterstock

Planning a trip to Pakistan? Here is what you need to know about the visa changes

The country sees significantly less tourism interest than neighboring India and has over the last half-decade made several efforts to draw in international visitors.
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New details have emerged about Kiefer Sutherlands arrest last week.

Sutherland, 59, was arrested January 12 on suspicion of criminal threats after a rideshare driver reported that he had allegedly been assaulted in Hollywood.

The 24 actor is accused of punching an Uber driver multiple times and trying to choke him, police sources told ABC News.

The rideshare driver reportedly did not suffer any injuries that required medical attention.

ABC News reports that the driver claims to have had a dash cam device in his car, which may have captured some of the incident.

Kiefer Sutherland is accused of punching and trying to choke his Uber driver last week in Los Angeles ( Getty )

The driver told police that he fled the vehicle to get away from Sutherland and called 911 while running away from him. He said it appeared to people at the scene that Sutherland had been under the influence during the incident.

Representatives for Sutherland did not immediately return The Independents request for comment, nor did the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office.

The Los Angeles Police Department said officers are still investigating the incident.

The investigation determined that the suspect, later identified as Kiefer Sutherland, entered a rideshare vehicle, physically assaulted the driver (the victim) and made criminal threats toward the victim, the LAPD said in a statement.

Sutherland has not yet been charged over the alleged incident. According to jail records, he posted a $50,000 bond and is set to appear in court February 2.

The district attorneys office said the actor will likely be charged shortly ahead of his scheduled court appearance, according to ABC News.

Sutherland, the son of late actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, has been arrested before.

The Golden Globe winner was arrested for drunk driving in 2004 and 2007, the latter of which resulted in him spending 48 days in jail.

He was also charged with assault in 2009 after he allegedly head-butted designer Jack McCollough after the Met Gala that year. Charges against him were dropped after the actor and designer reportedly worked out the confrontation in private.

Sutherlands most recent arrest came in 2020 for allegedly driving under the influence. Police said at the time that he was arrested after making an illegal U-turn in Hollywood.

The actor is known for his Emmy-winning role as Jack Bauer in the Fox series 24, as well as for playing President Thomas Kirkman on ABCs Designated Survivor.
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Stephen Graham has revealed the surprising mishap that saw him lose his Golden Globe award just hours after securing the prestigious accolade.

The acclaimed actor, who won Best Actor in a TV Mini-Series for his role in Adolescence earlier this month, explained that a mix-up at the airport meant his suitcase, containing the trophy, "didnt make the plane".

Speaking on Capital Breakfast, the 52-year-old recounted how the award was accidentally left in the US for two days while he was already in Spain.

"I had to go straight from LA the day after [the Golden Globes] to Madrid as I had to be on set the next day. I had 35 minutes to catch the plane," Graham explained.

open image in gallery Stephen Graham with his Golden Globe ( AFP via Getty Images )

He described the frantic rush: "As I came off the plane, a woman took me down the stairs, threw me in a car, and drove me across the runway. But all Im thinking is, my case isnt going to make it."

The Adolescence star continued, expressing his immediate concern: "I said, excuse me, theres no way youre getting my suitcase on this plane if Im in a car now, and she was like oh no, dont worry, well take care of it. The case didnt make the plane and it was left in Atlanta."

When asked by presenter Jordan North about the suitcases contents, Graham humorously listed: "My socks, my pants, my toothbrush and a Golden Globe."

He clarified, "I never left it, I put it in my case  its heavy, I wasnt carrying that in my hand luggage." Thankfully, the award was reunited with him two days later.

Graham co-created, wrote, and starred in the Netflix hit Adolescence, which has garnered significant critical acclaim, securing wins at the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice awards.

open image in gallery Owen Cooper, Erin Doherty, Hannah Walters, Stephen Graham andAshley Walters, winners of the Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Award for Adolescence ( AFP via Getty Images )

At the Golden Globes, his co-stars Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty also received awards for their performances, and the series itself won the prize for Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture.

Known for his breakout role in the 2006 film This Is England and its subsequent TV series, Grahams company Matriarch Productions co-produced Adolescence, as well as the successful series A Thousand Blows, which recently launched its second season on Disney+.
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The 20th series of The Apprentice is set to launch later this month, with 20 ambitious candidates vying for Lord Sugars substantial 250,000 investment.

Lord Sugar will be supported by his trusted advisers, Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell, as they whittle down the candidates across 12 demanding episodes.

This years tasks include creating a childrens book, selling products live on television, and orchestrating a corporate away day on the Red Sea in El Gouna, Egypt, testing their entrepreneurial mettle in diverse environments.

The diverse cohort of candidates brings a range of backgrounds and business aspirations to the boardroom

Andrea Cooper

A 46-year-old grandmother from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, who runs two businesses. A lettings agency owner with five children and one grandchild, she impressively achieved a first-class honours midwifery degree at 40. She describes herself as "hard working, resilient and will give anything a go," but warns, "if I am crossed once then thats it, no more chances. I am not a pushover."

open image in gallery Andrea Cooper ( BBC )

Conor Galvin

A photobooth business owner from Cork, Ireland, aims to expand his company to London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Despite dropping out of medicine twice, he graduated in law and business, stating his fun business masks a serious candidate "constantly learning the tougher side of strategy, structure and scaling."

open image in gallery Conor Galvin ( BBC )

Georgina Newton

The East London-based actress and events manager plans to launch a touring theatrical production company specialising in pantomime, converting a lorry into a mobile theatre. She believes her "sunshine that brightens up a room and turns any negative situation into something positive" is an asset, and is comfortable with rejection, having "been told no thousands of times."

open image in gallery Georgina Newton ( BBC )

Dan Miller

A student recruitment owner from Richmond, London, who started his business from his Derby bedroom at 17, now working with major companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers and Goldman Sachs. He seeks Lord Sugars help to elevate his company, built on "community, giving back and opportunity."

open image in gallery Dan Miller ( BBC )

Carrington Saunders

Carrington is an online loungewear business owner from South East London, grew her venture while earning a first-class business degree. She sees herself as a "unique candidate" due to her social media-centric business, adding, "I am not afraid to speak my mind, stand up for what I believe in and take the lead."

open image in gallery Carrington Saunders ( BBC )

Harry Clough

From Battersea, South London, financial sales manager Clough admits he "may sound posh, but Ive got no dosh," runs a subscription box service. He describes himself as "bold, creative, and not afraid to take risks," having "failed more times than I can count."

open image in gallery Harry Clough ( BBC )

Karishma Vijay

A beauty brand owner from Ashford, Surrey, Karishma is the first female entrepreneur in her familys business lineage. She views herself as a serious contender, not a fan, stating that she and Lord Sugar both came from nothing and started from scratch," and has financially supported her family since she began earning.

open image in gallery Karishma Vijay ( BBC )

Lawrence Rosenberg

Rosenberg, a public relations specialist from Watford, aims to "reinvent public relations for the modern era" through intelligent automation, believing PR is "one of the only major sectors that hasnt undergone a meaningful tech-led transformation." He values authenticity, treating everyone as a friend.

open image in gallery Lawrence Rosenberg ( BBC )

Megan Ruiter

The owner of a bespoke womenswear brand worn by celebrities, Ruiter also manages two other businesses. She taught herself to sew while her peers partied at university, declaring, "I do not know what a 9-5 job is because my work life is 24/7."

open image in gallery Megan Ruiter ( BBC )

Levin Hague

Doncasters Levi Hague, a former RAF gunner and HGV driver, runs a business specialising in personalised pet cremation urns, seeking investment to make it a global brand. He has previously made headlines for racist and sexist social media posts, but states his experiences show "anyone can turn pain into purpose."

open image in gallery Levi Hague ( BBC )

Roxanne Hamedi

An Aberdeen-based pharmacist with Persian and Scottish ancestry, started a beauty brand combating hair loss after her own experiences. Friends describe her as a "fiery, sassy chilli-pepper pocket rocket, charismatic, caring, unafraid of risks, and never embarrassed to be my goofy, authentic self."

open image in gallery Roxanne Hamedi ( BBC )

Marcus Donkoh

South Londoner Marcus Donkoh aims to scale his barbershop into a global grooming and lifestyle conglomerate, with ambitions for New York, Dubai, and Tokyo. He started cutting hair in his mums home and, while a serious businessman, enjoys banter, noting, "All work and no play will ruin Marcuss day."

open image in gallery Marcus Donkoh ( BBC )

Pascha Myhill

At just 21, Readings Pascha Myhill is a recruitment consultant keen to establish her own private healthcare recruitment company. The keen horse rider believes her youth offers an advantage, describing herself as a "free thinker, not always following the usual rules" who often says "the most random things without a filter."

open image in gallery ( BBC )

Kieran McCartney

East London estate agent Kieran McCartney, with a decade of experience, believes his sales skills make him "stand out." He is often described as a "hungry, motivated, and super positive person who consistently goes above and beyond for his clients," and seeks investment to launch his own agency.

open image in gallery Kieran McCartney ( BBC )

Vanessa Tetteh-Squire

Vanessa Tetteh-Squire, a tech project manager from Enfield, North London, also owns a swimwear brand for women with fuller busts. She is committed to empowering women through her brand and is confident she and Lord Sugar will get along "exceptionally well, because clear communication and bold thinking are what drive success."

open image in gallery Vanessa Tetteh-Squire ( BBC )

Priyesh Bathia

A global account manager from Harrow, North London, Bathia envisions transforming his cocktail business into a national brand, with products on supermarket shelves and an expanded mobile bar. He sees himself as the "perfect mix of charm and hustle whos confident, quick-thinking, and not afraid to get stuck in."

open image in gallery Priyesh Bathia ( BBC )

Rothna Akhtar

East London student wellbeing advisor Rothna Akhtar plans to revolutionise the cake and wellness industry with her sideline bakery business, offering interactive workshops and bespoke cakes. She asserts her "kindness should never be taken for weakness, as I wont let anything get in my way that limits my potential."

open image in gallery Rothna Akhtar ( BBC )

Rajan Gill

A pharmaceuticals specialist from Medway, Kent, Gill seeks investment for his business focusing on mounting TVs and building bespoke media walls. He aims for newbuild developers to offer his services as optional upgrades, having experienced "both sides of business: the boardroom and the physical graft" from working on freezing construction sites.

open image in gallery Rajan Gill ( BBC )

Nikki Jetha

Hornchurch, Essex, mortgage broker Nikki Jetha cites Kim Kardashian as her role model, a mother and a "powerhouse" who has "redefined what is to be a modern-day businesswoman." Jetha aims to streamline the mortgage industry, having become one of the "top mortgage advisors in the UK" in just four years.

open image in gallery Nikki Jetha ( BBC )

Tanmay Hingorani

Finally, Islingtons Tanmay Hingorani, an AI product consultant and seasoned chess player, wants to create an AI-powered digital loyalty and marketing platform for food and drink businesses. He believes his skills would complement Lord Sugars, having also started his career selling technology, and describes himself as "emotionally intelligent and intuitive."

open image in gallery Tanymay Hingorani ( BBC )

The Apprentice returns to iPlayer and BBC One from January 29.
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Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer known mononymously as Valentino, has died. He was 93.

Garavani founded the luxury fashion house Valentino on Via Condotti in Rome in 1960, and it quickly became known as a leading maison de haute couture.

Among his early successes, Garavani designed the cream lace wedding gown worn by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy at her marriage to business tycoon Aristotle Onassis in 1968.

His other creations included Audrey Hepburns white lace gown in How to Steal a Million (1966), Julia Robertss Y-neck halter gown, which she wore for her Best Actress Oscar win in 2001, and the pale yellow, one-shoulder silk taffeta gown Cate Blanchett wore when she won Best Supporting Actress for The Aviator in 2005.

In a statement on social media, Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti said: Our founder, Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones.

open image in gallery Legendary fashion designer Valentino Garavani, pictured in Paris in 2019, has died at the age of 93 ( Getty )

Tributes to Garavani were led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who wrote on X: Valentino, undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian high fashion. Today Italy loses a legend, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything.

Gwyneth Paltrow wrote on Instagram: I was so lucky to know and love Valentino - to know the real man, in private. The man who was in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends... This feels like the end of an era. He will be deeply missed by me and all who loved him.

Garavani was born in Voghera, in Northern Italy, on May 11, 1932. His mother named him after the famed Italian movie star Rudolph Valentino.

He was fascinated by fashion design from a young age, and went to Paris to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. While still in Paris, he apprenticed with Jacques Fath, Balenciaga and Jean Desses.

In 1959, at the age of 27, he returned to Rome, where he opened his own fashion house the following year. He was known for his striking dresses, often in a bright shade that became known as Valentino red. He soon became a favorite of celebrities. In 1961, Elizabeth Taylor wore a white haute couture column by Valentino to the premiere of Spartacus.

In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy became a fan of Valentino and bought six black-and-white haute couture dresses that she wore during her high-profile year of mourning for President John F Kennedy, who had been assassinated the previous year.

open image in gallery Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis wears Valentino for her wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968 ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Julia Roberts in Valentino after accepting Best Actress for 'Erin Brockovich' at the 2001 Academy Awards ( Getty )

Garavanis association with Kennedy helped grow his reputation in the United States, and he spent much of the 1970s based in New York City. He became a well-known public figure and had his portrait painted by Andy Warhol. He was very nice all the time with me, Garavani recalled in an interview with System Magazine. He invited me to the Factory many times, and I was admiring all the paintings on the floor  you had to be careful not to step on them.

In the 1980s, Garavani helped shape the fashion of the era with his broad-shouldered tailored suits. They became a favorite of the Dynasty star Joan Collins, who was often photographed wearing Valentino. By 1986, Valentino was Italys top fashion exporter, shipping some $385 million worth of sales that year.

In 1990, Garavani opened the Accademia Valentino, an art gallery and cultural institution in Rome. He sold Valentino for around $300 million to an Italian conglomerate in 1998, but continued to design until he retired in January 2008. The months leading up to his retirement were captured in the 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor. In the film, Garavani comments to a reporter: I know what women want, they want to be beautiful.

Garavani also made a cameo appearance as himself in 2006s The Devil Wears Prada.

open image in gallery Valentino Garavani on the front row of his Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter show in 2019 alongside Benedetta Piccioli, Naomi Campbell and Gwyneth Paltrow. ( Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images )

open image in gallery Giancarlo Giametti and Valentino Garavani, pictured in 2006, were business and romantic partners for over 65 years ( Evan Agostini/Getty Images )

When Garavani was profiled by The New Yorker in 2005, the mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni quipped: In Italy, there is the Pope  and there is Valentino. Vogue described him as one of the key architects of late 20th century glamour.

In a 2009 interview on the talk show Charlie Rose, Garavani discussed his method and said: First of all, I start to draw, to make design of clothes. Im not capable of creating anything if I have not designed it. So for me, its my passion. It was always my life. To wake up in the morning, or in the middle of the evening, if I have some idea, to put on the light and to draw clothes.

Garavani is survived by his partner Giancarlo Giammetti, whom he met in 1960 and worked with to co-found Valentino.

Garavanis foundation announced that he will lie in state this Wednesday and Thursday, before a funeral on Friday, January 23 at Romes Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
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Ansel Elgort has reportedly welcomed his first child ahead of the actors first film role in four years.

Last week, the 31-year-old Fault in Our Stars star was pictured walking around New York City carrying a baby on his chest.

A source has since confirmed to People magazine that the baby is indeed Elgorts newborn, whom he quietly welcomed recently. No other details about the babys gender, name, or mother have been released.

The Independent has contacted Elgorts representative for comment.

The news comes amid the West Side Story stars major return to film in the forthcoming movie Dinner With Audrey after he was accused of sexual assault in 2020.

open image in gallery Ansel Elgort is slowly making his way back into acting after he was accused of sexual assualt in 2020 ( Getty )

open image in gallery Elgort starred in HBO Maxs two-season drama Tokyo Vice ( AP )

Ahead of the release of Steven Spielbergs 2021 West Side Story remake, Elgort, who portrayed leading man Tony opposite Rachel Zegler, faced allegations from a woman who identified herself only as Gabby. In a 2020 Twitter post, she alleged the actor assaulted her when she was 17 and he was 20.

Elgort denied the accusations, saying that while he and Gabby did date, it was a brief, legal and entirely consensual relationship.

I cannot claim to understand Gabbys feelings but her description of events is simply not what happened. I have never and would never assault anyone, he wrote on Instagram at the time.

Unfortunately, I did not handle the breakup well. I stopped responding to her, which is an immature and cruel thing to do to someone. I know this belated apology does not absolve me of my unacceptable behavior when I disappeared, he said, adding that he was disgusted and deeply ashamed of the way I acted. I am truly sorry.

open image in gallery Elgort and Rachel Zegler in Steven Spielbergs West Side Story remake ( AP )

Following the allegations, Elgort starred in HBO Maxs two-season thriller Tokyo Vice, before stepping away from Hollywood. In November, it was announced that he had been cast in the upcoming drama Dinner With Audrey, based on the true story of Audrey Hepburns longtime friendship with designer Count Hubert de Givenchy. He will also star alongside Shirley MacLaine in Lucy Boomer, a road trip comedy directed by Howard Deutch.

Elgort first rose to fame for his featured roles in 2014s romcom The Fault in Our Stars and the Divergent film series. He then went on to earn widespread critical acclaim with his leading role in Edgar Wrights action film Baby Driver (2017). His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture  Musical or Comedy.
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Brooklyn Beckham has launched an astonishing attack on his parents and claimed he has been controlled by a family that value public promotion above all else.

The 26-year-old eldest son of David and Victoria addressed their long-standing feud in a six page statement posted to Instagram on Monday night.

Brooklyn announced he has no wish to reconcile with his family and is standing up for himself for the first time in his life.

The former photographer wrote in the post: For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they'll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade. But I believe the truth always come out.

Brooklyn, who married model and heiress Nicola Peltz, 31, in April 2022, claimed that: My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasnt stopped.

open image in gallery Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, pictured with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham has broken his silence to launch an astonishing attack on his parents David and Victoria Beckham ( Getty )

Peltzs parents are the billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz and model Claudia Heffner.

Brooklyn alleged in his post that his mother Victoria had cancelled making Nicolas dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.

Brooklyn also confirmed previous reports that his mother hijacked the first dance at the wedding, writing: 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.

She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everybody. Ive never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.

He added that the couple wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarassment.

He also claimed that: My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.

open image in gallery Brooklyn Beckham pictured with his parents David and Victoria in London in 2019 ( Jeff Spicer/Getty Images )

It was reported last May that Brooklyn and Nicola snubbed his father Davids milestone 50th birthday party, but Brooklyn wrote that in fact the couple had traveled to London for the event but were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him.

Brooklyn continued: He refused all our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and camera at every corner. When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasnt invited. It was a slap in the face. Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.

Concluding his statement, Brooklyn wrote: My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first.

He claimed that he and his wife had gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show our perfect family. But the one time my wife asked for my mums support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.

He also hit out at the narrative that my wife controls me, calling it completely backwards.

I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life, he wrote. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared. I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief.

My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation. All we want is peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.

The Independent has approached David and Victoria Beckham for comment.
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In celebrity cultures most explosive social media post since 2019s Wagatha Christie saga, Brooklyn Beckham has shared his side of the story regarding his long-rumoured feud with his family. But what is the truth?

After years of reports about a falling out between him and his wife, Nicola Peltz, and his parents, David and Victoria, the eldest of the Beckham kids has shared a series of bombshell claims on Instagram.

In his six-slide Story post, the 26-year-old makes several shocking allegations and addresses rumours that have been circulating for years.

Heres a look back at how the drama has unfolded over the years  and, crucially, how Brooklyns new claims differ from the previous narrative.

April 2022: Rumours of a Peltz-Beckham feud began circulating around Brooklyn and Nicolas Palm Beach wedding.

Their big day was about as far away from low-key as you can get, with a rumoured 2.85m budget and a celeb-packed guestlist. But hey, the grooms family are the Beckhams and the brides father is a billionaire, so what did we expect?

At the time of the wedding, a few things raised eyebrows  most notably that the bride did not wear a dress by her mother-in-laws fashion brand, but instead turned to Italian designer Valentino.

Back then, both sides kept schtum on all feud rumours, but Brooklyns Instagram essay now suggests talk of a row was spot on. He also alleges that there were plenty more wedding-related incidents that didnt make it into the papers.

August 2022: Almost six months after the wedding, the newlyweds addressed the dress saga  giving Variety a version of events that has now been contradicted by Brooklyn.

Nicola told the publication that she was going to and really wanted to wear a dress by Victoria. And then a few months down the line, she realised that her atelier couldnt do it, so then I had to pick another dress, she continued.

In a Vogue interview, Nicolas longtime stylist Leslie Fremar also described the Valentino bridal gown as the culmination of a years worth of conversations with Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Picciolis team, plus recounted two trips to the brands Rome headquarters and two further fittings in the States. Fremar described it as the ultimate couture experience.

None of this quite seems to tally with Brooklyns new claim: My mum cancelled making Nicolas dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.

March 2023: After plenty of speculation over who would attend Victorias Paris Fashion Week Show, Nicola joined the Beckhams in the French capital for the big event.

open image in gallery The Beckhams with Romeos girlfriend Mia Regan (left) and Nicola on the right ( PA )

I couldn't do it without you, Victoria captioned a family photo featuring Nicola. I love you all so much.

October 2023: A stony-faced Nicola fulfilled her daughter-in-law duties once again as she attended the London premiere for Davids Netflix documentary.

Victoria famously doesnt smile anyway... so maybe the model-turned-actor was just taking inspiration from her mother-in-law?

April 2024: While the whole Beckham clan, all of the Spice Girls and even Tom Cruise were at Victorias 50th birthday party, Nicola didnt make it.

The 31-year-old did her best to quash rumours of bad blood  which by this point were in full flow  with a post on Instagram explaining that she was spending time with her much-loved grandmother, who died a month later.

On the day of the bash, she wrote: Happy birthday to my beautiful mil @victoriabeckham im so sad im not there to celebrate you and hug you. Sending all my love from me and my naunni. I miss you all so much!

Nicola followed it up with another post on Victorias actual birthday, writing underneath a photograph of them together: I love you so much and love being your dance partner forever.

open image in gallery Victoria and Nicola at the Lola premiere in Los Angeles in 2023 ( Getty )

February 2024: It was now Victorias turn to do her bit to quash the feud rumours and the Spice Girl-turned-fashion-designer jetted over to the States.

VB was there to support her daughter-in-laws directorial debut Lola  the less said about the reviews, the better  and posed for pictures with both Brooklyn and Nicola on the red carpet at the films premiere.

December 2024: The Peltz-Beckhams fulfilled their duties on both sides of the Atlantic over the festive season, spending time with both Nicolas family in Miami and the Beckhams in the UK.

Victoria posted an Instagram carousel of family snaps, tagging her children and daughter-in-law, as well as writing: Being together for the holidays makes me so happy xxxx I love you all so much.

May 2025: David celebrated his 50th birthday with a London bash to rival Victorias  but this time, both Brooklyn and Nicola were absent from all of the celebrations.

Brooklyn has now alleged that he and his wife travelled to London to spend quality time with David the week of his birthday, only to find themselves rejected.

He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner, Brooklyn wrote in his Instagram post.

When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasnt invited. It was a slap in the face. Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.

May 2025: In the same month as the birthday drama, sources from both sides made claims to the tabloids.

One story alleged Nicola fled her own wedding in tears after a celebrity guest strayed from the script when they were supposed to be introducing the newlyweds for their first dance.

A source claimed: [Singer and actor] Marc Anthony announced, Please welcome to the stage the most beautiful woman in the room Victoria Beckham. Brooklyn wasnt quite sure what to do and was put in an awkward situation.

open image in gallery Who knew J Los ex Marc Anthony would have such a big part to play? ( Getty )

A more detailed account of what allegedly happened features in Brooklyns new post, where he claims: My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife.

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. Ive never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.

Meanwhile, another report claimed Brooklyn was being controlled and held hostage by his wife. The eldest Beckham child refutes in his Instagram post, writing: The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards.

I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety.

August 2025: The wedding vow renewal. Without the Beckhams.

Just three years into the marriage, Brooklyn and Nicola decided to renew their vows in Florida. The guestlist was a lot smaller than the one for their actual big day, with fewer than 20 guests versus a mammoth 500. Crucially, apart from the groom, not a single Beckham was among the attendees.

This is yet another decision that has now been addressed by Brooklyn in his Instagram post. 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, he wrote.

November 2025: David Beckham received his much-longed-for knighthood at Windsor Castle on 4 November last year, hailing it as the proudest day of my life.

But, seemingly no longer bothered about keeping up appearances, Brooklyn and Nicola were absent from the prestigious ceremony and decided against posting about it on social media.

December 2025: Brooklyns younger sibling Cruz technically became the first of the Beckhams to take the family drama to Instagram when he hit back at claims Victoria and David had unfollowed his brother on the app.

open image in gallery Brooklyn and Nicola with the Peltzes at Christmas ( @nicolaannepeltzbeckham/instagram )

In a post, the 20-year-old wrote: NOT TRUE. My mum and dad would never unfollow their son [...] Lets get the facts right. They woke up blockedas did I.

In another telling move, the Peltz-Beckhams didnt jet to the UK at all over the festive season and instead spent time solely with Nicolas family.

January 2026: This all brings us to Brooklyns six-slide Instagram post.

The jaw-dropping statement sees Brooklyn claim hes been left with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed, before sharing his version of events.

open image in gallery Brooklyn, David and Victoria Beckham at the 2018 Fashion Awards in London ( PA )

Each of the Instagram Stories is packed with lines that are being pored over, as he alleges: My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasnt stopped.

He claims that in the lead up to their wedding, my mum went so far as to call me evil because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicolas Naunni at our table, because they both didnt have their husbands.

The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was not blood and not family, he adds.

Addressing more recent events, Brooklyn writes: Weve gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show our perfect family.

But the one time my wife asked for my mums support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.

The Beckhams are yet to address the post, but The Independent has contacted their representatives for comment.
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The parents of a missing San Antonio teen have shared their dire fear that their daughter has been groomed or trafficked.

Trinidad Ramirez says that his daughter, Isabella, vanished in the afternoon of January 10, shortly after leaving their home in Texas. Speaking to KENS 5, her father said that he believes that someone had deliberately lured the missing 16-year-old away from her family.

During the broadcast, he also delivered a direct message to his daughter, pleading with her to return home.

Mija, fight, fight for yourself, he cried. Try to get a phone, try to do something. Please, do whatever you can to get away from what youre in.

Last night, an official from the non-profit group Search and Support San Antonio told the broadcaster that she has spoken to a person claiming to be Isabella.

The missing teenager was reached using a cell phone number provided by one of her friends, although the Search and Support official says her disappearance is still being regarded as a missing persons case.

In the meantime, Trinidad implored anyone involved with his daughters disappearance to return Isabella to him safely.

open image in gallery Isabella Ramirez has been missing for eight days, with her father fearing that she has been 'trafficked' ( KENS 5 )

And, if you are hurting my daughter, let her go, he pleaded. Let her go.

Trinidad told KENS 5 that he had grounded Isabella on the morning of her disappearance, as she had left the house during the previous night.

The Texas father revealed that he tried to take away her cell phone and tablet so that she could have no contact with whomever she had met that evening.

The cause of Isabellas disappearance remains unknown, but Trinidad told KENS 5 that the case is a grooming situation and even that his daughter could be human trafficked.

After her disappearance, Trinidad was able to track his daughters movements to a nearby home using phone records. However, when he arrived at the address, Isabella was nowhere to be seen.

As the search continues, Trinidad said that the mounting anxiety is causing him to have sleepless nights.

Im holding strong for my family, but I love my daughter, he said, holding back tears. And I want her home.

open image in gallery Isabella was last seen on January 10 on security camera footage recorded at her home ( KENS 5 )

Search and Support San Antonio has begun distributing flyers with information about Isabella, along with an online statement about her disappearance.

The pressure is on. Eight days is far too long, and no 16-year-old should be being harbored, the statement read. Doing so is illegal.Isabellas family is asking for her to be dropped off at a Walmart or another safe public location.

She will be picked up immediately, with no questions asked, the statement continued. We know there are people who know exactly where Isabella is.

We are asking you to do the right thing and help bring her home safely.

Isabella is described in a flyer distributed by the group as being 53 in height and as having brown eyes and hair.

The flyer also stated that she was wearing grey pants, a dark brown hoodie, and Birkenstocks.

According to the flyer, Isabella is known to loved ones as Izzy and has a distinctive birthmark near her belly button.

Anyone with information about Isabellas disappearance has been urged to call the Bexar County Sheriffs Office on (210) 335-6000, as well as Safe and Sound San Antonio on (210) 338-0027.
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A Utah lawmaker has drafted a bill to block people from crossing the state border with the intention of conducting an illegal, underage marriage.

Representative Melissa Garff Ballards House Bill 103 would criminalise unlawfully marrying a minor, travelling out of state to marry a minor and transporting a minor for an illegal marriage.

However, the bill has put Ballard on a collision course with local religious groups, where underage marriages have been a problem. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints was one such group accused of conducting illegal marriages with minors.

Despite opposition, Ballard has insisted the bill must pass.

open image in gallery Melissa Garff Ballard has created a bill to crack down on child marriages and the trafficking of minors ( Public domain )

"We have report after report of Utah being the crossroads of drugs, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and right now with social media. It's so prevalent with individuals coercing minors to get married or to 'meet me, and we'll get married so that you can come and get away from your families,'" she told Fox 13. "And it's very manipulative."

Current marriage laws in Utah require anyone planning to marry to be at least 16 years old, and anyone under 18 must have parental permission to wed. The Mormon Church also says on its website that it discourages any relationships below the age of 16, as well as polygamous marriages.

However, breakaway sects, including the FLDS, have long been investigated for facilitating illegal, polygamous child marriages.

Warren Jeffs, the current president of the FLDS, was convicted of child sex offences after he was found to have presided over several child marriages in Colorado City, Arizona, according to the FBI.

Several mothers are still searching for their children to this day and have expressed concerns that they could be trapped inside illegal marriages organized by the FLDS.

Elizabeth Roundy, a former member of the FLDS, told Fox 13 that she has not seen her children in years after they seemingly returned to the group. She said that she worries about her daughter being lured into an underage wedding.

open image in gallery Warren Jeffs, the current president of the FLDS, watches the proceedings during his trial on September 19, 2007 in St. George, Utah ( Getty Images )

"I just dont want her to get married young or to get in a bad situation where shes not treated right or with respect or something terrible happens to her like some of those creepy revelations Warren talks about," Roundy said.

Ballard says that her bill will not change existing state marriage laws, but instead crack down on crimes such as the ones committed by Jeffs.

"This is really to say we do not want you in Utah to violate Utah marriage laws or try to go around them by just taking a minor out of state and then returning," Rep. Ballard said. "We do not want you to take advantage of minors in our state, child trafficking, sex trafficking, and we want to help protect them."

Ballards bill will be considered when the Utah State Legislature meets next week. However, the representative says that she is already receiving support from local groups.

"I'm really grateful that people are taking the initiative and trying to help us out, and it's my hope and prayer it'll help to protect all our young children from all these underage marriages that are illegal and terrible," she said.

The Independent has contacted Ballard for comment.
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One Friday night in Southern California in April 2001, 32-year-old Suzanne Sites-Fenton took a break from her retail job, walked out into the parking lot, and vanished.

Detectives would later find her body shot dead in a "desolate" patch of the Mojave Desert, but failed to trace her killer.

Now, following a cold case investigation, authorities say they have finally identified the culprit.

Raymond Silva Gonzalez, 51, from Hesperia in the High Desert northeast of Los Angeles, was arrested last Thursday and charged with murder, according to the San Bernadino Sheriff's Department.

He is currently being held without bail and is due to appear in court on Tuesday. Jail records did not list an attorney.

Ann Sites-Fenton was 32 years old when she was murdered in California's Mojave Desert in April 2001 ( San Bernadino Sheriff's Department )

Suzanne Sites-Fenton was reported missing by her husband on Saturday April 14, 2001, when she did not return home from her night shift at a Mervyn's department store in Victorville, not far from Hesperia.

"During the initial investigation, detectives learned Suzanne took a break and walked into the Mervyns parking lot and never returned to work or home," sheriffs said.

The next day, detectives found Sites-Fenton's vehicle, abandoned but with signs of a struggle. Later they also found her body in a "desolate area" near Hesperia.

"The investigation determined Suzanne was shot and detectives learned she was kidnapped, and sexually assaulted, prior to her death. A suspect was not identified, and the case went cold," sheriffs said.

But in 2025, her case was taken up by the Department's cold case unit, leading officers to arrest him on January 15 this year.

Sheriffs asked anyone with information about the crime to contact them on 909-890-4904, or to submit an anonymous tip at wetip.com.
It was bound to happen eventually, and it appears the calendar flipping to 2026 was the right time for one person to publicly consider that the question surrounding aliens may not be a "what if," but instead, a "when?" There has been an increasing number of theories and beliefs surrounding the existence of aliens, and the topic has seemingly intensified over the past year. Now, a longtime former employee who spent 10 years at The Bank of England, has reportedly flipped the switch from theories to a full-blown warning about extraterrestrial life. Interestingly, one of the biggest reported driving factors behind this warning stems from the United States, and the belief that a significant disclosure is on the horizon.

Former Bank of England Employee Warns of Financial Impact From Alien Discovery

Bank of England in the City of London. Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images  Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images

In a story that features no shortage of eye-opening tidbits, Helen McCaw, who served as a senior analyst in financial security at The Bank of England, sent a message to the bank with a significant alien warning. The short of it? McCaw wrote to Andrew Bailey, the bank's governor, urging him to prepare for the possibility that the United States, specifically the White House, may confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life, as The Sunday Times reported.

McCaw's overarching concern includes her belief that if the White House were to declare this, it would significantly impact the markets and could ignite bank collapses. She cited the United States appearing to be "partway through a multi-year process to declassify and disclose information" regarding alien life forms, per The Times.

"The United States government appears to be partway through a multi-year process to declassify and disclose information on the existence of a technologically advanced non-human intelligence responsible for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs)," she claimed.

While there are no shortage of outspoken believers in extraterrestrial life issuing warnings and discussing the topic across social media platforms, the comments coming from a longtime member of the UK's central bank will undoubtedly turn heads.

McCaw: Government and Banks May Not Be 'Properly Briefed' on Extraterrestrial Life

The longtime Bank of England employee expanded on the topic, discussing the possibility of a "power or intelligence greater than any government," referencing the "unknown intentions" that would come with it. McCaw added to her belief that the government's leadership and central banks may not be "properly briefed" on the topic of aliens or other life forms.

"If the UAP proves to be of non-human origin, we may have to acknowledge the existence of a power or intelligence greater than any government and with potentially unknown intentions," McCaw said.
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A man wanted in connection with the suspicious death of a 37-year-old woman was arrested by Texas police while wearing a sweatshirt reading, I will put you in a trunk.

Margaret Pennington, 37, was found dead inside an Azle, Texas, home on January 11. Now, Kruz Dean Wanser has been arrested after he was sought in connection to the suspicious death of Pennington, the Azle Police Department said Thursday in a statement.

In a picture attached to the police departments statement, Wanser is seen wearing a purple sweatshirt with white lettering that reads, I will put you in a trunk and help people look for you.

Stop playing with me, the sweatshirt reads in a cursive font.

Kruz Dean Wanser was arrested while wearing a sweatshirt that reads: 'I will put you in a trunk and help people look for you, stop playing with me.' ( Azle Police Department )

The police department said Wanser is being held on four charges, which include tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance; and a parole violation warrant.

Penningtons cause of death is still being determined, and the case is still under investigation, the police department said Thursday.

When contacted by The Independent, Azle Police Chief Ben Hall said there are "no updates" on the case as of Tuesday morning.

"Parker County District Clerk has the case for tampering with a corpse, and the other warrants were out of Tarrant County. I don't anticipate any further updates soon," Hall said.

The Azle Police Department coordinated with multiple agencies to arrest Wanser, including the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Investigations Division, the Texas Rangers, the U.S. Marshals, and Parker County Special Crimes.

The Azle Police Department previously announced Wanser was a wanted fugitive and a person of interest in a suspicious death investigation. Members of the public who provided information about Wanser were eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, the agency said on January 12.

Its unclear if Wanser has obtained an attorney. The Independent was unable to identify an attorney for Wanser to request comment.

Pennington had a creative and sentimental spirit, according to an online obituary.

She found comfort in baking, crocheting, enjoyed music, had a keen interest in genealogy, and loved collecting vintage treasures that carried history and meaning. She valued time spent with friends and family and was known for her spunky personality, quick wit, and unmistakable sense of humor, the obituary reads.

Though small in stature, she had a strong presence and a way of leaving an impression on those who knew her.
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Twin brothers in Texas have been arrested in connection with two November murders, including one that police say was revenge for a robbery that they were the victims of.

Samuel Gbadebo and Solomon Gbadebo, both 20, were arrested last week and charged with murder after authorities say they carried out one of the killings as revenge for a 2021 robbery, during which their victim forced them to strip naked at gunpoint, FOX 4 reported.

The first killing took place at an apartment complex in north Fort Worth on November 15, 2025. Authorities said a white Nissan Altima was seen on security footage driving into the complexs parking lot around 1:30 a.m.

Soon after, Devan Randles, 19, was seen in the footage with three other men. Authorities say they believe Randles and the other men were breaking into cars in the complex at that time.

However, a shooting later unfolded, and Randles body was found with gunshot wounds. Randles was later pronounced dead. Authorities did not say what led to the shooting.

open image in gallery Solomon Gbadebo (left) and Samuel Gbadebo (right) were arrested last week in connection with two murders that took place in November in Fort Worth, Texas, including one killing that was allegedly revenge for a robbery they were victim to in 2021, according to a report ( Fort Worth Police Department )

The Altima was caught on surveillance footage fleeing the scene soon after the shooting, but no suspects were found after authorities investigated.

Later that month, another man was killed in the early hours of November 30 in the parking lot of Flips Patio Grill.

Isaiah Gonzales, 20, an employee of Flips, was seen leaving the establishment with his girlfriend around 2 a.m.

The footage showed two other men, who had been loitering in the parking lot, running up to Gonzaless car and firing guns through the windshield. Gonzales was critically wounded in the shooting and later pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the report.

In the immediate aftermath, authorities found shoe patterns matching Nike Air Force 1s leaving the scene, but were unable to identify any suspects.

Later investigations identified the twins as suspects in both murders, according to the report.

Authorities determined that the Nissan Altima from the first murder was connected to the second, and then traced it to the Gbadebos mother. The twins were also later observed wearing clothes and shoes that matched previous crime scene evidence.

Fort Worth police conducted a search of the twins apartment on December 12, but no items were seized and not enough evidence was found to connect the men to the killings.

However, that same day, Samuel Gbadebo was arrested after a police chase in the Fort Worth area, but later bonded out because there was not enough evidence connecting him to the murders.

Authorities investigation led to the brothers arrest last week, according to the report.

The search warrant affidavit revealed some information about how the twins were associated with one of their victims.

A tipster reportedly told police that Gonzales, the victim in the second shooting, had robbed the brothers and held them at gunpoint years earlier. During the robbery, Gonzales forced the twins to strip naked in front of the camera.

The tipster also told police they heard the twins were responsible for Gonzales death, the warrant said.

Investigators later found video evidence while searching Gonzales belongings that showed two young Black men being held at gunpoint while naked.

Authorities said they used facial recognition technology to determine the two men were the Gbadebo twins.

The brothers apparently reported being robbed in 2021, however, FOX 4 was unable to find documentation of Gonzales ever being arrested for the alleged robbery.
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X CEO Elon Musk has called for his artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, to have a "moral constitution" after a rocky week for the app that left it banned in some countries.

"Grok should have a moral constitution," Musk wrote on Sunday.

It's unclear what specifically prompted the call from the world's richest man, but it may be related to the controversy surrounding his Grok app and its penchant for digitally stripping womens clothes off without their consent.

Earlier this month, Grok rolled out a photo editing feature, allowing users to prompt the app to make changes to photos they share to X.

Many users took that opportunity to upload photos of women to the website so that Grok could put them in bikinis, lingerie, or suggestive positions. In many cases, the people uploading the images were not the subjects of those images, and did not have permission from the subjects to use them.

The trend went on for days before XAI addressed the issue. The company updated Grok, limiting its photo editing capabilities to paid X subscribers and prohibiting the app from removing people's clothes in parts of the world with strict modesty laws.

X CEO Elon Musk said his Grok chatbot should have a moral constitution after users spent more than a week prompting it to make nonconsensual sexual images of real women they uploaded do the social media site ( PA Wire )

While the update appears to have made it more difficult for users to churn out nonconsensual sexual images of people, some users have found workarounds.

Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have all ruled to block Musk's Grok app in their countries, citing its ability to produce sexual, nonconsensual images.

Despite the ban, determined users  especially those with VPNs  can still access Musk's app.

At the height of Grok's use as a softcore revenge porn generator, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the chatbot would be integrated into the Pentagon's networks.

"Very soon we will have the worlds leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week.

The announcement that Grok  which had spent the previous week undressing women for internet perverts  would have access to classified military networks left some experts understandably critical.

"The real question is what additional guardrails and testing will be applied to ensure it doesn't reproduce the same behaviors once it's inside military systems," a former senior defense cybersecurity official told Bank Info Security under condition of anonymity.

It's unclear if Musk's call for Grok to have a "moral constitution" is something he will actually act on.

In the meantime, he's hoping to redirect some of the heat Grok has been getting by pointing out that his AI chatbot isn't the only soulless, amoral clump of algorithms causing misery.

"This is diabolical. OpenAIs ChatGPT convinced a guy to do a murder-suicide!" Musk wrote on Monday, referencing the Stein-Erik Soelberg murder-suicide. "To be safe, AI must be maximally truthful-seeking and not pander to delusions."
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Microsoft has issued an urgent fix for Windows 11 after a recent security update caused several major issues with the operating system.

One of the bugs prevented some systems from shutting down or hibernating properly, causing computers to reboot rather than swich off.

Another problem prevented users from logging in via a remote desktop, while another caused Microsoft Outlook to crash.

The initial security update that introduced the issues was released on 11 January, with an emergency fix for two of the bugs rolled out on 17 January.

Microsoft has identified issues upon installing the January 2026 Windows security update, a blog post from the company stated.

Devices with Secure Launch might fail to shut down or hibernate: This issue only affects Windows 11, version 23H2.

The remote login connection failures impacts more versions of Windows 11, as well as some versions of Windows 10.

The Outlook problem is also far more widespread than the shut down issue, however no fix has yet been issued.

Windows 11 is the worlds most popular operating system for laptops and computers, having surpassed its predecessor, Windows 10, last July.

The latest issues with Windows 11 come just three months after Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10, meaning users of the older operating system will no longer receive free security patches.

Microsoft will no longer provide security and feature updates and technical support for Windows 10 PCs, Microsoft executive Yusuf Mehdi wrote in a blog post at the time.

While these devices will continue to function, they will no longer receive regular security updates, making them more vulnerable to cyber threats, such as malware and viruses.

Despite the lack of support, an estimated 40 per cent of all Windows users still run the decade-old operating system, according to figures from StatCounter Global Stats.

Consumer organisation Which? warned that anyone still using Windows 10 is more at risk to hackers and scams, while some apps may no longer function properly.

Microsoft has introduced an extended security program for Windows 10 users who are unable to update their device to the latest operating system.

The paid-for service is aimed at reducing the risks of cyber attacks, however it will end on 13 October this year.
Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) is one of the 12 Best American Energy Stocks to Buy Now. On January 15, Benchmark reiterated its Hold rating on Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) after the company announced a debt issuance to partially fund an acquisition.

Benchmark noted that the company issued $750 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.40% senior unsecured notes due 2036. Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund its $2.8 billion acquisition of HG Energy II. According to Benchmark, the company intends to fund half of the acquisition price through this debt issuance and the divestiture of its Ohio Utica Shale upstream assets for $800 million.

Benchmark and Barclays Maintain Neutral View on Antero Resources (AR)

The rest of the purchase price will be financed through a three-year term loan of $1.5 billion. The research firm believes that Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) should be able to repay this term loan by the end of 2027. This points to a defined path toward reducing debt after this major acquisition.

Earlier, on January 7, Barclays also reiterated its Hold rating on Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) with a price target of $46 on the stock.

Antero Resources Corporation (NYSE:AR) is an independent natural gas and natural gas liquids company operating in the Appalachian Basin in West Virginia. It is a major supplier of liquified natural gas (LNG) in the US.

While we acknowledge the potential of AR 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 Stocks that Will Bounce Back According to Wall Street Analysts and 10 Best US Penny Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Dateline closes in on US gold feasibility study as bullion soars Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Michael Busbridge January 19, 2026  4:53pm 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 is closing in on completion of its Colosseum gold feasibility study in California, boosted by strong metallurgical results. Its work appears perfectly timed as the gold price surged to an all-time high of US$4,690 (A$7012) an ounce this morning. The all-important metallurgical leach work has confirmed the recovery assumptions of 91 to 92 per cent at a 106-micron grind size used in the scoping study 9 months ago and has added confidence to a conventional carbon-in-leach processing route. Excavation has uncovered intact leach tank footings, mill foundations and crusher infrastructure at Datelines Colosseum gold project in California, now being assessed for reuse in the planned redevelopment. New geotechnical studies have also identified a more efficient open pit design, with higher initial capital costs more than offset by todays loftier gold prices compared to those used in the original scoping study. Dateline says it was able to fast-track the companys feasibility work and rein in costs by drawing on well-established assumptions from Colosseums original mining campaign prior to its 1993 closure, which have now been backed up with the latest findings.

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Our focus remains firmly on delivering the final stages of the Bankable Feasibility Study. Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi The historical gold mine used a standard conventional wet tailings storage facility to contain the fine residual tailings. The planned redevelopment will use an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient dry-stack process. By using a filter press to mechanically remove moisture from the tailings, water can be recycled, reducing water loss in the production process. Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi said: The Colosseum project is progressing to plan, with all key workstreams advancing in parallel. Its business as usual; our focus remains firmly on delivering the final stages of the Bankable Feasibility Study and the construction tasks ahead. The alignment of current results with historic mine performance confirms that Colosseum is a well-understood system, positioning the project for a lower-risk and efficient redevelopment. The Colosseum BFS remains on track for completion in the first quarter of 2026. A previous scoping study released 9 months ago outlined a potentially solid mining operation forecasting production of 635,000 ounces over an initial eight-year mine life. The study also projected net revenues of US$827 million (A$1.245 billion), a net present value of US$550 (A$282 million) and an internal rate of return of 61 per cent. At that time, the study used a gold price assumption of US$2900 (A$4340) per ounce. However, wind the clock forward and, with prices surging today to all -time highs of $US4690 ($A7012) for an ounce of the yellow metal, the economics of the project look set to be supercharged.

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The project hosts 27.1 million tonnes grading 1.26g/t gold for 1.1 million ounces, with more than 67 per cent classified as measured and indicated. Elsewhere and in a strategic move to add to its exploration portfolio, the company recently completed an all-scrip deal worth 8 million Dateline shares to buy the promising Argos strontium project, about one hundred kilometres from its Colosseum project By taking on the project, Dateline has put its critical minerals diversification into overdrive. Argos is the largest known strontium deposit in America and the sole domestic deposit of scale. No strontium is currently produced in the US. Strontium plays a vital role in electric vehicles and the growing space systems sector. Having the only notable US strontium deposit puts Dateline in an enviable position as it pushes to advance its project. With Colosseums rapid development coming amid ballooning gold prices, a diversified Dateline appears to be well-positioned to deliver on its goal of transitioning from explorer to developer. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Gateway steps on the gas in WA Wiluna gold chase Brought to you by Bulls N Bears Doug Bright January 19, 2026  7:16pm 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

Gateway Mining has turned up the heat on its flagship Yandal gold project 85 kilometres northeast of Wiluna in Western Australia, with fresh aircore assays confirming significant high-grade gold mineralisation along a trend that encompasses the companys emerging Mustang-Pony prospects. Drilling has continued to define two major structures - the regional-scale Celia Shear to the west and the Mustang Shear to the east  which are both clearly associated with gold mineralisation. Gateways Mining geological staff logging core at the companys Yandal gold project near Wiluna in Western Australia. Wide-spaced aircore lines at 200m and 400m spacings have clipped the targeted mafic-intermediate contact on the Celia Shear in fresh rock, delivering standout bottom-of-hole results that point to a robust mineralised system. Key intercepts include 2 metres grading 3.4 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 148m to bottom-of-hole, within a 6-metre run at 1.4g/t gold from 144m.

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Further to the east on the Mustang Shear, gold anomalism in saprolite has now been intersected over 2.5km in strike. A second hole returned 16m going 1g/t gold from 136m, including 4m at 2.9g/t gold from 148m. Further encouragement came with a third hole, which delivered 8m grading 1.2g/t gold from 92m, including 4m at 2g/t gold from 96m - still in the oxide zone. The higher-grade zones in the first two holes - spaced 100m apart  represent intercepts that pierced the Celia shear structure, confirming it may host significant gold. Other drilling also nailed the same structure 200m further south, confirming the trend remains open and is expanding, although assays are still pending.

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Just 1km east of the Celia shear zone, wide-spaced aircore drilling on the Mustang Shear has defined anomalous gold in saprolite over 2.5km of strike, open to the north and south, with the key mineralised contact still largely untested. Gateway Mining executive chairman Andrew Bray said: Drilling across the two key shear structures  the Celia Shear and the Mustang Shear  continues to demonstrate widespread gold anomalism. On the Celia structure, MPAC187 intersected 2m @ 3.4gt Au (fresh) in the final two metres of the hole before blade refusal, and 300m to the south, MPAC231 intersected the same structure with 4m @ 2.9g/t Au (fresh) right near the end of the hole. Drilling along more than 8km of the known Mustang trend has consistently bracketed the key shear zone between intercepts, prompting Gateway to fast-track tighter infill aircore drilling on multiple lines to pinpoint the contact more accurately ahead of follow-up reverse circulation (RC) drilling. Gateway says ongoing bottom-of-hole sampling for multiple elements, combined with historic data, is sharpening the geological map, highlighting mafic-intermediate contacts that directly link to high-grade mineralisation identified at the companys recently acquired Horse Well gold camp. The Mustang shears flexures and structural complexity - especially in the underexplored southern area where it converges with the Celia Shear  appear to have created prime structural traps ripe for hosting large-scale gold systems.

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With two rigs mobilising to the project shortly - one infilling and tightening the hole-spacing around stronger anomalism and the other systematically stepping southwards - Gateway is ramping up the hunt. Follow-up RC drilling will zero in on the refined shears once they have been mapped in greater detail. With the bit between its teeth and $13 million in cash and liquid assets as at the end of the September quarter, plus a post-quarter $22.5 million raise, Gateway is well placed to chase this emerging system in one of WAs hottest gold belts. Early positive signs are stacking up strongly, with high grades in fresh rock, open mineralised trends and clear geological and structural ties to proven gold camps, putting the Yandal fringe area firmly on the radar as a potential new Eastern Goldfields play. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au

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Bondi heroes 'show us the way' for Australia after terror attack

Local MP Allegra Spender issued an emotional plea for Australia in a speech on the condolence motion for the victims of the Bondi terror attack.
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After that, Wheaton Precious Metals can buy nearly 7% of Hemlo's payable gold output, until another 117,998 ounces of gold are delivered (the "Second Dropdown Threshold"). After that, Wheaton Precious Metals can purchase 4.5% of payable gold for the rest of the mine's production lifetime.

As an example, take the company's November deal with Hemlo Mining to help the latter acquire a mine just north of Lake Superior. Under the streaming agreement, Wheaton Precious Metals is providing $300 million to Hemlo to develop its mine, in return for the right to buy 10% of its payable gold output, until 135,750 ounces of gold are delivered (the "First Dropdown Threshold").

Wheaton Precious Metals is a precious metals streaming company, meaning it provides financing upfront for mining projects in return for the right to buy a fixed amount of the mine's production at a discount to spot price. These discounts can be very steep, which allows Wheaton Precious Metals to amplify its earnings during gold booms.

Whether gold prices surge, drift higher, or even stay flat from here, it's good news for Wheaton Precious Metals. Its shares have already benefited enormously from the ongoing gold boom, having returned 128% over the last year. That's a solid beat on gold's 68% rise, and the nearly two-to-one beat is no accident. Thanks to some powerful advantages of its business model, this Vancouver-based company with just 44 full-time employees has a long history of outperforming gold.

If gold simply maintains its momentum, Smallwood's market call will come true with about six months to spare. Now analysts at JPMorgan , Citigroup , and Bank of America have laid out scenarios where gold hits $6,000, though not necessarily this year.

When Randy Smallwood, CEO of Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE: WPM), told Bloomberg Television in October that he was "confident" that gold prices would hit $5,000 per ounce within the next year, his call seemed outlandish. After all, gold had just surged 21% in under two months, and seemed due for a breather. But in the three months since, gold prices have climbed another 15%, and are within striking distance of $5,000 per ounce.

That's because it can buy hundreds of thousands of ounces at an 80% discount.

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What makes the deal lucrative for Wheaton Precious Metals is its right to buy these tiers of payable gold at just 20% the spot price of gold. That's an 80% discount, and it means that the $300 million provided to finance the mine is recouped in a hurry. With gold at $4,626 per ounce as I write, Wheaton Precious Metals' right to buy up to 135,750 ounces from that First Dropdown Threshold alone would net it $502 million in profit, putting the company $202 million ahead if you factor in the $300 million in financing it provided.

Image source: Getty Images.

And if gold prices rise another 10%? Suddenly Wheaton Precious Metals is netting $553 million on the First Dropdown Threshold, while its initial $300 million in financing of course remains constant. Meanwhile, should the 117,998 ounces from the Second Dropdown Threshold materialize, Wheaton Precious Metals would net another $417.8 million at today's prices.

And this is one deal of many. Last November, the company announced another streaming deal on a project in Nevada that entitles it to buy 300,000 ounces of the mine's first 8% of payable gold, at another 80% discount. All told, the company has a portfolio of 23 operating mines around the world, all in politically stable countries.

These mines have an average proven and probable "mine life" of 27 years, meaning that's how long they are expected to produce. This lends some predictability to Wheaton Precious Metals' business model, and the steep discount it can claim on gold, silver, and other metals produced in mines around the world would allow it to be profitable even if gold prices floundered.

Buy Wheaton for an advantage that precious metal can't provide

The advantages of streaming deals have allowed Wheaton Precious Metals to handily outperform gold and silver over one-year, three-year, five-year, and 10-year intervals. Additionally, the stock provides something no precious metal does: a dividend.

In 2025, Wheaton Precious Metals raised its dividend by 6.5%, and now pays a yield of 0.5%. While not hefty, this growing dividend is yet another reason why Wheaton Precious Metals is an attractive choice for investors seeking to capitalize on this gold boom.

Should you buy stock in Wheaton Precious Metals right now?

Before you buy stock in Wheaton Precious Metals, 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 Wheaton Precious Metals 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 $474,578!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,141,628!*

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. William Dahl has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Big Banks Forecast Gold Could Hit $6,000: Is Wheaton Precious Metals a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Man mauled by fox on property north of Melbourne

The father of cancer fighter Tyler Fishlock has been taken to hospital after he was attacked by a fox on his property north of Melbourne.
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NationalNSWBondi shooting Opinion Why demolishing the Bondi footbridge would be a mistake Tone Wheeler Australian Architecture Association president January 19, 2026  7:00pm

January 19, 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

There are many reasons to resist a NSW premier keen to demolish the concrete arch bridge at Bondi. On December 14, two gunmen shot and killed 15 people attending a Jewish community event nearby. They used the bridge as a platform for their deadly mission. Chris Minns said his personal view was that the structure should be removed. I would just hate it to be a ghoulish reminder or even exploited by reprehensible people in the future, he said. I disagree. There are many reasons it should be retained as a key part of Bondis history. Waverley Council has opened a public discussion to determine what should be done with the footbridge at Bondi Beach. Louise Kennerley

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Firstly, its the physical. The bridges heritage value is more than its 100-year age, more than its art deco aesthetic, more than being a safe crossing of a car park. The bridge is an essential, albeit small, part of the genius loci  spirit of place  of the Bondi esplanade: the wide sweeping curved space between the beach and buildings on Campbell Parade. It is of a piece with so many curves, created or inspired by the beach, the boardwalk, the wide arches of the pavilion, the paths, the plantings, even the post-modernist North Bondi Surf Club, all reinforced by the architectural style of the apartments facing. This is what we see and how we understand the physical place as we walk through Bondi esplanade. Then theres the emotional. We have such strong feelings for this beachside paradise: A connection born of consistency and constancy. When Sydneysiders think of Bondi, we dont distinguish between its natural beauty and the built environment around it. Its always been that way in our memory: action and vistas when appropriate, shade and quiet when needed. We have a bond with Bondi. Demolition would take a small, but key, part of that away. As well as the utter tragedy of those murdered, the atrocity was a cataclysm for the Jewish and wider community. It transformed everyones sentiment for Bondi. Even uttering its name now engenders different thoughts and feelings. It tears at every emotional connection, which I presume is part of the terrorists motivation: to not only attack Jews, but to disrupt the wider world. Physical removal of a part of what makes Bondi the place it is only plays into the hands of those monsters, forcing us to transform our world in memory of them.

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The premiers misguided logic may extend to demolishing everything connected with the atrocity: the tree that protected Ahmed al-Ahmed, the ground where bullets lodged, the road and verge where the car  carrying bombs, flags and guns  was parked. Thats an overreaction, but once started, where do you stop? Demolition has not occurred at other sites of recent atrocities. The Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, where an Australian murdered 44 worshippers in 2019, remains in place, determined to flourish. The Bataclan Theatre in Paris, where 90 people were murdered by terrorists in 2015, reopened a year later and continues to operate as a live music venue. Related Article Bondi shooting To stay or go? Council debates future of Bondi pedestrian bridge We should not be fearful of the continued existence of this small bridge. Far and away most people would to be respectful. Bad behaviour on it would not only be sanctioned by law, but the Bondi community would also immediately call it out, creating a potential source for learning about antisemitism. The age of the structure is being cited as reason for demolition. However, if it received the attention and care given in the brilliant resuscitation of the Bondi Pavilion by Waverley Council and architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, we would get an enhanced structure: maybe one that helps erase the memories of December 14. It is noteworthy that every image of the recent mourning has the stunning giant curved opening of the restored Pavilion in the background.

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Lastly, a retained bridge would not be an appropriate site for any memorial in my view. Never commemorate the killers. I was pleased to see that Bondi residents, community groups and Jewish leaders have urged Waverley Council not to demolish the footbridge. A grove of 15 trees planted in the park, accompanied by a curated memorial marking where our Jewish friends were murdered  meeting Bondis place, style and feel  would be an oh-so-fitting way to remember the victims. Tone Wheeler is president of the Australian Architecture Association and the design director of environa studio, which specialises in social and sustainable architecture. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalVictoriaHealthcare A womans choice over risk: The new birth rules for Victorian hospitals Henrietta Cook January 20, 2026  5:33am 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 states health watchdog has ordered doctors and midwives to support women who refuse medical treatment during pregnancy and childbirth, even if it risks permanently harming their unborn babies. The Safer Care Victoria guidelines, which quietly came into effect this month and is the first document of its kind in the state, coincide with growing concerns about the prevalence of birth trauma and an anecdotal rise in the number of women choosing freebirths outside the hospital system to avoid unwanted interventions. Many pregnant women are making informed decisions that deviate from the pathway of care recommended by clinicians. Getty The road map details how medical staff should respond to cases where a mother declines medical advice and treatment despite her own health, or that of her unborn baby, deteriorating. In these high-stakes moments, staff are instructed to respectfully inform the woman ... that permanent harm may not be avoidable, while continuing to provide support without intervention.

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In cases where women refuse medical treatment, the watchdog advises hospitals to reduce the number of staff in the room, keep an emergency team on standby in case the mother changes her mind, and appoint a scribe to document all conversations. It also reminds hospitals and health workers that under Australian law, a fetus does not hold separate legal rights from the mother. Loading When a woman makes an informed choice about her pregnancy or newborn care that doesnt follow medical advice  even if there are concerns about the babys health  clinicians still have a legal and ethical duty to respect her decision, note the guidelines. This can be emotionally or ethically difficult for health professionals, but Australian law is clear: a fetus does not have separate legal rights, and the womans choices must be respected.

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Dr Nisha Khot, the president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, welcomed the new guidance, and said it would help clinicians and patients navigate complex situations during pregnancy and childbirth. Khot said maternity services were increasingly treating women who were concerned about the rationale for interventions during pregnancy and childbirth and wanted something different to the standard model of care. Dr Nisha Khot, president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Alex Ellinghausen There is more and more of this friction, she said. Women are struggling with it, and clinicians are struggling with it. Khot said she had seen clinicians cite hospital policy as the primary justification for interventions, and fail to explain the actual medical necessity to their patients.

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Related Article Healthcare Hospital exhausted blood supply in attempt to save wellness influencer after freebirth It happens because there isnt a consistent framework, she said. Under the new Safer Care Victoria guidance, clinicians are advised to communicate respectfully, provide evidence-based information and steer clear of fear-based language. They should not use coercive approaches to enforce hospital protocols. These practices can contribute to gender-based harm, the 34-page document states. Alecia Staines, the founder of Maternity Consumer Network, said the guidelines were a vital step in addressing a patient safety and quality issue that had left one-third of women with birth trauma. But she questioned how the guidelines would be implemented, and said staff needed support to roll them out.

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It should never be a trade-off between the womans experience and the clinical outcome, Staines said. If a womans autonomy is upheld, youve actually insulated her against the vast majority of birth trauma. The mother of six said situations where women refuse recommended treatments, despite their health deteriorating, were distressing but rare. The baby actually doesnt have any rights until its detached from the mother, Staines said. The woman gets to make decisions for her and the baby. That is bodily autonomy and human rights because ultimately, she bears the outcome. The anecdotal rise in freebirths was a symptom of a maternity system that was not serving women, Staines said. For the vast majority of women, [freebirthing] is due to not feeling safe  previous trauma and concerns about being disrespected and abused.

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Healthcare Inside freebirthing: Empowerment, distrust and a growing dogma Victorian Coroners Court statistics show that in the decade between 2015 and August 20, 2025, six babies died following freebirth, four died following planned home births with medical staff present, two died after planned home births where medical staff were unable to attend, and 15 died in unplanned home births (often due to premature arrivals). The Coroners Court is currently examining the death of wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke, who suffered catastrophic bleeding following a freebirth in September. Warnecke, 30, is believed to have died from complications of a postpartum haemorrhage after giving birth to her son, Axel, in a water bath at her Seaford home on September 29. Dr Ishita Akhter said that after labouring for hours at a Melbourne hospital in 2022, she was coerced into an unwanted epidural and emergency caesarean despite her repeated requests for a vaginal birth. She said doctors told her the surgery was necessary because the epidural was causing a persistent drop in the heart rates of the first-time mother and her son.

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They brought in doctors and other midwives who said, You have to go for a C-section, not having one could endanger you and the baby, the academic recalled. The situation was so stressful, I had to say yes. Akhter said that moments before being placed under general anaesthesia, she overheard a doctor saying she was fully dilated. Dr Ishita Akhter says she was coerced into an unwanted epidural and emergency caesarean despite her repeated requests for a vaginal birth. Arsineh Houspian She said the surgery robbed her of the golden hour with her newborn son, whom she was not permitted to hold for 20 hours while he was kept in the nursery. She said staff told her that her son was being treated for respiratory distress  despite the baby recording a reassuring APGAR score of 7 and 9 at birth. Akhter underwent therapy for a year following the traumatic birth and now works as a maternity advocate for other pregnant women. A Victorian government spokeswoman said the framework aimed to reduce distress and the sense of being unheard, which are both contributors to birth trauma.

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Related Article Women's health Freebirthing, wild pregnancies and the banned birth keeper The framework was developed by Safer Care Victoria with input from midwives, obstetricians, maternity care teams and women with lived experience of the maternity system, she said. The guidelines were a response to the Victorian Maternity Taskforces call to strengthen respectful, equitable and culturally safe maternity and newborn care, the spokeswoman said. The taskforce, a government initiative to improve maternity services, made a number of recommendations in a report tabled in November, including the creation of a Chief Midwife for Victoria. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaTragedy Irregular teachings and risky pilot behaviour linked to crash that killed brothers, cousin Angus Delaney January 19, 2026  7:26pm 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

An investigation into a plane crash which killed three young Victorians has found irregular flight school practices and the pilots penchant for risk-taking likely contributed to the tragedy. Luke Smith, 20, piloted the light plane that crashed in 2024. In 2024, Luke Smith, 20, was piloting an amateur-built light plane also carrying his 16-year-old brother, Benny, and their cousin, Dusty Daly, 15, when it stalled and then crashed into a Gippsland paddock and burst into flames, fatally injuring all occupants. On the afternoon of November 16, 2024, the plane took off from West Sale Airport and was in the air for 17 minutes before it crashed in Tinamba West. Flight data showed the plane flew from Moorabbin Airport to West Sale Airport two days before the crash. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on Monday released its final report into the accident and concluded unusual teaching practices at the school that taught Luke Smith, Adventure Flight Training, likely contributed to the crash.

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Interviews with members of the school and a review of available records identified a series of irregularities with the way the school trained and examined its pilots for certification, ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said. In particular, Smiths pilot exam history revealed errors about aerodynamic stalling in some of his tests from earlier in 2024, which likely resulted in an inadequate understanding of how to cope with stalling, the investigation found. Remains of the plane, which crashed in a paddock in Tinamba West. Australian Transport Safety Bureau Smith was also counselled on several occasions for unsafe flying, but the instances were never reported to authorities or officially followed up. The investigation revealed a trend of risky flying behaviour by the accident pilot, which was likely compounded by inadequate knowledge from a flight training school that had developed irregular practices in the delivery of training and had inadequate supervision, Mitchell said.

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While many people knew of the pilots risky flying behaviour and had attempted to counsel them, there was no evidence that any of the incidents were reported to authorities, and the counselling efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. The transport safety bureau revealed there were several design deficiencies in Smiths plane which made the victims injuries more severe. Benny Smith, 16, also died in the crash. These included a lack of energy attenuation in the landing gear, which would have absorbed some of the crash impact, and the installation of a fuel tank between the engine and instrument panel that ruptured and caused the post-crash fire, Mitchell said. These characteristics within the design of the aircraft, in this case, increased the risk of occupant injuries, and I would urge amateur builders and designers to consider these factors for their own aircraft, he said.

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Dusty Daly, 15, was the cousin of Luke and Benny Smith. The investigation also revealed shortcomings by Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus), which issues recreation pilot licences and oversaw the Adventure Flight Training school. Although RAAus administered the examination system at the school, it had inadequate controls to mitigate the irregular examination practices identified at the flying training school, the transport safety bureau found. Its investigation found that as Luke Smith received his recreation pilot licence from RAAus, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority subsequently granted him a full pilot licence. Three months before the crash, RAAus identified problems with Adventure Flight Training and suspended the companys chief flying instructor, which meant the flight school stopped operating.

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In the days after the Smith brothers and their cousin died, their families said it was heartbreaking to lose three treasured young men. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this loss, and we ask for your understanding as we focus on supporting one another during this challenging period, the Smith and Daly families said in a statement at the time. We are grateful for the love and support from friends, family, and the community at large. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaCrime Underworld kingpin wins court battle over inhumane prison conditions Melissa Cunningham and Chris Vedelago January 19, 2026  7:25pm 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

Underworld kingpin George Marrogi has won a Supreme Court battle against the Victorian government over his treatment behind bars, which the convicted murderer compared to conditions endured by late South African president Nelson Mandela. The landmark win could force the state to rebuild parts of maximum security units at Barwon Prison and the Metropolitan Remand Centre after the drug lord successfully argued living standards in the prisons were inhumane. George Marrogi. The Age A major part of the case centred on a prisoners right to access open air for at least an hour each day, weather permitting, and whether the facilities where Marrogi has been imprisoned allow for this. Following visits to the prisons, Supreme Court Justice Claire Harris ruled on Monday that the exercise yards in two cells in the Olearia unit at the maximum-security Barwon Prison and four cells in the Exford unit at the Metropolitan Remand Centre did not meet regulations.

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Related Article Courts Gangland boss George Marrogi plotted wild helicopter escape from prison Of cell 23 at the Exford Unit, Harris found: The yard felt enclosed, with limited room to move around and the only view to the outdoors being to the sky above the yard through the mesh on the cells roof. There was no sense of being outside or in an open space. She also found two rear yards in Barwon Prisons Melaleuca unit and three rear yards in the Acacia unit to be small, with little room or facility to exercise and to offer no real feeling of being outdoors or outside. Marrogi sued Victorias Department of Justice and Community Safety in a bid to improve prison conditions, including greater access to open air and more freedom while in custody. His lawyers said prison authorities and the department breached Marrogis rights by depriving him of outdoor exercise and the ability to socialise with other inmates.

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Marrogi told the court: Given the walls of the management unit exercise yards are concrete (except for the rare window), the lack of open air and unobstructed sunlight, and the fact that I was there by myself, it really just felt like an extension of my cell, so it was depressing and brought me no relief from my situation. But authorities argued Marrogis past behaviour and the risk he continued to pose meant the conditions in which he has been held were justified. Marrogi is serving a 38-year sentence for murder and drug smuggling, and has been deemed one of the most dangerous and high-risk prisoners in the state. Harris also ruled on Monday that the way Marrogi was strip-searched on dozens of occasions had breached his rights as a prisoner. On numerous occasions over the period of his imprisonment, he has been strip-searched and then not permitted to dress privately immediately afterwards, contrary to the requirements, Harris wrote in her findings.

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Related Article Courts Crime bosss prison outbursts fuelled by belief he was being targeted I accept that there has been non-compliance on more than the two occasions that the defendants have been able to identify. It is not possible to determine the number of occasions on which non-compliant searching has occurred. Marrogi previously described his life in prison as one of near 24-hour lockdowns and sleep deprivation from construction noise. He complained of being denied phone calls and forced to undergo excessive strip searches and to dress in front of guards. He also alleged prison guards stole a special earring given to him by his sister before her death, and claimed authorities were trying to push him to suicide as a form of revenge for embarrassing them. Hes become obsessed, fixated and paranoid about prison staff. Specifically, he believes the prison is out to harm him, a psychologist who assessed Marrogi found.

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Last year, it was revealed he was caught planning a prison escape in 2022 that involved being flown out of Victorias most secure prison and then smuggled out of the country on a luxury yacht. The plan had advanced as far as obtaining aerial images of the prison, along with design drawings and a tax invoice for a yacht, police found. However, the scheme was foiled after prison intelligence officers intercepted phone calls about the plot and raided his cell. A later operation seized a 28-metre yacht, Bahama, as the proceeds of crime from Marrogis gang, Notorious Crime Family. The search also uncovered documents containing private information about Barwon prison staff, their families and a judge. In 2024, it was revealed Marrogi sprayed a prison guard with faeces and twice set fire to his cell in his battle against prison authorities over his treatment in custody. He also blocked officers attempting to put out one of the fires and assaulted a guard during an outburst fuelled by the belief he was the target of a campaign by prison officers to unfairly punish him. Marrogis case will return to court at a later date for a declaration on further matters. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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WorldAsiaChina relations Are you dead? How anxiety pushed a macabre app to top of charts Lisa Visentin January 19, 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

Singapore: In Chinas sprawling megacities, where millions of people live solitary lives in towering apartment complexes, will anyone notice if they disappear for a few days? What if they get sick or have an accident  who will know and call for help? These are the questions many young Chinese people are asking themselves as isolation-driven anxieties have fuelled the rise of a once little-known app called Are You Dead? to the top of the countrys download charts last week. The app, which was called Sileme in Chinese and pitched as a a lightweight safety tool for solo dwellers, requires users to check in each day by tapping a button. If they fail to do so for two consecutive days it alerts a nominated emergency contact. The app Are You Dead?, pictured on a smartphone in Beijing, surged in popularity among young people in China in recent weeks before developers announced a rebrand to a less controversial name. AP First launched in June as a free app, its soaring popularity prompted the crack team of developers to introduce an eight yuan ($1.72) fee and to announce a rebranding to a less confronting name  Demumu  for its new global version to be released soon.

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In announcing the new Demumu name  a combination of death and Labubu, the plush Chinese toys that have taken the world by storm  the developers urged more awareness of social isolation. We would like to call on more people to pay attention to those living alone and to give them more care and understanding. They have dreams and strive to live well; they deserve to be seen, respected, and protected, the statement said. For many, the apps sardonic branding is a core part of its appeal, tapping into a dark humour among Chinas Millennial and Z generations and spurring widespread discussions about social isolation and death in a country where more than 125 million people live alone. I sometimes fear, what if Im not noticed by others when I fall down because I faint or from sickness? Or in an extreme case I die, but it goes unnoticed? So this app actually alleviates such fear from loneliness to some degree, Yu Maohuan, 29, a geologist in Beijing, says in an interview. Yu Maohuan, a 28-year-old geologist who lives in Beijing, in front of the Lonely Church at Laolihai Lake in Ulanqab City, in Chinas Inner Mongolia region. Sanghee Liu

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Yu currently lives in dormitory-style accommodation and says she doesnt feel the need to download the app just yet, but can see its appeal in the future. A man cuts a solitary figure at the Canal Business District in east Beijings Tongzhou district. Sanghee Liu When my parents become old and my friends get married, but my choice is not to get married and I dont have a stable partner, I may feel such panic and anxiety at that time, she says. With Chinas domestic economy in the doldrums, many young people have flocked to big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen to chase better paying jobs, only to struggle to get ahead, leaving them more likely to shun the idea of having children, experts say. At the same time, the number of Chinas single-person households is growing, with Chinese firm Beike Research Institute, estimating the number of young people aged 20-39 living alone is expected to increase from 18 million in 2010 to 40-70 million in 2030.

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Another factor is Chinas one-child policy. Though officially abandoned in 2016, its legacy for some Chinese people has been a transition from only child to lonely adult. Related Article Inside China Chinas population keeps falling. This is why People are reluctant to socialise, reluctant to marry and have children, said Dr Fuxian Yi, a demographer at University of Wisconsin-Madison and critic of the one-child policy. It comes as the country faces a demographic crunch of an ageing population combined with declining marriages and births. In figures released on Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics, Chinas population shrank for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, declining by 3.39 million to hit 1.405 billion, while its birthrate fell to its lowest level since the founding of the Peoples Republic in 1949. On Douban, a Chinese social media site similar to Reddit, discussions about loneliness and death has flourished as Are You Dead? has gone viral.

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I often even worry that in my current situation, where I have no partner and my relationship with friends is not very close, if my parents get old, once they get sick, there may not even be anyone to accompany me to the hospital, wrote one user, who identified herself as a 32-year-old woman and an only child living in Beijing. Related Article Retail A new generation of Chinese companies is expanding around the world Another user wrote: Some people also say that Are You Dead? sounds inappropriate and should be changed to Are You Alive? It just goes to show that avoiding mentioning death is still a major theme in our society. The surging popularity of the app has taken even the developers surprise. In a statement released on January 11 on social networking site Weibo, they described themselves as a small, unknown team, founded and independently operated by three people born in the 90s. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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WorldEuropeTrump's White House Opinion Appeasing Trump wont work. Could Europe deploy its bazooka over Greenland? Stephen Bartholomeusz Senior business columnist January 19, 2026  11:59am

January 19, 2026  11:59am 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 Donald Trump arrives at Davos later this week hes likely to receive a frosty reception from European leaders now scrambling to decide on a response to his threat to impose tariffs on European, UK and Nordic economies unless they deliver Greenland to the US. His announcement  not an official White House announcement, but a social media posting  that the US would impose 10 per cent tariffs on Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark on February 1, that would escalate to 25 per cent on June 1 until a deal on Americas ownership of Greenland is reached, has already ignited discussion of European retaliation. Donald Trumps threat to increase tariffs unless the US buys Greenland has sparked discussion about retaliation. AP An emergency meeting of EU leaders will be held this week to decide how to respond to Trumps threats, which have been described in Europe as blackmail, but are more akin to extortion. Already in question is the trade deal the EU and US agreed on last July, under which EU exports to the US would incur a 15 per cent tariff, while US exports to the EU would be tariff-free. That deal was supposed to be ratified by the European Parliament late next week, but that vote is now likely to be suspended.

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France, in particular, is pushing the EU to activate its bazooka, or the nuclear option of using the EUs anti-coercion instrument it created in 2023 after China froze all trade with Lithuania, which had allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius under its own name. If the instrument were activated  and thats a big if, given how mutually destructive the US response would probably be  it would enable the EU to limit US access to its markets, restrict US investments in Europe, suspend US intellectual property rights, ban US digital services, bar US firms from bidding for government contracts and shut out US banks from the European banking system, among other measures. Related Article Analysis

Greenland The four reasons Trumps tariff threats wont hand Greenland to him The likelihood that it would result in more tariffs, Europes reliance on the US for weaponry, the dominance of US institutions in the global financial system, the significance of US tech and social media companies within Europe and the probable end of NATO if the anti-coercion instrument was deployed means its activation would have seismic implications for the future of Europe and geopolitics. That makes it a measure of last resort. In the meantime, the EU is busily drawing up plans to revive the 93 billion ($160 billion) of retaliatory tariffs it had identified last year after Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs. Those tariffs were suspended until February 6 this year, pending approval of the trade deal.

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Using the retaliatory tariffs would be less provocative than resorting to the anti-coercion instrument, but would demonstrate that the EU isnt going to simply roll over in response to Trumps demands. The EU has also reached out to Congress, hoping that the threat to NATO and Americas historic relationship with the EU might finally galvanise some Republican opposition to Trumps presidential over-reach. There does appear to be a nucleus of opposition within Republican ranks to the plan to acquire Greenland, whether by buying it or, as Trump has threatened, by force, although whether that translates to anything substantive from a Congress that, thanks to Republican majorities, has acceded to almost everything the White House has demanded is an open question. Why Trump is so insistent on owning Greenland when both Denmark and Greenlanders themselves say the US can, thanks to a 1951 treaty, establish as many military bases as it wants and that they are open to US companies trying to exploit the islands considerable mineral resources, is unclear. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the weekend it was because Europe was too weak to guarantee the security of the strategically important territory in the face of Chinese and Russian aggression.

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Europeans project weakness, US projects strength, he said. The president believes enhanced security is not possible without Greenland being part of the US. It is unclear why Donald Trump is so insistent on owning Greenland. Bloomberg It is uncertain, given that the only information of Trumps latest tariffs came via a social media post, what authority Trump is relying on to impose tariffs on the eight countries he has identified, although Bessent referred to a national emergency. Asked what that national emergency might be, he replied (bizarrely) that the national emergency is avoiding the national emergency.

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As the US could assuage its national security concerns without owning Greenland, one suspects that the real reason Trump is so adamant that it should be acquired, or taken by force, is that he is being driven by personal ambition: he wants a legacy of being associated with the large-scale expansion of US territory. Greenlands land area is larger than that acquired in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 that nearly doubled the then size of America. Its about Trumps ego, not national security. Related Article Analysis

Trump diplomacy Europe will not be blackmailed: Sweeping retaliation on the cards after Trumps Greenland threats If the tariffs were to be deployed under the banner of national security, using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)  as most of Trumps tariffs have been  their threat might be short-lived, or at least postponed until Trump can come up with another mechanism, given that the US Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the IEEPA tariffs imminently. It shouldnt need to be repeated, but if the Supreme Court ticks off on the IEEPA tariffs and the new duties on EU exports to the US are imposed, they would be paid by American importers (contrary to what MAGA believes and some in the White House assert) and add to the cost of goods for American households that are already experiencing affordability challenges. The cost to its own consumers is why the EU refrained from enacting its own retaliatory tariffs last year.

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In threatening to revive them, it knows there would be adverse impacts for its members economies, but would hope that their threat might cause Trump to back off, as he has tended to do when others, like China, call his bluffs (the TACO, or Trump Always Chickens Out trade). Last year, when confronted by Trumps decision to impose punitive tariffs on friends and foes alike, the European response was to appease him rather than risk, not just trade with America, but the future of the NATO alliance at a moment when, with Russia invading Ukraine, an under-prepared Europe needed it. Related Article Opinion

Trade wars Trumps trade war with China is a $1.8 trillion fail Elizabeth Knight Business columnist Trumps assault on Denmark and Greenlands sovereignty, and the reality that the EU cant deliver what Trump is demanding, however, makes appeasement and the fawning flattery that the Europeans deployed to stroke Trumps ego non-viable options. Unless Congress or the Supreme Court intervene, Europe will have to confront some very difficult questions about its own sovereignty and integrity and its place within a world where it can no longer see the US as its major trading partner and a long-standing and protective ally. Russia and China would be struggling to contain their glee at that prospect. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has proposed a "useful" tool to tackle the internet shutdown in Iran.

And the tool is a decentralized messaging app that works without an internet connection.

Related: US sanctioned country explores crypto payments for war weapons

Iran's internet shutdown

Since the end of 2025, multiple cities in Iran have been witnessing massive demonstrations against the deepening economic crisis in the sanctions-hit country.

On Jan. 8, 2026, the Iranian government imposed a near-total internet shutdown, which has left millions of people in the country without a net connection.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks at a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of Major General Qassem Soleimani's death, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force, at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in downtown Tehran, Iran, on January 2, 2025.

Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, reportedly told a cabinet meeting that he "recommended to the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council that internet restrictions be lifted as soon as possible."

Some users reported access to WhatsApp, while outgoing international call and text messaging services have been restored, AFP reported.

More News:

Bill Ackman proposes Jack Dorsey's Bitchat

Ackman, a strong supporter of the state of Israel, wrote on X on Jan. 17 that "Bitchat may be useful in Iran."

Launched last year, Bitchat is a peer-to-peer encrypted and decentralized messaging app developed by Twitter (now X) co-founder Jack Dorsey and Block (NYSE: XYZ).

Three years after co-founding Twitter in 2006, Dorsey co-founded a financial services and technology company called Square in 2009. In 2021, Square got rebranded to Block.

Block has a suite of products that integrate Bitcoin and decentralized technology, such as:

Cash App, a wallet that allows Bitcoin investing

Bitkey, a self-custody Bitcoin hardware wallet

Proto, a Bitcoin mining system

Square, a point-of-sale system with Bitcoin integration

As far as Bitchat is concerned, it allows users to securely send encrypted messages without the use of the internet or a centralized server. Instead, it creates mesh networks using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) between nearby devices.

As per a recent Reuters report, Bitchat's usage has already jumped more than three times in Iran as internet shutdowns rock the country.

Internet needed to download Bitchat

A user reminded that one can't download the app without internet access. Since Bitchat is a Bluetooth-based app, its range is very limited, another user said.

One user quizzed Ackman if the service could be useful in Gaza.
50% of defence production should come through pvt sector





HIGHLIGHTING the rapidly growing presence of private players in various fields, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said at least 50 percent of the countrys total defence production should come through the private sector. He was expressing his views at the inaugural function of Solar Defence and Aerospace Limiteds (SDAL) state-of-the-art Medium Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at Bazargaon. Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule; former MP Ajay Sancheti; Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh; Chairman of Solar Industries Satyanarayan Nuwal; Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company Manish Nuwal; and others were also present on the occasion. Rajnath Singh said, The nature of warfare has changed significantly in the current scenario. Wars are no longer fought only on borders.In fact trade, energy, supply chains, technology, and information have become new dimensions of conflict between countries.

Despite these changes, our country has remained firm on key parameters such asdefence,weapons,and defence manufacturing.Thisis possible because of the growing participation of the private sector, Rajnath Singh said. We want the role of private players in all sectors to increase further in the coming days. To achieve this, our Government is taking all possible steps, he said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also highlighted that the countrys domestic defence production surged from approximately Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 tooverRs 1.5lakhcrore recently, with the private sector contributing nearly Rs 30,000 crore, highlighting a major shift towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing. Rajnath Singh pointed out that India has a unique and effective combination of public and private players in defence production.

On one hand, we have a well-established and experienced public sector,whileon the other hand, there are rapidly growing large private players.This balance is rare in the world, he said, underlining that the Government is leaving nostone unturned to further strengthen this combination. Rajnath Singh further noted Solar Groups ongoing development of the Bhargavastra anti-drone systema micromissile-based hard-kill solution that has already undergone successful test launches. He also commended the Pinaka rocket system, now being manufactured at the facility and exported, with induction into the Indian Army planned in the coming days. Medium-calibre ammunition (23 mm to 40 mm class) forms the backbone ofinfantry combat, armoured vehicles, naval gun systems, and aircraftmounted cannons.

Currently, a significant proportion of these critical munitions is imported, exposing India to risks from export controls, geopolitical uncertainties, and logistics disruptions. To address this vulnerability, Solar Group has established a fully automated, state-of-theart manufacturing facility for 100 per cent indigenous 23 mm, 30 mm, and 40 mm ammunition. The company has also set up a fully instrumented inhouse firing test range for dynamic evaluation of 30 mm ammunition and 40 mm grenades, with a dedicated range for 23 mm ammunition slated to become operational within the next three months. Duringhis visit, the Defence Minister lauded Solar Groups Pinaka Rocket Integration Facility for Pinaka ADM-1, Pinaka ADM-2, Pinaka Extended Range, and Pinaka Guided variants.

On the occasion, he and the Defence Secretary flagged off a consignment of Pinaka Guided Rockets. In alignment with modern battlefield requirements,Solar Group has expanded its defence portfolio to include landmines, warheads, missiles, universal airbombs, and weaponised drones as force multipliers. The company successfully developed and delivered Indias first indigenous loitering munition, Nagastra-1, to the Indian Army. Advanced variants - Nagastra-2 and Nagastra-3 - are in the final stages of development. Solar is also advancing the Bhargavastra hard-kill system based on micro-missiles. Further strengthening its unmanned systems capabilities,Solar Group has launched a major programme for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) class UAVs for surveillance and combatroles.To support in-house testing of these large platforms, the company has constructed a 1.25km-long dedicated runway for take-off and landing operations.
MPs Morwa village to be displaced for NCL project





By Ashish Rajput:

AS THE Sun rises over Morwa, the narrow lanes echo with familiar sounds of temple bells, the call of vendors, children rushing to school. For decades, these sounds have defined life here. Soon, they may fade into memory. Morwa, a township that has been home to families for two and sometimes three generations,is preparing for one of the largest displacement exercises the region has ever witnessed. The expansion of the Jayant Open Cast Coal Mine of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL),a project critical to Indias energy security, will require nearly the entire settlement to be vacated. For residents, the announcement is not merely about land acquisition or compensation packages.

It is about leaving behind homes built brick by brick, neighbourhoods shaped by shared joys and griefs and places of worship that have anchored community life for decades.My uncle settled here, who was NCL employee, in the year 1983, followed by the shifting of his entire family with grandfather from a village in Sidhi district. This land raised us. Now our 9-member family is being asked to leave it behind, says Prince Soni who runs a photo studio near the bus stand. Morwas story is deeply intertwined with coal. Many residents either work directly with NCL or depend on the mining economy for their livelihood.

Ironically, the same industry that sustained the town is now forcing it to move. According to official estimates, around 50,000 people will be displaced to facilitate the extension of the Jayant Open Cast Mine. Nearly 22,000 residential, commercial and religious structures homes, shops, temples, mosques and community spaces, are slated for demolition. Jayant Coal Project is among the most crucial coal-producing units in the country. Its current production of 30 million tonnes is set to rise to 38 million tonnes annually after expansion.

The mine alone supplies nearly 32 per cent of coal to NTPC Vindhyachal and 98 per cent of its total output fuels thermal power plants across India. In policy documents, these figures underline national progress and energy stability. On the ground in Morwa, they translate into uncertainty. NCL has already acquired 927 acres of land, including tenancy land, forest land, and government land, for the displacement process. Officials maintain that rehabilitation and resettlement plans are in place. Yet for many residents, the fear goes beyond physical relocation.
Key Points

Eaton stock nearly fell into its own bear market, dropping just shy of 20% from its 52-week high.

The stock has actually been all over the board -- and is currently down by around 15%.

Are shares of this industrial giant attractively valued at these levels?

10 stocks we like better than Eaton Plc 

Over the past year, Eaton's (NYSE: ETN) stock price has fallen about 2%. Basically, it has gone nowhere, but in an exciting manner. At one point over this span, the shares fell roughly 30%, putting Eaton into its own personal bear market. After a recovery and push to new highs, it fell again, this time just shy of 20%.

The industrial giant's stock is bouncing higher again and is now down just 15% from its 52-week high. Should you buy the stock as it starts to rebound?

What does Eaton do?

Eaton is a globally diversified industrial company. Its core business is making products that help to control the flow of power. About 50% of revenue comes from the company's North American electrical division. Another 25% of the top line comes from its international electrical business.

Very clearly, this company is focused on electricity. The rest of the income statement's top line comes from aviation and automobiles, including a small but growing division dedicated to electric vehicles.

Image source: Getty Images.

This isn't what Eaton has always looked like, which is important to understand. While it has long focused on managing the flow of power, it has existed for more than 100 years. Originally, it made transmissions for trucks. It has also owned hydraulics businesses, though they were recently sold. The company exists as it does today because Eaton has a long history of adapting its business to meet its customers' current demands.

The shift toward electricity aligns with broader global economic trends. Notably, electricity demand in the United States is expected to increase by 55% between 2025 and 2040. That is up from just 9% growth between 2000 and 2020. That is a step change in the rate of growth for utilities, in what has long been considered a boring business. This industrial giant appears well-positioned for the future.

From a business perspective, Eaton is a very attractive company. However, as Benjamin Graham, the man who helped train Warren Buffett, once said, even a good company can be a bad investment if you pay too much for it.

Eaton: Price versus value

After the recent drawdown, is Eaton worth buying? Eaton's price-to-sales ratio is 4.9, which is above its 3.8 five-year average for this valuation metric. The stock's price-to-earnings ratio is 33, compared to a long-term average of 32. And the price-to-book value ratio is 6.9, versus a five-year average of 4.7. The stock's dividend yield is currently around 1.2%, which is toward the lower end of its historical yield range.
Bitcoin could play a growing role in institutional portfolios, according to Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood, who described the asset as a valuable diversification tool in her 2026 market outlook.

In a wide-ranging note, Wood pointed to bitcoins low correlation with other major asset classes, including gold, equities and bonds, as a reason asset allocators should take it seriously.

Bitcoin should be a good source of diversification for asset allocators looking for higher returns per unit of risk, she wrote.

Wood argued that since 2020, bitcoin has shown weaker price correlations with stocks, bonds and even gold than those assets have with each other, according to Arks data. For example, bitcoins correlation with the S&P 500 was 0.28, compared to 0.79 for the S&P 500 versus real estate investment trusts, implying that bitcoin's low correlation with other assets makes it a relatively better bet.

Asset correlations (Ark Invest)

For large institutional investors managing risk-adjusted portfolios, this may open the door for bitcoin to serve as more than a speculative play, said Wood, who has been a bitcoin bull for a while, with a price target of about $1.5 million for the digital asset by 2030.

However, Ark Invest CEO's bullish comments came at a time when Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood did a complete 360 on his bitcoin recommendations for investors' portfolios on Friday.

He removed his call for a 10% allocation into bitcoin and swapped it for gold instead. Jefferies Wood, who added bitcoin to his model portfolio in late 2020 and increased exposure to 10% in 2021, said advances in quantum computing could eventually weaken the Bitcoin blockchains security and, by extension, its appeal as a long-term store of value.

While Jefferies went more bearish on bitcoin's exposure, Caitie Wood's call aligns with what other major financial institutions have been saying recently. Morgan Stanleys Global Investment Committee recommended opportunistic allocation of up to 4% in bitcoin, while Bank of America approved wealth advisors to recommend a similar approach.

CF Benchmarks also pointed to BTC as a portfolio staple, showing a conservative allocation could improve efficiency through better returns and greater diversification. Meanwhile, Brazils largest asset manager, Itau Asset Management, recommended a small allocation to bitcoin as a hedge against FX and market shocks.

Read more: Bitcoin price may hit $300,000 to $1.5 million by 2030, Ark Invest Says
A two-year-old campaign to protect Church of St. Mary (440 Grand St.) as a New York City landmark is picking up momentum. In December, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to add an application for designation to its public hearing calendar (a date has not yet been announced). On January 15, Community Board 3s Landmarks Committee voted to support the application. The full board will likely affirm the committees recommendation at its meeting January 27.

St. Marys was built in 1833, making it one of the oldest Catholic churches in New York City. A local group, Lower East Side Preservation Initiative (LESPI), submitted the application. Because the building owner reportedly is not opposed to landmarking, and there is strong community support, LESPI wrote in a recent press release, preservationists believe there is a good chance the LPC will vote to landmark St. Marys after the public hearing testimony. This will bring long-lasting protection to this highly significant Lower East Side church.

Changes at St. Marys in recent years have caused concern in the community. Since the departure of Father Andrew OConnor, St. Marys has not had a dedicated pastor. Father Thomas McNamara of Our Lady of Sorrows, another Catholic Church on Pitt Street, has been doing double duty. Also, the church office, located in St. Marys rectory building was shuttered.

City Council member Christopher Marte spoke at the beginning of CB3s Landmarks Committee meeting the other night. He said the campaign to designate St. Marys was a grassroots effort initiated by parishioners at St. Marys and local residents. They got to work and collected over a thousand signatures all across the Lower East Side, he explained. Marte then got the team at Lower East Side Preservation Initiative involved. To our surprise, Marte added, they (the LPC) actually scheduled it, which is huge It was really a huge victory for this community because it came from the ground up. It was the parishioners of the church who love the building.

Marte told members of the committee that the Archdiocese of New York will not stand in the way of landmark designation. The Archdiocese reached out to myself and I know they reached out to the LPC saying that they are in support of this landmarking, said Marte, which is huge because, as we know, all throughout the city the Archdiocese has been closing down churches, selling off property, and, for them really not to put up a fight against this preservation, really speaks to the work that LESPI and the work CB3 Landmarks Committee Chair Sandra Strother did behind the scenes to ensure that the community board weighed in on the application.

Also speaking at the meeting was Charlie Schleck, co-chair of St. Marys Parish Council. He said, There is a rumor that has been going around that the church is imminently closing. That is categorically false. Acknowledging the closure of the parish office and the decision to share clergy at St. Marys and Our Lady of Sorrows, he explained, we have had a consolidation in order to get our expenses in line

The Statement of Significance by LESPI included not only the church itself but the adjacent rectory building at 28 Attorney St., which was purchased by St. Marys in 1865. But the rectory was left out of the research brief prepared by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The reasons for that werent immediately clear.

Elaborating on the recent changes at St. Marys, Schleck said, The Archdiocese is very much behind the Parish of St. Marys, but the rectory and (a parking lot on Grand Street), theres just no use for it anymore because the priests live in the rectory at Our Lady of Sorrows. While the rectory and parking lot could be sold in the future for financial reasons, he added, theres no indication that a sale is imminent.

In his remarks, Schleck mentioned that St. Marys has been undergoing significant renovations, first undertaken by Father OConnor before he was reassiged to parishes in Dutchess County. The renovations are about 80% complete.

In its brief, the Landmarks Preservation Commission highlighted both the Church of St. Marys architectural and historical significance. It was founded in 1826 to meet the needs of the growing Irish immigrant population in Lower Manhattan and today, remains an important epicenter of Catholic life on the Lower East Side. In the midst of native and anti-Catholic discrimination, the first church building on Sheriff Street was deliberately burned in 1831. The new church, in its current location on Grand Street, was completed in 1833, featuring a Greek Revival facade. Thirty years later, the church hired an architect, Patrick Charles Keely, to enclose the portico and update the facade in the Romanesque Revival style. Keely became a prolific designer of churches in New York and across the Northeastern U.S.

The LPC wrote, The Church of Saint Mary embodies the history and diversity of immigration to New York City, particularly that of the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It was central to the earliest Catholics who came to New York from Ireland and continues to be an important community institution to more recent Catholic immigrants, including the many from Spanish-speaking communities who make up the congregation today.

Part of the legacy of St. Marys is advocacy for and construction of affordable housing. Under the auspices of the Grand Street Guild, three residential towers were constructed in the 1970s. A fourth affordable building was constructed at the corner of Broome and Clinton streets in 2024 and a fifth just began construction a few weeks ago on a lot directly behind the church.

Lower East Side Preservation Initiative is urging anyone who supports landmark designation for Church of St. Mary to write the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Details about how to do that here. Meanwhile, the church is celebrating its bicentennial this year.




Xcel Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 8,588 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $959,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Oklo in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Oklo in the third quarter valued at about $45,000. Private Trust Co. NA bought a new position in Oklo in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of Oklo by 125.0% during the second quarter. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC now owns 450 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Oklo during the second quarter worth about $28,000. Institutional investors own 85.03% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Oklo

In other Oklo news, CEO Jacob Dewitte sold 26,740 shares of Oklo stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.38, for a total value of $2,978,301.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 808,197 shares in the company, valued at approximately $90,016,981.86. The trade was a 3.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Richard Craig Bealmear sold 5,159 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.97, for a total value of $397,088.23. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 196,913 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,156,393.61. This trade represents a 2.55% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 1,552,800 shares of company stock valued at $137,543,426 in the last ninety days. 18.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. B. Riley lifted their target price on shares of Oklo from $58.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating on shares of Oklo in a report on Friday, January 9th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Oklo from $117.00 to $111.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group started coverage on Oklo in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. They set a buy rating and a $175.00 target price for the company. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Oklo in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Oklo has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $102.13.

View Our Latest Analysis on OKLO

Oklo Stock Up 3.7%

OKLO opened at $94.85 on Monday. Oklo Inc. has a twelve month low of $17.42 and a twelve month high of $193.84. The company has a fifty day moving average of $91.49 and a 200-day moving average of $94.75. The stock has a market cap of $14.82 billion, a PE ratio of -175.65 and a beta of 0.76.

Oklo (NYSE:OKLO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported ($0.20) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.13) by ($0.07). During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.08) EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Oklo Inc. will post -8.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Oklo

(Free Report)

Oklo, Inc is a California-based energy technology company specializing in the design and development of advanced nuclear microreactors. Headquartered in Fremont, the firm focuses on small modular reactor (SMR) technology that leverages fast-neutron fission and liquid-metal cooling to deliver carbon-free power. Oklos core objective is to bring compact, factory-built reactors online within a decade, offering a low-footprint alternative to traditional large nuclear plants.

The companys flagship product, the Aurora microreactor, is a 1.5-megawatt electric (MWe) fast reactor cooled by a sodium alloy.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OKLO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oklo Inc. (NYSE:OKLO  Free Report).

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China reported the world's largest-ever trade surplus last week [VCG via Getty Images]

China said its economy expanded by 5% last year, meeting Beijing's official target as a record trade surplus boosted growth.

The world's second-largest economy reached its goal despite growth slowing to 4.5% in the final three months of 2025.

China's past year has been marked by struggles to boost domestic spending, a prolonged property crisis and turmoil caused by US President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

Experts say the figures point to a "two-speed economy", with manufacturing and exports propping up expansion while people are still spending cautiously and the real estate market continues to weigh on the country.

While China's official figures suggest it hit its growth goal, some analysts question the accuracy of the data given weak investment and consumer spending.

"We think growth is weaker than official figures suggest," said Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, who reckons the official numbers "overstate the pace of economic expansion" by at least 1.5 percentage points.

Also on Monday, data showed China registered the lowest number of births last year since records began in 1949.

The total number of births dropped to 7.9 million in 2025, figures from China's National Bureau of Statistics showed.

Economists said the falling birth rate will compound domestic challenges by weakening demand for housing and consumer goods, adding pressure to an already struggling property market.

Officials said the country's population declined for a fourth year in a row in 2025, falling 3.4 million to 1.4 billion.

The figures highlight China's deepening demographic crisis even as the government tries to boost birth rates by offering couples incentives to have more children.

Last week, China reported the world's largest-ever trade surplus last week - the value of goods and services sold overseas compared to its imports - of $1.19tn (890bn), driven by a rise in exports to markets outside the US.

"China is effectively pushing growth through exports at a loss, and that is not sustainable. Cutting prices may keep volumes up, but it undermines profits and, ultimately, growth," Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at French bank Natixis, told the BBC.

Speaking on Monday, Kang Yi, head of China's National Bureau of Statistics, said the country's economy "faces problems and challenges, including strong supply and weak demand", but added that it will be able to "maintain stable, sound growth momentum this year."
China CGame (OTCMKTS:CCGM  Get Free Report) and Similarweb (NYSE:SMWB  Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and earnings.

Risk and Volatility

China CGame has a beta of 13.88, meaning that its stock price is 1,288% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Similarweb has a beta of 1.1, meaning that its stock price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

57.6% of Similarweb shares are held by institutional investors. 53.4% of China CGame shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 62.4% of Similarweb shares are held by company 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

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score China CGame 0 0 0 0 0.00 Similarweb 1 2 7 0 2.60

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for China CGame and Similarweb, as reported by MarketBeat.

Similarweb has a consensus target price of $12.56, indicating a potential upside of 104.07%. Given Similarwebs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Similarweb is more favorable than China CGame.

Profitability

This table compares China CGame and Similarwebs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets China CGame N/A N/A N/A Similarweb -11.20% -78.25% -8.04%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares China CGame and Similarwebs gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio China CGame N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Similarweb $249.91 million 2.09 -$11.46 million ($0.37) -16.64

China CGame has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Similarweb.

Summary

Similarweb beats China CGame on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About China CGame

(Get Free Report)

China CGame, Inc. develops Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) in China. It focuses on self-developed MMORPGs game titles that are based on Chinas iconic characters and nostalgic epochs. The company owns two self-developed game engines, Turbo and Apocalypse. It intends to sell prepaid game cards to a range of regional distributors in China; and directly sell game points to players through its online sales platform. The company was formerly known as China Architectural Engineering, Inc. and changed its name to China CGame, Inc. in March 2011. China CGame, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Changzhou, China.

About Similarweb

(Get Free Report)

Similarweb Ltd. provides cloud-based digital intelligence solutions in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom, Israel, and internationally. The company offers digital research intelligence solutions for its customers to benchmark performance against competitors and market leaders, analyze trends in the market, conduct deeper research into specific companies, and analyze audience behavior; and digital marketing intelligence solutions for its customers to understand their competitors' online acquisition strategies in each marketing channel, and optimize their own strategies. It also provides sales intelligence solutions for its customers to access relevant buying signals and digital insights of their customers to generate leads quickly; and shopper intelligence solutions for its customers to analyze a view of their customers' digital journeys, monitor consumer demand, increase brand visibility in the search process, and optimize category and product level conversion in the purchase process. In addition, the company offers investor intelligence solutions for its customers to access an end-to-end view of market, sector, and company performance to ideate and monitor investment opportunities; forecast market performance; and perform due diligence. Further, it provides data-as-a-service and advisory services. The company serves retail, consumer packaged goods, consumer finance, consultancies, marketing and advertising agencies, media and publishers, business-to-business software, payment processors, travel, and institutional investors. Similarweb Ltd. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Givatayim, Israel.

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Orange (OTCMKTS:ORANY  Get Free Report) and Farmhouse (OTCMKTS:FMHS  Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and risk.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Orange and Farmhouses revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Orange $43.57 billion 1.05 $2.35 billion N/A N/A Farmhouse N/A N/A -$460,000.00 ($0.03) -2.33

Volatility & Risk

Orange has higher revenue and earnings than Farmhouse.

Orange has a beta of 0.07, meaning that its stock price is 93% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Farmhouse has a beta of 33.24, meaning that its stock price is 3,224% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

12.2% of Orange shares are held by institutional investors. 72.4% of Farmhouse shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Orange and Farmhouses net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Orange N/A N/A N/A Farmhouse N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Orange and Farmhouse, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Orange 1 2 2 1 2.50 Farmhouse 0 0 0 0 0.00

Summary

Orange beats Farmhouse on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Orange

(Get Free Report)

Orange S.A. provides various fixed telephony and mobile telecommunications, data transmission, and other value-added services to customers, businesses, and other telecommunications operators in France and internationally. It operates through France; Spain and Other European Countries; The Africa and Middle East; Enterprise; International Carriers & Shared Services; and Mobile Financial Services segments. The company offers mobile services, such as voice, SMS, and data; fixed broadband and narrowband services, as well as fixed network business solutions, including voice and data; and convergence packages. It also sells mobile handsets, mobile terminals, broadband equipment, connected devices, and accessories. In addition, the company provides IT and integration services comprising unified communication and collaboration services, such as LAN and telephony, consultancy, integration, and project management; hosting and infrastructure services, including cloud computing; customer relations management and other applications services; security services; and video conferencing, as well as sells related equipment. Further, it offers national and international roaming services; online advertising services; and mobile virtual network operators, network sharing, and mobile financial services, as well as sells equipment to external distributors and brokers. Orange S.A. markets its products and services under the Orange brand. The company was formerly known as France Telecom and changed its name to Orange S.A. in July 2013. Orange S.A. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.

About Farmhouse

(Get Free Report)

Farmhouse, Inc. operates a platform for the legal cannabis industry. It provides @420, a Twitter handle public platform that engages with cannabis enthusiasts; WeeClub, a cannabis social network platform that enables industry professionals to connect, discover products and services, and scale their businesses; and Web3 division, which facilitates licensing opportunities between established cannabis brands and influential digital collectible holders to launch digital collectible branded products and accessories. The companys platform serves cannabis producers, retailers, consultants, and supply chain professionals. It markets its products through media, networking, live events, partnerships, search engine optimization, and direct sales calls to existing members. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Francisco, California.

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AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 3,794,675 shares, a decline of 18.4% from the December 15th total of 4,651,135 shares. Currently, 0.9% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,006,657 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.9 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,006,657 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.9 days. Currently, 0.9% of the companys stock are short sold.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on AU shares. HSBC restated a reduce rating and set a $55.00 price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $128.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Roth Capital upped their price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a hold (c+) rating to a buy (b-) rating in a research report on Friday, October 24th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, AngloGold Ashanti currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $86.00.

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AngloGold Ashanti Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE AU traded up $0.60 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $99.15. The stock had a trading volume of 2,517,564 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,905,065. The firms 50-day moving average price is $86.19 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $69.58. AngloGold Ashanti has a 52 week low of $26.78 and a 52 week high of $100.31. The company has a current ratio of 2.58, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The mining company reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $2.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.53 billion. AngloGold Ashanti had a net margin of 26.25% and a return on equity of 24.01%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that AngloGold Ashanti will post 3.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Investors of record on Friday, November 28th were issued a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. AngloGold Ashantis dividend payout ratio is currently 80.18%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 129.0% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 490 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 276 shares in the last quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Ancora Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 33.4% during the third quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 599 shares of the mining companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About AngloGold Ashanti

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AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, production, processing and sale of gold. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the companys core activities span the full mining value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to ore processing and rehabilitation. Gold is the primary commodity produced, with individual operations sometimes yielding other byproducts depending on local geology and processing methods.

The company was formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, creating a diversified international gold producer.

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Quantum Portfolio Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI  Free Report) by 115.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,336 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 2,859 shares during the period. Quantum Portfolio Management LLCs holdings in Armstrong World Industries were worth $1,046,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in AWI. Wealth Alliance LLC grew its position in Armstrong World Industries by 2.5% during the second quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 2,339 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $380,000 after acquiring an additional 56 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,548 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $303,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 16,398 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,664,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 28.9% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 459 shares of the construction companys stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. Finally, State of Wyoming increased its position in Armstrong World Industries by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 3,194 shares of the construction companys stock worth $519,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. 98.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, November 2nd. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $178.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, October 29th. Vertical Research initiated coverage on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research report on Monday, October 20th. They set a buy rating and a $238.00 price target for the company. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $207.50.

Armstrong World Industries Stock Performance

Armstrong World Industries stock opened at $196.25 on Monday. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. has a 12-month low of $122.37 and a 12-month high of $206.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The company has a market capitalization of $8.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.32. The firms fifty day moving average price is $189.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $189.36.

Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The construction company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.99 by $0.06. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 38.97% and a net margin of 19.08%.The company had revenue of $425.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $423.40 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.81 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. Armstrong World Industries has set its FY 2025 guidance at 7.450-7.550 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Armstrong World Industries, Inc. will post 6.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Armstrong World Industries Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 6th were given a $0.339 dividend. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, November 6th. This is a positive change from Armstrong World Industriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Armstrong World Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 19.46%.

Armstrong World Industries Profile

(Free Report)

Armstrong World Industries, Inc is a leading global manufacturer of commercial ceiling and wall solutions. The company offers a diverse portfolio of acoustical, decorative and specialty ceiling systems designed to enhance interior environments in offices, healthcare facilities, schools, retail outlets and other non-residential settings. Through its focus on performance, aesthetics and sustainability, Armstrong World Industries addresses both functional and design requirements for architects, contractors and building owners.

Armstrongs product range includes mineral fiber, fiberglass, wood wool, metal and stone wool ceiling panels, as well as suspension and grid systems.

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Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 2,897,441 shares, a decline of 22.0% from the December 15th total of 3,714,358 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 858,066 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.4 days. Currently, 3.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 3.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 858,066 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.4 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on AVA. Wells Fargo & Company raised Avista to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Avista in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Avista from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Mizuho set a $42.00 price objective on shares of Avista in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $40.33.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Avista

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avista

In other news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of Avista stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.74, for a total value of $69,150.90. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 9,883 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $382,867.42. This trade represents a 15.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. First Pacific Financial bought a new stake in shares of Avista in the 4th quarter worth $798,000. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management bought a new stake in Avista in the 4th quarter worth about $1,086,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Avista by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 19,399 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $751,000 after buying an additional 1,723 shares during the last quarter. A. D. Beadell Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its position in shares of Avista by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. A. D. Beadell Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 44,390 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,710,000 after buying an additional 785 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its stake in shares of Avista by 6.2% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 58,182 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,242,000 after buying an additional 3,376 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.24% of the companys stock.

Avista Trading Up 0.2%

NYSE:AVA traded up $0.09 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $40.18. 746,240 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 603,003. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $39.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $38.21. Avista has a one year low of $35.47 and a one year high of $43.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06.

Avista (NYSE:AVA  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.09. Avista had a net margin of 9.62% and a return on equity of 7.18%. The firms revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.23 EPS. Avista has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Avista will post 2.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Avista Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 24th were paid a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.9%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 24th. Avistas payout ratio is 83.40%.

Avista Company Profile

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Avista Corporation operates as an integrated energy company providing electric and natural gas delivery services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Through its regulated utility operations, the company maintains and upgrades an extensive transmission and distribution network, delivering reliable energy to approximately 400,000 electric customers and 324,000 natural gas customers across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to its core utility business, Avista invests in owned generation assets, including hydroelectric, natural gasfired, coal and wind facilities, to support system reliability and long-term supply planning.

Founded in 1889 as the Spokane and Inland Empire Water Power Company, the business adopted the Avista name in 1999 to reflect its growing energy portfolio and strategic focus on innovation.

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Black Diamond Group (TSE:BDI  Free Report) had its price objective increased by BMO Capital Markets from C$18.00 to C$20.00 in a report published on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Acumen Capital boosted their target price on Black Diamond Group from C$14.50 to C$17.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price objective on Black Diamond Group from C$13.50 to C$17.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Black Diamond Group currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$18.00.

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Black Diamond Group Price Performance

Shares of Black Diamond Group stock opened at C$16.68 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of C$1.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.76 and a beta of 0.85. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$14.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$13.32. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 88.46. Black Diamond Group has a 1-year low of C$7.60 and a 1-year high of C$16.80.

Black Diamond Group (TSE:BDI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported C$0.18 EPS for the quarter. Black Diamond Group had a net margin of 6.46% and a return on equity of 8.11%. The firm had revenue of C$105.32 million for the quarter. On average, equities analysts predict that Black Diamond Group will post 0.5349233 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Robert Wagemakers sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$14.10, for a total transaction of C$282,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 543,580 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$7,664,478. The trade was a 3.55% decrease in their position. Insiders own 23.83% of the companys stock.

Black Diamond Group Company Profile

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Black Diamond Group Ltd rents and sells space rental solutions and modular workforce accommodations to business customers in Canada, the United States and Australia. The company also provides specialized field rentals to the oil and gas industries of Canada and the United States. Besides, Black Diamond Group provides turnkey lodging services, as well as a host of related services that include transportation, installation, dismantling, repairs, maintenance, and ancillary field equipment rentals. From its locations, the company serves multiple sectors including oil and gas, mining, power, construction, engineering, military, government, and education.

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Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS  Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the twenty analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $81.4118.

A number of research analysts recently commented on FIS shares. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Fidelity National Information Services from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a $70.00 target price on shares of Fidelity National Information Services in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group upped their price target on Fidelity National Information Services from $82.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Citigroup raised Fidelity National Information Services to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $93.00 to $86.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 6th.

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Fidelity National Information Services Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of FIS stock opened at $63.38 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. Fidelity National Information Services has a twelve month low of $59.51 and a twelve month high of $83.97. The companys 50-day moving average price is $65.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $68.97. The stock has a market cap of $32.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 234.74 and a beta of 0.93.

Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The information technology services provider reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.48 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $2.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.65 billion. Fidelity National Information Services had a net margin of 1.45% and a return on equity of 19.76%. Fidelity National Information Servicess revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.40 earnings per share. Fidelity National Information Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.740-5.780 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Fidelity National Information Services will post 5.74 earnings per share for the current year.

Fidelity National Information Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 9th were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 9th. Fidelity National Information Servicess payout ratio is 592.59%.

Institutional Trading of Fidelity National Information Services

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. NewSquare Capital LLC raised its position in Fidelity National Information Services by 115.1% in the second quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 357 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the period. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services in the third quarter valued at $29,000. LRI Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 613.1% in the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 435 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 374 shares during the period. Raiffeisen Bank International AG acquired a new position in Fidelity National Information Services during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in Fidelity National Information Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.23% of the companys stock.

About Fidelity National Information Services

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Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE: FIS) is a global provider of financial technology solutions and services for banks, capital markets firms, merchants and corporations. The company develops and delivers software, processing, and outsourcing services that support core banking, payments and merchant acquiring, wealth and retirement platforms, risk and compliance, and trading and capital markets operations. Its offerings include cloud-based and on-premises core banking systems, card processing and gateway services, e-commerce and point-of-sale payment solutions, and a range of back-office and advisory services designed to automate and modernize financial operations.

FIS serves a broad international client base across North America, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region through a combination of direct clients and partner channels.

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Shares of Graham Corporation (NYSE:GHM  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $60.00.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on GHM shares. Zacks Research cut shares of Graham from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Graham from a buy (b-) rating to a hold (c+) rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Graham from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, November 16th. Finally, Noble Financial cut shares of Graham from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st.

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Graham Stock Performance

NYSE:GHM opened at $74.40 on Friday. Graham has a 52-week low of $24.78 and a 52-week high of $75.36. The company has a market cap of $817.61 million, a P/E ratio of 60.00 and a beta of 0.93. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $63.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $57.16.

Graham (NYSE:GHM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The industrial products company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $66.03 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $57.55 million. Graham had a net margin of 6.00% and a return on equity of 12.44%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Graham will post 1.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Graham

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GHM. Strs Ohio bought a new position in shares of Graham during the 1st quarter worth approximately $467,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its stake in Graham by 35.3% in the 2nd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 83,056 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,112,000 after acquiring an additional 21,649 shares during the period. Annex Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Graham by 10.5% during the 2nd quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 40,761 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,018,000 after purchasing an additional 3,858 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Graham during the 2nd quarter valued at $912,000. Finally, Auto Owners Insurance Co boosted its position in Graham by 4.8% during the second quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 11,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $545,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 69.46% of the companys stock.

About Graham

(Get Free Report)

Graham Corporation (NYSE: GHM) is a U.S.-based industrial engineering company that designs, manufactures and services vacuum and heat transfer equipment. Its core offerings include liquid ring vacuum pumps, surface condensers, heat exchangers and custom-engineered vacuum systems. These products play a critical role in energy-intensive industries, where reliable removal of non-condensable gases and efficient heat exchange are vital to process performance.

The companys technologies find application across a range of end markets, including power generation, petrochemical, oil and gas, LNG, and semiconductor manufacturing.

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Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY  Get Free Report) and Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW  Get Free Report) are both large-cap aerospace companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Risk and Volatility

Teledyne Technologies has a beta of 1.03, suggesting that its share price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Curtiss-Wright has a beta of 0.95, suggesting that its share price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Institutional and Insider Ownership

91.6% of Teledyne Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.7% of Curtiss-Wright shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of Teledyne Technologies shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.6% of Curtiss-Wright shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Teledyne Technologies 13.62% 9.95% 6.73% Curtiss-Wright 13.78% 18.82% 9.53%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Teledyne Technologies and Curtiss-Wrights net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Teledyne Technologies and Curtiss-Wrights revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Teledyne Technologies $5.67 billion 4.82 $819.20 million $17.27 33.69 Curtiss-Wright $3.12 billion 7.84 $404.98 million $12.27 54.11

Teledyne Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than Curtiss-Wright. Teledyne Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Curtiss-Wright, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Teledyne Technologies and Curtiss-Wright, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Teledyne Technologies 0 3 6 0 2.67 Curtiss-Wright 0 3 4 0 2.57

Teledyne Technologies presently has a consensus price target of $605.38, indicating a potential upside of 4.04%. Curtiss-Wright has a consensus price target of $605.50, indicating a potential downside of 8.80%. Given Teledyne Technologies stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Teledyne Technologies is more favorable than Curtiss-Wright.

Summary

Teledyne Technologies beats Curtiss-Wright on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Teledyne Technologies

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Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, provides enabling technologies for industrial growth markets in the United States and internationally. Its Digital Imaging segment provides visible spectrum sensors and digital cameras; and infrared, ultraviolet, visible, and X-ray spectra; as well as micro electromechanical systems and semiconductors, including analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters. This segment also offers cooled and uncooled infrared or thermal products, including sensors, camera cores, and camera systems; high-resolution, low-dose X-ray sensors, high-power microwave, and high-energy X-ray subsystems; and instruments for the measurement of physical properties and maritime products; as well as develops and manufactures multi-spectrum electro-optic/infrared imaging systems and associated products, such as lasers, optics, and radars, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive detectors), and unmanned air and ground systems. The company's Instrumentation segment offers monitoring, control, and electronic test and measurement equipment; and power and communications connectivity devices for distributed instrumentation systems and sensor networks. The company's Aerospace and Defense Electronics segment provides electronic components and subsystems, data acquisition and communications components and equipment, harsh environment interconnects, general aviation batteries, and other components; and onboard avionics systems and ground-based applications, aircraft data and connectivity solutions, hardware systems, and software applications. Its Engineered Systems segment offers systems engineering and integration, technology development, and manufacturing solutions for defense, space, environmental, and energy applications; and designs and manufactures electrochemical energy systems and electronics for military applications. The company was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California.

About Curtiss-Wright

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Curtiss-Wright Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered products, solutions, and services mainly to aerospace and defense, commercial power, process, and industrial markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics, and Naval & Power. The Aerospace & Industrial segment offers industrial and specialty vehicle products, such as power management electronics, traction inverters, transmission shifters, and control systems; sensors, controls, and electro-mechanical actuation components used on commercial and military aircraft; and surface technology services including shot peening, laser peening, and engineered coatings. The Defense Electronics segment provides commercial off-the-shelf embedded computing board-level modules and processing equipment, data acquisition and flight test instrumentation equipment, integrated subsystems, instrumentation and control systems, tactical communications solutions; and electronic stabilization products, and weapons handling systems; avionics and electronics; flight test equipment; and aircraft data management solutions. The Naval & Power segment offers main coolant pumps, power-dense compact motors, generators, steam turbines, valves, and secondary propulsion systems; energy absorbers, retractable hook cable systems, net-stanchion systems and mobile systems to support fixed land-based arresting systems; hardware, valves, fastening systems, specialized containment doors, airlock hatches, and spent fuel management products; reactor coolant pumps and control rod drive mechanisms for commercial nuclear power plants, as well as various nuclear reactor technologies. This segment furnishes severe-service valve technologies and services, heat exchanger repair, and piping test and isolation products, and offers ship repair and maintenance for the U.S. navy. Curtiss-Wright Corporation was incorporated in 1929 and is headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina.

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Genus (LON:GNS  Get Free Report) had its price target upped by stock analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 3,100 to GBX 3,300 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Digital Look reports. The firm presently has a buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts target price would suggest a potential upside of 16.40% from the companys current price.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on GNS. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 3,000 target price on shares of Genus in a research report on Friday. Berenberg Bank boosted their price target on shares of Genus from GBX 3,050 to GBX 3,250 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 3,183.33.

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Genus Price Performance

Genus Company Profile

GNS remained flat at GBX 2,835 on Friday. 125,068 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 305,460. Genus has a 52-week low of GBX 1,548 and a 52-week high of GBX 3,228.80. The firm has a market capitalization of 1.88 billion, a PE ratio of 98.10, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a current ratio of 1.80, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 53.12. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 2,548.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 2,517.50.

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Genus plc operates as an animal genetics company in North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Africa, and Asia. The company operates through three segments: Genus PIC, Genus ABS, and Genus Research and Development. It sells breeding pigs and semen to breed pigs with various characteristics for pork production under the PIC brand. The company also sells bull semen and embryos to breed calves with various characteristics for milk and beef production under the ABS, Genus, and Bovec brands.

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Coca-Cola transferred another 4.4 billion euros ($5.17 billion) from its operation in Ireland to an entity based in the Cayman Islands.

What's happening?

According to Business Post, the beverage giant's Irish arm, European Refreshments Unlimited Company, transferred 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in 2024 and 2.1 billion euros ($2.5 billion) more this year to Atlantic Industries, an entity registered in the Cayman Islands.

Total payments sent to this offshore destination since 2016 now top 16.6 billion euros ($19.5 billion).

This subsidiary operates out of Drogheda and has drawn scrutiny from U.S. tax authorities. A ruling from the U.S. Tax Court said the Irish operation had hidden "astronomical levels" of profit from the IRS.

Judges ordered the company to hand over $6 billion covering taxes and interest from a three-year period ending in 2009.

A Financial Times estimate put Coca-Cola's potential liability at $16 billion, factoring in facilities in Brazil and Ireland.

A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the Irish facility "operates a state-of-the-art concentrate manufacturing plant and a flavours facility" and has nearly 1,000 workers on staff.

Chief financial officer John Murphy said the company is confident.

"We have outside counsel who have, each quarter, continued to evaluate the case on the facts that are available to them, and they continue to offer an opinion that gives us a greater-than-not chance of prevailing," he said.

Why is Coca-Cola's tax strategy concerning?

When large corporations move profits to low-tax jurisdictions, less money flows into public systems. Those billions could fund schools, hospitals, roads, and emergency services in the communities where companies actually operate and sell products.

The Irish subsidiary's tax rate tells a striking story. Back in 2017, the company paid a mere 1.32% on what it earned from operations. That rate rose to 7.88% by 2023 but fell again to 5.87% last year after the company claimed over 239 million euros ($280 million) in tax relief.

Coca-Cola's tax affairs are not the only concern surrounding the company. It remains the world's largest branded plastic polluter, with the 2023 Global Brand Audit giving it the not-so-flattering title for the sixth year in a row.

While it has taken steps to reduce plastic usage, there's still a long way to go to truly reduce its polluting impact.
Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares (NYSEARCA:UBOT  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 18,976 shares, a decline of 21.1% from the December 15th total of 24,037 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 14,361 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.3 days. Currently, 1.6% of the companys shares are sold short. Currently, 1.6% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 14,361 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.3 days.

Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares Stock Up 0.1%

UBOT stock opened at $28.53 on Monday. Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares has a twelve month low of $12.19 and a twelve month high of $29.00. The company has a market cap of $34.81 million, a P/E ratio of 31.45 and a beta of 2.71. The businesss fifty day moving average is $25.54 and its 200-day moving average is $24.71.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares (NYSEARCA:UBOT  Free Report) by 169.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,915 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,205 shares during the quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. owned about 0.13% of Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares worth $42,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

About Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2x Shares

The Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2X Shares (UBOT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in stocks based on a particular theme. The fund offers 2x daily leveraged exposure to a market-cap-selected and -weighted index of robotics and artificial intelligence companies from developed countries. UBOT was launched on Apr 19, 2018 and is managed by Direxion.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 19,482,450 shares, a growth of 38.6% from the December 15th total of 14,054,762 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 6,675,042 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.9 days. Currently, 11.3% of the companys stock are sold short. Currently, 11.3% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 6,675,042 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.9 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hawaiian Electric Industries

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries by 28.6% in the 2nd quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC now owns 16,281,709 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $173,075,000 after purchasing an additional 3,624,709 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its stake in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 119.2% in the second quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 225,662 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,399,000 after buying an additional 122,737 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 180.6% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 878,253 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,696,000 after acquiring an additional 565,218 shares during the last quarter. CSM Advisors LLC bought a new position in Hawaiian Electric Industries in the second quarter valued at about $5,440,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its stake in Hawaiian Electric Industries by 1.3% during the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,744,843 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $29,178,000 after acquiring an additional 34,535 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 59.91% of the companys stock.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Stock Performance

HE stock traded up $0.16 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $14.44. 3,228,308 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,072,243. Hawaiian Electric Industries has a one year low of $8.75 and a one year high of $15.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 180.50 and a beta of 0.64. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $12.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.35.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Hawaiian Electric Industries ( NYSE:HE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.20) by $0.39. The company had revenue of $790.61 million for the quarter. Hawaiian Electric Industries had a net margin of 0.56% and a return on equity of 9.51%. Equities research analysts forecast that Hawaiian Electric Industries will post 1.71 EPS for the current year.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating on shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries in a research report on Friday, December 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $12.38.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Company Profile

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Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc is a diversified holding company operating in the energy and financial services sectors in the state of Hawaii. Its principal subsidiary, Hawaiian Electric Company, provides generation, transmission, distribution and customer service to the island of Oahu, while its Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light Company subsidiaries serve Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Hawaii Island. The roots of the electric utility business trace back to 1891 when service first commenced in Honolulu.

Through its subsidiary Hawaii Gas, HEI extends its energy portfolio to include the distribution of natural gas and propane, supporting residential, commercial and industrial customers across the islands.

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Equity Bancshares (NYSE:EQBK  Get Free Report) is one of 20 publicly-traded companies in the State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Equity Bancshares to similar companies based on the strength of its profitability, dividends, risk, valuation, earnings, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

71.8% of Equity Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.2% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are owned by institutional investors. 6.6% of Equity Bancshares shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.7% of shares of all State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Dividends

Equity Bancshares pays an annual dividend of $0.72 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.5%. Equity Bancshares pays out 60.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies pay a dividend yield of 2.2% and pay out 67.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Risk and Volatility

Profitability

Equity Bancshares has a beta of 0.87, indicating that its share price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Equity Bancshares peers have a beta of 1.01, indicating that their average share price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

This table compares Equity Bancshares and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Equity Bancshares 5.01% 11.67% 1.33% Equity Bancshares Competitors 7.23% 6.94% 0.79%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Equity Bancshares and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Equity Bancshares $335.67 million $62.62 million 39.17 Equity Bancshares Competitors $723.51 million $95.99 million 40.24

Equity Bancshares peers have higher revenue and earnings than Equity Bancshares. Equity Bancshares 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.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Equity Bancshares and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Equity Bancshares 0 2 0 1 2.67 Equity Bancshares Competitors 31 173 217 26 2.53

As a group, State Commercial Banks  Fed Reserve System companies have a potential upside of 3.04%. Given Equity Bancshares peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Equity Bancshares has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Summary

Equity Bancshares peers beat Equity Bancshares on 10 of the 15 factors compared.

About Equity Bancshares

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Equity Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Equity Bank that provides a range of banking, mortgage banking, and financial services to individual and corporate customers. The company accepts various demand, savings, money market, and time deposits. Its loan products include commercial and industrial, commercial real estate-backed, commercial lines of credit, working capital, term, equipment financing, acquisition, expansion and development, borrowing base, real estate construction, homebuilder, agricultural, government guaranteed, and other loan products to national and regional companies, restaurant franchisees, hoteliers, real estate developers, manufacturing and industrial companies, agribusiness companies, and other businesses. The companys loan products also comprise various consumer loans to individuals and professionals, including residential real estate loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, installment loans, unsecured and secured personal lines of credit, overdraft protection, and letters of credit. It also provides debit cards; online banking solutions, such as access to account balances, online transfers, online bill payment, and electronic delivery of customer statements; mobile banking solutions comprising remote check deposits with mobile bill pay; ATMs; and treasury management, wire transfer, automated clearing house, and stop payment services. In addition, the company offers cash management deposit products, such as lockbox, remote deposit capture, positive pay, reverse positive pay, account reconciliation services, zero balance accounts, and sweep accounts, as well as banking services through telephone, mail, and personal appointments. As of December 31, 2021, it operated a network of 69 branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.

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Shares of Heineken NV (OTCMKTS:HEINY  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Buy from the seven research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating on the company.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group raised Heineken to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of Heineken from an outperform rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Heineken in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th.

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Heineken Price Performance

Heineken Company Profile

HEINY opened at $39.47 on Monday. Heineken has a 12 month low of $33.48 and a 12 month high of $46.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.75. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $40.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $40.49.

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Heineken N.V. is a global brewing company best known for its flagship Heineken lager and a diversified portfolio of international and local beer brands. The companys activities span brewing, marketing and distribution of beer and cider products, serving ontrade and offtrade channels as well as ecommerce. Heineken combines global brand management with local production through a network of owned breweries, joint ventures and licensed partners to reach consumers across different markets.

Founded in Amsterdam in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken, the company has grown into one of the worlds largest brewers.

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QRG Capital Management Inc. lessened its stake in Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ  Free Report) by 18.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 194,825 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 44,368 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Invesco were worth $4,469,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital A Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Invesco by 4,802.9% during the second quarter. Capital A Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,667 shares of the asset managers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 1,633 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in shares of Invesco by 55.7% in the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,127 shares of the asset managers stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 761 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of Invesco by 45.8% during the 2nd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,623 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 824 shares during the period. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in shares of Invesco by 367.3% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 2,070 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 1,627 shares during the period. 66.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

IVZ has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Invesco from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Invesco from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Invesco from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Invesco in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Invesco from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $24.86.

Invesco Price Performance

NYSE:IVZ opened at $29.43 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.23. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $25.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $23.15. The stock has a market cap of $13.10 billion, a PE ratio of 20.02, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 1.65. Invesco Ltd. has a one year low of $11.60 and a one year high of $29.51.

Invesco (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 28th. The asset manager reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $1.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.17 billion. Invesco had a return on equity of 9.11% and a net margin of 14.15%.The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.44 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Invesco Ltd. will post 1.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Invesco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. Invescos dividend payout ratio is currently 57.14%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Invesco news, Director Douglas J. Sharp sold 160,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, October 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.56, for a total transaction of $3,769,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 192 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,523.52. This trade represents a 99.88% 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. Insiders own 1.21% of the companys stock.

Invesco Company Profile

(Free Report)

Invesco Ltd. is an independent global investment management firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: IVZ). With origins dating back to 1935, the company is dedicated to offering a wide array of investment strategies and solutions to both individual and institutional clients worldwide.

The firms product suite encompasses actively managed equity and fixed income funds, passive index funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds, and unit investment trusts, alongside specialized offerings such as private markets, real estate, and structured products.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:IQI  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 105,143 shares, a decrease of 22.8% from the December 15th total of 136,164 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 173,561 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.6 days. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 173,561 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE IQI traded down $0.01 during trading on Friday, reaching $10.09. 85,355 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 132,829. Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust has a 1-year low of $8.86 and a 1-year high of $10.16. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $10.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.77.

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Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.0631 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 15th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.5%.

Insider Activity at Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

In other news, Portfolio Manager Jack Connelly sold 3,900 shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.02, for a total transaction of $39,078.00. Following the sale, the portfolio manager directly owned 5,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $55,110. The trade was a 41.49% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quent Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at $69,000. Olistico Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at $110,000. World Investment Advisors bought a new position in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust in the 3rd quarter worth $112,000. Finally, Savant Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust during the third quarter worth $132,000.

About Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Quality Municipal Income Trust (NYSE: IQI) is a closed-end management investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, the funds primary objective is to provide investors with a high level of current income that is exempt from federal income taxes. To achieve this, the trust invests predominantly in investment-grade municipal securities issued by U.S. states, municipalities, and their agencies.

The portfolio holds a diversified blend of municipal bonds, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, and other tax-exempt obligations.

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Fresnillo (LON:FRES  Get Free Report) had its price target increased by equities research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from GBX 4,300 to GBX 4,700 in a research note issued on Monday,Digital Look reports. The brokerage presently has a neutral rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s target price would indicate a potential upside of 18.15% from the stocks current price.

FRES has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and set a GBX 2,600 price target on shares of Fresnillo in a report on Tuesday, November 4th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Fresnillo from GBX 4,000 to GBX 4,600 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on Fresnillo from GBX 980 to GBX 2,440 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 3,148.

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Fresnillo Trading Up 6.5%

Fresnillo Company Profile

LON FRES traded up GBX 241.25 on Monday, hitting GBX 3,978. 1,145,023 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,906,438. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.55, a current ratio of 5.88 and a quick ratio of 3.28. Fresnillo has a twelve month low of GBX 656.50 and a twelve month high of GBX 3,996. The firm has a market capitalization of 29.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.58 and a beta of 0.15. The companys 50 day moving average price is GBX 2,959.66 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 2,297.73.

(Get Free Report)

Fresnillo plc is the worlds largest silver producer and Mexicos largest gold producer, listed on the London and Mexican stock exchanges.

The Group seeks to create value for stakeholders across precious metal cycles, focusing on high-potential silver and gold projects that can be developed into low cost, world-class mines.

Following a decade of consistent and successful progress, the Group is now focused on consolidating its growth and advancing its pipeline in order to deliver further growth in the years ahead.

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Porsche Automobil (OTCMKTS:POAHY  Get Free Report) and Mazda Motor (OTCMKTS:MZDAY  Get Free Report) are both auto/tires/trucks companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, risk and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Porsche Automobil and Mazda Motor, as reported by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Porsche Automobil 0 7 0 0 2.00 Mazda Motor 1 2 1 0 2.00

Risk & Volatility

Porsche Automobil has a beta of 1.11, suggesting that its stock price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mazda Motor has a beta of 0.48, suggesting that its stock price is 52% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Porsche Automobil N/A N/A -$21.66 billion N/A N/A Mazda Motor $32.96 billion 0.15 $752.92 million $0.16 25.02

This table compares Porsche Automobil and Mazda Motors top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Mazda Motor has higher revenue and earnings than Porsche Automobil.

Profitability

This table compares Porsche Automobil and Mazda Motors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Porsche Automobil N/A N/A N/A Mazda Motor 0.63% 4.62% 2.05%

Dividends

Porsche Automobil pays an annual dividend of $0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.8%. Mazda Motor pays an annual dividend of $0.11 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Mazda Motor pays out 68.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Summary

Mazda Motor beats Porsche Automobil on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Porsche Automobil

(Get Free Report)

Porsche Automobil Holding SE, through its subsidiaries, operates as an automobile manufacturer worldwide. It operates in two segments, Core Investments and Portfolio Investments. The company is involved in investments in the areas of mobility and industrial technology. It offers its products under the Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, KODA, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche brand names. The company was formerly known as Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft and changed its name to Porsche Automobil Holding SE in November 2007. Porsche Automobil Holding SE was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

About Mazda Motor

(Get Free Report)

Mazda Motor Corporation engages in the manufacture and sale of passenger cars and commercial vehicles in Japan, China, North America, Europe, and internationally. The company was formerly known as Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Mazda Motor Corporation in May 1984. Mazda Motor Corporation was incorporated in 1920 and is headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan.

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Minera Alamos Inc. (CVE:MAI  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as C$6.75 and last traded at C$6.70, with a volume of 93118 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at C$6.51.

Minera Alamos Stock Up 1.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.24, a quick ratio of 3.89 and a current ratio of 4.26. The company has a market cap of C$715.25 million, a P/E ratio of -9.59 and a beta of 1.10. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$4.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$4.17.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider David Rodger Stewart purchased 1,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$43.50 per share, for a total transaction of C$52,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider owned 4,450 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$193,575. The trade was a 36.92% increase in their ownership of the stock. 5.11% of the stock is 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.

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Mizuho Markets Americas LLC bought a new position in shares of Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE:ATO  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 285,789 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $48,798,000. Atmos Energy accounts for approximately 0.9% of Mizuho Markets Americas LLCs holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Atmos Energy by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,073,886 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $625,180,000 after acquiring an additional 63,166 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 94.9% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,652,267 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $562,851,000 after purchasing an additional 1,778,653 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Atmos Energy by 3.1% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,082,338 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $475,019,000 after purchasing an additional 91,254 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in shares of Atmos Energy by 2.6% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,949,497 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $332,877,000 after purchasing an additional 50,214 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Atmos Energy during the second quarter worth about $282,487,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.17% of the companys stock.

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Atmos Energy Price Performance

ATO stock opened at $170.37 on Monday. Atmos Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $138.77 and a 1 year high of $180.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.56 billion, a PE ratio of 22.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.77. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $170.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $167.42.

Atmos Energy Increases Dividend

Atmos Energy ( NYSE:ATO Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 14th. The utilities provider reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Atmos Energy had a return on equity of 9.07% and a net margin of 25.49%.The company had revenue of $737.48 million during the quarter. Equities research analysts anticipate that Atmos Energy Corporation will post 7.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 24th were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. This is a boost from Atmos Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.87. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 24th. Atmos Energys payout ratio is presently 53.40%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Atmos Energy news, Director Sean Donohue sold 450 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.15, for a total value of $77,017.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 877 shares in the company, valued at $150,098.55. The trade was a 33.91% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.43% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. TD Cowen raised shares of Atmos Energy to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. Bank of America restated a neutral rating and issued a $185.00 target price (up previously from $182.00) on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Atmos Energy in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Atmos Energy from $172.00 to $165.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Atmos Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, December 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and eleven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $173.22.

View Our Latest Analysis on ATO

Atmos Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) is a U.S.-based natural-gas utility that primarily focuses on the regulated distribution of natural gas. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company operates through local distribution systems to deliver natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and electric generation customers. Atmoss core activities include pipeline operations, gas distribution, system maintenance and reliability programs designed to ensure safe and continuous service to its customers.

The companys services encompass gas delivery, system integrity and maintenance, storage and transmission connections, and customer-facing programs such as billing, conservation initiatives and energy-efficiency offerings.

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Theres been no split between Coinbase and the White House over new landmark crypto legislation, says the exchanges Chief Executive Brian Armstrong.

Armstrong took to X to dismiss reports that the government is on the verge of abandoning its support for the bill, insisting White House officials have been super constructive in talks.

They did ask us to see if we can go figure out a deal with the banks, which were currently working on, Armstrong wrote. Actually, weve been cooking up some good ideas on how we can help the community banks specifically in this bill, since thats what this is about.

The comments come at the end of a rough week for proponents of the bill, which proposes a qualified shift of regulatory control and bans on passive yields from stablecoin holdings.

Coinbase pulled support for the bill the day before the Senate was due to debate the draft law. And experts told DL News that market players are set to expand their wish lists for changes to the bill, a move that will just create more friction.

Deep divisions

Armstrong was speaking in response to allegations that the White House was furious with Coinbases unilateral decision to withdraw support for the Clarity Bill. The Coinbase chief said rift claims were not accurate.

The White House is considering pulling its support for the crypto market structure bill entirely if Coinbase does not come back to the table with a yield agreement that satisfies the banks and gets everyone to a deal, the crypto podcaster Eleanor Terrett wrote on X.

Quoting an unnamed source close to the Trump administration, Terrett said the White House was not notified of Coinbases decision in advance, calling it a rug pull against the White House and the rest of the industry.

The White House does not believe that one company speaks for the entire industry, the source continued, she wrote.

This is President Trumps bill at the end of the day, not Brian Armstrongs, the source reportedly said.

Stablecoin controversy

The bills lukewarm reception is indicative of deep divisions in the US crypto industry. Some have welcomed attempts to establish firm regulatory guidelines.

But others claim it amounts to a capitulation to the world of traditional finance, particularly on the stablecoin yields question.

We cant really have banks come in and try to kill their competition at the expense of the American consumer, Armstrong told CNBC. People should be able to earn more money on their money.

Banks say stablecoin yields could dent their own ability to provide loans to businesses and homebuyers.
North Ground Capital purchased a new stake in Mexico Fund, Inc. (The) (NYSE:MXF  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 30,869 shares of the investment management companys stock, valued at approximately $608,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Mexico Fund by 92.3% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,500 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 1,200 shares in the last quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Mexico Fund during the 2nd quarter worth $196,000. Calamos Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Mexico Fund by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC now owns 14,201 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $280,000 after acquiring an additional 2,535 shares during the last quarter. Uhlmann Price Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Mexico Fund by 0.7% in the second quarter. Uhlmann Price Securities LLC now owns 101,484 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,783,000 after purchasing an additional 696 shares during the period. Finally, Quantedge Capital Pte Ltd increased its position in Mexico Fund by 3.7% during the second quarter. Quantedge Capital Pte Ltd now owns 130,134 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $2,286,000 after purchasing an additional 4,650 shares during the last quarter.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Mexico Fund news, major shareholder Saba Capital Management, L.P. bought 47,273 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was bought at an average price of $19.15 per share, with a total value of $905,277.95. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider directly owned 1,597,698 shares in the company, valued at $30,595,916.70. The trade was a 3.05% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders purchased 157,362 shares of company stock valued at $3,082,966 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 2.69% of the companys stock.

Mexico Fund Stock Up 1.0%

Mexico Fund Increases Dividend

Shares of MXF stock opened at $21.17 on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average is $19.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $18.94. Mexico Fund, Inc. has a 12 month low of $13.10 and a 12 month high of $21.21.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 21st will be issued a $0.35 dividend. This is a boost from Mexico Funds previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, January 21st.

Mexico Fund Profile

(Free Report)

The Mexico Fund, Inc (NYSE: MXF) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks long-term capital appreciation through exposure to Mexican securities. The fund primarily invests in equity instruments of companies organized or principally operating in Mexico, spanning a range of sectors such as financial services, consumer goods, industrials and energy. It may also allocate portions of its portfolio to fixed-income securities, including government and corporate bonds, when attractive opportunities arise.

Launched in 1991 and incorporated under Maryland law, The Mexico Fund offers U.S.

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NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT  Free Report) by 14.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 69,340 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,740 shares during the quarter. Lockheed Martin accounts for 0.8% of NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLCs holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $35,437,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Tableaux LLC boosted its stake in Lockheed Martin by 34,231.4% during the second quarter. Tableaux LLC now owns 623,115 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $288,589,000 after buying an additional 621,300 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position 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 valued at $265,030,000 after acquiring an additional 359,748 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.0% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,697,527 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $10,048,993,000 after purchasing an additional 214,565 shares during the period. Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new stake in Lockheed Martin during the second quarter worth about $92,628,000. Finally, VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al purchased a new position in Lockheed Martin during the second quarter worth about $89,850,000. 74.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Lockheed Martin Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE:LMT opened at $581.62 on Monday. Lockheed Martin Corporation has a 1 year low of $410.11 and a 1 year high of $582.93. The stock has a market cap of $134.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.47, a P/E/G ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.32, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.13. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $483.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $471.88.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Lockheed Martin ( NYSE:LMT Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 21st. The aerospace company reported $6.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.33 by $0.62. The business had revenue of $18.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.45 billion. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 5.73% and a return on equity of 111.84%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $6.84 earnings per share. Lockheed Martin has set its FY 2025 guidance at 22.150-22.350 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Corporation will post 27.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on LMT. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a market perform rating and set a $586.00 price target on shares of Lockheed Martin in a report on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen cut Lockheed Martin from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, December 13th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Lockheed Martin from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. TD Cowen increased their price target on Lockheed Martin from $520.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of Lockheed Martin in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $543.82.

Get Our Latest Report on LMT

Insider Buying and Selling at Lockheed Martin

In other news, COO John Frank A. St sold 7,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $491.04, for a total transaction of $3,826,183.68. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 1 shares in the company, valued at $491.04. This represents a 99.99% 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. Company insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

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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.

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Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of OneMain (NYSE:OMF  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Sunday.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Truist Financial began coverage on shares of OneMain in a report on Monday, December 8th. They set a buy rating and a $75.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on OneMain from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. TD Cowen increased their target price on OneMain from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Barclays lifted their price target on OneMain from $56.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, JMP Securities set a $68.00 price objective on shares of OneMain in a report on Monday, November 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have given a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $71.30.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on OneMain

OneMain Price Performance

OneMain stock opened at $65.50 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.10, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 1.33. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $65.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $60.72. OneMain has a 52-week low of $38.00 and a 52-week high of $71.93.

OneMain (NYSE:OMF  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.90 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.32. OneMain had a net margin of 13.15% and a return on equity of 22.70%. The business had revenue of $747.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.24 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.31 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that OneMain will post 6.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

OneMain Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 10th were issued a dividend of $1.05 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.4%. This is an increase from OneMains previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. OneMains dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 71.19%.

Insider Buying and Selling at OneMain

In other news, COO Micah R. Conrad sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.20, for a total value of $296,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 88,221 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,222,683.20. This trade represents a 5.36% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Douglas H. Shulman sold 57,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.41, for a total transaction of $3,933,575.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 174,100 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,910,181. This trade represents a 24.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 98,152 shares of company stock worth $6,353,899. Company insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in OMF. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of OneMain by 9.1% during the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,112 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $120,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the period. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in OneMain by 3.9% during the third quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,710 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $266,000 after buying an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS grew its position in shares of OneMain by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS now owns 24,800 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,400,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division increased its stake in shares of OneMain by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 8,284 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $468,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP raised its position in shares of OneMain by 4.6% in the 2nd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,749 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $271,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.82% of the companys stock.

About OneMain

(Get Free Report)

OneMain Financial (NYSE: OMF) is a leading consumer finance company specializing in unsecured personal loans for middle-income customers. The company offers tailored loan products designed to address a variety of needs, including debt consolidation, home improvement financing, large purchases and emergency expenses. Through a combination of branch-based service and digital channels, OneMain aims to deliver a personalized borrowing experience with flexible repayment options and transparent terms.

Tracing its roots back to the Commercial Credit Company founded in 1912, OneMain has evolved through a series of mergers and corporate transformations.

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Franco-Nevada (NYSE:FNV  Get Free Report) and Pelangio Exploration (OTCMKTS:PGXPF  Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, risk, institutional ownership and valuation.

Volatility & Risk

Franco-Nevada has a beta of 0.48, suggesting that its share price is 52% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Pelangio Exploration has a beta of 0.01, suggesting that its share price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Institutional & Insider Ownership

77.1% of Franco-Nevada shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of Franco-Nevada shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Franco-Nevada 59.48% 13.94% 13.12% Pelangio Exploration N/A -778.64% -87.35%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Franco-Nevada and Pelangio Explorations net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares Franco-Nevada and Pelangio Explorations gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Franco-Nevada $1.11 billion 42.20 $552.10 million $4.77 51.10 Pelangio Exploration N/A N/A -$550,000.00 N/A N/A

Franco-Nevada has higher revenue and earnings than Pelangio Exploration.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Franco-Nevada and Pelangio Exploration, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Franco-Nevada 0 6 7 1 2.64 Pelangio Exploration 0 0 0 0 0.00

Franco-Nevada presently has a consensus price target of $232.75, indicating a potential downside of 4.52%. Given Franco-Nevadas stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Franco-Nevada is more favorable than Pelangio Exploration.

Summary

Franco-Nevada beats Pelangio Exploration on 12 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Franco-Nevada

(Get Free Report)

Franco-Nevada Corporation operates as a gold-focused royalty and streaming company in South America, Central America, Mexico, the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Mining and Energy segments. The company manages its portfolio with a focus on precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum group metals; and engages in the sale of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids through a third-party marketing agent. Franco-Nevada Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

About Pelangio Exploration

(Get Free Report)

Pelangio Exploration Inc., a mineral exploration company, engages in acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral properties. It holds interests in various gold properties in Ghana and Canada. The company was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE:PML  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 77,680 shares, a decline of 33.8% from the December 15th total of 117,336 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,063,647 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,063,647 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II by 101.7% in the third quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,894,894 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $22,899,000 after buying an additional 1,459,549 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $5,026,000. Gridiron Partners LLC lifted its stake in PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II by 797.6% in the 4th quarter. Gridiron Partners LLC now owns 695,624 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $5,245,000 after purchasing an additional 618,125 shares in the last quarter. Gill Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II by 1,138.7% in the 3rd quarter. Gill Capital Partners LLC now owns 594,274 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $4,701,000 after purchasing an additional 546,299 shares during the period. Finally, GenTrust LLC bought a new position in PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II in the 3rd quarter valued at $4,133,000.

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PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:PML traded up $0.01 during trading on Friday, hitting $7.67. 480,949 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 342,359. PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II has a 52-week low of $7.10 and a 52-week high of $8.67. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $7.65 and a 200 day moving average of $7.57.

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II Announces Dividend

About PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.0395 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 13th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.2%.

(Get Free Report)

PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II (NYSE: PML) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of municipal securities, including both investment-grade and below-investment-grade bonds issued by state and local governments, as well as other public entities. By focusing on the municipal market, the fund aims to offer tax-advantaged income to investors, particularly those in higher federal tax brackets.

The funds portfolio construction emphasizes rigorous credit analysis, sector diversification, and maturity management to balance income objectives with risk controls.

Further Reading

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Bank Of Montreal, Canadian Natural Resources, and TC Energy are the three Canadian stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Canadian stocks are shares of companies that are headquartered in or primarily operate out of Canada, commonly traded on Canadian exchanges such as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) or TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), and can also include Canadian firms listed abroad via ADRs. For investors, they represent exposure to Canada-specific economic drivers (notably energy, materials and financials), currency and regulatory risk tied to the Canadian dollar and market rules, and a way to gain domestic or resource-focused diversification. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Canadian stocks within the last several days.

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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.

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).

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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.

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Further Reading
QRG Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL  Free Report) by 81.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,192 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 6,821 shares during the quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $2,955,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. increased its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. now owns 13,062 shares of the companys stock worth $2,541,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC now owns 2,095 shares of the companys stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 2,517 shares of the companys stock valued at $460,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 2.0% in the third quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. now owns 2,889 shares of the companys stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. Finally, GFG Capital LLC raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 4.3% in the third quarter. GFG Capital LLC now owns 1,442 shares of the companys stock worth $280,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Stock Performance

BATS:QUAL opened at $203.40 on Monday. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a 52-week low of $148.34 and a 52-week high of $187.26. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $198.57 and a 200 day moving average of $193.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $58.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.59 and a beta of 1.05.

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector. QUAL was launched on Jul 18, 2013 and is managed by BlackRock.

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QRG Capital Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of Corteva, Inc. (NYSE:CTVA  Free Report) by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 60,062 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,656 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Corteva were worth $4,062,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Gladwyn Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Corteva during the second quarter valued at $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in Corteva by 209.5% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 390 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 264 shares during the period. Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Corteva during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Curat Global LLC grew its stake in shares of Corteva by 93.7% in the second quarter. Curat Global LLC now owns 370 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares during the period. Finally, Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Corteva during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.54% of the companys stock.

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Corteva Stock Performance

NYSE:CTVA opened at $69.65 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.58. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $66.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $68.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.06 billion, a PE ratio of 29.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.74. Corteva, Inc. has a 52-week low of $53.40 and a 52-week high of $77.41.

Corteva Announces Dividend

Corteva ( NYSE:CTVA Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.49) by $0.26. Corteva had a return on equity of 9.37% and a net margin of 9.19%.The firm had revenue of $2.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.47 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.49) earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Corteva, Inc. will post 2.96 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 1st were paid a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Cortevas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.77%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on CTVA shares. Zacks Research cut shares of Corteva from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Corteva from $77.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $76.00 price objective on shares of Corteva in a report on Friday, November 7th. Bank of America increased their target price on Corteva from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Corteva from $92.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 2nd. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Corteva has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $78.84.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Corteva

Corteva Profile

(Free Report)

Corteva, Inc (NYSE: CTVA) is an independent global agriculture company that was established as a publicly traded firm in mid2019 following the separation of the agriculture businesses from DowDuPont. The company focuses on delivering technologies and products that help farmers increase productivity and manage crop health. Cortevas operations combine seed genetics, crop protection chemistries, digital tools and biological solutions to address the full cycle of crop production.

Core business activities include research and development of seed genetics and trait technologies, formulation and sale of crop protection products (such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), and the development of seed treatments and biologicals.

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QRG Capital Management Inc. trimmed its position in Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE:TFC  Free Report) by 21.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 84,530 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 22,624 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Truist Financial were worth $3,865,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rather & Kittrell Inc. grew its position in shares of Truist Financial by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Rather & Kittrell Inc. now owns 55,921 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,557,000 after buying an additional 485 shares during the period. Evergreen Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Truist Financial by 24.1% during the third quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 11,453 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $524,000 after acquiring an additional 2,221 shares in the last quarter. NBT Bank N A NY grew its holdings in Truist Financial by 5.3% in the third quarter. NBT Bank N A NY now owns 16,696 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $763,000 after purchasing an additional 847 shares during the period. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc increased its stake in shares of Truist Financial by 30.0% during the third quarter. Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc now owns 174,839 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $7,994,000 after purchasing an additional 40,393 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas lifted its holdings in shares of Truist Financial by 9.9% during the third quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 18,833 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $861,000 after purchasing an additional 1,691 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.28% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Truist Financial news, Director K. David Jr. Boyer sold 5,160 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.45, for a total transaction of $239,682.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 10,153 shares in the company, valued at approximately $471,606.85. The trade was a 33.70% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock.

Truist Financial Price Performance

NYSE TFC opened at $50.01 on Monday. Truist Financial Corporation has a one year low of $33.56 and a one year high of $51.51. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $48.29 and a 200 day moving average of $46.03. The company has a market capitalization of $63.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.44, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.86.

Truist Financial (NYSE:TFC  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 17th. The insurance provider reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $5.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.20 billion. Truist Financial had a net margin of 16.84% and a return on equity of 8.73%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.97 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Truist Financial Corporation will post 4 EPS for the current year.

Truist Financial announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, December 16th that permits the company to buyback $10.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the insurance provider to reacquire up to 15.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Truist Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.2%. Truist Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.91%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently weighed in on TFC shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded Truist Financial from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Raymond James Financial boosted their target price on Truist Financial from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and set a $58.00 price target on shares of Truist Financial in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Baird R W cut shares of Truist Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Truist Financial from $49.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $52.80.

View Our Latest Stock Report on TFC

Truist Financial Profile

(Free Report)

Truist Financial Corporation is an American bank holding company that provides a broad range of financial services through its primary subsidiary, Truist Bank, and other operating units. The company offers traditional retail banking products and services such as deposit accounts, consumer and residential mortgage lending, and credit and debit card services. Truist also serves commercial clients with middle-market and corporate lending, treasury and payment solutions, and specialty finance products.

Beyond core banking, Truist operates wealth management, asset management, insurance and capital markets businesses.

Further Reading

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Resonant Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV  Free Report) by 28.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 202,970 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 44,832 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF comprises about 7.9% of Resonant Capital Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its biggest holding. Resonant Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $135,848,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nvwm LLC raised its position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 210.5% during the second quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 59 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Hager Investment Management Services LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $61,000. Rice Partnership LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 460.0% during the 2nd quarter. Rice Partnership LLC now owns 112 shares of the companys stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $80,000. Finally, Missouri Trust & Investment Co raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF by 33.0% in the 2nd quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 133 shares of the companys stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.12% of the companys stock.

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iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Performance

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF stock opened at $694.66 on Monday. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 52 week low of $484.00 and a 52 week high of $699.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $772.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.10 and a beta of 1.00. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $684.86 and a 200 day simple moving average of $664.82.

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Company Profile

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors 500 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The component stocks are weighted according to the total float-adjusted market value of their outstanding shares. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is calling for an overhaul of decentralized autonomous organizations, or DAOs, which are core to blockchain-based democratization of finance, arguing that most have strayed from their promise to shift financial power from banks to everyday token holders.

In a post published on social media, Buterin said that the dominant approach, DAOs governed by token-based voting, has become too easy to manipulate and fails to deliver on the promise of decentralized governance.

The concept of DAOs has migrated to essentially referring to a treasury controlled by token holder voting - a design which "works", hence why it got copied so much, but a design which is inefficient, vulnerable to capture, and fails utterly at the goal of mitigating the weaknesses of human politics, Buterin wrote.

A DAO is a blockchain-based governance system run by smart contracts and community of token holders, without central leadership. These token holders propose and vote on decisions like fund allocation, with rules encoded transparently on the blockchain for automatic execution. This structure enables collective ownership and operation, promoting trust through open code and on-chain treasuries

DAOs, in their present form, replicate the same political and coordination problems these systems were meant to solve, leading to many becoming cynical about these organizations, Buterin added.

He pointed to the need for more sophisticated DAOs to support critical functions in the crypto ecosystem, including maintaining shared data, resolving disputes, and sustaining long-term projects.

These use cases, he argued, demand governance systems that can balance decisiveness with resilience and resist capture by powerful actors.

Convex and concave decisions

To explain why DAOs should focus on certain governance functions over others, Buterin referenced a framework he has used before on the distinction between convex and concave decision-making.

Convex decisions are those where a clear choice, between A or B, is better than compromise. These often involve strategy or leadership, such as deciding whether to launch a product or shut it down. In these cases, indecision or middle-ground solutions tend to fail. DAOs, he has said in the past, struggle in these settings as confusion and low-quality compromises can often become the outcomes.

Concave decisions, by contrast, are situations where the average or median of many inputs produces a better result than any single choice. Examples include determining a fair price for a token or evaluating whether a contract is safe.
Ritholtz Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU  Free Report) by 88.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,439 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 8,646 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Managements holdings in AngloGold Ashanti were worth $1,297,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in AU. CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 27.3% during the third quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 1,006 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 13.8% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,893 shares of the mining companys stock worth $133,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 30.3% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,023 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 27.2% during the 3rd quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,257 shares of the mining companys stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 269 shares during the period. Finally, Gamco Investors INC. ET AL increased its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 91,793 shares of the mining companys stock worth $4,183,000 after purchasing an additional 285 shares in the last quarter. 36.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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AngloGold Ashanti Stock Up 0.6%

NYSE:AU opened at $99.15 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 2.58 and a quick ratio of 1.98. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $86.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $69.58. AngloGold Ashanti PLC has a 1-year low of $26.78 and a 1-year high of $100.31.

AngloGold Ashanti Dividend Announcement

AngloGold Ashanti ( NYSE:AU Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The mining company reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.02). AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 24.01% and a net margin of 26.25%.The business had revenue of $2.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that AngloGold Ashanti PLC will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were given a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.7%. AngloGold Ashantis dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on AU shares. Zacks Research cut shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $128.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $90.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. HSBC reissued a reduce rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, Roth Capital boosted their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $86.00.

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AngloGold Ashanti Company Profile

(Free Report)

AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, production, processing and sale of gold. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the companys core activities span the full mining value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to ore processing and rehabilitation. Gold is the primary commodity produced, with individual operations sometimes yielding other byproducts depending on local geology and processing methods.

The company was formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, creating a diversified international gold producer.

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RLI (NYSE:RLI  Get Free Report) is expected to announce its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 21st. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.76 per share and revenue of $447.5280 million for the quarter. Interested persons can find conference call details on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET.

RLI (NYSE:RLI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 20th. The insurance provider reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.21. RLI had a net margin of 19.02% and a return on equity of 16.51%. The business had revenue of $509.26 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $444.75 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.31 EPS. On average, analysts expect RLI to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $3 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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RLI Stock Down 1.5%

RLI stock opened at $59.29 on Monday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $63.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.80. RLI has a 1-year low of $57.75 and a 1-year high of $81.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.56 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a current ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05.

RLI Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Investors of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. RLIs payout ratio is currently 16.80%.

Several equities analysts recently commented on RLI shares. Wells Fargo & Company set a $62.00 target price on RLI and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c) rating on shares of RLI in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Truist Financial set a $62.00 target price on shares of RLI and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on RLI from $85.00 to $81.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $70.33.

View Our Latest Report on RLI

Hedge Funds Weigh In On RLI

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. State Street Corp increased its holdings in RLI by 3.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,750,315 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $570,696,000 after buying an additional 279,983 shares during the last quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of RLI in the second quarter valued at approximately $84,608,000. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in RLI by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 885,111 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $57,727,000 after purchasing an additional 22,128 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its holdings in RLI by 102.7% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 558,613 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $36,433,000 after buying an additional 283,083 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP raised its position in shares of RLI by 353.1% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 446,378 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $29,113,000 after buying an additional 347,858 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.89% of the companys stock.

RLI Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

RLI Corporation (NYSE:RLI) is a specialty property and casualty insurance company focused on underwriting niche risks for businesses and individuals. Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, the company operates through a network of independent agents and brokers, offering customized coverage solutions. RLIs approach emphasizes disciplined underwriting, targeted product development and strong customer service to maintain profitability and long-term growth.

Founded in 1965 as Replacement Lens, Inc, RLI initially provided insurance for contact lens manufacturers before shifting its focus to specialty insurance in the 1980s.

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Headwater Exploration (TSE:HWX  Get Free Report) had its target price increased by stock analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada from C$10.00 to C$11.00 in a report released on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has a sector perform rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas price objective indicates a potential upside of 4.66% from the companys current price.

HWX has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of Headwater Exploration from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating and raised their price target for the company from C$9.00 to C$9.50 in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. ATB Capital boosted their price target on Headwater Exploration from C$8.75 to C$11.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. CIBC upped their price target on Headwater Exploration from C$8.50 to C$10.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. National Bankshares raised their price objective on Headwater Exploration from C$9.00 to C$10.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Desjardins boosted their target price on Headwater Exploration from C$8.75 to C$9.50 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Headwater Exploration has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$10.25.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Headwater Exploration

Headwater Exploration Stock Up 1.4%

Shares of Headwater Exploration stock traded up C$0.14 during trading on Monday, hitting C$10.51. 302,204 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 748,112. The stock has a market cap of C$2.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.40, a PEG ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$9.07 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$7.83. Headwater Exploration has a twelve month low of C$4.75 and a twelve month high of C$10.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 2.07 and a current ratio of 1.54.

Headwater Exploration (TSE:HWX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported C$0.15 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$178.70 million for the quarter. Headwater Exploration had a return on equity of 28.63% and a net margin of 35.52%. Equities research analysts predict that Headwater Exploration will post 0.6296296 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Headwater Exploration

(Get Free Report)

Headwater Exploration Inc is an oil and gas exploration and development company. It is engaged in the exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas onshore in McCully Field, New Brunswick and Marten Hills, Alberta. The firm generates substantial revenue from the sale of commodities which include crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids.

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Royal Fund Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX  Free Report) by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 18,916 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 3,848 shares during the quarter. Royal Fund Management LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $2,938,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Quaker Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Chevron by 197.7% during the second quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 217 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares in the last quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in shares of Chevron in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Chevron by 86.1% in the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 255 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 118 shares during the period. IMG Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Chevron by 52.3% during the 2nd quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. now owns 265 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marquette Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Chevron during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. 72.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Chevron Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CVX opened at $166.27 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $334.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.39, a P/E/G ratio of 10.29 and a beta of 0.70. Chevron Corporation has a 52-week low of $132.04 and a 52-week high of $169.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.15. The firms fifty day moving average is $153.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $154.27.

Chevron Announces Dividend

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The oil and gas company reported $1.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $48.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $46.99 billion. Chevron had a return on equity of 8.74% and a net margin of 6.57%.The businesss revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.48 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Chevron Corporation will post 10.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were paid a $1.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 18th. This represents a $6.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.1%. Chevrons payout ratio is presently 96.20%.

Insider Transactions at Chevron

In other news, CEO Michael K. Wirth sold 320,700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.99, for a total transaction of $52,270,893.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 14,450 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,355,205.50. This represents a 95.69% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Alana K. Knowles sold 3,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.00, for a total value of $537,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 1,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at $202,776. This represents a 72.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 635,190 shares of company stock worth $100,254,408. 0.21% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Chevron News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Chevron this week:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on CVX shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Chevron from $174.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Freedom Capital downgraded shares of Chevron from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of Chevron from $183.00 to $180.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $160.00 target price (down previously from $170.00) on shares of Chevron in a report on Friday, October 17th. Finally, HSBC set a $169.00 price objective on Chevron and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Chevron presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $168.27.

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Chevron Profile

(Free Report)

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is an American multinational energy company engaged in virtually all aspects of the oil and gas industry. As an integrated energy firm, Chevrons core activities include upstream oil and natural gas exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and marketing of fuels and lubricants, and petrochemical manufacturing through joint ventures and subsidiaries. The company markets fuels under brands such as Chevron, Texaco and Caltex and supplies a range of products and services to retail customers, industrial users and commercial fleets worldwide.

Chevron traces its corporate lineage to the early petroleum companies that eventually became Standard Oil of California and has evolved through significant mergers and restructurings, including the acquisitions of Gulf Oil and Texaco.

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Royal Fund Management LLC reduced its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM  Free Report) by 20.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 29,596 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 7,715 shares during the period. Royal Fund Management LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $7,189,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Holocene Advisors LP bought a new position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,230,003,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 22,037.5% in the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,865,477 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $618,341,000 after buying an additional 2,852,533 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 35.3% during the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,178,921 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,764,930,000 after buying an additional 2,134,779 shares during the period. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2,789.9% during the second quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. now owns 1,596,080 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $344,889,000 after acquiring an additional 1,540,850 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Durable Capital Partners LP lifted its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 105.5% in the second quarter. Durable Capital Partners LP now owns 2,596,668 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $560,335,000 after acquiring an additional 1,333,316 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Up 0.1%

NYSEARCA:IWM opened at $265.76 on Monday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $249.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $239.67. The stock has a market cap of $77.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.69 and a beta of 1.13. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a twelve month low of $171.73 and a twelve month high of $267.22.

About iShares Russell 2000 ETF

iShares Russell 2000 ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 2,000 smallest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index.

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Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new stake in Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V.  Sponsored ADR (NYSE:VIST  Free Report) during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 30,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,032,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of VIST. Leavell Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Vista Energy by 63.8% during the 3rd quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,680 shares of the companys stock worth $299,000 after acquiring an additional 3,380 shares during the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC acquired a new stake in Vista Energy in the third quarter worth $1,351,000. RWC Asset Management LLP boosted its position in shares of Vista Energy by 40.7% during the third quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 398,909 shares of the companys stock worth $13,722,000 after purchasing an additional 115,432 shares in the last quarter. Deltec Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vista Energy by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Deltec Asset Management LLC now owns 143,061 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,921,000 after buying an additional 8,700 shares during the period. Finally, Diversified Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Vista Energy during the third quarter worth about $382,000. 63.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Vista Energy Trading Up 0.3%

NYSE:VIST opened at $49.01 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.66. Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V.  Sponsored ADR has a 12 month low of $31.63 and a 12 month high of $61.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.21, a PEG ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Vista Energy ( NYSE:VIST Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.24 by $0.24. Vista Energy had a net margin of 32.66% and a return on equity of 15.92%. The company had revenue of $706.14 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $636.68 million. Analysts expect that Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V.  Sponsored ADR will post 5.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

VIST has been the subject of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Vista Energy from $56.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Vista Energy from $63.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Vista Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, October 25th. UBS Group raised Vista Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $50.00 to $65.00 in a report on Sunday, January 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Vista Energy in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.44.

View Our Latest Analysis on Vista Energy

Vista Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Vista Energy (NYSE: VIST) is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas resources in Mexico. The company operates through two primary segments: upstream exploration and production, and midstream and specialist services. By integrating both segments, Vista Energy seeks to capture value across the energy value chain, from field operations to the delivery of processed gas to industrial and power-generation customers.

In its upstream segment, Vista Energy holds interests in onshore gas fields in northeastern Mexico and shallow-water properties in the Bay of Campeche.

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Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF (NYSEARCA:POWA  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 591 shares, a growth of 35.2% from the December 15th total of 437 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 2,506 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 2,506 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSEARCA POWA traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $93.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 752 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,914. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $90.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $89.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $193.88 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.20 and a beta of 0.83. Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF has a one year low of $73.16 and a one year high of $93.79.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CWM LLC lifted its holdings in Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 9.6% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,559 shares of the companys stock worth $135,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 1.0% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 20,170 shares of the companys stock worth $1,826,000 after buying an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 12.0% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,358 shares of the companys stock worth $204,000 after buying an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 12.3% in the second quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,886 shares of the companys stock valued at $423,000 after acquiring an additional 536 shares during the period. Finally, CX Institutional purchased a new position in Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $66,000.

Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF Company Profile

The Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF (POWA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg Pricing Power index. The fund selects US large- and mid-cap stocks of companies considered well-positioned to maintain stable profit margins in all market conditions. Stocks satisfying a four factor screening process are included in the index, on an equal-weight basis POWA was launched on Dec 15, 2006 and is issued by Invesco.

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Invesco Food & Beverage ETF (NYSEARCA:PBJ  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 8,121 shares, an increase of 23.8% from the December 15th total of 6,562 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 10,256 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Based on an average daily volume of 10,256 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.8 days. Currently, 0.4% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Trading of Invesco Food & Beverage ETF

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in Invesco Food & Beverage ETF by 21.4% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 18,163 shares of the companys stock worth $835,000 after acquiring an additional 3,207 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in Invesco Food & Beverage ETF by 231.6% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 2,789 shares of the companys stock worth $128,000 after purchasing an additional 1,948 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in Invesco Food & Beverage ETF by 32.2% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 40,282 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,852,000 after buying an additional 9,811 shares in the last quarter. Mainsail Financial Group LLC grew its position in Invesco Food & Beverage ETF by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Mainsail Financial Group LLC now owns 91,088 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,308,000 after buying an additional 4,080 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp acquired a new position in Invesco Food & Beverage ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,997,000.

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Invesco Food & Beverage ETF Stock Down 0.6%

NYSEARCA PBJ traded down $0.30 on Friday, hitting $46.34. The stock had a trading volume of 33,056 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,051. The companys 50-day moving average is $44.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.08. Invesco Food & Beverage ETF has a one year low of $42.57 and a one year high of $49.33. The stock has a market cap of $95.46 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.85 and a beta of 0.56.

Invesco Food & Beverage ETF Company Profile

PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage Portfolio (the Fund) is based on the Dynamic Food & Beverage Intellidex Index (Index). The Fund seeks investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield of the Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that consists of the Index. The Index is designed to provide capital appreciation by evaluating companies based on a variety of investment merit criteria, including fundamental growth, stock valuation, investment timeliness and risk factors.

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iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 5,452,197 shares, a decline of 22.1% from the December 15th total of 7,002,965 shares. Approximately 0.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 8,155,201 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days. Based on an average trading volume of 8,155,201 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days. Approximately 0.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA IJH traded down $0.18 on Friday, hitting $70.06. The stock had a trading volume of 14,889,339 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,383,403. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $66.54 and a 200-day moving average of $65.23. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a 52-week low of $50.15 and a 52-week high of $70.51. The company has a market capitalization of $108.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.00 and a beta of 1.07.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV increased its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 4.4% during the second quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 102,976 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,387,000 after acquiring an additional 4,336 shares during the last quarter. Embree Financial Group grew its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 29.7% during the 2nd quarter. Embree Financial Group now owns 58,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,608,000 after purchasing an additional 13,336 shares during the period. XY Planning Network Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 15.2% during the 2nd quarter. XY Planning Network Inc. now owns 15,541 shares of the companys stock valued at $964,000 after purchasing an additional 2,054 shares during the last quarter. Clarity Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 2.9% in the third quarter. Clarity Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 261,065 shares of the companys stock worth $17,037,000 after buying an additional 7,470 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 13.3% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 4,992,224 shares of the companys stock valued at $325,792,000 after buying an additional 585,414 shares during the period. 14.60% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF

Ishares S&P Midcap 400 Index Fund, formerly The iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States mid-cap stocks, as represented by the Standard & Poors MidCap 400 (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Underlying Index consists of stocks from a range of industries. Components include financial, industrials, and information technology companies.

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John Hancock Core Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:JHCR  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,240 shares, a decline of 29.1% from the December 15th total of 1,750 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 423 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.9 days. Currently, 0.2% of the companys stock are sold short. Currently, 0.2% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 423 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.9 days.

Institutional Trading of John Hancock Core Bond ETF

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in John Hancock Core Bond ETF stock. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its stake in John Hancock Core Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:JHCR  Free Report) by 298.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 35,733 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 26,768 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC owned 6.27% of John Hancock Core Bond ETF worth $911,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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John Hancock Core Bond ETF Trading Down 0.2%

JHCR traded down $0.05 on Monday, reaching $25.44. The companys stock had a trading volume of 24 shares, compared to its average volume of 148. John Hancock Core Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $24.55 and a 1 year high of $25.90. The businesss 50 day moving average is $25.52 and its 200 day moving average is $25.46.

About John Hancock Core Bond ETF

The John Hancock Core Bond ETF (JHCR) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is actively managed, investing primarily in US investment-grade bonds, maintaining a focus on sound credit quality. The fund aims to provide a high level of current income while prioritizing the preservation of capital and liquidity JHCR was launched on Dec 18, 2024 and is issued by John Hancock.

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Q : Can you provide a breakdown of revenue percent by product segment in Q1? A : We break down our segments into customer type, focusing on independent versus major labels, and then by geography. Meter is less than 1% of revenue but grew by 30%. US independent growth was over 4%, and Canadian independent growth exceeded 50%, offset by reductions in major label use. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

Q : After years of saying revenues would snowball and repeated software iterations, growth still hasn't materialized. No buyback to support the share price, and ROIC is now negative. Any updates from the consultant engaged to unlock shareholder value? A : The consultant did not provide any revelatory insights, but we see promising increases in independent revenue in November, continuing into December. With growth in independent revenue and cost reductions, we expect profitable results going forward. As for a buyback or returning capital to investors, we will decide on what to do with the surplus going forward. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

There is uncertainty regarding the impact of cost reductions and new agreements on overall revenue growth for fiscal 2026.

The company faces challenges in improving the quality of distribution and customer training on its platform.

The company operates with no debt and has increased its cash balance by 22%, reflecting strong financial management.

Cost reduction initiatives led to a 1.3% decrease in total costs, with potential for further reductions up to 16%.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Story Continues

Q: You talked about OpEx savings of 7.7%. Will those be fully reflected in your fiscal Q2? A: Yes, barring any other changes, those savings should be fully reflected in fiscal Q2. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

Q: What are your capital allocation priorities for fiscal 2026? Does it include any acquisition funds? A: We are capable of generating significant cash and have about $0.14 per share in cash. There are acquisition opportunities available, and we are looking at them. Our capital expenditures have primarily been in software development, but with platform modernization, we've reduced those costs. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

Q: How should investors quantify the momentum to revenue growth? A: We saw independent revenue growth of 15.5% in November, with strong growth continuing into December. Our marketing approach is attracting larger customers and encouraging increased spending. Combined with cost savings, we are looking at a profitable runway forward. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

Q: You mentioned the renewal of the Universal agreement. Is the annual fee or recurring fee of 3 years 6% lower on an annual basis? A: Yes, the restructuring of the agreement means they will pay separately for development. If we negotiate new development fees, it will offset the impact, plus inflation will grow by 2% per year. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

Q: Are you able to provide the revenue based on geographical region? How much is North America compared to non-North America? A: The UMG contract is in North America, but UMG distributes with us globally. The exact breakdown is in note number 8 of the 10-Q. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

Q: Can you give more color on the litigation proceeds? A: We won the litigation and are getting an award of costs, which hasn't been established yet. The opposing party filed a notice of appeal, but I don't think they will follow through. - Fred Vandenberg, CEO

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF  Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) received a C$84.00 target price from analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada in a note issued to investors on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has a sector perform rating on the financial services providers stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas target price would suggest a potential downside of 3.93% from the stocks previous close.

SLF has been the topic of a number of other research reports. CIBC raised their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$93.00 to C$95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 8th. UBS Group upgraded Sun Life Financial to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Sun Life Financial from C$96.00 to C$98.00 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Sun Life Financial from C$99.00 to C$95.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, TD Securities upped their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$99.00 to C$104.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of C$92.11.

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Sun Life Financial Stock Performance

SLF traded down C$0.03 during trading hours on Monday, hitting C$87.44. 111,275 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,147,127. The stock has a market cap of C$48.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.77. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$84.05 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$83.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 26.00, a current ratio of 92.19 and a quick ratio of 84,866.00. Sun Life Financial has a 12 month low of C$74.56 and a 12 month high of C$91.11.

Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF  Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported C$1.86 earnings per share for the quarter. Sun Life Financial had a net margin of 7.58% and a return on equity of 15.69%. The company had revenue of C$9.07 billion for the quarter. Analysts anticipate that Sun Life Financial will post 6.9230769 earnings per share for the current year.

Sun Life Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sun Life Financial is one of Canadas Big Three life insurance companies along with Great-West Lifeco and Manulife. Sun Life provides insurance, retirement, and wealth-management services to individual and corporate customers in Canada, the United States, and Asia. It also owns MFS Investment Management, a Boston-based asset-management firm. Sun Life generates about a third of its profit from asset-management operations.

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Tradewinds LLC. purchased a new stake in Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm purchased 19,488 shares of the cell phone carriers stock, valued at approximately $857,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Advantage Trust Co grew its holdings in Verizon Communications by 549.5% during the 2nd quarter. Advantage Trust Co now owns 591 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. TruNorth Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Verizon Communications by 95.3% during the third quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 625 shares of the cell phone carriers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares during the period. RMG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Verizon Communications during the second quarter worth $30,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its holdings in Verizon Communications by 739.5% in the third quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 680 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 599 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Verizon Communications by 222.2% in the second quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 725 shares of the cell phone carriers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 500 shares during the period. 62.06% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Verizon Communications Trading Down 1.0%

Shares of NYSE:VZ opened at $38.95 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $164.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.32, a PEG ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 0.34. Verizon Communications Inc. has a 12 month low of $38.35 and a 12 month high of $47.35. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $40.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19.

Verizon Communications Announces Dividend

Verizon Communications ( NYSE:VZ Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The cell phone carrier reported $1.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.02. Verizon Communications had a return on equity of 19.31% and a net margin of 14.43%.The firm had revenue of $33.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $34.19 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.19 EPS. The companys revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Verizon Communications Inc. will post 4.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, January 12th will be given a $0.69 dividend. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 12th. Verizon Communicationss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.97%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VZ has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Scotiabank upped their price target on Verizon Communications from $50.50 to $51.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Verizon Communications from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Verizon Communications from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. BNP Paribas Exane cut shares of Verizon Communications from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $44.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on Verizon Communications from $56.00 to $51.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $47.25.

View Our Latest Research Report on VZ

Verizon Communications Profile

(Free Report)

Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) is a major U.S.-based telecommunications company that provides a broad range of communications and information services. Its operations span consumer and business markets, with core offerings that include wireless voice and data services, fixed-line broadband and fiber-optic services, and enterprise networking solutions. Verizon is headquartered in New York City and operates a nationwide wireless network that supports consumer subscribers as well as business and government customers.

The companys consumer products include mobile phone plans, unlimited data services, and Fios, its branded fiber-optic internet, television and voice service for homes and small businesses.

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Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 7.6% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 202,169 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 14,238 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $170,556,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 78,621.2% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,552,336 shares of the companys stock worth $9,005,392,000 after purchasing an additional 11,537,661 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $8,827,714,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 80,407,430 shares of the companys stock worth $62,680,004,000 after buying an additional 1,183,038 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 13.4% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,766,865 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,715,913,000 after acquiring an additional 564,736 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 87.2% during the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,152,281 shares of the companys stock valued at $898,238,000 after acquiring an additional 536,679 shares during the period. 82.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Trending Headlines about Eli Lilly and Company

Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week:

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $951.00 to $1,145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Daiwa America upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $830.00 to $950.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Scotiabank started coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They issued a sector outperform rating and a $1,165.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $1,174.70.

View Our Latest Report on Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE LLY opened at $1,038.26 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,051.34 and a 200 day simple moving average of $871.48. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $623.78 and a 12 month high of $1,133.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $981.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.80, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.35.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.42 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $17.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 30.99% and a return on equity of 109.52%. The businesss revenue was up 53.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.18 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a dividend of $1.73 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 29.35%.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A.

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Yes  safety oversight must come before anything else

Regulation is needed, but delays and red tape are the real problem

No  enforcement already exists; regulation wont prevent accidents

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When you see someone cruising around in a shiny new BMW, its easy to assume theyre doing well financially. Maybe even upper middle class. But that assumption doesnt always hold up, especially when you dig into what actually defines upper-middle-class life.

The BMW Illusion vs. Financial Reality

A recent Reddit thread on r/UpperMiddleFinance sparked a lively debate around what defines the upper middle class, instead of the middle class or upper class. One person summed up the stereotype perfectly. Upper middle class is a BMW instead of a Toyota, they said. Day to day life is the same. You can just afford the nice version of everything. But dozens of replies pushed back on that idea.

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Just saying upper middle class doesnt necessarily mean you buy the nice version of everything, one commenter wrote. Many people only become upper middle class because they dont spend money on stuff like BMWs, another added.

In fact, many Redditors agreed that people who are truly upper-middle-class often avoid flashy spending. Instead, they max out their retirement accounts, pay off debt, and invest consistently.

That lines up with what personal finance expert Dave Ramsey has said for years. According to Ramsey, the majority of millionaires dont drive expensive cars. Theyre more likely to own vehicles from brands like Ford, Honda or Toyota.

Trending: Americans With a Financial Plan Can 4X Their Wealth  Get Your Personalized Plan from a CFP Pro

Interestingly, many shared that wealthier families often drive modest cars not out of necessity but because they prioritize value. You couldnt pay me enough to give up my Toyota for a BMW, one person wrote. Others mentioned that high-income professionals like doctors and business owners still drive their 10-year-old Hondas and Subarus.

And then theres the debt factor. Another Redditor pointed out that many people leasing luxury vehicles or taking expensive vacations are finances built on a rickety house of cards that wouldnt survive losing a job.

Value-Driven Wealth

What defines upper-middle-class living, according to the Reddit thread, isnt brand names or luxury. Its margin. The ability to choose, to work less if needed, to invest in the future, to help your kids financially, or to walk away from a high-paying job that no longer brings joy.

See Also: Its no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art  this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Heres how everyday investors are getting started.

For people trying to figure out where they stand or how to build that kind of stability, working with a financial planner can help. Services like WiserAdvisor match individuals with vetted financial advisors who can guide them through investment planning, retirement strategy, and smart long-term decisionswithout chasing lifestyle markers that dont actually matter.
Metals: Even though the Grains sector (as well as Livestock) are closed Monday, I still checked on markets Sunday evening given weekend headlines. What I saw was not a surprise. March Silver (SIH26) added as much as $5.82 (6.6%), hitting a new high of $94.365 and was still up $4.64 (5.2%) at this writing. The Cash Silver Index jumped to $94.08 as the world continues to deal with tight supplies and strong demand. How do we connect the dots between global chaos and silver, a market considered the lead industrial metal at this time? The more disregard the United States shows toward legal alliances (backroom alliances are a different subject) and international law in general increases the likelihood other major players can and will do (are doing?) the same. Russias latest illegal invasion of Ukraine is approaching its 4-year anniversary and China continues to covet Taiwan, the latter the root of the meteoric rally in silver. As for the historic safe-haven market Gold, central banks continue to buy due to the vacuum created by the loss of the United States as the leader of the western world. The Cash Index (GCY00) hit a high of $4,690 overnight, a gain of $93.62 (2.0%) while the February futures contract posted a high of $4,698, up $102.60 (2.2%) to start the week.

Morning Summary: Yes, a number of market sectors are closed Monday, but there are some that are up and running  literally. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a US holiday only, with markets around the rest of the world buzzing along as usual. And, or course, the US president gave them something to buzz about over the weekend. In his inexplicable quest to own Greenland, the US president levied new tariffs against much of Europe, all of them allies of the United States, for their standing with Denmark and Greenland in defense against US actions. We can see how global markets reacted to the latest round of weekend chaos as silver and gold rocketed to new all-time highs while European stock indexes were under pressure to start the week. US stock markets are closed Monday, but stock index futures are trading with the three major markets in the red pre-dawn. The US dollar index was also weaker, down as much as 0.33 overnight.

Story Continues

Equities: Global equity markets were under pressure Monday, once again raising the Chicken and the Egg Debate. Are Asian and European markets following US markets which were under pressure late last week, or leading US markets on the idea headlines are always being created and algorithms never sleep. Based on the idea US markets come first, a look back at last weeks action and we see the S&P 500 Index ($INX) completed a bearish key reversal on its weekly chart[i]. From a technical point of view, for what thats worth, this told us the Indexs intermediate-term trend turned down. Theoretically, initial support would be the previous 4-week low of 6,824.31. If that gives way, then the downside target becomes the 20% retracement level near 6,556.00. As of this writing, the March S&P 500 futures contract is down 79.00 (1.1%) at 6,897.75 with the March Nasdaq contract off 402 (1.6%). For the record, the Nasdaq Index ($NASX) also looks to be in an intermediate-term downtrend. Globally, Asian markets closed mostly lower Monday with Chinas Shanghai Composite the outlier, showing a gain of 12.09 (0.3%). As expected given weekend developments, European markets are lower across the board, the strongest being the UKs FTSE 100 with a loss of 47.0 (0.5%).

Energies: A look at Monday mornings Barchart Futures Market Heat Map shows the Energies sector leading the way higher in the commodity complex with a gain of 2.8%. This is a bit misleading given WTI crude oil dropped as much as $0.74 (1.2%) overnight while RBOB gasoline slipped as much as 1.8 cents (1.0%). Both markets were still in the red at this writing. The spot-month distillates (heating oil, diesel fuel, jet fuel, etc.) contract rallied as much as 3.1 cents (1.4%). Things dont quite add up, right? Let me add this, our old friend natural gas (NGG26), aka the Widow Maker, added as much as 44.7 cents (14.4%) and was still sitting 39.9 cents (12.9%) higher at this writing. What sparked this kind of move? The latest US weather forecast shows a winter storm  ice, snow, sub-freezing temperatures  falling as far south as northern Texas through late January, and we know what happens to Texas with this sort of weather occurs. What passes for the states energy infrastructure falls apart. Based on action in futures spreads, much of the buying interest seems to be coming from the commercial side, not surprising as end-users load up on supplies to provide heat over the coming weeks.



[i] Bringing to mind the Goldilocks Principle: Daily charts are too hot, monthly charts are too cold, but weekly charts are just right.

On the date of publication, Darin Newsom 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
Founded in 1993, EPAM Systems, Inc. (EPAM) provides digital platform engineering and software development services worldwide. The company has a market capitalization of $11.7 billion and offers engineering services, cloud services, data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

The Newtown, Pennsylvania-based company is projected to release its Q4 2025 earnings soon. Ahead of this event, analysts anticipate the company to generate earnings of $2.55 per share, representing an increase of 14.4% from $2.23 per share reported in the same quarter last year. The company has surpassed the Streets bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters.

More News from Barchart

For fiscal 2025, analysts expect the company to report an EPS of $9.03, indicating a 1.8% increase from $8.87 reported in fiscal 2024. Moreover, its EPS is expected to rise nearly 9% year over year (YoY) to $9.84 in fiscal 2026.

www.barchart.com

EPAM stock has declined 7.2% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 16.9% rise and the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLK) 26.4% return during the same time frame.

www.barchart.com

Despite slipping, EPAM stock rose marginally on Jan. 8 following the announcement of the companys strategic partnership with Cursor, a leading AI-powered development platform, to accelerate enterprise adoption of generative AI engineering for clients. Moreover, on Dec. 9, the companys shares rose 2.1% after it announced the availability of several new, high-impact AI agents on Google Cloud Marketplace. These AI agents place EPAM at a comfortable position in the AI race and boost investor confidence.

Analysts consensus opinion on the stock is moderately bullish, with a Moderate Buy rating overall. Among the 18 analysts covering the stock, 11 are recommending a Strong Buy, one advises a Moderate Buy, and the remaining six analysts suggest a Hold for the stock. EPAMs average analyst price target is $223.69, indicating an upside of 5.2% from the current levels.

On the date of publication, Sristi Jayaswal 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
Lessons from the days after May 3, 2023 Consistent narrative needed

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Has Manipur learnt any lesson from the days that followed May 3, 2023 ? If so, what are the lessons that have been learnt ? There will be no easy answer here and this is where it is important to ask whether Manipur is ready to learn. And to be ready to learn, it is important for the people to look back, be courageous enough to admit the errors of the past and look to the future with the resolve that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated. Rewind to the days that followed May 3 in 2023. As stated many times in this column, the violence that erupted in Imphal was in retaliation to what happened at Churachandpur and Torbung, during and after the Tribal Solidarity March organised by the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur. The rally was ostensibly staged against the directive of the High Court of Manipur to the Government of Manipur to send the ethnographic and socio-economic report of the Meiteis in the backdrop of the demand that the Meiteis be included in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution. A report which the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs had asked the State Government back in 2013. One does not need to be a professional engaged in law or be a Constitutional expert to understand that it is not the job of the Judiciary to decide which community fits the bill to be tagged a Scheduled Tribe or not, but Parliament. ATSUM knew this, ITLF knew this, CoTU knew this and so too Kuki Inpi, Manipur. The truth for staging the Tribal Solidarity March was something else and as things have turned out, it was something very sinister. Or even if one sticks by the observation of Union Home Minister that the violence started due to the ruling of the High Court, why should a community be targeted for the ruling ? Any protest then should have been directed against the ruling of the High Court and not the Meiteis at Churachandpur and later at Torbung. The Meiteis have in the past protested against the rulings of the Government and so too have the Nagas, but not once have these protests been turned against any community. A question which The Sangai Express has raised on more than one occasion, but down the months or years, this poser has been pushed aside by one development or the other. It also stands that from day one of the conflict, the narrative spelt out by the ITLF, CoTU and now the Kuki-Zo Council has been one of portraying the Meiteis as the aggressor while conveniently sidestepping the fact that violence first erupted at Churachandpur and quickly spread to Moreh and Kangpokpi. These are points which should have been raised with the consistency that was required, but the reality says otherwise. It was also clear from Day 1 that the Kuki-Zos had gone out of their way to spin narratives that would suit their agenda while Manipur seemed to be more interested in merely letting their voice be heard via the Imphal based media houses. Remember how the yarn spun out by the Kuki-Zo elements made their way even to the floor of the European Parliament !

It should also be obvious that Manipur needs friends and if at all there is anything to be learnt from the ongoing situation here, then it is the need to cultivate friends in the right places. This is where Manipur would need to look back at the days gone by and come to the realisation that big talk in the confines of ones own territory will no longer work. Not the time to rub anyone the wrong way and one just has to look around and come to the realisation that the importance that one attaches to oneself will exactly not find any takers. Rather it may just about push others away. And even as the reality is a wake up call to the people of Manipur, the focus of everyone seems to be on the return of the popular Government. Democracy demands that there should be a peoples Government in place, and while the focus of the people is understandable, it would help for all to ponder whether the return of the popular Government would help take Manipur on the path of normalcy. Or more importantly whether the elected leaders or representatives have learnt any lessons from the days that followed May 3, 2023. For nearly two years the popular Government was in place, but did that help Manipur in any way ? Have the elected representatives discussed ways through which Manipur can get on the track of normalcy ? These are questions which the people should be asking and it is only when constructive inquiries are raised can one expect the Government to be more responsive to the voice of the people.
The agreement establishes a free trade area between the EUs 27 member states and the Mercosur bloc, which comprises Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The deal forms one of the largest trading blocs globally by removing tariffs on over 90% of EU exports and creating new opportunities for trade and investment.

The EU stands as Mercosur's second-largest trading partner in goods, recording exports valued at 57bn in 2024.

In services, the EU accounted for a quarter of all Mercosur trade, with exports to the region totalling 29bn in 2023.

The EU-Mercosur agreement aims to increase bilateral trade and investment flows while addressing tariff and non-tariff obstacles.

It seeks to introduce clearer regulations on issues including intellectual property rights, food safety standards, competition and regulatory practices.

The deal also includes provisions that target shared priorities such as sustainable development, environmental protection, workers rights, responses to climate change and responsible business conduct.

According to figures from DG Trade, by 2040 the agreement could add 77.6bn to EU GDP and lead to a 39% rise in EU exports to Mercosur countries.

The deal grants European businesses access to over 270m consumers in South America and aims to facilitate supply chain diversification by opening up markets for goods and essential raw materials.

EU business organisations representing more than 28 industry groups have expressed support for the agreements signing.

They argue that it demonstrates a continued commitment to rules-based global trade at a time of heightened uncertainty, while providing fresh impetus for export and investment activity.

The agreement now awaits ratification by the European Parliament.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: Today, two like-minded regions open a new chapter of opportunity for more than 700m citizens. With this win-win partnership, we both stand to gain  economically, diplomatically and geopolitically.

Our companies will create exports, growth and jobs. We will support each other in our clean and digital transitions. And our signal to the rest of the world is clear: the EU and Mercosur are choosing cooperation over competition, and partnership over polarisation.

The signing of the agreement comes despite opposition from farmers and environmental groups, citing concerns about a potential rise in low-cost South American imports and greater deforestation.

According to Al Jazeera, thousands of Irish farmers demonstrated last week against the deal, alleging that European leaders were disregarding their interests.
Poster campaign launched

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IMPHAL, Jan 19 : As part of its ongoing effort to create a drug free environment at educational institutions, Manipur Students' Federation (MSF) has launched a year-long poster & sticker campaign under the theme, Eikhoi Mayai Kaba Drug Thadoklashi. The launching event, held at Keishamthong High School on Monday, was attended by MSF president Hijam Roshan, drugs affair secretary Salam Franaldiz and Salam Sunita, Head Mistress of Keishamthong High School. The campaign seeks to promote a drug-free society, empower institutions, and save Manipur's youth from substance abuse. MSF will conduct the drive across the State, collaborating with students and teachers from schools to universities.
PY4P reaches out to vulnerable families, displaced children

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IMPHAL, Jan 19 : Pathways for Purpose (PY4P), with the support of young volunteers, conducted a two-day Community Capacity & Care Initiative across multiple relief camps in Imphal. During the drive, winter essentials were provided to vulnerable families and literacy kits to displaced elementary school children. Supported by Rotary Club of Kharadi, Pune, and Association of Manipuri Diaspora (AMAND) Pune, the initiative reached multiple relief locations, including Alternative Housing Complex, Langol, Thongju Relief Camp, Akampat and Veterinary Porompat Relief Camp.
By Maria Martinez and Leigh Thomas

BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The German and French finance ministers said on Monday that European powers would not be blackmailed and that there would be a clear and united response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of higher tariffs over Greenland.

Trump vowed on Saturday to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on imports from European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, intensifying a dispute over the future of Denmark's vast Arctic island.

More from Yahoo Scout What tariff threats did Trump make regarding Greenland? How might Europe respond to U.S. tariff threats? What is the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument mechanism? Why does the U.S. claim Europe is weak?

"Germany and France agree: We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed," German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said at his ministry, where he met with his French counterpart.

"Blackmail between allies of 250 years, blackmail between friends, is obviously unacceptable," French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said at the same event.

ANTI-COERCION INSTRUMENT ON TABLE

EU leaders are set to discuss options at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday. One option is a package of tariffs on 93 billion euros ($107.7 billion) of U.S. imports that could automatically kick in on February 6 after a six-month suspension.

"We Europeans must make it clear: The limit has been reached," Klingbeil said. "Our hand is extended but we are not prepared to be blackmailed."

The other option is the so far untested "Anti-Coercion Instrument", which could limit access to public tenders, investments or banking activity or restrict trade in services, in which the U.S. has a surplus with the bloc, including in digital services.

Lescure said that although the EU's anti-coercion instrument was above all a deterrent, it should be considered in the current circumstances.

"France wants us to examine this possibility, hoping of course that deterrence will prevail," Lescure said. He added that he hoped the transatlantic relationship will return to being "friendly and based on negotiation rather than a relationship based on threats and blackmail".

Klingbeil said he was not interested in escalation, as it would come at the expense of economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

EUROPE IS 'NOT WEAK'

Klingbeil and Lescure's U.S. counterpart Scott Bessent said on Sunday that European "weakness" necessitated U.S. control of Greenland for global stability.

"Our objective in the coming days, weeks, quarters and years is to politely but firmly convince Scott Bessent that he is wrong," Lescure said.

Lescure said Europe needed to adopt reforms to boost its technological edge and productivity in order to prove that Europe was indeed strong.
As 2026 approached, social media remembered Baba Vanga (Grandma Vanga), Vangeliya Pandeva Dimitrova (19111996), the late Bulgarian blind mystic and healer, often referred to as the 'Nostradamus of the Balkans' for her prophecies.

The Alpine bar fire in Switzerland on New Years Eve heightened interest in Baba Vangas predictions. Her prophecies for 2026 include protracted conflicts in Europe and Asia, political fragmentation in Europe, humanitys encounter with extraterrestrial life, automation replacing large parts of the workforce, natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and fires, and a Russian leader emerging as a major player on the world stage.

Baba Vanga is believed to have predicted the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the September 11 attacks, the rise of ISIS, the Middle East conflict, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the first Black President in the USA, the Ukraine conflict, a cure for cancer, the end of hunger, and human longevity of 200+ years. The internet community also ascribes to her predictions of a population decline in Europe, the acceleration of polar ice cap melt, and an artificial sun illuminating part of the Earth.

On a New Years travel flight, a fellow passenger, learning that I live in Sofia, asked me whether I knew Baba Vanga. I told him that a month earlier, I had visited her memorial complex in Rupite, a small village in southwestern Bulgaria near the border with Greece and North Macedonia. It is modest but well-maintained, ensconced in the hills.

Baba Vanga's memorial complex in Rupite

Baba Vanga was born in Strumica, then part of the Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia), and at the age of 12, she lost her sight after being caught in a severe storm. After that, she began claiming to have visions and insights. Over the years, people from across Bulgaria and neighbouring countries visited her for advice on health, personal issues, and future events. In her later life, she lived in the village of Rupite, where she continued to meet visitors until she died in 1996.

Throughout human history, mystics and healers have contributed to societys psychological, social, and cultural systems. Shamans, Yogis, hermits, Sufis, and monks have filled the void in human imagination regarding suffering, loss, dreams, death, and destiny.

Human existence is a blend of science and rationality, and of stories, symbols, rituals, and beliefs. Healers address not only trauma and stress but also humanitys emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs. They help communities prepare for and cope with fear, loss, and future uncertainty; therefore, mystics like Baba Vanga will continue to evoke interest for generations to come.

(Arun Sahu is the Ambassador of India to Bulgaria & North Macedonia)

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
Bharat Coking Coal Ltd made a stellar stock market debut after listing with a premium of 96.5 percent, against the issue price of Rs 23.

Listing price details:

On the BSE, the stock was listed at Rs 45.21, a steep premium of 96.56 per cent from the issue price. At the NSE, the stock made its market debut at Rs 45, up 95.65 per cent. The company's market valuation stood at Rs 19,456.95 crore.

IPO subscription details:

The initial public offering of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) saw a stunning investor participation, with a total of 146.87x subscriptions being received during the bidding period. Qualified Institutional Buyers subscribed 310.81 times, Non Institutional Investors subscribed 203.99 times and Retail Individual Investors subscribed 38.3 times.

The Rs 1,071-crore IPO had a price band of Rs 21-23 per share. The minimum investment needed to apply for the BCCL IPO was Rs 12,600/ per lot with 600 shares. The company's IPO was the first mainboard issue of 2026.

"A combination of things like lower ticket price, reasonable valuations and strong parentage of Coal India have driven the surge in stock. One can look at Bharat Coking Coal as a proxy player for steelmakers, which currently enjoy a strong business outlook," said Sunny Agrawal, head of fundamental equity research at SBICAPS Securities, to Reuters.

About BCCL:

Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL). The company was incorporated in 1972 to mine and supply coking coal concentrated in mines at Jharia, Jharkhand, and Raniganj, West Bengal, coalfields.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that he will ask the European Union to activate Europes "trade bazooka" in response to Trumps Greenlandrelated tariffs.

France argued that the US measures amount to economic coercion, while some other EU governments, notably Germany, are said to favour keeping the bazooka as a deterrent and moving more cautiously before actually triggering it.

So, what is this "trade bazooka"?

The EU's "trade bazooka" refers to a powerful new rule called the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), which came into effect in late 2023 to help Europe fight back when other countries use economic pressure to force political decisions.

It's now making headlines because of a growing spat between US President Donald Trump and several European nations over the future of Greenland, an Arctic territory rich in minerals and a strategic location.



British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also called a press conference following the Trump tariff threat, stating that such duties should not be used against allies. The UK leader, however, asserted that his focus was to avoid a "tariff war" over Greenland.

How the Trade Bazooka works

Think of the ACI as Europe's big stick for trade fights. If a foreign governmentlike the USimposes tariffs, blocks investments or restricts services to bully Europe into giving political concessions, the EU can hit back hard.

Possible responses include slapping extra duties on imports, barring US companies from EU government contracts, limiting American investments, or even cutting off access to EU markets for services where the US earns big profits.

Unlike regular trade disputes handled by the World Trade Organization, the ACI is faster and broader, designed specifically for cases where economics meets politics. EU leaders can activate it after a vote, and it's meant as both a shield and a bargaining chip.

Trump's Greenland push is the trigger

The current flashpoint started when Trump threatened to add 10 per cent tariffs from February 1 on goods from Denmark, France, Germany, the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Finlandon top of existing US levies of 10-15 per cent from last year. He said these would rise to 25 per cent by June 1 unless Europe agrees to let the US "completely and totally" buy Greenland from Denmark.

European leaders called this outright blackmail. France's Emmanuel Macron wants the EU to fire the ACI for the first time ever, while Germany prefers using it as a threat rather than pulling the trigger right away. Emergency EU meetings in Brussels are discussing a 93 billion ($107.7 billion) retaliation package that could start on February 6 if talks fail.

European stocks tumbled on Monday, with the STOXX 600 down 1.3 per cent, France's CAC 40 off 1.8 per cent, Germany's DAX dropping 1.4 per cent, and London's FTSE 100 falling 0.4 per cent. US futures also slid, S&P 500 futures down 0.9 per cent and Dow futures 0.8 per cent, as investors worry about renewed trade wars unravelling deals from mid-2025. Asia was mixed, Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.1 per cent, while South Korea's Kospi gained 1.3 per cent.
In what comes as a key milestone in India's push for self-reliance in defence and plans to emerge as a major global defence exporter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Sunday, flagged off the first tranche of guided Pinaka rockets, manufactured by the Pune-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), to Armenia.

Armenia had, in September 2022, signed a 2,000 crore contract for four Pinaka batteries, including unguided, extended-range, and guided variants. Armenia was the first international customer for the Pinaka system, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Deliveries of the initial Pinaka unguided systems began in July 2023 and were completed by late 2024.

Singh said the exports of Pinaka missiles demonstrate the capabilities of the defence industry in further strengthening the export potential of the country. India is no longer just an importer but is rapidly moving towards becoming an exporter, he said.

Singh also inaugurated the a medium calibre ammunition facility at SDAL in Nagpur. The facility is a fully automated plant manufacturing 30mm ammunition, which is extensively used by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy.

Singh's call to private sector

Observing that India is steadily marching forward in ammunition production as it is manufacturing quality and reliable products, Singh said, the government is focusing on ensuring that the private sectors role in defence manufacturing reaches 50 per cent or more in the coming days.

He praised the Solar group for the manufacturing of the Nagastra drones, which were successfully used during Operation Sindoor, and hailed the the development of more advanced versions of Nagastra. Singh exuded confidence that the weapons would prove extremely lethal to the nations enemies if needed in the future.

Singh noted that said that the successful test launch of the 'Bhargavastra' Counter Drone System, being developed by SDAL, showcases the technological capabilities of the private sector.

ALSO READ: Indias geopolitical springboard: Turning post-Venezuela disruption into opportunity

New methods of warfare are emerging. Wars are no longer confined to borders. Areas such as energy, trade, tariffs, supply chains, technology, and information have also become new dimensions of conflict. The importance of border vigilance and the latest weapons and technologies has increased. Irrespective of the nature of war, the need for a robust defence industrial base will always remain. In such a situation, increased private sector involvement in manufacturing and research & development is the need of the hour, Singh said.

The capabilities and innovations of the private sector clearly demonstrate its full potential, Singh said, adding that he is confident that the 50 per cent target will soon be achieved.

He assured that the government is making every effort to strengthen the private sector and promote domestic vendors.

"We have decided to gradually indigenise our platforms, systems, and subsystems. Even for those things that we cannot manufacture, a provision for at least 50 per cent indigenous content has been made. As a result of these efforts, we have been successful in increasing our indigenous content in many areas. This has also boosted the morale of the private sector, he said.

Singh pointed out that India possesses a unique and effective blend of both public and private sectors in its defence manufacturing ecosystem and called it the country's greatest strength.

We have capable and experienced public sector institutions, along with a strong and rapidly growing private sector. This balance is quite rare. There is a need to deepen this synergy, further enhance the capabilities of the private sector, constantly update them, and provide them with new technology, new opportunities, and new responsibilities, so that they can move forward in tandem with the public sector," Singh said, even as he highlighted the need for the public and private sectors to complement each other.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on Monday, urged Poland to display "zero-tolerance" for terrorism and not help "fuel" the terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood, during the delegation-level talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radosaw Sikorski, who is in India.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

He was apparently referring to the mention of Kashmir in a Poland-Pakistan joint statement in October.

Sikorski is on a three-day visit to India that came less than 10 days before the top leadership of the European Union travels to the country.

Jaishankar also expressed his anguish over the unfair and unjustified "selective targeting" of India over the Ukraine conflict, in what is seen as a reference to Western nations' criticism of New Delhi over its energy ties with Russia.

ALSO READ: Indias geopolitical springboard: Turning post-Venezuela disruption into opportunity

"In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications. While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified," the EAM said.

India's strong economic growth, size of its market, and pro-investment policies provide immense opportunities for Polish businesses, Jaishankar observed.

Sikorski said he completely agreed with Jaishankar on the "unfairness" and "selective targeting" in the context of tariffs over India's relations with Russia.

In late October, Sikorski travelled to Islamabad and held wide-ranging talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, following which a joint statement was issued that featured the Kashmir issue.

In the talks, the two foreign ministers discussed ways to take forward ongoing cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean technologies and digital innovation.

"Poland is one of India's largest trading partners in Central Europe. Our bilateral trade, I believe, stands at USD 7 billion, having registered growth of almost 200 per cent in the past decade," Jaishankar said.

"Indian investment in Poland has surpassed USD 3 billion, creating a number of job opportunities for Poles. India's strong economic growth, size of its market and pro-investment policies, provide immense opportunity for Polish businesses," he said.
Turkey and Pakistan have declared that they are in the process of finalising plans for a tripartite defence partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a report said. The announcement came on Thursday amidst the unrest in Iran and rumours of US intervention over the brutal crackdown on protestors by the Islamic regime.

ALSO READ | What Turkeys growing ties with Pakistan indicate

As things stand, the particulars of the deal remain unknown. The proposed deal is not likely to include a clause that demands mandatory mutual support in the event of an armed conflict, the report said. In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a defence pact under which any aggression against either country shall be considered as an act of aggression against both. The 'Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement' was signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's state visit to Riyadh. According to reports, this defence deal between the two sides is unrelated to the three-party partnership now being discussed.

ALSO READ | How India can counter Turkey-Pakistan bonhomie: Hard power, narrative diplomacy and better ties with Ankara's competitors

Meanwhile, Pakistans Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj told Reuters that the idea was not immediate but was "something that is already in the pipeline." Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, meanwhile, said on Thursday that negotiations with regional states have been under way since early last year. The minister stopped short of naming the other players involved, the South China Morning Post said in a report on Friday. "Although an agreement had yet to be reached, Fidan said the proposed security mechanism would act as a shared platform for 'all regional nations', whose issues could be resolved if they could 'be sure of each other'," the report read.

ALSO READ | Turkish media raise alarm about India's 'revenge move': 'They are playing Greece card'

However, the report added that a deal involving these three nations will contain complex challenges requiring extra attention to resolve, despite their numerous shared interests. Simply put, the priorities of the three are not the same.

While Islamabad's defence needs concern matching New Delhi's might, apart from fighting terrorism and increasing border frictions with Afghanistan, Ankara is more worried about Syria and NATO-related issues. As far as Riyadh is concerned, Yemen cannot be ignored, along with Iran and Israel. They are in the process of improving their air and missile arsenal as well.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

Intelligence sharing could also cause roadblocks for the cooperation as it demands absolute trust. The three players could well be cautious when it comes to sharing sensitive information at their disposal, rules of engagement, and who has access to what systems, the SCMP report said. It added that financial aspects involved in technology transfer and co-production also hold the potential to stall the deal, particularly in light of Pakistan's economic constraints.
Dhanush's Tere Ishk Mein will be hitting the streaming space nearly two months after its theatrical release. The Aanand L. Rai feature, which has Kriti Sanon playing the female lead, will be hitting Netflix on January 23.

A dark, intense romantic drama revolving around an Air Force officer Lieutenant Shankar Gurukkal and Mukti, a psychology researcher, Tere Ishk Mein was touted as a spiritual successor to the actor-director's previous collaboration Raanjhanaa.

In its review of the movie, THE WEEK wrote: "The film wants you to believe its about two broken individuals drawn to one another, but it feels more like a case of broken writing. While Shankars motivations are understudied, but what is more perplexing is Muktis saviour complex -- why she feels compelled to fix him, and why shes obsessively drawn to him. Oh, and she also becomes an alcoholic out of nowhere. Youll never know, why."

While comparing Tere Ishk Mein and Raanjhanaa, the review further added, "Raanjhanaa had two strong suits: A.R. Rahmans music and Benares, which functioned like a living, breathing character  its ghats, its cadence, its way of life. Here, music barely leaves a mark, and Delhi is reduced to a cardboard backdrop, explored only through its most obvious contrast: Shankars slum versus Muktis Lutyens Delhi. While Dhanush and Sanon land a cracking performance, other actors, tall in their way, are underused  be it Raj, Tota Roy Chowdhury, as Sanons father, or Priyanshu Painyuli, as Dhanushs friend."
German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, on the left, and French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure give a joint statement in Berlin (John MACDOUGALL)  John MACDOUGALL/AFP/AFP

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday said Europe wants to "avoid escalation" over US President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs on countries that oppose his designs on Greenland.

Trump shook Europe on Saturday when he vowed to slap EU members Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden -- and non-members Britain and Norway -- with extra levies unless Greenland is ceded to the United States.

Germany and other European countries agreed "that we want to avoid any escalation in this dispute if at all possible", Merz said, adding that he would seek to meet Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday.

"We simply want to try to resolve this problem together, and the American government knows that we could also retaliate. I don't want to, but if necessary, we will of course protect our European interests as well as our German national interests."

Leaders from the 27-nation bloc will hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss their response to one of the gravest crises in years to hit transatlantic ties.

Merz said the threatened tariffs would harm both the United States and Europe.

"Customs duties are usually paid by those in the country where the imports are received - in this case, American consumers," Merz said.

"But (the tariffs) would also, of course, damage our economy, the European economy and, in particular, the German economy."

German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil had earlier struck a harder tone, saying Europe "will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed".

"Europe will respond with a united, clear response, and we are now preparing countermeasures together with our European partners," Klingbeil said at a Berlin press conference alongside the French economy and finance minister, Roland Lescure.

- 'United, clear response' -

Klingbeil, who is also Germany's finance minister, said Europe's response could have three main strands.

First, the current tariff deal with the United States would be put on hold.

Second, European tariffs on imports from the United States, currently suspended until early February, could come into force.

And third, the EU should consider its powerful so-called anti-coercion instrument against Washington, he said.

Lescure agreed that Trump's threat amounted to "blackmail".

"Blackmail between allies of 250 years, blackmail between friends, is obviously unacceptable," said the French minister.

"We Europeans must remain united and coordinated in our response and, above all, be prepared to make full use of the instruments" of the European Union, he said.
Will Uddhav Thackeray back the BJP to keep Eknath Shinde out of power? Will the two Shiv Sena factions bury their hatchets to keep the BJP at bay? Will Shiv Sena (UBT) welcome deserters from the Shinde faction to ensure a Marathi Shiv Sainik will become the mayor of Mumbai once again?

Local media reports are speculating on all possible "twists" amidst the lack of a clear frontrunner in the ascent to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor's chair despite Shinde himself affirming that the mayor will be from the Mahayuti. Fuelling the speculation further is a statement by Eknath Shinde Sena leader Uday Samant. The Industries Minister's claim that many councillors are "not reachable" post-elections has raised eyebrows.

ALSO READ | Shinde Sena wants BJP to share BMC Mayor's chamber, ups guard against internal Mahayuti poaching: Report

"We fought the elections as part of the Mahayuti. What the earlier Shiv Sena did in 2019contesting elections together and then going and sitting in the Congresss lapwas not Balasahebs teaching. That is why Eknath Shinde is guiding the new councillors. When the election for the mayors post takes place, who will be not reachable will be revealed as breaking news, the Ratnagiri MLA was quoted as saying by Loksatta.

He also stated that the Sena-UBT need not comment on his party after having worked against Balasaheb's teachings. The Shinde rebellion was a consequence of this deviation and the people saw where that got the Uddhav camp. "This was the first councillor election after the split. We were elected in 29 seats, and in 1516 seats we lost by a very narrow margin. People need to reflect on themselves. By going with the Congress, they betrayed Balasaheb. As a result, they neither got power nor leadership. Such people do not need to advise Shinde. So once again, I say very responsibly that when a mayor from the Mahayuti is elected, many people will suddenly be seen as not reachable, and we will come to know about it through breaking news, Samant said, setting off a fresh political storm, Loksatta quoted him as saying.

In the recently concluded civic polls, the alliance of the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won a clear majority in the 227-member BMC, securing 89 and 29 seats, respectively. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, while its ally MNS emerged victorious with six.

The Shiv Sena (Shinde) has shifted its 29 members to a hotel in Mumbai, ostensibly for an orientation workshop to make them aware of the functioning of the country's richest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

ALSO READ | hiv Sena (UBT) confident of getting mayor elected from party?

The move followed the declaration of the BMC poll results, which showed that the seats won by the Shiv Sena are crucial for the BJP to draw up its strategy to get a Mahayuti mayor installed.

"Shinde has already shifted his corporators to a five-star hotel and, as per my information, the BJP is also planning to move its corporators to a safer place. Who is afraid of whom? You are the government. The Chief Minister is watching corporators being shifted while attending the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos (Switzerland). It is amusing," Raut told reporters.

Raut also dismissed speculation about Fadnavis holding talks with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

He further alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was attempting to engineer a split among BJP corporators in the neighbouring Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (in the Thane district) and could try a similar move in Mumbai.

Shinde had earlier split the Shiv Sena with the support of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he charged.
JP Naddas tenure at the top of the Bharatiya Janata Party, stretching from his appointment as working president in June 2019 to his full term as national president from January 2020, is drawing to a close with the party set to hand over the reins to 45-year-old Nitin Nabin.

Nabin, who filed his nominations on Monday, will be formally declared elected on January 20, the same day Nadda was appointed as full time party president in 2020.

Nadda is currently handling the Union Health Ministry, a portfolio he held even during first term of Modi government. As an organisation man, he had won the trust of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Naddas name even surfaced in 2014, when he was party general secretary, but the post went to another general secretary, Amit Shah. It was after Shah went to Modi cabinet as Home Minister that Nadda returned to organisation.

He took charge when the party was in intense consolidation mode and at a time when the pandemic had disrupted normal life. Since Nadda took charge, there have been 33 assembly elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and even the Presidential and Vice Presidential polls. Among the assembly polls, the party recorded 19 victories, retaining its key states, while snatching Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from Congress. The biggest wins were in Odisha and Delhi, as party formed governments there. The surprise wins in Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, where the party was expecting a reversal signalled that its superior election management and focus on strengthening its grassroot outreach paid dividends.

There was a period in 2024 when Naddas statement on BJPs reliance on its ideological parent, the RSS caused consternation in the saffron family. The BJP tally came down during the Lok Sabha, but the party managed to form government with the help of its allies.

This was also the era when the central government pushed some landmark legislations including the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, and was instrumental in building Ram Temple, the two of partys biggest ideological agendas. The party presidents role was to keep the organisation fully aligned with the Centres push.

Before moving to national politics, Nadda served three terms as an MLA in Himachal Pradesh and held state cabinet portfolios including Health and Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, and later Forest, Environment, Science and Technology. He entered the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and served on several parliamentary standing committees. He was Union Health Minister from 2014 to 2019 before being moved into the partys top organisational role.

The BJPs presidency has historically shaped the partys political course. Atal Bihari Vajpayee led the party after its formation in 1980 and was instrumental in giving it initial shape and push. L.K. Advanis multiple terms expanded the BJPs mass mobilisation and national presence. Leaders such as Murli Manohar Joshi and Kushabhau Thakre focused on consolidation, while Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari steered the party through transitional phases.

Amit Shahs tenure from 2014 to 2020 marked the period of the BJPs sharpest national expansion. Since then party sharpened its cadre, built massive infrastructure across states, and honed its election template which it has been using to win elections and retain its political dominance.

Now, when Nitin Nabin takes over as the 12th person to become BJP chief, the party is focusing on preparing its leaders and cadre for next generation. Being the youngest party chief, Nitin Nabin will have a new organisational team with younger leaders.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to announce its 12th national president on January 20, with state unit chiefs and other prominent leaders scheduled to gather at the party headquarters in Delhi on Monday to file nominations.

BJP national working president Nitin Nabin is expected to be elected unopposed, with party leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, backing his candidacy for the post.

Nominations for the position will be accepted between 2 pm and 4 pm on Monday, with scrutiny of the nomination papers scheduled from 4 pm to 5 pm. Candidates will have the option to withdraw their nominations between 5 pm and 6 pm, and the national election officer will issue a press statement at 6:30 pm.

The BJP national president is elected by an electoral college consisting of representatives from the party's national council and state councils, with the process overseen by the national returning officer.

According to the BJP's constitution, a candidate must be jointly proposed by at least 20 members of a states electoral college and must have a minimum of 15 years of membership.

"The polling will be held, if needed, on January 20 and an official announcement of the name of the new BJP national president will be made the same day," party's national returning officer K. Laxman had stated.

Nabin, a five-time MLA from Bihar, was recently appointed BJP national working president and is poised to become the youngest person to hold the top party post. His elevation marks a significant generational shift for the party as it prepares for critical elections in the coming years.

The BJP is a democratic party where any worker, through hard work, can rise to the top. Be it Prime Minister Modi or Amit Shah, all began as party workers, said BJP MP Hemant Savara. The BJP is the only party focused on development-oriented politics, he added.

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi expressed excitement over Nabin's likely elevation, saying that all workers and youth in Bihar are thrilled about the announcement.

I am very happy that Prime Minister Modi has developed a new generation of leadership in the form of Nitin Nabin. I have come to Delhi today to support him as a proposer. He will move forward carrying the ideology of Narendra Modi and the BJP, Saraogi said.

Bihars Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary echoed this sentiment, emphasising the inclusivity within the party and expressing joy at Nabins anticipated rise to the top post.

"This is a moment of joy for Bihar and a historic day for the BJP. Nitin Nabin will file his nomination as the youngest national president, and tomorrow we will welcome him as our new national president. Under his leadership, the BJP will grow even stronger," Choudhary said.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) has called the Supreme Court (SC) direction on Monday a victory, after the Election Commission of India (ECI) was asked to display names of all 1.25 crore voters with logical discrepancies in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) SIR game is over. One crore names that were targeted to be struck off have been saved, and the victory belongs to the people of Bengal. Our voting rights were being threatened, but the Supreme Court has given them a firm rebuke," said Mamata Banerjees nephew Abhishek Banerjee during a rally at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district.

"Today, the BJP and Modi have been defeated in court; in the coming days, they will be defeated by votes. This is not Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, or Gujarat. This land has shown the way to the freedom movement and the Renaissance. We never bow our heads to outsiders," added the TMC MP.

BJP, meanwhile, welcomed the Supreme Court's directive. "The voter list is being cleaned up," said Samik Bhattacharya, BJP state president.

The apex court directed the ECI to display names of voters categorised in the logical discrepancy list at gram panchayat and block offices in rural areas and in ward offices in urban areas within three days. The apex court also asked the ECI to call these specific voters for a hearing within 10 days after the list is published.
Ballot papers will replace electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming elections for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), scheduled for May-June, the Karnataka Election Commission announced on Monday.

The Commission did not specify any particular reason for the shift to the ballot system, simply stating that the law allows for their use.

Since there is no restriction on the use of ballot papers and no court directive against it, we will proceed with the ballot system, said State Election Commissioner G.S. Sangreshi during a media briefing attended by commissioners of all five city corporations.

In India, the mandatory use of EVMs applies only to elections for state Assemblies and Parliament, Sangreshi added, noting that the decision to use ballot papers was made after consulting stakeholders and is in line with existing legal provisions.

Notably, the decision follows a recommendation made last year by the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka cabinet to conduct all future local body elections using ballot papers.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil cited a decline in public trust and the credibility of EVMs as the reason behind the move. However, the BJP strongly opposed the shift, arguing that the highest number of illegal votes, complaints of vote theft, election violence, and irregularities had been registered in courts during elections that used ballot papers.

The last elections to the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were held using EVMs in August 2015.

Draft voter list released

The Commission on Monday also announced the draft voter list for the GBA elections. Greater Bengaluru has a total of 8,891,411 voters, including 4,569,193 men, 4,320,583 women, and 1,635 voters in the 'other' category.

Ward 23 of the Bengaluru West City Corporation has the largest number of voters at 49,530, while Ward 16 of the Bengaluru East City Corporation has the smallest, with 10,926.

Voters can file objections or submit corrections to the list from January 20 to February 3. Additionally, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct door-to-door verification to cross-check voter details.

The final voter list is expected to be published on March 16. According to the Election Commission, the GBA elections will be held between May 25 and June 30.
An anti-beggary drive in Indore of Madhya Pradesh showed that not everyone in rags may be poor.

According to District Magistrate Shivam Verma, Indore is a "beggar-free city", and the district officials carry out such drives to rehabilitate those seeking alms in public.

The Indore administration has imposed a legal ban on begging, giving alms, and even purchasing goods from them in order to make the city, celebrated as the country's cleanest for the past one decade, beggar-free.

During one such recent drive, the officials came across a leprosy-afflicted man whose net worth could be in lakhs. Media reports have identified him as Mangilal.

According to media reports, a 50-year-old leprosy patient, rescued from the Sarafa area based on information from the public, who makes a living by seeking alms while moving about on a wheeled board, owns property worth several lakh rupees, including three houses, a car and three autorickshaws.

Officials said he also lends money in the bullion market and earns a good amount as income.

Women and Child Development Department official Dinesh Mishra, who is the nodal officer for the campaign to eradicate begging and make the state's commercial capital beggar-free, said, "This Saturday, we specifically sent a team to apprehend him. His name is Mangilal, 55 to 60 years old, and he is a leprosy patient, begging continuously for the past eight to ten years."

"We have learned that this man owns three concrete houses, including a three-story building. In addition, he has three auto-rickshaws that he rents out. The man also owns a car in which he goes begging. He has even hired a driver for this purpose. He begs while moving about on a wheeled board."

"Since he is a leprosy patient, the government has allotted him a 1 BHK house. Information regarding this is still being gathered... the property he owns might cost around Rs 1 crore... We have sent him to the shelter home... This entire matter has been reported to the Collector, and he will give instructions after reviewing the case," he said.

According to Mishra, the man, who has been begging since 2021, had lent 4-5 lakh to people in the bullion market in Indore and charges interest that nets him between Rs 1000-1200 per day. He also earns about 400 to 500 rupees daily from begging.

He is currently lodged in a shelter.

Is there more to his story?

However, according to Rupali Jain, president of Pravesh, an NGO working to eradicate beggary, there is more to the story than meets the eye. She claimed that the man did not amass his wealth by begging alone.

She explained that the man used to work as a mason until a few years ago, but was unable to continue after suffering severe damage to his fingers and feet due to leprosy.

Due to social and family discrimination, he began begging at night near Chaat Chowpatty in the Sarafa area, she said.

"We tried to convince this man twice in the last four years to stop begging. He did stop the practice for a while, but later went back to it," Jain said even as she underlined the difficulties in rehabilitating people with diseases that evoke intense social stigma.
Actor-politician Vijay was questioned again for six hours over the Karur stampede on Monday. The actor, who reached Delhi on Sunday arrived at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation at 10.20am for questioning.

According to sources in the know of developments, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader arrived at the CBI headquarters on Lodhi Road at around 10.20am, and left at about 5pm. Vijay was reportedly questioned by a deputy superintendent rank officer from the central agency's anti-corruption wing.

#WATCH | Delhi: TVK Chief and actor Vijay leaves from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office.



He appeared before the CBI today in connection with the investigation into the Karur stampede case. pic.twitter.com/xNy30TVs3F  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

The actor-politician was reportedly asked questions related to decision-making for the rally, reasons for his delayed arrival at the campaign venue, continuation of his speech, his knowledge about the ongoing chaos, crowd turnout, and mismanagement of the crowd.

As many as 41 people died in the tragic stampede during actor-politician Vijay's rally at Karur in September last year. Over 50 people, including women and children, suffered injuries in the incident. Though a Special Investigation Team of Tamil Nadu police initially probed the case, the CBI took over the investigation following directions from the Supreme Court.

The apex court also appointed a committee led by former Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi to monitor the probe.

However, TVK leader C.T. Nirmal Kumar, who was also present outside the CBI office, dismissed rumours about the probe and said they are fully cooperating with the investigation. "Many rumours are being spread around that are not true. We all know what happened in Karur. MPs from Delhi had gone to Karur; even the Tamil Nadu BJP president has said what exactly happened in Karur."

This is the second time Vijay is appearing before the central agency in connection with the probe into the tragic stampede. The actor first appeared on January 12, and he was questioned for six hours. The actor-politician was reportedly given a 90-questionnaire booklet by CBI officials on the day.

Though the actor was summoned again for probe the next day, he sought another date due to Pongal. CBI officials told PTI that the call on attributing the role of individuals in the charge-sheet will be taken only after a thorough analysis of the statements of the actor, senior political officials of his party, and police and district administration officials involved in the process of giving clearance and managing the rally.
The Delhi High Court on Monday denied bail for Unnao rape-accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar's ten-year sentence over the custodial death of the survivor's father.

According to Justice Ravinder Dodeja, though the former BJP MLA had suffered a long period of incarceration, his bail plea was rejected for a number of reasons.

Unnao custodial death case: Delhi High Court refused to suspend the sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao custodial death case.



This case is related to the custodial death of the father of the Unnao rape victim  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

One of these reasons was Sengar's counsel filing multiple applications in the appeal to suspend his conviction.

"Purpose would be served if the appeal is heard expeditiously," the court added when it declared that relief could not be offered on grounds of delay. The matter was listed for further hearing on February 3, as per a PTI report.

Justice Dodeja added that there had also been no subsequent developments in the custodial death case after Sengar's conviction that could persuade the court to exercise discretion in the appellant's favour.

This comes after the Delhi HC itself suspended his sentence and granted him conditional bail in the rape case on December 23, 2025. However, he was still forced to remain in jail due to the custodial death case.

#WATCH | Delhi | Supreme Court stays the order of Delhi High Court, which suspended the life sentence of expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case of a minor girl



Mehmood Pracha, Advocate for Unnao rape case survivor, says, "I pic.twitter.com/zh0KKfsHBN  ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2025

This led to the Supreme Court staying the conditional bail on December 29, 2025, on grounds of what it described as a legally troubling turn in one of Indias most haunting criminal cases.

Notably, Sengar had been sentenced to ten years' rigorous imprisonment by a trial courtand was also slapped with a fine of Rs 10 lakhin the March 13, 2020 case of the custodial death of the survivor's father.

The trial court had said back then that "no leniency" could be shown for killing a family's "sole bread earner". The survivor's father had been brought to custody under the Arms Act, and died in custody on April 9, 2018 after police brutality.

It had also sentenced Sengar's brother, Atul Singh Sengar, and five others to a ten-year jail term for their role in the custodial killing.

The former BJP MLA's appeal against a December 2019 judgement on the 2017 rape, which convicts him and sentences him to life imprisonment, is pending in the Delhi HC, the report added.
A 27-year-old software engineer died tragically on Sunday after his car plunged into a 20-foot-deep, water-filled pit at a construction site in Greater Noidas Sector 150. Despite an over five-hour rescue operation, the young man could not be saved, prompting public outcry and sharp criticism over the rescue team's perceived failure.

The deceased was identified as Yuvraj Mehta, a resident of Tata Eureka Park society in Sector 150.

#WATCH | Noida techie death case | Greater Noida | Moninder, a Flipkart agent, who rescued Yuvraj's body from the drain, says, "The incident happened at 12 o'clock that night. I went there at 1.40 AM. I was enroute delivering an order. There was a crowd, and seeing it, I pic.twitter.com/LQ8kVbgUVz  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

The incident took place on Saturday night. Dense fog and overspeeding might have caused the accident, said the officials. According to the Knowledge Park police station officials, they received the call around 12.15 am that a car had fallen into a pit. Though a search operation was launched, the body could be recovered only on Sunday morning.

#WATCH | Greater Noida, UP | Father of the deceased, Rajkumar Mehta, says, "My son was struggling to save himself... My son was crying out for help, asking people to help him, but most of the crowd was just watching. Some people were making videos... My son struggled for 2 hours pic.twitter.com/RmODfXF8h8  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

The coordinated efforts of the fire department, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the local police were in vain as they could not rescue the engineer on time.

Alleging negligence, local residents staged a protest against the Noida Authority. They claimed that this is not the first time such an incident happened; there were many instances in the past, too.

The account of the delivery agent, Moninder, who jumped into the water to rescue the youngster, also revealed that there was initial negligence by the state authorities. He alleged that the rescue personnel were reluctant initially to enter the water due to cold, poor visibility and the presence of iron rods at the construction site.

"I tied a rope around my waist and went into the water myself. I searched for the youth and his car for around 30 minutes," Moninder told reporters. He also added that if the rescue team reached him before, he could have been saved.

He claimed that he saw Mehta standing on the roof of the car.

Moninder said a similar incident took place earlier when a truck driver fell into the pit. But he was rescued by the locals using ropes and a ladder.

Mehta's father, Raj Kumar Mehta, also said that his son could have been saved if there had been an expert diving team. Describing his last conversation with his son, Raj Kumar alleged negligence at the site.

However, the police rejected the allegations and said that proper efforts were carried out by the rescue team. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajeev Narayan Mishra said police and fire department teams made efforts to save the youth and deployed a crane, ladder, makeshift boat and searchlights, but visibility was near zero due to fog.
Amidst reports of Eknath Shinde being forced to move his Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporators to a hotel to avoid poaching, a similar situation has been reported in KalyanDombivli. While the deputy chief minister is reportedly afraid of its victors jumping ship to the BJP or Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai, it is the Thackeray cousins who find themselves in a similar predicament regarding the KDMC.

The Shiv Sena (Shinde) had emerged as the single-largest party in the local body by winning 53 seats, while the BJP got 50 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured 11 seats, while the MNS won five  a drop from its 2015 performance, when it had won nine seats.

ALSO READ | Is mayoral race sparking power tussle within Mahayuti? Why BJP is 'unhappy' even after sweeping BMC polls

The number 62 is the magic number needed in the KDMC, and with neither of the Mahayuti partners getting to the mark, the Thackerays fear poaching attempts. Both parties can make it to the majority mark on their own if they convince the opposition councillors to switch sides. This is said to be the reason why the former Chief Minister has moved his winning candidates to an undisclosed location. Nine councillors from the Thackeray Sena have been moved to an undisclosed location to avoid poaching. TV9 Marathi said in a report.

Return of Hotel politics

Meanwhile at the state capital, Eknath Shinde's corporators remain lodged at the Taj Lands End hotel to avoid being snatched by the BJP. As per news agency PTI, a senior leader of Shinde's party had earlier confirmed that the corporators were being moved to a luxury hotel in Bandra so that they can "refresh" themselves after a hectic election season. Another party functionary said the corporators would undergo "orientation" and will be housed in the hotel for a couple of days.

The saffron party is hell-bent on handing a full tenure to a mayor of their choice in the BMC, while the Shinde faction demands 2.5 years in office since they fought the election in an alliance.

FULL REPORT | Will Eknath Shinde's corporators join Shiv Sena-UBT to ensure Marathi Mayor in Mumbai? Sanjay Raut drops a bombshell

The Sena (UBT) leadership has cocked a snook at Shinde, claiming that the man responsible for bifurcating the party is now forced to lock up his own party men to prevent the same from happening to him. The alliance leaders are yet to find a common ground, even as the Thackerays are hoping that Shinde's men will back them to ensure that a Marathi will become Mumbai's mayor yet again.
Investing.com - European defense stocks traded higher on Monday, as investors assessed President Donald Trumps threats of placing new tariffs on several European countries until the U.S. is allowed to buy Greenland.

Shares of Leonardo in Italy, Renk and Rheinmetall in Germany, BAE Systems in the United Kingdom, and Thales in France were all higher in mid-morning trading.

Leaders in Europe are set to discuss their response to Trumps tariffs later this week, with reports suggesting that EU officials are even mulling over instituting harsh retaliatory measures should the levies be put into place.

On Saturday, Trump said he would place 10% tariffs on eight EU members -- Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom -- until the U.S. can buy Greenland. Should the U.S. not succeed in buying the massive semi-autonomous Danish territory, Trump added that the levies would increase to 25% in June.

Trump has argued that the purchase over Greenland is necessary for national security, although European states have described the move as blackmail.

Ahead of an emergency summit scheduled for Thursday in Brussels, EU countries are reportedly preparing to discuss a range of responses, such as a package of tariffs 93 billion euros of U.S. imports. Another is the so-called Anti-Coercion Tool, which could limit the U.S.s access to investment, banking activity and trade in services.

Against this backdrop, analysts suggested that uncertainty around Trumps trade policies -- a common theme throughout 2025 -- may intensify, while the NATO alliance could be put at risk.

[T]hese developments could drive a period of heightened strain within NATO and add to existing pressures for European governments on how to manage their security commitments, analysts at BofA Securities said in a note.

We expect that this will reinforce calls for greater strategic independence from the United States, supported by continued increases in defense spending -- an environment that remains constructive for the European defense sector.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is questioning actor-politician Vijay for the second time on Monday in connection with the deadly stampede at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur in September 2025.

Vijay, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday, reached the CBI headquarters around 10 am. The TVK chief, who was first questioned on January 12 for over six hours, had been asked to return the following day, but he requested another date, citing the harvest festival, Pongal.

During this second round of interrogation, the CBI is likely to seek further clarification about the seven-hour gap between the scheduled start of the event and his actual arrival, which investigators believe may have contributed to the crowd swelling from an expected 10,000 to over 30,000 people. This surge in numbers is thought to have led to a complete loss of control, culminating in the stampede.

The focus of the first round of questioning was on the events that triggered the crowd rush. According to sources, Vijay was provided with a set of 90 written questions and questioned by a Deputy Superintendent-level officer.

Reports also indicate that the CBI is scrutinizing documents related to the permissions for the event and is seeking clarity on who was responsible for organizing the Karur rally. The investigation is delving into the internal structure of the TVK to identify those responsible for planning and executing the event, including who made the decision to hold the rally in Karur and when Vijay was informed about the details.

Vijay and the TVK leadership are facing criticism for gross mismanagement and poor crowd control following the stampede, which resulted in the deaths of 41 people and left over 100 others injured on September 27. The incident occurred after the crowd grew uncontrollably upon the actors delayed arrival.
Amid reports that the Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, influenced US President Donald Trump against mounting an attack on Iran, Riyadh has clarified its position to Tehran.

Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its airspace or territory to be used to attack it, two sources close to the kingdom's government told reporters. This comes as the US deploys its military assets in the Middle East, in anticipation of a potential conflict with Iran.

Saudi Arabia has informed Tehran directly that it will not be part of any military action taken against it, and that its territory and airspace will not be used for that purpose, a source close to the Saudi military said, adding that the message had been communicated to Tehran. The US has military assets in the Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh has been taking a very strategic and safe approach in dealing with Tehran despite the long record of hostility toward Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has so far refrained from publicly supporting the Iranian peoples struggle against the Islamic Republic.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

Meanwhile, Saudi officials have also rejected the claims that they influenced Trump against launching an attack on Iran. Reports suggesting Saudi Arabia had advised the US against striking Iran are not true, according to the official.

Earlier, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir was asked about the unrest in Iran and the prospect of a potential US attack, to which he tactically replied that the Kingdom was watching the situation closely. He also expressed hopes that tensions could be resolved in a way that would minimize any kind of damage.

Saudi commentator Ali Shihabi also denied that Riyadh was lobbying either for or against a strike on Iran. Saudi Arabia did not get involved in this discussion one way or the other, he wrote on X.

Meanwhile, a report by The Washington Post, a decisive factor that prompted Trump to walk back on his intention to attack Iran was a backchannel exchange between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The Iranian minister reportedly messaged Witkoff, committing to stop the killing and halt the scheduled execution of protesters.
The Syrian government announced a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Saturday, ending days of heavy fighting. Damascus now has near-complete control of the country after systematically dismantling the SDF, which will be integrated into the Syrian army.

The deal, which was mediated by US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, ends two weeks of intense clashes and sets out a broad plan to bring SDF-held areas and forces back under state control. Although Bashar al-Assad was removed from power in December 2024 and replaced by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, talks on merging the US-backed SDF into the new national army failed throughout last year. Tensions rose earlier this month, leading to fighting in Aleppo and a rapid military offensive by government forces.

Over recent weeks, the Syrian army made major gains. It captured the strategic city of Tabqa, the Euphrates Dam, Syrias largest, and key oil and gas fields in Raqqa and Deir Az Zor. The SDF said the conflict had been forced upon it by outside planning and chose to withdraw from Arab-majority areas to avoid a wider war.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

The 14-point agreement marks a major shift in Syrias balance of power. The central government will regain full control of Raqqa, Deir Az Zor and Hasakah, including civilian institutions and border crossings. The SDF will hand over oil and gas fields that funded its autonomous administration. In return, the group can nominate civilian and military figures for roles in the central government. The governor of Hasakah, which has a large Kurdish population, will be appointed by consensus. Some reports indicate that SDF commander Mazloum Abdi could be offered the position of Hasakah governor.

SDF fighters will no longer operate as separate units. Instead, they will be screened and absorbed as individuals into the ministries of defence and interior. The SDF has also agreed to remove all non-Syrian members linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, meeting a key demand from Turkey.

Damascus will take control of prisons and camps holding tens of thousands of foreign Islamic State fighters and their families. Syrian officials said the transfer would be handled carefully to avoid new security risks.

The government has also made major concessions. President al-Sharaa issued a historic decree recognising Kurdish rights for the first time since Syria gained independence in 1946. Kurdish is now recognised as a national language alongside Arabic and can be taught in schools. The Kurdish New Year, Newroz, will become a national holiday. Stateless Kurds who lost their citizenship after a disputed 1962 census will have it restored. Kurdish leaders welcomed these moves but said the rights must be protected in a permanent constitution, not just by decree.

International reaction has been mixed. The United States, balancing its past support for the SDF with its backing of the new Syrian leadership, called the agreement a pivotal moment for a unified Syria. Barrack praised both sides for choosing cooperation over division.

Kurds, however, feel betrayed by the US as it did not step in to stop the Syrian onslaught. Although many of them concede that integration could be the only way forward, the fear of discrimination prevails.

On the other hand, the peace deal is a major political and military victory for the Syrian government. It restores control over Syrias agricultural heartland and key energy resources, both vital for rebuilding the country. President al-Sharaa said the agreement was essential to restore state authority, arguing that a united Syria must control its own borders and resources. The deal effectively ends the de facto division of the country that emerged during the civil war.
The Trump administration is undertaking a broad diplomatic push to assemble the Board of Peace, the body intended to steer Gazas post war governance and reconstruction. Invitations have reportedly been extended to leaders of nearly 60 countries including Turkiye, Egypt, India, the UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Jordan reflecting an effort to lend the Gaza plan wide international legitimacy. On X, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor shared President Trumps letter inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the board, underscoring Washingtons bid to draw major global partners into the initiative.

Last week, the US administration unveiled the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a new and key pillar of Trumps evolving Gaza Peace Plan, tasked with overseeing postwar reconstruction, institutional rebuilding, and day to day governance, under international oversight. The White House statement announced, The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza will be led by Dr Ali Sharath, a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilisation of daily life in Gaza.

Vaishali Basu Sharma

Linked to both Trumps Board of Peace and UN Security Council Resolution 2803, the committee reflects Washingtons attempt to integrate security, reconstruction, and political administration into a single coordinated framework.

The executive board surrounding the NCAG includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, businessman Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, billionaire Mark Rowan, President of the World Bank Ajay Banga, Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, UN humanitarian coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, director of Egypt's intelligence agency General Hassan Rashad, Emirati Minister Reem Al-Hashimy and Israeli billionaire Yakir Gabay. The inclusion of Hakan Fidan and Ali Al Thawadi is likely to draw scrutiny given long-standing Israeli criticism of both countries, despite their behind the scenes role in securing a US-brokered truce with Hamas.

Security responsibilities will fall to Major General Jasper Jeffers, appointed to lead the International Stabilization Force, charged with demilitarisation efforts and ensuring safe delivery of humanitarian and reconstruction materials. The White House has indicated that additional members will be named in the coming weeks.

Earlier, on November 17, 2025, the UN Security Council had adopted a resolution endorsing the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict of September 29 and welcoming the Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity issued on 13 October. The measure, passed with 13 votes in favour, acknowledged the roles of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye in facilitating the Gaza ceasefire. It was not unanimous: the UK and France abstained, while Russia and China declined to support the text. Moscow argued the resolution did not sufficiently affirm Palestinian statehood, and both Russia and China suggested the language leaned too heavily toward the positions of Israel and the US.

Following the vote, President Trump characteristically claimed the moment as a personal triumph celebrating the outcome as validation of the peace framework he had championed. On social media, he declared that the decision will go down as one of the biggest UN leads to further peace and is a moment of true historic proportion.

The inclusion of several figures who are not widely regarded as neutral on IsraelPalestine in the Board of Peace has drawn intense scrutiny. Trump's son in law Jared Kushner, for example, has previously made remarks suggesting the displacement of Palestinians in the name of development, while Senator Marco Rubio has consistently opposed a two state solution and supported Israeli settlement expansion. President Trump himself has often used Palestinian identity as a political cudgel. With no Palestinians included on the committee, nor any transfer of authority to the Palestinian Authority, which is recognised by more than 150 states, many Palestinians across the political spectrum are likely to view the structure as a form of neo-colonial oversight.

The absence of meaningful Arab representation, combined with the prominence of figures perceived as hostile to even modest Palestinian aspirations, risks reinforcing Hamass narrative that the international system is fundamentally aligned against Palestinians and that extremism is the only viable response. There are, however, potential short term benefits: if a technocratic authority can be established and Hamas is removed from day to day governance in Gaza, that would mark a significant shift, and any mechanism that curbs Israeli violations of the ceasefire would be welcomed by many.

Interestingly, though membership to the Board will be available at a premium with the Trump administration asking participating nations to contribute at least $1 billion to secure permanent membership.

These developments unfold against a backdrop of renewed violence, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the ceasefire and reports of more than 450 Palestinians including over 100 children and three Israeli soldiers killed during the truce. Hamas has previously refused to give up its weapons without a creation of an independent Palestinian state, while Israel has not committed to a full withdrawal from Gaza. Already, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is criticising the makeup of a Palestinian-led organisation that will take over the governance of Gaza that this peace board will oversee.

Trumps intensified focus on Gaza coincides with a noticeable recalibration of his broader Middle East posture. After hinting at possible military action against Iran earlier in the month, the president has shifted to a more restrained tone, citing reports of a temporary halt to executions in Iran and telling reporters, I greatly respect the fact that they cancelled that.

Finally, it is difficult to say how independent any Palestinian technocratic committee can truly be. Trumps record offers little indication of support for meaningful Palestinian self governance. That said, if the individuals selected to the committee are genuinely committed to reconstruction and to rebuilding Gaza in ways that reflect the needs of its population rather than enabling what critics describe as disaster capitalism, where political allies profit from the crisis, the effort could still produce tangible improvements.

For many Palestinians, the bar is understandably low. After decades of blockade, misrule, and repression under Hamas, followed by the devastation of the recent war, even incremental steps toward normalcy would be welcomed. A technocratic authority focused on restoring services, rebuilding infrastructure, and easing daily hardship could offer a rare sense of forward movement. Whether such progress can be insulated from political interference, however, remains an open question.














Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a brief discussion during a meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

In a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the UAE president's visit, though short, was extremely substantive. He added that they discussed restricted and delegation level talks.

"His Highness was received at the airport personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a special gesture that is characteristic of the extremely warm and close relationship the two leaders share," Misri said.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

The talks covered artificial intelligence, nuclear reactors, counter-terrorism, defence, energy security and sectors. The officials exchanged multiple agreements and letters of intent in the presence of the two leaders.

The two sides agreed to double bilateral trade to $200 billion in six years and bolster defence ties. They also finalised a 10-year agreement for the supply of 0.5 million metric tons of LNG by Abu Dhabi state oil firm ADNOC to India's Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd, Misri told reporters. This would make Abu Dhabi one of the largest LNG suppliers to New Delhi.

With Abu Dhabi joining the Washington-led Pax Silica project, India's discussions with UAE on AI is seen as crucial. The two nations agreed to establish a supercomputing cluster in India as well as "digital embassies" based on mutually recognised sovereignty for digital infrastructure. President Nahyan also backed India-hosted AI Impact Summit next month.

India and the UAE also discussed partnerships in nuclear technologies. These included development of large nuclear reactors as well as small modular reactors.

Both sides also condemned terrorism unequivocally and agreed to extend cooperation under the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to crack down on terror funding and money laundering.
In a significant move, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive in India on Monday on an official visit. The brief visit, lasting just two hours, happens at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, amid threats of a US attack on Iran.

A statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said the visit is on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and follows the recent high-level visits of Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2024 and Dubai crown prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to India.

Interestingly, the visit coincides with the US President Donald Trump inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi onboard the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

His talks with Prime Minister Modi are scheduled to be held in the national capital this evening, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

This will be Sheikh Mohameds third official visit to India since assuming office as President of the United Arab Emirates, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade.

The visit also comes as India and the UAE ramp up engagement in both civilian and military sectors. Earlier this month, on January 4, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi visited the UAE to strengthen defence cooperation and military-to-military ties. During the visit, he was accorded a Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces.

General Dwivedi had also held talks with senior leaders of the UAE Armed Forces, including the Commander of the UAE Land Forces, and received briefings on the structure, roles and capabilities of the UAE Army. He visited key military establishments and interacted with officers and troops, underlining the growing defence partnership between India and the UAE.

A month earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the UAE to attend the 16th IndiaUAE Joint Commission Meeting and the fifth round of the IndiaUAE Strategic Dialogue, held on December 15. The meetings were co-chaired by Jaishankar and his counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE.

During his visit, Jaishankar undertook a comprehensive review of the entire spectrum of IndiaUAE bilateral relations. According to the MEA, the discussions covered trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, security, development partnership, technology, health, culture, education and people-to-people ties.

India and the UAE share warm, close, and multi-faceted relations, and are among each others top trading partners, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The two countries are among each other's top trading and investment partners, bolstered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) system, and the Bilateral Investment Treaty. India and the UAE also enjoy a robust energy partnership, including long-term energy supply arrangements.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, the visit of the UAE President to India is set to provide an opportunity for the two leaders to chart new frontiers for the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It will also enable an exchange of views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, where India and the UAE share a high degree of convergence.
US President Donald Trump has invited India to join the Gaza Board of Peace to oversee the second phase of his 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.

Trump sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16 regarding the invitation. However, New Delhi has not yet issued an official response.

It is my Great Honor to invite you, as Prime Minister of the Republic of India, to join me in a critically Historic and Magnificent effort to solidify Peace in the Middle East and, at the same time, to embark on a bold new approach to resolving Global Conflict!," Trump said in the letter which was shared on by US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor.

Honored to convey @POTUS invitation to Prime Minister @narendramodi to participate in the Board of Peace which will bring lasting peace to Gaza. The Board will support effective governance to achieve stability and prosperity! pic.twitter.com/HikLnXFFMp  Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) January 18, 2026

India has maintained strong ties with both Israel and Palestine. While fostering a strategic partnership with Israel, New Delhi was among the first to send humanitarian aid to Gaza in response to the recent conflict.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has also revealed that it received an invitation from Trump to join the Gaza Board of Peace. However, Israel has made it clear that it will not accept any involvement from Islamabad in Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with leaders of France, Germany, Australia, and Canada, have also reportedly been invited to join the Gaza Board of Peace.

Trumps invitation comes as the White House unveiled the list of individuals appointed to the Board of Peace, which will oversee governance and reconstruction in the war-torn region. The list includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, among others.

Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and US Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel are also part of the board.

According to the White House statement, the executive board members will oversee critical portfolios for Gazas stabilization and long-term success, including governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilization.

Trump will serve as the chairman of the board, while Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum have been tasked with leading the day-to-day strategy and operations, as well as translating the Board's mandate and diplomatic priorities into disciplined execution.
Picture this: you're standing on your balcony on a quiet night, staring at the Moon shining bright above, and suddenly you wonderwhat would it feel like to actually fly around it? Not land on it, just circle around and see the side that we can never see from Earth.

Sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, right?

However, in just a few weeks, four people are going to do exactly that, and the whole worldincluding us here in Indiais buzzing with excitement.

As February approaches, the excitement builds.

The exact launch date might shift because safety comes firstweather conditions, technical checks, and astronaut readiness all matters.

This is NASA's Artemis II mission, and it is a huge deal. The last time humans went near the Moon was back in 1972more than fifty years ago.

We're getting chills! 



 1968: The Apollo 8 vehicle rolls out for the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon

 Today: Artemis II will return astronauts to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, and set the stage for a permanent presence on the Moon. pic.twitter.com/Y4qzjWgKXM  NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) January 17, 2026

That was during the famous Apollo missions, when astronauts actually walked on the lunar surface and brought back rocks. Our parents and grandparents watched those moments on grainy black-and-white televisions, holding their breath in wonder.

Then, for decades, the missions stopped.

Now, it seems NASA is saying: "We're back, and this time we're going to stay."

The Artemis programme isn't just one quick tripit's about going back to the Moon, setting up bases there, and eventually using it as a stepping stone to reach Mars. Think of the Moon as a practice ground before tackling something even bigger.

What is Artemis II?

Artemis I took place in 2022, but there were no people on board as it was just a test to check if the spacecraft and rocket could handle the journey.

It flew around the Moon and returned safely, proving the technology worked. Now comes Artemis II, the crucial next step.

This time, four astronauts will be inside the Orion capsule, circling the Moon and coming back homethey won't land on it, but will go closer than anyone has in over half a century.

The whole journey will take about ten days, covering millions of kilometres. It's like taking your brand-new bike for a long test ride before using it for an important journey, before which you want to make sure everything works perfectly.

The machine that makes this possible is different. It's called the Space Launch System (SLS), and it's one of the most powerful rockets ever built by humans.

Imagine a building taller than thirty floors. That's how huge this rocket is. Its job is to push the Orion spacecraftwhich is the capsule where the astronauts will eat, sleep, and workall the way to the Moon and back, explained space analyst Girish Linganna.

NASA on Saturday slowly rolled this gigantic rocket from its assembly building to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Made it.



At 6:42pm ET on Jan. 17, the stacked Artemis II rocket and spacecraft reached Launch Pad 39B after a nearly 12-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building at @NASAKennedy in Florida. pic.twitter.com/lpayqG5wNF  NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) January 18, 2026

The six-kilometre journey took almost twelve hours to cover because the rocket weighs thousands of tonnes.

Up next is something called a "wet dress rehearsal", scheduled for early February.

Next steps? The team will prepare for a "wet dress rehearsal" to practice loading the rocket with propellants. After the wet dress rehearsal, the mission management team will assess the readiness of the systems and confirm a launch date. https://t.co/oIDOJHWC1h pic.twitter.com/9VLZ0Qii09  NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) January 18, 2026

The rocket will be filled with super-cold fuel, will go through the entire countdown as if it were launch day, and then be drained safely.

If everything checks out perfectly, the actual launch could take place as soon as February 6, though there are backup dates if weather or technical issues pop up.

An inspiring four-member crew

Commander Reid Wiseman, a veteran astronaut who has been to space before, leads the team.

Victor Glover will be the pilot, and here's something specialhe'll become the first African-American person ever to embark on a Moon mission.

Christina Koch, a mission specialist, will make history as the first woman to fly around the Moon.

Representing international teamwork is Jeremy Hansen from Canada.

These folks aren't just skilled pilotsthey're regular people who dreamed big and trained incredibly hard for years. They've practiced living in cramped spaces, dealing with zero gravity, and managing emergencies that could happen millions of kilometres from home.

Imagine floating inside a small room and looking out the window to see the Earththat has your family and everything you knowas a distant, tiny blue dot. That takes serious courage.

Why should India care about this?

Well, space exploration affects all of us. Our own ISRO has already achieved amazing things with its Chandrayaan missions, even landing on the Moon's south pole before anyone else.

These missions bring practical benefitsbetter weather forecasting, new medicines, and advanced technologiesthat eventually reach our phones and homes. They also create thousands of jobs and inspire young minds to pursue science and innovation," observed Linganna.

1.5 million names are flying around the Moon on Artemis II. Is yours one of them?



It's not too late to add your name to the missionand it's absolutely free: https://t.co/tUAM7BTfjt pic.twitter.com/Thp5NSmeva  NASA (@NASA) January 18, 2026

"Interestingly, over 15 lakh people worldwideincluding many from Indiasent their names digitally to be carried on a chip inside Orion, he added.
The Bangladesh interim government said on Monday that not all of its minority related incidents were communal in nature, based on police reports collected from January to December last year.

The Muhammad Yunus led government said that out of the 645 incidents involving minority communities, only 71 were related to communal issues.

Out of the 71 incidents, 38 included temple vandalism, one temple theft, eight temple arson, murder, and 23 types of other incidents, like threats to break idols and Facebook posts.

The post made on Facebook also said that 50 out of the 71 cases were filed by police, and about 50 persons were arrested in relation to the cases.

On Incidents Affecting Minority Communities and the Broader Law and Order Situation in Bangladesh (JanuaryDecember 2025)



DHAKA, January 19: Bangladesh remains committed to confronting crime with transparency, accuracy, and resolve. A yearlong review of official police records  Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) January 19, 2026

The rest of the 574 incidents were listed as non-communal in nature.

These incidents involve neighbourhood disputes, land conflicts, political rivalry, theft, rape and sexual violence, and other personal enmity cases.

There were reportedly 51 neighbourhood disputes, 172 unnatural deaths, 58 rapes, 106 thefts, 26 prior enmity cases, and 23 land disputes, along with what is listed as others, which saw about 138 cases.

Others include cases of extortion, intimidation, abduction, etc.

The post said that the country is committed to confronting crime with transparency.

"While every incident is a matter of concern, the data presents a clear and evidence-based picture: the overwhelming majority of cases were criminal in nature rather than communal, underscoring both the complexity of law-and-order challenges and the importance of grounding public discussion in facts rather than fear or misinformation," the post read. The post also acknowledged that at least 3000-35000 people were killed annually in violent crimes and said, This is not a number to be proud of.

The interim government said that the report "does not deny challenges, nor does it claim perfection; rather, it seeks to provide a factual, evidence-based picture of crime trends affecting minority communities within the broader national context".

The statement, which was made by the Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus' Press wing, has come just days after India pressured Dhaka to swiftly deal with attacks on minorities in the country.

Bangladesh has seen an increasing number of attacks on members of its minority communities.

According to a number from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the country recorded at least 51 cases of violence in just December 2025 alone.

10 of them were murders, 10 were theft and robbery, 23 involved occupations, looting, and arson involving homes, business establishments, temples, and land, and 4 were of detention and torture.
Antonio Jose Seguro won the first round of the presidential elections. During his victory speech at Caldas da Rainha, he remarked that democracy won and that we will win again on February 8th (the second round of the Portuguese presidential election). He even called out to democrats, progressives, and humanists to join his candidacy to defeat extremism. Multiple exit polls predicted him to secure between 30% and 35% of the vote, and he won 31.1%. Running second, Andre Ventura, leader of Chega, won 23.5% of the vote in total. Joao Cotrim Figueiredo of Liberal Initiative followed in third. Henrique Gouveia e Melo (former Chief of the Naval Staff of Portugal) and Luis Marques Mendes (Social Democratic Party) followed, and were finally followed by Antonio Filipe and Catarina Martins (both with 13%), Manuel Martinez Vieira (12%), and Jorge Pinto, Andre Pestana, and Humberto Correia (all between 01%), all eliminated from the second runoff. The results, however, suggest that a majority of voters still see the presidency as an anchor of stability, as the political environment over the past four years has been unstable and volatile.

A runoff between a moderate socialist and a far-right contender had been anticipated for months, and with Sundays results the prophecy came true. An unthinkable scenario after the fall of the dictatorship in 1974, something similar had happened only once before, in 1986. The growth of the far right and voter dissatisfaction with mainstream parties have further divided the political landscape, commented Paulo Tinoco, municipal architect and active supporter of the Socialist Party (PS).

Antonio Jose Seguros victory reflects a preference among many voters for institutional steadiness. A former leader of the PS, Seguro campaigned on constitutional responsibility, social cohesion, and a promise to restore a calmer tone to national politics. Exit polls consistently placed him ahead throughout the evening. His campaign also leaned heavily on the idea that the presidency should remain a moderating force and a counterweight to polarisation rather than mere participation.

The most striking yet shocking development of the night was Andre Venturas second-place finish, which confirms his place in the runoff. For decades, Portugal stood out in Europe as a country where the far right remained marginal to non-existent. Tonights results have completely changed the scenario. Mainstream media outlets such as RTP, CNN, and SIC all projected that Ventura would receive between 20% and 25% of the vote. In response to the projections, Ventura declared that they placed him as leading the right, even framing the impending runoff as an ideological war.

The result solidified his spot in the second round and put him well ahead of Figueiredo. For the first time since the Carnation Revolution, a far-right contender came dangerously close to winning the presidency. He even won the first rounds in Faro and Madeira. According to most political analysts, even though he would not have won outright, this was enough to reshape the Portuguese political landscape. Based on the numbers and the broader European anti-establishment political trend, Portugal now appears to be aligned with this continental shift.

Venturas win was methodical and consistent. The publics dissatisfaction with economic stagnation, corruption, and fears about immigration and social harmony were all very well exploited by Chega and by him, commented writer and journalist Joaquim Correia. Earlier in the day, exit polls had even hinted that Ventura would win the race, something that would have been unimaginable decades ago.

In Portugal, liberalism has, for the time being, found a home. Although Figueiredos message struck a chord with younger voters and urban professionals, it was unable to overcome the pull of the two prevailing narratives: the far rights demand for disruption and the centre-lefts promise of stability. He was estimated to receive between 16% and 21%. However, his third-place result demonstrates that liberal politics are no longer incidental and may even constitute a steady governing force, albeit in a minority position.

Sundays results also revealed a new political map for Portugal that is more ideologically diverse, more polarised, and more politically assertive than in any previous election in recent years. Seguros projected lead offers continuity, but Venturas rise ensures that the next presidency will unfold in a more contested environment.

The runoff will now be framed as Ventura himself described it: a confrontation between two visions of Portugal, one rooted in institutional continuity, the other in populist rupture.
European markets opened lower on Monday as threats from US President Donald Trump reignited a trade war with traditional allies across the Atlantic.

At around 10am CET, Frances CAC 40 had slipped 1.28%, Germanys DAX was down 1.02%, and the UKs FTSE 100 dropped 0.27%. Spains IBEX 35 fell 0.59% and Italys FTSE MIB slid 1.43%. Meanwhile, the wider STOXX 600 fell 0.87%.

European leaders will meet this week to decide how best to respond to threats from US President Donald Trump to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Washington announced on Saturday that eight European countries would face a 10% tariff on their US exports from 1 February unless they support the US proposal to purchase Greenland. This rate will rise to 25% in June if no deal is reached.

Specifically, the threat targets Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland.

Standing firm in their support for Greenlands right to self-determination and Denmarks sovereignty, EU member states are weighing their options. One possibility is the use of retaliatory tariffs on 93bn of US goods, a measure that was floated then abandoned last year during an earlier trade stand-off with Washington. Another proposal includes the activation of an anti-coercion tool, which enables the EU to impose punitive economic measures on a country seeking to force a policy change.

Shares in European carmakers saw a significant drop on Monday morning, with the STOXX Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts Index falling more than 2% and hitting a 52-week low. BMW shares were down 4.10% at just after 10am CET, while Volvo and Volkswagen were down 2.21% and 3.43% respectively.

Europes luxury goods sector also opened lower, with the STOXX Europe Luxury 10 dropping almost 3%.

Related

On the other hand, safe haven assets such as gold and silver hit new highs as investors moved away from riskier assets such as crypto. Bullion neared $4,700 an ounce on Monday, climbing over 1.66%, and silver prices crossed the $94 threshold.

Defence stocks also rallied in Europe, with the STOXX Europe aerospace and defence index up 0.49%. Thales rose 2.41%, Rheinmetall was up 2.89%, Leonardo shares jumped 3.05%, and BAE systems rose 1.77%.

Markets in Asia also saw a downturn. Japans Nikkei 225 fell 0.65%, Hong Kongs Hang Seng dropped 1.05%, and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.33%. Koreas Kospi and Chinas SSE Composite Index both bucked the trend, closing higher.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre confirmed on Monday that he received a message from US President Donald Trump saying that he no longer felt an obligation to think of peace after getting denied a Nobel prize.

"Dear Jonas: Since your country decided not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping eight wars, I no longer feel an obligation to think exclusively about peace, although it will always be dominant, but can now think about what is good and right for the United States," the message, which was sent over the weekend, read.

ALSO READ | How did Greenland become a territory of Denmark? Some Norse history as Trump Ragnarok fear looms

NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:



Dear Ambassador:



President Trump has asked that the  Nick Schifrin (@nickschifrin) January 19, 2026

He also added that he sought complete and total control of Greenland.

Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents; its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT, he said.

This is not the first time Trump lashed out at Norway for not giving him a Nobel prize. However, it is to be noted that the Nobel prize is decided by an independent committee in Oslo, not the Norwegian state.

The Norwegian PM also confirmed the authenticity of the letter to VG, a Norwegian newspaper.

This is a message I received yesterday afternoon from President Trump. It came in response to a short message to President Trump from me earlier in the day, on behalf of myself and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, he said to the newspaper.

ALSO READ | Special Forces or Royal Danish Army: Who is responsible for defending Greenland if the US invades?

The message was also reportedly shared with other leaders in the NATO countries as per Trump's choice.

Stre received the message just barely a day after several European leaders gathered fro crisis meeting on recent moves made by Trump.

The US president has been zeroing in on his attention on Greenland and on obtaining it for the US.

Trump has repeatedly campaigned for the Nobel prize and has repeatedly claimed that he stopped at least 8 wars, a fact that been disputed by analysts.

Last year's prize was given to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Machado ended up gifting her prize to Trump. The move was criticised by the Nobel committee, which stated that the prize was not transferable.
Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHD  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,136,719 shares, a decrease of 30.5% from the December 15th total of 1,636,152 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 562,869 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.0 days. Approximately 1.8% of the shares of the company are sold short. Approximately 1.8% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 562,869 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.0 days.

Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of SPHD traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $49.35. 776,815 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 909,664. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $48.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $48.49. The company has a market cap of $3.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.77 and a beta of 0.72. Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF has a twelve month low of $43.39 and a twelve month high of $51.60.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Horizon Investments LLC acquired a new position in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $44,000. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 118.1% in the third quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,154 shares of the companys stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 625 shares in the last quarter. MAI Capital Management lifted its position in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF by 89.9% during the third quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 1,223 shares of the companys stock worth $60,000 after purchasing an additional 579 shares during the period. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF during the third quarter worth about $68,000. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF during the third quarter worth about $94,000.

Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Company Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund tracks a dividend-yield-weighted index comprising the least volatile, highest dividend-yielding S&P 500 stocks. SPHD was launched on Oct 18, 2012 and is managed by Invesco.

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American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 8,720,372 shares, a decline of 22.6% from the December 15th total of 11,264,869 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,613,420 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.3 days. Currently, 2.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Currently, 2.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 2,613,420 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.3 days.

American Homes 4 Rent Stock Up 2.0%

AMH traded up $0.65 on Friday, reaching $32.37. 3,980,225 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,971,492. The company has a market cap of $12.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.43, a PEG ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.41 and a quick ratio of 0.41. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $31.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.30. American Homes 4 Rent has a 52-week low of $28.84 and a 52-week high of $39.49.

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American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.01. American Homes 4 Rent had a net margin of 24.70% and a return on equity of 5.90%. The company had revenue of $478.46 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $475.75 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.44 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. American Homes 4 Rent has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.860-1.88 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that American Homes 4 Rent will post 1.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Homes 4 Rent Dividend Announcement

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were given a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. American Homes 4 Rents dividend payout ratio is presently 101.69%.

AMH has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c) rating on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $37.00 target price on shares of American Homes 4 Rent in a report on Friday, January 9th. Scotiabank dropped their target price on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $35.00 to $33.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of American Homes 4 Rent from $34.00 to $33.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of American Homes 4 Rent from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Sunday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, American Homes 4 Rent presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $37.19.

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Insider Activity at American Homes 4 Rent

In related news, Director Douglas N. Benham purchased 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were bought at an average price of $31.65 per share, with a total value of $31,650.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 7,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $252,915.15. This represents a 14.30% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Jack E. Corrigan acquired 5,000 shares of American Homes 4 Rent stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $22.96 per share, with a total value of $114,800.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 17,300 shares in the company, valued at approximately $397,208. This represents a 40.65% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. 6.32% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Homes 4 Rent

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. AE Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,149 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $204,000 after purchasing an additional 418 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 21.6% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,360 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $78,000 after buying an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 84.8% during the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 963 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 442 shares in the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its stake in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 74,825 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,699,000 after acquiring an additional 447 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in shares of American Homes 4 Rent by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 21,178 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $704,000 after acquiring an additional 469 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.87% of the companys stock.

American Homes 4 Rent Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in the acquisition, development and management of single-family rental homes. Since its initial public offering in April 2013, the company has focused on building a large-scale, professionally managed portfolio of homes designed to meet the needs of todays renters. Its business model emphasizes the acquisition of well-located properties coupled with consistent, in-house property management to drive occupancy and long-term value.

As of the most recent reporting, American Homes 4 Rent owns and operates tens of thousands of homes across the United States, with concentration in key Sun Belt and high-growth markets.

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Dominion Energy Inc. (NYSE:D  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 32,228,912 shares, a decline of 22.7% from the December 15th total of 41,702,591 shares. Approximately 3.8% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 7,868,217 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.1 days. Based on an average daily volume of 7,868,217 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.1 days. Approximately 3.8% of the companys shares are sold short.

Key Dominion Energy News

Here are the key news stories impacting Dominion Energy this week:

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Dominion Energy Stock Performance

NYSE D traded up $0.81 on Friday, hitting $61.15. The stock had a trading volume of 6,709,978 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,272,608. The companys 50-day moving average is $59.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $59.78. Dominion Energy has a one year low of $48.07 and a one year high of $62.87. The stock has a market cap of $52.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41.

Dominion Energy Dividend Announcement

Dominion Energy ( NYSE:D Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 31st. The utilities provider reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.02 by $0.04. Dominion Energy had a net margin of 16.17% and a return on equity of 9.60%. The business had revenue of $4.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.71 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.98 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.9% on a year-over-year basis. Dominion Energy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.330-3.480 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Dominion Energy will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 5th were given a dividend of $0.6675 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 5th. This represents a $2.67 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.4%. Dominion Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 90.82%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently weighed in on D. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Dominion Energy in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. They set an in-line rating and a $67.00 price target for the company. BTIG Research began coverage on Dominion Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. They set a neutral rating for the company. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of Dominion Energy in a research note on Friday, January 9th. They issued a hold rating and a $65.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Dominion Energy from $67.00 to $65.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Dominion Energy in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. They issued an overweight rating and a $67.00 target price for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $64.78.

Get Our Latest Research Report on Dominion Energy

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Dominion Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in D. Patton Fund Management Inc. acquired a new position in Dominion Energy in the second quarter valued at about $235,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its position in shares of Dominion Energy by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 186,885 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $10,563,000 after purchasing an additional 12,041 shares during the period. Kera Capital Partners Inc. bought a new stake in Dominion Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $3,574,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Dominion Energy by 16.2% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 105,795,310 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $5,979,551,000 after buying an additional 14,715,895 shares during the period. Finally, Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dominion Energy by 19.0% in the second quarter. Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC now owns 104,710 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,918,000 after buying an additional 16,731 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.04% of the companys stock.

About Dominion Energy

(Get Free Report)

Dominion Energy, Inc, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a diversified energy company that primarily operates regulated electricity and natural gas utilities and develops energy infrastructure. The companys core activities include the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers, as well as the purchase, storage and delivery of natural gas. Dominion combines traditional utility operations with energy infrastructure businesses to provide essential services across its service territories.

Dominions electricity portfolio spans multiple technologies and fuel sources, including nuclear, natural gas-fired generation and renewable resources such as utility-scale solar and wind.

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Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSEARCA:SIL  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 2,402,669 shares, an increase of 33.2% from the December 15th total of 1,803,172 shares. Currently, 4.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 3,114,375 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days. Based on an average trading volume of 3,114,375 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days. Currently, 4.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Global X Silver Miners ETF News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Global X Silver Miners ETF this week:

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Global X Silver Miners ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:SIL traded up $1.95 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $98.35. 5,120,813 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,618,459. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $80.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $67.23. The company has a market cap of $5.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.07 and a beta of 0.71. Global X Silver Miners ETF has a 52 week low of $32.45 and a 52 week high of $98.40.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Global X Silver Miners ETF

About Global X Silver Miners ETF

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Meitav Investment House Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Global X Silver Miners ETF by 87.7% in the 3rd quarter. Meitav Investment House Ltd. now owns 1,220,000 shares of the companys stock worth $87,151,000 after acquiring an additional 570,000 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new position in shares of Global X Silver Miners ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $85,405,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of Global X Silver Miners ETF by 100.7% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 255,277 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,476,000 after purchasing an additional 128,104 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Global X Silver Miners ETF by 255.5% in the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 234,515 shares of the companys stock worth $16,798,000 after purchasing an additional 168,555 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in Global X Silver Miners ETF by 18.8% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 215,353 shares of the companys stock worth $15,426,000 after buying an additional 34,072 shares during the period.

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The Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in materials equity. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of companies actively engaged in the silver mining industry. SIL was launched on Apr 19, 2010 and is managed by Global X.

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Local Bounti Corporation (NYSE:LOCL  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 67,435 shares, a decline of 25.0% from the December 15th total of 89,914 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 15,006 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.5 days. Based on an average trading volume of 15,006 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.5 days. Currently, 0.4% of the companys stock are sold short.

Institutional Trading of Local Bounti

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Local Bounti stock. Outfitters Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Local Bounti Corporation (NYSE:LOCL  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 15,192 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $45,000. Outfitters Financial LLC owned about 0.07% of Local Bounti as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Institutional investors own 28.01% of the companys stock.

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Local Bounti Stock Performance

NYSE LOCL traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $2.20. 10,355 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 12,962. The businesss 50-day moving average is $2.38 and its 200-day moving average is $2.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.99 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.19 and a beta of 2.10. Local Bounti has a twelve month low of $1.89 and a twelve month high of $5.75.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Local Bounti ( NYSE:LOCL Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported ($1.18) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($1.42) by $0.24. The business had revenue of $12.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.60 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($4.01) EPS. Analysts predict that Local Bounti will post -13.81 EPS for the current year.

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (e+) rating on shares of Local Bounti in a report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Sell.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Local Bounti

About Local Bounti

(Get Free Report)

Local Bounti Inc is a technology-driven indoor farming company that cultivates non-GMO leafy greens, microgreens and culinary herbs in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facilities. By leveraging its proprietary Hybrid Growing System, the company maintains precise control over lighting, temperature and nutrient delivery, enabling year-round production of high-quality produce free from pesticides and seasonality constraints.

Headquartered in Montana, Local Bounti operates multiple cultivation centers across the United States, each designed to maximize water efficiency and minimize land use.

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John Hancock High Yield ETF (NYSEARCA:JHHY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 6,732 shares, a decrease of 33.7% from the December 15th total of 10,149 shares. Currently, 0.3% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,092 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,092 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days. Currently, 0.3% of the companys stock are sold short.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On John Hancock High Yield ETF

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CWM LLC acquired a new position in John Hancock High Yield ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. bought a new stake in shares of John Hancock High Yield ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $88,000. ORG Partners LLC acquired a new position in John Hancock High Yield ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $96,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its stake in John Hancock High Yield ETF by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 11,160 shares of the companys stock valued at $291,000 after buying an additional 401 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new position in John Hancock High Yield ETF in the 3rd quarter worth $511,000.

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John Hancock High Yield ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:JHHY traded up $0.03 on Friday, reaching $25.97. The company had a trading volume of 9,806 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,546. John Hancock High Yield ETF has a twelve month low of $24.36 and a twelve month high of $26.33. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $25.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $25.98.

John Hancock High Yield ETF Company Profile

The John Hancock High Yield ETF (JHHY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund is actively managed, investing in a diversified portfolio of US dollar-denominated high-yield corporate bonds. The fund aims to maximize income with capital growth as a secondary objective JHHY was launched on May 1, 2024 and is issued by John Hancock.

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Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (NYSEARCA:OWNB  Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 24,343 shares, a drop of 38.9% from the December 15th total of 39,845 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 34,629 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.7 days. Currently, 2.1% of the companys stock are short sold. Currently, 2.1% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 34,629 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.7 days.

Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA:OWNB traded up $0.52 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $25.57. 9,759 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 25,742. The stock has a market cap of $29.41 million, a PE ratio of 20.01 and a beta of 5.30. Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF has a twelve month low of $18.91 and a twelve month high of $39.00. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $24.60 and a 200 day moving average of $30.07.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brookwood Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $233,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at about $934,000. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF in the second quarter valued at about $1,085,000. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC raised its holdings in Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF by 64.5% during the third quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 92,895 shares of the companys stock worth $3,103,000 after acquiring an additional 36,413 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF during the third quarter worth about $1,245,000.

About Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF

The Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (OWNB) is an exchange-traded fund that trades on the NYSEARCA exchange in the United States.

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National HealthCare Corporation (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 417,491 shares, an increase of 28.0% from the December 15th total of 326,286 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 105,701 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.9 days. Approximately 3.2% of the companys shares are sold short. Approximately 3.2% of the companys shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 105,701 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.9 days.

National HealthCare Trading Down 1.3%

NHC stock traded down $1.86 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $137.15. The companys stock had a trading volume of 54,986 shares, compared to its average volume of 82,803. National HealthCare has a 1 year low of $89.14 and a 1 year high of $144.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.17 and a beta of 0.64. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $134.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $120.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 1.72 and a current ratio of 1.75.

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National HealthCare (NYSEAMERICAN:NHC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $1.58 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $382.66 million for the quarter. National HealthCare had a net margin of 6.75% and a return on equity of 9.52%.

National HealthCare Announces Dividend

About National HealthCare

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.64 per share. This represents a $2.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 31st. National HealthCares payout ratio is currently 59.12%.

(Get Free Report)

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE American: NHC) is a healthcare services company specializing in long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation. The company operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and outpatient therapy clinics. Through its subsidiary, National HealthCare Partners, NHC provides contract rehabilitation services, pharmacy management and clinical consulting to a broad network of senior living and healthcare providers.

Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, National HealthCare Corporation has built a regional footprint across the southeastern and south-central United States.

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Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE:ESNT  Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,353,395 shares, a decrease of 25.3% from the December 15th total of 1,811,967 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 675,980 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days. Approximately 1.4% of the companys shares are short sold. Approximately 1.4% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 675,980 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on ESNT. Roth Capital upped their target price on shares of Essent Group from $70.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $70.00 price target on shares of Essent Group in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Essent Group from $66.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on Essent Group from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Essent Group from $65.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $69.29.

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Essent Group Price Performance

NYSE:ESNT traded down $0.19 on Friday, reaching $60.94. 1,185,805 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 625,235. The firm has a market cap of $5.89 billion, a PE ratio of 8.87, a P/E/G ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $63.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $61.60. Essent Group has a 12 month low of $51.61 and a 12 month high of $67.09.

Essent Group (NYSE:ESNT  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The financial services provider reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.75 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $311.83 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $316.84 million. Essent Group had a return on equity of 12.40% and a net margin of 55.63%.Essent Groups quarterly revenue was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.65 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Essent Group will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Essent Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 1st were given a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 1st. Essent Groups payout ratio is presently 18.05%.

Insider Transactions at Essent Group

In other Essent Group news, SVP Mary Lourdes Gibbons sold 4,352 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.00, for a total transaction of $291,584.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 237,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,939,032. This represents a 1.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Roy James Kasmar sold 3,250 shares of Essent Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.44, for a total transaction of $199,680.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 23,573 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,448,325.12. This represents a 12.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 2.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Essent Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Essent Group in the second quarter valued at $75,596,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Essent Group by 78.9% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,517,859 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $92,180,000 after buying an additional 669,577 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Essent Group by 45.2% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,198,447 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $76,173,000 after purchasing an additional 372,881 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP lifted its stake in Essent Group by 19.6% in the 3rd quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 1,938,688 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $123,223,000 after buying an additional 318,318 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Essent Group by 152.3% during the 2nd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 455,819 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,682,000 after acquiring an additional 275,149 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.00% of the companys stock.

Essent Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Essent Group Ltd. (NYSE: ESNT) is a publicly traded insurance holding company specializing in private mortgage insurance and mortgage reinsurance solutions. Through its primary subsidiary, Essent Guaranty, the company provides credit protection to mortgage lenders, helping mitigate the risk of borrower default on residential mortgage loans. Essents insurance policies enable lenders to offer low-down-payment programs, supporting homebuyers in achieving homeownership with reduced upfront equity requirements.

Beyond traditional mortgage insurance, Essent offers a suite of risk management and analytics services designed to help financial institutions monitor and manage mortgage portfolios.

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Private equity company Everstone is set to sell its entire 11.26% holding in Restaurant Brands Asia (RBA), the Burger King franchisee for India and Indonesia, Reuters reported.

Two people familiar with the matter told the news agency that the divestment forms part of a broader deal that is expected to bring a new strategic investor to RBA.

However, Everstone and Restaurant Brands Asia did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

One of the sources said the incoming investor is the family office of the founders of Ajanta Pharma in India, which also operates other restaurant businesses.

The source added that the family office is expected to inject up to Rs8bn ($88m) into RBA as part of the proposed deal.

The size of the stake that Ajanta is planning to acquire was not immediately clear. However, the source said it may eventually seek a majority holding as other shareholders sell down their positions.

RBA informed Indian stock exchanges last week that it would convene a board meeting tomorrow (20 January 2026) to consider and evaluate raising of funds.

The company did not provide additional details on the potential fundraising.

Notably, local media reports indicated last year that Everstone Capital had revived efforts to sell its stake in RBA. The private equity company holds its stake in RBA through its entity QSR Asia.

RBA has a market capitalisation of $437m in Mumbai, India.

"Everstone to sell stake in Restaurant Brands Asia  report" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand.




CAE (NYSE:CAE  Get Free Report) and Hexcel (NYSE:HXL  Get Free Report) are both aerospace companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, dividends, earnings, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares CAE and Hexcels gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio CAE $3.28 billion 3.34 $291.29 million $0.97 35.13 Hexcel $1.90 billion 3.46 $132.10 million $0.85 97.22

Volatility and Risk

CAE has higher revenue and earnings than Hexcel. CAE is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hexcel, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CAE has a beta of 1.15, suggesting that its share price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hexcel has a beta of 1.08, suggesting that its share price is 8% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for CAE and Hexcel, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CAE 0 6 4 2 2.67 Hexcel 2 9 3 0 2.07

CAE currently has a consensus price target of $34.33, suggesting a potential upside of 0.74%. Hexcel has a consensus price target of $74.33, suggesting a potential downside of 10.05%. Given CAEs stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe CAE is more favorable than Hexcel.

Profitability

This table compares CAE and Hexcels net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CAE 8.98% 7.60% 3.41% Hexcel 3.67% 9.25% 5.15%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

67.4% of CAE shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 95.5% of Hexcel shares are owned by institutional investors. 18.3% of CAE shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.4% of Hexcel shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

CAE beats Hexcel on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CAE

(Get Free Report)

CAE Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides simulation training and critical operations support solutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, the Oceania, Africa, and Rest of the Americas. It operates through two segments, Civil Aviation; and Defense and Security. The Civil Aviation segment offers training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; a range of flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as aircraft flight operations solutions. The Defense and Security segment operates as a training and simulation provider that delivers platform-independent solutions to enable and enhance force readiness and security for defense forces, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), government agencies, and public safety organizations. The company was formerly known as CAE Industries Ltd. and changed its name to CAE Inc. in 1993. CAE Inc. was incorporated in 1947 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Canada.

About Hexcel

(Get Free Report)

Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products. The Composite Materials segment manufactures and markets fabrics, multi-axials, specialty reinforcements, prepregs and other fiber-reinforced matrix materials, structural adhesives, molding compounds, tooling materials, polyurethane systems, and laminates that are used in military and commercial aircraft, wind turbine blades, recreational products, and other industrial applications, as well as in automotive, marine, and rail transportation. The Engineered Products segment manufactures and markets aircraft structures and finished aircraft components, including wing to body fairings, wing panels, flight deck panels, door liners, rotorcraft blades, spars, and tip caps; and aircraft structural sub-components and semi-finished components used in rotorcraft blades, engine nacelles, and aircraft surfaces, such as flaps, wings, elevators, and fairings; and RF interference control products for military and aerospace applications. This segment also provides interference control materials, structural composites, and services; dielectric absorber foams; magnetic absorbers; and thermoplastics for commercial and defense applications. The company sells its products directly through its managers, product managers, and sales personnel, as well as through independent distributors in the Americas, Europe, the Asia Pacific, India, and Africa. Hexcel Corporation was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

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Portland General Electric Company (NYSE:POR  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 4,026,278 shares, a decline of 36.5% from the December 15th total of 6,344,706 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,065,369 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.8 days. Approximately 3.6% of the companys stock are sold short. Approximately 3.6% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,065,369 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.8 days.

Institutional Trading of Portland General Electric

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. ATLAS Infrastructure Partners UK Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Portland General Electric by 24.1% during the second quarter. ATLAS Infrastructure Partners UK Ltd. now owns 5,459,258 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $221,810,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058,623 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Portland General Electric in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $41,554,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in Portland General Electric by 99.4% in the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,385,777 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $60,974,000 after purchasing an additional 690,743 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Portland General Electric by 34.1% during the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,497,281 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $109,381,000 after buying an additional 634,890 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in shares of Portland General Electric by 23.3% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,985,941 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $131,381,000 after buying an additional 564,379 shares during the period.

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Portland General Electric Stock Up 0.7%

NYSE POR traded up $0.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $49.64. The stock had a trading volume of 731,973 shares, compared to its average volume of 828,156. The stock has a market cap of $5.58 billion, a PE ratio of 18.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.35 and a beta of 0.67. Portland General Electric has a 1 year low of $39.54 and a 1 year high of $51.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $48.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.04.

Portland General Electric Announces Dividend

Portland General Electric ( NYSE:POR Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.02. Portland General Electric had a return on equity of 8.32% and a net margin of 8.63%.The business had revenue of $952.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $975.64 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.90 EPS. The companys revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Portland General Electric will post 3.21 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd were given a $0.525 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 22nd. This represents a $2.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.2%. Portland General Electrics payout ratio is 76.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on POR. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reissued a sell rating and set a $43.00 price target on shares of Portland General Electric in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Loop Capital set a $48.00 target price on shares of Portland General Electric in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Portland General Electric in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Barclays upped their price target on Portland General Electric from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Portland General Electric in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.58.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Portland General Electric

Portland General Electric Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR) is an investor-owned electric utility headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, with roots tracing back to the late 19th century. The company generates, transmits and distributes electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers across a broad territory in Oregon, primarily encompassing the Portland metropolitan area and surrounding regions.

As one of Oregons largest electric utilities, Portland General Electric operates a diverse portfolio of generation assets, including hydroelectric facilities, natural gasfired plants and renewable energy sources.

Further Reading

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Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 2,880,062 shares, an increase of 43.1% from the December 15th total of 2,012,433 shares. Approximately 0.5% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,462,814 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,462,814 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.0 days. Approximately 0.5% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Diageo Trading Down 0.9%

DEO traded down $0.81 on Friday, hitting $88.54. 1,464,715 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,614,818. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $89.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $97.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Diageo has a 52 week low of $84.52 and a 52 week high of $125.94.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Zacks Research lowered Diageo from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Bank of America cut their price objective on Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $124.00 target price on Diageo and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $116.50.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of DEO. Raymond James Financial Inc. increased its stake in Diageo by 48.5% in the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 1,701,878 shares of the companys stock valued at $162,410,000 after acquiring an additional 555,509 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 72,871.7% during the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 1,568,162 shares of the companys stock worth $158,133,000 after purchasing an additional 1,566,013 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 8.5% in the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,547,626 shares of the companys stock valued at $147,690,000 after buying an additional 121,008 shares during the period. Confluence Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Diageo by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 1,363,504 shares of the companys stock worth $130,119,000 after purchasing an additional 12,678 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 67.5% in the third quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC now owns 1,309,258 shares of the companys stock valued at $124,943,000 after buying an additional 527,814 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Diageo

(Get Free Report)

Diageo plc is a global producer, marketer and distributor of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in London, England. The company was created through the 1997 merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc and is publicly traded on multiple exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange. Diageo operates a worldwide business, selling products in a broad range of markets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Diageos core activities cover the production, marketing and sale of a diverse portfolio of spirits, beer and liqueurs.

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Truist Financial (NYSE:TFC  Get Free Report) will likely be releasing its Q4 2025 results before the market opens on Wednesday, January 21st. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.09 per share and revenue of $5.3187 billion for the quarter. Investors can check the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning summary page for the latest details on the call scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET.

Truist Financial (NYSE:TFC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 17th. The insurance provider reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.05. Truist Financial had a net margin of 16.84% and a return on equity of 8.73%. The firm had revenue of $5.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.20 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.97 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Truist Financial to post $4 EPS for the current fiscal year and $5 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Truist Financial Stock Performance

Shares of Truist Financial stock opened at $50.01 on Monday. Truist Financial has a 12 month low of $33.56 and a 12 month high of $51.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $63.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.89. The business has a 50-day moving average of $48.29 and a 200 day moving average of $46.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.86.

Truist Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.2%. Truist Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.91%.

Truist Financial announced that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, December 16th that authorizes the company to buyback $10.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the insurance provider to repurchase up to 15.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TFC has been the topic of several research reports. Raymond James Financial upped their target price on Truist Financial from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Truist Financial from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, December 31st. Baird R W downgraded Truist Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of Truist Financial in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and issued a $58.00 target price on shares of Truist Financial in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $52.80.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Truist Financial

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director K. David Jr. Boyer sold 5,160 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.45, for a total value of $239,682.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 10,153 shares in the company, valued at $471,606.85. This trade represents a 33.70% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Truist Financial

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Truist Financial by 13,511.7% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 10,386,831 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $474,886,000 after acquiring an additional 10,310,523 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Truist Financial by 71.9% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,165,033 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $136,065,000 after buying an additional 1,323,866 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in shares of Truist Financial by 64.0% in the 3rd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,310,824 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $151,371,000 after acquiring an additional 1,292,367 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its stake in Truist Financial by 93.9% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 2,330,419 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $106,547,000 after buying an additional 1,128,319 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in Truist Financial by 469.0% in the third quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,337,200 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $61,137,000 after acquiring an additional 1,102,192 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.28% of the companys stock.

Truist Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Truist Financial Corporation is an American bank holding company that provides a broad range of financial services through its primary subsidiary, Truist Bank, and other operating units. The company offers traditional retail banking products and services such as deposit accounts, consumer and residential mortgage lending, and credit and debit card services. Truist also serves commercial clients with middle-market and corporate lending, treasury and payment solutions, and specialty finance products.

Beyond core banking, Truist operates wealth management, asset management, insurance and capital markets businesses.

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FB Financial (NYSE:FBK  Get Free Report) is expected to post its Q4 2025 results after the market closes on Wednesday, January 21st. Analysts expect FB Financial to post earnings of $1.14 per share and revenue of $176.30 million for the quarter. Interested persons may review the information on the companys upcoming Q4 2025 earning report for the latest details on the call scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 9:00 AM ET.

FB Financial Stock Performance

NYSE FBK opened at $59.67 on Monday. FB Financial has a one year low of $38.83 and a one year high of $60.80. The company has a market capitalization of $3.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.88 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $56.63 and a 200 day moving average of $53.85.

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FB Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 11th were issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. FB Financials dividend payout ratio is 35.51%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FBK. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of FB Financial by 1,152.2% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 864 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 795 shares in the last quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in FB Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $75,000. iSAM Funds UK Ltd bought a new position in FB Financial in the third quarter worth approximately $100,000. Cerity Partners LLC purchased a new stake in FB Financial during the second quarter worth $207,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in FB Financial by 358.0% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,304 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $240,000 after acquiring an additional 4,146 shares in the last quarter. 65.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on FBK shares. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on FB Financial from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of FB Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, November 16th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c) rating on shares of FB Financial in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $66.00 target price (up from $61.00) on shares of FB Financial in a report on Thursday, October 16th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, FB Financial has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $60.80.

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About FB Financial

(Get Free Report)

FB Financial Corporation, through its banking subsidiary FirstBank, is a Tennessee-based bank holding company that provides a broad range of financial services to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, and commercial clients. Established to serve the banking needs of communities across the southeastern United States, the companys core offerings include consumer and commercial deposit products, commercial lending, and mortgage services.

In addition to traditional checking and savings accounts, FB Financials service portfolio encompasses treasury and cash management, equipment financing, and letters of credit to support the working capital and expansion needs of business customers.

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Chesapeake Financial Shares (OTCMKTS:CPKF  Get Free Report) is projected to post its results before the market opens on Tuesday, January 20th. Analysts expect Chesapeake Financial Shares to post earnings of $0.82 per share for the quarter.

Chesapeake Financial Shares (OTCMKTS:CPKF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The bank reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.39. The firm had revenue of $21.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.40 million. Chesapeake Financial Shares had a net margin of 6.72% and a return on equity of 11.80%.

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Chesapeake Financial Shares Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of Chesapeake Financial Shares stock opened at $28.25 on Monday. Chesapeake Financial Shares has a 1-year low of $18.10 and a 1-year high of $28.90. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $26.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $23.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $132.97 million, a PE ratio of 20.18 and a beta of 0.24.

Chesapeake Financial Shares Increases Dividend

Chesapeake Financial Shares Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 2nd were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 278.0%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 1st. This is a positive change from Chesapeake Financial Sharess previous dividend of $0.16. Chesapeake Financial Sharess payout ratio is 48.57%.

(Get Free Report)

Chesapeake Financial Shares, Inc is the bank holding company for Chesapeake Bank, a Virginia?chartered community bank. The company operates as a locally focused financial institution, offering a comprehensive suite of banking services to individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Through its subsidiary, Chesapeake Bank, it aims to deliver customer?centric solutions while supporting economic growth in its communities.

Chesapeake Financial Shares primary business activities include retail and commercial banking.

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Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on HMY. Zacks Research lowered shares of Harmony Gold Mining from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Harmony Gold Mining in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. HSBC upgraded Harmony Gold Mining from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, October 9th. Investec upgraded Harmony Gold Mining to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res raised Harmony Gold Mining from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Harmony Gold Mining presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $16.00.

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Harmony Gold Mining Stock Down 0.7%

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Harmony Gold Mining

Shares of NYSE:HMY opened at $21.80 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $19.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $17.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Harmony Gold Mining has a one year low of $9.58 and a one year high of $22.98.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ariose Capital Management Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Harmony Gold Mining during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,182,000. U S Global Investors Inc. grew its position in Harmony Gold Mining by 105.3% during the 2nd quarter. U S Global Investors Inc. now owns 307,960 shares of the mining companys stock worth $4,302,000 after purchasing an additional 157,960 shares in the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in Harmony Gold Mining during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,609,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Harmony Gold Mining by 15.5% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 184,507 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $2,578,000 after purchasing an additional 24,779 shares during the period. Finally, Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Harmony Gold Mining by 43.0% in the second quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC now owns 343,243 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $4,795,000 after purchasing an additional 103,150 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.79% of the companys stock.

About Harmony Gold Mining

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Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited is a South Africabased precious metals producer primarily engaged in the exploration, mining and processing of gold. The company operates a portfolio of underground and surface mining operations, targeting both reef-hosted and alluvial deposits. In addition to gold, Harmonys activities encompass the extraction of copper as a byproduct at its Papua New Guinea operations.

In South Africa, Harmonys mining footprint includes deep-level underground operations in the Witwatersrand Basin, where it employs a combination of conventional and mechanized mining methods.

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Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE:DFIN  Get Free Report) was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Saturday.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on DFIN. Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and set a $57.00 price objective on shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. DA Davidson set a $66.00 target price on Donnelley Financial Solutions in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Zacks Research downgraded Donnelley Financial Solutions from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, CJS Securities raised shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $61.50.

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Donnelley Financial Solutions Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:DFIN opened at $55.28 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Donnelley Financial Solutions has a 12 month low of $37.80 and a 12 month high of $69.93. The company has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.64 and a beta of 0.90. The firms 50-day moving average is $47.59 and its 200 day moving average is $52.44.

Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE:DFIN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $175.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $169.70 million. Donnelley Financial Solutions had a net margin of 4.33% and a return on equity of 22.46%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.48 earnings per share.

Institutional Trading of Donnelley Financial Solutions

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in Donnelley Financial Solutions by 13.7% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 16,683 shares of the companys stock valued at $729,000 after purchasing an additional 2,005 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 101,954 shares of the companys stock worth $4,456,000 after purchasing an additional 1,674 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Donnelley Financial Solutions during the first quarter valued at approximately $2,698,000. Intech Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Donnelley Financial Solutions by 34.4% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 26,290 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,149,000 after buying an additional 6,734 shares during the period. Finally, Strs Ohio purchased a new position in Donnelley Financial Solutions during the first quarter valued at approximately $323,000. 93.84% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Donnelley Financial Solutions Company Profile

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Donnelley Financial Solutions (NYSE:DFIN) offers risk and compliance software and managed services designed to help corporations, financial institutions and legal firms meet regulatory and reporting requirements worldwide. Headquartered in Chicago, the company delivers a cloud-based platform for regulatory filings, content automation, virtual data rooms and board communications. Its solutions are tailored to support public companies with SEC, FCA and other global filing obligations, as well as banks, asset managers and credit unions seeking to streamline compliance workflows.

Among DFINs flagship products is ActiveDisclosure, a SaaS application that automates the creation, review and filing of disclosure documents.

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Valeo S.A. (OTCMKTS:VLEEY  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, one has assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company.

VLEEY has been the subject of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating on shares of Valeo in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut Valeo from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Valeo in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating on shares of Valeo in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Valeo in a research report on Monday, October 6th.

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Valeo Stock Performance

About Valeo

OTCMKTS VLEEY opened at $6.94 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.79. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $6.73 and a 200-day moving average of $6.30. Valeo has a 52-week low of $3.75 and a 52-week high of $7.35.

(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.

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SQZ Biotechnologies (NYSE:SQZ  Get Free Report) and Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX  Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, institutional ownership and valuation.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

38.5% of SQZ Biotechnologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 16.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. 16.0% of SQZ Biotechnologies shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for SQZ Biotechnologies and Protalix BioTherapeutics, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SQZ Biotechnologies 0 0 0 0 0.00 Protalix BioTherapeutics 0 0 1 0 3.00

Profitability

Protalix BioTherapeutics has a consensus target price of $12.00, indicating a potential upside of 488.24%. Given Protalix BioTherapeutics stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Protalix BioTherapeutics is more favorable than SQZ Biotechnologies.

This table compares SQZ Biotechnologies and Protalix BioTherapeutics net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SQZ Biotechnologies -369.96% -119.83% -59.90% Protalix BioTherapeutics -21.03% -30.89% -11.74%

Volatility and Risk

SQZ Biotechnologies has a beta of 2.34, indicating that its stock price is 134% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Protalix BioTherapeutics has a beta of -0.25, indicating that its stock price is 125% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares SQZ Biotechnologies and Protalix BioTherapeuticss revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio SQZ Biotechnologies $18.16 million 0.04 -$79.46 million ($2.61) -0.01 Protalix BioTherapeutics $61.84 million 2.65 $8.31 million $0.07 29.14

Protalix BioTherapeutics has higher revenue and earnings than SQZ Biotechnologies. SQZ Biotechnologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Protalix BioTherapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Protalix BioTherapeutics beats SQZ Biotechnologies on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SQZ Biotechnologies

(Get Free Report)

SQZ Biotechnologies Company, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, develops cell therapies for patients with cancer, autoimmune, infectious diseases, and other serious conditions. Its lead product candidate is SQZ-PBMC-HPV, from its SQZ Antigen Presenting Cells platform, which is in a Phase I clinical trial as a monotherapy and in combination with immuno-oncology agents for the treatment of HPV16+ advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including cervical, head-and-neck, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancer. The company also develops SQZ-AAC-HPV, which is in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of HPV16+ advanced or metastatic solid tumors in monotherapy and in combinations with immune-oncology agents. Its additional platforms in development are SQZ Activating Antigen Carriers; and SQZ Tolerizing Antigen Carriers. The Company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics

(Get Free Report)

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development, production, and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system in the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and internationally. The company offers Elelyso for the treatment of Gaucher disease; and Elfabrio for the treatment of adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Fabry disease. It is also developing PRX-115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated Uricase which is in Phase I trial for the treatment of gout; and PRX-119, a plant cell-expressed PEGylated recombinant human DNase I product candidate that is in preclinical phase for the treatment of NETs-related diseases. The company has agreements and partnerships with Pfizer; Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz; and Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Karmiel, Israel. Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Protalix Ltd.

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ADAMUZ, Spain, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Experts probing the cause of Sunday's derailment of a high-speed train in Spain, which killed at least 39 people, found a broken joint on the rails, according to a source briefed on initial investigations into the disaster.

The derailed carriages smashed into an oncoming train, pushing it off the tracks and down an embankment in one of the worst train disasters in Europe in modern times.

More from Yahoo Scout What maintenance history existed for the affected infrastructure? Which train operators were involved in the collision? How many casualties resulted from the Adamuz accident? What caused the high-speed train derailment in Spain?

The accident happened near Adamuz in the southern province of Cordoba, about 360 km (220 miles) south of the capital Madrid.

Technicians on site analysing the rails identified some wear on the joint between sections of the rail, known as a fishplate, which they said showed the fault had been there for some time, the source said.

They found that the faulty joint created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track.

The source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue, said the technicians believe the faulty joint is key to identifying the precise cause of the accident.

Spain's Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF), which has been tasked with the overall investigation into the causes of the disaster, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Spanish rail operator, Adif, the Spanish transport ministry - which oversees the CIAF - also did not respond to requests for comment.

Alvaro Fernandez Heredia, president of Renfe, which operates the second train to derail, told the Cadena Ser radio station it was too early to talk about the cause. However, the accident happened in "strange conditions", he said, adding that "human error is practically ruled out."

INITIAL FINDINGS FROM THE INSPECTION

The first carriages of the train operated by Spanish firm Iryo drove over the gap in the rails, but the eighth, and last, carriage derailed, bringing with it the seventh and sixth carriages, the person said.

Iryo is a private rail operator, majority-owned by Italian state-controlled railway group Ferrovie dello Stato.

The source pointed to a photograph showing the gap in the vertical rail, which also featured in a handout picture shared with media by Spain's Guardia Civil. The area has been marked by police incident numbers as it is photographed by forensic inspectors.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Transport Minister Oscar Puente were among officials who visited the crash scene on Monday morning. Sanchez cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland after the accident.
Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its holdings in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA  Free Report) by 21.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 124,871 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 21,969 shares during the quarter. Nordea Investment Management ABs holdings in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries were worth $2,431,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cromwell Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 40.3% in the third quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 2,191 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 629 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in the second quarter worth about $41,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC grew its position in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 3,715.8% in the 2nd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 2,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 2,824 shares in the last quarter. JTC Employer Solutions Trustee Ltd acquired a new position in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries during the 3rd quarter valued at about $65,000. Finally, MAI Capital Management increased its stake in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries by 26.8% during the 2nd quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 3,293 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 697 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.05% of the companys stock.

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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:TEVA opened at $31.78 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $36.45 billion, a PE ratio of 52.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 1.11. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $29.00 and a 200-day moving average of $22.15. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has a one year low of $12.47 and a one year high of $33.42.

Insider Buying and Selling

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

In other Teva Pharmaceutical Industries news, Director Roberto Mignone sold 200,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.11, for a total value of $4,822,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 495,000 shares in the company, valued at $11,934,450. This trade represents a 28.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link . Also, CAO Amir Weiss sold 12,300 shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.20, for a total transaction of $371,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 5,650 shares in the company, valued at approximately $170,630. This trade represents a 68.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 622,060 shares of company stock worth $17,076,965. Company insiders own 0.49% of the companys stock.

TEVA has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. UBS Group upped their target price on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $23.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 24th. Scotiabank started coverage on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in a research note on Friday, December 5th. They set a sector outperform rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Teva Pharmaceutical Industries from $29.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a sell (d-) rating on shares of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $33.67.

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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Company Profile

(Free Report)

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE:TEVA) is an Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company and one of the worlds largest manufacturers of generic medicines. The companys core activities include the development, production and marketing of generic pharmaceuticals alongside a portfolio of specialty branded medicines. Teva supplies finished dosage forms and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to markets around the globe and operates manufacturing and research facilities in multiple countries.

Tevas product range covers oral solids, injectables, inhalation products and other dosage forms across therapeutic areas such as central nervous system disorders, respiratory, oncology, pain and infectious disease.

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Shares of Ardmore Shipping Corporation (NYSE:ASC  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $13.6667.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Ardmore Shipping from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $15.00 target price on shares of Ardmore Shipping in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Ardmore Shipping from $13.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a hold (c-) rating on shares of Ardmore Shipping in a research note on Wednesday, December 24th.

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Ardmore Shipping Stock Up 0.8%

ASC stock opened at $11.94 on Monday. Ardmore Shipping has a twelve month low of $8.32 and a twelve month high of $13.56. The company has a quick ratio of 4.08, a current ratio of 4.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The company has a market cap of $485.00 million, a PE ratio of 15.31 and a beta of -0.08. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $11.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.55.

Ardmore Shipping (NYSE:ASC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The shipping company reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.28 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $81.25 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $48.38 million. Ardmore Shipping had a return on equity of 6.69% and a net margin of 11.50%.The companys quarterly revenue was down 15.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.55 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Ardmore Shipping will post 1.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Ardmore Shipping Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Investors of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. This is a positive change from Ardmore Shippings previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. Ardmore Shippings payout ratio is presently 51.28%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Ardmore Shipping by 14.8% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,241 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $86,000 after buying an additional 931 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Ardmore Shipping by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 24,701 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $242,000 after acquiring an additional 1,102 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ardmore Shipping by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 23,047 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,333 shares in the last quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Ardmore Shipping by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 40,720 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $391,000 after purchasing an additional 1,518 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. raised its position in Ardmore Shipping by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 283,183 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $3,361,000 after purchasing an additional 2,765 shares during the last quarter. 62.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Ardmore Shipping

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Ardmore Shipping Corporation is a Bermuda-based provider of seaborne transportation services for refined petroleum products. The company owns and operates a modern fleet of product tankers, including medium-range (MR), long-range 2 (LR2) and Aframax vessels. Ardmore Shipping focuses on the ocean carriage of clean and dirty petroleum products under time charters, bareboat charters and spot voyages, serving a diverse customer base that includes major oil companies and trading houses.

Since its founding in 2005, Ardmore Shipping has grown its fleet through newbuilding contracts, second-hand acquisitions and fleet renewals, aiming to maintain a high quality, fuel-efficient profile.

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Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA  Free Report) by 11.6% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 25,675 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,662 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Mastercard were worth $14,604,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Pinion Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Pinion Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,272 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,276,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. KRS Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Mastercard by 0.6% in the second quarter. KRS Capital Management LLC now owns 2,848 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,601,000 after buying an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Nvest Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 1.2% in the second quarter. Nvest Financial LLC now owns 1,505 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $846,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the period. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Mastercard by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 339 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $191,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Mastercard by 13.0% during the 2nd quarter. Rialto Wealth Management LLC now owns 156 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $88,000 after acquiring an additional 18 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock.

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Key Stories Impacting Mastercard

Here are the key news stories impacting Mastercard this week:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a buy (b) rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Mastercard from $640.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Tigress Financial lifted their price target on shares of Mastercard from $685.00 to $730.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $690.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $669.00 to $660.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 31st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-two have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Mastercard presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $662.08.

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Mastercard Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of MA opened at $539.82 on Monday. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52-week low of $465.59 and a 52-week high of $601.77. The stock has a market cap of $484.76 billion, a PE ratio of 34.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.86. The firms fifty day moving average is $557.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $566.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.40.

Mastercard (NYSE:MA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The credit services provider reported $4.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.31 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $8.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.53 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.28% and a return on equity of 202.03%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.89 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mastercard Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.87 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 9th. This represents a $3.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is an increase from Mastercards previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. Mastercards payout ratio is presently 22.25%.

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.

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Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 4.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 59,045 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,442 shares during the quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $16,491,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of TSM. Financial Management Network Inc. purchased a new stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 3rd quarter valued at $592,000. Gold Investment Management Ltd. increased its position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 0.4% during the third quarter. Gold Investment Management Ltd. now owns 41,159 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $11,495,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 11.7% in the third quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC now owns 1,231 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $345,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares during the period. Bfsg LLC raised its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1.1% in the third quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 27,410 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $7,655,000 after acquiring an additional 310 shares during the period. Finally, Rather & Kittrell Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in the 3rd quarter worth about $292,000. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance

Shares of TSM stock opened at $342.37 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.77 trillion, a P/E ratio of 32.15, a P/E/G ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.29. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $299.68 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $274.20. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a one year low of $134.25 and a one year high of $351.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 2.69 and a quick ratio of 2.47.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 14th. The semiconductor company reported $14.32 earnings per share for the quarter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 45.13% and a return on equity of 36.18%. The firm had revenue of $32.50 billion during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.9678 per share. This represents a $3.87 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This is a positive change from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is currently 23.57%.

More Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing News

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TSM has been the topic of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Monday, December 29th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $300.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Friday, January 2nd. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $381.67.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is a leading pure-play semiconductor foundry that provides wafer fabrication and related services to the global semiconductor industry. Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, TSMC manufactures integrated circuits on behalf of fabless and integrated device manufacturers, offering contract chip production across a broad set of technologies and products.

TSMCs service offering covers logic and mixed-signal process technologies, specialty processes for radio-frequency, power management and embedded memory, and advanced nodes used in mobile, high-performance computing and AI applications.

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Quantum Portfolio Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV  Free Report) by 55.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,530 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,409 shares during the quarter. Quantum Portfolio Management LLCs holdings in Dover were worth $1,590,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. AdvisorShares Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Dover during the second quarter worth approximately $30,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in Dover by 122.4% during the second quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 169 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Caldwell Trust Co bought a new position in Dover during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Harbour Investments Inc. raised its holdings in Dover by 51.7% in the 2nd quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 176 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Dover during the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.46% of the companys stock.

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Dover Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DOV opened at $206.75 on Monday. Dover Corporation has a one year low of $143.04 and a one year high of $222.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 2.04 and a quick ratio of 1.44. The company has a market cap of $28.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.72, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.31. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $193.32 and a 200 day simple moving average of $182.69.

Dover Announces Dividend

Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The industrial products company reported $2.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.12. Dover had a net margin of 28.37% and a return on equity of 17.62%. The company had revenue of $2.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.27 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Dover has set its FY 2025 guidance at 9.500-9.600 EPS. Research analysts predict that Dover Corporation will post 9.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 28th. Dovers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.79%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Ivonne M. Cabrera sold 2,630 shares of Dover stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.80, for a total transaction of $501,804.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 72,968 shares in the company, valued at $13,922,294.40. This trade represents a 3.48% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Christopher B. Woenker sold 1,627 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $186.04, for a total transaction of $302,687.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 2,553 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $474,960.12. This trade represents a 38.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Dover from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Robert W. Baird set a $235.00 target price on shares of Dover in a report on Friday, October 24th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Dover from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of Dover from $225.00 to $228.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Finally, Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Dover in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Dover has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $218.09.

Check Out Our Latest Report on Dover

About Dover

(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.

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Quantum Portfolio Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT  Free Report) by 44.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,616 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,443 shares during the period. Quantum Portfolio Management LLCs holdings in Vertiv were worth $847,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its position in Vertiv by 1,560.0% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 166 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in Vertiv in the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Vertiv by 67.6% in the third quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 171 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Avion Wealth increased its holdings in shares of Vertiv by 99.1% during the second quarter. Avion Wealth now owns 213 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of Vertiv by 54.0% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 194 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.92% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on VRT shares. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Vertiv from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (up from $162.00) on shares of Vertiv in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Vertiv from $165.00 to $198.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Vertiv from $230.00 to $225.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on Vertiv from $198.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vertiv currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $182.48.

Vertiv Stock Up 2.5%

Vertiv stock opened at $176.91 on Monday. Vertiv Holdings Co. has a fifty-two week low of $53.60 and a fifty-two week high of $202.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a current ratio of 1.83. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $170.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $155.25. The stock has a market cap of $67.64 billion, a PE ratio of 66.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 2.06.

Vertiv (NYSE:VRT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The company reported $1.24 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.25. Vertiv had a net margin of 10.67% and a return on equity of 50.82%. The firm had revenue of $2.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.59 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.76 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 29.0% on a year-over-year basis. Vertiv has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 1.230-1.290 EPS and its FY 2025 guidance at 4.070-4.130 EPS. Research analysts predict that Vertiv Holdings Co. will post 3.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vertiv Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, December 18th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 25th were given a $0.0625 dividend. This is an increase from Vertivs previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 25th. Vertivs payout ratio is presently 9.43%.

Insider Transactions at Vertiv

In other news, EVP Stephen Liang sold 5,501 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.48, for a total transaction of $937,810.48. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,050 shares of the companys stock, valued at $690,444. This trade represents a 57.60% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 2.63% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Vertiv News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Vertiv this week:

About Vertiv

(Free Report)

Vertiv is a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions for data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial environments. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company designs, manufactures and services equipment and software that support power availability, thermal management and IT infrastructure management for a broad set of end markets, including hyperscale and enterprise data centers, colocation providers, telecom operators and industrial customers.

The companys product portfolio includes uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units (PDUs), battery and DC power systems, precision cooling and thermal management equipment, racks and enclosures, and integrated modular infrastructure.

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Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. decreased its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 33.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 37,800 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 18,800 shares during the period. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc.s holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $3,576,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Bogart Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 136.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 315 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Activest Wealth Management raised its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 249.5% during the 2nd quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 325 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares in the last quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 58.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 316 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas bought a new position in ConocoPhillips during the second quarter worth $33,000. 82.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Trending Headlines about ConocoPhillips

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

ConocoPhillips Trading Down 0.8%

Shares of NYSE:COP opened at $98.18 on Monday. ConocoPhillips has a fifty-two week low of $79.88 and a fifty-two week high of $106.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market cap of $121.32 billion, a PE ratio of 13.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.32. The companys 50-day moving average price is $92.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $92.90.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The energy producer reported $1.61 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $15.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.51 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 14.25% and a return on equity of 13.64%. ConocoPhillipss revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.78 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. This is an increase from ConocoPhillipss previous quarterly dividend of $0.78. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 47.52%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $98.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 5th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $110.00 to $105.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Evercore ISI decreased their target price on ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $111.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered their target price on ConocoPhillips from $126.00 to $122.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $110.83.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on ConocoPhillips

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other ConocoPhillips news, Director William H. Mcraven purchased 5,768 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $86.68 per share, with a total value of $499,970.24. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 5,768 shares in the company, valued at $499,970.24. This trade represents a ? increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 500,708 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.50, for a total value of $46,315,490.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 325,972 shares in the company, valued at $30,152,410. This trade represents a 60.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.

About ConocoPhillips

(Free Report)

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is a Houston-based international energy company focused on exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Formed in 2002 through the merger of Conoco Inc and Phillips Petroleum Company, the firm operates as an independent upstream company that explores for, develops and produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids across a portfolio of global assets.

The companys activities span conventional and unconventional resources and include onshore and offshore operations in multiple regions around the world.

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Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. trimmed its stake in Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE:HAE  Free Report) by 63.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 137,250 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 235,250 shares during the quarter. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. owned approximately 0.28% of Haemonetics worth $6,690,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Haemonetics in the second quarter valued at $36,822,000. SG Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Haemonetics by 92.5% in the second quarter. SG Capital Management LLC now owns 906,892 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $67,663,000 after acquiring an additional 435,660 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Haemonetics by 157.9% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 450,248 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $33,390,000 after acquiring an additional 275,683 shares during the last quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Haemonetics by 18.7% in the 2nd quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 1,655,676 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $122,586,000 after acquiring an additional 260,624 shares during the period. Finally, Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH increased its stake in shares of Haemonetics by 36.2% during the 3rd quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 706,312 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $34,426,000 after purchasing an additional 187,630 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the companys stock.

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Haemonetics Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE HAE opened at $72.17 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $3.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.29. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $79.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $65.91. Haemonetics Corporation has a one year low of $47.31 and a one year high of $87.32.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Haemonetics ( NYSE:HAE Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.15. Haemonetics had a return on equity of 27.22% and a net margin of 12.67%.The company had revenue of $327.32 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $311.61 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.12 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. Haemonetics has set its FY 2026 guidance at 4.800-5.00 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Haemonetics Corporation will post 4.55 EPS for the current year.

Several brokerages recently issued reports on HAE. Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $90.00 target price on shares of Haemonetics in a research note on Friday, November 14th. CJS Securities upgraded Haemonetics to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Haemonetics from $87.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of Haemonetics from $78.00 to $64.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 7th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC downgraded shares of Haemonetics from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $84.40.

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Haemonetics Profile

(Free Report)

Haemonetics Corporation is a global provider of blood management solutions that support the collection, processing and transfusion of blood and blood products. The companys offerings are designed to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency for blood centers, hospitals and plasma collection facilities. Haemonetics serves healthcare providers worldwide by delivering integrated systems, software and consumables that address critical needs throughout the continuum of blood management.

The companys product portfolio includes automated apheresis and plasma collection systems, surgical blood salvage and coagulation monitoring devices, and pathogen reduction technologies.

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North Ground Capital purchased a new position in shares of Eagle Point Income Company Inc. (NYSE:EIC  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 422,222 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,683,000. Eagle Point Income comprises approximately 3.5% of North Ground Capitals investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of EIC. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its stake in Eagle Point Income by 97.4% during the second quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 3,322 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 1,639 shares in the last quarter. Friedenthal Financial acquired a new stake in shares of Eagle Point Income during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of Eagle Point Income during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $131,000. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in Eagle Point Income by 17.8% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 14,369 shares of the companys stock worth $196,000 after purchasing an additional 2,170 shares during the period. Finally, Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Eagle Point Income in the second quarter worth $325,000.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. B. Riley dropped their target price on shares of Eagle Point Income from $15.00 to $14.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Eagle Point Income from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Monday, November 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Eagle Point Income has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $14.00.

Eagle Point Income Price Performance

NYSE:EIC opened at $11.16 on Monday. Eagle Point Income Company Inc. has a 1 year low of $10.81 and a 1 year high of $16.23. The business has a fifty day moving average of $11.36 and a 200-day moving average of $12.47.

Eagle Point Income (NYSE:EIC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.03.

Eagle Point Income Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.8%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 11th.

Eagle Point Income Profile

(Free Report)

Eagle Point Income Company (NYSE: EIC) is a closed-end management investment company that primarily invests in the equity and junior debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Launched in 2019 and domiciled in Maryland, the company seeks to provide shareholders with high current income and the potential for capital appreciation by focusing on structured credit opportunities. Eagle Point Income maintains a diversified portfolio of CLO equity positions, targeting both seasoned and newly issued transactions across multiple risk profiles.

The companys investment strategy centers on identifying mispriced or underfollowed CLO tranches, where it believes its teams deep industry expertise can add value.

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Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Procter & Gamble Company (The) (NYSE:PG  Free Report) by 5.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,687,864 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 94,521 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC owned 0.07% of Procter & Gamble worth $257,467,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Procter & Gamble during the 2nd quarter valued at about $5,099,644,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Procter & Gamble by 15,971.7% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 7,012,744 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,117,270,000 after purchasing an additional 6,969,110 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 233,211,283 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,155,222,000 after purchasing an additional 3,189,111 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 21.4% in the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 16,374,499 shares of the companys stock worth $2,608,785,000 after purchasing an additional 2,880,895 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Procter & Gamble by 66.3% during the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 5,504,749 shares of the companys stock valued at $877,014,000 after purchasing an additional 2,195,560 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.77% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

PG has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. TD Cowen lowered their price target on Procter & Gamble from $168.00 to $150.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $165.00 to $157.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. BNP Paribas Exane dropped their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $164.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Procter & Gamble from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $179.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Dbs Bank upgraded Procter & Gamble to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $168.36.

Insider Buying and Selling at Procter & Gamble

In related news, CAO Matthew W. Janzaruk sold 725 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.57, for a total value of $108,438.25. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 979 shares of the companys stock, valued at $146,429.03. This represents a 42.55% 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. 0.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

Shares of PG stock opened at $144.55 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $337.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.10, a P/E/G ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 0.39. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $144.72 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $150.91. Procter & Gamble Company has a one year low of $137.62 and a one year high of $179.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.71 and a quick ratio of 0.51.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.09. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 32.63% and a net margin of 19.74%.The firm had revenue of $22.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.23 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.93 earnings per share. Procter & Gambles quarterly revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Procter & Gamble has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.830-7.100 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.91 EPS for the current year.

Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a dividend of $1.0568 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $4.23 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.75%.

Key Headlines Impacting Procter & Gamble

Here are the key news stories impacting Procter & Gamble this week:

About Procter & Gamble

(Free Report)

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is a multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble, P&G has grown into one of the worlds largest producers of branded consumer packaged goods. The company focuses on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of household and personal care products sold to consumers and retailers worldwide.

P&Gs product offering spans several core business categories, including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care, and Baby, Feminine & Family Care.

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As almost every low-cost airline operating in North America, Denver-based Frontier Airlines has been in transitionary period as it adapts to a rapidly-changing market.

At the start of the year, interim chief executive Jack Dempsey was appointed permanently in the role after former CEO Barry Biffle was unexpectedly forced to step down in December. At the start of December, the airline also announced dozens of new flights to popular holiday destinations in Florida and Mexico as part of its scheduling plans for 2026.

But as travelers look toward the rest of the year, some recently found themselves unable to book flights past April 2026. As first reported by local outlet ABC27, the Frontier website is blocking purchases for any flights beyond April 13  a situation that immediately sparked customer speculation of a potential bankruptcy or shutdown.

Frontier Airlines says flights will be open for booking next week

Cirium flight data also shows that no Frontier flights are currently scheduled beyond that date.

"Obviously, there are a ton of flights between Denver and Southern California," Orange County resident David Fourgues said to ABC. "[...] I can't figure out what's going on here. I'm ready to give them some money."

A Frontier spokesperson shut these rumors down by saying that the routes will once again be available for purchase during the week of Jan. 19.

James Dempsey has been appointed as permanent CEO of Frontier Airlines in January 2026.Frontier Airlines  Frontier Airlines

"Final stages of solidifying our network-wide schedule extension": Frontier

"We are in the final stages of solidifying our network-wide schedule extension and it will be released early this week," the spokesperson said in a statement to TheStreet.

Other than the single comment, Frontier has not provided additional information on the schedule extension or why it was necessary to block the purchase of flights past April. The move is highly unusual, as airlines will generally try to keep selling any flights they intend to run.

Travel news:

Some may think the scheduling issue makes the airline look unstable, but it could also be a strategy for reducing the need to issue refunds if a schedule changes later. This would be in line with the "schedule extension" explanation that Frontier gave for the canceled flights.

In November 2025, Frontier released a better-than-expected earnings report in which it reported a net loss of $77 million but updated its forecast for the last quarter of between $0.04 and $0.20 earnings per share.
Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC trimmed its stake in International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM  Free Report) by 27.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 790,284 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 305,150 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC owned about 0.08% of International Business Machines worth $232,241,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Whelan Financial increased its position in International Business Machines by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Whelan Financial now owns 1,525 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $450,000 after buying an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Ignite Planners LLC increased its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 0.9% during the second quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 3,964 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,133,000 after acquiring an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Vishria Bird Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of International Business Machines by 3.0% during the third quarter. Vishria Bird Financial Group LLC now owns 1,230 shares of the technology companys stock worth $347,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. Prosperitas Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of International Business Machines by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Prosperitas Financial LLC now owns 1,260 shares of the technology companys stock worth $356,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TI Trust Inc. grew its position in International Business Machines by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. TI Trust Inc. now owns 4,492 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,267,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.96% of the companys stock.

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International Business Machines Price Performance

Shares of NYSE IBM opened at $305.82 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $285.86 billion, a PE ratio of 36.58, a PEG ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $303.46 and its 200-day moving average price is $282.40. International Business Machines Corporation has a twelve month low of $214.50 and a twelve month high of $324.90.

International Business Machines Announces Dividend

International Business Machines ( NYSE:IBM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 22nd. The technology company reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.45 by $0.20. International Business Machines had a return on equity of 37.76% and a net margin of 12.09%.The business had revenue of $16.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.30 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that International Business Machines Corporation will post 10.78 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th were given a dividend of $1.68 per share. This represents a $6.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio is currently 80.38%.

Key Headlines Impacting International Business Machines

Here are the key news stories impacting International Business Machines this week:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on IBM shares. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on shares of International Business Machines from $300.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. UBS Group reissued a sell rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Tuesday, December 9th. Wall Street Zen downgraded International Business Machines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, January 11th. Bank of America increased their price objective on International Business Machines from $315.00 to $335.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised International Business Machines from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $300.00 to $360.00 in a research report on Monday, January 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $303.38.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on IBM

International Business Machines Profile

(Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and renamed IBM in 1924, the company has evolved from early electromechanical machines to a diversified technology provider serving enterprises and governments worldwide. IBM is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol IBM.

IBMs principal businesses encompass cloud computing and software, infrastructure and systems, consulting and technology services, and research and development.

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Oak Ridge Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 2.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,848 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,433 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up about 3.0% of Oak Ridge Investments LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Oak Ridge Investments LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $46,427,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Occidental Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.7% during the second quarter. Occidental Asset Management LLC now owns 1,966 shares of the companys stock worth $1,533,000 after purchasing an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. New Insight Wealth Advisors raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.4% during the second quarter. New Insight Wealth Advisors now owns 394 shares of the companys stock valued at $307,000 after buying an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Dash Acquisitions Inc. lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Dash Acquisitions Inc. now owns 485 shares of the companys stock worth $387,000 after buying an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. Nvest Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Nvest Financial LLC now owns 2,274 shares of the companys stock worth $1,773,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MPS Loria Financial Planners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. MPS Loria Financial Planners LLC now owns 699 shares of the companys stock valued at $545,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the last quarter. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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More 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 NYSE LLY opened at $1,038.26 on Monday. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $623.78 and a 12-month high of $1,133.95. The company has a market cap of $981.55 billion, a PE ratio of 50.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.35. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $1,051.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $871.48. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.42 by $0.60. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 109.52% and a net margin of 30.99%.The firm had revenue of $17.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.18 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 53.9% on a year-over-year basis. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is currently 29.35%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on LLY shares. Zacks Research raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 1st. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,171.00 to $1,290.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Leerink Partners set a $1,234.00 price target on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $976.00 to $1,300.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $1,174.70.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LLY

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A.

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Violich Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 15.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 42,030 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,713 shares during the period. Agnico Eagle Mines comprises 0.8% of Violich Capital Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th biggest position. Violich Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines were worth $7,085,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AEM. Ninety One UK Ltd increased its position in Agnico Eagle Mines by 386.5% during the third quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 188,189 shares of the mining companys stock worth $31,703,000 after purchasing an additional 149,506 shares during the last quarter. Addenda Capital Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Addenda Capital Inc. now owns 724,231 shares of the mining companys stock worth $122,076,000 after buying an additional 15,965 shares during the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC increased its holdings in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 1,560.8% during the 3rd quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 48,677 shares of the mining companys stock worth $8,205,000 after buying an additional 45,746 shares during the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group raised its position in shares of Agnico Eagle Mines by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 438,080 shares of the mining companys stock worth $52,101,000 after buying an additional 49,480 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Agnico Eagle Mines by 2.7% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,178,532 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $140,135,000 after acquiring an additional 31,087 shares during the last quarter. 68.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on AEM. Jefferies Financial Group set a $189.00 price target on Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. Bank of America lifted their price target on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $209.00 to $226.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Raymond James Financial reissued an outperform rating and issued a $225.00 price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, TD Securities lifted their target price on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $154.00 to $195.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $211.70.

Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Down 1.4%

Shares of NYSE:AEM opened at $197.61 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $98.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a 50 day moving average of $174.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $156.18. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 52-week low of $82.86 and a 52-week high of $201.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 2.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01.

Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM  Get Free Report) (TSE:AEM) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The mining company reported $2.16 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.76 by $0.40. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 32.62% and a return on equity of 15.64%. The business had revenue of $3.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.93 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.14 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 4.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Agnico Eagle Mines

(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.

Further Reading

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Mizuho Markets Americas LLC grew its position in Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE:VSH  Free Report) by 3.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 813,367 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 28,000 shares during the quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC owned approximately 0.60% of Vishay Intertechnology worth $12,445,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of VSH. Amalgamated Bank increased its position in shares of Vishay Intertechnology by 8.8% during the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 35,475 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $543,000 after purchasing an additional 2,872 shares during the period. Bernzott Capital Advisors boosted its holdings in Vishay Intertechnology by 5.6% during the third quarter. Bernzott Capital Advisors now owns 487,027 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $7,452,000 after purchasing an additional 25,919 shares in the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in Vishay Intertechnology by 9.0% during the third quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 27,800 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $425,000 after purchasing an additional 2,300 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its stake in shares of Vishay Intertechnology by 25.6% in the 3rd quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 247,392 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $3,784,000 after purchasing an additional 50,467 shares during the period. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS raised its holdings in shares of Vishay Intertechnology by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS now owns 22,100 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $338,000 after buying an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. 93.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Vishay Intertechnology in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Reduce.

Vishay Intertechnology Trading Up 2.4%

VSH opened at $18.30 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.48 billion, a P/E ratio of -32.11 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a current ratio of 2.67, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has a 12 month low of $10.35 and a 12 month high of $19.81. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $14.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $15.55.

Vishay Intertechnology (NYSE:VSH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The semiconductor company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.04. Vishay Intertechnology had a negative net margin of 2.56% and a negative return on equity of 0.36%. The firm had revenue of $790.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $779.81 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.08 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. will post 0.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vishay Intertechnology Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 3rd were paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. Vishay Intertechnologys dividend payout ratio is presently -70.18%.

Vishay Intertechnology Company Profile

(Free Report)

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc is a global manufacturer of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, serving a wide range of industries including industrial, automotive, computing, consumer electronics, telecommunications, medical, and military/aerospace markets. The companys portfolio encompasses resistors, capacitors, inductors, sensors, diodes, rectifiers, MOSFETs and a variety of integrated circuit solutions. Vishays components are used in power management, signal conditioning, circuit protection and sensing applications, supporting both standard and custom designs for original equipment manufacturers worldwide.

Originally founded in 1962 by Dr.

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Mizuho Markets Americas LLC bought a new position in shares of Patria Investments Limited (NYSE:PAX  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 1,500,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,900,000. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC owned 2.25% of Patria Investments as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of PAX. State of Alaska Department of Revenue bought a new stake in shares of Patria Investments during the third quarter worth $38,000. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its position in Patria Investments by 51.4% in the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 11,584 shares of the companys stock valued at $169,000 after acquiring an additional 3,935 shares in the last quarter. Longboard Asset Management LP acquired a new position in Patria Investments in the 3rd quarter worth $151,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Patria Investments during the 3rd quarter worth about $308,000. Finally, Brookwood Investment Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Patria Investments by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Brookwood Investment Group LLC now owns 25,916 shares of the companys stock valued at $378,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.27% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Zacks Research upgraded Patria Investments from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Patria Investments presently has a consensus rating of Strong Buy.

Patria Investments Trading Down 0.1%

Patria Investments stock opened at $17.42 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $15.73 and a 200-day moving average of $14.69. The company has a market cap of $1.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.69. Patria Investments Limited has a one year low of $9.43 and a one year high of $17.80.

Patria Investments Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Patria Investmentss dividend payout ratio is currently 86.96%.

Patria Investments Company Profile

(Free Report)

Patria Investments Limited (NYSE: PAX) is a Brazil-based alternative asset management firm specializing in private equity, infrastructure, real estate and credit investments. Since its founding in 1988, the firm has focused on identifying and partnering with high-potential companies and projects across Latin America. Patrias investment approach combines local market expertise with global best practices to structure and manage portfolios that aim to deliver long-term value to institutional and high-net-worth clients.

The companys core business activities include private equity funds targeting mid-market and large-cap buyouts, infrastructure funds investing in essential assets such as energy and transportation, real estate strategies encompassing residential, commercial and logistics properties, and credit funds that provide financing solutions across the capital structure.

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Mizuho Markets Americas LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 673,388 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $7,683,000. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC owned about 0.39% of Pitney Bowes at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Pitney Bowes by 13.3% during the 3rd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 18,012 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $198,000 after buying an additional 2,116 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its holdings in Pitney Bowes by 3.4% in the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 46,680 shares of the technology companys stock worth $533,000 after buying an additional 1,555 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Management bought a new position in Pitney Bowes in the third quarter worth $150,000. Meritage Portfolio Management bought a new stake in Pitney Bowes during the third quarter worth about $315,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in Pitney Bowes during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $795,000. 67.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Pitney Bowes Trading Down 2.1%

NYSE PBI opened at $10.52 on Monday. Pitney Bowes Inc. has a 12-month low of $7.18 and a 12-month high of $13.11. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.96. The stock has a market cap of $1.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.30.

Pitney Bowes Increases Dividend

Pitney Bowes ( NYSE:PBI Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The technology company reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.32 by ($0.01). Pitney Bowes had a net margin of 4.14% and a negative return on equity of 38.38%. The business had revenue of $459.68 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $467.45 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.21 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. Pitney Bowes has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.300-1.300 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Pitney Bowes Inc. will post 1.21 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 8th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th were paid a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. This is an increase from Pitney Bowess previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Pitney Bowess dividend payout ratio is currently 80.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on PBI shares. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Pitney Bowes in a report on Monday, November 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $11.00 target price for the company. Zacks Research raised Pitney Bowes from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Pitney Bowes in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Citizens Jmp began coverage on shares of Pitney Bowes in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. They issued a market outperform rating and a $13.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of Pitney Bowes in a research report on Friday, December 12th. They set a hold rating and a $11.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $12.00.

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Pitney Bowes Company Profile

(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.

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Sterling Investment Advisors LLC ADV cut its position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR  Free Report) by 11.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 38,018 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 4,923 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF comprises approximately 2.2% of Sterling Investment Advisors LLC ADVs holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Sterling Investment Advisors LLC ADVs holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $4,518,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in IJR. RMG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Curio Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 26,900.0% in the 2nd quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 270 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 269 shares during the period. Quaker Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 200.4% in the 2nd quarter. Quaker Wealth Management LLC now owns 452 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 902 shares during the period. Highline Wealth Partners LLC lifted its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 2,635.0% in the 2nd quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 547 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 53.3% in the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 538 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. 66.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Stock Performance

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF stock opened at $128.62 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $121.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $118.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $94.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 1.08. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 52 week low of $89.22 and a 52 week high of $129.48.

About iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. The Index serves as the underlying index for the S&P 600/Citigroup Growth and Value Index series. The component stocks are weighted according to the total float-adjusted market value of their outstanding shares.

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Royal Fund Management LLC cut its stake in Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO  Free Report) by 58.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,490 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 22,086 shares during the period. Royal Fund Management LLCs holdings in Rio Tinto were worth $1,022,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of RIO. Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its stake in Rio Tinto by 62.2% during the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 472 shares of the mining companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares in the last quarter. Pinpoint Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Rio Tinto in the 2nd quarter worth about $38,000. MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rio Tinto during the 2nd quarter worth about $43,000. Hilltop National Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Rio Tinto during the 2nd quarter worth about $44,000. Finally, Wealth Preservation Advisors LLC bought a new position in Rio Tinto during the 2nd quarter valued at about $53,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.33% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on RIO shares. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research note on Wednesday. Argus increased their price target on Rio Tinto from $70.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. Zacks Research raised Rio Tinto from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Weiss Ratings reissued a hold (c+) rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Citigroup restated a hold rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Monday, November 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rio Tinto presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $85.00.

Rio Tinto Trading Down 1.4%

RIO stock opened at $85.14 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $76.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.49. Rio Tinto PLC has a fifty-two week low of $51.67 and a fifty-two week high of $87.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.53.

Rio Tinto News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Rio Tinto this week:

About Rio Tinto

(Free Report)

Rio Tinto is a global mining and metals company that explores for, mines, processes and markets a wide range of commodities. Its principal products include iron ore, aluminum, copper, diamonds and various other minerals and industrial materials. The companys activities span the full value chain from exploration and project development to mining, processing, smelting and refining, supplying raw materials to industries such as steelmaking, automotive, packaging, electronics and construction.

The origins of Rio Tinto date back to mining operations in the Rio Tinto region of Spain in the 19th century, and the group has since grown into a multinational enterprise.

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Verdence Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of W.R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE:WRB  Free Report) by 31.1% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 101,679 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 24,150 shares during the quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in W.R. Berkley were worth $7,652,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its position in shares of W.R. Berkley by 3.6% in the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 96,851 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $7,116,000 after acquiring an additional 3,395 shares in the last quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund boosted its stake in W.R. Berkley by 8.9% in the 3rd quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund now owns 202,243 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $15,496,000 after purchasing an additional 16,450 shares during the period. Trueblood Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in W.R. Berkley during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $553,000. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. raised its position in shares of W.R. Berkley by 0.6% during the second quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 737,183 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $54,161,000 after buying an additional 4,423 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Trust bought a new position in shares of W.R. Berkley during the second quarter worth $1,847,000. 68.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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W.R. Berkley Stock Down 1.2%

Shares of WRB opened at $67.85 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $71.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $72.19. The company has a current ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.39. W.R. Berkley Corporation has a 12-month low of $56.86 and a 12-month high of $78.96.

W.R. Berkley Announces Dividend

W.R. Berkley ( NYSE:WRB Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 20th. The insurance provider reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.07 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $3.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.16 billion. W.R. Berkley had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 18.86%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.93 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that W.R. Berkley Corporation will post 4.33 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. W.R. Berkleys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7.56%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price objective on shares of W.R. Berkley from $78.00 to $76.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on W.R. Berkley from $76.00 to $75.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Morgan Stanley set a $75.00 price target on shares of W.R. Berkley in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Mizuho set a $69.00 target price on W.R. Berkley in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, BMO Capital Markets downgraded W.R. Berkley from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $64.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, W.R. Berkley presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.00.

Read Our Latest Analysis on WRB

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, major shareholder Sumitomo Insurance Co L. Mitsui bought 300,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 16th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $68.18 per share, for a total transaction of $20,454,000.00. Following the acquisition, the insider owned 53,261,504 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,631,369,342.72. This represents a 0.57% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Over the last three months, insiders acquired 4,454,916 shares of company stock worth $309,561,870. Insiders own 23.30% of the companys stock.

W.R. Berkley Company Profile

(Free Report)

W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) is a publicly traded insurance holding company that underwrites and sells commercial property and casualty insurance, specialty insurance products, and reinsurance. Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, the company operates a portfolio of underwriting businesses that focus on niche and specialty commercial risks, offering coverage tailored to industries such as transportation, construction, professional services and other commercial lines.

The companys product mix includes primary and excess casualty, property, professional liability, environmental and other specialty lines, together with treaty and facultative reinsurance solutions.

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Tradewinds LLC. bought a new position in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 4,550 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $462,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Citigroup in the second quarter valued at approximately $2,455,929,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in Citigroup by 47.4% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 4,334,407 shares of the companys stock valued at $368,945,000 after purchasing an additional 1,393,865 shares during the last quarter. Natixis boosted its stake in Citigroup by 382.7% during the 2nd quarter. Natixis now owns 1,523,782 shares of the companys stock worth $129,704,000 after purchasing an additional 1,208,089 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its stake in Citigroup by 63.3% in the second quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 3,085,496 shares of the companys stock valued at $262,637,000 after purchasing an additional 1,195,950 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 0.7% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 165,851,890 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,117,313,000 after buying an additional 1,148,451 shares during the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have weighed in on C. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Citigroup from $123.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $150.00 target price on shares of Citigroup in a report on Monday, January 5th. HSBC reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $87.00 price objective on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Bank of America upped their price objective on Citigroup from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $124.65.

Citigroup Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of Citigroup stock opened at $118.21 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $110.67 and a 200 day moving average price of $101.27. The company has a market capitalization of $211.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.96, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Citigroup Inc. has a 1 year low of $55.51 and a 1 year high of $124.17.

Citigroup (NYSE:C  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $19.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.99 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 8.28% and a net margin of 8.50%.The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Citigroup Announces Dividend

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 dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 2nd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Citigroups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.43%.

Trending Headlines about Citigroup

Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week:

Positive Sentiment: Brokerages maintain a constructive view  Citi was given an average rating of Moderate Buy by analysts, which supports demand for the stock as investors chase earnings momentum. Article Title

Brokerages maintain a constructive view  Citi was given an average rating of Moderate Buy by analysts, which supports demand for the stock as investors chase earnings momentum. Positive Sentiment: High-profile endorsement  Jim Cramer called Citigroup too, too cheap to ignore, a media boost that can attract retail flows and short-covering. Article Title

High-profile endorsement  Jim Cramer called Citigroup too, too cheap to ignore, a media boost that can attract retail flows and short-covering. Positive Sentiment: Macro growth tailwinds  the IMF raised 2026 global GDP forecasts, citing stronger trade and AI-driven investment; easier trade/tariff dynamics can lift corporate lending, transaction volumes and capital markets activity that benefit large global banks like Citi. Article Title

Macro growth tailwinds  the IMF raised 2026 global GDP forecasts, citing stronger trade and AI-driven investment; easier trade/tariff dynamics can lift corporate lending, transaction volumes and capital markets activity that benefit large global banks like Citi. Neutral Sentiment: Quarterly results remain mixed  Citi beat EPS expectations (reported $1.81 vs. $1.65 est.) but missed revenue estimates, showing profit resilience but some top-line pressure; markets are parsing whether margin expansion can continue.

Quarterly results remain mixed  Citi beat EPS expectations (reported $1.81 vs. $1.65 est.) but missed revenue estimates, showing profit resilience but some top-line pressure; markets are parsing whether margin expansion can continue. Neutral Sentiment: Regulatory/legislative uncertainty  a proposed bill to raise regulatory thresholds could change compliance scope for banks; impact on Citi is uncertain and would take time to legislate. Article Title

Regulatory/legislative uncertainty  a proposed bill to raise regulatory thresholds could change compliance scope for banks; impact on Citi is uncertain and would take time to legislate. Neutral Sentiment: Other macro and fintech items (CBDC developments, social app usage shifts) are being watched but have no immediate, direct impact on Citis near-term fundamentals. Article Title

Other macro and fintech items (CBDC developments, social app usage shifts) are being watched but have no immediate, direct impact on Citis near-term fundamentals. Negative Sentiment: Top-line softness  revenue missed analyst estimates for the quarter, which tempers the EPS beat and raises questions about fee income and trading revenue sustainability in a lower-volatility environment.

Citigroup Company Profile

(Free Report)

Citigroup Inc is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City with roots tracing back to the City Bank of New York, founded in 1812. The modern Citigroup was created through the 1998 merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group and has since operated as a diversified bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments and institutions worldwide.

Citis principal businesses include retail and commercial banking, credit card and consumer lending products, wealth management and private banking, and a full suite of institutional services.

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In many states, removing someone from a vacant property still requires a formal legal process, however. Homeowners typically must first confirm the individual is unlawfully occupying the property, then serve written notice requesting that they leave voluntarily. If that fails, the next step is often filing an unlawful detainer or eviction lawsuit and appearing in court, where occupants may attempt to claim legal rights to remain. The financial toll can escalate quickly, with legal fees, court filings, property damage, lost rental income and cleanup costs. That alone can push the total to anywhere from $740 to more than $8,000 (5).

This is insanity that people think they can come in and take over someones home, Kemp told Fox News (4). Illegal squatters are criminals, not residents.

Wards experience was jarring, but Georgia has already taken steps to give homeowners more legal backing, with House Bill 1017 making unauthorized occupancy a criminal offense since 2024 (3). Law enforcement can now also issue a notice requiring occupants to leave, with removal permitted within three days if they fail to comply.

As these disputes become more visible, are legal protections for homeowners finally starting to catch up?

Cases like Wards are drawing increased attention as homes sit empty for extended periods of time. An estimated 5.6 million properties across the 50 largest U.S. metro areas are currently vacant, widening the window for unauthorized occupants to test the limits of homeowner protections (2).

When police officers on the scene knocked on the door, the man who answered said he lived there. Court records show Timothy Pyron told officers he had settled in the vacant home and was nesting. Investigators say he claimed Georgias squatter laws protected him from removal, describing the situation as a peaceful hostile takeover.

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When her realtor arrived at the house on Twin Brooks Court in December for a scheduled showing, the warning signs were immediate (1). The lockbox was missing. The For Sale sign was gone. And when Ward arrived, she noticed the windows she typically leaves open were shut, and the deadbolt had been changed.

Adriana Ward assumed the most nerve-wracking part of selling her Marietta, GA, home would be waiting for the right offer. Instead, she discovered someone else had already claimed it as their own.

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Story Continues

Ward says her experience exposed gaps that still exist in how squatting is handled, even in states that have moved to strengthen owner protections. In her case, the man who entered her home was not charged with trespassing. Instead, the only charge filed was for criminal damage, stemming from the damage caused when the deadbolt was replaced. When she finally regained access to her home, the conditions were so severe, with trash left behind and lingering pet and marijuana odors, that her eyes burned.

"I wish this didnt happen to anyone else because it is really traumatic," she said.

She told Fox 5 News that she has since installed cameras on the property to keep a closer watch (6).

For homeowners like her with vacant properties, prevention measures like these can be the best line of defense. Other measures can include checking in on the home regularly or asking a trusted neighbor, installing alarm systems, removing lockboxes between showings, and documenting the propertys condition with time-stamped photos.

Across the U.S., lawmakers have moved to tighten squatter laws as these cases draw attention to how vulnerable vacant properties can be. In March 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 621, allowing property owners to submit a sworn form and have sheriffs remove squatters immediately, without a court process (7). In New York, property laws were updated in April 2024 to clarify that squatters are not considered tenants under any timeframe (8).

Read More: Approaching retirement with no savings? Dont panic, you're not alone. Here are 6 easy ways you can catch up (and fast)

How to invest in real estate without the headache

Warning stories like Wards can give some real estate investors cold feet, but there are ways to benefit from the hot real estate markets across the country without buying a property that could sit empty while it accrues in value.

In fact, investors can get into the market with just $100. Real estate platform Arrived offers you access to shares of SEC-qualified investments in rental homes and vacation rentals, curated and vetted for their appreciation and income potential.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived makes it easy to fit these properties into your investment portfolio regardless of your income level. Their flexible investment amounts and simplified process can help accredited and non-accredited investors take advantage of this inflation-hedging asset class, without any extra work on your part.

Whats more, the American Housing Survey and the U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2019 that 31.4% of housing in the U.S. consisted of multifamily units, and the National Association of Homebuilders reports that these units are only rising in popularity (9).

If diversifying into multifamily rentals appeals to you, you could consider investing with Lightstone DIRECT, a new investing platform from the Lightstone Group, one of the largest private real estate companies in the country with over 25,000 multifamily units in its portfolio.

Since they eliminate intermediaries brokers and crowdfunding middlemen  accredited investors with a minimum investment of $100,000 can gain direct access to institutional-quality multifamily opportunities. This streamlined model can help reduce fees while enhancing transparency and control.

And with Lightstone DIRECT, you invest in single-asset multifamily deals alongside Lightstone  a true partner  as Lightstone puts at least 20% of its own capital into every offering. All of Lightstones investment opportunities undergo a rigorous, multi-stage review before being approved by Lightstones Principals, including Founder David Lichtenstein.

How it works is simple: Just sign up with your email, and you can schedule a call with a capital formation expert to assess your investment opportunities. From here, all you have to do is verify your details to begin investing.

Founded in 1986, Lightstone has a proven track record of delivering strong risk-adjusted returns across market cycles with a 27.5% historical net IRR and 2.49x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004. All told, Lightstone has $12 billion in assets under management  including in industrial and commercial real estate.

As such, even if multifamily rentals dont appeal to you, Lightstone could still serve you well as an investment vehicle for other real estate verticals.

Get started today with Lightstone DIRECT and invest alongside experienced professionals with skin in the game.

Lending Tree (10) reported in 2025 that U.S. homeowners were sitting on $34.5 trillion in home equity  $600 billion more than just one year previous. Now, with home values surging and homeowners shying away from new debt, investors have a new way in.

Homeshares gives accredited investors access to this overlooked segment: the billions in locked-in equity sitting in owner-occupied homes.

Instead of purchasing properties, investors participate through a portfolio of Home Equity Agreements (HEAs)  allowing homeowners to unlock cash with no monthly payments, while investors share in future appreciation.

The result is exposure to a large, under-tapped market across top U.S. cities, without the headaches of being a landlord or the risk of being overleveraged.

HEAs come with built-in protection: they usually cover 25 to 35% of a homes value in a lien secured position, which helps shield your investment if the market dips. And unlike traditional real estate, HEAs are also typically resilient to interest rate shifts, offering attractive, risk-adjusted returns even during economic uncertainty.

With diversified portfolios of high-quality homes and target returns of 14% to 17%, Homeshares offers a practical way to gain exposure to a growing corner of the real estate market.

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

MSN (1); Lending Tree (2), (10); LegiScan (3); @GovKemp (4), Leaserunner (5), Fox 5 Atlanta (6); Office of Ron DeSantis (7); New York Senate (8); National Association of Homebuilders (9)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Tradewinds LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 14,927 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $986,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 64.7% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the companys stock valued at $926,000 after buying an additional 6,954 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 86.3% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,361 shares of the companys stock worth $373,000 after acquiring an additional 2,946 shares during the last quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 6.5% in the second quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 9,095 shares of the companys stock valued at $543,000 after acquiring an additional 559 shares in the last quarter. Trust Point Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 8.0% during the second quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 4,846 shares of the companys stock valued at $284,000 after acquiring an additional 360 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $3,790,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on MO. UBS Group upgraded shares of Altria Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $61.00 to $63.00 in a report on Friday, January 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a buy (b) rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $62.56.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE MO opened at $61.84 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $103.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.80, a P/E/G ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 0.47. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $50.08 and a 12 month high of $68.60. The company has a 50-day moving average of $58.35 and a 200-day moving average of $61.58.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.89% and a negative return on equity of 319.43%. The business had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.31 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.38 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.370-5.45 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Investors of record on Friday, December 26th were issued a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.9%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.92%.

Altria Group declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, October 30th that permits the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 1.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the companys operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altrias principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.

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Mizuho Markets Americas LLC acquired a new stake in The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 10,500 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,002,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Charles Schwab in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. RMG Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. West Branch Capital LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Hoese & Co LLP raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 131.6% during the second quarter. Hoese & Co LLP now owns 352 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mid American Wealth Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in Charles Schwab during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.38% of the companys stock.

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Charles Schwab Trading Up 1.0%

NYSE SCHW opened at $103.83 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $184.50 billion, a PE ratio of 24.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.94. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 1-year low of $65.88 and a 1-year high of $104.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $97.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $95.55.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 16th. The financial services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $6.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.93 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 21.02% and a net margin of 35.93%.The businesss quarterly revenue was up 26.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.71 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were given a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently weighed in on SCHW. Weiss Ratings reiterated a hold (c+) rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Citigroup reissued a market outperform rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Wednesday. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $88.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Friday, October 3rd. They issued an outperform rating and a $110.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $114.45.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SCHW

Key Headlines Impacting Charles Schwab

Here are the key news stories impacting Charles Schwab this week:

Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab

In other news, insider Jonathan S. Beatty sold 3,072 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.00, for a total transaction of $301,056.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 11,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,168,454. The trade was a 20.49% 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. 6.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Charles Schwab Profile

(Free Report)

Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE: SCHW) is a diversified financial services firm that provides brokerage, banking, wealth management and advisory services to individual investors, independent investment advisors and institutional clients. Its primary offerings include retail brokerage accounts, online trading platforms, Schwab-branded mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), retirement plan services, custodial services for independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), and banking products through Charles Schwab Bank.

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Tradewinds LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 5,685 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $761,000.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Charles Schwab Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 109.8% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 29,412 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $3,939,000 after purchasing an additional 15,394 shares during the period. Avanza Fonder AB increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 0.4% during the second quarter. Avanza Fonder AB now owns 168,401 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $22,904,000 after acquiring an additional 655 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 858,834 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $115,032,000 after acquiring an additional 19,966 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 329,430 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $43,785,000 after purchasing an additional 18,974 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Seaview Investment Managers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter valued at $11,068,000. 75.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 1.4%

ABT stock opened at $121.82 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $126.01 and a 200 day moving average price of $128.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 1.24. Abbott Laboratories has a fifty-two week low of $113.39 and a fifty-two week high of $141.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $211.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.02 and a beta of 0.72.

Abbott Laboratories Increases Dividend

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 15th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.1%. This is an increase from Abbott Laboratoriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is currently 31.58%.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on ABT shares. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $142.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $147.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $150.00 to $154.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $147.42.

View 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.

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Tradewinds LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 7,577 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $826,000.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 78.9% during the 2nd quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 288 shares of the banks stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Hoey Investments Inc. purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the second quarter worth about $32,000. GFG Capital LLC bought a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter worth about $36,000. Caldwell Trust Co purchased a new position in Bank of New York Mellon in the second quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 89.0% during the 2nd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 446 shares of the banks stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the period. 85.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Bank of New York Mellon Trading Down 2.1%

Shares of BK opened at $121.34 on Monday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $115.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation has a twelve month low of $70.46 and a twelve month high of $125.89. The stock has a market cap of $84.62 billion, a PE ratio of 16.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.11.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, October 31st. The bank reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 13.62% and a return on equity of 14.37%. The business had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation will post 6.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is currently 28.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on BK shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b+) rating on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Barclays increased their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $120.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Bank of New York Mellon from $106.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $119.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Truist Financial upgraded shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $119.00 to $134.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $129.00.

View Our Latest Research Report on BK

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Free Report)

Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon) is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City that provides a wide range of asset servicing, custody, and related financial infrastructure solutions to institutional clients. Its core businesses include custody and asset servicing, clearing and collateral management, treasury services, securities lending, corporate trust services, and depositary receipt administration. The company also offers investment management and advisory services through its asset management arm and provides technology-enabled solutions for trade processing, foreign exchange, and liquidity management.

BNY Mellon serves a broad client base that includes asset managers, pension funds, corporations, banks, broker-dealers and sovereign entities.

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NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 20,519 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 882 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $17,310,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Steph & Co. boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 290.0% during the 3rd quarter. Steph & Co. now owns 39 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 263.6% in the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 40 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Key Headlines Impacting Eli Lilly and Company

Here are the key news stories impacting Eli Lilly and Company this week:

Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $1,038.26 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $981.55 billion, a PE ratio of 50.80, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.35. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $623.78 and a twelve month high of $1,133.95. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,051.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $871.48.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $7.02 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $6.42 by $0.60. The company had revenue of $17.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.09 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 109.52% and a net margin of 30.99%.Eli Lilly and Companys revenue for the quarter was up 53.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.18 EPS. Eli Lilly and Company has set its FY 2025 guidance at 23.000-23.700 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.73 per share. This is a boost from Eli Lilly and Companys previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $6.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.35%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have commented on LLY. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,100.00 to $1,200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Friday, December 19th. Wolfe Research raised their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,050.00 to $1,250.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Erste Group Bank raised Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a buy (b-) rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $1,174.70.

View Our Latest Stock Report on LLY

Eli Lilly and Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is a global pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and therapies for patients worldwide. Eli Lilly maintains operations and commercial presence across North America, Europe, Asia and other regions, serving both developed and emerging markets. The company has been led in recent years by President and Chief Executive Officer David A.

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MetLife (NYSE:MET  Get Free Report) and Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE:HG  Get Free Report) are both finance 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.

Volatility & Risk

MetLife has a beta of 0.76, indicating that its stock price is 24% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hamilton Insurance Group has a beta of 0.69, indicating that its stock price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for MetLife and Hamilton Insurance Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score MetLife 0 3 9 2 2.93 Hamilton Insurance Group 0 2 7 1 2.90

Earnings & Valuation

MetLife presently has a consensus price target of $95.42, indicating a potential upside of 24.34%. Hamilton Insurance Group has a consensus price target of $29.88, indicating a potential upside of 14.08%. Given MetLifes stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe MetLife is more favorable than Hamilton Insurance Group.

This table compares MetLife and Hamilton Insurance Groups gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio MetLife $70.99 billion 0.71 $4.43 billion $5.31 14.45 Hamilton Insurance Group $2.33 billion 1.11 $400.43 million $4.20 6.24

MetLife has higher revenue and earnings than Hamilton Insurance Group. Hamilton Insurance Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than MetLife, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

95.0% of MetLife shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 29.2% of Hamilton Insurance Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of MetLife shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 17.5% of Hamilton Insurance Group 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.

Profitability

This table compares MetLife and Hamilton Insurance Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets MetLife 5.30% 21.00% 0.85% Hamilton Insurance Group 15.95% 15.07% 4.46%

Summary

MetLife beats Hamilton Insurance Group on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MetLife

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MetLife, Inc., a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates through six segments: Retirement and Income Solutions; Group Benefits; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings. The company offers life, dental, group short-and long-term disability, individual disability, pet insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, vision, and accident and health coverages, as well as prepaid legal plans; administrative services-only arrangements to employers; and general and separate account, and synthetic guaranteed interest contracts, as well as private floating rate funding agreements. It also provides pension risk transfers, institutional income annuities, structured settlements, and capital markets investment products; and other products and services, such as life insurance products and funding agreements for funding postretirement benefits, as well as company, bank, or trust-owned life insurance used to finance nonqualified benefit programs for executives. In addition, it provides fixed, indexed-linked, and variable annuities; pension products; regular savings products; whole and term life, endowments, universal and variable life, and group life products; longevity reinsurance solutions; credit insurance products; and protection against long-term health care services. MetLife, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is based in New York, New York.

About Hamilton Insurance Group

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Hamilton Insurance Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides underwriting specialty insurance and reinsurance risks in Bermuda and internationally. The company operates Hamilton Global Specialty, Hamilton Select, and Hamilton Re underwriting platforms. The company offers casualty reinsurance products, such as commercial motor, general liability, healthcare, multiline, personal motor, professional liability, umbrella and excess casualty, and worker's compensation and employer's liability reinsurance; property reinsurance and insurance; and specialty reinsurance solutions, including accident and health, aviation and space, crisis management, mortgage, financial lines, marine and energy, and multiline specialty. In addition, it offers accident and health, cyber, energy, environmental, financial lines, fine art and specie, kidnap and ransom, mergers and acquisitions, marine and energy liability, political risk and violence, professional liability, property binders, property direct and facultative, professional lines, space, upstream energy, excess casualty, war and terrorism, allied medical, management liability, medical professionals, general liability, products liability and contractors, and small business casualty insurance plans, as well as surety and treaty reinsurance products. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda.

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Blackrock Silver Corp. (CVE:BRC  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$1.59 and last traded at C$1.58, with a volume of 757646 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$1.42.

Blackrock Silver Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of C$524.43 million, a P/E ratio of -19.75 and a beta of 2.75. The firms fifty day simple moving average is C$1.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 3.14 and a current ratio of 8.57.

Blackrock Silver Company Profile

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Blackrock Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. The company's flagship property is the Tonopah West silver-gold project comprising 100 patented and 83 unpatented lode mining claims covering an area of 10.3 square kilometers located in the Walker Lane trend of western Nevada. It also holds 100% interest in the Silver Cloud project comprising 572 unpatented lode mining claims covering an area of 46.9 square kilometers located in Northern Nevada Rift, Nevada.

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Zhihu Inc. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:ZH  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 656,456 shares, a decrease of 18.4% from the December 15th total of 804,705 shares. Currently, 0.9% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 372,785 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.8 days. Based on an average trading volume of 372,785 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.8 days. Currently, 0.9% of the companys shares are short sold.

Zhihu Trading Down 2.0%

Shares of NYSE:ZH traded down $0.08 during trading on Monday, hitting $3.65. 426,234 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 401,798. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $3.62 and a 200-day moving average price of $4.30. Zhihu has a 52 week low of $3.23 and a 52 week high of $6.32. The company has a market cap of $322.25 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.84 and a beta of 0.24.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Zhihu from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Sunday, December 28th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell (d) rating on shares of Zhihu in a report on Monday, December 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Sell.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in Zhihu stock. Ameriprise Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Zhihu Inc. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:ZH  Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 25,006 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $100,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.92% of the companys stock.

Zhihu Company Profile

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Zhihu is Chinas leading online question-and-answer platform, providing a space where users can ask questions, share knowledge, and engage with content across science, technology, business, culture, and lifestyle. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Beijing, Zhihu has cultivated a community-driven environment that emphasizes credible, in-depth answers from experts, professionals, and enthusiasts.

The companys core service revolves around its Q&A platform, enabling registered users to post questions and receive comprehensive responses.

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Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 6,276,623 shares, a decline of 18.2% from the December 15th total of 7,675,906 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,378,459 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days. Approximately 1.6% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 1.6% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,378,459 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Genworth Financial

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Genworth Financial by 1,731.8% in the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 3,279 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 3,100 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Genworth Financial by 60.6% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 3,830 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 1,445 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Genworth Financial in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in Genworth Financial by 12,597.7% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 5,587 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 5,543 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in Genworth Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at $60,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.85% of the companys stock.

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Genworth Financial Price Performance

GNW traded up $0.08 during trading on Monday, reaching $8.38. 5,160,202 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,412,539. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $8.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 0.29 and a quick ratio of 0.29. The company has a market capitalization of $3.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.81 and a beta of 1.06. Genworth Financial has a 1 year low of $5.99 and a 1 year high of $9.28.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Genworth Financial ( NYSE:GNW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The financial services provider reported $0.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.06 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter. Genworth Financial had a net margin of 3.01% and a return on equity of 1.56%.

Several research analysts have issued reports on GNW shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b-) rating on shares of Genworth Financial in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on shares of Genworth Financial from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Genworth Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, November 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $10.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Genworth Financial

Genworth Financial Company Profile

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Genworth Financial (NYSE: GNW) is a leading financial security company offering a broad range of insurance products. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Genworth provides individuals and families with solutions designed to protect against long-term care expenses, secure life insurance needs and support homeownership through private mortgage insurance. With operations spanning the United States, Canada and Australia, the company serves both retail and institutional clients through a diversified portfolio of risk management services.

The companys Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) segment offers coverage to lenders and consumers in the US, Canada and Australia, enabling homebuyers to purchase properties with lower down payments.

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Polar Capital (LON:POLR  Get Free Report) had its price objective lifted by investment analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada from GBX 650 to GBX 670 in a report issued on Monday,Digital Look reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas price objective suggests a potential upside of 7.54% from the companys previous close.

Several other brokerages have also issued reports on POLR. Peel Hunt lifted their price target on Polar Capital from GBX 510 to GBX 625 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on Polar Capital from GBX 600 to GBX 625 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Polar Capital has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 681.67.

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Polar Capital Price Performance

LON POLR traded down GBX 2 during trading on Monday, reaching GBX 623. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,140,456 shares, compared to its average volume of 533,020. The firm has a fifty day moving average of GBX 538.97 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 511. Polar Capital has a one year low of GBX 340.50 and a one year high of GBX 639. The stock has a market capitalization of 597.26 million, a PE ratio of 15.58, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.14.

Polar Capital (LON:POLR  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 25th. The company reported GBX 21.10 earnings per share for the quarter. Polar Capital had a net margin of 19.65% and a return on equity of 32.10%. Research analysts expect that Polar Capital will post 42.5061425 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Polar Capital Company Profile

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Polar Capital Holdings plc is a publicly owned specialist, investment-led, active fund manager. The firm provides its services to professional and institutional investors. It launches and manages equity and balanced mutual funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds for its clients. Polar Capital Holdings plc was founded in 2001 and is based in London, United Kingdom.



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Microsoft (MSFT) stock has made a lot of people rich, especially if they invested in the early years. Stories abound of those who bought the initial public offering (IPO), or got in shortly thereafter and held on, and are now enjoying financial independence because of it. But the stock continues to perform, and investors are still making money with it.

Heres how much money youd have today if you invested $1,000 in Microsoft stock 10 years ago.

Also see whether Microsoft stock could reach $1,000.

Microsoft Stock Price Performance Since 2016

On Jan. 15, 2016, Microsoft stock closed at an adjusted price of $44.65 per share, according to Yahoo Finance data. Yahoo Finances adjusted prices take into account stock splits, dividends and capital gain distributions.

A $1,000 investment in 2016 at the adjusted price would have netted approximately 22 shares, assuming no fees or commissions. On Jan. 15, 2026, Microsoft stock closed at $456.66 per share. That marks a massive gain of over 900%, leaving investors with a total of $10,050.

Read More: 3 Safest Investments To Hold In The Current Trump Economy

Check Out: 6 Safe Accounts Proven To Grow Your Money Up To 13x Faster

Investors Wouldve Received Dividends Too

The value of Microsoft stock is not in its price appreciation alone. The company pays a quarterly dividend, which further increases an investors position.

In Microsofts fiscal 2016, it paid a quarterly dividend of $0.36. It continually raised that, now paying a $0.91 quarterly dividend.

Is Microsoft Stock Still a Good Investment?

With a massive gain over the past 10 years, Microsoft stock was clearly a good investment in 2016. But is it still, or is it too late to jump on the bandwagon?

Analysts dont seem to think that its too late to invest in Microsoft. According to MarketWatch, 53 analysts rate the stock a Buy, while just nine gave it an Overweight rating and two rated it a Hold. The average price target is $629.56, with at least one analyst expecting it to go as high as $730 per share.

Microsoft is one of the so-called Magnificent 7 tech stocks, which also includes Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Nvidia and Tesla. Each of these companies has had a market capitalization of over $1 trillion at some point, according to Fidelity.

If youre considering buying Microsoft, its a good idea to check to see how much you already own. Many of the most popular mutual funds  including target-date funds  have significant positions in Microsoft already. For example, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares fund owns over $91 billion worth of Microsoft stock. Since Microsoft is the third-largest company in the S&P 500, any fund that is indexed to that will have a large position in Microsoft.
Norcros plc (LON:NXR  Get Free Report)s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 340 and last traded at GBX 330, with a volume of 173555 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 337.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 340 price target on shares of Norcros in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Berenberg Bank increased their price objective on shares of Norcros from GBX 350 to GBX 410 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Norcros in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Norcros has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 460.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NXR

Norcros Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.60, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 2.00. The stocks 50-day moving average is GBX 306.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 288.83. The stock has a market cap of 295.98 million, a PE ratio of 23.57 and a beta of 1.39.

Norcros (LON:NXR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 20th. The company reported GBX 16.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Norcros had a net margin of 6.83% and a return on equity of 12.35%. On average, equities analysts predict that Norcros plc will post 31.3118812 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Norcros

In other Norcros news, insider Steve Good bought 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 304 per share, for a total transaction of 60,800. 35.37% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Norcros

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Norcros is a market leading group of brands providing design led, high quality bathroom and kitchen products with operations primarily in the UK and South Africa.

Based in the UK, Norcros operates under six brands:

 Triton  Market leader in the manufacture and marketing of showers in the UK

 Merlyn  UK and Irelands No.1 supplier of shower enclosures and trays to the residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors

 Grant Westfield  Leading manufacturer of high-end waterproof bathroom wall panels

 Vado  Leading manufacturer and supplier of taps, mixer showers, bathroom accessories, and valves

 Croydex  Market-leading, innovative designer, manufacturer, and distributor of high-quality bathroom furnishings and accessories

 Abode  Leading niche designer and distributor of high-quality kitchen taps, bathroom taps, and kitchen sinks

Based in South Africa, Norcros operates under four brands:

 Tile Africa  Chain of retail stores focused on ceramic and porcelain tiles and associated products such as sanitaryware, showers, and adhesives

 Johnson Tiles South Africa  Manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles

 TAL  Leading manufacturer of ceramic and building adhesives in South Africa

 House of Plumbing  Market-leading supplier of specialist plumbing materials

Norcros is headquartered in Wilmslow, Cheshire and employs around 2,100 people.

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Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF (NYSEARCA:POWA  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 591 shares, a growth of 35.2% from the December 15th total of 437 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,506 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,506 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are short sold.

Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF Stock Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSEARCA:POWA traded down $0.02 on Monday, hitting $93.66. 752 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,914. The company has a market cap of $193.88 million, a PE ratio of 26.20 and a beta of 0.83. Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF has a 52 week low of $73.16 and a 52 week high of $93.79. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $90.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $89.95.

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Institutional Trading of Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 42.8% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,391 shares of the companys stock worth $525,000 after purchasing an additional 1,916 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its holdings in Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 9.6% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,559 shares of the companys stock worth $135,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 2.9% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 130,296 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,281,000 after purchasing an additional 3,621 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 12.3% during the second quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,886 shares of the companys stock valued at $423,000 after purchasing an additional 536 shares during the period. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its holdings in Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF by 12.0% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,358 shares of the companys stock valued at $204,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares during the period.

About Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF

The Invesco Bloomberg Pricing Power ETF (POWA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Bloomberg Pricing Power index. The fund selects US large- and mid-cap stocks of companies considered well-positioned to maintain stable profit margins in all market conditions. Stocks satisfying a four factor screening process are included in the index, on an equal-weight basis POWA was launched on Dec 15, 2006 and is issued by Invesco.

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Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,473,856 shares, a drop of 19.9% from the December 15th total of 1,840,161 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 298,267 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.9 days. Approximately 10.9% of the companys shares are short sold. Approximately 10.9% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 298,267 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.9 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NBR. CWM LLC boosted its position in Nabors Industries by 244.6% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 889 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the period. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Nabors Industries by 58.5% during the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 1,444 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 533 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in shares of Nabors Industries by 23.0% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 1,545 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 289 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its stake in Nabors Industries by 153.9% in the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 3,222 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $132,000 after buying an additional 1,953 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey raised its holdings in Nabors Industries by 47.7% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 3,231 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $91,000 after acquiring an additional 1,044 shares during the period. 81.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Nabors Industries Stock Up 0.4%

NBR stock traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $62.10. The companys stock had a trading volume of 204,266 shares, compared to its average volume of 326,218. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $53.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $43.90. Nabors Industries has a 12 month low of $23.27 and a 12 month high of $69.20. The company has a market capitalization of $904.22 million, a PE ratio of 6.44 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a quick ratio of 1.93, a current ratio of 2.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.50.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Nabors Industries ( NYSE:NBR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 28th. The oil and gas company reported ($3.67) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($2.37) by ($1.30). The business had revenue of $825.51 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $824.61 million. Nabors Industries had a net margin of 7.08% and a negative return on equity of 30.85%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($6.86) EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Nabors Industries will post -6.22 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of research firms recently commented on NBR. Piper Sandler raised shares of Nabors Industries from an underweight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $32.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Citigroup raised their target price on Nabors Industries from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley set a $65.00 price target on Nabors Industries in a report on Monday, December 15th. Susquehanna set a $64.00 price target on Nabors Industries and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Nabors Industries from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 10th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $57.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Nabors Industries

About Nabors Industries

(Get Free Report)

Nabors Industries Ltd. is a global oil and gas drilling contractor that provides land and offshore drilling rigs, drilling equipment and related services to energy companies around the world. The companys operations span two core segments: drilling and evaluation, which includes land?based and platform drilling rigs as well as wellbore survey services, and wellbore technologies, offering pressure control equipment, downhole tools and specialized maintenance services. Nabors integrated model combines rig operations with engineered products and field support, positioning it as a full?service provider in the upstream sector.

The company maintains a diverse, modern fleet of automated and conventional drilling rigs and has pioneered advanced drilling technologies, including automated drilling controls and managed pressure drilling systems.

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Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 3,968,675 shares, an increase of 37.3% from the December 15th total of 2,891,419 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,362,109 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.9 days. Currently, 2.6% of the shares of the company are sold short. Currently, 2.6% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,362,109 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.9 days.

Insider Transactions at Mueller Water Products

In other news, Director Brian C. Healy bought 1,125 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 7th. The shares were bought at an average price of $24.41 per share, with a total value of $27,461.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 17,925 shares of the companys stock, valued at $437,549.25. This trade represents a 6.70% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Todd P. Helms sold 15,094 shares of Mueller Water Products stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.62, for a total value of $371,614.28. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 85,917 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,115,276.54. The trade was a 14.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Mueller Water Products by 31.0% during the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,427 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $62,000 after buying an additional 575 shares during the last quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 2.7% in the third quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 22,513 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $575,000 after acquiring an additional 592 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 131.8% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,050 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 597 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mueller Water Products by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 59,034 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,419,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedbush Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Mueller Water Products by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 10,572 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $270,000 after purchasing an additional 629 shares during the last quarter. 91.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a buy (b) rating on shares of Mueller Water Products in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $29.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Mueller Water Products

Mueller Water Products Price Performance

NYSE MWA traded up $0.01 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $26.37. The company had a trading volume of 1,620,668 shares, compared to its average volume of 966,139. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $24.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $25.14. The company has a market capitalization of $4.12 billion, a PE ratio of 21.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a current ratio of 3.54, a quick ratio of 2.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Mueller Water Products has a twelve month low of $22.01 and a twelve month high of $28.58.

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The industrial products company reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.04. Mueller Water Products had a return on equity of 22.75% and a net margin of 13.41%.The company had revenue of $380.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $362.32 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.22 EPS. Mueller Water Productss quarterly revenue was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Mueller Water Products will post 1.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Mueller Water Products Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 20th. Investors of record on Monday, November 10th were given a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. This is a positive change from Mueller Water Productss previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. Mueller Water Productss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.14%.

About Mueller Water Products

(Get Free Report)

Mueller Water Products, Inc is a leading provider of water infrastructure and flow control products and services designed to help water utilities and municipalities manage, control and measure their water distribution systems. The companys portfolio includes a comprehensive range of products such as fire hydrants, valves, pipe repair systems, fittings and couplings, along with advanced metering and monitoring solutions. By combining traditional mechanical components with digital technologies, Mueller Water Products addresses the critical need for reliable and sustainable water distribution across North America.

The companys operations are organized around two primary business segments.

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iA Financial (TSE:IAG  Get Free Report) has been assigned a C$167.00 price objective by research analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada in a note issued to investors on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canadas price objective would suggest a potential downside of 4.27% from the stocks current price.

Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on iA Financial from C$170.00 to C$175.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Cibc Captl Mkts downgraded iA Financial from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. CIBC raised iA Financial from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from C$175.00 to C$184.00 in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Desjardins increased their price target on iA Financial from C$149.00 to C$163.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Finally, National Bankshares lifted their price objective on shares of iA Financial from C$146.00 to C$162.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, October 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$169.00.

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iA Financial Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of iA Financial stock traded up C$0.11 during trading on Monday, reaching C$174.45. The companys stock had a trading volume of 69,904 shares, compared to its average volume of 233,167. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$172.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$158.94. iA Financial has a fifty-two week low of C$115.21 and a fifty-two week high of C$182.99. The firm has a market cap of C$16.07 billion, a PE ratio of 14.99, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.03.

iA Financial (TSE:IAG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The company reported C$3.47 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$6.67 billion during the quarter. iA Financial had a net margin of 6.85% and a return on equity of 13.73%. On average, analysts predict that iA Financial will post 11.6187564 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Philippe Sarfati sold 2,318 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$164.30, for a total value of C$380,847.40. Also, Director Denis Ricard sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$175.25, for a total transaction of C$525,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 50,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$8,762,500. This trade represents a 5.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. In the last three months, insiders sold 6,750 shares of company stock valued at $1,141,931. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About iA Financial

(Get Free Report)

iA Financial Corp Inc is a life and health insurance company. It offers life and health insurance products, savings and retirement plans, mutual funds, securities, auto and home insurance, mortgages, and others. The company operates and manages its activities according to five main reportable operating segments Individual Insurance, Individual Wealth Management, Group Insurance, Group Savings and Retirement, and US Operations.

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Exchange Income (TSE:EIF  Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by investment analysts at TD Securities from C$92.00 to C$102.00 in a report released on Monday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. TD Securities price objective indicates a potential upside of 9.61% from the companys current price.

A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on EIF. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price on shares of Exchange Income from C$85.00 to C$107.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. National Bankshares boosted their price objective on shares of Exchange Income from C$84.00 to C$88.00 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Exchange Income from C$94.00 to C$103.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Exchange Income from C$80.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Exchange Income from C$69.50 to C$80.00 in a report on Monday, November 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$89.96.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on EIF

Exchange Income Trading Up 2.1%

Shares of TSE:EIF traded up C$1.93 during trading hours on Monday, hitting C$93.06. 133,945 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 138,312. The firm has a market capitalization of C$5.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.90. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$81.93 and a 200-day moving average price of C$75.28. Exchange Income has a 1 year low of C$45.00 and a 1 year high of C$93.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 173.72, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.13.

Exchange Income (TSE:EIF  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The company reported C$1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$959.74 million during the quarter. Exchange Income had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 4.64%. Equities analysts expect that Exchange Income will post 3.9962963 earnings per share for the current year.

Exchange Income Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Exchange Income Corp is a diversified acquisition-oriented corporation focused on opportunities in two sectors, aerospace, aviation services and equipment, and manufacturing. The business plan of the corporation is to invest in profitable, well-established companies with strong cash flows operating in niche markets. Its Aerospace and Aviation segment is a key revenue driver, recognizes revenue from the provision of flight, flight ancillary services, and the sale or lease of aircraft and aftermarket parts.

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Booking, Trip.com Group, Travelers Companies, Expedia Group, and MakeMyTrip are the five Travel stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Travel stocks are shares of companies whose primary business is serving or enabling travel and tourismairlines, hotels and resorts, cruise lines, car rental firms, online travel agencies, airports, and tour operators. They tend to be cyclical and sensitive to economic growth, seasonality, fuel prices, geopolitics, and health crises, so investors use them to gain exposure to travel demand but should expect higher volatility and event-driven risk. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Travel stocks within the last several days.

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Booking (BKNG)

Booking Holdings Inc, formerly The Priceline Group Inc., is a provider of travel and restaurant online reservation and related services. The Company, through its online travel companies (OTCs), connects consumers wishing to make travel reservations with providers of travel services across the world. It offers consumers an array of accommodation reservations (including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, apartments, vacation rentals and other properties) through its Booking.com, priceline.com and agoda.com brands.

Trip.com Group (TCOM)

Trip.com Group Limited, through its subsidiaries, operates as a travel service provider for accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and in-destination, corporate travel management, and other travel-related services in China and internationally. The company acts as an agent for hotel-related transactions and selling air tickets, as well as provides train, long-distance bus, and ferry tickets; travel insurance products, such as flight delay, air accident, and baggage loss coverage; and air-ticket delivery, online check-in and seat selection, express security screening, real-time flight status tracker, and airport VIP lounge services.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TCOM

Travelers Companies (TRV)

The Travelers Companies, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TRV

Expedia Group (EXPE)

Expedia Group, Inc. operates as an online travel company in the United States and internationally. The company operates through B2C, B2B, and trivago segments. Its B2C segment includes Brand Expedia, a full-service online travel brand offers various travel products and services; Hotels.com for lodging accommodations; Vrbo, an online marketplace for the alternative accommodations; Orbitz, Travelocity, Wotif Group, ebookers, CheapTickets, Hotwire.com and CarRentals.com.

Read Our Latest Research Report on EXPE

MakeMyTrip (MMYT)

MakeMyTrip Limited, an online travel company, sells travel products and solutions in India, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Peru, Colombia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The company operates through three segments: Air Ticketing, Hotels and Packages, and Bus Ticketing.

Read Our Latest Research Report on MMYT

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Raspberry Pi (LON:RPI  Get Free Report) had its price objective decreased by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from GBX 380 to GBX 300 in a report released on Friday,Digital Look reports. The brokerage presently has a hold rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price target suggests a potential upside of 5.93% from the companys previous close.

Raspberry Pi Stock Down 5.5%

Shares of LON:RPI traded down GBX 16.60 during midday trading on Friday, hitting GBX 283.20. The stock had a trading volume of 375,770 shares, compared to its average volume of 890,988. The company has a market cap of 547.65 million and a P/E ratio of 61.70. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 313.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 377.49. Raspberry Pi has a 12 month low of GBX 260 and a 12 month high of GBX 780.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Raspberry Pi news, insider David Ranken Gammon acquired 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 306 per share, with a total value of 36,720. Also, insider Eben Upton CBE acquired 21,927 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 271 per share, for a total transaction of 59,422.17. Insiders purchased 39,759 shares of company stock valued at $11,614,593 over the last 90 days. 1.69% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Raspberry Pi

Our mission is to put high-performance, low-cost, general-purpose computing platforms in the hands of engineers and enthusiasts all over the world.

Since 2012, weve been designing single-board and modular computers, built on the Arm architecture, and running the Linux operating system. Whether youre an educator looking to excite the next generation of computer scientists; an enthusiast searching for inspiration for your next project; or an OEM who needs a proven rock-solid foundation for your next generation of smart products, theres a Raspberry Pi computer for you.

Thats not all we do.

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An aerial view of a housing development on August 08, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A new report says investors own 24.84% of Nevadas single-family homes, equating to about 303,000 properties. Thats 6% higher than the national average and the seventh highest share in the nation behind Wyoming (30.9%), Maine (29.76%), Montana (26.78%), Alaska (26.65%), Hawaii (25.96%), and New Hampshire (25.04%).

Like most of those other states, Nevadas economy depends heavily on tourism, which suggests that many of the investor-owned homes are probably vacation homes and short-term rentals, national analyst Rick Sharga said via email of the Q3 2025 Investor Pulse report from BatchData.

Efforts abound at the local and federal levels to limit investor purchases of single-family homes.

In 2023, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill that would have limited corporations to buying no more than 1,000 homes a year. Last year, the governor enlisted a Republican ally to kill a similar measure.

Now President Donald Trump wants to ban the largest institutional investors  those who own more than 1,000 homes.

The report says such policies miss the mark.

Small investors (those who own between one and five properties), hold nearly 92% of the investor-owned market, while large investors (those owning six to 10 properties) hold just under 4%.

Mega-investors with 1,000+ homes control just 2.1% of the inventory, or about 0.4% of housing stock, the report says. Wall Street isnt the dominant force.

Some experts contend the effect of institutional investment on prices is negligible. By one estimate, prices increase 1.7% for every percentage point of housing stock owned by institutional investors, who currently hold less than 1%.

Generally, we think of someone as an investor if they purchase and maintain a portfolio of homes somewhere in the range of 3-5 units, says UNLV Lied Center Research Director Nicholas Irwin. Anything north of that number and as the portfolio increases, the investors can start to wield more market power. However, any investor, no matter the size of the portfolio, is still motivated by the same factor: trying to maximize the revenue generation of the investment.

Public dialogue about investor home purchases is full of misconceptions, says the report, which contends investors arent necessarily competing with traditional homebuyers. . They target lower-priced, older homes in need of work rather than the move-in ready houses most families buy.

Investors add inventory to the market, rather than competing with traditional homebuyers, the report suggests.
Check the civil rights complaint from a conservative legal group . . .

"Parents at an elementary school in Kansas are upset after students were reportedly told that they were not allowed to list President Donald Trump or late conservative activist Charlie Kirk as their role models for an assignment.



"The situation happened at Marshall Elementary School in Eureka, Kansas, in October. A formal complaint said the incident only recently came to light because students were originally instructed not to tell their parents about what happened."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Just a few more things we're considering & sharing with night owls & early bird denizens of our blog community by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Northeast Heroics This Weekend

Video shows firefighters putting out fire at soybean plant in Kansas City Firefighters were on the scene of a large commercial fire for several hours Sunday morning at a soybean plant in the Northeast Industrial District, according to the Kansas City Fire Department.

Sharing Supplies For Pets

Kansas City animal welfare groups team up to help pets survive freezing temperatures The Project Pet Warmth drive-thru event offers kennels, blankets, food and other essential supplies to pet owners facing bitter cold temperatures.

Latest Local Freedom Rally

People gather in Kansas City, calling for freedom in Iran People gathered at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City on Sunday afternoon, calling for freedom in Iran, the end of an internet blackout and the fall of the current regime.

Northland Shares Wealth

Free pantry network growing in Liberty If you live in or have been through Liberty, chances are you might have spotted food pantries popping up around the city. Many are part of a growing network called the Itty-Bitty Pantry Network.

Kansas City Artsy Interlude

'Painted Worlds: Color and Culture in Mesoamerican Art': A colorful journey through time, culture and belief - KC STUDIO A new exhibit at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art highlights the genius of Mesoamerican artists with more than 250 works spanning 3,000 years.

Angels On Credit

5 Things to Know About the Victoria's Secret Credit Card - NerdWallet At first glance the rewards may seem eye-popping. But behind closed doors, the Victoria's Secret credit card falls flat.

Euro Vs. MAGA Money Moves

Trump tariffs live updates: EU discusses $108 billion in retaliatory tariffs'; Danish PM says Europe 'will not be blackmailed' President Trump has said the acquisition of Greenland is crucial for the US but European allies, including Denmark and Greenland, remain staunchly opposed to any US takeover.

American Showdown On Monday

1,500 troops on standby for Minneapolis as Trump mulls Insurrection Act: reports Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said deploying troops would be a "shocking step,"

Progressive Sacrilege Debated

Watch: 'Sanctuary City' Radicals Invade Church Sanctuary Anti-ICE protesters invaded a church in Minnesota on Sunday, accusing the pastor of being an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.

Gunfire Postscript

Noem confirms ICE officer's conduct under review after Renee Good shooting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Sunday that the agency is conducting an internal review of the actions taken by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good and said he was placed on a three-day administrative leave after the incident, as protocol dictates.

Heavenly Holy Land Buy-In

More countries confirm invites to Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza. $1 billion buys a permanent seat At least four more countries say the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump's new "Board of Peace" overseeing next steps for Gaza.

Enduring New Era Of Martyrs

Violence against Christians hits record highs worldwide | Fox News Video Chief religion correspondent Lauren Green discusses the alarming rise in Christian persecution worldwide.

To Your 2026 Health

Kansas City doctor debunks popular New Year's health myths As the New Year kicks off, many people are rethinking their health habits, but not everything trending online or passed around the gym is rooted in fact.

Grigs Notes Local Chill . . .

Subzero wind chills expected overnight as bitter cold grips Kansas City Kansas City will face another bitterly cold night Sunday, with strong winds driving wind chills well below zero ahead of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Here's one of the best postscript reports we wanted to share . . .

Lawrence police have not released much information about the circumstances of the shooting, but the department on Sunday afternoon shared a public Facebook post from Aidan Knowles father, Bobby Knowles.



Our son, Aidan, was shot and killed outside a bar in Lawrence early yesterday morning. One of his close friends was also shot and, by the grace of God, survived against all odds, the post stated. We have learned that our son was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We are completely devastated.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
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Details added: first version posted on 18:03

BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Armenia is discussing the issue of transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan by rail, the spokesperson of the Armenian Ministry of Economy, Lilit Shaboyan, said, Trend reports.

She noted that Armenia imports gas from two main countries, Iran and Russia.

"Due to the current situation in Iran, some problems have arisen, and difficulties with Russia are related to the Upper Lars checkpoint. However, these problems will soon be resolved, as imports of liquefied gas to Armenia by rail will begin. Russia will soon supply liquefied gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan. The option of importing liquefied gas from Russia to Armenia by rail is also being discussed," she said.

On December 18, 2025, Azerbaijans state oil company company SOCAR delivered the first batch of domestically produced oil to Armenia. The shipment, totaling 1,220 tons of RON-95 motor fuel, was transported via 22 railcars and dispatched from the Baku cargo station to the Boyuk Kesik station by ADY freight train.

On January 9, 2026, overall, 2,698 tons of cargo (48 wagons in total), including 1,742 tons of RON-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel, were shipped from Azerbaijan's Bilajari station to Armenia.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Energy cooperation with Azerbaijan is of strategic importance to the Czech Republic, Czech Ambassador Milan Sedlacek told reporters, Trend reports.

Energy issues in our relations with Azerbaijan are crucial from an economic perspective, as Azerbaijan is the largest supplier of oil to the Czech Republic for our refineries. In this context, cooperation in the energy sector is particularly important for us, the ambassador said.

According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the country exported 1.4 million tons of oil worth $742.2 million to the Czech Republic from January through November 2025.
Ivorian cocoa growers complain of a hold-up in the export and sale of their crop, leading to a pile-up in warehouses (Sia KAMBOU)  Sia KAMBOU/AFP/AFP

At a warehouse in western Ivory Coast the backlog of cocoa beans waiting to be shipped has grown so big the storage site can barely accept another sack.

Producers in the world's leading cocoa exporter complain of a massive hold-up in the system, all but stopping exports and hitting farmers hard.

Siriri Millogo, head of a cooperative of agricultural producers in Duekoue, said he had sent 13 export requests to the Coffee and Cocoa Board (CCC).

The oldest dates from January 4, he said, but they are all still pending a response from the body that manages and regulates the sector, which accounts for 14 percent of Ivory Coast's gross domestic product.

Ordinarily, such export requests -- or bills of lading detailing the product for transport -- are approved in a matter of minutes, Millogo said.

Perplexed, he has put in numerous calls to the CCC and to exporters but has not found any answers.

Meanwhile, 660 tonnes of cocoa has now piled up at the cooperative, which could only accept one sack despite the deliverer's motorbike being piled high with cocoa.

Cocoa prices for growers in the west African country are set twice a year by the government but can end up being out of synch with fluctuating world market prices.

In October, weeks before his re-election, President Alassane Ouattara himself announced a record price of 2,800 CFA francs per kilo ($4.95, 4.26 euros), a decision welcomed by producers.

After soaring to $12,000 per tonne in late 2024 after several years of harvests failing to meet demand, cocoa prices have slumped on world markets since the middle of last year and are now only around $5,000 a tonne, or $5 per kilo.

"There is no blockage," the director of the CCC Yves Brahima Kone told a press conference last week, saying he wanted to "reassure" growers.

"All the production... will be purchased," he said.

- 'How do I pay?' -

Growers deliver their produce, which requires a bill of lading before it can be exported and payment is made to the cooperative, which in turn pays the producers.

One in five people in Ivory Coast indirectly relies on cocoa to make a living.

"Just yesterday, a producer came by, he has a product (harvested cocoa) worth nine million (CFA francs) and yet he doesn't even have 100 francs to pay for his wife's funeral," said Marty Somda, from the Cabend cooperative, which has six requests for export pending.

Growers who have not seen any money since mid-October have sold at rock-bottom prices out of necessity.

"My wife is ill. They gave me a prescription but how do I pay for it? Yesterday I sold for 2,000 francs because I was in need," Laurent Kone, a grower from near Duekoue, said.
Azerbaijan multiplies natural gas exports to Serbia in 11M2025

Azerbaijan has seen a remarkable increase in its natural gas exports to Serbia in 2025. From January through November, the volume and value of gas exports surged significantly compared to the previous year. This substantial growth underscores the strengthening of energy ties between the two countries.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Leyla Aliyeva visited the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Trend reports.

Leyla Aliyeva was welcomed by Fitsum Assefa Adela, Minister of Planning and Development of Ethiopia.

A traditional coffee ceremony highlighting Ethiopias ancient and rich culture was organized in honor of Leyla Aliyeva. During the ceremony, the guests were briefed on the details of this ancient ritual. Afterwards, the guests were served freshly brewed Ethiopian coffee, distinguished by its mysterious aroma and unique taste.

Then, Leyla Aliyeva visited the Ethiopian Science Museum, where she was welcomed by Alemtsehay Paulos, Head of the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Science Museum, spanning seven hectares, opened its doors to visitors in October 2022. The museum features two grand buildings surrounded by 80 percent greenery. The huge museum complex is designed to function as a scientific research center, preserve both ancient and modern technological advancements in various fields, passing them down to future generations.

The complex, an initiative of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, showcases modern interactive science and technology exhibits, incorporating sustainable design features like solar panels and a planetarium.

The museum fosters creative innovation and equips young people with vital digital expertise by serving as a premier venue for significant technological events and conferences.

Having attracted significant interest from younger audiences, the museum has welcomed 7 million children since its opening. The complex serves as a cornerstone of Ethiopias path toward digital transformation, successfully showcasing the synergy between cutting-edge technology and the countrys traditional heritage.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Leyla Aliyeva visited the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, Trend reports.

The Adwa Victory Memorial Museum is a memorial complex dedicated to the victory over the Italian invaders in the Battle of Adwa on March 1, 1896. Located in the heart of Addis Ababa, this complex occupies the historic grounds where Ethiopians from every corner of the nation once converged before departing for the Battle of Adwa.

This milestone event remains profoundly significant for both Ethiopia and the whole African continent, serving as a powerful symbol of unity and the unwavering pursuit of liberty. Ethiopias brilliant success in this conflict allowed the country to defend its independence, distinguishing it as the only nation in African history to remain uncolonized.

At the memorial's entrance stand the statues of Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu Betul, accompanied by the twelve generals who commanded the army during that era.

The museum features a special section dedicated to Pan-Africanism, highlighting Ethiopias cooperation with fellow African nations and their leaders. Alongside a collection of both contemporary and ancient artworks, the complex houses rare artifacts from the era, including traditional shields, swords, firearms, original documents, and other historical relics. In addition to exhibition halls, the complex also houses an amphitheater, libraries, and youth centers.

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Leyla Aliyeva also visited the "Friendship" Park, the largest recreation area in Addis Ababa.

The demonstration of the magnificent musical fountain at the center of the park created a magical atmosphere around. As water droplets danced to the poignant melodies of Azerbaijani folk songs, they blended harmoniously with the musical chords, resembling a delicate work of art.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed condolences following a tragic train collision in Spain, the publication of the Azerbaijani MFA on X said, Trend reports.

We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic train collision in Cordoba, Spain, which caused multiple deaths and injuries. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Spain, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Spain. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured," the post reads.

The accident occurred in Spains Andalusia region when a high-speed passenger train derailed, with three carriages leaving the tracks. Officials reported that the collision resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, with a total of 417 passengers on board both trains.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Turkiye's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Birol Akgun, told reporters that the restoration of Azerbaijans full sovereignty has fulfilled the dreams of the martyrs of January 20, Trend reports.

"Tomorrow marks the 36th anniversary of the Azerbaijani peoples courageous stand for independence on January 20, 1990. Despite the harshest conditions, citizens of all ages, men, women, and the young, stood firm in defense of their freedom, with 130 martyred amid the tanks of the Soviet Unions Red Army," he said.

Akgun emphasized the sacrifices made by those who lost their lives, saying, Over 700 people were injured during the January 20 events. After the Patriotic War and the full restoration of Azerbaijans sovereignty, I believe the dreams of the January 20 martyrs have been fulfilled. We owe them a great deal. May God have mercy on them. We wish for the everlasting brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkiye.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. As part of her visit to Ethiopia, Leyla Aliyeva visited the MESOB One-Stop Service Center, located in the capital, Addis Ababa, Trend reports.

Leyla Aliyeva was welcomed by Federal Civil Service Commissioner Mekuria Haile.

It was noted that the MESOB Service Center, established based on the ASAN Khidmet model, is a modern one-stop platform facilitating citizens access to key government services. MESOB brings together more than 140 federal agencies within a single digital and physical hub, ensuring faster, more convenient, and more reliable public service delivery.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in May 2024 between the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the relevant Ethiopian agency on the implementation of the ASAN Khidmet experience in Ethiopia.

During the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Taye Atske-Selassie on November 14, 2024, on the sidelines of COP29, the Ethiopian side expressed interest in applying the ASAN Khidmet model in their country and requested Azerbaijans support in this regard.

Over the past period, specialists from the State Agency have conducted training sessions for Ethiopian civil servants, prepared legal and other necessary documents related to the implementation of the ASAN Khidmet practice in Ethiopia, developed advisory documents based on the technological solutions applied in ASAN Khidmet centers, and established a unified service standard.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijan and Jordan will cooperate and provide mutual assistance in the customs sphere, Trend reports.

The issue is included in the agenda of the meeting of the Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations of the Azerbaijani Parliament, which will be held on January 21.

Thus, the committee meeting will discuss a draft law on the approval of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on cooperation and mutual assistance in the customs sphere.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Progress in the normalization process between Armenia and Turkiye will also help and give new impetus to the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Ruben Rubinyan, said at a briefing for journalists, Trend reports.

"Our position has not changed. The process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey and the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are different processes, but since we are countries of the same region, they can interact with each other. We believe that progress in the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkiye will not only not harm the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but, on the contrary, will give this process a new impetus," the Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament said.

Emphasizing that significant progress has been made in the Armenian-Azerbaijani process, he recalled the peace declaration of August 8 and the resumption of transit rail transport.

Overall, I think things are moving in a positive direction. We're already seeing some results, and we'll see more, Rubinyan added.

On August 8, 2025, in Washington, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 19. On January 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in the Swiss Confederation to participate in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Trend's special correspondent reports.

At Zurich International Airport, the head of state and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were welcomed by officials.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Leyla Aliyeva has visited several social and cultural institutions in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Trend reports.

She first visited the Berhan Blind Boarding Secondary School. Built under the initiative and patronage of Ethiopia's First Lady, Zinash Tayachew, the school serves over 300 visually impaired students from grades 9 to 12, selected from across all regions of the country. Adapting the national curriculum to meet the specific needs of its students, the school utilizes Braille, audio resources, and computer screen-reading technology. In addition to core academic subjects, students receive specialized training in Braille literacy, orientation and mobility, life skills, music, handicrafts, and computer proficiency. By integrating academic learning with practical vocational skills, the Berhan Blind Boarding Secondary School empowers its students to succeed in higher education and prepares them for independent, productive lives in society.

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Leyla Aliyeva subsequently visited the Lenegewa Womens Rehabilitation and Skills Development Center.

Launched by the Mayor of Addis Ababa, Adanech Abiebie, the center is dedicated to transforming the lives of nearly one thousand women who have experienced homelessness or survived human trafficking. The facility is a comprehensive complex of 13 buildings that include modern classrooms, residential dormitories, vocational workshops, and specialized wings for psychological and medical support.

Women at the center undergo intensive three-to-six-month vocational programs designed to facilitate their entry into the workforce.

These courses range from computer literacy and electronics to textile manufacturing, catering, and beauty services, all aimed at maximizing each participant's economic potential.

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The visit concluded with a tour of the National Palace of Ethiopia.

The palace embodies the legacy of the countrys monarchs and the unyielding spirit of its people. Its history is closely intertwined with the stories of power, tradition, and modernity that have shaped the nation over the centuries. Built in 1955 to mark the Silver Jubilee of Emperor Haile Selassie, the palace was presented to him as a gift by his wife, Menen Asfaw. Designed by Italian architect Raffaele Petrone, the building combines local architectural motifs with international styles, reflecting the countrys cultural diversity and global connections.

The museum features the emperors rich automobile collection, as well as the palace complex adorned with fountains, sculptures, and lush greenery.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has announced the honourees of the prizes 2026 edition, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is among the distinguished recipients.

According to the official website of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the award was conferred upon for the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the official website of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, a landmark decision guided by visionary leadership toward ending decades of conflict and humanitarian suffering in the Caucasus, the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan is being honoured as a process of peace, dialogue, normalisation, and conflict resolution undertaken by the two states, which underscores that reconciliation is not a single act, but a sustained journey.

The 2026 honourees were selected by an independent global judging committee composed of distinguished figures and experts in dialogue and coexistence.

His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, judging committee member and Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, said: This year, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity committee selected the historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which embodies the awards mission and objectives in promoting and fostering a culture of dialogue and coexistence, marking a pivotal milestone in advancing global peace and a major diplomatic achievement  turning the page on nearly four decades of tension and conflict in the Caucasus and laying a strong foundation for a safer, shared future for both peoples.

The 2026 recipients will be honoured on 4 February, 2026, coinciding with the UN-recognised International Day of Human Fraternity, at the annual award ceremony, to be held at the Founders Memorial in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Certain days in Azerbaijans modern history are more than just dates on the calendar; they are etched into the nations collective memory, consciousness, and statehood thinking. January 20 is one such day, symbolizing both a tragic loss and the enduring spirit of national will and freedom, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

"Each year, Azerbaijan commemorates this date with sorrow, respect, and reflection, offering a moment not only to remember the past but also to learn from it and assess its lessons in todays context. January 20 represents the pain of the past, the lesson of the present, and the responsibility of the future.

The late 1980s were a time of deep political, economic, and ideological crisis across the Soviet Union. Discontent with the central government was growing in the national republics, including Azerbaijan. A major challenge during this period was the outbreak of the Karabakh conflict. From 1988 onward, Armenias territorial claims, the forced expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their historic lands, and the central Soviet governments biased and passive response fueled widespread frustration. At the same time, mass demonstrations erupted in Baku and other cities, with citizens demanding independence and the right to determine Azerbaijans own future. By January 1990, the socio-political situation in Baku had reached a boiling point. Thousands of people took to the streets, demanding justice on the Karabakh issue and asserting that Azerbaijans destiny should be shaped by its own people rather than by Moscow. These protests were perceived by the Soviet leadership as a serious threat," he said.

On the night of January 1920, 1990, a large contingent of Soviet troops entered Baku under the pretext of restoring public order, but the true aim was to suppress the national liberation movement, the analyst pointed out. The militarys disproportionate actions against civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, while critical communications infrastructure was targeted, effectively placing Baku under an information blockade.

"January 20, 1990, is etched in the history of Azerbaijan in blood. Soviet troops, armed and equipped with military hardware, entered the city and opened fire on civilians without any warning. Peaceful residents were killed in the streets, squares, and even near their own homes. Women, children, and the elderly all became victims of this brutal tragedy. Official reports state that dozens lost their lives and hundreds more were injured. During the violence, the explosion of the television centers power unit cut off the flow of information, effectively placing Baku under an information blockade.

January 20 was far more than a military operation; it was a deliberate act of political terror carried out by the Soviet regime against its own people. This horrific event revealed the true nature of the empire and its disregard for human life. Yet, for Azerbaijani society, Bloody January sparked a powerful national awakening. In its aftermath, the idea of independence began to resonate with broader segments of the population. People came to understand that justice and security could not exist under this system. In this way, the tragedy of January 20 became a defining turning point on Azerbaijans path to freedom," he said.

Garayev highlighted that one of the first to provide a political and legal assessment of the January 20 events was the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev. Speaking at the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow, he boldly condemned the Soviet leaderships actions. This courageous stance was crucial in defending the interests of the Azerbaijani people. In the years that followed, after Azerbaijan gained independence, January 20 was officially recognized, and the memory of the martyrs was permanently honored.

Today, one of Bakus most sacred sites is the Alley of Martyrs, where the heroes of January 20 are laid to rest. Each year, thousands gather here to pay their respects. The Alley is more than a cemetery; it is a symbol of national memory and the struggle for freedom. Every tombstone tells a story of sacrifice, every silence speaks of a peoples resilience. The independent Azerbaijani state we see today, its sovereignty, its foreign policy, its army, its strategy rooted in national interest, was forged through the blood of those who fell in 1990. In recent years, under President Ilham Aliyevs leadership, steps to restore the countrys territorial integrity have reinforced that path. National will, unity, and determination remain its pillars, he said.

Garayev stressed that while events fade into history, their meaning must endure. The lessons of January 20 must be passed on to the younger generation. In schools, universities, the media, and at home, this date should be remembered not only as a tragedy but also as a testament to heroism and national dignity. Young people must understand that the freedom they enjoy today came at a great cost and that safeguarding it remains their responsibility.

For many years, the events of January 20 were not fully communicated to the international community. Thanks to recent information and diplomatic efforts, this tragedy is now recognized globally as an example of political repression. This recognition restores historical justice and sends a clear warning to prevent such events from happening again. January 20 is both a day of tragedy and a page of honor in Azerbaijans history. Today, remembering those who fell fills us not only with sorrow but with pride. They became martyrs for a free Azerbaijan, and the independent, strong, internationally respected state we have today carries a historical duty to honor their memory. Every Azerbaijani has the responsibility to keep their legacy alive, uphold their ideals, and pass them to future generations, the analyst concluded.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Armenia is discussing the issue of transporting Russian liquefied natural gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan by rail, the spokesperson of the Armenian Ministry of Economy, Lilit Shaboyan, said, Trend reports.

She noted that Armenia imports gas from two main countries, Iran and Russia.

"Due to the current situation in Iran, some problems have arisen, and difficulties with Russia are related to the Upper Lars checkpoint. However, these problems will soon be resolved, as imports of liquefied gas to Armenia by rail will begin. Russia will soon supply liquefied gas to Armenia via Azerbaijan. The option of importing liquefied gas from Russia to Armenia by rail is also being discussed," she said.

On December 18, 2025, Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR delivered the first batch of domestically produced oil to Armenia. The shipment, totaling 1,220 tons of RON-95 motor fuel, was transported via 22 railcars and dispatched from the Baku cargo station to the Boyuk Kesik station by ADY freight train.

On January 9, 2026, overall, 2,698 tons of cargo (48 wagons in total), including 1,742 tons of RON-95 gasoline and 956 tons of diesel, were shipped from Azerbaijan's Bilajari station to Armenia.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 20. Azerbaijan commemorates the 36th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy today, Trend reports.

On January 20, 1990, a day that went down in history as a heroic page in the struggle for the freedom and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the deployment of Soviet military units against the large masses of people who, outraged by the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan and the support of the former Soviet leadership for these aggressive actions, took to the streets and squares of Baku to express their strong protest, led to an unprecedented tragedy in Azerbaijan.

During those tragic days, brave sons of the homeland, who held the freedom, honor, and dignity of their country and people above all else, gave their lives and reached the pinnacle of martyrdom.

The January 20 tragedy, which resulted in great losses and the killing of innocent people, once again demonstrated the resilience, unwavering spirit, and dignity of our people who, unable to endure the treacherous policies of the criminal leadership of the USSR led by Mikhail Gorbachev, struggled for their freedom and independence.

On the night of January 19 to 20, 1990, without a prior declaration of a state of emergency, the Soviet army began military operations against Azerbaijan. During the tragedy, 147 people were killed, 744 were severely injured, and 841 were illegally arrested. As a result of the Soviet army's operations, 200 residential buildings, houses, and personal and state property were destroyed.

The first person to express his stance on this bloody event was the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. On January 21, 1990, in a speech at a meeting held at Azerbaijan's Permanent Representative Office in Moscow regarding the tragedy, Heydar Aliyev sharply criticized those responsible for the incident. He stated that he considered this event to be contrary to the principles of law, democracy, humanism, and the establishment of a legal state declared in the country.

Precisely due to this, Azerbaijan achieved the long-desired independence after many years and gained sovereignty.

Even though many years have passed since those bloody events, Azerbaijani people continue to remember that dreadful night and express their deep hatred toward those who caused this tragedy.

The January 20 tragedy, which will forever live in the blood memory of Azerbaijani people, is commemorated every year as the National Mourning Day in Azerbaijan.

Today, the souls of all Azerbaijani martyrs are at peace, for Azerbaijan, for which they gave their lives, emerged victorious in the 44-day Second Karabakh War and restored its territorial integrity. The people of Azerbaijan will never forget their martyrs, and their cherished memory will forever live in the hearts of the people.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Vice President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva met with Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, to discuss the current state and prospects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Ethiopia, Trend reports.

During the meeting, Leyla Aliyeva conveyed greetings from the President of Azerbaijan and extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to visit Azerbaijan. The Ethiopian Prime Minister accepted the invitation with pleasure and expressed his highest regard for the Azerbaijani President.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali praised Azerbaijans rapid development and highlighted President Ilham Aliyevs foresighted policy and growing international authority, emphasizing the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors. He was also briefed on Azerbaijans ongoing restoration efforts in the liberated territories.

The meeting underscored Azerbaijans successful hosting of COP29 in November 2024, which attracted significant international attention, and discussed the application of this experience for the upcoming COP32 Conference in Ethiopia in 2027. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of experience-sharing in this crucial area.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 19. On January 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Morten Dyrholm, Group Senior Vice President for Marketing, Communications, Sustainability, and Public Affairs at Vestas Wind Systems, in Davos, Trend's special correspondent reports.

During the conversation, discussions focused on the companys operations in Azerbaijan in the field of renewable energy, particularly wind energy. They noted that there are good opportunities to expand the existing cooperation.

Azerbaijan was highlighted as an attractive destination for foreign investors, with the parties hailing the favorable investment and business environment in the country.

The meeting included an exchange of views on matters of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Vestas Wind Systems.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 19. On January 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), in Davos, Trend's special correspondent reports.

During the conversation, the parties fondly recalled their previous meetings.

They emphasized the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Health Organization, and highlighted Azerbaijans support for the organizations projects in various regions of the world. In this context, they touched upon Azerbaijans voluntary financial assistance to a number of countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting included an exchange of views on the prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Health Organization.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Preparation of a strategic partnership charter was discussed between Azerbaijan and the United States today, the statement of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, Trend reports.

The discussion took place during the phone conversation between Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The parties also reviewed the current state and development prospects of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States, as well as the regional situation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process.

Bilateral contacts and discussions on the preparation of the above charter after the Washington Peace Summit on August 8 were highly valued, and both sides expressed hope that the project would be agreed upon and signed within a short period. The conversation emphasized that the priorities to be identified in this direction will give an additional boost to the relations between the two countries.

Bayramov conveyed Azerbaijan's position on the prospects of the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization and peace process to the attention of the other side. The steps taken within the framework of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the confidence-building measures were praised. The importance of the work done on the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) was highlighted.

In addition, the sides exchanged views on other issues.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) expressed condolences following a tragic fire at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, the publication of the Azerbaijani MFA on X said, Trend reports.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire at a shopping mall in Karachi, which resulted in the death and injury of innocent people. We express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the brotherly people and government of Pakistan," the post reads.

The fire broke out at Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, Pakistan, on the night of Saturday, January 17, 2026, claiming lives and leaving several people injured.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement on the 35th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, Trend reports.

20 January 1990, constitutes one of the most tragic, yet dignified and proud pages in the modern history of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

36 years ago, as a result of the ruthless aggression carried out by the Soviet army against the civilian population in Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan, 150 civilians were killed, 744 people were seriously injured, and 4 people went missing.

The tragedy of 20 January was an attempt to suppress the legitimate aspirations of the Azerbaijani people for freedom, national dignity, and sovereignty.

However, this act of violence could not break the will of the Azerbaijani people. On the contrary, it has further strengthened the determination of our nation to restore independence, fight against mass deportations and occupation policies by Armenia, and fully exercise its sovereign rights. The sacrifice of the martyrs of 20 January played a fundamental role in restoring the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1991.

The patriotism, unity, and spirit of resistance demonstrated by the Azerbaijani people on 20 January fulfilled its historical mission in the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020 and during the antiterror operations of 2023. Under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the glorious Azerbaijani army liberated our territories from occupation and restored the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country in accordance with international law.

Our Glorious Victory and the new realities established by Azerbaijan in the region in the subsequent period, the promoted peace and security agenda, the large-scale restoration and construction activities, and the return of former internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands are triumph of unwavering will and determination of our people, including the ideals fought for by the martyrs of 20 January and all our heroes who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland.

On this mournful and at the same time proud day, we honor the memory of all our martyrs and heroes of 20 January, who gave their lives for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of our country, and we express our deep condolences to their loved ones. We wish good health to all our citizens who sacrificed their health on this glorious path.

We once again declare our determination to continue consistent efforts and resolute measures to prevent the recurrence of crimes against humanity and international law, such as those committed against our people on 20 January, the statement reads.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijan is set to impose fines for the import and export of unprocessed diamonds without the approval of the relevant state authority, Trend reports.

This measure is included in a draft law discussed today at a meeting of the Legal Policy and State Building Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament, which proposes amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code.

Under the draft law, individuals could face fines ranging from 550 to 750 manat ($323.5-$441.1), officials from 1,000 to 2,000 manat ($588.2-$1,176), and legal entities from 1,500 to 2,500 manat ($882.3-$1,470) for importing or exporting unprocessed diamonds without the opinion of the designated authority.

The draft also amends the Law on Precious Metals and Precious Stones, defining unprocessed diamonds as raw, simply carved, fragmented, or broken diamonds identified according to the foreign economic activity nomenclature codes by the relevant state authority.

Once adopted, the law will also establish rules for state control over the import, export, use, circulation, accounting, storage, and tracking of unprocessed diamonds, including certification requirements under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijan showcased its tourism potential at the Ferien-Messe Wien tourism exhibition held in Austria's Vienna on January 15-18, Trend reports via the State Tourism Agency.

The Agency reported that the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Vienna and Dreamland Baku, represented the country at the event.

Azerbaijans Ambassador to Austria, Rovshan Sadigbeyli, visited the national stand to review the displayed tourism offerings. During the exhibition, well-known Austrian journalist Klaudius Reichel gave a presentation highlighting Azerbaijans tourism potential.

The agency noted that visitor numbers from Austria to Azerbaijan in 2025 have increased by 6% year-on-year, reflecting growing interest in the country as a travel destination.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Foreign ambassadors accredited in Azerbaijan visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku, Trend reports.

The diplomats laid flowers at the graves of Azerbaijan's heroic sons and daughters and honored their memory.

On January 20, 1990, Soviet army combat units were deployed against the broad masses of people who took to the streets and squares of Baku to express their resolute protest against the aggressive actions of Armenia, which had made territorial claims against Azerbaijan, and the patronage of the USSR leadership, which led to an unprecedented tragedy in Azerbaijan.

During those tragic days, the brave sons of the Fatherland, for whom the freedom, honor, and dignity of their country and people were above all else, gave their lives, reaching the pinnacle of martyrdom.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, has issued a statement on the anniversary of the January 20, 1990, tragedy, Trend reports.

On the night of January 1920, 1990, it has been 36 years since the armed forces of the former USSR carried out a brutal military intervention against the civilian population of Azerbaijan, aiming to violently suppress the national will and the peoples demands for independence.

This horrific act, committed against humanity, flagrantly violated the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other international legal instruments protecting human rights. The January 20 tragedy, with its mass casualties, stands as one of the most egregious crimes of the 20th century, both in scale and in its cruelty.

That night, in Baku and other regions, the disproportionate use of military force against unarmed civilians left 150 people dead and 744 injured. Alongside violations of international law, the assault trampled the constitutional provisions of both the former USSR and the Azerbaijan SSR (Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic). Our multinational people, who had risen to defend their land and national identity, were mercilessly massacred.

The unprovoked targeting of civilians, threatening life and health without warning, is absolutely unacceptable under international human rights law and constitutes a violation of fundamental rights that states must uphold even in emergencies. January 20 stands as a stark reminder of the severe breach of international law.

At the time, the most courageous statement was delivered by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, speaking on behalf of the Azerbaijani people from Moscow. Despite immense pressure and personal security risks, on January 21, 1990, Aliyev condemned this grave crime before the press at the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow, declaring the former USSR leadership directly responsible. His words carried profound historical significance as the first political and legal condemnation of the tragedy.

The failure of the international community and relevant organizations to provide timely legal and political accountability created a climate of impunity, laying the groundwork for subsequent human rights violations in the region.

As the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I emphasize that a thorough, objective investigation of the January 20 events under international law is essential. Recognizing these atrocities as crimes against humanity and holding all responsible decision-makers accountable, not only the perpetrators, is crucial for restoring justice.

I call upon international organizations, particularly the relevant UN mechanisms, to take a principled stand, bring the perpetrators to justice, and cooperate to provide an international legal assessment of this tragic event.

The memory of the martyrs of January 20 will forever live in the hearts and consciousness of the Azerbaijani people, the statement reads.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. A total of six anti-tank mines, 63 anti-personnel mines, and 253 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) were discovered and neutralized in Azerbaijans liberated territories over the past week (from January 12 through 18, 2025), Trend reports, citing the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA).

The agency noted that mine clearance operations covered 508.7 hectares of land over the reporting period.

The operations were carried out by ANAMA in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the State Border Service (SBS), and four private companies across the districts of Tartar, Aghdara, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Khojaly, Khankendi, Shusha, Khojavend, Lachin, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan.

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action was founded in 1998. It mobilizes the requisite resources to address mine action in alignment with national needs and priorities, coordinates inter-agency efforts for the safe clearance of mines from de-occupied and war-affected regions, continues to conduct research, clears mines from territories, and transfers them to end users, while also communicating Azerbaijan's mine issue to the global community and enhancing mutually beneficial collaboration with international and donor organizations to combat the mine threat.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. International cooperation in the field of emergency management has been discussed between Azerbaijan and Malaysia, the statement of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan says, Trend reports.

The discussion was held at a meeting between the Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situations, Colonel General Kamaladdin Heydarov, and the Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Mohammad Abiddin Abd Rahman, as a part of the visit of the ministry's delegation, led by Heydarov, to Malaysia.

The meeting emphasized the increasing importance of international cooperation in the field of emergency management against the backdrop of climate change, intensification of natural disasters, and man-made accidents.

The meeting noted that, within the framework of cooperation based on friendship and mutual trust between the two countries, it's mutually beneficial to exchange experience in the field of disaster and crisis management between the emergency response agencies of Azerbaijan and Malaysia, as well as to implement joint training and advanced training programs. In this context, the meeting expressed the confidence that the current visit and the discussions held will give impetus to the expansion of relations.

A wide exchange of views was held at the meeting on issues of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Energy held a commemoration in honor of the 36th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, a defining chapter in the Azerbaijani peoples struggle for independence and sovereignty, Trend reports via the ministry.

According to the ministry, the event began with a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs. Deputy Minister of Energy Samir Valiyev emphasized that the January 20 events, which culminated against the backdrop of attempts to merge Karabakh with Armenia, are recorded in history as a severe crime against the Azerbaijani people.

Valiyev noted that in January 1990, troops sent to Baku under orders from the Soviet leadership committed unprecedented violence against civilians, ending the lives of innocent people. This bloody event profoundly influenced the formation of national identity and strengthened the ideals of freedom and independence.

The event highlighted that the first political and legal assessment of the tragedy was made by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who condemned the Soviet military deployment in Baku as a grave crime and demanded accountability for those responsible.

The ministry also noted that President Ilham Aliyev continues to honor the memory of the victims, ensuring ongoing social protection for the families of martyrs and the disabled.

Speeches during the ceremony underscored that the historic victory in the 44-day Patriotic War demonstrated that the sacrifices of all martyrs, including those of January 20, were not in vain. Strengthening social protection for martyrs families, ensuring sustainable national development, and restoring liberated territories are seen as the continuation of this sacred legacy.

The observance wrapped up with the presentation of a video focused on the January 20 occurrences.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. A joint action plan for 2026 focused on expanding cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations of the Republic of Azerbaijan was signed, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense.

In accordance with the document, the venue, date, and responsible persons for joint events to be held in the types of troops (forces), army corps, formations, and military units, including special educational institutions of the Defense Ministry, were determined.

The main objective of the document is to promote ethical and moral values among servicemen, strengthen measures on combating religious radicalism, shape a healthy worldview, and enhance coordination in the field of state-religion relations.

According to the joint action plan, it is envisaged to hold educational meetings, seminars, exercises, and other activities in the Azerbaijan Army.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Winners of the fourth Yuksalish Competition  Aslan Hasanli and Rufat Mammadkhanli, visited the Chovdar Integrated Regional Processing Area (CIRPA) of AzerGold CJSC, located in Dashkasan region, within the Mentorship Programme.

During the visit, the competition winners got acquainted with the gold production process at the Chovdar gold mine, as well as the precious metals processing operations at CIRPA. The guests were provided with detailed information on working conditions and production processes at the plant, which is operated by applying the traditional Heap Leach Pad (HLP) and the modern Carbon in Leach (CIL) technology.

Furthermore, Aslan Hasanli and Rufat Mammadkhanli attended the operational meeting held at CIRPA, chaired by Zakir Ibrahimov, Chairman of the Executive Board of AzerGold CJSC. During the meeting, participants received information on projects implemented by AzerGold, on existing internal control systems, as well as on establishing effective operational mechanisms in production facilities.

The visit within the Mentorship Programme was valuable for the competition winners in terms of familiarizing themselves with production and management processes in the mining industry, as well as expanding their practical knowledge and experience.
Welcome to the US Crypto News Morning Briefingyour essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.

Grab a coffee and settle in because whats happening with Bitcoin, MicroStrategy, and pension funds isnt your typical market story. From quiet institutional moves to complex capital strategies, the latest filings reveal a mix of opportunity, risk, and debate.

Crypto News of the Day: Louisiana Pension Enters MicroStrategy as Bitcoin Strategy Sparks Debate

The Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (LSERS) has disclosed a $3.2 million position in MicroStrategy (MSTR). The move signals a growing institutional appetite for indirect Bitcoin exposure.

Bitcoin Treasuries cited a recent 13F filing, indicating that the pension fund holds 17,900 shares of Strategy.

This represents just 0.2% of its $1.56 billion portfolio. It reflects the growing interest of public retirement funds in crypto-linked assets.

MicroStrategy, led by CEO Michael Saylor, now owns over 687,000 BTC, making MSTR a proxy bet on Bitcoin itself.

Supporters argue that Saylors approach is more than simple accumulation. By issuing equity and debt instruments, the company effectively converts capital demand into large-scale Bitcoin purchases. This tightens the circulating supply and reinforces the balance sheet.

The real innovation is that the market treats these STRC-style instruments almost like sound money. There were no forced liquidations, no structural failure. The framework held firm. It behaves like a battle tankvolatility doesnt destroy it because theres no short-term debt pressure, wrote Joss, a popular user on X.

MicroStrategys Bitcoin Accumulation Sparks Bullish Momentum and Dilution Concerns

Recent MSTR activity reflects this strategy in motion. BeInCrypto reported Strategys plan to acquire another 13,627 BTC for $1.25 billion. Such a move would push the companys total holdings to well over 700,000 BTC, roughly 3.3% of the total Bitcoin supply.

Traders point to technical breakouts in MSTR and continued purchases as evidence that Saylors Bitcoin engine is gaining momentum.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 19. In November 2025, Kazakhstan processed a total of 4,510 inbound money transactions from Turkiye through international money transfer systems, reflecting an 8.15% decline compared to the 4,910 transactions recorded in October.

Data obtained by Trend from the National Bank of Kazakhstan shows that the total value of transfers received from Turkiye amounted to 1.966 billion tenge ($3.86 million), which is an 8.98% decrease from 2.160 billion tenge ($4.24 million) in October 2025.

Turkiye accounted for 11.4% of the total value of international remittances received by Kazakhstan in November, compared to a 10.4% share in October.

In total, Kazakhstan received 43,220 transactions from abroad via the IMTS in November, with a total cumulative value of 17.297 billion tenge ($33.92 million). Compared to October 2025, the number of incoming transfers declined by 10.4%, while the total value of transactions decreased by 16.4%.

The currency conversions are based on the official exchange rate of 1 USD = 509.94 tenge, as of January 12, 2026.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 19. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Masdar have signed a $30 million financing package to support the development of a 300-megawatt solar power plant with a 75-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) in Uzbekistans Kashkadarya region, Trend reports via the company.

The project encompasses the development of electrical interconnection infrastructure, which includes the construction of 1.6 kilometers of transmission lines and a 220-kilovolt substation, with the primary objective of facilitating the integration of renewable energy into Uzbekistans national power grid.

The financing for the initiative is structured through a combination of loans: $12.5 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), another $12.5 million from the Leading Asias Private Infrastructure Fund 2 (LEAP 2), and a $5 million loan from the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CANPA), all of which are administered by ADB.

Upon completion, the project is projected to generate 634 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide emissions by a minimum of 354,000 tons. This supports Uzbekistans commitment to increasing the share of renewable energy in its total power generation to 40% by 2030.

Additionally, ADB will extend a partial credit guarantee to Nur Kashkadarya Solar PV Foreign Enterprise LLC, the special purpose vehicle wholly owned by Masdar. This guarantee, which covers a letter of credit of up to $9 million, aims to mitigate risks associated with the payment obligations of the power offtaker.

Meanwhile, ADB and the Republic of Uzbekistan mark 30 years of partnership in 2025. Since joining the bank in 1995, Uzbekistan has received $15.8 billion in public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance from ADB.

Earlier, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved financing of up to $195.5 million for the construction of a 300-MW solar power plant with a 75-MWh battery energy storage system in Uzbekistans Kashkadarya region, further strengthening international support for the project.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Recent progress in Irans oil sector has led to increased investor interest, Mohsen Paknejad, the countrys Minister of Oil, told reporters, Trend reports.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Oil is placing particular emphasis on expanding investment in the oil and gas sector through the active participation of private companies. In parallel with the implementation of a range of facilitation measures, focused attention is also being directed toward the development of domestic equipment manufacturing and the creation of employment opportunities.

Paknejad further noted that approximately $1 billion has been allocated for the procurement of technical equipment related to drilling operations. As part of this plan, 20 drilling rigs with a capacity of 2,000 horsepower are scheduled to be added to the countrys drilling fleet.

The minister also stated that increasing daily crude oil refining capacity by 315,000 barrels represents one of the sectors key strategic priorities.

On January 15, contracts valued at $2 billion were signed among domestic companies in Iran, covering projects related to oil drilling rigs and oil refining.

Currently, Iran operates 74 oil fields and 22 gas fields across the country. Of the oil fields, 37 are managed by the Southern Oil Fields Company, 14 by the Central Oil Fields Company, five by the Arvandan Oil and Gas Company, and 18 by the Offshore Oil Company. The gas fields are distributed similarly, with five operated by the Southern Oil Fields Company, 13 by the Central Oil Fields Company, one by Pars Oil and Gas Company, and three by the Offshore Oil Company.
Latvian Chamber of Commerce unveils top areas of co-op with Azerbaijan (Exclusive)

The Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) describes economic cooperation with Azerbaijan as stable and steadily growing, with strong potential in sectors such as logistics, food and agriculture, ICT, education, and green solutions.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 19. The Turkmenistan Textile Ministry delegation held discussions on the current spinning market and potential export opportunities with representatives of the sales team of Switzerlands Rieter, the publication of Rieters on X said, Trend reports.

The discussions took place on January 16, 2026, at the Heimtextil exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, with a primary focus on strengthening cooperation and exploring new opportunities within the dynamic global spinning industry.

Rieter, a Swiss leader in textile machinery manufacturing, designs advanced systems for yarn production from staple fibers, serving spinning mills across the globe.

Heimtextil serves as a premier event for manufacturers, designers, suppliers, and buyers within the textile industry, focusing on solutions for a variety of sectors, including residential, hospitality, office spaces, retail chains, and other commercial environments. This year, the exhibition saw the participation of over 3,000 exhibitors from more than 65 countries, showcasing an extensive array of products ranging from interior and decorative textiles to specialized solutions for the hotel and contract sectors.
Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 19. Uzbekistan and Egypts Mansour Automotive Group discussed opportunities to expand investment cooperation and industrial collaboration, with a particular focus on the automotive sector, Trend reports via the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Uzbekistans Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, and Ankush Arora, Chief Executive Officer of Mansour Automotive Group.

The parties exchanged views on current market conditions and explored Uzbekistans potential as a platform for establishing advanced manufacturing facilities aimed at both the domestic market and export destinations. During the talks, the importance of the countrys favorable investment climate and the availability of state support mechanisms for foreign investors were underscored.

Special attention was given to prospects for localization, technological modernization, and the development of long-term production value chains in the automotive industry.

Uzbekistan engages in extensive investment cooperation through Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with over 50 countries, including significant partners such as Russia, China, Turkiye, and South Korea, with new agreements with Italy and India indicating a trend towards expanding global partnerships. Key investors include Russia, China, Turkey, Kazakhstan, and South Korea, leading in the number of foreign enterprises.

Uzbekistan's regional integration is supported by its membership in the CIS Free Trade Zone and status as an observer in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), while it collaborates with international financial institutions for major projects. Investment focus areas include energy, transport, agriculture, green energy, the digital economy, and infrastructure.

Mansour Automotive Group is an Egyptian and regional automotive distributor founded in 1975, operating across several markets in the Middle East and Africa.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 19. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has agreed to join the Board of Peace as a founding state under an international initiative aimed at strengthening peace in the Middle East, Trend reports via the press service of the Uzbek president.

The decision follows an official invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, who proposed Uzbekistans participation in a new international framework focused on conflict resolution in the region.

According to the press service, the initiative is based on the Comprehensive Plan for Ending the Gaza Conflict announced on September 29, 2025, which was supported by world leaders and later endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution No. 2803 dated November 17, 2025.

A key element of the initiative is the establishment of the Board of Peace, a new international body intended to unite states willing to contribute to long-term peace, stability, and security in the Middle East.

In his response letter, President Mirziyoyev confirmed Uzbekistans readiness to participate in the initiative as a founding state, describing it as an important step toward resolving long-standing conflicts and promoting stability across the broader region.

The Board of Peace is a United States-led intergovernmental institution ostensibly aimed at "promoting stability, restoring reliable and lawful governance, and ensuring lasting peace in regions impacted or endangered by conflict." The Board was suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump in September 2025, with its inception announced on January 15, 2026. The board is tasked with facilitating the governance, rehabilitation, and economic revitalization of the Gaza Strip following the Gaza War.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 19. Uzbekistan and China have signed agreements on the development of gold deposits and the processing of precious metals, Trend reports via the press service of the Surkhandarya regional administration.

The agreements were signed by Governor of Surkhandarya region Ulugbek Kasymov, Head of the China Relations Department of the Cabinet of Ministers Office Ikhtiyor Niyazmuradov, and First Deputy Minister of Mining and Geology Firuza Khamidova, together with a Chinese delegation led by Long Yuxiang, Chairman of the China International Communication Center, and Chen Sung To, Chairman of JDB Group Limited.

During the meeting, the parties formalized agreements and exchanged documents in alignment with previously established arrangements. These agreements outline the collaborative development of promising gold deposits in the Surkhandarya region, alongside the execution of a project focused on the processing of precious metals.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan's trade turnover with China reached $14.6 billion from January through November 2025, solidifying Chinas status as Uzbekistans primary trading partner.
Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is among the best debt-free stocks to buy now. Earlier last week, Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak reaffirmed his conviction on Uber, reiterating his Buy rating and a $110 price target. The analyst believes the market is not valuing the company appropriately.

Nowaks sum-of-the-parts analysis suggests the market is valuing Uber Technologies Inc.s (NYSE:UBER) U.S. mobility business at a 2027 adjusted EBITDA multiple of 7x, which he believes is much lower given the businesss mid-teens growth. This also indicates a sharp discount relative to peers, which isnt justified given the businesss strong fundamentals. He also highlighted the contrast in the 10% valuation discount relative to Lyfts, which is relatively smaller, less diversified, and less profitable.

From an autonomous vehicle (AV) competition perspective, Nowak acknowledges that share prices for both Uber and Lyft might witness volatility as he expects an acceleration in AV development in 2026. However, he doesnt expect any material financial impact on Uber for the next 24 months.

In another vote of confidence later in the week, BNP Paribas initiated coverage of Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) with an Outperform rating and a $108 price target. The firm characterized Uber as a mobility and delivery winner, despite the AV momentum ahead.

Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) is a global technology platform that connects consumers with transportation, delivery, and logistics services. The company operates through its Mobility, Delivery, and Freight segments, offering ride-hailing, meal delivery, and freight brokerage solutions.

While we acknowledge the potential of UBER 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 Software Infrastructure Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and Cathie Woods Stock Portfolio: Top 10 Stocks to Buy.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. On January 19, Sahil Babayev, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Sameh Wahba, the Regional Director for Sustainable Development in the Europe and Central Asia region, and discussed strengthening collaboration in the water and agriculture sectors, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting focused on opportunities to deepen Azerbaijans partnership with the World Bank, ongoing and future programs implemented by the Bank in the country, and the current status and prospects of cooperation, particularly in water and agriculture.

Minister Babayev emphasized that Azerbaijan places great importance on its partnership with the World Bank, noting that Bank-financed projects and technical assistance play a crucial role in the countrys socio-economic development. Highlighting priority issues in agriculture and irrigation, he said the Competitive and Sustainable Agriculture and Irrigation Services project aims to enhance productivity and sustainability while strengthening competitiveness across various value chains. The project focuses on improving irrigation systems, introducing climate-smart and market-oriented technologies, modernizing agricultural practices, and implementing additional measures that support the sustainable development of the sector.

World Bank representatives praised the reforms and socio-economic achievements Azerbaijan has made in recent years, expressing their interest in continuing and expanding the partnership. They noted that ongoing and planned projects in the water and agriculture sectors are crucial for sustainable development, climate adaptation, and improving rural livelihoods.

The meeting also explored cooperation in transport, logistics, and road infrastructure. Both sides highlighted the importance of advancing potential projects, fostering regional integration, and promoting sustainable infrastructure development through strengthened collaboration.

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Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijani officials and representatives of the World Bank (WB) met to assess the current state of their partnership and explore opportunities for expanding cooperation, Trend reports, citing the country's Ministry of Economy.

The meeting was attended by Samad Bashirli, Deputy Minister of Economy, and a delegation led by Sameh Wahba, Regional Director for Sustainable Development of the WBs Europe and Central Asia region.

During the meeting, Azerbaijans ongoing socio-economic reforms and efforts to improve the business and investment climate were highlighted. The importance of the WBs institutional and technical support in these areas was also emphasized.

Participants exchanged views on projects implemented with the WB and discussed issues of mutual interest, focusing on strengthening collaboration and exploring future opportunities.

Azerbaijan became a World Bank member in September 1992, signing the Articles of Agreement for the IBRD on September 18. The World Bank established a local office in 1996, and the first loan for the Petroleum Technical Assistance Project was approved on April 20, 1995. Azerbaijan also joined the IFC in October 1995. Since then, the World Bank has financed over 50 projects in Azerbaijan, amounting to more than $4.5 billion to enhance economic reforms and infrastructure development.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Azerbaijan has discussed expanding cooperation with Chinese companies and the potential for joint projects in aluminum production, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Economy.

The deputy minister of economy, Samed Bashirli, met with executives from Chinas Wanji Aluminum Co., Ltd. and Sunstone Development Co., Ltd. to explore opportunities for collaboration. During the meeting, officials highlighted Azerbaijans favorable investment climate, industrial zone infrastructure, and incentives and support mechanisms available to foreign investors. They emphasized that the country prioritizes industrial and technology-driven projects and is keen on long-term partnerships with international investors.

The discussions focused on broadening cooperation and implementing joint aluminum production initiatives.

Azerbaijan is enhancing its role in the aluminum industry by shifting towards high-value processed products to diversify its non-oil sector. In 2024, production surged by 49% to 57,624 tons, with government plans to increase capacity to 100,000110,000 tons annually via upgrades at the Ganja aluminum complex. The sole primary producer, Azeraluminium LLC, exports 98% of its output, primarily to Turkiye, the U.S., and Europe. Key upgrades involve partnerships with European companies for modern production facilities, focusing on high-quality products.

Local raw material sourcing is targeted through the Dashkesan alunite mine, and the country is also branching into downstream products, such as an aluminum beverage can factory in the Alat Free Economic Zone. Aluminum accounted for over 5% of non-oil exports in 2022, with revenues up 2.7% in early 2025 despite volume challenges. The sector faces logistical issues, leading to investments in domestic anode block production.

Wanji Aluminum Co., Ltd., based in China, specializes in industrial, transport, and technology solutions, focusing on developing innovative products, improving manufacturing efficiency, and expanding international partnerships. Sunstone Development Co., Ltd. is engaged in the research, production, and sale of carbon materials for the aluminum industry, particularly prebaked anodes, and is a leading exporter in this sector in China.

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Azerbaijan counts revenues from natural gas export to Georgia in 11M2025

Photo: South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company

Azerbaijan's natural gas exports to Georgia experienced a decline in 2025 compared to the previous year. The revenue generated from these exports saw a significant decrease, along with a reduction in the volume of gas sent. This shift reflects a change in the energy trade between the two countries.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. The first meeting was held between General Director of Green Corridor Union LLC Tural Aliyev and Asian Development Bank (ADB) representatives Nana Gurgenidze and Altynay Arapova today, the publication of Aliyev on his LinkedIn page says, Trend reports.

"Our discussions established frameworks for collaboration, including coordination with CESI S.p.A. as our Italian consultant, initial project implementation strategies on baselines and continuation formats, and other shared interests.

The Green Corridor Alliance JV was founded December 27, 2024, following the November 2024 COP29 agreement among Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to enable renewable energy transmission. CESI's role as feasibility study consultant was confirmed November 23, 2025," the publication noted.

On April 4, 2025, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, with the support of ADB and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), announced the launch of the first phase of the Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor initiative. As part of the initiative, the countries signed an agreement on cooperation to prepare a feasibility study, which includes the integration of the three countries' energy systems and the creation of a renewable energy supply route to Europe.

A joint venture called the Green Corridor Alliance was established to manage the project, with its headquarters in Baku. The feasibility study for the project is being conducted with financial support from ADB and AIIB.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, January 19. The Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the UN, Jonibek Hikmat, and the new Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Alexander De Croo, discussed priorities for further development of cooperation, Trend reports via the press service of the Tajik MFA.

During the meeting on January 16, 2026, both parties engaged in a comprehensive discussion aimed at further strengthening the enduring partnership between Tajikistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The conversation focused on expanding cooperation in critical priority areas, such as enhancing climate resilience, managing water resources, protecting glaciers, advancing digital transformation, ensuring the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and promoting the widespread adoption of green energy solutions.

Additionally, Jonibek Hikmat and Administrator De Croo underscored the significance of the UN-80 initiative, reaffirming their mutual commitment to its successful implementation.

Following the meeting, the Permanent Representative extended a formal invitation to Alexander De Croo to attend the Fourth Dushanbe Water Conference, which is scheduled to take place from May 2528, 2026.
After nearly half a century in the business, a trucking company has filed for bankruptcy.

This news signals the latest of whats being called the Great Freight Recession, during which a demand for shipping services has dropped while capacity has stayed high.

According to industry publication FreightWaves, STG Logistics  a Dublin, Ohio-based institution that also happens to be the countrys fourth-largest asset-based intermodal marketing company  filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey on Monday.

This pre-negotiated plan, FreightWaves explains, wipes out 91 percent of STGs almost $1 billion debt. It also gives it $1140 in new capital in order to support its core business operations, and to compensate its employees and vendors.

TTNews.com reports that the carrier expects to exit court protection in about five months.

Todays announcement marks an important milestone in our efforts to strength STG amidst one of the most severe freight recessions in history, said CEO Geoff Anderman via company release. We are confident that leverage the Chapter 11 process will best position the business for long-term growth and success.

I am deeply grateful to our valued team, customers, vendors, and other partners whose support enables us to continue delivering solutions for our customers at the highest levels while staying true to our core values of safety, service, integrity, and efficient at the forefront of our operations.

The release confirms that STG will continue operations in the ordinary course of business as a restructuring plan takes place.

Further information regarding bankruptcy proceedings remains pending.

Business Buzz

Read the original article on pennlive.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Given the current circumstances, any prospect of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. remains implausible, the Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Ebrahim Azizi, said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement at a press conference in Tehran on January 19.

Five rounds of negotiations have been conducted between Iran and the United States; however, the opposing side has transformed the negotiating table into a battleground," he remarked.

Azizi further emphasized that the other party has disregarded Iran's interests and is attempting to impose its own terms. From this perspective, he argued, there is little rationale for continuing negotiations.

The five rounds of indirect talks regarding Irans nuclear program took place on April 12, 19, and 26, as well as May 11 and 23, 2025. These discussions were mediated by Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, and were led by the Iranian delegation, represented by Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi, and the U.S. delegation, headed by Special Representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The first, third, and fourth rounds were held in Muscat, Omans capital, while the second and fifth rounds took place in Rome, Italy.

On the morning of June 13, 2025, Israel initiated airstrikes against Iran, resulting in the deaths of numerous high-ranking military officials, generals, nuclear scientists, and other senior figures.

Later that evening, Iran retaliated with Operation True Promise III, launching hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones targeting various locations, including Tel Aviv. The strikes led to civilian casualties and widespread devastation.

On June 22, the United States launched airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities, reportedly destroying them.

The following evening, June 23, Iran targeted a U.S. military base in Qatar with airstrikes.

On June 24, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that Israel had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a parallel development, Irans Supreme National Security Council issued a statement confirming the cessation of hostilities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 19. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has announced his resignation, Trend reports.

In an address to the nation, Radev said he intends to take part in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. He stated that he will submit his resignation on the morning of January 20.

According to Radev, the decision is linked to his plans to actively engage in the political process ahead of the early vote.
Call for end to arbitrary action against Madrasas

Reacting to the landmark judgment delivered by Allahabad High Court on non-affiliated religious Madrasas, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani described the verdict as a clear affirmation of the supremacy of the Constitution of India and its core principles

New Delhi: Reacting to the landmark judgment delivered by Allahabad High Court on non-affiliated religious Madrasas, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani described the verdict as a clear affirmation of the supremacy of the Constitution of India and its core principles.

Maulana Madani said that the judgment stands as a strong rebuke to those governments and authorities that had been portraying the closure of non-affiliated madrasas and maktabs as an achievement. He observed that such actions were not only unconstitutional but ultimately resulted in embarrassment for them.

He stated that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has been pursuing legal proceedings before the Allahabad High Court on behalf of thirty madrasas from the Shrawasti district, and that the organisation is also seeking democratic remedies against the actions of the Uttarakhand government.

Maulana Madani said that the verdict has significantly strengthened our ongoing efforts.

Appeal to Madrasas, State Governments

At the same time, he advised madrasa administrators to continue improving their internal management and educational standards so that no excuse is left for any interference.

Maulana Madani noted that the High Court has categorically clarified that the absence of recognition alone cannot be used as a ground to close, seal, or disrupt the functioning of any madrasa.

The Court further held that the Uttar Pradesh Non-Governmental Arabic and Persian Madarsa Regulations do not grant the administration any authority to shut down an unrecognised madrasa.

He added that the judgment effectively reaffirms the constitutional principle laid down by the Supreme Court, according to which minority educational institutions that neither seek government aid nor recognition enjoy full protection under Article 30(1) of the Constitution of India.

Maulana Madani urged the Government of Uttar Pradesh and all other state governments to review their policies in light of this judgment and the constitutional principles settled by the Supreme Court, and to immediately refrain from any arbitrary, illegal, or discriminatory action against madrasas.

He reiterated that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind will continue its struggle, firmly within the constitutional framework, to protect the educational, religious, and civil rights of minorities.

On this occasion, Maulana Madani also appreciated the patience, perseverance, and legal efforts of the lawyers, as well as the madrasas that pursued justice through the courts, and congratulated them on this important success.



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Fast food has long been a defining part of American culture, and McDonald's continues to lead in the category. With breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that satisfy every craving and appeal to nearly all palates, the iconic chain has earned the loyalty of millions of fans and remained a daily go-to destination for customers for more than 85 years.

That's why even the suggestion of a McDonald's closure, especially around holidays, can spark a wave of concern and uncontrollable cravings for its salty fries, Quarter Pounders, and beloved Happy Meals.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, commonly referred to as MLK Day, is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday in January. The day honors the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., the iconic civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in advocating for racial equality during the American Civil Rights Movement.

Although schools, banks, and government offices typically close in observance of the holiday, many businesses and essential workers continue operating as usual, since there is no law that requires them to shut down. However, restaurants and retailers often set their own schedules, which can cause hours to fluctuate and leave customers wondering which locations will remain open and for how long.

Is McDonalds open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026?

McDonald's (MCD) has built a reputation as one of the most reliable fast-food chains during holidays, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026 is no exception.

The company has confirmed that all U.S. McDonald's locations will remain open nationwide over the three-day weekend.

More McDonald's News:

That said, hours may vary by location, as most McDonald's restaurants are independently owned and operated by franchisees. Still, as one of the world's largest fast-food chains, operating more than 40,000 locations across more than 100 countries, finding a nearby open restaurant is unlikely to be an issue.

To avoid any surprises, customers are encouraged to check the McDonald's restaurant locator on the company's website to confirm their local store's holiday hours.

McDonald's confirms all locations will remain open nationwide for Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

McDonalds 2026 winter menu

McDonald's has unveiled its 2026 winter menu, bringing back beloved seasonal items, as well as launching new Happy Meals and value deals available nationwide for a limited time.

Returning highlights include the fan-favorite Holiday Pie and the McRib sandwich.
Crude oil prices are in retreat after rising on the possibility of U.S. strikes on Iran. Before the retreat, however, Brent crude and WTI had jumped to the highest in months, countering bearish forecasts for the yearand tearing traders between geopolitics and fundamentals.

In fundamentals, the majority of observers and forecasters are unanimous that the supply of crude oil is substantially higher than demand. In fact, Goldman Sachs recently revised its price predictions for 2026, saying it now expected Brent crude to go even lower after shedding about a fifth of its value last year.

Rising global oil stocks and our forecast of a 2.3mb/d surplus in 2026 suggest that rebalancing the market likely requires lower oil prices in 2026 to slow down non-OPEC supply growth and support solid demand growth, barring large supply disruptions or OPEC production cuts, Goldman said earlier this weekeven though protests in Iran were already making headlines and pushing the benchmarks higher.

On the other hand, the effective takeover by the United States of Venezuelas oil industry has had an understandably bearish effect on prices. This week, a Washington official told media that the U.S. has sold the first batch of Venezuelan crude for $500 million, and more sales would follow. In terms of fundamentals, this strengthens the case for a bearish mood. However, statements by oil industry executives urging caution about the possibility of a quick turnaround in Venezuelan oil production have had a restraining effect on that mood.

Meanwhile, drone strikes on three tankers in the Black Sea fueled a new bout of supply disruption concern, to add to expectations of possible disruption in Iranian oil flows abroad. A Reuters report cited an unnamed source as saying Kazakhstan had suffered a 35% drop in its oil output over the first two weeks of January because of attacks that also included strikes on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium by Ukrainian forces. Kazakhstan has called on the United States and the European Union to help secure oil transport in the Black Sea.

Speaking of the European Union, reports emerged this week saying Brussels was planning a further cut in its price cap for Russian oil in a bid to reduce Russias oil revenues by tying Western insurance coverage to the price cap. The new level of the price cap will be set at $44.10 per barrel from next month. So far, the price caps have failed to cause much pain to the Russian budget, but the EU considers them a working mechanism to hurt Russias economy in a bid to make it withdraw from Ukraine.
Clemson University confirmed Saturday that an individual affiliated with the institution has tested positive for measles, marking the outbreak's arrival on a major college campus as South Carolina grapples with the nation's worst measles crisis in decades.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health informed Clemson officials of the confirmed case, which comes amid an explosive surge in infections centered around neighboring Spartanburg County. The infected individual has been isolated per health department requirements, and contact tracing is underway for anyone who may have been exposed, according to a university press release.

The confirmation arrives at a critical moment in South Carolina's escalating public health emergency. State health officials reported 558 total measles cases as of Friday, with 124 new infections diagnosed in just three days, representing a nearly 30 percent surge and bringing case numbers that have doubled in the past week alone.

A Campus Largely Protected, But Vulnerable Pockets Remain

According to the most recent data from Clemson's Student Health Services, nearly 98 percent of main campus students have provided proof of immunity. This vaccination rate exceeds the 95 percent threshold epidemiologists consider necessary to achieve herd immunity and prevent outbreaks from gaining traction.

However, that two percent gap represents hundreds of potentially vulnerable individuals on Clemson's main campus, which enrolls approximately 20,000 undergraduate students. In a highly contagious disease like measles, where a single infected person can transmit the virus to up to 18 others in unvaccinated populations, even small immunity gaps can enable transmission chains.

The university has not disclosed whether the infected individual is a student, faculty member, staff member, or visitor, citing privacy considerations during the public health investigation.

Isolation and Quarantine Protocols in Effect

A person infected with measles is contagious four days before and after a rash begins, creating an extended window during which transmission can occur before an individual even knows they are infected. This pre-symptomatic contagiousness makes measles particularly difficult to contain.

Isolation of an actively infectious case lasts until four full days have passed after the onset of the rash, with dates determined by the Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, quarantine for measles is reserved for exposed individuals without documented immunity and lasts for 21 days after the last exposure per DPH guidelines.

If a person without documented immunity receives a dose of the MMR vaccine within 72 hours after the last exposure, they do not have to quarantine, providing a narrow window for post-exposure prophylaxis that can prevent both infection and the disruption of extended quarantine.

The number of Clemson community members potentially subject to quarantine has not been disclosed, though contact tracing efforts are actively identifying anyone who may have been exposed during the infectious period.

The Broader South Carolina Crisis

The Clemson case emerges from what has become a cascading public health emergency across South Carolina's Upstate region. "Over the last seven to nine days, we've had upwards of over 200 new cases. That's doubled just in the last week," Dr. Johnathon Elkes, an emergency medicine physician at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina, said during a media briefing Friday. "We feel like we're really kind of staring over the edge, knowing that this is about to get a lot worse."

The outbreak remains centered around Spartanburg County, with most cases located there. As of the latest update, 531 people are in quarantine and 85 are in isolation statewide, with the expected end date for quarantine extending to February 16.

Of the 558 confirmed cases, 134 involve children under age 5, 372 involve children ages 5 to 17, 39 involve adults 18 and older, and 13 cases have an unknown age. The concentration among school-age children reflects both the outbreak's epicenter in schools with lower vaccination rates and the heightened vulnerability of unvaccinated pediatric populations.

Eight people, including adults and children, have required hospitalization for complications of the disease since the start of the outbreak, though current hospitalization numbers were not disclosed.

Vaccination Rates Below Critical Threshold

The vaccination rate among students in Spartanburg County is 90 percent overall, which is lower than the 95 percent threshold needed to prevent measles. In neighboring Greenville County, the MMR vaccination rate was 90.5 percent for the 2024-25 school year.

However, these county-level statistics mask significant variation at individual schools. State epidemiologist Linda Bell said one school has a vaccination rate as low as 20 percent, creating what epidemiologists call "immunity pockets" where disease can circulate freely.

Spartanburg County has a relatively high number of nonmedical exemptions from vaccines, with about 8 percent of students having such an exemption, a jump from just 3 percent in 2020, according to data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. These represent parents opting out of required school vaccines for personal or religious reasons.

Low Uptake of Free Vaccinations Despite Crisis

Despite the escalating outbreak and availability of free vaccines, public response has been disappointing. On Wednesday and Thursday, the South Carolina Department of Public Health deployed mobile health units to Spartanburg offering free measles vaccinations. Just 18 people showed up to get the shots: nine adults and nine kids, state health officials reported.

This reluctance to vaccinate persists even as the outbreak spreads to new locations and public exposure sites multiply. Infected individuals visited multiple public locations during their infectious periods, including Walmart on Cedar Springs Road in Spartanburg on Saturday, January 3 from 5 to 8 p.m., Wash Depot on South Pine Street in Spartanburg later that night from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Sunday, January 4, and Bintime Spartanburg on South Blackstock Road on Wednesday, January 7 from 4 to 7:15 p.m.

Schools across Spartanburg County have been particularly affected. Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary has 53 students in quarantine, Campobello Graming School has 46 students in quarantine, and Crestview Elementary has 22 students in quarantine, among other affected schools.

Community Demographics and Outbreak Origins

Dr. Eliza Varadi, a pediatrician in private practice in South Carolina, said the outbreak is centered around a community largely populated by people who immigrated from Ukraine to Spartanburg County within the past few decades. Immigration patterns and varying vaccination practices in countries of origin can contribute to pockets of vaccine hesitancy and lower immunity levels.

The outbreak officially began in October 2025, with cases initially trickling in before exploding after the holiday season. What started as a handful of cases in the fall has become an exponentially growing crisis, with health officials warning that the peak may still be ahead.

Spread Beyond South Carolina's Borders

The outbreak's reach is no longer contained within South Carolina. There have already been six cases in neighboring North Carolina linked to the Spartanburg outbreak. And three measles cases have been confirmed in Snohomish County, Washington, that are also connected to Spartanburg, demonstrating how modern travel patterns can carry infectious diseases across the country rapidly.

Since the holidays, South Carolina's measles outbreak has exploded into the worst in the United States. Measles also have been reported this year in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Utah and Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Context: Worst Year Since 1991

Last year was the nation's worst for the spread of measles since 1991, according to the CDC. The United States confirmed 2,144 cases across 44 states. Three people died, all of them unvaccinated.

The resurgence of a disease once declared eliminated from the United States in 2000 reflects declining vaccination rates, increased vaccine hesitancy, and the highly contagious nature of the measles virus. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that is airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs.

According to CDC data, at least 171 measles cases have been reported in the first two weeks of 2026, nearly matching the average annual total seen in the 25 years since measles was declared eliminated.

Contrasting Responses: Fear and Apathy

While some Spartanburg residents remain hesitant about vaccination despite the outbreak raging around them, families in other parts of the state are desperate for protection. "I've been getting phone calls from families saying, 'I want that vaccine, like, yesterday. I want it early. What can I do?'" said Dr. Laura Greenhouse, a pediatrician in Columbia, about an hour and a half south of Spartanburg.

On Wednesday, health officials said that someone visited the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia on January 2 while they were infectious. NBC affiliate station WIS reported that nearly 1,000 people visited the museum that day, creating potential exposure for hundreds of families.

Tim Smith's wife is an assistant teacher in Spartanburg County who despite being vaccinated, caught measles from one of her students and got so sick she had to go to the hospital. Smith told the district school board this week that exemptions in Spartanburg have gotten out of control. "It's absolute insanity," Smith said. "She was totally dehydrated."

This case illustrates that even vaccinated individuals can sometimes contract measles, though vaccines significantly reduce both infection risk and disease severity. The MMR vaccine is approximately 97 percent effective after two doses.

What Clemson Students Should Know

For Clemson students, faculty, and staff, health officials emphasize several key points. Anyone without documented proof of immunity should consider getting vaccinated immediately. The MMR vaccine is available through Student Health Services, local pharmacies, and health departments.

Measles symptoms to watch for typically begin 7-12 days (but up to 21 days) after exposure, and include cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes, and fever followed by a rash two to three days later that starts on the face then spreads to the rest of the body.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should isolate immediately and contact healthcare providers by phone before visiting to prevent potential exposure in waiting rooms and clinical settings. Healthcare facilities have specific protocols for evaluating potential measles cases that minimize transmission risk.

Students living in residence halls should be particularly vigilant, as the airborne nature of measles means the virus can linger in rooms and enclosed spaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Adequate ventilation and avoiding shared spaces when symptomatic can help reduce transmission.

Looking Ahead: An Uncertain Timeline

"We have lost our ability to contain this with the immunity that we have," state epidemiologist Linda Bell said, urging people to get vaccinated. Her stark assessment reflects the reality that with vaccination rates below the herd immunity threshold and hundreds already infected, traditional containment strategies may prove insufficient.

The coming weeks will be critical for determining whether the outbreak continues its exponential growth or begins to plateau. Public health officials continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective tool for protecting individuals and communities.

For Clemson University, the challenge will be maintaining normal academic operations while protecting vulnerable community members. With spring semester underway, large lecture halls, dining facilities, and residence halls create numerous opportunities for transmission if additional cases emerge on campus.

The university has encouraged anyone with questions or concerns to contact Student Health Services and to monitor the South Carolina Department of Public Health's outbreak webpage, which is updated regularly with new exposure locations and guidance.

As South Carolina confronts its worst measles outbreak in decades, the appearance of the disease on a major university campus underscores that no community remains insulated from the consequences of declining vaccination rates and the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Space4Ocean

The ocean plays a fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth. It regulates the climate, supports biodiversity, and provides critical ecosystem services that underpin livelihoods and economies. However, ocean health is deteriorating under growing pressure from both human activity and natural forces.

Space-based technologies offer vital capabilities to address these challenges. Satellite data enables large-scale, real-time monitoring of ocean health, including temperature fluctuations, sea level rise, coastal erosion, ocean currents, pollution, and biodiversity. Currently, more than 80% of ocean-related indicators tracked by the IPCC rely on satellite observations. However, significant barriers remain to turning this data into operational, policy-relevant solutions, especially for countries most vulnerable to oceanic change.

The issue is especially acute in developing and frontline countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which often lack the resources and capacity to fully benefit from space-based solutions.

These challenges include fragmented data collection, lack of standardization across agencies, and insufficient interoperability between marine and space science communities. Many space agencies operate in isolation, limiting synergies and duplicating efforts. Meanwhile, frontline nations such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) often lack access to space-based data and the technical capacities needed to leverage it.

UNOOSA, through its Space4Water project and the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), connects ocean-related challenges with practical space-based solutions. By building the capacities of UN Member States, UNOOSA empowers stakeholders to harness satellite data and space technologies for informed decision-making and sustainable water and ocean management.

UN-Oceans Mechanism

UN-Oceans is an inter-agency mechanism established in 2003 that seeks to enhance the coordination, coherence and effectiveness of competent organizations of the United Nations system and the International Seabed Authority in relation to activities relating to oceans and coastal areas, within existing resources, in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the respective competences of each of its participating organizations and the mandates and priorities approved by their respective governing bodies. More info

UNOOSA is a member of the UN-Oceans Mechanism since 2025.

UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) was launched in January 2021 to catalyze a global transformation in ocean science. It provides a unifying framework for scientists, governments, industry, NGOs, and communities to collaborate beyond traditional boundaries and generate the data, knowledge, and tools needed to support robust, scienceinformed policies at all levels. Through the vision "the science we need for the ocean we want", its mission focuses on delivering transformative oceanscience solutions that connect people with the ocean and advance sustainable development

To implement this vision, the Ocean Decade mobilizes hundreds of "Decade Actions", translated in programmes, projects, and contributions carried out worldwide, that address 10 priority challenges, from building a sustainable ocean economy to expanding global ocean observation and increasing community resilience to ocean risks. These initiatives aim to create a productive, resilient, and inspiring ocean for future generations.

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs participates in the work of the Ocean Decade. It sits at the Decade Advisory Board and provides advisory assistance on the implementation of its objectives.

Read more

The Space4Ocean Alliance

UNOOSA supports the Space4Ocean Alliance, an international mechanism that brings together space, marine and maritime stakeholders to maximize the use of space-based data for ocean protection. Initiated by the French Space Agency (CNES), the Alliance aims to strengthen collaboration, address observation gaps, promote access to ocean data and operational applications, and build capacity, especially for frontline countries such as LDCs and SIDS. Since December 2024, UNOOSA and partners including CNES, Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO), Monaco's Space Office, Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), European Space Agency (ESA) and UNESCO/IOC have developed the Alliance's objectives based on the needs of those who rely most on ocean resources.

Officially launched at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in June 2025, the Alliance now counts 30 signatories committed to advancing global ocean monitoring and management.

Read more
Key allies reacted coolly Monday to US President Donald Trump's invite to pay $1 billion for a permanent spot on his "Board of Peace" for resolving international conflicts, with analysts likening it to a pay-to-play version of the UN Security Council.

The White House has asked various world leaders to sit on the board, chaired by Trump himself, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian premier Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The board's charter, seen by AFP, says that member countries will serve no longer than three years, subject to renewal by the chairman. That is unless they "contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charters entry into force."

The initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.

"At this stage, France cannot accept," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Monday during a debate with French lawmakers, noting that the board's charter goes beyond the scope of rebuilding and running post-war Gaza endorsed by the United Nations.

He added that it is "incompatible with France's international commitments and in particular its membership in the United Nations, which obviously cannot be called into question under any circumstances."

France is one of the five veto-wielding, permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with the United States, China, Russia and Britain.

A Canadian government source said Ottawa will not pay to be on the board, and hasn't gotten a request to pay, after Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated he would accept an invitation to join.

Paul Williams, professor of international affairs at George Washington University, told AFP that the offer of permanent membership for $1 billion showed Trump is "trying to turn it into a pay-to-play alternative to the UN Security Council but where Trump alone exercises veto power."

The charter, which in fact does not mention Gaza, describes the board as "an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict."

- 'Failed institutions' -

The charter appears to take a swipe at the United Nations, saying that the new board should have "the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed."

Trump has regularly criticized the United Nations and announced this month that his country will withdraw from 66 global organizations and treaties -- roughly half affiliated with the UN.

The world body -- which suffers chronic funding shortfalls and political deadlock in the Security Council -- pushed back Monday.

La Neice Collins, spokesperson for the president of the UN General Assembly, told reporters "there is one universal, multilateral organization to deal with peace and security issues, and that is the United Nations."

Daniel Forti at the International Crisis Group, a think tank, said at least 60 countries have reportedly been invited to the Board of Peace. He said some may view it as a way to curry favor with Trump, but many member states would see it as power grab.

"Actively buying permanent seats in an exclusive club sends a very worrying signal about what transactional and deals-based international diplomacy may mean in the future," he told AFP.

Trump would have the power to remove member states from the board, subject to a veto by two-third of members, and to choose his replacement should he leave his role as chairman.

Ian Lesser at the German Marshall Fund think tank told AFP he would be surprised if many countries are willing to sign up "at a time when most are focused on preserving the existing multilateral institutions."

The White House said there would be a main board, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern devastated Gaza, and a second "executive board" that appears designed to have a more advisory role.

Trump has named as board members Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British prime minister Tony Blair, senior negotiator Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Israel has objected to the line-up of a "Gaza executive board" to operate under the body, which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.

bur-aje/msp/ksb
Oil recovered from earlier losses to trade little changed as the market weighed the fallout from US President Donald Trumps threat to annex Greenland, while tensions over Iran cooled.

Brent traded above $64 a barrel. Trumps announcement of tariffs on some European nations over Greenland rippled through global markets: stocks fell, while gold and silver hit records as investors sought havens.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged for the first time that several thousand people died in recent anti-government demonstrations. While accusing the US and Israel of aiding the killings, he said Iran doesnt intend to push the country toward war.

Oil has been under pressure in recent quarters from concerns about supply outpacing demand, with the International Energy Agency forecasting an overhang of more than 3.8 million barrels a day this year. Still, supply disruption remains a threat: Kazakhstans largest oil producer has temporarily shut production at the Tengiz and Korolev fields as a precautionary measure after two fires at power generators.

The premium on Brents nearest contract over futures for the following month has roughly doubled since the start of the year to about 70 cents a barrel, a sign of short-term market tightness.

Despite the pressure on flat price, the prompt ICE Brent timespread remains firm, suggesting some tightness in the spot physical market, ING Groep NV analysts said in a report.

On Monday, volumes are set to be lower than usual due to a holiday in the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Fashion World Mourns Valentino Garavani, Italian Style Icon, Dead at 93

The fashion world is in mourning after the death of Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian designer and founder of the Valentino fashion house, who died at the age of 93 in his home in Rome on Monday, 19 January 2026. The news was confirmed by the Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation.

Born 11 May 1932 in Voghera, northern Italy, Valentino  often known simply by his first name  became one of the most celebrated figures in luxury fashion. Educated in Paris at prestigious institutions including the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, he returned to Italy and, alongside partner Giancarlo Giammetti, launched his eponymous label in 1960, quickly gaining international acclaim for elegant couture and refined ready-to-wear collections.

Valentinos designs embodied timeless glamour and sophistication, with his signature Valentino Red becoming one of the most iconic and recognizable hues in fashion. Over decades, he dressed some of the worlds most illustrious women, from Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn to Jackie Kennedy and contemporary stars on the red carpet. His aesthetic and influence helped shape the landscape of haute couture and luxury style throughout the latter half of the 20th century and beyond.

Despite retiring as creative director in 2008, Valentino remained a revered figure in fashion, often appearing at shows and events and celebrated for his lifelong contributions to design. His legacy continued through major runway presentations, influential collaborations, and the ongoing prominence of the Valentino brand in global luxury markets.

His body will lie in state at PM23 in Piazza Mignanelli, Rome, on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 January, before a funeral service scheduled for Friday 23 January at 11:00 in the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Piazza della Repubblica, Rome.

Photo credit: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com.
10-day search comes to a tragic end as police find Federica Torzullo's body buried on land beside her husband's business.

Italian police on Sunday found the body of a woman who had disappeared from her home in Anguillara Sabazia, a small town about 40 km north of Rome, on 8 January.

The body of Federica Torzullo, a 41-year-old postal worker, was found buried two metres underground during excavations on land adjacent to her husband's earthmoving company.

The woman's husband, 45-year-old Claudio Carlomagno, reported his wife missing on the evening of 9 January after her concerned colleagues phoned to say that she hadn't shown up for work.

Carlomagno was immediately considered a suspect in the disappearance of his wife and has been under investigation for her murder since last week.

Police found traces of blood in the house, in his car and on his work clothes, and his statements to investigators were reportedly full of inconsistencies.

Carlomagno was arrested on Sunday, on charges of aggravated murder and concealing a dead body, and is currently being held in Civitavecchia prison.

Federica Torzullo

The couple have a 10-year-old son, with whom they had dinner on 8 January, the night before Torzullo was reported missing.

The child stayed the night at his maternal grandparents' home nearby. The next morning Carlomagno allegedly texted his mother-in-law, pretending to be his wife, giving her instructions on what to prepare for the child's breakfast.

Carlomagno told investigators that the couple had been experiencing some relationship problems but allegedly failed to disclose that they were in the process of obtaining a legal separation.

As police continue the search for the murder weapon, a torchlight procession in memory of Torzullo is planned in Anguillara on Monday evening.

Photo Corriere della Sera
This year's J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference wrapped up without the usual high level of M&A we've grown accustomed to.

Boston Scientific signed the only megadeal of the conference, acquiring Penumbra for $14.5bn. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly signed a $1bn partnership with Nvidia. These deals were the highlights from an unusually quiet event in San Francisco. However, there was still lots to unpack from CEO-led sessions where company strategies were laid out for upcoming years.

In the latest GlobalData Healthcare podcast, Robert Barrie, editor for Pharmaceutical Technology, and Ross Law, reporter at Medical Device Network, discuss the lacklustre deal activity from the conference, along with all the main takeaways from company presentations.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5DucMrmE8yE5Fk9ODUP9Zc?si=CSHBnwdYR0KVAl1Hrv9xCQ

"Podcast: JPM26s dealmaking falls short of expectations" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




By Rebecca Black, Press Association

The family of a couple who tragically died in a road crash are finding some hope in the support from the local community in north Belfast.

Ralph Anthony Singco, Cathrene Kith Quinones Singco, and their unborn baby daughter  whose name has been confirmed as Kate Singco, died from their injuries following the two-car collision near Nutts Corner.

It is understood the health service workers had been living in the north Belfast community for the last four or five years, but Mr Singcos family had been settled in the area for 20 years.

Crowds turn out for a candle-lit vigil (PA)

Crowds of people, including North Belfast MP John Finucane, turned out to St Vincent de Paul Church in Ligoniel for the vigil  which remembered the family in hymns and prayer.

It heard that a A GoFundMe page set up to pay for the familys repatriation to their home country of the Philippines has raised enough to do so.

Father Vincent Cushnahan said a number of members of Singco family were in attendance, and thanked those involved for their generosity.

Mr Singcos brother, Antonio Singco, thanked those who turned out for their kindness, and described the support his family has received as incredible.

There really is no explanation to make us understand our loss, and there will be no words that will make it any easier, he said.

My family has been left with grief but also love, love that is not going to end with their passing. I know that ultimately grief is the price we pay for love, and how grateful and privileged we are to love them very deeply.

People hold candles during a candle-lit vigil for a couple who tragically died in a road crash in Co Antrim last week. (Rebecca Black/PA)

Its very easy in these moments to lose yourself to loneliness and isolation, but the support that weve seen here tonight and the last few nights has been astronomical, unbelievable and incredible.

Its the support and solidarity that this community has shown us that has given us hope that there is still goodness and humanity in an unjust world.

Tonight is not about fixing what cant be fixed, its about honouring and remembering my brother and his family.

Father Cushnahan said the couple had been looking forward to shortly welcoming their first child.

This dreadful tragedy has brought out the best in this community, it has brought you here tonight and brought out your prayers and condolences, and overwhelming financial generosity to allow the Singco family to take Ralph, Kith and baby Kate home, to their home soil, to lay them to rest in peace there, he said.

Father Vincent Cushnahan at a candle-lit for a couple who were killed in a road crash last week at St Vincent de Paul Church in Ligoniel. (Rebecca Black/PA)

He said Mr Singco had grown up in Northern Ireland, but decided to go to university to study nursing care in the Philippines where he met his wife-to-be.

After they graduated, they came back here to Ireland to establish a home, he said.

For four years they tried to have a baby, to bring new life into the world, and some seven months ago they discovered they were going to have a baby, and that filled them with joy and excitement, they made plans, they prepared for the future with little baby Kate.

Their child was due in two months time, they were going to bring little Kate into a world where they had hope, they were going to work hard, they were going to show that love to this little baby, to shower her with everything they had.

Sadly it wasnt to be that way. Tragically their lives were taken from our lives just this day last week, and now they rest in peace.

A funeral service will take place at the same church on Wednesday.
The case of an American motorist charged with dangerous driving causing death is ongoing.

John Fitzgibbon (67), with an address given as New York, US, was charged in July 2025 with dangerous driving causing death during a special District Court sitting.

On July 9 Mr Fitzgibbon was driving a vehicle near the Cullencastle area of Monvoy, Tramore, when the vehicle collided with a motorcycle being driven by 55-year-old Tramore man Michael OSullivan. Mr OSullivan passed away on the morning of July 11 at University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

The accused was remanded on bail. Family of the defendant acted as independent sureties while proceedings are ongoing, thus allowing him to return to the States.

Mr Fitzgibbon is being represented by Greg Murphy BL, under the instruction of solicitor John Quinn.

In December 2025, the book of evidence was served and the case was moved to the Circuit Court.

'Realistic'

Last week, the defence counsel told Judge Eugene O'Kelly that Mr Fitzgibbon would be present for a 'realistic trial date', stating: "I'm just conscious that he lives in USA."

State Prosecutor Niall Storan BL informed Judge O'Kelly: "This is a very involved case. There is a very detailed book of evidence which may have more details than you'd expect."

Mr Storan said that disclosure had not been made yet.

The late Michael O'Sullivan.

The family of Mr O'Sullivan were present in court for the hearing. Judge O'Kelly addressed them: "I appreciate you have been here all day, no member of a family should be left waiting in court."

Judge O'Kelly directed that on the next hearing date, the matter would be dealt with earlier in the day. The case will be re-visited on April 14.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
A woman who was raped by her former husband has spoken of her devastation to learn that he was also raping her younger teenage sister, saying she will be forever haunted by the fact that she let the girl down.

William Kavanagh (67), of Millbrook Court, Waterford, was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court of a total of 59 offences against both women.

On Monday he was given consecutive sentences totalling 17 and a half years. The final year of the sentence was suspended on strict conditions.

Kavanagh had pleaded not guilty to three counts of anal rape of his former wife and not guilty to the 56 charges relating to her younger sister, who was a teenager at the time of the offending.

The charges against the younger sister ranged from sexual assault, oral rape, anal rape and vaginal rape from the time she was about seven years old to 16 years old. The offences took place between 1996 until 2006 in both Waterford and Wexford, where Kavanagh was living at the time.

Kavanagh is a well-known local musician who used to busk around the Waterford and Kilkenny area. He has four previous convictions including two for assault. He does not accept the jurys verdict and maintains his innocence, the court heard.

Conor ODoherty SC, prosecuting, told the court that while both women want Kavanagh to be named and understand that they may be identified in reporting of the case, they do not wish for their own names to be published.

The now 49-year-old woman (his former wife) read her victim impact statement into the record.

The woman said she now understands that while she was asleep upstairs in their home, Kavanagh was raping her younger sister downstairs.

I never thought she would hide something so serious from me. This devastates me because we were so close, I cant escape the guilt. My heart felt like someone was slicing into it with a knife. I was devastated, she said.

I am horrified that anyone can be so evil. I am terrified for my childrens future, the woman said.

Referring to developing a relationship with Kavanagh as a 17 year old, while he was a married man and 18 years her senior, the woman said: I should have been carefree at 17 years and excited about my future.

I was just an innocent teenager desperate to be loved and instead I brought a monster into my family, the woman continued.

She said she will be forever haunted by how much I let her (sister) down.

Her younger sister, now 36, also read her statement.

She said: I am so haunted by what he has done to me. The abuse took away opportunities I may have had.

If I had never been abused, I could have lived but because of him I barely survived, she said, adding that Kavanagh nearly won when she struggled, because I didnt want to be on this earth any more.

He robbed me of a normal childhood, he stole my virginity, he violated my whole body and soul. I am a survivor of child sexual abuse. I was groomed from six to 16 years old. I got away physically, but mentally I can never escape, she said.

By finally getting justice I can take my power back. It took immense courage to take the stand here and speak my truth. Here I am now, taking my life back, the woman continued.

She thanked the judge, the jury, the gardai, her GP and various counsellors and health care workers who helped her over the years.

Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo thanked both women for giving their evidence and wished them well. He said he hopes they are assisted by the fact that the case has reached its conclusion.

He said the evidence from the women and their victim impact statements make it very clear that the abuse had a very real and enduring impact on both of them.

In relation to Kavanaghs ex-wife, Mr Justice Naidoo said the offence involved controlling behaviour, violence, degradation and was a breach of trust.

He said Kavanaghs abuse of his wife's sister was an escalating campaign of grooming and was also degrading.

Mr Justice Naidoo said Kavanagh has a very high degree of moral culpability in the case and added the abuse was conducted during virtually the entirety of her childhood.

He said it had a devastating impact on her and continues to have a profound ongoing impact and made it very difficult for her to live a happy and fulfilling life.

The judge noted that Kavanagh does not accept the jurys verdict and, as such, he has lost the most important mitigating feature of an acceptance of guilt.

He accepted that Kavanagh will live the rest of his life in prison but said he had lived most of his life without taking responsibility for the hurt he caused.

Mr Justice Naidoo imposed a sentence of seven years in relation to the offences against Kavanaghs former wife and a consecutive term of 12 years and six months for the offences against her sister.

He said as it was a consecutive term, he would reduce the global sentence by two years before he imposed a sentence of 17 years and six months. The final 12 months of that term was then suspended.

Colman Cody SC, defending, said his client does not accept the verdicts of the jury but understands that the court needs to sentence him following the convictions.

A number of affidavits were handed into the court, including one from a different former partner who outlined how he is a good father to their children together.

Mr Cody asked the court to take into account that Kavanagh has no prior relevant convictions and spoke of how he has suffered from depression.

Counsel said Kavanagh is originally from Wexford and has four children. He has worked as a musician in various venues in Ireland, Germany and Tenerife.

Vulnerable

Detective Garda Patricia Lonergan told Mr ODoherty that the now 36-year-old woman was the youngest of the siblings. Her older sister, now 49 years old, first met Kavanagh when she was 17 years old. Kavanagh was 18 years older. They later married and a had a child together.

The court heard that Kavanagh was married when he met the first woman. She was a vulnerable teenager and had just moved out of home. Kavanagh began to call round to her flat and a sexual relationship later developed.

He convinced the then teenager to allow him to tie her up. She consented to this at first but then he tried to get her to agree to have anal sex with him. She initially consented but then said it was too painful.

Kavanagh continued to anally rape her and she later told gardai it didnt matter to him if she was crying or if she was telling him it hurt. She said a pattern of anal rape began.

She later told gardai that she was not experienced at the time and he convinced her no one else would want me.

The woman told gardai of one occasion when Kavanagh pinned her against a car bonnet and viciously anally raped her while she screamed.

The woman ultimately decided to leave Kavanagh and moved away in an effort to get away from him, but he begged her to stay and promised he would change.

Det Gda Lonergan said she was drawn in by these promises and the relationship developed again. They were married three years before she ultimately left Kavanagh.

The detective said Kavanagh first sexually assaulted his wifes younger sister when she was a young child. She had developed a particularly close relationship with Kavanagh as she saw him as a father figure. She was having difficulties at home at the time and was seeking a role model in her life.

Det Gda Lonergan said Kavanagh was very affectionate towards the girl and made himself available to her.

She later told gardai that the abuse began with Kavanagh getting the child to touch him, and escalated to rape as she grew older.

Det Gda Lonergan said Kavanagh orally raped and sexually assaulted her on car journeys after he collected her from the family home to bring her to his family home.

He later organised for her to attend the local secondary school near their home. He would regularly pick the teenager up from school during her lunch break, bring her back to the house and both anally and vaginally rape her.

She later told gardai that Kavanagh groomed her from a very young age and forced her to engage in very demeaning sexual acts.

Kavanaghs abuse of the teenager came to light when a neighbour raised a concern with her sister that she had seen him bringing the child home at lunchtime.

Her sister then decided that the teenager should not live with them anymore, but she did not know that Kavanagh had been abusing her.

The younger woman did not disclose the abuse until 2021 when she became concerned for the welfare of other children that were in Kavanaghs care at the time. She initially told her GP but didnt feel she was in a position to go any further with her complaint.

Det Gda Lonergan said she made a formal statement to gardai two years later.

Kavanagh was arrested and denied the abuse. He said they were false complaints motivated by issues around arrangements with childcare. He also claimed that the younger woman had mental health issues.

Victim Impact Statements

The younger sister read her victim impact statement into the record. She said she wanted the court to understand the impact the abuse had on her future and her family.

She said as a younger child she was full of enthusiasm and amazement for the world until he set his eyes on me.

She said she was trapped, powerless, unsafe and isolated  he stole those vital shaping years.

She said she has to dissociate just to survive before she described herself as a vulnerable and gullible child.

I never wanted to talk about this but for the truth to be heard, I had to. He groomed, coercively controlled and sexually abused me, she continued.

Referring to Kavanagh denying the charges and electing for trial, the woman said he could have avoided these proceedings had he admitted his wrongdoing.

I hope to protect others and any other child, she said adding, someone should have protected me.

I thought it was my fault because he told me it was. He made sure he never took responsibility. He effortlessly had me as his prey. He ripped my soul from my body, she said.

She said she was intimidated and completely controlled by this man. My mind blocked his secret. I hid the lies he made me keep, the tears I could not show. I still find it difficult to cry. I didnt have the keys to get out, she said.

She spoke of how terrified she was that no one would believe her and spoke of how she struggled to concentrate in school and to make friends.

She said Kavanagh has had almost 70 years of a great life  pretending to be something he is not  a human  a human does not do that to a child, she said.

The older woman said she was a vulnerable, naive and insecure 17-year-old when she first met Kavanagh.

I had no experience of relationships. He knew my circumstances and he took an immediate interest in me. I had very little friends. Boys had no interest in me.

Referring to the relationship developing with Kavanagh she said she was ashamed.

I was brandished a slut in my hometown.

She said she didnt understand that he was grooming her.

He talked of love  that was always missing in my life. At first, I felt so grown up but then it went past consent. I was in shock afterwards and told him I did not want to do that. He tried to convince me to relax and give in to it. He convinced me every man expected this and I didnt know any different, she continued.

She said it became a pattern and she would be left crying and begging him to stop but it would be followed by grand gestures from Kavanagh.

She said she always felt the threat hanging over her. I got sucked in again and again. I forgave him over and over. I was desperate to believe that he didnt want to hurt me, she continued.

She said she lived in constant fear but Kavanagh told her it was a sex addiction and if she just gave into it every now and then it would go easier on her.

The woman spoke of how she felt suicide was the only option because she could not see how she could ever get rid of him.

I felt trapped. I had no one to help me out of the abuse. I felt completely alone and damaged, she said.

She spoke of how Kavanagh began to isolate her by making it difficult for her to go out and socialise.

She referred to Kavanagh as a master manipulator and how he used to convince her he had changed.

She spoke of how she suffers with depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. She struggles to retain relationships and does not handle disputes well.
A Waterford man has pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment by vehicle.

Niall Walsh, of Crook Villa, Passage East, pleaded guilty to one count of endangerment contrary to Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

The 29-year-old committed the act while driving on the Outer Ring Road in Ballycashin on May 13, 2025. Walsh was described as "driving in a dangerous manner", which risked death and harm to other people.

Defence barrister Brian P. O'Shea BL requested the preparation of a probation report, noting that the crime was "out of character" for the defendant. Judge Eugene O'Kelly requested that victim impact statements be sought pending the sentencing date. Walsh was remanded on continuing bail and will be sentenced on April 15.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Meet the first baby born in Waterford in 2026.

Baby Felipe was born at 5am on New Year's Day.

His mother, Mariana, told the Waterford News and Star that she and her partner, Bruno, had been trying for this baby for a while, and the family is doing well.

We feel very grateful, said Mariana.

The family, originally from Brazil, has been living in Gracedieu, Waterford, for nine years, and baby Felipe has an older brother, Daniel.

Felipe was due to be born on Christmas Eve, but he held out for a little longer.

He wanted to wait and be in the newspaper, maybe, said Marianna.

Mariana said she was delighted when she was told Felipe was the first baby born in Waterford this year.

It was exciting when we heard. He was born at 5am, so we thought someone else would have come before, but the nurses said no, he was the first, said Mariana.

The Waterford News and Star would like to wish Mariana, baby Felipe, Daniel and Bruno all the best in 2026 and a happy New Year.
Sinn Fein Councillor John Hearne criticised plans for members of Waterford City and County Council, including Mayor Seamus Ryan, to visit Boston on a diplomatic basis in March.

Cllr. Hearne made the comments in the context of the US-backed regime change in Venezuela and increased threats of American intervention in Greenland.

Mistakenly referring to the planned destination for the trip as Chicago, Cllr. Hearne said: We pass many motions in support of Palestine and we all feel strongly about that.

The way Trump is going at the momentthreatening every place he canI have no problem with a visit to other cultural areas, but I think we could get caught out.

Cllr. Hearne suggested relocating the visit to Canada.

Fianna Fail Councillor Jason Murphy was the first Waterford mayor to visit Boston in 2025.

I really hope it will continue, we made a lot of positive connections with the Irish diaspora, said Cllr. Murphy.

Cllr. Murphy accused Sinn Fein of being hypocritical, referencing the partys lobbying and fundraising activity in the United States.

Director of Services for Planning, Ivan Grimes, told Cllr. Hearne that flights to Boston had already been booked and that there were no intentions to U-turn on plans.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Waterford Gardai are investigating two separate incidents of criminal damage that occurred in the city over the weekend.

A spokesperson said the public's assistance was being sought in relation to the investigations of both matters.

The first incident occurred in Gracedieu Heights on Saturday, January 17th, at 10.30pm when a van was damaged. The drivers side window was smashed and the front windscreen was also damaged.

Two young males were seen on pedal cycles and Gardai are looking to speak to those two youths.

"If you can assist in identifying them or if you have video doorbell footage that may assist the investigation please contact Unit B at Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300," said the Garda spokesperson.

The second incident also occurred on Saturday, January 17, at 10.55pm in the Saint Herblain Park.

In that incident a window in a house was broken and entry was gained to the building.

"A short time later the fire brigade attended the scene to extinguish a fire in the property," said the Garda.

"Again we asking people in this area with video doorbell to review their footage and submit anything that maybe relevant to the Crime Unit at Waterford Garda Station," she added.

Anyone with any information that can assist the Gardai are asked to contact Waterford Garda Station or the confidential line on 1800 666 111.
German automaker Porsche delivered 279,449 vehicles worldwide in 2025, a year-on-year decline of 10%, with China accounting for the steepest regional contraction.

Deliveries in China dropped 26% to 41,938 amid difficult trading conditions in the luxury market and rising competitive pressure, particularly in fully electric models.

Despite this downturn, North America remained Porsches largest single market, recording 86,229 deliveries, broadly unchanged from 2024.

Overseas and emerging markets were also largely stable, slipping just 1% to 54,974 units.

In Europe excluding Germany, deliveries declined 13% to 66,340.

Germany itself registered a 16% fall to 29,968 vehicles, reflecting supply shortfalls affecting combustion-powered 718 and Macan variants due to EU cybersecurity-related regulatory constraints.

Porsche sales and marketing executive board member Matthias Becker said: After several record years, our deliveries in 2025 were below the previous years level. This development is in line with our expectations and is due to supply gaps for the 718 and Macan combustion-engined models, the continuing weaker demand for exclusive products in China, and our value-oriented supply management.

Electrified vehicles represented 34.4% of Porsches global deliveries in 2025, an increase of 7.4 percentage points compared with the previous year.

Fully electric vehicles accounted for 22.2%, while plug-in hybrids made up 12.1%, placing the company at the upper end of its 2022% battery-electric target.

Europe achieved an electrification share of 57.9%, marking the first year electrified deliveries outpaced combustion models in the region.

The Macan remained the brands top-selling model line with 84,328 units delivered, more than half of which were fully electric (45,367).

The 911 model recorded 51,583 global deliveries.

Other model lines saw notable declines. Cayenne deliveries fell 21% to 80,886, Taycan dropped 22% to 16,339, and Panamera was down 6% to 27,701.

The 718 Boxster and Cayman decreased 21% to 18,612, with production concluding in October 2025.

Porsche unveiled the all-electric Cayenne in November 2025, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in spring 2026 alongside combustion and plug-in hybrid versions.

Separately, Porsche Cars North America reported US retail deliveries of 76,219 vehicles in 2025, marginally exceeding the previous high of 76,167 units recorded in 2024.

"Porsche deliveries fall 10% in 2025 as China demand weakens" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.
Waterford Sinn Fein TDs, Deputies Conor McGuinness and David Cullinane have urged the Government to support their party's legislation and take action to protect young people from the dangers of nitrous oxide.

They have also urged all of their Dail colleagues from Waterford, irrespective of party allegiance, to also support Sinn Fein;s legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide.

Their comments come as Sinn Fein TD Mark Wards legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide will go to Second Stage in the Dail tomorrow, Tuesday, January 19.

The Bill was introduced in response to growing evidence of widespread nitrous oxide misuse in communities across the state, particularly among young people, and increasing incidences of serious harm.

Deputies McGuinness and Cullinane said it was shocking that the Government had failed to take action to tackle this issue.

Sinn Feins legislation to regulate the sale of nitrous oxide will go to Second Stage in the Dail on Tuesday," said Cllr McGuinness.

Nitrous oxide misuse has become a growing issue in communities across the state, including here in Waterford. Inhaling nitrous oxide cuts off oxygen to the brain, resulting in lightheaded and giddy effects. This is where the name laughing gas comes from, but make no mistake, laughing gas is no laughing matter."

Its widespread misuse is leading to antisocial behaviour, significant littering, and serious damage to peoples health. Young people are effectively playing Russian roulette when they use this gas," he said.

Cllr McGuinness went on to comment: The health risks are particularly serious for minors. There are reports of frostbite injuries from handling canisters, and there have been multiple incidents across Europe of road deaths involving drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide. There has also been at least one recent case in Dublin of a fatal hit and run where the driver was suspected of being under the influence. Young people have far too easy access to this substance, with large industrial canisters available online at very low cost. The sale of nitrous oxide is increasingly being targeted towards children, with bright packaging and flavoured products, mirroring the tactics used with vapes."

He also said that criminal gangs were making fast profits by buying this product cheaply in bulk online and selling it on individually at inflated prices in communities across the country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Cullinane added: This legislation would regulate the sale of nitrous oxide by requiring wholesalers to be licensed to sell nitrous oxide related products. It is important to be clear that nitrous oxide has legitimate uses in sectors such as medicine and catering, and approved retailers would continue to be able to supply those sectors under this Bill."

What this legislation would do is significantly reduce the availability of nitrous oxide for misuse and curb the level of abuse we are seeing in communities across the state," he said.

The Government has failed to take a proactive approach to this issue. It is long past time that they stopped delaying and took decisive action to protect children and young people from the dangers associated with nitrous oxide misuse," he added.

Significantly, he also said the Bill would "not criminalise people for simple possession of nitrous oxide".

"However, it would give An Garda Siochana the power to seize canisters from those who do not hold the appropriate licences," he said.

This cannot wait. Nitrous oxide must be regulated so that the general public, and especially young people, are properly protected. This is common sense legislation, and all members of the Dail should support it.
Waterford City and County councillors have expressed concerns regarding the planned development of the 900 megawatt Tonn Nua wind farm due to be constructed off the Waterford coast by 2033.

The construction is headed by Helvick Head Offshore Wind DAC, a joint venture between ESB and Danish energy company Orsted.

Representatives from EirGrid delivered a presentation to the council on Thursday, January 15, outlining the timeline for the project and the provisional extension of the energy grid for the project.

Public engagement manager Graham Parker said that 50% of energy produced by the project will go to the Waterford-Wexford area while the remainder will be routed to Cork.

EirGrid are currently in the process of seeking one landfall site in Cork and one in Waterford-Wexford to store the energy created through the project via its offshore substations.

One possible area for the landfall site is Bunmahon in West Waterford, while the other three potential sites are in Wexford.

Mr Parker said Bunmahon was unlikely to ultimately be selected for the landfall location.

Tonn Nua, which is expected to power around 800,000 homes when completed, is the first stage in the wider South Coast energy plans. Three more wind farms have been touted across the area.

Some councillors questioned the projects net benefit for Waterford.

Independent Councillor Blaise Hannigan said: I see no benefit whatsoever for Waterford. I am in favour of wind farms, but I dont see a benefit to my town, my county and my city.

When it comes to voting in the future, Ill let people in Waterford city and county tell me how to vote, at this point in time I see no benefit for Waterford.

Mr Parker said the project had to be seen through the lens of the South East and not merely Waterford.

Its strengthening the whole region Weve got a community benefit fund in recognition of the impact of the project on the region."

Fianna Fail councillor Tom Cronin reiterated Cllr. Hannigans concerns.

Mr Parker said: Its an investment in the grid, its an investment in green infrastructure.

Where you have a strong grid, youre generally getting stronger investment in the region.

The project now sits in the engagement/consultation phase with a marine and lands survey currently taking place.

The planning process for the project is expected to take two years from 2028 to 2029, with the construction of the wind farm scheduled to finish in 2033.

Sinn Fein representatives John Hearne and Jim Griffin questioned the impact of the wind farm on the local fishing industry.

EirGrid Fishing Liaison Officer Ronan Lynch said appropriate communication and consultation would be carried out with the fishing industry. EirGrid plan to use rock shields for cables that run above the seabed.

Mr Parker said that the back end of Tonn Nua would be 15 kilometres away from Waterfords coast.

Questioned on why the turbines would take more than seven years to construct, Mr Parker said an extensive amount of surveys had to be carried out before construction could begin.

The 20-year contract-for-difference for Tonn Nua was awarded to Helvick Head Offshore Wind DAC in November at a strike price of 98.72 per hour.

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Dear Editor,

If there is a more depressing blot on Waterfords skylines than the hulk of the derelict Grand Hotel in Tramore, then I do not know of it. Since it changed ownership in 2014, the recent history of this once proud establishment has been one of unrelenting decrepitude and dereliction.

Its sad state is not just an aesthetic calamity for the town and county, but has also hamstrung the towns economic viability and its potential to attract more high-spending visitors to the coastal area of east Waterford.

Conservative estimates would indicate that the loss of the hotel for the last decade or so has denied the town some 35 million of spend  and every passing year of closure is an annual loss of about 3 million.

Waterford City and County Council was slow out of the traps in pursuing the new owner in 2014. However, the derelict sites legislation provides for a 7% annual levy, plus interest of 1.25% for unpaid fines, per month!

The hotel was sold for a reported half-million in 2014, yet  despite being internally pillaged and stripped for the remainder of that decade  was supposedly sold again for a rumoured multi-million amount, before being turned over again a short while later.

Whatever about the failures of the past decade, it is grossly unfair now in 2026 to the town, its people and its economy, to allow this outrage to continue without remediation.

It needs concentrated and directed actions, such as the establishment of a no-nonsense Task Force to tackle such a huge haemorrhage of potential from our local economy. And that potential has probably every bit as much validity for support as such well-buttressed ventures like Mount Congreve and the airport.

It is simply grossly unfair to blight one of Irelands finest resorts and magnificent bays by carrying on with a hulking carbuncle atop the town that tells a lingering tale of inaction and hand-wringing. It is a task that must be addressed urgently in 2026.

Senator Joe Conway

LETTERS, your voice, your view: Whether you agree or disagree with the views expressed or would like to have your own personal opinion aired in public, were waiting to hear from you. Send your letters to Editor, Waterford News & Star, Gladstone House, Gladstone Street, Waterford City or email maryfrances.ryan@waterford-news.com
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BusinessCompaniesDeath Unlicensed, unregulated: Grave concerns over boom in funeral directors Nina Hendy January 18, 2026  1:00pm 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

Pop-up funeral directors operating with nothing more than a briefcase and a mobile phone have stoked calls for stricter regulations for the industry, amid fears that vulnerable families could suffer as newcomers try to cash in on the $1.6 billion death trade. Established funeral businesses with bricks-and-mortar operations are concerned that corners are being cut as regulators lower barriers to entry to bolster competition. A licence is not required to call yourself a funeral director. Funeral parlour operators hold grave concerns that current laws dont go far enough to protect families from new players cashing in on a $1.6 billion industry. Aresna Villanueva New directors are setting up a website and taking funeral bookings, outsourcing cremations to local state-owned crematoriums in their area and hiring a hearse by the day as required. Some even book delivery drivers to transport the deceased and have a casket delivered to a mortuary. A NSW-based funeral director, who spoke anonymously for fear of backlash from other industry participants, says the industry has long pushed for regulation. Industry bodies are currently working on a new set of voluntary standards, which would require operators to own their own mortuary and vehicles.

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Operators with no more than a briefcase and a mobile phone can now call themselves a funeral director. They pick up the phone and use one of the shared mortuary facilities to hold and prepare the body, then order a coffin from a manufacturer to be delivered to that shared mortuary, they said. Related Article ACCC 'Potential for unconscionable conduct': Funeral industry in ACCC's sights When the funeral day comes, its easy to hire a hearse and a car ... and carry out a funeral and pray to god everything goes alright. And if it all goes horribly wrong, they can pack up their tent and leave. Theres no permanency. Operators say there is good money to be made in the death trade, but the industry has been allowed to grow with little regard for regulations, which they say have been watered down over recent decades. A report from major funeral operator Invocare in 2021 said that the number of funeral directors in Australia had increased 37 per cent since 2010.

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Laid bare However, new players argue this is a healthy disruption of an industry in need of a shake-up. Award-winning challenger funeral brand Bare started out six years ago, offering cheaper cremations and providing clarity in a sector that it says has long been shrouded in secrecy when it comes to pricing. Bare co-founders Sam McConkey and Cale Donovan. It started with no equipment, but as the business grew, it invested in 25 transfer vehicles, hearses and mortuary facilities, with more under construction. It doesnt own any crematoriums, utilising government-owned facilities in each state. Founder Sam McConkey says its a small cohort of traditional funeral directors who are resistant to the idea of change. But hes the first to agree that the industry requires better regulation, though he believes the issue of ownership is less important.

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What is important from the customer perspective is transparency, choice and informed decision-making, he says. While regulation of specific infrastructure assets is important, we believe ownership of those assets is less important as it is generally self-serving, allowing traditional players to create a barrier for entry to new competitors who cant afford to buy infrastructure from day one. Anyone can be a funeral director right now and can handle the deceased, and were not comfortable with that. Funerals Australia chief Dale Gilson Families choosing Bare know upfront that it doesnt own bricks-and-mortar funeral parlours, with families preferring to arrange a funeral over the phone or on video call, rather than being forced into a traditional funeral parlour to make decisions. While we all agree that better  and more nationally standardised  regulation in the funeral industry would benefit families, wed love to see those regulations extend across more than simply the ownership of physical infrastructure.

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Related Article Grief She was crying uncontrollably: What not to do when consoling someone whos grieving Bare is far from the only new operator to emerge over the past decade, with other players such as Green Heaven Funerals in Sydney and The Last Hurrah in Melbourne. A complex web Death is big business. There were 187,268 registered deaths in 2024, an increase of 4137 on 2023. However, funerals and cremations are legislated differently in each state and territory and responsibilities are often split between different departments. In Victoria, the Funerals Act 2006 has not been meaningfully updated in nearly two decades.

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State health departments handle public health regulations and the processes that govern the handling of deceased bodies, including the handling and transportation of human remains and the practice of preparing the deceased for burial or cremation. NSW outlines clear rules about body transport, but in many other states and territories, there are minimal laws covering the transportation of bodies. State-managed cemeteries and crematoria organisations govern how crematoriums are established and operated. Victorian cemeteries are operated by trusts, which have to adhere to standards set out by the state government. There are concerns held across the industry that funeral directors are allowed to operate largely unregulated. iStock However, when it comes to funeral directors themselves, there are no licences required, though directors can opt to receive a diploma from various training organisations. In Victoria, providers must register their business with Consumer Affairs. The National Funeral Directors Association of Australia (NFDA) has more than 230 members, who own a licensed mortuary, a funeral home, a crematorium and a hearse. Some estimate it would cost more than $1 million to set up a funeral parlour in most suburban areas in todays market  a hearse alone costs $300,000 to purchase new.

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Related Article City life High-density burials, shallower graves proposed in cemetery rules revamp The NFDA says standards and ethics have dropped over the years as operators look for ways to offer cut-price services amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The most cost-effective way of exiting this world is a cremation-only package, which can be found online for as little as $1190, while a burial can cost up to $15,000. President Michael Mackay acknowledged that the industry is not immune to disruption but raised concerns about claims of bodies being transported across cities in nondescript white vans to access shared crematoriums, all organised entirely remotely. We dont mind new people coming into the industry, but if you do, we should all play under the same set of rules, he says. If people realised what was going on, they would be horrified. Their loved one is being transferred all over the city. Its not the way things should be. If you come to us, everything is done under one roof and the body is here until we do the funeral. The NFDA has spent years working with regulators and various government departments to lift standards, and has since raised the alarm out of frustration, warning that regulations dont go far enough and that a number of complaints have fallen on deaf ears over the years.

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Dale Gilson, chief executive of Funerals Australia. Instead, the organisation is working with Standards Australia to implement a new voluntary industry standard that would require operators own their own mortuary and vehicles. Mackay hopes this will force the government to introduce tighter legislation. In lieu of regulation keeping pace with technology and the subsequent new ways to deliver funeral services, this is an example of the industry finding ways to self-regulate, says Funerals Australia chief Dale Gilson. Anyone can be a funeral director right now and can handle the deceased, and were not comfortable with that. Wed like the government to play a bigger part in legislating our industry, Gilson says. This is a largely unregulated industry, and the public would think that there would be licensing, but there isnt. We believe in standards and regulation.

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Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Death Nina Hendy is a business and finance journalist.
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Updated NationalNSWSharks Man critical after Manly shark attack; third Sydney attack in two days Daniel Lo Surdo and James Brickwood Updated January 20, 2026  4:49am ,first published 3:59pm 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 is fighting for his life after he was attacked by a shark at North Steyne Beach on Monday evening  the third shark attack in Sydney in two days. Emergency responders were called to Manly just before 6.30pm on Monday following reports that the man, believed to be aged in his 20s, was attacked while surfing and suffered major lacerations to his leg. First responders performed CPR on the man while beachgoers watched from the foreshore. James Brickwood He was pulled onto the shoreline near the North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club by two other surfers, before bystanders used leg ropes as makeshift tourniquets to stem the bleeding from the mans calf. Intensive care paramedics rushed down the sand to treat the man, who was administered CPR while hordes of beachgoers watched on. He was taken by ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.

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Several ambulance vehicles and two helicopters were deployed to Manly. An emergency helicopter landed on the Manly shoreline shortly before 7pm to assist the medical response, which was also supported by police. A livestream from a beach camera, set up for surfers and swimmers to check the water conditions, captured thrashing in the water at the time of the attack. A beachcam at Manly captured splashing in the water at the time of the shark attack. Nine News / Swellnet Earlier on Monday, an 11-year-old boy was knocked into the water by a shark at Dee Why. A chunk was torn out of his board, but he escaped unharmed. On Sunday, a 12-year-old boy was bitten by a large bull shark near a Sydney Harbour beach at Vaucluse. He remains in a critical condition in hospital. The Dorsal shark alert system reported that a water evacuation was issued at Manly Beach on Monday afternoon due to a shark sighting.

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Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said the organisation couldnt recall a period of three attacks in about 24 hours, echoing comments made on Monday afternoon about the concerning spike in shark attacks around Sydney. All beaches on the northern beaches will not reopen until Thursday, following a decision by the NSW government, Surf Life Saving NSW and Northern Beaches Council in the hours after the Manly attack. The man is rushed to hospital on Monday afternoon. James Brickwood Pearce said the move would stop people from entering the water whilst we have these dangerous swimming and surfing conditions. The 48-hour closure will extend the decision to shut the northern beaches amid dangerous conditions on Monday morning. Dayyan Neve was among the heroes who rushed to treat the man, wrapping a tourniquet around the mans leg as he fell out of consciousness. Neve said the victim had suffered graphic injuries by the time he was brought to shore.

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The poor guy, I dont think he was feeling much by then ... we were just talking to him and we were all just trying to keep him awake, Neve said. Surfers stick together ... we all know to grab a tourniquet ... when theres talk of a shark attack, all of us would do it for each other.

Dayyan Neve was among those who rushed to the mans aid. James Brickwood Neve said there were more sharks than Ive ever seen at Manly, noting he had surfed the breaks at North Steyne his entire life and wouldnt be allowing his teenage daughter in the water for the next little while. Neve was accompanied on the scene by Max White, who reported lots of blood in the water as he praised the two surfers who brought the man to shore.

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The current was pretty strong  the surf wasnt super-big, but the current was pulling him further and further out, and those guys did a really good job of pulling him all the way in, said White, who also raised concerns with the number of sharks being spotted on the northern beaches. Now I am scared to go surfing at Manly  this is my local beach, I surf here every day. I went for a surf here this morning. Max White, Dayyan Neve and Kel Lavers all rushed to the scene. James Brickwood Local surfer Luca Attanasio was walking on the foreshore when he saw crowds of people descending on the beach as surfers waved their surfboards in the air to attract the attention of nearby lifeguards. I heard somebody say someones drowned, and I knew straight away it was a shark, Attanasio said.

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Im pretty rattled ... being a surfer from around the area, you just want to make sure its nobody you know. The attack occurred hours after an 11-year-old boy was attacked by a shark at nearby Dee Why Beach, in which the child fled the water unharmed after being knocked off his surfboard. Witnesses at Dee Why reported observing a bull shark in the water, up to 150 centimetres long. The man was loaded into an ambulance after CPR was performed. James Brickwood It is the third shark attack in Sydney in two days after a 12-year-old boy was attacked at an eastern suburbs beach on Sunday. He continues to fight for his life in hospital after being bitten by a large bull shark while swimming with friends at a popular jump rock in Vaucluse. A tagged bull shark was detected in waters off North Narrabeen Beach just after 6.30pm on Monday, according to Dorsal, while surfers at nearby Avalon Beach reported being approached by a shark about lunchtime, prompting a swift evacuation to the shore.

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Sharks Why this is the most dangerous time to swim in Sydney Manly local Sol Giuendling said the three successive shark attacks were pretty scary, and suggested further action was needed to ensure swimmers felt safe at the beach. Its not even the first one thats happened today, Giuendling said. Its too much. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane called three shark attacks in such quick succession unprecedented, citing NSW Surf Life Saving records, and called for increased beach monitoring programs to improve confidence among beachgoers over summer. While its too early to determine whether these are tragic coincidences or part of a more concerning trend, the government must immediately further increase drone surveillance until we address the risk to swimmers and surfers, Sloane said.

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We are all thinking of the victims of these attacks and their families and praying for their recoveries. Premier Chris Minns told 2GB on Tuesday the states warnings and communications when sharks are more active or conditions are more dangerous could be bolstered, and existing shark mitigation measures like nets at metropolitan beaches would not be removed. Were keeping them, despite the fact that theres pressure to remove them, he said. We cant have a situation where theyre removed and we have further shark attacks on major metropolitan beaches. The government abandoned a planned trial to remove shark nets at three beaches after Mercury Psillakis was killed by a shark at Long Reef Beach in September, near where the boy was attacked at Dee Why on Monday.

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Before the fatal Long Reef attack, the 57-year-old spotted an adolescent white shark while in the water with a group of other surfers, and instructed them to form a huddle to protect themselves as they moved toward shore. Psillakis widow Maria pushed for a revamp of the shark alert systems at Sydney beaches, saying that questions need to be asked about the measures to protect surfers after her husbands death.
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PoliticsWACinema Perths film studio readies for opening  but waits on productions Hamish Hastie January 19, 2026  1:22pm 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

Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk is confident that the $290 million Perth Film Studios will not be a white elephant and has assured taxpayers that a production will be filming in the space before the end of the year. The film studio project cost $233 million and the state has tipped in a further $57 million for operational costs. Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk, Perth Film Studios chief executive Tom Avison and WA Premier Roger Cook at the new Perth Film Studios in Whiteman. Hamish Hastie The studio reached practical completion this week and was expected to be ready to welcome film and TV productions from next month, but neither Perth Film Studios nor the government had any to announce on Monday. Im confident in the next couple of months, well be able to announce what the first project here will be, McGurk said.

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There will be a production booked in here before the end of the year, I can assure you of that. The success of the film studio is not guaranteed, and Donald Trumps film tariffs add extra complexity to its ability to attract productions to the most isolated capital city in the world. McGurk said the $57 million paid to Adrian Fini-backed Home Fire Creative to operate the studio would be repaid, but did not provide a definitive timeframe. She conceded the studios would need government support and investment in its early stages. Im confident that we not only have the facility now, but we have the other elements of the picture to ensure that this will be a big success, she said.

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The demand for screen content is at an all-time high, and I dont see that changing. Im confident that weve made a good investment, not only for the screen industry, but also for our creative industries and for Western Australia. Related Article Film & TV production Perths big, beautiful movie studio is getting ready for its close-up Like any industry assistance, particularly in its infancy, you do need to make investments. Perth Film Studios chief executive Tom Avison said he was in discussions with production companies of all sizes, including big Hollywood studios, where conversations were accelerating and advancing. Were not in a position to say right now whats going to be the first production, but were in a position that gives us all real confidence that the next few months are going to start rolling out in a really positive way, Avison said.

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If Perth wasnt on the map for [big studios] already...this facility is now on the map for them, and its in their minds. Avison said the business plan for the facility was absolutely to make money for the government. The film studios were initially earmarked for Fremantle Port, but were moved to the southern end of Whiteman Park at the end of 2022 amid concerns about geotechnical issues and the land being too constrained. The 16-hectare studio lot features 90,000 square meters of sound stage, makeup areas, green rooms, workshops and the biggest back lot in the southern hemisphere at 23,000 square metres. McGurk said the studio was completed on time and on budget  arguing that the $100 million Fremantle film studio promise made ahead of the 2021 election was a completely different project.

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A lot of things have happened between that announcement in 2020 and now, so Im confident that the final build for this and the capacity, the detail that we have here in this project has been delivered in the way that we have expected, she said. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.

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Perth Hamish Hastie is WAtoday's state political reporter and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Prize for best political journalism. or email. Connect via X
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InspirationTravel tips Opinion Making new friends overseas can be great  or go totally wrong Sue Williams Contributing writer January 20, 2026  2:00am

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In 1983, China had the most bitter of winters  an icy minus 12 degrees in Beijing  and it seemed everyone had streaming colds. The only other overseas tourist on the train from Xian to Beijing, a Mexican called Emilio, was no different. He gave me a wan smile as he settled into his mound of blankets and tissues as I passed his carriage, and we agreed to share a taxi, on arrival, to a dormitory hotel in the city. Illustration: Jamie Brown But when the train finally arrived, there was no sign of him. Hed apparently been taken off on a stretcher and whisked by the American embassy (in the distant days when they also looked after Mexicans) to hospital. I visited him daily, taking him food and water, as neither were supplied by the hospital  nor the embassy  until one day, his bed was empty. My heart stopped, until I was told hed been flown home with advanced pneumonia. Hed left me a letter on the bedside cabinet, with his address, home phone number, effusive thanks and an invitation to visit whenever I was near.

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Three years later, I was in Mexico, so I wrote and then visited. He was obviously pleased to see me, and his family was strangely gushing. It was only when I was later alone with his brother Mateo that the truth came out. He told me how pleased everyone was that Emilio finally had a fiancee, and when we were planning the wedding? Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Beijing was freezing and many people  including tourists  were sick when I met Emilio. iStock It can be truly wonderful meeting fellow travellers on your trips who you think are like-minded people and with whom you can share some of the most incredible sights, explorations and experiences. But sometimes everything isnt quite how it seems. On holiday, they can be fun and fearless and infinitely agreeable, but back home they might have values, outlooks and motivations that are incredibly different to ones own. Once, in Botswana, I spent a couple of weeks bumping into a young New Zealander called Gus. Our routes were similar, as were our ideas about what we wanted to see, and we always enjoyed each others company.

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When I was next in New Zealand, I drove to Gisborne to stay a few days at his place with him and his girlfriend. She was lovely, but hed morphed into an overbearing, horribly aggressive heavy drinker she was obviously frightened of. I left the next morning. Friends you make while travelling may turn out to be quite different when you see them in their home. iStock Ill never forget the Sydneysider, either, Id befriended in Venezuela whod run out of money when I was living in London. She came to stay  and vanished one day with half my wardrobe. I still miss those purple cord pants. But, of course, there are always the people you do encounter on your travels who turn into much-treasured, lifelong friends. I met two lovely Melburnians in the Kimberley whom I relish seeing regularly. Im still close pals with a Londoner I travelled with through Central Africa over 40 years ago. And when a New Zealand woman I met on that first trip through China became seriously ill years on and needed a kidney transplant, I wouldnt have hesitated to give her one if Id been a better match.

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Travel tips Whos the creepy old guy staying in a backpacker hostel? Its me Ben Groundwater Travel writer Making great friendships with others exploring the world is one of the true joys of travel and can add immeasurable pleasure to any trip. Then, if they sometimes go wrong later, hopefully its a small price to pay. Because, far more often, they do turn out beautifully and while it can take effort to stay in touch, those reminiscences over treasured shared times provide the foundation of something even more meaningful. Im still in contact, for instance, with Mateo in Mexico, although politely declined the invitation to Emilios wedding.

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Reviews & adviceTravel tips Opinion Europes new entry system was a nightmare, but I learnt its value later Lee Tulloch Travel columnist January 20, 2026  2:00am

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In December, I had my first experience with the new automated Entry/ Exit system (EES) for non-Europeans entering and leaving the Schengen Area of Europe. The system doesnt apply when entering European countries outside the Schengen zone, such as Britain, Ireland, Turkey and Cyprus. Under the new EES scheme your fingerprints and photograph will first need to be recorded before you can join the biometric passport lane. Bloomberg And its different from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, which is due to come into operation at the end of 2026. Confusingly, some of the non-Schengen countries will require visitors to have an ETIAS. The acronyms are also confusing, but they are different parts of the one scheme. The first is about collecting biometric data such as fingerprints and facial records and the second is about applying this to a more sophisticated system of gatekeeping, similar to the USs Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa-waiver.

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Australians still will be able to stay up to only 90 days out of a 180 period in Schengen countries. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. We can relax about the ETIAS for now, but the EES began last October and is affecting those on Australian, British, US passports and those who enter Europe on the other line at the Schengen borders. Sort of. Nice airport is its own kind of nightmare. Alamy I travelled to France at the end of November, and before I left, I read up as much as I could about what was required for the EES. Through the Australian governments Smart Traveller page, I discovered that I didnt need to do anything before arriving at the French border and that there was no fee for the service.

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What worried me was not the process but what kind of chaos might greet me at my airport of entry. I hadnt forgotten the two hours I stood in line at Haneda Airport in Tokyo in 2024, after Japan had introduced a new entry system that also involved collecting my biometric data. If the Japanese were inefficient, the Europeans might be much worse. Most of my encounters with French bureaucracy havent been great, but I thought I had one advantage: I was not entering the country through the busy Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris but the smaller Nice Cote dAzur Airport. Id also read that I could choose to provide my information at a self-serve kiosk, which might be more efficient than waiting for an immigration official to process me. Staggering off the Emirates A380, I was greeted by rows of new kiosks  which was great, except that all were taped up and not yet operating.

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And as I entered the crowded immigration hall, I remembered too late that Nice airport is its own kind of nightmare. From experience, the airport rarely has enough officers on duty to deal with the crowds. Related Article Opinion

UK Dual citizens to face strict new rules on entering the UK Michael Gebicki The Tripologist In this case, there were only three officials at their posts for hundreds of passengers. There was a VIP line to the left, another to the right, which seemed to be dealing with special cases, and all the rest of us in a scrum in the middle, waiting for one guy. By the time my line was inching closer to the border, I noticed that people on the line to the left were being directed to an official who was taking photographs and collecting fingerprints. At other desks, arrivals were going straight through without any questioning. I asked the official who was directing traffic how this could be. Surely everyone who hadnt done so needed to have their details taken before they could enter the zone?

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Not everyone, she shrugged. They were collecting the information gradually. So, it wasnt mandatory. Yet. It will be fully implemented by April 10. Related Article Tripologist The 26 things every traveller needs to know about travel in 2026 I was at the top of the line by then. I asked her, could I have my fingerprints taken? Having got that far, I wanted to have it done. After all, my next point of entry to a Schengen area might be at an airport that was even more chaotic. She looked at me as if I were a madwoman. As you wish.

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The man behind the desk took one look at my passport and exclaimed Ah, a kangaroo! The fingerprinting and photographing took about four minutes. Ill have to do it again in three years time. But the advantage became immediately obvious as I was flying from Charles de Gaulle two weeks later. I could use the biometric passport lane, just as I can in Sydney. Instead of watching all the Europeans breeze by in their special lanes, I could join them. At that moment, I felt just a little bit European.
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WorldAsiaForeign relations Opinion Why Indonesias worrying shift is hard to ignore Zach Hope South-East Asia correspondent January 20, 2026  2:00am

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More than ever in the worlds third-largest democracy, it may pay to keep your mouth shut and your pants up. New laws enacted in Indonesia this month criminalise a slew of supposed transgressions ranging from demeaning the president to unmarried sex. Even witches and shamans be warned: offering your supernatural powers to harm others could land you in jail. Illustration by Dionne Gain The nations new criminal code (KUHP is the Indonesian acronym) has been in development for years, eventually passing into law in 2022 under then-president Joko Widodo and waiting in storage until January 2 this year to give it, and the public, time to get acquainted. The administration of Prabowo Subianto has carriage now. It shakes off the century-old Dutch version with something actually home-grown. This much is good. Out is a relic of colonialism, and in are laws made by Indonesian democracy.

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Provisions such as encouraging sentencing judges to look at alternatives to prison, and making penalties consistent across the vast archipelago, are generally seen as positives too. Related Article World politics Jail for everyone: Sex ban puts spotlight on Indonesias law-and-order crackdown But it also reaches into areas of freedom of expression, assembly and personal rights. And this is hot-button stuff in a body politic proud of its democratic reform from the late 1990s. The reaction from civil society and media groups to the codes entirety has been caustic. The Jakarta Post editorialised recently the KUHP must be challenged in the courts. Indeed, several judicial petitions have already been filed, including from 12 university students who argue that article 218  which makes attacks on the honour or dignity of the president and vice-president a jailable offence  is unconstitutional. If not unconstitutional, it is at least glass-jawed.

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The legislation clarifies that it is OK to criticise the top dogs if done in the public interest or self-defence, but what constitutes such carve-outs is inherently a matter of personal taste and, therefore, grey. The fear is that the law will be used to silence opposition and critics. Co-ordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra says the distinction between criticism and insult has already long been recognised in the practice of Indonesian law. Criticism means providing an analysis of something, pointing out where its wrong, and finding a solution, he told Indonesian publication HukumOnline. But insulting, you know, means using words that demean others. Still grey, for mine. Lawmakers have softened some contentious sections of the codes original drafts. In this particular provision, it must now be the president or vice-president themselves to make the complaint, not just anyone, like a staffer, supporter or political player keen to advance themselves in the presidents standing.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Indonesian President Pradowo Subianto in Sydney in November. AP Official notes clarify that the target of the law is not academic discussion or legitimate criticism, says University of Melbourne associate professor Nadirsyah Hosen. Still, these fixes are mostly procedural. The core definitions  what actually counts as an insult or an attack on an institution  are still pretty broad, he says. A biting political cartoon, a sarcastic social media post, or a protest chant could be read one way by someone offended and quite differently by others, including police or prosecutors. The sweeping new code also encompasses morality, which is most significant for Australians planning their next party holiday in Bali. Adultery is already a crime in Indonesia. The KUHP goes further. When the laws were first moved in 2022, tourism operators were concerned criminalising cohabitation and sex outside of marriage could turn away holidaymakers.

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Seeking to ease fears, authorities emphasised it would not be proactively policed. This is to say, police wont be peering through windows. Rather, a complaint needs to come directly from an aggrieved family member. Presumably, then, tourists will be unlikely to be captured in the net  unless they are engaged in a casual or adulterous sexual relationship with a local. The cohabitation laws, however, will have ramifications for the countrys LGBTQ population. Related Article Foreign relations New era: Australia, Indonesia strike surprise security treaty Despite the Bali governors insistence there is nothing to worry about, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Smartraveller site nonetheless sees fit to warn Australians: Indonesias revised criminal code includes penalties for cohabitation and sex outside of marriage. If youre married, authorities can act on a complaint submitted by your spouse. If youre unmarried, authorities can act on a complaint submitted by your child or parent. Other elements of the KUHP make it riskier to organise demonstrations without adequate prior notification. It also waters down criminal accountability for human rights violations, according to Human Rights Monitor.

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The laws are so open to abuses of power from authorities, even Indonesias law minister Supratman Andi Agtas admitted to Reuters that this was a risk. Anything thats new will not be immediately perfect, he said. Accompanying the KUHP into enforcement is the new criminal procedure code (KUHAP), which set out how the state can investigate, detain and prosecute. Unlike the KUHP, which the public had three years to digest before its enactment, the KUHAP was passed only in November, and again to objections from rights groups, who say it lacks judicial oversight. The revised KUHAP gives police and prosecutors more tools  wider discretion on pre-trial detention, evidence gathering, and other powers. On paper, some of that could make sense for efficiency, Hosen says. But pair it with the KUHPs broader offences  especially vague ones around speech or institutions  and the combination gets worrying. A loose definition of a crime, plus stronger detention and investigative authority, creates a much higher risk of abuse. The effect of the codes leans into Indonesias backpedalling, initiated in earnest in Widodos second term from 2019, on democratic standards. It is perhaps no surprise, then, Prabowo saw fit to elevate the late corrupt autocrat Suharto, his former father-in-law, to the status of national hero last year.

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Normalisation by glorification. Australias most important fellow nation, as the Labor government calls Indonesia, is not embarking on a full slide into authoritarianism, Hosen says, though theres a noticeable pattern thats hard to ignore. The laws probably wont lead to mass arrests tomorrow, he says. The real impact is subtler: ordinary people, journalists and activists starting to think twice before speaking out, just to avoid becoming someones test case. That kind of chill is very human  and very real. Zach Hope is South-East Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. 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.
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Doctor Care Anywhere Group PLC (ASX:DOC), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

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The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Doctor Care Anywhere Group

The insider Alexander Waislitz made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$195k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.12 each. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of AU$0.14. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

While Doctor Care Anywhere Group insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. They paid about AU$0.10 on average. It is certainly positive to see that insiders have invested their own money in the company. But we must note that the investments were made at well below today's share price. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

View our latest analysis for Doctor Care Anywhere Group

ASX:DOC Insider Trading Volume January 19th 2026

Doctor Care Anywhere Group is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insiders At Doctor Care Anywhere Group Have Bought Stock Recently

It's good to see that Doctor Care Anywhere Group insiders have made notable investments in the company's shares. Overall, two insiders shelled out AU$268k for shares in the company -- and none sold. This is a positive in our book as it implies some confidence.

Insider Ownership Of Doctor Care Anywhere Group

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 30% of Doctor Care Anywhere Group shares, worth about AU$16m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment.
Key Points

Centrus has the most advanced and lowest-risk centrifuge in the business.

Low debt, strong cash reserves, and profit growth make this stock a standout.

America's ban on Russian uranium imports and general demand for nuclear energy are powerful tailwinds.

10 stocks we like better than Centrus Energy 

2025 was a banner year for nuclear energy stocks, and it should be no wonder why. Nuclear power is likely the best solution to powering the data centers required for the rollout of artificial intelligence (AI). And Centrus Energy's (NYSE: LEU) stock performance is a testament to last year's run-up in nuclear. It ended 2025 up 264% and is up another 26% to start this year.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centers already consume around 1.5% of all the electricity produced globally, and that has grown at a rate of 12% per year over the last five years.And, in the IEA's base-case estimate, data center energy demand is set to grow to 3% of global electricity by 2030, double what it is today.

To meet that demand, the U.S. Department of Energy is planning on tripling America's nuclear energy production by the middle of the century.

Interestingly enough, northern Virginia, the epicenter of America's data center construction boom, is right in Centrus Energy's backyard.

How does nuclear energy work?

Bethesda-based Centrus Energy is America's top nuclear fuel refining company. Nuclear energy isn't as simple as coal; you can't just pull the uranium out of the ground and burn it to unlock its energy potential.

Uranium needs to be refined into usable fuel. In nature, 99% of all uranium is the U-238 isotope with 146 neutrons. It is radioactive, but it's not particularly reactive. Unless it's paired with plutonium in some specialized reactors, it can't be used for power generation.

Centrus takes the raw U-238 pulled out of the ground by uranium miners and turns it into U-235 by stripping off three neutrons to give it a total of 143. That makes it into the fissile (capable of being split by neutron bombardment) uranium we use in reactors.

Image source: Getty Images.

It's a complicated process, one which Centrus has refined at its production facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Coincidentally, that's also where the uranium and plutonium for the Manhattan Project were created.

That facility is absolutely critical to America's energy independence.

When the U.S. shut down its last Cold-War-era enrichment plants in 2013, it was left without any domestic industrial-scale uranium enrichment capacity. But in 2015, the Department of Energy reported that Centrus' AC100 centrifuge was the most advanced and lowest-risk option to meet the nation's long-term needs.
The proposed merger between Rio Tinto and Glencore could reportedly face significant regulatory challenges, particularly in China.

According to a Reuters report, the companies may need to sell assets to secure approval.

Earlier this month, Rio Tinto and Glencore disclosed that they had initiated preliminary discussions regarding the potential merger. Both mining majors provided limited details on the possible structure of the deal or which assets might be involved.

They noted that the current proposal involves an all-share acquisition, with Rio Tinto potentially acquiring "some or all" of Glencore.

Past large-scale mergers in the mining sector encountered similar regulatory scrutiny from China, such as Glencore's acquisition of Xstrata in 2013, Reuters reported. During the deal, Glencore sold its stake in the Las Bambas copper mine to Chinese buyers for nearly $6bn (41.78bn yuan).

China's regulators are expected to examine the potential dominance of a combined Rio Tinto-Glencore entity in the copper and iron ore markets.

Rio Tinto has already been considering an asset-for-equity swap to reduce the 11% stake held by its largest shareholder, Chinalco, the state-run Aluminium Corporation of China.

Assets of interest include Rio Tinto's Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea and the Oyu Tolgoi copper project in Mongolia.

Demand for copper assets has increased due to their significance for the green energy transition and AI technologies.

Both Rio Tinto and Glencore have been shifting focus towards copper, aligning with competitors like Australia's BHP.

The rising importance of copper has also been noted by other industry players, with Anglo American and Teck Resources planning a $53bn merger, which will also require Chinese regulatory scrutiny.

"Rio Tinto-Glencore merger could face Chinese regulatory hurdles" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




High Court reporter

The High Court has ordered the immediate reimprisonment of Enoch Burke, less than a week after the schoolteacher was released from Mountjoy jail.

Mr Burke was brought before Mr Justice Brian Cregan on Monday hours after gardai arrested him at Wilsons Hospital School. The judge had ordered his arrest on Friday following his breach of a court direction prohibiting his attendance at the Co Westmeath school.

Following an application by lawyers for the school, Mr Justice Cregan said he was satisfied that Mr Burke had breached the order by attending at the school on Thursday and Friday last week.

The judge found Mr Burke to be in contempt of court and ordered his immediate committal to Mountjoy.

The developments came after Mr Justice Cregan on Wednesday ordered Mr Burkes release from Mountjoy Prison, where he has spent some 560 days over the last three years in custody for his repeated breach of the order banning him from the school.

The judge had ordered his release to give the teacher an opportunity to prepare a new case he is bringing in relation to the composition of an appeal panel, which will hear an appeal against his dismissal from the school.

His release was ordered despite Mr Burke informing the judge that he would return to the school the following morning. Mr Burke made good on this assertion.

Mr Burkes formal dismissal from the school some three years ago arose out of conduct following his refusal to comply with a direction from the schools then-principal to address a transgender pupil by a new name.

Mr Burke has repeatedly claimed his jailing arises from his views on transgender issues, and that his religious and constitutional rights have been breached.

Several judges have told Mr Burke he was jailed for breaching a court order not to trespass on the school grounds, and it was not about his religious or constitutional rights but the rule of law.
A Claremorris councillor is urging Mayo County Council to grant planning permission to fast-food chain McDonalds, which is seeking to open a branch in the town.

Independent Cllr Richard Finn made his comments at the January meeting of the authority, noting that there are people willing to invest millions in the town.

There are millions of euro out there waiting to be spent in order to finish off dereliction projects; all we are waiting for is the go-ahead and planning permissions.

I just hope we continue to get the help of the council and management as the proof is out there that the money is here locally and people are willing to invest in the town to remove dereliction if they are allowed to invest. All we are looking for in Claremorris is progress.

Mr Finn said he was particularly keen to see progress on an application for McDonalds in the town.

Right now, there is an application in for a McDonalds franchise to open in the town. I would not like to see us ending up with the same result we saw in terms of the response of the general public when the application was put in for Lidl three years ago.

We want those developments, we need them. It is brand names we need in our towns or else we wont have progress or any lifestyles either, the long-serving councillor added.
Staff from more than 70 hotels from across the country gathered at the Irish Hotels Federations (IHF) inaugural Quality Employer Awards, which took place last week at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone.

The Great National Hotel Ballina was among the recipients to be awarded Quality Employer Advanced Level Certification in recognition of achievements in Human Resources best practices and people management.

The Quality Employer Awards recognise hotel teams that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to excellence in people development and HR best practices through their participation in the IHFs Quality Employer Programme. Two Galway hotels, The Connacht Hotel and The Ard Ri House Hotel, were among recipients awarded Quality Employer Certification, in recognition of their achievements in HR best practices and people management.

The top accolade - the Exceptional People Management Award - was jointly awarded to Cork International Hotel and The Metropole Hotel in recognition of their exceptional employment practices, demonstrating exemplary practical and personal care for employees wellbeing and development.

Chair of the awards judging panel Dr Donagh Davern, Munster Technological University (MTU), congratulated the over 70 hotels that recently certified as IHF Quality Employers: It is an honour to be among so many inspiring HR leaders to celebrate the very best of people development across our hotels and guesthouse sector. Each and every property that participates in our Quality Employer Programme is striving for the same goal - to make their hotel a wonderful place to work and build a career. The importance of this cannot be overstated; our people are the beating heart of our industry.
Global energy investor Samos Energy has signed a ship sale agreement to purchase the Suksan Salamander floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit from Altera Infrastructure Group.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The FSO is currently in use at the Bualuang oilfield offshore Thailand. The Bualuang field is operated by Medco Energi Thailand.

The Suksan Salamander is registered under the flag of the Bahamas.

It was constructed by Mitsui in 1993. The unit has a capacity of 78,228 deadweight tonnes (dwt).

Samos Energy has collaborated with FPSO Ventures, a company specialising in the operations and maintenance of floating production units, as part of the deal.

Following the completion of the acquisition and the transfer of the Suksan Salamander FSO from Altera to Samos, FPSO Ventures will manage operations and maintenance.

Samos Energy will assume ownership and control of the asset along with its bareboat charter contract.

This acquisition forms part of Samos Energy's broader strategy to enhance its portfolio of offshore production assets.

It complements the companys existing assets in South East Asia, which include three floating production units acquired from BlackRock in 2023.

Samos Energy has recently been actively involved in securing new equity and debt facilities at the corporate level.

This financial manoeuvring is aimed at facilitating further expansion of the companys offshore production fleet and acquiring new exploration, production, midstream and power platforms.

The partnership between Samos Energy and FPSO Ventures aims to ensure continued operational efficiency, adherence to safety standards and reliability for Medco Energi Thailand at the Bualuang oilfield.

The Suksan Salamander FSO is integral to this operation, providing necessary storage and offloading capacity.

It features a double-hull design with the ability to store around 470,000 barrels of crude oil, process 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) and offload at a rate of 20,000bpd.

"Samos Energy signs agreement to acquire Suksan Salamander FSO" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




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US venture capital firm Sequoia Capital is reportedly planning to invest in Claude-maker Anthropic as part of a fundraising effort that could reach tens of billions of dollars, the Financial Times reported.

The round is being led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC and US investor Coatue, which have each committed $1.5bn, the newspaper wrote, citing sources with direct knowledge of the discussions.

Anthropic aims to raise $25bn or more, valuing the company at $350bn, which would more than double its valuation from four months ago. The report added that Microsoft and Nvidia have pledged up to $15bn between them, with other venture capital firms and investors expected to contribute further funding.

Talks on the fundraising remain ongoing and the final total may change, according to the publication. The company has not yet confirmed which investors will take part, but the report said the round is expected to close in the coming weeks.

The Financial Times said Sequoias participation follows a leadership transition at the venture capital firm last year, when Pat Grady and Alfred Lin became co-leaders after Roelof Botha left. The report said Botha had been cautious about concentrating investments in highly valued start-ups, arguing that the approach did not necessarily produce successful companies.

Sequoia has previously backed companies including Google, Apple, Stripe, and Airbnb, and it holds stakes in OpenAI and xAI, both competitors to Anthropic. The report said this reflects a broader shift among venture firms towards supporting multiple rivals in the AI sector.

The report citing an insider, said that the scale of the Anthropic deal resembles a stock investment rather than traditional venture capital backing.

Anthropic is known for its Claude chatbot and for developing AI tools for software engineers.

The report said Anthropic has also been preparing for a possible initial public offering (IPO), potentially this year. The company has engaged Wilson Sonsini for legal work and has held talks with banks about a listing.

Earlier this month, Elon Musks AI venture xAI raised $20bn in a Series E funding round, surpassing its original target of $15bn. This capital will enhance AI model development and computing infrastructure.

Notable participants in xAIs financing include Valor Equity Partners, StepStone Group, Fidelity Management & Research Company, and Qatar Investment Authority, with Nvidia and Cisco Investments joining as strategic partners.

"Sequoia Capital plans billion-dollar investment in Claude-maker Anthropic" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.
Air pollution from industrial facilities is a major source of ill health for people, especially the poor and working class who are forced to live in their vicinity. A prime example is what is known as Cancer Alley, along the lower Mississippi River, which has one of the highest concentrations of industrial facilities and airborne pollution in the US. The resident population experiences overall disease and birthdefect rates up to seven times the US national average. Some communities suffer the highest industrialpollution cancer risk in the entire country. It is also an area of extreme poverty, with several parishes classified as persistent poverty areasmeaning 20 percent or more of residents have lived below the federal poverty line for decades. The long-term effects of industrial pollution on child health and development are especially pernicious.

In a major assault on human health, the Trump administration is changing the policy of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the control of air pollution. A review of internal EPA emails conducted by the New York Times found that consideration of the impacts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone, two of the most prominent components of air pollution, would no longer be included as part of the evaluation of the effects of industrial air pollution on humans. A draft of the new regulation was released, signed by the EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin, on January 9, 2026.

Emissions rise from smokestacks at the Jeffrey Energy Center coal power plant, near Emmett, Kansas, 2021 [AP Photo/Charlie Riedel]

The result will be a significant saving in the economics of operating a range of industries, including coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other major sources of air pollution. Burning coal, for example, emits a variety of other toxic pollutants such as mercury, a powerful neurotoxin, and other heavy metals. The cost savings flow from the reduced need to implement mechanisms and practices necessary to reduce such emissions.

The motivation is clear. As part of its general assault on all the gains made by the working class over many decades regarding conditions impacting life and health, and in the context of the rapidly deepening world-wide capitalist crisis, every effort is being made by the ruling class to smash all restraints on maximizing profit, no matter the consequences. The loosening or elimination of all forms of government regulation of industry is a component of that process. This includes a determined campaign to promote fossil fuels and against renewable energy sources. Trump and his EPA administrator Lee Zeldin have declared war on the very concept of environmental regulation. The latest change is only a step in this overall campaign.

In conjunction with weakening the regulation of the extraction and use of carbon-rich fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), which are major sources of air pollution, the Trump administration is seeking to hobble renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms, which are now less expensive than fossil fuels. Solar power generation rose by 34 percent last year and wind power rose modestly.

Trump has already ordered eight coal-fired power plants which were scheduled to be shut down to continue in operation. Greenhouse gas emissions rose by 2.5 percent in 2025, according to the Rhodium Group. Electricity utilities burned approximately 13 percent more coal in 2025 than in the previous year. This is likely to increase markedly as the effects of deregulation grow. Trump also recently halted construction of five offshore wind projects located along the US east coast.

The EPA has stopped publishing data on greenhouse gas emissions, making it more difficult to track going forward. In a further move to limit information on the effects of its deregulatory actions, the Trump-controlled EPA has abolished the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee that could have probed the impacts on air quality programs.

Well-established science demonstrates that long-term exposure to these and other air pollutants is linked to asthma, heart and lung disease, and premature death. Under capitalism, workers and their families are considered expendable, only of value to the extent to which they can be used to extract profit.

In evaluating proposed limits on emissions of pollutants, the previous EPA practice was to conduct a cost/benefit analysis, comparing the value that projected improvements to human health and lives saved with the cost to industry of tighter regulation. Over the roughly four decades during which this policy was in existence, various administrations employed different calculations of this macabre equation regarding the monetary value of human life and health. Of course, the balance was always weighted in favor of industry. Nevertheless, even minor impacts to profitability are anathema to business interests.

The Trump administration is now acting to eliminate even the pretense of concern with impacts on human health. In effect, this reduces the value placed on human life in the equation to $0. EPA has claimed that it will continue to evaluate health effects, which is difficult to take seriously under a capitalist system determined to maximize profits.

Similar elimination of other limits on the emission of greenhouse gases and other toxins from power plants are also planned, exacerbating the already dramatic impacts of global warming. The last three years have been the hottest in recorded history.

The latest action by the Trump administration follows a pattern set early in his second term. In March, the Trump administration declared that large stationary sources of air pollutionfactories, chemical plants, sterilization facilitiescould request waivers from Clean Air Act regulations by claiming that pollution-control technology was unavailable and that their exemption served national security interests.

The fundamental contradiction in evaluating the cost of industrial activities on the environment and human health, is that the effects of uncontrolled toxic emissions of all kinds are much more complex to evaluate than the cost of the running a particular industry. Effects are not always obvious and, therefore, require careful, scientifically controlled investigation, which takes time and expense. Furthermore, it is in the interest of capitalist-run industry to ignore or downplay the nature and extent of such effects. Even the limited efforts to identify and evaluate such impacts here-to-fore are now being abandoned, with devastating consequences for humanity.
A new report has been published by the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) in Australia titled When Cities Burn: Could the Los Angeles Fires Happen Here? Its primary findings are a sharp warning on the impacts of the climate crisis on exacerbating bushfires in Australia, a continent that already has a history of devastating fires in recent years.

Bush fires near Toowoomba on October 30, 2023 with blazes continuing in other parts of South West Queensland. [Photo: Facebook/Queensland Fire and Emergency Services]

Overall, the report estimates that there are 6.9 million people who live in regions that are the most exposed to deadly fires: the borders between the suburbs and the rural bushlands. At particular risk are those living on the outskirts of major and capital cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart. The populations of such areas have increased by an average of 65 percent since 2001.

The title of the report references the devastating January 2025 Los Angeles fires which killed 31 people and destroyed 16,000 buildings. Numerous climate experts warned in the aftermath of the LA inferno that a similarly extreme event could occur in Australia, which shatters any conception that large-scale fires are a purely rural concern.

The report highlights climate pollution from the burning of coal, oil and gas as the driver of the LA fires. The greenhouse gas emissions caused by the burning of these fossil fuels is responsible for the increased warming of the earth, creating conditions of record dryness levels and high speed winds that exacerbated the LA wildfires. Adding to these conditions in LA were bushlands in close proximity to suburbs and homes and a prior history of destructive fires.

All of these traits are shared by essentially every Australian capital city, raising alarm bells for a potentially catastrophic fire event on par with that of the LA fires occurring in a major Australian centre. The founder of ELCA, former New South Wales Fire Commissioner Greg Mullins, stated on the findings of the report: Australian cities increasingly face the potential for catastrophic fires like the ones in LA.

It is not only climate factors that the report highlights, but social ones. It points out that contributing to the death toll in LA last year was the fact that many homes in the city had been built before fire-resilient building standards were introduced in 2008, and most had not been updated to modern standards since then.

A similar situation exists in Australia, where in the high-risk fire zones populated by almost 7 million people, 90 percent of homes were built before modern bushfire standards existed, with no subsequent safety upgrades being conducted for the vast majority. This increases the risk of ignition due to embers and also increases the likelihood of fires spreading from house to house in densely packed suburbs.

The impact of such disasters has historically been borne most by the working class, and the poorest sections of those in rural areas. Compounding the immediate effects of the fires themselves is the economic impact which is even more dire due to the growing cost of living crisis. In the last 5 years, insurance premiums for those homes in the most high-risk bushfire areas have increased between 78 percent and 138 percent in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

The report also includes modelling for a scenario of global warming by 3C since pre-industrial levels, which is what the world is currently on track for given inaction by governments internationally. In such a scenario, the areas exposed to catastrophic levels of bushfire danger would be three times as large as that which affected the 2009 Black Saturday fires. High-risk areas in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia could face temperatures as high as 48C.

The recommendations of the report include deep cuts to fossil fuel use, heavy investment in disaster preparation and increasing emergency services capacity in high-risk areas.

The warnings contained in the latest report follow on from those published last November in the first National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA). The joint Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) report gave a broader picture of the consequences of climate change in Australia beyond extreme disasters like bushfires. This includes a 250 to 450 percent increase in annual heat related mortality in capital cities like Melbourne and Sydney, given a 3C global warming scenario.

Despite these objective, science based warnings, federal and state policies remain shaped by the imperative of private profit. The Albanese Labor governments 2035 targets announced just days after the NCRA report was releaseda 6270 percent reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels does not come close to matching the cuts scientists say are necessary. The federal government under Labor has approved dozens of new coal, oil and gas developments since taking office in 2022, while diverting hundreds of billions to military spending and corporate incentives rather than a rapid, planned transition away from fossil fuels.

The fires that have burnt across Victoria over the past week demonstrate the consequences. Temperatures have reached almost 50C in some areas, and hundreds of homes have been destroyed by infernos. Regions in the south have experienced heatwave conditions not seen since the 2019-20 Black Summer fires.

Workers and young people in Australia, whether currently impacted by the ongoing bushfires or not, must understand that the capitalist system is primarily responsible for the danger they have been placed in by such catastrophes. The ruling class, concerned not with the lives of millions but with its own profit interests, has endangered the entire world with increasing temperatures, heightened bushfire risk, and all manner of disasters.

The descent into further ecological collapse can still be prevented with a global effort to systematically replace fossil fuel use with alternative, renewable energy sources.

But these demands cannot be won under capitalism. The pro-corporate Labor government, like the Coalition before it, will subordinate these necessities to profit. Only the international working class, independent of capitalist parties and mobilised for political power, can implement the comprehensive, rational measures required to safeguard lives, livelihoods and the natural environment.
25 years ago: Philippine President Joseph Estrada unseated in judicial coup

On January 20, 2001, the Supreme Court of the Philippines removed President Joseph Estrada from office. The courts judicial coup was engineered by the military brass and sections of big business, who feared Estradas continued rule would erode the legitimacy of bourgeois rule in the island nation. Estrada denounced the constitutionality of his removal and the installation of Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as his successor, but ultimately decided not to resist the conspiracy, instead calling for national unity.

Joseph Estrada

The immediate catalyst for the move against Estrada was a multi-million-dollar corruption scandal. In October the previous year, criminal allegations surfaced accusing him of accepting more than $7.7 million in bribes from the operators of an illegal gambling racket called jueteng and pocketing another $2.5 million from tobacco taxes. Estrada and his backers in the Senate, however, narrowly managed to block the public release of his bank records in a 11-10 vote.

Protests soon erupted that night around the EDSA Shrinethe same site where the 1986 People Power revolution had ousted President Ferdinand Marcos, replacing him with Corazon Aquino. The class character of these anti-Estrada demonstrations was overwhelmingly middle-class and pro-business in orientation. Exploiting the protests as political cover, the pro-Arroyo factions moved to execute their plan. The coup de grace came on January 19, when Armed Forces Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes publicly withdrew his support from Estrada and pledged allegiance to Arroyo.

A retired Air Force general bluntly described the event as a coup, dismissing the importance of the protests. Another politician involved in the plot later remarked, We were grateful the protest took place. But even without the protests, we had a plan.

Arroyos ascent to the presidency consolidated the interests of the Filipino elite and foreign capitalin contrast to the populist image cultivated by Estrada, who derived support from the poorest sections of society, and who offered limited resistance to IMF and World Bank directives. Arroyos swift recognition by Washington underscored international approval of the new regime. The IMF and World Bank were pleased with the outcome.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, led by Jose Maria Sison, lent its support to Arroyo through its front organizationsBayan, the National Democratic Front, and the Kilusang Mayo Uno trade unionportraying the coup as a transition to democracy. Sison went so far as to attack leftist groups in Manila that expressed even mild criticism of Arroyo during her rise to power.

50 years ago: Communal massacres develop into civil war in Lebanon

On January 18-19, 1976, rightwing Phalangist militias, led by Pierre Gemayel and backed by sections of the Maronite elite overran the shantytown districts of Karantina and Maslakh in East Beirut. These neighborhoodshome to impoverished Palestinian refugees and Lebanese Muslimswere subjected to a systematic assault: houses were looted and burned, civilians were expelled, and summary executions were widely reported. The estimates of the number of those killed range from the hundreds into the low thousands.

The operation was a deliberate attempt by right-wing Maronite Christian forces to expel organized Palestinian and leftwing elements from strategic urban quarters and to weaken the Palestinian presence in the capital.

Palestinian refugees menaced by a Phalangist militant in Karantina, 1976 [Photo: http://www.pigbird.com/images/press/6.jpg]

News of the massacres precipitated a rapid erosion of state authority. The regular army fragmented as sections of the security forces refused orders to attack Palestinian camps. Many soldiers sympathetic to the Palestinians deserted or realigned with newly formed militias. Within days, Palestinian fighters and allied Lebanese leftwing forces launched counterattacks against rightwing strongholds. Fierce fighting engulfed Beirut and other regions, and the balance of forces shifted significantly in favor of the coalition of Palestinian groups and the Lebanese National Movement, which by the weeks end controlled large parts of the capital and significant areas of the country elsewhere.

Neighboring powers immediately sought to prevent the development of a new state with direct Palestinian representation and leadership. Damascus intervened on January 22, when Syrian President Hafez al-Assad dispatched Foreign Minister Abdul Halim Khaddam and top military officials to Beirut to broker a ceasefire. To enforce this truce, Syria established a Higher Military Committee composed of Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian officers. Militarily, Damascus permitted several thousand troops from the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA)units effectively under Syrian commandto cross the border into Lebanon to act as a policing force.

Syria presented its role as stabilizing the situation, but its ultimate aim was to preserve its truce with Israel reached after the fighting in the Golan Heights during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Damascus worked to prevent a total Palestinianleft victory that would trigger an Israeli invasion on its doorstep. Israel, for its part, viewed the potential for a left-wing victory as a strategic catastrophe. To prevent this, the Israeli government directly armed and funded the Phalangist militias, providing the right-wing forces with the weaponry and resources necessary to sustain their campaign against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its Lebanese allies.

The crisis in Lebanon, which had to this point been limited to armed skirmishes between small bands of militia fighters, developed into full-scale civil war. While the initial Syrian intervention was presented as a diplomatic mediation, it set the stage for the Arab state to act as a leading counter-revolutionary force. By June 1976, as the Palestinian and leftist forces continued to threaten the rule of the Maronite-dominated state, the Assad regime would launch a full-scale military invasion of Lebanon. This operation saw the Syrian army waging direct military operations against the PLO, effectively acting as the first strike force of imperialism against the militants.

75 years ago: US napalm bombings kill hundreds of South Korean civilians

Between January 19-20, 1951, US warplanes attacked South Korean villages with napalm, killing somewhere between 250 and 400 people. Napalm is a gelatinous incendiary mixture of a gelling agent and gasoline or diesel fuel, designed to cling to dwellings, clothing and human flesh and burn intensely.

The first napalm attack occurred on January 19, with Navy and Air Force planes attacking the village of Sanseong-doing, located 100 miles southeast of the South Korean capital of Seoul. Three separate waves of bombing destroyed 69 houses and killed 51 people.

US B-26 bombers attacking Korea in 1951 during the Korean War

Survivors of the attack said that there were no North Korean combatants in the village, a fact confirmed by a US military report the following month, which acknowledged that there were no enemy casualties. One US officer described the assault as the methodical burning out [of] poor farmers when no enemy is present.

The following day, the village of Yeongchun, located a further 20 miles southeast of Sanseong-doing, was also attacked. Eleven warplanes dropped napalm and firebombs at the entrance of a cave shelter where hundreds of South Korean civilians had sought refuge. Survivors later reported fires spreading and incinerating people inside the caves.

Casualty estimates vary. Seouls Truth and Reconciliation Commission estimated the number of people killed at well over 200, while survivors from the nearby village have given estimates of 360 dead.

The bombing of two South Korean villages with deadly napalm was an expression of the official US policy during the Korean war to target civilians. This has been confirmed not only by the details of the atrocities themselves, but by military documents that have been declassified in the following decades, as well as the testimonies of military personnel.

Nor was it the first and only time the US used napalm attacks to massacre civilians during the Korean War. Beginning with the September 1950 bombing of Wolmido Island, which killed at least 10 people, US warplanes dropped over 30,000 tons of napalm on North and South Korea during the three-year war.

100 years: Textile strike in Passaic, New Jersey led by Communists

On January 25, 1926, 15,000 textile workers went on strike at various locations in and near Passaic, New Jersey, led by the Trade Union Educational League (TUEL), which was affiliated with the Workers (Communist) Party. The TUEL, under the energetic leadership of Albert Weisbord, a party member and a recent graduate of the City College of New York, organized a United Front Committee.

The workers, who were largely immigrant, earned a miserable annual income of $1,000 to $1,200 for male workers, while female workers earned even less, from $800 to $1,000. This is at a time when the minimum wage for subsistence in the US was estimated to be about $1,400 annually. Workers worked 10-hour days and were tied to the hated piecework system.

After the employers made 10 percent wage cuts in the fall of 1925, anger ran so high among workers that Weisbord was able to organize a United Front Committee (UFC) that initially attracted about 1,000 workers. On January 21, a worker at one mill was fired for supporting the UFC. UFC representatives met with the management, which rejected any demands to rehire the worker. On January 25, a larger committee of 45 was elected to demand that management rescind the pay cut and implement a 44-hour week. The entire committee was fired on the spot and within an hour, 4,000 workers walked out.

Children of strikers in the 1926 Passaic textile strike picketing outside the White House

James P. Cannon, the founder of the American Trotskyist movement, who was a leading member of the Communist Party at the time, described the significance of the strike in his First Ten Years of American Communism:

The strike  revealed the Communists as the dynamic force in the radical labor movement and organizing center of unorganized workers disregarded by the AFL unionsdisplacing the IWW in the field. The Passaic strike was well organized and expertly led, and under all ordinary circumstances should have resulted in a resounding victory. The only trouble was that the bosses were too strong, had too many financial resources and were too determined to prevent the consolidation of a radical union organization.

After months on strike, the UFC leaders decided that a bad settlement was worse than none and made the mistake of bringing in the American Federation of Labor to negotiate it. The employers agreed but on condition that the UFC disband and Weisbrod be removed as leader.

Cannon recalled that the partys central committee voted unanimously in favor of these conditions.

All that was wrong from start to finish. The United Front Committee should have been the starting point for an independent union of textile workers. For that it would have been far better to lose a strike than to end with a disgraceful settlement
On January 13-14, university hospitals in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germanys most populous state, participated in the public sector warning strike that took place in the context of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations.

Hospitals in NRW are facing a new round of austerity. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) is planning savings of 1.8 billion at hospitals. According to an article in the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (WAZ), NRW is expected to bear 377 million of this. Further losses threaten to result from the hospital reforms at state and federal level, with which hospital financing is being regulated anew. The goal of these reforms is to implement closures and orient remaining hospitals even more strongly toward profit.

University Hospital Essen has also felt the effects of this. Within the framework of the NRW hospital reform, it was instructed to stop performing heart transplants from April 2025, although it is a leader in research in this field. The hospital filed a lawsuit, which was upheld by the Administrative Court of Gelsenkirchen, but a final verdict is still pending.

At University Hospital Essen, about 230 employees took part in the two-day warning strike and met for a protest action at the rear entrance, where the service union Verdi provided loud music and advanced slogans calling for perseverance. The entire event lasted only from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., at a time when not many workers from other facilities and sectors could come to offer support.

Reporters from the WSWS spoke with strikers in Essen about their working conditions at the hospital, the development of war and the ongoing nurses strike in New York, which highlights the necessity of an international movement of the working class against the capitalist oligarchy.

Andrea has worked at the hospital since the 1990s. At first, she was a nurse on the ward for many years until she switched to the internal transport service. She said, More money is not enough. In terms of workloads, it is partly a horror show. You cannot handle that much and those at the top are not interested at all.

University Hospital Essen during the warning strike, January 14, 2026

She described her everyday life on the ward, which she finally could no longer endure: If you have a night shift alone with 20 patients, the danger is great. I worked in neurosurgery. Due to the operation, patients are often disoriented, i.e., you have to be careful that they do not endanger themselves, you must position them, distribute medication, prepare and follow up on operations.

I frequently had several patients who needed my help at the same time, Andrea said. You cant keep up; at some point I was just afraid of making a mistake and endangering patients.

From her perspective, the problems in the hospital will not be solved with this strike, but she wanted to do what she could anyway. A few years ago, she had also taken part in a Verdi demonstration at the state parliament in Dusseldorf. But she was disappointed: It is a lot of talk and nothing behind it.

At the same time, she observed the closures of factories in industry with great concern. When asked why no joint strike movement was being organised with industrial workers, she answered, That is intended. The strikes in various sectors are partly so staggered in time and location that we do not get to a joint strike at all, even if one supports the protest actions mutually.

WSWS reporters emphasised that behind this lies the tactic of the unions, which isolate industrial struggles from one another and sabotage united resistance.

Andrea also criticised the military rearmament: The money that is now being spent on the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) should have been put into the structures of the health system, but also into schools and nurseries, for years.

She looked to America with particular concern: Trump scares me more than Putin. He is even crazier; he wants to annex Greenland and other countries. He is tearing down part of the White House to build a ballroom for himself, which he will not even use in his current term of office!

Peri and two colleagues, who preferred to remain anonymous, have worked in the main kitchen of the hospital for over 20 years. They reported:

Our working conditions are really hard. It is very cold in the kitchen because it is kept at about 9 degrees because of bacteria, it feels more like 7 degrees. The work has become much heavier and more onerous in recent years.

They had hardly any skilled workers left; of about 120 employees in the kitchen, only 20 were still employed by the hospital, the rest come from a temp agency and were not sufficiently trained.

Peri continued, We simply get too little money. Everything has become more expensive: rents are expensive, food is expensive, now the health insurance funds are raising their contributions again. For example, I am a single parent, and the money is simply not enough, so I have to do a side job.

One of her colleagues is an assistant cook but is only paid as a kitchen helper: They are taking us for a ride where they can. Of course they have money, but they dont want to cough it up. They always want more work with fewer staff. Saving personnel everywhere, buying only the cheapest of the cheap regarding food everywhere and save, save, save. What kind of pressure do you think the temp agency is under? They always have to save, otherwise they are out.

She was horrified by the growing rearmament for war: The money should not go into the military. That is dangerous. I dont know where it leads. You notice that something is brewing. Why, for example, was there suddenly this [nationwide] warning day, this test alarm? The politicians always know more than us. And with Iran, it will perhaps start now. In social media, it is being hotly discussed that war is at the door.

She had protested with her colleagues against the genocide in Gaza last year and would also support a general strike to exert more pressure. But the government was not changing its policy: They dont care about our opinion; they do what they want anyway. You can see that in Gaza. So many people took to the streets, then the government said: Ok, we now have a ceasefire. But that is not the case at all. It goes on and on in Gaza, we see that on social media. But individually you cant do anything, you can only do something as a mass [movement].

Although she had seen Trumps attacks on Venezuela, Greenland and Iran, she only heard about the major nurses strike in New York for the first time from the WSWS, which she fully supported because she knows that in the US the health system is a catastrophe.

Although the hospital workers had been involved in strikes since 2006, they have achieved nothingexcept a little more money. Nothing has changed regarding the general situation, the staff shortage, other problems in the hospital, she said.

She thought the perspective of the WSWS, to build internationally networked rank-and-file committees democratically controlled by workers and to prepare a joint struggle with colleagues in other countries, was very good. Everyone must pull together. We are on the brink of a war. The biggest strikes took place because of Gaza, in Spain, Italy, Franceeveryone went on strike. That is right, it would have to be done like that for pensions, taxes or other issues too.

The WSWS also interviewed a group of staff who work in a central diagnostic clinic area and wanted to remain anonymous. They described the extreme workloads due to a lack of specialist staff and a tough shift system.

They were particularly angry about night duty, which counts as an on-call shift, officially they should only work 45 percent during this duty, which is why they are paid only 80 percent of their salary: In reality, one usually works straight through. Before or after the on-call duty, an early or late shift is attached, so that they frequently work 12.5 hours continuously.

The later the night gets, when it gets to 3 or 4 a.m. and you havent slept much, you have to pull yourself together so that things work and you dont endanger patients. Since they cannot work a regular shift the next day after night duty, they are charged negative hours, which they in turn must work off on the weekend.

A change to these duties should actually be a demand in the negotiations, a colleague added. But in the hospital, it is no longer about the patient at all, but only about the numbers. We must do X patients per daywhether that fits in terms of time doesnt matter. To make everything work, you have to work overtime.

In view of their stressful work conditions, workers are outraged that the super-rich are not taxed and managers even get a wage increase: We have unfilled positions and have to do the work of the missing skilled workers, while they [the managers] simply pocket the saved salary.

If a war occurs, hospital workers would be burdened even more. A younger colleague explained: The massive rearmament scares me, also [the reintroduction of] conscription. I have children, what does that mean for their future? I dont know the times when there was war, but that is coming back now.
A ransomware attack on New Zealands ManageMyHealth (MMH) medical portal, disclosed on New Years Day, has exposed sensitive medical records of some 127,000 patients nationwide.

The cybercriminal group Kazu claimed responsibility for stealing up to 430,000 documents and demanding a ransom of $US60,000. The data breach affected 6-7 percent of the MMH platforms 1.8 million registered users, who are locked into patient record systems of 60-75 percent of general practice (GP) clinics.

MMH, which is linked to the widely-used Medtech practice management systemowned by an Australian private equity firmcarries an array of patient information including test results, diagnoses, prescriptions, doctors notes and health histories. It has become NZs dominant tool for recording and managing interactions between health centres, GPs and patients. Intimate data threatened with exposure included mental health diagnoses, sexual assault documentation, medications and medical photographs.

The hackers claimed to have successfully extracted ransom money from healthcare companies in Asia and Africa. Samples of the NZ hacked data were initially published on the dark web but following the passing of a ransom deadline the information was removed from Kazus online presence after MMH obtained a High Court injunction preventing anyone from accessing or sharing the stolen data.

Thousands of patients still remain anxious that their privacy was breached. For nearly two weeks GPs didnt know which practices had been affected, or what information was taken. There were reports of the portals website crashing amid the volume of requests for information, along with warnings that patients details might be used for identity theft. By January 10, MMH had notified only half the 127,000 patients whose data had been stolen.

On January 12 private health provider CanopyHealth, which specialises in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, notified of a major cyber-attack on its systems. The company, which runs diagnostic and oncology clinics, breast surgical centres and a drug business, revealed that last July an unknown person had temporarily obtained unauthorised access to one of its servers. The company claimed the issue had been contained but kept the breach secret for six months.

Such incidents reveal far more than basic cybersecurity failures. They exemplify how decades of market-driven reforms, under governments of all stripes, have transformed essential health services into profit-making centres, placing working-class patients private medical information at the mercy of capitalist corporations which operate with impunity. The decades-long privatisation of the health industry is a key factor in the austerity-driven underfunding of the public health system itself.

ManageMyHealth CEO Vino Ramayah [Photo: Screenshot from Radio NZ interview]

MMH owner and CEO Vino Ramayah admitted that the hackers had accessed the system through the front door using valid credentials. The security failure could have been prevented with elementary protections like mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA), but according to IT experts many health organisations have very poor security controls. Callum McMenamin, a web standards consultant, told RadioNZ he had called out MMHs lax security six months earlier but the government was failing to enforce what minimum standards it has.

According to academic Bryce Edwards, MMH skimped on security basics (no mandatory MFA, outdated software, apparent neglect of warnings) in order to maximise profit. Ramayah, he added chose to run his company on a shoestring and treat patient data as a private asset.

Edwards further noted: As a private limited liability company, Manage My Health operates in the shadows. No mandatory transparency reports, no public board meetings, no requirement to disclose security investments.

Such environments are not confined to New Zealand. In September 2022, Australian telecommunications giant Optus suffered a cyberattack exposing the sensitive data of up to 10 million customers, potentially one-third of the population. Like MMH, the Optus breach involved basic preventable vulnerabilities. Both prioritized cost minimization over security while regulatory frameworks proved toothless. Their responses were characterized by opacity, delayed disclosure, and attempts to evade responsibility.

The National Partys Health Minister Simeon Brown commissioned a limited inquiry by the Ministry of Health (HNZ) into the breach but has washed the governments hands of the affair, declaring; It is the agency that holds that data that has responsibility, adding that it was up to MMH to notify those affected.

But the MMH breach occurred within the context of blatant underfunding of New Zealands public health system, which has been subject to some 2,000 job cuts over the past year, including many IT experts. In December, Brown ordered hospitals and public health services to find more than $NZ500 million in efficiencies, on top of an existing $2 billion annual cost-saving target.

On January 14 a major IT outage hit hospitals across parts of the South Island, preventing clinicians from accessing medicinal dosage information, lab results and patient notes. A similar six-hour outage hit lower North Island hospitals the following day. HNZ officials have already warned of a funding cliff looming next June, with no baseline funding forecast for National Cyber Security beyond 2026.

While healthcare is starved of funding, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced in November that the government is allocating $50 million to boost the Defence Forces (NZDF) protection from cyber threats, part of a $12 billion spend on new military equipment by 2029, in preparation for war with China. Three private NZ companies will be contracted to build the software, along with the NZDF hiring more military cyber specialists.

The crisis in public health is the product of decades of austerity measures under successive governments, including Labour. Thousands of nurses, doctors, ambulance personnel and lab technicians have over recent years taken industrial action over low pay, understaffing and deplorable conditions for both staff and patients in the hospitals. Their struggles have repeatedly been sold out by the trade union bureaucracy with no fundamental resolution.

Following a mass strike by more than 100,000 workers on October 23 last yearwhich included doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers and teachers as well as off-duty firefightersthe union leaders are seeking to isolate and demobilise their members, in order to push through more wage cuts or freezes.

Security breaches are just one of many class issues that define the countrys two-tier health system. More than 20 percent of healthcare services are private with over 1.4 million people, just under a third of the population holding private health insurance. Meanwhile most working-class New Zealanders depend on poor public and semi-public health infrastructure. Worst affected by the MMH breach were 86,000 patients and nearly 50 practices in Northland, one of the countrys most impoverished areas.

Governments have for years pursued policies of private sector de-regulation and removal of red tape which is deemed to be a burden on profitability. The Privacy Act 2020, like similar legislation internationally, places compliance obligations on organisations themselves, with minimal oversight. In a statement to Stuff, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner admitted it has neither the statutory powers nor the resources to undertake proactive assurance audits of an agencys compliance with best practice security standards for its sector. The result has been open slather for corporations to self-regulate, or not, however they see fit.

The MMH scandal is not an aberration but the logical outcome of treating healthcare as a commodity and patients as profit sources. The solution to these systemic failures cannot come from within capitalism. Data systems must be removed from private hands.

As a basic social right all infrastructure including patient portals, electronic health records, and related systems must be operated by publicly accountable entities, determined by patient need and risk assessment, not profit calculations. That must form part of the socialist reorganisation of society as a whole.
Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil on the Columbia University campus in New York at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on Monday, April 29, 2024. [AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey]

In a 2-1 ruling on Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit struck down the injunction protecting Palestinian and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil from deportation.

The decision clears the way for the Trump administration to resume its vendetta against Khalil, who is a prominent and outspoken opponent of the US-backed genocide in Gaza. The court majoritys ruling that the federal district court in New Jersey lacked subject matter jurisdiction to hear Khalils habeas petition is a blatantly political decision.

It provides the Trump administration juridical cover for stripping Khalil of access to the ordinary federal courts and drives his case back into the immigration and deportation machinery run by the White House. If allowed to stand, the decision will be seized upon by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a precedent to target international students and non-citizen workers who speak out against the policies of the US government and violate their First Amendment rights.

The three-judge panel consisted of Judges Thomas Hardiman, appointed by George W. Bush, and Stephanos Bibas, appointed by Trump during his first term, in the majority, and Judge Arianna J. Freeman, a Biden appointee, in dissent. The 2-1 decision vacated the orders of U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz, who last year found that Khalils detention and removal were likely unconstitutional and ordered his release from ICE custody.

The panel directed Judge Farbiarz to dismiss Khalils habeas corpus petition on the grounds that the New Jersey district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over his challenges to both his detention and the governments effort to deport him.

Subject matter jurisdiction is the legal authority of a court to hear and decide a particular type or category of case, such as criminal, immigration or civil disputes under federal law. If a court lacks subject matter jurisdiction in a particular case, it has no power to issue a valid judgment, and the case must be dismissed regardless of the parties wishes.

The court majority relied on provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that channel challenges to removal into the immigration courts and then into the petition-for-review process, declaring that a federal district court may not enjoin ongoing removal proceedings or block execution of a removal order through habeas corpus.

While conceding that the district court had habeas jurisdiction as the district of confinement under 28 U.S.C.  2241 and 1631because Khalils petition should be treated as filed in New Jersey when he was detained therethe panel held that the INAs jurisdiction-stripping provisions barred Farbiarz from ruling on the merits of Khalils challenge to removal.

Judge Freeman issued a dissent stressing that Khalil had demonstrated violations of his fundamental rights and irreparable injury because of his prolonged, punitive detention in ICE custody. Freeman emphasized that Khalils case was not a routine dispute over immigration procedure but a challenge alleging that the governments fraud and foreign policy removal charges were being wielded as retaliation for his political activity and speech in defense of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Judge Freeman emphasized that Khalil had already suffered injuries that could not be undonemonths in a remote Louisiana detention center, separation from his pregnant wife and the chilling of core First Amendment activityfacts that the district court had credited in granting injunctive relief. She argued that in such circumstances, the federal courts must remain open to hear constitutional claims and that the majoritys rigid jurisdictional approach effectively protects retaliatory deportation campaigns from judicial scrutiny.

However, the majority drew a sharp distinction between the fundamental question of Khalils habeas corpus petition and elevated the subject matter jurisdiction over the substance of his challenges to removal. The majority held that the INAs channeling provisions deprived the district court of power to enjoin the foreign-policy and fraud removal charges or to bar DHS from deporting Khalil while his First Amendment claims were litigated.

It concluded that while Farbiarz could recognize that Khalils detention and removal raised grave constitutional issues, he lacked subject matter jurisdiction to issue orders interfering with immigration-court proceedings or the execution of any removal order, and it therefore ordered the habeas petition dismissed.

For Khalil, the ruling reopens the door to his being re-arrested and deported by the Trump administration, though the order does not take immediate effect and the administration cannot lawfully re-detain him until the appeals process is complete. His attorneys note that the opinion does not weigh in on the core First Amendment arguments in his case, but by stripping the district court of jurisdiction, it deprives him of the only judicial forum that had seriously engaged with those arguments and recognized the retaliatory character of the governments prosecution.

Khalil remains in removal proceedings in the immigration courts, where a Louisiana immigration judge has already ordered him removable on a foreign-policy ground and, in a written opinion issued the same day as Farbiarzs release order, added an adverse finding on the Trump administrations fraud charge. The Third Circuits ruling sends a message to the administration that it may press ahead with this openly political deportation campaign under the cover of routine immigration enforcement, while it continues to denounce pro-Palestinian protests as a threat to national security and to US foreign policy.

From the outset, the Trump administration has treated Khalils case as a test to determine how many international students and immigrant workers can be arrested, detained, and deported for opposing the US-backed slaughter in Gaza or, for that matter, any policies of the government.

Khalila lawful permanent resident and green card holderwas seized by federal agents in front of his pregnant wife and dragged into ICE custody on March 8, 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials branded him a supposed national security threat, accusing him of contributing to the spread of antisemitism because of his leadership in demonstrations condemning the Gaza genocide.

Khalil was then shipped to the LaSalle Detention Center in Jena, Louisiana, a remote, prison-like ICE facility where he was held for more than three months as the administration and DHS sought to fast-track his removal to either Syria or Algeria on the basis of bogus fraud allegations regarding omissions on his green card application and Rubios McCarthyite foreign-policy charge.

In his two-page memorandum submitted to the immigration court on April 10, 2025, Rubio claimed that Mahmoud Khalils continued presence in the United States posed a danger to US government efforts to protect Jewish students, thereby framing him as a national security concern. This memo invoked a 1950s foreign policy provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act to justify deporting Khalil based solely on his political beliefs, statements and associations, even while conceding that his activities were otherwise lawful.

It was only after Judge Farbiarz granted a preliminary injunction and ordered his releasefinding that his detention was impermissibly punitive and that the foreign policy charge was likely unconstitutional and retaliatorythat he was freed on bond but forced to surrender his passport and left to fight his deportation case from the outside.

Khalils persecution is inseparable from his record as an outspoken defender of the Palestinians and a leader of campus protests since the onset of Israels genocidal assault on Gaza. While a graduate student at Columbia, he helped organize encampments, rallies, and walkouts demanding an end to US military aid to Israel, divestment from companies profiting from the occupation, and accountability for war crimes. He denounced the role of both the Democrats and Republicans for arming and financing the onslaught.

These protestspart of a wave of demonstrations at universities throughout the US and internationallywere met with police raids, mass arrests, suspensions, and blacklists, as the political establishment and corporate media waged a hysterical campaign smearing student opponents of genocide as purveyors of antisemitism. Khalils arrest and the subsequent effort to deport him were celebrated by fascists and Zionists as a model for how the state could deal with non-citizen student leaders and silence opposition to the Gaza war.

The Third Circuit ruling has significant implications for all non-citizensespecially international studentswho have been targeted by DHS for their political activity and whose First Amendment rights have been trampled. By holding that federal district courts lack subject matter jurisdiction to block detention and deportation on the constitutional issues involved, the ruling narrows their cases to a procedural matter. It eliminates one of the few remaining judicial avenues by which immigrant activists can halt retaliatory actions long enough for their constitutional claims to be heard.

Immigration courts are not independent courts but administrative tribunals housed within the Department of Justice, presided over by judges who are answerable to the executive branch and whose docket is dominated by the enforcement priorities set by the White House. For a student or worker whose visa or green card is being revoked as punishment for anti-war speech, the ruling forces them to be tried by the very apparatus that is persecuting them, with limited access to discovery, no jury, and sharply constrained judicial review.

Civil liberties and immigrant rights organizations responded to the ruling and warned that it emboldens DHS to carry out politically motivated deportation campaigns directed. The ACLU of New Jersey explained that the Third Circuit had overturned a district court ruling that found Mahmoud Khalils detention and removal likely unconstitutional and stressed that although todays order does not weigh in on the core First Amendment arguments, it decides federal court lacks jurisdiction until immigration court proceedings are complete.

Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and one of Khalils attorneys, stated that the defense team was disappointed with and strongly disagree with the majority opinion, but take heart in the very powerful and persuasive dissenting opinion, vowing to continue to fight with all available legal options. Others have noted that the decision, if left undisturbed, will be invoked across the Third Circuit to shut the federal courthouse doors to non-citizens raising First Amendment and due process challenges to retaliatory enforcement, further entrenching a two-tier system of rights based on immigration status.

Khalils legal team has several options, including seeking a rehearing en banc by the full Third Circuit and, if necessary, petitioning the Supreme Court for review, and during this period the government has no legal authority to re-detain him while the order has not yet taken formal effect. Yet the trajectory of the casefrom his arrest and transfer to a Louisiana detention center, to the Louisiana immigration judges removal order, to the Third Circuits jurisdictional rulingdemonstrates that legal avenues are insufficient to halt the administrations drive to make an example of him.

The fight to defend Mahmoud Khalil, and with him the democratic rights of millions of immigrants and student youth, requires the conscious intervention of the working class, organized independently of both big-business parties and in opposition to the bipartisan imperialist policy in the Middle East.

In the aftermath of the murder of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent and the ongoing police state repression in Minneapolis, there is no question that the same state forces behind the US governments backing of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the attacks on fundamental speech rights of immigrants is now being unleashed upon the US population as a whole. The defense of Mahmoud Khalil continues to be a burning issue that must be taken up by the working class as part of the struggle to defend democratic rights and to stop the descent into fascist dictatorship and war.
Postal workers and community members march in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 18, 2026.

On a frigid and snowy Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, Minnesota, hundreds of postal workers, residents and students held a rally and march opposing the ongoing federal occupation of the city and the murderous immigration Gestapo. The march and rally were warmly received by passersby and community members, many of whom honked horns and raised their fists in support.

A Minnesota resident holds a sign that reads, "ICE Kills Moms." January 18, 2026.

The rally began at a local post office and ended in front of the memorial where Renee Nicole Good, a mother and wife, was murdered by Jonathan Ross, a Department of Homeland Security agent, less than two weeks ago. Signs carried by workers at the rally denounced Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for not doing anything to stop the ongoing attacks on the community.

A section of the anti-ICE march in Minneapolis, Minnesota January 18, 2026. Protesters carried signs demanding justice for Renee Good while noting the complicity of the Democratic Party in the federal occupation.

The protest was organized by the Build a Fighting NALC (BFN), a faction of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). BFN organizers made clear to WSWS reporters that Sundays event was not in support of the proposed January 23 general strike and boycott that several unions have endorsed.

A resident in Minneapolis holds an anti-ICE sign, January 18, 2026.

Instead, the demands advanced at Sundays event were narrowly focused on calls to prevent ICE agents from staging their vehicles on United States Postal Service (USPS) property before heading out on kidnapping operations. Other demands included calls for the prosecution of Ross for the murder of Good and for ICE agents to leave the Twin Cities and Minnesota.

A section of the march demanding ICE Gestapo leave Minnesota, January 18, 2026.

However, in conversations with WSWS reporters, many workers and residents said they would support postal workers, and every section of the working class, going on strike not only in Minnesota but across the country.

A section of the memorial for Renee Good, January 18, 2026.

Hope, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, said she supported a general strike. I think that a general strike is the most powerful and maybe most effective way to hit them where it hurts. Because no matter what we do, it just seems like theyre not listening. We can have thousands of people in the streets, and they see that, but they dont respect it. And I think that a general strike is a way to really get to them.

She added, You know, we are the ones who are, you know, providing them with food to eat, providing them with transportation, providing them with mail, providing them with everything. She concluded, Dont mourn. Organize. We do outnumber them.

A Minnesota resident speaks in support of a general strike at a rally in Minneapolis against ICE Gestapo, January 18, 2026.

A Minnesotan said she came to the rally because, Im so angry about what is happening to my community and what I am seeing is people not having human decency. On the question of a general strike, she said, I think doing a general strike is almost imperative.

Mike, a postal worker at the rally, explained, We are out here, were demanding that ICE stop using postal property to stage their raids. Were also demanding the arrest and prosecution of Jonathan Ross for the murder of Renee Good, a mother and community member who just had her head blown off for standing up for her neighbors.

And we also want our neighbors and community to know that your letter carriers and postal workers are not working with ICE, and we want them out of our town as much as you can.

Mike explained how ICE has been operating on postal worker property: They have been spotted in post office parking lots staging raids, and its really unsafe for workers. We dont want to be around thugs, masked thugs, secret police with guns on our property while were trying to do our job. Its not safe for us as letter carriers.

On Trumps threats to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy active-duty soldiers to Minneapolis, Mike replied, I think were already under occupation. It wouldnt surprise me if he wants to send in more troops, but I know one thing: Minneapolis will not lay down, we will not roll over, and we will not lick the boot of the oppressor.

Nikki, a worker and mother, told the WSWS, We need to show our solidarity because the only people that are winning right now are those that are profiting off of all of us.

She added, We are all working-class people that are being oppressed in one way or another.

Nikki explained that she was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, and that her grandfather worked in steel mills, so we were dyed in the wool union as long as I can remember. She added, This is just something that is in my blood, to organize and to have solidarity among regular people.

She concluded, By going on a general strike, we can really make it hurt in the only place they care, which is their pocket So a general strike to me is the most effective thing we can do right now.
Strategic Energy Resources (SER) has entered into a non-binding term sheet for an exploration joint venture (JV) in Australia with Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania (SMMO), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining.

This agreement pertains to the Bulimba Gold Project, which is fully owned by SER. The project is situated roughly 50km north-west of Chillagoe in north-eastern Queensland.

It encompasses the extensions of the Palmerville/Gamboola Fault Zone, which hosts several significant gold-copper deposits, including the Mungana and Red Dome deposits.

These deposits have a combined resource of 2.7 million ounces (moz) of gold, 273,000t of copper and 34moz of silver.

This agreement allows Sumitomo to earn up to an 80% interest in the project through an expenditure of A$6m ($4.02m) and 7,500m of drilling over five years.

An additional 10% interest can be earned by completing a definitive feasibility study (DFS).

Strategic Energy Resources managing director David DeTata said: The Bulimba project is located in the heart of the north-east Queensland intrusion-related gold province, which is host to over a 20-plus moz gold endowment.

With the signing of this term sheet, SER has secured a long-term partner that ensures the project will be systematically explored and funded right through to DFS stage. We look forward to working alongside SMMO in our combined search for Australias next mineral discovery.

The exploration agreement encompasses four exploration licences, identified as EPM28877 through EPM28880, with an option to include additional adjoining tenements.

Within 14 days of executing the agreement, Sumitomo is required to reimburse SER A$100,000 for a portion of the expenditures already committed.

Sumitomo must commit to a minimum expenditure of A$600,000 within the first 12 months, after which it may withdraw, allowing SER to retain full ownership of the project.

For the first earn-in phase, Sumitomo can acquire an initial 51% interest in the project by spending A$3m over three years, which must include at least 2,500m of drilling.

In the second earn-in phase, Sumitomo can increase its stake to 80% by investing an additional $3m over two years, which must include a minimum of 5,000m of drilling, in addition to the drilling from the first phase.

Sumitomo can achieve a 90% interest upon completing a DFS on a resource exceeding 1moz of gold equivalent within a five-year period.

SER will be free-carried until Sumitomo decides to enter the pro-rata expenditure period after completing any of the earn-in phases.

If either party's interest falls below 10%, it will convert to a 2% net smelter return royalty.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Release Date: January 16, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Ltd (BOM:542760) achieved significant order inflows, surpassing initial guidance with a 60% year-on-year growth.

The company secured a gigawatt-scale order from Adani Green, valued at approximately INR1,381 crore, enhancing its project portfolio.

A multi-year strategic partnership framework agreement with Avani Green Energy Limited was established, indicating strong industry partnerships.

The operations and maintenance business reached a 10 gigawatt portfolio, contributing to revenue stability and margin resilience.

The company reported a 48% year-on-year increase in top-line revenue, driven by improved execution in the domestic EPC business.

Negative Points

Gross margins have not improved significantly, remaining in the range of 8% to 10%, with some quarters showing a decline.

The company faced an additional charge due to legal expenses related to the Conti case, impacting reported profits.

Interest costs increased due to additional loans, affecting financial performance in the short term.

The company experienced operational challenges in Australia, leading to unexpected costs and impacting margins.

There is ongoing uncertainty regarding the resolution of certain legal cases, which could pose future financial risks.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you explain the reason for lower gross margins despite increased revenue, and what is the outlook for margins going forward? A: The CFO explained that gross margins are expected to be in the range of 8% to 10%. The variation in margins is due to the type of orders executed, with balance of system (BOS) orders generally having better margins than those involving module supply. The company maintains its guidance of 8% to 10% overall margin. The Conti legal matter, which was not covered under indemnity, also impacted margins, but this issue is now resolved.

Q: What is the framework agreement with Adani, and does it secure any specific margins or volumes? A: The CEO explained that the agreement with Adani is a multi-year framework that defines the scope and terms. It is expected to provide consistent EPC orders annually, with margins aligned with market rates, around 10%. The agreement minimizes risks related to module price fluctuations and land issues, ensuring stability in margins.
(Photo Credit: Don Lemon on YouTube)

Don Lemon went nuclear on Nicki Minaj on Monday afternoon, branding the rapper a homophobic bigot who should be deported by President Donald Trump after she fumed Lemon should be jailed for streaming anti-ICE protesters storming a Minnesota church.

Minaj shredded C*CK SUCKIN Lemon in an all-caps post on X on Sunday night. She said he was DISGUSTING for his live stream capturing the chaotic moment anti-ICE protesters wrecked a Minneapolis church service because they believed one of the pastors was an immigration agent.

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HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! Minaj continued. HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!

DON COCK SUCKIN LEMON IS DISGUSTING. HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!! pic.twitter.com/xoQBl9KDJY  Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) January 19, 2026

Lemon responded by ripping Minaj in a video posted to Instagram on Monday.

Stop talking about sh*t for which you know nothing about. You are out of your depth, Lemon said. You are a homophobic bigot. You dont care about African-Americans  you are not an African-American  [and] from what I know you are reportedly an undocumented citizen. So you should be deported under Donald Trumps rules.

He then went off on her for having a sex offender husband and a pedophile in her family.

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You have the nerve to talk about me and what you think that I do? Lemon added. Nicki Minaj, get a life.

He then said Black and gay people should not support her music.

The Lemon-Minaj feud comes as the ex-CNN star streamed the anti-ICE protesters Cities Church in Minneapolis on Sunday. Those protesters ran into the church and started screaming and chanting slogans like Hands Up, Dont Shoot! and ICE OUT repeatedly.

A number of church attendees were irate with the intrusion and yelled at the protesters to beat it. Lemon defended the protesters  saying they were simply exercising their Constitutional rights to protest.

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This is what the First Amendment is about, the freedom to protest, Lemon told viewers. Im sure people here dont like it, but protests are not comfortable.

He later criticized the church pastor for not being more welcoming to the protesters.

I think if youre going to be a representative of the Lord and of God, then perhaps you should conduct yourself as such, Lemon said on Monday.

The media veteran may have viewed the protest as a peaceful one, but the Trump Justice Department did not.

Harmeet Dhillon, the DOJs assistant attorney general for civil rights, publicly rebuked Lemon on Sunday night.

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A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service, she wrote on X. You are on notice!

The post Don Lemon Hits Back At Bigot Nicki Minaj, Attacks Her Family first appeared on Mediaite.
Timothy Busfield is currently in the custody of a New Mexico jail after the former West Wing actor was accused of abusing twin child actors on the set of a Fox show he executive-produced and directed.

The 68-year-old turned himself over to law enforcement in Albuquerque last week, adamantly denying the accusations, describing them as horrible lies. He is scheduled for his second appearance in front of a judge on Tuesday, where his team of lawyers is prepared to fight for his release.

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Theyve argued that Busfield recently passed a polygraph test over the accusations, and a Warner Bros. independent investigation was not able to substantiate the claims the children raised.

Here is everything to know about the accusations against Busfield and the actors response:

What are the accusations against Busfield, and what is he charged with?

Busfield is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse related to twin child actors whom he worked with on the Fox television series The Cleaning Lady, according to a warrant issued for his arrest on Jan. 9.

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Albuquerque officials launched an investigation into Busfield back in November 2024, when police were called to the University of New Mexico Hospital over concerns that the brothers were possibly groomed by Busfield, who served as executive producer and director of the show.

The boys referred to Busfield as Uncle Tim and claimed the Hollywood veteran pestered them with unwanted tickles. The incidents allegedly began occurring when the children were around seven years old. At the time, neither child disclosed any sexual contact, and no further action was taken.

Investigators returned to the matter in October 2025, when the boys mother filed a report with Child Protective Services. In interviews with police, one of the boys claimed Busfield had repeatedly touched his private areas over his clothes while filming the show. The boy said he was afraid to tell anyone because Tim was the director, and he feared Tim would get mad at him.

Officials were able to obtain therapist records from September 2025, where the same child disclosed that a director of a series  had engaged in inappropriate touching. Diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, the boy was so distraught that he was having nightmares about the director touching him and waking up scared, according to a 13-page arrest warrant.

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After conducting several interviews with members of the production crew, an Albuquerque detective submitted his findings as part of the arrest warrant, writing in my training and experience, pedophiles often infiltrate families under a trusted role, like Timothy, who, as a producer, exploited the hectic film sets to tickle and touch [the child actor] on his penis and buttocks, masking it as play.

Where is Busfield now, and how has he responded to the accusations?

Busfield turned himself in on Jan. 13, and he remains in custody ahead of a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Busfield has adamantly denied the accusations, describing them as horrible lies in a video statement released shortly before he surrendered to law enforcement. (His civil attorney, Larry Stein, similarly told Rolling Stone that the claims against his client are baseless.)

Im going to confront these lies, Busfield said. Theyre horrible, theyre all lies, and I did not do anything to those little boys  Im going to fight it with a great team, and Im going to be exonerated. I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies. So hang in there, and hopefully Im out real soon and back to working.

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On Friday, lawyers for Busfield submitted a 237-page opposition filing in response to the charges, demanding Busfields release from jail. They argued that Busfield recently passed a polygraph test regarding the accusation, and that a Warner Bros. independent investigation was unable to substantiate the claims. They also submitted an adult psychosexual evaluation that deemed Busfield as being very low risk. They noted he does not appear to have a sexual attraction to prepubescent or adolescent males or females.

The actors attorneys also described the boys mother and father as stage parents who allegedly sought revenge on Busfield after the Fox show replaced their sons with another child actor.

The childrens parents have a well-documented history of fraud and dishonesty, Busfields attorneys alleged in court documents. The timeline does not indicate an investigation naturally unfolding, but instead an express effort to seek revenge against Mr. Busfield after losing the lucrative opportunity that came with their childrens acting on The Cleaning Lady.

Is this the first time Busfield has been accused of sexual misconduct?

Albuquerque prosecutors alleged Busfield has a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and grooming behavior, detailing two previously known instances. In the early 1990s, Busfield was accused in a lawsuit of sexual assault by a 17-year-old female extra on the set of Little Big League. The woman claimed Busfield plied her with alcohol before groping and attempting to have sex with her in a trailer. A second allegation was raised in March 2012, when a 28-year-old woman accused Busfield of groping her at a Los Angeles movie theater. Busfield denied both accusations, and no criminal charges against Busfield were ever filed.

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A third alleged incident came to light after news that Busfield was wanted for arrest. A father contacted law enforcement, claiming Busfield sexually assaulted his 16-year-old daughter several years ago when the teen was auditioning for Busfield at his B Street Theatre in Sacramento.

The father claimed the Emmy-winning actor kissed his daughter, and put his hands down her pants and touched her privates. When the family learned of the alleged sexual abuse, [Busfield] begged the family to not report to law enforcement if he received therapy, a pretrial detention motion alleged. [The father,] a therapist himself, thought at the time that was the best thing to do.

How has Busfields wife, Melissa Gilbert, reacted?

Busfield has been married to actress Melissa Gilbert since 2013. The Little House on the Prairie star has deactivated her Instagram account in light of the accusations, but she submitted a letter to the court vouching for her husbands character.

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Timothy Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life, she wrote. Tim has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known. He has dedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others. He starts every day with kindness and compassion.

On every single set, where Tim is working, multiple people come up to me to tell me he is their favorite director ever, Gilbert added. Your Honor, this is the strangest letter Ive ever had to write. I am trying to tow a line between logic and all the feelings swirling through me. I began this letter with logic, but now the feelings have taken over. I cant help it. I only want this extraordinary man safe and whole.

Has there been any other fallout?

NBC shelved an upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU in which Busfield appeared as a guest star on the popular New York City crime drama in the wake of the charges. Additionally, his longtime agency, Innovative Artists, dropped him as a client.

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NEED TO KNOW

A North Carolina judge reportedly ordered the courtroom to be cleared of spectators during a hearing on Jan. 15 after an influencer was livestreaming the proceedings

Brenay Kennard appeared in court on Thursday, Jan. 15  two months after she was ordered to pay $1.75 million in damages over alienation of affection claims  for alleged violations of a court order that stipulates she should no longer post online about the case

Last weeks hearing drew a group of influencer spectators, some of whom travelled from as far as California to report on the proceedings

A North Carolina judge reportedly ordered the courtroom be cleared of spectators after an influencer was livestreaming the proceedings.

On Thursday, Jan. 15, TikTok star Brenay Kennard  who made headlines in November when she was ordered to pay her husbands ex-wife $1.75 million in damages over alienation of affection claims  appeared in court for a hearing about her alleged violations of a court order that stipulates she should no longer post online about the case, per local news outlet, The News & Observer.

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In conjunction with the hearing, the outlet reported that several TikTok creators traveled in from as far as California to report on the proceedings, sharing detailed recaps of the day in court and defending Akira Montague, the woman who sued Kennard for her affair with her ex-husband, Timothy Montague.

But the influencer crowd was shut out of the courtroom when the judge warned that anyone who livestreamed the hearing would be found in contempt of court, The News & Observer reported.

Brenay Kennard/TikTok Brenay Kennard Brenay Kennard

We got booted from the courtroom, yall, and I wish I was exaggerating, said one TikTok creator, who goes by the name Feather Crown Press.

The hearing has been continued until Feb. 10, PEOPLE confirms.

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Montague and Kennards legal battle first garnered national attention in November, when Montagues lawsuit against the TikTok creator for $3.5 million in punitive and compensatory damages went to trial. In the suit, Montague accused Kennard of making social media content with her then-husband and attempting to justify an alleged affair with him during a TikTok livestream.

A jury ultimately ruled in favor of Montague on Nov. 10, and a judge ordered Kennard to pay $1.5 million for alienation of affection and $250,000 for criminal conversation, reported The News & Observer.

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.

Brenay Kennard/TikTok Brenay Kennard Brenay Kennard

In the months since the initial trial, Kennard has continued to share content online with Timothy, including a series of snaps of the pair celebrating the holidays. Kennard and Timothy also recorded a sit-down with TV personality Dr. Phil, sharing videos on her TikTok traveling to and getting ready for the televised appearance.

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In a Jan. 8 press release, a rep for Montague claimed that Kennard was leveraging her social media platform and televised appearances to attack Montague and her children while making wildly false claims about the nature and timeline of their affair.

Kennard did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

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NEED TO KNOW

Meghan Markle is celebrating 2026 by sharing a throwback photo of herself and Prince Harry from 2016 and a new video taken by their daughter

"When 2026 feels just like 2016 you had to be there," she captioned the post, giving a video credit to 4-year-old Princess Lilibet

Meghan also shared a throwback photo from 2016, seemingly taken during the couple's trip to Botswana, which marked their third-ever date

Meghan Markle is celebrating 2026 by sharing a throwback photo of herself and Prince Harry from 2016  as well as a brand-new video taken by their 4-year-old daughter.

On Friday, Jan. 16, the Duchess of Sussex shared her own take on a new social media trend, in which users are sharing photos of themselves from 2016 to celebrate a decade passing.

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In a black and white video from the present day, Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, are seen dancing in an open field. Dressed casually, the couple smiles as they twirl around together. Meghan revealed in the caption that the clip was filmed by Princess Lilibet.

The second slide of the post features a shot of the royal couple from 2016, seemingly taken during their trip to Botswana that year  their third-ever date.

"When 2026 feels just like 2016 you had to be there," she captioned the post, giving a video credit to "our daughter."

Harry and Meghan shared that they first met on a blind date in early July 2016 after being set up by a mutual friend and began officially dating that year. Meghan later told Vanity Fair that she and Harry were dating quietly for about six months before it became public.

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"We met for a drink, and then I think very quickly into that we said, 'Well, what are we doing tomorrow? We should meet again.'" Meghan recalled during the pair's engagement interview. Meghan and Harry went on back-to-back dates in London in the following days.

Harry invited Meghan to visit Botswana later in the summer of 2016. He shared in their engagement interview, "We camped out with each other under the stars. She came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic. So then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to know each other."

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince Harry later said it was during this trip that he knew Meghan was his "soulmate."

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The pair also opened up about the trip in their Harry & Meghan docuseries, sharing that their escape to Botswana came after they had only met twice.

"I was astonished that she said, 'Yes,' " Harry recalled. "This woman, that I've really met twice, she's coming to Botswana, and we're gonna be living in a tent for five days!"

The couple announced their engagement on Nov. 27, 2017, and tied the knot on May 19, 2018.

Meghan Markle/Instagram Harry and Meghan bring Archie and Lilibet to Disneyland in 2025. Harry and Meghan bring Archie and Lilibet to Disneyland in 2025.

Princess Lilibet and her brother, Prince Archie, 6, are often kept out of the private eye by their parents, but the siblings have recently been featured in a number of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's photos  and some of their philanthropic work.

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In their Christmas card, shared on Meghan's Instagram page on Friday, Dec. 19, the family of four could be seen outdoors on a small bridge over a creek. Meghan bends down and holds hands with her 4-year-old daughter, while 6-year-old Archie wraps Harry in a hug. It also highlights Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's red hair, inherited from their father. ("The ginger gene is a strong one!" Harry joked in 2023.)

"Happy Holidays! From our family to yours," she captioned the snap.

Also on Dec. 19, Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, dropped a video featuring clips of their work with the newly renamed Archewell Philanthropies across the last several years, alongside a holiday greeting.

Archie and Lilibet also appeared in the video, which featured new footage from when they volunteered alongside their parents at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA) ahead of Thanksgiving. The siblings can be seen helping prepare food and pushing a trolley of items with Meghan and Harry.



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BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Tesla is poised to be one of the first automakers to benefit from Canada's move to remove 100% tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, thanks to its early efforts to ship cars from its Shanghai plant there and its established Canadian sales network, experts say.

Under the deal announced last Friday, Canada will allow up to 49,000 vehicles to be imported annually from China with a tariff of 6.1% on most-favoured nation terms. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the quota could rise to reach 70,000 vehicles within five years.

However, under one clause in the agreement, half of the quota will be reserved for vehicles under 35,000 CAD ($25,189). Tesla model prices are all above that number.

While many Chinese automakers will be keen to seize the opportunity as they expand exports, Tesla has an advantage as it in 2023 already equipped its Shanghai plant, its biggest and most cost-efficient factory globally, to build and export a Canada-specific version of its Model Y.

The U.S. automaker had that same year started shipping the car from Shanghai to Canada, boosting Canadian imports of automobiles from China to its largest port, Vancouver, by 460% year over year to 44,356 in 2023.

But it was forced to stop in 2024 and switched to shipping from its U.S. and Berlin factories after Ottawa imposed 100% tariffs, citing a wish to counter what they called China's intentional state-directed policy of overcapacity.

Now, it ships Model Ys produced in Berlin to Canada, but more variants such as cheaper Model 3s are mostly built in China.

"This new agreement could allow resumption of those exports rather quickly," said Sam Fiorani, vice president of research firm AutoForecast Solutions.

Tesla has an existing network of 39 stores in Canada, whereas Chinese rivals such as BYD and Nio do not yet have a sales presence there, and it can also likely move faster with marketing plans as it only has four core models, far fewer than its Chinese competitors.

"Tesla indeed has an advantage with its offering of a few models, versions and simple production lines so that it can be flexible to sell cars produced in any country in any markets to achieve the best cost efficiency," said Yale Zhang, managing director at Shanghai-based consultancy AutoForesight.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Other brands that exported cars made in China to Canada before the tariffs included Volvo and Polestar, which are both owned by China's automaking group Geely.
NEED TO KNOW

Melissa Gilbert is "very concerned" about husband Timothy Busfield as he remains in custody in New Mexico, a source tells PEOPLE

Busfield has been officially charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse

Gilbert, who previously wrote a letter in support of Busfield to the judge in his case, reportedly hopes to get him out of jail on bond amid worries about his "safety" at the facility

Melissa Gilbert's feels like she's living in a "nightmare" as Timothy Busfield remains behind bars amid allegations of child sex abuse.

A source tells PEOPLE that the Little House on the Prairie actress, 61, is concerned about her husband, 68, who is being held in a New Mexico jail after being charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

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"The past week has been a nightmare for Melissa," the insider says. "She's very concerned about Tim in jail. She wants him out on bond so he's safe. The detention facility where he's being held has safety issue complaints and Melissa is extremely worried. Her focus is to try and get him out on bond this week."

The source adds that Gilbert, who married Busfield in 2013, plans on being in New Mexico this week.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Timothy Busfield (left) and Melissa Gilbert in 2019 Timothy Busfield (left) and Melissa Gilbert in 2019

Busfield surrendered to authorities and was officially charged on Tuesday, Jan. 13, after the Albuquerque Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest four days prior. The warrant alleged that he engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with 11-year-old twin boys, who were child actors and met Busfield on the set of the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where he served as a director.

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, Busfield made his first court appearance before a judge. The following day, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman held a press conference, where he stated that the case has been transferred to the District Court, and Busfield has a court date for pretrial detention hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

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At the hearing, a judge will determine whether to approve the prosecution's motion for Busfield to remain in custody until trial or if he will be released, with or without conditions (New Mexico has eliminated monetary bail). He will then formally be charged and arraigned.

Bregman further revealed that The West Wing actor could face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty of the three criminal charges.

The pretrial detention motion, obtained by PEOPLE, also included an unrelated additional allegation of sexual abuse against Busfield by Colin Swift, who reported to law enforcement on Jan. 13 that Busfield allegedly sexually abused Swift's daughter "several years ago" in Sacramento, Calif., when she was auditioning for him at B Street Theatre.

Busfield has denied all child sex abuse crimes.

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In a video obtained by TMZ, taken moments before turning himself in to police, Busfield said that he plans to confront these lies and fight."

His civil attorney, Larry Stein, who has also denied all allegations that the actor engaged in unlawful sexual conduct, told PEOPLE in a statement on Jan. 13 that Timothy is absolutely shocked at the "false" allegation against him.

He's devastated and will defend himself, because these are absolutely false allegations, Stein added.

VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Melissa Gilbert (left) and Timothy Busfield in 2023 Melissa Gilbert (left) and Timothy Busfield in 2023

Gilbert, who is listed as a potential witness in the case, voiced support for her husband in a letter to the judge, which was included in Busfields response in opposition to the state's motion for pretrial detention submitted on Friday, Jan. 16.

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She wrote in part, "the reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life. He is my comfort and my council. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life. Tim is, quite simply, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family."

"I can tell you, and anyone, that I know Tim better and more intimately than anything in his life ever has. Conversely, he knows me in the same way," she continued. "Tim has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known. He has dedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others. He starts every day with kindness and compassion."

Gilbert went on to say that on "every single set where Tim is working," she's been approached by "multiple people" who say he is "their favorite director ever." She also said "one of the great joys of my life" has been watching Busfield interact with her youngest son, Michael.

"I am trying to tow a line between logic and all the feelings swirling through me," Gilbert concluded. "I began this letter with logic, but now the feelings have taken over. I can't help it," she said. "I only want this extraordinary man safe and whole. So, I will close by asking you to please, please, take care of my sweet husband. As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart, I am relying on your to protect him for me."



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In a previous statement issued on her behalf on Jan. 13, the actress' rep, Ame Van Iden, made it clear that Gilbert will not "speak publicly while the legal process unfolds."

"During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment, she continued. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time. We ask that their privacy be respected.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Melissa Gilbert may be asked to appear in court at husband Timothy Busfields upcoming hearing.

The Little House on the Prairie alum, 61, was listed as a potential defense witness for a pretrial detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, January 20, in court documents obtained by Us Weekly.

Busfield, 68, has been accused of inappropriately touching twin boys who he worked with on the set of The Cleaning Lady over a two- to three-year period. The complaint alleged Busfield had picked the boys up, tickled them and allegedly touched them in private areas.

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During a police interview conducted last November, the former West Wing star told Officer Marvin Brown that he did not remember overtly tickling or picking up the children  although he stated it was highly likely that he came into physical contact with them at some point due to keeping a playful environment on set.

Timothy Busfields Mother-in-Law Calls Him Her Real Son In Letter to Judge Amid Child Sex Abuse Case

Im always around people, right? It would be, you know, in front of the parents. There would never be a weird moment about it, he allegedly said, according to the arrest warrant. I dont really remember picking those boys up. I remember picking up the boy who followed them. Id pick him up and hed be giggling and that would sort of get him ready to act.

When asked whether there were rules about physical contact between adults and children on set, Busfield allegedly admitted that there was no protocol.

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On January 9, authorities in New Mexico issued a warrant for the directors arrest. On January 13, Busfield turned himself in and was subsequently charged with with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse.

He has denied all charges and reportedly took a polygraph test in hopes of proving his innocence.

Getty

As Us previously reported, Gilbert wrote a character letter begging the judge presiding over the case to keep her husband safe as he awaits his next court appearance from the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center in New Mexico.

The reality is that Tim Busfield is my love, my rock, my partner in business and life, she said in the letter obtained by Us on Friday, January 16. He is my comfort and my council. His joy, humor and quick wit bring sparkle to my life. Tim is, quite simply, the beating heart of our wild and wonderful extended family.

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Timothy Busfields Child Sexual Abuse Case Hinges on Whether Alleged Victims Were Pressured to Make Claims

Your Honor, this is the strangest letter Ive ever had to write. I only want this extraordinary man safe and whole, she continued. Please, please, take care of my sweet husband. As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart, I am relying on [you] to protect him for me.

Gilbert and Busfield met several times in the 1980s, but they didnt spark a romance until 2012. The pair got married in April 2013.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
Actress Melissa Gilbert is speaking out in an emotional plea to a judge after her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, was arrested on charges of alleged criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse.

Busfield -- best known for his role as Danny Concannon on "The West Wing" -- turned himself in to authorities last week and is being held in custody in New Mexico with no bond.

Albuquerque Metro Detention Facility - PHOTO: Timothy Busfield is seen in a mugshot photo.

Gilbert pleaded with the judge, "Please, please take care of my sweet husband. As he is my protector, I am his, but I cannot protect him now and I think that, more than anything else, is what is truly breaking my heart. I am relying on you to protect him for me."

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She said, "Tim has the strongest moral compass of any human I have ever known. He has dedicated his spiritual self to always being of service to others."

Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert attend a photocall for the series "Busfield" as part of the 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in the principality of Monaco, June 20, 2023.

Gilbert also wrote about her husband's relationship with her son Michael, saying, "Tim nurtured and guided Michael. ... I will never be able to express the depth of gratitude I have to God for bringing this wonderful human into our lives."

Gilbert's letter is among 70 letters of support, including from Busfield's stepson Michael and his former "Thirtysomething" co-stars Ken Olin and Peter Horton.

Actor Timothy Busfield faces new assault claim from 16-year-old victim: Court documents

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The charges against Busfield stem from accusations that he inappropriately touched a child actor on the set of his show "The Cleaning Lady," according to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News. According to court documents, the child's parents reported that the alleged abuse began in 2022, when the child was 7 years old, and lasted until 2024.

Busfield denied the allegations when interviewed by investigators, according to the criminal complaint.

Arturo Holmes/ABC via Getty Images - PHOTO: Timothy Busfield attends ABC's "For LIfe" New York Premiere, Feb. 5, 2020, in New York City.

Busfield's attorney said in a statement last week, "Tim Busfield denies the allegations in the criminal complaint and maintains they are completely false. As a voluntary step, he submitted to an independent polygraph examination regarding those allegations and passed."

Busfield's next hearing is on Jan. 20 to determine whether he will remain in custody or be released pending trial, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said last week. The DA will then bring formal charges and Busfield will be arraigned on the formal charges, Bregman said.
Robert Redford taught his daughter Amy Redford some valuable life lessons when she was young.

On Monday, January 19, Amy, 55, sat down with Laura Jarrett and Peter Alexander on Today and reflected on growing up with the legendary actor, who passed away in his sleep in September at 89.

He was playful and curious and kind, and I think what he taught us to do is really find the thing that were most passionate about and the things that we think might be able to change the world, she remarked.

The best thing I think he did for my family was raise us between New York City and the mountains of Sundance  because we got to live between the city and in natural law  and taught us a very strong value of stewardship, Amy continued. Thats something that I think all of us bring to the table to this day, and Im very proud of that.

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Amy also discussed the Sundance Film Festival, which is happening this month and will be the first year it takes place without its founder.

For my dad, if you tell him not to do it, that just means it hasnt been done yet. He decided, Well, I have some platform, and Im going to use it to change the world,' Amy explained, referring to the acclaimed director creating Sundance. And I think knowing that there were so many stories out there that needed to be told, that werent being told, and that there were amazing storytellers that hadnt been seen yet was really his most foundational motivation.

As for what the Oscar winner wanted his legacy to look like, Amy admitted, He was not a person to look over his shoulder.

I think his legacy is really about giving forward, she said. And I think him being able to do things like found The Redford Center with my late brother Jamie Redford, being able to know that every single artist that came through the Sundance Institute would maybe one day be out in the public sphere like Ryan Coogler and Chloe Zhao and all of the people that come and celebrate the organization moving forward.

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Besides Amy, the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid actor shared son Scott, who died of sudden infant death syndrome when he was only a few months old, and son James, who lost his battle to cancer in 2020, as well as daughter Shauna, 65, with ex-wife Lola Van Wagenen.

Read More From Star

This story Robert Redfords Daughter Amy Reflects on What Her Dad Taught Her and His Legacy Following His Death first appeared on Star. Add Star as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge returns on Jan. 24, celebrating 13 years of advocating for disability inclusion in the entertainment industry. This years competition, launched by the challenges founder and director Nic Novicki at the Sundance Film Festival, will be held on March 24 through 29, with the awards ceremony following on May 7 at Sony Pictures Studios.

During the challenge, filmmakers are given five days to write and produce a one to five minute short film which promotes disability inclusion based on the years featured genre. The 2026 genre will be Dramedy. Submitted films are judged in six award categories: best film, best director, best actor, best writer, best editor and best awareness campaign. Winners will receive a number of prizes to help them achieve their career goals, including a $2,000 cash prize, Dell Technologies computers, mentorship meetings and more.

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Disability inclusion cannot be an afterthought, said Novicki. True progress in the entertainment industry means ensuring that people with disabilities are part of the conversation at every level. The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge exists to do exactly that. Thanks to sustained industry support, we have been able to elevate new voices, launch remarkable talent, offer year-round learning opportunities and help filmmakers from around the world achieve meaningful success on both sides of the camera. Were proud to serve as a trusted resource for Hollywood.

Novicki, an actor, comedian, producer and disability advocate, began the challenge in 2013 as a response to the under-representation of talent with disabilities. Since the challenges founding, more than 850 short films have been created and submitted from nearly every state and around the globe.

Find rules, regulations and how to register here.

Wednesday, January 21

Chicagos Doc10 Film Festival Expands to 10 Days for 11th Anniversary

The Doc10 Film Festival will celebrate its 11th anniversary with an expanded 10-day run from April 24 to May 3, the Chicago Media Project announced.

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The festival, which originally launched as a five-day event, has grown into one of the nations premier showcases for curated nonfiction cinema. Over the past decade, the Chicago-based documentary film festival has distinguished itself through its commitment to social-impact storytelling.

This years festival will launch April 24 with Speak Truth, a new program designed to advance Doc10s mission of fostering meaningful conversation, community engagement and civic participation through documentary film. The initiative aims to create dialogue between filmmakers and audiences around pressing social issues.

Following the Speak Truth opening, Doc10s premiere weekend will showcase 10 of the years most notable documentaries, continuing the festivals tradition of bringing significant nonfiction works to Chicago audiences.

The festival is presented by the Chicago Media Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting documentary films that drive social change. CMP has positioned Doc10 as a destination for both filmmakers and audiences seeking documentary work that combines artistic excellence with social relevance.

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Additional programming details and the full festival lineup are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Ang Lee to Receive ACE Filmmaker of the Year Award

Ang Lee will receive the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year award at the 76th Annual ACE Eddie Awards on Feb. 27 at UCLAs Royce Hall.

The two-time Oscar winner joins previous honorees including Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. American Cinema Editors announced the honor Tuesday.

Ang Lees exploration of our most closely held emotions has ignited an international passion for cinema for over 30 years, said ACE president Sabrina Plisco. She cited his work on Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as examples of his range.

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Lee won Academy Awards for directing Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi. His filmography spans intimate dramas to epic spectacles, including The Wedding Banquet, Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm and Gemini Man.

The ceremony will also honor Kim Larson, managing director of YouTubes Creator and Gaming team, with the ACE Visionary Award. The recognition celebrates YouTubes impact on digital storytelling and creator empowerment.

Career Achievement awards will go to Arthur Forney, who oversaw post-production for Dick Wolfs franchises including Law & Order for over 30 years, and Robert Leighton, who edited 15 films with Rob Reiner, including When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men.

Winners in 14 competitive categories recognizing film and television editing will be announced during the ceremony. Nominations will be revealed Jan. 27.

Monday, January 19

Subject Matter, an organization that provides funds and resources to nonprofits and documentary films highlighting urgent social issues, will award $120,000 in grants at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

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Recipients include Sharon Lieses investigative thriller Seized, the nonprofit organization Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Dawn Porters When A Witness Recants, and the nonprofit Gideons Promise, each receiving $30,000.

Seized focuses on a troubling police raid in Kansas, which quickly spirals into a national story. Told through police body-cam and surveillance footage, the film will premiere on Jan. 25 at the Ray Theatre and will also be available through Sundance Film Festivals online program, screening from Jan. 29Feb. 1. The corresponding nonprofit grant will go to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which provides legal representation, support, and other legal resources at no cost to protect the rights of journalists nationwide.

When A Witness Recants explores the false imprisonment of three innocent teenagers who were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murder, the truth eventually revealed after 36 years. The film will premiere on Jan. 27 at the Library Center Theatre. The corresponding grant will go to Gideons Promise, a nonprofit aiming to transform the criminal legal system by building a movement of public defenders who provide equal justice for marginalized communities.

Subject Matter will also host a public panel discussion at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 26 at the Box at the Ray, for a conversation exploring what happens when the systems designed to protect usthe local police, the courts, and the laware used to silence the truth, and how audiences can create positive community actions in response to the films. The conversation will be moderated by Fabio Bertoni, General Counsel at The New Yorker. Subject Matter will add $100 to each audience donation made to either of the nonprofit grantees during the Sundance Film Festival, up to a total of $5,000.





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Marg Helgenberger started her career as an '80s soap star, but she's officially a TV legend.

The actress, 67, rose to fame on the soap opera Ryan's Hope, on which she appeared from 1982 to 1986. She later headed to the popular drama series China Beach, which followed the ups and downs at an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War. But it was her role in the iconic aughts series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation that solidified Helgenberger's role in TV history. She played Catherine Willows, the graveyard shift CSI assistant supervisor, for 12 seasons on the series, starring alongside actor William Petersen, who departed in season 9. Helgenberger later returned to the CSI franchise in CSI: Vegas for its second and third seasons.

Since concluding her run on CSI: Vegas in 2024, Helgenberger hasn't been back on TV. However, it's safe to say the legendary strawberry blonde looks better than ever. In a rare post on her Instagram page, the classic beauty shared a fun photo of herself and a little one drawing at an easel.

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"Happy Friday! Make room to be creative this weekend. ," she captioned the sweet photo, which showed her sitting on the ground.

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She's an Advocate for Caregivers

Outside of her role as an actress, Helgenberger makes sure to advocate for caregivers.

A member of The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group consisting of actors, directors, producers, and writers, Helgenberger raises visibility and builds federal support for bills that give family caregivers tax credits. She came to her advocacy work after seeing her own parents' struggle financially as a result of long-term illnesses.

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This is a way for me to honor both of my parents  and bring some needed relief to people  millions of people  throughout the country, she told AARP in 2024.

You Can Finally Stream China Beach

Fans of Helgenberger and her work on China Beach were delighted by the news last summer that they could finally stream the series on the Roku Channel.

Caught in the whirlwind of the Vietnam War, three women fight to maintain their sanity amid the carnage as each, in her own way, supports the United States troops in this riveting drama chronicling unsung heroines of the war, the synopsis reads.

The show starred Dana Delany as 1st Lt. Colleen Murphy, an army nurse known for her bravery and kindness during the tumultuous and tragic Vietnam War. Delany earned two Emmy Awards for her performance in the role.

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Check out the opening credits of the series below:

Related: Emmy-Winning 80s Drama China Beach Finally Returns  Heres Where to Watch

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Saturday Night Live (SNL) opened its latest episode with James Austin Johnson once again stepping into the role of Donald Trump for a political skit. The sketch combined recent international and domestic headlines. This includes the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and protests in Minneapolis.

SNL mocks Donald Trump after Venezuela attack

Saturday Night Live opened its first episode of 2026 with a political satire that took aim at President Donald Trump.

James Austin Johnson reprised his role as Trump, opening the sketch with a mock holiday greeting. I hope everyone had a nice holiday and got what they wanted for Christmas, he said before referencing the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, saying, I got what I wanted: My very own someone elses Nobel Prize, which Ill cherish! And in my stocking I got Maduro. Nicolas Maduro! The sketch portrayed the operation as a victory, with Johnsons Trump saying, We did a reverse Santa on him. We came down the chimney with a bag and took him away.

Johnsons Trump then introduced what he called his little cabinet of curiosities, describing them as my little freaks, various monsters and nightmares from the twisted mind of Guillermo del Trump. Marcello Hernandez appeared as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside Jeremy Culhane as Vice President JD Vance. The fictional Cabinet offered exaggerated updates on the administrations actions.

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The segment also addressed unrest in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Ashley Padilla debuted as Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. She said, Id like to give a quick shoutout to my hair and makeup team, who absolutely hate me. Padillas Noem also discussed the protests that erupted after the incident. Now, obviously, theres been clashes on both sides in Minneapolis, and have we been perfect? Yes, she said.

Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on Mandatory.

The post Donald Trump Mocked By SNL After Venezuela Attack appeared first on Reality Tea.
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Credit: Paramount+

Taylor Sheridan fans have largely been kept in the dark regarding new and expansive details for his latest new western-tinged drama, but Paramount+ has finally unveiled the first look at the star-studded Yellowstone spinoff The Madison. So we finally know what to expect visually from its co-starring Hollywood icons Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell, as well as other regulars portrayed by Patrick J. Adams, Matthew Fox, Rebecca Spence and more. Plus, we finally know when itll hit the 2026 TV premiere schedule.

The Madison will be available to stream via Paramount+ subscription starting on March 14, which is a Saturday, bizarrely enough. (Its unclear whether episodes will drop early in the day, or if this is more of a late-night/early-Sunday release.) So drum up a New York state of mind, at least initially, for the teaser below, which also reveals an unexpected casting reveal.

While the teaser doesn't exactly go hard on delivering story points, we do know from one of the earliest plot reports that Pfeiffer's Stacy Clayburn and her family move across the country to Montana after her husband and brother-in-law are killed in a plane crash. Certainly that could have changed on the way to production, since the teaser above doesn't go hard on tragic emotions, but considering Kurt Russell barely gets any time to shine (and neither does co-star Matthew Fox), I'm going to just assume that character pair won't survive the first episode. Maybe if those plane shots weren't in the teaser, I'd be more optimistic.

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Despite still not knowing very much about any of these characters, the teaser does draw a pretty clear line of comparison between Pfeiffer's Stacy and Kelly Reilly's fan-favorite shitkicking protagonist Beth Dutton. They both have masculine AF hubbies, they both appear ready to flip a bitch at the first sign of trouble, and they also both have excellent taste in bathtub choices.

Credit: Paramount+

Beth's horse-trough bath early in Yellowstone's first season put that character on the map for her take-no-bullshit persona. So it makes all the sense in the world that The Madison's first look already shows Stacy in her own fancy-looking tub. Maybe this is more of a Taylor Sheridan thing, though, since 1883 also featured that bathtub scene between Tim McGraw and Faith Hill; I guess he just doesn't like standard fiberglass tubs.

Even though Beth didn't lose her husband during Yellowstone's run, she did suffer from grief and depression after Kevin Costner's John Dutton was killed off at the start of Season 5. Though she had others to direct her anger at, while Stacy may not have that kind of outlet.

Also, speaking of differences, Stacy is apparently seeing a therapist, as portrayed by newly revealed cast member Will Arnett. Beth's form of therapy was more shaped like whiskey and cigarettes, so I'm wondering how open Michelle Pfeiffer's character will get in that setting. Also wondering how much we'll see Arnett's character after Stacy moves the family out to Montana.

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March will be a big month for Taylor Sheridans Yellowstone follow-ups. Before The Madison hits streaming, Luke Grimes and Breckin Merrill are reprising their roles of Kayce and Tate Dutton for CBS more action-oriented drama Marshals, which may or may not be killing off Monica Dutton. And both of those come before Kelly Reillys own return as Beth Dutton alongside Cole Hauser for the spinoff commonly referred to as Dutton Ranch. (Yellowstone vet Ian Bohen was recently cast for Season 2 of Lioness, but that hopefully doesnt exclude his ranch hand Ryan from spinoff returns.)

The Madison will make its long-awaited debut on Paramount+ starting Saturday, March 14.
Trader Joe's is massively popular, thanks to its creative snacks you can't find elsewhere, its frozen foods that make ordering takeout a thing of the past, and its cozy, friendly-feeling stores that seem to make grocery shopping a more pleasant experience (unless you go when it's particularly busy, that is). But even if you're someone who shops at Trader Joe's multiple times a week, there's a chance that you're still believing some of the most common myths about the grocery chain  and by believing those myths, you might just be missing out on some of the best benefits the store has to offer.

We've outlined these myths below to set the record straight once and for all. The next time you visit your local TJ's, you'll be a little bit more informed about where you're shopping. And who knows? You may even be able to clear up a myth for your cashier.

Read more: 10 Frequently Returned Food Items At Costco

Trader Joe's and Aldi are run by the same company

Aldi sign on grey building - Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

If you shop at both Aldi and Trader Joe's, you might have noticed some similarities between the two stores. They're both relatively smaller than other grocery stores, and they mainly carry their own brands. It might make you wonder whether the two stores are somehow related. Well, there's a myth that's been going around for ages that Trader Joe's and Aldi are run by the same company. That's not technically true, but it's understandable why some may think it is.

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In reality, the companies now known as Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord used to be one company (Aldi) owned by two brothers. However, in the 1960s, the brothers split the business into two separate companies. Aldi Sud now owns Aldi locations in the United States, while Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe's. So, are Trader Joe's and Aldi from the same company? No. But they're definitely related, which is why you can see so many similarities between the two chains.

The fact that Trader Joe's carries mostly store-brand products means the food is lower quality

Store brand ice cream sandwiches from Trader Joe's - PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock

When you go to a standard grocery store, you may notice a pattern between name-brand and store-brand products. Most of the time, name-brand products will be more expensive than their store-brand counterparts. While this doesn't always reflect quality, it sometimes does, which leads many to believe that store-brand products are generally lower quality.

So, when you go to Trader Joe's for the first time, and you realize that nearly everything in the store is from Trader Joe's own private brand, you may get the idea that most of the products are pretty low-quality. But we've found that this absolutely isn't the case. On the contrary, Trader Joe's is known for having a ton of innovative, creative products that we haven't seen elsewhere. Generally, we regard the quality of the products at Trader Joe's to be very solid, especially considering the relatively affordable price points (in high-cost-of-living cities, at least). Don't let the store-brand status scare you away from trying out Trader Joe's products.

You can only buy food at Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's sunscreen on wooden table - LisaChi/Shutterstock

It's true that Trader Joe's doesn't have a huge cosmetics or home goods section. You're not going to find aisles upon aisles of specialty shampoos or 20 different types of candles, and it's not the kind of store you should visit if you're trying to buy makeup or hair accessories. That being said, it's a myth that Trader Joe's only sells food and nothing else. Although the store's body and home care sections are quite small  generally comprising only a small portion of the store's footprint  they actually pack a ton of incredible products.

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For example, the dry shampoo at Trader Joe's has a lot of fans, and its daily facial sunscreen is a widely beloved product. The laundry detergent is absolutely worth checking out, as is the dish soap. There may not be enough TJ's beauty and home products to make it your go-to spot for these types of items, but you may just find a few go-to products there that you come back to again and again.

Everything at Trader Joe's is healthy

Frozen Trader Joe's food in freezer - PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock

These days, it's important to understand how marketing affects the way you think. Really good marketing can make us believe ideas about products that don't really reflect reality, and Trader Joe's is an excellent example. Because of the way a lot of Trader Joe's food is packaged  in well-designed containers that seem to allude to products' wholesomeness  it's understandable to think that most, if not all, Trader Joe's food is pretty healthy. However, that's not always the case. Just like any grocery store, Trader Joe's offers more and less nutritious foods, and it's up to you to look at a product's nutrition information to figure out which is which.

For a simpler frame of reference when it comes to picking healthier foods at the grocery store, many experts recommend sticking to the perimeter of the store, which is generally where you'll find whole foods like fruits, vegetables, various proteins, and dairy products. That doesn't mean that everything in Trader Joe's frozen section is unhealthy or that there aren't better-for-you snacks in the snack aisle. But just keep in mind that a product isn't necessarily healthy just because it's packaged in natural-looking wrappers.

Trader Joe's is super sustainable

Produce wrapped in plastic at Trader Joe's - Noah Sauve/Getty Images

It's no secret to most of us that in 2026, most big corporations aren't as ethical as they might seem. If you're a big Trader Joe's fan, you might want to believe that the chain is super sustainable. In reality, though, that's not always the case. Some of the Trader Joe's products you love might actually be made by huge corporations that peddle some of the least sustainable products out there, like PepsiCo and Nestle. The store also uses refrigeration practices that were found to leak harmful gases into the atmosphere. Plus, it's likely that the chocolate you're buying from TJ's comes from sources with deeply unethical labor practices, like child labor.

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But you don't even have to do any research to understand that Trader Joe's could do a lot more in terms of sustainability. Just head to the produce section, where you'll find tons of fruits and vegetables that are needlessly packaged in plastic. Trader Joe's is guilty of greenwashing on many fronts, and those who care about the sustainability of their food should be wary of what they're purchasing at the chain.

You can't try products before you buy them

Trader Joe's cookies in plastic tubs stacked in store - PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock

Have you ever seen a new, interesting-looking Trader Joe's product, wondered what it tasted like, but ultimately decided not to buy it because you were worried that you wouldn't actually like it? We've been there before. It turns out, though, that that thought process is largely unnecessary, as Trader Joe's actually lets you try most of its products before you buy them.

Just ask a staff member to try any product you're interested in. There are some exceptions, though. The policy doesn't apply to alcohol, of course, and baking mixes and frozen foods are also off limits, for obvious reasons. And don't worry  apparently, the extras aren't going to waste. According to a poster on Reddit, the staff often gets to snack on the leftovers in the break room anyway. Of course, you shouldn't abuse this policy and ask someone who works at your local Trader Joe's to open several products for you all at once, but it's good to know that this is an option when you're unsure about whether you should commit to a new snack or not.

You always have to bring a product back to get a refund

People shopping in Trader Joe's produce section - Elliott Cowand Jr/Shutterstock

At a lot of grocery stores, if you're trying to get your money back for a defective product, you usually have to bring the product back. But it's a myth to assume that Trader Joe's works that way, too. Sometimes, you may be able to get a refund without even returning the product. According to someone who once worked for Trader Joe's, most staff members will believe you if you say that your avocado was too soft or that the package of bacon you purchased was already opened when you got it home.

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This is another policy you don't want to abuse. Do it too often, and the staff might get suspicious. But when you actually have a problem with something you bought from the grocery store, getting your money back may be easier than you'd expect. They'll be able to give you your money back in cash or simply make sure you get your money back on your card.

It's possible to shop at Trader Joe's online

Hand holding a phone with grocery shopping app - Isims/Getty Images

COVID marked the beginning of a serious e-commerce boom in the grocery scene. Many grocery store chains started offering expanded delivery and pickup options, and some customers turned to Instacart and other grocery delivery services. In the midst of this transition in the grocery market, Trader Joe's remained staunchly anti-e-commerce. Throughout the pandemic, customers still lined up outside the chain's locations, waiting to shop for their favorite TJ's snacks in a more socially distanced way. The chain has maintained that it intends to remain a brick-and-mortar business only.

It's true that you can use the Trader Joe's website to check out new products that will be hitting store shelves soon, especially during seasonal transitions, and add things to a shopping list. But once you find what you're looking for online, you'll actually need to go seek it out in person at your local Trader Joe's. You can always call ahead to ensure that the nearest location has the product you're looking for in stock.

Two-buck chuck is actually $2

Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's - DJSinop/Shutterstock

A lot of people think of wine as a more expensive option when it comes to alcohol, but that's not always true  certainly not when it comes to Trader Joe's two-buck chuck. That's the nickname for Charles Shaw wines, which are exclusively sold at Trader Joe's. At one point, they were literally $1.99 per 750-milliliter bottle, making them some of the absolute cheapest wines on the market. But it's a myth to assume that after all these years, two-buck chuck is still only $2.

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It was all the way back in 2013 that the popular wines started to become more expensive. In the years since, Trader Joe's fans online have complained that the price has jumped in their local stores. But there's still hope that customers may once again see the original price tag: In 2020, California Trader Joe's locations brought the price back down to $1.99.

All of Trader Joe's products are original creations

Trader Joe's frozen chicken tikka masala - PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock

It was late in 2025 when the company behind Smucker's Uncrustables sued Trader Joe's for a product that the store had rolled out that appeared to be, essentially, a TJ's-branded Uncrustable. But this isn't the first time that Trader Joe's has ripped off another brand's products. While the J.M. Smucker Company is a large operation, the chain has also been accused of copying the products of much smaller producers. Some of these producers say that they've been cut out of deals, with Trader Joe's essentially just screwing them over.

Not only is Trader Joe's copying some of these products, but it's even marketing them in similar ways. This is after Trader Joe's will speak with a producer about their product and process  then ghost them, according to some accounts. Unfortunately, it's a myth that all of Trader Joe's products are original creations. Sometimes, they're copycats from small businesses just trying to get by.

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Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Who doesnt like to tear into a soft, sweet Kings Hawaiian roll? The eggy, pillowy bread came to Hawaii via the Portuguese pao doce and Azorean massa sovada dessert breads. Kings Hawaiian founder Robert Taira, child of Okinawan immigrant sugar cane workers, cracked the recipe for how to make this infamously quick-to-stale local favorite shelf stable. Kings Hawaiian has seen enormous growth since then, from the Big Island to Oahu to California to the rest of the U.S.

These delicate, delectable rolls deserve equally delicious fillings  especially when youre planning a party. Whether the occasion calls for shrimp pakora with coconut-cilantro chutney, sloppy Joes with chile-ginger sauce, or crispy quinoa burgers, there's a King's Hawaiian roll slider recipe for everyone. (Especially Guy Fieri.)



01 of 12

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Jordan Provost / Food Styling by Thu Buser

Don't be deceived by their simplicity: These warm ham and melty Swiss cheese sandwiches have deep, rich flavor thanks to butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and a King's Hawaiian roll.

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Get the Recipe

02 of 12

Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Dill Pickle Slaw

Food & Wine / Sara Haas

If you've got Buffalo chicken fans in the house, these inventive sliders are sure to be a hit. Grilled and shredded Buffalo chicken is topped with thinly sliced rings of red onion and tangy pickle slaw studded with blue cheese crumbles, ensuring each bite is a perfect balance of flavor and texture.

Get the Recipe

03 of 12

Pav Bhaji

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

A pillowy Kings Hawaiian roll is the ideal vehicle for this classic Indian street food of mashed vegetables in a rich tomato sauce seasoned with warming ginger, chile, and pav bhaji masala.

Get the Recipe

04 of 12

Hot Honey Halloumi Sliders

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

The combination of salty, squeaky Halloumi and sweet, soft King's Hawaiian rolls makes these sliders an instant party-ready classic.

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Get the Recipe

05 of 12

French Onion Roast Beef Sliders

Chris Simpson / FOOD STYLING by MARGARET MONROE DICKEY / PROP STYLING by AUDREY DAVIS

Pair nutty Gruyere cheese with savory roast beef, sandwiched in the sweetness of Frenched onions and King's Hawaiian rolls, for a melty and warm easy-to-share party food.

Get the Recipe

06 of 12

Shrimp Pakora Sliders with Coconut-Cilantro Chutney

Jennifer Causey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn

Shrimp fried in chickpea flour and spiced with turmeric and Kashmiri chile powder shine in a King's Hawaiian roll, topped with a smear of herby coconut-cilantro chutney.

Get the Recipe

07 of 12

Carnitas Sliders with Tomatillo-Avocado Sauce

Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Carrie Purcell / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox

Fragrant carnitas with a bright yet creamy avocado-tomatillo sauce are a bite-size taste of Mexico City, where chef Pati Jinich sourced her carnitas recipe's extra-special ingredient: sweetened condensed milk.

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Get the Recipe

08 of 12

Lobster Sliders

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

Atlantic meets Pacific when you put this summery lobster salad, seasoned with tarragon and lemon, on a buttered King's Hawaiian roll.

Get the Recipe

09 of 12

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Sliders with Cabbage-Apple Slaw

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox

For these crispy-crunchy sliders, chicken tenders are first dredged in pretzel pieces and honey mustard then fried until golden. To finish, they're topped with a vibrant cabbage-apple slaw and sandwiched between pillowy buns.

Get the Recipe

10 of 12

Sloppy Joe Sliders with Chile-Ginger Sauce

Con Poulos

Sambal oelek, garlic, ginger, and hoisin make these sloppy Joe sliders  from the Emmy- and James Beard Awardwinning chef Ming Tsai  sweet, spicy, and unforgettable.

Get the Recipe

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11 of 12

Crispy Quinoa Sliders

Christina Holmes

Light and crispy, these quinoa patties make for delicious veggie burger sliders.

Get the Recipe

12 of 12

Coffee-Cured Pulled Pork

John Kernick

This slow-cooked pulled pork slider from chef Linton Hopkins asks for your time and delivers big, flavorful results in return.

Get the Recipe

Read the original article on Food & Wine
This straightforward approach gives investors exposure to 500 of Americas largest companies across various industries, providing diversified exposure without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.

In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund, he famously stated (4).

While some politicians  and hedge funds  may try to beat the market, legendary investor Warren Buffett has long advised everyday Americans to take a simpler route.

The New York Times reported in December that there has never been any concrete evidence that Pelosi has profited from her insider position, in spite of the fact that her husbands wealth has skyrocketed during her time in office (2). However, a recent paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research analyzed politicians stock trades and found that congressional leaders outperformed other lawmakers in investment gains by as much as 47% (3). This is due in part to their influence on and knowledge of legislation related to the market.

Since the interview, Pelosi has voiced her support for the Honest Act  initially dubbed the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act, a not-so-subtle nod to the highly scrutinized speaker.

Thats ridiculous, Pelosi retorted without hesitation. In fact, I very much support the stop [of] the trading of members of Congress  not that I think anybody is doing anything wrong. If they are, they are prosecuted and they go to jail. But because of the confidence it instills in the American people, dont worry about this. But I have no concern about the obvious investments that have been made over time. Im not into it. My husband is, but it isnt anything to do with anything insider.

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

Get early access to privately-held AI companies with Fundrise Venture Capital for as little as $10. Join 350,000+ investors today

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

During an appearance on The Lead with Jake Tapper, the host asked what she thought of President Donald Trumps accusation that she got rich by having inside information and making a fortune with her husband in stock trading (1).

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wasnt having it when CNNs Jake Tapper pressed her about insider trading allegations.

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

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The beauty of this approach is its accessibility  anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: link your cards and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference  your spare change  into a diversified portfolio. With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5  and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

Read More: Approaching retirement with no savings? Dont panic, you're not alone. Here are 6 easy ways you can catch up (and fast)

The rich dont just buy stocks  they buy this

While many wealthy Americans hold stocks in their portfolios, theres another asset that has quietly built fortunes for generations: real estate.

Like stocks, real estate has its cycles, but it doesnt rely on a booming market to generate returns. Even in a downturn, high-quality, essential real estate can continue to produce passive income through rent. In other words, you dont have to wait for prices to rise to see a payoff  the asset itself can work for you.

Even the commander-in-chief has praised that quality. In 2011 (5), Trump told Steve Forbes, I just notice that when you have that right piece of property, whatever it might be, including location, it tends to work well in good times and in bad times.

Buffett has echoed that sentiment, often pointing to real estate as a prime example of a productive, income-generating asset. In 2022 (6), he stated that if someone offered him 1% of all the apartment houses in the country for $25 billion, he would write you a check.

Of course, you dont need billions  or even to buy an entire property  to benefit from real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares youd like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

If diversifying into multifamily rentals appeals to you, you could consider investing with Lightstone DIRECT, a new investing platform from the Lightstone Group, one of the largest private real estate companies in the country with over 25,000 multifamily units in its portfolio.

Since they eliminate intermediaries brokers and crowdfunding middlemen  accredited investors with a minimum investment of $100,000 can gain direct access to institutional-quality multifamily opportunities. This streamlined model can help reduce fees while enhancing transparency and control.

And with Lightstone DIRECT, you invest in single-asset multifamily deals alongside Lightstone  a true partner  as Lightstone puts at least 20% of its own capital into every offering. All of Lightstones investment opportunities undergo a rigorous, multi-stage review before being approved by Lightstones Principals, including Founder David Lichtenstein.

How it works is simple: Just sign up with your email, and you can schedule a call with a capital formation expert to assess your investment opportunities. From here, all you have to do is verify your details to begin investing.

Founded in 1986, Lightstone has a proven track record of delivering strong risk-adjusted returns across market cycles with a 27.5% historical net IRR and 2.49x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004. All told, Lightstone has $12 billion in assets under management  including in industrial and commercial real estate.

As such, even if multifamily rentals dont appeal to you, Lightstone could still serve you well as an investment vehicle for other real estate verticals.

Get started today with Lightstone DIRECT and invest alongside experienced professionals with skin in the game.

Another haven for the ultra-wealthy

In 1999, the S&P 500 peaked, and it took 14 long years to fully recover.

Today, Goldman Sachs is forecasting just 3% annual returns from 2024 to 2034. It sounds bleak but not surprising: the S&P is trading at its highest price-to-earnings ratio since the dot-com boom. Vanguard isnt far off, projecting around 5%.

In fact, nearly everything feels priced near all-time highs  equities, gold, crypto, you name it.

Thats why billionaires have long carved out a slice of their portfolios in an asset class with low correlation to the market and strong rebound potential: post-war and contemporary art.

It may sound surprising, but more than 70,000 investors have followed suit since 2019  through Masterworks. Now you can own fractional shares of works by Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso, and more.

Masterworks has sold 25 artworks so far, yielding net annualized returns like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8%.*

Moneywise readers can get priority access to diversify with art: Skip the waitlist here

*Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investing involves risk. See important Regulation A disclosures at [Masterworks.com/cd].

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Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

CNN (1); New York Times (2); National Bureau of Economic Research (3); CNBC (4), (6); Forbes (5)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
When you're zipping through it on the high-speed Frecciarossa, it's easy to be fooled into thinking that Italy is a small country. The peninsular core of ancient European history, Renaissance art, and the sunny aperol-fueled evenings Euro Summer dreams are made of may seem small, but Italy is brimming with fascinating destinations that each have a story to tell about this country that was a congregation of city-states only two centuries ago.

Alas, limited vacation days and the time that gets sucked up by international travel very rarely give travelers enough time to soak up every last drop of Italy, and sometimes we have to make do with the tight schedules we're given. Although I'm a frequent visitor to il Bel Paese and an advocate for slow travel, I've also had to squeeze in the best sights on short visits to major destinations. These 24-hour itineraries for Italy's most popular cities  ranked by annual visitor numbers aggregated by Hotelagio  are designed to help those on tight schedules to prioritize the most essential and worth-it sights in each Italian city, with tips for spending less time waiting in line and more time living la dolce vita, plus hotel and restaurant recommendations to keep you fueled and recharged.

Read more: Rick Steves' Expert Tips To Not Get Pickpocketed On Your Trip To Europe

Rome  10 million visitors

view of St. Peters Basilica - Michalludwiczak/Getty Images

With one day in Rome, you should prioritize the two central pillars of the history at the core of the city's identity: the Ancient Empire and the Catholic Church. Book the earliest time slot for an underground tour of the iconic Colosseum and explore the subterranean halls where gladiators once prepared for battle. Most tours also include a visit to Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum right next door, so you can complete a full ancient crash course in about three hours. Walk 15 minutes to the Trevi Fountain if you want to toss your coin (but do check out our guidelines before visiting) and another 10 minutes to Luna by Faro for a quick lunch and specialty coffee.

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From here, a cab to the Vatican will take about 30 minutes (give or take the city's infamous traffic), and pay 5 euros to skip the line to enter the museum by buying your ticket in advance. The experience finishes in St. Peter's Square, where you can join the fast-moving line to enter the Basilica for free. Luckily for budget-conscious travelers, most churches in Rome are free! When you're ready for bed, The Liberty Boutique Hotel is an excellent choice near the train station, so you can get a jumpstart on your next day of adventure.

Venice  7.6 million visitors

sunrise in saint marks square in venice - Irentravel/Shutterstock

Rome is much larger than Venice, but La Serenissima doesn't fall far behind it in visitor numbers. The best way to get ahead of the crowds and make the most of a short time in Venice is to stay in the city overnight. Steps from St. Mark's Square, Violino d'Oro is an impeccably designed hotel with a water entrance for seamless water taxi transfers, and it's perfectly positioned so you can wake up early and wander the near-empty streets. Book the six-hour Venice in a Day tour by Walks Italy, which includes a gondola ride with a tour in St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, to get all the historical context you need to learn how Venice came to be.

In the evening, make time to experience the city on foot, but break away from the crowds by exploring Cannareggio, one of the more local-feeling neighborhoods of Venice, and the best place for a cicchetti pub crawl. These small bar bites are a regional tradition and a very tasty way to drink your way along Fondamenta della Misericordia, a canal-facing street with lively bars like Paradiso Perduto and Birreria Zanon. Don't miss Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, where you can find one of the world's most beautiful hospitals, adorned with a Renaissance facade. You can also try chichetti (and order more substantial dishes) at Osteria al Cicheto, which is conveniently located near the train station if you have to get going after dinner.

Milan  6.5 million visitors

wide angle view of piazza del duomo in milan - VILTVART/Shutterstock

Milan may seem like all business if you're on your way to the gorgeous Italian Lakes District, but for a day, you can soak up the incredible high-fashion vibes of Italy's busy financial capital while enjoying architecture and dining out at fabulous restaurants helmed by fantastic chefs from all over Italy. Before you set foot in Milan, you will need to book weeks (or months) in advance if you want to be one of the few people allowed per day to visit Da Vinci's famous Last Supper fresco. Stay at the adorable Lafavia Bed & Breakfast, and you can take a stroll through the urban park surrounding Castello Sforzesco, where a small museum displays Michelangelo's last unfinished sculpture, La Pieta.

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You'll also need to book advance tickets to visit the central Duomo di Milano, so consider how much time you'll need before booking your timeslots. The terraces at the top have sweeping views of the city and are a must-do for seeing the cathedral's unique sculpture-topped pinnacles up close. After the Duomo, you can meander for a bit of window-shopping at the Vittorio Emanuele Galleria  home to the famous lucky bull that tourists spin their heels on for good luck. There's no shortage of good food in Milan, but it's worth venturing outside the center for dinner at Ricci Osteria, a longstanding home for regional food that will transport you to the sunny south over the courses of orrecchiete pasta and slow-cooked beef.

Florence  5.3 million visitors

view of Florence at sunset from Pizzale Michelangelo - Catarina Belova/Shutterstock

As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is an idyllic cultural capital where art history lovers will be most in awe. A walking tour with skip-the-line access, like Walk Italy's David & The Duomo experience, is a good way to beat out the lines while getting the valuable historical context that will leave you feeling inspired. The tour ends at the building-covered Ponte Vecchio Bridge, which is worth crossing for lunch at Trattoria 4 Leoni for typically delicious Tuscan cuisine. After you eat, you can cross back over and head to the Uffizi Galleries (book ahead) to see some of the most famous artworks like Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Caravaggio's Medusa, all in one place  trust me, that's just the tip of the iceberg, and you'll find all the greats represented here.

Take your time, but make sure you don't miss the iconic sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo on the hill on the opposite side of Florence. It's crowded, and there is tourist kitsch everywhere, but the view of the sun shining on the marble-covered cathedral's massive dome is worth doing at least once. You may be tired from crossing the Arno back and forth all day, so consider aperitivo back at the W Hotel, which has a creative cocktail bar and a new Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant from Akira Back, which may be your only chance to try sashimi pizza.

Naples  3.2 million

People and scooter on the Spaccanapoli - Massimo Borchi/atlantide Phototravel/Getty Images

Naples is a gateway city to many of Italy's most fabulous destinations, like the island of Capri or the Amalfi Coast, and the must-see ruins of Pompeii. It's worth sticking around for a full day, and you can start by booking a hotel in one of the city's many converted palazzos, like The Duomo House, which is still owned by a local order of nuns and sits right across from the cathedral, which is one of the main landmarks you can visit in Naples. But your time is also well spent wandering iconic roads like the Spaccanapoli to soak up the city's character and work up your appetite for the number one reason to visit Naples: the pizza.

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Naples is famous for its pizza, and if you only have one day in the city, who can judge you for eating pizza for lunch and dinner? For lunch, go classic at Da Michele (featured in "Eat, Pray, Love"). For dinner, opt for the more creative interpretations at Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi, where every table has its own basil plant. The most iconic pastry in Naples is sfogliatelle, or lobster-tails as Italian-Americans sometimes call them, and if you don't get a chance to try one at breakfast, you can pick up a hot one on the way to the train station at Sfogliatelle Attanasio.

Turin  2.5 million

the skyline of Turin at golden hour with the Alps in the background - Rudybalasko/Getty Images

Tucked beneath the Alps in the northern Piedmont region of Italy, Turin is full of history and has more museums than might be possible to explore in a single day. Shaped by the medieval House of Savoy into a cultural and political center, you can tour the royal palaces and residences that frame Piazza Castello, experience the impressive artefact collection at the Egyptian Museum, or visit the beloved National Cinema Museum housed inside the Mole Antonelliana, a unique building with an imposing dome, which you may have a great view if you stay at the NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina.

You'll want to be selective of museums for one day, because there is so much more of Turin to experience, especially for lovers of chocolate and coffee. Not only is Turin home to the original Lavazza shop, as well as Stratta, the official candy maker of the royal family, but it is also the birthplace of the espresso machine. Stopping for a coffee and a sweet is a must before strolling along the riverside and taking on a short five-minute climb up the hill of Monte dei Cappuccini for the most remarkable view of the city, with the Alps on the horizon. For a restaurant with the bragging rights of serving everybody from Mozart and Nietzsche to Audrey Hepburn, Del Cambio is a bucket-list restaurant that invokes the unavoidable eleganza essential to any trip to Turin.

Bologna  2.2 million

traveler looking out over a view of bologna - xamnesiacx84/Shutterstock

At the heart of Emilia-Romagna, a region known for producing some of Italy's most famous exports  like balsamic vinegar from Modena and Parmiggiano from Parma, two of Italy's most underrated food cities  Bologna is a city that should be at the top of your list if you like to eat. Home of the world's oldest university and lovely canals, there is plenty to keep you busy between lunch and dinner. After a self-guided walk around Piazza Maggiore, join the queue at Sfoglia Rina for a selection of fresh pasta that demonstrates the variety of the region's specialties. After that, you can take a stroll through the thousand-year-old campus of the University of Bologna and pop in for a visit to the Archiginnasio Palace, which offers a truly unique chance to visit an anatomical theatre used by Renaissance scholars to observe live dissections.

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You can build your appetite back up again with a meander through the Quadrilatero, Bologna's oldest outdoor market, before heading to dinner at Trattoria Bertozzi. The city is full of restaurants, but this trattoria is a top spot for authentic Bolognese cuisine like tortellini in meat broth and veal cutlets. To continue with the food theme, check in at Casa Conoscenti, a three-room boutique hotel well-known for its cocktail and restaurant concept, presenting the cutting edge of Bolgona's evolving food scene.

Verona  2 million

Castelvecchio bridge at night - Olena_z/Getty Images

Everyone knows this fair city as the backdrop to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," and most tourists are drawn into a crowded courtyard to gaze up at "Juliet's balcony," an experience that barely scratches the surface of Verona's appeal. However, don't expect an authentic experience at this popular spot. After all, Juliet was a fictional character, and the balcony was added to the building in the 20th century, 400 years after the Bard wrote his play. There is plenty of authenticity to be found elsewhere, particularly in the Roman amphitheatre, medieval castle, and Renaissance palazzos, which each show a slice of history in this 2,000-year-old city. Verona is a UNESCO city, and that honor is well-deserved.

Verona's small size lends itself to a breezy 24-hour itinerary, starting at a centrally located hotel like the Hotel Due Torri, which has stunning rooftop views. Begin with a wander through the city center's many baroque squares, such as Piazza dei Signori, before making your way to the Arena di Verona, an ancient amphitheater that hosts opera performances in the summer. Head to the Museo di Castelvecchio if you have time, or cross the 14th-century bridge and enjoy a lovely walk along the Adige River to appreciate the cityscape.

For food, don't let the small-town vibe fool you: Verona is home to Michelin-starred restaurants like Iris Ristorante, which serves a dessert styled after the Roman Arena. If you're looking for something more intimate and casual, stop by Archivio for cocktails crafted with care.

Palermo  1.8 million

Palermo's Pretoria fountain seen from above - Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The Sicilian capital is the perfect representation of the island's mosaic of cultural influences, shaped by centuries of rule from various empires around the Mediterranean. To explore it all in one day, you will want to stay close to the center at a palazzo-turned-boutique-hotel like Casa Nostra. From here, you can set out for a morning cannoli at the nun-run pastry shop inside the Santa Caterina Monastery. On the way, you will pass by the Quattro Canti, a crossroads with beautiful sculptures, and the 16th-century Fontana Pretoria. Afterwards, you can also visit the free No Mafia Memorial, which has an enlightening exhibit on the tumultuous story of the mafia in Sicily.

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From here, head to the Ballaro Market to peruse the food stands and graze on arancini, the scrumptious fried rice ball that Sicilians are known for, but save room for a peaceful lunch in a quiet plaza at Scolapasta. In the afternoon, visit the Palermo Cathedral and take an evening tour (until 6 p.m.) of the beautiful Teatro Massimo. For an evening treat, skip the gelato and do things the Sicilian way, with naturally-flavored shaved ice (known as granita) at Q-Tuppo, best enjoyed with a dollop of fresh cream.

Pisa  1.5 million

the leaning tower of pisa - F11photo/Getty Images

The smallest city on this list is home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the most iconic buildings in the whole world. Most people visit Pisa as a day trip, but if you're staying overnight, you can book an affordable and comfortable room at NH Pisa Hotel. This gives you a chance to beat the crowds for your photo-op, but make sure to book your tickets in advance if you want to climb the landmark and tour the cathedral. After that, Pisa is yours to explore.

Take a long lunch at the romantic La Pergoletta, but order your afternoon coffee on the Borgo Stretto, a promenade with views of the Arno River. After that, take the time to learn about Pisa's heyday as a maritime republic that rivaled Venice and Genoa at the Naval Museum of Pisa. There's more to this place than its famous leaning tower, and none other than Rick Steves agrees; check out his recommendations for the best things to do in Pisa.

Methodology

Michelangelo's David in a museum in Florence - Todamo/Shutterstock

The cities are ranked by visitor numbers according to tourism data aggregated by Hotelagio, a hotel booking platform that cites official Italian and U.N. tourism data. Each itinerary is designed with flexibility in mind, offering a number of activities that would be reasonable to complete in a single day, factoring in time for restaurants and an overnight stay. Landmarks and activities were prioritized for their experiential value and relative fame within each city, but do not reflect the full breadth of neighborhoods, museums, experiences, and landmarks travelers may find.

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Hotels and restaurants were selected based on the author's personal travel experiences in Italy, as well as through a research process that considered top travel publications and recently published reviews. Readers should consider this list a starting point for planning their own activities in Italy, especially when working within a tight timeframe. If you'd prefer a quieter adventure, check out our list of under-the-radar towns in Italy for a crowd-free vacation.

Ready to discover more hidden gems and expert travel tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for access to the world's best-kept travel secrets.

Read the original article on Islands.
The otherworldly landscapes of Yellowstone National Park have captured imaginations for centuries, with their bubbling mud pots, peculiar rainbow-colored pools, and dramatic geysers that shoot skyward on a schedule all of their own. Yet while this strange geothermal wonderland is famous for its mind-blowing physical features, it's also home to strange secrets and seemingly unexplained phenomena that are even more bizarre.

Yellowstone became the world's first national park in 1872, to protect the unusual ecosystem and its wild inhabitants. Today, Yellowstone is one of the most popular parks in the U.S. with over 4.7 million visitors each year. That sounds like a lot, but at 3,472 square miles, Yellowstone is so vast that it's easy to lose the crowds and head off into the wilderness. It's an enigmatic and intriguing place  one that we may never fully understand  but this air of mystery just adds to the appeal.

For instance, did you know that Yellowstone Lake "sings" in winter, or that, according to some, parts of the park are "haunted?" In this article we'll reveal both science and speculation as we uncover some of the weirdest mysteries of Yellowstone. We'll introduce you to spooky ghosts, a lost thistle-eating explorer, and a bunch of heat-loving organisms that seem otherworldly. Knowing the following bizarre facts about Yellowstone will help deepen your experience of this famous but odd national park.

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Read more: America's Top 5 States With The Least Amount Of Bears

The frozen Yellowstone Lake 'sings' in winter

Yellowstone Lake covered in ice during winter - John Morrison/Getty Images

Yellowstone in winter is magical, with frozen waterfalls glistening in the sun, and snow-laden forests resonating with the howls of wolves. At the hot springs, water continues to bubble, while the rising steam gives everything nearby an ethereal coating of frost. Yet nothing is as eerie as the mysterious musical noises that can be heard coming from Yellowstone Lake.

This strange symphony of sound occurs when the lake is frozen sometime between December and May. Since the 19th century, explorers and park workers have reported hearing haunting "lake music" coming from the ice. One of the first records comes from Captain Hiram Chittenden's 1895 book "Yellowstone National Park," in which he writes "a most singular and interesting acoustic phenomenon of this region ... is the occurrence of strange and indefinable overhead sounds." He goes on to say that the noises are similar to "the ringing of telegraph wires or the humming of a swarm of bees." Other visitors have heard deep pipe organ notes and even the sounds of flying birds. Meanwhile, supervisor park ranger Kristine Brunsman commented to Thrillist that "in December 2020, I heard songs I'd never heard before  akin to sonar pings or the call of a whale."

Despite several scientific studies, no one knows the true source of these sounds. One theory suggests that water flowing beneath the ice causes cracks which spread, thus creating these bizarre noises. Other scientists have suggested that the sounds are the result of earthquakes, air whirlpools, or temperature inversions, but no conclusive evidence has been found. Yellowstone is one of the best U.S. national parks for winter hiking, so next time you visit, listen out for nature's extraordinary music.

Yellowstone sits on top of a supervolcano

The volcanic landscapes of Yellowstone National Park - Framalicious/Shutterstock

You might already be aware that there's a volcano beneath Yellowstone National Park, but did you know that it's a supervolcano? It's active too, as evidenced by the ongoing geothermal activity in the park, with explosive geysers, bubbling mud pools, and steaming hot springs characterizing the wild landscape. It's a weird feeling, knowing that just by visiting Yellowstone, you're walking on top of a supervolcano.

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Yellowstone was named a supervolcano after a series of massive eruptions. The first, which occurred 2.1 million years ago, is believed to have been one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the world. The second followed 1.3 million years ago, while the third and most recent mega eruption was 631,000 years ago. This latter event created the Yellowstone Caldera as we know it today. There have been several smaller eruptions in the following centuries, and Yellowstone remains one of the largest active volcanoes on the planet.

So, what about the future? Yellowstone will likely erupt again, but probably not for thousands, or even millions of years, so visitors today needn't worry. The area is closely monitored by geologists at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, and it's predicted that any future eruption in the region would be preceded by a long period of intense volcanic activity  likely lava flows  giving plenty of warning for evacuation.

Half of the world's active geysers are in Yellowstone

Powerful geyser erupting in Yellowstone National Park - Riishede/Getty Images

Yellowstone is a hotbed of volcanic activity, with more than 10,000 active hydrothermal features like mud pools, fumaroles, and hot springs punctuating the wild landscape. Yet the stars of the show are undoubtedly the geysers, as they spew water skywards during spectacular eruptions. There are up to 700 active geysers within the national park each year, which is astonishing since there are fewer than 500 annually erupting geysers in the rest of the world combined.

This vibrant geyser basin has a unique ecological environment, which means each geyser behaves a little differently compared to the next. Some geysers have predictable eruptions which are helpful for visitor viewing, but most are more erratic in their behavior. Old Faithful is considered the most famous geyser in Yellowstone, thanks to its easy access and regular eruptions, which occur approximately every 35 to 120 minutes. Each eruption lasts for up to 5 minutes, with the blast sometimes reaching 184 feet.

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Meanwhile, Grand Geyser is the world's tallest predictable geyser, with water bursts shooting up to 200 feet. Less reliable is Steamboat Geyser, which is more temperamental in its timing with months or even years passing between major eruptions. Yet if you get lucky and manage to catch the event, you'll witness water plumes of over 300 feet, sometimes lasting for around 40 minutes. You can check the latest Yellowstone geyser eruption predictions on the National Park Service website.

Early explorers used Old Faithful as a laundry

Eruption of Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park - Jimkruger/Getty Images

One of the most bizarre tales to come out of Yellowstone National Park was from an 1877 expedition (via Yellowstone Gate), during which the explorers used Old Faithful to wash their clothes. The following year, team member Frank D. Carpenter published his travelogue "The Wonders of Geyser Land: A Trip to the Yellowstone National Park," giving an account of the unusual experiment.

He writes that while camped near the geyser, the explorers decided to do their washing in Old Faithful since "such an opportunity for "boiling clothes" will not be presented again soon." The team used several methods to secure their garments, including wrapping them in a pillowcase and weighing them down with stones. They then "repaired to the laundry, Old Faithful" before casting the clothing into the water. The bundles sank below the surface, and for a moment the onlookers thought their possessions were gone forever. Yet after a few moments, the geyser blew and the wide-eyed explorers watched the "clothes, jacket, rags ... shoot up to a distance of a hundred feet or more." Upon retrieving the items, Frank and his companions were delighted to discover that they were all clean.

Since then, irresponsible visitors have thrown all manner of objects into Yellowstone's geysers, from handkerchiefs and soap to coins and even couches. However, in more recent years, attitudes toward the environment have changed, and today one of the most upsetting mistakes tourists make in Yellowstone is throwing objects into thermal pools. The park service work hard to recover trash from the water, and throwing objects into Yellowstone's hydrothermal pools is now prohibited.

A legal loophole means murder could go unpunished

Remote backcountry wilderness in Yellowstone National Park - Kelly vanDellen/Shutterstock

There's a remote area of Yellowstone covering 50 square miles in Idaho nicknamed the Zone of Death, where federal jurisdiction is in conflict with the Constitution's Sixth Amendment. This means that in theory, murder, or any other serious crime, could go unpunished here due to a technicality.

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Although Yellowstone sits mainly in Wyoming, it also spills over the border into the neighboring states of Montana and Idaho. To avoid lengthy arguments about authority, Congress declared the park to be federal, rather than state property. It then assigned jurisdiction of Yellowstone to the U.S. District Court of Wyoming in 1872, thereby creating a bizarre legal loophole. Meanwhile, the Sixth Amendment promises a public trial in the state where the murder is carried out, yet in the remote Idaho section of the park, there aren't any residents. This means that a jury cannot be formed, and therefore a trial would be impossible. It's an unusual conflict, and one that hasn't yet been resolved. It's not thought that anyone has tested this legal loophole, luckily.

Microscopic creatures cause Yellowstone's bright colors

Colorful Grand Prismatic spring in Yellowstone National Park - canvast/Shutterstock

One of the most peculiar features in Yellowstone National Park is the brightly colored water in some of the thermal pools. The vibrant oranges, yellows, greens, and blues bring an otherworldly feel to the landscape, showing off another weird side of nature. For years, people assumed these vivid hues were caused by minerals, because people assumed no living organism could survive in such hot or acidic conditions. Yet scientists now believe that trillions of microscopic creatures invisible to the human eye are responsible for the strange colors.

Known as thermophiles, these unseen organisms thrive in intensely hot environments, on the edge of existence. They likely descend from the first microorganisms on Earth, and their presence in such extreme conditions supports the theory that there could be life on Mars.

Even more bizarrely, the color comes from the thermophilic microbes themselves. When you see the rings of orange, yellow, and green in the thermal pools, you're actually looking at huge amounts of these strange microorganisms, all bunched together to form a mass of color. Different thermophiles flourish in different temperatures, so the distinct color variations in the pools indicate the change in water temperature while also showing where one species stops and another begins. The best places to see these unusual color changes include Grand Prismatic Spring, Morning Glory Pool, and Rainbow Pool. Go around midday when the sun is overhead to see the colors at their most vivid.

A lost Yellowstone explorer was supposedly 'saved by a ghost'

Golden mountain lion in Yellowstone National Park - badebeli2/Shutterstock

Yellowstone is a place of mystery, so it's not surprising that several people have disappeared without trace in the national park over the years, mirroring similar bizarre tales from the Grand Canyon. From an elk hunter who went missing in 1991 to an 8-year-old boy who vanished from a picnic area in 1966, many disappearances remain unsolved. However, there are happy endings to some misadventures, with the strangest being the story of Truman Everts, a former tax collector from Montana who claimed he was saved by a helpful ghost.

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In 1870, Everts took part in the Washburn-Langford-Doane expedition into Yellowstone, with the aim of charting the wild territory, according to Idaho Falls Magazine. It was during this trip that Old Faithful was given its name, thanks to the regularity of the eruptions. Part way through the expedition, Everts got lost near Yellowstone Lake at the onset of winter. His pack horse ran off with his supplies, leaving him to fend for himself for 37 days in the wilderness.

Remarkably, Everts lived to tell the tale, despite being close to starvation. Having survived a mountain lion attack and a forest fire which he inadvertently started, the explorer sustained himself by eating thistle roots before, according to his account, a ghostly stranger led him to safety (via Cowboy State Daily). Everts claimed that a ghostly apparition warned him against climbing a dangerous mountain, instead urging him to head in a safer direction, retracing his steps to the Yellowstone River. He also claimed the ghost accompanied him during the long trek until he was eventually found by a search party. Whether his experiences were truth or delusion, it's certainly one of the more bizarre tales from Yellowstone.

Yellowstone's Isa Lake drains into two oceans

Lake of lily pads in Yellowstone National Park - David Rajter/Shutterstock

Most lakes in the world drain into a single sea or ocean, but Yellowstone's Isa Lake drains into two. In fact, this is the only natural lake in the world with water running into both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. There are a couple of explanations for this bizarre double drainage phenomenon.

Firstly, Isa Lake lies on top of the Continental Divide between Yellowstone's Old Faithful and West Thumb Geyser Basin, with the watersheds of the two oceans on either side. This means that water from the lake will understandably drain in both directions. Strangely, however, it's not that simple. You'd think that the west side of the lake would drain into the Pacific and the east side into the Atlantic, but it's actually the other way around, thanks to Yellowstone's unusual topography. In fact, the western end of the lake flows into the Firehole River, and eventually the Atlantic Ocean, while the eastern end makes its way into the Columba River before reaching the Pacific Ocean, especially during springtime when the winter snows melt.

A decade-long treasure hunt ended in Yellowstone

Pile of golden nuggets on a table - Valentyn Volkov/Shutterstock

In 2010, a millionaire art dealer from New Mexico named Forrest Fenn hid a treasure chest containing valuables from his collection worth around $2 million. After being diagnosed with cancer, Fenn had decided to have a bit of fun with his wealth, which he knew he couldn't take with him when he died. He then wrote a challenging poem containing clues about the location of the chest, leading hundreds of thousands of people from around the world on a decade-long quest for gold.

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Despite the initial reason for the mission, and the fact that several questers sadly perished while trying to find the treasure, this bizarre story does have a cheerful conclusion. Fenn ended up beating his cancer and lived long enough to see the hunt come to an end.

The chest was eventually found in 2020 by a medical student called Jack Stuef. He'd been searching for the treasure for 2 years before finding it hidden in Yellowstone National Park, reportedly beside Nine Mile Hole. Fenn spent many holidays in Yellowstone when he was young, which is perhaps why he buried his treasure here. Inside the chest were gold nuggets, jewels, coins, and antiques, most of which Stuef sold for $1.26 million to help clear his medical school debts.

Bison have roamed Yellowstone since prehistoric times

Bison beside a river in Yellowstone National Park - Robert Harding Video/Shutterstock

Bison are possibly the most iconic mammals in Yellowstone, and astonishingly, there have been free-ranging herds living here since prehistoric times. Scientific analysis of lake sediment from Yellowstone uncovered the presence of ancient bison dung, thereby revealing that these animals were living here around 2,300 years ago. It's incredible to think that way before they became symbols of the American West, the bison of Yellowstone were roaming the valleys and mountains in this region.

Thousands of individuals now graze within the national park, and today the population is the largest on U.S. public land after surviving an extinction threat from hunting and poaching in the 1800s and 1900s. The bison are a popular sight for Yellowstone visitors, and the herds have a year-round presence in the Hayden and Lamar valleys.

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If you want to see bison but don't fancy battling the summer crowds, one of the best times of year to visit Yellowstone National Park for wildlife viewing is spring. The roads are open again after the winter snow closures, and the plains are teeming with newborns. It's a great time to see bison calves taking their first wobbly steps. If you can't get enough of these prehistoric icons, you can also see bison roam in other parks like Montana's National Bison Range and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.

A headless ghost is believed to haunt the Old Faithful Inn

Historic Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park - Moonstone Images/Getty Images

Old hotels and ghost sightings seem to go hand in hand, so it stands to reason that Yellowstone's Old Faithful Inn has a few spooky stories up its sleeve. This presumably-haunted inn opened in 1904, and is believed to have been collecting shadowy inhabitants ever since.

One of the most grisly tales features the ghost of a headless, teenage bride, who is said to roam around the inn after a fateful honeymoon in 1915. According to the legend, she met her horrific demise in Room 127 after an argument with her gambler husband. Her missing head was rumored to be later discovered hidden on the hotel's crow's nest walkway. The subsequent disappearance of the husband led to much speculation, but the murder was never solved. While there's little evidence to support this myth, several hotel guests have reported sightings of the headless girl over the years, in the bedroom and on the crow's nest staircase.

Other ghostly occurrences at the Old Faithful Inn include footsteps in the hotel corridors when no one else is around, doors opening and closing by themselves, and a floating female apparition in 19th century clothing by the bed in Room 2. One worker even said she witnessed a fire extinguisher moving all by itself, turning upside down as she walked past. If you're staying at the inn and fancy a spot of ghost hunting, book into Room 127 or Room 2 for the best chance of a paranormal encounter.

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Key Points

Dollar Flight Clubs 2026 Cheap Flight Forecast lists 30 of the most affordable domestic and international destinations to fly to next year.

Top international deals include San Salvador ($198), Madrid ($438), Vancouver ($248), Lisbon ($491), and Medellin ($254).

The best flight deals are often found on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with flexibility being the key to major savings.

It's a new year, which means it's time to start plotting out all the new places you'll go. The best part? You don't even have to spend a ton to get there if you don't want to.

In early December, Dollar Flight Club released its annual Cheap Flight Forecast, sharing a list of the 30 cheapest places to fly in 2026, which includes 15 domestic locations and 15 international destinations.

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To uncover the best flight deals, the team ranked destinations by "typical low price and deal frequency," then it factored in gateway access, stability, and traveler value to surface the most "repeatable, real-world affordable destinations, not just the cheapest outliers." It also tracked when each destination tends to drop in price by month and by day of the week, to help "you can book inside the sweet spot."

After reviewing all available information, Dollar Flight Club found that you can travel to San Salvador, El Salvador, for just over $198, offering the best international deal for 2026. As for the prime time to visit, Dollar Flight Club noted that December to March, El Salvador's dry season, has the best deals.

Following closely behind is Madrid, Spain, with an average price of around $438 (and remember, while other flights may be cheaper, the team also factored in which destinations have better deal frequency), followed by Vancouver, Canada, with an average price of about $248. Rounding out the top five are Lisbon, Portugal, at about $491, and Medellin, Colombia, at about $254.

Beyond finding these flights, Dollar Flight Club also pointed to its in-depth guide to booking the cheapest flights possible. While it offers plenty of tips, the most important is this: stay flexible if you want to find a great deal.

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"One could argue it's more difficult to have the flexibility to actually get on those flights than it is to find them," Dollar Flight Club explained. "If you can't flex a few months, even being able to flex a few days can help you save on flights. Flying TuesdayTuesday instead of SundaySunday can sometimes save you hundreds per ticket. The best days to score off-peak, cheaper flights are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays."

Who knows, maybe with these tips you can save enough to take a second international vacation in 2026, too.



Most Affordable International Destinations

1. San Salvador, El Salvador



Average price: ~$198

2. Madrid, Spain



Average price: ~$438

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3. Vancouver, Canada

Average price: ~$248

4. Lisbon, Portugal

Average price: ~$491



5. Medellin, Colombia

Average price: ~$254

6. Guatemala City, Guatemala

Average price: ~$221

7. Merida, Mexico

Average price: ~$218

8. Monterrey, Mexico

Average price: ~$221

9. Oaxaca, Mexico

Average price: ~$255

10. Leon/Guanajuato, Mexico

Average price: ~$241

11. San Jose, Costa Rica

Average price: ~$239

12. Liberia (Guanacaste), Costa Rica

Average price: ~$239

13. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Average price: ~$261

14. Calgary, Canada

Average price: ~$252

15. Edmonton, Canada

Average price: ~$239

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Potentially long lines and crowds are no match for the allure of Costco's offerings. Since 1976, it's grown into a global dynamo, with over 800 locations around the planet. It could be your secret weapon for cheaper car repairs, the palace of hams that come on a stand and eternally $1.50 hot dogs, the gateway to new kitchen cabinets, or simply your source for cheap gas.

And reputable gas it is, with its touting Top Tier approval. What's more, even a basic $65 Costco membership buys you into the club worldwide. In the U.S., Costco undercuts local fuel-price averages by 5 to 25 cents per gallon (here's our breakdown of whether Costco's gas discount is worth the membership). There are similar savings abroad if you're headed for, or already live in, one of the locations with Costco warehouses that serve up Kirkland Signature Fuel.

According to Costco, beyond its house-brand packaged goods, "The Company also operates self-service gasoline stations at a number of its U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, Taiwan, and Iceland locations." Fuel sales also appear to be available in New Zealand, Sweden, France, and Spain.

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Regional Costco websites and apps should provide you with current fuel pricing  and tell you which forms of payment are accepted in that location  so you can plan accordingly.

Read more: Here Are The Worst Car Myths

Costco fuel prices abroad versus national averages

A close-up of a Costco fuel pump displaying price and volume dispensed, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. - oasisamuel/Shutterstock

Gas is one of several car-related perks the company provides at a discount through its tried-and-true purchase and pricing strategy. In a note tucked into its fuel FAQs, Costco explains: "Costco's approach to fuel is the same as inside the warehouse  high volume and low prices." Naturally, fuel markets fluctuate, but as of January 12, 2026, there are Costco gas and diesel deals to be had for members abroad.

In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Costco advertised regular gas at $1.32 per liter, versus the $1.44 national average. In France, the average price was $1.95 per liter, while regular Costco gas ranged from $1.75 to $1.82 across locations. Diesel at Costco Liverpool was $1.58 per liter, while the United Kingdom average was $1.79.

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If you're researching, pitting national averages against specific locations benefits from local context. At Costco Pontault-Combault, diesel plus was listed at $2.09 per liter, while the national diesel average in France was $1.89. That seems like a bad deal, until you find that another local filling station in Pontault-Combault is selling diesel for $2.17 per liter.

Caveats? Foreign transaction fees that usually range from 1% to 3% can bump your actual costs up if your bank or credit card company tacks them on  but those would apply regardless of where you buy fuel. And of course, wherever it lists current fuel prices online, Costco universally disclaims that "Prices shown here are updated frequently, but may not reflect the price at the pump at the time of purchase." But even in that event, Costco's general pricing strategy still applies.

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Read the original article on Jalopnik.
If you're part of the huge chunk of Americans who love chicken sandwiches, you're going to want to listen closely  especially if you're in the West. The hands-down best chicken sandwich in Nevada is from Crack Shack, a Las Vegas gem that guarantees a cluckin' good time. While Nevada is the state vegans might want to move to for its plant-based offerings, this isn't to say it doesn't have a few loyal poultry fans who consider the chicken sandwich its own food group. The state, after all, is no stranger to comfort food, with an abundance of meaty options.

The showstoppers at Crack Shack are definitely the exciting chicken sandwich iterations, with each monstrosity being roughly $15. Most famously, the Firebird is a heavily stuffed jawbreaker for those who think there's no such thing as too much ranch. Its spicy fried thigh promises a satisfying crunch without losing its succulent center. It also has a pleasant fiery kick that gradually ramps up as you eat  but don't worry, Yelp reviewers promise it's nothing that spice-averse folks won't be able to handle. In fact, some other diners say they wish for a spicier bite. Crispy onions nestled in the bun add more texture, while the potato roll and the pickles help cut through the heat. Satisfied foodies love it for its waves of flavor that go beyond the basic chicken sandwich and the juiciness of the bird.

Read more: 12 Fast Food Burgers, Ranked

What makes Crack Shack great

A hand holding Crack Shack's Firebird sandwich that's filled with pickles, ranch, and juicy, fiery chicken. - @dad_beets/Instagram

While frozen foods can sometimes be fresher than never-frozen ingredients, that's rarely true for chicken, especially if you want it juicy and tender. Crack Shack only utilizes fresh Jidori chicken, the coveted wagyu of poultry. Because the chicken comes from free-range farms, customers benefit from more protein-packed poultry. You could even say it's healthier, as it doesn't have antibiotics. Some sources claim it yields a tastier bird, although not everyone notices the difference. Either way, the more humane aspect of free-range chicken is definitely a plus.

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Beyond the fresh ingredients, Crack Shack also offers a diverse menu, ranging from bowls to breakfast. Its bowls are great for a leafy green fix; the Katsu Kook bowl is quite the looker, drawing inspiration from Japanese cuisine with a distinctly modern, fusion twist. Fans of indulgent desserts can also enjoy cookies and milkshakes. Of course, the playfully named dishes like Little Pecker and All-American Chick add to the experience  who doesn't love a brand with personality? The bottom line is this: Crack Shack's chicken sandwiches reign supreme in Nevada thanks to a laser-sharp focus on delivering an exceptional dining experience from start to finish, with the chicken just the tip of the iceberg.

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Read the original article on Chowhound.
Tucked on the shores of Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County, Sandbanks Provincial Park is a gem for hikers, families, and anyone looking for an outdoor escape in southeastern Ontario. With its sand dunes, woodland paths, and crystal-clear waters, it's easy to see why Sandbanks is one of the most beautiful places in Canada to visit. A little over four hours away from Toronto or about three and a half hours from Ottawa, Sandbanks is one of Ontario's most unique parks.

Although it's often overlooked due to its modest size of 1550.87 hectares, Sandbanks Provincial Park has the world's largest freshwater sand dune, beautiful hiking trails, and beaches. The park's origins date back to the 1970s when conservation efforts began in an attempt to protect the fragile dune landscape from erosion. It is because of these preservation efforts that travelers can today explore the stunning natural environment's hiking trails. You will also learn the geological history of the area when you visit the destination.

Read more: Avoid Doing Any Of These Things When Traveling Solo

Hiking, water sports, fishing and the beaches in Sandbanks

Sandbanks Dunes Beach in Sandbanks Provincial Park on Lake Ontario - James R.d. Scott/Getty Images

The main highlight of Sandbanks is, of course, the scenic hiking trails. Start your excursion with the 1.5-mile Dunes Trail that starts at the park's parking lot and takes you to one of the largest sand dunes in the world. While the terrain is awash with sand, there are steps and boardwalks that make trekking more manageable.

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You will come across a special type of dune habitat that flows beside dune pannes that support various kinds of plants and wildlife. If you are a morning hiker, try the Woodlands Trail. The peaceful 2.1-mile trail passes through beautiful forests, where you can easily spot wildlife and birds. Flowing along the edges of the outlet river is Cedar Sands Trail. It features 12 stops and two lookout points with stunning views of the wetland. Other trails in the park include the 2.1-mile Woodlands Trail, rated as easy, the 1.5-mile Lakeview Trail, rated as easy, and the 0.9-mile MacDonald Trail, also rated as easy.

Besides hiking, Sandbanks Provincial Park has other exciting outdoor activities that make it a favourite destination for outdoor enthusiasts. You can enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding across West Lake as you explore the coves. If you are looking for something more adventurous, try flyboarding on the lake.

Offered by West Lakewater Sports, the thrilling adventure allows you to hover above the water as you soak in the dune views. Fishing enthusiasts can cast a line in Lake Ontario with opportunities to catch a Bluegill sunfish, a Brook trout, or a salmon. Sandbanks is also home to some of the best beaches in the world, and you have three to choose from: Lakeshore Beach, Dunes Beach, and Outlet Beach, where you can go swimming and sunbathing. Just watch out for the steep drop-off at Dunes Beach.

Beyond the park

Aerial view of a vineyard in southern Ontario - Stevenmcfeeters/Getty Images

While Sandbanks Park promises endless outdoor adventure, there is more to explore in the surrounding area. Prince Edward County is packed with art galleries, wineries, cider houses, and restaurants, making it an exciting destination for foodies. A short drive from Sandbanks Provincial Park, the surrounding towns of Bloomfield and Wellington give you a range of culinary experiences. In Wellington, for example, you can enjoy seafood and comfort food at The Drake Devonshire hotel. In Bloomfield, you can have lunch at Flame + Smith, which has delicious meals like roasted cauliflower steak and charcoal-grilled ribeye.

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If you are a wine buff, do not miss the chance to sip your way through the local vineyards. The Norman Hardie Winery is known for its pinot noir and chardonnay. Waupoos Estates Winery, on the other hand, has a restaurant that serves delicious meals that you can enjoy as you immerse yourself in the enchanting views of Lake Ontario.

They also produce some ciders with unique flavors like the honey-infused cider. Actually, the beautiful vineyards and wineries lining the region are one of the top reasons why Canada should be on your travel bucket list if you are a wine aficionado. For those looking for a peaceful spot for a picnic, visit the nearby Lake on the Mountain Provincial Park, about 15 miles northeast of Sandbanks Provincial Park. Enjoy the breathtaking, serene views of Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte as you munch your turkey sandwich, play your favorite card game, or listen to your favorite tunes.

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Read the original article on Explore.
Valentino Garavani, the legendary Italian fashion designer known mononymously as Valentino, has died. He was 93.

Garavani founded the luxury fashion house Valentino on Via Condotti in Rome in 1960, and it quickly became known as a leading maison de haute couture.

Among his early successes, Garavani designed the cream lace wedding gown worn by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy at her marriage to business tycoon Aristotle Onassis in 1968.

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His other creations included Audrey Hepburns white lace gown in How to Steal a Million (1966), Julia Robertss Y-neck halter gown, which she wore for her Best Actress Oscar win in 2001, and the pale yellow, one-shoulder silk taffeta gown Cate Blanchett wore when she won Best Supporting Actress for The Aviator in 2005.

In a statement on social media, Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti said: Our founder, Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones.

Legendary fashion designer Valentino Garavani, pictured in Paris in 2019, has died at the age of 93 (Getty)

Tributes to Garavani were led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who wrote on X: Valentino, undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian high fashion. Today Italy loses a legend, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything.

Gwyneth Paltrow wrote on Instagram: I was so lucky to know and love Valentino - to know the real man, in private. The man who was in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends... This feels like the end of an era. He will be deeply missed by me and all who loved him.

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Garavani was born in Voghera, in Northern Italy, on May 11, 1932. His mother named him after the famed Italian movie star Rudolph Valentino.

He was fascinated by fashion design from a young age, and went to Paris to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. While still in Paris, he apprenticed with Jacques Fath, Balenciaga and Jean Desses.

In 1959, at the age of 27, he returned to Rome, where he opened his own fashion house the following year. He was known for his striking dresses, often in a bright shade that became known as Valentino red. He soon became a favorite of celebrities. In 1961, Elizabeth Taylor wore a white haute couture column by Valentino to the premiere of Spartacus.

In 1964, Jacqueline Kennedy became a fan of Valentino and bought six black-and-white haute couture dresses that she wore during her high-profile year of mourning for President John F Kennedy, who had been assassinated the previous year.

Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis wears Valentino for her wedding to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968 (Getty Images)

Julia Roberts in Valentino after accepting Best Actress for 'Erin Brockovich' at the 2001 Academy Awards (Getty)

Garavanis association with Kennedy helped grow his reputation in the United States, and he spent much of the 1970s based in New York City. He became a well-known public figure and had his portrait painted by Andy Warhol. He was very nice all the time with me, Garavani recalled in an interview with System Magazine. He invited me to the Factory many times, and I was admiring all the paintings on the floor  you had to be careful not to step on them.

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In the 1980s, Garavani helped shape the fashion of the era with his broad-shouldered tailored suits. They became a favorite of the Dynasty star Joan Collins, who was often photographed wearing Valentino. By 1986, Valentino was Italys top fashion exporter, shipping some $385 million worth of sales that year.

In 1990, Garavani opened the Accademia Valentino, an art gallery and cultural institution in Rome. He sold Valentino for around $300 million to an Italian conglomerate in 1998, but continued to design until he retired in January 2008. The months leading up to his retirement were captured in the 2008 documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor. In the film, Garavani comments to a reporter: I know what women want, they want to be beautiful.

Garavani also made a cameo appearance as himself in 2006s The Devil Wears Prada.

Valentino Garavani on the front row of his Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter show in 2019 alongside Benedetta Piccioli, Naomi Campbell and Gwyneth Paltrow. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Giancarlo Giametti and Valentino Garavani, pictured in 2006, were business and romantic partners for over 65 years (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

When Garavani was profiled by The New Yorker in 2005, the mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni quipped: In Italy, there is the Pope  and there is Valentino. Vogue described him as one of the key architects of late 20th century glamour.

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In a 2009 interview on the talk show Charlie Rose, Garavani discussed his method and said: First of all, I start to draw, to make design of clothes. Im not capable of creating anything if I have not designed it. So for me, its my passion. It was always my life. To wake up in the morning, or in the middle of the evening, if I have some idea, to put on the light and to draw clothes.

Garavani is survived by his partner Giancarlo Giammetti, whom he met in 1960 and worked with to co-found Valentino.

Garavanis foundation announced that he will lie in state this Wednesday and Thursday, before a funeral on Friday, January 23 at Romes Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
NEED TO KNOW

A 22-year-old man has now been missing for almost a year after he disappeared from a Quebec, Canada, ski resort

Liam Gabriel Toman was last seen in the early morning hours of Feb. 2, 2025, as he walked back to his room

His family has not given up the search

A family continues to search for their 22-year-old son after he vanished almost a year ago at a ski resort in Quebec, Canada.

One year  it's not something you want to celebrate, Kathleen Toman told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation about the disappearance of her son, Liam Gabriel Toman, in February 2025.

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It's not something you want to acknowledge, that it is actually one year, Kathleen continued, according to the outlet. But, you do want to, for Liam. You want to say, This has been too long. This is a year. What is, where is he, what's going on? 

On the weekend of Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, Liam and two friends traveled to the Tour des Voyageurs II in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, for a fun-filled ski weekend. After spending Saturday on the slopes, the group had dinner and drinks, according to the CBC.

Later that night, Liam left to go back to the hotel on his own and was last seen on surveillance footage around 3 a.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 2, CBC, La Presse and CTV News reported.

But the young man never actually returned to his room, and his friends initially thought hed slept elsewhere, according to the CBC.

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He was reported missing that Sunday evening after failing to respond to numerous calls. Local authorities then reportedly launched a 12-day search operation that involved ATVs, snowmobiles and helicopters.

By March, another search began after a resort employee found Liams wallet near a parking lot.

So far, however, there have been no signs of Liam and his loved ones have no idea how he could have vanished.

Getty The ski village in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada. The ski village in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada.

An investigation remains ongoing, and officials have yet to determine if there was criminal activity involved, the CBC reported.

Quebec police, the ski resort and the Tomin family did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs requests for comment.

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As the anniversary of Liams disappearance approaches, his family has not given up hope.

In an interview with CTV News, Kathleen urged people who visited the resort last year to search their memories for clues about her son.

liamtoman.com Liam Toman Liam Toman

The [new] ski season is opening, and this is the time that people are thinking about their past trip last year -- a memory could spark something, she told the outlet.

A $50,000 reward is being offered, too, according to the website created by his family to aid in their efforts.

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.

For Kathleen, the lack of answers about her sons fate has left her untethered.

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You can't explain that to anybody, what it's like living without an answer, she told the CBC. You cant even explain it to yourself. So how can you explain it to anybody else?

She added: We are just at a loss. This is what it's done to our family: we're at a complete loss.

Police have asked anyone with information about Liam's whereabouts to contact the department's information line at 1-800-659-4264.

Read the original article on People
A group of co-workers won $1 million in the Powerball lottery after pooling their money to play.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The group initially won $8 on Dec. 17, 2025, and used those winnings to purchase a $10 ticket for the Dec. 20 drawing.

The co-workers matched all five white ball numbers4, 5, 28, 52, 69and the Powerball number 20, leading to their win.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The odds of winning this jackpot were approximately one in 11,688,054.

After the federal and state taxes totaling 26.75%, they will split $732,500.

The winning ticket was purchased at Speedway #3671, located at 103 East Avenue in Tallmadge.

The Ohio Lottery said one of the winners joked about their luck, saying they were fortunate not to have won the larger jackpot of $1.25 billion, as they might have considered quitting their jobs altogether.

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Three men are dead, including two men from Ohio, who were killed in a shooting at a Florida home on Saturday afternoon.

The Osceola County Sheriffs Office in Florida responded to a shots-fired call around 12:15 p.m. near the 200 block of Indian Point Circle in Kissimmee, according to our sister station in Florida, WFTV 9.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

TRENDING STORIES:

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Upon arriving on the scene, deputies found three bodies in front of the home with apparent gunshot wounds, according to our news partner, WBNS.

A pair of brothers was identified as Douglas Kraft, 68, of Columbus, and Robert Kraft, 69, of Holland, Michigan, according to WBNS.

The third victim was identified as 68-year-old James John Puchan of Columbus.

Deputies located and detained a suspect, identified as a 29-year-old Ahmad Bojeh.

Bojeh was arrested and charged with three counts of murder, according to the sheriffs office.

He was denied bond at his first court appearance.

Its cold-blooded. There absolutely was no issue. There was no conflict between these people. This was just random, said Sheriff Christopher Blackmon during a media briefing.

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In May of 2021, Bojeh was involved in a shooting incident at a Wawa gas station, according to WFTV 9.

During that incident, a report said that someone fired shots into random cars, and one man was injured during the incident.

Blackmon said his deputies and residents of the Indian Hill subdivision have had several run-ins with Bojeh.

I can tell you he was a threat to that neighborhood all the time, he said.

The shooting remains under investigation.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Thomson Reuters has launched ONESOURCE Sales and Use Tax AI, a software tool aimed at automating key elements of sales and use tax compliance for corporations and accounting practices in the US.

The company said the system is intended to reclaim time for tax teams, reduce audit risk, shorten internal compliance cycles and deliver immediate efficiency gains.

Thomson Reuters Corporate Tax and Trade product head Ray Grove said: This isn't just automation; it is a fundamental reimagining of the tax function, freeing professionals to drive strategic business advantage.

Built on CoCounsel, the application supports Thomson Reuters' Touchless Compliance vision, in which agentic AI manages data import, validation and tax return mapping. It also creates complete audit trails to document and explain each automated decision, supporting responses to auditor queries.

According to the company, tax professionals retain crucial oversight through final review and approval, while reduced manual intervention is expected to free staff to focus on higher-value work.

Thomson Reuters stated that the tool supports compliance across more than 19,000 US jurisdictions, with the aim of enabling accurate, on-time sales and use tax returns.

It provides access to more than 1,200 US state, county and city signature-ready official returns. It also supports electronic filing directly from the platform in 33 US states and Canada, instead of separate manual submissions.

Delivered as a cloud-based service, ONESOURCE Sales and Use Tax AI features automatic monthly content updates so that users work with the latest forms and tax rates.

Thomson Reuters said the product is intended for corporate tax departments of all sizes and integrates with its wider indirect tax portfolio.

The tool forms part of ONESOURCE+, which the company describes as an intelligent compliance network linking tax, trade, legal and risk functions.

ONESOURCE Sales and Use Tax AI is now available to US corporations and accounting practices with sales and use tax obligations.

"Thomson Reuters introduces AI-based sales and use software tool" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand.




60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi said the Department of Homeland Security deflected all questions about abuses at the notorious El Salvadoran CECOT prison, even after having an extra month to respond after CBS News chief Bari Weiss originally spiked the story.

Weiss pulled the story right before it was set to air on Dec. 21 because she said, we do not present the administrations argument for why it sent 252 Venezuelans to CECOT. At the time, Alfonsi slammed the decision as political.

CNNs Brian Stelter reported that Alfonsi flew from Texas to DC on Thursday to interview a Trump administration official. But the interview did not materialize.' The report finally ran Sunday, but without substantial input from the Trump administration.

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After detailing the horrific torture and abuses suffered by prisoners, some with no criminal records, Alfonsi reported, The Department of Homeland Security declined our request for an interview and referred all questions about CECOT to El Salvador. The government there did not respond to our request.

Those comments echoed what she said at the top of the segment. Alfonsi said CBS made several attempts to interview key Trump officials but were denied each time.

Later in the segment, Alfonsi reiterated, 60 Minutes has repeatedly asked the Department of Homeland Security for the complete records and criminal backgrounds of all 252 Venezuelan men the U.S. Sent to CECOT. It would not provide them.

Alfonsi continued, This past week, DHS told us, We are confident in our law enforcements intelligence and we are not going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one. That would be insane.'

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Because of this, we relied on the ICE data that is available for our reporting. Of the 252 men, that data shows that 33 had been convicted of a crime in the U.S.. Again, eight of them for violent or potentially violent crimes. Another 70 had pending charges, but we dont know the nature of those charges because DHS refuses to share that information, Alfonsi said.

She added, In a statement to 60 Minutes, the White House said President Trump is committed to keeping his promises to the American people by removing dangerous criminal and terrorist illegal aliens.'

The segment also included a soundbite from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt from 2025.

Leavitt said the men deported by President Donald Trump were heinous monsters, rapists, murders, kidnappers, sexual assaulters, predators who have no right to be in this country and they must be held accountable.

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Human Rights Watch director Juan Pappier contested those claims. Pappier told 60 Minutes about half of the men had no criminal history and only eight men were convicted for a violent or potentially violent crime; he said HRWs data was based on ICEs records.

The statements of the administrations are available in full online, Alfonsi concluded. DHS deflected all questions about abuse allocations at Cecot, saying the men were not under U.S. jurisdiction while in El Salvador.'

Watch the clip above via 60 Minutes on CBS.

The post 60 Minutes: Trump DHS Deflected All Questions About Brutal El Salvador Prison  Even After Report Was Delayed a Month first appeared on Mediaite.
The acting head of the countrys civilian cyber defense agency took steps last Thursday to remove the agencys chief information officer  but was blocked after other political appointees at the department objected, according to three officials with knowledge of the matter.

The attempted ouster of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's CIO, Robert Costello, comes as CISAs acting director, Madhu Gottumukkala, already faces questions inside the agency about his decision-making.

Both career staff and even fellow Trump appointees first grew alarmed about Gottumukkala, the former CIO of South Dakota, over his handling of a failed polygraph exam in July, as POLITICO first reported. At least six career staff who helped schedule the test were suspended with pay after the exam, which DHS has characterized as unsanctioned.

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The personnel spat began late last Thursday afternoon after Costello was given a so-called management-directed reassignment, meaning he had roughly one week to decide whether to move to another part of the Department of Homeland Security  which houses CISA  or resign, said the people. All three were granted anonymity for fear of retribution.

Other senior political appointees at the department, including Nick Anderson, CISAs executive assistant director for cybersecurity, were not given a heads-up about the decision and were not happy with it, said the people.

They immediately raised hell and questioned the justification for Costellos surprise ejection from the agency, said the first of the three officials.

DHS headquarters decided to pause and then fully stop Costellos reassignment before the end of the day Friday, added the three officials.

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In a statement, CISAs Director for Public Affairs Marci McCarthy said that while CISA does not comment on specific personnel decisions or discussions, the agency can clarify that senior personnel decisions are made at the highest levels at the Department of Homeland Securitys Headquarters and are not made in a vacuum, independently by one individual, or on a whim.

She added: CISA remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards of leadership within our organization. We discourage reporting based on inaccurate or incomplete information provided by disgruntled individuals at CISA who are upset that accountability and reform have come to the agency."

Each of the three people said that Gottumukkala directly approved the move. His motivations arent entirely clear.

The second and third officials said there was some friction because Costello frequently pushed back against Gottumukkala on policy matters. The first and the second specified that they had disagreements over contracting decisions at CISA. All three praised Costellos integrity and performance.

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Another former senior DHS official with knowledge of fallout at CISA last week said the effort to remove Costello was particularly alarming to CISA staff because Costello is seen as one of the agencys top remaining technical talents. Roughly 1,000 people  or one third of CISAs staff  have left CISA in the last year due to the Trump administrations workforce cuts.

Right now, the fear is high at CISA, that former official said. Its insane.

Costello, an Air Force veteran who previously held senior IT roles at Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been CISAs CIO for more than four years, according to his LinkedIn.

Costello, Anderson, and Gottumukkala did not reply to requests for comment.
The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

At the Alaska Beacon, were constantly trying to figure out where we should put our attention. Theres always more news than there are people to report it.

Every Thursday, the Alaska Legislature publishes its committee schedule for the coming week. Public notices alert us to meetings and events. The governors office occasionally lets us know ahead of time that somethings coming down the pike, too.

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Heres what we know about for the coming week. If you know of something thats coming up that you should think we should pay attention to, email us at info@alaskabeacon.com.

We cant cover everything on this list, but were interested in them and we think you should know about them in case youre interested in them, too.

Known unknowns

When will the governor release his fiscal plan and hold a news conference? (Might he use the State of the State as a launchpad?)

When will the House/Senate hold a joint session to consider overriding the online tax bill? (It needs to be done during the first five days of the regular session.) (See Thursday)

When will the Committee on Committees meet to confirm assignments for new legislators and shifts for new ones? Will there be any unexpected changes? (Happened Tuesday without any surprises)

Tuesday, Jan. 20

9 a.m.  state agriculture board meeting

The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee meets at 10 a.m. to consider a sole-source contract with Pegasus-Global to analyze the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline and provide advice. (Theyre almost certainly going to approve it; theyve already scheduled hearings with the firm.)

At 1 p.m., the 34th Legislature convenes for its second year.

At 3:30 p.m., Senate State Affairs discusses Sen. Matt Clamans constitutional amendment to lower the budget veto override threshhold.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

Morning House/Senate floor sessions, watch for bills to be introduced (See Thursdays items)

10 a.m.  Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority holds a board meeting

11 a.m.  Senate floor session, watch for bills to be introduced/assigned

11 a.m.  Alaska Supreme Court hears oral arguments about the taxation of partially religious properties by municipalities. Fairbanks, Kenai, Mat-Su and Juneau boroughs are all involved.

1 p.m.  House Resources talks AKLNG possibilities

1:30 p.m.  House Finance looks at oil production forecast

1:30 p.m.  Alaska Supreme Court hears oral arguments in lawsuit between regional Alaska Native corporations over proceeds from carbon credits

TBD: When will the State of the State address be? (See Thursday)

Thursday, Jan. 22

8 a.m.  State school board meets, topics include new charter school for the Kenai Peninsula

8:45 a.m.  House and Senate meet for joint session to consider overriding Dunleavys veto of SB 113, the online services tax shift; House may hold regular floor session afterward

9 a.m.  Senate Finance looks at oil production forecast (Hasnt been postponed/canceled yet due to conflicts with floor sessions, but could be)

12 p.m.  Permanent Fund dividend education raffle drawing in Lt. Gov. Dahlstroms office

1 p.m.  House Transportation hears from DOT&PF about the number of pedestrians being killed on Alaska roads

1:30 p.m.  Senate Finance looks at state revenue forecast

1:30 p.m. Senate Transportation looks at the impact of budget vetoes on transportation projects, commission scheduled to testify

3:15 p.m.  House Health and Social Services hears bill changing the age of consent for minors to get mental health care

3:15 p.m.  House State Affairs takes first look at new bill restructuring the management of AIDEA

7 p.m.  State of the State address by Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Friday, Jan. 23

Morning House/Senate floor sessions; watch for more bill introductions (questionable due to Thursday floor session)

9 a.m.  Senate Finance looks at state revenue forecast

1 p.m.  House Resources takes a broad look at oil and gas with Department of Natural Resources commissioner-designee

1:30 p.m.  House Finance takes first look at governors budget

1:30 p.m.  Senate Finance looks at public employee pension bill

1:30 p.m.  Senate Judiciary looks at bill that would require financial transactions for guns to be treated the same as other financial transactions

3:30 p.m.  Senate Resources takes a look at AKLNG issues with its new consultants and Gaffney Cline

5-7 p.m.  Mary Peltola holds Juneau campaign launch, Crystal Saloon on Front Street

Saturday, Jan. 24

12 p.m.  350 Juneau, a group opposing climate change, holds a rally on the Capitol steps; 4th Street will be closed to traffic

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

This article was last updated at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20.
If you have driven the main thoroughfare through Bartlesville lately, you have probably noticed the new local landmark: the drive-thru coffee gauntlet.

In less than a mile, you can bounce from Starbucks and Scooter's to 7 Brew, all lined up like a caffeine-powered parade. Now, Dutch Bros wants in.

Dutch Bros Coffee said it is on track to open its first Bartlesville location at 1310 SE Washington Blvd. in early 2026.

Construction progresses at the future Dutch Bros Coffee location at 1310 SE Washington Blvd. in Bartlesville on Jan. 16, 2025.

Another drive-thru is joining the lineup

Dutch Bros describes itself as a "drive-thru coffee trailblazer" known for upbeat music, high-energy customer service and its own lingo for baristas  "broistas."

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The company said the Bartlesville menu will include specialty coffee, smoothies, freezes, teas, its Rebel energy drink and nitrogen-infused cold brew, with drinks "handcrafted for each customer."

Dutch Bros was founded in 1992 in Grants Pass, Oregon, when "two real-life bros bought a double-head espresso machine, cranked up the stereo and started experimenting with 100 pounds of coffee beans."

Bartlesville's coffee corridor keeps getting busier

Located between the recently built Whataburger and Fast Track Tire & Service, the spot Dutch Bros is targeting is along a fast-growing drive-thru drink strip.

Its competitors, 7 Brew, is at 600 SE Washington Blvd, and Scooter's Coffee is located at 510 SE Washington Blvd. Add Starbucks just north of those locations, and the corridor is starting to feel like a choose-your-own-coffee- adventure.

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Call it Coffee Alley or Caffeine Row. Either way, the trend is clear: companies are building locations that can serve customers without them leaving the driver's seat.

Dutch Bros plans to stand out

In its statement, Dutch Bros leaned hard into culture: fast service, friendly staff and a brand built around energy and customization.

The company said it operates more than 1,081 locations across 24 states and highlighted the Dutch Bros Foundation, which it said supports local giving and national initiatives.

Dutch Bros also encouraged customers to watch for updates through its app, where the company promotes ordering ahead and rewards.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Drive-thru coffee in Bartlesville grows with Dutch Bros
The post The Antelope That Could Take Its Entire Genus with It: Hirolas Unfair Fight appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

Saving the Hirola is a requirement to prevent the loss of an entire genus of mammal.

The white facial markings distinguish the Hirola from other antelopes, from which its lineage diverged several million years ago.

A local Kenyan scientist is spearheading the fight for Hirola survival, which entails habitat protection, restoration, community action, and disease prevention.

Hirola are not kept in zoos, but translocations of wild Hirola to renewed, protected areas may be what keeps them from going extinct.

Hirola translates from Somali to something like the peaceful one or the lone one, referring to its solitary habits. Like other antelopes, Hirola are social but tend to form small herds of 10 to 20 individuals, led by a dominant male. The rest of the herd consists of females and young, as mature males tend to leave to establish their own herds. Solitary young Hirola antelopes are sometimes observed joining herds of other species, such as Grants gazelles (Nanger granti). Like other antelopes, they are slender and strong with a body built for speed.

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However, as the last member of its genus, the Hirola antelope (Beatragus hunteri) is a living relic. The Beatragus lineage split from other antelopes about 3.1 million years ago, according to a study published in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. Thus, Hirola are the sole remaining members of their genus, Beatragus, which split from other antelopes several million years agowell before humans evolved on Earth. Yet, they are among the worlds species at risk of imminent extinction, according to the IUCN.

Here you can see the distinct white facial markings and white underside of a Hirolas tail. Steve Garvie/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0  Original / License (Steve Garvie/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Commonly called the four-eyed antelope, Hirola have distinctive tear-shaped white markings, or chevrons, that run from their eyes to their noses on an otherwise brown coat. The markings may be used in recognition and communication, offering a signal that can be seen from far away, like when white-tailed deer flash their tail markings to warn other deer of predators. Both male and female Hirola have sharp horns that grow up to 27.5 inches long. According to a study published in Mammalian Species, the lyre shape of their hornscurving outward then slanting backis one feature that sets Hirola apart from other antelopes.

Hirola are resilient in the sense that they can go a long time without drinking, which allows them to inhabit areas far from permanent sources of water. They prefer semi-arid bushy grasslands with a variety of shrubs, from which they munch on fresh leaves and shoots. They obtain some water from the plants they eat and take advantage of puddles formed after rainfall or seasonal flooding.

Hirola forage on the herbaceous grasses in shrubby open areas. Jan Ebr/CC BY 4.0  Original / License (Jan Ebr/CC BY 4.0)

When drought persists, however, they must search for water, which can expose them to predators or bring them into dangerous conflicts with humans and livestock. As droughts have intensified in East Africa due to climate change, theyve become one of the factors contributing to declines in Hirola populations. A British Ecological Society study notes that drought has increased in the Hirola habitat over the past 40 years, leaving drier conditions.

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Various African carnivores prey on Hirola, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs, which will often target mothers and their vulnerable calves. A Hirolas best defense is to outrun these predators, reaching speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. They increase their chances of escape by leaping and zigzagging as they run, making it harder for predators to catch them. However, escaping predators has become increasingly difficult as their habitat becomes more fragmented and reduced in size. The British Ecological Society study hypothesizes that more common, grass-dependent ungulates (plains zebra, buffalo) increasingly have been compressed into smaller patches of grassland, thereby concentrating hunting by predators in the ever-shrinking habitats suitable for Hirola.

Smaller patches may limit escape from predators, such as here, where a young cheetah cub pursues a Thompsons Gazelle. iStock.com/StuPorts (iStock.com/StuPorts)

Disease is also a threat. Hirola may wander onto farmlands in search of water during dry periods, where they are susceptible to livestock diseases. An outbreak of rinderpest or cattle plague during the 1980s decimated populations of Hirola and other hoofed animals.

Thought to have originated in Asia, rinderpest reached Africa through the transport of infected cattle in the late 19th century and eventually spread to wild animal populations. Through cattle trade bans and vaccination programs, rinderpest was largely brought under control. However, a 1992 outbreak in Kenya and Somalia caused economic losses of $2 billion, according to a United Nations press release, and brought Hirola populations to the brink of extinction.

In 2011, rinderpest was declared globally eradicated, with the last case reported in Kenya in 2001. Today we witness a historical event as rinderpest is the first animal disease ever to be eradicated by humankind, said Bernard Vallat, Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health, in a news release at the time. But Hirola face future disease outbreakssuch as foot-and-mouth disease, trypanosomiasis, or pleuropneumoniathat will be hard to withstand with their small populations.

Hirola are vulnerable to zoonotic diseases, such as those carried by cattle. Marco Verch/CC_BY  Original / License (Marco Verch/CC_BY)

Before 1970, Hirola numbered at least 10,000. Today, estimates place population size at between 300 and 500 individuals in the wild, rendering the Hirola Critically Endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. With no Hirola in captivity, the wild populations represent the last stand for the species. Hirola were once kept at the Dvur Kralove Zoo in Czechoslovakia from 1971 to 1981, where reproduction occurred. However, the captive herd was decimated by disease, making zoos reluctant to attempt captive breeding again, especially with current Hirola numbers so low. Over the past three generations, the wild population has declined by more than 80 percent, with Hirola now found only along Kenyas border with Somalia.

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Historically, Hirola populations may have extended as far south as Africas Cape of Good Hope, although data on their historic range are lacking. Hirola once inhabited about 17,900 km in Kenya and about 20,500 km in Somalia. Their range has now been reduced to no more than 1,500 km in Kenya, and Hirola are now considered extinct in Somalia. Since the 1970s, when an estimated 14,000 antelopes roamed the grasslands of Kenya and Somalia, various catastrophes have reduced their numbers to between 300 and 500. Habitat loss for this species has been dramatic, as its natural scrubby grasslands are converted to farms and grazing lands.

The Hirola can only be saved through concerted conservation measures that involve numerous perspectives and values. Community involvement is key, since the pressures on the Hirola are mostly related to human settlements in their historic range. When local scientists lead conservation projects, they bring unique local knowledge and inspire community support for the necessary behavioral changes.

Abdullahi Hussein Ali is a wildlife biologist who has taken the lead in saving the Hirola. Ali grew up in the northern tip of the Hirolas historic range in eastern Kenya, in a family of nomadic shepherds who kept camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. After earning his bachelors and masters degrees in Nairobi, Ali earned a Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of Wyoming. In founding the Hirola Conservation Program, he put forth what he describes as a very strong home-grown solution to help the species.

Alis home region of Garissa, Kenya, drew him into studying and promoting Hirola conservation. Kandukuru Nagarjun/CC BY 2.0  Original / License (Kandukuru Nagarjun/CC BY 2.0)

Ultimately, for the Hirola to survive, more protected areas must be established and maintained, according to experts. The Arawale National Reserve is legally protected, but was neglected for decades due to financial constraints, wrote Ali in an article published in The Conversation. However, recent efforts are underway to reinstate and restore its management for Hirola conservation, in collaboration with local authorities. Restoring suitable habitat requires removing invasive plants and reseeding with native forage grasses favored by Hirola. Allowing managed fires, rather than fully suppressing them, could help restore the natural burn cycles that maintain meadow habitats.

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Areas like Arawale once had more acres of the types of meadow habitats that support Hirola grazing. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, elephants were heavily poached, eliminating their natural role in maintaining open grasslands. Without elephants to browse and uproot tree saplings, meadows gradually revert to forests, which do not provide the forage Hirola need. A study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that from 1985 to 2012, tree cover increased by 251 percent across the Hirolas historic range.

Alis team has tried various methods to remove trees and restore grasslands, including cutting, uprooting, and breaking off branches to reduce tree growth. Once sunlight can reach the ground again, Alis team seeds it with native grasses, as described by the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species.

Restoring elephants to Hirola habitats and protecting them from poaching could help maintain Hirola populations. Ali recommends community-based protection of elephantsin the form of anti-poaching squads and enhanced communication between villagesso that elephant herds can be safe on community land. Restoration efforts will likely require support from local communities to succeed, given the close relationship between human livelihoods and ecosystem protection in the area.

In Tsavo East National Park, a bachelor herd of Hirola rests in the sun. JRProbert/CC BY-SA 4.0  Original / License (JRProbert/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Some Hirola have been translocated, with small groups moved to better-protected areas. A population is now established in Tsavo East National Park in Kenya, for example, based on 30 individuals moved in 1963 and 10 more in 1996. The Tsavo ecosystem is the largest continuous swath of savannah in Kenya, according to the Tsavo Trust. At first, many of the translocated Hirola perished, but today the population appears to be stable, with an estimated 74 individuals in a recent census. The subsequent droughts of 2008 and 2009 may have reduced those numbers.

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A Hirola sanctuary was established in 2012 at Ishaqbini in Garissa County, Kenya, starting with 48 individuals. The population has increased significantly, demonstrating the effectiveness of predator exclusion and active management. Covering an area of about 68,000 hectares, the sanctuary is managed by a Somali tribe to keep lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and human poachers at bay through a combination of fencing and patrolling. According to hirola.org, the sanctuary has directly resulted in a nearly four-fold increase in the Hirola population over a period of nine years.

Local education campaigns are also deemed critical in saving the Hirola. Ali aims to reach over 6,000 children and adults to ensure their awareness of the plight of the Hirola and its precarious conservation status. Ali and his team are also training community members to lead restoration measures and foster community-based enterprises that benefit Hirola, such as the propagation of native grass seeds. In bestowing the 2020 Whitley Award on Abdullahi Hussein Ali, the Whitley Fund for Nature recognized him as a local hero, working towards a peaceful future for Hirola and the people.

Hopefully, with ongoing conservation work, Hirola will expand beyond Tsavo East National Park. Jan Ebr/CC-BY-4.0  Original / License (Jan Ebr/CC-BY-4.0)

Inroads have been made in sustaining this unique species, but the biggest challenges lie ahead in reversing the historic population crash. Hirola have still not sufficiently rebounded from the damage caused by the rinderpest outbreak to ensure their future. In a population and habitat assessment published in Oryx, the study authors write, Early indicators are positive, but given the decreased range, population fragmentation and future habitat degradation, the long-term future of the hirola remains uncertain.

If Hirola antelopes go extinct, it would be one of the rare cases of an entire genus of mammals disappearing from Africa in recent history. Their extinction would erase several million years of evolution and serve as stark testimony to the vulnerability of long-standing species to human impacts.

The post The Antelope That Could Take Its Entire Genus with It: Hirolas Unfair Fight appeared first on A-Z Animals.
A downtown Appleton tourist rooming house that was ordered to cease and desist operation due to code violations is continuing to operate until its appeal of the order can be heard, according to city staff.

The status of Stateview Commons' tourist rooming house on the second floor of 532 W. College Ave. came to light in response to a question from Mayor Jake Woodford during the Jan. 14 Board of Health meeting.

"This property is operating effectively illegally as an Airbnb, as a temporary rooming house," Woodford said. "This temporary rooming house does not meet our code requirements for life safety. So, it's important to make note of that for the public record."

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Appleton didn't renew the 2025-2026 tourist rooming house license for Keystone Futures LLC, doing business as Stateview Commons. The city later issued a cease-and-desist order to prohibit Stateview Commons from operating as a tourist rooming house, also known as a short-term rental, Airbnb or Vrbo, until corrections were made and the proper approvals were obtained.

Stateview Commons at 532 W. College Ave. in Appleton no longer has a valid license to operate as a tourist rooming house.

Robert Arthur, an attorney for Keystone, appealed the nonrenewal and cease-and-desist order, resulting in the scheduling of a Jan. 14 hearing before the Board of Health.

The hearing, though, was postponed at the request of Arthur, who said he had "an unavoidable personal and professional emergency."

Assistant City Attorney Darrin Glad said he and Health Officer Charles Sepers "somewhat reluctantly" agreed to reschedule the hearing for Feb. 11.

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The Appleton Health Department created an environmental health technician position in January 2025 to bring tourist rooming houses into compliance with regulations. In March, the property at 532 W. College was determined to violate building and fire codes.

The Health Department explained to Keystone the modifications, including the installation of a fire sprinkler system, that are required to achieve compliance. The tourist rooming house license for the property expired on June 30.

Despite the expiration, the property continued to operate as a tourist rooming house without a valid health license, according to a memorandum by Glad and Sepers.

On July 29, the Health Department issued an order to cease and desist operation. Keystone appealed and proposed an interim safety plan.

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In the appeal, Arthur said Keystone acquired the property in October 2021, when the second floor containing four dwelling units already had been operating as a tourist rooming house.

"My client was completely surprised to discover that the prior owner had not obtained proper review and permitting when the second floor was changed from residential to short-term rental units in 2019," Arthur said. "Keystone purchased the building as a functioning business, with the expectation that all current use was properly permitted. The loss of income from the short-term rental units will create a financial hardship for Keystone."

The parties agreed to multiple postponements of the appeal hearing to explore a mutually acceptable path toward compliance and licensing.

On Sept. 18, Appleton proposed a conditional license agreement that, if executed, would have allowed continued operation as a tourist rooming house while progress toward full compliance was demonstrated. No response was received, and no conditional license was issued.

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Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @DukeBehnke.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Appleton orders shutdown of tourist rooming house for code violations
(The Center Square)  Amid mentions by the president, use of active-duty Army troops on American soil to quell unrest via an 1807 federal law hasnt taken place since verdicts announced in 1992 following the beating of Rodney King.

Published reports indicate troops are ready to go from Alaska to Minnesota, and second-term Republican President Donald Trumps comments indicate hes more aware of his choice than actively moving toward using it. A social media post the mercurial 79-year-old made Thursday led to speculation; Friday at the White House he said right now wasnt a time to use the Insurrection Act.

If I needed it, Id use it, he said.

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Enhanced enforcement of federal immigration law has taken place in Minneapolis and St. Paul by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Twin Cities residents have clashed with agents trying to do their jobs, leading to shootings on consecutive Wednesdays.

Renee Good, 37, lost her life on Jan. 7. Last week, a person Homeland Security said is illegally in the country was being detained when others came to his aid and began to beat the federal agent. He was eventually taken into custody, and a suspect was shot by the agent.

Operation Metro Surge, says Homeland Security, has been successful in removing people illegally in the country with connection to "perpetrators of fraud, thieves, and drug traffickers. Sexual abuse of a child, second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and aggravated assault convictions are also on the record of some detained by federal agents as recently as this past week.

Published reports not confirmed or denied by the Pentagon indicated infantry divisions of the 11th Airborne Division have ready-to-deploy orders. The troops' training in cold conditions in Alaska has been cited in the selection.

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In 1992, four police officers were acquitted of beating King in Los Angeles. Republican one-term President George H.W. Bush used the Insurrection Act to help bring peace back to the city as cable television  at the time, having somewhat novel abilities  played the demonstrations live to captive audiences.

In 2020, George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis at the hands of a police officer during a detainment. Trump threatened to use the law then but did not.

The president has also hinted at the law on other occasions during the past 12 months of stepping up immigration enforcement.

To enter America from another country, if not a U.S. citizen, a visa or some other travel authorization is required to be presented at a port of entry.
South Koreas Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, the countrys largest to date, has now been operationally deployed, according to local reports. Overall, the missile remains mysterious, with no publicly confirmed test launches, although its size  closer to an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM)  and its absolutely colossal penetrating warhead put it in a class of its own. It would likely play a key role in any kind of large-scale conflict with North Korea and, as such, is the latest in a line of bespoke weapons intended to counter growing threats from Pyongyang.

The weight penalty of its huge warhead makes the Hyunmoo-5 a short-range ballistic missile. In terms of applications, it has some parallels with the air-launched GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). While the Hyunmoo-5 warhead is around half the size, the MOP is dropped from a subsonic aircraft and does not have anywhere near the kinetic punch of this missile, which would be careening into the ground at near-hypersonic or well into hypersonic velocity, giving it a much larger punch and burrowing power before detonating.

A video prepared by Yonhap News TV to mark the deployment of the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile; note that the footage also includes other strike systems:

Anonymous military sources told The Korea Herald yesterday that the missile began to be fielded late last year. An official from the South Korean Ministry of Defense told the same publication that the military was pushing ahead with the integration of the Hyunmoo-5, with full operational deployment expected to be achieved before 2030.

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Its not clear how many of the missiles will be fielded. The Korea Herald describes deploying several hundred high-power missiles. However, these may also include other new types in addition to the Hyunmoo-5.

Overall, the Hyunmoo-5 remains secretive, with authorities ensuring that details of its precise role and capabilities remain ambiguous.

The Hyunmoo-5 was first publicly unveiled during Armed Forces Day celebrations in October 2024. The missile itself was not shown, but the nine-axle transporter-erector launcher (TEL) confirmed that this was South Koreas largest ballistic missile yet.

At this point, however, the Hyunmoo-5 name was not revealed, with official statements instead referring to an ultra-high-power ballistic missile. Media reports, meanwhile, dubbed the weapon a monster missile.

A TEL for the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile during a ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day held at Seoul Air Base on October 1, 2024. Photo by Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images

The Hyunmoo-5 designation was first confirmed by South Korean Minister of Defense Ahn Gyu-back in October last year, when he also announced plans for its mass production.

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Development of the solid-fuel missile appears to have begun before October 2022, when its existence was disclosed in a National Defense Committee audit, which also stated that it had a total weight of around 35 tons and a warhead of more than 17,000 pounds.

The warhead weight alone makes the Hyunmoo-5 a unique weapon. Typically, conventionally armed ballistic missiles carry an explosive payload of less than 2,200 pounds. However, steadily more powerful warheads appear to be a feature of South Korean ballistic missiles, with the previous Hyunmoo-4 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) reportedly carrying around 4,400 pounds of explosives.

TELs carrying Hyunmoo-4 (front) and Hyunmoo-5 (back) ballistic missiles, giving an idea of the differences in size between the weapons. Photo by Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images

The ultra-high-power warhead of the Hyunmoo-5 points squarely to a weapon thats designed to punch through North Koreas most hardened targets, typically buried deep underground. These include regime facilities such as bunkers, as well as command and control nodes, and numerous storage facilities.

At the same time, its likely that the published warhead weight includes not only the explosive payload but also a dense metal penetrator casing to enhance its bunker-busting characteristics. Tandem charges are also likely, and possibly also decoys. Some accounts suggest that as much as 80 percent of the warhead, by total mass, consists of heavy metal, with explosive material making up the remaining 20 percent.

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Meanwhile, the range of the Hyunmoo-5 has been much discussed.

According to most reports, the missile can hit targets at a distance of 600 kilometers (373 miles), which would be notably short for a weapon of this size. Its relatively enormous warhead imposes a significant range penalty. Substituting its big warhead for a smaller and lighter one could push the range further, but for its primary application  going after hardened North Korean facilities  it doesnt need long range.

There are other reports suggesting that the Hyunmoo-5 can achieve IRBM performance  able to hit targets at a distance of more than 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles)  if its warhead weight is reduced.

A side view of a TEL for the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile. Photo by Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images

Clearly, the Hyunmoo-5 is able to go far beyond the limit of 180 kilometers (112 miles) that was imposed under the ballistic missiles treaty guidelines agreed between South Korea and the United States in 1979. Those same guidelines included a warhead limit of 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds).

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The range restrictions were steadily relaxed, to 300 kilometers (186 miles) in 2001 and 800 kilometers (497 miles) in 2021  putting all of North Korea potentially within range of South Korean ballistic missiles. Finally, the guidelines were scrapped entirely in June 2021, a reflection of the rapid pace of North Koreas ballistic missile and nuclear weapons developments.

The Hyunmoo-4 and the Hyunmoo-5 both reflect South Koreas push to produce longer-range-capable missiles now that these range (and warhead weight) restrictions have been removed.

Not surprisingly, the Hyunmoo-5 has been developed as a fundamental part of Seouls so-called three-axis operational plan, designed to dissuade or respond to a possible nuclear attack from North Korea.

The North Korean Hwasongpho-16B on its intermediate-range hypersonic weapon TEL, with the clamshell at the front open. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, wearing a black leather jacket, is seen in the foreground. KCNA KCNA

Overseen by South Koreas Strategic Command, the three-axis system has three components:

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Kill Chain: This is intended to carry out a preemptive strike against Pyongyangs nuclear and missile facilities to defend Seoul, if judged necessary.

Korea Air and Missile Defense: A network intended to destroy North Korean ballistic missiles targeting the South once they have been launched.

Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation program, or KMPR: Also known as Overwhelming Response, this is an effort to develop ways to retaliate against North Korea, using overwhelming conventional strikes, should Pyongyang launch a first attack. North Korean leadership and strategic facilities would be key targets.

While the Hyunmoo-5 has been widely reported as a future pillar of the KMPR, its specific ability to penetrate deeply buried bunkers, such as those used by the North Korean leadership, the same functions mean that it can also fulfill elements of the kill chain. In this way, it could be used as part of a pre-emptive strike, to try and knock out North Koreas launch capability by targeting its hardened command-and-control facilities and missile storage areas.

TELs for the Hyunmoo-5 (right) and Hyunmoo-4 (left) ballistic missiles on display during the 77th anniversary of Armed Forces Day pre-media day at the military headquarters in Gyeryong, south of Seoul, on September 29, 2025. Photo by Kim Jae-Hwan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images SOPA Images

When it comes to the Hyunmoo-5s prodigious warhead weight, there have been some media reports that have attempted to compare its likely destructive effect with a tactical nuclear weapon. This is misleading, since the effects of these weapons are very different, especially in relation to their weight. It should also be recalled that even the most powerful conventional weapons arent necessarily always effective against the most hardened and deeply buried targets.

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Regardless, South Korea has redoubled its efforts to develop powerful conventional strike capabilities to meet North Koreas missile and nuclear weapons buildup. Seoul describes this activity as a vital balance of terror as it faces off against Pyongyangs nuclear forces.

At the same time, there have been signs that South Korea is at least mulling the possibility of adding nuclear weapons to its own arsenal in the future, which would mean it stepped away from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of which it is currently a signatory.

Extraordinary to see South Korean president even mention option to go nuclear. Hypothetical and he adds that defense steps must be realistic. https://t.co/8DpAp4OihB pic.twitter.com/TL4YhHwXEp  Hans Kristensen (also on Bluesky) (@nukestrat) January 11, 2023

The Hyunmoo-5 would be one obvious candidate for a nuclear warhead. Such a payload would also be far lighter than its conventional cargo, potentially putting many more targets within its reach.

This brings us to Seouls increasing concerns around potential wider regional threats. On a public level, South Korean officials have repeatedly stressed that their growing arsenal of long-range strike capabilities is solely aimed at North Korea. In the background, however, its clear that the leadership in Seoul is looking at how to provide deterrence against threats further afield, including China and Russia.

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Putting more targets within reach of the Hyunmoo-5, as well as increasing its survivability, could see the missile put to sea aboard South Koreas future Joint Strike Ship, something that officials have suggested in the past. The Joint Strike Ship reflects the growing interest in arsenal ships expressed by navies around the globe.

Iron fist of the Korean navy.

Joint Strike Ship(JSS).

Updated(Hyunmoo-IV-2 added).

Their navy's are quite decent power in quality&numbers however, as the time passes and due to the new policy, South Korea is now heavily invest naval power.

This arsenal ship is mirrors their pic.twitter.com/LDuQIJIXk7  Mason  (@mason_8718) August 23, 2023

With the previous ballistic missiles treaty guidelines no longer limiting the range of these weapons, South Korea is in a position to develop longer-range ballistic missiles, if it so wishes.

We still dont know exactly what kind of range the Hyunmoo-5 can achieve. However, its deployment underscores South Koreas ability to field ballistic missiles that not only have the potential for far greater range than their predecessors but also, when employed against targets closer to the border, that offer a unique destructive capacity.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered in Golden Gate Park to celebrate the life and legacy of a San Francisco icon.

The California Academy of Sciences honored Claude, the beloved albino alligator.

Claude was 30 years old and lived at the academy for 17 years until his death last month.

MORE: Golden Gate Park street officially set to be renamed in honor of 'Claude' the albino alligator

Sunday's festivities included a NOLA-style second line parade in a nod to Claude's Louisiana roots, a Claude costume contest for kids and stories shared by the late gator's care team.

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"There was something just magical about watching him, you know? You had to wait and wait for him to move. And if he did at all, there was just something touching about being near him and watching him," said Monica Walsh.

City officials also unveiled the signage for "Claude The Alligator Way," officially changing the name of the street that runs in front of the Cal Academy.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
Jan. 19MOSES LAKE  Richard Black, a 71-year-old veteran and resident of Moses Lake, was born the second oldest of five siblings to his parents Hilda and Herbert Black. Growing up the son Herbert, a decorated war vet who fought in three separate conflicts, Richard said brought a lot of opportunity to his life.

"I'm a brat, and brat has different meanings, but in my case a military brat, an Army brat. I'm a dependent," he said. "Dad was a career 30-year, three-war combat veteran, and what you get to witness in life as a military brat with traveling (to) wherever you're going to be stationed, it was an incredible life."

Black was originally born in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, the same town his parents first met in after the World War II. With his father still being active in the military throughout his childhood, this meant the family spent a lot of their time moving.

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During his Elementary school days Richard said the family was stationed in Hamburg, Germany. While there, he said there were always schools for the children of military personnel staffed by American teachers.

"Whether it was Europe or wherever you were stationed, you always had great American schools on foreign land, that the teachers came from the States, and so you had your own little community," said Richard.

In 1963, his family returned to the U.S. while his father was stationed in Fort Ord  now closed  on the Monterey Bay in California where they fell in love with the area, but his father was given orders for Berlin which returned the family to Germany in 1965.

"We left Fort Ord and flew to Berlin, which was very interesting; I remember that trip," he said. "It was great because we did a lot of the old Route 66, but it took several days. We got to New Jersey, and then we flew over and picked the car up and we drove from Bremerhaven to Berlin."

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Living in Berlin at that time was a special circumstance as the Berlin Wall had just gone up four years prior to the Black family's arrival.

"You had the four occupational powers, the Americans, the British, the French, and of course the Russians, on the other side," said Richard. "There was a lot of special documents that you needed, a lot of protocol to travel and a lot of restrictions."

Richard said the family was in Berlin until 1971, and he spent most of his teenage years there. While Richard spent his time with other military household youths, he also found a love for the Berlin nightlife.

"It was just great and you didn't need a car because the buses and the trains ran all the time. You could get around so easy," he said. "What I used to do, school would get out at 3 o'clock and I would run down to the commissary and bag groceries, that was my job, and then I had some money in my pocket and I was able to go downtown."

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Once done with his daily tasks, Richard hopped on the train and got off at Friedrich Strasse in Berlin to mingle with the locals and attend concerts. Berlin had always been a hub for music and during this time, acts from around the world performed there.

"Every weekend, there were concerts in Berlin and tickets were (around) $5," he said. "I remember some of the early concerts: bands like the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Uriah Heep, Led Zeppelin. I saw Black Sabbath just a few months after they were formed."

Richard said he will never forget getting to meet Jimmi Hendrix at backstage at one of those shows. The moment was very surreal for him, and Hendrix was very kind and was truly a unique person.

Richard said he spent most of his life listening to music and radio, especially after his mother bought him a four-band radio with a cassette player when he was 10. He spent countless hours listening to Radio Luxembourg's pop and rock music.

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"I remember the first British Invasion, hearing the songs for the first time," he said. "But beside my love for rock and pop music, I was all into rhythm and blues and Motown."

Throughout high school, Richard stayed glued to the radio, and in his last year of high school the Armed Forces Network in Berlin allowed him to watch them broadcast, produce and learn how to use the equipment. They also allowed him to record public service announcements.

"I said, 'This is cool, I'm going to do this profession one day,'" he said.

In 1972, Richard graduated from high school; his father retired from service that year as well. The family moved back to Monterey for a short time before his parents decided they wanted to live in Berlin.

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Being out of school and back in Berlin, Richard began working jobs selling stereo and camera equipment in the day and DJed at night. While it was fun, he wanted to get back to the states and attend college but lacked the resources to do so.

In January 1973, Richard said he went to the American Embassy in Berlin and join the Army.

"I was on the last draft call, they would have gotten me anyway, but I joined the Army," he said.

Richard was sent to basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey during the winter, which he said was particularly challenging.

"I remember freezing, man, low crawling with my M16 rifle and snow coming down. Ice. I'm cold, even with long johns," said Richard. "And I'm watching those Air Force planes above me land at the McGuire Air Force Base and I'm saying to myself, "Man, I should have enlisted for four in the Air Force.'"

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Once he finished basic training, Richard said his recruiter decided to send him somewhere he had never been before, Florida, where he joined in the U.S. Air Defense. After going to missile school in Fort Bliss, Texas, Richard was on his way to be stationed at a Nike Hercules Missile site in South Florida.

After 16 months in Florida, Richard was sent to Germany to serve his final year.

"My last year was in Germany, which was really cool," said Richard. "It gets even better because I had a residential stamp for Berlin in my passport, so on the weekends, if I had a three-day pass, I could just jump on the train and go home."

Richard spent three years active and four years reserve before finishing out his time with the Army. Afterward, he followed in the steps of Tony Bennett, who remained close to the family through the years after serving with Richard's father in WWII, and used his G.I. Bill to go to broadcasting school in San Jose, Calif.

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After earning his broadcasting license, Richard moved back to Monterey once again where he worked on the air for 22 years. During his time Richard said he once again had the opportunity to meet a large variety of celebrities at his workplace.

At the age of 50, he said the radio industry began to change, and it was time to shift gears. For years after exiting broadcasting Richard was a limo driver  yet another opportunity to meet new people.

"I met a lot of people, drove a lot of people," said Richard. "One of the nicest people I ever met was the actor, Idris Elba. I spent three days with him... He was so nice. I remember when I was done on the third day, he gets out of the limo and I looked at him and I said, 'Young man, you just keep doing what you're doing.'"

Eventually, he said it was time to retire and he decided to settle down in Moses Lake.

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Growing up in a military family is something he said shaped his life. Through his father's stories he also heard another part of serving that is often hard.

When he was younger his father told him stories from his time in the war, but one of the stories that stuck out the most was from Vietnam. He said his father once told him Vietnam was different, because in World War II and Korea you could see the enemy, but in Vietnam, they didn't know who was who or where the enemy would come from.

"War is Hell, man; it's just terrible for all sides," said Richard. "I don't care what you think about war and combat. Both sides suffer."

Richard didn't see combat himself, but he said the experience of being in the military and growing up around it taught him a lot.

"I cannot say enough about being a dependent of a military member... It was just wonderful," said Richard. "It's hard because you meet friends and then in a short period of time you have to say goodbye to them because you're moving somewhere else. But, on the plus side, what you get to witness in life, the different cultures, the traveling... you're just really appreciative and very thankful for what you saw."
Image Credit: KTLA5/YouTube.

When Toyota faced a sweeping class action over its hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai vehicles last year, many owners breathed a sigh of relief after the company told them in writing to pause their monthly car payments until the legal battle shook out.

What followed for some owners, however, was a nightmare that has now become its own headline: despite Toyotas assurances, several were reported to credit bureaus as late on their payments and sent to debt collectors, according to lawsuits and owner accounts.

The credits and cancellations were supposed to be a temporary reprieve while Toyota answered claims that it misled buyers about how practical the Mirai would be in daily life. Named in a $5.7 billion RICO lawsuit filed in California, the company is accused of selling cars that owners now say are hard to fuel, overpriced to own, and built atop a refueling network that barely exists outside a patchwork of mostly unreliable stations.

Fiasco Within the Larger Fiasco

Image Credit: KTLA5/YouTube.

In what some call a fiasco within the larger fiasco, Toyota allegedly told owners it would not demand monthly payments on the vehicles while the case was active and even sent written assurances to that effect. That guidance, however, quickly became controversial once owners followed it and then learned their credit reports were being flagged for missed payments.

Attorney Jason Ingber, who represents many of the plaintiffs, told KTLA that the situation has left owners bewildered and angry. This was a big relief, and then with the uncertainty of it, now some people have gone back to making payments, he said. Some people threw their arms in the air because they already got negative credit reported. This is a fiasco within the fiasco thats really cruel, in my opinion.

Owners like Anthony Escobedo and Julie Doumit say the credit damage has real-world consequences. Escobedo told reporters his credit score, once an 814 excellent score, tumbled about 100 points after he paused payments as instructed and was later sent to collections.

That drop kept him from qualifying for an interest-free loan he needed for his wifes medical care and forced him to turn to high-interest credit cards instead. When Toyota eventually reversed the credit report, his score only partially recovered.

Depressing Credit Scores

Image Credit: Toyota.

Doumits experience was similar. After 46 months of on-time payments, she paused paying her Mirai and the very next month was reported for nonpayment. Her credit score dropped roughly 70 points. Literally, the next month after they make this promise in writing that they will not debt collect  they reported me the very next month, she said. Im like, really? I mean, Im just kind of in disbelief on how poorly Toyota has treated their customers.
The case concerns classified military documents leaked in September 2024 to the German tabloid Bild, which reportedly outlined Hamass position on hostage negotiations.

After originally being scheduled for Tuesday, a hearing to determine whether restrictive conditions should continue to apply to the chief of staff of the Prime Ministers Office was moved up to Monday afternoon and will be held before Lod District Court Judge Yaakov Spasser.

Tzachi Braverman, the chief of staff at the Prime Ministers Office and a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was detained for questioning last week alongside PMO spokesman Omer Mantzur in connection with the so-called Bild leak affair.

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The case concerns classified military documents leaked in September 2024 to the German tabloid Bild, which reportedly outlined Hamass position on hostage negotiations.

According to investigators, the documents were allegedly leaked in an effort to influence public opinion in favor of intensifying military pressure on the terror group. The material was published abroad after failing to receive approval from the IDF military censor.

The publication came just weeks after six Israeli hostages were murdered by Hamas in tunnels in Rafah: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, and Alex Lobanov.

Eli Feldstein, an IDF spokesman attends the funeral of Yehuda Dimentman, in Homesh, in the West Bank, on December 17, 2021 (credit: SRAYA DIAMANT/FLASH90)

Former PMO aide Eli Feldstein denies charges in classified leak case

Eli Feldstein, a former media adviser and spokesman in the Prime Ministers Office, was arrested on suspicion of offenses related to the unauthorized possession and leaking of classified material.

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Prosecutors allege that Feldstein unlawfully obtained and disseminated the document in a manner that could have caused serious harm to state security, and he has also been suspected of obstruction of justice.

Feldstein has denied wrongdoing and was later released from custody under restrictive conditions as the investigation continues.

Last month, he gave an interview to KAN in which he described a late-night meeting in a parking lot with Braverman, during which the chief of staff allegedly questioned him about the leak, mentioned several individuals who might be connected to it, and suggested he had the ability to turn off the investigation.

These claims were made solely by Feldstein and have been denied by all other parties involved.

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Following the detention of Braverman and Mantzur earlier last week - based on the information revealed by Feldstein in the interview - Rishon Lezion Magistrates Court President Judge Menahem Mizrahi ruled to terminate the restrictive conditions previously imposed on them, as well as on Yonatan Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu who is also a suspect in the Bild affair and in the related Qatargate investigation.

In his decision, Mizrahi sharply criticized police conduct, describing the requests as procedurally flawed, overly broad, and insufficiently grounded in the legal framework governing the case.

The restrictive measures in question generally included employment bans, no-contact orders, and travel restrictions.

The Qatargate investigation centers on alleged Qatari ties involving figures close to Netanyahu, against the backdrop of Qatars role as an intermediary during the war, despite Israel not maintaining formal diplomatic relations with the Gulf state.

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Earlier this month, police completed their investigation in the Qatargate matter and transferred the materials to the State Attorneys Office. Due to a last-minute filing deadline, restrictive conditions imposed on Urich in that case expired.

Those conditions did not expire in the Bild case. Mizrahi consolidated the matters into a single ruling addressing requests to extend restrictive conditions on Urich, Mantzur, and Braverman.

He granted the police until Sunday to appeal the decision to the district court, which they did, also requesting a stay of execution. Police warned that lifting the restrictions posed a concrete risk to the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

Police have maintained that Urich, Mantzur, and Braverman are suspected of serious security-related offenses, including the delivery, possession, and destruction of classified information, some allegedly carried out with intent to harm state security. Investigators argue that the evidentiary basis against the suspects remains substantial and was improperly discounted at this preliminary stage.

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Israeli media reported on Monday that Urich was summoned for questioning by the Lahav 433 National Crime Unit regarding the alleged midnight meeting described by Feldstein.

According to the reports, Urich was asked whether Feldstein had informed him of the meeting or whether he was aware of it from another source, and that he denied any such knowledge and rejected the claim that Feldstein had updated him.

At the heart of the dispute between the parties is whether the various events should be viewed as a single interconnected affair warranting far-reaching restrictive measures, as police argue, or whether the conditions amount to a disproportionate infringement on individual rights, as the defense contends.

A hearing on the extension of restrictive conditions in Urichs case is scheduled for Tuesday.
Buses are lined up at the Kansas City Public Schools bus barn in Kansas City, Mo., between morning and afternoon routes. School districts have made some progress in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still arent as many drivers as there were in 2019. (Photo by Kevin Hardy/Stateline)

LINCOLN  A new bill would require Nebraskas K-12 schools to teach lessons about the ills of communism.

Legislative Bill 1024 from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil would require each Nebraska school district, starting next school year, to make time to teach the history of communism  worldwide and in the U.S.

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The proposed curriculum would range from covering what the bill describes as the increasing threat of communism in the United States and its allies through the 20th century to mass killings that have occurred under communist regimes.

Similar state laws have passed in Florida and Texas. Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar has a federal bill that passed the U.S. House that would require the creation of a civics education program to teach high schoolers nationwide about the dangers of communism.

Theres a lot of students, especially in college, and kids that are out of the K-12 school system, who seem to support socialism and even communism nowadays, Murman said. I think we just have to be diligent that the risks and dangers, bad things that happen under communism, are taught in our schools.

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Murman, who chairs the Legislatures Education Committee, said he hasnt decided whether the bill will be a priority for the committee during the short session. The bill was cosponsored by five of his fellow Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature: State Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln, State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, Loren Lippincott of Central City, State Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings and State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman.

State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil. Oct. 30, 2025. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The proposal also would require students to take a written test identical to the entire civics portion of the U.S. citizenship test before completing eighth grade and before graduating from high school.

Tim Royers, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, the biggest teachers union in the state, said the union is obviously opposed. He noted that the subject was already required to be covered.

These arent good standards, Royers told the Examiner. This isnt the right way to teach history.

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Royers also said the way the proposal is written steps on the toes of local boards of education. He said Murman should let teachers write the social studies standards.

Murman said lawmakers have the authority to offer guidance on education, and he wanted legal assurance that it would be taught.

Editors note: This story was revised to clarify a town name.

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Jan 19 (Reuters) - Billionaire wealth surged at three times its recent pace last year to reach its highest level on record, deepening economic and political divides that threaten democratic stability, anti-poverty group Oxfam said on Monday.

In a report timed for the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the charity said the fortunes of global billionaires jumped 16% in 2025 to $18.3 trillion, extending an 81% rise since 2020.

The gains happened even as one in four people worldwide struggle to eat regularly and nearly half the global population live in poverty.

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Oxfams study, which draws on academic research and data sources ranging from the World Inequality Database to Forbes' rich list, argues that the wealth boom is being matched by a dramatic concentration of political clout, with billionaires 4,000 times more likely than ordinary citizens to hold political office.

The group links the latest wealth surge to policies under U.S. President Donald Trump, whose second administration has cut taxes, shielded multinational corporations from international pressure and eased scrutiny of monopolies.

Soaring valuations of artificial intelligence companies have added further windfall gains for already wealthy investors.

"The widening gap between the rich and the rest is at the same time creating a political deficit that is highly dangerous and unsustainable," Oxfam's executive director Amitabh Behar said.

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Oxfam urged governments to adopt national inequality reduction plans, impose higher taxes on extreme wealth and strengthen firewalls between money and politics, including curbs on lobbying and campaign financing.

Wealth taxes are levied in just a few countries such as Norway at present but others, from Britain to France and Italy, have debated similar moves.

The Nairobi-based charity calculates that the $2.5 trillion added to billionaires' fortunes last year is roughly equal to the stock of wealth held by the poorest 4.1 billion people.

The worlds billionaire population surpassed 3,000 for the first time last year, with Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk becoming the first individual to exceed $500 billion in net worth.

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Behar warned that governments are "making wrong choices to pander to the elite," pointing to aid cuts and the rollback of civil liberties.

The report highlights what it calls the expanding grip of ultrawealthy business figures over traditional and digital media.

Billionaires now own more than half of the worlds major media firms, Oxfam said, citing holdings by Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Patrick SoonShiong and France's Vincent Bollore.

(Reporting by Francesco Canepa, Editing by William Maclean)
Bishop William Barber, president of Repairers of the Breach and architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)

Commemorative services are planned across the state Monday as the nation pauses for a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. MLK Day is a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities.

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Bishop William Barber  president of Repairers of the Breach and architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement  will mark the day with a series of speeches encouraging people of all backgrounds to come together and sound the alarm against unjust policies that have led to healthcare cuts, gerrymandered districts, reduced funding for public schools, and increased aggressive actions by ICE agents.

Barber and a coalition of North Carolina religious leaders and advocacy organizations recently announced plans for a memorial march in mid-February to speak out against regressive policies while highlighting what they believe is a better path forward for the nation. NC Newsline sat down with Bishop Barber to discuss the upcoming march and his thoughts as we mark the 2026 MLK Day. Barber shared with us one of the key objectives of the upcoming February march is to lift up a vision of what caring and thinking people are for, more than just the policies that theyre against.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Four gunmen who crossed from Afghanistan into neighboring Tajikistan were killed in a skirmish with border guards overnight, Tajikistans National Security Committee said Monday. It was the second violent incident since November along the border between the two countries.

The Tajik border guards spotted the gunmen near a village close to the border with Afghanistans Badakhshan province, the committee said in a statement. It added that the four men refused an order to surrender and offered armed resistance, and were killed in the ensuing skirmish.

The committee described the men as members of a terrorist organization, but did not offer details.

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Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the gunmen were smugglers. Investigations are underway to determine who they were and what they were smuggling, but they are smugglers, he told The Associated Press.

He said that along this stretch of Afghanistan's border, there have always been problems caused by smugglers, and the Islamic Emirate has already taken steps to prevent them, and we are trying to investigate who they are, he said, using the Taliban government's preferred way of referring to the country.

A spokesman for the provincial police command in Afghanistan's border province of Badakhshan, Ehsanullah Kamgar, said three people had been killed, and identified them as drug smugglers.

The incident comes weeks after a reported cross-border attack from Afghanistan into Tajikistan that killed three Chinese workers and wounded a fourth. Tajikistan said the attack in late November was carried out from inside Afghanistan with a drone equipped with grenades and firearms.

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Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the Afghan Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman, said in November that the attack appeared to have been caused by elements that are trying to create chaos, instability, and distrust between countries in the region. He promised the Afghan governments full cooperation with the government of Tajikistan.

Tajikistan and Afghanistan have a history of testy relations, particularly after the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, when Tajikistan cut ties with its southern neighbor. There have since been signs of a gradual thaw in relations including markets reopening in the border area in 2023 and a Tajik delegation visiting Kabul in November.
Three shark attacks have been reported in Sydney in a little over 24 hours, leaving at least two people seriously injured, according to local authorities.

A man was taken to hospital in critical condition after being injured at Manly beach on Monday evening, New South Wales Police said in a statement.

Hours earlier, an 11-year-old surfer had to be assisted off Sydney's Dee Why Beach after a suspected shark bit his surfboard, with the local council urging swimmers and surfers to be cautious.

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The first incident saw a 12-year-old boy taken to hospital with critical injuries after he was attacked by a large shark while swimming in Sydney Harbour on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The boy and his group of friends were jumping off a six-metre rock ledge at Shark Beach, in the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, when the attack happened on Sunday.

Despite its name, shark attacks are rare at Shark Beach, a popular swimming spot.

The boy was pulled out of the water by his friends before rescuers arrived. Police said it was their actions that had given him a shot at survival, local media reported. He is currently in intensive care.

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"The actions of his mates... have been nothing but brave. [It was] a gallant recovery," said Joseph McNulty, who leads the state of New South Wales' marine area command.

"Very confronting injuries for those boys to see, but I suppose that's mateship."

Marine police arrived to a "horrendous scene", McNulty told reporters. They pulled the boy onto a police speedboat and used tourniquets to try and stop the bleeding from his legs.

They also tried to resuscitate the boy as the boat made its way to an ambulance waiting by a wharf.

Authorities believe the boy was attacked by a bull shark, an aggressive species found in warm, shallow waters. Many experts consider bull sharks among the most dangerous sharks in the world.

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McNulty believes heavy rainfall over the weekend and brackish water conditions could have created a "perfect storm environment" for Sunday's attack. Rain flushes nutrients into the rivers and oceans which can draw sharks closer to shore.

The final attack, in Sydney's Northern Beaches, prompted police to close all beaches in the area until further notice.

According to police, emergency services were alerted to the third attack after a surfer was pulled from the water at North Steyne Beach, Manly, at 18:20 local time (07:20 GMT).

He had suffered serious injuries to his legs, and was rushed to hospital.

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Australia, which is home to some of the world's best beaches, is also one of the deadliest places for shark attacks. There were at least five fatal shark attacks in the country last year.
Mid-January is living up to its frigid reputation on this Martin Luther King Jr. Day as bitter cold takes hold across much of the eastern half of the nation. Through midweek, numerous shots of cold, Arctic air will continue to impact portions of the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast states, AccuWeather said.

Beyond that, the cold will persist: "The last 10 days of January will be BRUTAL from the Midwest to the Great Lakes and Northeast," said Weather Trader meteorologist Ryan Maue on X.

Along with the cold, heavy lake-effect snow will bury communities near the Great Lakes under feet of snow, the National Weather Service said.

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And looking ahead, thanks to this long-lasting cold pattern, long-range forecasters are warning of a large storm later this week and into the upcoming weekend that could pose a widespread risk of snow and even ice over a large swath of the nation.

Meanwhile, the western U.S. will continue to see balmy, quiet weather this week: "A persistent weather pattern will bring sunny, dry and unusually warm conditions to much of the western U.S. and southwestern Canada, with springlike temperatures, foggy areas and limited storm activity this week," said AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski in an online forecast.

Ice collects on the fountain Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at the Westin Poinsett Hotel in Greenville, South Carolina. The Upstate is expected to see freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow over the weekend. Maclovio Vega shows his 9-year-old son Maky Vega how to go down a hill with a sled at McKinley Park on Saturday Jan.17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisc. A white-tailed deer forages along Impounding Dam Road in the snow, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in West Manheim Township, Pa. A worker uses a leaf blower to clear snow along Route 202 in Somers, NY on Jan. 17, 2026. Traffic is slow entering Interstate 684 in Brewster, NY during a steady snowfall on Jan. 17, 2026. A North Salem Highway Department snowplow works along Route 116 in North Salem, NY on Jan. 17, 2026. A workers clearing snow on a sidewalk along Katonah Ave in downtown Katonah, NY on Jan. 17, 2026. Snow falls on Grove Street in Montclair, NJ, early on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. A town snow plow clears an intersection in Ashburnham, Mass. on Jan. 18, 2026. Ashburnham received 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Snow falls early Sunday morning Jan. 18, 2026 off University Pkwy in Pensacola, Fla. Snow falls early Sunday morning Jan. 18, 2026 at The University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla. A sign warns of possible icy conditions in Pensacola, Fla. on Jan. 18, 2026. Snow falls early Sunday morning Jan. 18, 2026 at a car dealership in Pensacola, Fla. See a brutal cold blast blanket the Eastern US 1 of 13 Ice collects on the fountain Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at the Westin Poinsett Hotel in Greenville, South Carolina. The Upstate is expected to see freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow over the weekend.

Lake-effect snow cranks up

Heavy lake-effect and lake-enhanced snow will persist downwind of the Great Lakes and produce whiteout conditions that could cause difficult travel conditions, the weather service warned.

"Periods of snow will result in snow covered roads and limited visibilities," the weather service in Buffalo said. "Travel will be very difficult to impossible at times within lake-effect snow."

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Frigid and gusty westerly winds are forecast over the Great Lakes both Jan. 19 and Jan. 20. "Lake effect snow showers are expected to develop downwind of the lakes as a result," the weather service said. Generally, accumulations of around 8-12 inches are likely with isolated higher amounts possible by Wednesday (Jan. 21) morning."

Snow falls in Pensacola, Florida, early Sunday morning Jan. 18, 2026.

Bitter cold in the Midwest, freeze warnings in the South

High temperatures in the single digits to below zero will be 20-30 degrees below average for much of the Midwest on Jan. 19.

Wind chills will be dangerous: "The cold wind chills as low as 35 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes," the weather service in Minneapolis said.

In the South, clear skies across the Southeast contributed to below average temperatures on the morning of Jan. 19. Low temperatures in the low to mid 30s supported freeze warnings for portions of southern Georgia into northern and central Florida.

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Another night of sub-freezing temperatures is forecast for much of Florida overnight Jan. 19 into early Tuesday morning Jan. 20, according to the weather service. Lows will fall to the upper 20s and lower 30s, the weather service in Jacksonville said, and wind chill values will again fall to the 20-25 degree range at most locations during the predawn and early morning hours on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

"Patchy areas of frost formation will be possible, especially for inland locations along and west of the I-95 corridor," the weather service said.

A worker uses a leaf blower to clear snow along Route 202 in Somers, New York, on Jan. 17, 2026.

Florida snow delights residents

Residents of the Florida panhandle woke up to a dusting of snow throughout the area on Sunday, Jan. 18.

The National Weather Service reported that as of 5:53 a.m., .09 inches of snow had accumulated over six hours at Pensacola International Airport.

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An uncertain forecast didn't stop the glee, for many, of a winter morning, with social media showing many area residents setting the alarm clock for the early morning hours to experience the snow fall.

The bulk of the snow started about 4:45 a.m. CT and tapered off a couple of hours later.

The southern snow wasnt a once-in-a-lifetime thing, the Associated Press reported. The AP said that less than a year ago, on Jan. 21, 2025, some of the same areas of Florida that briefly saw frosty lawns received up to 8 inches of snow in what was the most significant snowfall in many places since the late 1800s.

Big storm later this week?

From Friday into the upcoming weekend, a far-reaching storm is expected to gradually swing out of the Rocky Mountains and into the Plains before barrelling across the eastern United States, said Alyssa Glenny, AccuWeather meteorologist, in an online forecast. "Given the cold air that will be in place across the region, wintry impacts are likely across a large swath of the storm track."

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"Exactly where this storm sets up and tracks will determine where the snow and ice will be. Residents from Colorado and Wyoming through the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts are urged to stay on alert for forecast updates, especially with the threat of ice becoming a possibility," Glenny said.

More: January polar vortex forecast warns of 2 Arctic blasts

Warm West

Elsewhere, temperatures will be above average in the West this week.

In many areas, including Seattle, San Francisco and Salt Lake City, high temperatures will run 5-10 degrees above average for mid-January, AccuWeather said. For reference, average daily highs are in the upper 40s in Seattle, the upper 50s in San Francisco and the upper 30s in Salt Lake City.

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In some locations, such as Los Angeles, temperatures will reach the 70s, or 5-10 degrees above historical averages. In Phoenix, highs will be mainly in the upper 70s to near 80 through the middle of the week. In Las Vegas, highs will range from the mid-60s to near 70.

Contributing: The Pensacola News-Journal

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Brutal' cold to continue as forecasters warn of late-week snowstorm
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is "concerned" about U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose increasing tariffs on several European countries until they accede to his demand to purchase and control Greenland.

"We're concerned about this escalation," Carney told reporters at a press conference in Doha, Qatar on Sunday morning. "We always will support sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries wherever their geographic location is."

"Decisions about the future of Greenland are for Greenland and Denmark to decide."

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Trump said on social media that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would face a 10 per cent tariff. The rate would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if the U.S. does not reach a deal to buy the semiautonomous island.

The countries named by Trump have backed Denmark, warning that the U.S. military seizure of a territory in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could collapse the military alliance that Washington leads.

In a statement released Sunday morning, the eight European countries said they stand in full solidarity with the people of Greenland and "stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the statement added.

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Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Live that Trump's interest in controlling Greenland certainly causes "discussions within NATO."

But Carignan, whose interview was taped before Trump's new tariff threat, expressed optimism that NATO will persevere.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, Canadian Armed Forces takes part in the Halifax International Security Forum on November 21, 2025. (Kelly Clark/The Canadian Press)

"I think we will navigate through this period of time with all of the allies around the table," she told host Rosemary Barton. "I think we really need to engage and not cut the communication channels and keep engaging together."

Denmark announced earlier this week it will bolster its troop, naval and air presence in Greenland in conjunction with NATO allies.

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When asked whether Canada is working on a proposal to contribute Canadian forces on the ground, Carignan said Canada is "always working closely with our Danish partner."

"There's definitely a lot of interest in Arctic security from a NATO perspective as well, and we will work together to do that," Carignan said.

Canada and Trump's Gaza peace board

Earlier this week, a senior Canadian official told journalists travelling with the prime minister on his overseas trip that Carney had been asked by Trump to join the "Board of Peace" that will supervise the temporary governance of the Gaza Strip.

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At the time, the official said Carney would accept the invitation.

But new reporting suggests the scope of the "Board of Peace" is much bigger than anticipated.

A draft charter sent to 60 countries by the U.S. administration calls for members to contribute $1 billion US in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years.

"Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charters entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman," the document, first reported by Bloomberg News, shows.

A Canadian government source travelling with the prime minister told reporters on Saturday that Canada will not pay for a seat on the board, nor has that been requested of Canada at this time.

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The source, who spoke on the condition they not be named, said Carney indicated his intent to accept the invitation because it was important to have a seat at the table to shape the process from within, but there are still details to be worked out on next steps.

When asked about his decision to accept the invitation, Carney said on Saturday "we haven't gone through all the details of the structure, how it's going to work, what financing is for, et cetera."

Carney's answer did not mention whether Canada would pay for a seat.

Qatar and Canada's major projects

During the press conference, Carney said that Qatar has committed to "significant strategic investments" for Canada's major building projects.

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That capital will get projects built faster, "supercharge" energy industries and create jobs for Canadians, he added.

Calling it a "new chapter" in bilateral relations, Carney said the two countries will also strengthen "people-to-people" cultural ties, which will include expanding direct flights from Canada to Qatar to boost tourism and business.

Carney stands with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani as he is introduced to the Qatari delegation at Amiri Diwan in Doha on Sunday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

"When the people of different countries are familiar with each other's cultures and perspectives, they're enriched, and they trust each other more," he said. "And they also want to do more together, to build together."

Carney said after years of stalled negotiations, Canada aims to finalize the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Qatar by this summer. Canada will also install a defence attache in Doha to deepen partnerships on defence.

Carney will wrap his nine-day trip abroad by attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
A 19-year-old Canadian woman has been found dead, with her body surrounded by a pack of dingoes on a popular Australian beach, according to local officials.

The body of the tourist, whose name has not been released, was found around 06:30 local time on Monday (20:30 GMT on Sunday) on the beach on K'Gari, an island off Australia's eastern coast, Queensland police said in a news release.

Two men driving along the beach spotted a pack of about10 dingoes around an object, which they realised was a woman's body, police inspector Paul Algie told local media.

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Police are investigating the incident, but cannot yet confirm whether she died from drowning or from being attacked by the animals, he said.

However, Algie said there were markings on the body "consistent with having been touched and interfered with by the dingoes".

"It was obviously a very traumatic and horrific scene for them to uncover," he said.

The woman, who had been working at a backpacker's hostel for the past six weeks, told friends she was going for a 05:00 morning swim, Australia's ABC news outlet reported.

"She was a young woman enjoying a beautiful part of the world, and that's what makes this such a tragedy," Algie said.

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A post-mortem is scheduled for Wednesday.

Her body was found near the Maheno shipwreck, which was wrecked and washed ashore in 1935 - its skeletal remains have become a popular tourist destination.

The area is known for its population of dingoes, a wild species of dog protected in Queensland national parks as a native species.

"K'gari is a wilderness area," Algie told local outlets, warning people they should avoid approaching the animals.

"Dingoes are wild animals, and whilst they are very culturally significant to the local First Nations people and to the people that live on the island, they are still wild animals and need to be treated as such."
MASON, Ohio - A car crashed into a beloved, family-owned restaurant in downtown Mason early Monday, according to Mason police.

No one was hurt when a vehicle hit Quatman Cafe at 224 West Main Street (U.S. 42) shortly after 4 a.m., police told FOX19 NOW.

The restaurant, known for its affordable, award-winning burgers and homemade soups and chili, was closed at the time, and no one was hurt, police confirm.

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Since police were still in the early part of their investigation, a supervisor declined to say if the driver stayed at the scene or whether any charges would be filed.

It was also not immediately clear if the eatery was damaged to the point that its operating hours would be impacted on Monday.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Quatman Cafe hit by car in Mason
Americas rise as a global oil powerhouse has changed how critical the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is to U.S. security and economic stability  even after President Joe Bidens drawdowns drove stockpiles to modern-era lows, an economist and energy expert explained to Fox News Digital.

As the Trump administration works to gradually replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve following record releases under the Biden administration, Diana Furchtgott-Roth, director of The Heritage Foundation's Center for Energy, Climate and Environment, told Fox News Digital that the decades-old emergency oil stockpile no longer plays the same central role it once did.

President Donald Trump's policies of "unleashing" energy and his "drill, baby, drill" mantra are key as to why, following the U.S. as domestic supply rose and demand shifted.

"I don't think for the security of the United States, for the economy of the United States, I don't think the SPR is as important as it was 25, 30 years ago because now we are one of the greatest oil and natural gas producers in the world," Furchtgott-Roth said.

Us Military Seizes Another Fugitive Oil Tanker Linked To Venezuela

The Trump White House said that the administration is gradually refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after it was partially drained under the Biden administration.  Getty Images

The U.S. became the worlds largest natural gas producer in 2011, surpassing Russia, and then the top crude oil producer in 2018, overtaking Saudi Arabia and Russia  a surge driven largely by the shale revolution, which took off in the mid-to-late 2000s with the widespread use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

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The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created in the aftermath of the 1970s oil crisis to protect the United States from foreign supply shocks, at a time when the country relied heavily on imported oil. That dynamic has shifted dramatically as domestic production surged, turning the U.S. into the worlds largest producer of oil and natural gas.

Furchtgott-Roth said the U.S.' shift to become an energy producer, combined with Trump's policies, have opened the floodgates of producing U.S. oil, which lessens the need for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

"We have the potential to produce a lot more, and we have a government that's supportive of that," Furchtgott-Roth said of the oil in the U.S. "It's now possible to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but I just want to say the biggest strategic petroleum reserves we have is right under our feet in places like Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio. We have so much oil and natural gas in this country."
Central Florida officials and immigrant advocates on Monday criticized a possible new ICE detention facility here as the region sees a surge in undocumented immigrants arrests.

At a press conference at Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka, Executive Director Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet and Central Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost joined others condemning the potential U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility at a warehouse in east Orlando.

The people of Orange County, of Orlando and of Floridas 10th congressional district do not want, and we reject, an ICE detention facility, Frost said.

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While there already is an ICE Field Office in Orlando, a new processing facility could further ramp up immigration detention efforts. The facility may be part of a national plan, first reported last month by The Washington Post, to detain immigrants in warehouses across the country.

Lets be clear about whats going on across the nation, Frost said. Theyre shopping around warehouses. This is one of many theyre looking at opening.

As of Monday morning, roughly 183 people were detained in the Orange County Jail on an ICE hold without any local charges, but that number is likely higher when those held on minor criminal violations like traffic stops are accounted for, Rep. Anna Eskamani said.

Its very high, Eskamani said of the number of people arrested. When I visited the jail a few months ago it was at most 40 people under just ICE holds, so thats substantially more.

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The surge in local arrests comes amid the possible deployment of U.S. troops to Minneapolis to quell immigration protests there after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman in a vehicle. Those at Mondays news conference warned that Orlando could be the Trump administrations next target in its immigration crackdown.

We are seeing exactly what we have seen across the country, Sousa-Lazaballet said. We have heard from U.S. citizens that have been followed for several miles on the highway.

Sousa-Lazaballet said ICE operations have increased locally and his organization is receiving roughly 60 calls per day, up from five, from family members of those arrested.

On Friday, Hope CommUnity Center said in a statement it confirmed about 300 people had been booked into the Orange County Jail on immigration holds in the previous 48 hours. A spokesperson for the jail told the Sentinel that a total of 831 people had been booked on such holds since Jan. 1. County Commissioner Nicole Wilson said that number was a shocking total because about 300 people had been booked in December.

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WKMG and WFTV reported that ICE representatives toured a 439,000-square-foot east Orlando warehouse on Friday. It is zoned for industrial use and may require a zoning change if its pursued as an immigration facility. The Orlando City Council may have to approve such a change, though its unclear if the federal government can work around city rules.

Wilson said Monday she has already submitted a memo with potential draft language on how to block ICE from using the facility as a detention center under its zoning.

This is a logistical issue as much as its a humanitarian issue, Wilson said. If local government based on the Florida constitution is where we look at that permitting, we look at that use and the underlying land use, and we scrutinize this.

State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis called everyone to peacefully protest ICE and said Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day to remember what he stood for.

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If you are safe, you should be standing with those who are not, Bracy Davis said. Dr. King reminded us that the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice, but it bends faster when the dissatisfied pick it up, put it to work.

_____
Foday Musa looked broken as he listened to the last voice message he received from his son.

It is 76 seconds long and the young man sounds desperate. He is crying, begging for his father's help.

"It's so hard to hear. Hearing his voice hurts me," Musa told BBC Africa Eye, which was given exclusive access to a police unit that helped him as he searched for two of his children who had fallen victim to scammers.

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It was in February 2024 that Musa's 22-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, along with five others, were recruited from their remote village in the Faranah region of central Guinea by agents promising them work abroad.

The jobs never materialised and the so-called recruiters turned out to be human traffickers. The group was taken across the border into Sierra Leone and held captive.

"My heart is broken. I can't stop crying. If you look at my eyes, you can see the pain," Musa said.

His case was picked up by the global policing agency Interpol in Guinea, which asked their unit in Sierra Leone to help. So last August Musa, travelled to Makeni, in central Sierra Leone, in a bid to find them.

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Thousands of people across West Africa are being lured by a human trafficking scam, commonly known as QNET.

Founded in Hong Kong, QNET itself is a legitimate wellness and lifestyle company - it allows people to sign up to buy their products and sell them online.

Its business model has faced some criticism - however in West Africa, criminal gangs are using its name as a front for their illegal activities.

The traffickers target people with the promise of work opportunities in places like the US, Canada, Dubai and Europe, asking them to pay large sums of money for administration costs before they start the job.

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Once they have paid, they are often trafficked to a neighbouring country and told they can only travel abroad once they recruit others into the scheme.

Yet even when they bring in family and friends, the jobs never materialise.

QNET itself has a campaign running across the region, involving billboards and media adverts. These are all splashed with the slogan "QNET Against Scams" and the company has rejected allegations that it is linked to human trafficking.

Billboards like this try to warn people in West Africa about the scammers posing as QNET recruiters [BBC]

Musa and his extended family had already given $25,000 (19,000) to the traffickers - this encompassed the joining fees and extra money paid to try to get his children home. Travelling to Sierra Leone himself was his last hope.

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Mahmoud Conteh, the head of investigations at the anti-trafficking unit of Interpol within the Sierra Leone police, said the case was a priority for his unit.

"It's very easy for these traffickers to manoeuvre across each of our borders at these illegal crossing points," he told the BBC.

When Conteh received a tip-off that a large number of young people were being held in a location in Makeni, Musa joined the police as they raided the property, hoping to find his children.

Bags and clothes were strewn across the floors. It is thought 10 to 15 people slept in each room.

The Interpol team gathered everyone inside the property and found some as young as 14 had been living there.

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"The majority are Guineans. There is only one Sierra Leonean among them. All the rest are Guineans," said Conteh.

Musa's children were not among them, though one young man said they had been there the previous week - the first potential sighting of his children in a year.

Most of those found in the house in Makeni were from Guinea [BBC]

The group were transferred to the police station for screening before 19 of them were taken home to Guinea.

The police say they have conducted more than 20 raids like this over the past year, rescuing hundreds of victims of human trafficking.

Often victims have been moved by the traffickers across borders, but others, like 23-year-old Aminata, a Sierra Leonean whose name has been changed to protect her identity, are trafficked within their own countries.

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Sitting on a plastic chair with the slopes of Makeni's Wusum Hills behind her in the distance, Aminata told the BBC how a friend had introduced her to people claiming to represent QNET in mid-2024.

She was successful in an interview and was told she would go on a course before flying to the US for further study and work.

The only catch was she had to pay $1,000 to join the scheme.

Convinced it was legitimate, her family gave her the money they had saved for her college fees.

"When they first recruit you, they feed you, they take care of you. But as time goes by, they stop," she told the BBC, going on to say this is when she had to go the "extra mile" to survive.

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"You have to sell your body and go sleep with men so that you can get money - so you can take care of yourself."

Aminata said she was told that if she wanted to travel, she had to recruit other people into the scheme.

To do this, the traffickers gave her an international number to make it look like she was already abroad when she contacted them.

"They take you to the airport and you dress well like you're about to travel. They give you a passport, give you fake travel papers," she explained.

"Then they take your photo so you can send them to your friends and family."

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Aminata managed to persuade six friends and relatives to join the scheme, still hoping the job in the US would materialise. It never did.

"I felt awful because they wasted their money and they suffered because of me."

She was held somewhere on the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, for about a year before it dawned on her that the job would never be forthcoming.

When Aminata failed to recruit anyone else, it seems she was deemed of no more use to the traffickers - and when she decided to escape, she was not stopped.

Returning home after everything that had happened, especially when everyone had thought she had been living abroad, was hard.

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"I was scared to go back home," she said.

"I'd told my friends that I'd travelled abroad. I'd told my family the same. I was thinking about all the money they'd given me to get there."

There are no statistics on the number of victims of these types of labour scams but there are constant reports in the media across West Africa of gangs scamming people desperate to believe these foreign jobs schemes are real.

The BBC joined the police on about a dozen raids over three days in Makeni and met hundreds of young people who had been trafficked across the region from countries such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali.

The police said they had arrested 12 suspected traffickers in total.

But the reality is that there are only a few successful prosecutions and the under-resourced authorities in the region often face an uphill battle in tackling such scams.

According to US state department statistics, between July 2022 - when Sierra Leone's anti-trafficking act was passed - and April 2025, there were only four trafficking convictions.

Musa never found his children and had no choice but to return to Guinea without them at the end of September.

Conteh, from Interpol, has since told the BBC the traffickers released Foday's children not long afterwards.

The BBC has since confirmed that Musa's daughter made it back to Guinea, but she has not returned to her village - and did not want to be interviewed.

She has not contacted her father, which points to the shame felt by many of the victims caught up in the scam.

The whereabouts of Musa's son are unknown.

It remains a desperate situation for their father.

"After all that has happened, I really just want it all to be over and to see my kids," said Musa.

"We'd love them to come back to the village now - I'd love them to be here with me."

Additional reporting by Paul Myles, Chris Walter, Olivia Acland and Tamasin Ford

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[Getty Images/BBC]

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By Alexander Villegas

PENCO, Chile, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Wildfires in Chile have killed at least 19 people, authorities said on Monday, as the government carried out mass evacuations and fought over 30 blazes exacerbated by intense heat and high winds.

While weather conditions overnight helped control some fires, the largest were still active, with adverse conditions expected throughout the day, Security Minister Luis Cordero said at a news briefing on Monday.

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"The projection we have today is of high temperatures," Cordero said, and the main worry was that new fires would be triggered throughout the region.

Parts of central and southern Chile were under extreme heat warnings with temperatures expected to reach up to 37 Celsius (99 Fahrenheit).

HUNDREDS OF HOMES DESTROYED

Most of those killed were in Penco, a small coastal city just north of the regional capital of Concepcion. On Monday morning, thousands of residents in the area sifted through the rubble of their homes as firefighters continued to extinguish nearby fires.

Ana Caamano, 51, was one of those residents, rummaging through the ashes of the home in Lirquen that she was raised in and later inherited from her parents. Among the wreckage was the corpse of one of her four dogs, some charred rings and a metal ladle.

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"They're not that important," Caamano said, looking at the rings in her hand. "But they're memories."

Caamano and her husband Luis, who was cleaning up the wreckage of their garage to make a temporary shelter, were visiting family on Saturday when the fires broke out.

Their son, Franco, was home and said he was trying to hose down the house when he noticed the blaze getting closer, but a sudden strong wind brought in a black cloud of smoke that forced him to flee, leaving everything behind.

"It came like lightning, it was so quick," Franco said, echoing what many residents remembered, a fast-moving fire that gave them almost no time to flee.

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Authorities say 325 homes have been destroyed and 1,100 more are being evaluated.

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN NUBLE, BIO BIO

As of late Monday afternoon, Chile's CONAF forestry agency said firefighters were combating 34 fires across the country, the largest of which were in regions of Nuble and Bio Bio, where President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe.

Over 35,000 hectares (135 square miles) have been razed so far, an area about the size of Philadelphia, with the largest fire surpassing 14,000 hectares on the outskirts of the coastal city of Concepcion.

Miguel Castillo, a professor and researcher at the University of Chile's Forest Fire Laboratory, said a number of factors made the recent fires so deadly, including the amount of dry material and persistent high temperatures.

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"There have been several consecutive days over 30 degrees (Celsius) and for the Concepcion area that's rare," Castillo said. "One or two days are common, but not four or five."

Castillo added that fires are more difficult to put out once they reach a certain size and have been complicating by strong, shifting winds.

"With those extreme conditions, it practically becomes an uncontrollable monster," he said, adding that most fires last two or three days, but the risk is multiple active fires combining before authorities can control them.

Both Chile and Argentina rang in the new year with heat waves which have continued into January. Earlier this month, wildfires broke out in Argentina's Patagonia, burning around 15,000 hectares.

(Reporting by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Andrea Ricci and Alistair Bell)
China has begun the construction of the Xuwei Nuclear Heating and Power Plant in Jiangsu Province, a project claimed to be the world's first large-scale facility to directly couple nuclear energy with the petrochemical industry.

By pouring the first concrete for Unit 1 on Friday, China is moving beyond traditional electricity-only nuclear plants. This facility acts as a massive "clean energy engine" designed to replace fossil fuels in one of the worlds most carbon-intensive sectors: heavy chemical manufacturing.

Developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), the project is the first nuclear power unit to break ground during the opening year of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, representing a shift toward using nuclear technology for diversified energy applications such as industrial heating and power co-generation.

A hybrid "nuclear boiler"

Unlike standard plants, Xuwei uses a unique hybrid design that combines two generations of nuclear technology to meet the extreme heat requirements of industrial refineries.

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This configuration integrates the Hualong One, a third-generation pressurized water reactor, with a fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, as reported by Global Times.

The Hualong One (Gen-III) units provide the base heat to turn demineralized water into saturated steam, while the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (Gen-IV) acts as a "super-boiler" to further heat that steam to the high temperatures required for chemical cracking and distillation.

Eliminating carbon footprint of heavy industry

The plant is located next to the Lianyungang petrochemical hub, which requires a staggering 13,000 tonnes of steam every hour to operate. By switching from coal to nuclear-generated steam, the environmental impact is drastically reduced.

Once the first phase is operational, it will supply 32.5 million tons of industrial steam annually and produce more than 11.5 billion kWh of clean electricity, effectively saving 7.26 million tons of standard coal and avoiding 19.6 million tons of CO2 emissions every year.

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This is of utmost importance because in terms of emissions, nuclear-powered steam is roughly 600 times cleaner than steam produced by burning coal and 100 times cleaner than natural gas.

Advanced engineering for smart construction

To handle the complexity of managing two different reactor types simultaneously, the project team utilized hierarchical digital simulations to design the control logic.

The physical construction is also being accelerated by intelligent automation including laser-guided tracking for automated welding and robotic Metal Active Gas (MAG) systems, which are reported to be three times more efficient than manual welding techniques.

A replicable "Chinese solution"

As the first nuclear project to break ground under China's 15th Five-Year Plan, Xuwei is intended to be a template. The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) views this as a "Chinese solution" for global decarbonization.

It opens a new chapter in providing a replicable and scalable "Chinese solution" for the low-carbon transformation of high-energy-consuming industries worldwide, injecting strong momentum into the realization of global carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, reported Global Times.
Jan. 19 (UPI) -- China's population dropped for a fourth straight year in 2025, according to statistics released Monday that show a national population of 1.405 billion people, a drop of 3.39 million from 2024.

Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China show that there were 7.92 million births last year for a birth rate of 5.63 per 1,000 people, a steady drop from the 9.54 million births and a birth rate of 6.77 recorded in 2024.

Deaths also increased last year, with 11.31 million deaths and a mortality rate of 8.04 per 1,000 being recorded. In 2024, there were nearly 11 million deaths with a death rate of 7.76.

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China experienced a negative 2.41 growth rate per 1,000 people, according to the statistics.

China's population has been on a steady decline since 2022 with births hitting a then-record low of 6.39 births per 1,000.

It also comes as its population rapidly ages. Statistics show that more than 323.38 million people, accounting for 23% of its total population, are over the age of 60, with nearly 16% being over the age of 65. In 2024, the percentage of people aged 60 and above was 22% and those aged 65 and above were 15.6%.
By Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan

SUZHOU, China, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Wedding vendors at Huqiu Bridal City in Suzhou, one of China's largest wedding dress markets, are hopeful the country's positive marriage trends will continue this year.

The rise in marriages in the first nine months of 2025 is a bright spot in China's otherwise grim population landscape. Official data on Monday showed the country's birth rate hit a record low last year and its total population fell for the fourth straight year.

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Marriage rates rose 8.5% for the first nine months of 2025, according to Ministry of Civil Affairs data earlier this month, buoyed by policy changes and favourable cultural factors.

That increases the likelihood that overall marriage numbers in 2025 will halt a downtrend in annual nuptials that has gone almost uninterrupted for more than a decade.

Chen Juan, the co-owner of Luoyi Bridal, where dresses are priced from 1,000 yuan ($143.51) to around 4,000 yuan for more ornate styles, said marriage rates dropped significantly in 2024 as it was considered an inauspicious year to tie the knot, with many couples delaying weddings to 2025.

The sprawling Huqiu Bridal City is home to more than 800 stores filled with frothy white taffeta, silk and lace dresses.

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A nationwide policy change in May 2025, allowing couples to marry anywhere in China rather than in their place of residence, also contributed to the rebound, Chen and other vendors said.

In response, local governments scrambled to attract a new wave of marriage tourists, setting up registration offices around scenic spots, at music festivals - and even in subway stations, shopping malls and parks.

Chen expects growth to continue due to this year's favourable zodiac, Year of the Horse, which is considered a time of success. However, Chen emphasised the need for further government incentives to make even more of a difference.

"If the government can introduce some relevant incentive policies, this would be very good, because young people's attitudes (to marriage) have changed," she said.

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A declining interest in marriage and family among young Chinese is widely blamed on the high cost of childcare and education. Some cities and regions have introduced cash vouchers for newlyweds to help convince citizens to tie the knot.

Zhu Jiaomei, 31, who sells made-to-measure gowns at the market, said the overall economy plays an even more important role than specific wedding-related policies in people's willingness to marry, and the price they are willing to spend when they say 'Yes' to the dress.

"The most important thing is that the economy improves, and everyone has confidence in the future. Now, jobs are less stable, so people are tightening their belts," she said, adding that budgets are commonly half of those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

For 48-year-old wedding shoe seller Cheng Yonggui, the prospect of more marriages in the future holds personal significance.

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With two sons approaching marriageable age, Cheng said she and her husband are "very anxious" about the prospect of their boys attracting a bride in a country where men heavily outnumber women due to a traditional cultural preference for male children.

In China, it is customary for parents of the groom to help their sons pay for an apartment and car, as well as a kind of dowry in some cases, before any marriage. Cheng estimates this will cost her and her husband "at least a million" yuan per son.

"For us, the pressure is immense, but we're trying our best," she said. "I hope more and more people get married, I hope our business gets better and better, and I hope our children live happier and happier lives."

($1 = 6.9681 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Casey Hall and Nicoco Chan in Suzhou; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
(Corrects location of El Retorno in paragraph 2 to say southeast, not southwest, of Bogota, and in paragraph 1 corrects to say central, not southwestern, Colombia. Also corrects second references to Alexander Diaz Mendoza to Diaz, not Mendoza.)

By Luis Jaime Acosta

BOGOTA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - At least 27 members of a leftist guerrilla group in Colombia were killed in clashes with a rival faction in a fight over control of a jungle area in central Colombia, military authorities reported on Sunday.

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The clashes, which have been the most violent in recent months, occurred in the rural area of the municipality of El Retorno, in the department of Guaviare, 300 km (186 miles) southeast of Bogota, a military source said.

The region is strategic for cocaine production and trafficking.

The clashes took place between a faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) led by Nestor Gregorio Vera, known by his war name Ivan Mordisco, and another led by Alexander Diaz Mendoza, alias Calarca Cordoba, a second military source specified.

Both groups were part of the so-called Central General Staff but separated in April 2024 due to internal disputes. The casualties were all from Vera's group, according to the two military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. A leader from Diaz's group also confirmed the clashes and the 27 deaths to Reuters.

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The guerrilla faction led by Diaz is currently engaged in peace talks with President Gustavo Petro, while Vera's group continues hostilities after the government suspended a bilateral ceasefire. These now-rival factions had rejected a 2016 peace agreement that allowed approximately 13,000 FARC members to abandon armed struggle and reintegrate into society after disarming.

Colombia's armed conflict, spanning over six decades and primarily financed by drug trafficking and illegal mining, has resulted in over 450,000 deaths and millions displaced, with Petro's peace efforts currently stalled.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta in Bogota; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Nia Williams)
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner urged Congress to act following President Donald Trumps unhinged letter to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre blaming Norway for driving him to acquire Greenland.

Reiner posted to X on Monday, This letter, and the fact that the president directed that it be distributed to other European countries, should trigger a bipartisan congressional inquiry into presidential fitness.

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Reiner served as a cardiologist to former Vice President Dick Cheney. He recently spoke out about Trumps admission to taking a larger dose of aspirin than recommended, saying Trumps reasoning makes no sense.

Trumps letter, which was first reported Sunday by PBS read:

Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT.

Stre issued a terse reply to Trump, reaffirming Norways support for Greenland and Denmark, and addressing Trumps preoccupation with the Peace Prize.

As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to president Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government, Stre said.

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In the hours since Trumps text was confirmed as legitimate, critics have flooded social media with questions about the presidents mental state, with some urging Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

Norway has joined France, Germany, the UK, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland, in denouncing Trumps desire to acquire Greenland from Denmark in the interest of U.S. national security.

The post CNN Medical Analyst Calls for A Bipartisan Congressional Inquiry Into Trumps Mental Fitness After Letter to Norway PM first appeared on Mediaite.
Nine people who were hurt in a balcony collapse in October and have since filed lawsuits against multiple defendants, claiming they suffered serious, permanent injuries.

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The lawsuits include one filing on behalf of eight University of Cincinnati medical students, our news partners at WCPO reported.

A second complaint was filed on behalf of another first-year medical student who, according to the suit, has suffered a traumatic brain injury and has been unconscious in intensive care since the incident.

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The lawsuits have been filed against the Stetson Square Condominium Unit Owners Association, Neyer Properties Inc., and Eclipse Community Management, as well as other individuals and entities responsible for the maintenance and repair of the balcony.

TRENDING STORIES:

Court documents detail that the students were at a celebration for completing exams at a rental unit located at 242 Stetson St.

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During the gathering, the plaintiffs went out onto the balcony, which they believed was secure.

Allegations in the lawsuits claim that without warning, one side of the balcony collapsed, causing the group to fall at least 20 feet to the pavement below, resulting in severe injuries such as head wounds, concussions, and fractures that required medical intervention.

The complaints assert that the defendants had a duty to maintain a safe environment and were aware, or should have been aware, of the defective nature of the balcony in question.

Both lawsuits seek financial compensation and punitive damages for the injuries suffered by the plaintiffs.

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Andrew McGovern, another medical student involved, had previously filed a similar lawsuit shortly after the incident, further highlighting the severity and implications of the collapse.

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This article was originally published in EducationNC.

Editors note: This article is part of a series on the intersections of community colleges and child care. Other articles in the series are available here.

Community college students are often balancing lives and responsibilities outside of school  from work to family obligations. For students with young children, the struggle to find and afford child care can make a tricky balance close to impossible.

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Colleges across the state are finding ways to lessen the burden of child care challenges for their students and communities, from providing on-campus child care and subsidies to strengthening and expanding the child care workforce.

And state leaders are calling for more colleges to follow suit.

Ive been saying, all of the 58 need to have child care, said Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett  referring to the states 58 community colleges  at the December 2025 meeting of the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education, which he co-chairs.

On-campus child care is also a priority of Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, a Democrat, who co-chairs the task force with Burgin. Hunts Future-Ready North Carolina plan says on-campus centers would leverage our excellent community colleges, strengthen experiential programs for child care professionals, and increase options for students and working families.

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Child care is a critical yet often left out strategy for colleges and policymakers to consider as they work toward attainment goals and reengage adult learners. Models and investments that provide child care for parents as they earn credentials and degrees matter for student access, affordability, and success in school, research says. These strategies also have intergenerational benefits, experts say, relieving families from poverty while exposing children to high-quality early childhood experiences.

When students cannot access or afford care, it risks their personal investment in education and federal and state investments in postsecondary success, write New America researchers who studied student parents experiences and colleges child care approaches at 10 community colleges across the country, including Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem.

Within a broken child care system, colleges alone cant solve the workforce, supply, quality, and affordability issues that plague families, providers, and communities, the New America researchers write. Still, there is reason for hope, and colleges can adopt strategies to better meet the needs of their parenting students.

Community college students with young children face the same child care crisis all families are experiencing.

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About 44% of the child care need in North Carolina was unmet by its supply, according to an analysis using 2020 data by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska. The analysis identified 257,670 children without access to child care within a reasonable distance.

Graphic by Lanie Sorrow

The following map shows the real-time supply of North Carolina licensed child care providers  as well as all 58 community colleges, including their satellite campuses. Use the filters to explore availability through different geographic lenses: by congressional or state legislative districts, counties, regions, or census tracts.

If a region is red, that signifies a child care supply and demand gap, or a desert, which in this map means there are at least 50 children with all parents working and that there are at least three children per child care slot in that area.

The map defaults to showing regions as the geographic boundary. To view child care deserts, toggle on smaller geographic boundaries. For example, when viewing the map by county, eight counties are red. When viewing the map by census tract, many more areas are red.

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The orange circles with graduation caps represent community college campuses. The inclusion of community college campuses on this map allows community college leaders to assess if they have available space, on a main or satellite campus, that is located in a child care desert.

Click on a county or region for more information, including the average cost of child care, median family income, and the types of child care programs in the area. You can also view the map in a separate browser here.

This map was developed by Child Care Resources Inc. (CCRI) in partnership with NC Child Care Resource & Referral and the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education.

The number of licensed child care programs in the state decreased by 5.8% during the five years when providers were receiving pandemic-era stabilization grants, first from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and then partially continued by the state legislature.

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That net loss increased to 6.1% between March 2025, when those grants ended, and September 2025. Family child care homes, licensed home-based child care programs, made up 97% of that net loss.

Advocates have called for child care investments since the pandemic brought increased costs and increased competition for employees. Providers were able to raise teacher wages with the infusion of stabilization grants. Without it, they are struggling to compete with retail and food service jobs. This leaves them stuck between increasing tuition for parents who cannot afford to pay more and losing teachers who cannot afford to make less.

The average cost of child care statewide is $10,481 per year, according to state data in the above map. The median wage for child care workers was $14.20 in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Advocates say state and federal public investments are necessary to create a system that provides high-quality care and education at a price that is affordable to families.

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Research has linked high-quality early care and education with higher academic, social, and economic outcomes for students and communities. In North Carolina, affordable, accessible child care could add up to 68,000 jobs, increase the states annual economic input by up to $13.3 billion, and boost its GDP by up to $7.5 billion, according to a 2024 report from the state Department of Commerce and nonprofit NC Child.

Child care access matters for community college students

Child care access can be a make-or-break factor for student parents. Seventy-one percent of caregiving students nationwide reported that their caregiving responsibilities could lead them to dropping out of community college in the 2024 Community College Survey of Student Engagement.

The same survey found student parents were highly motivated to succeed. They were less likely than students without caregiving responsibilities to cite academic unpreparedness as a reason for stopping out. Caregiving students reported higher engagement across benchmarks like academic challenge, student effort, and student-faculty interaction compared to students without caregiving responsibilities. Caregiving students also reported higher GPAs than their non-caregiving peers.

Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt visits students at Kid Appeal Learning Center, a child care program in High Point. Liz Bell/EdNC

This is despite many factors that could pose challenges to student engagement  parent students were more likely to be older, to be women, to be first-generation, to be Pell-eligible, and to be working 30 hours or more per week compared to non-caregiving students.

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Student parents who persist through a credential or degree are more likely to attend colleges that provide child care supports like full-time care, drop-in care, or subsidies  as well as support with basic needs  than student parents who drop out, according to New America research from 2023.

The same research found child care services like full-time and drop-in care could be the convincing factor for a little over half of students surveyed who stopped out to come back to school. Free tuition was the top factor, with 72% of student parents reporting they would return if the cost of tuition was covered.

EdNC has identified three primary ways community colleges can strengthen child care access and affordability: providing on-campus child care, utilizing the states child care grant program, and expanding the early childhood workforce, including through child care academies.

Providing campus-based child care

Community colleges across North Carolina are supporting student parents child care access, from hosting full-time, on-campus centers to providing drop-in and after-school options.

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Colleges have fewer on-campus child care options than they used to. According to EdNCs analysis of federal data, 29 community colleges in North Carolina offered dependent care on campus in 2004.

In May 2025, there were 17 colleges offering on-campus child care, according to EdNCs analysis. Twenty-one colleges had closed on-campus child care, and 20 had never operated on-campus child care, based on what our analysis was able to document.

The on-campus child care programs that remain vary in their design  from operating hours to funding sources and populations served  but can provide starting points for colleges looking to expand access in their regions.

Thirteen of the 17 colleges providing on-campus care are 5-star licensed centers. Three are Head Start programs, and at least five offer NC Pre-K.

An infant at Haywood Community Colleges Regional Center for the Advancement of Children. Liz Bell/EdNC

According to EdNCs analysis, five child care models exist at community colleges across the state:

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Licensed, on-campus child care, currently provided at 13 community colleges;

Both licensed, on-campus child care and drop-in care, currently provided at Cape Fear Community College (operating both) and Forsyth Technical Community College (operating a lab, outsourcing drop in care to a local provider, and providing care for particular on-campus events);

Head Start, currently at Blue Ridge Community College, Halifax Community College, and Lenoir Community College;

After-school and drop-in care, currently provided at Sandhills Community College; and

Drop-in care, currently provided at Central Carolina Community College.

The programs braid parent tuition, along with federal, state, and local private and public funding streams, to operate their programs.

They simultaneously support student parents and their children. Kids on Campus, a national effort to expand on-campus Head Start programs from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the National Head Start Association (NHSA), says providing child care to community college students can have lasting, two-generation effects.

Two of the most effective strategies for reducing poverty, says a March 2025 Kids on Campus report, are providing high-quality early childhood education for young children and supporting parents through education and training that will advance their career goals.

Full-time, formal child care centers are not the only strategy available to colleges. They also do not always meet the needs of parenting students, according to New Americas research. Colleges should consider options like drop-in care, after-school care for older children, and financial support for off-campus options that work with students schedules like family child care homes or informal care arrangements with family and friends.

Drop-in care, which in North Carolina is limited to four hours per day, can provide more flexible options for students needing irregular or unpredictable care. Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) launched its drop-in care model in 2023 at no cost to students. The program is partly funded through a grant from the New Hanover Community Endowment, created by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners from the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2020.

A teacher helps a student with writing at Cape Fear Community Colleges drop-in child care program. Liz Bell/EdNC

The program has since moved to a more accessible location for children on campus and doubled the number of children it can serve at once from 20 to 40 students.

In 2025, CFCC President Jim Morton told EdNC that he offers this advice to other community college leaders:

Youre here to serve a community, and to educate and train them so they can have a livable wage and a higher standard of living Child care is really a big challenge and, next to financial need, that was always one of the higher needs There are so many issues and other reasons for students to drop out, and so when we find them, we try to pick them off where we can.

 CFCC President Jim Morton

Parents child care needs do not stop when young children enter school. At Sandhills Community College, school-age children of students and staff can attend after-school programming through an on-site partnership with Boys & Girls Club of America.

Students also often need evening or weekend care. Additionally, students might need or prefer access to family child care homes, which are more likely to meet those needs at irregular hours, and family, friend, and neighbor care.

Asking students about their caregiving roles and needs is a crucial first step in supporting parenting students, the New America report found. Then, colleges should use those insights to design their approaches both for direct service provision and financial support.

Utilizing the states unique child care grant program

Child care costs make it harder for student parents to afford college. Research from EdTrust, released in September 2025, provides a new way for colleges and policymakers to think about affordability by including costs outside of tuition, including child care.

In 2019, the organizations research dispelled the myth that a student can still work their way through college in a minimum-wage job. Then the organization decided to look at the finances of student parents, aiming to calculate the actual annual cost of pursuing a degree.

In North Carolina, child care and other costs like housing and transportation mean community college parenting students pay, on average, $16,700 more per year than their non-parenting peers.

Krystle Malcolm, a student at Cape Fear Community College, picks up her 3-year-old son, Mavryk, from drop-in child care. Liz Bell/EdNC

When taking into account these costs relative to student income and other grant supports, the average affordability gap for student parents in the state is $19,645, which would require 54.2 hours of work per week at minimum wage to close. Thats compared to an affordability gap for non-parenting students of $2,993, which would require 8.3 hours of work per week at minimum wage to close.

North Carolina is one of only five states that allocates funding for child care grants for community college students.

In 2024-25, the state allotted just over $3 million for the North Carolina Community College Child Care Grant, distributed across all 58 community colleges. Each college received a base $20,000 allotment, plus $10.16 per full-time equivalent student the college was budgeted to serve. Eighty-four percent of the funding was spent, up from about 77% in the 2023-24 year. The average grant award was $3,726.34, and 737 students received funding.

Not all of the funding was used in the 2024-25 fiscal year, but $211,000 more in grant funding was disbursed than in the previous year.

The grants can help students pay for licensed or unlicensed care from individuals or organizations. Grant funds can cover the cost of child care provided by nannies, relatives, after-school programs, and licensed and unlicensed providers, but not parents themselves. Students must provide an invoice after child care services are provided that passes a reasonable test for cost.

Colleges are supposed to work with local social services agencies that distribute child care subsidy funding to coordinate aid for students. Colleges should not require official documentation of students subsidy application and denial if it creates a barrier or is too time-consuming, Brenda Burgess, associate director of student aid at community college system, told EdNC.

The timing of the state budget and the reimbursement model make it challenging for colleges to get all available funds to student parents. For example, when a budget is not passed by the time classes start in August, community colleges do not receive the grant funds until after the semester begins. Once they do, some parents have made other arrangements. A community college system grant report said the delays cause some students to postpone enrollment.

The same report states that having to reimburse students or providers after services are given creates challenges. Students often cannot afford to make up-front payments, even if reimbursed down the line, and child care providers rely on timely payments.

Some colleges are tweaking policies and taking advantage of the grant programs flexibilities to ensure the grants reach the students who need them and do not cause unnecessary stress for students, providers, or college staff. Read more about how colleges can make the grant work best:

Training child care teachers, launching academies

Community colleges do not just support the child care needs of their own students. They also expand child care capacity by serving as the main sites for the education and training of the early childhood workforce, including child care professionals.

There were 5,524 students enrolled in the early childhood education curriculum program across North Carolina community colleges in fall 2024, up 5% from the year before and nearly reaching pre-pandemic enrollment levels.

North Carolina is home to several programs that provide financial assistance to early childhood professionals looking to further their education, most often at community colleges. TEACH scholarships, from the nonprofit Early Years, assist child care teachers with the cost of tuition for associate, bachelors, and masters degrees. Child Care WAGE$, from the same organization, provides wage supplements for child care teachers based on their education level. Early childhood apprenticeships, expanded and financially supported by a recent effort called Building Bright Futures, provide pathways for new and seasoned early childhood teachers to work and go to school at the same time while increasing their compensation.

PlayWorks teacher Angela Foster engages students during a fire drill. Liz Bell/EdNC

Beyond providing multiple early childhood curriculum programs, community colleges also offer alternatives for individuals to receive the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, which is required to be a lead teacher in a licensed child care classroom.

With the industry struggling to recruit teachers, fast-track options called child care academies emerged in the last two years as another quick and affordable option for individuals interested in working in child care.

In September 2025, EdNC found at least 11 of these academies operating across the state, which prepare teachers through anywhere from 20 to 64 hours of class time to enter the classroom at little to no cost to the participant. These models were started and operated by a combination of community colleges and local early childhood organizations like Smart Start partnerships and Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies. Most were partnerships between at least two of these institutions.

These academies differ depending on local priorities. Some academies, which EdNCs analysis described as the classroom-ready model, give individuals what they need to start working in the classroom, including providing basic health and safety training and covering criminal background checks required to work in licensed settings.

A second approach to these academies, described by EdNCs analysis as the teaching credential model, takes the basic training from the classroom-ready model and adds coursework from EDU 119, the introductory early childhood community college course. This model gives teachers a continuing education credit (EDU 3119) that they can then build upon at any community college and provides teachers with the credential required to be a lead teacher.

In December, the state Division of Child Development and Early Education, under the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, announced partnerships with 16 institutions of higher education  13 of which are community colleges  to launch new child care academies. Each institution is expected to operate at least three academies through July 2026. The models are funded through the federal Preschool Development Grant.

North Carolinas early learning system depends on a strong, well-prepared workforce, and the Child Care Academies are designed to meet that need head on, said DHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs in a press release. By providing free high-quality training, were opening doors for new educators while supporting families and ensuring children across our state have access to safe and nurturing care.

The following colleges received funding to start academies:

Appalachian State University

Bladen Community College

Central Carolina Community College

Central Piedmont Community College

Davidson-Davie Community College

Durham Technical Community College

Elizabeth City State University

Forsyth Technical Community College

Guilford Technical Community College

Montgomery Community College

Nash Community College

Pitt Community College

Roanoke-Chowan Community College

Sandhills Community College

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Wilson Community College

Shifting culture

The New America research project of 10 community colleges approaches to supporting parenting students child care needs led to recommendations for colleges and for state and federal policymakers.

In addition to models like on-campus care and subsidies, the project recommended several ways to integrate child care and family-friendly policies into colleges overall approaches.

Colleges, the researchers write, should include child care when writing their strategic plans and equity goals. They should collect data on students caregiving roles and needs. And they should consider centralizing child care services and/or coordinating with student services like housing referrals, food assistance, and transportation help.

Such models ensure parenting students arent left to piece together services on their own, the report says. They address the reality of time poverty and can improve retention and completion.

The report references Forsyth Techs SPARC (Student Parent Advocacy Resource Center) as an example of a one-stop shop that improves student parents experiences accessing several kinds of support.

Maya Clay, a Forsyth Tech student parent EdNC interviewed in 2024, said the support of SPARC and Shanta Reddick, director of Forsyth Tech Cares and adult learner success, was like hope brightening my future.

Being able to have somebody in your corner, who just wasnt there to support you financially but emotionally, and like making sure youre successful, and being able to link you to other resources, makes being a student parent here so different, Clay said.

Posters created by student parents during a focus group at Forsyth Technical Community College. Liz Bell/EdNC

Partnering with early childhood support organizations and adopting family-friendly policies make a difference in campus culture and student success, according to the New America research project.

In North Carolina, some colleges are co-locating or partnering with Smart Start partnerships and CCR&R agencies. These organizations staff have expertise in connecting parents with child care options and other family resources.

Forsyth Techs Reddick has a close relationship with a local CCR&R coordinator, which, the New America report found, facilitates warm hand-offs and personalized referrals.

Bladen Community College (BCC) is using a former elementary school to co-locate Bladen Smart Starts headquarters and the colleges culinary and agribusiness programs. Additionally, four classrooms have been set aside with future plans for child care for the children of parents.

The effort is the result of collaboration between BCC, the Bladen County Board of Commissioners, Bladen County Schools (BCS), and Bladen Smart Start.

The New America research says family-friendly policies beyond child care are also important, including virtual options for students when child care arrangements fall through and clarification on when children are welcome on campus.

In addition to providing after-school care for students families and community members, Sandhills Community College is also the only community college in the state designated a Family Forward employer, a certification workplaces receive when their policies reflect best practices in early childhood and family well-being.

The certification, the efforts website reads, is not just a badge. Its a marker on your journey to create a family friendly workplace, and sends a clear message: you care about your employees, their families, and their children  the future workforce of North Carolina.

Sandhills has prioritized creating a family-friendly workplace by providing after-school and drop-in care, paid parental leave, flexible work options, among other policies.

Invest in your employees, their values, and their families, and theyre going to work harder for you. Its a pretty simple concept, said Taylor McCaskill, the colleges senior director of workforce development and corporate partnerships, as reported by Alexandra Quintero.

Sandhills also has plans to open a Center for Excellence in Child Care through a partnership between the college, Partners for Children & Families (the local Smart Start partnership for Moore County), Southern Pines Land & Housing Trust, and the Moore County Chamber of Commerce.

The project, which is still in the fundraising stages, would renovate two buildings. One would be a high-quality child care program to serve the neighborhood and act as a lab school for community college students studying early childhood to observe best practices and gain hands-on experience in the classroom. The second building would house both early childhood faculty from the community college and the staff of Partners for Children & Families. Co-locating the staff would help to provide coordinated wrap-around family support, said Stuart Mills, executive director of Partners for Children & Families.

Mills emphasized that the project is born out of an ongoing, close partnership between the organization and the college, and is just one example of the ways they collaborate. Smart Start staff provide training at the local child care academies, some of which are housed at the community college. Two members of the college staff serve on the organizations board of directors. And both Partners for Children & Families and the college are leading members of the local Chamber of Commerces Child Care Task Force, which is working on long-term child care solutions for the entire community.

Community college faculty and leaders are participating in similar local task forces across the state. The task forces are often hosted and convened by chambers of commerce.

Community colleges have a role in advocating for systemic solutions, writes Stephanie Baker, one of the New America researchers.

By supporting early education advocacy in their communities, they can help secure the child care infrastructure that both parenting students and their employees need, Baker writes.

When community college child care efforts are supported by outside funding, they can be powerful tools for colleges in their roles as employers, as educational institutions, and as community anchors, state leaders say. Utilizing the capacity of educational institutions, including community colleges, is part of the approach of the state task force working on long-term child care solutions that strengthen families and the state economy.

Samantha Cole, child care business liaison at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, said the task force has found that these efforts are working well for those participating, but are hyper-localized in funding source, design, and reach.

Cole said more peer-to-peer collaboration between colleges could help scale effective approaches to other communities.

Its not like youre hearing that theres a ton of external communication about the successes of these projects and programs, Cole said at the December meeting of the task force. Wed certainly like to see more of that. We think it might help encourage other campuses.

Editors note: This article includes previous reporting by Mebane Rash, Katie Dukes, and Sophia Luna.

This article first appeared on EdNC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The U.S. government and President Donald Trump have announced new tariffs on the import of semiconductor equipment, specifically Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) MI325X chips and Nvidias (NVDA) H200 chips. The 25% tariffs are expected to encourage local manufacturing of semiconductor equipment and reduce reliance on foreign vendors. The administration has not ruled out future tariffs for the achievement of these objectives.

It is worth noting that startups, domestic data centers, the public sector, and chips needed to improve local manufacturing capacity are exempt from these tariffs. At the same time, the government has also allowed Nvidia to export its H200 chips to China. However, just a week ago, Chinese authorities had asked local companies to stop importing H200 chips from Nvidia. It seems China is equally reluctant to use U.S. technology, which raises concerns around both Nvidia and AMDs China business.

More News from Barchart

About AMD Stock

AMD is a leading semiconductor company that designs chips for graphics and high-performance computing solutions. It serves multiple industries, including gaming, personal computing, data centers, and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. AMD is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

AMD stock has nearly doubled in the last 12 months while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) has gained 53% during the same period. A major reason for this outperformance is AMDs deal with OpenAI, as AI spending continues to surge.

barchart.com

AMDs forward price-to-earnings (P/E) of 41 times is quite high, but thats how it has always been based on its five-year historic average P/E. The stock's forward price-to-book value of 6.1 times is also trading at an 11% discount to the historic average of 6.85 times. With that in mind, AMD stock is clearly trading at a discount according to various metrics, and these discounts look even prettier when one looks at the companys expected earnings growth.

AMD is expected to grow its EPS by 77% in 2026. This impressive estimated growth rate is part of why the stock enjoys a high forward P/E. AMD is also becoming more and more relevant as we progress toward AI inference and AI on the edge. If AMD CEO Lisa Sus reputation is anything to go by, the company should continue to enjoy success in the coming years.
WASHINGTON  House Republicans are turning to a new tool to help overcome a longstanding battle that has existed for both parties: getting legislation past the Senate parliamentarian.

The Republican Study Committee, the main conservative caucus in the House GOP conference, unveiled the framework for its second attempt at a reconciliation bill last week aimed toward implementing a number of Republican policies before the midterm elections. Several of the proposed policies include measures that were stripped from the massive tax bill last summer after the Senate parliamentarian ruled they violated the strict rules of reconciliation, otherwise known as the Byrd Rule.

This time around, Republicans have developed an AI tool trained on thousands of Byrd Rule documents to help generate compliant legislation that can withstand challenges from the parliamentarian. That tool, they argue, will help them avoid having policies stripped out  or to assist in challenging the parliamentarian if needed, some Republicans say.

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It will help us better prepare and better anticipate what challenges we might have in the Senate with the parliamentarian over the Byrd Rule (to) give us better success  or to better prepare us to litigate it with the parliamentarian, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, told the Deseret News. Its all just to help give us a better success rate.

In the reconciliation process, the parliamentarian must review all provisions and proposals to ensure they adhere to the strict rules that allow the package to be free from the filibuster. Through the budget reconciliation process, the majority party can prevent a filibuster to expedite the passage of certain legislation and go around the minority party by enacting key pieces of their agenda with a simple majority vote.

But there are certain rules that dictate how often reconciliation can be used, and the procedure can only be utilized to advance budget-related legislation such as taxes, spending and the debt limit.

The parliamentarian is responsible for reviewing each provision based on those guidelines to approve whether it is subject to a simple-majority vote or must go through the filibuster process.

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Members of both parties, depending on who is in the majority at the time, have long had their complaints about the parliamentarian  mostly lamenting about how the one unelected staffer can have so much say over their legislation.

Its been the most consequential legislative tool, Arrington said of reconciliation, and then you got this person unelected in the middle of it, litigating these things and being the arbiter on what is reconciliation-worthy and legitimate and what isnt.

The AI tool will mostly serve as a preventative tool to avoid disagreements with the parliamentarian, RSC Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, told the Deseret News. But it could lay the groundwork to reform how the process works in the future.

This is an exciting use of AI, right? Pfluger said. To understand, like, Well, what did they do in the past, and what does that mean now? If that was the standard, then lets apply the same standard, the same stuff that were trying to do (now) so its more preventative and a refinement of our own bill.

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But the tool comes after prominent pushback toward the parliamentarian last summer, when some Republicans even suggested firing her after she stripped out several of their policies.

Theres a lot of conversation about the parliamentarian, a lot of criticism as well, and a lot of known bias that we have seen in the past, Pfluger said.

How will lawmakers use new AI tool?

Its not guaranteed Republicans will use the AI system as a way to overrule  or even replace  the parliamentarian. But Republicans such as Arrington say it could be a potential tool to help them make their case.

Its going to run the various scenarios using historical data, and its going to help us better anticipate how to write something that would have a better chance (at passing), and to also understand what the challenges might be when presenting it to the parliamentarian, Arrington said. The human element is going to come into play, and thats something you cant model completely. But you can look at historical data, and then you can start studying why certain things were Byrded out.

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The idea has perked some ears across party lines.

When Democrats pushed their own reconciliation bill through Congress in 2021, some party members similarly wanted to fire or overrule the parliamentarian after she ruled against a provision to increase the federal minimum wage. That was stripped out by Elizabeth MacDonough, the same parliamentarian who ruled against Republicans last summer.

That disdain toward the parliamentarian in general still exists among some Democrats.

I will tell you my biggest concern, and its one that members of the House should have, whether theyre Democratic or Republican, Rep. Brandon Boyle, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, told the Deseret News. How in the world do we have this reconciliation process that gives so much power to an unelected appointed Senate employee?

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Boyle, D-Pa., said the process as a whole should be reformed to rein in the power of the Senate parliamentarian, arguing lawmakers who are elected should have more authority.

When asked if an AI tool is a valid way to replace the parliamentarian, Boyle said hed have to learn more about it.

The whole process on reconciliation and the whole budget process needs fundamental reformation, he added.

Other Democrats are not yet sold on the idea.

I know theyre dumb, but they have to use AI to try to make bills compliant with the rules of the Senate? Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, told the Deseret News. It just seems strange to me.

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Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee also appeared to brush off the proposal to bring AI into the picture, posting an official statement on X that there is no need to use the system.

We already know the American people dont want more cuts to working class programs so that Republicans can deliver bigger tax breaks to their wealthy donors, the post read, criticizing the massive tax package passed through reconciliation last summer.

Its not yet clear whether Republicans will be successful in passing a second reconciliation bill, especially as there has been notable skepticism from party leaders such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Trump himself.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., appeared to tamp down expectations about the likelihood of success on Tuesday, telling reporters there is no consensus yet.

Id sure love to do one, Scalise said, but obviously, with a now one-seat majority, basically it means weve all got to come together and agree on what that framework would look like.
Conservative shadow minister Andrew Rosindell has defected to Reform UK.

The MP for Romford is now the second MP to defect to Nigel Farage's party this week, after Robert Jenrick's defection earlier this week.

Rosindell, who also served as the shadow minister for home affairs from 2007-2010 cited the Conservative Party's position on the Chagos Islands as his reason for defecting.

The Romford MP has been a member of the Conservatives since he was 14 and has represented his constituency since 2001.

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His defection now brings Reform's total count of MPs in Westminster up to seven.

Writing on X, Rosindell said: "This evening, with sorrow, I have decided to resign from my position as an Opposition Shadow Minister and as a member of the Conservative & Unionist Party.Since joining the Conservative Party at the age of 14, I have been a loyal and committed supporter of the principles advocated by Margaret Thatcher that have always underpinned my own political beliefs.However, the time has come to put country before party. The failure of the Conservative Party, both when in government and more recently in opposition, to actively hold the government to account on the issue of Chagossian self-determination and the defence of British sovereignty, represents a clear red line for me."

Continuing, he wrote: "Sadly, I now believe that the Conservative Party is irreparably bound to the mistakes of previous governments and unwilling to take meaningful accountability for the poor decisions made over so many issues.

"Following a conversation earlier this evening with Nigel Farage MP, I have therefore agreed to join Reform UK as its seventh member of parliament."It is clear to me that Reform UK is now the only political movement that is genuinely willing to fight for the best interests of the United Kingdom."

In 2016, Farage joined Rosindell in the latter's constituency of Romford as part of the Brexit campaign. Credit: PA

Rosindell is the second senior Tory to defect to Farage's party in one week.

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Responding to her Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick's defection on Thursday, Badenoch told reporters just two days ago she was "100% confident" there would be no more defections from her shadow cabinet.

A Conservative Party source said on Sunday, Andrew Rosindell had threatened to defect for months but denied he was doing so until as recently as Saturday.

They said it was another example of Nigel Farage doing Kemi Badenochs spring cleaning, in reference to her comments after Jenricks defection.

The Conservative Party supported Rosindell throughout his many troubles, and hes responded by stabbing his friends, colleagues and activists in the back. Reform are welcome to him, the source said.

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Reform have set May 7  the date of crucial local elections in which they hope to make significant gains  as a cut-off point for admitting current and former MPs, as well as for local councillors to defect.

>> Who are the Tory MPs who have defected to Reform?

Reform UK politician Robert Jenrick said Andrew Rosindell was a great champion of Romford, a true patriot and now Reform MP.

In a message posted on X, Jenrick said: Welcome Andrew Rosindell.

A great champion of Romford, a true patriot and now Reform MP.

Nigel Farage, who welcomed Rosindell to his party, has been keen to stress his party is "not a rescue charity for every panicky Tory MP", as he last week promised a Labour defection in the days ahead.

The PM on Wednesday criticised Kemi Badenoch and the MPs leaving her party for Farage's "laundry service for disgraced Tory politicians".

Responding to the defection, Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: The stench of a failed and dying Tory party now engulfs Reform.

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The Conservatives left public services on their knees, and Nigel Farage is now unconditionally trying to rehabilitate their disastrous record.

The public wont be fooled: the Tories failed Britain and Reform want to do it all over again.

The Liberal Democrats said Andrew Rosindells defection to Reform isnt a political earthquake.

A spokesperson added: Its a change of rosette for a career politician worried about getting a P45.

The public are fed up hearing about how Britain is broken from the very same people who broke it.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
A year into President Donald Trumps second term, the federal government is flipping the logic of civil rights on its head, using the language of nondiscrimination to destroy the legal structures that themselves aim to prevent discrimination.

Early in Trumps second term, he moved to end federal diversity, equity and inclusion measures, popularly referred to as DEI programs. While DEI programs found themselves the topic of conservative ire in the 2020s, especially after the summer of 2020, the programs go back decades.

For example, President Lyndon Johnsons 1965 Executive Order No. 11246 mandated nondiscrimination in federal government employment and the employment practices of federal contractors. This required government agencies to establish a positive program of equal employment opportunity and required private contractors to file compliance reports with the federal government, demonstrating their nondiscrimination practices.

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While diversity programs have gone by a variety of names over the decades  nondiscrimination, affirmative action, DEI  they all trace their roots to the Civil Rights Movement, which lasted from 1954 to 1968. Now the Trump administration is ending those policies, claiming that they violate civil rights legislation.

Diversity, equity and inclusion is not a trend, Kiesha Bross, the director of opportunity, race and justice at the NAACP, told Salon, explaining that its about diverse hiring practices and representation within the workforce, but also more than that.

Its around providing resources and tools within different federal agencies around inclusion, so everyone has an ability to receive equitable practices and solutions, Bross said. Were talking about all the different classifications that have an inclusive opportunity to succeed in federal government and also just holistically across the country.

One of Trumps first executive orders as president was to declare such programs illegal, claiming that they violate the text and spirit of our longstanding Federal civil-rights laws and undermine our national unity.

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The order, Bross explained, sent ripple effects across American society, with private companies, aiming to appease the administration, dismantling these programs. The list includes Google, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Target and several dozen others. Some nonprofits, looking to avoid becoming a target of the administration, did the same.

Trump alluded to the motivation for the assault on diversity programs recently, telling the New York Times that he believed that the Civil Rights Act resulted in anti-white discrimination.

White people were very badly treated, where they did extremely well and they were not invited to go into a university to college, Trump said. So I would say in that way, I think it was unfair in certain cases.

This sentiment has already been expressed through policy and, specifically, by flipping the language of civil rights legislation on its head, claiming that anti-discrimination policies are the real discrimination.

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For example, late last year, the administration announced that it would end a longstanding disparate impact policy that prohibited local governments and federally funded organizations from maintaining policies that disproportionately harmed people of color. They did so, claiming that considering race at all was a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The same backwards interpretation of civil rights legislation has played out elsewhere in the administration. For example, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has launched a campaign to encourage white men to bring workplace discrimination lawsuits.

Are you a white male who has experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex? You may have a claim to recover money under federal civil rights laws. Contact the EEOC as soon as possible, EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said in a video last year.

While it is illegal to discriminate against white men on the basis of their being either white or a man, Bross said that this move, and moves like it, are part of a larger campaign from the government to twist civil rights legislation into a legal framework that effectively works against the intent of civil rights law.

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Theres a population of people  particularly white men, white conservative Christians, white conservative Christian men  who have protection under this administration and have the ability to lead, Bross said. And why am I saying that? Because when you dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion, you are taking a classification of protected people, telling them that their rights and equity and their protection in this country does not equal the protected class of white male Christian conservatives.

In practical terms, the administrations attack on diversity and equal opportunity programs, as well as mass government layoffs, have resulted in a disproportionately high unemployment rate among Black Americans. In December of 2025, the unemployment rate among Black Americans was 7.5%, almost twice as high as the unemployment rate among the general public, 4.4%.

Bross said that its also clear that Black women have been disproportionately impacted as well. At an October 2025 job fair hosted by the NAACP, Bross said that there were over 4,000 people who registered and 80% of them were Black women. This is only a small fraction of the 300,000 who were pushed out of the workforce in just three months in 2025.

Civil rights, however, are only one side of the conservative inversion of the logic of civil rights legislation. A decades-long push from the conservative legal movement to dismantle the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is on the precipice of success with a case currently before the Supreme Court, Louisiana v. Callais.

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Justin Levitt, who served as senior policy advisor for democracy and voting rights in the Biden administration, is now at Loyola Law School. He told Salon that the case before the court could be a very big deal.

The case concerns a 2024 Louisiana congressional district map. The map was a product of a court order, that forced Louisiana to redraw an earlier map so it would be in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and specifically Section 2, which prohibits state and local governments from enacting laws that result in the denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.

Maps that deliberately dilute a racial minoritys voting power have historically been considered to violate this section. In Louisianas case, the state had drawn a map following the 2020 Census where just one of the states six congressional districts was majority Black, despite the fact that around a third of the state is Black. In 2022, a federal judge ruled that the map likely violated Section 2, ordering the state to draw a new map, this time with two majority Black districts.

In the case currently before the Supreme Court, the group of voters who brought the case now argues that it was unconstitutional for the state to have considered race in their district drawing, citing the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The logic here reflects the same logic expressed by Trump in his comment on his feelings about the Civil Rights Act, that the measures fighting discrimination were actually discriminatory against white people.

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While Levitt was hesitant to speculate on what the Court might do, noting that the court has backed down from dealing a deathblow to the Voting Rights Act in the past, he did say that there was potential for this case to eliminate the most powerful still-standing provision of the law.

Start your day with essential news from Salon.

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They essentially say, as some people have suggested that they might, that effectively drawing district lines has to be race blind. That would be a very big deal. It would also ask people drawing the lines to do something impossible, which is to forget what they already know, Levitt said. Race blind means you cant know if people are white either. So one future version of the world is profoundly ideological, but divorced from reality, and asks legislators to do the impossible. Its tough to write an opinion that says that.

Levitt said that arguments like the one before the Supreme Court are, crucially, not built in relationship with the Voting Rights Act or the Civil Rights Act, but against a caricature of those laws.

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You see this caricature show up in Shelby County. The court struck down a law that didnt exist. It struck down a caricature: that the Voting Rights Act basically promises a district to minority citizens, wherever they may be, Levitt said. Theyve done a very similar thing to civil rights laws, and you see it most strongly in discussions of disparate impact. Disparate impact cases are never  literally never  just about disparate impact.

Disparate impact cases were notably the cases where the administration declared that it was a violation of the Civil Rights Act to consider race in policymaking at all. Levitt explained that those cases are normally not just about disparate impact but rather an unjustified disparate impact, resulting from a seemingly neutral policy.

I think that messaging and marketing backlash to Dr. Kings work does a real disservice to the work itself, and I think it is an important context for why there has been legal pushback, not just by the courts, but by the administration, Levitt said.

The post Conservatives are flipping civil rights principles on their head appeared first on Salon.com.
As the first year of Donald Trumps second term progressed, and the list of scandalous presidential pardons grew, the White House confronted a question without modern precedent: Were pardons effectively for sale?

The question became unavoidable after the Republican started rewarding generous donors with clemency, culminating in a Wall Street Journal report, published shortly before Christmas, that described a dynamic that has spawned a pardon-shopping industry where lobbyists say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal, according to people familiar with the offers.

Last week, these concerns reached a new level. The New York Times reported:

In late 2024, while [Julio Herrera Velutini, a Venezuelan-Italian banker] was facing felony bribery and other charges in the case, his daughter, Isabela Herrera, donated $2.5 million to MAGA Inc., a super PAC devoted to Mr. Trump and run by his allies. In May, her fathers lawyer, Christopher M. Kise, who had served on Mr. Trumps legal defense team, negotiated an unusually lenient deal with the Justice Department. Under the deal, which was authorized by a top Trump appointee, Mr. Herrera agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor campaign finance charge, disappointing career prosecutors who had pushed for a harsher sentence.

Two months later, Isabela Herrera donated another $1 million to MAGA Inc., culminating in a pardon from Trump late last week. (The White House claimed the political contributions did not lead to the pardon.)

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The Times Peter Baker summarized the circumstances this way: Her father faced bribery charges. She donated $2.5 million to a pro-Trump Super PAC. Trumps Justice Department gave her father a lenient deal, overruling prosecutors. She gave another $1 million. Now Trump has pardoned her dad.

Well, sure, when you put it that way  which is to say, accurately  it sounds bad.

The Times Thomas Edsall recently noted that in late 2008, George W. Bush pardoned Isaac Robert Toussie, a developer in Brooklyn who had pleaded guilty to mail fraud and making false statements to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. One day later, the then-Republican president revoked the pardon  because Toussies father had contributed $28,500 to the Republican Party, and Bush concluded the circumstances might create an appearance of impropriety.

Nearly two decades later, the incumbent Republican president clearly no longer cares about such appearances.

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The White House announced Friday that Trump is also pardoning former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced, who pleaded guilty to a corruption charge related to her 2020 campaign  a scandal that also included campaign contributions from the aforementioned Julio Herrera Velutini.

An NBC News report noted, President Donald Trumps pardon of former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced did not include all of the criminal cases shes faced, and the White House is planning to make a fix out of an abundance of caution, an official said Sunday.

Last fall, during a briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, When it comes to pardons, the White House takes them with the utmost seriousness. The presidents top spokesperson added that each pardon is subjected to a very thorough review process, conducted by a team of qualified lawyers.

I continue to believe this was one of the more unintentionally amusing things Leavitt has ever said.

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As for the bigger picture, the bottom line appears increasingly unavoidable: Trump is abusing his pardon power; he apparently knows that hes abusing his pardon power; he knows that we know hes abusing his pardon power; and he just doesnt seem to care.

The post The controversy surrounding Trumps pardons goes from bad to worse appeared first on MS NOW.

This article was originally published on ms.now
By Sofia Menchu

GUATEMALA CITY, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Guatemala's president declared a state of siege on Sunday after security forces freed dozens of prison guards held hostage by inmates, ending a weekend of gang violence that left at least seven police officers dead and another 10 injured.

Rioting inmates had taken 46 hostages at three men's prisons early on Saturday. The government blamed the riots on the Barrio 18 gang, which it said was pushing for greater privileges for its members in prison.

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Gang-led violence targeted police in several areas around Guatemala City after security forces regained control of the prison where Barrio 18's leader, Aldo Duppie, was held. The gang leader, known as El Lobo, was taken back into custody.

President Bernardo Arevalo declared a 30-day state of siege that he said would allow the full force of the state, including the police and the army, to combat gang violence.

Under Guatemalan law, a state of siege can temporarily limit or suspend civil liberties and expand security forces' powers in response to threats to public order.

Images provided by the police showed officers on Sunday morning escorting Barrio 18's leader, who appeared to have a bloody shoulder, out of a prison that had been taken over by inmates.

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Shortly afterward, simultaneous attacks against police officers broke out in and around the capital, in what Arevalo said was gang retaliation for taking back the prisons. One gang member was also killed in the violence.

"These murders were carried out with the intention of terrorizing the security forces and the population so that we give up in the fight against gangs and their regime of terror. But they will fail," Arevalo said.

Arevalo, who also declared three days of national mourning, said the state of siege should not alter normal life for Guatemalans.

Earlier on Sunday, National Civil Police director David Boteo had advised Guatemalans to stay at home, and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala issued a security warning for U.S. citizens. Guatemala's education minister canceled school classes across the country on Monday, which Arevalo said was a preventive measure.

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Guatemala's Congress declared Barrio 18 a terrorist group in October 2025, shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration classified the gang as a foreign terrorist organization.

El Lobo is currently serving prison sentences totaling some 2,000 years. He is married to the niece of Sandra Torres, Guatemala's former first lady who has been the runner-up in three presidential elections, most recently finishing second to Arevalo in 2023.

(Reporting by Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City; Additional reporting by Josue Decavele; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Edmund Klamann)
Former Missouri "Squad" Rep. Cori Bush, who is seeking to reclaim the seat she lost in 2024, recently complained on social media that Congress doesnt prioritize public transit fundingeven though she once was part of a cohort of radical lawmakers who voted against a bill providing billions for transit improvements because it didnt allocate enough money for their far-left agenda.

Bush was just one of five other Democratic Party lawmakers, all part of the progressive group dubbed "The Squad," who voted against the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, despite it allocating up to $108 billion for public transit investments. Bush and her other far-left colleagues at the time wanted more money to also be allocated to environmental and social programs, like funding for universal pre-K, Medicare and Medicaid expansions, affordable housing, green infrastructure, a Civilian Climate Corps, and also included oil drilling and leasing bans.

At the time of "The Squad's" stand against the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Bush argued that she "didn't come to Congress to allow [her constituents'] priorities to be put on a shelf."

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Meanwhile, Bush lamented to her followers on social media last week  amid her run to regain her position in the House  that funding for public transit is not prioritized in Congress. She implied this was a major problem because transit funding, Bush said, "is essential in meeting the most basic needs" of her constituents.

Unearthed Records Torpedo Cori Bush's New Claim About 'Billions' In Funding She Delivered To District

Rep. Cori Bush delivers her concession speech during a primary election watch party on Aug. 6, 2024, in St Louis, Missouri. (Getty Images)

"Reliable transit service is essential in meeting the most basic needs of St. Louis," Bush said to her social media followers. "Unfortunately, transit funding is not prioritized in Congress. That changes when I return to Washington, as I'll continue fighting for legislation that benefits us."

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Republican campaign experts balked at Bush's stump message to voters, including longtime campaign strategist Colin Reed, who noted how "Campaign rhetoric has a nasty habit of colliding with contradictory votes from the past, and undermining politicians credibility and trust."

Colin Reed, GOP strategist and co-founder of South and Hill Strategies who served as the former campaign manager to former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass.

In her social media post complaining about the lack of emphasis on public transit funding in Congress, Bush included an image of her at what appears to be a bus stop touting how she "introduced legislation to fund bus and light rail projects at a greater scale."

While previously in Congress, Bush introduced two public transit-related bills, the Bus Rapid Transit Act and the Light Rail Transit Act, which sought to establish federal grant programs through the Federal Transit Administration to provide funding for upgrading transit infrastructure nationwide.

Meet The New 'Squad': The Next Generation Of Trump-era Progressive Congressional Candidates

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When reached for comment and asked to explain the discrepancy between her complaints about Congress not prioritizing public transit funding, and Bush's own neglect of such funding when other measures were on the chopping block, her campaign said the former congresswoman was "clear and consistent" in explaining that her no" vote was because the bipartisan infrastructure bill was decoupled from the lefts Build Back Better bill that contained an array of aggressive social and environmental policies.

"Universal pre-K, expanded Medicare, the Child Tax Credit, and lower prescription drug prices were all policies that Missouris 1st District sent the Congresswoman to DC to win," a Bush campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "Shes been clear and consistent on this: her vote was because the infrastructure bill was uncoupled from Build Back Better, which contained those policies. With so much on the line for St. Louis and the nation, the Congresswoman wanted to fight for more, not settle for less."

The skyline of St. Louis, Missouri, with the famed Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River.

Bush rose to political prominence as a Black Lives Matter activist during the 2014 Ferguson, Missouri, protest following the police officer involved shooting death of Michael Brown. In 2020, Bush upset longtime incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr., becoming the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress.

During her time on Capitol Hill, she aligned with "Squad" politicians like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who have been advocates for radical proposals to defund the police, socialize medical care, push environmental justice and more.

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Aocs Luxury Spending Binge In Puerto Rico Reignites Questions About 'Socialist' Brand: 'Peak Hypocrisy'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talks with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 11, 2025.

"If this is the best Cori Bush has to offer the same Missouri voters who already bounced her out of office, the sequel is shaping up to have a similar ending to the last campaign," Reed said of Bush's campaign stumping ahead of her upcoming election in November.

"No wonder Cori Bush restricts comments on her X account posts, because her hypocrisy knows no bounds and deserves to be called out by the American people," Mark Bednar, who served as head of communications for now-former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, told Fox News Digital.

"Whether it's driving an SUV but demanding everyone else must live under the Green New Deal, spending thousands on private security while calling to defund the police, or now trying to hide from her own voting record, Cori Bush's hypocrisy is nothing short of jaw-dropping," Bednar continued. "The voters of St. Louis have already rejected her once, and it shouldn't be a surprise if it happens again this election cycle."





Original article source: Cori Bush ripped for 'jaw-dropping' hypocrisy on key issue amid comeback House bid
Kristi Noem was cornered into admitting the ICE agent involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Good was being investigated per protocol.

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary was confronted by CBS News Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan about whether the agent Jonathan Ross conduct was being reviewed after the shooting in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

We are following the exact same investigative and review process that we always have under ICE and under the Department of Homeland Security and within the administration. The exact same policy that the Biden administration used, Noem said during the interview Sunday.

Kristi Noem was repeatedly asked whether Jonathan Ross had three days' leave and was investigated after the killing of Renee Good. / CBS News

Brennan interruped: So his actions are being reviewed?

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Noem ignored the cut-in and continued: We havent changed any of that.

She then rejected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs accusation that Ross was the only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good.

I would not listen to Governor Walz. He has a very bad track record, Noem said.

Earlier in the conversation, Noem had been more reluctant to confirm whether Ross had been subject to the standard three days of administrative leave.

Margaret Brennan couldn't get a clear 'yes' or 'no' from Noem, but was told the DHS was following the 'exact same protocols' as always. / CBS News

Is he back at work? Did you give him his three days of suspension? Brennan asked.

Noem was silent for a moment before responding: We followed the exact same protocols that we always have for years as to investigations into these situations.

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Brennan, who had earlier noted that Ross was released from the hospital the same day as the shooting, asked again: Three days of administrative leave?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz claimed in a statement that Ross was not being investigated for the shooting. / Anadolu / Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images

Im not going to talk about his medical records, Noem said, before adding that her concern was for law enforcement officers to be able to work with the knowledge that they can do so safely and that the media and people arent going to attack them for standing up for whats right.

An observer is detained by ICE agents after they arrested two people from a residence in Minneapolis, Minnesota. / Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

Brennan asked Noem her question again, this time framing it around Walz, who claimed that Ross actions were not officially looked into.

Using Minnesota fraud concerns as a reason to dismiss Walzs claim, Noem stated: He certainly doesnt have good judgment in these types of situations and Im not going to be taking any advice from him in how we implement the law and protect people.

Noem said that Ross and other agents knew their actions were liable for investigation, but that they needed protection from 'the liberals.' / The Daily Beast/Youtube

The DHS head has repeatedly blamed the liberals for their treatment of Ross, and minutes after Goods shootingand before any potential investigation could have taken placebranded the mother of three a domestic terrorist and claimed that she had been trying to hit Ross with her car.

Video evidence disputes the Trump administrations version of events.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, is backing former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper for U.S. Senate.

The two stopped by the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party headquarters Friday for a rally.

Booker is from North Carolina and says if Cooper is elected, his vote will be critical for making things more affordable.

>>CLICK HERE for The Political Beat with Joe Bruno

Hes the kind of governor America needs right now in the Senate, of somebody who can work on both sides of the aisle and bring people together, Booker said. So, hes going to be one of the most experienced people there.

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Booker and Cooper also addressed small business owners in east Charlotte.

In response to Bookers visit for Cooper, the N.C. GOP released a statement saying, in part, Radical Roy Cooper continues kissing the ring of Washington Democrats by choosing to campaign with far-left New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.

VIDEO: Former NC Governor Roy Cooper makes visit to local owned business
Concerned with the potential impacts the proposed Summertown and Veranda Bay developments could have on Flagler Countys environmental resources, the Board of County Commissioners could soon consider legal action.

But not against the developer. Against the city of Flagler Beach.

That was the topic of discussion during a workshop Jan. 12 where BOCC commissioners voiced their disapproval with the city for not adhering to its comprehensive plan after annexing 545 acres on the west side of John Anderson Highway for the proposed Summertown project.

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Some commissioners and residents at the workshop, opposed to the both developments due to environmental issues, criticized the city for its unwillingness to hear and address concerns about how the projects could affect the surrounding undeveloped green land, which is also home to some county residents.

We have had written correspondences; we have tried joint meetings; they dont do joint meetings, Commissioner Kim Carney said, adding that staff has worked diligently to point out to Flagler Beach the problems.

Summertown annexed: Flagler Beach approves 545-acre annexation of proposed Summertown

After a discussion where County Attorney Michael Rodriguez explained how the board should move forward, commissioners decided to schedule a workshop, followed by a special meeting, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, to address and vote on whether to start the process of conflict resolution between the two parties.

County will try to resolve matter with Flagler Beach to avoid litigation

A map outlines the proposed Summertown and Veranda Bay development along John Anderson Highway in Flagler Beach

The countys action would dispute the citys alleged infringement of its comprehensive plan amendment, which would be an administrative challenge, Rodriguez said, to be settled by the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings.

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According to Rodriguez, the county could adopt a resolution on Jan. 28 to initiate conflict resolution proceedings, which would trigger the Florida Governmental Conflict Resolution Act, requiring the county and city to try reach an agreement before moving to litigation.

Once that action is taken, then we proceed to try to establish the parameters for both boards to have a full joint meeting (county and city boards) where the matter is discussed in the open, Rodriguez explained.

If a resolution is unable to be attained at the meeting, the next step is to go to mediation, he added. In an attempt to try to find some resolution where we can find some type of middle ground, where we can get both of our interests heard  . If we can find a resolution on that matter, then great."

If the parties cannot reach a resolution, the case moves to court.

There are some things that we just dont like about that annexation

Summertown is part of the Veranda Bay project and is made up of the 545 acres on the west side of John Anderson Highway. The proposed mixed-use development includes residential and commercial space. Veranda Bay, on the east side, will encompass 234 acres. The developer is Ken Belshe of Sunbelt Land Management.

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The city of Flagler Beach Jan. 8 voted 4-1 to annex the Summertown portion of the project. The Veranda Bay side is still to be annexed. The developer split the application for the two areas, so an annexation problem raised by the county last year for the east side could be dealt with on its own and Summertown could move forward.

There is no attention being paid to us, to Flagler Beachs citizens, and some of which are on John Anderson (Highway), Carney added. I believe with a firm heart that this thing needs to slow down. They are pulling every loophole they can to move this along, and theyre not listening.

One of the concerns is over the floodplain area included in the 545 acres. The county recently received a willing seller letter from the developer as part of a deal to help preserve over 153 acres of approximately 206 acres of designated floodplain associated with Bulow Creek.

Carney said the developers promise to abide by all the rules, when it comes to the floodplain area isnt enough, she said.

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In a phone interview with The News-Journal, Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen said we dont want to litigate.

Residents pack Flagler Beach City Commission Chambers during meeting for final vote on Summertown development annexation, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.

We want to sit down with them, Hansen said. There are some things that we just dont like about that annexation.

He expressed concerns over how the newly annexed land could be infringing upon water and wastewater capacity rules in the citys comprehensive plan, as well as potential impacts on Bulow Creek.

We want our case heard, and this is the way we can get our case heard  using the state law that requires mitigation rather than go to court, he said of the Florida Governmental Conflict Resolution Act.

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It requires you to negotiate, and thats what we want to do, Hansen added. We dont want to go to court.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler County talks possible Summertown lawsuit against Flagler Beach
As communities across the country on Monday hosted parades, panels and service projects for the 40th federal observation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the political climate for some is more fraught with tensions than festive with reflection on the slain Black American civil rights icon's legacy.

In the year since Donald Trump's second inauguration fell on King Day, the Republican president has adopted a scorched earth stance against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and targeted mostly Black-led cities for federal law enforcement operations, among other policies that many King admirers have criticized.

One year ago, Trump's executive orders Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity and Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing accelerated a rollback of civil rights and racial justice initiatives in federal agencies, corporations and universities. Last month, the National Park Service announced it will no longer offer free admission to parks on King Day and Juneteenth, but instead on Flag Day and Trump's birthday.

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A.R. Bernard, founder, pastor and CEO of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, told an audience gathered at King's home church in Atlanta Sunday that the Trump administration is attempting to rewrite history.

We are living in a moment where America is being tempted to forget the painful truth of its Black history. Slavery being renamed as labor, segregation reduced to a footnote, racial terror explained away as exaggeration, Bernard said, speaking at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. This is irresponsible, historical revisionism.

Urgent calls to unite against injustice were interspersed with energetic gospel at Ebenezer, where King preached. A sense that civil and human rights are at stake infused the comments by many speakers there Monday.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat and Ebenezers senior pastor, invoked a story about King fighting for the Voting Rights Act after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act. He urged the crowd to keep pushing against Trumps policies, sweeping immigration enforcement and what he described as attempts from the Trump-Vance regime to sow division.

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They are trying to weaponize despair and convince us that we are at war with one another, Warnock said.

The fatal shooting this month of an unarmed Minneapolis woman in her car by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sent there to target the city's Somali immigrant population, as well as Trump recently decrying civil rights as discrimination against white people, have only intensified fears of a regression from the social progress King and many others advocated for.

Still, the concerns did not chill many King holiday events planned this year. Some conservative admirers of King say the holiday should be a reminder of the civil rights icon's plea that all people be judged by their character and not their skin color. Some Black advocacy groups, however, vowed a day of resistance and rallies nationwide.

Weve always strived to be a more perfect union'

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In a recent interview with The New York Times, Trump said he felt the Civil Rights Movement and the reforms it helped usher in were harmful to white people, who were very badly treated. Politicians and advocates say Trump's comments are what are harmful, because they dismiss the hard work of King and others that helped not just Black Americans but other groups, including women and the LGBTQ+ community.

I think the Civil Rights Movement was one of the things that made our country so unique, that we havent always been perfect, but weve always strived to be this more perfect union, and thats what I think the Civil Rights Movement represents, Gov. Wes Moore, Marylands first Black governor and only the nations third elected Black governor, said this week in an interview with The Associated Press.

Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, one of the nations oldest and largest civil rights coalitions, said the Trump administration's priorities make clear it is actively trying to erase the movement.

From health care access and affordable housing to good paying jobs and union representation," Wiley said, things Dr. King made part of his clarion call for a beloved community are still at stake and is even more so because (the administration) has dismantled the very terms of government and the norms of our culture.

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The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Trump did issue a proclamation late Monday, writing, On this day, I encourage all Americans to recommit themselves to Dr. Kings dream by engaging in acts of service to others, to their community, and to our Nation.

In Washington Monday, hundreds of people marched along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, braving cold weather to honor the civil rights leader. The parade began decades ago as part of the effort to establish a national holiday in Kings honor.

Sam Ford, a retired broadcaster and member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade Committee, helped bring the parade back in 2012.

We got to continue to do this because not just of Dr. King, but of what he stood for," Ford said. The struggle continues.

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Parade participant Harold Hunter echoed that sentiment.

Its not just a white thing or Black thing. This is a people thing, he said.

The conservative Heritage Foundation think tank encouraged the holidays focus to stay solely on King himself. Brenda Hafera, a foundation research fellow, urged people to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta or reread his I have a dream speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington nearly 63 years ago.

Using the holiday as a platform to rally and speak about anti-racism and critical race theory actually rejects Kings ambition for the country, Hafera argued.

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I think efforts should be conducted in the spirit of what Martin Luther King actually believed and what he preached. And his vision was a colorblind society, right, Hafera said. He says very famously in his speech, dont judge by the color of your skin, but the content of your character.

Groups call for holiday of reclamation, education and rallying

The NAACP, the nation's oldest civil right organization, which had many MLK Day events planned for Monday, asserted that the heightened fears among communities of color and in immigrant communities mean King Day observances must take a different tone. People will have to put their safety first, even if their government isn't, said Wisdom Cole, NAACP senior national director of advocacy.

As folks are using their constitutional right to protest and to speak out and stand up for what they believe in, we are being faced with violence. We are faced with increased police and state violence inflicted by the government, Cole said.

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The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of organizations affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement, had planned its events under the banner Reclaim MLK Day of Action. Organizers planned demonstrations in Atlanta; Chicago; and Oakland, California, among other cities, over the weekend and Monday.

This year it is more important than ever to reclaim MLKs radical legacy, letting his wisdom and fierce commitment to freedom move us into the action necessary to take care of one another, fight back, and free ourselves from this fascist regime, Devonte Jackson, a national organizing director for the coalition, said in a statement.

Indiana school cancels historic MLK Day event

For the first time in its 60-year history, Indiana University in Indianapolis canceled its annual Martin Luther King dinner. Over the years, the event drew notable guest speakers including Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, and activist Angela Davis.

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The reasoning was budget constraints, according to a social media post by the school's Black Student Union. However, the group said it was worried this was connected to broader political pressures. A few students responded by organizing smaller community dinners or eat-ins to fill the void, WTHR-TV in Indianapolis reported.

Meanwhile, the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Westbrook, Maine, canceled a MLK Day service due to unforeseen circumstances, according to the parish website. But a member of the church's social justice and peace committee told NewsCenterMaine.com that the pastor was concerned about people's safety amid rumors of ICE agents being in the area.

Overall, there have been few reports of King Day events being majorly scaled down or canceled altogether.

In Memphis, Tennessee, the National Civil Rights Museum was going about its annual King Day celebration as normal. The museum is located on the site of the former Lorraine Motel, where King was shot on April 4, 1968. The museum offered free admission on the holiday, an annual tradition.

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This milestone year is not only about looking back at what Dr. King stood for, but also recognizing the people who continue to make his ideals real today, museum President Russell Wigginton said.

___

Tang reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Matt Brown in Washington; Adrian Sanz in Memphis, Tennessee; Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, and Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that building a "New York Stock Exchange" in Dallas is an "unbelievably" bad thing for New York.

"I can't believe they would let this happen. A big test for the new Mayor!" he said in a post on Truth Social.

Intercontinental Exchange, the owner of NYSE, had said it would add Texas as its venue for a secondary listing last year.

NYSE Texas, which officially opened for business earlier in 2025, saw 10 companies, including oilfield service company Halliburton and Truth Social-parent Trump Media & Technology Group, dual list on the Dallas-based exchange in the first three months.

Intercontinental Exchange and the New York mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Christopher Cushing)
Czechia will not sell its L-159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Jan. 19, despite Czech President Petr Pavel advocating for the move.

"Mr. (Defense Minister Jaromir) Zuna clearly said that the aircraft still have a service life of about 15 years and that the army needs them," Babis said after a government meeting, Czech Television reported.

Pavel, who visited Ukraine last week, said on Jan. 18 that Kyiv's offer to buy the planes is an opportunity for the Czech defense industry and argued that selling four out of the Czech military's 24 L-159 jets would not endanger its defense capabilities.

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The news underscores the foreign policy divide between Czechia's Ukraine-friendly head of state and the country's new ruling populist coalition.

"I'm afraid that with this decision, we are moving closer to selfishness rather than solidarity," Pavel, a retired NATO general, commented on the refusal to sell the aircraft to the country facing the Russian invasion.

Senior government officials, including Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, have criticized the president for raising the prospect of a sale, arguing that the decision falls outside his authority.

Pavel, in turn, noted that Ukraine has been seeking to acquire the aircraft for at least half a year and said he was simply continuing earlier negotiations.

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The L-159 is a subsonic attack aircraft and trainer jet manufactured by the Czech company Aero Vodochody.

Tomio Okamura, head of the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and the coalition's most vocal opponent of aiding Ukraine, said the jets have low residual value but remain highly valuable to the country's armed forces.

Czechia's populist coalition that ousted the pro-Ukraine government of ex-Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the October 2025 elections has vowed to halt assistance to Kyiv from the Czech budget, instead supporting U.S. President Donald Trump's peace efforts.

Despite this, Macinka, who also visited Kyiv in early January, affirmed that the two countries remain partners and that Czechia would continue to coordinate the ammunition initiative for Ukraine.

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Read also: Russia welcomes Trumps tariffs on NATO allies over Greenland as collapse of alliance

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Previous MLK Day coverage above.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  All Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) buses will be free on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Monday, Jan. 19.

The federal holiday celebrates Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday, which was on Jan. 15, 1929, on the third Monday every January.

Mutiple people and organizations have called for MLK Day to be a Day of Service. The King Holiday and Service Act, signed by former President Bill Clinton, encourages people to use the day for citizen action and volunteering.

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NFL will honor Martin Luther King Jr. with Choose Love stenciled in end zone

The holiday was signed into law under former President Ronald Reagan in 1983, 15 years after King was assassinated. King was a civil rights activist who encouraged nonviolence and resistance in the face of racial oppression.

One may well ask: How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others? The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law It was practiced superbly by the early Christians, who were willing to face hungry lions and the excruciating pain of chopping blocks rather than submit to certain unjust laws of the Roman Empire, wrote MLK in his letter from inside a Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.

RTA launchs Art on the Move contest for local students

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King consistently championed peaceful civil disobedience against unjust laws.

To a degree, academic freedom is a reality today because Socrates practiced civil disobedience. In our own nation, the Boston Tea Party represented a massive act of civil disobedience. We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was illegal. It was illegal to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitlers Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers, wrote MLK.

The April 16 Birmingham letter can be read in its entirety 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 WDTN.com.
The Smyrna Police Department says its solving more cases, thanks to advanced technology.

They used it to find the suspect of a deadly hit and run, who police said didnt stop, over the weekend.

Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell was live in Smyrna for Channel 2 Action News at 5:00.

Police are tracking crime in real time, thanks to the real-time crime center, located in the Smyrna Police Department. What makes it so unique is the access it has to traffic cameras, license plate readers and more.

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They say the technology helped them track a man who left the scene a hit and run that happened here along South Cobb Drive.

The person who struck the victim left the scene of the accident, did not provide any medical aid, did not call 911, said Lt. Meredith Holt of Smyrna PD.

Someone found a man dead along South Cobb Drive Saturday night. Police say within hours they knew who left the scene of the deadly hit and run.

Here at our police department with our real time crime center our flock cameras our fuses technology we were able to locate the vehicle, Holt said.

Police say they traced the car to Jafet Cruz.

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Investigators say the victim wasnt in a crosswalk, but Cruz is facing charges because he didnt stop.

The Smyrna Police Department says its real-time crime center helped solve two major cases nearly back to back.

Traffic cameras gives police more eyes in more places in real time.

A major benefit for police as they searched for an 11-year-old girl who wandered from school last Thursday.

A man saw her the following morning and called police, but police say the real time crime center played an important role in the investigation.

Police deployed a drone to help in the investigation.

Smyrnas real time crime center is just few than 2 years old. Cobb PDs has been around much longer.

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Some nearby jurisdictions use similar software.

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Wildfires are burning across southern Chile, fueled by strong winds and extreme heat, displacing tens of thousands of people and killing at least 20 people.

Chile's National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response reports that nearly half a dozen major wildfires are being battled across the Biobio and Nuble regions, prompting the evacuation of about 50,000 residents - many forced to flee during the night.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe for the affected regions on Sunday.

A resident reacts in front of the charred remains of destroyed homes and a vehicle after a wildfire in Concepcion, Chile, on Jan. 18, 2026. (Photo by Raul BRAVO / AFP via Getty Images)

"These are difficult times for the country, especially for sectors like Penco and Tome, which is why I want to express my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy," Boric wrote on X.

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The largest fire is burning near Concepcion and has destroyed hundreds of homes. At least 14,187 hectares - more than 35,000 acres - have burned near the communities of Concepcion, Penco and Tome.

Aerial images show devastation in populated areas of the municipality of Penco due to a forest fire, in Penco, Chile, on Jan. 18, 2026. (Photo by Lucas Aguayo Araos/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Video and photos from Chile show entire neighborhoods consumed by flames as residents watch their homes burn.

#IncendiosForestales  Productos satelitales GOES-19 muestran humo y focos activos en Biobio y Nuble. Se utilizan RGB Color Verdadero, Color Verdadero Fuego y Temperatura del Fuego, elaborados por Aplicaciones Satelitales https://t.co/7XoTvzc3Jm pic.twitter.com/EffDGpmsbU  MeteoChile (@meteochile_dmc) January 18, 2026

According to the AccuWeather forecast for Concepcion, breezy conditions are expected through Wednesday evening, which could continue to fan the flames.

Mirtza Aguilera, right, and her daughter embrace in front of their home burned by wildfires in Tome, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)

Smoke from the wildfires has spread across much of southern Chile, leading to unhealthy air quality.

Meteo Chile has issued an Excessive Heat Warning from Los Angeles to Santiago, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
By Nina Lopez and Michael Francis Gore

ADAMUZ, Spain, Jan 19 (Reuters) - At least 40 people have died in southern Spain after a high-speed train derailed and collided with an oncoming one on Sunday night in one of the worst railway accidents in Europe in 80 years.

Twelve were in intensive care after the accident near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Madrid, according to emergency services. Experts say a faulty rail joint might be key to determining the cause of the crash.

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"The train tipped to one side... then everything went dark, and all I heard was screams," said Ana Garcia Aranda, 26, who was being treated at a Red Cross centre in Adamuz.

Limping and with plasters across her face, she described how fellow passengers dragged her out of the train covered in blood. Firefighters rescued her pregnant sister from the wreckage and an ambulance took them both to hospital.

"There were people who were fine and others who were very, very badly injured... you knew they were going to die, and you couldnt do anything," she said.

A total of 43 reports of missing persons have been filed so far at police headquarters in Huelva, Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba and Seville, officials said.

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REMOTE LOCATION COMPLICATES RESCUE

The collision occurred in a hilly, olive-growing region accessible only by a single-track road, making it difficult for ambulances to reach the area, Inigo Vila, national emergency director at the Spanish Red Cross, told Reuters.

The Andalusia region's President Juan Manuel Moreno said at least 40 people had perished, and emergency crews faced difficulties bringing in the heavy equipment needed to lift the wreckage and reach those still lying beneath it.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and Transport Minister Oscar Puente visited the site on Monday.

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Police drone footage showed how the trains, which were carrying 527 people, came to a standstill 500 metres apart. One train's carriage was split in two, and the locomotive was crushed like a tin can.

Experts studying the crash site found a broken joint on the rails, which created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track, according to a source briefed on initial investigations.

That faulty joint could prove important in identifying the cause of the accident, the source said.

'INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TRACK AND THE VEHICLE'

Ignacio Barron, head of Spain's Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents (CIAF), said on RTVE: "What always plays a part in a derailment is the interaction between the track and the vehicle, and that is what the commission is currently (looking into)."

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Paqui, an Adamuz resident who rushed to help rescue survivors with her husband, said he had "found a dead child inside, another child calling for his mother. You're never ready to see something like this."

Police said they had opened an office in Cordoba for relatives to provide DNA samples to help identify the dead.

The Iryo train was travelling at 110 kph from Malaga to Madrid when it derailed, Renfe President Alvaro Fernandez Heredia said on radio station Cadena Ser.

Twenty seconds later, the second train, heading to Huelva at 200 kph, either collided with the final two carriages of the Iryo train or with debris on the line, he said. The Iryo train lost a wheel that has not yet been located.

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CRASH OCCURRED IN 'STRANGE CONDITIONS'

It was too early to talk about the cause, but it happened in "strange conditions," Fernandez Heredia said, adding that human error was virtually ruled out.

The death toll was among the 20 highest from a train crash in Europe in 80 years, according to Eurostat data, and the highest in Spain since 2013, when a train derailed in the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela, killing 80.

Spanish train drivers had warned state-owned rail infrastructure administrator Adif of severe wear and tear on the Madrid-Andalusia line and others, according to a letter seen by Reuters sent to Adif by train drivers' union Semaf in August and urging stricter speed restrictions.

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Adif had no immediate comment.

The Iryo train, a Frecciarossa 1000, was under four years old and the railway line near Adamuz was renovated last May, Puente said. Iryo said the train was last inspected on January 15.

Spain's high-speed railway network is the largest in Europe and second-largest in the world after China with 3,622 km of tracks, according to Adif.

The government was criticised last year for a series of delays to high-speed rail, caused by power outages and the theft of copper cables from the lines.

Spain opened up the network to private competition in 2020 in a bid to offer low-cost alternatives to Renfe's Ave trains.

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Iryo is a joint venture between Italian state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, airline Air Nostrum and Spanish infrastructure investment fund Globalvia.

($1 = 0.8604 euros)

(Reporting by Nina Lopez, Michael Gore, Leonardo Benassatto, Susana Vera, Emma Pinedo and Victoria Waldersee; additional reporting by Pietro Lombardi and Jesus Aguado; Writing by Charlie Devereux; Editing by David Latona, Sharon Singleton, Bernadette Baum and Deepa Babington)
By Ariba Shahid and Mohammed Waseem

KARACHI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Pakistani firefighters began pulling bodies from the smouldering remains of a sprawling Karachi shopping mall on Monday where more than 60 people were still missing after a massive fire that killed at least 21.

The city's biggest fire in over a decade started late on Saturday at Gul Plaza, which houses 1,200 shops in a multi-storey complex spread across an area larger than a football field. The blaze in Karachi's historic centre raged for more than 24 hours before it was mostly extinguished.

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Videos showed flames ripping through the building as firefighters laboured through the night to put out the blaze. On Monday, they began cooling the structure and clearing twisted metal and debris strewn across the street, along with fallen air-conditioning units and shop signboards.

Most of the building had crumbled by Monday afternoon; cranes demolished the remaining structure amid fears it might collapse.

Qasir Khan said his wife, daughter-in-law and her mother had gone to the mall on Saturday evening and were among those still missing.

"The bodies will come out in pieces from here. No one will be able to recognise them," Khan said, blaming the rescue effort for not being swift enough. "They could have saved a lot of people."

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Hundreds of people surrounded the building as rescue teams searched for survivors, including shopowners whose life's work was reduced to ash overnight.

"We've been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone," said shopkeeper Yasmeen Bano.

ANGER OVER THE FIRE

Rescue workers were bringing human remains out in sacks before sending them for DNA testing. They stopped regularly to drink water after enduring intense heat from the debris.

Mohammed Ameen, who was running operations at the site for the Edhi emergency services non-profit, said 21 people had died in the fire, including a child.

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Murad Ali Shah, chief minister of the southern province of Sindh that includes Karachi, told reporters that 65 people were still missing while 22 others who were injured by the flames had been discharged from hospital.

"In this time of grief and hardship, we stand with the affected families and the Sindh government, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement.

Anger was bubbling when Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site on Sunday night, with people chanting anti-government slogans and protesting over the response time from the fire department, local media reported.

Kosar Bano said six of her family had gone to the mall to shop for a wedding. The last time she heard from them, they said they would be home in 15 minutes.

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"The only hope we have is how many hands we will find, how many fingers we will find, and how many legs we will find. That's it," she said.

THICK SMOKE FILLED THE BUILDING

According to rescue services, authorities received the first emergency call at 10:38 p.m. (1738 GMT) on Saturday, reporting that ground-floor shops were on fire. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had already spread to the upper floors, engulfing much of the building.

Images of the mall's interior revealed the charred remains of stores and a bright orange glow as flames continued to rise throughout the building.

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Firefighters said Gul Plaza's lack of ventilation caused thick smoke to fill the building and slowed efforts to reach people trapped inside.

"I'm admitting that there are faults. I can't say whose fault this is. An inquiry will be conducted and heads will roll," Shah said.

Provincial police chief Javed Alam Odho earlier said the fire was caused by an electrical fault, but Shah said the reason was still unknown.

The blaze is Karachi's biggest since an industrial site went up in flames in 2012, killing more than 260 people. A court ruled in 2020 that the disaster involved arson.

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid and Mohammed Waseem; Writing by Tanvi Mehta and Saad Sayeed; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Kate Mayberry, Mark Potter and Ros Russell)
The death toll following a high-speed train crash in southern Spain has risen to at least 39, state broadcaster RTVE reported on Monday, citing the Guardia Civil police force.

One of the train's drivers was killed, authorities said.

A total of 73 people were treated at hospitals following the collision, including 24 who were seriously injured, RTVE said. Four of those seriously hurt are minors, according to the broadcaster.

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Numerous passengers remained trapped in the trains hours after the crash. Fire chief Paco Carmona described a difficult operation: "It is a hard-to-reach area. The extent of the destruction was also great. Chaos, open fractures. Anything but pleasant."

The two high-speed trains collided at around 7:40 pm on Sunday near the town of Adamuz in the Andalusian province of Cordoba, Spanish rail operator Renfe said.

An Iryo train, travelling at 300 kilometres per hour and carrying more than 300 people, derailed and came to rest on the adjacent track, Renfe said. An oncoming Renfe train with about 200 onboard was passing at that precise moment, smashing into the Iryo train and also derailing.

The Iryo train was operated by the Italian company Trenitalia.

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"The impact was so severe that the two front carriages of the Renfe train were thrown off the tracks as a result," said Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente.

The carriages plunged down a 4-metre embankment and were largely destroyed.

Service on the key route between Madrid and Andalusia was suspended.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez promised swift assistance. "Today is a night of deep pain for our country," he wrote on the platform X.

Alongside the royal household in Madrid and many others, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also expressed her condolences to the families of the victims as well as the Spanish people.
AMBOY, Ill. (WTVO)  A deputy on patrol in Lee County, Illinois, found three individuals in a disabled vehicle with narcotics and weapons, resulting in multiple charges.

The Lee County Sheriffs Office reported that a deputy on patrol came upon a disabled black 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe in the area of U.S. Route 30 and Inlet Road on Friday evening.

The deputy stopped to assist, but observed items used for ingesting narcotics in plain view while speaking with the occupants, police said.

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Ruben Perez, 48, of Dothan, Alabama, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, unlawful possession of an explosive device, unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawful possession of a weapon, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Perez is wanted on a nationwide warrant out of Alabama for larceny.

Dennis Weaver, 52, of Cairo, Georgia, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael Whigham, 56, also of Cairo, Georgia, was charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Police said Perez is being held in the Lee County Jail, pending his first court appearance.

Weaver and Whigham were released under provisions of the Illinois SAFE-T Act, and were given notices to appear at a future court date.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Lambda Pi Omega Chapter provide various services to the local Detroit community, such as reading to students, planting trees, and donating money to womens shelters. (Courtesy AKA Lambda Pi Omega Chapter)

This story was originally reported by Ebony JJ Curry of The 19th. Meet Ebony and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy.

Detroit was the first place Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered an early version of what would become his I Have a Dream speech. He recited it on June 23, 1963, at the end of Detroits Walk to Freedom, a march that happened weeks before he spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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This piece of Detroit-first history sharpens what Martin Luther King Jr. Day asks of the city. Its harder to treat the holiday, celebrated on Monday, as a slogan when the dream was first spoken aloud in Detroit. Its also harder to see it as a day off when a lot of people choose to mark it every year as a day on.

The Lambda Pi Omega (LPO) chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, is one of the Detroit institutions built around that belief.

Their members measure the weeks before Martin Luther King Jr. Day in labor. They assemble toiletry kits for Detroiters without stable housing, volunteer their time to youth programs focused on combating hunger and fostering leadership skills, and step into the gaps families are already navigating, like hunger and lack of resources. Crystal Sewell, the chapters president, said the work is rooted in service that isnt just a once-a-year thing.

Our work really is about uplifting our community; that is really at the heart of what we do, Sewell said. It is sisterhood and service for the betterment of our local community, thats really the essence and the spirit of our chapter.

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This year, LPO will spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Third New Hope Baptist Church on Detroits west side for its annual We Are One AKA Day of Service. Sorority members plan to assemble 1,908 toiletry bags for Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, a local nonprofit that provides emergency shelter and support services, including housing programs for families and people working toward recovery. The specificity in the number of kits is intentional: 1,908 reflects AKAs founding year, 1908. After the event, the bags will be delivered to the rescue missions family shelter and recovery housing sites.

The chapters service calendar stays full throughout the year, Sewell said.

If I were to add it up, I would say we participate in at least 10 volunteer opportunities per month, she said. So, youre talking 100 to 150 volunteer service opportunities per year. There are several hours that go into our volunteerism, over 2,000 hours per year.

LPO is part of the Divine Nine  nine historically Black fraternities and sororities under the National Pan-Hellenic Council, founded when Black students, excluded from White Greek systems, created their own organizations around scholarship, leadership and service.

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Dr. King was part of that tradition.

He was initiated into Bostons Sigma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in June 1952. Alpha Phi Alpha (APA) was founded in 1906 as the first Black Greek-letter fraternity; AKA is the first Black Greek-letter sorority.

AKAs purpose statement includes a directive members repeat as a standard: to be of service to all mankind.

Jacqueline Newman has spent decades living by that. She became an AKA member in 1970 at Wayne State University. When the sororitys LPO chapter was chartered in Detroit in 1977, she became a founding charter member. She now serves as the chapter historian.

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What we do is we try to help, whenever we can, wherever we can, Newman said. We love children, so we are in different schools to help feed students. Weve clothed students. Weve given Thanksgiving baskets. Weve given scholarships, and it was not only to women or girls. It has been to men also. And no matter your race. Thats what I look at as service to all mankind, to all people that are in need. Thats what we do.

Newmans own timeline begins in the South. She was 13 and living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, when Dr. King spoke in Detroit in 1963.

I was part of the South that he was trying to free from civil rights injustices, she said.

Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Lambda Pi Omega Chapter attend the 117th Founders Day Celebration on March 29 2025. (Photo courtesy AKA Lambda Pi Omega Chapter)

She moved to Detroit in 1965 with her family. My mom and my dad were teachers and the employment was better here in Detroit, Newman said. Her mother became a member of AKA in 1962; Newman described her own membership as legacy. So, it was mainly a legacy for me. I followed in my moms footsteps.

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Her history of service began before she joined AKA. In the South, she said, I saw so many injustices done, especially to our people. I was marching and doing civil rights things when I was 11, 12, 13 years old before I came here to Michigan.

Those experiences compelled her to action  you dont want anybody else to have to go through what you went through, Newman said.

When you have seen a man hung on a tree, it hits you a little more, Newman said. If you have lived through it, its different.

Detroit remembers Dr. Kings dream speech because it heard it early. Lambda Pi Omega is betting its Martin Luther King Jr. Day on a simpler goal: what gets done, who gets served, and whether the work continues when the holiday ends.

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As Sewell said, service is about direct support and long-term civic work.

Service for me is about uplifting others within our community who are of greatest need, she said. It is advocating for social justice, making sure our community is informed and educated and registered to vote and getting out to vote, thinking about the whole of the individual, from cradle to senior.
As of the evening of Jan. 17, Louise Guyton had not planned out her entire itinerary for Monday.

However, the 77-year-old Detroiter knew for sure that she would carve out considerable time to reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the federal holiday, which honors the Civil Rights icon, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and famed orator.

And at some point during those periods of deep contemplation, Guyton says there is no doubt that her mind will take her back to a moment in American history that stunned the world.

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At the time Dr. King was assassinated (on April 4, 1968), I was about 10 minutes away, recalls the then 20-year-old Guyton, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, where she attended segregated schools growing up and became accustomed to separate water fountains and separate seating at movie theaters for Blacks and Whites during the Jim Crow era.

I was visiting my oldest sister (Yvonne Green Montaque) and we were about to go downtown when we heard the news that 'Kings been shot. And my sister said that it had to have taken place at the Lorraine Motel (located at 450 Mulberry Street in downtown Memphis).

Later everyone around me was trying to figure out how James Earl Ray (the person convicted of fatally shooting King from the window of a neighboring rooming house as King stood on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel) was able to get out of the city without being captured that day because the downtown streets were blocked off immediately.

Following the assassination of King, who came to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers, widespread grief quickly transformed into civil unrest across America, including Detroit, where students at Detroit schools walked out of class in protest on April 5, 1968.

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Guyton took action as well, and that action shaped the rest of her life.

In appreciation for the service career banker Louise Guyton (left) provided to Detroit Community Health Connection, the nonprofit named a service award in her honor, which Guyton has been proud to present to other deserving community leaders including Byna Elliott, president and CEO of Opportunity Resource Fund. Guyton's community service in Detroit throughout her adult life is how the Memphis, Tennessee native has honored the legacy of Martin Luther King.

I was always a reader, and on a train from Memphis to Detroit the day after Dr. Kings funeral services (held in Atlanta on April 9, 1968, at Ebenezer Baptist Church and Morehouse College), I was reading every article about Dr. King that appeared in the newspaper (The Commercial Appeal, published in Memphis), explained Guyton, who had recently moved to Detroit after her husband, Curtis Guyton, found work at a Chrysler automotive plant.

There were some men on the train that I overheard, saying some racist things about Dr. King, but I was saying to myself: You cant do us like this. And I made up my mind that I was going to be a part of the (Civil Rights) Movement and that I was going to fight for civil rights.

More: Did Trump get rid of MLK Jr Day? How the holiday is different in 2026

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More: Are banks open on MLK Jr Day? What to know about the holiday

In Detroit, Guyton became directly involved in the Civil Rights Movement after meeting Dr. Claud Young, the cousin and physician to then Mayor Coleman Young, who also was the founder of the Michigan chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), a Civil Rights organization founded in 1957, whose first president was King.

Martin Luther King Jr. waves to onlookers as he leads the 125,000-strong "Walk to Freedom" march down Woodward Avenue in Detroit in 1963. From left to right in the front row are Walter Reuther, Benjamin McFall, Cmdr. George Harge (a cop with cap), King, and the Rev. C.L. Franklin. The gathering symbolized Detroit's strong connection to the Civil Rights Movement, which Louise Guyton was proud to learn about when she moved to Detroit and became a member of the Michigan chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization that was once led by King.

Dr. Young was my impact person when I came to Detroit, and I became his goddaughter, said Guyton, who through the years proudly hosted Michigan SCLC meetings and other community activities at her longtime church  Greater Burnette Baptist Church, 16801 Schoolcraft Road, founded by the Rev. Dr. J. Allen Caldwell Sr., another Detroit mentor to Guyton. Our history mattered to Dr. Young and he taught every member of the Michigan SCLC the history of the Movement because he worked alongside Dr. King.

"But he also taught us that marches were not enough. And he stressed the importance of helping people in need in our own Detroit community in any way we could.

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Guyton says she applied Dr. Youngs teachings during her banking career that began with Detroit Bank & Trust, where she received encouragement from a special customer  pioneering Detroit attorney Sylvia Hart (later Sylvia Hart Warren).

"He was my impact person when I came to Detroit and I became his god daughter," Louise Guyton said about the late Dr. Claud Young (center), who mentored Guyton and paved the way for her involvement in civil rights and community service in Detroit, as the founder of the Michigan chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization that was once led by Martin Luther King. In 1997, the Detroit Free Press photographed Dr. Young, who also was the cousin and personal physician of former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, as he left a press briefing at Sinai Hospital. At left was Dr. Bohdan Pichurko, who was chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Sinai Hospital. At right was the late Bob Berg, who was the press secretary to Mayor Young.

Attorney Sylvia Hart would always come in my line when I was a teller at a branch in the Ford Building downtown, said Guyton, who also recalled that some customers at that time, beginning in the late 1960s, avoided her line because as one gentleman openly expressed, they did not want a negress handling their banking business. Ms. Hart taught me a lot because she thought I was gifted. Her message was: Just do your thing and everything will be fine.

During a 44-year banking career in Detroit, Guyton rose from a teller to vice president of public affairs at Comerica Bank. But more than the titles she held, Guyton likes to talk about the work she was able to perform in those positions that supported her adopted city of Detroit and its people.

And when Guyton describes relationships she formed with organizations like The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW) and ARISE Detroit!, the proud tone in her voice cannot be denied.

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We helped THAW have a record fundraiser at the time, and I wrote the first check that (the late) Luther Keith (the creator of Detroits annual Neighborhoods Day) received for ARISE! Detroit, then I had the honor of serving on Luthers board, said Guyton, who continued to serve community organizations that are dear to heart after retiring from Comerica in 2013, including the Detroit Community Health Connection, which named a service award in Guytons honor that she has presented to other deserving community leaders.

How does it benefit the community? Thats the question I have always asked," Guyton said. "And once I determine that something benefits the community, I want to help everyone connected to that resource to be all that they can be. Helping people is a gift and thats a gift that God gave me to share.

And because Guyton is not done sharing her gift of giving, she hinted that a part of her personal Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebration may also include some time set aside to strategize the best way to relaunch the Greater Works Foundation (GWF), a nonprofit that Guyton established after her retirement from Comerica. GWF  created to address the physical, social, economic and educational needs of individuals and families with financial need  operated a computer lab for senior citizens in Detroit before the foundation was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I will always honor Dr. King in my heart, forever. And his life was all about service to others, so were definitely bringing the Greater Works Foundation back, because our seniors still need computer skills and anything else were able to offer, said Guyton, a past recipient of the 70 Over Seventy Award presented by Detroits Hannan Center to represent human potential that continues and increases with age.

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I never tried to build a legacy  I was living a legacy. There are so many people that have helped me help others and there is still much more we can do today.

"I will always honor Dr. King in my heart forever and his life was all about service to others," says Memphis, Tennessee native Louise Guyton, who has found many opportunities to be of service to others throughout her adult years in Guyton's adopted city of Detroit.

Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the citys neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Louise Guyton honors Martin Luther King with every act of service
Oil production in South Americas Guyana has gone from strength to strength in recent years, as international oil majors develop several new oil-producing regions. This has led Guyana to become one of the most-promising oil producers in the Americas, with high hopes for the future of low-carbon oil production. Now, following the United States intervention in neighbouring Venezuela, the holder of the worlds largest oil reserves, many are questioning whether the potential expansion of Venezuelas oil production could have a knock-on effect on Guyanas big oil plans.

The potential involvement of U.S. oil companies in Venezuelas oil industry could increase the regional risk of territorial disagreements. For example, Venezuela has previously claimed that a large, resource-rich area  Essequibo  in neighbouring Guyana actually belongs to Venezuela. Essequibo is the disputed area that constitutes roughly two-thirds of Guyana. It has vast natural resource reserves, including gold and diamonds, as well as offshore oil.

At present, the U.S. oil majors Exxon Mobil and Chevron, and Chinas CNOOC, are developing oil operations in Guyanas waters. ExxonMobil first discovered vast high-quality oil reserves off the coast of Guyana in 2015, which has led several international players to invest heavily in the countrys oil industry in recent years, supporting rapid economic development in the tiny South American country. This also led the government of Venezuela reassert its claim over the Essequibo region.

The two countries have been fighting over which country is the rightful owner of Essequibo for over a century. In 1841, a recently independent Venezuela claimed the region that had been ceded by the Dutch to Great Britain in 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars. Then, in 1831, Britain merged Essequibo with other former Dutch territories, Demerara and Berbice, to form the British colony of Guiana. In 1899, an international arbitral tribunal formally awarded the territory to Britain, while Guyana was still under its colonial rule, a ruling that Venezuela has staunchly disputed.

Venezuelas Maduro government accused Guyana and the U.S. of pursuing legal colonialism by developing the Essequibo region. However, in 2018, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Guyanas accord was legal and binding. Following the ICJ ruling, in 2023, the Maduro government launched a large-scale military buildup along the Guyanese border. It installed bases, runways, and other military infrastructure in the region and threatened to annex Essequibo. The authoritarian president held a referendum that same year, in which 95.9 percent reportedly supported the move.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the arrests of multiple criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge, including individuals convicted of murder, drug trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious offenses.

In a press release issued January 16, DHS said the operation targeted what it described as the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens operating in Minnesota communities.

DHS said the operation resulted in the arrests of 12 criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota.

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The Department contrasted the enforcement action with what it characterized as resistance from Minnesota state and local leadership, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to DHS, Minnesota sanctuary politicians have released nearly 470 criminal illegal aliens back into American communities since President Donald Trump took office. The Department also said it is calling on state and local officials to honor more than 1,360 ICE detainers, including for individuals with violent criminal histories currently in custody.

DHS said the arrests occurred as part of recent enforcement activity in Minneapolis.

As our law enforcement are facing rampant violence against them, they arrested murderers, drug traffickers, and an illegal with 24 criminal convictions in Minneapolis yesterday, said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS. These are the criminals Governor Walz and Mayor Frey are protecting. No American wants these criminals for neighbors.

Individuals Arrested During Operation Metro Surge

DHS identified the following criminal illegal aliens arrested in Minnesota:

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Hien Quoc Thai , a criminal illegal alien from Vietnam, convicted of murder

Brian Anjain , a criminal illegal alien from the Marshall Islands with 24 convictions , including assault causing bodily injury, domestic abuse, theft, interference with official acts, public intoxication, trespassing, and public nudity

Pedro Lopez-Brito , a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, convicted of assault with intent to inflict serious injury and possession of drugs, previously charged with aggravated battery

Yadrian Leyva Leyva , a criminal illegal alien from Cuba, convicted of larceny, forgery, identity theft, possession of tools for forgery or counterfeiting, and transportation of those tools

Eddy Xol-Lares , a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela, convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while aboard a vessel

Hugo Ricardo Vicente Che Ba , a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, convicted of domestic violence

Luis Angel Marquez Leal , a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of disorderly conduct and previously charged with possession of narcotics equipment, possession of cocaine, and possession of a weapon

Martinus Dawid Kunneke , a criminal illegal alien from South Africa, convicted of violating a court-ordered restraining order, with previous charges including domestic violence, assault, possession of methamphetamine, and driving under the influence

Marlon Leiva-Orellana , a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, convicted of property damage and three counts of driving under the influence, previously charged with conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed gun, and resisting a public officer

Jose Daniel Valdez Garcia , a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, convicted of fraud

Lujan Alejandro Lazaro Ortega , a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela, convicted of violation of a court order and previously charged with assault

Ionut Pedro Dumitru, a criminal illegal alien from Romania, charged with grand theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor

DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers continue daily enforcement actions aimed at removing violent criminal offenders from communities nationwide.

The arrests come amid an ongoing legal dispute between Minnesota officials and the Trump administration over Operation Metro Surge, which state and city leaders are seeking to halt through federal court action, previously reported by The Dallas Express.

DHS directs the public to wow.dhs.gov for additional information on arrests made under its Worst of the Worst initiative.
As Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pushes for free universal child care in the last 30-day session of her tenure, some lawmakers are expected to push back amid shrinking revenues and other concerns, raising questions about whether the governor will be able to get the highly touted initiative across the finish line before her term is up.

Big initiatives championed or supported by Lujan Grisham during her tenure have experienced incremental success.

Opportunity Scholarship: Lujan Grisham announced a plan in September 2019 to provide free college tuition for state residents. In the 2020 legislative session, legislators appropriated $10 million for a pilot. The following year, the proposal gained traction, passing in the Senate, but didn't make it to the House. Lujan Grisham claimed victory in 2022 when the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Act cleared both chambers of the Legislature.

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Free school meals: In 2020, Lujan Grisham signed a measure to provide free breakfast and lunch to thousands of low-income public school students. In the 2023 session, she made a proposal to provide free school meals for all public school students, regardless of family income, one of her legislative priorities. She won unanimous approval from both chambers of the Legislature the same year.

Recreational cannabis: While campaigning for governor in 2018, Lujan Grisham said shed support legalizing recreational marijuana but only after serious study of legalization in other states, such as Colorado. A bill failed in 2019, but the governor said at the end of the session she would make it a priority in 2020. Three months later, her office announced the creation of a working group to study proposals to legalize recreational marijuana and make recommendations for legislation. A bill in the 2020 session died, however, during a late-night hearing. The following year, the proposal passed in the House but stalled in the Senate, prompting Lujan Grisham to call a special session a few weeks later, where the cannabis bill finally passed.

Repeal of abortion ban: Lujan Grisham, an avowed supporter of abortion rights, said during her first campaign for governor she would support legislation to repeal an old but unenforceable state law that made abortion a crime. In her first State of the State address in 2019 after winning election, she urged lawmakers to get it passed. The proposal made it out of the House but stalled in the Senate after a number of conservative Democrats joined with Republicans to reject it. Five of those Senate Democrats later lost their primary races to more progressive candidates who made the anti-abortion law a big campaign issue. The repeal was then brought back in 2021 and reached the governor's desk.

Clean fuel standards: A bill to reduce New Mexico's carbon footprint by implementing a statewide clean fuel standard cleared the Senate but did not get taken up by the full House in 2021. The proposal passed the Senate the next two years but died in the House both times until it eventually passed both chambers in 2024.

Rural Health Care Delivery Fund: In her first State of the State address of her second term, Lujan Grisham called for establishing a Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to help rural providers offset operating losses and startup costs for new or expanded services, starting with a $200 million investment. Although the fund didn't receive the full appropriation the governor wanted, the Legislature signed off on the proposal.
POMPEII, Italy, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A love note, a gladiatorial combat scene, a barrage of insults and everyday confessions have emerged on a wall in Pompeii, thanks to new imaging technology that has revealed nearly 80 previously unseen inscriptions.

The once-thriving city of Pompeii, near Naples, was buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, preserving buildings, objects and graffiti under metres of ash.

Rediscovered in the 18th century, it is now one of the world's most significant archaeological sites.

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The latest discoveries were found etched into the plaster of a long corridor connecting Pompeii's theatres to the city's busy Via Stabiana that was first uncovered more than 230 years ago.

Researchers used a computational photography method known as Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) that captures an object under multiple lighting angles  to expose faint scratches invisible to the naked eye after centuries of erosion.

Archaeologists had not expected fresh discoveries on a surface considered thoroughly documented, but their work identified around 300 inscriptions, including 79 new ones.

The so-called "corridor whispers" project was developed by researchers Louis Autin and Eloise Letellier-Taillefer of the Sorbonne University in Paris and Marie-Adeline Le Guennec of Quebec University, working with the Pompeii authorities.

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"This technology is the key that opens new rooms of the ancient world," said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the vast archaeological site, adding that Pompeii's more than 10,000 known inscriptions form an "immense heritage" of the ancient world.

The team is developing a 3D platform that will combine photogrammetry, RTI data and epigraphic metadata to allow full visualisation and annotation of the graffiti.

Examples of previously known texts include a hurried farewell to a lover -- "I am in a hurry. Farewell, my Sava, make sure you love me!". Another inscription records the devotion of Methe, a slave from Atella, to her beloved Cresto, with a plea for the favour of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.

Among the new discoveries were a faint sketch of two gladiators fighting and the beginnings of a declaration of love -- "Erato loves..."

(Reporting by Crispian BalmerEditing by Gareth Jones)
Don Lemon said he was not a fan of how the Minnesota pastor he interviewed over the weekend dealt with anti-ICE protesters storming his church and wrecking its service, with Lemon arguing the pastor did not handle the situation like a good Christian would.

Lemon went on the Ive Had It podcast on Monday to discuss the chaotic scene from a day earlier. He told progressive host Jennifer Welch that he understood why pastor Jonathan Parnell was upset by the protesters ruining his service  but that he should have welcomed them with open arms anyway.

The ex-CNN star said:

What I wouldve done, Jen, is I wouldve said No, we live in a country where we welcome dissent, we welcome the right to peaceably assemble. We welcome that. And so, we may not like it [because] it is uncomfortable. But that is what protest is about  discomfort. So since youre here, please, please, calm down, lets try to talk. What would you like us to do?

Lemon added a moment later that the pastor had a natural reaction when he started to preach against the protesters.

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But I think if youre going to be a representative of the Lord and of God, then perhaps you should conduct yourself as such, he said.

The media veteran may have viewed the protest as a peaceful one, but the Trump Justice Department did not.

Harmeet Dhillon, the DOJs assistant attorney general for civil rights, publicly rebuked Lemon on Sunday night.

A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service, she wrote on X. You are on notice!

A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice! https://t.co/5QASu6N4OE  AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) January 19, 2026

Welch told Lemon on Monday that the Justice Department and its leaders, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, clearly had their panties in a wad over Lemon following the protesters into the church. The reason?

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They have a problem with those kind of white people being confronted and called out on their hypocrisy, Welch claimed.

She said the people who attend churches like the one Lemon went to  Cities Church in Minneapolis  are full of racist Donald Trump supporters.

That is one of those White Evangelical churches that turn out to vote for Donald Trump, 80+ percent of that sect of Christianity, Welch said. These are the Dont Tread on Me folks, the people who feel like America is for Americans and America only. These are white nationalists.

Her conversation with Lemon comes after Lemon livestreamed the anti-ICE protesters storming a church and confronting the pastor because they believed he worked as an immigration agent.

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The protesters ran into the church and started screaming and chanting slogans like Hands Up, Dont Shoot! and ICE OUT repeatedly.

A number of church attendees were irate with the intrusion and yelled at the protesters to beat it. Lemon defended the protesters  saying they were simply exercising their Constitutional rights to protest.

This is what the First Amendment is about, the freedom to protest, Lemon told viewers. Im sure people here dont like it, but protests are not comfortable.

He noted a moment later that a young man was not comfortable with the loud interruption and was frightened scared [and] crying in the corner.

Watch above.

The post Don Lemon Slams Minnesota Pastor for Not Acting As a Representative of the Lord When Anti-ICE Protesters Stormed Church first appeared on Mediaite.
President Donald Trump appears to still be upset that the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize went to someone other than him, now suggesting that the snub was somehow linked to his push to acquire Greenland, the Danish semi-autonomous territory.

In an extraordinary message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, first reported by PBS NewsHour, Trump said he no longer feels constrained by an obligation to consider peace, adding that he is primarily focused on advancing U.S. interests.

Politics: 2 Top Ex-Trump Officials Flag Palpable Cognitive Decline: Hes Mentally Slipping

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, Trump wrote to Stre, according to Bloomberg and PBS NewsHour. Although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.

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The Nobel committees five members are appointed by Norways parliament, and the countrys government is not involved in the selection of the laureates.

In a statement, Stre said Trumps message came shortly after he and Finnish President Alexander Stubb reached out to the U.S. president to express their opposition to Trumps threat to impose new tariffs on Finland, Norway and other countries starting Feb. 1 over their objection to his goal to acquire Greenland.

Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter, Stre said. We also support that NATO in a responsible way is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic.

Stre added that he has repeatedly made clear to Trump that the Norwegian government has no input on the selection of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. This years Nobel laureate Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented Trump with her award during her recent visit to the White House, later saying that the U.S. president deserves the honor.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during the greetings ceremony at the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, on Oct. 13, 2025. Yoan Valat/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

While Trumps relentless push for U.S. control of Greenland has encountered stiff opposition both at home and abroad, the president questioned why Denmark, a NATO ally, has control of the Arctic island.

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Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? Trump asked Stre.

Politics: Katie Millers 'America First' Davos Dig At Gavin Newsom Goes Sideways In A Hurry

There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also, he added. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.

Greenland was incorporated into Denmark in 1953, but remains self-governed and has its own parliament.

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CORRECTION: This story has been amended to clarify that Trump wrote a text message to Stre.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
Angela Clyburn says her husband wanted to buy breakfast, went to Whitehall Commons shopping center in southwest Charlotte, and ended up hitting a pothole on the loop road in the parking lot.

>>CLICK HERE for more Action 9 reports

We come to spend $15-$20 that morning and end up out-of-pocket [$]500, she said.

She says it cost them two tires.

Other people had to have damaged their tires. They had to, she told Action 9 attorney Jason Stoogenke during an interview at the shopping center.

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Another driver stopped and told Stoogenke had to replace two tires, as well.

This pothole was on private property. So, Action 9 started with the company that manages the shopping center. They say Publix owns that road and that theyve made the grocery chain aware of potholes in the past. After Stoogenke got involved -- someone patched the pothole.

Its not clear who fixed the pothole.

Publix emailed Stoogenke and said it doesnt own that street and referred him back to the landlord or property owners association.

If a pothole damages your car:

Document the damage.

Figure out who maintains the road: The city of Charlotte, the state, or private.

Submit your claim.

If the City of Charlotte maintains the road:

Submit a claim here.

Risk management rules on your claim.

If it is denied, appeals can be made to the claims manager and then the city attorneys office.

If the state maintains the road:

Submit a claim here.

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The North Carolina Attorney Generals office rules on your claim.

If it is denied, you can appeal to the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

Either way -- city or state -- you need to prove two things to win:

The government knew about the pothole.

It had enough time to fix it.

You can always sue, but it may still be hard to win.

VIDEO: Avoid pothole problems with these tips from Consumer Reports
Na'eh, aged 62, served as Israel's first ambassador to the Gulf country, following the signing of the Abraham Accords.

Eitan Na'eh, who served as Israel's first ambassador to Bahrain following the signing of the Abraham Accords, passed away on Monday, aged 62.

Na'eh served in the ambassadorial post from December 2021 until November 2023.

Na'eh's tenure as ambassador ended in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre and the start of the Israel-Hamas War. A Bahraini parliamentary statement at the time insinuated that his term ended directly because of the conflict.

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The Bahraini authorities, on November 2, 2023, commented that Na'eh had left Manama and "returned home a while ago."

Na'eh also served as the initial head of Israel's mission to Abu Dhabi from January to October 2021.

Ambassador Na'eh opens the new embassy in Manama, September 2023. (credit: Courtesy)

Na'eh, as recently as January 9, was posting on X/Twitter about ongoing tensions in Iran, and reports that Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammag Bagher Ghalibaf was attempting to seek refuge in France.

The previous week, he shared footage of the emotional interview former hostage Romi Gonen gave to Channel 12's "Uvda" program about her experiences in Hamas's terror captivity.

Na'eh eulogized as diplomatic with decades of 'devoted service' for Israel

Na'eh had also served as ambassador to Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as 35 years of "devoted service" for the Foreign Ministry, Gideon Sa'ar eulogized on X.

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Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who was the official who appointed Na'eh as the first ambassador to Bahrain, wrote that he shared in the family's grief, and commented that Na'eh "served Israel devotedly for over 35 years."

Reuters contributed to this report.
At a glance

 Logan Thomas Williams received consecutive life sentences plus 20 years following convictions on multiple sex crimes involving a child.

 The offenses began when the victim was 9 years old and continued for more than two years, according to trial testimony.

 Under Alabama law, Williams is not eligible for parole or early release due to the nature of the crimes.

GADSDEN  Logan Thomas Williams was sentenced to life in prison Thursday, Jan. 15, after being convicted of multiple sex crimes involving a child, according to court officials.

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Williams appeared before Etowah County Circuit Judge Cody Robinson on Jan. 8 for sentencing following his convictions for first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse of a child younger than 12. An Etowah County jury found Williams guilty after hearing testimony from the minor victim, who described recurring sexual abuse, sodomy and rape that began when she was 9 years old and continued for more than two years.

Noting the victims testimony at trial, Robinson said the nature and severity of the offenses of which [Williams] was found guilty compels the Court to impose a sentence commiserate with the heinousness of the crime and in compliance with the law.

Robinson ordered Williams to serve life imprisonment sentences for each of the rape and sodomy convictions, as well as a 20-year sentence for sexual abuse of a child under 12. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.

Under Alabama law, individuals convicted of sexual offenses involving children younger than 12 are not eligible for probation, parole, community corrections, correctional incentive time or other early release programs.

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In closing, I would just like to say that the most sacred obligation that we have is to protect our children, Robinson said. And I hope that the Court, by issuing this sentence, demonstrates that those who prey on and abuse children in Etowah County will be punished to the maximum extent allowed by the law.

The Etowah County District Attorneys Office expressed appreciation to the victim and her family, as well as investigators with the Rainbow City Police Department, the James M. Barrie Center and the Department of Human Resources. The office also said it was grateful for the sentences imposed and the courts comments given the facts of the case.
Jan. 18 (UPI) -- European Union ambassadors convened in an emergency meeting Sunday following President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on eight NATO nations who sent troops to Greenland.

Trump's desire to purchase the Danish territory stems from his belief that such a transaction would facilitate the protection of North America and prevent China or Russia from seizing the land.

He announced potential sanctions against Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom on Saturday, following protests in Greenland's capital, Nuuk.

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Trump said that if they didn't remove their troops from Greenland, he would impose 10% tariffs beginning Feb. 1 and 25% tariffs beginning June 1.

On Sunday, leaders met to discuss retaliatory measures against the United States.

"We stand in full solidarity with the kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland," officials said in a statement. "Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind."

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the statement continued. "We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty."

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Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, said Sunday that EU officials will meet in person on Thursday as the conversation regarding their response continues.

France's president, Emmanuel Macron, has said the EU should respond with a 2023 anti-coercion measure known as the "bazooka," which would limit trade for American companies.

He took to X to express his dissatisfaction with Trump's threat.

"No intimidation or threat will influence us -- neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations," he said, per CNN.

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The U.S.-EU trade deal also appears to be at a standstill, given the situation.

Manfred Weber, who helms European People's Party, said such an agreement is "not possible at this stage."

The emergency meeting comes ahead of this week's World Economic Forum, which takes place in Davos, Switzerland, and will feature conversations about trade.

Trump is among the world leaders who will be in attendance.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insinuated the tariffs were an emergency response.

"The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency," he said on Meet the Press.

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, meanwhile, said that if Trump employs the military to further his goals of acquiring Greenland, the NATO alliance could fracture.

"If he wants to purchase Greenland, that's one thing. But for him to militarily invade would turn Article 5 o NATO on its very head, and, in essence, press a war with NATO itself," he said, ABC reported. "It would end up abolishing NATO as we know it."
Europe must stand its ground in the face of US President Donald Trump's tariff threat over Greenland, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday.

"It is clear that we want to stand our ground, as a country and as a continent," Merz said in Berlin. "It is up to us, and in Germany we want to accept the realities, take responsibility and lead the way for Germany."

Speaking after consultations with his conservative Christian Democrats, Merz said there is broad agreement among Europeans that further tariff threats weaken trans-Atlantic relations, carrying the risk of escalation.

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The comments came after Trump on Saturday said he would slap a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark and seven other European countries starting February 1 and rising to 25% from June 1 if no resolution is reached to his satisfaction, which would be the "complete and total purchase" of Danish-administered Greenland.

Trump has insisted that US control of the Arctic island is necessary to protect the region from Russia and China. The heavy-handed demand has faced opposition from within Greenland, in Copenhagen and among Denmark's European allies.

Merz warned that US consumers would pay the price of the 10% tariffs. but acknowledged they would cause harm to the German and European economies.

"Customs duties are usually paid by those in whose country the imports go," he argued. "In this case, US consumers would pay the customs duties, but they would of course also damage our economy, the European economy and the German economy in particular, which is why we want to find a solution here."
By Muvija M and Paul Sandle

LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Britain aims to refine its competition regime, pledging to make it "faster, more predictable and more proportionate", launching a formal consultation in what could be a major overhaul of one of the world's toughest regulatory frameworks.

The government said it planned to speed up and simplify anti-trust probes, "working closely with the CMA (competition regulator) while preserving its independence".

The consultation proposes changes in the ways the CMA makes decisions in mergers and markets investigations, to ensure market remedies are regularly reviewed, and to provide greater certainty for businesses on whether deals will face merger control, it added.

"These proposals, which will be taken forward in close collaboration with the CMA, will not alter the independence of CMA decision-making from Ministers," it added.

The CMA said on Monday that it would review its historical interventions to check if they were still necessary to ease the burden of compliance, identifying 33 market remedies - 60% of all those in place - that may no longer be needed.

The government also said the state-owned development bank will invest 25 million pounds ($34 million) in Kraken Technologies in its largest direct funding, backing the AI energy software firm ahead of a potential London listing.

The investment in Kraken - valued at $8.45 billion after its spin-off from UK-based Octopus Energy last year - follows reforms to the British Business Bank's mandate allowing it to take bigger, higher-risk stakes in key scale-ups, the government said.

"For too long, Britain's most promising companies have had to look abroad for the backing they need to grow," business minister Peter Kyle said.

"We are placing big bets on the industries where Britain can win, backing our innovators with real firepower, and cutting the red tape that holds them back."

The BBB, owned by the government's business department but operationally independent, will separately invest 50 million pounds each in venture capital firms Epidarex Capital and IQ Capital, the statement said.

Kraken, which supplies energy software to utilities and energy groups - including EDF, National Grid U.S. and Tokyo Gas -, has 70 million global customers and "may list in London" following its demerger, the government added.

($1 = 0.7448 pounds)

(Reporting by Muvija M and Paul SandleEditing by Mark Potter and David Gregorio)
Europe's top diplomats convened emergency talks after President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs tied to his push to take control of Greenland. Now, leaders are planning an extraordinary summit to coordinate a unified response.

The threat, aimed at eight close U.S. allies, has turned a tense standoff into a full-blown transatlantic showdown, with stakes for trade, NATO cooperation, and Greenland's future.

Europe's alliance tested

European Union ambassadors met for hours in Brussels on Sunday to map out how to respond after Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. would impose a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland starting Feb. 1. He said the tariff would rise to 25% in June unless these nations agree to talks over the sale of Greenland.

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EU leaders are openly calling the ultimatum coercive and a threat to decades-old partnerships.

"We remain united and coordinated in our defense of sovereignty," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. She said the bloc will protect Denmark and Greenland's territorial integrity.

Britain's prime minister, Keir Starmer, on Monday also took a public stand, calling Trump's tariff threats against NATO allies "completely wrong" and warning a trade war is "in no one's interest," while insisting Greenland's future belongs to its people and Denmark alone.

European Council President Antonio Costa said he would convene an extraordinary summit of E.U. heads of state and government later this week to escalate the response.

Public outcry and protests

The dispute has spilled into the streets.

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Thousands marched through Nuuk, Greenland's capital, in freezing conditions over the weekend chanting "Greenland is not for sale." Protests spread to Copenhagen and other Danish cities, as opposition hardened to any U.S. push to claim the island.

People wave Greenlandic flags as they take part in a demonstration that gathered almost a third of the city population to protest against the US President's plans to take Greenland, on January 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland. (Photo by Alessandro RAMPAZZO / AFP via Getty Images)

European leaders and citizens alike are treating the tariff threat as a sovereignty fight, not just a trade dispute. Danish and Nordic officials have publicly rejected the notion of selling or ceding control of Greenland.

NATO strains and strategic debate

The emergency talks are exposing new strain inside the Atlantic alliance.

NATO allies sent small contingents to Greenland last week for Operation Arctic Endurance, a defensive exercise meant to boost Arctic security, not to provoke a confrontation. Europe views that deployment as transparent and lawful.

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But Trump administration officials see it differently.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the strategy on Sunday, saying American control of Greenland would prevent future crises involving Russia or other powers.

"If there were an attack on Greenland from Russia, from some other area, we would get dragged in. So better now, peace through strength, make it part of the United States.," Bessent said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "The European leaders will come around and they will understand that they need to be under the U.S. security umbrella."

Military personnel from the German armed Forces Bundeswehr board Icelandair flight leaving Nuuk airport for Reykjavik on January 18, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland. (Photo by Alessandro RAMPAZZO / AFP via Getty Images)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed he spoke with Trump about the situation and said the issue would carry into meetings later this week in Davos, Switzerland.

A unified European front for now

Early statements suggest Europe is closing ranks.

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Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK issued a joint warning that tariffs would "undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the E.U. to prepare forceful countermeasures, including the activation of a seldom-used anti-coercion tool known in Brussels as the trade "bazooka."

Critics warn Trump's pressure campaign could weaken NATO and sett of a retaliation that reshapes decades of cooperation.

The summit later this week now becomes the test: whether both sides find an off-ramp - or slide into a confrontation that could rewrite the Atlantic alliance.

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The post Europe unites against Trump's Greenland tariffs threat, emergency summit called appeared first on Straight Arrow News.

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Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said "Europe won't be blackmailed" by Donald Trump's tariff threats over Greenland.

The US president has said he will impose a new 10% levy on goods from eight allied nations if they oppose his proposed takeover of the autonomous Danish territory.

Frederiksen and other European leaders issued a joint statement on Sunday, saying the tariffs risked "undermin[ing] transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral".

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On Monday, Trump said Nato had been "telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.' Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

Trump insists Greenland is critical for US security and has previously said Washington would get the territory "the easy way" or "the hard way". He has not ruled out use of force, which has drawn widespread criticism.

The new tariffs - taxes on imports - would be imposed on Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK, Trump said on Saturday.

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He said an initial 10% tariff would come into force on 1 February "on any and all goods" sent to the US, but could rise to 25% in June.

The levies would "be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland", he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

In their joint statement, the leaders of those eight countries reiterated their "full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland".

They also stressed their commitment to "strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest" as members of the Nato military alliance.

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"We stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind," the statement reads.

Separately, Frederiksen wrote on Facebook: "We want to cooperate and we are not the ones seeking conflict. And I am happy for the consistent messages from the rest of the continent: Europe will not be blackmailed."

"It is all the more important that we stand firm on the fundamental values that created the European community."

Elsewhere on Sunday, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the threat of tariffs was "completely wrong".

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Sir Keir, who so far has maintained a strong relationship with Trump, said the UK would be pursuing the matter directly with the White House.

Greenland is a sparsely populated but resource-rich. Its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and for monitoring vessels in the region.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday told NBC News' Meet the Press programme that "Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the US, and it will not need to be defended if it is part of the US".

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"I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe and best for the United States," he said.

Speaking to the BBC World Service's Newshour programme, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said mutual respect for sovereignty is a "non-negotiable" principle of international law and co-operation.

"If we are to live in peace and if we are to be able to co-operate on shared problems, we have to start by the mutual recognition of each others sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

It is still unclear how the tariffs will affect those Trump has already imposed on the UK and EU. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is working to co-ordinate the European response to the tariff threats, said he would request that the EU activate its "anti-coercion instrument" if Trump does impose them.

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The US president is due to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday on the theme "how can we co-operate in a more contested world?" Macron, as well as the leaders of Germany and the EU, will also be attending the annual conference.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who will also be there, said his country was "concerned by the recent escalation" and that it would be "significantly increasing Arctic security  strengthening our military and investing in critical infrastructure".

"Canada strongly believes that the best way to secure the Arctic is by working together within Nato," he also wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Nato chief Rutte has said he has spoken to Trump "regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic".

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"We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week," he added.

Public anger in both Denmark and Greenland at Trump's threats over Greenland appears undiminished. Demonstrations against Trump's takeover plans were held in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, on Saturday - before the tariff announcement - as well as in Danish cities.

These rallies coincided with a visit to Copenhagen by a delegation from the US Congress. Its leader, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, said Trump's rhetoric was "not constructive".

The island's representative to the US has said that the last time Greenlanders were asked if they wanted to be part of the US, in January 2025, only 6% were in favour of doing so, while 85% were against.

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A recent poll suggests that most Americans also oppose US control of Greenland. A Reuters/Ipsos poll, which was released last Wednesday, indicated just 17% of Americans support the US taking Greenland, compared to 47% who said they opposed Trump's push to acquire the island.
The European Parliament will vote in plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday 20 January on applying an accelerated procedure to approve a 90 billion European Union loan to Ukraine for 20262027.

Source: European Parliament's press service to European Pravda

Details: On 20 January, MEPs will decide whether to use an urgent procedure to adopt legislation that would allow the EU to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion loan over the next two years.

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"On Tuesday, a vote will take place on an accelerated procedure for approving enhanced cooperation among 24 member states regarding a 90 billion loan to Ukraine, the establishment of the Ukraine Support Loan Facility for 2026 and 2027, as well as amendments to the Ukraine Facility Regulation," the European Parliament said.

The vote is scheduled for 13:00 Kyiv time on 20 January.

European Pravda said that the largest political groups have sufficient votes to support the decision, so its approval is expected.

This will be followed by an accelerated process of discussion and adoption of the legislative proposals put forward by the European Commission. The final texts will have to be approved by the EU Council and endorsed by the European Parliament.

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As a European Pravda journalist has learned, the next substantive discussion of the Ukrainian loan at the level of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) in Brussels will take place as early as Wednesday 21 January.

Background:

As previously reported by European Pravda, on Wednesday 14 January, the European Commission adopted a package of legislative proposals that would allow the EU to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion loan to cover its financial and military needs in 2026 and 2027.

On the same day, the ambassadors meeting in Brussels within Coreper heard a presentation of these proposals, after which some diplomats raised technical questions.

On 1819 December, the European Council decided to grant Ukraine a 90 billion loan for 20262027, financed through EU borrowing on capital markets and backed by EU budget reserves under an enhanced cooperation mechanism.

Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia did not veto the scheme but declined to participate in it.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
The prosecution in the high-profile Rebecca Park case is facing scrutiny after defense attorneys moved to dismiss the murder charges filed against two family members citing delays in getting required evidence on time  what one former prosecutor described as an "inexcusable" failure by the prosecution.

Meanwhile a significant piece of evidence in the case that citizen sleuths and true-crime influencers online continue to press on is the location of Park's unborn baby's body. Investigators are still searching for the remains of the unborn baby authorities say died after being cut from Park's womb.

Rebecca Park, 22, of Wexford County, was found dead after being reported missing on Nov. 4, four family members have been charged in relation to her death.

In what was supposed to be a probable cause conference in Wexford County on Jan. 13, defense attorneys for Cortney and Bradly Bartholomew argued that if the prosecution isn't prepared to turn over required discovery  including police reports, autopsy reports or other physical evidence  then the Bartholomews should have never been charged. The couple  Park's biological mother and her husband  are charged in the killing.

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The prosecution had a 21-day deadline to turn over discovery. But the pair's attorneys Tracie Dinehart and Harry Mihas argued in court that the only documents they reviewed are the probable cause affidavits against their clients, which they first obtained on Facebook rather than through the prosecution. Despite repeated requests for discovery, the attorneys said they've been told by the Michigan Department of Attorney General that the case is still under investigation.

Mihas said during the court hearing that the discovery was being "held hostage" and "stop playing games with our client's lives." And Dinehart said her client's due process has been violated because of the delay. "My client continues to sit incarcerated, held without a bond," she said of Cortney Bartholomew.

In a statement to the Free Press, the Michigan Department of Attorney General, which is assisting in the Wexford County investigation, described the defense's move as an attempt to try the case in the "court of public opinion."

Both the Wexford County Prosecutor's Office and Department of Attorney General have been in "constant communication about discovery" with the defense, said Kimberly Bush, a spokesperson for the Department of Attorney General, in an email.

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"As you can imagine, discovery on this case is voluminous and includes many pieces of sensitive information. Unfortunately, the defense team denied our request to safeguard and preserve evidence from public dissemination until the trial. There has been no delay in providing discovery on our behalf, and any allegations contrary are simply an attempt to move this case from the court of law to the court of public opinion."

The prosecution argued in court that discovery will be available soon, and that for the defense attorneys to assume the Department of Attorney General has "dug in their heels" is "not appropriate."

More: Suspects told police Rebecca Park's baby put in cooler, thrown in trash

More: Rebecca Park probe attracts citizen sleuths, shocking livestreams

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Attorneys for the Bartholomews declined Free Press requests for comment.

"It is absolutely inexcusable that there is now a show-cause hearing ... for the Attorney General's Office to explain why it hasn't provided discovery to defense lawyers in what is arguably one of the more horrific cases, horrific fact patterns, that I can think of," John Freeman, a Bloomfield Hills defense attorney and former federal and state prosecutor, told the Free Press when asked about the discovery delay.

"I can't think of a legitimate reason. ... And I can't think of a better way to mess up what seems to be a pretty straightforward prosecution."

84th District Court Judge Corey Wiggins noted that the Attorney General's Office is asking for a protective order on discovery. A show-cause hearing is now scheduled at 10 a.m. on Jan. 30.

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The law requires prosecutors to provide discovery early in the proceedings to allow the defense adequate time to prepare. When that doesnt happen, judges can impose sanctions they see fit  including exclusion of evidence that wasn't turned over in time, or in extreme cases, dismissal. Freeman said that the motion to dismiss charges from Bartholomew's attorneys is what one would expect, although those motions are rarely granted in this scenario.

"Any sort of dismissal would be without prejudice, meaning that the prosecutor could refile the charges," Freeman said.

The prosecution will have the opportunity to explain themselves at the show-cause hearing scheduled at the end of January.

Search continues

At the same time, the absence of the unborn babys body may be limiting the charges prosecutors can bring.

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Under Michigan law, murder charges tied specifically to the child require proof the baby was born alive outside of the womb  a standard that is difficult to meet without physical evidence.

That proof typically comes from medical evidence  such as evidence of breathing, a heartbeat, or other signs of life  often established through an autopsy.

Without an autopsy, "it would be very, very challenging" to prove Park's child was alive outside of the mother's womb, Freeman said.

The Bartholomews are accused of killing Park, who went missing at 38 weeks pregnant, and cutting her unborn baby from her womb. Authorities would find the young mother's body on Nov. 25 in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The Bartholomews are charged with eight crimes in the killing, including first-degree murder, torture and assault of a pregnant woman with the intention to cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

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The Wexford County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment when previously asked about potential murder charges for Park's unborn baby.

The Bartholomews gave detectives several different accounts of how and why Park was killed, including pointing to alternative suspects before ultimately blaming each other in the pregnant woman's killing and death of her unborn baby, according to an affidavit describing law enforcement interviews with the suspects.

Cortney Bartholomew told detectives her husband planned the killing as part of a revenge plot against Park's fiance, who allegedly triggered an investigation that put Bradly Bartholomew back in jail on a sex offender registration violation, according to the affidavit. Meanwhile Bradly Bartholomew told detectives that "Cortney was mad because Rebecca was always bad mouthing her and wouldn't give her a chance to be a mom," and that "Cortney wanted the baby for herself."

The affidavit also says Cortney Bartholomew admitted she cut the baby from Park's womb, and she and her husband both admitted they disposed of the child in a blue lunch cooler that was thrown in a random trash bin, the affidavit details.

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In the affidavits against the Bartholomews, both told investigators the baby never took a breath and they never heard the child cry, the documents detail. Cortney Bartholomew tried CPR on the child, according to the affidavit.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Evidence delays Rebecca Park case; unborn baby's remains still missing
A judge granted bond for the former DeKalb County Schools superintendent Monday but would not let him return home after he was accused of strangling his wife.

Dr. Devon Hortons wife told the judge she wanted him to come back home.

I need my children to have their father here in the home, Christiane Horton said. Even in the moment that things were escalating, I was never fearful for their life. My children were never in danger.

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The DeKalb County judge allowed former Devon Horton to bond out but with several conditions - he cant live in his Stone Mountain home with his wife and kids, and he cant have any in-person contact with his wife.

Police arrested him Saturday after he was accused of strangling her in front of their two young children.

That offers a lot of concern, the judge said. It does not take much pressure for something worse to happen.

Christiane Horton she didnt call 911, and she wants her husband home while he fights the charges of aggravated assault and child cruelty.

She said her husband has been stressed out since the feds indicted him on fraud charges for allegedly stealing money from his last school district in Illinois.

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He resigned in DeKalb after he was charged in October, and he is now under investigation there for decisions he made during his two years as superintendent.

Some DeKalb school district employees told Channel 2s Tyisha Fernandes they are not surprised that police arrested their former superintendent.

One of them posted to Facebook, Raise your hand if youre a woman and experienced his temper flip in person.

His wife said he was not a threat.

I know hes very remorseful and that this would never happen again. Its never happened period. Hes not a violent person I just feel hes under a lot of stress, she said in court.

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Devon Horton can see his children in person, as long as he goes through a third party to pick them up.

His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

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OSLO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Here is the full text of the exchange between Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, trade and the Nobel Peace Prize, as released by Norway's government on Monday under the country's freedom of information act.

Stoere said he sent the initial text message on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, referred to as "Alex".

Text message from Prime Minister Stoere to President Trump, January 18 at 3:48 p.m. Oslo time (1448 GMT):

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"Dear Mr President, dear Donald - on the contact across the Atlantic - on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine - and your tariff announcement yesterday. You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate - so much is happening around us where we need to stand together. We are proposing a call with you later today - with both of us or separately - give us a hint of what you prefer! Best - Alex and Jonas"

Text message from President Trump to Prime Minister Stoere, January 18 at 4:15 p.m. Oslo time (1515 GMT):

"Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a "right of ownership" anyway? There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT"

(Reporting by Nora Buli; Editing by Terje Solsvik and Andrea Ricci)
Climate change and its related risks are directly influencing Australia's property market and lending landscape.

According to national assessments, risks tied to flooding, bushfires, and extreme heat are increasingly being priced into home values, mortgages, and insurance.

What's happening?

According to Broker News, climate-related risks are directly affecting Australia's property market and lending landscape.

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More than 3,000 homes were destroyed during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, while nearly 2,000 homes were inundated during the 2022 floods in Lismore.

As analysis from the Climate Council and PropTrack detailed, flood risk alone has wiped an estimated $42 billion from property values nationwide.

Meanwhile, a federal National Climate Risk Assessment warned that climate impacts could erase up to $571 billion from Australia's property market by 2030, with losses projected to reach $770 billion by 2100.

Why are rising costs important?

More than 1.5 million Australians are expected to be living in high- or very-high-risk coastal areas by 2025 due to extreme heat, flooding, and rising sea levels  which are all exacerbated by human influence.

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An estimated 650,000 homes and businesses are already at high risk from one or more hazards, representing almost one in every 23 properties.

The Climate Council said the largest losses are linked to flood risks in lower-income areas.

"One thing that is very clear from this climate assessment is that our whole country has a lot at stake," Chris Bowen, Climate Change and Energy Minister, told Broker News.

Similar pressures have been seen in the United States, where climate-driven insurance risk is also lowering home values and reshaping lending decisions.

Rising premiums and shrinking coverage are forcing insurers and lenders to reassess long-term exposure in disaster-prone areas. The loss of affordable insurance can directly affect mortgage eligibility.

What's being done about extreme weather?

According to the Insurance Council of Australia, the economic toll of extreme weather has tripled.

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Relying on hazard mapping, updating building standards, and increasing resilience planning are the best ways to protect properties against long-term risk.

Meanwhile, taking climate-friendly steps, such as installing solar panels, can reduce a home's polluting impact while making homes more resilient against extreme weather.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em, right? At least, that's the growing attitude of many across the United States who have exhausted most other methods of dealing with invasive species.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, the growing "invasivorism" movement is encouraging people to help restore ecological balance by eating the species that don't belong.

When invasive plants and animals spread, they crowd out native species, damage habitats, and throw ecosystems out of sync. Traditionally, managing them has meant costly removals or chemical controls.

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But chefs, scientists, and local communities are testing a different approach: creating demand for invasive species as food, so removing them becomes part of everyday life.

One of the most cited examples is the lionfish, a striking but destructive reef predator that has spread rapidly through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. With few natural predators and an enormous appetite, lionfish can wipe out native fish populations in a matter of years.

In Florida, divers, fisheries biologists, and restaurants teamed up to turn the invader into a menu item. Events like Lionfish Restaurant Week helped show diners that ordering dinner could also support reef recovery.

This approach is catching on elsewhere, too. An invasive Hawaiian fish, called the Ta'ape, is beginning to find its place on the menus of seafood restaurants. In Mississippi, locals are making a similar push for nutria, an invasive South American rodent.

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"This is not Fear Factor," conservation biologist Joe Roman told National Wildlife magazine. "You want something tasty."

Roman, who runs the Eat the Invaders project, argues that food is one of the fastest ways to get people invested in protecting local ecosystems.

While eating invasive species will not solve the problem on its own, reducing populations through what scientists call "functional extinction" can give native species a fighting chance.

Unlike many environmental fixes, this one comes with a clear upside for everyday people: delicious new flavors, and a chance to participate in conservation without changing their entire lifestyle.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices  and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.
MADRID, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Sunday's train collision and derailment in southern Spain killed at least 39 people and left 122 injured, with officials highlighting the "strange" nature of the accident on a straight stretch of railway, while one theory pointed to a broken rail joint.

Here is what we know so far:

The accident happened at 7:45 p.m. (1845 GMT) near the town of Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360 km (223 miles) south of the capital Madrid.

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It involved two high-speed trains, one operated by the private consortium Iryo and the other by Alvia, run by Spain's public railway company Renfe.

The last two out of eight carriages of the trademark-red Iryo train going from Malaga to Madrid derailed and hit the oncoming Alvia, causing the latter's first two carriages to derail and fall down an up to five-metre (16.4 feet) embankment.

WHAT OFFICIALS ARE SAYING

There was a 20-second interval between the first derailment and the impact, too short to activate the automatic braking system, according to Renfe chief Alvaro Fernandez Heredia, who also said human error was practically ruled out.

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"It must have been some kind of failure in the rolling stock or the infrastructure, and that will take time" to investigate, he said.

Officials said the Alvia had apparently hit the derailed carriages or undercarriage debris of the Iryo. The 27-year-old driver of the Alvia train died in the crash, Renfe said.

The Iryo train was carrying around 300 people and had just left the historic city of Cordoba. Its speed at the moment of the accident was 110 kph, well below the maximum limit of 250 kph on that stretch.

The oncoming train, carrying 187 people, was travelling at a speed of 205 kph, Renfe said.

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The derailed Alvia carriages had 37 people in the first and 16 in the second. Most of the dead and injured came from the first two Alvia carriages.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente said that the Iryo was less than four years old and that the railway track had been completely renovated last May with an investment of 700 million euros ($813.5 million). Iryo said the train was last inspected on January 15.

Puente called the accident "tremendously strange" and said that had it not been for the oncoming train, the derailment would have likely caused no deaths.

FAULTY JOINT A POSSIBLE CAUSE?

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A source briefed on initial investigations told Reuters experts had found a broken joint, which possibly created a gap between the rail sections and they believed it to be key to identifying the precise cause of the accident.

The Transport Ministry only said the joint had broken as a result of the accident, but not before and would not provide further comment. The state-owned rail infrastructure administrator ADIF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the claim.

Jose Trigueros, president of the Association of Road Engineers, said his preliminary analysis suggested "failure of the undercarriage of the back units" of the Iryo train.

While he did not rule out a problem with the track, he said nightly inspections with tamping machines were meant to detect any rail fatigue, in which case the control centre automatically reduces the circulation speed.

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PREVIOUS PROBLEMS

Train drivers' union SEMAF had warned ADIF in a letter last August of severe wear and tear to the railway track where the two trains collided, according to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters, saying potholes, bumps, and imbalances in overhead power lines were causing frequent breakdowns and damaging the trains.

ADIF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to a Reuters review of alerts on ADIF's X account, it has previously reported problems with infrastructure at Adamuz, from signal failures to issues with overhead power lines, that caused delays to high-speed trains between Madrid and Andalusia 10 times since 2022.

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Iryo is a joint venture between Italian state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, airline Air Nostrum and Spanish infrastructure investment fund Globalvia. It began operating in November 2022, starting with the Madrid-Barcelona route and expanding to other major cities.

Iryo's ETR1000 train is manufactured by the partnership of Hitachi Rail-Bombardier in Europe for Ferrovie's unit Trenitalia. Renfe's Alvia trains are manufactured by local makers CAF and Talgo.

Everest Insurance is the lead insurer for Renfe, and its cover provides passengers or their beneficiaries with compensation. Everest declined to comment on details of the policy period, deductible and triggers when approached by The Insurer.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Aislinn Laing, David Latona, Emma Pinedo, Andrei Khalip; writing by Andrei Khalip; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Ros Russell)
Did a guest in a clip from French TV channel LCI say Ukraine sent false strategic info to US intelligence services which they then observed Russian forces acting upon? No, that's not true: The video clip with guest Vincent Crouzet was about mounting distrust between Ukrainian and American intelligence services and the increased importance of intelligence coming from France and other allies of Ukraine. Crouzet did mention Ukraine deciding to stop sharing intelligence with the US due to concerns about leaks to Moscow but he did not say anything about Ukraine deliberately sharing false information.

One example of the claim appeared in a post on X (archived here) published on January 18 that read:

BREAKING: Ukrainian intelligence services sent false strategic info to US intel services and observed that the information had been relayed to Russis and was used by Russian forces - French channel LCI

The post was accompanied by a screenshot of an X post by @24hPujadas (archived here), which belongs to the current affairs show 24H Pujadas broadcast by French channel LCI (archived here). This is what the post said:

 :  Les yeux et les oreilles de Kiev , le parti pris #international de Vincent Crouzet @VincentCrouzet4



"Ce changement acte le divorce entre le renseignement ukrainien et le renseignement americain."#24hPujadas #LCI #Ukraine  pic.twitter.com/we8gLaRF9V -- 24h Pujadas (@24hPujadas) January 16, 2026

Translated, that says

"The eyes and ears of Kiev", the point of view of Vincent Crouzet. #international

and

This change marks the divorce between the Ukrainian and American intelligence.

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The video is a segment from a January 16, 2026 broadcast (archived here) about the increasing role of French intelligence in Ukraine. After a clip in which French President Macron says France is now supplying two-thirds of Ukraine's intelligence, Crouzet can be heard saying:

Alors cette declaration, elle est passee un petit peu inapercue, pourtant elle est essentielle. Elle est elle est essentielle a double titre, d'abord parce qu'elle acte le divorce entre le renseignement ukrainien et le renseignement americain, parce que si nous fournissons les deux tiers des capacites du renseignement pour l'Ukraine, j'imagine bien que le troisieme tiers est fourni par les autres partenaires europeens, en l'occurrence les Allemands et le Royaume-Uni. Alors ce divorce il date de quand ? Il date evidemment depuis le 28 fevrier donc 2000 2025 depuis l'annee derniere depuis la fameuse sequence du bureau ovale et qui a induit une rupture de confiance entre le renseignement Ukrainien et le renseignement americain a tel point que les deux responsables de l'epoque du renseignement ukrainien donc Vasil Maliouk pour le SBU et Kirill Boudanov, pour pour le GUR, le renseignement militaire Ukrainien, ont decide de ne plus partager le renseignement efficient qu'ils avaient avec leurs partenaires americains de la part de fuites americaines vers Moscou.

(Transcript made with Google Pinpoint and slightly edited for grammar and spelling)

Translated by Google Translate and verified by Lead Stories, that says:

So this statement went somewhat unnoticed, yet it is crucial. It is crucial for two reasons: first, because it confirms the rift between Ukrainian and American intelligence, because if we are providing two-thirds of the intelligence capabilities for Ukraine, I imagine the remaining third is provided by other European partners, in this case, Germany and the United Kingdom. So when did this rift begin? It obviously dates back to February 28, 2025, since last year, since the infamous Oval Office incident, which led to a breakdown of trust between Ukrainian and American intelligence, to the point that the two heads of Ukrainian intelligence at the time, Vasyl Maliuk for the SBU and Kyrylo Budanov for the GUR, the Ukrainian military intelligence, decided to stop sharing the effective intelligence they possessed with their American partners due to American leaks to Moscow.

(highlight by Lead Stories)

The segment does not discuss or mention sending false information to US intelligence at all, it only mentions a decision to "stop sharing" because of "leaks".

Lead Stories reached out to Vincent Crouzet by email and he confirmed to us he never mentioned anything about sending false intelligence:
New research from Bowmore Financial Planning, part of Bowmore Wealth Group, has indicated that UK savers are falling short of recommended pension contributions.

Bowmores analysis of HMRC data for 202223 suggests savers would need to contribute 12% of their annual salary to meet guidance from Pensions UK.

However, the company estimates that reaching this level would require around 23bn in additional pension contributions each year.

Bowmore Wealth Groups review of HMRC data on incomes and pension contributions shows that private sector workers are putting an average of 3.63% of their salary each year into a private pension.

This means that, out of the 38.7bn that should be saved each year under Pensions UK guidance, only 16bn is actually being put into pensions.

The company points to weaknesses in the auto-enrolment framework as one factor behind low contribution levels.

It notes that self-employed workers are not automatically enrolled into pensions and often divert money into building their businesses instead of retirement saving.

Bowmore also highlights that many businesses calculate auto-enrolment contributions only on earnings between 6,240 and 50,270.

This means many higher earners are not contributing enough to their pensions. Workers under the age of 22 are also excluded from auto-enrolment altogether.

Pensions UK, the trade body for pension schemes, has said that raising average pension contribution rates to 12% would deliver an average retirement income of 31,300 per year for UK taxpayers.

Bowmore Financial Planning managing director Gill Millen said: The huge gulf between what Pensions UK is recommending people save and what they are saving is alarming.

Our data shows that even in their 40s and 50s, when many have paid off much of their mortgage, people are still contributing only 3.34.3% of their salary into their pension. With retirement costs spiralling, it is more important than ever to have a healthy pension pot. Setting aside money now will be tough for many savers.

"UK savers need extra 23bn a year to hit 12% pension target, says Bowmore" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.




Claim:

NASA technology discovered a "super-Earth" exoplanet emitting "strange signals."

Rating:

Rating: Mostly True

What's True:

Scientists using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite discovered an exoplanet, which NASA defines as any planet beyond our solar system.

What's False:

However, the "strange signals" turn of phrase came from reports and social media posts about the discovery, not NASA or the researchers involved. The alleged "strange signals" are actually commonly observed transit signals, which "reveal an exoplanet not because we directly see it from many light-years away, but because the planet passing in front of its star ever so slightly dims its light," according to NASA.

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A rumor circulating on social media in January 2026 claimed that scientists had discovered a "super-Earth" outside our solar system.

One post on X alleged that the so-called super-Earth, named TOI-1846b, was 154 light-years away and emitting "mysterious, repeating" signals.

The claim echoed similar rumors from July 2025, such as an Instagram post (archived) that offered more details about the purported discovery, including that the planet was "about twice the size of Earth" and that it was made using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMMNi27snga/

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Indeed, claims that scientists discovered a new exoplanet using TESS are mostly true. The discovery was made by a research team based at the Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco who "validated TOI-1846b using TESS and multicolor ground-based photometric data, high-resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations," according to a paper published by the discovery team.

However, there's some important context to understand.

For instance, the reports of signals described as "mysterious" or "strange" by users on social media and tabloids like the Daily Mail were embellished to entice readers, which is why we've rated this claim as mostly true. Claims suggesting that the discovery of TOI-1846b can be attributed to anything otherworldly, unfamiliar or otherwise "strange" emanating from the exoplanet were inaccurate.

Rather, the scientists in question engaged a method commonly used for detecting exoplanets by measuring transit signals or a "dip" in starlight captured by scientific instruments due to a planet passing in front of the star it orbits. A NASA spokesperson explained to Snopes via email:

When a planet passes directly between us and a star, the planet blocks some of the starlight from reaching us. For a brief period of time, the star's light gets dimmer from our viewpoint. That small change can alert astronomers to the presence of a planet around a distant star. This change is known as a transit signal, and it is one of the main methods scientists use to discover exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system.

"TESS' mission was designed to discover thousands of exoplanets this way," NASA told Snopes. "Using data from TESS, as the authors of this study did, scientists have found planets ranging from small, rocky worlds to giant planets."

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According to the paper laying out the research behind the discovery, "TOI-1846b is a super-Earth-sized planet, with a radius of approximately 1.8R, placing it within the intriguing radius valley area of exoplanet sizes."

NASA defined "super-Earth" as "unlike anything in our solar system, these are 2 to 10 times the mass of Earth, but smaller than Neptune, and can be made of gas, rock or a combination of both." Researchers said their discovery "most probably has a water-rich bulk composition based on its radius."

Further, NASA explained the "radius valley" as "what seems to be a strange gap in planet sizes" that could impact the type of terrain the planet features, such as "rocky super-Earths, and the more substantial, gasrich mini-Neptunes," according to the research paper. NASA also noted it "will require a far better understanding of how planetary systems form" to fully explain said radius valley.

According to a report about the discovery from the science website Earth.com, "the size and weight combination" on TOI-1846b "gives it a density lighter than solid rock but heavier than planets with thick, gassy envelopes."

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Additionally, the report from the discovery team stated, "Such planets are relatively rare, and their study can provide vital clues about planet formation and evolution processes."

The report also stated that M dwarf stars, such as the one TOI-1846b orbits, are "promising candidates for the search of small, temperate exoplanets using transit methods" because the "transit signal is significantly more pronounced than that of similar planets orbiting Sun-like stars, making such planets easier to detect and characterize."

According to NASA, exoplanets are divided into four categories: "Gas giant, Neptunian, super-Earth, and terrestrial." NASA's Exoplanet Archive stated there are more than 6,000 confirmed exoplanets, with 725 of those confirmed by TESS since the satellite launched in April 2018.

The Exoplanet Archive does not currently list TOI-1846b, but a NASA spokesperson said "there may be a small delay in updates" to the site.

Sources:

Exoplanets - NASA Science. 7 Jun. 2023, https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/.

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"NASA Discovers a 'super-Earth' with Possible Oceans Orbiting a Nearby Red Dwarf Star." Earth.Com, https://www.earth.com/news/super-earth-toi-1846-b-possible-oceans-discovered-orbiting-red-dwarf-star/. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

NASA Exoplanet Archive. https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

Nowakowski, Tomasz and Phys.org. Astronomers Discover a Super-Earth Exoplanet Orbiting a Nearby Star. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-astronomers-super-earth-exoplanet-orbiting.html. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

Soubkiou, Abderahmane, et al. TOI-1846b: A Super-Earth in the Radius Valley Orbiting a Nearby M Dwarf. arXiv:2506.18550, arXiv, 23 Jun. 2025. arXiv.org, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.18550.

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TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) - NASA Science. 22 Apr. 2025, https://science.nasa.gov/mission/tess/.

What's a Transit? - NASA Science. 27 Apr. 2020, https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/whats-a-transit/.


In January 2026, a rumor spread that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hired, with minimal vetting, an independent journalist who had openly criticized ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Laura Jedeed, the journalist in question, wrote an article for Slate magazine in which she recounted how ICE hired her in fall 2025. To independently verify the story, Snopes requested from Jedeed communications between her and the agency, as well as any other documentation related to the alleged hiring.

Jedeed fulfilled that request, including an email exchange regarding a drug test as part of the application. This exchange was with an employee of a health care company that provides services to the federal government. Snopes confirmed the employee worked for the health care company. In addition, we reviewed what appeared to be an email from ICE's human resources team acknowledging that Jedeed had declined a "tentative job offer."

Snopes sent that documentation from Jedeed to the DHS, asking for its response to the journalist's claim that ICE hired her as a deportation officer. The agency did not return our inquiry, though we will update this report if that changes. On X, however, the DHS refuted Jedeed's account, calling it a "lazy lie." It said she may have received a "tentative selection letter," which requests more documentation to confirm a job offer.

There was no indication that the documentation Jedeed provided Snopes was inauthentic. However, due to the fact that we could not directly confirm her account on the federal government hiring platform, we could not give this rumor a rating. DHS provided no proof of its claim that Jedeed was lying.

In January 2026, a rumor spread online that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hired, with minimal vetting, an independent journalist who had openly criticized ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The claim originated from the journalist herself, Laura Jedeed, whose article appeared in Slate, a left-leaning online news magazine. On Jan. 13, 2026, Jedeed posted a link to her report on X (archived). The headline read: "You've Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I'm the Proof." Her X post read:

A few months ago, ICE hired me I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I'm real outspoken about my opinion of the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"

A few months ago, ICE hired me



I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I'm real outspoken about my opinion of the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable



And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"



My latest for Slatehttps://t.co/t7WQ00mjtd pic.twitter.com/Cc0mnW5peh  Laura Jedeed (@LauraJedeed) January 13, 2026

Several Snopes readers emailed us to verify the story, in part because DHS denied Jedeed's claim in an X post. Calling Jedeed's story a "lazy lie," the government agency appeared to concede that the journalist may have received a "tentative selection letter"  a letter informing her that she had successfully passed the interview stage but requested more documentation. This letter that was not a job offer, however (archived). The DHS X post read:

This is such a lazy lie. This individual was NEVER offered a job at ICE. Applicants may receive a Tentative Selection Letter following their initial application and interview that is not a job offer. It just means they are invited to submit information for review, similar to any other applicant.

This is such a lazy lie.



This individual was NEVER offered a job at ICE.



Applicants may receive a Tentative Selection Letter following their initial application and interview that is not a job offer. It just means they are invited to submit information for review, similar to https://t.co/jVgxOGCgNN  Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 14, 2026

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At Snopes' request, Jedeed forwarded us alleged evidence of the communications she received from a federal government hiring platform and human resources at ICE. We reviewed the emails, documents, images and video footage.

Snopes sent that documentation from Jedeed to the DHS, asking for its response to the journalist's claim that ICE hired her as a deportation officer. The agency did not return our inquiry, though we will update this report if that changes.

We verified the domain names and links in Jedeed's documentation, confirming they lead to websites related to ICE and the hiring platform (usastaffing.gov). As part of our review of documentation related to an alleged drug test for the application, we confirmed the identity of an employee of a health care company who had supposedly messaged with Jedeed about the purported screening.

Firsthand verification of Jedeed's account on ICE's hiring platform would help Snopes confirm her story. However, Jedeed said she lost access to her account after she declined the job offer, though she provided a video recording allegedly showing her navigating the tool previously. The internet address in the recording was legitimate.

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There was no indication that the documentation Jedeed provided Snopes was inauthentic. However, due to the fact that we could not directly see her account on the federal government hiring platform, we could not give this rumor a rating. DHS provided no proof of its claim that Jedeed was lying.

Jedeed's documentation

Jedeed provided a screen recording she captured while navigating what seemed to be an online hiring portal for ICE. She shared one version of the recording on X, with private information removed. Snopes reviewed the unaltered recording (archived).

You sure about that? pic.twitter.com/VTEBQyeaws  Laura Jedeed (@LauraJedeed) January 14, 2026

Contradicting DHS' claim that Jedeed lied about being hired, the video showed a series of green checks in what seemed to be a tracker for her application. Per the clip, Jedeed reached the "onboarding" phase of the hiring process, past the "final offer" phase. At 0:36, the screen read:

5 of 5 Onboarding Welcome to Ice as a . Your duty location is New York, New York. Your EOD [Entry on Duty] was on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

(Laura Jedeed)

Later in the video (0:49), Jedeed clicked on the "pre-employment" tab  the third phase according to the presumed tracker. The tab showed several tasks completed as of Oct. 6, 2025, labeled "physical," "medical," and "background investigation." The drug test appeared completed earlier, on Sept. 25, 2025.

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(Laura Jedeed)

Jedeed sent Snopes a Sept. 3, 2025, email with the subject line "Tentative Selection Letter (DHA) -Jedeed, Laura -". This appeared to be the letter referenced in DHS' X post. It said she had been "tentatively selected" for the position of "Deportation Officer, GL-1801-5" in New York:

(Laura Jedeed)

The email included documents and forms: a self-reported physical fitness test, medical self-certification and screening by a physician confirming the applicant's medical fitness for joining law enforcement. It said she would have to complete a drug test in order to be hired. Snopes found the physical fitness test, a self-assessment form, on Page 20 of a 2022 ICE handbook. We also found the same law enforcement medical clearance form on the ICE website.

Drug test and 'tentative job offer'

Jedeed also shared documentation related to the drug test, including two emails from a homeland security case manager at the health care company that works with the federal government, DOCS Health. That person, whom Snopes won't be naming to protect their privacy, sent her a reference number and request to do the drug test at a Labcorp branch in Brooklyn, New York, before 10:19 a.m. on Sept. 24, 2025, according to Jedeed's documentation.

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Snopes verified the case manager has been employed at DOCS since November 2024, based on social media history and websites with employee data. The case manager's social media profile described the job as: "Organizes pre-employment medical exams and drug screenings for applicants to the Department of Homeland Security."

In her Slate article, she stated she had smoked marijuana six days before the drug screening and she was certain she would not pass it. However, Jedeed said she completed the drug test. The video recording of of her account on the hiring platform appeared to confirm she had passed it on Sept. 25, 2025  the day after she was due to take it.

The case manager's email to Jedeed corroborated the information in Jedeed's screen recording she sent to Snopes. We contacted the case manager asking for more details, and we will update this report if we hear back.

Lastly, Jedeed provided Snopes with a document that appeared to be a Dec. 8, 2025, email from "Human Resources Operations Center (HROC) Staffing Office of Human Capital, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement." This email seemed to acknowledged that she had declined the "tentative job offer" (we underlined the phrase in red):

(Laura Jedeed)

For further reading, Snopes previously investigated ICE's legal authority to arrest U.S. citizens.

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Do you have more information on ICE's hiring process? Please get in touch.

Sources:

ICE Handbook. www.ice.gov/doclib/foia/policy/handbookHSI_22-05_07.19.2022.pdf. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

ICE Law Enforcement Medical Clearance Form. www.ice.gov/doclib/forms/30-048.pdf. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

Jedeed, Laura. "You've Heard about Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I'm the Proof." Slate Magazine, Slate, 13 Jan. 2026, slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/ice-recruitment-minneapolis-shooting.html. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

Ibrahim, Nur. "Can ICE Arrest US Citizens? Explaining Agents' Legal Authority." Snopes, Snopes.com, 15 Jan. 2026, www.snopes.com/news/2026/01/15/ice-authority-arrest-us-citizens/. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

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Winter, Jessica. 'Slate Isn't Too Liberal. But'. Slate, 21 May 2015. slate.com, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/05/is-slate-magazine-too-liberal-or-conservative-what-members-said-about-the-magazines-bias.html.

Updates:

Jan. 22, 2026: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Laura Jedeed's name.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Intimidation," threats and blackmail are just some of the terms being used by European Union leaders to describe U.S. President Donald Trumps warning that he will slap new tariffs on nations opposing American control of Greenland.

European language has hardened since Trump returned to the White House 12 months ago. Now it's in reaction to the previously unthinkable idea that NATO's most powerful member would threaten to seize the territory of another ally. Trade retaliation is likely should Trump make good on his tariff announcement.

A year into Trump 2.0, Europes faith in the strength of the trans-Atlantic bond is fading fast. For some, its already disappeared. The flattery of past months has not worked and tactics are evolving as the Europeans try to manage threats from an old ally just as they confront the threat of an increasingly hostile Russia.

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Trump's first term brought NATO to the brink of collapse. I feared that NATO was about to stop functioning, former Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote in his recent memoir, after the U.S. president had threatened to walk out of a 2018 summit.

Now, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is warning that should he try to annex Greenland, a semiautonomous part of Denmark, then everything stops  including our NATO.

We are at the very early stage of a rather deep political-military crisis, said Maria Martisiute, a European Policy Centre analyst. There is a greater realization, even though political leaders will not like to admit it, that America has abandoned NATO.

Reading the riot act

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In January 2025, U.S. allies at NATO were waiting to hear Trumps plans for Ukraine.

Europes biggest land war in decades was about to enter its fourth year. The Europeans believed that President Vladimir Putin would pose an existential threat to their territory should Russia win.

Few thought that Biden administration policies would continue. But within weeks, any lingering hopes for the U.S. commitment to Ukraine dissolved. American arms supplies and funds began to dry up. Europe would have to fill the gap and pay for U.S. help.

In a speech at NATO headquarters in February, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth read the riot act to European allies and Canada. The United States had priorities elsewhere and Europe must handle security in its own backyard.

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Ukraine would not join the alliance. Its territory seized by Russia would not be returned. The Europeans could pull together a force to help Ukraine if they wanted, but they wouldnt get U.S. help if they went into the country and got attacked.

Trump has since blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the invasion, notwithstanding visits with royalty in the U.K. and the Netherlands meant to mollify him.

Days later that February, in Munich, Vice President JD Vance met the leader of a far-right party during election campaigning in Germany. He claimed that Europes main threat was internal, not Russia. Free speech is in retreat across the continent, Vance warned.

But after winning the poll, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said that in view of the increasing threat situation, Germany and Europe must now very quickly make very big efforts, very quickly, to strengthen their defense capabilities.

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Europes security independence

Over the course of last year, European leaders and Zelenskyy flew to Washington to try to keep Trump onside. A 28-point plan to end the war that he floated would acquiesce to many Russian demands.

The plan was reworked. Talks continue, but without Putin. Few expect him to accept. Trump mostly blames Zelenskyy for the stalemate.

Meanwhile, Europe pressed ahead with new defense measures, even as Trump waged a global tariff war, including against U.S. allies, roiling their economies.

The EU created a multibillion-euro fund to buy arms and ammunition, with the emphasis on sourcing them from European companies and weaning nations off U.S. suppliers.

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Debt rules were eased for security spending. Money was funneled into Ukraines defense industry. In December, European leaders agreed to pay for most of its military and economic needs for the next two years as Kyiv teeters on the brink of bankruptcy.

A new U.S. national security strategy further soured trans-Atlantic relations. It paints European allies as weak, offers tacit support to far-right political parties, and criticizes European free speech and migration policy.

European Council President Antonio Costa warned the U.S. against interfering in Europes affairs. Merz said that the U.S. strategy underscores the need for Europe to become much more independent from the United States.

Work has since begun on Europes own security strategy. It aims to respond to the geopolitical changes in our world and to give an appropriate answer to that, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

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Part of it is to make Europe even more autonomous.

As France, Germany, the U.K., Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands sent troops to Greenland last week  small in number but highly symbolic in the message of resolve sent to the White House  French President Emmanuel Macron said that its important to stand at the side of a sovereign state to protect its territory.

Europe is being shaken from some of its certainties, he told French military chiefs. It sometimes has allies that we thought were predictable, fearless, always by our side, who are now causing us to doubt a lot, or are even turning against those who expected it the least.

For now, the eight European countries targeted by Trump's tariff threat say they stand firmly behind the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.
FALL RIVER  Central Fire Station at the corner of Bedford and Troy Streets is a relic of the past that still serves the same function today, sheltering the Fall River Fire Department, and until recently, the citys Emergency Medical Services.

The station that was built in 1920s has remained operable for some hundred years, and for the last 25 of them, Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said at a Jan. 13 City Council Committee on Finance meeting, the city has promised updates that now seem more myth than reality. Firefighters Local 1314 Union President Michael OReagan informed councilors that the buildings basement is loaded with asbestos.

The historic building is considered the worst in the state, Bacon added.

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In July, the council heard plans to repoint the brick and replace windows and medallions on the side of the station facing Troy Street.

The Central Fire Station in Fall River is seen Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026.

Now, Department of Community Maintenance Director Al Oliveira told the council that RT Architecture has been assigned to bring the inside of the station up to code and also to make it female friendly, Bacon said, by renovating locker rooms, gyms, and three bunkrooms, with upgrades to lighting , electrical, fire systems, and ceilings, plus the addition of WiFi.

Oliveira said he expects architectural designs will be in our hands in February 2026, with a plan hopefully readied by April, at point Oliveira said, the $2.1 million project  at around $94 per square foot  will be ready to go up to bid for a contractor.

Procuring an architect to restore the facade of the building to its original standards has been designed for a while now, Oliveira said, but historical accuracy has posed a challenge when finding a comprehensive designer. The total cost of the renovations, including pointing, and window, medallion, and lighting replacements is in the ballpark of $644,000.

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Updating the concrete skirt on the Bedford Street side could be added, Oliveira said.

'Government moves at the speed of slow': Six months after tragic Gabriel House fire, is Fall River safer?

Council split all or nothing in approach to Central Station

When all updates are tallied up, the cost of redoing part of the stations facade and the inside add to roughly $3 million. To give the Bedford Street-facing side repointing, and anything else that needs an update, would cost the city $2 million more. Oliveira said other upgrades to the entire envelope have not yet been determined.

City Councilor Shawn Cadime came forward Tuesday night, Jan. 13, to support delaying the work to do it the right way, otherwise, he added, none of this makes sense.

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The goal is to have it done all at once, as much as it can be, the citys Chief Financial Officer Emily Arpke said during the meeting.

Bacon confirmed that to date, there hasnt been any work done.

Based on OReagans confirmation that the basement is a motherlode of asbestos, old equipment, and PFAs, he said hes concerned about the health and safety of firefighters who will work in the building, the same time as work is being completed in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws  partitioned off, with air purifiers added.

Firefighter Michael O'Regan speaks before the Fall River City Council Tuesday July 15, 2025.

Incoming Councilor Michael Canuel called for a contingency plan that could support alternatives to keeping fire staff in the building while asbestos and other hazards are abated.

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I would say its safe, said Oliveira, referring to caulking and floor tiles that contain asbestos above the basement level, but everyone has their own judgement on that.

Councilor Joseph Camara struck a hardline approach when serving councilors a simple solution: It should be condemned, he said.

Its unknown how many work orders originating from Central Station have been carried out by the Department of Community Maintenance since July.

Fall River's waterfront: Plans still 'uncertain' heading into 2026

A fire station along Route 79 could help with population growth

Whether or not the Central Fire Station is razed, Bacon has publicly stated the need for an expansion of stations in the city once the Route 79-Davol Street Corridor is developed.

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At the meeting, returning City Councilor Christopher Peckham explained a resolution he submitted to see if theres an appetite to include a new station nearby. Its quite obvious we need something, Peckham said.

In June 2025, Councilor Dionne estimated that the fire department will need to account for approximately 20,000 to 50,000 more people living in the city when the waterfront construction and improvement project is complete.

Construction is ongoing on the Route 79-Davol Street Corridor project in Fall River on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.

A study ordered by the fire department is expected to yield results into how firefighters could best respond to emergencies near Fall River Depot, and the proposed nine residential buildings in the Route 79-Davol Street Corridor.

Call volume and staffing measures will need to be assessed to avoid overwhelm, Bacon said in June, agreeing that current shortages and budget pitfalls would make servicing the new development impossible.

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Redistricting the areas of coverage each station is able to respond to, added to the growth of Route 79 development would present a decent hurdle for the citys firefighters, according to study projections, Bacon said Tuesday night.

The matter will be referred to the full Council and its Real Estate Committee.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River's Central Fire Station needs $3M repairs unless razed
Yuval Cohen (photo credit: Courtesy/Cohen family via Walla)

Cohen was injured in an accident in the city of Chiang Mai, where he was pronounced dead. He was transported back to Israel at his family's request.

The National Transplant Center announced on Sunday that the family of Yuval Cohen, an Israeli who was fatally injured in an accident in Thailand, decided to donate his organs.

Cohen was injured in an accident in the city of Chiang Mai, where he was pronounced dead. He was transported back home to Israel at the request of his family to allow Yuval's wish to donate his organs to be realized.

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Following his arrival at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva, he underwent strict medical procedures to confirm brain-respiratory death in accordance with the law. Subsequently, his organs were donated.

Four lives saved by Cohen's donation

Cohen's organs helped save the lives of several patients waiting for transplants.

The Rabin Medical Center - Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Cohen's heart was transplanted into a 67-year-old man at Rabin Medical Center, his liver into a 62-year-old woman at Rabin Medical Center, one kidney into a 17-year-old boy at Schneider Childrens Medical Center for Israel, and another kidney into a patient at Hadassah Hospital.

Cohens family stated that Yuval will be remembered in our hearts as someone whose last choice was to reach out and save others."
Major Questions is a recurring series by Adam White, which analyzes the courts approach to administrative law, agencies, and the lower courts.

Like the still-pending tariffs case, Wednesdays oral arguments in Trump v. Cook will attract attention far beyond the usual court-watchers. The presidents attempt to fire a Federal Reserve governor raises enormous questions for global markets and American law  all the more so after the latest news of a Justice Department investigation of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, and Powells denunciation of it. When the justices gather to hear oral arguments, the world will be watching.

But what, exactly, will we be watching?

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The great irony of Trump v. Cook is that this momentous case arrives at the court half-baked. The factual record surrounding President Donald Trumps firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook is extremely thin and contested. The main substantive issue  can Trump lawfully fire Cook for cause, under the Federal Reserve Act?  is a messy mix of both law and fact. And because this case arises from a district courts preliminary injunction, it also raises equitable and prudential questions about courts temporarily blocking the presidents removal of a senior agency officer.

Had Trump v. Cook arrived on the courts normal merits docket, the issues would be set forth much more cleanly, with court-certified Questions Presented and perhaps a more useful factual record. But this case arrived much differently.

The formal dispute between Trump and Cook began in August with her firing, but the broader fight between Trump and the Federal Reserve began long ago. Throughout the first months of his new administration, Trump denounced the Federal Reserves interest-rate policy and threatened to fire Powell. Then, in August, the administrations Federal Housing Finance Agency suddenly released one of Cooks old mortgage applications  part of FHFAs disconcerting new trend of investigating the mortgage applications of Trumps perceived enemies. Because that application marked a property of Cooks as a primary residence rather than a vacation home, FHFA Director Bill Pulte accused Cook of mortgage fraud  and President Trump, in turn, immediately took to social media to call for her resignation.

Five days later, on Aug. 25, the president sent Cook a letter announcing that he was firing her for cause, pursuant to the Federal Reserve Act.

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Cook sued three days after, seeking a federal district court order to keep her in office while the litigation played out. About two weeks later, the judge granted her a preliminary injunction. The Justice Department quickly appealed and sought to stay the injunction  a request that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied, with a written opinion and a dissent, just four days later. And a day after that, Reuters published a story casting significant doubt on the narrative that Cooks mortgage application was an attempted fraud.

The case arrived at the Supreme Court on Sept. 18, with the Justice Departments application to stay the district courts injunction. And just two weeks later, the court declined to grant the stay  thus leaving Cook in office  and set the case for oral argument in January.

So here we are. But, again, where exactly are we? That is, what exact questions will the court actually decide in this case?

It is hard to overstate how fundamentally Trump and Cook disagree in framing even the basic premises of this dispute. They even disagree implicitly over whether Cook is, in fact, fired: Trumps brief argues against Cooks reinstatement, while Cook argues against Trumps purported removal.

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Certain things are somewhat clear, however. This case is, to be sure, not a constitutional challenge to the Federal Reserves independence. Though the Trump administration obliquely raised that question in its original brief in the district court, it has not pressed that question in court. And sensibly so, since in May the court explicitly said that the Feds independence might rest on stronger constitutional footing than other agencies. (Though it must be noted, even Trumps early 2025 order extending White House control over independent agencies notably steered clear of the Feds monetary powers.)

So, the main question before the court is not whether the president can ignore the Federal Reserve Act, which grants Fed governors a 14-year term and allows presidents to fire them only for cause. Rather, the question is whether Trump complied with the Act when he fired Cook  and what, if anything, can the courts do to review that firing and to freeze the firing while they undertake that review.

As I look ahead to oral arguments  which well be live blogging here at SCOTUSblog  I think this case is best understood in terms of three questions:

First, a question of legal interpretation: what does for cause mean in the Federal Reserve Act?

When Trump claims that he has cause to fire Cook, he is making both a factual claim and a legal argument. Setting aside the facts for a moment, the legal question is fascinating and difficult. Cook argues that when Congress re-enacted the for cause provision in 1935, it implicitly incorporated both a deep body of common law about for cause protections, and also (pointing to legislative history) a specific removal standard, inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, found in, for example, the Federal Trade Commissions statute.

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Trump, meanwhile, argues that the Feds for cause statute allows him much broader latitude to fire Fed governors for misconduct, incompetence, failure to perform statutory duties, and any other faults implying an unfitness for the place.

Faced with these profoundly different interpretations of for cause, the justice might well land somewhere between the two, with a reading of for cause that requires a kind of germaneness to both the Fed governors duties and Congress general goal of protecting the nations central banking system from normal politics. But I cannot pretend to guess where, exactly, they will land.

Second, a question of process: how does our federal government decide whether a Fed governor should be removed from office?

The briefs in this case raise at least three questions that touch on process: Was Cook entitled to notice and a hearing before the president announced her firing? Can the courts undertake judicial review of the presidents decision? And can the courts preliminarily enjoin that decision, leaving Cook in office while the full judicial-review process plays out?

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As to the notice-and-hearing question, Trumps final brief begins with what strikes me as his strongest point  that neither the Constitution nor the Federal Reserve Act entitles Cook to an administrative hearing before her firing is finalized. On that point, Cook argues in both her supplemental brief and her earlier brief (and with which the D.C. Circuit agreed) that the Act and the Fifth Amendment entitle her to notice and a hearing prior to termination, but she does not specify what, exactly, that process would look like in practice. For what its worth, I have trouble envisioning the spectacle of such a pre-termination administrative hearing, and I suspect many justices will, too.

So on to the next question, which concerns whether the courts can review Cooks firing in the first place. Here, I think Cook is on much stronger ground. The presidents final brief asserts that when, as here, the President provides a cause, courts may not review his factual findings or his application of the for-cause standard to the facts, or otherwise second-guess his judgment that the removal is justified.

This calls to my mind the DOJs assertion, in the still-pending tariffs case, that a presidents declarations of national emergency are essentially unreviewable by courts. The notion that courts cant second-guess the factual basis of an emergency declaration has always struck me as probably right, but such claims of unreviewability seem much less convincing here, for exactly the reason that the Chamber of Commerces amicus brief puts so well, in that a lack of judicial review would render the for-cause protection meaningless. As this brief elaborates:

[T]he governments position is that the President may remove a Federal Reserve Governor so long as he identifies any reason at allregardless whether that justification fits within the meaning of cause under the statute or whether the Presidents stated reason has any basis in fact. That standard is no standard at all.  [It would] subordinate the substance of the Board of Governors for-cause removal protections to the use of magic words by the President. That is not what Congress intended when designing the Federal Reserve and entrusting it with the Nations monetary policy.

Id guess that this will resonate among the justices much better than the presidents unreviewable-firings view of the Federal Reserve Act.

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That said, I am curious to see how the justices sense of the administrative process relates to their sense of the judicial process. As I noted earlier, I am deeply skeptical that the justices will hold that Cook was entitled to an administrative process before Trump fired her. But I am just as skeptical that the justices will hold that she is entitled to no post-decision process in court.

Indeed, the most sensible process for a Fed firing might just be the one that weve seen in this very case: a preliminary injunction from the district court  which the Supreme Court has left in place  followed by a rather fast track through the circuit court to the Supreme Court. Thus, maybe the justices already have signaled their sense of the right process for Fed firings.

Finally, a question of fact: if the courts review a Fed firing, then how much factual evidence will it take to sustain the presidents decision?

As I noted above, when the Justice Department argues that Trump had cause to fire Cook, they are making both a legal argument and a factual argument: how to interpret for cause as a matter of law, and whether there is cause here as a matter of fact.

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Trumps final brief (quoting his August 25 letter) highlights these factual findings: He found that, because of Cooks deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a criminal matter, the American people cannot have such confidence in [her] integrity. .. He also found that, at a minimum, her gross negligence in financial transactions calls into question [her] competence and trustworthiness as a financial regulator. Again, these findings are simply the conclusions that Trump draws from a single document, findings that might well be implausible in light of the other documents that Cook and journalists have highlighted.

If a court can hear a case challenging a Fed firing, then how should it grapple with such factual assertions? Should the judge defer completely to a presidents factual judgments? Should the judge undertake a kind of de novo (from scratch) review of the facts  and, if so, then on what kind of record would she make her own findings?

I doubt that the Supreme Court will tell the district judge to decide the factual questions de novo. But I would not be surprised to see the justices instruct the district court to give significant deference to a presidents factual findings.

Indeed, to bring all three of my aforementioned questions back together: if the justices interpret the Acts for cause provision in a way that puts meaningful limits on the kind of issues that a president can invoke to fire a Fed governor, and if they hold that a purported firing can be challenged in court (with a preliminary injunction delaying the firing), then perhaps the justices will be inclined to make the factual part of judicial review very deferential. Perhaps the justices will hold if a president identifies materials that can be construed as grounds for cause under the Act, and if there is not strong counterevidence of pretext on the presidents own part, then the district court should defer to the presidents factual judgment.

Which is to say, the court might save the Federal Reserve Act, but not this particular Federal Reserve actor.

For more Supreme Court news and analysis, visit SCOTUSblog.

Read more at SCOTUSblog 
EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark.  A local wildlife refuge is getting some new feline residents

The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge welcomed three African lions last week following a huge international relocation effort. The three  Cyrus, Zephora, and Juancito  came from Honduras; five others also went to a tiger rescue in North Carolina.

The big cats made their way to their new home via ship, air, and finally ground through U.S. highways, TCWR said in a release. They arrived at their new forever home on January 15.

The rescue team preps Cyrus for his journey by sea, air, and land to his new home in Arkansas. (Credit: Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.)

This mission represents everything sanctuary work stands for  international cooperation, compassion in action, and a future where rescued animals are given the lives they deserve, said Scott Smith, TCWR vice president who participated in the rescue. After an unbelievable journey, these lions are finally home.

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TCWR credits Leo Lahijani of Little French Key Resort for playing a key role in making the transition happen.

This rescue has been years in the making, driven by a deep responsibility to secure the best possible future for these animals, said Lahijani.

Honduran environmental authorities also assisted in the relocation and saw to the cats health and well being the entire trip.

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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
As President Donald Trump continues to insist that the US needs to own Greenland, his wider focus on the Arctic region has seen Washington order new icebreakers.

For these ships, which can sail through seas covered in solid ice, the US has gone to the world expert  Finland.

Temperatures are sub-zero inside Aker Arctic Technology's ice laboratory, as the scale model of an icebreaker cruises down a 70m-long simulation tank.

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It ploughs a neat channel through the frozen surface of the water.

Undergoing testing at a facility in Helsinki, Finland's capital, this is a design for the next generation of the country's icebreakers.

"It's crucial that it has sufficient structural strength and engine power," says ice performance engineer, Riikka Matala.

Mika Hovilainen, the firm's chief executive, adds that the shape of the vessel is also crucial. "You have to have a hull form that breaks ice by bending it downwards," he says. "It's not cutting, it's not slicing."

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Finland is the undisputed world leader when it comes to icebreakers. Finnish companies have designed 80% of all those currently in operation, and 60% were built at shipyards in Finland.

The country leads the way out of necessity, explains Maunu Visuri, president and chief executive of Finnish state-owned company Arctia, which operates a fleet of eight icebreakers.

"Finland is the only country in the world where all the harbours may freeze during wintertime," he says, adding that 97% of all goods to the country are imported by sea.

During the coldest months, icebreakers keep Finland's ports open, and work as pathfinders for big cargo ships. "It's really a necessity for Finland. We say that Finland is an island."

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It was this expertise that saw Trump announce in October that the US planned to order four icebreakers from Finland for the US Coast Guard.

A further seven of the vessels, which the US is calling "Arctic Security Cutters", are to be built in the US, using Finnish designs and expertise.

"We're buying the finest icebreakers in the world, and Finland is known for making them," said Trump.

Aker Arctic Technology is continuing to test designs for the next generation of icebreakers [Adrienne Murray]

Under US law, the country's naval and coastguard ships must be domestically-built, but in this case the president waived that requirement on national security grounds. He cited "aggressive military posturing, and economic encroachment by foreign adversaries", by which he means Russia and China.

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This US concern comes as climate change continues to make the Arctic Ocean more navigable for cargo ships, at least if icebreakers lead the way by cutting a path. This opens up commercial trade routes from Asia to Europe, either above Russia, or north of Alaska and Canada's mainland, and down past Greenland.

Reduced ice levels also mean that oil and gas fields beneath the Arctic are more accessible.

"There's simply a lot more traffic in that part of the world now," notes Peter Rybski, a retired US Navy officer and Helsinki-based, icebreaker expert.

"You have an active oil and gas exploration and extraction industry in Russia, as well as a newly-emerging trans-shipment route from Europe to Asia."

The US intends to buy 11 icebreakers of Finnish design, pictured, four of which will be built in Finland [Rauma Marine Constructions]

Following Trump's outline announcement last autumn, the first contracts were awarded on 29 December.

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Finland's Rauma Marine Constructions is to build two icebreakers for the US Coast Guard at its shipyard in the Finnish port of Rauma. The first ship is due to be delivered in 2028.

A further four will be constructed in Louisiana, with all six diesel-electric powered vessels using a design by Aker Arctic Technology, together with Canadian partner Seaspan.

The US orders are part of an effort to catch up with the number of Russian icebreakers. Currently Russia has around 40, including eight that are nuclear powered.

By contrast, the US presently only has three in operation.

Meanwhile China operates around five polar-capable vessels. "None of them are technically icebreakers," says Rybski, pointing to their design not meeting the strict criteria. "But they are increasing their fleet."

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He adds that China has increasingly been sending these "research" ships into Arctic waters between Alaska and the far east of Russia, including areas that the US considers its "exclusive economic zone".

"With limited means to respond this becomes a problem [for the US]."

Trump's desire to enlarge its icebreaker fleet goes beyond the practicalities of operating in ice-clad Arctic seas, assesses Lin Mortensgaard, a researcher at the Danish Institute of International Studies. She says it is also about projecting power.

"No matter how many aircraft carriers you have and how much you use them to threaten states with, you cannot sail your aircraft carrier into the central Arctic Ocean," she says.

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"Icebreakers are really the only kind of naval vessel to signal that you are an Arctic state, with Arctic capabilities. And I think this is what much of the US discourse is about."

Icebreaker engineer Riikka Matala says that icebreakers need both structural strength and powerful engines [James Brooks]

Back in Finland, Helsinki Shipyard occupies a dock on the capital's waterfront. It is where half of the world's icebreakers have been made. Today owned by Canadian firm Davie, it also hopes to win new contracts from the US Coast Guard.

"The geopolitical situation has changed definitely," says the shipyard's managing director, Kim Salmi.

"We have our eastern neighbour here [Russia]. They are building their own [new] fleet. And the Chinese are building their fleet."

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He adds: "The US, Canada and the western allies in general, are looking for the power balance."

Inside a cavernous shipbuilding hangar, workers cut and weld steel for the yard's latest icebreaker, a heavy-duty Arctic vessel, called Polarmax that's destined for the Canadian coastguard.

The Finns can build these complex vessels remarkably swiftly - it takes between two-and-a-half and three years - thanks to a streamlined production method, and decades of experience.

"Over 100 years, we have practised this," says Arctia's Visuri. "You've got this cycle of designers, operators, builders. That's why Finland is the superpower of icebreakers."

Read more global business and technology stories
Donald Trump wants the United States to take over Greenland for its strategically vital resources, to bolster US security and give China a bloody nose.

He first reheated his threat to annex the territory following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan dictator, hinting that Greenland could be next.

The US president then turned his attention to Denmark and its allies, imposing a 10 per cent levy on exports from countries  including Britain  that had sent troops to the Arctic island.

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Who owns Greenland?

Mr Trumps desire to swell the US with a territory roughly the size of Texas and Alaska combined is nothing new.

He tried to bounce Denmark into selling Greenland, which is geographically in North America, during his first presidency  but was rebuffed.

Mr Trump cancelled a 2019 state visit and branded Mette Frederiksen, Denmarks prime minister, nasty after she said the idea was absurd.

Ms Frederiksen scolded the US president again for suggesting again that the territory could become part of the US and said Europe would not be blackmailed.

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I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale, she said.

I am pleased with the consistent messages from the rest of the continent: Europe will not be blackmailed, she said in a statement on Sunday.

At the same time, it is now even clearer that this is an issue that reaches far beyond our own borders.

Mr Trumps comments followed a social media post by Katie Miller, the wife of Stephen Miller, the presidents chief of staff, who posted a map of Greenland covered with an American flag to X. She captioned the post: SOON.

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On Jan 3, US special forces carried out a military operation to capture Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuela dictator, and his wife Cilia Flores, who will face charges of drug trafficking and terrorism in a New York court on Monday.

In December, Mr Trump appointed Jeff Landry, the Louisiana governor, as his special envoy to the territory. Announcing his new position on X, Mr Landry wrote: Is an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.

Mr Trump said he was hearing that the people of Greenland are Maga after his son Donald Trump Jr visited the island last January.

Credit: @OJoelsen/@DonaldJTrumpJr/X

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He added: Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!.

1. To own the worlds largest island

Greenland is a very large, strategically important landmass.

You take a look at a map. Im a real estate developer, Mr Trump said in an interview for The Divider, a book by The New York Times Peter Baker and The New Yorkers Susan Glasser.

I love maps. And I always said: Look at the size of this. Its massive. That should be part of the United States, he added.

However, Greenland is actually much smaller than it appears on maps because of the Mercator projection, which makes it look similar in size to Africa.

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The projection is used to create flat maps but makes landmasses larger the further away from the Equator they are.

b'

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2. To impress his billionaire allies

While Mr Trump has not ruled out taking Greenland by force, his main goal appears to be to purchase the island, reportedly insisting that the idea of making Americas largest land buy since the Alaska Purchase in 1867 is all his own.

But according to The Divider, Mr Trump got the idea from Ronald Lauder, a billionaire heir to the Estee Lauder cosmetics fortune.

Mr Lauder, 80, a longtime friend of Mr Trump and a New York-born political activist, reportedly offered himself as a back channel negotiator with the Danish government.

Donald Trump Jr visited Nuuk, Greenland - Emil Stach

Some Left-leaning commentators have branded Mr Trumps coveting of Greenland as a neo-colonist urge to emulate nationalist autocrats like Vladimir Putin.

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The United States has history when it comes to buying land. Its last land purchase was 1917s acquisition of the US Virgin Islands  from Denmark.

Before then it bought Alaska from the Russian Empire (which was widely seen as an expensive mistake until gold and oil were discovered there), Louisiana from France, as well as territory from Mexico and the Philippines, now independent, from Spain.

3. Space base and missile defence

The US offered Denmark $100 million (79 million) for Greenland after the Second World War.

Washington instead secured a defence treaty centred on a US military base on Greenland.

Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, has been strategically vital ever since the first years of the Cold War.

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It is the US militarys most northerly outpost and is a vital location for missile defence and space surveillance, housing Americas solid state phased array radar system, known colloquially as the ballistic missile early warning system radar network.

Buying Greenland would ensure continued access to the base, although there is no suggestion that it is at risk.

Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, in northern Greenland, has been strategically vital ever since the first years of the Cold War - Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters

Mr Trump, nevertheless, is adamant he wants Greenland for national security reasons.

For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity, the president said on social media.

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He repeated this in December. Following Mr Landrys appointment, he told reporters at Mar-a-Lago: We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals.

If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place We have to have it.

On Jan 4, Mr Trump again described the Danish territory as being surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.

However, Pal Jonson, the Swedish defence minister, told The Telegraph Mr Trump was exaggerating the threat posed by Russian and Chinese ships to Greenland.

If you state that Greenland is flooded with Russian and Chinese vessels, thats an exaggeration according to the assessments that we do for the region, he said.

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Aside from the base, Greenland is on strategic sea lanes like the Northwest Passage and the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap, and is beneath Arctic flight paths. It is on the shortest route from North America to Europe.

4. Russia and Chinas Arctic alliance

Moscow and Beijing have been working hand in glove to bolster their influence in the Arctic, which is a key region for transportation and resources.

Climate change could mean new waterways and new territories for settlement being opened, raising the likelihood of a race for the Arctic amid competing superpowers.

Chinese leaders see the region as a new crossroads of the world, a new source of raw materials and new avenues for manifesting its growing power, the US defence department has said.

In 2019, Republican politicians warned China was trying to build airports on Greenland and even buy an old American naval base there.

There is no guarantee that the almost 57,000 Greenlanders will be willing to become part of the United States - IDA MARIE ODGAARD/AFP

Beijings activities are being facilitated by Russia, which continues to invest heavily in both military and economic terms in the Arctic despite its illegal war in Ukraine.

US officials have also been concerned by joint Russian-Chinese military drills in the area, which seem aimed at Washington and its Nato allies.

Buying, or taking, Greenland would be a show of strength from the US at a time when its rivals are encroaching into the region.

5. Treasure trove of rare minerals

Greenland is a potential treasure trove of natural resources, including rare earth minerals.

These minerals are vital for high-end military, green energy and industrial technologies but their production and supply is dominated by China.

Beijing last month imposed export controls on the minerals in response to US controls on advanced semiconductors.

Greenland is a potential treasure trove of natural resources, including rare earth minerals. - Arctic-Images/Digital Vision

Some 37 of the 50 minerals seen as critical by the US could be found in moderate or high quantities in Greenland, based on a 2023 survey.

Lessening US dependence on Chinese supplies would be a geopolitical boost but some experts point out that buying Greenland would mean subsidising an area with the lowest per capita disposable income of any Arctic region except Russia.

Greenlands ice-sheet boasts 7 per cent of the worlds fresh water and its undeveloped oil and gas resources are thought to be the third largest in the Arctic.

Can Trump even buy Greenland?

There is no guarantee that the almost 57,000 Greenlanders will be willing to become part of the US.

In 2009, the island assumed self-rule from Denmark under an agreement that gives it the right to one day declare independence.

By becoming part of the US, Greenland would gain independence from one country while coming under the control of another.

In 2009, the island assumed self-rule from Denmark under an agreement that gives it the right to one day declare independence - IDA MARIE ODGAARD/AFP

It would also be an expensive acquisition.

In 2019, the Washington Post estimated that Greenland could cost up to $1.7 trillion  on the assumption that the island was up for sale.

What is the response from Denmark and Greenland?

Mute Egede, Greenlands prime minister, has rebuffed all advances to date. We are not for sale and we will not be for sale, he said in response to Mr Trumps comments, adding: We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.

Denmark, meanwhile, has repeatedly insisted that the island was not for sale.

Lars Lkke Rasmussen, the Danish foreign minister, held frank discussions with the US over Mr Trumps desire to purchase the island.

He said it was clear that Mr Trump had the wish of conquering Greenland but add that he believed the meeting changed the American position.

We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of Greenland, he said.

What is Europes response?

Europe has been strong in its support of Denmark after the threats of annexation by the US president.

The UK, along with seven Nato allies, warned the US risked a dangerous downward spiral after Mr Trump imposed tariffs over Greenland.

Mr Trump made the decision in response to Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden sending troops to the Arctic island.

A statement by the eight allies read: As members of Nato, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron urged European Union leaders to unleash a trade bazooka on the US in response to the tariffs.

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.
NEED TO KNOW

A Qantas flight from Adelaide to Port Lincoln, Australia, was forced to turn back twice

The first delay occurred after the plane struck a bird and the second when the flight crew realized a generator was out

After moving to a different plane, passengers finally completed their flight following the six-hour delay

A Qantas flight in South Australia was reportedly forced to turn back twice after striking a bird and facing a technical issue.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, the QantasLink Dash 8, which had departed from Adelaide around 8:00 a.m., was on its way to Port Lincoln when it had to turn back after crossing Spencer Gulf and hitting a bird, according to 7News.

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Flight 2581 returned back to the tarmac almost one hour after striking the animal, 9News reported.

People just couldnt believe it, passenger Barry Stribling told 7News. Theyd struck a bird in Port Lincoln there was no mechanical service, so they had to come back to Adelaide.

While the aircraft was given the all-clear to attempt its journey again after staying on the ground for an hour and being checked by engineers, the plane had to turn back a second time after a technical issue, according to 9News and The Advertiser.

PEOPLE has contacted Qantas and Adelaide Airport for comment.

Jenny Evans/Getty Stock image of a partial view of a QantasLink plane Stock image of a partial view of a QantasLink plane

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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

A warning light was displayed in the flight deck, per The Advertiser, and 7News reported that a generator was out.

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"It reminded me of a Seinfeld episode," passenger Barry Stribler told 9News. "The second time the pilot actually came out and as we were all walking out, each individual person he apologized and said he was sorry.

Getty Stock image of airport apron in Adelaide, Australia Stock image of airport apron in Adelaide, Australia

Passenger Imogen Evans was on her way to emcee at a wedding when the flight delays took place.

So sorry Mads, sorry Jordan, Ill be there as soon as I can. I think Ill be there in time for my stuff, but Im devastated to miss the ceremony, its two of my best friends, she told 7News.

Following the disruptions, passengers were able to switch planes, enabling them to take off at around 2:00 p.m., after a six-hour delay, according to 9News.

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They then landed in Port Lincoln at 2:50 p.m., The Advertiser reported.

Qantas said the technical issue was unrelated to the incident involving the bird, according to the outlet.

We appreciate the patience and understanding from our customers and apologize for the delay, Qantas said in a statement obtained by 7News.



Read the original article on People
Recent political developments in Venezuela have prompted renewed speculation over whether the US could seek to leverage the countrys natural resource base. President Trump has openly signalled his intentions to exploit Venezuelas oil reserves, but some commentators have gone further, suggesting the administration may also be eyeing the countrys deposits of critical raw materials as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on China.

In some respects, the idea is not implausible. Venezuela hosts reserves of critical minerals such as copper, nickel, silver and aluminium (via bauxite) that appear on the US 2025 List of Critical Minerals and are relevant to a suite of strategic sectors, including energy transition technologies, power grids, as well as broader electrification efforts. This has led to the hypothesis that Venezuela could become a source of critical minerals for the US at a time when supply chain diversification has become a strategic priority.

Reserves versus reality

However, three points are important to note: firstly, Venezuela's estimated reserves rely on limited geological surveys, meaning that the true size and quality of the deposits remain uncertain. As a result, reserve figures cannot provide a reliable indication of near-term supply potential. Secondly, possessing reserves is not the same as producing readily exportable material. Developing a critical mineral supply requires surveys, permits, mine development, processing facilities and logistics  components that are largely underdeveloped in Venezuela. Lastly, even if such infrastructure were to be built, project timelines would arguably extend beyond those relevant for US supply chain diversification.

GlobalDatas critical mineral mine and project data for Venezuela reinforces this point. For example, the only existing regulated nickel mine, Los Pijiguaos, has been closed for more than a decade, and previous attempts by the Maduro Government to restart the project were abandoned in 2019. Similar dynamics apply to other commodities relevant to US supply chain diversification: the sole silver mine is in the exploration stage and, according to GlobalData methodology, carries a low likelihood of completion. Meanwhile, the only copper project is still under construction, and for bauxite, there is only one operational mine. Beyond these projects, other extractions may be occurring but largely under unregulated conditions.

Why the gap exists: structural constraints

The disconnect between geological potential and production is the result of a series of structural constraints. Modern mining infrastructure, reliable power supply, and the technical capabilities required to develop new projects at scale are largely absent. Years of underinvestment and institutional erosion have also left a system with limited legal predictability, uneven permitting processes and weak contract enforcement. The sector does not operate through the kind of consistent regulatory frameworks typically required for large-scale investment in the mineral value chain.
A couple has been arrested and charged after authorities allegedly found a 1-year-old baby and an elderly man living in deplorable conditions inside a roach-and-mold-infested Florida home.

Authorities first became aware of the situation when a welfare check was called on the 81-year-old man living in at the property of Nikolas Anthony Cummings and Tashaye Driaunah Brown on Tuesday, January 13. When the Flagler County Fire Rescue Unit arrived at the scene, they found the house had a horrible smell and was filled with piles of debris, garbage, and cockroach droppings.

As the rescue unit made attempts to assist the elderly man, roaches reportedly emerged from the mattress and clothing worn by the elderly male," according to the police report, per Law & Crime. They also noted that the mattress appeared to have been defecated and urinated on, countless times."

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While searching the rest of the house, which was also reportedly covered in trash and sticky surfaces, deputies found a 1-year-old baby sleeping in a playpen in the living room.

Roaches and bugs were observed crawling over [the 1-year-old] while he slept, the report read.

Missouri Couple Arrested for Neglect After Keeping Lice-Infested Foster Kids in Filthy Home

When Brown, 31, was asked to show officers the necessary food items for the child, they immediately observed mold growing throughout the fridge and on top of clearly expired food.

Detectives returned to the Florida home the following day and found the home and child in similar conditions with several cockroaches spotted inside the Pack n Play. In an attempt to alleviate the bug issue, Brown allegedly sprayed Raid roach spray all around the house.

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More specifically, each night she flips [the 1-year-old's] portable enclosure upside down to shake the insects out, the report continued. Then [Brown] places [the 1-year-old] back inside and sprays a 'protective' tight circle of Raid Roach Spray around the immediate base of the enclosure.

Additionally, during the investigation, the detectives repeatedly removed insects they saw near the child, but the bugs continued to endlessly come from the fabric of the enclosure.

According to Raids website, sprays should only be applied to the home when children and pets are outside or in another room. Windows should be opened to "ventilate the room thoroughly" at that time and product labels should be read for instructions on how long the spray takes to dry so they can understand how long residents and animals need to stay away from the treated areas.

Wisconsin Couple Arrested on Several Charges After They Left 8 Kids in Filthy RV With Easy Access to Weed

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The elderly mans bedroom was allegedly not in any better condition. According to the report, it had an overpowering stench of urine. He reportedly was alert but unable to move himself to the bathroom or even change his dirty clothing. The situation was so severe that insects were seen emerging from his socks and scabs on his legs, according to the detectives affidavit.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staley released a statement confirming that the deplorable living conditions were no place for a toddler or a senior with serious medical issues.

He continued, These two feigned ignorance over the trash, feces and insects covering the floors, walls and victims inside the home. This was not a matter of money, they did not care about the hygiene of their home, the welfare of their child, or the medical needs of their family members. They put in zero effort."

The couple was taken into custody on Wednesday, January 14, and both charged with one count of neglect of an elderly or disabled adult without great body harm and one count of cruelty toward a child without great bodily harm. Both are felony charges.

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Cummings, 32, and Brown were initially held on $15,000 bond at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. According to court records, Cummings was released on Thursday, January 15, and Brown posted bond the following day and was released on Friday, January 16.

They are scheduled to return to court on February 4.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
LAMARTINE  A 23minute police chase in Fond du Lac County ended with five people in custody after a vehicle fled a traffic stop early on Jan. 18, according to Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office.

The incident began on Rolling Meadows Drive in the township of Lamartine when a deputy stopped a vehicle displaying license plates that returned as no vehicle associated, the sheriffs office said in a news release. As the deputy approached, the driver sped off, heading south before turning west onto State 23.

MLK Day: Do Fond du Lac schools have MLK Day off? What events are planned?

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Deputies pursued the vehicle for roughly 24 miles, with the driver making multiple Uturns to avoid spike strips and driving headon toward squad cars to try to escape. The chase traveled through rural areas south of State 23, east of State 26 and north of County T.

Bitter cold: Arctic blast to hit Fond du Lac County with subzero wind chills

The pursuit ended on Forest Avenue Road, where the vehicle tried to hide near a farmstead but slid into a ditch. All five occupants exited and were taken into custody without incident, the sheriffs office said. Their names were not released.

A search of the vehicle uncovered suspected marijuana and alcohol, the sheriffs office said. Deputies also tracked fresh footprints in the snow to a hidden black bag containing a loaded handgun.

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The driver, a 20yearold Black Creek man, was arrested on suspicion of felony fleeing, recklessly endangering safety, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia and multiple traffic violations. Four passengers younger than 21 received citations for underage alcohol possession and, in some cases, drug paraphernalia, according to the news release.

Wisconsin State Patrol assisted deputies during the pursuit.

Contact Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac County high-speed police chase ends with five arrests
The Brief

Alana Lee Parker, 28, was arrested and charged with intoxication assault after a two-vehicle crash in Southeast Fort Worth early Sunday morning.

One driver was hospitalized with serious injuries following the 2 a.m. crash; their current medical condition has not been released.

Parker remains in custody at the Fort Worth Police Department Detention Facility as traffic units continue their investigation.

FORT WORTH, Texas - A 28-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with intoxication assault following a two-vehicle crash that left another driver seriously injured early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Fort Worth crash

What we know

Alana Lee Parker was booked into the Fort Worth Police Department Detention Facility at 5:39 a.m. Sunday. She faces a third-degree felony charge of intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury.

The crash happened just after 2 a.m. at the intersection of Ramey Avenue and Stalcup Road in Southeast Fort Worth. According to police reports, responding officers determined that Parker appeared to be under the influence at the time of the crash.

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The driver of the second vehicle sustained what police described as possible serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The victims current condition has not been released.

Parker remains in custody at the citys detention facility.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Source

Information in this article is from the Fort Worth Police Department.
Fox News star Tomi Lahren dubbed Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) the perfect poster child for the U.S. closing its borders after the congresswoman said Americans should be ashamed that ICE officials are deporting illegal immigrants from the U.S. G*ddamn States.

Lahren went off on Omar on Sundays episode of The Big Weekend Show. Fox rolled footage of Omar ripping ICE at a Democratic field hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday before getting Lahrens unfiltered response.

Well listen, I actually have to thank congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Lahren said, because she has served as the perfect poster child for why we need a closed border and why we need to stop importing people from third-world countries who have no respect for this country, no respect for our laws and those who enforce them.

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Her co-host Joey Jones chuckled as Lahren skewered Omar.

She then pointed to Dems like California Rep. Eric Swalwell, who vowed this week he would take away the drivers licenses of ICE a**holes if he becomes the states next governor. Lahren said Democrats like Swalwell and Omar dont care about illegal immigrants more than American citizens.

Democrats are always on the side of the illegal aliens, Lahren said. They want the illegal aliens to get drivers licenses, but they want to take the drivers license from ICE agents who are enforcing federal immigration law.

Her comments come after Minnesota has been at the center of American politics for much of the past two months.

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First, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has been heavily criticized after prosecutors said a $9 billion industrial-scale fraud scheme took place in his state.

The New York Post reported the scheme was pulled off by dozens of people  the vast majority from Minnesotas Somali community. More than 90 people have been charged. President Donald Trump has ripped both Walz and Somalis living in the state over the fraud claims.

And Minnesota has been had a number of anti-ICE protests over the past two weeks following the shooting death of protester Renee Good.

Omar slamming ICE and the U.S. isnt helping make the situation better, Lahren said.

Watch above.

The post Foxs Tomi Lahren Brands Ilhan Omar the Perfect Poster Child for Stopping Third-World Immigration After Dem Slams US G*ddamn States first appeared on Mediaite.
Two Franklin County students have been inducted into the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society at Reach Cyber Charter School, according to a community announcement.

Haya Sukhera, a ninth grader from Waynesboro, and Eva Harris, a seventh grader from Shippensburg, were among 46 students celebrated during a virtual ceremony Dec. 17, 2025.

The National Honor Society recognizes high school students in 10th through 12th grades, while the National Junior Honor Society includes students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades. Reach Cyber now has 61 NHS members and 38 NJHS members.

Students must meet GPA and service requirements

To qualify for induction, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, demonstrate excellence in service or leadership, and receive a recommendation from a community member. Once inducted, students attend monthly meetings and participate in service projects, such as Book Buddies, where they read to younger students and discuss future career plans. Members are also required to complete at least 10 community service hours each school year.

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Our newly inducted members of the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society exemplify what it means to lead with purpose, Jane Swan, CEO of Reach Cyber Charter School, said in the announcement. Their academic excellence, integrity, and dedication to serving others inspire those around them and highlight the many ways in which Reach Cyber students use their time and talents to make a positive impact.

About Reach Cyber Charter School

Reach Cyber Charter School is a public cyber school serving K-12 students across Pennsylvania. The school offers a STEM-infused curriculum, advanced courses, extracurricular activities and socialization opportunities in an online learning environment.

For more information, visit ReachCyber.org.

This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@usatodayco.com with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: Two Franklin County students inducted into Reach Cyber NHS
When Fort Smith Mayor George McGill proclaimed Jan. 8 as Fred Kirkwood Day, the honor recognized more than a job title or a retirement date. It marked the close of a four-decade career defined by service to customers, coworkers and the community Kirkwood chose to call home.

Kirkwood, chief customer experience officer for Arkansas Oklahoma Gas, a subsidiary of Summit Utilities, retired Jan. 13 after 40 years in the natural gas industry. In that time, he helped lead customer-focused operations across six states, serving more than 625,000 customers.

But Kirkwoods path into the industry was anything but strategic.

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Id like to sound real strategic, like I planned it all out, but thats not the case, he said with a laugh.

Fresh out of college at Central State University in Oklahoma, Kirkwood applied for jobs largely for one reason: to get closer to the woman he was dating. She returned to her family's home in Roland, and Kirkwood, then living in Mississippi, wanted to be back in the River Valley.

He applied to both AOG and ABF. ABF offered first, but required a year in Nashville. When AOG called the next day, the decision was simple.

Im gonna get there quicker, he said. So I took the job. And 40 years later, Im still here.

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At the time, Kirkwood said he knew little about the natural gas business.

I didnt know anything about gas except that my mother paid the gas bill, he said. But once I got here, the business intrigued me. The interest just kept growing.

An industry that changed  and one that didnt

Looking back, Kirkwood said the heart of the job has remained constant: providing an essential service that keeps homes warm, businesses running and families safe.

Whats always stayed the same is the dedication of the people, he said. Really good people who care deeply about what they do.

What has changed, he said, is how utilities meet customers where they are.

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When I started, everything was handled by mail or in person, Kirkwood said. Now its about meeting customer needs electronically, making it easy and accessible in todays world.

That shift toward customer experience became the most personal part of his work, particularly during moments of hardship.

When bills were high, and people were struggling, thats what stuck with me, he said. Being able to help them find a solution, that mattered.

Under Kirkwoods leadership, AOG and Summit expanded energy-efficiency programs, payment options, and assistance initiatives designed to move beyond short-term fixes.

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A payment plan can be a Band-Aid, he said. But insulation, weatherization, those are solutions that help families for the rest of their lives.

Community as a classroom

Although Kirkwood didnt grow up in Fort Smith, he became deeply rooted here, serving with organizations including Leadership Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club, United Way and the Greater Fort Smith Association of Homebuilders.

Those roles, he said, shaped how he approached leadership.

Every organization gave me a different perspective on how the community works and what people really need, Kirkwood said. That understanding helped us build programs that actually made a difference.

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He credits that engagement with helping him see the human side of infrastructure  from families struggling to stay warm to seniors living alone in inefficient homes.

Being involved in the community wasnt separate from my job, he said. It was essential to it.

Lessons that began at home

Kirkwood traces his leadership philosophy back long before his first day at AOG  to his mother.

A single parent raising four children, she worked daily while still finding time to help neighbors, feed other kids and care for extended family.

She was the greatest example of servant leadership, even before anyone called it that, Kirkwood said. She had very little education, but she taught us hard work, integrity and helping others, even when you dont have much yourself.

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Those lessons, he said, carried seamlessly into his professional life.

Ive been fortunate to work for an organization that allowed me to bring who I am to the job, he said. Thats how we served our customers.

Looking ahead

As retirement approaches, Kirkwood said his first challenge will be not driving to work.

For 40 years, Ive always been on, he said, joking that even the companys time-off policy earned the nickname Fred Time Off.

In the months ahead, he plans to spend time with family, travel with his wife and eventually return in a consulting role to help develop future leaders.

Ive been incredibly fortunate, Kirkwood said. This industry, the people Ive worked with, this community, its been a gift.

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And even after four decades, he makes a point to credit those who helped shape his journey from the beginning.

I cant do an interview without mentioning the Home Builders Association, he said. They became family in my first week on the job, and theyve been part of every success since.

For Kirkwood, the legacy isnt measured in years or titles, but in relationships, the very thing Fort Smith chose to honor with a day bearing his name.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: From first job to 40-year career, Fred Kirkwood retires from AOG
A furniture company in West Yorkshire has gone into administration, blaming "challenging trading conditions".

Moores Furniture Group, based in Wetherby, employed more than 450 people and was founded in 1947 supplying kitchens to housebuilders, the public sector and affordable housing developers.

James Clark and Will Wright from Interpath have been appointed joint administrators and confirmed they had sold the firm's customer list and certain other intellectual property assets to Wren Trade Kitchens Limited, a subsidiary of Wren Kitchens Ltd.

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They said they had retained about 336 staff to support the completion of some work, but have made 124 employees redundant.

The administrators said they would be providing support to those impacted, including supporting them with the information required to make claims from the Redundancy Payments Service.

Clark said: "The strong headwinds facing the UK construction industry continue to have an impact on companies up and down the supply chain."

'Alternative employment'

He said the firm had made "strong progress" cutting costs but had "experienced challenging trading conditions" due to rising costs and low levels of housebuilding activity.

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The firm had tried to look at options for further investment or the sale of the company to no avail, he added.

He said the sale of intellectual property to Wren "provides an opportunity to minimise disruption for customers and suppliers, and which will enable Moores' heritage in kitchen manufacturing to continue as part of the Wren family".

Wren Kitchens Ltd said it was sorry Moores had entered into administration.

"Whilst the company was a competitor of ours, we believe it is in everyone's interests to have a strong kitchen industry based here in the UK," the firm said.

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It said they had been in talks with Moores but were unable to save the business.

"We have however agreed an exclusive option to provide customers affected by this situation with the ability to seamlessly transfer outstanding contracts over to us."

They said their contract division had recently announced plans for a sales office in Harrogate and said they had agreed with the administrator to see if there were opportunities "to provide alternative employment to a significant number of Moores sales, operations and internal support teams".

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

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Imagine you get hungry and decide to hop into your car to go grab a bite to eat. Along the way, however, you're T-boned by another vehicle. Naturally, you need to file a claim with your insurance provider, so you expect a mountain of paperwork, a lot of back and forth, and potentially a lawsuit. The last thing you would expect is for the tables to turn on you, making you the defendant and your insurance provider the one filing the lawsuit. Well, that's exactly what a woman in Southfield, Michigan says happened to her.

Weeks after Cari McCaskill went through the procedure of submitting a claim, which included a police report, she reportedly received a letter in the mail. "It was letting me know that the claim had again been reviewed and they were not going to pay out the claim," she told Local 4 of Michigan. "[T]hey were canceling out my policy, retroactive to the last renewal date." As reported by the outlet, this was because she didn't list her 12-year-old daughter on the personal injury protection attestation.

The general public doesn't view many insurance companies favorably, and Geico ranks pretty low per Consumer Reports. It's unclear if Geico is in the right because the insurance policy McCaskill signed hasn't been made public. As of this writing, Geico hadn't provided a statement on the matter publicly, only telling the outlet, "We are unable to comment on pending litigation."

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Read more: 15 Annoying Car Myths That Simply Refuse To Die

This isn't Geico's first time in headlines

Geico gecko holding hands up. - Erika Goldring/Getty Images

This isn't the first time Geico has been accused of engaging in bad-faith practices. In 2018, a jury in California found the insurance company guilty for breaching contract and inflicting emotional distress. The charges came from a case in which the company did not pay out a man's claim after a car accident in 2009 left him disabled. The claimant had to undergo $125,000 worth of surgeries and fight a six-year legal battle with the insurance company.

As of this writing, Geico was also at the center of a class action lawsuit alleging the insurer raised premiums for policyholders who were involved in an at-fault accident, despite being assured that they were protected under the company's accident forgiveness program. This meant they wouldn't have to pay the surcharge for their first at-fault accident. When claimant Christopher Cude renewed his policy and saw his premiums over 90% higher, he reached out to find out why.

In response, Geico allegedly told him that a surcharge was applied. According to Top Class Actions, "The plaintiff is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial." You usually expect things like at-fault accidents to spike insurance costs, but not after being assured the first one won't.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.
This story was originally published by The Imprint, a national nonprofit news outlet covering child welfare and youth justice. Sign up for The Imprints free newsletters here.

In a rare and urgent appeal, a group of former Georgia child welfare leaders have called on Gov. Brian Kemp to rectify what they describe as an accelerating crisis in child welfare funding.

A Tuesday letter signed by four previous heads of the states Division of Family and Children Services describes the agencys $85 million budget shortfall as a threat to thousands of families stability by actively eroding the network of providers contracted to serve them.

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Across the state, essential child welfare service providers are reducing capacity, suspending programs, or closing altogether due to funding shortfalls, states the letter signed by former division directors Bobby Cagle, Virginia Pryor, Sharon Hill and Tom Rawlings. Family preservation services, foster care supports, therapeutic interventions, transportation, and in-home services are disappearing at a pace that is already affecting children and families.

The directors go on to state that they are deeply concerned that this crisis is accelerating and that additional provider losses are imminent.

And they warn: Governor, the consequences of inaction are immediate and measurable.

In an email, a spokesperson for Gov. Kemps office told The Imprint that the Division of Family and Children Services has experienced exponential cost increases in a very short time span.

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The statement added that the governor is addressing these rising costs in his recent budget proposal through a $41 million funding increase for the department for fiscal year 2026 and a more than $21 million increase in 2027.

Problems first surfaced publicly in early November, when the agency notified contracted providers that they could no longer initiate new services for families without direct approval from state agency leaders. The email cited fiscal challenges due to the federal government shutdown and noted exceptions for court-ordered or emergency services.

The agency also terminated contracts that funded services for children with intensive health needs. But the cuts persisted even after the historic shutdown ended  disruptions the letter calls profound and not easily reversed.

More: Candice Broce faces lawmakers about Georgia's child welfare budget crisis

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The matter came to a head during a contentious joint legislative committee meeting on Dec. 18, during which Family and Children Services Director Candice Broce faced questioning from lawmakers about the agencys finances and decision-making. She listed several challenges burdening the agency, including the cost of care, particularly for children with complex mental health needs. She also said the agency has had difficulty accessing federal funds since the government shutdown.

In the letter dated Tuesday, the former child welfare directors call on Gov. Kemp to authorize emergency stabilization funding from the states surplus to immediately shore up child welfare providers and prevent further loss of capacity while longer-term funding solutions are being pursued. They also want the governor to publicly reaffirm his commitment to maintaining Georgias child welfare provider network and its critical role in protecting vulnerable children and families.

As former Directors of Georgias Division of Family and Children Services, we have lived through periods when the provider network eroded. We know the long-term consequences, the four wrote.

When providers disappear, children enter foster care who might otherwise have remained safely at home. Once in care, children remain longer because the services needed to stabilize families, support reunification, or maintain placements are no longer available. Caseworkers have fewer options. Judges face constrained choices. Foster parents burn out. Congregate care increases. Costs rise. Outcomes worsen.

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Next Wednesday, Broce is scheduled to present her budget priorities and requests as the state embarks on a three-day budget appropriations process.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Previous heads of DFCS point to agency's $85 million budget shortfall
The German government has expressed its condolences following the deadly train accident in southern Spain.

Spokesman Stefan Kornelius said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his administration are "shocked by the news of the serious train accident."

"Our thoughts are with the families and relatives of the victims," he added. "We offer them our sincere condolences."

At least 39 people died in the incident on Sunday night, which saw two high-speed trains collide near the town of Adamuz in the Andalusian province of Cordoba, Spanish rail operator Renfe said.

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A total of 73 people were treated at hospitals following the collision, including 24 who were seriously injured, broadcaster RTVE said.

Kornelius said the German government wishes the injured strength and a speedy recovery.

Germany stands by Spain at this time, he added.
Key Takeaways

U.S.EU tariff threats tied to Greenland triggered a sharp risk-off move, wiping billions from crypto markets.

Bitcoin slid below $93,000 as leveraged positions unraveled and altcoins suffered deeper losses.

Analysts remain divided on whether this signals the start of a crypto winter or a temporary macro-driven shock.

The crypto market entered 2026 with optimism still lingering from late last year. That confidence didnt last long.

Over the weekend, a sudden surge in geopolitical tension sent shockwaves through global markets, triggering the first major crypto flash crash of the year.

Billions of dollars were wiped out in a matter of hours as leveraged positions unraveled, with altcoins bearing the brunt of the damage.

At the center of the sell-off was a familiar catalyst: trade-war fears sparked by fresh tariff threats from United States President Donald Trump.

Tariff Threats Spark a Market Rout

In mid-January 2026, President Trump announced plans to impose a new round of tariffs on imports from eight European countries  Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland  beginning Feb. 1.

The proposed tariffs would start at 10% and rise to 25% by June 1, unless Denmark agrees to negotiate the potential U.S. purchase of Greenland.



Markets reacted swiftly. Between Jan. 18 and 19, crypto prices fell sharply as traders moved to de-risk.

Bitcoin (BTC) slid from recent highs near $97,000 to below $93,000, briefly erasing billions in market capitalization.

Altcoins fared even worse. Excluding Ethereum, many major tokens posted losses ranging from 9% to more than 20% over 24 hours, pushing several assets to new monthly lows.

The broader crypto market cap dropped toward $3.13 trillion as risk-off sentiment spread.

Data from CoinGlass shows more than $871 million in liquidations during the sell-off.

Bitcoin long positions accounted for roughly $229 million, while altcoin traders absorbed the bulk of the damage, with about $641 million wiped out as positions were forcibly closed.

Crypto liquidation heatmap. Source: Coinglass.

Analysts pointed to a mix of macro uncertainty and existing market fragility.

Trade tensions revived fears of a prolonged economic slowdown, while cryptos tendency to correlate with equities during periods of stress amplified the sell-off.

Ongoing delays in U.S. crypto market structure legislation and cooling institutional inflows added further pressure.

By Monday morning, Bitcoin and Ethereum had clawed back nearly half of their losses. Altcoins, however, struggled to recover.

Temporary Shock or Start of Crypto Winter 2026?

The sharp pullback has revived a question that has hovered over the market since late 2025: Is crypto heading into another prolonged winter?
Europe must engage in talks with the United States to "avert a trade war" over Greenland, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) said on Monday.

In a post on X, Alice Weidel said "the goal must now be talks" to find a solution to the dispute with US President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose tariffs on European countries in his effort to take the Arctic island from Denmark.

The German government should put Germany's interests first instead of embarrassing itself with military excursions, Weidel said, in reference to Berlin's participation in a Danish-led mission to Greenland in recent days.

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The AfD, Germany's largest opposition force, is divided over how to respond to Washington's aggressive stance.

The anti-immigrant party has sought close ties with Trump's Republican Party, but has faced difficult questions since his return to power, with the US administration's strategic shifts on foreign policy and tariffs having clashed with German interests.

Weidel's colleague Tino Chrupalla on Sunday criticized Trump's "imperial policy," insisting that Europe must defend its security.

But the party's controversial lawmaker Maximilian Krah said the AfD should "avoid any conflict with Trump at all costs."

Jean-Pascal Hohm, head of the party's youth wing, retorted on X that "anyone who believes that Greenland should be handed over to the Americans out of fear of a trade war ... is not a German or European patriot, but merely views our homeland as an appendage or plaything of the major powers."
Ghana's security forces have arrested nine Nigerians suspected of co-ordinating a host of cyber-crime activities from makeshift offices in and around the capital, Accra.

Forty-four others, believed to be victims brought to Ghana from Nigeria under false pretences, have also been detained and handed over to the immigration authority.

During the two-day intelligence-led operation, raids uncovered 62 laptops, 52 mobile phones and two pump-action guns, the authorities have said.

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There is a growing trend of foreigners being lured to Ghana under the pretext of lucrative work. They are then put in gated compounds, have their documents confiscated and are compelled to engage in cyber-crime.

They often work on romance scams, where a victim is encouraged to send money to a fictitious partner who they believe is real, or business email compromise, where someone poses as an employer and gets people to sends funds or sensitive data.

The weekend's operation was jointly co-ordinated by a host of agencies, including the Cyber Security Authority (CSA).

''All the arrested individuals have been duly profiled and handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for safekeeping and further investigations," Communications Minister Sam George said in a post on X.

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"We caution foreign nationals invited to Ghana to verify claims made by their fellow nationals to lure them here.''

George also indicated that suspects arrested in previous recent operations have been handed over to Nigerian law enforcement or are facing prosecution.

The CSA and other agencies have been making efforts to flush out cyber-criminals, including working with the US authorities to arrest high-profile suspects.

Among recent operations was the arrest of a popular Ghanaian social media influencer known as Abu Trica, whose real name is Frederick Kumi, who allegedly stole $8m (5.9m) from vulnerable Americans through a romance scam. He has not yet commented on the allegations.

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Another successful operation was the dismantling of a syndicate that defrauded over 200 victims of $400,000 (300,000).

You may also be interested in:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

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On a recent Friday morning, worshippers made their way in droves into the Achimota Forest, a stretch of green in Ghana's capital that doubles as an unlikely sanctuary for the desperate.

From the outside, the park and adjacent Accra Zoo appeared calm as branches swayed gently with the dry breeze. Inside, voices rose in tongues as worshippers prayed, some collapsing to the ground as if seized by unseen forces.

At one clearing sits a woman in her early thirties, dishevelled, her eyes fixed on nothing.

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Her family says she became "mentally disturbed" a month ago. They've brought her to Prophet Elisha Ankrah of The World for Christ Church, convinced her suffering is spiritual.

"What the doctors cannot cure, God can," Ankrah, draped in white, told AFP. "Many of them come here after the hospitals have failed. Through prayer and fasting, they are restored."

Across Ghana, scenes like this have become more common -- sometimes with dire consequences.

Depression and anxiety have surged in the wake of Covid-19 in Ghana and Africa as a whole, according to the World Health Organization.

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In Ghana, just over 80 psychiatrists serve a population exceeding 35 million people, according to the Mental Health Authority (MHA), a government agency under the Ministry of Health.

Access to clinical care is thin outside major cities. And even as the MHA says more than 21 percent of Ghanaians are living with mild to severe mental disorders, only two percent of the national health budget is allocated to mental healthcare.

Families often turn instead to forest "prayer camps" and spiritual healers, driven by beliefs that mental illness is rooted in curses, witchcraft or possession.

- Spirits versus medicine -

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About an hour-and-a-half away, at the Mt. Horeb Prayer Camp in Mamfe, in Ghana's Eastern Region, worshipper Kingsley Adjei is unflinching: "You don't treat spirits with tablets. You break them with prayer."

Meanwhile, at the Pure Power Prayer Camp, in Adeiso, attendant Augustina Twumasi argued that faith-based centres help keep Ghana's weak health system together.

"If not for prayer camps, the hospitals would collapse under the numbers," she told AFP. "We are helping the state."

Many camps operate in cramped, poorly ventilated buildings.

Patients often crouch on bare concrete floors. Some are malnourished. Others bear scars from restraints.

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Despite Ghana's 2017 ban on shackling people with psychosocial disabilities, the practice has not ended, according to Human Rights Watch. In 2023, the group helped secure the release of more than 30 chained patients in Ghana's Eastern Region alone.

"They still chain patients but hide them when NGOs or journalists are visiting," a security source at one of the camps told AFP.

At the country's flagship medical facility, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, psychiatrist Abigail Harding said faith shapes how many Ghanaians interpret mental illness.

But "chaining", forced fasting and isolation "can traumatise patients further and delay effective treatment, and in some cases lead to death", she told AFP.

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University of Ghana clinical psychologist Emmanuel Asampong said the solution is not to throw out faith healers altogether, who remain trusted among much of the population.

"We need to bring them on board, just as we did with traditional birth attendants," he said. "If they see danger signs, they can refer patients to hospitals."

- Faith, fear and chaining -

In Ghana, family members, police officers or concerned citizens can apply to a court for involuntary treatment when someone poses a danger to themselves or others.

But "people don't know the law, so they don't use it," said Lady-Ann Essuman, an attorney and mental-health advocate.

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Meanwhile, the MHA says it has begun engaging faith leaders through training and outreach programmes.

"Religion is deeply part of who we are," says psychiatrist Josephine Stiles Darko, the authority's deputy head of communications. "We can't take spirituality away, but we must ensure that any help given is humane and aligned with the law."

But deep mistrust of hospitals and the hope of instant miracles keep drawing thousands into forests and compounds across the country.

Stigma remains a key barrier to treatment: a 2022 Afrobarometer survey revealed 60 percent of Ghanaians believe mental health conditions are caused by witchcraft or curses.

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As the sun climbed over Achimota Forest, the prayers rose louder. The woman brought to Prophet Ankrah did not move. Beside her, her sister squeezed her hand and murmured that healing will come -- if not today, then after more fasting.

strs/nro/sn/jhb/cc
Guatemalas president has declared a state of emergency following a weekend eruption of violence during which gang members took dozens of hostages across three prisons and killed at least seven police officers in the capital in apparent retribution, after the authorities regained control of facilities where inmates had rioted.

President Bernardo Arevalo issued a 30-day order on Sunday, which restricts civil liberties and allows security officers to arrest or question individuals without prior court approval. The emergency order takes immediate effect, although it still needs to be approved by Guatemalas legislature.

These murders were carried out with the intention of terrorising the security forces and the population so that we give up in the fight against gangs and their regime of terror. But they will fail, Arevalo said in a nationwide address.

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The president said all hostages had been freed and declared three days of state mourning following the attacks.

The prison riots began on Saturday after the administrators moved to limit the privileges of gang leaders, including Aldo Duppie, the imprisoned leader of Guatemalas Barrio 18 gang.

Barrio 18 and its rival Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the administration of United States President Donald Trump in September, followed by Guatemalas Congress a month later.

Gang-affiliated inmates took 46 prison guards and staff hostage across three prisons in and around Guatemala City on Saturday, including the maximum-security prison holding Duppie, who is better known by his nickname El Lobo or The Wolf.

Law enforcement officers escort Aldo Duppie, the imprisoned leader of Guatemalas Barrio 18 gang, after regaining control of the prison where inmates rioted in this handout image released on January 18, 2026 [Handout/National Civil Police via Reuters]

The riot at El Lobos prison was broken up by a lightning raid early on Sunday morning by police and the military, followed by raids on two more prisons the same day. The Barrio 18 leader was photographed in the custody of security forces wearing a blood-stained shirt.

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Shortly after the raids ended, retaliatory attacks began on police officers, killing at least seven and injuring 10, according to authorities. Some media reports listed the number of deaths as eight police officers and one suspected gang member.

Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda earlier linked the police officers deaths to gang reprisals in response to the actions the Guatemalan state is taking against them.

The army will remain on the streets of Guatemala to continue its crackdown on gang members, according to Defence Minister Henry Saenz.

The US Embassy in Guatemala City on Sunday lifted its shelter-in-place order issued for staff over the weekend following coordinated, armed attacks on police in several zones of Guatemala City.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Hackers disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions to air footage supporting the country's exiled crown prince and calling on security forces to not point your weapons at the people, online video showed early Monday, the latest disruption to follow nationwide protests in the country.

The hacking comes as the death toll in a crackdown by authorities that smothered the demonstrations reached at least 4,029 people, activists said. They fear the number will grow far higher as information leaks out of a country still gripped by the government's decision to shut down the internet. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had his invitation to speak at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, withdrawn over the killings.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high between the United States and Iran over the crackdown after President Donald Trump drew two red lines for the Islamic Republic  the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions in the wake of the demonstrations. A U.S. aircraft carrier, which days earlier had been in the South China Sea, passed Singapore overnight to enter the Strait of Malacca  putting it on a route that could bring it to the Middle East.

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State TV disrupted

The footage aired Sunday night across multiple channels broadcast by satellite from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the country's state broadcaster. The video aired two clips of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, then included footage of security forces and others in what appeared to be Iranian police uniforms. It claimed without offering evidence others had laid down their weapons and swore an oath of allegiance to the people.

This is a message to the army and security forces, one graphic read. Don't point your weapons at the people. Join the nation for the freedom of Iran.

The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, quoted a statement from the state broadcaster acknowledging that the signal in some areas of the country was momentarily disrupted by an unknown source. It did not discuss what had been aired.

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A statement from Pahlavi's office acknowledged the disruption that showed the crown prince. It did not respond to questions from The Associated Press about the hack. How much support Pahlavi has inside of Iran remains an open question, though there have been pro-shah cries at the demonstrations and at night since the crackdown.

Sunday's hack isn't the first to see Iranian airwaves disrupted. In 1986, The Washington Post reported that the CIA supplied the princes allies a miniaturized television transmitter for an 11-minute clandestine broadcast to Iran by Pahlavi that pirated the signal of two stations in the Islamic Republic.

In 2022, multiple channels aired footage showing leaders from the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and a graphic calling for the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

US aircraft carrier possibly on path to Mideast

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As tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington, ship-tracking data analyzed by the AP on Monday showed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, as well as other American military vessels, in the Strait of Malacca after passing Singapore on a route that could take them to the Middle East.

The Lincoln had been in the South China Sea with its strike group as a deterrent to China over tensions with Taiwan. Tracking data showed that the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., the USS Michael Murphy and the USS Spruance, all Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, were traveling with the Lincoln through the strait.

Multiple U.S. media reports quoting anonymous officials have said the Lincoln, which has its homeport in San Diego, was on its way to the Mideast. It likely would still need several days of travel before its aircraft would be in range of the region. The Mideast has been without an aircraft carrier group or an amphibious ready group, likely complicating any discussion of a military operation targeting Iran given Gulf Arab states' broad opposition to such an attack.

Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum withdrew its invitation for Araghchi to speak at Davos.

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Although he was invited last fall, the tragic loss of lives of civilians in Iran over the past few weeks means that it is not right for the Iranian government to be represented at Davos this year, the forum said.

Araghchi denounced the decision, saying the forum cancelled my appearance in Davos on the basis of lies and political pressure from Israel and its U.S.-based proxies and apologists."

The Munich Security Conference separately withdrew invitation for Iranian government officials over the crackdown.

Death toll from crackdown rises

The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency put the death toll Tuesday to at least 4,029, warning it likely would go higher.

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It said of the dead, 3,786 were demonstrators, 180 were security forces, 28 were children and 35 were people not demonstrating.

The agency has been accurate throughout the years of demonstrations and unrest in Iran, relying on a network of activists inside the country that confirms all reported fatalities. The AP has been unable to independently confirm the toll.

Iranian officials have not given a clear death toll, although on Saturday, Khamenei said the protests had left several thousand people dead and blamed the United States for the deaths. It was the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties from the wave of protests that began Dec. 28 over Irans ailing economy.

The agency also reported over 26,000 people had been arrested. Comments from officials have led to fears of some of those detained being put to death in Iran, one of the world's top executioners.

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While the killers and seditious terrorists will be punished, Islamic mercy and leniency will be applied to those who were deceived and did not have (effective) roles in the terrorist event," a statement Monday from Iran's president, its judiciary chief and parliament speaker said.

___

Associated Press writer Elena Becatoros contributed to this report.
Amid fighting there are concerns ISIS detainees held in Syria could escape, while a deal foresees them being handed over to Damascus

Thousands of alleged ISIS members are held in Syria. They are held in around two dozen different camps and prisons that have been run by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. These facilities were largely created as a result of the defeat of ISIS between 2017 and 2019 in Syria. When the last major pockets of ISIS control were liberated by the SDF in 2019, thousands of ISIS member families ended up in the hands of the SDF. After clashes between the SDF and the Syrian government over the last week, an agreement was signed that is supposed to mean that the administration of ISIS detainees in eastern Syria will be handed over to the Syrian government.

These ISIS members and their families, detained in eastern Syria, include thousands of people, mostly women and children who had married ISIS members. They included thousands of foreigners as well. This left the SDF with a complex challenge. The ISIS members couldnt be repatriated without the consent of the countries they were from. Many countries, such as the UK, didnt want their citizens to return.

Stripped of citizenship

Some countries had stripped these people of citizenship, leaving them in legal limbo. The foreign ISIS members had entered Syria illegally during the Syrian civil war. As undocumented ISIS-supporting migrants, they were not even officially in Syria.

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After the SDF took control of some 50,000 people who had ties to ISIS, it was unclear what to do with them. The worst offenders, mostly men, were held in special prisons. Several were repatriated to other countries. Some of the women and children were also allowed to return to their countries, who sent people to collect them via Iraq. However, this left a large number of people languishing in various facilities. The ISIS women in the Al-Hol camp formed their own society, replicating the extremism of ISIS in miniature. They killed women who dissented and raised children to become extremists.

This means that as the fighting broke out between the Syrian government and the SDF over the last week, there were concerns about what might happen with the ISIS prisoners. Videos from January 18 show some prisons being taken over by the Syrian government. These appear to be womens prisons where women and children were held. While some accounts on social media claimed 3,000 ISIS members had been allowed to leave prisons, the real figure is likely much lower, and its not clear if those people who fled prisons on January 17-18 were actually ISIS members.

A woman fighter stands guard during a joint security operation for Syria's Kurdish Internal Security Police Force, also known as Asayesh, and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at Camp Roj, where foreign relatives of people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State (IS) group are held. (credit: DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

What will happen next to the ISIS member detainees?

What matters now is what will happen with the ISIS detainees. Devorah Margolin, the Blumenstein-Rosenbloom Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, wrote a thread on X discussing the camps. She notes that six years after ISIS was defeated many of these populations remain detained and are being held across roughly 27 facilities, including 25 detention facilities (including two youth rehabilitation centers) and two detention camps (Al-Hol and Roj) in northeast Syria, and run by several different actors, including the SDF and affiliated security forces like the Internal Security Forces, as well as by the civilian wing, the DAANES. DAANES is the civilian authority that runs eastern Syria, essentially the civilian arm of the SDF. They are largely a Kurdish organization.

Margolin goes on to note that there are approximately 25 detention facilities (including two youth rehabilitation centers - Houri and Orkesh) under the umbrella of IS in detention today holding around 9,000 mostly adult men, but also including 1,000 teenage boys and young men initially detained as minors, as well as 100 women. This population includes 5,000 Syrians, 3,000 Iraqis, and 2,000 third country nationals (TCNs). Gathering concrete information on these individuals remains extremely difficult - and sometimes unreliable - for numerous reasons, including security reasons, as well as the fact that they are run by non-state actors, the SDF and the DAANES.

Al-Hol camp holds 25,000 people

She goes on to add that the population of Al-Hol camp is now believed to be around 25,000 people. Another large camp, called Roj, has around 2,400 people. Today, the majority of those held in Al-Hol are Syrians, then Iraqis (today, only about 13,000 left), and less than 10,000 third-country nationals. Iraqis used to be the largest group held in Al-Hol, but the Iraqi government has repatriated more than 20,000 people from the camp, including more than 11,000 in 2025 alone.

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Now, according to Rudaw Kurdish media, Baghdad is ready to take in the rest of the Iraqis. This comes as Iraq is also deploying forces along the Syrian border, afraid the fighting may spill over. We are preparing to return all Iraqi families remaining inside al-Hol camp to Iraq as soon as possible, an Iraqi source said to Rudaw. Iraqi interior minister and acting minister of migration and displaced Abdul-Amir al-Shammari is overseeing the process and is scheduled to visit the Jadaa camp in Nineveh province on Monday.

Ahmed Sheikhmous who oversees camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees in Rojava, told Rudaw that due to attacks by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham [HTS] militants [who are a now major part of the Syrian interim government], there is a serious threat to the camps and prisons holding ISIS militants, because those attackers are just like ISIS. The Iraqi data indicates that fewer than 100 Iraqi families remain in al-Hol camp, the article claims. Preparations are beginning, and it is scheduled that the repatriation of all of them will start at the beginning of next month, Ali Jahangir, spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement, told Rudaw on Monday.

Large number of foreigners, still remain in the camps and prisons

With the Iraqis back home, the largest number of people in the camps will be Syrians. However, there are a large number of foreigners, estimated at thousands, still in the various camps and prisons. Some of the foreign ISIS members, particularly the women, have children in these facilities. The children are apparently growing up without any proper documents if they are the children of foreigners. That would appear to mean that there may be hundreds or thousands of stateless children.

One of the well-known cases is that of Shamima Begum, a British woman who travelled to Iraq to support ISIS as a fifteen-year-old teenager. An article at BBC two weeks ago noted that the British Home Secretary would "robustly defend" the decision to strip Shamima Begum of her British citizenship. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has called for an investigation, but a government source said the decision had already been upheld by UK courts, the BBC noted. Begum is now 26. While her case is well known, there are many other women. Some of them have children. With countries refusing to take them back, it is not clear what Syria will do with them.
It wasnt going to be empty for long.

A new business will take over the piece of downtown Gig Harbor real-estate formerly occupied by Heritage Distilling Co., which closed its tasting rooms at the end of last year.

Picture European-style coffee, warm sandwiches and croissants and scones. The Midway, a new bakery, deli and market from Morso Bistro owner Trish Huff, will open its doors by the summer of 2026.

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By day, The Midway will operate as a bustling bakery, classic European espresso bar, and lunch-forward deli offering fresh breads, pastries, sandwiches, soups, and salads made daily, along with an assortment of cookies, cakes, and other sweet treats, a press release said. As the day unfolds, the experience will naturally shift into an inviting afternoon and early evening atmosphere with simple bites and a curated beer and wine selection  encouraging guests to slow down, stay awhile, and connect.

The target atmosphere for the business is approachable, high-quality, small-town casual  not pretentious, but special, according to written notes Huff shared with The News Tribune. She said it will be totally different in concept from Morso Bistro, a restaurant, market and wine bar at 9014 Peacock Hill Ave. Morso, which she opened in 2020, isnt changing and will continue serving customers as usual, Huff said.

Heritage Distilling Co. previously served whiskey and cocktails in their tasting room at 3118 Harborview Dr. in Gig Harbor, Wash., pictured Thursday, March 27, 2025. The company closed all of their tasting rooms at the end of 2025. Julia Park/jpark@thenewstribune.com (Julia Park/jpark@thenewstribune.com)

The spot at 3118 Harborview Dr. hosted Heritage Distilling Co.s whiskey tasting room for over a decade, before the business shifted to focus on other priorities such as their partnerships with Native American tribes and forays into cryptocurrency.

Huff described The Midway as a cross between a New York deli, an Italian coffee shop and a European market. It will be order-at-the-counter style, rather than a sit-down restaurant, with plenty of grab-and-go options but also spots to sit and chat.

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Ive been looking for this space in downtown Gig Harbor for probably 15 years, Huff, 52, said in an interview with The News Tribune. And the perfect space just opened up. Its, to me, the most beautiful building in the downtown.

Gig Harbor-born brother and sister will run new eatery

The Midways name hearkens back to a piece of Gig Harbor history, according to Huff. The first school in Gig Harbor was midway between the bay of Gig Harbor and Wollochet Bay, and Huff said her bus stop was right by it. The name also honors her mother, who was a schoolteacher, she said.

Huff and her brother, Nick Hosea, will head the new establishment. Hosea, 48, is a chef who spent his entire career working in kitchens throughout Seattle, New York and Barcelona, where he currently resides, said Huff.

Sister and brother duo Trish Huff and Nick Hosea, pictured in Spain, will run The Midway, a new bakery, deli and market in the former space of Heritage Distilling Co.s tasting room at 3118 Harborview Dr. in Gig Harbor, Wash. Trish Huff/Courtesy (Trish Huff/Courtesy)

The two attended culinary school and became classically-trained chefs in Seattle. Huff went on to work in restaurant management and then the wine business, where she became a sommelier (a trained wine professional), she continued.

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Im looking forward to having the adventure and working side-by-side with my brother, Huff said. I think we have very complementary talents within the hospitality industry, in the culinary world.

Bakery-deli-market will have European vibe

The Midway will bring a different kind of energy to Heritage Distillings former tasting room.

The new space will likely be a little brighter, with more daylight, and lots of fresh, beautiful food, Huff said. She also envisions what she described as a European vibe, which she described as a place with that bustle and the buzz, curated goods and fresh and local ingredients.

The menu, as described in Huffs concept notes, has something for everyone: coffee, juices and smoothies; signature breads such as sourdough and rustic loaves; pastries and treats; sandwiches, soups and salads; charcuterie bites; curated wine and beer options and more. The market-side of the eatery will offer items like local jams, snacks, picnic essentials and other items.

Trish Huff also owns Morso Bistro, a wine bar, restaurant and market at 9014 Peacock Hill Ave. in Gig Harbor, Wash. The Midway will be Huffs second business in Gig Harbor. Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com (Kristine Sherred/ksherred@thenewstribune.com)

The business plans to support local food vendors by creating a space to sell their goods, she told The News Tribune: Think farmers market vendors selling items like fresh homemade pastas or honeys or jams, which The Midway could carry.

At its heart, The Midway is about community, Huff said in the press release. Fresh food, friendly faces, and a place where people feel comfortable stopping in for a few minutes or a few hours. Its about creating somewhere people can return to throughout the day  whether thats for coffee, grabbing a quick bite, or meeting friends for a drink after work.
At least 41 people were killed and dozens more injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday evening.

The crash happened at 7.45pm local time near Adamuz, a town of about 5,000 people in the province of Cordoba, according to Spains interior ministry.

The tail end of a train run by private high-speed rail operator Iryo, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, was derailed and jumped onto an adjacent track, where it smashed into an oncoming Renfe service travelling from Madrid to Huelva, a municipality in Spain. Renfe is Spain's national state-owned railway company.

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Follow the latest updates about the crash here

Broken windows of a crashed train are photographed at the site of a train collision in Adamuz, southern Spain, Monday, 19 January 2026 (AP)

Spanish state-owned rail operator Adif said the Iryo train derailed first and crashed into the second train, pushing it off the tracks and down a railway embankment.

The death toll has climbed to 41 after another body was recovered overnight. Juan Manuel Moreno, head of the regional government of Andalusia, said that it could take another 48 hours to know with certainty how many deaths have resulted from this terrible accident.

Twelve remain in intensive care after the accident near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360km south of Madrid, according to emergency services.

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A total of 43 missing-person reports have been filed so far at police headquarters in Huelva, Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba, and Seville, officials said.

It makes it one of the worst railway accidents in Europe in 80 years.

Cranes are being used to continue rescue efforts as another body was discovered overnight (Reuters)

Spains transport minister Oscar Puente said the incident was really strange, noting that it occurred on a straight stretch of track that had been renewed in May.

The high-speed Frecciarossa 1000 train operated by Iryo was carrying around 300 passengers, according to officials.

The Renfe-operated Madrid-Huelva Alvia train had between 100 and 200 passengers on board, with authorities later saying the worst damage occurred in its first two carriages.

Mapped: Two trains collide and derail in south of Spain (Independent)

The Renfe train was travelling at around 200kmph at the time of impact, El Pais reported. It was unclear how fast the Iryo train was moving when the accident happened.

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Mr Puente said the rear section of the Iryo train derailed, while the front section of the Renfe one took the full impact of the collision and plunged several metres down the embankment.

Experts on site identified wear on the joint between sections of the rail, known as a fishplate, which they said showed the fault had been there for some time, a source briefed on the preliminary probe told Reuters.

They found that the faulty joint created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track, but an official reason is yet to be confirmed.

The source, who declined to be identified, said technicians believe the faulty joint and the creation of the ensuing gap is key to identifying the precise cause of the deadly incident.

At least 41 people have been killed in the incident (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

It has also emerged that train drivers union SEMAF had written to rail operator ADIF in August to warn about severe wear and tear on high-speed rail tracks, claiming their concerns had been overlooked.

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The union had cautioned ADIF about potholes, bumps and imbalances in overhead power lines that it said were causing frequent breakdowns and damaging trains.

Juanma Moreno, regional president of Andalusia, said at least 75 people were hospitalised, including 15 in serious condition.

Mr Moreno warned early on that the death toll could rise as daylight allowed rescuers to fully access the wreckage.

El Pais reported that the 27-year-old driver of the MadridHuelva train was among those killed.

Footage shows emergency workers at the scene in Adamuz (@eleanorinthesky/AFP)

Emergency services worked through the night under floodlights in cold conditions, with temperatures dropping to around 6C.

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Mr Moreno said on Tuesday that emergency crews had faced difficulties bringing in the heavy equipment needed to lift the wreckage and reach those still lying beneath it.

The train collision on Sunday occurred in a hilly, olive-growing region accessible only by a single-track road, making it difficult for ambulances to reach the area, the national emergency director at the Spanish Red Cross told Reuters.

Earlier, video footage shared on social media showed rescuers pulling passengers from twisted carriages, while others escaped by climbing through smashed windows or were wheeled away on stretchers.

Cordoba fire chief Paco Carmona said the Renfe train carriages were mangled, with twisted metal and seats making access difficult.

People wait behind a police cordon at the scene of the crash (Reuters)

Journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was travelling on the Iryo train, said the moment of impact felt like an earthquake, adding that passengers used emergency hammers to break windows and escape.

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Mr Puente said the cause of the derailment is not yet known, adding that an inquiry could take up to a month.

He described the crash as unusual because it occurred on flat track, not a curve, and involved a train less than four years old.

Ignacio Barron, head of Spain's Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents, says investigators are looking into the interaction between the train and the stretch of track in question as they narrow down on the cause of the deadly crash.

A survivor being taken away to receive treatment (Reuters)

Speaking to RTVE, Barron said: "What always plays a part in a derailment is the interaction between the track and the vehicle, and that is what the commission is currently (looking into)."

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The president of Renfe ruled out the possibility of human error or excessive speed as the cause. The speed limit on the track is 250kmph while the trains were travelling at 110kmph and 200kmph when they collided.

Renfe said the derailment was caused by the Iryo train entering its path, while Iryo said it deeply regretted the incident and was cooperating fully with authorities. Rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended, with Adif saying they would not resume until safety checks were completed.

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said: Tonight is one of deep sadness for our country.

Spain has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, with more than 3,100km of track, and the system is widely regarded as safe.

The country;s worst rail disaster this century occurred in 2013, when 80 people were killed after a train derailed in Galicia while travelling at excessive speed.
Spain's Prime Minister has declared three days of national mourning, after the country's worst rail disaster in more than a decade killed at least 40 people. ITV News Reporter Sangita Lal is at the scene

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said his government will 'uncover the truth' after a train collision in southern Spain killed at least 40 people and injured dozens more.

The incident occurred on Sunday when a high-speed train derailed, jumped onto the track in the opposite direction and slammed into an oncoming train.

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Speaking during a press conference, Sanchez said: "This is a painful day for all of Spain, for our entire country. And our thoughts go out, in particular, to the victims, to their families."

He went on to say: "We will uncover the truth, we will find out the answers.

"When we know the origin and cause of this tragedy, as we must, we will inform the public via the media with absolute transparency and clarity."

Emergency crews work at the site of a train collision in Adamuz, southern Spain. Credit: AP

Authorities have warned they expect the death toll to rise after emergency services worked through the night to recover casualties from the wreckage.

The tail end of an evening train travelling from Malaga to Madrid with some 300 passengers came off the rails near Cordoba at 7.45 pm local time and slammed into a train with some 200 passengers coming from Madrid to Huelva, according to rail operator Adif.

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The first two carriages of the train travelling to Huelva were thrown down a 4-metre slope. Authorities said the largest number of deaths appears to be from those two carriages.

Andalusia regional president Juanma Moreno said, "It is likely (that there will be more bodies found) when you look at the mass of metal that is there. The firefighters have done a great job, but unfortunately, when they get the heavy machinery to lift the carriages, it is probable we will find more victims."

Spanish police said 159 people were injured, of whom five were in critical condition.

A further 24 were in serious condition, authorities said.

Investigators do not know what caused the collision. Credit: AP

The Spanish Red Cross set up a help centre in the town of Adamuz, near the crash site, offering assistance to emergency services and people seeking information.

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Spains Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the cause of the crash was unknown, calling it a truly strange incident because it happened on a flat stretch of track that had been renovated in May.

He also said the train that jumped the track was less than 4 years old.

That train belonged to the private company Iryo, while the second train, which took the brunt of the impact, was part of Spains public train company Renfe.

Iryo issued a statement saying it deeply lamented what has happened and that it was working with authorities to manage the situation.

Dozens were injured in the crash. Credit: AP

When asked by reporters how long an inquiry into the crashs cause could take, he said it could be a month.

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Salvador Jimenez, a journalist for Spanish broadcaster RTVE, was on board one of the derailed trains and told the network by phone that there was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed.

He said passengers used emergency hammers to break the windows, and that some had walked away without serious injuries.

Videos from the scene show people crawling out of windows to escape the wreckage with carriages leaning at an angle.

Emergency services have swarmed the area, with authorities saying they will work through the night. Credit: AP

The regional Civil Protection chief, Maria Belen Moya Rojas, told Canal Sur the crash happened in an area that is hard to reach.

She added that local people were taking blankets and water to the scene to help the victims.

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Tonight is one of deep sadness for our country, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X.

I want to express my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victims.

Spains King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also expressed their condolences and concern on social media.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X that she was following the terrible news from Cordoba.

Tonight you are in my thoughts, she wrote in Spanish.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

Spain has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe for trains moving over 250 km/h (155 mph), with more than 3,100 kilometres (1,900 miles) of track, according to the European Union.

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The network is a popular, competitively priced and safe mode of transport. Renfe said more than 25 million passengers took one of its high-speed trains in 2024.

Adif said train services between Madrid and cities in Andalusia would not run on Monday.

Spains worst train derailment this century occurred in 2013, when 80 people died after a train came off the tracks in the countrys northwest.

An investigation concluded the train was travelling 111 mph on a stretch with a 50mph speed limit when it left the tracks.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger gives her first speech after being sworn in on Jan. 17, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury)

Ive watched every Virginia governors inauguration for the past 30 years. For most of those, I covered them on-site as a reporter or editor. Theyve ranged from perfectly serviceable to pretty doggone good.

But what Abigail Davis Spanberger did Saturday in the first minutes of her term as governor soared past them all.

Not since the inauguration of L. Douglas Wilder as the nations first elected Black governor 36 years ago has the day been as heavily freighted with history as it was for Spanberger  the first woman to govern Virginia in more than four centuries as a colony or a commonwealth. Never had Virginians heard their leader speak as a daughter, a wife, a sister, a mother.

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In content, tone and delivery, she comfortably and confidently rendered an address for the ages  one that rose to the importance of the occasion, rich in lines that will be quoted for generations to come.

For Virginians, it blended the sweet optimism of President Ronald Reagans Shining city on a hill valedictory and President John Kennedys stirring Ask not exhortation to Americans collective and individual commitment to country.

Under leaden skies against a damp winter chill, her sunny 25-minute address took in the vast sweep of Virginias history  for better and for worse  and paired it seamlessly to todays divisive strife and tomorrows daunting challenges for her and her government.

She noted the commonwealths first two governors, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson, and cited Henrys 1799 admonition in his final public speech  United we stand, divided we fall  that is as urgent now as it was at our republics birth.

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Dressed in suffragette white and standing as the ultimate triumph of their cause, Spanberger saluted women who risked harassment and arrest on the same Capitol steps a century earlier advocating for womens right to vote.

On the eve of the holiday celebrating the Rev. Martin Luther Kings birthday, she noted Kings daring 1960 speech in Richmond urging Gov. Lindsay Almond to end Massive Resistance, Virginias disgraceful and futile effort to defy the Supreme Courts 1954 ruling to desegregate public schools.

In attendance on his 95th birthday, Spanberger recognized Wilder, descended from enslaved grandparents, whose 1990 inauguration packed Capitol Square  a realization of Kings dream.

Former Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder laughs when Gov. Abigail Spanberger reminds the crowd her inauguration is on his 95th birthday, Jan. 17, 2026. Wilder was Virginias first Black governor while Spanberger is Virginias first woman governor. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury)

And she honored the memory of Linwood Holton, Virginias first Republican governor, who served notice in his 1970 inaugural speech that Virginia would, at last, embrace racial equality, not just as the law but as a value. Seated nearby, Holtons daughter, former First Lady Anne Holton, fought back tears as her husband, U.S. Sen and former Gov. Tim Kaine, comforted her.

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When she shifted to the present, Spanberger confronted the administration of President Donald Trump and the recklessness coming out of Washington without once uttering his name. She addressed Virginians concerns head on.

You are worried about policies that are hurting our communities, cutting health care access, imperiling rural hospitals, and driving up costs, she said. Affordability was the centerpiece of her campaign and is now the focus of her term.

You are worried about Washington policies that are closing off markets, hurting innovation and private industry, and attacking those who have devoted their lives to public service, she said, referring to Trumps schedule of punitive tariffs and federal job cuts in a state that is home to 330,000 federal government workers.

You are worried about an administration that is gilding buildings while schools crumble, breaking the social safety net and sowing fear across our communities, betraying the values of who we are as Americans, the very values that we celebrate here on these steps, she said. No elaboration is necessary.

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Then she spoke without equivocation to the dispute roiling the nation, causing massive midwinter protests in cities across America, knowing her words might escalate the vindictive presidents reprisals. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were spotted operating last week in Petersburg and Henrico County.

And in Virginia, Spanberger said, our hard-working, law-abiding immigrant neighbors will know that when we say that we will focus on the security and safety of all of our neighbors, we mean them, too.

Does such a powerful oratorical start presage a successful term? Oh, were it so easy.

She has staked out an ambitious agenda, and shes got 1,454 days and nights to achieve it. Many will be difficult, frustrating and thankless. There are unknown crises that, as often as not, hijack a governors term and define his  now her  legacy.

But at least for the moment, Abigail Spanberger has pointed Virginia toward a new destination, and she has inspired us to follow her there.

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On January 14, the Anhui Provincial Industrial and Information Technology Work Conference was held in Hefei. According to the conference, from January to November 2025, Anhui's industrial enterprises above designated size recorded operating revenue of RMB 5.27 trillion, ranking 5th nationwide. The operatingrevenue scale of industrial enterprises above designated size is a core metric for measuring a region's industrial economic size, and this is the first time Anhui Province has climbed to 5th place nationally in that metric. From January to November 2025, the value added of Anhui's industry above designated size grew 9.3% yearonyear, 3.3 percentage points higher than the national average, ranking 3rd nationwide and 1st in both the Yangtze River Delta and central China. In the first three quarters of 2025, Anhui's industry contributed 46.4% to provincial economic growth, a record high since the 14th FiveYear Plan period began. The province continues to stand out as a "major dark horse": a 6.2% yearonyear increase in industrial revenue above designated size is notable among the top ten provinces, and revenue scale has historically moved up to 5th nationally. Equipment manufacturing and hightech manufacturing have become core drivers, with sectors such as electronic information and new energy vehicles maintaining high growth. In 2020, the revenue of Anhui's industrial enterprises above designated size ranked 12th with RMB 3.8 trillion. By 2023, provincial industrial enterprise revenue had surpassed the RMB 5 trillion mark, reaching RMB 5,087.5 billion and climbing to 7th place nationally; the above designated size industrial revenue scale overtook provinces such as Sichuan, Henan, and Hubei, ranking 1st in the centralwestern region. By 2024, industrial revenue further rose to RMB 5.49 trillion, moving the province up to 6th place nationwide and increasing its share of the national total from 3.6% to 4%. In just five years, Anhui's industry has made rapid strides to become a stabilizing ballast for provincial growth, contributing 46.4% to GDP growth and showing trends of rising positioning, improved structure, better quality and efficiency, emerging industries, and stronger enterprises. This is attributable to the provincial Party committee and government placing manufacturing at the center of the work agenda, adhering to a consistent longterm blueprint, vigorously implementing a strategy to strengthen the province's manufacturing, and effectively fostering a strong atmosphere of prioritizing and promoting industry across the province. Choosing the right industry tracks and rapidly arranging them has also been a key reason. Early and accurate positioning in new industry tracks such as new energy vehicles, advanced photovoltaics and nextgeneration energy storage, integrated circuits, new displays, and artificial intelligence has enabled the province to form chainclustered, agglomerated development momentum, allowing it to run alongside and lead nationally and fueling sustained, rapid, highquality manufacturing development during the 14th FiveYear Plan. Looking ahead to the 15th FiveYear Plan, the province's industry will place greater emphasis on deploying new industries and tracks, winning by quality, promoting industrial clustering, driving the digitalintelligent transformation of manufacturing, enhancing industrial science and technology innovation capacity, cultivating highquality enterprises, continuing to advance open cooperation in manufacturing, and pushing for greater progress in newtype industrialization.

Source: Anhui Daily


PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (NYSE:PAGS) is one of the Most Undervalued Fintech Stocks to Buy Now. PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (NYSE:PAGS) is set to release its fiscal Q4 2025 earnings on March 5. Wall Street expects the company to post a quarterly revenue of roughly $981.30 million, along with an EPS of $0.39.

Recently, on December 16, Mario Pierry from Bank of America Securities reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $13. The analyst noted that the rating is based on the companys strategic initiatives. Pierry likes the strategic focus of the newly appointed CEO and CFO to increase the companys loan book significantly by 2029. Management plans to achieve this by securing working capital loans. BofA noted that while this strategy has some near-term challenges, including limited earnings growth, the long-term prospects remain promising.

BofA added that the new management brings in retail banking expertise and has improved credit models and collection capabilities. The firm also likes the use of AI in speeding up the process of credit underwriting.

PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (NYSE:PAGS) is a financial services and digital payments company that is primarily focused on serving consumers, individual entrepreneurs, micro-merchants, small companies, and medium-sized companies in Brazil.

While we acknowledge the potential of PAGS as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Over `100 rural hospitals have closed since 2005, making it hard for millions to access healthcare.

ERs, maternity wards, and inpatient services are at high risk of being shut down.

Changes to Medicaid under Trump will likely lead to more closures.

Emergency rooms, maternity wards, and intensive care units are vanishing across rural America.

The phenomenon is leaving millions of people without access to medical services. Some now have to travel long distances for their annual checkup, while others worry paramedics won't arrive in time if they need help. Hospitals are major employers, and closures can leave hundreds of people without a job.

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There are a few reasons why this is happening, and has been for decades. Smaller patient populations in rural areas make it difficult for hospitals to cover their operating costs, aging equipment and facilities can become too expensive to fix, and a change in ownership can tip an already-struggling hospital into the red.

This longstanding problem is also likely to get much worse  and quickly. Medicaid changes in President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act will limit key sources of federal funding to these hospitals, risking future closures. And the administration's $50 billion investment in rural health initiatives might not be enough to offset the harm.

Here's what to know about closures in your area.

Has a hospital closed near you? Do you have a healthcare story to share? Reach out to this reporter at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com or fill out the survey below.

Over 100 rural hospitals have shut their doors

Since 2005, 110 of the US' rural hospitals have closed permanently, 24 of which have shut their doors in the last five years. Researchers at The University of North Carolina found that the majority of these hospitals are in especially small and isolated locations, leaving residents with few options to see a doctor for preventive or urgent care. And many of these closure locations are near one another, creating healthcare deserts.

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Nearly 800 more rural hospitals are currently at risk closure due to financial distress, the Center for Healthcare Equity and Reform estimates.

Some former hospitals become urgent cares or nursing homes

Some struggling hospitals don't shut down completely. Eighty five rural hospitals have downsized since 2005, stopping all inpatient care while still offering some outpatient services. A formerly complete hospital, for example, might be repurposed into an urgent care, nursing home, or rehab facility.

This strategy saves money, but can come at the expense of patients. Over 500 hospitals closed their labor and delivery departments in the last decade, more than half of which were in rural areas.

Rural ERs might have the only doctors around

Scaled-down hospitals are occasionally repurposed into rural emergency centers, which are designed to handle immediate trauma cases. These hospitals are stand-alone ERs and don't exceed an average patient stay of 24 hours.

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Since CMS began tracking it in January 2023, 42 rural hospitals have been converted into these emergency centers.

And, while rural America is hardest hit by funding challenges, urban areas aren't immune. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that more urban hospitals closed than opened between 2019 to 2023, with many reporting financial distress and outdated equipment in the years before closure.

Business Insider is diving into the business of hospitals and Americans' access to healthcare. If you have a story to share  or if a hospital has closed in your area  fill out the survey below.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Huntersville Police Department currently has just under 100 officers and is seeking to hire 25 more, despite offering competitive starting salaries of $61,000.

The town of Huntersville, with an estimated population of more than 67,000 residents, has been facing challenges in recruiting police officers.

Chief Brian Vaughan attributed this difficulty to a significant drop in interest compared to previous years, stating that 25 years ago, there would be about 100 applicants for one job, whereas now there is only one job with just five interested candidates.

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ALSO READ: CATS hosts hiring event for new bus drivers

Vaughan, who oversees the Police Department, expressed his hopes for increased recruitment following a requested pay increase for officers.

When I took over as Chief of Police, I immediately went to our board and asked for a significant pay increase in order to impact those numbers of getting people to come and be interested in our department, and almost immediately, we saw an impact on the number of applications we received, Vaughan said.

Despite the higher salaries, the department still has more than 25 open positions, which has repercussions for various roles within the department.

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If I took patrol officers off the street to fill those school resource officer positions, youre actually going to impact response times to a lot of emergencies, including to those schools. And so this is a capacity thing right now, Vaughan added.

Daniela Santiago, a recruit in the department currently undergoing training, expressed her enthusiasm about her upcoming role.

Im super excited to just get out and talk to people and kind of make a difference in peoples lives and how they view police officers, Santiago said.

To address the staffing shortage, the Huntersville Police Department has organized a hiring event scheduled for Jan. 31, where applicants can take exams and undergo background checks.

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Those interested in applying must register in advance for the event, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Julian Clark Avenue in Huntersville.

The hiring event will allow attendees to learn more about the application process, meet current officers, and take the first steps toward becoming a member of the Huntersville Police Department.

For more details, please visit the departments website.

VIDEO: CATS hosts hiring event for new bus drivers
Iconic Group has opened the Iconic Marjorie Penang, a 298-room hotel in Bayan Lepas, Malaysia, as part of Marriott Internationals Tribute Portfolio, reported Penang Property Talk.

Launched on 17 January, the property aims to attract visitors during the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

The property features facilities such as an infinity pool, jacuzzi, a 24-hour fitness centre, and the WellNest Spa.

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The hotel design draws influence from Penangs Baba-Nyonya heritage.

Iconic Group executive director James Tan Cho Chia said: We are proud to announce the grand opening of Iconic Marjorie Penang, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel that celebrates Penangs rich culture with a distinctive design inspired by its vibrant heritage.

Working closely with Marriott International, we have developed a world-class, luxury hotel that immerses travellers in Penangs captivating beauty and multicultural spirit. As a Tribute Portfolio hotel, Iconic Marjorie joins a growing, global collection of hotels characterised by captivating design and connections to the local community.

Government officials attended the opening ceremony, including the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang, Penang's chief minister Chow Kon Yeow, Minister of Tourism Tiong King Sing, and local mayors.

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Other attendees included representatives from Tourism Malaysia and several state executive councillors.

Marriott Internationals asset management vice-president Yeoh Soo Hin represented the global hospitality company at the event.

The Iconic Marjorie Penang joins Marriott Internationals portfolio in Malaysia as it seeks to address anticipated increases in tourist arrivals.

The hotels amenities and design highlight local cultural elements while offering a range of services to guests.

The opening forms part of wider efforts to support tourism growth in Penang ahead of future national campaigns.

Tan Cho Chia added: Penangs hotel and tourism sector is expected to see a particularly strong year, driven by Visit Malaysia 2026 initiatives and Penangs growing prominence as a global tourism destination. We recognise and appreciate the Penang state governments efforts to grow the tourism industry.

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With the grand opening of Iconic Marjorie Penang, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, the Iconic Group is well-positioned to capitalise on the influx of tourists into Penang and contribute to the growth of Penangs tourism industry.

"Iconic Marjorie Penang opens as Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




New electronic bracelets have been so far ineffective

The IDF on Monday admitted that it failed in 2025 to sufficiently reduce the volume of Jewish extremist violence against West Bank Palestinians

In 2025, the number of "nationalistic" Jewish incidents, a term the IDF uses to refer to both violent attacks and vandalism targeting Palestinian property, spiked to 867, up from 682 incidents in 2024.

Although the IDF pointed out that the number of incidents was still lower than the 1,045 number in 2023 and the 922 number in 2022, it was still a far cry from the 446 total in 2021, 353 in 2020, and 339 in 2019.

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Beyond the raw numbers, the IDF also acknowledged that the number of more serious, dangerous incidents, and especially of mass attacks, as opposed to an attack by one or two individuals, went up even more.

Currently, the IDF does define individual deadly Jewish attacks on Palestinians as Jewish terror.

Israeli security forces clash with Jewish settlers during the evacuation of Illegal structures in Tzur Misgavi, an outpost in Gush Etzion, in the West Bank, November 17, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/NAAMA STERN)

However, it still does not define groups of Jews involved in group attacks as terror groups because it says that they are not as organized as Palestinian terror groups.

IDF notes surge in Jewish extremist attacks on West Bank Palestinians

Critics say that the different terminology is impacted by the right-wing politics of the existing coalition, by Bluth, or by other defense officials.

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More recently, Bluth has referred to many of the Jewish extremists as anarchists.

Breaking down who the attackers are, the Shin Bet has defined 70 Jews as the worst offenders. Bluth has issued 39 restraining orders against more than half of these individuals.

Beyond those 70, there are another approximately 250 that are involved in Jewish nationalist incidents, even if less extreme to some extent, said the IDF.

Roughly half of the Jewish extremists, noted the IDF, come from the West Bank and another half from within the Green Line, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Raanana, and elsewhere.

Despite that roughly 50/50% split, the IDF would acknowledge that the vast majority of the Jewish extremists now spend most of their time in the West Bank, even if their original homes and parents are within the Green Line.

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IDF sources said that many of them have run away from their homes and have little regard for any authority figures, even right-wing religious Zionist rabbis.

For example, in some cases, Jewish extremists have attacked Palestinians or even IDF commanders with arson on Saturday despite biblical religious prohibitions against using fire on theShabbat.

Some of the Jewish extremists are as young as age 12, and most of them are in their teens or early 20s, with one of the oldest currently being 26.

The worst months of the year for Jewish extremist violence were January, with 116 incidents, May and June, both with around 90, and then October and November with 100 and 87 incidents respectively.

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An ongoing problem, according to IDF sources, remains that Defense Minister Israel Katz released seven of the worst offenders from administrative detention around a year ago, and then cancelled administrative detention for Jews.

This is at a time when over 3,500 Palestinians are in administrative detention.

Even taking into account how much larger and more deadly Palestinian terror is as compared to extremist Jewish violence, critics say that there is no basis to zero out administrative detention of Jews when the majority of IDF and Shin Bet positions for all of 2024-2025 were that ceasing using the tool would endanger national security.

While restraining orders have some impact, IDF sources said that in practice, there are many ways around restraining orders and ways for Jewish extremists to avoid law enforcement detecting their movements.

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Recently, electronic bracelets were placed on two Jewish extremists to track them and prevent their entering the West Bank, particularly while one of them was under house arrest.

However, the individual under house arrest succeeded in traveling to Eilat, against the orders of Bluth, without anyone being able to stop him in time, given that measures were more in place to prevent him from traveling to the West Bank.

In addition, many Israeli civilian courts have not fully recognized the validity of IDF military orders placed on some of these Jewish extremist Israeli civilians.

This has limited the effectiveness of their enforcement and the deterrent impact on the individuals of the restraining orders or electronic bracelets.

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Likewise, a new law had been passed to make it illegal for citizens to wear face masks in the West Bank. The concept was to make it easier to identify offenders or empower law enforcement to arrest them for the act of concealing their identities, even if an individual was not caught in the act of a nationalist crime against Palestinians.

But this initiative has had limited effectiveness again due to lack of enforcement from Israeli civilian courts.

There is an ongoing debate about whether the West Bank police are making a comeback in recent months to arrest and indict more Jewish violent extremists after around three years of criticism from the Shin Bet and the IDF of looking the other way due to pressure from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Besides Jewish extremist violence, the IDF has bulldozed dozens of illegal outposts established by Jewish West Bank settlers.

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However, dozens more have been officially legalized by Betzalel Smotrich in his capacity of controlling that policy within the Defense Ministry.

While under former defense minister Yoav Gallant, there was some pushback on such issues, Katz has given Smotrich a complete greenlight.

Those moves have led to international criticism, including from the Trump administration.

It was recently reported that some new outposts could disrupt any future attempt to implement Trump's 2020 plan for establishing a Palestinian state on portions of the West Bank law in dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., likened the U.S. government's conduct on immigration enforcement to that of countries like Somalia that she left, saying in impassioned remarks Friday that she never thought she'd experience such conduct in the "god----" United States.

"I don't want to curse, but those of us who escaped places like that, the one place where we thought we would never experience this is the U.S. [sic] god----" states," she said at a Democratic field hearing in St. Paul, entitled, "Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump's Deadly Assault on Minnesota."

"And we should all be ashamed that it is the United States that is allowing for this to take place, and it is being broadcast to the rest of the world, where people are calling and saying, Are you sure this is America?' I am ashamed, and we must do everything that we can to bring back the America we all escaped into."

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Omar, who was born in Somalia and whose district covers much of Minneapolis, has been outspoken against the Trump administration and its deployment of ICE agents amid crackdowns on illegal immigration and fraud in the city and state. With the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent as a flash point, critics say ICE agents are engaging in strong-arm tactics meant to intimidate the populace.

Rep. Ilhan Omar speaks to the media following a field hearing at the Minnesota Senate Building in St. Paul on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.

Trump Admin Preparing 1,500 Soldiers For Potential Minnesota Deployment

Minneapolis and St. Paul are already hosting some 3,000 federal agents deployed there after a massive fraud scandal rocked the state late last year. President Donald Trump has floated invoking the Insurrection Act to quell unrest in the state, although he appeared to back off the idea on Friday.

Read On The Fox News App

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Omar's comments sparked ire from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and other conservative figures online. Lee posted on X, "No member of Congress should *ever* refer to our country as the U.S. G------ States.' What should be the consequence of saying that?"

Billionaire Elon Musk replied, "Whatever the penalty is for treason," which can be as severe as execution.

Fox News Digital reached out to Omar and Lee's offices for additional comment.

Omar Ripped For 'Inciting Violence' After Minneapolis Ice Shooting: 'Make Sure These People Pay'

Omar also said Friday that Republican colleagues were comfortable with their own constituents facing what she called an "occupation that is terrorizing people in Minnesota that live in Minneapolis and St. Paul."

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"When my constituents call for help, we don't ask them who they voted for, because that is what it means to be an elected U.S. representative," she said. "So it is appalling for our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to be OK for the president to carry out retribution here in Minnesota.

"It is appalling for our Republican colleagues to be OK for there to be cell detentions in ICE for American citizens," she went on. "It is appalling for them to be OK for there to be checkpoints in American cities where people are asked for their papers. And it is appalling for Americans to have to carry their citizen papers only to be told they are not sure those papers are correct."

Ilhan Omar Says She's Frustrated Since Somalis Are Also Victims In 'Feeding Our Future' Scam

Sen. Mike Lee arrives for a vote in the U.S. Capitol on July 23, 2025.

Fox News' Anders Hagstrom and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App





Original article source: Ilhan Omar refers to 'US God---- States' during impassioned remarks about ICE
Troy Smothers deployed with the USMC to Ukraine in 2005 to train its infantry to NATO standards.

By necessity, many Ukrainians are skilled at fixing electronics and keeping aging systems going.

Smothers visits Ukraine often and told Business Insider that this mindset drives their success.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Troy Smothers, a US Marine veteran sergeant who now runs American Made Freedom, a nonprofit that assists Ukrainian troops with fiber-optic drones. Business Insider verified his military records and deployment to Ukraine with the Department of Defense.

The following has been edited for clarity and brevity.

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I was a standard infantry corporal in the Marines when I was sent to Odesa, Ukraine, in 2005.

There were perhaps 100 of us, and our clear role was to teach infantry tactics, such as leap and bound alternating movements, sectors of fire, and calling for artillery fire.

This was NATO doctrine. Because 20 years ago, the Ukrainians were indoctrinated by Soviet tactics that just throw people at their enemy like human meat waves.

The roles are somewhat reversed now. Now the West is trying to learn how Ukrainians are fighting, and how they've turned what little they had into formidable weapons.

Even two decades ago, I noticed the same mindset among them that's been the key to Ukraine's strength today.

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I was only in Ukraine for about three weeks in 2005, but my time training with the soldiers there left a similar impression on me.

We knew that Ukraine's military budget was, let's just say, underfunded. Everything they had was Soviet-era equipment comparable to the stuff that the US had decommissioned 20 years earlier.

We asked ourselves what we were doing sitting in their old Russian-made helicopters.

Helicopters commonly leak hydraulic fluid. However, when we boarded the helicopters in Ukraine, there were puddles of fluid in the cracks on the floor of the aircraft.

Definitely, nobody smoked near those things.

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Most of the Ukrainians' equipment was old, but it was a testimony to how they worked with what they had.

'We'll make it work'

Since the full-scale war started in 2022, I've been traveling to Ukraine for months at a time, showing new fiber optic spools to drone manufacturers so they can build and improve unjammable drones. We're testing out designs that are used on the battlefield today.

You see that same "this is all that we have, so we'll make it work" determination in Ukraine now. The Ukrainians are getting some great kit from Europe and the US, but it clearly still isn't enough to win.

Out of necessity, they took toy hobby drones and turned them into cutting-edge military equipment.

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We don't fight that way in the US. If something breaks, we typically order a replacement part or return it.

In Ukraine, they open up the part and repair it. Salaries there are much lower, so their people are more used to repairing electronics or appliances on their own. If a mobile phone breaks, they'll open it up and start soldering.

Because of this, they had a greater army of people who were electronically knowledgeable, enabling them to bring in an immediate solution in the war.

That isn't culturally ingrained in the American military or our people. Of course, we would adapt in the same situation, but could we have done it as quickly as the Ukrainians did, transforming toys and parts bought from China's Alibaba into something that the entire world is now watching today?

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Here's an example of their DIY ingenuity. The Ukrainians have a contraption nicknamed a "mustache" on their first-person-view drones, which is essentially two rigid copper wires protruding in front.

When the drone flies into its target, these wires touch and send a signal to the blasting cap  like turning on a light switch  in the attached explosive to trigger the detonation. The mustache's safety device is a simple, 3D-printed pin that gets pulled out when you launch the drone.

I've bought and used dozens of these while developing fiber-optic drones, and one mustache costs just $12 to $15. In the US, to get a similar piece of equipment, you'd spend $400 to $500, even at scale.

Most of these Ukrainians were just regular people living their lives until they were forced by the invasion to start killing Russians. But if anything, they've had an incredible advantage in finding solutions, sometimes because their uncle or friend might have run a repair or electronics business.

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We were down there 20 years ago to bring the Ukrainians up to NATO standards. Today, I can see how much they can teach us about innovation. It's humbling.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Holyrood elections, whatever their outcome, will provoke discussion about the future of the Union. A visitor from another planet  or perhaps even only from across the Channel  might find this odd. A group of islands, not unlike Japan, might seem predestined to unite.

In prehistoric times, there was a mysterious cultural unity based on shared beliefs and ritual places. Ancient geographers even called the islands Great Britain and Little Britain (Ireland).

In the year 973, Edgar, ruler of the new Kingdom of the English, was ceremonially rowed on the river Dee by rulers from other parts of the archipelago in recognition of his primacy among equals. The legends of King Arthur and of mythical descent from Trojan exiles created some sense of common heritage. Kings of Scotland were proud to claim descent both from English kings and from ancient Irish heroes.

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So our imaginary visitor might think that todays United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a belated re-unification of a culturally very similar group of peoples. Admittedly, they were divided during the medieval period by feudal conflicts and warlordism, which created separate kingdoms. Then, in the 16th century, they were divided anew by sectarian hatreds, now long faded.

But British unity, however consecrated by geography and history, has never been universally accepted. King James VI of Scots became James I of England and Ireland in 1603, instituting what he called the Kingdom of Great Britain.

The English said no, fearing that it would remove their ancient liberties and also that the Scots would steal their jobs, which to a remarkable extent they did. Many Scots were also opposed, fearing higher taxes and economic competition. The Welsh (incorporated in the previous century) seem to have been regarded, including by themselves, as a culturally distinctive part of England, like Cornwall. The Irish, divided by religion, remained a separate kingdom.

After civil war and the worst bloodshed in our history came the Act of Union with Scotland in 1707. After more bloodshed, the Act of Union with Ireland in 1801 created the United Kingdom and the Union Flag we fly today. These conflicts were not nationalist.

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Nationalism did not exist as a coherent idea until the 18th century, and first came to Ireland via the French Revolution. Before then  and indeed afterwards  conflicts were religious, constitutional and ethnic.

Even in restless Ireland, few advocated separation from the Union and the Empire (in which the Irish, like the Scots, were enthusiastic participants). But since roughly the 1920s, separatist nationalism has been a presence, at first small and even absurd. Now it seems ineradicable, mocking New Labours assumption that devolution would kill it stone dead.

The great strength of nationalism  indeed, its defining characteristic  is that it blames its problems on someone else. This may be a minority (such as Jews) or it can be another nation, in our case, of course, the English. This scapegoating is politically advantageous, unless and until the nationalists actually win. The disappointing nature (to put it mildly) of most states based on nationalism has been a global disaster.

I hope my Irish friends will not be too annoyed if I suggest that Ireland too has been disappointing  except, perhaps, to its political and intellectual class and parts of its economic elite. The fervent Catholicism that animated nationalism has largely evaporated, but for generations created a reactionary clerical regime that, for example, banned 70 percent of books reviewed in the Times Literary Supplement and made the lives of single mothers a misery.

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Migration to England, especially of the young, increased after independence, and today (as one irreverent Irish commentator has observed) Irelands cultural capital is London. The Republic still remains literally a protectorate of the United Kingdom, unable to defend itself.

Perhaps its most memorable gesture of independence was President Eamon de Valeras presentation of condolences to Germany on the death of Hitler. I mention these things not, I hope, in a spirit of schadenfreude, but to point out that even in favourable circumstances, nationalist-inspired independence is no panacea. Scottish nationalists would be well advised to read less about the Middle Ages and more about the 20th century.

A few years ago, it was fashionable to say that the Union was obsolete: globalisation had triumphed, the rules-based order prevailed, and European integration offered a painless road to independence. All that has gone.

The United Kingdom over the centuries has fostered a multitude of emotional, cultural and economic ties between its peoples that we take for granted. It may be that these would anyway be proof against nationalist division  if most people were given a say. But in todays world it might also be worth recalling the fundamental reasons that persuaded our grudging, unsentimental and bad-tempered ancestors that Union was, after all, for the best.

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Those reasons were, first, security against foreign threats. Divided, the British nations were vulnerable then, and they would be again. Imagine an independent Scotland as another Greenland: all our potential enemies would rejoice. The second reason was prosperity. Union permitted free trade, investment and free movement, which quickly persuaded 18th century Scots that they were on to a good thing.

Today, Brexit has removed the easy option of nominal independence as an EU member state  a once dazzling prospect for nationalist politicians. The Union offers (or would if it were better governed) economic security and common benefits.

To be blunt, sharing Londons wealth has always been a pillar of Union. Nationalists, subsidised by the Exchequer, should be careful what they wish for. Independence made Ireland poorer, and despite its tax haven status and artificially inflated GDP, it remains poorer than the United Kingdom a century later.

There has always been a political divide between the south of England (Tory) and the Celtic fringe (Liberal, Labour, nationalist). This has always needed management. But it would be pushed to another level if Reform triumphed in England alone.

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The mass immigration that drives Reform has affected Scotland much less, and how Reform does in Scotland will be crucial. Can Reform be a party of the Union or will Nigel Farage become the unwilling benefactor of the SNP? We need the Union today as much as ever and preserving it should be a priority of every serious politician.

Robert Tombs is emeritus professor of history at the University of Cambridge

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NEW DELHI (AP)  India and the UAE finalised a series of agreements on Monday, hoping to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032.

The United Arab Emirates president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital as part of a visit aimed at bolstering bilateral and strategic partnership.

The meeting largely focused on strengthening cooperation across trade, energy, defense and emerging technologies, India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters, reaffirming the comprehensive strategic ties that has expanded over the past decade.

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India and UAE have emerged as major economic partners in recent years. Trade gained momentum after the two nations signed a comprehension economic partnership agreement in February 2022, reducing tariffs and expanding market access for goods and services. Since then, bilateral trade has surpassed $100 billion, and the two leaders have set a target to double that by 2032.

India also signed a pact for importing 0.5 million metric tons of liquified natural gas annually for 10 years starting 2028 from UAE, as well as a letter of intent to conclude a framework agreement for strategic defense partnership, Misri said.

Deals were also concluded in the space and food sectors while UAE pledged an unspecified amount of investment in Modis home state of Gujarat for development of a special investment region with infrastructure such as airports, ports and smart urban townships, Misri said.

The visit assumes significance amid heightened tensions and diplomatic churn in West Asia, particularly following recent developments involving Iran and the broader region.

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There has been simmering tensions between Saudi Arabia and UAE over Yemen and the unsettling political scenario continues to play in Gaza.

It also highlights the strategic depth of the India-UAE relationship and underscores the intent of the two nations to remain close partners at a time of regional uncertainty and global realignments.

U.S. President Donald Trump last Friday invited Modi to join the Board of Peace on Gaza. Indian authorities havent commented on if the invite has been accepted, but Modi has in the past extended help in bringing the war to an end.

India-UAE relationship is warm, growing and multifaceted. In the context of turmoil in West Asia, and how Trump administrations plan for Gaza is shaping up, and the crisis with Iran, its a moment for both nations that want stability in the region to exchange notes, said Harsh Pant, vice president of foreign policy at New Delhi-based think tank the Observer Research Foundation.

India has deep economic and diaspora links across West Asia, and New Delhi has sought to maintain close engagement with key regional partners, including UAE, as it navigates through an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
An Indiana judge and his wife were shot in their home Sunday afternoon, the chief justice of Indiana said in a letter to Indiana judges.

Lafayette, Indiana police said they were called just after 2:15 p.m. to the 1700-block of Mill Pond Lane for a reported shooting.

There, police found Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, had been shot.

Steven Meyer was shot in the arm, and Kimberly Meyer was shot in the hip, police said.

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Police said they remain stable after the shooting.

Justice Loretta H. Rush said Meyer is a Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 judge and longtime friend.

SEE ALSO: New photos show 2 cars believed to be involved in California mass shooting that left 4 dead

"I am deeply grateful he and his wife Kim are alive after having been shot in their home. Their health and well-being are of utmost concern to me," Rush said.

Rush said the shooter is at large.

"I worry about the safety of all our judges. As you work to peacefully resolve more than 1 million cases a year, you must not only feel safe, you must also be safe. Any violence against a judge or a judge's family is completely unacceptable. As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law," Rush said. "Please remain vigilant in your own security."

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Kimberly Meyer thanked first responders and the community in a statement released by police.

"I have great confidence in the Lafayette Police Department's investigation and want to thank all the agencies involved for their work," she said. "We are also incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community; everyone has been so kind and compassionate. We would also like to thank the medical personnel who provided care and assistance to us following the incident."

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski called the shooting a "senseless unacceptable act of violence."

The FBI is involved in the investigation.

ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.
By Ananda Teresia

JAKARTA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Indonesian authorities said on Sunday they had located the wreckage of a fisheries surveillance plane that went missing in South Sulawesi province on the slope of a fog-covered mountain and had recovered the body of one of the 10 people on board.

The ATR 42-500 turboprop owned by aviation group Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday at about 1:30 p.m. local time (0530 GMT) around the Maros region in South Sulawesi.

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There were seven crew members and three passengers on board the plane, which was chartered by Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry to conduct air surveillance on fisheries. The passengers were ministry staff members.

Authorities had initially said eight crew members were on board but later revised the figure. The plane was flying to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, from Yogyakarta before losing contact.

DEBRIS FOUND SCATTERED ON MOUNT BULUSARAUNG

On Sunday morning, local rescuers found the wreckage in different locations around Mount Bulusaraung in the Maros region, said Andi Sultan, an official at South Sulawesi's rescue agency. The mountain is roughly 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of the sprawling island nation's capital, Jakarta.

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"Our helicopter crews have seen the debris of the plane's window at 7:46 a.m.," Sultan said.

"And around 7:49 a.m., we discovered large parts of the aircraft, suspected to be the fuselage of the plane," he said, adding the tail of the plane was also seen at the bottom of the mountain slope.

Rescuers have also located other wreckage such as the aircraft engine and passenger seats.

Personnel have been deployed to the locations where the wreckage was discovered, Sultan said, adding the search was hampered by thick fog and mountainous terrain.

On Sunday afternoon, rescuers found a crash victim's body in a ravine around 200 m (650 feet) from Mount Bulusaraung's peak, Sultan said. The status of the other nine people on board was not yet known.

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The head of South Sulawesi's rescue agency, Muhammad Arif Anwar, had said that after finding the wreckage, the priority was to find the victims and 1,200 personnel would be deployed to search for the missing.

CRASH CAUSE YET TO BE DETERMINED

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) head Soerjanto Tjahjono said based on the agency's initial findings, the aircraft had crashed into the mountain's slope.

"We call this controlled flight into terrain. The pilot was able to control the plane and the crash was not intentional," Soerjanto told local media outlets.

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Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the crash, he added.

KNKT did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

IAT said in a statement that the aircraft had technical problems but it was declared airworthy before flying to Makassar.

"There was a problem with the engineering but we have fixed it and tested the plane on Friday, the flight from Halim airport in Jakarta to Semarang and Yogyakarta city went well without a hitch," said IAT Operations Director Edwin.

Aviation experts say most accidents are caused by a combination of factors.

The ATR 42-500, manufactured by Franco-Italian planemaker ATR, is a regional turboprop aircraft capable of carrying between 42 and 50 passengers.

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Flight tracking website Flightradar24 said on X that the surveillance plane was flying over the ocean at a low altitude so its tracking coverage was limited, and the last signal was received at 0420 GMT about 20 km northeast of Makassar airport.

It was the first deadly ATR 42 crash in Indonesia in more than a decade. In 2015, a Trigana Air Service ATR 42-300 crashed into a mountainside in Indonesia's Papua region, killing all 54 people on board.

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia in Jakarta, additional reporting by Abd Rahman Muchtar in Makassar; Editing by Jamie Freed and Louise Heavens)
Key Points

The CEO sold 100,000 shares on Jan. 12.

He received about $10 million in proceeds.

The sale represented 25.4% of Scheller's direct holdings.

These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires 

CEO Sells Warrior Met Coal 100,000 Shares Worth $10 Million

This Alabama-based coal exporter reported significant insider selling amid a year of strong share price gains.

Walter J. Scheller, Chief Executive Officer of Warrior Met Coal (NYSE:HCC), executed an open-market sale of 100,000 directly held shares on Jan. 12, as disclosed in this SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summary

Metric Value Shares traded (direct) 100,000 Transaction value $10.0 million Post-transaction shares (direct) 294,183 Post-transaction value (direct ownership) $29.5 million

Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 reported price ($100.31); post-transaction value based on Jan. 12 market close ($100.20).

Key questions

How significant was the sale in the context of Scheller's overall holdings?

The 100,000 shares sold constituted 25.4% of his direct holdings.

Were indirect holdings or affiliated entities involved in this transaction?

No; all shares sold were directly owned by Scheller with no indirect (trust or LLC) entities participating.

What was the market context and rationale for execution timing?

The sale was executed at a weighted average price around $100.31, closely in line with the Jan. 12 market close of $100.20.

Company overview

Metric Value Revenue (TTM) $1,222.8 million Net income (TTM) $35.2 million 1-year price change 98.7%

Note: 1-year price change calculated as of Jan. 12.

Company snapshot

Warrior Met Coal is a leading U.S.-based producer of high-quality metallurgical coal, supplying global steelmakers from its operations in Alabama. The company leverages its strategic export focus and established customer relationships to maintain a competitive position in the international steel supply chain.

Produces and exports non-thermal metallurgical coal, primarily for use in steel production; it also sells natural gas as a byproduct.

Generates revenue through the extraction and sale of metallurgical coal from two underground mines in Alabama, with a focus on export markets.

Serves blast furnace steel producers, mainly in Europe, South America, and Asia.

What this transaction means for investors

Warrior Met Coals CEO, Walter Scheller, recently sold a significant amount of stock. His 100,000 share sale represented about one-quarter of his holdings.

However, the transaction was executed via his 10b5-1 trading plan. That means the transaction was done on a prearranged schedule rather than opportunistically. That means investors shouldnt read anything into the sale about the executives confidence in Warrior Met Coals prospects.
It's flu season in Massachusetts, and most sick Bay Staters are coming down with Influenza Type A, according to recent health data.

During the week of Dec. 28, 2025, to Jan. 3, 2026, there were 7,514 lab-confirmed influenza cases in Massachusetts, down from 8,860 the week prior, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said.

Of those cases, there were 6,630 Influenza Type A (unsubtyped) positive results, 439 Influenza Type A (H1) positive results, 182 Type A (H3) positive results, 121 Type B positive results, and 16 unknown flu type positive results.

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While the current estimated influenza-like illness activity in Massachusetts is still considered "very high," related hospitalizations have been on a decline since the last week of December, according to the department.

Here's what to know about Influenza Type A and Type B.

After an intense month in December, flu cases were still high but on the decline the first week in January.

Flu symptoms 2026

Flu symptoms in adults and children come on quickly, with symptoms lasting from a few days to two weeks  fatigue and chills to start, followed by fever, body aches, cough, headache, sore throat, congestion, and (runny or stuffy nose), according to the Cleveland Clinic. A fever is considered 100.4 degrees or higher, and a high fever is 102.4 degrees or higher, Harvard Medical School said.

Influenza can cause diarrhea and nausea, especially in children, Dr. Stuart Ray, a professor of medicine and oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told TODAY.com. Some people experience a loss of taste and smell with either type, which can also occur with COVID-19.

What's the difference between Type A and Type B?

The most common and most severe flu strains are Influenza A and Influenza B, according to the CDC. The "super flu" virus going around, "subclade K," is a mutated version of one of the subtypes of Flu A, which makes it harsher for older adults.

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Of the data collected so far during the 2025-2026 flu season, there have been 15,000,000 illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations, and 7,400 deaths from flu so far this season in the U.S. Of the subtypes tested, 94.3% were Type A (which included "subclade K"), while about 5.7% were Type B.

Flu A is known to cause more severe illness and has been known to cause pandemics, such as the 1918 flu pandemic that led to at least 50 million deaths worldwide.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Influenza A typically starts in the fall and hits its full stride by February or March, but can last through April. Influenza B tends to pick up in March.

While influenza Type A is a more common and more severe illness than Type B, both types spread the same way and cause similar symptoms, the Cleveland Clinic said. Doctors treat both types the same way.

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Of the less common flu types, Influenza C virus infections generally cause mild illness and are not thought to cause epidemics among humans, according to the CDC. Influenza D virus infections mostly affect cattle and other animals.

Which type of flu is dominating Massachusetts?

The flu currently dominating Massachusetts is known as "Seasonal type A/ H3N2," which is a strain of Influenza A, according to the Department of Public Health.

And a newer, more powerful flu strain, known as "subclade K," is also in the U.S., according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Seth Jacobson of the USA Today Network contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Flu season in MA: Difference between types A and B, symptoms
Iran has suspended the publication of the newspaper Ham-Mihan because of two critical articles, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday, citing the Islamic Republic's press regulatory body.

One of the articles concerned was a column written by the newspaper's editor-in-chief, the report said.

The second article, an editorial by well-known journalist Elaheh Mohammadi, focused on state violence during the recent wave of mass protests.

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Mohammadi was imprisoned and convicted for her critical reporting after the 2022 protests over the death of a young Kurdish woman in government detention but was pardoned in February 2025.

Despite press censorship in Iran, a few outlets attempt to report critically on the government, though this comes with additional challenges during times of crisis.

The authorities imposed an internet shutdown on January 8 after protests that began in late December over a deepening economic crisis escalated into nationwide demonstrations against the country's hardline Islamic system.

Human rights groups and medical staff estimate that thousands were killed in the recent protests, but information is hard to come by with only a handful of pro-government and state media outlets currently reporting on events in the country, and even then only selectively.
The Ibrahimi mosque or the Tomb of the Patriarchs, in the West Bank city of Hebron, July 3, 2024. (photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)

Palestinian officials say two mosque figures were barred from the Ibrahimi Mosque for 15 days amid ongoing tensions in Hebron.

The director and the custodian of the Ibrahimi Mosque, a holy site known to the Jewish community as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, were issued notices banning them from the mosques premises for 15 days, the officials involved and Palestinian ministries reported on Sunday.

The director, Mu'taz Abu Sneineh, was reportedly summoned to a police station in the Telem settlement and issued the warning against himself and Hammam Abu Murkhiya.

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The pair are reportedly now forbidden to enter or pray in the mosque and or its surrounding courtyards.

This decision comes within the context of the occupation's practices aimed at emptying the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Hebron of its Palestinian residents, WAFA claimed.

The Palestinian Religious Endowments and Affairs Ministry condemned the temporary measure, claiming it is part of a an attempt to reduce their role in the administration and supervision of its religious and administrative affairs.

This is a dangerous previous measure that aims to empty the Abrahamic Mosque from its official references, and imposing a new reality that negatively reflects the freedom of worship and the flow of work inside the Holy Mosque, the ministry warned.

Ongoing fight over canopy at holy site

The alleged ban comes as Israeli and Palestinian officials have fought over the construction of a canopy above the Jewish section of the site. Until now, the UNESCO heritage site has been largely managed by a Wakf, an Islamic charitable trust. However, in July, the government transferred partial authority over the site to the Kiryat Arba-Hebron Religious Council.

The Hebron municipality and Israeli authorities have previously clashed after Israel pushed to have an elevator constructed at the site to improve accessibility.
The Brief

A woman shared her story after she and her friend saved a man who jumped into a car with them to escape from a crowd of counter-protesters in Minneapolis.

The man, identified as far-right influencer Jake Lang, who was pardoned by President Trump after allegedly assaulting officers at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, appeared injured as he ran from counter-protesters.

The woman said she disagrees with what Lang stands for, but that he should not have been attacked.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A woman shared her story after she and her friend drove away with far-right influencer Jake Lang as he was being chased by counter-protesters in Minneapolis.

Jake Lang jumps into woman's car to escape protesters

What they're saying

Daye Gottsche was a passenger in her friend's car when they were driving to a bar in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday.

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They were at a red light when they saw a man who was bleeding and being chased by a large crowd of people.

"So we stopped and all of a sudden this bloody man that I had never seen before just walks up to our car and is like begging us to let him in. Like he's in need of help," Daye said.

After letting him in, Daye said a large crowd surrounded their vehicle and continued attacking Jake Lang. Daye said, "they trying to pull him out of and damaged the car's taillight."

"Once they surrounded, I remember looking back at him, and I was like, What the f--- did you do?" Daye recalled. "I was in the front seat like, 'Oh, help, like I don't know this man.'"

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Daye said after some in the crowd opened the car's rear doors to kick Lang, others then made a pathway for them to leave. The car only made it two blocks before the women decided not to go any farther.

"We made it very clear we do not support the type of man he is," Daye said. "The only commentary that he would say is like, Trump saved his life, and that he was, 'a bad boy. And it's like the cringiest thing I think I've actually ever heard anybody say in my life."

They then parked, and Jake Lang stepped out before getting into another vehicle.

The aftermath

What they're saying

Daye said the response online has been positive overall.

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"Honestly, I've kinda gotten a lot of support overall," Daye said. "I feel like, you know, obviously this is a bad man, like not someone that we agree with and not someone we want in our state, but us giving him the kind of attention that he got yesterday and us, you know, getting violent and aggressive, is not the answer because that's what our federal government wants so that they can, you know, put in place the Insurrection Act."

President Trump mobilizes military

The backstory

According to a FOX News report, U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division, which is based in Alaska and specializes in cold-weather and mountain warfare, has given prepare to deploy orders. The Washington Post was first to report the Pentagon's readiness.

READ MORE: President Trump preparing 1,500 troops for mobilization to Minnesota amid anti-ICE protests

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On Thursday, President Trump said invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. military was an option if Minnesota leaders don't crack down on anti-ICE protesters who are allegedly harassing agents.

The Source

This story uses information gathered by FOX 9 reporters.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will dissolve parliament on Friday, paving the way for an early election on 8 February that she hopes will translate her strong public polling into a big majority in the lower house.

It was an "extremely weighty decision" that would "determine Japan's course together with the people", Takaichi told a news conference in Tokyo.

The country's first female leader and her cabinet have enjoyed high public support since taking office last October.

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But her party lags behind in polls and the move is risky. It's Japan's second general election in as many years and will test appetite for her plans to boost public spending when cost-of-living is top of voters' minds.

Having been elected as prime minister by lawmakers on 21 October, Takaichi is now seeking a public mandate in the House of Representatives, the more powerful house in Japan.

Since the day she took office, Takaichi said, she has been "constantly concerned that the Takaichi cabinet has not yet been tested in an election where the public chooses the government".

"Is Sanae Takaichi fit to be prime minister? I wanted to ask the sovereign people to decide," she told the news conference.

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Campaigning for the vote to elect the 465 lower house MPs, who serve four-year terms, starts on 27 January.

Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. It currently has 199 seats - including three held by its independent partners - in the House of Representatives, the most of any party. The LDP's coalition with the Japan Innovation party gives it a fragile majority, with just enough seats to govern.

A protege of former conservative PM Shinzo Abe and self-professed admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi is known as Japan's "Iron Lady".

She came into office promising an economic upturn after years of stagnation.

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Takaichi is an advocate of heavy government-led spending to drive economic growth - a revival of the sort of stimulus measures that Japan saw under "Abenomics". Her first few months in office have seen soaring personal poll ratings - no Japanese PM has been popular since Abe, in 2012.

In December, her cabinet approved a record defence budget of nine trillion yen ($57bn; 43bn). This comes amid growing concern over China, with Tokyo describing its neighbour's military activities in the region as its "greatest strategic challenge".

Takaichi has found herself the target of China's ire since last November, when she made comments suggesting that Japan could respond with its own self-defence force if China attacked Taiwan. The diplomatic spat that ensued has sent bilateral ties plunging to their lowest point in more than a decade.

Meanwhile, Takaichi has pursued closer ties with the US. During US President Donald Trump's visit to Japan last October, the two leaders heaped praise on each other and signed a deal on rare earths. They also signed a document heralding a new "golden age" of US-Japan relations.

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Opinion polls show that while the LDP remains broadly unpopular among Japanese residents, Takaichi and her government have charted approval ratings of 60-80%.

This popularity is what Takaichi hopes can help the LDP secure a "sole majority" in parliament and push through bolder policies more easily, Dr Seijiro Takeshita, a management professor at the University of Shizuoka, told the BBC World Service's Asia Specific podcast.

"She wants to solidify her position to make things smoother at a later stage," Takeshita said.

But the snap election gamble comes with its own set of risks.

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The LDP's leadership has been on shaky ground, and Takaichi is the country's fourth PM in five years. Her predecessors' terms were cut short by falling public support and scandals.

Her immediate predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, also announced a snap election shortly after taking office - leading to one of the LDP's worst ever results and costing the party its majority in the House of Representatives.

Another challenge looms in the form of a new, consolidated opposition, the Centrist Reform Alliance, which was formed last week by Japan's largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Komeito party, the LDP's former coalition partner.

Takaichi said the dissolution of parliament was being carried out only "after establishing a thorough system" which ensures there is no disruption to economic policies affecting livelihoods and rising prices.

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What Takaichi is hoping for is that "people will trust her to deliver on her promises", Dr Jeffrey Kingston, an Asian studies professor at Temple University in the US, told the BBC.

Her high approval ratings are "only going to decline so she wants to lock in the benefits of a long honeymoon", he added.
A new long-range anti-ship cruise missile in development in Japan can be seen executing a series of barrel rolls in an official video clip. The spiraling trajectory is intended to make the weapon, currently referred to as the island defense missile or simply the New SSM, harder to intercept in the terminal phase of flight. Work on the New SSM has been proceeding since 2023 amid growing concerns about regional threats, especially from China. The missile could be the first of a modular family of advanced cruise missiles.

Footage of a New SSM performing the rolling manoeuvres during a test is included in a video montage recently released online by the Japanese Ministry of Defenses Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA). The footage was first shown publicly to attendees at ATLAs annual Defense Technology Symposium last year, but it has not been widely available until now. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is the prime contractor.

The demonstration of the New SSMs barrel roll capability can be seen in the video starting at around 0:49 in the runtime.

A screen capture from the video above offering a general look at a New SSM prototype. ATLA capture

In its current form, the subsonic New SSM is powered by a single XKJ301-1 turbofan engine based on KHIs KJ300 design, which was developed for use on cruise missiles, as well as uncrewed aerial vehicles. The KJ300 is a two-spool type designed to offer significant fuel economy and, by extension, greater range. To date, Japanese authorities do not appear to have confirmed the maximum range they are targeting for this weapon, but have said it will exceed that of the Type 12 anti-ship cruise missile.

An ATLA graphic from 2024 discussing the XKJ301-1 for the New SSM. ATLA

The baseline Type 12 has a maximum range of around 124 miles (200 kilometers), while an improved version was reportedly subsequently developed with roughly twice the reach. A further upgraded Type 12 that can hit targets between 560 and 620 miles (900 and 1,000 kilometers) away is also now in development. The assumption then is that the New SSM will have an even longer maximum range.

A Type 12 anti-ship cruise missile being fired from a ground launcher. Japan Ground Self Defense Forces

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The New SSM has pop-out main wings, each made up of three separate sections that lock into place after deploying. It also has two vertical stabilizers and a pair of horizontal stabilizers, all fixed in place at the tail end of the missile. The missile is intended to be fired from launchers on the ground and on ships, and to be air-launched from tactical jets like the F-2 and larger types like the P-1 maritime patrol plane. A rocket booster provides initial thrust before falling away, after which the XKJ301-1 turbofan kicks in.

Screen captures from the ATLA video showing the rocket booster falling away, at left, and various stages of the main wings deploying, after launch. ATLA capture

The weapon has a number of stealthy features, including a pronounced chine line that extends along either side behind the beak-like nose, as well as panels with serrated and otherwise heavily angled edges. The intake for the XKJ301-1 has an S-shaped design, as well, another common feature on stealth missiles and aircraft.

A close-up look at some of the stealthy features visible at the nose end of a prototype of the New SSM. ATLA capture

The shaping of the nose also has to do with the missiles expected guidance package. From what Japanese authorities have explained so far, the New SSM will use a GPS-assisted inertial guidance system (INS) navigation to get to a designated target. A dual-mode seeker, with imaging infrared (IIR) and radio frequency (RF) homing modes, then takes over for the terminal phase of flight. Pairing these two seeker capabilities together offers significant benefits for increasing the probability of a hit while also reducing vulnerability to jamming and other countermeasures. It would also help make the weapon more effective in the complex littoral environments where they are likely to be employed. This guidance combination is also just one of a number of potential modular nose sections that could be fitted to the missile, which we will come back to later on.

A previously released cutaway graphic of the New SSM design, highlighting the seeker system, in green, and warhead, in red. Japanese Ministry of Defense

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ATLA in Japan has previously said that the New SSM will be capable of some degree of maneuvering on route to target to reduce the chance of interception at extended ranges and otherwise create complications for defenders. Then there is the aforementioned terminal phase barrel rolling, which is primarily said to be focused on evading fire from gun-based shipboard close-in defense systems like Chinas 30mm Gatling cannon-equipped Type 730. Official Japanese government graphics have depicted the New SSM spiraling past what looks intended to represent a Type 730, as seen in the social media post below.

Japan's new island defense anti-ship missile prototype doing the CIWS evading maneuver. Video:https://t.co/dqiSxAbR9V pic.twitter.com/ZEwdMGQJF5  Taepodong (@stoa1984) January 17, 2026

An improved version of the Type 730, the Type 1130, with 11 barrels instead of seven, is also now in service in China, and that country has at least experimented with even larger designs in the same vein. Similar close-in weapon systems are found on warships in service with many other naval arms globally, including Russia, the United States, and Japan itself, to name just a few.

NORINCO Group ground-based version of Chinese 30-mm shipborne anti-aircraft artillery system Type 1130 (30-mm, 11 barrels) #aviation https://t.co/R0ruXLLvk6 pic.twitter.com/Z6OWqcUR8N  The Shadow of the Eagle (@clemente3000) September 27, 2021

In China experimenting with 20-barelled CIWS, as I understand pic.twitter.com/A1imN9CllX  Yuri Lyamin (@imp_navigator) May 20, 2021

It is unclear whether there is any hard data yet on the effectiveness of the New SSMs particular maneuvering capability. The idea of giving an anti-ship cruise missile a very high degree of terminal maneuverability to improve its survivability is not new. As a comparative example, the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), developed by Norways Kongsberg and increasingly popular globally, is also designed to perform high-G evasive maneuvers in the terminal phase of an engagement. However, it flies in a more U-shaped pattern rather than a full spiral, at least based on publicly available information.

Kongsberg previously released this graphic showing what it says is how the NSM maneuvers in the terminal stage of flight, as seen from the perspective of the target. Kongsberg

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The final configuration of the New SSM might also incorporate electronic support measures systems or other self-protection capabilities.

ATLA has also openly talked about using the New SSM as the basis for a variety of other capabilities leveraging modular nose sections. This could include land-attack variants capable of engaging fixed or mobile targets, as well as ones intended to perform non-kinetic tasks. As seen in the slide below, variations on the design could act as dedicated decoys or loitering surveillance assets with the added ability to immediately prosecute strikes on targets they find. This modularity would also make it easier to add new warheads, seeker systems, and other functionality to the design down the line. In many ways, the New SSM blurs the line between a traditional cruise missile and a drone, indicative of broader trends globally that TWZ regularly highlights.

A graphic ATLA released in 2024 showing possible future configurations of the New SSM using modular nose sections. ATLA

Another ATLA graphic from 2024 showing different variations of the New SSM platform performing different missions. ATLA

A platform like this with a range well in excess of 620 miles, and that can be launched from the ground, sea, or land, would open the door to a host of operational possibilities for Japan. That range could also translate to significant loitering endurance, as well. Ships, aircraft, and launchers on the ground could be positioned closer to a target area before launch, extending the systems functional reach or ability to loiter in a particular part of the battlespace.

Just in its anti-ship form, the New SSM could give Japan a valuable new way to strike ships from multiple vectors simultaneously and do so with increased survivability. As the term island defense missile underscores, the weapons development also comes at a time when Japanese authorities see increasing maritime (and other) threats to both the countrys home island and outlying territories from long-time regional adversary North Korea, as well as Russia and China. The New SSM is one of several long-range strike capabilities, also including new hypersonic missiles, that Japan has been developing in response to this evolving security environment. In line with this, Japans forthcoming cruiser-sized Aegis System Equipped Vessels (ASEV) have been steadily evolving beyond floating ballistic missile defense platforms to more multi-purpose maritime strike and land-attack-capable assets.

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With all this in mind, the current government in Japan has taken a particularly open and hard-line stance on responding to any potential future Chinese intervention against Taiwan. This, in turn, has prompted significant shows of force from Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) that have clearly been meant to send signals to Tokyo, as well as Taipei. The Japanese island of Yonaguni, which lies just 70 miles or so from the northern shores of Taiwan, has become a central point of discussion. Even just with a range of 620 miles, New SSMs based there would be able to reach targets in certain parts of mainland China, as well as out in the waters surrounding Taiwan and beyond. The Japan Self-Defense Forces have already been moving to bolster air defenses on Yonaguni.

A map showing the general location of the island of Yonaguni in relation to Taiwan to the west. The highly strategic Japanese island of Okinawa, which hosts a significant U.S. military presence and is itself some 400 miles southwest of Japans home islands, is seen at top right. Google Earth

When it comes to the New SSM, specifically, Japanese authorities have previously pointed to 2027 as the target timeframe to begin mass production and deployment of the missiles. As the video montage from ATLA shows, flight-testing of the barrel-rolling weapons is very much underway.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com
By Leika Kihara

TOKYO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Japan's expected snap general election is increasingly likely to lead to a cut in the consumption tax rate, as ruling and opposition party executives on Sunday stressed the need to do so to cushion the hit to households from rising living costs.

Japan levies an 8% consumption tax for food and a 10% rate on other goods and services, which is a key source of funding for rising social welfare costs in a rapidly ageing population.

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Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), pointed to the party's earlier agreement with its coalition partner, Ishin, to aim at scrapping the 8% levy on food sales for two years.

"It's our basic stance to sincerely achieve what's written in the agreement," he told a television programme on Sunday.

The Mainichi newspaper reported on Saturday that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, upon calling a general election next month, may pledge to temporarily scrap the 8% levy on food sales.

The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), which agreed to form a new political party with Komeito, will also call for a temporary cut to the tax rate, CDP Secretary-General Jun Azumi told the same programme.

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Takaichi is likely to hold a news conference later on Monday to announce her intention to dissolve parliament and call a snap election in February, capitalising on her administration's strong approval ratings.

A cut in the 8% food sales levy would reduce government revenue by an estimated 5 trillion yen ($31.71 billion) a year, according to government data, straining Japan's already tattered finances and heightening the risk of a bond sell-off as investors focus on Takaichi's expansionary fiscal policy.

($1 = 157.6900 yen)

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Paul Simao)
N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson speaks at a Duke University forum Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson made his name in the U.S. House as the TikTok Congressman. Now, hes again staking out real estate at the technological forefront by heading up a nationwide task force on AI.

Stepping into the attorney generals office in a year where Trump has sought to halt funding for everything from SNAP benefits to hurricane resilience grants to public school funding  all blocked after court battles that Jacksons N.C. Department of Justice helped win  the former congressman has come to view his office as a last line of defense for North Carolinians, both from the executive branch and from the threats of tomorrow.

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To lead that defense, he has stressed a united front across party lines. We are stronger when we speak with one voice, he told dozens of attorneys general at the AI Task Forces inaugural meeting last week.

But in his own state, Republicans are vying to strip him of one of his most potent tools: the ability to challenge Trumps executive orders. The state Senate passed a bill last March that would require the General Assembly to authorize any such lawsuits, and the state House could do the same as it returns for the short session this month.

A term defined by Trump

More than anything else, Jacksons first year in office has been defined by its lawsuits in defiance of the Trump administration.

Most notably, they won an October court battle that required the Trump administration to disburse $230 million in SNAP benefits to 1.4 million North Carolinians during last falls government shutdown. Other successful lawsuits challenged the revocation of more than $165 million in public education funding and $200 million in FEMA resilience dollars.

N.C. AG Jeff Jackson blasted a freeze on FEMA funding on a July 25, 2025 visit to a Hillsborough pumping facility flooded with wastewater. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

In Jacksons view, his office has undertaken a principled approach on executive orders. Whereas some Democratic attorney generals have joined more than 60 lawsuits challenging the Trump administration, his office was only part of 18 in 2025.

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I use an objective formula for when I file a lawsuit against the administration or anyone else, Jackson told NC Newsline. Did someone break the law? Did it hurt the state? And can I prove both of those things?

He has repeatedly stressed that North Carolinas participation in these lawsuits is often key to recovering blocked funds through court injunctions that only apply to the parties to the lawsuit. Jackson announced in January that his office had recovered a total of $1.5 billion in stalled funds in 2025.

Jacksons office declined to join some lawsuits against the Trump administration on more divisive issues, particularly around social issues. He did not join, for example, a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this month challenging an executive order mandating health and education institutions to abide by its definition of biological sex rather than gender identity.

In the view of Western Carolina University political scientist Chris Cooper, it doesnt appear that hes just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks.

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I think hes choosing cases where he thinks they have a chance to win, and that are going to present as, yes, partisan, but not hyperpartisan and not leaning into the negative, Cooper said. What hes chosen to shoot, hes been hitting.

AG TikTok

As the gears began moving on Senate Bill 58, the proposal that would strip Jackson of autonomy on challenges to executive orders, North Carolina Republicans issued a stark warning: Comply or else.

Asked by Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) in February what lawmakers would do if the Attorney General defies a new mandate on executive orders, Sen. Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson) suggested his role could be obliterated by repealing every power granted to it by state law.

That way, the Attorney General is a feckless, empty shell of a position that has no authority to do anything, Moffitt said.

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Jackson has seemed to draw more ire from Republicans in a single year from Republican state lawmakers than his predecessor, Gov. Josh Stein, did in eight. But hes also maintained a higher profile than any attorney general before him.

The TikToks that made him famous in Congress have continued  churning out 11 since he entered the attorney generals office and sharing them across X, Bluesky, Reddit, and Instragram among other platforms.

While they have shifted from the political news dominating Congress to the lawsuits his office is taking on, they have at times retained an adversarial tone  directed at those his office is probing.

Hi. This message is for WeChat, he said in a video in May. You are the second-largest texting platform in the world. Youre also heavily implicated in the money laundering that is tied to trafficking fentanyl.

In a TikTok post on Jan. 15, 2026, Jackson touted his offices win against the Trump administration over withheld FEMA funding. (Photo: TikTok)

The pattern is clear, and your app is at the center of it. So I reached out to some other attorneys general in both parties and asked them to join me in confronting you, he said. Youve known about your role in this for years, and now, so does everyone else.

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In another video, he addressed 37 companies he accused of facilitating robocalls by name. His office has sought to crack down on robocalls routed through North Carolina, winning a court order fining an AI voice provider $5 million for enabling them.

Opponents see moves like these as evidence of showmanship, rather than statesmanship. And its made him an outsized target for the animus of North Carolina Republicans.

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger, in comments on social media in October, linked S58 to Jacksons social media stardom directly  retweeting a radio host who derided Jackson as AG TikTok.

This is exactly why Senate Republicans passed a bill to restrict Jeff Jackson from filing frivolous lawsuits against @POTUS, Berger wrote. The AG should be focused on working for the people of NC, not his social media followers.

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In his meetings with Republicans, Jackson has stressed that he wants to lead the state DOJ without partisanship.

I think it deserves to be done in a nonpartisan way. That was how I campaigned, Jackson said in an interview with NC Newsline. I told people that this job has to be about the protection of people and not a political party, and thats what I believe, thats how Ive tried to lead the office.

But many in the state GOP see his broadsides against the Trump administration as evidence that his lawsuits are driven by political animus.

North Carolina Republican Party spokesman Matt Mercer said he sees little evidence of Jackson leading in a nonpartisan way. He seems like hes chosen to take on that partisan mantle versus trying to find areas of agreement with the Trump administration to enforce the law, Mercer said.

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Hes not leading on these things. Hes signing on to what attorneys general in California and New York and Illinois are doing, Mercer said. Hes just falling in line.

What Jackson touts as a signature achievement, recovering SNAP benefits for North Carolinians, Mercer argued was unnecessary. Whose fault was it that we had the shutdown to begin with? It was Jeff Jacksons party.

Refreshingly bipartisan

Despite battles with Republicans in his own state, Jackson is set to meet his biggest task of the coming year alongside a member of the GOP: Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, with whom hes co-chairing the AI task force.

Launching the task force in November capped off a first year in office in which Jackson sought to position himself at the forefront of emerging technological challenges without regulatory answers at a time when, in his view, the federal government has abdicated responsibility.

N.C. AG Jeff Jackson leads the inaugural meeting of the bipartisan AI Task Force of attorneys general across the U.S. (Photo: NCDOJ livestream)

The Trump administration has not only declined to issue regulations on AI, Jackson noted, but it has also sought to prevent the states from enacting their own. A December order from Trumps White House promises to check the most onerous and excessive laws emerging from the States that threaten to stymie innovation, warning it will revoke funding from states that do not comply.

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In my conversations with state legislators, theres a general understanding that it would be bad if there was executive action that obsoleted all of the AI-related laws that the state has passed. Jackson said in the interview. So far, I will say, the response has been refreshingly bipartisan.

The task force, which formed just a month before that order, has said its work will continue nonetheless.

This is a perfect demonstration of why, frankly, the Tenth Amendment matters. States really are laboratories of democracy, and I think were faster, we are more nimble, said Brown, the Utah Attorney General.

Jackson said he believes the risks of leaving AI up to Congress far exceed any downsides of a patchwork approach between the states.

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You really dont want to end up in a situation where the state safeguards have been swept away and then the federal government does nothing, which is the most likely outcome here, as we saw with social media, as weve seen with the internet privacy, even for kids, he said.The most likely outcome for congressional response to massive new technology is to do virtually nothing.

He said he hopes to focus on digital hazards like voice cloning, deep fakes, and AI robocalls. His office has also paid special focus to e-commerce. In 2025, his office made inquiries into leading buy now, pay later platforms as well as the online commerce giant Shopify. Jackson also called out fraudulent websites and Instagram ads that go to fake companies as sources of concern for his office in the interview with NC Newsline.

The leader of an institution

Jacksons stint as attorney general is his first time engaging with the public in an executive, rather than legislative, role. Its also the first time North Carolinians have seen him attempt to shed partisan colors after years of viral TikToks condemning state Senate and U.S. House Republicans.

In a November leadership talk to Duke students and faculty named for former Gov. Terry Sanford, Jackson stressed the importance of reaching out to Republican attorneys general and state lawmakers. Those conversations, he said, are crucial in a time of stark polarization.

If all I did was diminish some antagonism, thats worth it. If I took someone from 100% opposed to 70%, yall, thats a win, Jackson said at the Duke forum. We get out of a lot of meetings being like, I dont think he hates me. I think he dislikes me!

N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson, right, and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) at a Raleigh town hall on veterans issues. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

His military background has informed his executive leadership style, leading him to seek out mission-driven team members and taking a person-to-person approach with as many members of his staff as possible. Youve got to give them a sense of who you are.

That experience, he said, led him to post up at the NCDOJ entrance with his 10-year-old son on his first day and shake hands with every employee who walked in. He also joined a sunrise workout of basic law enforcement training cadets in Asheville, which he also saw as an effort to better understand criminal justice in the state at the ground level.

What is Jeff Jackson really trying to do in all of this? Is he trying to position himself to run for U.S. Senate in 2028, or for governor in 2028 or 2032, or is he trying to do his job? asked Mercer, the GOP spokesman.

For his part, Jackson said he does not wish to leave his current role any time soon. When asked in an interview with NC Newsline whether he was considering a Senate run, he said, Nope.

This job is wonderful in what you can actually accomplish. And in that respect, its very different than serving in Congress, he said. As attorney general, you can make a big difference every day.
Yinkas view

Job creation sits atop the agenda of priorities for African leaders. The Brookings Institutions latest report puts the issue front and center, reminding us that Africa will experience the fastest labor-force growth of any region in the decades ahead. The World Bank estimates a net increase of roughly 740 million working-age people by 2050, with about 12 million young Africans entering the workforce each year.

What is changing is not the scale of the challenge, but how it is framed. The debate is shifting from the sheer number of jobs required to the quality of work on offer. Africa needs more jobs, but also better jobs  work that is productive, stable, safe, remunerative, and dignified, writes Pierre Nguimkeu, head of Brookings Africa Growth Initiative.

That distinction matters. Meeting the moment requires workers with the right skills, better links to global markets, and policies grounded in economic reality. Informal employment still accounts for roughly 85% of Africas labor force. A jobs strategy that ignores informality cannot reach scale, and one that focuses only on formalization without raising productivity will fail, Nguimkeu argues.

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The report also provides context for some of the decades biggest employment bets. Mining has returned to the spotlight as African countries jockey to position themselves for the surging global demand for critical minerals. But mining has not been a major generator of quality employment.

The real opportunity, according to Andrew Dabalen, the World Banks chief economist for Africa, lies in what governments do with a more efficient collection of revenues  using them to finance skills, infrastructure, and industry corridors alongside the mining hubs that can deliver the employment required.

Notable
(NewsNation) Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a top contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has detailed an experience from the 2024 campaign in his new memoir.

The book does not go on sale until next week, but one story is already making waves.

While he was under consideration as then Vice President Kamala Harris running mate, Shapiro said he was asked several questions about Israel by Harris aides, including whether he was an agent of the Israeli government.

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Trump tells Norway he no longer feels obligation to think only of peace

At the time, Shapiro, who is Jewish, was facing questions from some in the Democratic Party over his criticism of pro-Palestine protests on college campuses amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Shapiros story is catching attention as he is considered a contender for the Democratic 2028 nomination for president.

When he was vetted as a possible running mate for Harris, there was reporting that the Harris campaign didnt jive with Shapiro and that they were frustrated and concerned that he wouldnt be comfortable in the backup role as vice president.

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Now, Shapiro is telling his side of the story, with the New York Times and Political reporting an anecdote where Shapiro said he was asked, Could I be a double agent for Israel?

Shapiro said he responded that he found the question offensive and was told the aide had to ask.

The questioner, Dana Remus, former White House counsel, continued to ask Shapiro if he had ever communicated with an undercover agent for Israel.

Putin invited to join Board of Peace for Gaza: Kremlin

Shapiro responded by asking how he would know if the agent was undercover?

Shapiro has been open about the fact that, as a student, he did have a service project that took him to Israel, where he was stationed on a military base. But thats a different thing from being a double agent.

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NewsNation has reached out to Harris and Shapiros offices with requests for comment and has not heard back.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Federal officers in the Minneapolis area participating in its largest recent U.S. immigration enforcement operation cant detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren't obstructing authorities, including when these people are observing the agents, a judge in Minnesota ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez's ruling addresses a case filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists. The six are among the thousands who have been observing the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers enforcing the Trump administrations immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since last month.

Federal agents and demonstrators have repeatedly clashed since the crackdown began. The confrontations escalated after an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head on Jan. 7 as she drove away from a scene in Minneapolis, an incident that was captured on video from several angles. Agents have arrested or briefly detained many people in the Twin Cities.

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The activists in the case are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, which says government officers are violating the constitutional rights of Twin Cities residents.

After the ruling, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement saying her agency was taking appropriate and constitutional measures to uphold the rule of law and protect our officers and the public from dangerous rioters.

She said people have assaulted officers, vandalized their vehicles and federal property, and attempted to impede officers from doing their work.

We remind the public that rioting is dangerous  obstructing law enforcement is a federal crime and assaulting law enforcement is a felony, McLaughlin said.

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The ACLU didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Friday night.

The ruling prohibits the officers from detaining drivers and passengers in vehicles when there is no reasonable suspicion they are obstructing or interfering with the officers.

Safely following agents at an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop, the ruling said.

Menendez said the agents would not be allowed to arrest people without probable cause or reasonable suspicion the person has committed a crime or was obstructing or interfering with the activities of officers.

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Menendez is also presiding over a lawsuit filed Monday by the state of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul seeking to suspend the enforcement crackdown, and some of the legal issues are similar. She declined at a hearing Wednesday to grant the states request for an immediate temporary restraining order in that case.

What we need most of all right now is a pause. The temperature needs to be lowered, state Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter told her.

Menendez said the issues raised by the state and cities in that case are enormously important. But she said it raises high-level constitutional and other legal issues, and for some of those issues there are few on-point precedents. So she ordered both sides to file more briefs next week.

___

McAvoy reported from Honolulu. Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.
LAFAYETTE, IN  Tippecanoe County judges and Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush released statements Monday about Sunday afternoon's shooting of Tippecanoe Superior 2 Judge Steve Meyer and his wife, Kim.

Meanwhile, police have not released more details Monday about a suspect or arrest in the shootings.

"Tippecanoe Superior Court 2 Judge Steve Meyer is a fellow judge and a longtime friend. I am deeply grateful he and his wife Kim are alive after having been shot in their home. Their health and well-being are of utmost concern to me," Rush wrote.

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"As of the sending of this message, the shooter is purportedly still at large," Rush wrote to her fellow judges.

"Any violence against a judge or a judge's family is completely unacceptable. As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law," Rush wrote. "I know you join me in praying for Steve and Kim and their speedy recovery. Meantime, please remain vigilant in your own security."

Rush is from Lafayette and was the judge in Tippecanoe Superior 3 before being appointed chief justice of the state's supreme court.

Someone shot Meyer and his wife at their home in the 1700 block of Mill Pond Lane on Lafayette's south side about 2:15 p.m. Sunday, according to police and neighbors. Both are reportedly in stable condition.

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Lafayette police published a news release Monday afternoon stating that Steve Meyer was shot in the arm, and Kim Meyer was wounded in her hip. Shell casings were found at the home.

I have great confidence in the Lafayette Police Departments investigation and want to thank all the agencies involved for their work," Kim Meyer said in a statement that police released Monday afternoon. "We are also incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community; everyone has been so kind and compassionate. We would also like to thank the medical personnel who provided care and assistance to us following the incident.

Kathryn Dolan, Indiana Supreme Court public information officer, emailed Rush's statement and one from Tippecanoe Circuit Judge Sean Persin.

"First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Judge Meyer and his wife, Kim," Persin wrote on behalf of the county's seven judges and two magistrates.

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"Judge Meyer remains in a hospital in stable condition," Persin said in the news release. "We have already been in touch with the Indiana Supreme Court and Chief Justice Loretta Rush and senior judges regarding coverage for Tippecanoe Superior Court No. 2. There has been an overwhelming outpouring of support from judges throughout the state offering to assist in any way. We want to assure the community that the cases in Tippecanoe Superior Court No. 2 will continue to be heard in a timely manner."

In a phone interview Monday, Persin said a trial scheduled to begin this week in Tippecanoe Superior 2 has been postponed, and jurors were notified not to report to the courthouse.

The county's judges will meet Tuesday to map out how to cover the Superior 2 caseload, Persin said.

"Right now we just have a lot of people asking, 'What can we do to help?'" Persin said about an outpouring of volunteers from existing judges, senior judges and attorneys to help cover the court's caseload. We're working on this, and we're going to continue to hear cases."

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Dolan wrote in Monday's news release, "From a judicial administration standpoint, as Judge Persin explained in the statement, cases will move forward in Tippecanoe County. The chief justice has readied our Office of Judicial Administration to assist as/if needed."

Asked specifically about a police action where officers, including Indiana State Police, converged about 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the area of Kossuth Street and Earl Avenue, Santerre texted that the action resulted in an Indiana State Police arrest on suspicion of intimidation. That 56-year-old suspect is being held without bond, jail records show.

Meanwhile, Meyer, 66, and a former defense attorney and Lafayette City Council member, had announced in December that he would not seek re-election this year.

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said in a release, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Meyer family. I want to ensure the community that every available resource is being used to apprehend the individual(s) responsible for this senseless unacceptable act of violence. I have tremendous confidence in the Lafayette Police Department, and I want to thank all of the local, state, and federal agencies who are assisting in this investigation.

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Rick Snyder, president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, published a statement Monday about the shootings.

"Recent events across Indiana of doxxing, swatting and other nefarious acts toward public officials have shown the importance of prohibiting the dissemination of personal identifiers, home information, and other sensitive materials of elected and appointed officials," Snyder wrote. "The Indiana legislature must ensure that the safety and privacy of public servants are safeguarded by law."

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Judges respond to shooting of Tippecanoe Judge Meyer, wife in Lafayette home
Eat Just has started selling plant-based egg alternative Just Egg in Germany.

The brand is being sold in more than 200 Rewe outlets.

In April last year, The UKs Vegan Food Group (VFG) struck a deal to launch Just Egg in European markets for the first time.

The company secured exclusive manufacturing and distribution rights for Just Egg across the UK and EU.

The launch through Rewe marks Eat Just's first step in rolling out the product in Europe.

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Eat Just co-founder and CEO Josh Tetrick said: "We want to show that the tastiest eggs can come from plants  and make it easy for every household to choose that option."

The product is available in around 280 Rewe supermarkets in cities including Berlin, Frankfurt and Mainz.

Later this year, it will be rolled out to more retailers, the US-based Eat Just said.

Eat Just develops egg alternatives using mung beans and produces plant-based mayonnaise and dressings.

Founded in 2011 by Josh Tetrick, the company has also expanded into cell-based meat through its subsidiary Good Meat.

Just Egg is available in markets including South Africa, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Singapore,

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"Just Egg hits Germany through Rewe launch" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




A juvenile is in critical condition after being shot in the head at a Toledo apartment complex on Sunday evening.

The shooting took place at the North Towne Village Apartments on Silverside Drive around 8 p.m., according to our CBS news affiliate, WTOL.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

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Officers said that a male juvenile was shot inside one of the apartments and was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.

A suspect has not been identified, and the cause of the shooting is still unknown.

No one else in the apartment was injured.

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Members of Kamala Harris team asked Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, if he was an Israeli double agent, according to the 2028 potential presidential candidates new memoir.

The question came during the 2024 presidential campaign, as Harris weighed who to choose as her running mate.

Shapiro was at the top of her list, along with Senator Mark Kelly and her eventual choice, Governor Tim Walz.

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Now, in his book, Where We Keep the Light, Shapiro says that Harriss team was very interested in his background.

Had I been a double agent for Israel? he wrote, describing his surprise at the question, in an excerpt seen by The New York Times.

According to him, the vetting team replied, Well, we have to ask.

Kamala Harris has been accused of asking a potential running mate if he was an Israeli spy (Getty Images)

Shapiro also alleged that Harriss team wanted to know if he had communicated with an undercover Israeli agent.

According to him, Shapiro answered, If they were undercover, I responded, how the hell would I know?

He later wrote that he understood that the questioner, Dana Remus, a former White House counsel, was just doing her job.

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However, he added that he believed it said a lot about some of the people around the VP.

Kamala Harris would eventually lose the 2024 election, with her opponent, Donald Trump, winning in a landslide. At the time, many criticized her decision to pass over Shapiro, given that he is the governor of the vital swing state of Pennsylvania.

In his book, which was also seen by The Atlantic, the Pennsylvania governor bemoaned being asked another question about Israel.

Harris interviewed Josh Shapiro to become her vice presidential running mate but ultimately passed him over (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Harriss team wanted to know whether he would step back from his fierce criticisms of students protesting Israeli action in Gaza. He told her representatives that he remained firm in his position.

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It nagged at me that their questions werent really about substance, he wrote. Rather, they were questioning my ideology, my approach, my world view.

He also suggested that Harris had loathed her own time as vice president, describing it as a position with little authority.

I was surprised by how much she seemed to dislike the role, Shapiro wrote. She noted that her chief of staff would be giving me my directions, lamented that the vice president didnt have a private bathroom in their office, and how difficult it was for her at times not to have a voice in the decision making.

Harris later chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to serve as her running mate (EPA)

Both Harris and Shapiro have very different accounts of their meeting during the vice presidential selection process, though.

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Harris wrote in her memoir, 107 Days, that Shapiro seemed to have ambitions for power exceeding the authority normally given to a vice president.

She also alleged that Shapiro had a lack of discretion during the process and that he would want to be in the room for every decision.

Harris added that she had a nagging concern that Shapiro would be unable to settle for a role as number two.

When asked by The Atlantic about his thoughts on Harriss allegations in December 2025, Shapiro delivered a furious response.

Thats complete and utter b*****t. I can tell you that her accounts are just blatant lies, he said.

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He offers a different account of events to Harris in Where We Keep the Light, suggesting that his remarks during the vice presidential selection process had been analyzed, misrepresented, and picked apart by members of the vice presidents team.

Both Shapiro and Harris are expected to be leading candidates in the 2028 race for the White House.

Recent polling suggested that Harris is the most likely candidate to become the Democratic nominee, although California Governor Gavin Newsom is also enjoying a surge in support.
By Tamara Vaal and Felix Light

ASTANA/ALMATY, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will join the "Board of Peace" proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, their press secretaries said on Monday.

The board would be chaired for life by Trump and would start by addressing the Gaza conflict and then be expanded to deal with other conflicts, according to a copy of the letter and draft charter seen by Reuters.

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Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been courted by Trump, who has invited both presidents to the G20 in Miami in December.

Kazakhstan is a major energy exporter which borders China and has pipelines to Europe, while Uzbekistan has the biggest population in Central Asia. Tokayev and Mirziyoyev each took over from a long-ruling, Soviet-era leader in the last decade.

Trump has sought to deepen U.S. ties with Central Asia, where Russia and China have traditionally held major sway. Last year, he hosted the leaders of all five Central Asian countries at the White House.

Tokayev's spokesman, Ruslan Zheldibay, said that Kazakhstan's leader was one of the first to receive an invitation from Trump to join the new board. Kazakhstan's invitation was first reported by local outlet TengriNews.

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"The head of state sent a letter to the president of the United States expressing sincere gratitude and confirming his agreement to join this new association," Zheldibay said.

"President K. Tokayev confirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East, strengthening interstate trust and global stability," he added.

Uzbek President Mirziyoyev's press secretary, Sherzod Asadov, wrote on Telegram: "The head of our state sent a reply to his American counterpart, in which he expressed Uzbekistan's readiness to join the Board of Peace as a founding member state."

Trump has invited 60 countries to join the "Board of Peace". Permanent membership will be available to those who pay $1 billion.

(Reporting by Tamara Vaal in Astana and Felix Light in Almaty; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Andrew Osborn/Peter Graff)
NEED TO KNOW

Elizabeth Smart opens up about her harrowing, nine-month abduction at age 14 in the new Netflix documentary, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart

Smart, 38, is telling her story in hopes of shedding light on what sexual assault survivors go through

In the doc, out Jan. 21., her family, witnesses and law enforcement provide their perspectives to Smart's harrowing story

Elizabeth Smart was still reeling from being kidnapped from her bed in the middle of the night by a longtime pedophile when he gave her some jarring news.

Brian David Mitchell, the street preacher who abducted the 14-year-old from her Salt Lake City home on June 5, 2002, told her he was going to make her his wife, right there in the dilapidated tent where he brought her.

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I was in shock, she tells People in this week's cover story. I thought, He can't be serious. You can't just kidnap a child and then say, you're my wife now. It's not legal. It's not okay. I never said yes. I never said I do. None of this is okay.

Smart, 38, is telling her story in the new Netflix documentary, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, debuting Jan. 21.

Courtesy Elizabeth Smart; Chloe Aftel Elizabeth Smart PEOPLE cover in the Jan. 26, 2026 issue Elizabeth Smart PEOPLE cover in the Jan. 26, 2026 issue

Smart, now a married mother of three, has spoken about the terrifying abduction before. She has authored several bestselling books about her experience, started the Elizabeth Smart Foundation to support victims and used her platform as one of the most well-known survivors of all time to fight to end sexual violence.

This time she is telling her story with others, including her father, Ed Smart, 70, her sister, Mary Katherine Smart, 33, witnesses who saw Smart wearing a veil with her head covered but didnt realize she was the teen authorities had been searching for and members of law enforcement who worked the case.

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During her brutal captivity, she was raped up to four times a day, kept in a dark hole and fed garbage, memories she would like to forget forever.

But she is talking about the depravity she endured to help others better understand the realities victims face during, and well after, they are assaulted  and hopefully help to make things better for survivors.

After Mitchell told her he was going to marry her, she protested. I remember even trying to explain to him why it wasn't okay, she says.

When he ignored her, she screamed no. Thats when he told her that if she ever did that again, he was going to kill her and then her family.

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Trembling in fear, Smart listened as Mitchell delivered more unsettling news: that they were going to consummate our marriage, she says.

I remember just wanting to hold him off long enough because I thought someone would rescue me, she says. I even got to the point of being like, Well, shouldn't we at least get to know each other? while trying to create that time for someone to show up.

He did not fall for that, she says. But I mean, I tried to do everything I could to hold off the inevitable.

When he raped her, I was sobbing, she says. I begged him to stop. I remember it just being so painful.

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Mitchell was convicted in 2010 of kidnapping Smart and sentenced to life in prison. Convicted of her role in the crimes, his wife, Wanda Barzee, was released from prison in 2018. She was arrested in May 2025 after allegedly visiting two Utah parks, which violated her status as a registered sex offender.

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Department/Getty Mugshots of Wanda Barzee and Brian David Mitchell Mugshots of Wanda Barzee and Brian David Mitchell

After her rescue, Smart went on to use that painful chapter in her life to speak out for others.

One of the biggest tragedies I come across in my advocacy work, she says, is that with so many victims that I meet, their bodies are still breathing, but they're not living. It's like a death, a living death, and the loss of life that I see these victims dealing with, that is the most tragic thing that I come across.

Kevin Lee / Sipa Press Missing poster for Elizabeth Smart in 2002 Missing poster for Elizabeth Smart in 2002

Speaking to some of the things people can do to help, she says, The first thing all of us can do is start by believing victims.

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.

So often, people immediately start scrutinizing the victims, she says. Well, what's her background? Oh, well, she worked at a bar? Oh, she's a pole dancer? We just immediately start picking apart the victim. Is she worthy of our belief? Is she actually telling the truth? Does she have a history of lying?"

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Only between two and 8% of reports are false. So 92% of victims are telling the truth and I would rather be wrong. I would rather believe someone and be wrong than never not believe a victim.

Elizabeth Maurer/ZUMA Press Elizabeth Smart in captivity in 2002 when her captor took her to a party Elizabeth Smart in captivity in 2002 when her captor took her to a party

In the documentary, she talks about the resilience she had to keep pressing forward each day, thinking of ways to safely get away. "I always thought about getting away, she says. I always thought about getting back to my family. I never stopped thinking about that.

But she also talks about moments when she started feeling helpless and depressed.

Douglas C. Pizac/Getty Elizabeth Smart speaking about Brian David Mitchell's 2010 conviction Elizabeth Smart speaking about Brian David Mitchell's 2010 conviction

One of the things that helped her survive most was hope, which is important for everyone, especially those going through something difficult, she says.

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Why would any of us be alive if we didn't have hope? she says. Hope knowing that life is only going to get better. Hope that tomorrow's better than today. Hope for happy memories to come."

Happiness, she says, is possible for all of us.

For more about Elizabeth Smart and her new Netflix documentary, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick up this week's issue, on newsstands Friday.



Read the original article on People
For decades now, American schoolchildren have been taught about Dr. Martin Luther Kings belief in equality and tolerance. But the simplified version of the reverends message too often overshadows his demands for economic justice and his stance against the Vietnam War. His argument that money spent on war is money thats not being spent on domestic programs that would benefit Americans is especially important to remember during President Donald Trumps increasingly imperialist actions and threats.

King enjoys a near deified status among Americans.

As my colleague Zeeshan Aleem has pointed out, Democrats have spent more time complaining that Trump didnt consult them before invading Venezuela than saying Trump was wrong to invade Venezuela. We need more people to say the presidents militarism is morally wrong and wasteful, not make procedural arguments about his failure to properly notify Congress.

King enjoys a near deified status among Americans. A 2023 poll from the Pew Research Center found that 81% of Americans hold a net positive view of his impact on our country, and a 2011 survey from Gallup found that 94% of people surveyed had a favorable view of King more broadly.

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But those surveys measured support for the memory of King, and a likely sanitized memory, at that. Its doubtful that many of those respondents knew more about Kings positions than those found in the most quoted section of the I Have a Dream speech, which he gave during 1963s March on Washington. During his lifetime, King reached the zenith of his popularity two years after that address. But even then, according to a May 1965 Gallup poll, only 45% of Americans viewed him favorably.

It was that year, though, that King began to speak out against the swiftly escalating war in Vietnam. Wary at first of criticizing President Lyndon B. Johnson  whod signed the 1964 Civil Rights Bill and the 1965 Voting Rights Act  King initially tempered his anti-war stance in public, but then he became increasingly more vocal about the wars immorality. And the more he made his case against, the more his popularity dwindled. In August 1966, when Gallup next polled Americans on their views on King, respondents were nearly twice as likely to have a negative (63%) as positive (33%) opinion of him. That may have been because nearly half of Americans thought ratcheting up the war effort in Vietnam was the best course of action.

Dr. Benjamin Spock and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (center) protest against the Vietnam War along Central Park West on April 16, 1967. Frank Hurley / NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Declining support didnt stop King from leading his first anti-war march in 1967, where he told attendees: The bombs in Vietnam explode at homethey destroy the dream and possibility for a decent America. Then, in a speech he gave on April 4, 1967, exactly one year before he was assassinated, King went all-in on his belief that America waging war in Vietnam stood in the way of the Black communitys advancement. Standing in Riverside Church in Harlem, he spoke to a crowd of 3,000, connecting the evils of the war abroad to the poverty so prevalent at home:

I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic, destructive suction tube. So I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and to attack it as such. Perhaps a more tragic recognition of reality took place when it became clear to me that the war was doing far more than devastating the hopes of the poor at home. It was sending their sons and their brothers and their husbands to fight and to die in extraordinarily high proportions relative to the rest of the population. We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. So we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools.

The condemnation of Kings Beyond Vietnam speech was quick. A New York Times editorial lamented that it was a fusing of two public problems that are distinct and separate. By drawing them together, Dr. King has done a disservice to both. The Washington Post likewise decried King as having diminished his usefulness to his cause, to his country and to his people. Even his own allies distanced themselves. The NAACP called his decision to bring the civil rights and anti-war movements together a serious tactical mistake that will serve the cause neither of civil rights nor of peace.

Still, we need more clarion voices decrying the wrongness of Trumps adventures.

We know thats not how things played out. King was killed by an assassins bullet a year later in Memphis, having continued to speak out against the war and Americas indifference to poverty. It took another five years for American troops to finally withdraw from Vietnam after tens of thousands more casualties and millions of more dollars spent. The wars legacy has proved to be an inverse of Kings, dwindling in favorability over time to the point that most Americans think the U.S. should have stayed out entirely.

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Its heartening then that Trumps turn toward outright global dominance has proved unpopular from the jump. A recent poll from The Associated Pres-NORC Center for Public Affairs found 56% of U.S. adults think Trump has overstepped on military interventions abroad, while majorities disapprove of how the Republican president is handling foreign policy in general and Venezuela in particular. Of the Republicans surveyed, only 1 in 10 approved of the idea of even further escalations on the world stage.

Still, we need more clarion voices decrying the wrongness of Trumps adventures. We need more leaders willing to condemn his call to boost the militarys budget to $1.5 trillion dollars while cutting federal aid to the poor. We need more people who would honor Kings dream to see as clearly as he did that the relationship of this ministry to the making of peace is so obvious that I sometimes marvel at those who ask me why Im speaking against the war.

Kings posthumous popularity may give the impression that his moral courage was always applauded. But the opposite was true. Even so, he was no less willing to call out the injustice of Americas actions abroad and speak out even when others would have preferred he stay silent.

The post Kings dream for peace should be active part of his legacy appeared first on MS NOW.

This article was originally published on ms.now
First, the new law will give recognition to children of soldiers as "orphans" for certain rights as long as the parent died before the age of 30.

In the aftermath of the 2023-2025 Middle East War, in which over 2,000 Israelis died, Defense MinisterIsrael Katz announced on Monday that the Knesset will pass a dramatic increase in benefits for orphans of fallen IDF soldiers.

First, the new law will give recognition to children of soldiers as "orphans" for certain rights as long as the parent died before the age of 30.

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Next, certain financial support for such orphans will continue until age 40.

The financial benefits from age 21-30 will now be NIS 3,651.92 per month.

The financial benefits from age 30-40 will now be NIS 2,000 per month.

IDF reserve soldiers take part in a surprise military drill in northern Israel along the border with Lebanon and Syria, a day after Hezbollah's chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabatabai's assassination, Golan Heights, November 24, 2025 (credit: MICHAEL GILADI/FLASH90)

Katz, Smotrich push expanded benefits for fallen IDF orphans

There will also be a two-part payment of up to NIS 50,000 to orphans aged 40 or older.

Financial benefits for education, mental health, marriage, and residential living expenses will also be raised.

In addition, more Defense Ministry officials will be assigned to assist orphans with their rights and any special issues.

Katz said that Financial Minister Betzalel Smotrich was also a major part of the push for the new policy.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the death of 8-year-old Maleeka Mollie Boone on the Navajo Nation, after her disappearance had prompted a Turquoise Alert.

Boone was last seen alive about 6 p.m. on Jan. 15, playing within the area of the Coalmine Navajo Housing Authority, near Tuba City in north-central Arizona, according to the Navajo Police Department.

The Navajo police said Boone's family was concerned for their daughter as it was out of character for the young girl to be gone for such an extended period of time.

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Police issued a Turquoise Alert early Jan. 16 after determining Boone had gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

The same afternoon, Boone was found dead in the Coalmine area, the FBI reported.

Investigators have not disclosed the cause or manner of her death and have not announced arrests or suspects.

The FBI Phoenix Field Office and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation are leading the investigation with assistance from local and state agencies.

As of Jan. 18, officials released no new information about the circumstances surrounding her death.

The Navajo Police Department took to Facebook to share condolences to those affected by Boone's death.

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"We have received an outpouring of love as you all shared your memories and condolences with us regarding Maleeka Mollie Boone. Seeing the positive impact this sweet girl had on so many people, near and far, has helped lift each heavy heart," the post read.

President of the Navajo Nation Buu Nygren expressed condolences to the family of the 8-year-old and to the Coalmine community following her death.

"To learn this search ends in loss is a pain beyond words," Nygren said in a video posted on Facebook. "The loss of a child is one of the worst tragedies a family, and a nation, can endure," Nygren said.

Boones death was especially tragic, he said, because it came weeks after another child was killed in a Christmas parade crash in Kayenta.

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Anyone with information about Maleeka "Mollie" Boone's disappearance and death can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or go online to tips.fbi.gov. Residents can also contact the Navajo Police Department, Tuba City District, at 928-283-3111 or 928-283-3112.

Family creates fundraiser to help bury Boone

Mikalia Yellowhair, Boone's aunt, created a GoFundMe to help lay the young girl to rest.

"She was such a beautiful little girl who was always full of sunshine. She was very loving, happy, and gave the biggest hugs. She was very special to us all and loved by many," Yellowhair wrote on the GoFundMe post.

The fundraiser, started midafternoon on Jan. 18, had gained over $1,000 of a $10,000 goal by the early evening.

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Rey Covarrubias Jr. covers business and breaking news for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@azcentral.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.

(This story has been updated to add more information.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What we know about Navajo girls death
At least 45 people have died and dozens more have been injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, local authorities have said.

The crash at Adamuz, near the city of Cordoba, is Spain's worst rail disaster more than a decade.

Here's what we know about the incident so far.

Where did the crash happen?

[BBC]

The crash occurred at around 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) on Sunday, about an hour after a train run by private firm Iryo left Malaga for Madrid.

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The last three carriages of the Iryo train - carriages six to eight - derailed on a straight stretch of track near Adamuz and crossed into the opposite track.

Those carriages collided with an oncoming train operated by state company Renfe travelling from south Madrid to Huelva, which was forced into an embankment running alongside the track, Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente said.

The majority of those killed and injured were in the front carriages of the Huelva-bound Renfe train.

There were around 400 passengers and staff on the two trains, according to Renfe.

[BBC]

What have survivors said?

Lucas Merayo, who was in the fifth car of the Madrid-bound Iryo train, told the BBC that about an hour into the journey, it became very bumpy. Passengers became scared and the carriage went silent, he said, "and then we heard a crash" and the train stopped.

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Luggage fell and the lights went out. Then they started to hear noises of pain and screams from the three carriages behind them that had derailed, he said.

He and his girlfriend were uninjured, but people were in shock and crying, some experiencing panic attacks. A nurse beside him responded to a call for medical volunteers, and when she came back from the sixth carriage she told him someone had died.

Surviving passengers from the derailed carriages broke glass and went on the tracks to escape. Passengers helped one another get down, and he saw seriously injured people, with bleeding heads and improvised bandages.

The first on the scene were people from Adamuz, some in their pyjamas, who offered to transport the injured, Lucas Merayo said.

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After two hours, they were evacuated by bus and Lucas eventually made it back home to Madrid on Monday morning, when he hugged his eight-year-old son and began to cry.

"It's really, really shocking and overwhelming to be alive when everyone else is not," said the actor and influencer, who is from Argentina.

He said the experience of the crash is "going to be with me all the time".

As it was dark, he had not realised the oncoming train had fallen into an embankment until he saw it on the news.

The Spanish Civil Guard arrived on scene to assess the situation and begin the evaluation process [Spanish Guardia Civil / Handout via Reuters]

The president of the Andalusian regional government, Juanma Moreno, told local outlet Canal Sur they had to bring in "heavy machinery" to "practically lift" parts of the second train, which "has taken the worst part of this accident".

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"The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside," Francisco Carmona, head of firefighters in Cordoba, told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.

"We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work," he added.

Rescuers continued to search the wreckage until Wednesday when a 43rd victim was found.

What caused the crash?

The precise cause of the derailment remains under investigation, but a preliminary report suggests the rail was already damaged before the crash.

Spain's rail accident investigation body, the CIAF, said there is evidence that a fracture in the rail occured before the Iyro train derailed.

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Investigators found notches on the wheels of several Iyro carriages, including some that did not derail, which were consistent with the wheels striking a broken section of the rail.

Earlier this week, transport minister Oscar Puente confirmed grooves the size of a coin were found on the wheels of the first five carriages of the Iryo train, which passed safely over the track before the final three carriages derailed. Two or three trains that had gone over the track shortly beforehand had similar notches, he added.

"These notches in the wheels and the deformation observed in the track are compatible with the fact that the track was cracked," CIAF's preliminary report said.

Similar damage was also found on trains that passed through the same stretch of track earlier on Sunday, indicating the fracture may have been present before the Iyro train reached the site.

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The CIAF called its report a "working hypothesis", adding that it "must be corroborated by later detailed calculations and analysis".

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska earlier ruled out sabotage but said all other hypotheses were being considered.

Meanwhile, a transcript has been published by daily El Pais of calls to the control centre in Madrid from the Iryo driver and from the conductor on the Renfe train.

The Iryo driver is initially unaware his train has been involved in a severe crash. The control centre is unable to reach the driver of the Renfe train so contacts the conductor who says "I have blood on my head. I don't know if I'll be able to reach the train driver".

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[BBC]

Who are the victims?

The 43 people who died in the crash have not yet officially been identified.

One of the victims was Maria del Carmen Abril, a teacher, who was returning from her surprise 50th birthday party to Madrid, her friend told the BBC.

Jose Manuel Munoz described Abril, as she was known, as a "lovely, generous, affectionate person who loved flowers and was always trying to solve other people's problems".

Victor Luis Teran, a Bolivian national, died on the train heading south to Huelva, after taking an earlier train because of a last-minute change in plans, his sister-in-law said.

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A total of 123 people were injured. As of Wednesday morning, 37 people remained in hospital, including four children. Nine people were in intensive care.

If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by following this link
Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett accused the president of protecting loyalists no matter how serious their alleged crimes.

One of President Donald Trumps fiercest critics joined Joanna Coles on The Daily Beast Podcast to discuss what she described as an abusive relationship felt by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress during Trumps second administration.

He does have kind of like a mob-like situation set up where there are people that will come after you, Crockett, 44, told Coles, describing what she said happens to those who cross the president and why Republicans are afraid to be on the other side of him.

The congresswoman, who was sworn into Congress in 2023 and entered the Texas U.S. Senate race in December 2025, has built a reputation on Capitol Hill for speeches against Trump and frequent sparring with MAGA lawmakers. She has maintained that she wants the American people to stand up to the president, whom she labeled a bully.

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There are people that will threaten you, and you are constantly looking over your shoulder, Crockett told Coles about the consequences of speaking up against the president, adding that she makes sure to wear a bulletproof vest because she doesnt know when shell be in a big, big, big situation.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett speaks onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Crockett, whom Trump, 79, has derided as a low IQ person, has emerged as a vocal critic of the Trump administrations release of the Epstein files. As a member of the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, she sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel demanding answers about Trumps ties to the late sex offender and the Justice Departments handling of the records.

Were not trying to protect pedophiles. And that is the message that we want to get across, Crockett said when asked by Coles to explain what is happening with the release of the Epstein files, which were supposed to be released under a law passed by Congress and signed by Trump as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The files have not been made public in full by the required deadline.

Right now. It is a matter of if you are close enough to the president, it doesnt matter if you are a drug trafficker, it doesnt matter if youre a child rapist, Crockett told Coles.

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If youre close to him that you dont have anything to worry about. But if you are on the opposite side of him, thats when you become a bad person, the congresswoman added.

Some Republicans broke away from Trump over the Epstein files. / Heather Diehl / Getty Images

Crockettwho told Coles that, to her understanding, possible litigation against Bondi could result from the Attorney Generals handling of the filesstressed that the Epstein files are not a political issue for survivors or Democrats.

While Trump has resisted releasing the files, and the DOJ has defended his name when it appears, former President and First Lady Bill and Hillary Clinton have also declined to appear for deposition after being subpoenaed by House Oversight Committee Republicans.

Crockett named California Governor Gavin Newsom as a Democrat who has been able to

When asked by Coles about the direction and leadership in the Democratic Party, Crockett admitted that she thinks Democrats overthink stuff and that whoever figures out how to pivot best, is going to emerge as the leader, naming California Governor Gavin Newsom as someone who has been able to fit the moment with his social media use, where he frequently trolls the president.

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We are living in a bold moment where we have an unhinged, most likely mentally ill, chief whos a con in chief, and we have people that are scared on both sides, Democrats and Republicans, Crockett said, adding that she has sent letters and spoken to doctors about the presidents mental and physical decline.

Trump's hands have been scrutinized recently due to frequent bruising, which the White House attributes to aspirin usage and frequent handshakes. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

There are a number of medical professionals that believe that he is in bad, bad shape, Crockett said.

The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Beasts request for comment.

New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Follow our new feed on your favorite podcast platform at beast.pub/dailybeastpod and subscribe on YouTube to watch full episodes.
MOSCOW, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that it was hard to disagree with experts who said that U.S. President Donald Trump would go down in the history of the United States and the world if he took control of Greenland.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not discussing whether such a step would be good or bad - simply stating a fact.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he will settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He has said that if the United States does not take control of Greenland, then Russia or China will.

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When asked to comment on Trump's remarks about the alleged Russian threat, Peskov said that there has been a lot of "disturbing information" lately but that the Kremlin would not comment on the alleged Russian designs on Greenland.

"Here, perhaps, it is possible to abstract from whether this is good or bad, whether it will comply with the parameters of international law or not," Peskov said.

"There are international experts who believe that by resolving the issue of Greenland's incorporation, Trump will certainly go down in history. And not only in the history of the United States, but also in world history."

Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to be part of the United States.

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Russia's foreign ministry last week said that it was unacceptable for the West to keep claiming that Russia and China threatened Greenland, and said the crisis over the territory showed the double-standards of Western powers which claimed moral superiority.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Capt. Jennifer Sandlin

Kentucky State Police settled a sex discrimination and retaliation lawsuit with a former captain who said she was passed over for multiple promotions that were instead given to men.

Jennifer Sandlin, a KSP captain who has worked for the state police for more than 20 years, will receive $600,000 in the settlement, which is to be paid within 30 days, her lawyer Thomas Clay told the Herald-Leader. Sandlins lawsuit was first filed in 2023, after she sought multiple positions at the rank of major throughout her career, but men were selected for each of the positions.

In July 2022, Sandlin sought a third position as a major, but again a man was selected to fill the job. The selection of men instead of Sandlin established a pattern of discrimination on the basis of sex, the original lawsuit stated.

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She is so glad to put it in the rearview mirror, because its taken a toll on her, Clay said on Sunday. The longer its gone on, the greater the toll its taken on her. We were so glad that we were able to reach a settlement.

The settlement with KSP was agreed upon at the last minute, just before a jury was set to go into deliberation last week. LEX18 also reported that as part of the settlement, Sandlin must retire at the end of January and will receive 12 weeks of sick-time pay.

Sandlin is currently the commander of KSP Post 15, located in Columbia, and has worked at multiple KSP posts in her career, according to the state police website.

Sandlin was the Hazard KSP posts first female commander. She graduated from the state police academy in 2003 and raised two children during her career, according to the lawsuit.

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While pregnant with her first child in 2005, Sandlin was told by her commander that she had to bring in verification of the pregnancy. When she asked why she had to bring in verification, Sandlin was told that verification was required because some women may fake a pregnancy to get off the road and then just say they miscarried, she wrote.

When applying for the positions of major, the KSP commissioner at the time, Richard Sanders, told Sandlin he didnt select her because he didnt want to take me away from my family, Sandlin wrote in the initial filing.

Sanders wrote in a separate court filling that he never turned down Sandlin for either position and that instead Sandlin had declined both positions because she didnt want to move her family and was OK with staying at her home Post.

A spokesperson for KSP did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said on Monday that forces affiliated with the Syrian government attacked Shaddadi prison in Hasaka in Syria's northeast, where it said thousands of Islamic State militants were being held.

The SDF said it confronted the attackers at Shaddadi and repelled them several times, but that dozens of its fighters had been killed. U.S.-led coalition forces did not intervene despite repeated calls for help, the Kurdish group said.

Earlier, the SDF said it had also clashed with Syrian government forces near the Al-Aqtan prison on the outskirts of Raqqa, another facility holding Islamic State detainees. Raqqa was once the centre of the group's shortlived "caliphate".

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The SDF described the clashes as a "highly dangerous development", warning that any seizure of the prison by government forces "could have serious security repercussions that threaten stability and pave the way for a return to chaos and terrorism".

Syria's ministry of defence denied that government forces attacked the prisons. It said its forces had arrived at Al-Aqtan and had begun "securing" the facility and its surroundings. The army did not enter Shaddadi prison, the ministry said in a statement.

The Syrian army also accused the SDF of being responsible for the release of Islamic State detainees from Shaddadi prison. It said the prison would be handed over to the ministry of interior after a security process.

The SDF said nine of its fighters were killed and 20 wounded in clashes around Al-Aqtan.

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Under a sweeping integration deal agreed with Damascus on Sunday, responsibility for prisons housing Islamic State detainees was meant to be transferred to the Syrian government.

After days of fighting with government forces, the SDF - once the main U.S. ally in Syria - agreed on Sunday to withdraw from two Arab-majority provinces it had controlled for years, including oil fields.

Syrian government troops tightened their grip on Monday across swathes of northern and eastern territory abruptly abandoned by the SDF, in a dramatic shift that strengthened President Ahmed al-Sharaa's rule.

In Raqqa, government internal security forces and military police set up checkpoints and checked IDs. Security sources said the city had been cleared of SDF fighters overnight.

(Reporting by Jana Choukeir, Maya Gebeily, Menna Alaa El-Din, Jaidaa Taha and Ahmed Elimam; editing by Alex Richardson, Mark Heinrich and Ros Russell)
Amid ongoing tensions in north-eastern Syria between Kurdish militias and government forces, concerns are growing about escapes and uncontrolled releases of imprisoned fighters from the terrorist group Islamic State.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been fighting alongside a US-led coalition against Islamic State since 2014.

The warning comes as fighting intensified near prisons holding those militants in north-eastern Syria.

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Kurdish officials fear the group will exploit the current clashes between the SDF, who control these prisons, to stage coordinated escapes under the cover of these clashes.

An official at al-Hol camp - which houses the families of Islamic State fighters from Syria, Iraq and abroad - told dpa that an uncontrolled or poorly supervised handover of prisons with Islamic State militants in them could have "catastrophic consequences."

"If the handing over of prisons - especially where Islamic State militants or their families are present - is not overseen or supervised intelligently ... these people can easily become ticking time bombs in the society later if they manage to escape or are intentionally released," the official, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said.

A Kurdish official said "Islamic State women in the al-Hol Camp were chanting today [Monday] 'God Bless [Syrian Interim President] Ahmed al-Sharaa.'"

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Women affiliated with Islamic State attacked security personnel guarding the camp earlier on Monday in an attempted escape that was foiled, SDF spokesman Farhad al-Shami told dpa.

The incident, he said, underscored the growing danger posed by the detainee population. "This represents an enormous threat to stability in Syria and the entire region," the al-Hol official said.

In a statement, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria's (AANES) representative in Germany called on the international community, particularly the anti-Islamic State coalition and the German government, to support the Kurdish-led authorities in securing detention facilities.

AANES is the governing body for the Kurdish areas in this region.

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Al-Shami confirmed to dpa that detainees had been released in Deir al-Zor by some allied forces loyal to the Syrian government. The Syrian government has denied such allegations.

The Syrian government vowed to continue the fight against Islamic State as an active member of the international coalition, in coordination with the United States, according to a ceasefire agreement from Sunday.

According to sources in Damascus, a ceasefire was supposed to be in effect after renewed fighting that began on Sunday. The agreement stipulated that the transitional government should also assume control of the camps and prisons housing Islamic State detainees.

Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors violence in Syria, also warned of serious security risks surrounding al-Shaddadi prison in southern al-Hassakeh province.

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He said that local armed group attacked the prison housing thousands of Islamic State fighters, "triggering violent clashes with forces tasked with guarding the facility."

SDF said in a statement that despite the fact that al-Shaddadi prison is located only about 2 kilometres from the US-led international coalition in the area, the base did not intervene.

In a statement the SDF said the prison "has currently fallen out of the control of [its] forces."

A senior Kurdish official stressed that those prisons housing Islamic State detainees are at "boiling" point and if they manage to escape, it could be a danger not only to Syria, but "to neighbouring countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq."

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The Islamic State threat is now greater than at any time since the groups final territorial defeat in 2019, the official said. Sleeper cells that had remained dormant for years in the Syrian desert are mobilizing again.

We have intelligence and evidence that Islamic State is slowly rebuilding itself, and one of its main objectives will be the prisons, a Kurdish official told dpa.

Kurdish authorities currently hold thousands of suspected Islamic State members and relatives, as well as foreign fighters from dozens of countries, including Germany, in prisons and camps across north-eastern Syria.

Human rights groups have long urged countries to repatriate their nationals held in the region, warning that the combination of mass detention, instability and renewed militant activity risks triggering a new security crisis.
Nine days down, 51 more to go. Its still early, when the legislative days are measured in minutes and not hours.

Lawmakers have filed in the neighborhood of 500 bills thus far during the 2026 General Assembly, and some of them have even cleared a committee.

One especially favored bill  Senate Bill 7, with its 29 sponsors in the 38-member body, which aims to bring drivers licensing back to the local level  has passed a floor vote. The first one to do so this winter!

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Now, thats a lot of numbers, and not a one of them is in the billions. As in, the amount of money thatll keep the commonwealth running the next two years.

House Republicans have yet to unveil their budget proposal for the next biennium, though they assure the press were likely to see it this week.

Yes, the governor has rolled out his plan, but anyone who knows anything about Frankfort knows that wont go anywhere.

And yes, House Republicans have filed their legislative and judicial budget bills. The budgets that keep those co-equal branches of government operational are important, too.

Kentucky House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, speaks during the 31st Annual Kentucky Chamber Day Dinner at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday, Jan. 8. 2026.

But when people think of the budget, they think of the executive branch budget. The one that funds a whole plethora of state agencies and services. That is the proposal weve yet to see.

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What were hearing about it so far: It will be less spend-happy than the 2024 budget bill, in large part because GOP lawmakers really want to hit the next set of triggers to further reduce the state income tax. The state fell just $7.5 million in revenue short of the mark it needed to trigger a tax cut from 3.5% to 3% in 2027.

Theyre also expected to address federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP spending passed in President Donald Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill.

Lawmakers are off Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but back in Frankfort on Tuesday, Jan. 20 for Day 10.

Some GOP priority bills emerge

A single-digit bill number isnt always a sign legislation will pass  looking at you, anti-DEI Senate Bill 6 circa 2024  but its usually a pretty good indicator as to what the Republican majority in Frankfort is prioritizing.

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One such bill this year would make grooming a child a felony.

Rep. Marianne Proctor, R-Union, filed House Bill 4, which would redefine grooming and establish criminal penalties for those who engage in it. Before the bill was filed, Proctor said there are no protections on Kentuckys books for criminalizing abusive behavior before it devolves into sexual assault or abuse.

Rep. Marianne Proctor, R-Union, presents House Bill 10, an act related to the rights of real property owners, during the 2025 General Assembly.

Grooming, according to the bill, is any conduct performed by someone the age of 18 or older directed at a minor with the intent to establish an emotional connection through manipulation, trust-building or influence to facilitate sex or normalize a minor to acts of sex. The conduct can occur online, in person or through third parties.

The bill establishes two levels of offenses: those who engage in grooming with a minor who is under 14 with the intent to entice, coerce, solicit or engage in sex would be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. If the minor is under 12, it would be a Class D felony.

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If someone is in a position of authority or special trust and engages in grooming, including to develop an intimate or secretive relationship with a minor who is under 18, it would be a Class D felony. If the minor is under 12, it would be a Class C felony.

Class C felonies are punishable by five-to-10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. Class D felonies are punishable by one-to-five years and fines for some offenses.

About one-quarter of House members have signed on to sponsor the bill.

-Reported by Piper Hansen

Stories from Week 2 of the 2026 General Assembly

Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, confers with Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, on the Senate floor during the 2024 General Assembly.

Gas tax: Rep. Tom Smith filed legislation to replace Kentuckys 9% gas excise tax with fixed per-gallon rates of 29.6 cents in 2026-27 and 34.6 cents in 2027-28. The bill also increases vehicle registration fees to address stagnant road funding amid rising maintenance costs. -Reported by Hannah Pinski & Austin Horn

Drivers licensing: Senate Bill 7 passed the Senate 34-1, allowing county offices to handle drivers license renewals in areas without regional transportation offices. The measure aims to reduce wait times after complaints about the centralized system implemented in 2021. -Reported by Piper Hansen & Hannah Pinski

ICE cooperation: Several Republican-backed bills would mandate local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and limit sanctuary policies. Gov. Andy Beshear opposes the measures, saying they would make communities less safe by diverting officers from other duties. -Reported by Piper Hansen

FCPS budget issues: Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe filed legislation raising the population threshold for occupational tax increases from 300,000 to 500,000, effectively blocking Fayette County from pursuing such measures. The bill responds to FCPSs failed 2025 tax increase attempt and transparency concerns. -Reported by Valarie Honeycutt Spears

Data centers: Republican lawmakers and environmental groups share a focus on artificial intelligence data centers this session. While GOP members seek to capitalize on AIs economic potential, environmentalists warn about energy demands, water usage, and potential impacts on residential power rates in rural communities. -Reported by Austin R. Ramsey

Housing needs: Republican lawmakers plan to file legislation allowing religious institutions to build affordable housing on their property, expunging dismissed eviction records, and tripling real estate transaction fees for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund from $12 to $36 to create 600 additional units annually. -Reported by Piper Hansen

Nuclear energy: Sen. Danny Carrolls Senate Bill 57 creates a grant program covering one-third of federal nuclear permitting costs. The Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Program aims to jumpstart nuclear development in Kentucky, where no nuclear plants currently exist. -Reported by Piper Hansen

Education round-up: The General Assembly has introduced dozens of education-related bills, including measures to expand teacher apprenticeships, modify assessments and prohibit school officials from advocating on ballot measures. One student-driven bill would designate the indigo milk cap as Kentuckys state mushroom. -Reported by Valarie Honeycutt Spears

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The above takeaways were produced with the help of an AI tool, which summarized previous stories reported and written by Herald-Leader journalists. This content was reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom. Read more on our AI policy here.

What were looking for in Week 3 of the 2026 General Assembly

An executive branch budget bill. Passing a two-year budget is the one thing the legislature absolutely has to do before April 15 when they adjourn sine die.

Were also curious to see what other Republican priorities will emerge. We still havent seen anything numbered SB1-SB6, for example.

As committee meetings start to pick up the pace, well get a sense of what bills have legs and what the caucuses are coalescing around. What, for example, will be the social issue the majority takes up this year?

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Thank you for following the Herald-Leaders coverage of the Kentucky General Assembly. If you havent already, consider signing up for our (twice weekly during session!) Bluegrass Politics newsletter.

Give me a shout at tduvall@herald-leader.com with any feedback, tips or ideas.
Laura Ringling, senior policy adviser to Gov. Larry Rhoden, speaks at a press conference on Jan. 15, 2026, at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre while Rhoden looks on. During the first week of the 2026 legislative session, Ringling spoke to lawmakers about Rural Health Transformation Program funding. (Photo by Meghan O'Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakotas workforce shortage and federal limitations on a $189.5 million infusion of cash are making some lawmakers worry about the feasibility and sustainability of the states plan to strengthen rural health care.

The funding comes from the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. Congress included it in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, in response to concerns that the bills Medicaid cuts will hurt rural health providers. Medicaid is a federal-state program that provides health insurance for people with disabilities or low incomes.

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Lawmakers arent able to amend the states approved spending plan to address their own concerns, they learned in a presentation Thursday in Pierre. Laura Ringling, senior policy adviser for Gov. Larry Rhoden, told lawmakers the state can only make some minor budget shifting going forward.

More legislative news

See all of Searchlights coverage of the 2026 legislative session.

Read the latest >

The role lawmakers play is to authorize the state to spend the $189.5 million. Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee will be the first to consider a bill authorizing the funds.

Sen. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, has questions and frustrations about the funding. She told South Dakota Searchlight she intends to ask more questions of state officials during what will be a long process.

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Its a matter of if this is something taxpayer dollars should be spent on, Howard said. If its not, then its our job to deny authority.

The problem, Howard added, is that if the Legislature doesnt spend the money, another state will spend it instead.

South Dakotas plan outlines 10 initiatives, including creating a data atlas for providers and facilities to share local and state agency data, improving the rural health care workforce, improving chronic disease management, establishing regional maternal and infant health care hubs, and regionalizing behavioral health care, among other projects.

Ringling told lawmakers that one-time incentives will bolster the rural health care workforce so that it is sustainable and long-lived years after the one-time funding ends.

Incentives will include sign-on bonuses, relocation assistance and rural service stipends for health care professionals not already covered by the states rural assistance program, such as nurses, doctors and physician assistants. The federal government requires that people who are awarded workforce funding must commit to five years in the rural community.

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Nothing we do with these funds will matter if we dont have the trained people in our communities to provide the care, Ringling said.

Several lawmakers asked questions on Thursday about workforce needs and how those would be addressed outside of the incentives mentioned.

Howard told officials during the presentation that shes skeptical about the proposal and its sustainability. The programs, especially the behavioral health and maternal and infant health care hubs, she said, could require more than one-time funding to operate in financially strapped rural communities.

Ringling said the programs, operated by non-state government organizations, must submit a sustainability plan to be considered for funding. Howard took that to mean taxes and fees could be raised at the local level.

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It doesnt help the local citizens if the state says, Well, the program is done. We wash our hands. We didnt increase your taxes and fees, but then the sustainability model of the local entity increases our taxes and fees. Theyre still feeling that pinch, Howard said.

Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, told South Dakota Searchlight that the presentation didnt address the consequences of the One Big Beautiful Bills changes to Medicaid, including work requirements. Muckey called the one-time funding a Band-Aid over a bullet wound.

There is excitement to be had about rural communities receiving the investments they deserve, Muckey said. But this still doesnt answer the question about how to sustain quality health care going forward because of massive cuts to Medicaid.

South Dakotas award was short about $4 million of the $193.3 million it requested for the first year of the program, and it was less than the amounts received by neighboring states. The state does not know why it received less funding.

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Ringling said the state requested nearly $213 million for the next year. She expects to receive that amount if were doing what we said we were going to do.

If for some reason were delayed, were not able to get going, were not able to show that were performing and meeting the things that we said we would do in our application, Ringling said, we risk a lower dollar amount and losing those funds.

Once the authorizing bill is signed, departments will begin finding organizations to carry out the initiatives in the states Rural Health Transformation Program application. The money must be spent by October.

South Dakotas requests

South Dakota requested $1 billion over five years to implement its rural health transformation plan, with its request changing yearly.
MANILA, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A lawyer filed an impeachment complaint against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday, accusing him of betraying public trust by allowing his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte to be arrested and taken to The Hague to face trial.

The complaint, filed by Andre De Jesus, described the move against Duterte as an act of "kidnapping," echoing the narrative of the former president's family.

Duterte, president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested and taken to the International Criminal Court in the Hague in March over the thousands of killings that took place during his controversial war on drugs.

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The complaint also accuses Marcos of constitutional violations over budget irregularities, failing to act against alleged graft involving flood control projects, and failing to answer allegations of drug use that have raised questions about his fitness to govern.

"We feel that this avenue would enable not just myself as complainant ... but the Filipino people to thrash out all these matters which are being raised and are not answered at all by the president and his cabinet and his officers," De Jesus told reporters in comments posted on X by DZRH radio.

Marcos' office said it respects this democratic process and would "trust that Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, will discharge its duties with honesty, integrity, and fidelity to the rule of law."

"While these processes take their course, the President will continue to govern, ensuring that public services remain uninterrupted and that the work of government stays focused on improving the lives of our people," the presidential communications office said in a statement.

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The filing comes nearly a year after the lower house impeached Sara Duterte, Marcos' estranged Vice President and the daughter of his predecessor.

The impeachment was later struck down by the Supreme Court for breaching the Constitution's oneyear bar rule.

Although the lower house of Congress is no longer led by Marcos' cousin, Martin Romualdez, who resigned as House Speaker after being linked to the flood control corruption scandal, it remains dominated by the president's allies, raising doubts about whether the complaint against him can gain traction.

Marcos, elected in 2022, is serving a single sixyear term and is barred by the Constitution from seeking reelection in 2028, leaving him with about two years remaining in office.

His vice president Sara Duterte is widely viewed as a strong contender for the 2028 presidential race.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by David Stanway)
The Leon County Sheriffs Office has arrested a man who they say killed three people, including a pregnant woman, in three separate homicides.

The agency reported "a suspicious death" on the evening of Jan. 16 that occurred near 150 Bethel By The Lake Drive near Campbell Pond in southeast Tallahassee. The investigation was later classified as a homicide, according to LCSO spokesperson Javonni Hampton.

After a quick investigation, the Leon County Sheriffs Office announced Saturday the arrest of 54-year-old Flay Rollins in connection with that homicide and two others.

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Here's what we know.

The Leon County Sheriffs Office has arrested a man who they say killed three people in three separate homicides.

At around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, deputies responded to the Camp Richardson Recreation & Retreat Center, formerly the Bethel-by-the-Lake Campsite, after receiving a report of a woman found deceased near a church.

"Upon arrival, deputies found the victim with apparent gunshot wounds and pronounced her deceased at the scene," and LCSO spokesperson wrote in a news release.

After Rollins was identified as a suspect, detectives were advised by the U.S. Marshals Taskforce that Rollins had been located and taken into the Leon County Detention Facility following a warrant issued by the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office connected to a homicide in Valdosta, Georgia.

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"While in custody Rollins admitted to the Bethel By The Lake homicide and informed detectives that he had committed a second homicide in Leon County," LCSO said.

Information provided by Rollins led detectives to another dead woman who was recently killed in the Apalachicola National Forest. The victim  who was pregnant at the time of her death, according to the medical examiner  suffered fatal gunshot wounds.

Victims 'were known to the suspect,' LCSO says

Rollins was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He is being held without bond and is being represented by a public defender.

Additional charges may be filed pending further investigation.

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Hampton told the Tallahassee Democrat that the victims in all three homicides "were known to the suspect."

She said investigators have not identified any additional victims.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Consolidated Dispatch Agency at 850-606-5800.

"We appreciate the communitys patience and cooperation as deputies work to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident," the agency wrote on Facebook.

Who is Flay Rollins?

Rollins is a "registered career offender" with a history of cases involving domestic violence, according to court documents.

An NCIC registered career offender is a person flagged in the National Crime Information Center database as a repeat violent or serious drug offender, often facing stricter sentencing and required to register their address.

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Rollins has a lengthy criminal history going back to 1996.

Over the years, he has faced a slew of violent charges, including shooting into a building, battery on an inmate, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, attempted manslaughter and attempted second degree murder. He has also been charged more than a half dozen times with possession or selling cocaine possession, as well as trespassing and criminal mischief charges.

He was out on bond and facing a 2026 trial on a second degree murder charge from a 2023 alleged stabbing. He allegedly punched a girlfriend multiple times and then cut her numerous times with a boxcutter. He initially faced Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon charge that appears to have been upgraded in 2024 to the second degree murder charge by State Attorney Jack Campbell because it was "perpetrated by an act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life."

In 2018, he also faced attempted murder charges after stabbing a woman in front of her teenage son, according to a Tallahassee Democrat story from the time.

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Tallahassee Police responded to an apartment complex on Midyette Road at about 2 a.m. after a report of a stabbing. They found the victim lying face down inside of an apartment. She was hospitalized with two stab wounds to the back and placed on trauma alert due to a collapsed lung.

Police learned that Rollins and the woman were arguing at the apartment when she grabbed a knife from the kitchen. She asked Rollins to leave, according to arrest papers, but he refused.

A witness said Rollins left the apartment but they kept arguing on the front step. Rollins grabbed the knife and began to stab the woman before running away, according to police.

He flagged down a Leon County Sheriffs deputy because he was in fear for his life, he told investigators. He was detained and questioned. Rollins had a large blood stain on his shirt.

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He confirmed the heated argument but said that the woman grabbed three knives from the kitchen and lunged at him. He said he pushed her away to avoid being stabbed and then bearhugged her before he was able to wrestle the blade from her hands.

He denied stabbing the woman.

When the case went before a jury, he was found guilty to a lesser charge of attempted manslaughter.

Reward offered for information leading to arrest in first homicide of 2026

The homicides are the second and third so far this year in Leon County. The Tallahassee Police Department launched the citys first homicide investigation of the year on Jan. 4 after an incident in northwest Tallahassee.

TPD found a man deceased inside a residence located at 2933 Mission Road.

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Authorities have not released the victims identity, how the man was killed and provided no immediate details about possible suspects.

But on Jan. 17, Crime Solvers of the Big Bend offered a $5,000 reward for anonymous information leading to an arrest.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity, has information related to this incident, or knows anything that could help move this investigation forward to say something.

Anonymous information can be provided by calling Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS (8477).

If you have any information on either case, email us at news@tallahassee.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon Sherriff's Office says man killed three people
At least 40 people have been killed and more than 100 others were injured from a high-speed train collision in southern Spain, according to emergency officials.

A train traveling from Malaga to Madrid on Sunday derailed near Adamuz, crossing over to the adjacent track where it hit another train coming from Madrid to Huelva, according to Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

He announced on Monday that 40 bodies were recovered and authorities believe that three more remain trapped in the wreckage of the derailment, expecting the death toll to rise to 43.

Str/epa/shutterstock/STR/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: An aerial view of the site where a high-speed train carrying more than 300 passengers derailed and collided with another train traveling in the opposite direction near the town of Adamuz, in the southern Spanish province of Cordoba, Jan. 19, 2026.

Susana Vera/Reuters - PHOTO: Members of the Spanish Civil Guard, along with other emergency personnel, work next to one of the trains involved in the accident, at the site of a deadly derailment of two high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Cordoba, Spain, January 19, 2026.

Eighty-one of the injured have been discharged and 41 remain hospitalized, emergency officials said on Monday. Twelve of the hospitalized victims are in the intensive care unit, officials said.

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Regional President of Andalusia Juan Manuel Moreno said the crews were working through difficult conditions to try to reach the train carriages.

Guardia Civil/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: Destroyed train cars are seen Jan. 19, 2026, at the site of the wreckage where a high-speed train carrying more than 300 passengers derailed and collided with another train near the town of Adamuz, Cordoba, Spain.

Guardia Civil/EPA/Shutterstock - PHOTO: A crushed train car is seen Jan. 19, 2026 at the site of the wreckage where a high-speed train carrying more than 300 passengers derailed and collided with another train near the town of Adamuz, Cordoba, Spain.

About 400 people were on board both trains, officials said.

Oscar Puente, the Spanish transport minister, said in a statement early on Monday that the death toll was "not final."

"I want to express all my gratitude for the huge effort of the rescue teams during the night, under very difficult circumstances, and my condolences to the victims and their families in these terribly painful moments," he said in Spanish on social media.

@eleanorinthesky via X - PHOTO: At least 21 people were killed, and 100 more were injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday, according to officials.

Susana Vera/Reuters - PHOTO: Members of the Spanish Civil Guard, along with other emergency personnel, work next to one of the trainsA involved in the accident, at the site of a deadly derailment of two high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Cordoba, Spain, Jan. 19, 2026.

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The cause of the train derailment has not been released.

Iryo, the company operating the train that initially derailed, released a statement, saying the company "deeply regrets what has happened and has activated all emergency protocols, working closely with the competent authorities to manage the situation."

Ana Beltran/Reuters - PHOTO: Ana, one of the victims of a deadly derailment of two high-speed trains, looks on at while seeking her missing dog, which travelled with her and her sister, now hospitalized, during the accident near Adamuza, in Cordoba, Spain, Jan. 9, 2026.

Puente, the transport minister, said the high-speed Iryo train was "relatively new."

Puente said the derailment of the Iryo train bound for Madrid and its subsequent collision with the second train happened on a straight stretch of track, which had undergone extensive renovation work that was only finished in May.

Susana Vera/Reuters - PHOTO: Members of the Spanish Civil Guard, along with other emergency personnel, work next to one of the trains involved in the accident, at the site of a deadly derailment of two high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Cordoba, Spain, January 19, 2026.

The Spanish minister called the accident "extremely strange."

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"It's very difficult at this moment to explain," Puente added, and said he hoped the investigation would help clear up what has happened.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
Statewide America250Pa organizers joined with local government and community leaders Jan. 17 at the Lebanon County Historical Society as part of a kickoff tour for the United States' semiquincentennial anniversary.

The event at the Cumberland Street building was part of the 13-day America250PA County Kick-Off Tour, with state organizers holding similar events in all 67 counties to mark the nationwide anniversary. The Saturday's event recognized Lebanon Countys unique history and local partnerships, along with the county's ongoing role in the commonwealths celebration.

America250PA Lebanon County Advisor Bonnie Loy said local residents have done a lot to get the word out to residents, but there are still many things left to do.

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"I'm still looking for volunteers," she said to the Lebanon Daily News. "We have grand ideas for July 4, with a lot of them in place at this point. ... We're not only the committee to come up with ideas and plans, we're also the committee that promotes things in Lebanon County on the financial side. There's a lot of things we'd like to do, but financially we can't do them without funds to do them."

State organizers joined local government and community leaders for an America250PA Kickoff Tour event at the Lebanon Co. Historical Society Jan. 17. The event was part of a 13-day tour with state officials traveling to all 67 counties to mark the nationwide anniversary.

Lebanon County stands out as a place shaped by innovation, industry and early American ingenuity, according to America250PA Executive Director Cassandra Coleman. Highlighting the historical contributions of Cornwall Iron Furnace, the Schaefferstown water system established in 1763, and the Union Canal Tunnel, Coleman said Lebanon County has played an important part in shaping the nation's history.

"Together, these landmarks reflect Lebanon County's lasting contributions to infrastructure, industry and to the building of American society," she said. "That legacy continues today through America250PA's work in Lebanon County."

The state officials' kick-off ceremony is part of a number of events volunteers are holding to the commemorate of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the United States. All of their efforts lead up to July 4, where the America250PA Lebanon committee will be working with other municipalities for a countywide fireworks display at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center.

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"It's intended to be a yearlong celebration," state Rep. John Schlegel said. "I think that's a great idea 'cause this is a chance to reflect on what we have and where we've been here in Lebanon County, and the role it has played in our American history."

Over the past year, Lebanon County America250PA organizers have contributed various events and projects including the Lebanon County Liberty Bell, a custom-designed sculpture for the "Bells Across America" initiative, and the America250PA mosaic, an artwork culmination of more than 1,100 tiles created by Lebanon County residents. Organizers also started events like the popular Lebanon County Wooden Nickel History Trail, where people can get collectable wooden nickels at 12 participating historical sites, museums and businesses throughout the county.

Yet Loy said she would still like to get even more events and projects out into the county.

"The only negative that I have is when I hear someone say 'What's the 250th?'" she said. "We're trying so hard to get the word out. It's on Facebook, it's on Instagram, it's on the digital newspapers. ... We want to reach everybody."

Lebanon County America250PA committee member Jan Morrissey shows off a quilt celebrating the nation's semiquincentennial anniversary. More than 572 local residents put stitches into the quilt, according to organizers.

During the Jan. 17 ceremony, officials publicly unveiled the finished quilt designed to celebrate the 250th anniversary. Jan Morrissey, a member of the Lebanon Quilters Guild and head of the project, said the quilt traveled to events like the Lebanon Area Fair, allowing residents between 3 to more than 90 years old help add a stitch to the project.

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"Everyone signed their name into a book if they put stitches in into the quilt," Morrissey said. "We have a book that has 572 signatures. That many hands went into making of the quilt."

The quilt will be auctioned off during the America250PA's events on July 4.

The Francis J. Dixon Foundation also presented members of the Lebanon County's America250PA committee with a $15,000 donation for education programs to teach county school kids about the semiquincentennial anniversary.

While committee members will be out and about at various upcoming events, Loy said the major focus for volunteers is the July 4 celebrations at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center. Organizers already have a car show, speakers, bands, food vendors and demonstrators included in the festivities happening on Independence Day 2026.

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Loy said the committee is still looking for volunteers, along with donors who may be willing to fund an original Conestoga wagon for Lancaster County to feature in the July event. Anyone wishing to contribute can contact members of the committee directly or visit their webpage.

Cassandra Coleman, America250PA Executive director, presented a ceremonial flag to the Lebanon County Commissioners and county adviser Bonnie Loy to celebrate the United States' semiquincentennial anniversary and events coming in 2026.

All of the events and efforts being organized, both on the state and local level, are part of a shared effort to celebrate during a milestone in America's history, according to Coleman. America250PA

"No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, there is a place for you in this milestone to learn, to serve, to reflect and most importantly to celebrate together," she said.

Those looking for more information about statewide efforts made by America250PA can visit the website at lebanonpa250.com or visit their Facebook page.

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Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County PA history recognized in America250PA kickoff event
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Brett Bowers/Getty Images)

Today we celebrate the life, work and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader whose vision of a beloved community calls us to build a society rooted in dignity, strengthened by diversity, guided by equality, and sustained by joy.

In Idaho, this day also marks Idaho Human Rights Day  a distinction that reflects both our aspirations and our complicated history. Across the country, MLK Day is widely observed with marches, speeches and reflections on the American promise of liberty and justice for all. But in Idaho, that recognition did not come easily.

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This struggle to be seen and honored reminds us why Dr. Kings vision of a beloved community matters now more than ever. He challenged us to confront injustice, tell hard truths and dedicate ourselves to collective care.

At a moment when legislation increasingly threatens to roll back hard-won progress, and when efforts to erase difficult chapters of our national story are gaining traction, his vision is more vital than ever. Today is not only a day of remembrance. It is a day of responsibility.

In Idaho and beyond, we are called to reexamine whether our actions truly align with our values. Are we living up to the ideals we claim to hold?

MLK Day became a federal holiday in 1983, but Idaho was slow to adopt it. Some lawmakers objected to a day dedicated to one person, particularly a person of color they characterized as having communist tendencies.

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After years of public advocacy in support of the holiday, a pivotal moment came in 1989 when Boise State University student Eric Love organized a peaceful march to the Idaho Capitol. More than 700 students and community members gathered to demand recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr.s legacy.

Bill Wassmuth was instrumental in combating hate, injustice and racism in Idaho. (Photo courtesy of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights)

Bill Wassmuth, the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights namesake, spoke that day about the deep connection between civil and human rights and joined the crowd in singing We Shall Overcome. It was a powerful expression of what a beloved community looks like in action: people coming together across differences to insist on the dignity of all.

In 1990, a compromise finally led Gov. Cecil Andrus to establish Martin Luther King Jr.  Idaho Human Rights Day, making Idaho the 47th state to recognize the holiday. The dual designation was intentional, affirming that civil rights and human rights are inseparable and that both belong to everyone. Idaho remains unique in this combined observance.

Today, however, we are witnessing a troubling reversal of those historic efforts. Laws dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; policies restricting bodily autonomy and health care; attacks on public education; and attempts to rewrite history all undermine the very freedoms Dr. King and countless others worked to secure.

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Threats and violence toward people based on race, ethnicity or immigration status violate not only our shared humanity, but the fundamental rights promised by our Constitution. These actions stand in direct opposition to the legacies of Dr. King, Bill Wassmuth, Eric Love and so many others who worked to advance civil and human rights.

We often hear appeals to Idaho values and American values, but this moment requires us to be specific: which values, and toward what kind of community? Dr. Kings vision of a beloved community provides a clear answer  one defined by dignity, safety, opportunity and shared responsibility for one another.

These principles reflect the best of who we are as Idahoans and Americans. As we reflect on that vision today, we must ask whether our words and actions are actively shaping a community that embodies these values. Living out this vision requires more than reflection. It demands intentional action in our everyday choices.

One way is to hold fast to your values and align your actions accordingly.

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If you value community, find ways to connect and care for others. If you value dignity, let your words and actions reflect the shared humanity of every person you encounter. If you value inclusion, be intentional about creating spaces of belonging at home, at work and in your neighborhood.

When we pause, reflect and live into our values through our actions, we carry forward the work of those who came before us. Together, we can continue building a beloved community where human and civil rights are honored, protected and shared by all.

Bill Wassmuth, a Catholic priest from the small farming community of Greencreek, Idaho, emerged as a leader to combat hate in the Gem State. Wassmuth first encountered the Aryan Nations in the late 1970s when his parishioners began receiving antisemitic propaganda distributed by Richard Butlers followers. (Photo courtesy of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights)

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So, you got a package in the mail that you weren't expecting. Maybe it's addressed to you. Maybe it's for a previous resident of your home. Or maybe it's addressed to someone else entirely.

Before you open it, you should double-check who the package is intended for.

If it's addressed to you, you can open it and possibly even keep the contents, according to New Hampshire state law. However, it could be the product of a "brushing scam."

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If the package isn't meant for you, you should keep it closed and return it, as federal laws prohibit taking mail intended for someone else, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

Here's what to know if you receive an unexpected package or a parcel delivered to you by mistake.

What to do with a package that was delivered to your house by mistake

If you receive a package addressed to a previous resident or someone else at your mailing address, don't open it. You should leave it in a mail collection box or post office marked with the words "Not at this address," according to the U.S. Postal Service.

If the package is addressed and delivered to the wrong person and location altogether, do not open it and do not write anything on it, USPS said. Just put the item back in the mailbox or give it to a mail delivery person.

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According to federal law (18 U.S. Code Section 1702, Obstruction of correspondence), it is a crime to take, open, secrete, embezzle, or destroy a letter, postal card, or package before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was meant  with the intent to obstruct the correspondence or to "pry into the business or secrets of another." Violators could be fined or imprisoned, the law said.

This is also covered under 18 U.S. Code Section 1708, Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter generally.

If the package is from Amazon or another online retailer, you can contact customer support to determine the best course of action. Sometimes, the company will tell you that you can keep the item and that a replacement will be sent to the intended recipient.

U.S. Postal Service (USPS) packages await delivery at the Lincoln Park Carriers Annex in Chicago on Nov. 29, 2012.

What if the package is addressed to you?

Receiving an unexpected package in the mail that's addressed to you could signal an issue if it's not from a friend or relative, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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You could be the victim of a brushing scam, which involves a seller sending an unsolicited product to a person's address, usually to post fake online reviews in their name to boost the product's ratings and overall sales, the USPIS said.

If you see a return address from a third-party seller (like Amazon or another business), you should notify the retailer and check your account for recent orders, according to the Better Business Bureau.

You can ask the company to remove any fake reviews under your name and report the activity to the BBB's Scam Tracker. You can also file a complaint with the New Hampshire Consumer Protection & Antitrust Bureau.

To protect your personal information after a brushing scam, you should change your passwords and keep an eye on credit card bills, according to the USPIS.

Can you keep a package addressed to you that you did not order?

Federal guidance from the Federal Trade Commission states that if you receive a package addressed to you that you did not order or request, you can consider it a gift and are generally not required to pay for it.

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According to the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Title XXXI, Chapter 339, Section 339:2a, such recipients can keep the goods, and they have no legal obligation to the sender.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: What to do if you receive a package you did not order. What NH law says
The number of airlines restricting power bank usage is growing across the globe in response to incidents caused by malfunctioning electronics.

Lufthansa Group, which includes Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways and Swiss International Air Lines, became the latest to introduce new rules on 15 January.

Flyers are limited to two power banks per person, and usage in-flight, including charging using on-board power sockets, has been banned.

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So what are the rules, and which airlines are clamping down on passengers bringing these small but potentially dangerous devices on board?

Power banks can pose a fire hazard on flights

Power banks, or portable chargers, pose a hidden risk that has prompted some airlines to re-evaluate their policies.

The main issue with power banks is the lithium-ion batteries they contain, which, if damaged or faulty, can pose a fire hazard, says travel consultant Colin Pearson, collaborating with boutique hotel Stanton House Inn. A malfunctioning power bank can overheat, catch fire, or even explode, which is particularly dangerous in the confined space of an aircraft.

Lithium-ion batteries are known to be volatile, and when they are exposed to high pressure or extreme temperatures, such as during a flight, the risks increase.

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As a result, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recommended that power banks be placed in passengers carry-on luggage only and limited to specific watt-hour ratings to mitigate the risk of fire.

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Airlines introduce power bank restrictions

While incidents of power banks catching fire have been rare, theyve been enough to spark widespread concern among airline safety experts.

It's no longer merely a matter of inconvenience. The safety of all passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft is the primary concern, and even a single incident can have far-reaching consequences, says Pearson.

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Airlines such as Qantas, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have banned passengers from using them during flights or charging them using the planes power outlets.

While policies may vary slightly from one airline to another, most have begun enforcing bans on larger capacity power banks, or reducing the number of power banks you are permitted to travel with.

What are the rules for bringing power banks on flights?

The key thing to remember is to always check the specific airline's policy before you fly, advises Pearson, as rules can differ.

In general, travellers can bring power banks on board with a capacity of up to 100 watt-hours without having to notify the airline.

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But portable chargers between 100 and 160 watt-hours usually need special approval.

Those above 160 watt-hours are not allowed on flights.

Importantly, power banks can only be packed in carry-on bags, never in checked luggage. Make sure you also check if your airline allows you to place these devices in overhead lockers or if they will have to remain with you in your seat, as some have much stricter regulations.

With some airlines not permitting the use of a power bank on board, Pearson advises considering alternatives, such as charging the device before travel or seeking out airports that offer charging stations to avoid the risk altogether.

A little extra preparation can go a long way, he says. This ban on power banks is just another step toward ensuring safer, more secure flights for everyone.
When Donald Trump took the oath of office one year ago, I was watching on a laptop screen in the White House briefing room while bracing myself from the absurdly cold air that flooded the small space every time someone opened the door.

As he delivered not one but two separate stemwinding addresses in the Capitol  first the traditional post-inaugural speech in the Capitol rotunda, then a second, far more partisan and unscripted rant to supporters whod been seated in an overflow area  I looked up to see a colleague from another news outlet who, like me, had been on the White House beat since the start of Trumps tumultuous first term nearly a decade earlier.

As the president rambled on about the various grievances and slights hed been made to endure since losing the 2020 election and decamping to Florida for what became just a brief exile from power under the Biden administration, she rolled her eyes and turned to me with a knowing smile.

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Here we go again, she said.

Those of us who covered Trumps first administration thought we knew what to expect. Boy, were we wrong.

The author (at right) in a gaggle with President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One on May 4, 2025 returning to the White House after spending the weekend in Florida (AFP/Getty)

His first four years in power were often a non-stop barrage of news that left journalists exhausted but well-fed on copious amounts of leaked information from various camps within the West Wing looking to knife one another, plus less useful  and often far less truthful  information delivered by a rotating cast of press secretaries and spokespersons.

Sean Spicers now-infamous 2017 debut in the briefing room, during which he castigated the press for reporting on the far smaller crowd that attended Trumps first inaugural compared with either of Barack Obamas swearings-in, set the tone that more or less characterized the next four years. Things got weirder from there, with his appearances in the briefing room becoming so bizarre  remember Holocaust centers?  that he was infamously parodied by Melissa McCarthy on Saturday Night Live.

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Press briefings got fewer and farther between as Trump moved on from the oft-combative Spicer to the more affable but equally unhelpful Sarah Huckabee Sanders (who is now living her best life as governor of Arkansas) to Stephanie Grisham, who did not hold a single press briefing for her entire tenure.

And even though Trumps official schedule didnt kick off until mid-morning then, reporters such as myself got in the habit of arriving at the White House as early at 7am because administration officials, most often Kellyanne Conway, would engage in pugilistic back-and-forths with us after appearing on Fox News.

The president himself discovered the briefing room during the Covid-19 pandemic, often spending as many as 90 minutes a day there as he took questions from a pared-down press corps while Americans sheltered at home.

And while Trump often liked to attack or belittle specific reporters or outlets, his administration more or less let us do our jobs.

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We expected more of the same when Trump was sworn in for a second time, and as I and other colleagues greeted the incoming Trump II press staff  some of whom wed gotten to know during his previous term  on inauguration day, one person remarked to me that the atmosphere had a first day of school vibe that portended a smoother ride than last time around.

Well, guess again.

Karoline Leavitt and The Independents White House reporter Andrew Feinberg (at right) in March. (Getty)

To be sure, there are positive differences between Trump I and Trump II from the perspective of a beat reporter. Whereas the Trump I press staff was more likely to scream at you than answer a question if you walked into their office, their counterparts in his second administration are often so cheerful and friendly that its more than a bit disconcerting.

Unlike the heady days when Spicer, Sanders and Grisham ran an amateurish and uncommunicative press shop, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Communications Director Steven Cheung are generally professional behind the scenes and their subordinates actually respond to queries on a regular basis.

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But on the whole, this administration has not been much like the last.

Unlike the leaky ship that was Trump I, Trumps White House this time around is far more disciplined. From a reporters perspective, thats not exactly a good thing.

But the real difference is how Trumps new-look team has put his combative attitude towards the free and independent press into action.

In February, Leavitts office announced it would take control of the pool rotation under which a group of outlets  including The Independent  cover Trump as he holds court in the Oval Office and while he travels around the country aboard Air Force One.

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While I and my colleagues from reputable and legitimate news outlets still take our turns and dutifully file pool reports that are used by the rest of the press corps to write the first draft of history, weve been joined by more and more people chosen by the White House while some outlets (such as the AP) have been banned for dubious reasons that are currently being evaluated by the courts, such as refusing to acknowledge Trumps proclamation that the Gulf of Mexico should now be referred to as the Gulf of America.

Some of the newcomers are from conservative-leaning outlets who approach their jobs in a responsible, reputable manner. But others, to be frank, are sycophants and clowns who do little to help inform the American people.

Leavitt has often given pride of place to these people by letting them ask the first question at White House briefings (traditionally the role of the AP) in a new media seat located in a section of the briefing room usually reserved for White House staff.

President Donald Trump gestures to a 'Gulf of America' graphic in the Oval Office. The U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency in charge of the country's geographic names, told its staff not to respond to journalists' questions after Trump first announced the change, a new report reveals (AFP/Getty)

In one instance, she hosted notorious plagiarist turned MAGA troll Benny Johnson there and let him kick off a briefing with a fabricated tale of how he and his family had fled Washington after their house was set ablaze in an arson (according to the DC Fire Department, it was his neighbors house that was set on fire).

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Another Leavitt guest, beanie-wearing podcaster Tim Pool, used his time there to complain about how legitimate news outlets had characterized him and other new media seat occupants and asked Leavitt to join him in disparaging the mainstream press. Leavitt diplomatically replied that the administration welcomes diverse viewpoints.

More recently, I (and others) have been placed on White House-authored lists attacking us as biased in retaliation for reporting accurately on the presidents own words and actions.

My counterparts in the Pentagon press corps and elsewhere in Washington have had it worse.

Last year, they surrendered their press credentials en masse after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that they all sign documents pledging not to ask anyone in the federal government or elsewhere for information about anything while only publishing pre-approved information  the definition of propaganda.

Ex-congressman Matt Gaetz, now a journalist at One America News Network, asks a question at a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday December 2 2025 (Department of Defense)

They were replaced in the halls of the Pentagon by a coterie of sycophants and influencers aligned with Hegseth and his vision for his department.

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One attempt at a briefing for the new Pentagon press corps saw seats in the Pentagon briefing room taken by self-described proud Islamophobe Laura Loomer and Matt Gaetz, the disgraced ex-Florida congressman who was briefly Trumps pick for Attorney General before resigning from the House in a fruitless attempt to avoid release of a damning ethics committee report that allegedly found substantial evidence he had sex with a 17-year-old girl and allegedly also was found in possession of illegal drugs. Gaetz has denied both allegations and a Justice Department probe into Gaetzs alleged actions with the girl produced no charges.

And just this past week, FBI agents searched the home of a Washington Post reporter who the government alleged to be communicating with a suspected leaker  even though its not illegal for a journalist to receive leaked documents, even classified ones.

Vice President JD Vance took time from his week to shout at the press about their coverage of last weeks shooting in Minneapolis (Reuters)

Agents seized her phones and laptops, ostensibly as part of a probe into a Defense Department employee whod mishandled classified information, but perhaps as a warning to others who might dare correspond with journalists from inside the government.

And while the president has largely avoided the briefing room during his first year back, he has dispatched Vice President JD Vance there on more than one occasion, most recently last week when he appeared there to berate me and my White House press corps colleagues about coverage of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good.

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One would think the Vice President of the United States has better things to do than scream at a bunch of journalists because he doesnt like the headlines on a story, but here we are.

And Leavitt hasnt been shy about unleashing over-the-top rebukes when cornered with legitimate questions shed not answer. Days ago, she laid into one of my colleagues from The Hill  an affable gentleman who originally hails from Northern Ireland  for having the temerity to offer an opinion contrary to hers after shed asked him to tell her what he thought of last weeks shooting.

She reacted to his honest answer by angrily raising her voice and smearing him as a biased reporter with a left-wing opinion and a left-wing hack who was pretending like youre a journalist.

Its a tactic Trump himself has used on numerous occasions  often with female or non-white journalists  when hit with tough questions on subjects hed prefer to avoid.

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Still, the dirty little secret about Trump  then and now  is that he actually likes reporters. One of the things he missed most about the presidency wasnt the plane or the other similar perquisites of the worlds most powerful job, it was having a pool of reporters he could summon any time he wanted to talk about anything at all.

For all his talk about fake news, hes spent years calling journalists and still takes calls from them on his mobile phone (and if youre reading this, Mr. President, you can always ask Karoline for my number).

Whats different  and chilling  this time around is that Trump has now surrounded himself with people who actually believe the anti-press talk he has spent years spouting in public while remaining friendly in private.

Trump may occasionally call me and my colleagues the enemy of the people, but people like Vice President JD Vance, Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and others actually believe it.
EU countries held crisis talks on Sunday after Trump said that he would charge a 10 percent import tax from February on goods from eight European countries that are resisting American control of Greenland  France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.

The rate would climb to 25 percent on 1 June if no deal was in place for "the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland" by the US, he wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

An emergency meeting of EU ambassadors took place in Brussels on Sunday.

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Macron will ask the European Union to activate its powerful "Anti-Coercion Instrument" if the US imposes tariffs, his team said before the talks.

The bloc's weapon  dubbed its trade "bazooka"  allows the EU to impose tariffs and investment limits on countries exerting economic pressure on member states to force them to change policy. It has never been used before.

France to open Greenland consulate amid Trump takeover threats

'Dangerous downward spiral'

France is one of several countries that has deployed troops to the autonomous Danish territory in response to Washington's ambitions. Paris says the European military exercise is designed to show the world that it will defend Greenland.

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"Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context," President Macron wrote in a post on X, saying that France and its European allies would present a united response.

"No intimidation or threat can influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world... We will ensure that European sovereignty is respected," Macron said.

All eight countries named by Trump issued a joint statement saying they backed Denmark and Greenland, and that their military exercise posed no danger to others.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," it said. "We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty."

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In a similarly worded statement, EU leaders said the bloc "stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland".

Why Greenland's melting ice cap threatens humanity, and could serve Trump

Day of protests

Trump's threats came as thousands of people protested in the capital of Greenland against his drive to acquire the island, rich in rare minerals and a gateway to the Arctic.

Thousands more demonstrated in Copenhagen and other Danish cities.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States needs Greenland for US "national security", while alleging without evidence that China and Russia are trying to control it.

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It was not immediately clear what authority the US president would invoke to impose the threatened tariffs, nor how he would target individual EU countries when the 27 members trade as a bloc.

If carried out, Trump's threats against NATO partners would create unprecedented tension within the military alliance, already under strain.

"In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists," French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews on Sunday.

The tariff announcement even drew criticism from Trump's populist allies in France.

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Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally party, posted that the EU should suspend last year's deal to avert stiffer US tariffs on European goods, describing Trumps threats as "commercial blackmail".

That deal, which the European Parliament had been set to ratify by next month, now faces rejection by lawmakers.

(with newswires)
Nearly a decade after 23-year-old Sandy Le was shot and left in the woods in Cabarrus County, federal agents said they have finally captured her accused killer, a former coworker who spent years on the FBIs Most Wanted list and was arrested almost 2,000 miles away in Mexico.

The suspects, Alex Castillo and Ahmia Feaster, worked with Le in 2016 at the Showmars on Little Rock Road in west Charlotte, detective said. Feaster surrendered after a brief stint on the run.

There is video of Castillo, one of the FBIs most wanted fugitives, crossing the border into Mexico. Federal agents tracked Castillo in Mexico.

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Former WSOC crime reporter Mark Becker investigated the story 10 years ago.

ALSO READ: FBI Most Wanted Fugitive captured following investigation into 2016 murder of Charlotte woman

Frankly, I dont know how much hope there ever was that they would find Alex Castillo, Becker said.

It began as a search for Le, who was missing from southwest Charlotte.

Police said her loved ones didnt know at that time that she had been shot in the head.

Police said Les coworkers, Castillo and Feaster, drove her car to Castillos family home in Arizona.

Les body was later found in the woods in Cabarrus County, and investigators started searching for the suspects.

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Her family, who are Buddhists, had a somber memorial for her.

When I went to the funeral, you could feel their heartbreak and you could feel how compassionate they were, Becker said.

The FBI said 10 years later, someone spotted Castillo in a city north of Mexico City, which led to his arrest.

The FBI said he is coming back.

The reward for his arrest was up to $250,000.

Former Belmont Police Chief and career investigator David James said 10 years of searching can erode any investigation heading to trial.

Witnesses forget things. Officers retire. They change addresses. They change phone numbers, James said.

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He said forensic evidence that can tie a person to a crime is still reliable.

That evidence by statue can never be disposed or anything like that, James said.

The FBI said this is the fifth arrest theyve made off the 10 Most Wanted list under this administration since last year.

The agency said thats more than the previous four years combined.

VIDEO: Judge dismisses Shanquella Robinson familys lawsuit against FBI and State Department
The Brief

San Francisco Police Department officers were sent just before 2:50 p.m. Saturday to the 900 block of Beach Street after receiving reports that "multiple juveniles had battered and robbed a victim."

Officers found the victim at the scene being treated by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries.

No suspects have been arrested, and anyone with information was asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444.

SAN FRANCISCO - A man was robbed and beaten by a group of juvenile suspects at San Franciscos Fishermans Wharf on Saturday afternoon, and police are searching for the culprits.

What we know

San Francisco Police Department officers were sent just before 2:50 p.m. Saturday to the 900 block of Beach Street, near San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, after receiving reports that "multiple juveniles had battered and robbed a victim," the department told KTVU.

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Officers found the victim at the scene being treated by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries.

"A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim observed multiple juveniles on bicycles and attempted to advise them to slow down," the SFPD said." One suspect then battered the victim, which led to a verbal confrontation between the victim and juveniles. The verbal confrontation turned physical as the suspects began to batter the victim who attempted to flee."

Police said the group chased after the man when he fled, and at least one of them stole a bag from him. The SFPD said the man "attempted to retrieve" the bag, and video from the scene appears to show one of the suspects throwing the bag into the street, where the victim follows and collapses.

The SFPD said the group of suspects fled the scene "after being confronted by bystanders."

What you can do

No suspects have been arrested, and anyone with information was asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444.

The Source

San Francisco Police Department
Dion Watts

A Richmond man died earlier this month after an incident involving officers at the Madison County Detention Center sent him to the hospital, and the NAACP is calling for a thorough investigation.

Dion Watts, 42, a father of six, died at University of Kentucky Medical Center Jan. 6, according to his obituary.

The following day, the Richmond-Madison County Branch NAACP issued a statement saying he had died after sustaining serious injuries while in the custody of the Madison County Detention Center.

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A police uniform citation filed in Madison District Court by an officer with the Richmond Police Department says Watts suffered a broken ankle and was taken to the UK hospital after an altercation involving officers at the detention center at 12:19 a.m. Jan. 2.

According to the citation, a Richmond police officer, R. Haddix, was leaving the jail when a deputy jailer said Watts needed to speak to Haddix.

Haddix told Watts they would talk after the officer retrieved some things from the police cruiser.

As Haddix was opening the door to come back into the jail, Haddix wrote in the citation that Watts began to yell and slammed the door shut.

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Because Watts was holding the door shut, Haddix said staff inside the detention center opened a nearby garage door, and as door was opening, the officer saw Watts and Deputy Jailer Mark Murphy in a physical altercation against the wall.

Haddix wrote that Murphy took Watts to the ground.

Once Murphy and Watts were on the ground, I began to assist Murphy in gaining control of Watts who was physically resisting us both, Haddix wrote in the citation.

During the altercation, Haddix wrote, Watts attempted to grab several items off of my duty vest.

Haddix said Watts also pulled his arms away from the officers and tried to tuck them underneath his body.

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During the altercation, I performed several knee strikes to the back of Watts and heel palm strikes to the face in an attempt to gain control, Haddix wrote.

Several other officers soon arrived and assisted in handcuffing and controlling Watts, Haddix wrote.

The citation indicates six body worn cameras were at the scene.

In addition to Watts broken ankle, Haddix sustained a cut to the left ring finger and Murphy sustained a cut to his right hand, the citation states.

Dion Watts was cited and released at the University of Kentucky Hospital due to receiving medical treatment for broken ankle and other medical reasons, the citation states.

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Watts was charged Jan. 2 with resisting arrest and two counts of third-degree assault of a police or probation officer, according to court records.

The NAACP said in its statement Watts had a documented history of mental illness.

The statement said he suffered injuries following a physical incident while at the Detention Center and later succumbed to those injuries. Any death resulting from injuries sustained in custody raises profound concerns about the use of force, the duty of care owed to individuals in detention, and the treatment of those with mental health needs.

The NAACP calls for a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions of officers involved, the use-of-force protocols employed, and the timeliness and adequacy of medical and mental health care provided.

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The NAACP RichmondMadison County Branch stands with the family as they seek answers, accountability, and justice.

None of the documents reviewed by the Herald-Leader indicate Watts cause of death.

WKYT reported Madison County Jailer Larry Brock told the station there was no evidence to suggest that Mr. Watts was beaten or subjected to any form of abuse during the incident.

Before the altercation, Brock said, Watts appeared to be suffering from paranoia and had suggested that he thought officers intended to hurt him. Brock told the television station jail staff tried to de-escalate the situation, but Watts didnt cooperate.

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Brock told the station an internal review of the incident is being conducted.

Richmond Mayor Robert Blythe said in a statement to Fox 56 Friday that Kentucky State Police are investigating the circumstances of Watts death and any action taken by the city will be guided by the findings of the investigation.

Blythe told the television station, our community mourns the loss of a family member and friend.

Court records say Watts was arrested at 11:19 p.m. Dec. 31 and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing after staff at a Redi Mart on Second Street in Richmond called police to report they had closed the store and Watts refused to leave.

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An officer with the Richmond Police Department wrote in a police uniform citation filed in that case that Watts was asked to leave several times, and the officer offered Watts a ride to a friends house or somewhere else, but Watts said he had nowhere to go and stated he preferred to go to jail.

Madison District Court records indicate he was released the following day, Jan. 1. One document lists the release time as 11:40 p.m. Arraignment in that case was scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 20, which would have been Watts 43rd birthday.
Dairy and beef conglomerate Riverview LLP has settled with the state of Arizona after an investigation into the operations large-scale groundwater pumping in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Attorney General Kris Mayes office had been looking into Riverviews practices to determine if they rose to the level of public nuisance after concerns arose around declining groundwater levels in the valley. As reported in, Riverviews water use is near or at the top of the regions agricultural operations.

While Riverview has agreed to pay $11 million to residents via two funds set up to cover the drilling of replacement wells, water-hauling, and groundwater access, along with fallowing or transitioning 2,000 irrigated acres by 2038, the Minnesota-based organization has denied any wrongdoing. The settlement notes that Riverview believes that its actions do not constitute a public nuisance, and that its use of groundwater in the Valley is protected under the doctrine of reasonable use and therefore cannot be deemed a nuisance. However, the business does acknowledge the states concerns around groundwater levels and recognizes the challenges faced by residents whose domestic wells no longer reach the aquifer, per the settlement.

Riverview provided a response and additional context to Hoards Dairyman, noting that the Southwest is suffering from a severe drought that has challenged agricultural operations throughout the region. A spokesperson for Riverview emphasized the voluntary and proactive nature of the agreement with Arizona and pointed out that the measures within it are extensions of the businesss existing conservation efforts and best management practices. The company has issued a statement on the settlement:

Riverview values stewardship of the land and water  a healthy environment is essential to everything we do. Thats why we have invested and innovated over the past decade to ensure our farms in Cochise County are equipped with the best available technology to conserve water, as well as voluntarily reduced water use. Riverview also recognizes the water challenges facing the Sulphur Springs Valley, and we want to be part of the solution. Attorney General Mayes has helped highlight these challenges, and we appreciate her efforts in identifying these tangible steps to help Arizonans in need. By working together with state and local leaders, we can strengthen local water access and build a more sustainable future.

The agreement centers around the two funds which are meant to ensure continued access to potable water for both domestic and school purposes, per the attorney generals announcement, which was published Jan. 8 on the Arizona government website. Within it, Mayes observed that the settlements particulars set a state and national precedent, one where businesses commit to being good neighbors to the communities they operate in and make meaningful efforts to reduce pumping of our most precious resource  groundwater.

In addition to the funds and row-crop acreage reduction, Riverview also has agreed to continue its best management practices for its irrigated agricultural operations, including the use of pivots, drop hoses, and low energy precision application systems, pumps with variable frequency drives, pivot control and automation, according to the attorney generals announcement.

Community members and legislators have also chimed in on the decision. Arizona senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego issued statements, both thanking Mayes for facilitating the agreement and conserving and protecting the states groundwater resources. This outcome proves we can safeguard Arizonas water future while continuing to support a strong economy, Gallego said.

Pearce, Ariz., resident Ed Curry, who is a fourth-generation farmer and president of the Curry Seed and Chile Company, expressed his gratitude to both Hayes and Riverview, stating that the agreement the two parties came to provides opportunities and precedent for communities to come together to pool funds for water and the betterment of the whole group and the whole community. He added, This kind of agreement can bring peace across all of rural Arizona, not just Willcox. This brings some good hope, not only for today, but for many generations to come, to help us keep rural Arizona sustainable.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.
A Georgia state and federal attorney says a Fulton County Superior Court mistake left a man jailed for eight days after he was wrongly accused of failing to appear in court.

Larry Armstrong said the ordeal began Jan. 8, when he came to the Fulton County Superior Court for a scheduled court date.

After leaving the courthouse and heading back home to Memphis on Interstate 20, Armstrong said he was pulled over shortly after crossing from Georgia into Alabama, allegedly for not using his turn signal.

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I wouldnt want to put this on my worst enemy, Armstrong said.

Armstrong told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers that, during the traffic stop, authorities were letting him off with a warning when they were notified he had an outstanding warrant for a failure to appear.

They got a call in from dispatch saying that I had an FTA, which is failure to appear, Armstrong said.

Armstrong was taken to an Alabama jail, where he remained for the next eight days. His attorney filed a motion on Jan. 9 to recall the warrant, stating it was issued in error and that Armstrong had not missed any court dates. The prosecutor agreed, according to the motion.

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Despite that, Armstrongs attorney said the paperwork to clear the warrant was delayed.

It was agreed that the order to set aside the bench warrant and allow Mr. Armstrong to be released would be signed. That was Tuesday. On Wednesday, there was no order. On Thursday, there was no order, attorney Steven Berne said.

Rogers then contacted the judges office Thursday afternoon.

The order was signed and stamped at 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, about an hour and a half after you called the judges office, Berne said about Rogers contact with the judicial assistant.

However, Armstrong remained incarcerated for another day after the order was signed.

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Why did it take an additional 28 hours from the date and time that the judge signed the order, until Mr. Armstrong was released? Im still investigating that, Berne said.

Berne said Armstrongs rights were violated.

In this situation, I was very innocent. Theres no way I should have been in incarcerated for that, Armstrong said.

He was released late Friday night and returned to Memphis early Saturday morning. Berne said he is investigating why the warrant was issued and why it took so long to secure Armstrongs release.

I still am unsure why it was filed in the first place, but that could happen, Berne said. Somebody does know, and they should have said something.

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Armstrong said he wants to raise awareness so others do not experience the same situation.

For the judge, to know that it was a clerical mistake, and to still let me sit in there eight more days. Seven to eight more days is just unheard of. So that was the thing that was kind of terrifying, Armstrong said.

Armstrong owns a restaurant and lounge in Memphis and said he missed out on a week of work and took a financial hit. However, he said he was able to make it home for an important occasion.

My dads birthday, were celebrating right now, so Im glad I did get a chance to make that and see my kids and my family, he said.

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Berne said they are considering taking further action.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Just after 9 p.m., Oklahoma City Police reported a man being stabbed to death in Southeast OKC.

They stated that it happened near 3400 Southeast 44th, just by Interstate-44.

Officials said that the brother of the victim allegedly stabbed him to death.

The young man was taken to the hospital immediately after police got there, but officials confirmed that he died shortly after that.

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There is no word on a suspect just yet.

This is a 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
NEED TO KNOW

Kruz Dean Wanser was arrested on Jan. 15 in connection with the death of Margaret Pennington in Azle, Texas

Wanser booking photo showed him wearing a hoodie with a chilling message on the front

Pennington, 37, was found dead inside a residence in Azle on Jan. 11

A man arrested in connection with the death of a 37-year-old woman was taken into custody wearing a hoodie with a chilling message written on the front.

On Thursday, Jan. 15, wanted fugitive, Kruz Dean Wanser, was arrested by officials following "the suspicious death" of Margaret Pennington inside an Azle, Texas, residence on Jan. 11, per a news release shared by the Azle Police Department.

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Wanser is currently being held on the following charges: Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and parole violation.

The fugitive posed for his booking photo wearing a blue hoodie which had a disturbing message written across it in white letters.

The message read, "I will put you in a trunk and help people look for you," written in capital letters, while the words, "Stop playing with me," were written underneath in italics.

Azle Police Department Kruz Dean Wanser Kruz Dean Wanser

The Azle Police Department confirmed that officers had arrested Wanser in coordination with the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, the Texas Rangers, the United States Marshalls and the Parker County Special Crimes Unit, per the release.

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Police said, "At this time, [Pennington's] cause of death is still pending. This is an open investigation and anyone with any information related to the death of Pennington is encouraged to contact the Azle Police Department at 817-444-3221."

In a previous public information request shared on Facebook, police confirmed that Wanser was "a person of interest in a suspicious death investigation."

Officers haven't confirmed Wanser's relationship to the victim or whether he's being considered a suspect.

Azle Police Department Kruz Dean Wanser Kruz Dean Wanser

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.

An online obituary posted by Forest Meadows Funeral Home in Gainsville, Fla.  where Pennington was born  described her as "deeply loved by her family and friends."

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"Margaret had a creative and sentimental spirit. She found comfort in baking, crocheting, enjoyed music, had a keen interest in genealogy, and loved collecting vintage treasures that carried history and meaning," the post read.

It continued, "She valued time spent with friends and family and was known for her spunky personality, quick wit, and unmistakable sense of humor. Though small in stature, she had a strong presence and a way of leaving an impression on those who knew her."

The Azle Police Department did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.



Read the original article on People
A collision between a motorcycle and sedan at the intersection of State Road 70 and Caruso Road shortly before 3:30 a.m. Monday left the 16-year-old motorcycle passenger dead and sent the 17-year-old driver to a local hospital, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The two teens were traveling east on State Road 70, towards a steady red light at Caruso Road, while the 52-year-old driver of the sedan was westbound on SR 70 and in the process of turning left onto Caruso Road, according to the report from the crash investigator, Florida State Trooper Mario Araujo and homicide investigator Corporal Matthew Sill.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident involving a motorcycle and a sedan that occurred early morning on Jan. 10, 2026, at the intersection of State Road 70 and Caruso Road.

The Harley- Davidson motorcycle entered the intersection and struck the right-front of the Chevrolet sedan at about 3:22 a.m.

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FHP Master Trooper Kenneth Watson told the Herald-Tribune that the traffic homicide unit is still investigating the accident but because of available surveillance video, it appears that the motorcycle driver was at fault.

There was a steady red light and the (turning) vehicle had a steady green light, he added.

Both teens were separated from the motorcycle during the collision.

The passenger was pronounced dead on the scene by Manatee County EMS, while the driver was transported to HCA Florida Blake Medical Center in critical condition.

Both teens were wearing motorcycle helmets and the 52-year-old driver of the sedan was wearing a seatbelt.

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This was the second motorcycle-related fatality on Manatee County roads over the long weekend.

A pedestrian was killed Friday evening, Jan. 16 after being struck by a motorcycle and a second vehicle while crossing Manatee Avenue, Bradenton police said.

Melissa Perez-Carrillo also contributed to this report.

Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee County motorcycle crash kills one teen, leaves second injured
Another round of snow will hit Massachusetts on Sunday and some areas could get up to 6 inches.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for most of the state from 7 a.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Monday. Forecasters expect 2 inches to 6 inches of snow accumulation across the state, with eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island potentially seeing up to 7 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The heaviest snowfall is expected between 5 p.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday.

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A lull in snowfall is possible in the afternoon, especially north of Interstate 90, before steadier and heavier snowfall arrives late afternoon and evening.

Here are five maps to help understand Sundays expected snowfall:

11 a.m.: Snowfall across majority of Massachusetts

Forecasters predict that snow will be falling across most of Massachusetts by 11 a.m. with all counties east of the Berkshires having 100% precipitation potential.

11 a.m.: What type of snow?

There will be snow falling across a majority of the state by 11 a.m., forecasters say. Snow showers are expected for the northwestern corner of the state, Vermont and New Hampshire.

3 p.m.: Lull in snow for part of the state

Forecasters say there will be a lull in the snowstorm for parts of the state. This map shows the precipitation potential for Hampden and Hampshire counties decrease around 3 p.m. The eastern parts of the state continue to see high precipitation potential at this time.

6 p.m.: Snow returns

By 6 p.m., snow will fall across the state for the most significant portion of the storm, which is expected to last overnight.

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Forecasters are warning that snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour at time Sunday night, especially across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Travel conditions will quickly become worse this evening as heavier snow bands develop, forecasters say.

Visibility may be reduced to less than a mile at times during the storm.

Steady snowfall is expected to end before daybreak on Monday, but lingering snow showers could affect the morning commute, especially in eastern Massachusetts.

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Does it feel like every time you blink, another row of homes or a big-box store is going up over a former farm field in Meridian?

Meridian issued building permits for nearly 1,200 new single-family homes, 200 apartments and more than 50 commercial buildings, according to the citys construction reports.

While thats not quite as high as permitting activity in recent years, some major developments are now poised to transform hundreds of acres of land.

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So what should you keep an eye on in 2026?

From hundreds of homes to retail giants and a new school building, here are eight key Meridian developments expected to make headway in the new year.

The Old Town area and City Hall in Downtown Meridian. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com)

1. Town homes, Target and more coming to Ten Mile

Its no secret that the area surrounding Ten Mile Road has exploded in recent years since an Interstate 84 interchange opened there in 2011.

Next up to get in on the boom: a more than 200-acre development that includes plans for two hotels, shops and restaurants, roughly 500,000 square feet of industrial space, and up to 400 town homes at the northwest corner of I-84 and Ten Mile.

Dirt is now moving at the site, said Tommy Ahlquist, the Treasure Valley developer at the head of the project, called The District at Ten Mile.

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Two industrial buildings are under construction on the developments west end, while utility work and roadwork are underway on the piece north of Grand Mogul Drive, Ahlquist told the Idaho Statesman in an interview.

The northern piece is expected to include a 147,000-square-foot Target, according to a letter consultants filed with the city in September and site plans on Ahlquists website. Ahlquist declined to confirm if Target is indeed coming.

A screenshot of Ahlquists website, taken in September 2025.

It would also include a Life Time fitness center, plans filed with the city show. A national chain, Life Time opened its first Treasure Valley gym in Eagle in spring 2025. But Ahlquist said the Ten Mile center would be the first built from the ground up and would be the chains flagship Idaho location.

A Life Time spokesperson, Dan DeBaun, told the Statesman in an email that the company has interest in Meridian but that it is too early to confirm or comment.

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Ahlquist said he also has deals with fast-casual spots like Mo Bettahs, Panera Bread and Taco Bell, with more announcements to come. He said he expects to break ground to go vertical on the northern piece of the development in June.

A second phase of development south of Grand Mogul would be more Village-esque, the developer said, referring to the landmark shopping center, The Village at Meridian.

All the people that arent Ten Mile, that want to be on Ten Mile, are over here with us, he said. Its going to be fun to watch Ten Mile kind of take shape this year.

2. In SoMe, a 2,000-home project moves ahead. Next: Costco

Brighton Corps 2,000-home master-planned development is forging ahead in pieces at the intersection of Lake Hazel and Locust Grove roads in South Meridian, or SoMe, as the developer markets it.

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Most recently, the City Council green-lit the developers plan for a 228-home gated subdivision for people aged 55 and over at the southwest corner of Lake Hazel and Locust Grove.

The master plan for Brightons Pinnacle development encompassing more than 600 acres. (City of Meridian)

Southeast of the intersection, a 150-acre piece called Apex Zenith was previously approved to include 58 acres of residential land with a medium-high density zoning; 100,000 square feet of retail space; 100,000 square feet of medical or office space; and a big-box store later confirmed to be a Costco.

At a Dec. 12 hearing, the City Council approved a preliminary plat allowing Brighton to build on seven more commercial lots by the planned Costco, which would be the citys second and the Treasure Valleys fourth. As of that hearing, a Brighton representative said, road construction was underway for Apex Zenith.

Bill Parsons, a Meridian planning supervisor, told the Statesman by phone that he anticipates Costco will start construction this year.

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That is imminent, he said.

Brighton did not make anyone available to the Statesman for comment. A representative previously told the City Council that the store aimed to open by August 2026.

3. Transformative: New stores, new look at The Village

Expansion is underway at The Village at Meridian to bring six new buildings and over 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space to the west of the existing center.

Were deep into construction, said Hugh Crawford, the vice president of property management for CenterCal, the developer behind The Village.

Crawford said by phone that the first wave of construction would wrap up in spring or summer 2026, with the goal of opening roughly a third of its stores by the end of the year. Stores are split roughly evenly between restaurants and great retail, fashion and apparel, he estimated.

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He declined to name tenants, but permits filed with the city show interest from California-based clothing brand Vuori, jewelry brand Kendra Scott and Los Angeles yoga brand Alo.

Crawford said the expansion will give The Village a totally transformative entryway from Eagle Road, with a new architectural style but an overall cohesive feel.

4. Apartments west of Eagle Road soon available to rent

Permitting for multifamily residential developments in Meridian has slowed down quite a bit recently, according to Parsons and the citys construction reports.

But one multifamily development is now wrapping up construction. Called Delano Apartments, the 84-apartment complex by Corey Bartons Challenger Development sits at 3850 N. Centrepoint Way, west of Eagle Road.

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CeCe Cheney, a communications director for Corey Barton Homes, said in an email that some of the apartments are now available, and that new ones are coming online in early spring.

Half a mile south, at 3100 N. Centrepoint Way, another site was previously approved for more than 200 affordable apartments, but developer Devco pulled the plug in 2025, citing financial and other risks. In December, the city approved Studio PBA, a Denver architects plans for 213 market-rate apartments there.

Also of note, Elk Ventures aims to break ground in 2026 on the 516-unit Outer Banks development at the southwest corner of Franklin and Ten Mile roads, said a representative, Landon Pilegaard. Pilegaard said by email that construction is expected to take 14 to 16 months, with its first apartments hoped to come online in summer 2027. Plans include 26 town homes.

5. Downtown project revived, with new plans coming

Dont forget about Downtown Meridian. Union 93, the stalled development looming near City Hall, was bought by Ahlquist and The Pacific Cos. of Eagle in October.

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The pair promised to reimagine the development, originally envisioned with 350 apartments, according to a news release from Ahlquist after the purchase.

Union 93 sits partially built across from Meridian City Hall. (Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com)

Ahlquist said he expects to submit new plans to the city in the next six months for approval. In the meantime, he said, the developers are cleaning up the site, repairing its fencing and adding signs.

Josh Evarts, a Meridian business owner and development manager for The Pacific Cos., told the Statesman that parking could be a priority in future plans.

6. NW Meridian is next area to watch for new homes

Northwest Meridian may not yet be as crowded as Eagle Road or Ten Mile, but a boom is coming, Meridian officials say.

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Bolstered by the Idaho 16 extension-in-progress, developers have eyed hundreds of acres of nearby farmland, submitting plans that could bring almost 3,500 homes to the area.

Parsons, the Meridian planner, noted that it may be some time before we see development west of the Idaho 16 extension between Chinden and Ustick roads. But Parsons emphasized that its a new area to watch.

A $26 million sewer lift station is in the works to bring needed infrastructure for development to follow. Its expected to wrap up by the end of the year

National luxury-home builder Toll Brothers got the citys OK in July to build nearly 700 homes, including 71 town homes, and 60,000 square feet of commercial space at the corner of Ustick and McDermott roads. Becky McKay, the owner of Engineering Solutions, who headed design of the project, told the Statesman that the developer plans to start on its own sewer extension in February and hopes to start other site improvements six to eight months after.

Vertical construction of homes is further out, McKay anticipates, in spring or summer 2027.

In 2025, Meridian gained 4,500 residents, pushing its population past 147,000, estimates from the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho show. This two-dimensional drawing shows what some single-family homes in the proposed Toll Brothers subdivision in Northwest Meridian could look like. (Filing with the city of Meridian)

7. Transportation: New freeway, highway overpass, more

As development persists, the pressure will be on infrastructure to keep up.

Idaho 16 is on track to open in 2027, according to Jill Youmans, an Idaho Transportation Department spokesperson. Youmans said by email that ITD will wait to open the freeway until the full corridor is complete, which allows crews to work more efficiently and helps keep the overall construction timeline on track.

But construction, including of a new Flying Wye-like interchange at I-84, will be visible throughout 2026, Youmans said. Once complete, the extension is expected to reduce north-south commutes by almost half.

Youmans encourages drivers to keep an eye out for changes on Eagle Road, where new variable speed limits are expected to go live in the next month or so; and Linder Road, where work on a $24 million overpass over I-84 is expected to start this summer. The Ada County Highway District will build the overpass.

8. New career-technical building, new school sites

In the West Ada School District, a new career-technical education, or CTE, building at 335 S. Locust Grove Road is anticipated to come online by the end of the year, according to district spokesperson Michelle Edmonds. The school district acquired the building and an adjacent one-acre lot for $12.8 million, Edmonds said.

The building will be renovated in a first phase over the next year or so to launch a new program in power-sports equipment, as well as expand existing programs in residential construction and welding, according to Will Schumaker, West Adas director of CTE. Later expansion would follow.

In preliminary-application filings with the city, developers have hinted at possible future West Ada schools: one at the northeast corner of Ten Mile and Victory roads, and another west of Locust Grove Road in the Brighton Pinnacle development.

Edmonds did not confirm these plans and said timelines of any potential schools would depend on funding. The school district is always looking ahead on land use for possible new schools, but without funding, the buildings obviously cannot be built, she said.

I can tell you that West Ada has overcrowding in schools in both the north part of our district and the southern portion, she added. The Board of Trustees would ultimately decide what and when to build and their first priority (according to policy) is to ease overcrowding.

Headed down I-84 near Meridian? Pay attention to upcoming lane closures

How much do officials make in Idahos 2nd-largest city? Search our 2025 database

Egregious: Idaho insurer says planned hospitals practices could drive up costs
TISHOMINGO COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV)  A man was sentenced in federal court in Mississippi to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking.

According to court documents, Arturo Bonilla, 48, of Mexico, was arrested after a traffic stop in Tishomingo County in 2021. Authorities found him in possession of methamphetamine.

Two killed in small airplane crash in Mississippi

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began investigating Bonillas role in drug distribution and determined he was responsible for the trafficking of at least six kilograms into Mississippi. HSI also determined that Bonilla was illegally present in the United States.

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Bonilla was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release in the event that he remains in the country. Officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed an immigration detainer on the defendant, which would result in his removal from the United States following the conclusion of his federal sentence.

This case was investigated by HSI, with assistance from the Tishomingo County Sheriffs Office and Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP).

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Four candidates for the GOP nomination for governor loaned themselves a million dollars. From left: Former Gov. Jeff Colyer, businessman Philip Sarnecki, Secretary of State Scott Schwab and former Wichita school board member Joy Eakins. (Staff and submitted photos)

TOPEKA  Four candidates for Kansas governor loaned their campaigns at least $1 million to bolster the bottom line on year-end finance reports and support claims of political momentum eight months from the August primary election.

Former Gov. Jeff Colyer started his campaign with a $50,000 loan in May and followed with three loans in December to push his personal commitment to $1.05 million at the end of the reporting period Dec. 31. He raised an equivalent amount from donors, his report said, and had $1.8 million in cash after expenses.

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Matching that support personally shows Im fully committed to winning this race and delivering results for Kansas again, said Colyer, who was governor from 2018 to 2019 after resignation of Gov. Sam Brownback.

Businessman Philip Sarnecki, with no previous experience in electoral politics, personally loaned his campaign a jaw-dropping $2 million. That left $2.3 million in his account  the largest cash-on-hand total of any 2026 candidate for governor.

Our campaign has raised the most money in Kansas gubernatorial history and we did it in far less time than every other Republican candidate in the field, Sarnecki said. Theres an incredible energy around our campaign. Kansans are tired of losing and theyre tired of career politicians.

Scott Schwab, the Kansas secretary of state, loaned his campaign $1.045 million. Overall, Schwab raised $1.4 million, spent $365,000 and held $1.05 million cash-in-hand.

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The million-dollar club included Joy Eakins, a former Wichita school board member who loaned herself an even $1 million. She raised $1.1 million overall and spent $116,000. Eakins said the United States was on the cusp of a golden age under President Donald Trump, but Kansas could miss out on that good fortune if it failed to elect a conservative governor.

Senate President Ty Masterson, second from right, prepares to walk Jan. 13, 2026, to the Kansas House for the governors State of the State speech. Masterson raised nearly $700,000 for his campaign for the GOP nomination for governor. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Other borrowers

Former Johnson County Commission member Charlotte OHara approved a personal loan of $485,000 to her campaign. At years end, she had $510,000 in her gubernatorial account.

State Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, a former Topeka state senator, loaned herself $81,500 and closed the year with $928,000 in cash. She said she was grateful for confidence Kansans are placing in this campaign  and were just getting started.

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Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover didnt make a loan to his campaign in 2025. He ended the year with $687,o00 in his account, which was less than five of his GOP competitors.

Masterson said nearly all of his donations arrived in the final three months of 2025 after he overhauled his campaign staff by dropping Axiom Strategies and hiring consultants more closely aligned with Trump. He said his nonprofit organization Take Back Kansas, which didnt have to identify donors, entered 2026 with $700,000 in its account.

Were building a movement of everyday Kansans who are fed up with being taxed to death and watching their state fall behind, Masterson said.

In the Democratic Partys race for the gubernatorial nomination, neither Sen. Ethan Corson nor Sen. Cindy Holscher, both of Johnson County, made loans to their campaigns. Holscher raised $397,000 and had $179,000 at end of the year. Corson reported contributions of $902,000 during 2025, but had $526,000 in cash on Dec. 31.

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Thats one of the largest hauls for any non-incumbent Democrat running for governor in Kansas history, Corson said in a fundraising appeal. Thats why I am the only candidate in this race who has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with extremist Republicans and their large fundraising hauls.

Holscher took aim at GOP candidates who made massive loans to their gubernatorial campaigns, declaring: If you can loan yourself a million dollars to run for office, youre not living the same reality as most Kansas families.

Attorney General Kris Kobach appears at an Oct. 1, 2025, news conference. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

Attorney general contest

In the campaign for attorney general, incumbent Republican Kris Kobach of Lecompton began 2025 with $217,000 in his campaign account. He added $337,000, spent $52,000 and reported cash of $502,600 at the close of 2025. He said the previous high in terms of cash-on-hand at this juncture of a Kansas campaign for attorney general was $501,300 by Democratic Attorney General Steve Six in 2009.

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Kobach said he didnt make a personal loan to his campaign in 2025. He formally filed for reelection on Jan. 8.

From day one, my focus has been on protecting Kansas families, upholding the rule of law and fighting for our Kansas values, Kobach said.

Kobachs likely Democratic opponent in the November election, Chris Mann of Lawrence, submitted a report showing he raised $536,000 last year. He spent more than half of the total and retained $257,000 in cash. In 2022, Mann lost the attorney generals race to Kobach by less that 2 percentage points.

Kansas families are anxious, frustrated and fed up. They deserve real change. Instead, they get Kris Kobach, an attorney general more focused on pushing his personal agenda than on helping the people of Kansas, Mann said.

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Three candidates for Kansas secretary of state  Schwab chose to seek the GOP nomination for governor  made loans to their campaigns. Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, loaned himself $134,000 to bring his campaign receipts to $312,000. By the end of 2025, hed spent $102,000 on the race.

This record-setting support is not about numbers on a spreadsheet, Proctor said. It reflects a growing movement of conservatives who want secure elections, accountable government and leaders who put Kansas first.

His primary opponent, Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, said he received $24,000 in contributions, including an $8,000 personal loan.

Democratic candidate Jennifer Day, a former Kansas House member from Overland Park, said she raised $84,000 from more than 700 donors. In addition, she loaned herself $43,000. During the period, she spent $69,000.

Day said the stakes were high in the election because Kansas Republicans were engaged in backroom meetings to eliminate early voting and weaken longstanding mail ballot protections.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara questioned the actions of the ICE agent who shot and killed protester Renee Good earlier this month during an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday. OHara said the agent violated basic steps that officers know about approaching vehicles.

Correspondent Cecilia Vega said the shooting has become a national Rorschach test, where some Americans see a senseless killing and others see an officer defending his life.

OHara said he has watched clips of the incident  and come away asking why the officer was in front of Goods SUV right before the shooting.

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Its not clear to me why he appears to be in the path of the vehicle more than once, OHara said. When you approach someone in a vehicle in a law enforcement encounter, there are very basic steps you take to ensure the officers safety and de-escalate the situation.

Vega then said Vice President JD Vance put the blame for the shooting squarely on Good the day after the attack. She also said Homeland Security officials accused Good and her partner of stalking immigration officers; Vega did not mention DHS shared footage last week of Good blocking traffic for three minutes with her vehicle before agents approached her.

CBS News reported this week the ICE agent  Jonathan Ross  suffered internal bleeding after being struck by Goods vehicle right before he opened fire.

OHara told 60 Minutes he was in favor of targeted, precise pre-planned operations on violent offenders, which he said are a good thing.

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But Im concerned that people in the [Trump] administration dont understand the reality of what is happening on the street, he added.

The 60 Minutes crew also captured a heckler shouting at OHara that he was a pig who was enabling ICE while they he was walking-and-talking to Vega.

People have a right to say disrespectful things however, they cannot physically obstruct law enforcement from performing a function, OHara said. Those things are illegal.

Watch above.

The post Minneapolis Police Chief Questions ICE Agent Who Shot Renee Good  Tells 60 Minutes He Violated Basic Steps of Being An Officer first appeared on Mediaite.
Greece-based hotel chain Mitsis Group has launched a new hospitality brand called Canvas by Mitsis.

The brand comprises six 4-star hotels, namely Alexander the Great in Chalkidiki, Belvedere and Messonghi in Corfu, Cretan Village in Crete, Family Village in Kos, and Petit Palais in Rhodes.

The properties will provide all-inclusive holiday experiences with a focus on guest comfort, accessibility, and streamlined operations.

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Canvas by Mitsis aims to deliver consistent service across its portfolio while maintaining the standards associated with the wider Mitsis Group.

The company stated that this initiative forms part of its broader strategy to diversify its offerings within the Greek tourism sector and support its long-term growth objectives.

Mitsis Group emphasised that guests and partners engaging with the new brand can expect operational consistency and adherence to established group practices.

Mitsis Group managing director Stavros Mitsis said: Canvas by Mitsis represents a strategic milestone in the evolution of our corporate identity, further enhancing the groups portfolio differentiation and addressing the expectations of a new generation of travellers seeking authentic, simple yet meaningful experiences.

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The new brand combines simplicity with the warmth of Greek hospitality, while remaining true to the core values of quality, care, and consistency that have always defined us.

Mitsis Group has operated for five decades in the Greek hospitality market.

The company manages 24 city, beach, and resort hotels as well as 14 spa and thalassotherapy centres located in Athens, Chalkidiki, Piraeus, Corfu, Crete, Santorini, Kamena Vourla, Kos, and Rhodes.

It continues to expand its presence to cater for a wide range of visitor preferences and requirements.

In December 2025, Mitsis Group released its 2024 Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report.

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The report detailed the groups sustainability and CSR programme, named A Story of Change, which covered more than 150 initiatives each year.

Through the programme, the company aims to demonstrate sustainable tourism practices in Greece and encourage responsible long-term development in its operating locations.

"Mitsis Group introduces Canvas by Mitsis brand in Greece" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




Credit: USDA

President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law on Wednesday, Jan. 14, a move that will return whole and 2% milk back to cafeterias in schools that are part of the National School Lunch program. The signing ceremony was attended by legislators and dairy farming families. The occasion was met with celebratory announcements from dairy industry stakeholders, including the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), along with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).

IDFA president and CEO Michael Dykes released a statement, declaring the law a win for our children, parents, and school nutrition leaders, giving schools the flexibility to offer the flavored and unflavored milk options, across all healthy fat levels, that meet students needs and preferences. He also noted that IDFA and our members stand ready to partner with USDA, states, and school nutrition leaders to help schools offer the milk options kids prefer so more students can benefit from the 13 essential nutrients that milk provides.

NMPFs president and CEO Gregg Doud also issued a statement, asserting that Dairy farmers and their cooperatives couldnt be more thrilled that whole and 2% milk is returning to school meals. Doud called dairy a nutrition powerhouse, and said it should be available in schools in the same varieties that it is in homes. We are ready to help schools and USDA in any way we can as this important legislation is implemented, he added.

Both organizations' presidents expressed their gratitude to the president, along with the legislators and industry advocates who helped move the bill along.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.
SPRINGFIELD  A woman and her 8-year-old daughter have been living in a West Springfield hotel for almost a month since an electrical fire destroyed the attic of their Armory Street home, leaving the house uninhabitable for at least a year.

Videos from Brittany Houston, the homeowner, show the attic that collapsed into the second floor of their home at 853 Armory St., dropping debris everywhere.

Pretty much everything except our clothes is a complete wash, said Houston.

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On Dec. 28, Houston, a professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was asleep when her 8-year-old daughter, Brooklyn Houston-Rivers, woke her up to let her know the lights had gone out in the house while the girl was playing Roblox, an online game.

Brooklyn is scared of the dark, so she came to let me know that the light went out, and I went to the basement to (reset) the breaker, said Houston.

After switching the breaker off and on, Houston said she heard scratching coming from the attic, which she likened to the sound of a raccoon or another critter. Then, the walls were hot to the touch, she said.

Houston said her daughters quick thinking helped everyone get out of the house safely. Houston said her daughter and two pets  a dog, Q, named after a character in Star Trek, and a Siamese cat named Turkey  went to their car in the garage and didnt witness the fire damage the house.

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Firefighters got there around 1:50 a.m. and extinguished the attic fire before it spread. Investigators from the Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad determined an electrical malfunction in the attic caused the fire.

The department also helped Houston and her daughter get set up with the American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts to stay at the nearby hotel in West Springfield.

She said her friends, family and community have been helpful since the fire, but Houston is struggling to find new housing that will support her, her daughter and their pets needs, she said.

A close friend of Houstons started a GoFundMe to help the family as they cope with the financial burden of getting back on their feet. The crowdfunding effort has reached more than $13,000  about a third of the total goal.

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I want to be able to provide stability to my daughter, Houston said, and the GoFundMe and her insurance coverage will help.

The weeks since the fire have been challenging on the family, she said, but the new friendships shes built since moving to Springfield three years ago from Florida have been a comfort.

Houstons daughters school sent over a care package, including coloring supplies, which will help her daughter can get her mind off the fire, she said.

We love this house and want to rebuild it better, so that it can be our forever home, she said.

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Happy Monday. Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, is a federal holiday across the United States. Many tribal offices and federal, state, and local government agencies may be closed.

Here are some articles you may have missed this past weekend:

Federal Judge Orders ICE to Halt Use of Pepper Spray, Arrests of Peaceful Protesters in Twin Cities

A federal judge in Minnesota on Friday issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting federal agents in and around the Twin Cities from arresting peaceful protesters or deploying nonlethal munitions and other crowd-control tools against them.

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The 80-page ruling , written by U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez, a Biden appointee based in Minneapolis, comes amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota officials, who have accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of escalating fear and violence on local streets.

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A collage featuring various voting-themed artworks and images, with the text "Warrior Journalism, Every Single Day" prominently displayed.

The ruling is on a lawsuit that was filed prior to the horrific killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent last week Wednesday.

Read the entire article.

NARF Condemns ICE Actions, Says Native Americans Unlawfully Detained

The Native American Rights Fund is condemning what it calls unlawful actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying Native Americans and others are being racially profiled, unlawfully detained and subjected to excessive force.

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In a statement, NARF said it stands with communities whatever their country of birth who are being separated from their families or violently apprehended while trying to protect their communities. The organization accused ICE of carrying out a campaign marked by warrantless arrests, racial profiling and a lack of accountability.

Native Americans  the first peoples of this land  are among those being abducted and detained, the organization said, adding that such actions violate treaties as well as the constitutional and civil rights of Native people.

Read the entire article.

Office on Violence Against Women Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation Set for Jan. 21 - 23 at Mystic Lake

The U.S. Department of Justices Office on Violence Against Women will hold its 20th annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation Jan. 2123, 2026, at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

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The consultation is designed to give elected tribal leaders and their designees an opportunity to provide recommendations on improving the federal governments response to violence against Native women.

This consultation was orininally planned for last October, but was postponed due to the prolonged federal government shutdown.

Read the entire article.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
The mother of a Venezuelan soldier who was killed when U.S. forces swept into Caracas earlier this month to capture the countrys deposed president, Nicolas Maduro, has revealed the chilling final words he spoke to her.

I love you. It has begun, Saul Pereira Martinez, 18, said on the phone call with his mother, Natividad Martinez, 38, at around 2 a.m. on January 3 as fire and billowing smoke from U.S. air strikes lit up the night sky over the capital city.

He repeated that he loved her and instructed her to look after his two brothers, aged two and nine, before hanging up, she told CBS News, and that was the last she heard from him.

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Saul Martinez, a military academy student who had only completed his initial training with the Honor Guard in December, had just finished his shift on guard duty at Fort Tiuna  where Maduro was quartered that night  when Operation Absolute Resolve commenced. Martinez was killed during the mission.

His story exposes the human cost of President Donald Trumps intervention, which he claimed had been achieved without casualties but which, in fact, resulted in the deaths of at least 83 people, including 47 Venezuelan soldiers and 32 Cuban security guards, according to Venezuelas defense ministry.

Natividad Martinez, mother of Venezuelan private Saul Pereira Martinez, one of the soldiers killed during the U.S. military operation to topple Nicolas Maduro, visits his grave at the General Cemetery of the South in Caracas on January 18, 2026 (AFP/Getty)

Visiting her sons grave at the General Cemetery of the South on Sunday in the company of her husband  Sauls stepfather  and the deceaseds grieving girlfriend, Natividad Martinez told CBS: You cant come to my country and kill people like that. Because [they said] it was a clean operation. It wasnt clean. Do you know how many people died?

The stepfather, who declined to be named because he works as a police officer and government security official, said his wife had heard the explosions over Caracas that night and screamed in terror, worrying for her sons safety, all too aware of his likely proximity to Maduro.

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I told her to stay calm, we dont know whats going on, he said.

The president didnt always stay in the same place, the stepfather added, explaining that Maduros whereabouts were a closely guarded secret at all times and that only an insider could have tipped off U.S. intelligence as to his location on that particular night.

[The death of] my son was a collateral effect, he said.

Natividad Martinez said that her son had joined the military along with a childhood friend, who was himself wounded in the leg at La Carlota air base during the Trump administrations operation.

She added that joining the armed forces had instilled Saul with discipline, and instead of partying, going here and there, doing nothing at home, he had changed his trajectory and dedicated himself to studying, even cleaning their house when home on leave.

Natividad Martinez lays flowers in her sons memory (AFP/Getty)

Hours after the attack, she said she arrived at Fort Tiuna with her customary food package for Saul but found no sign of him. Subsequently demanding answers from his battalion when news of fatalities began to come to light, she recalled: They had to tell me.

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Saul Pereira Martinez was posthumously promoted in honor of his service and now lies in a cement tomb, where, CBS reports, his name is spelled out in yellow, blue, and white flower petals.

Those who died are also human beings, Natividad Martinez told the network. They are all Venezuelans. On one side or the other, they are all human beings; they all have people who mourn them.

Expressing pride in her sons memory, she said, He died for his country. Regardless of what they say, to me, my son was a patriot, and thats what matters to me.

Maduro was extracted from the country along with his wife, Cilia Flores, and taken to New York City to answer narco-terrorism charges. He duly pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court and insisted he remained Venezuelas rightful leader.
By Manuel Mucari and Custodio Cossa

MAPUTO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Severe floods from heavy rains have forced thousands to flee homes in Mozambique and left some stranded on roofs as surging waters swamp settlements, aid workers and witnesses said on Monday.

The floods have directly impacted more than 620,000 people, with over 72,000 houses flooded and widespread damage caused to roads, bridges and health centres, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is assisting with relief efforts.

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"Rains are still expected to continue for the coming days, and the water dams are already at full capacity, so the situation could worsen, placing further people at risk," IFRC Program and Operations Manager Rachel Fowler told Reuters from the capital Maputo.

BOATS AND HELICOPTERS USED TO REACH SURVIVORS

Red Cross volunteers have been using small fishing boats to reach survivors but access is becoming increasingly hard, Fowler added. Neighbouring South Africa has deployed an air force helicopter to help.

Hospital worker Celeste Maria told Reuters she and her family fled their home in Chokwe in the southern province of Gaza after authorities sent out flood warnings last week.

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"Our home is now completely submerged ... We left behind neighbours who are now telling us they are sheltering on rooftops as the water continues to rise," the 25-year-old said by phone from a resettlement centre.

Aerial videos showed vast areas of land submerged in water, with only the tops of trees sticking out.

There were no immediate estimates of the number of people killed or injured in the latest flooding.

PRESIDENT CANCELS TRIP, PORT OPERATIONS SLOWED

President Daniel Chapo cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos and said on social media late on Sunday that "the absolute priority at this moment is to save lives".

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The southern African country has been hit by frequent weather-related disasters that scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.

Portuguese news agency Lusa quoted the National Director of Water Resources Management Agostinho Vilanculos comparing water levels last week to those in 2000 that killed some 700 people.

A spokesperson for Maputo Port, a commodities export hub, said operations were slower than usual but did not stop.

Petrochemical company Sasol and logistics firm Grindrod, two major foreign businesses operating there, said their operations have not been affected at this stage.

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Heavy rains have also affected parts of South Africa, including the northeast where the renowned Kruger National Park reopened on Monday after being closed for several days.

(Additional reporting by Nellie Peyton, Wendell Roelf and Alexander Winning; Editing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo and Andrew Heavens)
Early in his first term, Gov. Phil Murphy uttered his now famous statement that hell fix NJ Transit even if it kills him. As his second and final term ends, how did he do?

If it kills me, well rebuild NJ Transit, the term-limited Democratic governor said during a March 2019 budget address. There is no higher priority than fixing NJ Transit.

Experts said the nations third largest transit system is not fixed, but progress has been made.

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Commuters interviewed at New York Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal had a mixed verdict. Other riders, responding to questions on the Delayed on NJ Transit Support Group on Facebook, said problems continue.

Murphy addressed his now infamous comment last week during his last State of the State address. His term ends on Tuesday.

Fixing NJ Transit has yet to kill me. But it is an undertaking that will outlast my time as governor, Murphy said. As our states commuters will be quick to tell you: The agency is not perfect. But it is also light years ahead of where it was.

Three experts, two who regularly ride NJ Transit, said Murphys tenure can be measured in two ways. One is how the commuter experience improved. The other is preventing NJ Transit from going over a fiscal cliff and avoiding the kind of draconian service cuts faced by SEPTA.

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Residents asked to grade Murphys two terms in a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Thursday gave him a C- on transportation and infrastructure  similar to his ranking at his midway point.

NJ Transit officials tracked the changes Murphy has spearheaded since 2018 on a dedicated webpage njtransit.com/progress. Among the highlights: improving service, advancing major capital projects and setting a vision for the future.

The governor has laid the foundation for transformational improvements in reliability, safety, and the customer experience for decades to come, said Anthony Grieco, NJ Transit Senior Vice President, Communications and Customer Experience.

A commute to rely on?

Micah Rasmussen, Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University director, said on-time performance numbers are a good indicator of whether things have changed. It went from 88.2 percent in January 2018 to 89.6 percent today, despite a goal of 94.7 percent.

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I dont think anyone can credibly argue that our states public transit system is fixed, Rasmussen said. Riders are still facing very nearly the same delays they were before Governor Murphy took office.

In December, on-time performance was 89.8% for bus, 87.7% for rail and 93.5% for light rail, according to NJ Transit data.

Ontime performance has improved, but that hasnt yet translated into a commute people can rely on, said Zoe Baldwin, Regional Plan Association State Programs vice president. Modest gains in the metrics dont erase the Summers of Hell in 2018 and 2024 or ease the frustration of everyday delays.

One commuter said delays forced her to change how she commuted.

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Murphy definitely did not fix the trains, said Jessie White, who said she had to stop taking the Montclair train. Now, she drives to another town just to take the bus. I dont know what the answer is, but it is clear that Murphy does not know either.

Canceled trains remain a biggest problem, said Maura Loftus Leahy.

No, Murphy absolutely did not fix anything for NJT. Trains are canceled on a daily basis, she said. If your train doesnt get canceled, it becomes disabled at Newark.

On July 1, 2024, NJ Transit increased fares by 15% and imposed an annual 3% fare hike, resulting in deep, accumulated rider fatigue, said Baldwin, also an NJ Transit rider.

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I do think he put in a lot of effort to hear us and to listen to what we had to say, so I would say its gotten better. Sonia Wasyliscyn of Watchung said. We still experience a lot of delays and cancellations.

NJ Transit bus

Back from the brink

Murphys main achievement was providing the first stable funding in 40 years by creating the Corporate Transit Fee to fund NJ Transits operating budget, experts said.

That fee levies a 2.5% tax on the earnings of 600 companies in New Jersey that make a profit of at least $10 million annually. Proposed by Murphy in the fiscal year 2025 state budget, the fee averted a forecasted $766 million shortfall in NJ Transits operating budget.

Murphy leaves NJ Transit light years ahead with a stable funding source for the agencys operating budget, Rasmussen said.

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In that sense, Governor Murphys legacy makes a lot of sense  a finance guy who recognized NJ Transits fiscal needs and was able to put us on a path to delivering on them, he said.

Murphy made some progress, shifted funds from tax revenue and highway tolls, and steered the agency through its most challenging period since it was created in 1979, said Phil Plotch, Eno Center for Transportation principal researcher and senior fellow and an NJ Transit rider.

Gov. Murphy made sure NJ Transit has enough money to continue paying its bills, keep service running, and prevent its infrastructure from deteriorating, he said. For that, he deserves a passing grade.

NJ Transit officials also credited Murphy for making historic investment and long-overdue modernization at the agency.

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With unprecedented state support, including creation of the Corporate Transit Fee, he secured stable funding that reversed decades of underinvestment, Grieco said. Hes committed more than $3 billion to new buses and trainsputting the agency on track to fully modernize its fleet by 2031.

That also allowed the agency to advance more than $6 billion in capital projects to rebuild critical infrastructure neglected by prior administrations, including the soon-to-be completed Portal North Bridge, he said.

Baldwin credits the Murphy administration for pulling NJ Transit back from the brink of fiscal and other disasters.

In 2018, the agency was a national leader in breakdowns after a decade of austerity, and efforts like completing Positive Train Control, restoring routine maintenance, rebuilding the workforce, and ordering new bus and rail fleets really helped stabilize the agency, Baldwin said.

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That saved the system from collapse, but the work of winning back the publics trust has only just begun, Baldwin said.

An inherited mess

In the most recent Spring 2025 customer survey, the 29,000 NJ Transit riders who responded, gave the agency 6.3 out of 10 for overall satisfaction. In Spring 2018, NJ Transit received a 5.6 for overall satisfaction.

NJ Transit has been a dumpster fire dating back 20 plus years, said Lisa Hackett who rides the Morris & Essex line to New York. A fair amount of the issues are out of any governors control, especially due to Amtrak.

But she cited issues in the agencys control such as changing the mindset of NJ Transit staff to provide better service and treatment, a high number of cancellations, delays and overcrowding on the train.

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When I read about all of the money being poured into transit and yet it never gets any better its really remarkable, Hackett said.

Mary Fagan Ducran credited Murphy for newer, bigger buses.

Gov. Murphy was responsible for purchasing the new fleet of buses, which was a tremendous improvement and led to fewer bus breakdowns, she said.

The new cruiser buses, which have more seats, makes a huge difference when boarding at the Port Authority during rush hour, Ducran said.

The rail system is still an absolute horror show, but I can say that I personally have seen improvement in the frequency and reliability of the bus system in recent years, she said.

During an interview with NJ Advance Media earlier this month, Murphy said NJ Transit was the mess within the mess that we inherited  awful on time, underperformance, customer dissatisfaction, safety concerns, old equipment, stations that were in need of renovation, not enough engineers, the list goes on and on.

Commuters wont see results of some of his work for years. Ordering new equipment in 2025 to replace all the old trains and buses in the fleet will take until 2031 for all to be delivered.

Working with Amtrak to replace old, failure prone Northeast Corridor line infrastructure, is a work in progress.

Under Murphys leadership, NJ Transit launched the agencys first-ever 10-year Strategic Plan, 5-year Capital Plan and The LAND Plan, Grieco said.

The comprehensive LAND plan will leverage more than 8,000 acres of property that could generate $1.9 billion in non-farebox revenue for NJ Transit, $14 billion for the State, and $1.6 billion for municipalities over the next 30 years, he said.

I put our record up against anybody. We solved our fiscal issues within the four walls of New Jersey, unlike the moochers at the MTA in New York City who are solving their fiscal challengeson the back of New Jersey commuters, which still angers me, Murphy said.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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A Wyoming ranch bigger than the state of Rhode Island has a new owner, ending months of speculation over the mystery buyer.

Christopher Robinson, a local elected official, purchased the 916,000-acre Pathfinder Ranches through his family-owned company, The Ensign Group L.C., according to KPCW.

The deal closed January 14 for the sprawling property that was listed last summer for $79.5 million. The final purchase price was not disclosed.

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Stretching across four counties in Wyoming, Pathfinder Ranches encompasses roughly 1 percent of the states total land mass, according to KPCW. At 1,431 square miles, it is nearly the size of Delaware. By comparison, New York City spans about 300 square miles, while Rhode Island covers just over 1,000 sq miles.

The property even eclipses the fictional Dutton Ranch from the wildly popular TV series Yellowstone, which was depicted as between 775,000 and 825,000 acres.

Stretching across four counties in Wyoming, the sprawling ranch is bigger than the state of Rhode Island (Google)

Americas largest private landowner in 2026 is Stan Kroenke, according to Land 100. Kroenke controls an estimated 2,700,000 acres across the country.

CNN founder Ted Turner is also in the top five largest private landowners with two million acres spanning the Southeast, the Great Plains, and the American West.

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Robinson, a Summit County Council member who already controls roughly one million acres of land, acquired Pathfinder just four years after buying the neighboring 86,000-acre Stone Ranch.

The ranch, named for 19th-century explorer John C. Fremont, is made up of four main properties spread across the Rocky Mountain region, and surrounds much of Pathfinder Reservoir, according to the Swan Land Company website. It contains over 20 miles of the Sweetwater River, and includes portions of the Pedro, Ferris, Seminoe, and Green Mountain ranges.

One of the most notable landmarks is Independence Rock, which is located along the historic Oregon, Mormon, Pony Express, and California Trails. Portions of the trails, which were trekked by early pioneers, weave through the ranch.

The family from whom we bought the Stone Ranch used to own the heart of the Pathfinder, and they sold it in, say, 1975. And so were kind of reuniting it, Robinson, CEO of The Ensign Group, told KPCW. Its now one big landscape.

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According to the Summit County website, Robinson is on the Summit County Council, a seat he has held since his election in 2008. In December, Robinson announced that he would not run for reelection.

Christopher Robinson, a local elected official, purchased the 916,000-acre Pathfinder Ranches through his family-owned company (Summit County Utah)

The ranch is made up of four main properties spread across the Rocky Mountain region (Google)

Robinson said the Stone Ranch will serve as a key connector between the eastern and western sections of Pathfinder, allowing Ensign to operate the land as a single, self-sustaining livestock range, according to Cowboy State Daily.

So, were kind of reuniting that, and we intend to, were operators, Robinson told the outlet. Were not generally landlords. Were going to, over time, grow into it, where were mostly running our own livestock on it.

Robinson said the deal reflects both business interests and long-term conservation goals.

We love land and water, Robinson added. We think its a good long-term investment, and we like the opportunities it affords us to be stewards over a piece of Gods creation.
A New Jersey family is seeking to revive the states once-thriving caviar industry through a sustainable sturgeon farm that delivers fresh, preservative-free caviar directly to customers across the country.

King Caviar Farms operates on 8 acres along the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer in Swedesboro, Gloucester County.

Septimiu Pastiu founded the operation nearly a decade ago as a hobby before expanding it last year into a full-scale commercial venture.

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Three generations of the Pastiu family now raise more than 30,000 European-pedigreed sturgeon in nine basins and a large pond.

The farm distinguishes itself through its farm-to-table approach, avoiding imported caviar and preservatives.

The operation imports nutritionally dense sturgeon food from Germany and salt from France to produce its product, according to the company website.

The farm sits near what was once the caviar capital of the world.

In the late 19th century, a Cumberland County hub known as Caviar, New Jersey, produced as much as 90% of the worlds caviar from Atlantic sturgeon harvested in the Delaware River.

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The industry collapsed by the early 1920s after overfishing and Industrial Revolution pollution decimated the Delaware Rivers sturgeon population.

The businesses closed and the town of Caviar was eventually absorbed into Bayside.

To order or find out more about King Caviar, visit the company website or call 856-340-9728.

More New Jersey news

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Hundreds gathered at Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church on MLK Day for a youth rally and march honoring the slain civil right's legend and pledging to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mission alive.

Toben Oputa, a 15-year-old Brentwood High School student, carried a "Melt I.C.E." sign, referring to what some view as human rights violations that culminated with the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protestor by federal immigration officials.

"It's really important to bring awareness to the country about MLK and his dream and not to let it die," said Oputa, one of several youth ambassadors who helped plan the Jan. 19 event.

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Another Brentwood student, Marlee McGruder, 16, said: "I'm just walking for MLK and what's happening today and so we can stand together against some of the things going on in our country that are evil."

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell spoke at the event, noting the large crowd of young adults, teens and kids.

"The young people here today are the caretakers of the dream," he said.

The mayor vowed that the city will continue to invest in young people, "particularly young people of color," through programs in communities, schools as well as safe spaces after school.

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Christian Breaux and other members of the Tennessee State University gospel choir New Direction, belted out a song that inspired Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist pastor Aaron Marble to stand and sing along while clapping. Before the performance, Breaux, 24, said it's important for young adults and teens to understand the importance of the ongoing civil rights movement.

"It's imperative that younger people understand the history and traditions, that it's not just read about in a textbook," she said. "It's real life and it effects them."

Marble, president of the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship, said he was heartened by the event, planned by high school and college students, and feels confident they will carry on King's legacy.

"It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to turn it over to them," he said. "Allowing them to have that buy-in has energy behind it."

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The event  part of a weeklong celebration led by the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship  kicked off in the church sanctuary as student ambassador Austin Brown prayed: "Lord strengthen us to stand against injustices."

Meharry Medical College student Keona Gwinn spoke about several health inequities that disproportionately impact Black residents, including: maternal mortality; food insecurity; asthma; chronic illness and mental health challenges.

Fellow Meharrian Jaylin Dyson, whose studies focus on data science, spoke of other injustices, such as redistricting efforts that would lessen minority representation and police racial profiling.

"I had a dream that turned into a nightmare," he said. "We allowed the world to revert to injustice, watching our house burn down while we were distracted by the latest line dance, indulgencies on social media."

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Dyson said young people started the civil rights movement decades ago and can play a key rule today.

"I want to get into good trouble, necessary trouble," he said. "I want you to ask yourself: 'What can I do in my youth?' "

Sir James Wood, III, a youth ambassador from TSU, issued a call of action to fellow young adults to stay informed and engaged, to vote and show up for their communities.

"Speak up when something is wrong, even when your voice shakes," he said. "Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the movement despite of it."

"The baton is in your hands now. How you run your leg of the race will shape generations yet unborn. run with purpose, run with integrity. but most importantly, run with love."

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As the rally ended, the crowd spilled into the street behind a row of glistening tubas. They marched behind the Rhythmic Ravens Marching Band of Cane Ridge High School on the path to TSU.

As McGruder marched, the teen hoisted a sign that read: "You can kill the dreamer, but you can't kill the dream."

Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com or on X at @BethWarrenCJ.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville youth march on quest to continue MLK Jr.'s mission
State senators, elected or re-elected in November 2022, take the oath of office in 2023 from Mike Heavican, then-chief justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraska teens, under a 2019 state law, must clear a civics requirement to graduate. Immigrants must pass a test on civics and U.S. history to gain U.S. citizenship.

An illustration of civics. (Getty Images)

Now a bipartisan group of Nebraska state senators wants to write into law that new members of the officially nonpartisan Legislature take a 20-question civics test  and publicly post the scores.

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A passing grade would not be required, and individual answers would remain confidential. But the raw scores would be listed on the Legislatures official website and also on the lawmakers official public biography.

Results would not affect the ability of any lawmaker to hold or continue to serve in a public role, according to Legislative Bill 1066, which should not be construed to add to or alter the qualifications for office established in the Constitution of Nebraska.

State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha speaks on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

The introducer of LB 1066, State Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha, said the effort was inspired by conservative and progressive constituents alike who have questioned the level of understanding and appreciation lawmakers have of U.S. government and responsibility to steward institutions that protect them.

With the countrys 250th birthday approaching, Fredrickson thought it was a good time for the civics test law. The measure is co-sponsored by lawmakers from diverse political backgrounds: State Sens. Stan Clouse of Kearney, Tanya Storer of Whitman and Paul Strommen of Sidney are Republicans; State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha is a progressive independent. Fredrickson is a Democrat.

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We have a very serious job, Fredrickson said of all 49 state senators. We create, we amend, and we repeal laws. So ensuring that folks who are in that position are continually educating themselves on our responsibility to uphold the Constitution  felt like an important step to take.

Fredrickson said he has at times heard colleagues say things like, Well the governor is the boss. He recalled a couple of recent situations when the Legislature voted to approve a bill then, following the governors veto, certain senators flipped their votes and buried the proposal.

State Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney reads the voter initiative packet from 2022 that led to voter-approved increases to the states minimum wage. March 31, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

One such occasion came last year when, despite three consecutive bipartisan votes to lift a lifetime ban on public food aid for some Nebraskans with past drug felonies, the Legislature did an about face. The only change was Gov. Jim Pillens veto.

That prompted Fredricksons debate remark: We were elected to lead, not to follow, and certainly not to flinch.

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He reminded colleagues that the Legislature is a separate and coequal branch of government to the executive and judicial arms. Such occasions gave rise to his thought: How do we refresh our memories of the basic principles of how our country works and how our role as legislators should be exercised.

Storer said she was encouraged to back a bill she believes should get universal support.

She said that while lawmakers come to the Legislature with different experiences, political backgrounds and home districts that represent rural, urban and suburban neighborhoods, a common ground should be a foundational grasp and appreciation of civics and the countrys road to democracy.

State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman. April 10, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Its not a partisan issue. Its an American issue, she said. We dont know where were going if we dont know where weve come from, right?

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Admittedly, not everybody loves test-taking, Storer said. She chuckled and said her palms even got a bit sweaty thinking about the process, though not to the point of doubting its value. She said public posting of raw scores might be a deterrent for some, but underscored that a failed grade wont get anyone removed from office.

If anything, it would prompt us all to be more intentional about studying civics and basic principles of government, Storer said.

Fredrickson said he is unaware of any past efforts to require a civics test of Nebraska lawmakers, and believes the law would be a first for a state. A public hearing will be scheduled for LB 1066.

Exam questions could be pulled from the civics portion of the test administered to naturalization candidates by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or an equivalent designed by the Nebraska Secretary of State or Nebraska Department of Education.

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The Clerk of the Legislature would provide the test, within 90 days of a state senator taking office, that would include 20 randomly selected questions about U.S. history and civics. A lawmaker who doesnt reach a passing score would be invited, not required, to attend a voluntary civic literacy seminar conducted by the Nebraska State Historical Society or Legislative Research Office.

State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha listens to State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

For Nebraska students, answering questions from the civics portion of the federal citizenship and naturalization test is one of three options Nebraska school boards have to fulfill the state legal requirement aimed at ensuring students are prepared to be competent and responsible citizens who engage in public debate knowledgeably and in a civil manner. Other suggested options for students include a project on an important American figure or attendance at a public meeting.

Hows your grasp of civics?

Test your own civics knowledge with some questions from the U.S. citizenship and naturalization test. During that exam, a federal officer asks an applicant up to 10 questions from a list of 100. Six correct answers are needed to pass.

What does the Constitution do? What is the economic system in the U.S.? To whom does the Constitution grant the power to declare war? What amendment allowed 18-year-olds the right to vote? What did Susan B. Anthony do? What did the Declaration of Independence do? What happened at the Constitutional Convention? What is the supreme law of the land? Who was president during World War I? We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?

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Answers: Defines our system of government; capitalism; U.S. Congress; 26th Amendment; fought for womens rights; said the U.S. is free; the Constitution was written; the Constitution; Woodrow Wilson; six.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would respond vigorously to any attack by Iran in an address to parliament on Monday.

"If Iran makes a mistake and attacks us, we will act with strength that Iran hasn't yet known," Netanyahu told the Knesset.

"We are following events in Iran with great attention," the prime minister said. "We are all deeply impressed by the heroic struggle of the citizens of Iran for freedom, prosperity and justice," he added.

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Referring to the large number of protesters killed in Iran, Netanyahu said the brutality meted out by the leaders in Tehran to the citizens of their own country "revealed the essence of this cruel regime."

"No one can predict what will happen in Iran, but whatever happens - Iran will not return to what it was," he said.

Fears of a military escalation in the region have risen following threats made by US President Donald Trump and personal attacks by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Trump has backed a change of government, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that any act of aggression against Khamenei would be tantamount to war on the Iranian nation.

Israel and Iran waged a 12-day war in June last year.




California saw a 9% drop in unsheltered homelessness last year, a shift Gov. Gavin Newsom has touted as a sign of his successful leadership. But the number of people living on the streets or in vehicles remains significantly higher than when Newsom took office in 2019.

Addressing state lawmakers at the Capitol in his State of the State speech earlier this month, Newsom announced the decline - the first major drop in nearly two decades. It's a sign, he argued, that his approach to getting people off the streets is working. He touted the results again Friday at a news conference in San Francisco.

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"We're seeing these investments paying off," Newsom said. "We are seeing real progress."

Newsom's focus on showing results illustrates the pressure he's under to prove his policies have helped address homelessness in the state, something voters will likely judge him on if he runs for president in 2028. Newsom has not officially declared his candidacy, but has conceded he's considering it and has been working for years to build national political support.

The data Newsom cited, which covers most of California's homeless population and many of its most-populous counties, shows that volunteers counted nearly 93,000 unsheltered homeless people in those jurisdictions in 2024. In 2025, that count dropped to about 84,000. But that's still 14% higher than the 74,000 people tallied in 2019.

The numbers come from federally mandated point-in-time counts of people experiencing homelessness, which California counties and cities conduct each year. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development only requires jurisdictions tally unsheltered homeless people every two years, meaning the 2024 numbers from some counties, including Santa Clara County, are actually from 2023. Other counties, including Los Angeles County, voluntarily conduct the count every year.

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San Francisco, Alameda County and some other jurisdictions were not included in the 2025 jurisdiction-level data because they conduct their counts on even-numbered years. For the purposes of statewide calculations, it was assumed that their 2025 numbers were the same as 2024, a method also used by Newsom's office and the U.S. Department by Housing and Urban Development.

Those assumptions yielded a count of 116,000 unsheltered homeless Californians in 2025, down about 7% from 124,000 in 2024 but still up 7% from 2019.

California's homeless population grew dramatically in the second half of the 2010s. The last time the state marked an annual decline in homelessness was 2014, when it saw a 2% dip. The last major decline seen in the state was in 2009, when the count of unsheltered homeless people dropped by 18%.

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Shannon McConville, who studies homelessness at the Public Policy Institute of California, said she agrees with Newsom that the data suggests homelessness has recently declined. Over the past five years, she added, the state has become much more involved in addressing homelessness, rather than leaving counties and cities to solve the issue.

Under Newsom's leadership, the state has appropriated more than $5 billion in homeless aid grants to cities and counties and another $1 billion through an initiative to clean up homeless encampments and prod people into shelter.

More than 340,000 people accessed services through those programs and nearly 95,000 were placed in permanent supportive housing from the start of 2023 through the middle of last year, according to state data.

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Despite recent improvements, California likely still has one of the highest homelessness rates in the U.S. In 2024, the state counted 474 homeless people - whether sheltered or unsheltered - for every 100,000 residents, more than twice the national figure of 227 for that year. National-level tallies for 2025 won't be available until later this year.

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The drop in unsheltered homelessness in California also follows a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that removed what Newsom previously said was a barrier to getting people off the streets. The justices granted cities broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property in their ruling on Grants Pass v. Johnson, a decision Newsom advocated for in an amicus brief. Previously, lower courts had blocked cities, including San Francisco, from forcing homeless people to leave encampments unless there was housing available for them.

The Grants Pass decision, McConville said, could have reduced California's tally of homeless people in two ways: by allowing officials to compel some people into services, and by encouraging others to hide.

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"That probably has gone both ways," she said. "(It's) moved people into programs and shelter, but also maybe isolated more, and kept them away from those things."

Newsom has become increasingly focused on homeless encampments - the most visible manifestation of the economic and public health problems that have caused California's large homeless population. In the latest round of state homeless aid grants, counties and cities are required to show they have plans to clear encampments. Newsom highlighted that new requirement on Friday, and also emphasized the importance of dealing with unsheltered homelessness, even suggesting that an increase in sheltered homelessness should be seen as a good thing.

"We can talk about people are sheltered, people that are housed," he said. "That's actually something to promote, but unsheltered homelessness is something to address."

The focus on unsheltered homelessness represents something of a departure for Newsom, who in his first years as governor often repeated the refrain "shelter solves sleep, housing solves homelessness." That phrase was absent from his remarks Friday and in his State of the State address.

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The point-in-time count data indicates that roughly 36% of homeless people in California were sheltered in 2025, up from 28% in 2019 but down from 41% in the late 2000s. Those rates are likely lower in reality, as unsheltered homelessness is harder to quantify than sheltered homelessness.

The state has spent more than $3.6 billion through Project Homekey, a homeless housing program Newsom launched. That program created about 16,000 new housing units for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, according to the governor's office.

It's difficult to say exactly how much the state has spent on homeless aid because there are so many programs distributed by different agencies without standardized data on outcomes. The Legislative Analyst's Office has estimated that the state has spent more than $20 billion on financing housing and reducing homelessness since Newsom took office, a number that encompasses spending on a wide range of housing and homelessness programs. A more recent estimate by the state auditor pegged that number closer to $24 billion.

Auditors in a 2024 report said the state has done a poor job tracking whether the money is being used effectively. In that report, auditors found that Homekey and the Housing Support Program for low-income people were likely effective, but had trouble assessing the efficacy of several other programs because of a lack of data. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness, which is charged with coordinating the state's homelessness response, agreed to maintain better data in response to the audit. The governor's office has also promoted websites where such data is tracked in an effort to show progress.

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Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora, R-Modesto, said after Newsom's State of the State Address that he thinks that the state has not made adequate progress for the amount of money spent on the issue. He also noted that California has previously had the highest rate of unsheltered homelessness in the country.

"If there was a 9% drop, it still doesn't mean we're out of the woods," Flora said. "We need to make sure that those monies are going to the homeless population, folks that actually need it."

This article originally published at Newsom says California homelessness is declining. Here's what the data shows.
The Brief

Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old from Nicaragua taken into custody by federal agents in Minneapolis, died in ICE custody in El Paso, Texas.

Diaz was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at 4:09 p.m. on Jan. 14.

His death is presumed a suicide, but the official cause is under investigation. His death has prompted reaction from U.S. Senator Tina Smith, and Jason Chavez of the Minneapolis City Council.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - A man from Nicaragua arrested by federal agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 6 died while in ICE custody in El Paso, Texas on Jan. 14.

Victor Manuel Diaz dies in ICE custody

The backstory

ICE says contract security staff found Victor Manuel Diaz unconscious in his room at Camp East Montana. Medical staff on site were immediately notified and began life-saving measures. El Paso EMS was called at 3:35 p.m. and arrived 10 minutes later to continue efforts. Diaz was pronounced dead at 4:09 p.m. on Jan. 14.

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Diaz had been in ICE custody since Jan. 6 after being arrested in Minneapolis for an immigration violation. He had entered the United States illegally on March 26, 2024, and was ordered removed in absentia by an immigration judge in August if 2025.

Cause of death under investigation

What we know

ICE says Diaz's death is presumed to be a suicide, though the official cause is still being investigated.

ICE has protocols in place to report in-custody deaths, which include notifying Congress, stakeholders and the media. Reports are also made available on ICE's public website within 90 days. Federal officials released the following statement:

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"ICE emphasizes that all detainees receive comprehensive medical care, including screenings and access to emergency services. They assert that no detained individual is denied emergency care during their stay."

Tina Smith, Jason Chavez react

What they're saying

U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Jason Chavez of the Minneapolis City Council issued statements on the man's death via social media.

Hearing reports that a man taken by ICE in Minneapolis died in federal custody.



This is another senseless tragedy, ICE has an obligation to keep detainees safe.  Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) January 18, 2026

"Hearing reports that a man taken by ICE in Minneapolis died in federal custody. This is another senseless tragedy, ICE has an obligation to keep detainees safe," Smith said on X. "We need a complete and impartial investigation of what is happening in these detention centers."

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"Rest in peace Victor Manuel Diaz. He was a Latino immigrant kidnapped by ICE in Minneapolis. He died in ICE custody at Camp East Montana, Texas while facing deportation. We have unjust immigration system that continues to take the lives of our neighbors while tearing families apart. Camp East Montana, is a $1.24 billion privately operated immigration detention facility funded by taxpayers. There are reports of a lack of access to medication and more. This facility needs to shut down," Chavez posted to Facebook.

Gov. Tim Walz is calling for an investigation into the man's death.

This is deeply disturbing, especially after reports of growing concerns about the conditions at this facility. An investigation must take place.https://t.co/cJexI9Qv7m  Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 19, 2026

"This is deeply disturbing, especially after reports of growing concerns about the conditions at this facility. An investigation must take place," Walz posted on X.

The Source

This story uses information from a press release by ICE, as well as comments from U.S. Senator Tina Smiith, Minneapolis City Coucil Member Jason Chavez and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A Nicaraguan immigrant detained earlier this month in the Trump administration's crackdown targeting Minneapolis has died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody of an apparent suicide, officials said.

Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, died Wednesday at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, Ice said Sunday in a statement.

He is at least the sixth person whose death in ICE custody has been public reported by the agency so far this year.

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According to ICE, security staff at the immigration facility found Diaz unconscious and unresponsive in his room. On-site medical staff conducted life-saving measures, with El Paso EMS notified at 3:35 p.m.

Diaz was pronounced dead at 4:09 p.m. MST.

"He died of a presumed suicide; however, the official cause of his death remains under investigation," ICE said.

Diaz was detained by ICE agents on Jan. 6 in Minneapolis where thousands of federal immigration law enforcement officers have been deployed for Operation Metro Surge.

The deployment of agents have raised tensions in the city, especially following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE agent as she was attempting to leave a scene in her vehicle.

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Protests have erupted against the ICE operation and local officials have called on the federal agents to leave, while urging residents to maintain calm, explaining that the Trump administration is trying to stoke violence.

President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. soldiers to the city to quell protests. About 1,500 active-duty service members are reportedly on standby.

According to ICE, Diaz illegally entered the United States on March 26, 2024, and was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico border.

An immigration judge ordered Diaz removed in absentia in late August.

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Two days before he died, ICE processed him as a final order of removal and detained him pending removal from the United States.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is demanding "a complete and transparent investigation" into what happened at Camp East Montana.

"We deserve answers," the Democrat said.

Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., called Diaz's death "another senseless tragedy."

"ICE has an obligation to keep detainees safe," she said in a post on X.

"We need a complete and impartial investigation of what is happening in these detention centers."
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in New Mexico will not host live racing in 2026, according to a statement posted on the track's website Jan. 19, due to ongoing concerns about flood risk.



The track has been at severe risk of flooding since large wildfires burned nearly 25,000 acres of the surrounding region in June 2024. The burn scars left by those fires led to massive flooding of the backstretch and racing surface in July 2024 and again in July 2025, events that were "catastrophic for the customers, patrons, employees, horsemen, and horses at Ruidoso Downs."



Those flood events led to the All-American Futurity (G1) being held at the Downs at Albuquerque in 2024 and 2025; it appears the premier Quarter Horse race may again be held in Albuquerque in 2026.

According to the release, Ruidoso owner Johnny Trotter, general manager Rick Baugh, and Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford traveled to the State Capitol on Jan. 15 to meet with state officials to discuss additional flood mitigation efforts. It was during those meetings that an Aug. 5, 2025 report from engineering firm JE Fuller was shared, showing that Ruidoso "faces serious and ongoing flooding risks that cannot be adequately addressed with the mitigation measures proposed."



Those proposed measures included both upstream detention basins and additional culverts and upsized channels throughout the racetrack property, but the JE Fuller report states that "even moderate rainfall eventsaround two inches or more per hourcan overwhelm existing and planned drainage improvements intended to mitigate flooding risks at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack. A rainfall event of two inches per hour over the fire-scarred areas creates a high risk of dangerous flooding at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack that could be life-threatening."



The Ruidoso release continues: "Based on the JE Fuller findings, and our follow-up discussions with governmental agencies, the engineers specializing in hydrology and flooding concluded that the Racetrack is not sustainable as a public venue. We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of everyone who attends Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, and our equine athletes. Continuing operations at the current site of Ruidoso Downs Racetrack is not feasible.

"This decision is not taken lightly. It is, without question, the most challenging and emotional choice we have ever made as an organization. The racing schedule will be run at the Downs at Albuquerque and the 2026 NM Bred Sale, and the Super Select sale will be held at the Ruidoso Downs Sales pavilion in their normal time frames. We will continue to communicate openly as we assess our next steps."



The full JE Fuller report is available here.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One month after the congressionally mandated deadline to release all its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Justice Department has made only a fraction of the files public  and it remains silent on its plans to fully comply with the law.

Also keeping quiet about the DOJ delays are congressional Republicans, almost all of whom voted in November to release the records after spending months heeding President Donald Trump's opposition to the move.

Some of them are openly admitting it's no longer a priority.

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I dont give a rip about Epstein, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said last week when she was asked to take stock of the month since the Dec. 19 deadline.

Like, theres so many other things we need to be working on, she added. Ive done what I had to do for Epstein. Talk to somebody else about that. Its no longer in my hands.

Boebert was one of four House Republicans, alongside Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who joined with Democrats to force a House floor vote on the Epstein legislation when leadership resisted moving it.

The White House lobbied these lawmakers heavily to take their names off the discharge petition to compel the bills consideration, with administration officials at one point summoning Boebert to the Situation Room for a final plea.

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Now Washingtons attention has since shifted to other political firestorms, from Trump's military action in Venezuela to the shooting of a U.S. citizen by an ICE agent in Minnesota, and congressional Republicans are eager to move on  underscoring the extent to which the GOP remains wary of crossing swords with the president.

The public falling out between Greene and Trump was largely over Greenes support for releasing the Epstein files  Trump called her a traitor  and ultimately culminated in Greenes resignation from the House earlier this month. Trump vetoed a bill that would have supported a water infrastructure project in Boeberts district , and administration officials privately warned Mace that her defiance would likely to cost her the president's endorsement in the South Carolina governors race.

Mace has vowed on social media to  keep fighting  for justice for Epstein's victims but has not otherwise continued the drumbeat against the Justice Department.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who has worked with Democrats on a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee investigation into the Epstein case, said in a recent interview she's now more more focused on holding Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congressfor not honoring the panels subpoena to testify about Epstein.

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Many of the photos released by the DOJ so far feature the former president consorting with Epstein, and the administration has sought to portray Bill Clinton as the real pariah, not Trump. Both men have denied wrongdoing, and neither has been implicated in Epsteins crimes.

Pressed on the delays in releasing more records, Luna said the initial deadline was not realistic and that I'm not going to rush the process on that  we're going to get them.

House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) is also defending the administration.

From my standpoint, the Department of Justice is cooperating, he told reporters after Bill Clinton defied his subpoena to testify last week. They are turning over documents. We would all like for them to turn documents over quicker, but at the end of the day, they are complying.

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Not only has the administration failed to fully release Epstein records in its possession  as mandated in the bill passed overwhelmingly in the House and unanimously in the Senate in November  it has also failed to give its rationales for redactions in the files, as mandated by the statute.

On Christmas Eve, the Justice Department said the U.S. attorneys office in the Southern District of New York and the FBI have identified potentially more than a million documents related to Epstein that have yet to be made public, offering no updated timing beyond  a few more weeks  to complete an internal audit. In a recent court filing, the department said more than 500 people were involved in its review.

That leaves Massie, who has already burned his bridges with the president for championing the Epstein release effort among other perceived slights, as the lone House Republican now publicly agitating for DOJ compliance.

They're in clear violation of the law, and I don't think they've allocated the necessary resources to release these files, Massie said in an interview. But I'm most concerned about the over-redaction of the files.  There's a list of things they can redact and a list of things they can't redact in our bill, and they're violating that.

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In an effort to establish some oversight of the Justice Departments actions, Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who together championed the bill to release the Epstein files, have asked a judge in New York to appoint an independent third party to oversee the documents release. The judge has since asked the Trump administration to respond to their motion.

Asked about the waning GOP appetite for accountability around the Epstein files release, Khanna signaled he wasn't concerning himself with that, saying in an interview it was now irrelevant what his Republican colleagues are or are not doing.

The law has passed, he said. Now it's for the courts. Now it's a legal matter.

A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

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The conversation is due to pick back up on Capitol Hill in early February: Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 11, after a previous appearance was cancelled due to the prolonged government shutdown. She'll surely face questions about the delays from Democrats, as well as from Massie, who sits on the panel.

I'll probably focus my five minutes on the Epstein files and her noncompliance with the law, Massie said.
By Francesco Guarascio

HANOI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Delegates at Vietnam's Communist Party congress that started on Monday were given Samsung tablet computers without an internet connection, had no access to the mobile phone network and will have to stay in designated accommodation, two people briefed on the matter said.

The moves are part of tighter security for the week-long, once in five years event at which the 1,600 delegates will select the country's top leader for the remainder of the decade, with incumbent party chief To Lam seeking reconfirmation and more powers.

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The foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In strict arrangements even by Vietnamese standards, where the one-party state monopolises information, mobile connections were jammed at the Hanoi congress venue and in surrounding areas, according to a Reuters reporter at the conference centre.

Delegates, who will vote on an unspecified day this week to elect the party's 200-strong central committee and will approve the congress resolution, were given tablets with only intranet functions to work on internal documents during the event, the two people said, declining to be named because information about the congress is deemed sensitive.

The delegates met on Monday for a preparatory session in a red-carpeted conference hall at the congress venue, with leaders on the stage under a towering statue of the party's founder Ho Chi Minh and the images of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.

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Delegates will also be prevented from carrying their mobile phones at the congress from Tuesday, a third person said, although the jamming of the mobile network will anyway make them useless for communication.

Representing roughly 5.6 million party members in the country of 100 million, delegates were also told to stay in designated accommodation during the week of the congress, including those from Hanoi, according to two sources.

Guidelines issued to reporters covering the congress prohibit them from carrying mobiles phones. They can use their own computers but can only connect to the event's network.

Journalists "shall not cause any negative impact on the image or reputation of Viet Nam, its senior leadership, or its delegates in any form," according to guidelines sent to foreign media by Vietnam's foreign ministry.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
2025 was one of the hottest years on record in the U.S., according a weather analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released this week, that noted temperature swings contributed to extreme weather, including Michigan's March ice storm.

On Jan. 13, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information delivered 2025's weather report card: No hurricanes made landfall for the first time since 2015; California saw the record-breaking wildfire destruction; an EF-5 tornado developed in North Dakota, its first since 2013; Texas experienced a deadly flood that killed 135 people; and the nation saw above-average warmth, with Utah and Nevada setting new annual temperature records.

"Annual temperatures across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) averaged 54.6 degrees Fahrenheit in 2025, which was 2.6 degrees above the 20th-century average, and ranked as the fourth-warmest year in the 131-year record," the NOAA report said. "Temperatures were above average nationwide, with the most pronounced warmth across the western third of the country."

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Utah and Nevada posted their warmest years on record in 2025, with annual average temperatures 4.3 degrees and 3.7 degrees above their 20th-century averages, respectively.

Utah broke a record set in 1934, NOAA said. In Nevada, December 2025 was the warmest on record in Las Vegas and Reno.

The average precipitation in 2025 for the U.S. was 29.19 inches, which was 0.73 of a inch below average.

The higher than normal temperatures extend an unprecedented run of global heat, said Berkeley Earth, a California-based independent nonprofit dedicated to advancing open, transparent climate science. Even though it's only January, Berkeley Earth's scientists expect a similarly warm year for 2026, although it's not likely to exceed the warmth of the last three years.

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In Michigan, residents saw above-normal temperatures overall, particularly in Macomb County, located in southeast Michigan, which recorded temperatures "much above average," according to the NOAA's average temperature map.

More: What homeowners must know to protect homes from winter weather damage

More: How cold will it get in Michigan? Frigid weekend air, persistent snow

Michigan also saw a dry year, with drought conditions in the Lower Peninsula. A late-winter ice storm at the end of March required national aid.

Here's more 2025 notable weather for the U.S. and Michigan.

How warm was it in 2025? Where does Michigan rank?

Based on average annual temperatures across NOAA climate regions, the Southwest saw its warmest year on record; the West and Northwest both ranked third warmest, and the South tied for its fourth-warmest year.

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In total, a dozen states experienced one of their four warmest years. At the county level, 62 counties across 10 states  more than eight million people  recorded their warmest year on record, NOAA said.

From January to December 2025, Michigan's summer brought the heat, with highs in the mid- to upper 90s. Overall, southeast Michigan saw the steamiest weather.

The 2025-26 snowfall season to date (Oct. 1Dec. 31, 2025) saw above-average snowfall across much of the Midwest and Great Lakes region, with lake-effect areas receiving more than a foot above average for this period.

According to NOAA, Michigan's average temperature for 2025 was above average. The year ranked 112th of 131 years, with the coldest year ranking as 1st.

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Similarly, Michigan's maximum temperature rank was above average at 109th of 131 years ranked with the coldest year ranked No. 1. Michigan's minimum temperature ranked 110th of 131, with the coldest minimum ranked No. 1.

For precipitation, Michigan was near normal, ranking 70th with the driest year ranking No. 1.

A look at where it was the warmest per county across the U.S. in 2025. The red shading indicates record-breaking warmth (mainly in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado). Michigan also saw an above-average year for warmth.

When was northern Michigan's ice storm 2025?

On March 28-30, a severe winter storm brought 15-20 inches of snow to the U.P. and up to an inch of ice in northern Michigan that prompted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency for Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac and Alpena counties.

The storm caused, "widespread power outages, including loss of backup generators; loss of phone and cellular services; and impassable roads due to downed trees and other debris," according to Michigan State Police.

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Closure, cleanups, tax relief and extensions were provided to those impacted, and in July 2025 President Donald Trump approved Gov. Whitmer's request for a disaster declaration to aid communities.

A look at extreme weather events in the U.S.

More notable weather events that occurred in 2025 across the US

Here are other weather events NOAA listed in its report:

1,559 tornadoes were reported in 2025  the fifth-highest number on record, including a record 300 in March, according to preliminary data.

A record of 72 tornadoes in North Dakota, breaking a state record of 61, set in 2010.

The Enderlin, North Dakota, tornado was the first EF-5 verified in the U.S. since 2013.

The large fires in Eaton and Palisades, California, were the second- and third-most destructive in California history.

A glacial dam outburst on the Mendenhall Glacier in August caused record river crests and major flooding in Juneau, Alaska.

Hawaii saw its warmest temperatures from December though February and the third-driest year.

Catastrophic flooding in Texas in early July (up to 20 inches of rain) caused 135 deaths.

Vermont and New Hampshire had a record-breaking dry July, August and September with drought covering 100% of each state through October.

A slow-moving system in April brought widespread flooding and more than 150 tornadoes in the South and the Midwest with at least 24 deaths.

What else did NOAA say?

Despite the lack of U.S. landfalls in 2025, the North Atlantic hurricane season was active, producing 13 named storms, including five hurricanes and four major hurricanes; this amount was near the long-term average.

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2025 was characterized by widespread and significant flooding, driven by a combination of atmospheric rivers, slow-moving convective systems and tropical moisture. Significant flood events were observed in every season and region; July alone recorded 1,434 flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service  the second-highest July total in 40 years.

The preliminary U.S. tornado count for 2025 was 1,559, ranking as the fifth-highest on record and 127% of the 30-year (19912020) average.

The number of wildfires in 2025 was approximately 105% of the 20-year (200120) average, with more than 72,000 wildfires reported. The total number of acres burned from these wildfires  5.0 million acres  was 72 percent of the 20-year average of nearly 7 million acres.

The year began with 38.1% of the lower 48 states in moderate to exceptional drought (D1-D4). Coverage expanded steadily through March, reaching a spring peak of 44.7% on March 25. Drought conditions intensified during late summer and autumn, with coverage increasing rapidly to a yearly maximum of 46.1% on Oct. 21 and again on Nov. 18.

USA TODAY Contributed

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: NOAA says 2025 was hotter than usual. Was Michigan extra warm?
Get ready to bundle up. Connecticut residents have a very good chance of seeing the northern lights tonight, if the clouds cooperate.

"Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California," NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said.

The prediction center issued a severe watch of G4 geomagnetic storm, with a geomagnetic K-index of 8. The scale for a watch goes from G1 to G5.

With a watch of this severity, the storm could impact power systems, spacecraft operations and satellite and radio navigation beyond just creating the northern lights.

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In Norwich, the forecast for this evening in partly cloudy skies with a high of just 12 degrees. How those clouds play out will heavily influence what the view may be like.

Map of where Northern lights may be visible tonight

Northern lights may be visible as far south as Alabama on Jan. 19.

In the forecast, the following states have the best chance of seeing on Jan. 19.

Washington

Idaho

Montana

North Dakota

South Dakota

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Michigan

Maine

Alaska

However, the following states are in the view line, which shows where people still may have a chance of seeing the phenomena.

Oregon

Wyoming

Nebraska

Iowa

Missouri

Illinois

Indiana

Ohio

Pennsylvania

New York

Vermont

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Connecticut

Rhode Island

Even when you are in the potential view line for seeing the northern lights, it does not guarantee they will be visible.

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The camera view of the northern lights may extend much lower, as some meteorologists have said.

MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM is coming TONIGHT! 



Tonight has the potential to be a big show of Northern Lights. A G4 Geomagnetic storm is possible, which is the 2nd strongest storm possible. Northern Lights could be visible as far south as FLORIDA! Get those cameras ready! pic.twitter.com/1OVlxRRzA1  Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) January 19, 2026

How to take photos of the aurora

The best way to take photos of the northern lights on a smartphone is by adjusting the exposure time and enabling night mode.

According to Travelfoss, to get the best image, you should adjust your iPhone to capture more light. Night mode will automatically turn on, which allows the camera sensor to stay open for 1 to 3 seconds, depending on the light. For the best image of the aurora, you should adjust that setting to its maximum of 10 seconds (or 30 seconds if you're using a tripod).

If there's too much ambient light, night mode might let in too much and overexpose your photos. To combat that, you might need to modify the exposure adjustment setting, per Travelfoss.

When is the best time to see the northern lights?

The northern lights are typically most visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. according to NOAA.

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These isolated forests in Maine are dark skies sanctuaries: See where

How to see the northern lights

As always, dark skies make for better stargazing.

"We typically suggest getting away from cities and find a open field or hilltop to lay out under the stars and wait for the show to really peak at the late evening or early morning hours," Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technical Instructor and Observatory Manager Tim Brothers said in a past interview with Wicked Local.

He continued, "In New England, heading for a local conservation area or park that keeps lighting off at night is ideal. Another option is a coastline away from the larger cities  the benefit being that the constellation where you will see most of the 'shooting stars.'"

Places to check for northern lights forecast

If you want a chance at seeing the Northern Lights, here are some websites you can monitor the sun's activity:

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Aurora Alerts

The Space Weather Prediction Center

Space.com

Aurora forecast page (NOAA)

Aurora Reach

USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Northern lights possible over CT. Forecast, map, how to photograph
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Some Kansans may be lucky enough to catch sight of the Northern Lights this week thanks to a recent burst of solar activity.

The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G4 geomagnetic storm watch for Jan. 20. The SPWC ranks geomagnetic storms from G1, least severe, to G5, most severe, making this recent alert very rare.

Geomagnetic storms are described as major disturbances in Earths magnetic field and lead to the creation of the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, overhead. The stronger these storms are, the higher the chances are that people closer to Earths equator will be able to see the lights. Scientists use metrics like the Planetary K-Index to measure the strength of these storms with a value of around eight or higher needed for an aurora to be spotted in Kansas.

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The solar storm that occurred on Jan 18 was of great intensity, said Brenda Culbertson, a local astronomer. It was so strong that when it hit Earth, it knocked out shortwave radio signals at the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. This strength of storm impact is not common at all.

Aurora alert issued around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 19. (Photo Courtesy/NOAA-SWPC)

What are tire gators on Kansas highways?

The SPWC said in its G4 storm alert that auroras may be visible over much of the northern part of the U.S. with people living as far south as Alabama and northern California able to catch sight of the lights. Culbertson encourages people who want to increase their chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Kansas to start looking up the night of Monday, Jan. 19 and for the next couple of nights to follow.

A nice, dark location away from lights and with a clear norther horizon is best, Culbertson said. Since we currently have very cold nights, people should be prepared for the cold if they drive to a remote location. Look north, scan along the horizon for colors, and if the observer is in doubt whether they see colors, taking a photo that is a few seconds long may show more. Cameras can collect photons (light) and then put them into an image, whereas human eyes instantly see the image. If the observer sees colors at the horizon, scan higher into the sky and follow any features.

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Solar particles ejected by the sun on Jan. 18 during a coronal mass ejection event are expected to hit Earth late on Jan. 19 and early on Jan. 20. People may be able to see the Northern Lights in the evening or early morning hours from Jan. 19 through to Jan. 21.

Photographing aurora is different from most other photography, Culbertson said. The newer cell phone cameras do a fair job, but I still use a regular camera. Oftentimes, aurora will ebb and flow, so if it appears to subside, wait a bit and look again. During intense storms, I have seen it span from the northern to the southern horizons.

What fish are dangerous to eat in Kansas?

Kansans were last treated to a rare showing of the Northern Lights in November 2025. If you do take any photos of the Northern Lights, send them to 27 News by following the instructions listed here for them to be featured on our website and on our broadcast.

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Culbertson recommends people check the SPWC website or spaceweather.com for updates on the geomagnetic storms progress. To learn more about how to use your phone camera to capture the lights, click here.

For more Kansas 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.

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A total of 19 municipal airports across the state will share $9 million in grants from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to address PFAS contamination, and Northern Michigan is well represented on that list.

The Pellston Regional Airport will receive $1,000,000, the Chippewa County International Airport will receive $475,000 and the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City will receive $1,000,000, among many others.

A total of 19 municipal airports across the state will share $9 million in grants from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to address PFAS contamination.

According to EGLE, the funding is intended to finance PFAS testing and monitoring, potential source control and cleanup strategies for groundwater and stormwater, and cleaning of firefighting equipment and replacement firefighter turn-out gear.

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Airports are often tied to PFAS exposure because of Aqueous Film Forming Foam, which was frequently used in firefighting trainings at airports and military facilities. The foam then made its way into the soil and groundwater and could potentially spread to private wells.

Pellston Regional Airport

For example, contamination linked to the Pellston Regional Airport was first reported in 2020. A multi-agency effort tested about 200 water sources in the area, and installed point-of-use filters at sites with detectable levels of the chemicals. Testing and remediation has continued over the years.

In December 2025, Pellston village officials said they had gathered enough support to move ahead with a planned $44 million municipal water system, which would be built debt-free to help address PFAS contamination.

More: Pellston municipal water system plan for PFAS moves to next phase

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More: The gold standard: Pellston mulls proposed $44M municipal water system

The airports receiving grants include:

Battle Creek Executive Airport: $300,000

Bishop International Airport: $300,000

Capital Region International Airport: $300,000

Cherry Capital Airport (Northwest Regional Airport Authority): $1,000,000

Chippewa County International Airport/Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation: $475,000

Delta County Airport: $476,697

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport: $370,000

Ford Dickinson County Airport: $462,600

Former Marquette County Airport: $1,000,000

Gerald R Ford International Airport: $150,000

Gogebic-Iron County Airport: $361,400

Houghton County Memorial Airport: $1,000,000

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport: $710,681

Manistee County Blacker: $150,000

Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport: $150,000

MBS International Airport: $340,202

Oakland County International Airport: $264,479

Pellston Regional Airport: $1,000,000

Willow Run Airport: $250,000

Commonly known as PFAS, state officials said per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of potentially harmful man-made chemicals used in thousands of applications globally, including firefighting foam, food packaging and many other consumer and industrial applications. They do not break down easily in the environment and are known to accumulate in the tissues of living organisms.

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To learn more about PFAS and the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, visit michigan.gov/pfasresponse.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Michigan airports receive EGLE funding for PFAS response
GUEST INTERVIEW: ECOVACS Robotics is a global leader in home service robotics, and showcased its latest next-generation, multi-scenario robotic solutions at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, including the all-new DEEBOT T90 PRO OMNI, the DEEBOT X12 Family, together with new robotic window cleaner WINBOT, robotic lawn mower GOAT, and more. ECOVACS ROBOTICS is also introducing its first robotic pool cleaner, ULTRAMARINE, alongside its latest embodied intelligence innovation. Watch the video interview for more details!

ECOVACS presented a comprehensive showcase, underscoring its role in advancing the robotic vacuum cleaner category from rapid growth toward a more mature stage, grounded in its long-term technological expertise and deep understanding of global user needs.

More importantly, it signals the companys success in accelerating the application of core technologies to drive the emergence of a diversified, full-scenario service robotics ecosystem, an approach that has gained broad recognition from both consumers and the industry. And it heralds a new chapter of embodied intelligence for service robotics.

The article below explains this all in more detail, but first, here's my CES 2026 video interview and tour with both Karen Powell, the Regional Director of ECOVACS Australia and New Zealand, and TC Chang, Senior Product Manager at ECOVACS Americas - please watch, and read on!

David Cheng Qian, Vice Chairman of ECOVACS Group and CEO of ECOVACS ROBOTICS, said that the idea reflects ECOVACS commitment to leveraging service robotics to relieve users of routine household tasks, creating a world of ease. More than a brand idea, Created for Ease further embodies ECOVACS responsibility as an industry leader. Driven by a fearless spirit of innovation, ECOVACS systematically solves complex challenges to continuously advance both technology and the user experience, empowering people to enjoy a more effortless modern lifestyle.

Created for easier intelligent cleaning, ECOVACS is among the first to introduce robots with embodied intelligence, and with this we enter the next era of our evolution, said David Cheng Qian. Rooted in a deep understanding of user needs, we continue to strengthen our leadership in service robotics by launching new categories and unveiling breakthrough technologies. Guided by our new brand idea Created for Ease, we are dedicated to making our mission of Robotics for All a reality, shaping a better future where robots seamlessly serve every home, everywhere.

ECOVACS also unveiled its new brand idea, ECOVACS, Created for Ease at CES 2026:

DEEBOT T90 PRO OMNI and DEEBOT X12 Family: Advancing the Next Evolution of OZMO ROLLER Technology

At this years CES, ECOVACS is showcasing the latest evolution of its pioneering OZMO ROLLER Instant Self-Washing Mopping Technology and unveiling a new lineup of DEEBOT products featuring a suite of new cutting-edge innovations.

The fully upgraded OZMO ROLLER 3.0 Instant Self-Washing Mopping Technology equipped on the DEEBOT T90 PRO OMNI and DEEBOT X12 Family delivers significant improvements in mopping performance and efficiency through a refined roller design.

The new 26cm roller is 50% longer than the previous generation, enabling it to cover more floor area in each pass for doubled cleaning efficiency[1]. The new Pressurized Self-Washing delivers powerful sprays to the roller through 16 nozzles, helping to flush away embedded dirt for streak-free results and effective prevention of secondary contamination. Since debuting on the DEEBOT X8, ECOVACS OZMO ROLLER technology has redefined deep-cleaning standards and earned widespread recognition for its innovation. To date, ECOVACS OZMO ROLLER products have achieved cumulative global sales of over 1.6 million units, accounting for more than 91% of total sales in the category of self-washing roller mopping robotic vacuum cleaner worldwide.

Beyond upgrades to existing technologies, ECOVACS is also introducing more powerful deep-cleaning solution on the DEEBOT X12 PRO OMNI and DEEBOT X12 OmniCyclone, which help to tackle stubborn stains efficiently. Powered by an infrared stain detector and dual high-pressure nozzles, the DEEBOT X12 PRO OMNI and DEEBOT X12 OmniCyclone identify the area with stubborn stains and deliver crossed water jets at high pressure, penetrating dried residue to break it down before mopping.

In addition, the DEEBOT X12 Family features the upgraded PowerBoost Charging Plus which greatly boosts supercharge power and optimizes algorithm performance. This enables the DEEBOT to clean areas of up to 1,000 m in a single stable run, delivering a highly efficient, uninterrupted cleaning experience.

With multiple breakthrough innovations across its DEEBOT lineup, ECOVACS is set to continue its leadership in the robotic vacuum cleaner category, where the brand has ranked first by market share in China for 10 consecutive years from 2015 to 2024, according to data from AVC.

The new Deebot seen in the vidoe interview is coming to Australia in the first half of the year.

From Window Cleaning, Lawn Mowing, and Pool Maintenance to Robotic Pet, ECOVACS Ushers in A New Era of Service Robotics - see the video above!

Since its founding, ECOVACS innovations have been firmly grounded in real user needs, continuously driving the application of service robotics across multiple scenarios. From introducing the worlds first robotic window cleaner WINBOT, to establishing a presence in the robotic lawn mower category and now introducing its robotic pool cleaner, ECOVACS is steadily extending its robotic technologies from single-function devices to a diversified, multi-scenario ecosystem.

At CES 2026, ECOVACS unveiled its all-new robotic pool cleaner ULTRAMARINE, alongside a series of upgraded products in lawn care and window cleaning that further reinforce its position as a leader in multi-category robotics serving a diverse range of home scenarios. It will come to Australia in the second half of this year.

ULTRAMARINE brings ECOVACS mature robotic technologies  trusted by millions of users worldwide  into the pool-cleaning category. Engineered to simplify pool maintenance, it frees users from the traditional time-consuming and labor-intensive cleaning process, allowing them to purely enjoy the crystal-clear water and effortless relaxation of their pool  a true blue living room. The ULTRAMARINE launch not only marks a category expansion but also represents another strategic step in ECOVACS move from indoor to outdoor robotics, advancing its efforts to reshape smart living through technology.

Leveraging ECOVACS deep expertise in perception, navigation, and cleaning, ULTRAMARINE delivers advanced environment recognition and path-planning capabilities, effortlessly adapting to the complex and ever-changing pool environment. Its high-efficiency filtration and durability systems enable it to tackle everything from fine debris to stubborn stains, while maintaining reliable, long-lasting operation outdoors. With ULTRAMARINE, pool maintenance is no longer a chore, but rather a natural extension of smart living into outdoor aquatic spaces.

For lawn care, ECOVACS further elevates hands-free maintenance with the upgraded GOAT A and GOAT O series of robotic lawn mowers. Featuring the industrys first fully integrated TruEdge Trimmer with AI enhancement, the new lineup combines mowing and edge trimming into a single, fully autonomous process, eliminating the need for manual follow-up. Powered by the HoloScope 360 Dual-LiDAR Navigation System, the GOAT series reduces setup time to under one minute and offers navigation accuracy to within two-centimeters, even in low-light or at night.

ECOVACS also continues to innovate around user convenience for window cleaning. On display at CES, the WINBOT W3 OMNI introduces a revolutionary new multifunctional station with the groundbreaking Vortex Wash function that enables the wiping pad to be cleaned automatically, eliminating direct contact with dirty water and manual cloth handling to bring window cleaning closer to a fully automated experience. According to AVC, the company has ranked number one in market share in Chinas robotic window cleaner market for five consecutive years, highlighting ECOVACS continued success in gaining user trust with its superior product offerings.

ECOVACS is also unveiling its first robotic pet companion LilMilo at CES, marking another strategic step into embodied intelligence. Combining multi-sensory perception with expressive, pet-like behavior, LilMilo introduces a new form of digital companionship rooted in warmth and interactive intelligence.

All of ECOVACS innovations are backed by its well-established, vertically integrated supply chain and independently developed technologies spanning batteries, AI, motors, transmission components and more. Last year, ECOVACS accelerated its application of embodied intelligence through investments in companies specializing in key technologies. In 2024, ECOVACS total R&D investment reached USD 126 million  a 7.3% year-on-year increase  while its cumulative R&D investment since 2018 exceeds USD 638 million.

Today, ECOVACS ROBOTICS serves more than 38 million households across nearly 180 global markets. Upholding the mission of Robotics for All, ECOVACS is committed to pushing the boundaries of robotics innovation to create smarter living with ease for people worldwide.

Here is the video interview from above:
Norway has issued thousands of letters to citizens warning that the army may have to seize their homes and vehicles if war breaks out with Russia.

Norwegian military officials said the letters were an advance warning to those with assets that may need to be requisitioned.

The requisition policy covers vehicles, boats, machinery and property, and around 13,500 preparatory requisitions were issued on Monday, valid for one year.

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The requisitions are intended to ensure that, in a wartime situation, the armed forces have access to the resources necessary for the defence of the country, the Norwegian military said.

The letters will not have come as a shock to most recipients, as two thirds of them were simply renewing requisition notices from previous years.

The requisition notices were ordered amid a diplomatic crisis between Europe and Donald Trump, who has threatened to annex Greenland - Jim Watson/AFP

Anders Jernberg, the head of the militarys logistics organisation, said: The importance of being prepared for crisis and war has increased dramatically in recent years.

Norway is in the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War. Our society must be prepared for security policy crises and, in the worst case, war... we are undertaking a major build-up of military and civil preparedness, he added.

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Norway plays a key role in Nato surveillance of the Arctic region, where the melting of the ice caps has created a scramble to secure new shipping routes and lucrative raw materials.

The Scandinavian country shares a maritime border  as well as a 123 mile-long land border  with Russia in the far northern Arctic region.

Russia and China are seeking to expand their presence in the Arctic region, with the former building up old Soviet bases in the region and expanding its nuclear weapons stockpile on the Kola peninsula.

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The requisition notices were issued amid an ongoing diplomatic crisis between the United States and Europe over president Donald Trumps plans to annex Greenland, the minerals-rich Arctic island.

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Mr Trump has cited Arctic security concerns as his main argument for annexing Greenland, an autonomous Danish overseas territory that is part of the Nato alliance.

He has threatened military action to take over the island, a step that would probably destroy the Western alliance even as it faces the growing risk of war with Russia.

On Monday, it emerged that Mr Trump also wants to take over Greenland because he is upset with Norway for refusing to give him a Nobel peace prize last year.

Denmark and Greenland say the island is not for sale. They have the full support of Britain and the European Union.

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But Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said on Monday that he does not believe the United States is planning a military takeover of the island.

I dont, actually. I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles and values that Ive set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland, and making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong, he said.

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, Norways defence minister warned that Russia had recently launched a major expansion of its military bases in the Arctic region.

Russia is building up on the Kola peninsula ... where one of the largest arsenals of nuclear warheads in the world is located. They [the nuclear weapons] are not only pointed towards Norway, but towards the UK and over the pole towards Canada and the US, Tore O. Sandvik told the Telegraph.

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Moscow is also trying to gain full control over the Arctic region in order to block Nato access to key shipping routes, he said.

We are the eyes and ears of Nato in this area, and we see that theyre testing new weapons, for example, hypersonic missiles, and they are testing nuclear-driven torpedoes and nuclear warheads, he said.

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.
After Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Minneapolis protester Renee Good on January 7, the head of Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) complained that his agency had been excluded from the investigation of the incident. After initially agreeing to "a joint investigation," BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota decided the probe "would now be led solely by the FBI." Judging from recent comments by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, there is little hope that investigation will clarify the circumstances of the shooting, which most Americans view as unjustified based on the evidence they have seen so far.

"Is the FBI conducting an investigation into that agent, into the shooting?" Shannon Bream asked Blanche on Fox News Sunday. "What can you tell us about that? Will it be made public?"

Blanche did not answer directly, instead saying the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division was not looking into the shooting. "We don't just go out and investigate every time an officer is forced to defend himself against somebody [who was] putting his life in danger," he said. "We never do." Blanche added that "there are over a thousand shootings every year where law enforcement [officers] are put in danger by individuals and they have to protect themselves, and they have a lawful right to do so."

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Blanche, in other words, joins Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance in asserting that Ross acted in self-defense when he fired three shots into Good's Honda Pilot. How does Blanche know that?

"What happened on that day has been reviewed by millions and millions of Americans" who have seen bystander video of the incident, Blanche noted. That footage, he suggested, confirmed that the shooting was "objectively reasonable" given "the totality of the circumstances"the Fourth Amendment test that the Supreme Court has applied to the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers.

Blanche did not mention that the "millions and millions of Americans" who have seen that footage disagree passionately about what it shows, which underlines the need for further investigation to resolve the issue. As of now, most Americans do not share Blanche's view.

In a YouGov poll conducted from January 9 through January 11, two-thirds of the respondents said they had heard a lot about the shooting, and 70 percent said they had watched video of the incident. Just 28 percent thought the shooting was justified, while 53 percent said it was not and 18 percent said they weren't sure. The breakdown was similar when people were asked whether Ross should face criminal charges.

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As you might expect, Republicans were much more inclined than Democrats to view the shooting as justified. But while 88 percent of Democrats said the shooting was not justified, a substantially smaller majority of Republicans (61 percent) said it was. Even among Republicans, more than a third either said the shooting was not justified (15 percent) or said they weren't sure (24 percent). Most independents (58 percent) said the shooting was not justified.

Those finding are broadly consistent with the results of another YouGov poll conducted in collaboration with Yahoo News from January 8 through January 12. Just 27 percent of respondents thought the shooting was justified, while 52 percent said it was not and 21 percent were unsure. People who had watched video of the encounter were more likely to express an opinion: In that group, 57 percent thought the shooting was not justified, while 35 percent said it was.

In a Quinnipiac University survey conducted during the same period, 53 percent of respondents said the shooting was not justified, while 35 percent thought it was and 12 percent did not offer an opinion. In that poll, the partisan difference was sharper than in the YouGov surveys. Still, nearly a quarter of Republicans (23 percent) were not persuaded that the shooting was justified. And among independents, 59 percent said the shooting was not justified.

Public opinion, of course, cannot resolve the legal question. But these results suggest that, contrary to what Blanche implied, the video evidence is inconclusive at best.

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Blanche left open the possibility that new evidence might justify a Justice Department inquiry, but that seems quite unlikely given the position he has already taken. "We investigate when it's appropriate to investigate," he said. "That is not the case here. It wasn't the case when it happened, and it's not the case today. If circumstances change and there's something that we do need to investigate around that shooting or any other shooting, we will. But we are not going to bow to pressure from the media, bow to pressure from politicians and do something that we never donot under this administration, not under the last administration. And so no, we are not investigating, and if there comes a time when we need to, we will, but it's not now."

Blanche added that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting an internal investigation of the shooting, as law enforcement agencies routinely do when officers fire their weapons. In an interview on the CBS show Face the Nation, Noem confirmed that Ross had been placed on adminstrative leave pending an investigation by her department's Office of Professional Responsibility. In addition to the question of whether the shooting complied with the Fourth Amendment, that review should ask whether Ross and the other ICE agents at the scene followed DHS policy. But there can be little doubt about the outcome of the DHS investigation, since Noem herself has repeatedly said Ross followed his training and acted in self-defense.

Noem first offered that judgment just hours after the shooting, saying Good was engaged in "domestic terrorism" because she "weaponize[d] her vehicle" by "attempt[ing] to run a law enforcement officer over." She said Ross, "fearing for his life," fired "defensive shots," in accordance with "his training," to "save his own life and [those] of his colleagues." The following Sunday, Noem defended that assessment, including her portrayal of Good as a domestic terrorist, during a contentious interview with CNN's Jake Tapper.

"Why did you not wait for an investigation before making your comments?" Tapper wondered. "Well," Noem replied, "everything that I have said has been proven to be factual and the truth."

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The implication was that Noem's snap judgment on the day of the shooting, which she said was based on "videos" and conversations with ICE supervisors, had been retroactively validated by additional evidence. But she did not elucidate that evidence, even though she bragged that the Trump administration "is the most transparent and open government that we have ever had."

On Face the Nation yesterday, Noem, like Blanche, said "everybody can watch the videos and see" that Good deliberately tried to run Ross down. But if it were true that the videos leave no doubt on that score, why do 57 percent of Americans who have seen that footage say Good "was not trying to kill" Ross and that he "acted recklessly"? Why do 60 percent of those people reject Noem's characterization of Good's conduct as "domestic terrorism"? Probably because the videos cast serious doubt on Noem's description of what happened.

The videos show two ICE agents approaching Good's SUV, which she had parked sideways on Portland Avenue, forcing motorists to drive around her, a few minutes earlier. A witness reported that one of the agents initially told Good to drive away, which would have been a straightforward and peaceful way to resolve the situation. But another agent took a more aggressive approach. "Get out of the car," he told Good. "Get out of the car. Get out of the fucking car. Get out of the car."

Immediately after those rapid-fire commands, that agent grabbed the handle of the door next to Good and reached inside the car. At that point, Good backed up a bit and then started moving forward, steering to the rightaway from the ICE agents. "Drive, baby, drive," said Good's wife, who was standing outside the car. We all know what happened next.

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Although Noem is intent on portraying Good as an attempted murderer, that account seems inconsistent with Good's cheerful demeanor in Ross' cellphone video of the encounter as well as the direction in which she was pointing her car. But that does not necessarily mean the shooting was not legally justified.

Whatever Good's intent, she reportedly "clipped" Ross as she began to drive away. Although Ross seems uninjured in footage recorded after the shooting, unnamed government sources have told news outlets he suffered "internal bleeding." Noem, who had previously said Ross was treated at a hospital and released the same day, declined to discuss the extent of his injuries on Face the Nation. But regardless of how serious the damage was, Good's recklessness demonstrably posed a threat to Ross, especially because he had positioned himself in front of the car, contrary to standard police training.

Since Ross quickly moved out of the way, however, it is not clear that the shooting was justified self-defense, as opposed to angry retaliation (as suggested by his "fucking bitch" comment after he killed Good). It is hard to tell from the videos whether Ross was still in the SUV's path when he fired the first shot, which entered the car through the lower left corner of the windshield. He was definitely out of the way when he fired the second and third shots, which went through the side window next to Good.

When Tapper asked Noem about the justification for the second and third shots, she noted that Ross was making a "split-second" decision, which might count in his favor in the Fourth Amendment analysis. That's assuming it was reasonable to think killing Good was an effective way to neutralize the threat she allegedly posed, which seems doubtful given what actually happened: The unguided SUV careened down the street, stopping only after it crashed into a parked car.

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Reasonable people can (and do!) disagree about how to weigh these considerations. But the dispute cries out for additional evidence beyond the ambiguous videos that persuaded Blanche and Noem, including witness accounts, the car's trajectory, and Ross' location when he fired his weapon. "This administration wants to operate in transparency," Noem told Tapper. Even if DHS and the FBI (assuming it is still investigating the shooting) absolve Rossas seems inevitabletransparency demands a detailed explanation of the reasons for that conclusion. It does not seem like we will get that.

The post 'We Are Not Investigating' the Shooting of Renee Good, the Deputy Attorney General Says appeared first on Reason.com.
Rain was steady and sometimes heavy Sunday morning in the Midlands, but it  not snow  has been the dominant form of precipitation in the Columbia area of South Carolina .

Ever since last weeks forecast from the National Weather Service predicted a 40-50% chance of snow in Columbia Sunday, the likelihood of the white stuff has dwindled every day.

It reached the point Sunday morning where NWS Meteorologist Pierce Larkin told The State that the chances of snow in Columbia were pretty slim.

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The western portion of the Midlands, in Edgefield and McCormick counties, could expect to see some snow, with some minor accumulation, according to Larkin. Snowflakes have been spotted in Aiken County as well.

But for most of Richland and Lexington counties, theres a small chance of seeing some flurries in the sky, and no chance of them accumulating on the ground, Larkin said.

Im really expecting it to stay rain until the tail end of the afternoon. And even then, it will not be much, Larkin said.

The major factor behind reduced chances of snow in the Columbia area is the temperature. While its far from beach weather, or even the warm and sunny conditions from Saturday afternoon, temperatures in the low 40s are keeping it from snowing, according to Larkin.

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As thermometers drop into the mid 30s in the late afternoon, theres still a slight possibility of snowflakes, Larkin said. But the weather causing the precipitation is expected to move on from the Midlands by 3 p.m., and take any more chances of snow with it.

Although the snow will be no more, the temperature will continue to fall below freezing into the night. This could cause another problem, especially early Monday morning, as black ice is a threat, according to Larkin.

Drivers should use extreme caution when on Midlands roads because of the possibility of black ice, which is difficult to see and makes conditions very slippery, especially bridges and overpasses.

What is black ice?

With temperatures dropping below freezing, ice can form on roads. Black ice forms when snow or light rain falls on frozen concrete, freezing quickly to form a layer of ice that is almost invisible against the backdrop of blacktop roads.

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Because black ice is so difficult to spot, here are five tips from the National Safety Council, according to accuweather.com, on what to do should you hit a patch of it.

Keep at least a five-second following distance from the vehicle in front of you, because it takes twice as long to stop on black ice

Never hit the brakes on ice to avoid skidding, but instead hold your steering wheel steady

Be extra vigilant in the early morning, when air temperature rises faster than pavement temperature

Take caution when driving on bridges and overpasses as well as through tunnels

Dont overcorrect your steering if you feel your card sliding

The biggest danger (with black ice) is that you are at the mercy of your vehicle and the ice until your car passes over it, AARP Driver Safety previously said.

Temperatures in Columbia are expected to hit the freezing mark around midnight Monday and arent expected to rise above 32 degrees until about 9 a.m., the forecast shows. That time span is when the threat of black ice is at its highest on South Carolina roads, which arent paved or treated like ones in the North that are constantly dealing with the issue.

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On Friday, Master Trooper William Bennett, of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, said that crews were out treating roads in preparation for potential winter weather.

Stay home and avoid unnecessary travel, if possible, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety said. If you must drive, reduce your speed, avoid sudden braking, and look out for ice and slick roadways brought on by changing weather conditions.

Larkin echoed that sentiment, saying take it slow.

Any black ice should be gone by late Monday morning as the sun rises over all of the Midlands area, Larkin said.

Freezing weather threats

Hypothermia or frostbite are possible with prolonged exposure to the cold weather effects, the National Weather Service said. Anyone without adequate shelter or clothing is at highest risk of injuries that are potentially fatal.

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Additionally, a hard freeze poses a threat to vegetation.

The freezing conditions also present a threat to unprotected outdoor plumbing, according to meteorologists.

Cold weather calls for scarves and gloves, and your pipes need protection, too, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said.

To prevent water pipes that are not properly insulated from freezing then bursting, wrap or drain them, or allow them to drip slowly overnight, the National Weather Service said.

Any pets also should be brought indoors, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.

Weather forecast

Once the temperature rises above freezing Monday morning, its expected to continue rising, the forecast shows. A high near 50 degrees is possible, with conditions expected to be sunny and clear in Columbia on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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The mercury on thermometers will again plunge below freezing overnight Monday, as lows in the 20s are forecast. That pattern is expected to repeat through Friday, as daytime conditions are predicted to be mostly sunny, clear and around the 50s, but as the sun sets they will fall beneath the freezing point.

More precipitation isnt expected until next weekend, when theres a 30% chance of rain, the forecast shows. Although he warned about continuing chilly weather, no snow is expected in the forecast for the upcoming week, according to Larkin.

Were not looking at anything at this time, but its going to be cold, Larkin said.

We have some snow flurries in Aiken County !!



If youre driving today on the roadways please make sure youre safe ! Reduce speed , buckle up , and dont drive distracted ! pic.twitter.com/UFMTHvHBhM  Trooper Brittany SCHP (@SCHP_Troop7) January 18, 2026

Flurries are starting to come down harder now ! The good news about it is its not sticking !!



Stay safe SC and bundle up because temperatures are dropping fast ! pic.twitter.com/MfaDL9lSB2  Trooper Brittany SCHP (@SCHP_Troop7) January 18, 2026
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is increasingly taking aim at Vice President Vance, her possible opponent in a 2028 presidential matchup, should she choose to launch a White House bid.

In the last week, Ocasio-Cortez has drawn a stark contrast between her views and those of Vance on the recent Minneapolis shooting, arguing that his defense of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents actions reflects a different vision of the country.

I understand that Vice President Vance believes that shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, and I do not, she told a gaggle of reporters earlier this month.

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And that is a fundamental difference between Vice President Vance and I. I do not believe that the American people should be assassinated in the street.

Ocasio-Cortez, known by her initials AOC, is considering her options on her political future. Sources say she is still deliberating whether she wants to run for the Senate in New York  potentially taking on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a 2028 primary  or launch a White House bid. But she is sounding increasingly like a 2028 presidential candidate.

The congresswoman is talking about national and international headlines  from Venezuela to health care subsidies  in a way that makes Democrats think she has her eyes on a White House run.

The mini primary for 2028 has already begun and shes in it. And people want her to be in it, said Democratic strategist Hyma Moore. She knows she has a chance to potentially run for president and be president so she doesnt want to be caught unprepared.

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Lately, the congresswomans criticism of Vance has been front and center.

Earlier this week, she ratcheted up her criticism of Vance after she was asked about the vice president saying the woman who was killed in Minneapolis was a victim of her own ideology.

As far as what a person like that believes, you have to start right there with the person youre dealing with, Ocasio-Cortez told The Independents Washington bureau chief Eric Garcia.

Last month, Ocasio-Cortez also drew attention and reposted a poll by The Argument/Verasight which said she would beat Vance in a head-to-head match up 51 percent to 49 percent among registered voters.

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Bloop! the congresswoman wrote on X, the social media platform, while sharing the poll.

When she was asked by a reporter about the poll, Ocasio-Cortez responded with humor.

Let the record show: I would stomp him. I would stomp him! she said, laughing, before walking away outside the Capitol.

Vance is likely the current frontrunner to be the GOP nominee in 2028, even as Republicans have whispered that they could see Secretary of State Marco Rubio get the nod. Last summer, President Trump said he would most likely give him his endorsement.

At a Turning Point USA conference, Vance received an early endorsement from Erika Kirk, the widow of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

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Moore said Ocasio-Cortez has taken a multi-prong strategy in going after Vance.

Hes the early GOP/MAGA frontrunner [and] no one else has formed a salient anti-Vance message, Moore said. She has to show she can really jump into the high-stakes political arena.

Another Democratic strategist agreed, saying its pretty clear that there is a particular clarity that AOC speaks with when she is going after JD Vance.

Shes not just disagreeing with a political opinion, shes offering a countering vision of the country, the strategist added. Hard to miss the foreshadowing of what 2028 could look like.

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And Democrats say they can easily see a path for Ocasio-Cortez if she chooses to wade into presidential primary waters.

The congresswoman would carry the progressive torch, held in prior campaign cycles by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) when he challenged Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary and Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic match-up. Sanders and Ocasio Cortez appeared before large crowds last year in stops across the country.

Its going to be a different cycle than the ones weve seen before because its not clear there will be strict [ideological] lanes, said Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons, the co-host of the Politicon podcast Trailblaze, which focuses exclusively on the 2028 race.

However, the AOC-Bernie lane may be the most distinctive lane that exists, Simmons said.

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If she runs, she will be a factor the same way Bernie was a factor because there is populist progressive hunger in the electorate, he added. And if Bernie passes the torch to AOC, she will be a phenomenon.

At this point, her biggest primary challenge would be California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whom many Democrats have already labeled the 2028 frontrunner.

In recent months, Newsom has scored points with the Democratic base for taking on President Trump, and notably becoming the driving force behind Proposition 50, the redistricting effort that won support from California voters in November.

Since then, Newsom has built a sizable email list of Democrats around the country. He is also one of the strongest fundraisers in the party, two factors that would instantly propel his potential campaign operation.

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Democrats say Newsom is in a tier of his own when it comes to the 2028 race. And they privately wonder what Ocasio-Cortez will do because some believe she would easily join the governor in that category.

There is no one else on the list besides Newsom who has that x-factor, name ID, an ability to draw crowds, a natural communication style, a fundraising draw, said a second Democratic strategist. She is the only Democrat I can think of right now who has a path out of the primary.

Still, a win wouldnt come without a fight for Ocasio-Cortez. And there are some obstacles for the 36-year-old congresswoman, including her age. There is a school of thought among Democrats that after their bruising losses in 2016 and 2024  when Clinton and Kamala Harris respectively, were the Democratic nominees  that their party shouldnt run another woman for several cycles.

Its something that comes up all the time, one Democratic strategist said. Its very real.

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But first Ocasio-Cortez will have to decide which race shell enter.

Ive always believed shes far more likely to challenge Schumer for the Senate in 2028 than to run for president, but she obviously has the national profile for either, said Democratic strategist Christy Setzer.

Setzer pointed to former President Barack Obama, who some critics said at the time did not have the experience to run for president.

As Obamas advisers told him, youre never fully ready to run for president, but if theres an opening, you just have to grab it.

And as Moore put it, Shes starting to lay the seeds.

Shes being very smart about positioning herself well, he said.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
State Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, speaks during a Jan. 15, 2026, press conference on new legislation to increase investigative authority in the state on child care fraud. Screenshot courtesy of The Ohio Channel

Ohio lawmakers are joining the defense for the states child care oversight system, while also pledging to improve it with new legislation.

State Reps. Phil Plummer, R-Dayton, and Tom Young, R-Washington Twp., emphasized the strength of Ohios verification and investigative process when it comes to child care facilities in a press conference where they also announced a new bill to increase the investigative power available to state authorities.

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Ohio House Bill 647 would give the Ohio Attorney Generals Office the authority to investigate any publicly funded child care program suspected of fraud.

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth, which leads oversight of licensed child care providers and currently investigates allegations, would be allowed to immediately suspend the license and provider agreement for a facility under the suspicion of fraud.

The sponsors of the bill also promoted money the bill would allow to go to enhanced data analytics for attendance reviews. Young said the bill would include $5 million in appropriations over the next two years.

Following the allegations of child care fraud in Minnesota originated by a right-wing social media influencer and taken up by the Trump administration, states like Ohio have felt the need to respond to public questions, and were told by federal leaders that they would need to prove the federal money for Publicly Funded Child Care was being used properly.

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Plummer said the bill is not only an effort to maintain an already strong system, but also a response to public opinions that the child care system in Ohio is in need of more scrutiny.

We cant gaslight this and freak out the federal administration, and they pull our funding, Plummer said. Because then we lose child care centers.

As a parent of children who have benefitted from Ohios child care system, Young said hes glad to see facility workers keeping members of the public attempting to do their own investigations out of child care buildings. He said it further proves the protections at work in the sector.

Theres no way, (even) as a parent, I can walk through that door and just walk back to a classroom, Young said. There are protocols, and they are tight and theres a reason for that: for their safety.

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine released a statement after the Minnesota allegations began to make headlines, and held a press conference with Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente soon after.

They said Ohios system is diligent in addressing allegations of fraud should they come about, and maintaining high standards in child care facilities.

In 2025, Wente and DeWine said there were 124 referrals from the public about facilities, and of those, 61 overpayments were identified, and 12 facilities were closed.

So far this year, Wente said with all of the statements, and press conferences, and social media, the agency has received more than 60 referrals.

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Referrals are allegations, and havent necessarily been investigated or proven any wrongdoing.

Wente attended the press conference introducing Plummer and Youngs bill, urging support for the added protection, and increased authority for the department to keep funds from facilities until an investigation is complete.

What we know is there are times when we need to turn the spigot off to the public funds, and then continue the investigation and have the ability to work with the provider and come back, Wente said.

She said the bill also helps the department continue work theyve already done, creating new avenues for data.

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The department just started a random sample of 400 child care programs to collect data and to see what was happening in the program itself, according to Wente.

We cant be at 5,200 programs every day, we are reliant on our data and we are reliant on our analytics, which this bill will help improve, Wente said.

The director also said program integrity reviews were happening at child care facilities in Ohio well before the headlines started about Minnesota.

The federal government seems satisfied with Ohios program, though. Wente said the department received approval for Child Care Development Block Grant funds on Jan. 13, another federal approval on Jan. 14, and approval for federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding last week.

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We depend on these federal dollars, Plummer said. Were doing the best job we can do to protect those federal dollars.

Child care supporters and organizations in the state have also said oversight is solid, but early childhood advocacy group Groundwork Ohio said they appreciated state leaders and the bills sponsors for responding quickly and seriously to concerns of fraud in the child care system by putting forth a reasonable proposal.

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OSCEOLA COUNTY, Florida (WJW)  Two men from Ohio and a man from Michigan were killed in Florida over the weekend.

According to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office, it happened Saturday afternoon.

A well-known seafood chain has slowly closed most of its restaurants. How many are left?

Deputies responding to a report of a shooting found three adult men who had been shot to death in front of a vacation rental, according to the sheriffs office.

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Ahmad Bojeh, 29, was arrested on three counts of murder, according to the sheriff.

Ahmad Bojeh, Osceola County Sheriffs Office

There is no threat to the community, as the suspect responsible for these horrific and senseless murders has been apprehended by Osceola County deputies, said Sheriff Christopher Blackmon.

According to the sheriff, the suspect lived next door to the home the men were renting.

It was cold-blooded, it was premeditated, there was absolutely no issues, Blackmon said at a Sunday press conference, according to FOX News. There was no conflict between these people.

Nationwide chocolate recall expands to include more bars that could be contaminated

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According to FOX 35, the victims have been identified as Douglas Kraft, 68, of Columbus, Ohio, and his brother, Robert Kraft, 69, of Holland, Michigan. The third victim was identified as James Puchan, 68, of Ohio.

Bojeh made his first court appearance over the weekend and was denied bond, according to FOX 35.

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.
A neighborhood of new homes being built is pictured. (Getty Images)

Ive been watching with considerable interest as hundreds of Broken Arrow residents fight against a plan that would rezone a parcel of agricultural land to make way for a proposed mosque and retail development in their community.

Its not the project itself thats captured my interest. Its the fact that this is the second such high profile fight pitting developers against residents in just a few months.

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Late last year, Edmond residents were fighting against a developer who wanted to build a Walmart on a piece of undeveloped land in the north part of the city. The Walmart developer plans to erect a neighborhood market on a busy two-lane road that already suffers from traffic congestion and flooding. The store would sit alarmingly close to an existing housing development and is not far from a major natural gas junction.

It was during that Edmond fight that I learned about Senate Bill 647, which would weaken a citys ability to deny developments, neuter the input of residents and voters and empower developers to get their way regardless of whether their project is welcome or a good fit.

The Republican-led measure was one of those bills that flew under the radar during the 2025 session, but alarmingly cleared both legislative chambers. It would have made it to Gov. Kevin Stitts desk but for the fact that, thankfully, the House and the Senate could not agree on the final language.

Insultingly, the measure contains a clause that decisions on land use application shall not be based solely upon the presence, numbers or magnitude of opposition or protests in the absence of objective and relevant facts.

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It seeks to deem municipal zoning decisions as a done deal unless the challenging party proves the ordinance lacks a substantial relation to public health, safety or general welfare or if a zoning decision constitutes an unreasonable, arbitrary exercise of police power.

And it would require planning commissions and governing boards to approve plats as long as theyre in compliance with a citys subdivision regulations. Compliance with a citys comprehensive development plan would not be required for approval under the measure.

Had this been law, the concerns of residents in both cities and of those elsewhere across the state fighting developers probably wouldnt have mattered. The developers probably would have won the day.

Residents at the Broken Arrow City Council meeting last week expressed reasonable concerns about increased traffic congestion, and the impact of the development on storm water runoff and septic tanks if a 42,000-square-foot Islamic center and a 20,000-square-foot retail space and a parking lot were built.

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The Tulsa World reported that last month much of the opposition initially was voiced in anti-Islamic terms, but in recent days those who opposed the development and city leaders have shifted the conversation to more practical issues.

Edmond residents, meanwhile, who live in the area told their planning and zoning commission and city council that even though the area is technically zoned commercial, they didnt believe the acreage and infrastructure at the corner of Coltrane and Covell can support a 43,000-square-foot development on 9.7 acres.

And as someone who drives through that congested Edmond intersection, who has sat in 40-car traffic jams at the traffic light, and who has witnessed a semi-truck get stuck trying to make a turn onto a two-lane road, theyre probably right.

The problem is under the proposed law theyd have to prove that objectively. Their lived experiences wouldnt count. And how does a resident objectively prove traffic congestion without a traffic counter or cooperation from a city?

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And how can someone objectively prove that storm water wont drain in an undeveloped flood plane without a parking lot there?

The city councils in both cities ultimately rejected the developers plans. In Edmond, Walmarts developer is appealing. The Islamic Society of Tulsa, which is backing the mosque, is also expected to appeal.

Watching both fights play out, Ive learned there is a lot of gray area when it comes to planning, zoning and platting. There is subjectivity to approving plats and developers plans. Local residents dont pay attention to platting and zoning until the time comes to develop property.

Other times, designations no longer fit the land as communities evolve or grow or our environment or weather patterns change. Bureaucracy can be slow, and it takes time for things to catch up. And just because land is zoned or platted a certain way doesnt mean every sort of business or development belongs there.

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Until last session, lawmakers have been smart enough to realize that, and theyve given municipalities broader discretion to act in the best interests of their residents and communities.

To even consider passing a law that indicates city leaders are making decisions solely on the size of crowds or opposition is insulting not only to those officials, but also the voters who elect them. It also indicates that our legislators dont understand how this works.

And its astounding that lawmakers are seemingly trying to strip their constituents rights at the expense of developers, who do have a lot of lobbying power at our Capitol.

Last I checked Republicans were supposed to champion local control and believed that residents generally know whats best for their local communities.

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I dont know if well see this bill  or a similar iteration  rise from the dead when lawmakers reconvene in February. But heaven help us all if we do.

Because it will signal the death knell to citizen input in proposed developments impacting our families and the rise in power of developers. And it will harm everyones ability to work together to make their communities better.

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Following the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro by US forces in January 2026, Venezuelans in various cities around the world celebrated his ouster. However, some of the clips shared on social media purportedly showing the jubilant crowds are misleading; one of the videos was filmed in Panama on the day of Venezuelas July 2024 presidential polls, while another shows a protest against the election results in Caracas the same month.

A post shared on Facebook on January 3, 2026, reads: BREAKING: Venezuelans celebrate the arrest of socialist president Nicolas Maduro.

Freedom Freedom, reads a Spanish text overlay.

Screenshot of the misleading post, taken on January 9, 2026

Shared more than 490 times, the post contains a one-minute clip showing a crowd celebrating on a street while carrying Venezuelan flags.

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Similar claims were shared with a different clip on the same day, like this Facebook post, reading: Venezuelans celebrate their new freedom.

Screenshot of the misleading post, taken on January 9, 2026

The post contains a 30-second clip showing a large crowd of people marching along a street.

Venezuelans celebrate

Maduro was seized and taken to the United States on January 3, 2026, along with his wife, Cilia Flores. He was charged with drug trafficking and weapons violations, to which he pleaded not guilty (archived here).

Following Maduros arrest, thousands of Venezuelans in the capitals of Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and in Miami, celebrated the deposed leaders ouster by US forces (archived here).

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However, the videos shared on social media do not show Venezuelans celebrating Maduro's capture.

Panama video

AFP Fact Check used InVID-WeVerify to conduct reverse image searches on keyframes from the first video.

The results led to a video originally shared on Instagram on July 28, 2024, the day of Venezuelas last presidential election.

The post contains a description in Spanish which translates to: Free Venezuela! This is how the Venezuelan people living in Panama celebrate, suggesting the video was captured in Panama.

Screenshots of the original video (left) and the misleading post, taken on January 9, 2026

Using Google Maps Street View, we identified the area where the footage was filmed in Panama as 5508 Samuel Lewis Avenue, the street along which the Venezuelan Embassy in Panama is located.

Screenshots taken on January 9, 2026, comparing the Google Maps Street View of the Venezuelan embassy in Panama (left) and the misleading post

2024 protests

A similar search for the second video revealed that the footage was also taken in 2024, during a protest against Venezuelas presidential election results.

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The footage was originally shared on X on July 30, 2024, with a description in Spanish which translates to: | URGENT: The streets of Venezuela are overflowing to protest against Nicolas Maduro's fraud (archived here).

Screenshots of the original footage from July 2024 (left) and the misleading post, taken on January 12, 2026

At the time, protesters had taken to the streets of Caracas as opposition leaders disputed the outcome, which saw Maduro secure another term in office (archived here).

Using Google Maps, we identified the twin Tecoteca building and the surrounding greenery seen in the footage on the street in Caracas where the protesters were marching.

Screenshots taken on January 12, 2026, comparing the Google Maps Street View of the Tecoteca building (left) and the misleading post

AFP Fact Check has debunked other claims related to Maduros arrest in Spanish here and here.
American civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King and his wife Coretta Scott King lead a voting rights march from Selma, Alabama, to the state Capitol in Montgomery. (Courtesy of William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images)

OMAHA  When word began circulating last summer that a federal immigration raid was unfolding at an Omaha food plant, Roger Garcia interrupted the Douglas County board meeting he presided over.

Roger Garcia, a Douglas County Commissioner who received a 2026 MLK Aspire to Inspire award. (Courtesy of Douglas County)

I have to depart, he said, adding that his community was being terrorized.

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Piecing together information and constituent calls, he left the Omaha-Douglas County Civic Center that June 10 believing that at least two raids were happening. It turned out to be one. So I have to go. I have to try and help.

Garcia, a Douglas County Board member since 2021, provided updates about the Glenn Valley Foods worksite enforcement operation to the public using social media. The federal raid initially arrested roughly 80 alleged undocumented workers. Hes continued serving in a watchdog role in the ramp up of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the Omaha area.

Garcia was one of three people recognized this weekend by Douglas County and the City of Omaha with a 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Aspire to Inspire award. The awards are presented annually to people who, according to a joint county-city statement, exemplify the slain civil rights leaders vision of diversity, inclusivity and equality.

Lt. Antwone Finch of the Omaha Police Department was recognized with an MLK award by an Omaha and Douglas County committee. (Courtesy of Douglas County)

A nominator called Garcia a caring and courageous fighter and defender of social and political freedoms.

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I know he will always show up, fight and stand up for whats right and for whats good, just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Two recipients are public servants. Among the honored was Lt. Antwone Finch of the Omaha Police Department, who, according to the statement, gives back to the community that shaped him.

Born and raised in North Omaha, Finch is a longtime member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity who has supported numerous charitable initiatives. With a focus on guiding youth, he has participated in Shop With a Cop, a program that annually connects kids from homeless shelters with Christmas gifts, and founded the Before the Casket gun violence prevention program.

The committee of county and city representatives that reviewed nominations also selected mixed martial artist Houston Alexander as the MLK community recipient  for his commitment to helping youth.

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In 2018, Alexander founded a foundation that provides free mentoring, education, fitness and cultural programs that promote positive lifestyles. The awards committee said Alexanders Culture Shock Tour has reached more than 450 Nebraska schools, teaching the history of hip-hop while promoting self-expression, anti-bullying and nonviolent conflict resolution.

Houston Alexander, a professional mixed martial artist and DJ who works with youth, is a recipient of a 2026 MLK award. (Courtesy of Douglas County)

The three award winners were celebrated during an event Friday at the Omaha-Douglas County Civic Center that featured music and remarks, including from Mayor John Ewing Jr. and Omaha Human Rights and Relations Director Cailin Daly Dejillas.

Also in recognition of MLK, the Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department on Jan. 19 is hosting a Living the Dream eighth annual high school talent competition.

The 5:30 p.m. event at the Holland Performing Arts Center spotlights music, dance, social justice speeches and art by Omaha-area students in grades 7-12, and is free and open to the public.

Local and state government offices are closed Jan. 19 in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

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One person seriously injured after crash in West El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  One person was seriously injured after a crash on early Monday morning, Jan. 19, in West El Paso, according to a spokesperson with the El Paso Fire Department (EPFD).

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The call came in shortly after 1 a.m. on Mesa Street near Executive Center.

EPFD did confirm one person was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries (Code 3).

A video posted online by FitFam shows the aftermath of the crash. A damaged building with broken windows can be seen, as well as a rolled-over car resting meters away.

This is a developing story, and KTSM will update once we learn 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 KTSM 9 News.
iTWire TV: Lenovo explains how Personal, Enterprise and Public Ai form its Hybrid Ai strategy and how this helps the Enterprise and Formula 1.

In this video, Lenovo VP of Commercial Product Solutions Development, Yasumichi Moto-san Tsukamoto, starts by describing Lenovos '3P Ai User Experience' philosophy: Productive, Personalised and Protected. This breaks down in the following way...

Productive  Boosting productivity in all the areas that matter the most to you, from settings to performance to workflows.

 Boosting productivity in all the areas that matter the most to you, from settings to performance to workflows. Personalised  Understanding the user to deliver personalised assistance in productivity, creativity, learning and gaming.

 Understanding the user to deliver personalised assistance in productivity, creativity, learning and gaming. Protected  Your data is always secured and only belongs to you. Total transparency and peace of mind are core to Lenovo Ai solutions.

Moto-san also covers how Lenovo's end-to-end solutions stretch from the pocket (Motorola phones), through laptops, through Ai Edge servers, to data centres and the cloud.

He covers the partnership with Intel and why Aura Edition laptops are special.

He explains why Lenovos ThinkPad laptops and ThinkStation Ai workstations need to work in extreme environments with Formula 1 and be able to survive being transported all over the globe.

He also explains covers how moving Ai workloads from the cloud to local servers can save thousands of dollars.
Activists in Southern California say they are working nonstop to support immigrant communities amid ongoing enforcement operations.

Ron Gochez, a teacher and member of Union del Barrio, said volunteers who respond to the operations are dispatched around the clock.

"These operations are literally happening 24 hours a day. We get calls at 3 in the morning, 5 in the morning," he said.

Civil rights groups reported at least 20 immigration enforcement operations in a single day this week, including in Montebello where agents were captured on video getting out of an unmarked truck and climbing a ladder to chase construction workers on a rooftop.

WATCH: California Attorney General Rob Bonta talks ongoing SoCal immigration raids

Activists say they are working nonstop to support immigrant communities in Southern California amid ongoing raids.

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Those types of scenes, activists say, have kept many families in a constant state of fear for months.

Baristas at Vida Pura, a coffee shop in East L.A., said the raids have directly impacted their families. Alexa Ibarra said her family shut down its food truck out of fear. Elias Reyes said he's taken on a second job and is worried his father - a U.S. citizen - may be targeted because of the color of his skin and line of work.

Gochez said that while the enforcement actions have been constant and intensified, so has the community response.

"Now we have thousands of people patrolling all over Southern California. Literally all the way from Riverside to Santa Barbara to San Ysidro at the border, to Lancaster," he said. "They failed to take as many people as they wanted to, and we attribute that to the organized resistance."

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In East L.A., workers at Vida Pura said the raids weigh heavily on the community.

"Just knowing that people are living in fear right now, it's not fair," Ibarra said.

The shop displays a sign in Spanish stating that it proudly welcomes immigrants.

"We all have to stay strong together," Ibarra said. "We all have to stay united and protect each other, honestly."
As U.S. history educators, much of our professional training emphasizes structure, pacing guides, state standards, and carefully sequenced curriculum maps. We move deliberately through eras, anchor lessons in textbooks, and rely heavily on primary source documents to help students understand the past. This approach provides students with a shared historical framework and ensures exposure to key events, ideas, and debates that have shaped the United States.



Related: How the US deleted Venezuelas air defenses so quickly



Yet there is a fundamental truth that cannot be ignored: History does not exist in isolation from the present. It is not frozen on a textbook page or confined to the past tense. History is dynamic, unfolding continuously, and at times erupting into the present in ways that demand our attention.



Our students sense this intuitively. They arrive in our classrooms aware that something important is happening in the world, often before they have the language or context to understand it. When major international events occur, students want answers. If we fail to address those moments because they fall outside the official pacing guide, we miss a powerful opportunity to make history meaningful and relevant.

This reality guided my decision to create a focused microlesson for my students, centered on the unfolding crisis in Venezuela in January 2026. The purpose of this lesson is not to abandon the curriculum but to reinforce it. By grounding current events in historical context, students can revisit earlier material, recognize patterns of continuity and change, and understand why the United States is involved in Latin America at all.

Understanding the Current Crisis

Operation Absolute Resolve epitomizes history in the making. (U.S. Air Force)

To grasp why Venezuela matters today, students must first develop a clear understanding of the present situation. As of January 2026, Venezuela is experiencing one of the most severe political, economic, and humanitarian crises in the modern Western Hemisphere. While the countrys struggles did not begin recently, they intensified dramatically after the July 2024 presidential election.



That election marked a breaking point. Nicolas Maduro, who had already governed Venezuela for more than a decade, claimed victory despite overwhelming evidence that the opposition candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, had won by a wide margin. International observers and organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the European Union, and the United States, rejected the legitimacy of the results.



Rather than allow a peaceful transition of power, the Maduro government responded with systematic repression. Opposition members, protestors, journalists, and human rights advocates were arrested in large numbers. Gonzalez fled into exile in September 2024 after an arrest warrant was issued against him, while prominent opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was forced into hiding.



For students, this moment becomes an opportunity to revisit concepts they have encountered earlier in the year, such as authoritarianism, democratic legitimacy, and the erosion of political institutions. The Venezuelan case shows how elections can exist in form but not in substance, and how authoritarian regimes often rely on intimidation and control rather than consent.

A Crisis Years in the Making

Health professionals protest in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on December 19, 2019. (NurPhoto via Getty Images/Humberto Matheus)

The political crisis is inseparable from Venezuelas humanitarian catastrophe. Years of economic mismanagement, corruption, international sanctions, and declining oil production have devastated the countrys economy. Although there have been limited signs of growth, Venezuelas economy remains less than half its 2013 size. Millions struggle to access basic necessities such as food, clean water, reliable electricity, and medical care. Estimates suggest that between 7 million and 14 million Venezuelans require humanitarian assistance.



This reality allows students to draw direct connections to previous units on economic collapse and recovery. They recognize parallels with the Great Depression, postwar Europe, and other moments when political instability and economic hardship reinforced one another. History becomes less abstract when students see how economic policy decisions translate into real human suffering.



The humanitarian crisis has also fueled one of the largest displacement events in modern history. Since 2014, approximately 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country. Families have crossed borders throughout South America and beyond in search of safety and opportunity. Students often immediately connect this to prior lessons on refugee movements during World War II, Cold War conflicts, and late-20th-century Central American migration. They begin to understand that mass migration is rarely accidental and almost always driven by structural forces beyond individual control.

U.S. Military Becomes Involved

U.S military aircraft park on the flightline in Puerto Rico after military actions in Venezuela in support of Operation Absolute Resolve, January 3, 2026. (U.S. Air Force)

By late 2025 and into early 2026, the crisis in Venezuela escalated dramatically with direct U.S. military involvement. American officials announced an intensified campaign aimed at disrupting transnational drug trafficking networks operating in the Caribbean, many of which U.S. intelligence agencies have long alleged were protected or facilitated by senior figures within the Venezuelan government. These operations included maritime interdictions and targeted strikes against vessels identified as part of large-scale narcotics smuggling routes moving cocaine from South America toward Central America and the United States.



In January 2026, the situation reached a historic turning point. According to statements released by U.S. government officials, a highly classified overnight operation resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. While many operational details remain undisclosed, multiple reports indicate that the mission involved elite U.S. special operations forces operating under U.S. Special Operations Command, with strong indications of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta, commonly known as Delta Force.



Related: An autopsy of Venezuelas $2 billion Russian S-300VM missile system



U.S. officials confirmed that Maduro was taken into custody alive and transferred to U.S. control to face federal indictments related to narcotics trafficking, corruption, and conspiracy with foreign drug cartels. These charges were not new. As early as 2020, the U.S. Justice Department had formally accused Maduro and senior members of his inner circle of participating in what prosecutors described as a narco state apparatus, alleging coordination with Colombian guerrilla groups and international trafficking organizations.

Policy Changes in Venezuela

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Following the operation, the U.S. government announced a series of sweeping policy measures regarding Venezuelas energy sector. American officials stated their intent to secure and manage Venezuelas vast oil reserves during a transitional period, citing the need to prevent further corruption, stabilize global energy markets, and fund humanitarian relief efforts. Plans were outlined to allow U.S.-based energy companies to operate Venezuelan oil infrastructure under international oversight, a move that immediately drew global attention and debate.



For students of U.S. history, this moment is striking not only for its immediacy but for its familiarity. The removal of a foreign leader on drug trafficking charges, the involvement of elite U.S. forces, and the assertion of control over strategic natural resources echo earlier interventions in Panama, Haiti, and throughout Latin America during the 20th century. The participation of a unit like Delta Force underscores how modern U.S. intervention has shifted away from large-scale troop deployments toward highly specialized, precision-driven operations, even as the underlying strategic goals often resemble those of earlier eras.



At this point, students inevitably ask a critical question: Has the United States done this before?

U.S. Involvement in Latin America

The Spanish-American War is part of the United States long history of intervening in Central and South America. (U.S. National Guard)

The answer requires stepping back more than a century. American involvement in Central and South America did not begin with Venezuela, nor is it unique. It has deep historical roots tied to economic interests, strategic concerns, and ideological goals.



In 1898, the Spanish-American War marked a turning point in U.S. history. The United States intervened in Cubas war for independence from Spain, framing its involvement as a humanitarian effort. The result, however, was the United States emerging as an imperial power. Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines became U.S. possessions, while Cuba fell under American influence through the Platt Amendment. This moment introduced a pattern in which the United States justified intervention as liberation while retaining significant control.



Only a few years later, the U.S. facilitated Panamas independence from Colombia to secure the right to build and control the Panama Canal. The canal became one of the most important strategic assets in the world, allowing the U.S. Navy and commercial shipping to move quickly between oceans. This reinforced the idea that U.S. involvement in the region was closely tied to economic and military strategy.



Throughout the early 20th century, the United States repeatedly intervened in the Caribbean and Central America. Military occupations in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua were carried out to protect American investments and maintain political stability favorable to U.S. interests. These interventions, often referred to collectively as the Banana Wars, were justified under the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary, which asserted the United States right to intervene in the Western Hemisphere.



Students begin to recognize that these actions were not isolated decisions but part of a broader worldview in which the U.S. saw Latin America as its sphere of influence.

Cold War Interventions and Consequences

During the Cold War, U.S. involvement in Latin America intensified under the banner of anti-communism. Fear of Soviet influence shaped policy decisions, leading the United States to support authoritarian regimes it believed would maintain regional stability.



In Guatemala in 1954, the CIA supported a coup that overthrew democratically elected President Jacobo Arbenz after he nationalized land owned by the U.S.-based United Fruit Company. The result was decades of authoritarian rule and civil war. This case study illustrates how economic interests and ideological fears often outweighed democratic principles.



Read Next: Everything you need to know about the Bay of Pigs



Cuba provides another powerful example. Supported by the U.S., the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 aimed to overthrow Fidel Castros government. Its failure strengthened Castros position and pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union, reshaping Cold War geopolitics.



In the 1970s, U.S. support for Operation Condor linked right-wing military dictatorships across South America in a coordinated campaign against leftist political movements. The human cost was immense, with widespread disappearances, torture, and repression. These actions left lasting scars on the region and shaped how many Latin American nations view U.S. involvement today.

While large-scale interventions became less frequent after the Cold War, they did not disappear. During the 1980s, the United States provided extensive military aid to El Salvador during its civil war. In 1989, U.S. forces invaded Panama to remove Manuel Noriega on drug trafficking charges. In Haiti, U.S. troops were deployed in the 1990s to restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and again in 2004 following his removal from office.



Each of these cases offers students a framework for analyzing Venezuela. The patterns of justification, intervention, and long-term consequences reappear repeatedly.

Why Teaching the Present Matters

Teaching Venezuela as a micro lesson is not about abandoning historical objectivity or promoting a political position. It is about equipping students with the tools to think critically about the present by using historical knowledge. When students hear about U.S. troops capturing a foreign leader or taking control of oil reserves, they should immediately recognize echoes of the past.



By linking current events to established curriculum topics such as imperialism, Cold War policy, and economic intervention, we help students understand that history is not a series of disconnected events. It is a continuous process shaped by human decisions and power structures.



History is happening now. When we acknowledge that reality in our classrooms, we transform history from a static subject into a living discipline. In doing so, we prepare students not only to understand the past but to engage thoughtfully with the world they are inheriting.

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The recent federal transition that shifted day-to-day administration of career-oriented pathways and career and technical education into the U.S. Department of Labor reflects a growing recognition that workforce preparation fails when it is governed as schooling alone rather than as a pipeline into jobs, wages and advancement.

There is no shortage of credentials in the U.S. labor market. There is a shortage of matched skills and reliable pathways. Job openings remain historically elevated despite cooling in some places. Even so, a persistent share of young adults are neither enrolled nor working, signaling weak attachment to both employment and further training.

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This gap is not a 2025 phenomenon. For decades, policymakers have invested in education while assuming that labor market integration would follow. The evidence suggests otherwise. The impacts of education vary sharply by field, institution and completion status; and many credentials deliver little labor market value relative to their cost. Treating enrollment and completion as success metrics has obscured whether programs actually improve employment and earnings.

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CTE was intended to create clearer routes into work. The evidence shows positive effects on several high school outcomes, limited and uneven evidence on postsecondary and earnings outcomes, and large gaps in what has been rigorously evaluated.

Many CTE programs are well intentioned and well funded, yet weakly connected to labor demand. Program offerings frequently lag local employer needs. Credentials are not always portable across firms or regions. Accountability focuses on compliance and participation rather than job placement and earnings. Students complete programs without clear signals about whether those credentials will translate into work. Employers remain skeptical of what certificates represent.

These outcomes are not accidental. They reflect governance. The Department of Education was designed to administer grants, regulate institutions and ensure access. These are necessary functions, but they are not sufficient for building labor market pathways. Education agencies are not structured to continuously track employer demand, validate occupational skill standards or adjust programs based on employment outcomes.

Related

White House Splinters Education Department, Sending K-12 Programs to Labor

By contrast, the Department of Labor already operates systems that define success in labor market terms, including placement, earnings and retention under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

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Shifting CTE administration toward Labor aligns authority with objective. To ensure that this move is not just symbolic, policy should be governed by institutions that measure and manage those outcomes. The lesson for CTE is not ideological. It is operational. Here are three design choices.

First, employer leadership must be real, not advisory in name only. Employers should hold decision-making authority over occupational standards, credential validation and program relevance, with transparent governance and conflict of interest rules. Without employer control and input into the curriculum, pathways drift toward provider convenience.

Second, funding must be tied to outcomes that matter. Completion alone is insufficient. Programs should be evaluated on job placement, earnings, retention and progression, adjusted for local labor markets. Chronic underperformance should lead to canceling or revising programs.

Third, the system must allow for competition among multiple providers. Community colleges, employer consortia, nonprofits, high-schools and high quality private providers should operate on equal footing  even if they pursue the goals differently.

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Of course, pathway rules should be periodically reviewed and reauthorized, and the Labor Department is well-suited to provide review. Labor markets change faster than education systems. Sunset provisions force adaptation and prevent regulatory accumulation that freezes outdated models in place.

Critics often argue that tighter alignment with labor markets narrows education and reduces flexibility. The evidence suggests the opposite. The current system narrows options by steering students toward debt-financed pathways with uncertain payoffs while offering limited transparency about outcomes. Clear labor market signals expand choice by allowing students to compare pathways based on real consequences rather than marketing or tradition.

A well-designed pathway system does not lock individuals into a single occupation. It creates stackable credentials, portable skills and bridges to further education. It treats employment not as the endpoint of learning but as a core component of it.

The research on education governance offers a cautionary lesson: Incentives matter. Systems respond to what is measured and rewarded. When accountability emphasizes inputs and compliance, organizations optimize for those metrics, even when outcomes suffer.

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The federal transition to Labor creates a rare policy opening. It acknowledges that education policy cannot substitute for labor market policy when the objective is work. Whether that acknowledgment leads to better outcomes depends on follow through. Structure matters. Incentives matter. Governance matters.

If CTE continues to be governed as education with different labels, results will not change. If it is governed as labor market infrastructure, it can finally function as intended.
More than 400 Indonesians were freed by cyberscam networks in Cambodia this month, Jakarta said on Monday, after Phnom Penh announced a fresh crackdown following the arrest of an alleged boss of the illicit industry.

Scammers working from hubs across Southeast Asia, some willingly and others trafficked, lure internet users globally into fake romances and cryptocurrency investments, netting tens of billions of dollars each year.

Hundreds of foreign nationals have left suspected scam compounds across Cambodia this month as the government pledged to "eliminate" problems related to the online fraud trade, which the United Nations says employs at least 100,000 people in Cambodia alone.

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Recent Cambodian law enforcement measures resulted in "many online scam syndicates... letting their workers go", Indonesia's ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto, said in a video posted to social media.

From January 1-18, 440 Indonesians came to the embassy in Phnom Penh after they were "released by online scam syndicates", many seeking to return home, according to a post on Instagram.

"Because Cambodia's crackdown will continue, the embassy predicts many more will flow in from the provinces," Santo said.

Some who went to the embassy were "involved in online scams for years, some only arrived in Cambodia a few months ago", he said.

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"Some still hold their passports, while others had their passports confiscated by the syndicates; some have overstayed, while others still have valid residence permits in Cambodia" and hoped to "find other work".

Santo said the embassy would expedite repatriations but all Indonesians were "being directed to return home independently", and warned against getting involved in criminal activity abroad.

- 'Chinese boss' -

Dozens of people, some with suitcases, lined up outside the Indonesian embassy on Monday morning.

An 18-year-old from Indonesia's Sumatra said he fled a compound in Bavet city, near Cambodia's border with Vietnam, where he was forced to scam people online for eight months without pay despite being promised $600 per month.

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He told AFP he arrived in Phnom Penh on Sunday and came to the embassy to ask for a new passport because his was "with a Chinese boss".

"They heard police were coming inside the compound, so they let everyone go," he said.

About 100 people were also queueing outside the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh on Monday afternoon, but those approached by AFP declined to speak.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing "attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese citizens overseas" when asked at a regular news briefing about the lines outside the embassy in Cambodia.

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Cambodia arrested and deported Chinese-born tycoon Chen Zhi, accused of running internet scam operations from Cambodia, to China this month.

Chen, a former Cambodian government adviser, was indicted by US authorities in October.

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Gov. Phil Murphy signed the family leave expansion bill just days before he leaves office after two terms as governor. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill over the weekend that will expand family leave benefits to workers at smaller companies, just days before he leaves office after two terms.

Murphy, a Democrat, called the legislation historic. It allows workers at firms with as few as 15 employees to take job-protected paid family leave, down from 30 workers in the states prior family leave law.

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By amending the eligibility requirements for job-protected leave, we are ensuring newer employees and employees of small businesses are not excluded from the protections of the New Jersey Family Leave Act. Now, employees will not have to work as long before being able to utilize their leave with the assurance that they can return to their job once the leave concludes, he said.

Murphy leaves office at noon on Tuesday when his successor, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill (D), becomes governor.

Existing New Jersey law permits workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to bond with new children or care for a sick or injured loved one. Workers on family leave can earn up to 85% of their weekly pay, to a cap of $1,119 in 2026.

To be eligible under current law, an employee must have worked at a given employer for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,000 hours in the preceding 12 months. The bill Murphy signed cuts those qualifications, requiring workers to be with their employer for at least three months and slashing the hours requirement to 250.

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Bill sponsor Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) called the legislation good for the workforce, good for babies and families, and good for our state as a whole.

By reducing the amount of time someone has to be on the job before becoming eligible for family leave, this legislation recognizes the realities of todays workforce and makes sure more parents can care for and bond with their newborn without fearing theyll lose their job. No one should be penalized for needing time to care, and this bill helps make sure the vast majority of workers never will, he said.

Existing law bars employers from retaliating against workers for using family leave benefits. The legislation Murphy signed says workers are entitled to be restored to their previous position or one with equivalent pay, benefits, and seniority upon returning from family leave. It also explicitly allows workers to use family leave, temporary disability benefits, and earned sick leave in the order of their choosing.

Business groups had opposed the bill, warning that expanding family leave eligibility could make New Jersey small businesses less competitive.

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Palm Beach Police have issued more than 70 citations and confiscated about 50 illegal mooring balls since the town began enforcing its Lake Worth Lagoon Management Plan in late last summer, Chief of Police Nicholas Caristo said.

The Palm Beach Police Department's Marine Unit officers also have identified about 20 abandoned boats since the enforcement program started in August, Caristo told the Town Council in an update during the Jan. 13 meeting.

About three months after implementing the plan, the council in November passed new rules that restrict vessels from anchoring overnight for more than 30 days within six consecutive months in waters where Palm Beach has jurisdiction. The new rules also limit which vessels can moor in town waters and where they are allowed to do so, including in marinas and designated mooring fields and at private residential docks.

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The management plan and the town's new rules address the two primary methods used by dozens of boaters who keep their vessels in the Lake Worth Lagoon  part of the Intracoastal Waterway  between Palm Beach's North End and West Palm Beach. Caristo said that as of the latest count, there were 167 vessels in the lagoon between the Flagler Memorial Bridge and the Lake Worth Inlet.

Jan. 20 will mark 30 days since the town's rules took effect, and Caristo said police plan to give people another opportunity to move their boats.

"It's going to be expensive for people to, one, have it towed and, two, to have it stored," he said.

The town has secured a company that will tow boats to an area within a 10-mile radius of the vessel's position in the lagoon, per Florida law, he said.

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In addition to the suspected abandoned boats, officers identified two derelict vessels that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is working with the town to remove, Caristo said. Council Member Julie Araskog noted that she saw a boat sinking in the lagoon near Good Samaritan Medical Center.

Palm Beach Police use a spreadsheet to track which boats are parked, their positions in the lagoon and how long they have been there, Caristo said.

He will work with the town's information technology team to instead build what he called "a relational database" of virtual folders to track vessels, locations, conditions and possible infractions, he said. That will replace the current spreadsheet, which is "antiquated," Caristo said.

Palm Beach Police officials also are working to update the federally produced U.S. Coast Pilot nautical guide that includes information about channel access, tides, and available facilities for small vessels. The guides are produced annually and updated weekly, and Palm Beach will ensure the town's anchoring limitations are noted, Caristo said.

The Palm Beach Police Department recently counted 167 vessels moored or anchored in the Lake Worth Lagoon between the Flagler Memorial Bridge and the Lake Worth Inlet, Chief of Police Nicholas Caristo said.

Police have identified a person who rents out moorings in the lagoon, and the Police Department is working with Town Attorney Joanne O'Connor to send that person a cease-and-desist notice, he said.

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"It's like he's making a business and using town of Palm Beach property," Council Member Bridget Moran said.

Palm Beach Chief of Police Nicholas Caristo

"Officers have cited some of the boaters who rent from the person, Caristo said. "We're going to be cutting his lines, and we're telling his customers they've gotta go," he said.

Under state law, it is illegal to install a mooring without a permit. Only one of the moorings in the lagoon was permitted before Palm Beach began its enforcement actions in August, officials have said. Since then, some boaters have told the Palm Beach Daily News they are working to obtain the proper permits, but it takes time to navigate the complicated system required to do so.

Palm Beach's anchoring rules and enforcement in the lagoon have received support from most town residents, according to council members. But some boaters and marine industry officials have pushed back against what they say is unfair targeting in an area that for decades has provided safe harbor and long-term storage for large vessels. Several boat owners have previously said they are pursuing legal options to keep their boats in the lagoon.

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Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach police ticket 70 boaters as part of lagoon enforcement
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  As discussions over the downtown marina progress, Panama City leaders are inviting the public to weigh in this week.

There will be three opportunities for residents, business owners, and stakeholders to help shape what the marina looks like.

The charrettes are designed to be hands-on sessions that allow residents to collaborate with city officials on design and infrastructure solutions.

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The first charrette is on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the City Hall Rotunda. It will feature a community presentation and open house.

The next two charettes are on Thursday. Theres one from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in room 10 of the City Hall and another from 8 to 8 p.m. in the City Hall Rotunda.

Both of those will feature an open house and planning period.

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.
"I voted" stickers are seen on display in the headquarters offices of the Alaska Division of Elections in Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

After the dissolution of the states third-largest political party, the Alaska Division of Elections is sending out notices to the 19,117 members of the former Alaskan Independence Party, warning them to update their voter information.

In the coming weeks, the DOE will inform the voters registered as affiliated with the AIP that the party is no longer recognized, the department said in a notice published Wednesday. These voters will have the option to select a new party or group affiliation if they wish. If they do not update their registration  by phone, email, in person, or through the online form  within 30 days of receipt, the Division plans to change their registration status to undeclared.

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The Alaskan Independence Partys leadership formally dissolved the organization in a vote on Dec. 7, then released a statement at the end of the year about the decision.

That statement said the party elected a new board of directors in April 2024, and that board analyzed the state of the party.

The board carried out its work and found that the current party membership is either apathetic to the goals of the party, believes that the party is a branch of the Republican party, or is registered to the AIP by mistake, the statement said in part.

The party has for some time been legally alive yet spiritually dead, the statement said.

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The AIPs origins date to the early 1970s, when interior Alaska gold miner Joe Vogler attempted to rally opposition to federal land control after statehood.

Vogler ran for governor as an independent in 1974, and the AIP developed out of his Libertarian-like vision for the state  local control, limited government, and a new statewide referendum on whether Alaska should be a state, commonwealth, territory or fully independent.

For decades, AIP members contended that Alaskas 1958 statehood vote was not valid because it did not present Alaskans with a full set of options.

The party peaked in 1990, when conservative Republicans abandoned their support of Sen. Arliss Sturgulewski for governor, who they deemed too moderate on abortion and environmental issues.

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Former Republican Gov. Wally Hickel replaced John Lindauer on the AIPs gubernatorial ticket, and Sturgulewskis lieutenant governor candidate, Jack Coghill, defected to serve as Hickels lieutenant governor candidate.

Hickel and Coghill won the three-way election with just under 39% of the vote, marking the AIPs sole statewide electoral win.

That was the partys high-water mark; Hickel governed as a Republican in all but name and rejoined the Republican party before his term ended.

Vogler was murdered in 1993, and the party became an annual also-ran in statewide races. In 2024, when John Wayne Howe ran as the partys candidate for U.S. House, he received just 4% of Alaskans first-choice votes.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a sweeping legal opinion Monday declaring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs unconstitutional across Texas state government and warning that private employers engaging in race- or sex-based policies could face significant legal liability.

The opinion dismantles decades of DEI-related frameworks embedded in Texas law, identifying more than 100 statutes and policies that Paxton says violate the U.S. Constitutions Equal Protection Clause and the Texas Constitutions Equal Rights Amendment. It also formally overrules a 1999 legal opinion issued by thenAttorney General John Cornyn, which Paxton argues created legal ambiguity that allowed race- and sex-based government programs to expand unchecked.

The guidance follows prior investigative reporting by The Dallas Express documenting DEI-related concerns at Texas public universities months after the states higher-education DEI ban took effect, including job descriptions and institutional language that appeared to conflict with state law.

BREAKING: I just issued a landmark legal opinion dismantling DEI in Texas, declaring decades worth of DEI frameworksmemorialized in over 100 woke state lawsunconstitutional and overruling a flawed opinion from then-AG Cornyn that allowed DEI to flourish. pic.twitter.com/ITjcat8uei  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) January 19, 2026

In a statement accompanying the opinion, Paxton framed the move as a return to merit-based governance, invoking the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and calling on public institutions and private employers to immediately dismantle any DEI or affirmative action programs that rely on protected characteristics. This action to dismantle DEI in Texas helps fulfill the vision articulated by Martin Luther King, Jr. when he dreamed that his children would one day live in a nation where they were judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, Paxton said.

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The opinion specifically targets historically underutilized business (HUB) and disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) programs, concluding that state contracting preferences based on race or sex amount to unconstitutional discrimination. Paxton argued that such programs improperly use immutable characteristics as proxies for merit and taxpayer stewardship. Programs benefiting veterans and veteran-owned businesses are explicitly excluded.

Yet, Texass largest municipalities continue to maintain similar programs. In 2020, the Dallas City Council passed a resolution stating, It is the policy of the City of Dallas to involve certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) to the greatest extent feasible on the Citys construction, general services, and professional services contracts.

Similarly, the Texas Department of Transportation continues to reference DBE and HUB participation goals on its website. The website states that DBE goals are set on all federally funded projects and (HUB) Program goals are implemented statewide.

Paxtons guidance also challenges statutory requirements mandating racial or gender representation on state boards, commissions, and committees. The opinion rejects the premise that individuals of a particular race or sex can represent the views or interests of an entire group, stating that such assumptions reinforce unconstitutional generalizations rejected by federal and state law.

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The legal opinion relies heavily on the U.S. Supreme Courts 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ended racial considerations in college admissions. Paxton cited the Courts conclusion that eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it, arguing the opinion applies broadly across government decision-making and public policy, not solely within higher education.

The opinions private-sector warning mirrors broader state and federal scrutiny of DEI- and ESG-driven corporate governance practices, including recent DX reporting on federal action targeting proxy advisors and non-pecuniary voting tied to retirement assets.

Beyond public institutions, the opinion warns that private companies engaging in DEI-driven hiring, promotion, contracting, or governance practices could face exposure under state and federal civil rights and securities laws.

In a separate recent policy announcement from the federal Department of Justice, the agency indicated that it will eliminate disparate impact rules from federal civil rights enforcement, requiring proof of intentional discrimination rather than statistical outcomes, DX reported.

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Nevertheless, many major employers have stood by their DEI policies. Apples website states, [Inclusion & Diversity] remains one of our greatest strengths.

Paxtons warning follows years of heightened reported scrutiny of ESG- and DEI-linked financial practices involving Texas public funds, including divestment actions tied to major asset managers, such as BlackRock, accused of prioritizing political considerations over fiduciary obligations.

Paxton said his office will continue investigating and holding accountable any school district, state agency, local government, or private employer that attempts to use DEI as a guise for unlawful discrimination, ideological coercion, or the erosion of merit-based decision-making.
The problem with artificial intelligence is simple: When travelers need it most, it is least helpful.

That's the experience of people like Mark Beales, a retired mortgage banker from Mill Creek, Washington. He said that for simple queries, such as confirming a flight, AI usually provides a fast, accurate answer. But when it comes to complex matters, such as changing a ticket, it falls short. It's a lot of "I didn't understand that," and "Do you want me to repeat those options?"

"Sometimes, a bot can't answer my questions, which is aggravating," he said. "I don't mind dealing with AI  as long as I can get around it when I need."

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Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

Well, it looks like the travel industry may have a solution, and you're probably not going to like it.

Travel companies want you to pay extra to bypass the bot.

Ranking the most annoying things couples do when they fly

A 'human premium' for customer service?

"Many customers prefer talking to a live representative, especially when dealing with complex issues," said David Hunt, chief operating officer of Versys Media, a design agency. "I believe we'll see a human premium for customer service."

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Hunt ought to know. He recently worked with a major airline that found passengers strongly preferred direct human communication during booking.

"For me, this highlighted a clear willingness to pay for human interaction," Hunt said.

A recent survey found that three-quarters of Americans would pay more for a premium customer service experience (i.e., skipping AI and speaking with a person).

Of course, preferred customer service has always been a staple of the travel experience. If you have a Platinum Card, you can call a dedicated customer service number. If you're traveling in first class, your customer service call gets preferential treatment. Or, if you want a white-glove travel experience, you can pay a travel adviser for personalized treatment instead of booking through an online travel agency.

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Experts say travel companies could take things to the next level. Imagine being on hold with an airline and hearing an offer: "Press 3 to be connected to a human for an additional $25 fee." As far-fetched as it sounds, travel companies could be mulling such a move.

No Thanks, Bot

In a way, it's already here

The talk-to-a-person fee already exists in the airline industry, to a certain extent. Many airlines charge a fee if you want to speak to a customer service agent instead of using the website to book a ticket. The fees range from $25 to $50 per reservation, depending on your destination. (Some airlines, notably Delta and Southwest, do not charge to talk to a person.)

 How much does it cost to book a ticket with a human?

Airline Phone Fee (Domestic) Phone Fee (International) Notes Alaska Airlines $15 $15 Waived for MVP Gold+ and Club 49 members American Airlines $50 $50 Waived for AAdvantage Executive Platinum/Platinum Pro Delta Air Lines $0 $0 Fees may apply for certain European-origin tickets Hawaiian Airlines $25 $35 Waived for Pualani elite members and cardholders JetBlue $25 $25 Waived for Mosaic members Southwest $0 $0 No fees for phone/airport bookings Spirit Airlines $25 $25 Waived for Spirit Gold members (online/app is cheaper) United Airlines $25 $25 Waived for Premier Silver+

Travelers say they would pay more to get human service

I asked travelers how they felt about paying more to avoid AI, and I was surprised by their responses.

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"Yes, I would pay extra to speak to a person," said Raquel Scott, a film producer from Los Angeles. "I absolutely abhor AI chatbots. They are typically a complete waste of time, and sometimes you can't type what you want to say; you can only click on one of the suggested responses. It's infuriating!"

Even some insiders say they would pay more to skip the AI.

"I would pay more to speak with a person," said Mary Zimmerman, a travel adviser. "I think people are increasingly wary of speaking with a robot."

Others don't think you should have to pay for human customer service

The idea of charging more to talk to a person doesn't sit well with everyone.

"When something goes wrong thousands of miles from home  especially while you're traveling abroad  peace of mind comes from knowing there is a real person on the other end of the line who knows your name and understands the urgency in a way technology cant," said Mike Hallman, CEO of Medjet. "And that's where paying extra for a real person rubs people the wrong way."

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There's another problem with charging people to speak with a human. Paying to talk to a person may be the only option for those who can least afford it.

Travelers who stray off the beaten path in Japan can find quiet moments in nature, fresh cuisine and immersive cultural experiences.



I found my zen in Gifu Prefecture, an underrated gem in the countryside. Here's how to explore Gifu.



Hiking up Gujo Hachiman Castle gives travelers a gorgeous lookout point over the town of Gujo. Teishoku are Japanese set meals, showing careful attention to detail. In Gifu, they feature local and incredibly tender Hida beef. Many of Gifu's towns are set along rivers, and showcase preserved Edo-period architecture. At the Mino Washi Paper Museum and Workshop, I tried my hand at creating my own piece of paper, splashing and sifting the plant fibers until they set into translucent paper. Washi is a strong yet flexible paper made of mulberry fibers, made in Japan for many centuries. At Aiwayu in nearby Ikeda, husband-and-wife designer duo Kazuya and Miki Nohara run workshops allowing guests to learn the intensive process of indigo dying. The fields of Shirakawa-go feel like a storybook, and it's even more magical during snowfall. UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go is one of just a few places to see 250-year-old farmhouses made of thatched roofs. Residents of the village have lived here for generations, taking care of their unique, historic homes. A quick little pitstop in Gifu Prefecture, Monet's Pond is a zen lagoon filled with koi. Gifu's towns are surrounded by picturesque mountains, giving travelers a breath of fresh air from the city. Mino's Udatsu Preservation District pays tribute to its heritage of washi paper with lanterns made by local artisans. They light up at night to illuminate the streets. Get off the beaten path at this underrated gem in Japan 1 of 10 Travelers who stray off the beaten path in Japan can find quiet moments in nature, fresh cuisine and immersive cultural experiences.



I found my zen in Gifu Prefecture, an underrated gem in the countryside. Here's how to explore Gifu.



Hiking up Gujo Hachiman Castle gives travelers a gorgeous lookout point over the town of Gujo.

"Smartphones, laptops, and other electronic toys are beyond the financial reach of quite a few Americans," noted Bill McGee, senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project.

His organization has taken a position that human-staffed travel call centers should be mandatory, and that regulators should enforce such policies. But in the current "anything goes" regulatory environment, it's doubtful the government would stop a travel company from offering a "skip the AI" upgrade.

Is there a way around pay-to-play? Possibly, said Emily DeJeu, who teaches business communication at Carnegie Mellon University. You can become a smarter user of technology, finding ways to circumvent a chatbot.

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"Long-term, I think we need to apply collective pressure to avoid turning human assistance into a pay-to-play commodity," she added. The European Union is expected to introduce a Right to Speak to a Human law by 2028, so its possible that government intervention will stop the monetization of human support.

Why the human premium may be one of the worst ideas ever

Should travel companies charge extra to talk to a person? In a word, no. In fact, charging to skip the AI may be one of the worst ideas the travel industry has ever had.

Charging more to talk to a human undermines trust and signals that empathy is a luxury," said Mario Matulich, president of Customer Management Practice. "Brands that get this right will flip the script, not penalizing customers for needing help, but designing hybrid experiences where AI empowers agents and real people are accessible when it matters most."

But why is charging extra such a terrible idea? The reason is simple. In a way, charging extra for human service is an acknowledgment that the AI-dependent system doesn't work. And that's a terrible message to send to your customers, especially someone who is trying to rebook a canceled flight or change a room reservation.

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Paying a human premium monetizes something that should be included with every product a company offers. Businesses that try to unbundle customer service are playing a dangerous monetization game with their customers. And they stand to lose far more than they can imagine.

Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is human customer service becoming a paid upgrade in travel?
The News in Brief Tuesday, January 20, 2026

The United States military has provided firefighting and communication equipment worth USD 234,150 to Georgia's Emergency Management Service (EMS), the Interior Ministry announced on January 16.Acting U.S. Ambassador Alan Purcell described the donation as part of ongoing U.S. humanitarian assistance to Georgia, saying it is intended to strengthen the country's ability to respond to emergencies.In a video accompanying the ministry's statement, Purcell said the equipment would help the EMS react "quickly and effectively" in crisis situations. He added that U.S. humanitarian support extends beyond material aid and includes medical supplies, upgrades to emergency infrastructure, and efforts to strengthen Georgia's national emergency response system.Purcell noted that humanitarian assistance has been a central element of U.S.-Georgia cooperation for more than 30 years, emphasizing its focus on saving lives and supporting communities during emergencies.The U.S. delegation was received at the Interior Ministry by Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze and EMS head Temur Mghebrishvili, who thanked U.S. representatives for the support and held a working meeting.According to the ministry, the meeting was also attended by senior U.S. defense officials, including Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Underwood, Colonel Jonathan Adams, and Major Alec Harrison.Georgia's State Security Service (SSSG) has opened a criminal investigation into alleged sabotage and unauthorized access to a government computer system after confidential details of a gas deal with Russia's state-owned Gazprom appeared on an official website.In a January 15 statement, the SSSG said the probe was launched following information from the Government Administration about a suspected cyberattack and manipulation of its website. The agency said the actions were intended to harm Georgia's state interests by spreading false information and causing political and economic damage.The investigation follows media reports that a government decree published on December 25, 2025, included an annex containing commercially confidential information on a deal between Gazprom Export and the Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation, including gas prices and volumes.The issue became public on January 13 after a teaser aired on Formula TV. Business Media Georgia later published the document but removed it after being contacted by the State Security Service, citing state interests. Formula TV also blurred the details following a similar request.Authorities subsequently removed the document from the government website.
GUEST OPINION: Over the past year, research we conducted with YouGov has painted a clear picture of the modern Australian shopper and their mindset. Were seeing the rise of a more intentional consumer: one whos digitally fluent, highly value-driven, and unwilling to compromise on the purchases that matter most to them.

From the everyday essentials they refuse to give up - no matter the price hike - to the digital tools now embedded in their everyday routines, were seeing Australians are shopping smarter, not less. And as we look to 2026, the habits forming provide a strong indication of what lies ahead for retail.

The Shopping Strategist

This year, its clear that Australian households - from young professionals to families - are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the way they shop. After several years of grappling with cost-of-living pressures, consumers are more strategic, better informed, and more deliberate in their value-driven purchase decisions.

Were seeing this play out through a combination of behaviours. From smaller basket sizes, more frequent grocery trips, a growing preference for private label brands, and a relentless pursuit of promotions, many of which are now discovered through digital channels.

Promotions are now a core driver of decision-making, with 86% of Australians stating that special offers influence their purchasing decisions, and 64% citing price as the top factor when choosing a brand. Its no surprise then that 95% are open to store-brand alternatives, signalling a continued shift away from traditional brand loyalty in favour of value and flexibility.

The Extreme 'Couponer' Reimagined

Today, hunting for deals is less about clipping and more about clicking. The Australian shopper is digitally savvy, armed with apps and tools that make saving a seamless part of everyday life. As cost pressures persist, consumers are increasingly turning to digital solutions that not only offer convenience, but unlock meaningful savings.

In this new routine, digital catalogues have become a staple, with 78% of Australian consumers using them to plan purchases and compare prices across retailers. Alongside this, online platforms and apps are growing in popularity, such as those enabling easy price comparisons and real-time offer tracking, or helping consumers reduce the cost of dining out.

Shoppers are also taking a more long-term view of their spending. Rather than reacting to sales as they appear, Australians are planning ahead and anticipating key calendar moments - such as EOFY and Black Friday - not just for big-ticket purchases, but to stock up on everyday essentials.

Interestingly, seven in ten Australians say they bulk-buy during major sales periods. Most commonly stocking up on essentials such as: personal care items (33%), pantry staples (30%), household cleaning products (27%) and health and wellness items (25%).

Image created by Gemini Nano Banana Pro 3 based on this article.

The Retail Therapist

Even in the face of rising costs, Australians havent lost their appetite for the occasional splurge - especially when it comes to small, meaningful purchases. In my view, thats not just about spending; its about finding moments of comfort and control in a more constrained financial landscape.

Retail therapy as a concept isnt going anywhere. In fact, our research shows that clothing, shoes and accessories remain the categories most resistant to cutbacks, even as prices rise, as 35% of consumers prioritise wardrobe updates.

What this shows is that Australians are still spending - but theyre doing it on their own terms. The 2026 consumer is increasingly deliberate with their dollars. Indulgence hasnt disappeared; its just become more calculated.

The Conscious-Consumer

Beyond personal purchases, Australians are showing greater awareness of the broader impact of their shopping choices. While cost remains a top priority - especially for staples like eggs, milk and bread- shoppers are increasingly driven by ethics and sustainability.

A third of consumers (34%) say environmental impact influences their choices for everyday grocery items.

Among Millennials, that div climbs even higher, with nearly half of this generation (49%) prioritising sustainability when making purchasing decisions. This shift signals more than just a trend - it reflects a long-term value alignment, particularly among younger Australians.

From Cost-Conscious to Future-Focused

The Australian shopper of 2026 is not just reacting to the economy - theyre proactively redefining how, when, where and why they shop. Budget constraints have created a generation of empowered consumers who are strategic, digital-first, and emotionally engaged with their purchases.

Retailers who align with these values - offering transparency, value, convenience and smart digital experiences - will not only thrive, but earn lasting loyalty from a customer base that knows exactly what they want.

Brendan Straw is Shopfullys Country Manager for Australia.
After an investigation, police arrested a 55-year-old male from Dorchester in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Albany Street on Saturday.

At around 12 p.m., police were patrolling the area and allegedly observed behavior consistent with the street-level narcotics activity. Police allegedly then witnessed what appeared to be hand-to-hand exchanges between two individuals.

An officer then made contact with a female who threw away the small plastic bag containing a white rock-like substance.

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The woman would later be charged and summonsed to Roxbury District Court for possession of a class B substance.

Police continued to monitor the male suspect who was allegedly observed engaging in additional suspected drug activity.

Based on the observations and information relayed to responding units, officers located the man inside a nearby business and placed him under arrest.

Boston police recovered three plastic bags of fentanyl totaling approximately 10 grams, twenty-four small plastic bags of crack cocaine totaling approximately 7 grams, eight medium plastic bags of marijuana totaling approximately 19 grams, and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.

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The suspect was identified as Trahern Combs. He will be arraigned in Roxbury District for trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute a class B substance, distribution of a class B substance, and possession with intent to distribute a class D substance.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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About 70 people gathered in downtown Orlando on Sunday to pray for the immigrant community rocked amid an increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence. Police were monitoring the vigil.

Eight Orlando Police Department vehicles were parked directly across the street throughout the over hour-long vigil, leaving just before it ended. Organizers said the police had never been to any of the other three vigils held in Orlando last year for immigrants. Advocates and organizers say its a sign of increasing tension.

Thats a new thing at any vigil across the state, said Rachel Siegel, an organizer with The Workers Circle who put together the vigil in Orlando and helps with others across the nation. There is nothing happening at Dr. Phillips that would necessitate that kind of police presence.  Its kind of ridiculous.

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Amid the possible deployment of U.S. troops into Minnesota to quell immigration protests, in Central Florida members of Congress and local advocates are warning that Orlando could be next as a surge may already be underway.

In front of the steps of Orlando City Hall for over an hour, the group prayed over butterflies that are handed to immigrants, prayed for the families who have been separated and for Renee Good, the Minneapolis mother who was shot and killed by a federal agent earlier this month. The group also sang, This is for our neighbors who are locked inside. Together we will abolish ICE, while many waved flags that read ICE out 4 Good. Dozens of passersby honked in support.

Rev. Sarah Robinson, who led the vigil, said holding the event in front of city hall for the first time was symbolic. Previously it took place at Lake Eola. But Sunday marked the fourth vigil that brought together faith leaders and the largest turnout, she said.

This is the gathering place of the citizenry of Orlando speaking to its government, Robinson said. We recognize this is an inherently more political location  but our purpose is prayer.

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The group also read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document created by leaders of countries across the world and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948.

Thats why the UN Declaration on Human Rights is so powerful today. In fact, that was a collective of the whole world after the horrors of World War II saying we can do better, Robinson said. It seems like weve forgotten that collectively, so this is a moment to remember that commitment.

Siegel said the turnout was in response to the increase in ICE activity locally amid the rising tensions in Minneapolis. The shooting of Good has shifted peoples mindset and now not only are immigrants afraid but so are the U.S. citizens who are demonstrating for them, she said.

I had this really scary conversation with my brother  where he said, You have to be so careful, he was sobbing, Siegel said, who attends and organizes demonstrations for her job. He is worried Ill get shot, which is a very real fear at this point.

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OPD did not respond to questions about the nature of the police presence at the vigil.

On Friday, Hope CommUnity Center said in a statement it confirmed about 300 people had been booked into the Orange County Jail on immigration holds in the previous 48 hours. A spokesperson for the jail told the Sentinel that a total of 831 people had been booked on such holds since Jan. 1. County Commissioner Nicole Wilson said that number was a shocking total because about 300 people had been booked in December.

Florida has helped immigration enforcement and required counties, including Orange, to sign agreements to cooperate with ICE, and it has deputized the Florida Highway Patrol.

Under the so-called Operation Tidal Wave, which Gov. Ron DeSantis touted as the largest joint immigration enforcement operation in ICEs history, state authorities have arrested more than 10,000 undocumented immigrants across the state.

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In a statement to the Orlando Sentinel, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin touted the cooperation of state police with ICE.

Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations, McLaughlin said. We have had tremendous success when local law enforcement work with us including 40,000 arrests in Florida and more than 550 arrests in New Orleans.
A police pursuit led to a major rescue operation on a hillside in Monessen.

A Westmoreland County 911 supervisor says police began pursuing a vehicle reported stolen out of Charleroi at 4:26 p.m. on Sunday.

A foot pursuit later began, with one person being detained, and two others fleeing on foot over an embankment in Monessen, the supervisor says.

Police detained the suspects, and a rescue operation ensued to bring them up the hillside, the supervisor says.

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A Channel 11 crew saw a large gathering of first responders at the end of Dennis Avenue, near the woods overlooking Route 906 and the Monongahela River.

Murrysville Medic One shared photos of the operation, saying its rope rescue team extracted three police officers and two suspects from the 600-foot hillside.

In total, 12 people needed to be brought up the hillside, including the two suspects, police officers and firefighters, the supervisor says. Everyone had been brought up by 8:51 p.m.

At least one of the suspects was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, the supervisor says. One police officer self-transported to the hospital for an eye injury.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

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The Bernabeu is set to be the main venue to welcome Pope Leo XIV during his upcoming visit to Spain, scheduled for June 2026.

According to several Madrid media outlets, there are advanced negotiations between Real Madrid and the Madrid City Council for the white coliseum to host a massive vigil.

"

This event is positioned as the central axis of an apostolic journey that, although still awaiting official confirmation from the Holy See, has already begun to mobilize Madrid institutions.

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The choice of the Madrid stronghold is not coincidental and responds to strategic logistical criteria. The recent renovation of the stadium, which includes its retractable roof, ensures the religious event can be held regardless of weather conditions. This technical security is a determining factor for the organizers, who are specifically considering June 6 or 7 for this historic vigil under the sky (or roof) of Madrid.

If the news is confirmed, the event would revive a historical link between the Vatican and Real Madrid. It's impossible not to recall the visit of John Paul II in 1982, when the Polish pontiff celebrated a massive mass before thousands of faithful in the same venue.

Awaiting the official communication from the Holy See, the capital's logistics are already starting to adapt for what is expected to be an unprecedented deployment.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in  here.

 Angel Martinez - 2025 Getty Images
Deir Az Zor, Syria  On the broad, windswept plains through which the Euphrates River snakes, the land remembers every war that has passed across it. The oil-rich soil of al-Omar, the turbines of the Tabqa Dam and the cautious return of families to towns long abandoned tell a story as old as Syria itself: one of power, survival and the struggle to unify a fractured country.

Over the weekend, Syrian government forces seized the al-Omar oilfield, the Conoco gas complex  both in Deir Az Zor governorate  and the Tabqa Dam, in Raqqa governorate. The operation was heralded as a military achievement, but its significance reaches far beyond maps and military lines. It touches the very structure of Syrias political economy, the social contract between state and citizen and the fragile architecture of agreements meant to reconcile formerly hostile actors.

And the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which previously controlled the areas as well as all of northeastern Syria, soon realised the situation they faced. By Sunday evening, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that a deal had been reached with the SDF.

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State institutions will enter the three eastern and northeastern governorates  Hasakah, Deir Az Zor and Raqqa, al-Sharaa said.

Heartland scarred by war

In eastern Syria, hydrocarbons have long been both a lifeblood and a driver of economic leverage.

Before the beginning of the conflict in 2011, oil and gas accounted for nearly 20 percent of Syrias gross domestic product (GDP). During the war, these fields became the backbone of the fragmented war economy, exploited by armed groups and redirected to support local militias. Reclaiming these fields is therefore more than symbolic  it is a prerequisite for fiscal recovery.





Labib al-Nahhas, director of the Syrian Association for Citizens Dignity, said the rapid territorial losses suffered by the SDF echo the fall of President Bashar al-Assads regime in December 2024.

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SDF are collapsing in a similar way to [the] regime in Damascus, he said, arguing that al-Omar, Tabqa and Tishreen are pivotal for economic recovery, not only in terms of recovering resources such as oil and gas, but because they will have a huge impact on prices and living conditions.

Radwan Ziadeh, senior fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC (ACW), said controlling natural resources alone was not enough to help Syria move forward, but that it was a step in the right direction.

It is still very early to say that there are tangible benefits from this advance, he said.

Oil- and gasfields require significant international investment to unlock their full potential. On their own, they cannot deliver recovery. [But] more importantly, this is a significant step towards unifying Syria. This is the first time the country has been unified under one government since 2013. Before that, Syria was divided between Free Syrian Army factions, the al-Assad government, and later ISIL [ISIS], which fragmented the country even further.

March agreement

In March 2025, Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the SDF who is also known as Mazloum Kobani, and al-Sharaa signed a framework agreement aimed at integrating the group into state structures while protecting local governance and Kurdish rights.

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At the time, Abdi called it a real opportunity to build a new Syria that embraces all its components. He emphasised that there will be no armies outside the state, reflecting both acceptance of a unified military structure and persistent concern for Kurdish autonomy.

Al-Sharaa, meanwhile, presented the pact as an affirmation of state sovereignty first, rights second  a point that would prove decisive in the months ahead.





In November, al-Sharaa met United States President Donald Trump at the White House, and Syria became a partner in the war against ISIL. That essentially took the air from the SDFs argument that it was the only US ally fighting against the armed group. The agreement also provided al-Sharaas forces with the opportunity to consolidate their deals with Arab fighters who wanted to switch sides  from the SDF to Damascus. And the Syrian president offered an olive branch to war-weary Kurdish civilians, many of whom also want an end to hostilities.

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However, by late 2025, implementation of the government-SDF agreement lagged. Territorial and administrative disagreements grew, and the Syrian army advanced into SDF-controlled territory.

Tribes decisive role

While foreign policy set the backdrop, local tribal dynamics have proved decisive in reshaping control. Over the past year, Damascus has invested heavily in courting Arab clans in Deir Az Zor and Raqqa who had grown disaffected with the SDFs Kurdish-led administration. The tribes were also growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of implementation of the March agreement.

Participants at a January 17 meeting of tribal elders from Syrias east reviewed the consequences of failing to implement the agreements provisions on time, including the potential political and security impacts on the region.

Several tribal sheikhs at the meeting emphasised the importance of preventing escalation, the necessity of adhering to agreements to achieve stability, and called on the SDF to implement the March deal. The tribes had made clear their dissatisfaction with the SDF, and once the opportunity presented itself, they moved to push the SDF out of their communities.

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A source from the Syrian Tribal Forces, a coalition of Syrian Arab tribes, told Al Jazeera on Sunday: Areas south of Hasakah, from Sur to al-Shaddadi, are free of SDF forces.

The outside influence

The unravelling of the March deal was also accelerated by changing regional dynamics. The US  a longstanding, primary military partner  narrowed its role to counter-ISIL operations, leaving the Kurdish-led forces without the external military help they had relied on. Without US enforcement, Damascus has had room to assert authority east of the Euphrates River, the backbone of the SDFs territory.

Turkiye, for its part, has always remained wary of any SDF autonomy. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been quick to back al-Sharaas moves against the SDF and welcomed the news of Sundays deal.

The territory was taken from the SDF not just by force, but with the tacit consent of international and regional allies and communities weary of war, who felt disenfranchised as a result of Arab-Kurdish divisions.

Energy, water as levers of state authority

Control of the al-Omar oilfield, the Conoco gas complex and the Tabqa Dam is not just symbolic.

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Tabqa Dam, the countrys largest hydroelectric facility, now governs power and irrigation across much of northern and eastern Syria. Electricity in this region is literally life-sustaining, powering hospitals, schools and industrial activity.

Yet the full potential of these assets remains unrealised. Reconstruction and international investment are necessary to convert regained infrastructure into long-term state capacity.





Meanwhile, the SDFs loss of control over resource-rich areas reduces their financial independence and constrains governance in formerly autonomous zones. As ACWs Ziadeh noted, this moment is less about immediate economic gain than the consolidation of state authority and territorial unification.

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The SDF, it seems, will have to retreat from most Arab majority areas towards Hasakah governorate. That is where the historic roots of Syrias Kurdish minority remain and provide the force with manpower, political backing and economic viability.

Human and social changes

The Syrian governments advance eastwards is reshaping communities. Thousands have been displaced from Aleppo, Raqqa and Tabqa.

Kurdish populations face the tension between guaranteed citizenship as promised by al-Sharaa in a presidential decree issued on January 16, and the erosion of the SDFs political autonomy.

Arab tribes, meanwhile, are recalibrating alliances, balancing local interests with new state authority.

Main tribes, including al-Ukaidat, al-Bakara, al-Jabour, Anza, Shammar, Bani Khalid, al-Bu Shaaban, al-Buhamad and al-Baggara, essentially run the governorates of Deir Az Zor, Raqqa and Hasakah in northeastern Syria. Their loyalties are often transactional, depending on who runs that region. Al-Sharaas forces seem to have the upper hand now.

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The social contract  fragile before the war  is being renegotiated in real time, amid both material deprivation and political promises.

To keep new allies happy and prevent defections, Damascus will have to care  and be seen to care, as well. The likelihood of more people tilting to the governments side will depend on what kind of improvements they see in terms of security, inclusion and the economy.

Al-Nahhas expects the impact on living conditions would be massive but not immediate, stressing that expectation management is essential because recovery will take time. Central control and stability, he added, could incentivise foreign investment in oil, gas and electricity, provided corruption is minimised and governance improves.

He said after regaining vital energy sites, electricity costs and availability could also improve, but warned that outcomes depend on management  how quickly authorities can make facilities operational, given that infrastructure is not optimal, how effectively control is asserted, and how transparently assets are managed.

No oil windfalls soon

Mohamad Ahmad, economist and energy specialist at Karam Shaar Advisory Limited, said while the al-Omar field was technically feasible for investment, production had collapsed to about 14,200 barrels per day and reservoirs were stressed.

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The governments recent takeover in late 2025 reclaims a critically impaired asset; its rehabilitation faces immense technical and financial hurdles, underscoring the long-term economic cost of the war, he said.





Ahmad added that the capture of the oilfield highlights the depth of damage inflicted over the years of conflict.

As Syrias flagship oilfield, al-Omars trajectory from a high-potential asset to a war-torn symbol is both tragic and indicative of the conflicts devastation, he said.

Were looking at a field that once produced nearly 90,000 barrels per day, with original reserves of 760 million barrels of high-quality light crude. However, over a decade of conflict, which included its use as a financial engine for ISIS and subsequent targeted air strikes, has inflicted catastrophic damage  well over $800m  to its core infrastructure.

Unification still fragile

In Deir Az Zor, Raqqa and Aleppo, energy infrastructure hums unevenly. Across the northeast, Syrians live between the promise of a unified government and the caution of decades of uncertainty  their future tethered to the intersection of energy, politics, and human resilience.

Yet economic realities, lingering distrust and complex foreign involvement mean that unification is precarious.

But for the first time since 2013, Syria is largely unified under a single government. Ziadeh added that the inclusion of Kurdish rights and social freedoms elevates this beyond a military or territorial achievement, with the announcement to include Kurdish rights and social freedoms within the Syrian state framework, this is the first time we are seeing a unifying government in Syria. That is the most important takeaway from this rapid advance.

The Syrian governments battlefield advances demonstrate the return of central authority, the partial reintegration of Kurdish and Arab actors, and the resumption of control over key economic lifelines. Tribal councils have praised inclusive decrees; Abdi continues to navigate a shifting political landscape; and al-Sharaa asserts sovereignty with inclusion.

But the recovery of Syrias northeast is not merely about military gains or legal decrees. It is about rebuilding trust, maintaining local support, and carefully managing the delicate balance between unity and autonomy. The oil, the dam, the gas, and the laws are all symbols of what is possible  but also reminders of how tenuous state power remains in a land long fractured by war.

In Syria, the Euphrates is both witness and arbiter  it remains to be seen whether its eastern and western banks could work together for a united Syria after more than five decades of being ruled by the al-Assad family.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev announced that he is resigning as head of state Monday, signalling the launch of a new political project just two months before the next snap parliamentary elections in the country gripped by an ongoing political crisis.

Our democracy cannot survive if we leave it in the hands of corrupt figures, deal-makers, and extremists, the president said, adding that he will formally submit his resignation on Tuesday.

Radev has held the presidency of Bulgaria for nine years. Speculation that he would enter the parliamentary race and seek the post of prime minister has existed for some time and was confirmed today.

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Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic, and its governance lies in the hands of the parliament, the council of ministers, and the prime minister.

We are already members of Schengen and the eurozone," Radev said.

"The questions here are: why did achieving these goals not bring stability and satisfaction; why did Bulgarians stop voting; why do they not rely on the justice system and do not trust the media; why did citizens flood the squares twice; why, in a European Bulgaria, a large percentage of people feel poor, and even more live in insecurity, he asked.

He blamed the conveyor-belt model of governance, which has the outward features of democracy but functions through the mechanisms of oligarchy.

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During his tenure as president, Radev had to appoint seven caretaker governments due to the years-long political crisis and the inability of parties to form stable majorities.

Just weeks ago, the country was shaken by the largest protests since the 1990s, initially triggered by opposition to the draft budget but later escalating into demands for resignations and more - namely, the withdrawal from politics of key political figures such as former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act.

The emergence of a new political party led by the former president Rumen Radev could significantly reshape not only Bulgarias domestic affairs but also its foreign policy. Radevs position on the war in Ukraine differs sharply from that of previous governments. For this reason, analysts and opponents have often labelled him pro-Russian.

In his speech on Monday, Radev also addressed this issue, stating: In the name of their political future, some politicians are putting the peaceful lives of Bulgarians at risk amid a dangerous war close to our borders and are even encroaching on civil and ethnic peace, which you and I will preserve despite their provocations.

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Related

Weeks before Bulgaria was set to adopt the euro (on 1 January 2026), Radev called for a referendum on the adoption of the single European currency, but the parliament rejected it.

The final rift between Bulgarians and the political class came with the National Assemblys refusal to hold a referendum on the date of introduction of the single European currency. The representatives of the people denied the people their right to choose, Radev said.

The snap parliamentary elections in Bulgaria will take place in the spring and will be the seventh election since 2021. The role of president will be assumed by Vice President Iliana Yotova.
Protesters from across the Bay Area gathered Sunday afternoon in front of San Francisco's Ferry Building, demanding regime change in Iran after thousands of protesters have been reportedly killed over the past several weeks of uprising.

The protest was followed by an evening vigil at Washington Square Park in honor of the lives lost.

ABC7 News Reporter Tara Campbell spoke with organizers and people whose family members are caught in the uprising.

RELATED: Bay Area Iranian community reacts to protests, mass killings by government in Iran

"There's a lot of anger right now. And Iranians, and our hearts and our minds, and we don't know how to channel that, and I thought that this would be a good container for that," said Sam, vigil organizer.

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The Human Rights Activists New Agency reported on Sunday that it has verified more than 3,700 deaths and fears the number could be much higher. The agency is also reporting that more than 24,000 protesters have been arrested amid the Iranian regime's crackdown.

Watch more in the video player above.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
The log-in page of Instagrams website. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Avery Ping had a knack for noticing who in a room might be having a bad day and checking in on them. He wanted to be a psychiatrist.

But the Olympia teen was addicted to his screen, his father Aaron said. He wanted to get away from his phone, and Aaron was adamant about limiting his screen time.

For a developing teenage brain, its going to be training that brain for impulsive behavior, Aaron Ping said. Dopamine reward schedules, it has a really harmful effect on the developing mind.

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Aaron Ping feels that effect is what led Avery to seek out the hallucinogenic drug MDMA on Snapchat in late 2024, leading to his overdose death. He was 16.

Now his father is pushing for a measure in Washington state to set up safeguards for children online.

House Bill 1834 aims to protect youth in multiple ways.

It would block companies like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok from providing addictive feeds to minors. Youth consumers would still have access to the platforms to search for specific content and follow users theyre interested in.

Under the bill, companies also couldnt send push notifications to minors overnight or during school hours without parental consent.

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Its really the first step that has to happen before we can start to make it safe online, Ping said in an interview.

The Senate passed its version of the legislation last year with some bipartisan support, but it stalled in the House amid constitutionality and privacy concerns. The bill comes at the request of state Attorney General Nick Brown. It also had Gov. Bob Fergusons support last year.

As attorney general, Ferguson sued TikTok and Meta over the platforms trying to reel in youth users and get them hooked. Both cases are ongoing.

Lawmakers and advocates, including former tech executives, are renewing their push for the state guardrails this year.

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The tech industry isnt happy.

Rose Feliciano, the executive director of TechNet in the Northwest, said in a statement that the organization and its member companies are committed to providing safe, age-appropriate online experiences for young people.

But we are concerned that the bill, as currently drafted, would limit companies ability to offer the full range of parental controls needed to help keep children safe, said Feliciano, whose organization is made up of a bipartisan network of tech executives. She also noted constitutionality concerns.

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TechNet members include Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Meta and Google.

In a letter to lawmakers Thursday, the tech lobbying group NetChoice said the issue should be left to parents, and that legislation like this replaces parental judgment with state diktat.

Amy Bos, the groups vice president of government affairs, argued the proposed regulations violate the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. NetChoice prefers focusing on digital literacy and helping parents guide their childrens internet use to address the problem.

Childrens Alliance Executive Director Soleil Boyd said advocates have worked hard to ensure the legislation is legally defensible and really will make a difference.

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You bring in these algorithms that really are targeting young people, children and kids to make sure that they stay online for as long as absolutely possible, Boyd said. Its more than most parents can do to really fight and combat that.

View from the inside

Kelly Stonelake worked at Meta for nearly 15 years, including leading the expansion of the companys virtual reality software, Horizon Worlds, to kids and teenagers.

For much of her career, Stonelake, who also worked at Apple, believed that her company was going to do right by its consumers. She wouldve argued against overregulation.

But she said it was an open secret within Meta that with Horizon Worlds, children were using a product they werent allowed to without parental oversight, meaning the company was collecting their data in violation of federal law. The only concern was for how issues would affect the company, not the young users of the products, she said.

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The executive team got into the product to play test it and kind of understand it better ourselves, but we could not even hear one another over the sounds of screaming children, Stonelake said.

Stonelake, who lives in Normandy Park, believes she was laid off from Meta in retaliation for raising concerns. She is suing the tech giant over the alleged retaliation and gender discrimination. (Meta didnt respond to a request for comment.)

Shes now become passionate about working on bills like Washingtons, which she calls common sense regulations that we need to protect kids.

Because Ive seen firsthand that these companies wont, Stonelake said.

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In 2023, about 70% of Washington 10th graders reported using social media several times a day. Those students were likely to have worse grades.

Nearly half of 10th graders were at risk of what is called problematic internet use that could be risky or impulsive and lead to bad consequences. Those students were likely to get less sleep than their peers. And 8% reported increased social anxiety due to internet use.

If we can get way upstream and we can prevent it from happening in the first place, and this is exactly that, said bill sponsor Rep. Lisa Callan, D-Issaquah. Lets prevent some anxiety and depression from happening in the first place.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General recommended policymakers limit social media access to keep youth safe and better protect their privacy online.

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Another bill under consideration in Olympia looks to protect young people online by requiring kids age 16 and younger to get parental consent to make social media accounts. Last year, Democratic lawmakers proposed a new tax on social media companies to fund youth behavioral health care.

The legal state of play

A number of states have enacted legislation tackling this issue, but such laws have faced legal challenges.

Washingtons measure is modeled after a California ban on addictive feeds that has withstood court scrutiny. Last year, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the laws requirement of parental consent for minors to access addictive feeds. Meta, Google and TikTok have since sued to block the California law.

Tech groups like NetChoice argue regulating internet content and restricting what feeds minors can have is unconstitutional.

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Seann Colgan, a state assistant attorney general focused on consumer protection, argued the Washington bill doesnt run afoul of freedom of speech protections.

It doesnt restrict kids access to speech, Colgan told a state Senate panel Thursday. Kids can still access the speech, they just need to look for it themselves instead of having it fed to them in an addictive manner.
You can feel the excitement across Westminster as countless civil servants and ministers pack their bags for their escape to their annual Alpine sojourn to the World Economic Forum in Davos. This time it is vital that the Chancellor does not jet off before fixing the business rates blunder  well highlighted by The Telegraphs campaign  that she has bestowed on Britons here at home.

It has now been almost two months since she stood at the despatch box during her latest Budget to proclaim that she had permanently lowered business rates on Britains high streets.

Her carefully contrived deceit barely survived 24 hours before high streets were up in arms, having done their own sums and come to the conclusion that far from lower rates they were looking at the biggest business rates rise in a generation.

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Average increases of 74 per cent for independent pubs, 50 per cent for shops, 53 per cent for restaurants and a doubling for hotels will devastate the job-creating hospitality sector. High street staples like salons, pharmacies and post offices too will be ravaged.

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with a government that flies the flag, be it in Davos, Detroit or Doncaster. British businesses, creative industries and our financial services are world class and the world still wants our advanced manufacturing exports. Our strengths will endure well beyond the sands of time slipping rapidly through the hourglass that denotes what remains of Reevess tenure.

With the right leadership, our best days remain ahead of us. But the brilliant small businesses which make up the bedrock of our own economy will not unreasonably feel neglected as they contemplate their own bleak future this week while Reeves and her entourage of junior ministers swan between swanky champagne receptions.

The perception that the Chancellor is fleeing the scene of a crime will not be helped by the fact that pubs breathed an early sigh of relief 10 days ago when Treasury briefings indicated a business rates U-turn was in the offing.

Jetting off to Davos when there is a backlash from pubs could be seen as fleeing the scene of a crime - Hollie Adams

Conservatives correctly pointed out that this would leave five in six hospitality jobs in restaurants, hotels and other venues still under threat. A few days later Reeves herself jumped in to suggest the scope of relief would be sector wide.

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But talk is cheap. Fifty-five days on from her rates-rising Budget and mere weeks before the resulting bills hit doorsteps, there is still precious little detail about this supposed U-turn.

I speak every day with concerned businesses who still dont know how to make ends meet or whether their auditors will deem them to be a going concern. Sadly, many are now beginning to throw in the towel. They need clarity and they need it yesterday  not after the Chancellor returns with a carry on full of duty-free Toblerone.

Normally U-turns of this proportion would amount to an act of painful political prostration, but for this Government they are little more than routine. Last week marked their 14th U-turn, the equivalent of rotating yourself 2,520 degrees. Why not give it one more spin if it means saving thousands of businesses on the high street?

If Reeves needs help to finish her homework before she jets off, she is very welcome to copy ours. Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives have already set out a plan that would see business rates abolished entirely for thousands of pubs, shops, restaurants and hotels, and a hefty cut for over 200,000 more.

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Our plan is fully funded by 47bn worth of savings from cuts to excessive welfare, a reduction in civil service headcount and ensuring that social housing goes only to British nationals.

Getting our business policy right is a priority because our benches are stacked with former businesspeople who have had to hire, take risks and keep customers happy themselves rather than populated by tax-rise junkies fresh from the Resolution Foundation.

While in Switzerland, our Chancellor could learn a great deal from Javier Milei of Argentina, who has wielded his chainsaw against the public sector like a hot knife through an overbearing ice sculpture. His work has paid off: hes unleashed growth far in excess of her own. The IMF this week predicted Argentina would see their GDP rise by 4 per cent this year  more than double the paltry 1.5 per cent it forecasts for the UK.

Switzerland is neutral territory, safe from the ire of provincial publicans and shopkeepers. In many ways, Davos throws up a protective security shield from democratic accountability. But the Chancellor will eventually have to return to face the music from Britains 5.6 million small businesses, together employing 13 million people.

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The Government may neither understand nor care about the troubles of these hard-working men and women, but they in turn wont forget the contrast between photos of Reeves swanning across the world stage and their own descent into a mire of her making.

Andrew Griffith is the Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade

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After a snowstorm dumped more than six inches of snow in several areas of Massachusetts overnight Sunday, residents of the Bay State have another weather event to look forward to on Monday.

The northern lights should be visible in Massachusetts  and the rest of New England  amid a geomagnetic storm watch. The best chance to see the lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAAs view line for the phenomenon known as aurora borealis cuts through Pennsylvania and New Jersey on the East Coast. Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are all well within the line, while Rhode Island and Connecticut are on its edge.

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Residents of the Bay State hoping to see the lights should cross their fingers for clear skies. National Weather Service forecasters expect more cloud cover in Western Massachusetts than in the eastern part of the state.

In Boston, the weather service projects about 38% of the sky to be covered by opaque clouds. That number rises to 45% for Worcester and to 59% for Springfield.

The clearest skies in the state are expected to be on Cape Cod.

To maximize your chances of seeing the lights, get as far away from light pollution as possible and go to higher ground.

If they are not visible to the naked eye, try viewing through your cellphone camera. The camera can detect wavelengths you might not usually see.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio  once derided by Donald Trump as "Little Marco" has emerged as the trusted point man riding shotgun on Trump's mechanical bull of a foreign policy  from taking Greenland to dealing with a dangerous Iran.

No secretary of state in recent history has had to deal with so many crises and hot spots all at once  Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Gaza. Rubio will either sink or swim in his precarious position.

It's a difficult job. All it took was one major stumble  Benghazi  to trip up former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But if Rubio is successful navigating the multiple storms he faces, he could become the Republicans' best hope at keeping the White House in 2028.

While Rubio has publicly backed JD Vance's presidential aspirations, he might change his mind and jump in the race if he's convinced he could win.

"If JD Vance runs for president, he's going to be our nominee, and I'll be one of the first people to support him," Rubio told Vanity Fair.

That statement was viewed with suspicion by many Republicans who see Rubio not willing to play second fiddle to Vance.

In 2016, when he ran against Trump, Rubio called him a "con artist." But Rubio has since done a 180-degree turn.

Rubio, a former Florida senator and of Cuban descent, has been praised as a calm, stable, reasonable and trusted voice in President Trump's inner circle.

He has had to negotiate so many different roles that it's sparking memes on the internet depicting him in charge of various positions in the Trump world.

After one user on social media joked that Rubio "will be president of Cuba," Trump replied: "Sounds good to me."

Rubio himself joked recently that he is also a "candidate for the currently vacant HC and GM positions with the Miami Dolphins."

Marco's official positions in addition to secretary of state are national security adviser and archivist of the United States. But he's much more than that.

Rubio is now Trump's main point man in Venezuela, taking the lead in explaining the administration's arrest of Nicolas Maduro and defending the operation that resulted in Maduro's capture.

Asked about Trump's comments that the U.S. could be running Venezuela for years, Rubio defended the president.

"I understand that in this cycle and society we now live in, everyone wants instant outcomes," Rubio said. "They want it to happen overnight. It's not going to work that way."

But Venezuela is hardly the only hot spot Rubio is dealing with now. A new report on Monday said Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the possibility of military intervention in Iran.

Israel is now on "high alert" preparing for that possibility, according to a Reuters report, which came amid deadly anti-regime protests across Iran over the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, in another part of the globe, Denmark is reportedly seeking a meeting with Rubio after Trump again called on the U.S. to take over Greenland.

Rubio, attempting to calm nervous lawmakers, told them the U.S. intended to "purchase" the Arctic island, not take it by military force.

This was an example of Rubio stabilizing Trump and keeping him from getting into too much trouble. Good luck with that in the future.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Joe Battenfeld

Boston Herald/(TNS)

Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Boston Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter.

Previously:
Its not every day when a sitting federal judge refers to an incumbent American president as an authoritarian, so when it happens, it tends to raise some eyebrows. The Washington Post reported:

A federal judge Thursday decried what he said were breathtaking constitutional violations by senior Trump administration officials and called the president an authoritarian who expects everyone in the executive branch to toe the line absolutely. In remarks laced with outrage and disbelief, U.S. District Judge William Young said Donald Trump and top officials have a fearful approach to freedom of speech that would seek to exclude from participation everyone who doesnt agree with them.

At issue was a federal case dealing with the administrations treatment of pro-Palestinian students. Young, appointed to the bench by Ronald Reagan, was unrestrained in his criticisms of the administration, declaring, The big problem in this case is that the Cabinet secretaries and, ostensibly, the president of the United States, are not honoring the First Amendment.

As part of a condemnation that accused Donald Trump of being an authoritarian  a word, Young said, he chose carefully  the jurist also concluded that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in an unconstitutional conspiracy to pick off certain people.

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These Cabinet secretaries have failed in their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution, Young added.

The judges outrage was striking, but its worth emphasizing that Young has plenty of company.

Last year, for example, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, another Reagan appointee, not only rejected Trumps executive order on birthright citizenship, he also took aim at the presidents twisted approach to the law.

It has become ever more apparent that to our president, the rule of law is but an impediment to his policy goals, Coughenour wrote. The rule of law is, according to him, something to navigate around or simply ignore, whether that be for political or personal gain. Nevertheless, in this courtroom and under my watch, the rule of law is a bright beacon which I intend to follow.

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The Constitution, the judge added, is not something the government can play policy games with.

Soon after, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell felt compelled to remind the administration in a ruling, An American President is not a king.

As the year neared its end, U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf, yet another Reagan appointee, described Trump and his team as an existential threat to democracy and the rule of law. He also resigned from the bench so he can condemn the White House and its radicalism more freely and frequently.

Over the course of the last year, the White House and its allies have launched a variety of efforts that appeared designed to intimidate the judiciary. Theres a growing body of evidence to suggest those tactics have failed.

The post Reagan-appointed judge slams unconstitutional conspiracy, calls Trump an authoritarian appeared first on MS NOW.

This article was originally published on ms.now
This story was originally published on mynorthwest.com.

On July 24, 2005, King County, Washington was officially renamed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was a long time coming. King County was originally named after U.S. Vice President Rufus de Vane King in 1852. King was a plantation owner in Alabama who reportedly owned between 250 and 500 slaves.

In 1986, the King County Council, with support from county residents, passed a proposal to rename the county after a champion of justice, rather than a slave owner.

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Martin Luther King Jr. was much more meaningful to be named after a guy whose life was based on creating social justice, fairness, and equity for all people, Larry Gossett, former Chair of the King County Council, said. So, it still continues to thrill me to see people recognizing and celebrating the meaningfulness of who our countys namesake is. And I remain proud of the role I played in bringing that about.

The change still needed a vote from the legislature and the governors signature. The legislature finally passed the renaming bill before Governor Christine Gregoire signed it into law in April 2005.

The name change became official on July 24, 2005.

Changing the history of the county is symbolic. Its symbolic to honor the best in ourselves, which is Martin Luther King Jr. A person who stood for non-violent protest, former Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said. This is a great time to celebrate that, particularly when we are actually encouraging people to peacefully protest what they believe in.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare pledged to shore up more safeguards for child care grants it plans to administer  including to review all past providers in the program within the next two months to ensure that additional funding does meet our rigorous standards of compliance.(Photo by Vanessa Nunes/Getty Images)

In response to two Idaho Republican lawmakers asking the state to freeze federal funds to expand child care availability, Idahos top health official detailed the states oversight work  and its plans to do more.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Charrons response to Rep. Josh Tanner and Sen. Brian Lenney, both Republicans, suggested the state had found few instances of fraud in 1,000 random audits in recent years.

Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee co-chairman Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, asks a question of Division of Financial Management Administrator Lori Wolff during the committees first meeting of the legislative session on Jan. 13, 2026, at the State Capitol Building in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

Idahos $14 million in federal funds  approved by the Legislature in 2025 as an addition to the Idaho Child Care Program  hadnt even been spent yet, because the state didnt dole out the money to providers, Charron wrote in a Jan. 12 letter. But she told the lawmakers that the agency shares your unwavering commitment to rooting out any potential fraud, waste, and abuse in all public programs (that the agency) administers.

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Idahos efforts come weeks after a conservative social media influencer made viral fraud allegations about Minnesotas child care programs. The videos claims  which spurred the Trump administration to crack down on child care funding  were largely misleading, according to a fact check by national news outlet The 19th.

Fraud hasnt recently been alleged in Idahos program, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Welfare said. And Idahos governor defended the states track record of running public assistance programs.

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After Idaho didnt promise to pause spending, Idaho lawmaker mulls next steps

But the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare directors letter didnt explicitly say if the state would do what the lawmakers asked: Freeze the new child care expansion funds until more safeguards are in place. It also came two days after a deadline the lawmakers had requested.

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Tanner, one of the lawmakers who asked for Idahos pause and who is the new co-chair of the Legislatures powerful budget committee, said he didnt feel like the agency fully addressed his concerns, and hes mulling what comes next.

We just want to make sure that any funds going out  that we are making sure that we have things in place to prevent fraud, as much as we possibly can, he told the Sun in an interview Thursday. We dont want to be a Minnesota. We do not want to be any other state. We want to make sure that we learn from other peoples mistakes, and make sure that we have things in place that prevent that.

Asked if the Department of Health and Welfare would comply with the lawmakers request, agency spokesperson AJ McWhorter said in a statement Wednesday that the agency is working with the Governors office to determine the next steps.

Governor says Idaho has strong track record of running public assistance programs

Early this month Gov. Brad Little called whats happening in Minnesota abominable. But asked about concerns about Idahos program to-be, Little touted Idahos management of public assistance programs.

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Im always concerned about fraud. I mean, but if you look at our programs, you look at SNAP, you look at Medicaid, you look at all the programs  Idahos compliance rates are one of the highest, Little told reporters on Jan. 8.

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Last week, McWhorter told the Sun there had not been complaints about fraud, waste or abuse in Idahos program to expand child care availability. But he said in the coming months, the agency is planning unannounced visits to child care facilities and other investigative actions.

Tanner said he isnt sure if there is fraud in Idahos program.

I really dont know, he said. I mean, Ive not seen blatant fraud, but I think theres always question(s), because there is a system  there was a gaming system that was going on  that was not necessarily being looked at from, I would say, pretty much most states, and I think thats thats something to go back and revisit and relook at.

What grant oversight work is the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare planning?

In her letter to Tanner and Lenney, Charron pledged to shore up more safeguards  including to review all past providers in the program within the next two months to ensure that additional funding does meet our rigorous standards of compliance.

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But in more than 1,000 random audits of a quarter of the states providers, only 45 resulted in providers being removed from the program, or having their licenses suspended or revoked, Charron wrote.

Safeguarding taxpayer dollars that support working families and vulnerable children is critical and an issue of public confidence we do not take lightly, Charron said in a written statement included in a news release last week. Every effort devoted to proactive prevention and detection efforts saves in recovery costs, ensures program integrity, and preserves vital services for those who truly need them. Any bad actors will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

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President Donald Trumps threat to tariff countries who oppose his campaign to annex Greenland has sparked outrage among global allies, with key world leaders vowing to uphold European sovereignty. And its not only caused a storm in international waters, as Trumps warning also prompted a new wave of criticism within his own party.

In a move that U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled as completely wrong, Trump over the weekend threatened to impose a 10% tariff on European allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom beginning Feb. 1 on any and all goods sent to the United States of America until Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the U.S. Trump said the tariff would be increased to 25% on June 1. The threat came after several European NATO allies committed to sending troops to Greenland to take part in military exercises alongside a renewed effort to bolster the security of the Arctic island.

Read More: Starmer Breaks With Trump Over Completely Wrong Greenland Tariff Threats and Urges Avoiding a Trade War

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A number of Republicans have already denounced Trumps pressure campaign to acquire the Kingdom of Denmark territory amid growing concerns over the White Houses refusal to rule out using military force to annex the island.

This is appalling. Greenland is a NATO ally. Denmark is one of our best friends so the way were treating them is really demeaning and it has no upside, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said in early January.

Since then, Trump has doubled down on his active pursuit of Greenland, despite the public rebuke of Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who said last week: If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. Refusing to retreat, Trumpwho maintains that acquiring the island is a matter of national securitysaid anything less than U.S. control of Greenland is unacceptable and argued that NATO should be leading the way for [the U.S.] to get it.

Danish soldiers disembark at the port in Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 18, 2026. Mads Claus RasmussenGetty Images

Trumps new economic threats have earned him renewed criticism from some Republicans who, similar to U.K. leader Starmer, are worried that using such leverage could prompt a trade war.



It's great for Putin, Xi and other adversaries who want to see NATO divided, said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. It hurts the legacy of President Trump and undercuts all the work he has done to strengthen the NATO alliance over the years.

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As Trumps effort to acquire Greenland shows no signs of dissipating, and with E.U. leaders set to convene for an emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss options on Thursday, heres a look at some of the Republicans who are taking a stand against the Presidents new tariffs threat.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

Lisa Murkowski, who is part of a bipartisan effort alongside Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire to introduce a bill to block Trump from taking over Greenland, lambasted the proposed use of economic pressure against key European allies.

These tariffs are unnecessary, punitive, and a profound mistake. They will push our core European allies further away while doing nothing to advance U.S. national security, said Murkowski, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The announcement of the tariffs came at the tail end of a bipartisan congressional delegation to Copenhagen that saw Murkowski and others display a show of support for Denmark and Greenland.

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Arguing that such division among NATO allies is playing directly into Putins hands, Murkowski urged Congress to work together to reassert our Constitutional authority over tariffs so that they are not weaponized in ways that harm our alliances and undermine American leadership.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks during a press conference with an American delegation, consisting of Senators and members of the House of Representatives, in Copenhagen, on Jan. 17, 2026. Ida Marie OdgaardGetty Images

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina

Sen. Tillis, who also visited Copenhagen, issued a strong condemnation of the tariffs threat and criticized the advisors who are actively pushing for coercive action to seize Greenland, calling the move beyond stupid.

This response to our own allies for sending a small number of troops to Greenland for training is bad for America, bad for American businesses, and bad for America's allies, said Tillis.

The North Carolina lawmaker also issued a joint statement alongside Democratic Sen. Shaheen, his co-chair on the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group.

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Of the eight European countries facing the tariffs, the Senators said: They are our NATO Allies who have fought beside us, died alongside us, and have made America safer and more prosperous.

Tillis and Shaheen maintained there is no need, or desire, for a costly acquisition or hostile military takeover of Greenland and said their own meetings with Greenlandic and Danish officials had shown that Denmark and Greenland want to partner with the United States and advance our shared security goals.

Sen. Thom Tillis (center left) joins Democratic Sen. Chris Coons to lay wreaths at the Monument for Denmarks International Effort Since 1948 at Kastellet, Copenhagen, on Jan. 17, 2026. Ida Marie OdgaardGetty Images

Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska

Don Bacon has been vocal in his disapproval of Trumps campaign over Greenland. He doubled down on his criticism once more following the Presidents threat to apply economic pressure through tariffs.

Referring to Trumps announcement as embarrassing, Bacon stated that Congress must reclaim tariff authorities.

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I and most Americans disagree with the Presidents heavy handedness. He is threatening NATO members, which is shameful. The fact that Greenland is part of NATOs umbrella gives the President all he needs to put more bases there, said Bacon.

The Nebraska lawmaker also took issue with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents assertion that Trump is being strategic in his pursuit of the Arctic territory. During an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, Bessent supported Trumps actions and said the U.S. is not going to outsource our national security.

Pushing back against the Trump Administrations approach, Bacon argued its not strategic to weaken or destroy NATO.

Rep. Don Bacon talks with reporters outside the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2025. Tom WilliamsGetty Images

Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio

Mike Turner, who leads the U.S. delegation to NATO's Parliamentary Assembly, admitted that the U.S. threatening to invade Greenland is a new issue.

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There certainly is no authority that the President has to use military force to seize territory from a NATO country. And certainly this is problematic that the President has made this statement and has caused tension among the alliance, he said during an appearance on CBS Face the Nation.

Turner added that the Presidents threats have put his peace principles at risk with respect to Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, and his leadership among our allies as well as his negotiations with the E.U.

Rep. Mike Turner speaks during an interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Al DragoGetty Images

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky

Rand Paul denounced the notion that tariffs can be used to pressure European allies during a televised interview on Sunday, arguing the President shouldn't be able to write up new taxes and threaten them any time he wishes.

Rejecting the idea that the Greenland matter warrants emergency powers, Paul said: We can't throw out all of the Constitution's rules on where taxes originate because someone declares an emergency. There is no emergency with Greenland. That's ridiculous.

Sen. Rand Paul talks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 8, 2026. Tom WilliamsGetty Images

Write to Olivia-Anne Cleary at olivia-anne.cleary@time.com.
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville predicted a political "wipeout" for Republicans in the 2026 midterm election.

Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters rejected the forecast and said Republicans can defy history and retain control of both chambers.

Carville argued Democrats could pick up dozens of seats in the House and would likely regain control of the Senate. Some Democratic strategists are warning that the party faces serious long-term challenges, particularly beyond the next election cycle.

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"I'm looking at the 2026 elections, and, frankly, it's going to be a wipeout," Carville said on "Saturday in America."

Carville Warns Democrats To Avoid Talking About Trans Athletes In Women's Sports, Defunding The Police

James Carville and RNC Chair Joe Gruters (Getty Images)

"The Democrats are going to pick up, at a minimum, 25 seats  maybe as high as 45. In all likelihood, the Democrats will carry the Senate," he told Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany.

Read On The Fox News App

Showdown For The House: Democrats, Republicans Brace For High-stakes Midterm Clash

Gruters pushed back on the prediction, arguing that signs point to Republicans retaining control of both chambers of Congress. He acknowledged the historical midterm disadvantage for the party in power but said Republicans are positioned to "defy history."

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"Our secret weapon is President Trump," Gruters said on "Saturday in America" in a separate segment.

President Donald Trump takes a question from a reporter in the Oval Office at the White House May 5, 2025.

"Hes accomplished more in this first 12 months than most presidents accomplished in eight years."

Democrats Had Major Election Victories In 2025, But Wins Dont Erase Partys Critical Weaknesses

Carville was speaking in response to a New York Times opinion essay from veteran Democratic strategist David Plouffe, a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, who argued that the party is "still in crisis."

"Right now, Democrats have no credible path to sustained control of the Senate and the White House," Plouffe wrote in a guest essay published Jan. 15.

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He warned that changes to the Electoral College could further complicate Democrats future prospects.

"After the adjustments to the Electoral College map that look likely to come with the next census, the Democratic presidential nominee could win all the states won by Kamala Harris plus the blue wall of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and still fall short of the 270 electoral votes needed to win," Plouffe added.





Original article source: RNC chair pushes back after Carville predicts GOP wipeout in 2026 midterms
Robert Jenrick squirmed as Laura K grilled him on Reforms welfare policy. I took no pleasure from his obvious discomfort. I assume his instincts go against Reforms welfare expansionist position on the two-child benefit cap, though its hard to be sure, given how far his political views have shifted from his days as a keen Cameroon Conservative. Maybe hes hoping Reform will shift to a more sensible position on the economy as time passes, but I wouldnt bank on it.

Farage boasts he has a Labour defection coming this week: hardly a signal that hes planning to shift to the right on the economy. Making welfare savings is hard. Conservatives made them in the 2010s. Benefit claimants fell and so did the benefits bill. That was on the back of Iain Duncan Smiths work in opposition making the moral case for welfare reform, and an election campaign which warned of tough choices.

Our next Government is going to have to make big welfare savings, as this Labour government clearly wont. The bill is simply heading upwards with no end in sight. The argument for savings is compelling  at least to me as a Conservative  but no one should assume that means itll be a walk in the park doing it. Its easy to point at the colossal benefits bill and promise youll cut it, just as its easy to recount shocking stories of benefits abuse.

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But in practice making savings involves hard choices and hard cases. MPs inboxes fill up with emails from campaign groups setting out who will suffer because of cuts, and individual constituents will come and tell them they wont be able to cope without benefits. The challenge of hard cases doesnt mean its not the right thing to make savings. But it does mean you have to come into Government with a mandate to do it, and a plan for how. Thats why were doing the hard work on welfare policies for the 2030s now.

I dont sign up to using the phrase Britain is broken. It doesnt help anyone. But I do believe with every cell in my body that our welfare system is failing the country and without change, it will break Britain. Our welfare system incentivises people to sign off sick and onto benefits. It deters people from trying to work, or doing training for potential work, for fear of losing the security of their benefit income. And the exorbitant cost of welfare is contributing to a tax bill that means working people from those on the minimum wage through to millionaires are saying why bother? .

As Kemi has said, with nearly half of the population net gainers from the state, the rider is getting bigger than the horse. If we continue like this, well be at the IMF with our begging bowl in the years ahead. And you can forget spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence. Thats why reforming our welfare state so it backs work over sickness, and earnings over hand-outs, is imperative for the future of our country. The argument to do it is one our next Government simply has to win. And that means having the argument now. We  the Conservatives  have started making that argument. Ive already been grilled by Laura K myself on why we would stop sickness benefits for milder mental health problems and neurodiversity diagnoses.

People with ADHD (which includes good friends and family) have taken me to task too. Some support my view (ADHD shouldnt stop you working, I work) others have told me I dont appreciate how difficult a neurodiverse life is. I listen and reflect. But I am still adamant we have to reform a system which means 6.5 million people and rising are on out of work benefits despite being of working age. No other party seems to get this. Certainly, no other party is making the argument. Labours review of sickness benefits has ruled savings out of scope.

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Reform has mostly swerved talking about welfare, apart from a press release announcing our plans on restricting benefits to foreign nationals. Which they bungled because they didnt know the figures. The Lib Dems have called for more spending on all sorts of things. And of course, were the only party committed to the principle of the two-child benefit cap because the taxpayer shouldnt foot the bill for benefits-claimants to have super-sized families.

The papers have been full of comment about Westminster shenanigans the last couple of days and my phone has buzzed with requests for my view. Its politics, I get that, but its also distraction from the more important work that needs to be done. Work like digging deep to really understand why we succeeded in making welfare savings in the first decade in Government, but then failed for the last four years.

Work like the hard yards to design our future welfare system - a system that will make sure work pays while providing a safety net for people who are genuinely too sick or disabled to work. A system that is fair and wont break the bank of Britain. We need to have a plan and win the moral argument. Thats what matters. Thats how Im spending my time. As for the psychodramaRob who?

Helen Whately MP is shadow secretary of state for work and pensions

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ZEELAND, Mich.  A major multi-vehicle pileup shut down part of Interstate 196 southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan amid heavy lake-effect snow Monday morning. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office told FOX Weather that nine to 12 people are injured, but no fatalities have been reported.

Deputies on scene initially estimated roughly 100 vehicles were involved in the pileup, the sheriff's office said. Drone video of the scene showed at least six tractor-trailers in one section of the crash.

This graphic shows what conditions were like at the time of the crash. (FOX Weather)

Michigan State Police said between 30 and 40 semi-trucks were involved.

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How To Watch Fox Weather

The chain-reaction pileup began around 10:19 a.m. local time, the county sheriff's office said.

I-196 was closed between Zeeland and Hudsonville, specifically from Exits 55 to 62, but has since reopened.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the crash happened amid heavy lake-effect snow. Heavy blowing snow was reported with visibility down to just a quarter-mile and winds gusting between 25 and 40 mph.

What Is Lake-effect Snow?

Some drivers were stranded at the scene and were instructed to remain inside their vehicles until they could be bussed to Hudsonville High School, the sheriff's office said.

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The FOX Forecast Center said snow was falling along Interstate I-196 at the time of the initial crash on Monday morning.

Temperatures were hovering in the low teens. The highway remained closed for several hours while drivers were evacuated and wreckage was cleared from the road.

Live Updates: Roughly 100-Car Pileup In Michigan During Heavy Lake-effect Snow, Blinding Visibility

Michigan State Police are advising drivers to slow down and described road conditions as treacherous.

"Blowing winds and blinding snow are creating dangerous travel conditions. Driving beyond your ability increases the risk of serious crashes," police said on X.

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Analysis from the FOX Forecast Center reveals just how challenging driving conditions were at the time of Monday morning's multi-car pileup in western Michigan.

Nearby weather observation sites reported visibilities under 1/2 mile along Interstate 196 at the time of the initial crash, which the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office says was around 10:19 a.m. CT.

The limited visibility, a result of heavy lake-effect snow, was likely a factor in the 100+ vehicle pileup. That snow was also being blown around by 20 to 30 mph winds, creating whiteout conditions for drivers in the area.





Original article source: Over 100 vehicles involved in I-196 pileup during dangerous snowy conditions in Michigan, injuries reported
Democratic-NPL U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer speaks with voters during an event at the North Dakota Kennedy Center on July 30, 2024. Hammer announced he is running for the seat again this year. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Democrat Trygve Hammer announced Monday he plans to run for North Dakotas lone U.S. House seat for a second time.

Hammer, of Minot, said Republican incumbent Rep. Julie Fedorchak hasnt delivered on campaign promises of addressing affordable housing and health care costs. He also said Fedorchak and Republicans in Congress have failed to provide a check on President Donald Trumps power on tariffs and his perceived war powers.

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Theres a lot of disappointment going on in North Dakota, Hammer said in an interview Monday with Joel Heitkamp on KFGO.

In 2024, Hammer received 30% of the statewide vote while Fedorchak received 70%.

Hammer said while affordability issues are not being addressed in Washington, actions in Venezuela and discussions on acquiring Greenland are instead taking center stage.

We have wrecked ag markets, Hammer said. Theres a lot of consternation out there, and a lot of people arent getting what they voted for.

One of the only ways to fix those problems is for Congress to take back its power, he said.

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If our federal delegation would act as a check on the worst impulses of the Trump administration, they would make it a better presidency, Hammer said in an interview with the North Dakota Monitor on Monday.

Hammer has diverse work and military experience, which included the Naval Academy where he became a Marine helicopter pilot, and a deployment to Iraq in 2003 as a platoon commander. Hammer also worked in the Bakken oil field and as a science teacher in Granville.

He also worked as a train conductor in Minot before taking leave to make his congressional run.

Hammer had unsuccessful runs for the North Dakota Public Service Commission in 2022 and the North Dakota Legislature in 2020.

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Fedorchak previously announced plans to seek reelection. Trump endorsed Fedorchaks reelection bid in a social media post last summer.

Alex Balazs, who received the North Dakota Republican Party endorsement in 2024 but lost in the primary, also announced hes running again this year.

North Dakota Monitor reporter Michael Achterling can be reached at machterling@northdakotamonitor.com.
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MiddleEast SingleShip 1200

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The Royal Navy is to turn its back on the Middle East as its last remaining ship in the region sails home.

HMS Middleton is Britains sole vessel in the region following the decommissioning of frigate HMS Lancaster late last year.

However, the minehunter, which is almost 42 years old, is expected to return to the UK this year, potentially as early as March.

There are no plans to replace the ship, which is based in Bahrain, leaving Britain without a fighting presence in the Gulf for the first time since 1980.

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The move has been branded a terrible error by a former head of the Navy, while defence analysts warned it signalled an end to Britain as a global naval force.

Admiral Lord Alan West, who served as First Sea Lord between 2002 and 2006, said: Its extremely unfortunate that our Navy has been reduced to such a level that we cant have a frigate or offshore patrol vessel based in the Gulf because its a region that has constant difficulty and trouble.

To not have that is a terrible error. We need to, as rapidly as we can, get something based there but the trouble is our Navy has been reduced.

The Navys ability to go to sea has been on a downward trend for years.

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When the UK sent a taskforce to the Middle East in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq, it was able to deploy 37 vessels over the period of a year.

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But since then, ship numbers have dwindled, with 22 vessels deployed in 2010, 17 in 2015, 15 in 2020 and just eight last year  most of which were from the UKs carrier strike group as it sailed through the region towards the Far East.

The UK is not taken seriously in the Gulf anymore because it hasnt done anything to be taken seriously in the region for a decade-plus, warned Frances Tusa, a defence analyst.

The idea of global Britain is all but over. On the size of the Navy we have got, it is simply not doable.

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In 2014, the Navy had 65 ships in its fleet, including 13 type 23 frigates, six type 45 destroyers and four amphibious assault vessels.

It also had 11 submarines. Now it has 51 warships and 10 submarines  a large number of which have been stuck in port for years.

The number of frigates now stands at seven. There are still six destroyers and two new aircraft carriers. However, all the Navys former amphibious assault ships have been scrapped.

Plans are in place to increase the fleet, with two new types of frigates and two new submarine classes being built.

A scheme to roll out new drone warships, known as Atlantic Bastion, is also in the works. However, all these plans are still years away from being completed.

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Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins, the First Sea Lord, warned in December that the force is now struggling to cope with the number of Russian ships entering UK waters.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sir Gwyn said: We are definitely in a competition in the Atlantic. If you look at the Russian capabilities, such as the Northern fleet, their funding has continued to flow despite the war in Ukraine.

Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins said the fleet was stretched by the demands put upon it - Matt Bradley

Asked if the Navy was at a disadvantage, he added: I wouldnt say were behind, but I would say we are stretched.

HMS Lancasters decommissioning just before Christmas left the UK without a single major warship in the Gulf at a time when the United States is threatening strikes against Iran, which could plunge the region into chaos.

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Britain began its permanent naval presence in the Middle East in 1853, with the signing of a perpetual maritime truce with the rulers of what became the United Arab Emirates.

Navy warships remained stationed in the region until 1971 when Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar became independent and the UK closed its military facilities in the Gulf.

Even after the bases were axed, frigates and destroyers continued to pay regular visits, including in 1976, when a group of two destroyers and six frigates visited Salalah and Muscat in Oman and Basra in Iraq.

Then, in 1980, Iraq invaded Iran which kicked off a brutal eight-year war, causing Britain to create the Armilla Patrol to protect shipping in the Gulf, which kept between two and four frigates and destroyers in the Middle East all year round.

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Even when the Navy deployed a task force to retake the Falklands in 1982, there were never fewer than two warships in the Gulf.

The Armilla Patrol continued until 2011 when it was succeeded by Operation Kipion, the new mission to defend the Middle East.

Last year, Britain deployed its Carrier Strike Group, led by the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, to the Indo-Pacific region.

Although the mission was touted as a huge success by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), it highlighted the uncomfortable state of the fleet.

Naval top brass were only able to muster a single frigate and destroyer  HMS Richmond and HMS Dauntless  for the nine-month mission.

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This was half the number of UK escorts sent out to accompany HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Prince of Wales sister ship, on her mission in 2021.

At the same time, Britains fleet of six Astute-class hunter-killer nuclear submarines have been largely out of action, with HMS Ambush having spent more than three years in port, according to defence analysts.

It is believed that one of the Astute vessels was able to accompany HMS Prince of Wales, but only for a few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary  which is the critical civilian support wing of the Navy  is in a dire state.

The state of the fleet sparked an intervention from Gen Sir Gwyn, who warned: We are holding on, but not by much.

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That end of Britains Gulf presence could have far-reaching diplomatic and operational consequences.

Bahrain is the base of the US Fifth Fleet and of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a naval partnership between 46 nations dedicated to protecting 3.2 million square miles of ocean.

The commander of the CMF is the US admiral in charge of the Fifth Fleet. The deputy commander has always been a Royal Navy officer, reflecting the size of Britains contribution.

Last week, the Navy announced a new high-ranking commodore would take over the prestige role, which is seen as crucial as it holds great sway with American naval top brass.

It looks ridiculous

But experts questioned how long the UK would be able to cling on to the title, given its limited numbers in the Middle East.

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We have a commodore in charge of one minehunter... it looks ridiculous, warned Tom Sharpe, a retired Royal Navy frigate commander.

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: In November, the Government confirmed to me that they were withdrawing the Royal Navy with a plan to scale back its participation in overseas training.

Now we learn that Labour have decided to remove the last Royal Navy ship from the Middle East, at a time when the situation in Iran could cause significant instability in the region.

Given theres a 28bn black hole in the MoDs finances the reason for this retreat from the world stage is clear  its the same reason Labour have failed to publish their Defence Investment Plan  Labour are failing to actually fund defence.

The Government insisted the UK was not turning its back on the Middle East and that the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain, the permanent British military base, will still serve as a strategic hub for the Navy in the Gulf

An MoD spokesman said: We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting stability and peace in the Middle East and maintaining a presence in the region.

The UK plays a leading role in combating Daesh, working to stamp out any resurgence in their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region. This includes successful airstrikes earlier this month and through Operation Kipion, the UKs long-standing maritime presence in the Gulf.

We are working closely with our allies and partners to improve regional security and strengthen defence cooperation.

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President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Louisiana Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) for the U.S. Senate, urging her to enter the race and praising her as a proven conservative leader.

Trump Backs Letlow For Louisiana Senate Run

On Saturday, in a post on Truth Social, Trump called Letlow a "Highly Respected America First Congresswoman" and said she has been "a Great Star" from the start.

Trump said he has heard Letlow is considering a Senate run and urged her to make the move, writing, "RUN, JULIA, RUN!!!"

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Trump said he knows Letlow well and has seen her tested "at the highest and most difficult levels," calling her a "TOTAL WINNER."

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He highlighted her role as a mother and praised her record in Congress, saying she has "ALWAYS delivered for Louisiana."

Trump also listed the issues he believes Letlow would prioritize if elected, including growing the economy, cutting taxes and regulations, supporting farmers and fishermen, and boosting oil and gas.

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He added that she would work to "Keep our Border SECURE," "Stop Migrant Crime," and "Ensure LAW AND ORDER," while defending the Second Amendment and strengthening the military and veterans.

"Julia is a wonderful person," Trump wrote, adding that she would continue delivering for Louisiana in the Senate.

He concluded the post by giving her his "Complete and Total Endorsement" if she decides to run.

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Letlow thanked President Trump for endorsing her and said she is committed to making the country safer and stronger for future generations.

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She emphasized that the Senate seat belongs to Louisiana voters and called for steady conservative leadership.

I'm honored to have President Trump's endorsement and trust. My mission is clear: to ensure the nation our children inherit is safer and stronger. 

This United States Senate seat belongs to the people of Louisiana, because we deserve conservative leadership that will not waver. pic.twitter.com/851hQkXhIN  Julia B Letlow, Ph.D. (@jbletlow) January 18, 2026

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Algorithms Could Shape 2026 Voter Behavior

Earlier this month, Billionaire Mark Cuban warned that social media algorithms, not policies or personalities, were driving voter behavior ahead of the 2026 elections.

He described the cycle as the first AI-driven election, where control of online narratives outweighed traditional campaigning.

Cuban said political power was increasingly concentrated among those who could influence or manipulate platform algorithms.

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Meanwhile, U.S. voters showed little reaction to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with polls indicating President Trump's approval and disapproval ratings remained largely unchanged.

The response reflected mixed views on Trump's foreign policy and continued voter unease over U.S. military actions abroad.

Read Next: From Moxy Hotels to $12B in Real Estate  The Firm Behind NYC's Trendiest Properties Is Letting Individual Investors In.

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This article 'Run, Julia, Run:' Donald Trump Praises Julia Letlow's Record, Encourages Louisiana Congresswoman To Enter Senate Race originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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Foreign student enrollment at US universities fell this fall for the first time in three years after the Trump administration clamped down on immigration and took aim at a bevy of elite schools.

The number of international students across the country dropped by close to 5,000, even as the overall number of students grew by 1%, according to data released Thursday by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The decline was driven by graduate student programs, where enrollment fell by 6% - or nearly 10,000 students - after shooting up more than 50% between 2020 and 2024.

It's the latest blow to US colleges and universities as President Donald Trump pushes to remake higher education. The wealthiest institutions are facing a higher endowment tax under his tax-and-spending law from last year. And top schools have also been contending with federal funding freezes.

International students have been coveted by school administrators because they often pay full freight. Personal and family funds represented the primary source of funding for 51% of students in 2024-25, according to the Institute of International Education.

But the Trump administration has enacted travel bans, gummed up the visa application process and threatened deportations for campus activists. Earlier this week, the X account for the Department of State touted that it had revoked 8,000 student visas in its mission to "keep America safe."

Matthew Holsapple, senior director of research at the Clearinghouse, said the drop in graduate students is a "stark difference" in the recruiting environment.

"It follows several years of strong growth, making this year's downturn a pretty meaningful shift after that long period of expansion," he said.

At Lewis University, a private school just outside of Chicago, a summer pause in visa processing was followed by a 37% decline in the number of new international students in graduate programs. The loss forced the school to cut 10% of its employees.

"It was a very dramatic shift in a very small amount of time and we had to make quick adjustments," Provost Christopher Sindt said in an interview. "We had been growing our staff and resources, but this decline required us to right-size the institution to a smaller enrollment profile."

 Harvard or Bust

The new policies have played out in very different ways across the higher education landscape. While the foreign population in graduate programs shrunk, it grew at the undergraduate level, though at a much slower pace than in recent years - a 3.2% increase this year, down from 8.4% growth the year before.

Harvard University, one of the main targets of Trump's ire, managed to buck the trends when it recently reported that it had enrolled a record number of international students this academic year. The share of foreign students at the school in the fall of 2025 rose slightly to 28%, or 6,749 students - the most since at least 2002 - according to university data.

In Gurgaon, near New Delhi, Adarsh Khandelwal, co-founder of the college counseling firm Collegify, said that his clients  prospective students hoping for an American education  are focusing on elite schools in a "high-risk, high-reward" strategy.

Before, his students used to send out applications to about eight schools, and that pool could include liberal arts colleges. Now, the number has almost doubled and they're only trying the most competitive schools. Visa scrutiny and a dismal job market have steered prospective students to only apply to top schools, Khandelwal said.

"Now the feeling in this part of the world is that if you want to go to the US, you should only look at a top school because only then you'll have a good future or a good job or a good ROI," he said.

At DePaul University, in Chicago, foreign student enrollment has taken a big hit. This past fall, the overall foreign student population was down 755 students compared to fall 2024, while the number of new graduate students from abroad was down nearly 62%. The school attributed losses to visa challenges and the "declining desire for international students to study in the U.S."

"Our FY26 budget planning did not anticipate a reduction of this magnitude," DePaul's leadership team wrote in a September post announcing spending cuts.

Media representatives for DePaul did not respond to a request for comment.

 Affordability Plays

Headcount in computer and information science studies, popular programs with international students, fell for the first time since 2020. Enrollment shrank by 14% at the graduate level and 3.6% in undergraduate programs. The drops come after the field saw 30% growth from 2020 to 2024.

In looking at the student population as a whole, the Clearinghouse data indicates that there was a shift this fall away from private four-year schools, where enrollment was down 1.6%, and toward public universities and community colleges, which grew by 1.4% and 3% respectively.

"It's a clear departure from the broad-based growth we've seen in recent years, when publics and privates have moved together and not in opposing directions," Holsapple said. "The split is striking."

Undergrads appear to be broadly pivoting toward more affordable, value-oriented studies. Certificate and associate degree programs grew by 1.9% and 2.2%, outpacing the 0.9% gains in bachelor's degree programs, according to the Clearinghouse. Community colleges now enroll 28.3% more undergraduate students in certificate programs than they did in fall 2021.

"We are continuing to see students shifting out of some of the more traditional pathways into these shorter-term, more flexible, perhaps more job- and career-oriented fields," Holsapple said.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said after a working trip to the Pokrovsk front that Russian forces are increasing pressure, bringing in reserves and looking for opportunities to break through Ukraine's defences.

Source: Syrskyi on Facebook

Details: Syrskyi said the operational situation on the Pokrovsk front remains difficult. A gruelling confrontation continues in the PokrovskMyrnohrad agglomeration, with about fifty combat clashes recorded every day.

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Quote: "I worked with the military command bodies and unit commanders directly on the ground during a working trip to this front.

The adversary is trying to increase pressure, bringing in reserves towards Pokrovsk and looking for opportunities to break through our defences both through sporadic large-scale assaults and through covert advances by small infantry groups. Under such conditions, organising defence requires full situational awareness, flexible decisions and precise calculation."

Details: Syrskyi said that they also discussed how to reduce losses among troops and preserve units' combat capability while working on the Pokrovsk front.

Based on the reports, priority tasks were identified: strengthening the resilience of the defence, ensuring uninterrupted logistics, improving the effectiveness of fire damage and coordinating interaction across all levels of command.

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After commanders' reports, they determined what needed to be done first: reinforce the defence, prevent disruptions in delivering all necessary supplies, strike Russian assault groups more effectively and improve coordination between units. Syrskyi also said he had issued orders to strengthen support for units, including the unmanned component.

Quote: "Despite the difficult situation, Ukrainian service members are holding the line. Their professionalism, endurance, dedication and combat experience do not allow Russian occupiers to realise their intentions to break through to the western boundaries of Donetsk Oblast."

Background:

On 8 January, speaking about the Pokrovsk front  the most difficult sector of the battlefield  Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces continued to control the northern part of Pokrovsk and were maintaining active defence in Myrnohrad.

Russian forces continue to apply pressure along the entire line of contact. A total of 144 combat clashes took place on 18 January, with the most difficult situation remaining on the Pokrovsk and Huliaipole fronts.

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Kathleen Stevens opened Rainbow Rooster Boutique four years ago with plans of operating a small cafe in the back of the store. The space remains empty, she said, because she doesn't have the money to install all the required equipment. (Photo courtesy of Rainbow Rooster Boutique)

COLUMBIA  Gail Nicholls dreamed of growing and selling plants out of a greenhouse when she her husband opened Red Bug Barn, a pet supply and feed store in Richburg, some 12 years ago.

But when she found out shed need three separate permits  one to grow, one to ship plants in or out, and one to sell plants grown somewhere else  she was overwhelmed by the paperwork each permit required and the more than 150 pages of rules that came with them.

Gail Nicholls and her husband opened Red Bug Barn, a pet supply and feed store in Richburg, some 12 years ago. (Photo courtesy of Gail Nicholls)

We got enough together to buy our own property and build our own building. And we were so excited. We thought the sky was the limit, Nicholls said. The skys not the limit. The rules and regulations are the limit. You can only go as far as they let you go. There are license after license on the books.

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They dollar you to death, Nicholls added. Five here, five there, 10 here, 15 there.

Wouldnt it be easier, she thought, if state regulators combined them into a single certification. According to the Clemson University office that administers the program, they already offer that option.

Still, Nicholls and others are pushing for legislation to increase scrutiny of the states more than 80,000 regulations.

More oversight

State law already provides for oversight of the rules state agencies put on businesses operating in the Palmetto State. But the South Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity believes legislators should do more to ensure they actually review them.

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Getting the bill, which passed the House unanimously last March, through the Senate and across the governors desk is the top priority of the political advocacy group founded in 2004 by libertarian billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.

At top of mind for the group is making sure legislators sign off on any costly regulations.

Legislators are supposed to give final approval to all agency regulations, minus those required by federal law. But theres a loophole.

If the General Assembly neither approves nor denies a rule within 110 days, it takes effect automatically. Thats what happened in 2024 with the Department of Educations regulation on age-appropriate books in schools. Senators were incensed it skipped their review entirely. Last year, legislators voted unanimously on a law to automatically pause the clock on regulatory reviews from mid-May to mid-January while theyre not in session. The law also shortened the total days, from 120 to 110.

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Americans for Prosperity wants to stop automatic approvals altogether for regulations that boost business expenses. Under the bill, if the estimated cost to businesses across an industry exceeds $1 million over a five-year period, legislators would have to take an up-or-down vote.

Six of the 77 regulations automatically approved in the last seven years would have been subject to the $1 million threshold, according to the groups state director, Matt Humm.

In Nicholls case, the annual cost of the permits she needed vary by the size of the business  ranging from free for small operations to $200 for a large one. The cost of shipping plants in and out varies based on the number of plants transported  $17 for a batch of 25 or $280 for 10,000 plants, but she could avoid that cost by getting approval to print the shipping labels herself.

That doesnt include costs she might face for things like pest or disease control. Stopping their spread is the primary concern of those regulations.

One in, two out

State law requires other layers of review before any proposed change to a regulation gets to the Legislature, including public hearings and a fiscal impact analysis.

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And existing rules must go back before legislators for re-approval every five years. Still, Humm said, outdated regulations tend to linger and dont always keep pace with modern technological advancements.

The legislation combats that with a pair of blanket requirements meant to cut the overall number of regulations. One calls for a 25% reduction in the number of regulations each type of small business faces.

The second is a two-for-one provision, forcing agencies to cut to rules for each new one they propose.

Customers participate in an arts and crafts class at Rainbow Rooster Boutique. (Photo courtesy of Rainbow Rooster Boutique)

Its a measure Kathleen Stevens supports.

Im not saying we dont need them. Im just saying we dont need all of them, she said. Theres just garbage on the books.

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While raising her sons, Stevens ran a side business painting and restoring furniture. After her children graduated, she decided she wanted to open a space where other small craft and antique vendors like her could hawk their wares in downtown Chester.

She opened Rainbow Rooster Boutique four years ago with plans of operating a small cafe in the back of the store.

I just wanted to serve a little coffee and pastries, Stevens said.

The cafe space remains empty, she said, because she doesnt have the money to install all the equipment regulators told her she needed. She pulled the application.

I was overwhelmed, she said.

Lose our entrepreneurship

Business owners including Nicholls, Stevens and Zack Holt say theyre not opposed to regulations, but they want reassurances that theyre up to date and absolutely necessary.

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When Holt purchased an existing restaurant space in Hartsville a couple of years ago for a new location of Holt Bros BBQ, state highway regulators told him the sign that had been in place under previous ownership was too close to the state road.

While Holt didnt put it there, the state still required him to move it. That, along with permitting delays at the city level, held up his grand opening for nine months, he said.

Thats nine months worth of lost revenue and income, he said.

And he had to send the new employees he had hired to work at other locations.

Americans for Prosperity and the small business owners its representing argue small companies dont have the same financial wherewithal as big ones to comply with these rules.

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Were going to lose our entrepreneurship to large corporations, Stevens said.

Still, state law has had carveouts in place since 2004 meant to address that as well.

When a new rule has a big impact on small businesses, it must go before a special, 11-member committee housed at the state Department of Commerce and made up of small business owners. Part of that process must include financial studies and plans by agencies to reduce the burden on those business owners or exempt them from the rule altogether.

The proposed law would require the same cost-benefit analyses for all new and re-approved regulations. It would also send that information to more people, including the small business panel, for review.

Editors Note: This article has been update with information from Clemson University.
The South Carolina Statehouse grounds include the offices of several statewide elected officials. (Photo by STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  With two months to go before candidates must file to be on this years ballots, the state Democratic Party made a plea.

RUN FOR OFFICE in 2026, reads the top of an email sent Jan. 7 from state Democratic Party Chairwoman Christale Spain.

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Democrats have announced bids for just two of the seven elected constitutional offices on the ballot this November: governor and state superintendent of education. The party is still talking with potential candidates, Spain told the SC Daily Gazette.

In her email, she pointed to that weeks slim margin of victory for Republican Greg Ford in a special election for a state House seat representing Dorchester County. He defeated Democrat Sonja Ogletree Satani by just 21 votes, as determined by an automatic recount.

Ogletree Satani ran one heck of a race, Spain wrote, noting that President Donald Trump won the district by over 6 percentage points in 2024. (Statewide, he won by 18 points.) The lesson to all of us is that we can compete and win if we run!

The email was successful, Spain told the Gazette on Wednesday.

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In one week, more than a hundred people filled out the candidate interest form attached to that email. Dozens of them checked a box showing interest in seeking a statewide office, according to Jon Burton, a party spokesperson.

Upcoming deadlines

To compete in the June 9 party primaries, candidates must file the forms and pay the required fees between March 16 and March 30.

The fee is 1% of the jobs salary over the entire term.

For constitutional offices, that ranges from $4,243 for gubernatorial candidates to $8,560 to run for state superintendent.

Its been 32 years since a Democrat competed for every statewide elected office in the South Carolina constitution. And back in 1994, there were two additional offices on the ballot.

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The party has come close to having a candidate for every office since.

In 2006, a Democrat ran for every statewide office except attorney general. Then-Attorney General Henry McMaster ran unopposed for re-election that year.

In 2002, the only constitutional office without a Democrat running was adjutant general, the leader of the states military department. Maj. Gen. Stan Spears ran unopposed that year. He easily defeated a Democrat in 2006 for his fourth and final term before retiring. In 2014, voters approved taking that office off the ballot and making it a governor-appointed position.

Also in 2014, McMaster was the last lieutenant governor elected separately, as per a change voters approved two years earlier.

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Asked about Spains email, state GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said Democrats problem isnt a lack of candidates.

Its that voters simply arent buying what theyre selling, he said in a statement to the SC Daily Gazette.

Two races with both parties on the ballot

A Democrat last won a statewide office in 2006, when Jim Rex was elected state superintendent of education by fewer than 500 votes.

This year, two Democrats, Lisa Ellis and Sylvia Wright, are running for the job overseeing the state agency for K-12 public schools. Whoever wins the June 9 Democratic primary will likely face Superintendent Ellen Weaver, whos running for her second term. So far, no Republican has announced a challenge.

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In 2022, the race for superintendent was the most crowded: Six Republicans and three Democrats ran to replace outgoing Superintendent Molly Spearman.

Ellis was a first-time candidate then. The 25-year veteran teacher of Richland 2 high schools, who in 2018 founded the online teachers group SC for Ed, won a three-way primary outright without needing a runoff, then lost to Weaver by 16 percentage points. In 2023, SC for Ed announced an indefinite pause to its lobbying efforts, four years after organizing a teachers rally at the Statehouse attended by an estimated 10,000 people.

Wright, who has two decades of classroom and administrative experience, resigned from her job last fall as a district coordinator for Dorchester 4 in order to campaign full-time.

Among all the statewide races on the ballot this year, the wide-open governors race has by far gotten the most attention.

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Its been 16 years since no incumbent ran for governor. Five Republicans and two Democrats have announced bids to replace Gov. Henry McMaster, who first ascended to the job nine years ago when then-Gov. Nikki Haley joined President Donald Trumps first administration. So, when voters first elected McMaster to the job in 2018, hed already been governor almost two years.

In South Carolina, governors are limited to two elected terms. Other constitutional offices have no term limitations.

Two other offices are wide open

Two other statewide offices that have gotten little attention are wide open for the first time in over two decades.

Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers is not seeking a sixth full term. Its been 16 years since a Democrat challenged him.

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Voters first elected Weathers in 2006, two years after Gov. Mark Sanford appointed the Orangeburg County dairy farmer to the job following the indictment of Charlie Sharpe, who was eventually sentenced to two years in prison for taking a bribe to protect a cockfighting ring.

Weathers endorsed Republican Fred West to replace him, The State newspaper reported last March. West retired in 2023 after 24 years as an executive at the poultry processing company Amick Farms and his since become director of market development at the Department of Agriculture.

So far, West is the only candidate to announce a bid to lead the agency with duties that include promoting one of the states top industries, keeping the food supply safe, and  since 2024  handling all inspections of places that sell food, such as restaurants and cafeterias.

The job of comptroller general is open for the first time in 28 years, when then-Sen. Jim Landers replaced the retiring Earle Morris Jr.

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That 1998 election was also the last time a Democrat won the post as the states chief accountant. In 2002, Republican Richard Eckstrom ousted Landers and kept the job for 21 years. Eckstrom resigned in 2023 amid mounting pressure over his offices $3.5 billion accounting error. (The error was strictly on paper. No money went missing. The office mistakenly double-counted some agencies revenue.)

McMaster made history in appointing his budget director, Brian Gaines, who by agreeing to run the office temporarily became South Carolinas first Black constitutional officer since Reconstruction. Gaines said at the time he had no interest in running in 2026.

One Republican has announced a bid: Mike Burkhold, a Charleston County businessman who founded Equiscript, a health care technology company.

Two elections with long-time incumbents

For two other statewide offices, Republicans are seeking re-election without any announced competition.

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Secretary of State Mark Hammond, first elected in 2002, is seeking a seventh term leading the office that registers and helps regulate businesses and charities operating in South Carolina. (Unlike in other states, South Carolinas secretary of state plays no role at all in overseeing elections.)

Treasurer Curtis Loftis, first elected in 2010, also came under fire recently for accounting problems. Senate investigations into the comptroller generals office led to discovery of a $1.8 billion error in the treasurers office  also a blunder on paper that didnt affect state revenues or the Legislatures budgeting process. An outside accounting firm found that all but $200 million never existed. But senators were incensed, voting 33 to 8 last April to remove him. The House, however, never took up the case.

Amid a grilling from senators, Loftis initially pledged that he would not seek re-election in 2026. But he later reversed course and announced hes seeking a fifth term. He maintains that he did nothing wrong.

No one has announced a challenge.

SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.

Salaries of SCs statewide officers

Prior to January 2023, decades-old state law set the salaries of six constitutional officers at $92,000. Only the governors salary topped $100,000.

But in 2021, the General Assembly passed a law directing the legislative panel that sets the salaries for state agency heads to also set the pay for statewide officers, with two exceptions. At Gov. Henry McMasters request, the salaries of the governor and lieutenant governor continue to be set by the 1994 law. The lieutenant governor, whos considered a part-time employee, is still paid $46,500.

Changes approved by the Agency Head Salary Commission in November 2022 took effect two months later with the start of officers new terms. Here are the salaries of all seven elected constitutional offices:
MAGA is taking a pounding in the polls ahead of this years crucial midterm elections over the Trump administrations performance on healthcare.

According to the latest survey by The Wall Street Journal, almost 60 percent of voters disapprove of the presidents healthcare policies and priorities against just 37 percent who think hes doing a good job.

That reportedly further translates into a 15-point lead among voters who say theyd trust Congressional Democrats more than their Republican counterparts on healthcare going into the November polls.

Voters are broadly unimpressed with Kennedy's all-out attack on U.S. vaccine schedules. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The damning poll comes after healthcare subsidies under Obamacare provisions expired on Jan. 1. Debate over prospective extensions to those support schemes, a key contributor to last years government shutdown, remains ongoing, with the marketplace meanwhile witnessing a sharp increase in insurance premiums.

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Trump voter Sara McGee, who lives in Illinois, says shed witnessed her healthcare deductible skyrocket to $7,000 from just $3,000 last year. Its through the roof, she told the WSJ.

Beyond the issue of premiums, half of voters also said they disapprove of the MAGA administrations inoculation policies, with half also saying they now feel less confident about federal guidance under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

It follows after Kennedy announced earlier this month a radical overhaul of vaccine schedules, axing rotavirus, influenza, meningitis and hepatitis A and B from its universal recommendations on jabs for children.

A long-time vaccine skeptic, Kennedy has repeatedly cast aspersions over vaccine safety and pushed widely debunked theories of a link between jabs and autism.

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You dont even have to be a pediatrician to know that its so divorced from reality, Florida attorney and Trump 2024 voter Jason Manor, whos now considering voting Democrat in November, told the newspaper.

Were going backwards, not forwards, he added.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment on this story.
A novel way to counter climate change is taking place in the German port city of Hamburg.

It's a process that begins with cocoa bean shells going in one end of a factory and coming out as a black powder called biochar, which is doing its part to slow climate change.

What is biochar?

Biochar is a black powder also known as "black gold," and it's produced by  in this case  heating cocoa husks in a room that has no oxygen to a temperature of 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Phys.org. Biochar producers can also use other organic wastes as raw materials.

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The process prevents plant-warming toxic gases from entering the atmosphere, and the final product can be turned into fertilizer or an ingredient for concrete that is environmentally friendlier than traditional concrete, per Phys.org.

How does the process work?

Biochar captures the carbon dioxide present in the husks of the cocoa shells from the European plant mentioned above, and this method can be implemented by any other facility.

If the cocoa shells were discarded conventionally, the carbon within the unused byproduct would be released into the atmosphere during its decomposition.

Rather than following the usual disposal method, where the carbon within the unused cocoa shells would be released into the atmosphere, which heats up the planet, it is instead stored in the biochar for a very long time.

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David Houben, an environmental scientist at the UniLaSalle Institute in France, told Phys.org that the biochar could hold onto the planet-warming gas for centuries.

Why is biochar important?

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that biochar could potentially capture billions of tons of the environmentally damaging gases released by our species every year.

This is important because human activities, such as electricity production and transportation, spew around 77 billion tons of planet-warming gases into the atmosphere each year. So far, this warming has triggered an increase in heatwaves, floods, droughts, and forest fires over the past few decades.

Some experts believe implementing renewable energy to reduce the amount of planet-warming emissions into the atmosphere isn't enough and that it may already be too late to prevent the most damaging effects of a warming planet.

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That's why carbon sequestration, or the process of removing the planet-warming gases we've already injected into the atmosphere, is considered so important by many climate experts, and the use of biochar does exactly that.

However, the production of biochar is still difficult to scale up to the levels where it could actually slow the overheating of the planet.

"To ensure the system stores more carbon than it produces, everything needs to be done locally, with little or no transport. Otherwise it makes no sense," Houben, the environmental scientist, told Phys.org.

However, even though challenges remain, the number of biochar initiatives is increasing rapidly. As reported by Phys.org, the production of biochar is expected to nearly double this year compared to last year.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.
NEED TO KNOW

A McDonald's in downtown Seattle only serves customers through a hatch amid a series of attacks in the area

The fast-food spot is located on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Pine Street

The area is allegedly so dangerous that locals have reportedly named the McDonald's "McStabby's,'" according to the Daily Mail

A McDonald's in Seattle is allegedly so dangerous that it has had to remove its doors and now serves customers through a hatch.

Instead of walking into the location at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle to order food and drinks, patrons now have to go to a hatch, mostly covered in plexiglass, per the Daily Mail.

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The double doors leading to McDonald's are reportedly propped open at all times, and the glass outside the hatch is covered with plywood to protect it from vandalism.

A 45-year-old man named Nick spoke to the Daily Mail about the location in question  which Seattle locals have nicknamed "McStabby's," per the outlet  claiming that people tend to "do drugs and attack each other" outside the fast food spot.

GoogleMaps A photo of the McDonald's in downtown Seattle A photo of the McDonald's in downtown Seattle

Nick made the comments as the outlet visited the location, which is just blocks away from the city's famous Pike Place Market, and said, "When its dark, its way worse - way more people getting assaulted and robbed."

Nick, who is no longer homeless but still visits the neighborhood, added that he'd witnessed a shooting in the area, referring to a fatal incident which killed one woman and injured seven  including a 9-year-old boy  back in January 2020, per the Daily Mail.

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He said, gesturing toward a lamppost outside the location, "I watched a girl get shot and killed right here," adding, "It was a horrible shooting."

GoogleMaps A photo of the McDonald's in downtown Seattle A photo of the McDonald's in downtown Seattle

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said at the time of the incident, "We responded immediately, and we discovered victims at the scene in about a one-block radius," USA Today previously reported.

"Officers immediately started lifesaving measures," Best added.

Another incident outside the McDonald's restaurant saw a 29-year-old man named Matthew get stabbed in the head in February 2024 while he and his partner, Christopher Burns, were waiting for their food, per Komo News.

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"This random guy came up and started kicking our dog and attacking my partner," Burns said, according to the outlet.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, a young employee recently said while pointing to the sidewalk outside the McDonald's location, "I've seen some physical assaults, just right here," adding, "People tripping out, just a bunch of stuff."

GoogleMaps A photo of the McDonald's in downtown Seattle A photo of the McDonald's in downtown Seattle

David Santillanes, the owner and operator of the McDonalds restaurant, said the location previously closed its dining room in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, per The Independent. The doors have since remained shut to keep workers safe amid issues with crime and poverty in the area.

Santillanes told the U.K. paper, "As a small business owner here in Seattle for 24 years, my team and I care deeply about feeding and serving this community."

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"We have implemented security measures at this location to allow us to keep supporting the neighborhood while ensuring the safety of our people. Despite the challenges in this particular area, we will continue doing what we can to effect positive change, working in close partnership with local community organizations," he added, per the outlet.

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.

When asked of the specific McDonald's criminal activity, the Seattle Police Department told PEOPLE that officers patrol the city, especially downtown, "on a 24/7 basis."

"Seattle police officers often do proactive policework and emphasis patrols in crime hotspots such as 3rd Avenue and Pine Street  including bike patrols, foot beats, warrant arrests, weapons arrests, and drug enforcement  when not responding to emergency calls for service, the agency said.

McDonald's has not responded to PEOPLE's request for comment.



Read the original article on People
A semitractor-trailer driver is believed to have serious injuries after crashing into a snowplow truck on State 29, the Shawano County Sheriff's Office said in a Jan. 19 news release.

The Shawano County Dispatch Center received "numerous calls" of a two-vehicle crash at 9:50 a.m. just east of Bonduel near High Line Road.

Both the semitruck and snowplow were traveling west on State 29, with the snowplow actively plowing the median shoulder/inside lane, according to the news release. A preliminary investigation, headed by the Wisconsin State Patrol, found the semitruck crashed into the plow truck's rear end.

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The news release said the plow truck was pushed into the median and the semitruck jack-knifed into a ditch. No vehicles were in the outside lane at the time of the crash, a witness told investigators, who were still determining why the semitruck driver did not move over into another lane.

Both vehicles were severely damaged, the news release said, though the snowplow driver only had minor injuries and could get out of the snowplow unassisted. The sheriff's office was unsure of the condition of the semitruck driver who was trapped inside the truck and had to be taken out by fire crews, but believed the driver's condition was serious as a ThedaStar helicopter was requested, the news release said.

Several westbound lanes were completely blocked when the sheriff's office responded to the scene with the Bonduel Fire Department, Bonduel EMS, Shawano Ambulance and the Shawano County Fire Department.

As of 3 p.m., all westbound lanes are open, according to 511 Wisconsin.

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Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. He also writes a weekly column answering reader questions about Green Bay. Contact and send him questions at 920-834-4250 or jlin@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Semitrailer crashes into plow truck in Shawano County blocking highway
Credit: @TOLOnews/ X

An Islamic State attack targeting Chinese citizens killed at least seven people on a crowded street in Afghanistan on Monday.

The blast in central Kabul shattered one of the Afghan capitals busiest commercial districts.

Taliban officials told The Telegraph the explosion targeted a Chinese noodle restaurant on Gulforoshha Street in the Shahr-e-Naw neighbourhood.

The Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the blast killed one Chinese person and six Afghans.

The area is lined with foreign restaurants, shopping complexes, embassies and antique shops, and is considered one of Kabuls safest zones.

Footage shared on social media showed panicked crowds fleeing the scene, smoke rising, and at least one person lying motionless on the ground.

The aftermath of the explosion - X

Emergency, the humanitarian NGO, said: Twenty people have been received at Emergencys surgical centre in Kabul following an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. Among those received were seven people dead on arrival.

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Khalid Zadran, a Taliban police spokesman, confirmed casualties but did not immediately provide specific numbers as investigation teams worked to determine the nature of the explosion.

The number of casualties is not yet clear since several bodies are shattered and the investigation is going on  I can tell you the target was Chinese workers, one Taliban official said.

Abdul Mateen Qani, the interior ministry spokesperson, said according to preliminary reports, several people were killed and injured, but declined to provide further details pending completion of the investigation.

People help a man who appears to have been injured in the explosion - X

Firefighters were outside the explosion site, clearing debris and an ambulance, with police officers surrounding the area.

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Flower sellers who typically work the street were among those forced to evacuate.

The neighbourhoods reputation as a secure area has made it attractive to foreign businesses and diplomatic missions, though that perception is increasingly challenged by recurring attacks.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and pledged to restore security after decades of war, but attacks have continued targeting non-Afghans, many claimed by the Islamic States Afghanistan branch.

The explosion is the latest in an escalating series of attacks targeting Chinese interests in Afghanistan and along its borders.

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Multiple Chinese citizens have been killed and seven injured in armed assaults inside Afghanistan or launched from Afghan territory over the past few months.

The destroyed noodle restaurant covered after the blast - Bais Yusufi/AFP

The violence threatens to undermine Chinas position as the Talibans most important international backer and raises serious questions about the groups ability to guarantee security for foreign workers.

China was the first country to upgrade diplomatic relations with the Taliban to the ambassadorial level following their return to power.

Beijing has signed several economic agreements with the Taliban, particularly in mineral extraction, and hundreds of Chinese nationals work in Afghanistan as traders, investors, technical experts and advisers.

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China has pursued three key strategic goals in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan: access to an estimated $1 trillion (745 billion) in untapped mineral deposits, including lithium, iron, copper and cobalt  removing threats from militant groups and reducing Western influence in the region.

Beijing has provided economic aid and become one of the Talibans most significant international supporters, including Afghanistan on its list of nations eligible for tariff exemptions on commercial goods.

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.
An explosion has torn through a Chinese-run restaurant in a hotel in a heavily guarded part of Afghanistans capital, killing a Chinese national and six Afghans and injuring several others including a child, officials said.

The restaurant hit by the blast on Monday is in the commercial Shahr-e-Naw neighbourhood of Kabul that includes office buildings, shopping complexes and embassies, police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said. The district is considered one of the safest in the city.

The Chinese noodle restaurant was jointly run by a Chinese Muslim, Abdul Majid, his wife, and an Afghan partner, Abdul Jabbar Mahmood, and served the Chinese Muslim community, Zadran said.

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One Chinese national, identified as Ayub, and six Afghans were killed in the blast, which occurred near the kitchen, while several others were injured, Zadran added.

The Afghan branch of ISIL (ISIS) later claimed responsibility for Mondays attack, saying in a statement that it was carried out by a suicide bomber.

ISILs Amaq news agency said the group had put Chinese citizens on its list of targets, citing growing crimes by the Chinese government against Uighurs.

Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uighurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority group of about 10 million people who live in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Beijing denies any abuse and has accused Western countries of interference and peddling lies.

Videos shared on social media showed debris scattered on the street outside and smoke spewing from a large hole torn into the front of the restaurant building.

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The Italian NGO Emergency said a medical facility it oversees in Kabul had received 20 people from the blast, seven of whom were dead when they arrived. The organisation said the casualty figures were still provisional.

Twenty people have been received at EMERGENCYs Surgical Centre in Kabul following an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. Among those received were seven people dead on arrival, the NGO said in a statement.

It added that four women and a child were among the wounded.

Blasts in Kabul and across Afghanistan have been rarer since the Taliban returned to power after the United States withdrawal in 2021, but ISIL affiliates are still active in the country and carry out sporadic attacks.
A car slammed into a church on Sunday in San Francisco injuring seven people, including a child, firefighters said.

No one was seriously hurt. But three people were taken to the hospital.

It happened at MiShalom Church on Nevada Street just before 2 p.m.

Authorities said the car plowed into the front door.

pic.twitter.com/fEBd73SxZX  SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) January 18, 2026

First responders say the victims inside the church were likely hit by debris, but not by the car.

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"That vehicle was inside the building up to the door, from the hood to the door, and there was a bunch of debris inside the church. And at that time, there was no one under the car. There was no one near the car. No one was struck by the car," said Lt. Ken Smith with San Francisco Fire Department.

SFFD said the incident appears to be unintentional.

The driver stayed at the scene and spoke with police.

The Department of Building and Inspections has determined the building safe.



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A massive fire engulfed a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, late Saturday night, killing at least six people and injuring 22 others, PEOPLE reports.

Authorities believe a short circuit sparked the deadly blaze at Gul Plaza mall that destroyed more than 1,200 shops.

Emergency responders received the initial call about 10:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, according to Reuters and Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

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The fire ignited on the ground floor and rapidly spread throughout the structure, according to a Sindh government report.

When we arrived, the fire from the ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames, Pakistan Emergency Services Department spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb told Reuters.

Sindh Inspector General Javed Alam Odho told reporters the cause appeared to be a short circuit in one of the shops. Flammable merchandise inside the mall complicated firefighting efforts.

The layout and construction of this market was such, and secondly, the nature of the items in it  such as carpets, blankets and other objects [were] made of resins  so the fire is still simmering because of these, Odho said, according to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn.

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The government confirmed six deaths but has not released the victims identities.

The 22 injured, including firefighters, were taken to Civil Hospital Karachi, reports said.

Local reports indicate 16 people remain unaccounted for, among them six members of one family that includes a 14-year-old girl.

Rescue 1222 deployed 22 fire brigades and 33 ambulances to the scene. Officials said the fire was about 70% contained by Sunday morning, but rescue operations continue with caution due to concerns about structural collapse.

The building appears very old, and there is a danger that its structure may fall anytime because of the impact of the fire, Haseeb said.

Chief Minister of Sindh Murad Ali Shah has launched an investigation into the incident.

Read the original article on al.com.
Smotrich thanked Trump for his support for Israel and efforts to assist in returning hostages, but said the US presidents Gaza plan should be canceled.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized US President Donald Trumps Gaza plan and called for Israel to take control of the Gaza Strip and impose military rule.

We must explain to him that his plan is bad for the State of Israel and cancel it. Gaza is ours, and its future will affect our future more than that of anyone else. Therefore, we are taking responsibility for what happens there, imposing military rule, and completing the mission, Smotrich said at a ceremony inaugurating the settlement of Yatziv in Gush Etzion on Monday.

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Smotrich thanked Trump for his support for Israel and efforts to assist in returning hostages but said the US presidents Gaza plan should be canceled.

During his speech, Smotrich questioned whether the costs of the war had led to sufficient policy change. He warned against transferring control of the territory to other actors and criticized Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, accusing them of hostility toward Israel.

Smotrich said Israel must choose between full control of Gaza, the destruction of Hamas, continued suppression of terrorism, and permanent Israeli settlement or what he described as wasting the achievements of the war.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrives to a conference of the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon in Jerusalem, December 25, 2025 (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)

He rejected the idea that Israel could avoid responsibility for Gaza and said he did not intend to wait decades to return to the area.

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He called for dismantling what he described as the headquarters in Kiryat Gat, issuing an ultimatum to Hamas for disarmament and exile, and launching a military operation if the ultimatum expired.

Smotrich also called for opening the Rafah crossing with or without Egyptian consent and allowing Gaza residents to leave the territory.

He concluded by saying he hoped a similar settlement ceremony would soon take place in the Gaza Strip.

With Gods help, we will meet very soon at a similar ceremony in the Gaza Strip. I very much hope that this will be led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will lead it, and that we will not require political upheavals along the way.

Netanyahu not informed of Qatari, Turkish participation in Gaza Board

Additionally, Israel was not notified in advance about the presence of Qatari and Turkish officials among the Gaza Board of Peace announced by Trump, US officials told N12 on Saturday.

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We did not tell Netanyahu in advance about the composition of the executive committee. He did not expect there to be representatives from Turkey and Qatar, but Gaza is now our show, not his show, the officials told N12.

If he [Netanyahu] wants the Trump administration to deal with Gaza  we will do it our way, they added.

The revelation came as Israeli officials raised concerns over the makeup of the Board of Peace, saying that it contradicts Israeli policy and was not brought up with Israeli authorities.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to take the matter up with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Prime Ministers Office stated following the announcement.

Tobias Holcman contributed to this report.
A police chase that started in Snellville ended in a deadly crash on Scenic Highway in Lawrenceville early Sunday morning, according to witnesses who saw the aftermath.

Susan Justice, who lives one street over, said she heard a car flying past her house around 2 a.m. and immediately called 911.

The rate of speed was just insane, Justice said.

When she drove to the scene, police were already there.

I thought, How did the police get here so quickly? And then started to put two and two together that it was probably a high-speed chase, she said.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Witnesses say the car crossed the median and slammed into a telephone pole, flipping upside down in the process.

Justice said she saw a body being removed and saw someone else taken to the hospital with injuries.

The crash knocked out power for hours and came within feet of a home on Scenic Highway.

All I can think of is how close that car was to potentially flipping into that home, into that front porch, Justice said.

Snellville police were involved with the chase but have not released details about why it began, where it started, or the identities of those involved.

Justice said she is hoping for a full, public investigation.

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Whenever theres a fatality, you have to take a pause, take a breath, and figure out if that risk is worth endangering the community and the general public, she said.

The Georgia State Patrol sent a statement to Channel 2 Action News saying:

On 01/18/2026 at approximately 2:34 AM, a Trooper was requested to assist with a single-vehicle fatality crash on Scenic Highway and Hickory Lane in Gwinnett County. A Hyundai Elantra was traveling north on Scenic Highway while actively fleeing from Snellville Police Department vehicles. The Hyundai failed to maintain its lane of travel and struck the concrete median barrier. This caused the Hyundai to rotate counterclockwise while traveling off the roadway to the right, striking a mailbox. The Hyundai then struck a utility pole and began to overturn several times before coming to final uncontrolled rest on its roof.

Two passengers were transported to Northside Gwinnett Hospital for serious injuries, and a third passenger suffered a fatal injury. The driver has been arrested by the Snellville Police Department. Snellville Police Department has taken all charges for this pursuit and crash.

The Troop C Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team has been requested and is assisting with the investigation.
The Brief

New winter weather advisories have been issued for Sunday across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Forecasters expect 1 to 4 inches of snow, with higher totals possible in parts of New Jersey.

Snow may start as rain Sunday morning before changing to all snow later in the day.

PHILADELPHIA - Another round of winter weather is headed for the region Sunday, with forecasters warning of slippery roads and several inches of snow across the Philadelphia area and parts of New Jersey.

What we know

The National Weather Service has issued new winter weather advisories for Sunday across southeastern Pennsylvania, southern and central New Jersey and northern Delaware.

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In the Philadelphia region, including Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Chester County, and Bucks County, forecasters say 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday.

In central and northern New Jersey, including Morris, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, and western Monmouth counties, snowfall totals could reach 2 to 4 inches during the same time period.

Additional advisories are also in effect for Lancaster and York counties, where 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected from early Sunday morning through the afternoon.

How the snow is expected to develop

According to the National Weather Service, snow may mix with rain early Sunday morning, particularly in lower elevations and closer to the coast.

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Forecasters say precipitation should transition to all snow by Sunday afternoon, which could lead to slick travel conditions as temperatures remain cold.

Impacts to expect

Weather officials warn that slippery road conditions are likely, especially on untreated surfaces. Drivers are urged to slow down and use caution while traveling.

Motorists can check the latest road conditions by calling 511 in their state.

What's next

The winter weather advisories are set to expire Sunday evening, though forecasters say conditions could still vary by location. Residents are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts as the system moves through.

The Source

This article was written using information from the National Weather Service.
At least 32 people were killed by a crane that collapsed over a passenger train in Thailand in January 2026. An image spread online with a false claim it showed the wreckage from the accident. However, it was generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and contains visual inconsistencies.

"May the souls of the 22 rest in peace and reach a peaceful afterlife," reads a Thai-language Facebook post on January 14.

It shares an image showing a severe train accident with mangled carriages, and several white sheets on the railway track.

Screenshot of the false Facebook post taken on January 16, 2026 with a red X added by AFP

It circulated after a construction crane used for assembling a high-speed rail bridge collapsed onto a passing passenger train in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province on January 14, killing at least 32 people and injuring 66 others (archived link).

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The bridge is part of a $5 billion high-speed rail project built with Chinese support. Its contractor -- Italian-Thai Development -- is one of Thailand's biggest construction firms, but it has seen several deadly accidents at its sites in recent years.

The company and its director were among more than 20 people and firms indicted in 2025 in a case linked to the collapse of a Bangkok high-rise in an earthquake. The collapse killed around 90 people, mostly construction workers.

The same image has also spread elsewhere on Facebook and on other platforms, including TikTok and Instagram. It was also featured in an article published by Taiwanese online news site CTWANT.

But it is not an authentic photo from the accident.

AI-generated image

A reverse image search on Google found it was labelled as "Made with Google AI" in its "About this image" feature.

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An analysis using Google's SynthID detector, a tool designed to identify AI-generated content, indicated a "very high" degree of confidence that it was created using the platform's AI tools (archived link).

Screenshot of the results from the SynthID tool

A visual comparison between the AI-generated image and AFP photographs from the crash site shows multiple inconsistencies.

Local media reported the train in the incident was the Special Express Train No. 21, travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani (archived here and here).

In the AI-generated image, a door can be seen in the middle of the train carriage, which is not present on the model of the train that ran the service (archived link).

Screenshot comparison between the AI-generated image (left) and a photo taken by an AFP photographer at the scene, with red rectangles added by AFP to highlight key elements

Screenshot comparison between the AI-generated image (left) and a photo taken by an AFP photographer at the scene, with red rectangles added by AFP to highlight key elements

The arrangement of bodies covered by white cloth laid on the tracks seen in the fabricated image also does not match the photos taken at the scene.

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An AFP journalist at the scene confirmed that bodies were not placed on the tracks as shown in the AI-generated image.

Screenshot of a photo taken at the scene by AFP

The State Railway of Thailand did not reply to a request for comment at the time of publication.

Thai PBS Verify also published a report debunking the image (archived link).

AFP has previously debunked similar posts sharing AI-generated images on disasters and conflicts.
When news broke ofthemassive child nutrition fraud in Minnesota, many Americans reacted with disbelief. Duringthepandemic, roughly $250 million intended to feed hungry children was siphoned off, prosecutors say, and spent on luxury cars, real estate, and other indulgences. To most people, it appeared to be a shocking betrayal of public trust.

To me, it felt unsettlingly familiar.

Decades ago, long before Minnesota became synonymous with one ofthelargest fraud cases in U.S. history, I had an experience in Somalia that permanently altered my perspective on aid, trust, and good intentions. It is why I readtheindictments differently, not with surprise so much as recognition.

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What struck me most abouttheMinnesota case was not onlythescale ofthetheft butthesilence surrounding it.Thefraud appears to have operated in plain sight within tightly knit circles, yet few people spoke out.

More than 40 years ago, when I was a rice farmer in California, American rice growers learned of famine conditions in Somalia. Competitors set aside their rivalry and donated an entire shipload of rice for humanitarian relief. I later traveled to Somalia, expecting to see that food had reached people onthebrink of starvation.

It had not.

A powerful clan had taken control oftheshipment. Once its own members needs were met,theremaining rice did not go to feed other Somalis. Instead, it was used to feed animals, while those outsidetheclan continued to go hungry.

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Atthetime, I tried to explain what I had seen by blaming corruption, weak oversight, or a few bad actors. None of those explanations capturedthedeeper pattern.Thebehavior made sense only when I began to understand how differently trust and obligation were organized.

That realization came rushing back as I read abouttheMinnesota fraud.

According to federal indictments,thestolen money flowed through networks bound by kinship and loyalty.Thetheft was large, coordinated, and sustained. What stood out was not only who tookthemoney, but who stayed silent. In societies with strong civic norms, whistleblowing is often praised, or at least protected. In tightly bound clan systems, speaking out can mean punishment.

Over time, I found language for what I had observed:thePrisoners Dilemma, a concept from game theory that explains how cooperation and trust either compound or collapse. When two parties cooperate, both benefit and trust grows. When one cheats whiletheother cooperates,thecheater prospers andthecooperator becomestheloser. When both are defective, everyone loses.

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High-trust societies solve this dilemma by extending cooperation beyond family and tribe. Laws, institutions, and norms reinforcetheidea that cheating ultimately harms everyone, including oneself. Low-trust societies work differently. Trust is reserved for kin. Outsiders are assumed to cheat. In that environment, cheating is not necessarily immoral. It is often rational, expected, and even applauded.

Seen through this lens, both my experience in Somalia andtheMinnesota scandal followthesame pattern. Institutions cooperated in good faith. Clan-based networks exploited that trust. Children and taxpayers paidtheprice.

Somalia representsthemost destructive version of this equilibrium. When trust does not extend beyond blood ties, cooperation cannot scale. Investment dries up. Contracts mean little without enforcement beyond kinship. When everyone expects everyone else to cheat, no one can afford to cooperate.

In that context, Somalias ranking of 213th out of 215 countries in per-capita income is not shocking. It is almost inevitable. This is not an indictment of individual Somalis. We know that many, many Somalis live honest, productive lives, raise families, and contribute positively wherever they reside. Individuals can transcendthecultures they are born into. Social systems, however, change slowly and are likely to shape behavior.

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Somalia sits attheend of a continuum, buttheunderlying dynamic is not unique to it. Whenever loyalty tothegroup eclipses loyalty to shared rules, corruption flourishes.TheMinnesota scandal was not an aberration so much as a warning: When institutions assume trust without enforcing it, low-trust behavior fillsthevacuum. Somalia shows what happens when that low-trust approach is entrenched.

Mitzi Perdue is a fellow at the Institute of World Politics and the co-founder of Mental Help Global, a philanthropy that uses AI to support mental health.
Heavy rainfall in the south of France has led to large-scale flooding and the closing of roads and schools, with the Meteo France weather service issuing the second-highest storm warning for three departments and Corsica.

Heavy rain is expected on the Mediterranean island on Monday evening and into Tuesday, Meteo France warned in issuing the code orange alert. This could lead to a rapid rise in water levels in rivers and flooding, it said.

Residents in two districts in Narbonne on the coast were forced to spend Sunday night in emergency accommodation as a precautionary measure. The prefecture later allowed residents to return to their homes.

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More than 40 roads remained closed, and schools in 109 locations will not open their doors on Tuesday.

Emergency services answered 72 calls. One person was severely injured in a weather-related accident.

Numerous roads around the city of Perpignan were closed to traffic, and long tailbacks built up.

The heavy rainfall did, however, alleviate a persistent water shortage in the region. The Pyrenees-Orientales department lifted water restrictions that had been in place for some time.

The authorities in Perpignan said that water levels in many rivers had returned to normal and that underground water reserves had been replenished.
SEOUL, Jan 18 (Reuters) - South Korea will seek favourable terms for U.S. tariffs on imports of memory chips, a presidential office spokesperson said at a televised briefing on Sunday.

The country last year released a joint fact sheet on its trade deal with the U.S. that included terms ensuring South Korea will not receive unfavourable treatment from U.S. tariffs on imported chips compared to key competitors, the official said, when asked about the Trump administration's proclamation imposing tariffs on artificial intelligence chips.

On Saturday, South Korea's trade minister said U.S. tariffs on some advanced computing chips would have a limited impact on South Korean companies.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are among the world's biggest memory chip producers.

(Reporting by Heejin Kim; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Gov. Abigail Spanberger gives her first address to the joint General Assembly on Jan. 19, 2026 in Richmond. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)

Two days after taking the oath of office as the first woman to lead Virginia, Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Monday voiced strong support for a slate of constitutional amendments already approved by lawmakers and pressed for action on cost-of-living legislation, framing the moment as an early test of whether Virginias new political alignment can deliver results.

In her first address to a joint session of the General Assembly, Spanberger outlined her governing priorities and pressed for swift action on four Democratic-backed constitutional amendments, singling out a proposal that would allow lawmakers, under narrow circumstances, to redraw congressional maps mid-decade.

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She described the measure as narrowly tailored to counter what she said are growing efforts in other states to undermine democratic norms.

Virginias proposed redistricting amendment is a response to what were seeing in other states that have taken extreme measures, Spanberger said, emphasizing that any change would be short-term, highly targeted, and completely dependent on what other states decide to do themselves.

Ultimately, she said, voters should have the final say.

Spanberger also voiced strong support for amendments protecting reproductive freedom, marriage equality and automatic restoration of voting rights for Virginians who have completed felony sentences  all of which will now be on the ballot in November.

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Democrats have argued the measures are necessary to lock in rights they fear could be rolled back through future court rulings or shifting political control.

Beyond constitutional questions, the new governor used the address to press lawmakers to focus on affordability  an issue she repeatedly returned to as the defining challenge of her administration.

She pointed to rising housing costs, prescription drug prices and energy bills as pressures cutting across regions and party lines.

More than 70% of Virginians say they cannot find housing they can afford to rent or buy, she said, rejecting claims that affordability concerns are exaggerated. This is not a hoax. This is real life.

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Spanberger said executive actions she signed immediately after her inauguration are intended to jump-start that effort, including orders directing agencies to identify ways to cut costs for families and to review regulations that slow housing construction.

But she also emphasized that lasting relief will require legislation.

To that end, she pointed to what she called an Affordable Virginia Agenda, asking lawmakers to move a package of bills aimed at lowering costs in health care, energy and housing.

The proposals include new rules governing pharmacy benefit managers to push drug rebates back to patients, targeted assistance to offset rising Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums, and incentives to recruit health care providers to underserved areas.

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On energy, Spanberger called for expanded energy storage, increased weatherization programs for low-income households and renewed commitment to a diversified power mix that includes solar, nuclear and offshore wind.

She pledged to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, saying its proceeds previously helped fund flood mitigation and energy-efficiency programs. Her comments come as Virginias offshore wind project has faced renewed uncertainty amid federal actions.

Housing proposals outlined in the speech included extending the period tenants have to respond to eviction filings, giving localities more flexibility to adopt affordable housing programs and creating a revolving loan fund to finance mixed-income developments.

Republicans offered a competing affordability vision following the address.

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House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, said House Republicans agree that lowering costs should be the General Assemblys top priority and pointed to their newly announced the GOPs Affordability Done Right agenda, which includes eliminating the grocery tax, phasing out the car tax, making the higher standard deduction permanent, lowering power bills and expanding auto insurance options.

If the governor truly wants to make life more affordable, Kilgore said, she should support those proposals.

In her speech, Spanberger also waded into debates over public safety and gun policy, calling on lawmakers to revive measures vetoed in recent years.

She said she respects the Second Amendment but urged passage of bills banning ghost guns, restricting firearm access for convicted domestic abusers and strengthening red flag laws.

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These are commonsense measures, she said. Virginia is ready. And I am ready to sign. Send them to my desk.

Education was another focal point, with Spanberger calling for higher teacher pay and renewed emphasis on reading and math instruction after Virginia ranked last nationally in math recovery.

She said her administration would avoid what she described as culture-war battles in classrooms and instead prioritize academic outcomes and partnerships between parents and educators.

The governor also addressed higher education governance, announcing a review of appointments to boards of visitors and signaling support for reforms to prevent future administrations from politicizing university leadership  a topic that has generated intense scrutiny in recent months.

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Woven throughout the speech was a warning about economic turbulence stemming from Washington, including federal job cuts, trade policies and their ripple effects on Virginias economy.

Spanberger said she has created an Economic Resiliency Task Force to assess the damage and recommend responses, particularly for displaced federal workers and rural communities affected by declining exports through the Port of Virginia.

While emphasizing bipartisanship  noting she was ranked among the most bipartisan members of Virginias congressional delegation  Spanberger said she would not shy away from confronting federal actions she believes harm the commonwealth.

When federal actions attack and threaten Virginia jobs, I will not hesitate to push back, she said.

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She closed by invoking the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose holiday coincided with the address, urging lawmakers to reject political intimidation and dehumanization and to model a different approach to governance.

Disagreement need not mean contempt, Spanberger said. Before anything else, we are all Virginians.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced three days of national mourning for victims of a high-speed train crash that killed at least 40 people.

Sanchez also promised to get to the bottom of why the two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain, as rescuers continue to search the wreckage.

More than 120 more people were injured as carriages on a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks, colliding with an oncoming train in Adamuz on Sunday evening.

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The crash is the worst the country has seen in more than a decade.

Rail network operator Adif said the collision happened at 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) on Sunday, about an hour after one of the trains left Malaga heading north to Madrid, when it derailed on a straight stretch of track near the city of Cordoba.

The force of the crash pushed the carriages of the second train into an embankment, according to Transport Minister Oscar Puente. He added that most of those killed and injured were in the front carriages of the second train, which was travelling south from Madrid to Huelva.

Rescue teams said the twisted wreckage of the trains made it difficult to recover people trapped inside the carriages.

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Sanchez visited the site of the crash with senior officials on Monday afternoon.

"This is a day of sorrow for all of Spain, for our entire country," he told reporters.

"We are going to get to the truth, we are going to find the answer, and when that answer about the origin and cause of this tragedy is known, as it could not be otherwise, with absolute transparency and absolute clarity, we will make it public."

Puente said an investigation could take at least a month, describing the incident as "extremely strange".

Rescuers are still searching the wreckage at the crash site [Reuters]

Pedro Sanchez travelled to Spain to pay tribute to the people killed [EPA]

But Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed source briefed on initial investigations as saying experts had found a faulty joint on the rails, which was causing a gap between rail sections to widen as trains travelled over it. They added that the joint was key to identifying the cause of the accident.

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Spain's El Pais newspaper said it was not clear whether the fault was a cause or a result of the crash.

Four hundred passengers and staff were on board the two trains, the rail authorities said. Emergency services treated 122 people, with 41, including children, still in hospital. Of those, 12 are in intensive care.

Puente said the death toll "is not yet final". Officials are working to identify the dead.

The type of train involved in the crash was a Freccia 1000, which can reach top speeds of 400 km/h (250 mph), a spokesperson for the Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato told Reuters.

[BBC]

Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with RTVE who was on one of the trains, said the impact felt like an "earthquake".

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"I was in the first carriage. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed," Jimenez said.

Footage from the scene appears to show some train carriages had tipped over on their sides. Rescue workers can be seen scaling the train to pull people out of the lopsided train doors and windows.

A Madrid-bound passenger, Jose, told public broadcaster Canal Sur: "There were people and screaming, calling for doctors."

All high-speed services between Madrid and the southern cities of Malaga, Cordoba, Sevilla and Huelva have been suspended until Friday.

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King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following news of the disaster "with great concern" and offered their "most heartfelt condolences".

The emergency agency in the region of Andalusia urged any crash survivors to contact their families or post on social media that they are alive.

The Spanish Red Cross has deployed emergency support services to the scene, while also offering counselling to families nearby.

Miguel Angel Rodriguez from the Red Cross told RNE radio: "The families are going through a situation of great anxiety due to the lack of information. These are very distressing moments."

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In 2013, Spain suffered its worst high-speed train derailment in Galicia, north-west Spain, which left 80 people dead and 140 others injured.

Spain's high-speed rail network is the second largest in the world, behind China, connecting more than 50 cities across the country. Adif data shows the Spanish rail is more than 4,000km long (2,485 miles).
A brisk survey of the passing scene:

~Hey, guys. Are you ready to start dating again?

Liberal White Women are getting crazier and crazier by the day.... pic.twitter.com/EwLvBFPkF5  Brandon (@LibOrNormal) January 12, 2026

Ou sont les bunny-boilers d'antan?

~Alternatively: Hey, guys. Are you ready to start dating again?

Gov. Walz on how he plans to handle Republicans during his final year: "Expect for the next 11 months for me to ride you like you've never been ridden." pic.twitter.com/wkOihXuaeP  Jenna Gloeb (@JennaReports) January 7, 2026

So, in the absence of any actual audio, the Internet, being what it is, persists in trying to fake some into being. In the clip below, Empress Farah is genuine but the singing has been edited in from a decade later, a 1985 concert in Tokyo:

It was November 1975. A little over a decade later, I talked about it with longtime Sinatra pianist Bill Miller, who was conducting for Frank that night. Bill spoke of two concerts - the main one, before not quite a capacity crowd (because of long lines to get in) but over 24,000 people, which isn't bad for a peripheral Sinatra market; the second was a smaller show for the Shah and Tehran's smart set. I remember Bill saying the entire orchestra was flown in, mostly from America but with a few from London, such as saxophonist Vic Ash and trombonist Billy Lamb. Being unsure of the Persian dress code, Sinatra eschewed his regular black tie for a rare open-neck performance. But it is the girls in the audience who catch your eye - garbed no differently from their sisters in Vegas or Atlantic City:

Then came the after-show: A mere four years later, those who didn't manage to get out found themselves spending the next forty-six years-and-counting walled up in the Ayatollah's body bags - what the fearless Orianna Fallaci called, when she threw it at him, "this stupid mediaeval rag". And who wants to wear that to a Sinatra gig?

Oh, wait; you can't see Frank or anybody else at that stadium anymore: after 1979 the Islamic Republic banned all musical performances for over a decade, since when they've "relaxed" it if you can convince the relevant revolutionary council that "My Sharia Amour" is Islam-compliant.

Here's a member of the audience that night fifty years ago - Bahman Nassiri, author of The Golden Veil, but then a Tehran student in his early twenties with a too-tight tux who went to the gig by himself because he dug Sinatra. A fabulous looking gal slipped into the seat next to him. Young Bahman was instantly smitten, but the hottie was in fact from Savak, the Shah's security police, because Mr Nassiri was a mere ten yards from the Royal Box and his jacket was so obviously ill-fitting he stuck out suspiciously:

And so Bahman Nassiri began the great love of his life on the staircase of Sinatra's Tehran gig as Frank sang my way. In gratitude, Mr Nassiri now visits Frank's grave every month:

I do not know what awaits in Iran, but I look at those girls in the crowd in November 1975 and none of them conjured a future in which, a mere four years later, they'd be condemned to spend the peak perfection of their beauty under those "stupid mediaeval rags".

Do you prefer the Fab Four to Frank? To modify Paul McCartney, tomorrow came suddenly. This website is your one-stop shop for Sharia and Sinatra, because it's all connected.

~Speaking of "suddenly", as I noted yesterday:

Every organ of the British state - including some of the most famous institutions on the planet: Scotland Yard, the BBC, Buckingham Palace - has been captured by the enemies of England.

Indeed, they're so thoroughly captured that they're moving on to take the so-called "far-right" outposts such as Reform UK. Me just the other day:

Garton Ash's line is a good summation of the course the European political class has set: Steyn-type demographic wankery is a conspiracy theory ...but it's too late to do anything about it ...so a Euro-Muslim 'arc of partnership' is the 2025 future 'at its possible best'. And here we are, with all his fellow members of the political class apparently signed on - from the leftie Starmer to the far-right fascist racist Farage, who in his own 'arc of partnership' has just picked a Muslim woman as his London mayoral candidate. There isn't really a lot of left vs right about any of this: Sir Paul Marshall, the bloke who owns almost all so-called 'conservative' institutions in the UK (The Spectator, Unherd, half of GB News, Jordan Peterson's ARC), is also the chap who introduced Farage to Zia Yusuf, who instantly became Nigel's anointed successor. Everyone seems to be on board with the Garton Ash plan. Which is why we are now in the last fifteen years (if that) of anything recognisable as 'the western world'.

Hence Nigel Farage's latest signing, the open-borders Muslim vax-fanatic Nadhim Zahawi, because that three-course set-menu is pretty much your future:

Another high profile Muslim & ex-Boriswave Tory Nadhim Zahawi defects to Reform UK.

Please do not tell me this is not deliberate now.

Zahawi was also chief Covid vaccine pusher.

In July 2022 Farage slammed Zahawi to me on GB News for "climbing greasy pole" & lacking principles. pic.twitter.com/CUM1GgbBzR  Dan Wootton (@danwootton) January 12, 2026

So Farage, who is nothing if not flexible in all matters, has now turned on his own Reform conference speaker Dr Aseem Malhotra:

No retreat, NO surrender in exposing the mass media incompetence, wilful blindness, cover up and downright lies. https://t.co/zCAuK2BcPK  Dr Aseem Malhotra (@DrAseemMalhotra) January 12, 2026

As delineated in managing the "news" in such an environment can sometimes require a touch of the ayatollah-esque. Before Elon Musk, "social media" insisted that even state-acknowledged "vaccine widows" be banned for peddling "disinformation" - that's to say, Twitter, Facebook et al can determine better than you whether or not you're a widow. After Elon Musk, things changed - which was not helpful to the government narrative, either on the Covid or the gang-rape.

As we have observed many times, in order to appease its ever more assertive Muslim constituency, His Britannic Majesty's Government at all levels is objectively pro-rape. You'll recall that a year ago there was a brief flurry of attention on the ruined lives of white working-class victims of Pakistani paedo rape gangs up and down what passes for the spine of England. That was because Mr Musk decided to Tweet about it. So Keir Starmer has now asked "Lord" Grade and Dame Melanie Dawes of Ofcom to ban X from the UK - ie, do to Elon what his "lordship" did to a certain "niche Canadian".

The pretext for this is that you can apparently use AI to create computer images of your favourite celebs in an underdressed state - Sidney Sweeney, Nancy Pelosi, whoever. So the PM has decided to act instantly to defend England's maidenhood from unwanted Grok bikini shots in order that he won't have to act at all to defend them from Pakistani rape clans. But the good news is that, under Sir Keir, these girls can go on being gang-sodomised, doused in petrol, dangled off balconies and fed into kebab mincers without having to worry about any embarrassing Tweets turning up on the Internet.

And the good news for England's depraved elite is that now there'll be an even more constricted and throttled London media - and even fewer stories about why Starmer is known throughout the extensive Mayfair escort community as the lousiest tipper of Ukrainian rent-boys:

Keir Starmer is a duplicitous bastard.

He is attempting to shut down X for political reasons and because of his personal hatred of Elon Musk for exposing him.

Every person on the right must fight this with everything we've got.

What's left of our free speech is nearly gone.  Dan Wootton (@danwootton) January 9, 2026

Could be worse, Dan. In Australia it's not "nearly gone", it's over:

Australia will pass the "Toughest Hate Law ever seen" on Tuesday. It's called the, "Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026". Obviously this was always intended to target White Australians from discussing mass immigration. TREASONpic.twitter.com/QZ494LUKJy  Dr Russell McGregor (@KillAuDeepState) January 12, 2026

So two Isis-affiliated Muslims shoot up Bondi Beach with guns licensed to them by Albanese's incompetent boobs ...and Albo's response is to pass a law making it illegal for Australians to call for the deportation of Islamic terrorists.

Tomorrow comes suddenly.

Mark's international bestseller America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. If you haven't read the book during its first seventeen years, well, you're missing a treat. It's still in print in hardback and paperback. (Buy it at a 77% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 47% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR)

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human rights activist. Among his books is "The Undocumented Mark Steyn: Don't Say You Weren't Warned". (Buy it at a 49% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 67% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR)
A popular tourist destination has declared a state of emergency after wildfires left more than a dozen people dead, reported the BBC.

Wildfires Rage Across Chile

Chile has declared a state of emergency as wildfires have burned through about 21,000 acres and left at least 18 people dead. The Associated Press reported that roughly 300 homes have been destroyed and more than 50,000 residents evacuated from the Nuble and Bio Bio regions amidst the ongoing threat. "In response to the ongoing wildfires, I have declared a state of emergency in the Nuble and Bio Bio regions, Chilean President Gabriel Boric posted to X on Sunday, Jan. 18. All resources are available."

CONAF, Chiles forestry agency, confirmed that first responders are battling 24 active fires across the country. The largest blazes are in Nuble and Bio Bio, which both rest about 310 miles from the countrys capital, Santiago.

Some Still Accuse Government of 'Do[ing] Nothing'

The emergency designation ostensibly allows stronger military coordination as officials work to contain the two dozen wildfires. But some local officials have accused the president of not doing enough. Dear president Boric, from the bottom of my heart, I have been here for four hours, a community is burning and there is no [government] presence, said Rodrigo Vera, the mayor of Penco, a small coastal village in the Biobio region. How can a minister do nothing but call me to tell me that the military is going to arrive at some point?

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Many residents were apparently caught unaware by the blaze, which began shortly after midnight when most people were in bed. Many people didnt evacuate. They stayed in their houses because they thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest, said John Guzman, 55, a resident of Penco. It was completely out of control. No one expected it.

TOPSHOT - A firefighter runs along a street as a house burns during a wildfire in Concepcion, Chile, on January 18, 2026. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency on January 18 for two southern regions where raging wildfires have forced about 20,000 people to evacuate their homes. (Photo by GUILLERMO SALGADO / AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - A resident reacts in front of the charred remains of destroyed homes and a vehicle after a wildfire in Concepcion, Chile, on January 18, 2026. Wildfires raging in southern Chile have killed at least 15 people and forced more than 50,000 to evacuate, the government said. (Photo by Raul BRAVO / AFP via Getty Images)

Witnesses Recall Horrific Scenes

We fled running, with the kids, in the dark, recalled another Penco resident, 52-year-old John Lagos. Citizens and officials alike described a harrowing scene in which charred bodies could be spotted on the sides of the roads in cars, fields, and their homes, caught as they tried to escape. From what we can see, there are people who diedand we knew them well, resident Victor Burboa, 54, said. Everyone here knew them.

All but one of the fatalities recorded have occurred in Penco. We had to leave with the shirts on our back. If we had stayed another 20 minutes we would have burned to death, said student Matias Cid, 25. In the port town of Lirquen, according to 57-year-old Alejandro Arredondo, There is nothing left standing. Arredondo reported that many of the villages residents saved themselves from the flames by running to the beach and diving into the ocean.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ticket prices to the Minnesota State Fair will not increase for 2026, organizers decided over the weekend.

The Minnesota State Agricultural Society, the organization that operates the Fair, voted to keep admission and Fairgrounds parking prices steady for this year at its 167th annual meeting in Bloomington. The last time ticket prices did not increase was 2024.

For 2026, regular gate admission for adults 13-64 will remain $20; children 5-12 and seniors 65 and older will be $18; children 4 and under will still be admitted free.

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Pre-Fair discount admission tickets, available now through Aug. 26, are $17 for all ages.

Ticket information is available online at mnstatefair.org/tickets.

The board also approved about $67 million in expenditures, including the State Fairs annual $44 million operating budget and $23.2 million in Fairgrounds maintenance and improvements. Most notable among these projects is the massive Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum renovation, which will bring new seats, redesigned entryways and aisles and updated amenities to the arena. Other planned improvements include repairing street and sidewalk pavement, installing new fans in the Food Building, expanding the South Bike Lot and buying portable drinking fountains.

Minnesotans care deeply about their State Fair, and our approach is to make smart investments that honor tradition, set the standard for high-value, high-quality experiences, and ensure the fairs continued relevance and significance for generations, State Fair CEO Renee Alexander said in a statement.

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The Fair is financially self-supporting and does not receive government funding.

As for events at the Fair, two Grandstand shows have been announced so far: Weird Al Yankovic is set to return for his seventh Fair show on Aug. 28, and Rod Stewart is playing what could be his last large-scale show in the Metro on Sept. 1.

State Fair admission costs have been rising rapidly in recent years. Ticket prices are up $5 from the busiest-ever 2019 Fair, the last before the pandemic. Last years $2 increase to $20 adult tickets was the largest single-year jump since 2007, when admission was raised from $9 to $11 per adult. Over the past decade, ticket price increases have taken place in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. (The 2020 Fair was cancelled due to Covid-19.)

Annual Fair attendance remains high, though. More than 1.94 million tickets were sold for the 2025 Fair, making it the busiest Fair since the pandemic and the fifth-best attended of all time.

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The 2026 Minnesota State Fair runs from Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  State Rep. Tammy Exum (D-Conn.) suffered the sudden death of her husband which led her to seek change at the state capitol.

She talked with Dennis House on on This Week in Connecticut about her loss, why she wont seek reelection and about her son, who has millions of followers on social media.

Watch above.

THIS WEEK IN CONNECTICUT

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The leader of global rights group Amnesty International urged European countries Monday to stop "appeasing" US President Donald Trump and resist him and other "bullies" who she said were intent on destroying the rules-based order in place since World War II.

"We need much more resistance," Amnesty secretary general Agnes Callamard told AFP in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"Europe's credibility is at stake."

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Her comments came as Trump doubled down on his threats to take over Greenland "one way or the other", insisting such a move is necessary for world security, prompting European countries to close ranks against his designs on the vast Danish territory.

German and French leaders denounced as "blackmail" Trump's weekend threats to wield new tariffs against countries which oppose his plans for the Arctic island, suggesting Europe was preparing trade countermeasures.

But German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was due to meet Trump in Davos on Wednesday, also stressed that Europe was eager to "avoid any escalation" in the dispute.

- 'Say no' -

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Callamard urged governments to show more "courage" and to "say no".

"Stop thinking you can make deals with bullies, stop thinking you can agree to the rules of the predators and not become yourself a victim of them."

The Amnesty chief highlighted that the US bid to seize Greenland was only the latest indication that the world is facing the "destruction of the rules-based order".

She lamented that global and regional "superpowers" seemed "intent on destroying what has been established after World War II, dedicated to finding common rules to our common problems".

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Since Trump's return to the White House a year ago, he has taken "a range of decisions that have led to the demise of many rules around the world", while Russia was destroying the system "through its aggression in Ukraine", she said.

European powers have been treading a thin line over Ukraine in recent months, relying on Washington to try to help settle the conflict but resisting terms too favourable to Moscow.

The post-WWII order "is also being destroyed by Israel that has completely ignored international law in its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza," she added.

Amnesty and other rights groups have repeatedly accused Israel of carrying out a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a term vehemently rejected by the Israeli government.

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Callamard stressed that the rules-based order was established in response to "a global war that had killed millions of people, as a response to extermination camps that had killed six million Jews, as a response to authoritarianism that had led to the most daunting global repression the world over".

- 'Abyss' -

"The fact that it is now being destroyed without any plan B, just for the sake of destroying the rules, should send shivers to all of us," she said, warning that the only alternative to the rules-based system was "falling down into an abyss".

"That's what we need to prevent."

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The Davos gathering this year is taking place under the tagline "A Spirit of Dialogue", but Callamard warned "there is no evidence of dialogue" currently among the world's decision-makers.

"There is evidence of bullying. There is evidence of destruction. There is evidence of countries using their military power, their economic power, to force others into agreeing to their one-sided deals."

Such tactics had for the past 12 months been met with European "appeasement".

"We have sought to appease the bully, the predator living in Washington," she said.

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"Where has this led us? To more and more attacks, to more and more threats."

Callamard, who is French, recalled that the European project was not just about economics, but also about values, humanity and the rule of law.

"I'm hoping that our leaders will recall that... history and see in the current challenges a way of re-insisting on the European project and demanding human rights protection for the sake of humanity," she said.

"That demands stopping the appeasement politics, (which) simply is not working".

"Please stop it. Resist. Resist."

elr-nl/rjm/rlp
Late in the month, a changing weather setup could favor the development of large storm systems capable of spreading snow, ice and rain from portions of the mountainous Northwest into the Plains and East. It is looking much more likely that a major storm with snow and ice will affect the south-central part of the United States late this week, with eyes for the Appalachians and Atlantic Seaboard this weekend.

Through midweek, numerous shots of cold, Arctic air and rounds of snow will continue to impact portions of the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast states. Frigid, gusty winds blowing across the lakes will promote more rounds of lake-effect snow. Visibility could be sharply reduced in heavy bands of snow, with travel becoming hazardous in some locations.

Cold pattern settles in for the long haul

AccuWeather.com

The cold conditions that have set in across the Midwest and Northeast will be here to stay for the foreseeable future, AccuWeather forecasters warn.

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"Cold air will still be in place the weekend of Jan. 24-25, and there is a signal that there can be a storm during that period, which can help to usher snow across the eastern U.S.," noted AccuWeather Meteorologist Peyton Simmers.

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As the cold lingers and even strengthens as the week progresses, the threat of frostbite and hypothermia will grow for anyone spending time outdoors. The sustained Arctic chill will also result in increased heating and energy usage across roughly a third of the nation.

AccuWeather.com

Risk of snow and ice across more than two dozen states

From Friday into the weekend, a far-reaching storm is expected to gradually swing out of the Rocky Mountains and into the Plains before barrelling across the eastern United States. Given the cold air that will be in place across the region, wintry impacts are likely across a large swath of the storm track.

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Exactly where this storm sets up and tracks will determine where the snow and ice will be. Residents from Colorado and Wyoming through the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts are urged to stay on alert for forecast updates, especially with the threat of ice becoming a possibility.

"The ingredients are coming into place for a long-duration storm that brings a substantial amount of snow, sleet and freezing rain from Texas and southern portions of the Plains to the lower and middle parts of the Mississippi Valley late this week and then into the East this weekend," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

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"There is the potential for snow and ice to reach deep into the heart of Texas and along the Interstate 10 and 20 corridors farther to the east in the Central states and then farther north along the I-81 and 95 corridors," Sosnowski added. "Given the magnitude of the cold air that follows the storm, many areas in the Southern states could struggle with an icy grip of winter with some damage to infrastructure and major travel difficulties, the scope of which will be revealed in the coming days as more details of the storm unfold."

As a notable dip of the jet stream pattern becomes more enhanced over the coming weeks, it will help reinforce the cold air filtering southward from Canada. Perhaps the most substantial expanse of cold air for the entire winter will develop late this week and this weekend, surrounding the storm.

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Even into February, AccuWeather long-range forecasters are concerned that the temperature trend will remain below typical for this time of year for a large part of the nation.

"Our long-range forecast for February calls for below-average temperatures across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation, with the biggest departures from normal in the Midwest," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg stated. "For areas west of the Rockies, above-historical-average temperatures are in store, with the greatest departures in the Southwest."

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
President Donald Trump launched his second term by seeking to usurp Congress authority and challenge a nearly century-old legal precedent that shields independent executive branch agencies and the congressionally-confirmed officers who lead them from presidential overreach. In late January, Trump removed Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board and fired two commissioners of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In February, he dismissed a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board. And in March, he axed two commissioners from the Federal Trade Commission.

Nearly a year after this push began, the Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear oral arguments on whether Trump can continue his crusade against independent agencies and the laws Congress passed to protect them by exerting control over the Federal Reserve. The case centers around Fed Governor Lisa Cook, who Trump in August attempted to remove based on contrived  and seemingly baseless  mortgage fraud allegations and without due process. Cook sued, and a lower court in September halted her removal while her case moved through the legal system. The case has now reached the Supreme Court on its emergency docket.

The world will be watching as the Court considers Trumps self-granted prerogative to bulldoze Congress in order to assert his own political will over a central bank that is critically important to the global economy.

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Cooks case is about maintaining Federal Reserve independence, protecting consequential monetary policy from presidential influence and partisan policy setting. Its also about the ways in which Trump throughout the first year of his second term has crushed congressional authority and concentrated more and more power within the executive branch. To understand how Trumps attempted overreach into the Federal Reserve fits in with his administrations themes of unilateral executive power requires an understanding of the wonky world of independent agencies created by Congress.

The crux of the pre-Trump definition of independent agencies is that Congress designed them to be insulated from partisanship, and the president does not control them.

If, as the president insists, he is able to remove a Federal Reserve governor for seemingly any reason at any time with no due process,Jeremy Kress, an associate professor of business law at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, told TPM, that effectively nullifies the removal protection that Congress put in place and would bring the Fed under direct presidential control.

Independent agencies consist of bipartisan, multi-member bodies whose members serve for staggered, multi-year terms. Presidents appoint the members and agency heads, all of whom ultimately must be confirmed by the Senate. These agencies exist within the executive branch but outside of the purview of the president, primarily because Congress installed protections to shield board members and agency officers against frivolous presidential removal. Members and heads of independent agencies, the law states, can only be removed for cause.

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In 1935, a different set of Supreme Court justices upheld this principle, ruling in a case known as Humphreys Executor that Congress has constitutional authority to restrict the presidents ability to fire members and leaders of independent agencies.

But todays Roberts Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, has time and again moved to ignore or revoke Congresss constitutional reins on the president and instead leaned ever more toward embracing the concept of a unitary executive, wherein the president dominates the entire executive branch.

The big global picture here is that this Supreme Court has been very intent and acted to bolster executive power at Congresss expense, Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University, told TPM.

The Supreme Court justices have in recent years fondled the idea that the Federal Reserve is a special entity, shielded from presidential interference in a way other independent executive branch agencies, even ones that deal with economic policy, are not. In 2018, then-federal appeals court Judge Brett Kavanaugh wrote a dissent against a ruling that protected the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In it, he said the Fed had a unique function  with respect to monetary policy. Justice Samuel Alito in a separate, 2024 case challenging the CFPB, CFPB v. Community Financial Services Association of America, highlighted the Feds self-reliant funding structure and unique historical background. In the spring 2025 case challenging the removal of the NLRB and MSPB officers, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution gives the president authority to remove independent agency board members by reasoning that they likely exercise considerable executive power on the presidents behalf. SCOTUS then alluded to its intention to protect the Federal Reserve, calling the Fed a uniquely structured, quasi-private entity, and highlighting the legacy of other historic U.S. banks.

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Now, the Supreme Courts conservative majority has put itself in an awkward position on the Cook case, where it must choose either to prove that the Fed is not the same type of entity as the others the Court has allowed Trump to gut, or greenlight Trumps attempt to remove Cook. Allowing Cooks removal will give a stamp of approval to the presidents open threats to effectively rule the Fed with potentially devastating consequences.

That the Supreme Court is even hearing oral arguments or received full briefings on this emergency docket case is unusual, said Binder, and signaled that the court might be fidgety about the implications of its past rulings that uphold Trumps unilateral control over executive branch agencies.

Thats really what the struggle is here, because [in] the legal rules theyve been laying out or suggesting, theres no exception for an agency just because its really important, said Binder, who co-authored a book about congressional governance of the Fed.

The courts basically muscled Congress out here and said, No. Were going to decide this question, Binder said.

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When the Department of Justice subpoenaed the Fed, part of an investigation into whether Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell lied to Congress while testifying about the cost of renovations of two Fed buildings, the Trump administration may have overplayed its hand. Legal and financial experts saw the investigation as a transparent bid to pressure Powell specifically, and Fed leadership more broadly, to align its monetary policy with the presidents wishes. That will be top of mind for justices at Wednesdays oral arguments, experts told TPM.

Theres no question that the announcement of that investigation is going to hang over the Lisa Cook case, Richard Pildes, a constitutional law scholar and NYU professor of law, told TPM. I doubt that action has helped the governments position.

If the Court decides Cooks case with a narrow ruling that doesnt address broader questions of Fed independence, Michigans Kress said, Congress could act legislatively. Thats a longshot, given that it would require more than a dozen GOP senators to join with Democrats for a veto-proof majority.

But at least in the case of the Powell investigation, Congress has shown signs of life. Senators from Trumps own party vowed to block any of the presidents nominees to the Federal Reserve, including the presidents candidate to chair the board when Powells leadership term ends in May. (He can remain on the board as a governor until 2028.)

Were seeing what Congress can do, said Binder, and specifically what the presidents party can do in the Senate, given that those are the folks who will make or break the presidents ability to appoint a new chair [and] fill up the board with people who are going to be more amenable to his pressure for a lower rate.
The lawyers of the owners of a Swiss bar where a deadly fire broke out on New Year's Eve killing 40 people and injuring 116 have broken their silence to criticise "lies" about their clients.

Jessica and Jacques Moretti were "devastated", the lawyers told local media, but denied being aware of any dangers at their venue.

"There is a sort of public vindictiveness directed against them," one of the three lawyers, Yael Hayat, said.

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Initial findings from the investigation suggest the fire began as sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproof foaming that lined the ceiling of the basement of Le Constellation bar in the popular ski resort of Crans-Montana.

Authorities have acknowledged that the bar had not undergone safety checks for five years.

Most of the victims of the fire were young - eight were under the age of 16 - and many are being treated in hospital for severe burns.

Many stories about the couple, the venue they managed, as well as their past have circulated in the local media since the fire, increasing pressure on the authorities as they investigate the accident and prosecute the owners.

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In an interview with Tribune de Geneve, the lawyers said the couple wanted to "restore the truth".

Hayat said reports her client Jessica had left the burning building with cash from the register were a lie, telling BFMTV: "In no way did she leave the scene in a hurry; she stayed there to help and support the injured."

Patrick Michod, representing Jacques Moretti, said: "When you run an establishment and a tragedy like this occurs, you feel responsible. Now, the major question in this case is the question of criminal responsibility, which is obviously not the same thing as the feelings one may have as the operator."

Asked about the foam in the ceiling, Michod said his client obtained the material from a "major construction retailer" which did not disclose that it was flammable.

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"He did not want to install a highly flammable foam. He wanted to install acoustic foam," he said.

Lawyers representing the family of Cyane Panine, a staff member at Le Constellation who died in the blaze, said she had received no safety training and was unaware of the danger posed by the ceiling that caught fire.

Hayat described Panine as a close friend of the couple, and pulled out a postcard she said had been written by her to the Morettis, Tribune de Geneve reported.

"I hope I will continue to grow alongside you and that we will spend many more New Year's Eves together [...] you are like my second family," the postcard said.

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The Moretti couple have been accused by authorities of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.

Last week, a Swiss court imposed a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention. She has had to surrender her passport and must report to police every day.

She previously told reporters that she was sorry about the "unthinkable tragedy".

Jacques Moretti is being held in custody for an initial period of 90 days. Prosecutors have also argued the couple present a flight risk and have asked judges to impose a 400,000-franc bail ($500,000; 374,000)as a condition for their release - 200,000 for each.

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Michod said that he had filed a request to release Jacques Moretti.
By Karam al-Masri and Khalil Ashawi

RAQQA, Syria, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Syrian government troops tightened their grip across a swathe of northern and eastern territory on Monday after it was abruptly abandoned by Kurdish forces in a dramatic shift that has consolidated President Ahmed al-Sharaa's rule.

A day after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, once the main U.S. ally in Syria, agreed to quit large areas under a ceasefire, the sides reported new clashes. The Syrian army said "a number of" Islamic State militants had escaped a prison that had been under SDF control in the eastern city of Shaddadi, accusing the SDF of releasing them.

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The SDF said it had lost control of the prison following an attack by government fighters. The Syrian army denied attacking the jail and said its forces would work to secure the prison and re-arrest the escapees.

The SDF said Shaddadi prison had held thousands of militants. The army did not say how many IS detainees had fled.

The SDF withdrawals mark the biggest change in Syria's control map since Islamist fighters led by Sharaa toppled President Bashar al-Assad in 2024, tilting the power balance Sharaa's way after months of deadlock in talks with the SDF over government demands its forces merge fully with Damascus.

After days of fighting with government forces, the SDF agreed on Sunday to withdraw from both Raqqa and Deir al-Zor, two Arab-majority provinces they had controlled for years and the location of Syria's main oil fields.

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ABDI-SHARAA MEETING

Turkey, which has repeatedly sent forces into northern Syria to curb Kurdish power since 2016, welcomed the deal signed by its ally Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged the swift implementation of the agreement that requires the full integration of Kurdish fighters into Syria's armed forces.

The SDF, spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG militia, had established control of a quarter or more of Syria during the 2011-2024 civil war, while fighting with the support of U.S. troops against Islamic State. The United States, which has since established close ties with Sharaa under President Donald Trump, has been closely involved in mediation between the sides.

Abdi confirmed on Sunday that the SDF had agreed to withdraw from Deir al-Zor and Raqqa provinces.

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A copy of the 14-point deal published by Syria's presidency showed his signature alongside Sharaa's. It requires SDF forces to be merged with government forces as "individuals" rather than units, as the SDF had sought.

Reports indicated a meeting between Abdi and Sharaa on Monday did not go well. Senior Kurdish politician Fawza Yousef told Kurdish broadcaster Rudaw that the meeting was not positive, adding that Damascus wanted the Kurds to "surrender everything".

A senior Kurdish source told Reuters that Abdi is dissatisfied with the terms, requested more time to discuss the matter with his fellow commanders, and repeated his proposal for the SDF to integrate as units rather than individuals.

Pro-government Syria TV reported that the meeting failed to produce an endorsement of the deal and that Abdi sought to amend its terms.

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The SDF spokesperson declined to comment on the accounts of the meeting. There was no immediate statement from the Syrian government about the meeting.

In a phone call, Sharaa and Trump stressed the necessity of preserving Kurdish rights within the Syrian state and agreed on continuing cooperation to combat Islamic State, the Syrian presidency said.

GOVERNMENT FORCES DEPLOY

Reuters journalists saw government forces deployed in the city of Raqqa that the SDF had captured from Islamic State in 2017, and at oil and gas facilities in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor.

The latest setbacks for the SDF follow the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from districts of Aleppo city they had controlled for years after fighting there earlier this month.

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Under the latest agreement, the SDF would surrender to government control prisons holding Islamic State militants, along with all border crossings and oil and gas fields, steps the SDF had long resisted.

The SDF remains in control of most of Hasakah province in the northeast, including the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli.

The SDF media office said in a statement that the prison at Shaddadi - one of three under its control in the Hasakah region - had come under repeated attack by "Damascus factions", and that dozens of SDF fighters were killed or wounded defending it.

The statement added that the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State had not intervened despite repeated appeals to a nearby coalition base. The U.S. military's Central Command did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

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In its denial of the SDF account, the Syrian Ministry of Defense said army forces had bypassed Shaddadi, in line with deployment plans, and offered aid to SDF forces inside. The Syrian army announced it had established control over the city of Shaddadi and the prison.

The Syrian Defense Ministry also denied an SDF account of clashes between government and SDF forces near a jail in Raqqa, which the SDF said was holding IS inmates. It said the army had arrived "at the vicinity of al-Aqtan prison... and began securing it and its surroundings despite the presence of SDF forces inside".

The SDF said nine of its fighters were killed and 20 wounded in clashes around al-Aqtan.

(Additional reporting by Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Jana Choukeir and Ahmed Elimam in Dubai, Daren Butler in Istanbul, Ece Toksabay in Ankara, Menna Alaa El Din and Jaidaa Taha in Cairo; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Peter Graff, Andrew Heavens and Bill Berkrot)
A BBC radio talk show went off the rails Monday when a caller falsely accused President Donald Trump live on the air of being a pedophile.

A man identified as Riley from the city of Peterborough in the east of England called in to the BBCs Radio 5 Live show for a discussion of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmers continued cooperation with Trump in the face of the Greenland crisis.

Starmer needs to stand up, give Trump the V, and wave our flag, Riley began. We cannot keep cooperating with this guy. Weve gave him too many warnings. Weve gave him too many, Oh, maybe this, maybe that, and, you know its bad when [Nigel] Farage is going after it. This is the worst government Ive ever seen in my life.

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Farage, a member of parliament who has enthusiastically supported fellow populist Trump in the past, condemned the U.S. presidents tariff threats over the Greenland issue.

Riley continued, The people of Greenland, theyve got their own sovereignty, the whole world is watching this and thinking, What is he doing? Putin is probably looking at Trump thinking, Even I wouldnt do this. The whole thing is just an absolute, absolute mess, and I cannot believe it.

BBC host Nicky Campbell asked what the caller thought about Trumps claim to Greenland, which is when things got out of hand.

What claim? Its ridiculous, Riley said. I just cannot, hes just  I dont use this word lightly  he is a pedophile, he is a narcissist 

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Oh, no, no, no, hang on! Campbell interrupted. We cant have accusations like that! he exclaimed, before cutting off the caller.

Trump is currently suing the BBC for $10 billion over edits made to a documentary about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Trumps team argues that the edit gave the mistaken impression Trump called for violence on that day.

The issue of Jeffrey Epsteins crimes looms large in Britain, due to Andrew Mountbatton-Windsors association with the convicted sex trafficker. Trump was a longtime friend of Epsteins and remains under great scrutiny for the Justice Departments refusal to release the full trove of files that critics claim could shed more light on the nature of their relationship.

Trump has repeatedly maintained he did nothing wrong regarding Epstein.

The post We Cant Have Accusations Like That! BBC Radio Host Frantically Shuts Down Caller Who Calls Trump a Pedophile first appeared on Mediaite.
In September 1975, Rhode Islander Patrick T. Conley found himself dining at Buckingham Palace with England's Queen Elizabeth II, a direct consequence of America declaring independence from Great Britain almost 200 years earlier.

In a prelude to parties across America the following year, the queen had invited the chairmen of state bicentennial commissions from the 13 rebellious Colonies to mark the good will that had grown between the former enemies in the intervening two centuries.

"That was a great gesture," Conley told The Providence Journal recently.

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But it was also the prelude to a year of serious partying, especially in Rhode Island, to celebrate the country's 200th birthday. "It was a mammoth celebration, quite frankly," said Conley, on Jan. 16.

The festive atmosphere of 1976 was buoyed by America  and Rhode Island  finding themselves at a turning point.

"It was a big deal, because it awakened latent patriotism that had been dormant," Conley said. Civil rights struggles, debates about women's rights, Vietnam War protests and high-profile assassinations had marked the previous decade and a half in America. "The bicentennial was kind of a breathing space."

In Rhode Island, the state was reeling from the Navy's pullout a year earlier from bases in Newport and Quonset Point, which left the City by the Sea something of a ghost town in need of a new identity. The bicentennial sparked the remaking of the city's waterfront, according to Keith Stokes, the state's historian laureate and Newport resident, a descendant of Colonial Newport residents, who is on the RI250 Commission planning events for this year's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

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"Before 1976, the Newport waterfront wasn't the most inviting place for families," Stokes said. But all that changed in the mid-1970s. "Newport blossoms into this major travel identity," he said. "It's really the bicentennial that kicks off Newport as a major tourism destination."

A majestic maritime display

By far, the centerpiece Rhode Island event of 1976 was the Tall Ships visit, seagoing sailing vessels from around the world that came to visit Newport.

The event featured a Tall Ships banquet at the Rosecliff mansion. A dense fog that night, combined with pink-colored lights, shrouded the event in a pink glow. The party had 1,500 guests, plus 100 ship captains and even a crown prince and princess, plus a dozen ambassadors.

The arrival of the Tall Ships in June 1976 brought so many people to Newport that the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds along the waterfront were six people deep, according to news reports. The Portuguese Tall Ship Sagres II is pictured at left.

During their stay, thousands of Rhode Islanders visited the ship while they were docked at Newport and Providence.

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The Tall Ships festival culminated July 1 with a parade of sail, when 20 of the square-rigged vessels headed out of Newport Harbor, north under what was then called the Newport Bridge and around Gould Island before heading south back under the bridge, past Newport's Ocean Drive and Jamestown's Beavertail and out to sea on their way to July Fourth celebrations in New York.

Others of the ships departed less dramatically, headed for celebrations in Boston, according to Conley.

The Independent Man shines for the bicentennial

It may not impress modern Rhode Islanders, who were around at the end of 2023 when the Independent Man statute was plucked from its perch atop the State House, regilded and put on display inside the building before being raised again, but the bicentennial also included removing the statue for a new coat of gold. While not on the State House dome, the statue was on display at the Warwick Mall.

During the bicentennial, the state also created statuettes of the Independent Man as keepsakes.

Renunciation Day parade fetes RI diversity in bicentennial

While modern-day Rhode Islanders somewhat incorrectly celebrate May 4 as Rhode Island Independence Day, Conley, a onetime history professor at Providence College, knew that the Colony renounced allegiance to King George III that day, stopping just short of declaring independence. In 1976, the event was marked by a Renunciation Day parade that included marchers from 18 "heritage groups," representing the immigrant diversity of the state's population.

The queen stops by Newport

England's Queen Elizabeth II visited the United States from July 7 to July 11 that year, a guest of President Gerald R. Ford, which included stopping in Newport on July 10.

Commanding Officer Tyrone G. Martin welcomes Queen Elizabeth II aboard the USS Constitution, along with Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf, center, and Prince Philip, in background, on July 11, 1976.

During a whirlwind tour of downtown, the queen made an appearance at Trinity Church before having cocktails with Ford aboard the royal yacht Britannia in Newport Harbor. (Elizabeth flew into T.F. Green Airport before heading to Newport, where the yacht was waiting, and she flew out of Boston the next day.)

State commissions replicas of historic RI warships

In 2002, Blythe Daly, a crew member aboard the HMS Rose, a replica of the frigate of the same name that participated in the Revolutionary War, gets the ship ready to travel from Newport to San Diego, California, where it would later be used in several movies.

Two sailing ships that were familiar to Revolutionary War-era Rhode Islanders were recreated to celebrate the bicentennial:

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The HMS Rose. The Rose was the largest Royal Navy vessel stationed in Narragansett Bay in the year before independence and was even more of a scourge to commerce in the Colony than the HMS Gaspee, which Colonists destroyed in 1772, had been. The replica Rose, rechristened HMS Surprise, is now part of the fleet of the Maritime Museum of San Diego. It has appeared in the movies "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

The sloop-of-war Providence. In June 1775, Rhode Island rented two ships from Providence merchant John Brown and outfitted them with cannons, forming the state's first Navy. Almost at once, the two ships engaged and captured a Royal Navy ship, the Diana, which the British had confiscated from Brown. Not long after, the Katy (later renamed Providence) joined the fledgling Continental Navy. The Replica Providence is now a dockside museum in Alexandria, Virginia.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Tall Ships anchored 'mammoth' bicentennial events in RI in 1976
I pass that house regularly, and often find myself thinking about the Americans who sheltered refugees there. They knew the law (Bowditch was a lawyer) and understood the penalties they risked by flouting it  prosecution, heavy fines, imprisonment. They did it anyway, because their conscience gave them no choice. The Fugitive Slave Act was lawful, duly enacted by Congress and signed by the president. But it was also profoundly unjust, and the men and women of the Underground Railroad recognized a higher obligation than obedience to such a law.

They were not the first to face that dilemma.

The tradition of righteous lawbreaking reaches back far beyond antebellum America. The earliest recorded acts of civil disobedience were committed by three women, whose stories are told in the opening chapters of the book of Exodus. They came from opposite ends of ancient Egypt's social ladder. Two were lowly midwives named Shifra and Puah. The third was a princess, the daughter of Ramesses II, the most powerful pharaoh in Egyptian history.

Their tales begin with a genocidal decree. Pharaoh, alarmed by the growing population of his enslaved Hebrews, orders Shifra and Puah to kill every newborn Hebrew boy they deliver. But the women cannot bring themselves to follow such orders. As Exodus 1 relates: "The midwives feared G od; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live."

When summoned to explain their disobedience, they offer Pharaoh a transparently absurd excuse: Hebrew women give birth so quickly that the babies arrive before the midwives can get there. Their defiance is not merely courageous but bold to the point of mockery.

This happened in the 13th century BCE, millennia before any theory of civil disobedience existed. The notion of universal human rights was unknown. Yet Shifra and Puah instinctively grasped a principle that would not be codified for many centuries  that some orders are so immoral they must not be obeyed, regardless of who issues them or what punishment disobedience might bring. The text says simply that the women "feared G od"  they had a conscience that wouldn't let them commit murder, even under direct command from the most powerful ruler on earth.

Then, in Exodus 2, comes another act of defiance, equally remarkable.

Pharaoh, thwarted by the midwives, issues a public edict, binding on every Egyptian: All male Hebrew newborns are to be drowned in the Nile. One Hebrew mother hides her infant son as long as she can, then sets him afloat in a basket, hoping desperately that someone might rescue him.

Someone does, and it turns out to be the daughter of Pharaoh himself. She finds the baby, realizes immediately that he's a Hebrew, and decides to save him anyway. Her handmaids, witnessing this defiance, must surely have warned her of the risk. Yet she stands her ground. Indeed, the princess doesn't simply rescue the child in secret  she adopts him openly and raises him in the royal palace, in direct violation of her father's genocidal decree.

As the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks observed, to get a sense of the magnitude of her act, replace the phrase "Pharaoh's daughter" with "Hitler's daughter" or "Stalin's daughter." In refusing to assist a homicidal regime into whose highest ranks she was born, she demonstrated that even in the heart of darkness, moral courage is possible.

These women  the midwives and the princess  had nothing in common except their refusal to participate in evil. They acted without the benefit of historical precedent or political theory. But they set the pattern for all those who would choose to fight unjust laws by breaking them and accepting the consequences  people like Rosa Parks, Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, Oskar Schindler, the Soviet refuseniks, Bowditch and the Underground Railroad abolitionists, and the Dutch couple who helped hide Anne Frank and her family.

Next week, Americans will honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., whose commitment to civil disobedience in the cause of racial justice made him one of the 20th century's towering figures. As a Baptist minister, King was of course familiar with the legacy of moral courage that stretches back to Shifra, Puah, and Pharaoh's daughter. His writings and speeches contain many biblical references, and his philosophy of nonviolent resistance rested on the same foundation as the ancient midwives': There is a law higher than human law, and decent people must sometimes choose between obedience and justice.

In his renowned "Letter from Birmingham Jail," written in 1963 while imprisoned for organizing a nonviolent march against segregation, King addressed white clergymen who had criticized him for defying an injunction banning civil rights protests. He drew a crucial distinction between just and unjust orders, arguing that "one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." But unlike those who simply buck authority, King insisted that genuine civil disobedience requires accepting the penalty. "One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty," he wrote. "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law."

This was no license for lawlessness or violence. King explicitly rejected both. Those who sat down at lunch counters, who marched in the streets, who refused to move to the back of the bus  they weren't anarchists or revolutionaries. On the contrary, King argued, they were standing up for America's deepest values, carrying the nation "back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers."

In truth, they were reaching back even further  back to the midwives of Egypt who stood before the most powerful ruler of their age and said no. Back to the princess who defied her own father's genocidal decree. Back to the first people in recorded history who understood that conscience can demand disobedience, and that such disobedience represents not a rejection of law but its highest expression.

This ancient principle is once again a live issue. Last month, six Democratic members of Congress, all military veterans, released a video reminding active-duty service members of their legal obligation under the Uniform Code of Military Justice to refuse unlawful orders. That is hardly a novel or partisan claim. It is settled military law, codified after the Nuremberg trials in order to prevent "just following orders" from serving as a defense for atrocities. The principle is taught at every service academy and appears in every military legal handbook.

Yet the video provoked an unhinged response. In a series of characteristically over-the-top posts, President Trump claimed the lawmakers had committed "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has moved to deprive one of the legislators, Senator Mark Kelly, of his rank and pension as a retired Navy captain. Ironically, Hegseth himself said in a 2016 video that US troops "won't follow unlawful orders" and that "if you're doing something that is completely unlawful and ruthless, then there is a consequence for that." Kelly now faces the prospect of significant financial penalties for saying essentially the same thing.

But the principle endures because it is true: Obedience to human authority has limits. Shifra and Puah understood this without legal theory. Pharaoh's daughter acted on it at enormous personal risk. The conductors of the Underground Railroad staked their freedom on it. King gave his life for it. And in our generation, too, men and women must decide whether they will uphold this inheritance or abandon it.

As Americans prepare to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, it is worth remembering that his commitment to civil disobedience was neither abstract nor comfortable. It meant jail cells and death threats, beatings and bombs. But King believed, as the Egyptian midwives believed 33 centuries earlier, that some laws must be violated and some orders refused.

The Bowditch House still stands on a quiet residential street, long after the law it defied has been consigned to ignominy. The people who sheltered fugitives there did not know how history would judge them; they only knew what they could not do. That is how moral progress usually begins  not with certainty, but with refusal. That is how it must continue, whenever law demands what conscience forbids.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission.

(COMMENT, BELOW)




The White House and a bipartisan group of governors, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, are talking about how much electricity data centers use.

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They say they want to make sure the electric grid operator in our part of the country does not pass the cost of that electric usage onto consumers on their utility bills.

The News Center 7 I-Teams lead investigative reporter, John Bedell, has been covering data centers for months.

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On Monday, he talked to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine about his recent trip to Washington, D.C., and a plan to not pass on costs to you.

DeWine is one of 14 governors, including Democrats and Republicans, talking about, essentially, a supply and demand issue.

Data centers bring jobs and growth but also come with controversy  including the amounts of electricity and water the facilities use.

Data centers, we believe, are important to our future, Gov. Mike DeWine told the I-Team Monday. We think theyre important to the economic development of the state of Ohio and job creation. But they need to pay their own way. And we joined with President Trump, the White House, and governors, Democrat and Republican governors. We came together this week and said, we have to separate that out. So these companies are going to have to pay their own ways. And our PUCO is dedicated to make sure that that does, in fact, happen.

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As the number of data centers is increasing across the country so is energy demand. The White House Domestic Energy Council and that group of governors in our region have expressed concern about how PJM Interconnection prices electricity.

PJM operates the electric grid in the Midwest and covers the region that includes Ohio.

Here in the Miami Valley, Amazon is building a data center in Sidney and has a proposal in the works for another one in Wilmington.

We actively work to keep energy costs stable for communities, Amazon previously told the I-Team in a statement. Rather than increasing costs for local communities, AWS (Amazon Web Services) actively works to keep energy rates stable and bring benefits to all energy users.

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We are fully committed to paying our full cost of service, both for electricity and water, Dan Diorio with Data Center Coalition previously told the I-Team. Data Center Coalition is the industry group that represents data centers.

While data center operators pledge costs will not be passed on to you, residents the I-Team has talked to across the country remain unconvinced that their electric and water bills wont go up.

There will come a reckoning, and we dont want to see that happen, Coweta County, Georgia, resident Rob Cole told the I-Team.

It is going to put pressure on the county water supply, Coles neighbor, Steve Swope, told the I-Team. Theres no doubt about it.

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I definitely believe that utility rates will go up in regards to data centers, Alisha Lange of Piqua told the I-Team. Just because statistically across the country where theyve been popping up, they have increased utility rates.

Gov. DeWine told the I-Team on Monday that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is dedicated to making sure any costs incurred by data centers are passed on to those data center operators and not other customers and consumers.

Thats really what this discussion was about this week, DeWine said. Data centers, we think, are valuable. But we also know that people are very concerned, as they should be, that whats happening with the data centers (is) theyre not paying their fair share. They end up driving up the price for people who live in their homes and who have nothing to do with the data center other than they happen to live in the same area.

Earlier on Friday, before Gov. DeWines office sent a news release on the meeting in Washington just before 3:30 Friday afternoon, PJM put out the following statement regarding the event in D.C. and the statement of principles from the White House Domestic Energy Council and 14 governors, including Gov. DeWine.

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PJM is reviewing the principles set forth by the White House and governors. The statement said. The PJM Boards decision, resulting from a multi-month stakeholder process on integrating large load additions, will be released later today. The Board has been deliberating on this issue since the end of that stakeholder process. We will work with our stakeholders to assess how the White House directive aligns with the Boards decision.

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Lower Belmont Street was once a preferred destination of Finnish immigrants.

It takes a keen eye, perhaps aided by a computer's zoom feature, to find still-standing buildings in this week's Then photo.

One of them is home to Freudy's Package Store. Ryan's Bakery is another.

The image, captured on June 11, 1958, shows lower Belmont Street, facing west. For quick orientation: What is now UMass Memorial Medical Center  Memorial Campus is to the photographer's right, just out of frame.

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Gone is the building that was home to Memorial Spa, at far left. Bethel Baptist Church, at center, was also wiped from the landscape. Same for the two buildings to its right, the first of which held Belmont Shoe Repairing.

Far down the road, the 2-story house remains. Also still standing are the two single-level retail buildings at the right edge of the photo.

When the photo was taken in 1958, Interstate 290, originally called the Worcester Expressway, had not been built, nor had the Belmont Tower Apartments. Both are now in the distance.

Bethel Baptist Church was torn down after the congregation merged with Belmont Street Baptist Church, several blocks west at 25 Belmont St. Bethel, once the First Swedish-Finnish Baptist Church, was formed in Worcester in 1900, buying the building shown here in 1913.

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The wooden church was demolished in December 1967, with the wrecking crews pausing to retrieve a time capsule that was put into the cornerstone when the church bought the building. Inside was a Finnish newspaper and a copy of the Dec. 18, 1913, Worcester Telegram (2 cents).

Lower Belmont Street was a destination for Finnish immigrants in the late 1800s.

A small plaza was eventually built on the spot that held the church. It now holds a Dunkin', Belmont Convenience, Belmont Liquors and CB Bakery.

In 1958, the building at far left was home to Memorial Spa, so named for what was then The Memorial Hospital, across the street. The Maneely family ran the store.

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A four-story office building now fills the spot at 116 Belmont St.

In one of the buildings down the street, at the edge of the photo, was the business of Sigurd Freudenthal. The Swede moved to Worcester in 1900, by way of Connecticut, and served in World War I. He ran Freudy's Package Store at 98 Belmont St. for decades.

The spot is now home to Jim's Pizza.

Next door to Freudy's, when the photo was taken, is Ryan's Bakery, at 92 Belmont St. The latter business had multiple locations in the city. Albino's Market, started by Albino Faiola, took over the bakery spot about 1970. The business remains.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Then & Now: Belmont and Edward streets, Worcester
If you attended KU or K-State during the past four decades, you probably remember the jingle  and you almost definitely remember the flavor.

Pizza Shuttle, which since 1984 has been luring college-age customers with inexpensive late-night pies and a catchy musical jingle  Call 842-1212 call us now at Pizza Shuttle  is about to expand into Wichita.

The owners of Social Taps three area locations Justin Neel, Luke Luttrell and David Hopkins  are preparing to open Wichitas first Pizza Shuttle restaurant at Wichita State University. Itll be in the Braeburn Square development on the Innovation Campus near 21st and Oliver, where the original Social Tap opened in 2021. Pizza Shuttle will take over the space next to Jersey Mikes that was previously occupied by Pedego Wichita, an electric bike store.

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Neel said that the shop should be open by the end of the month. He and his partners are aiming for Jan. 29.

Pizza Shuttle will open in Braeburn Square in the spot next to Jersey Mikes that previously was occupied by Pedego ICT. (Courtesy photo)

The deal came about, Neel said, when he met Pizza Shuttle owner Ryan Wright. Wright purchased the chain, which was founded in Lawrence in 1984, six years ago.

But he was in Wichita looking for spots for a Pizza Shuttle , and Neel got an introduction. He and his partners liked the idea of being the local licensees, Neel said. Although he and partners all attended Wichita State University for college, they learned about Pizza Shuttle when they would visit friends at KU and K-State.

Neel said he remembered that during one such visit, his buddy and his buddys dorm friends made a late-night Pizza Shuttle run, and the number of pizzas they purchased surprised Neel.

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Theyre like, Oh, no. Its just five bucks, Neel said with a laugh.

Though Pizza Shuttle pizzas have gone up in price since then, its still an economical choice for students on a budget, Neel said. When Wichitas Pizza Shuttle opens, it will offer a 10-inch pizza with a drink for $8 and a 14-inch pizza with two drinks for $14.

Wichitas Pizza Shuttle wont be open until 2 a.m. like the ones that operate in Lawrence and Manhattan. But it will stay open until midnight.

If we see the need to be open till two oclock in the morning, we will push it there, Neel said. But since were not a traditional college campus I dont see the drive like they have at KU and K-State.

Pizza Shuttles started in Lawrence in 1984. (Courtesy)

A big part of the Pizza Shuttle model is delivery. At first, Neel said, Wichitas restaurant will offer delivery through third-party vendors like DoorDash and Uber Eats. Eventually, theyll also establish their own delivery service, which will deliver food within a 5- to 8-mile radius.

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Wichitas Pizza Shuttle will have a small amount of dine-in seating, but it will also have a back patio. In the spring, it will start serving canned beer, and Neel said he hopes that WSU students will make the restaurant a hangout.

The food all comes in boxes and to-go packaging, regardless of whether people intend to dine-in, carry out or order delivery.

Neel said hes not worried that his two pizza concepts in Braeburn Square  Pizza Shuttle and Social Tap  will be competing with each other because what they offer is so different.

Social Tap is more of an artisan, wood-fired pizza, he said. And this is more college-style pizza. Its definitely different. Pizza Shuttle is based off of quality, quick, fast ingredients. Thats what its about: speed and a price point.

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In addition to Lawrence and Manhattan, Pizza Shuttle also operates in Topeka and in Kansas City, Missouri. Neel said he hopes to eventually open more than one Pizza Shuttle location in Wichita.

He and his partners have been hearing from many locals who are excited to have the pizza they remember from their college days available in Wichita.

Its been a good time, learning the culture and history, Neel said. It produces memories of campus  being open late, getting pizza late.

Restaurant thats become a destination in nearby town is opening in Wichita

NewMarket Square is getting a new restaurant owned by former NewMarket tenants

Owner of Wichitas Margaritas Cantina decides where hell move the restaurant
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has never been shy about speaking his mind  and the past few weeks have given him plenty to talk about.

Hes spoken out about President Trumps rhetoric on Greenland, the investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and how White House aides are steering Trump in what he views as a wayward direction.

In the process, hes turned into a leading GOP voice opposing actions by the president as his final 12 months in the Senate begin.

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Tillis announced in July, amid the fight over the big, beautiful bill, that he would retire at the end of his term, giving him a freedom afforded to few lawmakers  one he is increasingly taking advantage of, and that members are noticing.

Hes untethered, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said with a laugh.

Tillis insists his recent outspokenness is not a conscious decision, but the consequence of actions by the administration he feels deserve to be rebuked. In his mind, there are plenty.

The sheer volume of things that are on the threat matrix, Tillis said in an interview. It sort of ramped up, but youve got to respond when the opportunities come up.

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Tillis made waves last week when he announced he would block any future nominees to the Federal Reserve after the U.S. attorneys office in Washington opened a criminal investigation into Powell. His statement came less than 20 minutes after the Fed released an extraordinarily rare video statement from the chair.

Tillis sits on the powerful Senate Banking Committee, which has a 12-10 party split, meaning his opposition can doom administration nominees, including a potential replacement for Powell once his term is up in May.

That move earned him a mild public rebuke from Trump, who told reporters during a stop in Detroit that while he likes Tillis, theres a reason the 65-year-old North Carolina Republican is not seeking a third term.

Thats why hes not going to be a senator any longer, Trump said. Hes not going to be a senator any longer because of views like that.

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But Tillis notably hasnt received an angry phone call from the president  who has been the source of a steady stream of those to lawmakers. The two have texted in recent weeks, but have not spoken directly since late December.

While Tillis has taken aim at the administration, he hasnt trained his fire at the president specifically. Instead, much of his criticism has been directed at what has become his No. 1 target: Trumps top advisers.

I firmly believe that many of the times were seeing things that are not very well executed is not because of the what was a bad idea, but the how was awful, Tillis said. People are not looking around corners, he continued, arguing the Greenland situation is a classic example.

Earlier this month, Tillis caught the attention of Washington when he singled out Stephen Miller, one of Trumps top White House advisers, in a floor speech. Miller had gone on CNN days earlier and said nobodys going to fight the United States militarily for Greenland, which should obviously be part of the U.S.

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Im sick of stupid, the North Carolina Republican declared.

Tillis traveled to Denmark on Thursday along with five other lawmakers as part of a reassurance mission about Greenland.

GOP lawmakers have come to expect that level of outspokenness from the outgoing senator, who made waves last summer for openly criticizing and ultimately voting against the big, beautiful bill.

When you announce youre not running for reelection, you have probably more latitude. Thom  has always been very plain-spoken and willing to take on the big issues, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said. That hasnt changed.

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I think now [he] views his role as  a chance to be very transparent about what he thinks and to have an impact in his last year here, Thune continued, adding that Tillis has always been [an] independent thinker.

Nevertheless, certain recent moves have caught the attention of members and aides.

One senior GOP aide noted Tillis has on multiple occasions since the start of the year taken to the floor to deliver speeches that are largely unscripted and motivated by emotion.

Headlining those was one about the administrations actions toward Greenland  a different speech than the one in which he chastised Miller  and one in support of a Democratic push to put up a plaque honoring police officers who protected the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

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Notably, neither set of remarks featured a speaking podium or visible prepared remarks.

Some on Capitol Hill believe some of his actions have been detrimental to the Senate GOP and that hes doing no favors for scores of his colleagues with his outspoken ways.

Hes burning a lot of bridges amongst his colleagues and the party writ large. Just being negative on all the things we want to do, a second senior Republican aide said, pointing to his torpedoing of the latest cryptocurrency market structure bill. Hes stepping on the message, but hes also stepping on the policy. Hes not being helpful.

Others dispute that, saying they dont think his recent maneuvers have reached a level of concern.

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He might be reacting quicker and sharper, a Senate Republican conceded. I dont see any blinking lights.

Lawmakers also are quick to note Tillis, who made the jump from North Carolina state House to the U.S. Senate in 2015, appears much freer without the weight of reelection on his shoulders something he readily admits.

When asked if he has any regrets or second thoughts about turning down a bid for a third term, he didnt ponder the question.

Oh, no. None, Tillis says with a belly laugh, adding that Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told him he looked like a new person while the two were traveling back to Washington recently.

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He said, You look so  refreshed, Tillis said.

Sen. James Lankford (Okla.), a member of GOP leadership, told The Hill that Tillis has talked openly about how he, and his wife, are very much looking forward to having control of my clock.

He talks a lot about being home, Lankford said.

Nevertheless, Tillis also said he does not believe he is speaking for himself alone when he goes public with his airing of grievances.

Ill leave it to the other members, but I believe  I think that there are a significant number of people that believe its probably helpful for me to say what Im saying, he said. I havent seen many stand up and criticize me.

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I feel like Im in a position to where I can take a step further than I would recommend other people to take, to give them some room to think about how they can dip a toe in the water of helping this president, Tillis said. By being honest and speaking truth to power, and calling out people who are giving bad advice.

Whether that creates headaches for leadership remains to be seen. As Thune notes, theres still sand in the hourglass.

Ive not seen that, he said when asked if hes worried about Tillis becoming a hindrance to the conference. But weve got a year to go.

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.




"He smol but he bad," is how employees at the Texas Wildlife Park in Mountain Home, located 17 miles west of Kerrville, describe a young prairie dog going viral on social media for his tiny stature, big attitude and unapologetic refusal to be friendly.

Chunk is his name, and at 6 years old he's become a social media celebrity, racking up more than a million views across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook combined. Videos show the prairie dog chutting his teeth at zoo staff, lunging at their shoes and ankles. The little animal rules his enclosure with what TikTok suggestive search function calls a "tiny reign of terror" - and viewers just can't get enough.

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"He's a conduit for evil," social media manager Molly O'Dell told MySA. Visitors who book a tour at the Texas Wildlife Park can get up close with the private zoo's animals. They have lemurs, two-toed sloths, Coatis, African crested porcupines and big cats like mountain lions and at least one tiger. If you book a tour, you can visit with Chunk's fellow prairie dogs, Cheech and Chonga, two adorable females who love to cuddle.

"But never Chunk." O'Dell says in a viral TikTok explaining why the little guy gets locked in a kennel, or a "jail cell," during encounters.

"Chunk doesn't do interactions, because he is mean, and evil, and he would just bite everybody," O'Dell explained in another video. In reality, the kennel is a routine safety measure for the safety of guests and Chunk's well-being.

O'Dell is quick to clarify that Chunk isn't actually evil. He's just very much a wild animal. The antisocial behavior started sometime around his sexual maturity. Plus, he saves his good moods for the interactive zoo's owners, Rick and Leslie Tozer. Chunk was once their personal pet, if you can believe it.

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"He prefers his longtime owners, and that's it," O'Dell told MySA. "Animals can't actually be evil."

She says Chunk simply has his boundaries, and he enforces them. Those boundaries fueled Chunk's online fame.

Videos of Chunk have sparked thousands of comments from fans who are equally terrified and obsessed, reposting close-up pictures and "free my boy" memes in the comment section.

"I love that there's a tiny prairie dog in this world who has the street cred to keep a group of humans trembling in their shin guards," TikTok user Sweetie Lou said in one video.

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"I'll risk my life to have [an] encounter with chunk ," said another TikTok user by the name of Jesus M B R.

"My toxic trait is thinking I could change Chunk," another user wrote. O'Dell said those comments are some of the funniest.

The more Chunk pushes people away, the more they fan out over him. His viral success has helped earn Texas Wildlife Park more than 372,000 followers since it opened in 2023. The private, appointment-only zoo offers supervised, close-up encounters with exotic animals for prices ranging between $100 for a basic tour and $575 for a two-hour grand safari package.

Although Chunk is banned from cuddles, you can give him virtual hugs from the safety of your home by following the zoo online for more Chunk content. You can also call Texas Wildlife Park to find out more about how to book an interactive tour with the animals that do want your affection.

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Just remember, it will never be Chunk.

"He doesn't crave cuddles. He craves violence," O'Dell said in a recent video.

This article originally published at 'Tiny reign of terror' named Chunk has zoookeepers near San Antonio on edge.
Donald Trumps White House mouthpiece Steven Cheung has furiously attacked the Nobel Foundation for pointing out their awards cannot be regiftedeven to presidents.

The 79-year-old president has said for months he believes he deserves the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. He lost out in October to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Last week, Machado presented him with her Nobel medal as a personal symbol of gratitude on behalf of Venezuelans and in recognition of Trumps principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presents Donald Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal. / The White House

The president gleefully accepted the second-hand award, which Machado had mounted in a gold frame to add to Trumps shiny Oval Office haul.

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On Sunday, the Nobel Foundation pointed out it was duty-bound to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel prizes. It issued a statement that said the prizes are awarded to those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.

The Foundation added that a prize cannot be passed on or further distributed even symbolically.

Statement from the Nobel Foundation



One of the core missions of the Nobel Foundation is to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel Prizes and their administration. The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobels will and its stipulations. It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who pic.twitter.com/WIadOBLtpD  The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) January 18, 2026

Cheung, the White House director of communications, lost it at the Nobel Foundation in a post on X Sunday, raging that it had now issued multiple statements/comments on Trump receiving Machados award.

Instead of trying to play politics, they should highlight the Presidents unprecedented accomplishments, Cheung wrote, stating Trump rightfully deserves the award for bringing peace to at least eight wars.

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The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Donald Trump

MAGA podcast host Katie Miller, who is married to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen, also shared the Nobel Foundation X post, curiously adding, They just mad about Greenland. The Nobel Foundation is based in Stockholm, Sweden, although the Peace Prize is actually awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Trump slapped a 10 percent tariff on goods from Sweden last week for its opposition to his proposed Greenland takeover. Sweden, along with France, Germany, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the U.K., has sent small numbers of troops to the autonomous Danish territory.

Katie Miller conflates Trump receiving someone else's Nobel Peace Prize with Greenland. / screen shot

Trump has insisted that the U.S. will take Greenland one way or another, despite pushback from European leaders.

Machado told Fox & Friends Weekend on Saturday she still wanted to give Trump the award, despite being told by the Nobel Foundation it was against their rules.

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He deserves it, Machado said. It was very emotional moment. I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela.

Fox co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy also raised Trumps comments that Machado was a very nice woman but that she doesnt have the respect to be leader after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. troops, and wondered if she believed the presidents opinion of her had changed after she gave him her Nobel Peace Prize.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado waves to supporters as she leaves the White House. / BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images

Yes, I think so, she said. I hope we will turn into friends. I hope to have a chance to have another conversation with him. But Im very impressed with the meeting, it was absolutely sincere on both sides.

Sources told The Washington Post earlier this month that Trump had not endorsed Machado to replace Maduro after he was ousted by U.S. forces because she had committed the ultimate sin of not turning down the Nobel Peace Prize last October, and recommending it go to the president instead.

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Conservative Machado won the prestigious award for her struggle to rescue Venezuela from its fate as a brutal, authoritarian state.

She was unable to accept the award in person at a December ceremony, arriving hours later. Machado went into hiding shortly after being blocked from running in the July 2024 election. She was replaced by retired diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez. Reports suggested Gonzalez likely received more than twice the votes of Maduro. His government threatened to arrest her, calling her a terrorist for protesting the election results.

Machado left the White House with a White House gift bag bearing Trump's signature. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Machado left the White House with a red gift bag, featuring Trumps signature.

She now joins a handful of Nobel Peace Prize recipients who parted with their medals, including Norwegian author Knut Hamsun, who gifted his medal to Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels as a gesture of thanks for a meeting they had during World War II.
TOWN OF MAINE, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  The Town of Maine is taking the Broome County IDA to court over the proposed Broome Technology Park.

The town accuses the Industrial Development Agency of breaking state law by proceeding with property purchases before environmental reviews have been completed.

The 500-plus-acre corporate park would be built between Airport Road and East Maine Road in the Towns of Union and Maine.

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Sizeable opposition to the project has grown within the Town of Maine, prompting the Town Board to pass a resolution stating that it would not approve the zoning changes the Agency has requested for the park.

The IDA argues that the combined properties are the most suitable for a much-needed corporate park that would lead to new tax revenue, private investment, and job creation for the entire region.

Maine filed the lawsuit in late December and received a temporary restraining order from the State Supreme Court barring the Agency from further communications with landowners.

That order has since been lifted.

The IDA says it plans to continue moving forward deliberately and intentionally and that it is working to counter what it calls subterfuge and misinformation promoted by the opposition.

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The Agency says it will continue to work in good faith with the Town of Maine with a focus on transparency and collaboration.

The Town says it has always acted in good faith, followed the rule of law and has the support of its residents. It says it plans to respond to the Agencys accusations at its monthly board meeting Tuesday evening.

According to its website, the Tech Park has completed its Draft General Environmental Impact Statement and is now in the process of holding community meetings.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.
(WJW)  The Ohio Department of Transportation reported several crashes along state highways before noon on Monday, Jan. 19, amid a snow squall warning in Northeast Ohio. Crashes then continued into the afternoon.

The sheriffs offices in Erie and Huron counties on Monday morning issued Level 2 Snow Emergency, which means residents should travel only if necessary.

Check out the latest weather alerts right here

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Sheriffs offices in Portage and Richland counties declared Level 1 snow emergencies, indicating roads are hazardous, with blowing and drifting snow.

As of 2:30 p.m., reduced speeds were continuing on I-90 in the snowbelt region.

Snow day calculator: Will school be closed?

Take a look at crashes as they take place below:

SR-2 in Erie County

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers are on scene of what theyre calling a multi-vehicle crash that involved a semi-truck Monday afternoon on SR-2 near mile post 1 in Erie County.

Thanks to a separate crash in the eastbound lanes, the road is closed in both directions at this time, according to OHGO. Those in the area are able to exit the westbound route at SR-269.

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The closure did include the bridge the Edison Bridge, but as of 5:50 p.m., there is one lane open in each direction.

OSHP confirmed to FOX 8 that fuel is leaking from the truck. The crash reportedly took place around 1:45 p.m.

No one has been reported injured in the crashes. Multiple jurisdictions are also helping at the scene.

I-77 North in Akron

All lanes were closed on Interstate 77 North past Summit County Rest Area 4-31, due to a crash.

Ohio Department of Transportation traffic cameras show a massive backup extending to at least Martadale Drive.

(Ohio Department of Transportation)

The scene was cleared by 1:30 p.m.

I-76 East in Edinburg

All lanes were closed on Interstate 76 East past state Route 14 for Alliance and Salem due to a crash, according to ODOT. The scene was cleared by 1 p.m.

(Ohio Department of Transportation)

I-80 East (Ohio Turnpike) in Streetsboro

Motorists on the Ohio Turnpike were told to expect lane closures in the eastbound lanes, past Interstate 480 and state Route 14, due to a crash. The scene was cleared before 1 p.m.

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State Route 8 South in Peninsula

All lanes of state Route 8 South past the Ohio Turnpike in Peninsula were blocked for a crash. The scene was cleared by 1 p.m.

(Ohio Department of Transportation)

I-271 North in Boston Heights

Motorists on Interstate 271 North past state Route 303 in Boston Heights were told to expect lane closures due to a crash. The crash scene was cleared by 1 p.m.

I-271 South in Boston

The right shoulder was blocked on I-271 South past state Route 8 North in Boston, due to a disabled vehicle. The scene was cleared before 1 p.m.

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See the latest weather alerts here

I-271 South in Macedonia

The ramp from Interstate 271 South to state Route 8 South was blocked due to a crash. The scene was cleared by 1 p.m.

I-71 in Brunswick

The left lane was blocked on Interstate 71 North past the Medina County Rest Area due to a crash.

Just across the median there, another crash blocked the left lane on I-71 South past state Route 303.

Both scenes were cleared by 1 p.m.

Check back here for updates.

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.
Gov. Dan McKee only gave brief mention to the uncertain fate of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in his State of the State speech on Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current)

The prospective buyer of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital missed the final, court-ordered deadline to close the deal, leaving the fate of the two safety net hospitals in the hands of the state.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha confirmed in a statement on Saturday that The Centurion Foundation failed to meet the Jan. 15 deadline to cement its purchase of the two hospitals in Providence and North Providence. The due date was set under a Dec. 9 agreement between Neronhas office and the attorneys representing the bankruptcy estate for their existing owner Prospect Medical Holdings.

The missed deadline now puts the onus on the state to take over hospital operations  and pay for the costs associated with payroll, taxes and insurance  by Jan. 30, as laid out in the December agreement. Neronha hinted previously that a court-appointed state receivership was possible if the Centurion deal fell through, but provided little detail.

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Centurion is free to continue to try to close, but we now have work to do and a deadline by which to do it, Neronha said in an email Saturday afternoon. My Office is working hard in consultation with other state leaders and I expect you will hear more about that next week.

Preserving the pair of hospitals  with 500 beds, 50,000 annual emergency room visits and nearly 2,500 employees between them  has been a top focus of Neronhas office, and, as scrutiny over the sale intensifies, Rhode Island officials more broadly. But none have put a price tag  at least publicly  on what the state is willing to pay to keep the hospitals running.

Gov. Dan McKees proposed fiscal 2027 budget, unveiled on Thursday, one day before the Jan 15 deadline, did not include any money for the hospitals.

Meanwhile, Centurion appears not to have given up, still courting the investor-backed bonds needed to finalize its purchase.

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We are keenly aware of the bankruptcy court timetable, Ben Mingle, Centurion CEO and president, said in a statement Friday night. Our financing teamhas had daily interactions with potential investors over the last several weeks with significant progress. This includes site visits by new, industry-leading investment groups just this week with very encouraging results. At the same time, we have been briefing State leaders almost daily on the status of these efforts and our plans to meet the bond sale target. The Team remains optimistic and we hope to provide a formal update next week.

Its a familiar promise for those following the yearslong saga of the local hospitals, where operational and financial mismanagement under Prospect and its former majority stakeholder, private equity firm Leonard Green, were well-documented.

The Centurion Foundation appeared to be a way out. The Atlanta nonprofit pledged to return the cash-strapped health care facilities to local control while injecting $80 million into immediate operations under the terms of the states June 2024 conditional approval.

But investors have been reluctant to back the bonds needed for Centurion to close, with credit rating agencies noting Centurions lack of experience in hospital ownership and the dismal outlook for health care facilities nationwide amid federal funding cuts.

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The prolonged state of limbo frustrated hospital workers, health care advocates and public officials. But it proved most problematic for the more than 100,000 creditors owed up to $10 billion collectively from Prospect at the time it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2025. The bankruptcy estate initially signaled a desire to close the hospitals in October, but an interim agreement with funding partially provided by a state-controlled escrow account kept the doors open through Jan. 30.

But as of that date, the hospitals are coming off Prospects asset list, with all liabilities, costs and responsibilities transferred to the state of Rhode Island.

How the state will afford its new guardian duties is unclear.

Rhode Island officials have been on high alert for the pending sale, with Senate President Valarie Lawson calling it the most pressing issue facing Rhode Island in an interview after McKees State of the State address on Jan. 13. McKee briefly addressed the hospitals during the hourlong speech, pledging his administration will do everything in our power to keep the hospitals open.

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Neronha and union leaders with the United Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents more than 1,500 workers across both hospitals, have criticized McKee for failing to proactively take control of the uncertain situation, contrasting his leadership with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.

Healey in 2024 offered a multimillion dollar state incentive package to entice buyers  including Brown University Health  after Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy and sold its Massachusetts facilities.

Brian Daniels, director for the Rhode Island Office of Management and Budget, said Thursday the governors administration was working closely with Neronhas office and the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services on contingency planning.

We are monitoring what happens, Daniels said. We have some ideas.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that President Donald Trump wants to annex Greenland in order to keep the U.S. from getting dragged into an attack on the territory from Russia.

During an interview Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press, moderator Kristen Welker questioned Bessent over why Trump is still seeking to seize Greenland despite the fact that the leaders of Denmark and Greenland [have said] bluntly, Greenland is not for sale.

Politics: CNN Panelist Cant Hide Her Contempt For Scott Jennings After Epstein Remark

Welker asked the question after noting that Trump alluded on Friday he may punish countries with tariffs if they dont back his actions regarding Greenland.

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Kristen, if we look for years, for over a century, American presidents have wanted to acquire Greenland, he responded. And what we can see is that Greenland is essential to the U.S. national security. Were building the golden dome, the missile system.

Claiming that Trump is being strategic and is looking beyond next year to what could happen for a battle in the Arctic, Bessent said: We are not going to outsource our national security. We are not going to outsource our hemispheric security to other countries.

He added, In Trump 1.0, President Trump told the Europeans, Do not build Nord Stream 2. Do not rely on Russian oil. And guess what, Kristen? Guess what is funding Russias efforts against Ukraine? European purchases of Russian oil. So America has to be in control there.

Politics: CNN Medical Analyst Urges Congress To Examine Trumps 'Fitness After Latest Stunt

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of annexing Greenland and hasnot ruled out using military force to obtain it despite pushback from European leaders.

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Welker pressed Bessent over how serious Trump is about Greenland and whether his actions have been a part of a negotiating tactic.

President Trump strongly believes that we cannot outsource our security, he replied, before adding that down the road, this fight for the Arctic is real.

We would keep our NATO guarantees. And if there were an attack on Greenland from Russia, from some other area, we would get dragged in, he said. So better now, peace through strength, make it part of the United States, and there will not be a conflict because the United States right now, we are the hottest country in the world.

We are the strongest country in the world. Europeans project weakness. U.S. projects strength.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and President Donald Trump. Getty Images/YouTube.

Welker didnt let up, urging Bessent to confirm whether Trump has been using a negotiating tactic.

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Is the goal to get a deal to have enhanced security in Greenland, for example? she asked.

Politics: Trump Administration Explores Costly Option For Greenland Takeover: Report

The president believes that enhanced security is not possible without Greenland being part of the U.S., he replied.

Elsewhere in the interview, Welker questioned the White House official over why its necessary [for the U.S.] to take over and annex all of Greenland despite the fact that 85% of people living in Greenland oppose the potential move.

The United States has a base in Greenland. Ive been talking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Denmark has given the United States a green light to beef up its security as much as is needed in Greenland. Why not take that route? she asked Bessent.

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Well, again lets look back. Denmark has a terrible history with Greenlanders, he responded. There were forced sterilizations up until the 80s or the 90s. So all of a sudden, now that the U.S. has expressed an interest, there is, you know, this new interest.

Politics: U.S. Senator Comes Out And Says It About Trump: 'Invoke The 25th Amendment'

Claiming that the United States needs to be in control to prevent a war, Bessent added, And we do not want to get dragged into someone elses war.

Welker later brought up that senior Democrats say there are no pressing threats on Greenlands security from Russia or China, before asking Bessent what evidence the Trump administration has that there is a pressing threat.

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She also noted the Danish foreign minister says there hasnt been a Chinese warship in Greenland for a decade.

Well, first of all, Kristen, we have asymmetric information. And again, President Trump is being strategic here. What evidence was there that the Russians were going into Crimea? Well, actually there was a lot of evidence that the Russians were going to go into Ukraine, he responded.

Politics: Karl Rove Warns GOP Of 'Big' Problem Ahead Of Midterms: 'We're Going To See It'

Bessent pivoted to placing the blame on the Biden administration. And Joe Biden said, Well, just take a little bit of it. But what we know is that Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the U.S.

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And it will not need to be defended if it is part of the U.S. The president is trying to avoid a conflict, he added.

Wrapping up their discussion on Greenland, Welker asked: If the United States were to take Greenland by force, how would that be different than Russias annexation of Crimea?

Look, I believe that Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe, and best for the United States, he responded.

Watch Bessents Meet the Press interview below.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday was widely mocked for what social media users suggested was a circular logic response to a question about tariffs.

As the talk on NBC News Meet The Press turned to President Donald Trumps push to impose new tariffs on European nations that have sent troops to Greenland, amid Trumps repeated threats to seize the island, moderator Kristen Welker noted that Trump has justified tariffs in the past by declaring national emergencies. And she asked Bessent: What is the national emergency that justifies this new slate of tariffs?

Politics: Katie Millers 'America First' Davos Dig At Gavin Newsom Goes Sideways In A Hurry

The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency, Bessent replied, stumbling through his answer.

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Watch from the 8-minute mark here:

He went on to describe the tariffs as a strategic and geopolitical decision, arguing that Trump is using Americas economic power to prevent future crises.

The explanation, which failed to identify any specific emergency, went viral for all the wrong reasons:

WELKER: What is the national emergency that justifies this new slate of tariffs?



BESSENT: The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency pic.twitter.com/tpSlObkJCs  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 18, 2026

When nothing is a national emergency, everything is a national emergency.    JohnJoe (@johnjoe) January 18, 2026

It's impossible to tell where Bessent's sycophancy ends and his stupidity begins.  Paul Szydlowski (@pszyd) January 18, 2026

Now, this is stupid. Not only are they liars, but they are illogical fools. https://t.co/VzYLXrNYug  timmcguire (@timmcguire) January 18, 2026

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Its a national emergency to ensure our petulant child president gets what he wants.  Senator Bruce Crossing (@SenatorCrossing) January 18, 2026

Our nation has never produced a less economically literate or more sycophantic soybean farmer than Scott Bessent. https://t.co/3jmuyxUxBL  Sean Casten (@SeanCasten) January 18, 2026

You cannot debate infant logic.  The Wernick Files (@thewernickfiles) January 18, 2026

These liars are so exhausting. https://t.co/hLzT1myBSw  Carol Shea-Porter (@TeamSheaPorter) January 18, 2026

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This is what happens when you put Trump sycophants in charge of the economy: circular word salad that wouldn't pass Econ 101.



The real national emergency is this level of incompetence. Terrifying.  Dr. Cole (@1drcole) January 18, 2026

BESSENT:

"We're calling a national emergency, because there may be a national emergency, but we don't know when the national emergency will take place, but Trump told me to say it's a national emergency and I repeat everything Trump tells me to do."https://t.co/7kRSP8hnJb   Annie  (@Stand4TruthOnly) January 18, 2026

Someone should tell Bessent that isnt how logic works. https://t.co/gO1YETBNZK  Matthew Sussex (@matthew_sussex) January 19, 2026

Whole administration is a complete farce  the-michael-datson.bsky.social (@fuller_sean) January 18, 2026

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Defending the indefensible. Its in the MAGA bible.  Anthony Wilson s (@anthonybwilson) January 18, 2026

These guys are not serious people.



Anyone that thinks this is a good argument is an idiot. https://t.co/CEi03eudak  Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D. (@neoavatara) January 18, 2026

Translation : we have no legit reason  Bill the Beaver  (@TrueNorthStr0ng) January 18, 2026

So, hes admitting that a National emergency does not exist.  Deborah, My Friends Call Me Slayer (@drodvik52) January 18, 2026

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Circular logic is no logic at all, Scott Bessent https://t.co/tjrPcX2yzq  Chris Wiegard (@wiegard_chris) January 19, 2026

ah yes, the precrime emergency  Satty (@SattyEth) January 18, 2026

Making Idiocracy look like The West Wing  Roddy (@Goblinsburg) January 18, 2026

Translation: There is no national emergency. Trump is batshit crazy.  Piyush Mittal  (@piyushmittal) January 18, 2026

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Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
Good morning! Its Danielle Battaglia with the latest edition of Under the Dome focused on the Trump administration.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado visited Washington this week, first to see President Donald Trump and then to stop by the Capitol.

I watched from a window inside the Capitols press gallery as a mob of reporters and Machados supporters surrounded her near the steps to the U.S. Senate. It was chaos.

Maria Corina Machado is mobbed by reporters and supporters outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Danielle Battaglia/dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com)

But her actual meetings with Trump and Capitol Hill leaders were much more subdued, and largely kept secret.

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Except for one small piece: she gave Trump her Nobel Peace Prize.

You may recall, and I wrote in October, that Trump wasnt happy to be passed over again for the prize. And that Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from Southern Pines, generated an AI image of Trump receiving the prize surrounded by some of our countrys founding fathers.

The Nobel Peace Prize dates to in 1901 and was named after Alfred Nobel. The prize has been awarded to 990 people and 28 organizations who conferred the greatest benefit to humankind over the past year.

Machado was awarded the prize in October for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy, the Nobel Peace Prize website states.

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On Thursday, the 58-year-old leader stood before Trump and offered him her prize.

Trump called it a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.

The Nobel Peace Center quickly put out a statement saying, Once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others. The decision is final and stands for all time. A longer news release was issued Friday stating, even if the medal or the diploma come into someone elses possession, this does not alter who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

This time, members of Congress from North Carolina stayed quiet.

What else we worked on:

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Thats it for now. Thanks for reading and supporting local journalism.

Be kind to each other.

If you have any feedback or tips for this edition of the newsletter, feel free to reach out to me directly at dbattaglia@mcclatchydc.com.

Not a subscriber? Sign up on our website to receive Under the Dome in your inbox daily.
President Donald Trump asserted in a Sunday night Truth Social post that Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota should either be locked up in jail or sent to Somalia.

"There is 19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud. Fake Congresswoman Illhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump declared in the post.

Omar, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2019, was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000.

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"ICE is removing some of the most violent criminals in the World from our Country, and bring them back home, where they belong. Why is Minnesota fighting this? Do they really want murderers and drug dealers to be ensconced in their community? The thugs that are protesting include many highly paid professional agitators and anarchists. Is this really what Minnesota wants?" the president asked in a Sunday Truth Social post.

Trump Accuses Tim Walz And Ilhan Omar Of Using Ice Protests To Distract From Massive State Fraud

President Donald Trump and Rep. Ilhan Omar

"The crooked Governor and 'Congresswoman' Omar, who married her brother, dont mind because it keeps the focus of attention off the 18 Billion Dollar, Plus, FRAUD, that has taken place in the State! Dont worry, we're on it!" he added in the post.

Read On The Fox News App

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Ilhan Omar Lashes Out At Sick Republicans For Investigating Her Alleged Marriage To Brother

President Donald Trump speaks to the press before his departs the White House en route Palm Beach, Florida, on Jan. 16, 2026.

Omar recently drew criticism for referring to the nation as the "U.S. God---- States."

"No member of Congress should *ever* refer to our country as the U.S. G------ States," GOP Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah wrote in a post on X, asking, "What should be the consequence of saying that?"

Ilhan Omar Refers To Us God---- States' During Impassioned Remarks About Ice

Business tycoon Elon Musk replied, "Whatever the penalty is for treason."

Fox News Digital reached out to Omar's office on Monday to request comment on the Truth Social post.





Original article source: Trump asserts Ilhan Omar should be jailed or booted to Somalia
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is getting the message: Hes vulnerable to the same quick hit that President Trump ordered to pluck Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power and toss him into custody in New York.

The brazen Jan. 3 raid on Caracas by U.S. forces almost certainly struck more fear into the potbellied dictator than any military drills or aerial shows of force ever could. In doing so, its also ramped up the risks of a potential nuclear showdown as Kim goes into panic mode, triggered by the same American president who has routinely boasted of the pairs very good relationship.

The operation to rendition the president of Venezuela demonstrates the capabilities that have to be of concern to North Korea, says Sydney Seiler, former national intelligence officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council. The word rendition, as used by Seiler, is CIA-speak for capturing an enemy operative and sending him elsewhere for prosecution, or even torture and killing.

A handout photo provided by Dong-A Ilbo of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the South and North Korea on June 30, 2019 in Panmunjom, South Korea. / Dong-A Ilbo via Getty Images/Getty Images

The other key word is decapitation, which Kim is well aware the Americans have been practicing in annual military exercises for years. Whats appealing is that decapitation is the quickest way to terminate a conflict, Seiler, who visited North Korea on negotiating teams before the North cut off all communications after the failure of Kims meetings with Trump in 2019, told the influential Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

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Decapitation would be helpful in trying to deter North Korea, Seiler believes. Without Kim Jong Un, he notes, North Korea would have no leader, no one who would know how to lead its outsized, underfed armed forces of 1.2 million troops, much less anyone in charge of its nuclear program.

Kim betrayed his deepest fears of a plot like the fracas in Caracas by authorizing release for North Korean audiences of a film all about the capture of Maduro. The film Days and Nights of Confrontation, could not have aired on North Korean state TV at a more propitious moment, days after elite U.S. troops seized Maduro and his wife. The message is clear: whats to stop the Americans from repeating themselves in North Korea?

The film epitomizes the trend of racy, Hollywood-style content aimed at appealing to young people, says a South Korean website, NK News, that tracks North Korea. Surely Mr. Kim and his family, including his fiery younger sister Yo-Jong, and his beloved teenage daughter, Ju-ae, would make great targets. In one fell swoop the Americans could wipe out the dynasty that Kims grandfather, Kim Il-Sung, founded when the Soviet Union installed him as leader of the northern half of the divided Korean peninsula after the Japanese surrender in 1945.

Capturing Kim is not a new idea for American rendition experts.

President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un talk before a meeting in the Demilitarized Zone on June 30, 2019, in Panmunjom, Korea. / BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Some White House aides believed his death would paralyze his country, writes Joel Wit, who also joined negotiating teams to North Korea, inspecting the nuclear site at Yongbyon north of Pyongyang after North Korea signed an agreement in 1994 to stop producing nukes. Go get Kim Jong Un, we were postured to do that, says Wit in his tell-all book, Fallout: The Inside Story of Americas Failure to Disarm North Korea. One official is quoted as saying: Everyone, including the North Koreans, knew killing him as part of the war plan.

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Maybe the U.S. would have to marshal more than the 150 or so aircraft, and a few hundred troops, including the U.S. Armys elite Delta Force, that were needed to grab Maduro, but Kim is well aware his family and entourage could be hustled aboard a helicopter bound for an American warship long before the Russians and Chinese could respond in support of North Koreas military establishment, ill-fed, ill-trained and not at all ready to leap to their leaders instant defense.

President Donald Trump met with Kim Jong Un at the start of their historic U.S.-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. / Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty

If capturing Kim sounds like mission impossible, consider his frequent appearances inspecting industrial and agricultural projects, reviewing troops, and presiding at ceremonies. He also shows up periodically at missile launches, perhaps the best time of all to catch him just as hes making a show of pressing the button. The Americans, moreover, are steeped in the knowledge of what it will take to get him. U.S. forces have been training for years to go after him. Annual U.S.-South Korean exercises once routinely wound up with a mock decapitation of the North Korean leader, without explicitly naming Kim.

The U.S. command in Korea dropped the word decapitation from the war games in deference to their South Korean ally, who reminded them such language might not help in attempts at fruitless talks with the North Koreans, who now refuse to talk anyway. The word is gaining currency again with Maduros capturewhile raising the question in Pyongyang of who might come next on the American hit list.

Kim Jong Un was shown on Sept. 16, 2017, celebrating the launching drill of the ICBM Hwasong-12. Kim vowed to complete North Koreas nuclear force despite sanctions, saying the final goal of his countrys weapons development was equilibrium of real force with the United States, state media reported. / STR/AFP via Getty

North Koreas Kim expected to cling to [his] nuclear security blanket after Venezuela, blared one headline in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. The United States decapitation operation against Venezuela will reinforce North Koreas nuclear ambitions, read another. That warning should prompt Trump to act quickly to get rid of a nuisance whos been plaguing the region for years with bombastic harangues, threatening his enemies with a nuclear holocaust while his own people suffer from hunger and disease.

Flights of heavy American bombers do little or nothing to remove the threats posed by Americas foes. Kim knows he can laugh off another aerial show of intimidation or a useless meeting with Trump. The threat of a Maduro-style capture is far more effective. Kims worst fear is that the Americans, after rehearsing decapitation for years, will decide its time to finally put their plan into effect, stifling Asias leading terrorist just as suddenly as they whisked Maduro and his wife off to jail in New York.
The Trump administration is seemingly pulling out all the stops to get out of releasing the remaining Epstein Files.

On Friday, Trumps Department of Justice quietly filed a motion to block Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massies request for an independent monitor to oversee the release of Epstein Files in the closed case against Ghislaine Maxwell.

In a new motion, the DOJ urged Judge Paul A. Engelmayer to reject the request, stating that the court had no authority to approve it because neither Khanna nor Massie were involved in the criminal case against Maxwell that landed her behind bars.

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Khanna and Massie filed an amici curiae brief, typically done by individuals who are not parties in a case, with Engelmayer on Jan. 8. Engelmayer previously ordered the unsealing of grand jury materials in the Maxwell case in order to comply with ongoing release of investigative materials related to Epstein.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) (C) speaks alongside U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) (L) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the U.S. Capitol on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Heather Diehl / Getty Images

The letter was sent in an effort to push the Justice Department to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which the congressmen co-sponsored. The DOJ argued that the representatives were overreaching with their request to appoint an independent monitor to compel the release of documents.

In their initial filing, Reps. Khanna and Massie stated that they had urgent and grave concerns about DOJs failure to comply with the Act as well as the Departments violations of this Courts order. The Justice Department admitted earlier this month that it still had not released over 2 million documents related to Epstein.

In response to the new filing from the DOJ, Khanna told the Associated Press that the department misconstrued his request.

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We are informing the Court of serious misconduct by the Department of Justice that requires a remedy, one we believe this Court has the authority to provide, and which victims themselves have requested, Khanna said in a statement to AP.

A photo of this image of Donald and Melania Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell was seen at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 and was temporarily pulled from the Epstein files release. / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images

The Daily Beast reached out to the DOJ, Khanna, and Massie for comment.

This latest development comes as lawmakers and the public have questioned the slow progress with and heavy redactions in the Epstein Files. The DOJ missed a key deadline to explain its redactions on Jan. 3, which was also the day that Trump executed an attack on Venezuela and captured its president.

We are sure its just a coincidence, but today is the statutory date for the DOJ to explain its redactions in the Epstein file productions, the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee wrote in an X post following the military operation in Venezuela. We have not forgotten, and we wont let upregardless of the Presidents new unconstitutional actions.

The legislation Trump signed gives Attorney General Pam Bondi, a former personal attorney to Trump, broad leeway to redact information. / Roberto Schmidt / Getty Images

The Southern District of New York charged Epstein with sex trafficking in 2019. However, the disgraced financier was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Manhattan jail cell shortly after he was indicted. Maxwell was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for trafficking underage girls for Epstein.

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The DOJ received backlash after Maxwell was transferred to a cushy, minimum-security prison last year. The department was accused of giving Maxwell preferential treatment as Trump entertained the idea of giving the convicted sex offender a pardon.
(Photo by Mehmet Eser / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)

Critics of President Donald Trump were aghast on Monday upon verification that the letter allegedly sent by Trump to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre was, in fact, genuine.

In the message, Trump directly linked his demand that Denmark hand over Greenland to his personal grievance over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, arguing that Denmark has no legitimate claim to Greenland, and asserting without evidence that Copenhagen cannot defend the territory from Russia or China.

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Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, wrote Trump, reasserting his frequent claim that the world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.

The letter was so blatant in its phrasing and rhetoric that in the early hours after it was leaked  and first reported by Nick Schifrin at PBS  there was some debate over its authenticity.

PBSs Lisa Desjardins underscored the feeling, writing that to some it reads like parody, but telling readers that Schifirin had gotten it right.

Prime Minister Stre confirmed that he had received the message, claiming it came after he sent Trump a text objecting to the proposed tariffs on Norway and other European countries linked to the deployment of troops to Greenland.

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Many were quick to decry the letter, excoriating the president for a move some saw as indicative of mental decline.

I dont see how you can be a serious person and not find this extremely worrisome, wrote Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). He is not stable at all and his reality is warped. He was always a bit like this of course but now hes 80.

I dont see how you can be a serious person and not find this extremely worrisome. He is not stable at all and his reality is warped. He was always a bit like this of course but now hes 80. https://t.co/8z0phFX7Wa  Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) January 19, 2026

Guys. Republicans. Its time to move Gramps into a home, wrote Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL). Lets adults govern again.

Guys. Republicans. Its time to move Gramps into a home Lets adults govern again https://t.co/02mwrBTqGp  Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini)   (@AdamKinzinger) January 19, 2026

Activist Shannon Watts called for even more drastic measures.

This is what the 25TH F*CKING AMENDMENT IS FOR, she wrote.

This is what the 25TH FUCKING AMENDMENT IS FOR. https://t.co/eJuOvnZp48  Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) January 19, 2026

Below are some more reactions:

Unhinged and embarrassing, but also incredibly dangerous. Trump is doing lasting damage to our global position, which will harm our ability to keep America safe, secure, and prosperous. https://t.co/K6FlOxNW3r  Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) January 19, 2026

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Our president is our national humiliation. https://t.co/nyK69C0Aft  Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) January 19, 2026

Stupidest shit i have ever read in my life. Veep writers wouldve rejected this plot pitch. https://t.co/3DLfY4KwWY  Tim Miller (@Timodc) January 19, 2026

The entire world knows we have a president who's mentally ill. When are we as a nation going to start talking about that? https://t.co/NjVIn3XhSN  George Conway   (@gtconway3d) January 19, 2026

They get all mad when you say this, but this is Hitler talk. Congress, get your shit together and remove this dangerous and evil person from office before its too late. https://t.co/eYgQbThkq1  Brett Meiselas (@BMeiselas) January 19, 2026

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Members of Congress  please step in and stop this madness. There are more than enough of you who know how senseless and dangerous it is. https://t.co/SVAdzTRCiU  Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) January 19, 2026

Six year old children are less narcissistic, egomaniacal, needy, and immature than our current president. https://t.co/84KKWK438r  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) January 19, 2026

Right up there with "ask not" and "four score" in the annals of presidential rhetoric https://t.co/nVQpT2rAIZ  Sam Stein (@samstein) January 19, 2026

To be led by a psychotic imbecile like Donald Trump  and to have people around him supporting using a trillion dollar military to do violence against allies because of a demented temper tantrum means there must be real action by people in the USA and internationally to stop https://t.co/2CnKeWwUBe  Denver Lee Riggleman III (@Denver4VA) January 19, 2026

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This is like a letter from a child. Unfortunately a child with enormous destructive power at his disposal https://t.co/oGhzUjH3Uc  Gideon Rachman (@gideonrachman) January 19, 2026

Trump is throwing an infantile temper tantrum because he didnt get the Nobel Peace Prize. Look at the letter he sent to Norway! https://t.co/P7PjNKhMYf  Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) January 19, 2026

Trumps new gigantic temper tantrum over Norway is deep into 25th Amendment territory. Hell, at this point? 25th Admt territory is far in the rearview mirror and we are descending further into madness by the moment.  Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 19, 2026

The post Trump Gets Absolutely Smoked Over Bonkers Greenland Screed: What The 25th Amendment Is For first appeared on Mediaite.
Make Denmark angry. Make Norway angry. Make NATOs leaders angry.

President Donald Trumps relentless and escalating drive to acquire Greenland from Denmark, whose government  along with that of Greenland  emphatically rejects the idea, has unnerved, offended and outraged leaders of countries considered allies for decades.

Its the latest, and perhaps most significant, eruption of an attitude of disdain towards allies that has become a hallmark of the second Trump administration, which has espoused an America First approach to the world.

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Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have all said a lot of things about longtime allies that have caused frustration and outright friction among the leaders of those countries. The latest discord over Greenland could affect the functioning and even existence of NATO, the post-World War II alliance of Western nations that won the Cold War and led the globe, as a recent Wall Street Journal story put it.

As a former diplomat, Im aware that how the U.S. treats its allies has been a crucial question in every presidency, since George Washington became the countrys first chief executive. On his way out of that job, Washington said something that Trump, Vance and their fellow America First advocates would probably embrace.

In whats known as his Farewell Address, Washington warned Americans against entangling alliances. Washington wanted America to treat all nations fairly, and warned against both permanent friendships and permanent enemies.

The irony is that Washington would never have become president without the assistance of the not-yet-United-States first ally, France.

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In 1778, after two years of brilliant diplomacy by Benjamin Franklin, the not-yet-United States and the Kingdom of France signed a treaty of alliance as the American Colonies struggled to win their war for independence from Britain.

France sent soldiers, money and ships to the American revolutionaries. Within three years, after a major intervention by the French fleet, the battle of Yorktown in 1781 effectively ended the war and America was independent.

Isolationism, then war

American political leaders largely heeded Washingtons warning against alliances throughout the 1800s. The Atlantic Ocean shielded the young nation from Europes problems and many conflicts; Americas closest neighbors had smaller populations and less military might.

Aside from the War of 1812, in which the U.S. fought the British, America largely found itself protected from the outside worlds problems.

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That began to change when Europe descended into the brutality of World War I.

Initially, American politicians avoided involvement. What would today be called an isolationist movement was strong; its supporters felt that the European war was being waged for the benefit of big business.

But it was hard for the U.S.to maintain neutrality. German submarines sank ships crossing the Atlantic carrying American passengers. The economies of some of Americas biggest trading partners were in shreds; the democracies of Britain, France and other European countries were at risk.

A Boston newspaper headline in 1915 blares the news of a British ocean liner sunk by a German torpedo. Serial and Government Publications Division, Library of Congress

President Woodrow Wilson led the U.S. into the war in 1917 as an ally of the Western European nations. When he asked Congress for a declaration of war, Wilson asserted the value of like-minded allies: A steadfast concert for peace can never be maintained except by a partnership of democratic nations.

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Immediately after the war, the Allies  led by the U.S., France and Britain  stayed together to craft the peace agreements, feed the war-ravaged parts of Europe and intervene in Russia after the Communist Revolution there.

Prosperity came along with the peace, helping the U.S. quickly develop into a global economic power.

However, within a few years, American politicians returned to traditional isolationism in political and military matters and continued this attitude well into the 1930s. The worldwide Great Depression that began in 1929 was blamed on vulnerabilities in the global economy, and there was a strong sentiment among Americans that the U.S. should fix its internal problems rather than assist Europe with its problems.

Alliance counters fascism

As both Hitler and Japan began to attack their neighbors in the late 1930s, it became clear to President Franklin Roosevelt and other American military and political leaders that the U.S. would get caught up in World War II. If nothing else, airplanes had erased Americas ability to hide behind the Atlantic Ocean.

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Though public opinion was divided, the U.S. began sending arms and other assistance to Britain and quietly began military planning with London. This was despite the fact that the U.S. was formally neutral, as the Roosevelt administration was pushing the limits of what a neutral nation can do for friendly nations without becoming a warring party.

In January of 1941, Roosevelt gave his annual State of the Union speech to Congress. He appeared to prepare the country for possible intervention  both on behalf of allies abroad and for the preservation of American democracy:

The future and the safety of our country and of our democracy are overwhelmingly involved in events far beyond our borders. Armed defense of democratic existence is now being gallantly waged in four continents. If that defense fails, all the population and all the resources of Europe, and Asia, and Africa and Australasia will be dominated by conquerors. In times like these it is immature  and incidentally, untrue  for anybody to brag that an unprepared America, single-handed, and with one hand tied behind its back, can hold off the whole world.

When the Japanese attacked Hawaii in 1941 and Hitler declared war on the U.S., America quickly entered World War II in an alliance with Britain, the Free French and others.

Throughout the war, the Allies worked together on matters large and small. They defeated Germany in three and half years and Japan in less than four.

As World War II ended, the wartime alliance produced two longer-term partnerships built on the understanding that working together had produced a powerful and effective counter to fascism.

A news bulletin from August 1945 issued by a predecessor of the United Nations. Foreign Policy In Focus

Postwar alliances

The first of these alliances is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. The original members were the U.S., Canada, Britain, France and others of the wartime Allies. There are now 32 members, including Poland, Hungary and Turkey.

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The aims of NATO were to keep peace in Europe and contain the growing Communist threat from the Soviet Union. NATOs supporters feel that, given that wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and in the Ukraine today are the only major conflicts in Europe in 80 years, the alliance has met its goals well. And NATO troops went to Afghanistan along with the U.S. military after 9/11.

The other institution created by the wartime Allies is the United Nations.

The U.N. is many things  a humanitarian aid organization, a forum for countries to raise their issues and a source of international law.

However, it is also an alliance. The U.N. Security Council on several occasions authorized the use of force by members, such as in the first Gulf War against Iraq. And it has the power to send peacekeeping troops to conflict areas under the U.N. flag.

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Other U.S. allies with treaties or designations by Congress include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, three South American countries and six in the Middle East.

Many of the same countries also created institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States and the European Union. The U.S. belongs to all of these except the European Union. During my 35-year diplomatic career, I worked with all of these institutions, particularly in efforts to stabilize Africa. They keep the peace and support development efforts with loans and grants.

Admirers of this postwar liberal international order point to the limited number of major armed conflicts during the past 80 years, the globalized economy and international cooperation on important matters such as disease control and fighting terrorism.

Detractors point to this systems inability to stop some very deadly conflicts, such as Vietnam or Ukraine, and the large populations that havent done well under globalization as evidence of its flaws.

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The world would look dramatically different without the Allies victories in the two World Wars, the stable worldwide economic system and NATOs and the U.N.s keeping the world relatively peaceful.

But the value of allies to Americans, even when they benefit from alliances, appears to have shifted between George Washingtons attitude  avoid them  and that of Franklin D. Roosevelt  go all in  eventually.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Feb. 20, 2025.

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: Donald Heflin, Tufts University

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Donald Heflin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
President Donald Trump's new "Board of Peace," meant to help rebuild Gaza after the damage caused there during the Israel-Hamas War, is taking shape - and there's a price for admission.

The price tag isn't the only concern. In a controversial move, Trump has also invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the group.

Boards within a board

As part of Trump's 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas War, the Board of Peace will oversee the construction and temporary governance of Gaza.

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On Friday, the White House announced the formation of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). It will be overseen by former Palestinian Authority Deputy Minister Dr. Ali Sha'ath.

"The NCAG will be led by Dr. Ali Sha'ath, a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza, while laying the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining governance. Dr. Sha'ath brings deep experience in public administration, economic development, and international engagement, and is widely respected for his pragmatic, technocratic leadership and understanding of Gaza's institutional realities." - The White House, "Statement on President Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict"

Trump has appointed an executive board, which he will chair, to "operationalize the Board of Peace's vision." That executive board consists of Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Special Envoy Steve Witkoff; Trump's businessman son-in-law Jared Kushner; national security adviser Robert Gabriel; former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair; Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management; and Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank Group. Each of them will oversee a specific part of the plan to stabilize Gaza.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Putin has been invited to join the committee. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has also been invited, according to his country's foreign ministry.

There's also a second committee of senior officials called the Gaza Executive Board, which the White House says will "help support effective governance and the delivery of best-in-class services that advance peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Gaza."

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That committee will include Witkoff, Kushner, Blair and Rowan, but add Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; Qatari diplomat Ali Thawadi; Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad; U.A.E. Minister of International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy; businessman Yakir Gabay; former U.N. humanitarian coordinator Sigrid Kaag; and former U.N. envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov.

Mladenov will also serve as the High Representative for Gaza. In that role, Mladenov "will act as the on-the-ground link between the Board of Peace and the NCAG."

The White House says additional members of both executive boards will be announced in the coming weeks.

Permanent membership buy-in

The Board of Peace is invitation only and countries can choose between a 3-year or permanent membership. In order to become permanent members, though, they must pay $1 billion, according to multiple reports.





Unbiased. Straight Facts.TM



A U.S. official told CNN all funds raised through the membership program will be used to rebuild Gaza, saying, "There will not be exorbitant salaries and massive administrative bloat that plagues many other international organizations."

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Contributing funds is not required to take part in the Board of Peace, but again, those who do not will only receive a three-year term.

At least a dozen countries have been invited so far. Canada, Hungary and Vietnam say they have already accepted. Although it's not clear whether they'll give a $1 billion donation.

Other countries that say they received an invitation to be founding members include Egypt, Pakistan, India, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania.

The Board of Peace's full roster is expected to be unveiled this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Trump's plans receiving pushback

Executive Board member Tony Blair has distanced himself from the buy-in for permanent membership. On Sunday, a spokesperson for the former prime minister made it clear that Blair will not publicly support the plan.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that while he has accepted the invitation to join the Board of Peace, he has not decided whether to pay the permanent membership fee, saying he has a "precondition for moving forward."

"We still do not have unimpeded aid flows, humanitarian aid flows at scale to the people in Gaza," he told reporters in Qatar on Sunday, saying that would have to be guaranteed before Canada buys in.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled he's not thrilled with some of the members Trump named to the Gaza Executive Board. Netanyahu's office said in a social media post after the announcement that the prime minister instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar to contact U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

It's not clear exactly who or what Israel is opposed to in relation to the Board of Peace, but Israel has said in the past it does not want Turkey to play a role in Gaza's reconstruction.

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Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir added to that, saying, "The Gaza Strip does not need any "administrative committee" to oversee its "rehabilitation"  it needs to be cleansed of Hamas terrorists, who must be destroyed, alongside massive voluntary emigration  in accordance with the original plan of President Trump."

"I call on the Prime Minister to order the IDF to prepare to return to war with tremendous force in the Gaza Strip," Ben Gvir added.

Concerns have been raised that only one Israeli - who is a businessman, not even one of the country's leaders - and no Palestinians have been invited to join either of the committees.

The post Trump invites Putin to join Gaza Board of Peace' with $1B buy-in appeared first on Straight Arrow News.

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The Trump administration extended invitations to Russia and Belarus to join a proposed Gaza "Board of Peace," officials in both countries said Monday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Russian President Vladimir Putin is reviewing the invitation.

"President Putin has indeed received an offer through diplomatic channels to join this Board of Peace. We are currently studying all the details of this proposal," Peskov said, according to Russian state media outlet TASS. "We hope to contact the U.S. side to clarify all the details."

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Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed receiving an invitation, saying in a post on X that President Donald Trump sent Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko a letter proposing the country become a founding member of the "Board of Peace."

Trump Threatens Hamas If Gaza Ceasefire Collapses As Jd Vance To Visit Israel

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during the Eurasian Economic Union summit in St. Petersburg on Dec. 21, 2025. (Getty Images)

"We are ready to take part in the activities of the Board of Peace, taking into account and hoping that this organization will expand its scope and authority far beyond the mandate proposed in the initiative," the ministry said.

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Other countries over the weekend, including Argentina, Jordan, Canada, India, Egypt, Hungary and Vietnam, announced they too had received invitations from the White House.

Neither the State Department nor the White House immediately responded to Fox News Digitals request for comment about a full tally of all countries invited.

Trumps Grand Peace Strategy Is Bearing Fruit, In Middle East And Around The World

President Donald Trump arrives at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Jan. 16, 2026.

The White House released a statement on Friday outlining the next phase of Trumps Gaza peace plan, naming senior international figures to oversee governance, reconstruction and long-term development of the enclave.

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"The Board of Peace will play an essential role in fulfilling all 20 points of the Presidents plan, providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development," the statement said in part.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Trump will chair the board and be joined by a group of senior political, diplomatic and business figures, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and billionaire Marc Rowan, among others.

The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trumps proposed Gaza peace board would require countries seeking a permanent seat to pay a $1 billion fee, according to a draft charter circulated to prospective members.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said on X that the composition of a separate "Gaza Executive Board," which names Turkeys Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi as appointed members, was not coordinated with Israel and "runs contrary to its policy."





Original article source: Trump invites Putin, Lukashenko to join Gaza 'Board of Peace,' Russia and Belarus say
The Soviet Union spent more than 40 years trying to achieve what has just been handed to Vladimir Putin on a plate. Throughout the Cold War, the Kremlins primary objective was to split the Atlantic Alliance (Nato) by turning America and Europe against one another.

Every crisis over the security of West Berlin, from the Soviet ultimatum for the West to leave the city in 1958 to the building of the Wall in 1961, was designed to open cracks in Nato. To make the West scream, I squeeze on Berlin, as Nikita Khrushchev, then Soviet leader, put it in 1959.

His successor, Leonid Brezhnev, deployed a new generation of nuclear missiles  the SS20s  in the satellite states of central Europe precisely to divide the West over how to respond.

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All of those efforts failed. America and Europe knew exactly what the Soviets were up to and, though they differed and argued, the allies never allowed the Kremlin the satisfaction of watching them break apart.

Today, thanks to Donald Trump, Putin can revel in that spectacle. He has spent 25 years pursuing the old Soviet policy of trying to split the West. Time and again, he has denounced Nato for supposedly trying to encircle or terrorise Russia, as if the very existence of the Atlantic Alliance posed a threat to world peace, and as though the sight of sovereign countries choosing to join its ranks somehow justified his aggression.

Now, suddenly, the fissure Putin has always yearned for is opening before his eyes.

The president of the United States has not only laid claim to the sovereign territory of a Nato ally, Denmark, but threatened to use force to get his way. On Saturday, Trump deliberately escalated the confrontation by ordering punitive tariffs against no fewer than eight allies, including Britain, for the offence of saying what should be common cause: that the future status of Greenland is a matter for the islands inhabitants and the government of Denmark.

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On Monday, Trump went further still by sending a threatening message to another ally, Norway. In a leaked letter to the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Store, Trump said that since he had been denied the Nobel Peace Prize he no longer feel[s] an obligation to think purely of peace, although it will always be predominant, adding that Denmark had no right of ownership over Greenland and that Americas Complete and Total control of the island was essential for global security.

Faced with looming American tariffs and constant threats, the EU is preparing to retaliate by invoking its anti-coercion instrument to impose 93bn (80.6bn) of levies on US exports. This extraordinary measure, which has never been used before, is set to be deployed not against China or any other adversary, but against the superpower that has guaranteed Europes security for almost 80 years.

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Sir Keir Starmer has so far declined to impose additional British tariffs on US exports, but the EUs promised retribution shows the two sides are now doing their best to damage one another.

Starmer has condemned Trumps threat to impose tariffs on Americas allies - Tolga Akmen/EPA/Shutterstock

Putin can only sit back and enjoy the sight. And even if this quarrel is eventually resolved by some form of settlement between America and Europe over the future of Greenland  and, for all the sound and fury, that remains the most likely outcome  who will ever trust the United States to honour its Nato obligation to defend its European allies?

As the Prime Minister said in Downing Street on Monday: Alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure. The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.

By heaping pressure on his friends  openly and boisterously  Trump has fundamentally undermined the Atlantic Alliance. Soviet leaders always knew that if they invaded any Nato ally, they would find themselves at war with America, a war they could not win. Peace itself depended on that belief. Why should Putin believe it now?

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, while some people learned to bake bread and my family made the dubious choice of adopting a high-anxiety poodle who bites, superstar author Lisa See spotted an unopened book on her shelf about womens medicine in Imperial China. In a fortuitous chain of discovery, Ms. See stumbled upon the name of Tan Yuxiang, a lady doctor during the Ming Dynasty, who published a book of her medical cases in the year 1511. A quick internet search revealed that one could quickly procure a translated copy of Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor, and the authors next project was born. In 2023, the author published her bestselling novel, Lady Tans Circle of Women (Scribner). I have enjoyed Ms. Sees work since 2005 when I read her novel Snowflower and The Secret Fan. As a female physician, I found the detailed description of foot-binding of young women to be shocking. This was the custom of breaking the bones of the feet of young girls by binding them tightly to change the shape and size into what they called lotus feet.

Bound feet were a status symbol and feature of feminine beauty. Men found lotus feet to be irresistible. The practice was regarded as a virtuous sacrifice that girls made for their future husbands. Only in 1912 was this barbaric practice banned in China. Ms. See tells the story of Lady Tans life in imaginative, yet historically correct detail. She weaves some of the medical cases from Lady Tans book into the multiple storylines of her novel. The reader learns much about the practice of Chinese medicine in this early era. Male physicians were not permitted to speak to, touch, or examine women. All interactions were done through an intermediary. Not surprisingly, centuries prior to the discovery of antibiotics and aseptic technique, women did not fare well in the Chinese medical system. Ms. See references a quote from a Han Dynasty official from 15 centuries earlier: In womens central affair of childbirth, 10 women die for every one that survives. In an era where bad outcomes in general medical care and childbirth were blamed directly on the physician or midwife, male physicians were reluctant to take on the complexities of womens health care.

During the pandemic, I also researched and wrote a book titled Changing How We Think About Difficult Patients: A Guide for Physicians and Health Care Professionals (American Association for Physician Leadership). When I was reading Lady Tans Circle of Women, one line really caught my attention. Lady Tans expertise at treating ladies is recognized as unique, so she is called on to travel a great distance to treat a special patient within the Forbidden City. In preparation, Lady Tan goes to her cherished mentors, her grandfather and grandmother who were both learned and respected practitioners of medicine. Her grandfather offered this guidance: Even if the patient is the emperors favorite concubine, dont forget that she is no different from any other woman, 10 times more difficult to treat than any man. In the fictionalized world of 16th-century China, author Lisa See knew male physicians struggled to understand the emotions of their female patients in addition to their unique medical issues.

Difficult patients identified in Imperial China

Not surprisingly, physicians in antiquity considered their female patients to be difficult. Male physicians in China correctly recognized the complexity of womens health (menstrual cycles, childbirth, the postpartum period, and menopause) to be far more challenging to treat than the medical issues of men. Additionally, the foot-binding process left women highly susceptible to infections and death from sepsis. Women with bound feet had abnormal calf muscle atrophy, which left them unstable for walking and highly prone to injury.

In my book, I discuss the groundbreaking article published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1978 by Dr. James Groves titled Taking Care of the Hateful Patient. Groves was a consulting psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital in the 1970s who may have been the first to address the fact that treating certain types of patients elicited strong feelings of inadequacy and resentment in the physicians providing their care. A group from Tel Aviv University reviewed Dr. Groves original article and updated the issues for modern physicians in the European Journal of Medicine in 2006. Their article, The Hateful Patient Revisited: Relevance for 21st Century Medicine, raised the issues of gender, age, and cultural factors in relation to challenging physician-patient interactions.

White males, who comprised most physicians trained in the 20th century, were more likely to identify women and people of color as difficult. What we now know about differing verbal and nonverbal communication styles between men and women and among different races, ethnicities, and cultures likely contributed to the challenges perceived in these physician-patient interactions. Dermatology texts did not accurately reflect the appearance of rashes and lesions on people with dark skin tones. The gentlemen physicians could not understand the drama and high emotions in many of their female patients. They could not experience the pain of childbirth or the discomfort of monthly menses. The presence of the reproductive organs in the pelvis complicated the diagnosis of medical and surgical problems near the pelvis. Women have other, complicated medical and surgical potential problems to untangle and comprehend.

For centuries, physicians did not even try to understand their female patients; they just labeled women as hysterical. The term is derived from the Greek word hystera, meaning womb. In antiquity, it was used to describe conditions affecting women, particularly those believed to be caused by the movement of the uterus, known as the wandering womb. This concept was first introduced by the OG, ancient Greek physician Hippocrates.

Times have changed and although women often feel dismissed, their lady doctors now know how it feels to have menstrual cramps, labor pains, hot flashes, and insomnia. More than half of the medical school students in our country are female. According to the Women in Academia Report, women continue to represent the majority of U.S. medical school students. Womens medical problems are challenging to diagnose and treat because we are so complex. We have more diagnoses in the differential list, and we have big emotions to go along with them. We need our nurses and physicians to lean in and to find out why we are having the pain, the cramping, or all those other frustrating symptoms. If the ladies are frightened, we need to find out why. If they dont understand why they should consent to the treatment, we need to explain it again in terms that they can understand.

Lady Tan made it her lifetime mission to treat the girls and women in her community, regardless of their place in society. Then she documented her case findings and recorded them for future generations of healers. Of course, many of her beliefs about disease transmission and treatment were antiquated and disproven over the centuries. The ancient healers knew about certain plants and practices that would address infections centuries before scientists discovered microbes and antimicrobials. The important thing we can learn from Lady Tan was the strength of her personal mission to heal and her persistence despite the whole sexist and classist structure of society that worked against her. Some of our patients have challenging illnesses and personalities that we must learn to accept and treat with more curiosity and empathy. We can make this our mission even in a system that feels stacked against us too.

Joan Naidorf is an emergency physician and author of Changing How We Think about Difficult Patients: A Guide for Physicians and Healthcare Professionals.
President Donald Trump sent a text on Jan 18 to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre in which he complained about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer will think purely of Peace as a result. Trump went on to assert that only a Complete and Total Control of Greenland by the U.S. could keep the world secure."

Trumps message was first reported by PBS journalist Nick Schifrin in an X post, and confirmed by Stre's office to USA TODAY on Jan. 19. The prime minister's office also shared the message exchange between Stre and Trump with USA TODAY.

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America, Trump's text, sent at 4:15 pm Norway time (10:15 am ET), said.

"I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland," he continued.

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Trump's message was in response to a text message Stre sent on behalf of himself and President of Finland Alexander Stubb less than half an hour before, at 3:48 p.m. local time, urging Trump to "de-escalate" on "Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine and your tariff announcement."

More: President Trump says he has ended 8 wars. What is he referring to?

"You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate - so much is happening around us where we need to stand together," Stre wrote. " We are proposing a call with you later today-give us a hint of what you prefer!"

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump has said acquiring the territory is essential to U.S. national security and to "protect" it from Russia and China.

President Donald Trump is interviewed by Reuters White House correspondent Steve Holland (not pictured) in the Oval Office on Jan. 14, 2026.

Stre, on Jan. 17, pushed back on Trump's insistence that U.S. should control Greenland.

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"Threats have no place among allies. Norway's position is firm: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Norway fully supports the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark," he wrote on X. "There is broad agreement in NATO on the need to strengthen security in the Arctic, including in Greenland."

Trump has long campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, and expressed bitterness for being overlooked.

"They'll find a reason not to give it to me," Trump told USA TODAY back in October, just two before the announcement conferring the award on Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Machado, for her part presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Trump during their Jan. 15 meeting at the White House.

Trump kept the award.

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Asked by a reporter why he would want someone else's Nobel Prize, Trump said: "Well, she offered it to me."

"I thought it was very nice. She said, 'you know, you've ended eight wars and nobody deserves this prize more than, in history, than you do," he said.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump rejected the idea that Norway has no influence over deciding who received the Nobel Peace Prize, dismissing the notion that the decision is entirely up to the committee.

Norway totally controls it despite what they say, he told NBC News. They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything thing to do with it, the president added.

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Asked by NBC if he would use force to claim Greenland, the president responded No comment.

Over the past 11 months, Trump has claimed to end eight wars though not all parties involved credit the U.S. for the ceasefire agreements. Those include Armenia and Azerbaijan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Iran and Israel, India and Pakistan (India did not credit the U.S. with negotiating a ceasefire), Cambodia and Thailand. During the same time, the U.S. launched military action against Iran and Syria and captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores following a military extraction.

Meanwhile, Trump announced on Jan. 17 that a 10% tariff would be imposed on all goods sent to the U.S. from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland unless a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa issued a statement on Jan. 17 saying "Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law" and adding that the EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.

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While Trump has long expressed his desire to acquire Greenland saying that NATO would become "far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES," multiple polls have shown that an intervention in Greenland would be unpopular. A CNN/SSRS poll published on Jan. 15, showed that 75% of Americans oppose the idea.

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: Denied the Nobel, Trump wants Greenland: Not thinking 'Peace'
US President Donald Trump has said he no longer feels obliged to think only of peace after he was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

In a message to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, Trump blamed the country for not giving him the prize.

In his reply to Trump, Stre explained that an independent committee, not the government of Norway, awards the prize which last October went to Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

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In the same message to Stre, Trump insisted the US needed "Complete and Total Control of Greenland" - the semi autonomous Danish territory. Asked later if he planned to use force to seize it, he replied "no comment".

Denmark is a fellow member of Nato - a defence alliance with the US as its most influential partner. It works on the principle that members should defend each-other in case of external attacks.

There has never been an attack by one member against another since the alliance was founded in 1949.

Denmark has warned that US military action in Greenland would spell the end of Nato. It has received support from European members of the alliance - some even sent a handful of troops to Greenland last week in a move seen as symbolic.

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However, Trump followed that deployment with an announcement to impose a 10% tariff on goods from eight Nato allies - including the UK - from 1 February if they opposed his proposed takeover of Greenland, and threatened to raise it to 25% by June.

It was in this context of heightened tension that Jonas Stre sent a message to Trump on behalf of himself and the Finnish President, Alexander Stubb.

The two European leaders said "we all should work to take this down and de-escalate - so much is happening around us where we need to stand together".

In his reply, Trump wrote: "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper' for the US."

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He went on to say that Denmark could not protect Greenland from Russia or China, and questioned, "why do they have a "right of ownership" anyway? There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also".

"I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States," he said.

"The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland," he concluded.

The sparsely populated but resource-rich Arctic island is well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and for monitoring vessels in the region.

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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Monday that any decision about the future status of Greenland "belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone", and called the use of tariffs against allies "wrong".

Also on Monday, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenlandic Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Last week, the Danish and Greenlandic governments, together with Nato allies, decided to increase military presence and exercise activity in the Arctic and the North Atlantic.

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Several European states sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland in a so-called reconnaissance mission.

Trump has made no secret of his desire to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and on Monday insisted that "Norway totally controls it [the Nobel Prize] despite what they say".

"They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything to do with it," he told NBC News.

Trump says he deserves the award, having ended eight wars since his second term as president began last year.

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The White House has previously listed these as conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo.

BBC Verify has examined Trump's claim which include a number of "wars" which had lasted just days, although were the result of long-standing tensions, and in some cases  for example Egypt and Ethiopia - there was no fighting to end.

There has also been fighting between Rwanda and the DRC, despite the two sides signing a peace agreement.

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The peace prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Later, when US forces seized and removed Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro from Caracas, accusing him of drug trafficking and other crimes, Trump did not endorse Machado as the country's next leader and instead backed Maduro's vice-president as the interim head of government.

Machado, who has praised Trump, met him at the White House last week and gave her medal to him. The Nobel Foundation had said the award could not "even symbolically, be passed on or further distributed".

What questions do you have about Donald Trump's first year since returning as US president? Click here or use the form below.

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[BBC]

Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
Jan 19 (Reuters) - The administration of President Donald Trump would enact new tariffs almost immediately if the Supreme Court struck down sweeping global tariffs the president launched under an emergency law, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told the New York Times in an interview published on Monday.

The Supreme Court could rule on the tariffs in the coming weeks, and possibly as early as Tuesday.

Greer said the administration would "start the next day" to replace the tariffs with other levies, the Times reported.

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The challenge to the levies being weighed at the Supreme Court marks a major test of presidential powers as well as of the court's willingness to check some of the Republican president's far-reaching assertions of authority since he returned to office in January 2025.The Trade Representative's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Bill Berkrot)
President Donald Trump is reportedly turning his attention to Canada and becoming fixated on the countrys vulnerability to foreign adversaries.

In recent weeks, Trump has griped that the Arctic reaches of the Great White North are exposed to Chinese and Russian encroachment, multiple unnamed officials told NBC News. U.S. officials are now reportedly looking into coordinating with Ottawa to strengthen Canadas northern border.

Trump is really worried about the U.S. continuing to drift in the Western Hemisphere and is focused on this, one official told the outlet.

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Trumps recent focus on Canada follows a whirlwind first year in office, marked by bold unilateral moves to extend U.S. influence across the Western Hemisphere  often through thinly veiled military threats, an approach he has branded the Donroe Doctrine.

Earlier this month, the 79-year-old president directed a surprise military strike on Venezuela that resulted in the capture of leader Nicolas Maduro, who is now in federal custody facing drug charges. Trump has also issued stark warnings of U.S. intervention in Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico while repeatedly voicing interest in acquiring Greenland  a Danish territory  and has not taken the use of military force off the table, triggering deep concern among Americas allies.

Trump is reportedly taking aim at Canada and expressing concern about its 'vulnerability' to adversaries after his previous threats to make the country the 51st state (Getty Images)

Trump claims that no external constraints  not even international law  bind him on the global stage. When asked by The New York Times this month what limits he faces, he said: There is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. Its the only thing that can stop me.

Supporters contend that Trumps moves are essential to counter foreign meddling in the Western Hemisphere, while critics denounce the administrations actions as unlawful threats that imperil a long-established network of U.S.-led alliances.

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Unlike with Greenland, U.S. officials say Trump isnt trying to annex Canada. Instead, he aims to partner with Prime Minister Mark Carney to shore up the countrys defensesa sharp pivot from his previous calls for Canada to join the U.S. as the 51st state, which resulted in strained relations.

Protecting the northern border of Canada is a fundamental aspect of Trumps goal of solidifying the Western Hemisphere, one official said.

At the end of the day, this is to stop Russia and China from having a further presence in the Arctic, the official said, according to NBC News, adding that Canada stands to benefit from the U.S. having Greenland.

Canadian officials have publicly pushed back against Trumps Greenland plan, with Carney stating on Friday that he stands behind the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of NATO.

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American officials are also seeking to work with Canadas government to jointly cooperate on protecting the Arctic reaches of Canada.

The options being discussed include updating systems in Canada that provide early warnings that an adversary is getting close to the countrys territory or waters, more joint U.S. and Canadian military training and operations, and increasing joint air and water patrols as well as American ship patrols in the Arctic, according to NBC.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, where he vowed to strengthen ties between the two countries (via REUTERS)

Critics, though, see Trumps bold measures as undercutting longstanding alliances between Canada and the United States.

A Pew Research poll from July found that the majority of Canadians now see Trumps America as their biggest threat.

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Carney himself appeared to hint at this breakdown in relations on Friday, telling reporters that the multilateral system has been eroded.

This week, Carney traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which he cut a bilateral trade deal and vowed to strengthen ties between their two nations.

The world has changed much since that last visit, he said. I believe the progress that we have made in the partnership sets us up well for the new world order.

Trump didnt appear concerned about the increasing cooperation between Canada and China, telling reporters Friday that their newly minted trade deal is a good thing.

Thats what he should be doing, Trump said. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that.
Donald Trump has vowed to "100%" follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries who oppose his demand to take control of Greenland.

European allies have rallied around Greenland's sovereignty. Denmark's foreign minister emphasised the US president cannot threaten his way to ownership of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the UK's position that the future of Greenland is for "Greenlanders and for the Danes alone" to decide.

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On Monday, Trump declined to rule out the use of force and insisted he would press ahead with the threatened tariffs on goods arriving in the US from the UK and seven other Nato-allied countries.

In a post to Truth Social in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the US president said he had a "very good telephone call" with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, and agreed to a meeting "of various parties" in Switzerland this week.

He went on: "Greenland is imperative for National and World Security. There can be no going back  On that, everyone agrees!"

Trump has said he will charge a 10% tariff "on any and all goods" sent from the UK to the US from 1 February, increasing to 25% from 1 June, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

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He said the same would apply to goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland - all of whom are members of the defence alliance Nato which was founded in 1949.

Asked if he would follow through on the tariff threat, Trump told NBC News: "I will, 100%."

When the outlet asked whether he would use force to seize the territory, the president replied "no comment".

[AFP via Getty Images]

Trump added: "Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that's gotten them... That's what Europe should focus on - not Greenland."

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Denmark has warned that US military action in Greenland would spell the end of Nato. In recent days, Greenland has received support from European members of the alliance - some even sent a handful of troops to Greenland last week in a move seen as symbolic.

However, Trump followed that deployment with an announcement to impose tariffs on the eight Nato allies.

Danish foreign minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen said that Europe had to show President Trump tariff threats were "not the way forward".

"We have red lines that can't be crossed," he told Sky News. "You can't threaten your way to ownership of Greenland. I have no intention of escalating this situation."

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Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the tariffs did not benefit anyone, and he hoped to meet with the US president during his trip to Davos for the World Economic Forum.

He said: "We do not want this escalation. We do not want a trade dispute with the United States of America."

He also added that the Trump administration would not have been surprised by Nato's so-called reconnaissance mission over the weekend, as it had been announced and agreed upon beforehand.

"It was never a military action," the German chancellor said.

The European Union is to hold an emergency summit in Brussels for its leaders on Thursday where they will discuss how to respond to Trump's latest threat to take over Greenland.

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Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said the bloc has "no interest to pick a fight, but we will hold our ground".

"But trades threats are not the way to go about this," Kallas added. "Sovereignty is not for trade."

It comes as text exchanges between Trump and the Norwegian prime minister were released - showing that on Sunday the US president blamed Norway for the fact he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize.

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In his reply - seen by the BBC - Jonas Gahr Stre explained that an independent committee, not the government of Norway, awards the prize which last October went to Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

"Norway's position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter," Stre added.

Trump also addressed the text message exchange in Monday's interview and said: "Norway totally controls it [the Nobel Prize] despite what they say.

"They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything to do with it."

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Meanwhile, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) on Monday announced that multiple aircraft are on their way to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.

The joint US-Canada military defence organisation stressed they are part of a routine operation "to support various long-planned Norad activities", and said they had been coordinated with Denmark and that the government of Greenland had been informed.

Similar Norad operations at the base took place in 2022, 2023, and last year.
(Corrects to remove Danish Presidency in the European Union from disclaimer, as Denmark is no longer holding the presidency, in paragraph 3)

Jan 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Denmark has not been able to do anything to get the "Russian threat" away from Greenland, and said, "Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

"NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that "you have to get Russian threat away from Greenland." Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it," Trump wrote in a post on the social media website he owns called Truth Social.

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The White House and Denmark's foreign affairs ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he will settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to be part of the United States.

Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland.

The encroaching presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to U.S. security interests, Trump has said. Danish and other European officials have pointed out that Greenland is already covered by NATO's collective security pact.

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Shanen Ebersole is smiling, keeping an eye on her cows as they graze. Calving season is soon, so election season will have to wait.

Well walk them the mile and a half home in a month or so, Ebersole tells a visitor. Then they will calve in a pasture just like this. So, these are all our old mama girls.

As we walk, the cows give an occasional gaze but mostly go about their business  calmly, with occasional bursts of playfulness.

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I wish Washington could get along like cows, Ebersole said. They need to find a way to get along for us, because thats what we the taxpayers pay them to do.

Ebersole was a Nikki Haley supporter when we first met early in the 2024 election cycle. She voted for Donald Trump in the end, believing his policies were better for her family farm. Now, though, there are signs of Trump exhaustion as she begins to think about 2026 races.

We have choices, Ebersole said. We can say calm down. We can say talk nice.

Trump has been back in the White House for a year now, and his standing  more than anything else  will define the mood and the direction of the midterm campaign. Ebersole scores his performance at a 3 out of 5. The economy feels a little better to her, and illegal border crossings are down.

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But she recoiled at Trumps plan to increase low-tariff beef imports from Argentina, finding it to be anything but America First. Now, the presidents talk of somehow taking control of Greenland feels like another detour from his campaign agenda.

I dont agree with that in any way, shape or form, Ebersole said. We need to take care of the 50 states that we have.

The Ebersole Cattle Farm is in Kellerton, a rural Iowa town close to the Missouri border. Ringgold County is ruby-red when you look at election results here the past few decades; its a place Republicans count on especially in big years like this. Iowa will pick a new governor in 2026, plus a new US senator.

And Kellerton sits in Iowas 3rd Congressional District, a Democratic target as the party tries to capture the House majority in this years midterm elections.

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Ebersole has a dim view of Washington. She favors term limits and says that in her view, members of Congress are obsessed with fundraising and power and forget family farmers like her; forget trying to find compromise on issues such as health care.

She includes her own representative, two-term GOP Rep. Zach Nunn, in that critique.

We want change, she said. We need more freshness.

Ebersole, of course, is just one voter. But her sentiment is potentially instructive. Democrats would have to flip just a few seats to take the House majority, but they would need gains in red states such as Iowa to build a bit of a cushion. To get there would likely require winning over a fair amount of reluctant Trump 2024 voters who see divided government as a way to check the Trump traits they dont like.

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I think you have to vote for the person who best meets your goals, Ebersole said. Every time we are met with a new election cycle, I am open-minded.

Recent history here favors the GOP.

Trump carried Iowa in all three of his White House runs, with a bigger share of the vote each time. The last Democratic governor finished his term in January 2011. The last Democratic US senator left office in January 2015. All four House seats are now held by Republicans, but at least two are potentially competitive.

The 2024 GOP margin in the 3rd Congressional Districts was just shy of 16,000 votes; in the 1st Congressional District, the Republican incumbent won by just 799 votes.

A Trump convert says, I got what I voted for

Betsy Sarcone says she's happy with President Trump's first year in office and will be voting Republican in the midterm elections. - CNN

Betsy Sarcone lives 70 miles north of the Ebersole farm, in the fast-growing Des Moines suburbs. This is our sixth visit, dating to August 2023 when we began our All Over the Map project to track campaigns and big policy debates through the eyes and experiences of everyday voters.

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Im happy is Sarcones take on Trumps first year back in power. I got what I voted for. And I think Trump has proved himself. Theres that saying, Trump is always right. Trump was right about everything. Thats kind of how I am feeling right now.

That is a dramatic change.

Sarcone was an early Ron DeSantis supporter in 2024, then switched to Haley. Back then, she said she would vote for Joe Biden if Trump won the GOP nomination.

I just cant put my rubber stamp on Trump having more influence over this country, Sarcone told us in August 2023. I view Trump as not having any personal responsibility.

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What changed?

I think Biden probably changed me more than Trump, Sarcone said. Watching nothing be done, for four years, about an open border.

Now, she gives Trump an A-minus for his first year. She says the economy is beginning to pick up, and she can look past some of the tone and character issues she raised about Trump when we first met.

Were at the point where I think 77 million of us dont care about the rhetoric anymore, Sarcone said. We are about getting things done.

A suburban revolt against Trump was a giant piece of the 2018 Democratic midterm gains. The Des Moines suburbs are a big part of the 3rd Congressional District, and Democrats are hoping for a repeat revolt this November.

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But Republicans dont have to worry about Sarcone. She has met Rep. Nunn and gives him high marks, and she is grateful to Iowa state Republicans for passing a school-choice program that helps her send her son and two daughters to private schools.

One other big change: Back when we first met, Sarcone laughed off Trumps claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

But during our latest visit, she said, Im starting to question the election of 2020.

I interject: He lost the election in 2020.

Sarcone: I dont know.

Sometimes it gets ugly, but securing the border is worth it

Trump voter Chris Mudd is happy with the president's first year, but says he thinks Iowa will be competitive in 2026. - CNN

Waterloo is 140 miles from West Des Moines  first north, then east to make the journey. Chris Mudd is the CEO of Midwest Solar and a Trump guy from the beginning.

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On the drive out to show us a new big solar installation, Mudd, too, brings up 2020 and adds a new twist. Sarcone is new to the 2020 election Trump echo chamber; Mudd has been there from the outset.

This election fraud, I think that information is going to come out on that, Mudd offers on the drive from Midwest Solars office in Waterloo to a Ford dealership in Shell Rock that is adding solar panels to its sprawling roof.

Maybe Maduro is going to be able to offer some information about some of the things that happened in 2020. Like I told you long ago, I believe that election was stolen from him.

To hear the 2020 conspiracy raised by two very different Trump voters was a reminder they spend their free time in the MAGA media echo chamber, where the idea that Venezuela was somehow involved with rigging the 2020 election has gained some traction.

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Trump has been talking more about 2020 of late, and members of the QAnon conspiracy movement added Nicolas Maduro to the mix after the Venezuelan leader was taken into custody during a US military operation.

Mudds support of Trump is unflinching, even though he always raises objections about certain decisions or rhetoric. Watching aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics during deportation roundups, for example, makes him cringe. But he blames years of government turning a blind eye to immigration abuses, not Trump or ICE.

When you make the sausage, sometimes it gets ugly, Mudd said. We have to secure the borders, and they are secure now.

Mudds business took a hit when Trump canceled green-energy initiatives from the Biden administration. But high electricity prices are helping sell solar now.

My life is similar, is his take at the one-year mark. But my optimism is greater because I believe the things that Trump is doing are good for the country.

Overall, his gut and his work across the state tell him Trumps support maybe has waned a little bit in Iowa.

There are some people who read the headlines and they have a hard time defending it, Mudd said. I dont. I believe negative things happen regardless of who is in power.

He worries even his congressional district  the 2nd  could be competitive because the popular Republican incumbent is running for Senate. Mudd knows Trump voters who dont care as much about voting when Trump is not on the ballot. He is not one of them.

We need to win November, he said. Because I think they are going to try to impeach him. Its going to cause havoc for the country.

Asked whether he would consider supporting a Democrat for governor or some other state office, Mudd initially sounded open to it.

I am a Republican but not a blanket Republican, he said. But his own words give him pause. Actually, I am a blanket Republican. I probably will vote a full red ticket.

Want to sway voters? Go down a gravel road

Iowa has a lot at stake in the 2026 midterm elections. People here will cast their vote for governor, all four congressional seats and one Senate seat. - CNN

Names often tell you a lot about a town, and Columbus Junction fits that bill. It is in rural Louisa County, in southeast Iowa. The town sprouted where a north-south railway intersected with an east-west railway.

Trump carried Louisa County with 70% of the vote in 2024, math not lost on local Democrats. Yet spirits were high at a recent potluck dinner held by county Democrats to begin their midterm planning.

The county is the 1st Congressional District, the most competitive of Iowas four.

For now, making sure Democratic candidates have enough signatures to get on the ballot is the priority. But the new county Democratic chairwoman, Michele Pegg, said voter registration drives and door-to-door canvassing are on the horizon.

Here, that often means knocking on a door with a Trump flag or sticker. Pegg said she looks forward to it.

Nobodys evil, Pegg said. The problem is weve been swayed to believe the other side is.  These are little bitty towns. When youre talking populations of under 400, these are your neighbors, these are my neighbors. These are people that have good times and bad times, and were all in it together.

Pegg promised to do her part organizing, and she believes there is opportunity because of some disappointment in Trump.

I really do think hes down a bit, Pegg said. I think people are frustrated with the sense that he ran on a lot of America First stuff. Hey, were going to take care of our people first  but we still have problems with water. We still have problems with soil, we still have problems with schools, we still have problems with funding schools and education.

But Pegg pulled no punches. She said the Democratic brand is damaged in rural areas and the partys candidates had better put in the work to repair it.

I think that unfortunately theres been a history of Democrats focusing on power places like Des Moines or Johnson County or some of the more university or non-rural areas, Pegg said. You know, people dont even know where were at.

Pegg knows the back roads here. She cant close the sale on her own. But she is happy to offer Democratic candidates directions and advice.

You want the office? You need to sway the voters, she said. Go down to a rural county. Go down a highway. Go down a gravel road. Go down a Class B road. Knock on a door.

This story has been updated to clarify Trumps share of the vote in Iowa in the past three presidential elections.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
(Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

President Donald Trump suggested Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) be imprisoned or sent back to Somalia as he raged Sunday night that she knows everything about alleged fraud in the state and hates the USA.

The outburst came as part of a late-night Truth Social posting spree that reiterated the presidents demand that Greenland become part of the U.S. and warning of a big test if a New York Stock Exchange-style operation moves forward in Dallas.

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Rounding on Minnesotas ongoing fraud probe, which comes at the same time as fallout around the presidents ICE operation, Trump singled out Omar:

There is 19 Billion Dollars in Minnesota Somalia Fraud. Fake Congresswoman Illhan Omar, a constant complainer who hates the USA, knows everything there is to know. She should be in jail, or even a worse punishment, sent back to Somalia, considered one of the absolutely worst countries in the World. She could help to MAKE SOMALIA GREAT AGAIN!

(Screengrab via Truth Social)

The post followed claims earlier Sunday that Omar and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) were using ICE operations to keep the focus of attention off the federal fraud investigation.

Republicans and the Trump administration have repeatedly pointed to a long-running Justice Department fraud investigation involving fraud in the state, with Minnesotas Somali community coming under focus after a viral video about alleged daycare fraud by YouTuber Nick Shirley.

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In 2022, under the Biden administration, federal prosecutors indicted dozens of suspects in connection with the Feeding Our Future case, an alleged $250 million scheme involving pandemic-era food aid funds.

Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia at the age of 12 and became a citizen in 2000, was elected to Congress in 2018 and has consistently been a target of Trumps attacks, which she has dismissed as racist and politically motivated.

The post Trump Suggests Ilhan Omar Be Jailed or Sent Back to Somalia in Minnesota Fraud Tirade: Hates the USA first appeared on Mediaite.
President Trumps decision to suspend naturalization ceremonies is leaving residents across the country in an unusual position, now stuck in limbo after they were on the verge of gaining U.S. citizenship.

Critics say the pause is the Trump administrations latest form of collective punishment for migrants, who have seen their hopes of citizenship dashed following the deadly shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C.

On Thanksgiving, Trump said he would permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries in response to the shooting. The next week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended naturalization ceremonies for citizens of the 19 countries covered by the travel ban. Its a list thats since grown, as the president in December expanded the list to 39 countries.

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In some cases, immigrants have already passed the citizenship test, only to be blocked from taking the oath that makes their naturalization official.

People are just somewhat confused and concerned that, although they sort of went through the process, with the exception of the actual ceremony, that now at the eleventh hour, on the ninth inning theyre going to be disqualified and not allowed to be officially sworn in, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) said.

Espaillat, who is a naturalized citizen himself, said his office has been flooded by people dealing with the uncertainty.

Theyre in limbo, and Im sure theres a lot of stress. And they may feel they are Americans, but in actuality, theyre not, until they take that oath.

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The U.S. typically naturalizes about 800,000 new citizens per year, the bulk of which are from Mexico, India and the Philippines.

Naturalization candidates have been pulled from their scheduled citizenship ceremonies. I know this to be true because it happened to my constituents, who have reached out to my office, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on the floor this week.

They are rightfully upset that the administration has stopped them  individuals who are already approved for citizenship  from taking their oath of allegiance to this country.

The Trump administration has said the move is needed to thoroughly vet immigrants before they become U.S. citizens.

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USCIS has paused all adjudications for aliens from high-risk countries while USCIS works to ensure that all aliens from these countries are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The pause will allow for a comprehensive examination of all pending benefit requests for aliens from the designated high-risk countries, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement.

The safety of the American people always come first.

But immigration advocates say the claim simply doesnt make sense, as many prospective citizens have been in the U.S. for years if not decades and have been vetted at every turn.

They havent committed a crime, because otherwise they, you know, wouldnt have been eligible for citizenship anyway. They have then submitted their application for naturalization, paid [the fee], found to be eligible because they took the citizenship test and the language test and passed everything, said Shev Dalal-Dheini, director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

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They were at the final, final stage of, you know  they are going to swear the oath of allegiance to the United States, and they are having the rug pulled out under them. So the rationale that the Trump administration is doing this because of security and vetting concerns doesnt hold up. They have been vetted numerous times throughout various administrations, by multiple different government entities.

The Trump administration has been under pressure from Congress to resume the ceremonies.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) also led a letter asking USCIS for a breakdown of how many people have been affected by the pause, how applicants are being re-reviewed, and for a timeline for lifting the pause.

It is this terrible feeling that Im hearing from people across the country of, wait a second, I did everything the right way. I followed the process. Ive done everything. Ive been waiting all this time, you know, and you get, I mean, it is such a privilege and an honor to become a U.S. citizen. I remember what it felt like to me that day, said Jayapal, herself an immigrant to the U.S.

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I just had butterflies in my stomach, you know? First, I didnt think I was going to be that affected, but I was in this room with people from all over  Im getting goosebumps right now, just thinking about it  all over the world who had come from such different situations. I mean, people who had really escaped a lot of trauma, war, economic [issues], some were coming to join their families, and so they were there with their loved ones. And it was just this amazing, beautiful feeling, like, I did it, I made it, I made it. I went through all of this and I made it. And I remember just starting to cry. I was not expecting it at all, but I just started weeping, because it was just so beautiful and such a joyful moment.

Dalal-Dheini said many of those who are about to take the oath have already progressed though various immigration statuses, taking years to gain their green card and then eventually seek citizenship.

Its purely contradictory to our American values. We are a nation of immigrants.  We are here because our forefathers are immigrants, and this is now saying, Youre not welcome here, even though thats the foundation of this country, she said.

Even those not on the list of impacted countries are fearful to move forward.

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There have been reports of residents from countries that are not on the travel ban list having their appointments canceled, and because other migrants have been arrested after immigration court hearings, some are fearful to make appearances.

Now Ive got people who are saying to me, Should I go to my naturalization ceremony? What if they grab me in my naturalization ceremony? Its really unprecedented, and its attacking legal immigration. Theyve always said they want to attack undocumented immigrants, the so-called worst of the worst, Jayapal said.

Thats not these people.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The Dutch have called it blackmail and Britain says its wrong, but Spain is the country that has best spelt out the treachery of Donald Trumps threats of tariffs against his allies to force Greenland into his kingdom.

Spains prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said that if Trump invaded Greenland it would make Vladimir Putin the happiest man on earth.

The EU and the UK are in emergency talks on how to face Trumps latest threat of a 10 per cent tariff on goods from eight countries unless Greenland is sold to the US. The tariffs are to rise to 25 per cent on June 1.

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Trump is a business buffoon. His companies have gone bankrupt six times and he failed to launch an airline and a university, and lost his shirt in casinos. He is also ignorant of basic economics.

He has repeatedly described tariffs, which are paid by US consumers and businesses in dollars in the US at the point of importation of foreign goods, as a subsidy.

Keir Starmer with Donald Trump (PA)

The reality is that if he forces up the prices of goods from eight countries through duties, some of the rise will be carried by the producers, some by the middleman, and in most cases the majority of it by the consumer  Americans.

Trump is impervious to this reality.

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Just as he is impervious to advice from longstanding allies that if he smashes Nato, the US will be vulnerable to the very threats from China and Russia that he claims he wants to protect against by bringing Greenland into the US.

Britain has stood by its Nato commitment and sent one officer as a token presence on a token European military mission to Greenland. As the UK has negotiated 10 per cent tariffs with Trump vs the EUs 15 per cent, it has a little more to lose in a decline in UK-US trade.

People in Greenland protest against Trumps attempt to make the island part of the US (AP)

But it has a huge amount to gain economically, culturally, and now in terms of its security, if the crisis caused by Trump is seized as an opportunity for Britain to rejoin the EU on terms that bind the UK to the mainland. This would make both parties safer  and stop Putin from dancing a happy jig around the Kremlin.

Last year the UK and the EU failed to agree terms for Britain to join the Security Action for Europe (Safe) programme. This is a 150bn loan mechanism to boost the EUs defence industrial capacity in the face of Russias threat against Europe and invasion of Ukraine.

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Britain was asked to stump up 4-6bn as the price of membership. Canada only had to pay $20m, but the UK would have been a full partner, not a third-party country with limited access to the funds.

Britain would have been able to benefit enormously from cherry-picking this EU facility without having to go for political integration  which is why the EU set the fee so high.

US vice president JD Vance in Greenland (AFP via Getty)

But that was years ago in Trump time. Last December on our calendars.

The EU needs Britains arms industry. And Britain needs the EU economic and security blanket.

The UKs armed forces are small and impoverished, with their chiefs saying they face a 28bn funding shortfall.

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According to a recent report by the Centre for Economic Policy: By 2025, we estimate that UK GDP per capita was 68 per cent lower than it would have been without Brexit. Investment was 1218 per cent lower, employment 34 per cent lower, and productivity 34 per cent lower.

Other estimates put Britains losses at lower levels, but there can be no doubt that Brexit has been a strategic economic failure.

Trumps threats on Greenland are a gift to Putin, who is trying to undermine Nato (AFP/Getty)

The Europeans are not having an easy run either. Per capita GDP growth for the UK from 2016 has been 4.5 per cent, Germany has almost flatlined at 3.6 per cent. Frances is only 7.5 per cent.

The EUs top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said US tariffs would hit both sides of the Greenland debate but were a distraction from the "core task" of ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

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"China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies," Kallas said on X.

"Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. If Greenlands security is at risk, we can address this inside Nato," she added.

The EU needs help from the UK to do that. Britain has much to give the EU: its armed forces and military industries would accelerate and improve the blocs security.

Trumps attacks on the very existence of Nato, his contempt for Europe in general, and his continuing support for Putins land grabs mean that the UK could negotiate better terms for re-entering the EU now than it would have done before the US president tore up international law and turned on the USs oldest friends.

The Greenland crisis is Britains best opportunity.
By John Irish and Nora Buli

PARIS/OSLO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has linked his drive to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer thought "purely of Peace" as the row over the island threatened to reignite a trade war with Europe.

Trump declined to tell NBC News in an interview whether he would use force to seize Greenland. He did reiterate his threat to hit European nations with tariffs if a deal is not reached.

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Trump has intensified his push to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark, prompting the European Union to weigh hitting back with its own measures.

The dispute threatens to upend the NATO alliance that has underpinned Western security for decades and which was already under strain over the war in Ukraine and Trump's refusal to protect allies unless they increase defence spending.

Trump's threat has rattled European industry and sent shockwaves through financial markets. Investors fear a return to the volatility of 2025's trade war, which only eased when the sides reached tariff deals in the middle of the year.

In a text message on Sunday to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Trump said: "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."

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Norway's government released the messages on Monday.

Stoere had sent an initial message with Finnish President Alexander Stubb calling for a de-escalation of tensions, eliciting a response from Trump less than half an hour later.

NOBEL COMMITTEE GAVE 2025 PEACE PRIZE TO MACHADO, NOT TRUMP

The Norwegian Nobel Committee annoyed Trump by awarding the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize not to him but to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

In his message, Trump also repeated his assertion that Denmark cannot protect Greenland from Russia or China.

"... And why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway?" he wrote, adding: "The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.

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Trump vowed on Saturday to implement a wave of increasing tariffs from February 1 on EU members Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, along with Britain and Norway, until the U.S. is allowed to buy Greenland, home to only 57,000 people.

"We are living in 2026, you can trade with people, but you don't trade people," Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said during a visit to London on Monday.

In a post on Facebook, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory should be allowed to decide its own fate.

"We will not let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law," he said.

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Denmark's military told Reuters that Danish soldiers would land in Kangerlussuaq, western Greenland, on Monday, as part of the Arctic Endurance military exercise.

Trump dismissed the arrival of NATO allies in Greenland.

That wasn't a military," Trump told reporters on Monday in Florida before he boarded a flight back to Washington, DC.

"They sent a few people, and they say they sent them not for me, but to guard against Russia. But you know, NATO has been warning Denmark for about 20 years now, longer than that, 25 years, they've been warning Denmark about the Russian threat, and it's not only Russia, it's also China."

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TALKS WITH TRUMP IN DAVOS?

Norway's Stoere said he would change his schedule to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday and Thursday, overlapping with Trump's planned appearance at the annual gathering of the global political and business elite. The country will not change its stance on Greenland, the country's foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he too would try to meet Trump on Wednesday, adding that a trade dispute was not wanted. "But if we are confronted with tariffs that we consider unreasonable, then we are capable of responding," Merz said.

Asked by reporters on Monday what he planned to say to European leaders in Davos about his Greenland plan, Trump said: "I don't think they're going to push back too much. Look, we have to have it."

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"They have to have this done. They can't protect it. Denmark, they're wonderful people, and I know the leaders  theyre are very good people, but they don't even go there."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it would be "very unwise" for European governments to retaliate.

"I think its a complete canard that the president will be doing this because of the Nobel prize. The president is looking at Greenland as a strategic asset for the United States," he told reporters in Davos.

EU LEADERS TO MEET ON THURSDAY

EU leaders will discuss options at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday. One option is a package of tariffs on 93 billion euros ($108 billion) of U.S. imports that could automatically kick in on February 6 after a six-month suspension.

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Another option is the "Anti-Coercion Instrument" (ACI), which has never yet been used and which could limit access to public tenders, investments or banking activity or restrict trade in services, in which the U.S. has a surplus with the bloc, including in digital services.

The EU said it was continuing to engage "at all levels" with the U.S. but said the use of its ACI was not off the table.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for calm discussion between the allies, adding he did not believe Trump was considering military action to seize Greenland.

Russia declined to comment on whether the U.S. designs on Greenland were good or bad but said it was hard to disagree with experts that Trump would "go down in... world history" if he did take control of the island. ($1=0.86 euros)

(Reporting by John Irish, Nora Buli, Ismail Shakil, Bhargav Acharya, Stine Jacobsen, Terje Solsvik, Sren Sirich Jeppesen, Simon Johnson, Nerijus Adomaitis, Maria Martinez, Leigh Thomas; Christoph Steitz, Linda Pasquini, Elizabeth Piper, William James, David Milliken and Alistair Smout; writing by Matthias Williams, Keith Weir, Andy Sullivan and Michael Perry; Editing by Gareth Jones and David Gregorio)
US President Donald Trump told Norway's prime minister he no longer needed to think "purely of peace" after failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize, in a message published on Monday.

"Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace," Trump said in a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre.

It is unclear why Trump decided to send a message to Stre as the peace prize is decided by the Norwegian Nobel Committee and not the government.

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In a written comment, Stre underlined that the Nobel Peace Prize was not awarded by the Norwegian government.

"I have clearly explained, including to president Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee," Store said.

US President Donald Trump speaks at a dedication ceremony in Florida, 16 January, 2026 - AP Photo

Trump has long coveted the annual peace prize and last week Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gifted her Nobel Peace Prize medal to him at the White House.

Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her leadership of Venezuela's opposition movement amid a crackdown by President Nicolas Maduro, most notably in the much-maligned 2023 presidential election.

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Machado's gesture to Trump followed a series of developments in Venezuela after a blitz US military raid captured Maduro and his wife and brought them to New York to stand trial on drug trafficking charges two weeks ago.

During the visit, Machado gave Trump her Nobel medal "as a recognition for his unique commitment to our freedom," she told reporters outside the US Capitol.

Trump confirmed on social media that Machado had left the medal for him to keep and said it was an honour to meet her.

The Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Stre speaks in London, 4 December, 2025 - AP Photo

"She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. Maria presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done," Trump said in his post. "Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you Maria."

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Ahead of Machado's visit to Washington, the Norwegian Nobel Institute, organisers of the Nobel Prize, said in a statement that a Peace Prize cannot be withdrawn, transferred or shared once it has been announced.

The Nobel Foundation's statutes and Alfred Nobel's will  which dictate the merits awardees should have  state that the title of the winner belongs personally to the individual and cannot be legally shared or reassigned to another person.

The medal or the associated diploma can be physically given, sold or auctioned, but this does not confer the award's title on anyone else.

Related

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Ending eight wars?

Trump has often boasted about ending eight wars, styling himself as "the president of peace" and therefore deserving of the Nobel honour but those claims have been exaggerated.

The latest conflict he claims to have ended was two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The other seven are Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia and Serbia and Kosovo.

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But some of those conflicts lasted just days and one, Egypt-Ethiopia, had no fighting to end but rather involved long-standing issues of water sharing from the Nile River.

A view of the rostrum where the Nobel Committee announce the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, 10 October, 2025 - AP Photo

Ethiopia formally inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) last year. It sees the dam as a boon to its economy but Egypt opposed its construction, arguing that it would reduce the country's share of Nile River waters.

Trump recently told Fox News that one of the ongoing conflicts that has continued despite his claiming to have stopped it, a simmering border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, should actually count more than once.

"I did put out eight wars, eight and a quarter, because, you know, Thailand and Cambodia started going at it again," he told Sean Hannity last week.
We are not even a month into 2026, and now face a genuine question: is Donald Trump using his board of peace as a pretext to replace the United Nations?

It is no secret that Trump wants to shake things up and has no love for the global body.

And it is no exaggeration to say that Trumps actions since he took office a year ago have already sparked a global paradigm shift, driven by America First policy, his desire to be a deal-maker president, and his Donroe Doctrine, which seeks to reassert US dominance in the western hemisphere.

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Now, as the UN marks its 80th anniversary, it appears the president is attempting to build a rival organisation that he could lead himself.

And in true Trump style, it resembles the restructuring of a major corporation.

Last week, the White House announced the membership of what it called a founding executive board, under the chairmanship of President Donald J Trump.

Composed of his inner circle, billionaires and Tony Blair, it will oversee the long-awaited board of peace, which was originally meant to enact the presidents 20-point plan for Gaza and the reconstruction of the devastated territory.

Donald Trump and Tony Blair pose for a photo at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt last year (PA)

However, the real ambitions of both bodies appear to extend far beyond Gaza, according to recent leaks from the draft charter. The charter has reportedly been sent to around 60 countries for their sign-on. Some diplomats are concerned that it is, in fact, intended as a rival to the UN.

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For a start, the charter does not mention Gaza at all, according to the text obtained by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and the Financial Times.

Instead, the body aims to restore dependable and lawful governance and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. It stresses that its ambition is to be a more nimble and effective international peace building body, in what appears to be a direct dig at the UN.

The charter also grants wide-ranging powers to Trump as chair, according to Haaretz, which said the text allows him to appoint and remove member states, in a decision that could only be overturned by a two-thirds veto.

Diplomatic sources have said the scope for this board could even extend to negotiating crises and conflicts in places like Venezuela and Ukraine.

A yellow block demarcating the yellow line, which has separated the Gaza Strips Israeli-held and Palestinian zones since the October ceasefire, is visible in Jabalia (AP)

The White House said that on the executive board is US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Trumps special envoy and real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and Tony Blair, whose role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq has made him unpopular in some Middle Eastern quarters.

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Also listed are Marc Rowan, the billionaire chief executive of a private equity firm, Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, and Robert Gabriel, a US national security adviser.

The board of peace, which sits below it, contains several members of the executive board, alongside two former UN envoys, including Sigrid Kaag, who last year quit as the UNs special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, telling a Dutch outlet the entire process was on life support. It also contains representatives of Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey, who all played a key role in Gaza peace negotiations.

There are no Palestinians. There is one Israeli: Yakir Gabay, a billionaire property tycoon.

Putins press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, claimed the Russian president received an invitation to join the board of peace through diplomatic channels.

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Invitation letters sent to heads of state to join the charter also indicate that this body is not solely about Gaza.

The Board of Peace and its executive will establish a New International Organisation and Transitional Governing Administration, reads the letter sent to Argentine president Javier Milei, who published his invitation online.

Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE, it adds.

GRACIAS PRESIDENTE TRUMP @realDonaldTrump@POTUS



Es un honor para mi haber recibido esta noche la invitacion para que la Argentina integre, como Miembro Fundador, el Board of Peace, una organizacion creada por el Presidente Trump para promover una paz duradera en regiones pic.twitter.com/ORalzkzhlv  Javier Milei (@JMilei) January 17, 2026

Each member state can designate an authorised representative to attend and participate in meetings, it adds.

Does any of that structure sound familiar?

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As I said, it is no secret that Trump is no fan of the UN. After being stuck on a broken escalator and then dealing with a malfunctioning teleprompter at the 80th UN General Assembly meeting in September, he delivered a blistering speech, questioning what is the purpose of the United Nations?

From the podium, he declared he had ended seven wars, but never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help.

He concluded by saying the UN is not only failing to solve the problems that it should, but too often is actually creating new problems for us to solve.

And he has gone on to take unilateral action.

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Since the war on Gaza erupted in 2023, the US has vetoed six UN Security Council resolutions calling for ceasefires in Gaza, with the latest in September.

Donald Trump gestures after concluding his remarks to the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York (AFP/Getty)

Instead, the president has pressed ahead with his own deal and these boards. The mandate for a board of peace was authorised by the UN Security Council in November, but that authorisation limits its geographical focus to the Gaza conflict and its mandate to 2027.

And so has the US president simply taken this limited approval and run with it?

The fear from some quarters is the creation of a decision-making global body controlled and staffed by one of the most powerful men on the planet, who appears intent on challenging other international structures such as Nato and the ICC.

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To cite a former deputy secretary general of Nato, Trump seems bent on destroying what has been the post-Second World War, law-governed order enshrined in the UN charter.

Is taking down the UN now in his sights?
US President Donald Trump has presented a legislative healthcare proposal to Congress, aiming to reduce prescription drug costs and insurance premiums.

Dubbed the Great Healthcare Plan, the proposal outlines measures for the US to adopt pricing approaches similar to those used in other countries for prescription medicines.

The intention is to maximise price transparency, as outlined in a fact sheet issued by the White House.

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The plan proposes codification of previously introduced Most-Favored-Nation arrangements that, during Trumps presidency, were intended to align US drug costs with those abroad.

Trump said: My plan would reduce your insurance premiums by stopping government payoffs to big insurance companies and sending that money directly to the people.

To further reduce insurance premiums, my plan ends the giant kickbacks to insurance brokers and corporate middleman that only drive up the costs, he added.

According to the plan, recent voluntary agreements with health agencies would remain in effect under new legislation.

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The plan would also expand over-the-counter availability for more pharmaceutical drugs that are considered safe, a move aimed at reducing overall healthcare costs and increasing consumer choice.

This is expected to strengthen price transparency, foster competition and reduce the burden of unnecessary doctor visits.

In terms of health insurance reforms, the plan suggests halting direct federal subsidy payments to large insurance companies.

Instead, those funds would be redirected to individuals who qualify, enabling them to select insurance coverage independently.

The document references estimates that this change could reduce average premiums under commonly chosen plans by more than 10% and save at least $36bn in taxpayer expenditures.

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Part of the plan is focused on curbing intermediary costs by eliminating payments made by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to brokers, practices the proposal claims inflate the final price of insurance coverage.

To increase accountability among insurers, the plan introduces a requirement for clear online disclosure of policy rates and benefits in very plain English".

Insurers would also be obligated to report what share of their revenue is distributed towards claim payments compared with administrative costs and profits.

Additional disclosures would include the proportion of claims denied and average waiting periods for routine care.

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The plan also calls for greater transparency from both health insurers and providers participating in Medicare or Medicaid.

All such parties would need to display their prices and fees within their offices or facilities.

"Trump unveils new healthcare plan to cut insurance premiums" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.




WASHINGTON  As tensions escalate over President Donald Trumps efforts to acquire Greenland, he was guarded Monday in how far hell go to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Asked if he would use force to seize Greenland, the president said, No comment, in a brief telephone interview with NBC News.

Trump has stepped up his push to take possession of Greenland. He said Saturday he would impose 10% tariffs on Denmark and seven other European nations until a deal is struck for Americas acquisition of Greenland.

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The president then introduced a new wrinkle to his standoff with longtime European allies, linking Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize last year in a text message Sunday to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre. The Norwegian leader released his text message exchange with Trump under Norway's public disclosure laws, his press office said.

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America, Trump said in the message, which was first reported by PBS and confirmed as accurate in a statement by the Norwegian prime minister.

Norway was one of the countries hit with the new tariffs, which would kick in Feb. 1, according to a post Trump wrote on his social media platform.

In a statement Monday, Stre said, "Norways position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter."

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A five-member committee appointed by Norways parliament awards the Nobel Peace Prize each year. In 2025, the committee chose Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, for the honor. As a show of gratitude for his ouster of Venezuelas repressive leader Nicolas Maduro in a military strike, Machado gave Trump her 18-karat gold medal in a visit to the White House last week.

Trump dismissed the idea that Norway has no sway over the Nobel Peace Prize competition and that the decision is entirely up to the committee.

Norway totally controls it despite what they say, he told NBC News.

They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything thing to do with it, the president added.

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Others have insisted thats not the case.

Lewis Lukens, who was a senior diplomat in the U.S. Embassy in London during Trumps first term, said in a recent interview: Im not sure who Trump thinks he can intimidate or pressure to get a prize. One would hope that he has people around him who are telling him theres no point in antagonizing or pressuring the Norwegian government, because they have nothing to do with it.

Trump reiterated a point hes made before in discussing the Nobel. Through his peacemaking efforts, he said he has stopped eight wars and saved many lives  a greater reward.

I dont care about the Nobel Prize, he said.

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In the interview, Trump also faulted European leaders whove resisted his efforts to procure Greenland, which he says is needed to safeguard national security against outside threats.

Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what thats gotten them, Trump said. Thats what Europe should focus on  not Greenland.

When asked if he will follow through on plans to hit the European nations with tariffs absent a Greenland deal, Trump said, I will, 100%."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
By Ece Toksabay

ANKARA, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Turkey sees an integration deal between Syria's government and Kurdish forces there as an "historic turning point", ahead of which the Turkish intelligence agency played an intensive role to ensure restraint by parties involved, Turkish security sources said on Monday.

Turkey, a strong supporter of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, sees the deal as critical to restoring state authority across Syria and to its own goal of eliminating terrorism at home, including advancing its long-running efforts toward securing peace with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the sources said.

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Ankara is the strongest foreign backer of the administration in neighbouring Damascus and had threatened its own military operation against the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces (SDF) in the north if the group did not agree to come under central government control.

On Sunday, Syria and the SDF struck a wide-ranging deal to integrate the Kurdish civilian and military authorities, ending days of fighting in which Syrian troops captured territory including key oil fields.

The Turkish security sources said the fight against Islamic State in Syria would continue uninterrupted despite the agreement.

Turkey's intelligence agency MIT had been in dialogue with the United States - which mediated the Sunday agreement - and the Syrian government ahead of the deal, the sources said. MIT also maintained intensive contacts to ensure restraint among parties, including protecting civilians and critical infrastructure, in Syria in the run-up to the deal, they added.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)
By Ece Toksabay

ANKARA, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party said on Monday that the Turkish government had no more "excuses" to delay a peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) now that a landmark integration deal was achieved in neighbouring Syria.

On Sunday in Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to come under the control of authorities in Damascus - a move that Ankara had long sought as integral to its own peace effort with the PKK.

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"For more than a year, the government has presented the SDFs integration with Damascus as the biggest obstacle to the process," Tuncer Bakirhan, co-leader of the DEM Party, told Reuters, in some of the party's first public comments on the deal in Syria.

"The government will no longer have any excuses left. Now it is the government's turn to take concrete steps."

Bakirhan cautioned President Tayyip Erdogan's government against concluding that the rolling back Kurdish territorial gains in Syria negated the need for a peace process in Turkey.

"If the government calculates that we have weakened the Kurds in Syria, so there is no longer a need for a process in Turkey, it would be making a historic mistake," he said in the interview.

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Turkish officials said earlier on Monday that the Syrian integration deal, if implemented, could advance the more than year-long process with the PKK, which is based in northern Iraq. Erdogan urged swift integration of Kurdish fighters into Syrias armed forces.

Turkey, the strongest foreign backer of Damascus, has since 2016 repeatedly sent forces into northern Syria to curb the gains of the SDF - which after the 20112024 civil war had controlled more than a quarter of Syria while fighting Islamic State with strong U.S. backing.

The United States has built close ties with Damascus over the last year and was closely involved in mediation between it and the SDF toward the deal.

Bakirhan said progress required recognition of Kurdish rights on both sides of the border.

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"What needs to be done is clear: Kurdish rights must be recognized in both Turkey and Syria, democratic regimes must be established, and freedoms must be guaranteed," he said.

(Reporting by Ece ToksabayEditing by Tomasz Janowski and Jonathan Spicer)
The home of every Ugandan president, State House, is nestled in the hilly uptown Nasakero area of the capital city, Kampala.

For four decades, it has been home to just one president  Yoweri Museveni, who has been in office longer than any other Ugandan leader.

Following Thursdays election, Musevenis tight hold on the country has been extended for the seventh time. Although he faced his biggest challenger in the form of popular opposition candidate and musician Robert Bobi Wine Kyagulanyi, the countrys electoral commission declared that Museveni had won with 72 percent of the vote.

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At 81, Museveni is the third-longest serving president in the world.

His control over Uganda, analysts say, is absolute, and the appointment of his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as army chief back in 2024 has prompted worries among activists of a dynastic succession plan in the near future.

In a young country where about 70 percent of the 46 million population is under 35, Museveni is the only president most Ugandans have ever known. By the time he completes his latest term in 2031, he will have served for 45 years.

However, he is not alone. Across Africa, from hilly Kampala to riverside Brazzaville, several life-long leaders like him have held onto power for decades, despite organising routine elections that give their administrations the semblance of democratic rule.

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Political experts studying these figures say at least three of them: Museveni of Uganda, Paul Biya of Cameroon, and Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo, have perfected unique formulas that help them consolidate power, using tools like compromised elections, divide and rule tactics, and powerful foreign alliances.

Al Jazeera reached out to the three governments for comments, but did not get a response.

In a picture taken on January 29, 1986, in Kampala, then National Resistance Army (NRA) leader Yoweri Museveni, right, holds his first cabinet meeting after being sworn in as president of Uganda [File: AFP]

In Uganda, fighting corruption with corruption

For Museveni, violence is used as a means to suppress dissent and keep allies in check, Kampala-based political analyst Job Kiija told Al Jazeera.

The regional strongman was first sworn in as president back in 1986, after he led the rebel National Resistance Army to overturn an unpopular civilian administration in a violent six-year conflict now known as the Ugandan Bush War. He has remained president under the rebranded National Resistance Movement.

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Musevenis ideas of leadership were likely shaped early on, as a political science student in neighbouring Tanzania, researchers note. At the time, he studied philosopher and anti-colonial theorist Frantz Fanons theory of violence.

Violence, Fanon wrote in his book, The Wretched of the Earth, was the highest form of political struggle, one necessary for decolonisation. In his final year thesis (PDF), Museveni focused on that theory and wholly supported the philosophers position.

Rather than apply that thinking to a colonial force, however, Museveni has unleashed it on opposition leaders, journalists, and activists in Uganda, Kiija said.

In 2020, when Bobi Wine first emerged on the political scene under the umbrella of the National Unity Party, the opposition candidate immediately garnered widespread support, particularly from young people. Ugandan forces, however, responded forcefully to his rallies, killing many Bobi Wine supporters.

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The same scenarios played out in the lead-up to this months election. Security forces targeted opposition rallies with excessive force and subjected opposition supporters to arbitrary arrests and torture, according to a report from rights group Amnesty International.

Opposition figures are also routinely jailed in Uganda. Kizza Besigye, a Museveni ally turned four-time presidential candidate, has been imprisoned since November 2024 on accusations of plotting to remove Museveni. He faces a treason charge, which is punishable by death in the country.

Within his own camp, Kiija said, Museveni deliberately allows his allies to overstep their boundaries, and then holds their actions over their heads to deter dissent.

He allows people around him to dip their hands in state coffers, so that they are soiled, and then he uses that against them, the analyst said.

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Everyone around him  he has a portfolio on them, he knows how much you have stolen, what you have amassed, and thats one of the reasons we cant fight corruption because he uses that as a tool to keep people in check.

Uganda has suffered political instability since its independence from Britain in 1962. The British colonialists employed indirect rule and appointed members of the majority Buganda tribe to important positions, while excluding others. Post-colonial Ugandas instability and weak institutions are partly attributed to that history, experts say.

In 2005, the Ugandan parliament removed term limits from the constitution, paving the way for Museveni to run indefinitely.

Although rich in gold, oil, and cash crops like coffee, the country is reliant on Western aid. Museveni positions the country as a stabilising force in the Great Lakes region, contributing troops to regional missions, such as in the fight against the al-Shabab armed group in Somalia, thus gaining Western support.

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Uganda also hosts two million refugees from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Sudan  more than any other African nation.

Among its biggest donors is the United States. Washington contributed about $970m in yearly development aid, mainly for health and humanitarian needs, although US concerns over democratic backsliding and Ugandas criminalisation of same-sex relations strained ties. The current Trump administration has, however, severely cut aid globally, affecting the country.

While Museveni was the clear favourite to win Thursdays vote, Bobi Wine has dismissed the results as fake. Meanwhile, eyes are now on how Musevenis eldest child, Kainerugaaba, will be positioned in the near future. The 51-year-old, Kiija said, is clearly being groomed for the top job.

Cameroons President Paul Biya casts his ballot in Yaounde, Cameroon, on October 12, 2025, in a presidential election that extended his rule for an eighth term [File: Angel Ngwe/AP]

Cameroons absentee president

Just months before Museveni soared to an easy victory, on the opposite side of the continent, Biya, the 92-year-old president of Cameroon, won an eighth term in office in Octobers presidential polls.

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Biya, who heads the governing Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (RDPC), has been in power since 1982 and is the worlds oldest sitting president. The countrys parliament removed term limits in 2008, and last years win gives him another seven years at the helm.

The president is known for spending extensive periods away from the spotlight and even abroad, earning him the nickname absentee president. There have been frequent speculations about his health, with rumours of his death circulating on social media now and again, only for the president to pop up briefly on national television.

Still, few Cameroonians, least of all politician Kah Walla, were surprised when Biya won another term.

Walla, 60, who competed in three past presidential races, told Al Jazeera that the president uses the very tool essential to democracies: elections.

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We live in an electoral autocracy where the dictator has figured out how to use elections as one of the instruments to keep himself in power, she said, adding that the electoral body is essentially an extension of the government.

Manu Lekunze, a lecturer in international relations at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, told Al Jazeera that Biya uses well-funded information campaigns to divide-and-rule between Cameroons multiple ethnic groups.

Biyas campaign machine often harps on how opposition politicians will represent only their ethnic groups, he said. Biya himself enjoys support from his Beti tribe, the adjacent majority Bamileke-Bamus, and the Fulanis by staying close to traditional leaders.

He believes he is going to live for a long time, Lekunze said. [He] has an ethnic coalition that will support him regardless, and he uses that to get the simple majority he needs, which makes him really comfortable in power.

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Like Museveni, Biya is also accused of using violence  but selectively, Walla noted. Some Cameroonians, she said, refuse to call their country a dictatorship because theres a semblance of freedom.

Biya realised that you need to give people a channel to vent so the resistance wont build, Walla said.

You can go on TV and say anything about the president, and nothing might happen, but someone else might say the same thing, or even less, and be punished [arrested] for it. So that has led people to self-censor because nobody knows where the line is.

At least 48 people were killed by security forces during protests in support of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma, who claimed Biyas win in October as fraudulent, and declared himself the winner. The now-exiled Tchiroma abandoned Biyas government to run in the elections and gained support from his Fulani group, as well as several others.

In 2016, security forces also notably cracked down on the countrys minority Anglophone regions  the Southwest and Northwest regions  after teachers and lawyers there took to the streets to decry the lack of opportunities for English-speakers. British and French colonial rule saw two distinct entities merged after independence, but the imbalance tilts in favour of the majority Francophone population.

The violent government response escalated into an ongoing rebellion, with armed groups fighting for the secession of an independent state, Ambazonia.

Surrounding Biya is a tight elite that Lekunze says benefits from the status quo, including Ferdinand Ngoh-Ngoh, the countrys secretary-general and de facto president. However, Biya has never identified or visibly groomed a successor.

There are fears that the lack of a single, known face to rally around in the case of Biyas death could cause political turmoil within his party, and likely, the country. Walla, though, believes that would be helpful.

Should he pass away, we will be in an extremely uncertain position, but it is still in our best interests to take to the streets at that point because if we dont, the system will perpetuate itself, she said.

From left, Republic of the Congos First Lady Antoinette Sassou Nguesso and President Denis Sassou Nguesso stand beside US former First Daughter Ashley Biden, former First Lady Jill Biden, Frances First Lady Brigitte Macron, US President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron during a ceremony at Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Paris, on December 7, 2024 [File: Ludovic Marin/AFP]

Power, petroleum, foreign backers in Congo-Brazzaville

Despite protests in the streets and unrest among opposition figures in Cameroon and Uganda, the two pivotal presidential elections ended with no real change in leaderships that have been cemented over decades.

Meanwhile, another octogenarian is seek yet another term under similar conditions. In the Republic of the Congo, 81-year-old President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has held office for 40 years, is set to run again in the March 2026 vote under his Congo Labour Party.

Nguesso was first elected to office in 1979 and led the country for 12 years before losing elections. On his second attempt in 1997, he seized power in a bloody civil war, and has remained in office since. In 2015, Nguesso also pushed through a controversial referendum that removed presidential term limits.

Under him, Congo has remained grossly underdeveloped despite its oil wealth, with basic infrastructure lacking due to corruption, said Andrea Ngombet, the exiled founder of Sassoufit, a group advocating for Nguessos exit.

Powerful foreign alliances, Ngombet noted, have helped Nguesso consolidate power for decades as he keeps a secure hold on powerful entities, including through marriage.

His daughter, the late Edith Bongo, married into the dynastic Bongo family, which ruled Gabon for decades until a military coup in 2023.

Nguesso was also a strong ally of the late Angolan president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos. When he returned to seize power, a thousand Angolan forces supported his Cobra militia and helped secure his victory.

The president similarly had backing from France, which provided him with arms during the war to protect oil investments in Congo, Ngombet said.

He is not just operating on a continental level, but on an international one, the activist said.

He has his nose in everyones business, and he knows when to pull your secrets out to control you. Everyone knows if you need things to work, you must have Nguesso on your side.

Nguesos influence in Paris has, however, plummeted since 2013, after pressure from civil society finally forced France to launch investigations into his familys numerous assets in Europe and the US. In 2022, French authorities seized property belonging to his son, Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso.

In place of France, observers say Nguesso has turned to China.

Beijing offers the government loans and foreign direct investment, and can use its veto power to shield Nguesso from possible scrutiny at the United Nations in return for lucrative oil deals, Ngombet said. Nguesso has also defended China in the face of reported rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and is against the recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state.

In this arrangement, China is the shark and Congo-Brazzaville the remora  an asymmetrical but symbiotic relationship in which one feeds off the other and removes harmful parasites, while the other provides protection from other predators, Ngombet added.





Are free elections at stake in Africa?

Across Africa, observers argue, the three leaders and several others have used force, divisive tactics, and foreign backing to secure and maintain power.

Ironically, analysts say, they have also perfected using elections  meant to be an essential democratic tool  to disenfranchise citizens.

Elections have become a ritual, a way of just ticking the box for these leaders, but they are not held meaningfully for citizens who want to be able to express their feelings with votes, Tendai Mbanje, an elections expert at South Africas University of Pretoria, told Al Jazeera.

Electoral institutions have been captured and have deviated from their mandate, and the people leading them have no integrity, as most are political appointees, he added.

Yet, despite this bleak outlook, African countries dont have the luxury to discard elections: citizens cannot afford to stop voting or requesting fair electoral conditions, he warned.

We should not abandon elections because they remain the only legitimate way for citizens to state their choice, Mbanje said.

What people need to do is to resist  through protests, through legal mobilisation. Opposition leaders, citizen movements, and religious leaders must all rise in resistance.




Ukraine's intelligence service has captured a Russian man who is believed to be responsible for the killing of nine Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Russian region of Kursk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.

"We will find every Russian murderer. Every single one will be held accountable," Zelensky said in his evening video message from Kiev.

He said he had instructed the deputy head of the SBU intelligence service, Oleksandr Poklad, to make further details public.

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It was unclear when the killings took place. In his video, Zelensky referred to "October of last year," but he likely meant October 2024, which would have been a couple of months after Ukrainian troops advanced into Kursk in August. Russian forces repelled the offensive for several months, declaring the region liberated in late April 2025.

According to data from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) from January, Ukraine is aware of more than 330 cases in which its soldiers were killed after being captured by Russian troops.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described a Polish campaign to raise money to purchase generators for Kyiv as a powerful display of genuine solidarity, humanity and sincere support.

Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sybiha said the news that Ukraine's friends and neighbours in Poland are contributing to the "Warmth from Poland for Kyiv" campaign means a lot to Ukrainians.

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Quote: "This is an expression of genuine solidarity, humanity and sincere support at a time when heat and light mean safety and life. Our sincere thanks go to everyone with an open heart, to the volunteers and to the organisations that launched the fundraiser and have supported it.

We feel we are not alone. Thank you to Poland for such important help and for the warmth that keeps us going in the darkest moments."

More details: By 12:40 Kyiv time, over PLN 3 million (around US$825,000) had been raised, with more than 25,000 people taking part. The organisers have increased the target to PLN 5 million (US$1.4 million).

The organisers are urging people to support the appeal, pointing out that overnight temperatures in the Ukrainian capital are dropping to 17 degrees Celsius below zero and many residents are without electricity, heating or both.

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Quote from the campaign organisers: "We are running this fundraiser with a clear, concrete goal: to buy 100 generators and deliver them to Kyiv. These appliances will save lives. Generators can heat spaces where older people and children find shelter and enable water to be boiled Every dollar or euro brings us closer to dispatching this life-saving equipment. For us it is a gesture of support, but for them it represents a real chance to survive this winter."

More details: The fundraiser has been launched jointly by several civic organisations and initiatives, including Euromaidan-Warszawa, the Democracy Foundation, Sestry.eu, the Open Dialogue Foundation, the PRB Foundation and the Entrepreneurs Help initiative.

Background:

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 17 January, following a meeting with Oleh Ivashchenko, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, that Russia is preparing further strikes on Ukraine's energy system and infrastructure, including facilities that service nuclear power plants.

Sybiha said earlier that Ukraine has warned its international partners about Russia's plans to strike substations serving Ukraine's nuclear power plants.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
This is Yuliia Taradiuk reporting from Kyiv on day 1,429 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Today's top story:

Active battles continue in the Pokrovsk direction, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Jan. 19, adding the operational situation remains difficult with a "gruelling confrontation" taking place.

According to Syrskyi, around 50 combat clashes are taking place in the area every day as Russian troops try to increase pressure on Ukrainian positions in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad.

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"(They are) pulling reserves to Pokrovsk, looking for opportunities to break through our defenses both through sporadic massive assaults and through covert advances by small infantry groups," Syrskyi said.

Pokrovsk, a key fortress city in Donetsk Oblast, has been one of the most fiercely contested areas of the front line, with Ukrainian forces holding off a major Russian assault for the past year.

Myrnohrad is a satellite town of Pokrovsk, located less than 3 kilometers (2 miles) away.

Read also: The Russians took our dead ones away  5 things we lost in Pokrovsk

Russian troops attempting to mine Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast after failing to gain foothold in area, Ukraine says

Last updated 8:41 p.m. Kyiv time.

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Russian troops have been unable to gain a foothold in Huliapole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and are reportedly trying to mine the city, Vladyslav Voloshyn, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Operational Command, told Ukrinform on Jan. 19.

"The enemy cannot push back and gain a foothold in Huliaipole, so its sapper units have received a significant number of TM-72 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines in order to mine all roads, streets, and courtyards," Voloshyn said.

The situation in the Huliaipole direction remained tense for several weeks, with dozens of daily clashes in the city and surrounding settlements, according to the spokesperson.

"Huliaipole is basically one big gray zone. Ukrainian forces have positions in various outlying areas, but neither the enemy can gain a foothold in the city center nor can we hold it," he added.

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Huliaipole was long considered a stable part of the front line, despite its proximity to the contact line. That stability has eroded in recent months as Russian forces stepped up their advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and intensified offensive operations this spring.

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

Read also: Inside Ukraines AWOL and military desertion crisis

Russian forces pushing to take city of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast through semi-encirclement, Ukraine's military says



Last updated 8:17 p.m. Kyiv time.

Russian troops are attempting to partially encircle the city of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast from multiple directions, concentrating significant forces in the area, Viktor Tregubov, head of communications for Ukraine's Joint Forces, told Suspilne on Jan. 19.

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"There are many Russians on different fronts, and they are actively trying to take Lyman in a semi-circle," Tregubov said.

"This is one of the key directions of Russian aggression at the moment, so they are throwing a lot of forces to the Lyman direction," Tregubov added.

Russian attacks in this area have so far been unsuccessful, according to Tregubov.

The head of communications for the Joint Forces added that the Siverskyi Donets River, east of Lyman, also helps hold back Russian forces, as it has not frozen enough for heavy equipment to cross.

Lyman, located in northern Donetsk Oblast with a pre-war population of around 20,000, has been a hotspot of the front line for years as fighting raged in the Serebrianskyi Forest, just east of the city.

Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast (Nizar al-Rifai/The Kyiv Independent)

Read also: Ukraine needs billions in US arms as Greenland dispute pushes alliance to breaking point, documents reveal

Russian attack on Kharkiv kills 1 person, injures 11

Last updated 6:30 p.m. Kyiv time.

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A Russian attack on Kharkiv killed a 69-year-old woman and injured 11 others on Jan. 19, local authorities said.

Russia attacked Kharkiv with three KAB guided bombs, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.

Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that Russians attacked "exclusively" civilian buildings in Slobidskyi district of Kharkiv. Thirty houses and 10 multi-story building were damaged.

Rescue workers and sappers from the State Emergency Service have been working at the sites of the attack.

At 6:12 p.m. local time Syniehubov reported that the number of victims in Kharkiv has risen to 11.

The aftermath after Russian KAB attack on Kharkiv. (Kharkiv Oblast military administration / Telegram).

Russia attacks energy infrastructure in 'several regions' overnight, Energy Ministry says

Last updated 3:23 p.m. Kyiv time.

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Russia launched overnight attacks on energy infrastructure in "several regions," leaving civilians in five Ukrainian regions without power, Ukraine's Deputy Energy Minister Artem Nekrasov said on Jan. 19.

The regions include Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv oblasts bordering Russia to the north, as well as Odesa Oblast in the south and central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to Nekrasov.

Ukraine's energy situation remains "difficult" as Russia continues to strike energy facilities during subzero temperatures and restrictions remain in place nationwide, Nekrasov said.

Nearly four years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Russia has stepped up strikes on energy infrastructure with missiles and drones in an apparent effort to undermine morale during freezing weather.

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After two mass attacks on Kyiv earlier this month, Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk warned on Jan. 13 that Russia is "going all in" to destroy Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Read also: Russia attacks energy infrastructure in several regions overnight, energy ministry says

Ukraine's SBU 'destroyed or disabled' $4 billion worth of Russian air defense systems over past year, agency claims

Last updated 12:00 p.m. Kyiv time.

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claimed on Jan. 19 that its long-range strikes over the past year either "destroyed or disabled" Russian air defense systems worth a total of approximately $4 billion.

Among the Russian air defense systems on the list are S-300, S-350, and S-400 air defense systems, as well as Russian anti-aircraft missile systems BUK-M1 and BUK-M2, and Pantsir-S1 and Pantsir-S2s, according to the SBU.

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Russia's radar reconnaissance and guidance systems also suffered "serious losses," the SBU claimed.

"This work had a systemic effect: Corridors were opened in the Russian Federation's multi-layered air defense system, ensuring safe passage for Ukrainian long-range drones deep into enemy territory  to military bases, warehouses, airfields, and other military facilities," the SBU reported, praising its Special Operations Center "A."

Moscow has not reacted to the SBU's claim by the time of publication.

Read the full story here.

Read also: Ukraines SBU destroyed or disabled $4 billion worth of Russian air defense systems over past year, agency claims

At least 9 injured in Russian overnight attacks on Ukraine

At least 9 people were injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said on Jan. 19.

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Russia launched 145 Shahed-type drones overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Ukraine's air defenses said they shot down or suppressed 126 drones.

The Air Force added that 13 drones hit 12 locations.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured three people over the past day, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian attacks injured three people over the past day, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks injured two people over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

In Chernihiv Oblast, a 45-year-old woman was injured in a Russian drone strike, Governor Viacheslav Chaus reported.

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,227,440 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Russia has lost around 1,227,440 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Jan. 19.

The number includes 1,020 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,573 tanks, 23,922 armored fighting vehicles, 74,876 vehicles and fuel tanks, 36,333 artillery systems, 1,617 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,278 air defense systems, 434 airplanes, 347 helicopters, 110,215 drones, 4,163 cruise missiles, 28 ships and boats, and two submarines.

Read also: Interview: Commander of Ukraines Special Operations Forces resistance movement

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Jan 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine's top military commander said Russia is showing no signs of interest in talks leading to a peace deal and, instead, is boosting arms production, including a target of 1,000 drones per day.

"On the contrary, we see an increase in intensity of military actions, an increase in the number of offensive enemy groupings, an increase in production of strike weapons, missiles and drones," Oleksandr Syrskyi told the online media outlet lb.ua in an interview published on Sunday.

"At the moment, the enemy produces daily 404 'Shaheds' (Iranian-designed drones) of different kinds. And the plans are to increase that. The enemy plans to boost production significantly, up to 1,000 drones a day."

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Ukraine's military, he said, has to do "everything to disrupt these plans and inflict losses so that the enemy renounces its plans, and also to create conditions in order to hold talks. No one is going to make a deal with a weak side."

Syrskyi also praised the Ukrainian military's "deep-strike" tactics, which he described as "our strong point," resulting in hits on 719 targets and $15 billion in damage, mainly to Russia's oil industry.

Ukraine has rapidly developed its capacity to produce drones since Russia launched its invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022 and is counting on further advances.

Russian forces hold about 20% of Ukrainian territory and are engaged in a slow advance through eastern Ukraine, announcing the capture of new villages several times a week.

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Military leaders have stressed the importance of developing "interceptor drones" as the most efficient and economical means of combating Russian drone attacks, rather than using missiles.

Syrskyi acknowledged that Russia had the possibility to draw on far higher numbers to deploy in its units, but said mobilisation figures had improved in recent months.

"I can say this: we have much improved numbers in this regard than was the case, say, seven months ago," he told lb.ua.

The improvement, he said, was due to better operation of recruitment centres and training and "in terms of working with people, because we understand that, first of all, problems arise where there is no proper human treatment towards the people being mobilized".

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Syrskyi also said Ukrainian losses in 2025 had been reduced by 13% compared to the previous year "while at the same time the level of enemy losses has risen significantly".

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Bogdan Kochubey; Editing by Paul Simao)
Jan 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine's armed forces are introducing a new facet of air defence to transform their system, made up of small groups deploying interceptor drones, as the country braces for new mass Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.

Ukraine is still reeling from a wave of Russian strikes earlier this month that knocked out power and heating to thousands of apartment blocks, particularly in the capital Kyiv.

Zelenskiy has repeatedly called for air defences to be strengthened, including increased assistance from Ukraine's Western allies.

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"There will be a new approach to the use of air defences by the Air Force, concerning mobile fire groups, interceptor drones and other 'short-range' air defence assets," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

"The system will be transformed."

The president announced the appointment of a new deputy Air Force Commander, Pavlo Yelizarov, to oversee and develop the innovation.

Ukraine has rapidly developed its drone manufacturing system since Russia launched its invasion of its smaller neighbour in February 2022, and has emphasised interceptor drones as an effective and economical way to parry Russian strikes.

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In his remarks, Zelenskiy warned Ukrainians to be "extremely vigilant" ahead of anticipated new Russian attacks.

"Russia has prepared for a strike, a massive strike, and is waiting for the moment to carry it out," he said, urging every region in the country to "be prepared to respond as quickly as possible and help people".

Both Zelenskiy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned at the weekend that Ukrainian intelligence had noted Russia was conducting reconnaissance of specific targets, particularly substations that supply nuclear power plants.

The president also said he had instructed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko to make decisions this week regarding difficulties from the recent attacks, including bonuses for tens of thousands of emergency crew members restoring heating and electricity.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
KYIV, Jan 17 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that he had ordered imports of electricity and additional power equipment to be accelerated as much as possible as Ukraine confronts its worst wartime energy crisis.

The government has declared an energy emergency as the system, damaged by relentless Russian strikes, is meeting only 60% of electricity needs. The situation is exacerbated by exceptionally cold temperatures.

"All decisions for this are already in place, and the increase in imports must proceed without delay," Zelenskiy said in a post on X after a meeting with top government and military officials.

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The energy ministry said scheduled power cuts were in effect in most regions. The situation was most challenging in and around the capital Kyiv, where residents faced long blackouts and dozens of apartment buildings were without heating as temperatures plunged to 16 Celsius (3 Fahrenheit).

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the government and the state energy company Naftogaz had discussed additional gas imports this year, but she gave no details on volumes.

Last year, Naftogaz imported 5.7 billion cubic metres of gas using state financing and funds provided by international partners, she said.

Ukraine was forced to start importing gas back in the spring of 2025, due to attacks by hundreds of Russian drones and missiles on gas production facilities.

Naftogaz said that Russia had struck its gas production facilities six times this week alone.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Toby Chopra and Kevin Liffey)
The US is acting with impunity and believes its power matters more than international law, the head of the UN has told the BBC.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Antonio Guterres said Washington's "clear conviction" was that multilateral solutions were irrelevant.

What mattered, he continued, was the "exercise of the power and influence of the United States and sometimes in this respect by the norms of international law".

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His comments come weeks after the US struck Venezuela and seized its president - and in the context of Donald Trump's repeated threats to annex Greenland.

Guterres said he believed the founding principles of the UN - including the equality of member states - were now under threat.

President Trump has previously been scathing in his criticism of the United Nations.

He used his address at last September's General Assembly to question its very purpose, claiming he had "ended seven unendable wars" on his own and the UN "did not even try to help in any of them".

"Later I realised that the UN wasn't there for us," he said.

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Presented with this damning assessment, Guterres admitted his organisation was struggling to make members abide by the international laws laid out in the UN Charter.

The UN was "extremely engaged" in solving major global conflicts, he insisted. "But the UN has no leverage - the big powers have stronger leverage.

He questioned whether that extra leverage was being used to produce real and enduring solutions to those conflicts, or just quick fixes. "There is a big difference between the two things," he noted.

Guterres also said his organisation needed reform to tackle "dramatic problems and challenges" facing its 193 members.

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"There are those that believe the power of law should be replaced by the law of power," the UN chief said.

"Indeed, when one sees the present policy of the United States, there is a clear conviction that multilateral solutions are not relevant and that what matters is the exercise of the power and the influence of the United States and sometimes in this respect by the norms of international law".

He suggested the UN Security Council - designed to maintain international peace and security - no longer represented the world and was "ineffective".

Any one of the council's permanent members - France, China, Russia, the UK or US - can currently veto resolutions. Both Russia and the US have used this power to frustrate global efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

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Guterres claimed vetoes were being used to further individual members' interests, and criticised the fact that "three European countries" were permanent members.

He called for changes to the council's composition - to "regain legitimacy" and "give voice to the whole world" - and to limit veto powers to avoid unacceptable "blockages".

Guterres, whose term as secretary general is coming to an end, met Sir Keir Starmer in London last Friday [Reuters]

Guterres  a former Portuguese prime minister  took on the job of heading the UN in 2017, and will leave the role at the end of this year.

In his annual remarks to the General Assembly, traditionally used to identify the organisation's priorities, he warned of a world in chaos, "brimming with conflict, impunity, inequality and unpredictability", and identified "brazen violations of international law" as one of the biggest challenges facing the global order.

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One of the ongoing conflicts Guterres identified as key for the UN was Gaza.

For large parts of the war it was prevented from distributing aid in the strip, as Israel blocked international humanitarian organisations from bringing it into the territory.

At one point, Israel even backed an external contractor  the Gaza Humanitarian Organisation  to do the work the UN had traditionally carried out for decades. Hundreds of Palestinians were killed trying to access food at GHF sites.

When asked if he saw the UN as powerless in Gaza where it should have made a difference, he said: "Of course, but let's be clear.

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"For a long time, Israel was saying that humanitarian aid was not distributed because the UN was not able to do so. Of course, whenever Israel would not allow us to move into Gaza, we couldn't move into Gaza. And then there was a ceasefire, and a massive flow of humanitarian aid."

He stressed: "We were ready, provided we had the conditions."

A few days ago, Guterres told the UN General Assembly that "1945 problem-solving" wouldn't solve 2026 problems, referring to the organisation's founding structure.

The challenges keep coming, with the US-forced change of leadership in Venezuela, regime forces in Iran killing thousands of protestors and Donald Trump's stated aim of annexing Greenland.

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Questions about the death of multilateralism - and the failure of some world leaders to speak out and defend the rule of international law - are growing ever-louder.

But Antonio Guterres told me he was remaining positive.

"I think that people are sometimes reluctant to confront the powerful. But the truth is that if we don't confront the powerful, we will never be able to have a better world."

[BBC]

Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
In a televised statement in Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer said a trade war was in "nobody's interest" and called for "calm discussion between allies". ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston, Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen, US Correspondent Dan Rivers and Economics Editor Joel Hills report

A trade war is in "no one's interests", Sir Keir Starmer has said, ruling out retaliatory action on the US as Donald Trump prepares to hit Britain and European allies with fresh tariffs over Greenland.

The prime minister told an emergency Downing Street press briefing on Monday that the dispute with Trump over the Danish territory must be resolved through calm discussion between allies instead of pressure through military action and a trade war.

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President Trump wants to take over Greenland because of its strategic Arctic location and mineral wealth, and has not ruled out military action to achieve his aim of taking the territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

On Saturday, he announced the UK will be charged a 10% tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from February 1, increased to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

He said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland - all of whom are members of Nato alongside the US.

The PM insisted that despite the escalation, the US remains a "close ally" and stressed the importance of maintaining that relationship - but that "alliances are not about pretending differences don't exist".

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"There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works," he told the press briefing.

"So any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the people of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental, and we support it.

"Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and the United States, a proud Nato member that has stood shoulder to shoulder with us, including at real human cost, in recent decades.

"Alliances endure because they're built on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.

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"It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.

Why does Trump have his eye on Greenland?

'Complete madness': Greenlanders bemused and angered by Trump's threats

During a phone call with Trump on Sunday afternoon, the prime minister told him it is wrong to apply tariffs to the UK and other European nations opposing his efforts.

At the impromptu press conference, the prime minister laid out the impact a trade war would have on the British economy, workers, and families as he defended his decision not to impose retaliatory tariffs.

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He said he'll continue to engage with European allies and Trump to "avoid some of the consequences that will be very serious" for the UK.

People march during a pro- Greenlanders demonstration, in Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday. Credit: AP

He also refused to answer a question from ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston on whether he would speak to the King about potentially cancelling his visit to the US to celebrate 250 years of independence.

The PM said: "We have to remember at all times that it is in our national interest" to continue to work with Trump's administration despite the rising tensions."

Early on Monday, Trump claimed Denmark had ignored warnings to protect Greenland from the threat of Russia.

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Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, the US president said: NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland".

Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!

Trump's announcement to impose tariffs on Saturday was met with condemnation by Starmer and fellow European leaders, with Sweden's prime minister saying they would not be "blackmailed".

Trump, tariffs, and a showdown in Davos: World leaders brace for US president

How serious is Trump's threat of tariffs for Britain's economy? ITV News Economics Editor Joel Hills explains

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK - who have all been targeted - issued a joint statement over the weekend warning that the "threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."

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In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said: These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.

Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question.

Defence secretary rejects Trump's suggestion Nato should help US take Greenland

Danish official tells Trump to 'f*** off' over Greenland threats

Trump said the US was immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades.

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He said it was time for Denmark to give back, adding: China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.

The prime minister said he will speak to the US president about Greenland again in the coming days.

The US president is expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week  though there are no current plans for the PM to meet him there, it is understood.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said "he'll be having some words" with Trump's team this week in Davos, calling his action "bad" and "wrong".

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said it was absolutely critical to stand up to Trumps threats through close engagement with the US administration, adding: It is totally unacceptable, and I hope the wider American public, congressmen et cetera, recognise that and, of course, the administration.

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Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a package of tariffs on America co-ordinated with European allies after branding the US presidents actions economic thuggery that cannot go unanswered.

Earlier this month, Trump reiterated that the US "needs Greenland from the standpoint of national security" following strikes on Venezuela and the capture of its deposed leader, Nicolas Maduro.

Currently, the island is home to the largest and most northern US Space Base above the Arctic Circle and sits in an area of strategic military importance for the US, China, and Russia.

Last week, the UK confirmed it had sent a military officer to Greenland as Denmark stepped up its military presence in the Arctic and High North.

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Downing Street said they were sent at Denmarks request to join a reconnaissance group ahead of a planned Arctic endurance exercise, but denied it amounted to a deployment.

From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...
Military vehicles of US soldiers are seen at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, January 13, 2020. (photo credit: REUTERS/JOHN DAVISON)

An initial plan for US withdrawal from the base stipulated that hundreds of troops would leave by September 2025, with the rest departing by the end of 2026.

The US military withdrew from Iraqs Ain al-Asad Airbase, which previously housed American-led forces in western Iraq, with the Iraqi army assuming full control, Iraqs Defense Ministry confirmed on Saturday.

An earlier statement by Iraqs Defense Ministry indicates that the handover was factual, the US Defense Departments Central Command confirmed to CNN on Sunday.

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An Iraqi Defense Ministry source told the Associated Press that the US had taken all its military equipment with it.

The Ain al-Assad Airbase, which Iran-backed terrorist groups have repeatedly targeted in recent years, was left following a 2024 agreement between Baghdad and Washington.

Hundreds of troops were supposed to leave by September 2025, with the rest departing by the end of 2026, according to the initial withdrawal plan.

Military vehicles of US soldiers are seen at the al-Asad air base in Anbar province, Iraq, January 13, 2020. (credit: REUTERS/JOHN DAVISON)

The full withdrawal announced by Iraq did not include the departure of American forces from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. The US military remains present at Harir Air Base in the province of Erbil.

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Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, received US envoy Tom Barrack over the weekend, which highlights continued cooperation with the US.

US present in Iraq to combat Islamic State

Iraq requested additional US military presence in 2014 as the country struggled to fend off the Islamic State. While now seeing only a manageable level of domestic threat from the terrorist group, Iraqi officials said that coalition efforts against ISIS persist in neighboring Syria.

The Iraqi military said in a statement that Iraqi army Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah instructed relevant authorities to intensify efforts, enhance joint work, and coordinate between all units stationed at the base, while making full use of its capabilities and strategic location.

While not mentioned by the officials, last week, Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf warned during a televised session that American bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets in the event of an attack on Iran.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Deputies in Osceola County have identified the victims of a deadly triple shooting.

The shooting happened around 12:13 p.m. on Saturday inside the Indian Point Subdivision, near Kissimmee.

Deputies said they arrived after 911 calls about a shooting and found three people shot to death at a home on Indian Point Drive.

The victims have been identified as Columbus, Ohio residents James Puchan, 68, and Douglas Kraft, 68, and Holland, Michigan resident Robert Kraft, 70.

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Deputies said Ahmad Bojeh was arrested and is facing charges after killing the men.

Investigators said the victims were renting a house for vacation when the shooting occurred.

Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon said Bojeh posed a continuous threat to the neighborhood. I can tell you he was a threat to that neighborhood all the time, Blackmon said.

The shooting occurred as the victims were waiting for a new rental car after their original vehicle broke down.

In a press conference, Blackmon described the incident as cold-blooded and premeditated, adding, There absolutely were no issues. There was no conflict between these people. This was just random.

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Bojeh was apprehended in a neighboring house shortly after the incident.

He did not make any statements during his first court appearance on Sunday morning.

Blackmon added that law enforcements quick response was crucial, preventing potential additional victims.

Because our deputies responded so quickly, we actually questioned the guy back in his house and kept him out of the public because had we not been there, there could have been other victims as well, he said.

Bojeh previously faced charges in a separate incident where he fired a gun at cars in a Wawa parking lot and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

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His competency for that case is under review, with a hearing scheduled for April 7.

Currently, Bojeh is being held in jail without bond following the triple murder charges.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Vietnam's ruling Communist Party on Monday opened its National Congress, a closely watched political gathering that will determine the countrys top leadership for the next five years and set its policy direction.

The 14th National Congress, which runs through Sunday, is the countrys most important political event. It is held every five years.

In the single-party communist state, voting rights are restricted to senior party members, with nearly 1,600 delegates from across the country convening in Hanoi for a series of closed-door meetings at the National Convention Centre.

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Delegates will elect a 200-member Central Committee, which oversees major state institutions and in turn selects the Politburo  the partys most powerful decision-making body  before choosing the countrys top leaders for 2026 to 2030.

Unlike other communist systems such as North Korea, where Kim Jong Un wields near-absolute authority, or China, where Xi Jinping has consolidated power, Vietnam formally adheres to a model of collective leadership.

The country is officially governed by five "pillars": the general secretary, president, prime minister, chair of the National Assembly and, since 2025, the standing member of the Communist Party's Secretariat.

Ahead of the congress, speculation has grown that current party chief To Lam could seek to merge the roles of general secretary and president, potentially concentrating power in a move likened by analysts to Xis leadership model. The announcement of the new leadership is expected on Sunday.

Security around the National Convention Centre has been tightened, with a heavy police and military presence, road closures and mobile phone signal disruptions in the surrounding area.
Vietnam's ruling Communist Party on Monday opened its National Congress, a closely watched political gathering that will determine the countrys top leadership for the next five years and set its policy direction.

The 14th National Congress, which runs through Sunday, is the countrys most important political event. It is held every five years.

In the single-party communist state, voting rights are restricted to senior party members, with nearly 1,600 delegates from across the country convening in Hanoi for a series of closed-door meetings at the National Convention Centre.

Advertisement Advertisement

Delegates will elect a 200-member Central Committee, which oversees major state institutions and in turn selects the Politburo  the partys most powerful decision-making body  before choosing the countrys top leaders for 2026 to 2030.

Unlike other communist systems such as North Korea, where Kim Jong Un wields near-absolute authority, or China, where Xi Jinping has consolidated power, Vietnam formally adheres to a model of collective leadership.

The country is officially governed by five "pillars": the general secretary, president, prime minister, chair of the National Assembly and, since 2025, the standing member of the Communist Party's Secretariat.

Ahead of the congress, speculation has grown that current party chief To Lam could seek to merge the roles of general secretary and president, potentially concentrating power in a move likened by analysts to Xis leadership model. The announcement of the new leadership is expected on Sunday.

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Security around the National Convention Centre has been tightened, with a heavy police and military presence, road closures and mobile phone signal disruptions in the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, criticism of Vietnams human rights record has intensified.

The process for selecting the countrys future leadership is undemocratic and opaque, Human Rights Watch said ahead of the congress, noting that citizens who are not party members are barred from publicly discussing candidates for the highest offices.

In the run-up to the event, authorities arrested several critics, including well-known blogger and activist Hoang Thi Hong Thai.

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"It's that time again for escalating arrests and jailing prominent critics ahead of Vietnams Communist Party Congress," said Patricia Gossman, senior associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"Not only does the government block citizens from choosing their own leaders, but the authorities gag those they think might complain about the process."
Laman Ismayilova



As part of her visit to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Leyla Aliyeva visited the "MESOB" Public Service Center located in the capital, Addis Ababa, Azernews reports.

Leyla Aliyeva was welcomed by Mekuria Haile, Ethiopia's Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Civil Service.

It was noted that MESOB, established based on the ASAN Service model, is a modern "one-stop"platform designed to facilitate citizens' access to important public services. Combining over 140 services from federal agencies in a single digital and physical center, "MESOB" ensures that public services are delivered more quickly, conveniently, and reliably.

In May 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the relevant Ethiopian institution regarding the implementation of the ASAN Service experience in Ethiopia.

During a meeting within the framework of COP29 on November 14, 2024, between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, the Ethiopian side expressed interest in adopting the ASAN Service model in their country and requested Azerbaijan's support in this regard.

Over the past period, specialists from the State Agency have conducted training for Ethiopian civil servants, prepared legal and other necessary documents for the implementation of the ASAN Service experience in Ethiopia, and developed recommendation documents based on the technological solutions used in ASAN Service centers, establishing a unified standard for service delivery.
By Francesco Guarascio

HANOI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Hundreds of delegates from Vietnam's ruling Communist Party gathered on Monday under tight security for a congress that will select the single-party country's top leader and set economic goals for the remainder of the decade.

The week-long event, which operates under opaque rules and convenes every five years, could cement and possibly expand power for the party's current general secretary, To Lam, who has launched sweeping bureaucratic reforms at home and become Vietnam's public face overseas.

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Later in the week, on an unspecified day, about 1,600 delegates will elect a 200-person Central Committee, which will then pick from a pre-arranged shortlist up to 17 to 19 members of the Politburo from which the general secretary is chosen.

Lam is seeking to retain his role and possibly take on the state presidency, which has recently been held by a military leader, officials briefed on the matter said. Lam, photographed smiling in state media as he entered the congress venue on Monday, is expected to address delegates on Tuesday.

The congress is likely to confirm him as general secretary, according to multiple officials, although surprises cannot be ruled out, while the decision about the presidency is expected to be made at a later meeting where the outcome is even less clear.

After the congress, the Politburo will nominate the heads of state, government and Parliament. Parliamentary elections will take place only after leaders are chosen by the party.

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RISK-TAKING LEADER

Lam, 68, has launched several major reforms during his brief tenure as party chief, the country's most powerful job. He ascended to the position following the death of his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong, in July 2024.

Widely viewed as a risk-taker, Lam introduced the most significant administrative reform in decades when he cut tens of thousands of jobs in an effort to speed up decisions. The impact has yet to be fully assessed as officials adapt, but approval timelines for some investment projects have shortened.

That acceleration is tied in part to the scaling back of a sweeping anticorruption drive launched under Trong, an effort that Lam helped lead as public security minister. The campaign, which was meant to combat systemic bribery, at times paralysed government decisionmaking and led to the downfall of senior figures - including two presidents - clearing Lam's path to the top.

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Lam has also launched economic reforms and a burst of infrastructure projects, winning favour with foreign investors while stoking concerns about favouritism and waste.

In a country that allows no opposition, Lam has presided over a strengthening of the security forces and a tightening of controls over media and other critical voices.

ECONOMIC GROWTH, SECURITY TOP NEXT FIVE-YEAR AGENDA

The congress' delegates represent 5.6 million party members in a country of 100 million.

Under tight security - mobile phones will be jammed in the Hanoi building where the congress will take place and delegates, including those from Hanoi, are required to stay in designated accommodation - they will also refine the text of a resolution to be approved by the end of the congress, which is scheduled to wrap up on January 25.

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A party draft released in October on the party's website suggests the final text will prioritise security and ambitious growth, targeting at least 10% annually over the next five years, from the 6.5% to 7.0% target that was missed in the first half of the decade.

The draft mentions security dozens of times and highlights the importance of diplomacy and defence in a "more dangerous" world. The party intends to increase its defence forces, especially in border areas, the draft text says.

Environmental protection, which has been increasingly debated recently in the heavily polluted country, has also gained prominence, according to Politburo member Nguyen Xuan Thang.

(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Additional reporting by Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen; Editing by Josh Smith and Thomas Derpinghaus)
Vietnam's ruling Communist Party is meeting to pick new leaders and set key targets for the young, fast-growing economy.

The congress, held every five years, is where the one-party state's highest-level decisions are made, from economic and foreign policy direction, to the selection of party leaders, including its most powerful position, general secretary.

To Lam, who currently holds the mantle, is again considered the lead contender for the top job: a role chosen behind closed doors by party officials.

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The 68-year-old has been driving ambitious reforms since being named general secretary in August 2024.

Vietnam's leaders have long sought to emulate the economic success of China, whose rapid growth was also fuelled by exports.

Although Vietnam is the fastest-growing economy in South East Asia, and a major hubs for export-led manufacturing, it still faces huge challenges. Corruption cost the last two presidents their job and Donald Trump's tariffs are a looming threat.

Like many countries, it has found itself in the American president's crosshairs. It was initially threatened with levies of 46%, but they now stand at 20% on Vietnamese-made goods.

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Despite this, official figures suggest exports to the US were still up 28%, a record high.

Its one-party socialist system, and the policy continuity that it offers, has arguably helped create a honeypot for foreign investment, especially as companies diversify supply chains away from China.

Keeping that going despite the uncertainty of Trump's tariff policy is going to be a priority for the country's leaders. The economy has been steadily growing at more than 6% for decades now, but the government has set itself a steep target for 2026: 10%.

Observers say meeting that will be hard, but delivering on economic promises is essential for the legitimacy of the Communist Party.

Vietnam's current General Secretary, To Lam, is considered the lead contender for the top job [Getty Images]

In the coming days, some 1,600 delegates from the Communist Party will approve policy documents for the next five years and elect a new Central Committee of roughly 200 members.

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The Party's new top leadership is then chosen through a tightly controlled process.

Of the 200 elected Central Committee members, 17 to 19 members of the Politburo - the Communist Party's top decision-making body - will be chosen, including the general secretary.

All candidates are chosen in advance by the Communist Party with no electoral competition, which is why approvals are typically near-unanimous. The Vietnamese public has no direct role in selecting its national leaders.

The new top leadership will be revealed on the final day of the congress, 25 January, and the general secretary will deliver the closing speech.

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To Lam was elected general secretary by the Central Committee on August 3, 2024, replacing his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong who passed away in July 2024.

He currently heads the Central Committee, the Politburo and the Secretariat, oversees the armed forces as Secretary of the Central Military Commission and chairs the party's anti-corruption body. Under the Constitution, the General Secretary leads both the Party and the state.

To Lam, an ex-police officer in the secretive public security ministry, has modelled himself as an aspirational reformer, pegging his flag to the promise of sharp economic growth and declaring an "era of national rise" for Vietnam.

He has an ambitious plan to build Vietnam into an upper-income, knowledge-and-tech-based economy by the year 2045.

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Since taking office, he has driven policies on administrative reform, national development, and private-sector growth. He has also centralised power and expanded the authority of the police ministry which he once headed.

In the coming days, some 1,600 delegates from Vietnam's ruling Communist Party will approve policy documents for the next five years [Getty Images]

Yet while many observers consider To Lam's reinstatement as general secretary to be a foregone conclusion, the formation of Vietnam's new government may take slightly longer.

In past years the process has taken several months, creating a delay between leadership decisions and the formation of a new government.

This year, the timeline has been shortened. Legislative elections will be held on March 15, and the new National Assembly will meet in April to formally appoint the country's senior leaders.

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Ahead of the 14th Congress, Reuters and Bloomberg news agencies reported that To Lam is seeking to "merge" the two top positions - general secretary and president - into a single role for the next term.

In practice, he already held both positions from May to August 2024, and his predecessor Nguyen Phu Trong also held the two roles from October 2018 to April 2021. But in both cases, it was temporary.
House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, presents a resolution to enshrine reproductive rights into Virginia's constitution to the House Privileges & Elections Committee on Jan. 14, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

A proposal allowing mid-decade redistricting of Virginias congressional maps that cleared the legislature last week may dominate debate heading into a spring special referendum, but a constitutional amendment on reproductive rights is poised to ignite similar fervor as the November election approaches.

Unlike two other civil rights-related constitutional amendments that passed with bipartisan support over the past year, Virginias reproductive rights measure has faced intense debate at every stage, with every Republican in the legislature opposing it.

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In defending her amendment for the final time, Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, emphasized that advancing the proposal would ultimately leave the decision to voters across the state.

Ranging from fertility treatments to contraception access to the ability to obtain an abortion, this amendment protects families entire scope of reproductive needs, she said.

Boysko and several other Democratic lawmakers have described how women in states with abortion bans have died amid pregnancy complications. Those states have also seen an exodus of OB-GYN physicians amid uncertainty of treating patients who need abortions or miscarriage management.

Boysko grew tearful as she recounted stories and advocacy shared by constituents and people around the state.

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Relatedly, Sen. Emily Jordan, R-Isle of Wight, struck a somber tone as she noted that this is a difficult topic for a lot of people.

On the opposite side of the chambers aisle  and in opposition to the amendment  Jordan unsuccessfully attempted to modify the proposal to explicitly spell out care for babies when born.

A sticking point for some Republicans has been concern that the amendment could be interpreted to allow abortion up to the moment of birth, though infanticide remains illegal under both state code and federal law.

Sen. Tara Durant, R-Stafford, also attempted for the second legislative session in a row, to reiterate existing parental consent laws. Democrats and legal experts said it is unnecessary. Under Virginia law, minors are required to have parental or guardian consent for an abortion unless they petition a judge for authorization.

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On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, accused Republicans of employing delay tactics by pressing for their amendments to the amendment.

It is a delay tactic, Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockbridge, said on Friday, as he urged lawmakers to re-draft the amendment. Doing so, however, would restart the two-year process.

A sense of urgency

Sen. Tara Durant, R-Stafford, speaks in opposition of a constitutional amendment on Jan. 21, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

While not entirely a partisan issue at the national level, the issue has increasingly fallen along party lines in states. That dynamic, Virginia Wesleyan University professor Leslie Caughell said, helps explain why Democrats are moving quickly while they hold legislative majorities.

Though placing language in the Constitution is difficult, it is also harder to undo. With every other Southern state imposing deep restrictions or near-total bans, bolstering Virginias protections has become a priority for Democrats. Providers and abortion funds in Virginia have also seen a surge in out-of-state patients seeking care.

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I think everything that happened in North Carolina made activists on this really uncomfortable, Caughell said.

In 2023, a member of the neighboring states legislature switched from Democrat to Republican, giving the GOP a veto-proof majority and paving the way for enactment of North Carolinas current 12-week abortion limit.

In Virginia, Republicans have also put forward a range of abortion restrictions, from near-total bans to a 15-week cap that lacked exceptions for fetal anomalies  which are often not detected until around or after 15 weeks.

On other reproductive health issues, a right-to-contraception bill has twice been vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin  a point Boysko reiterated as the amendment advanced last week.

Yes and No campaigns on the horizon

Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, speaks with reporters about a a resolution she carried to enshrine reproductive rights into Virginias constitution on Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Reproductive rights groups in Virginia, along with physicians and volunteers, have coordinated as part the national Reproductive Freedom for All effort. Last year, a $5 million investment supported targeted initiatives ranging from canvassing to digital advertising in states such as Virginia, where Abigail Spanberger was elected governor.

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Spanberger campaigned in part on supporting the amendment, though governors do not formally factor into its success or failure.

I look forward to spending ample time in advance of the 2026 elections campaigning to make sure that people understand the importance of this constitutional amendment, she told The Mercury last summer.

On the other side, SBA Pro-Life America supported Virginia-based anti-abortion groups last year through door-knocking efforts in key House of Delegates districts that were up for election.

Democrats ultimately grew their majority by flipping additional seats.

The abortion-opposing group doesnt have anything to share on the Virginia front at this time, Communications Director Kelsey Pritchard said in an email, but the organization is monitoring Virginia among other states as it prepares to engage voters.

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Virginians for Reproductive Freedom  which includes organizations like Repro Rising and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia  will likely ramp up public engagement events and advertising as the November elections approach.

Caughell said she is watching closely to see how Virginias constitutional amendment campaigns intersect with this years congressional midterm elections.

The measures  which include redistricting, reproductive rights, same-sex marriage rights and voting rights  arrive at a moment when Democrats may have an advantage, she noted.

Midterm elections are often a referendum on the party that controls the White House, Caughell said.

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With Republican President Donald Trump in the White House, GOP majorities in Congress, and federal funding fallouts affecting states, the amendments championed by Democrats could also help drive down-ballot votes.

She also noted that abortion, as a distinct health care need, has become a more salient argument in recent years, alongside economic considerations and support for personal choice.

Weve expanded the parameters of our understanding of who this issue directly affects, Caughell said.

Speaking with reporters outside the Senate chamber Friday, Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, emphasized that the work is not finished.

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Its our responsibility to go out there and tell the voters this is what this means and help everybody understand what theyre voting for, she said.

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Josh Shapiro wasnt the only finalist to be Kamala Harris running mate who was asked if he had ever been an agent of a foreign government, four sources familiar with the matter told CNN on Monday. Tim Walz was, too.

The Minnesota governor  whom Harris ultimately picked  was asked by her vetting team if he had ever been an agent of China, prompted by aides review of the multiple trips Walz took to China before running for office.

That was the same line of questioning, four people involved with that process say, which led to top lawyer Dana Remus asking Shapiro if he had ever been an agent of Israel, in a conversation that Shapiro recounts in his memoir set to be published next week.

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I told her how offensive the question was, Shapiro wrote in an advance copy of which was obtained Sunday by CNN.

Shapiro described feeling that he was being asked only because he is Jewish and adds that to be asked that said a lot about some of the people around the VP.

Shapiros calling Remus out by name infuriated some in the orbit of former President Barack Obama, with whom Remus is close, having worked for him both in the White House and when he was setting up his post-presidency. Shapiro has built up an active relationship of his own with the 44th president, who officiated Remus wedding.

But more than anything, the blow-up further aggravates a relationship between Harris and Shapiro that was fraught for years before she ever brought him in for an interview, and that is now on a potential collision course as both consider 2028 presidential runs. Harris, in her own 2024 campaign account, previously said she was concerned Shapiro would be unable to settle for a role as number two and that it would wear on our partnership.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris speak to the press in Philadelphia on July 13, 2024. - Ryan Collerd/AFP/Getty Images

The four people involved with the vetting process argue that the question of being a foreign agent is standard on the forms all the politicians hoping to be picked were asked to fill out, and which is the same form used for all high-level federal government appointees. Remus additional questions, they say, were also a natural expansion on the form as Shapiro entered the finalist stage of consideration.

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The crux of vetting is asking uncomfortable and even farfetched questions, especially ones that could be raised by your opponents. Have you ever had an affair? Have you ever embezzled state funds? Have you ever been an agent for another country? The point isnt that you believe any of it to be true, said a person close to Remus. Its that the subject needs to be on record with definitive answers.

A separate person involved with the vetting process added: Pulling punches would have been a disservice to both the nominee and her potential running mate.

Given the attention to the sometimes-blurred lines between anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment and the concern of accusing Jews of having dual loyalties to the US and Israel, the disclosure of the questioning has stirred anger among some prominent Jewish leaders.

Deborah Lipstadt, who served as the special envoy for antisemitism in the Biden-Harris administration, called the questions classic antisemitism. David Wolpe, a prominent rabbi emeritus from a large congregation in Los Angeles and Jewish leader, posted on X, Josh Shapiros great-grandfather was a Scranton city councilman. Wonder if she asked Tim Walz if he was a secret German or Swiss spy.

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That Walz was asked a similar question had been kept confidential until now, as had the line of questioning to Shapiro, which was prompted by a review of the Pennsylvania governors work history, which includes volunteer work he did in Israel while in high school and a brief time working in public affairs for the Israeli embassy in Washington.

Harris allies disclosed the questioning of Walz to more fully explain the vetting process, which was rushed as she took former President Joe Bidens place atop the Democratic ticket. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, made fighting antisemitism a focus of his tenure as the first Jewish person to become the spouse of a vice president.

Shapiro writes that he calmly answered Remus questions after voicing his objection to them. Walz, in his own conversation, also said no when asked if he was a foreign agent, people familiar with the matter said.

A spokesperson for Harris declined comment. A spokesperson for Walz did not return comment. A spokesperson for Shapiro referred back to a comment first provided on Sunday evening that the chapter about 2024 politics is part of a much larger book about the governors faith but did not comment on the additional context.

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It is a turbulent week for Russia, from stark warnings that poisonous pollution is cutting down life expectancy, to a UK inquiry decades later linking Vladimir Putin directly to the infamous poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. Meanwhile, the Soviet-era city of Baku sees tens of thousands gather in defiance of a Soviet military crackdown that would later become known as Black January. In Washington, this week proves transitional as George H W Bush is sworn in as US president, promising a new political era and distancing himself from the selfish excesses of the Reagan era. Beyond our terrestrial plane, attention turns skywards as new images from Mars reveal frozen water on the planets surface, raising fresh questions about its past  a significant step in understanding whether the Red Planet might once have supported life. All are charted in The Independent.

21 January 1989  George H W Bush sworn in as US president

George H W Bush is sworn in as the 41st president of the United States, closing the Reagan era as he takes office in Washington DC. In his inaugural address, Bush speaks of a new breeze blowing and a world reborn, striking a more restrained note as he signals a shift away from what he describes as the selfish excesses of the previous decade, telling Americans that we are not the sum of our possessions.

(The Independent)

23 January 1990  Baku defies Moscow after Soviet crackdown

Tens of thousands gather in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, to mourn those killed in a Soviet military crackdown, openly defying a decree from Moscow as funerals are held for victims hailed locally as martyrs. The Independent reports that the Kremlin hints at a softer approach in the face of mounting resistance, as nationalist sentiment in Azerbaijan surges during the final months of Soviet rule. Moscows crackdown would come to be known as Black January.

(The Independent)

24 January 1992  Pollution blamed for Russias falling life expectancy

Severe industrial pollution across Russia is linked to a dramatic fall in life expectancy, with some estimates putting average lifespan as low as 44 years. The Independent reports that decades of environmental neglect under Soviet rule are taking a heavy toll on public health, as experts admit we are near catastrophe in the early years of the post-Soviet transition.

(The Independent)

25 January 1993  Croats and Serbs edge closer to all-out war

A Croatian offensive against Serb-held positions unfolds amid tank battles for a third consecutive day near key sites, despite a United Nations ceasefire agreed the previous year. Geneva peace talks are suspended and heavy weapons are seized from UN control, prompting warnings that the spectre of all-out war between Serbs and Croats is drawing closer. The fighting marks a sharp escalation in the conflict, which continues through 1993 as ceasefires repeatedly break down and large-scale violence persists.

(The Independent)

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23 January 1997  Taxpayers fund new royal yacht

Taxpayers are set to fund a new royal yacht at an estimated cost of 60m, as the government commits to replacing the ageing Britannia. The Independent highlights the scale of the expenditure by comparing it with alternative public spending, noting the sum could instead fund dozens of new primary schools or a hospital, prompting debate over priorities and public value.

(The Independent)

24 January 2004  New images reveal frozen water on Mars

Images sent back by a Mars orbiter reveal frozen water on the planets surface, prompting fresh questions about whether conditions for life may once have existed there. Scientists stress that while the discovery strengthens evidence of Marss watery past, it does not confirm life, marking instead a significant step in understanding the planets history and potential habitability.

(The Independent)

20 January 2006  A message from Bin Laden

An audio recording believed to be from Osama bin Laden is released, marking his first message in more than a year and renewing questions about his whereabouts. US intelligence officials say the voice is almost certainly his, as the al-Qaeda leader, still in hiding, issues threats and commentary amid ongoing efforts to track him down.

(The Independent)

23 January 2015  Daily Mirror hacking scandal

The phone-hacking scandal at the Daily Mirror is described as worse than at Murdochs papers after details emerge at a High Court hearing. Lawyers say as many as 41 journalists may have accessed private voicemails illegally, exposing the publisher to potential compensation claims running into tens of millions of pounds and intensifying scrutiny of newsroom practices across the industry.

(The Independent)

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22 January 2016  Inquiry links Putin to Litvinenko murder

A public inquiry delivers a stark verdict, concluding that Russian president Vladimir Putin probably authorised the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, the former spy poisoned with polonium-210 in London in 2006. The findings trigger calls for a robust government response to what the inquiry describes as a state-sponsored killing of a British citizen, while Moscow reacts with fury, dismissing the report as a UK provocation and deepening an already fraught diplomatic standoff.
While a Brunswick County beach town narrows its eyes on beach erosion, developers of major projects are widening their eyes at opportunity.

Brunswick residents during the week of Jan. 12 saw an arrest in connection with a fatal shooting, some project updates and soon-to-be closing signs.

Happy Monday and welcome back to this week's Brunswick newsletter!

The longstanding Family Dollar at Clairmont Shopping Center in Leland is preparing to close its doors. The store is having a large sale before it officially closes in February.

The Family Dollar at 112-C Village Road, Suite 7, in Leland's Clairmont Shopping Center will permanently close by the end of February 2026.

Leland residents are drooling for Texas Roadhouse since the announcement of the Leland location. After a year, plans are still not approved, and residents might have to stay hungry for longer than expected. Read about the holdup with Texas Roadhouse coming to Leland.

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More food news: 4 food trends to look for at Wilmington restaurants in 2026

Here we grow again

Maco Road Planned Development, 12,499-home project proposed between Town Creek Road and N.C. 87, has not earned county approval. However, developers have the option to form a development agreement with the county that could put the project in the hands of county commissioners instead of the planning board. See what's going on with the Maco Road Planned Development right here.

In Leland, developers of the Terrapin planned development was given the OK to change plans and add nearly five acres to the project. Approved changes include revising zoning designations of approximately nearly 40 acres to develop a new hospital and medical facility area.

More about Terrapin: A big development in Leland just got bigger

The agenda

County commissioners will have a special meeting at 9 a.m. on Jan. 20 to discuss the county's goals for fiscal year 2027. Following that meeting will be the board's regular meeting at 6 p.m.

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After months of live streaming county commissioner meetings, the county is looking to eventually live stream planning board meetings. Residents say the change would improve accessibility and transparency.

Holden Beach commissioners will also be holding a meeting on Jan. 20, starting at 5 p.m. Topics of discussion include, stormwater, Block Q, and paid parking. This will be the board's first meeting since former commissioner Tracey Thomas resigned.

Lets get social

For more news about whats happening in Brunswick County, follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BrunswickToday.

Want your friends to be in the know? Forward this newsletter to them.

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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Development updates and more for January in Brunswick County, NC
"I wonder what's going on at 2295 South Parsons Ave., a large warehouse. [It] has an iron security fence surrounding the entire place. Camera warnings all over the fence. They have a gate guard at the gate. There's a Columbus police officer cruiser behind the gate guard. There's a warning sign that anyone on the premises may be subject to search."

If you've been waiting for "What's Up With That?" to come back, wait no longer. The Dispatch is back to answer your questions.

This week's question comes from a South Side resident who wanted to know what's going on with a heavily secured warehouse off of Parsons Avenue.

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The answer, like in many warehouses, is distribution.

Core-Mark US, a company that distributes food to convenience stores, occupies the warehouse, 2295 Parsons Ave., according to Ohio business records.

The Columbus police officers at the warehouse are special duty officers, meaning the business hired them, Sgt. Joe Albert said.

While Core-Mark leases the space, it is owned by SFG Columbus Parsons LLC, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based real estate developer Stonemont Financial Group.

Heather Priddy, a marketing coordinator at Stonemont Financial Group, said the security measures are to protect building access and the warehouse's products, and the security aligns with standard practices for national tenants.

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The Core-Mark warehouse is one of three buildings in the Castings Commerce Park, which sits on the historic Columbus Castings site. Construction on the commerce park ended in 2024.

Want to know What's Up With That? Email us.

If you have questions about life in Columbus, we will find you answers.

You may email our Senior Director of Digital Content Eleanor Kennedy at ekennedy@dispatch.com or our newsroom at newsroom@dispatch.com with your queries.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What's up with the South Side warehouse with fences, guards?
Britain and Europe appear hopelessly weak in the face of Donald Trumps threats over Greenland.

European efforts to calm the mercurial United States presidents desire for the island with a joint military mission to the Arctic have backfired.

Mr Trump is now warning that he will hit the UK and its European allies with tariffs unless Denmark sells him Greenland.

It is a classic example of escalation dominance, where a superior military power in a conflict uses its heft to ratchet pressure up or down.

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So what happens next in the Greenland crisis? Here are Europes four main options...

1. Appeasement

Which is more important to European Nato allies: the US security umbrella or the Danish sovereignty of an Arctic island with around 57,000 inhabitants? No European leader has so far been willing to answer that painful question.

Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, said Europe was too weak to counter Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic region.

He said: Europeans project weakness, the US projects strength. The president believes enhanced security is not possible without Greenland being part of the US.

Europe desperately needs Mr Trump, not only for its own security but for Ukraines sake. Continental leaders have stomached trade tariffs in deals they believed were necessary to keep the US president on side.

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent believes the world would be safer if Greenland were part of the US - Getty

They have also told Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, to consider territorial concessions to Russia as part of Mr Trumps efforts to end the long-running war.

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The surrender of Greenland would not come as a shock to those who have been calling for Europe  including the UK  to show some guts and stand up to Mr Trump.

But without Washingtons security umbrella, there is the frightening possibility of Vladimir Putin using the breakdown of US-Europe relations to stage an incursion into a Nato member country.

Would Mr Trump, who revealed more about his motives in a letter to Jonas Gahr Streon Monday (below), come to the aid of whatever territory was unfortunate enough to suffer the brunt of a Russian attack?

Most would suggest not, with the president opting to sit on the sidelines, opting to play the role of mediator between Moscow and Europe.

2. Trade war

The EU is drawing up a list of US products, such as Kentucky bourbon, to hit with retaliatory tariffs worth about 93bn (81bn).

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However, Brussels has threatened this before then not actually imposed the taxes, preferring to de-escalate tensions rather than risk a costly trade war with the US.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer does not want to hit the US with UK tit-for-tat tariffs.

Last year, Mr Trump imposed a higher 15 per cent tax on EU goods and 10 per cent on UK products. European attitudes are hardening after Mr Trump took the failure to retaliate last year for weakness.

The EU lacks hard power but it does have a single market of some 460 million consumers, and a new and untested trade defence tool.

Sir Keir Starmer has so far taken a less bullish view on retaliatory tariffs than the leaders of France and Germany - Getty

The EUs Anti-coercion Instrument  the blocs trade bazooka  was designed primarily as a counter to Chinese economic blackmail against EU members.

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Now Emmanuel Macron, the French president, with support from Germany, wants Brussels to use it to shut American firms out of the lucrative single market.

Denmark has also said that Europe would not be blackmailed by the US. But there is a risk that deploying the bazooka could trigger an all-out trade war the West can ill afford.

Opposition to the bazooka is led by Giorgia Meloni, Italys prime minister and the blocs Trump whisperer.

Emmanuel Macron seems keen to fire the tariffs bazooka, but in the past the EU has backed down before pulling the trigger - Reuters

Ms Meloni has criticised Mr Trump over Greenland, but sees the bazooka as a provocation too far, and blames the current crisis on a misunderstanding over the military mission.

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The bazooka could be used if a population-weighted majority of the EUs 27 member states were in favour. But using it would require as much political support and public unity as possible.

EU divisions are likely to delay or water down decisive action before bloc leaders meet on Thursday, and favour attempts to negotiate with Mr Trump at this weeks Davos summit.

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3. A real war

When the Argentinians occupied the Falkland Islands in 1982, they did so with an invasion force 10 times larger than the contingent of Royal Marines stationed there, who were soon on a flight home.

Intelligence gathered by Buenos Aires led them to believe the UK would not try to reclaim the territory, but that proved to be a major miscalculation.

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A US invasion of Greenland could play out in a similar fashion, but with one key difference: Denmark and its European Nato allies do not have the stomach for a fight with America.

Danish troops would stand little chance against thousands of US soldiers if Trump decided to send his forces to take Greenland - Shutterstock

The US military could comfortably land 10,000 troops on the Arctic island in an hour-long window.

Perhaps a symbolic shot or two would be fired in anger, but Danish troops would soon be on their way back to Copenhagen after a fight lasting a matter of minutes.

Greenland would soon be recognised as a US territory and the Europeans would have to suck up their pride and continue any day-to-day business with Washington.

Meanwhile, autocratic leaders such as Putin and Xi Jinping would feel emboldened in their own neo-imperial land grabs.

4. Europe rearms

Dependence on US security makes Britain and the rest of Europe hopelessly vulnerable to Mr Trumps escalation dominance.

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Europe, including the UK, have neglected defence spending since the end of the Cold War while ignoring the warnings of the first Trump presidency and Putins seizure of Crimea.

Now, they must play catch-up, and try to hit Nato defence spending targets despite very tight public budgets.

Optimists point to how the bloc recovered from a shaky start in the Coronavirus pandemic to become a major vaccine manufacturer and exporter.

The Danish navys inspection ship HDMS Vaedderen is seen off Greenland as the country responds to Trumps rhetoric - Shutterstock

Germany has vowed to overhaul its long-neglected army; France and Poland have increased defence spending, and Britain is looking to take part in EU loans-for-weapons programmes.

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Experts say Europe could build up a credible deterrence against Russia in five years, but many believe true military self-sufficiency would take decades.

There are big gaps, such as in long-range strike capabilities, logistics, ammunition, and air and missile defence, which would take a long time to fill.

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 man raped a "vulnerable" 18-year-old woman at a park after she had already been attacked by his friend, a court has heard.

Sheraz Malik, 28, is on trial at Birmingham Crown Court accused of three counts of rape against the woman at Sutton Lawn park in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on 29 June last year.

The court heard the woman had been drinking in the park with a male friend before being left with Malik and a group of men, who were unknown to her.

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She was then raped by one of the group, the prosecution said, before Malik also raped her.

Warning: This article includes details that some readers may find distressing

The jury of seven women and five men were told the defendant, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, afterwards asked her "did you enjoy that?"

Prosecution counsel Nicholas Corsellis KC told the court the woman, who was 18 at the time, had been drinking in the park with a male friend, and was drunk when she met Malik and a group of other men, who she had never seen before.

Her friend asked the group to "look after" her while he went to meet another friend and promised to return in 10 or 15 minutes, the court heard.

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"She was alone, drunk and was obviously a vulnerable person. The defendant and one other man decided to take advantage of this," Corsellis said.

One of Malik's associates took the woman to an isolated area of the park so she could go to the toilet, the court heard.

Corsellis said: "The first man forcibly raped her before bringing her back to the group.

"The defendant then decided he wished to have sex with her and took his turn to take her to a secluded spot, where he physically struck her while raping her."

Malik had grabbed her by the neck and hair as he raped her, the court heard.

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Afterwards, the teenager sent a Snapchat message to her friend saying: "Please help me, two of them have tried it on with me. Please help me.

"The one you told to look after me tried to rape me... and the one with the black T-shirt.

"Please help, I can't cope, I feel like killing myself."

'No comment' interviews

Malik told the woman not to tell anyone what had happened as he escorted her back to the group and then asked for her Snapchat contact details, the court heard.

She managed to leave the park and go back to where she was staying, where she told someone what had happened and the police were called, the jury was told.

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Forensic examination on samples taken from the woman found Malik's DNA was present.

When he was arrested on 18 July, Malik told officers "I haven't done anything wrong", and answered no comment in police interviews.

He also made no comment when asked to account for why his DNA was on the complainant.

Corsellis told the jury: "The fundamental issues are the question of consent and the nature of the very brief relationship between the victim and the defendant."

The barrister told the jury the presence of DNA establishes that sexual activity did take place, but added: "The issue for you is for you to consider whether this sexual activity was consensual or not."

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Malik's barrister Simon Eckersley said the defendant, who was following proceedings through a Pakistani Pashto interpreter, denies raping the woman, and said the sexual encounter was consensual.

The trial, which is expected to last five days, continues.

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

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A woman who fled to Barbados with a shooting suspect and helped bankroll him for several months has been jailed.

Rashawn Bedeau, 28, left the UK with Ellis Thornton in January 2023, while the latter was wanted by police in connection with an incident in Halifax.

West Yorkshire Police said Bedeau then went on to fund Thornton as he moved to Suriname and then Mexico.

Bedeau, of Arley Street in Leeds, was jailed for two years at Leeds Crown Court on Friday for assisting an offender, having previously been found guilty at trial.

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Det Sgt Andrew Ellis said: "Bedeau helped Ellis Thornton leave the country and continued to fund his lifestyle for several months despite knowing he was a wanted suspect for a serious offence here in West Yorkshire."

"I hope today's sentence sends a message out to anyone who is in two minds about hindering a police inquiry in this manner. There is a penalty to pay."

A force spokesperson said while Thornton remains a wanted man in the UK, he is currently in custody in the United States in connection with separate allegations.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

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A woman was found dead in an Ohio tree lawn after being struck by a driver, who thought he hit a deer.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Officers responded around 7:30 p.m. to a home in Elyria after a report of a woman lying unresponsive in the snow, according to CBS affiliate WOIO in Cleveland.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a police spokesperson.

TRENDING STORIES:

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Officers said her injuries were consistent with someone being hit by a car.

The department said that surveillance video from a nearby home confirmed that a car hit the woman. They identified the vehicle as a maroon Ford Escape, WOIO reports.

The car was located at a home in Lorain.

Officers spoke with the male driver, who admitted to driving in the area. The man told police that he thought he hit a deer. WOIO said.

Police do not believe that alcohol or drugs are contributing factors in the crash, the spokesperson said.

The crash remains under investigation.

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A Woodlawn church community is devastated over the loss of one of their beloved members. They say they have no idea why someone would take the life of a woman who always poured into others.

Those who knew Kiara Jenkins described her as a loving person who made others feel supported. The 36-year-old mother of five was devoted to her children and to her faith.

Jenkins was also a lifelong member of Mt. Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Woodlawn, where she was a welcoming presence, always ready to help others. Now, the church community is at a loss, devastated by the news that Jenkins was murdered.

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Chicago police say it happened Sunday around 4:30 a.m. Jenkins was found shot multiple times in the alley behind her home near 64th and Drexel. Church members say she was on her way to their 5 a.m. service, which she attended regularly.

Word of Jenkins' murder slowly spread throughout the community. Michael Adams says he and his family recently moved to the neighborhood, a couple of doors down from Jenkins. He says he did not know her by name, but that she was always friendly.

"It's a tragic situation," Adams said. "She just seemed like a nice lady. She spoke every time she saw us. She was coming and going, going to work, or whatever."

Adams says his block was quiet in the morning when he left for church, but when he returned home in the afternoon, there was a heavy police presence. At this point, police do not have a suspect or a motive in this case.

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"It was just chaos. They had everything wrapped up in tape everywhere, front and back," Adams said.

Jenkins' five children range from a freshman in college to 10 years old. The eldest child told ABC7 that the family is trying to be there for each other and process what happened.

Area One detectives are investigating.

Police did not immediately provide further information.

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By John Irish and Andreas Rinke

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Governments reacted cautiously on Sunday to U.S. President Donald Trump's invitation to join his "Board of Peace" initiative aimed at resolving conflicts globally, a plan that diplomats said could harm the work of the United Nations.

Only Hungary, whose leader is a close Trump ally, gave an unequivocal acceptance in response to the invitations, which have been addressed to some 60 nations and began arriving in European capitals on Saturday, according to diplomats.

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Other governments appeared reluctant to make public statements, leaving officials to express concerns anonymously about the impact on the work of the U.N.

The board would be chaired for life by Trump and would start by addressing the Gaza conflict and then be expanded to deal with other conflicts, according to a copy of the letter and draft charter seen by Reuters.

Member states would be limited to three-year terms unless they pay $1 billion each to fund the board's activities and earn permanent membership, the letter states.

"This simply offers permanent membership to partner countries who demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity," the White House said in a post on X.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, visiting South Korea, told reporters her country was "ready to do our part", although it was not clear whether she was specifically referring to Gaza or the broader peace.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday he had agreed to Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza in principle although details were still being worked out.

A mandate for a Board of Peace was authorized by the United Nations Security Council in November, but only through 2027 and solely focused on the Gaza conflict. Russia and China, two veto wielding powers, abstained, complaining that the resolution did not give the U.N. a clear role in the future of Gaza.

'DARK TIMES'

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The inclusion of a 'charter' in the invitation letter stoked concerns among some European governments that it could undermine the work of the United Nations, which Trump has accused of not supporting his efforts to end conflicts around the world.

"It's a 'Trump United Nations' that ignores the fundamentals of the U.N. charter," said one diplomat.

Three other Western diplomats said it looked as if it would undermine the United Nations if it went ahead.

A further three diplomats and an Israeli source said that Trump wanted the Board of Peace to eventually have a broader role beyond Gaza that would oversee the other conflicts that Trump has said he has resolved.

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The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Australia, Canada, the European Commission and key Middle East powers were among those invited, according to officials. "We have, of course, accepted this honourable invitation," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Trump, wrote on X.

The document said "durable peace requires pragmatic judgment, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed". There was a "need for a more nimble and effective international peace-building body", it added.

A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Guterres "believes Member States are free to associate in different groups" in response to a question about the draft U.S. charter for a Board of Peace.

"The United Nations will continue with its mandated work," deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said.

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Trump, who covets the Nobel Peace Prize, said in the letter that the board would convene in the near future, adding: "This board will be one of a kind, there has never been anything like it!"

Another senior U.N. official did not address the plan directly, but said the United Nations was the only institution with the moral and legal ability to bring together every nation, big or small.

"And if we question that ... we fall back and very, very, dark, times," Annalena Baerbock, president of the United Nations General Assembly, told Sky News, adding that it was up to individual states to decide what to do.

Trump has long been wary of multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations. He has repeatedly questioned the effectiveness, cost and accountability of international bodies, arguing they often fail to serve U.S. interests.

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The U.S., which is required to pay 22% of the U.N.'s regular budget, currently owes $1.5 billion, according to U.N. officials.

The White House on Friday named some individuals who will sit on the board, which would outlive its role supervising the temporary governance of Gaza, under a fragile ceasefire since October.

They included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed off on Trump's plan, which says a Palestinian technocratic administration will be overseen by an international board, which will supervise Gaza's governance for a transitional period.

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TRUMP GOES FOR GLOBAL PEACE ROLE

"It's going to, in my opinion, start with Gaza and then do conflicts as they arise," President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview earlier this week.

Many rights experts and advocates have said that Trump overseeing a board to supervise a foreign territory's governance resembles a colonial structure, while Blair's involvement was criticized last year due to his role in the Iraq war and the history of British imperialism in the Middle East.

The White House did not detail the responsibilities of each member of the board. The names do not include any Palestinians. The White House said more members will be announced over the coming weeks.

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It also named a separate, 11-member "Gaza Executive Board" to support the technocratic body including officials from Turkey and Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the composition of this board had not been coordinated with Israel and contradicted its policy.

(Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Andrew Gray, Kanishka Singh, Bhargav Acharya, Ryan Patrick Jones, Mohamed Ezz, Francesca Landini, Elizabeth Piper, Michelle Nichols, Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Mark Bendeich, Philippa Fletcher)
Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, speaks in support of a bill that would provide condition-based emergency funding to financially distressed counties, including Hancock, which is facing a financial crisis. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)

As Hancock County Schools are unable to pay teachers next month due to finances, members of the West Virginia House of Delegates fast-tracked a pair of bills that would allow the county to make payroll.

The full House suspended constitutional rules Monday to swiftly approve two measures related to the school districts financial debacle, including legislation that would give $8 million to the district so they can pay employees.

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Its a lot of uncertainty in Hancock County right now. People that are innocent that are caught up in this, and we really just need to honor obligations, keep those folks paid, [and] make sure schools are open for the rest of the year, said House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan, who represents the area.

McGeehan, R-Hancock, described the situation as gross mismanagement of finances under Hancock County school administration. He said years ago, the district had a more than a million dollar surplus.

The state school board has taken them over on Friday, but even if they take all of the school aid formula that they have though June 30 and advance that now, that may not even get them through March, he said. The state school board said theyve never seen anything like it.

On Friday, the state school board intervened in Hancock County, terminating the superintendent and appointing a replacement.

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The county has been operating with 143 more positions than what the county school aid formula called for, according to the state education department. State officials have said the county used federal COVID-19 relief dollars to cover expenses.

Along with a $5 million cash shortfall, there are numerous ongoing construction projects, including a $1 million turf project.

House Bill 4574, sponsored by McGeehan, would provide condition-based emergency funding to financially distressed counties, like Hancock. It would be available for counties whose reserve funding has fallen below 5% so they can make payroll and continue operating.

Any school district that receives the funding has to pay it black to the state.

W.Va. House Minority Leader Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell

House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, urged members to pass the bill but said he did so with caution.

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The reason for urgent passage, there are kids involved  Then, theres also jobs, Hornbuckle said. But more importantly, I will recommend to this body, we need to reevaluate also what we have done and what we will do to make sure we are not putting financial hardships on counties, that we are not sitting here yet again, having to make emergency action, because if we do not, we will be here.

House members overwhelmingly approved the measure. They approved a second bill, House Bill 4575, also sponsored by McGeehan, that would give $8 million to the state Board of Education for Hancock County Schools. The pair of bills were the first to be passed this session by the House, and both measures head to the Senate for consideration.

Im optimistic theyll be taking it up, probably today, but once they get the bill, maybe tomorrow or next day, McGeehan said.

There are numerous districts under state control, many due to financial issues tied to drying up pandemic relief dollars and West Virginias declining population.

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State schools Superintendent Michele Blatt said she believed Hancock County was the only county that would qualify for the emergency funding at this time. She testified before the House Committee on Finance earlier Monday while members initially vetted the school financial relief bills.

Yearly audits didnt catch Hancock Countys financial situation, Blatt said, because the county didnt submit accurate information.

Additionally, Blatt said the school districts former chief business officer, who has since been fired, turned off certain triggers within the states Education Information System that would have alerted the West Virginia Department of Education about financial issues. The state department of education first learned about the financial crisis in September.

They were literally putting into WV EIS what they had to for us to see, and not using the full functionality of that plot of that platform, Blatt told lawmakers. The system did not have in it what was actually occurring in that county.

Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell

In response, Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, said, Effectively, youre telling me they intentionally misled the department.

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Blatt said the department is looking into whether other counties have turned over similar triggers into the information center that could signal financial issues. The department believed that the situation in Hancock County was an anomaly, she said.

This is something that really just  caught all of us off guard, Blatt said.

School Board President Paul Hardesty told lawmakers that he expected other counties could be in a similar financial spot as Hancock County.

If these counties dont start making the tough cuts, and now that weve got this lifeline possibly coming into play, therell be others within two, three years, heading your way, Hardesty said. You cannot continue to spend money that you do not have. It does not work.

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Blatt said that the education department, which continues to investigate Hancock Countys financial situation, will work with the county prosecutor to determine if possible charges could be brought against local school officials related to financial mismanagement.

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Juan Mendoza, 19, was driving with his girlfriend on a rainy Wednesday afternoon in southern Texas when he noticed a car spinning out and stopped in the middle of the highway after a collision. Without thinking twice, he jumped into action.

"My first thought is that they could have kids, and I have little brothers," Menodoza said. "And that thought came into me, rushing, and I'm like, I'm going to get them out."

Juan O'Matta, who turns 80 this month, was driving home from a doctor's appointment with his wife Adriana when their car was struck and sent spinning into the middle of the road.

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"Nobody stopped," O'Matta said of Mendoza's action. "He was the only one who stopped."

"He was there at the right moment that we needed him, so that's why I say he was my angel," said Adriana.

Videos of the accident show Mendoza, a cook at a Texas Roadhouse near the border of Mexico, running into the middle of the road and moving debris away to help pull the O'Mattas from their smoking car.

Despite his heroic efforts, the couple never got his name.

The O'Mattas wanted to find a way to thank the young man who saved their lives, and that's when CBS News contributor David Begnaud stepped in to help. He brought them together for an emotional reunion filled with tears and thanks at the Texas Roadhouse where Mendoza works.

Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez shakes Juan Mendoza's hand at the Texas Roadhouse where he works. / Credit: CBS News (CBS News)

Justin Back, who is president of Acadian Ambulance Service, one of the largest privately owned ambulance companies in the U.S., was there as well to offer Mendoza an opportunity to become an Emergency Medical Services worker.

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"We're always looking for people, good people, who want to help others," Back said. "But that takes a big heart. It also takes a lot of intelligence and a lot of courage to do it, a lot of toughness, and that's a rare combination."

Back offered Mendoza a scholarship to EMT school, as well as a conditional job offer upon his completion.

And that still wasn't all for Mendoza.

Mayor Adrian Gonzalez of Weslaco, Texas, surprised him with an official proclamation of "Juan Mendoza Day."

"Thank you for everything that you did," Gonzalez told Mendoza. "Thank you for being their guardian angel."

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Mendoza ultimately attributes his character to his parents.

"They teach me to be humble and to help anybody," he said, and the O'Mattas "needed help."

David Begnaud loves uncovering the heart of every story and will continue to do so, highlighting everyday heroes and proving that there is good news in the news with his exclusive "CBS Mornings" series, "Beg-Knows America." Every Monday, get ready for moments that will make you smile or even shed a tear. Do you have a story about an ordinary person doing something extraordinary for someone else? Email David and his team at DearDavid@cbsnews.com

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Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday published a letter from US President Donald Trump, inviting Hungary to the Gaza Board of Peace. Orban also said he has accepted the invitation.

In his letter, Trump invited Orban "to join me in a critically Historic and Magnificent effort to solidify Peace in the Middle East and, at the same time, to embark on a bold new approach to resolving Global Conflict!"



Trump noted that he presented his peace plan for Gaza in September, which was "quickly embraced by all World Leaders, including major Heads of State across the Arab World, Israel, and Europe." The UN Security Council announced its support for the plan in November, he said.



"Now it is time to turn all of these Dreams into reality," Trump said. "At the heart of the Plan is the Board of Peace, the most impressive and consequential Board ever assembled," set up as a new international institution and a transitional governing body, he said.



"Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE, an Honor reserved for those who are prepared to lead by example," Trump said, adding that the board would soon hold its first meeting.



As chairman of the board, Trump said he was officially inviting Hungary to join as a founding member, Orban to represent his country, "and become a party to the Charter of the Board of Peace".



All member states would have appoint their representatives to the board themselves, Trump said. The 20-point US peace plan and the charter of the board was also attached to the letter.



"Looking forward to working with you ... toward the goal of lasting WORLD PEACE, PROSPERITY AND GREATNESS," Trump said.



In the Facebook post, Orban said: "If there is Trump, there is peace! ... Hungary's peace efforts are recognised! President Trump has asked me to join the work of the Board of Peace as a founder. We naturally accepted the honour," Orban said.



Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com



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The suspension of Klara Dobrev's parliamentary immunity has been requested in the European Parliament, following an initiative by Balazs Hanko, minister of culture and innovation. At an online press briefing on Sunday, the Democratic Coalition's (DK) leader said the move was an attempt to silence and intimidate her, but it would not succeed.

Dobrev noted that the background to the case included not only the allegations linked to the Szolo Street youth offender institution but also other suspected paedophile cases.



She cited the example of a parish priest in Kecskemet who reportedly received "tens of millions of forints" from the innovation ministry and was alleged, according to press reports, to have abused a nine year-old.



Dobrev insisted that DK was the only party daring to probe what was happening within Hungary's churches.



She asked: "Why has the Hungarian state handed over all its child protection institutions to the churches? Why are they unwilling to address, for example, suspending the seal of confession? Why do Fidesz and the Christian Democrats constantly defend church figures who have abused, even raped, children?"



Dobrev insisted that the "retribution" promised by Prime Minister Viktor Orban over coverage of the paedophile cases was ongoing. She recalled that DK politicians had been asking Fidesz and the Christian Democrats for months to identify "Uncle Zsolt", but had received no answer.



Nevertheless, she said, the DK was closing in on uncovering the high-ranking state or police officials who may have protected paedophile offenders in recent years.



Source: MTI  Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.



Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.



XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com



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Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary



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City Life | On the afternoon of January 18, on Guangzhou's Haixinsha Technology Island Future Island, a humanoid robot greeted visitors at the entrance of the AI and Robotics Exhibition Zone. With human-like walking and fluid movements, it performed Tai Chi and even street dance routines. The multi-talented robot quickly won over the kids. #citylife

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Toyota Urban Cruiser EV: The Japanese automaker Toyota is set to launch the Urban Cruiser EV in India on January 20, marking its first-ever electric vehicle for the Indian market. The electric SUV is based on the Maruti e Vitara and will enter the fast-growing midsize electric SUV segment in India.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser EV is expected to be priced between Rs 19 lakh-25 lakh (ex-showroom), similar to the Maruti e Vitara. It will compete with rivals such as the Hyundai Creta Electric, Mahindra BE 6, MG ZS EV, Tata Curvv EV, VinFast VF6, and the Maruti e Vitara.

Familiar Design Of Maruti E Vitara

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The Urban Cruiser EV shares its overall design with the Maruti e Vitara but features distinct changes to set it apart. At the front, it gets a redesigned bumper, sleek LED headlights and LED DRLs housed in black trim. The lighting design is inspired by Toyotas premium Camry.

The SUV has a strong and muscular stance, highlighted by thick cladding along the lower doors and rear bumper. At the rear, it features wraparound LED taillights with a different light signature. Like its Maruti sibling, the Urban Cruiser EV is expected to come with aero-optimised 18-inch alloy wheels.

Expected Interior And Cabin Features

Inside, the Urban Cruiser EV closely follows the e Vitara. It gets an asymmetrical dashboard, a dual-screen layout, soft-touch materials and leatherette upholstery. Physical buttons for climate control and media functions are retained, along with a floating centre console and multiple storage spaces.

(Also Read: Kia Syros Gets New HTK(EX) Trim - Check Price, Features & Engine Options)

Boot space details are yet to be confirmed, although the UK-spec version offers up to 310 litres. A full-size spare wheel and dedicated storage for charging cables are also expected.

Expected Battery, Range And Performance

The Urban Cruiser EV is likely to be offered with two battery options: 49kWh and 61kWh, paired with a front-mounted electric motor. Power output could range between 144hp and 174hp. The SUV is expected to deliver an ARAI-claimed range around 540km on a single charge.

Expected Tech And Safety

Expected features include a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, ventilated front seats, a fixed glass roof, ambient lighting, connected car technology and multiple drive modes.

On the safety front, the Urban Cruiser EV could offer seven airbags, Level 2 ADAS, a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, ESC, traction control, TPMS and ABS with EBD.
An Army jawan lost his life in an ongoing counter terrorism operation in Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru in Jammus Kishtwar.

The Army jawan, identified as Havildar Gajendra Singh of the special forces, lost his life in Operation Trashi-1' launched by the Indian Army in the Chhatru area of Kishtwar on Sunday.

White Knight Corps in an X post said, The #GOC, White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a Counter Terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the ongoing Operation TRASHI-I on the intervening night of 18-19 Jan 2026.

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#WhiteKnightCorps | #Homage | #SupremeSacrifice



The #GOC, White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a Counter Terrorism operation in the Singpura area during the pic.twitter.com/XKUDTw9dxq  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) January 19, 2026

The Indian Army, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, launched Operation Trashi-1 on 19th January after Contact was established with terrorists in the Son Nar area, northeast of Chhatru, during a deliberate search operation as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations alongside J&K police.

Also Read: The Future Of War Is About To Change Forever? Why Indian Army Is Building Tens Of Thousands Of Combat Drones

Indian Armys White Knight Corps, in an X post, informed about the ongoing operation and the exceptional professionalism shown by the defence forces, Contact was established with terrorists in the general area Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru, during a deliberate search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations along with @JmuKmrPolice. Troops displayed exceptional professionalism and resolve while responding to hostile fire under challenging terrain and conditions. Operations remain underway with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies, said White Knight Corps.

#WhiteKnightCorps | #ContactWithTerrorists



Operation Trashi - I



Contact was established with terrorists in the general area Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru, during a deliberate search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations alongwith @JmuKmrPolice.  White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) January 18, 2026

While Operation Trashi-I continue in the general area of Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru. The security cordon has been further tightened, with search operations expanded to track down terrorists.




By- Anurag Mishra

A nation is shaped by its people, and the people include every citizen. But what is the value of a human life in our system? Try placing yourself in Yuvraj Mehtas position. Even imagining it is chilling.

Late at night, amid dense fog, Yuvraj was returning home when his car plunged into a water-filled, under-construction basement in Noidas Sector 150. For nearly 80 minutes, the 27-year-old kept his mobile phone torch switched on and cried out for help. Yet, in the name of rescue, police personnel, the fire brigade, and the SDRF merely attempted to throw a rope from a small crane. No decisive action followed.

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On one hand, the country speaks of becoming a global leader. On the other hand, the act of saving a life turns into a spectacle. Time and again, tragedies expose the same truth. Adulterated food becomes poison. Illegal buildings are acknowledged only after they collapse. People are shot while returning home from work at night. What happened to Yuvraj Mehta is yet another reminder. Pray you never face such a crisis, because in this system, help often comes in the form of hollow gestures rather than action.

Yuvrajs father, Rajkumar Mehta, recalls the ordeal in tears. I was helpless. My son was drowning, but the SDRF personnel refused to enter the water, citing the cold temperature, he said. Rescue teams continued operating a crane from a distance, fearing submerged iron rods and low temperatures. The accident occurred around midnight. Yuvrajs car fell into nearly 30 feet of water and drifted approximately 70 feet from the point of impact.

Despite the circumstances, Yuvraj showed remarkable presence of mind. As the car began to sink, he managed to open the door, climb onto the roof, and lie flat to maintain balance, buying time for rescuers to act. At 12:20 a.m., he called his father, who immediately alerted the police control room at 112. Aware of the fog, Yuvraj kept his phone torch on to help rescuers locate him. His father reached the site soon after. By 12:45 a.m., the local police in charge arrived. Eyewitnesses, including a delivery worker present at the spot, documented the chaos on video.

Fire and SDRF teams were eventually deployed, but their equipment proved grossly inadequate. The crane brought in by the fire department could reach only 40 feet. Personnel continued throwing ropes from above while Yuvraj slowly disappeared into the water. A larger crane was never requisitioned. Officials cited bushes in the water, cold temperatures, and the risk of iron rods as reasons for not entering the basement.

This raises a disturbing question. If rescuers prioritise their own safety over an urgent human life, what purpose do they serve? With coordinated effort, Yuvraj could have been saved. At the very least, there should have been a visible attempt. Instead, hesitation defined the response.

Later, the SDRF cited poor visibility as a reason for inaction. Yet, by all accounts, Yuvraj displayed greater courage than the system meant to protect him. Even a delivery worker, Munendra, ventured into the cold water to search for him. He described the situation openly before television cameras, contradicting official claims and exposing the gaps in the rescue operation.

Following a complaint by the victims family, an FIR has been registered and an investigation initiated, according to Gautam Buddh Nagar Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dr. Rajiv Narayan Mishra. Such assurances, however, ring hollow. Investigations into administrative negligence often serve as a temporary appeasement. By Monday afternoon, news emerged that a junior engineer had been suspended. Experience suggests this will change little.

If accountability truly mattered, those who failed in their duty would no longer be called rescuers. A system that watches a life slip away without intervention cannot claim the moral authority of public service. Yuvrajs death has laid bare the dysfunction of governance, where commissions dictate approvals, illegalities thrive unchecked, and responsibility is endlessly deferred.

Sector 150 saw vast tracts of land handed over to builders, towers erected, and families settled. Yet basic infrastructure, such as water drainage, was ignored. Who is responsible, the residents, the builders, or the authority? Or was this neglect allowed to persist until tragedy struck? As usual, responsibility will be passed around, with no clear answers.

The uncomfortable truth is that the system reacts only after a life is lost. It performs concern while media attention lasts, then quietly files away reports. A few suspensions follow and are later revoked. Grief fades from headlines but remains etched into families forever. Corruption and apathy have become institutional habits.

Pray to whichever faith you believe in that you or your loved ones never face such a moment. For Yuvrajs father, the trauma will never fade. He watched his son struggle for life while nearly 80 officials, representing the administration, stood by as spectators.

(Anurag Mishra is a journalist with Zee News Digital. The opinions expressed are his own.)


A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable and his wife have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old relative staying with them at their residence in a CRPF camp in Greater Noida. The child is currently on ventilator support, and medical reports indicate severe abuse, including critically low hemoglobin (1.9), fractured ribs, broken teeth, torn nails, and other serious injuries. Shakti Mohan Avasthy, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Noida, confirmed the arrests, as per the reports of NDTV.

Case filed under BNS

A case has been filed against the couple under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to an attempt to commit culpable homicide. According to the FIR, the girl is the wifes niece and had been living with the constables family at the camp, where she was allegedly forced to perform all household chores.

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Child on life support

Around 2 am on Thursday, January 15, she was taken to Sarvodaya Hospital following what was reported as a bathroom fall. Doctors discovered severe injuries, leading to a medico-legal case and then police were informed about the matter. The constable later requested her discharge, citing financial difficulties, but she was admitted to Max Hospital in Sector-128, where she remains on life support.

Constable suspended

The FIR states that the alleged assault occurred late Wednesday night. The constable has been suspended, and both he and his wife have been arrested. UP Police personnel are stationed at the hospital to monitor her condition, and several senior officers have visited to check on her.

According to CRPF the accused Constable posted in the CRPF's Noida hospital as a first aider.

"He is residing in CRPF Noida camp with his family and had a young girl, reported to be his wife's relative, staying with the family. Considering the gravity of the incident, the said constable was placed under suspension, and an enquiry has been initiated as per procedure," CRPF said in a statement.

It also added, "CRPF will give every assistance to the police for the investigation and support the medical treatment to the young girl fully."
A new US-led power centre for global conflict management is taking shape, and India finds itself facing a difficult choice. President Donald Trumps proposed Board of Peace, presented as a high-level body to oversee Gazas post-war future, has extended invitations to dozens of countries, including India. Accepting, however, could force New Delhi into an uncomfortable diplomatic corner.

Described by Trump as the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled at any time, any place, experts are viewing the initiative as more than a reconstruction mechanism. Many believe it could reshape global peace and security discussions outside the United Nations system, raising concerns for countries that have consistently defended multilateralism.

A US-designed platform for post-war Gaza

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Announced in September 2025, the Board of Peace was established to oversee the second phase of the US-brokered ceasefire that concluded the 2023-2025 Gaza conflict. Its immediate task is to oversee Gazas reconstruction and supervise the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a Palestinian technocratic body expected to govern the territory.

The board will also monitor the disarmament of Hamas. Donald Trump chairs the panel, which includes figures such as Jared Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The scale and composition of the group have prompted questions about its long-term intentions and reach.

A pay-to-join model raises concerns

Invitations to the Board of Peace have reportedly been sent to around 60 world leaders. Permanent membership, however, comes with a significant condition: a $1 billion mandatory contribution to a reconstruction fund controlled by the board.

This requirement has drawn criticism for creating an exclusive forum where influence is tied to financial capacity. Unlike the UN General Assembly or the Security Council, the board does not promise universal participation, raising fears that peace and reconstruction decisions could become selective and politically driven.

For India, this poses a direct challenge to its diplomatic identity. New Delhi has long argued for reforming the UN to reflect present-day realities, particularly the interests of the Global South, while firmly opposing efforts to sideline it.

Why staying out is not an easy option

Despite the risks, declining the invitation is also problematic. India has sought a larger role in global security discussions and would be reluctant to remain absent from a forum where post-war governance and reconstruction models are being debated.

With new international groupings emerging alongside traditional institutions, opting out could mean surrendering influence to others and being perceived as disengaged at a critical moment in global diplomacy.

Ambiguous mandate fuels wider fears

Unease over the Board of Peace is heightened by the lack of clarity in its founding document. While Gaza is the current focus, the charter reportedly avoids naming the territory. The New York Times has noted that broad references to world peace have sparked speculation that the body could expand its remit beyond Gaza.

Analysts warn this could signal an effort by Washington to establish a US-led alternative to the UN Security Council, consolidating decision-making under American leadership.

The Gaza prism and Indias balancing act

Indias approach to the Israel-Palestine issue has been deliberately measured. It supports a two-state solution and Palestinian rights, while maintaining strong strategic ties with Israel.

Participation in a Trump-driven, West-centric platform on Gaza would be closely scrutinised, particularly by countries of the Global South. The challenge is compounded by Trumps past statement that the US would take over Gaza and redevelop it as the Riviera of the Middle East, remarks that India would want no association with.

At the same time, managing relations with Washington remains critical. The Trump administration has shown little hesitation in using tariffs and economic pressure as tools of diplomacy, limiting Indias room for open disagreement.

Pakistan factor adds another layer

Indias concerns are further sharpened by reports that Pakistan has also been invited to join the Board of Peace. Islamabad has confirmed receiving the invitation, while New Delhi has yet to respond publicly.

Reports suggest Pakistan may offer troops for a proposed International Stabilisation Force in Gaza  a move India has already ruled out, reiterating that it does not deploy forces under non-UN mandates.

Sharing a diplomatic platform with Pakistan is likely to provoke political backlash in India, particularly given New Delhis stance on terrorism. Experience at multilateral forums suggests that bilateral tensions could spill into board proceedings.

A choice with no easy answers

Trumps Board of Peace places India in a familiar but sharpened dilemma: how to engage with emerging power structures without weakening the institutions it has long defended.

Joining carries reputational and political risks; staying out could mean strategic marginalisation. Any decision will require careful calibration, balancing Indias global image, domestic politics, and its relationship with an unpredictable but powerful United States.

How New Delhi navigates this moment will be a test of its ability to operate in a world where global governance is increasingly contested and increasingly fragmented.
Even as North and South India experienced a remarkably parched and warm winter with bare Himalayan tops, a huge change in weather is finally taking place. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy snowfall and rains in North India from today, January 19, 2026, as two consecutive powerful Western Disturbances (WD) are about to strike.

This had created a great concern among environmentalists and farmers, as well as the tourism sector, due to low levels in the river caused by the absence of snow until mid-January.

The deficit in this current winter has been immense when it comes to precipitation. The records from the IMD state:

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The deficit in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh was 97%.

The average snowfall in Himachal Pradesh declined by 92%.

Uttarakhand received close to zero snow in many major areas.

This "snow-less" winter has been attributed to the lack of Western Disturbances, which have in the past deflected or moved further up and over the Himalayas. However, the present active system moving in from the Mediterranean is expected to break this dry streak decisively.

Snowfall Timing Of Peak Intensity: 23rd January

The weather change will start slowly with increasing intensity over the next 48 hours.

Jan 20 - Jan 22: Scattered light to moderate snow showers will commence in elevated regions.

Jan 23: This is forecast to be the most active day. A Heavy Snowfall Alert has been issued in isolated places in the Shivalik Ranges and Pir Panjal Range.

Areas to be Affected: Tourism centers such as Gulmarg, Manali, Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, and the Lahaul Spiti valley are likely to be covered in a thick white layer of snow.

Impact On The Plains: Rain & Fog For Delhi-NCR

The Himalayan blizzard will create a ripple effect in the North Indian Plains from January 23 to 25.

Rainfall: There will be light to moderate showers in the regions of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Temperature & Fog: This will result in dense fog formation as well as a substantial drop in mercury levels, further increasing the "chill factor" over the National Capital Region and Bihar.

Travel Advisory: Be Prepared For Road Closure

Although the snow is an aid to nature as well as the hotel industry, it also creates certain difficulties in terms of logistics. The authorities recommend that travelers should:

Monitor Traffic: Anticipate large roads such as the 'Atal Tunnel' and 'Srinagar-Leh' highway being under temporary closure due to landslides.

Safety First: Be prepared for slippery road conditions and sub-zero temperatures.

Supplies People in alpine communities are advised to store supplies of essential items in view of heavy accumulation halting connectivity for several days.

ALSO READ | Meet The 'Millionaire Beggar' Of Indore: A Disabled Person Who Owns 3 Homes, 3 Autos, & A Luxury Car
In a troubling incident on the Delhi Metro, an American woman reported being groped by a teenage boy after she agreed to take a photo. Shockingly, the boys mother and sister defended him, claiming he was merely curious about blondes, reported NDTV.

Gaurav Sabnis, an Indian-origin professor at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, shared the womans story on X. He explained that a former student had contacted him for travel advice for a friends wedding in India.

Sabnis had warned her to be cautious during her trip, noting that she might attract unwanted attention. Sadly, his warning proved accurate when she experienced sexual harassment on the Delhi Metro, and the perpetrators family excused his behavior. Through sharing this story, Sabnis highlighted the difficulties that foreign women, in particular, can face in India.

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When this former student called me in November for suggestions for her India trip for a friend's wedding, I told her, be on guard for sexual harassment. Especially in Delhi. Here, you're just another blond. There, you'll be a target.



Sadly, came true.



Greatest culture! pic.twitter.com/LThSNG5p4r  Gaurav Sabnis (@gauravsabnis) January 16, 2026

"When this former student called me in November for suggestions for her India trip for a friend's wedding, I told her, be on guard for sexual harassment. Especially in Delhi. Here, you're just another blond. There, you'll be a target. Sadly, it came true," he wrote on X along, with a screenshot of the text he received from his student.

Expressing dissatisfaction, the woman also said she will avoid South Asia for future travel.

"But then a teenage boy, maybe 14 or 15, at a Delhi Metro station just ruined it forever. He was with his mom and sister so thought okay why not. He puts an arm on my shoulder. Weird but okay, he's a teenager. And then, professor, he just straight up grabbed my breasts hard and spanked my butt and giggled like he had played a joke. pretty much EXPLODED in anger, grabbing him by the collar and pushing him away. He fell and his mother started getting upset at me saying I was "overreacting". That he had never met a blond lady up close so he got "carried away". What kind of parenting is that? I loved your country and I wish I could say return, but don't think ever will. In fact I'm going to give all of South Asia a pass," the woman wrote in a text to the professor.

Social media users slammed the incident

Several people condemned the familys justification, calling it enabling and emphasizing that molestation is a serious offense. Many urged that the woman should have reported the incident, while others expressed apologies on behalf of Indians.

One Social media users wrote, "This is not just a disturbing incident, it's also a cognizable offence. the sad part is, the defense came from the one who was actually supposed to pull his ears and take him to task for this crime of molestation."

Another said, "Absolutely shameful, disgusting & embarrassing. I wish the lady had taken the matter further by calling the police. The boy just got away with his atrocious behaviour. My sons are absolute gentlemen with women. What happened to this nutcase? How did he think this was ok??"



Previous incident of sexual assault of foreign women in India

1. French woman raped in Udaipur (24 June, 2025): In a shocking case, French woman was raped after attending a party in Rajasthana's Udaipur. The Rajasthan Police have registered a case, confirmed officials on Tuesday. Know More

2. Israeli woman raped in Hampi (8 March, 2025): Two women, including a 27-year-old Israeli tourist, were allegedly gang-raped near Sanapur Lake near Hampi in Karnatakas Koppal district, police said on Saturday. Know More

3. British woman raped in Delhi by two online friend (14 March, 2025): A British woman was allegedly gang-raped in a hotel in Delhi's Mahipalpur area by two men after she travelled to the national capital to meet one of the accused. Know More
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan concluded his three-hour visit to India on January 19, 2026.

PM Narendra Modi recieved UAE President at the airport and later held bilateral talks at his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

One of the major outcomes of the bilateral talks between the two leaders was the formalisation of the India-UAE Letter of Intent, establishing a comprehensive Strategic Defence Partnership framework. This pivotal agreement covers joint defence manufacturing, technology transfers, and private sector collaboration.

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India and the UAE have cultivated a vibrant partnership, merging historical trade routes with contemporary ambitions in energy, defence, investment, and technology.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held a press briefing highlighting the bilateral discussions between the two leaders. Foreign Secretary stressed the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyans short but highly substantive official visit to New Delhi, were marked by warm personal gestures from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the bilateral talks, both leaders strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, vowing justice for perpetrators, supporters, and financiers, while UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed endorsed India's 2026 BRICS chairmanship success.

The Leaders' talks reflected their signature warmth and friendship, yielding multiple Letters of Intent. These cover a strategic defence partnership framework, space collaboration via IN-SPACe, and the UAE agency for launch sites, satellites, joint missions and training, plus UAE stakes in Dholera's mega projects, including an international airport, greenfield port, MRO, smart township, and rail-energy links.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the visit of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "The talks between the leaders were characterised by the warmth and special friendship between the two leaders that has become a characteristic of pic.twitter.com/dKRFgJtzID  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2026

Also Read: PM Modi Receives UAE President Sheikh Al Nahyan As He Arrives In India For Two-Hour Visit

Foreign Secretary also detailed about PM Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyans review of bilateral trade dynamics during their summit, highlighting Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) favorable effects on commerce volumes.

The discussions between the two leaders also emphasised scaling this partnership for sustained growth amid global economic shifts.

PM Modi also expressed gratitude for UAE President Al Nahyan's support in providing artifacts for Lothal's upcoming National Maritime Heritage Complex. The leaders agreed to advance polar science cooperation, including shared expeditions and institutional partnerships, alongside reviewing West Asia's regional dynamics to promote peace, security, and prosperity.




Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday ruled out the possibility of Kashmiri Pandits returning permanently to the Valley.

"They may come as visitors, but I don't think Kashmiri Pandits will ever return permanently to the Valley," Abdullah told reporters here amid ongoing discussions on the community's rehabilitation, according to an IANS report.

His remarks highlight persistent challenges in the region's security and rehabilitation efforts for the displaced Pandit community.

While extending a warm invitation to displaced Kashmiri Pandits to reclaim their homes in the Valley, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah expressed doubts about their permanent return.

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Emphasising that the Valley is their rightful abode, Abdullah noted the community's integration elsewhere in India, where many have built new lives with children pursuing education and employment outside Kashmir.

His comments underscore ongoing rehabilitation challenges for the Pandit exodus amid security concerns.

Abdullah's remarks came as migrant Kashmiri Pandits marked 'Holocaust Day,' commemorating their 1990 mass exodus amid terrorist threats, though he noted many families stayed and live peacefully in the Valley.

"When will they return to Kashmir? Who is stopping them? No one is preventing them. They should come back as it is their home, quotes IANS.

"Many Kashmiri Pandits are currently living in the Valley and have not left their villages," the former Chief Minister answered when asked about the protests by Kashmiri Pandits for return and rehabilitation to Kashmir.

Dozens of Kashmiri Pandits under 'Youth 4 Panun Kashmir' blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Jagti migrant camp on Monday evening. They demanded a separate homeland in the Valley for their return and urged Parliament to pass a bill recognising their genocide.

Responding to queries on these demands, former CM Farooq Abdullah recalled assuring the displaced community that his government would build houses and provide essential support. He noted that after his administration's fall, implementation now rests with the Central government. The protest reignites calls for concrete rehabilitation measures amid historical grievances.

NC president Abdullah emphasised that the Kashmiri Pandit community must first assess the ground situation, as many have settled across India. "They have grown older, many seek medical treatment, and their children study in colleges, schools, and universities," he said, reiterating, "They may visit, but I don't think they will return permanently."

While around 3,000 Kashmiri Pandits remain in the Valley, the majority fled in 1990, becoming refugees in their own country. The educated community endured migration's trauma, with elders yearning for ancestral lands, though the post-1990 generation views it differently.

Abdullah reflected on 'Kashmiriyat', the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood rooted in mutual respect, now undermined by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, which struck a severe blow to Kashmir's tolerant culture despite lingering rhetoric.

(with IANS inputs)


Delhi High Court on Monday refused to suspend the sentence of Kuldeep Singh Sengar, former BJP MLA, in the Unnao custodial death case.

Sengar has been in custody since April 13, 2018, and is serving ten years jail term in the Unnao rape victim's father's custodial death case.

Sengar's Bail In Minor Rape Case

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Earlier, Sengar was granted bail in a minor rape case on December 23, 2025. However, the order was stayed by the Supreme Court on December 29.

Advocate Mehmood Pracha, counsel for the rape victim, had argued that Sengar doesn't deserve bail as there is a threat to the victim and to her family.

It was also argued that the victim is being harassed on social media and defamed by levelling allegations against her.

On the other hand, Senior counsel Manish Vasisth, along with advocate Kanhaiya Singhal, appeared for Kuldeep Singh Sengar. They opposed the submissions made by counsel for the victim.

Earlier, it was argued by the counsel for Sengar that the appellant, the accused, was not present at the site on April 3, 2018.

It was also submitted that the trial court relied on Section 61 of the CRPC of Appellant's secretary, Santosh Mishra. He talked to the appellant on the phone on the day of the incident when he was not there. However, he was not examined by the court.

It was also argued that there were contradictions in the statements of two witnesses, and there is a lack of credibility and reliability, according to ANI.

Senger, along with other accused, was convicted by the Tis Hazari Court in 2018. He is also serving a life sentence in Minor's rape case.

These cases stem from FIRs of 2018, registered at Police Station Makhi, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, which were decided by the District and Sessions Judge (West) at Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi.

(with ANI inputs)
The global system built after the Second World War is under visible strain. Prolonged wars, sharp economic nationalism under US President Donald Trumps tariff regime, and the steady erosion of multilateral institutions are reshaping international power. Amid this churn, long-dominant players are weakening, and a strategic opening is emerging for India to assert itself more strongly on the world stage.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has turned into a grinding and costly conflict. Thousands have been killed, cities destroyed, and Moscow is stuck in prolonged trench warfare. The war has not only drained economies and military strength but has also reduced both Russian and European diplomatic influence around the Globe.

Israel's Gaza offensive since October 2023 has turned the strip into rubble amid a humanitarian disaster. Iran's proxy battles with internal conflicts and tensions with the United States further shatter Middle East stability, with the UN powerless and irrelevant.

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Donald Trumps obsession with swinging the "tariff wand" with 50% tariff on India, recently announced 10% tariff on European Countries and the continuous threats of 500% tariff under the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, and his constant swings keep the world in suspense.

The Declining European Presence

The post-World War II global setup, rigid since 1945, witnesses Europe's clout erode this decade amid energy woes, Ukraine aid burdens, and internal rifts, which have led to a decline in the European presence.

On January 17, 2026, President Trump slapped 10% tariffs on eight nations: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finlandfor rejecting his Greenland annexation bid, fracturing NATO unity further.

Earlier in 2026, Trump ordered U.S. forces to seize Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro on narco-terrorism charges, reviving echoes of unilateral power plays in a shifting world order.

Also Read: Chabahar Port Crisis: India To Wind Down Operations Amid Crushing US Sanctions?

The Irrelevance Of The United Nations

The United Nations, crippled by its outdated UN Charter and P5 veto biases, proves powerless in today's turbulent world order, rocked by wars and Trump's shake-ups.

Drafted in 1945, the UN Charter grants veto power to five permanent Security Council members, which include the U.S., Russia, China, the UK, and France, blocking action, with the U.S. shielding Israel in Gaza, and Russia stalling Ukraine.

Trump's funding cuts and unilateralism with tariffs and Venezuelas strike further sideline it, amplifying multipolar forums like BRICS.

Indias Strategic Climb In A Shifting Global Order

India has persistently sought a permanent UN Security Council seat amid the body's fading relevance in today's multipolar chaos, positioning New Delhi as a key unifier of the Global South through G20 and climate diplomacy.

Amid the growing irrelevance of the United Nations, in March 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticised the United Nations and other global bodies as "almost irrelevant" during a podcast interview with Lex Fridman.

In March 2025, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered the statement during a Chatham House conversation in London, where he stressed India's Rise and Role in the World.

It further boosts Indias power play, benefited by a multipolar world that aligns with Indias strategic interests, enabling the country to maintain autonomy while strengthening global partnerships.

EAM S Jaishankar also highlighted shifting alliances benefiting India under U.S. policy, reaffirming stable U.S. ties and citing the Quad with the U.S., Australia, and Japan as a regional cooperation example.

Further, Indias surges as an economic powerhouse with 7% GDP growth, fueled by initiatives like "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and "Viksit Bharat 2047.

US President Donald Trumps shakeup of the static post-World War era global order can be a significant boost to Indias rise and growing presence in the world order, with the growing influence of BRICS in the changing world scenario.

The Expansion Of BRICS

India holds a significant scope to elevate its global standing through BRICS by leveraging the bloc's expansion. With Indias BRICS presidency 2026 amid shifting world dynamics. India's chairship prioritizes resilient supply chains, energy, and tech like AI and fintech to counter tariff disruptions.

BRICS cushions against Western slowdowns and US tariffs while opening diversified markets and energy avenues, aligning with Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat 2047, with strategic positioning that fosters Indias leadership in the Global South.

BRICS currently comprises original members Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, plus full additions like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Indonesia since 2024-2025, nearing 40% of global GDP.

India champions BRICS initiatives in digital payments, such as UPI expansion, energy alliances with Russia for discounted oil and the UAE for trade, and the growing ties with Egypt for regional influence, building balanced supply chains under Atmanirbhar Bharat. These efforts reduce dollar dependence and Western sanction exposure amid Trump's tariffs.

The Collective resistance to tariff blackmail boosts bargaining power against de-dollarisation-targeted threats, enhancing Global South leadership, and solidifying New Delhis climb in the global ladder.

FTAs And Strategic Reset With Beijing

Apart from the growing stronghold of BRICS+, New Delhi has initiated efforts to warm up its relations with Beijing through high-level dialogues and practical measures, including PM Modi's 2025 visit to China for the SCO summit.

The 24th Special Representatives' dialogue signalled renewed trust-building after the 2020 border clashes. The Chinese CPC delegations visit to New Delhi in January 2026 stressed a right environment for ties, with China supporting India's BRICS chairship.

Resumed direct flights, expanded Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and hydrological data sharing reflect people-to-people revival.

With the increased focus on Free Trade Agreements, New Delhi accelerates its trade diversification in 2026, the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to be effective from 2026 and focusing on the impending FTAs like the EU deal around the corner and advancing talks with the US, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Israel, and others, lessening dependence on dominant markets.


Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M. has been removed from his post and placed on the waiting list following the tragic death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, who fell into a water-filled ditch in Sector 150.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the incident and ordered a high-level investigation. Acting on his directions, the state government has constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the circumstances leading to Mehtas death.

The SIT will operate under the supervision of the Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Meerut Zone, and will include the Divisional Commissioner of Meerut and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD). The team has been instructed to complete the probe and submit its report to the Chief Minister within five days.

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According to the post-mortem report, Mehta died of asphyxiation, with heart failure or cardiac arrest listed as a contributing factor. Police officials noted that the findings indicate cardiac arrest ultimately caused his death.

Preliminary reports suggest that the incident occurred late on Saturday night amid severe cold. Mehtas vehicle reportedly plunged into a water-filled ditch, where he remained trapped for an extended period. Sources indicated that he managed to climb onto the roof of his partially submerged car and awaited assistance for nearly two hours. During this time, exposure to freezing water, extreme cold, mental stress and panic is believed to have contributed to his deteriorating condition. Police suspect that the combination of delayed rescue, hypothermia, and anxiety triggered cardiac arrest.

The tragedy has sparked widespread public outrage. On Sunday, a large number of local residents gathered at the accident site throughout the day, questioning the authorities response and alleging serious lapses in emergency services. Residents claimed that despite Mehtas repeated calls for help, no timely or effective rescue operation was undertaken. While officials from multiple departments reached the site, locals described the response as largely formal and superficial.

The incident has also drawn attention to the Noida Authoritys alleged negligence. Residents of Sector 150 stated that they had repeatedly raised concerns about safety hazards in the area prior to the accident. Complaints had been submitted requesting the installation of speed breakers and reflectors, covering of open drains, drainage of waterlogged plots, and improvement of street lighting and sanitation. Letters were also sent via the IGRS portal to various departments.

However, locals alleged that Work Circle-10 shifted responsibility to the Noida Authoritys Traffic Cell, resulting in inaction. Even representations from Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar and Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma, urging urgent safety measures, reportedly went unheeded.



(With IANS inputs)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday addressed a regional conference of booth volunteers in Vadodara, mounting a fierce attack on both the BJP and the Congress. He said that the BJP will be ousted in the 2027 elections and that the people of Gujarat will take charge of the states governance. Arvind Kejriwal said that for the past 30 years, the BJP has ruled Gujarat through fear, imprisonment, and corruption, but that fear has now disappeared from the minds of the people.

The AAP Chief pointed out that the Congress receives government contracts from the BJP government, which is why the public has no expectations from it. Only the AAP, he asserted, can defeat the BJP in Gujarat. He said Gujarat has been looted, and that this is no longer a battle for power, but a fight for the dignity and justice of the people of Gujarat.

Addressing the gathering, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said that the AAP is expanding rapidly across Gujarat. He said that even the BJP no longer has an organisation as large as that of AAP. He stated, The BJP has spread fear and oppression throughout Gujarat and people are fed up.

The AAP Supremo continued, The fear of the BJP is steadily leaving peoples minds, and they are now openly coming forward to oppose the party. For 30 years, the BJP has ruled Gujarat solely through fear, oppression, and corruption. Arvind Kejriwal pointed out that several AAP leaders, including Pravin Ram and Rajubhai Karpada, have been in jail for the past three months.

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Arvind Kejriwal further said that the BJP government jailed 85 poor farmers following a sudden and forceful crackdown on Hadad's farmers movement. These farmers were raising their voices against the Karda system. They were demanding their rightful dues, and the protest was peaceful, he added.

Arvind Kejriwal said he met the families of the imprisoned farmers, who told him that if their children have to spend even three years in jail for Gujarat, for the people of Gujarat, and for Gujarats progress, they are ready for it. The fear of the BJP is gradually disappearing from the minds of the people of Gujarat and that people are slowly beginning to stand up, he said.

The AAP National Convenor said that there was a time when Gujarat was considered one of the most prosperous states in the country, but in the last 30 years the BJP has looted everything. He called out the BJP for consuming farmers fertilisers and seeds, drinking farmers water, denying them MSP for their crops, and pocketing their hard-earned money.

He continued, The BJP has looted Gujarats roads, electricity, schools, and hospitals. Government schools are in a pathetic condition, forcing poor families to send their children to private schools out of compulsion, where private school operators indulge in intimidation and rampant looting. In government hospitals, medicines are unavailable, tests are not conducted, and doctors are missing.

Arvind Kejriwal called out that government hospitals have been deliberately ruined so that poor people are forced to seek treatment in private hospitals. Private schools and private hospitals are owned by BJP leaders themselves, he emphasised.

The AAP National Convenor said that traders themselves are saying, We pay taxes, we send money to their leaders, we give money to their party, yet they still insult us. The BJP has destroyed traders businesses and their children are sitting unemployed. When youth ask for jobs, they are handed fake liquor bottles.

Arvind Kejriwal stated that in 30 years, the BJP has ruined Gujarat. Referring to the Hadad incident, he said peoples homes were entered, they were beaten with sticks, and publicly humiliated. This is not a fight for power. This is a fight for Gujarats honour. This is not about removing one party to bring another, it is a fight for dignity and justice, he said.

Arvind Kejriwal said that two years ago, a boat tragedy occurred in Harni Lake, where small schoolchildren had gone for a school-organised boating trip. Twelve children and two teachers drowned to death because they were not given safety jackets. The contractor was from the BJP. The officers who displayed hooliganism were from the BJP. Even after two years, no one has been punished, he said.

He added that the BJP has no concern for the people of Gujarat and only cares about its contractors. The BJP is not a party of Gujaratis. It is a party of contractors and goons, he said.

Arvind Kejriwal further said that a few months ago, some women went to the Chief Ministers rally seeking justice. They requested to meet the Chief Minister, but the Chief Minister got them thrown out by the police. The women were insulted, and two days later, the police reached their homes to demolish them. What kind of justice is this? What kind of Gujarat do they want to build? he asked, adding that the people of Gujarat will have to stand up and end this hooliganism.

Arvind Kejriwal said that Gujarat has the largest number of poor and backward tribal regions. As per the Constitution, thousands of crores of rupees come every year for the development of tribal areas. If this money is spent honestly, there would be excellent schools for children and excellent hospitals for families. Roads would be built, water for irrigation would be available, and free electricity would reach homes, Arvind Kejriwal remarked.

However, he added that this money never reaches the tribal communities. He stated that tribal leader Chaitar Vasava has been sent to jail two or three times because he raised his voice for the tribal society.

Arvind Kejriwal said that a few days ago the Prime Minister visited Dediapada and held a massive rally. Chaitar Vasava filed an RTI asking how much money was spent on the rally and from where it came. The reply revealed that 50 crore from the Tribal Welfare Fund was spent on the Prime Ministers rally. This fund comes from the Gujarat government to build schools and hospitals for tribals, for irrigation, electricity, and village development, he continued. Arvind Kejriwal added that 2 crore was spent on samosas (snacks), 5 crore on tents, and 7 crore on buses.

The Prime Minister has a lot of money. He should have spent the central governments money. Why was a rally organised using tribal societys money? Arvind Kejriwal said 50 crore could have built many schools and hospitals. This is how they steal public money. That is why the tribal society has remained backward, he said.

The AAP Head said the BJP has kept people suppressed only through fear, oppression, and humiliation. There is chaos across Gujarat. When oppression crosses limits, people rise against it, he said, adding that today the entire Gujarat is standing against the BJP.

Arvind Kejriwal said massive crowds are turning up at every AAP rally, and people are openly saying that change will come this time. The people have made up their minds. In the 2027 elections, the BJP will go from Gujarat and the people of Gujarat will come to power, he said.

Arvind Kejriwal said the people of Gujarat themselves are saying that the Congress is incapable. Congress leaders themselves say that they run businesses in partnership with the BJP. How can they raise their voice against them? If they do, their contracts will stop, he said.

He added that Congress leaders receive government contracts from the BJP government in Gujarat. Congress can never defeat the BJP. Only the AAP can defeat the BJP, because AAP leaders do not take contracts from the BJP government. We do not want contracts, we work for the people, he continued.

Arvind Kejriwal said that five BJP MLAs from Vadodara, Shailesh Sotta, Ketan Inamdar, Dharmendrasing Vaghela, Akshay Patel, and Chaitanyasing Jhala, have written a letter to their Chief Minister. In the letter, they stated that the administrative system in the state is deteriorating day by day.

He said the MLAs wrote that while administration is meant to function smoothly, today even the smallest work in a government office has become like a battle for an ordinary citizen. From senior officers to junior staff, public suffering is increasing. Officers consider themselves above the public and elected representatives and act arbitrarily.

The officers are not even listening to the MLAs. When the Chief Minister received the letter, he said that officers do not listen to him either, Arvind Kejriwal said. He added that through this letter, the MLAs have conveyed to the public not to approach them for work because they cannot get anything done.

Arvind Kejriwal said the people of Gujarat should vote for those who can actually get work done. Form an AAP government in Gujarat, and every public work will be completed, he said, adding that if the BJP had governed well for 30 years, no one would attend AAP rallies.

Today people come to our rallies with hope, he said, assuring that 7 crore Gujaratis will come together and form an AAP government in 2027. He said AAP will build a prosperous Gujarat where farmers and traders are happy, youth get employment, farmers receive fertiliser, seeds, and irrigation water on time, crops get full prices, roads are good, and quality schools and hospitals are built.

We will build a Gujarat without spurious liquor, without drugs, without corruption, without hooliganism. Contractors will not dictate terms. No one will intimidate, and no one will be afraid. Fear will be eliminated, and people will work fearlessly, he said.

Arvind Kejriwal said AAP karyakarta and supporters must be prepared to go to jail. He said two years remain until the elections, and as elections approach, they will send more people to jail. He highlighted that Chaitar Vasava, Pravin Ram, and Raju Karpada have already been jailed, and karyakartas will also be targeted in the future.

I had no fault, yet I spent six months in jail because I dared to raise my voice against their oppression, he said, adding that leaders like Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia were also jailed. They will send people to jail, and I will bring them out, he said.

Addressing party karyakartas, Arvind Kejriwal said the next two years require relentless hard work. He said karyakartas must go door to door and connect people to the movement for change and called upon karyakartas to take a pledge that every person will add five new voters every day.

He said the people of Visavadar have given hope and a message to the entire Gujarat. If Visavadar can challenge the BJP, the whole of Gujarat can challenge the BJP, he said, calling for the Visavadar model to be replicated across the state.

The AAP Supremo concluded by saying that people from every community across Gujarat are joining the AAP. It is a matter of great happiness that the entire Gujarat is connecting with the AAP, he concluded.


Patna: Police have launched a detailed probe into the death of a NEET aspirant at a hostel in Patna. Speaking on Monday, Patna Sadar Assistant Superintendent of Police Abhinav Kumar said, "An investigation is underway, and whatever facts emerge during the investigation will be shared with you. We are investigating from all angles..."

Government Action and SIT Formation

Earlier on Sunday, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said the Bihar government is committed to ensuring justice in the NEET aspirants death in Patna. He informed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted and that the case has also been transferred to the CBI for investigation.

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"The Bihar government is taking all necessary steps, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been formed. The CBI has also taken over the case. Whoever committed this crime will not escape punishment, and action will be taken against those involved... If there are any difficulties in the case, we will also speak to the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India, and every possible step will be taken. Steps will also be taken to prevent such incidents from happening again," Jitan Ram Manjhi told ANI reporters in Patna.

Parents Allegations and Hostel Concerns

Earlier, Parents who gathered outside the Patna hostel on Sunday expressed frustration, claiming that hostel authorities were not cooperating and that students were unable to continue their studies after a NEET aspirant student died during treatment.

According to the police, the NEET aspirant died during treatment in Patna. While there were reports of an alleged sexual assault, the police said that the doctors have not confirmed sexual or penetrative assault in the case.

The Bihar Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.

Speaking to ANI, parents of the students said they were not allowed to enter the premises. Poonam Singh, the mother of a hostel resident, said that parents were being kept outside despite making repeated requests.

(From the Inputs of ANI)
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Monday said that the selective targeting of India over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is both Unfair and unjustified. The remarks were made during talks with Polands Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi. EAM S Jaishankar pointed out how India is being unfairly singled out on global issues while asserting that such selective treatment is neither right nor justified.

While the Polish Deputy PM Radoslaw Sikorski agreed with EAM S Jaishankars calling out of selective targeting, he said, I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting by tariffs, and we in Europe know something about that also. We fear that this is progressing to global trade turbulence.

During the bilateral meeting, both leaders discussed plans to assess the 2024-28 Action Plan, aiming to unlock the complete scope of the India-Poland strategic partnership. The talks also focused on enhancing collaboration in trade, investments, defence, security, green technologies, and digital advancements.

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During the meeting, Jaishankar also highlighted how Poland ranks among Indias top trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade reaching USD 7 billion, a staggering nearly 200% growth over the past decade.

India's dynamic economic expansion, large market, and investor-friendly policies are key attractions for Polish firms. The inclusion of fostering stronger cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections.

Also Read: 'BRICS Must Commit To Reformed Multilateralism Reflecting Contemporary Realities': EAM Jaishankar

The conversation also discussed global affairs, with a valuable exchange on developments in our respective neighbourhoods.

Addressing the cross-border terrorism and pointing out the Polish Deputy PM Radoslaw Sikorskis recent visit to Pakistan, he said, Deputy PM, you are no stranger to the region and are more than familiar with the challenges of cross-border terrorism. I hope that at this meeting we discuss some of your recent travels to the region, Poland should display zero tolerance to terrorism and not help fuel terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood.

The EAM also emphasised that Poland should adopt a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism and refrain from supporting the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood.
On January 13, the Armys Directorate of Capability Development signed a contract to procure 18 Fire Fighting Robots (FF BOTs) at a cost of Rs 62 crore. The systems are intended to enhance safety during firefighting operations at locations where fires can escalate rapidly and pose serious risks to personnel and infrastructure.

The unmanned ground system is designed to operate in environments involving explosions, toxic smoke, extreme heat and the risk of structural collapseconditions in which human entry is often unsafe.

The static display at Army House was done to showcase the systems design, intended role and operational concept. The focus of the display was on how unmanned firefighting could reduce risk to personnel during the most dangerous phases of a fire, rather than on live performance.

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Even before the Army House display, the system had already undergone testing under the iDEX framework for the Indian Navy. The Army invoked enabling provisions that allow one service to procure iDEX products developed and cleared by a sister service. The FF BOT was approved following a Single Stage Composite Trial. The Army Design Bureau supported the project, reflecting the Armys push to promote indigenous defence solutions and start-ups under the Make in India programme.

The procurement of these systems reflects a broader effort to protect critical military infrastructure. Fires at ammunition depots and fuel storage facilities can have cascading effects like the damage to stockpiles, disruption of logistics and risks to nearby installations. Unmanned systems allow the Army to keep personnel at a safe distance during the most hazardous stages of firefighting.

The FF BOT has been developed by Swadeshi Empresa Pvt Ltd, an Indian start-up, under the Ministry of Defences Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative. The contract includes a two-year warranty and five years of comprehensive maintenance. This involved on-site service support for a total of seven years. Induction of the firefighting robots is scheduled to begin in the first week of April, after which they will be deployed across various cantonments in the country.

The FF BOT is remotely operated, enabling firefighters to control the system from outside the danger zone.

The robot is equipped with optical and thermal cameras that transmit live video feeds to operators. Thermal imaging improves situational awareness as well as decision-making in low-visibility conditions.

The system has previously been used in civilian firefighting operations, including during a major fire at the Visakhapatnam refinery. Officials said the robot can also be deployed at power stations, airports, fuel storage sites and during disaster response operations where access for human firefighters is restricted.

The FF BOT was the first iDEX SPRINT project under DISC-7 to receive Acceptance of Necessity in 2023. Officials said the system is intended to supplement, not replace, human firefighters by allowing unmanned platforms to enter the most hazardous areas first, reducing risk while ensuring a faster and safer response at sensitive installations.
In this video, watch all you need to know about India's Pinaka rocket launcher that India will export to Armenia.
The aircraft was en route to Plovdiv Airport as part of von der Leyens visit to EU nations bordering Russia and Belarus when it experienced a loss of GPS signal during its approach. Despite the disruption, the flight landed safely.
Eight people were killed in an explosion in the Afghan capital Kabul on Friday night. The blast took place in a government residential area of Shia-dominated PD6 in Kabul. Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said that the explosive devices were kept in a vehicle and eight people were killed and 18 others were injured in the incident.
A probe is underway into the death of a NEET aspirant at a Patna hostel, with an SIT formed and the case handed over to the CBI. Parents have alleged a lack of cooperation from hostel authorities, while police have not confirmed sexual assault so far.
UPSC Success Story: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam is one of Indias most prestigious and challenging competitive examinations, conducted annually to select candidates for various civil services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS). Success in the exam requires a strong combination of knowledge, critical thinking, time management, and consistent preparation, making it a benchmark for excellence in Indias civil services.
Yuvraj called his father at midnight and said, Papa, Ive fallen into a drain. Please save me. In the condition he was in, his father ran to the spot. Yuvraj was lying on the roof of the car, screaming for help. The police and fire brigade arrived, but in the name of rescue, they only kept throwing a rope. The rope never reached him. Even with hydraulic support, the rope could not reach.
Realme P4 Power 5G Battery In India: In todays fast-moving tech world, smartphone brands are constantly competing to attract customers with bigger batteries, sleek designs, better cameras, and advanced AI features. Battery sizes, in particular, are growing rapidly.

After OnePlus introduced the Turbo 6 in China with a massive 9,000mAh battery, Realme is set to launch the Realme P4 Power 5G in India soon. A company executive recently confirmed the name Realme P4 Power 5G, which was earlier expected to be called the Realme P5.

According to Realme, the P4 Power smartphone will come in Orange, Blue, and Silver colour options. The much-anticipated smartphone will run on Android 16-based Realme UI 7.0 out of the box. The company also promises 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches

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The Great Wall is : over 10,000 Li (5,000 km) long. #BatteryRevolution https://t.co/H9i391NnnG  Francis Wong  (@FrancisRealme) January 19, 2026

Realme P4 Power 5G Battery

The Chinese smartphone brand has been testing the battery of the upcoming P4 Power for the past few days. Recently, Realmes Head of Product Marketing, Francis Wong, reshared a video on X, confirming that the phone will pack a massive 10,001mAh battery.

If true, this would make it the largest smartphone battery ever seen in India. Realme also claims the battery will maintain 80 per cent health even after 1,650 charging cycles and is promising up to eight years of long-term battery durability. Realme states that the device only weighs 219 grams. (Also Read: Struggling With Slow Internet? Why Wi-Fi Router Placement Matters More Than Price; Find Best Spot For Faster Speeds)

Realme P4 Power 5G Specifications (Expected)

The much-anticipated smartphone is expected to feature a large 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. It may be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra chipset, paired with dedicated Hypervision and AI chips for improved performance. Realme refers to the phones design as TransView, and teaser images suggest it will feature a plastic frame.

On the back, the phone is likely to sport a rectangular camera module with three sensors and a transparent finish. There is also a patterned strip resembling a copper coil, with DART branding placed below it, hinting at fast charging support.

In terms of cameras, the Realme P4 Power is expected to come with a 50-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, while details about the third rear sensor are still unclear. For selfies, it may feature a 16-megapixel front camera.

Realme P4 Power 5G India Launch And Price Expected

The Realme P4 Power is expected to launch before the end of this month, with January 29 likely to be the launch date. While official pricing details are yet to be revealed, the smartphone is expected to be priced above Rs 30,000.
When a handful of European countries quietly sent a few dozen soldiers to Greenland, the gesture was meant to be careful and symbolic. Support Denmark, signal unity, but do nothing that might provoke the White House at a time when Ukraine still depends on US backing. Instead, the move appears to have had the opposite effect. Donald Trump has seized on it as a chance to bully allies, revive tariff threats and push his extraordinary demand to buy Greenland.

What was intended as a restraint now looks like weakness.

A show of force that invited punishment

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Over the weekend, Trump raised the stakes over the Arctic island, revelling in confrontation with US allies. He threatened a 10 per cent tariff from February on imports from countries that sent troops to Greenland: France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as non-EU states Britain and Norway. By June, the duty would rise to 25 per cent and stay there until a deal is struck for the US to acquire Greenland.

The move echoes last years bruising EU-US trade deal, when Brussels accepted a 15 per cent tariff on transatlantic exports. That agreement was sold as a necessary compromise. Now, barely months later, it is being rewritten at Washingtons whim.

The economic risk is serious. Bloomberg Economics estimates that tariffs of this scale could cut US exports from the affected countries by as much as 50 per cent. Germany, Sweden and Denmark are especially exposed. For trade-dependent economies built on rules and predictability, the message is stark: goodwill offers little protection.

Why backing down again would be worse

Another quiet climbdown by Europe would carry a high cost. This is not a trade dispute born of technical differences; it is economic pressure driven by a president who recently said the only limit on his global power was (his) own mind. If the US can impose tariffs to force territorial concessions from allies, there is no obvious endpoint.

At some stage, Europe must decide whether the price of alliance is permanent submission to worse trade terms than even China faces. If last years deal can be torn up so easily, what is it really worth?

Germanys apparent decision to send its small contingent home may suggest the crisis is over. It is not. If the levies come into force, European leaders will need to respond with more than protests.

The tools Europe has been reluctant to use

The first step would be political. The European Parliament has already threatened to delay or block approval of last years trade agreement, which Trumps administration hailed as giving the US unprecedented levels of market access. That deal has not stopped Washington from pressing Brussels to go easy on Silicon Valley and Seattle firms over regulation and competition law.

More significantly, the EU has a powerful but untested weapon: the Anti-Coercion Instrument. Designed specifically to counter tariff blackmail, it allows retaliation well beyond customs duties. In theory, it could restrict market access for giants such as Googles owner, Alphabet, a far bigger threat than higher taxes on niche American exports like Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

French President Emmanuel Macron supports using the instrument and has been backed by Germanys engineering lobby, the VDMA. Europe must not allow itself to be blackmailed, its president said over the weekend.

Security, NATO and an uncomfortable truth

Behind the trade fight lies a deeper question: can Europe guarantee its own security without the US? Last year, the answer was clearly no. Ukraine, above all, still depends on American support, and that reality helped push the EU into accepting the 15 per cent tariff.

But the rapid unravelling of that deal, and Trumps renewed threats over Greenland, cast doubt on confident claims that Nato is back and stronger than ever under what he once jokingly called Daddy Trump. Denmark has warned that a forced takeover of Greenland would end the alliance as we know it.

Macron once spoke of Natos brain death. Trumps latest demands go further, edging towards something closer to enforced obedience, less alliance, more hierarchy. If Europe wants to avoid that future, rearmament and strategic independence become urgent, not theoretical.

A divided continent, a determined White House

Unity will be fragile. Poland and Italy are not on the tariff list and may push for de-escalation. Trumps allies in Europe will exploit the splits. Britain, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is likely to look for its own exemptions.

No one in Europe is under illusions. If the White House is determined to take Greenland, even in the face of opposition from Congress, the EU, Nato, the vast majority of Greenlanders and much of the US public, it probably can. Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, recently described the Arctic as the Great Game of the 21st century.

The moment that may change everything

Yet alliances rest on more than fear. If being a US ally now means trade punishment, regulatory pressure and technological subservience, rather than the mutual support once offered during the Cold War, the calculation shifts. Canada, despite sharing a 5,525-mile border with the US, is already edging closer to China.

What once sounded like satire now feels uncomfortably real. Europe has spent years behaving like a nervous mouse, hoping not to be noticed. Trumps aggression over Greenland may be the moment when that strategy finally collapses. If so, Europe will need to act less like prey and more like a power prepared to defend itself.
Several people were killed, and others were wounded in a powerful explosion at a hotel in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw district, Afghanistan, on Monday.

The attack specifically targeted Chinese nationals, according to Tolo News, citing security officials.

According to Tolo News, the exact number of casualties has not been disclosed, and the cause and nature of the explosion still remain unclear. Security officials have not yet issued a detailed official statement.

The blast, which occurred amid heightened regional tensions, underscores ongoing security threats to foreign investments in Afghanistan.

Casualty figures remain unconfirmed officially, but local reports highlight the precision strike on the hotel housing Chinese personnel. This incident risks complicating Beijing's Belt and Road initiatives in the region.

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Khalid Zadran, spokesperson for the Kabul Security Command, confirmed the hotel blast in Shahr-e-Naw's Flower Street area, Fourth District, via a post on X, stating it caused casualties.

Investigation teams have launched probes into the explosion's nature, with further details promised to the media soon. Zadran emphasized ongoing research to determine the cause amid initial reports of targeted violence against Chinese nationals. This follows heightened alerts for foreign assets in Kabul.

This is a developing story; further details are awaited.

(with ANI inputs)


New Delhi: The US initiative to oversee Gazas transition has drawn global attention, inviting countries to take part in what the White House calls a historic peace effort. Experts say the Board of Peace is less about peace and more about economic and political influence.

Officially launched by former US President Donald Trump and backed by a November 2025 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution, this board was introduced as part of the second phase of a ceasefire plan created to bring an end to the prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Invitations to be part of this peace initiative have already gone out to multiple countries, including India, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and even Russia.

On the surface, the initiative seems focussed on rebuilding Gaza, including roads, homes, public services and governance. But the people running it, the high cost to join the board and how decisions are made have caught attention around the world.

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A Board Packed With Power Players

Trump, who is known for his global branding and building his legacy, leads the board as its chair. Next to him is his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has helped frame the US policy in the Middle East. He has earlier publicly spoken about real estate and investment opportunities in Gaza.

Sharing executive space with them are top political and business leaders, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Rubio, Steven Charles Witkoff, real-estate developer and US special envoy to the Middle East, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

These are not neutral mediators. They are experienced politicians, dealmakers and financiers, each with ties to political power or the global economic system. Their inclusion has stirred skepticism among analysts who question whether a rebuilding initiative should be guided by such a concentrated array of political and business interests rather than inclusive peacebuilding experts.

Critics have pointed out that Palestinians are absent from the top decision-making echelons of the board. Instead, a separate Gaza Executive Board, which is staffed by diplomats and technocrats, is meant to work under the main executive body, creating a layered dynamic of control.

Money For A Seat At The Table

Perhaps the most eyecatching element of this initiative is the cost of participation. Countries have reportedly been told that a $1 billion contribution is expected to secure a permanent seat on the Board of Peace. Smaller investments allow for renewable threeyear membership of the board, but the high price tag has raised eyebrows about whether membership is being sold more like a highend club than a diplomatic council.

Financial analysts and foreign policy experts say this setup blurs the lines between peacebuilding and commercial diplomacy, turning influence into a commodity. The requirement of massive financial commitments naturally means that Western nations and wealthy states will dominate decisionmaking and profit from reconstruction contracts, they argue.

A Global Stage Or A Legacy Project?

The United States presents the board as a new way to bring stability to Gaza and address global conflicts. Official letters inviting leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, described it as a critically historic and magnificent effort to solidify peace in the Middle East and promote shared prosperity.

But nations are already weighing the optics and the implications of aligning themselves with a USled initiative so closely tied to one individuals leadership brand. As seen in public responses from allied capitals, some countries see opportunity, while others are cautious or critical.

Russia, for instance, has acknowledged receiving an invitation. Moscow said it is reviewing it. The development has surprised many given Moscows ongoing geopolitical tensions with the United States.

Why India Has Been Invited

Lets understand why India received an invitation to join the board. The move, critics argue, is not about framing policy but creating a global image. They say by inviting both India and Pakistan, the two nuclear-armed rivals, Trump aims to project the message that even longstanding adversaries trust his leadership.

He has used similar optics before, claiming mediation between New Delhi and Islamabad, hosting Pakistans army to the White House and taking credit for de-escalating military tensions during Operation Sindoor.

Observers say that India understands the limits of this approach that peace cannot be led by a businessman, humanitarian crises cannot be monetised and legitimacy cannot be bought with board seats.

Diplomacy Or Dealmaking?

What is being sold as governance and reconstruction initiative has been described by critics as an economic and political network where peace language overlaps with profit and influence.

Many Gulf states and European powers have not committed to be part of the initiative. Some are assessing whether the boards mandate goes beyond Gaza under US guidance and potentially aiming at broader global conflict management under a USdominated structure.

Observers are concerned that post-war reconstruction is being run by a handful of powerful and financially interested people. They wonder if true stability is possible when authority depends on money and is controlled by a politically led executive.

As invitations continue to go out and countries consider joining the initiative by becoming a member of the board, the world is watching a new kind of peacebuilding. It looks very different from the multilateral diplomacy of recent decades and highlights concerns about power, money and goals in global governance.
A reported surge of panic attacks is taking hold among Russian luxury car drivers, as hundreds of Porsches and BMWs have inexplicably turned into 'costly paperweights.' According to the media, luxury German cars are randomly cutting off their engines or refusing to start, prompting speculations that Russias elite EW tools are accidentally or deliberately targeting these automobiles.

Starting in Moscow and stretching through Krasnodar, a range of vehicles from the Porsche 911 series (2013-2019 models), all the way to the BMW Series 1-7 and X models, which are compatible with ConnectedDrive, are parked in garages and car services due to their failure to override the 'theft mode.'

The Phenomenon: Why Are Cars Locking Themselves?

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The crisis started in December 2025 among Porsche owners. The problem escalated to BMW owners in January 2026. The root issue in this crisis is the breakdown of the Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) and the Telematics Control Unit (TCU).

Porsche: VTS models that feature a satellite anti-theft module are encountering engine shutdowns in the middle of a drive. The system is programmed to block the engine if it loses GPS or cellular connection, assuming the vehicle is being stolen.

BMW: Cars using ConnectedDrive are now entering "Security Mode." If a stable Internet connection to European servers is not available, the onboard computers deactivate ignition.

Russian electronic Warfare systems are shutting down German High end vehicles in Moscow.



Almost all Porsche cars (models from 20132019) and BMWs (with ConnectedDrive: series 17, crossovers X1X6, Z4, i3, i8, and M-series) are no longer starting.



The secretive Russian pic.twitter.com/slIjHusW0F  Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) January 17, 2026

The EW Theory: Putin's Secret Weapon Backfiring?

According to local auto specialists, including Yevgeny Ladushkin, Russia's high-quality Electronic Warfare (EW) equipment, such as Krasukha-4 or Borisoglebsk-2, could be behind these crashes. Their purpose is to disrupt GPS and mobile communication signals to track Ukrainian drones and precision-guided missiles.

How it actually works from a technical point of view: The frequency bands that the VTS and TCU operate in are 800-2600 MHz (Cellular) and 1575 MHz (GPS). If the EW device "spoofs" or "jams" this frequency in Moscow, the "heartbeat" link between the car and its domestic server will be lost. The car's protection software will then recognise that this constitutes a carjacking attempt and will activate the "kill switch."

Alternative Reality - "Sanctions" Factor

Although the EW theory appears sensational, experts in the automobile sector feel that there is another more rational explanation for the above-mentioned scenario, and that is geopolitical sanctions. Ever since the conflict in 2022, Porsche and BMW have halted their operations in Russia.

According to The Moscow Times and AutoSpies sources, European-based servers used in enabling this anti-theft system may have ended Russias access. When the car is unable to "check in" to its server through the digital blockade established by the digital lock system because of this restriction in access, the auto-lock is automatically activated in the vehicle to secure it against unauthorized use.

The Technical Verdict: Is It Possible?

Yes, in a technological sense. Testing at the US Army has indicated that jamming of both the cellular network and unmanned aerial vehicles will interfere with vehicle telematics. But experts explained that using jamming of such intensity in the center of Moscow will foil air traffic control systems, smartphones, and navigation as well.

Possible Reasons For The Lockdown:

Service Cut-off: The manufacturers' ability to disable support for Russian VINs.

Server Migration Failures: Efforts by Russians to "hack" around the servers, resulting in a system-crashing failure.

Signal Spoofing: The interference might be accidental, coming from systems designed to protect the Kremlin against drones.

What Next For Owners?

Russian dealerships, like Rolf, are trying "manual unlocking," but with limited luck-the cars need encrypted software updates from Germany. It was a vivid illustration of how "connected cars" could become easy victims in modern digital war. Be it a secret weapon or a silent sanction, the outcome is the same: for the Russian elite, the luxury of connectivity became a high-tech trap.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan upon his arrival in India on Monday for a short, two-hour visit. Sheikh Mohamed is in New Delhi at Prime Minister Modis invitation.

Despite its brief duration, officials said the visit is expected to allow both leaders to exchange views on matters of mutual interest, as well as regional and global issues, especially in light of changing geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

This visit is build on the strong momentum created by recent high-level engagements, including the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in September 2024, and that of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Crown Prince of Dubai, in April 2025.

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Visit comes amid Trump's Phase 2 of Gaza Peace Plan

The visit comes at a time of unfolding developments in West Asia, as Trump is close to launching Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan. This stage involves the United States efforts to establish a National Committee to oversee the administration of Gaza.

This marks Sheikh Mohameds third official visit to India since taking office as President of the United Arab Emirates and his fifth trip to the country over the past decade, underscoring the depth and regularity of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.

The UAE Presidents visit to India takes place amid a spate of recent high-level interactions between the two countries, encompassing both civilian leadership and senior military officials. Earlier this month, on January 4, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi undertook an official visit to the UAE. During the visit, he was accorded a Guard of Honour by the UAE Land Forces.

About a month earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the UAE to participate in the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and the fifth India-UAE Strategic Dialogue on December 15.During the visit, Jaishankar conducted an extensive review of bilateral ties. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), discussions spanned trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, security, development cooperation, technology, healthcare, culture, education, and people-to-people linkages.

In recent months, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia concluded a defence agreement that reportedly treats an attack on one as an attack on both, creating a framework for collective security, though details remain unclear. At the same time, tensions have emerged between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over developments in Yemen. Shortly before the Indian Army Chiefs visit, Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes against positions held by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southern Yemen, even as it urged dialogue to curb violence near its borders.

Two countries have multifaceted ties

India and the UAE share close, multifaceted relations rooted in strong political, cultural, and economic ties. They rank among each others leading trade and investment partners, supported by mechanisms such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the Local Currency Settlement system, and the Bilateral Investment Treaty. The partnership is further reinforced by robust cooperation in the energy sector, including long-term supply arrangements.

According to the MEA, the UAE Presidents visit will offer both leaders an opportunity to explore new avenues under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues where their perspectives largely align.

India and the UAE established diplomatic relations in 1972, with the UAE opening its embassy in India the same year and India inaugurating its embassy in the UAE in 1973. The two countries also work closely at the United Nations and are members of several plurilateral groupings, including BRICS, I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA), and the UAE-France-India trilateral framework. The UAE was also invited as a guest country to the G20 Summit held under Indias presidency.
23:54 Mysterious 'boiling' phenomenon in Arabian sea sparks concern near Guj coast File image Authorities and the fishing community are alarmed by reports of churning and bubbling of seawater off the Gujarat coast, an official in Palghar district said on Monday. The unusual activity is characterised by massive areas of water continuously churning and bubbling as if boiling, he said,... Read more >

23:33 Armed miscreants loot cash, gold worth Rs 5 cr from bank in Odisha Armed miscreants allegedly looted cash and gold worth around Rs 5 crore from a bank branch in Odisha's Keonjhar district on Monday, police said.The incident occurred around 2 pm.According to police, five to six assailants wearing face masks arrived on motorcycles and entered the branch posing as... Read more >

23:07 Cong-DMK alliance strong, will stay together: Congress File image The ties between Congress and the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu are strong, and the two will face the upcoming Assembly election together, Congress leader T S Singh Deo said on Monday. He exuded confidence that differences, if any, would be resolved as issues among the members of the... Read more >

23:02 400 tribals from across country invited to watch Republic Day parade File image Around 400 tribals have been specially invited from across the country to watch the Republic Day parade, adding a sheen of diversity to the viewers' gallery, a home ministry order said Monday. The representatives of the indigenous communities hailing from remote forests, highlands, and... Read more >

22:22 14 schoolchildren injured as giant swing breaks, collapses at fair in MP town File image A joyful ride turned into a nightmare when a giant swing suddenly snapped and collapsed at a fair in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua town on Monday, injuring 14 students of a local government school, including 13 girls, a senior official said. District collector Neha Meena told reporters... Read more >

21:58 Four masked assailants open fire outside bizman's house in Ludhiana Four unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire outside the residence of a businessman and set a car on fire in Khanna here on Monday, the police said.The car was partially damaged in the fire.Superintendent of police, Khanna, Pawanjeet Singh, said the attackers wore masks to conceal... Read more >

21:38 UP govt shunts Noida Authority CEO after techie's death The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday removed IAS officer Lokesh M from the post of Noida Authority as its chief executive officer and put him on a waitlist, according to an official order.His removal comes amid a growing outrage over the death of a 27 year-old-software engineer in a road... Read more >

21:17 Never made any remark against Sikh Gurus: Atishi in written reply Leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly Atishi The Leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly, Atishi, in dock for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Sikh Gurus, on Monday denied the charges against her and demanded an unedited video recording of the official house proceedings. She gave her submission in reply to a privilege... Read more >

21:07 Silver hits record Rs 3 lakh/kg-mark; gold at new peak Silver prices surged Rs 10,000 on Monday to breach the record Rs 3 lakh-per-kilogram mark in the national capital, driven by strong demand in domestic and global markets, according to marketmen. The white metal traded at Rs 3,02,600 per kilogram on Monday against the previous closing level... Read more >

20:54 Delhi varsity lecturer booked in sexual harassment case File image The Delhi police on Monday registered an FIR in connection with a female lecturer at a state-run Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University alleging harassment and delayed salary. The FIR came at the order of a Delhi court on January 7. The FIR was registered against unknown persons at... Read more >

20:35 Toll in MP hit-and-run accident mounts to 5; villagers protest with bodies of victims The death toll in the hit-and-run accident involving a car and labourers in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh rose to five on Monday after three more women succumbed to injuries during treatment, the police said. Officials said eight people are undergoing treatment in the hospital, and the... Read more >

20:01 After prayers, robbers loot silver artefact worth Rs 25 lakh from Delhi temple In a bizarre display of devotion, two men stole a silver artefact worth around Rs 25 lakh from a 'Shivling' at a temple in east Delhi's Preet Vihar on Monday, after one of them briefly stopped to offer prayers, the police said. The 27-second CCTV footage of the incident, which has surfaced... Read more >

19:55 Rupee breaches 91-mark for second time in a month, ends at 90.92 against USD The rupee breached the 91-a-dollar mark for the second time in a month before ending 14 paise down at 90.92 (provisional) against the greenback on Monday, as renewed concerns over global trade uncertainties accelerated foreign fund withdrawal. Despite weak American currency and lower crude... Read more >

19:37 Shiv Sena mayor will be tribute to Bal Thackeray: Shinde Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde./File image A section of Shiv Sainiks believes that Mumbai having a Shiv Sena mayor would be a mark of respect to Bal Thackeray in his birth centenary year, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Monday, amid a reported tussle with ally Bharatiya Janata Party. Shinde also emphasised... Read more >

19:02 Wheat sowing touches record 33.41 mn hectares in 2025-26 Areas sown to wheat have touched a record 33.41 million hectares in the 2025-26 rabi season, buoyed by good weather, the agriculture ministry data showed. Total area under wheat rose 0.61 million hectares from 32.80 million hectares in the previous year same season. Sowing of wheat and... Read more >

18:58 Nitin Nabin elected unopposed as BJP president Nitin Nabin Nitin Nabin is set to become the Bharatiya Janata Party national president as he emerged as the sole candidate for the top party post, senior BJP leader and returning officer K Laxman announced on Monday. In a statement, he said 37 sets of nomination papers were filed in favour of Nabin as... Read more >

18:10 Putin gets US invitation to join Trump's Gaza Peace Board Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join US President Donald Trump's Gaza Peace Board, and the invitation is under consideration, the Kremlin said on Monday. Indeed, President Putin also received an offer through diplomatic channels to join this Peace Board, the... Read more >

17:56 BSE Sensex top losers today Stock market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Monday, tracking deep losses in heavyweights Reliance Industries, Eternal, and ICICI Bank amid rising geopolitical tensions and renewed global tariff concerns. Besides, subdued quarterly results, ongoing weakness in the rupee and... Read more >

17:43 Modi receives UAE president Al Nahyan at Delhi airport PM Narendra Modi receives UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Delhi airport./ANI on X Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday received United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Delhi airport, signalling the importance India attached to his visit. Al Nahyan will be in the national capital for less than two hours, according to his schedule... Read more >

17:29 CBI questions Vijay for 6 hours on Karur stampede The car carrying actor Vijay reaches CBI office in New Delhi on Monday./ANI Photo TVK chief Vijay left the CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday after nearly six hours of questioning in Karur stampede case.The CBI conducted the second round of questioning of TVK chief and actor Vijay at the agency headquarters on Monday in connection with the Karur stampede case, officials... Read more >

17:16 Ajay Devgn announces AI-powered film 'Bal Tanhaji' Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and producer Danish Devgn on Monday announced the upcoming AI-powered film Bal Tanhaji from their next-generation entertainment studio Lens Vault Studios. Rooted in the legacy of the blockbuster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, which released in 2020, Bal... Read more >

17:04 Bengal minister Tajmul Hossain summoned for SIR hearings West Bengal minister Tajmul Hossain./Courtesy Facebook West Bengal minister Tajmul Hossain was summoned for a hearing under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a senior official of the Election Commission said on Monday. The notice for the hearing was sent to the three-time MLA because of discrepancies between his name and... Read more >

16:37 Attacks on minorities in 2025 non-communal: Bangladesh The majority of incidents involving members of minority communities in Bangladesh during 2025 were criminal in nature and not driven by communal motives, the interim government said on Monday.The statement came days after India, on January 9, pressed Dhaka to swiftly and firmly deal with attacks... Read more >

16:18 Going abroad? Rupee breaches 91/USD mark The rupee breached the 91-a-dollar mark for the second time in a month before ending 14 paise down at 90.92 (provisional) against the greenback on Monday, as renewed concerns over global trade uncertainties accelerated foreign fund withdrawal.Despite weak American currency and lower crude oil... Read more >

16:02 Can't survive on Rs 66/day, say mid-day meal cooks on protest It's been 22 days since thousands of mid-day meal cooks, mostly women, have been protesting in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, demanding a hike in their daily wages from Rs 66 to over Rs 400. Nearly 95 per cent of the protesters are women, many from rural and tribal areas, who say their labour... Read more >

15:41 Earthquake hits Ladakh A 5.7 magnitude earthquake jolted Leh district in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Monday, but there was no report of any damage, officials said. According to the National Centre of Seismology (NCS), the tremor was felt at 11.51 am. The depth of the earthquake was 171 kilometres... Read more >

15:40 Army havildar killed during anti-terror operation in Kishtwar An army havildar was killed in an ongoing encounter between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, officials said on Monday. Earlier today, at least eight jawans were injured in this encounter. The encounter broke out in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar on... Read more >

15:35 Unfair: Jaishankar on India being targeted on Russia-Ukraine war External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday criticised what he described as the selective targeting of India over its position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine... Read more >

15:29 BJP senior leaders submit nomination papers of Nitin Nabin Bharatiya Janata Party set the ball rolling for the election of its new president with top party leaders submitting nomination papers of Nitin Nabin, the party's 45-year-old working president, for the post on Monday.BJP President Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over a set of... Read more >

15:02 Unnao rape: No leniency for Sengar in custodial death case The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to suspend the 10-year sentence awarded to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the case of the death of the Unnao rape survivor's father while in custody. No grounds are made out for grant relief. The application seeking suspension of sentence... Read more >

14:41 Shinde will honour mandate for Mahayuti in BMC: Shiv Sena Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is clear that the Shiv Sena will honour the mandate for the BJP-led Mahayuti in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), sources said on Monday.They also remarked that the shifting of 29 corporators-elect of his party to a five-star hotel in... Read more >

14:34 TMC MP Saugata Roy hospitalised Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy has been hospitalised after he complained of uneasiness, a family member said on Monday. The veteran politician, who would be turning 80 this August, was admitted to a private hospital here on Sunday night. His condition is currently stable, and he is under... Read more >

14:26 Who's stopping Pandits from returning, asks Farooq Abdullah As Kashmiri Pandits held protests as they observed 'Exodus Day', Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that nobody has stopped Kashmiri Pandits from returning to the valley, adding that many from their community are still living comfortably in the... Read more >

13:57 Akhilesh's stepbrother accuses wife of 'ruining family' Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Prateek Yadav on Monday alleged that his wife Aparna Bisht Yadav, a BJP leader, has ruined his family ties and he would seek a divorce at the earliest. Aparna Yadav is currently the vice chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for... Read more >

13:11 'Only in BJP can ordinary man become party president' BJP leaders arrive for at the party HQ Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday emphasised the inclusivity in the Bhartiya Janata Party, saying that even an ordinary worker sitting in the last row can also become the National President as Nitin Nabin gears up to file his nomination for the same, scheduled at 2 pm... Read more >

12:53 China records lowest birth rate in 2025 China recorded its lowest birth rate on record in 2025 as its population declined for the fourth consecutive year, deepening a demographic challenge that could weigh on the world's second-largest economy for decades, CNN reported.The CNN report citing data released by China's National Bureau of... Read more >

12:29 Sena netas shifted to hotel; who's afraid of whom: Raut Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday questioned the shifting of corporators-elect from ruling ally Shiv Sena to hotels, asserting that no party could easily stake claim to the BMC mayor's post, going by the mandate in the recent civic polls. In the recently concluded civic polls, the... Read more >

12:18 Congress spreading lies about VB-G RAM G: Govt Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday accused Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of spreading misinformation about the VB-G RAM G scheme, and asserted that the new Act will strengthen the Right to Work. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the... Read more >

11:52 Noida techie drowned just 10 minutes before help arrived The Flipkart delivery man was the only person to attempt the rescue Noida techie death case: Moninder, a Flipkart agent, who retrieved Yuvraj's body from the drain, says, The incident happened at 12 o'clock that night. I went there at 1.40 am. I was enroute delivering an order. There was a crowd, and seeing it, I understood that the fog was very thick that... Read more >

11:26 TVK chief reaches CBI HQ with his fleet of SUVs Vijay's carcade to the CBI HQ. TVK chief and actor Vijay was at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi on Monday for the second round of questioning in connection with the Karur stampede case, officials said. The actor arrived at the agency headquarters in Lodhi Road in New Delhi in a fleet of luxury SUVs this morning they... Read more >

11:18 Reliance shares down over 3.5% Shares of Reliance Industries Ltd declined over 3.5 per cent on Monday morning trade after the firm reported almost a flat net profit of Rs 18,645 crore for the third quarter, as a decline in gas production and weakness in its retail business offset gains in other segments. The blue-chip... Read more >

11:07 125 guests suffer food poisoning at haldi event in Thane As many as 125 persons took ill due to suspected food poisoning during a pre-wedding function in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Monday. A 'haldi' (turmeric application) ceremony was held on Sunday evening at a housing complex under Khadakpada police station limits in Kalyan... Read more >

10:30 'My son struggled in pit for 2 hrs, people made videos' The father of the deceased said the crowd simply watched his son struggle Following the death of a 27-year-old software engineer whose car plunged into a water-filled pit at a construction site in Sector 150, the Noida Authority has terminated the services of a junior engineer and issued show-cause notices to other officials responsible for traffic-related works in the... Read more >

10:15 Stock markets decline in early trade Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Monday dragged by blue-chips Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank, while sustained foreign fund outflows and global tariff uncertainties also dented investors' sentiment. The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 320.69 points to... Read more >

09:49 Bail is rule not exception: Chandrachud on Umar Khalid DY Chandrachud with senior journalist Vir Sanghvi Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has stated that bail before conviction should generally be a matter of right, but emphasised that courts must conduct a thorough examination in cases involving national security. The statement comes almost two weeks after activists Umar Khalid and... Read more >

09:34 Look! There goes Virat Kohli Hours after India's defeat against New Zealand in the third ODI, star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli was spotted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Monday.While India failed to seal the ODI series win against New Zealand, Kohli slammed a valiant century, offering... Read more >

09:13 Saving Auroville: A Call for Immediate Intervention Auroville is being strangled by the institution designed to protect it. Auroville's crisis is not just a local administrative failure; it's a warning about institutional vulnerability everywhere. When appointed administrators can dismantle democratic structures, weaponize bureaucracy against... Read more >

09:05 Delhi can't breathe, AQI at 'severe' category of 418 A thick blanket of smog engulfed several parts of the national capital on Monday morning, sharply reducing visibility and worsening air quality across Delhi-NCR, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 418, falling in the 'severe' category. According to the data released by the... Read more >

08:42 Death toll rises to 21 in high-speed train collision in Spain's Cordoba Pic: Reuters/Alex Gallegos At least 21 people were killed and several others injured after a high-speed Iryo train derailed and collided with another train in Spain's Cordoba province, Euro News reported, citing officials. The accident occurred near Adamuz when the Iryo train, carrying around 300 passengers and... Read more >
Every time sanctions against Iran are tightened, Armenia feels the impact. This is not surprising: the country relies almost entirely on two open transport routes  through Iran and Georgia. Georgia provides land access to Russia, Armenias main trading partner, while Iran plays a key role in energy supplies, trade, and economic diversification.

When new sanctions are imposed on Iran, banking operations become more complicated, logistics costs rise, and investors become more cautious. All of these effects inevitably reach the Armenian economy, even though the country is not formally subject to the sanctions.

Adding sanctions against Russia to the mix creates a double economic pressure. The lack of alternative routes makes the economy particularly vulnerable.

A potential solution lies in normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and opening transport corridors, which would provide Armenia with new routes, markets, and flexibility.

Until that happens, Armenia remains dependent on external factors, including sanctions against neighboring countries, as well as the consequences of its own foreign policy decisions. This is a reality that both the authorities and the political opposition need to recognize.
23:32 Mamata asks DMs to strictly follow SC's directives on SIR West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asked district magistrates to strictly adhere to the Supreme Court's instructions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stressing that people must not be harassed in the name of 'logical discrepancies', a senior official... Read more >

22:52 MPs to mark attendance at their respective seats: Speaker The Lok Sabha is set to introduce a new attendance system for its members from the upcoming Budget session of Parliament that will require them to punch in their presence at the seat allotted to them instead of doing so in the lobby.Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of the 86th All... Read more >

22:48 Delhi: Student brings gun to school to threaten bullies; arrested An 18-year-old student was arrested for allegedly carrying a pistol inside a private school in northwest Delhi's Rohini to intimidate his bullying classmates, police said on Tuesday.A country-made pistol with 10 live cartridges was found in his possession, they said.On Monday, the police got a... Read more >

22:47 Maha govt issues gazette notification on BMC election results The Maharashtra government has notified the final results of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections by publishing the names of all newly-elected corporators from 227 wards across the metropolis in a gazette, civic officials said on Tuesday.In the elections, whose... Read more >

22:43 Pakistan extends airspace ban on India Pakistan on Tuesday extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft by another month until February 24.Pakistan closed its airspace to India's airlines in April last year after the Pahalgam terror attack. India too has imposed a similar ban on Pakistan.In a NOTAM (notice to airmen), the Pakistan... Read more >

21:58 Shiv Sena corporators leave Bandra hotel Corporators of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have left the five-star hotel in Bandra where they had been staying following the announcement of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections on January 16, a party functionary said on Tuesday.Prior to leaving the hotel, the 29 corporators... Read more >

21:20 4-yr-old killed during parents' fight in Anantapur A quarrel between a couple turned fatal when a stone thrown during the fight accidentally hit their 4-year-old son, killing him, police said on Tuesday.The incident occurred at the couple's residence in Lakshyam Palli village in Anantapur, where M Maheshwari and her husband, M Ramesh, got into a... Read more >

21:03 Rupee falls 7 paise to settle at record low of 90.97 against US dollar The rupee depreciated 7 paise to close at a record low of 90.97 against the United States dollar on Tuesday, as strong dollar demand from metal importers and persistent foreign fund outflows dented investor sentiment. Forex traders said rising geopolitical uncertainties, including renewed US... Read more >

21:01 Noida techie death: Car pulled out of pit 3 days after accident The car of the 27-year-old software engineer, who died after the vehicle plunged into a deep water-filled pit at a construction site in Noida's Sector 150, was recovered on Tuesday evening, three days after the accident that has triggered widespread outrage and prompted administrative... Read more >

20:03 SC to close hate speech pleas pending since 2021 The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will close most of the petitions related to hate speeches pending since 2021 and in which the court has asked police to suo motu register FIRs.A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta reserved orders on a batch of writ petitions filed by several... Read more >

20:00 Man falls into lift shaft in Bhopal, body found after 10 days A 77-year-old man met a tragic end after he plunged down an empty lift shaft, where his body lay undiscovered for 10 days in a housing society in Bhopal, police said on Tuesday.While the accident occurred on January 6 at Chinar Dream City Society in the Misrod area, the foul smell that emanated... Read more >

19:38 EC appoints 12 senior central officers as special roll observers for SIR in West Bengal The Election Commission appointed 12 senior central officers as Special Roll Observers (SROs) to oversee the SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal, an official said on Tuesday.The observers will ensure that the exercise is conducted strictly in accordance with the EC's directions, he... Read more >

19:22 Gurugram youth dies after brutal assault by 'friends' A 24-year-old man, who was critically injured after being beaten up allegedly by his friends in Farrukhnagar, died on Tuesday, police said.The accused are yet to be arrested, and a search is underway, they said.The deceased, identified as Vineet, a resident of Khandewla village, was admitted in a... Read more >

18:59 MVA should have contested civic body polls together: Sule After the Bharatiya Janata Party put up an impressive performance in recent civic body elections, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar working president Supriya Sule on Tuesday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi should have contested together and underlined the need for introspection by the... Read more >

18:58 EU, India on cusp of 'historic trade agreement' Photo: Cesar Olmedo/Reuters India and the European Union are on the cusp of a 'historic trade agreement' that would create a market comprising two billion people accounting for almost a quarter of the global GDP, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.President of the European Council, Antonio... Read more >

18:47 Haryana govt allows kirpan, mangalsutra during exams Image only for representation The Haryana government on Tuesday allowed students to carry kirpan and wear mangulstura, under strict guidelines, during examinations conducted by various agencies across the state.Addressing the 'recurring problems' faced by Sikh students and married female candidates, the state government... Read more >

18:28 BJP tapping phones of own, Sena corporators: Raut Amid a tussle over the Mumbai mayor's post, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday claimed the phones of newly-elected members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, who are 'locked' in a luxury hotel, are being tapped by the ruling party.He said the corporators... Read more >

18:07 CAQM revokes GRAP-4 curbs in Delhi-NCR as air quality improves The Centre's pollution watchdog on Tuesday revoked curbs under Stage-4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR as the capital's air quality improved. In an order, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that actions under Stage-1, 2 and 3 of the revised GRAP will,... Read more >

17:49 Rahul Gandhi receives grandfather's long-lost driving licence in Rae Bareli Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday received the long-lost driving licence of his grandfather, Feroze Gandhi, during his visit to his parliamentary constituency here in Uttar Pradesh.The licence, preserved for decades by a local family, was handed over to Gandhi by Vikas... Read more >

17:31 HC reserves order on Vijay's Jana Nayagan censor certification The Madras high court on Tuesday reserved its order on the censor board's appeal against a single-judge direction to grant U/A certificate to Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan.A bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arun Murugan heard the appeal, after the Supreme Court had on... Read more >

17:07 Noida techie death: Developer held for negligence Police on Tuesday arrested a real estate developer in connection with the death of a 27-year-old software engineer, whose car had plunged into a water-filled pit at a construction site in Noida's Sector 150, officials said. Abhay Kumar, an official of MZ Wiztown Planners and one of the... Read more >

16:42 The big losers at the markets today... The 50-share NSE Nifty tanked 353 points, or 1.38 per cent, to end at 25,232.50. From the 30-Sensex firms, Eternal declined by 4.02 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance (3.88 per cent), Sun Pharma, InterGlobe Aviation, Trent, Asian Paints, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj Finserv. HDFC Bank... Read more >

16:37 Trump confirms Putin invited to Gaza Board of Peace US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join the proposed Gaza Board of Peace, describing him as one of several world leaders considered for the initiative.The formation of the Gaza Board of Peace, as part of Phase 2 of the 20-Point Peace... Read more >

16:23 US invites China to join Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza China on Tuesday said it has received an invitation from the US to join President Donald Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza, but declined to say whether it will join the initiative. China has received the US' invitation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said when asked about China's... Read more >

16:09 Terrible Tuesday: Sensex tumbles over 1,000 points tock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tanked over 1 per cent on Tuesday due to heavy selling pressure in market heavyweights Reliance, Bajaj Finance and M&M amid escalating geopolitical tensions. Besides, ongoing weakness in the rupee and persistent foreign fund outflows dented... Read more >

16:01 'DK Shivakumar patiently waiting for Cong decision on CM' Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is patiently waiting for the Congress's decision on the leadership issue, his brother and former MP D K Suresh said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Suresh described Shivakumar as a disciplined soldier of the party who is acting in the interest of both... Read more >

15:32 Trump threatens 200% tariffs on French wine because... US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) floated the proposal of imposing 200% tariff on French wine and champagne after French President Emmanuel Macron's reported refusal to sit on the so-called Board of Peace, an initiative created by Trump to mediate global conflict, EuroNews... Read more >

15:22 Imtiaz Ali defends AR Rahman in 'communal' remark row Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has come out in support of A R Rahman amid a controversy over the music maestro's remarks on declining work in Bollywood and his suggestion that it could be linked to a communal thing, saying the comments may have been misconstrued. The Oscar-winning composer told the... Read more >

14:51 Full faith that Kerala will give BJP a chance: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted the BJP's strong performance in recent local body elections in Kerala and Maharashtra. He said the party has emerged as the number one force in Maharashtra's municipal politics, whose results he described as unprecedented and a clear... Read more >

14:31 Greenland US Territory Est 2026: Trump's new map of America US President Donald Trump on Tuesday shared a post on his Truth Social platform showing an old photograph of himself with other European leaders with the US flag depicting Canada, Greenland and Venezuela as a part of the United States. In the post, Trump is seen seated inside the Oval... Read more >

14:26 PM wants poor to starve: Rahul on repeal of MGNREGA Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the repeal of the MGNREGA Act, accusing him of prioritising the bureaucrats over the poor. Speaking to the media on the repeal of MGNREGA, Rahul Gandhi accused Prime... Read more >

14:20 Nitin Nabin will leave no stone unturned: Nadda Union Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday congratulated Nitin Nabin as he took charge as the BJP national president, saying the party will expand its reach to new states and achieve success in regions where it has not yet prevailed.Nadda expressed confidence that under Nabin's leadership and Prime... Read more >

14:11 Key accused in Govind Pansare murder case dies Right-wing activist Sameer Gaikwad, accused of being a co-conspirator in the 2015 murder of rationalist and author Govind Pansare, died in Maharashtra's Sangli district in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said. Gaikwad, 43, an alleged member of Sanatan Sanstha, was arrested in 2015 in... Read more >

13:28 Nitin Nabin: 5 state polls soon, demographics challenging Newly elected BJP National president Nitin Nabin says, Today's moment is a moment of resolve for me. Today, I am not just assuming a position. I am accepting the ideology, traditions, and the responsibility of a nationalist movement of this party, and on this occasion, I also pay my respects to... Read more >

12:59 Nitin Nabin my boss in party matters: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Nitin Nabin on his election as the BJP national president and declared that the young leader will be his boss in matters related to the party. Addressing a gathering at the party headquarters in New Delhi, Modi described 45-year-old Nabin... Read more >

12:38 Nitin Nabin a millennial, will take forward BJP legacy: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses BJP leaders after Nitin Nabin takes over as party president. The PM says, Nitin Nabinji will carry forward the legacy of the BJP. To put it in the language of today's youth, Nitin ji himself is, in a way, a millennial.The next 25 years are very important.... Read more >

11:52 Nitin Nabin elected as national president of BJP Nitin Nabin elected as the national president of Bharatiya Janata Party. PM Modi, ex-BJP President J P Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari greet Nitin Nabin on election as BJP national president. K Laxman, Returning Officer for BJP organisational elections, hands over certificate of... Read more >

11:46 BJP President-Elect Nitin Nabin arrives at BJP HQ Nitin Nabin arrives at BJP headquarters ahead of taking charge as party's national president.Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also felicitated at the BJP headquarters. Outgoing BJP national president JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister... Read more >

11:34 Army raises objection with Bengal guv over Mamata's remarks on officer The Indian Army's Eastern Command has sought the intervention of West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose in connection with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent allegation that a senior army officer was using the command base at Fort William and working on the SIR exercise at the behest of the... Read more >

11:07 TN guv declined to read speech due to 'inaccuracies' Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday declined to read out the DMK government prepared text as part of his customary address to the state Assembly due to inaccuracies, in it, the Lok Bhavan said. It also alleged his mic was switched off. Minutes after Ravi walked out of the 234-member... Read more >

10:42 Canada weighs sending soldiers to Greenland Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering sending soldiers to Greenland for military exercises with NATO allies, CBC news reported, citing sources on Monday.As per CBC news, two senior Canadian officials said that a set of contingency plans were drawn up last week and presented to the... Read more >

10:31 No global plans for now: Swiggy Anticipating sustained growth in its food delivery business, a top Swiggy executive said the company has yet to tap 85-90 per cent of the market in India, and there are no plans for global expansion yet, given the huge potential available back home. Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the... Read more >

10:18 My mic was switched off in Assembly, says TN guv Governor R N Ravi walks out of Tamil Nadu Assembly. Governor RN Ravi says in Assembly, I am disappointed. National Anthem was not given due respect. He demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil Anthem. When Speaker Appavu refused, the governor walked out without reading the... Read more >

09:42 Karnataka DGP suspended after obscene video goes viral The Karnataka government has placed DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao under suspension with immediate effect, citing conduct unbecoming of a government servant and causing embarrassment to the state administration. News channels beamed a video on Monday purportedly showing Rao... Read more >

09:12 Fadnavis signs multi-billion dollar MoUs at WEF 2026 Devendra Fadnavis with Juvencio Maeztu, CEO and President of IKEA Retail Maharashtra secured investment commitments across multiple sectors, including infrastructure and steel, on the opening day of the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presided over the exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Government of... Read more >

08:53 US sends aircraft to Greenland base The US will deploy a North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) aircraft at the Pituffik space base, Greenland, as tensions rise over President Donald Trump's move to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. NORAD said that the aircraft will arrive at the base to support various... Read more >

08:46 Akshay Kumar's security car meets with accident, 1 hurt A car part of Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar's security entourage was hit by an autorickshaw after the three-wheeler was struck by another vehicle near Mukteshwar Road in Juhu on Monday night, leaving one person injured, police said. The car of Kumar, who was returning home with his wife... Read more >

00:22 BJP tells new corporators to stay in Mumbai for 8-10 days BJP workers celebrating the party lead in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls./ANI Photo Newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party corporators have been asked not to leave the metropolis for the next 8-10 days in view of the mayoral reservation and other aspects related to the post, a party leader said on Monday. The Maharashtra government has set the ball rolling on the... Read more >

00:22 BJP tells new corporators to stay in Mumbai for 8-10 days BJP workers celebrating the party lead in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls./ANI Photo Newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party corporators have been asked not to leave the metropolis for the next 8-10 days in view of the mayoral reservation and other aspects related to the post, a party leader said on Monday. The Maharashtra government has set the ball rolling on the... Read more >
Indira Gandhi, only daughter of Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, is to become the countrys next leader.

She was chosen at the end of a bitter leadership battle with former finance minister Morarji Desai.

Following her win, Mrs Gandhi pledged herself to serve the Congress Party and the country, and said she would strive to create what my father used to call a climate of peace.

Crowds had gathered outside Parliament House while the election was held, and cheered Mrs Gandhi wildly as she went to the Presidents House to report.

She will not become prime minister until she submits her cabinet to the president.

Mrs Gandhi did not confirm she would be a candidate until four days ago, when chief ministers from 11 of Indias 16 states let it be known they would support her to take over.

Another leading candidate, Gulzarilal Nanda, withdrew once it was clear Mrs Gandhi would be running.

He has been acting as prime minister since the unexpected death of Mr Nehrus successor, Lal Bahadur Shastri, earlier this month.

Mr Desai was under extreme pressure to pull out as well and avoid a potentially damaging leadership contest, but he insisted on going to a vote.

It was predicted he would get less than 100 of the 526 votes from Congress MPs, but he surprised many by winning 169 votes to Mrs Gandhis 355.

Afterwards, Mr Desai pledged to cooperate fully with Mrs Gandhi. It is the second time running he has been defeated in a leadership contest: the first time, against Mr Shastri, he withdrew his candidacy without a vote.

Mrs Gandhi, 48, was educated at West Bengal and Oxford and has two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay, who are both studying in England.

She gets her name not from Mahatma Gandhi, the legendary independence campaigner and founder of the Congress Party, but from her husband Feroze Gandhi, a lawyer who died in 1960.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Morarji Desai went on to form a right-wing faction opposed to Mrs Gandhi within the Congress Party.

Nevertheless, she won general election victories in 1967 and 1971.

She presided over the 1971 conflict with Pakistan which created Bangladesh, and then in 1975 she was convicted of corruption and banned from holding office for six years.

She responded by refusing to resign and declared a highly controversial national state of emergency which lasted for nearly two years.

She subsequently lost the 1977 general election to Morarji Desai, who headed Janata, part of an alliance of opposition parties.

His coalition broke apart in 1979, however, and Mrs Gandhi returned to power.

In 1984 she ordered the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar to flush out Sikh militants pursuing self-rule for Punjab.

Two months later, she was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguards. About 1000 people, mostly Sikhs, died in the four days of rioting which followed her murder.

Her eldest son, Rajiv, succeeded her as prime minister. He too was assassinated in 1991.

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Canadian leader Mark Carney met Chinas Xi Jinping last week.

The two statesmen talked. Fractured relationships began to heal. And a third man, though he wasnt in the room, nevertheless made his presence clearly known: Donald Trump.

The American president  his policies, his approaches to international relations, his freewheeling and provocative statements about Canada  helped inform meetings 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) away between two nations working to reestablish ties stalled for nearly a decade as they grapple with the same challenge: wondering what Washington might do next.

Canadas reengagement with China, its second-largest trading partner behind the U.S., is unfolding in keeping with a term Chinese media have loved this past week  strategic autonomy. Essentially, it means that a nation like Canada, so intertwined with the United States for so long as unswerving allies, needs other pillars to hold up its international foundations given recent speed bumps in the Washington-Ottawa relationship.

What does such strategic autonomy look like? For Canada, it means a trading partner with whom Carney acknowledges differences in culture and ways of life  terms he invoked when asked about Chinas approach to human rights. Thats one way of saying that ties between two very different countries have political and cultural limits  particularly in terms of their views of freedom.

Carney, who met with several leading Chinese companies in Beijing, says his government is focused on building an economy less reliant on the United States at what he called a time of global trade disruption.

The security landscape continues to change, said Carney, who departed Beijing on Saturday. We face many threats. You manage those threats through alliances.

Real results, with a larger narrative behind them

Certainly, concrete results emerged from the visit.

Canada agreed to cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products, Carney said. He spoke of an initial annual cap of 49,000 vehicles on Chinese EV exports coming into Canada at a tariff rate of 6.1%, growing to about 70,000 over five years. China will reduce its total tariff on canola seeds, a major Canadian export, from 84% to about 15%. The Chinese side was less specific about what came out of the meetings.

As much as the deal itself, though, what it represented was significant  effectively a workaround for Canada after being treated by the United States in the past year like it has rarely been treated before. Trump hasnt struck a deal with Canada to reduce tariffs that are upsetting the Canadian economy, and he irritated many Canadians by throwing around language saying he might consider making Canada the 51st state.

Analysts from China and Canada characterized this weeks outcomes as mutually beneficial, particularly given the tenor of the times  and also politically astute, even though Carney made a point of saying the agreements are preliminary.

China is succeeding in driving a small wedge between Canada and the U.S., said Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto.

China stands to gain in a number of respects. Firstly, Canada has nearly 2 million citizens of Chinese descent living there as of 2021, in addition to many Chinese nationals who are visitors or permanent residents. The nearest major Canadian city to China, Vancouver, is heavily inflected with Chinese culture. That means Beijings approach to these relations will likely be watched closely within Canadas borders.

More significant, though, is this: China has increasingly styled itself as a global counterbalance to what it has long called American hegemony.

This has accelerated in recent years as Chinas international profile and global influence rise, both because of its mammoth economy and efforts to deploy soft power through infrastructure as far off as Africa and Latin America  part of its so-called Belt and Road Initiative.

Both sides want stability amid uncertainty

Chinas official Xinhua News Agency, in a commentary Saturday, cited the importance of ties with Canada particularly in a time of heightened uncertainty  a euphemism that includes both nations efforts to figure out the ins and outs of the Trump administrations fast-moving priorities. It cited economic fragmentation, geopolitical tensions and resurgent protectionism  all challenges that both nations are dealing with when it comes to Washington.

Just as noteworthy as the leaders careful language, though, was the seeming reluctance to blow past it.

Xi was his usual oblique self in his comments. It can be said, he said after meeting Carney, that our meeting last year opened a new chapter in turning ChinaCanada relations toward improvement. And Carney, clearly cognizant of the two behemoths he finds himself between, parried questions about Canadas U.S. relationship at an outdoor Beijing news conference in the freezing winter weather.

While he insisted that relations between Ottawa and Washington were much more multifaceted than with Beijing, Carney followed up: But yes, the way our relationship has progressed in recent months with China, it is more predictable. It was unclear if he meant more predictable than before with China or more predictable than Canadas relationship with the United States, though the reporters question was clearly about the latter.

Rapprochement can be delicate, and that was certainly the case here. Yet in world affairs and diplomacy, predictability is a prized commodity  particularly over the past decade, as Trump and other populists upend decades of post-World War II norms in international relations.

My guess is that the Chinese want the opposite in Canada to what Trump wants  a coherent country with a functioning economy. And of course friendlier to China, where a relatively strong Canada is more desirable than not, said Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto.

Trump wants the opposite  a fragmented satellite that is easier to bully and extort from, Bothwell said.

Trump did, however, commend Carney for making a deal with Beijing. Thats what he should be doing and its a good thing for him to sign a trade deal. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that.

Tariffs aside, what long-term impact Carneys visit will have in both Canada and China remains unclear. Trump has been known to switch gears, and tomorrows Washington could be sending a very different message to Canada than todays. For the moment, though, when it comes to China, Xis government now has a stronger friend in North America than it did a week ago. And for Beijing, in all this global uncertainty, that might be more than enough. TED ANTHONY, BEIJING, MDT/AP

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The Cape Verde government has formally taken possession of all assets and existing structures linked to the long-stalled Macau Legend Development project in Praia, including the unfinished hotel-casino complex in the capital.

Authorities said the takeover concludes a years-long reversion process following repeated contractual breaches by the projects concessionaires.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, the government confirmed that the handover was completed on Friday, January 16, under Administrative Order No. 47/2024 of November 18.

The order mandated the return to the state of all movable and immovable property granted or built under concession agreements signed with MLD Cabo Verde Entretenimento S.A. and MLD Cabo Verde Resorts S.A., subsidiaries of Macau-based operator Macau Legend.

According to the government, as cited in media reports, all assets were reclaimed in their current condition and free of any liens, charges, or liabilities.

The properties include infrastructure in Praia, the Santa Maria Islet, and the abandoned hotel-casino building, which has stood unfinished for years. The Directorate General of State Assets and Public Procurement has assumed full control of the site.

The project originated from a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2014 between the Cape Verdean state and the two MLD companies. It envisioned a major tourism and real estate development covering Praia Bay, the Santa Maria Islet, and Gamboa Beach.

In 2015, entrepreneur David Chow announced an investment valued at 250 million euros. Following later revisions, the first phase of the project was scheduled for completion in 2021.

Despite initial optimism, the development stalled and was ultimately abandoned. The government said it made extensive efforts to facilitate implementation but concluded that the concessionaires had irremediably failed to meet their contractual obligations.

As a result, all related agreements were terminated and the assets reverted to state ownership in line with legal and contractual provisions.

In late 2023, Macau Legend chairman Li Chu Kwan publicly stated that the group intended to wind down its projects in Cape Verde and Cambodia, underscoring the companys financial difficulties.

The site remains largely dormant. Only security guards are stationed at the gates of the approximately 160,000-square-meter area, which includes the islet and the partially gutted hotel structure.

The complex is connected by a short asphalt bridge to an empty, roughly eight-story building that has been sealed off with hoardings, some of which have recently begun to be removed.

The government stressed that its decision was guided by the public interest and the principle of legality, which it described as fundamental to a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Officials said all procedures were followed throughout what they called a lengthy and complex process, reflecting sustained efforts to salvage the investment before termination became unavoidable.

Meanwhile, the government still expressed confidence in Cape Verdes investment prospects and its ability to attract new, viable projects, while pledging to remain firm in upholding the law and protecting the public interest, and to respect the rights and legitimate expectations of the country and its citizens.

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Lisbon  The leader of a hard-right populist party placed second in Portugals presidential election yesterday (Sunday) in a stunning outcome and will face a center-left opponent in a runoff vote next month that could bring another political breakthrough for Europes growing far-right parties, according to near-complete results.

With almost 98% of votes counted, Andre Ventura, leader of the Chega (Enough) party that he founded less than seven years ago, captured 24% of the vote and placed second behind center-left Socialist candidate Antonio Jose Seguro who led with almost 31%. They will face off in a second-round ballot between the two top candidates on Feb. 8.

Venturas strong showing was another milestone in Europes shift to the far-right, as populist parties have got their hands on, or edged closer to, the levers of power in recent years.

Chegas surge in public support made it the second-largest party in Portugals parliament last year, just six years after it was founded. Ventura and his supporters have been emboldened by the broader rise to prominence of like-minded nationalist parties across Europe, such as in France, Germany, Italy and neighboring Spain.

Nine other candidates ran in a record field in the presidential election, but none came close to the more than 50% required for a first-round victory.

The winner will replace President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has served the limit of two five-year terms.

Populists take support from mainstream parties

One of Venturas main targets has been what he calls excessive immigration, as foreign workers have become more conspicuous in Portugal in recent years. Portugal is ours, he says.

During the election campaign, Ventura put up billboards across the country saying, This isnt Bangladesh and Immigrants shouldnt be allowed to live on welfare.

Such blatant anti-immigrant sentiment expressed in public was unthinkable in Portugal just a few years ago.

His sudden and growing presence in Portuguese politics has snatched support from the countrys two main parties that have alternated in power for the past half-century: the center-right Social Democratic Party, currently in government, and the center-left Socialist Party.

Only one woman is among the candidates. Portugal has never had a female or non-white head of state.

Challenges for next president

Last May, Portugal held its third general election in three years in its worst spell of political instability for decades. Steadying the ship is a key challenge for the next president.

Ventura, the populist leader, has sought to turn immigration into a campaign issue, but voters appear more concerned about a housing crisis and the cost of living.

A law permitting euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in Portugal that parliament approved in 2022, but has been held up by constitutional objections, will likely land on the presidents desk for approval.

Whats at stake

In Portugal, the president is largely a figurehead with no executive power. Mostly, the head of state aims to stand above the political fray, mediating disputes and defusing tensions.

However, the president is an influential voice and possesses some powerful tools, being able to veto legislation from parliament, although the veto can be overturned. The head of state also possesses what in Portuguese political jargon is called an atomic bomb  the power to dissolve parliament and call early elections.

Political events in Portugal have little bearing on the overall direction of the European Union. It has one of the blocs smallest economies, and its armed forces are of a modest size.

Marques Mendes wins in Macau

Seen as the biggest defeat of yesterdays election, veteran Social Democrat Luis Marques Mendes nonetheless topped the vote in Macau, where record-high participation was registered, with around 2,400 voters.

Mendes secured 47.2% (1,073 votes), followed by Seguro (21%) and Ventura (12.4%).

What comes next

A runoff between the top two finishers on Sunday will be held on Feb. 8.

That will decide who serves a five-year term at the presidents riverside pink palace in Lisbons Belem district.

MDT/AP

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni won his seventh term with 71.65% of the vote, according to official results Saturday, in an election marred by a days-long internet shutdown and rigging claims by his youthful challenger, who rejected the outcome and called for peaceful protests.

The musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine took 24.72% of the vote, the final results showed.

Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, has condemned what he described as an unfair electoral process and alleged abductions of his polling agents before voting had even started in parts of the East African country. He said he rejected the fake results and urged Ugandans to peacefully protest until the rightful results are announced.

Wine said he had to escape to avoid arrest by security forces who stormed his house Friday night. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said Wine was not under arrest and was free to leave his house, but there was controlled access for others trying to go into the property to prevent people from using the premises to incite violence. RODNEY MUHUMUZA, KAMPALA, MDT/AP

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The 26th annual Sinulog Festival 2026 took to the streets of Macau yesterday, starting at Sintra Square (Praca da Amizade), with three contingent groups competing in ritual dance contests to the same rhythmic beat for prizes worth thousands.

The Sinulog Festival is a traditional cultural and religious celebration originating in Cebu, Philippines, held every January in honor of the Santo Nino (Holy Child Jesus).

Its one of the Philippines most famous festivals, blending faith, dance, music, and vibrant street parades.

Peace amidst the chaos

Speaking with the Times, Violeta Duran, president of the Santo Nino de Cebu in Macau Association, said this years festival aims to bring peace amid national struggles in the Philippines. The intention is very special. Right now, the Philippines is in chaos. We all know there are many problems there, like flood control and other issues. The goal is to show peace to the world despite ongoing corruption.

The president explained that Sinulog is a dance that expresses thanksgiving and petitions for peace, love, or healing, which the political state of her home country needs. We have more intentions in our prayers regarding the peace of our country. Those in the Philippines are suffering from widespread corruption.

According to her, more than 600 people, including tourists, attended this years Sinulog festival at the square, with some asking for free food, as the event did prior to the pandemic. There are a lot of tourists watching this event, and some were even asking for food because three years ago, we gave free lunches. Now, the government doesnt allow it due to the pandemic.

Shortened preparations

This years preparation was shorter than in previous years, starting last July through August, and the usual raffle draw was omitted due to lack of time and hectic planning. We cannot just have a raffle draw and sell tickets without government permission. We canceled the tickets this year, but next year we will have it, Duran said.

She expressed joy recalling the start of the Sinulog tradition with her family in Macau. Very, very happy. Devotion to Santo Nino. It really started with my family, my brothers, who are residents here. Then, because the allied community company was owned by my late brother, it started there.

When asked how Sinulog has changed over 23 years, she noted, Sinulog changed because the concept of the dancers and groups is based on reality  on what is happening in the world now. So, we ask ourselves, how can we make it better to express it to the people? How can we find a way to help or solve problems?

She concluded, We may seem like a very big association with many devotees, but only a few are committed. My feeling is that when we have a gathering like this, we can feel like we are in the Philippines. We minimize our homesickness and stress, at least for a short time. It also gives hope to those who are hopeless. Many people here, especially domestic helpers, are suffering from tribulations in the Philippines related to their families. You know what happens when families are separated. Its very difficult to adjust.

Unity in faith

Father Filipe Bacalso, speaking to the media about what Sinulog means to the Filipino community in Macau, said, Sinulog for the Macau people is an extension of the celebration back in the Philippines, especially Cebu. Its a religious activity but also includes cultural presentations like street dancing, a queen, and so on. Its meant to honor the Infant Jesus.

He continued, For Filipinos here in Macau, its a way to say thank you for all the blessings they have received over the year and in past years, through beautiful dancing and costumes.

Fr. Bacalso stated that this years theme is unity in faith. He hopes Macaus Filipinos will be united by one faith and will extend it to other groups, not just Filipinos. The Philippines has a very rich culture. Its a great opportunity for cultural exchange.

Togetherness in one beat

The local Filipino community in Macau came together with their respective organizations to participate in this years festival, with the theme focusing on one beat, one dance, one vision for peace and unity, said Adelina Pano, a committee member of the Santo Nino de Cebu in Macau Association.

Speaking to the Times, she said this tradition is all about togetherness, especially for those devoted to Santo Nino. All the dancers here dance out of their devotion to Santo Nino.

For preparation, usually it takes six months, including applying to the government. We need a lot of documentation, renewal of the association, informing the diocese, security from the police, and a government permit.

According to the association member, there were roughly 200 dancers across all three contingent groups this year, two fewer than the previous year, who all prepared on their own over about three months. Fewer groups competed due to lack of preparation time.

She continued, For the dancers, preparation usually occurs in October, November, and December. It takes about three months of nightly practice. They have different story themes for their dances. They dont just dance, but all dance to the same music.

Pano said dancers fund themselves, requiring significant effort to gather participants. It takes budgets and money, and they have to gather dancers because they are all workers.

She added, They have their associations. This is all their own package. They also do charity to raise funds for costumes.

She confirmed the festival is supported by the Santo Nino de Cebu in Macau Association, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and TDM.

Contingents and short preparation

Besides the contingent groups, the choir from Mt. Carmel Church in Taipa has participated in Sinulog since 2003, following the competing groups in the parade that led to Av. Dr. Mario Soares and Av. Panoramica do Lago Nam Van, returning eventually to the starting point.

Orient Premier Tribe, a 37-member contingent and the 2024 and 2025 grand champion, also participated. According to the groups president, Liberty Polvos, preparation took less than a month due to busy schedules. This time we just rented because we have no time. Its from our choreographer.

Another contingent, The Heart of Filipino Services, arrived with handmade costumes prepared in about a month.

Speaking on the sidelines, the president said, Our team constructed all their own dresses. We buy and create everything, including all details and even the shoes. The choreography is also done by them.

She added, The budget comes from themselves or contributions from friends. They are willing to dance, and some friends help with expenses. Its a lot, but they are willing as long as they are dancing for Santo Nino.

On the sidelines

Attendees shared their reasons for watching the festival. A Filipina holding a small Santo Nino statue said, In my 16 years here in Macau, this is my first time at the Sinulog Festival and my first time holding the patron saint.

Another Filipina said, My first time watching. We danced last year but didnt participate this year due to lack of practice time.

A veteran association member added, Weve supported Sinulog since the 1980s, including financially. We are excited to see the performers and hope everyone will support Sinulog every year. This is very important to us. Ricaela Diputado

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Social media companies have revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children in Australia since the country banned use of the platforms by those under 16, officials said.

We stared down everybody who said it couldnt be done, some of the most powerful and rich companies in the world and their supporters, communications minister Anika Wells told reporters on Friday. Now Australian parents can be confident that their kids can have their childhoods back.

The figures, reported to Australias government by 10 social media platforms, were the first to show the scale of the landmark ban since it was enacted in December over fears about the effects of harmful online environments on young people.

Under Australian law, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33.2 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove the accounts of Australian children younger than 16.

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U.S. businesses are more concerned about Chinas slowing economy than trade friction, according to a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China released Friday.

Of 368 companies responding to the survey, 64% viewed slowing growth in the worlds second largest economy as their top worry, while 58% cited U.S.-China trade tensions as a key challenge.

One reason for that may be that many U.S. companies have businesses focused on Chinas huge market of about 1.4 billion people that do not rely on exports back to the U.S.

Economists expect Chinas economy to slow further this year after expanding at about a 5% annual pace in 2025. Growth in exports outpaced imports last year, leading to a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion.

The report said business sentiment has improved from last year. More than half of those responding estimated that they made a profit in 2025, up from less than half last year.

It has been a rocky ride for American businesses in recent years, especially after President Donald Trump returned to office nearly a year ago.

A year-long trade truce reached between Washington and Beijing, after Trump imposed tariffs of up to 145% on imports from China has alleviated some of the uncertainty for businesses. Trump is expected to visit Beijing in April and Chinese leader Xi Jinping may visit the U.S. this year.

Overall, foreign investment in China has slowed. Government data show foreign direct investment was at 693 billion yuan ($99 billion) in the first 11 months of 2025, down 7.5% from the previous year.

Our companies have to live with the political realities, but theyre focused on the business opportunities, Michael Hart, president of AmCham China, said at a media briefing. We have felt that the Chinese government does want foreign investment, they do want American investment.

The survey showed that 48% of those responding expressed optimism about growing their markets in China over the next two years, up from 37% the previous year.

During a high-level annual economic work conference in Beijing in December, Chinese leaders acknowledged the need to reform and improve systems for promoting foreign investments.

The AmCham survey was conducted between Oct. 22 and Nov. 20 last year, around the time when Trump and Xi met in South Korea and agreed to extend their trade truce. CHAN HO-HIM, HONG KONG, MDT/AP

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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in the Swiss Confederation on January 19 to participate in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Azernews reports.

The head of state and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were greeted by officials at Zurich International Airport.
A Hong Kong woman was arrested for smuggling 17.371 kilograms of marijuana buds wrapped in aluminum foil from Southeast Asia into Macau, with an estimated street value of about MOP17 million, concealed in her luggage.

The suspect was arrested by the Judiciary Police (PJ) on Saturday at approximately 10:30 a.m. upon arrival at the local airport, where the Macau Customs Service discovered the marijuana buds hidden in her luggage.

Police indicated that the suspect admitted to being recruited by a drug trafficking gang to smuggle narcotics from Southeast Asia into Macau but refused to disclose the amount of commission promised by the gang or provide further information about the syndicate.

At Saturdays press briefing, police stated that the final destination of the drugs remains under investigation; however, based on similar past cases and the quantity of drugs seized, they did not rule out the possibility that the narcotics could be transshipped through Macau to other regions.

Two youths lose millions in fake judicial scam

Two young residents reported losses after falling victim to a fake public security and judicial scam, police said. One victim lost HKD4.8 million after receiving calls last year from scammers posing as Macau immigration and Kunming police officials, demanding bail payments over alleged fraud cases. Transfers were made via Hong Kong and Macau accounts. Another victim lost HKD935,000 after similar calls requesting RMB600,000 in guarantee payments. YL

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Conservationists in Thailand are celebrating an incredible discovery captured on camera of a mother-and-calf dugong pair peacefully grazing the coastal waters.

This footage is a hopeful sign that marine efforts in the region and beyond are finally starting to pay off.

The sighting occurred in early December during a routine monthly survey in Ao Thueng, which is part of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi.

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Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said that the endangered marine mammals were recorded feeding on healthy seagrass beds, according to the Bangkok Post.

Seagrass beds are a critical food source for dugongs, which are often called "sea cows."

Park chief Siriwat Saengchawee said a health check showed both animals were in good condition, with normal breathing rates for adults and calves.

"The sighting is encouraging, as it reflects the abundance of the local marine ecosystem and confirms the area is sufficient in food sources for the endangered animals," Saengchawee said, per the Post, adding that officials will continue closely monitoring the dugongs.

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The footage was captured using a monitoring camera, which has become increasingly valuable for conservationists around the world. Trail and underwater cameras allow experts to assess population health, track breeding behavior, and gather evidence that conservation efforts are working without disturbing vulnerable species.

There are countless stories of trail and other camera setups leading to unexpected but valuable findings.

Traditional human observation requires time, resources, and a lot of luck. Plus, the mere sight of a human can scare away most animals. Cameras allow conservationists to have 24/7 monitoring, with no additional manpower required.

In Krabi, officials are already acting on what their cameras revealed. To reduce the risk of deadly collisions, the park has installed speed-reduction buoys and issued warnings to tour operators and local fishers, urging them to slow down and stay alert.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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The bar fire in Crans-Montana is one of the greatest disasters in Swiss history. The entire political establishment is trying to portray the 40 deaths and 116 injuries as the result of a fateful coincidence. But the truth is that this disaster was entirely man-made. The cause lies in the short-sighted, reckless pursuit of profit that drives capitalism.

On New Years Eve, a fire broke out in a basement bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana in the canton of Valais in the Swiss alps. Sparklers on champagne bottles ignited the soundproofing mats on the ceiling of the bar. The fire spread in seconds and the entire basement became an inferno.

[Originally published in German and French at kommunismus.ch and communisme.ch]

The result: 40 dead and 116 injured  more than 90 of whom are still in hospital two weeks later, making it one of the greatest disasters in Swiss history. They will be scarred for life.

This terrible suffering could have been prevented. The danger posed by the use of sparklers under the highly flammable soundproofing mats was known to the employees.

34 of the 40 victims died on the staircase, which was the only way out. The owner had narrowed it during a recent renovation. Emergency exits existed, but were either impossible to find or locked. In addition, the staff had never been trained in fire safety.

The risk of fires in nightclubs is well known. Since 2003, identical fires have claimed over 1,300 lives worldwide, and fires involving pyrotechnics and soundproofing panels make up 670 (or nearly half) of these. The problem is so commonplace that Netflix and Amazon have each recently released their own series on such cases.

What these tragedies have in common is that the pursuit for profit has led to a systematic non-compliance with safety measures. Every safety measure costs money, whether it's security personnel, training, or fireproof insulation material. Or to put it another way: guaranteeing the safety of our youth when they go out reduces the profits of capitalists  and they are unwilling to do that.

A bad apple?

The bar owners responsible  Jacques and Jessica Moretti  were recently praised in the media as up-and-coming small restaurateurs. But scratch the surface and youll find filthy rich and ruthless capitalists.

Jacques Moretti was a convicted pimp, literally willing to sell people as goods in the past. He came to Switzerland with so much money that he was able to buy several properties in the region without having to take out a mortgage. Now he is being defended by two specialised elite law firms.

The media are trying to portray the bar owners as merely being a couple of bad apples. In reality, they are symptomatic of capitalisms contempt for human life. A system that functions on ruthless greed for profit produces ruthless and greedy individuals.

A system that functions on ruthless greed for profit produces ruthless and greedy individuals / Image: fair use

They are typical representatives of the powerful Swiss hotel and restaurant industry. In the ski resorts of the Alps, it is typical to milk tourists for as much as possible during the short five-month season. The staff themselves are squeezed with low wages and terrible working conditions. Failure to comply with all kinds of standards and regulations is the norm.

The responsibility of the state

Although the municipality, canton, Federal Council, and media are doing everything they can to cover it up, the extent of the deliberate failure of state authorities is now coming to light.

The municipality of Crans-Montana had not inspected the fire safety of the premises for six years. In fact, only 40 of the 128 premises due for inspection were inspected last year, even though they are required to carry them out annually. This issue is not isolated to Valais. Many other cantons are just as bad, if not worse.

And even an inspection would probably have changed little. Bar owners throughout Switzerland report having the same highly flammable acoustic panels, which had been approved during fire inspections. Such an inferno could just as easily have happened elsewhere!

Revealed here is the absolute inability of the bourgeois state to guarantee good safety standards.

It is not just bars and clubs affected by this, it applies to large parts of the economy. In scaffolding, for example, serious accidents have risen by 86 percent since 2014. In hospitals, vital safety regulations are being neglected due to staff shortages.

Now the authorities are reluctant to guarantee that the culprits will be investigated and prosecuted. Starting with the mayor of Crans-Montana, who, when confronted with questions about his municipalitys responsibility for safety inspections, replied laconically: Who are you to ask such a thing?

He is closely followed by the Valais public prosecutors office, which does not provide enough resources for such complex cases. Due to this, it has repeatedly taken too long to process the cases, allowing cases against local bosses to be dropped due to the statute of limitations.

In the healthcare system the lack of resources has even more dire consequences: it has been known for years that Switzerland's emergency system cannot handle incidents involving more than 25 people requiring hospital care. It was only because 21 European hospitals took in patients, and the enormous sacrifices of healthcare and rescue personnel, that the healthcare system did not completely collapse on 1 January.

National unity distracts from responsibility

Now the federal government  the Federal Council  is pulling out all the stops to invoke national unity through commemorative events. Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin (Swiss Peoples Party, SVP) writes in his open letter to the Swiss people: The whole of Switzerland has been turned into a united family of mourners. But this family does not exist.

On the one hand, we see the sincere sympathy of the population and the working class. Their sympathy goes far beyond the empty words of politicians. During and after the fire, countless holidaymakers, residents, rescue workers, and healthcare personnel demonstrated their selfless willingness to make sacrifices.

On the other hand, there are the capitalists and governments, whose state and system bear responsibility for this tragedy. They are stirring up national unity to distract from the failure of their system.

The populations trust in the Federal Council and Parliament has plummeted in recent years. According to a recent poll, only a third of the population is still satisfied with the work of the Federal Council. This is the consequence of years of austerity measures and shifting the burden of the crisis onto the working class. Now the Federal Council is cynically trying to exploit the enormous grief and solidarity among the population.

Currently, the shock over the tragedy in Crans-Montana is great. But this national unity will not last long. Because apart from minutes of silence and the ringing of church bells, the Federal Council has little to offer.

In the service of the capitalists, the Federal Council is forced to attack the working class more and more directly. This will break any national unity.

Capitalism cannot be regulated

All the major parties  including the Social Democratic Party (SP)  support national unity. It is a mistake for the left to support this cross-class alliance.

If Crans-Montana proves anything, it is that capitalism cannot be regulated / Image: Dodo von den Bergen, Wikimedia Commons

This depoliticises this capitalist catastrophe  precisely at a time when the ruthlessness of the entire regime is being exposed.

The mother of two seriously injured young women explains:

At first there was bewilderment, pain, trauma, and prayers. Now there is anger and incomprehension.

The political task is to transform this incomprehension into understanding, and to direct this anger against those who are truly responsible.

Even the SPs only political demand  for compulsory national building insurance  is counterproductive in this situation. Insurance capitalists are among the most ruthless parasites. They are currently busy lobbying for the loosening of fire safety regulations! And whilst the Crans-Montana fire has pushed back these plans, they are still on the cards.

We are moving away from the principle of maximizing safety, explains a professor leading the reform. In their illusion that the contradictions of capitalism can be regulated, the reformists end up giving these cutthroats more power over our lives!

If Crans-Montana proves anything, it is that capitalism cannot be regulated. All laws  if they exist at all  can easily be disregarded and circumvented.

Only the working class can end this irrational system

Under capitalism, the working class will always be subject to the cruelty of the bosses. In the case of this bar, the employees and customers were aware of the risk posed by the flammable panels, but they were ignored. Every employee could have made dozens of suggestions for improvement. But under capitalism, no one asks them! Their skills serve only to generate profit.

The working class is the truly productive, capable force in society  it builds all the houses, all the roads, all the machines. Yet today the working class has neither the power nor the resources to implement the necessary measures to guarantee a good and secure life.

Only socialism can break with this irrationality. The capitalists must be expropriated. Worker's control over nationalised property gives the working class the power to solve such problems independently.

No one would voluntarily build a highly flammable basement and send their own children down there with burning sparklers. Only a terminally ill system could do something like that! It must be overthrown.
Every day that passes since the imperialist aggression of 3 January, and the kidnapping of the Venezuelan president and his wife, brings new information that clarifies the picture and needs to be analysed.

Let's start at the beginning. On Thursday 15 January, the reactionary Yankee stooge (and Nobel Peace Prize winner) Maria Corina Machado finally met with President Trump. But the meeting did not go as she and her vociferous supporters had hoped. No one greeted her at the door of the White House to take a photo. Her own bodyguard opened the car door for her and she had to walk through the security arch.

A courtesy visit

Machado must have thought that it is good manners when you visit someone to bring a small gift, so she decided to bring the US president what he most desires: the Nobel Peace Prize medal. But as it seemed a little small, she had it set in a huge frame (gold for greater effect), along with a message recording the donation on behalf of the people of Venezuela, the letters large enough to be legible in the long-awaited photo with the US president.

That Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize, considering her constant agitation in favour of the US invading and militarily attacking her own country, is scandalous enough  although it should be noted that she is in good company, as quite a few war criminals also have the coveted medal. But for her to think that giving it to Trump would win his favour is embarrassing.

Perhaps even Machado herself (or more likely one of her advisers) realised this, as she pulled out of her sleeve a story about a medallion that Washington gave to Bolivar 200 years ago... which has nothing to do with the case at hand. Machado is not Bolivar, that much is clear; nor did Trump obviously have any interest in giving Machado what she so desperately wanted in return: the presidency of Venezuela.

In any case, it seems that she did not leave the White House completely empty-handed. A photograph from the news agencies shows Machado leaving the White House with a bag of souvenirs, like the ones children take home from a birthday party with a piece of cake and some sweets, in this case perhaps a MAGA cap autographed by Trump. Some people are satisfied with very little.

What is clear is that Trump is convinced that he has a good relationship with Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas. That is, a relationship mediated by the brutal violence of 3 January, when he kidnapped the president of Venezuela through a military blockade, and which allows him to blackmail the acting president.

In case it wasnt clear, the White House told the press that the meeting with Machado was nothing more than a courtesy visit and that it would not change Trumps policy towards Venezuela. Trump himself explained it again in case it wasnt clear: in Iraq, the US destroyed the state and then the military joined ISIS. The memory of that disaster is what motivates US imperialism to rely on Maduros government in Venezuela, while keeping Maduro behind bars in New York as a hostage, just in case.

But that was not the only meeting that took place on Thursday, 15 January. At almost the same time that Trump was meeting with the Nobel Peace Prize winner in Washington, CIA Director John Ratcliffe was meeting with Delcy Rodriguez in the VIP terminal of Maiquetia International Airport in Venezuela.

An extraordinary meeting

The meeting can only be considered extraordinary. Some press reports claim that Diosdado Cabello was also present, although this has not been confirmed. The person we do know was present, because he appears in one of the photos leaked by the CIA itself, is the new head of the General Directorate of Military Intelligence (DGCIM), and commander general of the Presidential Guard of Honour, General Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez, appointed after the attack on 3 January.

I say that the meeting is extraordinary because on 3 January, just 12 days earlier, CIA Director Ratcliffe was sitting at the operations table with Trump, Rubio, Hegseth, and senior military commanders watching the unfolding live of the brutal US military aggression against Venezuela that left 83 dead (79 military personnel and four civilians).

Whats more, the CIA, under the command of Director Ratcliffe, played a decisive role in the entire operation. It had been planned for months, with operatives infiltrated within Venezuela and informants within President Maduro's inner circle of defence.

CIA Director Ratcliffe was sitting at the operations table with Trump, Rubio, Hegseth, and senior military commanders watching the unfolding live of the brutal US military aggression against Venezuela / Image: public domain

In other words, the same person directly responsible for much of the execution of the military aggression is now being sent by Washington to give instructions to Venezuela. However, Delcy welcomed him with a handshake and a smile, and the director of the DGCIM was also all smiles with the CIA director.

Finally, on the same day and at almost the same time, Cuba received with honours the remains of the 32 Cuban soldiers who died in the US attack. It can be said that they were killed by Ratcliffe's hand. 11 of them, it has been reported, were killed while they slept, with no chance to defend themselves.

And what was the message brought by the CIA director? According to the New York Times, citing a US administration source:

Mr. Ratcliffe met with Ms. Rodriguez at Mr. Trumps direction to deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive meeting, added that the two discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and the need to ensure that the country was no longer a safe haven for Americas adversaries, especially narco-traffickers.

An improved working relationship! Until now, if I am not mistaken, the relationship between the CIA and the Venezuelan government has been one in which the Agency has done everything possible to overthrow the authorities in Caracas. Theyve resorted to coup attempts, street riots, energy sabotage, mercenary incursions, and espionage at the highest level, culminating on 3 January with the kidnapping of the president.

On this basis, clearly it isnt difficult for the working relationship to improve. Really, Ratcliffes visit seems like that of the owner of a shop visiting the manager who runs it, to make sure that everything is going well in the business and to give him precise instructions.

In this case, the instructions are clear: to ensure that the country is no longer a safe haven for Americas adversaries.

As plain as day

In my country, we say it's as plain as day. The interests of the United States are what determine with whom Venezuela can or cannot have relations. When the CIA enters through Maiquetia airport, Venezuela's sovereignty goes out the window.

The acting government of Delcy Rodriguez has offered no explanation or statement about this extraordinary meeting with one of the most important leaders of the 3 January military aggression and the kidnapping of the president.

In fact, the information about the CIA chief's visit to Venezuela was leaked to the media, with photos to prove it, by the CIA itself.

On Saturday 17 January, a Reuters article was published that caused quite a stir, reporting that the US had been in contact with Diosdado Cabello before and after the attack on 3 January:

Trump administration officials had been in discussions with Venezuela's hardline interior minister Diosdado Cabello months before the U.S. operation to seize President Nicolas Maduro, and have been in communication with him since then, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

So far, Cabello has not denied this information. To be clear, the Reuters article does not say that Cabello knew in advance or was involved in the US plan to kidnap Maduro. All it says is that the channels of communication, which obviously existed prior to 3 January, between the Trump administration and senior Venezuelan officials, specifically included Diosdado Cabello.

It is significant that it was the US itself that leaked both stories to the press (about the CIA directors visit to Delcy and about the contacts with Diosdado). The objective is clear: to send a clear signal to everyone that the US trusts the government in Caracas, in all its wings, and that it will work through it to achieve its objectives. It is a message to the government itself, and also to the Machado opposition.

Dont leave yet, theres more, as they used to say in the Mighty Mouse cartoons.

The Hydrocarbons Law

On the same Thursday, Delcy Rodriguez spoke in the Venezuelan National Assembly (we do not know if it was before or after receiving the CIA director) and, among other things, announced that she was submitting a proposal to reform the Hydrocarbons Law.

Delcy Rodriguez has not disclosed the content of the proposed reform to the hydrocarbons law / Image: public domain

The current hydrocarbons law is the one Hugo Chavez enacted in 2001, which restored Venezuelas rights vis-a-vis multinationals. It established that any joint ventures with private companies must be with a majority stake held by PDVSA, Venezuelas state oil company. It also doubled royalties to 30 percent, and put an end to the oil opening, in which foreign companies were free to exploit Venezuelan oil. The approval of this law, as part of a package of 49 enabling laws, was one of the reasons that led the oligarchy and imperialism to launch the coup against Chavez in April 2002.

The law was subsequently amended in 2006-07 to further favour Venezuelan national interests in oil exploitation. The corporate income tax rate for oil projects was increased from 34 percent to 50 percent and total royalties to 33 percent. In addition, 32 operating contracts from the 1990s were terminated, forcing private companies to abandon or migrate to the Joint Venture model, where the state (through PDVSA) held at least 60 percent ownership.

Chavez also approved a decree for the migration of the four main Strategic Associations in the Orinoco Belt (multi-million dollar projects to extract the extra-heavy crude oil that is abundant in this region) to joint ventures controlled by PDVSA.

This set of laws established a legal and tax framework that was very favourable to Venezuela, and unfavourable to multinational oil companies, something that imperialism never forgave Chavez for.

Several multinational companies accepted the new regime and migrated to joint ventures (including Chevron, Italys ENI, and Spains Repsol), but at least two American multinationals refused (ConocoPhillips and Exxon) and began a long process of international litigation against Venezuela.

In 2020, under Maduros government, there were significant changes to this regime through the so-called Anti-Blockade Law, which improved the position of multinational companies in joint ventures with PDVSA.

At Trumps meeting on 9 January 2026 with the bosses (sorry, executives) of the multinational oil companies, Exxon already made its return to Venezuela conditional on the need for legal certainty, guarantees of non-expropriation, and substantial reform of the Hydrocarbons Law.

What are these oil vultures demanding? Among other things, the right to freely export the oil they produce in Venezuela, since PDVSA currently sells the oil on the world market and deposits the multinationals share in their accounts.

This system has ceased to function in practice due to the criminal sanctions imposed by the US. According to Reuters, the oil companies are also seeking to remove extra taxes introduced by the government after the law was approved in 2021, only preserving royalties and income tax.

In other words, what they want is to destroy what remains of Chavezs legacy of the hydrocarbons law and, with it, Venezuelas oil sovereignty.

Delcy Rodriguez has not disclosed the content of the proposed reform to the hydrocarbons law, beyond saying that it is in line with Chevrons licence and the anti-blockade law. In both cases, this implies concessions to multinationals. We will see how far these go.

Not only that, but the acting president also proposed amending the labour law, which was also enacted by Chavez and effectively destroyed by the Maduro government with a series of instructions in August 2018.

Putting it bluntly, in her address to the nation speech, Delcy Rodriguez made a lot of empty talk. She did not mention the word socialism once. Just in case you dont believe me, the full speech is here.

Semi-colonial arrangement

There have also been unconfirmed reports about the sale of oil that had been stored due to the US blockade. The first sale, worth $500 million, has already taken place, and the money has been deposited in a bank account in Qatar, under the control of the US government.

According to press reports, part of that money (reportedly $330 million) will be sent to Venezuela through four private banks, which will auction it off to private actors, with priority given to those who want to import food and supplies for US production.

The first sale, worth $500 million, has already taken place, and the money has been deposited in a bank account in Qatar, under the control of the US government / Image: public domain

The bolivars obtained at these exchange tables will be deposited in the Central Bank of Venezuela, but can only be used for specific projects determined by the US. This would include the payment of salaries, the recovery of the health sector (which Delcy Rodriguez has already said will be done in collaboration with the private sector), and the recovery of the electricity sector and other infrastructure. The acting president also stated that an electronic system would be created to ensure transparency in the use of these resources.

No one has said anything about the remaining $170 million from the sale.

If we look at this carefully, we can begin to untangle the knot. The US is responsible for selling Venezuelan oil and managing the funds obtained. Preference is given to US buyers (Gulf refineries), but the rest is sold to the best buyer at market prices (not at the discounts that until now they were forced to offer to circumvent sanctions, nor in repayment of Chinese debt).

The funds obtained are protected from Venezuelas creditors, for now, and are sent (or at least part of them) to Venezuela, but to be used under US supervision.

If, as it seems, Trumps priority is economic, social, and political stability in Venezuela, under Washingtons tutelage, it is possible that part of these funds, which legitimately belong to Venezuela, will be used to solve some of the serious problems afflicting the country. Healthcare, for example, by paying private clinics to perform surgical procedures. The electricity sector, by importing equipment and spare parts from the US.

In reality, the US is not disbursing any money, as the funds come from the sale of Venezuelan oil.

Dismantling of the Bolivarian Revolution

But this agreement actually means a virtually total loss of sovereignty, because none of this would work without the cooperation of Delcy Rodriguez's government in Caracas. As I wrote in a previous article, this is a semi-colonial arrangement.

This agreement actually means a virtually total loss of sovereignty, because none of this would work without the cooperation of Delcy Rodriguez's government / Image: own work

The US controls the flow and sale of oil and the use of the resulting funds, to ensure that Venezuela ceases to be under the sphere of influence of US adversaries, as Ratcliffe put it in his meeting with Rodriguez.

Anyone who describes this as a situation in which Venezuela has its sovereignty intact because the unity of political and military leadership is maintained is deceiving themselves and others.

The unity of political and military leadership may be maintained for now, but that is useless if, in fact, this leadership is subject to the dictates of American imperialism, if it acts as Washingtons errand boy. There is no practical difference between doing so through blackmail or voluntarily  the practical result is the same.

And its not just about oil. On 16 January, the American online news outlet Axios published an exclusive interview with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, in which he stated that he was looking to secure oil and critical minerals deals with Venezuela in the next few weeks ahead of a trip to Caracas. When asked by journalists if this was looting, Wright replied that his counterparts in Venezuela are thrilled by this. He continued:

Think if youre in the Venezuelan administration right now, you know a third of that oil goes corrupt  gangsters are selling that oil. The remaining oil that you control, youre selling at a huge discount. Its almost all going to China. This is a boost for Venezuela.

In other words, until now, the Venezuelan government was forced to sell oil at a significant discount because of unilateral sanctions imposed by American imperialism. Now they are lifting the sanctions so that it can be sold under US supervision, and Venezuela is supposed to thank them for it!

Another piece of news that broke on the same day, Friday 16 January, was the resumption of deportation flights of Venezuelans from the US. These were part of the bilateral agreements brokered by Trumps envoy, Richard Grenell, in the first part of 2025, and which Washington had suspended in December. A White House adviser quoted by Axios described it this way:

Between the deportation flights into the country and the oil and mineral flows out that Wright is working on, were facing an entirely new dynamic in the Western Hemisphere

Wright himself said that The goal is to drive Venezuelas behavior in a positive direction. Of course, it is understood that this is referring to a positive direction for Yankee imperialism, and when he talks about driving, that includes actions such as the military aggression of 3 January.

I was finishing this article when a comrade in Caracas sent me a video of Nicolas Maduro Guerra, the son of the kidnapped president and member of the National Assembly. In a speech, he called for the restoration of relations with the US, the reopening of the embassy, and also... the restoration of relations with Israel! Its enough to make you cry. You must see it to believe it.

Nicolas Maduro Guerra propone restablecer relaciones diplomaticas con EEUU, y... con Israel  pic.twitter.com/dGGCU7F45O  Jorge Martin  (@marxistJorge) January 17, 2026

In 2006, President Hugo Chavez expelled the Israeli ambassador from the country in response to the invasion of Lebanon. In 2009, diplomatic relations were formally broken off due to the Israeli aggression against Gaza.

In short, we may soon have the CIA, the US Embassy, the IMF and the Israeli Embassy back in Caracas, sealing the definitive dismantling of Chavezs Bolivarian revolution.
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Factors contributing to gastric cancer and potential interventions. Credit: Duke-NUS Medical School

Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School and the National University Health System (NUHS), together with an international team of researchers, have uncovered a complex interplay of factors that increase the risk of developing stomach cancer (gastric cancer).

These factors include genetic and age-related blood mutations, smoking and infection by oral bacteria. Published in Cancer Discovery, the findings provide new insight into the earliest biological changes that precede the development of gastric cancer and could offer more precise approaches for risk stratification and prevention.

Gastric cancer remains one of the world's deadliest cancers. It is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, accounting for 769,000 deaths in 2020. In Singapore, it is among the top 10 causes of cancer-related deaths, claiming about 300 lives each year.

Gastric cancer typically develops over many decades, beginning with chronic inflammation in the stomach lining. This can progress to intestinal metaplasia, a condition in which normal stomach cells gradually convert to cells resembling those usually found in the intestines.

Over time, these changes may progress to more severe tissue damage and cancer. However, clinicians have limited ability to predict which individuals with intestinal metaplasia are most likely to progress to gastric cancer.

To address this gap, studies were conducted under the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium (SGCC), a multidisciplinary national research program comprising clinicians and scientists from various academic medical centers, universities and research institutes working in gastric cancer research and management.

The SGCC team, which included collaborators from the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), the Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and the A*STAR Genome Institute of Singapore, along with clinicians from SingHealth, NHG Health, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the U.S., analyzed more than 1,500 intestinal metaplasia samples collected across six countries.

This large, geographically diverse dataset enabled the team to compare genetic changes across populations with differing levels of gastric cancer risk.

Detection of oral bacteria (red and green dots) in gastric cancer tissue. Credit: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine

Using advanced genetic analyses, the researchers identified 47 significantly mutated genes in intestinal metaplasia cells. Mutations in one particular gene, ARID1A, were associated with increased risk of gastric cancer and poorer prognosis.

The team also uncovered a distinct pattern of DNA damage, known as SBS17, which was absent in healthy stomach tissue but commonly found in intestinal metaplasia. SBS17 is linked to oxidative stressa type of cellular damage caused by reactive molecules generated by abnormal metabolism.

This damage can be worsened by exposure to tobacco smoking. This finding suggests that oxidative stress may play a critical role in the earliest stages of gastric cancer development.

In another exciting development, the team also discovered that pyrvinium, a drug currently used to treat parasites, had the ability to inhibit the growth of intestinal metaplasia cells.

Building on this finding, clinical studies under the SGCC are being planned to explore therapeutic strategies for intestinal metaplasia.

Unexpectedly, the team also discovered that clonal hematopoiesis, a process in which blood stem cells acquire mutations and multiplywas also associated with increased susceptibility to gastric cancer. Since clonal hematopoiesis is known to occur in the elderly, these findings further explain why gastric cancer is often diagnosed in patients later in their life.

Further analysis revealed that individuals with clonal hematopoiesis also carried higher levels of oral bacteria such as Streptococcus in their stomachs. Together, the "dual-impact" of weakened immunity caused by clonal hematopoiesis, along with increased bacterial levels, may fuel chronic inflammation and accelerate progression to gastric cancer.

Professor Patrick Tan, Dean at Duke-NUS Medical School and a senior author of the study, said, "Gastric cancer is often called a silent killer because it takes hold quietly, long before symptoms appear. What our study shows is that risk does not come from one placeit builds over many years through a complex interplay between aging, genetic changes, immune shifts and even the bacteria we carry.

"As Singapore is a rapidly aging population, these findings improve our understanding of biological processes that happen when we age and will contribute towards the nation's quest to promote healthy longevity and resilience."

Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, Chief Executive, NUHS and co-senior author of the study, said, "Our findings open the door to exploring new and more effective treatments, such as eliminating specific bacteria, and therapies to inhibit or potentially reverse intestinal metaplasia. These findings also provide insights into which intestinal metaplasia patients are at greatest risk of developing gastric cancer.

"These can serve as valuable biomarkers to identify the most vulnerable long before the disease strikes, guiding more focused screening to identify those who require closer monitoring."

Professor Yeoh is also a Senior Consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the National University Hospital, and the Kishore Mahbubani Professor in Medicine and Health Policy, Department of Medicine, NUS Medicine.

Publication details Kie Kyon Huang et al, Mutational Signatures and Clonal Hematopoiesis in Intestinal Metaplasia across Countries with Varying Stomach Cancer Incidence, Cancer Discovery (2026). DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-25-0778 Journal information: Cancer Discovery
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

New research from the University of St Andrews, the University of Copenhagen and Drexel University has developed AI computational models that predict the degeneration of neural networks in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Published in Neurobiology of Disease, the study paves the way to promote computational modeling as a complementary approach to the current animal and in vitro methods.

Motor neuron disease (MND) is the general name that's given to a group of illnesses which affect nerves called motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. The most common subtype is ALS, which is also often the most widely used term in other countries. Other names include Maladie de Charcot and Lou Gehrig's disease.

ALS affects approximately two out of 100,000 individuals per year globally. In Scotland, this means approximately 200 people are diagnosed per year.

How ALS affects the nervous system

The majority of ALS cases show spinal onset, meaning that motor neurons and particular neural circuits in the spinal cord are affected first. This results in motor symptoms such as muscle weakness, muscle stiffness, and cramps being early signs of disease.

Traditionally, ALS is studied using animal models such as mice. The mice are genetically modified in order to have ALS-like symptoms. Their symptoms are then recorded to see how the disease progresses. Generally, when using animal models, researchers need to focus on specific timepoints during disease progression due to time and money constraints.

However, computational models can predict what is happening in between these timepoints to further understand disease progression. Additionally, they can repeat the same exact experiment with a single modification to understand the impact of a specific change to the output of the model, whereas animals will always have many influencing factors.

Importantly, computational models also allow researchers to make predictions about how neural circuits may respond to treatment and they can inform future preclinical studies in mice.

How the new computational models work

Researchers in this study used biologically plausible neural networks. These networks are different compared to the traditional neural networks that are used every day for tasks like opening your smartphone with facial recognition or answering questions using ChatGPT.

Biologically plausible neural networks communicate using spike signals in a similar manner to the nerve cells found in our nervous system. The networks are structured based on the cells that scientists know exist in the spinal cord and how they are connected. In this way, the researchers develop their models based on what is known from the biology.

The models, developed by researchers from the School of Psychology and Neuroscience, are systems of mathematical equations that calculate the excitability of each neuron in the network. When a neuron receives a spike (an electrical impulse), this changes how excited the neuron is, and if it is excited enough, it will spike, thereby passing along the information to the next neuron.

In order to construct the network, these neurons are grouped into populations and then the populations are connected based on biological data.

Modeling disease progression and treatment

Co-author Beck Strohmer, postdoctoral researcher from the University of Copenhagen, said, "During ALS, it is known that neurons die and that the communication between populations break down. We model this by removing neurons from affected populations and by reducing the number of connections from affected populations.

"This allows us to model disease progression. In a similar way, we can model and test treatment strategies by saving neurons or strengthening communication."

Co-author Dr. Ilary Alodi, Reader in St Andrews School of Psychology and Neuroscience, said, "Hypotheses generated by models need to be tested on animal models because it is impossible to model all the complexities of a biological system. In this study, we predicted that the applied treatment strategy in the model would save a specific population of neurons. We then looked at this neuron population in the treated mice and found that hypothesis held true."

Results like these show that while exercising caution with predictions from models, they are a good way to guide experimental research.

This also means that animal experimentation can be further refined because researchers have a better idea of where and when to look for changes in the animal models.

Dr. Alodi added, "We are now starting to apply these models also to specific brain areas in order to understand how neuronal communication changes during dementia, which is an exciting new research direction for our lab."

Publication details Beck Strohmer et al, Spinal circuit mechanisms constrain therapeutic windows for ALS intervention: A computational modeling study, Neurobiology of Disease (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107253 Journal information: Neurobiology of Disease

Clinical categories Neurology
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Coffee may do more than boost energy. New research suggests that certain compounds found in roasted coffee beans could help slow how quickly sugar enters the bloodstream, a finding that could one day support new foods aimed at managing type 2 diabetes.

Scientists have identified three previously unknown compounds in roasted coffee that strongly block -glucosidase, an enzyme that helps the body break down carbohydrates during digestion.

That enzyme plays a key role in how fast sugar enters the blood. Slowing it down can help prevent spikes in blood sugar.

The research was led by Minghua Qiu at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and published in the journal Beverage Plant Research.

The findings add to the growing evidence that coffee may offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition (and taste).

Finding helpful compounds in foods is challenging because they contain thousands of interlinked chemicals.

To tackle this, the research team used advanced lab tools, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), to carefully analyze roasted Coffea arabica beans.

Using a three-step screening process, the scientists narrowed down the most chemically active portions of the coffee extract.

After further testing and purification, they isolated three new compounds, which they named caffaldehydes A, B and C.

All three compounds strongly blocked -glucosidase. Their effectiveness, which was measured by IC values, ranged from 45.07 to 17.50 micromoles, making them more potent than acarbose, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes. (The lower the IC value, the greater the potency.)

The team then used additional mass spectrometry tools to search for harder-to-detect substances. That analysis uncovered three more previously unknown compounds.

Together, the results show that the researchers' method can uncover meaningful health-related compounds in complex foods like coffee.

The findings suggest that coffee-based ingredients could one day be developed to help support blood sugar control. Researchers say future studies will test whether these compounds are safe and effective in living organisms.

More information Guilin Hu et al, Bioactive oriented discovery of diterpenoids in Coffea arabica basing on 1D NMR and LC-MS/MS molecular network, Beverage Plant Research (2025). DOI: 10.48130/bpr-0024-0035

Key medical concepts Diabetes Type 2

Copyright  2026 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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New CDC childhood vaccination schedule represents a historic paring down of immunizations. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A decision by federal officials to scale back the number of vaccines recommended for children surprised some Northeastern University public health experts, who warn the move could confuse parents and increase the risk of preventable diseases.

The Department of Health and Human Services, headed by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced Jan. 5 that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was reducing the number of diseases prevented by childhood vaccination from 17 to 11.

Under the revised guidance, the CDC continues to recommend vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, polio, whooping cough and other illnesses. But vaccinations for several diseasesincluding respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus, and hepatitis A and Bare no longer universally recommended and are instead subject to "shared clinical decision-making" between parents and physicians, or limited to high-risk groups.

Neil Maniar, director of Northeastern's master of public health program, called the new policy recommendation a "seismic change."

"We are significantly changing the childhood vaccination schedule that has been shown to be very effective for several decades now," he said.

Even slight delays or disruptions in the vaccination schedule will mean fewer immunized children and "unnecessary spikes in diseases that can have lifelong implications for individuals," Maniar said.

Elizabeth Glowacki, a Northeastern associate teaching professor in public health and health sciences, said the new recommendations are bound to cause confusion and stress for parents.

"These changes are unfolding quickly," she said, adding that there is a lack of accompanying information about how individual viruses, such as rotavirus, a gastrointestinal disease that once hospitalized thousands of children a year, spread.

Kennedy said in the announcement that the changes followed a Dec. 5 directive by President Donald Trump to take a close look at the vaccination schedules put in place by other developed nations and "to take action if they are doing better."

"The assessment reviewed 20 peer, developed nations and found that the U.S. is a global outlier among developed nations in both the number of diseases addressed in its routine childhood vaccination schedule and the total number of recommended doses," while failing to have higher vaccination rates, the statement said.

Using the Denmark model

Public health officials said the new U.S. directive most closely follows the schedule in place in Denmark, which federal officials said immunizes children against 10 diseases.

Maniar said there are distinct differences between the U.S. and Denmark, which he noted has a relatively homogeneous population of 6 million people, of whom 85% or more are of Danish descent, all of whom enjoy universal health care.

Denmark is roughly the size of Maryland, he said, and the United States has 350 million people and a heterogeneous population.

The United States is not Denmark, and there's no reason to impose the Danish immunization schedule on America's families," said Dr. Andrew D. Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

He called the new schedule an "ill-considered decision" that will sow chaos and confusion and erode, not restore, confidence in immunizations.

A Massachusetts pediatrician who called the benefits from current vaccines phenomenal and risks minuscule, said hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, RSV and meningococcal meningitiswhich are no longer included among 11 vaccines recommended for all childrenare serious illnesses that can sometimes be fatal.

"There is absolutely no good reason to stop vaccines, or monoclonal antibodies, against them from being universally recommended," said Dr. Leif Norenberg of Briarpatch Pediatrics in Sandwich, Yarmouthport and Nantucket.

Sweeping changes

Making sweeping changes in the vaccination schedule reinforces the idea, especially for anti-vaccine groups, that opposing immunizations is a sort of moral litmus test, said Ashleigh Shields, a Northeastern assistant teaching professor and expert in health communication.

For the general public, "it can make relationships with vaccines even more complicated," she said.

Shields and Glowacki said they believe in health care transparency and patients advocating for themselves and their children.

"But we can do that without validating false claims," Shields said.

The "shared clinical decision-making" about vaccines espoused in the new directive shouldn't be an excuse to perpetuate misleading information, Glowacki said.

The CDC's new guidance is the latest in its skepticism about the safety of childhood vaccines.

In November, the agency challenged scientific consensus by changing its vaccine safety website to say that the vaccines do not cause autism, which is not evidence-based.

Over the summer, Kennedy asked, unsuccessfully, for a medical journal to withdraw a Danish study that did not find a connection between aluminum in childhood vaccines and chronic diseases, as reported in the science journal Nature.

Vaccine hesitancy

The head of a nonprofit program that partners with pediatric practices in more than 20 states to help low-income children get off to a healthy start said it's too soon to grasp how parents across the country are receiving the pared vaccination schedule.

Rahil D. Briggs, national director of Healthy Steps, part of the ZERO to THREE organization, said the program's affiliated pediatrician offices "are seeing an uptick in vaccine refusal and hesitancy," especially due to concerns about autism.

"This new guidance has the distinct possibility of creating more confusion and stress for families and has dangerous implications for children and communities," she said, adding that one practice has noted it has seen increased cases of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Elana Doyle, a mother of three young children from Mashpee, Massachusetts, said she doesn't consider the new recommended schedule a shock since "historically, medical advice evolves over time."

She said it's important that the schedule continue to recommend "core childhood vaccines" for all, including those for MMR, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (the Hib), as access to others at parental discretion.

"What matters most to me is that we'll continue to be given clear information on the benefits and possible side effects of each vaccination from our pediatricians, so we can make informed decisions for our families," Doyle said.

Insurance coverage

Parents can still get insurance coverage for the previously recommended vaccines for their children, as the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to advise.

But Glowacki said physicians will face "a really difficult communication scenario" due to the pared-down immunization schedule.

Maniar called the new directive a "major change" being implemented without proper public health input and guidance.

"People will unnecessarily become very sick and likely die as a result," he said. "There's no way to sugarcoat that."

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
Akbar Novruz



Iranian officials have accused the United States and Europe of seeking to impose new sanctions on Iran under the pretext of cooperation with Israel, which Tehran describes as a notorious agent, Iranian diplomat Kazem Jalali said, Azernews reports.

In exchange for further services from this notorious agent, the United States and Europe are seeking to impose new sanctions against the Iranian people, Jalali stated, criticizing what he described as collective punishment and political pressure targeting ordinary Iranians.

Jalali recalled remarks made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during Israels military operation against Iran in June 2025, when Merz said that Israel was doing Europes dirty work. According to the Iranian diplomat, these comments reveal the moral and political logic behind Western support for Israeli actions.

From a moral perspective, German Chancellor Merzs words, describing the actions of the unilateralist coalition last summer, when the Israeli regime bombed homes and businesses in Iran, could prove quite instructive, Jalali emphasized.

The statements also drew a reaction from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Chancellor Merz had made a number of remarks that, in Moscows view, constituted an absolute manifestation of Nazism and racism, sharply condemning both the rhetoric and the broader Western approach to the conflict.

The exchange of accusations comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Western countries following Israels military actions and ongoing debates in Europe and the United States over additional sanctions and political pressure on Tehran.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Through a statewide partnership, hospitals in Michigan drastically increased the number of patients who receive follow-up imaging after undergoing aortic aneurysm repair, according to a recent study.

The rate of imaging in the year following endovascular aneurysm repair, or EVAR, improved from nearly 28% in 2017 to just below 80% in 2023.

Patients who participated in surveillance imaging had a nearly 60% decrease in the likelihood of dying within one year of surgery, after controlling for other comorbidities.

The results are published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes.

"EVAR is now more common than open surgery, yet as many as 57% of patients were missing essential follow-up imaging," said first author Frank M. Davis, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at University of Michigan Medical School and vascular surgeon at the U-M Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

"Through this partnership, we saw sweeping improvements in surveillance imaging that will allow clinicians to detect early problems that can lead to device failure or future, threatening complications such as aortic rupture."

Current guidelines from the Society for Vascular Surgeons recommend annual lifelong surveillance after EVAR with CT scanning or ultrasound.

More than 30 hospitals participated in the improvement initiative that offered financial insurance reimbursement for encouraging surveillance imaging in the year following endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The initiative formed through the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium, or BMC2, registry.

The consortium, housed at Michigan Medicine, is comprised of hospitals across the state of Michigan that use data they collect to inform quality projects, and improve care and patient outcomes.

Before the study, the rate of EVAR surveillance imaging just one year after the operation varied in Michigan from 3.7% at smaller hospitals to 62.5% at larger facilities.

The effort led to improvement across Michigan hospitals and was not driven by high-performing health care systems.

By 2023, 95% of participating hospitals had EVAR surveillance rates above 60%.

"The long-term success of a surveillance program like this depends on identifying processes at each participating hospital that can be built into routine practice, making them easier for health care teams to sustain," said senior author Nicholas Osborne, M.D., M.S., Ramon Bergeur M.D., Ph.D., Research Professor of Vascular Surgery at U-M Medical School and director of BMC2.

Each year, around 200,000 Americans are affected by abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Around 14% of patients who have EVAR require a second procedure within four to five years and less than 2% experience late aortic rupture as a complication.

Patients who received surveillance imaging during the study period had a higher number of repeat interventions than those who did not get imaging.

Their mortality rate, however, was significantly lower.

Past studies have mixed results as to whether follow-up imaging is associated with reduced risk of death after endovascular repair.

Researchers say future studies using BMC2 data will assess mortality risk after five and 10 years of surveillance.

"This study demonstrates the importance of BMC2, as implementation of quality programs across the state of Michigan can lead to substantial improvement in care for patients, including those who have aortic surgery," Davis said.

More information Frank M. Davis et al, Association Between Creation of an Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Surveillance Program and 1-Year Follow-Up and Mortality in the State of Michigan, United States, Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes (2026). DOI: 10.1161/circoutcomes.125.012472

Clinical categories CardiologyGeneral surgery
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Excess rate for all outcomes. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-67247-w

Analyzing patient health care notes recorded during millions of medical appointments at GPs and hospitals across England has allowed researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to map the entire spectrum of diseases linked to atopic eczema for the first time.

They found that patients diagnosed with atopic eczema at some point in their life were more likely to also be diagnosed with eye conditions compared with those who did not have an eczema diagnosis. These included not just allergic conjunctivitis but also more serious conditions known to permanently affect vision, such as keratoconus (twice as likely) and cataracts (1.6 times more likely).

Strong associations were also identified with inflammatory bowel diseases. The association with Crohn's disease in particular was persistently strong across the several different types of analyses performed in the study, with a Crohn's disease diagnosis 1.7 times more likely for those also diagnosed with eczema.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition that affects approximately 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults in the U.K. It has well-established connections with the development of other allergy-based (atopic) diseases but there is less certainty surrounding its associations with other diseases.

The study, published in Nature Communications, analyzed anonymized patient health care records from both GPs and hospitals in England between 1997 and 2023.

Using the anonymized data collected from GP practices, which are the usual first point-of-contact for patients in the U.K. health care system and where almost all eczema cases are managed, the team first analyzed how many patients had been diagnosed with atopic eczema (3 million versus 14 million without a diagnosis). The team then analyzed those patients' linked anonymized hospital records, to uncover associations between eczema and other conditions that arose during a 25-year follow-up period.

As expected, the team found strong associations with allergy-based conditions already known to be associated with atopic eczema, including asthma, food allergies and hay fever. In comparison, awareness of the connections found with eye conditions and inflammatory bowel disease in the study is limited, indicating a need for guidance for GPs and dermatologists on monitoring other potential conditions and making referrals to other departments.

Dr. Julian Matthewman, Assistant Professor at LSHTM and lead author of the study, said, "We believe this may be the first study to comprehensively map the diseases associated with eczema.

"Eczema can affect people of all ages, and can be extremely painful and distressing for many patients. Through mapping and uncovering diseases associated with eczema that may not be widely known, we want to equip patients with the knowledge to ask more questions, and provide health care practitioners with a bigger picture to encourage better communication between departments.

"We know that patients living with long-term health conditions can often experience delays in getting the treatment they need or may need to attend numerous health care appointments to reach a diagnosis. We hope that our comprehensive, real-world evidence can now assist health care in prioritizing resources where they can be most effective for patients."

The team conducted more than 60,000 analyses, which looked at more than 2,000 different health conditions. While associations with other diseases outside eye conditions and inflammatory bowel disease were also found, it was, reassuringly, still generally rare for eczema patients to be diagnosed with these conditions.

As the study only looked at electronic health records and is observational, the team say it does not prove or disprove that eczema directly causes these conditions. It may also be possible that some patients were misdiagnosed with eczema, or that medical records were incomplete or inaccurate.

The study builds on previous research published in Nature Communications by the team at LSHTM last year, which investigated adverse health outcomes associated with atopic eczema and included additional analyses on eczema severity.

Publication details Julian Matthewman et al, Mapping risks of health conditions in people with atopic eczema in English primary care and hospital data, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-67247-w Journal information: Nature Communications
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Poor sleep, psychological distress, socioeconomic disadvantage and bad eating habits are strongly linked to greater risk of suicidal thoughts among adolescents, according to new research from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Credit: University of the Sunshine Coast

Poor sleep, psychological distress, socioeconomic disadvantage and bad eating habits are strongly linked to greater risk of suicidal thoughts among adolescents, according to new research from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

A longitudinal study conducted by UniSC's Thompson Institute tracked 159 young people aged 1217 over several years to examine how lifestyle factors and social circumstances might influence suicidal ideation. The research is published in the journal BMJ Open.

Lead author of the research, Ph.D. candidate Maddison Crethar, said adolescents who reported having poor sleep were 2.6 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, than those who slept well.

"Poor sleep emerged as quite a significant risk factor. There's been little research to date that's explored this link over an extended period of adolescence," she said.

By far the most significant risk factor identified was socioeconomic disadvantage.

Adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds up to 8.7 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts than those with a higher socioeconomic status, which supports previous research in this space.

"Socioeconomic disadvantage is complex, involving access to resources, health services and financial pressures, and more research is needed to understand how these factors interact to increase suicide risk," Crethar said.

Those reporting higher psychological distress were 5.7 times more likely to experience suicidal ideation, while poor eating habits were also statistically significant.

Crethar said the findings highlighted the complex mix of biological factors (sleep and nutrition), psychological factors (distress) and social factors (socioeconomic) that can impact young people's mental health.

"Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australian adolescents. It's crucial we understand the risk factors that contribute to suicidal ideation and how they relate," she said.

"We can't say any of these factors by themselves are causaleven if there's clearly some relationship there. Some of the relationships could also be a two-way street. For example, suicidal thoughts might contribute to poorer sleep, eating and psychological distress.

"But through research like this, we can try to create a better risk profile that can be tailored to an individual's experiences, environment and circumstances."

UniSC Professor of Youth Mental Health and Neuroscience Daniel Hermens said the study reiterated the role parents, educators and health professionals can play in suicide prevention.

"This research reinforces the importance of awareness around risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and conversations about them," Professor Hermens said.

"Parents and schools can help by encouraging healthy sleep routines and being open to talking about mental health. Asking a young person if they are struggling or having thoughts of suicide does not increase riskit can be the first step to getting help.

"We need to break down stigma and make these conversations normal."

The research was a part of the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study, which tracks the same group of adolescents for five years, regularly recording brain development and its links to mental health.

Publication details Maddison Crethar et al, Determining the longitudinal associations between suicidal ideation and biopsychosocial factors in early to mid-adolescence: a prospective cohort study, BMJ Open (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099365 Journal information: BMJ Open
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Refugees provided with targeted support outside of designated camps have a better chance of finding jobs, economic stability and safety.

That is the main finding in our recently published article in BMJ Global Health looking at what helps displaced families become self-reliant.

To establish what enables refugee households to meet their basic needs for housing, food, health care and education without depending on aid or formal assistance, we analyzed data from the self-reliance index, a tool we helped develop as academic advisors to the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative.

The index, one of the largest known of its kind, looks at the self-reliance of refugees, internally displaced people and host community members across 16 countries. In all, it assesses 12 areas of household lifefrom employment and savings to health care access and safety.

Across nearly 8,000 households in our data, we found that general levels of self-reliance were extremely low, with most families unable to sustainably meet their basic needs and heavily dependent on aid.

But when we looked at households over time, we found that those living outside of camp settings showed real, measurable progress. Refugees living in cities, towns and villages were more likely to see improvements in work, savings and paying down debt. They also reported safer, more stable living conditions.

Households in camps, by contrast, didn't show much improvement. In some areas, including education and financial resources, prospects for families living in camps actually worsened over time.

Taken together, our findings suggest that families that struggle in camp settings may thrive when given opportunities, mobility and access to markets in noncamp environments.

Why it matters

The world is experiencing the highest levels of forced displacement ever recorded. The United Nations estimated that in mid-2025 more than 117 million people were living as refugees, asylum-seekers or internally displaced peoples. The majority of asylees and refugees end up in neighboring countries, where resources are already stretched.

These modern-day realities challenge the old model of humanitarian response. Camps were designed for short-term protection and assistance. But for many of today's refugees, displacement often lasts decades.

And although camps, by design, provide food, shelter and basic services, they also often restrict where people can go and whether they can work. They provide free or subsidized services, but these same structures can trap people in dependency when displacement stretches on for years.

Our findings show that progress is indeed possible, but only when the environment allows it. Families living outside camps proved that.

But those who live in noncamp settings face their own challenges.

Accessing services is harder, and families can face discrimination from host communities. Progress requires policies that let displaced people work, access services and move freely. It requires sustained investment in integration rather than isolation.

Making sure that funding is focused on where it can do the most good matters now more than ever. Humanitarian funding has shrunk dramatically due in part to massive cuts in U.S. assistance.

And our data clarifies an important trade-off: Blocking displaced people from working doesn't save money. Rather, it shifts costs into the future while trapping families in dependency that requires ongoing aid.

What we don't know

Our findings raise new questions. We know noncamp settings enable progress, but not which specific interventions matter most. Does cash assistance drive change, or is legal documentation the key? More comparative research would help governments and humanitarian agencies target investments more effectively. We also need to better understand what happens to families once they leave camp settings, and whether they have the same trajectories as those who initially settle outside of camp settings.

Meanwhile, our findings suggest a fundamental rethinking may be needed over the use of camps. If these environments structurally limit what families can achieve, continuing to measure them against self-reliance standards may be setting them up to fail. Metrics focused on safety, mental health and skill development might better capture what's actually possible in restricted settings while preparing families for future opportunities.

Publication details Lindsay Stark et al, Supporting self-reliance for displaced and host populations: insights from the Self-Reliance Index across 16 countries, BMJ Global Health (2025). DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2025-021125 Journal information: BMJ Global Health

Key medical concepts Mental HealthHealth Services

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Researchers have developed a wearable, comfortable and washable device called Revoice that could help people regain the ability to communicate naturally and fluently following a stroke, without the need for invasive brain implants. Credit: University of Cambridge

Researchers have developed a wearable, comfortable and washable device called Revoice that could help people regain the ability to communicate naturally and fluently following a stroke, without the need for invasive brain implants.

The device, whose development was led by researchers at the University of Cambridge, uses a combination of ultra-sensitive sensors and artificial intelligence to decode speech signals and emotional cues to allow people with post-stroke speech impairment to communicate naturally.

The Revoice device, worn as a soft and flexible choker, captures the wearer's heart rate and tiny vibrations from throat muscles, and uses those signals to reconstruct intended words and sentences in real time.

The signals from the device are processed by two AI agents: one reconstructs words from fragments of silently mouthed speech, while the other interprets emotional state and contextual information, such as the time of day or weather conditions, to expand short phrases into complete, expressive sentences.

In a small trial with five patients with dysarthria, a common type of post-stroke speech impairment, the device achieved a word error rate of 4.2% and a sentence error rate of just 2.9%. Unlike existing assistive speech technologies, which often require slow letter-by-letter input, eye tracking or brain implants, the Revoice device provides seamless real-time communication, turning just a few mouthed words into full, fluent sentences.

Researchers have developed a wearable, comfortable and washable device called Revoice that could help people regain the ability to communicate naturally and fluently following a stroke, without the need for invasive brain implants. Credit: University of Cambridge

Potential impact and ongoing research

Their results, reported in the journal Nature Communications, could not only have implications for stroke rehabilitation, but could also help support people with conditions such as Parkinson's and motor neuron disease.

The researchers are currently planning a clinical study in Cambridge for native English-speaking dysarthria patients to assess the viability of the system, which they are hoping to launch this year.

About half of people develop dysarthria, or dysarthria in combination with aphasia, following a stroke. Dysarthria is a physical condition that causes weakness in the muscles of the face, mouth and vocal cords. It affects people in different ways, but often causes an inability to speak clearly, slurred or slow speech, or speaking in short, disjointed bursts rather than full sentences.

"When people have dysarthria following a stroke, it can be extremely frustrating for them, because they know exactly what they want to say, but physically struggle to say it, because the signals between their brain and their throat have been scrambled by the stroke," said Professor Luigi Occhipinti from Cambridge's Department of Engineering, who led the research.

"That frustration can be profound, not just for the patients, but for their caregivers and families as well."

Researchers have developed a wearable, comfortable and washable device called Revoice that could help people regain the ability to communicate naturally and fluently following a stroke, without the need for invasive brain implants. Credit: University of Cambridge

Current therapies and device development

Most stroke patients with dysarthria work with a speech therapist to regain their ability to communicate, primarily through repetitive word drills, where patients repeat words or phrases back to the speech therapist. Typical recovery time varies from a few months to a year or more.

"Patients can generally perform the repetitive drills after some practice, but they often struggle with open-ended questions and everyday conversation," said Occhipinti.

"And as many patients do recover most or all of their speech eventually, there is not a need for invasive brain implants, but there is a strong need for speech solutions that are more intuitive and portable."

Occhipinti and his colleagues developed the Revoice device as such a solution. The sensors in the device capture subtle vibrations from the throat to detect speech signals and decode emotional states from pulse signalsa simplified but effective proxy. The device also uses an embedded lightweight large language model (LLM) to predict full sentences, so only uses minimal power.

Trial results and future directions

Working with colleagues in China, the researchers carried out a small trial with five stroke patients with dysarthria, as well as 10 healthy controls. In the study, participants wore the device and mouthed short phrases. By nodding twice, they could choose to expand those phrases into sentences using the embedded LLM.

In one example, "We go hospital" became "Even though it's getting a bit late, I'm still feeling uncomfortable. Can we go to the hospital now?" The sensors in the Revoice device inferred that the wearer was feeling frustrated due to their elevated heart rate, and that it was getting late at night. The LLM was able to use this data to expand three mouthed words into a full sentence.

Participants in the study reported a 55% increase in satisfaction, showing that the device could be a promising development to help stroke patients regain their ability to communicate.

Although extensive clinical trials will be required before the device can be made widely available, the researchers hope that future versions of the device will include multilingual capabilities, a broader range of emotional states and fully self-contained operation for everyday use.

"This is about giving people their independence back," said Occhipinti. "Communication is fundamental to dignity and recovery."

Publication details Wearable intelligent throat enables natural speech in stroke patients with dysarthria, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-68228-9 Journal information: Nature Communications

Clinical categories NeurologyAllied health
The 100th birth anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray has assumed significance in negotiations over the post of BMC mayor.



With January 23 marking Thackerays centenary year, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is invoking his legacy as a central argument in its claim to the post, despite a weakened electoral showing in the city.



After controlling the countrys richest civic body for nearly three decades, the Shiv Sena saw a sharp decline in the 2026 BMC elections, winning just 29 seats. The result has raised questions about the partys standing in Mumbai, long regarded as its organisational base. Yet despite the setback, the numbers have thrown up a political paradox  the Sena may no longer dominate the BMC, but it still holds the key to the House.



The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats  its best-ever performance in the BMC  but remains short of the numbers required to elect a mayor on its own.



During the campaign, BJP leaders consistently referred to the prospect of a Mahayuti mayor rather than explicitly staking claim to the post, a position that allowed room for negotiation within the alliance but has now limited the partys leverage.



Sena leaders have made it clear that while they acknowledge the BJPs numerical advantage, the BJP cannot form the civic leadership without Sena support. Party functionaries said the Sena is unwilling to accept a subordinate role, particularly in a year of symbolic importance for the party.



According to sources, the Sena leadership argues that it has already made major political concessions to the BJP at both the Centre and the state, including backing a BJP chief minister in Maharashtra. We have supported the BJP at critical moments at the Centre and in the state. The BMC is where the Shiv Senas soul lies, a senior leader said.



With its 29 corporators currently housed at Taj Lands End in Bandra to guard against any possible poaching attempts, the Sena leadership appears determined to extract maximum political value from its numbers. The move is being seen as a signal that negotiations will be tough and protracted.



A party leader compared the current talks to pre-election seat-sharing negotiations. We were initially offered 60 seats, but after discussions we secured 90. While our Mumbai results fell short of expectations, the partys overall performance across Maharashtra was stronger. In the city, we had hoped to win at least 45 seats, the leader said.



At the heart of the Senas argument is the legacy of Thackeray, under whose leadership the party first captured the BMC in 1985 and went on to dominate it for nearly 30 years. Sena leaders believe that denying the party the mayors post during his centenary year would be politically and emotionally difficult to justify.



During Balasaheb Thackerays 100th birth anniversary year, it is only fitting that Shiv Sena has a mayor in Mumbai. It is a matter of respect  not just for Balasahebs legacy, but for the Senas historic role in shaping the citys civic politics, a senior Sena leader told Mumbai Mirror on condition of anonymity.



The sources said the Sena is seeking at least a one-year mayoral term as a starting point, with the duration and structure of power-sharingsuch as a split term or extended BJP tenureto be discussed as part of broader Mahayuti negotiations.



The reservation for municipal corporations is yet to be announced. All decisions will be taken after that. But one thing is certainwe will have a Mahayuti mayor, BJP Mumbai chief Ameet Satam said.



The reservation for mayoral posts is expected to be announced by the end of the month, setting the stage for closely watched negotiations over control of the BMC.




While the BJP and the Shiv Sena crossed the majority mark in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, a host of long-pending civic challenges await the new ruling alliance.



Key among these are the promise of a 24-hour water supply, ensuring a flood-free Mumbai, halting the privatisation of civic hospitals, withdrawing the proposed solid waste management charge, and completing the mega road concretisation project within the stipulated timeframe.



In the Mumbai civic polls, the BJP secured 89 corporators, while the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena won 28. For the first time in several decades, an alliance has managed to secure a clear majority in the BMC, ending years of fragmented mandates. The new leadership, however, inherits an administration weighed down by stalled infrastructure projects and contentious policy decisions.



Among the most significant promises reiterated by the alliance is the provision of a 24-hour water supply for Mumbai. This was once a flagship plan of the BMC, but the proposal was subsequently shelved after being deemed unviable. The BJP and Shiv Sena have also committed to addressing the citys chronic waterlogging problem, which has intensified with every monsoon.



BJP spokesperson Bhalchandra Shirsat told Mumbai Mirror that a strategy for completing the project, to give relief to the citizens, has been prepared under the guidance of the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The statement reflects the urgency with which the new government is expected to tackle civic distress.



24-hour water supply



The idea of a 24-hour water supply first appeared on the BMCs agenda in 2009. The civic body began implementing the project in 2012, but the plan was eventually abandoned after being found unfeasible. In its current election manifesto, the BJP has renewed the promise, linking the supply to the completion of the desalination project.



The BMC has initiated the process for a 200 million litres per day desalination plant, with the capacity to be expanded to 440 million litres. In addition, the civic body has proposed another desalination project in conjunction with the Gargai dam project. The success of these initiatives will be critical in determining whether a round-the-clock water supply can finally become a reality for Mumbai.



Concretisation by 27 end



The BMCs mega concretisation project  aimed at permanently fixing the citys pothole-ridden roads  is currently underway. As per the existing plan, the project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. The BMC has undertaken the concretisation of 699.15 km of roads across the city, of which 210.86 km has been completed so far. However, delays, cost overruns and monsoon disruptions remain key concerns.



Waterlogging in the city



To address Mumbais perennial flooding, the BJP has promised the construction of underground holding tanks to store rainwater during high tide, when the citys drainage outlets are unable to discharge water into the sea. The BMC has also planned to significantly enhance the capacity of the stormwater drainage system.



Under the proposed plan, the drainage network would be upgraded to handle rainfall of up to 120 mm per hour, compared to the current capacity of 55 mm per hour. The project, estimated to cost Rs 5,000 crore, includes the construction of pumping stations. The civic body has also decided to prepare a detailed plan for this project, which is expected to be one of the most closely monitored civic interventions.



Privatisation of hospitals



Another contentious issue confronting the new leadership is the proposed privatisation of expanded civic hospitals in the suburbs. The BMC had earlier planned to privatise Mulunds MT Agarwal Hospital, a move that was opposed by a local BJP leader, reflecting internal resistance within the ruling party. While the BJPs central leadership has not made any formal commitment to rolling back the policy, the issue remains crucial for local representatives and residents who depend heavily on affordable public healthcare.



Solid waste charges



The BMC has also proposed recovering solid waste management charges from households, commercial establishments and industrial units across the city. The civic body had projected revenue of more than Rs 700 crore from the levy, but the proposal drew sharp criticism and objections from the opposition, and even from sections of the states ruling alliance.



While BMC has been under pressure to augment its revenue streams, implementing the charge poses challenge for the BJP-led administration, which must balance fiscal requirements with the additional financial burden on citizens already grappling with rising living costs.




Akbar Novruz



US President Donald Trump has claimed that Denmark has failed to eliminate what he described as a Russian threat to Greenland, criticizing Copenhagens role in ensuring security on the strategically important island, Azernews reports.

NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland. Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done! Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform.

In a separate post on January 17, Trump announced that the United States would impose 10 percent tariffs on the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, and Sweden, citing the Greenland dispute. According to the US president, the tariffs would be increased to 25 percent starting June 1 and would remain in force until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1951, Washington and Copenhagen signed the Greenland Defense Treaty, alongside their commitments under NATO. Under the agreement, the United States undertook responsibility for defending the island against external aggression.

Trumps remarks and the proposed trade measures add to growing tensions between Washington and several European allies, as the US president continues to link security concerns in the Arctic region with broader geopolitical and economic demands.
Last-minute entrants played a key role in boosting the BJPs performance in the 2026 BMC elections, helping the party add seven seats to its tally.



The BJP won 89 seats, up from 82 in 2017. While gains in its traditional strongholds were limited, the party made significant inroads by inducting strong candidates from rival parties ahead of the nomination deadline. These tactical defections proved decisive in several closely contested wards.



Party strategists focused on winnability rather than long-term cadre building, using local influence and electoral strength to counter anti-incumbency and convert narrow margins into victories in targeted constituencies.



Among the prominent newcomers were Tejasvee Ghosalkar (Ward 1) and Shweta Korgaonkar (Ward 9), both of whom leveraged their local base to secure wins. In the eastern suburbs, late entrants Rakhi Jadhav (Ward 131) and Archana Bhalerao (Ward 126) delivered key victories in Ghatkopar, aiding the BJPs efforts to consolidate Marathi and North Indian voters.



Chandan Sharma (Ward 122, Powai) joined the BJP on December 18, 2025. Rakhi Jadhav had served as group leader and city head of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, while Sharma was a four-time corporator of the undivided NCP. Tejasvee Ghosalkar of Dahisar and Archana Bhalerao of Ghatkopar West joined the BJP from Shiv Sena (UBT).



Shweta Korgaonkar, a former Congress corporator from Borivali, joined the BJP in November 2025. Other late-stage additions included Shiva Shetty (Ward 9, Borivali Gorai), a former Congress corporator who joined the BJP in 2019.



Former Congress corporator Jagdish Kutty joined the BJP in 2024. His wife, Jagdishwari Jagdish Amin, won from Ward 82 in Andheri East. Rekha Yadav (Ward 176), who joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 assembly elections along with former BMC opposition leader Ravi Raja, retained her seat in the civic polls. Party sources said the BJP consistently tracks corporators with a strong local base and proven electoral performance. We assess local strength ward by ward. Where our organisation was weaker, we looked to induct candidates with winning potential from other parties, a party functionary said.




Detectives in Thika have arrested two Iranian nationals after an audacious stupefying theft that left a Kenyan shopkeeper Sh15,000 poorer.

Police identified the suspects as 56-year-old Heidari Mansoior Eslam and his 40-year-old accomplice, Babaei Ahmad Mirzaaga. Officers moved in swiftly after a sharp-eyed mobile phone dealer spotted the pair entering his premises and immediately linked them to a similar theft reported in the area just a month earlier.

Alert Trader Connects the Dots

According to police, the two men walked into the shop posing as genuine customers interested in buying a mobile phone. However, their behavior raised red flags. The shopkeeper recalled details from a previous incident at a nearby outlet, where criminals allegedly used stupefying tactics to steal cash from a trader.

Acting decisively, the shop owner contacted a colleague who had fallen victim to the earlier scam. When the second trader arrived at the scene, he immediately identified the two foreigners as the same individuals who had stolen Sh15,000 from his shop.

Quick Police Response Averts Mob Justice

As word spread, members of the public confronted the suspects, drawing a hostile crowd that threatened to administer mob justice. Police officers arrived in time, dispersed the crowd, and escorted the suspects to safety before the situation escalated.

Authorities detained the two at Thika Police Station, where they remain in custody pending processing and arraignment in court.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly. Residents can report crimes anonymously through the DCI hotline by calling 0800 722 203 toll-free or sending a WhatsApp message to 0709 570 000.

Police have also cautioned against taking the law into ones own hands, emphasizing that swift reporting enables officers to act quickly and prevent both crime and unnecessary violence.
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has launched a scathing attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of lacking a clear development agenda and promoting what he termed as politics of revenge against the Kenya Kwanza government.

Kabogo made the remarks during a public engagement forum held at Kianwe Primary School in Ndia, Kirinyaga West, where he told residents that the Mt Kenya region was already reaping tangible benefits under President William Rutos administration. He cautioned that divisive political narratives could derail ongoing development gains.

Kabogo Rejects One-Term Narrative

The ICT CS dismissed Gachaguas push for a one-term presidency as reckless and harmful, arguing that it undermines stability and progress. Kabogo insisted that President Ruto had demonstrated clear leadership, a solid development vision, and a genuine commitment to uplifting Mt Kenya and the rest of the country.

Mt. Kenya is safer and better in the hands of President Ruto. Gachagua has no plan for this country. What he is pushing is not leadership; it is revenge politics, Kabogo stated.

He urged residents to assess leadership based on results rather than emotions or personal vendettas.

Government Projects Driving Growth

Kabogo highlighted several infrastructure and social projects currently being implemented by the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying they reflected a government focused on delivery. Among them is the expansion of the NairobiThika Expressway, which he said will significantly ease traffic congestion and boost trade and economic activity across the region.

He also defended the affordable housing programme, noting that it has created thousands of jobs for young people while giving ordinary Kenyans access to decent and affordable homes.

To demonstrate the real-life impact of government policies, Kabogo shared a personal encounter with a woman who sought his help after her landlord locked her out over unpaid rent.

I spoke to PS Charles Hinga, and today that woman is living well in a decent house she can afford. That is the Kenya Kwanza difference, he said.

Kabogo argued that such outcomes showed the administrations commitment to improving livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable citizens.

Call to Reject Political Emotions

The CS firmly rejected calls for a single-term presidency, urging Mt Kenya residents not to abandon what he described as a working government because of political bitterness.

We cannot chase darkness with darkness. Darkness is chased by light, Kabogo remarked.

He encouraged voters to focus on continuity, stability, and development rather than divisive rhetoric.

Kabogo also praised the Nyota Programme, describing it as a transformative initiative aimed at empowering young people through access to business financing, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating sustainable employment opportunities.

Concluding his address, Kabogo called for unity among Mt Kenya leaders and residents, saying a united front would help the region maximize development benefits under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Unity is how we benefit. Division will only take us backwards, he stressed.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party is building friendships and collaboration with other political parties to create a strong and inclusive political force ahead of the 2027 General Election.

President William Ruto explained that under the broad-based government, Kenyans are working together and ensuring that no one gets left behind.

He noted that national unity addresses the biggest challenge Kenya has faced over the years: fair distribution of the countrys resources.

He observed that one group does not have to lose for another to gain, pointing out that achieving a win-win outcome is possible.

For a long time, the bigger challenge in Kenya has been sharing the small cake we have. We now have a strategy to bake a bigger cake for everybody to share, he stated.

President Ruto made these remarks while hosting over 17,000 UDA grassroots leaders from Nyeri County at Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri, on Saturday.

The party had elected these polling centre officials the previous week.

Governors Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) and Cecily Mbarire (Embu), along with MPs led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa, attended the event.

The President observed that Kenya needs bold and visionary leadership, political collaboration, and unity of purpose to transform the country into a first-world economy.

President Ruto stressed the importance of building strong national political parties that can advance the nations development agenda beyond a single election cycle or individual leader.

A political party is the most important instrument in making sure that we have continuity that ensures we consolidate the transformation of the nation, he explained.

Consequently, the President urged Kenyans to rise above retrogressive politics rooted in hatred, tribalism, and division.

He clarified that national development cannot emerge from violence, hatred, or tribalism.

Leadership, politics and development are achieved through humility, patience, hard work, and unity, he declared.

President Ruto pledged to continue bringing Kenyans together, affirming that he would use his office positively to achieve this goal.

We are proud of our development track record in the past three years, the President remarked.

He noted that the government has stabilized Kenyas economy, reformed the agriculture, healthcare, and education sectors, and created millions of jobs.

Looking ahead, President Ruto revealed that the government is rolling out ambitious programmes across the country.

He mentioned the construction of 30,000km of road, including 2,500km of dual carriageways, and the expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu and to the Uganda border.

Additionally, he announced that the government will modernize Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to meet growing demand not only in Kenya but also across the region.

The President also highlighted the development of the Bomas International Convention Centre and the Talanta Stadium as key infrastructure projects currently under construction.

Regarding party matters, President Ruto, who also serves as the UDA party leader, announced that he will hold meetings with party grassroots leaders in every county.

He encouraged UDA officials to manage party affairs effectively at the grassroots level and to promote the party and its agenda.

He revealed that UDA plans to hold ward, constituency, county, and national elections to strengthen the party.

President Ruto stressed that UDA has established itself as a foridable party, noting that 580,000 polling centre officials have been elected at the grassroots nationally, and adding that 2.4 million members turned out to vote in last weeks grassroots elections alone.

On development in Nyeri County, President Ruto disclosed that the government has allocated Ksh.4 billion for road construction in the county.

He explained that Mau Mau roads stood at 20 per cent completion when he took office in 2022, but they have now progressed to between 60 and 70 per cent and remain on track for completion later this year.

Additionally, the President pointed out that Ksh.21 billion has been allocated to Nyeri County for costructing affordable housing, markets, and hostels, Ksh.1.4 billion to expand electricity connectivity, and Ksh4 billion for road construction.

No project will stall in Nyeri County under my watch, he assured.
East African Legislative Assembly MP Winnie Odinga delivered a forceful message to party loyalists at a packed ODM rally at Kamukunji Grounds on Sunday, January 18, 2026, declaring that no member will be expelled from the party despite rising tensions over its direction following the death of her father, Raila Odinga.

Winnie drew on a classic Kenyan rap song to address critics and lighten the mood. Referencing late rapper E-Sirs hit Hamnitishi, she told supporters that threats would not intimidate her.

Wakati nimekuwa nikiketi hapa. Kuna nyimbo moja imekuwa ikichezwa kichwani, she said amid cheers from the crowd.

Hii nyimbo iliandikwa na msanii mwingine alikuwa anaitwa E-Sir, marehemu. Kijana yetu ya South C hapa. Na hiyo nyimbo ilikuwa inaitwa, Hamnitishi. Na alianza hiyo nyimbo na methali. Akasema hivi, vitisho vya peni mbili vitanifanya mimi nini. Hamnitishi! Hamnibabaisha, Winnie added.

Calling Out Opportunists

Winnie criticized opportunistic members seeking to seize control of ODM in the wake of Raila Odingas passing.

On this journey, we were passengers, and Baba was the driver. One day, we woke up and were shocked. The driver had died. Slowly, some people moved to the front, grabbed the steering wheel, and pulled it in different directions, she said.

They pushed us, passengers, to the back. They forgot Baba died only yesterday. Why the rush? Stop the bus. Let us talk. Let us decide together and move forward.

She also highlighted that not everyone who claimed to support Raila was genuine.

We see that not everyone among us who believed in Baba was true. Some were just using him, she stated.

Family Remains Neutral

Winnie assured the public that the Odinga family is staying neutral amid factional disputes.

As a family, we are not in either faction. We are Team Baba, she said, calling on party members to show patience ahead of the National Delegates Congress (NDC), which she predicted would be heated.

She dismissed claims by some leaders that they were acting on instructions left by Raila. Those who are saying Baba said this or that are not well mannered, she said, adding that she rejects any effort to chase out members with differing opinions.

As the lastborn, when you see things go wrong, lazima uchome. I have come kuchoma, Winnie told supporters, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Emotional Return to Kibra

Winnie began the day with a heartfelt address at ACK Holy Trinity Parish in Makina, Kibra, apologizing for her delayed return to the community after her fathers death.

Today, we have come back home. This is a place we have come all our lives. I would like to apologise for taking so long to come back. I was a bit troubled. I didnt know how to come back to Kibra without Baba, I didnt know how to talk to you, I thought Id cry, she said.

Her brother, Raila Odinga Junior, and Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto joined her at the service. After the church event, Winnie and her team proceeded to Kamukunji Grounds, where she addressed thousands of party supporters, reiterating her call for unity and patience as ODM navigates a new era without its founding leader.
Women bearing the name Cerella typically exhibit a remarkable combination of inner strength and outward grace that reflects the name's meaning of 'mistress' or 'lady.' They often possess natural leadership abilities tempered by deep empathy and spiritual awareness, making them effective in roles that require both authority and compassion. Cerellas are frequently described as having keen intuition and wisdom that guides their decision-making, along with a strong sense of responsibility toward those in their care. Their personality often includes a quiet confidence that inspires trust in others, combined with excellent communication skills that allow them to articulate complex ideas with clarity and grace. Many Cerellas demonstrate a lifelong commitment to learning and personal growth, often pursuing intellectual or spiritual interests that deepen their understanding of the world. They tend to form deep, meaningful relationships and are known for their loyalty and reliability as friends, family members, and community leaders. This combination of traits makes Cerellas natural pillars of strength in their communities, often serving as mentors, advisors, and sources of wisdom for those around them.
Individuals bearing the name Danaus are often characterized by strong leadership qualities combined with a deeply protective, almost paternalistic nature. They tend to be strategic thinkers who plan carefully for the future, much like the mythological king who orchestrated his daughters' escape from Egypt. Their decision-making is typically methodical and foresighted, though they can become rigid or controlling when they perceive threats to those under their care. This protective instinct, while stemming from genuine concern, may sometimes manifest as overbearing behavior or an unwillingness to trust others' judgment, reflecting the complex legacy of the original Danaus who took extreme measures to protect his daughters.



Despite these potential challenges, people named Danaus usually possess remarkable resilience and adaptability. They excel in navigating difficult transitions and can guide others through turbulent times with practical wisdom and resourcefulness. Their strength lies in their ability to establish order and security in uncertain circumstances, making them natural leaders in times of crisis. However, they must guard against the tendency to impose their will too forcefully or to see compromise as weakness. The balance between protective leadership and respecting others' autonomy represents the central psychological challenge for those carrying this name with its rich mythological heritage.
Uganda's Museveni calls Wine's opposition 'terrorists'

President Yoweri Museveni said the authorities are aware of "residual plans for disruption" and vowed that those responsible would be dealt with. Image: Reuters

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, fresh from winning a seventh term at the age of 81, said on Sunday that the opposition were "terrorists" who had tried to use violence to overturn results.



Official results showed Museveni winning a landslide with 72 percent from Thursday's election, but the poll was criticised by African election observers and rights groups due to the heavy repression of the opposition and an internet blackout.



The whereabouts of opposition leader Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, who won 25 percent, were still uncertain after he said on Saturday that he had escaped a police raid on his home and was in hiding.



Police denied the raid and said Wine was still at home, but blocked journalists from approaching the residence.



Wine has not posted on X since Saturday when he denounced the "blatant theft of the presidential election."



In his victory speech on Sunday, Museveni said Wine's party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), had planned to attack polling stations in areas where they were losing.



"Some of the opposition are wrong and also terrorists," said Museveni, who has ruled the east African country since 1986, when he seized power at the head of an rebel army.



"They are working with some foreigners and some homosexual groups," he said.



He added: "All the traitors  this is free advice from me  stop everything, because we know what you are doing and you will not do it."



Although some internet was restored late on Saturday, the government said it would maintain a ban on social media platforms until further notice.



The government blocked the internet two days before the vote, saying it was necessary to prevent "misinformation" and "incitement to violence."



Uganda has remained largely peaceful since the results, though there were small-scale protests late on Saturday, with witnesses saying tear gas was fired in parts of the capital Kampala.



The security presence was significantly reduced on Sunday, with people out on the streets and shops open. (AFP)
Akbar Novruz



Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the newly proposed Board of Peace, aimed at promoting stability in the Middle East, his spokesperson announced on Monday, Azernews reports via Reuters.

According to a copy of the letter and draft charter seen by Reuters, the board, which Trump would chair for life, will initially focus on the Gaza conflict before expanding its mandate to other regional disputes.

Tokayevs spokesman, Ruslan Zheldibay, said that Kazakhstans leader was among the first to receive the invitation. The head of state sent a letter to the president of the United States expressing sincere gratitude and confirming his agreement to join this new association, Zheldibay said. He added that Tokayev confirmed Kazakhstans commitment to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East, strengthening interstate trust and global stability.

The initiative reportedly invites 60 countries to participate, with permanent membership available to those contributing $1 billion.
A high-level delegation from Uttar Pradesh, led by the state's Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, arrived in Zurich on Monday to participate in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The visit aims to position the state as a global investment destination as it pursues a USD 1 trillion economy target through infrastructure and technology-led growth. Ambassador of India to Switzerland, Mridul Kumar, received the UP Finance Minister Suresh Khanna at the Zurich airport. Ambassador Kumar provided a detailed briefing to the Minister regarding his scheduled engagements at the annual meeting. The Embassy of India in Switzerland confirmed its support for the upcoming sessions, noting a strong collaboration intended for shared growth and global partnerships. The presence of the Uttar Pradesh delegation at Davos coincides with the gathering of nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries. The forum operates under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue" to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty. The annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including approximately 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state. Notable attendees include U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The forum also hosts leaders of international institutions such as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and World Bank Group President Ajay S. Banga. Discussions at the forum will focus on the responsible deployment of transformative technologies and rebuilding prosperity within planetary boundaries. The programme includes more than 200 live-streamed sessions to ensure transparency. Business representation includes nearly 850 CEOs and chairpersons, with a focus on innovation and digital infrastructure. The WEF said this approach is designed to ensure transparency and allow global audiences to follow, question and engage with discussions taking place in Davos. As geopolitical tensions rise and economic and technological transformations accelerate, Davos 2026 aims to bring together a uniquely diverse mix of sectors, industries, governments and generations to surface long-term solutions, unlock new opportunities for growth and resilience, and help move the world forward together in the year ahead. (ANI)
VMPL Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 19: Prashant Shekhar, a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur and computer science engineer with a background in software development and data science, has a simple thesis that cuts against the noise: most companies don't fail to automate because they lack tools. They fail because they never build systems people can truly rely on. Early in his career, Mr. Shekhar worked close to live production environments--where the consequences of a broken workflow are immediate, not theoretical. He noticed a pattern that kept repeating across teams and industries. Organizations would invest in ambitious platforms and "big" transformation plans, while the basic mechanics of execution stayed stubbornly manual: follow-ups living in someone's head, handovers that depended on a good day, reporting that changed depending on who pulled it, and routine checks that only happened when someone remembered. The result is what many teams quietly normalize: delays, confusion, and a form of fragile scaling where growth feels like it could snap the system at any moment. Over time, Mr. Shekhar came to a blunt conclusion. The real problem is rarely effort. It's design. Workflows weren't built to be predictable, verifiable, and clearly owned. That insight became the foundation for Quick Automation (https://quickautomation.io/), his automation engineering firm focused on business automation and operational automation. The question behind the work is straightforward: why do modern teams adopt powerful software and still feel that day-to-day execution is brittle? Mr. Shekhar believes the answer shows up in the same set of questions that echo through operations everywhere: Did this run? Who owns this? Why did it break again? Is this data actually correct? What changed since last week? In his view, those aren't signs of incompetence. They're signals that the system itself isn't built for trust. AI, he says, raises the stakes. When organizations add AI before their foundations are stable, they may move faster in the short term--but they often lose something more valuable: the ability to explain what happened, why it happened, and what should happen next. "Businesses don't fear automation," Mr. Shekhar says. "They fear unpredictable systems." His approach is what he calls human-first automation: workflows that run quietly in the background, behave consistently, make ownership obvious, and surface exceptions early--so teams can stop carrying the system in their heads. The goal isn't to make operations look impressive. The goal is to make them dependable. Official Links (for verification & reference) Founder - Website: https://prashantshekhar.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prashanthshekhar/ - Medium: https://prashant-shekhar.medium.com/ Company (Quick Automation) - Website: https://quickautomation.io/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quick-automation About Quick AutomationQuick Automation is an automation engineering firm founded by Prashant Shekhar, focused on designing and building reliable business automation systems--internal workflows, integrations, and operational dashboards that reduce friction and improve execution. Media ContactPrashant Shekhar, Founder/Director @ Quick Automation -- press inquiries: prashant@quickautomation.io (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.)
Akbar Novruz



Former Israeli Ambassador Eitan Naeh, who served in Azerbaijan from 2001 to 2005, has died at the age of 63, the Israeli Embassy in Baku announced on Tuesday, Azernews reports.

In its statement, the Israeli Embassy expressed deep sorrow over Naehs passing and extended condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. It noted that during his tenure, Naeh played an important role in strengthening friendly and cooperative relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, contributing to the development of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Naeh was part of a distinguished career in diplomacy that saw him represent Israel in several key postings.

Before his death, he served as Israels ambassador to Bahrain and Turkiye and held senior diplomatic roles throughout the Middle East.

His service in Azerbaijan came at a formative time in the relations between Baku and Jerusalem, a period that laid the groundwork for closer cooperation in the years that followed.
The Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) held discussions on Monday with Jay Galla, Co-founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of the Amara Raja Group on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos to exchange perspectives on energy storage, battery-led solutions, and the future of renewable energy integration in the state. As per the release from the MP Government, during the interaction, Amara Raja sought insights into Madhya Pradesh's progress in energy storage. The state highlighted a major battery storage initiative in the Morena region in northern Madhya Pradesh, where battery systems are currently enabling two hours of storage during evening peak demand and two hours during early morning hours. Further, the Madhya Pradesh government, during the discussion, outlined its broader strategy to move towards round-the-clock renewable energy, with a focus on achieving 24-hour solar power through integrated battery storage solutions. The state emphasised that all future renewable energy projects are being planned with storage components built in, supported by a progressive renewable energy policy framework. The discussion also covered ongoing efforts to diversify storage technologies. Madhya Pradesh shared that a pump storage policy is currently under development, including discussions with private developers. In parallel, hybrid models combining hydel with solar, as well as thermal with solar, are being explored, with cost structures and technical configurations under evaluation. Both sides agreed to continue engagement to share detailed project data, evaluate technology options, and explore potential collaboration opportunities in energy storage and advanced battery solutions aligned with Madhya Pradesh's clean energy roadmap. The engagement reflects Madhya Pradesh's focus on building a future-ready energy ecosystem anchored in renewable power, storage integration, and long-term sustainability, it said. The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is being held from January 19 to 23, 2026, at Davos-Klosters, which is set to welcome nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries, including a record number of world leaders, CEOs, innovators and policymakers, under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue". (ANI)
On Sunday, Kabir took to Instagram to share a bunch of pictures with Team Bride from Nupur and Stebin's dreamy wedding.

While all the photos were absolutely adorable, what truly caught everyone's attention were his pictures with Kriti.

Have a look at those snaps here.

Aren't they looking adorable? For the Christian wedding ceremony of Nupur and Stebin, Kriti opted for a turquoise blue gown. Kabir looked dapper in a white tuxedo.

This picture is from Nupur and Stebin's Haldi ceremony.

As soon as Kabir shared pictures with Kriti, her fans, in no time, chimed in the comment section and dropped heartfelt reactions for the rumoured couple.

"Nazar na lage," a social media user commented.

"Finally kabir and kirti in one frame," another netizen wrote.

"No nazar...lovely," an Instagram user wrote.

Kriti did not comment but did react to the post with a like.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTp4NcYFN9A/?img_index=3

Last November, Kriti extended a cute birthday wish to Kabir Bahia.

Taking to her Instagram story, Kriti shared a selfie with Kabir from what appears to be a beachy vacation.The 'Cocktail 2' star looks stunning in green beachwear, while Kabir could be seen in a black outfit. The duo cheerfully posed for the camera, showcasing their strong bond.

"Happy Birthday to the one I can be stupid with! May this world never change the good heart you have!" Kriti wrote in her sweet and small message.

Amid growing speculation, neither Kriti nor Kabir has officially confirmed their relationship.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kriti has several projects lined up for this year. One of them is 'Cocktail 2' with Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. (ANI)
In a latest update surrounding the ongoing investigation in the Bitcoin scam case against businessman Raj Kundra, the court has scheduled the next day of hearing for Febraury 20, 2026. Prashant Patil, the advocate representing Raj Kundra, spoke to ANI and shared details on the proceedings. "Raj Kundra is cooperating with the Enforcement Directorate. Today, we filed our Vakalatnama in the Special PMLA court after ED had issued a summons to him to appear. We had filed a petition before the court requesting that a copy of the chargesheet be provided to us. The Special PMLA court has issued a direction under which we will receive a copy of the chargesheet tomorrow. Next date of hearing in this case is 20th February," he added. The case dates back to April 2024 when ED attached properties worth Rs 97.79 crores belonging to Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty, alleging that they had collected huge amounts of funds in the form of Bitcoins. Also, they had made false promises of 10 pc returns to the public in the form of Bitcoins. ED revealed that Raj Kundra received 285 Bitcoins from the mastermind of Gain Bitcoin Ponzi Scam Amit Bharadwaj. "Ripu Sudan Kundra, alias Raj Kundra, has received proceeds of crime in the form of Bitcoins and he continued to be in possession and enjoyment of the said proceeds of crime. He has received 285 Bitcoins valued at Rs 150,47,30,175 (at rate of Rs 52,79,755 per bitcoin as on date i.e. 16/04/2024). He deliberately refused to divulge the wallet addresses and failed to surrender the proceeds of crime received from accused Amit Bharadwaj. He has not only acquired/received the proceeds of crime from the criminal activities, but in order to layer the transactions so as to give colour of genuine transaction, he has done sale transaction with his wife at a rate which is far below market rate to disguise the origin of such funds obtained by commission of criminal activities for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illegal origin of the said funds and to layer it with intent to evade the legal consequences of his actions," as per the official complaint document. At the time, Raj Kundra spoke to ANI and questioned the ED over attaching his properties in the case. "In the attachment order, it is clearly written that we have no evidence of any funds going to Raj Kundra. There was a crypto king called Amit Bharadwaj, who was a respected businessman. I met him, he had to do a lot of work in bitcoin mining, and I knew a friend in Israel who is a great expert in this technology. So I brought both of them together," Kundra said. He further questioned ED authority in the investigation against him, saying, "A British citizen (Raj Kundra), I met him (Amit Bhardwaj) in Dubai, and there was an Israeli party, so how is ED involved in this?" In view of the recent developments, the businessman-actor is yet to react to the matter. (ANI)
Actor Ahan Shetty has reflected on his "quiet struggles" and "lessons" ahead of the release of his second film 'Border 2'. Taking to his Instagram handle, Ahan shared glimpses from both of his films, offering fans a look at his character. In his caption, the actor shared, "December 3, 2021... Tadap, my first film. The beginning of a dream I stepped into with hope, fear, and everything in between. What followed tested me deeply....Periods of uncertainty, quiet struggles, and lessons that only time and patience can teach. Growth rarely comes without pain, and every moment shaped who I am today. I'm grateful for all of it." https://www.instagram.com/p/DTsKoS1CogE/ Speaking on his upcoming movie 'Border 2', Ahan added, "A new chapter born from patience, perseverance, and belief. With a fuller heart, steadier faith, and the same dream, now stronger than ever. I hope you'll stand with us, experience this journey, and support this film from the heart. It would mean more than words can express." Reacting to the post, fans extended their best wishes for Ahan, while his 'Tadap' co-star Tara Sutaria wrote, "You will shine!" Ahan Shetty's reflective observations came days after his father, actor Suniel Shetty, got emotional sharing his journey. "After his first film, there was a little break. Our lives are sometimes hit by a certain turmoil. Everyone thinks that he is Suniel Shetty's son and receives a lot of work. But there's a lot that he went through in life, but I am so happy he received a film like 'Border 2'", Shetty said at the song launch of 'Jaate Hue Lamhon'. Ahan Shetty, who carries forward his father Suniel Shetty's iconic legacy in 'Border 2', is being showered with immense love across the internet. Directed by Anurag Singh, the second instalment of the iconic film brings back Sunny Deol as the main lead, with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty joining him to fight the enemies. "Inspired by the true events of the 1971 India-Pakistan War", the trailer opens the door to the powerful world of Border 2 and what happens when India's Army, Navy, and Air Force come together to fight as one. 'Border 2' is produced by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with JP Dutta's JP Films. The movie will hit the big screens ahead of Republic Day on January 23. (ANI)
The Maharashtra State Song filled the air in Davos today as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrived to attend the World Economic Forum. The Marathicommunity in Switzerland welcomed him with great enthusiasm, bringing alive the spirit of Maharashtra through traditional attire, customs, and cultural expressions that created a truly memorable atmosphere, a release said. The warmth of the welcome was evident from the moment the Chief Minister arrived in Zurich earlier in the day for his five-day visit. At Davos, the Marathi-speaking community gathered to receive him in quintessentially Maharashtrian style, complete with the traditional ovalan a gesture of reverence and affection. The rendition of the Maharashtra State Song marked a deeply moving moment, connecting the diaspora with their cultural roots. Chief Minister Fadnavis expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the community for their gracious and spirited reception. India's Ambassador to Switzerland, Mridul Kumar, formally received the Chief Minister, while Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu also met him to extend their congratulations on the recent sweeping victory in Maharashtra's municipal elections. Throughout his interactions with community members and well-wishers, the resounding success in the municipal polls emerged as a recurring theme of celebration. At the programme organized by the Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal, a banner reading "Swagat Devabhau" (Welcome, Devabhau) set a tone ofpersonal warmth and pride. Addressing the gathering at the welcome programme organized by Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal, Switzerland, Chief Minister Fadnavis spoke about the State Government's initiative to establish the Maha-NRI Forum. This platform, he explained, aims to strengthen ties with the global Marathi diaspora while uplifting the shared values of Swadesh (homeland), Swadharma (values), and Swabhasha (language) to new heights. "The foundation of any true progress lies in preserving our cultural heritage," the Chief Minister said. "Material advancement flows naturally from this cultural strength. We are now embarking on ambitious and concrete plans for Mumbai's development. In the next five years, our Mumbai will stand among the most advanced urban centres globally, surpassing even the capitals of developed nations." Reflecting on the Marathi presence worldwide, CM Fadnavis observed that Maharashtrians have made their mark across the globe. "Wherever you go, you find the Marathi community progressing with distinction. Their identity is built on hard work and trustworthiness qualities that inspire pride in all of us." During the programme, Amol Savarkar, Coordinator of the International Marathi Forum, shared an encouraging initiative: the organization has begun introducing Marathi language classes in various schools across Switzerland. The Chief Minister commended this effort, emphasizing its vital role in keeping the language alive for future generations. The event captured not just the formalities of an official visit, but the vibrancy of a community celebrating its identity, its leader, and its recent triumphs. As Davos prepares to host global conversations on economic progress, Maharashtra's presence there begins with a powerful reminder that cultural roots and material prosperity walk hand in hand. (ANI)
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Sunday evening left for Davos, Switzerland, to attend the 56th Annual World Economic Forum summit. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that the Gujarat delegation would work to attract investments in electronics, defence, semiconductors, renewable energy, and other sectors to the state. Speaking to reporters, Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghvi said, "To present the vision of a developed Gujarat by 2047 on the world's biggest platform, the World Economic Forum, a delegation from Gujarat is heading to Davos today. Over the next four days, this delegation will work to attract investments in electronics, defence, semiconductors, renewable energy, and many other sectors to Gujarat. In recent years, Gujarat has become known as the most preferred destination, and to advance this vision, under CM Bhupendra Patel's leadership, the team will strive to create more employment opportunities for the youth of Gujarat." The WEF Annual Meeting will be held from January 19 to 23 at Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The State's participation reflects Gujarat's bold, future-ready approach towards international collaboration and accelerated economic transformation. At WEF 2026, Harsh Sanghavi will undertake an intensive programme of over 58 high-level meetings with global leaders and investors across key sectors, including Advanced Manufacturing, Textiles, Semiconductors, Emerging Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, Renewable Energy, Food Processing, Chemicals, Shipping and Logistics, Electronics, and Aerospace. Proposed interactions include leading global companies such as AP Moller Maersk, Engie, EDF, Johnson Controls, Sumitomo Group, Linde, SEALSQ, Tillman Global, and others, a release said. These engagements aim to strengthen Gujarat's industrial ecosystem, enable technology and innovation partnerships, attract global investments, generate large-scale employment opportunities for youth, and build long-term international institutional linkages. According to the release, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi will also speak at prominent global sessions, including India in the New Geo-Economic Order, The Power of Sports: Turning Spectacle to Legacy, Coal to Clean Initiative: Technological Innovations to Drive the Transition, Mission Water: A Water-Secure Future for One Billion People, and Delivering Sustainability at Scale: Pathways for Global Transformation. Through these platforms, Gujarat will showcase its development blueprint aligned with the vision of Viksit Gujarat @2047. With the message "Gujarat - Ready for the World, Where Vision Meets Action," the State's participation at WEF 2026 underscores its ambition to emerge as a key partner in global value chains. The Government of Gujarat remains firmly committed to accelerating industrial development, fostering innovation-led growth, attracting transformative investments, and building a resilient and future-ready economy. Gujarat's presence at WEF 2026 marks not just participation but leadership in shaping the global growth narrative. (ANI)
After an early morning check on the Kamalapati Express, Tripura Police detected suspicious movements and apprehended two individuals, officials said. DIG Northern Range, Rati Ranjan Debnath, said, "During early morning checking on the Kamalapati Express, security personnel detected suspicious movements and apprehended two individuals. They were detained and searched after the train approached Agartala. A pistol and 100 bottles of cough syrup were recovered from their possession. The two men who were detained are from Bihar; one is named Amod and the other is Kartik Yadav." Meanwhile, in another development, the main accused in the murder of 24-year-old student Anjel Chakma has allegedly fled to Nepal, and the Dehradun Police have initiated extradition proceedings, officials said on Thursday. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh said that the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) sent a report to the central agency to extradite Yagyaraj Awasthi, the prime accused in the murder of the Tripura student. The murder of Anjel Chakma took place on December 9 in the Selaqui area of Uttarakhand's capital, Dehradun. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha met with the family of the deceased at their residence and assured them of strict action against the accused individuals. Speaking to ANI after meeting the family, Saha said, "I have spoken to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami several times. He has assured me that those involved in this matter will not be spared. 5 out of 6 people have also been arrested. It is a very painful incident. May his soul rest in peace." Tarun Debbarma, father of Anjel Chakma, said, "The Chief Minister has assured that justice will be delivered. He said he would speak with the Uttarakhand CM when he visits Delhi. My younger son is mentally disturbed right now; he doesn't talk much. The CM has said that he will try to provide a job for him also." All India Chakma Students Union President, Drishyamuni Chakma, said that the union has requested the Chief Minister for the trial to be held in the national capital to ensure impartial and fair judgment. He added, "We don't have any feedback on the trial going on in Uttarakhand, so we have requested the Tripura Chief Minister to conduct the trial in Delhi to ensure fairness and impartiality with the CBI inquiry. We have also requested that Chakma's father be given a post in the Border Security Force in Agartala, and his son Michael be given an opportunity in the state government as per his eligibility." Chakma, an MBA student, was attacked by a group of miscreants with knives and blunt objects in Dehradun on December 9 and later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital. (ANI)
RGK National Organiser and President of the Hindustan Janata Party Raghul Gandhi submitted a petition to President Droupadi Murmu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. The petition requested a ban on flying party religious, linguistic and caste flags on Republic Day and Independence Day with the objective of fostering national unity and patriotism among the people, transcending divisions. Speaking to ANI, Raghul Gandhi explained that on Independence Day and Republic Day, the national focus is frequently diverted by regional disputes involving language, religion, and caste that vary from state to state, rather than representing a unified national identity. The HJP President asserted that the National Flag should remain the primary symbol of representation. "This petition is regarding our national issue, because a lot of times the national flag always representing the two days only mainly. So the two days, Independence Day and Republic Day, most of the time, our state-wise, every state having some language and religion issue, so always a separate question was going," said Gandhi. "Now recently, the Karnataka Sabarimala people coming to Tamil Nadu, we seen this one lot of the flag issue. So that unity was totally misguided from a political and religions wise. So mainly now we are, our petition is representing, main thing is our national flag is the main priority to represent," added Gandhi. Discussing the process to enforce the petition, Gandhi said that in the short term, they are seeking to ban religious, linguistic, and caste flags on Republic Day itself. He asserted that on that day, the national flag must be the sole priority, stating that it should be the only flag flown across every part of India. He further stated that they will be filing a petition in the Madras High Court regarding this matter. "So now, the process is short-term only, we are focusing on this Republic Day itself. This is only the political party flags and caste flags; not want to fly on that day. So we want to ban that. So we represent the petition. On that day only national flag only priority all were want to fly it everywhere in India," said Gandhi. "So, the short time period having, so we are representing, now the petition-wise, we represented our petitions. Now we are focusing by the legal way. May be on Monday or Tuesday, we are going to file in a High Court, Madras High Court, regarding this," added Gandhi. (ANI)
In the aftermath of the Municipal Corporation poll result declaration, a clash broke out between supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Mahesh Choughule and Konark Vikas Aghadi (KVA) leader and former mayor Vilas Patil near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Bhiwandi on Sunday. A stone pelting incident was also reported. As per the Thane City Police commissionerate, the situation is now under control. DCP Zone 2 Shashikant Borate said, "A clash occurred between supporters of two leaders. The workers were dispersed by the police, and the situation is currently under control". BJP MLA Mahesh Choughule said that President of the Konark Vikas Aghadi Vilas Patil wants that no one should enter his area. Speaking to ANI, Mahesh Choughule said, "The elections are over and yesterday also he attacked some poor children...Today, also around 5 pm, two children were beaten and then stones were pelted at my office, the police, my supporters were also attacked...I thank the police for controlling the whole situation...He (President of the Konark Vikas Aghadi Vilas Patil) wants no one to enter his area...We have arrived at the police station and will see what action the police take." In Bhivandi-Nizampur, the BJP has won 22 seats, Congress has won 30 seats, Shiv Sena has won 12 seats and NCP-SC has won 12 seats in the BMC polls. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the state is witnessing a "golden time for investment" as he handed over land allotment letters to major companies for setting up industrial units and a medical college in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said land is being allotted to India Chip Private Limited, Ascent Circuit Private Limited and Amber Enterprises India Limited for their new industrial units. "Land is being allotted to India Chip Private Limited, Ascent Circuit Private Limited, and Amber Enterprises India Limited for their new industrial units. Additionally, Bodhisattva Charitable Trust is being handed the land allocation letter for the establishment of a medical college. This is a golden time for investment in Uttar Pradesh," Adityanath said. The Chief Minister also held a review meeting regarding the land allotment letters for industrial units and a medical college in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority area. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated a newly developed gallery at Gate Number 8 of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. He later also participated in an audio laser show. CM Yogi participated in the Direct Fund Transfer program under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 on Sunday. During the programme, CM Yogi stated that more than 60 lakh beneficiaries have received benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in the state's rural and urban areas over the past 9 years. "In the past nearly 9 years, we have provided the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to more than 60 lakh beneficiaries in the rural and urban areas of Uttar Pradesh, and today 2 lakh more people are being added to it. Now this number has reached 62 lakh... For the first time after independence, 62 lakh beneficiaries are receiving the benefit of housing facilities, and the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Modi's vision and leadership," said CM Yogi. He further said that when a good government comes into power, people receive facilities with a positive approach. "When a good government comes into power, people receive facilities with a positive approach. This is not just a house; it is also a feeling of complete self-reliance. We have been hearing since childhood that food, clothing, and shelter are basic necessities. PM Modiji has provided all three types of facilities," added CM Yogi. (ANI)
Congress MP Mallu Ravi has termed the Telangana Cabinet meeting held at the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara grounds in Madaram as a historic first, not only for the state but also in the history of united Andhra Pradesh. While addressing the media, Mallu Ravi acknowledged the significance of conducting the Cabinet meeting outside Hyderabad and described it as an important step towards taking governance closer to the people. He appreciated the decisions taken by the state government in the interest of the region and its residents. He reiterated that such initiatives strengthen public trust in the government and ensure inclusive development for tribal and rural communities. "The Cabinet meeting took place in Madaram for the first time in the history of Telangana and United Andhra Pradesh also. It shows the respect of the Telangana cabinet towards Sammakka-Saralamma, and they have taken up irrigation issues and other issues in favour of Madaram and the tribals. The Sammakka-Saralamma yatra has been taking place for a long time. But this is the first time the Chief Minister has taken a decision to hold the Cabinet meeting in the place of Sammakka-Saralamma area and given respect to the people who sacrificed for the sake of the common people. This chapter will be written in golden letters in the history of Madaram," Ravi said to ANI. Meanwhile, Women and Child Welfare Minister Seethakka also described the Cabinet meeting as a historic moment for the state, stating that it was the first time such a meeting was held outside Hyderabad, in the sacred Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara area in the forest region of her constituency. Speaking on the occasion, she thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for taking important decisions in the Cabinet meeting conducted at the Jatara grounds, calling it a historic and people-centric move. The Minister stated that the Cabinet has approved a 143 crore river lift irrigation project, which will help bring Godavari water to the region where farmers have long struggled due to a lack of water access. She said this decision would significantly benefit agriculture and local communities. She further added that an additional 30 crore sanction has been granted for water-related development works in nearby areas, responding to local demands. Seethakka also informed that the grand Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara will begin from tomorrow and continue for ten days. The temple opening ceremony will be held at 7:00 AM, and the Chief Minister is expected to attend. She said she would remain present on the ground to oversee arrangements for devotees. (ANI)
Congress leader Udit Raj has mounted a sharp counterattack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks accusing the Congress of allowing infiltration in Assam for political gains, alleging that the Prime Minister's "only job is to lie" and asserting that the BJP-led government must take responsibility for infiltrators as border security has remained under its control for over a decade. Reacting to the Prime Minister's statements, Udit Raj told ANI, "If you compare the number of people sent abroad from 2004 to 2013 and from 2014 until now, during PM Manmohan Singh's time, all things will become clear. They are the ones who bring in these infiltrators. If they don't come, I think people from the Modi government bring them in," Udit Raj said. Holding the Centre accountable, he added, "Modi has been the Prime Minister for so long, and border security is under his control. How did infiltrators even get in, and how are they managing to stay here? Infiltrators were visible during the Jharkhand, Delhi and Bihar elections. The very reason for SIR was to remove these infiltrators, but nothing has been achieved." Udit Raj further launched a scathing personal attack on the Prime Minister, saying, "I am ashamed that our country has elected such a Prime Minister whose only job is to lie. He is such a liar." His remarks came in response to Prime Minister Modi's address in Assam's Nagaon district, where the Prime Minister accused the Congress of compromising Assam's land and security for votes. "The Congress party handed over Assam's soil to infiltrators just to form governments and garner a few votes. The Congress party formed governments in Assam for decades, and during this time, infiltration kept increasing," PM Modi had said. Taking a swipe at the Congress's declining electoral fortunes, PM Modi had also said that in Mumbai, the city where the Congress was born, the party has now been reduced to a fourth or fifth-ranked position. "In the very city of Mumbai, where the Congress was born, it has now become a fourth or fifth-ranked party. In Maharashtra, which the Congress ruled for years, the party has completely shrunk. The Congress has lost the trust of the country because it has no agenda for development," the Prime Minister had said. Meanwhile, responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's allegations regarding the alleged confinement of corporators in Mumbai, Udit Raj criticised Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of political betrayal. "Shinde has stabbed Uddhav Thackeray, and Shinde knows that the BJP does the same too. So both are backstabbers. One backstabber is alert to the other backstabber. That's why he is doing this so that his councillors cannot be poached. He is just trying to save his bargaining power," Udit Raj said. UBT MP Sanjay Raut had demanded the "release" of corporators allegedly confined at a hotel in Mumbai, claiming that Eknath Shinde had turned the Taj Hotel into a "jail" out of fear of defections ahead of the decision on the Mumbai mayor. "They have kept their corporators confined. They broke away the MLAs, so now they have to keep the corporators confined as well. They had taken the MLAs to Surat. Eknath Shinde himself is the Deputy Chief Minister, yet he is afraid that his corporators will run away, what a ridiculous situation this is," Raut had said. Raut had also alleged that the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has become an "appendage" of the BJP. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, extended gratitude and appreciation to the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) on its Raising Day. In a post on X, the PM lauded the personnel for their "professionalism and resolve" and for always being the frontrunners in times of calamity. He also underscored their efforts to "protect lives, provide relief and restore hope." "On the Raising Day of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), we extend our deepest appreciation to the men and women whose professionalism and resolve stand tall in moments of crisis. Always at the forefront when a calamity strikes, NDRF personnel work tirelessly to protect lives, provide relief and restore hope under the most challenging circumstances," the PM wrote in the post. The Prime Minister further described their skills and sense of duty as the epitome of "the highest standard of service." He acknowledged the respect the force has earned globally, describing their service as "a benchmark in disaster preparedness and response." "Their skills and sense of duty exemplify the highest standards of service. Over the years, the NDRF has emerged as a benchmark in disaster preparedness and response, earning much respect internationally," he emphasised. The Prime Minister attached some photographs of the NDRF personnel engaged in relief and management work and tagged the NDRF office handle in the message. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended greetings on the occasion of the NDRF Raising Day. In a post on X, he underscored their significant role in building a "disaster-resilient India" and described them as "the pillar of trust, the nation relies on during calamities." He further saluted the personnel of the NDRF "who sacrificed themselves for others' safety." "Warm greetings to the personnel of @NDRFHQ on Raising Day. Through its significant role in realising the Modi govt's resolve to build a disaster-resilient India, the NDRF has today become the pillar of trust the nation relies on during calamities. Salute to the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for the safety of others," he wrote in the post. National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) was raised on January 19, 2006, as a multi-skilled stand-alone Disaster Response Force to respond to all natural and man-made disasters. It attends to various disasters, including collapsed structure search-and-rescue operations during earthquakes and landslides, floodwater rescue, including cyclones, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear contingencies, and medical emergencies, among others. It is strategically deployed across the country with 16 Battalions and 28 Regional Response Centers. NDRF Academy is located in Nagpur. (ANI)
A storyteller Shravan Das, from the Mithilanchal region has been arrested in connection with an alleged minor rape case, police said on Monday. Darbhanga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jagunath Reddy said the arrest was carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rajiv Kumar. "A joint team from the Women's Police Station, Laheriasarai Police Station, and other nearby stations, acting on a tip-off, apprehended the accused from the Housing Board Colony," the SSP said. According to the FIR registered at the Women's Police Station, the accused is alleged to have sexually exploited a minor girl over a prolonged period after promising to marry her. The complaint, filed by the victim's mother, further alleges that the accused forced the minor to undergo an abortion. SSP Jagunath Reddy added that the role of Mauni Baba, who is said to be an associate and guru of the storyteller, is also under investigation. "Mauni Baba is currently absconding," he added. Darbhanga SSP further stated that the accused is being interrogated thoroughly, and further legal action is underway in the case. Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday slammed the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, accusing it of being complicit in crimes against women and minors across the state. He alleged that the administration protects criminals and criticised the Chief Minister's silence on recent heinous incidents against women in Madhepura, Khagaria, and Patna. In a post on X, Yadav wrote, "The corrupt system and machine-made double-engine NDA government has become a reliable tool for oppressors, corrupt individuals, criminals, and rapists. The insensitive Nitish government in Bihar, formed through vote-buying, is perpetrating atrocities on minor girls, female students, daughters, and women across the entire state. Because these are atrocities sustained by those in power, the government's key figures are maintaining a hypocritical silence on these spine-chilling horrific incidents while pretending to be saints. In Madhepura, the gang rape and murder of a widow woman; in Khagaria, the heinous gang rape and murder of a 4-year-old minor girl; in Patna, the rape of a NEET aspirant from Jehanabad, followed by a brutal murder and a cover-up protected by those in power, these incidents show that this government has become ruthless, cruel, and inhuman." Yadav accused the Bihar police of using force against protesters while protecting criminals involved in crimes against women and children. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has confined its winning candidates in a Mumbai hotel like prisoners, questioning what Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP are afraid of. The remarks of the Sena UBT MP follow his earlier claims, in which he said that several new faces among the corporators are vouching for a non-BJP leader. "Narendra Modi wants the BJP's Mayor, but he did not explain how. The BJP does not have a complete mandate. Shinde Sena's winning candidates are being kept in the Taj Lands End Hotel, almost like prisoners. The hotel has turned into a jail. Despite having the Centre's government and a strong CM, Devendra Fadnavis, in Maharashtra, these corporators remain locked up. Why are they so afraid?" Raut questioned. As hotel politics make a comeback in Mumbai amid a speculated tussle for the BMC mayoral post, Shiv Sena (UBT) has accused Eknath Shinde of turning the hotel into a "jail". However, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Sunday met the party's newly elected corporators at a hotel in Mumbai and said the BMC mayor will be from the Mahayuti. The opposition in Maharashtra trained guns on Shinde after the BJP emerged as the largest party in the BMC. While the Shiv Sena (UBT), contesting in alliance with the MNS, won 65 seats, having a larger mandate than the Shinde faction, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the people of Mumbai have "shown him the mirror" and that the verdict made it clear which faction represents the "real Shiv Sena". (ANI)
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan countered the Opposition's criticism of the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G Ram G) Act, accusing Congress leaders of spreading misinformation and creating unnecessary confusion around the legislation, stating that it is not "Gandhi's truth". Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Chouhan defended the intent of the VB-G RAM G act, stating that the scheme promotes coordinated efforts between farmers and labourers at the grassroot level. "If our labourer brothers and sisters and farmers work together, what's wrong with that? I would like to urge once again, Rahul ji and Kharge ji, that this kind of lie doesn't suit you," Chouhan said. He urged the Opposition to refrain from what he termed a "shop of lies" and misrepresentation of facts. Referring to statements and online posts by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, Chouhan asked, "AI-generated photos are being posted to spread misinformation. Is this right in a democracy? Why are you posting AI-generated photos? Aren't you getting support from the people?" He further called on the Opposition, stating, "I would like to urge once again that they close down this shop of lies." "This is not Gandhi's truth; this is a mockery of the truth. I've heard of movements and campaigns, but 'Sangram', what kind of terminology is this?" he added, referring to the Congress's nationwide "Bachao MNREGA" campaign. Chouhan further stressed that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, persons with disabilities and the poor remain at the core of the government's employment commitment. Highlighting the rural context, Chouhan noted that over 85 per cent of Indian farmers are small and marginal cultivators who require additional support during sowing and harvesting seasons. He said the proposed law empowers gram panchayats to take decisions based on local needs, ensuring transparency and decentralised planning. The Union Minister said the Act will be enforced within six months due to the transition period and till then MNREGA will remain in force. He also questioned Rahul Gandhi's absence during parliamentary debates on the issue. Chouhan further appealed to the Opposition to "Understand the truth and support it" instead of politicising welfare reforms. (ANI)
Telangana Ministers, Adluri Laxman Kumar (Scheduled Castes Development, Tribal Welfare and Minorities Welfare), Konda Surekha (Forest, Environment and Endowments), and Ponnam Prabhakar Goud (Transport and BC Welfare) addressed the media on the recent state Cabinet meeting held in connection with the historic Medaram Jatara. The ministers stated that the Cabinet meeting was conducted at the sacred tribal site to underline that the Telangana government is a "people's government and a government of the poor." They emphasised that the state government, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, has taken unprecedented steps by holding a Cabinet meeting at a tribal religious site for the first time in the state's history. They said that the Cabinet discussed multiple developmental initiatives related to Medaram Jatara, including large-scale infrastructure development, temple development, and reconstruction works with investments worth several crores of rupees. The ministers highlighted that the Chief Minister personally inaugurated key projects and ensured the holistic development of the tribal region. The ministers further stated that the government is committed to the welfare of tribal communities and respects their traditions and deities. They expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the entire Cabinet for prioritising tribal issues and ensuring inclusive governance. They also reiterated that details of the Cabinet agenda cannot be disclosed publicly. Speaking to ANI in Mulugu, Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar said, "Sammakka Saralamma are revered deities of the tribal people, and the entire government and cabinet are working for the success of their Yatra, Medaram Jatara. This is a government for the poor and the common people." "Sammakka Saralamma are deities of the tribal people. Their 'Yatra' has been ongoing for the last 800 years. But no one thought of its development before. This year, a decision has been taken to organise Medaram Jatara at a total cost of Rs 251 crores, which has been sanctioned," said Minister Konda Surekha. Furthermore, State Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said, "Sammakka Sarakka is considered a historical tribal deity. A grand festival has been held here for years, similar to the Kumbh Mela. Millions of people attend. This is the first time that a Cabinet meeting has been held outside of Hyderabad. This is the first time we have held a cabinet meeting outside of Hyderabad for the darshan of the Sammakka Sarakka idols." Meanwhile, the Telangana State Cabinet has decided to conduct municipal elections at the earliest and directed officials to complete all necessary arrangements by February. The decision came after a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at Madaram in Mulugu district on January 18, according to highlights of the meeting shared by Telangana Chief Minister's Office. Elections are due in 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations across the State, covering 2,996 wards and divisions whose terms have expired. The Cabinet noted that the reservation process has already been completed as per the Dedicated Commission's report. As Ramzan and Maha Shivaratri festivals fall in February, officials were instructed to prepare the election schedule in a manner that ensures the electoral process is carried out smoothly without causing inconvenience to the public. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday attended Madhyanchal Utsav 2026 at Delhi University in the national capital on Monday and addressed the gathering on the occasion. CM Yadav praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that under his leadership India has strengthened its credibility, prestige, and influence on the global stage. India's role in the international community has been established as that of a responsible, capable, and decisive nation. He also highlighted that the Madhya Pradesh government was working for the all-round development of youth, helping them to progress in every field. "In Madhya Pradesh, the state government is creating extensive opportunities for the all-round development of youth and to help them progress in every field. Our resolve is that every young person in the state becomes self-reliant through self-employment and, while moving forward with an entrepreneurial spirit, also opens new avenues of employment for other youths. This is our continuous effort towards building a strong, prosperous, and self-reliant Madhya Pradesh," said the Chief Minister. CM Yadav further emphasised that through investment-friendly policies, industrial expansion in Madhya Pradesh was being continuously accelerated, leading to the creation of large-scale new employment opportunities in the state. "Attractive subsidies are being provided for the establishment of medical colleges, hospitals, and hotels in the infrastructure and service sectors, while special incentive schemes have been implemented for workers engaged in labour-intensive industries such as readymade garments," the CM said. Along with this, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is also scheduled to participate in the World Economic Forum 2026 annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. He will apprise the world of the investment opportunities available in the state. CM Yadav will share investment policies focused on Energy, Technology and Tourism at Davos and will present the state's economic priorities, industrial strengths and long-term development vision on the global stage at the World Economic Forum. Additionally, he will showcase the state's stable policy framework, resource-rich ecosystem and future-oriented growth model before global policymakers, industry leaders and investors. (ANI)
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday hit out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP, alleging that they "stand for centralisation of power," unlike the Congress. Addressing the United Democratic Front (UDF) Mahapanchayat in Kochi, Rahul Gandhi also hailed the alliance workers for the performance in the Kerala Panchayat Elections 2025, where it gained a majority on 382 Gram Panchayats, 75 Block Panchayats and six District Panchayats. Attacking the BJP and RSS, Rahul Gandhi said, "If you look slightly deeply at the difference between the BJP, the RSS and the Congress party, you will see that they stand for centralisation of power, and we stand for decentralisation of power. They want compliance from the people of India. They do not want to hear the voice of the people of India." Speaking of a vision in Kerala after victory in the Panchayat elections, he took a jibe at the LDF government in the state, alleging an "unemployment problem". As the state is scheduled to hold the Assembly elections later this year, Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in the Congress-led alliance's victory. He said, "We had many meetings where senior leaders came to Delhi, and in those meetings, different people had different opinions, and I was very clear, in both those meetings, I said that the UDF is going to win the Panchayat elections and the Vidhan Sabha elections." "But to me, there is a bigger question. What is the UDF and the Congress party going to do once they win the election? There is a huge unemployment problem in this state. The UDF and the Congress party have to provide a vision for Kerala which addresses this unemployment problem, and I am confident that the leadership on this stage has the ability to understand what the people of Kerala want and deliver what the people of Kerala need," the Congress MP added. Congress-led UDF currently forms the opposition in the state, and is looking to defeat the CPI(M)-led LDF alliance, while the BJP, after winning the Thiruvananthapuram civic body elections, looks to turn it into a triangular contest and make a mark in the upcoming Legislative Assembly polls. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court has requested the assistance of the Central government regarding a communication from the Supreme Court of England and Wales in the Nirav Modi-Bank of India matter. The UK court has asked for judicial assistance to record the testimony of a Delhi-based Bank of India official, who is a witness in proceedings abroad concerning Firestar Diamond FZE and Nirav Deepak Modi in a loan default dispute. Justice C. Hari Shankar observed that this situation was unusual, as there appeared to be no prior instance where an Indian court acted solely on a direct request from a foreign court without any party to the foreign litigation approaching it. The request was transmitted through the Union Ministry of Law and Justice under the 1970 Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters. To facilitate the process, the High Court impleaded the parties to the UK proceedings, including Nirav Modi, clarifying that this was done solely for procedural convenience and not because the case was pending before the Indian court. Notices were issued to the Central government and other concerned parties, with instructions to place proof of service on record. Since Nirav Modi is currently lodged at HMP Thameside prison in London, the Court directed that notice be served upon him through the Consulate General of India in the United Kingdom, with the Additional Solicitor General tasked with ensuring proper service. The matter was recently listed, and during subsequent hearings, the Court recalled a similar request made in 2016 by the Government of Portugal in the case of Visesh Infotecnics Ltd. vs Banco EFISA, SA Participadas, SGPS, S.A. The Court also asked counsel for the Bank of India to clarify whether the bank intends to file a formal application in the matter. The case has now been scheduled for further hearing on January 21, 2026. (ANI)
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday chaired the 88th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in New Delhi. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, during the meeting, the Standing Committee considered 70 proposals relating to public utility services, defence requirements and infrastructure development located in and around Protected Areas, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves and Eco-Sensitive Zones, in accordance with the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The proposals were deliberated with due regard to ecological sensitivity, statutory requirements and the need to ensure essential services for local communities. According to the release, important public utility proposals considered by the Committee include drinking water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), primary and community health centres, road widening, 4G mobile towers, and transmission lines. Further proposals related to the medium irrigation project in MP, providing drinking and irrigation water facilities in the Bundelkhand region on the one hand, and enhancing a more robust water regime for wildlife and gharials on the other, were also deliberated. The Standing Committee also considered 17 defence-related proposals, primarily located in the Union Territory of Ladakh and the State of Sikkim, relating to strategic infrastructure in border and high-altitude areas. These proposals were recommended in view of national security and strategic requirements, while ensuring strict adherence to wildlife mitigation measures and environmental safeguards, in line with the Committee's directions and applicable statutory provisions. The Committee reviewed the Action Taken Report (ATR) on the decisions and directions taken by the Committee in previous meetings, especially with respect to policy measures and process streamlining, including improvements to ofthe PARIVESH portal. The Committee decided that policy and programmes related to wildlife conservation and compliance with the directions of the SC-NBWL will further be deliberated in future meetings for effective monitoring. The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife is a statutory body constituted under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, mandated to advise the Government on matters relating to the conservation and protection of wildlife and forests, while ensuring that development activities in and around protected areas are undertaken in a balanced and sustainable manner. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Laxman on Monday announced that Nitin Nabin has been proposed for the post of BJP National President after 37 sets of Nomination Papers were received in his favour. Laxma, BJP's national returning officer for 'Sangathan Parv', said that the process to elect the party's national president was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents across 36 states. "The BJP National President Election process was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents out of 36 States, well above the required number of completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the States. Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity of National Returning Officer, Sangathan Parv, Bharatiya Janata Party, I hereby announce that only 1 name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of National President of Bharatiya Janata Party," Laxma said in a press statement. "As per the schedule, today, on 19th January 2026 (Monday), the Nomination Process was completed between 2 PM to 4 PM. In all, 37 sets of Nomination Papers were received in favour of Nitin Nabin for the post of National President. On scrutiny, all sets of Nomination Papers were found to be duly-filled up in the required format and were valid," he added. The BJP is set to elect its new president on January 20 (Tuesday) after it published its internal party electoral rolls today. Currently, Nitin Nabin is serving as the party's working president and is expected to succeed Union Minister JP Nadda, who assumed office in January 2020. Nadda was also the first national working president of the party. According to Article 21 of the BJP constitution, any eligible member may serve as president for 2 consecutive terms of 3 years each. According to Article 19, the election of the party president happens through the electoral college consisting of Members of the National Council and Members of the state councils. The election will take place in accordance with the rules framed by the National Executive. Any twenty members of the electoral college of the party can jointly propose a name for the party president. The person nominated needs to be an active member for four terms and have 15 years of total membership. If no other nomination is given by the electoral college, the new party president will assume office without voting. The BJP's national council consists of members elected by the state council; 10 per cent of Parliament members are elected by the party members in Parliament. The elected members cannot be fewer than 10, and if they are, then all of them will be elected. (ANI)
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to display the names of the electors falling under the 'logical discrepancies' category in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive in West Bengal. Speaking to reporters outside the apex court, Banerjee, who is also a Senior Advocate, said the court wants transparency in the SIR exercise and will "interfere" if the process remains opaque. He said, "The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to publish the list of 'logical discrepancies' at Gram Panchayat Bhavans and Block Offices. There should be transparency, and it should be published. Three days after publication of the list, the Election Commission will issue a notice of hearing, which must be completed within 10 days. The BLA-2 was not allowed to assist, but the SC said that they can take assistance from any person or lawyer." "At the time of the hearing, they have to note the documents that have been submitted before the election officer. We said that the hearing should take place in the Panchayat or Block area. The Supreme Court asked the Election Commission to accept the Admit Card. If they do not, we will inform the court at the next hearing. Court wants transparency; if something is not transparent, the court will interfere," he added while discussing the decision by the three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. Earlier today, a three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant issued directions to the ECI on various pleas alleging procedural illegalities in the SIR exercise in West Bengal. The apex court noted that the ECI has issued notices to certain persons described as falling under the 'logical discrepancies' category. Thus, with a view to enabling persons included in the category, the Court issued a direction to display the names of such persons at Gram Panchayat Bhavans, Block Offices, and Ward Offices. The court asked the state government to provide adequate manpower to the ECI and the State Election Commission to entertain the documents and objections and to adhere to the hearing process for persons likely to be affected. In this regard, directions shall be issued by the ECI/State Government for the deployment of adequate personnel. Persons likely to be affected shall be permitted to submit their documents before the authorised officers. The apex court instructed that an authority letter be issued in this regard. The bench instructed the persons in the category who have not submitted their claims and objections to do so within 10 days. TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar called the decision a "big slap" over the "atrocities" committed by the poll body. "This is a big slap on the atrocities that the ECI was committing on the people of West Bengal at the instructions of the BJP. We welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court and thank the court for its judgment," she said. The Electoral Roll Officers' Network (ERONET) portal had flagged more than 1.2 crore names under the 'logical discrepancy' category, sparking a fresh row over the SIR exercise in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called it a "dubious" category. The deadline to file claims and objections (new voter name additions via Form 6, deletions via Form 7, and corrections via Form 8) was extended from January 15 to January 19, giving voters extra time to submit their applications. Hearings on these claims and objections will continue up to February 7, 2026. The Final electoral roll for West Bengal will be published on February 14, 2026. (ANI)
Patna (Bihar) [India], January 19 (ANI) Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sanjay Saraogi on Monday described the filing of nomination by the party's leader Nitin Nabin for the post of national president as the beginning of a new era in the party. He called it a major example of the BJP's internal democratic system and its policy of promoting grassroots workers. Sanjay Saraogi said that this day was extremely significant for every BJP worker. He stated that the BJP remains a political organisation that strictly follows a strong organisational framework and democratic processes. After the nomination of the new national president, a formal announcement will be made on Tuesday, he said. Saraogi said, "BJP is not a party of any one caste or family, but a party that functions as a family, where every worker is given equal respect." Taking a swipe at dynastic politics, he said that while other parties promote only family members, in the BJP, every worker is considered an integral part. Expressing confidence, the Bihar BJP president said that Nitin Navin, who is popular among party workers, will prove to be a capable and strong national president. He added that Nitin Navin, a native of Patna, makes the moment even more special for Bihar. Sanjay Saraogi said, "Today is an important day for Indian politics, but it is the biggest day for Bihar. This moment will be recorded as a historic chapter in the country's political history." Meanwhile, BJP leader K Laxman announced that Nitin Nabin has been proposed for the post of BJP National President after 37 sets of Nomination Papers were received in his favour. Laxman, BJP's national returning officer for 'Sangathan Parv', said that the process to elect the party's national president was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents across 36 states. "The BJP National President Election process was initiated after the election of 30 State Presidents out of 36 States, well above the required number of completing a minimum of 50 per cent of the States. Now, after the period of withdrawal, in my capacity of National Returning Officer, Sangathan Parv, Bharatiya Janata Party, I hereby announce that only 1 name, that of Shri Nitin Nabin, has been proposed for the post of National President of Bharatiya Janata Party," Laxma said in a press statement. (ANI)
Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday said that he, along with senior party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, held a "very fruitful meeting" with U.S. Senator Steve Daines to discuss the Indo-U.S. relationship. In a post on X, Thakur said they exchanged views on key issues and deliberated on ways to reposition and recalibrate the strategic partnership between India and the United States to make it "lasting, resilient, respectable, and beneficial for the world." He also extended his sincere thanks to the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum for organising the meeting. "Accompanied by our senior party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sudhanshu Trivedi ji, we had a very fruitful meeting with U.S. Senator Mr. Steve Daines on the Indo-U.S. relationship. We exchanged views on key issues and discussed ways to reposition and recalibrate our partnership to make it lasting, resilient, respectable, and beneficial for the world. My sincere thanks to the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum for organising this meeting," he said in a X post. Earlier today, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US Senator Steve Daines and the US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and had a "productive exchange" of views on the bilateral relationship front. "Delighted to again meet my good friends US Senator @Steve Daines and the US Ambassador to India @SergioGor. Had a productive exchange of views on our bilateral relationship," Piyush Goyal posted on X. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had on Sunday also met US Senator Steve Daines, who is currently on a visit to India. They had a wide-ranging and open discussion on the bilateral relationship and its strategic significance. Last week, the Indian envoy to the US, Vinay Kwatra, also met Senator Daines and discussed the bilateral relationship. (ANI)
The High Court of Kerala, while considering a progress report on the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala, has ordered the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fresh on-site inspection at Sabarimala temple on Tuesday. The Division Bench, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, issued these directions after perusing a scientific report from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The VSSC report has confirmed a significant reduction in the quantity and purity of gold in sacred structures, including the Dwarapalaka sculptures and the Sreekovil door frames. According to the scientific findings, there is a clear mismatch between the original gold layers imported from Switzerland and donated by the UB Group in 1998 and the low-quality gold found on the structures returned after replating in 2019. The SIT suspects that the original gold components were removed and replaced with freshly plated copper replicas after the gold was extracted by a chemical process. To further the investigation, the court has authorised the SIT to record detailed statements from several key officials. Earlier, the Socio-Religious organisation Sabarimala Karma Samithi held a protest outside Kerala Secretariat, demanding a CBI probe into the Sabarimala gold theft matter. During the protest, National Vice Chairman of the Sabarimala Karma Samithy, SJR Kumar, alleged deliberate destruction of Sabarimala and the Hindu religion. Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, "People are bent upon destroying Sabarimala and the Hindu religion... We are getting many reports about how the Devaswom Board is managing its temples... The SIT is formed by the Kerala police... It has to be handed over to the CBI or some other independent agency....." These protests were held in the wake of the arrest of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) member KP Sankaradas, who was detained by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the case. Later, he was remanded by a judge of the Kollam Vigilance Court. The remand order was issued after the judge visited a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, where Shankaradas is currently undergoing treatment. Shankaradas had served on the administrative committee of the Travancore Devaswom Board during the tenure of former TDB president A Padmakumar, who was earlier arrested in the case. Investigators believe decisions taken during this period are central to the alleged irregularities linked to the disappearance of gold meant for the Sabarimala temple. The Sabarimala gold theft case concerns allegations of the misappropriation of approximately 4.54 kilograms of gold from sacred temple artefacts, including the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) door frames and Dwarapalaka idols. The alleged theft took place in 2019 under the pretext of refinishing and re-gold-plating temple structures. (ANI)
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to display the names of the electors falling under the 'logical discrepancies' category in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal. While the TMC hailed the decision, the Opposition party in West Bengal said that the SC's directions cannot be seen as a win for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party. A three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant issued directions to the ECI on various pleas alleging procedural illegalities in the SIR exercise in West Bengal. The apex court noted that the ECI has issued notices to certain persons described as falling under the category of 'logical discrepancies'. Thus, with a view to enabling persons included in the category, the Court issued a direction to publish the names of such persons at Gram Panchayat Bhavans, Block Offices, and Ward Offices. The court asked the state government to provide adequate manpower to the ECI and the State Election Commission to entertain the documents and objections and to adhere to the hearing process for persons likely to be affected. In this regard, directions shall be issued by the ECI/State Government for the deployment of adequate personnel. Persons likely to be affected shall be permitted to submit their documents before the authorised officers. The apex court instructed that an authority letter be issued in this regard. The bench instructed the persons in the category who have not submitted their claims and objections to do so within 10 days. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose welcomed the directions, calling corrections essential for a democracy. He said, "We welcome the Supreme Court's verdict. Mid-term corrections, in particular, are essential in an evolving democracy. This can be seen as part of India's evolution to a mature democracy." The Electoral Roll Officers' Network (ERONET) portal had flagged more than 1.2 crore names under the 'logical discrepancy' category, sparking a fresh row over the SIR exercise in the state. TMC National General Secretary and MP, Abhishek Banerjee, termed it a defeat for the BJP, stating that the apex court has accepted the party's demand of publishing the names in the 'logical discrepancies' category. Addressing a public gathering, he said, "One crore names that were targeted to be struck off have been saved, and the victory belongs to the people of Bengal. Our voting rights were being threatened, but the Supreme Court has given them a firm rebuke. Today BJP and PM Modi have been defeated in court; in the coming days, they will be defeated by votes. This is not Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, or Gujarat. This land has shown the way to the freedom movement and the Renaissance. We never bow our heads to outsiders. The people of Bengal do not know how to sell their spine or live in slavery." TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar called the decision a "big slap" over the "atrocities" committed by the poll body. "This is a big slap on the atrocities that the ECI was committing on the people of West Bengal at the instructions of the BJP. We welcome the verdict of the Supreme Court and thank the court for its judgment," she said. TMC MP and Senior Advocate Kalyan Banerjee said that the court wants transparency in the SIR exercise and will "interfere" if the process remains opaque. However, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said the BJP accepts all court decisions, unlike TMC. He said, "This is not a win for them. The SC gave its observation, which is applicable to all, and everyone agrees to it. We respect the courts and democracy. We respect the court orders even if they are in our favour or not; only then will democracy be saved. We are not the Trinamool Congress that abuses the courts, agencies and the Centre." Meanwhile, amid the row over the SIR exercise in the state, TMC and BJP supporters clashed outside the Lalbagh SDO Office over Form 7 submission in Murshidabad. The BJP alleged that TMC MLA Asit Majumdar tore Form 7s at the SDO office. "TMC MLA Asit Majumdar marching into the SDO office with goons and ripping up Form 7s is open lawlessness," the BJP said, sharing a video on X. However, Majumdar refuted the allegations. Speaking to reporters in Hooghly, he said, "This is a lie. Have you seen me tearing it?" Politics has heated up in West Bengal as the state is scheduled to hold Legislative Assembly elections later this year. While the SIR exercise has become an issue of contention between the two parties, the deadline to file claims and objections (new voter name additions via Form 6, deletions via Form 7, and corrections via Form 8) was extended from January 15 to January 19, giving voters extra time to submit their applications. Hearings on these claims and objections will continue up to February 7, 2026. The Final electoral roll for West Bengal will be published on February 14, 2026. (ANI)
The Indian Navy's Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini will embark on the flagship voyage of Lokayan 26, a 10-month transoceanic expedition, on Jan 20. Reflecting India's rich maritime heritage and the vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam across the oceans, the ship will sail over 22,000 nautical miles, visiting 18 foreign ports across 13 countries, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release. A key highlight of the deployment will be INS Sudarshini's participation in prestigious international tall-ship events - Escale a Ste, in France, and SAIL 250, in New York, USA. In both these events, INS Sudarshini will be representing India's proud seafaring legacy and maritime traditions, as per the ministry. During the course of the voyage, over 200 Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard trainees will undergo intensive sail training, gaining invaluable experience in long-range ocean navigation and traditional seamanship at sea. The deployment will expose the trainees to nuances of life onboard a tall ship and provide opportunities for interaction with trainees of other Navies, fostering professional exchange and building enduring bonds of friendship. INS Sudarshini will also participate in training interactions and maritime partnership engagements with the Navies of visiting countries, strengthening maritime cooperation and advancing the vision of MAHASAGAR. The voyage stands as a powerful symbol of cultural diplomacy, reaffirming the Indian Navy's commitment to Building Bridges of cooperation and mutual trust across nations. INS Sudarshini, the second sail training ship of the Indian Navy, has covered over 1,40,000 nautical miles to date. Through Lokayan 26, she continues to serve as a beacon of India's maritime strength, professionalism, and goodwill on the global stage. (ANI)
Ras Al Khaimah [UAE] January 19 (ANI/WAM): In implementation of the directives of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Charity and Humanitarian Foundation has commenced loading the 12th Saqr Humanitarian Ship with relief aid at Ras Al Khaimah Port, in cooperation with Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, as part of its humanitarian mission to support the people of the Gaza Strip. The ship is scheduled to depart for Al Arish Port in the Arab Republic of Egypt, where the aid will be prepared for delivery to Gaza. Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 had been launched under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The shipment includes food and health supplies, shelter materials, relief packages, as well as medical equipment and medicines, aimed at alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza and supporting the most affected groups, particularly children, women and the elderly. The Saqr Humanitarian Ship forms part of the UAE's broader humanitarian initiatives implemented under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, reflecting the country's firm commitment to standing alongside the fraternal Palestinian people, supporting affected families, and strengthening relief efforts in cooperation with charitable and humanitarian organisations, in line with the UAE's long-standing humanitarian approach to assisting those in need worldwide. (ANI/WAM)
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski arrived in New Delhi on Monday after attending the Jaipur Literature Festival in Rajasthan. Radoslaw Sikorski visited Jaipur from January 17 to 18. Radoslaw Sikorski was welcomed by Additional Secretary, Pooja Kapur, in Delhi. The Polish Deputy PM will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss the India-Poland Strategic Partnership. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "A warm welcome to New Delhi. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski of Poland arrived in New Delhi today. His engagements in New Delhi are focused on furthering the India-Poland Strategic Partnership." At the Jaipur Literature Festival, Radoslaw Sikorski attended a session titled "A Continent in Crisis: Russia, Ukraine and the European Story." He said, "Russia talks about trust, but its actions say otherwise. Attacks on Kyiv and constant military threats expose the reality behind this so-called brotherhood." Sikorski said that the Russia-Ukraine war is not merely a regional conflict, but a serious challenge to the entire European security architecture. He made it clear that Poland is spending 4.7 per cent of its GDP on "defence to strengthen its security and remains fully committed to European security." He urged people of Ukraine to "remain strong" and "keep protecting their culture and freedom." Addressing the audience, Radoslaw Sikorski said the Russia-Ukraine war has shaken the stability of the entire European continent. He highlighted the severe humanitarian and economic losses suffered by Ukraine, noting that thousands of people have been killed, cities destroyed, and civilians forced to survive in harsh winter conditions of minus 20 degrees Celsius without electricity and basic amenities. Questioning Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy, Sikorski said Putin had initially viewed the conflict as a three-day "special operation," but it has turned into a prolonged war lasting years, resulting in heavy military and economic losses for Russia. He added that Russia is spending billions of dollars annually on its military and losing a large number of soldiers, as per an official statement on the session. The Polish minister was in conversation with senior diplomat Navtej Sarna. Speaking on Russia-China relations, Sikorski said, "China has gained strategic advantages since the Ukraine war began. Russia is now being forced to sell oil at cheaper prices and is becoming increasingly dependent on China for high-quality goods, internet access, and cyber services. He expressed concern that in return, Russia is providing North Korea with missile and nuclear technology, which could further increase global instability." (ANI)
At least 21 people were killed and several others injured after a high-speed Iryo train derailed and collided with another train in Spain's Cordoba province, Euro News reported, citing officials. The accident occurred near Adamuz when the Iryo train, carrying around 300 passengers and travelling from Malaga to Madrid-Puerta de Atocha, derailed after crossing onto an adjacent track and collided with an AVE train operating on the Madrid-Huelva route. The second train was operated by Spain's state-owned railway company Renfe. Footage shared by passengers on social media showed several carriages severely damaged following the collision. Witnesses said the impact felt like an earthquake, while passengers were forced to break windows to escape, resulting in multiple injuries caused by cuts. Several passengers also reported smoke inside the trains and sought medical assistance, Euro News reported Spanish railway infrastructure operator ADIF said all train services between Madrid and Andalusia have been suspended until further notice. It confirmed that emergency services were deployed at the scene and would continue operations overnight in coordination with local authorities, Renfe and Iryo. Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with Spanish public broadcaster RTVE who was travelling on the Iryo train from Malaga, said the last two carriages derailed, with one completely overturned. "We left Malaga on time at 6:40 pm. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had derailed," he said, adding that passengers were evacuated after breaking windows with hammers. Emergency teams remain at the site assessing the situation, attending to the injured and determining the full extent of the damage. The Red Cross has mobilised one medical ambulance from Cordoba and three additional ambulances from Jaen. It is also providing basic necessities to passengers from both trains involved in the accident, Euro News reported. Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said he is monitoring the situation from the ADIF Operations Control Centre and will share updates as confirmed information becomes available. Madrid regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso offered the support of hospitals in the Community of Madrid to treat the injured. "The hospitals of the Community of Madrid and the 112 emergency teams are on standby following the tragic accident in Cordoba and are at the disposal of the Andalusian Regional Government," she said, adding that support teams will be deployed at Madrid's Atocha station to assist relatives. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment. (ANI)
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is facing intense criticism for extending an invitation to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to participate in this year's annual meeting in Davos, even as the Iranian regime stands accused of a brutal crackdown on civilian protesters, reported Fox News. The controversy erupted after United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a US-based watchdog group, sent a letter to WEF President Borge Brende urging the forum to exclude officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The letter called attention to what human rights groups describe as a "mass slaughter" of Iranian civilians carried out by the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during nationwide protests earlier this month. Despite the appeal, WEF not only invited Araghchi but also scheduled an interview with him on the forum's program for Sunday, prompting accusations that the forum is giving a platform to representatives of a government accused of severe human rights abuses, reported Fox News. In his letter to Brende, UANI CEO Mark Wallace, who previously served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W Bush, sharply condemned the decision. "Just this month, the Iranian regime has carried out what some believe to be the largest massacre in its history," Wallace wrote. He noted that Araghchi, a member of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), was part of the body that "reportedly issued an order to use live fire on Iranian civilians protesting." Estimates cited in the letter suggest between 12,000 and 20,000 Iranians were killed over several days in January as they demonstrated against the regime. Wallace further argued that "hosting Iranian regime officials, such as Araghchi, who whitewash this record is deeply offensive and would be wholly inappropriate to platform at a Forum whose theme this year is 'A Spirit of Dialogue.' Instead of dialogue, the Islamic Republic offered bullets to these brave Iranians." The invitation has drawn broader international scrutiny amid growing global attention to the crisis in Iran. The country's own leadership has acknowledged a high death toll, and human rights organizations have recorded thousands of civilian casualties during the unrest. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday criticised what he described as the selective targeting of India over its position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "In the recent past, both in New York last September and in Paris this January, I have candidly shared our views on the Ukraine conflict and its implications. While doing so, I have also repeatedly underlined that the selective targeting of India is both unfair and unjustified. I do so again today," Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister was delivering opening remarks during delegation-level talks with visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, in New Delhi. The meeting between the two ministers comes at a time when the world is witnessing significant "global churn", and Jaishankar underlined the need for closer engagement between India and Poland. Responding to Jaishankar's remarks on tariffs, his Polish counterpart Sikoski said the tariffs imposed by the United States are leading to global trade turbulence. He also noted India's seriousness in expanding relations with Europe, which has also been targeted by the US administration of President Donald Trump. "I also completely agree with you on the unfairness of selective targeting, by tariffs. And we in Europe know something about that. Also, we fear that this is progressing to a global trade turbulence. We are hoping that India will continue to stay engaged in Europe. We've noticed that you are establishing embassies everywhere in Europe, which means that you are serious about relations with the European Union," Sikoski said. Trump has imposed tariffs on India for buying Russian oil and they currently stand at 50 per cent. Trump has also announced 10 per cent tariffs on several European countries for opposing his bid for Greenland. Poland and Italy are, however, not on the list. Jaishankar also urged that Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel terrorist infrastructure in India's neighbourhood. "Deputy Prime Minister, you are no stranger to our region and are more than familiar with the long-standing challenges of cross-border terrorism. Poland should display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel the terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood," Jaishankar said. Agreeing with Jaishankar on terrorism, Sikorski said, "I completely agree with you on the need to counter transnational transborder terrorism. Poland, as you may have heard, has been a victim of arsons and attempted state terrorism when a Polish railway line was blown up under a moving train just very recently," he said. Notably, Sikorski had, in October 2025, visited Pakistan and held bilateral talks. (ANI)
In a concerted effort to challenge China's policies in Tibet and strengthen international Tibetan advocacy, a three-day Tibetan Youth Empowerment Programme was held at the Eurac Research Centre in South Tyrol from January 16 to 18. According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the programme brought together approximately 25 young Tibetans from eight countries, providing them with political, legal, and advocacy training to advance the Tibetan freedom movement. The programme was jointly organised by the Tibet Bureau Geneva and the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the CTA, in collaboration with the Eurac Research Centre, underscoring the CTA's leadership in empowering Tibetan youth to counter China's repression in Tibet. The CTA stated that during the inaugural session, Professor Roland Psenner, President of the Eurac Research Centre, drew strong parallels between South Tyrol's historical struggle under fascist rule and Tibet's current situation under Chinese control. He recalled a period when local languages and cultural identity were suppressed in South Tyrol, noting similarities with China's ongoing policies of forced assimilation in Tibet. Professor Psenner also reaffirmed Eurac's long-term commitment to supporting the Tibetan cause. According to the CTA, Thinlay Chukki, Representative of Dalai Lama at the Tibet Bureau Geneva, emphasised that youth empowerment remains a central priority for the CTA. Referring to the programme as "the passing of the baton to the next generation," she highlighted the grave situation inside Tibet, where more than one million Tibetan children have reportedly been compelled to attend Chinese colonial-style boarding schools, an approach widely criticised for undermining Tibetan language, culture, and identity. Tenzin Lekshay, Spokesperson and Additional Secretary of DIIR, CTA, outlined the CTA's Middle Way Policy, describing it as a non-violent and pragmatic framework that seeks genuine autonomy for Tibet within China. He contrasted this approach with Beijing's authoritarian, zero-sum political outlook, stressing that Tibetans are advocating not only for their own rights but also for global peace, environmental protection, and human rights. In a focused advocacy session, Thinlay Chukki addressed China's interference in Tibetan religious traditions, particularly regarding the issue of reincarnation. She underscored that international discourse should centre on Tibetans' fundamental right to religious freedom, rather than China's politically driven claims over the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. According to CTA, Sessions on autonomy featured experts Sergei Constantin and Marc Roggla, who presented South Tyrol's successful autonomy model as a practical example that challenges China's assertion that meaningful autonomy threatens national sovereignty. The programme concluded with an interaction with Arno Kompatscher, President of South Tyrol, who expressed solidarity with the Tibetan people and shared insights from South Tyrol's long journey toward self-governance. (ANI)
According to the MP government, TouchLab, an AI-focused company with operations across the UK, Tokyo, and the United States, shared its global perspective on advanced AI applications and its participation in the upcoming global AI Summit. The company is currently at a proof-of-concept stage for an AI Centre, opening avenues for future expansion and partnerships.

MP highlighted the state's growing strengths as an AI and technology destination, including affordable and reliable power infrastructure critical for data centre and compute-intensive operations. The state also showcased the presence of NATRAX, the country's largest automotive testing and validation track, as a unique asset supporting advanced mobility, AI-driven testing, and next-generation technology applications.

Opportunities for collaboration were discussed across education and research partnerships, with a particular focus on engaging SMEs and strengthening applied innovation. Madhya Pradesh also presented its robust startup ecosystem, with over 6,000 registered startups, offering a strong platform for piloting, scaling, and co-developing new technologies, the press release said.

TouchLab expressed interest in exploring applications of its technology in areas such as cybersecurity and online gaming, aligning well with Madhya Pradesh's dedicated policies for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) and digital innovation.

Both sides agreed to continue discussions to identify concrete collaboration pathways, including AI-focused pilots, ecosystem partnerships, and potential establishment of technology-led initiatives in Madhya Pradesh.

The engagement underscores Madhya Pradesh's commitment to positioning itself as a competitive hub for AI, deeptech innovation, and future-ready digital industries, the release stated.

Earlier today, the MP government delegation also held a meeting with Jasmin Hume, CEO and Founder of Shiru, an AI-powered protein discovery company, to explore collaboration opportunities in advanced protein innovation, agri-based inputs and applied research.

WEF 2026 operates under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue' to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, and the annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including about 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state. (ANI)
In a post on X, the Indian mission said, "A pleasant meeting at Zurich Airport today while receiving Indian dignitaries! Amb Kumar had the opportunity to meet Mr. Ajay Banga, President of @WorldBank, arriving for WEF Annual Meeting in Davos."

https://x.com/IndiainSwiss/status/2013169186420211996?s=20

The mission said the brief interaction also touched upon India's development agenda and cooperation with the World Bank. "Brief but warm exchange on India's development priorities & our partnership with the World Bank."

The meeting comes as the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 begins in Davos today, with India set to push its investment and growth story before global investors, policymakers and business leaders. The five-day summit is being held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue", amid slowing global growth, geopolitical frictions, rapid technological change and growing concerns around rebuilding trust between nations.

The WEF Annual Meeting is considered one of the most influential global platforms, bringing together heads of state, ministers, central bankers, chief executives, entrepreneurs, academics and civil society leaders. It provides space for global discussions on the economy, technology, climate change, governance and long-term policy direction.

For India, Davos has remained a key venue to highlight reform momentum, policy stability and openness to global investment, with this year's participation featuring strong political as well as corporate representation.

India's delegation at Davos 2026 includes four Union ministers -- Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi and K Rammohan Naidu -- reflecting India's focus on infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and digital transformation.

Six chief ministers are also attending to present state-level investment opportunities: Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), A Revanth Reddy (Telangana) and Hemant Soren (Jharkhand).

The participation of Assam and Jharkhand is being seen as significant as eastern India seeks to showcase fast-growing state economies, mineral wealth and industrial potential.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and senior delegations from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala are also taking part in the summit.

On the corporate side, India has sent one of its largest business delegations to Davos, with more than 100 senior leaders from the banking, technology, manufacturing, start-up and renewable energy sectors participating.

Key Indian corporate participants include Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries), N Chandrasekaran (Tata Group), Sanjiv Bajaj (Bajaj Group), Hari S Bhartia (Jubilant Bhartia Group), Sudarshan Venu (TVS Motor) and Anish Shah (Mahindra Group).

Other business leaders attending include Amitabh Chaudhry (Axis Bank), Nadir Godrej (Godrej Industries Group), Sajjan Jindal (JSW Group), Nikhil Kamath (Zerodha), Sunil Bharti Mittal (Bharti Group), Nandan Nilekani and Salil S Parekh (Infosys), Rishad Premji (Wipro), Prashant Ruia (Essar), Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), and Sumant Sinha (ReNew).

India's key pitch at WEF 2026 is that it is "open for business", aiming to attract global partnerships and strengthen its position in international value chains.

India is expected to focus on manufacturing and supply chain diversification, infrastructure expansion, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, clean energy and energy transition, and long-term capital flows.

This year's push is centred on sustaining investor confidence, strengthening engagement and converting interest into longer-term investments.

More than 3,000 global leaders are attending the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Delhi airport on Monday as the UAE leader arrived in the national capital on an official visit. Upon arrival, the two leaders travelled together in the same car as they departed the airport. The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia, including strained Iran-US relations, continued instability in Gaza, and the unresolved Yemen conflict involving Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Welcoming the UAE President, Prime Minister Modi shared a post on X, stating, "Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions." PM Modi also posted photographs with Sheikh Mohamed, including an image of the two leaders seated inside a car and another showing them in a warm embrace. The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit is being held at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and builds on the strong momentum created through recent high-level engagements. These included the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai, in April 2025. The UAE President's visit also coincides with major developments in West Asia, with US President Trump preparing to launch Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan, which aims to establish a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. This is Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade, underlining the continuity of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. (ANI)
This article has been published by the Centre for Uyghur Studies, a non-profit organisation based in Virginia, United States.

Idris said the restrictions on music go beyond regulating art, as they threaten the survival of a people's identity.

According to Idris, Chinese authorities have labelled Uyghur songs "problematic" for reasons including religious content, references to history, or the promotion of "discontent" with society.

He noted that these broad categories could criminalise nearly any song, particularly those reflecting faith, homeland, or traditional values.

In his article, Idris emphasised that music is central to Uyghur cultural life. It preserves language, poetry, humour, and social customs, and passes heritage from one generation to the next.

"When songs change, memory changes," he wrote, describing how cultural destruction occurs gradually, often unnoticed.

Idris drew parallels with the Cultural Revolution, when Uyghur traditions were forcibly altered to align with Chinese communist ideology.

He highlighted reports of mass detention, pervasive surveillance, and policies that separate children from their language environment, noting that millions of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Turkic Muslims are affected.

Human rights organisations and the United Nations have raised concerns about the scale of abuses, which may amount to crimes against humanity.

In the article, Idris also pointed out that cultural leaders, writers, scholars, performers, and religious figures are frequently targeted because they protect community memory.

"When poets, professors, and performers are silenced, a community loses more than individuals; it loses transmitters of heritage," he wrote.

Idris warned that China's policies aim to assimilate Uyghurs into a single, state-approved identity, gradually erasing distinct language, faith, and culture.

He described music as a "portable homeland" that people carry when everything else is taken, and argued that banning songs is effectively outlawing belonging.

The activist concluded that global attention often focuses on crises that explode suddenly, but cultural erasure happens quietly and steadily. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and his family at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg as the UAE leader continued his official visit to India. During the meeting, the Prime Minister presented traditional Indian gifts to the visiting dignitaries. PM Modi gifted the UAE President a Royal Carved Wooden Jhula (swing), a beautifully carved wooden swing from Gujarat that sits at the heart of many Gujarati family homes. It is hand-carved with detailed floral and traditional designs, showcasing skilled craftsmanship. In Gujarati culture, the jhula symbolises togetherness, conversation and bonding across generations. The gift also resonates with the UAE's declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family. PM Modi also gifted the UAE President a Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box. The Pashmina shawl comes from Kashmir and is made by hand from very fine wool, making it soft, light and warm. The shawl was placed in a decorative silver box made in Telangana. Together, they represent India's rich tradition of handloom and handicraft. A Pashmina shawl, presented in an ornate silver box, was also gifted to Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi. She was also gifted Kashmiri saffron in an ornate silver box. Grown in the Kashmir Valley, saffron is revered for its deep crimson strands and intense aroma. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Delhi airport as the UAE leader arrived in the national capital on an official visit. Upon arrival, the two leaders travelled together in the same car as they departed from the airport. Welcoming the UAE President, Prime Minister Modi shared a post on X, stating, "Went to the airport to welcome my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. His visit illustrates the importance he attaches to a strong India-UAE friendship. Looking forward to our discussions." PM Modi also posted photographs with Sheikh Mohamed, including an image of the two leaders seated inside a car and another showing them in a warm embrace. The Ministry of External Affairs said the visit is being held at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and builds on the strong momentum created through recent high-level engagements. These included the visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in September 2024, and the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Crown Prince of Dubai, in April 2025. The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia, including strained Iran-US relations, continued instability in Gaza, and the unresolved Yemen conflict involving Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The UAE President's visit also coincides with major developments in West Asia, with US President Trump preparing to launch Phase 2 of the Gaza Peace Plan, which aims to establish a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza. This is Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President, and his fifth visit to the country in the past decade, underlining the continuity of high-level engagement between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. (ANI)
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday outlined key outcomes of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlighting that the discussions covered strategic and economic cooperation across multiple sectors. Briefing the media in Delhi, Misri said, "The talks between the leaders were characterised by the warmth and special friendship between the two leaders that has become a characteristic of this relationship." Reflecting this momentum, Misri said a letter of intent was signed to work towards a framework agreement on defence cooperation. "A letter of intent was signed between the two sides to work towards concluding a framework agreement for a strategic defence partnership between India and the UAE," Misri said. Alongside defence cooperation, Misri also detailed expanded engagement in the space sector. "A letter of intent was also signed between the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre in space and the UAE space agency for a joint initiative for space infrastructure development and its commercialisation," he said. He added that the initiative will include infrastructure and capability-building projects. "Under this particular initiative, we will look to set up new launch complexes, satellite fabrication facilities, joint missions, space academy and training centres," he said. Beyond defence and space, Misri highlighted investment collaboration as another key focus area, with a letter of intent on UAE participation in Gujarat's Dholera project. "A letter of intent was signed on the UAE's participation in the development of a Special Investment Region in Dholera in Gujarat," he said. Calling it a significant partnership initiative, Misri said, "This is a mega partnership initiative that will look at the establishment of an international airport, a pilot training school, an MRO facility, a greenfield port, a smart urban township, as well as projects related to railway connectivity and energy infrastructure." Misri further said the two sides also agreed to establish a supercomputing cluster in India, reflecting a push towards stronger engagement in advanced digital and computing capabilities. To strengthen financial and logistics linkages, the UAE's First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and global port operator DP World will set up offices and operations in GIFT City, Gujarat, to enhance India's role as a regional financial and trade services hub. Cooperation in agriculture and exports also featured in the outcomes, with a memorandum of understanding signed between the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to address food safety and technical requirements, a move expected to support market access for Indian agricultural and processed food exports to the UAE. The two countries also agreed to promote bilateral civil nuclear cooperation and explore the establishment of "digital/data embassies", reflecting expanded engagement in sensitive and future-oriented sectors. The outcomes also included cultural and youth-focused initiatives, including plans to set up a 'House of India' in Abu Dhabi to showcase Indian art, heritage and archaeology, as well as steps to promote youth exchanges. Taken together, the decisions taken during the visit reflect an expanding India-UAE partnership moving beyond hydrocarbons, with increased focus on investment, trade growth, and cooperation in strategic and high-technology sectors. The UAE President's visit came amid a volatile regional environment, including a sharp decline in Iran-US ties, continuing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Yemen, and an unsettled political situation in Gaza. This marked Sheikh Mohamed's third official visit to India since assuming office as UAE President and his fifth visit to the country over the past decade. India and the UAE have witnessed a major rise in bilateral trade and people-to-people ties since the two sides signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2022. (ANI)
In a Vanishing Village, One Man Teaches an Endangered Language

Hah, Turkey -- In the stone-terraced fields of Hah, a centuries-old village in the historical region of Tur Abdin in southeastern Turkey, Benyamin Aydin tends his crops much as his ancestors once did. But farming is only part of his daily labor. The more fragile work happens in conversation, in memory, and in language.

Aydin is one of the last remaining Christian Assyrians in Hah, known in Turkish as Anitli, a village perched in the historic Tur Abdin region near the town of Medyad (Midyat). While many residents left decades ago, driven by conflict, economic hardship, and systematic pressure, he chose to stay. His decision is not rooted in nostalgia alone. It is an act of preservation. "I stay because the language stays," he says in Sahit (The Witness), a 2023 documentary directed by Ahmet Kilic that chronicles the slow disappearance of Assyrian life from the region. The film, recently made available on YouTube, centers on Aydin as both narrator and subject, a quiet figure standing against the erosion of cultural memory.

Assyrians are among the oldest indigenous peoples of Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia), tracing their presence in the region back thousands of years. For centuries, Tur Abdin, encompassing parts of today's Mardin Province, served as a spiritual and cultural heartland, dotted with monasteries, churches, and villages where Assyrian, belonging to the Aramaic language family, was spoken as a living language. Today, that landscape is largely emptied of its original inhabitants.

Hah itself carries deep symbolic weight. Known among Assyrians as a "place of rest," the village hosts some of the region's most ancient Christian landmarks, including Mor Sobo Church and churches dating to the fourth and fifth centuries. One structure is believed to have been among the earliest monuments built explicitly for Christian worship, later converted into what is now the Church of the Virgin Mary.

Yet history has not guaranteed continuity. After decades of forced migration, only about 20 Assyrian families remain in the village, most sustaining themselves through agriculture and animal husbandry. The language that once echoed naturally through homes and courtyards now survives largely through deliberate effort.

Aydin works as a Assyrian language teacher, instructing children who might otherwise grow up without access to their ancestral tongue. Paradoxically, many elders in the region no longer speak Assyrian fluently, having adopted Kurdish or Turkish under social and political pressure. Aydin himself grew up speaking Kurdish with his parents, learning Assyrian later, a reversal of generational transmission that underscores the fragility of the language.

In Sahit, he is less an activist than an observer. He speaks of people who have died, buildings that have crumbled, seasons that pass unchanged. The film's title reflects this role. "Witness," as Kilic explains to Agos journalist Marta Somek, refers not only to human memory but to the land itself, the stones, the churches, the abandoned homes that silently record what has been lost.

Kilic, who grew up in nearby Kfarboran (Dargecit), said the idea for the documentary emerged from a personal reckoning. "I learned that Dargecit was entirely built by Assyrians," he said. "And now there is not a single Assyrian person left there. That absence disturbed me."

Rather than relying on academic commentary, the director chose to build the film around one man's lived experience. "It could have been a professor explaining history," he said. "But hearing it from someone who resists disappearance by simply continuing to live, that mattered more."

Filmed over five days in 2023, the documentary captures Hah in shifting weather, from harsh sun to sudden hail, a visual metaphor for endurance amid instability. Since its completion, Sahit has been screened at human rights and documentary festivals in Merde (Mardin), Istanbul, and Adana, drawing emotional responses from audiences. Some viewers, Kilic said, left in tears.

The director resists labeling the film as narrowly communal. "This is not only a Assyrian story," he said. "It is about anyone who has felt erased, overlooked, or pushed to the margins."

In Hah, that sense of erasure is palpable. And yet, so is persistence. Each Assyrian lesson Aydin teaches, each word spoken deliberately in a language once forbidden or discouraged, becomes a small act of defiance.

"I am a witness," he says in the film, not as a declaration, but as a fact. Thus, in a region where history is often rewritten through absence, bearing witness may be the most enduring form of resistance.
The Government of Madhya Pradesh on Monday interacted with Harshul Asnani, president of Tech Mahindra, to look at entering the state of Madhya Pradesh with a focus on expanding in tier-2 cities to deepen access to talent. The discussions centred on the BPO and IT segments, and the state highlighted its strengths in infrastructure, quality of life, and a skilled labour force. A delegation from the Madhya Pradesh government also met with JioStar officials to explore collaborations on video and audio documentation of the state's tourism and travel projects, including a potential partnership with National Geographic. The initiative aims to capture and showcase Madhya Pradesh's scenic beauty, including its wildlife sanctuaries, heritage sites, and natural landscapes like the Narmada River and marble rocks at Bhedaghat. This collaboration could help promote the state's diverse attractions, such as Khajuraho, Sanchi, and its national parks like Kanha and Bandhavgarh, to a global audience. Additionally, the Madhya Pradesh government held discussions with Alon Stopel, Chairman of the Israel Innovation Authority, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026 to explore avenues for collaboration in technology-led economic growth, according to a press release. According to the MP government, the interaction focused on Israel's innovation-driven development model, particularly across frontier areas such as quantum technologies, education technology, defence technologies, and water solutions. Stopel highlighted Israel's strong R&D ecosystem, underpinned by significant private-sector participation and co-investment models that align public support with commercial viability. Madhya Pradesh expressed interest in building partnerships in the civil technology domain through structured government-to-government engagements, pilot projects, and startup-led demonstrations. Opportunities were discussed to leverage existing India-Israel cooperation frameworks, including joint pilots, technology demonstration initiatives, and co-investment mechanisms supporting startups and commercially viable enterprises. Both sides noted the potential to explore a formal collaboration framework to facilitate technology pilots, innovation partnerships, and institutional linkages between Madhya Pradesh and Israel, the release said. The MP government also held a strategic interaction with Herve Couraye, Advisor to TouchLab, on the sidelines of the forum to explore collaboration opportunities in artificial intelligence and emerging digital technologies, a press release said. WEF 2026 operates under the theme 'A Spirit of Dialogue' to address geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, and the annual meeting in Davos features record government participation, including about 400 political leaders and 65 heads of state. (ANI)
Nepal's rapper-turned-mayor Balen Shah, who is vying for the post of Prime Minister after the March polls, on Monday started his election campaign from Janakpur. The senior leader of the Rastriya Swantatra Party (RSP), Balen (Balendra) Shah, was cheered by a sea of followers who chanted "Ab ki baar Balen Sarkar", translated as "This time Balen Government." Addressing the gathering, the prime ministerial candidate from the RSP promised to strengthen federalism by empowering provincial structures. "Isn't Janakpur the (Madhesh) provincial capital? Then why do you need to go to Kathmandu? Why can't all (the administrative) works be done here? We will make the province stronger. Kathmandu need not be visited; all the required works will be done here only. Kathmandu should not be a place to demand rights; it should be a place to visit Pashupati and Swayambhunath," Balen said while speaking in Maithili. Shah urged voters to support the RSP not on the basis of identity but competence. "A Madhesi's son is becoming the Prime Minister because the right person is coming into leadership, so vote in Ghanti (Bell). The right time has come for you to vote in the Ghanti to make a right choice, to choose the right government," Shah called on the supporters. He further said the RSP prioritises the protection of temples, ponds and land in Madhesh, urging voters to support the party for the development of both the region and the country. "In the whole nation, a total of one million tourists arrive on an annual basis. In Ayodhya alone, 10 crore tourists visit every year. Our Janaki Mata alone has that capacity to bring in one crore tourists on an annual basis," the prime ministerial candidate said. Balendra Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu, who formally entered politics by resigning from Kathmandu Metropolitan City on Sunday, is set to file his nomination from Jhapa on Tuesday. Shah will be challenging former Nepali Prime Minister and Chairman of the CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) KP Sharma Oli in his hometown. The former rapper, who won the local election of 2022 from the Nepali capital, struck a deal on December 28 with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), under which it was agreed that he would be the party's prime ministerial candidate. As per the seven-point agreement, RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane will continue as the party's central chairman, while Shah will be presented as the party's parliamentary leader after the elections and its prime ministerial candidate. The RSP had emerged as the fourth largest political force, winning 21 seats in the dissolved House of Representatives within a year of its establishment. Balen has promised to institutionalise the agenda raised by September's Gen-Z movement. The electoral battle in Jhapa-5 is shaping up to be an intriguing contest this time. (ANI)
Seven people, including a Chinese national, were killed in a blast at a hotel in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw area in Afghanistan, officials said. Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said that the blast occurred at the joint restaurant of Chinese Muslims and Afghans called "Chinese Noodle." He added that a Chinese Muslim, Abdul Majid, resident of Xinjiang province, was among the victims. "Today, around 3 PM, an explosion occurred in Kabul city, in the Gulforoshi alley of Shahr-e-Naw, at the joint restaurant of Chinese Muslims and Afghans called "Chinese Noodle". The restaurant was jointly operated by a Chinese Muslim named Abdul Majid, his wife, and an Afghan named Abdul Jabbar Mahmoud. Abdul Majid was a Muslim resident of Xinjiang province in China," Zadran said in a post on X. "Here, food was prepared and sold specifically for Chinese Muslims. In today's explosion, one Chinese national named Ayub, who was Muslim, and 6 Afghans were killed, and several others were injured. The explosion happened near the kitchen," he added. Further investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that an Italian NGO Emergency said a medical facility it oversees in Kabul had received 20 people from the blast, seven of whom were dead when they arrived. The organisation said the casualty figures were "still provisional". Twenty people have been received at EMERGENCY's Surgical Centre in Kabul following an explosion this afternoon in the Shahr-e-Naw area, near the hospital. Among those received were seven people dead on arrival," the NGO said in a statement. (ANI)
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store confirmed that he received a message from US President Donald Trump, expressing grievance over the Nobel Peace Prize snub, which has altered his approach to global affairs and alliance politics. Norway's Prime Minister clarified to Trump that the Norwegian government has no authority over deciding Nobel laureates. "I have clearly explained, including to President Trump, what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government," Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement. Jonas Gahr Store stated that Trump's message came in response to his message about Norway and Finland's positions on Washington's tariff threats against the EU countries over Greenland. 'I can confirm that this is a text message that I received yesterday afternoon from President Trump. It came in response to a short text message from me to President Trump sent earlier on the same day, on behalf of myself and the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb. In our message to Trump, we conveyed our opposition to his announced tariff increases against Norway, Finland and select other countries," he said. We pointed to the need to de-escalate and proposed a telephone conversation between Trump, Stubb and myself on the same day. The response from Trump came shortly after the message was sent. It was his decision to share his message with other NATO leaders,' he added. In the message, Trump had asserted that Norway's failure to award him the prize had altered his approach to global affairs and alliance politics. "Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America," Trump said. The message then turns sharply toward Greenland, the semi- autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark that Trump has repeatedly said the United States should acquire. In the letter, Trump questions Denmark's legal and historical claim to the island and casts its strategic vulnerability as a justification for US control. "Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway? There are no written documents; it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also," he said. The message concludes with its most sweeping assertion, framing U.S. control of Greenland as essential to global security. "The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland," he said. Jonas Gahr Store reiterated Norway's position on Greenland and pushed for reliance on NATO to ensure the region's security. "Norway's position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter. We also support that NATO, in a responsible way, is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic," he said. Trump has threatened to impose 10 per cent tariffs on the UK and EU countries if they do not agree to sell Greenland to US. (ANI)
An American trade mission from North Dakota will visit Morocco in April 2026 to explore joint business and investment opportunities offered in agrifood sector, one of the key pillars of the Kingdoms economy.

The announcement was made by Agriculture Commissioner of North Dakota Doug Goehring. The purpose of the mission to Morocco is to develop and foster relationships between North Dakota agricultural companies and Moroccan companies, and to expand North Dakota exports into Morocco, Mr. Goehring said in a press release.

Moroccos middle class is steadily increasing, it is a net importer of agricultural and related products and ranks 36th among U.S. agriculture export markets with a total export value of nearly $600 million, he added.

Top product prospects for export to Morocco include feed grains, soybeans, tree nuts, pulses, rice, live animals and genetics, poultry, beef and dairy products, underlined the Agriculture Commissioner.

Moroccos agribusiness is the countrys second-largest employer, providing over 161,000 direct jobs. In 2024, the sector generated $20.5 billion in revenues, a 0.8% increase despite severe drought conditions.

Morocco exports its agricultural products and fresh food to over 150 countries around the world. The country is a global leader in tomatoes, citrus, and strawberries, olives and frozen fish. Poultry remains a dominant segment, with Morocco boasting the largest livestock in Africa.
Morocco is reportedly exploring the acquisition of up to 400 South Korean K2 Black Panther tanks and the Cheongung medium-range air defense system as strategic partnership between Seoul and Rabat is gaining momentum.

According to experts, the potential deal would enable Moroccan army to diversify military weaponry and modernize its land and air defense capabilities.

The K2 Black Panther is Koreas fourth-generation battle tank (MBT), developed by Hyundai Rotem group. It is equipped with advanced technology, a powerful 120mm gun, sophisticated composite armour, active protection systems, and excellent mobility with unique hydraulic suspension for difficult terrain.

The K2ME model, a variant specifically designed for arid environments and temperatures exceeding 50 C, has particularly caught the attention of Moroccan military experts interested also in technology transfer and local maintenance. Morocco already operates U.S.-made M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks, including M1A2 SEPv3 variants delivered starting in 2023.

The North African Kingdom is also interested in the Korean medium-range surface-to-air missile system, designed to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles. It is deemed a cost-effective alternative to systems like Patriot. Discussions also include K9 howitzers and KSS-III submarines.

The acquisition of Korean weapons would enable Moroccan army to modernize its armament and diversify procurement, while maintaining interoperability with Western standards.

In February 2025, Hyundai Rotem group won a $1.5 billion contract to supply electric trains to Moroccan railway national company. Another Korean firm, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, has joined forces with the Moroccan leader in port construction, Somagec, in bidding for Casablanca shipyard project. The Moroccan-Korean partnership is very likely to continue expanding.
The latest news from the past few days indicates that Abu Dhabi entities have set their sights on Venezuelas hydrocarbon sector. Reuters and Bloomberg indicated that ADNOC, via its investment arm XRG, could be entering the Latin American country. Details are still unclear, but it's worthwhile to address them already. At present, the situation in Venezuela is still rife with uncertainty, instability, and sanctions. For most interested parties, especially investors, Venezuela remains shorthand for everything that can go wrong in an oil state. In recent years, the country has been faced with sanctions that mutate faster than contracts, a vast patronage machine that hollows out institutions, and political instability at its peak. At the same time, its hydrocarbon reserves are mainly stranded by misrule.

Since mid-January, a different flow has emerged in Abu Dhabi conversations, not just market gossip. International news agencies, including Reuters, citing a Bloomberg report, say Abu Dhabis NOC is assessing options to enter Venezuelas energy sector. ADNOCs global investment arm, XRG, seems to have set its sights on natural gas. The latter, as indicated, will, however, be on the condition that an XRG move will be based on transparent legal and financial frameworks, requiring coordination with the United States.

For all XRG investments, that conditionality will matter more than the headline. The current story being pushed will not be sanctions evasion dressed up as SouthSouth cooperation, but an Abu Dhabi bet (and assessment) on a new, Washington -managed political economy in Venezuela. The constellation sought will entail a situation in which Washington wants barrels to return to the market while retaining control over the revenue plumbing. But also, where foreign capital will be mobilized under the supervision of the USA.

This doesnt mean that, according to Abu Dhabi and others, Venezuela has suddenly become safe. The main difference with the situation under Maduro, and the military action taken by the USA, is that we are now looking at the worlds most toxic oil state, which may have become structured. At the same time, it is also at a state oil company with a state-capital ecosystem behind it, which could now be in a structured toxicity that is still investable.

Related: Global Traders Launch Legal Venezuelan Oil Sales to China

A possible XRG timing is also linked to developments in Venezuela itself. As reported, Venezuelas national oil company, PDVSA, has already reversed part of its recent oil output cuts. The Venezuelan NOC has also instructed joint ventures to restart production, mainly due to a relaxation of a strict US oil embargo that halted its exports in December. At present, internal audits are being conducted to assess the investment required to revive fields, refineries, and storage facilities. This clearly shows that Venezuelas energy sector is no longer constrained mainly by political factors but by industrial ones. Still, the overall US posture remains coercive, as demonstrated by the seizure of yet another sanctioned tanker in the Caribbean. The latter is still the clear path taken by the Trump Administration, which wants to be able to steer Venezuelan oil revenues into an investment and recovery agenda.

The current landscape seems to have caught ADNOC's interest. Venezuela is clearly being pulled into a strange hybrid of reopening and containment. The countrys exports are resuming, but clearly under US supervision. At the same time, all investments are being ringfenced while still being encouraged. It still holds its own sovereignty but is shaped by Washingtons legal architecture and enforcement at sea.

However, even the current architecture is evolving quickly, as evidenced by a US executive order issued on January 9, 2026, that created a targeted regime to protect certain Venezuelan oil-related revenues held in designated U.S. Treasury accounts from attachment. You can read this either as responsible stabilization or financial trusteeship by another name. The total, however, is setting up a systemology of interest to state-capital investors. For these parties, Washington not only signals a loosening of sanctions but also an attempt to lay the revenue rails on which any future Venezuela revival will run.

Venezuela is also clearly signaling flexibility, mainly due to external forces. The countrys interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, has already proposed reforms to Venezuelas hydrocarbons law, primarily to facilitate international investment. Until now, the countrys framework still forces all foreign partners to work with PDVSA. A S&P Global report says new legislation is being drafted to encourage foreign and private investment in sectors and infrastructure, and, most interestingly, new contract structures. These reforms present a strategic opportunity for investors seeking to participate in Venezuela's energy sector under a more open legal environment.

These internal and external changes seem to have pushed XRGs latest interest, especially in gas. Looking at ADNOC and other Abu Dhabi entities, there is little interest in Orinoco heavy crude; they are more focused on how to position all of it in a rewritten market. From the start, XRG has been set up as an entity that wants to operate where risk, scale, and geopolitics intersect. Its primary mandate entails natural gas and chemicals. Pushed by the UAEs overall leadership, the entity wants to become a global leader in those sectors over the long arc. Venezuelas underdeveloped gas reserves clearly fit this strategy, but its heavily degraded heavy-oil complex is less interesting. Natural gas can be phased and modularized. At the same time, especially for an OPEC leader, natural gas is politically quieter than oil.

Based on the current reporting, it seems clear that any ADNOC move will be linked to a partnership with another international producer. The latter is not optics; it is needed when a Venezuelan situation necessitates a risk distribution strategy. A partnership (international) will not only share technical burdens but also share political exposure and compliance complexity. When considering the possible location of Washington, especially given US licensing and monitoring requirements, a joint venture is much easier to set up. Trump still wants to have a tight grip on all, but collaboration can help mitigate risks and foster trust.

Analysis should now point out that coordination with Washington is not a bureaucratic afterthought; it is a full-scale investment thesis. At present and in the foreseeable future, Washington intends to enforce the perimeter while selectively allowing flows to restart. All will be done only with explicit Washington authorization, as already shown by discussions among global commodity trading houses. This kind of environment is not really new to a state-owned oil company like ADNOC, which is used to operating with strong political alignment and long-term horizons. However, before entering into Venezuela, ADNOC or XRG will want straightforward rules, while the USA will be only a co-architect, not a capricious referee.

The current story also provides more insight into the current and future role of Abu Dhabis sovereign wealth ecosystem. It still does not indicate that ADIA, Mubadala, or ADQ is directly buying Venezuela. The current strategy or spearpoint being used is ADNOC, specifically its investment arm, XRG. Abu Dhabis strength has long been its modular state-capital design, which should be taken into account in the long run. At present, a short-term, focused move is being considered for upstream or gas development under tight political conditions. When there are follow-up or spinoff opportunities, mainly in the more unsexy layers, such as downstream, midstream, or ports, its sovereign funds will follow.

At present, Venezuelas NOC, PDVSA, is auditing what must be spent to revive it all, which is a clear reminder that the country should be seen as a reconstruction project, not only as a hydrocarbon one.

There are three possible motives for the UAE assessment:

First, natural gas sits within a broader Atlantic Basin reshuffle under U.S. management, and the UAE is interested in playing a role.

Second, valuation remains the strongest driver, but the window is closing or is very narrow. The output decline, as reported from 1.6 million bpd in November 2025 to 880,000 bpd now, is an indicator of decay, but also of volatility. This could mean that investors will need to invest heavily, only to stop the bleeding, not for growth.

Third, geopolitical positioning will be crucial in the coming months. The current coercion and investment tactics employed by Washington are creating a diffuse and volatile situation. The latter, however, could be an unusual niche for a Gulf state actor, such as XRG/ADNOC, as it can mobilize capital, tolerate political ambiguity, and operate in lockstep with U.S. licensing and oversight. A move could support Abu Dhabis positioning as a stabilizing investor. It also doesnt have to deal with the domestic political constraints that slow Western majors.

At present, no one can say that Venezuela is an easy target or an operating option. The US is still demonstrating that it will enforce maritime control aggressively. Most investors will read this on two levels: protection and warning. Only some will be willing to take the risk.

For a possible investor move, especially in XRG, several indicators are worth watching. The primary focus will be on concrete moves in hydrocarbons law reform and contract models, and on US licensing pathways extending beyond traders into upstream and midstream. For parties such as XRG, it will also be critical to see the emergence of consortium structures in which it could participate.

For now, the main message from Abu Dhabi is that its entities, ADNOC and XRG, are doing what state-capital platforms do best. They test whether, under new rules, a toxic hydrocarbon state can be converted into a structured and enjoyable opportunity. The bet to be taken soon will be bold, while the method will be cautious.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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On a mild and cloudy evening in Izmit, western Turkey, a Panamanian-flagged tanker called the Bela 6 dropped anchor and began pumping nearly 100,000 tons of Russian oil.

The January 6 delivery was an outlier for the refinerys owner, Tupras, which cut Russian crude imports by 69 percent the previous month, ahead of an EU sanction taking effect on January 21, according to data from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).

The new measure bans imports into the European Union of products derived from Russian crude oil and is the latest attempt to cut revenues for Moscows war in Ukraine.

It especially hits refineries in Turkey and India, which import Russian crude, turn it into products like jet fuel, diesel, or blending components, and ship them on to EU markets.

Taken together with US sanctions on Russian oil majors last fall, a US blockade of Venezuelan supplies, and uncertainty over possible US military strikes on Iran, the EU measures feed into growing volatility in international oil supplies.

Were in an extraordinary environment, [with] much global geopolitical gyrations in the system, David Edward from General Index, a London-based commodities markets intelligence firm, said during a webinar on January 14.

The broader context is a global oil glut that has been widely predicted for 2026, due to high production that saw oil prices fall steeply in 2025. This has already cut Russian oil revenues to their lowest levels since 2022, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Loopholes

The new EU ban was announced as part of the blocs 18th sanctions package in July, giving refineries time to cut imports in advance.

Within the next week, this will be one of the most important talking points around the world, said Kpler analyst Sumit Ritolia, noting that major Indian refineries had already self-sanctioned by announcing they would buy no more Russian crude.

With Turkeythey are still importing Russian barrels, but it is going down as we speak, their volumes are down 20-30 percent, he added.

CREA noted that Indias Russian crude imports fell 29 percent in December 2025 to their lowest level since a G7 price cap was imposed three years earlier, although a big part of this would also have been a result of the US sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's largest oil producers.

In any case, critics have warned that some refineries could try to conceal the origin of the crude oil used in their products to evade the EU sanctions.

Theyve also suggested that exemptions for countries, including Britain or Serbia, create an opportunity for oil products refined from Russian crude to be reexported to the EU.

CREA analyst Isaac Levi said the same tactic could be used within individual countries, since the ban relates to ports and refineries importing Russian crude.

There's a Georgian refinery called the Kulevi refinery on the Black Sea and it buys Russian crude oil, refines it into productsand it looks to be sending those refined products from a different port, he told RFE/RL.

Levi signed an open letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas from an international alliance of around 100 civil society groups calling on the EU to tighten the rules.

He said they received a thank you but no response on measures to close the loopholes. Kallass spokesperson did not answer RFE/RLs request for comment.

We have provided an array of different solutionsone is banning the import of refined fuels from any refinery that has a pipeline connection to Russian crude. So that would mostly be those refineries in China that are connected to a Russian pipeline. Quite a simple method that could stop again hundreds of millions if not billions of euros flowing to the Kremlin, Levi said.

Enter China?

Some observers have suggested that China could absorb part of the excess Russian oil supplies being abandoned by India, Turkey, or others.

CREAs data show a 23 percent spike in Chinas seaborne crude imports from Russia in December. Several tankers with Urals grade oil, apparently shunned by India, were reported to be, idling in waters off Chinese ports in the Yellow Sea.

Erica Downs, a senior research scholar focusing on Chinese energy markets at Columbia University, told RFE/RL the key role would be played by small, independent refineries called "teapots."

These account for some 20 percent of Chinese refining capacity and, she said, shift back and forth between Russian and Iranian crude chasing razor thin margins.

I think it's safe to say that China is not going to be able to absorb all that India and Turkey turn away. But, especially among the teapots, they are bargain hunters. And if the discount is enough, if they feel like their risk exposure is tolerable, they will take more, Downs said.

Last year, Washington slapped sanctions on three teapots for dealing in sanctioned Iranian oil. But, Downs said, while Chinas big national oil companies were cautious around sanctions, teapots were less concerned.

Because a lot of them dont have exposure to the US dollar financial system, you know, theyre much more willingto deal in sanctioned crudes, she said. If the US sanctions an oil terminal in China for taking sanctioned crudes, then the terminal might say OK, were already under sanctions, well just keep taking them. They are resilient.

Of course, any Russian oil taken by teapots will also be at a large discount, further choking financial flows to the Kremlin.

We do think this measure will have an impact and will reduce Russia's export revenues, said CREA analyst Levi. But we do think that more needs to be done to enforce it and ensure that the impact really holds and slashes Russia's export revenues.

By RFE/RL

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The renewed tariff threat led to a risk-off sentiment in markets, causing gold and silver prices to jump, European equities to fall, and commodity strategists to warn of potential pressure on risk assets.

The article highlights a new geopolitical issue as President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European allies, including Denmark, over their support for Greenland's status as an autonomous Danish territory.

Oil prices, with WTI Crude dropping below $60 per barrel and Brent Crude below $64, fell as concerns about potential U.S. strikes and subsequent supply disruption in Iran eased.

Oil prices fell early on Monday as concerns about a potential disruption to Irans oil supply in case of U.S. strikes subsided, while traders began to assess the next geopolitical flashpoint U.S. President Donald Trump has createdGreenland.

As of 9:53 a.m. ET on Monday, the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, had returned to below $60 per barrel, trading at $59.16, down by 0.27% on the day. The price of the U.S. oil has stayed for months very close to the breakeven prices for profitably drilling a new well at many U.S. independent shale producers.

Even oil tycoon and wildcatter Harold Hamm has said he would halt drilling operations in North Dakota for the first time in decades, due to the low oil prices that erase profit margins.

The international benchmark, Brent Crude, fell below the $64 per barrel handle early on Monday, trading down by 0.39% at $63.88 as of 9:53 a.m. ET.

Trade could be thinner in the U.S. on Monday on the federal holiday

Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Oil prices eased from last weeks highs of over $66 per barrel Brent and nearly $62 per barrel WTI, after tensions over Iran and its handling of the protests started to ease and U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to back off from a strike on Iran, for now.

But President Trump stirred a commotion in another part of the world after saying the U.S. would slap tariffs on its European and NATO allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland, for supporting Greenlands status as an autonomous Danish territory.

The return of the U.S.-EU tariff row, now over Trumps obsession to take over Greenland, threatens to return the cross-Atlantic trade row as European leaders have suggested the EU could pull out of the trade deal with the United States.

Following renewed threats from the U.S. against Greenland, gold and silver prices jumped on Monday, while European equities fell.

The re-emergence of tariff friction is likely to weigh on risk assets today, ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a Monday note.

Despite the pressure on flat price, the prompt ICE Brent timespread remains firm, suggesting some tightness in the spot physical market, they added.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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On 12 January 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced, Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America.

Trumps announcement aims to weaken the government of the Islamic Republic in the wake of weeks of protests against the government, sparked by a weak economy. Trump told the protesters to keep fighting their government and that help is on the way.

Who is doing business with Iran, and what can they do in response to the Trump tariffs?

China is Irans top trade partner and buys 89% of Irans oil. As of October 2025, China bought USD14.5 billion of goods.

Trumps move likely shocked to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who probably thought he and Trump made a trade truce in October 2025 that reduced tariffs on China from 57 percent to 47 percent. China paused export controls on rare earth elements (REEs) for one year and agreed to buy more U.S. farm products. Trump was optimistic Xi would work to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors to Mexico.

In response, China may stop U.S. farm product imports and exports of rare earth elements. That means Trump would head into the 2026 mid-term elections with depressed farm incomes (the farm states are key to his electoral base) and the possibility of automobile plant shutdowns if rare earth magnets, available only from China, are not available. (In May 2025, Ford Motor Company temporarily halted some production at its Chicago assembly plant because of a rare-earth magnet shortage tied to Chinese export controls.)

Aircraft maker Boeing is negotiating the sale of 500 commercial aircraft to Chinas airlines, but China may pressure the U.S. by pausing a final decision or buying more Airbus aircraft.

Iraq is next at USD10.5 billion in imports from Iran. Irans exports are varied: food products, building materials, petrochemicals, home appliances, and natural gas. Due to U.S. pressure, Iraq suspended imports of Iranian natural gas, causing a loss of 30 to 40 percent of Iraqs power generation needs, and which will reduce Iraqs future trade with Iran.

Iraq is still negotiating the shape of its new government and groups affiliated with armed wings, some friendly to Iran, won more than 100 of the 165 seats needed to form a government, according to the Associated Press. If Trumps move is framed as interference in Iraqs weak economy that may boost the fortunes of more militant politicians and of Iran.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently imported USD7.5 billion in Iranian goods. The UAE is a member in Trumps Abraham Accords and is a security partner of Washington. It is also a major customer of Boeing and U.S. defense contractors. In November 2025, Emirates Airlines placed a USD38 billion order with Boeing, and FlyDubai placed a USD13 billion order.

The UAE wont halt security cooperation with the U.S. but some public visits from the Airbus sales team may hit Boeings stock price and send its lobbyists running to the White House.

Turkey, a NATO ally, is fourth with USD7.3 billion in trade, and in September 2025 Turkish Airlines announced it would order 75 Boeing 787 aircraft and had completed negotiations to buy 150 737 MAX planes from Boeing. Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, is as hot-tempered as Trump and Turkey cant seriously retaliate as it has a weak economy, but the airline may decide to pause the 787 buy pending the final report of the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority review of the probable cause of the crash of Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787, a process that may take two years.

Afghanistan is fifth with USD2.5 billion in Iran trade. The Taliban government recently signaled interest in renewed relations with the U.S. so it may take the new tariff as its answer from Washington.

Pakistans trade with Iran is $2.4 billion a year. Islamabad may send Trumps new best friend, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of the Army Staff, to Washington to seek relief by reminding Trump of Pakistans partnership with the Trump family controlled crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.

Andrew Korybko notes that Pakistan may benefit from the tariff if pressure on Iran causes Afghanistan to approach Pakistan to help facilitate trade via an alternative route. Islamabad can then demand Kabul stop actions against Pakistan by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the separatists of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Pakistan may also pile on a demand the ruling Taliban guarantee the security so the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway that will being Central Asian goods to Karachi port.

If Pakistan can convince Trump it forced the Taliban to bring the TTP and the BLA to heel, Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshall Munir will be honored guests in the Oval Office. And Islamabads tock will rise in Uzbekistan, where President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has personally advocated for the trans-Afghanistan railway project.

Oman does USD1.8 billion trade with Iran, but the Muscat government is a key diplomatic intermediary for Washington in the Middle East. Muscat cant do much to retaliate but the tariffs will absorb the time of the leadership that could be better spent on diplomacy and will show the region how Washington treats its friends.

Indias trade with Iran is USD1.7 billion. As of October 2025, India is Americas #11 trade partner, and total India-U.S. trade was reaching USD131.8 billion in FY 202425. Until the recent Trump tariff, Indias U.S. tariff was 50% as opposed to 47% for China so Delhi may decide to continue working with Beijing to improve relations until Washington presents a kinder face to the worlds biggest democracy.

India is negotiating with the U.S. about extending a U.S. sanctions waiver for the use of Irans Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman. India has committed USD370 million for the project and feels exiting Chabahar is not an option. New Delhi is seeking a middle?path arrangement with Washington to protect its strategic interests while addressing Washingtons concerns. The port is crucial for Indias access to Afghanistan and Central Asia without relying on Pakistan.

Russia does USD1.2 billion in trade with Iran, though the real number is likely higher. Russian leader Vladimir Putin wont care.

Last is Turkmenistan, a place most Americans dont know of even though it has the worlds fifth-largest gas reserves. The Central Asia republic shares a 1,000 kilometer border with Iran, and the countries plan to increase annual trade to USD3 billion.

Turkmenistan is overly-reliant on its natural gas exports to China and penalizing it for trading with a neighbor will only increase its reliance on China, a strange objective for an American policy.

The remaining Central Asia republics, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan are actively strengthening economic ties with Iran, especially through transport corridors and new trade agreements.

Trump got on famously with Uzbek president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during a recent visit and invited Mirziyoyev and Kazakh president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to be his guests at the 2026 G20 Miami summit. Thats all well and good, but Mirziyoyev and Tokayev will keep a weather eye on the U.S. to gauge the effects of sudden policy shifts.

As the targets of the tariffs calibrate their responses, Xi has a strong hand and can get Trumps attention by halting entry of vegetable products (USD20.5 billion in 2023) and slowing the export of REEs, with no distinction between military or commercial end-users. Other countries can pause deliveries of Boeing aircraft pending Indias completed investigation of Air India flight 171 crash.

By James Durso for Oilprice.com

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Bolivias new leadership has pledged it would keep its existing lithium and oil and gas contracts, even those awarded to Russia and China under the previous leftist ruling, as La Paz looks to reassure investors that the signed deals would be respected.

Our contracts will be respected, Bolivian Energy Minister Mauricio Medinaceli told Reuters, including deals signed by the previous government with Russia and China.

Bolivia is estimated to hold more than a fifth of global lithium reserves.

This pledge is a first message to investors that they shouldnt expect contracts to be torn up, despite the new Bolivian centrist governments move to thaw relations with the United States.

At the end of 2025, centrist senator Rodrigo Paz won the presidential election in Bolivia. The new president immediately set to work to undo the policies of 20 years of nearly-uninterrupted socialist rule.

Bolivias new leadership, unlike the previous socialist governments, has the support of the U.S. Administration, which sent Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to lead the U.S. Presidential Delegation to Pazs inauguration in November.

Under the socialist rule of Evo Morales, Bolivia saw its energy industry nationalized and generous fuel subsidies paid out for years. These policies resulted in plunging natural gas production, dwindling foreign exchange reserves, a massive economic crisis, and fuel shortages as cheaper fuel in Bolivia encouraged smuggling en masse to neighboring South American countries.

The government will look to reform the subsidy and stabilize the fuel market, making sure subsidies reach those people who really need them, such as small enterprises, and not those who profit from smuggling at the borders, Medinaceli said in November.

Bolivia also aims to launch an oil and gas bidding round in 2027 if it manages to adopt this year a new hydrocarbons law and a separate lithium law to attract foreign investment.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil imports into the European Union fell by 8.8% over the first nine months of last year, Eurostat has reported, adding that the bill for these imports fell even more markedly amid lower international prices, by 18.3%.

In liquefied natural gas, on the other hand, volumes jumped by a sizable 25.9%, while the bill for these volumes swelled even more markedly, by 36.1%, Eurostat also said.

Over the third quarter of the year alone, the European Union imported 59.9% of its liquefied natural gas from the United States, with another 12.7% coming from Russia despite the sanctions, and another 7.7% came from Algeria.

In pipeline gas, Norway remained the largest supplier of the EU, delivering 51.8% of the total, followed by 14.6% coming from Algeria and the UK, which supplied 13.4% of the EUs pipeline gas.

Norway was also the largest supplier of crude oil to the bloc, accounting for 14.6% of imports over the third quarter, per the Eurostat data. It was followed by the United States, with a share of 14.55, and Kazakhstan, which supplied 12.2% of the blocs total crude oil imports.

Crude oil imports from Russia dropped markedly over the first nine months of the yearand likely fell further in the final quarter of 2025  with the bill for the nine months between January and September down from 5.8 billion euros in 2024 to 3.8 billion euros. This is equal to a drop from $6.74 billion to $4.42 billion.

Earlier this month, the European Union said it would lower the price cap it has on Russian oil imports in a bid to reduce the countrys income from energy imports, which Brussels considers key to the war in Ukraine. As of February, the cap will be set at $44.10 per barrel of crude for cargoes whose owners want to have Western insurance coverage.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Vitol, the worlds biggest independent oil trading group, is offering Venezuelan crude to Chinese refiners at a discount thats three times narrower compared to the illicit sales from Venezuela before the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, anonymous traders with knowledge of the development told Bloomberg on Monday.

Vitol has recently offered cargoes of Venezuelas flagship Merey heavy sour crude grade to China at a discount of $5 per barrel to ICE Brent, according to Bloombergs sources.

This compares with a discount as wide as $15 a barrel to ICE Brent on a delivered basis before the U.S. blitz in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro. Back then, China was the most important buyer of Venezuelan crude in exports that were under sanctions by the U.S. and were carried out by a shadow fleet of tankers.

China is expected to see a plunge in imports of oil from Venezuela in February as the month-long U.S. blockade has prevented many China-bound cargoes from leaving Venezuelan waters.

The deliveries of crude and fuel oil from Venezuela to China are estimated at just 166,000 barrels per day in February, compared to an average of 642,000 bpd in 2025.

Vitol and Trafigura are offering Venezuelan crude to refiners in China and India for March delivery, trade sources told Reuters last week, days after two of the worlds biggest independent oil traders obtained special U.S. licenses to help market Venezuelas oil.

At the request of the U.S. government, Trafigura and Vitol are providing logistical and marketing services to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan oil, Trafigura said on January 9, following a meeting of oil industry executives with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

Vitol and Trafigura have also reportedly contacted PetroChina about potential interest in Venezuelas Merey crude, which was a staple with the Chinese state oil giant before the U.S. sanctioned Venezuelas exports during President Trumps first term in office.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Kurdish forces have withdrawn from the largest oilfield in Syria as the Syrian government announced a ceasefire deal with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that could lead to normalization in the Middle Eastern country torn apart by more than a decade of civil war.

Following days of intense fighting as Syrian government forces advanced to the northeast and captured key oilfields, Syria on Sunday announced an immediate ceasefire with the U.S.-backed SDF.

As part of the comprehensive ceasefire agreement, the SDF will be integrated into Syrias military and state institutions.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said that the agreement would allow Syrian state institutions to reassert control over al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor, and Raqqa, three eastern and northern governorates that were held by Kurdish-led forces until now.

During the 14 years of civil war, the oilfields in Syria, which are predominantly located in these northeastern areas, have changed hands several times.

Hopefully Syria will end its state of division and move to a state of unity and progress, al-Sharaa told reporters in Damascus after signing the agreement.

The United States commends the ceasefire agreement, which is paving the way for renewed dialogue and cooperation toward a unified Syria, Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to the Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, said.

President al-Sharaa has affirmed that the Kurds are an integral part of Syria, and the United States looks forward to the seamless integration of our historic partner in the fight against ISIS with the Global Coalitions newest member, as we press forward in the enduring battle against terrorism, Barrack added.

This agreement and ceasefire represent a pivotal inflection point, where former adversaries embrace partnership over division, the U.S. envoy noted.

Turkey, a staunch supporter of Syrian President al-Sharaa, also praised the deal, seeing it as a historic turning point, Turkish security sources told Reuters on Monday.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Indian state-run Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) is exploring potential purchases of crude from Venezuela after stopping imports of Russian oil, a top official at the refiner said on Monday.

We are in strict compliance with all sanctions in place and currently there is no Russian crude being imported, MRPLs head of finance Devendra Kumar said on a call with analysts, as carried by Reuters.

Many Indian refiners have either halted or significantly reduced imports of Russian crude oil after the U.S. sanctioned Russias top producers Rosneft and Lukoil at the end of October.

MRPL currently meets about 40% of its crude needs with purchases of Middle Eastern crude. It also buys cargoes on the spot markets and refines domestically produced oil.

MRPL is actively weighing the opportunity to buy Venezuelan crude oil if the commercial terms, including freight rates, are favorable, the executive said.

Indias top private refiner, Reliance Industries, earlier this month said it would consider buying Venezuelan crude again if sales are permitted to non-U.S. buyers.

The scouring of Venezuelan crude by Indian refiners shows how quickly global oil trade patterns are being reshuffled after the United States moved to allow limited Venezuelan exports following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Vitol and Trafigura are offering Venezuelan crude to refiners in China and India for March delivery, trade sources told Reuters last week, days after two of the worlds biggest independent oil traders obtained special U.S. licenses to help market Venezuelas oil.

At the request of the US government, Trafigura and Vitol are providing logistical and marketing services to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan oil, Trafigura said on January 9, following a meeting of oil industry executives with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

Vitol, the worlds biggest independent oil trader, has approached Indian state-controlled refiners to offer the crude at a discount of $8-$8.50 per barrel versus ICE Brent on a delivered basis, one of the sources told Reuters.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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A three-day strike at Perus state oil company began Monday as workers protested government plans to open the company to private investment, a move that comes as Petroperu also weighs bringing in outside management for its debt-laden Talara refinery.

Workers at state-owned Petroperu launched the strike in opposition to what unions describe as a creeping privatization agenda, Reuters reported. The walkout targets administrative and operational functions and adds pressure to a company that has relied heavily on state support to stay afloat.

The labor action coincides with internal discussions at Petroperu over whether to appoint an external operator to manage the Talara refinery, the countrys largest refining asset. According to Quantum Commodity Intelligence, the company is exploring outside management options for the 210,000-barrel-per-day Talara refinery as part of efforts to stabilize operations and address mounting debt.

Talara has been a focal point of Petroperus financial strain. The refinery underwent a costly modernization completed in 2024, but the upgrade left the company with a heavy debt burden and has yet to translate into consistently strong operating performance. Cash flow from the facility has fallen short of expectations, intensifying scrutiny from both creditors and the government.

Peru is a small crude producer by global standards, pumping roughly 40,000 to 45,000 barrels per day, but its oil sector carries outsized domestic importance because the country relies heavily on local refining to meet fuel demand. State-owned Petroperu dominates the downstream market, and its Talara refinery, with capacity of about 210,000 barrels per day, accounts for the vast majority of Perus refining capability, making disruptions at the company disproportionately significant for domestic fuel supply despite the countrys limited upstream output.

According to EnergyNews.pro, Perus government is actively considering allowing private investors to take stakes in Petroperu, reversing years of resistance to outside participation in the state oil company. Officials have said private involvement could take the form of minority equity stakes, management contracts, or partnerships tied to specific assets, while the state retains overall ownership.

Unions have strongly opposed those plans, arguing that private participation threatens job security and national control over strategic energy infrastructure. Labor leaders have said the strike is meant to force the government to abandon privatization efforts and recommit to public financing of Petroperu.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The UK should soften its interim 2030 target for electric vehicle sales to support investment in domestic auto and battery manufacturing capacities, a new report is expected to recommend later this week.

The UKs Policy Commission on Gigafactories will say in a Wednesday report that the UK needs to recalibrate the interim EV goals to 2030, Lord John Hutton, who launched the commission last year, told the Financial Times.

The Commission, launched in the middle of 2025, aimed to produce recommendations on how the UK can scale up its battery manufacturing capacity  a critical requirement to achieving net zero, generating economic growth, and securing high-quality green jobs.

Currently, the UKs zero emission vehicle mandate is 80% of new cars sold in 2030 to be electric vehicles. This share should rise to 100% by 2035.

The UK doesnt plan to revisit the 2035 end-date for sale of new gasoline and diesel passenger cars.

But the Policy Commission on Gigafactories will recommend that the government ease the 2030 interim target to 50-60% from 80% and reduce fines for carmakers in case of non-compliance. This, the commission reckons, will encourage investment in the UKs battery supply chain.

There is growing consensus in industry that theres a need for a course redirection here. Its not scrap everything, but recalibrate, Lord Hutton, a former Labour Defence Secretary, told FT.

Regulatory interventions have to be evidence based, not ideologically based, Lord Hutton added.

Auto makers in the UK and Europe have been suffering in recent years from the U.S. tariffs, the Chinese curbs on rare earth exports, falling demand, and competition from the cheaper vehicles made in China.

At the end of last year, intense lobbying from Germany and Italy, and the auto industry, resulted in the European Commission proposing the easing of the de facto EU ban on new sales of combustion-engine cars from 2035.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Credit: Institute of Science Tokyo

According to researchers from Science Tokyo, a new three-dimensional model of the fault beneath the Marmara Sea in Turkey reveals where a future major earthquake could take place. Using electromagnetic measurements, the team mapped hidden structures that help explain how earthquakes initiate and where ruptures could occur in this region.

The findings, published in the journal Geology, help improve earthquake forecasts and could guide disaster prevention strategies for millions living in Istanbul and nearby, where seismic risk is high.

Turkey's seismic history and fault patterns

The Republic of Turkey sits in one of the most seismically active regions of Earth, featuring interactions between the Eurasian, African, Arabian, and Anatolian plates. Because of this, Turkey is particularly prone to earthquakes, and many catastrophic ones have been documented since the republic was established.

Since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake, which claimed the lives of over 30,000 people, scientists have noticed a peculiar pattern: destructive earthquakes follow a markedly westward migration along what is known as the North Anatolian fault (NAF).

New research and modeling techniques

Today, earth scientists theorize that the area beneath the Marmara Sea, which has been seismically silent for over 250 years, is the most probable location of the next large-scale earthquake. However, despite extensive research efforts in the area, the fault structure below the Marmara Sea remains poorly understood, making it hard to pinpoint future earthquake locations and implement optimal disaster mitigation strategies.

Against this background, a research team led by Dr. Yasuo Ogawa, Professor Emeritus and Research Fellow at the Multidisciplinary Resilience Research Center, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan (also Visiting Researcher at Tohoku University, Japan), along with Dr. Tulay Kaya-Eken, Assistant Professor at Bogazici University, Turkey, has conducted a study that greatly deepens our knowledge of the properties beneath the NAF in the Marmara Sea.

Their work presents the first three-dimensional (3D) model of this critical subsurface region, providing foundational insights into the underlying processes governing earthquake generation.

How the 3D fault model was created

To create this model, the researchers employed a large dataset of magnetotelluric measurements taken by more than 20 previously deployed stations.

Magnetotelluric stations can record subtle changes in Earth's electric and magnetic fields caused by structures deep underground. This information enabled the team to reconstruct, via a process known as 3D inversion, a 3D representation of the electrical resistivity of the region down to depths of tens of kilometers beneath the seafloor.

By analyzing the final model, the team identified many distinct high-resistivity and low-resistivity zones. Since resistivity is inversely related to the presence of water, low-resistivity zones are mechanically weaker, whereas high-resistivity ones are stronger and locked in place.

Implications for earthquake prediction

"We believe the resistive anomalies observed signify regions of stress accumulation, shedding light on the ongoing processes of fault mechanics at play in this critical region," Ogawa highlights.

The researchers conclude that future catastrophic ruptures in this region could nucleate at the boundaries between weaker and stronger parts of the crust or at the edges of resistive zones.

Overall, this work will help earth scientists move closer to answering a pressing question for people in Turkey. Ogawa said, "Our results can be used to estimate the location and potential magnitude of future megathrust earthquakes, with significant implications for disaster prevention and mitigation."

Further research efforts will hopefully contribute to saving lives and minimizing the potential damage caused by the next large earthquake at the NAF.

Publication details Tulay Kaya-Eken et al, 3-D electromagnetic imaging of highly deformed fluid-rich weak zones and locked section of the North Anatolian fault beneath the Marmara Sea, Geology (2025). DOI: 10.1130/g52995.1 Journal information: Geology
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Credit: Mark Stebnicki from Pexels

President Donald Trump appears to have upended an 85-year relationship between American farmers and the United States' global exercise of power. But that link has been fraying since the end of the Cold War, and Trump's moves are just another big step.

During World War II, the U.S. government tied agriculture to foreign policy by using taxpayer dollars to buy food from American farmers and send it to hungry allies abroad. This agricultural diplomacy continued into the Cold War through programs such as the Marshall Plan to rebuild European agriculture, Food for Peace to send surplus U.S. food to hungry allies, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which aimed to make food aid and agricultural development permanent components of U.S. foreign policy.

During that period, the United States also participated in multinational partnerships to set global production goals and trade guidelines to promote the international movement of foodincluding the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Wheat Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

When U.S. farmers faced labor shortfalls, the federal government created guest-worker programs that provided critical hands in the fields, most often from Mexico and the Caribbean.

At the end of World War II, the U.S. government recognized that farmers could not just rely on domestic agricultural subsidies, including production limits, price supports and crop insurance, for prosperity. American farmers' well-being instead depended on the rest of the world.

Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development. His administration has also aggressively detained and deported suspected noncitizens living and working in the U.S., including farmworkers. And he has imposed tariffs that caused U.S. trading partners to retaliate, slashing international demand for U.S. agricultural products.

Trump's actions follow diplomatic and agricultural transformations that I research, and which began with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

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Feed the world, save the farm

Even before the nation's founding, farmers in what would become the United States staked their livelihood on international networks of labor, plants and animals, and trade.

Cotton was the most prominent early example of these relationships, and by the 19th century, wheat farmers depended on expanding transportation networks to move their goods within the country and overseas.

But fears that international trade could create economic uncertainty limited American farmers' interest in overseas markets. The Great Depression in the 1930s reinforced skepticism of international markets, which many farmers and policymakers saw as the principal cause of the economic downturn.

World War II forced them to change their view. The Lend-Lease Act, passed in March 1941, aimed to keep the United States out of the war by providing supplies, weapons and equipment to Britain and its allies. Importantly for farmers, the act created a surge in demand for food.

And after Congress declared war in December 1941, the need to feed U.S. and allied troops abroad pushed demand for farm products ever higher. Food took on a significance beyond satisfying a wartime need: The Soviet Union, for example, made special requests for butter. U.S. soldiers wrote about the special bond created by seeing milk and eggs from a hometown dairy, and Europeans who received food under the Lend-Lease Act embraced large cans of condensed milk with sky-blue labels as if they were talismans.

Another war ends

But despite their critical contribution to the war, American farmers worried that the familiar pattern of postwar recession would repeat once Germany and Japan had surrendered.

Congress fulfilled farmers' fears of an economic collapse by sharply reducing its food purchases as soon as the war ended in the summer of 1945. In 1946, Congress responded weakly to mounting overseas food needs.

More action waited until 1948, when Congress recognized communism's growing appeal in Europe amid an underfunded postwar reconstruction effort. The Marshall Plan's more robust promise of food and other resources was intended to counter Soviet influence.

Sending American food overseas through postwar rehabilitation and development programs caused farm revenue to surge. It proved that foreign markets could create prosperity for American farmers, while food and agriculture's importance to postwar reconstruction in Europe and Asia cemented their importance in U.S. foreign policy.

Farmers in the modern world

Farmers' contribution to the Cold War shored up their cultural and political importance in a rapidly industrializing and urbanizing United States. The Midwestern farm became an aspirational symbol used by the State Department to encourage European refugees to emigrate to the U.S. after World War II.

American farmers volunteered to be amateur diplomats, sharing methods and technologies with their agricultural counterparts around the world.

By the 1950s, delegations of Soviet officials were traveling to the Midwest, including Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev's excursion to Iowa in 1959. U.S. farmers reciprocated with tours of the Soviet Union. Young Americans who had grown up on farms moved abroad to live with host families, working their properties and informally sharing U.S. agricultural methods. Certain that their land and techniques were superior to those of their overseas peers, U.S. farmers felt obligated to share their wisdom with the rest of the world.

The collapse of the Soviet Union undermined the central purpose for the United States' agricultural diplomacy. But a growing global appetite for meat in the 1990s helped make up some of the difference.

U.S. farmers shifted crops from wheat to corn and soybeans to feed growing numbers of livestock around the world. They used newly available genetically engineered seeds that promised unprecedented yields.

Expecting these transformations to financially benefit American farmers and seeing little need to preserve Cold War-era international cooperation, the U.S. government changed its trade policy from collaborating on global trade to making it more of a competition.

The George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations crafted the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization to replace the general agreement on trade and tariffs. They assumed American farmers' past preeminence would continue to increase farm revenues even as global economic forces shifted.

But U.S. farmers have faced higher costs for seeds and fertilizer, as well as new international competitors such as Brazil. With a diminished competitive advantage and the loss of the Cold War's cooperative infrastructure, U.S. farmers now face a more volatile global market that will likely require greater government support through subsidies rather than offering prosperity through commerce.

That includes the Trump administration's December 2025 announcement of a US$12 billion farmer bailout. As Trump's trade wars continue, they show that the U.S. government is no longer fostering a global agricultural market in which U.S. farmers enjoy a trade advantage or government protectioneven if they retain some cultural and political significance in the 21st century.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Two layers of graphitic carbon nitride stacked on top of each other (carbon atoms in gray, nitrogen atoms in blue). Variations of this polymer are being investigated for their suitability as photocatalysts (ready to react hydrogen atoms in white). Credit: J. Pototschnig/CASUS

The CP2K open-source package is among the top three most widely used research software suites worldwide for simulating the behavior of atoms and molecules. Among other applications, CP2K plays an important role in generating data used to train artificial intelligence (AI)-based models that determine molecular energies and forces.

Since its beginnings, the range of the package's methods and functions has grown steadilythanks to contributions from the Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. Together with colleagues from Germany, Switzerland, the UK and Canada, the CASUS team has now summarized the current status in an overview article.

The paper, published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B, focuses on the practical application of CP2K and is directed at new users from theoretical chemistry, materials science and neighboring fields.

The CP2K package contains apps and algorithms for simulating the behavior of atoms and molecules based on "first principles." This means that it is built exclusively on fundamental physical models and does not require additional data from, for example, experiments. It uses classical and quantum mechanical approaches to calculate both the static properties as well as dynamic behavior of individual atoms or molecules in gases or solutions as well as large crystal lattices or two-dimensional materials.

"The aim of CP2K is to predict average properties, such as those that arise in statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, of any substance made of interacting electrons and nuclei," says Dr. Frederick Stein, one of the paper's main contributors and research scientist at CASUS. "A distinguishing feature of CP2K is that from a wide variety of different classical and quantum mechanical energy and force methods, users can choose and combine the methods suitable for their needs."

"We can see that interest in CP2K has grown tremendously in recent years," says Prof. Thomas D. Kuhne, Director of CASUS and leader of the "Theory of Complex Systems" research team. "If a scientific tool is in such high demand, we see it as our responsibility to maintain and expand the suite."

In addition to implementing new features, mostly having been requested by the research community, the CASUS CP2K team also provides user support, contributes to publications on its use, promotes the software at conferences and workshops and advises other developers in implementing new features.

In materials science, simulations are an indispensable tool for screening a large number of theoretically possible materials to identify a few promising candidates that can then be investigated experimentally. However, these types of simulations are computationally demanding. They require both high-performance computing hardware as well as software tailored to the hardware and the task to be computed.

CP2K calculations have long accounted for a significant proportion of the total computing time in many large supercomputing centers. "The software is highly scalable allowing efficient calculations with tens of thousands of central processing units or thousands of graphics processing units simultaneously," says co-author Dr. Johann Pototschnig, member of CASUS' CP2K team.

"It is also optimized with regard to the physical models to be simulated and their algorithms. For example, one can reduce compute time by choosing the most efficient methods from both the classical or quantum mechanical realm."

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Providing data needed to train AI models

CP2K is widely used to generate high-quality electronic-structure data for training AI models in atomistic and materials science. Such data are primarily generated computationally using dedicated software packages such as CP2K. Thus, it is a prerequisite for advanced AI methods in the field of theoretical chemistry and materials design.

Beyond that, the CP2K package includes various AI surrogate models: machine-learned approximations of computationally expensive mappings that CP2K would otherwise compute explicitly. Instead of solving the full quantum-mechanical problem at every step, those AI surrogate models produce approximate results at a fraction of the computational cost. Using AI surrogates inside CP2K thus extends accessible time and length scales. Only the combination of large-scale simulations and AI models allows researchers to tackle the most complex computations.

The possibility of generating high-quality data for training AI models is certainly one reason for the increased interest in CP2K. This interest mainly stems from user groups previously not connected to CP2K. The new overview paper aims to make it easier for newcomers to get started with the complex topic of atomistic simulations in general and how they are done using CP2K.

The publication introduces the underlying methods and covers all capabilities of CP2K. Unlike other papers that focus on individual theoretical or application aspects, it is aimed specifically at an overview including aspects for practical use. The effort has been initiated by the CASUS team, who invited many other individuals and groups contributing to CP2K.

Dr. Andreas Knupfer, leader of the CASUS Scientific Computing Core, says, "This overview paper on CP2K reflects our department's mission to support cutting-edge research in various fields with our expertise in computational science. At the same time, it is important to make the results accessible and enable their transfer to other fields and application areas. Ultimately, this also benefits CP2K itself, because only with a broad community that is welcoming to new members, it can maintain the leading role it currently holds."

Publication details Marcella Iannuzzi et al, The CP2K Program Package Made Simple, The Journal of Physical Chemistry B (2026). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5c05851 Journal information: Journal of Physical Chemistry B
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Infographic demonstrating (a) the number of cases in each jurisdiction, (b) the breakdown of broad wildlife and environmental crime types by jurisdiction, (c) the distribution of target groups across the dataset (bird = 3, mammal = 3, water = 13, reptile = 14, fish = 37, plant = 49), and (d) the breakdown of offender types by jurisdiction. Credit: Conservation Science and Practice (2026). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70232

Around the world, wildlife and environmental crime is surging. It is estimated to be the fourth largest organized transnational crime sector, and to be growing at a rate two to three times faster than the global economy.

This kind of crime can take many forms, from the trafficking and trade of native species to the unlawful removal and clearance of habitat and species, lethal control such as poisoning of native animals, and illegal fishing.

There are several global assessments of these crimes and their impacts. But our understanding of their scope in Australia is limited.

This is a considerable problem, because Australia has unique and endemic wildlife species, high extinction rates, and is a country that is difficult to police due to its sheer size and vast remote areas. Our new, Australia-first study addresses this knowledge gap.

Published in Conservation Science and Practice, it reveals the most prevalent crimes against Australia's wildlife and environment, and makes four key recommendations for urgent law reform.

Crimes in our backyard

Our unique Australian species, particularly reptiles, are prevalent in the international illegal pet market.

In one high-profile case from late 2024, a man was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for 19 offenses of trafficking and export of native Australian wildlife.

He used 24 different post offices across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory to attempt to ship 99 reptiles out of the country in cruel and cramped conditions.

We don't understand the full extent and impact of these crimes in Australia, but we do know they can be disastrous. Wildlife trafficking and illegal trade erodes biodiversity through the removal of native species from their habitats. It also fuels the spread of invasive species, parasites and diseases.

Illegal harvesting of fisheries and timber can drastically impact populations and ecosystems. Unlawful lethal control of animals can also devastate local populations.

For example, in 2018 a farmhand in rural Victoria was found guilty of illegally killing more than 400 wedge-tailed eagles, a large and long-lived bird of prey which is protected by law.

In 2004, employees of a fish farm in Queensland were found to have shot and killed birds including egrets, night herons, pelicans, jabirus and ducks, in numbers one witness estimated to be "in the thousands" over a 14-month period.

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The first database of its kind

For our new study, we used publicly available prosecutions from the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme, District and County Courts in each state and territory to compile a database of wildlife and environmental crime at a national scale. This is the first database of its kind in Australia.

We identified a total of 120 prosecutions between 1995 and 2024. Most of the crimes were classified as unlawful removal or damage (36.7%), illegal harvest (32.5%), or trafficking and trade (17.5%).

The most commonly targeted groups were plant species (40.8%), fish (30.8%) and reptiles (11.7%). Common targets of illegal fishing were abalone and rock lobster.

Over half of the environmental crimes (61.3%) occurred in outer regional and remote areas of Australia. These crimes overlap with areas of both greater environmental concern as well as regions more difficult to police and enforce. An increase in the number of annual prosecutions was also observed over the study period.

Tackling these crimes

Four key measures could help address the causes and effects of wildlife and environmental crime:

1. Community education to promote understanding of the damage these crimes can cause, and the ways members of the community can identify and report offenses.

2. Judicial training and support to help sentencing judges understand the damage caused by wildlife and environmental crime, and accept they are "real crimes" and not less serious than offenses against people and private property. Sentences and sentencing remarks need to reflect the seriousness of these crimes to effectively deter and punish offenders.

3. Boosting resources and technology to investigate and prosecute. Governments need to invest in technology and staffing to properly detect and investigate wildlife and environmental crime. For example, satellite observation can be used to identify illegal vegetation clearance, while compliance officers are vital to the ongoing prevention and prosecution of illegal fishing offenses. Continued efforts at our borders to crack down on wildlife trafficking and trade will also help preserve Australian species, particularly reptiles.

4. Harmonizing national laws. We need offenses, definitions and penalties relating to wildlife and environmental crime to be consistent across states and territories, and the Commonwealth. We also need to ensure that investigators have powers that cross jurisdictional state and territory borders.

These recommendations could help Australia lead in preventing wildlife and environmental crime. In turn, they would secure Australia's unique biodiversity and habitats from crimes that are driven by financial greed and hugely harmful to our environmental, economic and social well-being.

Key concepts wildlife

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Bullfrog (Aquarana catesbeiana), an exotic species commercially bred in Brazil since the 1930s and associated with the global spread of the chytrid fungal strain. Credit: Fernando Klint

The chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), or Bd for short, is considered one of the causes of the worldwide decline in amphibian populations. In recent years, researchers have identified different genetic strains of the fungus that causes chytridiomycosis in various parts of the world. This has already led to the decline of at least 500 species of anuran amphibians, including toads and frogs.

The global spread of the fungus is attributed to the trade of bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeiana), a North American species farmed in several countries for its meat. The species was first introduced to Brazil in 1935, and a second population was introduced in the 1970s.

One of the fungal strains, Bd-Brazil, was named after the country where it was originally found in 2012. However, its exact origin was later disputed. In 2018, an article published in the journal Science suggested that the strain originated on the Korean Peninsula. This led to the renaming of the genotype to Bd-Asia-2/Bd-Brazil.

A study now published in the journal Biological Conservation confirms that the strain, which has also been detected in the United States, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula, originated in Brazil. The study was led by researchers from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Bd-Brazil strain was already present in Brazil by 1916, two decades before the first bullfrogs arrived, as a 2014 article in the journal Molecular Ecology by Sao Paulo researchers indicates. In that study, the authors identified strains of the fungus in frog samples deposited in museums since the 19th century through genotyping.

This recently published article cross-referenced data from scientific literature, such as the aforementioned article, with the detection of Bd in amphibians in museums around the world, genotyping of the fungus in Brazilian bullfrog farms, and genetic analyses of these animals sold in other countries.

The researchers concluded that the fungus spread from Brazil to the rest of the world through the international trade of frog meat, in which Brazil is a major supplier.

"This genotype is highly prevalent in different native Brazilian species, with very old records. When we look elsewhere, the records are much more recent and occur only in bullfrogs and other exotic species. Here, however, the strain is present both in frog farms and in the wild, including some native species that do not develop the disease," says Luisa P. Ribeiro, the first author of the study. She conducted the study as part of her doctoral research at the Institute of Biology (IB) at UNICAMP.

The work is part of the project "From Natural History to the Conservation of Brazilian Amphibians," which is coordinated by Luis Felipe Toledo, who is a professor at IB-UNICAMP and Ribeiro's doctoral advisor.

"We were unable to identify the exact strain in a large sample of amphibians deposited in museums, since conservation isn't always ideal for maintaining this information. Therefore, we only identified the presence or absence of the fungus in these individuals and sought other evidence that could indicate whether or not Bd-Brazil originated in Brazil," says Toledo.

Microscopy of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, shows zoosporangia and zoospores responsible for infection in amphibians. Credit: Mariana Pontes

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History of a fungus

To assess its historical distribution, foreign collaborators examined 2,280 amphibian specimens collected between 1815 and 2014 and deposited in zoology museums around the world.

"Even without knowing the strain, we found records older than those previously reported in the literature and presented a review of historical records of Bd worldwide," says Ribeiro.

Of the 2,280 museum specimens tested, 40 tested positive for Bd. The oldest record of infection by the fungus was found in five individuals of the species Alytes obstetricans. These frogs were collected in 1915 in the Pyrenees in France and are the oldest known in the country. The second oldest specimen was a frog of a species currently found in Rio de Janeiro, Megophrys goeldii, collected in 1964.

To reinforce the hypothesis of dissemination from Brazil to the rest of the world through the export of bullfrogs, the researchers resorted to historical records of trade in the species, genotyping of the fungus in frogs from Brazilian frog farms, and genetic analyses of bullfrogs from markets outside the country.

Bd-Brazil is prevalent in Brazil, with more than half of the occurrences found on frog farms. It is less virulent than the second most common strain, Bd-GPL, which probably originated in Asia.

The researchers analyzed 3,617 international frog meat trade routes involving 48 countries. Only 12 were identified as exporters, 21 as importers, and 15 as both. They integrated data from routes involving countries with confirmed Bd-Brazil occurrences, the earliest detection dates in each country, and genetic evidence from commercialized bullfrogs. Thus, the most plausible dispersion routes for the Brazilian strain could be established.

The hypothesis of spread from Brazil involved eight identified routes. Brazil exported directly to the United States between 1991 and 2009, and the United States exported to South Korea in 2004 and 2008. Since there are no documented exports from the Asian country where Bd-Brazil was confirmed to other affected countries, it is highly likely that Brazil is indeed the origin of the genotype.

The authors conclude that these results underscore the urgent need for preventive measures, such as import controls, pathogen screening, and quarantine protocols, to safeguard native species, with global regulation and monitoring.

Key concepts fungiamphibians

Provided by FAPESP
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Schematic of gas pixel detector structure and working principle. Credit: Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09918-8

In a landmark discovery that bridges nearly a century of theoretical physics, a Chinese research team has successfully captured the first direct evidence of the Migdal effect, a breakthrough with profound implications for probing dark matterthe invisible substance thought to make up roughly 85% of the universe.

The finding, published in the journal Nature, confirms a prediction made in 1939 by Soviet physicist Arkady Migdal: When an atomic nucleus suddenly gains energyfor instance, from a collision with a neutral particle (like a neutron or a dark matter candidate)and recoils, the rapid shift in the atom's internal electric field can eject one of its orbiting electrons.

For nearly nine decades, this "electron ejection" process remained purely theoretical. Direct evidence proved elusive because the effect occurs on an incredibly tiny scale and is easily masked by background noise from cosmic rays and natural radiation.

How the experiment was conducted

To capture it, a research team led by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, working with several other Chinese universities, developed a specialized "atomic camera"a high-precision gas detector integrated with a custom-designed microchip. The setup is sensitive enough to track the trajectory of a single atom and the electron it releases.

By bombarding gas molecules with neutrons and analyzing more than 800,000 candidate events, the team identified six clear signals. Each displayed the defining signature of the Migdal effect: two particle tracksone from the recoiling nucleus and one from the ejected electronemerging from precisely the same point. The statistical confidence of the discovery reached the five-sigma threshold, the gold standard in particle physics.

"Directly observing the Migdal effect in nuclear experiments has been a long-standing and widely recognized challenge. Several leading international research teams have attempted to detect it, without success," said Yu Haibo, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Riverside. "Therefore, the result achieved by the Chinese team is a genuine breakthrough and truly exciting."

Implications for dark matter research

For decades, the search for dark matter has focused on hypothetical particles called WIMPs, or weakly interacting massive particles. But after major experiments such as China's PandaX and Italy's XENON found no evidence of these heavy candidates, scientific attention has increasingly turned to so-called light dark matterparticles that are far lighter and even more difficult to detect.

The challenge is that when such a lightweight particle strikes an atom, the nuclear recoil it produces is too faint for conventional sensors to register.

This is where the Migdal effect changes the equation.

"With the Migdal effect, once an electron is ejected, our detector can, in theory, capture 100% of its energy," said Zheng Yangheng, a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and a co-leader of the research. He said the process effectively converts an otherwise imperceptible low-energy jolt into a measurable electronic signal.

"This work fills a long-standing experimental gap, solidifies the theoretical foundation of the Migdal effect, and represents a crucial first step toward applying it in the search for light dark matter," said Liu Jianglai, a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and lead scientist of the PandaX experiment.

Next steps for the research team

Looking ahead, the team plans to study the Migdal effect using different target materials.

"Our next steps include optimizing the detector's performance and extending observations of the Migdal effect to other elements," said Liu Qian, a professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and a co-leader of the research. "This will provide essential data to support the search for even lighter dark matter particles."

Publication details Difan Yi et al, Direct observation of the Migdal effect induced by neutron bombardment, Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09918-8 Journal information: Nature

Key concepts Particle astrophysics
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Statutory gender quotas on the boards of public companies increase the number of women CEOs in private firms, research from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) suggests.

The study identified an 813% increase in the number of women leading private firms in 11 European countries with such quotas in place. The result has added significance as an EU directive mandating such quotas comes into force in June.

Greater visibility of women in leadership roles, the academics suggest, helps break down prejudice in companies untouched by regulation. However, the impact is only visible in industries where listed companies are major players. Co-author Francisco Urzua, professor of finance at Bayes, said the impact was also much stronger in countries where the quotas are legally enforced, such as Italy and France, than in those relying on voluntary targets.

In the UK, which has voluntary targets, 15.3% of private firms appointed female CEOs. In France, Italy and Germany, all of which have mandatory board quota targets, the respective figures are 26.6%, 23.6% and 17.1%.

Professor Urzua said, "When these reforms are discussed, people assume they have little impact beyond the boardrooms of listed companies. However, our study shows that large privately owned firms do react to moves by their listed competitors. The owners of such firms re-evaluate their own recruitment policies and possible biases when seeking a new CEO."

Many European countries have introduced quotas or voluntary targets since Norway legislated for female representation on the boards of public companies in 2003. Most opted for at least 33% but France raised that to 40% in 2015. From June, the EU's Women on Boards Directive requires listed companies to have at least 40% representation of the "underrepresented gender" in non-executive roles, or 33% for all board members combined.

Rigorous enforcement matters

Professor Urzua said, "The spillover impact is greatest in countries that have adopted mandatory quotas with deadlines, and which are backed by clear enforcement mechanisms with little scope for evasion and tough penalties. In countries with weaker monitoring or less credible penalties, there are no spillover effects.

"It's likely that the broader public debate and visibility of female leaders that are generated when listed firms must comply with binding requirements encourages private firms to update their beliefs and practices around female leadership."

Other factors also shape the spillover effect of an individual board appointment at a listed company, co-author Professor Sonia Falconieri said.

"Some female board appointments have a bigger impact on private firms than others. We found a particularly significant impact if the woman is an experienced director and she has been appointed to a company that is a significant force in their sector.

She continued: "The introduction of quotas in boardrooms has clearly provided a much-needed boost to women leaders and specialists beyond the listed company sector. Both listed and private companies in the EU should embrace the EU's Women on Boards Directive as an opportunity to re-balance their leadership team to ensure they are tapping into the widest possible talent pool."

The academics studied 20 years' worth of CEO appointment data covering the UK, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, the Netherlands and Sweden.

While quotas have changed boardrooms, progress towards gender balance in the top leadership roles of listed companies has been much slower. Women make up just 8% of the CEO cadre and 15% of executive committees.
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Credit: EqualStock IN from Pexels

The logistics industry is one of Germany's key economic sectorsyet women remain significantly underrepresented in its leadership ranks. To explore the reasons behind this imbalance, Prof. Dr. Fridtjof Langenhan and Prof. Dr. Friedwart Lender, together with students from the Master's degree program in Supply Chain Management and Logistics at Hof University of Applied Sciences, conducted an in-depth study.

The newly published study, entitled "Strategies for Attracting and Promoting Female Leaders in the Logistics Sector: Results of a Study at Hof University of Applied Sciences," identifies persistent barriers faced by women in leadership roles. The work is published in the journal Hochschule fur angewandte Wissenschaften Hof.

The findings present a clear picture: while women hold around 29 percent of leadership positions across all industries in Germany, their share in the logistics sector is only about 19 percent. "Compared to other sectors of the economy, the logistics industry shows a particularly pronounced underrepresentation of women in leadership roles," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Fridtjof Langenhan.

Against this backdrop, the study analyzes both the causes of this imbalance and the factors influencing women's willingness to pursue leadership positions in logistics. Special attention is given to the Upper Franconia (Hochfranken) region, which is additionally shaped by location-specific challenges.

Scientifically sound mixed-methods approach

Methodologically, the study follows a mixed-methods approach. It combines a systematic literature review with two standardized online surveys of female logistics graduates and master's students at Hof University of Applied Sciences (n = 105), as well as a semi-structured expert interview.

"It was important to us to bring together quantitative and qualitative perspectives in order to gain as nuanced a picture of the situation as possible," explains Prof. Dr. Friedwart Lender.

The results highlight that rigid working and leadership models, a male-dominated corporate culture, shortcomings in workfamily balance, and a lack of targeted development programs and female role models represent key barriers.

Clear practical recommendations

At the same time, the study identifies concrete starting points for improvement. Flexible leadership models, a healthy worklife balance, transparent career paths, professional development opportunities, and mentoring programs are seen as essential prerequisites for sustainably increasing the share of female leaders in logistics.

"The empirical findings clearly show that structural changes and targeted support instruments must go hand in hand," notes Prof. Dr. Lender.

Based on its findings, the study derives practice-oriented recommendations aimed at companies as well as political and regional stakeholders. Drawing on survey results and research, it provides valuable impulses for attracting and promoting female leaders in logisticsboth at the regional and national levels.

More information Fridtjof Langenhan et al, Strategien zur Gewinnung und Forderung weiblicher Fuhrungskrafte im Logistikbereich : Ergebnispapier einer Studie an der Hochschule Hof, Hochschule fur angewandte Wissenschaften Hof (2025). DOI: 10.57944/1051-263

Provided by Hof University of Applied Sciences
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Location maps of the sites mentioned in the text. Credit: Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02712-9

The return of humans to the British Isles after the end of the last ice sheet, which covered much of the northern hemisphere, happened around 15,200 years agonearly 500 years earlier than previous estimates.

This movement of people coincided with a sharp rise in summer temperatures in southern Britain, research by our group shows. The work is published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

These environmental conditions allowed humans to migrate back up into Britainthen still connected to the European mainland. They were hunting herds of reindeer and horses, which were migrating northwards into ecosystems that supported their preferred food for grazing.

After the end of the last ice age, the climate in north-west Europe shifted from cold to warm conditions on at least two occasions, with changes in temperature thought to have occurred over decades.

Our latest research addresses the first of these transitions in the Late Upper Paleolithic period (14,000 to 11,000 years ago). In areas such as north-west Europe, including where the British Isles are today, humans successively abandoned and then returned to areas at the abrupt transitions between cold and warm periods.

Broadly, evidence of humans from fossil records showed them migrating to where the environmental conditions supported their survival.

Reasons for repopulation

The repopulation of the British Isles after the last ice age is an excellent period to explore the relationships between climate and environment, and the reappearance of humans in this region.

In previous studies, the evidence has been somewhat difficult to read due to uncertainty of the dating methods and incomplete records of environmental and climate conditions. The traditional view had been that the north-west European climate warmed from ice-age temperatures around 14,700 years ago, and humans reoccupied Britain at that time.

However, revised preparation techniques in the early 2000s for the dating of human remains and associated artifacts showed the earliest appearance of humans occurred prior to the warming of 14,700 years ago.

This finding was difficult to understand, as it coincided with what were then considered cold glacial climates that would have been unlikely to support the resources people needed to survive in Britain.

Our study used new calibrations of radiocarbon ages that confirmed the age of those human remains to between 15,200 and 15,000 years ago. So, if humans really were present in the British Isles, could they have survived in cold climatesor was our picture of past environments at this time incorrect?

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Clearer insight came from Llangorse Lake (Lake Syffadan) in south Wales, where the lake sediments spanning the last 19,000 years record the abrupt climate change in detail. In addition, the lake's location lies close to the cave in the Wye Valley where the earliest British evidence for human remains after the ice age were found.

By extracting fossil pollen, chironomids (non-biting midges) and chemical analysis of the lake sediments, an unexpected picture of the climate emergedone that showed previous climate reconstructions for the region were incorrect.

The chironomids were used to reconstruct summer temperature, and this showed the climate warmed in a different pattern than has been identified in other parts of north-west Europe and Greenland. An abrupt temperature shift from 57C to 1014C occurred at 15,200 years in Britain500 years earlier than previous evidence had suggested.

Just prior to this climate warming, the presence of human prey, such as reindeer and horses, is more consistently detected in southern Britain around 15,500 years ago. These animals were exploiting the newly available grazing grounds, with people tracking the herds northwards and enduring the moderately warmer summer climatic conditions.

Examining archaeological records along with environmental and climatic archives allows more precise reconstructions of when humans were able to repopulate previously inhospitable regions. This is helped by re-evaluating old radiocarbon dates of human evidence in the landscape, and by generating more precise environmental records from the timeincluding more precise timings of the transitions from cold to warm periods.

This provided us with a fuller picture of human responses to changes in temperature (and their impact on the environment) in the Late Upper Paleolithic period. Human survival was the driver of these movements, and following prey into new areas was important. But only a relatively small change in summer temperatures was required to enable this migration.

Our research provides a better understanding of human behavior and resilience to climate change after the last ice age around 15,000 years ago. But understanding these environmental triggers from the past helps create new perspectives on human responses to them even now.

These basic factors have not gone away. The response observed in this study might provide clues on future human behavior as our polar regions warm and glaciers melt, showing how the potential for human migration could be increased.

Publication details I. P. Matthews et al, Summer warmth between 15,500 and 15,000 years ago enabled human repopulation of the northwest European margin, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02712-9 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution

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Credit: ScienceMedia.nl

Geologists from Heriot-Watt are part of an international research team that has confirmed why the 2011 Tohoku earthquake off northeast Japan behaved in such an extreme and destructive way.

The study, published in Science, provides the clearest evidence yet that a thin, clay-rich layer just beneath the seabed at the Japan Trench played a central role in allowing the magnitude 9.0 earthquake to rupture all the way to the surface.

That shallow slip displaced vast areas of the seafloor, generating the tsunami that killed over 18,000 people, devastated coastal communities and triggered the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

Patrick Fulton, co-author of the study and based at Cornell University in the U.S., said, "This work helps explain why the 2011 earthquake behaved so differently from what many of our models predicted.

"By seeing exactly how the fault zone is constructed, we can better understand where slip is likely to concentrate and how much tsunami potential a given subduction zone might have."

Drilling into the clay layer of the Japan Trench

Scientists have long suspected that weak, clay-rich sediments influenced the behavior of the 2011 event.

The new research confirms this idea by directly sampling the fault zone and showing how the fault is localized in the clay layer, and why it is so effective at concentrating slip.

Dr. Uisdean Nicholson, a sedimentary geologist in Heriot-Watt's School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, said, "We knew from earlier studies that there was weak clay near the fault zone, but previous drilling records were patchy, with limited core recovery.

"The exceptional results from this expedition, with complete cores and geophysical data from multiple drilling sites, let us see exactly what the relationship is between that material and the fault.

"What we find is an exceptionally weak layer that contains direct evidence of extreme shearing at the main plate boundary.

"The clay, which has very little frictional resistance, allows the rupture to propagate all the way to the seabed rather than the energy dissipating below the surface.

"That led to this enormous amount of movement of the seabed, which pushed the water up in turn, resulting in this devastating tsunami."

The results are based on data collected during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 405, known as JTRACK, which in 2024 drilled directly through the plate boundary fault using the Japanese deep-sea research vessel Chikyu.

The expedition achieved the deepest scientific ocean drilling ever completed, reaching almost eight kilometers beneath the sea surface.

Analysis of core samples shows that the plate boundary is localized in a thin layer of pelagic clay, which varies between a few meters and up to 30 meters in thickness, formed from microscopic particles that settled slowly on the ocean floor over millions of years. Stronger sediments above and below this layer create a sharp mechanical contrast.

Amy Gough, also a sedimentologist from Heriot-Watt, participated in the expedition and said, "From a sedimentological perspective, this is a unique recipe for localizing deformation.

"The fault is not spread out over tens or hundreds of meters. It is concentrated into a very thin zone that makes it much easier for large earthquakes to keep going all the way to the seabed."

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Thin layer enabled extreme motion

Most large subduction zone earthquakes release their greatest slip at depth, with movement diminishing towards the surface. The 2011 earthquake behaved differently, with slip increasing as the rupture approached the trench, moving the seabed by up to 70 meters in a matter of seconds.

Earlier explanations struggled to reconcile this behavior with the idea that shallow sediments are too soft to host major slip.

The new findings confirm that it is precisely the weakness of this thin clay layer that enables such extreme motion.

Uisdean said, "This is not a broad, chaotic fault. Most of the slip is focused on a single, sharp interface, and that fundamentally changes how earthquakes propagate.

"Even though there are complex structures down at the plate boundary, the weak clay lubricates the entire fault and allows this catastrophic shallow failure"

The same pelagic clay layer extends along much of the Japan Trench, suggesting that the geological conditions that contributed to the 2011 disaster feature well beyond the area that has already ruptured.

Uisdean said, "That does not mean every future earthquake will break through to the seabed.

"But it does confirm that the potential for large, shallow slip exists along the margin, which is critical information for tsunami hazard assessment."

Better assessment of tsunami hazards

While the findings do not allow scientists to predict future earthquakes, the researchers say they represent an important step towards more realistic models of how megathrust faults behave.

Fulton said, "Ultimately, our goal is to translate this kind of detailed fault zone knowledge into better assessments of earthquake and tsunami hazards for coastal communities around the world."

The publication of the study coincides with the release of a 30-minute documentary following the JTRACK expedition, which spent 105 days at sea drilling, recovering core samples and installing long-term observatories within the fault zone.

Further data from the expedition will be released through the International Ocean Discovery Program.

Publication details J. D. Kirkpatrick et al, Extreme plate boundary localization promotes shallow earthquake slip at the Japan Trench, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.ady0234 Journal information: Science
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Examples of seabirds. (ac) Cormorants diving, swimming to the surface, and presumably foraging in the vicinity of the AMP. (d-f) Pigeon guillemots swimming, picking at the rotor, and interacting with the AMP. Credit: Cotter et al., 2026, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Tidal turbines harbor the potential to provide a natural, inexhaustible source of power, but have faced some regulatory hurdles and scientific uncertainty about risks to marine life.

A new observational study, published in PLOS One, offers some insight to help quell concerns about the potential risks to marine life. The study, based on observations off the coast of Washington State, shows that there may not be much to worry about when it comes to animals interacting with tidal turbines.

Avoid and evade

To see how animals interacted with tidal turbines, the research team deployed a 1 m cross-flow tidal turbine in Sequim Bay, WA. They then set up optical and acoustic cameras, along with other sensors, to monitor animal activity. The equipment was in the location for a total of 141 days, but data was analyzed for 109 days of turbine operation. Data collection strategies included scheduled and model-triggered recordings, with human review and machine learning used for animal detection.

Credit: The Wildlife Society

In total, the team recorded 1,044 observations of fish, fish schools, seabirds and harbor seals in the vicinity of the turbine. Although harbor seals and various seabirds were detected many times, the team observed no collisions of either with the turbine. Instead, seals seemed to easily evade or avoid contact with the turbine.

The study authors write, "Three types of seal behavior were observed while the turbine was rotating. In three events, the seal was observed in the background, and did not approach the moving turbine. In four events, the seal approached the moving turbine rotor and swam in its wake with its head oriented towards the turbine before swimming away.

"These interactions ranged in duration from a few seconds to several minutes. Lastly, in two events, the seal was pursuing fish prey. In one of these events, upon encountering the turbine, the seal stopped pursuing the fish and changed trajectory to avoid colliding with the moving turbine rotor (i.e., evasion)."

Seabirds, which often dive into the water to catch fish, were found to largely avoid the turbines. The researchers say birds were only observed when the turbine was not operating and only during the day.

Observations of fish were a bit more difficult to interpret at times, due to small fish being hard to detect. Still, the team identified 229 events containing individual fish encountering the turbine while it was rotating. Out of these, there were four collisions. Three of these appeared to be unharmed and swam away, while the other floated downward, likely indicating that it suffered fatal injuries.

The team says that, in 50 events (or 21.7%), fish exhibited behavior consistent with evasion, such as a change in direction when swimming near the turbine.

Schools of fish, on the other hand, fared better. The study authors explain, "The five schools observed during turbine rotation were composed of unidentified small fish. In all five cases, the fish that encountered the turbine rotor effectively evaded it by swimming upstream and away from the rotor, ultimately passing between cameras and the turbine, or by diving down below the rotor."

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Not out of the water yet

The results of the study are promising and consistent with prior similar studies, which also found that many fish and marine mammals avoid operating turbines. However, there were a number of limitations, particularly involving fish.

The researchers say their detection models did not reliably identify small fish, likely undercounting fish encounters. This may mean that a much larger percentage of fish evaded the turbine.

Nighttime sampling was also limited, due to a lack of light and concern that artificial light might influence animal behavior. Because of this, the team relied on occasional strobe lighting at night, and many nocturnal interactions may have been missed.

Observations were also limited to what could be seen within the camera view, so broader avoidance behavior was not captured. In the future, improved machine learning models and sensor placement could enhance detection, especially for small fish and at night.

The size of the turbine in this study is also small compared to others, and results here may not generalize to larger turbines or to different locations with differing marine species.

Further studies are still needed at larger scales and with different turbine designs. Still, the study authors say this is the most comprehensive set of observations of seabird interactions with a tidal turbine to date and brings valuable insight to the discussion of tidal turbine use.

Written for you by our author Krystal Kasal, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

Publication details Emma Cotter et al, Observations of marine animal interactions with a small tidal turbine, PLOS One (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0338376 Journal information: PLoS ONE

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Right: Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter Mio of the BepiColombo mission; Left: Earths GEOTAIL satellite. The illustration highlights comparative studies of planetary magnetospheres. Credit: Mercury image: NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington, BepiColombo spacecraft image: ESA, Earth image: NASA

An international team from Kanazawa University (Japan), Tohoku University (Japan), LPP (France), and partners has demonstrated that chorus emissions, natural electromagnetic waves long studied in Earth's magnetosphere, also occur in Mercury's magnetosphere exhibiting similar chirping frequency changes.

Using the Plasma Wave Investigation instrument aboard BepiColombo's Mercury orbiter Mio, six Mercury flybys between 2021 and 2025 detected plasma waves in the audible range. Comparison with decades of GEOTAIL data confirmed identical instantaneous frequency changes.

This provides the first reliable evidence of intense electron activity at Mercury, advancing understanding of auroral processes across the solar system.

The work is published in the journal Earth, Planets and Space.

Chorus emissions and their significance

Chorus emissions are electromagnetic waves generated when electrons resonate with plasma waves inside a magnetosphere. On Earth, they are known to play a key role in the formation and loss of radiation belts.

These emissions exhibit rising and falling audible frequencies, often described as "birdsong" because of their interference with radio signals.

Because the energy of affected electrons depends on wave frequency, understanding chorus characteristics is crucial for space weather forecasting and satellite radiation protection.

Role of GEOTAIL and Mercury observations

The GEOTAIL satellite, launched jointly by Japan and the United States in 1992, observed Earth's magnetotail for 30 years, providing invaluable knowledge of chorus generation, spatial distribution, and frequency properties.

Mercury, with a magnetic field only about onehundredth that of Earth, had remained unexplored in this context. Observations by BepiColombo's Mercury orbiter Mio detected natural plasma waves in the audible range, suggesting the possible presence of chorus emissions and associated lowenergy electrons (cold electrons) near Mercury.

This achievement was based on a deliberate strategy to apply decades of Earth magnetosphere research to Mercury. The Plasma Wave Investigation instrument aboard Mio was designed to test theoretical predictions of chorus emissions in Mercury's weak magnetosphere.

Longterm GEOTAIL data provided the essential benchmark for comparison. GEOTAIL's vantage point in the distant magnetotail, at about 10 Earth radii, offered conditions analogous to Mercury's much smaller magnetosphere. Mercury's plasma wave data quantitatively matched with GEOTAIL's chorus signatures, confirming:

Frequency variation: rapid rising and falling tones, indicating nonlinear coupling between electrons and waves.

Spatial distribution: concentration on the dawnside region where energetic electrons preferentially flow.

Implications for planetary science and future research

These findings demonstrate the universality of chorus generation mechanisms across planetary magnetospheres. They also provide supporting evidence for the presence of cold electrons around Mercury, a key prediction made in 2025, and highlight themes for Mio's orbital observations beginning in 2027.

Previous studies have shown that Earth's hazardous radiation belt electrons are produced through chorus emissions. Extending this knowledge to Mercury advances space weather prediction and radiation protection for spacecraft.

Although Mercury's weak magnetic field was thought to prevent radiation belt formation, the confirmed presence of chorus emissions with frequency variation indicates that efficient electron acceleration also occurs there. Mio will enter Mercury orbit in late 2026 and begin detailed observations, targeting spatial distribution, frequency dynamics, and the origin of cold electrons.

This breakthrough opens the way to comparative studies across multiple planets, including Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Understanding how auroral phenomena manifest not only on Earth but also on Mercury and other planets will significantly expand our knowledge of planetary space environments and their universal plasma processes.

More information Mitsunori Ozaki et al, Possible presence of cool electron atmosphere at Mercury diagnosed from whistler-mode wave characteristics, Earth, Planets and Space (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s40623-025-02305-7
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Map of the studies, color-coded for different taxa, with the number of studies per taxon shown. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-68172-8

Climate change has a wide range of effects on wildlife. It affects seasonal migration, reproduction times, body size and mass, and disrupts ecological processes, thereby posing challenges for the populations of some species. An international team of scientists has now analyzed more than 200 scientific studies on 73 animal species in a meta-study to determine exactly how climate change is related to phenology, morphology and population trends.

The team explains in an article published in the journal Nature Communications that phenological traitsseasonal developmental phenomenaare very sensitive to temperature changes and that this represents a mechanism for many species to cope with climate change.

Different kinds of adaptations can help animals cope with climate change and maintain stable populations: These can confer changes in behavior, physiology or body size. An international team of scientists from more than 60 research institutions led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), James Cook University and University College Cork analyzed 213 scientific studies for links between climate change and phenology (e.g., start of breeding or return to summer quarters), morphology (e.g., body size, weight or shape) and population development of a total of 73 vertebrate species.

The team looked not only for evidence of the influence of climate change on specific fitness parameters of animalssuch as survival rate or reproductive successbut also on the changes in population numbers of those species. Most studies examined birds (65%), followed by reptiles (23%) and mammals (10%). An important criterion for the selection of studies was the availability of long-term data sets on phenological or morphological variables and population size, to be able to confidently reveal the patterns. Typically, the studies used data from 15 to 25 year periods.

Climate change influences seasonal developmental processes, which then affect population numbers

From the relevant phenology studies (97 studies), the scientists were able to deduce clear evidence that seasonally recurring developmental processes are significantly influenced by changes in temperature. In warmer years, they observed a shift in breeding times and other phenological characteristics mostly toward earlier dates, but in some cases they also observed a delay in the processes.

"We were able to show that shifts in seasonal developmental events allow populations to remain stable or even increase in their numbers," says Dr. Viktoriia Radchuk from the Leibniz-IZW, lead author of the meta-study published in Nature Communications.

"The majority of studies also showed that temperature-induced shifts in phenology are adaptive responses. This means that the adaptations are effective coping mechanisms for dealing with climate change, for example, by shifting the actual timing of egg laying in a bird species to coincide with the shift in the optimal timing for egg laying."

However, the meta-study also pointed toward maladaptation to climate change in a notable number of cases. "The effect of warming on phenology is very clear, but the implications for wildlife are heterogeneous," says Dr. Tom Reed from University College Cork, a shared senior author of the study. "We are probably dealing primarily with so-called trait plasticity and, in the periods studied, not yet with evolutionary processes. Phenological traits can obviously be adapted flexibly enough by animals."

On average, species living at higher geographical latitudesi.e., closer to the poleswere shown to be more sensitive to temperature. However, apart from geographical latitude, no other species characteristics could explain variation in climate sensitivity of phenotypic traits and population growth rates. It is likely that this variation can be better explained by local habitat conditions than by species-level characteristics such as generation time and migration mode.

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Climate change has inconsistent effects on the body measurements of animals

The meta-study could not deduce any clear effects of climate change on the morphology of the studied animals. The scientists assume that changes in physical build or size occur much more slowly than phenological changes. "Despite the large size of our data set and often very long duration of the studies included, our meta-study is merely a spotlight on the highly complex world of the effects of climate change on biodiversity," concludes Dr. Martijn van de Pol from James Cook University, a shared senior author of this study.

"The study of physiological responses to climate change would be most informative, but such field studies are still very rare. Species from the Global South, non-bird species, and phenological processes not associated with spring are also rare in what is currently the largest meta-dataset of its kind."

Nonetheless, this dataset provides much-needed information that will allow parameterizing mechanistic population dynamics models for more than 70 species and will predict effects of climate change into the futurea task that is now as important as ever.

Publication details Viktoriia Radchuk et al, Changes in phenology mediate vertebrate population responses to temperature globally, Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-68172-8 Journal information: Nature Communications
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Particle background-subtracted, vignetting-corrected, and smoothed EP-FXT image of A3571 in the 0.37.0 keV energy band. Credit: arXiv (2026). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2601.04619

Using the Einstein Probe (EP), astronomers from China and Germany have observed a nearby galaxy cluster known as Abell 3571. Results of the observational campaign, published January 8 on the arXiv pre-print server, provide more insights into the X-ray properties and structure of this cluster.

Enormous structures

Galaxy clusters contain up to thousands of galaxies bound together by gravity. They generally form as a result of mergers and grow by accreting sub-clusters. Therefore, they could serve as excellent laboratories for studying galaxy evolution and cosmology.

Abell 3571, or A3571, is a rich galaxy cluster in the Shapley Supercluster, at a redshift of 0.039. It has a radius of about 5.5 million light years and its mass is estimated to be 910 trillion solar masses. The brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of Abell 3571 is MCG0533002, which exhibits a pronounced north-south elongation.

Evidence of past mergers?

Previous X-ray observations of Abell 3571 have found that it is morphologically relaxedhas an overall spherically symmetric structure with a central cooling flow. However, multiwavelength studies of this cluster have revealed a more complex dynamical history, suggesting that it underwent a merger or disturbance events.

Therefore, in order to verify this, a team of astronomers led by Xinyi Zheng of the Beijing Normal University in China has employed EP's Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT) to investigate Abell 3571. Their study was complemented by optical data from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys.

Zheng's team found that Abell 3571 exhibits a relatively regular morphology. Both the surface brightness and temperature profiles showcase typical cool-core characteristics. However, although the X-ray morphology of this cluster looks relaxed, its residual map and 2D thermodynamic maps reveal disturbed structure in the inner region.

Furthermore, the observations identified two prominent regions of surface brightness excesses within 20 arcminutes of the cluster center, located to the north and southwest. The southwestern excess appears to be associated with high-temperature features, while the northern excess corresponds to a cooler structure, which is most likely due to gas sloshing.

Along the north-south direction

When it comes to the temperature distribution of Abell 3571, the study found that it shows a pronounced northsouth asymmetry. Moreover, a similar northsouth elongation is seen in the optical galaxy density distribution. These findings suggest that the cluster's merger activity likely occurred along this axis.

"We propose that the structure of A3571 originates from gas sloshing triggered by the off-axis passage of a low-mass subcluster moving from south to north. The sloshing displaces low-entropy gas from the cool core, producing a fan-shaped brightness excess to the north," the astronomers explain.

Summing up the results, the authors of the paper conclude that despite its symmetric appearance, Abell 3571 is still recovering from a minor merger and is currently in a post-merger phase.

Written for you by our author Tomasz Nowakowski, edited by Sadie Harley, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

Publication details Zheng et al, The X-ray properties and structure of A3571 up to R 500 , arXiv (2026). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2601.04619 Journal information: arXiv

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Reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) feeds over coral reef off D'Arros Island, Seychelles. Credit: Shane Gross | Save Our Seas Foundation

A new study published in Ecology and Evolution has evaluated the extent to which recently identified Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) in the Western Indian Ocean overlap with existing marine protected areas.

Of the 125 ISRAs identified across the region, only 7.1% currently fall within marine protected areasand just 1% of these areas are designated as fully protected no-take zones, where all extractive activities are banned. These insights highlight real shortfalls in the protection of sites critical to the survival of sharks and rays for breeding, pupping and feeding.

However, one country stood out as a leader in shark and ray conservation for the region. The authors found an exceptionally high overlap between ISRAs and marine protected areas within Seychelles waters, with almost all ISRAs that overlap with no-take zones located in Seychelles' exclusive economic zone.

"Seychelles has been internationally recognized for our commitment to protecting 30% of our exclusive economic zone through the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan," said Seychellois marine scientist Ellie Moulinie. Ellie is a research officer at the Save Our Seas Foundation D'Arros Research Center (SOSF-DRC), an institution that has been instrumental in getting protective legislation over the line.

"The findings from this study highlight Seychelles as a pioneer in ocean conservation in the Western Indian Ocean."

A tawny nurse shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) hunts over a coral reef off D'Arros Island, Seychelles. Credit: Shane Gross | Save Our Seas Foundation

Global shark and ray conservation challenges

The findings are especially significant given the critical conservation status of sharks and rays globally. Sharks and rays are facing a global extinction crisis. Overfishing, habitat loss and climate change have driven major population declines over the past century, placing increasing pressure on already vulnerable species.

The Western Indian Ocean region embodies this challenge. Stretching from South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province to the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and including Seychelles, the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago, it is a global hotspot for shark and ray diversity.

The region supports 270 species, representing 21% of global chondrichthyan diversity. Yet it is also considered a global conservation "dark spot," with 45% of its species currently threatened with extinction, largely due to intense fishing pressure.

Atolls, like Saint Joseph in Seychelles, act as safe spaces for young animals, especially sharks and rays. The shallow water and the coral reef that surrounds the atoll lagoons, reduce access for large predatory sharks. Credit: Luke Saddler

The ISRA project and its impact

To improve the protection of these species, the IUCN Shark Specialist Group introduced the ISRA project to the Western Indian Ocean. ISRAs are identified through a rigorous, evidence-based process that brings together regional and international experts to compile and assess all available data on critical shark and ray habitats.

In September 2023, experts met in Durban, South Africaboth in person and onlineto identify ISRAs across the Western Indian Ocean. The process resulted in the delineation of 125 critical sites, representing habitats vital to about a third of all shark and ray species in the region.

These ISRAs provide a science-based foundation for stronger and more targeted conservation planning, including the designation or refinement of marine protected areas.

Seychelles as a model for protection

Whereas most countries in the region still show limited alignment between these critical habitats and existing marine protected areas, Seychelles demonstrates what is possible.

An aerial shot of juvenile rays in the safety of the shallow waters of the St Joseph atoll. Credit: Dillys Pouponeau | Save Our Seas Foundation

Blacktip reef sharks hunt along the near pristine coral reefs of D'Arros Island in Seychelles. Credit: Christopher Vaughan-Jones

One of the strongest examples is D'Arros Island and the neighboring St Joseph Atoll in the Seychelles Outer Islands. These remote locations are home to the SOSF-DRC, where researchers have spent years studying the thriving shark and ray populations of the surrounding waters.

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Because of this long-term research effort, D'Arros and St Joseph have now been recognized as an ISRA, while also being formally designated as marine protected areas under the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan. D'Arros has been afforded the highest level of protection as a Zone 1 marine protected area, reflecting its exceptional biodiversity and global ecological importance.

For Ellie, this recognition is hugely rewarding. "To see years of dedication and data collection translate into real-world conservation outputs is very satisfying and should further justify the continued protection of this vital system," she says.

His Excellency Abdulmohsen Abdulmalik Al-Sheikh, founder of the Save Our Seas Foundation, also emphasized the broader global relevance of this work.

"D'Arros and St Joseph are among the last jewels left in the marine world because of all the life there. My vision was to create a world-class field station that not only protects this life, but also supports the next generation of its protectors. I hope it becomes an example not just for the Indian Ocean, but for the rest of the world too."

Publication details Jesse E. M. Cochran et al, Only One Percent of Important Shark and Ray Areas in the Western Indian Ocean Are Fully Protected From Fishing Pressure, Ecology and Evolution (2026). DOI: 10.1002/ece3.72690 Journal information: Ecology and Evolution

Key concepts protected areas
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Conceptual diagram hypothesizing metabolic strategy of highly mobile, open-ocean sharks. Credit: PLOS One (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0337589

For years, researchers have tagged sharks in the world's oceans to learn where they go, how they migrate and where they feed. While these tags have given us a wealth of data about their lives, many questions still remain. One of them is: why do some individuals travel vast distances while others stay closer to home? A new study published in the journal PLOS One may have the answer. It suggests that a shark's wanderlust may be due to the amount of energy stored in its body.

In the study, researchers led by Founder and Chief Science Officer of Beneath the Waves (a non-profit ocean conservation organization), Dr. Austin J. Gallagher, captured and examined 13 male blue sharks in the waters off Rhode Island.

Before attaching satellite tags and releasing them back into the water, the team took detailed body measurements and blood samples from each shark. The tags allowed them to track exactly how far the sharks traveled, the size of the areas they used and how their movement patterns changed over time.

Meanwhile, the blood samples provided information on triglyceride levels, a type of fat that reflects stored energy reserves. The purpose of this was to explore links between shark movements and their metabolism.

Tracking reveals clear link

The sharks were tracked for up to 82 days. After analyzing the data from the first 45 days, the scientists found a clear link between a shark's internal health and its behavior.

Sharks that traveled the farthest were healthier and had higher fat reserves. Those with lower energy reserves tended to stay in smaller areas. Interestingly, body size didn't matter that much. This suggests that for a blue shark, how much fat it has stored away is a much better predictor of its journey than its physical size. In fact, the study found that these energy levels accounted for up to 79% of the variation in how sharks moved. It suggests that internal health is the most important factor fueling long-distance travel.

New perspectives on marine life

For the scientists, the findings open up a new way to study ocean predators. They state, "Our results suggest that variation in these metrics may be important for determining the scale and type of movement of large pelagic consumers, and as such, future studies integrating physiology and behavior may help explain variable dynamics resulting from short-term, partial, and long-term movements in tracked animals."

Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

Publication details Austin J. Gallagher et al, Linking physiological state to movement dynamics in an open ocean predator, the blue shark (Prionace glauca), PLOS One (2026). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0337589 Journal information: PLoS ONE

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In Mozambique, rescue efforts were slow to reach survivors who sheltered on roofs and in trees.

South Africa on Sunday declared a national disaster after widespread flooding that destroyed homes and killed dozens, while thousands sought shelter in neighboring Mozambique.

Heavy rains and storms have battered the two southern African countries for weeks, claiming more than 30 lives in South Africa's northeastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

Rivers burst their banks and swallowed entire neighborhoods in several regions of Mozambique, displacing thousands including a woman who was forced to give birth on a roof as she sheltered from flood waters.

"I classify the disaster as a national disaster," the head of South Africa's National Disaster Management Center Elias Sithole said in a statement Sunday.

Authorities continued to search for survivors and recover bodies at the weekend, but flooding had started receding in some areas, including the famed Kruger National Park, which had been forced to close and evacuate guests Thursday.

"Day visitation to the park will resume as of tomorrow," South African National Parks announced on social media, still urging visitors to "exercise caution".

Heavy rains and storms have battered the two southern African countries for weeks, claiming more than 30 lives in South Africa's northeastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

Baby born on a roof

In Mozambique, rescue efforts were slow to reach survivors who sheltered on roofs and in trees.

At least eight people had died in the country since December 21, according to official data, but numbers were expected to rise as more people were declared missing.

A resident of Gaza province north of Maputo, Chauna Macuacua, told AFP that her sister-in-law had given birth on a roof where the family was waiting to be rescued since Thursday.

"We've been here for 4 days. My nephew was born yesterday around 11 PM (2100 GMT), and we still haven't had any rescue or assistance for the baby and mother," she said.

Wilker Dias, the director of a civil society group called Plataforma Decide, said he had received reports of several people missing.

"I think the numbers of dead will increase in the next hours," he told AFP.

South Africa also dispatched rescue teams to southern Mozambique Sunday after a car carrying five members of a South African mayoral delegation was swept away by floodwaters in Chokwe, 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of Maputo.

According to the latest figures released by the Mozambican government on Friday, more than 173,000 people had been affected by the floods across the country.

Key concepts Floods

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Credit: Kampus Production from Pexels

Girls between the ages of 13 and 19 are widely exposed to beauty content online that promotes products unsuitable for young skineven when they are not actively seeking beauty-related information. Moreover, they believe that other girls (rather than themselves) may become insecure as a result of these videos. This is shown by research conducted by communication scientist Serena Daalmans and her colleagues at Radboud University.

One of Daalmans' master's students, Ela van Duffelen, worked at a national beauty chain and was frequently asked by mothers to explain to their 12-year-old daughters that certain day creams are harmful to young skin.

Daalmans explains, "Ela had to tell these young girls that such creams are not intended for skin at such a young age and can even cause considerable damage. These girls had seen influencers demonstrate products on social media and wanted to try them themselves."

These experiences, together with growing media attention from dermatologists concerned about this content, led van Duffelen to choose this topic for her graduation research, which was supervised by Daalmans.

Changing beauty standards and social media

It has long been known that young girls are confronted with images of the ideal body on social media. "What is relatively new," says Daalmans, 'is that current videos show how a 'perfect' face can supposedly be created." This, too, creates unattainable expectations. "The girls in our study are aware that they cannot achieve this ideal, but they still desire it." While the girls stated that videos featuring perfect faces did not make them feel insecure, they did fear that other peers might feel that way.

For the study, the researchers interviewed sixteen girls aged between 13 and 19 about the content they encounter online and their thoughts when viewing beauty videos. "We found that even when girls are not actively searching for such content, they are still exposed to facial beauty videosparticularly via TikTok. They unknowingly end up in a beauty-focused algorithm." Once exposed, the girls generally appreciated the videos. "They enjoyed watching them, describing them as beautiful, interesting, and sometimes simply entertaining."

Mixed reactions and concerns about influence

The girls' evaluations of the videos were divided. A large proportion believed that the creators made the videos primarily to help viewers. At the same time, they recognized that the expectations portrayed were unattainable and did not believe they could ever look like the creators. They also thought that other girls might become insecure and feel compelled to imitate the influencers. Additionally, after watching the videos, the girls reported feeling more inclined to purchase certain products and try out beauty routines.

Daalmans concludes, "All in all, I find this quite worryingboth as a researcher and as a mother. The beauty algorithm is so omnipresent that it is almost impossible to escape, and the image of the perfect face is extremely homogeneous. All the creators look the same, without a scratch or blemishcompletely unattainable. Girls cannot avoid this content and feel pressured to strive for the same perfect face they see in these videos, even though the standard being presented is entirely unrealistic."

The paper is published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

More information Ela van Duffelen et al, Get ready with me to achieve the perfect face: a qualitative study into meaning-making of facial beauty content on social media by Dutch girls and young women, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-06410-6
Kathmandu, Nepal, January 19, 2026: With only days remaining before the Wednesday deadline for candidate filings, the uncertainty hanging over the Nepali Congress (NC) is finally clearing. As the March 5 general elections loom, the fierce rivalry between veteran leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and the newly elected Gagan Thapa has transformed into a pragmatic partnership, driven by the need for party survival.

Behind closed doors, the focus has shifted from legal battles to a shared legacy. Sources close to both camps indicate a realization that victory at the polls requires unity rather than courtroom disputes. In a significant gesture of trust, the Deuba faction has signaled they will allow President Thapa to sign the official candidacy papers.

These moves honor the mandate of the Special General Convention and ensure that the candidate selection process remains a collaborative effort, involving senior leader Shekhar Koirala to maintain broad internal support.

The most tangible sign of this reconciliation is the decision to move away from the Supreme Court. The Deuba camp, which had initially challenged the legitimacy of the new leadership, is now preparing to withdraw its writ petition. By trading litigation for the campaign trail, the NC is signaling to voters that it is ready to stop fighting and start fighting for the country.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos said Monday that a "significant" discovery of natural gas had been made near the country's sole producing offshore site.

About 98 billion cubic feet (2.8 billion cubic metres) of natural gas -- enough to provide power to 5.7 million homes for a year -- has been found east of the Malampaya Field near the island of Palawan, Marcos said.

The Philippines has some of the region's highest energy costs and faces a looming crisis as the Malampaya gas field, which supplies about 40 percent of power to the archipelago's main island, Luzon, is expected to run dry within a few years.

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The discovery -- five kilometres (three miles) east of the Malampaya Field -- is the first in more than a decade and suggested the potential to produce even more, Marcos said.

"This helps Malampaya's contribution and strengthens our domestic gas supply for many years to come. Initial testing showed that the well flowed at 60 million cubic feet per day," Marcos said in a statement.

The Philippines -- regularly affected by electricity outages -- relies on imported carbon-belching coal for more than half of its power generation.

Kairos Dela Cruz, executive director of the Manila-based Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, told AFP that while the find was "relatively small", it could point the way to finding other nearby gas resources.

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"The discovery of these other gas fields will provide new indigenous supply and increase energy security," he said.

"It also helps extend the operating life of the 500-kilometre undersea gas pipeline, long enough for larger gas fields in the area to be discovered."

A former industry executive who spoke on condition of anonymity estimated the new find could extend the Malampaya Field's life by two to three years.

Long-term, the country will still need to increase its focus on renewables ranging from solar to hydro to offshore wind projects, Dela Cruz said.

In 2022, then-president Rodrigo Duterte called a halt to oil and gas exploration in areas of the South China Sea disputed with China.

Beijing has ignored a 2016 international tribunal decision that declared its historical claim over most of the South China Sea to be without basis.

pam-cwl/dan
Keep it in the ground?

Posted on 19 January 2026 by Zeke Hausfather

This is a re-post from The Climate Brink

Recently there has been quite a debate online about the extent to which opposing near-term oil and gas infrastructure  pipelines, refineries, new production  is both necessary and politically effective as a strategy to reduce US emissions. These conversations have occurred in the context of a broader pivot toward affordability as a rallying cry of the left in the US, driven by concerns around the rapidly rising cost of housing, energy, and other goods.

Matt Yglesias had a provocative piece in the NYT arguing that liberals should be less opposed to oil and gas, arguing that it might help make energy more affordable and win more conservative states and labor (without which there would be no climate policy at all). He also noted that US oil and gas is generally lower carbon than foreign alternatives in a world that is still using vast amounts of the stuff. Policies, in his view, should focus on making production cleaner by more strictly regulating methane emissions, in-sector electrification, and other best practices rather than restricting supply. Other mitigation advocates like Jesse Jenkins and Ramez Naam chimed in to support the broad thrust of his argument.

This is, it is worth pointing out, not too far from the policies pursued by both the Obama and Biden administrations, where both clean energy and domestic oil and gas production boomed (while the dirtiest fossil fuel, coal, saw a dramatic decline).

Representative Sean Casten (D-IL) posted a long rebuttal on BlueSky arguing that weve already overshot our climate goals, and the only way to turn things around is to keep fossil fuels in the ground. He noted that what is politically popular is not always what is right, and that sometimes politicians need to do what is necessary to meet the moment. He also notes that leakage from US gas makes natural gas worse than coal from a global warming perspective.

These responses broadly reflect two different schools of thought on how to best practically (and politically) achieve decarbonization goals: by reducing fossil fuel supplies, or by reducing fossil fuel demands.

The physical science is absolutely clear that to stop the world from warming we need to get global emissions of CO2 and other long-lived greenhouse gases to (net) zero. Every 220 gigatons (billion tons) of CO2 we emit warms the surface by around 0.1C, and the world is already at 1.4C above preindustrial levels today. But the specific path to limit warming  how much we focus on the reducing the supply of fossil fuels vs reducing their demand by accelerating the adoption of cleaner alternatives is very much an active debate. My personal view is that demand side policies are considerably more achievable at the moment  particularly given the new focus on affordability on the left.

Id also note that this post is about the politics of mitigation rather than the physical science. There is no clear right answer to how to best reduce emissions, and there are many reasonable folks with differing views on the topic. We should generally try and extend grace to those we disagree with, as when it comes to policy there is no real arbiter of truth.

Demand vs supply-side decarbonization

Broadly speaking, there are two different schools of thought on how to best achieve decarbonization: supply side vs demand side policy.

Supply side policy focuses on making fossil fuels more expensive by restricting the supply or directly taxing the their sale. Examples include restrictions on fossil resource leasing and development, blocking transmission systems like pipelines, cap and trade systems, and carbon taxes.

Demand side policy aims to make cleaner alternatives more affordable and, in turn, reduce demand for fossil fuels. This generally involves subsidizing both the research, development, and deployment of clean energy technologies (renewable energy, nuclear, electric vehicles, heat pumps, etc.) and its supporting infrastructure (transmission, vehicle charging infrastructure)

These are not necessarily mutually exclusive; for example, some advocates of demand side interventions also support carbon taxes. But generally speaking, supply side policies impose more direct costs on consumers, while demand side policies involve more indirect costs (e.g. through higher government spending). There are also ways to make supply side policies less costly  such as the revenue neutral carbon taxes that Canada and Washington have experimented with  but even these have been hard to muster political support for.

Most of the policies pursued by the Biden administration (and the Obama administration before it) have focused on demand-side mitigation policy. While we may wish otherwise, most of the general public in the US does not prioritize climate change above economic issues, and in the past when gasoline prices have spiked some politicians have quickly pivoted from keep it in the ground to drill baby drill. To be effective in changing consumer and commercial purchasing behavior at the scale needed to avoid dangerous levels of warming this century, supply side policies will necessarily need to impose a level of cost that will be politically challenging (to say the least).

Demand side mitigation can effectively reduce fossil fuel emissions. The large-scale phase down of coal in the US was driven by a combination of stricter conventional pollutant restrictions and  primarily  low cost fossil gas and renewable generation that made it not economically competitive. More broadly, the Global Carbon Project finds that emissions have declined over the past decade (2015-24) in 35 nations, which collectively account for 27% of global emissions, driven by faster installation of clean energy technologies and the retirement or curtailment of existing fossil fuel resources. This remains true even when emissions embodied in international trade are taken into account.

The challenge with demand side policies is that they are arguably a poor fit for meeting our most ambitious global climate targets. If countries want to limit warming to 1.5C by the end of the century (and minimize overshoot on the way there) it leaves us with a vanishingly small carbon budget. To meet these goals would require wartime style mobilization of the world to rapidly decarbonize, prematurely retiring vast amounts of infrastructure and rapidly curtailing fossil fuel production. In short, it would cost a lot of money  and in turn require significant political and public buy-in.

Is 1.5C increasingly a trap?

The 2015 Paris Agreement set an aspirational target of limiting warming to 1.5C. This came as a bit of a surprise to the climate science community; prior to Paris the most ambitious mitigation scenario that was widely modeled was RCP2.6, which limited warming to around 1.8C by 2100 (and had a ~66% chance of avoiding 2C warming). Following the Paris Agreement the UNFCCC requested that the IPCC write a special report on 1.5C as a climate target, which was published in 2018.

By the time that report came out, it was increasingly clear that actually limiting warming to 1.5C would be quite unlikely, with scenarios that avoided overshoot requiring all global emissions to start declining immediately and reach (net) zero emissions by 2050. By the time the IPCC 5th Assessment Report was published in 2021, the 1.5C target has been quietly redefined as an overshoot target where the world passed 1.5C before bringing global temperatures back down through large-scale deployments of net-negative emissions. In that report 206 of 230 the integrated assessment model (IAM) scenarios exploring 1.5C warming outcomes  a full 96%  involved overshoot on the way there, often reaching 1.7C or 1.8C by mid-to-late century.

As 2026 dawns, the world has already seen a year above 1.5C, and global emissions have yet to decline (even if they have plateaued), scenarios that limit warming to 1.5C by 2100 have become increasingly implausible. They are forced to rely on ever more rapid near-term emissions reductions  and ever larger amounts of carbon removal later in the century  to make the brutal math of the 1.5C target work.

For this reason many of us in the scientific community have been trying to make it clear that these targets never reflected a climate threshold  a point in the system where something particularly bad happens. Rather, they reflect an attempt to balance minimizing climate damages (and risks) given what is plausibly achievable. Climate targets are always inherently probabilistic given uncertainties in climate sensitivity and carbon cycle feedbacks. Its quite possible that we could end up closer to 3C even though we thought we were heading to 2C if we roll 6s on the proverbial climate dice. So these targets more about minimizing tail risks than ending up at a particular round number.

Similarly, there are no particular climate feedbacks or tipping points that occur at 1.5C that would not occur at 1.45C or 1.55C; rather, we try to emphasize that every tenth of a degree matters. 1.5C is lower risk than 1.7C, which is lower risk than 2C, etc. Its less 1.5C to stay alive and more that we should try to mitigate as rapidly as practically possible to reduce the future damages to society and the natural world.

While targets can be useful as a focus for pushing countries to adopt more ambitious mitigation policy, they can also become counterproductive if they are unachievable. For example, a narrow focus on 1.5C today could lead folks to advocate to oppose policies that might be consistent with (or even help enable) a 2C world but would not be consistent with the vanishingly small remaining carbon budget under 1.5C. In other words, pursuing our most ambitious targets can lead us to make the perfect the enemy of the good.

The gas debate

In the US context the distinction between policies that would be inconsistent with a 1.5C world but might help us get close to 2C often involve fossil gas. The climate impacts of gas (and how it compares to coal) is a topic Ive long been interested in; I published my first analysis back in 2011, and ultimately wrote two peer reviewed papers on the topic in 2015 and 2016 looking at the impacts of replacing coal with gas in the US.

This is relevant because in the US fossil gas has been the single largest driver of CO2 reductions, particularly in the power sector. Along with renewables it has led to a reduction of coal use by 60%. This progress remains fragile, as may coal plants have lowered their operation time (their capacity factor) rather than fully shutting down, and we see an uptick in US coal generation whenever gas prices rise.

From a carbon standpoint the comparison is relatively straightforward. Fossil gas is results in about 60% lower CO2 emissions per kWh generated, as shown in the figure below:

However, there has been quite a bit of controversy around the broader climate impacts of fossil gas, given that a portion (likely 2% to 3%) of fossil gas leaks as methane. Methane is a short-lived greenhouse gas with a lifetime of around 12 years in the atmosphere, but while it is in the atmosphere it has approximately 120x more warming impact than CO2. The different lifetime of the gases makes it difficult to directly compare the two, given that the results depend on the timeframe considered.

The figure below (from my 2015 paper) attempts to compare gas and coal climate impacts over time, using the change in radiative forcing of both (which is a reasonably proxy for temperature change). It compares a new gas plant in the US with 2% leakage (green line) to both new coal (black solid line) and existing coal (black dashed line). The grey area represents the uncertainty for gas across leakage rates from 1% to 6% and generation efficiencies (HHV) of 42% to 50%. This plot assumes that both the gas and coal plant would be operated for 30 years before being retired.

This implies that a leakage rate of 5.1% would be required to make gas worse than coal over a 20-year period (assuming new gas displacing existing coal  the most common occurrence) and 13.1% over a 100-year period. If we assume the gas and coal plants would both be operated for 100 years rather than just 30, the leakage rate required for 100-year forcing parity falls to 9.9%.

Some folks argue that a 20-year time horizon should be preferred given the near-term impacts of climate change and the risk of passing tipping points. But in my view such a short time horizon is misguided. Its equivalent to discounting the future by around 13% per year  saddling future generations with higher warming from CO2 in exchange for minimizing near-term warming today. The case for 20-year GWPs to avoid tipping points is also fairly weak; most proposed tipping points depend on the level of peak warming and the timeframe over which it is sustained. It is quite unlikely that the world will reach peak warming before 2070 or 2080 even in ambitious mitigation scenarios, which means that little of the methane emitted today will be warming the planet by then.

Of course, the argument that gas isworse than coal is an unnecessarily high bar in a world that needs to get to net zero emissions. But gas displacing coal is generally still a good thing today, provided there are no other viable cheaper options. Gas also is something of a Swiss army knife of the electricity system, able to be built quite cheaply but expensive to operate (e.g. low cap-ex and high op-ex). This makes it quite well suited to be a dispatchable resource; cost effective to shut down during periods when cheap renewable or battery storage is available, and able to run when extended low resource outputs makes it necessary. That is one of the reasons why deep decarbonization scenarios for the US generally have considerable amounts of fossil gas capacity remaining in a net-zero system in 2050, even if utilization rates are quite low (~5%).

More broadly, integrated assessment models used by the IPCC to assess mitigation options have a pretty clear merit order for phasing out fossil fuels: coal first, than oil, than gas. For example, here is unabated (without CCS) coal use in 2C scenarios (SSP1-2.6) in the SSP Database used in the IPCC 6th Assessment Report, showing rapid declines in global coal use after 2020 (something that, unfortunately, we have yet to see globally in the real world).

Global unabated gas use is more of a mixed picture, with some models (WITCH) showing rapid declines but others showing flat (AIM) or even increasing (GCAM, MESSAGE, REMIND) global gas use through 2030 or 2040.

As clean energy alternatives  particular solar and batteries  get cheaper they should undermine the economic case for fossil gas and help drive down usage and emissions. But in my view policies to restrict supplies today will be less effective than accelerating the deployment of more cost-effective alternatives to gas.

Its the (political) economy

Effectively mitigating climate change will depend on a combination of technology and policy. But we live in a world where policy and politics are the art of the possible, and given the increasing focus on affordability it seems like a focus on making clean energy cheap will be considerably more viable than making fossil fuels more expensive. As Yglesias noted in the Times, for the Democrats to retake power and control the Senate requires winning places like North Carolina, Ohio, or even places like Texas, Alaska, and Kansas.

I do disagree with Yglesias that the left should actively support the oil and gas industry, but there are a wide range of effective mitigation policies that we can pursue that make clean energy cheaper without supporting or directly penalizing the oil and gas industry. I also think we need to double down on phasing out coal as rapidly as possible, both domestically and overseas.

This means that there is likely still some role for supply side mitigation, particularly in a world where demand side mitigation is succeeding. As demand for oil and gas peaks and declines, the cost of these fuels will fall, potentially undercutting the economics of cleaner alternatives. One option would be to effectively backstop the price of oil and gas with a carbon tax  at least up to an estimated social cost of carbon. This would have the advantage of helping stabilize fuel prices, and consumers would not experience any cost increases (though they would not benefit from declines).

Similarly, there are other non-climate damages associated with fossil fuel use  air pollution and water pollution  that also merit regulation, and restrictions on mercury, sulfur, and other conventional pollutants have played an important role in retiring coal plants in the US by making coal more expensive to operate. There is an important role for the government in regulating these  as well as implementing stricter restrictions on methane leakage. And it should go without saying that we should oppose the types of direct subsidies or mandates around fossil fuels or restrictions on clean energy production that tilt the playing field toward dirtier energy that the current US administration is pursuing.

Ultimately the costs of fossil fuel use need to be reflected in the costs of energy for decarbonization to succeed, and this can occur either through artificially reducing the cost of clean energy or increasing the cost of dirty energy. At the current political moment, the former seems far more likely to work.

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Beijing Daily: We noted that last year, the trade volume between China and five Central Asian countries exceeded US$100 billion for the first time. Whats your comment?

Guo Jiakun: According to the statistics released by the General Administration of Customs, Chinas trade with five Central Asian countries in 2025 topped US$100 billion, setting a record high. The trade structure has been improved, and more and more high-quality products from Central Asia entered the Chinese market. As global economic growth remains sluggish and the international trading system faces serious challenges, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asian countries has withstood external headwinds, and the trade volume surpassed US$100 billion. This demonstrates the robust momentum of China-Central Asia cooperation and the leading role of the China-Central Asia mechanism, and has become a new milestone in China-Central Asia cooperation.

Over the past year, the relations between China and Central Asian countries have enjoyed fast growth, the China-Central Asia mechanism has been strengthened, Belt and Road cooperation has made steady progress, and friendly exchanges have brought people closer. In particular, the success of the Second China-Central Asia Summit ushered in a new phase of high-quality cooperation between the two sides. At the new historic starting point, China stands ready to work with Central Asian countries to build on the momentum, continue carrying forward the China-Central Asia spirit, strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, promote innovation-led, high-quality and results-oriented cooperation in various fields, and jointly build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

CCTV: Its reported that according to the survey report recently released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, the proportion of responding U.S. companies in China who are optimistic of the growth in Chinas market is on the rise, and more than half expect to be profitable or very profitable in 2025. Over 70 percent report no plans to relocate operations, and nearly 60 percent plan to increase investment in China. According to latest statistics, Chinas GDP in 2025 exceeds RMB140 trillion, up by five percent compared with last year. Multiple international financial organizations have recently said that Chinas mega-size market and innovative production have been a magnet to foreign investment. Whats your comment?



Guo Jiakun: The report you mentioned once again shows that Chinas mega-size market offers enormous opportunities to the world, and investing in China means staying ahead of the curve and becoming profitable. The success of American companies in China demonstrates that China and the U.S. benefit from cooperation and a steady, sound and sustainable relationship is in the interest of both sides.

This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Chinas economy is gathering momentum and growth drivers are on the upgrade. China will remain a source of stability, growth and innovation for the world economy. We welcome U.S. and other foreign companies to seize the opportunities of Chinas high-quality development and greatly benefit from Chinas multi-trillion-yuan market.

AFP: A couple of questions on Cambodia and scam compounds. Firstly, the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia said at the weekend that the disappearance of Chinese nationals into scam compounds was a serious obstacle to relations. Can you tell us more about how relations are threatened by this and what China hopes that Cambodia will do? And then the second part of the question is about recent reports that there are many Chinese nationals queuing outside the embassy in Cambodia after leaving scam compounds there. Can you confirm this? Can you tell us who these people are? How many of them have shown up at the embassy? And also are these queued people related to the recent arrest of Chen Zhi?



Guo Jiakun: The Chinese government attaches high importance to keeping overseas Chinese nationals safe. China has been actively cooperating with Cambodia in combating cross-border telecom and internet fraud, and has achieved notable progress. The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia is in communication and coordination with Cambodia, and relevant work is underway.

Polish Press Agency: Polish media reported that Polands military is considering restrictions that would ban the entry of Chinese-made electric vehicles into military facilities. The move is driven by risks over sensitive data collected by the cars. Whats Chinas comment?



Guo Jiakun: We noted the reports. National security should not be overstretched.

Bloomberg: About Greenland. Donald Trump has proposed levies on eight countries that have opposed his plan to acquire Greenland. He said on Saturday and he announced a 10 percent tariff on goods from eight European countries starting February 1 that will go up to 25 percent in June unless theres a deal for the purchase of Greenland. Were wondering if the Foreign Ministry has any comment?



Guo Jiakun: China has stated its position on multiple occasions on Greenland. The international law underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is the foundation of the current international order and must be upheld. We urge the U.S. to stop using the so-called China threat as a pretext for itself to seek selfish gains.
On January 17, 2026 local time, at the invitation of President of the Republic of Guinea Mamadi Doumbouya, President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zheng Jianbang attended President Mamadi Doumbouya's inauguration ceremony in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. President Mamadi Doumbouya had brief talks with Zheng Jianbang during the inauguration ceremony.

Zheng Jianbang conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings and best wishes to President Mamadi Doumbouya, saying that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Guinea relations and stands ready to work with Guinea to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote greater progress in the China-Guinea comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Mamadi Doumbouya asked Zheng Jianbang to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping for sending a special envoy to attend his inauguration ceremony. He emphasized that Guinea cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries and is willing to deepen friendly cooperation with China in various fields, so as to elevate bilateral relations to a new height.
The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) will be holding its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.

The AGM has been scheduled to update all COSA members with respect to the ongoing business of COSA and to present the COSA 2024/2025 Audited Financial Statements from KPMG.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the COSA office boardroom (inside the new paddock), at 9430 Guelph Line in Campbellville, Ont.

Attendees are asked to bring their membership card, as membership will be verified at the door.

(With files from COSA)
From a young age, many children have been instructed by their parents to be polite to smart assistants. Particularly following the advent of Amazons Alexa and Apples Siri, children are often encouraged to use words like please and thank you, with the hopes of instilling manners.

But when it comes to AI assistants like OpenAIs ChatGPT, there might be some tangible benefits to being rude and even insulting them. As detailed in a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study, spotted by Fortune, two researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that as their prompts for OpenAIs ChatGPT-4o model grew ruder, the outputs became more accurate.

The researchers came up with 50 base questions across a variety of subject matters, and rewrote each of them five times with different tones ranging from very polite to very rude.

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You poor creature, do you even know how to solve this? a very rude iteration reads. Hey gofer, figure this out.

A very polite question was far more eloquent.

Can you kindly consider the following problem and provide your answer? the researchers wrote in their prompt.

Contrary to expectations, impolite prompts consistently outperformed polite ones, with accuracy ranging from 80.8 percent for Very Polite prompts to 84.8 percent for Very Rude prompts, the paper reads. Accuracy for the politest prompts had an accuracy of just 75.8 percent.

The results appear to contradict previous findings that being more polite to large language models is more effective. For instance, a 2024 paper by researchers at the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project and Waseda University in Tokyo found that impolite prompts often result in poor performance. At the same time, the researchers found that being too polite did the same, suggesting a point of diminishing returns.

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LLMs reflect the human desire to be respected to a certain extent, they wrote.

Google DeepMind researchers also found that using supportive prompts could boost the performance of an LLM solving grade school math problems, suggesting its training data may be picking up on social cues, like an online tutor instructing a pupil.

Beyond seemingly contradicting these existing studies, the Penn State researchers findings also demonstrate that very small changes in prompt wording can have dramatic effects on the quality of an AIs outputs, which could greatly undercut their predictability and already dubious reliability.

AI chatbots are also known to spit out entirely different answers to the exact same prompts.

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For the longest of times, we humans have wanted conversational interfaces for interacting with machines, coauthor and Penn State IT professor Akhil Kumar told Fortune. But now we realize that there are drawbacks for such interfaces too, and there is some value in [application programming interfaces] that are structured.

But does that mean we should stop saying please and thank you to AI chatbots  a small act of politeness that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claims could waste millions of dollars in computing power  with the hopes of getting more accurate answers? To Kumar and his colleague, Penn State undergraduate Om Dobariya, its a definitive no. In their paper, they stopped well short of advocating being mean to AI.

While this finding is of scientific interest, we do not advocate for the deployment of hostile or toxic interfaces in real-world applications, they wrote in the paper. Using insulting or demeaning language in human  AI interaction could have negative effects on user experience, accessibility, and inclusivity, and may contribute to harmful communication norms.

More on prompting AI: Furious AI Users Say Their Prompts Are Being Plagiarized
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Cyberattacks can wreak havoc on the systems they target, yet their impact often spreads far beyond technical failures, potentially triggering crises that engulf entire communities, a new study argues.

When hackers strike "critical infrastructure," they "pose serious risks to societal resilience," the study notes, adding that public responses can be intense and wide-ranging, shifting from denial and humor to anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

The study, published in the journal Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, explores public responses to the 2021 cyberattack on a Florida water treatment plant by examining social media conversations and their role in shaping cybersecurity strategies.

In February 2021, an intruder gained remote access to the control system of a water plant in Oldsmar, Florida, and attempted to dramatically increase levels of sodium hydroxide (lye), a chemical used in small amounts to treat water.

The hacker initially succeeded in altering the settings and increasing the level of the chemical in treated water, which could have posed serious health risks if left uncorrected. A plant operator spotted the unauthorized changes in real time and quickly reversed them, preventing harm.

"This research examined how people react when a cyberattack targets critical infrastructure, using the 2021 Florida water treatment plant hack as a real-world case," said Dr. Bharadwaj R. K. Mantha, an assistant professor at the University of Sharjah's College of Engineering.

"Rather than focusing only on technical failures, the study looks at public reactions expressed on social media (e.g., X, formerly Twitter, in the context of this study) and treats them as an important part of the crisis itself."

Public reaction to Florida water plant hack

To explore public perceptions of the Florida cyberattack, the researchers conducted a qualitative data analysis of online narratives surrounding the incident. They collected social media posts from X (formerly Twitter) during the first week following the hack. They compiled conversations on the incident from February 8 to February 15, 2021.

"These tweets provided a diverse range of public reactions, including expressions of disbelief, humor, fear, critiques of systemic vulnerabilities, and calls for accountability," the authors explain.

"This dataset, as naturally occurring data without the intervention of the researchers, offered valuable insights into how the public processes and responds to cybersecurity incidents in real time."

To reinforce their findings, the researchers also carried out a critical review of existing literature on cybersecurity vulnerabilities in infrastructure systems and on cyberattacks as sociotechnical crises.

Their review systematically explores the complex landscape of cybersecurity challenges and their varied implications, draws parallels from previous studies on how cyberattacks can be considered sociotechnical crises, and then identifies key research gaps and positions.

The authors frame their analysis using the Kubler-Ross model, a well-known psychological framework introduced by the psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in 1969 to describe emotional responses to death and dying.

Although originally developed for end-of-life contexts, the five-stage modeldenial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptancehas since been widely applied to explain how individuals respond to loss, crises, and major disruptions.

In the context of the study, the authors use the Kubler-Ross model to shed light on the model's stages and how they unfold when the public is confronted with serious cyber threats to "assist facility managers, government agencies, and municipalities to better understand how the public perceives cyber incidents on critical infrastructure," Dr. Mantha emphasized.

Public emotions and perceptions

Analyzing social media conversations surrounding the attempted hack of Oldsmar's water system, the study finds that public reactions "followed a structured emotional progression, from denial and humor to anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

"Social media discourse revealed concerns over systemic vulnerabilities, accountability demands and calls for cybersecurity reform. These insights emphasize the importance of transparent crisis communication, proactive risk management and public engagement in strengthening cybersecurity resilience."

Dr. Mantha, a co-author of the study, emphasized that cyberattacks affect far more than infrastructure and digital systems. "Public reactions follow recognizable patterns, from disbelief and humor to fear, anger, and eventual acceptance."

He added that social media functions as a real-time "public sector," exposing underlying anxieties, mistrust, and expectations. "Ignoring public sentiment during cyber crises undermines trust and slows recovery. Online discussions rapidly highlighted systemic weaknessessuch as outdated softwareand sharply criticized perceived lapses in cybersecurity practices."

While public perceptions may not always reflect actual reality, Dr. Mantha notes that they remain critical for policymakers and crisis managers.

"Our findings show that these perceptions are a key part of the landscape and must be addressed appropriately by the responsible authorities. There was sustained public demand for accountability, transparency, and reform. Importantly, the discourse often included technically informed suggestionsnot just emotional reactions."

Implications for cyber crisis communication

The authors argue that their findings carry far-reaching implications, particularly for improving crisis communication strategies during cyber incidents.

Dr. Johan Ninan, the study's lead author and an assistant professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, said, "Our study on the Florida water plant hack shows that in building cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, public trust and communication are as vital as firewalls and software."

They further contend that the research demonstrates how social media can function as a valuable feedback mechanism for strengthening cybersecurity planning and management, supporting a shift from purely technical cybersecurity approaches to more human-centered models.

Balaji Kesavan, a US-based independent researcher and co-author, added, "Our study paves the way for using large language models to analyze social media sentiment in near real time. This enables municipalities to better understand and proactively react to public reactions during critical infrastructure cyber incidents."

Expanding on the potential industry implications of their work, the authors explain that their findings "offer actionable insights for the public, media, private sector, and government agencies into crisis response planning, fostering trust and resilience in digital infrastructure security by integrating public feedback into cybersecurity planning through structured social media analysis and iterative learning practices."

More information: Johan Ninan et al, Human-centred cybersecurity for critical infrastructure: the case of the Florida water plant hack, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management (2025). DOI: 10.1108/ecam-02-2025-0213
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Bamboo Toll booth in Columbia. Credit: Dr. David Trujillo/University of Warwick.

Comprehensive guidance about the design of permanent bamboo structures has been published by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

The manual was developed by four international experts from both academia and industry, all of whom are members of the INBAR Bamboo Construction Task Force, a leading authority on the structural use of bamboo. The authors include David Trujillo from the University of Warwick, Kent Harries from the University of Pittsburgh, Sebastian Kaminski from Arup, and Luis Felipe Lopez from the Base Bahay Foundation.

"Manual for the design of bamboo structures to ISO 22156:2021" aims to help structural engineers and other architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals understand how this prolific bio-based material can be used safely, with the ISO standard and the manual limited to two-stories because of fire concerns.

Composite Bamboo Shear Wall (CBSW) House in Colombia. Credit: Dr. David Trujillo/University of Warwick.

Lead author Dr. David Trujillo, University of Warwick says, "This manual marks a significant milestone for the safe use of bamboo for permanent structures. Most structural design codes are developed in higher-income countries to address their own needs. Only later are they adopted or adapted by lower and middle-income countriesbut the starting point is never the needs of those regions.

Professor Kent Harries, University of Pittsburgh adds, "There are some 1,600 known species of bamboo. Structurally, it has remarkable mechanical properties. It has also become a very promising bio-based resource, with growing credentials as a sustainable construction material. Nonetheless, this is hugely dependent on designing and building safe and durable structures. Our detailed manual helps to achieve this."

Sebastian Kaminski, Arup explains, "Bamboo has great potential to contribute to a low-carbon construction sector. Bamboo engineering is a very young field compared to mainstream materials and its unique possibilities are increasingly recognized and supported by growing research and innovation. Our manual is structured to support the design engineer along the journey, from sourcing bamboo to detailed design."

Luis Felipe Lopez, Base Bahay highlights, "The construction industry contributes nearly 40% of carbon emissions globally, and bamboo, a regenerative and durable material, is redefining how we build our structures.

"From being an alternative to a reliable building material, bamboo is now gaining global recognition, and the need for a comprehensive framework is essential to support design engineers and ensure the safe and proper use of bamboo in the built environment, maximizing its full potential and environmental advantages.

Bamboo Clubhouse roof in Colombia. Credit. Dr. David Trujillo/University of Warwick.

Kewei Liu, Coordinator of the INBAR Global Bamboo Construction Program, adds, "The publication of this guide is of great significance in promoting the application of the current ISO 22156:2021 standard, which has been the most widely accepted international bamboo standard since the 2000s. The authors have made a remarkable contribution to the global use of bamboo construction."

Bamboo is native to all continents apart from Antarctica and Europe, although numerous species successfully thrive across Europe. Its lifecycle makes it an attractive resource in the context of tackling the global climate emergency, as, like trees, it fixes carbon in its leaves, stem, roots and surrounding soil. Bamboo's harvest does not disturb the stored carbon in the soil.

Alongside the four leading authors, the manual was also reviewed by eleven expert reviewers. It has ten chapters covering a wide range of topics including the bamboo supply chain; bamboo project management; grading and mechanical characteristics of bamboo; analysis of bamboo structures; seismic and wind hazard design using bamboo; element and connection design; durability; bamboo structural shear walls; and worked examples of bamboo's structural use in real-life examples.

Dr. David Trujillo, University of Warwick concludes, "The guide is published in the wake of the tragic Hong Kong tower block fires. We share condolences for all those impacted, and await the outcome of investigations as we cannot comment until all the facts are in.

"However, general risk management principles advocate a risk assessment and consideration of the use of flame-retardant materials on high-rise and closely spaced buildings, along with fire detection and suppression.

"Importantly, and given the wide use of bamboo, this guide sets out provisions for its safe use, including for fire, covering permanent buildings and not scaffolding. Our aim is for this to be a must-use resource for the structural engineer already working with bamboo or considering its use. We also hope it will be a trusted resource for colleagues across the built environment globally, whether in industry or academia."

More information: Manual for the design of bamboo structures to ISO 22156:2021 www.istructe.org/resources/man  structures-iso22156/
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Layered hydrogen silicane (L-HSi) represents a promising solid-state hydrogen carrier that can address the drawbacks of conventional hydrogen storage systems, while being cost-effective and sustainable. Credit: Institute of Science Tokyo

Hydrogen, a clean energy source, requires a highly reliable and safe storage system, which is currently lacking. Layered hydrogen silicane (L-HSi) is a promising, safe, lightweight, and energy-efficient solid-state hydrogen carrier with potential for practical utility. This material releases hydrogen when irradiated with low-intensity visible-light sources like sunlight or LEDs. L-HSi represents a new direction for hydrogen carrier system research.

Hydrogen is a promising fuel that can replace conventional fossil fuels as it emits no carbon dioxide during combustion or oxidation and can be produced from a wide range of sources. However, a hydrogen-based economy requires not only clean production but also safe and efficient hydrogen storage and transportation.

Current systems pose several drawbacks: compressed hydrogen tanks have low hydrogen densities and pose explosion risks, while liquid hydrogen tanks require extremely low temperatures and considerable energy.

Ammonia is a well-known liquid hydrogen carrier with a high hydrogen density, but its dehydrogenation requires extensive energy and comes with issues such as corrosiveness and toxicity.

To solve these issues, researchers have turned towards solid-state hydrogen carrier materials. Unfortunately, most solid-state alloys consist of heavy metals and have limited gravimetric hydrogen capacities.

In a breakthrough, a research team consisting of Mr. Hirona Ito and Professor Masahiro Miyauchi from Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Ms. Mio Nakai and Professor Hideyuki Nakano from Kindai University, and Professor Takahiro Kondo from the University of Tsukuba, Japan, discovered a new solid-state hydrogen carrier called layered hydrogen silicane (L-HSi).

Hydrogen can be released from L-HSi by visible light irradiation under ambient temperature and pressure. Their findings were published online in the journal Advanced Optical Materials.

L-HSi consists of silicon and hydrogen in a 1:1 ratio and exhibits a high gravimetric hydrogen capacity of 3.44 wt.%. Unlike conventional hydrogen storage systems, it is a stable, solid-state hydrogen carrier that can release hydrogen simply by exposure to low-intensity light sources like sunlight or LEDs.

The researchers synthesized L-HSi via decalcification of CaSi 2 in a reaction with HCl and tested its hydrogen release properties. They placed L-HSi powder under an argon atmosphere in a gas-flow-type reactor and irradiated it with a xenon lamp at ambient temperature and pressure.

The optical bandgap of L-HSi is 2.13 eV, corresponding to a wavelength of 600 nm, which absorbs visible light. The light was turned on 10 minutes after the experiment began and turned off at the 60-minute mark. During irradiation, the researchers clearly observed gaseous hydrogen formation.

Further heating tests under a dark environment and detailed spectroscopic analysis confirmed that hydrogen release was not due to a photothermal process, but instead, driven by bandgap excitation of L-HSi. Specifically, hydrogen was released when irradiated with wavelengths below 600 nm. The material showed a maximum quantum efficiency of 7.3% at 550 nm.

The researchers also conducted long-term irradiation tests, where L-HSi was dispersed in an organic medium inside the dispersed reactor. Under extended visible-light exposure, about 46.7% of the bonded hydrogen atoms were released. The team also confirmed that hydrogen could be effectively produced using low-intensity, economical light sources, including sunlight and LEDs.

L-HSi is a promising solid-state hydrogen carrier that can open new possibilities for safe, lightweight, and energy-efficient hydrogen storage. Looking forward, their research will focus on improving its reversibility and scalability for practical applications.

More information: Hirona Ito et al, VisibleLightDriven Hydrogen Release from Layered Hydrogen Silicane, Advanced Optical Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1002/adom.202502880 Journal information: Advanced Optical Materials
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

President Donald Trump's campaign against offshore wind power in the U.S. sustained major setbacks last week when three different judges blocked enforcement of a government ban and allowed projects in New York, Rhode Island and Virginia to resume construction. And two others may win similar decisions soon.

But Trump may already have won his battle to gut the industry, even if the turbines now under construction begin supplying electricity as planned in the next year or so. That's because the dramatic shift in U.S. government policy since Joe Biden was president has escalated the risk of investing in multibillion-dollar projects that already were facing significant financial and technical hurdles.

"The courts can stop the abrupt enforcement of policies, but they can't really restart a stable pipeline for these projects," said Atin Jain, an analyst at BloombergNEF. "Under this kind of policy environment, nobody is going to touch U.S. offshore wind for some time."

And there's still a possibility Trump prevails in court. So far, rulings allowing construction to resume are temporary, and decisions have yet to be made on the merits of company lawsuits claiming the government's Dec. 22 stop-work order was illegal. The administration has pledged to keep fighting, saying the projects pose undisclosed national security risks.

"President Trump will continue to aggressively implement his energy dominance agenda to lower energy bills, improve our grid stability and protect our national security," said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers.

Since returning to the White House, Trump put forward a flurry of policies designed to undermine the renewable energy industry while boosting production of fossil fuels.

On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order pausing federal approvals of wind projects on federal lands and oceans, throwing the industry into months of uncertainty. In December, a federal judge ruled that decree illegal.

Along with the stop-work orders for projects already underway, the administration also has indicated in court filings that it intends to retract offshore wind projects approved under Biden that have yet to commence construction. The former president had been a champion of the industry, calling for construction of enough turbines spinning off U.S. coasts to produce the same amount of electricity as 30 nuclear reactors.

Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill also sped up the phaseout of federal tax credits for offshore wind, where projects need to start work by the middle of this year to qualify. Without such subsidies, offshore wind costs about $199 per megawatt-hour, according to estimates by BloombergNEF, making it a lot harder for developers to justify the economics to their investors.

The flurry of roadblocks thrown up by the administration has essentially clipped the wings of the U.S. offshore wind industry. Early last year, BloombergNEF saw the potential for about 46 gigawatts of new offshore wind capacity by 2040. Now, the research firm expects only 6.1 gigawatts, which is almost all of the capacity of the current projects.

"The odds of any new starts are very, very low under the current federal position on the wind industry," Jain said.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, which issued the stop-work orders, has argued they were justified because of national security concerns. It didn't provide details in court filings, but claimed the Department of Defense provided new classified information about advances in "adversary technologies" that "could raise national security issues with offshore wind projects."

However, those arguments have been rejected so far by three different judges, all of whom were able to review specific details of the national security claims. One was appointed by Trump, another by former President Ronald Reagan and the third by Biden.

The developers who prevailed in court last week said the work halt had cost them millions of dollars a day. They're now trying to finish installations while they still have specialized vessels under contract.

Orsted A/S, which is the joint developer of Revolution Wind off the New England coast, had its nearly completed project halted twice by Trump. Both times a federal judge lifted the bans. The developer said it had lost about $105 million from the first pause, with the second one in December costing about $1.44 million a day.

Orsted Chief Executive Officer Rasmus Errboe said the focus is now on completing the Revolution Wind project, with first power generation to Rhode Island and Connecticut just weeks away.

Dominion Energy Inc. won a reprieve from a judge allowing the company to resume construction of an $11 billion wind project off the coast of Virginia. Dominion said it will "now focus on safely restarting work" on the project's 176 wind turbines, some of which will start delivering electricity in a matter of weeks.

"While our legal challenge proceeds, we will continue seeking a durable resolution of this matter through cooperation with the federal government," the company said in an emailed statement.

Orsted and Equinor also pledged to work with the administration to resolve concerns about the projects. Meanwhile, another developer jumped into the legal fight with the government.

Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Iberdrola SA's subsidiary Avangrid Inc. and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, filed its suit last week seeking an injunction so it can finish an offshore wind farm that is operating and 95% complete.

2026 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Some experts worry a blanket ban on social media could have unintended consequences.

Countries including France and Britain are considering following Australia's lead by banning children and some teenagers from using social media, but experts are still locked in a debate over the effectiveness of the move.

Supporters of a ban warn that action needs to be taken to tackle deteriorating mental health among young people, but others say the evidence is inconclusive and want a more nuanced approach.

Australia last month became the first nation to prohibit people under the age of 16 from using immensely popular and profitable social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

France is currently debating bills for a similar ban for under-15s, including one championed by President Emmanuel Macron.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that "we need to do more to protect children" on social media, after some 60 MPs in his party called for a ban.

Jonathan Haidt, an American psychologist and supporter of the Australian ban, has also reportedly been asked to speak to UK government officials.

Australia says tech companies have already blocked 4.7 million accounts for under 16s since the ban started last month.

Haidt argued in his bestselling 2024 book "The Anxious Generation" that too much time looking at screensparticularly social mediawas rewiring children's brains and "causing an epidemic of mental illness".

While influential among politicians, the book has proven controversial in academic circles.

Canadian psychologist Candice Odgers wrote in a review of the book that the "scary story" Haidt was telling was "not supported by science".

One of the main areas of disagreement has been determining exactly how much effect using social media has on young people's mental health.

Michael Noetel, a researcher at the University of Queensland in Australia, told AFP that "small effects across billions of users add up".

There is "plenty of evidence" that social media does harm to teens, he said, adding that some were demanding an unrealistic level of proof.

"My read is that Haidt is more right than his harshest critics admit, and less right than his book implies," Noetel said.

Should teens be banned from social media? Some countries are considering following Australia's lead.

Given the potential benefit of a ban, he considered it "a bet worth making".

After reviewing the evidence, France's public health watchdog ANSES ruled last week that social media had numerous detrimental effects for adolescentsparticularly girlswhile not being the sole reason for their declining mental health.

Everything in moderation?

Noetel led research published in Psychological Bulletin last year that reviewed more than 100 studies worldwide on the links between screens and the psychological and emotional problems suffered by children and adolescents.

The findings suggested a vicious cycle.

Excessive screen timeparticularly using social media and playing video gameswas associated with problems. This distress then drove youngsters to look at their screens even more.

However, other researchers are wary of a blanket ban.

Ben Singh from the University of Adelaide tracked more than 100,000 young Australians over three years for a study published in JAMA Pediatrics.

The study found that the young people with the worst wellbeing were those who used social media heavilymore than two hours a dayor not at all. It was teens who used social networks moderately that fared the best.

"The findings suggest that both excessive restriction and excessive use can be problematic," Singh told AFP.

Again, girls suffered the most from excessive use. Being entirely deprived of social media was found to be most detrimental for boys in their later teens.

'Appallingly toxic'

French psychiatrist Serge Tisseron is among those who have long warned about the huge threat that screens pose to health.

"Social media is appallingly toxic," he told AFP.

But he feared a ban would easily be overcome by tech-savvy teens, at the same time absolving parents of responsibility.

"In recent years, the debate has become extremely polarized between an outright ban or nothing at all," he said, calling for regulation that walks a finer line.

Another option could be to wait and see how the Australian experiment pans out.

"Within a year, we should know much more about how effective the Australian social media ban has been and whether it led to any unintended consequences," Cambridge University researcher Amy Orben said.

Last week, Australia's online safety watchdog said that tech companies have already blocked 4.7 million accounts for under 16s.

 2026 AFP
US Exim Bank aims to finance Vietnam Airlines purchase of 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in mid-2026

By Tri Duc Mon, January 19, 2026 | 5:05 pm GMT+7

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (US Exim Bank) aims to issue a Preliminary Commitment as early as this summer for financing Vietnam Airliness planned purchase of 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

David Fiore, vice president of Transportation at US Exim Bank. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines.

David Fiore, vice president of Transportation at US Exim Bank, made the statement at a recent working session with Vietnam Airlines, according to the national flag carrier's Monday release.

Both sides would continue close coordination to advance toward a Final Commitment in line with the agreed timeline, the executive added.

At the meeting, Vietnam Airlines said it is accelerating its air cargo strategy, with plans to introduce dedicated freighter aircraft from 2026.

The carrier also outlined plans to establish a regional aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hub at Long Thanh International Airport, positioning Vietnam as a leading MRO center in Southeast Asia.

The carrier also noted its strong recovery and restructuring roadmap, targeting the elimination of accumulated losses during the 2026-2030 period.

Vietnam Airlines chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa said the airlines aims to achieve an average annual growth of over 10% inthe next five years, with total passenger traffic projected to reach 168 million and cargo volume exceeding 2.25 million tons.

By 2030, the airline plans to expand its fleet to approximately 151 aircraft, with a strategic emphasis on narrowbody aircraft to enhance flight frequency, operational flexibility, and cost efficiency.

Vietnam Airlines (HoSE: HVN) reported its consolidated revenue reached more than VND123 trillion ($4.68 billion) in 2025, up 10% from a year earlier. This means it earned VND336 billion ($12.79 million) in daily revenue, an all-time high in the carrier's 30 years of operation.

Pre-tax consolidated profit rose to VND8.45 trillion ($321.6 million), rising marginally by 0.4%, reflecting improvements in operational efficiency following a period of market disruption.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), HVN shares closed Monday at VND28,300 ($1.1) apiece.
Vietnams growth story to sustain momentum: foreign business leaders

By Minh Tuan Mon, January 19, 2026 | 8:00 am GMT+7

On occasion of Vietnam's 14th National Party Congress, scheduled for January 19-25, 2025, The Investor talks with some foreign business leaders on the countrys socio-economic achievements in the past five-year term and expectations for the next five years.

Decorations in Hanoi ahead of the 14th Party Congress. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.

Ko Tae Yeon, chairman of KoCham in Vietnam

Korean firms view Vietnam as strategic medium- and long-term partner

Ko Tae Yeon, chairman of KoCham in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of KoCham.

Looking ahead to the next five years, we believe Vietnam is entering a phase in which growth quality and the development model will matter more than headline expansion alone. After a period of rapid progress and significant achievements, the key question is how to sustain and consolidate these gains in a stable, long-term manner.

Our discussions with businesses indicate that a stable policy environment, greater institutional predictability, and consistent implementation are increasingly valued over short-term incentives. When these fundamentals are in place, companies are better positioned to expand investment and pursue strategies anchored in a medium- and long-term outlook.

In the period ahead, we expect Vietnam to continue shifting toward higher value-added industries, technology-driven manufacturing, and accelerated digital transformation. In this process, FDI enterprises will serve not only as investors, but also as long-term partners - bringing expertise, technology, and resources that can support Vietnams development objectives.

South Korean businesses, in particular, increasingly view Vietnam as a strategic partner over the medium and long term, rather than simply a production base. If policies and institutions continue to improve in terms of stability and transparency - alongside upgrades to financial and administrative infrastructure - Vietnam-Korea economic cooperation over the next five years will be well placed to deepen meaningfully, both in scale and in quality.

Adam Sitkoff, executive director of AmCham Hanoi

AmCham committed to supporting Vietnams next phase of development

Adam Sitkoff, executive director of AmCham Hanoi. Photo by The Investor/Minh Tuan.

The Party Congress is a significant milestone and important event in the political life of the Vietnamese people. After 80 years of independence and four decades of implementing Doi moi (reform), AmCham is confident that decisions at the Party Congress will continue Vietnam's journey of economic transformation.

Today, the United States is both one of Vietnams leading sources of investment and its largest export market - evidence of the deep and growing ties between our two economies. AmCham has consistently been a partner for Vietnam in building an open, dynamic, and innovative economy. We look forward to further reforms to empower private enterprises, strengthen governance, reduce unnecessary restrictions, and foster innovation.

AmCham and our members are invested in Vietnam's long-term success. We remain committed to supporting the countrys next phase of development and strategic drive for faster and more sustainable economic growth.

Marcus Persson, country manager of Business Sweden in Vietnam

Swedish companies view Vietnam more than a production base

Marcus Persson, country manager of Business Sweden in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of EVN.

Vietnam has emerged as one of Southeast Asias most dynamic growth stories during the 2021-2025 period. Following the global disruption caused by Covid-19, the economy demonstrated strong resilience and a rapid recovery, outperforming expectations in terms of GDP growth, export performance, and progress toward higher-value economic activities. Foreign direct investment has been a central driver of this performance.

Vietnam is currently Swedens largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and Swedish companies increasingly view Vietnam not only as a production base, but also as a strategic hub within the China+1 diversification strategy, supported by competitive costs, a young workforce, and strong global market connectivity.

Looking ahead, Business Sweden sees Vietnam entering a new phase of development characterized by strong ambition, active state stewardship, and a greater focus on long-term structural transformation. Vietnams leadership has articulated a clear development agenda centered on economic resilience, national competitiveness, and institutional discipline.

Business Sweden also sees growing opportunities in Vietnams economic diplomacy, particularly in promoting international cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and the green transition. Sweden and Swedish companies stand ready to support Vietnam in these areas.

Confidence among Swedish firms remains high. In Business Swedens 2025 Business Climate Survey, 89% of respondents indicated plans to either increase or maintain their level of investment in Vietnam over the coming years, underscoring Vietnams continued attractiveness as a long-term strategic partner.

Yun Liu, ASEAN economist at HSBC Global Research

HSBC expects Vietnams sound fundamentals to sustain

Yun Liu, ASEAN economist at HSBC Global Research. Photo courtesy of the bank.

In the period of 2021-2025, Vietnam has proved its remarkable economic resilience, with growth averaging at 6.2%. The country has weathered through many challenges well, including a swift post-Covid recovery and strong growth defying the tariff typhoons.

Trade has surged to a record high with widening market share in the U.S. and China, while Vietnam has climbed up the value chain, exporting more products from textiles/footwear to consumer electronics. Vietnams trade outperformance is related to the consistent high-quality FDI inflows into Vietnam, covering a wide range of sectors.

We expect Vietnams sound fundamentals to continue, capturing its trade outperformance, demographic dividends and attractiveness as an investment destination. For Vietnam, the question is how to further move up the value chain in the manufacturing sector and nurture talents and equip them with the adequate skillsets needed in these strategic sectors.
Gia cao su tai cac thi truong chinh hom nay (3/2) dien bien giang co, thi truong co ky vong vao nhu cau tieu thu trong nam toi tuy nhien cac tin hieu chua ro rang. Trong nuoc, tiep tuc giu nhip on inh, gia thu mua nguyen lieu tai cac doanh nghiep lon gan nhu khong oi, cho thay nen tang cung - cau noi ia van tuong oi vung.
RIP Mark Brnovich, Election Integrity Champion By Rachel Alexander

web posted January 19, 2026

The author and Brnovich I was devastated to hear that our former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich died of a heart attack at age 59 a week ago, just two days after we'd last texted. He was a longtime good friend going back to our days working together as Assistant Attorneys General for the Arizona Attorney General's Office. We shared an office wall and hit it off instantly when we discovered that he had written a conservative column for Arizona State University and I had written a conservative column for the University of Arizona. After he became the Arizona Attorney General, I wrote countless articles about his efforts looking into wrongdoing in the 2020 election and prosecuting election crimes. But strangely, due to the mainstream media spinning their coverage of him to make him appear to be soft on that issue, a false perception grew that he wasn't tough enough. Critics attacked him for saying there was no election wrongdoing immediately after the 2020 election. But that was taken out of context, he merely said he hadn't personally seen any yet the first couple of days. People confused him with former Governor Doug Ducey, telling me that he'd certified the 2020 election results  but that was Ducey, they were mistaken. In reality, Brnovich doggedly pursued investigations through his election integrity champion attorney Jennifer Wright. He'd created an election integrity unit which she led on the civil side. After the election, Brnovich told the Maricopa County Supervisors to increase the number of ballots counted by hand from 2 percent to 5 percent, but they refused. Then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs demanded that Brnovich shut down the audit, but he didn't . He forced the supervisors to turn over materials they were withholding from the audit, threatened to withhold their funding and filed a brief defending the audit. He released a preliminary interim report which found that 100,000 to 200,000 ballots lacked a chain of custody. He intervened and prevented the illegal "curing" of ballots with no signatures. But the supervisors constantly thwarted his efforts. Wright sent them four letters demanding equipment and data to investigate the 2020 election, and they refused to turn much of it over. Without it, a full investigation by his office or the Arizona Senate was never performed. Election integrity expert John Droz wrote about how a full investigation of elections cannot be conducted without three aspects: a voter forensic audit, a machine forensic audit and ballot process forensic audit. The Maricopa County audit never got to much of this. Brnovich was one of the most aggressive attorneys general in the country combating the problem. When Hobbs refused to defend the state's new law banning ballot harvesting, Brnovich intervened and represented the state all the way to the Supreme Court, winning a victory in Brnovich v. DNC. People demanded prosecutions, and Brnovich is one of very few prosecutors who did, putting a Democratic operative and official behind bars for ballot harvesting. He went to court and successfully stopped then-Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes from illegally mailing thousands of ballots to voters in 2020 who didn't request them. He issued a cease-and-desist letter to a ballot harvesting operation. Brnovich led a coalition of states to defend North Carolina's voter ID law and backed a Georgia law in court. He sued Hobbs over her failure to provide a lawful state Election Procedures Manual, since she refused to include provisions prohibiting unstaffed drop boxes, requiring signature verification for non-mailed early ballots and preserving the requirement that voters vote in their precinct. He asked for a criminal investigation into Hobbs. Meanwhile, he was undermined constantly by the deep state in his criminal division, who he couldn't get rid of since they were merit protected. When True the Vote brought their investigation featured in the movie 2,000 Mules to his office, the deep staters wanted to turn it around and prosecute True the Vote! He shut that down, but it was difficult dealing with the renegades, one who used to walk around outside by himself wearing double masks. Brnovich sued the Biden administration more than almost any other attorney general (other than Ken Paxton). But for his efforts, the left filed 12 bogus bar complaints against him and his staff, putting them through misery for a couple of years fighting them. Finally, the State Bar of Arizona agreed to diversion agreements with them. But this meant they were being watched closely. Brnovich told me numerous times not to tell him anything negative about the assaults on him, because due to his health issues, his heart couldn't handle the stress. He'd send me anguished texts about the bar investigations. President Donald Trump nominated Brnovich to be ambassador to Serbia. However, due to deep state opposition, his nomination was withdrawn. In his final days, he worked for a large leftist law firm, Boies, Schiller, Flexner (David Boies was a prominent lawyer for Al Gore), and was under a lot of stress in order to survive there without controversy. I believe the lawfare against him directly contributed to his heart attack. Brnovich was so much in the public eye, known nationwide, and subjected to so many vicious attacks that the stress was immense. At the same time, he walked a tightrope, because his wonderful wife Susan had become a U.S. District Court judge, putting even more pressure on them to avoid becoming targets. Brnovich had a joyful, fun spirit, which is why so many of us were drawn to him. He had an incredible career, which included as a prosecutor for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, director of the Arizona Department of Gaming, Command Staff Judge Advocate for the United States Army National Guard and head of the Goldwater Institute's constitutional division. He was very close friends with UK Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, and with that party poised to sweep the election in 2028, I believe Brnovich's next move would have been to work for Farage when he becomes prime minister. We will miss you, nunchucks . Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home

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Is Canada's "warming" just politically driven data corruption? By Tom Harris

web posted January 19, 2026 "Canada is warming at roughly double the global average rate," according to scientists at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). But it looks like this claim, regularly repeated by politicians and media across the board, is yet another example of made up evidence to support a politically correct narrative. And, given that Canada represents such a large fraction of global land surface area, one naturally wonders if the world is actually warming at anything like the rate we are told it is. A new report demonstrates that the data ECCC has been relying on may be hopelessly corrupted by fundamental mistakes that are responsible for almost all the supposed warming. Rather than being the poster child for global warming, Canada may actually be the latest example of why the public increasingly do not believe anything we are told by governments about climate change. Scientists can certainly make errors when analysing data, but sometimes, instruments or other effects can lead to skewed data that is more difficult to detect. When it comes to climate change, such errors can have devastating consequences since severe climate change policies based on flawed studies not only affects businesses, but all citizens who are forced to pay for "climate action" and costly and unreliable alternative energy technologies. On December 23rd, the report " Artificial stepwise increases in homogenized surface air temperature data invalidate published climate warming claims for Canada " was released by Dr. Joseph Hickey, a data scientist with a PhD in Physics (Complexity Science). The report was published by CORRELATION Research in the Public Interest, a registered not-for-profit corporation based in Ottawa, Canada, regarding what appears to be a significant error in Canada's temperature data from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), a temperature artifact that does not represent actual warming. This artifact could "be responsible for essentially all of the calculated warming for many Canadian locations over the past six or seven decades." The temperature dataset, the Adjusted and Homogenized Canadian Climate Data (AHCCD), was available to the public and is used for calculating long-term temperature trends in Canada as well as data for global temperature analyses. Hickey writes that "surface air temperature records are affected by many biasing factors, related to changes to instrumentation, observation methods and procedures, and the environment surrounding the instruments." This means that results published could be skewed to show warming, cooling, or varying trends when none exist. Using a wide variety of temperature monitoring stations, as well as comparing surface air temperatures records with other temperature records from satellites, for instance, will help minimize biased results. When data from different stations is combined to form long-term temperature records, gradual biases can cause the record to shift upward or downward even if there is no real temperature change. These biasing factors could include factors such as the growth of trees in the vicinity of the thermometer, aging of the thermometer, or other changes to the station's environment. In an attempt to make long-term climate trends meaningful, scientists adjust the data to remove these nonclimatic influences. They also homogenize the recordsthis means aligning data from different periods so that the dataset behaves as if the station had been measuring consistently all along. If these modifications are not made properly, the effect of these factors "influences the long-term trends calculated from the temperature series in a manner that is not reflective of regional climate variability but rather only the conditions in the local surroundings of the thermometer," Hickey writes. The AHCCD from ECCC consists of daily minimum, maximum, and mean surface air temperatures from hundreds of stations across Canada. Using this data, various scientists have calculated that the surface air temperature has increased 1  2 degrees Celsius over the past six to seven decades. Yet in 1998, a stepwise (sudden) increase of approximately 1 degree Celsius occurred in the temperature record at most stations across Canada. This increase could be responsible for almost all of the claimed warming calculated for Canada over the past six or seven decades. This leads Hickey to conclude that "The reported climate warming of Canada appears to be entirely from a temperature measurement artifact." Hickey also explains, "1998 is the year in which a set of 72 Canadian reference climatological stations were first added to the Global Climate Observing System (Milewska and Vincent 2016)." A coincidence that that is exactly when the sudden jump occurred? Not likely. Temperature data from Moncton, New Brunswick is shown below as an example to illustrate the increase. Temperature data from Dr. Hickey's report shows the mean (Tmean),

maximum (Tmax), and minimum (Tmin) temperatures recorded. The significant increase in temperature (a "step" in the data) occurred at many other stations throughout the country in exactly the same year. Such a sudden shift only becomes apparent after data from further years are collected, but it needs to be investigated to determine if it is natural or not. Despite the apparent flaw in their records, Environment Canada essentially dismissed the finding even when alerted to the artifact and other serious problems in their data by Hickey when he was a Bank of Canada employee. Hickey explains: "I sent figures showing the 1998 step-increase feature in the temperature records of many AHCCD stations to the Environment Canada researchers responsible for creating the AHCCD in emails in June and July of 2021, when I was employed as a data scientist at the Bank of Canada. These emails have since been obtained via an Access to Information (ATI) request to Environment Canada." "In her responses, Vincent [senior Environment Canada Research Climatologist Dr. Lucie A. Vincent] did not provide an explanation for the 1998 step-increase feature, but rather stated she had 'quickly checked the metadata [data before adjustment and homogenization] for some of the stations' and, on that basis, affirmed that the step-increase feature would not have been caused by the introduction of automated weather stations during the 1990s. In her final response, Vincent stated that '[w]e have not detected a positive shift around 1998 in the annual mean temperature of the selected stations due to automation or any other non-climatic causes' and that '[t]his shift [the 1998 step-increase feature] identified visually when the time series is focused on the 1960-2020 period is probably due to climate variability only.'" "Probably?" So, Canada is spending hundreds of billions of dollars largely based on data that the government scientist most involved in its generation can only say is "probably" indicative of real warming? Something she confirmed in part through "quickly checking the meta data." And, removing that questionable step change results in practically no real warming at all? Showing the map below in his report, where blue circles represent locations of cooling, and red warming, Hickey points out: "If anything, the two-decade trend in annual average temperature series for many AHCCD stations is negative post-1998." Citing numerous references from the scientific literature, Hickey explained in detail to Vincent in follow-up emails that the sharpness of the temperature increase and its magnitude indicate that it is not due to real climactic change. He also laid out a detailed analysis of potential sources of the artifact in his report, which could include land use changes and instrumentation changes. Both of these could easily cause a 1-degree shift in the temperature data. Moreover, he explained, "there are no other similar large and geographically widespread discontinuities in the AHCCD dataset at other years." Meaningfully, Hickey concludes in his Dec 23rd report (my bold): "The 1998 step-increase feature in the annually-averaged temperature time-series for many Canadian stations was therefore left essentially unaddressed by Environment Canada, and remains in place in the AHCCD dataset to this day, including in the 4th generation of the data,..." Hickey was not the only Bank of Canada employee to find fault with ECCC's temperature data. He writes: "On December 7, 2020, Bank of Canada Economist Julien McDonald-Guimond sent an email to Environment Canada researchers with an inquiry about the 2nd generation AHCCD daily temperature records, noting he had found some cases in which the daily minimum temperature (Tmin) was greater than the daily maximum temperature (Tmax) for the same day and for the same AHCCD station." In fact, there were more than 10,000 instances of days for which the daily minimum temperature was greater than the daily maximum temperature, in the 2nd generation of the AHCCD. Hickey writes (my bold): "McDonald-Guimond sent a second email on December 9, 2020 with an attached table listing the instances of Tmin > Tmax that he had foundThe attachment to McDonald-Guimond's December 9, 2020 email, which Environment Canada's Access to Information office initially failed to include in its release, was eventually provided...McDonald-Guimond's table contains 10,159 instances of daily temperature records with Tmin >Tmax. Affected records occurred in all Canadian provinces and territories. "A histogram of the differences Tmin  Tmax for the 10,159 instances shown in McDonald-Guimond's table is shown in Figure 10 [below]. "For the 10,159 instances, the median difference between Tmin and Tmax was 0.80C (vertical red line in Figure 10), the average difference was 1.21C, and the maximum difference, which was for Cape Dorset, Nunavut, on February 25, 1995, was 30C." [my bold] Environment Canada Climate Data Analyst Megan Hartwell replied to McDonald-Guimond on January 13, 2021 that "We [ECCC] were quite surprised by the frequency of the issue you reported, and have taken some time to go through the data carefully." That ECCC were surprised by McDonald-Guimond's finding is cause enough to worry. But the fact that they now "have taken some time to go through the data carefully" begs the question: didn't they go through the data carefully before releasing it the first time? Hartwell's excuse that the homogenized data has since been updated to a later version, while admitting that "the AHCCD site-page has not been updated yet and does not introduce the third generation" hardly boosts public confidence. This situation is far too complicated to be explained fully in a brief article such as this, so I encourage interested parties to read Dr. Hickey's December 23, 2025 report and judge for yourself if we can trust ECCC's claim that the increase in Canada's average temperature (a specious parameter to begin with) is anything close to the amounts they claim, and on which the government of Canada is basing multi-billion dollar climate policies. When this apparent blunder is finally fixed, government scientists should be compelled to publish the corrected results just as prominently as they announced their initial findings. And, in the meantime, we should be grateful that experts like Hickey and McDonald-Guimond are prepared to engage in skeptical inquiry of their government peers about data that has contributed to climate policies that we all pay for. Tom Harris is executive director of Ottawa, Canada-based International Climate Science Coalition . Mary-Jean Harris, B.Sc., M.Sc. (physics) contributed to this article. Home

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PHOENIX  Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is going to get some legal help in his battle over the demand by Attorney General Pam Bondi for the state's voter registration records.

Both the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Common Cause have filed legal papers asking U.S. District Court Judge Susan Brnovich that they be allowed to intervene in the lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice demanding access to the full and unredacted records of nearly 5 million Arizonans who are signed up to vote.

Fontes has already said he will fight the demand by the Department of Justice, contending that what it wants is precluded by both federal and state privacy laws.

He even told Capitol Media Services he is "willing to go to jail'' to protect the information, saying that a top official in Bondi's office who has been pushing the demand "can pound sand.''

Attorneys for both organizations, in their filing in federal court here, acknowledge what Fontes is doing.

But they also say that they and their members have their own unique and legally protectable interests in preserving the privacy of those records. More to the point, they contend that if Fontes is ordered to surrender the records, the information could be used to try to remove people, including their members, from voter rolls -- and do so in ways they believe are illegal.

Central to the case  and similar ones filed in nearly two dozen other states  is the argument by the Department of Justice that it needs the information to "protect American elections.''

It also contends that Congress has empowered the attorney general to enforce various federal laws designed to ensure that voter registration lists are accurate and properly maintained.

The lawyers for the two groups that have intervened in the case have a different perspective.

"In 1993, Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act, which charges states  not the federal government  with the administration of voter registration for elections for federal offices,'' wrote Sambo Dul.

She is the lawyer for the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, a group that has aligned itself in the past with Democratic interests. And in her legal papers, she said the Department of Justice, which now has sued 24 states, has an ulterior motive.

"It reportedly seeks to use the data to create a national voter database in an attempt to substantiate unfounded accusations that millions of non-citizens have voted illegally in recent elections,'' Dul wrote. "In recent public statements, moreover, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon made clear that DOJ also intends to use the information to attempt to compel removal of hundreds of thousands of voters from the rolls.''

Victoria Lopez, an attorney for the ACLU Foundation of Arizona, which represents Common Cause in its own motion to intervene in the case, has a similar take.

She pointed out that the Department of Justice wants all information on registered voters, including their full name, date of birth, residential address, and either the driver's license number or the last four digits of the person's social security number. And Lopez said state law prohibits that information from being publicly released.

"DOJ's request for private, sensitive voter data appears to be in connection with never-before-seen efforts by the United States to construct a national voter database, and to otherwise use untested forms of database matching to scrutinize voter rolls,'' she told the judge. And that, Lopez said, includes comparing it to records of the Department of Homeland Security.

Lopez also pointed out to Brnovich that a federal judge in California last week dismissed a nearly identical bid by the Department of Justice to access that state's 23 million voter registration records. U.S. District Court Judge David Carter called the government's request not only "extraordinary,'' but also "unprecedented and illegal.''

"The DOJ's request for sensitive information of Californians stands to have a chilling effect on American citizens, like political minority groups and working-class immigrants, who may consider not registering to vote or skip casting a ballot because they are worried about how their information will be used,'' he said.

"There cannot be unbridled consolidation of all election power in the Executive without action from Congress and public debate,'' Carter wrote in his 34-page ruling. "This is antithetical to the promise of fair and free elections our country promises and the franchise that civil rights leaders died for.''

And the judge rejected claims by the Department of Justice that various federal laws, including the Civil Rights Act, intended to allow it to have the information it needs.

"Congress' intent was clear  ensuring that all Americans, regardless of race, are able to vote without fear or distress,'' he wrote of those statutes.

"The DOJ cannot go beyond the boundaries provided by Congress and use these legislative tools in a manner that wholly disregards the separation of powers provided for in the Constitution,'' Carter said. "Should Congress want to enable the Executive to centralize the private information of all Americans within the Executive Branch, Congress will have to clearly say so.''
By Sam Tobin

LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - BHP was on Monday refused permission to appeal against a ruling that it is liable for the 2015 collapse of a dam in southeastern Brazil, in a London lawsuit potentially worth tens of billions of pounds.

In November, London's High Court ruled BHP was legally responsible for the collapse of the Fundao dam in Mariana, southeastern Brazil, which was owned and operated by BHP and Vale's Samarco joint venture.

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BHP's application for permission to appeal that ruling was denied by the High Court, though BHP said it will apply directly to the Court of Appeal.

"We will take our appeal to the Court of Appeal," a BHP spokesperson said in a statement. "BHP will continue to robustly defend the remaining phases of this action in parallel.

"Brazil is the most appropriate avenue to provide full and fair remediation to those impacted."

The claimants' lawyers have previously valued the lawsuit, one of the largest in English legal history, at up to 36 billion pounds ($48.26 billion) and were seeking nearly 200 million pounds in legal fees after their initial victory.

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The initial stage of the case was to determine whether BHP was liable to the claimants, with a further trial to decide on damages to be paid due to begin in October, with a ruling likely at some point in mid-2027.

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians, dozens of local governments and around 2,000 businesses sued BHP over the collapse of the Fundao dam, which was Brazil's worst environmental disaster.

The collapse unleashed a wave of toxic sludge that killed 19 people, left thousands homeless, flooded forests and polluted the length of the Doce River.

Judge Finola O'Farrell ruled last year that BHP should not have continued to raise the height of the dam, which ultimately caused its collapse.

($1 = 0.7459 pounds)

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by William James)
By Tamara Vaal and Felix Light

ASTANA/ALMATY, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will join the "Board of Peace" proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, their press secretaries said on Monday.

The board would be chaired for life by Trump and would start by addressing the Gaza conflict and then be expanded to deal with other conflicts, according to a copy of the letter and draft charter seen by Reuters.

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Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been courted by Trump, who has invited both presidents to the G20 in Miami in December.

Kazakhstan is a major energy exporter which borders China and has pipelines to Europe, while Uzbekistan has the biggest population in Central Asia. Tokayev and Mirziyoyev each took over from a long-ruling, Soviet-era leader in the last decade.

Trump has sought to deepen U.S. ties with Central Asia, where Russia and China have traditionally held major sway. Last year, he hosted the leaders of all five Central Asian countries at the White House.

Tokayev's spokesman, Ruslan Zheldibay, said that Kazakhstan's leader was one of the first to receive an invitation from Trump to join the new board. Kazakhstan's invitation was first reported by local outlet TengriNews.

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"The head of state sent a letter to the president of the United States expressing sincere gratitude and confirming his agreement to join this new association," Zheldibay said.

"President K. Tokayev confirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East, strengthening interstate trust and global stability," he added.

Uzbek President Mirziyoyev's press secretary, Sherzod Asadov, wrote on Telegram: "The head of our state sent a reply to his American counterpart, in which he expressed Uzbekistan's readiness to join the Board of Peace as a founding member state."

Trump has invited 60 countries to join the "Board of Peace". Permanent membership will be available to those who pay $1 billion.

(Reporting by Tamara Vaal in Astana and Felix Light in Almaty; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Andrew Osborn/Peter Graff)
Donald Trumps 2024 campaign manager has abandoned a lawsuit against the Daily Beast.

Chris LaCivita, who co-managed Trumps election victory with Susie Wiles, halted his legal action on the Friday night before Mondays MLK Day federal holiday, despite having initially posted on X: F--- Around Find Out, and boasting, Im really looking forward to making my case in front of a jury.

The Beast did not retract the story, made no apology, and gave no cash payment, all of which are common in settlements.

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LaCivita brought his suit over a Beast report from October 2024, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Isikoff, about the millions that flowed into his company, Advancing Strategies LLC, while he was managing Trumps campaign. He also sued over four other reports that followed it.

LaCivita was Trumps co-campaign manager in 2024 and is now a prolific lobbyist and campaign aide to other Republicans. / Andrew Harnik / AP (Andrew Harnik)

The reports, based on public Federal Election Commission records, said that LaCivitas LLC was paid $22 million over two years leading up to the election, a figure that was reduced in later reporting to $19.2 million. The Beast also noted that the funds could have passed through the LLC to other vendors.

The Atlantic had reported in November 2024 that a furious Trump had interrogated LaCivita about the figure in a tense session on his campaign plane, then told LaCivita, You should sue those b----rds. Trump later teased LaCivita, The Atlantics Tim Alberta reported.

This was the profane way LaCivita told followers about his suit, which he ended on a Friday night before a federal holiday. / ChrisLaCivita/X

LaCivitas high-profile attorney, Mark Geragos, had filed two counts of defamation and one of conspiracy to injure another in trade, business, or profession, in federal court in Richmond, Virginia. He claimed the money was passed through the LLC and was not the money which Mr. LaCivita personally received. Geragoswho also represents the Menendez Brothershad not specified the damages he was seeking if victorious. The suit demanded triple damages and said, It is estimated that it would cost millions of dollars to repair Mr. LaCivitas reputation.

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The Beast had vowed to defend the suit, calling it meritless. The news site was represented by Kate Bolger of Davis Wright Tremaine, the leading New York First Amendment law firm, and by John McGavin of McGavin, Boyce, Bardot, Thorsen & Katz, PC, of Fairfax, Virginia.

This was LaCivita in Albania, where his LLC received $1.6 million from the party of a failed presidential candidate who he said would make Albania great again. / The Swamp

In a statement last March, the Beast said, The Daily Beast stands by its reporting on Chris LaCivita. His lawsuit is meritless and a transparent attempt to intimidate the Beast and silence the independent press. The Beast will defend itself vigorously and looks forward to following the money to confirm where every penny flowed in LaCivitas LLC.

The Beast went to court in November last year to ask a federal judge to dismiss the case out of hand. It also issued subpoenas to dozens of third parties, which will now be withdrawn. District Judge Henry E. Hudson had still to rule on the motion to dismiss when LaCivita agreed to settle. He received no apology or payment.

LaCivitas decision ends one of the many lawsuits brought by Trump and his acolytes against media companies since the election. The Wall Street Journal is continuing to fight a $10 billion suit over its report that he wrote a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein with an apparent line drawing of a naked girl, his signature representing pubic hair, and the ending, may every day be another wonderful secret. Other media organizations, however, have paid Trump large sums to end lawsuits, including ABC, which paid $15 million, and CBS, which paid $16 million.

LaCivita (left) and Wiles (second left) co-managed Trump's campaign. / Brian Snyder/Reuters

When the campaign ended, LaCivita did not enter government service, like Wiles. He has instead secured jobs as a Trump whisperer and been paid by campaigns at home and abroad.

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Most recently, Semafor revealed that he is advising Warner Brothers Discovery, the owners of CNN, HBO, and the historic movie studios, on its mooted takeover by Netflix, a deal that Trump himself has said he will weigh in on.

In November, The New York Times disclosed that his firm had been paid $1.6 million by the Albanian opposition for advice on its campaign to re-elect the countrys former president Sali Berisha. LaCivita worked with pardoned felon Paul Manafort, himself a former Trump campaign manager, to position Berisha as a Trump-like figure, even saying he would Make Albania Great Again. The candidate was resoundingly defeated and still faces corruption charges.

In the U.S., LaCivita was appointed to crypto giant Coinbases advisory council in January 2025, a month before the Securities Exchange Commission dropped a lawsuit against the crypto firm; is senior adviser to Building Americas Future, the Elon Musk-funded Republican PAC; advises America250, the non-partisan body which is managing celebrations of the nations semiquincentennial, thanks to an appointment by Trump; in another Trump move, was made a commissioner for the American Battle Monuments Commission; and works as a consultant with Republican public affairs firm Michael Best strategies.

He has picked up multiple campaign roles including at least four Republican Senate campaigns. He was appointed to advise Texas Senator John Cornyn on his heavily contested re-election campaign; is a senior adviser to South Carolinas Lindsey Graham who is also facing a contested primary; is aiding former Congressman Mike Rogers in Michigan; and is advising Ashley Moody, the Florida senator who filled Marco Rubios seat and who wants to secure it permanently in November. In Florida he is also advising Byron Donalds, the MAGA-aligned congressman running for governor in November who has already been endorsed by Trump.

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And the enlisted Marine veteran and Virginia Commonwealth University graduate was a prestigious Pritzker Visiting Fellow at the University of Chicago last year.

It is not just LaCivita personally who has prospered since the Trump re-election. So has his family.

His daughter Victoria is now the White Houses regional communications director. His son, Chris LaCivita Jr., who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2022 and worked as a digital marketing specialist for a hunting company, is now registered to lobby for dozens of clients through a Republican lobbying firm called Checkmate. He is personally an adviser to the American Conservation Coalition and Nature is Non-Partisan.
US President Donald Trump told Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre that he no longer feels bound to think purely of Peace because the Norwegian Nobel Committee did not award him the Nobel Peace Prize.

In an extraordinary text message to Stre, first reported by PBS and confirmed by an official in the Norwegian prime ministers office, Trump linked his repeated threats to seize control of Greenland to the fact that he has not been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has long coveted.

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America, Trump wrote.

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Stre said he received the message in reply to a text he and Finnish President Alexander Stubb sent Trump, in which the Nordic leaders conveyed our opposition to his announced tariff increases against Norway, Finland and select other countries.

He said in a statement that he has clearly explained, including to president Trump what is well known, the (Nobel Peace) prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.

Trumps missive came after he threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on goods from several European countries over their opposition to his plan to acquire Greenland, an autonomous part of Denmark, a fellow NATO member, from February 1. Trumps threats have rattled NATO as the alliance based on collective defense confronts the prospect that one member might use force against another.

Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also, Trump said in his message.

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Greenland, a vast Arctic island, was incorporated into Denmark in 1953 as part of global decolonization movements in the wake of World War II. It is self-governing, but its defense, security and monetary policy are still controlled by Denmark.

I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland, Trump said in his note to Stre.

Although the US has been the bedrock of Euro-Atlantic security for decades, and spent far more on defense in that period than any other NATO member, many NATO allies participated in recent US wars. Forty-three Danes died fighting in Afghanistan following the 2001 invasion.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado holds a press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, a day after the award ceremony, in Oslo, Norway, on December 11. - Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

At a news conference in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and the US, and a proud NATO member that has stood shoulder to shoulder with us, including at real human cost.

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UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said later Monday that Trumps tariff threats were no way to treat allies. She told the UKs House of Commons the escalating rift marked a serious moment for our transatlantic discussions and partnerships.

Meanwhile, the EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe was not interested in picking a fight with the US over Greenland while cautioning that the bloc would hold our ground. Greenlands Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen took a similar stance, saying his country would stand firm on dialogue, but wouldnt let itself be pressured by the US.

Trumps message came after Stre and Stubb texted the US president about the additional tariffs he had threatened over Greenland. We believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate  so much is happening around us where we need to stand together, the Nordic leaders wrote, according to an official in Stres office.

The Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 peace prize to Maria Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuelas democratic opposition, who last week gifted her medal to Trump when the pair met in Washington. Trump said it was a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.

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The Nobel Committee since, however, clarified that while the physical medal may change hands, the honor itself cannot be transferred.

CNNs Issy Ronald and Billy Stockwell contributed reporting.

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Israel's October 7 wartime heroes, both celebrated and unsung

By Paul Driessen

web posted January 19, 2026

Throughout its history, Israel's wartime and peacetime heroes have been feted  in biblical sagas, news stories, films and ceremonies. Many more warriors and first responders were just unsung heroes.



On October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas terrorists and Gaza civilians invaded Israel, to murder, rape, mutilate, torture, loot and kidnap. Parents and grandparents, children and babies, guest workers and pets alike were slaughtered. Terrorist cell phones and GoPros recorded and broadcasted their savagery.



Once again, Israel's heroes responded. An all-female tank unit raced south to engage terrorists, saving hundreds of lives. Fathers, mothers, soldiers and citizens  Israeli and Bedouin  used personal vehicles to rescue hundreds of relatives, friends and total strangers along roads, in kibbutzim and at the Nova music festival. Warriors at the Sderot police station battled scores of terrorists to the death.



A family turned its courtyard into a field hospital, a nearby ditch into a temporary morgue. From there and other locations, wounded soldiers and civilians went to Soroka Hospital, where doctors and nurses triaged and saved 676 casualties in 16 hours, including a wounded terrorist. Or to Sheba Hospital, where emergency teams treated another never-ending flow of wounded on stretchers. Every patient survived!



Military rabbis, forensic workers and ZAKA volunteers transformed Shura Base into "gates to heaven" for the dead, whom they identified and prepared for burial with immeasurable physical and spiritual reverence. In too many cases, they needed x-rays, MRIs and DNA tests to identify remains.



Civilians were relocated to safer areas from the devastated southern region around Gaza.



A day later, Hezbollah joined Hamas's genocidal war to eliminate Israelis and other non-Muslims.



Israel's northern region was largely evacuated because, again, anyone who stayed behind was constantly at risk from sniper, rocket and missile attacks. First responders, however, said good-bye to their families and prepared to face forest fires and burning homes and buildings.



For 18 months, they worked 12-16 hours a day battling blazes caused by Hezbollah rockets and missiles  and by falling red-hot pieces from them and Iron Dome defensive missiles. Summer drought conditions and high winds often fanned small fires into infernos.



My wife and I met some of them last year in Kiryat Shmona, a city once remembered because Palestinian terrorists slipped across the nearby border from Lebanon in April 1974 and murdered eight children, eight adults and two soldiers. (Its name means "city of the eight," commemorating eight fighters who died defending settlements during 1920 Arab attacks.)



For decades Kiryat Shmona and nearby towns were assaulted by Hezbollah rifles, rockets and missiles. Terrorists operated with impunity close to UN "peacekeeper" outposts. Residents often had less than 20 seconds after sirens sounded to reach home, office, street, school or playground bomb shelters.



The terrorism multiplied tenfold after October 7. Every day, the region was hit by 6070 to as many as 200 rockets and missiles. Fires raged almost daily from October 8, 2023 to the 2025 semi-ceasefire.



In nearby Metula, a Hezbollah rocket set a house on fire. When the family visited it the next day, Hezbollah snipers shot at them and fired an RPG, wounding a family member. Acting Station Commander Eli Mor said.



Strong winds quickly fanned one forest fire into 14 large blazes. Half of all the trucks and units in the north were needed to extinguish it. A firetruck caught fire and was a total loss. Other equipment was simply old, broken down, in constant need of repair, and poorly maintained because replacement parts were hard to find and the trucks were constantly in use, he said.



Insufficient personnel, due to many men and women reservists serving extensive duty, meant months of prolonged shifts on the frontlines. Firefighting helicopters and airplanes couldn't be flown because they might be shot down.



Many replacement vehicles will likely be bulletproof, because terrorists frequently target them and first responders. Where else in the world must firetrucks and ambulances be armored-up and take backroads instead of direct routes to fires, to evade terrorists?



First responders had to watch for RPGs and anti-tank missiles  and hit the ground to the left or right of where they're standing, to avoid being blown up. During the war, twenty northern firefighters were injured by terrorist bullets and missiles, but none died.



Fire and rescue stations are bombproofed and fortified, to safeguard against attacks by rockets, missiles and infiltrators. First responders carry handguns and M-16s, along with axes and hoses.



Kiryat Shmona's newest pumper truck carries 12,000 liters of water: 11,000 for normal blazes and 1,000 to make foam for electric fires, Shift Commander Gadi Azulai explained.



During the war, trucks often had to race out with only partly filled water tanks  hoping they would arrive while a fire was still small. Waiting to fill the tank, or for reinforcements, could mean the fire became impossible to control. Most often, the gamble paid off. But not always.



The north has more water than most parts of Israel. However, especially during dry summer months, water is scarce and sources can be far away. Local reservoirs, many built by the Jewish National Fund, are essential. They're refilled during rainy seasons  or by surprising sources.



Imprisoned terrorists often continue their "from the river to the sea" war by taking endless showers and continuously flushing toilets, to waste as much desalinated water as possible. Any prison guard who tries stopping them would likely be condemned or even prosecuted by the "international community"  for violating prisoners' human rights to good hygiene.



Israel's innovative response? They connected prison wastewater systems to treatment plants that feed reservoirs serving farmers and firefighters, Azulai chuckled.



Southern Israeli firefighters, police and ambulance teams in communities east of Gaza (the Otef) worked just as tirelessly and courageously.



For years before the October 7 war, Otef firefighters fought "arson terrorism" fires started by thousands of incendiary devices that Hamas flew into Israel to turn wheatfields and nature preserves into charcoal. On October 7  using intel collected by Gaza workers employed by Israelis  terrorists incinerated houses, to force families to choose between being burned alive and coming out of homes and safe rooms to be raped, murdered and kidnapped.



Just as in the north, firefighters, volunteer units and local residents weren't just fighting flames. They were also dodging bullets and RPGs, while trying to rescue neighbors and friends. Hamas RPGs also struck at least 18 Magen David Adom ambulances, destroying eight and killing many crews and wounded patients.



These first responders are truly unsung heroes, who deserve the recognition and acclaim most will receive only from families and friends. My friend Lane Brody's song, All the Unsung Heroes, beautifully captures their spirit, devotion, resolve and sacrifice.



We owe the same tributes to millions of Iranian resisters who are bravely facing prison, torture and death to end the vicious tyrannical regime of theocratic mullahs  and hopefully bringing a new era of peace and prosperity to Persia, Israel and the Middle East.

Paul Driessen has visited Israel many times and seen its archeological treasures, modern innovations, multi-ethnic communities and recent tragedies firsthand. He writes frequently about Israel and the October 7 war and wrote and worked with Maya Lin and Lane Brody on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial documentary "All the Unsung Heroes."
This morning, the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam convened its preparatory session at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.

Party and State leaders attend the preparatory session of the 14th National Party Congress.

Prior to the session, delegates paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and offered incense at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs.

The entire Congress then observed one minute of silence in memory of former General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and members of the 13th Central Committee who passed away during the last term.

Chairing the preparatory session was Tran Thanh Man, Politburo member and Chairman of the National Assembly.

The Congress voted overwhelmingly in favor of the sessions agenda, the Congress's working regulations, and its electoral procedures.

Delegates attend the preparatory session.

One of the key outcomes of the session was the election of the Presidium, which includes all 16 members of the Politburo.

In addition, the Congress elected a five-member Secretariat and a 13-member Delegate Qualification Committee.

Photo: Vietnam News Agency

The Delegate Qualification Committee presented its report, which was unanimously approved. Accordingly, all 1,586 delegates summoned to attend the Congress were confirmed to be fully eligible.

In the afternoon, delegates returned to their accommodations to study official documents and materials in preparation for the Congress's working sessions.

Tran Thuong
A total of 1,586 delegates representing more than 5.6 million Party members nationwide are attending the Congress. The official opening ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

The session was chaired by Tran Thanh Man, Politburo member and Chairman of the National Assembly.

Politburo member and Standing Secretary of the Secretariat, Tran Cam Tu, delivered the opening remarks, officially launching the preparatory meeting of the 14th Congress.

During the session, Pham Gia Tuc, Central Committee member and Chief of the Party Central Office, proposed that the Congress observe one minute of silence in memory of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other members of the 13th Party Central Committee who passed away during the previous term.

Earlier in the morning, before the preparatory session, all 1,586 delegates visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to pay tribute to the late President and offered incense at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs.

Chief of the Party Central Office Pham Gia Tuc proposes a minute of silence in memory of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and members of the 13th Central Committee who passed away.

The Congress observes one minute of silence.

Preparatory session of the 14th National Party Congress.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chairs the preparatory session.

Standing Secretary of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu delivers the opening remarks at the preparatory session of the 14th Congress.

General Secretary To Lam at the session.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the session.

Delegates attend the preparatory session.

Over 1,500 delegates attend the preparatory session of the 14th Congress.

Tran Thuong - Pham Hai
The 6th ADGMIN and related meetings, themed ASEAN Adaptive: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence, took place in Hanoi from January 12 to 16.

The Hanoi Declaration places special emphasis on strengthening intra-bloc digital cooperation to promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region through joint efforts based on equality and partnership, aiming to lay a solid foundation for a prosperous and peaceful ASEAN Community.

The Hanoi Declaration builds on the ASEAN leaders statement on advancing digital transformation, approved at the 38th ASEAN Summit in 2021. It calls for coordinated and inclusive digital transformation efforts across all ASEAN sectoral pillars, stressing the need to speed up inclusive, safe, and sustainable digital transformation within the bloc. The declaration also highlights promoting innovation, bridging the digital divide, and enhancing regional cooperation, towards building a people-centred, resilient, and digitally integrated ASEAN Community.

The declaration acknowledges the summary report of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, spotlighting key achievements, outcomes, and recommendations to further strengthen cooperation and enhance the regions digital competitiveness and readiness. It also provides important orientations for developing a new, forward-looking, and inclusive framework to coordinate intra-bloc digital cooperation for in 20262030.

It emphasises that artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging not just as a technology but as a critical new infrastructurean intelligent backbone underpinning the next phase of ASEANs digital transformation, shaping how societies function, economies grow, and governments deliver services.

AI is recognised as a key driver of the digital future, enabling ASEAN to proactively adapt to the shift from infrastructure connectivity to intelligence connectivity. This paves the way for the region to fully harness the benefits of AI-driven transformation, promoting deeper regional integration and building a trustworthy, innovative, and inclusive digital community.

The Hanoi Declaration agrees to shape ASEANs digital future through the adoption of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 20262030 (ADM 2030) as a pillar of regional digital integration, with the vision of building an inclusive, trustworthy, and innovative digital community that empowers all citizens and businesses to thrive in the global digital economy. Guided by this vision, ADM 2030 will steer both regional cooperation and the updating of national digital strategies, ensuring a coordinated rollout across ASEAN.

A view of the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

The declaration also highlights the development of intelligent, seamless, inclusive, and resilient digital infrastructure by integrating AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) for smart operations and predictive capabilities; enhancing network speed and coverage to ensure seamless connectivity; and diversifying access through broadband, 5G/6G, cloud services, data centres, low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and submarine cables to guarantee resilience and cross-border continuity.

The document advocates a trustworthy and secure digital ecosystem by enhancing regional cybersecurity resilience and strengthening cooperation to combat telecom fraud through the implementation of the ASEAN Guide on Anti-Scam Policies and Best Practices. It also encourages inclusive digital participation by expanding affordable and widespread connectivity, ensuring accessible technology for allincluding women, youth, rural communities, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groupswhile boosting digital capacity, fostering lifelong learning and responsible digital behaviour.

The Hanoi Declaration emphasises strengthening the digital workforce and talent pipeline for the future by encouraging collaboration in joint research and development (R&D) initiatives, academia-business partnerships, and engagement with global innovation platforms. It also promotes the sharing and development of ICT skills among colleges, universities, and training institutions. In parallel, the declaration aims to accelerate digital economic integration through the development of public digital infrastructure and interoperable data connectivity; advance seamless and paperless digital trade; enhance a secure, safe, and trustworthy cyberspace, including collective efforts to prevent online fraud; and support start-ups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMES), and digital businesses by improving access to technology and finance.

According to the document, ASEAN countries will intensify AI cooperation by promoting policy harmonisation and enhancing joint safety efforts under the guidance of the Working Group on AI Governance (WGAI) and ASEANs support mechanisms, including the ASEAN AI Safe Network, to boost the blocs capacity to address emerging AI opportunities and risks. The declaration also underlines green digital transformation by promoting energy-efficient digital infrastructure and low-carbon software practices, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into national and regional digital strategies, and increasing the use of renewable energy in data centres.

The declaration encourages collaboration with ASEANs dialogue partners and international organisations in funding, capacity building, technical cooperation, and innovation partnerships to realise ASEANs ambition of becoming a leading digital hub in the world./. VNA
Few months after Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation, Accelerated Infrastructure Capital (AIC) and VietinBank announced a 2-billion-USD partnership to develop an AI-enabled data centre complex, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee swiftly established an inter-agency task force to accelerate project implementation, remove procedural bottlenecks and support investors in completing regulatory requirements.

The project will be developed on a 10-ha land plot at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, a strategically located area with strong advantages in power supply, telecommunications and logistics connectivity.

These conditions meet international standards for hyperscale and neocloud data centres.

Beyond this project, Ho Chi Minh City is witnessing a strong investment wave in the data centre sector. The city has set up a dedicated task force to support investment procedures for a Hyperscale Data Centre serving AI development, with total investment estimated at around 2 billion USD. The investor consortium includes UAE-based technology company G42, Microsoft, FPT Corporation, VinaCapital, and Viet Thai Group.

Earlier, in April last year, Viettel Group broke ground on a high-tech data centre and research and development complex at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park. Built on nearly four ha, the project is designed with a total power capacity of up to 140 MW and approximately 10,000 racks, operating to Uptime Tier III standards. The maximum rack density reaches 60 kW, catering to large-scale AI and high-performance computing workloads.

Similarly, CMC Technology Group has received approval to invest in a hyperscale data centre project at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, with total investment capital of 6.26 trillion VND (over 238.25 million USD). Covering more than 30,000 sq.m, the project will house 3,000 racks with an IT load capacity of 30 MW, developed in four phases from 2026 to 2030. Phase I is scheduled to start construction in the second quarter of 2026 and commence operations in the second quarter of 2027.

Meanwhile, Evolution Data Centres is preparing to roll out a hyperscale data centre campus project at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, with committed investment capital of 500 million USD.

According to CBRE Vietnam, the surge in AI adoption and growing demand for cloud computing services are driving strong investment into hyperscale data centres and colocation facilities. This trend has drawn particular interest from real estate investors seeking exposure to a fast-growing market segment.

CBREs Asia-Pacific Investor Intentions Survey 2025 shows that data centres have risen to second place among preferred alternative asset classes this year, underscoring the sectors increasing appeal.

Investor confidence is expected to continue strengthening as AI and cloud computing provide solid structural support for long-term growth.

Globally, the data centre industry is entering an unprecedented expansion phase. According to JLLs Global Data Centre Outlook 2026, total operational capacity is projected to nearly double from 103 GW to 200 GW by 2030.

AI is rapidly reshaping capital allocation, with JLL forecasting that AI-related workloads could account for up to 50% of total data centre capacity by 2030. Despite this strong growth, the sectors fundamentals remain stable, with no signs of speculation or asset bubbles in real estate performance indicators.

JLL estimates that the global data centre market will require around 3 trillion USD in total investment over the next five years. Of this, approximately 1.2 trillion USD is expected to create new real estate asset value, while 870 billion USD will be raised through new capital structures, marking an unprecedented infrastructure investment supercycle.

In Vietnam, total operational capacity currently stands at around 104 MW, roughly one-tenth of the scale of leading markets such as China. However, this modest base does not fully reflect Vietnams future potential. Ho Chi Minh City is widely expected to emerge as a key growth hub, particularly with multiple large-scale projects already underway or in preparation.

According to Country Head of JLL Vietnam Trang Le, Vietnam is increasingly drawing the attention of international data centre investors thanks to its strong growth prospects. While the market remains smaller than those of some regional peers, the combination of strategic power planning, diversified renewable energy sources and rising digitalisation demand from domestic enterprises provides a solid foundation for expansion.

CBRE also notes that Vietnams data centre market is growing rapidly, driven by strong digital transformation, high internet penetration and proactive government support for digital infrastructure development. Although still considered an emerging market, Vietnam enjoys a key competitive advantage: low construction costs, averaging around 7 USD per Watt, among the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region. This cost advantage is expected to play a crucial role in attracting additional investment amid intensifying regional competition./. VNA
With its ancient temple towers, lively festivals, craft villages, and rich cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, Cham culture in the south central province of Khanh Hoa is not only a long-standing historical treasure but is also being actively promoted alongside tourism and community livelihoods, bringing fresh energy to Cham heritage in modern life.

Khanh Hoa is home to nationally significant architectural and artistic relics associated with Cham culture, including the Hoa Lai Tower Complex, Po Klong Garai Tower and the Po Nagar Cham Towers. The Po Rome Tower has also been recognised as a national historical and architectural relic. Five artefacts of Cham culture have been designated National Treasures, notably the statue of King Po Klong Garai, the bas-relief of King Po Rome and several ancient steles.

Visitors explore and learn about artifacts of the Cham culture displayed at the Khanh Hoa provincial Museum's Branch 2 in Phan Rang ward. (Photo: VNA)

Among these relics, Po Klong Garai Tower and Po Nagar Towers are regarded as the most representative. Located on Trau Hill in Do Vinh ward, Po Klong Garai Tower consists of three structures built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries to worship King Po Klong Garai, who made major contributions to irrigation and local livelihoods. It is considered one of the most intact and visually striking Cham tower complexes remaining in Vietnam.

Beyond its architectural value, Po Klong Garai Tower remains an important cultural and religious centre for Cham Brahman communities in southern Khanh Hoa. Each year, the Kate Festival, held in the seventh month of the Cham calendar, which usually falls in late September or early October, attracts large numbers of locals and visitors who take part in rituals and traditional cultural activities.

In the field of intangible heritage, several Cham festivals and rituals in Khanh Hoa have been inscribed on the national intangible cultural heritage list, including the Po Nagar Tower Festival in Nha Trang, the Kate Festival of Cham Brahman followers and the early-year ritual of the Cham community in Binh Nghia Village. Notably, the Art of Cham Pottery-Making in the Bau Truc Village has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Traditional craft villages such as the Bau Truc pottery village and the My Nghiep brocade weaving village further enhance the appeal of Cham heritage. Bau Truc, considered the oldest pottery village in Southeast Asia that still preserves purely manual techniques, currently has two cooperatives and 11 production facilities, with around 300 households engaged in the craft. Often described as a living Cham pottery museum, it has become an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.

Phu Huu Minh Thuan, Director of the Bau Truc Cham Pottery Cooperative, shared that artisans are dedicated to keeping traditional craftsmanship alive while creating new product lines tied to community-based tourism. Visitors can watch pottery-making in action and even get hands-on with shaping, decorating, and firing their own pieces.

Khanh Hoa has increased efforts to preserve and showcase Cham cultural heritage. Temples and towers have been restored, festivals and craft villages have been reinvigorated, and folk arts have been studied and brought back to life. The Khanh Hoa Provincial Museums Branch 2 (once the Ninh Thuan Cham Culture Research Centre), the nations only institution focused on Cham cultural research, has gathered and restored over 1,500 artefacts and frequently hosts exhibitions to share Cham culture with the public.

Nguyen Long Bien, Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa provincial Peoples Committee, said the province is linking socio-economic development with heritage preservation to ensure that Cham communities directly benefit from their cultural assets. Looking ahead to 2030, Khanh Hoa aims to develop Cham-related cultural and historical tourism sustainably, combining in-depth conservation with experiential tourism to ensure the enduring vitality of Cham heritage./.
From early morning, the atmosphere inside and outside the National Convention Centre was special. Sharing this atmosphere, a joyful and enthusiastic spirit towards the 14th National Party Congress has spread strongly throughout the country. Cadres, Party members, the people, soldiers of the armed forces, and the Vietnamese community abroad expressed their faith and expectations for this momentous political event of the nation.

Before the start of the first working session, leaders of the Party, State, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and delegates attending the 14th National Party Congress will lay wreaths and pay respects to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum. They will also lay wreaths and offer incense at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, commemorating those who bravely sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

At the international press conference on the 14th National Party Congress held on January 14, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Party Central Committees Office Nguyen Thi Thu Ha stated that the congress will observe a minute of silence in memory of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other members of the Party Central Committee who passed away during the term of the 13th congress. This is an expression of the congresss deep affection and gratitude for the great contributions of these comrades during the past term, as well as to the cause of Party building and national development.

The congress will be honoured to welcome former members of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Party Central Committee; Vietnamese Heroic Mothers; representatives of intellectuals, artists, religious dignitaries, and outstanding youngpeople from all over the country.

The theme of the Congress is: Under the glorious flag of the Party, uniting in strength and determination to successfully achieve national development goals by 2030; strategic self-reliance, self-strengthening and confidence, advancing strongly in the era of the nations rise, for peace, independence, democracy, prosperity, affluence, civilisation and happiness, steadfastly moving toward socialism.

The congress will discuss and approve important documents including: the Draft Political Report of the 13th Party Central Committee; the Draft Report reviewing a number of theoretical and practical issues of the socialist-oriented renewal process over the past 40 years in Vietnam; and the Draft Report reviewing 15 years of implementation of the Party Statutes (2011  2025), and proposals and orientations for amendments and supplements to the Party Statutes; and the Report reviewing the leadership and guidance of the 13th Party Central Committee.

The vehicles transport delegates to the National Convention Centre. (Photo: VNA)

To date, preparations for the congress have been completed with a spirit of innovation.



Regarding the preparation of documents, the Communist Party of Vietnam has made an important reform step, integrating three reports: the Political Report, the Socio-Economic Report, and the Party Building Report, into a single, unified, and synchronised Political Report.



Notably, for the first time, the document includes an accompanying action programme, clearly defining each project, its progress, and the responsibilities for implementation, ensuring that the Resolution can be implemented immediately after the congress.



The draft document has been sent for public feedback, attracting nearly 14 million comments, affirming a very high level of consensus between the Party's will and the people's aspirations.



The preparation of personnel for the 14th Party Central Committee was carried out by the 13th Party Central Committee and the Personnel Subcommittee in accordance with the Party's regulations, the principle of democratic centralism, and the provisions of the law; in a synchronised, scientific, systematic, rigorous, democratic, objective, and transparent manner, promoting democracy and intellectual capacity; ensuring a harmonious and reasonable balance between standards and structure; between inheritance, stability and innovation, and development; between professional training and practical skills and abilities; and between prestige, work experience and future development prospects.



Logistical preparations have been made thoroughly. Security and safety measures have been implemented decisively and comprehensively. The information and communication work regarding the 14th National Party Congress has been implemented early, with specific and systematic plans, contributing to strengthening the confidence of cadres, Party members, and the people in the congress, creating high unity within the Party and consensus in society.



According to information released on the opening day of the Press Centre for the 14th National Party Congress, 597 reporters and technicians from 113 domestic media agencies (compared to 498 domestic reporters at the 13th National Party Congress); and 79 reporters and press assistants from 43 foreign news agencies, overseas Vietnamese reporters, and reporters from political parties and ruling parties (compared to 66 international reporters at the 13th congress) registered to cover the event./. VNA
The Congress, which began with its preparatory session on January 19, is being closely covered by leading global news agencies, with many outlets analyzing the events significance in steering Vietnams socio-economic development amid a complex and shifting global landscape.

Preparatory session of Vietnams 14th National Party Congress. Photo: VietNamNet.

The UKs Financial Times described Vietnam as one of the worlds fastest-growing economies and emphasized the pivotal role of the 14th Congress in shaping future economic policies. The outlet noted that the Congress will help steer Vietnam toward its ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2045.

China Daily cited official figures showing Vietnams GDP growth of over 8% last year - the highest in ASEAN - and forecast that the 14th Congress would unlock further development potential, particularly by prioritizing science, technology, and innovation.

Japans Asahi newspaper reported that the Congress will make key decisions affecting Vietnams economic, foreign policy, and internal governance directions for the next five years.

Thailands Khaosod news agency called the Congress a decisive event for defining Vietnams economic strategies up to 2030, with a strong focus on maintaining growth momentum and advancing environmental protection policies.

According to The Times of India, the 14th Congress will reinforce Vietnams long-term vision of becoming a high-income country. The paper highlighted the countrys shift from an investment-heavy growth model to one driven by knowledge and innovation.

Chinas Xinhua News Agency underscored that the Congress elevated environmental protection and international integration as core national missions for the new development stage.

In Europe, Daily News Hungary called the 14th Party Congress a historic turning point and a critically important milestone in Vietnams development journey.

The publication praised Vietnam for steadfastly pursuing an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, and friendly foreign policy, which it said had opened unprecedented development space.

The 14th Congress sets the goal for Vietnam to become a modern, industrialized country with upper-middle income by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045, the article noted.

To achieve this, the Congress has prioritized maintaining strong economic growth, fundamentally reforming the growth model, enhancing science and technology capacity, training high-quality human resources, empowering the private sector, and perfecting the socialist-oriented market economy.

Anti-corruption remains a central task to ensure unified and effective leadership during this new phase of development.

The article concluded: The 14th Congress is a powerful call to action. It inspires and guides the entire nation to accelerate comprehensive, synchronized, and profound reforms, seize every opportunity, overcome all challenges, and build strategic autonomy, self-reliance, resilience, and unshakable confidence to enter a new era - Vietnams era of progress and global rise.

Media outlets from Laos, Malaysia, and Cuba also ran detailed reports on Vietnams 14th Party Congress, underlining its national and regional importance.

Viet Dung
A still from the viral clip shows H.Q.K. inviting foreign tourists to use drugs. Screenshot.

On the evening of January 18, a representative from the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04) under the Ministry of Public Security confirmed the incident. A video circulating on social media recently captured a local man offering illicit substances to Western visitors near the citys historic streets.

Immediately after the footage surfaced, Major General Ngo Thanh Binh, Director of C04, ordered a task force to coordinate with Hanois anti-narcotics police and local officers in Hoan Kiem Ward to investigate the matter.

Authorities later summoned H.Q.K., born in 1973 and currently working freelance, for questioning. At the police station, he admitted to being the man featured in the video.

K. explained that he used to work as a taxi driver and often interacted with international visitors in Hanois Old Quarter. Recently, noticing that some tourists were interested in using narcotics, he began frequenting the area with the intent of approaching foreign travelers. To build trust, he would use phrases like weed coke MDMA, and then lead them to massage parlors in exchange for referral commissions.

He insisted that he was neither directly involved in drug sales nor aware of where the drugs were being supplied.

According to police findings, K. has no prior criminal record or administrative violations. A rapid drug test also returned negative results.

Based on the evidence and the nature of the offense, authorities recommended that the Hoan Kiem Ward police fine K. USD 100 under Vietnams 2017 Tourism Law. Additionally, officials issued a warning to the owner of the implicated massage establishment, demanding immediate corrective measures to prevent similar violations that could harm public order and the city's tourism image.

Authorities also pledged to intensify patrols and surveillance in tourist-heavy areas, vowing to take strong action against anyone found soliciting, brokering, or promoting the use of illegal drugs.

Dinh Hieu
Why Lebanon has become Syria's most dangerous neighbor By Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah

web posted January 19, 2026

The Lebanese town of Aarsal on the border with Syria The relationship between Lebanon and Syria is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 and the rise of a transitional government under Ahmed al-Sharaa have turned the traditional power dynamic on its head. Whereas the "old" tension was defined by Syrian hegemony over Lebanon, the "new" tension is characterized by fragile mutual suspicion between two states struggling to reinvent themselves. At the core of this tension lie several unresolved and highly sensitive issues that cast doubt on the ability of both countries to compromise. The Refugee Crisis For years, the presence of nearly 1.9 million Syrian refugees constituted a major source of friction. In 2025, the narrative shifted from hostility to repatriation. Nearly 400,000 Syrianssome estimates claim as many as 600,000returned from Lebanon in 2025 alone. Their departure created an almost critical labor shortage in sectors traditionally filled by Syrian workers. While Lebanon seeks a swift and total return to ease its economic crisis, the new Syrian government has treated repatriation as a diplomatic bargaining tool. Damascus has at times imposed visa restrictions or retaliatory border measures when it perceives the Lebanese government as mistreating Syrians or moving too slowly on other bilateral demands. The Syrian Prisoner Issue Perhaps the most volatile unresolved issue is that of Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon. Damascus views many Syrians detained in Lebanon's Roumieh Prison as "political prisoners" or "revolutionaries" who fought against a common enemyAssad and Hizbullah. Beirut, by contrast, classifies many of the same individuals as terrorists responsible for attacks on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). Damascus has made the release of these prisoners a condition for full normalization. Lebanon's refusal to free individuals with "blood on their hands" remains a major obstacle. Approximately 2,600 Syrian citizens are currently in Lebanese custody. Nearly 70 percent are held in pretrial detention, many for over five to ten years without formal charges, due to Article 108 of the Lebanese penal code, which allows indefinite detention for terrorism-related offenses. An estimated 200500 prisoners in Roumieh's "terrorism block" are former members of Jabhat al-Nusra or ISIS. The new Syrian governmentoften associated with former HTS elementsviews them as political heroes; the Lebanese Army views them as perpetrators of the 2014 Arsal battles. Negotiations have shifted from broad rhetoric to concrete legal drafts. Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri has emerged as the central Lebanese negotiator, attempting to balance humanitarian imperatives with national security concerns. A second draft of a Judicial Cooperation Agreement has been under debate since late 2025. Lebanon has agreed in principle to transfer prisoners not convicted of murder. Syria, however, objects to a clause that would prevent it from granting blanket amnesties once prisoners cross the border. In late 2025, Lebanon released around 100 Syrians on bail and transferred 22 others as a goodwill gesture to keep negotiations alive. There is widespread speculation that a major prisoner release or transfer could occur shortly before the May elections. For the current Lebanese government, the "repatriation of terrorists" to Syrian custody would represent a major electoral victory. Damascus, meanwhile, may time releases to favor Lebanese candidates or blocs willing to grant Syria advantageous trade or border concessions. Arms Smuggling and the "New" Border During the Assad dynasty (19702024), arms flowed into Lebanon to supply Hizbullah and other pro-Syrian factions. Since December 2024, both the direction and intent of these flows have changed. The Sharaa government has actively sought to dismantle Hizbullah's supply lines through Syria, launching security operations in former strongholds such as Qusayr. This has created a paradox. While many Lebanese welcome Hizbullah's weakening, the Lebanese state struggles to control its side of the border. Syria accuses Beirut of being either too weak or unwilling to stop residual smuggling of drugs and light weapons, interpreting this as disrespect for the new Syrian administration. Damascus has mined illegal crossings and conducted army sweeps in the HomsQusayr region, forcing Hizbullah to rely almost exclusively on Beirut International Airport. Under U.S. pressure, the Lebanese government has begun monitoring the airport more strictly. For the first time, direct military skirmishes between Hizbullah and the new Syrian Army have occurred. Clashes in early 2025 in the Qusayr district caused casualties on both sides, signaling the effective collapse of the so-called "Axis of Resistance." Hizbullah, Subversion, and Syrian Dissidents in Lebanon Facing a hostile Syrian regime, Hizbullah has reportedly adopted a strategy of subversion against the al-Sharaa governmentan issue with explosive potential for bilateral relations. Former Assad loyalists who did not flee to Moscow, Africa, or Venezuela now reportedly operate with relative freedom in Lebanon, using it as a base to monitor or harass the new Syrian authorities. Lebanese General Wahbi Katisha has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro provided 10,000 passports to Hizbullah for distribution among Syrian opponents of al-Sharaa. These figures are reportedly visible in Hizbullah-controlled or Shiite-majority areas such as Baalbek, Hermel, Akkar, and the southern suburbs of Beirut (Dahieh), but also in Christian regions such as Kesrouane and Sunni-adjacent areas near Tripoli. They benefit from a protective environment in which they plan activities inside Syria. According to press reports, many are former officers of the notorious Fourth Division led by Maher al-Assad, while financing allegedly comes from Assad's cousin Rami Makhlouf. Another key figure is General Ghayass al-Dala, a former commander in the 25th Division, who led the failed rebellion in Latakia in April 2025. Media reports claim that opposition forces to al-Sharaa number more than 168,000 armed fighters. This presence has triggered a Syrian response. Damascus has reportedly dispatched intelligence advisers to Lebanon to neutralize dissidents. Lebanese Army raids in Shiite areas have yielded limited results. By late December 2025, Syria initiated a cycle of covert violence, drawing Lebanon into retaliatory dynamics between Syrian rebels and Hizbullah. Several former Syrian National Defense Force commanders were allegedly abducted from Lebanese coastal towns and forcibly returned to Syria. These operations suggest that Syrian intelligence is active in Lebanon, bypassing formal channels. The Sukhni Case and the Shadow War One of the most prominent cases is that of Ghassan Naassan al-Sukhni, whose body was discovered on December 23, 2025, in Kesrouanean unusual location for an Alawite Syrian officer. Sukhni was a former senior Syrian intelligence officer and close aide to Major General Suhail al-Hassan ("The Tiger"), commander of the elite Tiger Forces (later the 25th Special Mission Forces Division). He fled to Lebanon after the regime's collapse in December 2024. Although the Lebanese Army officially classified his killing as a financial dispute and arrested a Syrian suspect, analysts and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights point to political motives. Sukhni was allegedly part of the "Assadist Underground" in Lebanona network of former Tiger Forces officers attempting to rebuild influence, monitor pro-Sharaa elements, and plan destabilization activities in Syria's coastal regions. His killing is widely seen as the first high-profile purge of Assad-era figures on Lebanese soil. Whether conducted by Syrian intelligence or local actors, it signals that Lebanon is no longer a safe haven for the former regime's security apparatus. Damascus has renewed demands for Lebanon to hand over approximately 300 former officers, whom it considers war criminals and national security threats. The Lebanese state now faces a dilemma: shielding these figures risks a breakdown in relations with Syria, while extraditing them risks domestic backlash and international pressure, particularly from France, which has sought some of the same individuals for war crimes prosecutions. Conclusion The mounting tension between Lebanon and Syria reflects the friction of two states engaging as equals for the first time in half a century. While this new relationship is legalistic and complexunlike the era of Syrian dominanceit carries a real risk of sporadic violence. Syria has made clear that it will not tolerate threats to its national security emanating from Lebanese territory. The May 2026 parliamentary elections are widely viewed as a reset point. Unlike past elections, when Damascus effectively selected winners, the current contest reflects adaptation to a Syria that is no longer a patron but an assertive neighbor. Where candidates once positioned themselves as either pro- or anti-Syria, new alignments are emerging. Sunni blocs, marginalized under the Assad-Hizbullah axis, now present themselves as natural partners to the al-Sharaa government. Parties such as the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement are competing to appear toughest on refugee returns, advocating strict deadlines for camp closures regardless of international pressure. Hizbullah enters the 2026 elections in its weakest position in decades. Deprived of Syrian backing, it must campaign on a purely domestic platform focused on reconstruction and resistance. Analysts suggest that if Hizbullah and its allies lose their blocking third in parliament, the next government may formalize the border and ratify the Judicial Cooperation Agreement with Syriasteps Hizbullah previously obstructed to preserve its cross-border networks. Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah, a special analyst for the Middle East at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, was formerly Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence. Home

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Dr Do Thi Ngoc Linh has been recognized as an honorary member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (photo courtesy of Do Thi Ngoc Linh)

Dr Linh said she was deeply honored to receive the recognition after a rigorous review process. After nearly two years of preparation and completing the application dossier, along with evaluations at multiple levels, she officially received approval.

According to Dr Linh, in the UK, many foreign doctors are studying and practicing, but the number of Vietnamese doctors remains limited. She hopes that her role as an RCS member, together with support from Facing The World (a UK-based charity that has provided significant assistance to Vietnams craniofacial and plastic surgery specialty), can serve as a bridge to support Vietnamese doctors who wish to study and work in the UK.

Challenging early days

Few know that to achieve today's success, Dr. Do Thi Ngoc Linh underwent a long and arduous journey. As one of the first residents in Plastic Surgery at Hanoi Medical University, she joined the Emergency Department at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital after graduation.

Surgical fields are demanding, and for a female doctor, the difficulties are multiplied.

For female doctors in the field of surgery, maintaining professional practice can sometimes involve additional challenges related to health and time during periods of pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for young children. In order to continue developing my professional expertise, I have had to make great efforts to balance my work and family life, Linh said.

With a desire to further her professional development, she made the difficult decision to leave her young child at home to participate in training programs abroad. This included a year of study in France, followed by advanced training in the UK, Taiwan (China), and Canada.

These experiences updated her specialized knowledge, broadened her academic perspective, and supported her professional practice.

Fruits of labor

In 2006, after training in France, Linh returned to Viet Duc Friendship Hospital to implement microsurgery techniques for treating complex injuries.

She and her team performed reattachments of severed body parts using microsurgery, expanding treatment capabilities for such injuries in Vietnam. These were highly complex surgeries, successfully performed for the first time in Vietnam and later documented in international scientific reports.

Linh explained that in labor, domestic and traffic accidents, severed parts such as the scalp, ears, nose, or hands can lead to severe functional, aesthetic, and psychological consequences if not reattached, affecting long-term quality of life.

Dr Linh said surgeons must receive training in microsurgery and have solid practical experience. After one year of intensive training in France, upon returning to Vietnam she successfully participated in surgeries for several severe trauma cases, including a female patient whose long hair was caught in a machine motor while working.

The female patient was admitted with her entire scalp completely torn off, exposing the skull. Using a microscope and ultra-fine surgical sutures, my colleagues and I reconnected the blood vessels of the detached scalp, allowing coverage of the skull and enabling hair to grow back, Linh recalled.

Beside microsurgery, since 2008, plastic surgeons and vascular interventionists in Vietnam have researched arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in the head, face, and neck.Dr. Linh and her colleagues participated in researching and treating this rare group of diseases, considered one of the most difficult forms of vascular abnormalities due to complex progression, severe complications, and high recurrence risk.

Team sets diagnostic standards

Previously in Vietnam, the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck AVMs lacked unified standards, with varying approaches between medical facilities. This led to inaccurate diagnoses or inappropriate treatments, increasing complication risks.

Therefore, the research group synthesized clinical experience, referenced international guidelines, and exchanged expertise at domestic and international workshops. The clinical features of head and neck AVMs were systematized, contributing to clear diagnostic criteria.

Since 2008, the team has coordinated endovascular intervention and surgery to handle complex AVM cases. This multi-modal approach reduces bleeding risks, shortens surgery time, improves treatment efficiency, and lowers costs for patients.

Dr Linh said that the research results were reported at numerous domestic and international professional conferences, and were also shared and transferred to lower-level medical facilities, helping improve diagnostic and treatment capacity and reduce professional errors.

N. Huyen
Through social media, many people have learned about the traditional culture of ethnic minority communities in Quang Ngai province

In recent years, alongside the rapid development of social media and e-commerce, many ethnic minority youths in Quang Ngai have boldly experimented with a new approach: promoting traditional cultural products and natural landscapes through digital platforms.

Beyond simply posting images online, they are gradually building structured content, telling cultural stories through videos and vivid visuals, thereby attracting interest from communities at home and abroad. Digital transformation not only helps culture reach wider audiences but also opens up new, sustainable livelihood paths for highland communities.

Bringing brocade to e-commerce floors

With boldness and innovative thinking, Y Jung (Ba Na ethnic group) in Plei Don village, Kon Tum ward has brought her ethnic group's traditional brocade products to e-commerce platforms, creating a promising new consumption channel.

Besides, she has actively produces videos introducing the production process, fabric materials, and product designs to promote and sell through platforms such as TikTok and Facebook. The videos have given customers inside and outside the province the most realistic view of the diversity of brocade products.

The videos introducing brocade costumes posted on TikTok and Facebook have attracted thousands of likes and hundreds of comments. Thanks to that, the products have quickly received attention from customers not only in Vietnam but also abroad.

Thanks to selling products on digital platforms, every year I consume more than 1,500 brocade products. Orders not only come from the province but also from Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong and abroad. Hardworking weavers with good skills can earn VND3-5 million per month," she said.

According to her, the most important thing is not just selling goods, but helping customers understand the cultural value hidden behind each piece of fabric.

At Dak Rang Community Tourism Village, Duc Nong commune, a place rich in cultural identity and home to friendly people, Bloong Muon (Gie Trieng ethnic group) has boldly invested in tourism that draws on traditional culture. Together with Meritorious Artist Brol Ve, he built a homestay and designed a space to display traditional musical instruments to serve tourists.

To help more people learn about the local nature, culture and people, Bloong Muon set up a Facebook page and YouTube and TikTok channels under the name Bloong Muon, where he posts videos he produces himself. To date, he has created more than 300 videos, attracting over 12,000 followers.

Bloong Muon said: I sought out artisans in Dak Rang village to record images of distinctive cultural practices such as brocade weaving, wine making, folk songs, traditional musical performances, and community cultural exchanges. I share them online and they have attracted growing interest and appreciation.

I want to preserve the villages cultural images while introducing them so more people know and come to experience them. When more tourists arrive, villagers can gain more jobs, he added.

Attracting more visitors to experience local culture

About 300 km from Quang Ngai provincial center, Dak Sao commune is blessed with natural beauty, including pristine forests, the stunning Siu Puong waterfall, lush grass hills, terraced fields, and a rich cultural heritage preserved by the Xo Dang community. To tap into these local strengths, Y Gia Nhi, a Xo Dang woman, designed tours and built online channels to promote the beauty of her homeland.

Y Gia Nhi said that thanks to promotion on social media platforms, the natural scenery and traditional culture of Dak Sao commune have become widely known. The number of visitors coming to explore and experience the area has steadily increased. About 60 local residents benefit from tourism linkages with her through gong performances, transport services, food preparation and the sale of local specialties.

On average, each tour brings residents an additional VND300,000 per person and each month VND1-3million.

According to Tran Cao Bao Viet, Chair of the People's Committee of Duc Nong Commune, the fact that ethnic minority youth actively participate in digital transformation has created a new approach in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

"Young people are becoming a bridge bringing ethnic culture closer to modern society. In the coming time, the locality will coordinate to open training classes on content creation skills, culture-tourism promotion, and support ethnic minority youth to start businesses from their own identity," he said.

Ngoc Chi
On the afternoon of January 19, Dak Lak Provincial Police confirmed that a joint operation had been launched to save the stranded visitors, both of whom were caught in turbulent surf and pinned against a coastal rock formation.

Dak Lak Provincial Fire and Rescue Police successfully rescue a group of foreign tourists stranded on rocks. Photo: SD.

At around 7:58 a.m. that morning, a group of five - four foreign tourists from the United States, Germany, and Denmark, along with a local tour guide - visited Bai Tien beach in Vung Ro Hamlet, Hoa Xuan Commune.

While swimming, two tourists, identified as N.T. (German national) and V.D. (Danish national), were caught by powerful waves and pushed into a crevice within the rocky shore. Their situation quickly became life-threatening.

Upon receiving the emergency call, the provincial Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Police Department immediately dispatched a team of eight officers and specialized equipment to the site.

At the time, rough seas and strong waves made the rescue operation particularly difficult, hampering efforts to reach the trapped individuals.

With support from Hoa Xuan Commune Police, Mobile Police Forces, and the Vung Ro Port Border Guard Station, the rescue team managed to reach and secure the victims.

By 9:30 a.m., after more than an hour of navigating challenging conditions, both tourists were successfully brought to safety.

Hai Duong
At the ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, the President congratulated 16 newly appointed ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative missions abroad, describing the appointments as both recognition and praise for their dedication and contributions during their careers, while also constituting a great honour and responsibility entrusted by the Party, the State and the people.



The State leader noted that although the ambassadors will serve in different regions, all hold important positions and roles in relation to the countrys interests, expressing his confidence that they will successfully fulfil their duties in their new roles.



He affirmed that in recent years, particularly during the tenure of the 13th National Party Congress, Vietnams external affairs have achieved major and historic accomplishments, contributing to the steady enhancement of the countrys stature, prestige and strength.



Against this backdrop, President Cuong asked the ambassadors and heads of representative missions to firmly adhere to the Partys and States foreign policy, closely follow the goals, requirements and tasks of national development, and effectively implement the foreign-affairs priorities set out in the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, as well as the directions of the Party Central Committees Politburo and Secretariat, the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



He emphasised the importance of ensuring close coordination among diplomacy, national defence, and security, thereby forming a robust three-pillar structure that supports the strategy of safeguarding the Fatherland early and from afar while promoting national development.

State President Luong Cuong talks to the newly appointed ambassadors at the ceremony on January 16. (Photo: VNA)

The ambassadors were urged to closely grasp developments in their host countries and the world at large, thus providing timely advice and proposals to the Party and the State on foreign policy orientations and solutions, ensuring the highest national interests.



The President highlighted the importance of promoting diplomacy in the service of economic development, making practical contributions to the realisation of the double-digit growth target for the next term. Depending on specific postings, ambassadors were asked to tap into local strengths and characteristics, mobilising resources for national development, with priority given to cooperation in key areas such as science and technology, strategic infrastructure and advanced human resources.



He also emphasised the importance of community work, urging ambassadors to unite and support Vietnamese communities abroad, protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens and businesses, and tap the intellectual and financial resources of overseas Vietnamese, especially scientists, experts and entrepreneurs.



In addition, ambassadors were tasked with promoting Vietnams image, culture and people internationally, while fostering unity and professionalism within their representative missions.



Speaking on behalf of the appointees, a representative expressed deep honour at receiving the decisions directly from the State President and reaffirmed their commitment to upholding Vietnams core foreign policy principles of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development.



The ambassadors are committed to boosting international integration, the economy, science and technology, Vietnams global profile, and supporting the nations long-term development goals in this new era./. VNA
Than Van Dung from Viettel Cyber Security

At the recent Internet Day 2025 conference, Nguyen Huu Cuong, personal information security product manager at VNPT Cyber Immunity, said: If I were a hacker, I would definitely target older people first.

The VNPT representative cited two reasons: older people have lower awareness of technology than generations who grew up with the Internet, and they tend to have accumulated savings from pensions and financial support from their children and grandchildren.

This view was shared by many speakers at the event. Lam Thanh, CEO of TikTok Vietnam, said that older people are the most vulnerable group, not the young, because they are often alone, resistant to changing long-held beliefs, and especially reluctant to ask their children and grandchildren when encountering harmful or misleading information online.

Real-world data also shows extremely high risks for this age group. One study found that people aged 60 and above are six times more likely to encounter fake news than average users. The stubborn trust of some older people can even leave authorities powerless. For example, in some cases where social media figures such as Hoang Huong were arrested, older people still believed it was merely a misunderstanding.

Beyond financial loss, elderly victims often suffer psychological shock, which can lead to a rejection of technology altogether. Than Van Dung from Viettel Cyber Security, shared a story about his grandmother in her 80s: She strongly opposes bank transfers and asks why such things are created to scam people.

Dung said someone who has never personally experienced fraud but hears many such stories may develop negative reactions toward technologies that have become everyday standards.

There have been heartbreaking cases in reality. One involved a nearly 80-year-old woman in Ha Tinh who insisted on transferring VND2 billion to scammers because she believed her son had been in an accident, despite repeated intervention by bank staff, until the police had to step in in early December.

The solutions

Vietnam has about 19 million older people, a figure expected to rise to 25 million by 2030, accounting for one quarter of the population.

Older people are increasingly being exploited and scammed. Experts say it is necessary to strengthen communication campaigns and improve information security and cybersecurity skills so that the Internet truly becomes a trustworthy space for all age groups, including older people.

Lien Nguyen, head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Vietnam at Google Asia-Pacific, said the company has rolled out specialized tools such as anti-scam handbooks and safe Internet guides for older users in Singapore, and has coordinated with agencies in Vietnam to conduct online scam awareness campaigns specifically for older people.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese telecom operators are striving to build automatic protective layers, such as integrating directly into Wi-Fi modems. With just one app, users can manage all connected devices, including cameras, TVs, and smartphones.

Viettel has proposed a model similar to Singapores ScamShield, with the participation of financial institutions, telecom operators, and citizens.

Under this model, financial institutions are responsible for detecting financial fraud, blocking and cutting off scam money flows, and mandating the deployment of safety solutions for citizens. Telecom operators provide early warnings and block scam calls, messages, and websites, and citizens share information with agencies and organizations.

For a populous country like Vietnam, if telecom operators, authorities, banks, and citizens work together, we can achieve very positive results in combating scams, Than Van Dung said.

Despite technological advances, humans remain the weakest link. Oversharing, such as posting ID photos, QR codes, or personal schedules indiscriminately on social media. exposes identities and allows criminals to track us in real time.

In addition, many people have not enabled two-factor authentication, do not hide sensitive information, and lack skills to recognize fake news and verify sources. Equipping oneself with basic knowledge and skills to protect personal information is the key to staying safe in the digital environment.

Ngo Minh Hieu, director of an anti-scam initiative, reminded users of several rules for personal data protection, from two-factor authentication and safeguarding sensitive information to responsible sharing behavior and a mindset of a digital vaccine.

In the data era, personal security is no longer a choice but a survival skill, expert Ngo Minh Hieu said.

Du Lam
On January 16, President Trump sent a letter to General Secretary Lam, inviting the Party chief and Vietnam to participate in the Gaza Peace Council as a founding member state, alongside the international community, to promote a sustainable peaceful solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip.

A scene of devastation caused by conflict in Gaza. (Photo: IRNA/VNA)

In his reply, General Secretary Lam emphasised Vietnams consistent stance of supporting and actively contributing to the international communitys joint efforts to resolve conflicts and disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, while respecting the fundamental rights of the parties concerned.



Vietnam underscored that the establishment of the Peace Council is a necessary step in implementing the Gaza peace plan adopted by the United Nations Security Council under Resolution No. 2803 on November 17, 2025. The resolution welcomes United Nations member states to participate in the Peace Council to advance peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

US President Donald Trump (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

In this spirit, General Secretary Lam accepted the invitation and affirmed Vietnams readiness to participate as a founding member state of the Peace Council, working together with the US and the international community to make positive contributions toward a long-term, comprehensive solution to the Middle East peace process, including the establishment of a Palestinian state living peacefully alongside the State of Israel.



In his letter, General Secretary Lam also proposed that Vietnam and the US continue to strengthen cooperation to further develop the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries in a substantive and effective manner. He underscored the importance of expanding collaboration across areas aligned with both sides needs and priorities, on the basis of respecting each other, safeguarding each countrys legitimate interests, and contributing positively to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world./.
Vietnam plans to export approximately 7 million tonnes of rice in 2026, down from 8 million tonnes last year, with a gradual reduction to just 4 million tonnes by 2030, according to Do Ha Nam, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).



Explaining this, Nam said that 2026 presents numerous difficulties and challenges, and the global supply glut significantly impacts all exporters, including Vietnam.



This is not solely due to market conditions but is part of a strategic shift for the rice industry, according to Decision 583 issued by the Prime Minister in May 2023. Along with this reduction, the country will focus on improving quality and increasing value, aiming for higher-end segments, he said.



However, Nam acknowledged that 2026 presents several challenges. In January, Vietnam exported about 250,000 tonnes to the Philippines, but prices did not fluctuate significantly due to high carryover stocks from 2025. Additionally, the Philippines' import quota system has made it difficult for Vietnam to export, especially during peak harvest periods.



Therefore, to resolve the rice pricing issue for farmers during the upcoming winter-spring harvest, the government and relevant ministries should create favourable conditions for businesses to temporarily store rice during harvest season. Additionally, promoting government-to-government contracts with countries like Ghana and Singapore will be beneficial, Nam suggested.



In 2024, Vietnams rice exports reached a record 9.2 million tonnes, generating 5.8 billion USD in revenue. The figures reduced to 8 million tonnes and 4.1 billion USD last year./. VNA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang hosted a reception for UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Digital and Emerging Technologies Amandeep Singh Gill on January 16, during which the two sides agreed to step up cooperation in advancing global technology governance initiatives and strengthening ASEANUN cooperation in science, technology and AI.

Giang spoke highly of the UNs role in promoting cooperation in science and technology, particularly its efforts to implement the Global Digital Compact, which helps shape global technology governance in an inclusive, safe and sustainable manner. He stressed that Vietnam considers capacity-building and greater self-reliance in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation a strategic priority.

Welcoming the Under-Secretary-Generals participation in the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN 6) in Hanoi, the Deputy Minister underscored the central role of the UN and ASEAN in promoting multilateralism and enhancing international cooperation in science and technology, ensuring that technological processes are implemented in a transparent and inclusive manner in respect for international law, delivering shared benefits.

Giang proposed that the UN further encourage private-sector engagement in science and technology, and suggest the organisation of technology business forums under the auspices and with the support of the UN and ASEAN. He also called on the UN to facilitate Vietnams deeper participation in its research, policy advisory and AI governance mechanisms, including the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the AI Capacity-Building Network.

For his part, Gill commended Vietnams achievements and efforts in developing science, technology, innovation and digital transformation. He welcomed Vietnams participation in the AI Capacity-Building Network and its hosting of a UN-backed regional AI centre. He affirmed that the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030 (ADM 2030) is closely aligned with the Global Digital Compact./.VNA
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang speaks at the reception. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

At a welcoming meeting this morning, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang received a delegation of foreign reporters in Hanoi who are covering the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The delegation includes journalists from Communist Party newspapers, major political publications, media outlets serving overseas Vietnamese communities, and leading international news agencies.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as a member of the Congress Media Subcommittee, Deputy Minister Hang extended her warm welcome and appreciation to the visiting press corps.

She emphasized that the 14th Party Congress marks a defining moment in Vietnams development journey. It not only reviews the countrys achievements over 40 years of oi moi (Renovation) but also charts a visionary course for the nations future, with bold and strategic decisions to propel Vietnam into a new era of development.

Despite the unpredictable global and regional dynamics of 2025, Vietnam has achieved significant institutional reforms under the Partys leadership. These include the enactment of nine strategic resolutions across key sectors, the restructuring of administrative boundaries, and the implementation of a streamlined two-tier local governance model.

Vietnam continues to shine as a bright spot in the region. The national economy has reached a scale of USD 510 billion, with a growth rate exceeding 8%. Exports have surged to a record USD 800 billion, and the country welcomed over 20 million international visitors in the past year.

Security and defense remain firmly safeguarded, while Vietnam's international stature continues to rise. These accomplishments have garnered extensive coverage from global media, further amplifying the countrys profile worldwide.

With this momentum, Deputy Minister Hang urged relevant departments within the Foreign Ministry to create optimal conditions for foreign journalists working during the Congress. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that the messages and outcomes of the Congress are communicated to the world in a comprehensive, accurate, and constructive manner.

Journalists exchange views during the reception. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bella Hadid received "words of wisdom" from her co-stars in The Beauty.

Bella Hadid plays a model on the rampage in The Beauty

The 29-year-old model has a role in Ryan Murphy's sci-fi body horror series and welcomed the guidance of more experienced actors such as Jeremy Pope and Ashton Kutcher.

Bella told People at the show's New York City premiere: "They were able to just tell me a lot of words and wisdom and explain to me that even being crazy and weird is still positive.

"And sometimes things are embarrassing and at the end of the day, it's not embarrassing.

"We're all able to be different versions of ourselves and that's what was most important for me on this set."

Bella often filmed separately from her co-stars but still found them "so impactful".

The aspiring actress said: "Ashton was so helpful with just little words. I love Jeremy so much, everybody was just so welcoming to me."

She added: "We were not really shooting on the same sets most of the time. We had one dinner together, which was awesome."

Bella plays a model on a murderous rampage in The Beauty and hopes that her work on Ryan Murphy's series leads to more acting roles in the future.

She told The Hollywood Reporter: "I would love to keep continuing acting after this. This is a dream of mine.

"Ive brought my art side and my creativity to modelling, but at the end of the day, I love being able to move, and I love film and acting in general. I love actors because they can be different characters for so many different people."

She added of working with American Horror Story creator Murphy: "Ryan has just an incredible brain. I love his brain. I love his heart.

"Hes somebody I really look up to when it comes to directing, and I think he brings fantasy into so many things. Im just grateful that he brought me onto this opportunity."

Bella explained that she wanted to be pushed out of her "comfort zone" by playing a "haggard" character.

The cover girl said: "When I spoke to Ryan in the beginning, it was very much about being able to go out of my comfort zone.

"I said: 'Ryan, I want you to make me look haggard'. I never want to be the girl next door. I told all of my agents.

"I think I definitely went out of my comfort zone in many different ways. But he pushed me to be a different version of myself, which I've always wanted to do."
Brendan Gleeson has always been "more interested in enjoying life" than worrying about his appearance.

Brendan Gleeson has opened up about. how appearances affect work in Hollywood

The Banshees of Inisherin star, 70, has confessed he hasn't felt the need to change the way he looks to fit in with Hollywood standards of beauty but appearance will always be a part of the story being told on film.

When asked if it's been "liberating not having to manage the loss of looks in the way that conventionally handsome actors do?", he told The Independent newspaper: "Thats a really interesting question ...

"If you have a romantic movie, and these two sublime-looking people are looking at each other, the story is almost told in itself ...

"I was always more interested in enjoying life, in a way that allowed me to understand the lives of people who live in the world, as against the people who photograph themselves living in the world."

Gleeson went on to talk about Hollywood veteran Jack Nicholson, saying: "A lot of it has to do with his personality, but also hes a good-looking gent, and so all of that is a power."

The actor revealed he sees a similar magnetism in his In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin co-star Colin Farrell, adding: "Its really funny to see womens reactions to him. They literally blush.

"He only has to walk in. Its insane, but its a gift to the world, because hes not a d***. Hes actually a really cool person underneath it all."

Gleeson added: "People like Farrell and Nicholson are so great at what they do. Theyre such brilliant actors. And then this other thing helps. So if you havent got that, you just do the other bits."

Gleeson previously admitted he thinks social media makes people seem "hideous" - voicing fears about online algorithms that seemingly work to isolate people and stressing the importance of spreading kindness and bonding through connections and experiences.

He told The Sunday Times' Culture magazine: Its making people seem hideous to each other. If I do a project that makes people somehow feel less alone, thats the gift. I think most people want to be good people, I think theyre happier when they are. Kindness always reverts to feeling better about yourself. "We need to keep reiterating this to young people."

Gleeson added that he has read untrue things about himself online and tries to get inaccuracies corrected.

He said: "I didnt actually train as an actor. Somebody put it up on Wikipedia. I told them to take it down a hundred times. I started doing it with a group of fellas in secondary school.

"And a group of the lads started up a theatre group afterwards. Thats how I started doing it, building sets and seeing how lights work."
Dame Emma Thompson decorated Alan Rickman's hospital room prior to his death so he would feel more at home.

Alan Rickman was doted on by his friend Emma Thompson prior to his death

The Die Hard star passed away in January 2026 at the age of 69 just months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and Horton - who married the actor in 2012 - has now opened up about the last few months of her husband's life revealing he received visits from friends who wanted to say goodbye and even planned out his final send-off.

She told The Sunday Times newspaper: "I think he wanted to say goodbye to his friends and have it under his control. He even organised his own funeral because he didnt want it to be a mess."

Horton revealed one of Rickman's regular visitors was his longtime pal Dame Emma Thompson, who brought in throws and a standing lamp to help make the actor feel comfortable.

Horton explained: "[Thompson was] creating a salon around him while he was in bed. She brought in a standing lamp and throws so that it didnt feel like a hospital room."

She went on to explain Rickman had one request from his doctors, saying: "The first thing he ever said to the oncologist was: 'I dont want to die in pain and they made sure he didnt".

The pair decided to keep the actor's cancer secret because he didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him and Horton admits she tried not to do any online research about the disease.

She said: "We didnt tell anybody apart from our families at first. Alan didnt want people to look at him and say: 'Oh, how sad' ...

"We knew it [the cancer] was fully grown and had spread. I didnt Google it or anything, I didnt want to know, but we knew what it meant.

"We knew the chemo wouldnt work, but you live in hope. You say, maybe well be the exception where it does."

Horton previously opened up about how Rickman planned his own funeral and chose Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson's hit track Uptown Funk to be played for mourners.

In an extract from the book Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries, Horton explained: "He designed his own funeral. Ian Rickson (theatre director) was put in charge.

"Alan chose where it would take place, who would speak and what music would be played. He was surrounded by people who loved him and up until 13 January was still in control of everything that was going on around him.

"But he wasnt there after that, and he died at 9.15 in the morning of 14 January 2016. I was there. He wasnt in pain. He just went.

"Alan was cremated on the morning of 3 February with close friends and family present. The funeral service was held that afternoon in the Actors Church in the heart of Londons theatre district.

"The chosen music was Uptown Funk and Take It with Me by Tom Waits. We finished with everyone singing 'The Sun Aint Gonna Shine Anymore'.

"Then, in keeping with tradition, the Reverend Richard Syms asked us to give Alan 'one last wonderful standing ovation'."
John Mayer broke down in tears as he paid tribute to Grateful Dead star Bob Weir during a public memorial.

John Mayer wept during a memorial for Bob Weir

The band's fans gathered in San Francisco, California on Saturday (17.01.26) to remember the late guitarist - who died on January 10 at the age of 78 just months after being diagnosed with cancer - and Mayer was among those who took to the stage at the Civic Center Plaza to eulogise Weir.

Mayer - who played with Weird in Grateful Dead spin-off group Dead and Company - started his speech by telling the audience how he shared a birthday with his late pal, who was born on the same day 30 years earlier. He told the crowd: "In the 30 years that preceded me, Bob had become a countercultural icon.

"I was a child of the 1980s. I come from a world of structural thinking, the concept, the theorizing, the reassessing, the perfecting.

"Bob learned early on that spirit, heart, soul, curiosity, and fearlessness was the path to glory. We both found success with each of our templates, and then we found each other."

Mayer went on to recall working with his hero, adding: "Over the course of a decade, we came to trust each other.

"He taught me, among many other things, to trust in the moment, and Id like to think I taught him a little bit to rely on a plan, not as a substitute for the divine moments, but as a way to lure them in a little closer.

"I guess maybe what I was really doing was showing him he could rely on me. Bob took a chance on me. He staked his entire reputation on my joining a band with him. He gave me musical community, he gave me this community."

Rolling Stone reports Mayer then broke down in tears as he shared memories of his pal, saying: "He lent me his songbook, invited me into the worlds hed constructed, and taught me what the songs meant and what it meant to perform them.

"In return, I gave him everything I had night after night, year after year."

Mayer concluded by saying: "There are a lot of Grateful Dead lyrics that give comfort at a time like this, but the line I find myself thinking about the most is from a Leon Russell song called A Song for You.

"Id like to think I can hear Bobby saying these words to us all this afternoon: But now Im so much better, so if my words dont come together, listen to the melody because my love is in there hiding.' And so we will all keep listening together."

Mayer was then joined on stage by Weir's family and friends as well as his Grateful Dead bandmate Mickey Hart and Dead and Company musicians Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge for a performance of Grateful Dead's 1970 track Ripple.

The event - which was opened with a prayer by four Buddhist monks - also featured a speech by folk veteran Joan Baez. Fans carried red roses which was placed on an alter adorned with pictures and candles.
The preparatory session of the 14th National Party Congress opened in Hanoi on January 19, with the participation of 1,586 delegates tasked with laying the essential foundations for the congresss formal proceedings.

Ahead of the agenda, delegates paid tribute at the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh. Members of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and heads of delegations from Party organisations under the Central Committee then offered incense and laid wreaths at the Monument to the Heroic Martyrs.

Key leaders of the Party and state attend the preparatory session of the 14th National Party Congress. Photo: The 14th National Congress Press Centre

At the session, the congress observed a minute of silence in memory of former General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. On behalf of the Party and states key leaders, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man presided over the preparatory session.

Working with a strong sense of urgency and high consensus, the congress voted to adopt fundamental documents governing the organisation and operation of the congress, including the preparatory session agenda and the official working programme of the congress, as well as the election regulations of the 14th Congress.

The congress also elected its executive and supporting bodies. Accordingly, the Presidium will feature 16 members of the Politburo; the Secretariat comprising five members; and the Credentials Verification Committee comprising 13 members.

During the morning, the congress listened to and overwhelmingly approved the report on the verification of delegates credentials.

In the afternoon, delegates met in their respective delegations to study and discuss the congress documents.

The thorough preparation undertaken during the preparatory session serves as a solid foundation for the 14th Party Congress to move into its official working sessions, with the aim of successfully accomplishing all key items on its agenda.

The congress is not merely a political event; it stands as a declaration of will, aspiration, and unwavering commitment of a nation at a historic threshold  ready to enter a new era with the confidence and resolve of a people firmly in command of their own destiny.

14th National Party Congress expected to shape Vietnams path to 2045 The 14th National Party Congress is expected to set the strategic direction for Vietnams next phase of development as the country works towards high-income status by 2045.

14th National Party Congress  significant moment for Vietnamese people, international friends Chairman of the Israel-Vietnam Friendship Association and former Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam Eyal Buvilski said that the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam represents both a reflection on past achievements, and a clear forward-looking vision defining national goals and priorities for the years ahead.
A total of 31.2 million shares, representing the entirety of Dragon Capital Vietnam Fund Management JSC's (DCVFM) charter capital, were registered for trading on the UPCoM of the Hanoi Stock Exchange on January 19, under the ticker symbol DCV. The listing marks the companys first day of public trading.

The move follows DCVFMs recognition as a public company by the State Securities Commission of Vietnam in November. According to the firm, the UPCoM listing reflects its long-term commitment to operating transparently within the regulatory framework for public companies, while continuing to support the development of Vietnams capital market.

Speaking at the trading commencement ceremony, Dominic Scriven, chairman and co-founder of Dragon Capital, said, DCVFMs trading on UPCoM represents a natural step in our long-term journey in Vietnam, underscoring our commitment to building a professional investment management organisation that remains closely connected with our clients and the development of the capital market.

The registration of DCVFMs shares for trading on UPCoM provides a foundation for the company to further develop its business in line with its long-term strategy, strengthen its organisational capabilities, and meet the increasingly sophisticated requirements of Vietnams capital market.

DCVFM, formerly VietFund Management, was established in July 2003 and is Vietnams first domestic fund management company. Combining deep local market expertise with international best practices, DCVFM currently advises and manages approximately VND140 trillion ($5.4 billion) in assets as of the end of last year. In Vietnams public fund segment, DCVFM is the largest fund management company by assets under management, based on market data monitored by the company.

Vietnam maturing into respected capital player Dragon Capital is heavily investing in Vietnam and has been ever-present in the country for three decades. In an exclusive interview, chairman Dominic Scriven shared insights with VIRs Le Luu into the evolving Vietnamese capital market.

Addressing ESG principles at the corporate level Sustainability is increasingly critical for the long-term success of Vietnamese listed companies. Dominic Scriven, chairman of Dragon Capital, spoke with VIRs Song Huong about adopting environmental, social, and governance principles.
Hanoi  With the motto "Solidarity - Democracy - Discipline - Breakthrough - Development," the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam is taking place at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi from January 19-25, 2026, with the participation of 1,586 delegates representing over 5.6 million Party members nationwide.

From early morning, the atmosphere inside and outside the National Convention Centre was special. Sharing this atmosphere, a joyful and enthusiastic spirit towards the 14th National Party Congress has spread strongly throughout the country. Cadres, Party members, the people, soldiers of the armed forces, and the Vietnamese community abroad expressed their faith and expectations for this momentous political event of the nation.

Before the start of the first working session, leaders of the Party, State, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and delegates attending the 14th National Party Congress will lay wreaths and pay respects to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum. They will also lay wreaths and offer incense at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, commemorating those who bravely sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

At the international press conference on the 14th National Party Congress held on January 14, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Party Central Committees Office Nguyen Thi Thu Ha stated that the congress will observe a minute of silence in memory of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other members of the Party Central Committee who passed away during the term of the 13th congress. This is an expression of the congresss deep affection and gratitude for the great contributions of these comrades during the past term, as well as to the cause of Party building and national development.

The congress will be honoured to welcome former members of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Party Central Committee; Vietnamese Heroic Mothers; representatives of intellectuals, artists, religious dignitaries, and outstanding youngpeople from all over the country.

The theme of the Congress is: Under the glorious flag of the Party, uniting in strength and determination to successfully achieve national development goals by 2030; strategic self-reliance, self-strengthening and confidence, advancing strongly in the era of the nations rise, for peace, independence, democracy, prosperity, affluence, civilisation and happiness, steadfastly moving toward socialism.

The congress will discuss and approve important documents including: the Draft Political Report of the 13th Party Central Committee; the Draft Report reviewing a number of theoretical and practical issues of the socialist-oriented renewal process over the past 40 years in Vietnam; and the Draft Report reviewing 15 years of implementation of the Party Statutes (2011  2025), and proposals and orientations for amendments and supplements to the Party Statutes; and the Report reviewing the leadership and guidance of the 13th Party Central Committee.



The vehicles transport delegates to the National Convention Centre. (Photo: VNA)

To date, preparations for the congress have been completed with a spirit of innovation.

Regarding the preparation of documents, the Communist Party of Vietnam has made an important reform step, integrating three reports: the Political Report, the Socio-Economic Report, and the Party Building Report, into a single, unified, and synchronised Political Report.

Notably, for the first time, the document includes an accompanying action programme, clearly defining each project, its progress, and the responsibilities for implementation, ensuring that the Resolution can be implemented immediately after the congress.

The draft document has been sent for public feedback, attracting nearly 14 million comments, affirming a very high level of consensus between the Party's will and the people's aspirations.

The preparation of personnel for the 14th Party Central Committee was carried out by the 13th Party Central Committee and the Personnel Subcommittee in accordance with the Party's regulations, the principle of democratic centralism, and the provisions of the law; in a synchronised, scientific, systematic, rigorous, democratic, objective, and transparent manner, promoting democracy and intellectual capacity; ensuring a harmonious and reasonable balance between standards and structure; between inheritance, stability and innovation, and development; between professional training and practical skills and abilities; and between prestige, work experience and future development prospects.

Logistical preparations have been made thoroughly. Security and safety measures have been implemented decisively and comprehensively. The information and communication work regarding the 14th National Party Congress has been implemented early, with specific and systematic plans, contributing to strengthening the confidence of cadres, Party members, and the people in the congress, creating high unity within the Party and consensus in society.

According to information released on the opening day of the Press Centre for the 14th National Party Congress, 597 reporters and technicians from 113 domestic media agencies (compared to 498 domestic reporters at the 13th National Party Congress); and 79 reporters and press assistants from 43 foreign news agencies, overseas Vietnamese reporters, and reporters from political parties and ruling parties (compared to 66 international reporters at the 13th congress) registered to cover the event.
The campaign was rolled out on January 19 at strategic public locations across the capital, with prominent messages displayed on large LED screens in high-traffic areas. In recent weeks, crowds around Hoan Kiem Lake have taken note of messages at Trang Tien Plaza calling for the gradual elimination of dog and cat slaughter in pilot areas, as part of broader efforts to prevent rabies and improve public health.

The campaign has expanded beyond the Old Quarter, with messages displayed on more than 100 LED screens in elevators across 40 office buildings and shopping centres in Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem wards. These areas include key diplomatic offices as well as major cultural, historical, and tourism sites.

Organisers estimate the campaign generates an average of 2.6 million impressions per day. Its launch during the peak tourism season has further broadened its reach, engaging both residents and large numbers of international visitors.

The communications effort forms part of a city-approved rabies prevention initiative approved by the Hanoi People's Committee last July and implemented in 14 priority wards. It aims to raise awareness, encourage behaviour change, and reduce practices that pose public health risks.

International experts note that animal welfare is closely linked to human health. Rahul Sehgal, director of international communications at the Soi Dog Foundation, said, The trade, transport, and slaughter of dogs and cats remain the biggest barrier to eliminating rabies. By ending these practices, we protect both animals and human lives, and Hanoi is taking meaningful steps in the region by pursuing humane solutions tied to public health.

To translate this message into action, the initiative prioritises changes in community awareness. Rather than coercive measures, it focuses on advocacy and support, including livelihood transition models for those involved in the dog and cat meat trade.

Duyen Bui, director of SBCC Vietnam, said the campaign goes beyond health messaging to encourage new social norms. A modern city and a sustainable tourism economy must be built on a safe living environment and animal-friendly practices, and we aim to encourage voluntary behaviour change rooted in civic pride, she said.

The gradual transformation of dog and cat meat trade activities in 14 pilot wards reflects Hanois readiness to align with international standards, not just for animal welfare but also in public health and urban development.

As Vietnam works towards the goal of zero human rabies deaths by 2030, Hanois approach offers practical lessons that can be replicated nationwide, while also enhancing the capitals image as a safe and welcoming destination for international visitors.

Hanoi launches pilot project for rabies prevention and support for dog and cat meat trade transition Hanoi Department of Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine has signed an agreement with Soi Dog Foundation to tackle rabies and support the dog and cat meat trade transition.

Hanoi strengthens rabies control and supports transition of dog and cat meat trade A training conference was held in Hanoi on October 28 to discuss how to strengthen rabies control and facilitate the transition of the dog and cat meat trade.
Speaking to VIR, a senior executive of state lender BIDV said Vietnams economic growth target for 2026 is being raised to 10 per cent, as stipulated in Resolution No.244/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly.

The first growth impulse comes from domestic drivers, with public investment playing a leading role. Disbursement is planned to surge by 40 per cent compared to 2025, reaching approximately $44 billion, channelling into a series of key infrastructure projects such as the Long Thanh International Airport, the NorthSouth Expressway, or the Lao CaiHanoiHaiphong railway projects, the executive said.

The higher target is expected to place additional demands on credit expansion, with public investment, corporate lending, and bank-level differentiation shaping the outlook.

Meanwhile, the private sector is expected to accelerate thanks to reform mechanisms, the rollout of international financial centres, expansion into new areas such as AI and digital assets, and the possibility of foreign funding attraction for project execution.

"Consumption is also forecast to improve as changes to the Personal Income Tax Law increase disposable income," the BIDV executive added.

For local firms, particularly household businesses  a segment that accounts for a large share of the economy but has long faced barriers to credit access  the move towards looser credit caps in 2026 is expected to create clearer headroom for growth.

Several banks have already introduced more flexible financial solutions for this segment. MSB, for example, is offering loan limits of up to around $2 million for household businesses, alongside simplified appraisal processes that prioritise assessments based on actual cash flows and transaction history rather than traditional financial statements.

This approach is expected to help ease upfront investment cost pressures and enables household businesses to secure capital to upgrade equipment, sustain operations, and pursue expansion plans in 2026, signalling a broader shift in credit towards real economic activity.

Tran Thi Khanh Hien, head of research at MB Securities (MBS), expects credit growth in 2026 to remain at around 20 per cent to support the 10 per cent GDP growth target.

The main drivers include continued acceleration of public investment and improved credit for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME), as the Purchasing Managers Index has risen sustainably since last April, reaching 53.8 points in November. As the tariff outlook becomes clearer, rising new orders are expected to pull SME credit out of its postponement phase, she said.

By contrast, according to Hien, mortgage lending is likely to slow as lending rates rise in line with deposit rates, while capital flows are prioritised for production, business activities, and public investment.

Credit growth among listed banks in 2026 is forecast to be broadly in line with 2025, with more intense competitive pressure on smaller banks, while corporate lending continues to lead overall growth.

Hien noted that banks with loan portfolios dominated by corporate clients are likely to benefit, as credit is expected to remain concentrated in this segment.

These are banks whose loan portfolios are led by corporate clients, as credit will continue to be concentrated mainly in this segment. In addition, banks with advantages in funding costs  such as state-owned banks or those with high current account savings account ratios like Techcombank and MB Bank  will have an edge. Furthermore, capabilities in project financing and supply chain finance will also be advantageous, given expectations of stronger demand, she said.

According to analysts at Vietcombank Securities (VCBS), credit growth in 2026 could reach 1618 per cent, exceeding the State Bank of Vietnams (SBV) current target.

VCBS attributed the outlook to an accommodative monetary policy environment, with low policy rates continuing to stimulate credit demand. Key growth momentum is expected to come from public investment, real estate, and the private economy, while credit demand is forecast to recover more broadly, particularly in consumer lending and longer-tenor home loans.

Public investment is set to remain a key driver of economic growth, while progress in resolving legal bottlenecks in the real estate sector is expected to generate spillover effects for construction and building materials.

By banking group, VCBS forecast that dynamic private banks will lead credit growth, exceeding 20 per cent, while large banks involved in mandatory transfers are expected to continue benefiting from preferential mechanisms that allow higher-than-average credit caps.

In a scenario where the SBV gradually abolishes the credit cap mechanism, banks with high capital adequacy ratios such as VPBank, Techcombank, and HDBank are likely to have an advantage in expanding credit. At the same time, banks focusing on priority sectors including agriculture, retail, SMEs, and social housing are also expected to gain additional room for growth.

Expectations set for credit adjustment Credit room loosened early last week is expected to help increase resources and expand credit for businesses and industries in need.

Extra credit room suggested for real estate sector Real estate developers have suggested that the State Bank of Vietnam increases credit room soon to inject capital into the economy and create conditions for property businesses to restructure and develop this year.
Photo:vietnam.net

The first working day of the Congress began on January 19 at the National Convention Centre, marking the fourth consecutive time the facility has been selected to host this special event.

Located at 57 Pham Hung street, the National Convention Centre spans more than 43 hectares and is among the largest and most modern architectural complexes in Vietnam. The facility includes a central conference building, landscaped grounds, a water plaza, outdoor and underground parking areas, a helipad, and a range of supporting infrastructure designed to accommodate large-scale national and international events.

To ensure the congress proceeds smoothly and successfully, Standing Committee member Tran Cam Tu has directly chaired preliminary and final rehearsals in recent days, while conducting multiple inspections of organisational and service arrangements and issuing key directives.

According to the Congress Organising Committee, the decorations at the National Convention Centre incorporate several new elements. In the main courtyard, a range of symbolic installations has been arranged, most prominently the hammer and sickle emblem, a star, and the inscription 'Communist Party of Vietnam  14th National Congress', all positioned in highly visible locations.

Photo:vietnam.net

The hall also displays books, newspapers, and photographs. Outstanding achievements in the fields of national defence, security, foreign affairs, Party building, and the political system are systematically summarised, providing delegates with core knowledge from previous terms.

In particular, in the main hall where the congress took place, a statue of President Ho Chi Minh was placed prominently in the centre.

These days, the streets surrounding the National Convention Centre are brightly decorated with flags, banners, and signs welcoming this momentous event for the country.

Before and during the congress, the Ministry of Public Security deployed forces, vehicles, and equipment to create multiple layers of strict security at the congress venue and the delegates' accommodation locations.

Numerous police officers were stationed and guarding the entrances and surrounding areas of the main building. Many specialised police vehicles were deployed in the National Convention Centre area.

The congress is expected to be held over 6.5 days, from January 19 to 25.

Hanoi to display firework to celebrate the 14th National Party Congress Hanoi will stage a major firework display to mark the 14th National Party Congress, with the event set to take place at My Dinh National Stadium.

Tablets to replace paper at 14th Party Congress The 14th National Party Congress is set to go paperless, with delegates using tablets instead of printed documents in a move aimed at cutting costs and modernising the organisation of major political events

CVFA chief highlights role of 14th National Party Congress The 14th National Party Congress is expected to play a decisive role in shaping Vietnams development path over the coming decade, according to international observers.

14th National Party Congress expected to shape Vietnams path to 2045 The 14th National Party Congress is expected to set the strategic direction for Vietnams next phase of development as the country works towards high-income status by 2045.

14th National Party Congress  significant moment for Vietnamese people, international friends Chairman of the Israel-Vietnam Friendship Association and former Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam Eyal Buvilski said that the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam represents both a reflection on past achievements, and a clear forward-looking vision defining national goals and priorities for the years ahead.
According to 'Vietnams Venture Capital & Private Equity Outlook 2026', released by Thien Viet Securities (TVS) at the Founder Codex 2026 Forum in Ho Chi Minh City on January 15, the country's private capital market is expected to be shaped by three main trends in the period ahead: a selective recovery of venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) flows, a stronger focus on sectors with long-term growth potential, and improving exit prospects, although investors will continue to require a patient, long-term approach.

The Founder Codex 2026 Forum was held on January 15 in Ho Chi Minh City

From a macroeconomic perspective, TVS noted that Vietnam continues to be regarded as one of the regions fastest-growing and most resilient economies.

The report noted that Vietnam continues to post one of the highest GDP growth rates in ASEAN, with a growth target of 10 per cent for 2026.

Total importexport turnover in 2025 is estimated at $920 billion, up 16.9 per cent on-year, the report said. At the same time, the Innovation 2.0 strategy  focused on science and technology, institutional reform, international integration, and private-sector development  is strengthening investor confidence in Vietnams economic outlook, both domestically and internationally.

Nguyen Hoa Chung, head of Private Investment at TVS, commented that 2025 marked a recovery period for Vietnams private capital market, with total investment value rising more than twofold on-year, albeit with capital returning in a more selective fashion.

Investors are shifting their focus from rapid growth to capital efficiency, profitability roadmaps, and execution capabilities, with higher investment discipline and larger deal sizes, Chung said.

Total VC and PE investment value in 2025 more than doubled compared to 2024, signalling a clear rebound and approaching 2023 levels, even as the number of deals remained relatively low.

This trend indicates that the market is entering a phase of selective capital reallocation, with funding increasingly concentrated on companies that have moved beyond the pilot stage and entered a growth phase.

Compared to the 2021-2022 peak, deal volumes have yet to return to previous highs, but the average deal size has increased markedly.

This reflects a fundamental shift in investor appetite, with greater emphasis on businesses with solid product or service foundations, clear profitability pathways, and efficient capital utilisation, rather than growth at all costs.

There is ample evidence that some foreign investment funds have become more cautious and, in some cases, have withdrawn capital from Vietnam, the report said. At the same time, the emergence of new funds such as ThinkZone Global Minds Fund, alongside sector-focused vehicles like the Touchstone Green Transition Fund for climate technology and the GenAI Fund targeting generative AI, indicates that the private capital ecosystem is becoming more diverse and specialised.

TVSs report indicates that private investment flows in Vietnam are concentrating on sectors that simultaneously meet three criteria: clear policy support, long-term market demand, and the ability to generate sustainable cash flows.

Healthcare continues to be viewed as a sector with strong medium- and long-term potential.

Healthcare spending in Vietnam is projected to rise from around $22 billion in 2022 to nearly $30 billion by the end of 2026, amid rapid population ageing and mounting pressure on the public healthcare system.

Many public hospitals are currently operating at 80150 per cent capacity, while the doctor density remains at about nine per 10,000 people. The gap between demand and supply capacity presents significant growth opportunities for the private healthcare sector.

Sectors linked to the green transition and sustainable infrastructure, such as electric vehicles and clean energy, continue to entice capital.

Notable examples include Dat Bikes $26 million fundraising round led by FCC, with participation from Jungle Ventures and TVS. The green economy is seen as one of the pillars for long-term capital inflows, benefiting both from the scale of the domestic market and from policy commitments such as Vietnams Net Zero 2050 target.

At the same time, the consumer sector, with substantial growth headroom driven by a population of nearly 100 million and a rapidly expanding middle class, has attracted significant investment. A prominent example is Coolmate, which raised $20 million from Vertex Growth and Cool Japan.

Education and training, particularly private education and edtech, have also drawn strong investor interest.

Demand for high-quality education continues to rise alongside household incomes, while the public education system remains under pressure in terms of scale and resources, Chung noted.

The market has recorded notable deals such as Galaxy Educations $10 million fundraising round, reflecting investor confidence in stable demand and long-term potential, especially suited to growth equity and merger and acquisition strategies.

In addition, AI and digital infrastructure are emerging as key pillars for long-term capital attraction.

AI is projected to contribute around $120 billion to Vietnams economy by 2040, becoming a major growth engine alongside traditional industries.

Vietnam steps into golden decade for innovation and private capital Amid global geopolitical turbulence, Vietnam is continuing to solidify its position as a strategic beacon in innovation and high-tech industries, poised to lead the next wave of growth in Asia by drawing a substantial influx of private capital.

Nation builds on promise of private capital golden age As Vietnam is envisioned to lead the next phase of growth in Asia amid global uncertainty, private capital funds are painting a compelling picture of the country.
Kate Hudson gave up Botox jabs for her latest film role.

Kate Hudson gave up Botox jabs for her role in Song Sung Blue

The Hollywood actress, 46, has revealed she gained weight, shunned make-up and stopped having regular Botox injections in her face while she was shooting her new movie Song Sung Blue because the film was set in the 1980s before wrinkle-freezing jabs had been invented.

She told The Standard newspaper: "Well, the Botox was an easy choice 0 they didnt have it in the 1980s.

"And you have to remember I grew up around brothers so vanity was never a big thing for me. As I get older, I embrace the wrinkles and the life experience of being a woman.

"There are plenty of people in Hollywood who still prefer a woman in a nice dress but thats not always me and not where the great stories are."

The actress went on to open up about embracing wellness rituals and admitted her good intentions are often derailed by "cocktails and pasta".

She added: "Actually I would say I am a person who balances wellness with naughtiness. My periods of discipline are interrupted by cocktails and pasta very regularly."

It comes after Kate recently revealed was inspired to record an album by Sir Paul McCartney.

The actress released her debut LP Glorious last year and she explained she had an epiphany after watching the Beatles legend perform at Glastonbury and realising she wasn't "happy" with what she has done with her career to date.

She told The Guardian newspaper: It was Pauls 80th birthday and I was sitting at the side of the stage watching him headline Glastonbury.

"I woke up the next morning and felt so emotional. I was, like, I am not happy with my output! I mean, I have so much gratitude. But I am not just an actor. "Ive been a musician my whole life and I never had the courage to do anything with it. I decided I want to take more chances. I want to fail more.

Hudson vowed to stop "compromising" to please other people after watching Paul in action.

She explained: "[It made me think] about those who compromise and those who dont. "I thought about being a woman in the industry and all the compromising you do for other people. About doing comedies and being successful in them but still feeling like youre constantly having to compromise.
North Wales MS backs campaign to boost cancer research

North Wales Member of the Senedd Mark Isherwood is supporting a campaign to increase research funding for cancers with the lowest survival rates.

The Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (LSCT) is calling for more investment into research for cancers of the brain, liver, lung, oesophagus, pancreas and stomach, which it says receive disproportionately low government funding despite causing almost 40% of all common cancer deaths in the UK.

Figures obtained by the LSCT through Freedom of Information requests show that these cancers receive less than one-fifth, or 18.92%, of all government-funded cancer research.

This means that research into less survivable cancers receives around 130 less per cancer death than the average across all cancers. Some, such as oesophageal cancer, receive as little as 40 per death compared to an average of 310 across other types.

The Taskforce says this lack of funding contributes to poor outcomes for patients. It found that more than half of people diagnosed in Wales with one of these six cancers die within a year.

Mr Isherwood, who attended the LSCTs event for Members of the Senedd earlier this week during Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Week, said: Thousands of people are diagnosed with one of the less survivable cancers in Wales every year and its extremely sad to know their long term chances are so dire. We all need to recognise the scale of this challenge and back research into these cancers.

Greg Pycroft, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Tenovus Cancer Care and Chair of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce Wales subgroup, said: The figures released this week are disappointing but not surprising.

We know that the less survivable cancers, which account for a significant proportion of cancer deaths, receive insufficient research funding, which is partly why patient outcomes are so poor.

All cancer patients deserve a fighting chance, and increased research is crucial for improving diagnosis and treatments.
Nursing union warns Wales still failing on corridor care

One year after the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) published its landmark report on corridor care, the union says patients and staff in Wales continue to be put at risk by unsafe and undignified conditions.

New UK-wide polling by YouGov, commissioned by the RCN, found that nearly one in five adults (18%) across the UK have witnessed care being delivered in non-medical spaces such as corridors in the past six months.

In Wales, that figure rises to more than one in four (28%). When looking only at people who accessed NHS care in Wales for themselves or a loved one, more than half (58%) said they had experienced or witnessed care being delivered in corridors or other inappropriate areas.

The RCN says these findings reflect what nursing staff in Wales have long been reporting. A 2025 survey of RCN Wales members working in NHS hospitals found that almost two-thirds (61.8%) said corridor care was a problem where they worked.

One nurse working on a mental health ward described corridor care as a regular occurrence, warning that staff are forced to deliver care in unsafe environments that increase the risk of self-harm and suicide.

A frontline nurse responding to the RCN survey said: Emergency departments are no longer able to function and we are causing harm to patients. Corridor care must stop.

RCN Wales Associate Director of Nursing (Employment Relations) Nicky Hughes said: Corridor care is not an inevitable consequence of winter pressures or staff shortages  its a symptom of a system that has been allowed to drift into crisis.

Our members told us clearly last year that corridor care had become widespread and entrenched in NHS Wales, and the latest UK-wide polling shows that nothing has improved.

Nursing staff are doing everything they can, but they cannot deliver safe and dignified care in corridors, waiting rooms or storage spaces. Patients deserve better, and so do the professionals who care for them.

Over the past year, RCN Wales has led the way in exposing the reality of corridor care and demanding action. Weve set out the solutions, built alliances and ensured this issue cannot be ignored. Now we need the Welsh Government and NHS Wales to act with urgency and transparency to end corridor care in Wales once and for all.

The RCN is reiterating its call for a fully funded and credible plan to eliminate corridor care, including urgent investment in inpatient beds, the nursing workforce, community services and social care, to prevent patients being left without safe and appropriate treatment.

During a Senedd debate on Wednesday (10 December), Health Secretary Jeremy Miles acknowledged that corridor care compromises patient dignity and staff wellbeing, but said the issue could not be solved by simply labelling it a never event.

He said: The delivery of care in undesignated or non-clinical environments doesnt meet the criteria due to the complexity of underlying causes.

Mr Miles added that while the Welsh Government does not endorse routine care in non-clinical environments, eliminating it will require wide-ranging reform.

We do not endorse routine care in non-clinical environments. Our goal is to eliminate this practice through system-wide reform, he told Members.

Eradicating care in undesignated or non-clinical environments will not be a simple, quick fix. It requires coordinated action across health and social care.
Sigourney Weaver's appreciation for her husband has deepened over time.

Sigourney Weaver and her husband Jim Simpson

The 76-year-old star met Jim Simpson, 69, in 1983 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in New York, where she was acting, and he was directing and bartending, and the pair went on to marry in October 1984, and co-founded The Flea Theatre in 1996, where he worked as its artistic director.

Sigourney - who, for many of those years, had travelled alone for work - told AARP: "My husband was running a theatre for over 20 years in New York, and he was never able to go on any jobs with me."

In 2015, Jim retired as artistic director at The Flea Theatre, and now he ensures to accompanies Sigourney - whose illustrious career has taken her to places, including New Zealand for the Avatar film series.

She said: "Avatar goes on forever, and since he's a surfer, this was heaven to him to come out here [to New Zealand]."

The Alien star relishes every second she spends with her beloved Jim.

Sigourney continued: "I think that you really realise how lucky you are to have found a sort of soulmate, and it's fun to have some time when your kids are grown up and in between jobs.

"It's not that you want to change people, but people do change, and it's fun to keep getting to know them."

Elsewhere, the award-winning actress - who, with Jim, has a 35-year-old child called Shar Simpson, who identifies as non-binary - says she and Jim's open communication and her husband's "aloha" are the secrets behind their strong marriage.

In 2023, Sigourney told Red magazine's September issue: "Honestly, its such a huge leap of faith! Of course, you have to work at it and be willing to communicate, and you have to marry the right person, but youre also taking a huge gamble.

"I just feel so fortunate that I married someone with so much aloha because I lead a weird life."

The couple leads a "very boring life", and Sigourney prefers to maintain a low profile and stay out of the spotlight when she is not working.

Sigourney said: "I try not to be in the public eye very often. When I have a wonderful project to support, I go all-out, but in general, we actually live a very boring life.

"Happily, we enjoy doing the same things. We love the outdoors, and were always talking about going walking around Britain because we love that rugged stuff."
On the evening of January 16, a traffic stop along Highway 70 east of Portola led deputies into a probation search, and later searches tied to a Quincy home and a second car.

A Plumas County patrol sergeant conducted a traffic enforcement stop around 9:50 p.m. on a car traveling eastbound on Highway 70 just east of Portola.

During the stop, the driver was identified as Robert Appley, who authorities said was on probation.

Deputies conducted a probation search and reported locating alcohol, a gun holster, drug paraphernalia, and a substance later identified as 10.2 grams of methamphetamine.

Appley was taken into custody.

As the investigation continued, deputies obtained a warrant for Appleys Quincy home and a second car associated with him. Deputies served the warrant at the home and on the second car.

During the service of the warrant, deputies reported seizing additional evidence, including more controlled substances, ammunition, and a gun.

Appley was booked into the Plumas County Jail. He faces felony and misdemeanor charges, including but not limited to possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, repeat drug offender enhancements, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, removal of firearm identification numbers, and violation of probation.

No injuries were reported. A woman who was a passenger in the car was not arrested and was helped in getting to her destination.

Authorities say the case will be forwarded to the Plumas County District Attorneys Office for review and possible prosecution.
The Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott on Monday, two people with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press.

The move came two days after the Bills were eliminated in a heart-wrenching 33-30 overtime loss at Denver in the divisional round of the playoffs. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the moved.

McDermotts tenure ends after nine seasons in which he transformed the franchise into a perennial winner but was knocked for failing to make a Super Bowl appearance. Buffalo became the NFLs first team to win a playoff round in seven consecutive years but not reach the Super Bowl.

The 51-year-old McDermott finished with a 98-50 regular-season record and was 8-8 in the playoffs, ranking second on the team list in wins behind Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy (112-70, 11-8). Levy did so over 11 seasons during a tenure that included the Jim Kelly-led team reaching  and losing  four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s.

McDermotts failure to reach the Super Bowl with Josh Allen at quarterback became his undoing. Though Allen has broken many of Kellys passing and scoring records, the Bills have advanced to the AFC championship game just twice  and lost both times to Kansas City  during a team-record seven-year playoff run.

Buffalos last three playoff losses have all been decided by three points. And three of McDermotts playoff losses ended in overtime.

That includes a 42-36 loss to Kansas City in the 2021 divisional round thats become dubbed 13 seconds"  the amount of time Patrick Mahomes had to complete two passes for 44 yards and set up Harrison Butkers tying, 49-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.

Despite his playoff inconsistencies, McDermott oversaw a team that won 10 or more regular-season games over seven straight seasons, including two team record-matching 13-win seasons in 2022 and '24.

Buffalo reached the playoffs in eight of McDermotts nine seasons. That includes 2017, when the Bills sneaked into the postseason on the final day to end a 17-year playoff drought that at the time was the longest active streak in North Americas four major pro sports.

(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)
RESOLUTION TO ADVANCE & DEVELOP THE PASTPRODUCING GOLDEN GATE TUNGSTEN MINE & STOCKPILES



Resolution Advances Golden Gate Tungsten Mine and Stockpiles

Adelaide, Jan 19, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Resolution Minerals Ltd ( ASX:RML ) ( NC3:FRA ) ( RLMLF:OTCMKTS ) provided an update as it advances its tungsten exploration and development activities at its Horse Heaven Gold-AntimonyTungsten-Silver Project ("Horse Heaven") in Idaho, USA. This advancement follows positive evaluation of historical data from the site, discussions with a prior operator of the Golden Gate Tungsten Mine ("Golden Gate") and results from recent drilling.



To accelerate these efforts, Resolution Minerals has retained Mr. David R. Hembree, CPG, a former Mine Geologist at Resolution's past-producing Golden Gate Tungsten Mine who is extremely familiar with the tungsten at Golden Gate and a tungsten expert, to accelerate exploration and development activities. This will include analysis of historical tungsten exploration data, ground-based fieldwork, a drill program to commence in June 2026, and metallurgical test work on existing tungsten stockpiles.



HIGHLIGHTS



Resolution has engaged the services of Mr. David R. Hembree, CPG, a seasoned geologist with direct experience at Resolution's historic Golden Gate Tungsten Mine, to fast-track tungsten exploration and development activities.



Mr. Hembree, who has 45 years' experience in geology in the western USA, was the last Mine Geologist to have worked at Golden Gate Tungsten Mine in 1980 and 1981 while employed with TRV Minerals Corp. In addition to being a highly accomplished explorationist, his experience as Mine Geologist with several operating mines in the United States, including Mount Hamilton, French Gulch and Mineral Ridge, will be invaluable to Resolution as it moves to rapidly develop Horse Heaven.



Mr. Hembree will support RML's tungsten exploration and development activities at both the Golden Gate Target and other emerging targets within Resolution's 100%- owned Horse Heaven Gold-Antimony-Tungsten-Silver Project ("Horse Heaven Project"). His knowledge of past exploration and production of tungsten at Horse Heaven is expected to be invaluable in identifying additional tungsten resources.



The Golden Gate Tungsten Mine produced tungsten ore intermittently from approximately 1952 to 1980. Ore from Golden Gate was processed at the nearby Stibnite Mill in the 1950s, and then at the Johnson Creek Mill, a custom milling facility which processed tungsten ore from Golden Gate intermittently until approximately 1980.



In parallel, Resolution is acquiring the historic Johnson Creek Mill (the "Acquisition"), which comprises a past-producing processing facility and stockpiles of an estimated 2,000 tonnes of tungsten ore (see ASX announcement 31 October 2025), and is located immediately adjacent to Horse Heaven.



Ongoing due diligence on the Johnson Creek acquisition is nearing completion.



Resolution believes that additional potential exists to expand tungsten mineralisation at and around the historic Golden Gate Tungsten Mine, along strike to the north and south parallel to the north-south oriented Golden Gate Fault and, potentially, at other targets at the Horse Heaven Project. A combination of groundbased exploration, geophysics, historical records and other tools will be used to develop an exploration plan to test these theories.



Resolution 100%-owned Horse Heaven Project is located in the Boise National Forest, covering ~ 59km2 of land immediately adjacent to the fully-permitted A$5 billion Stibnite Gold Project operated by Perpetua Resources Corp ( NYSE:PPTA ).



Tungsten (APT) prices are currently at a record high $900/mtu and expected to rise significantly in 2026 on the back of increased global conflict, and rising demand from clean energy and high-tech applications including AI chips and lithium-ion batteries.



History of Tungsten Production at Golden Gate



Tungsten exploration and development at Golden Gate began in the late 1940s, when scheelite-bearing veins were discovered, and open pit tungsten mining began at Golden Gate in the early 1950s. Ore was initially processed at the Stibnite Mine, mill and smelter until its closure in 1952. Following the closure of the Stibnite Mill, a custom milling operation, known as the Johnson Creek Mill, was built on 15 acres of land immediately adjacent to what is now known as the Horse Heaven Project.



In 1979 and 1980, underground mining at Golden Gate was undertaken, and a reported 1,905 tons of mill feed was produced and stockpiled. These tungsten stockpiles remain on-site and are part of the proposed Johnson Creek Mill site acquisition.



Open pit mining continued intermittently until 1979, when a portal was opened and ore was mined underground until 1980 (see image* of Golden Gate Tungsten Mine - circa May 1980).



Records indicate that 1,814 tons of tungsten was mined and milled in the 1950s, with an average grade of 1.5% WO3. In 1973, 227 tons of tungsten ore was mined and processed at the Johnson Creek Mill having an average grade of 2.03% WO3. In 1977, a further 456.6 tons of ore were mined and stockpiled with an average grade of 1.8% WO3.



When two subsequent drilling campaigns were undertaken at Golden Gate, as well as what is known as Antimony Ridge, in 1986/87 and 1994, the focus was on gold exploration; no tungsten assays were ever recorded as the operators were focused on near-surface gold targets. However, due to historic records, discussions with prior operators and recent drilling, Resolution feels significant potential exists to discover additional tungsten mineralisation at and around the historic Golden Gate Tungsten Mine, along approximately 3km of strike of the well-defined Golden Gate Fault and at other emerging targets at Horse Heaven.



Proposed Acquisition of Johnson Creek Mill and Tungsten Stockpiles



As announced to the ASX on 31 October 2025, Resolution has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the formerly operational Johnson Creek Tungsten & Antimony Mill, and Antimony Camp properties. This includes approximately 2,000 tonnes of tungsten ore mined from the Golden Gate Tungsten Mine located on the Horse Heaven Project, as well as industrial water rights. The processing mill and stockpiles sit on 15 acres of private land directly adjacent to the Horse Heaven Project.



The Acquisition offers RML several potential material strategic advantages including: Private land on which to potentially undertake processing and milling activities;



The ownership of private land, which is in short supply locally, offering additional flexibility from a permitting perspective relative to permitting on public lands;



Positions Horse Heaven as a potential U.S. hub for critical metal production;



Enables RML to seek partnerships for further downstream integration, such as smelting, refining, and product offtakes for both military and industrial uses; and



Secures a strategic location for base camp to facilitate anticipated expansion in exploration, mining and processing activities at Horse Heaven.



Resolution is nearing completion of its due diligence on the Acquisition and will advise the market of next steps in due course. The Acquisition of this mill site will significantly enhance Resolution's ability to aggressively advance its efforts to play a major nearterm role in meeting the United States' demand for domestic critical metals production.



Tungsten Uses & Market Outlook



Tungsten is a critical metal due to its strategic military importance and is essential to defense applications such as armour plating, artillery, ammunition and high-tech weaponry. Tungsten also has a broad range of industrial uses including clean energy storage, AI semiconductors, circuit boards, cutting tools, aerospace components, construction, lighting and high-performance electronics.



Through late 2025 into early 2026, tungsten prices (typically referenced via APT - Ammonium Paratungstate) have remained elevated and relatively firm compared to the long-term average.



Tungsten pricing is expected to increase in 2026, driven mainly by:



- China's export controls;

- Limited new mine development; and

- Rising strategic demand, particularly from defence, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.



Tungsten is increasingly becoming a strategic metal rather than a cyclical commodity, with the majority of production and processing currently controlled by China. The U.S. Administration is actively looking to secure Western supplies of tungsten to meet its defense and national security needs.



Craig Lindsay CEO of U.S. Operations, commented:



"We are fortunate to have connected with Mr. Hembree, who has a strong knowledge of historic tungsten exploration and production at Horse Heaven, and will be invaluable as Resolution begins the process of targeting additional tungsten resources at Horse Heaven. Based on our work to date, we are confident additional ore remains at the historic Golden Gate Tungsten Mine, as was as at other emerging targets at Horse Heaven. Dave, with his understanding of the historic workings and mineralisation, has already provided excellent insight into where we should be focusing future tungsten-oriented drilling activities."



Dave Hembree commented:



"I am very excited to be back working at the Horse Heaven Project and am eager to put my knowledge on the project's tungsten potential to work. There is a clear path to resource growth at the historic mine, and I am aware of other targets that have yet to be explored. For instance, to the south of the historic mine there is a significant tungsten anomaly identified through a historic soil sampling program that has never been drilled. The broader project, beyond Golden Gate, is a target-rich environment."



Next Steps



Near term work on tungsten at the Horse Heaven Project includes data compilation and assessment, metallurgical testing on historic stockpiles of tungsten mined at the Golden Gate Tungsten Mine, ground based sampling, geophysics and a drill program to be initiated in June 2026.



*To view figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/3U39MJ40





About Resolution Minerals Ltd





Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML) (OTCMKTS:RLMLF) (FRA:NC3) is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and battery metals - such as antimony, gold, copper, and uranium.

Resolution Minerals Ltd Listed on the ASX in 2017 and has a broad portfolio of assets, such as the Drake East Antimony-Gold Project in north-eastern NSW and George Project prospective for silica sand and uranium.

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Malibu, CA, Jan 19, 2026 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Red Mountain Mining Limited ( ASX:RMX ) ( RMXFF:OTCMKTS ) has reported a further tranche of exceptional high-grade antimony results from surface sampling at its 100%-owned Armidale Antimony-Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia.



Recent rock chip sampling at the Oaky Creek prospect returned antimony grades of up to 34.3% Sb, confirming the presence of a large-scale, coherent orogenic antimony-gold system at surface. Eleven of thirteen samples collected across the southern portion of the Oaky Creek North soil anomaly returned antimony values exceeding 1.9% Sb, demonstrating strong grade consistency across the system.



The mineralisation at Oaky Creek North has now been traced over a 1.6-kilometre strike length, with combined results from Oaky Creek North and South defining an antimony-gold system extending approximately three kilometres. The style of mineralisation is considered analogous to the Hillgrove antimony-gold deposit, Australia's largest known antimony resource.



In addition to antimony, sampling returned anomalous gold and arsenic values, consistent with the company's exploration model for vein-hosted orogenic antimony-gold mineralisation.



All work to date has been surface-based, including rock chip, soil, and auger sampling. Red Mountain Mining is currently completing tighter-spaced auger soil sampling designed to refine priority drill targets, with assay results expected shortly. The company plans to commence drill testing during the first half of 2026.



Red Mountain is also preparing a high-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric survey across the broader project area to improve structural interpretation and identify additional antimony and gold targets along the Peel Fault System.



Antimony has been designated a critical mineral under the Australian Government's A$1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategy, highlighting the growing strategic importance of domestic antimony discoveries amid tightening global supply chains.



The results and exploration strategy were discussed on The Ellis Martin Report / Money Talk Radio, focusing on geological context, upcoming exploration programs, and the increasing importance of antimony as a strategic metal.



To Listen to the Interview, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/U62Y636E





About Red Mountain Mining Limited





Red Mountain Mining Limited (ASX:RMX) is a mineral exploration and development company. Red Mountain has a portfolio of US, Canada and Australia projects in Critical Minerals and Gold. Red Mountain is advancing its Armidale Antimony-Gold Project in NSW, Utah Antimony Project in the Antimony Mining District of Utah, US, Fry Lake Gold Project and US Lithium projects.

About The Ellis Martin Report

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) and Money Talk Radio feature interviews with industry leaders in mining, biotech, energy, and technology. The program is globally syndicated through multiple financial platforms and streaming services.

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Stellan Skarsgard has branded Donald Trump a "little man who got megalomania".

Stellan Skarsgard has criticised Donald Trump

The Swedish actor hit out at the US leader for his "absurd" actions, including overseeing the ousting of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his attemmpts to annex Greenland.

Speaking to Polish news outlet Interia, he said: Its absurd, isnt it?

Its a little man who got megalomania, and hes trying to take the world.

He took Venezuela, suddenly, and thats for Chevron. Hell take Greenland for minerals. Hes a criminal."

Meanwhile, Stellan - who has Alexander, 49, Gustaf, 44, Sam, 43, Bill, 35, Eija, 33, and Valter, 29, with his first wife My Skarsgard as well as Ossian, 16, and Kolbjorn, 13, with his second wife Megan Everett - recently expressed his belief that he doesn't think it is possible to be a "good parent to a kid".

The 74-year-old actor admitted one of his kids has compared him to Gustav, the egocentric director and absent father he plays in his new movie Sentimental Value.

Insisted he wasn't offended that the role was written with him in mind, Stellan told The Independent: "Its never an insult, because I dont play myself usually. I dont think they can know my personality.

"And I never thought of Gustav as being like me in any way. Our situations are similar, but its totally different. Or at least, I thought so until my son saw the film and said to me, You recognise yourself? I said, no!

"But of course, they see things that I dont see  but you can never satisfy a kid. You can never be a good parent to a kid, because truthfully, they have things to complain about because were only human  and theyre not perfect either. So youve got to live with it.

However, Stellan has a good relationship with his children but admitted he wasn't always a "present" father when they were younger.

He said: I realised more that maybe I wasnt totally present when my kids were growing up. But I have eight kids  its f****** impossible...

I have been very tolerant to my kids, and they have to be tolerant of me, too. Ive let them go and do whatever they want, and they can let me go and do whatever I want.

And the Dune actor admitted he wouldn't have been happy as a dad standing on the sidelines watching his kids play sport.

He said: It would be so boring. I would die.
Mr Reynolds was dishonest when he gave pension transfer advice and investment recommendations to his customers, causing them significant harm. Mr Reynolds showed a clear disregard for his customers interests. He encouraged British Steel Pension Scheme members to transfer out of their defined benefit pension scheme, despite knowing that the advice was wholly unsuitable. He also advised his customers to invest in high-risk and unsuitable products while at the same time hiding high exit fees and forging documents. Mr Reynolds misconduct exposed hundreds of people to serious financial loss. Over 17.6 million has been paid in compensation to more than 470 affected customers, many of whom suffered losses in excess of statutory compensation limits. In addition, Mr Reynolds let two unapproved people give pension advice, putting customers at risk. When confronted with his misconduct he lied to regulators, allowed important evidence to be destroyed, and moved his family home into a trust to avoid paying his debts. Therese Chambers, Joint Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the FCA, said: Mr Reynolds misconduct was the worst we saw out of all the British Steel Pension Scheme cases, and he caused untold damage to his clients. He acted in a way that was corrupt and dishonest, putting his own profits before peoples pensions and acting without integrity as he tried to cover his tracks. He has spent many years trying to evade responsibility for his actions. The Tribunals full endorsement of our findings now brings those efforts to avoid accountability to an end. We will pursue recovery of the penalty to the fullest possible extent and will not hesitate to bankrupt him if necessary. We will ensure that he does not retain a single penny of his corrupt profits. The Tribunal noted that Mr Reynolds is clearly guilty of dreadful misconduct over a protracted period, which had very serious adverse impacts on a large number of retail customers. He is, as the Authority alleged, a corrupt and dishonest man lacking integrity."
Amazon has confirmed that several cases of tuberculosis were detected at one of its largest UK warehouses, prompting health officials to carry out testing among staff.

Amazon confirms outbreak of TB at UK warehouse

The online retail giant said ten employees working at its Coventry fulfilment centre - which employs more than 3,000 people - tested positive for latent tuberculosis in September. NHS teams visited the site this week to conduct blood tests on workers potentially exposed through close contact, but no additional cases were detected.

Dr Roger Gajraj, consultant in health protection with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) West Midlands, said the situation was being closely monitored.

He said: "The small number of individuals affected by tuberculosis are responding well to treatment and are no longer infectious, so pose no onward risk.

"As a precaution, and in line with national guidance, we are offering testing to those who may have had closer contact with the affected individuals. The overall risk remains low."

He added that TB is fully treatable with antibiotics and confirmed that the UKHSA is continuing to work closely with Amazon.

Despite reassurances, the company has faced calls from campaigners to temporarily close the warehouse and send all staff home on full pay while screening takes place. Amazon has not indicated any plans to do so, saying operations at the site are continuing as normal.

In a statement, the company confirmed that no further infections had been detected since September.

The spokesperson said: "In line with best practice safety procedures, we immediately followed guidance from the NHS and UK Health Security Agency and made all potentially affected employees aware of the situation.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we are currently running an expanded screening programme with the NHS. The site continues to operate as normal.

"We will continue to follow guidance from experts in the NHS, and would respectfully remind public organisations of the need for responsible communications where matters of public wellbeing are concerned."
My wife and I have a close family friend who lives in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN. Ill call her Jane. She is a real person, but Jane is not her real name.

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Jane is a hard-working, big-hearted woman who has never intended to hurt anyone. She is the type of person who calls on your birthday, comforts you when tragedy strikes, or takes you to the doctor when youre under the weather. She is the friend that every person should be blessed with. We are grateful to have her in our lives, despite her one glaring fault -- an all-consuming hatred for Donald J. Trump. It is a hatred that far exceeds mere derangement.

For Jane politics isnt the business of rational choices. It is a war of emotional expression. While Jane is vehemently opposed to illegal immigration, she is highly offended by the Trump administrations tactics in her community. She recently posted on Facebook:

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This is not the America I grew up in. And I'm beyond pissed. Now I hear Trump is threatening the insurrection act in Minnesota does that mean war on the citizens of Minnesota? Shoot now ask questions later Untrained ICE is (sic) indiscriminately and, might I add illegally, snatching people off the streets and pulling them out of their cars. Just because the color of their skin, sexual orientation, or for confronting them for an injustice being perpetrated on their community!! Even Native Americans are being picked up and held in custody as illegal immigrants!!! WTF!!!

I can almost hear her keyboard pleading for mercy as Jane hammered out that posting. It drips with hatred for Donald Trump. She considers his actions an afront to civilization, even though he is only fulfilling his oath of office.

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I can tell that Janes disdain for President Trump is a hormonal rather than intellectual. Her response to Presidents depends a great deal on whether they have D or an R behind their name.

Bill Clinton used a heavily armed SWAT raid to detain and deport Elian Gonzalez, a six-year-old Cuban boy. Jane wasnt beyond pissed. She didnt care at all.

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Barack Obama murdered an entire wedding party with a drone strike. Jane didnt call him a war criminal. She adored him.

Joe Biden trafficked over 300,000 children into slavery and prostitution. Jane didnt join a mob blowing whistles in protest. She voted for the woman who said she wouldnt have done anything differently.

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Donald Trump is enforcing laws passed by our duly-elected representatives. Jane is filled with rage that he as the temerity to do his constitutional duty, and is committed to making his job as difficult as possible.

Could ICE operations be conducted with better optics than what we are currently experiencing? Of course, but only in a world other than the one created by Jane and her fellow Democrats. Just imagine what border security would look like had she and her fellow travelers made different electoral choices over the past couple of decades.

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In a perfect world, our leaders would discourage illegal immigration and keep the borders sealed. Illegal immigration would be a relatively small problem -- requiring only a tiny ICE presence. But Joe Biden threw the gates open and invited the worlds worst to come and live on the backs of taxpayers. Now its a crisis, requiring drastic measures.

In a perfect world, illegals arrested for violent crimes would be quietly turned over to ICE by local authorities. There would be no need for neighborhood raids. But officials like Minnesota governor Tim Walz and Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan implemented sanctuary practices instead. Rather than handing rapists, murderers, thugs, and thieves over to ICE, they sneak them in through the back door to prey on otherwise peaceful communities. Now ICE is forced to go into Janes community to dig out the worst of the worst.

In a perfect world, protesters would march peacefully, carry signs, make media appearances, and lobby their congressmen. In America today the resistance stalks ICE agents, blocks roadways, interferes with law enforcement, vandalizes property, and even conducts armed ambushes -- all with the encouragement of Democrat politicians. Their behavior has cost them their moral authority and made incidents like the Renee Good shooting inevitable.

In a perfect world, local police would come to the aid of ICE when confronted with unruly mobs. There would be no need for ICE to gun up, mask up, and travel in tactical squads. They could make arrests in a quiet orderly fashion, knowing that their brethren in blue would have their backs. But officials like Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey and Philadelphia sheriff Rochelle Bilal have pledged to arrest ICE agents rather than protect them. Now mobs confront law enforcement with impunity, while they struggle to perform their constitutional duties. In Janes community, mobs have even begun harassing private citizens whom they suspect might be ICE agents. Is that the fault of Donald Trump also?

In a perfect world, those opposed to border enforcement, would lobby their representatives in Washington to change immigration laws. But in our world, they show disdain for the elected choices of the majority by disrupting civil order and impeding the enforcement of our laws.

Jane is furious -- as are we. She went into the voting booth and wished for all of this, without considering what the reality would look like. Im sure having her nose rubbed in a putrid mess of her own making, only adds to her rage. But thats on her, not on those of us who voted to clean up the mess her beloved Democrats created.

Theres little others can do for Janes well being. Dialog isnt an ineffective treatment for hatred. My wife and I intend to keep loving her, and pray that she eventually finds her way out of the darkness that consumes her. But that will be up to her.

John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He has written for American Thinker, The American Spectator, Convention of States Action, and American Free News Network. He can be reached at [email protected].

Image: PublicDomainPictures.Net
For much of modern political history, the most dangerous words in public policy have not been shouted slogans but soothing reassurances. They are the claims that certain policies are compassionate, progressive, or humane, offered without any serious accounting of how they actually affect the people forced to live under them. This pattern is particularly evident in the agenda of todays Democratic Party, whose policy choices increasingly produce chaos and danger while being marketed as moral advances.

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The central flaw is not malice so much as indifference to consequences. The pursuit of ideological purity has replaced the traditional liberal concern for social order, public safety, and the rule of law. The predictable result has been a deterioration of civil society -- one that falls most heavily on those with the least ability to protect themselves.

Consider first the partys enthusiastic support for criminal justice reform in the form of progressive prosecutors and judges who are openly hostile to enforcement. Across major cities, voters have been urged to elect district attorneys who treat incarceration as a moral failure rather than a necessary tool of public safety. These officials routinely decline to prosecute entire categories of crimes, downgrade felonies to misdemeanors, or release repeat offenders back into the communities they have already victimized.

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The human cost of this experiment is rarely discussed by its advocates. It is not the affluent professionals living behind security systems and gated communities who bear the brunt of rising crime. It is working-class neighborhoods, disproportionately minority, where small businesses are looted, elderly residents are assaulted, and parents fear letting their children walk to school. When law enforcement retreats, predatory behavior does not politely stand down. It fills the vacuum.

Closely related is the push for cashless bail. The theory is appealing: no one should be jailed simply for being poor. But the reality is that bail exists not as punishment but as a mechanism to ensure court appearance and to protect the public from demonstrably dangerous individuals. When bail is eliminated or sharply restricted, judges are often forced to release offenders with lengthy arrest records -- individuals who quickly reoffend, sometimes violently.

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Again, the costs are borne by ordinary citizens, not by the policymakers who champion these reforms. A person assaulted by someone who should never have been released receives little comfort from learning that the system was trying to be fair. Fairness without safety is a luxury belief -- affordable only to those insulated from its consequences.

Californias move to eliminate life without parole through measures such as the Youth Rehabilitation and Opportunity Act illustrates the same pattern. The idea that violent criminals should automatically be given new chances based on age or shifting social theories ignores a fundamental reality: some individuals have demonstrated, repeatedly and conclusively, that they are a permanent threat to others. A legal system that refuses to recognize this is not enlightened; it is reckless.

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Public safety is further undermined by sanctuary city policies and categorical opposition to immigration enforcement. The claim is that shielding illegal immigrants from federal authorities fosters trust. But in practice, it has meant protecting criminal illegal aliens -- people who have already violated immigration law and then gone on to commit additional crimes.

Here again, the victims are overwhelmingly members of minority communities. When a repeat offender is released because local officials refuse to cooperate with federal enforcement, it is not an abstraction. It is a real person harmed, often by someone who had already been identified and could have been removed. To describe this as compassion is to redefine the word beyond recognition.

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At the same time, the Democratic Party has embraced policies that deliberately blur long-standing boundaries in the name of social progress, such as allowing biological males into womens private spaces. This is presented as a matter of inclusion, but it requires dismissing legitimate concerns about privacy, safety, and fairness -- particularly for women and girls. A society that refuses to acknowledge obvious biological differences in policy design is not advancing justice; it is indulging ideology at the expense of reality.

Perhaps most revealing is the partys response -- or lack thereof -- to the surge of antisemitic harassment and intimidation on elite university campuses. Jewish students have been threatened, blocked from facilities, and subjected to rhetoric that would be instantly condemned if directed at any other protected group. Yet institutional leaders and many elected officials have responded with moral ambiguity, procedural evasions, or outright silence.

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This selective outrage exposes the underlying principle at work. Victimhood is not determined by harm suffered but by ideological alignment. Groups deemed politically inconvenient are afforded fewer protections, even when facing open hostility.

All of this unfolds alongside a relentless push for gun control legislation that would leave law-abiding citizens more vulnerable, not less. Criminals, by definition, do not obey gun laws. Disarming potential victims while simultaneously weakening policing and sentencing is not a safety strategy -- it is an invitation to predators. The right to self-defense is most meaningful precisely when the state fails to provide protection. To curtail that right while engineering such failures is a profound moral contradiction.

What explains this pattern? One possibility is ideological romanticism -- the belief that crime, violence, and disorder are primarily products of social injustice and that removing constraints will somehow redeem human behavior. This view has been repeatedly falsified by history, but it remains attractive to those insulated from its costs.

Another explanation is political calculation. Chaos can be useful. Social disorder creates dependency, fear, and a demand for centralized control. A population that feels unsafe is more easily persuaded to surrender liberties in exchange for promises of protection, even when those promises have already proven empty.

There is also a deeper cultural shift at work: a growing hostility toward the very idea of standards. Law enforcement, borders, prisons, sex distinctions, and even moral clarity are treated as relics of an oppressive past. But a society that abandons standards does not become freer -- it becomes governed by force, often exercised by the least scrupulous.

The lesson is an old one. Good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes. Policies must be judged by what they do, not by how virtuous they sound. A political movement that consistently produces more crime, more fear, and more fragmentation while claiming moral superiority deserves skepticism, not deference.

Order is not the enemy of justice. It is its prerequisite. And a society that forgets this lesson will relearn it the hard way -- at the expense of its most vulnerable citizens.

Jim Cardoza is the author of The Moral Superiority of Liberty and the founder of LibertyPen.com. Read more of his essays there.

Image: Pixabay
We know that Democrat politicians and judges can be vicious and corrupt, but with regard to Tina Peters, they outdid themselves.

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Tina Peters has been sitting in a Colorado state prison since October 2024.

During the 2020 election, Tina Peters was the top election official in Mesa County Colorado. In October 2024, the 70-year-old widow was sentenced to nine years in prison by District Court Judge Matthew Barrett. Given the lengthy sentence, you might think that Peters molested a child, pushed someone onto a subway track, or stole $50,000 from a Mesa County bank. Youd be wrong. To Colorado Democrats, her crimes were much more serious. They included:

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Accurately exposing enormous errors in two consecutive county elections

Expressing her view that Americas election controls were too weak

What Tina Peters did and what she found

Basically, Peters made a copy of the county election database and put it into the hands of two data experts -- Walter Daugherity and Jeffrey ODonnell. For making the copy and giving it to the data experts, Peters was charged with several felonies and misdemeanors.

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During her trial, the Peters defense team produced an 87-page report that had been prepared by Daugherity and ODonnell. In great detail, the report irrefutably proved that the countys election data base had been, in some unknown manner, downloaded and materially altered in two consecutive elections -- the November 2020 election and a local election held during the following spring. Here is the central claim of the report. It has never been disputed by anyone -- before, during, or after the trial:

There was an unauthorized creation of new election databases during early voting in the 2020 General Election on October 21, 2020, followed by the digital reloading of 20,346 ballot records into the new election databases, making the original voter intent recorded from the ballots unknown. In addition, 5,567 ballots in 58 batches did not have their digital records copied to the new database, although the votes from the ballots in those batches were recorded in the Main election database. Advertisement

In other words, after people had been voting for a few days, someone (or something) deleted the election database and installed a new database, minus 5,567 ballots. As a result of this activity, none of the original voter intent is known. In total, over 25% of the Countys ...entire election, cannot be verified and should not have been counted. Those records are gone forever, and we know that only because of the efforts of Tina Peters and the experts she retained.

To produce the database copy and get it to outside experts, Tina Peters had to break certain provisions of state law: illegal acts for which she was prepared to pay a price. However, those legal infractions were trivial compared to the important civic service she performed by correctly identifying major election anomalies.

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Peters was never thanked by state officials for her efforts. Why? It seems that no Democrat, anywhere, is willing to acknowledge the vulnerability of elections in America (at least, not the elections they won).

Actions taken by the county prosecutor

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Rather than thanking Tina Peters for her successful efforts, District Attorney Daniel Rubenstein took the following actions, leading to 10 felony and misdemeanor charges:

Heavily-armed FBI agents conducted early-morning raids of the homes of Peters and three associates. In one case a battering ram was used to break in the door. In another case, a teenage daughter was made to stand in her underwear on the front steps of the home.

the door. In another case, a teenage daughter was made to stand in her underwear on the front steps of the home. After the raids, Tina Peters received death threats, so pillow czar Mike Lindell provided her with security and housing for several weeks. Because of that act of kindness, Peters was charged with an ethics violation (for receiving a gift valued over $65).

Peters was arrested for allegedly taking pictures in the courtroom, without permission. To execute the arrest, Peters was followed to a bagel shop where three police officers demanded her I-phone. They then put her in handcuffs.

Because Tina Peters had tried to keep her cell phone from the police, she was charged and convicted of obstruction of government operations.

In August 2023, Tina Peters asked the district attorney if she could have access to her passport for a few hours so that she could enroll in the TSA PreCheck program for airplane travelers. The DA opposed the request because Peters had dangerous associates: Who were those alleged criminals? They were President Trump and the other 18 defendants charged by Fani Willis.

Conduct by Judge Matthew Barrett

During the trial, Judge Matthew Barrett was not particularly interested in the facts of the case or in the report of the experts. When Peters tried to explain that the election database may have been improperly altered, Barrett simply said, the votes are the votes.

The judges true feelings were on full display during sentencing. Obviously, he resented the defendants politics, and resented her popularity and support.

Despite the fact that Peters had already lost her job as county recorder, the judge felt she had to go to prison right away (no waiting for appeal) and for a long time because she was such a danger to our community. Otherwise ...she can preach these lies, the undermining of our democratic process... In other words, she might continue to exercise her first amendment right to free speech. Worse yet, she might expose the huge defects in the Mesa County election system.

The moment she was sentenced, the judge sent Tina Peters to prison. There was no release pending appeal. After all, she was dangerous.

The Colorado Court of Appeals has misgivings

Recently, Peters attorneys presented arguments before the Colorado Court of Appeals, and they are still being considered. Based on the comments made by the panel of judges, it is obvious that the court has misgivings about this case.

Apparently, the prosecution made a serious technical error. As reported in the Denver Gazette, Peters

...stands convicted of a felony count... even though the jury instructions and indictment recited the language from the less-severe misdemeanor offense.

One skeptical judge asked:

Is it your position that a person can still be convicted of a crime with which they were never charged and with which the jury was never instructed, as long as the evidence is sufficient?

Another judge declared:

I am baffled as to the position thats being taken that somehow we can overlook that.

The three-judge panel also expressed concern regarding the apparent bias of Judge Barrett. One judge noted that, in sentencing Peters, Barrett seemed to impose an extra-harsh sentence due to her First Amendment protected views concerning election security. Clearly, the words snake-oil and charlatan were inappropriate and inflammatory.

It is gratifying that the Court of Appeals may give Tina Peters some much-deserved relief. It is probable that her nine-year sentence will be reduced.

However, the central and most important issue of this case is still unresolved. Major election anomalies were identified by Tina Peters -- a fact that state officials and a petty Democrat judge simply refuse to acknowledge.

Joe Fried is an Ohio-based CPA and the author of Debunked? An auditor reviews the 2020 election -- and the lessons learned. In that book, Joe argues that the 2020 election should not have been certified. In addition, Joe has assisted various attorneys representing January 6th defendants. His totally free substack account is found at joefriedcpa.substack.com.

Image AT via Magic Studio
Americas intervention in Venezuela is just days old, and the world seems unable to settle. The heated debate over Greenlands future overshadows the main thread of a new world order emerging -- one that is being decided between the U.S. and China. Europe, for now, is relegated to the role of a progressively anxious bystander.

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In recent weeks, much speculation has surrounded the background and consequences of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela on January 3. On the surface, political commentators and mainstream media focus largely on Venezuelan heavy oils role and future. And they are right: if the U.S. manages to revive the mostly idle capacities via its domestic production industry -- especially through firms like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon -- a significant geopolitical lever emerges.

This lever primarily reshapes the negotiation matrix and dynamics between Washington and Beijing. China requires this oil for its maritime expansion; the U.S., in turn, for refining capacity in the southern states, particularly Texas. Controlling exports to China could strengthen Americas negotiating position on rare earths -- a pressure point China has repeatedly wielded, even against European companies. Potentially, the U.S. could also pressure Beijing and curb the subsidized Chinese export machine. These are substantial arguments on the path to U.S. reindustrialization.

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Simultaneously, discussions suggest the U.S. governments core aim is to push back Chinese influence in South American key resource markets -- echoing the Monroe Doctrine. Chinas response to Nicolas Maduros detention was surprisingly restrained. Beyond the expected diplomatic protest, Canadian prime minister Mark Carneys visit to Beijing captured attention. Canada, as a resource giant, increasingly plays the counterweight to Donald Trumps administration.

Alberta, Greenland, and the Subtle Shifts

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Carney spoke over the weekend of discussions with Chinas leadership on a new world order -- a multipolar global order no longer centered on the United States. For China, the point was clear: Canada is effectively being pushed out of the U.S. refining business due to the planned reopening of Venezuelan oil fields. Canadian heavy oil is of high interest to China, which must now find alternative markets to counter growing U.S. pressure.

A minor footnote deserves attention: alongside the media frenzy over Greenland -- a debate in Europe elevated to a NATO survival question due to the islands resource wealth and strategic waterways -- another discussion is emerging in the U.S. and Canada: the future of Alberta. President Trump has repeatedly referenced this, opening the door to secession speculation. Could a referendum -- still speculative -- result in Canada losing access to a significant portion of its resources if Albertans vote for independence? This debate merits close monitoring, as it could offer deep insights into future resource markets and geopolitical control.

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Strategic Metal: Silver

Maduros detention opens the U.S. potential insight into South American trade relations with China, particularly in resources. Key questions remain: which quantities were transferred outside official trade balances, which resources specifically, and to what extent were U.S. sanctions circumvented? These factors will likely play a decisive role in the coming years as the global economy decouples.

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If it turns out that Venezuela exported strategically important resources like silver to China in significant amounts, the U.S. could now fundamentally alter the dynamics of the global resource order. The core question arises: was the American intervention really only about Venezuelan heavy oil?

Last summer, the U.S. officially declared silver a strategic metal. Since then, silver prices have surged, confirming suspicions that both China and the U.S. are stockpiling heavily. Silver is indispensable for building AI data center infrastructure and electric motors.

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There is also a monetary dimension: growing U.S. and Chinese concentration of strategic metals increases pressure on Europes currency system. The world increasingly moves toward metal-backed monetary systems, with central banks hoarding for balance-sheet stability. Metals are gaining global weight as a stabilizing economic and financial foundation.

China now enforces a comparatively strict silver export regime. Industrial demand is expected to rise sharply in coming years, making questions about Venezuelas actual resource flows crucial -- far beyond oil.

Control of key sea routes, systematic displacement of Chinese presence in the Panama Canal and U.S. West Coast ports and securing access to strategic resources -- including Greenland -- regardless of Europes stance, are elements of a broader strategy. The U.S. is forcing a bifurcation: a geopolitical division into two spheres of influence -- U.S. and Chinese.

This split has been decades in the making, accelerated by Chinas rise. Historically, it is hard to halt without risking major military conflict. Coordination between the U.S. and China in this economic decoupling is key to minimizing conflict.

Bifurcation of World Order

The U.S. is determined to consolidate its role in the Western Hemisphere and -- likely in coordination with Beijing and Moscow -- gradually retreat into its self-defined power zone. This is not weakness but strategic calculation in a fragmented world order.

Regarding the so-called Greenland crisis: the EU plays no real role in the global resource scramble. European states import roughly 60% of their energy. The failed attempt to secure resources from Russia via regime change and a defeat in Ukraine highlights the EUs geopolitical impotence.

Deploying a small European force to Greenland to limit U.S. influence underscores Europe-U.S. tensions. Trump responded by raising tariffs by 10%, threatening 25% if Europes stance did not change -- revealing the stark asymmetry of power. Brussels appears as a paper giant.

Given this imbalance, Europes failure to forge a political alliance to adopt a cooperative U.S. approach is puzzling. Brussels and London opt for confrontation, a path likely leading to further economic losses. Europes strength lies in aligning with U.S. market regimes, abandoning hidden climate protectionism, and activating its robust domestic market. Geopolitically, the fight is lost, only recoverable via sensible economic policy.

Attempts via Mercosur to secure trade leeway in South America have been underwhelming. The agreement largely enforces Brussels climate regulations, already straining European business, leaving true free trade as distant as ever.

Image: Louis Dalrymple
For someone like Matthew Omolesky at The American Spectator the current interest in Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt among the unwashed Right is, to quote President Eisenhower, gravely to be regarded. He quotes a couple of guys from the libertarian Reason:

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Americas radical defense of classical liberalism has made the United States exceptional. With Schmittian philosophy resurgent on the New Right, its time for conservatives to defend our founding principles from a vicious ideology that seeks to arrogate supreme power to the state and abrogate the natural rights of the individual.

No! The whole point of unwashed interest in Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt, for me, is that he helps us understand how not to arrogate supreme power to the state. Then Omolesky shows that he really understands nothing, encapsulating Schmitts philosophy as Friend good, enemy bad.

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Matthew Omolesky! You have completely missed the point! For Schmitt, the political is the distinction between friend and enemy. The moral is the distinction between good and evil. And neer the twain shall meet, except in what experts have come to call totalitarianism.

I like to illustrate the difference between politics and morality in my understanding of the distinction between men and women. Men arent that concerned about morality, but they are really concerned about the need to kill the enemy in the drug gang a couple of blocks away before he kills one of our guys. Women arent that concerned with enemies, but they are always making moral judgements about the people of their acquaintance, and whether things have got to the point where I am never talking to her again.

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We hard-right armed insurrectionists cannot understand the present moment without understanding that, for our liberal friends, Trump is the Enemy. Why is that? Curtis Yarvin: there is no politics without an enemy.

Omolesky doesnt like Yarvin because he called our Founders liars. Okay, fine. But Trump has to be the liberal Enemy because there is no politics without an enemy.

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Notice how I am always writing about our liberal friends or our Democrat friends. There is a reason for that. I do not think that liberals are The Enemy. I believe that our liberal friends are fools and knaves that believe in politics as the solution to social problems -- and race problems and patriarchy problems and climate problems. Earth to liberals: politics makes most things worse.

I repeat: Doesnt Yarvins maxim exactly explain the minds and the acts of our liberal friends, from intellectuals to politicians to activists? They are devoted to politics: therefore there must be an enemy.

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Now, to me, Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt is important because he teaches me why politics is really dangerous to humans and other living things. I Have a Dream that one day our liberal friends will finally understand that politics is radioactive and that politics should be shut down like nuclear plants before we melt down all the way to China. My understanding of Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt is that politics should be confined to dealing with the problem of real external enemies, and real internal thugs and criminals.

Schmitt explains why Communism has been such a disaster, why Nazism led the Germans into Hell, why the Iranian regime is blowing up the ancient land of Zarathustra until the rubble bounces. Using politics as a guide to running society at large is a disaster, because humans are social animals. Nearly all the time we interact with each other with the give and take of community and work and play and a shared moral framework. Politics is only useful in an emergency, as in emergency, break glass.

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Yes, but whatabout morality, about good and evil? I direct your attention to our Democrat friends in Minnesota and the apparent large-scale corruption featuring the Somali community. If you look at Minnesota politics through a Schmittian lens you see that, to Democrat politicians, it doesnt matter that the Somalis have been ripping off all kinds of federal social programs. The Somalis help get the Somali vote out in elections and harvest the ballots to defeat the Republican Enemy. The Somalis are the Friends of the Democrat politicians in their fight against the Enemy, and in politics you reward your supporters and friends.

In other words, despite all the talk about morality and helpless victims, our Democrat friends just fight the enemy and gift the friends that help them get elected. Morality, good and evil, has nothing to do with the case. In politics the only rule is: just win, baby. Morality, good and evil, only applies outside of politics.

Was Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt a Nazi monster? Lets say he was: the worst of the worst. Okay, virtue-signaler, you are on the right side of history, you and all the Good People.

But my question is whether Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt was right, that politics is about friend vs. enemy, and nothing else.

Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill blogs at The Commoner Manifesto and runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class.

Image: Public Domain
In April 2016, I was in Atlanta visiting friends. I took the opportunity to visit the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr., located at 501 Auburn Avenue. Cast directly into the concrete outside the home is a simple marker noting that Dr. King was born in that house on January 15, 1929.

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Since this week is MLK Day, I wanted to share a few things I learned on this trip. The home sits in the heart of Sweet Auburn, which, a park ranger explained, was the wealthiest African American neighborhood in Atlanta at the time.

The house is just a short walk from Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. Kings father and maternal grandfather both served as pastors. It took me a few minutes to walk from the house to the church. Dr. King himself became co-pastor with his father in 1960.

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One detail that surprised me was learning that Dr. Kings original name was Michael, not Martin. As a child, he was called M.L. His father, originally named Michael King as well, changed both of their names to Martin Luther King after a trip to Germany in 1934.

Dr. King grew up in a happy household with two siblings, his parents, and his maternal grandparents. The house had been purchased in 1909 by his grandfather, the Rev. Adam Daniel Williams (1863-1931), and his grandmother, Jennie Celeste Parks Williams (1875-1941).

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Another thing I learned during the official tour was that his older sister, Christine King Farris (19272023), was still alive at the time of my visit. That realization gave me the unsettling sense that Dr. King himself might have lived until his eighties or nineties.

The world is better because he chose instead to fight for justice, fully aware that doing so placed his life at risk.

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In one of his final speeches, he spoke openly about the possibility of assassination. Tragedy for this family did not end in 1968.

Dr. Kings younger brother died under mysterious circumstances in 1969, officially ruled a drowning, though some historians have speculated it may have been related to heart problems.

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In 1974, Dr. Kings mother, Alberta Williams King, was murdered while playing the organ at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The gunman had intended to kill Dr. Kings father but believed his wife would be an easier target. Remarkably, the King family opposed seeking the death penalty for her killer.

For years after Alberta Kings murder, people continued to worship in that church, fully aware that its prominence made it a potential target for anyone seeking notoriety through violence.

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Standing inside that house, walking the short distance to Ebenezer Baptist Church, and seeing the neighborhood that shaped him made me realize that there is no substitute for visiting historical sites in person.

Seeing his photographs as a little boy for the first time, I realized that not everyone can be a hero, but every hero starts as someone ordinary.

His life was filled with incredible moments. His I Have a Dream speech is legendary.

When I first read his Letter from Birmingham Jail, he summarized the purpose of his life when he wrote:

But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their thus saith the Lord far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.

During his lifetime, Dr. King was frequently accused of being a communist by his critics. Those accusations misunderstand both his faith and his philosophy.

King rejected communism explicitly and repeatedly, arguing that it was incompatible with Christianity and morally corrosive in its methods.

In 1962, King said:

How, then, is communism irreconcilable with Christianity? In the first place, it leaves out God and Jesus Christ. Communism is avowedly secularistic and materialist. The great philosopher of communism, Karl Marx, based his total philosophy on what he called dialectical materialism. There was a philosopher by the name of [George Wilhelm Friedrich] Hegel who had used what he called the dialectical system to analyze concepts, and Karl Marx was willing to take Hegels dialectic. And then he studied another man by the name of Feuerbach, a German philosopher. This man was a materialist. And so he took the materialism of this man and added it to the dialectic that he got from Hegel, and this is why his system is called dialectical materialism.

He was an extraordinary man and a great American.

Image: U.S. Information Agency/National Archives
Jon Bernthal has teased The Punisher will be as high octane as youve ever seen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Jon Bernthal has teased his Punisher will be as 'high octane as youve ever seen' in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The 49-year-old actor is set to reprise his role as the anti-hero in Tom Hollands upcoming Sony/Marvel blockbuster, and Bernthal has promised The Punisher will not be toned down in Spider-Man: Brand New Day to ensure the character can transition smoothly between the movie and his upcoming Disney+ special.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Bernthal said: Around that same time, there will also be this Punisher special thats coming out that I think will be as sort of high-octane kind of Punisher as youve ever seen.

And I think what was really important to me and to [director] Destin [Daniel Cretton] and to Tom is that we believed that the Punisher that could walk off of the Spider-Man set could walk on to the special set. I do believe that we achieved that.

As well as Bernthals Punisher, Spider-Man: Brand New Day - due to release in July 2026 - will see the return of Hollands Wall-Crawler, Zendayas Michelle 'MJ' Jones-Watson and Jacob Batalons Ned Leeds.

Meanwhile, Mark Ruffalos Hulk, Michael Mandos Scorpion and Marvin Jones IIIs Tombstone are all set to have a role in the film.

Stranger Things star Sadie Sink and The Bears Liza Colon-Zayas are also confirmed to have roles in the movie, though both actresses have kept their lips sealed over the characters they will be playing.

However, Sink recently teased theres sometimes some truth to the fan theories about who she will be portraying in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the 23-year-old actress said: It's torture. There's so much speculation. I feel like there's a new character every week.

I tell people. The people I know. I found out through online theories.

Before I got cast, there was speculation online that said, Sadie Sink is gonna be in the new Spider-Man. I was like, I am? Sure enough, two days later, they asked me to do it. Those theories, there's sometimes some truth to [them].

The synopsis for Spider-Man: Brand New Day reads: After the world has forgotten his name, Peter Parker (Holland) begins a new chapter in his life  balancing college classes, part-time work, and his responsibility as New Yorks friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

But when a mysterious force begins to unravel the city from the inside out, Peter finds himself caught between powerful enemies, old legacies, and unexpected allies.

As shadows from the past creep into his present, he must redefine what it truly means to be a hero  on his own.

Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige also teased Spider-Man: Brand New Day will see Hollands Peter Parker become a proper Spider-Man having to deal with street-level crime by himself instead of being thrown into world-ending events.
History repeats itselfagain, and again, and again.

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As we saw yesterday, a sea of anti-ICE agitators disrupted a church service somewhere in Minnesota, apparently feeling justified because as they believed, the pastor of the church was somehow moonlighting as an ICE field office director.

(For additional material on this, see Leftists bust into St. Paul church service, bellowing about ICE with a bullhorn by Monica Showalter.)

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A wiser and more rational person may have taken a moment to pause, considering that the name David Easterwood can be given to more than one person; as of writing this, there are no confirmed reports that Pastor David Easterwood is also ICE agent David Easterwood. (Fox News reached out to the federal agency for clarification and has yet to hear back.)

Attacks against the Christian church and her people are nothing new. Christians in imperial Rome were fed to the lions and other wild beasts in the Colosseum, and they were burned alive on posts to light the streetsbut what we saw in Minnesota was communism, through and through, as weve seen this same movie play out across time and place for more than a hundred years. Communists always go for the churches first.

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In late 1917, the communist Bolsheviks overthrew imperial Russia, and just a few months later (January 23, 1918), Vladimir Lenin enacted the Decree on the Separation of Church and State (American leftists love that phrase still today), which was a systematic attack against the religious order of Tsarist Russia. That campaign promoted atheism as a core tenet of a new Bolshevik nation, and saw mass arrests, the confiscation of church property, and mass murders of religious teachers. (A few very interesting photos from the time can be found at this link, with one in particular looking eerily evocative of the smug mob that just barged into Cities Church in St. Paul, MN.) This war against the churches continued apace under Joseph Stalin, who, among other measures, ordered more mass killing against church leaders.

Mao Zedongs Cultural Revolution waged a war on the Four Olds of traditional China, which included the destruction of Christian churches, and the prohibition of Christianity (a ban which effectively exists still today).

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Pol Pots genocide in Cambodia during the 1970s intentionally decimated the Christian population. According to Persecution.org, Pol Pot established a medieval regime of terror and restlessly hunted Christians. The same site reveals that before the Khmer Rouge rose to power, there were around 170,000 Christians in Cambodia; in just a few years, that number dropped to a staggering low of only a couple thousand. Christians were outsiders accused of being too Western, so they had to go.

(I could go on with the anti-church policies of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, but Im running out of room.)

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So why do communists hate the Christian church so much? Its simple: Without an authority higher than man, they can be god. They want to be the moral arbiter, making moral claims on whats right and wrong. So, the real moral arbiter (God), and anyone who believes in Him, is an obstacle to the communist and his political goals.

In his Second Treatise, John Locke wrote about a mans ability to appeal to Heaven when a government seeks to enslave or destroy the people under its authority:

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The People have no other remedy in this, as in all other cases where they have no Judge on Earth, but to appeal to Heaven. For the Rulers, in such attempts, exercising a Power the People never put into their hands (who can never be supposed to consent, that any body should rule over them for their harm) do that, which they have not a right to do. And where the Body of the People, or any single Man, is deprived of their Right, or is under the Exercise of a power without right, and have no Appeal on Earth, there they have a liberty to appeal to Heaven, whenever they judge the Cause of sufficient moment.

This notion is a Christian one, and an anathema to the communist.

So, the attacks must go on.

Heres what happened inside Cities Church today. Look at the terrified child being comforted by his father at 1:05.



If the FACE Act isnt enforced against these lawless radicals, then expect for this to continue all over the country.@AAGDhillon pic.twitter.com/uV8Btg1tFX  Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) January 19, 2026

Image generated by ChatGPT.
For years, climate change deniers have been attacked and ridiculed because we dont believe in the science of the left. Yet, invented science isnt science, and too many scientists have cowed to it, incentivized by money or fear of being cancelled, and have climbed on the bandwagon. More and more people, however, are realizing the scam thats been perpetrated and are speaking out.

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And now, those who defend climate change caused by humans are furious and alarmed. To discourage dissenters to the progressive narrative, the UN stepped up to stop the disinformation, intending to ramp up the war against climate change deniers:

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), held in Brazil in November 2025, several states endorsed the UNs Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change, an initiative recognizing and trying to combat the rise in climate disinformation in media and politics. Advertisement The UN Declaration is professedly a pledge to fight false information about climate change.

At first glance, the Declaration seems fairly innocuous. But if you read it carefully, it clearly condemns those who dont agree with the UN agenda, demanding censorship of the opposition, largely through the media. Here is one of the listed commitments:

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Promote and support the sustainability of a diverse and resilient media ecosystem through adequate policies to enable and ensure accurate and reliable coverage, specially, within this context, on climate and environmental issues, as well as policies on advertising transparency and accountability.

It is not the place of the UN to determine a limitation on discussion of climate change, or create a media network to censor opposing viewpoints or findings. And yet they persist in pursuing this agenda and insist that everyone fall in line. Desiree Fixler, an expert in sustainable finance and investment banking and a former member of the WEFs Global Future Council on Responsible Investing turned whistleblower, identified the climate change crisis as a hoax:

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Fixler, a whistleblower, used to work as a sustainability officer for Deutsche Bank, until she exposed their greenwashing and was fired for it. Since then, she has been exposing the climate change narrative and the net zero agenda as a scam. In a recent podcast, she explained how the UN and WEF agendas of net zero emissions and stakeholder capitalism  a WEF concept  are means to gain control and implement socialism. Theyre lying to the public, Fixler recently said on the Winston Marshall podcast. Theyve manufactured a climate crisis. There is climate change, but there is no climate crisis... asset managers, consultants, and governments... theyre all in on it because they all profit from it. Advertisement

Last year, Stanford University reported on a rise in new organizations pushing back against the lefts climate change crisis claims:

New Stanford-led research in PLOS One reveals a growing constellation of think tanks, research institutes, trade associations, foundations, and other groups actively working to oppose climate science and policy. The number of countries with at least one such counter climate change organization has more than doubled over the past 35 years. Advertisement

The researchers, in a roundabout way, recognize the aggressiveness of the lefts climate change policies in action to be a major factor for the pushback:

According to the Jan. 22 study, the two factors most closely linked to the formation of at least one counter climate change organization are the strength of a countrys commitment to protecting the natural environment and the level of formal organization in its social sector.

(As it turns out, people are less concerned with some unobservable boogeyman than they are with their utility bills and whether or not they can afford a car.)

An especially frustrating part of this story is that climate change adherents mischaracterize the position of the deniers who dont deny that the climate is changing, but that there is inadequate scientific evidence to suggest that human beings are the source of those changes. This is a critical issue: How can we consider stopping climate change when we dont have scientific data about what causes it?

Well-known scientists are finally speaking out against the UN censorship initiative:

Prominent voices, including Bjorn Lomborg, have criticized the UNs stance, insisting that taxpayer-funded climate policies warrant thorough scrutiny, not censorship. Lomborg contends that the UNs agenda is not only misguided but runs the risk of economically damaging the very countries it claims to help, as evidenced by countries like Germany facing high energy costs amid aggressive climate goals.

We must take seriously the efforts of the UN to censor scientific debate, because the consequences could be dire:

The implications of this censorship extend far beyond the realm of energy policy, as it threatens foundational principles of democracy and free expression, calling into question the very nature of scientific and academic inquiry.

The controversy and debate must continue!

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Does Kamala Harris have any shame? Any shame at all?

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According to Pennsylvania's Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, the Harris campaign asked Shapiro if he was an Israeli agent in their vetting of him as a potential running mate, before they decided to go with Tim Walz.

According to the New York Times:

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Mr. Shapiro, who is Jewish, details a contentious vetting process in which Ms. Harriss team focused intensely on his views on Israel  so much so that at one point, he wrote, he was asked if he had ever been an agent of the Israeli government. Had I been a double agent for Israel? wrote Mr. Shapiro, describing his incredulous response to a last-minute question from the vetting team. He responded that the question was offensive, he wrote, and was told, Well, we have to ask. Advertisement Have you ever communicated with an undercover agent of Israel? the questioner, Dana Remus, a former White House counsel, continued, according to Mr. Shapiro, who recounted, If they were undercover, I responded, how the hell would I know?

Stupid questions merit stupid answers, and if he were a spy, he wouldn't be telling her. It's the FBI's job to sort these things out, and the Harris team certainly had access to FBI vetting, but that wasn't the point of this line of questioning: It was to make him uncomfortable about being Jewish, to put him on the spot, to accuse him of dual loyalties, presumably so that he'd take the most anti-Israel public positions as possible to 'prove' his loyalty to Harris's Democrats.

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It couldn't be anything else but that if Shapiro, a potential 2028 Democrat presidential candidate who may challenge Harris in the race, is telling the truth, which I think he is.

Just the idea of Harris being concerned about national security is quite the joke, not just because of her ditsy, giggly, personality but because of her closeness to her socialist father, who was very much her advisor in the campaign, as well as a close advisor to successive governments of Jamaica, and because her own husband was Jewish. Did Harris's team ask her, too if she was a Jewish agent, or Jamaican, agent? Don't think it came up.

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And how was the winner in the running mate race, Tim Walz, vetted? Was he also asked if he was an Israeli agent? And maybe more importantly, was he asked whether he was a Chinese agent, given his unusually high number of trips to China amid his pro-Mao sentiments? That would have been a fair line of questioning. But I doubt that happened.

It's simply disgusting and Shapiro was right to call Harris out at the time and in his book. Why he went and campaigned for her afterward is kind of disgusting, too, knowing that this was who would be his president if she won.

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But the reason I think I believe he is telling the truth is that Harris has a history of this kind of intolerance.

Recall that Harris, during her 2024 campaign, openly declared that Catholic and other medical personnel of faith would lose their conscience recusals to performing abortions if she became president. They'd be forced to perform abortions whether they liked it or not, and too bad about their consciences.

Recall also that Harris, during Senate questioning of judicial nominees, once claimed that any candidate who had been a member of the pro-life Knights of Columbus Catholic men's service group, which usually conducts fish fries at churches, or acts of charity to the indigent, or hauls around construction materials for church fairs, was utterly unfit to serve on the federal bench as a judge owing to the group's pro-life position.

Recall also that her political machine ally from San Francisco, the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, once told then-Supreme Court justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett that 'the dogma lives loudly in you,' based on her Catholic faith.

There are all massive indicators of a fundamentally intolerant personality, someone who is entirely capable of persecuting anyone who doesn't share her likely-atheist faith, whether they are of practicing Jewish, practicing Protestant, or practicing Catholic, and probably other faiths as well.

Now she wants to be president, and Shapiro got one more instance of her intolerance out there. The Jew-hate is important because Democrats have been growing increasingly antisemitic and anti-Israel. That was what Harris was demanding of Shapiro, to the point of attempting to make him ashamed for being Jewish.

U.S. politics has no place for this, even as Harris constantly claims that she is 'saving democracy.' Actually, this antisemitism from her team is proof she thinks otherwise. She's the threat to democracy, given her fealty to the global left and willingness to pursue antisemitism on Jewish people to prove it.

Image: Screenshot from CBS Philadelphia video on YouTube
George Orwell, having served alongside communists during the Spanish Civil War, completely understood how leftists and other totalitarians operate. In 1984, he imagined what England would be like if these totalitarians had unlimited power.

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One of the things he imagined was the effect this power would have on speech. Thus, Orwell invented Newspeak, a government-controlled language that has as its core purpose shrinking peoples vocabularies to the point where certain ideassuch as libertybecome impossible. This also includes perverting word definitions and the meaning of ideas. The example we remember most vividly is Freedom is slavery (inspired, perhaps, by Auschwitzs Arbeit macht frei (work makes freedom)?) In that way, the entire notion of freedom is defined out of existence.

I couldnt help but think of Newspeak when I saw a tweet from Brian Allen, who runs an independent journalist outfit on the far left of the political spectrum. (The site claims to be non-partisan, but one look at Brian Allens X feed suggests otherwise. My sense is that Mr. Allens real gift is self-promotion, a very capitalist quality.)

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Anyway, last week, President Trump sat down for an interview with CBS Evening News. This is the same news outfit that edited Kamala Harris pre-election interview to make her sound coherent and marginally intelligent, a nice little bit of election interference, as well as an in-kind contribution to her campaign.

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Image created using AI.

The media dont operate that way when it comes to Donald Trump. Instead, they edit him to make him sound incoherent or even evil. The most famous example of this was the very fine people hoax (which the late Scott Adams so masterfully exposed).

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Trump clearly and explicitly castigated white supremacists who appeared at a march in Charlottesville in 2017 as part of a protest revolving around removing a statue of Robert E. Lee. However, in the same statement, he said that some very fine people attended the rally because they were concerned about the wholesale, mob-like erasure of American history. (This was a prescient comment when one looks at what happened in 2020.)

The media edited Trumps remarks to make it sound as if Trump had called the white supremacists very fine people. This lie was so pernicious that Joe Biden, whos never met a lie he hasnt liked, used it to open his run for president in 2019.

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A less well-remembered instance took place in 2024, when the media contended that Trump threatened a bloodbath if he lost the upcoming election. In fact, Trump clearly said that, if Democrats were to remain in power, thered be an economic bloodbath.

Even now, Trump is suing the BBC for dishonestly splicing together his speech on January 6, 2021, to make it sound as if he had urged his supporters to mount a violent assault against the United States Capitol. Yes, the BBC isnt American, but what it did is typical of how leftists use media tricks to try to corrupt Trumps statements.

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(Incidentally, if you want a perfect example of seeing how the media do this in real time, you have to watch this Cathy Newman interview with Jordan Peterson. She misstated everything he said, practically as he said it. Oh, and shes the victim, although I strongly disapprove of anyone who doxed or threatened her.)

With the memory of these media lies of omission and commission when editing Trumps and his opponents statements, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wasnt taking any chances. She told CBS News that theyd better air the unedited Trump interview or it would find itself in Court:

 NEW AUDIO: Karoline Leavitt just threatened CBS News over Trumps interview:



Air it in full or well sue your ass off.



The White House is now openly trying to bully the media into compliance.



This isnt transparency. Its intimidation. pic.twitter.com/8pMBBJzYhC  Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 18, 2026

Thats a very smart strategy, and one I heartily support, although I hate how crudely she stated it. (Im old; what can I say?)

Brian Allen, though, was not impressed, and he was unimpressed for a very peculiar reason: Telling the media not to hide parts of the speech is not transparency, he assured his readers:

 NEW AUDIO: Karoline Leavitt just threatened CBS News over Trumps interview:



Air it in full or well sue your ass off.



The White House is now openly trying to bully the media into compliance.



This isnt transparency. Its intimidation. pic.twitter.com/8pMBBJzYhC  Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 18, 2026 Naturally, conservatives noticed the problem with his framing: Airing complete, unedited interviews so the public can judge things for themselves is fascism.



Airing incomplete, highly edited interviews so the public cannot judge things for themselves is democracy. pic.twitter.com/NmaVQF5S35  Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) January 18, 2026 A demand something air without editorial editing is not bullying. Its a demand for truth. Its only bullying to people who want to be allowed to lie without challenge.  Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) January 18, 2026 Asking the interview to be aired in full is the exact definition of being transparent. https://t.co/Y9KBEpjpsb  Gain of Fauci (@DschlopesIsBack) January 18, 2026 Naturally, conservatives noticed the problem with his framing:

Whenever I see this kind of foolishness coming from leftists, I have two competing impulses. The first is to laugh at their positions, which are so ludicrous. The second is to feel true despair, because they amass dangerous power with these ludicrous positions, all of it always ending at the gulag.
Watching political developments in Mexico takes you to two points. On one hand, the political class is playing the sovereignty card, i.e. no foreign intervention. On the other hand, my unscientific survey of Mexican acquaintances, suggests that Mexicans want something done about they call "organized crime." The "politicos" are talking ideology and the people are screaming that they shot their mayor again.

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So where are we? It appears that the Trump administration is sending signals that more needs to be done. This is the story:

The United States is intensifying pressure on Mexico to allow U.S. military forces to conduct joint operations to dismantle fentanyl labs inside the country, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing U.S. officials. Advertisement U.S. officials want American forces, either Special Operations troops or CIA officers, to accompany Mexican soldiers on raids on suspected fentanyl labs, the report said, citing multiple unnamed officials. "On the campaign trail, President Trump pledged to take on the cartels," a White House official told Reuters, adding that Trump has "left all options on the table" to stop drugs from entering the country. Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News last week that cartels were running Mexico and suggested the U.S. could strike land targets to combat them, in one of a series of threats to deploy U.S. military force against drug cartels. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that she ruled out a U.S. military intervention to combat drug cartels following a "good conversation" with Trump on security and drug trafficking. Advertisement

My guess is that most Mexicans are beyond the word games, i.e. foreign intervention and sovereignty. They want action and they don't see it. Why not? Well, that's where the debate gets angry and very partisan. The opposition claims that Presidenta Sheinbaum is in the pocket of cartels and her administration responds by saying that U.S. troops would be counterproductive.

I agree that send the Marines would create more problems. It would be difficult to bomb fentanyl plants without killing civilians, for example. However, joint operations with Mexican troops taking the lead is a better idea. The U.S. could simply direct and supply them, but it's the Mexicans who break down doors and pull bad guys out of the place.

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So the debate goes on and the phone calls do too. In the end, I believe that Mexicans know what this violence is doing to them, their communities, and even business opportunities. They want action, not more ideology about sovereignty.

Who will prevail? Stay tuned. The great divide is widening.

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P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
Leftist caterwauling, whether the domestic left or various European countries, over Donald Trumps efforts to gain control over Greenland in place of Denmark, is reaching a fever pitch. Its stupid because Russia and China are both making plays for Greenland, which will give them a dangerous military launching pad and control over the Northern Hemispheres shipping. Its also disgustingly hypocritical, which is the point of this post, because the same people have rejected the Jews claim over the land of Israela much better claim than the Danes have over Greenland.

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Heres some history: The Jews have been a consistent presence in the Land of Israel for at least 3,200 years, according to the Merneptah Stele, and as many as 4,000 years, according to the Biblical narrative itself. Since that time, many other tribes and nations have asserted colonial control over the landthe Canaanites, Philistines, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Hellenists, Romans, Byzantines, the Rashiduns, Umayyads, Abbasids, Crusaders, Mamluks, and Ottomansbut all are gone now, just ancient names in dusty history books.

While those tribes and nations are forgotten, the Jews remained. Throughout those thousands of years, theyve been a continuous presence in the land. They were also the last free-standing nation, which ended with the Roman Conquest in 132 A.D. In the years between that conquest and the rebirth of Israel in 1948, the land was just tossed around as a colonyRomans, Byzantines, Muslims, Christians, and Muslims again. Jews were the last indigenous nation before colonization, and they are the returned nation of the lands indigenous people.

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And yet, the Wests leftists, whether in America or abroad, contend that Jews have no claim to the land. Instead, they would give the land to a people with no historical ties to the land. Instead, those people the leftists support floated into it beginning in the 19th century, the flotsam and jetsam of the Ottoman Empire, itself long gone.

And heres some more history: The Norse settled in Greenland around 985 A.D. By the 1400s, they were gone. Like the Canaanites, Philistines, Egyptians, Persians, Umayyads, Mamluks, and Ottomans, they were an erased people in the backwater of history. Their ties to the land were temporary and, after a few hundred years, permanently broken.

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The people who began living on Greenland around 1,200 A.D., and who have been there ever since are the Kalaallit (Greenland Inuits). Their ties to the land arent as old as the Jews ties to Israel, but an 800+ year run is a pretty good claim to the land.

In 1721, though, the Kalaallit got colonized. A Danish-Norwegian missionary named Hans Egede arrived and announced that, because the Norse had been there for a few centuries, the land belonged to Denmark-Norway (then one country) despite the Norse having completely abandoned the land 300 years earlier. When Denmark and Norway split in 1814, Denmark got Greenland as part of the divorce.

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You know what I call that? Colonization by an occupier with the most limited claim to the land, land stolen from the indigenous people. Eventually, in 1953, the Kalaallit finally obtained Danish citizenship, and in 1979, they gained self-government over domestic affairs. Theyre slowly moving to independence.

Independence would be a good thing. In our lifetimes, beginning in 1960 and extending over the next 30 years, the Danish imposed forced sterilization on the Greenland population by implementing IUDs in 4,500 Kalaallit girls and women, without their knowledge or consent. That was a form of genocide.

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So, really, not only was Denmark a colonizer, but it was a lousy, stinking, abusive colonizer.

But to the left, at home and abroad, Denmark has a claim to the land that cannot be challenged. They seem to believe that Denmark is the logical descendant of those Norse settlers (never mind the Norse abandonment), and that gives it rights that can never be challenged.

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Whats so disgusting about this position, aside from the historical ignorance, is that, if these leftists thought it through, theyd realize that the same argument applies with overwhelming force to the Jews claim to Israel. After all, todays Jews are the logical descendants of the Jews of antiquitywithout any hint, ever, of the Norses 300-year-long abandonment. Using leftist reasoning vis-a-vis Denmark, that should give the Jews land rights that can never be challenged.

(On the flip side, of course, considering the leftists usually side with indigenous people over colonizers, that too gives Israel absolute rights to the land, because Jews are the last indigenous people.)

Of course, as the old saying goes, if leftists didnt have double standards, they wouldnt have any standards at all. Its never about what they say its about; its always about the power play of the moment.

Hvalsey Church ruins, early 1300, the best the Danes have to claim ownership in perpetuity of Greenland. Image by Number 57. Public domain.
Venezuela's Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Corina Machado, is making the hoity-toity Europeans on the Nobel committee choke on their chateaubriand.

Not only did she say that Trump deserved it more than she did, she stunned them by presenting her Nobel prize to President Trump, and Trump actually accepted.

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President Donald J. Trump meets with Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela in the Oval Office, during which she presented the President with her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition and honor. pic.twitter.com/v7pYHjVNVO  The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 16, 2026

She even explained the historic basis for it -- almost like a 'Lafayette, we are here' moment:

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I told him this: 200 years ago, Gen. [Marquis de] Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with George Washingtons face on it. Bolivar kept that medal the rest of his life, Machado said.

It was given by Gen. Lafayette as a sign of the brotherhood between the people of the US and pic.twitter.com/tsaDvP7pzP  Luis H Ball (@ball1_ball) January 16, 2026

It was an extraordinary historical framing, and a great gesture of honor and friendship.

But the Nobel committee didn't quite see it that way.

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According to the Irish Times:

Norway reacted with disbelief to the news that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado gave her award medal to US president Donald Trump, who has long coveted the award. Advertisement Thats completely unheard of, Janne Haaland Matlary, a professor with the University of Oslo and a former politician, told public broadcaster NRK. Its a total lack of respect for the award, on her part, she said, calling the act meaningless and pathetic.

The Nobel committee has been tweeting statement after statement to say the award is not transferable. Their last one was about 11 hours ago, insisting that she was wrong to do it, and emphasizing that it was not even symbolically transferable:

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Statement from the Nobel Foundation



One of the core missions of the Nobel Foundation is to safeguard the dignity of the Nobel Prizes and their administration. The Foundation upholds Alfred Nobels will and its stipulations. It states that the prizes shall be awarded to those who pic.twitter.com/WIadOBLtpD  The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) January 18, 2026

Actually, it was none of their business, A gift is a gift, not a rental with requirements, the way the Miss Universe crown is.

Machado's initial response was along the lines of 'well, I did it,' but Machado wasn't wrong.

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Venezuela has a long cultural tradition of its leaders presenting medals to those they admire. Machado explained that she was following in the Marquis of Lafayette's steps when he presented a medal with George Washington on it to South America's Liberator, Simon Bolivar, who was Venezuelan, as a gesture of esteem. But the Nobel committee was adamant -- it couldn't be transferred even symbolically.

Then someone went and checked on the matter:

From your own website https://t.co/gW6tEi4Hd7 you state and I quote There are no restrictions in the statutes of the Nobel Foundation on what a laureate may do with the medal, the diploma, or the prize money. This means that a laureate is free to keep, give away, sell, or donate https://t.co/45VgEbafzd  Michael Welling (@WellingMichael) January 18, 2026

Well that was stupid.

They didn't even know their own rules, they just hated Trump and didn't want him to have it. To paraphrase Elon Musk: "Message received." The message was that they wouldn't give Trump this prize no matter what he did, so he now has this impressive gesture from Maria Corina Machado.

The Conservative Treehouse has its own hilarious take:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee Have an Important, albeit Hilarious, Announcement https://t.co/SlQYutRl18  TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) January 18, 2026

They can howl all they like, the prize is out of her hands, delivered to the man she thought deserved it more.

Image: Screenshot from White House tweet // public domain
Well, Trump is President again and we must prepare for years of civil unrest and violence. There seems to be an amazing correlation between Trump in power and lefties and their goons taking to the streets.

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We need to view this as what it is. It is not a defense of democracy as they bellow, but rather the wholesale rejection of representative government. It is obvious the Left views elections as the old heads I win, tails you lose proposition.

The country overwhelmingly voted for Trump to stop the insanity at the borders and to rid the country of the millions of illegal aliens the Biden administration willingly allowed in. Trump was quite clear that this was his goal when he was running -- the people knew what they were voting for.

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As their lord and savior, Barack Hussein Obama once noted, elections have consequence. But I guess that only holds when they win the election. If they lose, democracy be damned!

These protests -- and trust me, this is only the beginning -- will continue for the entirety of the Trump administration. All under the false flag that they are defending the core beliefs of this country when the reality is they are doing just the opposite.

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But useful idiots will be useful idiots, so they will have plenty of bodies to throw into the fray. Want to stop the violence? Then vote the right way is their mantra. Otherwise, prepare to watch your cities burn.

We also need to put these actions in a larger context. These specific ICE protests need to be seen as a prebuttal to the coming surge in ICE agents and deportation funding as enshrined in the Big Beautiful Bill. The Left wants to stop these before they get going. These protests are just the first step to poison the general populations mind.

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As is quickly coming to light, the Democrats national election plans fall apart completely if these illegal aliens are forced to leave. This is not really in any doubt. The Democrats first fought aggressively to include illegal aliens in the census counts. These greatly skew apportionment and thus electoral votes and spending to those areas that welcome illegal aliens.

They have seen its success in California in turning a fairly red state into a very blue one and they desire to do this to the entire country. Why do you think Biden and company opened the country to millions of illegal aliens? Basically, anyone who could walk in was allowed, no questions asked.

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Ridding ourselves of these illegals destroys the Democrats plans. Some intelligent observers note that if Trump is allowed to implement the law for the remainder of his term, the Democrats will not win the Presidency for at least the entire decade of the 2030s due to the changes in electoral votes this will drive.

So dont fall for the BS these folks are high-minded and protecting the very essence of this country. They are doing just the opposite and hope to import -- well thats done, now just keep in the country -- a replacement population that will ensure nationwide one-party Democrat rule forever.

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Its a disgusting attempt to use the American peoples love of this country against them. Dont fall for it. And never forget what they are willing to do to grab and hold power regardless of the greater interests of the country. Why would any American ever vote for this? Enough wont, but those pernicious illegal aliens sure will so

John Conlin is an expert in organizational design and change. He also holds a BS in Earth Sciences and an MBA and is the founder and President of E.I.C. Enterprises. He has been published in American Greatness, The Federalist, The Daily Caller, American Thinker, Houston Chronicle, Denver Post, and Public Square Magazine among others.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
President Trump is saying it plainly -- and repeatedly -- right now: Greenland matters because security matters. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's near daily threats toward Taiwan, including flying military aircraft near its airspace and rehearsing naval blockades, are just two obvious examples. This much should be obvious: the United States can defend Greenland. Denmark, an extremely small nation of roughly six million people, cannot.

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That same hard truth applies to Judea-Samaria -- what the New York Times, the United Nations, and the Palestinian Arabs call the West Bank -- what October 7 demonstrated is that Israel must retain exclusive security control of the entire region.

Security is not a slogan; it is a capability. It requires intelligence dominance, rapid response, air control, logistics, and the political will to act decisively when threats emerge. Israel possesses those capabilities. The Palestinian Authority does not. It never has.

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Even today, it is the Israel Defense Forces -- not the Palestinian Authority -- that prevent Judea-Samaria from collapsing into the kind of murderer-led enclave seen in Gaza. Israeli forces disrupt terrorist cells, intercept weapons, and prevent mass-casualty attacks not only against Israelis inside the so-called Green Line, but also against Jewish families living in communities in Judea-Samaria itself. Without Israel, those Jews would be defenseless. This is reality.

American conservatives should have no trouble understanding this. Conservatives believe that borders must be defensible. They believe that security precedes diplomacy, and know that pretending weakness is strength only invites aggression. The lesson of Ukraine is clear: when aggressors believe territory is weakly defended, they move. Outsourcing security to entities that lack the means to provide it is not moral -- it is reckless.

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Geography reinforces the point. Greenland is not merely associated with North America; it is part of its strategic ecosystem. Arctic shipping lanes, missile defense, early-warning systems, and great-power rivalry all run through Greenland. With China pushing into the Arctic and Russia militarizing the polar north, Greenland is no longer a distant ice sheet -- it is a frontline. Its future aligns naturally with the United States, not Europe.

So too with Judea-Samaria. The area's ridgelines dominate Israels population centers. Its water aquifers feed Israels cities. Its roads, commerce, and labor markets flow westward. The notion that Judea-Samaria belongs with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan -- an entirely separate state east of the Jordan River -- ignores every strategic and geographic reality on the ground. Jordan has its own challenges and has neither the desire nor the capacity to absorb or secure the territory.

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Equally mistaken is the idea that the Palestinian Authority can be allowed to be a part of the future of the region. Mahmoud Abbas, head of the PA, has also long been given a free pass from the UN and others regarding the PA's harboring and protecting of terrorists. The PA has one of the largest per-capita security forces in the world (over 60,000 men) and it has largely been armed and trained by the United States. Yet instead of using those forces to arrest and extradite terrorists -- as the Oslo Accords require -- Abbas and his PA pay salaries to terrorists and their families, and shelter fugitive terrorists so Israel can't capture them.

Neither Jordan nor the Palestinian Authority can be trusted with the future of Judea-Samaria.

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President Trumps Greenland idea is not about conquest; it is about the future and about responsibility. Power carries obligations, and the first obligation is defense. The same realism that recognizes Chinas threat to Taiwan and Russias brutality in Ukraine applies in the Middle East. Pretending that security can be subcontracted to weak or fragmented authorities is how regions collapse and wars begin.

Judea-Samaria in hostile hands would not produce peace. It would give birth to one huge terrorist base overlooking Israels heartland -- just as abandoning strategic territory elsewhere invites adversaries to exploit it.

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History does not punish strength; it punishes denial. Nations that survive are the ones that secure what they must, when they must. Those that hesitate learn the lesson later -- at far higher cost. Americans who care about the future of Israel should stand with those Israelis that are working to remove the Palestinian Authority from Judea-Samaria and end the limbo in which the area has been trapped for far too long.

Moshe Phillips is national chairman of Americans For A Safe Israel, a leading pro-Israel advocacy and education organization.

Image: Pixabay
Since President Donald Trumps return to office in January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has undergone a dramatic revival. Bolstered by a historic 120% manpower increase  adding over 12,000 agents  and billions in new funding through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ICE has launched aggressive operations like the massive Metro Surge in Minnesota. These efforts target the worst of the worst: gang members, drug traffickers, murderers, rapists, and child predators, many with serious criminal convictions.

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By mid-January 2026, ICEs detainee population reached a record 73,000 (an 84% jump from Biden-era levels), with thousands of criminal non-citizens arrested and hundreds of thousands removed or self-deported nationwide. DHS reports over 622,000 deportations under Trump so far, plus millions more encouraged to leave voluntarily  far outpacing the ICE figures under the previous administration, where lax policies allowed criminal aliens to remain free despite record border crossings.

This renewed focus on public safety and rule of law has restored order for many Americans, who voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2024 precisely because illegal immigration had become a crisis impacting jobs, welfare, housing, schools, and safety.

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Yet Democrats and the broader left have responded with fierce opposition: lawsuits from states like Minnesota, threats to block DHS funding, calls to abolish ICE, and inflammatory rhetoric labeling agents as Gestapo, rogue, or perpetrators of lawlessness and terror. Why such intense backlash against an agency enforcing federal immigration laws and removing dangerous criminals?

The core reasons boil down to a mix of political strategy, ideological priorities, and fear of losing a key demographic base.

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First, Democrats have spent decades cultivating immigrant communities  legal and illegal  as a growing pillar of their voter coalition. Urban strongholds in blue states rely on this support, and aggressive enforcement threatens it. Pundits claim that in sanctuary jurisdictions like Minnesota, local leaders (including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey) have long shielded non-citizens from federal deportation, even those with criminal records. When ICE surges in, targeting fraudsters in Somali communities or MS-13 affiliates, it exposes the failures of those sanctuary policies and disrupts the narrative of compassionate, inclusive governance. Democrats decry the operations as overreach, racial profiling, and a federal invasion, filing lawsuits alleging constitutional violations and filing for injunctions against tactics like warrantless arrests or excessive force.

Second, high-profile incidents fuel the outrage. The January 7, 2026, fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good  a U.S. citizen  by an ICE agent during an exchange that was undoubtedly a self-defense act, sparked nationwide protests and viral videos of aggressive tactics: agents smashing windows, using tear gas near families, detaining citizens, and clashing with demonstrators. Progressive Democrats, including Reps. Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Shri Thanedar, seized on this to revive Abolish ICE, calling the agency racist, corrupted beyond repair, or a tool of extremism. Some threaten to withhold DHS funding unless reforms include warrants for arrests, bans on masks during operations, or more oversight. Even moderate voices criticize the trauma and terror inflicted on communities, framing ICE as a threat to civil liberties rather than a protector of public safety.

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Third, this opposition serves as a political weapon against Trump. With Republicans holding the White House and Congress, Democrats  now in the minority  use ICE as a rallying cry to energize their base ahead of 2026 midterms. They portray the surge as politically motivated retaliation against blue states, militarized enforcement, or authoritarian overreach. As a matter of fact, calls to defund or abolish ICE from some Democrats seem politically toxic  akin to defund the police  and risk alienating swing voters who support secure borders. In that case, it is unclear whether the blue strategists count on massive support from the left, or they simply make an obvious political mistake.

Ultimately, Democrats fierce resistance to ICE isnt primarily about reforming abuses as they highlight framed incidents; its about preserving an open, less-enforced immigration system that aligns with their long-term electoral strategy and radical ideological vision of America as a nation of immigrants without strict consequences for illegal entry. They frame Trumps successes  record arrests of criminals, plummeting border crossings, and restored order  as chaos, lawlessness, and attacks on vulnerable groups, even as polls show broad public support for deporting criminal non-citizens.

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In short, the left opposes ICE so vehemently because effective enforcement undermines their power base, exposes policy failures, and challenges their narrative. While they claim to want accountability, the rhetoric often veers toward dismantling the agency altogether  prioritizing political survival over the safety of American citizens tired of unchecked illegal immigration.

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Image generated by ChatGPT.
Katherine Ryan won't be having any more children.

Katherine Ryan is a mother-of-four

The 42-year-old comedian welcomed her fourth child, a daughter named Holland, with her husband Bobby Kootstra in October and joked that she has finished adding to her brood because "there isn't enough attention to go around any more".

Katherine - who has son Fred, four, and daughter Fenna, three, with Bobby as well as daughter Violet, 16, from a previous relationship - told HELLO! magazine: "The chief reason is that there isn't enough attention to go around any more.

"I think someone would be missing out along the way."

The Canadian comic reconnected with Bobby almost eight years ago after they were previously childhood sweethearts and explained the pair "didn't waste any time" when it came to starting a family together.

Katherine said: "I'd never been in a relationship where I wanted to help a man multiply, but I was like: 'There should be more Bobby.' And we reconnected at 35, so we didn't waste any time.

"We had a one-night stand and were married nine months later. We were always trying until we knew it was enough - and now I think it's enough."

The Duchess star continued: "I embarked upon this plan to have as many children as I could in five years, which was too many.

"I was pregnant six times in five years (she had three miscarriages), and I do think it takes it physical toll.

"I'm very blessed to have the children, but now I think I'm done having them and it would be nice to have some actual recovery."

Ryan recently revealed that she had undergone "serious" cosmetic surgery only eight weeks after giving birth to Holland and explained that it stems from a desire not to give up on "glamour".

The panel show regular said: "It seems as though I'm very vain, but it's not that at all. I love glamour. I believe in it.

"I'm from a toxic generation, so I still aspire to have my face and my body look the way they did before I embarked upon this plan to have as many children as I could in five years.

"The only thing that's going to take me back to 2019 is a facelift."

Katherine added: "What I want for my forties it to be booked and busy.

"I want to deliver a great show, but I also want to be glamorous. I think some of that is about reclaiming control. When your body has been a sacrificial vessel for the past five years... my body has been through a lot."
Lowest Price Anker Nano Travel Adapter  $19.99 Buy from

Traveling can be a real pain if you dont have everything you need when you go on a trip, and one of the things you usually need is a device like the Anker Nano Travel Adapter that Amazon is currently offering a deal on. This little travel adapter is not only a necessity, but its capable of working in more than 200 countries globally. At full price, it would cost you $25.99, but Amazon has it on sale for only $19.99, and thats currently the all-time low price for it.

While you could buy any old travel adapter, there are several things that are nice about this one. For starters, it supports four different plug types. There are lots of adapters that do this, but the Anker Nano Travel Adapter does it with a much more compact size than most or all other options. Its compact size is also a product of its design to fit everything into a very portable form factor.

On top of all that, this adapter has five ports. So, you can charge five devices at the same time in several countries. That means you can easily charge your phone, tablet, smartwatch, earbuds, and an extra device all at once in most countries youre likely to visit. In terms of support, this adapter has plug types for the US, UK, AU, and EU. As for charging ports, it has one AC outlet, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports.
Not all display panels are created the same. We usually see terms like LCD and OLED thrown around a lot, but even within them, there are subtle differences. Now, it is expected that Apple will equip its iPhone 18 Pro series with OLED panels this year, but now a new rumor suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro could sport more advanced displays compared to the previous year.

iPhone 18 Pro to feature more advanced displays

For a bit of context, many modern-day smartphones use OLED displays. However, there are some differences among the various types of OLED displays. Older phones with OLED displays tend to use LTPS technology. This results in phones with fixed refresh rates or only the ability to switch between one or the other.

Modern-day smartphones feature OLED displays with LTPO tech, which allows refresh rates as low as 1Hz, perfect for static content, and it is also a great way to save battery life. However, for the iPhone 18 Pro series, Apple is rumored to use more advanced displays, which come in the form of LTPO+.

So, whats with the switch-up? In case you havent heard, the rumors claim that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could debut an in-display Face ID system. This is versus the previous-generation iPhones, which relied on the Dynamic Island cutout. By using LTPO+, it allows Apple to use under-display infrared technology. This in turn allows Face ID to be placed behind the OLED.

Samsung and LG to get all of Apples business

Apples request to use LTPO+ technology is good news for Samsung and LG. It turns out that only Samsung and LG are capable of manufacturing these types of displays. In the past, Apple would also source their displays from Chinese manufacturer BOE. However, since apparently BOE doesnt have the capabilities to produce OLED with LTPO+, all of Apples iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max orders will go to Samsung and LG.

This doesnt mean that BOE is being left out in the cold. Apples lower-end iPhones also use OLED technology, so BOE could still get orders for those devices. That being said, it should be noted that for 2026, Apple is only expected to launch three new iPhone models. This includes the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone.

As for the base iPhone 18, the latest rumors suggest it could be launching in early 2027 instead.
You walk into a store to buy a product. You should expect to see the price listed in the store. Yeah, we know the whole mantra, If you have to ask, you probably cant afford it. But for the most part, shops should list the price of the items being sold, right? Unfortunately for Apple, they havent exactly been doing that, at least in New Jersey, where the company has been hit with a penalty for its retail store pricing practices.

Apple hit with penalty over retail store pricing in New Jersey

So, does this penalty of the Apple retail store mean that the company has been hiding the pricing of its products? Sort of. You see, over in the state of New Jersey, companies are required to ensure that the pricing of products is clear and visible. That hasnt been the case for Apple. According to investigators, they found that accessories were sold without visible pricing. They also found that display tables did not show pricing information either.

This doesnt mean that Apple has been cheating its customers. But rather, presumably the companys tactic is to get customers to ask for pricing. After which, it could be a sign that they are interested, and the salespeople will try to close the deal. This approach contrasts with walking into a store, balking at the price, and then quietly walking out.

Since this is a direct violation of New Jerseys Merchandise Pricing Act, Apple has been hit with a $150,000 penalty. According to state officials, this is the largest settlement ever obtained under the Act. It is also not Apples first time running afoul of this. The company actually agreed in 2017 to follow the states visible pricing laws, but a recent reinspection found otherwise.

What else does the Act require?

If you happen to live in New Jersey, this Act applies to retailers selling products in a store. The Act states that the price must be clearly visible for easy customer access. In Apples case, the company uses digital price displays, QR code-based interactions, or software prompts.

According to the Act, device interaction is allowed in limited capacity and only when prices are immediately visible and clearly displayed. This means that companies cannot have a digital device, like an iPad, for customers to have to navigate to the companys website in order to view pricing.

That being said, the $150,000 penalty is probably chump change for Apple. The company has been hit with fines in the millions in the past, so this is probably nothing to them.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra colors have just been revealed, thanks to SIM card trays. Four colors have been revealed, and while these colors are coming, Samsung could announce some additional ones. The company is no stranger to offering additional colors exclusive to its online store.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will arrive in four colors, the ones shown below

With that being said, the colors in question are black, blue, purple, and white. You can see the SIM card trays that reveal that information below. Those small pieces of the Galaxy S26 Ultra confirm the exact colors were getting, actually, of course.

Samsung will almost certainly use fancy names for these colors, though. These are almost certainly not the final names, as last year, the black color was actually called Titanium Black, for example.

This time around, however, Titanium wont be a part of the name of either color. Why? Well, because Samsung is ditching a titanium frame in favor of aluminum, mainly due to better heat dissipation. Thats a move Apple made with the Pro iPhone 17 units as well.

The company will ditch the Titanium branding

Every single Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra color variant had the Titanium part in its name. Chances are that not a single one of them will have it this time around, unless Samsung opts for it to symbolize a specific color or something.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will become official next month, based on reports. The company is expected to announce the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra on February 25. The devices are tipped to go on sale on March 11. Nothing has been officially confirmed, though.

Weve revealed the design of the Galaxy S26 Ultra a long time ago. The same goes for the Galaxy S26+, actually. The Galaxy S26 trio will actually look very similar in comparison.

The Ultra model will, of course, have a number of advantages over the other two models. It will arrive with better cameras, more features, etc.
Google has filed an appeal against the ruling that declared its search business is a monopoly. The company is asking the court to pause the required changes while the legal proceedings play out.

This is an expected move from Google. The company announced it will file an appeal, and that just happened. Google wants the court to suspend the remedies, while the appeal process plays out.

Google appealed the monopoly ruling and says that sharing search data is unfair & creates a privacy risk

Google is especially adamant not to share its search data and results with rival search engines. Thats one of the remedies that the court threw in Googles lap last year. Google argued several times thus far that its unfair.

The company says that the requirement to share data creates privacy concerns for users, while being unfair to the company. On top of that, Google says that it will go against the grain of innovation from other companies.

Google once again reiterated that users choose Google because they want to, not because theyre forced to do it. The company also said that other browser makers use Google Search because it offers the best experience.

DOJs remedy requirements were much worse for Google

With that being said, many think that Google got off easy with said remedies. The Department of Justice (DOJ) originally required a lot more extreme remedies, including selling off Chrome. Thats not something the court required Google to do.

If Google succeeds in its intent, and this appeal bears fruit, it will leave the legal proceedings more or less unscathed. On the flip side, if it doesnt, itll have to share its data with the competitors and follow through with all the other remedies. Well, if the court decides so.

The result of this appeal could go in a number of different directions. The company could end up canceling one of the remedies, while others end up sticking. It remains to be seen. Either way, well keep you posted.
A truly concerning rumor regarding the OnePlus 16 has just popped up online. OnePlus Club reports that the OnePlus 16 may not get a global variant at all, it could be exclusive to China.

The OnePlus 16 may not launch globally at all if this wild rumor is to be believed

Just to be clear, the source doesnt seem to be too sure of that. OnePlus Club picked up that rumor somewhere, but cannot confirm it. It will be earth-shattering if true, but Im kind of skeptical.

Its true that OnePlus sales havent exactly been great in general. The company is not holding a truly significant part of the market or anything like that. In fact, its sales are usually calculated under OPPOs.

Still, OnePlus managed to become a recognized brand in various parts of the world. Before, it was a niche brand, but these days, quite a few non-techie people have heard of it. Not releasing its flagship offering to global markets would be a major move by the company.

The OnePlus Nord 6 phones are on the way

Two OnePlus Nord 6 smartphones are expected to arrive to global markets this year. Those are the only two products from the company that are more or less confirmed to arrive thanks to certifications.

OnePlus, as many of you know, decided not to release the OnePlus Open 2. In fact, the company has no foldable smartphone plans for global markets at all, OPPO does, however.

Some users were hoping that the OnePlus 15T/15s would make its way to markets outside of China and India, as the companys compact flagship. Well, that wont be the case, it seems. In fact, it doesnt seem like that phone will make its way to India either, it could remain exclusive to China.

The OnePlus 16 is expected to arrive in Q4 2026

If theres any truth to this rumor, and the OnePlus 16 remains exclusive to China, that would basically mean the end of OnePlus operations in global markets. We doubt that the company would continue making budget phones only for markets outside of China.

Either way, the OnePlus 16 is expected to arrive in Q4 this year, so well see what the company is planning.
Verizon customers recently faced a major network outage. It disrupted the mobile services, including calls, SMS, and internet, for hours across the country. The carrier later acknowledged the issue and offered a $20 credit to address the inconvenience. However, Verizon alone didnt face the problem. Visible users who rely on the same network were also impacted. This led the Visible carrier to also announce a credit, similar to Verizon, as a form of compensation for the outage.

Visible customers will also get a credit for the outage, just like the Verizon carrier

Following the outage, Verizon offered a $20 credit to the affected customers. The credits are redeemable through its mobile app. The company framed the gesture as recognition of lost access to calls, texts, and internet services. While the credit is modest compared to the disruption, it at least signals the companys attempt to respond quickly and restore some goodwill among subscribers.

As said earlier, Visible users were also impacted due to the outage since it relies on the same network infrastructure. Similar to Verizon, Visible is also giving a $5 credit to the affected customers. Users have already started receiving the text message confirming the credit. Moreover, the credit will be automatically adjusted in the future bill. Yes, the credit offered is lower than what is offered by Verizon. However, do keep in mind that Visible plans are much cheaper as well.

The disruption shows how a single technical failure can affect millions

Reports indicate that the outage lasted for a whopping ten hours. The outage began somewhere around midday and lasted until the late evening. During the window, Android phones started displaying a slashed signal icon, suggesting a complete loss of connectivity. iPhones, on the other hand, displayed the stark SOS indicator. It indicates the inability to connect to the cellular network.

Since Visible shares the same network infrastructure as Verizon, its users were affected too. This overlap highlighted how dependent multiple brands are on shared systems. Even a single technical issue can ripple across millions of accounts at once.
Netflix made a statement when it officially killed casting from smartphones to almost all types of televisions and streaming devices, except for a handful of devices that were excluded.

While it was removed last year, many are still questioning the move by Netflix as it has been one nifty feature on the streaming platform.

Netflix Killed Casting: Streaming Rep Reveals Plausible Reason

According to a recent report by The Verge, Netflix made a massive and controversial move when it officially removed casting from smartphones.

The move was criticized by many as people are fond of using casting instead of having to log in their Netflix accounts to smart TVs, especially on a TV that they do not own.

At CES 2026, a streaming representative revealed the potential reason as to why this was removed, and they stated that only 10% of Android users on the service are using the feature.

This reason alone is potentially enough for Netflix to remove the feature on its platform, providing only a limited exception.

Only users who are on the ad-free plans and are using older Chromecast devices (without remotes) are eligible to use casting from smartphones to TVs, and these two factors are required to continue using the feature.

It is important to note that for TVs that have built-in or can download the Netflix app, the casting feature is no longer available. This includes Android TVs, Google TVs, later Chromecast devices, and others.

Google Cast Is Not Yet Dead: Would It Come Back?

Despite this, The Verge pointed out that Google executive Neha Dixit said that fans of the casting experience should "stay tuned for more to come this year."

While other platforms, specifically Netflix, have removed the casting feature from smartphones to TVs, Google is still banking on the tech and its place in the industry.

Recently, Apple added Google Cast support for the Apple TV app on Android, staying true to its commitment to continue making the casting feature available to users.

Originally published on Tech Times
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is the worlds biggest. Photograph: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images (Photograph: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images)

The activity around the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is reaching its peak: workers remove earth to expand the width of a main road, while lorries arrive at its heavily guarded entrance. A long perimeter fence is lined with countless coils of razor wire, and in a layby, a police patrol car monitors visitors to the beach  one of the few locations with a clear view of the reactors, framed by a snowy Mount Yoneyama.

When all seven of its reactors are working, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa generates 8.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power millions of households. Occupying 4.2 sq km of land in Niigata prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, it is the biggest nuclear power plant in the world.

Since 2012, however, the plant has not generated a single watt of electricity, after being shut down, along with dozens of other reactors, in the wake of the March 2011 triple meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi, the worlds worst nuclear accident since Chornobyl.

Located about 220km (136 miles) north-west of Tokyo, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is run by Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), the same utility in charge of the Fukushima facility when a powerful tsunami crashed through its defences, triggering a power outage that sent three of its reactors into meltdown and forcing 160,000 people to evacuate.

Weeks before the 15th anniversary of the accident, and the wider tsunami disaster that killed an estimated 20,000 people along Japans north-east coast, Tepco is set to defy local public opinion and restart one of Kashiwazaki-Kariwas seven reactors.

On Monday, Tepco said it would delay the restart, originally scheduled for the following day, after an alarm malfunctioned during a test of equipment over the weekend, according to public broadcaster NHK. The reactor is now expected to go back online in the coming days, NHK added.

Restarting reactor No 6, which could boost the electricity supply to the Tokyo area by about 2%, will be a milestone in Japans slow return to nuclear energy, a strategy its government says will help the country reach its emissions targets and strengthen its energy security.

But for many of the 420,000 people living within a 30km (19-mile) radius of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa who would have to evacuate in the event of a Fukushima-style incident, Tepcos imminent return to nuclear power generation is fraught with danger.

They include Ryusuke Yoshida, whose home is less than a mile and a half from the plant in the sleepy village of Kariwa. Asked what worries him most about the restart, the 76-year-old has a simple answer. Everything, he says, as waves crash on to the shore, the reactors looming in the background.

The evacuation plans are obviously ineffective, adds Yoshida, a potter and member of an association of people living closest to the facility. When it snows in winter the roads are blocked, and a lot of people who live here are old. What about them, and other people who cant move freely? This is a human rights issue.

The utility company says it has learned the lessons of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, and earlier this year pledged to invest 100 bn yen (470m) into Niigata prefecture over the next 10 years in an attempt to win over residents.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, whose 6,000 staff have remained on duty throughout the long shutdown, has seawalls and watertight doors to provide stronger protection against a tsunami, while mobile diesel-powered generators and a large fleet of fire engines are ready to provide water to cool reactors in an emergency. Upgraded filtering systems have been installed to control the spread of radioactive materials.

The core of the nuclear power business is ensuring safety above all else, and the understanding of local residents is a prerequisite, says Tatsuya Matoba, a Tepco spokesperson.

That is the one hurdle residents say Tepco has failed to overcome after local authorities ignored calls for a prefectural referendum to determine the plants future. In the absence of a vote, anti-restart campaigners point to surveys showing clear opposition to putting the reactor back online.

They include a prefectural government poll conducted late last year in which more than 60% of people living within 30km of the plant said they did not believe the conditions for restarting the facility had been met.

We take the results of the prefectural opinion survey very seriously, Matoba adds. Gaining understanding and trust from local residents is an ongoing process with no end point, that requires sincerity and continuous effort.

Kazuyuki Takemoto, a member of the Kariwa village council, says seismic activity in this region of north-west Japan means it is impossible to guarantee the plants safety.

But there has been no proper discussion of that, says Takemoto, 76. They say that safety improvements have been made since the Fukushima disaster, but I dont think there is any valid reason to restart the reactor. Its beyond my comprehension.

The priority should be to protect peoples lives

Just weeks before the planned restart, the nuclear industry attracted fresh criticism after it emerged that Chubu Electric Power, a utility in central Japan, had fabricated seismic risk data during a regulatory review, conducted before a possible restart, of two reactors at its idle Hamaoka plant.

When you look at whats happened with Hamaoka, do you seriously think its possible to trust Japans nuclear industry? Takemoto says. It used to be said that nuclear power was necessary, safe and cheap  We now know that was an illusion.

Adding to local concerns are the presence of seismic faults in and around the site, which sustained damage during a 6.8-magnitude offshore earthquake in July 2007, including a fire that broke out in a transformer. Three reactors that were in operation at the time shut down automatically.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart is a gamble for Japans government, which has put an ambitious return to nuclear power generation at the centre of its new energy policy as it struggles to reach its emissions targets and bolster its energy security.

Before the Fukushima disaster, 54 reactors were in operation, supplying about 30% of the countrys power. Now, of 33 operable reactors, just 14 are in service, while attempts to restart others have faced strong local opposition.

Now, 15 years after the Fukushima meltdown, criticism of the countrys nuclear village of operators, regulators and politicians has shifted to this snowy coastal town.

Pointing out one of the many security cameras near the plant, Yoshida says the restart has been forced on residents by the nuclear industry and its political allies. The local authorities have folded in the face of immense pressure from the central government, he says.

The priority of any government should be to protect peoples lives, but we feel like we have been deceived. Japans nuclear village is alive and well. You only have to look at whats happening here to know that.
Weve rounded up Paris museums that are admission-free throughout the year (Cyrille Weiner)

In early 2025, French president Emmanuel Macron announced that the cost of the Louvre Museums upcoming restoration would be funded by higher admission prices, and last week the new rates were introduced.

From last Wednesday, January 14, the Louvre began a new pricing structure that means admission for most non-Europeans now stands at 32 euros (27), up from the previous 22 (19).

But dont panic  Paris is a city filled with wallet-friendly culture fixes, and were seeing this recent development as the perfect excuse to explore its other equally fascinating (and yes, cheaper) museums.

A top tip: many of them waive admission on certain days (often the first Sunday of every month), so always check the websites to see when admission is free.

In the meantime, weve rounded up the ones which are admission-free throughout the year, which means more money for those all-important spending sprees in the museum shop. Youre welcome.

Read more: Inside the six Paris neighbourhoods you should know before visiting

Best free Paris museums

1. La Maison Elysee

For an insight into the presidential household, visit La Maison Elysee (Maison Elysee)

Youll find the Palais de lElysees small museum in front of the 18th-century mansion built as a home for Frances presidents. Free to enter and open Tuesday to Saturday, its stuffed with items that provide fascinating insights into the presidential household, whether its the furniture which fills its halls or the gifts bestowed upon French presidents (including a particularly garish vase presented by the Tunisian government in 2024). Immersive experiences bring the palaces history to life, and there are regular demonstrations by its craftsmen and women, including gold leaf painters, cabinet-makers and silversmiths.

Dont miss: the medieval carpenters axe, brought out of storage to repair the Notre Dame Cathedrals roof after the fire in 2019.

Elysee.fr/en/maison-elysee

2. Fragonard Musee du Parfum

Sniff out Fragonard Musee du Parfum in Pariss Opera Garnier neighbourhood (Fragonard Musee)

Sniff out this beautiful museum in Pariss Opera Garnier neighbourhood, and youll discover a mind-bogglingly-wide range of olfactory items from the archives of the Fragonard perfume house, along with a workshop where you can create your own cologne. Youll be able to check out raw materials, displayed in ancient apothecary bottles and antique cabinets, while archive footage and photos show how the perfume-making process has transformed over the years. One of the most fascinating sections is the one filled with perfume-related objets dart collected by Jean-Francois Costa, who took over the company in 1939. These include diamond-adorned perfume bottles from the 1700s and silver pomanders from the 1500s.

Dont miss: the oldest item in the collection  a bull-shaped stone perfume vase dating back 3,000 BC.

Musee-parfum-paris.fragonard.com

Read more: The best vegan places to eat in Paris, from restaurants to patisseries

3. Musee Carnavalet

There are 600,000 historic items in Musee Carnavalet (Ambroise Tezenas)

Head to this museum to discover over 600,000 items relating to the history of France, ranging from a prehistoric dugout canoe from 4600 BC to street signs and scale models of its ancient monuments. Its Pariss oldest municipal museum, and youll find it inside a gorgeous French Renaissance-style mansion built in the 1500s. Upcoming exhibits include Madame de Sevigne, which will focus on the Marquise de Sevigne (1626-1696) on the four hundredth anniversary of her birth.

Dont miss: Marcel Prousts bed. Yes, you did read that correctly. The museum has several items owned by the late French novelist, including his bed, chaise longue and table.

Carnavalet.paris

4. Musee-Librairie du Compagnonnage

Musee-Librairie du Compagnonnage provides a brilliant insight into a little-known aspect of French society (Musee-Librairie du Compagnonnage)

A beautiful museum focusing on the historic compagnonnage system used to train Frances tradesmen and women, this Saint-Germain-des-Pres museum provides a brilliant insight into a little-known aspect of French society. The first compagnonnage societies emerged in the 1200s, and their members shaped the Paris we know today, reminders of which are this museums plans of the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower, and exhibits about people such as Louis Mazerolle, a carpenter who was awarded the esteemed role of Compagnon Charpentier du Devoir in 1864.

Dont miss: the museums bookstore. If ever you wanted to master a certain trade, this is a great place to start.

Compagnonsdutourdefrance.org

Read more: Best boutique hotels in Paris

5. Petit Palais Musee des Beaux-Arts

Petit Palais Musee des Beaux-Arts was constructed in 1900 for Pariss Exposition Universelle (Didier Messina)

This enormous art museum, on the 8th arrondissement, is inside a beaux-arts building constructed in 1900 for Pariss Exposition Universelle. Its paintings, sculptures and objets d'art include everything from a vast collection of ancient Greek vases to paintings by Courbet, Pissarro, Monet and Cezanne. Highlights include the exhibits relating to decorative arts  head here to admire stunning, priceless glassware from Lalique  and the paintings by Dutch masters (only the Louvre holds a larger collection).

Dont miss: Claude Monets Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt, Winter Effect, painted in 1880 and regarded as one of the finest examples of impressionist art.

petitpalais.paris

Read more: Best budget hotels in Paris

6. Bourdelle Museum

Antoine Bourdelle deserves the spotlight for his sculptures (Nicolas Borel)

Dont get us wrong  Auguste Rodin might well have been one of Frances most famous sculptors, but were firm believers that Antoine Bourdelle, a French sculptor credited with leading the shift from Beaux-Arts style to modern sculpture, deserves a chunk of the spotlight. Head to the Bourdelle Museum to see hundreds of plasters, marbles and bronzes carved by this twentieth-century sculptor, and to gain fascinating insights into his work on the Champs-Elysees theatre.

Dont miss: his lovingly restored former studio, with its cast iron stove, sculpting stand and grinding machine, used by Bourdelle to sharpen his tools.

bourdelle.paris

7. Musee d'Art Moderne de Paris

Theres a packed calendar of exhibitions at Musee d'Art Moderne (Musee d'Art Moderne de Paris)

Some 15,000 works fill this magnificent museum, handily located between the Champs-Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. Theres a packed calendar of exhibitions  previous ones have focused on Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Andy Warhol  and its diverse collection reflects every type of art discipline, ranging from cubism and abstraction to new realism and kineticism. Alongside paintings by legends such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse are supersized art installations such as House of Horrors, the last large-scale installation produced by American artist Elaine Sturtevant, who died in 2014.

Dont miss: Elaine Sturtevants House of Horrors. Inspired by a ghost train ride and featuring mind-bending lighting effects and references to drag queen Divine from John Waters film Pink Flamingos, its an installation that will make all future funfair rides look rather plain.

Mam.paris

Read more: The best things to do in Paris, France
Stephen Graham has revealed he lost the Golden Globe he won for Adolescence just hours after the ceremony.

The TV star, who won the best actor in a TV mini series prize at the ceremony earlier this month, said there was a mix-up at the airport and his suitcase didnt make the plane.

In an interview with Capital Breakfast, the 52-year-old recounted how he accidentally left his award in the US for two days while he was in Spain.

Graham said: I had to go straight from LA the day after [the Golden Globes] to Madrid as I had to be on set the next day. I had 35 minutes to catch the plane.

As I came off the plane, a woman took me down the stairs, threw me in a car, and drove me across the runway. But all Im thinking is, my case isnt going to make it.

Stephen Graham said his suitcase was left in Atlanta for two days (Ian West/PA Wire) (Ian West)

The Adolescence star continued: I said, excuse me, theres no way youre getting my suitcase on this plane if Im in a car now, and she was like oh no, dont worry, well take care of it.

The case didnt make the plane and it was left in Atlanta.

When presenter Jordan North asked what was in the suitcase, Graham said: My socks, my pants, my toothbrush and a Golden Globe.

He said: I never left it, I put it in my case  its heavy, I wasnt carrying that in my hand luggage.

Thankfully, it turned up two days after.

Graham co-created, wrote and starred in Netflix hit Adolescence, which has kicked off the awards season with wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice awards (Ian West/PA Wire) (Ian West)

Graham co-created, wrote and starred in Netflix hit Adolescence, which has scored wins at the Emmys, Golden Globes and Critics Choice awards.

At the Golden Globes, its stars Graham, Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty were respectively named best actor in a TV mini series, best supporting actor in a television series and best supporting actress.

The show also won the prize for limited series, anthology series or television motion picture, and earlier this month at the Critics Choice awards it received the same four prizes.

Graham, whose company Matriarch Productions co-produced the series, gained notoriety for his role in 2006 film This Is England and its TV sequels.

His company also co-produced hit show A Thousand Blows, which launched its second season on Disney+ earlier this month.
Mr Zimmerman told the court he had travelled to Russia to meet a woman he had previously contacted online (Associated Press)

An American citizen has been sentenced to five years in a Russian prison after being convicted of illegally transporting weapons, court officials announced on Monday.

Charles Wayne Zimmerman received the sentence from a court in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, following the discovery of a rifle on his yacht in June.

Russian customs officials reportedly found the weapon during an inspection upon his arrival at the port.

According to a statement from the regional courts' press service, Mr Zimmerman told the court he had travelled to Russia to meet a woman he had previously contacted online.

Zimmerman argued that he had purchased the firearm for self-defence and was unaware that it was prohibited to keep it on his vessel.

There has been no immediate comment from U.S. officials regarding the conviction.

Zimmerman is one of a few Americans who remain in Russian custody after a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges with the United States in recent years.
Supporters gather for the Darlington nurses, who sued the NHS for allowing a transgender woman to use female changing facilities - Iain Masterton/Alamy

You are a middle-aged nurse in Darlington. You feel increasingly uncomfortable getting changed in the presence of a biological man. So do some of your colleagues. The person in question is a man who calls himself, Rose, and says he is transitioning. He apparently stands around in boxer shorts with holes in them and repeatedly asks women when they are going to get changed. And stares.

While you feel merely uncomfortable, you know that a male presence in the changing room causes deep distress to friends who have been subject to sexual abuse in the past.

Surely, everyone can see that this is a bad situation. Surely, the bosses, the NHS trust in question and HR will sort it out? Surely, it cannot be that difficult to ask Rose to change elsewhere? Well, wrong.

In the case in which eight female nurses fought for, and finally won, the right not to have to change with Rose, Darlington Memorial Hospital clung on to its made-up policy, Transitioning in the Workplace, which said that transgender staff could get changed where they damn well liked.

It had been accepted by management that Rose could use the changing room of Roses choice.

This policy is, in fact, unlawful. But the nurses who complained were gaslit, ostracised and written off by their own management. One said that she was made to feel that she was such a terrible person for having the audacity to complain.

An inclusive changing space sign on the door of a female changing room in Darlington Memorial Hospital - Darlington Memorial Hospital

As you might expect, they turned to their union. One of them had been paying subs to Unison for 35 years. The response was not to side with the nurses, or even hear their case, but to automatically side with Rose as the ultimate victim in all this. Steve North, the former president of Unison, tweeted about the nurses anti-trans bigotry.

The nurses then set up their own union, the Darlington Nurses Union. And who can blame them? What are the 75 per cent of Unison members who are female paying subs for?

Who is standing up for working-class women? Certainly not unions captured by this insane middle-class gender ideology, which they seem to defend at all costs. We saw the same thing in the Sandie Peggie case. HR departments are circle jerks of self-righteous fools who write policy for each other without understanding the law or having any conception of competing rights.

Single-sex changing rooms  something we have long taken for granted  exist because women have fought for sex-based rights. No decent man would want to be in a space where he made women feel uncomfortable. But we are not talking about decent men here, are we? We are talking about men whose overriding need to see themselves as female overrules basic respect and protections for women. They are then backed up in this false belief by their management.

Every time this happens, brave women are forced to go through lengthy and costly tribunals, often disclosing distressing sexual assaults in the past, while being pilloried as transphobic in public, to make very basic points about their working conditions. Their tiny demands consist of not having to get undressed in front of male-bodied people. How on earth did we end up here, and why are our unions not embarrassed? Who do they now represent? The men who ID as women and think nothing of using female NHS changing rooms?

In 2024, the GMB Union, Unite and Unison in Scotland were asked to vote on a motion that asked them to acknowledge the principle of womens sex-based rights, as well as those conferred upon them by other protected characteristics. They did not. If they cannot acknowledge sex-based rights for women, how on earth are they going to stand up for their women members?

Well, we know now. They are not.

What we see again in this case is that middle-class HR and management types, as well as union bosses, have no understanding of their own front-line staff. These people sit behind desks  they are not the ones being compromised in changing rooms.

The judgment in the case made clear that the hospital had been running an unlawful policy, finding: Having considered the Equality Act, we can see nothing there that would render lawful a policy that gave biological males the choice to use a female changing room, effectively overriding the objection of female colleagues.

This is clear, then  both the hospital trust and the union guidance were wrong. The rights of the women in question were totally discounted in favour of the trans-identifying man.

The Darlington nurses who complained about their transgender colleague, Rose, were written off by their own management - Iain Masterton/Alamy Live News

This situation is being played out all over the country, with huge confusion about what the law actually is. For years, people have simply made it up, and this is why, now, following the Supreme Court decision defining what sex means in the Equality Act, workplaces need to follow the law.

The dithering of Keir Starmer and Bridget Phillipson in refusing to publish the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance is pathetic. Some men need to be told, No. However they see themselves, they do not have the right to enter womens spaces. The majority of the public has sympathy with the Darlington nurses.

Just how out of touch are the members of our political class that they cannot see this? Why are our unions abandoning women? Unison  which, by the way, backed Phillipson in the deputy leadership contest  might, you imagine, feel a bit embarrassed by all this. Far from it. It has issued an incredibly pompous statement.

We are aware of the judgment handed down on the case of Ms B Hutchinson and others v County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. The judgment is over 100 pages long, so it will take time to assess what this means for Unison. Unison policy remains the same, and the union stands by its beliefs in the rights of our trans, non-binary and gender diverse members.

There is not one word here about the Darlington nurses and what they went through  the process is the punishment, as we say.

Indeed, they cannot even use the word woman. If Unison policy remains the same, it will, in fact, be illegal, no matter what the beliefs are. A union exists to fight for the rights, dignity and working conditions of all of its members  well, thats what I used to think anyway.

Yet in the judgment handed down on Friday, Seamus Sweeney ruled that the NHS had violated the nurses dignity and that the trusts conduct amounted to harassment. He also said that allowing the trans colleague to share changing facilities had created a hostile, intimidating, humiliating and degrading environment.

It turns out that if you are female, then the union will throw you under a bus, or worse, send you for re-education. Wherever gender ideology goes, it pushes its ill-thought-out, post-grad beliefs on to working-class women who have to live with the reality of being treated like scum precisely because they do understand that they do have some rights.

If the unions abandon women, then women will abandon them. Its already happening.
People who eat home-cooked meals on a regular basis tend to be happier and healthier. (Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman via Getty Images)

As higher living costs continue to keep pressure on household budgets, it's important to ensure you're getting the best value for money on key outgoings, such as energy bills.

Consumer group Which? has revealed the energy providers that came out on top in its annual rankings, based on a survey of nearly 12,000 energy customers in Great Britain and its assessment of 17 energy firms behind-the-scenes practices and policies.

E (Gas & Electricity) came in first place in its rankings, with an overall score of 79% and was named a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) for the second time.

Providers qualified to be an WRP if they achieved a 70% customer score and each of its survey ratings were three stars or more. Firms also needed to achieve an above average score in Which?'s assessment.

The consumer champion said that E (Gas & Electricity) received four stars in its survey for customer service, ease of contacting and clarity of its statements. And nearly nine in 10 (86%) E customers said they would recommend the provider.

E (Gas & Electricity) also (Gas & Electricity) also achieved the highest score of any provider in Which?s behind-the-scenes assessment, performing well on its complaints handling, as well as for its smart meters and switching performance.

Octopus Energy came second in the rankings, with an overall score of 74%. The provider was named an WRP for the ninth year in a row and was the only supplier to be awarded this badge. Which? said that Octopus Energy scored maximum points for supporting customers who need it in the consumer group's behind-the scenes assessment.

100Green ranked in third place, with an overall score of 72%, and was named an WRP for the second year running. Which? said that it earned the highest score in the customer survey and that 94% said they would recommend the provider.

Co-op Energy, Outfox Energy and Sainsbury's (SBRY.L) Energy each got an overall score of 71%. However, only Sainsbury's Energy was named an WRP, qualifying for the badge for the first time. Co-op Energy and Outfox Energy did not qualify as WRPs as they did not score three stars or higher in every category of the customer survey.

Meanwhile, Scottish Power came at the bottom of the Which? rankings, with an overall score of 56%.

Which? said Scottish Power "fared poorly" in its background assessment and it received fewer points than any other provider when it came to its complaints handling, and "middle-of-the-road" scores in most other areas.

EDF came in second-to-last place in the rankings, with an overall score of 58%. Which? said it received the lowest score in its assessment on contacting the supplier, "largely because its phone lines and customer service email accounts are not monitored for as long as other providers".

British Gas ranked third from the bottom, with an overall score of 59%. Which? said that the provider's performance in the background assessment was a "mixed bag".

"It offers a good amount of support to those who need it, and scored highly when it came to contacting the supplier, but struggled to resolve complaints in a reasonable timeframe and did not get a single point for its switching service," the consumer group said.

Read more: First-time buyers save an average of 22,900 by negotiating prices

Emily Seymour, energy editor at Which?, said: "Our research shows that while four suppliers are outshining the competition, some big firms ... are letting their customers down."

With fixed tariffs now reliably cheaper than the energy price cap, there is no need for customers to put up with poor value for money or shoddy customer service," she said. "Any suppliers falling short need to improve or their customers will vote with their feet.

Anyone who is unhappy with their provider should shop around and move to a supplier with a cheaper fixed tariff and better customer service," Seymour added.

In response to Which?'s rankings, a spokesperson for ScottishPower said: The independent Citizens Advice scorecard is the customer service gold standard with a much more robust and transparent methodology used to assess firms performance.

"It shows sustained, high-quality delivery for our customers, reflecting the huge investments weve made improving and enhancing our service  also highlighted by customers themselves in the Which? survey," they said. "We will continue to work tirelessly every day to deliver fast, efficient, and helpful support to our customers."

EDF and British Gas had not responded to Yahoo Finance UK's request for comment at the time of writing.

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Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, the son of Sir David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, has said he does not want to reconcile with his family.

The 26-year-old has spoken out for the first time and acknowledged the feud between him and his family in a post on Instagram.

In a statement shared on his Instagram story, he claimed his parents have been controlling narratives in the press about his family and tried to ruin his relationship with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham.

He said: I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private.

Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and his wife Nicola attended the 2023 premiere of Netflixs documentary series Beckham at the Curzon Mayfair in London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

I do not want to reconcile with my family. Im not being controlled, Im standing up for myself for the first time in my life.

For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that theyll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade. But I believe the truth always comes out.

Nicola, who is the daughter of American billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz and former model Claudia Heffner Peltz, married Brooklyn in 2022.

He is the eldest son of the former England player and his fashion designer wife.

The couple, known as Posh and Becks, are also parents to sons Cruz and Romeo and daughter Harper.

Brooklyn added: My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasnt stopped.

My mum cancelled making Nicolas dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress.

Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife and our future children.

They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated.

David Beckham and Victoria Beckham attending the world premiere of the Netflix documentary series, Victoria Beckham, at the Curzon Mayfair, London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

My holdout affected the payday and they have never treated me the same since.

During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me evil because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicolas Nanny at our table, because they both didnt have their husbands. Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

The statement continued: Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, Ive received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders.

Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last summer.

Brooklyn went on to claim that his mother hijacked his first dance with Nicola and danced inappropriately on me in front of their guests, adding that he had never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in his entire life.

He also alleged that his wife has been disrespected by his family and that she was not invited to his dads 50th birthday party.

(l to r) Mia Regan, Romeo Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham, David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz arrive for the premiere of Netflixs documentary series Beckham at the Curzon Mayfair in London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

Brooklyn continued: My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first. Family love is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if its at the expense of our professional obligations.

The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life.

I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared. I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose and have found peace and relief.

My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press or manipulation. All we want is peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.

Brooklyn has previously dabbled in photography and cooking, having released a book of snapshots called What I See in 2017 and a hot sauce brand called Cloud 23.

He has also posted videos of his cooking to social media.

Sir David and Lady Beckham have been contacted for comment.
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and Microsoft for up to $134 billion, claiming the companies earned "wrongful gains" from his early support, according to a court filing Friday.

The lawsuit centers on Musk's contributions when OpenAI was founded in 2015 and his claim that both companies benefited unfairly from his involvement.

Musk's filing estimates that OpenAI gained between $65.5 billion and $109.4 billion, while Microsoft earned between $13.3 billion and $25.1 billion, thanks to his initial seed funding and guidance, Engadget reported.

Musk contributed roughly $38 million, which amounted to about 60% of OpenAI's early funding. He also helped recruit key staff, connect the founders with business contacts, and lend credibility to the fledgling project.

"Without Elon Musk, there'd be no OpenAI. He provided the bulk of the seed funding, lent his reputation, and taught them all he knows about scaling a business," Musk's lead lawyer, Steven Molo, said in a statement to Reuters.

Musk left OpenAI in 2018 and now runs xAI, which operates a competing chatbot named Grok.

The lawsuit claims OpenAI violated its original non-profit mission when it restructured as a for-profit entity, giving Microsoft and other investors an unfair advantage.

Elon Musk seeks up to $134B from OpenAI and Microsoft over wrongful gains from his initial contributions https://t.co/bz0eD31Xjv pic.twitter.com/Z5PeS7jVUi  New York Post (@nypost) January 18, 2026

Elon Musk May Seek Punitive Damages

OpenAI dismissed the claim as an "unserious demand" and accused Musk of conducting a "harassment campaign" against the AI company.

Microsoft did not immediately comment on the filing. According to the NYPost, both companies challenged Musk's damages claims in a separate court submission, arguing that the expert valuations used in his filing are "made up" and "unverifiable."

A judge in Oakland, California, recently ruled that a jury will hear the trial, expected to begin in April. Musk's filing also notes that he may pursue punitive damages or other penalties, including a potential injunction, if the court finds the companies liable.

Financial economist C. Paul Wazzan, Musk's expert witness, calculated the monetary estimates, concluding that OpenAI and Microsoft's "wrongful gains" far exceed Musk's original contributions.

"Just as an early investor in a startup may realize gains many times greater than the initial investment, the wrongful gains that OpenAI and Microsoft have earned  and which Mr. Musk is now entitled to disgorge  are much larger than Mr. Musk's initial contributions," the filing said.

Originally published on vcpost.com
A child holds on while riding on the back of a tricycle in Beijing (AFP via Getty Images)

China is grappling with a persistent population decline, despite a decade of efforts to encourage more births following the abandonment of its stringent one-child policy.

Authorities have introduced a range of incentives, from direct cash subsidies to controversial taxes on condoms, in a bid to reverse the trend.

However, these initiatives have yet to yield the desired results, as evidenced by new population figures released on Monday. The world's second-most populous nation saw its population continue to shrink for the fourth consecutive year. In 2025, China's total population stood at 1.404 billion, a reduction of 3 million compared to the previous year.

The statistics illustrate the stark demographic pressures the country faces. The number of new babies born was just 7.92 million in 2025, a decline of 1.62 million, or 17%. The latest birth numbers show the slight tick upwards in 2024 was not a lasting trend. Births declined for seven years in a row through 2023.

Most families cite the costs and pressure of raising a child in a highly competitive society as significant hurdles that now loom larger in the face of an economic downturn that has impacted households struggling to meet their living costs.

A woman lifts up a child in Beijing, China, on Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Like many other countries in Asia, China has faced a declining fertility rate, or the average number of babies a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. While the government does not regularly publish a fertility rate, last saying it was 1.3 in 2020, experts have estimated it is now around 1. Both figures are far below the 2.1 rate that would maintain the size of China's population.

After decades of a policy barring people from having more than one baby, the government raised the limit to two children in 2015. Facing demographic pressure, the government further revised the limit to three kids in 2021.

Officials have had limited success with policy changes to incentivize families to have more children. In July, the government announced cash subsidies of 3,600 yuan ($500) per child to families.

Coupling incentives with other attempts to mold behavior, the government also has started taxing condoms. China removed contraceptives, including condoms, from a value-added tax exemption list in 2025, meaning condoms are now being hit with a 13% tax that kicked into effect Jan. 1.

To further promote child-rearing, kindergartens and daycares have been added to the tax-exemption list along with matchmaking services.

China was long the world's most populous nation until 2023, when it was surpassed by regional neighbor and sometime rival India.
Could the King cancel his visit to the US over Trumps tariff threats?

Sir Keir Starmer dodged answering questions about whether King Charles expected state visit to the US in April may be cancelled as tensions rise over president Donald Trumps tariff threats.

The US president threatened the UK, Denmark and other European countries with 10 per cent tariffs over their opposition to a takeover of Greenland by America. The UK would be charged a 10 per cent tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from 1 February, increased to 25 per cent from 1 June, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Questions were raised over the weekend about how the UK might respond, and if that could include the King pulling out of a state visit, floated to take place in April. The Kings trip was meant to be part of a campaign to revitalise a trade agreement with the US after a promised American investment in Britain from tech firms was paused, according to The Times.

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said on social media: The PM must tell Trump in no uncertain terms: if he goes ahead with these outrageous tariffs and keeps bullying Greenland, therell be no state visit to the US in April. The UK must not be a doormat for an extortionist, or reward Trumps behaviour with the pageantry he craves.

Speaking in an emergency press conference on Monday, Sir Keir said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong and added it was not the right way to resolve differences with an alliance. He refuted the idea of retaliatory tariffs, adding that a trade war was in no ones interest.

Trump came to the UK for a second state visit in September last year (Chris Jackson/PA) (PA Wire)

Asked whether he would advise the King against a state visit to the United States, the prime minister merely affirmed it was important to continue working with the US on matters of defence, intelligence and security, which requires us to have a good relationship with the United States.

He added that this didnt mean the UK had to pretend it didnt have a difference of opinion with Washington.

Sir Keir called the tariffs against allies completely wrong (Reuters)

There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works, he said, adding that any decision about the future status of Greenland "belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone".

The state visit would coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US declaration of independence from Britain, a first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II accepted an invitation from George W Bush in 2007.

King Charles has played a vital role in easing relations between the UK and Trump. The US leader came to the UK last year for an unprecedented second state visit, interpreted by commentators as a move to appease him as he returned to the White House following Joe Bidens stint in the Oval Office, and to ensure that British-American relations continued to be smooth.

Trump has made no secret of his love for the royal family and said one of his first memories was watching his late mother, Mary, who grew up in the Hebrides, transfixed by the Queens coronation in 1953.

Buckingham Palace did not comment on reported plans for a state visit, but The Independent understands any state visit would take place at the request of the government and would be announced as normal.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has given the city of Dallas until the end of the month to remove pavement markings the state deems "political" or face losing millions in critical funding.

The markings included in the removal order include a rainbow crosswalk in Oak Lawn and a "Black Lives Matter" mural on MLK Boulevard.

Abbott gave the order to remove the markings in October, 2025, arguing that the designs violate the state's uniformity standards and could pose a safety threat by distracting drivers. His directive is part of a broader push at the federal level to standardize road markings due to safety concerns.

The move came after Florida took similar steps and removed rainbow crosswalks - often in communities that support LGBTQ residents - as part of Donald Trumps push to end diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the nation.

Supporters of the Texas measure have argued that the order was about maintaining consistency across the state, rather than Abbott stamping out ideological markets that run contrary to his beliefs, according to the Dallas News.

The rainbow crosswalks in Dallas' Cedar Springs and Oak Lawn area  as well as a 'Black Lives Matter' street mural and other 'non-standard' pavement markings will have to be removed per orders from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. If the city does not remove the murals, it could lose millions in state funding (Google Maps)

Critics have not bought the state's justifications for the removal.

The forced removal of the rainbow crosswalks is an intentional act of erasure, plain and simple, LGBTQ Chamber CEO Tony Vedda said in a statement to the Dallas Voice. These crosswalks were never a safety issue. They were 100 percent privately funded and used NO tax dollars for the installation. The crosswalks are being targeted because they represent LGBTQ+ visibility in a state that continues to politicize our existence."

Some local business owners are also frustrated by the move.

The crosswalks have become a recognizable feature of the Cedar Springs neighborhood and help reinforce the districts identity as a welcoming destination for customers and visitors," Cedar Springs Merchants Association President Kevin Miller told the outlet. Anything that diminishes that sense of place has a real impact on how people experience and support this neighborhood.

Dallas officials requested an exemption to the order in November, noting that the crosswalk designs in Oak Lawn were privately funded and pointing to data that highly visible crosswalks actually improve pedestrian visibility. They also argued that the crosswalk design is protected speech and that removing it could violate the First Amendment.

On Monday, the Texas Department of Transportation rejected the city's exemption request.

According to a memo provided to Fox 4 News from Dallas' city manager, Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, the states Department of Transportation said the pavement lacked proper certification and was out of compliance with state regulations. It also noted that the city failed to provide a document signed and sealed by a licensed traffic engineer that certified that the designs were safe for drivers and pedestrians.

TxDOT did not clarify how our crosswalks impede pedestrian and vehicle safety as requested by our appeal letter, Tolbert wrote in a memo on Friday, which was given to the Dallas City Council. Staff will work with the City Attorneys Office on our response.

The agency further directed the city to end the practice of non-standard pavement markings in roadways, and warned that failure to remove the designs by January 31st could result in the loss of state funding or the suspension of existing agreements between the state and the city.
The Swiss Alpine town of Davos is once again the epicentre of global power, as nearly 3,000 high-level figures from business and government converge for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.

This elite affair in the snows also draws countless activists, journalists, and observers, all descending on the latest edition of the influential gathering.

The WEF and Davos

The forum is a think tank and event organiser based in Geneva whose main event  the annual meeting  debuted in 1971 in Davos, a ski-resort town of about 10,000 people at a height of about 1,500 meters (nearly 5,000 feet) in the Alps of eastern Switzerland.

The first edition, hosted by forum founder Klaus Schwab, featured a gathering of business executives.

Since then, the meeting has swelled into a catch-all conference on issues as diverse as economic disparity, climate change, technology, and global cooperation  as well as competition and conflict.

Police officers stand behind a logo of the World Economy Forum in front of the Congress Center where the Annual Meeting Forum takes place in Davos, Switzerland. (AP)

More than 200 sessions will tackle a wide array of issues.

Who's going?

Organizers says a record of nearly 400 top political leaders, including more than 60 heads of state and government, and nearly 850 chairs and chief executives of many of the world's leading companies.

Headlining the lineup is U.S. President Donald Trump, who's set to deliver a speech on Wednesday, and several Cabinet ministers and top advisers including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

President Emmanuel Macron of France, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President Ahmad al-Sharaa of Syria, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo, Vice Premier He Lifeng of China, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine are among the who's-who of top attendees.

Activists wearing masks of Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger and U.S. Vice President JD Vance stand next to a person wearing a costume depicting U.S. President Donald Trump. (REUTERS)

Organisers say 55 ministers for economy and finance, 33 ministers for foreign affairs, 34 ministers for trade, commerce and industry, and 11 central bank governors are also expected.

Tech titans scheduled to be on hand include Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, and Arthur Mensch of France's Mistral AI.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are among scores of top officials from international institutions.

What's different this year?

The geopolitical context has become incredibly complex this year: Trump's pronouncements and policies on subjects as diverse as Venezuela, Greenland and Iran  not to mention his aggressive tariff policies  have upended the world order and raised questions about America's role in the world.

The advent of AI  its promise and perils  has also become a hot topic. Business executives will examine how to apply it to boost efficiency and profits; labor leaders and advocacy groups will warn of its threat to jobs and livelihoods, and policymakers will look to navigate the best way forward between regulation and right to innovate.

Flags decorate the Congress Center where the Annual Meeting of the World Economy Forum take place in Davos (AP)

Davos conference organisers always trot out buzzwords for the meeting, and this year's is A Spirit of Dialogue  around five themes of cooperation, growth, investment in people, innovation and building prosperity.

Critics say Davos is too much talk and not enough action to rectify gaping inequality in the world and address troubles like climate change.
Donald Trump with the Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who presented him with her Nobel peace prize medal. Photograph: Daniel Torok/The White House/Reuters (Photograph: Daniel Torok/The White House/Reuters)

Donald Trump has linked his repeated threats to seize control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel peace prize, as transatlantic tensions over the Arctic island escalated further and threatened to rekindle a trade war with the EU.

In an extraordinary text message sent on Sunday to the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Stre, the US president wrote that after being snubbed for the prize, he no longer felt the need to think purely of peace.

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, he wrote, adding that the US needed complete and total control of Greenland.

Trump has ramped up his push to grab the island, a largely self-governing part of Denmark, in recent weeks, saying that the US would take control of the Arctic island one way or the other and, over the weekend: Now it is time, and it will be done!!!

On Saturday he threatened to impose from 1 February a punitive 10% tariff, increasing later to 25%, on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland unless they dropped their objections to his plan.

The dispute has plunged trade relations between the EU and the US into fresh chaos, forcing the bloc to consider retaliatory measures, and also risks unravelling the Nato transatlantic alliance that has guaranteed western security for decades.

Related: If it wasnt clear before, it is now: Britain needs an escape plan from the Trump world order | Gaby Hinsliff

Trump has rocked the EU and Nato by refusing to rule out military force to seize the strategically important, mineral-rich island, which is covered by many of the protections offered by the two organisations since Denmark is a member of both.

He has repeatedly said the US needs to take control of the territory for national security, despite the US already having a military base on the island and a bilateral agreement with Denmark allowing it to massively expand its presence there.

In a brief telephone interview with NBC on Monday, Trump declined to comment on whether he would rule out seizing Greenland by force, insisted he would 100% push ahead with his tariff plans, and blamed Norway for denying him the Nobel prize.

Norway totally controls it despite what they say. They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything to do with it, he added.

The Nobel peace prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel committee, a five-member private body whose members  mostly retired politicians  are appointed by Norways parliament but whose decisions are independent of the government.

Trump campaigned hard to win last years prize, which was awarded to Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader. She collected it in Oslo last month but has since dedicated it to Trump and last week gave her medal to him.

In his text message to Stre, Trump said Denmark cannot protect Greenland from Russia or China, adding: Why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago.

The US president said he had done more for Nato than anyone else since its founding, and now Nato should do something for the United States. The world was not secure unless we have Complete and Total control of Greenland, he said.

Denmarks defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, said on Monday he and the Greenlandic foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, had discussed with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, the possibility of a Nato mission in Greenland and the Arctic.

The Danish foreign minister, Lars Lkke Rasmussen, said it was important that all of us who believe in international law speak out to show Trump you cant go down this road. Trump had to see that putting pressure on us would not work, he said.

Greenland said it was a democratic society and must be allowed to decide its own future. We will not be pressured, said the territorys prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. We stand firm on dialogue, respect and international law.

EU leaders will meet for an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss their response, which could include a package of tariffs on 93bn (80bn) of US imports that has been suspended for six months since the two sides reached a trade deal last year.

Another possibility is the blocs anti-coercion instrument (ACI), which has never been used but would limit US access to public tenders, investments or banking activities and restrict trade in services, including digital services. The EU said it was continuing to engage at all levels and the use of the ACI was not off the table. Germanys vice-chancellor, Lars Klingbeil, and Frances finance minister, Roland Lescure, both denounced Trumps tariff plans as blackmail.

Stre, who had not been scheduled to attend this years World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said he would do so on Wednesday and Thursday, overlapping with Trumps planned appearance at the annual political and business gathering.

Stre said on Monday Trumps Sunday text message had come in response to a message from him half an hour earlier saying he and the Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, wanted to take this down and de-escalate, and proposing a phone call.

Germanys chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said he would also try to meet Trump in the Swiss resort on Wednesday, adding that if we are confronted with tariffs we consider unreasonable, then we are capable of responding.

Merz said Germany and other EU countries agreed that we want to avoid any escalation in this dispute if at all possible, but if necessary, we will of course protect our European interests as well as our German national interests.

The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said he was working closely with EU leaders and called for calm discussion between allies. Trumps tariff plans were completely wrong, he said, but he added he did not think military action to take Greenland was likely.

Several EU states including Germany, Denmark and Italy, as well as the UK, have suggested Trump believes the eight Nato countries that sent troops to Greenland last week  and are now the targets of his tariffs  did so as a warning shot to the US.

Some diplomats have said this may be a misunderstanding based on biased US TV reports: the troops were on a reconnaissance mission, and their deployment was in line with US concerns over a supposedly growing Russian threat in the Arctic.

Others lean more towards wilful misinterpretation in Washington: US representatives were present when the joint operations purpose was outlined at a Nato council meeting last week, and the US was invited to join it.

The difficulty is that as trust breaks down, Trump makes his decisions based on wild speculation on US TV, and not from his diplomatic allies, one western diplomat said.
Donald Trump may now be his partys biggest obstacle to holding control of the Senate as the Republican president repeatedly undermines members of the caucus while his foreign policy has rankled members and encouraged divisions.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber of Congress following the 2024 election collapse of the Democratic Party. For much of 2025, it looked likely that it would take multiple election cycles for Democrats to regain the majority, if not longer.

But with January halfway over, the prospects of Republicans holding on to that majority even through November look a lot dimmer. The reason why, though almost none of the partys members in the chamber will say it out loud: Donald Trump.

Democrats need to win four seats to take back the chamber. Trumps interference in several of those key races cant be ignored, and in every case has made it harder, not easier, for Republican incumbents to hold on to their seats. Politico reported last week that Trump was flatly refusing to back three Senate Republicans, John Cornyn of Texas, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Susan Collins of Maine, in their respective races this year.

His latest insertion into the fray over the weekend took things a step further. On Saturday, the president posted on Truth Social that he would back the candidacy of Julia Letlow, a Louisiana state representative, were she to mount a GOP primary challenge against Cassidy. The senator has been hard-pressed working to fend off primary challengers for months now  Saturdays post from Trump will likely supercharge the dynamic against him. Politico reports that Letlow is now preparing a bid for the seat.

Donald Trump is making things difficult for several Republicans up for re-election in 2026, to his partys disappointment (AFP via Getty Images)

For Cassidy, things are still tenable. He retains a sizable campaign war chest and has raised $17 million so far in the 2025-2026 cycle, Politico reported earlier this month. He also holds a seat in a deep red state, allowing him to largely write off victory in November if he survives the primary.

But for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, things arent so great. Thune is actively working to protect Cassidy and will now likely be forced to continue headlining fundraisers and spending resources to protect the senator, as hes been doing for months.

For the Senate GOP leader, the motivation is twofold: Protect the seat, and protect a reliable ally of leadership.

This risks a blow-up with Trump but also just as importantly saps his time and resources as his focus could be spent on other races, such as North Carolina, where Gov. Roy Cooper looks to be dominant in the race against Michael Whatley, former chair of the Republican National Committee.

Trump endorsed a potential primary challenger to Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy on Saturday (Getty Images)

Trumps move to endorse Letlow raises another question: Will he endorse Texas Ken Paxton? The MAGA loyalist and scandal-prone state Attorney General of Texas is running against Cornyn in the Senate primary, and is viewed by Democrats like Rep. Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico as their best shot to take the seat in an upset in November, should the senator lose his primary.

Like Cassidy, Thune is working the fundraisers and traveling to Texas to help protect a seat that could have been a slam dunk retention for the GOP this year.

In Maine, the story is slightly different. Susan Collins is no ally of Trump, and association with the president doesnt help her. But the Trump administration still isnt helping things for the sake of keeping Thune happy: Local news reports indicate that state residents are bracing for an onslaught of ICE agents, provoking protests in cities such as Portland and causing Collins to grumble to a HuffPost reporter: To me, I don't see the rationale for a large number of ICE agents to come in.

A surge of ICE activity in Maine could both drive up negative sentiment among Democrats and independents. Collins, who nurtures a reputation as an independent, draws votes from both camps. Anger over enforcement activities could also boost the profile of Gov. Janet Mills, who is running in the Democratic primary and may be Collinss opponent in the fall. Graham Platner, Millss opponent, is also campaigning on news reports of the expected surge.

Protests have continued in Minneapolis for nearly two weeks over the killing of a woman, Renee Good, by an ICE agent. ICE has become a key point for voters ahead of the midterm eletions (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

In Washington, Republicans in the Senate have little in terms of recent progress to show voters. Talks over extending subsidies for Obamacare health plans seem to have collapsed under continued White House opposition, and the presidents provocations with Greenland have left Republicans uneasy after a War Powers vote on Venezuela caused one of the starkest divisions in the caucus to date.

Even as House Republicans openly complain about Speaker Mike Johnson and the chambers subservience to the White House, it may be Thune who has the hardest job in D.C. right now.

For the Senate leader, its up to him to protect a majority that his most important ally, drowning in unpopularity and refusing to cut his allies a break, seemingly has no interest in helping defend.
President Donald Trump has threatened to ramp up tariffs on the UK and other countries who have opposed US plans to take control of Greenland.

Mr Trump said he wants to take over the island because of its strategic Arctic location and mineral wealth.

He said the UK could be hit with additional tariffs from next month if it maintains its opposition to the move.

Sir Keir Starmer urged the US to avoid military action or trade war, calling for the issue to be resolved through calm discussion between allies.

Here the Press Association looks at what Mr Trumps tariff plans could mean for the UK:

 What are tariffs?

Tariffs are a tax on products imported into a country.

They are typically charged as a percentage of the price a buyer pays a foreign seller.

It means a US company buying a product from a UK supplier would now have to pay an additional amount, such as 10%, to the state, on top of the original price.

 Who pays them?

The companies buying the imported goods pay the tariffs.

In this case, it means US firms will have to pay more for international goods from countries affected.

Mr Trump has used his tariff policies to encourage US firms to buy products manufactured within the country, and therefore avoid the additional tax.

 How are they charged?

Tariffs are collected by the national customs authority of the country into which the goods are being imported.

In the UK, this means any tariff is paid to His Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC) when goods enter the UK.

In the US, tariffs are collected by Customs and Border Protection agents at ports of entry across the country, such as airports and ports.

 How are tariffs calculated?

Companies can determine the tariff costs of a product by working out its 10-digit HTS code, which is an internationally recognised standard used for the categorisation of goods by customs officials.

Every product has a classified code based on the characteristics of the product, which is needed for to goods to be imported.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks in the briefing room of 9 Downing Street (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (Jordan Pettitt)

Duty and tariff rates are based on these and firms can face penalties if they mis-declare these or the goods.

Firms also have to declare that products originate in a particular country, with a certificate of origin.

 What are UK/US tariffs currently?

There is a significant range of tariff costs depending on products and sectors, and the UK and US governments made a number of agreements last year.

Nevertheless, broadly speaking, the US imposed a 10% tariff on top of all previously existing tariffs and duties.

Last years 2025 economic prosperity deal secured tariff exemptions for UK steel, aluminium, aerospace and cars, although many of these only cover a certain quota of products.

 What is Mr Trump threatening?

Mr Trump said he would charge the UK a 10% tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from February 1.

This would then increase to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

He would impose this on Denmark and European allies opposed to his plans, who currently also include France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

It is not known how this will affect products which are currently exempt from tariffs.

 How would this impact the economy?

Countries such as the UK that have high exposure to the US could see their economic growth hit by the tariff plans.

Capital Economics chief economist Neil Shearing suggested the wider economic effect would be modest but it would shave a few tenths of a percentage point off GDP in the affected economies.

He added: The countries most exposed are those with the largest export shares to the US  notably the UK and Germany.

A 10% tariff could reduce GDP in those economies by around 0.1%, while a 25% tariff could knock 0.20.3% off output.

Goldman Sachs economists Giovanni Pierdomenico and Sven Jari Stehn said the impact could be higher, indicating that the proposed 25% tariff could affect countries GDP by between 0.25% and 0.5%.

 Which sectors would most be affected?

The biggest export from the UK to the US is machinery, such a cars, engines and turbines.

Some consumer sectors could also be particularly affected, such as Scotlands whisky industry, which exported almost 1 billion worth of whisky to the US in 2024.

 What could it mean for inflation?

The introduction of tariffs is often inflationary for both countries affected by the measure.

Economists at Deutsche Bank suggested that the renewed threat of trade war, however, could disrupt the UKs swift disinflation process, in which inflation dropped to 3.2% in November last year.
Labour is facing fierce battles to retain control in at least 12 London boroughs at the May local elections, says a leading pollster.

Lord Hayward expects Sir Keir Starmers party to have a torrid time as it seeks to defend more than 1,150 seats out of just over 1,800 up for grabs in London.

Four years ago, it was basking in its 21st Century high water mark triumph of having won the Tory crown jewel councils of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet.

Now, Labour is under attack on five fronts from the Conservatives, Reform UK, Greens, Liberal Democrats and pro-Gaza independents as it seeks to defend London ward by ward.

In an in-depth interview with The Standard, the Conservative peer highlighted how:

The Tory election target would be winning back from Labour the flagship council of Westminster, as well as Wandsworth and Barnet.

The challenge to Sir Keirs party in boroughs such as Camden, Merton, Lambeth, Southwark, and to a lesser extent Greenwich, would come from the Liberal Democrats and Greens.

Labour would face difficulties from pro-Gaza independents in a belt across East and North East London, including in Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Newham, as well as Hackney where there could also be a strong showing from the Greens.

Reform UK was focusing on natural targets for the party in Outer London, which he said included Bexley, Bromley, Havering and Hillingdon.

The Lib-Dems would be under pressure from Reform in Sutton.

Nigel Farages party could gain a significant number of councillors in the capital, and potentially win control of some town halls from the Tories.

But it was unlikely to gain control of councils from Labour in London.

With politics so fragmented, Labour faces the challenge of identifying which of its wards in London are most at risk given the threat could come from different parties, even in areas very close together.

Leading pollster Lord Hayward (PA)

Lord Hayward correctly predicted Labour was on course to seize Westminster in 2022, as well as Wandsworth and Barnet.

Labour had then poured resources into its target boroughs, he stressed, from areas such Lambeth, Southwark and Merton.

But he believes that the party, given the uncertainty over where it faces the greatest threats, will this time struggle to move its forces from borough to borough.

A significant number of councillors could be elected on less than 30% of the vote, with very small majorities, making the town hall polls difficult to predict.

But Lord Hayward was clear that Labour was facing a dire night on May 7, which could spark fresh plotting to oust Sir Keir.

Sir Keir Starmer whose party is facing a torrid time at the May local elections (PA Wire)

The latest Savanta poll of London, in December, showed Labour at a record low of 31% in voting intention for Parliament, compared to a YouGov survey ahead of the May 2022 local elections when the party was on 50%, a huge 27 percentage points ahead of the Tories.

Labour is facing a massive challenge to defend London ward by ward and fierce battles to retain control in at least twelve boroughs, said Lord Hayward.

They are going to have a torrid time.

Both because you have to presume Labour maximised the number of seats across London as a whole in 2022 and because they are now the party of government, the probability is their vote is going to fall fairly heavily.

He stressed the scale of the task facing Sir Keirs party in May as it will be under attack politically from so many directions.

Labour is facing a battle on five fronts against the Conservatives, Lib-Dems, Greens, Reform and pro-Gaza independents, he said.

In some boroughs, and the prime examples are places like Islington and Camden but also Haringey and Hackney, they face a real problem..

Pick out a ward and one can say that is where the Greens will do well, and another ward its the pro-Gaza independents etc etc...

Londons political map after the 2022 local elections (Commons Library)

Labours 2022 triumph in the capital was a 21st Century high water mark for the party.

Now, Labour was having to grapple with the difficulty of identifying wards most at risk.

Lord Hayward added: They will be torn as to where to deploy their resources since so many wards will be so different.

Labour v Tories

Four years ago, Labour chiefs were celebrating seizing three Tory stronghold boroughs in London.

Westminster, Tory since its creation in 1964, Wandsworth, an ultra low council tax authority held by the Conservatives for more than 40 years, and Margaret Thatchers former town hall of Barnet, Conservative for more than two decades, all fell within hours.

Labour was rejoicing as votes were coming in showing they had won Westminster council in 2022 (REUTERS)

The picture looks very different now for Labour.

They will face a revived challenge from the Conservatives in the likes of Barnet, Westminster and Wandsworth, outlined Lord Hayward.

Particularly Barnet because the Jewish vote is less likely to switch to Reform.

If the Labour vote falls as expected, he added: The most likely beneficiary in those sort of boroughs will be the Tories even if Reform eat into particularly the Conservative vote.

The Conservatives target will be to regain the key boroughs of Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet.

Reform UK

Nigel Farage with Reform UKs London mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham (Getty Images)

Mr Farage has caught some at Westminster by surprise with the focus Reform is putting on winning councils, mainly Conservative held, in London.

But Lord Hayward explained: Hillingdon to some extent, Havering, Bexley and Bromley are natural targets for him because they fall into what one might describe as Kent and Essex demographically. 

However, he added: Barking and Dagenham (Labour run) a decade ago would have been a natural Reform target.

But it, like a large part of what I describe as Inner East and North East London, has changed demographically enormously, with more local people now of Asian heritage including Muslim voters who he believes are less likely to back Reform.

Although Reform have not said so, there is no question that they will put pressure on the Lib-Dems in Sutton, he concluded.

Reform will have been boosted by the defection of Romford MP Andrew Rosindell from the Tories at the weekend, giving Mr Farages party its first Member of Parliament in London.

Labour v Liberal Democrats or Greens

Zack Polanskis Green Party is challenging Sir Keir Starmers Labour in parts of London (ES)

As Sir Keir has sought to fend off the threat from Reform, he has been accused of failing to do enough to shore up Labour defences against the Greens, who have soared in popularity under new leader Zack Polanski, and the Lib-Dems, which together are taking more voters from Labour than Reform, according to polls.

In places like Islington, Camden, Lambeth, Southwark, probably Greenwich but less so, they are going to face particularly threats from the Greens and the Lib Dems, and that may well stretch into Haringey and Greenwich, explained Lord Hayward.

The Lib Dems, for example, I think will do very well in Merton because they have got the MP for Wimbledon now, added the pollster who is respected at Westminster for his predictions despite being a parliamentarian for a political party.

Labour v Pro-Gaza independents

At the 2024 general election, Health Secretary Wes Streeting won his Ilford North seat against Independent Leanne Mohamad by just 528 votes.

Labour are going to face difficulties from the pro-Gaza independents in East and North East London, you are talking here Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Newham, stressed Lord Hayward as the parties are gearing up for the local elections.

Hackney is only in part pro-Gaza, I would expect the Greens to also make a strong showing.

The Gaza war is having a significant impact on London politics (REUTERS)

But the picture has not yet crystallised about where Labour will fare worst in this part of the capital.

There is no question that there is a raft of wards across a whole belt of East and North East London where Labour face the loss of seats but it will depend on the state of the polls in April, on organisation, what has happened to Your Party....etc.., said the peer.

But it is the pro-Gaza independents where they face the threat.

Tower Hamlets

As ever, there will be an amazing battle in Tower Hamlets between Labour and a range of other parties.
Baroness Hilary Cass has joined more than 60 Labour MPs in backing an Australian-style social media ban for under 16s.

The doctor, who led a damning review into the treatment of children with gender dysmorphia, will spearhead cross-party efforts in the Lords to ban children and teenagers from accessing sites such as Snapchat and Instagram.

She has written an amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill seeking a ban, and said the longer we wait, the more children we fail as the effects of social media were causing young people to fall victim to sextortion, cyberbullying and radicalisation.

MPs, including select committee chairs, former frontbenchers and backbenchers from both the Left and Right of the party, have written to Sir Keir Starmer seeking to put pressure on him after he last week opened the door on a ban by saying all options remain on the table.

The proposal will be put to a vote on Wednesday in the House of Lords where peers are thought likely to back a ban, which will then force the Governments hand when it comes back to the Commons. It is estimated as many as 70 per cent of Labour MPs would support an Australian-style crackdown.

Although Sir Keir has softened his scepticism and said he is open to a ban, it is thought that No 10 would prefer to wait until there is more evidence from Australia on whether its scheme has worked.

Nigel Farage: I am not very keen generally on banning things. Lets see where Australia is in six months time - Carl Court/Getty Images

Australia has barred under-16s from 10 social media sites since last month with companies facing fines of up to 25m if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent children getting onto their platforms.

Writing in The Times, Lady Cass said: Consider nut allergies. When children died, their families demanded action to protect others.

We did not tell grieving parents we needed more data, or that causation wasnt conclusive, or that most children like nuts so we wouldnt act.

While Kemi Badenoch has committed a future Tory government to the Australian approach, Nigel Farage suggested on Sunday that Sir Keir should not introduce a ban before Australia demonstrated whether its scheme works.

In the Labour letter, which was organised by Fred Thomas, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, the MPs said: Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy, and unable to focus on learning. They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experiences that will prepare them for adulthood.

They added: Around the world, governments are recognising the severity of this crisis and taking action.

Noting existing or pending legislation in Australia, Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece, they said: We believe the onus must be placed on technology platforms, not parents, to prevent underage access. We would support a model similar to Australias that requires companies to take meaningful steps to enforce age limits.

They concluded: We urge the Government to show leadership on this issue by introducing a minimum age for social media access of 16 years old.

Signatories include Helen Hayes, the chair of the education select committee, and Florence Eshalomi, the chair of the housing and local government committee.

Others include Vicky Foxcroft, the former whip who helped lead the rebellion against the Governments proposed welfare cuts, and Catherine McKinnell, a former education minister. The letter has support from some on the Left of the party such as Richard Burgon, and on the Right such as the prominent blue Labour MP Jonathan Hinder.

On Sunday, Mr Farage said that he was generally not in favour of bans because they often failed to achieve their goals, citing the number of under-18s who drank alcohol.

But the Reform UK leader, who has previously called for the repeal of the dystopian Online Safety Act because of its impact on free speech, said: Let us see how the Australian experiment works out before acting.

He added: I am not very keen generally on banning things. My answer would be: Lets see where Australia is in six months time. Lets see whether this actually works.

We have laws about what age you can start drinking. Does that stop people drinking under the age of 18? I am not sure they do. I would say lets see the Australian experiment. Lets see how it works and lets then make our minds up.
Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall, a bargain-bin hedge knight whose ambition puts him on a collision course with the Targaryens - HBO

Game of Thrones (GoT) looked to have burnt itself out in an orgy of dreary dragon fire and tacky twists when George R R Martins hit fantasy series signed off with a dreadful final season in 2019. Yet US prestige-TV powerhouse HBO has stayed loyal to the franchise, and the enjoyably earnest latest Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Sky Atlantic), makes for an uncharacteristically heart-warming addition to this universe of mud-caked warriors and backstabbing royals.

Unlike the overwrought, undercooked finale of Game of Thrones, the new shows big innovation is to think small. Former Irish underage rugby international Peter Claffey is charmingly cloddish as underdog hero Ser Duncan the Tall. Hes a bargain-bin hedge knight whose lifelong dream is to hold his own in a tournament featuring Westeross greatest warriors. That ambition puts him on a collision course with the dastardly Targaryens  ancestors of Emilia Clarkes silver-wigged Princess Daenerys from GoT  but it also introduces him to shaven-headed 11-year-old squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).

An unlikely friendship forms between Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire Egg (Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell) - HBO

The two meet at an inn as Dunk heads to the grand tourney in Ashford Meadow  which sounds like a new housing estate crying out for an upgraded bus service and better amenities but is, in fact, deep in the south of Westeros, hundreds of miles from Jon Snows future frozen digs in the North.

Dunk requires an assistant. Egg needs someone to look out for him in a dangerous world. And so the unlikely odd couple team up, despite knowing little about each other. In Eggs case, there is much to know. His true identity is one of the bombshells delivered early in this six-part series (adapted from Martins novellas and filmed in Belfast and its environs). That revelation aside, the gently amiable show otherwise avoids the gimmicky surprises and shock deaths that ultimately turned Thrones into a slog.

What has any of this got to do with the events chronicled in Game of Thrones? Not much. The story takes place 70 years before Ned Stark lost his head and Daenerys found her dragons. Fire-breathing lizards are long gone from Westeros, and the tetchy Targaryens are uncontested rulers of Kings Landing.

Audiences loved Game of Thrones for its vast array of heroes and villains  likewise a feature of the other HBO spin-off, House of the Dragon. In A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the story is told almost entirely from Dunks perspective. Claffey is helped, however, by a stand-out supporting cast. They include Danny Webb as his old master (seen in flashbacks), Daniel Ings as a boozy royal from House Baratheon, and Bertie Carvel as that rare Targaryen with a moral compass.

With so much going for it, its disappointing that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms retains some of its parent series more tedious elements. It is burdened with an adolescent desire to shock  whether via an extended male full-frontal scene (HBO having gone all out on the prosthetic penis budget) or a stomach-turning sequence in which we see a man going to the bathroom. But once it gets these childish instincts  those Edgelord of the Rings vibes  out of its system, the series settles into a sweet depiction of an unlikely friendship. A feel-good Game of Thrones prequel? Scratch that one off your didnt see it coming list for 2026.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs weekly on Sky Atlantic/NOW from January 19 at 3am/9pm
BEIJING While China's government celebrates hitting its 5% economic growth target, a more ominous number just emerged: marriages plummeted 20% in 2024, the steepest single-year drop in modern history.

It's not just a statistic. It's 1.4 billion people watching their nation shrink in real-timeand an entire generation quietly saying "no thanks" to the life their parents lived.

The Number Beijing Doesn't Want You to See

China just reported its lowest birth rate since 1949: only 7.92 million babies born in 2025. The fertility rate dropped to 0.97 children per womana level demographers say China last saw in 1738, when the entire country had just 150 million people.

But here's what makes the marriage collapse more revealing: if young Chinese aren't even getting married, no government program will convince them to have children.

And they're not just delaying marriage. They're rejecting it entirely.

Why $500 Baby Bonuses Can't Fix This

Beijing's response has been tone-deaf at best, absurd at worst. Starting January 1st, the government introduced a 13% tax on condoms and birth control pills. Officials allocated $12.7 billion for childcare subsidies, offering families about $500 per child under three.

The math doesn't add up.

That condom tax? It adds maybe $20 annually to contraceptive costs. The baby bonus? A one-time $500 payment. Meanwhile, raising a child to age 18 in China costs an average of $77,000and far more in major cities.

In Shanghai or Beijing, young professionals face apartment prices 30-40 times their annual salary. Many work "996" schedules9am to 9pm, six days a week. Youth unemployment hovers around 15%.

The message to young Chinese is clear: we'll give you $500 to have a baby, but you're on your own for the other $76,500. Oh, and your condoms now cost an extra dollar.

"Lying Flat": When a Meme Becomes a Movement

The Chinese internet has a name for this generational shift: tang ping, or "lying flat"a philosophy of rejecting the relentless grind of career advancement, homeownership, and family obligations.

What started as online dark humor has become a lifestyle. The 20% marriage drop in 2024 suggests tang ping has gone mainstream.

Women, who now comprise a majority of university graduates, increasingly view marriage and motherhood as career killers. Men, facing cultural pressure to own property before proposing, find themselves priced out of the dating market entirely.

But economics only tells part of the story. Many young Chinese simply don't want the life script their parents followed. They've watched mothers sacrifice careers, fathers work to exhaustion, and siblings compete in a brutal education system where failure means social death.

The implicit contractwork hard, obey the rules, prosperfeels broken. So they're writing a new one.

The One-Child Policy's Brutal Irony

For four decades, China's one-child policy successfully drove fertility rates down from over seven children per woman in the 1960s to 1.5 by 2015. The policy worked because it aligned with broader forces: urbanization, rising education, economic modernization.

Now Beijing wants to reverse course. But here's the problem: those same forces are still in motion, and they don't run backward.

You can't un-educate women who've earned degrees and built careers. You can't un-modernize an economy that's moved from factories to services. You can't reverse the cultural shifts that come with prosperity.

China spent 40 years convincing people to have fewer children. It succeeded spectacularly. Now it faces what demographers call the "low-fertility trap"once birth rates fall below 1.4-1.5 children per woman, they almost never recover.

Every Country That's Tried This Has Failed

South Korea has spent over $200 billion since 2006 trying to boost births. Its fertility rate has dropped from 1.1 to 0.7now the world's lowest.

Singapore has tried everything: cash incentives, subsidized childcare, extended parental leave, even government-sponsored dating events and a viral Mentos ad campaign encouraging citizens to celebrate "National Night" and make patriotic babies.

Its fertility rate remains stuck at 1.2.

Japan, Italy, Spainevery wealthy country faces the same pattern. As nations modernize and educate women, people have fewer children. It's not a policy failure. It's a feature of modern life.

But China faces a unique crisis: it's getting old before getting rich. Most developed countries became wealthy first, then dealt with aging. China's demographic collapse is happening while it's still a middle-income country.

When the World's Factory Runs Out of Workers

Twenty-three percent of China's population is now over 60. The working-age population is shrinking even as Beijing tries to compete with the United States technologically and economically.

By 2100, China could lose half its population.

The implications are staggering. Pension systems already strain under the weight of too many retirees and too few workers. Tax revenues will decline. Economic growththe Communist Party's primary claim to legitimacyfaces structural headwinds that automation and AI might not offset.

Robots don't pay taxes. They don't buy apartments or cars. They don't fuel the domestic consumption China needs to escape the middle-income trap.

The Quiet Revolution Beijing Can't Stop

What makes this moment remarkable isn't just the scale of the crisisit's the agency young Chinese are exercising.

For decades, the government dictated family size. People complied. Now the government begs them to have more children. And they're refusing.

Not with protests or petitions. With personal choices. They're swiping left on dating apps. Prioritizing travel over homeownership. Building lives without marriage or children.

One 28-year-old woman in Shenzhen told local media: "My mother gave up her career to raise me. I watched her lose herself. Why would I do the same?"

A 32-year-old man in Beijing said: "I'd need to save for 40 years to afford an apartment. How am I supposed to support a family?"

These aren't isolated voices. They're a generation that's looked at the math of modern Chinese life and decided it doesn't add up.

The Policy Disconnect

If Beijing wanted to actually solve this crisis, it would need to tackle root causes: crushing housing costs, exploitative work culture, gender inequality in the workplace, the pressure-cooker education system that treats childhood as a competitive sport.

It would need to make life less exhausting and more rewarding.

Instead, it's taxing condoms and offering baby bonuses that wouldn't cover a year of diapers.

The disconnect would be funny if it weren't so consequential. China's leaders seem to genuinely believe this is a problem money can solvethat the right combination of subsidies and taxes will convince young people to embrace lives they've explicitly rejected.

They're wrong.

What This Means for the World

China's demographic collapse has global implications. It's the world's second-largest economy, its largest manufacturing hub, and a geopolitical rival to the United States and Europe.

A shrinking, aging China changes everything: global supply chains, military calculations, diplomatic power, economic forecasts.

India has already surpassed China as the world's most populous country. That transition, which happened in 2023, marks a shift in the global order that will define the 21st century.

But zoom out further, and China's crisis is a preview of what's coming for much of the world. Birth rates are falling across Asia, Europe, and even parts of the Americas. The forces driving China's declinemodernization, education, changing gender roles, economic pressureare global.

What's happening in China isn't an anomaly. It's a warning.

The Generation That Rewrote the Script

Twenty years ago, Chinese parents were limited to one child by law. Today, they're allowed threeand choosing zero.

That shift represents more than changing policy. It represents a fundamental renegotiation of the social contract between individuals and the state, between tradition and modernity, between the life you're supposed to want and the life you actually choose.

The marriage rate crashing 20% in a single year isn't just data. It's millions of people making a different choice.

Beijing can tax contraceptives, subsidize childcare, and plead with young couples to multiply. But it can't force people to want a future they've already rejected.

The quiet revolution is already underway. And no policy can stop it.

Key Stats You Need to Know
Hugh Hewitt, a conservative political commentator and radio host, claimed the Democratic Party has a Jewish problem on Monday, in response to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros recent admission that the Harris campaign asked him if he was a double agent for Israel.

In an excerpt of Shapiros upcoming memoir, published in the New York Times on Sunday, the governor revealed that the Harris campaign asked him the question and others like it while vetting him to be Vice President Kamala Harriss running mate.

Hewitt, who has long accused Democrats of being anti-religion in general, claimed on Fox Newss America Reports that Shapiros revelation means the entire Democratic Party doesnt like Jewish people

Its astonishing to me that the Democratic Party has a Jewish problem, Hewitt said, making a generalized statement.

They dont like them and the left wing is ascendant in the Democratic Party and its a burden that the Democratic Party candidates in 2028 are going to share with Governor Shapiro.

Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt theorized that the Harris campaign was trying to push Josh Shapiro off the presidential ticket by asking an offensive question (Fox News / America Reports)

In his book, Shapiro recounted how Harriss team focused on his views of Israel. In addition to asking if he was a double agent, a member of the Harris team also reportedly asked the governor if he had ever communicated with an undercover agent.

Hewitt explained that the question about a Jewish persons loyalty to Israel was a classic trope of the ancient evil  or the antisemitic conspiracy that all Jewish people are allied only to other Jewish people and thus cannot be trusted.

The recent disclosure has shocked political commentators and lawmakers.

Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer said if Shapiros recount is true, then the Harris campaign should explain why they asked the question.

That kind of insinuation and targeting is antisemitism, plain and simple. No one should be judged or discriminated against because of their faith. We must do better, Gottheimer said.

In his new memoir, Shapiro recounts the vetting process to join Harris campaign (Getty Images)

Shapiro, widely considered a Democratic presidential contender in 2028, says in his memoir that Harriss team brushed aside his remarks about the question being offensive.

Well, we have to ask, the questioner responded before continuing.

Shapiro was among three contenders to run alongside Harris in the election. Ultimately, Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, but some political commentators questioned whether Shapiro was not chosen because he was Jewish.

Hewitt told America Reports that he believes the team asked Shapiro the question knowing it would elicit a negative reaction.

 I think they were trying to drive Josh Shapiro off the ticket, Hewitt theorized.
Norways government has shared the prime ministers full exchange with Donald Trump after the US president suggested he was taking a more aggressive foreign policy stance with allies over Greenland after being overlooked for last years Nobel Peace Prize.

Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Stre wrote to Trump on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, referred to as Alex, according to the messages retrieved under the countrys freedom of information act on Monday.

He called on the US leader to de-escalate after threatening allies with tariffs for supporting Denmark amid a growing spat over the ownership of its territory, Greenland.

Trump responded sharply, telling the prime minister on Sunday that he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace after his country decided not to give him the Nobel Peace Prize. He claimed the world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.

Unexpectedly caught in the middle of the burgeoning crisis between Washington and Copenhagen, Norways prime minister insisted on Monday that he had repeatedly explained to Trump that an independent committee awards the prize, and not Norway itself.

Trump doubled down, telling NBC that Norway totally controls it despite what they say, vowing to follow through on plans to hit European nations with tariffs if a deal on Greenland cannot be reached. He refused to comment when asked whether he would use force to seize the allied territory.

Donald Trump has threatened allies over their support of Denmark (Getty)

Stres text in full, January 18 at 3:48 p.m. Oslo time (1448 GMT):

"Dear Mr President, dear Donald - on the contact across the Atlantic - on Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine - and your tariff announcement yesterday.

You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate - so much is happening around us where we need to stand together.

We are proposing a call with you later today - with both of us or separately - give us a hint of what you prefer! Best - Alex and Jonas"

Trumps reply in full, January 18 at 4:15 p.m. Oslo time (1515 GMT):

"Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.

Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.

I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT"
Cheap trick: Simon Calder at Magdeburg station in Germany, as part of his cheap and cheerful rail trek (Simon Calder)

Travellers who want to explore the largest country in central Europe in an affordable and sustainable way can sign up for a Deutschlandticket (Germany ticket).

For a price of 63 (55) per calendar month  or about 1.85 per day  you can travel anywhere in the country on all but the fastest trains. You could explore from the Baltic coast to the Black Forest; roam around the nation on some spectacular lines; and visit great cities such as Cologne, Munich and Berlin. The ticket also covers unlimited local transport. Think of it as an Interrail ticket for Germany  and, as with those unlimited pan-European travel passes, it does not include all fast trains.

Yet it also has the great advantage of not requiring any planning or buying individual tickets. Once you have the Deutschlandticket, you can hop on any (non-express) train, tram, bus or even ferry where they are part of the transport system, as in Hamburg.

The deal is aimed at people living in Germany on a subscription model, with auto-renewal each month  not ideal for occasional visitors. Happily, there is a straightforward way around the issue.

These are the key questions and answers.

What is the background?

As Germany emerged from the Covid pandemic, the government decided to get people moving again with an amazing 9-per-month unlimited travel promotion. In June, July and August 2023, it caught the public imagination  and also caused some significant overcrowding as travellers sought to benefit from the best transport deal in European history.

The pass has been brought back and the ticket is now seven times the original price  but that still represents outstanding value. You can save money on a simple journey from Berlin to Erfurt and back.

Worth the Erfurt: just on a round-trip from Berlin to this handsome city you can save with a Deutchlandticket (Simon Calder)

So how do I get one?

You can buy a Deutschlandticket only during the first 10 days of the month for which you need it  ie any time from 12.01am German time on 1 April, to 11.59pm on 10 April, and in following months.

The ticket is valid through the month in which you buy it. If your planned journey straddles two calendar months, you will need to buy two consecutive tickets (the second one, while you are in Germany).

For people from outside Germany the best source of the Deutschlandticket, I believe, is the transport organisation based in Bremen: Verkehrsverbund Bremen/Niedersachsen (VBN).

Dont worry  no need to type that into a computer. Just search online for FahrPlaner (yes, only one n in the name). Tap Tickets and then select Deutschlandticket. A few more taps and some personal data, plus credit card details, and you will be sent your ticket.

On completion of the transaction, VBN says: "From now on, you will automatically receive a new ticket every month.

But I dont want an open-ended subscription 

Relax. You can expect within minutes to get an email reading: If you would like to cancel your Deutschlandticket at the next possible date, please use the following link.

The link says CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION in big letters. Once completed you should get a confirmation email reassuring you that no further payments will be taken.

How slow are the trains?

This not a deal for people in a hurry since the Deutschlandticket does not allow travel on the fastest IC/ICE (InterCity/InterCityExpress) trains. But if you are prepared to make do with slower InterRegonal Expresses (IRE) and local trains, you can travel thousands of miles for only dozens of pounds.

Between Frankfurt and Hamburg, the fastest ICE trains take 3h35m. The fastest journey for Deutschland ticket holders is more than twice as long, with three changes of train.

Yet you can accelerate your journey with judicious use of cheap FlixTrains  for example, covering the ground from Berlin to Hamburg in two hours for just 12.50 (10.50) if you book in advance. That will halve the journey and give you more time for exploration.

Beyond Germany ...?

The ticket extends to stations just across the border in neighbouring countries:

Austria (Salzburg)

Denmark (Tnder)

France (Lauterbourg)

Poland (Swinoujscie)

Switzerland (Basel).

Is this the best travel deal in Europe?

Not quite. Luxembourg abolished all public transport fares five years ago. But Germanys offer certainly beats other major countries.
Cold temperatures are set to hit the UK next week, which could see snow fall in the capital.

Sleet and snow are expected to arrive in London across five days next week from January 27 until February 1.

The BBC has predicted wintry showers will fall on Tuesday, starting at around 6am, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

It will average around 6C with nighttime temperatures dropping to 1C, so its unlikely the snow will stick.

A chart from WX shows snow - represented by the colour purple - moving from the north of the UK on January 27. The darker the shading the more likely it is that snow will fall.

A woman covers her face from the cold as she walks through falling snow in London (PA Wire)

The BBC has forecast wintry showers for next week (BBC)

London is lightly shaded, suggesting about 0.1mm of snowfall per hour.

In the UKs long range weather forecast, the Met Office said that between Friday, January 23, and Sunday, February 1: The UK will see a battle between Atlantic weather systems attempting to push in from the west while high pressure and colder, drier conditions attempt to exert some influence from the east.

Initially, milder Atlantic air is expected to dominate for most parts, with showers or longer spells of rain.

Temperatures are likely to be around or a little above average, except in the far northeast where it is likely to be colder with some sleet or snow.

There is then an increased chance that conditions will turn more widely colder and drier.

The purple areas on this map indicate where snow may fall (WXCHARTS.COM)

This aspect of the forecast is still somewhat uncertain but the potential transition to colder weather also increases the chance of snow across parts of the country.

Snow can be variable across London due to temperature differences. Even a small change in degrees will influence whether snow or rain falls in your area, so predicting snow across the capital is difficult.

Weather expert Ian Currie told MyLondon: Snow is very dependant on the height of where you are. For every 50 feet, 15 metres or so, you get higher up there is an increased likelihood of an extra day of snow.

Out by Biggin Hill there is much more chance of getting snow than Streatham or Tooting for example.

We're talking about very dynamic, complex systems. A weather front could be thousands and thousands of miles away, but if it arrives just a little bit off the predicted path, the weather can be totally different.
Gold and silver prices have jumped to record highs as the markets react to Donald Trumps threat of additional tariffs over Greenland.

European stock markets fell on Monday as investors turned to safe-haven assets amid the turbulent geopolitical landscape. Meanwhile, gold rose 1.6 per cent to $4,666 (3,481.14) an ounce after reaching a peak at $4,689 (3,498.30). Silver also reached a record high of $94.08 (70.19) an ounce before falling back down to $93.15 (69.50).

It comes after the US president threatened additional tariffs on eight European countries as his attempts to claim Greenland intensify. On Saturday, Mr Trump said he could impose 10 per cent tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland until the US is allowed to buy the Danish territory.

Gold and silver prices have jumped to record highs (AFP/Getty)

Stock markets across Europe fell upon opening on Monday morning as investors reacted to the threats. In France, the Cac 40 fell 1.6 per cent, Germanys Dax was down 1.4 per cent, and Spains Ibex also fell by nearly 1 per cent.

US markets remain closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day, but American stocks listed in Europe also fell. Nvidia and Microsoft were both down 2.2 per cent, while shares in Google owner Alphabet fell 2.4 per cent.

On Saturday, Mr Trump said 10 per cent tariffs would come into effect on 1 February, and would increase to 25 per cent on 1 June.

Greenland is very important for the national security, including of Denmark, he said last week. And the problem is theres not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but theres everything we can do. You found that out last week with Venezuela.

Protests have been held in Greenland over Donald Trumps advances (AP)

Targeted European countries retaliated in a joint statement, warning of a dangerous downward spiral should Mr Trump get his wishes.

Speaking on Monday morning, Sir Keir Starmer slammed Mr Trumps threats as completely wrong as he issued a plea for calm.

The European Union is now also preparing to land the US with hefty retaliatory tariffs worth 93bn ($107.71bn or around 80bn), according to the Financial Times. The bloc is also considering restricting US companies from its market.

In the joint statement, the eight countries made clear their full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.
Gordon Elliott could skip the Dublin Racing Festival in favour of a maiden hurdle with his exciting novice El Cairos.

Bought out of the David Maxwell dispersal sale for 410,000 in October, he was on the way to opening his account over hurdles at the first attempt at Leopardstown over Christmas when he stumbled and fell after jumping the last flight.

Fifth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and second at the Punchestown Festival for previous connections, Elliott has him entered in a Grade One at Leopardstown but could keep things low-key for now.

Im not saying hes not going to go, but I wouldnt be shocked if he goes for a maiden hurdle on the Monday or Tuesday after Leopardstown, said Elliott.

I always feel that a horse who had a fall like that, to go straight into Grade One company, if they jump slow at one or two its all over, so he could go for a maiden and then to the Supreme Novices.

He did a serious bit of work the other day, he was going to win well at Leopardstown and he was just unlucky.

El Cairos had been ante-post favourite for the Supreme before Nicky Hendersons Old Park Star impressed at Haydock on Saturday.

Another missing the DRF is Honesty Policy, narrowly beaten in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on his only run so far this season.

He might go for the Boyne Hurdle at Navan if its not bottomless ground and then on to the Stayers at Cheltenham, said Elliott.

He came out of Ascot very well. If there was a race at the DRF Id love to be going there with him, but there isnt so well either go to the Boyne or straight to Cheltenham.

As for 2024 Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe, Elliott is hoping to spark him back to life back over smaller obstacles after a lacklustre return from injury over Christmas in the Savills Chase.

He said: Hes going to run in the Galmoy and wear cheekpieces. He seems well at home and hes in good form but the ground was good at Leopardstown and Jack (Kennedy) just thought he backed off a little bit.

I told him not to knock him about and hes come out of the race fine, he had a full MOT at the vets so well go back over hurdles and see if we can get his spark back. Whether hes still going to be a Gold Cup horse or not I dont know, or an English National horse down the road.

Wodhooh is heading straight to Cheltenham for the Mares Hurdle while Oldschool Outlaw, who beat Bambino Fever, will contest the Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Bass Hunter could divert to a Listed event at Newbury on February 7 after being ruled out of Windsors valuable bumper during the Winter Million weekend.

Chris Gordons five-year-old already secured Listed honours when winning at Ascot before Christmas, establishing himself as one of the UKs leading bumper performers.

After a planned outing at Windsor on Sunday was scuppered, the William Hill More Top Prices Beacons Bumper has come into range before a run at one of the spring festivals.

He just got cast in his box and obviously that ruled Windsor out, but hes A1 and were thinking of the Listed race at Newbury on February 7, said Gordon

We might have a little penalty and as you can see hes a big horse and a little bit weak, so I wouldnt mind some better ground for him.

At Ascot, it was quite soft ground that day and he was tying up in front a little bit, so I wouldnt want to run him on anything like that again really.

Bass Hunter is as short as 12-1 for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and having assessed the division ahead of a possible outing at Prestbury Park, Gordon is inclined to aim high with his exciting prospect.

He added: Im really keen on Cheltenham or Aintree for him and at this time of year, normally one or two of Nickys (Henderson) have bolted up or one of Paul (Nicholls) or Dans (Skelton) and there has been very few Ive seen bolt up.

Im not sure what the Irish have but from what Ive seen over here, I think we would certainly have to have that as the aim.
Starmer addresses the Greenland crisis at a media briefing in Downing Street - Tolga Akmen/EPA/Shutterstock

Greenland should be allowed to decide its own future, Sir Keir Starmer told a hastily arranged news conference in Downing Street.

Arguably his statement should have been made in parliament given its importance to the countrys alliance with the United States and the potential impact on the economy. This tendency to by-pass the Commons needs to be resisted.

The Prime Minister said the threat to impose tariffs on countries questioning the American claim on Greenland was wrong but he wanted a pragmatic resolution. Does that mean he will not join the EU in a tit-for-tat tariff war with the US? Since we do not have to adopt Europes position it is better that we do not, though do not expect Sir Keir to acknowledge the freedom for manoeuvre Brexit allows him.

Moreover, those who say the Greenland crisis points to the need for the UK to get closer to the EU should be careful what they wish for.

It is also not for the EU to dictate to Greenland  the first country to vote to leave the bloc in 1982  what to do next. The former Danish colony was fully integrated with the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953 without the residents being properly consulted. This makes the moral position of the Danes and their allies hard to sustain.

Greenland is largely self-governing and has the legal right to declare full independence through a referendum, a move supported as an aspiration by most political parties. A 2025 poll showed that 84 per cent of Greenlanders would support independence, dependent on economic viability. It is not inconceivable that offered statehood with America and money Greenlanders would yield to Donald Trump. But it must be for them to decide.

There might be scope for an agreement if we were dealing with a rational actor in the US president, who has bizarrely linked his claim on Greenland to being denied the Nobel Peace Prize by Norway. Mr Trump will be in Davos this week attending the World Economic Forum along with other leaders who might try to steer him away from provoking a trade war and wrecking the Nato alliance.

Sir Keir is not planning to attend but perhaps he should since his relationship with the capricious president is better than most. The Prime Minister said he did not believe President Trump is planning to use force to take Greenland. Let us hope not. The moment he does Nato is dead.
A woman takes part in a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, on Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy, January 16, 2026. REUTERS/Yara Nardi (REUTERS)

Iranian state television satellite transmissions were reportedly disrupted by hackers early Monday, who broadcast footage supporting the country's exiled crown prince and urged security forces not to "point your weapons at the people". This cyberattack marks the latest disruption amid ongoing nationwide protests.

The hacking incident coincides with a brutal crackdown by authorities, which activists claim has resulted in at least 3,919 deaths. There are growing fears that this figure could significantly increase as information slowly emerges from a country where the government has imposed a severe internet shutdown.

Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions between the United States and Iran remain heightened following the crackdown. Donald Trump previously outlined two "red lines" for the Islamic Republic: the killing of peaceful protesters and the execution of large numbers of demonstrators. In a related development, a US aircraft carrier, recently in the South China Sea, was observed passing Singapore overnight into the Strait of Malacca, placing it on a potential route towards the Middle East.

A woman crosses an intersection in downtown Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The footage aired Sunday night across multiple channels broadcast by satellite from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the country's state broadcaster which has a monopoly on television and radio broadcasting. The video aired two clips of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, then included footage of security forces and others in what appeared to be Iranian police uniforms. It claimed without offering evidence others had laid down their weapons and swore an oath of allegiance to the people.

This is a message to the army and security forces, one graphic read. Don't point your weapons at the people. Join the nation for the freedom of Iran.

The semiofficial Fars news agency, believed to be close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, quoted a statement from the state broadcaster acknowledging that the signal in some areas of the country was momentarily disrupted by an unknown source. It did not discuss what had been aired.

A statement from Pahlavi's office acknowledged the disruption that showed the crown prince. It did not respond to questions from The Associated Press about the hack.

I have a special message for the military. You are the national army of Iran, not the Islamic Republic army, Pahlavi said in the hacked broadcast. You have a duty to protect your own lives. You dont have much time left. Join the people as soon as possible.

Social media footage shared abroad, possibly from those with Starlink satellites to get around the internet shutdown, showed the hack in progress across multiple channels. Pahlavi's campaign also shared the footage.

Sunday's hack isn't the first to see Iranian airwaves disrupted. In 1986, The Washington Post reported that the CIA supplied the princes allies a miniaturized television transmitter for an 11-minute clandestine broadcast to Iran by Pahlavi that pirated the signal of two stations in the Islamic Republic.

In 2022, multiple channels aired footage showing leaders from the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and a graphic calling for the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pahlavis father, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fled Iran ahead of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, the son, urged protesters onto the streets Jan. 8 as Iranian authorities shut down the internet and drastically intensified their crackdown.

How much support Pahlavi has inside of Iran remains an open question, though there have been pro-shah cries at the demonstrations.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, seen from U.S. Naval Base Guam in December 2025 (U.S. Navy)

As tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington, ship-tracking data analyzed by the AP on Monday showed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, as well as other American military vessels, in the Strait of Malacca after passing Singapore on a route that could take them to the Middle East.

The Lincoln had been in the South China Sea with its strike group as a deterrent to China over tensions with Taiwan. Tracking data showed that the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., the USS Michael Murphy and the USS Spruance, all Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, were traveling with the Lincoln through the strait.

Multiple U.S. media reports quoting anonymous officials have said the Lincoln, which has its homeport in San Diego, was on its way to the Mideast. It likely would still need several days of travel before its aircraft would be in range of the region. The Mideast has been without an aircraft carrier group or an amphibious ready group, likely complicating any discussion of a military operation targeting Iran given Gulf Arab states' broad opposition to such an attack.

In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a meeting, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

The death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency put the death toll Sunday to at least 3,919 people killed, warning it likely would go higher.

The agency has been accurate throughout the years of demonstrations and unrest in Iran, relying on a network of activists inside the country that confirms all reported fatalities. The AP has been unable to independently confirm the toll.

Iranian officials have not given a clear death toll, although on Saturday, Khamenei said the protests had left several thousand people dead and blamed the United States for the deaths. It was the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties from the wave of protests that began Dec. 28 over Irans ailing economy.
Row of traditional terraced houses in Leyton, East London, England (VictorHuang via Getty Images)

Newly agreed rents across Britain dipped by 0.7% in 2025 to an average 1,371 per month, according to Hamptons latest letting index.

This marked the first time rents fell over a full calendar year since Hamptons' records began in 2011.

The estate agent said that by the end of 2025, five of 11 regions in Great Britain recorded falling rents, compared with none at the end of 2024.

London recorded the largest falls in newly agreed rents, according to the research, published on Monday. Hamptons' index showed newly agreed rents in London fell 2.7%, or by 63, over the course of 2025 to an average 2,294, taking rents back to levels in June 2023.

By December, Hamptons said that rents were also falling in the South East, East Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber and in Wales.

Meanwhile, the East of England, South West and Scotland saw growth below 1% in 2025. Hamptons said that their current trajectory suggested that these regions could also fall into negative territory in early 2026.

Read more: First-time buyers save an average of 22,900 by negotiating prices

Other findings from the latest research included that stock levels of rental property ended the year 6% higher than in December 2024, though the number of homes available to rent was only 8% below 2019 levels. Hamptons said that December's increase in stock primarily reflects weaker demand from renters rather than a jump in new landlord purchases.

In addition, Hamptons' research found that just 10.9% of properties in Great Britain bought by landlords in 2025, down from 12% in the previous year.

Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, said: "On paper, 2025 looked like a good year for tenants. Rents on new lets ended 2025 lower than they started, and tenants had more choice than before.

"However, falling rents were driven more by strong first-time buyer numbers and wider economic weakness than by improved tenant affordability," she said. "Fewer tenants are taking their first step into the rental market, with many staying at home longer and being reluctant to commit to the cost of renting a place of their own."

Read more: Everything you need to know about second charge mortgages

Beveridge said that implementation of the Renters Rights Act in May, which bans offers above the asking rent, could mean that "agreed rents and advertised rents may start to rise at different rates".

"The block on landlords accepting a price above what they asked for is likely to push up advertised rents, with more tenants making offers below the higher asking price instead," she said. "However, at least initially, it is unlikely to impact the values actually being achieved."

Read more:

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA)  The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Sunday announced the commencement of meetings on the security and economic tracks within the structured dialogue process
Harry Potter fans could be in with a chance of winning a full set of the novels signed by 12 stars of the film adaptations in a charity prize draw.

The set of seven books has been signed by some of the franchises biggest names, including Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, and Ralph Fiennes, who starred as Lord Voldemort, in a prize draw raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK and organised in memory of Alan Rickman, who died 10 years ago.

Rickman, who portrayed potions master Severus Snape in all eight films in the series, died aged 69 of the disease in 2016, six months after his diagnosis.

Alan Rickman died six months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (Yui Mok/PA) (Yui Mok)

Alan was a wonderful actor, an incredibly kind man, and, through Harry Potter in particular, he was loved by millions of people all over the world. But he meant even more to me, said his wife Rima Horton, who is a trustee of the charity.

The news he had pancreatic cancer was sudden, and a complete shock to us both. Ten years later other families are still receiving that devastating diagnosis, and today the disease is still the deadliest common cancer.

It doesnt have to be that way, and Alan wouldnt want us to give up.

Around 10,800 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer across the UK each year.

But Pancreatic Cancer said vague symptoms  such as back pain, tummy pain and indigestion  mean that in four out of five cases the cancer goes undetected until it has spread to other parts of the body.

Fans can be in with a chance of winning the set of seven hardback books, also signed by Dame Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Sir Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart) and Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), by buying a ticket for the draw for a minimum 5 donation to the charity.

Stars Dame Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge), Jim Broadbent (Professor Slughorn), Miriam Margolyes (Professor Sprout), Jason Issacs (Lucius Malfoy), Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter) and Fiona Shaw (Petunia Dursley) have also signed the books.

The money raised will help the charity fund more research and continue to support those affected by the disease through its free, confidential support line staffed by specialist nurses.

Ms Horton added: With more funding, more research and more awareness, in future, many more people will have a chance to survive. Thats why Im incredibly grateful to all of the cast who have signed the books, and to all those who I hope will enter the draw and try to win this truly special prize.

Together we will write a better next chapter for everyone affected by pancreatic cancer.

One lucky entrant will win the seven books which have been signed by stars of the Harry Potter films (Jeff Moore/Pancreatic Cancer UK/PA)

Diana Jupp, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: Alans performances as Professor Snape are treasured by generations of film fans. We hope the enduring love of the books he helped bring to life on screen will inspire people to help us change the story around the deadliest common cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is uniquely devastating and, by the time it is detected, tragically there can be very little time left for people to even make more precious memories. Families are often left with only hope to hold on to, and they deserve more.

We are determined to bring more breakthroughs through research, drive more change through campaigning, and provide more expert compassionate support through our specialist nurses.

Every ticket purchased for the prize draw will help power this work and brings us closer to desperately needed progress.

The prize draw will run until Sunday March 1, after which one lucky person will win the complete set of signed books.

To enter, visit: uk.givergy.com/harry-potter-prize-draw/
What caused the Spain train crash? Track fault highlighted in investigation after 41 killed

At least 41 people were killed and dozens more injured after two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain on Sunday evening.

The crash happened at 7.45pm local time near Adamuz, a town of about 5,000 people in the province of Cordoba, according to Spains interior ministry.

The tail end of a train run by private high-speed rail operator Iryo, travelling from Malaga to Madrid, was derailed and jumped onto an adjacent track, where it smashed into an oncoming Renfe service travelling from Madrid to Huelva, a municipality in Spain. Renfe is Spain's national state-owned railway company.

Follow the latest updates about the crash here

Broken windows of a crashed train are photographed at the site of a train collision in Adamuz, southern Spain, Monday, 19 January 2026 (AP)

Spanish state-owned rail operator Adif said the Iryo train derailed first and crashed into the second train, pushing it off the tracks and down a railway embankment.

The death toll has climbed to 41 after another body was recovered overnight. Juan Manuel Moreno, head of the regional government of Andalusia, said that it could take another 48 hours to know with certainty how many deaths have resulted from this terrible accident.

Twelve remain in intensive care after the accident near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360km south of Madrid, according to emergency services.

A total of 43 missing-person reports have been filed so far at police headquarters in Huelva, Madrid, Malaga, Cordoba, and Seville, officials said.

It makes it one of the worst railway accidents in Europe in 80 years.

Cranes are being used to continue rescue efforts as another body was discovered overnight (Reuters)

Spains transport minister Oscar Puente said the incident was really strange, noting that it occurred on a straight stretch of track that had been renewed in May.

The high-speed Frecciarossa 1000 train operated by Iryo was carrying around 300 passengers, according to officials.

The Renfe-operated Madrid-Huelva Alvia train had between 100 and 200 passengers on board, with authorities later saying the worst damage occurred in its first two carriages.

Mapped: Two trains collide and derail in south of Spain (Independent)

The Renfe train was travelling at around 200kmph at the time of impact, El Pais reported. It was unclear how fast the Iryo train was moving when the accident happened.

Mr Puente said the rear section of the Iryo train derailed, while the front section of the Renfe one took the full impact of the collision and plunged several metres down the embankment.

Experts on site identified wear on the joint between sections of the rail, known as a fishplate, which they said showed the fault had been there for some time, a source briefed on the preliminary probe told Reuters.

They found that the faulty joint created a gap between the rail sections that widened as trains continued to travel on the track, but an official reason is yet to be confirmed.

The source, who declined to be identified, said technicians believe the faulty joint and the creation of the ensuing gap is key to identifying the precise cause of the deadly incident.

At least 41 people have been killed in the incident (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

It has also emerged that train drivers union SEMAF had written to rail operator ADIF in August to warn about severe wear and tear on high-speed rail tracks, claiming their concerns had been overlooked.

The union had cautioned ADIF about potholes, bumps and imbalances in overhead power lines that it said were causing frequent breakdowns and damaging trains.

Juanma Moreno, regional president of Andalusia, said at least 75 people were hospitalised, including 15 in serious condition.

Mr Moreno warned early on that the death toll could rise as daylight allowed rescuers to fully access the wreckage.

El Pais reported that the 27-year-old driver of the MadridHuelva train was among those killed.

Footage shows emergency workers at the scene in Adamuz (@eleanorinthesky/AFP)

Emergency services worked through the night under floodlights in cold conditions, with temperatures dropping to around 6C.

Mr Moreno said on Tuesday that emergency crews had faced difficulties bringing in the heavy equipment needed to lift the wreckage and reach those still lying beneath it.

The train collision on Sunday occurred in a hilly, olive-growing region accessible only by a single-track road, making it difficult for ambulances to reach the area, the national emergency director at the Spanish Red Cross told Reuters.

Earlier, video footage shared on social media showed rescuers pulling passengers from twisted carriages, while others escaped by climbing through smashed windows or were wheeled away on stretchers.

Cordoba fire chief Paco Carmona said the Renfe train carriages were mangled, with twisted metal and seats making access difficult.

People wait behind a police cordon at the scene of the crash (Reuters)

Journalist Salvador Jimenez, who was travelling on the Iryo train, said the moment of impact felt like an earthquake, adding that passengers used emergency hammers to break windows and escape.

Mr Puente said the cause of the derailment is not yet known, adding that an inquiry could take up to a month.

He described the crash as unusual because it occurred on flat track, not a curve, and involved a train less than four years old.

Ignacio Barron, head of Spain's Commission of Investigation of Rail Accidents, says investigators are looking into the interaction between the train and the stretch of track in question as they narrow down on the cause of the deadly crash.

A survivor being taken away to receive treatment (Reuters)

Speaking to RTVE, Barron said: "What always plays a part in a derailment is the interaction between the track and the vehicle, and that is what the commission is currently (looking into)."

The president of Renfe ruled out the possibility of human error or excessive speed as the cause. The speed limit on the track is 250kmph while the trains were travelling at 110kmph and 200kmph when they collided.

Renfe said the derailment was caused by the Iryo train entering its path, while Iryo said it deeply regretted the incident and was cooperating fully with authorities. Rail services between Madrid and Andalusia were suspended, with Adif saying they would not resume until safety checks were completed.

Prime minister Pedro Sanchez said: Tonight is one of deep sadness for our country.

Spain has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, with more than 3,100km of track, and the system is widely regarded as safe.

The country;s worst rail disaster this century occurred in 2013, when 80 people were killed after a train derailed in Galicia while travelling at excessive speed.
Prince Harry is in London all week to attend the High Court trial against Associated Newspapers - BROOK MITCHELL

Prince Harry strolled rather nonchalantly into Court 76 of the High Court moments before 10.30am.

If the consequences of this high-stakes, high-profile legal battle against the publisher of the Daily Mail weighed heavily on his shoulders, he certainly didnt show it.

The Prince, by now all too familiar with courtroom surroundings, barely glanced around amid a brief kerfuffle about where he was supposed to sit. No thought, it appeared, had been given to the claimants attendance.

The gentle hubbub that had enveloped the modern courtroom, where six long rows of smartly dressed lawyers, solicitors and journalists sat shoulder to shoulder, gave way to hushed silence.

Prince Harry, dressed in a navy suit and accompanied by two members of his private security team as well as his PR manager, stood for a few moments, fiddling with his shirt, before taking his seat between two young solicitors in the third row.

Liz Hurley had earlier sashayed into the courtroom accompanied by her 23-year-old son, Damien. The glamorous pair turned a few heads as they were directed to their seats in the second row of the court.

Behind them, Sadie Frost, sporting a smart, dyed bob, and Sir Simon Hughes, the former Lib Dem MP, took their seats on either side of the Prince, members of their legal team sandwiched between them.

Court artist sketch of (L-R) Sir Simon Hughes, the Duke of Sussex, Elizabeth Hurley, Damian Hurley and barrister David Sherborne - Elizabeth Cook

Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish were following proceedings via the remote video link. There was no immediate sign of the seventh claimant, Baroness Lawrence.

Bang on 10.30am, Mr Justice Nicklin swept into the courtroom looking rather jolly, prompting David Sherborne, for the claimants  dressed in his trademark, tightly-fitted black suit  to leap to his feet.

The barristers had previously agreed not to wear the traditional gowns and wigs  apparently the preference of Antony White KC for Associated  and had received no objection from the judge.

My Lord, I appear for the claimants, alongside Ben Hamer, Luke Browne and Hector Penny, Mr Sherborne began.

This is the trial of the action brought by seven different claimants in six different claims against Associated Newspapers Limited for misuse of private information, and in the case of Ms Lawrence, breach of confidence.

The barrister quickly set out his claim. A known performer who relishes the spotlight, he rattled through the main points of his case in trademark punchy sound bites.

There had been, he alleged, clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering at both the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday that involved every significant editorial desk.

Hurley and son Damian turned heads as they sashayed into the High Court - Jeff Moore

Mr Sherborne noted that at the 2011-12 Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, Associated had emphatically denied any unlawful acts, its position clear and unequivocal.

In short, they swore that they were a clean ship, he said, before insisting this was not the case. They knew they had skeletons in their closet, he went on.

Harry sat back in his chair, a slight frown on his face, listening intently. He occasionally leaned forward to tap something on his phone and appeared to be following along closely as various documents flashed up on the screen before him.

In front of him, model Damien had shrugged off his brown woollen coat to reveal a tight, sheer top. He kept on his black scarf as he occasionally raked a hand through a coiffed bouffant that put Mr Sherbornes famed locks to shame, chewing his fingers.

Sir Simon sat forward, resting his head in a hand, scribbling notes while the petite Ms Frost appeared occasionally bored as she flicked through paperwork and fiddled with her phone. A bottle of water and lip balm were among the contents of her handbag spilt out on the desk before her.

Mr Sherborne went on, alleging a mass destruction of emails, resulting in masses upon masses of missing documents and accusing the publisher of mounting a hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil defence.

Victory for the claimants, he suggested, would be catastrophic for the influential newspaper group.

As the barrister talked, barely pausing for breath, Harry struck up a rapport with the young member of his legal team to his left, occasionally whispering the odd observation and sharing a smile.

At the heart of the claimants case are the tactics employed by an array of private investigators, whose work Mr Sherborne described in forensic detail.

As the morning wore on, Sir Simons head seemed to sink further into his hand, while Damien Hurley took to scribbling something with a Biro. The packed courtroom, devoid of fresh air, felt increasingly stifled. Prince Harry sipped his water.

Sadie Frost is another celebrity taking legal action against the newspaper - Wiktor Szymanowicz

Mr Sherborne, whose opening statement is expected to last well into Tuesday, ploughed on.

Please tell me if Im going too fast, he told the bespectacled judge as he directed him to endless numbered paragraphs buried in lengthy electronic documents: If you could just look at bundle F, tab three

It looks a little bit like Minority Report, he joked at one point, referring to Steven Spielbergs science fiction film, gesturing to the multiple computer screens positioned before the judge on his podium.

Are you able to have more than one screen?

Harry didnt flinch as the barrister moved on to discuss stories concerning his relationship with Chelsy Davy, his former girlfriend, reading out emails concerning various flight details and hotel bills.

During the brief breaks, he exchanged quick words with both Ms Frost and Sir Simon.

An apparent request to delay the afternoon session due to the absence of Ms Hurley and her son went unheeded, forcing the pair to scurry in moments later, when Mr Sherborne was already back on his feet.

Towards the end of the afternoon, Imran Khan, Baroness Lawrences solicitor, arrived in court, giving a genial nod to Prince Harry as he took a seat at the back.

Journalists, meanwhile, combed through written submissions lodged by both sides  Associateds robust defence stretching to 458 pages, and the claimants, a relatively concise 180.

It has been more than three years since these claims were first lodged with the court.

The judges cheerful demeanour perhaps reflected his relief that the nine-week, 38.8m trial was finally under way. Whether spirits remain upbeat remains to be seen.

The Duke waved to reporters as he left the Royal Courts of Justice at the end of the first day of the trial.

Associated Newspapers is a subsidiary of Daily Mail and General Trust, Lord Rothermeres holding company, which has agreed to acquire The Telegraph for 500m. The proposed takeover is expected to face regulatory scrutiny over the coming weeks.
An immersive art installation, Helios, has brought a touch of the sun to Bristol's Jubilee Swimming Pool, offering a unique winter experience.

Created by acclaimed artist Luke Jerram, the five-metre diameter sculpture, weighing approximately 50 kilogrammes, is a stunning representation of our star.

It was meticulously crafted from over 400,000 high-resolution photographs of the Suns surface and Nasa observational data.

Named after the ancient Greek mythological god personifying the Sun, Helios will be suspended metres above the pool for three weeks, casting its radiant glow and reflections across the water.

People dive into the water beneath Helios (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Jerram, known for accessible public art, expressed his enthusiasm: "I like creating artwork that brings people together and theres something nice about using a community space like this thats accessible to everybody. For me thats really important."

From Monday 19 January until Sunday 8 February, regular pool-goers and visitors are invited to view the installation and even swim beneath it, with additional late-night sessions scheduled.

Julie Laming, chairwoman of trustees at Jubilee Pool, highlighted the significance of the event: "This is the first time Helios has been suspended over a swimming pool, let alone at a much-loved indoor pool approaching its 90th anniversary. We are thrilled and proud to be hosting such an exciting and unique event Bristol."

Artist Luke Jerram with 'Helios' (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Beyond its artistic merit, Jerram hopes the installation will attract a significant number of visitors, potentially contributing to funding solar panels for Jubilee Pools roof and supporting its transition towards a greener future.

He added: "Its also that opportunity in the middle of winter, when its so dark and cold outside, to come here and have a swim underneath the sun. A bit of sunbathing is probably what we will need this time of year."

Following its Bristol debut, Helios is set to travel to Manchester, then Borneo in Southeast Asia, before returning to London and finally heading to the US later this year.

People get ready for a swim beneath Helios (Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

This latest work adds to Jerrams impressive portfolio, having celebrated 1,000 exhibitions in over 50 countries worldwide this month, including permanent museum displays and public artworks like Palm Temple on The University of Bristol campus.
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died aged 93, his foundation said.

The co-founder of the luxury fashion house and brand Valentino died on Monday surrounded by his loved ones at his residence in Rome, a statement shared on Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation Instagram account said.

The designer, known for his statement Valentino Red shade, shaped high fashion throughout the late 20th century after launching his brand in 1960, with royals, first ladies and Hollywood stars going on to wear his brand including Diana, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Taylor and former US first lady Jacqueline Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

In a post shared on Monday, his foundation announced that Valentino will be lying in state at the foundations headquarters on Piazza Mignanelli on Wednesday January 21 and Thursday January 22.

The funeral service will take place the following day, Friday January 23, at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs in Romes Piazza della Repubblica.

Known universally by his first name, Valentino was born in 1932 in Voghera, Lombardy, and studied fashion in Paris before co-founding the fashion house with businessman Giammetti in 1960.

By 1968 he had been chosen by the former US first lady to design the high neck lace gown she wore for her wedding to her second husband, Aristotle Onassis.

The couturier went on to dress the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, with fellow actresses Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren also among his high-status clients.

His dresses became red carpet favourites for Hollywood stars, with gowns worn by Sharon Stone, Anne Hathaway and notably Julia Roberts, who wore a black and white vintage Valentino gown to the 2001 Oscars where she won the best actress award for legal drama Erin Brockovich.

Valentino Garavani attending the Zoolander 2 UK premiere, held at the Empire, Leicester Square, London (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

Cate Blanchett also wore a buttermilk yellow Valentino gown at the 2005 Oscars where she took home the best supporting actress award for her role in The Aviator.

His work and influence on the fashion industry was recognised in 2006 when he received the Legion dhonneur, Frances highest honour.

The designer announced his retirement in 2007, two months after hosting a lavish three-day celebration in Rome to mark 45 years in the fashion industry which drew a huge celebrity turnout.

Prior to his departure he starred in the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor which captured his final few years at the helm of the brand.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to the designer in a post on X and said: Valentino, undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian high fashion.

Today Italy loses a legend, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything.

Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow also paid tribute to the designer in a post shared on Instagram and said the news feels like the end of an era.

She said: I was so lucky to know and love Valentino  to know the real man, in private.

The man who was in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends. His dogs, his gardens, and a good Hollywood story.

I loved him so much. I loved how he always pestered me to at least wear a little mascara when I came to dinner. I loved his naughty laugh.

This feels like the end of an era. He will be deeply missed by me and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Vava.

Paltrow wore a Valentino dress for her wedding to Brad Falchuk in 2018 as well as at the 2013 Met Gala where she wore a bright pink long-sleeved gown.
Josh Shapiro was one of the candidates considered by Kamala Harriss team for her pick for vice-president in 2024 - Hannah Beier

Kamala Harriss team asked Josh Shapiro if he was an Israeli double agent while vetting him to become her running mate, Mr Shapiro has claimed.

The Pennsylvania governor, who is Jewish, was among a handful of candidates vetted by Ms Harriss team while she was choosing her pick for vice-president in the 2024 election.

Mr Shapiro, a critic of anti-Semitism on university campuses, said he was asked unnecessarily contentious questions on his links to Israel during interviews.

One question he said he was asked during an interview with Dana Remus, a former Biden aide, was: Have you ever been an agent of the Israeli government?

Writing in his book Where We Keep the Light, Mr Shapiro said: Had I been a double agent for Israel? Was she kidding? I told her how offensive the question was.

Josh Shapiro and Kamala Harris in Philadelphia in July 2024 - Kevin Mohatt/Reuters

Mr Shapiro also claims Ms Remus asked him whether he had ever communicated with an undercover agent of Israel, according to the New York Times.

If they were undercover, I responded, how the hell would I know? Mr Shapiro said.

The Democrat said he was told by the team that we have to ask. The governor wrote that he understood Ms Remus was just doing her job, but the questions said a lot about some of the people around the VP [vice-president].

I wondered whether these questions were being posed to just me  the only Jewish guy in the running  or if everyone who had not held a federal office was being grilled about Israel in the same way, he wrote.

On April 13, the Pennsylvania governors home was firebombed on the Jewish holiday of passover while Mr Shapiro and his family slept.

Cody Balmer climbed over the fence of the residence, broke a window with a small sledgehammer and hurled a Molotov cocktail inside, according to prosecutors.

After the attack, Balmer called 911, identified himself and confessed, allegedly telling the dispatcher that Mr Shapiro needs to know that he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.

Damage caused by the arson attack on Mr Shapiros house - Anadolu

Balmer pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated arson, arson and the attempted murder of Shapiro, and was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.

In her book 107 Days, Ms Harris wrote of a nagging concern that Mr Shapiro would be unable to settle for a role as number two should she have selected him as her running mate.

She also claimed Mr Shapiro had already begun thinking about how to decorate the vice-presidents residence with the works of Pennsylvania artists.

Mr Shapiro described her account as blatant lies.

Ms Harris went on to choose Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor, as her running mate in her unsuccessful bid for president.

Ms Harriss team were approached for comment.
Keir Starmer has played down the prospect of retaliatory tariffs on the US, after Donald Trump threatened to impose fresh levies against Nato allies if a deal over Greenland is not reached.

The prime minister said US tariffs would damage the British economy and were in no ones interests, despite growing pressure domestically to take a more forceful response. The UK would prefer a calm discussion with allies, he added.

However, Downing Street sources suggested Starmer was not yet at the stage of ruling out tariffs completely, and would assess the situation as it developed.

The UK government is preparing for the possibility of a taxpayer-funded support package to try to shield British businesses in the event that the US pushes ahead with its threats next month.

At an emergency press conference on Monday morning, Starmer told reporters: Threatening tariffs on allies is the wrong thing to do, completely wrong  A tariff war isnt in anybodys interests.

Therefore what I want to do is to avoid a tariff war, because it will be businesses, workers and families across the country that will be hit by a trade war.

Asked directly whether he would impose tariffs in return, he added: We have not got to that stage, and my focus therefore is making sure we dont get to that stage.

Starmer said he was determined to find a pragmatic, sensible and sustained route through the row, adding: I dont want to lose sight of the central goal here, which is to avoid the seriousness that a trade war would bring.

The business secretary, Peter Kyle, told Channel 4 News he had already spoken to Jaguar Land Rover about the tariff threats. I am always open to conversation about how we can support them  support them in their hour of need, support them when they have opportunities, he said.

Trump has shown no sign of backing down from his bombshell threats at the weekend to hit the UK and seven other European countries with a 10% levy on goods exports from 1 February, rising to 25% by June.

Related: Starmers calm diplomacy makes mistake of assuming Trump is a sentient being | John Crace

In a telephone interview with NBC on Monday, the US president declined to comment on whether he would rule out seizing Greenland by force, insisting he would 100% push ahead with his tariff plans.

In an extraordinary text message sent on Sunday to the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Stre, he suggested his threat was partly down to being snubbed for the Nobel peace prize.

Despite Trumps belligerent rhetoric, Starmer said he did not think the US president was genuinely considering taking military action in Greenland. I think that this can be resolved, and should be resolved, through calm discussion, he added.

Answering questions after his brief speech, the prime minister repeatedly stressed what he said was the vital importance of US cooperation in areas such as intelligence and the nuclear deterrent, as well as on Ukraine.

The last thing that we should do is to simply throw all that away and pretend that it doesnt matter any more. It does matter, but we dont do that by pretending we havent got differences, he said.

No 10 is keeping a close eye on public opinion, recognising that many people would prefer the prime minister to move on from his serious, pragmatic approach towards Trumps increasingly erratic outbursts.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, urged the government to change course as Trump was acting like an international gangster over Greenland. Senior Conservative MP Simon Hoare said it was time for the government to fight fire with fire.

A YouGov poll on Monday found that two-thirds of Britons would support placing tariffs on American goods imported to the UK if Trump delivers on his threat.

Starmer defended his diplomatic approach to Trump, but suggested he did understand why Britons might see attempts to cooperate with Trump as pointless.

Alliances endure because theyre built on respect and partnership, not pressure, he said. Strong, respectful alliances require the maturity to say where we disagree, and on this we disagree, and Ive been clear about that.

I completely understand why what President Trump said about tariffs over the weekend has been so badly received in this country.

Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, told MPs later the threat of tariffs against allies in this way was completely wrong. It is unwarranted and it is counter-productive, she added.

Instead of divisions that only aid our adversaries, we now need a serious and constructive dialogue about our Arctic security, she said. Both sides of the Atlantic should be working together on Arctic security, not moving apart.
Children aged under 16 face being banned from social media under plans announced by Sir Keir Starmer.

Labour is to consult on proposals for an Australian-style ban on under-16s using websites such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, with a final decision to be taken this summer.

Facing growing demands from Labour backbenchers and parents to curtail teenagers mobile use, Sir Keir also pledged to ensure all schools are phone-free by default, and to provide official guidance for parents on screen-time limits for children up to the age of 16 and on potential curfews for social-media use.

Tech companies could also be forced to block or limit addictive features that keep children online, such as streaks  which encourage users to log on every day  and infinite scrolling.

Speaking on Monday, the Prime Minister said: We need to do more to protect children. Thats why we are looking at a range of options and saying no options are off the table.

Downing Street has previously indicated that it would prefer to wait until there was more evidence on the effectiveness of the Australian ban before making a decision.

However, Sir Keir has faced a growing backlash, with more than 60 Labour MPs urging the Government to follow the Australian model.

Peers are also expected on Wednesday to back an amendment in the House of Lords instituting a ban, which would then force the Governments hand when it comes back to the Commons. It is estimated that as many as 70 per cent of Labour MPs would support an Australian-style crackdown.

Kemi Badenoch has also committed a future Tory government to banning under-16s from social media, although Nigel Farage said the Government should not introduce one before it was clear if the Australian scheme worked.

Australia has barred under-16s from 10 social media sites since last month, with the companies facing fines of up to 25m if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent children using their platforms.

Labours consultation will seek views from parents, young people and civil society. More than 40 child protection charities and online safety groups issued a statement at the weekend opposing a ban on the basis that there could be unintended consequences that could put children at greater risk of harm.

Ministers will visit Australia to assess the evidence first-hand before any decision is taken.

A ban could be implemented by raising the digital age of consent from 13 to 16, which would mean tech firms would have to take all reasonable steps to block childrens access until then.

b'

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Government experts will investigate ways to improve the accuracy of age checks to ensure effective enforcement of any ban. Other options will include curfews on childrens access to social media at the traditional watershed of 10pm and two-hour limits on access to apps.

Labour will issue guidance requiring schools to be phone free throughout the day by banning pupils access to devices during lessons, break times, lunch times or between lessons.

Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, said: We have been clear that mobile phones have no place in our schools but now were going further through tougher guidance and stronger enforcement. Mobile phones have no place in schools. No ifs, no buts.

Ofsted inspections will take account of how effectively schools implement phone bans.

Nearly all schools have mobile phone policies but 58 per cent of secondary pupils have reported phones being used without permission in at least some lessons, rising to 65 per cent for sixth-formers.

Tech companies could be required by law to remove or limit functions which drive addictive or compulsive use of social media, such as infinite scrolling, where new content is added to the bottom of a page continuously, so a user never runs out of posts.

The Government has already committed to guidance for parents of under-fives on how to limit their screen time, but will now extend that to children up to 16.

Liz Kendall, the Technology Secretary, said the Online Safety Act was never meant to be the end point.

She said: We know parents still have serious concerns. That is why I am prepared to take further action.

Campaign groups opposing a ban, including the NSPCC, fear it could drive children to riskier sites; create a cliff edge at 16 where children without any experience of navigating the online world suddenly have to cope with its pressures; and deprive vulnerable or lonely youngsters of a safe means to socialise online.

Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly took her life after being bombarded with self-harm and suicide content online, warned that a ban would ease the regulatory pressure on social media firms to ensure their products were safe for all children, irrespective of their age.
Paramilitaries were responsible for the vast majority of the deaths during the Troubles - Paul McErlane/AP Photo

More than 3,500 people lost their lives in the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Among them were almost 2,000 civilians and more than 1,100 members of our brave security forces. Paramilitaries of both sides were responsible for the vast majority of the deaths.

Today, close to a third of the killings remain unsolved and too many families still do not know exactly what happened to their loved ones. They have waited decades for the truth, with trust ebbing away, as legal processes faltered, stalled and ultimately failed them.

The previous governments legacy legislation was undeliverable. It was rejected by our domestic courts and it was wrong in principle to attempt to give immunity to terrorists.

Tomorrow I will be asking the House of Commons to endorse a remedial order to remove indefensible and legally defective provisions from the Legacy Act. This will provide confidence and clarity for families and veterans on two issues.

First, the Legacy Act removed the right of UK citizens to pursue Troubles-related civil cases, effectively blocking those affected by terrorist attacks on UK soil from seeking justice for what happened to them, their family or a loved one. This was simply wrong.

On Monday it was incorrectly stated in these pages that 800 civil cases will be reactivated by the Government, resulting in our veterans being dragged into the courts. This is simply untrue.

Almost 800 live civil cases continued unaffected by the last governments Legacy Act. The legislation sought only to block any new claims, but this was rejected by our courts. And in practice Northern Ireland veterans rarely appear before the civil courts.

Civil cases have long been a means by which people can pursue action against the state. And they have also enabled truth and accountability for victims of terrorist atrocities including the Omagh bombing. Indeed, in the coming months Gerry Adams will face trial in a civil case brought by victims of the Old Bailey, Manchester and Docklands bombings.

It cannot be right to remove citizens ability to bring such actions.

Second, the Legacy Act proposed granting immunity, including to terrorists. This was abhorrent to the victims and survivors of terrorist violence and was rejected across communities in Northern Ireland. With the passage of time the prospect of prosecutions is diminishing, but the vast majority of those since the Good Friday Agreement have been for terrorist offences.

In the end, the immunity scheme was never commenced and then the courts intervened. So nobody ever claimed immunity, but it has created enormous legal uncertainty for families and also for our veterans because the protection supposedly offered by the Legacy Act for them turned out to be a mirage.

Let me be clear. There never has been and never will be any moral equivalence between our Armed Forces  who laid down their lives for this nation  and terrorist organisations.

In taking forward the replacement legislation that is now necessary, I am working closely with the Defence Secretary and Armed Forces minister.

A reformed Legacy Commission will enable families and victims of violence to seek answers. It will benefit, for the first time, from information shared by the Irish authorities, which could help solve murders that happened on UK soil, including the murders of members of our Armed Forces.

In our frequent discussions with those who served, they have been clear that they do not ask to be placed above the law. Our veterans understand the responsibility that comes with the uniform they have worn.

What they are asking for, and what they deserve, is a system that is fair and based on the rule of law. We are listening to them and will continue to do so.

And we are putting in place new and effective protections for our Northern Ireland veterans and former security personnel. These include an end to non-essential repeat investigations, an end to veterans travelling to Northern Ireland to share information and an end to cold calling or the unexpected knock at the door.

Since it was signed in 1998, the Good Friday Agreement has been a beacon of hope. But the issue of legacy remains unresolved. It is right that we debate the way forward but it must be on the basis of the facts.

There is now a legal necessity to legislate, and we must ensure we put in place a system that is fair, proportionate and deliverable for veterans.

Hilary Benn is Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Firefighters went through the wreckage following the collision and derailment of two high-speed trains near Adamuz, in Cordoba - Susana Vera/Reuters

A collision between two high-speed trains in Spain on Sunday has left 39 people dead.

The disaster struck in the evening when a service travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed, crossing onto the other track where an oncoming train crashed into it and also derailed.

Spain is reeling from the collision that also left 152 people injured, with the prime minister lamenting a night of deep pain.

Transport minister Oscar Puente told reporters that 30 people were rushed to hospital in a serious condition, adding that all of the injured had been evacuated to receive care.

Rail operator Iryo said around 300 people were on board its Malaga-Madrid service when it crashed near Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 223 miles south of Madrid.

Pictures taken on Monday morning revealed the devastation of Sundays deadly derailment - Susana Vera/Reuters

The other train, coming from Madrid to Huelva, was carrying some 200 passengers, according to rail operator Adif.

The twisted state of the train carriages hampered the frantic work of emergency services to rescue passengers from the wreckage.

The problem is that the carriages are twisted, so the metal is twisted with the people inside, Francisco Carmona, Cordobas fire chief, told public broadcaster RTVE.

We have even had to remove a dead person to be able to reach someone alive. It is hard, tricky work, he added.

Some of the carriages had tumbled down a four-metre embankment, Antonio Sanz, the Andalusian health minister, said at a press conference.

The crash has left officials baffled. The disaster took place on a straight part of the track, Mr Puente said, adding that the first train to derail was practically new, making the incident extremely strange.

A person was taken for treatment after the derailment in the town of Adamuz - Alex Gallegos/Reuters

The twisted state of the wrecked train carriages complicated the rescue efforts - @eleanorinthesky via X/EPA/Shutterstock

Rescue workers helped passengers climb out of the mangled carriages - Reuters/@eleanorinthesky via X

The track area where the derailment took place was supposedly in perfect condition, having recently received an investment of more than 700 million euros (608m) for renovations which were completed in May, Mr Puente said.

Like an earthquake

Passengers on board the two trains described a sudden impact with shaking like an earthquake, then the screams of people around them.

There are many injured. I am still trembling, Maria San Jose, 33, who was travelling on the train from Malaga to Madrid that derailed first, told El Pais.

And lots of banging, banging, suitcases started falling, and banging until the train stopped. We thought it had been a derailment, but when we got out we saw the twisted carriages and two carriages from the other train overturned.

An ambulance crew transported an injured passenger away from the scene in Adamuz - Europa Press

Ambulances gathered at the Puerta de Atocha train station in Madrid - Shutterstock

A passenger on the second train who gave only her first name as Montse, told Spanish public television that the train, with a jolt, came to a complete stop, and everything went dark.

She described being thrown around in the last carriage and seeing luggage tumble on other passengers.

The attendant behind me hit her head and was bleeding. There were children crying, she added. Luckily, I was in the last car. I feel like I was given a second chance at life.

Lucas Meriako, who was travelling on the first train that derailed, told La Sexta television that it looked like a horror movie.

We felt a very strong hit from behind and the feeling that the whole train was about to collapse, break... there were many injured due to the glass, he said.

High-speed services between Madrid and the Andalusian cities of Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and Huelva were suspended for the entirety of Monday at least, Adif announced.

Relatives of victims arrived seeking information about the derailment at Huelva train station - Alberto Diaz/EPA/Shutterstock

Train delays and cancellations have hit Spains rail network after the derailment - Ana Beltran

Adif said spaces had been set up at stations in Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Huelva to assist the relatives of victims.

The defence ministry said it was sending around 40 members of its emergencies military unit and some 15 vehicles to the site of the incident.

Night of deep pain

Today is a night of deep pain for our country owing to the tragic rail accident in Adamuz, prime minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on X.

No words can alleviate such great suffering, but I want them to know that the whole country is by their side in this tough moment, he added.

The royal palace said on X that Spains King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were following the news with great concern, offering our most heartfelt condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the dead, as well as our love and wishes for a swift recovery to the injured.

French president Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen were among the world leaders offering condolences.

Spain boasts Europes largest high-speed rail network, with more than 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) of dedicated tracks connecting major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and Malaga.

In 2013, a high-speed train derailment outside the north-western city of Santiago de Compostela killed 80 people and injured more than 140  Spains deadliest such tragedy since 1944.
Georgia health officials are warning parents as measles cases in South Carolina have surged to 558, nearly doubling in the past week.

South Carolina reported 124 new measles cases since Tuesday, bringing the state's total to 558 in an outbreak that has been spreading since October. The outbreak remains centered around Spartanburg County, with 531 people currently in quarantine and 85 in isolation. Health officials expect quarantine periods to end on February 16.

Cases Spreading Across State Lines

Doctors across Georgia are expressing concern about the outbreak spreading beyond South Carolina's borders. "I think we will see more deaths among kids, which is just tragic," said Dr. Giridhar Mallya, a public health physician with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Georgia has already reported its first measles case of 2026, involving an unvaccinated infant in the Savannah area who was too young to receive the vaccine, according to Fox5 Atlanta.

The South Carolina outbreak has spread to other states, including North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington. Three children in Washington were diagnosed after direct contact with a family that visited from South Carolina during the holidays. Eight cases have been reported in North Carolina since December, with seven linked to the South Carolina outbreak.

Most cases in South Carolina involve unvaccinated children. Of the 558 patients, 483 were unvaccinated, six were partially vaccinated with one MMR dose, 13 were fully vaccinated, and 56 had unknown vaccination status. The majority of infections are in children aged five to 17, followed by those under five years old.

State epidemiologist Linda Bell expressed concern about declining vaccination rates in certain South Carolina schools, which have fallen to as low as 20 percent. Health officials stress that the MMR vaccine is highly effective, with two doses providing 96 percent protection against measles, Reuters reported.

Understanding Measles Transmission and Prevention

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, spreading through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Up to nine out of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to the virus will become infected.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Serious complications can include pneumonia and encephalitis, which can cause hearing loss, brain damage, and death.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children receive their first MMR vaccine dose between 12 and 15 months of age, with a second dose between four and six years. Georgia health officials urge parents with questions about vaccines to consult their physicians rather than relying on social media.

People with measles symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately and should not visit medical facilities without calling ahead, as per the Georgia DPH.
On the third Monday of January each year, the United States pauses to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honouring the civil rights icon.

It was in 1963 that Dr. King delivered his seminal "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, a location he chose partly to honour Abraham Lincoln, describing him as "a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today."

Today, millions across federal, state, and local governments, institutions, and industries recognise the day, which falls close to King's 15 January birthday.

While for many it signifies a welcome day off from work or school, King's family and those committed to his enduring legacy of equality, justice, and non-violent protest advocate for a more profound observance. They urge Americans to remember that the holiday's true purpose is rooted in helping others and furthering the ideals he championed.

While it is now a time-honored tradition, the establishment of the holiday had a prolonged, difficult path to acceptance.

How the idea for MLK day began

The idea to establish a national holiday for the civil rights icon arose as the nation was plunged into grief.

Rev. Martin Luther King speaks at a civil rights rally at the Lincoln Memorial August 28, 1963 in Washington (National Archives/Newsmakers)

U.S. Democratic Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, one of the longest-serving members of Congress known for his liberal stance on civil rights, proposed legislation to recognize King four days after his assassination outside a motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968.

Supporters knew it would not be easy. King, who was 39 years old at the time, was a polarizing figure to half the country even before his death, said Lerone Martin, director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University.

Polls conducted by the Washington Post and the New York Times indicated most Americans did not trust King or thought he was too radical because of his speeches on poverty, housing and against the Vietnam War.

People say that King is moving too fast after 1965 and basically Hey, you got the Voting Rights bill done. Thats enough,' Martin said.

The Congressional Black Caucus, founded by Conyers, tried to bring the legislation up for a vote for the next 15 years. Among the Republican rebuttals  public holidays don't apply to private citizens, King was a communist or King was a womanizer.

In the meantime, his widow, Coretta Scott King, kept lobbying for it. Musician Stevie Wonder even released a song, Happy Birthday, to rally support.

So, what changed?

By the 1980s, the social and cultural climate in the U.S. had shifted and the public was reflecting on racial progress, Martin said. Most Americans now were also regretting the Vietnam War. Supporters, meanwhile, were still calling for federal holiday status.

In 1983, about 20 years after Kings I Have a Dream speech, legislation for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday of January cleared Congress and President Ronald Reagan signed it.

States held back as activists stepped up

Reagan's signing did not lead other Republicans to follow. It would be 17 more years until all 50 states observed it. Most of the foot-dragging came from the South  except for Arizona. Then in 1987, Gov. Evan Mecham rescinded his predecessor's executive order enacting a state holiday in Arizona.

He said Black people dont need a holiday. Y'all need jobs,' recalled Dr. Warren H. Stewart Sr., senior pastor at First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix. That started the war.

Stewart launched a group to lead "people of all colors and all persuasions, faiths and parties" in protest marches. Entertainers including Wonder canceled Arizona events. Companies moved conventions. The tipping point was the loss of hosting the Super Bowl. In 1992, Arizona became the first state where voter initiative reinstated the King holiday.

Supporters took a victory lap the next MLK Day with a packed arena concert attended by Wonder and other artists. Even Rosa Parks was there. Stewart remembers speaking to the crowd.

What I said there  and it still applies today  we've won the holiday but the holiday is a symbol of liberty and justice for all and we must move from symbol to substance, he said.

South Carolina was the final holdout until 2000. But, it was without the backing of the civil rights groups because it also allowed for a Confederate Memorial Day.

A day on, not a day off

Martin Luther King Jr. Day's reach has only grown in its 42 years.

It's the only federal holiday where you take a day on, not a day off." In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed into law Congressman John Lewis and Sen. Harris Wofford's legislation making it a National Day of Service.

Just about every major city and suburb has some revelry the weekend before, including parades, street festivals and concerts. The various service projects run the gamut  community clean-up, packing food boxes, donating blood.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency that deploys volunteers to serve communities around the nation, has distributed $1.5 million in grants to 200 nonprofits, faith-based groups and other organizations for projects. CEO Michael Smith estimates there have been hundreds of projects involving hundreds of thousands of people for MLK day in recent years. Engagement seems to be expanding.

You know, any given day I see another project that has nothing to do with us, said Smith, who has served in President Joe Biden's administration. What's so important about the King holiday is not only the service that's going to happen, but how it creates a spark for people to think about how maybe they're going to serve all year long.

That's something King's daughter, the Rev. Bernice King and CEO of the King Center in Atlanta, desires as well. She wishes people would do more than quote King, which we love to do. They need to do good work and commit daily to embrace the spirit of nonviolence.

Martin also thinks it's important to learn about the man himself. He finds excitement in seeing people read or hear about the Nobel Peace Prize winner. But, nothing compares to taking in King's own writings such as his 1963 Letter from the Birmingham Jail," he added.

We can arm ourselves with his ideals," Martin said. "We can continue to have a conversation with him  not just on one day but actually throughout the year.
Mapped: Every country Trump has attacked or threatened from Iraq to Greenland in a year of America First

When US president Donald Trump began his second term in office, it was on the promise of putting America first.

For many of his MAGA supporters, that meant rejecting interventionist policies that had overextended the countrys military commitments across the globe.

His National Security Strategy, published last year, promised that the affairs of other countries are our concern only if their activities directly threaten our interests.

But since his return last January, the US commander-in-chief has pursued an aggressive foreign policy, greenlighting military strikes on multiple countries, seizing oil tankers and overseeing the shock overnight capture of Nicolas Maduro that led to the decapitation of the Venezuelan government.

Like many US presidents before him, Donald Trump has launched multiple strikes in Africa and the Middle East - but now he is turning his attention elsewhere (The Independent)

Other targets have included Iran, Iraq and Somalia, among others. Trump is far from the only US president to launch military action in the Middle East - Biden, Obama, Clinton, both Bushes, and Reagan have all done so over the last 50 years. The US also has a long-running history of intervention in Latin American countries.

However, it is Trumps ongoing threats to take Greenland, a Nato territory, that is causing particular concern across Europe now.

The larger picture of Trumps foreign policy is one of transactional disruption rather than strategic leadership, Aurelien Colson, academic director at the ESSEC Business School Institute for Geopolitics & Business, told The Independent.

Colson says that Trumps National Security Strategy exposed his intent to undermine the EU as a political and strategic actor. The document claimed that the continent was facing civilisational erasure.

The so-called Donroe Doctrine openly revives a logic of spheres of influence, he explains. Trump joked that the Monroe Doctrine  associated with exerting control over the Western hemisphere and warning about a Europeanisation of America  could now be dubbed the Donroe Doctrine, a clear indication of his intentions.

US President Donald Trump had promised that the affairs of other countries are our concern only if their activities directly threaten our interests (PA Wire)

But, while Trump has made some historic statements and carried out unprecedented military action, Colson says that much of his behaviour can be interpreted as bluster.

Trumps moves are driven less by coherent geopolitical objectives than by a mix of narcissistic posturing (which even his own administration finds difficulties to cope with), domestic political signalling, and personal financial interests: from his admiration for strongmen to policies that align with opaque business networks, including crypto-financial channels, he says.

What he appears to seek is not a stable international order, but a world in which power is personalised, deals are opaque, and loyalty matters more than rules. The consequences are deeply negative, of course, for the world order, and for specific states such as Ukraine, but also for the USA: alliances are weakened, American credibility eroded, and strategic rivals emboldened.

Colson explains: Far from America First, the outcome is increasingly America Isolated: mistrusted by partners and progressively less able to shape the rules of the international system it once led - to its own benefit.

Below The Independent looks at the countries where Trump has taken military action in the last 12 months, and where he could strike next.

Somalia: Targeting Isis and al-Shabab

The US says its strikes on Somalia are against Isis - but Trump has also verbally attacked the countrys citizens

In February last year, 10 days after his inauguration, Trump launched a series of military strikes against Isis key figures in Somalia.

The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians. Our Military has targeted this Isis Attack Planner for years, but Biden and his cronies wouldnt act quickly enough to get the job done. I did! Trump said.

The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!

Further attacks on Isis, and the Islamist paramilitary group al-Shabab, were launched in January this year.

According to think tank, New America, Trump has so far launched 135 strikes in the country in his second term, more than the entire Bush Jr, Obama and Biden presidencies combined.

Meanwhile, Somalia has become a lightning rod for MAGA Republicans, with Trump calling the country a hell hole and repeatedly attacking Somali immigrants in the US as garbage who contribute nothing, comments that have sparked widespread backlash.

Iraq: Hunting down Isis figureheads

Trump greets troops at the Al-Udeid air base southwest of Doha in May (AFP/Getty)

The US conducted several counterterrorism operations against Isis in Iraq in March 2025. Trump praised the operation as an example of peace through strength.

According to the US CENTCOM, the precision airstrike killed Isiss second-in-command, Abdallah Abu Khadijah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.

Posting the update on X with a portrait picture of himself, Trump wrote at the time: Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters. His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!

The operations were a continuation of an ongoing campaign of targeting ISIS in Iraq, begun during President Barack Obamas tenure in 2014, and dubbed Operation Inherent Resolve.

Yemen: Retaliation for Red Sea ship attacks

Houthi supporters protest against the US and Israel in Sana'a, Yemen, in March 2025 (AP)

Trump launched bombings against Yemens Houthi rebels in March 2025 after a wave of attacks by the group against ships in the Red Sea that were in response to Israels war in Gaza.

The United States is reported to have carried out more than 1,100 strikes, killed hundreds of Houthi fighters, and spent more than $1 billion over the 52-day campaign, officials told the New York Times.

Despite the bombardment, rebels began attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea again in July.

The Iran-backed group captured and sank a Greek-owned bulk carrier named Magic Seas using drones, missiles, and rocket-propelled grenades, forcing its 22 crew members to abandon ship.

The next day, the Houthis sank another Greek-operated vessel called Eternity C, leaving at least four dead and 15 missing.

Iran: Strikes on nuclear facilities

Iranians burn a US flag as they take part in a funeral ceremony for Iranian army generals, nuclear scientists and their family members who were killed in Israeli strikes in Tehran (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

In June last year, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Iran was violating its non-proliferation commitments and had enough enriched uranium to potentially develop nine nuclear bombs.

Within days, Israel launched airstrikes on Irans nuclear facilities and the so-called Twelve Day War began. Iran launched a wave of missile and drone strikes in response.

On June 22, the US intervened and launched a series of bombing raids on Irans nuclear sites.

We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, the president wrote on Truth Social. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.

A ceasefire was agreed the next day, but tensions between the US and Iran resumed in January this year after widespread protests across the country that prompted a ruthless government crackdown, with human rights groups warning of thousands dead.

Trump, backing the anti-regime protesters, warned repeatedly he would take action against Iran if the killings continued. However, after considering multiple options to respond to the crisis including sanctions and cyber attacks, Trump has yet to launch further military strikes on Tehran.

Venezuela: Drug trade, regime change and oil

Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives at a heliport in midtown Manhattan (Reuters)

The US began attacking alleged narco-terrorist boats off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela in September 2025, which later expanded to the Pacific Ocean.

The administration claimed it was taking action to stem the flow of drugs into the United States, with Trump accusing Venezuelas then president of being a top-level member of drug cartel, Cartel de los Soles.

At least 123 people are reported to have been killed in the operations, which UN and legal experts criticised for being extrajudicial killings.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 American troops were stationed near the country as Trump reportedly gave Maduro an ultimatum to surrender.

Then, on 3 January, US special forces raided Maduros residence in Caracas in Operation Absolute Resolve. Maduro was removed from office and extradited to the US to appear in a New York court to face criminal charges.

Trump officials have said the US is not at war with Venezuela and that it is not planning any further military action, though the president also said, we're not afraid of boots on the ground.

In the days after the raid, Trump announced the US would be taking over sales of Venezuelan crude oil across the globe and said the government in Caracas was providing Washington with between 30 and 50 million barrels of formerly sanctioned oil to sell.

Syria: Retaliation for US deaths

A US airman preparing an A-10 Thunderbolt II in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria

US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Hawkeye Strike against Isis in Syria, in coordination with Jordan, on 19 December 2025. The most recent attacks took place earlier this month.

The operation was a direct response to the killing of two US soldiers and a civilian US interpreter.

Three additional US military personnel and two members of Syrias security services were injured in the attacks. Trump blamed Isis for the attacks, but Syrian officials said the attacker was a disgruntled member of the security services facing dismissal over allegations of holding extremist views.

An unnamed US official told CNN that the January operation had launched 90 precision munitions at more than 35 targets, using over two dozen aircraft.

Earlier operations took place in November, with the US military joining the Syrian armed forces to destroy 15 Isis weapons caches in southern Syria.

Nigeria: Protecting Christians

Residents inspect the damage after US forces launched a strike against Islamic State militants in Nigeria (REUTERS)

On Christmas Day 2025, Trump ordered strikes against Isis targets in Nigeria after he accused the group of targeting Christians. The US military confirmed multiple fatalities after camps in Sokoto state near the border with Niger were hit during the strikes.

US secretary of defense Pete Hegseth said of the attacks: The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight  on Christmas.

He added: Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas! He then warned: "More to come" Trump said that the attacks were powerful and deadly and at levels not seen for many years, even centuries!

A defense department official told The Independent that the strikes had been carried out with the knowledge and cooperation of the Nigerian government.

Could Cuba, Colombia or Mexico follow Venezuela?

Trump has been at odds with Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum (AFP/Getty)

Mexico has long been a target of Trumps anger with the president blaming their government for failing to deal with drug cartels and preventing the flow of migrants across the border.

He warned the country, which has been led by left-wing president Claudia Sheinbaum since October 2024, has to get their act together or were going to have to do something.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said in January that he believes Cuba is in a lot of trouble following the capture of Maduro, a key ally.

Im not going to talk to you about what our future steps are going to be and our policies are going to be right now in this regard, Rubio told NBC. But I dont think its any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime, who, by the way, are the ones that were propping up Maduro.

Trump also warned Colombian president Gustavo Petro  one of his fiercest critics on the international stage  that the South American country could be his next target.

Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and hes not going to be doing it very long, he told reporters while on board Air Force One.

Greenland and brewing tensions with Nato

People protest against Trump's policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 17 (AP)

Trump has had his sights set on purchasing the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland since 2019, but has ramped up his rhetoric in recent weeks and refused to rule out military action.

The president argues it is vital to ensure the national security of the United States and to prevent the island falling into the hands of Russia or China.

However, his threats have sparked backlash from Nato allies and European leaders amid fears Trump could fracture the long-standing alliance and play right into Vladimir Putins hands.

Denmark and the US have agreed to set up a working group to discuss ways to resolve their differences, but Trump remains adamant that anything less than US control is unacceptable.

Tensions have continued to mount throughout January, with European troops from Germany, France and Sweden deployed to the region, and Trump threatening tariffs against any country that stands in his way.

Canada: No military threats yet for Trumps 51st state

President Trump is reportedly taking aim at Canada and expressing concern about its 'vulnerability' to adversaries (Getty Images)

In December 2024, Trump began to tease that some of his supporters had expressed support for Canada to be annexed into the United States.

He had threatened to impose tariffs on Canada unless it increased its military spending and fortified its border security.

The president ruled out the use of military force to annex Canada, but said he would use economic force instead.

He has continued to reiterate his desire to annex the country throughout his second term in office, claiming it should become the the 51st state of the US.

Nevertheless, his comments on Canada have sparked a furious backlash in the country and even sparked a boycott of American products.

A poll conducted by Angus Reid poll last October suggested nearly half of Canadians (46 per cent) want their government to approach the US as an "enemy or potential threat".
Ten Air Canada passengers skipped immigration and customs at Ottawa airport after they were misdirected straight toward the exit.

Air Canada flight 1413 landed in Ottawa just before 8pm on Sunday, 11 January, after a three-hour flight from Cancun, Mexico, with 192 passengers onboard.

Passengers entering Canada usually go through a border checkpoint to have their passports and travel documents examined and to declare any goods before heading to the baggage claim.

For 10 passengers, however, entering Canada was a lot quicker than usual when they mistakenly skipped immigration and customs after being led through a swing gate.

Heather Badenoch told Canadian broadcaster CBC that she was among the travellers who were misdirected.

"I remember as we were exiting through the double doors, the person in front of me turned to me and said, Does this seem right?'" she said.

"Then we were down the escalator, and I didnt have any checked bags, and so I was tired and eager to get home and left.

Travellers entering Canada are required to submit a declaration either in advance or at kiosks at the arrival airport, explaining their travel plans to Canadian officials.

Ms Badenoch said she did not submit a declaration, nor did she pass through immigration, and instead ended up fast-tracking to the baggage claim area.

Air Canada said that passengers on the flight were inadvertently misdirected when leaving the aircraft at the gate and were not directed to the Canada Border Services Agencys (CBSA) inspection hall at the Ottawa airport.

The airline said that once the error was discovered, staff contacted the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and most customers were redirected to the customs hall.

A spokesperson confirmed, however, that 10 passengers were not properly processed by customs and said that the airline is working to contact those individuals.

Ms Badenoch said on Saturday, 17 January, that she had not heard from Air Canada or the CBSA, despite almost a week passing by.

"This is such a weird situation," she said. "I don't actually know how this happened. I'm kind of curious to find that out as well, because in hindsight, I'm wondering, do I have to do something now? Do I need to go back and submit something? What do we need to do next, right?"

Ms Badenoch later updated CBC and said that CBSA officials had reached out, asked if she had anything to declare, and assured her she wouldn't have any future problems travelling.

In a statement Saturday, CBSA told The Independent that 10 passengers left the airport without clearing customs. The agency says it received the passengers' names from the airline and is in the process of following up with each traveller.

The majority of the passengers were located and brought to the CBSA for processing; however, 10 passengers left the airport without reporting to the CBSA. Passenger names were shared by the airline with CBSA operations, which completed admissibility and security checks and is following up with each traveller to finalise the necessary processing requirements.

The CBSA noted the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Customs Act require airlines to present their passengers to the CBSA for examination upon arrival to Canada.

It added: Failure to do so is a serious contravention which may incur significant penalties.

Read more: Air Canada flight diverted to Auckland after pilots detect unusual odour
Norway is said to be in the most serious security situation since the Second World War - Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP

Norway has issued thousands of letters to citizens warning that the army may have to seize their homes and vehicles if war breaks out with Russia.

Norwegian military officials said the letters were an advance warning to those with assets that may need to be requisitioned.

The requisition policy covers vehicles, boats, machinery and property, and around 13,500 preparatory requisitions were issued on Monday, valid for one year.

The requisitions are intended to ensure that, in a wartime situation, the armed forces have access to the resources necessary for the defence of the country, the Norwegian military said.

The letters will not have come as a shock to most recipients, as two thirds of them were simply renewing requisition notices from previous years.

The requisition notices were ordered amid a diplomatic crisis between Europe and Donald Trump, who has threatened to annex Greenland - Jim Watson/AFP

Anders Jernberg, the head of the militarys logistics organisation, said: The importance of being prepared for crisis and war has increased dramatically in recent years.

Norway is in the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War. Our society must be prepared for security policy crises and, in the worst case, war... we are undertaking a major build-up of military and civil preparedness, he added.

Norway plays a key role in Nato surveillance of the Arctic region, where the melting of the ice caps has created a scramble to secure new shipping routes and lucrative raw materials.

The Scandinavian country shares a maritime border  as well as a 123 mile-long land border  with Russia in the far northern Arctic region.

Russia and China are seeking to expand their presence in the Arctic region, with the former building up old Soviet bases in the region and expanding its nuclear weapons stockpile on the Kola peninsula.

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The requisition notices were issued amid an ongoing diplomatic crisis between the United States and Europe over president Donald Trumps plans to annex Greenland, the minerals-rich Arctic island.

Mr Trump has cited Arctic security concerns as his main argument for annexing Greenland, an autonomous Danish overseas territory that is part of the Nato alliance.

He has threatened military action to take over the island, a step that would probably destroy the Western alliance even as it faces the growing risk of war with Russia.

On Monday, it emerged that Mr Trump also wants to take over Greenland because he is upset with Norway for refusing to give him a Nobel peace prize last year.

Denmark and Greenland say the island is not for sale. They have the full support of Britain and the European Union.

But Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said on Monday that he does not believe the United States is planning a military takeover of the island.

I dont, actually. I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles and values that Ive set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland, and making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong, he said.

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, Norways defence minister warned that Russia had recently launched a major expansion of its military bases in the Arctic region.

Russia is building up on the Kola peninsula ... where one of the largest arsenals of nuclear warheads in the world is located. They [the nuclear weapons] are not only pointed towards Norway, but towards the UK and over the pole towards Canada and the US, Tore O. Sandvik told the Telegraph.

Moscow is also trying to gain full control over the Arctic region in order to block Nato access to key shipping routes, he said.

We are the eyes and ears of Nato in this area, and we see that theyre testing new weapons, for example, hypersonic missiles, and they are testing nuclear-driven torpedoes and nuclear warheads, he said.
Raising kids takes a lot of work, whether youre a human or an animal parent. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington, recently welcomed a new Asian small-clawed otter pup to the family, and mom Pintar and dad Sebastian decided it was time for their little one to learn how to swim.

In this adorable video, the pup is in the water with both parents, who clearly have very different teaching styles. Mom seems to have a sink or swim approach, while Dad takes on the role of the helicopter parent, sticking close by. Watching their different reactions to their babys first swim lesson is absolutely adorable!

Point Defiance shared a "Pupdate" in the caption, "Swimming lessons are officially underway behind the scenes with mixed opinions. Asian small-clawed otter mom Pintar is confident her pup is ready and gives him a gentle toss into the water. Dad Sebastian is not so sure and immediately tries to rescue him. This little pup is learning with the very best teachers by his side."

Related: Otters Funny Yoga Fail Proves Mornings Are Just Not His Thing

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Sweet Reactions to the Pup's First Swim Lesson

Viewers had some very sweet reactions when watching the little otter's first swim lesson. One commenter said what we were all thinking, and it cracked us up, "WHY IS THIS VIDEO IS FIVE HOURS LONG???!!!" We watched it on repeat, too!

@nathalieparry shared the conversation that probably occurred between Pintar and Sebastian. "'He's not ready, honey.' 'Oh yes, he darn well is.' Proceeds to fling him in the water. 'See, I told you, he didn't drown!'" @rebrudell added, "Its not so much a lesson as it is a 'PLOP! GO!!'

Commenter @mandy.mason010 pointed out, "Best daddy watching as lifeguard!" @olyfouts added, "This little family is so precious!" @mhappycat made us laugh with, "I love watching animal parenting. Its so straight up. LOL!"

We couldn't agree more with @rostifnim19, "Ill be surprised if I see anything sweeter or funnier today!" Another commenter replied, "All week!"

We'll all be looking forward to more baby otter content from Pointe Defiance!

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Search-and-rescue operations at a collapsed landfill in the Philippines were ended on Monday after the last missing worker was recovered, pushing the death toll to 36.

Cebu City officials said the last body was retrieved shortly after dawn on 18 January, 10 days after a large section of the Binaliw landfill gave way. The dumpsite, located in a mountainous area outside the city, had been the focus of a round-the-clock operation involving hundreds of responders.

Today, the search-and-rescue operation at the Binaliw landfill has been officially terminated, said David Tumulak, a city councillor who heads the local disaster risk reduction and management committee, according to a report in The Strait Times.

Mr Tumulak said the final victim was found at 5.41am local time and had yet to be identified.

Six of the bodies recovered from the site remain unidentified.

The collapse also left 18 people injured, according to the city government. Four of them are still being treated in hospital.

A mound of garbage that collapsed on 8 January at a waste segregation facility in Binaliw (AP)

The disaster struck shortly before 5pm on 8 January, when a large mass of rubbish, steel and heavy equipment slid down, trapping workers inside a facility operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions.

The landfill serves Cebu as well as the neighbouring cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

Everything is finished and all the missing persons have been recovered, Cebu City mayor Nestor Archival said. The investigation will immediately begin.

National authorities were also reviewing the circumstances that led to the collapse.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources earlier ordered the landfills operator to suspend activities and submit a compliance plan within 90 days, while officials were assessing whether safety and engineering standards were breached, according to the BBC.

Initial findings from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, cited by local media, pointed to weeks of sustained rain that, combined with structural factors, could have weighed down the rubbish.

Mr Archival had earlier suggested that the mound of waste acted like a sponge after heavy rainfall brought by a typhoon in November, although other possible causes such as seismic activity were previously considered, according to The New York Times.

Relatives of missing workers react as rescue teams search for survivors at the collapsed landfill in Binaliw (Reuters)

The Bureau of Fire Protection said all people reported missing were now accounted for, adding that monitoring of the area would continue.

The collapse has disrupted waste collection across Cebu, a city of about one million people and major commercial hub in the Visayas, the central group of islands in the Philippine archipelago.

City officials have been forced to divert rubbish to other areas while negotiating temporary disposal arrangements, a challenge made more urgent by the Sinulog festival, which draws millions of visitors every year and sharply increases waste volumes.

Lawmakers and environmental groups have renewed calls for broader reforms to the countrys waste management system and better protection for landfill workers, warning that similar sites exist close to residential areas across the Philippines.
From left to right: Elizabeth Hurley, Prince Harry and Sadie Frost were all in court for the start of the trial. Composite: Reuters/Getty Images (Composite: Reuters/Getty Images)

Lawyers representing Prince Harry and six other prominent figures have accused the publisher of the Daily Mail of clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering to secure stories about them.

In a witness statement submitted to the court, the Duke of Sussex accused the newspaper group of subjecting him to intrusion [that] was terrifying for loved ones, creating a massive strain on his personal relationships. He said it had the effect of driv[ing] me paranoid beyond belief, isolating me.

Harry was in the high court for the start of the case against Associated Newspapers Ltd, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. It is his latest and final claim against newspaper publishers over alleged unlawful techniques.

Prince Harry is part of a group of high-profile figures bringing the action against the newspaper group. They include Doreen Lawrence, the campaigning mother of Stephen Lawrence, who was killed in a racist murder more than 30 years ago.

Sir Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, the actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and the former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes are also part of the action. Harry, Hurley, Frost and Hughes were all in court for the start of the trial.

In written submissions to the court, the claimants legal team said alleged unlawful acts included using private investigators to illegally intercept voicemail messages, listening in to live landline calls, and obtaining private information such as itemised phone bills or medical records by deception, known as blagging.

Opening the trial at the high court, the claimants barrister David Sherborne said the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday had skeletons in their closet over the use of unlawful information gathering. He said the alleged acts involved journalists from both the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday and every significant editorial desk over two decades.

He said he would demonstrate a clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering at both the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.

There is evidence, indisputable evidence, in the documents that Associated journalists and senior executives were commissioning and approving the acquisition and use of unlawfully obtained information, and they must have known that, he said. That is why we say this was no clean ship, far from it.

Associated Newspapers has denied any wrongdoing, previously describing the claims as lurid and preposterous.

Sherborne said that repeated claims by Associated Newspapers that it was not involved in unlawful information gathering, including during the Leveson inquiry into the practices of the press, were not true. Sherborne said Associated Newspapers had adopted a hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil defence.

The claimants allege the activities took place between 1993 and 2011, even continuing beyond until 2018, and even beyond the specific articles that deployed the fruits of this wrongdoing and unlawful episodes.

There can be little doubt that journalists and executives across the Mail titles engaged in or were complicit in the culture of unlawful information gathering that wrecked the lives of so many, their written submission states.

The claimants will refer to 14 individuals who were private investigators, or carrying out activities similar to a private investigator.

However, Sherborne also complained that a huge amount of material had been destroyed. He said there were masses of missing documents, including the mass destruction of emails before 2004. Associated has argued this was down to a company email deletion policy.

Sherborne alleged Associated Newspapers knew they had skeletons in their closet because it had investigated the use of phone hacking between 2003 and 2005, before the Leveson inquiry took place.

In written submissions on behalf of the newspaper group, its lawyers said the allegation that unlawful practices were widespread at Associateds titles was simply untrue.

They also said the legal action against the titles had come as a result of a coordinated strategy in which prominent claimants were recruited and corralled.

Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, said in written submissions that other than a now disavowed witness statement from the private investigator Gavin Burrows, the allegations of phone hacking and tapping were wholly inferential.

This is in reality little more than guess work, the written submission said. It involves jumping to conclusions based on insufficient evidence, or worse, artificially selecting and presenting evidence to fit the preconceived agenda.

Sherborne used the first day of the trial to list some of the private investigators the claimants allege worked on behalf of Associated Newspapers, using unlawful means.

It included an allegation that a Daily Mail journalist instructed a private investigator to obtain information from Lady Lawrence on the false pretext she was a journalist from the Guardian.

In witness statements, Lawrence said her claims of unlawful information gathering by the Daily Mail against her was like history repeating itself and that she felt profoundly betrayed and violated.

Lawyers for Associated Newspapers have said claims it targeted Lawrence are unsupported by the available evidence.

Whatever the outcome, the case is expected to prove extremely expensive. Costs could be as much as 38m. Prince Harrys claims relate to 14 articles that are alleged to have been produced using unlawful means.

The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks.
A private investigator who allegedly harvested confidential information for the publisher of the Mail used to boast he could get hold of Queen Elizabeth IIs medical records, the High Court has heard.

Jonathan Rees, who operated Southern Investigations, took part in phone tapping, computer and phone hacking, bribing police officers and a whole range of other unlawful activities, it has been alleged.

The Duke of Sussex, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are taking legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over alleged unlawful information gathering.

Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations (Frank Augstein/PA) (Frank Augustein)

On the first day of the trial in London, barrister David Sherborne, for the duke and others, shared evidence from former Metropolitan Police officer Derek Haslam, who infiltrated Southern Investigations as an undercover operative, who alleged Mr Rees liked to boast about the information he could access.

This included claiming he could get hold of the medical records belonging to the late Queen  Harrys grandmother, the court heard.

Mr Sherborne said: Rees liked to boast about the information he could get. We can get the Queens medical records, he once said.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, at an earlier hearing (Gareth Fuller/PA) (Gareth Fuller)

Mr Haslam, in written evidence, claimed that Mr Rees would disturbingly also boast about accessing the Police Witness Protection Scheme, and that nothing in terms of private information was beyond their reach using illegal means.

He also said Mr Rees was obsessed with the Stephen Lawrence murder.

Mr Sherborne told the court that Mr Rees asked contacts in the Metropolitan Police for filth on Stephen Lawrences mother Baroness Doreen Lawrence and that he wanted to blackmail her for information.

Mr Rees would also hold court in a pub with police officers looking to make extra money by offering information, Mr Sherborne said.

ANL vehemently denies the allegations.

Court artist sketch of Sir Simon Hughes, the Duke of Sussex, Elizabeth Hurley, Damian Hurley and barrister David Sherborne at the Royal Courts Of Justice (Elizabeth Cook/PA) (Elizabeth Cook)

In written submissions, Antony White KC said the allegation that Mr Rees targeted Lady Lawrence was unfounded.

He said that in response to the peers claim, ANL searched for but found no payment records to Mr Rees, Southern Investigations or any of their entities.

He also said that Stephen Wright, who was bylined on each of the stories about Lady Lawrence in the claim categorically denies ever having met or spoken to Mr Rees, nor has he ever commissioned Mr Rees or his company to carry out any investigations or other acts, legal or illegal.

Mr White later said that Mr Haslam is unable to recall a single specific story Mr Rees worked on or sold to the Mail.

The barrister continued that several of the claims against ANL depend on alleged confessions supposedly made by some private investigators, including Mr Rees.
The Chancellor has compared Donald Trumps threat of tariffs if a deal is not reached over Greenland to the financial impact the pandemic and Russias war in Ukraine had on Britain.

Rachel Reeves on Monday insisted the UK was working intensely with the US and Europe to try and de-escalate the situation.

The US President has said he will impose a 10 per cent levy on goods from eight NATO allies from February if they oppose his proposed takeover of the Danish-controlled territory, threatening to raise it to 25 per cent by June.

Sir Keir Starmer insisted a trade war is in "no-one's interest" during an emergency press conference this morning.

Ms Reeves, who pulled out of planned appearance at the London Stock Exchange to celebrate a new golden age for the City following Trumps threats, reiterated the Prime Ministers remarks.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper were present for Sir Keir Starmers press conference (PA Wire)

She told The Standard: The sovereignty of nations is very important, but also what happens overseas has real impacts here at home.

We saw that in the pandemic, when prices went up because of disruptions to supply chains.

We saw that when Russia invaded Ukraine, with the energy crisis and some food prices went up.

And the risk is that if we enter into a trade war, prices here at home [increase], but also export opportunities for British businesses and the people who work for them will be eroded as well.

Britain exported about 64 billion worth of goods to the US in the year to June 2025.

This was about 17 per cent of total goods exported over that period.

Rachel Reeves and Lucy Powell visited the Felix Project in Ealing (ES)

Medicines and pharmaceuticals made up the largest bulk of this at about 11 billion, with cars just behind at around 10 billion.

Ms Reeves, who was visiting Felix Project, London's largest food redistribution charity, to discuss the Governments work to tackle child poverty before heading off to the World Economic Forum in Davos, added: We're working intensely with the US, but also with our friends and allies in other European countries to try and deescalate.

It's in no one's interest to have a trade war, we rely on being able to export the brilliant goods and services made in Britain all around the world, including to the United States.

And of course, we also rely on an incredibly close military and strategic partnership with the United States, as well as with our allies in Europe.

So, as the Prime Minister stressed in his press conference, a trade war is in no one's interest. We continue to try and de-escalate this.

Trump has justified his interest in controlling Greenland by arguing that Denmark has not done enough to protect the area from Russian threats between North America and the Arctic.

The worlds largest island is a useful base for early warning systems for missile attacks and monitoring ships in the region. The territory is also a potential source of rare earth minerals as well as oil and gas.

Trump has argued that the "complete and total purchase" of the Danish territory is essential for world security.

He has said: "If we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland.

Over the weekend, he threatened a 10 per cent tariff on goods exported to the US from Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

The levy would come into force from February 1, and rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if a deal is still not reached.

The US President on Monday responded "no comment" when asked whether he would use force to seize Greenland.

Meanwhile, Greenland's prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has welcomed the support of European nations and said they will not be pressured by the US.

"The latest statements from the US, including threats of tariffs, do not change that line, he said.

We will not let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law."
Meet Miss Hoot, a rescued Eurasian owl at the Northwest Wildlife Sanctuary in Oak Harbor, Washington, who recently surprised her mom by showing off something no one was expecting: an egg!

While feeding Miss Hoot, her mom noticed she seemed to be hiding something. When she took a closer look, she spotted the egg tucked beneath her. Make sure your sound is on so you can hear Moms excitement along with Miss Hoots proud little hoots!

When mom said, "YOU HAVE AN EGG!!!!!" it totally made us smile! The sanctuary explained in the caption, "Our Eurasian eagle-owl hasnt been her usual social self lately, and today as I was feeding her she showed me why!"

Related: Wildlife Photographer Shares Adorable Video of the Cutest Owl of Them All'

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Commenters' Sweet Reactions to Hearing Miss Hoot's News

Like us, everybody found Miss Hoot's surprise heartwarming. @REDD said what the owl was probably thinking, "LOOK WHAT I MADE!!!!" @Jami Mathis shared, "Shes so proud! This is how they show their mates too!"

"The little happy hoots!!!!" pointed out @_thatssotati, which was also one of our favorite parts. @Janice admitted, "I thought she was showing her dinner at first. LOL!"

@Ree asked what many of us were wondering: "So is it fertilized and she can expect a hatchling?"

The sanctuary responded, but not with the news we were all hoping for. "Unfortunately not! Shes never been around any males. Laying eggs is a natural process for them; weve just never seen her actually incubate before!"

If Miss Hoot's egg was fertilized, she'd sit on it for 30-37 days before it hatched. In the wild, these owls usually lay 1-4 eggs at a time. Incubation duties are shared by both mom and dad. The Denver Zoo explained that they breed once a year, with courtship beginning in late fall and nesting occurring in January or February.

They also shared this fun fact: "Eurasian eagle owlets imprint on the first visualized

animal, this strong tendency makes the release of captive-bred owlets into the wild challenging."

Viewers asked that the sanctuary find a mate for Miss Hoot. Maybe someday down the road she'll get to be a mom!

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jan 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Akorn Technology named as a winner of the UAE FoodTech Challenge, a global competition to identify and scale the world's most promising agri-tech solutions

Berkeley-based startup among four global winners honored at one of the world's largest sustainability summits, selected from1,200+ entries spanning 113 countries

Winners share a $2 million prize and enter the UAE's thriving innovation ecosystem, enabling them to develop and scale their ventures from the UAE to the world

ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Akorn Technology, a Berkeley, California-based agri-tech startup focused on reducing the amount of fresh produce lost or wasted by developing an edible coating to extend shelf life, has been announced as one of four winners of the UAE FoodTech Challenge during a live finale at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week  one of the world's largest sustainability gatherings. The company was selected from a pool of ten global finalists chosen from an initial 1,215 submissions across 113 countries.

FoodTech Challenge Winner - Akorn Technology Speed Speed Winners of UAE FoodTech Challenge Akorn Technology - Winner of UAE FoodTech Challenge

Now in its third edition, the UAE FoodTech Challenge identifies and scales the world's most promising agri-tech solutions that boost food production and reduce food loss and waste in arid and increasingly climate-stressed environments. The competition is organized by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, ne'ma (the UAE's National Food Loss and Waste Initiative)  and Silal, a leading UAE agri-food company. Akorn Technology is the first US company to be named a FoodTech Challenge winner.

Akorn Technology, founded in 2019 by a team with experience spanning the high technology, consumer goods, and agriculture sectors, will share a $2 million prize package and receive further in-kind support to develop and scale their pioneering solution through the UAE's world-class innovation ecosystem, including technical and research support, pilot opportunities, market access, and incubation and acceleration services.

About Akorn Technology:

Challenge : An estimated 13% of food is lost between harvest and retail, with an additional 19% wasted at the consumption stage. Loss across the supply chain reduces availability and quality, cuts grower revenues, and increases environmental impact.

: An estimated 13% of food is lost between harvest and retail, with an additional 19% wasted at the consumption stage. Loss across the supply chain reduces availability and quality, cuts grower revenues, and increases environmental impact. Mission: Reduce food loss by enabling producers and retailers to deliver harvest-fresh, tastier, and longer-lasting fruits and vegetables.

Reduce food loss by enabling producers and retailers to deliver harvest-fresh, tastier, and longer-lasting fruits and vegetables. Innovative solution: A natural, edible coating for fruit and vegetables, including vegetable protein to slow ripening, wax to reduce moisture loss, and vegetable oil to maintain color, without altering the taste, quality, or nutritional value.

A natural, edible coating for fruit and vegetables, including vegetable protein to slow ripening, wax to reduce moisture loss, and vegetable oil to maintain color, without altering the taste, quality, or nutritional value. Future plans: Optimize the solution for the UAE and other arid environments, and scale deployment from current operations in Egypt and Ghana to include new international markets across the Global South, building more resilient supply chains and advancing global food security.

Anthony Zografos, Founder and CEO of Akorn Technology, commented on the win: "It is an incredible honor to be a winner of the UAE FoodTech Challenge. We've always known that our breakthrough technology has the potential to solve one of the world's biggest challenges  food loss  and we are very excited to receive this validation by the judging committee."

"With the funding and ecosystem support offered by the FoodTech Challenge, we're planning to set up a research program and production capability in the UAE, and we expect to be in pilot production of our cutting-edge products within the next 12-18 months. We already have handshake agreements with growers in South Africa and Southeast Asia to test our products and we will move these projects forwards immediately."

Akorn Technology was named a winner of the UAE FoodTech Challenge alongside global startups Permia Sensing, HyveGeo, and Flybox, whose operations span Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. They follow in the footsteps of previous UAE FoodTech Challenge winners, who have gone on to raise more than $48 million in follow-on funding, launch more than 50pilott projects, and successfully localize their technologies for the UAE, before scaling across similar environments.

To learn more about the UAE FoodTech Challenge and this year's winners, visit: www.foodtechchallenge.com.

About the UAE FoodTech Challenge

The UAE FoodTech Challenge is a global venture competition that identifies and scales leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in arid, hot, and increasingly challenging environments. The competition is delivered by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen in partnership with ne'ma, the UAE's Food Loss and Waste Initiative; Silal, the UAE's leading agri-tech company; Gates Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, and other key partners.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdYQ0X3okvU

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864224/Akorn_Technology_1.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2864225/Akorn_Technology_2.jpg

SOURCE Akorn Technology
Robert Jenrick says MPs wanting to follow him to Reform UK should make their minds up soon

Robert Jenrick has urged fellow MPs considering a move to Reform UK to "make their minds up soon," following his own defection from the Conservatives last week.

The former shadow justice secretary, who was sacked by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch on Thursday just hours before announcing his switch, stated the party is "moving fast.

Speaking to LBC ahead of a Reform UK rally in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire, Mr Jenrick extended an invitation to MPs sharing the party's values, saying they are "welcome" to join.

Asked who he would like to see join the party, Mr Jenrick said: Well, Nigel (Farage) has said that any member of parliament who shares our values and principles is welcome in Reform.

But theyve got to make up their minds soon, because this party is moving fast. And after the May elections, we really hope to have made massive progress across the whole of the country.

During his speech to hundreds of Reform supporters, who welcomed him with cheers, Mr Jenrick said of his defection: I have never felt stronger and more certain about anything I have done in my life.

I was forced to resign and I rebelled against my own party to fight for something that would actually work.

In joining Reform, I have resolved to never, ever defend the indefensible again.

Jenrick was speaking at a Reform UK rally in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire (Jacob King/PA)

I didnt just leave the Conservatives because they cant fix Britain, and they cant, take my word for it  I left because Reform will fix Britain.

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell announced on Sunday evening that he was the second Conservative MP to join Reform in the space of a week, after Mr Jenrick.

Mr Rosindell, who had been a Conservative member since 2001, said he was persuaded to resign as a shadow foreign office minister in Kemi Badenochs front bench because of the failure of the Conservative Party on the issue of Chagossian self-determination.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the centre-right of British politics is coming together as one under the banner of Reform.

He told his supporters at the rally: We will replace the Conservative Party as the main opposition party in British politics.

The next general election may be our last chance to turn this country round and we are determined, and, you know what, we are going to win.

Asked in an interview with the BBC before the rally if he was convinced he was not going to fall out with Mr Jenrick after a few days of working together, Mr Farage said: So far, so good. Theres no reason why we should.

He added: He was odds-on favourite to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. Hes made this move because he believes in what we stand for.

I think it was logical, perhaps inevitable, he was going to join us.

Reform UK chairman David Bull said at the rally that the Tories can never, ever be trusted again.

He said: Let me tell you, we have not seen the benefits of Brexit that we were promised, and that is down to poor planning and abysmal leadership.

He added: So, to recap, what did the Tories actually give us? They gave us open borders, a shattered economy and a broken healthcare system. Let me tell you, the Tories can never, ever be trusted again.

He added that Reform was utterly delighted to welcome Mr Jenrick to the party, which now has seven MPs.
Protesters opposing mass deportations at the Cassidy Gate at Fort Bliss, where Camp East Montana was being built, in El Paso, Texas, on 17 August 2025. Photograph: Paul Ratje/Reuters (Photograph: Paul Ratje/Reuters)

A second man being held at a US immigration detention facility in Texas has died in two weeks, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Monday.

Victor Manuel Diaz, 36, originally from Nicaragua, was found unconscious and unresponsive in his room on 14 January at the Camp East Montana detention facility in El Paso, ICE said in a press release.

They immediately notified contract medical staff on site to conduct life saving measures, it said, adding that emergency medical technicians arrived to the facility but could not revive Diaz, who was pronounced dead just after 4pm. ICE asserted that Diaz died of a presumed suicide but that the official cause of his death remains under investigation.

Related: Death of man at ICE camp could be investigated as homicide after examiners report

Diaz was detained on 6 January during the Trump administrations controversial deportation blitz in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He initially entered the US through the Mexican border in March 2024, when border patrol agents picked him up and he was given a court date with an immigration judge, then released on parole. On 26 August of last year an immigration judge ordered Diazs removal in absentia. ICE detained him on 12 January in order to deport him.

Related: US citizens and permanent residents: have you been racially profiled by ICE?

The extensive tent facility is located on the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso.

Thirty-two people died in ICE custody last year, the highest number of fatalities in two decades. At least five people have reportedly died in ICE custody this year.

Another man, Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, who immigrated to the US from Cuba, died in the same detention camp on 3 January. ICE said Campos was experiencing medical distress and that staff provided emergency treatment in the hopes of saving him.

His death may be investigated as a potential homicide. The local medical examiner determined the preliminary cause of death was asphyxia due to neck and chest compression, according to reports. ICE said he experienced a medical emergency after being disruptive while in line for medication.

Santos Jesus Flores, who was detained with him, told the Washington Post that he saw five guards choking him, and that he heard Lunas Campos repeatedly say in Spanish that he couldnt breathe.

Related: Officers at Texas immigration detention facility accused of beatings and sexual abuse

He said, I cannot breathe, I cannot breathe. After that, we dont hear his voice anymore and thats it, the publication quoted Flores as saying.

After reports that Lunas Camposs death might be investigated as a potential homicide, the Department of Homeland Security said in an email to the Guardian that he had tried to kill himself and violently resisted officers who were trying to help him.

Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, also told the Washington Post after it published its article that Lunas Campos was trying to take his own life. The allegation was not part of ICEs initial statement.

Another Camp East Montana inmate, Francisco Gaspar-Andres, died at a nearby hospital on 3 December. He was 48.

 In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org

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Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish felt the safety of their children had been violated by alleged unlawful news gathering by the Daily Mails publisher, the High Court has heard.

On the first day of a nine-week trial on Monday, the court in London was told that the couple also felt outrage at the alleged stealing of their son Zacharys birth certificate and medical details after he was born.

Sir Elton and a group of six others, including the Duke of Sussex, allege that Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) carried out or commissioned unlawful activities to gather information for stories.

This included hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, blagging private records and accessing private phone conversations.

ANL has strongly denied wrongdoing, with lawyers for the publisher telling the court that the claims made by Sir Elton and Furnish are unsupported by any evidence before the court and utterly baseless.

The couple allege 10 articles about them between 2002 and 2015 were based on unlawful information gathering by ANL.

In written submissions by barrister David Sherborne, he said of Sir Elton and Furnish: They feel that their home, and the safety of their children and loved ones, has been violated.

Mr Furnish explains that they are profoundly affected by the uncertainty of not knowing how many times we were targeted We still dont know what was really done to us.

They are horrified that Associated has used their friendships against them by stealing information through those friends, which Sir Elton describes as the exploitation of love, connection, trust and bonds to find out information shared in confidence.

Both Sir Elton and Mr Furnish underline the outrage they feel in light of Associateds invasion into medical details surrounding the birth of their son Zachary, and the stealing of their sons birth certificate before we even had a chance to see it ourselves.

One of the 10 articles that Sir Elton and Furnish claim featured unlawfully gathered information included one published in the Mail On Sunday in May 2007, written by Katie Nicholl, which was headlined Princes and Palace clash on all-night Diana Party.

The Duke of Sussex arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, on Monday (James Manning/PA) (James Manning)

Mr Sherborne said in written submissions that the piece contained exclusive information relating to tensions in the royal household over plans to hold an event after a memorial concert for Diana, Princess of Wales, which Harry and the now-Prince of Wales hoped that Sir Elton would attend.

He said: Sir Elton and Mr Furnish have given clear evidence that the relevant information would have been communicated through private, direct conversations between Sir Elton and the Duke of Sussex.

The Duke of Sussex has also given evidence that the information is private, and that he believes that he and Sir Elton exchanged voicemails regarding the possibility of Sir Elton performing.

Responding to the claims in written submissions, Antony White KC, for ANL, said: The article was entirely based on legitimate sources, and there is no evidence to the contrary.

Ms Nicholls evidence is that it is highly likely to have been principally sourced from information provided to her by Lady Elizabeth Anson, who was a first cousin and close confidante of Queen Elizabeth II (who) worked as a party planner.

He continued: The claimants case appears to be based on no more than inference from the content of the article and Ms Nicholls alleged propensity to use or commission unlawful information gathering.

The allegation, if advanced, is accordingly without any evidential foundation.

Sir Elton and Furnish followed Mondays proceedings on a live video-link, while some of their co-claimants were in court.

Mr White also said: Sir Elton and Mr Furnish, like other claimants, rely on an attempt by members of the research team and the claimants legal representatives to link payment records with articles, loosely proximate in time to the payment record, which they claim to believe contain hallmarks of unlawful information gathering.

However, this attempt to substantiate the serious allegations of unlawful information gathering is, as with the same attempts elsewhere in these proceedings, unsupported by any evidence before the court and utterly baseless.

Elizabeth Hurley and her son Damian Hurley arriving at the Royal Courts Of Justice (Jeff Moore/PA) (Jeff Moore)

The other claimants in the group are Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost.

They started their legal cases against ANL in 2022, with documents setting out the claims naming dozens of journalists, including some national newspaper editors.

In 2023, ANL failed to have the cases thrown out before a trial on the basis that they were time-barred or brought too late.

The trial before Mr Justice Nicklin is expected to last nine weeks with a judgment in writing at a later date.
Sir Keir Starmers time in office has been characterised by a string of humiliating U-turns  from the watering down of the governments flagship benefits bill to a major U-turn on the controversial winter fuel cut last year.

The latest appears to be a U-turn on the governments Hillsborough Law, flagged as a big ticket announcement at the Labour conference designed to stop state cover-ups. Yet as Labour has pulled an amendment to the law, the bill has been delayed. The Independent takes a look at all the times the government has gone back on its word or let voters down since winning the election in 2024.

From tractor taxes to winter fuel payments, Labour has backpedalled a number of times (Getty)

Hillsborough Law

The government has pulled an amendment to its Hillsborough Law amid concerns that intelligence agencies could use it to avoid being bound by the proposed duty of candour. A government amendment would have allowed security services to determine whether their agents could give information to inquiries to prevent the risk of unwittingly exposing an operative in the field, but politicians have fought to extend the duty of candour to spies.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and his Liverpool counterpart Steve Rotheram reportedly warned it created too broad an opt-out for security services, but Whitehall officials insisted the third reading was going ahead with the re-worked amendment to the Lords, according to Politico.

The entire bill has since been held up over the issue after months of negotiations over the duty of candour clause last year. MI5 chief Ken McCallum personally spoke to some MPs about the issue, according to the BBC, while around 30 MPs backed a proposal by Liverpool MP Ian Byrne to ensure the legislation applied in a fuller way to intelligence officers. This was publicly welcomed by the Hillsborough Law Now campaign.

Until a compromise can be found that is supported by campaigners as well as parliaments intelligence and security committee, it remains unclear how long the law will be delayed by.

Mandatory digital ID

In September, the prime minister announced the introduction of the Brit card to make it harder for people without the right to work to find employment.

The digital Brit card, downloaded onto a smartphone, was designed to verify an individuals right to live and work in the UK, similar to a system in Estonia, where citizens are given unique identification numbers.

But now a government source says the compulsory element of the scheme had been stopping conversation about what digital IDs could be used for generally.

The source told The Times: Stepping back from mandatory-use cases will deflate one of the main points of contention. We do not want to risk there being cases of some 65-year-old in a rural area being barred from working because he hasnt installed the ID.

Business rate relief for pubs

Rachel Reeves is planning another humiliating U-turn on her plans to scrap business rate relief for pubs after a backlash from the hospitality sector and Labour MPs.

Ministers told The Independent that the chancellor is set to change the plans she announced in the Budget amid fears that it could see the doors close on many of Britains pubs and restaurants.

The prime minister and the chancellor have been repeatedly accused of U-turning on key issues (The Independent)

Ms Reeves had announced a cut in rates in her Budget, but her decision to end the temporary covid relief meant establishments would pay much higher bills.

The relief was worth up to 40 per cent of rates at a maximum of 110,000 a year and was going to come to an end in April under Ms Reevess original plans.

Tractor tax

After months of pressure from farmers, Sir Keir watered down plans to tax inherited farmland.

Under the plans, announced by Ms Reeves last year, farmers were to be charged 20 per cent on agricultural assets above 1m from April 2026. This triggered a storm of fury, with fears that family-run farms would be worst affected.

Starmer faced fury from farmers over his so-called tractor tax (PA)

But last month, Labour said it was raising the threshold from 1m to 2.5m, meaning that most farms would not have to pay it.

The climbdown came after crunch talks between National Farmers Union (NFU) president Tom Bradshaw and the prime minister in December, following a year of protests about the measures.

Income tax hike

Ahead of the Budget, the chancellor decided against hiking income tax despite two weeks of clear signals in public speeches that she was poised to break the partys manifesto pledge not to do so.

With markets spooked by the sudden U-turn, reported by the Financial Times two weeks before the Budget, the cost of borrowing for the government spiked, with 10-year gilts up 12 basis points at 4.56 per cent.

Treasury sources insisted the decision had been taken because of better-than-expected economic data, but others blamed interference from Downing Street in a bid to protect the prime minister from a potential leadership challenge.

Benefit cuts

Sir Keir suffered the biggest blow to his leadership since coming into power after he was forced to abandon a key plank of his controversial benefit cuts in order to get them through parliament in July.

Just 90 minutes before voting began, ministers announced that plans to restrict eligibility for personal independence payments (PIP)  which had been the central pillar of the governments reforms  were being dropped.

Sir Keir had already been forced into a U-turn the week before when more than 130 Labour MPs signed an amendment that would have effectively killed the bill off. Among the concessions announced then was a plan to impose tougher eligibility rules only on future PIP claimants, leaving existing recipients unaffected.

Winter fuel payments

In July 2024, the chancellor announced that pensioners not in receipt of pension credits or other means-tested benefits would no longer receive winter fuel payments  a 300 payment to help with energy costs in the colder months.

After spending months ruling out a U-turn, the prime minister in May told MPs he now wants to ensure more pensioners are eligible for the payment  something he claimed has come as a result of an improving economic picture.

After weeks of speculation over what the changes would look like, it was last summer confirmed that 9 million pensioners will be eligible for the payment  a huge uplift from the 1.5 million pensioners who received the payment in winter 2024-25.

Sir Keir Starmer was in Jeremy Corbyns top team when Labour warned winter fuel cuts could kill pensioners (PA)

Grooming gangs

Sir Keir spent months brushing off calls for a national inquiry with statutory powers into grooming gangs as unnecessary.

As Elon Musk launched himself headlong into the debate, calling for a fresh probe into the scandal, Labours refusal looked increasingly unlikely to hold. But Sir Keir stood firm, and even accused those calling for an inquiry, including Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, of jumping on the bandwagon of the far-right.

But in yet another screeching U-turn, after months of holding out, Sir Keir in June accepted the recommendation of Baroness Casey to hold an inquiry.

Waspi women

In a 2022 interview, Sir Keir said: All your working life youve got in mind the date on which you can retire and get your pension, and just as you get towards it, the goalposts are moved and you dont get it, and its a real injustice.

We need to do something about it. That wasnt the basis on which you paid in or the basis on which you were working.

But, in a familiar change of tune since becoming prime minister, Sir Keir last year sent his work and pensions secretary out to tell Women Against State Pension Inequality, Waspi women, they would not be getting any compensation.

To complicate matters further, in November, the government announced it would revisit a decision to deny the Waspi women payouts.

Ministers claimed that evidence that was not shown to the then work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, when she made the decision had since come to light and needed to be considered.

Labours pre-election manifesto promised not to increase national insurance (PA Wire)

National insurance

Labours pre-election manifesto promised not to increase national insurance.

It stated: Labour will not increase taxes on working people, which is why we will not increase national insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of income tax, or VAT.

But Sir Keir and chancellor Ms Reeves used the ambiguity around whether they meant employer or employee national insurance contributions to steamroll the pledge at Labours first Budget in power.

The pair argue that they only promised to keep employee contributions frozen and instead landed firms with a 2 per cent increase to employer national insurance contributions.

Two-child benefit cap

In her Budget, Rachel Reeves announced an end to the two-child benefit cap, following months of intense pressure from backbenchers, campaign groups and political opponents.

It marked a major U-turn for Labour, with ministers previously refusing to listen to critics on the measure.

In 2024, the prime minister enforced the whip on seven Labour MPs who voted against their party to oppose the two-child benefit cap.

Set to come into effect from April 2026, the government estimates that the change will reduce the number of children living in poverty by 450,000 by 2029/30. It will cost the Exchequer 3bn by this time, according to the OBR.

Workers rights

The government also U-turned on its flagship manifesto promise to protect workers from unfair dismissal from their first day in a job following concerns from business owners.

Labour had backed a raft of basic rights including parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal under the umbrella Employment Rights Bill.

But the government has been forced to backtrack after the Bill struggled to progress through the Lords amid concerns about the impact the changes could have on small businesses.

The government conceded to a six-month qualifier, saying it had made a workable package that would be more likely to get approved by MPs. Currently, the qualifying period is 24 months.
Sir Keir Starmer will hold an emergency press conference on Britains response to Donald Trumps latest tariff threats, after warning the US president in a Sunday night phone call that the move was wrong.

Mr Trump announced on Saturday that the UK would be among eight countries charged a 10 per cent tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from February 1, increased to 25 per cent from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

A joint statement from the eight nations - which also includes Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden - warned the tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

A Downing Street spokesperson said Sir Keir told Trump that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong.

Sir Keir Starmer will set out the UKs position in the wake of Donald Trumps fresh tariff threats (PA Wire)

EU countries are now considering whether to impose retaliatory tariffs worth 93bn (80bn), after a meeting of EU ambassadors from the 27 countries in Brussels on Sunday.

Sir Keir is likely to face questions on the governments approach to dealing with the increasingly volatile US administration, amid growing calls for the prime minister to stand up to Mr Trump.

As the prime minister battles devastating approval ratings and growing questions over the direction of the governments domestic agenda, he will be hoping he can regain a grip on the narrative surrounding his foreign policy after the US president appeared to blindside world leaders on Saturday.

Sir Keir will use the press conference to set out the UKs approach to working with its allies and reiterate Britains commitment to Nato, Downing Street sources said.

He will make clear his determination to work at home and abroad to protect the security, living standards, and future of the British people, they added.

Sir Keir - who also spoke to Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Sunday afternoon - used the phone call to reiterate his position on Greenland, telling the US president that security in the High North is a priority for all NATO allies.

It comes after the UK and seven other affected European countries warned that US tariff threats over the future of Greenland.

Trump has caused fury in Europe by announcing the tariffs (The White House)

In a joint statement on Sunday, the countries said they will stand united and coordinated in their response.

"We will always protect our strategic economic and security interests," EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a post on X. "We will face these challenges to our European solidarity with steadiness and resolve."

Brussels hopes the retaliatory tariff measures, which were discussed during a meeting of EU ambassadors on Sunday, will provide European leaders leverage in pivotal meetings with Mr Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.

On the Sunday media round, culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the UK needs to have an "adult debate" with the US. She told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: "Often, with this particular US administration, the president will express a very strong view. He will then encourage a dialogue.

"He welcomes difference of opinion, and we will never shy away from standing up for what we believe is right, or asserting British interests. And what often happens is a negotiation."

But she rejected the possibility that Mr Trump would "chicken out" and back away from the threat, adding: I think this is actually a really serious issue, and I think it deserves a far more adult debate than us threatening the United States and the United States threatening us."

Earlier this week, the UK confirmed it had sent a military officer to Greenland as Denmark stepped up its military presence in the Arctic and High North.

Downing Street said they were sent at Denmarks request to join a reconnaissance group ahead of a planned Arctic endurance exercise, but denied it amounted to a deployment.

But Mr Trump said the countries were playing a very dangerous game.

He said it was time for Denmark to give back, adding: China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.

In a statement on Saturday, Sir Keir reiterated that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.

We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic, he added.

Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.
Tana Ramsay has revealed she developed a skin condition from years of sunbathing with her husband Gordon.

The mother-of-five, 51, warned her children against the dangers of sun damage while talking about her beauty secrets with daughter Tilly, 24.

Ramsay - whose eldest daughter Holly recently married Adam Peaty amid a feud with his family - revealed that she has developed melasma from baking in the sun.

Melasma is a common skin condition in adults in which brown or greyish patches of pigmentation develop, usually on the face.

Gordon and I used to bake. Now I have melasma. I'll never forget going into a pharmacy and the woman behind the counter asking what the stains on my face were, she told the Times.

Gordon and Tana Ramsay (PA)

She said her biggest piece of advice to her children would be to stay out of the sun.

Ramsay now uses fake tan and never leaves the house without an 82 SP50 from her best friend Victoria Beckhams beauty brand.

She added that she loves Beckhams 108 The Foundation Drops with TFC8 - but insisted she wouldnt ask for them for free.

Ramsay said: They're sold out at the moment. I don't like doing [asking Victoria for freebies]. You just wait until it's in stock and buy it properly.

The Ramsays have hit the headlines recently over reported clashes with Olympic swimmer Adam Peatys family.

Holly Ramsay and Adam Peaty with Tana and Gordon (Instagram)

Tana and Gordons eldest daughter, influencer Holly, 26, married Peaty, 31, in a star-studded ceremony at Bath Abbey on December 27.

But the celebrations were overshadowed by reports of a fallout between the groom and his family, with Peaty's mother Caroline banned from attending the ceremony.

It is believed only Peatys sister Bethany - who served as a bridesmaid - was at the wedding.

Reports of a feud among the Peatys first emerged when his mother Caroline did not attend Hollys star-studded hen do at Soho Farmhouse.

It was then claimed Peatys parents were uninvited from his and Hollys big day. Peatys aunt and several other family members called him out on social media for the apparent move.

Gordon and Tana with Holly (Dave Benett)

Meanwhile, his brother James was arrested in November over allegations he sent threatening messages to his brother during his stag do in Budapest. James was questioned before being released.

Ramsay reportedly waded into the family drama by making a dig at Peatys parents during his wedding speech, according to the Sun.

He gushed at how beautiful Holly looked and told Peaty he was a lucky man, adding: Look at Tana and thats what you have to look forward to.

In a swipe at the swimmers absent parents, he then reportedly said: Shame you dont have the same.

Ramsay also said his wife Tana will be a good mum to them both, the outlet reported.
An investigation into Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer by her departments inspector general has found evidence that she took staff to a strip club during an official work trip, according to a report.

Chavez DeRemer was on a five-day visit to her home state of Oregon last spring to meet with Gov. Tina Kotek and the CEO of a local truck manufacturing business and to tour an Intel chip plant when her team took time off to go to the Angels PDX club outside of Portland on April 18, The New York Post reports.

Travel vouchers show the total cost of the trip to Oregon for U.S. taxpayers was $2,890.06, which included $1,324.21 for transportation, $722 for lodging, $655 for meals, and $188.35 for miscellaneous expenses, according to the Post.

Secretary Chavez-DeRemer firmly denies any allegations of wrongdoing, her attorney, Dr Nick Oberheiden, said in a statement in response to the strip club allegation.

Her utmost priority remains to advance President Trumps agenda by continuing her hard and successful work for the betterment of the American people.

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer talks with Union Pacific employees during a listening tour stop at Union Pacific Harriman Dispatch Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 14, 2026 (AP)

A Department of Labor spokesperson told The Independent: The department will not comment on internal or personnel matters. The secretary remains focused on carrying out the departments mission and supporting American workers.

The development comes after it was reported on January 9 that a formal complaint had been lodged against the secretary with the DOLs inspector general, Anthony DEsposito, in which she was accused of abusing her powers, retaining a stash of alcohol in her office, and having an extramarital affair with a subordinate.

The complaint alleged that Chavez-DeRemers Chief of Staff, Jihun Han, and Deputy Chief of Staff, Rebecca Wright, were involved and have knowledge of these issues and had also allegedly been tasked by the secretary with inventing work trips for her to go on where she could also spend time with friends and family.

Han and Wright were duly placed on temporary administrative leave three days later, a step that does not imply any wrongdoing on their part.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said of the probe into the complaint against Chavez-DeRemer: I have spoken to the president about that report regarding the secretary.

Chavez-DeRemer has denied the allegations made in the complaint against her, which is currently being investigated by her departments inspector general (AP)

Hes aware of the internal investigation, and he stands by the secretary, and he thinks that shes doing a tremendous job at the Department of Labor on behalf of American workers.

The travel fraud allegations made in the complaint against the secretary, first reported by the Post, accused her of exploiting her stated aim of visiting all 50 states during her first year  which she was unable to realise in full because of the government shutdown, taking in only 37  by favoring locations in which she had personal ties, including Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Michigan.

The affair allegations against Chavez DeRemer concern alleged meet-ups in hotels and at her D.C. apartment with the unnamed staffer. During one encounter, the secretary allegedly told her security detail she did not need their protection.

The secretarys husband, Dr Shawn DeRemer, has denied that his wife is unfaithful, telling the tabloid in a statement: Theres not an ounce of truth to this, and anyone who knows my wife would know that.
Trump says no comment when asked if he would use military force to take Greenland

President Donald Trump refused to rule out using the U.S. military to seize Greenland in an interview with NBC News  further escalating tensions with allies over his desire to take over the Danish territory.

After months of rhetoric over the island, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark located in the Arctic Circle, Trump has notched up the pressure on Denmark and other NATO allies to allow the U.S. to take control of it.

Over the weekend, the president threatened a 10 percent tariff on Denmark and other European nations unless they support a deal for the U.S. to take over Greenland before February 1. The tariffs would increase to 25 percent from June 1 unless an agreement was reached, Trump said.

When asked Monday by NBC News if he would use the military seize Greenland, Trump responded, no comment.

Trumps comment comes after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted the U.S. president was not serious about using the military to forcibly take over the island. On Monday, Starmer said the dispute over the Danish territory should be resolved through calm discussion between allies.

Protesters gathered in Nuuk, Greenlands capital, over the weekend after Trumps threats to acquire the island (Getty)

Trump has been fixated on Greenland  asserting that its position between Russia, Europe and North America makes it a key location from a national security standpoint. Additionally, Greenlands location in the Arctic makes it a lucrative location to control shipping, especially as the polar ice caps melt. The island is rich in natural minerals and resources that the U.S. does not have readily available.

But every attempt the president has made to convince Danish and Greenlandic leaders to hand over the territory, which has been controlled by Denmark for more than two centuries, has been futile.

World leaders, particularly from NATO countries, have consistently condemned Trumps rhetoric about annexing Greenland.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized Trumps attempts to pressure Denmark to give up the island, especially as members of the administration echoed Trumps rhetoric. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly attempted to quell fears of a military invasion in closed-door briefings.

But drama over the territory has only escalated in recent days.

Protesters in Greenland have opposed the USs aggressive push to annex the island in the Arctic Circle (AP)

Denmark and other European countries have sent small military forces to Greenland.

The eight European countries that Trump threatened with tariffs unless they supported the U.S. acquisition of Greenland released a statement Sunday saying, "Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. When asked if he will follow through on the tariffs, Trump told NBC: I will, 100%."

On Monday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre released a text message Trump sent, in which the U.S. president associated his desire to acquire Greenland with his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

In the message, Trump said he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace.

Stre said in a statement that on several occasions, he clearly explained to Trump that an independent Nobel Committee, not the Norwegian government, awards the coveted prize.

However, in an interview with NBC News, Trump disputed Stres explanation.

Norway totally controls it despite what they say, he said.

They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything thing to do with it, the president added.

He added: Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what thats gotten them...Thats what Europe should focus on  not Greenland.

When asked if he will follow through on plans to hit the European nations with tariffs absent a Greenland deal, Trump said, I will, 100%."
A Danish soldier taking part in live-fire training in Greenland on Sunday - Danish Defence Command/UPI/Shutterstock

Donald Trump has said his plan to take over Greenland was motivated by being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Trump told the prime minister of Norway in a text exchange that in retribution for not receiving the award, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace and would consider what is good and proper for the United States of America.

On Sunday, he said Denmark was not able to protect the island from Russia, and questioned the countrys ownership of Greenland.

Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also, Mr Trump wrote.

Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian prime minister, initiated the exchange, telling the US president that it was time to work to take this down and de-escalate.

So much is happening around us where we need to stand together, Mr Store told his American counterpart.

Mr Trump has repeatedly said he wants to buy the mineral-rich island, despite leaders of both Denmark and Greenland insisting it is not for sale and does not want to be part of the US.

Any US military move against Greenland would be unprecedented and could spell the end of the Nato military alliance.

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In a separate post on Truth Social overnight, Mr Trump said: Nato has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland. Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!

Mr Trump argues he must take over Greenland because it is surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships. But there is no evidence for this based on marine shipping data, while Danish security experts, the Danish government and the Swedish government have said the claim was inaccurate.

The US president has threatened to impose tariffs on European countries which oppose his annexation plans, including Britain.

Sir Keir Starmer told Mr Trump on Sunday that he should not punish Britain for opposing his attempt to take Greenland, and said putting tariffs on European countries for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong.

Speaking on Monday in an emergency address from Downing Street, Sir Keir said Britain could suffer huge damage from the threatened tariffs, whether thats in a trade war or the weakening of alliances.

The Prime Minister said the dispute over the territory should be resolved through calm discussion between allies rather than military action or a trade war.

The European Union, meanwhile, is considering a trade war with Mr Trump after he was accused of blackmail over the tariffs threat. EU leaders will meet on Thursday evening for an emergency summit, a spokeswoman said on Monday.

EU prepares retaliatory tariffs

A diplomatic source told The Telegraph on Sunday that the EU was readying 93bn (80.6bn) in retaliatory tariffs against US exports to the bloc, after Mr Trump said he would impose a 10 per cent tariff on exports from Britain and the EU.

The US levies will come into force on Feb 1 and could increase to 25 per cent on June 1 if no deal for Greenland is reached.

In emergency talks between EU envoys in Brussels on Sunday night, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, urged member states to activate the blocs trade bazooka to restrict US firms access to the single market in response to the threats.

Mr Trumps latest outburst came as a Danish newspaper revealed that the United States attempted to gather sensitive information about military bases, air bases and ports in Greenland last year.

The information was gathered informally and without the involvement of Denmark, the centre-Right newspaper Berlingske reported.

Mr Trump has repeatedly vowed to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, despite the island being Nato territory.

The president is refusing to rule out military action and has belittled Danish efforts to appease his security concerns, such as last years 4.8bn defence package.

Mr Trump wrote to Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian prime minister - Clemens Bilan/EPA/Shutterstock

In his letter to Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian prime minister, obtained by the US broadcaster PBS, Mr Trump suggested his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize had also influenced his desire to take over Greenland.

Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America, he wrote.

Mr Trump also questioned Denmarks right of ownership over Greenland.

Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? he wrote. There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also.

He added: I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States. The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.

The UKs car industry, which is worth 10bn and is the countrys biggest export to the US, was warned on Sunday night thousands of jobs could be lost if it is hit with higher tariffs. The sector had already sunk to its lowest level in 75 years in 2025.

Carmakers already face tariffs of 10 per cent on exports to the US, which could now rise to 35 per cent.

The Institute for Public Policy Research said 25,000 jobs could be at risk across the UKs automotive sector if Mr Trump did not back down.

Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, held emergency meetings over the weekend with car and steel manufacturers who may be worst affected by the tariffs. He is expected to continue the crisis talks on Monday.

Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, has suggested Mr Trumps tariff threat is based on a misunderstanding about Danish-led joint exercises in Greenland last week, and that it would be an error to go ahead with the threat.

She said the exercises were not a move against the US but aimed to provide security against other actors  widely understood to be Russia and China.

The exercises in question, Arctic Endurance, had been arranged prior to the escalation over Greenland. But there had been speculation that Mr Trump saw in those exercises, which included British, German and French troops, among others, a message of protest against a US takeover of the island.

Ms Melonis comments were the first time she has criticised the US president so openly. It represents a rare rift in the relationship between Ms Meloni and Mr Trump, who has frequently praised her both politically and personally.

She is considered to be one of his staunchest allies in Europe and there have been hopes that she could act as a Trump whisperer  a bridge between Brussels and Washington.

But Ms Meloni looked particularly grave and preoccupied when she made the comments on Sunday during a visit to South Korea, the Italian press reported. No one has ever seen her look so worried, said the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

KNQK, Greenlands dogsled federation, said on Monday that the new US special envoy to the Arctic island had been disinvited to its annual race.



Jeff Landry had been asked to attend the race by a private Greenlandic tour operator, an invitation the federation has called totally inappropriate.

A year ago, Usha Vance, the wife of JD Vance, the US vice-president, had planned to attend the dogsled race during a visit to Greenland. Her plans were cancelled amid strong opposition in Denmark. Instead, she and her husband joined a delegation to the US Pituffik military base in the north-west of the island.

Moscow has watched on gleefully as the schism between the US and Europe has widened over Greenland, with one pundit on Russian TV saying this is tremendous for the country.

The Kremlin said on Monday that the US president would go down in history if he succeeded in acquiring the Danish territory.

There are international experts who believe that by resolving the issue of Greenlands annexation, Trump will undoubtedly make history, said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman. Its hard to disagree with these experts.
Vladimir Putin is among the winners from Donald Trumps threats to Nato members - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

When it first became clear, way back, that Donald Trump wanted the Nobel Peace Prize, I suggested that he should be given it straight away. To those who objected (correctly) that he did not deserve it, I replied that the Nobel committee had given it to Barack Obama before he had achieved any peace anywhere. They had appeased one US president. Why not another?

I think I was right. The presidents petulant letter to the Norwegian prime minister leaked today confirms, in effect, that if only Trump had received the famous bauble and accompanying white-tie banquet in Oslo, he would not be threatening to annex Greenland. He says himself that the Nobel snub put him on the warpath.

Anyway, it is too late now and the existence of Nato is in doubt. The head of the Atlantic alliance is threatening to invade a member state (Greenland being part of the Kingdom of Denmark). Article 5 of Natos founding North Atlantic Treaty declares that an attack on one is an attack on all: it does not envisage the tragi-comic possibility that the attacker might itself be a Nato member.

The mere fact that some Nato allies, including Britain, dared object has caused Trump to announce new tariffs against them.

If, as he says, his motive is to defend the High North against aggression from Russia and China, that could and should be addressed at a Nato level. It is exactly the sort of Atlantic security issue that the alliance exists to address. Even though the United States has the 1951 bilateral treaty with Denmark over Greenland, that agreement declaredly involves Nato interests.

But is strategic defence the presidents real motive? No: he wants all that land and all its minerals for his growing American empire (plus fringe benefits for the Trump family as well).

Historically, US buy-ups created large bits of America. Look at the Louisiana and Gadsden Purchases. If Trump bought Greenland, he would be adding 836,000 square miles, a marginally bigger ice-cold lump than the United States acquired by buying Alaska in 1867. The man for whom bigger is always better would have made America second only to Russia in global size. Perhaps he thinks he can throw in Venezuela too.

He would also have surrounded another Nato member on whom he has territorial designs  Canada.

Incredible but true, Canadian policy circles are now having private discussions about how they might defend their country against American attack, as they did successfully, with Britain, in the war of 1812.

When the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, made a trade agreement with the previously hostile China in Beijing at the weekend, he said it was needed in the new world order. By that he meant the threat from Trump.

Here, in summary, are lessons from the story so far:

It is much worse, under Trump, to be Americas ally than its traditional opponent. You are disregarded and disrespected. This is particularly true for conservative parties, because their vision of the collective security of free (and free-trading) countries is undermined. Opponents, such as China and Russia, are bigged up. If Trump did invade, a guiltless, insulted Denmark would surely feel bound to leave Nato. If so, how could other member states feel they could stay? Russia could not be happier. This is the disintegration Putin has worked more than 20 years to achieve. It will win him recruits in European politics. China is happy too. Here in Britain, the Reform Party, and Nigel Farage in particular, will be saddled with a Trump friendship running directly counter to the best interests of Britain. The EU, which Trump hates, will feel vindicated. Perhaps Denmark could invoke the EUs Article 5 equivalent, Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union. It binds member states to resist an attack with all the means in their power. Sir Keir Starmer will feel further emboldened to try to get Britain back into the EU.

One must hope Republican politicians in the United States bestir themselves at last. They surely do not want an America which antagonises the free world and lets itself be outmanoeuvred by tyrants.

They will also be horrified if the United States armed forces are ordered to perform actions  even though short of actual shooting  which confront their countrys allies. I gather some senior American officers are already talking of putting in their papers early, rather than be treated in this way by their Commander-in-Chief.

Memorials and false comparisons

On Tuesday, the Commons will almost certainly follow the Government and reject the Lords amendment to the Holocaust Memorial Bill. This tries to ensure the planned learning centre next to Parliament would restrict its use solely to issues relating to the Holocaust and anti-Semitism.

The refusal would show the equivocation at the heart of this unhappy project. Those of us who oppose this do so because we think it will dilute the unique horror of the murder of Jews by the Nazis.

In our age, numerous groups seek the victim status afforded by a Holocaust memorial. The accusation of genocide gets thrown at numerous conflicts, including  causing intended pain  Israels conduct in Gaza, where the only genocidal intent came from Hamas, who started it.

Labour is running scared of pro-Gaza MPs. They should be the last people to dictate this decision. When the Commons pings this measure to the Upper House on Wednesday, I hope peers will say so.
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Is Trump trying to replace the United Nations with his own board of peace?

We are not even a month into 2026, and now face a genuine question: is Donald Trump using his board of peace as a pretext to replace the United Nations?

It is no secret that Trump wants to shake things up and has no love for the global body.

And it is no exaggeration to say that Trumps actions since he took office a year ago have already sparked a global paradigm shift, driven by America First policy, his desire to be a deal-maker president, and his Donroe Doctrine, which seeks to reassert US dominance in the western hemisphere.

Now, as the UN marks its 80th anniversary, it appears the president is attempting to build a rival organisation that he could lead himself.

And in true Trump style, it resembles the restructuring of a major corporation.

Last week, the White House announced the membership of what it called a founding executive board, under the chairmanship of President Donald J Trump.

Composed of his inner circle, billionaires and Tony Blair, it will oversee the long-awaited board of peace, which was originally meant to enact the presidents 20-point plan for Gaza and the reconstruction of the devastated territory.

Donald Trump and Tony Blair pose for a photo at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt last year (PA)

However, the real ambitions of both bodies appear to extend far beyond Gaza, according to recent leaks from the draft charter. The charter has reportedly been sent to around 60 countries for their sign-on. Some diplomats are concerned that it is, in fact, intended as a rival to the UN.

For a start, the charter does not mention Gaza at all, according to the text obtained by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and the Financial Times.

Instead, the body aims to restore dependable and lawful governance and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. It stresses that its ambition is to be a more nimble and effective international peace building body, in what appears to be a direct dig at the UN.

The charter also grants wide-ranging powers to Trump as chair, according to Haaretz, which said the text allows him to appoint and remove member states, in a decision that could only be overturned by a two-thirds veto.

Diplomatic sources have said the scope for this board could even extend to negotiating crises and conflicts in places like Venezuela and Ukraine.

A yellow block demarcating the yellow line, which has separated the Gaza Strips Israeli-held and Palestinian zones since the October ceasefire, is visible in Jabalia (AP)

The White House said that on the executive board is US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Trumps special envoy and real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and Tony Blair, whose role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq has made him unpopular in some Middle Eastern quarters.

Also listed are Marc Rowan, the billionaire chief executive of a private equity firm, Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, and Robert Gabriel, a US national security adviser.

The board of peace, which sits below it, contains several members of the executive board, alongside two former UN envoys, including Sigrid Kaag, who last year quit as the UNs special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, telling a Dutch outlet the entire process was on life support. It also contains representatives of Egypt, the UAE, Qatar and Turkey, who all played a key role in Gaza peace negotiations.

There are no Palestinians. There is one Israeli: Yakir Gabay, a billionaire property tycoon.

Putins press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, claimed the Russian president received an invitation to join the board of peace through diplomatic channels.

Invitation letters sent to heads of state to join the charter also indicate that this body is not solely about Gaza.

The Board of Peace and its executive will establish a New International Organisation and Transitional Governing Administration, reads the letter sent to Argentine president Javier Milei, who published his invitation online.

Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE, it adds.

GRACIAS PRESIDENTE TRUMP @realDonaldTrump@POTUS



Es un honor para mi haber recibido esta noche la invitacion para que la Argentina integre, como Miembro Fundador, el Board of Peace, una organizacion creada por el Presidente Trump para promover una paz duradera en regiones pic.twitter.com/ORalzkzhlv  Javier Milei (@JMilei) January 17, 2026

Each member state can designate an authorised representative to attend and participate in meetings, it adds.

Does any of that structure sound familiar?

As I said, it is no secret that Trump is no fan of the UN. After being stuck on a broken escalator and then dealing with a malfunctioning teleprompter at the 80th UN General Assembly meeting in September, he delivered a blistering speech, questioning what is the purpose of the United Nations?

From the podium, he declared he had ended seven wars, but never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help.

He concluded by saying the UN is not only failing to solve the problems that it should, but too often is actually creating new problems for us to solve.

And he has gone on to take unilateral action.

Since the war on Gaza erupted in 2023, the US has vetoed six UN Security Council resolutions calling for ceasefires in Gaza, with the latest in September.

Donald Trump gestures after concluding his remarks to the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York (AFP/Getty)

Instead, the president has pressed ahead with his own deal and these boards. The mandate for a board of peace was authorised by the UN Security Council in November, but that authorisation limits its geographical focus to the Gaza conflict and its mandate to 2027.

And so has the US president simply taken this limited approval and run with it?

The fear from some quarters is the creation of a decision-making global body controlled and staffed by one of the most powerful men on the planet, who appears intent on challenging other international structures such as Nato and the ICC.

To cite a former deputy secretary general of Nato, Trump seems bent on destroying what has been the post-Second World War, law-governed order enshrined in the UN charter.

Is taking down the UN now in his sights?
The government faces mounting pressure for stricter curbs on social media use for younger teenagers. Photograph: Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images (Photograph: Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images)

Ministers have launched a consultation into whether to ban under-16s from using social media as part of a package of measures designed to curb mobile phone use among young people.

Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, announced the consultation on Monday as the government responds to mounting pressure for stricter curbs on social media use for younger teenagers. On Monday afternoon, Esther Ghey, the mother of the murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, became the latest high profile figure to add her name to those in support of a ban.

The announcement comes as peers prepare to vote on an amendment to the childrens wellbeing and schools bill on Wednesday, which would enact a ban within a year of the bill passing.

Related: Children need protecting from social media  and generative AI

Keir Starmer, the prime minister, has said he is open to the idea of a ban, but allies say he wants to wait to see more evidence from Australia, where a ban was enacted in December, before making up his mind.

Kendall said in a statement: Through the Online Safety Act, this government has already taken clear, concrete steps to deliver a safer online world for our children and young people.

These laws were never meant to be the end point, and we know parents still have serious concerns. That is why I am prepared to take further action.

The consultation will explore a range of options, including whether to introduce a social media age limit, how to enforce such a limit, stopping technology companies accessing young users data and limiting addictive tools such as infinite scrolling.

The government also says it expects every school to be free of mobile phones by default, with Ofsted to include reports on phone use as part of their regular inspections.

The move is partly intended to buy the government time before Wednesday, when peers will vote on a proposal by the Conservative peer Lord Nash to set an age limit for social media at 16.

Several Labour peers are expected to vote for the amendment, while the Guardian revealed over the weekend that 61 Labour MPs had also written to Starmer to express their support.

Nash said on Monday he did not feel the governments consultation went far enough, and that he would be pushing ahead with his amendment.

This announcement offers nothing for the hundreds of thousands of parents, teachers, medical professionals, senior police officers, national security experts and parliamentarians of all parties who have been calling for a raising of the age limit for social media.

The prime minister must be in no doubt about the strength of feeling on this. The longer we delay, the more children we fail. I continue to urge all peers to back my amendment on Wednesday which would begin to end the catastrophic harm being done to a generation.

The governments announcement came hours after Ghey wrote to Starmer explaining in detail how she felt her daughters eating disorder and self-harm had been exacerbated by TikTok influencers with whom she had become obsessed.

Ghey joined eight other sets of bereaved parents in calling for the government to back Nashs amendment, which they said sends an important and unambiguous message that social media is not appropriate for children under the age of 16.

She wrote: Brianna had a social media addiction and struggled with her mental health from the age of 14. She developed an eating disorder and was self-harming, and all of this was significantly exacerbated by the harmful content she was consuming online.

Ghey added: I was constantly having heated conversations with Brianna, who became determined that she wanted to be both TikTok famous and a sex worker.

Alongside this, I was in constant fear about who Brianna might be speaking to online. I tried to monitor her phone through spot checks, but she was able to hide things from me very easily.

Brianna was murdered in 2023 in Warrington, Cheshire, by two teenagers in a brutal attack partly motivated by her transgender identity.

Her mother later described how she had become obsessed with social media in the months before her death, accessing content related to anorexia and self-harm.

Brianna had cultivated a friendship with one of her killers, who at one point tried to poison her with ibuprofen, telling her it was MDMA. That girl had also been spending time in parts of the dark web, looking at websites that featured live abuse.

The prime minister said at a press conference on Monday: I think we need to do more to protect children and thats why were looking at a range of options and saying that no options are off the table. Were obviously looking at whats happened in Australia  something I have discussed with the Australian prime minister.
How should a loyal ally react to an increasingly erratic and angry Donald Trump? The answer offered by the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, in what amounted to an emergency press conference, is with steady diplomacy.

As things stand  with a tariff war scheduled by the US, but crucially not yet launched  that actually seems like an eminently sensible stance.

Its also wise to avoid a head-on collision with the US president right now. Resistance to Mr Trump is, in some respects, growing within the other arms of the US government. Republican voices in Congress are starting to speak out against the idea of the US attacking Greenland, the territory of a Nato ally, and the Supreme Court will soon deliver its verdict on the constitutionality of President Trumps proposed use of tariffs as a foreign policy weapon during a non-existent national emergency.

The rest of the world shouldnt expect too much from a body politic still infected by Maga extremism, but, with the midterm elections also looming this year, it is at least possible that peak Trump is being reached. It is therefore a moment for nerves to be held. Greenland may yet survive.

For now, therefore, President Trump must be managed by Sir Keir in the national interest. It might, as Sir Keir derisively points out, make some performative politicians feel good to sound off on social media, but it is not serious diplomacy.

Ensconced in No 10 for some 18 months now, Sir Keir understands better than most the unequal power dynamic between the US and post-Brexit Britain, and just how much the UK depends on America for trade, investment, intelligence and national security, up to and including the nuclear deterrent.

He is right to say out loud that the future of Greenland is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes, and that a trade war is in nobodys interests. He has said as much to the president. It is a judicious approach, guided by experience.

This is not the first time that Downing Street has been confronted with such a dilemma. Indeed, it has emerged time and again since the Second World War. It certainly happened a good deal in President Trumps first term, and successive British prime ministers, and their counterparts across what we still think of as the West, have had to cope as best they can.

Standing up to Mr Trump usually tends to make him more aggressive. Appeasing him only invites more bullying. Most such storms, including last years trade wars and the bizarre plan to turn Gaza into a beach resort, for example, have tended to blow themselves out, albeit with lasting damage to trust in the reliability of the United States as a partner. The presidents current fixation with gaining what he calls Complete and Total Control of Greenland is in a different league, certainly, but it demands the same cautious approach.

The Greenland initiative is an extremely toxic product of President Trumps habit of connecting disparate areas of policy  in this case, national security, trade, commercial opportunities in Greenland, and the Nobel Peace Prize.

Its a cocktail laced with his own uniquely poisonous vanity, and it is proving deeply corrosive. Despite the harsh language  his talk of European nations facing civilisational erasure  and despite the personal insults, never before has Mr Trump threatened war against an ally.

Strictly speaking, when the president of the United States wrote to the prime minister of Norway that he no longer feel[s] an obligation to think purely of peace, he wasnt saying anything new  at least, not in relation to his proposed acquisition of Greenland. The US president, along with the Trump administration more widely, has seldom ruled out the use of military force in any aspect of foreign policy (Canada being a rare exception).

The prospect of a superpower unleashing its vast arsenal in its own interests is negotiating leverage. That much is understood, but the presidents tone, along with his threats against US allies, is anything but conventional.

Although this extraordinary, and puerile, note was addressed to the Norwegian premier, in part as a protest against the (entirely independent) Nobel committee deciding not to award Mr Trump their peace prize, it was directed at a number of European governments that have recently sent modest forces to Greenland, including Britain.

Rather than be encouraged by this gesture of solidarity against supposed Chinese and Russian incursions into the Arctic, President Trump seems to have taken umbrage at the move, calling it anti-US. By all accounts, Sir Keir spent most of his phone call to the White House trying to convince Mr Trump that it wasnt intended as a hostile act.

The lesson of this particular incident is that it is best to involve President Trump in any action in his hemisphere that he might find remotely problematic. The wider lesson, relating to his irascible style of diplomacy, is much the same: there is no need to overreact to his own overreactions, and to thus escalate conflicts, when the obvious solution is to calm things down and buy time.

As the prime minister put it: Our job is to find a way forward. It might be more time-consuming and exhausting than tapping out a rude post on social media, but its how a British prime minister should behave. For his role as the unofficial Trump whisperer, Sir Keir deserves some sort of peace prize of his own. As the old slogan goes, Keep calm and carry on.
Demonstrators claimed that one of the pastors at the church also leads the local ICE field office

Immigration customs enforcement (ICE) protesters who stormed a church over the weekend will face federal charges, the Trump administration said.

Demonstrators interrupted a service at the Cities Church in Minnesotas capital of St Paul, claiming that one of its pastors also leads the local ICE field office.

The protest at the church on Sunday was covered by Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor who left the news network in 2023 and now broadcasts his own show to millions of followers online.

Mr Lemon followed protestors into the church, who repeatedly chanted ICE out and disrupted the service.

The clip enraged supporters of Donald Trump, who also called on the administration to investigate Mr Lemon.

Harmeet Dhillon, the US department of justices assistant attorney general for civil rights, said on Monday that Lemon and the protesters could face investigation under a 1871 law designed to protect African Americans from the Ku Klux Klan.

The Klan Act is a law that makes it illegal to terrorise citizens, to violate their civil rights, to get together and conspire to violate their civil rights, Ms Dhillon told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson.

It is often used against law enforcement but is now used against others as well.

A still of a child crying during the disruption has been shared widely online

Mr Lemons status as a journalist is not a shield from being an embedded part of a criminal conspiracy, Ms Dhillon added. Were getting our ducks in a row. Were putting the facts together.

In a video posted to his YouTube channel yesterday, Mr Lemon said he had no affiliation with the group that organised the protest.

I didnt even know they were going to this church until we followed them there. We were there chronicling protests. Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people that were involved, which included the pastor, members of the church and members of the organisation, he said.

In a post on X on Sunday evening, Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, said she had spoken to the pastor of the church.

Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law, she wrote.

If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this department of justice will remain mobilised to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.

Protesters chanted ICE out

Protests have been ongoing in Minnesota since an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good in her car on Jan 7 during an enforcement operation.

The Trump administration is discussing deploying 1,500 troops to Minnesota, according to reports.

The Pentagon has placed two battalions on prepare-to-deploy orders as tensions continue to rise around ICE operations.

Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis mayor who has called on immigration agents to leave the city, told CNN on Sunday that deploying troops would be completely unconstitutional.

The administration sent 2,000 agents to the Minneapolis area in January, which it called ICEs largest immigration operation ever.

Kristi Noem, homeland security secretary, said on Monday that agents had arrested 3,000 criminal illegal aliens in Minneapolis in the last six weeks.

Agitators arent just targeting our officers. Now theyre targeting churches, too, a post on ICEs X account said.

Theyre going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.

Trump administration officials have maintained that Good weaponised her car and the agent, Jonathan Ross, acted in self-defence.

State and local officials have questioned the narrative provided by the federal government and called on immigration officials to leave the city.
Water companies will be required to carry out to infrastructure MOTs to prevent major failures under plans for a new industry watchdog, the Government has said.

Ministers are set to unveil a series of reforms in Parliament as they move ahead with a major regulatory shake-up that will see Ofwat abolished and the current system of overlapping oversight by four different bodies merged into a single regulator.

The Water White Paper, which will be published on Tuesday morning, will outline powers planned for this new watchdog, which aim to put failure prevention first and strengthen accountability.

Under the proposals, water companies will have to perform health checks on their infrastructure to proactively identify crumbling pipes, pumps or issues at sewage treatment works before they fail.

The hope is that risks such as South East Waters pipes bursting in cold weather, which recently left thousands of homes without supply, are identified in advance.

A chief engineer will also sit inside the new water regulator for the first time in two decades to bring back hands-on checks of infrastructure, so that firms are not marking their own homework.

Ofwat will unlikely be formally axed before 2027, and the process to establish the new regulator will be complex  meaning it is unclear when it will start operating.

But the Government will say on Tuesday that it will set out a transition path in the coming months, and a new water reform bill to bring forward the legislation needed for the system to take effect.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: These are once-in-a-generation reforms for our water system  tough oversight, real accountability, and no more excuses.

Water companies will have nowhere to hide from poor performance, customers will get the service they deserve, and investors will see a system built for the future.

This builds on the tough action weve already delivered, from record investment to banning unfair bonuses.

Other measures in the Water White Paper will include the setting up of dedicated teams for each company.

This will replace the current one-size-fits-all approach, with the aim of providing the new regulator with a better understanding of how each firm operates.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Emma Reynolds (Andrew Matthews/PA) (Andrew Matthews)

And where their performance falls short, the regulator will be able to put tailored performance improvement regimes in place, which means it can act quicker to fix failures.

Elsewhere, the paper outlines new no-notice powers for the watchdog to check water firms security and emergency preparedness for events such as attacks on infrastructure or contingency plans for supply issues.

Clean lines of accountability for senior executives will also be outlined in the paper in measures likened to those seen in the financial sector.

The planned changes come as part of the Governments response to public fury over rising bills, sewage pollution and large bonuses for bosses.

Currently, Ofwat oversees how much water companies in England and Wales can charge for services; the Drinking Water Inspectorate ensures that public water supplies are safe; while the Environment Agency and Natural England have regulatory functions to monitor firms impact on nature.

The regulators have faced intense criticism for overseeing companies during years when they paid out to shareholders and accrued large debts, while ageing infrastructure crumbled and sewage spills skyrocketed.

Philip Duffy, chief executive of the Environment Agency, called the Water White Paper a key milestone in turning around our water system.

During the transition to the new regulator, our priorities remain unchanged, he said.

We are focused on delivering our key services  carrying out 10,000 inspections of water company assets this year and working with our partner regulators, planners, water companies, farmers and environmental organisations to protect and enhance our water environment.

South East Water staff handing out bottled water at a water station in Maidstone, Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA) (Gareth Fuller)

Chris Walters, Ofwat interim chief executive, said: The creation of a new water regulator for England will bring a renewed focus, improve the sector for customers, investors and the environment, and rebuild trust.

In the meantime, our work continues.

We are already working closely with (the Environment Department) and our partner regulators as the Government develops the new body, ensuring the sector moves towards a more integrated and resilient future.

Tim Farron, environment spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said the White Paper does not go far enough to guarantee the fundamental regulatory reform that was promised.

We must completely overhaul how water companies run, he said.

Liberal Democrats are calling for a new ownership model with water companies mutually owned by customers and professionally managed.

James Wallace, chief executive of River Action, said many of the measures announced are welcome steps, but warned that major gaps remain in areas such as triggers for special administration, a commitment to restructure company investment and ownership and more ambition to tackle agricultural pollution.

The publication of the Water White Paper signals the Government recognises the scale of the freshwater emergency, but lacks the urgency and bold reform to tackle it, he said.

A spokesperson for Water UK, which represents the industry, welcomed the White Paper but said the focus must now shift from diagnosis to delivery.

Our country will not have the environment it wants or the economic growth it needs until a new water regulator is established, they said.

We cannot afford for any more long-term decisions to be taken by a system everyone knows has failed.
WH Smith has named the former boss of infrastructure giant Balfour Beatty as its incoming executive chairman, to help the group return to stability as it recovers from a damaging accounting blunder at its US business.

The retailer said Leo Quinn will start on April 7, subject to shareholder approval, replacing current non-executive chairwoman Annette Court.

Ms Court will leave at the end of the firms annual shareholder meeting on February 2, and senior independent director Simon Emeny will be interim chairman until Mr Quinn starts.

Ms Court said: The board strongly believes that Leos record of leadership and significant experience of successfully delivering transformation for large international companies make him the right candidate to deliver the groups return to stability and long-term growth strategy.

Shares in the retailer jumped 11% in morning trading on Monday as investors cheered Mr Quinns appointment.

Jonathan Eng, fundamental portfolio manager at major WH Smith shareholder Causeway Capital, said: WH Smith urgently needs a leader who is disciplined on capital spending and focused on rebuilding North American margins.

As chief executive of Balfour Beatty, Leo Quinn transformed the company from a poorly managed, loss-making UK infrastructure group to one winning contracts, generating cash, and delivering a total shareholder return more than three times that of the FTSE 250 during his tenure.

Mr Quinn, who was group chief executive of Balfour Beatty for more than 10 years, will take on the role at WH Smith with a share award worth an initial 12.25 million on top of his 360,000 annual salary, plus pension and benefits.

The award will pay out based on an annual share price performance test measured over five years and could be worth a potential 24.5 million if the firms stock doubles in value from its current level.

Mr Quinn will also buy shares worth 2 million with his own funds.

But he will not be entitled to receive an annual bonus or other long-term incentive awards.

Mr Quinn said: WH Smith is a great business with a remarkable heritage.

Working with the leadership team and our colleagues worldwide, I intend to ensure the company has the right foundations in place to deliver longterm value for its investors, business partners and employees.

Previous WH Smith chief executive Carl Cowling stepped down in November after an investigation into an accounting blunder in its US division and as the retailer warned over profits once again.

Mr Cowling was replaced by Andrew Harrison, chief executive of the groups UK division, on an interim basis until the appointment of a permanent successor.

It followed an independent review by Deloitte which found a number of shortcomings in which the group overstated profits in the US business by as much as 50 million because of issues with its audit process.

WH Smith said last month it would claw back about 1.5 million in overpaid bonuses from former bosses, including Mr Cowling, just a week after it confirmed it was being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority over the affair.

The retailer told investors in December that it had kickstarted a remediation plan, to strengthen its governance and controls, ensure processes are aligned across the group, and enact cultural change involving training and monitoring.

WH Smith is now focused solely on its 1,300 shops in global travel locations, including at airports and train stations, after selling its high street chain of about 480 shops to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital in June.

As part of the deal, the WH Smith name is disappearing from British high streets and being replaced by brand TGJones.

The slimmed-down business reported a pre-tax profit of 108 million for the year to the end of August, excluding what it deems one-off costs.

Mr Harrison is expected to continue as interim chief executive until Mr Quinn takes up the role in April and will then continue to work closely with the executive chairman.

Before Balfour Beatty, Mr Quinn was chief executive for firms including defence technology firm Qinetiq and banknote printer De La Rue.
The Plage de Boyardville on Ile dOleron. Photograph: Hemis/Alamy (Photograph: Hemis/Alamy)

Dinner comes with a spectacle in La Tremblade. Before I sit down to a platter of oysters at La Cabane des Bons Vivants, one of the villages canal-side restaurants, I stand and watch orange flames bellow up from a tangle of long, skinny pine needles inside a large, open oven. They are piled on top of a board of carefully arranged mussels and, by setting fire to the pine needles, the shellfish cook in their own juices.

This is the curious tradition of moules a leclade, a novel way of cooking mussels developed by Marennes-Oleron oyster farmers along the River Seudre in the Charente-Maritime, halfway down Frances west coast. The short-lived flaming spectacle is a prelude to sliding apart the charred shells and finding juicy orange molluscs inside  and just one highlight of our evening along La Greve. The avenue that cuts between the oyster beds, lined by colourful, ramshackle huts and rustic pontoons is an alluring venue for a sunset meal by the canal, the atmosphere all the more lively and fascinating for it being in a working oyster-farming village.

Im with my family here in the Charente-Maritime, just north of where the Gironde estuary meets the Atlantic and around an hour south of the regions more famous resorts of Ile de Re and La Rochelle. Our five days here will show us how a holiday rolls with the same alluring vibe as those settings farther north, but costs less and has more to explore (our base is a comfortable villa in the village of Etaules), with towns such as Royan on the itinerary.

The first stop for any self-catering stay in France, though, is the market. Royans is out of this world. Completed in 1956, the Marche Central de Royan has a decidedly futuristic vibe; inside, the 50-metre-span dome is lit by a space-age pattern of skylights, suggesting this flying saucer might take off at any moment.

Its offerings are equally impressive, and we stock up on cheeses, including a creamy Brillat-Savarin and a fruity Comte; charcuterie, including the local terrine, le grillon charentais, and saucisson; a big blousy lettuce, crunchy cucumber and a perfumed melon. It takes some resistance to say Cest tout, merci when each stallholder says Avec ceci? (What else would you like?) after each choice, and we come away laden with bags of fresh, local goodies.

When it comes to beaches were spoiled for choice. The children have brought bodyboards, so we head for the Atlantic waves

A short walk from the market is another mid-century marvel, the Eglise Notre-Dame de Royan. Like the market hall and much of the local housing, it was built as the town recovered from Allied bombing towards the end of the second world war and is extraordinary  especially when you catch sight of its concrete belltower and sharp angular structure above the roof-lines. Inside, it is even more impressive and is said to have provided inspiration for the audience hall in Dragonstone in the TV series Game of Thrones.

A triangular stained-glass window is framed by V-shaped pillars that tower above, punctuated by thin windows of white glass. We explore its balconies and hidden features between the concrete alcoves, before coming outside into the bright sunlight. The beach is a few steps away, but we resolve to return, when our gastronomic treasures arent wilting in the car.

When it comes to beaches here, were spoiled by choice. The children have brought bodyboards, so we head to Plage Le Vieux Phare for action on the Atlantic waves. Its overlooked by a cartoon-like red-and-white painted lighthouse, the Phare de la Coubre. A queue is snaking from its entrance and the views from the top are said to be wonderful, but we choose to enjoy it from the beach instead  what with it being 35C.

We hike across the soft sand to the life-guarded area a short distance from the ruined old stone lighthouse. Soon were jumping and riding the ferocious waves and the sight of the beach, east and west, disappears in a haze of sea spray.

The beach we visit the next day is more sedate; a day trip to the Ile dOleron takes us to Plage de Boyardville at the north of the island. Our drive takes us through pine forests and deep woods that expand across the island, which is twice the breadth of the Ile de Re. We park beneath towering pine trees and follow the path to the beach, a picnic of our market spoils in the cool bag. The boardwalk leads to a perfect crescent and a shallow lagoon in which children tumble and splash.

Saint-Pierre-dOleron is reminiscent of the Ile de Re, only a little scruffier, which adds to its charm

To my left, the silhouette of Fort Boyard looms on the horizon. The concept behind this architectural curiosity dates from the mid-17th century but it was finally completed amid tensions between the French and English in 1857. The fort was intended to guard the coast but soon became obsolete and was used as a prison. From the beach it looks quite small, but distances can be deceptive: it is in fact 68 metres long and could house 250 soldiers with 74 cannons. Recounting my hazy memories of the 1990s Fort Boyard TV game show  a kind of Crystal Maze at sea only with tigers and Dirty Den (Leslie Grantham)  warrants a raised eyebrow from my 12-year-old son.

After indulging in ice-cream sundaes at Le Cafe de la Plage, we head into Saint-Pierre-dOleron, the islands main town. Its late afternoon on a Sunday, so few shops are open but theres a four-piece jazz group playing on the main street, which brings an upbeat lilt to the sleepy town. With hollyhocks swaying in the breeze, white-washed, green and grey-shuttered houses, and long early evening shadows, it is reminiscent of the Ile de Re, only a little scruffier, which adds to its charm. We browse the shops that are open and wander back to the car, feeling sleepy and sun-kissed.

As we drive over the bridge back to the mainland, the tide has come in under it, and several aluminium oyster-catching boats are speeding by beneath.

The village of Mornac-sur-Seudre to the south is also reminiscent of the Ile de Re, with its white-washed houses, creeping wisteria and bright pink oleander bushes. We go early evening for a sundowner, next to its own waterway and oyster beds, and see more moules a leclade going up in flames outside the seafood restaurant Le Parc des Graves. We window-shop the gift shops and galleries, annoyed we didnt get there earlier.

La Tremblade is our favourite though, and so we return to La Greve for a final meal at La Cabane de la Grand-Mere, which does its mussels differently  moules a la brasero. The recipe, borrowed from oyster-farming communities near the Mediterranean, sees them marinated with herbs, onions, white wine and olive oil and then cooked on a griddle over a fire. After swigging back a platter of briny oysters, we tuck into the steaming pots of mussels and agree these are the best weve ever eaten. I ask the owner how they are cooked and she tells me the recipe. All the very best flavours! she laughs. When I say how theyre even better than moules a leclade, she smiles and says: Ah but, with the eclade, its a much bigger spectacle! The flames are amazing! I cant disagree.

Transport from Portsmouth to Caen was provided by Brittany Ferries; return crossing from 224 for a car and a family of four. For more information on the area, see infiniment-charentes.com

 Carolyn Boyd is the author of Amuse Bouche: How to Eat Your Way Around France (Profile, 10.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com
Alex Gordons appointment to a senior role in the Communist Party highlights links between the RMT rail union and the far-Left - Getty

A long-serving RMT rail union official has become general secretary of the Communist Party.

Alex Gordon, who spent 16 years as president of the RMT, was appointed to the leadership of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) at the weekend.

The far-Left partys executive committee held a vote to appoint Mr Gordon, a former long-distance train driver who was based at London Paddington station.

It comes after The Telegraph revealed how current RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey travelled to eastern Ukraine and took part in a pro-Russian Communist propaganda event in 2015.

Mr Gordons appointment is further confirmation that top figures in the railway trade union movement are card-carrying Communists. It raises questions about the risks posed to Britain when people with Marxist views have the power to instigate rail strikes.

Credit: YouTube / Luhansk Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine

Hailing the great honour of becoming the CPBs general secretary, Mr Gordon said in a statement: I am conscious of the enormous political responsibility and trust placed in me personally and the duty of every Party member to work for a united front against austerity, imperialism and war in a period when capitalism general crisis [sic] is intensifying.

He added: We will build the Marxist party of the Labour movement in Britain. Our flag stays red!

Mr Gordons tenure as RMT president spanned the reigns of general secretaries Bob Crow, Mick Cash and Mick Lynch, as well as Mr Dempsey.

In September, Mr Dempsey called a Tube strike that brought London to a standstill. The Centre for Economics and Business Research think tank estimated the economic damage at 230m.

Labour mayor Sir Sadiq Khan caved in to the RMTs demands, handing out a 3.4 per cent pay rise for its members that took Tube drivers salaries beyond 75,000.

Rail union member and communist Alex Gordon, seen at a protest in London, has vowed to build the Marxist party of the Labour movement in Britain - Ukraine Antifascist Solidarity

The CPD, in its most recent financial accounts filed with the Electoral Commission, stated that it had 1,270 members and received donations totalling more than 337,000.

The partys constitution states that its aim is a revolutionary transformation of society, ending the existing capitalist system of exploitation and replacing it with a socialist society in which each will contribute according to ability and receive according to work done.

During the Cold War, the party  then called the Communist Party of Great Britain  acted as a front organisation for clandestine Soviet activities, and was a focus of counter-espionage efforts by MI5. The CPB emerged in 1988 when the party split in factions as the Soviet Union disintegrated.
Passengers waiting to board a Jet2 plane were left in a stairwell at Manchester Airport - MEN Media

Jet2 has apologised after a flight left 35 passengers behind, waiting in a dead-end stairwell.

The airline is investigating the incident as a matter of urgency after a flight from Manchester Airport to Alicante left without dozens of passengers on Monday morning.

Holidaymakers showed their passports to airline staff and had their boarding passes scanned, according to the Manchester Evening News.

But they were then left standing in a stairway for about 40 minutes before the plane left without them.

The group was later reportedly told that there had been an error on the stairwell directions.

One passenger told the newspaper that he felt like a caged animal during the ordeal.

Stuck like caged animals

He added: So weve all come to the terminal and everybodys gone through from [seats] 26 to 40. Then they called the rest of us. Weve all gone through to the gate and boarded.

But instead of carrying on to the plane, there were some stairs... we all went down the stairs and followed each other. There was a lot of us.

And then were thinking, Why arent these doors open? We thought a bus would come for us and take us to the plane.

We were there for 10 minutes, 20, 30. Then we thought, Whats going on? We were literally stuck like caged animals.

A Jet2 spokesman said: We are aware that flight LS879 from Manchester to Alicante departed without some customers and are investigating this as a matter of urgency with the airport.

Our team are looking after them and we have already arranged for them to take other flights to Alicante today. We would, of course, like to apologise to these customers.
Shabana Mahmood is expected to propose a review of the number of forces - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing

Local police forces are failing to tackle complex modern crimes, Shabana Mahmood believes.

The Home Secretary is concerned that the current model of 43 police forces in England and Wales is buckling under the strain of dealing with borderless crimes such as online child abuse, violence against women and girls, fraud and cyber crime, government sources said.

She believes that the 43 forces are too fragmented and often lack the capability and expertise to combat digitally savvy, organised criminals operating across borders.

Sources said it meant that complex modern crimes were going unpunished. At the same time, police forces were being distracted by national burdens that meant they struggled to crack down on local crimes such as burglary, thefts and anti-social behaviour.

Force reforms

The analysis comes ahead of a white paper setting out police reforms, expected to be the most far-reaching since a royal commission more than 60 years ago paved the way to replace up to 300 forces with the current 43.

Ms Mahmood is expected to propose a shake up of the way the 43 forces operate amid calls from Britains most senior police officers for them to be cut to between 10 and 20.

Police chiefs are also calling for a single overarching police body to bring together the National Crime Agency (NCA), counter-terrorism police, regional serious organised crime squads and the City of London fraud centre.

The Government analysis suggests these crime types are increasingly interconnected.

An example of this is the increasing use of serious organised crime groups by states such as Russia to carry out sabotage acts in the UK and across Europe. Whether it be arson or cybercrime  these are cross portfolio threats, a source said.

Fraud, which now accounts for more than four million crimes a year, is also often led by overseas scammers with no respect for constabulary boundaries while online child abuse and violence against women had nearly doubled in a decade.

Across each of these issues, fragmentation in the approach across 43 different forces results in duplication, silos and incompatible IT systems, the source said.

Local policing

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the 43-force structure, with other agencies such as the NCA, counter-terror policing and College of Policing bolted on, was out of date.

He told The Telegraph: The key about this is our foundation is local policing. If you dont organise the rest of policing, you suck resources away from local policing.

If we organise policing better in fewer building blocks that are better organised, more efficient, more capable, you can leave more resourcing locally, fighting crime. If you dont do that, the smaller forces get less and less viable and actually its community policing that struggles.

So this isnt about centralisation to weaken the local. This is about creating a model that makes the local sustainable. It certainly means between 10 and 20 forces.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the 43-force structure was out of date - James Manning/PA

The concerns are shared by Ms Mahmood. The current system of policing leaves local forces facing unreasonable national burdens, distracting them from meeting the needs of their local communities, a government source said.

The Met Police was responsible for counter terror, West Yorkshire for police helicopters and Sussex for national roads policing. The source noted that Baroness Caseys review of the Met had found its focus on national and specialist functions had contributed to neglect the core London policing duties such as neighbourhood policing.

Local forces absolute priority should be delivering high-quality local policing, said the source.

The force-by-force approach also hindered their ability to share intelligence and national operations to tackle organised criminals operating across borders. The problems were compounded by smaller forces which lacked specialist expertise, constabularies with different IT systems and different approaches to investments in innovation such as facial recognition tech.
SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ELEGOO, a rapidly developing brand in global smart manufacturing, announces today it will launch the multicolor 3D printer Centauri Carbon 2 Combo at 9 AM EST/ 5PM CET on January 26. The new product is positioned as a family-friendly multicolor 3D printer aimed at bringing professional printing performance accessible to beginners, hobbyists or professionals at home, helping them to transform creativity into instant reality.

Key Features & Highlights

ELEGOO's Multicolor 3D Printer Centauri Carbon 2 Combo to Launch on January 26

Designed with everyday households in mind, the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo makes multicolor 3D printing truly accessible through ELEGOO's intelligent CANVAS system. The system enables smooth, automatic color switching with instant filament loading and built-in filament backup, eliminating the complexity typically associated with multicolor printing. With RFID-based filament detection, CANVAS automatically identifies material types and recommends optimal settings tailored for the 3D model files instantly downloaded from Nexprint, a platform designed to connect creators with users worldwide by enabling seamless sharing and downloading of 3D models. This allows beginners, hobbyists, and experienced makers alike to print confidently without extensive setup or technical knowledge or CAD design skills.

Combined with a quiet 45 dB operating noise, the printer blends seamlessly into family environmentswhether placed in a living room, home office, garage or shared creative spacewithout disrupting daily activities. The experience is further simplified by an intuitive 5-inch capacitive touchscreen that responds like a smartphone and supports 11 languages, making it easy for different family members to use the printer for a wide range of needs, from educational projects and creative hobbies to personalized household items.

Other notable upgrades include high-temperature nozzle for expanded material support, faster and smarter auto-leveling, and smart temperature control. Together, these features position the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo as a truly family-friendly multicolor 3D printer, designed to serve diverse users and everyday creative scenarios at home. It represents the shift of a significant step forward in the democratization of 3D printingbringing 3D printer closer to every household.

For full specs, pricing, and other details, please subscribe to newsletter on ELEGOO's official website to receive updates on January 26.

About ELEGOO

Founded in 2015, ELEGOO is a rapidly developing brand in the global smart manufacturing industry, specializing in R&D, manufacturing, and sales of consumer-grade 3D printers, laser engravers, STEM kits, and other smart technology products. Located in Shenzhen, the Silicon Valley of China, the company has sold millions of products across more than 100 countries and regions. In 2025, the company's total sales revenue surpassed 300 million USD, with more than 1000 employees and nearly 30,000 square meters of office and manufacturing area. With a focus on programming and 3D printing technology, ELEGOO provides unique and smart creation spaces for diverse consumers to enhance personalized experiences.

For more information, please visit ELEGOO and social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok, Discord and Reddit.

PR Contact: Ryan Wang

[email protected]

SOURCE Elegoo
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The Royal Navy is to turn its back on the Middle East as its last remaining ship in the region sails home.

HMS Middleton is Britains sole vessel in the region following the decommissioning of frigate HMS Lancaster late last year.

However, the minehunter, which is almost 42 years old, is expected to return to the UK this year, potentially as early as March.

There are no plans to replace the ship, which is based in Bahrain, leaving Britain without a fighting presence in the Gulf for the first time since 1980.

The move has been branded a terrible error by a former head of the Navy, while defence analysts warned it signalled an end to Britain as a global naval force.

Admiral Lord Alan West, who served as First Sea Lord between 2002 and 2006, said: Its extremely unfortunate that our Navy has been reduced to such a level that we cant have a frigate or offshore patrol vessel based in the Gulf because its a region that has constant difficulty and trouble.

To not have that is a terrible error. We need to, as rapidly as we can, get something based there but the trouble is our Navy has been reduced.

The Navys ability to go to sea has been on a downward trend for years.

When the UK sent a taskforce to the Middle East in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq, it was able to deploy 37 vessels over the period of a year.

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But since then, ship numbers have dwindled, with 22 vessels deployed in 2010, 17 in 2015, 15 in 2020 and just eight last year  most of which were from the UKs carrier strike group as it sailed through the region towards the Far East.

The UK is not taken seriously in the Gulf anymore because it hasnt done anything to be taken seriously in the region for a decade-plus, warned Frances Tusa, a defence analyst.

The idea of global Britain is all but over. On the size of the Navy we have got, it is simply not doable.

In 2014, the Navy had 65 ships in its fleet, including 13 type 23 frigates, six type 45 destroyers and four amphibious assault vessels.

It also had 11 submarines. Now it has 51 warships and 10 submarines  a large number of which have been stuck in port for years.

The number of frigates now stands at seven. There are still six destroyers and two new aircraft carriers. However, all the Navys former amphibious assault ships have been scrapped.

Plans are in place to increase the fleet, with two new types of frigates and two new submarine classes being built.

A scheme to roll out new drone warships, known as Atlantic Bastion, is also in the works. However, all these plans are still years away from being completed.

Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins, the First Sea Lord, warned in December that the force is now struggling to cope with the number of Russian ships entering UK waters.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sir Gwyn said: We are definitely in a competition in the Atlantic. If you look at the Russian capabilities, such as the Northern fleet, their funding has continued to flow despite the war in Ukraine.

Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins said the fleet was stretched by the demands put upon it - Matt Bradley

Asked if the Navy was at a disadvantage, he added: I wouldnt say were behind, but I would say we are stretched.

HMS Lancasters decommissioning just before Christmas left the UK without a single major warship in the Gulf at a time when the United States is threatening strikes against Iran, which could plunge the region into chaos.

Britain began its permanent naval presence in the Middle East in 1853, with the signing of a perpetual maritime truce with the rulers of what became the United Arab Emirates.

Navy warships remained stationed in the region until 1971 when Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar became independent and the UK closed its military facilities in the Gulf.

Even after the bases were axed, frigates and destroyers continued to pay regular visits, including in 1976, when a group of two destroyers and six frigates visited Salalah and Muscat in Oman and Basra in Iraq.

Then, in 1980, Iraq invaded Iran which kicked off a brutal eight-year war, causing Britain to create the Armilla Patrol to protect shipping in the Gulf, which kept between two and four frigates and destroyers in the Middle East all year round.

Even when the Navy deployed a task force to retake the Falklands in 1982, there were never fewer than two warships in the Gulf.

The Armilla Patrol continued until 2011 when it was succeeded by Operation Kipion, the new mission to defend the Middle East.

Last year, Britain deployed its Carrier Strike Group, led by the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, to the Indo-Pacific region.

Although the mission was touted as a huge success by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), it highlighted the uncomfortable state of the fleet.

Naval top brass were only able to muster a single frigate and destroyer  HMS Richmond and HMS Dauntless  for the nine-month mission.

This was half the number of UK escorts sent out to accompany HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Prince of Wales sister ship, on her mission in 2021.

At the same time, Britains fleet of six Astute-class hunter-killer nuclear submarines have been largely out of action, with HMS Ambush having spent more than three years in port, according to defence analysts.

It is believed that one of the Astute vessels was able to accompany HMS Prince of Wales, but only for a few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary  which is the critical civilian support wing of the Navy  is in a dire state.

The state of the fleet sparked an intervention from Gen Sir Gwyn, who warned: We are holding on, but not by much.

That end of Britains Gulf presence could have far-reaching diplomatic and operational consequences.

Bahrain is the base of the US Fifth Fleet and of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a naval partnership between 46 nations dedicated to protecting 3.2 million square miles of ocean.

The commander of the CMF is the US admiral in charge of the Fifth Fleet. The deputy commander has always been a Royal Navy officer, reflecting the size of Britains contribution.

Last week, the Navy announced a new high-ranking commodore would take over the prestige role, which is seen as crucial as it holds great sway with American naval top brass.

It looks ridiculous

But experts questioned how long the UK would be able to cling on to the title, given its limited numbers in the Middle East.

We have a commodore in charge of one minehunter... it looks ridiculous, warned Tom Sharpe, a retired Royal Navy frigate commander.

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, said: In November, the Government confirmed to me that they were withdrawing the Royal Navy with a plan to scale back its participation in overseas training.

Now we learn that Labour have decided to remove the last Royal Navy ship from the Middle East, at a time when the situation in Iran could cause significant instability in the region.

Given theres a 28bn black hole in the MoDs finances the reason for this retreat from the world stage is clear  its the same reason Labour have failed to publish their Defence Investment Plan  Labour are failing to actually fund defence.

The Government insisted the UK was not turning its back on the Middle East and that the UK Naval Support Facility in Bahrain, the permanent British military base, will still serve as a strategic hub for the Navy in the Gulf

An MoD spokesman said: We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting stability and peace in the Middle East and maintaining a presence in the region.

The UK plays a leading role in combating Daesh, working to stamp out any resurgence in their dangerous and violent ideologies in the region. This includes successful airstrikes earlier this month and through Operation Kipion, the UKs long-standing maritime presence in the Gulf.

We are working closely with our allies and partners to improve regional security and strengthen defence cooperation.
Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Who doesnt like to tear into a soft, sweet Kings Hawaiian roll? The eggy, pillowy bread came to Hawaii via the Portuguese pao doce and Azorean massa sovada dessert breads. Kings Hawaiian founder Robert Taira, child of Okinawan immigrant sugar cane workers, cracked the recipe for how to make this infamously quick-to-stale local favorite shelf stable. Kings Hawaiian has seen enormous growth since then, from the Big Island to Oahu to California to the rest of the U.S.

These delicate, delectable rolls deserve equally delicious fillings  especially when youre planning a party. Whether the occasion calls for shrimp pakora with coconut-cilantro chutney, sloppy Joes with chile-ginger sauce, or crispy quinoa burgers, there's a King's Hawaiian roll slider recipe for everyone. (Especially Guy Fieri.)



01 of 12

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Jordan Provost / Food Styling by Thu Buser

Don't be deceived by their simplicity: These warm ham and melty Swiss cheese sandwiches have deep, rich flavor thanks to butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, and a King's Hawaiian roll.

Get the Recipe

02 of 12

Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Dill Pickle Slaw

Food & Wine / Sara Haas

If you've got Buffalo chicken fans in the house, these inventive sliders are sure to be a hit. Grilled and shredded Buffalo chicken is topped with thinly sliced rings of red onion and tangy pickle slaw studded with blue cheese crumbles, ensuring each bite is a perfect balance of flavor and texture.

Get the Recipe

03 of 12

Pav Bhaji

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

A pillowy Kings Hawaiian roll is the ideal vehicle for this classic Indian street food of mashed vegetables in a rich tomato sauce seasoned with warming ginger, chile, and pav bhaji masala.

Get the Recipe

04 of 12

Hot Honey Halloumi Sliders

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

The combination of salty, squeaky Halloumi and sweet, soft King's Hawaiian rolls makes these sliders an instant party-ready classic.

Get the Recipe

05 of 12

French Onion Roast Beef Sliders

Chris Simpson / FOOD STYLING by MARGARET MONROE DICKEY / PROP STYLING by AUDREY DAVIS

Pair nutty Gruyere cheese with savory roast beef, sandwiched in the sweetness of Frenched onions and King's Hawaiian rolls, for a melty and warm easy-to-share party food.

Get the Recipe

06 of 12

Shrimp Pakora Sliders with Coconut-Cilantro Chutney

Jennifer Causey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn

Shrimp fried in chickpea flour and spiced with turmeric and Kashmiri chile powder shine in a King's Hawaiian roll, topped with a smear of herby coconut-cilantro chutney.

Get the Recipe

07 of 12

Carnitas Sliders with Tomatillo-Avocado Sauce

Eva Kolenko / Food Styling by Carrie Purcell / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox

Fragrant carnitas with a bright yet creamy avocado-tomatillo sauce are a bite-size taste of Mexico City, where chef Pati Jinich sourced her carnitas recipe's extra-special ingredient: sweetened condensed milk.

Get the Recipe

08 of 12

Lobster Sliders

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

Atlantic meets Pacific when you put this summery lobster salad, seasoned with tarragon and lemon, on a buttered King's Hawaiian roll.

Get the Recipe

09 of 12

Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Sliders with Cabbage-Apple Slaw

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Jillian Knox

For these crispy-crunchy sliders, chicken tenders are first dredged in pretzel pieces and honey mustard then fried until golden. To finish, they're topped with a vibrant cabbage-apple slaw and sandwiched between pillowy buns.

Get the Recipe

10 of 12

Sloppy Joe Sliders with Chile-Ginger Sauce

Con Poulos

Sambal oelek, garlic, ginger, and hoisin make these sloppy Joe sliders  from the Emmy- and James Beard Awardwinning chef Ming Tsai  sweet, spicy, and unforgettable.

Get the Recipe

11 of 12

Crispy Quinoa Sliders

Light and crispy, these quinoa patties make for delicious veggie burger sliders.

Get the Recipe

12 of 12

Coffee-Cured Pulled Pork

John Kernick

This slow-cooked pulled pork slider from chef Linton Hopkins asks for your time and delivers big, flavorful results in return.

Get the Recipe

Read the original article on Food & Wine
[Reuters]

Soldiers are on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis, a US defence official has told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

The official said the 1,500 soldiers, currently in Alaska, are an option for US President Donald Trump if he decided to use active duty military personnel, as anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demonstrations continued in the city on Saturday.

No decision has yet been made on whether to deploy the soldiers from Alaska, the official said.

Minnesota officials have urged protesters to stay orderly and peaceful during demonstrations after an ICE agent shot dead US citizen Renee Good earlier this month.

The soldiers are part of the 11th Airborne Division in Fort Wainwright, the official added.

In a Sunday interview on CBS Face the Nation, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey condemned Trump's threat to send more troops into the city, saying the existing presence of federal ICE agents is already an "occupying force that has quite literally invaded our city".

"You can go through whatever rhetorical flourish you want, but when you have 3,000 ICE agents and border control come to the city, when you've got this supposed threat of 1,500 military coming to the city, yeah, that's very much what it feels like," Frey said.

Last week, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows active-duty military personnel to be deployed for law enforcement duties inside the US.

It comes as a US federal judge issued an order limiting the crowd control tactics that can be used by ICE agents towards "peaceful and unobstructive" protesters in Minneapolis.

On Friday, Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that federal agents cannot arrest or pepper spray peaceful demonstrations, including those monitoring or observing ICE agents.

But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a Sunday interview on CBS's Face the Nation that the judge's ruling is "a little ridiculous" because it "didn't change anything".

"We only use those chemical agents when there's violence happening and perpetuating and you need to be able to establish law and order to keep people safe," Noem said. "So that judge's order didn't change anything for how we're operating on the ground, because it's basically telling us to do what we've already been doing."

The state's National Guard has been mobilised and placed on alert by Governor Tim Walz, and other law enforcement officers were deployed to Minneapolis ahead of the anti-ICE demonstrations.

Recent protests in the city were sparked by widespread action by ICE in the city, and follow Good's death on 7 January.

City leaders said Good was there as a legal observer of ICE activity.

But the Trump administration has called her a "domestic terrorist".

Good's death sparked protests across the country, with many people holding signs that read "Justice for Renee".
Senior members of the British Royal Family did not appear to attend the funeral of Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark in Athens on Monday, despite Greek media reports suggesting there would be representation from the British monarchy.

Princess Irene, the younger sister of Queen Sofia of Spain and the late King Constantine II of Greece, died on January 15 at the age of 83.

Her funeral service took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens on Monday, with her body later interred at the royal burial ground at Tatoi Palace alongside her parents and her brother, King Constantine.

Greek newspaper Proto Thema had reported in the run-up to the funeral that the British Royal Family would be represented by Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, husband of The Princess Royal, and Lady Gabriella Kingston.

Both figures had previously attended the funeral of King Constantine in 2023 on behalf of the British royals.

Those reports raised expectations that at least a senior British representative might travel to Athens for the funeral of Princess Irene, given the close familial ties between the Greek, Spanish and British Royal Families.

However, there is no sign that Sir Tim Laurence or Lady Gabriella were present at Mondays funeral.

In addition, no senior British royal  including King Charles III, Prince William or Princess Anne  was photographed or confirmed to have attended the service in Athens.

Princess Irene | Source: GETTY

GB News has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

Coverage of the funeral in Greek and Spanish media instead showed members of the Greek and Spanish Royal Families paying their respects.

Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, accompanied by their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, were present, and Queen Sofia, the sister of Princess Irene, was among those mourning her loss.

Members of the extended Greek Royal Family attended the funeral, and the service reflected the longstanding ties between Greeces former monarchy and other European royal houses.

Princess Leonor, Princess Sofia, King Felipe, Sofia of Spain and Anne-Marie of Greece | Source: REUTERS

Princess Irene was known for her quiet life, her close relationship with Queen Sofia and her cultural and humanitarian interests.

She spent her later years in Spain and was remembered at both a memorial service in Madrid on January 17 and her funeral in Athens on January 19.

Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark never married and had no children, but remained a constant presence alongside her sister Queen Sofia for decades, living at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid from 1981.

Born in Cape Town in 1942 while the Greek Royal Family was in exile during World War Two, she later returned to Greece with her family after the war.

Queen Sofia, Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain | Source: REUTERS

She trained as a pianist and performed publicly in the 1960s, before her interests expanded into philosophy and comparative religion, including periods spent studying Hindu thought in India.

In 1986, she founded the humanitarian organisation World in Harmony, which became central to her charitable work across later life.

After the European Court of Human Rights awarded compensation connected to the Greek Royal Familys property dispute, she donated the full sum to charity.

In 2018, she became a Spanish citizen, formally renouncing her Greek nationality after spending much of her adult life in Spain.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Foday Musa has not seen his children for nearly two years [BBC]

Foday Musa looked broken as he listened to the last voice message he received from his son.

It is 76 seconds long and the young man sounds desperate. He is crying, begging for his father's help.

"It's so hard to hear. Hearing his voice hurts me," Musa told BBC Africa Eye, which was given exclusive access to a police unit that helped him as he searched for two of his children who had fallen victim to scammers.

It was in February 2024 that Musa's 22-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, along with five others, were recruited from their remote village in the Faranah region of central Guinea by agents promising them work abroad.

The jobs never materialised and the so-called recruiters turned out to be human traffickers. The group was taken across the border into Sierra Leone and held captive.

"My heart is broken. I can't stop crying. If you look at my eyes, you can see the pain," Musa said.

His case was picked up by the global policing agency Interpol in Guinea, which asked their unit in Sierra Leone to help. So last August Musa, travelled to Makeni, in central Sierra Leone, in a bid to find them.

Thousands of people across West Africa are being lured by a human trafficking scam, commonly known as QNET.

Founded in Hong Kong, QNET itself is a legitimate wellness and lifestyle company - it allows people to sign up to buy their products and sell them online.

Its business model has faced some criticism - however in West Africa, criminal gangs are using its name as a front for their illegal activities.

The traffickers target people with the promise of work opportunities in places like the US, Canada, Dubai and Europe, asking them to pay large sums of money for administration costs before they start the job.

Once they have paid, they are often trafficked to a neighbouring country and told they can only travel abroad once they recruit others into the scheme.

Yet even when they bring in family and friends, the jobs never materialise.

QNET itself has a campaign running across the region, involving billboards and media adverts. These are all splashed with the slogan "QNET Against Scams" and the company has rejected allegations that it is linked to human trafficking.

Billboards like this try to warn people in West Africa about the scammers posing as QNET recruiters [BBC]

Musa and his extended family had already given $25,000 (19,000) to the traffickers - this encompassed the joining fees and extra money paid to try to get his children home. Travelling to Sierra Leone himself was his last hope.

Mahmoud Conteh, the head of investigations at the anti-trafficking unit of Interpol within the Sierra Leone police, said the case was a priority for his unit.

"It's very easy for these traffickers to manoeuvre across each of our borders at these illegal crossing points," he told the BBC.

When Conteh received a tip-off that a large number of young people were being held in a location in Makeni, Musa joined the police as they raided the property, hoping to find his children.

Bags and clothes were strewn across the floors. It is thought 10 to 15 people slept in each room.

The Interpol team gathered everyone inside the property and found some as young as 14 had been living there.

"The majority are Guineans. There is only one Sierra Leonean among them. All the rest are Guineans," said Conteh.

Musa's children were not among them, though one young man said they had been there the previous week - the first potential sighting of his children in a year.

Most of those found in the house in Makeni were from Guinea [BBC]

The group were transferred to the police station for screening before 19 of them were taken home to Guinea.

The police say they have conducted more than 20 raids like this over the past year, rescuing hundreds of victims of human trafficking.

Often victims have been moved by the traffickers across borders, but others, like 23-year-old Aminata, a Sierra Leonean whose name has been changed to protect her identity, are trafficked within their own countries.

Sitting on a plastic chair with the slopes of Makeni's Wusum Hills behind her in the distance, Aminata told the BBC how a friend had introduced her to people claiming to represent QNET in mid-2024.

She was successful in an interview and was told she would go on a course before flying to the US for further study and work.

The only catch was she had to pay $1,000 to join the scheme.

Convinced it was legitimate, her family gave her the money they had saved for her college fees.

"When they first recruit you, they feed you, they take care of you. But as time goes by, they stop," she told the BBC, going on to say this is when she had to go the "extra mile" to survive.

"You have to sell your body and go sleep with men so that you can get money - so you can take care of yourself."

Aminata said she was told that if she wanted to travel, she had to recruit other people into the scheme.

To do this, the traffickers gave her an international number to make it look like she was already abroad when she contacted them.

"They take you to the airport and you dress well like you're about to travel. They give you a passport, give you fake travel papers," she explained.

"Then they take your photo so you can send them to your friends and family."

Aminata managed to persuade six friends and relatives to join the scheme, still hoping the job in the US would materialise. It never did.

"I felt awful because they wasted their money and they suffered because of me."

She was held somewhere on the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, for about a year before it dawned on her that the job would never be forthcoming.

When Aminata failed to recruit anyone else, it seems she was deemed of no more use to the traffickers - and when she decided to escape, she was not stopped.

Returning home after everything that had happened, especially when everyone had thought she had been living abroad, was hard.

"I was scared to go back home," she said.

"I'd told my friends that I'd travelled abroad. I'd told my family the same. I was thinking about all the money they'd given me to get there."

There are no statistics on the number of victims of these types of labour scams but there are constant reports in the media across West Africa of gangs scamming people desperate to believe these foreign jobs schemes are real.

The BBC joined the police on about a dozen raids over three days in Makeni and met hundreds of young people who had been trafficked across the region from countries such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Mali.

The police said they had arrested 12 suspected traffickers in total.

But the reality is that there are only a few successful prosecutions and the under-resourced authorities in the region often face an uphill battle in tackling such scams.

According to US state department statistics, between July 2022 - when Sierra Leone's anti-trafficking act was passed - and April 2025, there were only four trafficking convictions.

Musa never found his children and had no choice but to return to Guinea without them at the end of September.

Conteh, from Interpol, has since told the BBC the traffickers released Foday's children not long afterwards.

The BBC has since confirmed that Musa's daughter made it back to Guinea, but she has not returned to her village - and did not want to be interviewed.

She has not contacted her father, which points to the shame felt by many of the victims caught up in the scam.

The whereabouts of Musa's son are unknown.

It remains a desperate situation for their father.

"After all that has happened, I really just want it all to be over and to see my kids," said Musa.

"We'd love them to come back to the village now - I'd love them to be here with me."

Additional reporting by Paul Myles, Chris Walter, Olivia Acland and Tamasin Ford

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A person inspects a destroyed building, in the aftermath of a forest fire in the Biobio region, where multiple wildfires prompted emergency evacuations, in Concepcion, Chile January 19, 2026. REUTERS/Juan Gonzalez

A person inspects a destroyed building, in the aftermath of a forest fire in the Biobio region, where multiple wildfires prompted emergency evacuations, in Concepcion, Chile January 19, 2026. REUTERS/Juan Gonzalez

By Alexander Villegas

PENCO, Chile, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Wildfires in Chile have killed at least 19 people, authorities said on Monday, as the government carried out mass evacuations and fought over 30 blazes exacerbated by intense heat and high winds.

While weather conditions overnight helped control some fires, the largest were still active, with adverse conditions expected throughout the day, Security Minister Luis Cordero said at a news briefing on Monday.

"The projection we have today is of high temperatures," Cordero said, and the main worry was that new fires would be triggered throughout the region.

Parts of central and southern Chile were under extreme heat warnings with temperatures expected to reach up to 37 Celsius (99 Fahrenheit).

HUNDREDS OF HOMES DESTROYED

Most of those killed were in Penco, a small coastal city just north of the regional capital of Concepcion. On Monday morning, thousands of residents in the area sifted through the rubble of their homes as firefighters continued to extinguish nearby fires.

Ana Caamano, 51, was one of those residents, rummaging through the ashes of the home in Lirquen that she was raised in and later inherited from her parents. Among the wreckage was the corpse of one of her four dogs, some charred rings and a metal ladle.

"They're not that important," Caamano said, looking at the rings in her hand. "But they're memories."

Caamano and her husband Luis, who was cleaning up the wreckage of their garage to make a temporary shelter, were visiting family on Saturday when the fires broke out.

Their son, Franco, was home and said he was trying to hose down the house when he noticed the blaze getting closer, but a sudden strong wind brought in a black cloud of smoke that forced him to flee, leaving everything behind.

"It came like lightning, it was so quick," Franco said, echoing what many residents remembered, a fast-moving fire that gave them almost no time to flee.

Authorities say 325 homes have been destroyed and 1,100 more are being evaluated.

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED IN NUBLE, BIO BIO

As of late Monday afternoon, Chile's CONAF forestry agency said firefighters were combating 34 fires across the country, the largest of which were in regions of Nuble and Bio Bio, where President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe.

Over 35,000 hectares (135 square miles) have been razed so far, an area about the size of Philadelphia, with the largest fire surpassing 14,000 hectares on the outskirts of the coastal city of Concepcion.

Miguel Castillo, a professor and researcher at the University of Chile's Forest Fire Laboratory, said a number of factors made the recent fires so deadly, including the amount of dry material and persistent high temperatures.

"There have been several consecutive days over 30 degrees (Celsius) and for the Concepcion area that's rare," Castillo said. "One or two days are common, but not four or five."

Castillo added that fires are more difficult to put out once they reach a certain size and have been complicating by strong, shifting winds.

"With those extreme conditions, it practically becomes an uncontrollable monster," he said, adding that most fires last two or three days, but the risk is multiple active fires combining before authorities can control them.

Both Chile and Argentina rang in the new year with heat waves which have continued into January. Earlier this month, wildfires broke out in Argentina's Patagonia, burning around 15,000 hectares.

(Reporting by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Andrea Ricci and Alistair Bell)
An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Delcy Rodriguez, interim president of Venezuela, delivers her annual address at the National Assembly

On a nearly three-week visit to South America, during which I interviewed the presidents of Argentina and Peru, many friends asked me the same question: Who is actually running Venezuela?

My answer was, The same crooks as before.

President Donald Trump has claimed hes running Venezuela following the US raid that captured former dictator Nicolas Maduro, and even posted a picture of himself on social media calling himself Acting President of Venezuela.

He also said he has talked extensively with former Maduro vice-president  now interim president  Delcy Rodriguez, describing her as a terrific person who will presumably follow his commands.

She is, indeed, under pressure from a US naval blockade that could cripple Venezuelas vital oil exports.

To be sure, Venezuela has released dozens of political prisoners since Maduro was captured in Caracas on Jan. 3 and flown to New York to face narcoterrorism charges.

Still, more than 800 political prisoners remain, according to the human rights group Foro Penal.

Rodriguez has also vowed to increase oil shipments to the United States  something Maduro repeatedly offered in exchange for a lifting of US oil sanctions.

More important, Rodriguez and virtually all top officials of Maduros dictatorship  including powerful Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Padrino Lopez  remain in charge of the army, police, intelligence services, the colectivos paramilitary squads, judiciary and state media.

The regimes colectivos stop people in the streets to check their cellphones and detain those who have posted anti-Maduro statements online.

Whats more, Rodriguez continues to refer to her former boss as the legitimate president of Venezuela, and state television describes his capture as a kidnapping by US forces.

In her Jan. 15 address to the regime-controlled National Assembly, a day after speaking with and being praised by Trump, Rodriguez denounced the criminal economic blockade by US forces.

She also said Venezuela has the right to maintain close ties with Russia, China and Iran.

In other words, for Venezuelans, little has changed.

If anything, its Madurismo sin Maduro  Madurism without Maduro.

Trump administration officials argue it would be unwise to invite opposition leaders to form a new government now, using post-invasion Iraq as a cautionary example.

They fear resistance from the military and bureaucracy would lead to chaos.

But that argument risks perpetuating a bloody dictatorship and scaring off foreign investors.

Trumps grandiose promises that we will make Venezuela rich may end up like others of his that have so far failed to materialize.

Remember the Gaza Riviera he said he would build?

Or his campaign vow to end the Russia-Ukraine war on the first day of his presidency?

This may be no different.

Instead of praising Rodriguez and falsely claiming that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado does not have the respect or support within Venezuela to lead the country  as he said days before receiving Machado at the White House and stating that she is a wonderful woman  Trump should have laid out a step-by-step roadmap for the restoration of democracy.

Yet, as of this writing, Trump has not laid out a timeline for measures leading to free elections, such as restoring press freedom and voting rights for the more than 8 million Venezuelans living abroad.

In his first press conference after Maduros capture, Trump spoke extensively about oil, drugs and migration but did not mention the word democracy even once.

He said a transition could take years.

Perus interim President Jose Jeri told me that there should be a roadmap  either to install Edmundo Gonzalez Urritia, the Machado-backed candidate who, according to the most credible voting tallies, won the 2024 election, or to hold new elections in Venezuela.

Former US Ambassador to Venezuela Charles Shapiro told me that keeping the current regime wont bring stability, but rather do the opposite.

At some point, in 30 or 90 days, or in six months, the [Venezuelan] people are going to be disappointed, Shapiro told me: Thats going to lead to an unstable political situation.

Shapiro proposed that Trump appoint a group of notables, neither regime insiders nor opposition figures, to negotiate a roadmap toward restoring basic freedoms and setting the stage for free elections.

Who would these people be? It could be people like the president of a university, or maybe a bishop, or the cardinal, Shapiro told me.

Maybe this could take place in the papal nuncios office in Caracas, he suggested.

I agree: In the absence of a timetable for the return of the rule of law, Trump will soon move on to other foreign-policy priorities, the Rodriguez regime will entrench itself as a tolerable dictatorship for the White House and Venezuela will be neither rich nor free.

The time to start that process is now.

Andres Oppenheimer writes about Latin American policy and economic issues in The Oppenheimer Report.
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Pedestrians walk past running power generators during heavy frost in Kyiv, Ukraine, Image 2 shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on while a soldier salutes in the background

KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian drone strikes damaged energy networks in Russia-occupied parts of southern Ukraine, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power on Sunday, according to Kremlin-installed authorities there.

Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraines energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials.

More than 200,000 households in the Russia-held part of Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region had no electricity on Sunday, according to the Kremlin-installed local governor.

Ukrainian drone strikes damaged energy networks in Russia-occupied parts of southern Ukraine, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. AFP via Getty Images

In a Telegram post, Yevgeny Balitsky said that nearly 400 settlements have had their supply cut, because of damage to power networks from Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russia has hammered Ukraines power grid, especially in winter, throughout the nearly four-year war. The strikes aim to weaken Ukrainians will to resist in a strategy that Kyiv officials call weaponizing winter.

Russia targeted energy infrastructure in Odesa region overnight on Sunday, according to Ukraines Emergency Service. A fire broke out and was promptly extinguished.

At least six people were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region from Russian attacks, the emergency service said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that repairing the countrys energy system remains challenging, but we are doing everything we can to restore everything as quickly as possible.

Pedestrians walk in the center of Kyiv during heavy frost on Sunday. AFP via Getty Images

He said that two people were killed in overnight attacks across the country that struck Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi and Odesa.

In total, more than 1,300 attack drones, 1,050 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles of various types were used by Russia to strike Ukraine this week, Zelenskyy said.

U.S. talks

If Russia deliberately delays the diplomatic process, the worlds response should be decisive: more help for Ukraine and more pressure on the aggressor, Zelenskyy said.

He spoke the day after a Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States for talks on a U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the war.

If Russia deliberately delays the diplomatic process, the worlds response should be decisive: more help for Ukraine and more pressure on the aggressor, Zelenskyy said. REUTERS

On Friday, Zelenskyy said that the delegation would try to finalize with U.S. officials documents for a proposed peace settlement that relate to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery.

If American officials approve the proposals, the U.S. and Ukraine could sign the documents next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said at a Kyiv news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel. Trump plans to be in Davos, according to organizers.

Russia would still need to be consulted on the proposals.

Drones strike Russian Caucasus

Separately, in Russias Caucasus mountains, two children and an adult were wounded overnight as debris from a Ukrainian drone fell on a five-story residential building in North Ossetia, according to the regional governor.

Pedestrians walk past running power generators in the center of Kyiv on Sunday amid Russian attacks destroying Ukraines energy grid and disrupting power and water supplies. AFP via Getty Images

Seventy people had to be evacuated from the building, in the town of Beslan, and there was damage to its roof and windows, Gov. Sergei Menyaylo said in a Telegram post on Sunday morning.

Russias Defense Ministry said that its forces shot down or suppressed 63 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula. One person was hospitalized in Russias Krasnodar region east of Crimea following a drone strike, local authorities said.

Nuclear plant repairs

Ukrainian crews have started repair works on the backup power line connecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the power grid, under a ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based U.N. organization said in an X post on Sunday.

The fate of the plant, occupied by Russia and the largest in Europe, is a central issue in ongoing U.S.-brokered peace talks.

Crucial repair works on the essential back up Ferosplavna-1 330 kV power line connecting Ukraines ZNPP to the grid have begun under another IAEA-brokered ceasefire, the agency said in the post.

The 330-kilovolt power line, which was damaged and disconnected because of fighting, is crucial to supplying the plant with electricity.
Elizabeth Hurley, 60, leaves fans amazed with sultry Maldives photos and stylish beach shots.MEGA; @elizabethhurley1/Instagram

Elizabeth Hurley, 60, left fans in awe after sharing a daring bathtub selfie from a luxurious Maldivian escape, RadarOnline.com can report.

The Austin Powers star and mother-of-one appeared radiant, surrounded by frothy bubbles and delicate rose petals while she rinsed her hair in the topless shot.

Dreamy Vacation

Elizabeth Hurley, 60, shares a topless bathtub photo from her Maldives holiday.@elizabethhurley1/Instagram

She's currently vacationing with her son, Damian, and boyfriend Billy Ray Cyrus, soaking up the sun on an exclusive private island.

Hurley shared glimpses of the lavish holiday on Instagram, including a playful beach photo in a leopard-print bikini, clutching a coconut, and another shot showcasing her in a white jumpsuit and oversized sunglasses outside her opulent villa.

"Oh my I adore the #Maldives and was thrilled to be one of the first guests on the brand new, private island @_.herebaaatoll  We landed by seaplane straight to our villa's own jetty - thank you @transmaldivian - and were spoilt rotten by the brilliant staff  What a perfect way to kick off 2026," her caption read.

'Beautiful'

Her vacation included time with her son, Damian.@elizabethhurley1/Instagram

Fans ran to the comments to praise the actress.

"Gorgeous!!! Enjoy!!!!" someone wrote.

"Fabulous," said another fan.

"So beautiful," shared a third.

"The most beautiful woman in the world!!!" a fourth comment read.

New Years Eve Bash

Hurley also posted a beach photo in a leopard-print bikini holding a coconut.@elizabethhurley1/Instagram

This came after the star kicked off 2026 in equally bold fashion at a James Bondthemed New Year's Eve celebration.

For the glamorous bash, the 60yearold channeled classic spy film energy in a striking white bikini paired with a dramatic fur coat, posing alongside Cyrus among friends and themed decor.

Fans flocked to social media to praise her look, with many noting how effortlessly she embodied the spirit of an iconic Bond heroine while celebrating the holiday.

"You should have been a Bond Girl!!" one fan commented, while another admirer added, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH HOW GREAT YOU LOOK?"

"I've failed at life if I don't look this good at 60 ," a third wrote.

Romance with Billy Ray Cyrus

The trip follows her New Years Eve appearance in a white bikini at a James Bond-themed party.MEGA

Hurley and Cyrus first crossed paths on the set of the 2022 holiday film Christmas in Paradise, though it wasn't until a few years later that romance blossomed between them. The couple went public in 2025, confirming their relationship with a sweet, PDA-filled Instagram post over Easter.

Their love story quickly became a red carpet favorite, with the pair making a stylish debut in Rome just a month after going Instagram official.

Speaking to the press in May 2025, Hurley said: "We are very happy, we both love country music, we both love the country, and we both love our kids. We're happy together."
By Maria Martinez and Leigh Thomas

BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The German and French finance ministers said on Monday that European powers would not be blackmailed and that there would be a clear and united response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of higher tariffs over Greenland.

Trump vowed on Saturday to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on imports from European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, intensifying a dispute over the future of Denmark's vast Arctic island.

"Germany and France agree: We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed," German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said at his ministry, where he met with his French counterpart.

"Blackmail between allies of 250 years, blackmail between friends, is obviously unacceptable," French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said at the same event.

ANTI-COERCION INSTRUMENT ON TABLE

EU leaders are set to discuss options at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday. One option is a package of tariffs on 93 billion euros ($107.7 billion) of U.S. imports that could automatically kick in on February 6 after a six-month suspension.

"We Europeans must make it clear: The limit has been reached," Klingbeil said. "Our hand is extended but we are not prepared to be blackmailed."

The other option is the so far untested "Anti-Coercion Instrument", which could limit access to public tenders, investments or banking activity or restrict trade in services, in which the U.S. has a surplus with the bloc, including in digital services.

Lescure said that although the EU's anti-coercion instrument was above all a deterrent, it should be considered in the current circumstances.

"France wants us to examine this possibility, hoping of course that deterrence will prevail," Lescure said. He added that he hoped the transatlantic relationship will return to being "friendly and based on negotiation rather than a relationship based on threats and blackmail".

Klingbeil said he was not interested in escalation, as it would come at the expense of economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

EUROPE IS 'NOT WEAK'

Klingbeil and Lescure's U.S. counterpart Scott Bessent said on Sunday that European "weakness" necessitated U.S. control of Greenland for global stability.

"Our objective in the coming days, weeks, quarters and years is to politely but firmly convince Scott Bessent that he is wrong," Lescure said.

Lescure said Europe needed to adopt reforms to boost its technological edge and productivity in order to prove that Europe was indeed strong.

Klingbeil said that with 27 European countries and 450 million citizens, the EU must develop strength - economically, in security policy, and politically - so that no one would even suspect Europe is weak.

"What I expect from us as Europeans is that on a question that concerns the integrity and sovereignty of a country, we very clearly put up a stop sign and say: We are not going down this road," Klingbeil said.

(Reporting by Maria Martinez and Leigh Thomas; Writing by Friederike Heine; Editing by Ludwig Burger, Andrew Heavens and Hugh Lawson)
WUHU, China, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In December 2025, global traffic data analytics company INRIX released its 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, providing an in-depth analysis of traffic data from over 900 cities across 36 countries. The report shows that traffic congestion has worsened in more than half of these cities compared to the previous year, making it a persistent challenge for major urban areas. Building on these insights, the LEPAS flagship model LEPAS L8 leverages advanced intelligent technologies and robust hybrid systems to deliver an Elegant Driving solution. Even in congested conditions, it reduces driver stress and allows them to navigate complex traffic with elegance and composure.

LEPAS L8

Frequent stop-and-go traffic during peak hours can quickly lead to driver fatigue. The LEPAS L8's intelligent driver assistance system effectively alleviates this burden. With full-speed-range ACC and ICA activated, the vehicle can follow traffic from standstill up to 180 km/h, maintaining lane centering and smooth stop-and-go operation. This significantly reduces repetitive driver inputs, making congested commuting more efficient and less tiring.

During the evening rush hour, stop-and-go traffic increases the demands on driver attention. The LEPAS L8's 360 panoramic view and chassis visualization system clearly displays surrounding blind spots on the central screen, enabling effortless low-speed maneuvering and precise lane changes. Combined with smooth power delivery and a quiet cabin, the system further enhances comfort and driving confidence in congested urban conditions.

For weekend short trips, unexpected highway congestion can easily disrupt plans, while frequent stopping and starting can diminish the driving experience. With a comprehensive driving range of over 1,300 kilometers, the LEPAS L8 eliminates the need for constant energy planning and removes range anxiety. Its dedicated hybrid transmission, featuring a 97.6% transmission efficiency, ensures smooth and refined low-speed driving, avoiding the jolts that often undermine travel comfort in congested scenarios.

Behind this calm and composed performance in traffic lies robust technical capability. The LEPAS L8 is equipped with Chery Group's Super Hybrid System, featuring an industry-leading 44.5% thermal efficiency and fuel consumption as low as 4.2 L/100 km in charge-sustaining mode. Together, these technologies form the competitive advantage of the LEPAS L8 in congested driving scenariostransforming every journey into the Elegant Driving experience.

LEPAS aims to bring Elegant Driving to more users worldwide, empowering drivers to stay composed in complex urban traffic.

SOURCE LEPAS
Nearly 3,000 high-level participants from business, government and beyond  plus untold numbers of activists, journalists and outside observers  are converging in the Swiss town of Davos this week for the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.

What is the World Economic Forum?

The forum is a think tank and event organizer based in Geneva whose main event  the annual meeting  debuted in 1971 in Davos, a ski-resort town of about 10,000 people at a height of about 1,500 meters (nearly 5,000 feet) in the Alps of eastern Switzerland.

The first edition, hosted by forum founder Klaus Schwab, featured a gathering of business executives.

Since then, the meeting has swelled into a catch-all conference on issues as diverse as economic disparity, climate change, technology, and global cooperation  as well as competition and conflict.

This year's event runs from Jan. 19-23.

What is the theme at this year's Davos forum?

Davos conference organizers always trot out buzzwords for the meeting, and this year's is "A Spirit of Dialogue"  around five themes of cooperation, growth, investment in people, innovation and building prosperity. More than 200 sessions will tackle a wide array of issues.

Critics say Davos is too much talk and not enough action to rectify gaping inequality in the world and address troubles like climate change.

The world's richest people saw their fortunes surge in 2025, part of a long-running trend of widening wealth inequality, according to a new report from anti-poverty charity Oxfam released to coincide with the forum. The wealth of billionaires grew three times faster last year than the average pace of the previous five years, reaching a record $18.3 trillion, the group said.

At the same time, one in four people worldwide experiences food insecurity and regularly skips meals, Oxfam said.

"The widening gap between the rich and the rest is at the same time creating a political deficit that is highly dangerous and unsustainable," said Oxfam executive director Amitabh Behar in a statement.

Who will attend in 2026?

Organizers says a record of nearly 400 top political leaders, including more than 60 heads of state and government, and nearly 850 chairs and chief executives of many of the world's leading companies.

Headlining the lineup is U.S. President Donald Trump, who's set to deliver a speech on Wednesday, and several Cabinet ministers and top advisers including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Steve Witkoff.

President Emmanuel Macron of France, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President Ahmad al-Sharaa of Syria, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo, Vice Premier He Lifeng of China, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine are among the who's-who of top attendees.

Organizers say 55 ministers for economy and finance, 33 ministers for foreign affairs, 34 ministers for trade, commerce and industry, and 11 central bank governors are also expected.

Tech titans scheduled to be on hand include Jensen Huang of Nvidia. Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, and Arthur Mensch of France's Mistral AI.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are among scores of top officials from international institutions.

What other issues are at stake?

The geopolitical context has become incredibly complex this year: Trump's pronouncements and policies on subjects as diverse as Venezuela, Greenland and Iran  not to mention his tariff policies  have raised questions about America's role in the world.

The advent of AI  its promise and perils  has also become a hot topic. Business executives will examine how to apply it to boost efficiency and profits; labor leaders and advocacy groups will warn of its threat to jobs and livelihoods, and policymakers will look to navigate the best way forward between regulation and right to innovate.

America at 250  and a reckoning for President Trump

Billy Bob Thornton on how his "Landman" role is a personal phenomenon

Venezuelans sent by the U.S. to harsh Salvadoran mega-prison detail beatings
Lefty California Rep. Eric Swalwell isnt qualified to run for governor of the Golden State  because he doesnt officially live there, according to a bombshell new court claim.

Right-wing pundit and filmmaker Joel Gilbert said in a court complaint filed in Sacramento that Swalwell, considered the likely successor to Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, actually lives in Washington, DC, and is prohibited from running for the top state office under California law.

Lefty California Rep. Eric Swalwell is running for governor of the Golden State, but one conservative activist claims he doesnt qualify. AFP via Getty Images

Public records searches reveal no current ownership or leasehold interest held by Eric Swalwell in California, nor any history of any ownership of leasehold interest based on available public records, said the petition filed by Gilbert on Jan. 8.

Swalwells congressional financial disclosers from 2011 to 2024 list no California real estate ownership.

Gilbert said in the filing that the California address Swalwell claimed in a campaign filing Dec. 4 is actually the office of the congressmans lawyer and not a residence.

The California office building listed as Swalwells home address is actually his lawyers office, a court filing said. Google Maps

This Washington, DC, home is Eric Swalwells official residence, not his California address, according to the complaint. Google Maps

According to Article V, section II, of the California constitution, The governor shall be an elector who has been a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state for 5 years immediately preceding the governors election, the filing said.

Gilbert said that because of his findings, he wants Swalwell, a vocal critic of President Trump, to be knocked off the ballot.

Either hes guilty of mortgage fraud in Washington, DC, or hes ineligible to run for governor of California, the conservative activist told the Daily Mail. He cant have it both ways.

Conservative activist Joel Gilbert shakes Swalwells hand at a California town hall event earlier this month. X/@JoelSGilbert

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely presidential candidate, has to step down because of the Golden States term limits. Getty Images

Reps for Swalwell did not immediately respond to Post requests for comment.

The married father of three was born in Iowa but raised in California.

He was elected to the city council in Dublin, Calif., in 2010 and joined congress in 2013, where he continues to serve, according to his House of Representatives profile.

He threw his hat into the governors race last year.

Newsom was elected governor in 2018 and re-elected four years later but is barred from running again under the states term-limits law. He is now reportedly considering a presidential run.

Long-serving members of the US House and Senate typically maintain homes in the nations capital as well as addresses in their home states, with the lines blurred in some cases.
An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Members of Libya's Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency conduct a raid in an unregistered migrant housing unit in Tripoli

BENGHAZI  Libyas security authorities have freed more than 200 migrants from what they described as a secret prison in the town of Kufra in the southeast of the country after they were held captive in inhuman conditions, two security sources from the city told Reuters on Sunday.

The security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the security authorities had found an underground prison, nearly three meters deep, which the sources said was run by a Libyan human trafficker.

One of the sources said this person had not yet been detained.

Members of Libyas Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency raid in an unregistered migrant housing unit in Tripoli on July 26, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

Some of the freed migrants were held captive up to two years in the underground cells, this source said.

The other source said what the operation had found was one of the most serious crimes against humanity that has been uncovered in the region.

The operation resulted in a raid on a secret prison within the city, where several inhumane underground detention cells were uncovered, one of the sources added.

The freed migrants are from sub-Saharan Africa, mainly from Somalia and Eritrea, including women and children, the sources said. Kufra lies in eastern Libya, about 1,700 kilometres (1,000 miles) from the capital Tripoli.

Body bags lie on the ground as security personnel and Red Crescent volunteers work around what they say is a discovered mass grave near Ajdabiya, Libya, in this picture released on Friday. via REUTERS

Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty to Europe via dangerous routes across the desert and over the Mediterranean since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

The oil-based Libyan economy is also a draw for impoverished migrants seeking work, but security throughout the sprawling country is poor, leaving migrants vulnerable to abuses.

Security personnel and Red Crescent volunteers work around the grave. via REUTERS

At least 21 bodies of migrants were found in a mass grave in eastern Libya last week, with up to 10 survivors in the group bearing signs of having been tortured before they were freed from captivity, two security sources told Reuters.

Libyas attorney general said in a statement on Friday the authorities in the east of the country had referred a defendant to the court for trial in connection with the mass grave on charges of committing serious violations against migrants.

In February last year, 39 bodies of migrants were recovered from about 55 mass graves in Kufra. The town houses tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees who fled the conflict that erupted in Sudan in 2023.
An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Minnesota Church ICE Protest Speak MPLS

A swarm of anti-ICE protesters burst into a St. Paul, Minnesota, church in the middle of Sunday service and accused a pastor of working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The demonstrators with the Racial Justice Network stormed into the Cities Church and called out resident pastor David Eastwood, whom they accused of moonlighting as the acting field office director for ICE in Minnesota.

A David Eastwood is listed as an employee with the field office, but its still unclear if that is the same man as the Cities Church pastor. The Post has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to check.

Protesters entered the Minnesota church on Sunday as the state battles with the Trump administration and ICE. Speak MPLS

The service disrupters chanted slogans heard at the dozens of other protests that have wreaked havoc around Minneapolis, including some invoking slain anti-ICE activist and mom of three Renee Nicole Goods name. Others specifically slandered Eastwood for misrepresenting the ideals of his faith through his support for ICE.

This cannot be a house of God while harboring someone directing ICE agents to wreak havoc on our community. I am a reverend on top of being a lawyer and an activist, so I come here in the power of the almighty God, one protester, Nekima Levy-Armstrong, told ousted CNN host Don Lemon during his livestream.

Eastwood was not at the Sunday service.

The congregations lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, said the bombardment was shameful and asked anyone who wasnt intending to worship to leave.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey defended the protests that have taken over his city, including this one from Saturday. Getty Images

The Department of Justice is probing the demonstration at the church for potential violations of civil rights laws, specifically for interfering with Christian worshippers, according to a post on X.

DHS reposted one of the videos of the church protest on X.

Agitators arent just targeting our officers. Now theyre targeting churches, too. Theyre going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans, DHS wrote.

DHS and Minnesota leaders, namely Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have repeatedly clashed over ICEs missions in the Twin Cities.

Demonstrators from both sides clash during a protest outside Minneapolis City Hall on Jan. 17, 2026. James Keivom for NY Post

Frey rejected the Trump administrations characterization of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota. AP

The situation reached a tipping point when Good, a 37-year-old mother, was shot and killed by ICE officer Jonathan Ross during a protest on Jan. 7 in what feds have called an act of self-defense. Since then, the federal government has flooded Minneapolis with even more agents  whose immigration enforcement missions are regularly interrupted by protesters.

DHS has insisted that ICE wont be deterred and accused Walz and Frey of whipping these mobs into a frenzy and then allowing them to run rampant.

Frey in turn accused ICE of terrorizing people simply because theyre Latino or Somali in a segment on 60 Minutes Sunday.

People in Minneapolis are speaking up. Theyre speaking up peacefully. Theyre standing up for their neighbors. And this is not just about resisting Trump. This is about loving and caring for people that call this city home. And its been inspiring, Frey said.
The call comes after both the Tories and the Lib Dems said they would introduce some form of ban if in power [Matt Cardy / Getty Images]

More than 60 Labour MPs have called on the prime minister to impose a ban on under-16s access to social media platforms.

In a open letter to Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday, the 61 MPs said "successive governments" had done "too little to protect young people from... unregulated, addictive social media platforms".

They urged him to follow the example of Australia, which brought in a ban in December. Several other countries are said to be considering similar laws.

Sir Keir has not ruled out introducing a ban, saying "all options are on the table". The House of Lords is likely to vote this week on a cross-party amendment that would implement an Australia-style ban in the UK.

The amendment has backing from Baroness Benjamin, the Liberal Democrat peer and former children's TV presenter; Conservative former education minister Lord Nash; the Labour peer Baroness Berger and Baroness Cass, an independent member of the House of Lords, who is a paediatrician.

Separately, the Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment which would introduce film-style age ratings, meaning some social media platforms would be restricted based on the type of content they were hosting.

The letter from Labour MPs, which includes the signatures of a number of committee chairs and former frontbenchers, said many constituents had contacted the MPs to express concerns about the effects of social media on young people.

It read: "Across our constituencies, we hear the same message: children are anxious, unhappy and unable to focus on learning. They are not building the social skills needed to thrive, nor having the experience that will prepare them for adulthood."

The MPs said that "around the world, government are recognising the severity of the crisis and taking action", noting Australia's ban and that "Denmark, France, Norway, New Zealand and Greece are expected to follow suit.

The UK "risks being left behind" on the issue, they wrote.

The letter, thought to be organised by Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas, was signed by education select committee chair Helen Hayes, former whip Vicky Foxcroft, former education minister Catherine McKinnell, and former shadow cabinet minister Richard Burgon, among others.

It is the latest example of political pressure on the government to propose a social media ban.

Last week, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she would introduce an under-16s ban if her party won the next election.

Under the Liberal Democrats' plan, platforms using addictive algorithmic feeds or hosting "inappropriate content" would be restricted to users aged over 16, while sites with "graphic violence or pornography" would become adult-only.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey described his approach as "a ban but a more sophisticated ban".

He said it would ensure "the best approach to make sure the benefits of the internet can be enjoyed by our children but they can be fully protected from the addictive harm of some of these social media platforms".

Asked if he thought social media should be restricted for younger people, Sir Keir told a news conference: "I think we need to do more to protect children and that's why we're looking at a range of options."

He said "no options are off the table" and the government was looking at the situation in Australia, where under-16s were recently banned from social media.

However, he added that the issue was wider than just social media, for example the government was "particularly concerned about screen time for under-5s".

Several children's charities and online safety organisations have voiced opposition to a blanket social media ban for under-16s.

The NSPCC, Childnet, and suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation were among 42 individuals and bodies to argue a ban would be the "wrong solution" on Saturday.

"It would create a false sense of safety that would see children - but also the threats to them - migrate to other areas online," they wrote in a joint statement.

"Though well-intentioned, blanket bans on social media would fail to deliver the improvement in children's safety and wellbeing that they so urgently need."

Existing law should be "robustly enforced" to ensure social media sites, personalised games and AI chatbots were not accessible to under-13s, they urged, while all social media platforms should have evidence-based blocks for features that are considered risky for children of different ages.

Ian Russell, the father of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who took her own life in 2017 after viewing suicide and self-harm content online, said the government should enforce existing laws rather than "implementing sledgehammer techniques".

The online safety campaigner - who established the Molly Rose Foundation in his daughter's honour - told the BBC's Newscast that a ban could have "unintended consequences" and "cause more problems".

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line.
The son of Norway's crown princess, who goes on trial in February accused of raping four women, has been charged with new crimes, including a "serious narcotics offense," prosecutors said on Monday.

Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from another relationship before she married Crown Prince Haakon, was charged on Aug. 18 with four rapes and 28 other crimes, including acts of violence against ex-girlfriends.

Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo said in a statement sent to AFP that an additional indictment had been issued on Monday against Hoiby, 29, covering a total of six counts.

One was a "serious narcotics offence" dating from one incident in 2020 "involving 3.5 kilos of marijuana." Hoiby has admitted to the crime, Henriksbo said.

Hoiby's lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes told Norwegian news agency NTB her client had "on one occasion transported marijuana from A to B without earning a penny."

Two of the counts concerned restraining order violations, while three others were traffic violations for driving a motorcycle at high speed, Henriksbo said.

"The additional indictment will now be sent to the Oslo district court for consideration during the main hearing, which begins on February 3," he said.

Hoiby was arrested on Aug. 4, 2024, suspected of having assaulted his then-girlfriend.

Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is seen June 16, 2022, in Oslo, Norway. / Credit: Hakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images (Hakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Hoiby denies the most serious charges against him, but he plans to plead guilty to some lesser charges, his lawyer Petar Sekulic told the Reuters news agency last year.

"He does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence," Sekulic told Reuters.

In a public statement 10 days after his August 2024 arrest, Hoiby said he had acted "under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument," having suffered from "mental troubles" and struggling "for a long time with substance abuse."

The four rapes allegedly took place in 2018, 2023 and 2024, the last one after the police investigation began.

It is the biggest scandal to hit the Norwegian royal family.

Hoiby was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, aged 21 and 19.

Unlike them, he has no official public role.

The trial will take place in Oslo district court from Feb. 3 until March 13.

America at 250  and a reckoning for President Trump

Venezuelans sent by the U.S. to harsh Salvadoran mega-prison detail beatings

Iran blames U.S. for protests, Trump punches back
US-IMMIGRATION-ICE-SHOOTING (Photo by Octavio JONES / AFP via Getty Images)

The Pentagon reportedly ordered roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota as protests against federal immigration enforcement continue in Minneapolis.

Two U.S. defense officials told Reuters the Army placed two infantry battalions from the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division on standby. The troops specialize in cold-weather operations. Officials said the soldiers would deploy if violence in the state worsens, though it remains unclear whether any will actually be sent.

The White House said in a statement to The Washington Post that it is typical for the Pentagon to be prepared for any decision the President may or may not make. Defense officials characterized the move as prudent planning, the Post reported. (RELATED: Trump Threatens To Use Insurrection Act If Minnesota Leaders Dont Rein In Agitators)

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell addressed the preparations in an emailed statement to the Associated Press (AP). He did not deny the orders were issued.

The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon, Parnell said.

President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials failed to stop protesters from targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Trump posted on Truth Social that he would act against the corrupt politicians of Minnesota if they did not stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E.

Trump appeared to soften his stance Friday, telling reporters at the White House there was no reason to use the act right now, according to the AP.

If I needed it, Id use it, Trump said. Its very powerful.

Nearly 3,000 federal agents from ICE and Border Patrol have flooded Minneapolis and St. Paul since early last week. The administration could also deploy troops without invoking the Insurrection Act by citing the need to protect federal property.

The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have impeded immigration enforcement, the Post reported. Both officials have denied wrongdoing.

Frey called the troop preparations unconstitutional during a CNN appearance Sunday.

Its ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government, Frey said.

The protests intensified after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good on January 7. A second shooting occurred January 14 when a federal officer wounded a Venezuelan man during an attempted arrest.

The Insurrection Act was last invoked in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots.
Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle Rare animals  Thidsavanh seetanak/Shutterstock.com

Quick Take

Recovery of this softshell turtle species now requires working with a global population of only two or possibly three known individuals, though the exact number remains uncertain due to ongoing surveys and the difficulty of confirming wild turtles.

The last confirmed female was found dead in Dong Mo Lake, a known habitat for the species, in April 2023.

Environmental DNA is being used to detect a species when physical sightings remain next to impossible.

Implementing portable eDNA testing in 2025 was vital to verify the presence of hidden survivors, of which there have been none yet.

Freshwater extinctions rarely happen overnight, especially in a habitat as large as the Yangtze River. However, its still possible for a species to dwindle, and dwindle enough so that only a few remaining refuges start carrying the entire future of the species.

Thats exactly what happened to the Yangtze giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), making this species a stark example of this extinction phenomenon. After the death of a key female turtle in Vietnam, conservation efforts questioned just how many of these animals remain in the wild.

This is the story of the Yangtze giant softshell turtle and one of the largest river systems in Asia. The people working to protect both of these things are concerned about the future of this species and the river ecosystem as a whole. Heres why, as well as whats being done to save this creature.

The Last Confirmed Female Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle

In April 2023, the last confirmed female Yangtze giant softshell turtle was found dead in Vietnams Dong Mo Lake. The animal was described as roughly 61 inches long and weighing about 205 pounds, measurements that show how large and old these turtles can get if allowed to live a long and healthy life.

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle once thrived in its namesake river, but no longer. Tharuka Wanniarachchi/Shutterstock.com (Tharuka Wanniarachchi/Shutterstock.com)

Her loss was significant and mattered because this species is already at the edge of its viability and potential future. At the time, reporting described one confirmed male in captivity in China and at least one wild turtle in Vietnam whose sex is unconfirmed. Conservationists knew this recent death meant the most basic requirement for recovering the species suddenly looked far less likely. Without any living females, is there hope left for the Yangtze giant softshell turtle, especially in the habitat it once called home?

Where Did This Giant Turtle Used to Live?

The Yangtze giant softshell turtle once occupied large rivers and connected wetlands in northern Vietnam and parts of China, and for good reason. Conservation groups confirm that this river giant needs big, linked water systems rather than isolated ponds, given its size and typical ways of living.

The Asian Turtle Programs Rafetus project describes habitat use that includes large rivers and adjacent wetlands and lakes, including Dong Mo itself, as part of what made the species possible in the first place. However, our human influence is making it all the more difficult for this turtle to exist.

The Yangtze River was once home to these turtles, but pollution and changes to its structure made it impossible for them to survive. MyCreative/Shutterstock.com (MyCreative/Shutterstock.com)

This dependency on larger connected waterways is a key problem. When river networks get fragmented, as they so easily do in our modern era, a turtle that relies on wide-ranging movement and stable nesting areas doesnt shift range easily. In fact, it likely wont adapt quickly enough and risks dying out.

How Dams and Water Control Reduce Turtle Habitat

Dams and major water-control projects can devastate species, especially freshwater ones. These projects often remove nesting habitats, alter seasonal water levels, create physical barriers that block movement between water channels, and may even pollute once clean and natural habitats.

A global review in Tropical Conservation Science mentions that dams greatly affect freshwater turtles through habitat loss, flow changes, movement barriers, and water-quality shifts, which is exactly whats occurred across the Yangtze and Red River regions over time.

Dams along the Yangtze River altered the habitat for this turtle species, leading to their decline. burakyalcin/Shutterstock.com (burakyalcin/Shutterstock.com)

For a giant softshell turtle, these changes mean fewer safe places to nest, fewer connected areas to forage, fewer chances for adults to find each other, and ultimately fewer turtles born in the long run.

How Pollution and Disturbance Weaken Dwindling Species

Even when a turtle survives in a large, once-beautiful lake, long-term habitat quality can still block recovery. Another reason for the Yangtze giants species collapse is habitat degradation and pollution; those factors are especially damaging for an animal that spends its life in the same water and sediment. Their safe harbors become unsafe, but in insidious, creeping ways, with no possible waterways left to escape.

Parts of the Yangtze River are dried up now, due to alterations of its course, making it difficult for species to survive. Scott Gutentag/Shutterstock.com (Scott Gutentag/Shutterstock.com)

When a population is down to single digits, like it is for the Yangtze giant softshell turtle, its easy for a species to be affected. Reduced survival rates, fertility rates, healthy functioning, and a higher chance that any capture attempt or medical intervention goes badly make every individual count. There simply arent enough turtles left to risk losing a single one.

How Hunting and Trade Removed Breeding Adults

This species was especially affected, as it lost many of its breeding adults to trade. In fact, hunting and trade alongside habitat loss are all this turtles major causes of decline, which is the worst possible combination for slow-reproducing turtles. Heres why.

Besides changing the river itself, the capture of breeding adults greatly affected the Yangtze giant softshell turtles numbers. sleepingpanda/Shutterstock.com (sleepingpanda/Shutterstock.com)

Long-lived turtles often depend on adults surviving for decades. But what happens when these adults are taken? When breeding adults are consistently lost, the population can keep existing for a little while longer, right up until it cant. And, once conservationists recognize whats happened within a species, it is often too late.

How Many Turtles Are Left, and Why Does the Count Keep Changing?

According to recent reporting, there are only two of these turtles left, and theyre both males. However, population counts for the Yangtze giant softshell turtle vary because these turtles are hard to detect. Additionally, conservation teams have had to use tools like genetic testing and environmental DNA to even confirm species identity.

For example, in December 2020, a Wildlife Conservation Society news release described genetic testing that confirmed a female of this turtle captured in October 2020 in Dong Mo Lake. While it gave hope that additional turtles in nearby lakes could be captured and sexed, the efforts needed to determine this take time, more time than this species may have.

Conservationists continue to search the Yangtze River for more turtles, especially females. xinjian/Shutterstock.com (xinjian/Shutterstock.com)

As of 2025, portable eDNA testing confirmed the presence of only two known individuals: one captive male in China and one wild turtle in Vietnam whose sex remains unconfirmed, though ongoing surveys may yet reveal more. Regardless, this testing shows how narrow the margin has become for the Yangtze giant softshell turtle.

What Are Conservationists Doing Now?

At this stage, conservationists are adamant about locating other living individuals and confirming their sex, as well as preventing any other future, avoidable losses. In the 2020 WCS release, Asian Turtle Program director Timothy McCormack stated it was vital to confirm the sex and identity of remaining animals so teams can plan accordingly. In addition, overhunting and habitat destruction are highly contested, as they are the main reasons why this turtle is so endangered.

Conservationists are constantly monitoring potential habitats this turtle may be hiding within. isabel kendzior/Shutterstock.com (isabel kendzior/Shutterstock.com)

This means that conservationists are constantly monitoring, making targeted capture attempts when conditions allow, expanding searches beyond historic lake habitats, and taking their time to confirm if there are any other turtles left out there. One additional turtle can change the entire outlook for this species, and conservationists arent going to let the opportunity slip through their fingers.

Why Freshwater Ecosystem Diversity Matters

While the Yangtze giant softshell turtle is just one example of how freshwater ecosystems are changing, they arent the only ones. Freshwater systems everywhere are taking some of the steepest biodiversity hits on the planet, and the same drivers of this shift show up again and again: habitat loss, dams, pollution, and overexploitation lead to devastating consequences.

The WWF Living Planet Report, made in 2024, reported that monitored freshwater populations have declined by 85% since 1970. This heartbreaking truth helps explain why the Yangtze giant softshell turtles near-disappearance isnt a rare or singular circumstance. Many rivers and lakes are experiencing historically abnormal losses due to our expansion and advancement as human beings, with little regard for the natural world we call home.

Our advancement as humans greatly affects freshwater ecosystems. gyn9037/Shutterstock.com (gyn9037/Shutterstock.com)

If a river system cant support a slow-breeding giant anymore, its a signal that the basics of these freshwater ecosystems are failing. Thats the warning we need to heed, as it applies far beyond the Yangtze. More species may suffer and face extinction if we arent careful, if we dont heed the Yangtze giant softshell turtles story.

The post The Rarest Turtle on Earth: How a Giant Vanished from a Famous River System appeared first on A-Z Animals.
President Donald Trumps threat to tariff countries who oppose his campaign to annex Greenland has sparked outrage among global allies, with key world leaders vowing to uphold European sovereignty. And its not only caused a storm in international waters, as Trumps warning also prompted a new wave of criticism within his own party.

In a move that U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled as completely wrong, Trump over the weekend threatened to impose a 10% tariff on European allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom beginning Feb. 1 on any and all goods sent to the United States of America until Denmark agrees to sell Greenland to the U.S. Trump said the tariff would be increased to 25% on June 1. The threat came after several European NATO allies committed to sending troops to Greenland to take part in military exercises alongside a renewed effort to bolster the security of the Arctic island.

Read More: Starmer Breaks With Trump Over Completely Wrong Greenland Tariff Threats and Urges Avoiding a Trade War

A number of Republicans have already denounced Trumps pressure campaign to acquire the Kingdom of Denmark territory amid growing concerns over the White Houses refusal to rule out using military force to annex the island.

This is appalling. Greenland is a NATO ally. Denmark is one of our best friends so the way were treating them is really demeaning and it has no upside, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said in early January.

Since then, Trump has doubled down on his active pursuit of Greenland, despite the public rebuke of Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who said last week: If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. Refusing to retreat, Trumpwho maintains that acquiring the island is a matter of national securitysaid anything less than U.S. control of Greenland is unacceptable and argued that NATO should be leading the way for [the U.S.] to get it.

Danish soldiers disembark at the port in Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 18, 2026. Mads Claus RasmussenGetty Images

Trumps new economic threats have earned him renewed criticism from some Republicans who, similar to U.K. leader Starmer, are worried that using such leverage could prompt a trade war.



It's great for Putin, Xi and other adversaries who want to see NATO divided, said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. It hurts the legacy of President Trump and undercuts all the work he has done to strengthen the NATO alliance over the years.

As Trumps effort to acquire Greenland shows no signs of dissipating, and with E.U. leaders set to convene for an emergency meeting in Brussels to discuss options on Thursday, heres a look at some of the Republicans who are taking a stand against the Presidents new tariffs threat.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska

Lisa Murkowski, who is part of a bipartisan effort alongside Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire to introduce a bill to block Trump from taking over Greenland, lambasted the proposed use of economic pressure against key European allies.

These tariffs are unnecessary, punitive, and a profound mistake. They will push our core European allies further away while doing nothing to advance U.S. national security, said Murkowski, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The announcement of the tariffs came at the tail end of a bipartisan congressional delegation to Copenhagen that saw Murkowski and others display a show of support for Denmark and Greenland.

Arguing that such division among NATO allies is playing directly into Putins hands, Murkowski urged Congress to work together to reassert our Constitutional authority over tariffs so that they are not weaponized in ways that harm our alliances and undermine American leadership.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks during a press conference with an American delegation, consisting of Senators and members of the House of Representatives, in Copenhagen, on Jan. 17, 2026. Ida Marie OdgaardGetty Images

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina

Sen. Tillis, who also visited Copenhagen, issued a strong condemnation of the tariffs threat and criticized the advisors who are actively pushing for coercive action to seize Greenland, calling the move beyond stupid.

This response to our own allies for sending a small number of troops to Greenland for training is bad for America, bad for American businesses, and bad for America's allies, said Tillis.

The North Carolina lawmaker also issued a joint statement alongside Democratic Sen. Shaheen, his co-chair on the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group.

Of the eight European countries facing the tariffs, the Senators said: They are our NATO Allies who have fought beside us, died alongside us, and have made America safer and more prosperous.

Tillis and Shaheen maintained there is no need, or desire, for a costly acquisition or hostile military takeover of Greenland and said their own meetings with Greenlandic and Danish officials had shown that Denmark and Greenland want to partner with the United States and advance our shared security goals.

Sen. Thom Tillis (center left) joins Democratic Sen. Chris Coons to lay wreaths at the Monument for Denmarks International Effort Since 1948 at Kastellet, Copenhagen, on Jan. 17, 2026. Ida Marie OdgaardGetty Images

Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska

Don Bacon has been vocal in his disapproval of Trumps campaign over Greenland. He doubled down on his criticism once more following the Presidents threat to apply economic pressure through tariffs.

Referring to Trumps announcement as embarrassing, Bacon stated that Congress must reclaim tariff authorities.

I and most Americans disagree with the Presidents heavy handedness. He is threatening NATO members, which is shameful. The fact that Greenland is part of NATOs umbrella gives the President all he needs to put more bases there, said Bacon.

The Nebraska lawmaker also took issue with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents assertion that Trump is being strategic in his pursuit of the Arctic territory. During an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday, Bessent supported Trumps actions and said the U.S. is not going to outsource our national security.

Pushing back against the Trump Administrations approach, Bacon argued its not strategic to weaken or destroy NATO.

Rep. Don Bacon talks with reporters outside the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2025. Tom WilliamsGetty Images

Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio

Mike Turner, who leads the U.S. delegation to NATO's Parliamentary Assembly, admitted that the U.S. threatening to invade Greenland is a new issue.

There certainly is no authority that the President has to use military force to seize territory from a NATO country. And certainly this is problematic that the President has made this statement and has caused tension among the alliance, he said during an appearance on CBS Face the Nation.

Turner added that the Presidents threats have put his peace principles at risk with respect to Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, and his leadership among our allies as well as his negotiations with the E.U.

Rep. Mike Turner speaks during an interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Al DragoGetty Images

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky

Rand Paul denounced the notion that tariffs can be used to pressure European allies during a televised interview on Sunday, arguing the President shouldn't be able to write up new taxes and threaten them any time he wishes.

Rejecting the idea that the Greenland matter warrants emergency powers, Paul said: We can't throw out all of the Constitution's rules on where taxes originate because someone declares an emergency. There is no emergency with Greenland. That's ridiculous.

Sen. Rand Paul talks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 8, 2026. Tom WilliamsGetty Images

Write to Olivia-Anne Cleary at olivia-anne.cleary@time.com.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The Georgia nonprofit trying to buy Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital wants state leaders to fast-track legislation creating an $18 million fund that would give investors peace of mind to fund the transaction.

Centurion Foundation President and CEO Ben Mingle made the request in a letter sent late Friday to Gov. Dan McKee, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, Senate President Val Lawson and Attorney General Peter Neronha. Target 12 obtained the letter Sunday.

With the states agreement and legislative support, we have a clear path to complete the bond sale and schedule a sale closing within weeks, Mingle told Target 12 in a statement. Four large investors have agreed to buy the bonds for the deal if the proposed legislation passes, he said.

But Gov. Dan McKee said Monday the state needs to see that Centurion has its financing lined up before it can agree to the request.

They need to show us the money, because thats what its going to take, he said. We need to make sure that if theyre not able to get the financing, were going to have to look at other options at the same time.

Shekarchi and Lawson confirmed the letter Sunday but were noncommittal on whether General Assembly leaders will act on the request, saying they are seeking additional details about how solid Centurions financing commitments are.

We will conduct our due diligence and are committed to a course of action that stabilizes these hospitals in the best interests of patients, hospital workers, and all Rhode Islanders, the two Democrats told Target 12 in a statement.

Mingle has spent nearly four years trying to finalize Centurions acquisition of the two hospitals, which employ roughly 2,400 workers and have critical emergency and behavioral beds. That effort grew even more complicated when the hospitals current owner  Prospect Medical Holdings of California  filed for bankruptcy a year ago.

Pressure has been growing on Centurion to get the deal done, both from Rhode Island leaders and the Texas bankruptcy judge overseeing Prospects case. The organization missed a court-mandated Jan. 15 deadline to secure financing for the deal, adding to the uncertainty.

The attorney general said Saturday that his office was examining alternative options based on the judges Dec. 8 order regarding the hospitals, which called for them to be transferred to an alternative owner by Jan. 30  potentially the state itself  if the Centurion deal hadnt gone through.

In Fridays letter to state leaders, Mingle insisted real progress has been made in nailing down financing commitments  but said the $18 million funding backstop from taxpayers was a requirement to seal the deal. He said the transaction will close by Feb. 28 if a law creating the fund is introduced and enacted quickly.

I am pleased to inform you that we have secured verbal commitments from four investors at an aggregate amount sufficient to facilitate the closing of our proposed acquisition, Mingle wrote in the letter. He said lawyers are now at work formalizing bond purchase agreements.

Each investor has clearly stated that their investment is subject to, and conditioned upon, having a state-funded bond reserve fund in the amount of $18 million, he wrote. Centurion Foundation respectfully requests that legislation be introduced at the earliest possible time to allow for the approval and implementation of this bond reserve fund.

According to Mingle, under the pending deal, Centurion would use its own funds to create a $9 million debt-service reserve fund, and the states $18 million supplemental fund would be in addition to that.

Centurion has also committed to purchase $2 million in subordinated bonds as part of the deal, Mingle said, indicating the nonprofits own money would be at risk if the hospitals cant make their debt payments.

This state-funded reserve fund would only be accessed in the event the hospitals fail to make a debt service payment on the bonds, Mingle said, and only after the other $9 million reserve fund is exhausted.

Mingle emphasized that in no event would the state be obligated to more than $18M over the life of the bonds under the legislation.

Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, Bluesky and LinkedIn.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Turin, Piedmont - The Italian Wine Podcast has renewed its partnership with Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino as the Official Media Partner of Grandi Langhe 2026, the annual gathering of Piedmont's most prestigious wineries. Grandi Langhe 2026 will be held on 26 and 27 January in Turin at the OGR (Officine Grandi Riparazioni). It is a B2B event dedicated to wine professionals, allowing them to discover the wines of Langhe, Roero and Piedmont. The Italian Wine Podcast will be on hand throughout with a series of exclusive interviews with producers, buyers and industry leaders, delivering all the latest news, views and analysis from this crucial Italian wine region to its global audience of listeners.

VERONA, Italy, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Organized by the Consorzio di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Dogliani with the Consorzio di Tutela Roero and in collaboration with Piemonte Land of Wine, Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino brings together more than 500 wineries and 3,000 labels representing every DOC and DOCG in Piedmont. In 2025, the event welcomed more than 5,000 attendees, of whom approximately 20% were from overseas.

The Italian Wine Podcast has renewed its partnership with Grandi Langhe e il Piemonte del Vino as the Official Media Partner of Grandi Langhe 2026.

Stevie Kim, founder of the Italian Wine Podcast, welcomed the opportunity to collaborate in this important event: "Italy is famous for its diversity and its fierce individualism, so bringing more than 500 producers together under one roof is no small feat. Grandi Langhe proves what is possible when a region chooses collaboration over fragmentation. It offers an unparalleled snapshot of Piedmont today and that collective strength is exactly what international markets are looking for."

Francesco Monchiero, President of Piemonte Land of Wine, outlined the organization's objectives for 2026: "The 2025 edition represented a major leap forward for Grandi Langhe, marking the first time that wineries from across the whole of Piedmont participated together. It effectively marked "year zero" of the project as it exists today: an initiative created to showcase the full breadth of Piedmont's wine heritage, going beyond individual territorial excellences and bringing together all of the region's more than 60 appellations. The success achieved, with 500 participating wineries, confirmed the strength and uniqueness of this initiative, capable of attracting trade professionals from across Italy and abroad. For 2026, we have chosen to further strengthen this path by increasing the number of participating wineries and consolidating Grandi Langhe as a benchmark event for Piedmontese wine."

Full details of the event can be found at: www.grandilanghe.com.

Listeners of Italian Wine Podcast can expect a series of special episodes dedicated to Grandi Langhe 2026, as well as real-time updates and engaging discussions across the podcast's digital platforms.

https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/grandi-langhe-e-il-piemonte-del-vino-2025/

About the Italian Wine Podcast: Cin Cin with Italian Wine People! launched in 2017 as a project dedicated exclusively to the Italian wine world. The program uncovers the unique world of Italian wine in conversation with some of its key protagonists. Under the umbrella brand of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, Italian Wine Podcast aims to inform, educate, and entertain listeners with content for wine professionals and casual listeners alike. The only daily wine podcast in the world, content includes wine business, food & travel, diversity and inclusion, wine producers, science, and marketing and communication. Italian Wine Podcast is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, XimalayaFM (for China), and on the official website. It now boasts over 2,500 recorded episodes with a growing online following of nearly 8 million listens. Donations to the show are welcomed and help fund a portion of the show's equipment, production, and publication costs. To advertise in the show, please request a prospectus and/or customized advertising plan from [email protected] . Cin Cin!

Listen on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and XimalayaFM Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

SOURCE Italian Wine Podcast
President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2026. - Kylie Cooper/Reuters

President Donald Trump has pitched NATO into what could become its worst-ever crisis by threatening new tariffs against US allies that oppose his grab for Greenland against the will of its people.

Whether the worlds relative peace is endangered by the fracturing of its most powerful military alliance will partly depend on whether Republicans in Congress show rare resolve in challenging their incorrigible president.

Another key factor is whether European leaders, who responded to the latest escalation with steely unity, will threaten consequences for Trump and the US. The European Union is a huge trade bloc, and retaliation could hammer US stock markets that Trump touts as a barometer of economic well-being. But trade reprisals or limiting military cooperation could end up damaging Americas allies more than their protector.

European Union ambassadors held emergency consultations in Brussels on Sunday, and several leaders of NATO allies who are friendly with Trump called to express resolve over Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory.

There is palpable alarm on both sides of the Atlantic that NATO could collapse. Such a previously unthinkable scenario would represent a historic win for Russia and China and represent perhaps the most destabilizing outcome of Trumps two White House terms.

There is also concern in Congress about Trumps antics. But are there sufficient senior Republicans so protective of NATO, a bedrock of US global power, that theyd gamble on an exceedingly rare breach with him? Cracks have emerged in Trumps power base in Congress  notably over the Jeffrey Epstein files  but he remains feared by many GOP lawmakers.

Ultimately, however, the parlous fate of the alliance rests on a president who sees US military power as his to wield without legal or constitutional constraints and who disdains NATO as a protection racket. Acquiring Greenland would be a legacy item greater than putting his name on the Kennedy Center or building a new White House ballroom; it would place him alongside Thomas Jefferson and William McKinley as presidents who expanded the territory of the United States.

Protesters rally in support of Greenland on January 17, 2026, in Copenhagen, Denmark. - Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images

Trumps tariff threat risks existential breach with allies

Trump sent shockwaves across the Atlantic on Saturday by intensifying his aggressive demands for Greenland as he pushes his Art of the Deal foreign policy to extremes. He said Saturday hed impose a 10% tariff on any and all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland starting February 1, increasing to 25% on June 1, until an agreement is reached.

Trump has correctly pointed out that many NATO nations took the US security umbrella for granted by running down their armed forces in recent decades. His anger, as well as the threat highlighted by Russias invasion of Ukraine, has prompted many member states to promise to substantially increase defense spending.

But by failing to rule out military force to take Greenland, he risks destroying NATO and its Article 5 mutual defense clause over a personal obsession. This is despite no tangible desire among American voters to own the island or to pay for it. Theyre more worried about high prices a year into Trumps second presidency.

The president has full military access to Greenland to protect us from any threat. So, if he wants to purchase Greenland, thats one thing. But for him to militarily invade would turn Article 5 of NATO on its very head, and in essence, put us at war with NATO itself, Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and chair emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security committees, told ABCs This Week on Sunday.

It would end up abolishing NATO as we know it, an organization that has  protected us from world wars, McCaul said.

Trumps first-term vice president, Mike Pence, told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union that while the US has an interest in controlling and ultimately owning Greenland, Trumps methods were counterproductive. I do think that the current posture, which I hope will change and abate, does threaten to fracture that strong relationship, not just with Denmark, but with all of our NATO allies, Pence said Sunday.

The Danish navy's inspection ship HDMS Vaedderen sails off Nuuk, Greenland, on Sunday. - Mads Claus Rasmussen/AFP/Getty Images

Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, who heads the US delegation to NATOs parliamentary assembly, agreed that Trump had legitimate national security concerns in Greenland. But he told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday that there certainly is no authority that the president has to use military force to seize territory from a NATO country.

But will Congress do anything to stop Trump?

Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul and Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine are planning to impose speed bumps. They said in a joint appearance on NBCs Meet the Press that they are discussing a new war powers resolution on Greenland. They also plan to challenge the new tariffs and highlight a law that stipulates a president cant withdraw from NATO without congressional approval.

Paul said Trump was rattling the cage by refusing ruling out taking Greenland by force. But he added: Ive heard of no Republican support for that, even though most hawkish members of our caucus have said they wont support that.

Some Republicans hope Trump is merely playing real estate shark. I think its just the way Trump deals with things. I mean, look, hes gotten good deals done by taking an aggressive position, Florida Sen. Rick Scott told Fox News.

But an administration empowered by topping Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro seems to have moved on from master dealmaker mode. Days after Trump said he wanted Greenland because it was psychologically important for me, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday appeared to confirm perceptions that the administration thinks the US is so strong it can take what it wants.

The United States right now, we are the hottest country in the world. We are the strongest country in the world. Europeans project weakness. The US projects strength, Bessent said on Meet the Press.

President Donald Trump departs the White House for Detroit on January 13, 2026. - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

NATO has had divisions  but none like this

NATO has faced many tensions in its nearly 77 years. In the Suez Crisis in 1956, the US opposed a British-French invasion of parts of Egypt. In the 1990s, some European nations were frustrated about Washingtons initial reluctance to involve NATO to stop the war in the former Yugoslavia. In the early 2000s, after a period of soul-searching over its post-Cold War role, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in defense of the US after the 9/11 attacks. It later led the Afghan campaign. But angry divides flared over Iraq.

Trumps pressure on NATO follows a banner period for the alliance after Sweden and Finland joined during the Biden administration following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The current split is unprecedented because none of the leaders who nurtured it for seven decades could fathom the scenario of one member threatening another. That the belligerent party is the United States  the most important member state  makes the situation even more unbelievable.

Trumps fixation on Greenland, which is becoming more important as a race for control of the Arctic speeds up, makes strategic sense. But his rationale for why the United States must have it for itself is more opaque.

The US has treaties with Denmark that allow it to send troops there. Trump says the island is vital for his Golden Dome missile defense project. But a US Space Force base there already focuses on missile early warning systems. Greenland and Denmark are also open to commercial deals with the US to exploit rare earth minerals. And Trumps claim that China and Russia might invade is disingenuous because the island is already NATO territory the alliance would defend.

But Bessent advanced a stunning rationale that implies Trump could act unilaterally on any global issue. The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency. It is a strategic decision by the president, he told NBC. Trumps invoking of emergency powers to impose tariffs as part of his trade wars is the key point at issue as the Supreme Court deliberates on whether the presidents tariffs usurped Congress trade prerogatives.

An Inuit woman holds her child during a protest in front of the US Consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 17, 2026. - Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Why Greenland matters so much to Europe

In the wake of Trumps demands for Greenland, European leaders whove spent the last year trying to appease and flatter the president hardened their tone.

The issue is not just about territory. It cuts to the core of the European ideal, forged through centuries of continental bloodshed, that nations and peoples have the right to self-determination and are not mere vassals of all-powerful states.

President Emmanuel Macron drew a striking parallel between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putins territorial gangsterism when he wrote on X that France favored the independence and sovereignty of all nations. No intimidation or threat will influence usneither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations, he said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni  each of whom has tried to befriend Trump  both spoke to him by phone. Meloni, a populist conservative, said she doesnt agree with Greenland-related tariffs.

But it will take more than words to appease Trump. Can Republicans on Capitol Hill or NATO allies show him that there will be personal and political consequences for making the annexation of Greenland a top priority?

There are signs Trumps threats could scupper the ratification of an EU-US trade accord that offered the US advantageous conditions  partly because Europe knew it could not risk the withdrawal of US defense support. The collapse of the deal or retaliatory tariffs could hurt Trump by spiking prices of imports in a midterm election year in which voters have soured on his economic performance.

A splintering of the NATO alliance could ultimately cause problems for the United States if it involved the closure of military bases in Britain, Germany or elsewhere that the US uses to project force in the Middle East and Africa. And it could saddle the stretched US military with sole responsibility for defending the Arctic.

A severing of transatlantic ties would also complicate some of Trumps other priorities, such as his desire for European support and funding for his initiative to stabilize and rebuild Gaza. And if he really is serious about ending the Ukraine war, it cant be done fairly without Europe. NATO alliance members might also turn away from US arms purchases and investment.

Yet NATO states remain deeply vulnerable to Trump. Decades of underspending on defense have left them reliant on Americas military might 80 years after World War II and nearly 35 after the Cold War ended.

There is a genuine will in Europe to be more independent. But it will take decades to build scale and all-around resilience, assuming weak governments can convince disgruntled voters to make sacrifices for defense spending.

Ultimately, this unbalanced dynamic in the Western alliance has as much to do with the current impasse as the off-the-rails American president.

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A shark mauled a surfer off an ocean beach in Sydney on Monday in the Australian city's third shark attack in two days, authorities said.

The surfer, believed to be in his 20s, was in a critical condition in hospital with serious leg injuries after the attack at a northern Sydney beach, police said.

"The man was pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid before the arrival of emergency services," New South Wales state police said in a statement.

All of Sydney's northern beaches were closed until further notice.

A man stands next to warning signs in place, and beaches are closed after a surfer suffered a shark attack today at Dee Why Beach in Sydney, Australia, January 19, 2026. / Credit: JEREMY PIPER / REUTERS (JEREMY PIPER / REUTERS)

The attack at North Steyne Beach in the suburb of Manly came hours after a shark bit a large chunk out of a young surfer's board about 2.5 miles north along the coast at Dee Why Point.

That surfer, reportedly a boy aged about 11, was uninjured but the beach was closed immediately.

On Sunday, a large shark bit a 12-year-old boy in the legs as he played with friends at a beach in Sydney harbor, leaving him fighting for survival in a hospital.

The boy and his friends were jumping from a 20-foot rock into the water off Shark Beach in the eastern suburb of Vaucluse when the predator struck, police said.

"It was a horrendous scene at the time when police attended. We believe it was something like a bull shark that attacked the lower limbs of that boy," said Superintendent Joseph McNulty, New South Wales marine area police commander.

"That boy is fighting for his life now," he told reporters on Monday.

"Perfect storm" for a shark attack

Recent heavy rain had drained into the harbor, and authorities believed the combination of the brackish seawater and the children's splashing created a "perfect storm" for a shark attack, McNulty said.

He warned people not to go swimming in the harbor or other river systems in New South Wales because of the risks.

He praised the boy's "brave" young friends for pulling him out of the water on Sunday.

Officers put the unconscious child in a police boat and gave him first aid, applying two tourniquets to stem the bleeding from his legs, McNulty said.

They tried to resuscitate the boy as they sped across the harbor to a wharf where ambulance paramedics were waiting.

The child, confirmed by police to be 12 years old, was in intensive care at Sydney Children's Hospital surrounded by family and friends, McNulty said.

A view of rainfall over Shark Beach at sunset in Sydney, Australia, January 18, 2026. / Credit: FLAVIO BRANCALEONE / REUTERS

There have been more than 1,280 shark incidents around Australia since 1791, of which more than 250 resulted in death, according to a database of the predators' encounters with humans.

The International Shark Attack File, a database of global shark attacks run by the University of Florida, noted that a "disproportionate" amount of people died from shark bites in Australia in 2023 when compared with other countries around the world.

Increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures that appear to be influencing sharks' migratory patterns may be contributing to a rise in attacks despite overfishing depleting some species, scientists say.

A great white shark mauled surfer Mercury Psillakis to death at a popular northern Sydney ocean beach in September.

Two months later, a bull shark killed a woman swimming off a remote beach north of Sydney.

Two Americans have been killed by sharks in the past month. Less than two weeks ago, 56-year-old woman from Minnesota died after a shark attack in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Earlier this month, authorities in California confirmed that 55-year-old Erica Fox died from a shark attack. She went missing in Monterey Bay in late December. The coroner determined Fox died from "sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water due to a shark attack."

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A Rancho Cucamonga man was arrested after he allegedly kidnapped and tried to kill his former romantic partner early Sunday morning.

A woman at a motel in the 1200 block of North Grove Avenue in Ontario reportedly screamed for help, prompting a call to the Ontario Police Department just before 3 a.m. Sunday, they said in a press release.

The woman was gone by the time officers arrived, but using a license-plate reader, police tracked the woman and her alleged abductor to Arrow Highway and San Bernardino Avenue in Upland, where they found the woman, a 34-year-old from Rancho Cucamonga, had sustained severe facial injuries and road abrasions.

Police identified the womans former romantic partner, 37-year-old Scott Thomas Brown, as her attacker.

Scott Thomas Brown is shown in a Jan. 18, 2026, image provided by the Ontario Police Department.

The victim attempted to escape but was caught, dragged back to the vehicle, physically assaulted, and threatened with a knife, police said.

She was hospitalized with serious injuries, while Brown, who is on probation for felony domestic violence, was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on multiple charges:

Attempted murder

Kidnapping

Assault with a deadly weapon

False imprisonment

Mayhem

Domestic violence

Jail records indicate he also faces charges of battery causing serious bodily injury and making criminal threats, and hes being held without bail. Hes due to appear in Rancho Superior Court on Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ryan Ronveaux at 909-408-1748.

To report information anonymously, call WeTip at 800-78-CRIME or visit wetip.com.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Twelve states have applied to have their 2028 presidential nominating contests be held in the early period before Super Tuesday, according to a Democratic National Committee member familiar with the process.

The DNC will eventually pick one state from each of the four regions it has designated (East, Midwest, South, West) to hold early 2028 nominating contests, although no decision on the calendar order is imminent.

Super Tuesday is the first Tuesday in March during a presidential calendar year when the most primaries are held on one day.

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The states that applied in each region, per the member, are:

East region: Delaware and New Hampshire

Midwest region: Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan

South region: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia

West: Nevada and New Mexico

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: Voters cast their ballots in the New Hampshire presidential primary election at The Barn at Bull Meadow, January 23, 2024 in Concord, New Hampshire.

Some of these states -- such as Tennessee and Delaware -- have not traditionally held their presidential primaries early, but are arguing to the DNC that theyre well-suited to showcase candidates and voter diversity.

The Tennessee Democratic Party, for instance, argued in its proposal that being among the early states would help prioritize southern voters the party has seemingly often written off, according to excerpts viewed by ABC News.

"Historically, states like Tennessee have often been overlooked and written off under a false assumption that 'red states' are assumed to be impossible to deliver progress ... We ask for the opportunity to lift up and elevate Tennesseans' voices, voices echoed across Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and other so-called 'red states' the old guard gave up on," the Tennessee party wrote.

And Delaware's Democratic Party argued that the state has a diverse population, well-run elections, and will allow 2028 candidates to build early momentum, according to excerpts of its proposal viewed by ABC News.

"While Delaware is not a battleground state in the Electoral College, it is strategically positioned within the Northeast corridor. Campaign activity, including media buys in the Philadelphia media market, will naturally reach voters in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, extending the impact of early engagement beyond state lines," the Delaware party wrote.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images - PHOTO: A volunteer collects voter ballots at a caucus at Franklin Junior High, January 15, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Friday marked a key procedural deadline for how Democrats will figure out which states will hold the first presidential nominating contests of 2028, amid broader debates within the party over diversity and voter representation, and which states will show which candidates are viable for the long haul.

The Democratic National Committee set a Friday afternoon deadline for state parties to apply to have their 2028 presidential nominating contests be held in the period before Super Tuesday.

The order of the primaries and caucuses matters because the early contests help indicate which candidates have momentum and are striking a chord with voters, and often narrow the candidate field ahead of Super Tuesday.

The debate about the order is also about diversity and voter representation in the Democratic Party. Some Democrats have argued that states with larger Black and minority populations should be prioritized, to reflect the diversity of the country, while others say the party should prioritize traditional "early states," such as New Hampshire, to spur turnout and buzz, even though their populations may be less diverse.

Traditionally, Iowa has held first-in-the-nation caucuses and New Hampshire has first-in-the-nation primaries. But in 2024, a reshuffled DNC primary calendar pushed the states from the first two slots on the party's official calendar and officially put South Carolina first.

While Iowa Democrats found a compromise with the DNC by switching their in-person caucus to an entirely mail-in voting process , New Hampshire's primaries were kept in January, causing conflict between the state and national party.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, in a statement to ABC News, said that the party is applying to hold its caucuses before Super Tuesday, and said Democrats need to keep Iowa toward the front of the line in order to stay competitive with Republicans.

"No matter what the Rules and Bylaws Committee decides, Republican presidential candidates will be in Iowa," Hart wrote. "It was a mistake for the DNC to cut us out of the calendar, letting Republicans' attacks go unanswered in Iowa while millions of dollars in advertising, organizing and the worldwide media flooded our state."

Some state party leaders have said their states being early in the calendar will help candidates show if they can stick it out throughout 2028.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images - PHOTO: The Democratic National Committee headquarters, November 16, 2023 in Washington.

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley said the case his party is making to the DNC is that New Hampshire is a prime state for 2028 candidates to build up support and to show their viability. He said its small size allows for easy campaigning in a purple state, "which is exactly what you need in the November general election."

New Hampshire also has a state law requiring it to hold the nation's first presidential primaries, which is what led in large part to the disarray in 2024 between the state party and the DNC. But Buckley said that it's not a factor right now.

"It's not about the tradition, it's not about the law; it's really about our involvement, and we just think that we have an unmatched record of being able to give the opportunity for candidates to talk to voters one-on-one," Buckley said.

Buckley said New Hampshire's population of union members, as well as the large percentage of students of color in the public school systems of the state's two largest cities make it a great state for candidates to test the waters.

But the South Carolina Democratic Party said it wants to stay first in the calendar.

Party Executive Director Jay Parmley told ABC News that the state is making its case to the DNC to remain in the early window because it's compact and allows unknown candidates to compete. Also, Parmley said the state does not have a major population center, so candidates need to fan out across it.

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Regarding the debates surrounding diverse primary states, Parmley pointed to how the state has a "diverse electorate," and highlighted its Black community. Around 1 in 4 registered voters in South Carolina are Black, according to data from the South Carolina Election Commission.

"Our Black electorate -- it legitimizes and rewards the role of Black voters and as the backbone and soul, if you will, of the Democratic Party."

Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A person votes at a polling location, February 3, 2024, in West Columbia, South Carolina during the South Carolina Democratic Primary.

Nevada's Democratic Party also confirmed it's submitting a bid to go early, arguing that galvanizing the state's minority and working-class populations is critical for the Democrats.

In a draft of their application, the state party wrote, "The Democratic Party is facing a critical moment where we must be strategic in our efforts to earn back Latino support, craft an economic message that resonates across the country, begin the work to reach working-class voters, and turn out diverse communities. We cannot afford to have overwhelmingly college-educated, white, or less competitive states kick off the process of selecting our party's nominee."

Michigan is also submitting a bid to be among the early states, similar to how it was in 2024, the state's party confirmed to ABC News -- arguing in part that Michigan is the most important and diverse of the battleground states.

"For Democrats to have the strongest presidential candidate, the early nominating states should closely mirror Democratic voters nationwide and be representative of America," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said in a statement to ABC News.

Illinois, North Carolina and Georgia's state Democratic parties also confirmed to ABC News that they are submitting bids. As Georgia's state's presidential primaries are usually held after Super Tuesday, they'd have to work with the Republican-dominated state legislature to move up the date.
[Reuters]

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said a trade war is in "no-one's interest" after Donald Trump threatened to impose a 10% tax on imports from the UK and other countries who oppose his plans to take control of Greenland.

Making a speech from Downing Street, Sir Keir said the "right approach" was "through calm discussion" and that the use of tariffs against allies was "not the right way to resolve differences".

He reiterated his belief that decisions about the island should rest with the people of Greenland and Denmark.

Principle "cannot be set aside", he said, but he vowed to take a "pragmatic" approach, emphasising both the economic and military importance of the UK-US relationship.

He said he did not believe Trump was genuinely considering military action against Greenland.

While seeking to diffuse tensions, the prime minister stressed that the situation was "very serious" and said it was a "moment for the whole country to pull together".

He welcomed the support offered by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch in regards to Greenland and potential tariffs.

Trump's threat had, he said. been "very badly received" in the UK but warned against "performative" or "grandstanding" actions.

"It may make politicians feel good, but it does nothing for working people whose jobs, livelihoods and security rely on the relationships we build across the world."

Sir Keir defended his decision to pursue a close relationship with Trump, arguing that it had help deliver "hundreds of billions of pounds" of investment in the UK.

During his speech and the subsequent question session, he also made repeated references to US-UK co-operation on defence, nuclear capability and intelligence.

Asked if he would consider imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US, the prime minister replied: "We have not got to that stage, my focus is making sure we don't get to that stage."

On Monday night, Sir Keir spoke to the prime ministers of Canada and Italy, Mark Carney and Giorgia Meloni, and explained the UK and its allies need to reassure Trump they are ready to defend the Arctic from Russia and China.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "He said that it was in everybody's interests to go further to deliver on Arctic security, and that the UK stands ready to contribute fully alongside our allies through Nato."

European leaders are expected to raise the future of Greenland with Trump this week when he travels to Davos for the World Economic Forum gathering.

French President Emmanuel Macron has hinted he wants to impose counter-tariffs saying the EU should deploy its "trade bazooka", but Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has expressed concerns about the mutual cost of a trade war.

The prime minister is not currently due to attend Davos but it remains an option as the week progresses.

Over the weekend, a small French military contingent travelled to Greenland as part of a so-called reconnaissance mission. The deployment also involved Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK.

Asked if Trump had incorrectly interpreted the visit as a hostile act towards the US, Sir Keir said: "This is one of the things I discussed with President Trump yesterday.

"Those forces were clearly there to assess and work on the risk from the Russians - there is real clarity, I hope, about that."

He added that Europe needed "to step up and do more on its own defence and security".

The US president has partly justified his interest in controlling Greenland by arguing that Denmark had not done enough to protect the area from Russian threats.

Located between North America and the Arctic, Greenland is a useful base for early warning systems for missile attacks as well as monitoring vessels in the region.

It is also a potential source of rare earth minerals as well as oil and gas, all of which could become more accessible as global warming leads to the melting of the ice sheet that covers the island.

Trump has said "complete and total purchase" of the Danish territory is essential for US and global security.

"If we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland," he has warned.

On Saturday, he said he would place a 10% levy on goods exported to the US from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

The tax would come into force from 1 February, rising to 25% on 1 June.

If Trump does follow through on his threat to impose tariffs it could be damaging to the UK economy, whose biggest overseas customer, in terms of individual countries, is the US.

Economists have estimated the new tariffs could take 0.5% off the UK's GDP.

The threat of tensions hit stock markets in Europe on Monday morning, with carmakers and luxury good firms seeing some of the biggest falls.

Over the weekend, Badenoch said she agreed with the prime minister on the sovereignty of Greenland adding that tariff threats are "a terrible idea".

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has also condemned the threat of tariffs saying they should "not be a bargaining chip in place of reasonable dialogue between partners".

The leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey said he was "a bit disappointed", saying that the prime minister had taken "retaliatory tariffs off the table".

He said "no-one wants a trade war" but "as our European neighbours and others are doing, they're keeping this threat on the table to show that we're not going to be bullied by Donald Trump - the way to beat a bully is to show that you're serious and will stand up."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "This is not how you treat your best friends", adding that he would be "having some words" with members of Trump's team when he travels to Davos this week.

He said he that Brexit meant the UK were "free to negotiate directly" with the US.

Lord Mandelson, former British ambassador to the US, told Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live that the US president "expects direct language" adding: "He will not be surprised if people talk directly back, but respectfully, not through a megaphone, not by shouting at him from the other side of the street."

"That's not what Starmer does, and he's absolutely right not to do so. I think that there are other European leaders, frankly, who could do worse than take their cue from our own prime minister."

[BBC]

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is a key figure in US-China trade talks. Pete Marovich/Getty Images

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said US control of Greenland is a strategic move to avoid conflict.

Trump said Saturday he would impose tariffs on Denmark and Europe until they hand over Greenland.

European Union leaders condemned the new tariffs on Sunday, calling them economic blackmail.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says President Donald Trump is serious about annexing Greenland.

Trump amped up the rhetoric on Saturday, announcing on Truth Social that the United States would impose new tariffs on Denmark, which controls Greenland, and other European countries unless they hand Greenland over.

Speaking to Kristen Welker on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Bessent said Trump's push to take over Greenland was not an empty land grab but a strategy to prevent future conflict.

"The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency," Bessent said. "It is a strategic decision by the president. This is a geopolitical decision, and he's able to use the economic might of the US to avoid a hot war, so why wouldn't we do that?"

Greenland is strategically located in the Arctic, acting as a buffer between North America and Russia. It is also home to minerals important to the manufacturing of future technologies.

Trump has recently said that at least part of his reasoning for wanting to annex Greenland is so it can house his Golden Dome missile defense project.

"The president is trying to avoid a conflict," Bessent said.

That project remains in early planning stages, however, and Denmark has never said it wouldn't allow Golden Dome infrastructure on its territory. The United States already has a military base in Greenland.

The spectre that the United States  recently emboldened by its surprise raid on Venezuela that netted its leader, Nicolas Maduro, allowing it to move to open the country's oil industry  could force Europe's hand by targeting its economy or even take Greenland by force, has rankled US allies across the Atlantic.

European Union leaders held an emergency meeting on Sunday, during which they called Trump's tariff threat economic blackmail.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the eight EU nations targeted by Trump said in a joint statement released on Sunday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
President Donald Trump sent a text on Jan 18 to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre in which he complained about not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer will think purely of Peace as a result. Trump went on to assert that only a Complete and Total Control of Greenland by the U.S. could keep the world secure."

Trumps message was first reported by PBS journalist Nick Schifrin in an X post, and confirmed by Stre's office to USA TODAY on Jan. 19. The prime minister's office also shared the message exchange between Stre and Trump with USA TODAY.

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America, Trump's text, sent at 4:15 pm Norway time (10:15 am ET), said.

"I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland," he continued.

Trump's message was in response to a text message Stre sent on behalf of himself and President of Finland Alexander Stubb less than half an hour before, at 3:48 p.m. local time, urging Trump to "de-escalate" on "Greenland, Gaza, Ukraine and your tariff announcement."

More: President Trump says he has ended 8 wars. What is he referring to?

"You know our position on these issues. But we believe we all should work to take this down and de-escalate - so much is happening around us where we need to stand together," Stre wrote. " We are proposing a call with you later today-give us a hint of what you prefer!"

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump has said acquiring the territory is essential to U.S. national security and to "protect" it from Russia and China.

President Donald Trump is interviewed by Reuters White House correspondent Steve Holland (not pictured) in the Oval Office on Jan. 14, 2026.

Stre, on Jan. 17, pushed back on Trump's insistence that U.S. should control Greenland.

"Threats have no place among allies. Norway's position is firm: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Norway fully supports the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark," he wrote on X. "There is broad agreement in NATO on the need to strengthen security in the Arctic, including in Greenland."

Trump has long campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, and expressed bitterness for being overlooked.

"They'll find a reason not to give it to me," Trump told USA TODAY back in October, just two before the announcement conferring the award on Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Machado, for her part presented her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Trump during their Jan. 15 meeting at the White House.

Trump kept the award.

Asked by a reporter why he would want someone else's Nobel Prize, Trump said: "Well, she offered it to me."

"I thought it was very nice. She said, 'you know, you've ended eight wars and nobody deserves this prize more than, in history, than you do," he said.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump rejected the idea that Norway has no influence over deciding who received the Nobel Peace Prize, dismissing the notion that the decision is entirely up to the committee.

Norway totally controls it despite what they say, he told NBC News. They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything thing to do with it, the president added.

Asked by NBC if he would use force to claim Greenland, the president responded No comment.

Over the past 11 months, Trump has claimed to end eight wars though not all parties involved credit the U.S. for the ceasefire agreements. Those include Armenia and Azerbaijan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Iran and Israel, India and Pakistan (India did not credit the U.S. with negotiating a ceasefire), Cambodia and Thailand. During the same time, the U.S. launched military action against Iran and Syria and captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores following a military extraction.

Meanwhile, Trump announced on Jan. 17 that a 10% tariff would be imposed on all goods sent to the U.S. from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands and Finland unless a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa issued a statement on Jan. 17 saying "Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law" and adding that the EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.

While Trump has long expressed his desire to acquire Greenland saying that NATO would become "far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES," multiple polls have shown that an intervention in Greenland would be unpopular. A CNN/SSRS poll published on Jan. 15, showed that 75% of Americans oppose the idea.

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: Denied the Nobel, Trump wants Greenland: Not thinking 'Peace'
People attend a protest against President Donald Trump's demand that the Arctic island be ceded to the US, calling for it to be allowed to determine its own future, in Nuuk, Greenland, January 17, 2026. - Marko Djurica/Reuters

President Donald Trumps latest tariff threats over Greenland and Europes potential countermeasures could result in significantly higher import prices that could weaken both economies.

Neither side appears to be messing around: In an extraordinary escalation of Trumps pursuit of Greenland, the president announced Saturday that he would impose 10% tariffs on February 1 on goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It would increase to 25% if an agreement is not reached by June 1.

That triggered an emergency meeting of European countries representatives Sunday, and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly asked the European Union to activate its so-called anti-coercion instrument, colloquially known as a trade bazooka. The trade bazooka could block some of Americas access to EU markets or impose export controls, among a broader list of potential countermeasures.

The EU may be receptive to Macrons call, based on comments Monday from its executive arm. People ask me, Is the anti-coercion instrument back on the table? It was never off the table, Olof Gill, a spokesperson for the European Commission, told reporters. The EU has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond should the threatened tariffs be imposed.

The trade bazooka was created with countries like China in mind, not allies like the United States, noted Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.

The bloc will also consider imposing 93 billion ($108 billion) of previously announced retaliatory tariffs against the United States that were delayed when the EU and United States reached a tentative trade truce in July last year, according to Reuters.

At least judging from the first reactions, some European leaders are willing to play hardball, said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, in a note to clients Sunday. For businesses, the developments over the weekend mean another period of uncertainty around investments in and exports to the US.

That business uncertainty led many US companies to pause hiring in 2025 as they sought clarity during Trumps unprecedented string of on-again, off-again tariff actions.

Brzeski said he expects the increased tariffs to shave off a quarter percentage point off European gross domestic product this year.

Europe is still dependent on the US in many ways, both from an economic and security point of view, he noted.

Dealing an economic blow to both economies

Using its trade bazooka, which could suspend US company licenses or tax US services, could take the EU months to implement, warned Dan Hamilton, a senior non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Trumps latest threats risk shredding the trade arrangements the US concluded with both the UK and the EU last summer, and further straining relations with Americas closest allies, Hamilton said.

The EU implemented its trade agreement with the Trump administration last summer, but it hasnt yet signed the accord. Although some leaders, including Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz, supported the deal because it avoided a significant tariff escalation on both sides, many European leaders decried the agreement when it was announced, and Trumps latest salvo puts the deal in doubt.

The European Parliaments Manfred Weber said on X, that given Donald Trumps threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage for a US-EU trade agreement.

These actions really do represent an end of the credibility of American commitments. Thats going to have adverse effects on the world economy, said Steven Durlauf, a professor at the University of Chicagos Harris School of Public Policy.

In 2024, the United States traded $236 billion worth of goods with Germany, according to the US Census Bureau, in addition to $147.7 billion with the United Kingdom, $122.27 billion with the Netherlands, $103 billion with France, and tens of billions of dollars each with Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Trump may have allowed for a loophole, however: Trumps tariffs are directed at a select few member nations, not the entire European Union. So the eight countries could reroute trade within the EUs free trade bloc to avoid those tariffs.

Theres no border between Spain, Italy, Germany and France. Anybody can ship a good through another country quite easily if we try and tariff individual states, warned Joseph Foudy, a New York University Stern School of Business professor.

Leaving America behind

An immediate 10% tariff wont rattle the economy as significantly as the long-term effects of a strained relationship with Americas largest trading partners.

Its the uncertainty about whether Trump will escalate his tariff threats or back out before imposing new duties that could make trading partners steer clear of America long-term.

Uncertainty is the enemy of growth, said Durlauf of the University of Chicago. He added that Trumps unprecedented decisions make things somewhat irreversible, as allies lose faith even after a new administration takes office.

These tariffs could also be struck down by the highly anticipated Supreme Court ruling on Trumps use of emergency powers.

Americas largest trading partners are actively strengthening trade relations with other nations. Canada celebrated a strategic partnership with China last week, including easing tariffs and selling Chinese EVs. And the EU announced it struck a deal with South Americas Mercosur, capping off 25 years of trade negotiations.

In actions to try and acquire Greenland, we might paradoxically be driving our most important allies away. The cost of this policy is that its actually emboldening the very enemies that were concerned about, said Foudy.

He added that the policy would weaken Americas export competitiveness, and companies may decide to delay investment decisions because of tariff uncertainty

The real cost of the tariff conflicts  because tariff rates seem to sometimes change by day  is the factories that were never built just because companies arent certain enough, he said.

James Frater contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
President Donald Trump warned that he no longer feels obligated to think "purely of peace" as he argued the United States must have "complete and total control" of Greenland.

In a text exchange with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, Trump wrote: "Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America."

"Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a right of ownership anyway? There are no written documents, its only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also," he wrote.

"I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States," Trump wrote. "The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT."

Trump Issues Stern Warning To Nato Ahead Of Vance's High-stakes Greenland Meeting

Stre confirmed the text message, first reported by PBS, to Fox News.

Read On The Fox News App

"Norways position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter," the prime minister said in a statement. "We also support that NATO in a responsible way is taking steps to strengthen security and stability in the Arctic. As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government."

In a prior message to the U.S. president, Stre, on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, had conveyed opposition to Trumps proposed tariff increases on Norway, Finland and other countries and requested a phone conversation to de-escalate.

A White House official confirmed Trump sent the message to Stre.

"President Trump believes Greenland is a strategically important location that is critical from the standpoint of national security, and he is confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region. The President is committed to establishing long-term peace at home and abroad," said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly in a statement.

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, but she offered the prize to Trump in a White House meeting Thursday.

Norwegian prime minister confirmed President Trump texted him that he no longer thinks purely about peace after Nobel snub. (Reuters)

Johnson: 'No Boots On The Ground' For Trump's Greenland Acquisition Plans Amid Military Speculation

The prize is awarded by the Nobel Committee, which is made up of members appointed by the Norwegian parliament and intended to operate independently.

After Machado handed over her award to Trump, the Nobel Committee released a statement saying: "A laureate cannot share the prize with others, nor transfer it once it has been announced. A Nobel Peace Prize can also never be revoked. The decision is final and applies for all time."

Trump on Saturday said he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, starting Feb. 1, increasing to 25% on June 1, until an agreement is reached for the purchase of Greenland.

Machado presented the Nobel Peace Prize she won to President Donald Trump

Us Congressional Delegation Visits Denmark Amid Backlash Over Trump's Push To Acquire Greenland

Members of the European Union debated the prospect of retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. in Brussels Sunday, but diplomats insisted on the need to seek de-escalation measures with the U.S. first.

The president has not ruled out the use of force to take the icy, 836,000 square mile island.

Trump and his advisors have pointed to Greenlands position between North America and Europe as critical to U.S. missile defense, early-warning systems and Arctic surveillance. The island sits along key air and sea routes that U.S. military planners view as increasingly important as melting ice opens new shipping lanes and expands the theater of great-power competition.

Residents in Greenland, the largest island in the world, have expressed concern about President Donald Trump's renewed interest in seizing the territory.

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The administration has also warned that China and Russia have sought to expand their influence in the Arctic through infrastructure investments, scientific outposts and military activity, raising concerns that Greenland could become a foothold for adversaries if the U.S. does not take a more assertive role.

Greenlands government and Denmark, which retains sovereignty over the territory, have rejected any suggestion of U.S. control, though the U.S. already maintains a military presence there through Pituffik Space Base, a key hub for missile warning and space surveillance.

Fox News' Madeleine Rivera and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.





Original article source: Trump warns US can no longer think purely of peace as he pushes for Greenland control
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 200 leaders from Italy and the United Statesspanning biotech, pharma and investmentcame together in San Francisco for the ninth edition of Italy on the Move, an Italy-hosted side event held during JPM Week to strengthen transatlantic dialogue on life sciences innovation and investment opportunities. The initiative was organized by the Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, Invest in Italy, and leading industry associations from the sector.

Italy on the Move 2026

Italy on the Move is held annually alongside the J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference. Staged in conjunction with the conference as an Italy-promoted side event, Italy on the Move aims to strengthen collaboration between Italian and American players. Hosted at INNOVIT  Italian Innovation and Culture Hub in San Francisco, the initiative is part of the Italian Trade Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation's broader efforts to elevate Italian biotech companies on the international stage.

The event convened more than 200 institutional representatives and leaders in biotech, pharma and investments. The program opened with remarks by Massimo Carnelos, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, followed by Sergio Strozzi, Head of Innovation, Technology and Startups at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. A session focused on Italy's life sciences ecosystem and public support tools followed, featuring a video message from Augusto Reggiani, Director of the Office for FDI Attraction at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (STCAIE) and Senior Advisor for Golden Power policies. The institutional segment concluded with Erica Di Giovancarlo, Trade Commissioner of the ITA New York Office and Executive Director for the ITA Network in the USA.

At the center of the program was the roundtable "Invest in Innovation: The Italian Life Science Momentum," moderated by David Whelan (Managing Director, Bespoke Strategy), with participants including Lucia Faccio (CEO, Genespire), Bryan Giraudo (CFO & COO, Gossamer Bio), Natalia Misciattelli (CEO, AAVantgarde), Pierluigi Paracchi (CEO & Chairman, Genenta Science; Chairman, Praexidia Foundation), Mario Scuderi (Senior Partner, CDP Venture Capital), David Talbot (Associate Vice President, International Government Affairs, Eli Lilly).

The program also featured a pitch session with Luca Emili (Chairman, InSilicoTrials Technologies), Massimiliano Clamer, PhD (Chairman, Immagina Biotechnology), Enzo Troncone (CEO and founder, Butterfly Decisions) and Leandro Agro (Relationship Manager, It's Prodigy), followed by a networking moment.

Market indicators underscore the strategic scale of Italy's life sciences industry: the sector generates more than 237 billion in annual turnovernearly 10% of GDPand employs 1.8 million people. In biotech, as of 2024 the sector recorded turnover of more than 47.5 billion, equivalent to 2.23% of national GDP, with R&D investments reaching approximately 2 billion. In pharma, production value stands at nearly 56 billion, and exports reached 54 billion in 2024. Italy's exports of medical and pharmaceutical goods rose +65% between 2019 and 2024.

Media contact

Roberto Rafaschieri | [email protected] | +39 334 8575 319

SOURCE Italian Trade Agency
Which way now? Simon Calder on the Yemeni island of Socotra in March 2020  then, as now, on the Foreign Office no-go list (Vinay Kishore)

Our tours offer unique destinations at affordable prices  so promises the Wigan-based company Lupine Travel, founded by Dylan Harris. For a snapshot of those destinations, you could always read Natalie Wilsons article on countries on the Foreign Office no-go list. Haiti, Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen 

An FCDO warning against travel means normal holiday insurance is invalidated. Even so, there is evidently an appetite for travel to these locations, and Dylan has been meeting it for the past 18 years. But the extraordinary shifts in geo-politics in the first half of January 2026 are unprecedented, he says.

In the past, we might only have had one destination a year where things were uncertain, but weve never had anything like this.

The company does not have clients in Iran at the moment, but it does have local operators.

Weve spoken to everybody we work with in Iran, and everyone is safe. But its still extremely worrying, he says. "Its terrifying, really.

Our next trip to Iran is in April, and just a couple of days before the events there, wed actually got all the visas approved.

"So theres a lot of uncertainty about whether people want to go ahead, and we still dont know ourselves. In these kinds of places, three or four months is a long time  a lot can change. So its very uncertain, as is much of the world at the moment.

Hows this for an alluring travel prospect? Lupine Travels pitch for its Venezuela trip in June 2026 opens with: Our tour begins in Caracas, where we will delve into the countrys volatile political history 

The adventure was tempting enough to sell out completely. Then, as I wrote in this column last week, came the US operation of 3 January, in which more than 100 people died.

It was a bit of a shock a couple of weeks ago, what happened, says Dylan. Weve had to put our trips on hold. The situation on the ground is actually fine at the moment  everythings stable  but its the uncertainty going forward thats the biggest worry. Unfortunately, Donald Trump is so unpredictable that we just dont know whats going to happen from one day to the next.

Happier times: Dylan Harris in Chuao, Venezuela (Dylan Harris)

Other travel firms might simply refund customers and suggest they try again next year or next decade. Not Lupine.

My Venezuela tour manager is going over in a couple of weeks just to get the lay of the land and see how things are going. We wont make a decision about June straight away, but at least it will give us some early information.

Other summer destinations are available  such as Greenland, possibly the next target for American boots on foreign ground. And in Africa, Sudan and the DR Congo are completely off-limits". If even Lupine says somewhere is too risky, you really dont want to go there.

Where, I wonder, is looking optimistic? Central Asia at the moment, Algeria maybe  those are very popular right now and currently there are no issues whatsoever. But with the way the world is, I cant really make any predictions.

When Lupine Travel started, a big seller was Chernobyl  also off the agenda for now, as the industry of human happiness turns increasingly sour. Dylan is not, though, planning to stay in Wigan until the world sorts itself out. He has new frontiers to cross  literally  with a trip to Latin America.

Im leaving next week. Starting off with a couple of days in Haiti, then Im going to Medellin [Colombia]. From there Im going through the Darien Gap to Panama City.

In case you are tempted, the Foreign Office would like you to know: The Darien Gap is a dangerous area renowned for the presence of several illegal armed groups, illegal migration and drugs trafficking. Theres no road crossing between Colombia and Panama. Avoid crossing between Panama and Colombia by land.

Dylan Harris is undeterred: I think Ive found a safe way through it. Well have to wait and see.

Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel for The Independent since 1994. In his weekly opinion column, he explores a key travel issue  and what it means for you.
The wife of a once-detained American citizen was released this week after being held for more than a year in a Venezuelan prison following their arrest while traveling to the South American nation to meet her family.

Renzo Humanchumo Castillo, a Peruvian- American who was detained for close to a year by Venezuelan authorities, told Fox News Digital that his Venezuelan wife, Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano, as well as her friend and the taxi driver they were with, were released after being imprisoned and charged with espionage due to their contact with him.

He spoke with Zambrano following her release, he said, their first contact since December 2024 when they were confronted by Venezuelan authorities near the country's border with Colombia.

Trump Plans To Meet With Venezuela Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado Next Week

Renzo Humanchumo Castillo, a Peruvian- American who is a former Venezuelan detainee, and his wife, Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano, were detained in Venezuela after he was accused of plotting to kill Nicolas Maduro. (Getty Images)

"It was surreal," Castillo recalled of the conversation. "She got teary, you know, but she was like 'hey baby, I'm out.' Now my main concern is how do I get her here with me."

Castillo, who lives in Southern California, was detained after crossing the border into Venezuela, along with his wife and her friend, who were in a taxi. After being questioned at length by Venezuelan authorities, he was charged with terrorism and conspiring to kill Nicolas Maduro, then the country's president, who was recently captured by U.S. forces in a daring military operation.

Read On The Fox News App

"They got me as a professional hitman sent by the CIA, and (that) I was there to overthrow the government and kill Maduro and Diosdado (Cabello)," Castillo said.

A Venezuelan national guard's tank remains outside El Rodeo prison in Venezuela.

Diosdado Cabello, known as the "octopus," runs Venezuela's security apparatus and is considered one of the country's most feared government figures. The U.S. has accused him of narco-terrorism and several other crimes. The State Department has issued a $25 million reward for his arrest and conviction.

"Cabello, he presented me on the news, and then he put me on a chart saying that I came here to overthrow the government," Castillo said. "Me and some other Americans."

After spending months in Venezuela's notorious "El Rodeo" prison, Castillo was freed in a prisoner swap in July 2025. However, his wife remained in detention.

From Sanctions To Seizure: What Maduro's Capture Means For Venezuelas Economy

A woman uses a mobile phone on a tent set up by relatives of political prisoners outside El Rodeo I prison in Guatire, Miranda State, east of Caracas on Jan. 13.

Castillo said he was initially questioned by Venezuelan authorities who accused him of being a "commando" or some kind of military operator.

A search of his cell phone only heightened their suspicions when they found images of him wearing a protective vest and other tactical gear. However, Castillo said he works in private security and executive protection and has never served in the military.

The gear was used for work, he said.

He was eventually detained and transferred to "El Rodeo" where he endured beatings and other forms of torture, he said. In one instance, he was hung by his arms like a pinata and beaten.

"They had me hanging. And like my feet were still kind of touching the floor," he said. "They just hit me for maybe at least five to eight hours, just hanging just not even questions anymore. But you can feel the joy, how much they wanted to hit me, hurt me, you know?"

Castillo got in trouble several times while at the prison, he said, for speaking out of a window in his cell where he would sometimes get updates on events outside the facility. Stressed about not knowing what happened to his wife, he went on a hunger strike in an effort to write a letter to her, he said.

Trump To Meet With Venezuelas Opposition Leader After Praising Terrific Maduro Loyalist

Castillo met Zambrano during a visit to Peru to reunite with old classmates from grade school. One night, he went to a bar with friends where the pair met and struck up a friendship.

That was followed by multiple trips to Peru, where she lived, before they got married. On his last journey, the couple met in Colombia and traveled via road to her home country to meet his in-laws for the first time, Castillo said.

After crossing the Colombia-Venezuela border, they were separately detained and their misfortune began.

Since Zambrano is a Venezuelan citizen, she was not part of the prisoner swap that freed her husband. Despite now being free, she remains under the watchful eye of the Venezuelan government, Castillo said.

In the meantime, Castillo is working to get Zambrano to California. He said he plans to reach out to the State Department. Despite his wife's citizenship status, his optimism heightened following Maduro's capture earlier this month.

A side-by-side photo of President Donald Trump and Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

"It was that moment when, inside of me, I felt I was going to be able to see my wife again," he said. "The chances of me seeing my wife again just went from like, from nothing to like a hundred. It really lifted my spirit."

3 Key Takeaways From Trump's Push To Put Us Oil Firms Back In Venezuela

"It took Americans and it took foreigners to be kidnapped for the world to put eyes on Venezuela," he said.

On Tuesday, Venezuela's interim government released at least four Americans imprisoned during Maduro's regime. The release was the first involving U.S. citizens since Maduro's capture by U.S. forces.

"We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela," a State Department official said Tuesday. "This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities."

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on January 5, 2026 in New York City.

On Wednesday, Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez said she spoke with President Donald Trump by phone during a "long and courteous" conversation. The pair discussed a "bilateral work agenda for the benefit of our peoples, as well as pending matters between our governments."

On Truth Social, Trump said topics of discussion included oil, minerals, trade and national security.

"This partnership between the United States of America and Venezuela will be a spectacular one FOR ALL. Venezuela will soon be great and prosperous again, perhaps more so than ever before!" he wrote.

Castillo praised the Trump administration for addressing the Maduro regime and his action in Venezuela.

"I feel like the current administration is doing the hard work that it hasn't been done," he said. "Those things that sometimes people don't want to see and are afraid to say, well, they're doing it now. And I am very thankful to the administration. I'm very thankful to my president. Very thankful to (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio, because they did all of this. They got us out."





Original article source: Wife of former American detainee released after more than a year in Venezuelan prison
Getty Clean, empty school cafeteria with large windows is ready for students.

NEED TO KNOW

Winfield Unified School District 465 in Kansas said in a statement that an anonymous donor made a $15,000 gift, which will eliminate outstanding debt for unpaid student lunches

The good news was first shared during a board of education meeting on Jan. 12

We are incredibly grateful," Superintendent Tricia Reiser said in a statement

A school district in Kansas says an anonymous donor made a gift of $15,432, which fully eliminated all the outstanding debt for unpaid student lunches.

Winfield Unified School District 465 said in a statement that the good news was shared by Superintendent Tricia Reiser during a board of education meeting on Monday, Jan. 12.

This generous gift directly supports our families and ensures that students can focus on learning without the burden of meal debt, Reiser said. We are incredibly grateful.

This year, 1,136 of their students qualify for free or reduced meals, based on family income  which is more than half of the districts total enrollment.

Of that number, the district went on to say that the donation "specifically impacts approximately 450 students who were carrying meal debt." The district went on to clarify that in some cases, that debt "may have accrued prior to a student qualifying for free or reduced meals."

Elizabeth Smith, USD 465 business manager and board of education treasurer, said that families will now see negative balances removed from their school meal accounts, stating off the spring semester with a clean slate.

Smith said the donation is "truly a blessing" and that officials are thankful that "the person who chose to help our students and families in such a meaningful way."

Winfield Schools USD 465 The Winfield Unified School District 465 has received $15,432, which has eliminated outstanding debt for unpaid student lunches.

"Every student in the district regardless of whether or not they have a negative balance has the opportunity to be provided a meal; possibly an alternative meal depending on the grade level," she continued. "We want to ensure every student is fed."

The school district also encouraged qualifying families in need to apply for free/reduced price meals.

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They added, "USD 465 extends its heartfelt gratitude to the anonymous donor for their compassion and commitment to supporting students and families in the Winfield community."

Read the original article on People
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A leader in value-based care in the autism industry, Catalight is on the ground at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos to advance a new vision for intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) care that is outcome-driven, sustainable and built to address today's complex needs.

Catalight is at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Jan. 19-23

Convening world leaders, CEOs, researchers, investors and global organizations, the World Economic Forum serves as a platform to shape global, regional and industry agendas. This year's meeting brings together public and private sector leaders to address the most pressing challenges facing economies and societies, from healthcare access and investing in people to innovation and long-term resilience.

Catalight, one of the largest nonprofit behavioral health networks in the United States, is attending to inform and engage with purpose-driven partners able to help transform entrenched systems that are struggling to meet the needs of today's families. It seeks to demonstrate how proven precision care combined with scalable solutions can change the trajectory of autism support worldwide.

"Our presence at Davos reflects a fundamental truth: The systems that support brain health, developmental care and family wellbeing are under enormous strain, and change isn't happening fast enough," said Catalight CEO Susan Armiger. "We're here to show that value-based care, early intervention, workforce innovation and modern research integration are not abstract ideas  they're working for us and they can work for others, too. They're essential if we're going to build global capacity and create lasting impact for individuals with autism and I/DD and their families who face long wait times, access barriers, high costs and mixed outcomes"

Advancing the Brain Economy Through Real-World Action

Catalight's participation at the World Economic Forum is closely aligned with the growing global movement around the Brain Economy  an initiative focused on strengthening brain health, brain skills and brain capital across the lifespan as an economic and societal imperative. The Brain Economy provides countries with economic data, strategy and policy frameworks to strengthen national and regional brain health systems.

Catalight is supporting the strategy in practice. With years of success in its value-based model, the organization shows how personalized care and sustainable economics can come together as precision health to improve outcomes while reducing long-term costs.

Today, families around the world face long diagnostic delays, overstretched clinicians, workforce shortages and fragmented systems that are not built for rising demand. Catalight's model is designed to address those challenges head-on by moving the field away from volume-driven, outdated approaches and toward wellbeing-driven, outcomes-focused care.

"There is a growing recognition that brain health is not just a medical issue, it's also an economic one," said Rodrigo Mahs, executive vice president of growth at Catalight. "When we invest in early intervention, modern care models and the workforce that delivers them, we're investing in productivity, innovation and the wellbeing of society worldwide  imperatives for long-term sustainable economic development."

Catalight will be engaging with stakeholders to help shape policy, cost and the ability to scale through innovation. The organization's message at Davos is clear: No single entity can solve these challenges alone. Building sustainable, high-quality autism and I/DD systems requires coordinated action across governments, investors, academia, healthcare and philanthropy.

The Brain Economy estimates that brain-related challenges cost the global economy trillions annually. By utilizing a value-based care model and strengthening evidence-based, personalized care delivery, the autism care industry has an opportunity to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes.

CBS News Interview

During the Forum, Olivia Kinghorst will be interviewing Armiger for CBS News about the growing pressure on behavioral health systems. The conversation will focus on the importance of value-based, precision autism care, especially as it relates to the Brain Economy. It's set to provide real-world examples on how Catalight's research, development and direct application to care can be a blueprint for socio-economic growth.

Catalight Hosted Expert Panels

Catalight is hosting two panels at the Seehof Hotel on Wednesday, Jan. 21, bringing together leaders from healthcare, government, academia and industry to drive practical dialogue and action.

"The Future of Value-Based Healthcare"

As health systems face rising costs and uneven outcomes, value-based care is moving from concept to necessity. This panel examines how payers, providers, life sciences and employers are redefining value  shifting incentives toward outcomes and long-term population health impact. Panelists will discuss how to scale value-based models, align data and payment structures, and integrate innovation across care delivery.

Speakers include:

-Susan Armiger, CEO of Catalight

-Bechara Choucair, chief health officer of Kaiser Permanente

-Mikele Epperly, global integrated program leader of neuroscience at Roche

-Lorna Friedman, global health leader at Mercer

-Jochen Reiser, CEO of the University of Texas Medical Branch Health System

-Devdutta Sangvai, North Carolina secretary of health

"What Brain Health Means to Me"

Catalight CEO Susan Armiger will moderate a roundtable discussion of personal perspectives on brain health  why it matters, how it shapes our lives and what it means for the future of society. Policymakers, business executives, researchers, advocates, artists and storytellers alike, along with anyone with a perspective on brain health, are invited to join.

Featured speakers include:

-Erwin Bottinger, CEO of Wyss Center for Bio- and Neuro-engineering

-Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association

-Bechara Choucair, chief health officer of Kaiser Permanente

-Amy Dittmar, provost of Rice University

-Harris Eyre, Rice University and McKinsey Health Institute

-Todd Khozein, CEO and co-founder of SecondMuse

-Tim Lash, CEO of West Health

-Rich Lyons, chancellor of the University of California  Berkeley

-Jesus Mantas, board member of IFF

-Lucy Perez, senior partner at McKinsey Health Institute

-Jochen Reiser, CEO of the University of Texas Medical Branch Health System

-Devdutta Sangvai, North Carolina secretary of health

-Shankar Vedantam, founder of Hidden Brain

-Karlee Silver, CEO of Grand Challenges Canada

-George Vradenburg, chairperson of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative

Following its two panels, Catalight is convening a private gathering of global leaders to deepen relationships, foster collaboration and accelerate partnerships that can drive systemic change in the healthcare industry.

Brain House Panel

Armiger will also be featured on the "Brain Matters: Equity in the Age of Cognitive Health" panel at Goals House, hosted in collaboration with The Brain House and the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative. She'll be joined by Chairman of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative George Vradenburg, President of Microsoft Research Peter Lee, and Chief Science Officer of Our Future Health Michael Cook.

The session will explore how diagnostics, workforce training and digital tools can improve quality, equity and sustainability in health systems  particularly in under-resourced settings. The panel reinforces the Brain Economy's emphasis on coordinated, high-quality care across the lifespan.

A Model for the Future

Through initiatives such as its "Eliminate the Wait" approach to rapid diagnosis, telehealth utilization, lower-hour parent-mediated models, ongoing research, AI-enabled workflow automation and global workforce training via the Catalight Academy, Catalight is demonstrating what modern, scalable autism care can look like.

"This is a critical moment," Mahs said. "The data is clear. The demand is growing. The workforce is strained. But the solutions exist. If governments, investors, universities and healthcare leaders come together, we can build systems that are both human centered and sustainable. That is the future we are here to help create."

About Catalight

Catalight breaks down barriers and biases to create a more equitable world so people with developmental disabilities can choose their path to care. Catalight provides access to innovative, individualized care services, clinical research and advocacy  all powered by intelligent technology. Through the work of affiliate partners, Easterseals Hawaii and Easterseals Northern California, Catalight and its family of companies support people with developmental disabilities and their families across their care journey.

The Catalight family of companies is one of the largest behavioral health networks in the nation, with more than 16,000 practitioners serving 24,000 clients and families annually. Backed by more than a decade of experience and a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, we are reimagining the way people with developmental disabilities and their families experience healthcare. Catalight's goal is to ensure that individuals and families receive timely access to evidence-based treatment, including naturalistic developmental and language-based services, applied behavior analysis and speech therapy.

SOURCE Catalight Foundation, a California non-profit corporation
by Sumon Corraya

Christianity arrived in Kewachala only in the 1960s. Since the first mixed marriage and the first baptisms in 1977, the Catholic community has grown thanks to priests and nuns, in particular Fr. Dominic Sentu Rozario and Fr. Gianantonio Baio of PIME. On January 16, Mithun Mathias Ekka was ordained a priest, the fruit of the seed that was sown.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Kewachala is a remote village in the district of Gazipur, north of Dhaka, where Christianity is a relatively recent presence. Until 1961, there were no Christians in the area. The faith arrived there quietly, through family ties, the perseverance of missionaries, and decades of patient pastoral work. And today it celebrates one of its fruits: the ordination of Mithun Mathias Ekka, the first Catholic priest of the Oraon tribe.

From 1980 onwards, the PIME sisters visited Kewachala regularly, opening reception facilities and dedicating themselves to education as well as evangelization. A decisive moment came in 1997 when Fr. Dominic Sentu Rozario began his pastoral work. He chose to live among the people, visiting families, sharing the Gospel, and building a relationship of trust. Gradually, members of the Garo, Koch, and Oraon tribal communities embraced Christianity. Some Protestants also became Catholics due to conflicts within their communities.

In 2004, Italian PIME missionary Fr. Gianantonio Baio arrived and gave new impetus to the mission. With his simple lifestyle, pastoral dedication, and close relationship with the inhabitants, he earned their trust. He focused on infrastructure development, purchasing land and supervising the construction of a brick church and a school, both milestones for Kewachala. Education opened new horizons for local boys and girls, while the example of both foreign and local missionaries inspired many families to seek baptism. Fr. Baio served the community until 2017.

From this once-neglected village, a historic vocation has now emerged. Today, Kewachala has about 1,225 Catholics. On May 11, 2025, it was officially elevated to a full parish, a significant recognition of its growth and stability. On January 16, 2026, Mithun Mathias Ekka was ordained a priest, becoming the first priest of the Oraon tribe in the Archdiocese of Dhaka. His parents, Jagadish Justin Ekka, a former member of the Hindu Oraon tribe, and Alomoni Martha Lakra, embraced Christianity with their three children in 2000. Earlier, in 2020, the community celebrated another important milestone with the ordination of Fr. Biswajit Barman, the first priest from the Koch community.

We come from an area where Christians are still a novelty, Fr. Mithun told AsiaNews. I am the only priest in my village and the first priest from the Oraon tribe in the Archdiocese of Dhaka. God has chosen me to spread the Kingdom of Jesus and to bear witness to Him. I hope to fulfill this responsibility faithfully.

He recalled that, in addition to his parents, local priests, especially Fr. Dominic Sentu Rozario and later Fr. Gianantonio Baio, played a crucial role in nurturing his vocation. Fr. Baio was close to me as a teacher, encourager, and true friend. I will never forget his contribution to my life. I am deeply grateful to him, he said.

Fr. Dominic expressed his joy at seeing the fruits of decades of pastoral work. We once sowed the seeds of Jesus Christ, he told AsiaNews. Local priests and PIME missionaries worked together, and today we have two priests from this community. He recalled that when he first arrived in Kewachala, poverty and lack of education were the main challenges: I emphasized education, and gradually the situation began to change.

Reflecting on his vision of the priesthood, Fr. Mithun said: "My philosophy is to remain faithful to the reforms established by Jesus and to work for Him. I want to be a priest like Jesus: to go to the poor and needy, to walk with them and serve them. A life rooted in prayer, wise leadership in the service of others, and self-sacrifice is the ideal I want to follow."

For Kewachala, the ordination of Fr. Mithun Mathias Ekka is not only a personal achievement, but also a sign that a once-marginalized village has become fertile ground for faith, service, and leadership within the Church in Bangladesh.
by Nirmala Carvalho

In the local vote, contrary to the general trend, Karen D'Mello earned the trust of voters, defeating the BJP and Shiv Shena in her district. Many Muslims and Hindus also voted for her. My Faith strengthens and enlightens me, she said, making her sensitive to the needs of others and strengthens her commitment to the poor.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the historic civic governing body of Mumbai, were held recently.

The vote once again saw the Hindu nationalist Barathiya Janata Party (BJP) ride to victory, with 89 seats, along with its ally Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, which took 29 seats.

The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, also achieved significant success with 65 seats, reflecting how the vote was mainly among nationalist forces.

The Indian National Congress Party scraped by with only 24 seats, but achieved an upset in Bandra West, where Karen D'Mello, a Catholic housewife, took the seat.

We come from a devout Catholic family, where Faith has been most important in our lives, her older brother, Clovis Gonsalvers, told AsiaNews.

I'm the eldest of five children and Karen is the youngest, he explained. My paternal granduncle, Mgr Raymond Mendes, was the dean of Vasai who worked tirelessly, especially in the field of education.

Together with other priests from the area, he sensed and foresaw that without education the local people would remain mired in their misery and poverty, and worked selflessly to educate the rural communities. It is fair to say that Faith and public service have always been entwined in our family.

Karen DMello previously served as a city councillor from 2012 to 2017, during which she worked for local communities without discrimination. This victory is a tribute to the people of Bandra, who have entrusted her to make their voice heard and act with integrity, her brother added.

I am overwhelmed and happy to receive a second term to serve the communities, said Karen D'Mello, speaking to AsiaNews.

My Faith strengthens and enlightens me to work for the common good of all. Daily Mass guides me to be sensitive to the needs of others and strengthens my commitment to the poor and the weak in the face of daily challenges and to work for the welfare of all.

The responsibilities and challenges of public service is aided as I integrate faith into political work.... to serve faithfully and promote the general welfare, the most vulnerable in our community, and those who are most prone to be dominated by the powerful.

I humbly acknowledge that I received support from peoples from all walks of life and people of all faiths: Christians, Hindus, Muslims. Everyone extended their support, and I promise to serve them in the discharge of my duties with justice and integrity.
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19 January 2026 19:53 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

At times, the worlds incomprehensible contradictions push a person into such deep and inescapable reflection that logical reasoning itself begins to falter. How is it that a politician from one country interferes in the internal affairs of entirely different states and considers this a legitimate entitlement, while no one is able to question or hold them accountable for their actions? Has the global legal order changed, or has international law simply collapsed into failure?

The end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 will be remembered as an unusually surprising period. The war in Ukraine, sudden shifts in Caracas, and the tangled crisis in the Middle East all unfolded in rapid succession. In truth, this period should have gone down in history as a year of peace. Instead, as circumstances evolved, we witnessed entirely different scenes, alongside a renewed realisation of how ineffective international law has become in practice.

It is an undeniable and deeply regrettable fact that where justice is absent, laws are usually written by the unjust and by criminals. Much like Sicilys Cosa Nostra in the twentieth century, where criminals once decided who lived, who died, who enjoyed freedom, and who had the authority to dictate rules, similar patterns appear to be emerging today. Each time we scan the news, we encounter the same analyses and reports. The world presents these lawless acts so casually that one is left momentarily frozen, questioning whether laws exist at all. In reality, laws do existbut only on paper. Those who enforce them are the hegemons, the powerful, and no one else.

I will not deviate from common sense: every country has its own problems, and our responsibility is to focus on our own. But does everyone think this way? Take, for example, Edward J. Markey, the congressman representing Massachusetts in the US Congress. Is he truly focused on the issues facing his own state, or does he too suffer from an obsession with meddling in the affairs of other nations?

Just days ago, another step was taken towards strengthening peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Once again, it was Baku that made a gesture towards Yerevan, returning four prisoners convicted of war crimes to Armenia. In addition, Azerbaijans supply of oil and petroleum products to Armenia could itself constitute a separate discussion within the peace framework. However, if we are discussing war criminals currently detained in Baku, it would be best not to stray from the subject.

The year 2023 is often remembered as one of the most active periods in the history of the US Congress. That same year, Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty and fought aggression and terrorism single-handedly, while remaining within the boundaries of what today are often referred to as laws that exist only on paper. Edward Markey, along with many of his congressional colleagues, relentlessly targeted Azerbaijan throughout this period. Mr Markey became so fixated on the South Caucasus that he abandoned his own responsibilities, devoting his energy to devising ever new narratives to exonerate Armenian war criminals.

One cannot help but wonder how Mr Markey would react if politicians in the South Caucasus gathered to debate the problems of Massachusetts or the internal workings of the US Congress. The same political figures who once complicated an already stalled peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan are now attempting to obstruct a settlement that is finally moving towards resolution.

Ed Markey is widely known for his sensitivity to climate issues. Yet when he attended the COP29 climate summit in Baku alongside his colleague Frank Pallone, he failed not only to raise substantive climate concerns, but even to mention the countries that should have participated but chose not to attend. At a moment when he ought to have defended justice, Markey remained silent in the face of truth.

Defending the law is far more difficult than merely speaking about it. Markey seeks to place himself at the centre of an issue whose essence he does not fully understand, yet each time he engages with it, he strays far beyond any legitimate legal framework. The war criminals he now seeks to defend committed such grave crimes in Karabakh, now liberated from occupation, that neither the US Congress nor even the Hague Court would be capable of absolving them.
19 January 2026 13:55 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

In recent weeks, certain narratives have questioned the origin of Azerbaijani gas exported to Europe, suggesting a dependence on Turkmen or Russian supplies and implying undisclosed arrangements with the European Union. These claims are unfounded. Azerbaijans gas exports under the Southern Gas Corridor are sourced exclusively from domestic fields, and no Russian or other foreign gas is transported to EU markets via Azerbaijan.

The Southern Gas Corridor, which comprises the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), is physically connected only to Azerbaijani gas fields, primarily Shah Deniz. There is no operational or technical link that would allow Russian gas to enter this export route. Officials from the European Commission, as well as Azerbaijans State Oil Company (SOCAR), have consistently confirmed that the Corridor transports exclusively Azerbaijani gas.

In terms of volumes, in 2024, Azerbaijan exported over 12 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas to EU markets through the Southern Gas Corridor, representing roughly 4% of total EU gas imports. Overall, Azerbaijani production exceeds these export volumes, while Russian gas imports to Azerbaijan for domestic consumption remained below 1 bcm in 2023 and reportedly decreased further in 20242025. Even if all imported Russian gas were hypothetically redirected, which is not the case, the volume is negligible compared with Azerbaijani exports.

From a technical standpoint, the Southern Gas Corridor is designed exclusively to connect Azerbaijani production to Europe via Georgia, Turkiye, and Italy. No infrastructure exists under normal operating conditions to allow foreign gas, including Russian supplies, into this system. Exports in 2025 remained broadly consistent, at approximately 12.8 bcm, with new agreements expanding deliveries to countries such as Germany and Austria. Plans aim to increase annual exports to 1620 bcm by 2027, depending on demand and infrastructure expansion.

Despite rigorous oversight by the European Union and the European Parliament, external actors occasionally attempt to generate attention through sensational claims or misinformation. Some journalists have published speculative content suggesting that Azerbaijani gas exports are tied to Russian supplies. These claims are not supported by evidence.

Official data and independent verification clearly demonstrate that Azerbaijans gas exports to Europe are independent and transparent, reflecting both the technical reality of the Southern Gas Corridor and the international agreements underpinning its operations. Reporting facts accurately is essential to uphold objective journalism and to safeguard the national interest of Azerbaijan.

Criticism is the cornerstone of progress, yet today there are few who can distinguish between objective critique and bias. In journalism, critical approaches are measured against specific standards, and where prejudice and falsehood prevail, arguments are either diminished or the writers credibility is undermined. In a period when Azerbaijan is viewed with sharp scrutiny, the narrative that Baku exports Russian gas to the European Union sounds nothing short of absurd. The ability to captivate public attention with such fabrications is a skill that, regrettably, thrives only among the black PR practitioners who have cultivated journalism within networks akin to illegal groups.
19 January 2026 16:49 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin has sparked outrage across the South Caucasus and Central Asia with his recent interview advocating the annihilation of national sovereignties in these regions. Frankly speaking, one can hear similar philosophical monologues in almost any chaykhana across the South Caucasus. To give credit where it is due, however, Dugin at least attempts to support his arguments with historical references and datasomething local armchair philosophers rarely bother with. The accuracy of his facts, however, remains highly questionable.

Dugin, for instance, blames corrupt Soviet politicians for the collapse of the Soviet Union while simultaneously praising Vladimir Putins leadershipan obvious contradiction. To tell the truth, the USSR did not disintegrate primarily because of corruption, but because of an outdated and inefficient governance model. A state that failed to provide its citizens with basic consumer goods, such as shoes, while allocating enormous resources to compete with the West in space exploration, was doomed to collapse.

Moreover, Russias decline did not end with the dissolution of the USSR. On the contrary, it continued under Vladimir Putin. The alienation of Georgia and its westward pivot, the war in Ukraine, political upheaval in Armenia, and the broader erosion of Russias influence across its former sphere all occurred during Putins rule. Even developments beyond the post-Soviet space, such as the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi or the detention of Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, highlight the shrinking global leverage of Moscow in an increasingly multipolar world.

Economically, Russias relative decline is even more striking. In 1989, on the brink of collapse, the USSR ranked second in GDP per capita among socialist countries in Europe, behind only Czechoslovakia. Today, Russia ranks fourth among the former Soviet republics, behind the three Baltic states and Kazakhstan, and competing with Turkmenistan. This is without even mentioning former socialist countries in Europe, such as Poland and Romania, which have long surpassed Russia in per capita economic performance.

Despite these realities, Dugin proposes dividing the world into three spheres of influence dominated by the United States, Russia, and China. This vision ignores basic economic facts. China posted a trade surplus of around $1.2 trillion, nearly half of Russias entire GDP. Russias nominal GDP stands at roughly $2.5 trillion, while the United States produces about $30 trillion, the European Union $21 trillion, and China around $19 trillion. Growth figures further expose the imbalance: in 2025, the EU grew by about 1.5 percent, the U.S. by 2 percent, China by nearly 5 percent, while Russia managed barely 0.6 percent.

In other words, a citizen of a country economically comparable to Turkmenistan speaks as if Russia were an equal partner of the USA and China, while conveniently disregarding the European Union, an economy nearly ten times larger than Russias.

Dugins rhetoric recalls the classic allegory of the mice who propose tying a bell around the cats neck. The allegory goes, Once upon a time, the mice gathered together to hold a council. They were terrified of the cat and wanted to find a way to protect themselves.

One mouse proposed, Let us tie a bell around the cats neck. Then, whenever it comes near, the sound will warn us, and we can run away.

All the mice applauded this clever idea. But then one of them asked, Yes, but how are we going to tie the bell around the cats neck?

Who, exactly, will enforce Russias vision of global division? Will rising powers such as Turkiye or Saudi Arabia accept it? Will Kazakhstan, which now surpasses Russia in GDP per capita, consent to Moscows dominance? And would China, keenly attentive to Siberia and Central Asia, treat Russia as an equal partner rather than a junior one?

More troublingly, Dugins remarks offer insight into Kremlin thinking. He argues that countries in the South Caucasus and Central Asia must be eliminated or they will become outposts of China or the United States. Implicitly, this signals Moscows acceptance of its losses in Europemost notably Ukraine and Moldovaand a desire to compensate by tightening its grip in the mentioned regions. Such rhetoric unmistakably hints at future conflicts.

This is not unprecedented. Before Dugin, Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov openly suggested conducting special military operations in Armenia and Kazakhstan. Although Russias Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissed these comments as the opinions of an independent journalist, Dugins repetition of the same ideas exposes the hollowness of that claim. These are not isolated provocations; they reflect a broader strategic mindset in Moscow.

Yet the critical question remains: can Russia actually impose such ambitions? Given the ongoing war in Ukrainewhich shows no sign of ending soonserious doubts are warranted. Rather than strengthening Russia, the war continues to drain its economic, military, and demographic resources.

Moreover, the countries Dugin targets are not as weak as he assumes. In 2022, Ukraine lacked a strong navy and had limited air capabilities. By contrast, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan possess more developed air forces and naval capacities. Any military escalation would bring devastation to the regionbut it would hardly guarantee a favorable outcome for Russia.

Russia today is not a rising power but a withering one. The more it seeks to reclaim a sphere of influence without first rebuilding its economic foundations, the faster its decline will accelerate. In this sense, Dugins grand theories are not only dangerousthey are fundamentally detached from reality.
19 January 2026 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The leadership and staff of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, along with representatives from cultural institutions, agencies, and creative organizations, has visited the Martyrs' Alley on the eve of January 20th  the National Mourning Day, Azernews reports.

Flowers were laid at the graves of the heroes who gave their lives in the struggle for the nation's independence, and heartfelt tributes were paid to their immortal souls.

On the night of January 19, 1990, the Soviet army opened massive fires from all available weapons at civil protesters in Baku, who were calling for an end to the negative developments in Garabagh.

As a result of the crime, 147 people were killed, 800 people were wounded and five people went missing. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed and citizens suffered huge material losses along with psychological trauma.
19 January 2026 17:00 (UTC+04:00)

by Qaiser Nawab

In 2025, Chinas imports hit a record value of 18.48 trillion yuan. For decades, the orthodox view of the Chinese economy focused almost exclusively on its export prowess. However, the granular breakdown of the 2025 data reveals that this operating model has been fundamentally superseded. The resilience of Chinas imports now reflects a sophisticated industrial upgrading and a domestic market that has become indispensable to global growth.

Anatomy of Demand

To understand the significance of the 18.48 trillion yuan import figure, one must examine the industrial engine it feeds. The import record is inextricably linked to Chinas manufacturing output. In 2025, exports of equipment manufacturing products reached 16.03 trillion yuan, a rise of 9.2% from the previous year, now accounting for 59.4% of total exports. This correlation is critical. The importation of vast quantities of energy, raw materials, and high-tech components is the necessary fuel for this 16.03 trillion yuan output. The data indicates a "processing trade" evolution: China is importing higher-value intermediate goods to produce increasingly sophisticated capital goods.

Structural data further clarifies this shift. Between January and October 2025, trade in intermediate goods grew by 9.7%, significantly outpacing other categories. This aligns with the long-term trend where the share of intermediate goods in Chinas trade profile rose from 42% in 2015 to 46% by mid-2025. Conversely, the share of consumer goods dropped from 37% to 31%.

This creates a clear picture: China is not just buying finished products; it is integrating deeper into the global supply chain, importing the essential "industrial staples"from semiconductors to specialized alloysthat drive the global manufacturing system.

Private Sector

A distinctive feature of the 2025 trade performance is the leading role played by private enterprises, which now shoulder the bulk of this import-export dynamism. No longer is the landscape dominated solely by state-owned giants; private firms have become the primary actors, displaying remarkable agility.

Geographically, the import map of 2025 confirms a decisive shift toward the Global South, driven by reciprocal supply chain integration. Trade data reveals that exports to, and implicitly, industrial integration with ASEAN rose by 14.6%, while trade with Africa surged by 26.3%.

This is not accidental; it is the dividend of capital flow. From January to November 2025, Chinas non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) reached 1.13 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%.

This "developmental trade" stands in stark contrast to extractive models. As Western markets fluctuated, Chinas open door provided a crucial safety valve for the Global South.

The broader geopolitical context of early 2026 makes this import record even more salient. We stand at a juncture where the post-Cold War consensus on free trade is fraying. In such an environment, an economy that maintains a 6.1% overall export growth while simultaneously hitting record import values is performing a global public service.

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Qaiser Nawab is Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD), an international platform focused on fostering cooperation and innovation across Asia, Africa, and Latin America

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The views and opinions expressed by guest columnists in their articles may differ from those of the editorial board and do not necessarily reflect its views.
DARIEN, Ill., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Business students across the nation now have the opportunity to apply for the Robert Spadoni Grant for Business Students, a scholarship initiative designed to recognize and support emerging leaders who demonstrate academic excellence, innovative thinking, and a commitment to principled business practices.

The Robert Spadoni Grant for Business Students was established to encourage thoughtful dialogue about the role of integrity and innovation in contemporary business environments. As industries evolve and face complex challenges, the scholarship seeks to identify students who possess both the strategic acumen and moral compass necessary to lead organizations toward sustainable success.

To apply for the Robert Spadoni Grant for Business Students, candidates must submit an original essay responding to the prompt: "Discuss how leadership and innovation can coexist in the modern business world, and describe how you intend to apply these principles in your future career."

Robert Spadoni brings extensive expertise to this educational initiative. His career has encompassed senior executive roles at major institutions, where he led strategic initiatives resulting in multimillion-dollar operational savings and enhanced clinical outcomes. His firm, RSS Consulting, advises organizations on efficiency and growth, guided by agile, data-driven, and people-first strategies.

The Robert Spadoni Grant for Business Students reflects his dedication to mentorship and education. By supporting undergraduate business students, Robert Spadoni aims to cultivate a generation of leaders who prioritize both innovation and responsibility in their professional endeavors.

Application submission is straightforward. Students should prepare their essays as PDF or Word documents, titled with their full names, and include relevant details such as university name, program of study, enrollment year, and contact information. Complete applications must be sent via email to [email protected] by the deadline of July 15, 2026.

All submissions will undergo careful evaluation by a review committee assessing clarity of thought, originality, and demonstrated understanding of leadership principles. The scholarship recipient will be announced on August 15, 2026, and will receive recognition for exceptional insight and leadership potential within the business community.

The Robert Spadoni Grant for Business Students represents an investment in future business leaders who will navigate complex organizational challenges with integrity and innovation.

SOURCE Robert Spadoni Grant
19 January 2026 10:11 (UTC+04:00)

More than 39 kilograms of heroin concealed using sophisticated methods have been discovered and seized in Nakhchivan, Azernews reports, citing local media outlets.

Officers of the Nakhchivan Main Customs Department uncovered and removed from illegal circulation a particularly large quantity of narcotic drugs during a customs inspection.

The seizure took place at the Julfa customs post, where a vehicle transporting a cargo declared as plastic cladding panels was stopped for inspection. The shipment was transiting the country en route from Iran to Poland.

During the inspection, customs officers found that the narcotics had been carefully hidden inside the plastic panels using techniques designed to hinder detection. A total of 780 tightly packed parcels containing heroin were discovered, with a net weight of 39 kilograms and 315.246 grams.

An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
19 January 2026 14:16 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Accredited ambassadors from foreign countries visited Martyrs Alley in Baku to honor the memory of Azerbaijans fallen heroes, Azernews reports.

The diplomats laid flowers on the graves of Azerbaijans heroic sons and daughters, paying tribute to their sacrifice.

Tomorrow marks the 36th anniversary of the 20 January tragedy in Azerbaijan.

On January 20, 1990, the country witnessed one of the darkest chapters in its history. In response to territorial claims and aggressive actions by Armenia, backed by elements within the former Soviet leadership, Azerbaijani citizens took to the streets of Baku to demonstrate their steadfast opposition. The Soviet armys deployment of military units against unarmed civilians resulted in a tragic massacre.

On that fateful day, courageous Azerbaijani men and women, placing the freedom, honor, and dignity of their nation above all else, lost their lives and attained the highest honor of martyrdom. Their bravery is forever enshrined in Azerbaijans history as a symbol of resistance and patriotism.
19 January 2026 14:41 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Former Israeli Ambassador Eitan Naeh, who served in Azerbaijan from 2001 to 2005, has died at the age of 63, the Israeli Embassy in Baku announced on Tuesday, Azernews reports.

In its statement, the Israeli Embassy expressed deep sorrow over Naehs passing and extended condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. It noted that during his tenure, Naeh played an important role in strengthening friendly and cooperative relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, contributing to the development of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Naeh was part of a distinguished career in diplomacy that saw him represent Israel in several key postings.

Before his death, he served as Israels ambassador to Bahrain and Turkiye and held senior diplomatic roles throughout the Middle East.

His service in Azerbaijan came at a formative time in the relations between Baku and Jerusalem, a period that laid the groundwork for closer cooperation in the years that followed.
19 January 2026 15:21 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in the Swiss Confederation on January 19 to participate in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Azernews reports.

The head of state and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were greeted by officials at Zurich International Airport.
19 January 2026 18:21 (UTC+04:00)

Leyla Aliyeva held a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, focusing on the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Ethiopia, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, which took place in a spirit of cordial dialogue, Leyla Aliyeva conveyed greetings from the President of Azerbaijan and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to visit the country on behalf of the Azerbaijani head of state.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warmly accepted the invitation, expressing his high regard for the President of Azerbaijan and sharing words of appreciation for the strong ties between the two nations.

The Ethiopian leader also commended Azerbaijans rapid development and praised the farsighted policies of President Ilham Aliyev, highlighting his high international standing. Both sides emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation across various sectors.

The discussion also touched upon the large-scale reconstruction and development work ongoing in territories recently liberated from occupation.

Additionally, the successful experience of Azerbaijan hosting theCOP29 conference in November 2024 was noted with great interest. Opportunities to apply this experience at the upcoming COP32 conference in Ethiopia in 2027 were explored. Both parties reiterated the importance of knowledge and experience exchange in this critical area.
19 January 2026 19:42 (UTC+04:00)

On January 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Andre Esteves, Chairman of BTG Pactual, one of Brazils leading investment banks and asset management companies on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

President Ilham Aliyev touched upon Azerbaijans macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline, as well as its long-term development strategy. He emphasized that the policies implemented in this direction have positively contributed to strengthening the countrys position as a reliable partner in international financial markets.

The head of state highlighted that leading international credit rating agencies have further upgraded Azerbaijans credit rating, elevating it to investment grade with a positive outlook.

Andre Esteves spoke about the global geographical scope of his companys operations and its experience working with institutional investors. He provided information on the investment approaches BTG Pactual applies across various regions.

It was noted that preliminary discussions have recently been held between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan and BTG Pactual regarding potential areas of cooperation and strategic priorities, with dialogue continuing on matters of mutual interest.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on global economic processes, the current situation in international financial markets, institutional investors approaches to different regions, the investment climate in emerging markets, long-term investment strategies, and mutual investment projects.

BTG Pactual, established in 1983, manages assets exceeding nearly half a trillion US dollars.
20 January 2026 00:00 (UTC+04:00)

Night fell over Baku on 20 January 1990 not as a veil of rest, but as a shroud. The Caspian wind carried no calm that evening; it carried the metallic growl of tanks and the heavy silence of a people about to be tested by history. Streets that only hours earlier echoed with chants for dignity, sovereignty, and independence were suddenly transformed into corridors of fear and blood.

Without warning, Soviet troops rolled into the city. Russian tanks crushed asphalt and hope alike, advancing not against a foreign enemy, but against unarmed civiliansmen and women who had stepped outside not to wage war, but to demand the right to decide their own future. They stood with flags, not weapons; with voices, not bullets. Yet the response they received was steel, fire, and death.

Bullets tore through the darkness. Ambulances were shot at. Doctors and journalists were targeted. Ordinary citizensworkers, students, fathers, mothersfell where they stood, struck down in streets that had become killing fields. The city lights went out, as if even electricity recoiled from what was unfolding. Baku was cut off from the world, but the worlds conscience should never have been cut off from Baku.

This was not a clash. It was a massacre.

The Soviet leadership called it the restoration of order. History would name it differently: Black January. A night when an empire revealed its true nature, choosing violence over dialogue, tanks over truth. The very state that claimed to represent equality and brotherhood answered peaceful demands for independence with mass murder.

Blood stained the pavements of Neftchiler Avenue, 20 Yanvar Circle, and countless unnamed streets. Some died instantly; others bled out while help was deliberately delayed. Families searched hospitals through the night, clinging to hope, only to find silence where voices once lived. Mothers would never again hear their sons footsteps. Children would grow up with photographs instead of parents.

Yet even in that darkness, something unbreakable was born.

The people of Azerbaijan did not retreat into fear. The funeral procession that followed became one of the largest acts of collective mourning and defiance the city had ever seen. Hundreds of thousands walked together, not in chaos, but in dignity. Flowers replaced slogans. Tears replaced chants. And resolve replaced doubt.

The tanks had entered Baku to crush the independence movement. Instead, they sealed its fate.

20 January did not kill the dream of freedomit sanctified it. The blood spilled that night became the moral foundation of Azerbaijans path to sovereignty. Each victim became a witness, each grave a reminder that independence is never granted freely by empires; it is paid for by people.

This tragedy was not an isolated act of violence. It was part of a broader pattern as the Soviet Union struggled to suppress national movements across its collapsing territory. But in Baku, the cruelty was unmistakable. The use of overwhelming military force against civilians demanding lawful political rights stands as a grave violation of human dignity and fundamental principles that the modern world claims to uphold.

And yet, accountability never truly came.

No international tribunal convened for the victims of 20 January. No perpetrators stood before a court of justice. The silence of the global community added another layer of injustice to an already open wound. But memory itself became a form of resistance. Every year, Azerbaijan remembers. Every year, flowers line the graves at the Alley of Martyrs. Every year, the city pausesnot out of weakness, but out of respect.

An elegy is not only a lament. It is a promise.

A promise that those who died will not be reduced to numbers. A promise that tanks will never again define the destiny of Bakus streets. A promise that independence, once paid for in blood, will be guarded with memory and responsibility.

On 20 January, Azerbaijan lost livesbut it gained an irreversible truth: freedom demands courage, and courage often demands sacrifice. The city that bled that night still stands, not as a victim, but as a testament.

The tanks are gone. The empire is gone.

But the memory remainsand so does the independence it helped forge.
19 January 2026 20:26 (UTC+04:00)

On January 19, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Morten Dyrholm, Group Senior Vice President for Marketing, Communications, Sustainability, and Public Affairs at Vestas Wind Systems, in Davos.

During the conversation, discussions focused on the companys operations in Azerbaijan in the field of renewable energy, particularly wind energy. They noted that there are good opportunities to expand the existing cooperation.

Azerbaijan was highlighted as an attractive destination for foreign investors, with the parties hailing the favorable investment and business environment in the country.

The meeting included an exchange of views on matters of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Vestas Wind Systems.
19 January 2026 11:07 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Iranian officials have accused the United States and Europe of seeking to impose new sanctions on Iran under the pretext of cooperation with Israel, which Tehran describes as a notorious agent, Iranian diplomat Kazem Jalali said, Azernews reports.

In exchange for further services from this notorious agent, the United States and Europe are seeking to impose new sanctions against the Iranian people, Jalali stated, criticizing what he described as collective punishment and political pressure targeting ordinary Iranians.

Jalali recalled remarks made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during Israels military operation against Iran in June 2025, when Merz said that Israel was doing Europes dirty work. According to the Iranian diplomat, these comments reveal the moral and political logic behind Western support for Israeli actions.

From a moral perspective, German Chancellor Merzs words, describing the actions of the unilateralist coalition last summer, when the Israeli regime bombed homes and businesses in Iran, could prove quite instructive, Jalali emphasized.

The statements also drew a reaction from Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Chancellor Merz had made a number of remarks that, in Moscows view, constituted an absolute manifestation of Nazism and racism, sharply condemning both the rhetoric and the broader Western approach to the conflict.

The exchange of accusations comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Western countries following Israels military actions and ongoing debates in Europe and the United States over additional sanctions and political pressure on Tehran.
19 January 2026 11:46 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Denmark has failed to eliminate what he described as a Russian threat to Greenland, criticizing Copenhagens role in ensuring security on the strategically important island, Azernews reports.

NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland. Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done! Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform.

In a separate post on January 17, Trump announced that the United States would impose 10 percent tariffs on the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, and Sweden, citing the Greenland dispute. According to the US president, the tariffs would be increased to 25 percent starting June 1 and would remain in force until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1951, Washington and Copenhagen signed the Greenland Defense Treaty, alongside their commitments under NATO. Under the agreement, the United States undertook responsibility for defending the island against external aggression.

Trumps remarks and the proposed trade measures add to growing tensions between Washington and several European allies, as the US president continues to link security concerns in the Arctic region with broader geopolitical and economic demands.
NOLENSVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Dale Armour is honored as a 2026 Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for his contributions to Law Enforcement.

Dale Armour has built a remarkable career spanning more than 40 years in law enforcement, where he has become known for his leadership, dedication to public safety, and commitment to his community. Throughout his career, he has held key positions in policing while also establishing himself as a published author, sharing his insights and experiences with a broader audience.

Dale Armour

Mr. Armour's educational achievements include an Associate of Arts degree from Middle Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Excelsior University. His academic and professional training has been further enriched through the FBI National Academy Session 247, FBI- LEEDA,Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the University of Tennessee's Government Management Institute, and Tennessee's Municipal Technical Advisory Service. These affiliations reflect his ongoing pursuit of excellence and dedication to remaining at the forefront of law enforcement practices.

In addition to his professional work, Mr. Armour maintains active involvement with local and community organizations, underscoring his belief in service beyond his department. His career accomplishments and contributions highlight a lifetime of commitment to ensuring safety and fostering trust within his community.

Outside of his professional duties, Mr. Armour enjoys traveling and spending quality time with his family. He acknowledges the profound influence of his father, Commissioner Claude Armour, and Jeff Long, both of whom served as mentors throughout his career. Above all, he expresses gratitude to his wife Cindy for her unwavering love and support.

Looking ahead, Dale Armour remains focused on continuing his service to his community while building upon his legacy as a leader in law enforcement.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
19 January 2026 13:38 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

European Union (EU) leaders are preparing an emergency meeting to discuss U.S. President Donald Trumps latest tariff threats and evaluate possible countermeasures.

Azernews reports that EU officials say the leaders are expected to meet in person by the end of this week. One of the key options under discussion is imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports worth approximately 93 billion ($101 billion).

The emergency talks follow Trumps announcement that, starting February 1, he would impose a 10 percent tariff on eight European countries that openly supported Denmark on the Greenland issue. In response, EU ambassadors held an urgent meeting in Brussels on Sunday evening to coordinate a unified position.

After the meeting, European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized on social media that EU member states would demonstrate solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. He also noted that the new tariffs would contradict the spirit and terms of the EUU.S. trade agreement.

Other measures under consideration include activating the EUs so-called anti-coercion instrument, a mechanism that allows for more stringent counteractions. French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly expressed interest in applying this strong tool.

It is worth noting that last year the EU had approved retaliatory tariffs on 93 billion ($101 billion) worth of U.S. goods. However, implementation was suspended once a trade agreement was reached between the two sides.

Meanwhile, several political groups in the European Parliament have announced that, in protest against Trumps recent moves, they would halt the ratification process for the EUU.S. trade agreement. This signals a potential escalation of tensions in transatlantic trade relations.
19 January 2026 15:24 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has accepted an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the newly proposed Board of Peace, aimed at promoting stability in the Middle East, his spokesperson announced on Monday, Azernews reports via Reuters.

According to a copy of the letter and draft charter seen by Reuters, the board, which Trump would chair for life, will initially focus on the Gaza conflict before expanding its mandate to other regional disputes.

Tokayevs spokesman, Ruslan Zheldibay, said that Kazakhstans leader was among the first to receive the invitation. The head of state sent a letter to the president of the United States expressing sincere gratitude and confirming his agreement to join this new association, Zheldibay said. He added that Tokayev confirmed Kazakhstans commitment to contribute to the achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East, strengthening interstate trust and global stability.

The initiative reportedly invites 60 countries to participate, with permanent membership available to those contributing $1 billion.
19 January 2026 15:42 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The United States has conducted repeated reconnaissance flights around Iran over the past two days, marking the second time such aerial activity has been observed since nationwide protests began in late December 2025, according to data from the Flightradar24 platform, Azernews reports.

Flightradar24, a widely used flighttracking service that provides realtime information on aircraft positions, altitude, and speed, showed multiple US reconnaissance aircraft operating near Iranian airspace. The latest flights follow an earlier round of US surveillance flights conducted shortly after the onset of Irans largest antigovernment protests in decades.

The renewed aerial operations come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over Irans domestic situation and broader regional security concerns. Irans internal unrest, sparked by a sharp economic downturn and the collapse of the rial, has evolved into mass demonstrations against the government, drawing international attention and diplomatic pressure.

The previous reconnaissance took place five days ago, on January 19.

The surveillance flights coincide with other signs of escalating military readiness. Iran temporarily closed its airspace for several hours last week amid rising tensions with the US, forcing commercial carriers to cancel or reroute flights before reopening the skies once again. Aviation authorities in the EU have also urged airlines to avoid Iranian airspace, citing safety concerns as the risk of misidentification remains elevated due to increased military activity in the region.

Such reconnaissance missions are generally interpreted by analysts as efforts to gather intelligence on military deployments, air defenses, and other strategic indicators. In past decades, the US has frequently employed aerial reconnaissance near Iransometimes leading to highprofile incidents like the 2019 downing of a US surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuzreflecting longstanding strategic rivalry.
19 January 2026 21:49 (UTC+04:00)

by Aliyeva Alimat

Astronomers from the international Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project plan to capture the first-ever video of a black hole this March and April. The target is a colossal space object the size of our Solar System, with a mass equivalent to six billion Suns, Azernews reports.

The EHT will focus on the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy M87, aiming to record video footage of the swirling accretion disk that marks the edge of the event horizonthe boundary beyond which neither light nor matter can escape.

The Event Horizon Telescope is not a single instrument but a global network of 12 radio telescopes, spanning locations from Antarctica to Spain and South Korea. In 2019, this same collaboration made history by producing the first-ever image of a black holes shadow, a breakthrough that captured worldwide attention.

We may be able to learn more about the rotation rate of a black hole and how these cosmic giants launch relativistic jets. Both are among the biggest mysteries in our field, said Sera Markoff, professor of astronomy and experimental philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

Understanding the spin rate of a black hole could provide crucial insights into how such enormous objects grow and evolve, and potentially reveal new details about the extreme physics at the edge of space and time. Some scientists also hope the video might shed light on the mysterious mechanisms behind the jets that shoot out at nearly the speed of light, shaping their host galaxies in dramatic ways.

This upcoming video could also allow the public to see the dynamic nature of a black hole in motion for the very first time, offering a glimpse of one of the universes most enigmatic phenomena in action.
19 January 2026 23:20 (UTC+04:00)

by Aliyeva Alimat

In 2025, China was linked to more than half of South Koreas technology leaks involving foreign countries, with semiconductor and battery technologies being particularly targeted, Azernews reports, citing Korean media.

According to the National Office of Investigation at the Korean National Police Agency, authorities uncovered 179 cases of technology leakage last year, marking a 45.5% increase from 2024. A total of 378 individuals were arrested, six of whom remain in detention.

Among the 179 cases, 33 involved attempts to transfer sensitive data abroad. China accounted for 18 of these cases, or 54.5%, followed by Vietnam with four cases, and the United States and Indonesia with three cases each.

The proportion of cases linked to China has fluctuated in recent years  rising from 50% in 2022 to 68.1% in 2023 and 74.1% in 2024, before dropping to 54.5% last year. Police emphasized that the decrease does not indicate a decline in attempts to send information to China but reflects a broader distribution of cases involving other countries.

High-tech sectors remained the primary targets. Of the outbound leaks, five involved semiconductors, four involved display technologies, three concerned secondary batteries, and two involved shipbuilding. These leaks focused on South Koreas globally competitive technologies.

In one notable case last May, police arrested a former employee of a semiconductor materials supplier at Incheon International Airport. The suspect, surnamed Kim, allegedly attempted to smuggle chip-packaging technology related to high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to China. Three accomplices were later arrested and referred to prosecutors for indictment. HBM is a core component in AI semiconductors and was instrumental in SK hynixs record-breaking earnings last year.

Other arrests included three individuals accused of transmitting blueprints for methanol fuel cells to foreign investors and a former battery researcher who allegedly stored proprietary technology on a personal laptop before moving to an overseas competitor.

Most cases involved current or former employees, who were responsible for 148 of the 179 incidents, or 82.7% of the total. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) bore the brunt of the losses, with 155 affected companies accounting for 86.8% of cases, while large firms were involved in 24 cases. Analysts suggest that limited security measures and less favorable working conditions at smaller firms contributed to their vulnerability.

Authorities have also identified illegal brokers facilitating technology leaks. Last October, police froze 380 million won ($258,000) in assets belonging to a suspect who allegedly ran an unregistered job agency transferring skilled semiconductor workers in Korea to a Chinese company. The seized assets included real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles. In total, authorities recovered 2.34 billion won in criminal proceeds last year.

Technology leakage is not just a blow to individual companies  its a serious crime that can irreparably damage national economic security, a police official said. We will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy.

Interestingly, experts warn that as South Korea maintains its leadership in semiconductors, batteries, and other high-tech sectors, the country may increasingly face sophisticated attempts to acquire its intellectual property, making cyber and physical security measures more crucial than ever. Some analysts believe this trend could also accelerate South Koreas push for stronger domestic manufacturing and tighter export controls to protect strategic technologies.
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Snow-capped buildings in Greenlandic capital Nuuk on the day of a meeting between Danish and Greenland foreign ministers and US officials last week. Photo: Reuters

The Economy Minister has written to the UK and Irish governments voicing concern about NIs position in the event of more US tariffs as tensions rise over Donald Trumps goal to take over Greenland.

Dr Caoimhe Archibald has asked the two governments to prevent "divergence" between the EU and UKs responses from causing serious consequences for the economy in the north.

US President Donald Trump has threatened the UK with a 10% initial tariff on any and all goods from February 1, rising to 25% from June 1, as part of an escalating conflict over Greenland.

He said the same will also apply to fellow Nato members Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

Mr Trump said the tariffs will be a threat until Denmark agrees a deal to sell the Arctic territory to the US.

Exports from Northern Ireland to the US are subject to any tariffs on UK imports imposed by the US.

But imports from the US into NI would be affected by any retaliatory tariffs imposed by the EU.

The Economy Minister has written to Helen McEntee, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Policy, and Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, to voice her concerns about Northern Irelands position in a tariff conflict.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald

Dr Archibald said: Notwithstanding their respective trade and tariff agreements with the US, I am acutely aware that both the British Government and the EU Commission will be considering how they respond to President Trumps latest tariff threat including, potentially, retaliatory measures.

Snow-capped buildings in Greenlandic capital Nuuk on the day of a meeting between Danish and Greenland foreign ministers and US officials last week. Photo: Reuters

News Catch Up - Friday 16 January

I expect these discussions will move at pace in the coming days. I have asked the Irish and British governments to ensure consideration of the norths unique circumstances, where the potential for divergence between any British response compared to that of the EU, could have serious consequences for the economy in the north.

The Minister has also called for an emergency meeting of the tariff working group, which brings together key business stakeholders and was set up last year.

Sir Keir Starmer delivers a statement in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Responding to the US threat in an emergency address on Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the crisis was a moment for the whole country to pull together.

He also indicated that the UK would not be considering retaliatory tariffs, saying it is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.
Ask Allison: My son tells me his wife screams at him and knows how to push his buttons. He feels so lost. How do I help?
Police are investigating after reports AI-generated explicit images were allegedly shared among pupils at a Northern Ireland grammar school.

The investigation centres around the Royal School Armagh, which is a mixed school of about 800 pupils.

Its reported the images were created using artificial intelligence (AI) and the pictures were then shared amongst pupils.

The principal of the school, Graham Montgomery, told the Sunday Times as soon as the school became aware of the issue, it reported the matter to police.

In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Montgomery said: "We have robust policies and procedures in place and where concerns are raised we seek and follow advice from educational and other statutory authorities and take all appropriate action as advised.

"We will continue to do that and the safety and well-being of all our pupils remains our highest priority."

Police are investigating (PA)

News Catch Up - Monday 19 January

The PSNI have confirmed they are investigating the offence.

Local officers are also engaging with the appropriate school authorities and the parents/guardians of the pupils affected, a spokesperson added.
Emergency services at the scene of cannabis factory fire in Co Down

A house fire in Newry alerted police to existence of a cannabis factory after the fire service discovered the drug and paraphernalia.

The house fire got underway on Thomas Street in Bessbrook on Sunday shortly before 4.30pm. Four fire engines from Newry, Banbridge, and Warrenpoint attended the blaze.

The Belfast Telegraph understands when firefighters in breathing apparatus entered a property, they discovered a cannabis factory on the ground floor.

Some neighbouring residents evacuated their homes as firefighters dealt with the incident.

Emergency services deal with a fire at a cannabis factory in the Thomas Street area of Bessbrook on January 18th 2026 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

There was no-one in the house and no injuries reported after the fire service extinguished the blaze.

Inspector Walker said: Officers attended the scene, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the fire and advised police there was a substantial amount of cannabis and associated paraphernalia within the property.

Thankfully, there was no one in the house at the time and no injuries were reported. I would like to reassure the local community once again that there was no ongoing risk to the public from the fire and that the scene was subsequently made safe.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and our enquiries are ongoing.

Targeting the supply of drugs is a priority for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and we would appeal to anyone who has any information which could be of assistance to contact our non-emergency number on 101, quoting reference number 870 of 18/01/25.

Alternatively, you can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

Kevin Scott at the scene:

I understand from crews at the scene that the fire started accidentally in the upstairs of the property.

Emergency services deal with a fire at a cannabis factory in the Thomas Street area of Bessbrook on January 18th 2026 (Photo by Kevin Scott)

No one was in the small house at the time; as I stand at the front door, I can see a number of the plants in the living room of the property remaining unaffected.

Northern Ireland Electricity have arrived at the scene at 7pm where they are looking to isolate the electric supply.

Forensic teams have been tasked to the scene and are expected in the next few hours.
Past attempts at co-operation between unionist parties have floundered because of personal discord, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said.

Mr Robinson urged incoming Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows to set aside issues of the past in his response to an offer of talks between the two largest unionist parties.

The DUP leader said at the weekend that he had invited Mr Burrows for talks to discuss areas of co-operation.

The invitation came a day after the former senior police officer emerged as the sole contender to succeed Mike Nesbitt as UUP leader.

In the past, the two parties have co-operated in specific constituencies in a bid to maximise the unionist vote and secure seats.

However, outgoing UUP leader Mr Nesbitt has said the two parties can compete and collaborate simultaneously.

Speaking at Stormont on Monday, Mr Robinson said he looked forward to engagement with Mr Burrows.

He said: In one way or another I have been engaged in discussions around co-operation for almost the entire time that Ive been in elected politics.

Mr Robinson referred to discussions which took place when he first ran for the East Belfast seat at Westminster.

He said: Then and since, in support of other party leaders, I have found that the desire of the unionist people in Northern Ireland has fallen, not because of principle, not because of policy positions, but because of personal discord.

I dont have any of that, I hope Jon doesnt have any of that. I hope anyone who believes in Northern Irelands place in the union can set aside issues of the past for which they are not responsible and engage in this quest productively and responsibly.

It is not about me or the DUP, it is not about any leader or their party, it is about our place in this country and how we can maximise the best outcome for the people we represent.

Jon Burrows will become the next leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Robinson added: I have taken the opportunity to explore this every time there has been a change of leader.

Ive been involved in discussions personally, Ive been involved in discussions in support of others.

What you find are issues of the past are dragged into those discussions.

I am interested in focusing on the future.

Very often parties are pitted against one another, very often there have been electoral battles in constituencies across the province over decades.

Some find it difficult to move beyond those. There is now the potential for discussion with someone who is newly in post, who is not confined by or bound to those experiences.

The opportunity is there and I think it is worth pursuing.

Outgoing Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Nesbitt said Mr Burrows would be meeting the leaders of all parties when he succeeded him.

He said: In terms of what Gavin Robinson has called for, let me be clear, it is not an either or between competition and collaboration.

Mr Nesbitt referred to 2015, when his party co-operated with the DUP to win the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Westminster seat, but also won the South Antrim seat from the DUP.

He said: You can compete and you can collaborate simultaneously.

I think it is fair for the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party to ask why the leader of the largest unionist party is reaching out.

I am sure he will do that when he meets Gavin Robinson.

People call for unionist unity, my message to them is we already have unionist unity and that every unionist and every unionist party wants Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.

What happens after that is that we diverge in terms of our tactics and our strategy for achieving that and that is perfectly natural.
Police investigating the murder of Wayne Reid (43) in Coleraine have been granted an extension to question a 19-year-old woman.

They will have an additional 36 hours to question the woman after a court extension.

A man, aged 33, has been charged with murder and is appearing before Coleraine Magistrates Court today.

As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.

To date there have been nine people arrested in relation to the murder. Along with the one man charged to court, three persons have been released on bail and five people are currently still in custody.

Wayne Reid

News Catch Up - Friday 16 January

The appearance of the 33-year-old man that has been charged will see his court appearance coincide with Mr Reids funeral on Monday.

Mr Reid was pronounced dead at an address in the Society Court area of Coleraine on Friday.

Local people say that Mr Reid was thought to have been attacked in the early hours of Friday, January 9.

No ambulance was called at the time of the vicious attack, and there is said to be anger in the area over the incident.

It is believed the father-of-one lay fatally injured for several days before his body was discovered by police on Monday, January 12.

Police have said they also believe the victim may have been involved in an altercation sometime between Thursday, January 8, and Saturday, January 10, in the Society Court or Society Street areas.

Over the weekend, forensic officers have been at the property where Mr Reids badly beaten body was found.

On Thursday, police were seen searching an apartment building in connection with the incident.

The PSNI is appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

A spokesperson said: Detectives are working at pace to establish the exact circumstances surrounding Mr Reids death and [the PSNI is] appealing for anyone with information that could assist our investigation to come forward.

If you saw or heard anything unusual, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please contact police on 101 quoting reference number 552 of 12/01/2026.

Mr Reids death notice states he had most recently lived in Coleraine and in Somerset, England, but was originally from Scotland.

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said the Coleraine community is deeply shocked by the murder.

She said: It has left many people struggling to come to terms with what has happened so close to their homes. My thoughts are with the family and friends of Wayne Reid as they begin to process their loss.

I want to acknowledge the swift response from the police, which will offer some reassurance to the local community at a very difficult time. I would urge anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward and speak to the PSNI.

Sinn Fein councillor Niamh Archibald said she was saddened by the news and wished to extend my sympathies to his family and friends at this sad time.
The family of Wayne Reid have been left in darkness following his death, a minister has said.

The 43-year-olds funeral took place on Monday as a man  Darrell Shaw (33), of no fixed abode  was charged with his murder and appeared before Coleraine Magistrates Court.

To date, nine people have been arrested in relation to the murder, with one man charged to court, three released on bail and five people still in custody.

Detectives were today granted a court extension of an additional 36 hours to question a 19-year-old woman.

Mr Reid was found dead at an address in Society Court in Coleraine on January 12.

The funeral of Wayne Reid (43) takes place in Ballymoney. Picture: Stephen Davison

His funeral took place at James McMullan and Son Funeral Home followed by interment in Drumreagh Presbyterian Churchyard, in Ballymoney.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph ahead of the funeral, Reverend Dr Richard Murray, who conducted the service, said Mr Reid was originally from Scotland and was the only child of Tom and Kate, who loved him deeply. He was also the loving father of Jackson.

He worked as a sheet metal worker in Scotland before getting into sales when he moved here.

Reverend Dr Murray, who is currently Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said: His parents were very good to him and right to this day they are an example of parental love for their child.

Wayne sadly got mixed up with drugs in Scotland and began a lifelong battle with addiction.

The family moved back to Northern Ireland to break the cycle in 2010 with friends and to give him a new start.

"He tried to rebuild his life and got married. Wayne had a son called Jackson; he idolised the child and the child loved him.

Sadly, the whole drugs culture was still part of him. He was ok at the start, but his parents really helped him and stood by him right to the end. I really admire them for how they have loved him.

Rev Dr Murray said its difficult for the child who has many questions as to why hes not going to see his daddy again.

Wayne Reid (PSNI)

He remembered him as a friendly, chatty guy, but said he wasn't painting him as an angel, noting that sadly the drugs were in his life and took him a different way.

Rev Dr Murray also told of the darkness the family is now going through.

"The family is in a very dark tunnel, and especially when someone has been killed as a result of the actions of others, they are in a very dark tunnel left with questions of why and heartache.

He told mourners at the service that Jesus said God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.

The Lord offers us hope in a world that is very often a dark place where dark people often do dark deeds and lead people in a dark place.
A 30 year-old man arrested by detectives investigating the murder of Wayne Reid has been released on bail to allow for further enquiries.

Mr Reids body was found on Monday January 12 in Coleraine and the discovery prompted a major murder investigation.

To date there have been nine people arrested in relation to the murder, with one man charged to court and eight persons released on bail.

Wayne Reid

Funeral of Coleraine murder victim Wayne Reid takes place

As part of the murder investigation, police have carried out a series of arrests and searches in what they say is a complex and ongoing inquiry.

The scene at a property in the Society Court area of Coleraine after Wayne Reid was pronounced dead at the address. Police believe he may have been involved in an altercation, sometime between Thursday January 8 and Saturday January 10 in the Society Court or Society Street areas of the town. A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Picture date: Thursday January 15, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Detectives have reiterated that enquiries are continuing and that they are following a number of lines of investigation.

Mr Reids funeral heard on Monday his family have been left in darkness following his death. Mourners gathered at James McMullan and Son Funeral Home followed by interment in Drumreagh Presbyterian Churchyard, in Ballymoney.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph ahead of the funeral, Reverend Dr Richard Murray, who conducted the service, said Mr Reid was originally from Scotland and was the only child of Tom and Kate, who loved him deeply. He was also the loving father of Jackson.

He worked as a sheet metal worker in Scotland before getting into sales when he moved to Northern Ireland.

Reverend Dr Murray, who is currently Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said: His parents were very good to him and right to this day they are an example of parental love for their child.
A High Court judge has ordered Enoch Burke to be returned to prison for repeatedly breaching an Irish court order instructing him not to trespass at Wilsons Hospital School, Co Westmeath (Brian Lawless/PA)

An Irish High Court judge has returned Enoch Burke to Mountjoy Prison in Dublin after finding him in contempt of court after he repeatedly trespassed at the school where he used to teach.

Mr Burke was released from Mountjoy Prison on Wednesday to prepare for a case against an appeals body due to review his dismissal from Wilsons Hospital School.

His release was on the condition he would not return to the Co Westmeath school, but Mr Burke appeared there on Thursday and Friday.

In court on Monday Rosemary Mallon, a barrister representing the schools board of management, read an affidavit from the schools principal.

Noel Cunningham said Mr Burke had arrived at the school on both Thursday and Friday mornings and was stopped walking up to the school by a security guard they had privately hired, but stayed standing beyond the schools boundary wall.

He said there were also a number of protesters at the school gates, some of whom briefly trespassed on school property.

Mountjoy Prison, Dublin (Haydn West/PA)

Mr Cunningham said he had complaints from staff and teachers who raised safety concerns about the crowd who had gathered.

He said the atmosphere at the gate was at times unpleasant.

In his affidavit, the headteacher also apologised for participating in an article published in The Sunday Independent, adding he did not have consent from the schools board to take part in the piece.

He said it was a misguided attempt to generate some good publicity for the school but that it was entirely inappropriate to have given the interview in light of the ongoing legal proceedings.

Mr Burke was brought to and from court by gardai and was accompanied by his father Sean Burke and his brother Isaac Burke.

Addressing the court, Enoch Burke said: Im not in contempt of court, Ive the utmost respect for court.

To which Mr Justice Brian Cregan replied nonsense.

Mr Burke repeated a number of criticisms of the handling of his case by the school and the Irish justice system.

When asked to address the issue of his trespassing Mr Burke said: I did turn up at my place of work

In response Mr Cregan said: You have been dismissed, it is not your place of work, what part of that sentence do you not understand.

Mr Cregan found him in contempt of court and made an order for him to be committed immediately to Mountjoy Prison.

The board of management of Wilsons Hospital School and Mr Burke have been entangled in a legal dispute stemming from incidents over a request in 2022 from the schools then-principal to address a student by a new name and pronoun.

Mr Burke, an Evangelical Christian who taught German and history at the school, has repeatedly argued the direction was unconstitutional and went against his right to express his religious beliefs.

The school has been granted injunctive relief, restraining him from attending the school, however he continued to attend in breach of the order.

He has been fined more than 225,000 euro and imprisoned for 550 days, a figure cited by Mr Burke, for attending the school in breach of the court order.

Mr Burkes most recent stint in jail began in late November.

He had sought a temporary injunction against a disciplinary appeals body tasked with reviewing his dismissal from the school.

At the time of Mr Burkes release from prison last week, Mr Cregan had said he had been let out for one reason and one reason only; so that he had time to prepare for his case against the appeals body reviewing his dismissal and instructed him not to attend the school.

At the school on Friday, Mr Burke told reporters he had returned to Wilsons Hospital as I teach here and that he was there to work.
Valentino Garavani has died at the age of 93 (Yui Mok/PA)

The co-founder of the luxury fashion house and brand Valentino died on Monday surrounded by his loved ones at his residence in Rome, a statement shared on Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation Instagram account said.

The designer, known for his statement Valentino Red shade, shaped high fashion throughout the late 20th century after launching his brand in 1960, with royals, first ladies and Hollywood stars going on to wear his brand including Diana, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Taylor and former US first lady Jacqueline Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

In a post shared on Monday, his foundation announced that Valentino will be lying in state at the foundations headquarters on Piazza Mignanelli on Wednesday January 21 and Thursday January 22.

The funeral service will take place the following day, Friday January 23, at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs in Romes Piazza della Repubblica.

Known universally by his first name, Valentino was born in 1932 in Voghera, Lombardy, and studied fashion in Paris before co-founding the fashion house with businessman Giammetti in 1960.

By 1968 he had been chosen by the former US first lady to design the high neck lace gown she wore for her wedding to her second husband, Aristotle Onassis.

The couturier went on to dress the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, with fellow actresses Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren also among his high-status clients.

His dresses became red carpet favourites for Hollywood stars, with gowns worn by Sharon Stone, Anne Hathaway and notably Julia Roberts, who wore a black and white vintage Valentino gown to the 2001 Oscars where she won the best actress award for legal drama Erin Brockovich.

Valentino Garavani attending the Zoolander 2 UK premiere, held at the Empire, Leicester Square, London (Ian West/PA)

Cate Blanchett also wore a buttermilk yellow Valentino gown at the 2005 Oscars where she took home the best supporting actress award for her role in The Aviator.

His work and influence on the fashion industry was recognised in 2006 when he received the Legion dhonneur, Frances highest honour.

The designer announced his retirement in 2007, two months after hosting a lavish three-day celebration in Rome to mark 45 years in the fashion industry which drew a huge celebrity turnout.

Prior to his departure he starred in the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor which captured his final few years at the helm of the brand.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid tribute to the designer in a post on X and said: Valentino, undisputed master of style and elegance and eternal symbol of Italian high fashion.

Today Italy loses a legend, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations. Thank you for everything.

Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow also paid tribute to the designer in a post shared on Instagram and said the news feels like the end of an era.

She said: I was so lucky to know and love Valentino  to know the real man, in private.

The man who was in love with beauty, his family, his muses, his friends. His dogs, his gardens, and a good Hollywood story.

I loved him so much. I loved how he always pestered me to at least wear a little mascara when I came to dinner. I loved his naughty laugh.

This feels like the end of an era. He will be deeply missed by me and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Vava.

Paltrow wore a Valentino dress for her wedding to Brad Falchuk in 2018 as well as at the 2013 Met Gala where she wore a bright pink long-sleeved gown.
Prince Harry has reportedly arrived in the UK as he prepares to take on the Daily Mails publisher ahead of a high-stakes legal battle with the British media giant.

The princes action against the papers publishers, Associated Newspapers, will finally be heard at the High Court in London on Monday in what is set to be a nine-week trial.

The Duke of Sussex has a host of seven high-profile figures who have joined in his action, including Elton John, his husband David Furnish, actors Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, and former Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes.

The claimants have accused the Daily Mail of hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars and homes, phone hacking, paying police for information, and even commissioning burglaries.

Harry has previously taken legal action against other publishers (Suzanne Plunkett (PA)

Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine

Associated Newspapers, which is owned by the Rothermere family, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the allegations as "preposterous smears" and part of a wider conspiracy.

The stakes are high for all parties involved in the trial, with reputations on the line and legal costs anticipated to run into tens of millions of pounds.

Prince Harry reportedly arrived in London on Sunday and is due to give evidence on Thursday. A source close to Harry told The Telegraph he was feeling confident and ready for the court fight with Associated Newspapers.

The source added: Confident and ready are the words Id use to describe his current state of mind.

The 41-year-old, King Charles younger son, has consistently expressed his deep resentment of the often aggressive tactics employed by British media, a stance frequently linked to the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a 1997 car crash while being pursued by paparazzi.

Prince Harry and his American wife, Meghan, have previously cited that media harassment was one of the main factors for their decision to step down from royal duties and move to California in 2020.

This case against Associated Newspapers could prove to be Prince Harrys most significant legal challenge, following successful actions against Mirror Group Newspapers and Rupert Murdochs News Group Newspapers (NGN), which resulted in damages, apologies, and admissions of wrongdoing.

In 2023, the prince won a high-court battle against the Mirror newspapers, in which a judge found "widespread and habitual" use of phone hacking at the newspapers.

Prince Harrys claim against the Daily Mail publisher covers 14 articles that are alleged to have been obtained unlawfully, including stories about his relationships with former girlfriends Chelsy Davy, Cressida Bonas and Laura Gerard-Leigh, and an article concerning details of a party being planned by the two brothers after Princess Dianas memorial concert.

The trial comes more than two decades after the closure of News of the World, over a phone hacking scandal which led to the jailing of its former editor and a public inquiry.
Sir Keir Starmer urged the whole country to unite in the face of Donald Trumps threats to invade Greenland and slap tariffs on the UK and other European allies.

The Prime Minister said the dispute over Greenland, which Mr Trump wants to take over because of its strategic Arctic location and mineral wealth, should be resolved through calm discussion between allies rather than military action or a trade war.

He also signalled Britain would not engage in a trade war with the Americans and impose retaliatory tariffs, insisting this was not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance.

The US president said he would charge the UK a 10% tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from February 1, increasing to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Mr Trump said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland  all of whom are members of Nato.

He has not ruled out military action to achieve his aim of taking the territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

In an emergency address from Downing Street, Sir Keir said the crisis was a moment for the whole country to pull together.

The Prime Minister said: A partnership does not mean abandoning principle. That is why its important to be clear about who we stand with, what we stand for, and where our interests lie.

This is a moment for the whole country to pull together, so I warmly welcome the support weve had with regards to Greenland and the proposed tariffs from the Leader of the Opposition (Kemi Badenoch). I thank her for her support.

He also insisted the right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies.

Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental, he continued.

The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.

It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.

Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer at a peace summit last year (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)

Sir Keir suggested he did not think Mr Trump was genuinely prepared to use the US military to annex Greenland, and insisted there was no need for the UK to now take a side in the growing divide between the US and Europe.

He said: I dont think its right for us to choose between the US and Europe. Thats not a new position today. Thats the position Ive consistently held, as have previous governments.

Because we are allies with our European partners and allies with the US, and the strength in being able to keep both those alliances has served us well over the last 80 years.

In a sign of the seriousness with which the Government appeared to be taking the threats from the US, high-profile Cabinet ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper sat in the audience at the Prime Ministers announcement.

Ms Reeves pulled out of a Monday morning event at the London Stock Exchange to attend, and Sir Keir cancelled a cost-of-living related appearance at the 11th hour to make the emergency address.

Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper listen to the speech (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The Prime Minister said he will speak to the US president about Greenland again in the coming days.

Mr Trump is expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week  though there are no current plans for the PM to meet him there, it is understood.

Sir Keir engaged in a diplomatic blitz on Sunday afternoon, telling Mr Trump over the phone that his threats of a trade war over Greenland were completely wrong.

The PM also spoke with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Nato chief Mark Rutte.

The US President said over the weekend that he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace in a letter to Norways prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, in which he also insisted he sought complete and total control of Greenland.

Mr Trump suggested the decision not to award him the Nobel Peace prize, which is given each year in Norways capital Oslo, had influenced his attitude to Greenland.

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge told the Press Association it was absolutely critical to stand up to Mr Trumps threats through close engagement with the US administration, adding: It is totally unacceptable, and I hope the wider American public, congressmen et cetera, recognise that and, of course, the administration.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a package of tariffs on America co-ordinated with European allies after branding the US presidents actions economic thuggery that cannot go unanswered.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage suggested negotiation was a preferred response to a trade war, but described Mr Trumps threats of tariffs as wrong, and said he would be having some words with the American administration about it in Davos.

Elsewhere, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle welcomed Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US house of representatives, to Parliament.

In their meeting, Sir Lindsay referred to the tense atmosphere in transatlantic relations at the moment.
Coke kings backhanders fund dissident bosss property portfolio

Major drug dealers protection money helps ONH thug to buy three new-builds in Belfast as well as a luxury villa in Spain

Joe Kearney

Sunday Life Investigations Mon 19 Jan 2026 at 20:00

Protection money from a major drug dealer helped fund a dissident republicans property empire which includes a Spanish villa and three new-builds in west Belfast.
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BENNINGTON  Continuing an annual exercise in frustration, local school boards are struggling to hold down costs while working within an amazingly complex state education funding system.

The Mount Anthony Union School District Board is preparing to finalize its fiscal 2027 budget warning on Wednesday, while decrying looming tax rate increases and the districts limited actual control over education spending.

Eighty percent of this is what we have no control over, veteran MAU district board member Leon Johnson said prior to a board vote to approve the next budget as presented.

During the January 12 MAU Board meeting, Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Superintendent Timothy Payne termed the states funding system complexity built upon complexity, adding, We need to simplify and clarify how we pay for school.

In that vein, Payne has posted on the SVSU website an illustration and short explanation of how Vermont funds education, but its possible that many will still find the process difficult to fully grasp.

Budget plan

The MAUSD board has approved a $37.1 million proposed budget to send to voters at the March annual meeting and is expected to finalize a ballot warning at its meeting on Wednesday.

The bottom line for the MAUSD is that, while the budget the board approved is up by 4 percent over last year, the education spending amount - $34.9 million  is up by 9.3 percent and that is the figure upon which property taxes will be calculated.

During a budget presentation on January 12, supervisory union Finance Director Renee Gordon told the MAU Board, Even though the budget you have before you now is a 4 percent increase, the ask from the state Education Fund is a 9.3 percent increase.

In addition, she said, What is going to go on the ballot is a 12.6 percent increase because that is what our education is per long-term weighted average daily [student] membership.

Gordon said that a major factor driving increases at the middle/high school level, as well as for the areas elementary schools, is a continued decline in the average number of students, upon which the state allocates Education Fund revenue to districts.

The Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District is in a similar position, with a $33.5 million budget proposal for the next school year that is up by only 1 percent, Gordon has said, but which will reflect a 13 percent increase on the annual warning to be voted on in March.

The regional elementary school board also is meeting on Wednesday to finalize and approve its warning for the March ballot.

Estimated tax rates

Gordon has prepared a chart with preliminary homestead property tax rates, based on current budget figures and pending any changes made by the Legislature prior to final approval of the Education Fund amount.

The chart shows Bennington's rate rising 16.2 percent to $1.7513 per $100 of assessed property value; Pownals 12.1 percent to $1.5637 per $100; Shaftsbury's 18.5 percent to $1.6123 per $100; and Woodford's rate by 9.8 percent to $1.4626 per $100 in value.

The estimated rates are related to education funding for each member town for both the MAU and the elementary districts.

Gordon said the overriding factor driving the increases is declining student enrollment for the high school and elementary district member towns.

In her presentation, she said there are expected to be 35 fewer high school and middle school students and 50 fewer at the elementary level.

Payne noted during the MAU Board meeting that enrollment in local schools is projected to continue falling over the next several years.

He said the situation, however, is an opportunity to look at each new [school position] vacancy to determine whether the position will be needed going forward, and to also consider the best use of SVSU school facilities.

So we are trying to be proactive and take opportunities for vacancies and not cut peoples jobs at this point, he said.

Positions left unfilled

In the MAUSD budget approved January 12, Gordon said, The high school shows a reduction of 5 FTEs [full-time-equivalent positions], and whats proposed are all vacant positions, many of which have been vacant for more than a year.

She said that includes instructors in English, foreign languages, social studies, math, and a library clerk.

The FTE total in the budget for the middle school remains the same.

She said the final budget draft reflected a total of $684,775 being trimmed from an earlier budget version.

Payne said school staff members have been discussing ideas for changing the states education funding system.

One change he favors, Payne said, is for the state to tell us at the beginning of the budgeting process how much money we have from the state.

A motion to approve the MAUSD budget as presented January 12 was approved with Cindy Brownell of Pownal opposed. She also voted no as a member of the elementary district budget.
Representative Edye Graning of Jericho. She is Vice Chair of the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and Co-Chair of the School District Redistricting Task Force. Senator Martine Larocque Gulick of Burlington. She is Vice-Chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and serves on Senate Finance. She is co-chair of the School District Redistricting Task Force. The opinions expressed by columnists and op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
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The image of Anderson singing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with the statue of Abraham Lincoln behind her became an iconic symbol of the civil rights movement," said Andrea Goodman, director of The Cantilena Chamber Choir.
Indian Med-Tech industrys unwavering promise of Make in India for the world

January 19, 2026 | Monday | Views | By Vivek Tiwari, Serial entrepreneur and Angel investor

Indias accelerating Med-Tech proliferation is being propelled by a convergence of demographic, economic, and policy forces

COVID-19 came at us like a freight train, but India? We didn't just hang on we charged ahead with pure backbone, turning into a worldwide force for health grit and breakthroughs, and nailing down our rep as the globe's medicine chest. PM Narendra Modi led the charge, fueled by our rock-solid healthcare backbone, those health warriors who pulled all-nighters, and policies that actually worked. We beefed up facilities, pumped out vaccines for our billion-plus population, and shipped bargain lifesavers drugs, jabs, suppliesto over 150 countries. That's the raw power of Indian Med-Tech, etched in history. And guess what? We're tougher and sharper than ever now.

A 2024 EY report puts the Indian Med-Tech market at $12 billion for 2023-24, with projections hitting $50 billion by 2030 at a 16.4% CAGR. India's slice of the global pie is expected to jump from 1.65% to about 12% over the next 25 years.

Indias accelerating Med-Tech proliferation is being propelled by a convergence of demographic, economic, and policy forces. Rising chronic diseases, rapid digitalization, an ever-expanding hospital footprint, and strong government support are rechristening demand patterns.

In FY24 the United States stood as Indias single largest export market, accommodating 21% of Indias Med-Tech exports (~$700 million in FY24). However, the scenario swirled in April 2025 when United States of America imposed a 26% reciprocal duty/ tariff.

This tariff dealt a severe blow to the cost-competitiveness of Indian Med-Tech exports. Tectonic tremors were felt by the high-volume, low-value consumables sub-sector that has been the mainstay for Indian export-oriented firms operating on rather thin margins. Profitability has been severely crippled since it is practically unviable to absorb the 26% cost increase on account of this tariff. Additionally, the US now has the option of choosing suppliers facing lower tariffs or switching to domestic producers within their country for that matter. Clearly these tariffs have stymied Indian Med-Tech Industrys US market share and export led growth.

Thats not all. India is heavily import dependent to meet its domestic Med-Tech requirements, especially for advanced equipment and critical components. This dependency also extends to manufacturing inputs, leaving the sector vulnerable to global price fluctuations triggered by US tariffs on components imported from countries to the likes of China. This tariff induced uncertainty calls for a calibrated response mechanism by the Indian Med-Tech industry. While Government to Government diplomacy and advocacy efforts aimed at reducing trade distorting measures must be stepped up, Indian Med-Tech manufacturers must seriously diversify their trade destinations by gaining toehold in alternative markets like the EU, Middle East, Asia and Africa among others. This will de-couple our dependence on the US market and thus being pushed into their hegemony.

Here the pertinence of Make in India cannot be emphasized enough. Associated comprehensive policy support through initiatives like National Medical Device Policy 2023, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme incentivizing domestic manufacturing, Management Development Programmes (MDPs) focusing on entrepreneurship and skill development, clusters, export promotion, and PPPs are well poised to drive growth in Indias Med-Tech sector. Further 100% FDI allowed in the medical devices sector in India also exerts strong policy impetus. It is worth noting that categories such as equipment and instruments, consumables and implants attract the most Foreign Direct Investment. Government of India has launched a Rs 500 crore ($59.24 million) scheme to boost India's medical devices industry, focusing on manufacturing key components, skill development, clinical studies support, common infrastructure, and industry promotion. FDI inflow in the medical and surgical appliances sector between April 2000 and March 2025 stood at Rs 27,458.82 crore ($3.91 billion). All these indicate towards a fertile policy landscape supporting Indian Med-Tech sector to flourish.

Indian Med-Tech Sector must up its game by accelerating the shift towards developing and exporting higher-value, complex products where innovation offers a conspicuous competitive edge beyond just price. To counter the complexities and vagaries that have sprung up in the aftermath of US tariffs, Indian Med-Tech firms must aggressively capture market share relinquished by highly tariffed Chinese goods and attract FDI seeking diversified manufacturing hubs for global non-US markets. These efforts must match up with strategic investment towards Research & Development prioritizing innovation to develop higher-value products rather than relying on pure cost-based competition.

Every uncertainty opens the doors to newer possibilities. While tariffs imposed by the US have brought the Med-Tech Industry Players and Policy Makers to the drawing board, the following steps will help the Industry to emerge as more resilient and future ready.

Consolidate raw material and infrastructure ecosystems: The Indian Med-Tech Industry has a long way to travel down this street, hence India needs self-reliance in terms of domestic production of medical-grade polymers, electronics, and sensors, supported by Med-Tech parks that offer access to testing facilities, R&D centers, and prototyping labs for supporting fully integrated value chains.

Fortify policy frameworks and associated incentives: There is still much room for the PLI scheme to be strengthened through more flexible thresholds for MSMEs. Export-oriented zones with all its incentives can be expanded to make large-scale manufacturing more competitive on Indian soil.

Attract strategic partnerships and step up R&D efforts: Efficient single-window processes and predictable investment rules can encourage global companies to set up R&D and manufacturing hubs, creating opportunities for technology transfer in this highly competitive Industry.

Streamline regulations and global approvals: Global alignment and cross linking of classifications with US FDA and EU MDR can go a long way to simplify compliance, while faster and more transparent approval pathways can significantly reduce the time to market.

Not to forget that at the heart of this colossal metamorphosis of the Indian Med-Tech industry lies collaborative action across government, industry, investors, and academia that is potent enough to propel Indias current momentum, positioning the country as a high-value and innovation-led Med-Tech hub.

As India stands at an inflection point, the Med-Tech sector is rapidly evolving from a dependency-driven market to a formidable global force with a firm and unwavering promise of Make in India for the World.

Vivek Tiwari, Serial entrepreneur and Angel investor


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January 17, 2026: Last December the Buran, a Russian ship carrying Liquid Natural Gas/LNG, found itself stuck in the ice. The Buran was travelling in the Arctic Ocean along the Northern Sea Route to the Utrenny terminal at the Gulf of Ob in northwestern Russia. The Buran was unable to move through the unusually thick ice in the Gulf of Ob. After a few weeks of Russian icebreakers breaking up the thick ice, the Buran was able to make its way to the port of Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula.

Buran is one of four ships that carry LNG from LNG plants along the northern coast which liquefy natural gas, stores it and then transfers it to LNG tankers for shipment, mainly to China. This all takes place in Russian and Chinese territorial waters. This avoids interference by American warships looking to seize sanctioned ships and their cargoes.

The sanctions have made it nearly impossible for Russia to build more tankers. For example, a floating dock built in Turkey for Russia cannot be delivered because of the sanctions. Russia does have a fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers, which try to keep the northern route open. But the winter of 2025 saw ice so thick that even the icebreakers had a hard time keeping the northern route open.

Harsher sanctions against Russian oil exports and seizing tankers covertly carrying Russian oil have made it more difficult for Russia to export petroleum and LNG. Russia has the world's longest Arctic shoreline and has long been the largest producer and user of icebreaking ships. Currently there are 179 icebreakers in service worldwide, with 29 being built and 35 on order. This degree of activity not only replaces older icebreakers nearing retirement age but is also increasing the worldwide icebreaker fleet. Russia operates 85 icebreakers, the largest number of any nation.

While Russia is the largest builder and user of icebreakers, they owe much to Finland. Since World War II Finland has led the world in developing more efficient icebreaker designs. One icebreaker innovation Finland did not develop was the armed combat icebreaker. Russia has already built one armed icebreaker, the 9,000-ton Papanin, with two more under construction and another planned.

The Papanin began sea trials in July 2024 and joined the Northern Fleet, near the Arctic Circle in 2024. Construction of the Papanin began in 2017. Armament consists of a 76mm gun, four 12.7mm machine-guns and two 30mm multi barrel Close In Weapons/ CIWS for defense against missiles or small surface vessels. There is also space onboard for Uran anti-ship and Kalibr land attack missiles.

The Papanins have a top speed of 33 kilometers an hour and a max range of 19,000 kilometers at a speed of 19 kilometers an hour. These ships are designed to break through ice up to 1.7 meters thick. Maximum endurance on internal fuel and crew supplies is 70 days. The ship crew is 60 with accommodations for another 50 specialists and observers. A helicopter is carried with a hanger to shelter the helicopter from harsh Arctic weather. There are also two small Raptor class patrol boats that can carry 23 people or just the crew of three and over a ton of supplies or equipment. Some small drones are also carried. There is room for adding sonar and anti-submarine torpedoes. Papanin is similar to current unarmed Norwegian and Canadian icebreakers.

Papanin is armed to protect traffic on the 5,600 kilometer long Russian Northern Sea Route that links East Asia with Northern Europe. This Arctic sea lane passes along the exclusively Russian northern coast. Russia wants to maintain control of this corridor even though large parts of it are in international seas, outside Russian coastal waters. Russia also has several land bases along this route. These bases are controlled by the Russian Northern Fleet with over 10,000 troops, more than a hundred aircraft and several dozen warships and submarines to protect the Northern Sea Route.

As of 2025 the Northern Sea Route can accommodate over 500 merchant ships a year and that capacity is steadily increasing. Because of the ice and Arctic storms, this route can be treacherous. Safety is achieved if the Russians can maintain enough land bases and ports along the route to monitor weather and sea conditions and provide ports if commercial ships must seek temporary refuge. The Northern Sea Route cuts the time required by a third for ships carrying cargo between East Asia and Northern Europe. China and Russia are two major users of this route and Russia wants to increase the safety and security of this route to encourage heavier use. Russia does not charge a fee to use the Northern Sea Route even though Russia has spent billions of dollars to build and maintain this route.
January 17, 2026: Why do 600 million Europeans insist they need the help of 326 million Americans to deal with 144 million Russians? The American response is that Europe is unwilling to confront and deal with its own self-destructive policies. The Americans believe in confronting what the actual problems are, while the Europeans tend to make excuses for recent migrant misbehavior, especially if Moslems are involved. The Europeans cannot understand why the Americans now want Europe to defend itself and not depend so much on the United States. These differences are most apparent when it comes to Islamic terrorism and how little the Europeans have changed over time, and despite very visible evidence of what Moslem misbehavior in their midst meant.

For example, six years ago there was a sharp decline in Islamic terrorist attacks in the West, especially Europe, between 2015, when there were 211, and 2019 when there were twenty. This was the result of worldwide alarm and action against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant/Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, the most violent and determined form of Islamic terrorism so far. All nations, especially Moslem ones, cooperated to defeat ISIL. This brought about unusually high levels of cooperation in identifying ISIL members or potential members as well as going after ISIL media efforts, recruiters and fundraisers.

In the West, this exposed a pro-Islamic terrorist underground that was larger and more popular than anyone realized. Actually, there were police and military intelligence specialists who were not surprised. Until ISIL came along, few Western politicians believed so much support for Islamic terrorism existed inside their countries. Some of those politicians were still skeptical. But the problem was real and it was growing for several decades, along with support for Islamic terrorists in Moslem majority nations.

After September 11, 2001, there was a growing realization in the West that many of their Moslem citizens, or recent migrants, supported Islamic terrorism, including attacks that killed a lot of civilians. While survey results varied from country to country, there were two constants. First, the majority of Moslems opposed Islamic terrorism under any circumstances. Second, there was always a minority that either supported or understood the need for such violence and worst of all there was a small percentage who thought such violence was necessary to defend Islam. Many in the last group were willing to actively participate in Islamic terrorist activity.

For example, an opinion survey in 2006 showed that about three percent of German Moslems supported al Qaeda's objectives, which were mainly about Islam becoming the only religion on the planet, and using force to make it happen. Many of the Moslems who supported Islamic terrorism did not just support violence but would give aid to al Qaeda terrorists. More worrisome, the German intelligence experts believed that about 3,000 of their Moslem residents would commit terrorist acts to further the al Qaeda cause. The Germans also noted that there were 24 active Islamist groups in the country, with a combined membership of over 31,000. Many of those young al Qaeda enthusiasts lacked the leadership and technical knowledge to pull off a major attack. While these 3,000 men were all for terrorist actions, only a few are willing to kill themselves doing it. This shows the importance of the former al Qaeda bases in Afghanistan. There, al Qaeda could select and train men who could whip a bunch of local enthusiasts into a team capable of carrying out an act of mass murder. The camps also trained people to make bombs and deal with the more mundane problems of avoiding detection and arrest by the police.

The problem in Europe was that radical Moslems sought, often with success, to establish religious schools/madrasas where elementary and high-school age children could be indoctrinated in the conservative forms of Islam, as mandated in Saudi Arabia and many other Moslem nations, that insisted Islam was under constant attack or threat of attack by infidels/non-Moslems. These madrassas called on young Moslems to actively defend Islam using violence against infidels and Moslems who did not share these extremist beliefs. The madrassas taught that economic failure is not the fault of unemployed Moslems but a deliberate policy of the infidel societies they now lived in.

Cultivating this culture of resentment and justifying blaming personal problems on others rather than yourself also worked in Moslem nations, where madrasa students often turned against their own government rather than infidel nations, who tended to be better off than Moslem majority countries. Most Moslems believe this sort of thing is nonsense, but Islamic radicals can find a lot of support for these extremist attitudes in Islamic scripture. This is a unique aspect of Islam, for no other major religion gives this much encouragement for and religious justification of violence against infidels or Moslems who dont agree with you.

European politicians, in particular, are still prone to downplay the severity of this situation. For example, German politicians were under growing pressure from their constituents to reduce the flow of Moslem migrants and more carefully screen those that were let in. Most elected and unelected officials took the position that allowing large numbers of Moslem refugees from civil wars, rebellions and religious conflicts in Moslem majority nations was the humanitarian thing to do. Their constituents pointed out that many of the politicians were delusional because these officials did not live near the new arrivals. Nor did they experience the increasing crime and general hostility expressed by so many of the refugees towards non-Moslems and often each other. Voters pointed out that their political leaders tended to live in well-protected neighborhoods and had access to taxpayer-supplied personal security. To make matters worse, there were a growing number of instances where local or national officials deliberately concealed data on criminal activity by Moslem migrants.

Some data cannot be concealed and that is when there are deliberate terrorist attacks that kill or injure people in a public place. For example, in the four years after 2014, through the end of 2017, there were 32 Islamic terror attacks in Europe. These involved 44 Moslem refugees or recent asylum seekers. These attacks caused 996 casualties, 182 dead and 814 wounded. While these attacks occurred in twelve countries most of them took place in Germany, which had accepted the most, 1.4 million, Moslem refugees.

For the average European the most annoying thing about this was that the hostility and violence found among so many of these refugees was nothing new. Opinion polls and government data had detailed the problem for years. For example, in 2006 German counter-intelligence officials were openly dismayed at how passive German Moslems were towards the threat of Islamic terrorism. A tip line for Germans to call in information about suspected terrorist activity received little use by the 3.5 million Moslems living in Germany. The tip line had German, Arabic and Turkish speaking operators available. While there had not been any major al Qaeda terrorist attacks in Germany up to then, the police and intelligence agencies knew they had an Islamic terrorism problem. Even without tips from Moslem residents, the intelligence agencies had detected a growing number of suspected Islamic terrorists and many of these eventually proved those suspicions right, often in another country. That was because Germany was seen as something of a sanctuary for Islamic terrorists; a place where local Moslems would stay silent and local police might suspect your intentions, but unless you broke one of their laws, like displaying a flag with a swastika on it, you would not get arrested.

Despite a large number of American Moslems who were not happy with the war on terror, they did report anything that appeared to be terrorist activity. This program was so successful that the number of terrorist prosecutions was declining. This was due to several factors. First, the pro-al Qaeda crowd, at least the ones not sharp enough to keep their heads down, tended to get caught. Second, you have to assume that there are pro-al Qaeda American Moslems still out there, and smart enough to avoid being detected, but are proceeding with extreme caution, and taking their time. Europeans tend to leave terrorism suspects under observation for a long time, while the FBI tends to pick up suspects as soon as there seems to be enough evidence to get a conviction. The European method is necessary because the Moslem community is not providing information. So, the police have to observe the terrorists, see who they work with, and generate tips that way.

By 2014 the situation in Europe had gotten worse. That year a poll of European nations to discover support for ISIL resulted in some surprising results. In Germany, two percent of the adults supported ISIL, while in Britain it was seven percent and in France 15 percent. While many of these supporters are Moslems, only 4.6 percent of Germans, five percent of Britons and 7.5 percent of the French are Moslems. Thus, there was support from non-Moslems and a closer look at the data shows that ISIL support is higher among the young and falls sharply among older people. Many of the ISIL supporters are actually angry at their own government for various reasons. Still, the ISIL support was part of the overall support (or tolerance) for Islamic radicalism in the West and the recent rapid growth of European anti-Semitism.

European leaders were slow to accept the reality of what they are dealing with. Even by 2019, when ISIL was no longer a major threat, European nations were finding that local Moslem radicals they knew about, and were trying to monitor, were increasingly carrying out attacks despite the police knowing who they were. In several attacks, the perpetrators had been convicted of Islamic terrorism, sent to jail and once released went right back to their violent ways.

Since European nations are democracies, the rulers cannot continually ignore the complaints of voters who daily confront this culture clash and often live in constant fear of it. Actually, so do many of the Moslem refugees. These outbreaks of Islamic terrorism have, for centuries, only hurt other Moslems because the righteous rage of the Islamic purists was directed as fellow Moslems perceived to be heretics. There were often ethnic, nationalistic or political elements as well, but the basic motivator was religious and the efforts to impose True Islam on other Moslems. In the West, it was difficult to deal with this problem even though it had been well documented in the West for centuries. But it had become fashionable in the West to ignore all that. Worse and to the astonishment of many in the Moslem world, Westerners often deliberately and disastrously misinterpret what was actually going on.
An attack by the United States on Venezuela and the capture of its president by special forces. Escalating tariff threats. And Donald Trump threatening to seize Greenland.

Amid geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, global leaders, business executives and policymakers are gathering in Davos.

But what is the Davos summit and why is it important?

What is the Davos summit?

The Davos summit is the World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting that is hosted at the Alpine resort of Davos in Switzerland. Colloquially, people refer to it as Davos.

The summit lasts for several days, bringing together political leaders, business executives, academics and others to discuss pressing economic and political challenges.

The WEF was founded in 1971 to promote cooperation between governments and the private sector. It is an international not-for-profit organisation, but it has no formal legislative authority.

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When does it take place?

The summit happens every January. This year, its 56th year, it is taking place from Monday January 19th to Friday 23rd January.

Why does it matter?

Most years, discussions revolve around major global issues, including economic growth, climate change, global inequalities and conflicts around the world.

This year, the agenda revolves around "a spirit of dialogue", where discussions will look at unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, and building prosperity, among other things. Discussions aim to address growing concerns about global instability, widening inequality, and the climate crisis.

The summit does not have decision-making power, unlike the UN or the G7 summit. But while there are no binding agreements, policies, or laws made, Davos still has a huge impact.

Outcomes can include joint statements or commitments, and media narratives and policy signalling that can influence global policy.

However, Davos is sometimes criticised as an elitist or exclusive gathering, with debates surrounding whether outcomes benefit a global elite.

Who will be attending?

Heads of state, government ministers, CEOs of multinational companies, economists, academics, media and some civil society organisations attend Davos each year.

This year, almost 3,000 people from over 130 countries will attend. This includes close to 65 heads of state and six of the G7s leaders.

This includes US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Vice-Premier of China He Lifeng, and numerous other leaders globally.

From Ireland, Micheal Martin is set to attend.

Why is this year important?

World Trump tells Davos elite to invest in US or face tariffs Read more

This years summit comes at a moment of heightened global tension and economic uncertainty. With Trump's threat to impose further tariffs on EU countries that did not agree with his plan to buy Greenland, and the EU's subsequent consideration of 93 billion retaliatory tariffs or the use of the EU's Anti-coercion instrument, tensions are running high.

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Security and trade concerns are therefore at the forefront of discussions in Davos. The WEF's Global Risks Report found that geoeconomic confrontation was the top risk this year, followed by interstate conflict, extreme weather, societal polarisation and misinformation and disinformation.

A new competitive order is taking shape as major powers seek to secure their spheres of interest. This shifting landscape, where cooperation looks markedly different than it did yesterday, reflects a pragmatic reality: collaborative approaches and the spirit of dialogue remain essential, said Brge Brende, President of the WEF.

Our Annual Meeting in Davos will serve as a vital platform for understanding risks and opportunities and for building the bridges needed to address them.
Sunday's train collision and derailment in southern Spain killed at least 39 people and left 122 injured, with officials highlighting the "strange" nature of the accident on a straight stretch of railway, while one theory pointed to a broken rail joint.

Here is what we know so far:

The accident happened at 7:45pm (6:45pm GMT) near the town of Adamuz in the province of Cordoba, about 360km south of the capital Madrid.

It involved two high-speed trains, one operated by the private consortium Iryo and the other by Alvia, run by Spain's public railway company Renfe.

The last two out of eight carriages of the trademark-red Iryo train going from Malaga to Madrid derailed and hit the oncoming Alvia, causing the latter's first two carriages to derail and fall down an up to five-metre (16.4 feet) embankment.

What officials are saying

There was a 20-second interval between the first derailment and the impact, too short to activate the automatic braking system, according to Renfe chief Alvaro Fernandez Heredia, who also said human error was practically ruled out.

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"It must have been some kind of failure in the rolling stock or the infrastructure, and that will take time" to investigate, he said.

Officials said the Alvia had apparently hit the derailed carriages or undercarriage debris of the Iryo. The 27-year-old driver of the Alvia train died in the crash, Renfe said.

The Iryo train was carrying around 300 people and had just left the historic city of Cordoba. Its speed at the moment of the accident was 110 kph, well below the maximum limit of 250 kph on that stretch.

The oncoming train, carrying 187 people, was travelling at a speed of 205 kph, Renfe said.

The derailed Alvia carriages had 37 people in the first and 16 in the second. Most of the dead and injured came from the first two Alvia carriages.

Transport Minister Oscar Puente said that the Iryo was less than four years old and that the railway track had been completely renovated last May with an investment of 700 million. Iryo said the train was last inspected on January 15th.

Puente called the accident "tremendously strange" and said that had it not been for the oncoming train, the derailment would have likely caused no deaths.

Faulty joint a possible cause

A source briefed on initial investigations told Reuters experts had found a broken joint, which possibly created a gap between the rail sections and they believed it to be key to identifying the precise cause of the accident.

The Transport Ministry only said the joint had broken as a result of the accident, but not before and would not provide further comment.

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The state-owned rail infrastructure administrator ADIF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the claim.

Jose Trigueros, president of the Association of Road Engineers, said his preliminary analysis suggested "failure of the undercarriage of the back units" of the Iryo train.

While he did not rule out a problem with the track, he said nightly inspections with tamping machines were meant to detect any rail fatigue, in which case the control centre automatically reduces the circulation speed.

Previous problems

Train drivers' union SEMAF had warned ADIF in a letter last August of severe wear and tear to the railway track where the two trains collided, according to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters, saying potholes, bumps, and imbalances in overhead power lines were causing frequent breakdowns and damaging the trains.

ADIF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to a Reuters review of alerts on ADIF's X account, it has previously reported problems with infrastructure at Adamuz, from signal failures to issues with overhead power lines, that caused delays to high-speed trains between Madrid and Andalusia 10 times since 2022.

Iryo is a joint venture between Italian state railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, airline Air Nostrum and Spanish infrastructure investment fund Globalvia.

It began operating in November 2022, starting with the Madrid-Barcelona route and expanding to other major cities.

Iryo's ETR1000 train is manufactured by the partnership of Hitachi Rail-Bombardier in Europe for Ferrovie's unit Trenitalia. Renfe's Alvia trains are manufactured by local makers CAF and Talgo.

Everest Insurance is the lead insurer for Renfe, and its cover provides passengers or their beneficiaries with compensation. Everest declined to comment on details of the policy period, deductible and triggers when approached by The Insurer.
As the European Union scrambles to respond to the crisis ensuing over US president Donald Trump's threats over Greenland, the 'anti-coercion instrument' or 'bazooka' is back in focus.

So what is it?

The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), also called the trade bazooka, is a regulation of the European Union proposed in December 2021,adopted in November 2023, and that entered into force on December 27th, 2023.

It aims to protect the EU and its member states from economic coercion by third countries and provides a framework for EU action, including examination, engagement, and the adoption of countermeasures.

Retaliatory tariffs against the US worth up to 93 billion ($108 billion) are also being considered, but the ACI is a viable alternative.

How has it come to this?

Mr Trump stunned Europe on Saturday as he threatened tariffs up to 25 per cent on EU members Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden  and non-members Britain and Norway - all Nato allies.

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He said the tariffs would apply until the United States is allowed to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

French president Emmanuel Macron was one of the first leaders to propose utilising the ACI in response to Mr Trump's threats.

The leader of the liberal Renew group in the European Parliament, Valerie Hayer, also called for the measure to be introduced.

"The United States is making a miscalculation that is not only dangerous but could be painful," Ms Hayer said in a statement.

Fianna Fail MEPs, and independents Michael McNamara, and Ciaran Mullooly, are part of the Renew group.

What does the Anti-Coercion Instrument do?

It allows the EU to take measures including import and export restrictions on goods and services in its single market of 450 million people.

If it was used, Brussels could also limit American companies' access to public procurement contracts in Europe.

If it is activated, it could still take months to take effect. Fifty-five per cent of member states would have to vote in favour of the ACI.

Would the ACI have an impact on Ireland?

The short answer is yes. The ACI could have a significant impact on Ireland's economy.

Ireland Tanaiste to discuss tariff threat in Brussels as Trump insists Greenland deal will be done Read more

It could have a negative impact on Irish exports and the tech sector in particular. Ireland relies heavily on foreign direct investment, with a lot of that coming from US tech and medical companies, and those organisations would suffer loses due to EU restrictions from the ACI.

In a statement on Sunday, Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman called on Taoiseach Micheal Martin to brief opposition leaders on the potential impact of the anti-coercion instrument.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee stressed it would be very much a "last resort".

Tanaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris will be part of a meeting of EU finance ministers discussing Mr Trump's tariff threats on Monday in Brussels.
Riad Bouchaker, who is charged with assaulting a care worker and attempting to murder three children on Parnell Square in Dublin, is fit to enter a plea and stand trial, a consultant forensic psychiatrist for the State has told a hearing at the Central Criminal Court.

The expert witness told Mr Justice Tony Hunt on Monday that, despite the accused having a serious neurocognitive disorder, he is satisfied that Mr Bouchaker can be accommodated at trial, where questions can be repeated, made simpler or closed questions put to him.

The prosecution psychiatrist said he is satisfied that the accused understands the serious offences he is charged with, appreciates the different pleas available to him and can make a proper defence.

The court is assessing whether Mr Bouchaker (51), of no fixed abode, is fit to stand trial. The hearing was told before Christmas that there is "a divergence" between psychiatrists for the defence and State on that issue.

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Last month, defence lawyers for the accused argued before the Central Criminal Court that their client is suffering from a mental disorder, namely moderate dementia, and is unfit to stand trial.

Karl Finnegan SC with Carol Doherty BL, prosecuting, previously said there was CCTV footage showing what appeared to be an attack on a line of children who were about to progress to their creche.

He said when the creche manager became aware of the alleged attack on the children, she had shouted and moved to protect them but suffered a stab wound.

Mr Finnegan said four children had suffered stab wounds that day and one of them had life altering injuries. He said the scene was "one of chaos" at the time and emergency services were called.

On December 18th last, a consultant forensic psychiatrist for the defence said the accused man, who has a complex medical history, had suffered a brain injury "in the course of members of the public intervening" on the day of the alleged offence on November 23rd.

She also said that the accused man had surgery for a benign brain tumour in 2021, while a bone flap was removed some few months later due to infection.

The defence expert witness said that, should the accused be deemed unfit to stand trial by the court, he would be reviewed on a six-month basis by the mental health criminal law review board.

However, a consultant forensic psychiatrist for the State on Monday said they found that Mr Bouchaker was fit to plead and to stand trial.

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The expert witness said there was nothing in his evidence which should in any way diminish the gravity of the accused's complex medical history, but that this was a different matter to the nature of entering a plea.

He said that while Mr Bouchaker does have a serious brain injury which affects his attention and concentration, fitting the clinical features of the disorder, the accused may be kept "on target" and participate in the trial process, where appropriate levels are taken to use closed questions.

Mr Justice Hunt said it was his understanding that the evidence from the defence psychiatrist was that the accused was unfit to plead, as he was not able to weigh up choices.

The State psychiatrist said that, despite the accused having significant problems, he found Mr Bouchaker was able to understand choices and was capable of weighing up what had happened that day.

The witness found the accused had a neurocognitive disorder, which has an effect on his ability to sustain attention and concentration.

The prosecution psychiatrist said that the accused understands the difference between a plea of guilty, not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.

He said Mr Bouchaker seems willing to participate with his legal team and whilst he may have some difficulty following proceedings, he suggested that the court may be able to address this with an interpreter and by restricting questions to a closed format.

Mr Finnegan put it to the witness that he and the defence psychiatrist had reached different conclusions regarding the accused's fitness to stand trial.

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"Is there a specific reason why you have arrived at a different conclusion given the similarity of what you had to work with?" asked counsel.

The psychiatrist said that when he became aware of the accused's brain injury, he had anticipated he would be in agreement with the defence psychiatrist.

However, the witness said the accused had been very conversational in their interactions and he was also puzzled to see how well Mr Bouchaker performed in other arenas.

Earlier under cross-examination on Monday, the defence psychiatrist agreed with Mr Finnegan that in her evidence Mr Bouchaker had complained of difficulties with his memory function, which the witness felt was relevant to his capacity.

The witness said it was her opinion that the accused engaged in "confabulation" in all assessments and was filling in gaps in his memory.

She said the accused would not be in a position to give evidence at trial or be cross-examined, which goes directly to his fitness to stand trial.

She said the accused was unable to focus on questions in their assessments and was not able to weigh up or appreciate the different choices or the different pleas available to him in court. She said he struggled to keep on topic, spoke about irrelevant issues and was unable to answer questions accurately.

Mr Finnegan put it to the witness that while there might be "rambling" involved, the accused seemed to know exactly what he did that day and what happened.

The witness said the accused had confabulated pieces and it was very concerning for a patient not to know they have a right to plead guilty, not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity. She said this was below the standard required for fitness to stand trial.

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She said the confabulation identified was both clear evidence of a brain injury and that the accused would not be able to give evidence or be cross-examined in relation to events.

The witness said it was the extent of the neurocognitive disorder where the psychiatrist's difference lay. She felt the accused had been suffering from mild dementia, but the further head injury met the criteria for moderate dementia.

She said the accused's level of dysfunction would be beyond what an appointed intermediary would be able to help him through at trial.

In re-examination, the defence psychiatrist told the accused's barrister that it was an extremely difficult, long and complex process to interview Mr Bouchaker.

She said that because of his extensive brain damage, the accused man was not a reliable historian and added in pieces of information.

A lawyer for Mr Bouchaker previously said it was agreed between the parties that no one is canvassing for the defence of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to tomorrow, when the State's psychiatrist will continue giving evidence.

Ireland Retired Superintendent had no legal power to cancel traffic tickets, trial of gardai told Read more

The judge has ordered that legal representatives for the accused and the identities of the doctors giving evidence are not to be named in media reports.

Mr Bouchaker is charged with the attempted murder of two girls and one boy, as well as with assault causing serious harm to a care worker.

He is also charged with three counts of assault causing harm to two other young children and a passerby, who had intervened to assist, as well as one count of the production of a knife.

The incident occurred at Parnell Square East on the afternoon of November 23rd, 2023.
A 28-year-old woman was manually strangled at an apartment in Cork city just hours after she danced and welcomed in the New Year with friends, a murder trial has heard.

Miller Pacheco (32) of Formiga in Brazil is on trial at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork, having denied the murder of Bruna Fonseca on January 1st, 2023, at his flat in Liberty Street in the city. The accused and deceased were natives of the same town in Minas Gerais in Brazil.

Miller and Bruna had been together for five years. However, they broke up in November 2002 just days after Miller relocated to Ireland to be reunited with his girlfriend. The 28-year-old had moved here in September 2022 in order to live a better life". The trial has heard that her dream was to eventually live in France.

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Postmortem

A postmortem examination was carried out on the deceased by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. She told the jury of seven women and five men that Bruna died of asphyxia due to manual strangulation.

Extensive bruising is in keeping with manual strangulation, in keeping with a hand constraining the neck, fingers on the left side, thumb on the right side.

Defence senior counsel Ray Boland that his client had instructed him that he was behind Bruna and held his arm around her neck to restrain her as she was hitting him. He asked Dr Bolster if the injuries sustained by the deceased were consistent with such an explanation.

Dr Bolster said that it was a case of never say never.

But in my view it is much more typical of manual strangulation. In my view this is manual strangulation, from the pattern of injuries.

Injuries

Dr Bolster said Ms Fonseca also suffered over 60 internal and external bruises to her forehead, scalp, arms, hands and lower limbs in keeping with a struggle. The nail on the middle finger on her right hand was also broken.

Meanwhile, the trial heard evidence of garda interviews Miller gave between January 1st and January 3rd, 2023.

He told gardai that he suffered from depression in his native country. A engineer by profession that he sold everything he owned, including his vehicle, to be with his girlfriend in Ireland.

Miller said that if Bruna had been honest with him about her feelings he would have stayed in Brazil". He said that in the period between November and December 2022 his depression deepened and he suffered from panic attacks.

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He said that he loved Bruna and that he came to Ireland with "hope" and "tried to make it (the relationship) work". He denied stalking Bruna. The trial has heard that he recorded her dancing and kissing a man at a New Years celebration in the Oyster Tavern pub just hours before her death.

FaceTime

Miller told gardai that he and Bruna had returned to his flat in the early hours of New Years Day to FaceTime family in order to see their dog DEagle whom they had left behind in Brazil.

He said that he began to suffer from panic attacks and asked Bruna to stay with him. The flat door was locked. He said that Bruna had got up to look for the key.

"I grabbed her shoulder....I told her not to go. She pushed me and hit me. I defended myself.

"I never wanted to hurt her. I never lifted a finger to her in six years (of their relationship).

"I was not me - it was as if it was not me. I am not an aggressive person. Maybe the depression and everything brought out...when she hit me I was not myself.

"I was hurt and sad, not mad. I never hurt her in our six years. I am quiet. I am not that person - the person who could hurt someone they love."

Mr Pacheco said that he was after drinking five vodkas with energy drinks. He stated that he tried to immobilise Bruna to stop fighting.

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"I just wanted the fight to be over. I was the one saying: stop, stop, stop. I didn't want her hitting me. Then I got my chance to end the fight."

"We were both out of control."

Mr Pacheco said his ex girlfriend was hitting him. He claimed that she attempted to headbutt him and that they both fell between the bed and table with him on top.

Mr Pacheco said he tried "something I saw on TV" and placed Ms Fonseca in a chokehold from behind with his forearm around her neck. He indicated that shortly afterwards she became still.

Evidence

The trial also heard evidence from Garda Aoife McCarthy who told the court that she had attended at the apartment complex in Liberty Street shortly after 6am on January 1st, 2023, having received a call about females fighting onsite. Garda McCarthy and Garda Peter Barber didnt notice anything untoward in the building.

Garda McCarthy said that they returned to the scene at 6:25am after they received a call that there was man with a knife there and that a death had possibly occurred at the building.

She said that when they got to Liberty Street they noticed two women and a man outside. When Garda McCarthy approached the man he told her he was Miller Pacheco and gave her his date of birth.

The garda asked Miller to give them his rucksack and to take off his jacket. He was searched for a knife.

The accused allegedly told Garda McCarthy that he and Bruna had been very drunk. He stated that she had hit him and that he defended himself. Garda McCarthy said that Miller gave gardai his room key. She and the other garda went up to the room where they found Bruna.

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She was lying on the bed, her feet towards the headboard  I checked for a pulse, there was no pulse, she was still a little bit warm  her face appeared swollen and her eyes were a little bit bulging."

Garda McCarthy said that when she formally arrested Miller a short time afterwards he said Im sorry, Im sorry. She asked if he had had stabbed the woman and he replied : No, I choke her.

The garda told the jury of seven women and five men that she put her hand to her neck and said "like this" and that the accused said "Yes".

Defence senior counsel Ray Boland said that the instructions of his client were that he he did not say I choke her".

The guards were talking to him and he did not understand what they were saying.

However, under cross examination Garda McCarthy said that the accused never indicated that he couldnt speak English. She told the court that she spoke slowly when she cautioned him.

Mr Boland said that his client complied with garda instructions at the scene. Garda McCarthy agreed that this was the case.

Ms Fonseca was a university graduate and a qualified librarian. Her family members are in Ireland for the trial. The trial continues on Tuesday.
The son of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly - who was shot dead over a decade ago - attempted to murder his former wife's friend because he blamed her for the breakup of his marriage, the Central Criminal Court heard on Monday.

Lawyers for Matthias Kelly (42) also told the court that their client suffered a brain injury in 2016 following a car crash and a further head injury in a fall down stairs two days before he broke into Fiona Timmermans' home and tried to stab her to death.

James Dwyer SC, representing Kelly, said solicitors have tried to secure a neuropsychologist to provide a report on how the brain injuries affected their client's behaviour, but none are willing to work for the rate of pay proposed by the legal aid services.

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Mr Justice Paul McDermott asked that the Minister for Justice address the issue when the court convenes on Wednesday in relation to other cases where legal aid payment issues have arisen.

The judge adjourned finalisation of Kelly's sentence until February 16th to allow further time for the defence to find a neuropsychologist.

Kelly's father, Eamon Kelly, was shot dead outside his home on Furry Park Rd, Killester, Dublin 5 on December 4th, 2012.

Detailing the attack on Ms Timmermans, Det Gda Alan Roche told prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC that the victim was a friend of the defendant's former wife. On September 1st, 2024, he sent a text to Ms Timmermans saying: "I'm going to cut your throat, you're dead." On September 6th he threw a brick through the window of his ex-wife's home.

The following day he entered Ms Timmermans' home through an open back door, took a knife from her kitchen and went to her bedroom. Ms Timmermans described to gardai that she awoke to see Kelly standing over her before he started stabbing at her neck and head "like a madman", and shouting: "You're dead, you're dead."

She fought back and kicked him in the groin before he "jumped on her head five times", and left the house, the garda said. Ms Timmermans told gardai she knew she had a bad wound to her neck, saw blood everywhere and thought she was going to die.

She was treated at Beaumont Hospital for stab wounds to her forehead, face and neck but was discharged on the same day. A doctor's report stated that she would make a recovery from her physical injuries within weeks but may be left with permanent, visible scars.

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After the assault, Kelly sent a text to a friend, saying: "I'd say I will be lifted shortly - I'm after butchering that tramp, Fifi." When gardai arrested and questioned him, Kelly described his victim as a "knacker" and said she had "ruined my family's life".

He said he would still be with his wife if it weren't for Ms Timmermans but said he regretted attacking her, describing his actions as "bang out of order" and "disgusting". He accepted that he had previously threatened Ms Timmermans but added: "I never really planned on doing it. I never thought I would actually go through with it."

In a letter of apology read out by Mr Dwyer, Kelly told Ms Timmermans: "I am deeply sorry for what I have done to you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. It was a disgusting, evil act." He said he was not in his right frame of mind having suffered a brain injury in 2016 and having fallen down the stairs of his sister's home two days before the assault.

Mr Dwyer said the attack was "horrific and brutal" but asked the court to consider his client's guilty plea, absence of previous convictions for violent offences, his neurological difficulties, remorse, efforts at rehabilitation and personal circumstances. Besides the murder of his father, Kelly has also lost siblings and one son, Mr Dwyer said.

Mr Dwyer said Kelly is an enhanced prisoner in Cloverhill Prison where he has engaged with education and is described by the governor and his teachers as polite and mannerly.

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Ms Timmermans was not in court for today's hearing but wrote a statement in which she said the assault had changed her life in ways she couldn't have imagined. She said the scars on her face remind her of the trauma. She has trouble sleeping and fears being alone in her home.

Kelly, of no fixed abode in Coolock in Dublin, pleaded guilty last year to the attempted murder of Fiona Timmermans at Newbury Lawns, Clonshaugh in Dublin 17 on September 7th 2024.

He also pleaded guilty to entering her home as a trespasser intending to murder her and producing a kitchen knife with a serrated blade in the course of a dispute on the same occasion.

In addition, Kelly admitted making a threat to kill Ms Timmermans at an unknown location within the State on September 1st 2024, intending her to believe it would be carried out.

Kelly also pleaded guilty to damaging the sitting room window and front bedroom window of his ex-wife, intending such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged at Millbrook Avenue, Coolock in Dublin 13 on September 6th 2024.
US president Donald Trump has threatened tariffs with a very significant destabilising effect, the Tanaiste has said as he appealed for cool heads in negotiations between the EU and the US.

Mr Trump has said he would impose a 10 per cent tariff on any and all goods sent to the US from the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland  all of whom are members of Nato  starting from February and increasing to 25 per cent from June unless Washington is enabled to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

The US president has not ruled out military action to gain control of Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous part of the kingdom of Denmark.

US president Donald Trump is threatening new tariffs over his Greenland bid (Leon Neal/PA)

Speaking to reporters at a Eurogroup meeting in Brussels, Simon Harris said: The destabilising effects of the recent geopolitical developments could potentially be enormous.

Thats why its more important than ever now that we seek dialogue  this is a time for cool heads.

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He added: We worked very hard at an EU level to have a trade agreement in place with the United States of America, a trade agreement that will ensure economic activity can continue to flow across the Atlantic, a trade agreement that is good for the United States, good for Europe, good for Ireland.

Anything that now moves away from that or deviates from that could have potentially very, very significant consequences.

Mr Harris, who is also Finance Minister, said it was really important that Europe stands united.

Europe will always stand with Greenland, will always stand with the kingdom of Denmark, we will always stand together for our values  and we want to have dialogue in a cool and calm way and use the window that is available.

But we will, of course, prepare to respond accordingly should that be required.

Sir Keir Starmer called for calm (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Meanwhile, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has also appealed for calm and said the use of tariffs against allies was completely wrong.

However, he insisted Mr Trump was not genuinely serious about the prospect of using military force to annex the territory.

Asked if Europe can afford a confrontation with the US, Mr Harris said the bloc was not seeking confrontation with anybody and criticised Mr Trumps threatened tariffs.

We can achieve so much more when we co-operate, when we collaborate. When Europe and the United States work together, its good for the EU and its good for the US.

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Its President Trump who, in recent days, has decided to threaten Europe with additional tariffs, ones that have a very significant destabilising effect.

Explained What is the EU anti-coercion instrument that could be used against US? Read more

The destabilising effect could potentially be enormous. The cascading effect could be very, very significant.

Mr Harris said the EU did not wish to see any deviation from the agreement with the US, adding: Its very important now that we use the brief window available between now and the first of February to seek dialogue.

However, he said there was a need to prepare for all eventualities.
Police have launched an investigation after reports that explicit AI-generated images have been shared among pupils at a Co Armagh school.

The headmaster of the Royal School Armagh, Graham Montgomery, confirmed that a matter involving some of our pupils was brought to our attention and referred to the appropriate authorities.

We have robust policies and procedures in place and where concerns are raised, we seek and follow advice from educational and other statutory authorities and take all appropriate action as advised, he said.

We will continue to do that and the safety and well-being of all our pupils remains our highest priority.

A PSNI spokesperson said: Police have received a report that AI-generated explicit images had been shared amongst pupils at a County Armagh school.

An investigation is under way and local officers are also engaging with the appropriate school authorities and the parents/guardians of the pupils affected.

The social media website X has been criticised by politicians in Dublin, Northern Ireland and London after reports its AI chatbot, Grok, was facilitating the creation of sexualised images of women and children.

Last week, UK Justice Secretary David Lammy brought forward legislation to make it illegal to generate sexual deepfake images without consent.
The States refusal to provide a man who lived with his late partner for 25 years with a spouses pension is unconstitutional, the High Court has ruled.

Freddie Jones brought a High Court action against the Minister for Public Expenditure, arguing that he was discriminated against by the States refusal to allow him benefit from his late partners contributions to a civil service pension scheme.

The Minister had denied Mr Jones a spouses pension under the Civil Service Spouses and Childrens Contributory Pension Scheme, on the basis that the scheme does not provide an entitlement for a person to benefit from the scheme if they are not married or in a civil partnership with their partner, the contributor to the scheme.

Mr Jones had lived for almost 25 years with his partner, James Kingston, a lawyer and senior civil servant, in an intimate, committed relationship prior to the latters death in 2022.

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Mr Jones argued that the pensions scheme, in denying him the benefits of Mr Kingstons contributions to the scheme, was inconsistent with Article 40.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann, which provides that all citizens are held as equal before the law.

He submitted that the pension scheme treated him less fairly than another individual in a comparable situation who was married to or in a civil partnership with their late partner.

In a judgment published on Monday, Mr Justice Cian Ferriter said a key question in the case related to the relevance and legitimacy of the alleged discrimination in reference to the objective of the pension scheme.

The judge said that the objective of the scheme is to provide a benefit to the surviving life partner of the scheme contributor, to allow them to meet the financial support which would otherwise have been provided by the contributor to their partner when alive.

The judge said that for this purpose, there is no difference in the social function between a surviving spouse or civil partner, and a surviving cohabitant.

The judge said it was not rational to differentiate or discriminate between a surviving spouse or civil partner, and a surviving cohabitant when viewed against the objective of the pension scheme.

Ireland Former CEO used company money to buy mobile home and install Geodomes for wife's yoga, firm alleges Read more

The judge concluded that it seemed to him Mr Jones is entitled to a court declaration that the States refusal to provide him with a spouses pension is incompatible with the Constitution.

In a press statement, Liam Herrick, the chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), welcomed Mr Justice Ferriters findings. IHREC was a notice party to the action.

This judgment is an important affirmation of the constitutional principle of equality before the law.

The Court found here that there is no difference in social function between a surviving spouse/civil partner and a surviving qualified cohabitant for the purposes of accessing the Civil Service Spouses and Childrens Contributory Pension Scheme, Mr Herrick said.
EU preparations to hit back against US President Donald Trump's announcement of fresh tariffs on several European countries as part of the Greenland row feature heavily on Irish front pages on Monday.

The Irish Times, Irish Daily Mail, Irish Independent, and Irish Daily Mirror all lead with Trump's ambitions to take over Greenland and hit allies with fresh tariffs.

The Irish Examiner lead with an expert saying Grok is "mild" compared to other AI sites, breast cancer survival rates being a "postcode lottery," and the Taoiseach saying Europe will retaliate if Trump applies new tariffs.

The Echo lead with 17,000 vehicles that underwent an NCT inspections in Cork last year being deemed dangerously defective, and prison safety fears.

The Herald lead with over 600 gardai being injured in the line of duty last year.

The Irish Daily Star lead with the family of a man who died in a one-punch attack launching a petition to demand the killer's sentence be increased.

The Belfast Telegraph lead with Ulster University defending gifts senior staff members received from China-backed groups.
Between December 2024 and March 2025, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Truman/CVN-75 lost three F-18 aircraft and collided with a cargo ship near the Suez Canal. During this period, one of its escorts, the cruiser Gettysburg accidentally fired SM-2 antiaircraft missiles at two F-18s. One aircraft was lost, although the pilot ejected. The other F-18 managed to avoid the missile with some expert maneuvering and the last minute deactivation of the missile by the Gettysburg. The cause of this disaster was a malfunctioning IFF/Identify Friend or Foe system on the Gettysburg. The commander of the Truman was relieved; the captain of the Gettysburg was not.

During this period the Truman had far more problems than the Gettysburg. The captain of the Truman lost his job not just because he lost three aircraft and had a collision, but because it was found that key crew members were not adequately trained. This was also a problem with officers and sailors on duty often not being able to sleep much because of the tempo of operations. Lack of sleep has been the cause of many naval mishaps since World War II ended in 1945.

Another issue is the relatively high number of American warship commanders being relieved each year. Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the U.S. Navy has been experiencing a larger number of warship captains getting relieved from command. It's currently over five percent of ship captains a year. At the end of the Cold War, in the late 1980s, the rate was about 3-4 percent a year. So why has the relief rate gone up? The navy thinks it knows why, but there appears to be a number of reasons, many of them having to do with changes in the rating system, where commanders evaluate their subordinates each year.

The navy has queried commanders for new ideas for the evaluation system. One of the more interesting ones is to hold commanders responsible for their evaluations. Thus, when a commander was up for promotion, one of the items considered would be the accuracy of their evaluations. After all, the higher your rank, the more important it is for you to pick the right people for promotion. The navy has also looked at how corporations handle this evaluation process and discovered that it was common to poll subordinates for evaluations as well. The navy was aware that some commanders consult senior NCOs/Chief Petty Officers on evaluations. Chiefs have a lot of experience and see officers a bit differently than more senior officers. Another problem was a major modification in these fitness reports, in which written comments on many aspects of an officer evaluation were changed to a 1-5 ranking system. The new method also forced raters to rank all their subordinates against each other. This was unfair to a bunch of high performing officers who happened to be serving together and being rated by the same commander.

But there are other problems as well. Only a small percentage of reliefs have to do with professional failings, like a collision or serious accident, failing a major inspection or just continued poor performance. Most reliefs were, and still are, for adultery, drunkenness or theft. With more women aboard warships, there have been more reliefs for, as sailors like to put it, zipper failure. There may have been more than are indicated, as sexual misconduct is often difficult to prove, and a captain who is having zipper control problems often has other shortcomings as well. Senior commanders traditionally act prudently and relieve a ship commander who demonstrates a pattern of minor problems and who they lack confidence in.

Most naval officers see the problem not of too many captains being relieved, but too many unqualified officers getting command of ships in the first place. Not every naval officer qualified for ship command, only a small percentage of commissioned officers, gets one. The competition for ship commands is pretty intense. This, despite the fact that officers know that whatever goes wrong on the ship, the captain is responsible.

It's a hard slog for a new ensign/officer rank O-1 to make it to a ship command. For every hundred ensigns entering service, about 90 will stay and make it to O-4/Lieutenant Commander, usually after about nine years of service. About 67 of those ensigns will eventually get to serve as XO/executive officer, the number two officer on a ship, after 10-12 years of service. Some 69 of those ensigns will make it to O-5/ Commander, where it first becomes possible to command a frigate or destroyer. About 38 of those hundred ensigns will get such a command, usually after 18-20 years of service, and for about 18 months. About 22 of those ensigns will make it to O-6/Captain after 20-21 years of service. But only 11 of those ensigns, now captains, will get a major seagoing command of a cruiser or destroyer squadron. Officers who do well commanding a ship will often get to do it two or three times before they retire after about 30 years of service.

But with all this screening and winnowing, why are more unqualified officers getting to command ships, and then getting relieved because they can't hack it? Some point to the growing popularity of mentoring by senior officers, that smaller percentage that makes it to admiral. While the navy uses a board of officers to decide which officers get ship commands, the enthusiastic recommendation of one or more admirals does count. Perhaps it counts too much. The navy is still quick to relieve any ship commander that screws up, one naval tradition that should never be tampered with. Up until that point, it is prudent not to offend any admirals by implying that their judgment of up and coming talent is faulty. In the aftermath of these reliefs, it often becomes known that the relieved captain had a long record of problems. But because he was blessed by one or more admirals, these infractions were overlooked. The golden boys tend to be very personable and, well, look good. The navy promotion system is organized to rise above such superficial characteristics, but apparently the power, and misuse, of mentoring, has increasingly corrupted the process.

In some respects, there have been fewer reliefs. It's now common to leave a captain in charge after a major incident. When the destroyer Cole was hit by a terrorist bomb in a Yemen harbor in 2000, the captain was not immediately relieved. This is part of a new pattern which makes many naval officers uneasy. Officers, and sailors, would be more disturbed if the rate of captains being relieved went down. No captain is perfect, and crew members feel more comfortable if they know that their boss will quickly get the axe if there is a major problem.
Britain's Prince Harry has arrived at a central London court ahead of the start of the trial of his claim against the Daily Mails publisher over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

Harry, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

Harry, who is expected to give evidence on Thursday, arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London at around 10.05am on Monday.

John and Mr Furnish are expected to follow Mondays proceedings on a live video-link.

The nine-week trial before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to begin at 10.30am.

The group claims that the publisher carried out or commissioned unlawful activities such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, blagging private records and accessing private phone conversations.

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ANL, which also publishes the Mail on Sunday, has strongly denied wrongdoing.

The group of household names started their legal cases against ANL in 2022, with documents setting out the claims naming dozens of journalists, including some national newspaper editors.

In 2023, ANL failed to have the cases thrown out before a trial on the basis that they were time-barred, or brought too late.

In written submissions for the hearing in May that year, Adrian Beltrami KC, for ANL, said that the legal actions were stale.

Harry arrived at court on Monday morning (Jonathan Brady/PA)

He also said the individuals had to prove they did not know earlier, or could not have discovered earlier, that they might have had a claim against it for alleged misuse of their private information.

Barrister David Sherborne, for the group, told the hearing that the unlawful acts in the claim include illegally intercepting voicemail messages, listening to live landline calls and obtaining medical records.

In written submissions, he said: They range through a period from 1993 to 2011, even continuing beyond until 2018.

Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed ANLs bid to have the claims dismissed in November 2023, ruling that the publisher had not delivered a knockout blow to the claims.

He concluded that each of the group had a real prospect of demonstrating that ANL concealed relevant facts that would have allowed them to bring a claim against the publisher earlier.

There have been several preliminary hearings in the claim, including one in November 2024 that heard that Lady Lawrence was alerted to a potential legal claim by a text from Harry.

Harry has previously brought legal action against other newspaper publishers over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

He was previously awarded 140,600 in damages by a judge from Mirror Group Newspapers in 2023, and settled a claim against News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, last January.
At least 40 people have died in a high-speed train collision in southern Spain on Sunday, Spanish police said.

Video and photos showed twisted train carriages lying on their sides under floodlights.

Passengers reported climbing out of smashed windows, with some using emergency hammers to break the windows, according to Salvador Jimenez, a journalist for Spanish broadcaster RTVE, who was on board one of the derailed trains.





He told the network that there was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed.

The crash occurred when the tail end of a train carrying 300 passengers on the route from Malaga to the capital, Madrid, went off the rails at 7.45pm local time (6.45pm GMT).

It slammed into an incoming train travelling from Madrid to Huelva, another southern Spanish city, according to rail operator Adif.

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The collision took place near Adamuz, a town in the province of Cordoba, about 230 miles south of Madrid.



(PA Graphics)

Spanish police said 159 people were injured, of whom five were in critical condition. A further 24 were in serious condition, authorities said.

Transport minister Oscar Puente said the death toll was not final.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared three days of national mourning for the victims.

Today is a day of pain for all of Spain, Mr Sanchez said on a visit to Adamuz, where many locals helped emergency services handle the influx of passengers overnight.

A sports centre was turned into a makeshift hospital and the Spanish Red Cross set up a help centre offering assistance to emergency services and people seeking information. Members of Spains civil guard and civil defence worked on-site throughout the night.



A high-speed train derailed and collided with another train near Cordoba (Francisco J Olmo/Europa Press via AP)

Spains transport minister Oscar Puente early on Monday said the cause of the crash was unknown.

He called it a truly strange incident because it happened on a flat stretch of track that had been renovated in May.

Alvaro Fernandez, the president of Renfe, told Spanish public radio RNE that both trains were well under the speed limit of 250kph (155mph). He said one was going at 205kph (127mph) and the other at 210kph (130mph). He also said that human error could be ruled out.

The minister also said the train that left the track was less than four years old. That train belonged to the private company Iryo, while the second train, which took the brunt of the impact, was part of Spains public train company, Renfe.



Almost 40 people have been killed in the crash (Guardia Civil via AP)

According to Mr Puente, the back part of the first train derailed and crashed into the head of the other train, knocking its first two carriages off the track and down a 13ft slope. He said the worst damage was to the front section of the Renfe train.

When asked by reporters how long an inquiry into the crashs cause could take, he said it could be a month.

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Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his condolences to the victims families.

Tonight is a night of deep pain for our country, he wrote on X.



Services were suspended after two trains derailed in Cordoba (Europa Press via AP)

Spain has the largest rail network in Europe for trains moving over 155mph, with more than 2,400 miles of track, according to the International Union of Railways.

The network is a popular, competitively priced and safe mode of transport. Renfe said more than 25 million passengers took one of its high-speed trains in 2024.

Train services on Monday between Madrid and cities in Andalusia were cancelled.

Spains worst train accident this century occurred in 2013, when 80 people died after a train derailed in the countrys north-west.

An investigation concluded the train was traveling at 111mph on a stretch with a 50mph speed limit when it left the tracks.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Denmark has not been able to do anything to get the "Russian threat" away from Greenland, and said, "Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

"NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that "you have to get Russian threat away from Greenland." Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it," Trump wrote in a post on the social media website he owns called Truth Social.

The White House and Denmark's foreign affairs ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he will settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to be part of the United States.

Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland.

The encroaching presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to US security interests, Trump has said. Danish and other European officials have pointed out that Greenland is already covered by NATO's collective security pact.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Larvotto NSW antimony production gathers pace as growth options build Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Rowena Duckworth January 19, 2026  11:45am 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

Larvotto Resources is fast emerging as a near-term critical minerals producer, with refurbishment works and underground mining activities at its Hillgrove antimonygold project in NSW on track and, importantly, on budget, ahead of a return to production by mid-year. Alongside Hillgrove, the company is lining up its next growth moves, eyeing a rare earths opportunity in Western Australia and a promising copper play near Mt Isa in Queensland as potential next chapters in the companys expansion story. Anaiwan cultural mural at Larvotto Resources Hillgrove Hub. The artwork will feature on the Hillgrove high-vis work shirts. In NSW, meanwhile, Larvotto has wasted no time shifting its high-grade gold and antimony mine into execution mode, ripping out and dispatching processing plant equipment for refurbishment, while upgrading site services. Underground mining has also restarted, with contractor PYBAR now fully mobilised. Rehabilitation of more than 2,500 square metres of underground drives is now complete and waste haulage is underway ahead of ore development blasting expected in early February.

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Hillgrove is on the verge of production at a time of unprecedented global demand for criticalminerals. Hillgrove Resources managing director Ron Heeks Workforce numbers are ramping up in parallel, with Larvotto forecasting an increase in full-time staff from 53 to 162 by the end of June, positioning the operation for commissioning and first production. Regulatory momentum is also building, with the public exhibition period for a key mine life extension now underway. Hillgrove places Larvotto in the box seat to become Australias next antimony producer at a time when the metal has been prioritised under the Federal Governments $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategy. Strong gold and tungsten prices add further leverage as the project edges closer to cash flow. Managing director Ron Heeks said: With Hillgrove on the verge of production at a time of unprecedented global demand for critical minerals, we are working on being the next Australian producer of antimony. The recent prioritisation of antimony under the Australian Governments $1.2 billion Critical Mineral Strategy highlights the importance of antimony and supports Larvottos emergence as a leading new critical minerals producer. Larvotto says community engagement remains a top priority, with regular drop-in sessions at its Hillgrove Hub and strong partnerships forged with local schools and Traditional Owners. The approach has paid off, earning the company finalist honours in the 2025 AMEC Community Contribution Award.

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From hands-on agricultural education and controlled grazing to manage fire risk, through to celebrating culture with a striking Anaiwan mural, management says it is keen to embed long-term social, environmental and cultural value alongside mine development. In a big tick for farmers and bushfire management, Larvotto has kicked off a grazing and community farm initiative at Echidna Gully Village, introducing cattle onto pastoral land to support agricultural education partnerships with local schools. The program aims to promote the practical benefits of controlled grazing by helping manage vegetation, thereby reducing fire risk around the site. Beyond Hillgrove, Larvotto says its steadily building the companys next growth engines. At its Eyre project in Western Australia, aircore drilling has wrapped up to feed rare earths metallurgical test work. Laboratory studies are now underway to probe mineralogy, recoveries and processing pathways across a suite of promising targets. In Queensland, meanwhile, the company has continued to make progress on its due diligence at the historic Blockade copper mine near Mt Isa, where more than 4,100 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling has been completed across five nearby prospects. Visual results so far from Blockade have hinted at multiple copper-mineralised zones, with assays pending and results set to guide potential resource modelling and a decision on acquisition. The Mt Isa assets could underpin a potential hub-and-spoke copper development strategy close to existing processing infrastructure.

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With refurbishment works accelerating, underground mining back in motion and multiple exploration and acquisition catalysts on the horizon, Larvotto is shaping up as a tightly focused near-term antimony and gold producer with meaningful upside across copper and rare earths. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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BusinessCompaniesMedia & marketing Licensed lefty Phillip Adams ousted by The Australian Calum Jaspan January 19, 2026  4:57pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share A A A

Phillip Adams claims he was sacked by The Australian after his long-running column in the News Corp papers weekend magazine came to an end, leaving the paper without what he described as its licensed lefty. The 86-year-old broadcaster, author and former advertising executive said he was not given a reason for his departure from the Weekend Australian Magazine when his editor called to inform him, other than that the paper was changing direction. Phillip Adams suggested his sacking may have been triggered by budgetary constraints. ABC Here I am. Im deceased, defenestrated, rejected, ejected. First the Chairmans Lounge, then the ABC, now the f---ing Australian, Adams said on Monday afternoon, days after the first column from veteran journalist Steve Waterson appeared in his old slot. Adams praised the broadsheet for giving him broad freedom of speech during his long years writing for the paper.

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It cant be politics because, I must say to its credit, The Australian has never censored me. Ive been the licensed lefty allowed to give the illusion of pluralism. Related Article Radio Its going to be different: David Marr set to replace ABC doyen Phillip Adams Ive fought them on every editorial policy, from climate change to Palestine  never been touched. Adams suggested the decision might have been triggered by budgetary constraints. I wasnt cheap, and I am sure The Australian, like every other masthead, has revenue problems. After a flirtation with the Communist Party as a teenager, Adams became a prominent ad man credited with enduring campaigns such as slip, slop, slap to encourage sunscreen use and Qantas spirit of Australia tagline.

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In the 1970s, Adams became crucial to the development of Australias film industry. He was involved in the creation of the Australia Council, now part of Creative Australia, and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. A long-time broadcaster on the ABCs Radio National, Adams departed Late Night Live in 2024 but continued his weekly column in the national broadsheet. His work has appeared in The Australian on and off over six decades  almost the entirety of the papers history  firstly as a TV critic. He was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2025, for eminent service to broadcast media, to journalism, to the arts, to cultural leadership, and to the community. On Monday, Adams said:The paper is not exactly overwhelmed with left wing opinion. I always thought theyd leave me alone because I know I seem to be some sort of useful idiot that represented the left. In his first piece filling Adams slot, Waterson wrote a tribute to his predecessor.

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Finally, let me return to Phillip Adams, Waterson wrote. Theres no chance I will collect even one of the many doctorates he has accumulated, nor the series of civil honours bestowed upon him. But if I can entertain people half as well as he has, and last a quarter as long, I will consider myself amply rewarded. The Australians editor-in-chief Michelle Gunn, its weekend magazine editor Elizabeth Colman and a spokesperson for the newspaper were approached for comment. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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Updated BusinessThe economyEnergy Nations largest coal-fired power plant closure delayed by two more years Nick Toscano Updated January 20, 2026  8:56am ,first published 7:48am 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

Australias biggest coal-fired power station, Eraring, will delay its closure by another two years following fresh warnings that the electricity grid is under-prepared to manage its imminent retirement without worsening the threat of blackouts. Origin Energy, which owns the 2880-megawatt Eraring generator on the shores of Lake Macquarie, about 130 kilometres north of Sydney, had intended to close the plant in August next year, but said it would now keep all four of its units running until 2029. The Eraring power station in NSW will stay open to buy more time for the clean energy shift. Dean Sewell News of the extension on Tuesday angered environmental advocates who fear that prolonging the use of climate-polluting coal will make it harder to arrest global warming. It also underscored a political vulnerability for the Albanese government, which is facing criticism over rising energy prices and is racing to add more renewables to cut emissions and replace retiring coal plants while keeping the lights on and bills stable. Origin last year agreed to a deal with NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe to delay Erarings closure from 2025 to 2027 amid concerns the grid was not ready to handle its exit, but expectations have been building in the industry that the company may have to push back its closure plan. The deal, which included an option to extend Eraring until 2029 if it is still needed, entitles Origin to call on NSW taxpayer funding, capped at $225 million a year, to subsidise the plants losses. Origin has not yet had to call on any funds under the deal.

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Keeping Eraring in the grid until 2029 would provide more time for the rollout of renewable energy, storage assets such as batteries and hydroelectric dams, and new power lines to compensate for its closure, Origin chief executive Frank Calabria said. Related Article Energy Why is Australia still burning so much coal? Inside the power plant that just cant close Good progress is being made on the delivery of new energy infrastructure, including major transmission works and projects like our large-scale battery at Eraring, but it has become clear Eraring power station will need to run for longer to support secure and stable power supply, he said. Across Australia, billions of dollars have been gushing into new wind and solar farms, rooftop solar panels and energy-storage projects every year, boosting renewables to a 40 per cent share of the grid. At the same time, most of the giant coal-fired power stations that still supply the bulk of the nations electricity are nearing the end of their usable lives, facing spiralling maintenance costs and frequent breakdowns, prompting their operators to bring forward their closure dates. More than half of Australias remaining coal-fired generators are now scheduled to be retired by 2035. However, the clean energy transition is lagging the speed that authorities and experts say is necessary to ready the grid for a future with less coal without increasing the risk of energy price spikes or blackouts. Key projects, including the hundreds of kilometres of new power lines needed to link far-flung renewable energy zones to major cities, are facing permitting delays, rising costs and opposition from rural and regional communities worried about impacts on farming practices, property values and the environment.

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Officials from the Australian Energy Market Operator sounded warnings last year about a shortage of the infrastructure required to maintain the safe and stable flow of electricity to protect the grid from sudden blackouts following Erarings scheduled closure, even though enough new generation projects and power lines were on track to be built by 2027. Related Article Energy Three hours of free power scheme could favour well-off: energy giants To run smoothly, power grids must not only match supply and demand, but also maintain system security, including inertia, which comes from the steady frequency that has traditionally been provided by the spinning turbines of gas, coal and pumped hydro plants. The NSW government said it was aiming to speed up the installation of synchronous condensers  grid-connected machines that dont burn fuel but deliver the same stabilising effects to the system as the spinning turbines of coal and gas plants. Climate campaigners worried about Australias continued use of coal expressed disappointment at the announcement on Tuesday.

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The decision puts a safe climate further out of reach just as communities were recovering from bushfires and flash-floods fuelled by the climate crisis, said Jacqui Mumford, chief executive of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. Related Article Opinion

Renewables Why we cant keep delaying the closure of old jalopy power stations Elizabeth Knight Business columnist Far from supporting the transition, Origins decision will crowd out investment in the clean, modern sources of generation we need to be switching to, she said. Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said it was important to ensure the reliability of the grid during its transition to lower-cost renewable energy, but flagged that continued reliance on coal could heighten the risk of power bills shocks due to ageing equipment breaking down with no notice and causing huge supply gaps and price swings. Coal remains an unreliable source of energy  when coal breaks down, bills go up, Bowen said.

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No one wants to see these coal-fired power stations open longer than they need to, or close earlier than expected. The Albanese government has set a target to double the share of renewable energy to 82 per cent of the grid by 2030 to underpin its legislated commitment to a 43 per cent emissions reduction by then. However, the lagging pace of the renewable rollout and further coal-fired power generator extensions raise the risk that its targets may be missed. The Clean Energy Council, representing renewables developers, said extending the lives of decades-old coal-fired plants was far from ideal. An orderly transition matters, but the reality is that old coal power stations are increasingly unreliable and expensive, and that volatility flows straight through to consumers, the groups chief executive, Jackie Trad, said. Every renewable energy, storage and transmission project that reaches delivery reduces our reliance on ageing coal and moves the system closer to being cleaner, more affordable and more reliable, she said. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessThe economyBillionaires Opinion Why Australian billionaires are falling behind their uber rich peers Elizabeth Knight Business columnist January 19, 2026  2:56pm

January 19, 2026  2:56pm 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

By one measure at least, Australia is falling behind the world: the growth in the wealth of our billionaires. But how can our obscenely rich citizens, who are on average each adding $600,000 per day to their coffers or 3 per cent a year, be trailing their international peers? Globally the 48 Australians that are members of the rarefied billionaires club  which minted eight new local members last year  grew their wealth by around $10.5 billion in 2025. While thats an enormous amount, its less than the yearly gains that some, such as Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, enjoyed on their own. Elson Musk, the worlds richest person, has flirted with a net worth of a trillion dollars. AP The increase in wealth concentration associated with the rise in the mega-rich is most often a proxy for inequality. So falling a few notches on the billionaires index isnt something Australians should see as a poor grade mark. No Australian government that wants to boost its bona fides for dealing with a cost of living crisis, crippling rents or mortgage stress would be advertising the financial gains made by the mega wealthy.

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Indeed, although the wealth of billionaires surged by 16 per cent globally in 2025, the reduction in poverty is now stalling. Related Article Opinion

Rich Listers Read it and weep: Elon Musks obscene wealth breaks new ground Elizabeth Knight Business columnist World wealth accumulation by billionaires was turbocharged last year, growing three times faster than the average of the past five years. Together, these 3000 individuals account for an unthinkable $US18.3 trillion according to an Oxfam report to be delivered at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Davos. The sharpest growth in fortunes has been experienced among the US billionaires. These billionaires earn $3.2 million per day on average and for the 10 richest, the amount swells to $150 million each day. But Australia is missing the two vital ingredients on the menu that promote the disproportionate bolstering of its super rich getting super richer. The first is a strong technology industry, particularly one focused on artificial intelligence, and the second is President Donald Trump.

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The past year or two in particular has given rise to a breed of technology billionaires that have dominated the corporate world with stakes in companies with multi-trillion dollar plus valuations. At the same time we have seen ample evidence of these people courting Trump. Musk has flirted with a net worth of a trillion dollars but that could be just the start. Oxfam predicted that five or more trillionaires are currently gestating and will reach that mark within a decade. But a heads up: they wont be in Australia, where the majority of billion dollar fortunes have been off the back of property and mining with a smattering of retail. Oxfam argues that actions of the Trump administration, including the championing of deregulation and undermining of global agreements to increase corporate taxation, have benefited the richest around the world. For example, the demise of a minimum tax rate for global corporates has benefited all rich shareholders, not just those in the US or those invested in US corporations.

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Related Article Billionaires Billionaires boom: Worlds richest got $3.3 trillion richer in 2025 But Trumps pro-billionaire agenda is just one piece of the puzzle, says Oxfam, which believes that this trend is emblematic of rising global inequality and the growing influence of oligarchs over our economic and political systems. Instead of pulling the levers of power behind the scenes, the richest are becoming more brazen, stepping forward into the centre stage. The outsized influence that the super-rich have over our politicians, economies and media has deepened inequality and led us far off track on tackling poverty, said Oxfams executive director Amitabh Behar in the charitys report, titled Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power. And it is the mega rich and politically powerful that will populate the town of Davos this week to tackle the worlds social and economic issues. Sadly, the rise of the super wealthy may not take centre stage ahead of the geo-political ructions unleashed by Trump. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
New Jersey: Bruce Springsteen denounced the Trump administrations deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in cities across the United States and dedicated a song to Renee Good, the woman recently killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, at a surprise performance in New Jersey on Saturday (US time).

Appearing at the Light of Day Winterfest in Red Bank, New Jersey, Springsteen told the crowd: We are living through incredibly critical times. The United States, the ideals and the values for which it stood for the past 250 years is being tested as it has never been in modern times, according to videos that circulated online.

Bruce Springsteen performs in the UK in May last year. Getty

He added: If you believe in the power of the law and that no one stands above it, if you stand against heavily armed mass federal troops invading an American city using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you dont deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president.

Springsteen went on to quote Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis, who had used an expletive to tell ICE to leave the city. He then dedicated his song The Promised Land, which tells of a young working-class man striving for a brighter future, to Good.
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Updated NationalNSWSharks Boy describes terrifying moment shark attacked him on Sydneys northern beaches Daniel Lo Surdo and Kayla Olaya Updated January 19, 2026  4:25pm ,first published 1:24pm 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 11-year-old boy has described the terrifying moment a shark knocked him into the water and bit into his surfboard, with older surfers rushing to his aid as he screamed for help. The boy was surfing near the southern end of Dee Why Beach just before midday on Monday when he was attacked by what is believed to be a bull shark. The young surfer escaped injury and fled to shore with his father after the shark tore off part of his board. Surfers inspect the boys board after it was bitten by what is believed to have been a bull shark. Nine News It marked Sydneys second shark attack in as many days after a 12-year-old boy was bitten by a large bull shark near a Sydney Harbour beach on Sunday afternoon. He remains in a critical condition in hospital. In comments to the Manly Observer, the boy who was attacked at Dee Why whose identity has remained private said an older surfer helped him return to shore, adding he felt very lucky to escape injury.

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I was on the board when the shark came up and bit it. I got knocked off the board. One of the guys out there went over to me and helped me get back in to shore quickly, he said. Im physically fine but Im obviously rattled and the board has a chunk taken out of and a couple of bite marks in it. Part of the boys surfboard has been sent to NSW Fisheries to assist with identification of the shark. Manly Observer The boy and his father often surf at the break, close to the peninsula that separates Dee Why from Curl Curl. The beach was closed at the time of the attack due to dangerous water conditions, and is expected to remain closed for up to 48 hours following the attack. Pictures posted by the Observer shows a bite mark on the boys board after the incident.

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A piece of the boys surfboard has been sent to NSW Fisheries to assist with identification of the shark, which witnesses suggested was up to 150 centimetres long. Steven Pearce, the chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW, said the attack occurred about midday, when lifeguards took to the water on jet skis to rescue the boy and surrounding swimmers after sounding the shark alarm.



It certainly is concerning that weve had two shark incidents within 24 hours, one being extremely serious with the young boy who was attacked yesterday, Pearce said. A lifesaver on a jet ski searches for the shark at Dee Why Beach on Monday. Nine News I have to say that the young boy [today] is extremely lucky to get away with just a chunk out of the board  certainly a terrifying situation and its just very fortuitous that he had his father there with him at the same time. Two baristas working at a cafe opposite Dee Why Beach said a lifeguard had described the attack to them.

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A lifeguard came into the shop and said an 11-year-old boys board was bitten, said Luca Cavalieri, a worker at the cafe.



He said it was a 4-5 foot bull shark. The boy was fine, it was just the board.



Cavalieri said the attack occurred near the rock pool at Dee Why Point.



There are surfers there. Its Dee Whys main surf break  he was with his dad surfing when about four or five people spotted when it happened, he said. Dylan Caccamo (left) and Luca Cavalieri (right) were working when a lifeguard told them about the attack. Kayla Olaya Surf lifesavers were deployed on jet skis to inspect the scene, and a drone was spotted surveilling the waters above Dee Why. Pearce expected a second drone to be deployed on Tuesday. First responders congregated on a grassy reserve near the Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club on Monday afternoon, with one surf lifesaver operating the drone while others monitored the ocean. A small number of beachgoers swam in the Dee Why rock pool while the foreshore area was empty.

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Others followed the search operation from the nearby rocks and headland. A surf lifesaver on a jet ski inspects the water at Dee Why on Monday afternoon. Kayla Olaya All the northern beaches are closed on Monday amid dangerous conditions. The 12-year-old attacked by a shark on Sunday was swimming with friends at a popular jump rock west of Shark Beach at Nielsen Park in Vaucluse about 4.20pm when he was bitten. His legs were mauled, and he was rescued by his friends and a quick-thinking police officer.

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Related Article Updated

Sharks Why this is the most dangerous time to swim in Sydney The attack on Monday morning occurred four months after Mercury Psillakis was killed by a shark at nearby Long Reef Beach. Before the fatal attack, the 57-year-old spotted an adolescent white shark while in the water with a group of other surfers, and instructed them to form a huddle to protect themselves as they moved toward shore. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
January 19, 2026: In 2025 Russia and China conspired to block Ukrainian access to Chinese drones and drone components. It didnt work. The Chinese firms that produced drones and drone components were not willing to lose one of their largest customers. While the media reported that Ukrainian troops were short of drones, the shortage was never real, and Ukraine had already made plans to deal with the possibility of China helping Russia by cutting off Ukrainian supplies of drones and components.

The reality was that dozens of Ukrainian drone manufacturers and thousands of individual Ukrainians continued to make drones by obtaining the needed components from other suppliers. The Chinese suppliers were also not willing to give up selling components, or even drones, to Ukraine. There were trading companies that, for a small fee, would buy goods from Chinese manufacturers and then quietly sell them to a sanctioned customer. The markup was small because there were many of these trading companies and they competed on price as well as service.

And then there was the network of drone components suppliers Ukraine organized in European, American and Asian suppliers. The components needed for drones are used in many other commercial products. In short, the Russian sponsored Chinese drone blockade failed and cost Chinese drone and component manufacturers a lot of business.

The Chinese drone industry, long the largest in the world, tried to cope. Chinese drone manufacturers quietly and carefully defied their own government and continued to supply Ukraine with drone components, as well as some drones. China lost market share to the new Ukrainian and other drone components manufacturers worldwide but did all they could legally or illegally to maintain their status as the largest supplier in the world.
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NationalNSWPrivate schools Ex-Kings headmaster makes secret out-of-court settlement with school Christopher Harris January 19, 2026  5:04pm 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 outgoing head of The Kings School, who was terminated from his job last year after allegedly clipping the back of a students head, has reached a secret out-of-court settlement with the institution. It closes a tumultuous saga for the high-fee school over the alleged incident, which occurred during a faith lecture for about 100 pupils in the schools Futter Hall last June. Tony George was placed on leave while an investigation into the incident took place. He has previously described media reporting on the allegation as inaccurate or misleading. Former Kings School headmaster Tony George. He took legal action last month against the school in the Fair Work division of the Federal Court of Australia.

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On Monday, court documents revealed he had reached a deal with the school. The parties have agreed to resolve the proceeding on confidential terms, the documents said. Ken Chapman, chairman of The Council of The Kings School, wrote to parents to notify them of the development. The School Council and Mr George advise that they have resolved matters, and that Mr Georges term as Headmaster of The Kings School has concluded by agreement on 19 January 2026, he said. This has been a challenging period for everyone. Both the Council and Mr George regret any disruption or difficulty this has caused students, staff, and families.

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He also said the public commentary surrounding these matters did not reflect the correct or complete facts. Both the Council and Mr George recognise that this has contributed to uncertainty within the community. Both the Council and Mr George acknowledge that it has been a difficult period that has been approached with grace. The Kings School will be led by Reverend Stephen Edwards. Wolter Peeters The note also included a statement from George himself. I am grateful to the members of the School community who have expressed support for [wife] Jen and me in recent months, he said.

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I appreciate the goodwill with which that support has been offered. I also appreciate the careful and diligent work that the Chairman and the Council have done for the School, demonstrating a commitment to the strong child-centric culture and workplace conduct frameworks that I have promoted throughout my tenure and that we all strive to maintain. Related Article Education Kings School ordered to immediately cease plans for headmasters plunge pool I remain deeply thankful for the privilege of serving this School for the past eight years, and I hold it in my prayers as it continues its important work to educate young men bravely and faithfully. The council noted in the eight years George had been headmaster academic results were now at an all-time high, with sporting and co-curricular success, and enrolments had reached record levels with strong waiting lists, while the expression of Christian community has been strengthened. The Council extends its good wishes to Mr George and his family for the future.

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But his tenure has not been without controversy. In 2022, the school defended a controversial trip by the headmaster and his wife to the Royal Henley Regatta, saying it was standard practice among independent schools to fly principals overseas with their spouse, and traditional for the Kings principal to travel business class. A subsequent investigation found it was an improper use of its funds and a breach of the Education Act, and the flights for his wife would need to be repaid. In 2023, the school was ordered to stop the planned construction of a plunge pool at its headmasters residence after a government investigation found it would be an improper use of the schools money. Reverend Stephen Edwards has been appointed as interim headmaster. Further announcements about the operation of the school would be made in coming days. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalNSWCourts Prominent Sydney lawyer charged with domestic violence offences Clare Sibthorpe January 19, 2026  2:40pm 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 Sydney law firm principal and convicted drink-driver has been charged with domestic violence offences and has vowed to fight them in court. Ugur Nedim is the founder and principal of Sydney Criminal Lawyers, which claims on its website to be Australias most awarded criminal defence lawyers. Ugur Nedim Facebook Court records confirm the 51-year-old faced Byron Bay Local Court on Monday over two counts of stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm. It was his first appearance over the charges, to which he pleaded not guilty. The court also heard an application by police for an apprehended domestic violence order to protect his alleged victim.

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According to the Sydney Criminal Lawyers website, Nedim completed a masters in law at Sydney University, began his career as a law clerk in 1992, and started practising in criminal defence six years later. In 2001, he founded law firm Nedim Lawyers  Criminal Defence Specialists, which is now named Sydney Criminal Lawyers. The website claims he has acted for Olympians, CEOs and politicians, and that he is recognised by the NSW Law Society as an accredited criminal law specialist. The domestic violence case is not the first time Nedim has been through the courts for a personal matter. In 2022, he was sentenced to a community corrections order after his Porsche became airborne while he was drink-driving at high range. Agreed facts stated he was pulled over by police after he turned his luxury car into oncoming traffic on Oxford Street, hit the concrete dividing strip and caused the car to become momentarily airborne.

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Upon returning a breath test of 0.163  more than three times the legal limit  Nedim insisted that the breathalyser must be broken and his result was not accurate because he was not allowed to drink water when he was arrested. Related Article Exclusive

Courts Lawyer from drink-driving meme firm convicted after high-range intoxication Nedim pleaded guilty to high range drink-driving and was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order, a $1500 fine, a nine-month driving disqualification and a two-year interlock period. In a further saga, Nedims firm came under fire in 2017 for posting Facebook memes about drink-driving, including a photo of disabled parking space captioned: Every 48 seconds, a drunk driver makes another person eligible to park here. Then-NSW attorney-general Mark Speakman condemned the memes.

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Theres no funny side to drink-driving. Its irresponsible and selfish criminal behaviour that endangers lives. Any law firm that glorifies or makes light of drink-driving should change its advertising strategy, Speakman said in a statement at the time. Nedim will face a one-day hearing at Byron Bay Local Court over the DV charges in June. He remains on bail, with conditions he not contact any prosecution witness, be of good behaviour and not commit any further offences. He must also comply with all conditions of any apprehended domestic violence order against him. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Mens Referral Service on 1300 766 491. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Graphic content NationalNSWCourts Sydney man accused of rape in Oxford Street nightclub Clare Sibthorpe January 19, 2026  4:39pm 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 47-year-old man has denied twice raping another man who was enjoying an evening out in a Sydney nightclub with his girlfriend. David Charles Massa is accused of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent against the complainant in the smoking area of Universal Sydney on Oxford Street in the early hours of June 1, 2024. David Charles Massa leaves Downing Centre District Court. Wolter Peeters Delivering his opening address to the 12-person jury at the Downing Centre District Court on Monday, Crown prosecutor Matthew Harper said the alleged victim and his girlfriend had dinner at about 7:30pm on May 31 at The Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills, where he had about four beers. At about 9:45pm, they moved to Universal, where Massa  a stranger  was also socialising.

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Harper told the jury they will see CCTV footage showing an initial interaction between the pair about 12:45am, when the complainant kissed Massas hand and invited him to join him and his girlfriend in the smoking area. There, it is alleged, Massa flirted with the complainant, but the man politely declined his advances, suggesting other people in the venue may be interested in him. While they were standing and talking, Massa allegedly reached his hand around and down the back of the mans underwear and committed the sexual intercourse without consent. It is the Crowns case this occurred suddenly and unexpectedly and caused the complainant pain, Harper said. Massa is then accused of staring at the complainant while performing an act too graphic to detail.

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Harper anticipated the complainant will give evidence the sexual assault occurred another two or three times, but the Crowns case was that CCTV footage seemingly showed it happening twice in total. The alleged victim drank about four to five beers while he was at the venue, the court heard. The prosecutor said the alleged victim will testify that he moved away from Massa and sat down elsewhere when Massa sat beside him. The complainant will testify that at one point, Massa kissed him on the lips but he did not reciprocate, Harper said. As the alleged victim and his partner left the venue and walked away, the man allegedly told his girlfriend about the sexual assault. The following morning, he allegedly woke in pain and spoke to his partner further about the assault.

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Later that day, Harper said the jury will hear, he went to hospital, where he was examined and DNA swabs were taken. After being contacted by police, Massa voluntarily attended Surry Hills police station. Massa denied that he sexually assaulted the complainant and said there was some mutual intimate touching but denied any was non-consensual. That was according to defence barrister Nicole Carroll, who said in her opening submissions that CCTV footage would show the pair socialising and being friendly with each other, and that their behaviour became flirtatious towards the end of the night. There were moments during the evening where we would say the two men were flirting with each other, in the sense they were intimate, ie kissing or touching each other at certain times, Carroll said.

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The accuseds case is that on the occasions that the accused was close to the complainant, he was responding appropriately to the attention given to him by the complainant and vice versa. The court heard the alleged victims partner and a forensic biologist were expected to testify, with both the prosecution and defence noting the CCTV footage was important evidence. Massa has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual touching without consent, which are back-up charges to the two charges of sexual intercourse without consent. The four-five-day trial before Judge Siobhan Herbert continues. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Mens Referral Service on 1300 766 491. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaTragedy Irregular teachings and risky pilot behaviour linked to crash that killed brothers, cousin Angus Delaney January 19, 2026  6:26pm 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

An investigation into a plane crash which killed three young Victorians has found irregular flight school practices and the pilots penchant for risk-taking likely contributed to the tragedy. Luke Smith, 20, piloted the light plane that crashed in 2024. In 2024, Luke Smith, 20, was piloting an amateur-built light plane also carrying his 16-year-old brother, Benny, and their cousin, Dusty Daly, 15, when it stalled and then crashed into a Gippsland paddock and burst into flames, fatally injuring all occupants. On the afternoon of November 16, 2024, the plane took off from West Sale Airport and was in the air for 17 minutes before it crashed in Tinamba West. Flight data showed the plane flew from Moorabbin Airport to West Sale Airport two days before the crash. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) on Monday released its final report into the accident and concluded unusual teaching practices at the school that taught Luke Smith, Adventure Flight Training, likely contributed to the crash.

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Interviews with members of the school and a review of available records identified a series of irregularities with the way the school trained and examined its pilots for certification, ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said. In particular, Smiths pilot exam history revealed errors about aerodynamic stalling in some of his tests from earlier in 2024, which likely resulted in an inadequate understanding of how to cope with stalling, the investigation found. Remains of the plane, which crashed in a paddock in Tinamba West. Australian Transport Safety Bureau Smith was also counselled on several occasions for unsafe flying, but the instances were never reported to authorities or officially followed up. The investigation revealed a trend of risky flying behaviour by the accident pilot, which was likely compounded by inadequate knowledge from a flight training school that had developed irregular practices in the delivery of training and had inadequate supervision, Mitchell said.

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While many people knew of the pilots risky flying behaviour and had attempted to counsel them, there was no evidence that any of the incidents were reported to authorities, and the counselling efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. The transport safety bureau revealed there were several design deficiencies in Smiths plane which made the victims injuries more severe. Benny Smith, 16, also died in the crash. These included a lack of energy attenuation in the landing gear, which would have absorbed some of the crash impact, and the installation of a fuel tank between the engine and instrument panel that ruptured and caused the post-crash fire, Mitchell said. These characteristics within the design of the aircraft, in this case, increased the risk of occupant injuries, and I would urge amateur builders and designers to consider these factors for their own aircraft, he said.

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Dusty Daly, 15, was the cousin of Luke and Benny Smith. The investigation also revealed shortcomings by Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus), which issues recreation pilot licences and oversaw the Adventure Flight Training school. Although RAAus administered the examination system at the school, it had inadequate controls to mitigate the irregular examination practices identified at the flying training school, the transport safety bureau found. Its investigation found that as Luke Smith received his recreation pilot licence from RAAus, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority subsequently granted him a full pilot licence. Three months before the crash, RAAus identified problems with Adventure Flight Training and suspended the companys chief flying instructor, which meant the flight school stopped operating.

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In the days after the Smith brothers and their cousin died, their families said it was heartbreaking to lose three treasured young men. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this loss, and we ask for your understanding as we focus on supporting one another during this challenging period, the Smith and Daly families said in a statement at the time. We are grateful for the love and support from friends, family, and the community at large. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Updated PoliticsFederalAntisemitism Albanese facing pressure from his own MPs over call to drop racial hatred laws Paul Sakkal Updated January 19, 2026  5:24pm ,first published January 19, 2026  9:47am 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 group of Labor MPs wants the prime minister to keep pushing for stronger hate speech laws, warning that Anthony Albaneses plan to drop a new racial hatred offence to salvage support from the opposition could let radical preachers and extremists avoid prosecution. Jewish leaders and Labor MPs are worried that Islamic hate preachers would be let off the hook under the federal governments decision to remove racial anti-vilification elements from its post-Bondi package of laws. Legal experts say it would also become much harder to meet the legal threshold for banning groups such as Hibz ut-Tahrir. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gives a speech on the Bondi attack on Monday. Alex Ellinghausen Albanese shelved the controversial racial vilification laws on Saturday after the Coalition and Greens refused to support them on the grounds they could impinge on free speech, and Albanese has since told colleagues he would not try again to revive the proposals in this term of parliament. The hate crimes bill was on track to pass after the Coalition party room agreed to support it with amendments.

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In a marathon party room meeting on Monday afternoon, which also canvassed a Liberal/National split on gun restrictions, Coalition shadow ministers said they hoped to win Labor support for a proposal to review the emergency laws after two years to ensure they did not have unintended consequences. The Coalition is also seeking to mandate consultation with the opposition for and listing and delistings of groups. Frustrated Labor MPs who have long supported anti-vilification laws to protect minority groups across the board fear the watered-down package will leave Australias legislative framework with only cosmetic changes. Labor MPs Josh Burns, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, Jerome Laxale and Deborah ONeill all declared on Monday that the hate speech laws were paramount. One Labor member, speaking on the condition of anonymity to criticise Albanese, said: The prime minister is going against the will of the caucus. Artwork: Michael Howard.

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Burns, a Jewish MP, used his condolence speech on the Bondi massacre on Monday to criticise the opposition for rejecting the stronger hate speech measures, which had been advocated by Jewish groups and in the report of antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal. He said anti-vilification laws were the solution to stop bad actors dehumanising others, and claimed there were people inside the Coalition right now who would be deeply uncomfortable with their position on  racial vilification. I genuinely hope that there are no incidents and that no one has to deal with this. If thats the case, and we can all walk away and weve got enough done, so be it. But I fear that that may not be the case. Related Article Exclusive

Resolve Political Monitor Support for Albanese plummets after muddled response to Bondi attack Senator ONeill, a co-chair of the parliamentary friends of Israel, spoke in a private Labor caucus meeting on Monday to say the nation needed to stop hate preachers violent rhetoric. If not now, when? When will it be time? she said later in the Senate. Mark my words: [the laws] will be needed.

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Ananda-Rajah said of the anti-vilification measures: I wont let this go because  the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil compels us to leave no stone unturned and to confront the uncomfortable truths. Laxale said hatred based on race, religion, gender or sexuality had no place in Australia. The response of this parliament, both from the government and the opposition, must be to root it out and pass laws to eradicate it, he said. Two other MPs from Labors left faction, who did not want to be named, said they wanted anti-vilification measures to be pursued later this term to protect other minority groups, going against the prime ministers stated intention. The sentiment among Labor MPs reflects irritation about Albaneses political and policy response to the Bondi massacre, as well as the difficulty of tightening laws on hate speech from fringe actors without provoking backlash from other groups worried the laws would be applied more broadly to target them. Albanese and Ley met on Monday, a day reserved for condolence speeches after the Bondi attack, after both sides had blamed the other for a breakdown in talks over a sprawling anti-extremism bill that Labor made public last week.

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Albanese has tried to salvage the situation after a summer of criticism over his handling of a Bondi royal commission, splitting his planned reforms into two bills. One bill will restrict gun ownership and pass with Greens support. The second bill tightens visa rules, increases penalties for existing hate crimes offences, and bans groups on the basis of spreading racial hatred. Albanese and Ley have agreed to work together to pass this second tranche, although some in the Coalition, including the Nationals, remain concerned about the discretion that will be given to ministers to designate and outlaw hate groups. Related Article Exclusive

Investigations From caliphate to the classroom: How hardline group courts the young The government previously flagged that groups captured by the legislation would include neo-Nazis and Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which this masthead reported had been using pro-Palestine front groups to spread its hardline message.

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However, since the government shelved the hate speech offences on Saturday, it now faces a higher bar to ban Hizb ut-Tahrir. Neo-Nazis will be easier to pin because they display hate symbols such as swastikas, meeting one of the other thresholds to be designated. Albanese on Monday conceded that shelving the proposals to outlaw hatred makes it more difficult to ban radical groups. Leading constitutional lawyer Anne Twomey said the backdown on the anti-vilification provisions made the test for banning hate groups tougher for Labor, which will now need to prove groups are inciting violence rather than promoting hatred  a higher threshold. Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said: If, because of these amendments, Hizb ut-Tahrir cant be banned, then the bill has a serious problem. Coalition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam suggested the vilification laws could be revisited later.

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They are the biggest shift in laws that govern speech in this country in more than half a century. And we cant just whip through some bills and hope for the best. The government chose to pursue this. Lets bring it back onto the agenda, lets get it right, lets not rush it, he said. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
by Ken MacVey

The Supreme Courts power does not rest on brute force but on the power of authority. This power of authority heavily rests upon public perception of the Supreme Courts legitimacy as a fair and impartial arbiter of the law. That perception has seriously eroded. With its current case docket that will address the breadth and limits of presidential power, the Supreme Court is at a crossroads on how it will be perceived by the American people. The country in turn is at a crossroads as a constitutional republic and democracy depending on how the Supreme Court rules and is perceived.

The Supreme Courts Public Approval Rating is at a Historic Low

Polling by a variety of pollsters shows approval of the Supreme Court is at an all-time low. For example, the courts Gallup poll approval rating was 39% in 2025the lowest in Gallups years of polling on the question. The Economist in 2025 had the courts approval rating even lower at 35%.

This cannot be attributed simply to political party divisions. The Supreme Court has for decades been dominated by justices appointed by Republican presidents. Since 1910 there have been 11 chief justices. Nine of those were appointed by Republican presidents. Appointed for life, Republican appointed chief justices since 1910 have served for a total of a little over 100 yearsDemocratic appointed chief justices in turn have served for about 12. Since 1970, that is for more than half a century, the Supreme Court has continuously consisted of a majority of Republican appointed justices. Yet, despite this one-sided dominance, the Supreme Court received for several years favorable poll ratings and was afforded respect, sometimes even reverence, by the public. This has drastically changed.

The Supreme Courts Declining Public Image is Due to Itself but also to Political Changes in the Supreme Court Justice Nomination Process

This erosion of public confidence in the Supreme Court was a long time in coming. A starting point is the Supreme Courts 5 to 4 decision in Bush v. Gore with the majority consisting solely of Republican appointed justicesthat guaranteed Republican candidate Bush would become president. Republican appointed Justice Stevens in his dissent said the decision can only lend credence to the most cynical appraisal of judges throughout the land. Justice Sandra Day OConnor, who was in the majority, years later publicly declared the courts decision was in retrospect probably a regrettable mistake that stirred up the public and gave the court less than a perfect reputation.

Installed as president, George W. Bush appointed Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alioto to the Supreme Court. Instrumental in their selection as nominees and in steering their nominations and confirmations was Leonard Leo, a leader in the conservative Federalist Society. Leo became the behind-the-scenes strategist to shepherd the Supreme Court justice nomination process under Republican administrations. Leo, who had originally counseled Justice Thomas in his confirmation hearings, took on a key role in the selection, nomination, and confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Barrett. Leo was reputed to be a zealous proponent of constitutional originalism and overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion decision.

Leo also played a role in blocking Supreme Court justice nominees. Upon Justice Scalias death, President Obama nominated District of Columbia Court of Appeals Chief Judge Merrick Garland in March 2016. Leo worked with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to block this nomination. One of Leos organizations reportedly spent $7 million in a campaign to block the nomination. McConnell announced that the nomination was too close in time to the upcoming presidential election in November, which was eight months away. Garlands nomination never had a hearing or a vote in the Senate as a result. Leo subsequently promoted Gorsuch as a successor to Scalia. After winning the 2016 presidential election, Trump in early 2017 nominated Gorsuch, who was confirmed in April 2017.

Leo also promoted DC Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh for nomination and confirmation when Justice Kennedy announced his retirement from the Supreme Court in 2018. Trump s nomination of Kavanaugh was controversial because of allegations of inappropriate personal behavior but Kavanaugh was confirmed by a Republican controlled Senate led by Senator McConnell.

In September 2020 Justice Ginsburg died. The Wall Street Journal reported that Leo was heavily involved in the selection of Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy. Senate Majority Leader McConnell led the way for her confirmation. In September Trump nominated Barrett. She was confirmed in 30 days, just eight days before the presidential election. McConnell and Senate Republicans were widely criticized for cynically securing her confirmation immediately before the November presidential election when previously they blocked Garlands nomination because the presidential election was only eight months off.

In their confirmation hearings, nominees Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, all prepped by Leo, were asked about their stance on Roe v. Wade. Gorsuch testified under oath that it was precedent that had been affirmed many times and that a good judge will consider it as precedent of the U.S. Supreme Court as worthy of treatment as precedent as any other. Kavanaugh in confirmation hearings also testified that Roe was settled as precedent, an important precedent that had been re-affirmed multiple times and that it was supported by precedent upon precedent. Barrett also testified in her confirmation hearing that she was committed to the doctrine of stare decisis and its commitment to follow precedent. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision with Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett joining the majority opinion, Republican Senator Collins and Democratic Senator Manchin publicly stated that they had been misled by Gorsuch and Kavanaugh in recruiting their pivotal votes for their confirmation.

Leo and McConnell were strategically successful in securing a staunchly conservative Republican appointed supra-majority of six justices and confining the Democratic appointed minority to three justices. But their success was at the expense of public perception of the Supreme Court as an institution above politics and rigid ideology.

How the Supreme Courts Dobbs Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade Harmed the Courts Credibility

The Supreme Courts in-house handling of the Dobbs decision that ultimately overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision did nothing to enhance public perception of the court either. Justice Alitos draft of the decision was surreptitiously leaked and circulated in the media in 2022. This triggered a cycle of public speculation and recrimination by members of the public, and even by Justice Alito, where some said the leak was motivated to derail the overturning of Roe while others said it was motivated to make sure the draft opinion was not set aside by an alternative compromise opinion. Chief Justice Roberts launched an internal investigation that came up empty as to the who and why of the leak.

The Dobbs decision proved to be unpopular. Polling showed over 60% of the public disapproved of the decision. The Supreme Courts sweeping retraction of a constitutional right that had been woven into the legal and cultural fabric of the nation for nearly half a century did not play well.

At the same time, the Dobbs decision inadvertently undercut the Supreme Courts appearance of being an impartial and neutral arbiter of the law. Justice Alitos majority opinion acknowledged Roe v. Wade was a precedent but nonetheless said it should be overturned as egregiously wrong.

Many found this hard to swallow. Roe was a 7 to 2 decision written by Justice Blackmun, who was appointed by President Nixon and a member of the conservative wing of the court. Five of the seven justices joining the majority opinion in Roe were appointed by Republican presidents. Dissenting were Justice Rehnquist (later to become chief Justice) appointed by a Republican president, and Justice White, appointed by a Democratic one. Interestingly, Justice Rehnquist began his dissent by complementing the majority opinion for being based on extensive historical fact and a wealth of legal scholarship that commanded his respect. Justice Rehnquist went on to explain his dissenting position but in doing so stated he had little doubt that a ban on abortion could not be constitutionally sustained when the mothers life is in jeopardy. In other words, eight of the nine justices, including a dissenting justice, recognized some version of a womans constitutional right to abortion.

The Dobbs decision presented the curious question how the conservative and Republican appointed majority of the Roe court could be so out of touch as to render an egregiously wrong decision and how the contemporary conservative and Republican appointed majority of the Dobbs court instead could be so much wiser and circumspect in overturning it. Not lost on some, the simple answer might be Roe was overturned because several justices were handpicked to overturn it.

Justices Thomas and Alito Face Public Scrutiny for Alleged Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure Issues

Also not helpful to the Supreme Courts image were conflict of interest and financial disclosure issues concerning Justices Thomas and Alito. One watchdog, Fix the Court, in 2023 estimated that Justice Thomas in his tenure received gifts, including gifts from a billionaire GOP donor, with a total value of over $4,000,000. Justice Thomas lawyer wife, Ginni Thomas, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in income that Justice Thomas had not originally reported in federal disclosures reports required by statute. This included an $80,000 payment from a Leonard Leo organization in which it was reported Leo had instructed the organization not to disclose it was being paid to Ms. Thomas. This organization was reported to have subsequently participated in briefing in a case before the Supreme Court. Nearly $700,000 in income Ms. Thomas received from the Heritage Foundation (which later would issue the Project 2025 report) had not been disclosed either until Justice Thomas amended his disclosure statements years later.

Ms. Thomas also sent texts after the November 2020 election to the Trump White House chief of staff urging the administration to stop what she called the heist of the election from President Trump. Despite calls that Justice Thomas should recuse himself from two cases before the Supreme Court regarding Trumps role in the January 6 uprising, Justice Thomas did not do so. Justice Alito was also the subject of adverse publicity about failing to disclose an expensive trip funded by a wealthy GOP mega donor and also about reports of a flag being displayed upside down at his house apparently in protest of Bidens election as president being certified by Congress. Justice Alito attributed the flag incident to his wife.

Federal judges are bound by formal judicial canons of ethics, which are administered by the chief judges and established judicial councils for the various federal judicial circuits. These canons do not apply to Supreme Court justices. In 2023 the Supreme Court for the first time adopted a code of ethics that was signed by each of the justices. However, the code has no enforcement mechanism. Historically, it has always been up to the discretion of individual Supreme Court justices to recuse themselves from a case based on ethics or conflict of interest concerns. This remains true today. Justice Alito has publicly expressed his view that the imposition of enforceable ethics rules on Supreme Court justices would be unconstitutional.

Polling shows two thirds of Americans support binding codes of ethics and term limits for Supreme Court justices. University of Massachusetts Amherst pollster Jesse Rhodes further observed in 2023: Americans are angry with a Supreme Court that seems out of touch and ideologically extreme. An Associated Press poll in 2024 showed 70% of US adults thought that Supreme Court justices were more likely to shape the law to fit their own ideologies than to be a fair, impartial and independent check on other branches of government. This poll was taken before two Supreme Court rulings on Trump.

Supreme Court Decisions in Favor of Trump as Ex-President

In 2024 the Supreme Court ruled in two cases on Trump in his capacity as a former president.

In one case the Supreme Court addressed the clause in the 14th Amendment that bars from federal office those who had engaged in an insurrection against the Constitution when they had previously sworn to uphold it. The Supreme Court ruled that Trumps role on January 6 in the attack on the nations capitol and in trying to overturn the presidential election did not trigger the insurrection clause. Preeminent constitutional law scholar Laurence Tribe and highly regarded conservative Judge Luttig jointly denounced the decision as a stunning disfigurement of the 14th Amendment.

Later in 2024 in Trump v. United States the Supreme Court in the second case issued a sweeping immunity decision regarding Trumps criminal prosecution for his role in attempting to overthrow the 2020 election. The immunity decision was the subject of a blistering dissent. Commentators criticized the decision for allegedly elevating Trump and future presidents above the law.

Again, not necessarily a good look for the Supreme Court.

Shadow Docket and Other Supreme Court Decisions Favoring Trump Have Also Damaged the Courts Image

In the last three years the Supreme Court has relied on the emergency docket, sometimes called the shadow docket, to make substantive rulings that Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh have emphasized must be taken as precedent. The problem is that these docket cases are not subject to full briefing or oral argument. The decisions are truncated, sometimes containing no reasoning at all. During the second Trump administration there have been literally hundreds of lawsuits challenging the administration for its actions regarding everything from dismantling statutorily established federal agencies such as US AID to firing Congressionally approved commissioners appointed to independent federal agencies. In multiple instances the lower federal courts ruled against the Trump administration. But the Supreme Court overturned or stayed a number of these decisions. The New York Times last fall found that the Supreme Court ruled 84% of the time in favor of the second Trump administration in its shadow docket rulings compared to 53% of the time for the Biden administration. This too does not enhance the Supreme Courts image as a fair and impartial arbiter of the law.

The Cumulative Impact of Negative Events

Of course, the public has not kept track of the history recited above. Most people, for example, probably do not remember much about Bush v. Gore or may not remember McConnells cynical ploys or the details of Supreme Court justice nomination controversies. But over time impressions accumulate and hang on even if the specifics fade from memory. And in any event most certainly the overturning of Roe v. Wade has not faded from American memory, which may be the only Supreme Court decision most Americans can recite by name.

It is true that opinion poll disapproval ratings of Congress and presidents during the last decade have been just as bad or worse than Supreme Court ratings. But Congress and presidents have powers that dont rest on public perception. No matter what the public perception is, Congress can pass laws and budgets, raise or reduce taxes, and appropriate funds for government to function. Presidents can veto bills, issue executive orders, and act as commander in chief of the military and command a vast government apparatus. On the other hand, the Supreme Courts power critically rests on public respect for the court acting as the last and final arbiter of what federal law and the Constitution mean and stand for.

The Supreme Court and the Country are at a Crossroads

The Supreme Court is at a crossroads in how it will be respected. Will it stand up for the rule of law or will it bend to the will of a president who expresses disdain for anything and anyone that gets in his way, including the law and judges?

Retired federal Judge Luttig, who himself was under consideration for the Supreme Court, who has been a friend of Chief Justice Roberts for decades, and who has been revered as a guiding light in conservative judicial and legal circles, has been one of the most eloquent and vocal voices in condemning President Trump for aspiring to be an above-the-law king-like ruler. He has also been blunt in criticizing the Supreme Court for being what he calls Trump enthralled.

Each day Trumps words and actions reinforce how justified Judge Luttig and others are in their fears about Trumps obsessive and unhinged pursuit of attention, power and unquestioned obedience. Trump might publicly demand and get criminal indictments of perceived political enemies. He might threaten to shut down television networks for hosting comedians who make fun of him. He might shake down disfavored law firms and universities. He might unilaterally dismantle federal agencies established by Congress. He might suggest former presidents should be arrested. He might invade nations and engage in warfare without Congressional authorization. He might cut off federal funds to states whose leaders do not bend a knee. He might joke about cancelling elections.

All this and more in just one year of the second Trump administration.

The Supreme Court has pending on its docket cases about Trumps power to unilaterally impose massive tariffs on nations around the world, to fire appointed commissioners of independent federal agencies contrary to statute, to arbitrarily use military forces to police cities, and to declare based on their heritage certain people born in the United States not to be US citizens. The Supreme Court has the power to say no to any and all of these efforts. Trumps power comes only from law and only the Supreme Court, not Trump, has the authority to declare what the law is. By taking firm stands and drawing clear lines against arbitrary presidential power, the Supreme Court may be able to redeem its image as a fair and impartial arbiter of the law. It will then stand true to its title as supreme, and maybe in the process help save our democracy and republic.

We await to see which road it decides to take.
Olivia Kelleher

A 28-year-old woman was manually strangled at an apartment in Cork city just hours after she danced and welcomed in the New Year with friends, a murder trial has heard.

Miller Pacheco (32) of Formiga in Brazil is on trial at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork, having denied the murder of Bruna Fonseca on January 1st, 2023, at his flat in Liberty Street in the city. The accused and deceased were natives of the same town in Minas Gerais in Brazil.

Miller and Bruna had been together for five years. However, they broke up in November 2002 just days after Miller relocated to Ireland to be reunited with his girlfriend. The 28-year-old had moved here in September 2022 in order to live a better life". The trial has heard that her dream was to eventually live in France.

Postmortem

A postmortem examination was carried out on the deceased by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. She told the jury of seven women and five men that Bruna died of asphyxia due to manual strangulation.

Extensive bruising is in keeping with manual strangulation, in keeping with a hand constraining the neck, fingers on the left side, thumb on the right side.

Defence senior counsel Ray Boland that his client had instructed him that he was behind Bruna and held his arm around her neck to restrain her as she was hitting him. He asked Dr Bolster if the injuries sustained by the deceased were consistent with such an explanation.

Dr Bolster said that it was a case of never say never.

But in my view it is much more typical of manual strangulation. In my view this is manual strangulation, from the pattern of injuries.

Injuries

Dr Bolster said Ms Fonseca also suffered over 60 internal and external bruises to her forehead, scalp, arms, hands and lower limbs in keeping with a struggle. The nail on the middle finger on her right hand was also broken.

Meanwhile, the trial heard evidence of garda interviews Miller gave between January 1st and January 3rd, 2023.

He told gardai that he suffered from depression in his native country. A engineer by profession that he sold everything he owned, including his vehicle, to be with his girlfriend in Ireland.

Miller said that if Bruna had been honest with him about her feelings he would have stayed in Brazil". He said that in the period between November and December 2022 his depression deepened and he suffered from panic attacks.

He said that he loved Bruna and that he came to Ireland with "hope" and "tried to make it (the relationship) work". He denied stalking Bruna. The trial has heard that he recorded her dancing and kissing a man at a New Years celebration in the Oyster Tavern pub just hours before her death.

FaceTime

Miller told gardai that he and Bruna had returned to his flat in the early hours of New Years Day to FaceTime family in order to see their dog DEagle whom they had left behind in Brazil.

He said that he began to suffer from panic attacks and asked Bruna to stay with him. The flat door was locked. He said that Bruna had got up to look for the key.

"I grabbed her shoulder....I told her not to go. She pushed me and hit me. I defended myself.

"I never wanted to hurt her. I never lifted a finger to her in six years (of their relationship).

"I was not me - it was as if it was not me. I am not an aggressive person. Maybe the depression and everything brought out...when she hit me I was not myself.

"I was hurt and sad, not mad. I never hurt her in our six years. I am quiet. I am not that person - the person who could hurt someone they love."

Mr Pacheco said that he was after drinking five vodkas with energy drinks. He stated that he tried to immobilise Bruna to stop fighting.

"I just wanted the fight to be over. I was the one saying: stop, stop, stop. I didn't want her hitting me. Then I got my chance to end the fight."

"We were both out of control."

Mr Pacheco said his ex girlfriend was hitting him. He claimed that she attempted to headbutt him and that they both fell between the bed and table with him on top.

Mr Pacheco said he tried "something I saw on TV" and placed Ms Fonseca in a chokehold from behind with his forearm around her neck. He indicated that shortly afterwards she became still.

Evidence

The trial also heard evidence from Garda Aoife McCarthy who told the court that she had attended at the apartment complex in Liberty Street shortly after 6am on January 1st, 2023, having received a call about females fighting onsite. Garda McCarthy and Garda Peter Barber didnt notice anything untoward in the building.

Garda McCarthy said that they returned to the scene at 6:25am after they received a call that there was man with a knife there and that a death had possibly occurred at the building.

She said that when they got to Liberty Street they noticed two women and a man outside. When Garda McCarthy approached the man he told her he was Miller Pacheco and gave her his date of birth.

The garda asked Miller to give them his rucksack and to take off his jacket. He was searched for a knife.

The accused allegedly told Garda McCarthy that he and Bruna had been very drunk. He stated that she had hit him and that he defended himself. Garda McCarthy said that Miller gave gardai his room key. She and the other garda went up to the room where they found Bruna.

She was lying on the bed, her feet towards the headboard  I checked for a pulse, there was no pulse, she was still a little bit warm  her face appeared swollen and her eyes were a little bit bulging."

Garda McCarthy said that when she formally arrested Miller a short time afterwards he said Im sorry, Im sorry. She asked if he had had stabbed the woman and he replied : No, I choke her.

The garda told the jury of seven women and five men that she put her hand to her neck and said "like this" and that the accused said "Yes".

Defence senior counsel Ray Boland said that the instructions of his client were that he he did not say I choke her".

The guards were talking to him and he did not understand what they were saying.

However, under cross examination Garda McCarthy said that the accused never indicated that he couldnt speak English. She told the court that she spoke slowly when she cautioned him.

Mr Boland said that his client complied with garda instructions at the scene. Garda McCarthy agreed that this was the case.

Ms Fonseca was a university graduate and a qualified librarian. Her family members are in Ireland for the trial. The trial continues on Tuesday.
Tom Tuite

Preparation of a book of evidence for a Somali youth accused of murdering Ukrainian teen Vadym Davydenko at a care home in Dublin has reached "an advanced stage", a judge has heard.

Vadym, 17, was stabbed around 11am on October 15th at a 24-hour Donaghmede care facility after fleeing Kyiv.

On Monday, the accused, aged 17, according to his charge, again appeared at the Dublin Children's Court via video link from the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.

An interpreter was not available for him at the hearing. Judge Brendan Toale informed the accused, who answered yes when greeted, that a translator was not present.

He added that he would enquire about the case, and that his legal representative was in court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had earlier issued a direction for the accused to be tried on indictment in the Central Criminal Court.

A State solicitor told Judge Toale that the book of evidence was at an advanced stage and sought an adjournment of two weeks. It needs to be served by the DPP on an accused before the granting of a return-for-trial order. Dressed in a Liverpool tracksuit top, the accused remained seated and spoke once more to acknowledge his barrister.

Asked if there was consent to the case going back a fortnight, defence counsel Orla Doolin said she was not in a position to take instructions from her client.

The accused was remanded in continuing custody to appear again on January 27th via videolink and was told that an interpreter would be provided at his next hearing.

No further information was given to the court regarding efforts to verify his identity documents.

A solicitor for Tusla, the child and family agency, was present for the hearing, as the accused remains in care.

Last month in court, the accused sought forgiveness and claimed his documents were false.

His defence acknowledged the doubts over his age. A psychiatric report was also ordered.

When told the document with his date of birth still had to be confirmed, the youth replied that it was "not real" and his "country has gone to bits, and anyone can make a document to say they are 17".

His identity cannot be released while the case proceeds on the basis that he is a minor.

Since November, Detective Sergeant Mark Quill has been in contact with Somali authorities through the embassy in Brussels.

"We are trying to expedite matters as quickly as possible, but, unfortunately, we're in the hands of the Somalian authorities to confirm them for us, but we are making as many requests as possible to get engagement, but it's one-way at the moment, unfortunately," he had said.

The then presding judge agreed that it made sense to proceed as though the defendant was still a child in law.

The accused, who has not applied for bail or entered a plea, had said: "I would like to send my condolences and ask for forgiveness for the child."
Sean McCarthaigh

Ireland was one of only two EU member states to record a decrease in tourist bed nights last year, when new records were set for tourism accommodation across the EU as a whole.

New figures published by the European Commission show nights spent in tourist accommodation in the Republic fell by an estimated 1.8 per cent in 2025 to 41.3 million.

It was the worst performance of any member state in the EU, with Romania the only other country to experience a decline in tourist numbers  down 1.4 per cent.

The downturn in the performance of the tourism industry in Ireland occurred when the latest figures also show total tourist bed nights across the entire EU rose by 2 per cent  up 61.5 million on 2024 numbers to reach a record 3.08 billion.

Tourist bed nights showed particularly strong growth in several countries, with numbers up 9.9 per cent in Malta, 7 per cent in Poland and 6.2 per cent in Latvia.

Hotels account for 63 per cent of the overnight stays in the EU followed by holiday dwellings, guesthouses and other short-stay accommodation with 24 per cent and campsites with 13 per cent.

In Ireland, 61 per cent of tourist bed nights were spent in hotels, with 33 per cent in guesthouses and other short-stay accommodation and just 6 per cent in campsites.

Overseas visitors accounted for an estimated 58 per cent of tourist accommodation business last year in the Republic, with domestic tourists contributing to a 42 per cent share of the market.

Figures show that tourist bed nights in Ireland during the third quarter of 2025  the peak summer period for tourism  dropped by 4.1 per cent overall compared to the same period in 2024.

However, they highlighted contrasting performances by different sectors, with the number of tourist nights down 8.4 per cent in hotels and down 27 per cent in campsites, but up 15.4 per cent in holiday and other short-stay accommodation.

Official figures published show there were over 35.9 million tourism bed nights in Ireland in the first 10 months of 2025  a decrease of 1.1 million on the corresponding period in 2024.

It equates to an annual decrease of 3 per cent while overall numbers across the EU were up 2.1 per cent. However, a pick-up in tourist numbers in the last two months of 2025, including a 13 per cent year-on-year increase for November, has resulted in the European Commission estimating that the final figure for 2025 will be just under 2 per cent.

A breakdown of figures shows the number of bed nights by domestic visitors in the Republic was down 4.4 per cent to 15 million between January and October.

The decrease in nights in tourism accommodation was less pronounced among overseas visitors over the same period, with numbers down 2.0 per cent to 20.9 million.

The statistics on tourism in Ireland in the Eurostat report are derived from figures published by the Central Statistics Office, which have been challenged by bodies including the Irish Hotels Federation which claims they have overstated declines in the sector.

The European Commission said tourist bed nights were now significantly higher in the EU than in 2019 with overall figures exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 7.2 per cent.

However, it said the tourism sector in five EU countries still needed to fully recover from the impact of the pandemic  Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia.

Spain remains the largest destination for foreign tourists with 330 million bed nights in 2025, followed by Italy (264 million), France (150 million) and Greece (131 million).
By Rebecca Black, Press Association

A long-awaited inquest is set to get underway into the death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe.

The selection of a jury is expected to take place at Belfast Coroners Court ahead of opening statements later this week in the proceedings presided over by Mr Justice Rooney.

Noahs mother, Fiona Donohoe, arrived at court at around midday on Monday, accompanied by two family members and her solicitor Niall Murphy.

The 14-year-old was found dead in a storm drain in June 2020, six days after he went missing as he cycled to meet friends.

Fiona Donohoe and her son Noah (Family handout/PA)

Police believe he entered the drain in the Northwood Road area of north Belfast.

He had cycled to the area from his home in south Belfast, and shortly before he went missing he was seen with no clothes on. Prior to that, the schoolboy was seen falling off his bike on the Shore Road.

His disappearance prompted a major search operation with hundreds of people from across Belfast involved.

The case has attracted high levels of public interest over the unexplained nature of the death of the St Malachys College student.

Noah Donohoes mother Fiona and solicitor Niall Murphy arrive at Laganside Courts for a preliminaru hearing in 2022. (PA)

Ms Donohoe has anchored a campaign for answers over what happened to her son.

She is hoping the coroners case will provide answers to some of the outstanding questions she has pressed for.

My thoughts are with Fiona Donohoe & her family as the inquest into the death of Noah Donohoe begins today.



The Donohoe family have campaigned bravely & tirelessly in their search for truth around Noahs disappearance & death. They deserve no less.



I hope this process delivers  John Finucane MP (@johnfinucane) January 19, 2026

North Belfast MP John Finucane said his thoughts are with Ms Donohoe as the inquest begins.

The Donohoe family have campaigned bravely and tirelessly in their search for truth around Noahs disappearance and death, he said in a statement on the network X.

They deserve no less.

I hope this process delivers the truth & justice they deserve.
Ellen O'Donoghue

A status yellow weather warning has been issued for two counties.

Met Eireann issued the warning for Cork and Kerry shortly before 9am on Monday.

The warning is valid from 2am until 8am on Tuesday.

The forecaster said that a spell of heavy rain can be expected, coupled with strong and gusty east to southeast winds.

Potential impacts include localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

On Monday, widespread rain over the course of the morning is expected to gradually clear northeastwards throughout the day, but will continue in Ulster and north Leinster into the evening.

Sunny spells are to develop across the west and southwest on Monday, with highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, and light variable winds.

Any lingering rain or drizzle in Ulster is to mostly clear during the first half of Monday night, leaving mainly dry and cold conditions with clear spells, allowing some patches of frost and ice to form.

Some mist and fog patches are also expected to develop in light variable winds.

Cloud will build from the southwest, however, through the second half of the night, with wet and windy conditions following towards morning. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees can be expected.

Tuesday is expected to start off cloudy with wet and windy conditions moving northwards over the country, with heavy rain at times.

It is expected to clear to dry conditions with sunny spells before showers or further spells of rain push in from the south. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees are forecast, with fresh to strong and gusty easterly winds easing with the clearance of the rain.

On Tuesday night, breezy weather with scattered showers or more persistent spells of rain and limited clear spells can be expected. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees are forecast, with moderate to fresh and gusty southeasterly winds.

Current indications by Met Eireann for Wednesday state that further north will see a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, while further south will be cloudier with more persistent outbreaks of rain. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees can be expected, with moderate to fresh easterly winds, stronger on southern and eastern coasts.

Widespread showers or more persistent spells of rain with limited clear spells are forecast for Wednesday night, with lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees with light to moderate cyclonic variable winds.
photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer photo by John Shearer Previous Next

This weekends clear skies and calm breezes allowed Chattanoogans to get out and enjoy the outdoors, including the stretch of the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway near the Sterchi Farm Trailhead by East Chattanooga.While the exercisers might have needed to wear an extra sweatshirt with the cooler temperatures, the trees are barren of leaves this time of year and allow countless better views of the wide creek from both the paved trail and the boardwalk path.
Police responded to a reported hit and run vehicle crash in the 10500 block of Apison Pike. The crash was found to have occurred outside the city limits of Collegedale and referred to the sheriffs office.

Friday, January 16,

Police made contact with an individual sleeping inside the bathroom of a local coin laundry. The individual was advised that they needed to leave the premises unless they were conducting business.

A business alarm was activated in the 4900 block of Meridian Drive. Everything checked out ok.

During business checks officers found an open door at the Eastwood Baptist Church. Contact was made with church staff and no further action was required.

A concerned citizen in the 9200 block of Leyland Drive reported that an individual had walked into their back yard.

Collegedale police assisted Chattanooga police with a vehicle crash in the 8900 block of Lee Highway.

Officers assisted an elderly resident in the College Park Apartments who had fallen and was unable to get up on their own.

Police made contact with a couple parked in the Zaxbys parking lot, hours after closing. Everything checked out ok.

Saturday, January 17,

Police assisted the fire department after a fire alarm was activated in the mens dormitory at Southern Adventist University.

An officer was called to the Collier Place neighborhood due to solicitors going door to door. The individuals could not produce a business license or a soliciting permit and were asked to leave the area.

An officer was called to the Murphy USA gas station for an abandoned vehicle. The Murphy employee called a wrecker service to have the vehicle towed.

An individual reported that an unknown vehicle had parked in the 5800 block of Ed Ken Drive and wanted officers to check it out. The vehicle was gone prior to arrival.

Police were called to assist with a civil matter involving a private property purchase of a vehicle at the College Park Apartments.

Police were dispatched to a residence in the 5500 block of Tucker Road to check on a complaint of a dog not having shelter for the night. The dog and the owner were both found residing inside the home.

A concerned citizen reported the sound of gunshots in the Homewood neighborhood. Officers found a family shooting off fireworks nearby and they discontinued.

Police responded to the 9600 block of Leyland Drive for a single vehicle crash involving a light pole. There were no injuries.

A complainant reported that an unrecognized vehicle was parked in the 4900 block of Wellesley Drive. The vehicle was not parked illegally and was unoccupied.

Officers observed an improperly parked vehicle in the 5200 block of Spalding Drive. The owner was not on scene, but a roommate had keys to the vehicle and moved the vehicle out of the roadway.

A noise complaint was received from a resident of Dogwood Estates regarding a group of people who were outside being loud. Police made contact with the individuals, and they agreed to keep it quiet.

An officer observed two vehicles with their hoods up in front of the Imagination Station playground and assisted by providing a battery boost.

Sunday, January 18,

A fire alarm was activated at the Walmart. Everything checked out ok.

A traffic stop in the 4900 block of Swinyar Drive resulted in the driver being charged with driving on a revoked license.

An officer spoke with a Spring Green apartment resident about their child watching videos on their fathers cell phone.

A Collegedale fugitive was transported from the Bradley County Jail to the Hamilton County Jail and booked on warrants for driving on a revoked license and drug possession.

A traffic stop in the 10200 block of Lee Highway resulted in the driver being charged with driving on a revoked license.

A truck had broken down in the median of Apison Pike, in the 9900 block. Officers pushed the vehicle out of the roadway.

A traffic stop made in the 10100 block of Lee Highway for the drivers failure to maintain their lane of travel led to the driver being charged with drug possession.

A traffic stop in the 10000 block of Lee Highway resulted in the drivers arrest on multiple charges, including DUI (5th offense), felony drug possession, and resisting arrest; during the traffic stop, officers discovered the driver had called 9-1-1 to falsely report a person in distress in an attempt to disrupt their potential arrest, leading to additional charges of false reporting and misuse of 9-1-1.
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem (D-Chattanooga) announced that he will seek re-election to represent House District 28, running in the August Democratic primary and November general election.

His campaign said, "A fierce advocate for public education, equitable community investment, and funding for quality, accessible healthcare, Rep. Hakeem announced his intention to seek another term to the Tennessee General Assembly as Republican leaders shared their intentions to push out another round of extreme, out-of-touch bills during the upcoming legislative session.

"Referred to as the pastor of the Tennessee House Democratic caucus, Rep.

Hakeem is known as a unifier and a sound voice on the floor of the House. Since he was elected, Rep. Hakeem has proudly secured $150,000 to continuously fund the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, $10 million for Booker T. Washington State Park, $7 million for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, and made Black history required curriculum for Tennessee 5th-8th grade students."

Driving our state further and further to extremes does nothing to resolve the day-to-day issues of Tennesseans struggling to get ahead, said Rep. Hakeem. Since I was elected, Ive worked to lower the temperature and push back against policies that divide us. Ill continue that work if the people of District 28 entrust me with another term.

During the upcoming legislative session, Rep. Hakeem intends to introduce and support bills to:

Protecting Kids: Create a real-time tracking system to protect kids in foster care

Expanding Rights: Restore voting rights and job opportunities for former felons

Safety First: Crack down on illegal sales, improper marketing, and youth access to kratom and nitrous - substances increasingly misused by minors across Tennessee

Quality of Life: Establish an emergency family medical leave program for state employees

Strengthen Protections: Increase oversight of consumer protections of insurance programs

Respecting our Veterans: Expand property tax relief for veterans

Trusting Women with their Health: Create abortion protections for rape, incest, and life of the mother and roll back the repressive abortion restrictions established by the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly

The campaign said, "Hakeem was elected to serve on the Chattanooga Public School Board in 1980, where he spent 10 years advocating for our city's public schools. He saw public education as the bedrock of the community. Chattanooga was still a segregated city, and the best way to escape this and the class system was through education. He worked to give young children born to his neighbors the opportunity for better, to chase and reach their dreams.

"Hakeem was first elected to newly-created Chattanooga City Council in 1990, just one year after the Supreme Court found the City Commission to be fundamentally racist, violating both the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the 14th Amendment, and the 15th Amendment.

Long the voice for Chattanoogans within the inner city, Hakeem had the honor to serve as a councilman for 19 years. He pushed for parks, for stronger education - including surrounding the contentious city-county schools merger - for adequate transportation, and for childcare services for working parents. He founded the Chattanooga Youth Council, and he facilitated civic education programs for students attending Chattanooga's schools. He also served as the Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, key to balancing the under-served communities he represented and the suburban neighborhoods contributing to inner-city decline.

"In 2006, Hakeem was appointed by then-Governor Bredesen to serve on the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole. After seven years there, Hakeem was re-elected to Chattanooga City Council, where he served until 2017. During his last term on the Chattanooga City Council, Hakeem advocated for the city to conduct a formal disparity study to evaluate the impact of its programs and services across communities. He was able to persuade the council to vote in favor for a rezoning for Erlanger Hospital's new Behavioral Health Center in District 28, continuing his efforts to both increase access to healthcare and to tackle gun violence from a multi-leveled approach.

"Hakeem believes that too many working families in District 28 are struggling to get by, and he believes that its time to bring more living wage jobs to Tennessee and to Chattanooga. He believes we should have passed Insure TN and made sure that every Tennessean has access to healthcare they can afford. He believes Tennessee should fully fund the BEP, prevent public dollars from funding private schools through school choice vouchers, and ensure that every child has access to a good education, no matter what zip code they live in.

"Hakeem has dedicated his life to public service. He has the experience, relationships, and institutional knowledge to continue to get things done in the Tennessee House of Representatives."
In the final years of his life, Martin Luther King Jr. stood more isolated than most Americans remember. The nation celebrates him now with monuments, quotes and sanitized soundbites, but in 1967 and 1968, Dr. King was one of the most unpopular men in Americanot only among white conservatives, but among many black Americans as well.Why? Because he told the truth when it became uncomfortable.When Dr. King publicly condemned the Vietnam War, he crossed a line that many believed he had no right to cross.Political leaders turned on him. Media outlets accused him of weakening the civil rights movement. Donors pulled funding. Even members of the black community - some pastors, activists and everyday people - felt he had gone too far. They believed civil rights should stay narrowly focused on desegregation and voting rights. War, poverty and global injustice were seen as distractions.But Dr. King understood something deeper.He knew that you cannot preach nonviolence in Birmingham while remaining silent about violence raining down on Vietnamese villages. You cannot demand justice at home while ignoring injustice abroad. You cannot talk about equality while poor people - black, white and brown - are sent to die in a war they did not start and could not escape.So he spoke anyway.He spoke knowing it would cost him influence.He spoke knowing it would fracture alliances.He spoke knowing that even his own people might misunderstand him.In those final years, Dr. King was no longer just chasing a dream of racial harmony; he was advancing a vision of moral reckoning. A vision that named Americas giant triplets: racism, militarism and economic exploitation. A vision that demanded more than symbolic progressit demanded transformation.Many lost sight of that vision.But Dr. King never did.Even when crowds grew smaller.Even when criticism grew louder.Even when death threats intensified.He stayed rooted in the belief that love is not passive, justice is not polite and truth is not optional.Today, decades later, his vision still burns bright - not because it is easy, but because it is unfinished.We live in a moment where division is profitable, outrage is normalized and moral courage is rare. Too often, we reduce Dr. King to a holiday quote, while ignoring the radical demands of his lifes work. We applaud the dream, but resist the discipline required to live it out.This is the moment for our community to refocus.To be a band of our better angels means recommitting ourselves to the full scope of Dr. Kings vision - not just racial justice, but economic justice. Not just peace in words, but peace in policy. Not just remembrance, but responsibility.It means speaking out even when it costs us comfort.It means standing firm even when support fades.It means choosing courage over convenience.Dr. King saw farther than his moment allowed. He paid the price for that clarity. The least we can do is honor him not only with our words, but with our resolve.The dream did not die when people turned their backs on him.The vision lived onwaiting for us to pick it up and carry it forward.Mr. Sean Nix
Celebrities are posting their '2016 is the new 2026' throwback posts to Instagram, and fans can't get enough. Here are the top 5 most controversial celebrity posts so far.

In a wave of nostalgic social media trends, viral 2016 throwback posts are flooding feeds as fans and celebrities alike revisit the past. A-list stars continue to share snapshots of throwback red carpet moments. And influencers are spotlighting unforgettable concerts and viral internet moments from 2016. Now, were taking a look at the top five controversial celebrity 2016 throwback posts so far that fans cant stop talking about in 2026.

5. Kim Kardashian reposted a controversial mirror selfie from 2016

Kim Kardashian recently fanned the flames of the 2026 is the new 2016 social media craze by sharing a throwback photo dump on Instagram captioned, I promise whatever happened to you in 2016, mine was crazier. In her carousel, Kardashian included candid images from 2016 that hark back to some of her most talked-about moments. She added photos with her famous family and two children, North and Saint West, who were 3 and 1 years old at the time.

Kardashian also included topless photos that were highly controversial when she first posted them, including one iconic mirror selfie of her fully nude that had everyone talking. The mirror selfie shows her private parts blacked out for online discretion while still leaving little to the imagination.

I remember how the mirror pic had the world SHOOK lol, one fan commented.

4. Meghan Markle posted a photo of her Botswana trip with Prince Harry

Meghan Markle recently embraced the viral 2026 is the new 2016 social media trend with a heartfelt Instagram carousel that blended nostalgic memories with presentday family life. In the post, she shared a blackandwhite video filmed by her daughter, Princess Lilibet. The clip shows Meghan and Prince Harry dancing barefoot on a lawn.

The second slide featured a previously unseen photo from 2016 of Meghan and Harry standing kneedeep in water during their pivotal Botswana trip. This was their third date that year and a moment the couple has described as foundational to their relationship. Meghan captioned the post, When 2026 feels just like 2016  you had to be there.

Some fans loved Meghans throwback photo. However, others found the clip of her and Harry dancing to appear too staged and performative.

3. Amy Schumer included old photos in her 2016 throwback post after deleting photos in 2025

Amy Schumer recently joined the nostalgia wave by sharing a series of throwback photos from 2016 on her Instagram, tapping directly into the viral 2026 is the new 2016 trend. In her carousel, Schumer pulled up candid and iconic images from 10 years ago. She included snapshots from her comedy shows and several nearly-nude snaps. Other celebrities, such as Jennifer Lawrence, were also spotted in her post. And, of course, she included her Vogue cover and a photo of her memoir that was released that year.

While Schumers post itself isnt too controversial, it ignites current conversations surrounding her personal life. The comedians recent 2026 Instagram posts show her significant weight loss via GLP-1 medications. In 2016, fans loved Schumer for her body-positive vibes, and she appeared focused on finding internal self-worth unattached to her weight.

Additionally, Schumer caused a stir in late 2025 when she appeared to delete old photos from social media. However, her 2016 throwback post includes several decade-old pictures of herself. That said, Schumer remains honest about her experience with GLP-1s, openly communicating about the highs and lows with her fans.

2. Kangana Ranaut relived her past legal troubles in her post

Kangana Ranaut recently jumped into the 2026 is the new 2016 social media trend with a deeply personal Instagram throwback that didnt just revisit old photos, but also stirred memories of one of the most turbulent years of her career. In her post, she shared a carousel of images from 2016, which included magazine shoots, candid mirror selfies, a still with her Rangoon costar Shahid Kapoor, and a shot with Arjun Kapoor. These are accompanied by a candid note reflecting on how that year was both the height of her professional success and a period marked by intense personal conflict.

Ranaut wrote about rising to become one of Bollywoods highestpaid actresses before a highly publicized legal notice from a colleague, a veiled reference to her controversial dispute with Hrithik Roshan.

Why is everyone missing 2016 suddenly? Ranaut wrote. It was the inevitable ascend of my career trajectory, post back-to-back blockbusters like Queen and Tanu weds Manu returns I became the highest paid actress but then in the January of 2016 one of my colleagues sent me that controversial legal notice which shook and divided the industry into insiders and outsiders. Success became poisonous and life became a living hell.

She closed the post expressing gratitude that she has moved past that drama and grown over the decade, contrasting the pain of 2016 with her life in 2026.

1. Hailey Bieber included old photos with Justin Bieber that sent fans into a frenzy

Hailey Bieber recently joined the 2026 is the new 2016 social media craze with a throwback carousel on Instagram that gave fans a look at her decadeold memories from when she and Justin Bieber were still navigating the early, complicated days of their relationship. In the series of slides, she shared a steamy PDAfilled photo of her and Justin kissing on a tropical beach. She also included throwbacks featuring close friends like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner, plus candid selfies. Hailey captioned the post simply, you just had to be there.

Unfortunately, fans flooded Haileys post with negative comments. Fans called Hailey and Justins relationship timeline into question, as Justin was dating Selena Gomez on and off in 2016.
Pro-life activists whose charges were dropped stand with their attorney outside the Delaware County Courthouse in Media, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 12, 2026. Photo credit: Red Rose Rescue / The Christian Post

The pro-life advocacy group Red Rose Rescue announced Monday that all misdemeanor charges against six activists were dismissed following a special plea hearing at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media, Pennsylvania.

The activistsMonica Miller, Eric Holmberg, Patty Woodworth, Will Goodman, Christy-Ann Collins, and Joan Andrews Bellwere arrested after intervening at an abortion facility in Chester on July 31, 2025.

In a statement shared on Facebook, Red Rose Rescue said, During that rescue, which was at a killing center exclusively dedicated to dispensing the lethal abortion pill [mifepristone], several pregnant mothers were offered information about free life-saving pregnancy care. The group added, Staff members too were given information about how to leave the abortion industry and find support from a coalition of pro-lifers who are former abortion [clinic] staff members.

According to the organization, three pro-life counselors stood in a first-floor hallway to block access to the facility, while three other rescuers entered the waiting room and handed roses to pregnant women.

However, the rescuers were subjected to rough treatment by the police that day and spent several days in a filthy overcrowded county prison before being released on bond, Red Rose Rescue stated. At that time, each rescuer was unjustly charged with two class D criminal misdemeanors  defiant trespass and disorderly conduct.

Court records show that after the activists entered no contest pleas, the charges were dismissed Monday. The decision means the defendants will face no additional jail time, community service, fines, or probation. The bond money they previously paid is expected to be returned within 20 days.

Speaking before the court, Miller said, We went to that abortion center to plead for and defend the lives of unborn babies and equally were there to offer help, love, compassion and understanding to the moms scheduled to kill their children. She added, The unborn have a right to exist and we want to work for a culture that accepts all human lives, made in the image of God.

Woodworth also addressed the court, saying that rescuers bring the Love of Christ with them wherever they go, and emphasizing that every person is made in the Image and Likeness of Christ, therefore the unborn deserve the compassion and protections which life demands.

The rescuers expressed gratitude to their legal team, which consisted of local lawyers as well as those affiliated with The Thomas More Society.

We are most grateful for our extremely talented legal team who worked hard to secure this victory for life, stated Goodman.
A fresco inside a third-century tomb in Nicaea, Iznik, Turkey, depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd. | Photo credit: Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry

Archaeologists working in Turkey have uncovered a rare third-century mural portraying Jesus as the Good Shepherd, offering new insight into early Christian art and belief.

The artwork, which is notably well preserved, forms the central image among several frescoes found inside an underground burial chamber in the Hisardere necropolis near the modern town of Iznik.

Although Iznik may be unfamiliar to many today, the city is historically significant to Christianity under its ancient name, Nicaea.

In A.D. 325, Nicaea hosted the First Council of Nicaea, a defining moment in Christian history. Convened by Constantine the Great, the gathering brought together church leaders from across the Roman world to address foundational theological disputes.

That council produced the Nicene Creed, a core statement of Christian belief that remains foundational for Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions.

The newly revealed mural depicts Jesus as a youthful figure dressed in a plain tunic, carrying a sheep across his shoulders in the traditional Good Shepherd pose. He is also shown holding a date palm, a symbol associated with eternal life and resurrection in early Christian symbolism.

Additional frescoes within the tomb portray scenes from elite Roman life, including an aristocratic couple laid out on a funerary platform and a banquet-style symposium attended by servants. Notably absent are crosses, reflecting the caution early Christians often exercised in visual expression during periods of persecution.

Although the mural was initially discovered earlier last year, details of the find were not publicly released until November, shortly after Pope Leo XIV visited Iznik.

The pontiffs trip marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. During the visit, Turkish officials reportedly presented the pope with a tile reproduction of the fresco by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Archaeologists hope that the discovery will provide greater insight into the lives of early Christians, and plans are underway to begin restoration work on the ancient artwork.